Saving Us
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
A/N: Nothing much changed with the story, I just edited it.
"What the fuck? You, y-you agreed?" a pink haired girl at the age of nineteen screamed.
"Yes," he simply answered.
"Don't you care about me? About this place?" tears began streaming down her face.
"Is he that much more important than me? OUR love?" she screeched.
"I have to," he growled threateningly.
"Please stay, p-please. I don't want to be alone again!" her anger resided and she began sobbing feverishly.
"No," he said, wishing his voice wasn't so cold.
"You don't care about me," her voice froze over too.
"I-" he opened his mouth.
"Y-you don't care about me," her voice rose.
"I-" he tried.
"FUCK YOU! You're not leaving me! Because I'm leaving you!" she spat through her screwed up face. She spun around and tore her way through the cardboard boxes to the door.
He grabbed her hand and furtively slipped something in her pocket. She winced at how tight his grip was on her delicate wrist. He practically cut off the circulation.
"Listen. Leave me first if you want to, go ahead, save your pride. But I'll find you. On your twenty first birthday, I will find you. Where ever you are in this fucking world, I will find you. And you'll celebrate that birthday with me!" he vowed not reassuringly, but threateningly.
She made no agreement or any type of confirmation; she just stared at his menacing eyes.
"Even if you have a new boyfriend by then…you will only spend it with me," he ordered, his voice cracking a little.
"I hate you," were her last words of defiance. She jerked her hand away and snatched her handbag on her way out of the door.
By the way her body was trembling as she ran down the apartment steps, he knew his words weren't wasted.
-
-
-
She sat at the curb of a road in the park. Her broken presence juxtaposed with the happy faces and cheery talk around her.
"M'am? Will you spare me some money?" a little homeless girl walked up to her and cooed. Her innocent eyes were tainted with desperation and lust for a few cents.
She dug through her pocket when her fingers brushed something foreign. She immediately yanked it out of her pocket.
Her face paled.
It was a little souvenir of their sweet and bitter love.
She buried her head in her arms and broke down once more.
People who passed by patted their hearts with pity, but they couldn't help admiring the beautiful, old-fashioned key that dangled on the golden chain that was wrapped around her tight fist.
The key that opened the apartment, their apartment.
The key that held secrets, promises and intricate carvings.
But the most curious engraving was the deepest and carved at the round of the key.
Perhaps they were initials, or a secret code, but on the handheld part of the key contained two letters: US
-
-
-
"Hark! Another apartment room for the picky love-birds!" their entertaining real estate agent announced.
"Shut up," the darker child mumbled.
The lighter child giggled merrily. She always felt that nothing bad could ever happen to her when she was with her lover, Uchiha Sasuke.
"Gasp It's so pretty!" Haruno Sakura squealed. Her hand traced the exquisite frame of the door excitedly. This is the one was written all over her beautiful face.
As much as Sasuke tried to find something wrong with their current mood, he couldn't. Don't ask why he tried, maybe he was nervous about living with his girlfriend.
"Wait 'till you see the inside, pretty lady!" the agent chirped happily. Sakura looked so settled on this particular room and they haven't even been inside yet!
All throughout this random Thursday, they've been traveling everywhere in Konoha, just trying to find the perfect apartment for the sweetly-nervous couple. The agent wasn't exaggerating when he called them, "picky." They've been to about thirty apartment rooms and they would always find something wrong with it.
"The windows are too small," Sakura would say, or,
"The bedroom is too small," Sasuke would say.
Or anything along those lines.
The real estate agent opened the door slowly building up the suspense. Sakura gripped Sasuke's hand with thrills and chills running down her spine. At last, the door swung open and Sakura sprang into the room in excitement.
"She's so cute," Sasuke smirked. Instead of the usual string of good things resulting in disappointment because of one fault in the apartment, Sakura just walked through the room silently as if taking everything in slowly.
"SO, whaddya think?" the agent hoped he wasn't too hasty, but by the expression on her face, the answer would be a big, fat, yes.
Sakura turned her face around, her body still facing a large bay window that gave a beautiful view of the village and the Hokage Mountain. The last rays of the sun hit her face just right and gave her a peaceful appearance. The light revealed a twinkle in her eyes.
