::
:
"Nobody could really tell when it had started, but at some point it became blatantly obvious that they were inseperatable."
:::
In the beginning every day after training Sakura would ask Sasuke if he would go out her as they walked back towards Kohona and their respective homes. Naruto would cry out sadly following closely behind them, even though at this point they knew how this would end.
"Sasuke-kun, I was wondering if you would want to, I don't know, go out with me?'
"No,"
"Hey Sakura, I'll go out with you!"
"No way!"
That's how it always went. Without fail, day after day. Then, one day, things changed.
"Sasuke-kun, do you want to go out to dinner tonight?"
Sasuke suddenly stopped walking which caused the other two to stop shortly after in surprise. A small smile flitted across his usually blank face along with the smallest hint of a blush. Sakura's heart stopped and Naruto's jaw dropped.
"I have plans," he said quietly his face changing back to unemotional and he walked off, leaving the other two in his dust.
"I'll go out with you," Naruto said unsure as he watched Sasuke's retreating back.
"Shut up, Naruto."
The next day Sasuke refused point blank to talk about his 'plans' to anyone. Kakashi ignored them.
::
:
Kakashi and Gai-sensei (mostly Gai sensei) planed to dinner outing for their teams.
"For their youthfulness to be fully released they must learn to be social within their own age groups." He would say, extremely serious. Kakashi would shrug.
They went out for dinner in the southeastern dining district. There they found a comfortable family restraint. Neji saved a spot for Sasuke much to Sakura's horror and Sasuke ate with his left hand so that he could hold Neji's left under the table. Nobody seemed to notice, but strangely, Gai sensei kept sending them solar powered smiles from the other side of the table.
::
:
Later that week, Sasuke came late to practice. Later than Kakashi. Sasuke apologized saying he slept in. That explained his ruffled clothes and the fact that his forehead protector was missing. It didn't explain the bright red mark on his collar bone that his shirt failed to completely conceal. Naruto and Sakura accepted the explanation without question. Neither put two and two together when Hyuuga Neji showed up after practice with the raven haired boys' protector in hand. Kakashi raised an eyebrow.
::
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From there on Neji showed up after practice everyday and the two prodigies walked off together. When confronted Sasuke simply stated that they had come up with there own training that they did on their own, there was no way in hell anyone else was allowed to join them and if anyone tried to follow them they would have to face his wrath. Kakashi chuckled and turned the page in his book.
::
:
About a month later team ten left on a mission. A simple level C mission in Hidden Mist, only to be gone for two weeks. They were a week late. The change in Sasuke was dramatic.
He was colder than usual. He was jumpy and anxious. He was worried.
Sakura even seemed to know better than to flirt with him. They kept there distance from him in fear that he would lash out.
Then Naruto made a mistake, he offered to train with him in Neji's place.
Without warning Sasuke attacked, pouring all his nervous energy into beating the crap out of the blonde. Sakura yelled alarmed and Kakashi jumped into action. Holding them apart Kakashi ordered them to take a break. Breathing hard Sasuke glared at Naruto over Kakashi's shoulder before turning away with a muttered 'dobe'.
"Sasuke-kun…." Sakura whispered. Kakashi furrowed his eyebrows.
::
:
Two days later Neji showed up in the middle of team seven's training. He looked exhausted having obviously just gotten back. Sasuke ran over, gathering composure as he came closer to the brunette.
Once within reaching distance Sasuke's right hand clasped onto Neji's shirt sleeve. Relief washed over the both of them.
Neji reached into his bag that he had dropped on the ground and pulled out a small black flower rare and indigenous to Hidden Mist. Sasuke blushed. Neji smiled.
Kakashi yelled for Sasuke to get back to training, looking relieved himself.
::
Ten months later Sasuke came to Sakura for help that she was only too pleased to give. She would later call it a date and he wouldn't bother correcting her.
The two of them set out to the shopping district that afternoon. Sasuke was nervous and Sakura was ecstatic. She led him by the hand past many of the stores till they found the one they were looking for.
"You know, I could probably help you better if you told me what you were looking for," Sakura said as they entered through the double doors.
"Hn,"
As soon as they had cleared the doors they were confronted by a sales clerk. The woman cooed happily over what she called, 'the happy couple.' Sakura glowed. Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"What can I help you with, my darlings?" The two of them looked at Sasuke expectantly.
"I'm not sure," he said hesitantly, he glanced at Sakura asking for help. The woman took this completely the wrong way. She called over another sales clerk and had them distract Sakura so that he could shop for his girlfriend in private.
"Now what are you looking for, sweetie?" she asked again kindly. Sasuke watched Sakura go and try on some of their merchandise, completely abandoning him. He sighed.
"I want something," he mulled over his words carefully, "for someone really special to me."
The woman smiled happily, "Is it for a special occasion? Birthday, perhaps?"
"Anniversary"
She clapped her hands in anticipation. "How long?"
"A year"
"How charming! Let's go see what we have shall we?" Without waiting for an answer she led Sasuke by the hand down a couple of isles just as Sakura had just done. The ended in front of the jewelry display case. Sasuke looked at her questioningly and she responded simply, "Tradition!"
The clerk showed him many necklaces and earring sets as well as many heavily laden rings. Sasuke couldn't see Neji wearing any of them, which is what the woman now decided, must be Sakura's name, despite how masculine the name was.
"How would you describe Neji-san?" she asked him curiously.
A deep blush found his cheeks. He smiled the kind of smile that his fan-girls only dream about just thinking about him, "Perfect." He glanced down at the many colored gems presented to him. "I think though, all of these are far too elaborate for-"
"This is it," she exclaimed pulling out a small box. Inside was a golden ring with a small diamond on it. Sasuke shook his head. Her face fell. That was when he spotted it.
"Can I see that one?" It was a thin silver band. He turned it over in his hand. It had I love you engraved on the inside of the ring in golden letters. He could see Neji wearing this one. It was small enough to stay out of his way and Sasuke had seen how well silver worked against his pale skin tone. It was perfect.
As he and Sakura left the store he didn't explain to her why the clerk had called her by Neji's name.
:
A month later they were found out. Sasuke had Neji pressed against the wall, attached firmly by the mouth. Sasuke slid one hand under his boyfriend's shirt and the other into his long brown hair. Neji pushed him off only to follow with more control this time. They broke apart with a gasp, eyes opening slightly. Neji pushed him down and started biting hungrily at Sasuke's neck. Sasuke moaned lifting his chin for better access. In doing so the whole of Neji's room slid into focus. That's when he noticed the figure standing in front of Neji's slightly ajar door.
"Hinata," Sasuke breathed horrified, Neji froze.
Luckily she swore she would tell a soul; unfortunately it was then that her boyfriend, Naruto choose to join her in the stuffy room.
"What the fuck?" he asked eloquently.
"Dobe," Sasuke growled threateningly. Naruto snapped out of his initial shock rather quickly and smirked.
"Sakura's going to be pissed."
:
Well that's all for now….
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Llamachick