Muse

Description:Sakura Haruno is a singer who never knew her true identity... That is, until all the recent assaults against her, and she met Jackson Lance. Who's real name is Sasuke Uchiha. And he's saying he's her Whitelighter! "What're you, my fairy god- mother or something..?"

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. And Jackson= Sasuke. It'll be explained in the story; you'll understand where I'm getting at.

'Thought'

Past/Flashback

Chapter 1. Jackson Lance

[Sakura's POV]

30 Minutes Ago…

I was running as fast as I could. Someone was chasing me. I saw his eyes; they were red like blood and full of murderous intent. The first word that came to mind was "Monster". All this and all I could think was how out of shape I was, and that I needed to get my ass back at the gym. What the hell is wrong with me? I'm way to calm in such a situation.

It was then I felt the pain in my knee. I was athletic in high school. But my senior year I sustained an ACL tear in my left knee. I had to attend Graduation with wrappings and a brace on my leg. How embarrassing…

I was feeling my knee begin to give. 'Just a little bit longer' I kept telling myself I could make it. I was heading to my best friend, Gaara's house. I wasn't about to lead this maniac to a house full of defenseless women, and Gaara is the most crazy motherfucker I've ever met. But something told me I was still fucked. But just then, as I began to fall, I saw a flash of blue and white and felt a heavy force against my body. It was knocking me sideways. It knocked the wind out of me, it was so quick, and then everything went black… The last thing I remember thinking was how I suddenly felt so sick to my stomach.

[Jackson's POV]

I could sense her fear. I needed to go to her soon, or it'd be too late. Unfortunately another one of my charges needed me, and I was stuck with her until the danger here was gone. I sighed inwardly. I looked at Natalie, my charge, and she nodded at me, letting me know I was no longer needed. I nodded back at her, and told her to be careful, and call if she needed me again.

I turned on my heel and broke in to a light jog over to an alley up the road. I soon broke out into a full blown run; as I felt her start to fully panic. As soon as I entered the alley, and the coast was clear I orbed out of the alley, and to Sakura. When I got to her I was still running. I orbed to her side so she wouldn't notice me, wrapped my arms around her, and orbed back out of there. The momentum caused for a heavy impact, and I heard her gasp for air as soon as I hit her. But just before we were gone completely I heard her assailant shout. It was directed at me.

"Get back here Whitelighter!"Another demon.

Seriously, what does he expect me to do? Actually go back there, and let him do what he wants? I may not be able to die, but I can still feel pain just as much as anyone else can.

Sakura didn't really black out. But obviously I can't tell her I orbed her here until she finds out who she is on her own. So, naturally I told her she blacked out. She bought it hook, line, and sinker…

Currently...

I woke up only moments later. But I was inside. Where was I? I didn't know. I looked around, and I was in a studio apartment that I've never seen before. And then I saw him.

[Normal POV]

Sakura was looking around the studio apartment when she saw Jackson. She eyed him a moment and spoke.

"Who are you? Where am I?" She asked clutching her purse to her.

"Hn. I'm Jackson Lance. This is my lovely home." He spat sarcastically, his arms up gesturing to his cramped apartment.

"What… Just happened out there? One second I was running for my life, and the next, I'm here... What's going on?" She asked frantically.

Jackson shrugged. "You blacked out. Memory gap." The next thing he knew, there was a hand stuck out at him. He raised an eyebrow.

"Thank you so much for saving me. I'm Sakura Haruno." She introduced; her hand out to him. He took it firmly, and they shook.

"Hn."

"What's wrong? Did I say something offensive?" She was confused. Why did he just keep grunting at her? Was he speech impaired?

Jackson shook his head. Now it was Sakura's turn to raise an eyebrow. 'Guess he's just not a talkative person.' She thought, mentally shrugging it off.

"Did you see who was chasing you?" Jackson suddenly asked her, walking into the kitchen.