"What do you think, baby?" Sasuke asked softly as he slipped his arm around her waist from behind.
She looked up and smiled angelically, "Can we please get it? Sasu-kun?"
The agent who had been cringing in anticipation did a mental cartwheel of exasperation and satisfaction.
"Sasu-kun," was a nickname reserved for when Sakura wanted something really, really badly, which was rare. All it meant was that Sasuke could never refuse when she crooned the nickname he secretly liked.
"For you, love," Sasuke growled in a sexy tone. He leaned in a little.
"I love you," Sakura whispered back. She slant her lips which fit perfectly in Sasukes. At the exact moment the peak of the late sunset sent bars of gold upon their flushed cheeks. Their real estate agent waited until the picture-perfect moment was over, before awkwardly speaking up.
"I'll take that as a yes?" he asked timidly.
"Hell, yeah!" Sakura shouted loudly. In the midst of celebration she jumped on Sasuke for a vulgar kiss. Surprised, Sasuke stumbled and fell backwards, but managed not to bite Sakura's tongue off while eagerly returning her kiss. Soon they were a tangled mob on the floor kissing passionately.
The agent quietly slipped out the door after leaving the documents on the floor, all the while shaking his head.
Kids these days…
2 years later
She smiled while her makeup artist dusted her already pale cheeks with white powder.
"Saku-chan! Please, no smile while I make you beaut!" the strange makeup genius pouted. He had his own slang that no one understood.
"Sorry Ryouske-chan!" Sakura returned her face into the calm mask of stoic-ness.
"It's my birthday and I could cry if I want to," she thought, "I could cry if Sasuke doesn't show up."
Of course she didn't forget. As much as she tried to block out years ago, his vivid choice of words hung in her mind like a terrible hangover.
I will find you.
And Sakura wasn't hiding, if her once-dear Sasuke wanted to hunt her down, she would let him. Tracking her down wouldn't be too hard, so Sakura still mentally readied herself on her twenty first birthday, just in case he did bother to drop by.
"Okay let's go, let's go, let's go!" the famed designer shouted at all of his angels.
In three…two…one…
Beams of light shot up from the cat walk, and in no time, perfectly sculpted models started strutting down the smooth glass.
"I'm glad you informed me of this," a man whispered.
"I'm glad you called," another man whispered.
-
-
-
"I'm taking today off," Sasuke demanded to his boss. He hoped Orochimaru would let him off easily, if he sounded cold and defiant enough.
But Kabuto knew better, "He's going off to see someone precious to him."
"It's her birthday, goddamnit," Sasuke mumbled.
"Ahhh...must be a girlfriend of dear Sasuke-kun...Tell me...is she pretty?" Orochimaru smiled deviously. He licked his lips with his twisted tongue, would it be possible that she was his weakness? He was almost lusting to get the mysterious girl eliminated at once.
"She's..okay," Sasuke answered cautiously, sensing Orochimaru's blood-lust. But he didn't say anything about Sakura not being his girlfriend anymore. Sasuke sprinted off, after all, he never asked for Orochimaru's permission like a good boy, he merely informed the reason for his absence.
He revved up the engine of his motorcycle, it had almost been too easy for him to track Sakura down. She had definately put those two years to use.
-
-
-
A certain model began parading on the narrow strip of glass.
She was stunningly beautiful, high cheek-bones, delicate lips, and a pair of eyes that seemed to take up her whole face. The designer obviously tried to show as much of her ivory skin as possible, because her endlessly long, smooth legs peeked out of the mini-dress of shimmering sequins. The dress she was wearing had a close resemblance to a slightly long tube top. Everything about her was extraordinary and perfect except for her breasts and her hair. She was painfully slim with small, curve-less, bumps. Her shiny chestnut hair would've been lustrous compared to any other brunette, but not to those who knew her before her modeling days. It was by her eyes, how Sasuke managed to recognize her. She owned those jade orbs with a veil of happiness and oblivion which hid her secrets of betrayal and pain.
Hatake Kakashi smiled as he watched Sasuke struggle with the current Sakura, so different from what he had left.
Sasuke abruptly sat back and sipped his complimentary beverage while starting to enjoy the show. After all, it's about time he saw that pretty face of hers again.
