Adult-FanFiction.org : Naruto

Stranger than the Wild	By : kiddattwell Category: Naruto > Threesomes/Moresomes Views: 30155 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and I don't make any money off of it.

Chapter List
- 17
- 18
- 19
*** *** *** *** SASUKE

The trip to Suna wasn’t unusually bad. More just, unusual.

The carriage was much bigger than the standard sized ones from Konoha. Say what you would about ethics, but the Suna knew how to treat their leader. Even though they were at capacity with four people on two seats, it wasn’t the most uncomfortable journey Sasuke had ever taken.

The company wasn’t bad either, much to his surprise. Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara kept each other occupied much in the same way that ninja trios in Konoha did: arguing, talking trade, and speculating over politics. It was easy to forget that they were all related, and even easier to forget that one of them was actually the leader of Sunagakure. There was a distinct lack of formality in their demeanor that most of the important families in Konoha usually had in spades. Sasuke, who was good with rules, but more familiar with teammates, wasn’t sure which kind of atmosphere he would have preferred. But as it was, they kept him active in their conversations. Even Kankuro, who he thought had objected to his presence (and no, the irony of that was not lost on him) had made plenty of friendly overtures that pressed Sasuke for the easy details of life in Konoha.

They spent the nights camping in elaborate tents that other ninja assembled for them, ate their pre-prepared meals while sitting on blankets on the side of the road, and arrived in Suna after three days with very little discomfort.

Of course, not everything went smoothly.

He thought they might have been off to a prickly start once they reached the Kazekage’s mansion.

“Home at last,” Temari sighed, stretching her arms as she strolled into the grand foyer. Sasuke had never exactly lived in a hovel, but the idea that such a huge and lavish building could actually feel like a home to someone was a little mind boggling. Temari turned to him, “Want to pick a room? They’ll need to know where to unload your stuff.”

“Anywhere is fine,” Sasuke said.

“He’s so polite!” Temari cooed with just a hint of mocking. Sasuke scowled at her. She grinned back.

“I’ll show you to the guest wing,” Gaara offered, leading Sasuke off into one of the many branching hallways.

“And don’t worry,” Gaara murmured once he they were a good distance away from the others, “This wing is a long way from where the first Kazekage kept his harem.”

Do not punch your host, even if you’re pretty sure sand will block it.

Gaara glanced over at him, waiting for a reaction. “Do you not like being teased? I used to be that way...”

Sasuke shook his head.

Gaara stopped fully, cocking his head to study him, “I would have thought that, being on a team with Naruto, you would be used to it.”

“I’m allowed to beat Naruto up when he’s being an idiot,” Sasuke said.

“Do you want to beat me up?” Gaara asked, clearly amused at the idea.

“I don’t think that would go over too well, Kazekage-sama,” Sasuke said dryly.

Gaara stood still a second longer, then turned away, leading him further down the wide corridor. Sasuke followed him in silence, pleased with his semantic victory.

Gaara ended up ushering him into a room that was almost as spacious as he remembered the Kazekage’s bedroom being. As he walked in, Gaara followed, shutting the door behind him. Sasuke noticed immediately and turned to glare at him, ready to rebuff any foreword advances, Kazekage or not.

Gaara met his gaze calmly... until he cracked. His face crumpled as he tried to hold in his laughter.

“I’m sorry... many people have been suspicious of me, but not because of anything like this,” he said, his fist hovering close to his mouth in case he couldn’t swallow his laughter, “I’m not sure if I should be insulted or not.”

“Be insulted,” Sasuke said coldly. But his words had the opposite effect than what was desired, because Gaara began openly snickering.

When he regained control, Gaara asked, “Do you want to fight now?”

Well, kind of, but...

“What are you babbling about?” Sasuke asked.

“I want you to be able to fight with me, if you want to. I brought you here so I could get to know you. It would be pretty pointless if you’re holding back all the time.”

Sasuke shook his head at him, “It’s not that simple. You’re a kage. You shouldn’t have any illusions about how things are supposed to be between us.”

“I remember you said something like that before... That I should have been thinking about my position before I kissed you.

Sasuke gave him an exasperated look, “And it didn’t sink in then, either.”

“You must think I’m immature. Or irresponsible,” Gaara surmised. Sasuke gave him a flat look, but Gaara didn’t seem insulted. “I can’t change my role in the village and I wouldn’t want to, but I’m beginning to find that there’s things I want in my life that have nothing to do with duty. On top of being a leader, I’ve found out that I wanted to be a son, and a brother, and a friend...” Gaara trailed off meaningfully.

“Those aren’t things I’ve known for a very long time, so I don’t like the idea of limiting myself, and I don’t want you to limit yourself either. At the very least, behind closed doors, you can try to beat me up, if you want. You can yell at me or argue with me, or tell me to get lost. I felt something interesting that night at the party, and it was because of you. I want to explore that. Whether it means we become friends or something else, I want more of it. I want to know about these feelings. Does that make sense to you at all?”

“It does,” Sasuke admitted, “And it doesn’t.”

“Why doesn’t it?”

Sasuke huffed, “I don’t talk about that stuff.”

“Not with anyone?” Gaara asked.

“No.”

“Why not?”

Sasuke shrugged, and then asked, “Did you also find out that you wanted to be an interrogator?”

Gaara didn’t look offended though; if anything, he looked even more intrigued. But he reopened the door to Sasuke’s room.

“I’ll go tell them where you’re staying,” Gaara said, “and give you time to recuperate before the next interrogation.”

Sasuke scowled at him as Gaara smirked his way back into the hall. Was Gaara trying to be cute or was he just now revealing himself to be a secret smart ass?

Sasuke sat down on the edge of the bed. He knew about finding your other selves, but self-discovery was never a happy prospect for Sasuke. New feelings were strange and awkward. And they made old feelings even worse, somehow.

It was feelings that had complicated his relationship with Naruto and Sakura. It seemed that his contrary mind only wanted things he could never have. Family, revenge, love...

Gazing out of the large, bright bay windows, he wondered what it would be like to love someone like Gaara. He tried to imagine staying in Suna. Living together. Doing missions. Relying on him.

It was an interesting picture, but not a very clear one. And it kept being interrupted by images of Sakura and Naruto, showing up in this new life, demanding to be let in. His team stomped all over the mansion. They picked him up, pushed him around, yelling, laughing, tackling him, holding his hand, comforting, kissing him…

Thankfully, those thoughts weren’t allowed to torment him for too long; a sand nin appeared with his bag and invited him to brunch.

That was the beginning of the other weird thing about Suna— they absolutely smothered him in attention.

Clothes and meals and good old fashion check-ins were a regular part of his days, even the days he filled entirely with training or research. Long lie ins with breakfast in bed, invitations for massages, offers to wrap him up in some sort of fruit juice that sloughed off all your skin... he finally drew the line at hair softening treatments, of all things... He had stayed in Suna for a month before, and with Naruto on top of that, but he had never seen them raise such a fuss over someone.

And that was just the service. Gaara’s attention was something else entirely.

Whether he liked it or not, as a kid, there had always been girls with crushes and boys who hero-worshipped him, but they had tended to keep their distance and hold more of a silent vigil, so they never much effected his life. That was not the case here.

Gaara didn’t keep vigil like a ten-year-old girl. When he showed interest, it felt like a man taking interest. A strange, intense man whom Sasuke was beginning to suspect had a sort of wry and mischievous sense of humor, but a man nonetheless.

Gaara’s presence was too pointed to ignore, but somehow, Sasuke often found himself locked into conversations with him without really meaning to. Or walking him across town to Suna HQ. Or sitting next to him at dinner. After so many days of close proximity to him in the carriage, Sasuke didn’t really notice. It was only when his focus shifted to an outside perspective did he see what an unusual duo they must have made. But it was weirdly easy to forget that and get sucked into the rhythm of Gaara’s life.

It made him wonder if he was actually safer waiting out his feelings in the Sand after all.

**** **** **** **** SAKURA

The wind buffeted sand at them from the moment they stepped out of the cart. Sakura thought it would be nice to visit Suna in the dead of Konoha’s brown winter, but apparently the desert also had its share of not so pleasant weather. Lucky them, they had arrived during the “windy” season.

She leaned into Kakashi’s side and he angled himself against the wind to shield them both, squinting to make out the shapes that were coming to greet them. Temari and Kankuro quickly came into sight, leading them up the stairs with their hands on their arms, pulling them into the Hokage’s palace.

“I think it’s safe to say that the picnic brunch is canceled,” Temari said by way of greeting as they all brushed themselves off. Gaara, too, appeared from behind his brother and sister. He was dressed in deep red with more fine, drapey fabrics than his usual ninja clothes. He would have made a romantic image of desert life if the desert itself had been a bit more welcoming.

Gaara smiled at them, but it was a stiff smile. Sakura wasn’t sure if she should be concerned or if the attempt was just him trying to be friendly.

