09 September 2012
Lovers
: theSincerities
Prologue.
Naruto was an ambitious man; it was only logical he'd consider her his endeavor.
No one ever tried for Sakura—no, not Sakura Haruno, at least. No one tried for something they knew they wouldn't win; but that's exactly why Naruto tried—because he knew he'd win. He even promised her twice the first day he met her—that's how ridiculously sure of himself he was.
She luckily decided not to pay him any mind; after all, he was only being daring . . . or so she thought.
September.
.
.
.
"Listen," he said as he propelled backwards in his best attempt to face her.
She was looking forward, anywhere but him, in clear indifference; her evident priority was ignoring him, and he was sad to admit she was doing a damn good job at it. After all, he'd never been so breathless and excited in a mere three minutes before, which was mostly due to the fact that today was the first time he'd ever had to throw out every scheme and idea he had, one after another, on the spot.
"—just one date. Dinner or something; why not dinner?"
"Sorry, but I don't know you," she spat, eyes leering at the front desk. God, he could practically smell the coolness of their peppermint.
"Naruto Uzumaki, freshly-promoted jonin, an October tenth Libra," he threw back, determined. "Come on, please? Just one date."
His heart sprang itself into his esophagus, it seemed, the moment she flicked her eyes—so pretty, so intense and green—onto him for the first time, immediately daring him to try again.
"I'm willing to bet you don't even know my name."
His first reaction was to search her lab coat for a nametag . . . but she gave a sharp turn toward the back of the desk counter, briefly giving the secretary a silent nod of acknowledgement. Just as promptly, she streamed past the counter, past him, and traced back toward the corridor she'd originally come from, now with a handful of paper-clipped documents secured on their clipboard. Naruto shot behind her.
"What's your name, Miss?"
No answer.
He stared into the starched fabric of her lab coat, begging the creases for mercy. Brow furrowed, he gave a deep inhale and tried again, now fixing his pace to hers, gradually gaining speed behind her faint shadow.
"I'd be honored to have dinner with you tonight, Miss, but before that I'd very much like to ask for your name," he paused, "so I could ask you formally—properly, to join me this evening on a casual trip around the corner of the village square to the Ichiraku Ramen Bar."
He was sincerely stunned when there was an abrupt halt, enough for him to feel his zori sweep beneath him uneasily, as he avoided her significantly petite figure. There was a thrilling silence; he even found himself chanting an incoherent prayer in his mind when she faced him for the second time that day, expression fiercely intimidating.
He forced himself to hold his ground regardless.
"Why do you want to have dinner with me?" she said instead.
Despite his slight fall of breath, he accepted the challenge.
"I want to have dinner with you because I want to get to know you." He looked at the floor, grudgingly. "Is that okay?"
"Sakura Haruno."
The millisecond he looked up, now breathless, she'd already turned the corner.
. . .
"If you're not busy, would you like to join me for dinner tonight, Miss Haruno?"
Naruto found himself standing the straightest he'd stood before (aside from the times he was in Lady Tsunade's presence), eyes feeling the most alert off duty, voice hard and straightforward; it was amazing how much command the woman, perhaps only 5'3 or '4, held. Thankfully, the azalea bushes surrounding the hospital entrance and the dim, sunburst shine fanning over the double-doors soothed him; but, even then, with her eyes suddenly fixed on him, he nearly fell back.
She looked at him in the eye, seemingly stripping him of his character. A bare sense of relief slinked past him when she glanced at her wrist; then, something amazing happened.
"Sure," she said, smiling, eyes suddenly unguarded, expression heavenly and warm.
Before he could recollect himself, she blew his senses further apart.
"—and you don't have to call me Miss Haruno; I'm not on duty after six. Just Sakura's fine."
Although unsure, Naruto quickly jolted into prime-command, a smirk etching itself for her.
"Just Sakura, eh? Okay, you got it!" He watched her crook her head curiously. "Are you okay with ramen, then, Sakura?"
"As long as you're paying, yes."
She laughed, and, for the third time that evening, Naruto strayed from his course.
. . .
"Here, I'll walk you home."
Naruto's mind wrought through the bare hour or two he'd just spent, and through the femme voice replaying itself and its replies for him in his head. He then chose to look directly at the rosette gathering her coat (laid generously and folded beside her on the counter with her purse), albeit more intent on the interesting blush-pink locks held in a stub at the base of her neck.
Eyes tracing the viridian sweater hugging her figure, Naruto's chest swelled with uncalled-for responsibility; an unknowing, duteous, pride.
