The Queen of Masks [Sakura Haruno Story]

29

"And then I just walked away." Sakura looked down at the soft blue carpeted floor she was sitting on.

Rui nodded in understanding. "It's a shame that your teammate doesn't realize how powerful you are, but maybe he was just hesitating because he cares about you and doesn't want you to get hurt. This Naruto person sounds like a good guy."

"I know." Sakura sighed, looking up and into the ice blue eyes she had seen so many time before. "But it's still frustrating."

"I'm sure it is." Rui comforted. In the past two years since Sakura had captured Rui Kato, they had become very good friends. Sakura often came to see Rui to talk to him, and sometimes just for them to sit silently in his company, both thinking about different things.

At first, Rui refused to reply to anything Sakura said to him, and would never look at her. He was extremely bitter about being captured by a thirteen year old girl. But, he eventually let that all go in exchange for her friendship.

Sakura now trusted Rui with everything, and knew he could keep a secret. It was also quite enjoyable talking to someone even remotely her age. Sakura had even convinced Tsunade to put Rui in a more comfortable jail cell (he still was a wanted criminal), one with a large bed, a desk, and sofa, and carpeting.

Rui loved Sakura like the younger sister he never had (he had three older brothers), and he liked talking to her. He also enjoyed observing the many emotions that were evident on her face as she told him about a recent training session with her master, or a mission she had gotten back from. He found it especially cute when she furrowed her eyebrows and scrunched up her nose when she was deep in thought.

Rui, also sitting on the floor, leaned back to lay down, stretching his arms above his head. "Maybe you should ignore him for a few days, just to teach him a lesson, but forgive him afterwards." Rui suggested, before falling silent.

The two just sat in silence. Sakura deep in thought, and Rui once again observing her scrunch up her nose.