Yo! 😁 How's it going? So because of a big ice storm that came through, I didn't have school for a whole extra week 😊 which means more time to write on Recollection II! And I'm sorry to say, but I have fallen behind on Naruto 😞 the manga I'm caught up with, just not the anime. Now I hear there is a SOA season 2 so uh, yeah. I think that sentence speaks for itself.

Next up, my AOT story was bust and I got stuck halfway through and removed it from the site. I'm sorry, I feel like a failure 😖 please forgive me. Further more, I am working on a different story and its been going very well so far. I want to finish at least ten chapter before I post for fear of another nothing. Lol. It's just hard to write a story for an anime that just keeps giving you more questions and no answers. In turn, you have to come up with your own answers and that's the tough part.

But I shall leave you now. Enjoy the chapter! See you soon.

~Kei-chan 💜🎀

Chapter Two

Understanding

Sasuke walks me to work everyday. He shows up with a latte and muffin for me at exactly 9 o'clock.

"Good morning!" I leaned up on my toes and planted a kiss on his lips.

"I take it you slept good last night," Sasuke said, handing me my breakfast.

"Yep," I smiled. "What about you? How did you sleep?"

"Alright," He fell into step with me. "If Hinata and Naruto would just quit doing whatever it is they do late at night, I could probably sleep better."

"What?" I laughed. "Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you! They're engaged now!"

Sasuke stopped in his tracks and looked at me, eyes widened.

"Yeah!" I said. "They stopped by last night before you did and showed me the ring, which by the way was huge! I wonder how he could even afford it?"

"They're getting married?" Sasuke repeated, almost talking to himself.

"Hm? What did you say?" I asked, leaning in closer to him. "I couldn't hear you. Sasuke?"

"I can't live there anymore then," He groaned. Rubbing the ridge of his nose, he said, "If they're this bad now, I'd hate to hear them on their wedding night."

"Oh wow," I laughed. "That's actually really funny."

"You would only understand if you heard them," Sasuke muttered. "It sounds like two lions going at it, during a stampede!"

I laughed, almost spitting my coffee out.

"I have to talk to the loud woman in charge," Sasuke said to himself. "I have to move out of there."

"Good luck with that," I commented, finishing my muffin off. "She's more stubborn than a mule."

"She's your senpei, maybe you can talk some sense into her," He offered. "And in return, I'll take you shopping."

"No," I shook my head. "This is your battle, not mine."

"Hn," He grunted, crossing his arms. "I thought what's yours is mine and what's mine is yours?"

"Don't even try that on me, darling," I laughed. "The woman scares me and you're all big and tough, you can handle her."

We walked into the alleyway just right next to the hospital without another word as Sasuke walked with his hands shoved into his pockets and I threw my cup away. Making it close to the end of the walkway, Sasuke stopped me and pressed me back against the fence.

He lifted my chin and smiled. It was one of his rare genuine smiled that made his eyes look less cold and it made my heart skip a beat.

"Baby," He began, saying it so low it sent chills up and down my spine. "I need your help. I mean it, I really need your help."

I smiled, "Baby?"

He leaned in closer to my face, still smilingly.

"I know what you're trying to do and no," I laughed, touching his cheek as he looked down. "It was a good try, though, and I'm proud of you for just simply trying."

"Saku," He murmured, looking up at me through his thick eye lashes. "You know I do not beg at all. Doesn't this fact tell you something about my situation?"

"Look, I just don't think she would even care if I put in a good word for you. That's just how she is," I sighed, laying my forehead against his. "The only way she'd let you move out is if you were moving in with someone else or maybe if Naruto or Hinata one asked for you to be placed somewhere else. Even then you wouldn't be allowed to live by yourself."

"Then lets move in together," He suggested. "Tell her that we want to find a place together and that you wanted to get clearance from her first before we began looking."

"Are you legitamenitly wanting to move in together or are you just saying that?" I asked, looking at him.

