NOTHING BUT LOVE
~xx~
Disclaimer: Naruto ©Masashi Kishimoto
Author's Note: Okay, this is an edited version of chapter one. I was able to read it and I was like: 'What the hell is this crap?' It was poorly written because I had this done—when my grammar is still so sucked-up—earlier than my first story. So I figured that renovations must be done. There are changes here but the flow is still like the first version. I was really in a haste to post that up because my mom is pressuring me—really pressuring me about shutting down my laptop and do a little bit of room cleaning. *laughs senselessly* Anyway, enjoy!
~xx~
CHAPTER I
Break Even
"What am I gonna do when the best part of me was always you?
And what am I supposed to say when I'm all choked up and you're okay?
I'm falling to pieces…"
~ ©The Script
Haruno Sakura groaned in frustration all the while sipping down her cold beer, letting some of it cascade down from the side of her lips to her the tip of her chin. She felt the cold liquid caress her throat; wanting nothing but to let it drown her away from what agony her heart was going through. With unsteady hands, she placed down the glass in a less than gentle way; earning herself a loud clang the moment it hit the marbled counter. Getting drunk is the only escape she had in mind. No matter how physically strong she was she'll always stay powerless beside him. Forgetting the pain, even for a short moment, is her childish act of desperately mending her broken heart though she already knows it was futile.
Every thought about him made her emerald eyes glitter with sadness; producing bittersweet tears to gush from her already swollen eyes. She misses him yet there's not a thing to be done. And there's not even a single clue left for her to push away her sadness. Indeed, she is hurt.
Because of him.
Uchiha Sasuke…
Her grip tightened on the glass she was holding, summoning every rational thought to stop herself from throwing another glass on the white wall of her kitchen just across from her. Deciding to just let her tears heal her heart's wound for the meantime felt like it was the only right decision she had made in her whole lifetime. With a shaky breath, she reached out for another shot of cold ecstasy and poured the luscious liquid deliberately from its container down to her waiting glass.
She watched mindlessly as the liquid filled her glass. Scoffing weakly, she entertained some poignant memories she had with Sasuke. Happy moments that made her think that she was the most fortunate woman. However, those memories now where just memories bound to be forgotten when the time her heart starts to forgive itself for loving such a man. Hopefully.
And then it hit her; pounded her mind like tons of metal brick. Uchiha Sasuke with another woman; cradling her like how he used to cradle her, Haruno Sakura, in his masculine arms while whispering words the she was able to hear from him in all her lifetime. That simple fact tugged forcefully and mercilessly on her already fractured heart.
More tears fell down from her hurting eyes while images of him with another woman bombarded her without the will to stop. A sad smile grazed her lips by the comforting feeling of just letting her tears fall freely and heal a little portion of her heart. It somewhat felt good.
"Hn. Weak,"
"Sasuke-kun," She abruptly stood up from her hunched position only to look behind her in the hopes of seeing his scowling, albeit handsome, face with onyx eyes longing to see her once more. What she saw there dissolved the little hope she had left. Dumbfounded, she stared aimlessly at the wide space before her, the dim light from the window illuminating the empty living room before her; making the sight so unbearably lonely. There was no Sasuke staring back at her like what her mind tried to desperately believe.
Agony ate all her resolve away as she hopelessly sat down on her stool all the while running a shaking hand on her pink tresses. He's driving her crazy.
She laughed; a weak and sad laugh. She's clearly hallucinating. Sasuke will never really set her free from his evil clutches even though they broke up just moments ago. It's crystal clear to her that even if she severed their ties, he still reigns supreme inside her soul. Owning her forever.
With a frustrated sigh, she let her mind drift back to the life she once had before he came back.
Haruno Sakura had a boyfriend before all this screwed up situation befell her. And with that memory, she can really say that she was truly happy. She had everything planned for her life up ahead and achieved so many things that can't be attained by others in a life span. She's the Hokage's apprentice—heck, she might have already surpassed the said Hokage. She's living the past two years in happiness, love, and fame. In those two years, she learned to forget and accept that Sasuke was never meant for her—that she deserves so much better. She learned to give up and tried to love again. After all, she can't wait forever for a man that will certainly not love her back. Four years of waiting was enough. And in those years, she had learned.
Well, that was she thought.
That is what she wanted to believe until he came back…
The moment she set her eyes on him, she knew too well that she was only fooling herself. She clearly thought that having a boyfriend when the Uchiha was away would totally eradicate every inch of feeling she had for the Sharingan wielder. But she failed. All those years she was only deceiving a part of her soul into a false submission, thus the pain started branching into deeper sorrow.
