Chapter 111

Sasuke heard the door open wider and Sakura led him inside, telling him to mind the step up. As he took off his shoes, he listened to the sounds of the house around him—Sakura taking off her own shoes, sounds of someone walking around upstairs, the sizzling coming from a room nearby, most likely the kitchen. He straightened up, taking the time to absorb the scents around him as Sakura struggled with one of her shoes, muttering obscenely to herself.

The odor of food hung heavily in the air—the distinct smell of steamed rice, the tangy aroma of different spices, and the sour fragrance of soup mixed together to form a pleasant smell of a large meal. He hadn't let Sakura know, since she would have bothered him about it, but he hadn't eaten anything since breakfast, and now he found himself bordering on the edge of ravenous.

"You don't need to put on any indoor footwear," Sakura informed him, most likely thinking that he was waiting for her to produce some shoes for him, "We used to, but now most people are coming in going in such a hurry that we don't even bother anymore."

"Hn," he replied with mild interest, this being the complete opposite of his household when he was a boy. His mother had made sure everyone had proper indoor footwear or clean feet before anyone was allowed inside—regardless of the hurry they were in.

There were more approaching footsteps as someone came from the direction of the sizzling noise. By the pace and speed, Sasuke assumed it was Sakura's mother again, who was still running about, dealing with last-minute preparations.

"Alright, I think we're almost ready," came the voice of Sakura's mother, "Why don't you both head into the dining room?"

Before either of them could argue otherwise, the both of them found themselves ushered into said dining room and as they approached the room, the tantalizing scents of dinner became stronger. Beside him, he heard Sakura's stomach rumble with hunger; a small smile tugged on the corner of his lips, apparently he wasn't the only one who was hungry.

"It smells really good, Mom," Sakura commented as they turned a corner into the room.

"Why thank you, dear," came the voice of Sakura's mother behind them, "I don't know if I made enough food—I'm thinking that maybe if I can get a spare moment I'll whip something else up…"

"Mom," Sakura stated firmly, making it apparent that there was much more food in the room than Sasuke was aware of, "There's plenty. You don't need to go make anything more; it'll be amazing if the five of us will be able to finish what you have made already."

On that comment alone, Sasuke envisioned the table before them ladened with a multitude of different dishes, not helping the hunger he was feeling at the moment. Near them, Sakura's mother sounded unsure of the notion.

"Well, alright…" she was saying uncertainly, "But if you want anything more, just be sure to let me know... Anyways, why don't you two take a seat while we wait for the others? –Where is that father of yours anyways? And Kanaye has gone and disappeared too. I'll be back in a minute."

As Sakura's mother departed, Sakura led Sasuke over towards the table, and taking his hand, she laid it on the back of a chair. After she released his arm, he pulled out the seat and sat himself comfortably on it, folding his hands patiently in his lap.

"Sorry about my mother," Sakura said apologetically once she had taken a seat next to him, "Preparing a large dinner always seems to put some strain on her."

"It's okay," he replied indifferently, more or less just overwhelmed by the difference between his home and the Haruno household.

The Haruno family was so much more different than his had been as a boy—much more chaotic and disorganized. His own mother had always made sure that the food was done ahead of time, and everyone was seated at the table when they needed to be. He and Itachi were to be polite and not speak with anyone unless spoken too; additionally, they could not leave until their mother had told them it was all right. In contrast, the Haruno household and the old Uchiha household seemed to be completely different worlds.

"This always happens," Sakura muttered impatiently, "Whenever it's time for dinner at least one person—if not more—disappears."

Outside the room Sasuke could hear Sakura's mother yelling for the others, and muffled replies of promised haste returned to her from the upstairs area. After a few more moments, loud footfalls rained down on the stairs as someone came down from above. Sakura muttered 'finally' under her breath as someone entered the room.

"Good evening, Emo Prince," came a greeting from Sakura's brother, accompanied by a good-natured punch to Sasuke's shoulder, "And how is his highness tonight?"

"Fine," Sasuke replied evenly, rubbing the shoulder that Kanaye had punched, deciding to let the nickname thing slide this evening.

"Still going with the one-word responses I see," Kanaye laughed, taking a seat down directly across from him.

It was a few seconds before he realized that he should probably be polite and ask something in return, "And how have you been?"

There was a pause in which Sasuke could feel both Sakura and Kanaye stare at him, but said jounin quickly recovered his composure to give a reply.

"Good."

"And you were reprimanding me for my 'one-word' responses," Sasuke smirked good-naturedly.

"Exactly! See how annoying it is?" Kanaye teased; next to him, Sasuke heard Sakura giggle quietly.

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