SasuSaku - Past Selves

Chapter 6 -Placing Bets

Sasuke was gone when Sakura woke up the next morning.

*I thought this jerk wanted to "watch me to make sure I didn't try anything funny", and then he leaves me alone? Wait, not like I'm complaining!* She quickly corrected herself. She was happy to be alone for once. She sat up in bed, stretched, and started to gather her thoughts. She understood that she was stuck here for now. She used the bathroom mirror last night to get a glimpse of her curse mark - he wasn't lying. That was going to be a problem. With Sasuke out of her immediate vicinity, she could detect tiny traces of his Chakra, meaning that he did in fact infuse some into the curse mark.

*It's just like poison*, she thought. *I know how to deal with poison. I'll need time to think about an "antidote"... Why does he even need the best medical ninja? Sounds like overkill. Unless, of course, he probably hasn't fought Itachi yet. I see, I am almost certain he is keeping me around to heal him from any injuries he may sustain in his upcoming life or death-type battles.*

She reached the conclusion that for now, her best course of action was to go along with the flow, wait Sasuke's health to reach a low point, and then instead of healing him, make a run for it. It was going to be a cruel thing to do, but so far the only plausible plan that came to her head.

*Naruto must be looking for me, maybe a whole search unit. Sigh, I shouldn't keep my hopes up. Anbu has been tracking Sasuke for months now with no luck, I don't think I'll be found any time soon... I can not afford to count on that.* Sakura stood up from the bed, and she suddenly felt how much she smelled like Sasuke from sleeping in his bed. Then it hit her, she had been completely avoiding thinking about the obvious - her past with Sasuke. She almost refused to acknowledge it to herself. It was so natural to have memories of them take over her mind after seeing him, but she used all her willpower to suppress the nostalgia.

*I can not let my mind go there. It will undo all the mental work and personal growth. All I need to remember is that he did me extremely dirty, and that he is considered a criminal by my hometown.*

She walked into the bathroom, took a quick shower, and left feeling much better. That Suigetsu guy seemed fun, maybe she could avoid having to be around Sasuke by hanging out with Suigetsu. She dried her hair, brushed her teeth and tried to look for some clothes.

*I'm going to have to go buy some clothes at some point... and that jerk better pay for it, I never asked to be kidnapped and clothesless.*

She suddenly noticed booty shorts and an exercise top on the chair next to the bed. They looked like they were Karin's, Sasuke must have left them here. *Great, not exactly the look I was going for. * She reluctantly put them on. The top was a bit tight around her chest, but it would do. She sighed and headed downstairs to the kitchen.

"Good morning, beautiful!" Exclaimed Suigetsu who had his mouth full with some eggs. Sakura couldn't help but chuckle at this sight.

"Hi Suigetsu." She sat across from him from the table.

"I love the fit," he said winking, "makes me want to go work out with you."

"These are my clothes, sharkass!" yelled Karin from some other room, "And they look better on me anyway!"

"Ignore this skank," laughed Suigetsu. "Juugo and Sasuke are outside training, how about you eat some breakfast, and then I'll show you around!"

Sakura smiled, he did genuinely seem like a nice guy. "That sounds like a plan!"

"Say, hottie, are you single?" he asked smirking

Sakura couldn't help but blush. "Um, well, uhm, yeah. But anyway, I think I'm done with my breakfast! Still down to show me around?"