"Only his eyes. I could never accurately describe them… They were just... Red like blood, and they held so much malice in them. All I could think when I saw them was "Monster". They were terrify- Oh thanks." She was cut off when Jackson held a bottle of water out to her. She gladly took it, her throat dry from so much running.

"Blood- red eyes?" He asked her, setting his water on the coffee table, and sat. He gestured for Sakura to have a seat, and she sat down on his love seat couch in front of the window.

"Yeah, that's all I remember seeing of him." She took a drink from her water, and checked her watch. It was rather late now. 'The girls are going to be worried if I don't hurry and get home soon.' She thought, setting the water down.

"Hn. I should walk you home. It's late." Jackson got up, and put his coat on, and Sakura stood up, nodding.

"Yeah, my roommates are probably getting worried by now." Jackson opened the door, and held the door for her. She smiled at him as she passed by him out the door. Jackson pulled the door closed, after flicking the knob lock to the right. He walked passed her leading to the elevator. He pushed the button and waited patiently. Sakura however was still very anxious.

"What floor are we on?" Sakura was looking out the window in the hallway right outside Jackson's door.

"25th. We're on the top floor." He stuck his hands in his coat pockets as the door to the elevator opened for them. He stepped aside, right in front of Sakura. She was still looking out the window, in awe at the city at night so high up. Jackson inwardly grumbled as his neighbor stepped out of the elevator. His very female neighbor.

"Oh heeey Jax~" The woman smirked at him seductively, her finger drawing a finger in his chest. Jackson cringed. Only his charges could call him that. And she was definitely not his charge. He stepped aside, and grabbed Sakura's shoulder, turning her around.

"Hn. Let's go, Sakura." He nodded towards the woman, Ami, and walked Sakura into the elevator, quickly pushing the ground floor button, and hitting the door button several times. He relaxed when the door finally closed and they left a dumbfounded Ami behind. He heard her mutter a few choice words as she started to stomp away. He smirked.

"Well she was… Friendly." Sakura looked at him and laughed. His face looked disgusted.

"More like horny and desperate." He grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest. Sakura giggled, but was brought into a fit of coughs. She quickly covered her mouth with her hand. Jackson looked at her and raised an eyebrow.

"Sick?" He asked, turning towards here. She shook her head, finally coming out of it.

"No, but my throats been a bit sore from practicing so much." She sighed.

"Practicing what?" He already knew the answer.

"Singing. I'm a soloist." The elevator rang as they reached the ground floor.

"Hn. I don't recognize you. I might not listen to your genre." Of course he recognized her. She waved it off.

"I'm not that famous. And Sakura isn't even my stage name. It's Juliette D'Andrea. I'm not worried about it. I was off the grid for a while, due to personal issues. But I recently returned with a new album." She exited the elevator, and Jackson followed, but stopped when she turned around. "By the way, I don't have a genre, I do whatever I feel." She turned back around on her heel and continued to walk towards the door.

He smirked following her. Again he opened and held the door for her. She smiled at him.

"You're very chivalrous."

"Chivalry is not dead. Lead the way." He smirked at her, tilting his head, gesturing her to lead the way. Jackson could feel how anxious she was as they walked in silence. She was looking around the city frantically, and she was walking so close to him she was almost clinging to him. He found it comfortable. 'She must still be scared from the attack.' He thought.

"So, Jackson, what do you do for a living?" She asked suddenly, determined to break the silence. He pondered this question. He did a lot of things for money, but he was mainly a mechanic, so he stuck with that.

"I'm a mechanic. But I have a lot of ads in the paper, and phone book. I do a lot of things. Plumbing, electric, carpentry, etcetera.

"You must be good with your hands." She teased. He could feel his face heat rise in his face. Did she really just say that?

"Awe, you're blushing! C'mon, I'm just teasin'." She gave him a friendly shove, and turned the corner.

He followed her grumbling about the injustice of witches. She turned around.