And that's when she started cheating for him.
She let go of the man, who treated her like she's the rarest treasure in the world, for a love that could never be hers—let alone tell her that she's special to him.
But beyond all that, she was happy accepting it all for Sasuke. Accepting all his imperfections and all his stupid flaws because she loves him and stupidity comes along with the word 'love'. Did Sasuke even deserve such love? She was asking that to herself too and came up with one answer. No matter how dumb it sounds… Yes, Uchiha Sasuke deserves such love.
"SHANNARO! BAKA SAKURA!" Her inner self screamed, "Stop grieving, you weakling! Sasuke-kun will never come back even if you cried blood, damn it!"
"Shut up. I don't need you right now," came her weak protest. So, even her inner self detests her? But can she blame the thoughts? Her inner persona is always right given these situations but she listens to none of them.
"BAKA! You always say that you want to become strong—and you did become one—so why become weak now? Now, in the most needed time to be strong?" Inner Sakura debated back.
She was right again. But no matter how much she wanted to be strong now, her heart can be so stubborn and won't even consider listening to a word she so willingly pleads.
"Unacceptable! You know we don't deserve such hardship! SHANNARO! We'll teach him a lesson!" Inner Sakura continued on while hurling her fist into a tight ball and blazing flame came alive around her.
"Go away," Sakura replied with finality as she pushed her inner persona away; gaining success in the matter. She didn't have the energy to quarrel any further. She's so exhausted and she just wanted to fall prey into the merciful limbs of unconsciousness.
With the final thought of him and the reason why the broke up, sleep took benevolence of her beseeches.
Flashback
It was their best friend, Uzumaki Naruto's, birthday and everyone decided to rent a club to celebrate the loud-mouth's birth and promotion as an ANBU member. The blonde was overwhelmed by the surprise and got all teary; regaining his overly energetic antics again. Actually, before the surprise showed up, he was more than depressed—which is uncharacteristic of him—because of a discovery that his wolf-like friend, Inuzuka Kiba, is dating his longtime one-sided lover, Hyuuga Hinata. So, Sakura, with a little help from her boyfriend—at the time—Uchiha Sasuke, set-up a plan to bring their best friend back from the abyss of the Underworld of Great Depression.
"Thank you, Sakura-chan, Teme! I'm so happy-dattebayo! You guys are the best!" The Jinchuriki pulled the said pink-haired woman and the brooding Uchiha into a breath-taking bear hug.
Sakura heard her boyfriend groan in annoyance, squirming uncomfortably from the blonde's embrace. "Dobe, you're ruining my outfit. Damn it." He cursed and tried to pry his best friend's arm away from him but the blonde only tightened the embrace.
"Baka, Naruto! You're killing us!" It was her turn to give an ear piercing scream at the blonde's antics; putting the loud music booming in the background to a complete shame.
Naruto pulled away and gave them his signature sheepish grin. "I love you, guys!"
"Tch, annoying, Dobe." Sasuke commented while stuffing his hands inside his pockets.
Naruto twitched and snorted, displeased, because of his best friend's usual complaints. He just dismissed the brooding Uchiha's kill joy antics and turned her attention to the beautiful pink-haired lady beside his annoying best buddy. His bright grin almost pushed Sakura off the edge.
"I think I must reconstruct my words earlier. It should be 'I love you, Sakura-chan!' for I know you only planned this on your own-dattebayo." He stated as if it was wholly a fact while totally ignoring the deadly glare flying towards his way from the now furious, Uchiha Sasuke.
"Shut up, Naruto. Sasuke-kun also planned for this. He said he pity your 'lack of hormonal surge' to actually see that Hinata liked you. It's not too late yet. Go there and claim what must be yours before I bore a hole on your sorry face!" Sakura hissed menacingly all the while clenching a chakra infused fist and showing it pointedly at the birthday boy; making said man shiver in pure dread and terror.
Naruto took a cautious step away from them and raising both hands, defensively, in front of him. "Sheesh, the both of you suffering from menopause or are you two in such a kill joy drama-dattebayo? Damn." He commented with a scared face that suddenly shifted into his signature grin. "But then again, I still love the both of you! Ja!" He put up a thumbs up before dashing to the dance floor; disappearing into the insanely crowded place of the club.
