Take Her Home

Chapter 01

Sasuke is walking through Konoha with a basket of fruits on his right arm, beside him was Naruto, carrying a basket of vegetables. Behind them was Kakashi, carrying a bouquet of gladiolus in different shades.

The three men were walking in silence, observing and admiring their surroundings. It's been peaceful in Konoha for quite a while now, no invasion from Orochimaru since their Chunin Exams and no recent disappearances since Sakura's. Though the peace may have been nice, it was unsettling. Unsettling because it has been too quiet, almost at seem that an attack will soon happen. And it's unsettling because Sakura is still missing.

Arriving at the house they intended to, Naruto knocked twice. The door was opened by a woman with dirty blonde hair.

"Good morning, Mebuki-san!" Kakashi waved from behind them.

"Good morning, boys! Come in."

This has been Team 7's monthly routine for three years since Sakura went missing. They felt indebted to the Haruno's every time they come back from a mission, unsuccessfully finding the pink-haired kunoichi. They felt like it was their responsibility to close the hole left in their hearts but they all know too well that that couldn't be closed until they find her.

Haruno Mebuki led Team 7 to the kitchen as they help her stock the food. Kakashi then gave the flowers he was holding to Sasuke, instructing him to place it in Sakura's room.

Sasuke never liked the idea of bringing flowers to an empty room, it felt like bringing one to a dead person and Sakura is not dead, he will find her alive and well, he swore that to himself.

Dragging his feet to the stairs on the way to her room, he slowly opened the door. He was always the one that Kakashi instructs to put the flower because the man knows how Sasuke felt for the kunoichi despite not saying anything. The way he looked at her back then was enough for Kakashi to know and the rage he expressed since she went missing showed a lot of his feelings.

Sasuke took the vase left on her nightstand and proceeded to the bathroom across the hall to fill it up with water. Once he did, he went back to place the flowers and he sat on her bed, staring at space..... thinking of her.

The room no longer had her scent, instead it smelled like the gladiolus he just placed on her table. He stared at their photo, and then at her closet which is probably dusty now in the inside.

He looked at her pillow and imagined her lying down asleep until his eyes clouded with tears tempting to escape.

Sasuke rarely cries but every time he's alone in her room and stares at things he already memorized, he can't help but be emotional.

He lost his clan, and he lost her. He feels completely lonely and devastated despite being accompanied by Naruto and Kakashi everyday. It still wasn't enough, he needed her and he needs to kill the one who killed his family.

Blinking away his tears, he stood up and headed towards her door where Naruto was standing.

"Teme."

"Dobe."

"Crying again?" Naruto asked with concern.

Naruto has always seen Sasuke in his vulnerable state and they usually have their deep conversation, motivating and comforting each other that they could reach their goals one day and go on to their merry ways but today is different. They couldn't lounge around since a mission is waiting for them.

Today they're back to look for her again.

"Not quite." Sasuke answered, emotions absent in his tone.

Sasuke walked passed him but stopped when Naruto gripped his right shoulder, both facing different directions. Naruto looked at Sakura's room while Sasuke has his back faced from it.