"What was that?" He froze.

"Hn."

"Ah whatever. We're here." She stopped in front of a large red house with white shutters, waving him off. The house had two thick trees in the front yard keeping most of it hidden. There were vines, and leaves covering a good portion of the house, with flowers in the outside window sills, and in the front yard garden. He walked her to the door, and he suddenly felt a weight on his chest. He looked down, and saw that Sakura was hugging him. He snaked his arms around her, and returned her hug.

"Are you going to be okay?" He asked as he saw a blonde woman look through the curtains in a window in front of him. She looked utterly shocked. He recognized her as 'Ino'. Sakura nodded, and pulled away.

"Jackson, thank you so much again for saving me. I don't know what would have happened to me if you hadn't shown up, but it wouldn't have been good." Sakura spoke looking to the side. Jackson tilted his head softly, smiling ever so softly at her.

"Don't mention it. Don't be afraid to call me for anything. Don't forget I'm good with my hands." He smirked as she was the one to blush now.

"I won't. Goodnight, Jax." She smirked and got her tippy toes to kiss him on the cheek. His eyes widened, his nose turning red as a tomato.

"G-G'night, Sakura." 'Damn it all.' He cursed himself. He watched as she unlocked the door, and slipped inside. He was satisfied when he heard a bunch of girls squealing, and shrieking. He rolled his eyes and looked around quickly. He shoved his hands in his pants pocket, and was engulfed in light blue orbs, orbing home instead of walking. In seconds he was gone.

In Sakura's house

"SAKURA!" All three women shrieked at her. She rolled her eyes and walked into the living room where she heard it all.

"Yes?" She asked innocently. She really didn't want to worry them.

"Who was that, huh?" Ino asked, who saw Jackson outside.

"His name is Jackson Lance." She answered as she hung up her coat.

"What, you don't recognize him, Ino? He's been here before. We always call him when we need something fixed." Tenten said, tilting her head at Ino.

"Yeah, he's Naruto's best friend." Hinata said sipping her tea.

"Oh yeah! That hot handyman! Oh my gawwwwd he's so hot with that tool belt on. Such a cute ass." Ino drawled on, almost drooling over Jackson. 'Oh, I thought I recognized him from somewhere. I must have seen him here once or twice.' Sakura thought.

The three other girls shook their heads at the blonde.

"I didn't know you were interested in him, Sakura, when'd you ask him out?" Ino asked irately.

"What? I didn't ask him out. I didn't even know who he was until he showed up. I was attacked again guys, and he saved me!" Sakura exclaimed.

"What! Again? Sakura you need to call the cops, you can't just keep letting it go! This is the third time in a week!" Tenten almost screamed at her best friend.

"Guy's calm down, I'm fine. I'll just stop walking to and from the studio. Hmm… That means I'll have to get my car fixed. Damn." 'I'll call Jackson tomorrow.' She smirked.

"Listen, I'm going to bed. I'm tired. I'll see you guys in the morning." Sakura yawned, and headed up the staircase to her room at the end of the hall. She heard her friend's call 'Goodnight' to her as she reached the top. She smiled shaking her head as she walked to the very end of the hall to her room. As soon as she was inside, she shut the door, and leaned up against it, unable to stop smiling. When she pushed off the door, and grabbed the phone book she kept in her room, she sat on her bed, and looked up Jackson. When she found the ad for his mechanic job, she saved it in her cell phone. She closed the phone book and flopped back onto her bed, smiling again. She hugged the phone to her heart, and sighed happily. 'I can't wait.'

Indeed she couldn't wait to see this Jackson Lance again but she had no idea what supernatural baggage he came with…

Word count: 2,387

So, I went with 'Muse'. You'll see why soon. I'm sorry if the whole 'different name' thing threw you off, or if you didn't like it. It'll go back to Sasuke eventually, I promise. So what did you think? Reviews please! I accept all criticism. Thank you.

~Akio Toshiya