Chapter 106

She mentally crossed her fingers hoping that her mother wouldn't suggest that she pick up Sasuke from his house first, then go to the training grounds. Right now, as Sakura saw it, apart from training, she wasn't really doing anything significant that required her to live in the Uchiha household. Other than keeping house and cooking, she played no role in Sasuke's home life. Well, that wasn't entirely true—she kept his nightmares away at night as well. For her that was reason enough to stay; she would not allow him to go through those horrifying experiences on his own. But the most important factor of her staying was that she hadn't been asked to leave yet. She knew Sasuke well enough to know that he would let her know if her presence wasn't welcome. The fact that he hadn't said anything so far served enough indication that she was still welcome.

"Oh, I see," her mother bit her lip nervously, "Well, as long as things are still fine at the house… I'll just be glad when you can come home again. Did Tsunade-sama say when she was planning on reuniting the team?"

"She said October," Sakura replied, wishing that her mother hadn't thought to ask that.

"So long from now?" her mother asked dolefully, "It's only the beginning of August, that's still two months at the very earliest."

"It's okay Mom," Sakura said reassuringly, "It'll seem like no time at all has passed when October comes."

A reproachful look was cast her way, "For you, perhaps; you like living with him. I'm just worried about you Sakura, that's all."

"I know you are," Sakura sighed, glancing at her wristwatch subtly, "Anyways, I had better go pay for these groceries, some of these things need to be kept refrigerated."

"Alright, alright," her mother waved her off dismissively, "I won't keep you, seeing as you probably need to get back to your beloved's side."

"Mom!" Sakura exclaimed indignantly, an embarrassed blush creeping on her face, "That was sinking to Kanaye's level!"

A smile spread over her mother's face, "Sorry, dear, couldn't help myself."

Sakura made a face at her mother, who just laughed teasingly in return. Giving her mom a quick hug, she bid her farewell and made her way towards the checkout counter. Before she had walked half way down the aisle, her mother called out after her.

"Oh! Sakura, I almost forgot!"

Turning her head curious over to her mother, she raised an eyebrow, wondering what on earth her mother could want.

"You're father's coming home from his mission on Friday! It's been a long time since the whole family has been in town together at the same time. I was hoping you could come over for dinner on Saturday?" her mother had cupped her hands by her mouth to amplify the sound, "Oh! And Sasuke's invited too, of course."

"Saturday?" she called back to make sure she had heard correctly, and after receiving a nod, she gave her reply: "Okay, we can make it!"

Giving a final wave to her mother, she turned once more to the checkout counter, and it was only after she had paid for everything and was hauling back to the house when something struck her. Knowing her father, and knowing Sasuke… they were not going to like each other at all.

Sasuke was eating his ramen quietly, listening to the different sounds that could be heard around the small stand that he and Naruto were eating their lunch at. There was the bubbling of boiling fluids, the chop of a knife against a cutting board as someone was slicing ingredients, the creak of a chair as someone sat down or got up. The owner was humming jovially to himself as he worked, people chattered as they passed by outside, and Naruto was slurping loudly next to him.

He rolled his chopsticks in his fingers idly, noting the texture as being rough and—on the edge where he had broken them apart—splintery. The smells of the small stand filled his nostrils, enhancing the taste of the soup in his mouth. Everything that his senses were telling him about his surroundings brought back strong memories of his genin days. They would often come here after a mission and all eat ramen—sometimes he would come, other times he would prefer to be alone, or go training. He remembered the time that they had treated Kakashi to ramen as a plot to find out what he looked like under his mask. A small nostalgic smirk came to his lips—he wondered dimly if Sakura and Naruto had ever succeeded in finding out what was under his mask. He supposed it didn't matter, because he'd never be able to find out anyways.

"Oi, Sasuke," Naruto said after a moment, breaking into his reverie. It was only then that Sasuke registered the fact that Naruto had been sitting listlessly for the past few minutes, not touching his ramen; maybe he was finished, "Can I ask you something?"

"What?" he asked shortly, a little annoyed that his thoughts had been interrupted.

"Have you…ever asked anyone out before?"

If the question didn't catch him off guard, the fact that it was coming from Naruto did. He tried to hastily cover up his bafflement by giving a short and abrupt answer.

"No," he stated bluntly before demanding: "Why?"

"Well…" the boy sounded a little embarrassed, or nervous—perhaps a bit of both, "It's just that I was thinking of maybe asking…Hinata-chan out."

"So why ask me if I've ever gone out with anyone?" he asked gruffly; he wasn't the kind of person who was to give out this 'guy to guy' talk about girls.

"Well, if you had, I was hoping maybe you had some tips or something like that," Naruto said sheepishly in reply, "That's all."

"I see."

"So…you've never gone out with anyone, Sasuke?" Naruto sounded amazed, and Sasuke merely shrugged.

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