"Are you sure?" she called over her shoulder.
"Of course!" he beamed, now holding out a hand. "I'll hold your purse, if you want."
Although at first questioning, Sakura handed him the purse before proceeding to slip her arms back into her lab coat. He returned it to her soon after, the two of them ducking under the entrance flaps simultaneously.
"So, from what you've told me, I know a bit about you now, right, Sakura? Enough to call you an acquaintance." He winked. "Like, your full name is Miss Sakura Haruno, lead medic-nin at the Konohagakure hospital—the only hospital in Konohagakure, too; you're Lady Tsunade's past apprentice—Lady Tsunade's successful past apprentice . . ."
He strayed, watching her carefully for approval, or (God forbid) disapproval. He nearly sighed when he saw her unchanged expression, which was at least neutral; so, he decided to continue, smugly, though mostly playful.
"—you're a jonin, which isn't a surprise at all if you're the lead medic-nin in the entire village, just below the Hokage herself—I'm actually surprised you aren't something higher. Your birthday is in late March, and you're an Aries; you're a fan of sweets, and you don't really like soups," he paused, grinning cheekily. "—but you made an exception when I asked you out for ramen today, but only because I was paying."
He chuckled when she shot him a feigned deadpan, and was convinced to keep going when he felt her lips quirk hesitantly.
"You've been living alone and supporting yourself since you turned eighteen, two years ago, you said, aaand," he gave an exaggerated look up at the lanterns glowing above them, "... you are going to fall madly in love with me within a year." The corners of his eyes crinkled, and suddenly he felt like an academy student again. "I promise."
Sakura rolled her eyes, now three paces ahead. She shook her head, briefly looking over her shoulder and into his teasing blue eyes—royal-blue eyes. She looked rather unimpressed, and this only made him grin wider.
"You're free to believe what you'd like," she shot back, concluding her statement with the turn of her head, now forcing him to stare at her back.
He decided a light jog would prove efficient, so he did. He jogged back up beside her, now feeling himself radiate in confidence. As he slowed back into a gradual step-step, he leaned forward, facing her despite her uninterested vibe; her cheeks were rounder and holding something back . . . perhaps that smile he'd seen stifle itself.
"The hard part's over, Sakura."
She glanced at him. "Why's that?"
"My name's Naruto—I told you that from the start— so technically you already know who I am." He fought back another grin and failed. "Now all that's really left is for you to want Naruto."
She scoffed this time and again took the lead, now five steps ahead.
"Why would I want Naruto?" she called.
"Because I want you," he sang back.
They now stood before the entrance of a two-story complex, Sakura now rummaging in her purse and further ignoring Naruto. He grazed over the area, noting the streetlights at either side of the reasonably sized complex, then at the wooden staircase about a yard from them. By the time she'd pulled a chain of keys, Naruto was in front of her, grin crooked and eyes fixed on her—only her.
She shifted around him, and he followed, blocking her again.
"Did you enjoy dinner?"
"More or less." She pursed her lips. "The ramen was delicious."
"Would you like to join me again sometime?"
"I'll think about it."
She pivoted, and he blocked her once more.
"Do you think you'll fall in love with me?"
"No."
With this, he lunged forward and gave her a well-planted kiss on the cheek, halting her fully, before doubling back and beginning another jog, this time opposite of her complex. He waved at her mildly repulsed, mostly stunned, figure.
"I'll see you tomorrow, same time, same place!" He waved harder. "Be there!"
As he turned the corner, still facing her direction, he caught sight of that breathtaking smile.
"You will," he murmured.
. . .
next time: October.
note: This little work should be approximately twelve to thirteen chapters, more or less. For those of you who didn't notice, this is an AU fic, just to be clear.
Based solely on our favorite (I'm assuming about 80% of you are reading this because you at least tolerate this evident pair; forgive me if I'm statistically incorrect), NaruSaku, we will follow the likely-used and possibly cliche pursuit Naruto takes after Sakura over the course of one year, twelve months. Expect romance, possible humor/sly remarks and/or storytelling, an inkling of drama (maybe), and just an overall straightforward, 'for the sole enjoyment of my readers and myself' story.
Oh, that's right: This is an AU fic. I repeat, AU.
note2: Due to real-life inconveniences, updates are likely to be abrupt. I apologize, but hopefully this doesn't affect your enjoyment :)
Yvette.
Disclaimer: Credit for Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.