Sakura sighed, her supposed brother is more like a spoiled brat than she was and can be such a pain in the ass sometimes. However, everyone knows—especially those who love the blonde—that he is the most reliable ninja you'll ever put your eyes on. She quickly turns to the side of her lover with a sweet smile on her face.
"Sasuke-kun," She called out to get his undivided attention. "Why don't we enjoy ourselves, too?" She suggested, her smile never leaving her heart shaped face.
He simply nodded, wrapping his arms around her slender waist so that he could effectively pull her closer to his built structure. Sakura felt the warmth his body is emitting, she had dreamed so many times about this scene but dreams did less in reality's satisfying fruit. Heat pooled on her cheeks as she decided to destruct—I mean, distract herself from their proximity and look for an unoccupied table.
Sakura spotted one in the furthest corner of the club and far more secluded than any table available inside the vicinity. A mischievous grin made its way on her lips as she looked up to her equally looking boyfriend.
"Sasuke-kun," She called over the loud noise inside the place. Sasuke gazed down to her face with query in those deep coal eyes. "I found a place." She informed and dragged his god of a boyfriend there with an undeniable excitement.
When they were finally reached the empty table, Sasuke regarded the pinkette with a devious smirk. He can't deny that her good choice of 'privacy' amused him. They sat in each other's comfort while watching everyone dancing and swaying their bodies to the beat of the loud music; having the time of their lives.
Sakura wanted to join but she knew her boyfriend well enough to think otherwise. Sasuke was never a fan of dancing and getting wild is never a part of his dictionary. The word 'wild' articulates a different extent in their relationship. Wink. And besides, being beside him is what she wanted so long, so why waste this romantic opportunity with him? It's not boring to be in his arms. It will never be boring.
"I love you, Sasuke-kun," Sakura whispered loud enough for him to hear over the insanely loud noise as she snuggled comfortably against his masculine shoulder. His side always screamed safety for her.
A chuckle escaped his lips, satisfied with the statement. That was all Sakura wanted; to make him feel that he's being loved beyond anything in this world and to make him appreciate life to its fullest, seeing as to how the half of it was spent because of hatred.
Sasuke pulled her closer to him as if they are bound to be parted in the next minute. This is… peace.
But everything could not always be constant. The peace was broken when Sakura felt her communication device vibrate inside her pocket. She's one hundred percent that it is her work device calling to her. She was about to reach in for the blasted invention inside her skirt's pocket when she felt strong arms stopped her. She smiled and looked at her raven-haired boyfriend with questioning eyes.
She saw Sasuke leaning his head, comfortably, on the fur couch with his eyes closed as if thinking deep about something. "Don't," his one-word command speaks it all. His voice was calm but knowing him, a finality demand laced in that single word.
"But Sasuke-kun," she purred childishly. "It's from the hospital. Maybe an emergency and they need me there." She added while drawing lazy circles in her Sasuke-kun's chest. Being known as his girlfriend for 6 months now flared her ego. 'We had won the battle! Serves you right, pitiful bitches,' Inner Sakura once connoted; proud in their 'victory' against other girls, shamelessly fan-girling with her Sasuke.
Finally lifting his head from its comfortable position, he opened his eyes to regard his girlfriend, sitting beside him, with his piercing black eyes. Emerald eyes bore pleadingly, making Sasuke's resolve waver. It is a clear indication that he's really getting soft on the inside.
"In case you didn't hear me the first time," he paused and leaned down to give that pouting lips a chaste kiss. Before Sakura can react he pulled away and stared at her disappointed emerald eyes. He smirked and positioned his lips intimately close to her ear; sending a jolt of electricity to run down her spine. "Sakura, you will stay with me."
His husky voice filled her system, muting the commotion behind her and registering his voice that brought fire to set ablaze in its wake in the pit of her stomach. She drew in a breath, fighting hard to gain self-control over her undeniably burning body. All she could her was the deafening thump of her heart inside its container and did not took notice of the device halting.
She felt him pull her into an even tighter hug, clearly preventing her from escaping his grasps. She smiled at the sweet gesture from her not-so-emotionally-deprived boyfriend, making her resolve dissolve into nothingness as she snuggled once more into his warm hug. Funny how someone as cold as Uchiha Sasuke can feel so warm and comforting; it made her happy just by feeling that she's an exceptional from that cold personality.
Inhaling his earthly scent almost sent her off to dreamland despite of the noise penetrating mercilessly inside her ears.
"Forehead,"
Sakura mentally sighed when she heard Ino call her from a distance. What now? Can't her best friend see that she's inside Lala Land to even pay attention to anything else but the soothing presence beside her?