“Kazekage-sama,” Sakura said with a quick bow, “I hope Naruto and Sasuke were good hosts when you visited. I’m sorry I couldn’t be there.”

“I had a good time,” Gaara said. Between his smile and his absent reply, Sakura wasn’t sure what to think.

“Let me take you to your rooms. You can get de-sanded.” Temari said, taking Sakura by the arm, “I’ve got you on my side of the house.”

Normally she tried to ensure that her room was as close to Kakashi’s as possible, but she figured they were safe enough in Suna. She waved a quick goodbye to the boys and began down the long, echoing hallways with Temari.

“How did things go at my place? Were the guys ok?” Sakura asked.

Temari’s grin tensed for just long enough to make her worry.

“They were fine, I guess. I don’t know what the rules of your house are normally like,” Temari said with a smile, “But there was very little property damage.”

“Oh no,” Sakura said, trying to sound playful, “Now I’m worried.”

Temari stopped her in front of a large red door with swirly golden filigree.

“This is you,” she said, “There’s clothes you can change into if you want... I have some duties to attend to before we start this morning, but can we talk later?”

Damn! I knew something was up! Sakura thought.

“Of course,” Sakura agreed.

“After the morning interval? At lunch?”

“Sure.”

“I’ll bring something to your room. We can talk then.”

Sakura found herself nodding. Termari smacked her on the arm and gave her a brief, heartening sort of smile, then left. Sakura walked into her suite and crashed onto the first chair she saw.

What the hell have they done now?

Sakura took her time changing, throwing her sandy clothes on the floor, all the while wondering about what Naruto and Sasuke had gotten up to.

Like I haven’t had to think about them enough on this trip!

**** **** **** ****

She was early to arrive in the meeting hall. The room was full of old, white haired diplomatic types, chatting amongst themselves. A familiar face smiled at her from across the room, but she wasn’t sure if it was a good thing: Kankuro probably knew about whatever the boys had done as well, and he was less likely to be tactful about it. Still, she met his smile when he approached.

“Quick, start talking to me before I get dragged in to one of these boring conversations,” Kankuro said under his breath.

“I’m not sure I can help with that. Ever since I got this position, boring conversations are all I seem to have.”

“Congrats on that, by the way. I’m guessing that being the a Hokage’s right hand man is an impressive achievement if you don’t have nepotism on your side like I do.”

“Well, Kakashi was my sensei when I was a genin, so I’m afraid to say that I fall under the nepotism umbrella as well.”

“Oh, good. Now I feel a little better about myself,” he joked, shifting his feet, “I also heard that you’re dating Naruto now,” Kankuro said, raising a brow at her, “Are you sure that’s a good idea? Isn’t he a bit young for you?”

Sakura laughed at his blatant flirting, “We’re the same age.”

“That’s right... I keep forgetting. You always seemed so mature.”

“Well you’re a whole four years older than me, so I guess I have to trust your sage-like opinion.”

“I really am happy for you both. It seems like you have a nice life in Konoha.”

She smiled. Tentatively, she asked, “Was everything ok when you visited? I’ve only been gone a month, but it feels like a year.”

Kankuro nodded, “Sure.”

But she could tell that that wasn’t the end of it. He added, at her stare, “Well, we did end up having a bit of a party.”

“Really? That wasn’t in the plans when I left!” She exclaimed, still play-acting good humor.

Kankuro waved her off, “It just kind of happened. Me and sis woke up early to clean up a bit while the kids slept it off,” he said, “We figured it was our fault for bringing enough booze to drown an elephant.”

Sakura hissed in a breath, “Did Naruto get very drunk?”

“He seemed ok, but he did end up passing out in the bathroom, I think. Temari said she saw him and Sasuke crawling out of there around noon the next day,” Kankuro said with a grin.

Her heart thumped. Naruto and Sasuke had been in the bathroom... drunk... together... all night?

Dirty thoughts! She admonished herself. But she couldn’t deny that it would be a relief for Naruto and Sasuke to have miraculously figured everything out before she even had to do anything. Hell, she’d even settle for something as innocent as another kiss to use for further proof of her theory! If Temari walked in on them... Maybe she saw something like that and now she felt like she had to tell Sakura out of kunoichi solidarity!

Sakura felt herself beginning to blush, but at the same time, she wondered what her reaction should be if Temari told her that she caught her boyfriend cheating on her with Sasuke. Should she pretend to be shocked? Try to downplay it? Maybe she could convince Temari to laugh it off as drunk boys being drunk boys (did boys do that stuff when they got drunk together? This last month was really making her question things!)

Lunch couldn’t come fast enough! She wished those old fogeys (and Gaara) would hurry up and start the meeting!

The rest of the morning was slow torture, even with Kankuro there to make small talk, and that, too, faltered when she had to go sit beside Kakashi.

She almost cried when the damn thing finally ended and she caught Temari’s waiting eye as she stood up. However, Kakashi grabbed the crook of her elbow and pulled her aside.

“Kankuro was friendly, wasn’t he?” He murmured.

“Yeah. He’s always really friendly,” Sakura replied lowly.

“Flirty, too.”

“Well, I did save his life once. You can never underestimate the medic effect on an injured ninja’s heart.”

“Hmm… I thought you were supposed to show medics your gratitude by running away from the hospital as soon as you were physically able. I could have been flirting this whole time...”

Sakura nudged him, “It would have saved yourself a lot of pain and your nurses a lot of effort.”

“I’ll remember that. Just know that you can always use me as an excuse to get away from him if you need to.”

Sakura looked back at Temari, hovering near the exit with two plates of refreshments in her hands, “Actually, I’ve got a good excuse to get away right now. Temari wants to talk privately in my room.”

“Did the kids do something while we were away?” Kakashi arched a brow.

“Kind of seems like it. I’ll see you after lunch,” Sakura said.

**** **** **** ****

Back in her quarters, Sakura sat beside Temari on the window seat, looking out at the sand sprinkling against the windows. Between them sat two plates of finger foods that neither had touched yet.

“I suppose you want to know what this is about?” Temari asked, reaching down for a stick of some purple vegetable before changing her mind.

Sakura was practically vibrating with anticipation. She nodded.

“Well... really, it’s... Would you mind if... I asked you something?” Temari staggered out.

“Go ahead.”

“It’s kind of uncomfortable. It’s about...”

Sakura held her breath.

“Shikamaru.”

Sakura blinked.

“You’re really close to him and his team, aren’t you?” Temari asked.

“Mostly Ino, but yes. We’re all friends.”

“I don’t want to step on any toes, but Sakura, I... I’m so confused. I just need to talk to someone who knows him.”

“Him?” Sakura asked, still fumbling with all of her pent-up adrenalin.

“Shikamaru.”

“Right. Ok. What’s up?”

Temari, however, looked uncharacteristically nervous. Sakura made a valiant effort to get her head in the game. “I’ll help you with whatever I can. Don’t worry about offending me.”

Temari nodded and asked, “How long has he been dating your friend, Ino?”

“Months... longer than Naruto and I have been together. I guess since... early autumn?”

Temari looked shocked. Sakura’s mind began to clear as the tone of her questions started to sink in, “Why do you ask? What’s going on with you and Shikamaru?”

“I don’t know,” Temari floundered, “We’ve been friends for years, and there was always the implication that it might be something more. During the last battle, before the armies split up, we kissed and I... I thought it meant something.”

Sakura bit her lip to keep her mouth from falling open. She had had no idea. She nodded at Temari to go on.

“After everything was over, I knew we both had work to do in our villages, especially since Konoha was so devastated,” Temari continued, “I thought we were waiting until things had settled down. We still wrote each other, but he dropped off a lot in the last few months. I thought I’d get to the bottom of it when I visited and... I guess I did.”

Sakura didn’t know what to say. She had no idea that things had been serious between Shikamaru and Temari. Ino had told her in the past that Shikamaru had a girlfriend in Suna, but she was always highly sarcastic when she brought it up.

“I just have so many questions. Was I cheated on? Did I help him cheat? I honestly thought what we had was real. Really real,” Temari said emphatically.

Sakura tried to get her bearings, wracking her brain for something that might be helpful, “When it comes to Shikamaru’s feelings, my knowledge is limited… cheating wise, I don’t know what to tell you. Ino and Shikamaru came out of nowhere, even for me. They’ve obviously known each other for forever and I know their parents wanted them to get together, but Ino never took them seriously. But Ino and Shikamaru came out of nowhere, even for me, so if he was acting like he was interested in you before that, then he probably was. Sincerely,” she added.

Temari looked pained, “Then why?”

“Well… it’s been so hard on their whole team...” Sakura said, “With all three of their parents taken all at once... they’ve needed each other. I think they either had to band together as a team or fall apart.”

“I get banding! But why dating? If he was never interested in her, then why?”

“I... I wouldn’t say never,” Sakura hedged, “Ino has always been pretty and outgoing. I’m sure when they were kids there were some crushes going around...”