"Hey," he said casually. Although he looked like he fit right in with the mob of models and designers in the after-show party, he was nervous from all the gay men that were out to snag him.
"Hello," she replied. He had found her gettin' loose with a dark-haired man who had a strong resemblance to the Uchiha in the looks department, while occasionally sipping the beverage in her hand.
"Let's get outta here," Sasuke smiled cockily, like hanging out with the Uchiha Sasuke was so much better than dancing with a sweaty mob of beautiful people. Which perhaps, was true in certain bends of light.
She looked at him warily, like he was the last person she wanted to see in the midst of all this fun, and said, "I've got to change first."
"You look damn fine in that dress," Sasuke replied while referring to the tight, ruffly red dress Sakura had worn during her last run in the show.
"These aren't my clothes babe," Sakura answered, "Meet you out in a few."
Sasuke was semi-bothered when he saw her smile deviously at the other dark-haired boy while tugging at him for him to follow her.
Did she really need a man to help her change?
-
-
"Sasuke," Sakura calmly stated as she found Sasuke sitting on some railing outside the luxurious building.
Sasuke ignored her because he was mad to find that the dark-haired boy was still holding hands with Sakura. He glared at Sakura, as if he was expecting something. Realizing what his glare meant, Sakura turned apologetically to Sai.
"Baby, I have some business to finish," Sakura cooed, "So I won't see you until tonight."
"But, it's your birthday Sakura-chan," Sai whined, but noticed the desperate look in her eyes.
"Oh, I guess I'll see you home, tonight, sexy," he smiled then left in the limousine that was waiting for him. Sakura blew a kiss at him and chuckled.
"So," Sakura couldn't find a better word as she sat down next to him. She took a cigarette out of her purse and lit it with a cheap, plastic lighter. She lifted it up to her cherry-red lips and took a drag.
Sasuke was surprised that her lipstick didn't leave an imprint on the cigarette she closed her lips around.
"How do you do that?" Sasuke asked lamely. Since when was he the lame one?
"My lips are like ice, they melt," Sakura responded, her smooth sheets of shiny red stretching into a smile as she leaned towards Sasuke. A soft kiss landed on his cheek left some red on his face, not all of it being the slick lipstick.
"I'm sure glad you're here, Sasuke," Sakura smiled the fake smile that she had mastered from Sai.
Sasuke smiled back, "I'm glad to see you, love." He looked elegant in a suit jacket with a casual tee with tuxedo print in the front with dressy pants and nice shoes. Believe it or not, he actually planned his outfit instead of the usual lookin-great-even-though-I-just-grabbed-some-random-clothes-out-of-the-closet.
Sakura on the other hand still looked gorgeous despite the high in the exposure-meter. She wore a cheetah-print fur jacket over a red, netted shirt and a black leather mini with leather stiletto boots. Unlike the other models, she wasn't sporting a fabulously expensive pair of oversized sunglasses. A moment of silence passed as they just looked at each other.
As if ruining the moment, a bum went up to the model and the assasin, who were sitting next to each other, but not necessarily together. Sensing the dangerous glint in the male's eyes, he approached the lady.
"Pretty-lady, you got some money to spare?" he asked as politely as possible. Sakura glanced at the homeless man warily and fished out her snake-skin wallet. Sasuke, angry because Sakura was ignoring his don't give that man a cent looks, whipped out his own wallet faster than hers.
He snatched out a few ten-dollar bills and shoved it in the direction of the bum, "Go blow it on drugs and alcohal."
Despite Sasuke's generous donation, the bum flipped him off while walking away. Sasuke chuckled and shouted to him, "Why not spend a night with a whore while you're at it?"
"What the fuck is your problem?" Sakura hissed, although the whole situation was kind of funny, "You know you shouldn't stereotype them like that!"
"I know, but it makes them feel guilty," Sasuke smirked. Sakura turned away, pressing her lips together to keep herself from smiling. They just sat in silence again, not knowing what to say or do.
"Why did you dye your hair?" Sasuke asked suddenly, not bothering with the "oh your hair looks nice, what gives?"
"You know why I like him?" Sakura asked while staring into the blue.
"What?" Sasuke said even thought he knew she was talking about her beloved Sai.