"Hey, Forehead, wake up! There's been an emergency and—
Sakura slapped a palm on her best friend's loud mouth when she was an arm length away from her. She threw a deadly glare at Ino before she sat straight, earning an annoyed groan from her boyfriend.
"This better be fast. What do you want?" Sakura snapped, eventually narrowing her eyes at Ino and the latter just removed the hand securing her lips from giving away some information. She was equally annoyed as her forehead of a best friend.
"Damn, Sakura. Where's your sense of urgency?" Ino spat back and Sakura sighed.
"Spit it out, Ino-pig." Sakura stated while reaching out from a bottle of tequila inside the cold bucket pre-settled in each table inside the club. Getting a sip from her glass, she saw Ino put her hands on her voluptuous waist and scowled.
"For the love of Kami-sama, Forehead! Here you are, snuggling yourself in your boyfriend's warmth, ignoring all the pain in the world while you ex-boyfriend eventually tried to kill himself because of you. Getting himself hospitalized in the process. Does that ring a bell?" Ino raised expectant eyebrow for her reaction.
Sasuke, hearing what Sakura's obnoxious best friend said, raised an eyebrow and opened an eye to look at Ino is she was shitting or what. Sakura's reaction, surprisingly, came rather late. She then sprayed the liquor from her mouth before standing up and grabbing the shocked blonde by the shoulder, which registered a rather negative feedback to Sasuke.
Baby blues eyes met penetrating emerald eyes. "Stop your bitching and tell me that was a lie!" Sakura's sudden outburst made Sasuke even furious inside although his face betrayed no emotion. He will have his way with her later but for now he'll let her shake the poor blonde.
Sakura was trying hard to also convince herself that Ino was just jealous of her—despite having a boyfriend—because she had beaten her when Sasuke became her boyfriend.
"Damn," Ino tried to pry herself away from Sakura's deadly grip and when she was out, she massaged one of her sore shoulders. "I already told you, Forehead. You were so busy clinging to that Uchiha you didn't even bother to answer the call from Shizune-senpain. Sheesh, I'll let you handle this from this point on. I'm just a messenger. And messengers are the most pitiful people in the world." Ino said before turning around and running back into the pit of pure bliss and enjoyment.
Sakura stood there, stoned, while trying so hard to grasp Ino's parting words. She was so lost into the thought, self-loathing, and confusion her mind barely registered Sasuke's scowl. What would she do? She can't just forget everything, right? That's definitely not her.
Takumi, her boyfriend for one year, made her feel that she's the most beautiful creature Kami-sama created for the whole humankind to see. He treasured and protected her for his life. He loved her like no other man made her feel. She loved him also and knew well that she did. But the moment Uchiha Sasuke returned, everything started to change.
The moment she laid eyes on the last Uchiha, her feelings started to resurface from the depths of her heart where she thought she buried. But she was wrong—always so wrong.
Sasuke hurriedly approached her, and with dominance, made her a slave to him once more. She started to cheat on Takumi, making all the excuses in the world to spend time with the Uchiha. After all the hiding, she decided to end everything between her and Takumi that would hinder the secret affair she started with Sasuke. Knowing the raven-haired man, he will not accept being the second rate. Never. She was unfair.
So unreasonable and unfair.
Sakura clenched her fist, resting by each side of her hips, while restraining the gathering tears from falling. She knew that there would be a big trouble if she did albeit she was already feeling that unsettling aura behind her.
Sasuke, sensing her tension, stood up and shoved his hands inside his black slacks. Wearing that signature stoic face of his, he sighed.
"Tch, irritating," she heard him say. "What now?"
Sakura slowly turned around to offer Sasuke a nervous smile though she knew better than to deceive his knowing eyes. "I guess I have to go, Sasuke-kun. Takumi needs me." She stated and her breath was caught in her lungs when she saw a glint of red behind those raven locks framing his face.
"You will what?" Sakura can hear Sasuke's underlying statement that she must reconstruct her sentence before everything fades into black flames.
"Sasuke-kun," She started, using the most convincing voice she can muster in front of him. "I have to go. You stay here and have fun while I'm gone. I promise I'll contact you after—
Air was knocked out of her lungs when she felt a stinging pain shot throughout her back and before she know it, Sasuke had already transported them in the most isolated part of the club all the while pinning her on a bricked wall. Sakura groaned in pain as she tried to gaze at his glaring eyes. What she was there petrified her in fear.
Sharingan!