“Again, I get that, but... that’s childhood. We’ve been writing each other for years, as adults. We’ve told each other things I’m sure only the other knows. But I guess... that doesn’t matter. I wasn’t there, so what the hell do I know?”

“It’s not like that,” Sakura said, “I’m sure he wasn’t trying to hurt you. He’s not that kind of guy. But Ino... sometimes I feel like she’s barely making it, even now. I’m sure that pulled at his heart strings. And Shikamaru has been so depressed— we’re all worried about him. I’m not sure if that’s a comforting explanation or not...”

Temari shook her head. Sakura went to put a hand on her shoulder, but Temari waved it away.

“I just wish he’d... I mean... I could have...” she tried to begin a few times, but failed. Sakura braced herself for the other girl’s tears, but they never came. After sitting for a few seconds in silence, Temari laughed, “Well, this sucks. And the timing couldn’t be worse with Gaara so keen on Konoha now... I guess I’ll just be a crappy sister and tap out of any more road-trips. Especially if Naruto wants to throw us more parties.”

“I think I can put a damper on the party spirit,” Sakura said with a consoling smile.

“Yeah, well... either way, can I suggest you invest in a second bathroom? It’s one thing to wander around in a field looking for a place to go in the middle of the night, but that’s not really something I like to do once the sun is up.”

“That’s right,” Sakura said, her heart stuttering back into play, “Kankuro said something about Naruto and Sasuke locking you out. I can’t even imagine how they ended up in there together.”

“I can,” Temari said ruefully, “They were both drinking up a storm.”

They chatted awhile longer. Sakura knew Temari was putting on a brave face and tried to think of some way to make her feel better, but nothing came to mind. Temari left before they ran out of things to say, leaving Sakura without an opening to tell her she could always come to her if she wanted to talk.

What a sad mess, Sakura thought, And I didn’t get any info about Sasuke and Naruto either.

She knew it had been a long shot, anyway. More wishful thinking than something that would actually happen. But it didn’t make facing the rest of the day any easier. She counted out the hours left until dinner was over and she could collapse in her room, then sighed.

**** **** **** ****

Sakura was picking at her food. It had been well over an hour since it had been served. Kakashi was still chatting away to all the beards and wrinkles in the room. Temari was avoiding her, probably not because she now wanted to kill her as the messenger of bad news, but because she sensed that if they spoke, Sakura would try to work some kind of platitudes into the conversation (she was right, too. Sakura had spent much of the rest of the day trying to think of what she could say to make Temari feel better). Gaara seemed lost in thought, almost anxious, staring into space as he sporadically picked at his food. Sakura lacked the boldness to try to start up a casual conversation with him when Naruto wasn’t around. To top it off, Kankuro had left dinner early, citing some excuse, but Sakura noticed how he had smiled conspiratorially at her when he slipped away.

She was about to go sit next to Kakashi so her telepathic cries for him to wrap things up might transmit to him better, when the door to the dining hall opened. That wasn’t anything new, people were milling in and out, and in fact it was just Kankuro, walking with someone beside him. But… that person also happened to look like a long-lost member of the Uchiha clan. In fact, as he grew closer, Sakura saw that he could have been Sasuke’s double, they were so identical...

Because it couldn’t have actually been...

“Sasuke?” Kakashi murmured. He sounded as surprised as Sakura felt.

“Sasuke-kun!” Sakura cried, standing up and running over to him, “What are you doing here?” She saw that he was wearing a pack and was severely dirty— he had apparently braved the sandstorm raging outside for several hours, “What’s going on? Is everything alright?”

He nodded. His eyes were red and slightly puffy, no doubt because of the wind.

“I was beginning to think we’d lost you,” said a voice from behind her. Gaara was standing at her nine.

“It would have saved you some painful exfoliation if you’d have let one of us guide you to the caves ourselves,” Temari said, crowding over as well.

“You guys knew he was here?” Sakura asked.

“Surprise!” Temari said cheekily, “I’ve been holding it in all day! This guy likes to keep us on edge, though,” Temari said, slapping Sasuke’s arm in a shocking gesture of familiarity.

“Is… is Naruto here too?” Sakura asked, trying not to look as thrown as she felt.

“He had a mission,” Sasuke said, his calm voice betraying nothing.

Sakura wanted to be pleased, but she was too surprised... and confused. In what world would Sasuke come to Suna without Naruto?

But Sakura couldn’t ask. Everyone was around, telling him to come sit, offering him food, and fussing about his exposure to the storm. Even Gaara seemed a bit more animated, his smile relaxing into one that seemed much more natural. You’d have thought it was Naruto who’d just burst in and interrupted dinner.

After a few minutes of cheerful chaos, Sakura casually grabbed a hold of Sasuke’s arm under the table. He glanced over at her, a look of understanding on his face. She knew he understood her unspoken question, but his face remained inscrutable.

There had to be something going on.

But how the heck were they supposed to get a chance to talk with everyone lining up to feed and bathe and clothe the wayward Uchiha? She wasn’t even sure why Sasuke merited such excitement, especially since he’d apparently already been there for days. “Training and studying scrolls like crazy,” Temari had claimed.

Someone would have told her if Sasuke had managed to save Gaara’s life or something on the one night they were in Konoha without her, right? It just figured that the one time she needed privacy with him was the moment everyone chose not to ignore him the way they usually did.

Sakura sighed and let her eyes drop to her plate. They would just have to meet up with each other after everyone else had gone to bed. Someone could lead Sasuke to her room, or vice versa, once all of these hosting niceties were out of the way.

She saw Kakashi, who had kept a distance from the Sasuke-driven commotion, stand up and yawn under his mask. An unmistakable sign that her dinner duties were over.

Sakura stood as well. Sasuke looked up at her, half rising from his seat.

“It’s ok. You finish and go wash up and all that,” Sakura said, “Come see me though, when you’re done. We have to catch up, after all,” she said cheerfully, mostly for the people who were crowded around listening, “I haven’t seen you in a month! I want to hear about what you and Naruto have been getting into.” With that, she traipsed over to Kakashi, as casual as could be, and asked if he was ready to retire. He agreed without ceremony and let himself be seen from the room, Gaara sparing him an absent bow before he left.

“Where’s your room?” Sakura asked him in the hall. Kakashi pointed toward the opposite wing of the house and they walked, leaving the noisy dining hall behind until their footsteps were the only sound echoing down the empty corridor.

“So the Kazekage decided to surprise us with Sasuke,” Kakashi said, his voice incredulous.

“Well, he doesn’t know about your weird, silent feud. He just knows we were all on a team once,” Sakura said quietly.

“Still,” Kakashi said, “I’m surprised he showed up without Naruto. I would have thought he’d have preferred a mission.”

Sakura didn’t say anything. She couldn’t. She had no idea why he was there either.

She dropped Kakashi off at his room with the usual platitudes of go to sleep, we have an early morning, let me know if you need anything, etc., and walked as quickly as she could back to her room to wait for Sasuke.

**** **** **** ****

Sakura had already washed up, but she was debating whether to put on her pajamas or tomorrow’s clean clothes in case Sasuke needed her to follow him somewhere, when there was a knock on the door.

“One second!” She called, abandoning the idea of clothes all together and throwing a robe around her towel-clad body instead, tying it shut with quick pulls of the sash. She checked herself in the mirror; wet hair, scrubbed face, general look of giddy anxiety. She took a deep breath and stared herself calm. There was another knock. She made herself walk, not run, to the door.

When she creaked it open, she had to stop herself from slamming it shut again. It wouldn’t have worked, anyhow. Her visitor had wedged his foot into the frame.

“Expecting someone else?” Kakashi asked, sidling in through the sliver of space his foot created.

Sakura glared at him.

“You didn’t do your nightly double check. I was lonely,” Kakashi said, pretending to pout.

“I thought Sasuke was going to come and talk.”

“Oh. Sorry. I hope he didn’t see me and get scared off,” Kakashi said, not sounding sorry at all.

Sakura grabbed his vest in her fists, “Dummy! That’s exactly what you were hoping for! What if he has something important to say?”

“If it was really important, he wouldn't care that I’m in here. Besides, I have an important question to ask too,” Kakashi said, pulling himself from her grip.

Sakura tsked, “What is it?”

“What the hell is going on?” Kakashi asked, his calm tone strangely at odds with his words.

“…What? What?” Sakura blathered.

“That’s my question: What the hell is going on? When you saw Sasuke, you turned white, then red, then white. Your pupils expanded and contracted so fast you’d think he was some kind of airborne toxin. So what’s going on? Why is he here?”

Sakura, momentarily surprised by his accuracy, regained her ground, “If you hadn’t interrupted, I might know by now. As it stands, I really have no idea. Maybe he just wanted to meet me on the way home.”

“Doesn’t he hate Gaara?” Kakashi asked.

“Ehhh... hate might be a strong word.”

“Doesn’t he hate me?”