"Well," He thought for a moment. "Do you want to move in with me?"

"Do you want to live with me?" I corrected the question. "I mean, you're a very private person and I'm a girl. That's something you've never really lived with."

"But I can always give it a try," Sasuke replied, kissing me. "Come on, lets give it a chance."

"You're begging again," I reminded him. "Must be pretty important to ya."

"Hn." He looked away from me.

"Sakura!" Ria yelled, leaning out of the office window. "You're late!"

"Oh, shoot," I mumbled, leaning up and kissing Sasuke's cheek then took off for the hospital. "See you later!"

Work wasn't as hectic as usual so that made my day go by painfully slower than usual. By the time the clock hit twelve, I was ready to just go to sleep for the rest of the day. Unfortunately, Tsundae didn't quite agree with that and had me booked for a double shift.

"See you at two!" Ria said, as I hung my coat back up. "Pulling double shifts are always the best."

"Your sarcasm surprises me," I laughed. "Don't you just usually set there and get on social networks?"

"And games," She nodded. "So, what were you and dearest Sasuke talking about? You two seemed pretty intense."

"Oh, it's nothing," I smiled. "Speaking of Sasuke, I gotta get going. I promised I'd eat lunch with him today."

"Have fun." I heard her murmur as she pulled out her lunch from the refrigerator.

I found Sasuke at the steps of the ANBU building, studying a set of papers.

"What are those?" I asked, setting down next to him.

"I talked to the Hokage," He began, flipping the paper over. "She is going to allow me to move out on my own on one condition."

"What's that?"

"That I pass the ANBU exams and swear into the law enforcement," Sasuke said, reading a paragraph under the subheading Forensics.

"So you can do that easily," I shrugged. "You're smart, strong, and an amazing leader. Maybe you could become a detective."

"The more and more I look at these, the more I doubt myself," Sasuke responded, putting his hand over his mouth. "My dad was the head ANBU when I was little and I never thought it would be this tough. I always thought I was stronger than him, but maybe I'm not mentally stronger than him."

"Is the great Sasuke Uchiha doubting himself?" I raised my eyebrow. "And please, Sasuke, you are probably the most mentally strong person I've ever met. Besides they just do that to try and scare people away. It's like what they call a sugar pill. They tell you what to expect and you just go along with it and receive those expectation, but the end it was all in your head. Don't let them get to you. It's not as hard as they make it out to be, Sasuke."

"Hn," He nodded. "Maybe you're right, but I still know nothing about how to," He stopped and read the paper again. "Determine chemical makeups through simplified analysis of the periodic table's elements."

"I can," I smiled. "Maybe I can tutor you in some of this, can I see?"

He handed me the stack of papers and began to flip through them. There were papers on anything from practical ninja task to A ranked missions and analyzing death scenes. I even had to admit it was bit much.

"Wow, this is a lot," I laughed, suddenly feeling nervous for him. "But if you are really serious about moving out then just work hard. I watched you do for you brother's sake so just think of doing it for yours instead."

"Well, Itachi's sake was actually for mine in truth," Sasuke mumbled. "But I see what you mean and it would be much appreciated if you would tutor me in the more scientific subjects."

"No problem," I leaned up and kissed his cheek. "But I work a double shift tonight and I won't be off until after three."

"Hn," Sasuke seemed to sigh. "I need to refresh my mind on a lot of these things anyways. I'll ask Hinata to borrow a few text books and get to work."

"Sounds like a plan," I nodded. "So how about some lunch now?"

He rose and we started walking in silence as he continued to read his papers.

I thought about what I said about Itachi and realized maybe I shouldn't of said it. He told me the truth about his brother after about six months of dating. Not the summarized truth that was out into the war files, but the whole truth. Starting from the beginning and ending at the present. I felt touched by the story and it made me realize how that played a large amount into how he acts now. I smiled and secretly thanked Itachi. Without you, I though. I never would of been able to be where I am today. Right by Sasuke's side and I couldn't be more grateful for your sacrifice. Thank you.