She hurriedly shut her eyes tight; fear eating away all of her determination because of what Sasuke might do to her. Her body became rigid when she felt his breath fanning her ear and cheek. Sasuke is surely not happy with what he heard from her and she'll eventually feel his inevitable 'wrath' without certain escape.
"Wrong statement, babe." He stated giving her ear a not so gentle nibbled although the notion elicited an eager moan from her; so much to Sakura's displeasure and to Sasuke's delight. So his charm had yet to leave her zealous body.
Gasping at the feeling of her incoming arousal, Sakura tried her best to break free from his vice grip but Sasuke would never have that. Instead, he pressed his front roughly on her own making her mind cloud with lust and heat as she was already feeling convulsive. The heat intensified and Sakura drew in a sharp breath when Sasuke gave the sensitive part of her neck a satisfying nibble before biting her hard. Sakura screamed in ecstasy because of the sharp pain but her mind became almost dysfunctional when he licked and sucked that certain part of her neck.
"Sasuke…kun…" Sakura rasped out as she arched her body against his own, giving him more access in her waiting body. "S-Stop," Her voice wobbled in a desperate attempt to tame her body's escalating need to be touched.
Sasuke paid no heed to her distressed request and continued to nibble on her exposed flesh, leaving red striking hickeys along his journey. Tasting his cherry blossom is one of the best achievements he had attained and he's not planning to let her get away with the fact that she mercilessly turned him on with all those beautiful noises she was making.
Sakura, on the other hand, was having a hard time in fighting the overwhelming seduction powers of her ferocious boyfriend. And the inescapable happened as her mind completely went blank when Sasuke's calloused hands reached out under her skirt and gave her inner thigh a rough caress.
She was heavily panting as she grasped Sasuke's midnight locks for support. "I'm sorry, Takumi." Her mind spoke in a silent dread of apology until…
"First thing's first, Sakura. If you step inside the life of being a medical ninja, you are bound to keep an oath to save lives. You will not abandon your duty. In doing so, you are shaming yourself from saving a soul."
Tsunade's words suddenly echoed inside her head and with her inhuman strength, she pushed Sasuke away, having him caught off guard. Sasuke was not very pleased and that matter was written all over his handsome features.
"What's the big idea, Sakura?" Sasuke's voice held that icy aura that she can remember vividly from way back when he was still a revenge-maniac. With dread, she cast her eyes away from his form; refusing to meet his ice cold glare.
"I'm sorry, Sasuke-kun. Please, not now." came her voice in a low guilty whisper. She had to save Takumi's life not because of what she had done but because she is a medical ninja. Why Sasuke can't understand is beyond her, all she wanted at that time is to do her duty. And to, somehow, atone.
"Sakura," Sasuke warned.
"I have to help him!" Sakura snapped, tears trickling down from her captivating emerald eyes. It was full of sorrow and regret that Sasuke was unable to see before.
Sasuke clenched his teeth as if debating whether or not it was worth it to fight with her in such a state. But he was proud and somewhere along the way, Sakura was able—although, unknowingly—bruise his manly ego. Having his decisions made, he faced his back to her. His eyes deprived of any emotions.
"Leave," was his solid reply. "But if you do, make sure you won't come back." He concluded and took a step away from her and then another until he had no will to be stopped.
Sakura watched with wide jade eyes, mouth gaping, and petrified with shock as Sasuke established his statement by walking shamelessly away from her. So he can't and refused to understand the situation. It made her shock turn into pure fury. Really, how inconsiderate could her get? That mere question made her blood boil. And then, she snapped.
"Fine, I'm done with you, Uchiha Sasuke!" And with that, she stormed outside the club with tears streaming down from her emerald eyes but the blood rushing through her veins was boiling in rage.
~xx~
Author's Note: Uh, I went a little overboard. *awe-struck* There's a big difference with 2,000 words and 4,000 words. Well, maybe I did renovate everything. Haha. I'm sorry for alerting those readers who put this story on their a-list. But I will really appreciate if you'll give me a short review about this story. And to those silent readers, I was once like that and I figured that it's unhealthy to not voice out what you think about something. *grin*
The next chapter will be out next month! It's because we don't have access in the internet. The only access that we have is from our neighbor's Wi-Fi, who—heartlessly—changed their password and now I can't get through. *wails*Unfortunate, right? I'm not really born in this world as a rich kid so it's an unfortunate disadvantage. XD
I'm shutting up now. See you next month! *wink*
xoxo
Redrose019
01/03/2012 | 9:24PM