“No. You two are just feuding over something. I wish one of you would tell me what it is.”

“I’ll tell you, if you tell me what’s going on.”

“I don’t know!” she repeated, “Honestly! I only have theories, but there’s no point in telling you those.”

“Oh so? You have good intuition. I’d be interested in your theories.”

She was silent. He leaned closer to her, his voice low.

“You haven’t been right for a couple months now. And I know it has something to do with one or both of them.”

“Why does it have to be them?”

“What else would it be?” he said bluntly, then looked down, “Your hands are shaking.”

Sakura unclenched her balled fists, pulling them together in front of her chest.

“Why can’t you tell me?” he asked.

“I can’t... because... it’s not even for sure yet. It’s like I said; I only have theories. And I could be wrong. And if I’m wrong alone, I think I can stand it, but if someone else knows...”

Kakashi placed a hand on her shoulder, but it didn’t look like he was trying to interrupt. She continued, “I tried to talk to them, but... I guess I wasn’t clear enough or something. And it was like Naruto didn’t even hear me, so... I’m just waiting it out a bit,” she said, her voice a whisper by the end.

His hand flexed on her shoulder before he dropped it to his side. He suddenly squatted on his knees, his arms crossed, one hand over his mask. After a few moments punctuated by lots of hmmm-ing, he said, “The only thing I can come up with is that one of you is cheating on the other with Sasuke.”

“That’s not it at all!” Sakura shouted.

“Then why all the secrecy? I thought I was patient enough to ride this out without interfering, but it’s been a couple months now...” Kakashi sighed, “Sakura... whatever you’re waiting for, stop.”

She furrowed her brow.

“Your team is about as empathetic as a pile of rocks, me included. The only person who gets hurt by holding on to whatever it is, is you. If Naruto doesn’t understand, explain it again and again until he gets it. If it has something to do with Sasuke... well... Sometimes being direct doesn’t work with him, so use whatever methods you’ve got for dealing with that brat and just get it done.

“Remember when you were too scared to peek around Sasuke’s house when you couldn’t find Naruto? I went with you, right?” Kakashi prompted.

Sakura nodded.

“Well, I’ll go with you again, if you want... metaphorically,” he added, “I’ll back you up in whatever way you need. But you can’t be scared of those two forever. Especially Sasuke. In the end, he’s just a guy.”

“I know, but...” Sakura wrung her hands, staring up at the older ninja, “Sometimes dealing with Sasuke feels like handling dynamite and other times it’s like juggling fine china.”

“He won’t break,” Kakashi said.

“But he’s been... ill.”

“Ill or not, he’s tough. But I wish you’d tell me what it is, damn it,” he said, suddenly agitated, and then laughed without humor.

“I promise I’ll tell you,” Sakura said, “Someday. When it’s over. Ok?”

“A lot of good I’ll be when it’s already over.”

“Well, who knows? You might have to pick up my pieces if there’s an explosion. But... I think you’re right. You know, there might even be a strategic advantage to having Sasuke here without Naruto if I wanted to confront him. Naruto adds an extra level of energy to everything...” she muttered to herself.

“You’re going to do something while we’re here?”

“What? What’s wrong with that?”

“We are on a diplomatic trip.”

“Psh, it’s the Sand. Gaara loves Naruto, and Kankuro would probably let me get away with anything... if Temari had a crush on Sasuke instead of Shikamaru, we’d be three for three...”

“Too bad I’m the one taking over as Hokage,” Kakashi said dryly.

“Well, Temari must like smart, stoic guys if she’s into Shikamaru, but he’s taken... you’re not.”

“Right. Well, I’m leaving,” Kakashi said.

“Oh, you don’t want to talk about relationships when it’s about you?” She teased.

“I’m not the relationship type,” Kakashi said, his hand on the door knob.

“Aw, come on Kakashi. Give the ladies what they want. You can’t stay single your whole life.”

“That’s the plan,” he said.

“But you’re so sweet. Checking in on me and giving moral support,” she said, jabbing him lightly in the back through his vest as he walked into the hall, “You’d make a good boyfriend. I’d be a waste if you never got serious about anyone.”

He turned and quickly pulled her in a circle until her back hit the door frame. With one arm settled over her head against the door and his other hand jammed in his pocket, he leaned over her, “You wanna try to change my mind?”

Sakura’s voice was stuck in her throat, her face felt so hot it might have been nuclear, but somehow, she was still frozen.

“How about this,” he said, the heat of his body radiating through her robe as he leaned closer, “If you can deal with your current boy problems, maybe a I’ll let you graduate on to a real challenge.”

He stepped away quickly, before she could think to push him. He was halfway down the hall when she finally managed to sputter an indignant, “You...!” but then remembered where they were. Friendly as they were with the Kazekage, she wasn’t about to start openly screaming at her future Hokage in his mansion.

“See if I ever tell you anything!” She whisper-shouted, “You can just suffer for all I care!” He seemed to be ignoring her, but he stopped short as he rounded the corner. She half hoped he was turning around with some retort; if it was bad enough, she’d chase him down, drag him into her room, and beat him until he apologized for teasing her yet again. And when he knew she had enough on her mind already! But then he continued on without a backwards glance.

It was better to let him go, for now. Especially if she wanted to see Sasuke. She slunk back into her room, even more keyed up than she was before.

Kakashi said to take action, but there were limits to what she could do without Naruto’s implicit approval. In her mind, Naruto was the real unknown quantity in the threesome equation. Sure, he had kissed Sasuke and taken a kiss from him in return, but his denial and willingness to downplay Sasuke’s behavior was downright confusing.

Ironically, it was Sasuke she was surer of for a change, with his possessiveness of them both, not to mention all the kisses that he instigated.... It wasn’t like she was going to have to seduce him. He just needed to know that it was ok to pursue them.

Sakura paced the bedroom, chewing her thumb. If she dared to lay it out on the line with Sasuke and they decided to make some kind of alliance, she might have had more luck getting through to Naruto.

But that felt pretty dishonest... not to mention disloyal. She didn’t want to pressure or trick Naruto if he wasn't sure of his feelings... or disappoint Sasuke if Naruto actually didn’t want to be with him...

No, without Naruto, she couldn’t bring herself to do anything.

She sighed, tossing herself backwards on to the bed. How the hell were these things supposed to happen naturally, and in tandem, with everyone feeling the right way at the right time? How did you just magically end up in a relationship with two people? She imagined some intelligence and planning had to go into it, whether all three participants were aware of it or not.

Or maybe it was more a matter of manipulating the circumstances, not the people.

Sakura sat straight up. Now that was something.

If she could think of a way to get Sasuke and Naruto in their feelings, then execute a perfectly planned set of circumstances that would throw them all together, alone... Maybe she could make something happen.

But what did it mean to manipulate the circumstances with Sasuke? Did it mean to just keep reminding him of how he felt about them? Keep it in the forefront of his mind so when they got home, all she’d have to do was rile them all into some situation and spring the trap?

Sasuke had kissed her on two occasions: once sincerely, and once, presumably, out of spite. But his jealousy and possessiveness was well recorded in her mind. So what was the best angle? And how could she cultivate a slow, even burn that would last until they got home to Konoha without puffing out or exploding?

She planned and schemed into the night, imagining and discarding possible scenarios, rating their effectiveness, difficulty, and possibility of success until, quite without realizing it, she fell asleep. It wasn’t until she woke up the next day that she realized Sasuke never showed up.

**** **** **** **** SASUKE

Sasuke walked very, very quickly down the halls of the Kazekage’s mansion. At night, with the windows dark and the lights dim, all the shining, opulent halls became something of a maze. He reached another branching corridor and looked around, trying to decide which direction to go, but more importantly, wondering what the hell he was doing.

Running away? Looking for an ambush spot? Fight and flight were currently at war inside of him.

What was the protocol when you saw your ex-sensei pawing at one of the most important people in your life?

If things were normal, the only answer would be to stay out of it. This was a problem for Naruto, Sakura, and, as much as he wanted to gag thinking about it, Kakashi.

But it had never been clearer that things were not normal with his team. And all his effort, all of his guilt, running away to the Sand to try to spare his sweet and innocent teammates the burden of his feelings, was as unnecessary as sparing a fish the ocean or a bird the sky.

It suddenly seemed very possible that everyone on Team 7 was just as crazy as he was. Otherwise, how could they be this oblivious? They let Sasuke kiss them, and just took it in stride. He thought he was special, but maybe that’s just how they’d act if anyone came on to them. He had found Naruto in the bathroom with that crazy Hyuuga who was so obsessed with him, and God only knew how far Kakashi had gotten with Sakura if she was willing to let him lean over her like that.

“Sasuke?” a voice called. He quickly spun around to make sure no one had rounded the corner from Sakura’s direction, but no. The voice was coming from the opposite way. Gaara was walking toward him in pajamas with a big silky robe trailing off his shoulders and an arm full of scrolls.