"Because he never said anything about my hair," Sakura smiled.
-
-
When Sai first found Sakura, her hair looked like dog shit because of the cheap dye she bought from a random peddler.
Without even asking her name, he gently took hold of her arm not her thin wrist and rushed her into a snooty hair salon.
After two hours, her hair was looking as natural as the sky was blue. Plus, those hair stylists gave her tresses a shine that only an expensive and exclusive appointment could result in.
She was happy with the results, but now there was only one problem. How to repay the man?
He was something special or maybe strange; he never asked her why she dyed her hair or what the original color was.
"You look beautiful," he just smiled in awe of her beauty, "Don't worry, you don't have to repay me."
"Thank you," Sakura whispered with tears in her eyes.
"Model for me."
He let her pretend to be someone else without questioning and pestering like the others, which is what she needed most.
-
-
"But I'll tell you," Sakura sounded tired, "For old times' sake."
Sasuke looked at her in acknowledgement.
"I hated myself," Sakura replied truthfully, "Mostly when you left, but it wasn't your fault. So don't blame yourself." She eyed him dangerously as if daring him to take her words literally.
Sasuke suddenly learned what it meant to deal with a dangerous female.
"I wanted to be someone else, and forget my trouble and pain in a little shell," Sakura continued, "I figured my hair was the most disgusting and fake-looking part of me."
Sasuke nodded solemnly, "You'll always be beautiful to me." He reached out and touched her defined chin. Sakura smiled sadly and looked away. Sasuke glanced down and noticed the heavy looking pendent that dangled on the gold chain that hung around her elegant neck.
"Is that-" Sasuke felt a rush of nostalgia and pain in his heart.
"No," Sakura panicked and hurriedly stashed the key down her shirt. By the look in Sasuke's eyes, she knew she couldn't hide that she treasured the only memoir of their past relationship.
She felt a rush of tears, "Y-you found me." She trembled, suddenly sober. Sakura would've never been able to act the way she did, if she hadn't been a little tipsy from her beverage.
He took her frail body into his, "I know."
-
-
-
-
"What do you want to be when you grow up, my cute little students?" Kakashi asked.
"I wanna be the head of Konoha!" Naruto would always shout proudly.
"I wanna cure! I wanna become a medic-woman!" Sakura always sounded so noble and honest.
After a lot of persuasion, Kakashi would force the answer out of his quietest student.
"I wanna be a head policeman!" Sasuke would mumble, with a note of pride. After all it was what his daddy was, and the daddy before that, and before that…
Kakashi still had the video (yes he taped this memorable moment) of the cute interview. As they grew up, he would invite each of his students to go over and watch it. Despite the cute little boys and girls they once were, the video only caused pain.
Naruto would laugh at himself and smile sadly at his two other friends.
Sakura would cry hysterically during the whole thing while Kakashi held her protectively.
Sasuke would curse under his breath and vow to destroy the tape someday.
Yet they all watched the video, because it was sacred, it was what helped them continue to love each other, despite what they've become.
What they aimed for and what they've become.
To think that the only one who achieved his goal was the student who slacked off the most.
To think that his brightest student ended up being what society stereotypes as an airhead.
To think that the student who had the most promising future ended up driving himself into darkness and alas, turning into what the police fight against, an assassin of the most dangerous gang, all because of the poison of revenge.
Kakashi once hoped for Kami-sama to save these children, but came to realize, that they could handle themselves.
-
Some say that love conquers all
Others say that a scar done to the heart can never be healed.
Most say: love at your own risk.
-
"I haven't forgiven you, you know"
"But, I-I feel happy, only when I'm with you"
"I want to give you the life you deserve"
"But you can't"
"I''d give up killing, for you and myself"
"Sorry Sasuke"
"We could start a new life!"
"Sorry, but I have to leave"
His face was showing emotion
His voice was showing emotion.
He was showing emotion.
So, why did you fucking walk away?
-
"I don't hate you anymore, I never did..."
-
She came through the door with bloodshot eyes.
Her favorite necklace was missing.
She collapsed into his chest.
"Wish me a happy birthday, Sai…"
-
-
What has become of us?
I really enjoyed writing this, and giving Sakura the upper-hand for once :) please review! (I might continue it depending on my comments)