{Unchained} - SasuSaku Asylum Story

{D-Y-I-N-G}

"... And not to mention the timing! You can disappear or go off the grid at any point, but not when you're assigned to work with some psycho! Come on, Sakura!" Ino spent about five minutes yelling at Sakura over the phone. "We have a routine, bitch! You call me after work, and I talk to you as I walk to class. And suddenly you just disappear? And don't even tell me what's going on? When I catch you, Sakura-"

"Enough, Ino, Please." Sakura's voice was distant as she walked home lifelessly. The last thing she wanted to be doing was being on the phone, but she knew being alone with her thoughts would be too much right now. She needed a distraction. "I said I'm sorry. Work got crazy."

"Crazy, huh?" Ino still sounded pissed. "I almost called the cops when you wouldn't return my calls!"

"Now you're the one being crazy, Ino. Please, I have a headache. Can we move on?"

"Ugh! What happened, Sakura? I mean, I'm glad to hear you're alive but you gotta fill me in!"

"Just got busy at work."

"Bullshit you got busy at work! Is it about the sicko you're working with? Did he do something?"

"Stop, Ino." Sakura hissed into the phone. "Can we talk about something else? How are your classes? Isn't your fall break coming up?"

"I'll let you off the hook for now, but this isn't over." Ino sighed, "But classes are okay. Oh my god, wait, did I tell you about this bitch in my design class who-"

Perfect, this is exactly what Sakura needed. Lighthearted gossip, relationship drama, little things to keep her mind occupied. She felt bad for keeping things from Ino of all people, but she couldn't even begin explaining the context or justifying why things had gotten so out of hand at work.

Sakura was now nearing her apartment building, and the phone call was working wonders for her mental state. Ino had her laughing, gasping, yelling, and grumbling at her college stories.

"And then she goes up to me at this frat party and tries to tell me my boyfriend is gay for wearing crop tops. Like, hello? This is a fashion school, babe. Crop tops on men are hella hot! What a bitch! She totally wants Sai, I just know it!"

Sakura cackled as she unlocked her door. "You can't deny your intuition."

"Right? Like, a girl can tell. Which means she's either trying to convince me Sai's gay so I dump him, or she really thinks he's gay and is one of those girls who has a thing for gay men. Either way, hoe's gotta GO!"

Sakura laughed some more as she hung up her coat and collapsed on her couch.

"How are you and Sai, speaking of?"

"Same old. He won this prestigious school-wide art award so I guess he's more popular than me now! Crazy, right?"

"Yeah. I have only met him a few times but he seems so shy. All the extra attention must be rough."

"He's still a beast in bed, though. No complaints there!" Ino declared with a giggle.

That comment triggered some intrusive thoughts and memories in Sakura. That asshole had really gotten to her.

"Um, Ino. Do I, um, do I... um..."

"Yeah, weirdo?"

"Do I give off virgin energy?"

Ino burst into laughter on the other end of the line.

"What? Where the fuck is this coming from?" Her laughter showed no sign of slowing down.

"Ino, seriously..." Sakura was so embarrassed, she could just sink into this couch.

"Why, did someone call you a virgin?"