His glass green eyes narrowed as he closed the distance, “What’s wrong?”

Right at that moment, Sasuke definitely heard footsteps coming from Sakura’s hall. He quickly grabbed Gaara around the shoulders and maneuvered them both into the closest room, shutting the door behind them.

After standing in the dark for a few moments, Sasuke heard the slither of sand as Gaara flicked on the lights. It turned out the room was another guest bedroom, elegant and lux, but a bit smaller than Sasuke’s quarters.

“Are we in danger?” Gaara asked calmly, looking from Sasuke to the closed door that he was braced against.

“The only person in danger is that damn, broomstick-looking bastard Kakashi,” Sasuke seethed.

Gaara quirked a non-existent eyebrow, “The future Hokage? Why?”

“Because I’m going to kill him,” Sasuke said dully, pressing his palms to his forehead and sinking down to the floor.

Gaara, who had been on alert since Sasuke grabbed him, finally relaxed. Setting down the scrolls that he was holding, he joined Sasuke on the floor, crossing his feet under him and giving Sasuke his usual, unblinking stare.

“Why?” He asked.

Sasuke was really not in a place to fend off Gaara’s probing. He finally settled on, “You wouldn’t understand.”

“If there’s any topic I’m familiar with, it’s wanting to kill people for various reasons. Try me,” Gaara said. And Sasuke noticed that Gaara didn’t look like he was teasing, for a change. That was probably for the best. Sasuke was pretty sure that he could count himself among the people that Gaara had wanted to kill at one point in time, after all.

Sasuke gave him a flat stare, “It’s complicated,” he said.

Gaara nodded, “Why?”

“Because it’s about my team,” Sasuke sighed, “And we’re all insane.”

Gaara nodded again, “I’ve spent enough time with your team to see what you mean. Naruto is an intense person, and Sakura can keep up with him, so she must have her own eccentricities. And then there’s you.”

“There’s me,” Sasuke said, smiling without humor, “I thought if I...” he began, and then stopped, seeing Gaara’s focused gaze.

Gaara noticed and for the first time, something like annoyance crept into his facade.

“Why did you come here?” Gaara asked, “Because it wasn’t for me.”

Sasuke didn’t know what to say into that loaded silence.

“Was it because Sakura would be here?” Gaara asked archly, “Without Naruto? You were coming from the direction of her room and it sounds like you’re jeal—“

“No. It’s not like that—“

“Then was it to get away from Konoha? From Naruto? Is it because we kissed?”

Sasuke shook his head, “It’s nothing that easy.”

“Why are you so scared to tell me?” Gaara asked.

“I barely know you. And it’s not like you owe me any loyalty,” Sasuke grumbled.

“I disagree,” Gaara said, “I like you. I consider you a friend and a close ally. You have my loyalty. Although, I think what you really desire is my confidence. So, you have that as well.” Gaara looked at him expectantly, but when it was clear Sasuke wasn’t going to start, Gaara took a long moment with his eyes closed, like an academy teacher collecting his patience. Speaking slowly, Gaara began again, “Why do you think your team is insane? Explain it a little.”

Sasuke glared at him, “Because they are. Everything is so screwed up between us all. Kakashi’s been hounding after Sakura for months and God knows what happened between them while they were alone on the road. Naruto and Sakura are jumping through hoops worried about me, but they’re both completely oblivious to what’s going on around them. Someone could walk up to them and kiss them, one after another, and they’d both think that person just wanted to be their friend,” Sasuke tsked, “It’s driving me crazy.”

“What about you?” Gaara asked, “Are you the sole voice of reason?”

“Hell no. I’m the worst one.”

“Why?”

Sasuke hesitated. Gaara noticed and redirected his line of questioning.

“So is that why you came out here? To check on Kakashi and Sakura?”

Sasuke looked at the floor, “No. It didn’t occur to me until I saw him creeping on her. I came to... get some distance from them.”

“Because they’re so oblivious?” Gaara asked, sounding confused, “They might be naive, but it doesn’t sound like they’re in any real danger. Why is it so stressful—"

“Because I’m the asshole who kissed them both and they still don’t understand why I did it!” Sasuke suddenly snapped, the words flowing from his mouth before he could stop them.

Gaara stared at him, his face completely blank. Sasuke looked away from Gaara and tried to control his breathing.

After a long moment, Gaara murmured, “You said you’d kissed someone...”

“Sakura,” Sasuke said quietly, “Then Naruto... Then Sakura and Naruto,” Sasuke said, irritation creeping back into his voice.

“So it bothers you that they’re oblivious... because they’re oblivious to you,” Gaara said, still in a ponderous tone, “But then, if you weren’t worried about Sakura and Kakashi, why did you come here?”

“I didn’t want to be alone with Naruto. I don’t want to cause them any more... problems.”

“Why did you kiss me?” Gaara asked. Sasuke chanced a look at him. He didn’t sound accusatory or jealous or sad, and his face was still passively neutral…

Sasuke shrugged, “The people I... those two are together, so I thought, why not? ...Sorry,” he added, realizing he might have said something insensitive.

“I’m not offended. Kankuro accused me of kissing you on a whim, and he was right,” Gaara said with a small smile, “But I wasn’t averse to something more.”

“I... don’t think I would have been either, if things were different,” Sasuke said quickly, “I actually think you’re... alright.”

“I think you’re alright, too… now that I know what’s going on with you,” Gaara said, the wryness returning to his expression.

Sasuke huffed, “If you didn’t think I was alright before, then why did you kiss me?”

“I don’t suppose anyone’s ever told you how good looking you are.”

Sasuke looked away again. It was too soon for teasing. He felt raw and shaky inside. He’d just told the Kazekage a secret big enough to end him. If he wanted to, he could blackmail him into doing almost anything.

Why?! Why did I tell him?!

He had to play it cool. He couldn’t let Gaara know it was such a big deal. He wanted to wipe his shaking hands on his borrowed robes, but Gaara was still watching him closely...

“Are you alright?” Gaara asked.

Sasuke nodded.

Gaara scooted closer to him, until they were knee to knee. Sasuke flinched when Gaara reached out and clasped his shoulder.

“As I said, you have my silence. But I am... curious. I’ve never been in a situation like yours. What are you going to do?”

“About what?” Sasuke asked absently. Slowly, the adrenalin was draining from his veins. He didn’t know if he could trust Gaara, but he wasn’t asking for anything... Maybe... maybe things would be ok.

“Your feelings,” Gaara clarified.

“My feelings? About Kakashi? I’ll probably just beat him up or something. If I ride with the convoy home, I might get the chance—"

“About Naruto and Sakura. How do you want this to end?”

Sasuke stared at him, perplexed. He didn’t have anything like an end goal. He just had feelings. Wasn’t that bad enough?

“Do you think you’ll ask them to be with you?” Gaara asked.

“Them... with me? Both of them?” Sasuke replied, incredulous.

Gaara looked like he was fighting a smile again. He leaned back on his hands and nodded, his mouth tense.

“They’re already together!” Sasuke barked, “Why the hell would they want to involve me?”

“Why not?” Gaara asked, “You already live together, and they obviously have strong feelings toward you. I don’t know much about Sakura, but Naruto was very weird after we kissed.”

Sasuke shook his head, “He just... he just wants to make sure we all stay together. He doesn’t want the team to break up.”

Gaara squinted at him, “That sounds like the same thing that you want.”

“Keeping the team together isn’t the same as wanting to kiss me... or letting his girlfriend kiss me.”

“Didn’t you say you’d already kissed them both? Twice? And in front of each other?”

“But that was just to prove a point. Naruto wouldn’t stop fawning all over me and Sakura, she... I... I had to keep it even,” Sasuke finished in a mumble, realizing how weak of an excuse it was as he said it.

Gaara ducked his head, snickering into his fist, “That... doesn’t seem normal. If they didn’t run after that, then I say you’d be a fool not to at least ask them if they’d be open to it.”

“To... to what?! Me dating both of them? Sleeping with both of them?!” Sasuke asked, heat racing to his face.

Gaara chuckled and nodded at the same time, “Sure. What’s wrong with that?”

“What isn’t wrong with that?! Who does that?! I don’t know anybody who... who...”

“To be honest, I don’t either, but I know it’s not unheard of,” Gaara said, “My father had plenty of mistresses...”

“That’s totally different,” Sasuke spat.

“Is it?”

Sasuke just glared at him.

Gaara shrugged, “Is it bad to be different? If it’s what you want, what do you gain by keeping it to yourself?”

“It’s more about what I have to lose, and that’s the only two people in this damn world that care about me.”

Gaara grew quiet. It seemed the sand brat didn’t have an answer for that one. Sasuke leaned his head back and sighed, the door uncomfortably hard against his skull.

“Let me take you back to your room. I’m sure Kakashi is gone by now,” Gaara said.

“Sakura is expecting me,” Sasuke murmured, “She might come looking for me if I don’t show up.”

