Sakura Blossoms - SasuSaku

Chapter 6

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Sasuke

Sasuke and Sakura had known each other since pre-k, and had been friends about as long. He remembered watching her from across the playground making up some silly dance choreography with Ino and Hinata, her pink hair flowing around her like a crown of sakura flowers on the breeze as she jumped and turned with ease. Even as a small child Sakura was graceful and breathtaking in Sasuke's eyes.

Those feelings only continued to grow as their friendship did. By middle school he thought he had finally made it clear he liked her as more than a friend, but she always seemed so oblivious. Forever caught up in her happy and carefree ways, always singing and dancing through life. Always smiling, and making other people smile in return. The Sakura he was faced with now was anything but smiling and carefree. Funny how things change so quickly and so drastically.

They went from maybe loving each other to hating each other what seemed like overnight. How could she abandon him, and how could he not support her? Those questions were the root of what had shattered them into the wretched versions of themselves that stood here today.

Sasuke pulled himself from his thoughts, deciding to dissociate himself from the past and be as professional as he possibly could. Tsunade had been very clear that his participation was nonnegotiable, and pissing his mentor off was the last thing he wanted. Of course this rare unknown case was Sakura's father. Sasuke knew he was ill, but if it's gone this far he must be declining rapidly.

Now he could put some sense to what Tsunade had said, at least. "Trust yourself and don't be afraid to open up," were the words he'd pondered over after leaving her office. What a meddling old hag she could be sometimes. Why worry about stuff like that when he should be focusing on the case and finding a cure for Sakura's father. Sasuke pulled the door fully open.

"Hello Sakura. Tsunade didn't mention you were the client I was to meet with this morning." Sasuke continued sheepishly, "Please come in, take a seat."

Sakura must have been speechless because she walked through the doorway and sat down, staring at her shoes. Sasuke wondered what Sakura was thinking right now, and just wished she would speak. Sure he wasn't happy to be here right now, but he had a job to do. He hoped she could be just as mature about the situation. As if he had jinxed it, Sakura looked up with a twisted look on her face.

"I knew Tsunade was off her rocker but this is crazy even for her. How can I be expected to work with you after everything?" Sakura seethed. "No way are you the only person who can help. No way are you the best medical scientist in Konoha." She scoffed.

Sasuke's cheeks heated. He wasn't sure if it was from embarrassment or anger.

"I had hoped you could be mature about this and focus on the matter at hand. I am willing to help you if you can act like an adult." Sasuke said in the most calm voice he could muster.

Sakura's face fell at his words. Sasuke felt a pang of guilt for the harshness in his words. It took her almost a minute before she said anything.

"I'll do anything to help my dad. Even work with you. We're not friends but we can at least stand to be around each other long enough to help my dad." Sakura decided flatly.

It almost sounds like she's trying to convince herself more than anything. Nonetheless this is what Sasuke had wanted. Quiet compliance and no drama. He could do this for his career. Finding a cure for an unknown illness would put even more juice behind his name. He was quickly climbing the ranks of the science world and he didn't want to let this get in his way.

"Sounds great, Sakura." Sasuke said. "Start by telling me everything you know about your dads illness, what treatments have failed in the past, and any diagnoses that were considered."

Sakura started explaining everything from the beginning. Sasuke had no idea her fathers illness was this complex. It seemed to be neurologic in origin but that honestly makes things even more complicated. We only understand so much about the human brain as it is. Making new discoveries in neurologic medicine was rare and very difficult. But that wouldn't stop Sasuke Uchiha from trying.

As he finished up his intake interview with Sakura he scribbled down a few more things in his notebook. She started to gather her things to leave before turning to look at him.

"Where do we go from here?" She asked in an unsure voice.

"Well first things first I pull every medical record pertaining to your father and every other patient I can find with similar symptoms. There will be thousands of patients to sift through and this is only the beginning. Tsunade has given you special clearance to help out on this case so be here tomorrow morning around nine and we can start matching profiles. After we get a strong database of similar cases we will run further tests on your father.

This is a multistep process but we will be here to guide you along the way." Sasuke explained. "And I truly am sorry about your father, regardless of what happened between us in the past. I intend to give my all in finding a cure."

Sakura gave a weak smile of understanding and walked out of his office. He didn't step from behind his desk to watch her leave down the hall, but the thought had crossed his mind. How could being around her for only a few minutes soften him this much. The scent of her almost intoxicating him, lulling him into submission. It was never easy to stay mad at Sakura when she was right in front of him.

The conflicting thoughts made his head swirl and he decided he needed to sit down. He had to find some way to keep this all under control.