"Sakura?" Sasuke asked.

"Hmm?" I looked up at him still somewhat zoned out.

"Can I hold your hand?" He mumbled, looking at the ground.

"Of course, silly," I slid my hand into his and smiled. "I'm your girlfriend, you don't ever have to ask if you can hold my hand. Just do it."

Sasuke just continued looking ahead, as he laced his fingers through mine.

I noted everything about his hand every time he held mine. I did the same thing with his lips, cheeks, and basically his whole body. His hands are rough from years of weapons use, especially his thumb from summoning jutsus. The space between his thumb and pointer finger had a scar on it from his blade sliding down it, but it was only on his left hand. The right hand had the deeper mark from summoning left on it as well.

"What are you thinking about?" He asked, looking down at me.

"Nothing." I smiled.

He didn't ask again after that and that's one of the things I love about Sasuke, he never pestered mean. When I asked why he didn't, he replied it was because when I was ready he knew I would tell him. That he trust me like that. And I did. Eventually I do tell him if something really bothers me, just because he understands me better than anyone else. It's almost as if he had become my best friend. After being together for almost a year now, I couldn't imagine me spending my life with anyone else but him. With this realization, I felt a bubble of happiness burst inside of me. I pulled myself in closer to him and wrapped my arms around his and placed my head on his shoulder. Sasuke didn't take this as something unnatural, he knew I did this on regular basis just because I'm strange like that.

"What is this?" Sasuke asked, pointing at a word.

"It's a surgery they do in order to determine if something is cancerous," I read the word biopsies and performed so many, I didn't even want to remember what it was. "They can get pretty nasty. One time I had to remove a mass from someone's kidney and then take a piece of it for a biopsies and it was just a lump of fecal matter. It got into his kidney because someone had dared him to eat it and then he got filter the wrong way."

"That is," He looked at me blankly. "Disgusting."

"Do you want to hear some more stories from my good ole E. R. days?" I offered with a laugh.

"No, that's okay," Sasuke shook his head. "Do you want to hear some of my stories about living with Orochimaru?"

"Um, from the ones you've already told me; no," I laughed, then kissed his shoulder. "I really hope you pass the exam. It would be nice to start going back to your place instead of mine. Ya know, because of my dad."

Sasuke cracked a smile.

"And I think Hinata and Naruto would like some alone time, if you know what I mean," I winked.

"Maybe we should have some time like that, too." Sasuke winked back, making my heart swoon.

I felt a blush crawl its way up my neck and cheeks. Sex? Sex with Sasuke? I had never even thought about it at all. I glanced up at Sasuke who was pulling me inside of a BBQ restaurant. I felt nervous and giddy at just the thought of being with Sasuke like that, but I don't think I'm ready.

"What's wrong?" He repeated, eyeing me as I took a seat in front of him. "You look strange."

"Nothing," I said, again. "Just tired, I guess."

He nodded and looked at the menu. With one more glance at him, I looked down at my menu.

Sakura:

Leaves and meets man at ANBU building. Then to restaurant.

Sasuke:

Leaves Hokage Tower and goes on to ANBU building. Meets up with woman and then to restaurant.

Naruto:

Goes to Ramen shop. Continues on to woman's house.

Kakashi:

Leaves Hokage Tower and continues on to ANBU building with a group of men. Exits wearing a mask and then on to mission.

Sai:

Leaves restaurant and continues on to ANBU building.

"Sunset is coming soon, mother," The man said. "Should we begin our operation?"

"Not yet," She held her hand out, stopping him from rising from his seat. "We must be patient. The man is still with her. We'll take her in the moonlight."

"Understood." He nodded and took his seat.

In the dusk, the two sat in silence waiting. They were two perked crows in a cornfield. Watching for the perfect moment to spread their wings and fly.