Gaara looked over his shoulder at the pile of scrolls he’d been holding, “You can come with me to the office. No one will look for you there. You can help me carry,” Gaara said, standing up, stretching out his hand to him.

Sasuke sighed deeply one more time and took it. Anything to stop thinking about this stuff anymore tonight.

In fact, as they gathered the scrolls between them, something else occurred to Sasuke.

“You work too much,” he told Gaara.

“You think so?”

“When do you rest? Or train?”

“Never needed much of either,” Gaara said. Sasuke tsked.

“Everyone needs training. I should take you at least once before I go. We’ll have to make time to do it tomorrow…”

He saw Gaara smile from the corner of his eye. Good, Sasuke thought, It’s the least I can do since he tried to help.

****SAKURA

Sakura honestly wasn’t sure who to glare at. The dining room was set up as a buffet that morning, the long table covered in food and plates with chairs scattered around the room for a more casual experience. Even though they were at the Kazekage’s personal home, there were still loads of advisors and ninjas milling around at 8 a.m. And plenty of targets for Sakura’s ire as well.

She started with Kakashi. When he walked into the dining room her face must have tipped him off to her mood because he sat far, far away, practically on the opposite side of the room after a short stroll around the buffet. It was definitely his fault that Sasuke hadn’t shown up the night before. On top of that, it was his encouragement that got her so distracted with her own planning that she forgot to seek the Uchiha out herself.

Then Kankuro and Temari dragged their chairs over to hers and plopped down on her left and right, looking like they were in the mood for a nice, long chat. Aside from forcing her to be peppy and polite, they were also rooting her in place, making it impossible for her to go sit next to Sasuke when he arrived.

And then there was Gaara. Sakura knew she couldn’t glare at the Kazekage, but it was so unfair! He grabbed Sasuke the moment he walked in the door and the two ended up sitting side by side in the parallel corner, speaking under their breath and looking very much like they were in cahoots about something.

That left Sasuke. Glaring at her team mate was usually acceptable; the idiot stood her up the night before, after all. But she was trying to be alluring and the evil eye tended to put guys off.

And then there was the frustration of not having been able to come up with a good plan to make him jealous... or ‘just jealous enough’.

Why is this so hard? She lamented internally, poking at the spiky green fruit on her plate in despair. I just need to forget about all my stupid plans and wait until I’ve got Naruto on my side… as messy as he is. At least then I’ll have an ally… probably.

Sakura looked up at the surprising sound of Gaara chuckling. Sasuke looked a bit miffed, but Gaara looked genuinely happy. Sakura frowned and strained her ears to listen to their conversation, but then Gaara was suddenly addressing Kakashi all the way on the other side of the room.

“Kakashi-sama,” Gaara said, looking over to him, “What would you say to letting Sasuke continue his political training here in Sunagakure?”

“Mmm? Train here?” Kakashi asked, his voice light, but surprised.

Gaara nodded, “It would be wise for Sasuke to get different political perspectives than Naruto, don’t you think?”

Kakashi tilted his head, considering, “It’s an idea with merit, certainly,” he said, and then suddenly glanced over at Sakura. She looked away.

Sakura’s heart was racing, but it was easy to get ahold of herself. The idea was absurd, almost funny. Sasuke would never train with Gaara. Hell, he barely tolerated him.

But Sasuke must have made an amazing impression at the party, Sakura thought, smiling weakly to herself.

On both sides, Kankuro and Temari were leaning around her to whisper to each other behind her chair. She tilted back to intercept them.

“What? What’s the secret?” she asked, lowering her voice to a whisper, too.

“Just... them,” Temari murmured, indicating Gaara and Sasuke, “Over there, whispering to each other. They’re so cute together.”

Sakura smiled in confusion, “Who?”

“Gaara and Sasuke.”

Sakura snorted but tried to contain her laughter. She whispered, “Yeah, I guess so. I mean, they’re both quiet guys, so it’s kind of funny to see them try to talk to each other.”

The other girl squinted at her, “Did… Bro, did you tell her? I thought you would have spilled the beans first thing,” Temari said, leaning back to look at Kankuro.

Kankuro rolled his eyes, “I figured I’d better not since we were trying to keep Sasuke a surprise yesterday. Besides, I’m not trying to spread it around like you are. I’m still unsure how I feel about it, actually.”

“Oh please,” Temari scoffed.

“What is it?” Sakura asked in a hush. But her eyes were glued on Sasuke as he leaned ever so slightly toward Gaara.

“Your teammate and our baby brother kissed at Naruto’s party,” Temari said, her face gleeful, “It was adorable.”

“How do you know it was adorable? You didn’t even see it,” Kankuro muttered.

“It’s adorable that it happened,” Temari said, glowering at her brother.

Sakura felt her heart stop. For a second, it actually stopped beating. Her hands filled with chakra, just in case she had to reset it, but slowly it thudded back to its normal rhythm again.

“Are you ok?” Temari asked. It took Sakura a few moments too long to realize Temari was talking to her.

“This is why you don’t need to be so eager to tell everybody about it,” Kankuro said, but Sakura shook her head.

“No, no, it’s totally fine. I just… I’m surprised is all. I thought Sasuke… well, I thought he…”

“Did you… not know he was into guys?” Temari asked. The sound of her whispering voice suddenly made Sakura want to scream.

“I knew. I knew. I just thought he… Um… I need to go real quick,” Sakura said, standing up and setting her plate on her chair.

Kankuro and Temari stood as well, but she waved them off, “I’ll be right back,” she said. It took all of her will power not to sprint out of the room.

“I waited too long,” she whispered to herself once she was alone in the hall. She clasped her hand over her mouth, holding in the thoughts that were threatening to become too loud for her head to contain, walking as quickly as she could to her room.

How could I have possibly done anything different? I’ve been away! He didn’t give me any time!

I should have figured it out sooner.

Once in her quarters, she slammed the door behind her and clutched her heart.

I waited too long, she thought again as tears leaked down her face, I’m too late.

She stumbled over to her bag. It was filled with clean travel clothes since the Sand had washed everything for her. She dumped them out on to the floor. Soap and hairbrushes and bags of make-up scattered everywhere. Finally, she had found what she wanted; her wallet. Inside, there were two photos: one of her and her parents when she was a child and the other of Team 7, freshly formed and straight out of the academy.

She studied their young faces and sobbed. In her head, she had framed having a relationship with both Naruto and Sasuke as a strange, stressful compromise that she was willing, but reluctant, to make. She had kept herself so busy being scared of the repercussions and then planning how she could feasibly make it happen, that she had failed to notice that this was actually something she wanted. Really wanted. Sakura had recklessly dangled the possibility of being in a relationship with Sasuke in front of herself again, but this time without having to sacrifice anything in order to get it.

Only now could she see what insane wishful thinking that was. And how pathetic she truly was as a person.

I don’t deserve either of them, she thought, sobbing, I’ve been so happy with Naruto, but this whole month I’ve been thinking about how to get Sasuke, too. I’m a horrible person.

“Damn it,” she said, sniffling, “Damn all of this.”

**** **** **** ****SASUKE

Sasuke quickly smacked his hand against Gaara’s gut, making the sand nin twitch.

“What was that?” Sasuke whispered.

“An experiment,” Gaara said, smiling wryly, “And an offer. I really do think you should spend some time training here. But more importantly, Sakura looks distressed, don’t you think? That bodes well for you.”

Sasuke chanced a glance at her, but she was just embroiled in a whispering session with Gaara’s siblings. Nothing new there. If anything, it was Kakashi who was intent on scrutinizing him after Gaara’s little public announcement.

“I don’t need you meddling in my relationship with my team. It’s complicated enough already,” Sasuke muttered under his breath, “I thought I made that clear.”

“I know, but…” Gaara stopped as Sakura stood abruptly and retreated from the room as the two older Sand siblings uneasily watched her departure. Temari glanced over at them.

“That was weird,” Gaara said, then stood as well, “Let’s take a small break before the meetings begin,” he announced to the room. Temari rushed over to them both, even as Gaara mumbled to Sasuke, “You should go after her.”

“Sasuke,” Temari breathed, uncharacteristically worried, “I… I think I might have messed up.”

“What is it?” he asked, but then he saw Kakashi over her shoulder, crossing the room and following in the direction that Sakura had gone.

That absolute, unbelievable bastard.

Gaara grabbed his wrist and brought him back to the present where Temari was also glancing over her shoulder to see what had made him scowl like that.

“What is it?” Gaara asked Temari.

“I just told Sakura about… um… the episode between you and Gaara at the party. I really thought she would have already heard about it by now,” Temari said, trying to justify herself, “But she didn’t and she seemed really thrown by it. I’m really really sorry if I outed you.”

Sasuke didn’t really know what to say. A lot of conflicting feelings were blowing through his head.

Back when he first arrived in Suna, he realized that he had given himself an opportunity: He could be the one to tell Sakura about the kiss.

Naruto’s reaction had been distorted by a crowd of people and alcohol. But Sakura... well, some masochistic part of him wanted to see if she was bothered by the news or not.

Stupid, stupid, stupid, he’d berated himself at the time, but still, it was an irresistible prospect.

There was another upside as well: kissing Gaara just so happened to be a great cover for his real feelings. The more devious side of him surmised that if Sakura thought he was interested in Gaara, then she wouldn’t suspect him of loving her and Naruto in the ‘wrong way’. As long as he could keep himself from another stupid outburst, then maybe he could trust himself with them, be the person they were expecting, and not give himself away…

But when he saw her for the first time in a month last night, he felt something tense inside him relax. The entire room had been buzzing around them, but he felt like, as long as she was there, holding his arm, none of it mattered. He was with Sakura, so he was comfortable. At home.

That was not a good start on his mission to get some distance and clear his head. And now he was supposed to chase her…

Was it really a good idea for Sasuke to be alone with her?

Gaara broke him from his contemplations by speaking to Temari, “Will you go get Kakashi-sama for me? Tell him I have a question to ask him before we begin proceedings today. Quickly, please.”

Temari gave Gaara a quizzical look, clearly thinking there were more important things going on at the moment, but nodded, “Alright.”

“He went that way, in the direction of Sakura’s room,” Gaara said, pointing down the hall, “Please hurry.”

Giving them another strange look, she skipped away in search of Kakashi. Gaara turned to face Sasuke directly, “I’ve given you an opening. Go.”

Sasuke scowled at him, “Look. I appreciate what you did just now, but it wasn’t necessary. I told you, I’m not going to risk everything on some stupid off chance that my teammates have feelings for me.”

“Would it really be such a risk?” Gaara asked, “If you haven’t lost them yet, I don’t see why you having feelings for them would be the final straw in pushing them away.”

Sasuke shook his head, trying to think of something to convey the gravity and the sheer strangeness of the situation to Gaara, but Gaara gave him a small shove, “Stop trying to fight with me and go see what’s wrong with Sakura. You’re able to do that much, aren’t you?”

Sasuke stared at him evenly, then sighed and turned to follow Temari, his heart beating a little too strongly.

When he was half-way to Sakura’s room, Temari rounded the corner with Kakashi in tow. They met each other’s eyes and stopped.

“Can I have a moment to speak with my adorable little student?” Kakashi asked when Temari intercepted the looked they were giving each other.

Sasuke was only glad that Gaara wasn’t around; he would have definitely been amused at the ‘adorable little student’ title.

Sasuke really needed to hurry up with a plan to kill Kakashi before he became Hokage.

“Sure. I’ll be waiting in the dining room…” Temari said, looking concerned. She probably thought she was the cause of all this. Normally Sasuke wouldn’t care, but he’d found an unexpected ally in her during his time in Suna. He made a mental note to make this up to her later.

They both watched as she left, and Kakashi kept his voice low enough as to not carry in the empty halls, “Does you coming out to the Sand mean you’re not mad at me anymore?”

“I’m in a hurry,” Sasuke said, refusing to rise to the bait, “If you want something, say it.”

“I’m just curious about a few things. There’s so much I’ve missed out on…” Kakashi drawled, “My students are suddenly so secretive. Sakura… Naruto… You.”

Sasuke forced himself to stay calm. He couldn’t even speculate what Sakura or Naruto’s secrets were, but Kakashi wouldn’t have been able to guess his secret. Hell, he didn’t even know he had a secret until a week ago.

Maybe someone had let it slip that Sasuke had kissed Gaara and Kakashi thought he was hiding it. If that was the case, then it didn’t matter.

If anything, the more people know, the better, the darker side of his mind thought, Then no one will suspect me of anything else…

“Yes, Team 7 is quite the unit,” Kakashi said slowly, “I’m proud of you for opening up to your friends. The three of you have gotten very close…”

Sasuke frowned. That didn’t sound like it was about Gaara.

“But there’s always something, isn’t there? Something in the way of you all functioning like a normal team…”

Sasuke’s heart began to pound. How? How the fuck would Kakashi know anything about his feelings? Had Sakura blabbed about the kissing?

“At least I can count on Sakura to be perceptive enough to pick up on things. But you and Naruto tend to be the last to notice when—”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Sasuke finally spat, “Do you actually have something to say, or are you just going to keep spouting cryptic shit at me, hoping that I’m dumb enough to fill in the gaps for you?”

When Kakashi finally dropped his serious expression and smiled, he actually looked happy. “Damn. You’ve gotten too savvy for your own good. Soon I won’t even be able to lure information out of Naruto.”

Sasuke cursed, then began to walk away.

“I do know there’s something wrong, even if I don’t know what it is. If it wasn’t you, I wouldn’t keep repeating myself, but if you need to talk to someone, I’m here.”

Sasuke checked over his shoulder to watch Kakashi walk out of sight.

Sakura’s door was just around the corner, but… if she had told Kakashi something… maybe she’d guessed about his feelings.

But if that was the case, why did she run away like some stricken maiden after Temari broke the news about Gaara? If anything, she should have been relieved.

Standing outside her door, Sasuke tried to clear his mind of all things Kakashi, and while he was at it, all the stupid, lovelorn thoughts in his brain. This was Sakura. Together, they formed the delegation for reason in their little team triangle. They could talk and be reasonable.

If they couldn’t… well, he might as well send a letter to Konoha requesting a courier to bring all of his stuff to the Sand.

**** **** **** ****SAKURA AND SASUKE

There was another knock at the door. Sakura lifted her head from her pillows just long enough to shout a reply.

“Go away, Kakashi! I’m fine!”

“It’s me.” She heard a familiar low voice on the other side of the door.

Sakura buried her face in her pillow again. Why? Sasuke didn’t want to see her last night when she wanted him, but now that she was in hysterics, wallowing in a pit of self-hatred, he was knocking on her door?

Freaking typical.

The door handle jiggled— it wasn’t locked. It seemed he was letting himself in.

Sakura quickly wiped her face on her pillow and pulled herself out of bed in an attempt not to look quite so prostrate as the door slowly opened.

And there he was. Her stupid, beautiful, unreachable teammate. Sasuke took a tentative step into the room, his expression changing to something close to alarm when he laid his eyes on her.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, kicking the door closed and striding in.

Sakura sniffed and shook her head, “Why… didn’t you come see me last night?”

“Ran into Kakashi when I tried. Thought you were busy,” Sasuke lied. The fact that Sasuke had seen Kakashi practically kissing her goodnight was something he could bring up later, when she wasn’t crying.

“So what is it?” Sasuke asked. Ignoring the self-doubt he had about his own motivations, he laid his hands on her shoulders and led her to sit down on the little sofa. The place was a bit of a mess, with clothes and books and little bottles of make-up slung around in every direction. If there was no other proof that something was wrong with Sakura, that alone would be enough to rouse his suspicion.

“That’s what I’ve been wanting to ask you,” Sakura said, her voice congested with tears, “I kind of thought there must have been something wrong for you to have come out here to meet me like this.”

Sasuke knew she knew about Gaara now. He had been planning whole heartedly on using Gaara as his excuse. But… now that she was here in front of him, possibly even crying over him…

Sakura stared at Sasuke, sitting all somber and silent. This was his chance to tell her what was going on, that he had apparently decided to take up with Gaara in the one lousy month that she had been gone. Instead, he seemed to be in deep thought, as though considering whether he was even going to bother discussing it with her

Unwillingly, Sakura felt anger begin to rise in her and she pushed out of his grasp, getting to her feet and walking away from him, “You know, I thought you hated Gaara,” she said, kicking some clothes in the direction of her bag just to give herself a reason to look away from him, “Shows how much I know, right? I’m happy for you. You’re… cute together.”

It took all of Sasuke’s willpower not to correct her assumption as she turned away from him, suddenly keen to toss her scattered clothes back into her backpack.

“What’s wrong, Sakura?” he pressed, following her as she crossed the room, or at least trying to. He kicked a book with his foot and sent it sliding a few feet in front of him. He bent to pick it up and glanced at the cover. Sakura turned around, saw the book in his hands, and froze, her face flaring to bright pink in less than a second. He didn’t even have time to look down at the book again before she dived at him. Reflexively, he held the object up over his head, out of her reach. The next thing he knew, she had tackled him and they’d both fallen to the floor, the book slipping out of his grasp as she landed on him.

“What the hell?” he growled, grabbing on to her arms, but she powered through his grasp, reaching over his head. She practically crawled over his face to get her hands on the book.

When they had both scrambled back to their feet, Sakura was breathing heavy, clutching the book to her chest like it was some sort of precious gem.

“What’s in the book?” Sasuke asked dryly.

“Nothing!” Sakura shouted, making sure to keep the cover hidden as she marched back to her bag and shoved it all the way to the bottom. She thought she was going to die right there, turning around to see that book in his hands. She should have burned Arise, My Knights the first moment she had the chance, but no, instead she had actually convinced herself to read it.

Sasuke was staring at her, the little bit of rough housing seeming to only increase his determination to hound out the source of her tears. Sakura had to get away from him. After all these back to back mental blows, there was no way she could speak rationally to him right now.

“Let’s just forget about all this and get to work, ok? I just have to… to wash my face real quick and I’ll be ready. You can meet me out there,” Sakura said.

“You still haven’t answered my question. Why were you crying?”

“I… I don’t know, ok? I just was,” she said with a huff. Good. I actually sounded normal just then.

Sasuke gave her a long stare. She was retreating. He could almost see her mask building itself back up.

“We’re not supposed to lie and hide things from each other,” Sasuke said, feeling like the world’s biggest hypocrite.

“But we do, don’t we? We all have things… secrets and stuff,” she replied, walking into her en suite and running the sink.

“You don’t have to keep secrets from me,” Sasuke said. What could be so awful that she couldn’t tell him? Unless it was Kakashi related… He stood in the doorway of the bathroom, ready to meet her eyes when she looked into the mirror.

When she did, she sighed and turned to wipe her face with the washcloth.

“I don’t understand,” Sasuke said, his irritation beginning to grow. “You and Naruto both want me to tell you everything I’m thinking at all times. Now that something’s going on, you’re trying to get out of doing the same?”

Sakura turned and stamped her foot, throwing the washcloth on to the vanity, “Please! You barely tell me anything, and when you do, I need a magnifying glass and a cipher to even understand it! How about I tell you why I’m upset when you tell me why you really kissed Gaara, ‘cause I know there’s got to be another story there.”

“You want to know why?” He asked, stepping toward her with menace. Sakura’s stomach flipped, but she stood her ground as he stopped right in front of her face, his eyes locked on hers, “I was horny and he was there. That’s it.”

“So now you’re betrothed?” Sakura snapped, ducking past him and walking back into her room, “That’s why you followed him out here? That’s why everyone here is treating you like a visiting prince?”

Sasuke growled, cursing himself. Damned if she wasn’t sharp, but he knew that already. The only thing he could do was stick to his story. And try to keep her from walking away from him for half a second. He grabbed her by the shoulder again, spinning her back to face him. “It’s your turn,” he said.

“You didn’t tell me anything! Because it doesn’t make sense! There’s no way you’d follow this guy all the way to Sunagakure just because of a horny kiss.”

“A man will do a lot to get something he wants.”

Sakura glared at him, “I know. You kissed me and Naruto, didn’t you?”

A startled look flew across her face and Sasuke felt a stone drop in his stomach. Sakura turned to look at the exit, practically straining herself to keep from running to the door.

“I mean, if… if you were really that horny, how about finding someone in Konoha? Someone you don’t hate? It… it doesn’t add up…” she prattled. But Sasuke could tell that she was only trying to backpedal on the raw point she had just made.

She knows. She’s figured it out somehow. She knows how I feel, Sasuke thought.

“What are you saying, Sakura?” he forced himself to ask, “Do you think I kissed you and Naruto out of lust? Because I wanted somebody?”

Sasuke could see the wheels spinning in Sakura’s head as she tried to deal with his question. A gambit of emotions fought to work themselves out on her face, but in the end, she settled on her favorite; argumentative defiance.

“That depends,” she said, “Are we talking about the first time or the second time?”

Sakura watched, almost amazed at the sight before her. Sasuke took a step away from her. It looked like she had actually gotten under his skin. When he backed into the edge of her bed, he stumbled, but caught himself against it.

“That’s not fair,” he said, “The first time, I didn’t know that you and he—"

“I know! I know. I’m not accusing you of anything malicious,” Sakura said, making her voice kinder, easing toward him as he watched her with wary eyes.

The weight of pain and misunderstanding in the room was palpable, crackling between them like lightening until she was hardly sure who was hurting who anymore and why. All of the unspoken issues that she’d been dealing with since the last time he kissed her were struck into the ground around them like the bars of an invisible cage. How could she connect with Sasuke in any real way if there was always going to be this massive facade between them?

Sakura bit her lip, took a deep breath, and decided to be brave.

“Sasuke-kun… I could be wrong, but… I think that all of us have been lying to each other… and to ourselves… for a while,” she said, her voice a strained whisper, “I think we both know why the three of us keep kissing each other.

“I mean, that doesn’t just keep happening for no reason, does it?” she asked, attempting a weak smile even as her legs shook.

Sasuke looked dazed as he stared at her, “You said… kissing each other?”

“Naruto kissed you on that mission, right?” she clarified, “And with us, the first time, we… we sort of met in the middle,” she mumbled, her face heating up again, “Although that last time really was all you…”

“I don’t understand... Do you want me to apologize? Or stay here in Sunagakure—”

“No! Sasuke-kun… Sasuke, I… I’m saying that I think you have feelings for me and Naruto… and, even though I can’t really speak on Naruto’s behalf, I’m pretty sure we both have feelings for you, too.”

Sasuke felt Sakura’s words pulse into him in waves, sometimes gentle, sometimes piercing, in the following silence.

Sakura walked unsteadily toward him on the bed, her eyes fixed on his face. Sasuke kept his gaze on her as well. Whatever this genjutsu was, it felt like it might be broken if he lost eye contact.

“Am I right about that, Sasuke?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

All he could do was nod.

Sakura took a quick breath and fell onto the mattress next to him. Suddenly, her hand was reaching out to his, clutching it in both of hers before she held it to her chest, above her heart.

It was like when Naruto kissed him all over again. His mind, body, and soul felt like they’d been immersed in still, calm waters. He felt another gear shifting into place, another circuit completed, like something had been fixed and he was functioning correctly for the first time in months.

This clarity had perplexed him when it happened with Naruto; he thought he was supposed to have some big reaction, some explosion when someone kissed him. But he hadn’t known his own feelings then, so he didn’t get it.

The truth was, when Naruto and Sakura did things like this, things like holding his hand or kissing him, he didn’t feel like an angry avenger or a misunderstood outcast or any of the identities he had clung to in the past. He felt like a real person, a whole person, not just one thing.

He looked at his hand in both of Sakura’s, then up at her face. She was crying again, but tried to smile.

“I’m so… relieved,” she managed, “I thought that maybe I was just imagining things between all of us. I thought was going crazy,” she sniffled.

“I did go crazy,” Sasuke said, and she chuckled wetly.

Then there was a knock on the door. They didn’t even have time to straighten themselves up before it cracked open and Temari’s head popped in.

“Gaara and your sensei both said take the day off! Let’s take a carriage to the diving cave in a bit!” she said with a smile, seemingly finding nothing amiss with their tears and hand holding, and then zipped out of the door again, leaving it shuttering behind her.

After a moment passed, they looked back at each other. Sasuke, unable to help himself, wiped a tear track from her face with his thumb while she took care of the other side, sniffling and chuckling at the same time. It was strange and surprising how natural it felt to have his hand on her skin, to do something as intimate as touching her face.

After the signs of her new tears had vanished and they had been staring at each other for a moment, they both began to speak at the same time:

“So what’s really going on with— the deal with— you and Kakashi— Gaara?”

Sakura laughed and Sasuke couldn’t help a small smirk himself. Then he shook his head and sighed, falling back on to her bed.

Sakura stared down at him in wonder. Was this really happening? Even though she spent the last few weeks being pretty sure about the feelings of her team mates, there was still something inside her that had made the whole scenario seem impossible. But now, Sasuke was laying by her side like there was nothing unusual about it. His hair was splayed across her comforter. His arm laid open, inviting her to rest on it. She stared at it, fully aware that she was living out one of the most pivotal moments in her life.

“We have the day now,” Sasuke murmured when she carefully placed her cheek on his bicep, “That should give us enough time to kill Kakashi and explain everything else that’s happened, right?”

Sakura laughed, “Yeah. One day should be enough.”

Sasuke rolled toward her and placed his other hand on her hair, suddenly solemn as his black eyes met hers. “Is this real?”

“I think so,” she whispered.

He touched her cheek again, tapping his fingers against her flesh, then pulled away, rolling back on to his back, still studying her face her face.

“Alright. Tell me what Kakashi did and that will determine how he dies.”

Sakura smiled, and Sasuke smiled back at her, small and tentative. Sakura held her breath, trying hold on, to keep from blinking, but it was impossible. Everything was suddenly so bright, her eyes couldn’t help but fill with tears.

**** **** **** ****

A/N: I’ve never done third person omniscient before. It’s pretty rough. I hope it wasn’t confusing to read. I just wanted to do something a little special/different since that was sort of a big moment. I didn’t want to give the perspective to just one of them.

I have a tumblr now where I’ll post a link when I update. And maybe some other stuff, too. I’m not sure. I’m still a shyguy after all this time! But it’s kiddattwell dot tumblr dot com.
- 17
- 18
- 19
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Stranger than the Wild