Story: Eye of the Beholder
Rating: T
Pairing: KakaSaku
Genre: Slightly AU/Romance/Wee bit o' drama
Summary: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but ugly is to the bone.
A/N: This was supposed to be my entry for the LJ KakaSaku Mythology contest. :P As you can see I'm a bit late, but why hold on to this and not post it? The story is complete (mostly) and will be posted in it's entirety before the week is up. It just needs some editing here and there. So here it is. By the way I found this story to have a rather important lesson in it—for me at least. Oh, and the story is based upon Cupid and Psyche.
Haruno Sakura spent the majority of her life surrounded by men that were a great deal taller than her. It never really bothered her that she had never grown taller than her five feet two inches because what she lacked in height she made up for in her other ways. She had killer legs. They were shapely and tone and had caught the eye of several interested men. Her hair was softer than the finest silk—and that was when she barely took care of it. Her breasts were full, perky, and damn near perfect. Her lips were cherry red often said to be 'kissable'.
Yet if all that were true why the heck was she still single?
It wasn't something she obsessed over. She was single, what of it? Her own mentor was a single woman and she was feared and respected throughout the shinobi world. She did not need a man to survive. Often in her youth she had fawned over a certain shinobi, but what young girl didn't have someone that they went a little batty for at a young age?
The truth was that she was lonely. Yes, she could admit it. One by one her friends slowly paired off until she was one of the few people left alone. Even Naruto and Sasuke had moved on without her…but that was nothing really new anyway. Naruto had finally, finally opened his eyes and saw that Hinata loved him to pieces. A small part of her was jealous because she had secretly hoped Naruto would always love her. At least that meant someone cared but Sakura supposed it was all for the best.
Then Sasuke came home. Or more like Naruto and Sasuke damn near killed each other to prove their 'brotherly affection', but she didn't even like thinking about that dark period of their lives. Regardless, he was home and currently married. Surprising enough he didn't marry her. After, witnessing the battle between Naruto and Sasuke she knew that she could never, ever trust him. Not with her heart anyway. Never again. She still loved him but more like a friend that she kind of despised than anything else. She had tried dating him but she just couldn't get over the past. So in the end he had married Temari. Yes, Temari as in Gaara's sister. Sakura supposed it made sense. Sasuke desired more than anything a strong kunoichi at his side. He found that in Temari. More than that, the new Leaf kunoichi wouldn't put up with his moody shit—which is more than Sakura could ever say about herself. Ino was engaged to Genma and surprisingly enough Shikamaru had a thing going on with Kurenai, but they were keeping it quiet.
So who did that leave her with? Neji? She wasn't even on his radar, and honestly he really wasn't on hers. He was too much like Sasuke with less emo. She didn't want to make the same mistake twice. Kiba? Sakura honestly thought he'd always love Akamaru more than he would possibly ever love her and that was just a…no. Lee? Wait, Lee was in the process of wooing Tenten. So that ruled that out. There was also Chouji and Shino. There was nothing necessarily wrong with either of them. It was just that she rarely saw or spoke to either.
So Sakura was single and while she adored her close friends she didn't really want to hang around them and always feel like she was the third wheel. This was how she ended up becoming friends with Anko and believe it or not, Karin.
After Karin's capture she had pretty much willingly given them any information that they wished on Sasuke as well as Orochimaru. If it hadn't been for Karin they never would have found Sasuke and intercepted him before he could get close to Konoha. She wasn't exactly the most trusted person in Konoha (neither was Sasuke), but she got the job done.
"Haruno!" Sakura shook herself out of her daze at the sound of Anko's bellow. She just left the hospital for the day and been thinking of her pathetic excuse for a love life when she heard the woman's call. Sakura glanced over her shoulder, her eyes giving the woman a cursory glance and continued walking.
"You heard me, you bit—"
"What is it, Anko?" Sakura said cutting her off before the usual name calling began.
"We're going drinking tonight. That's what."
"Anko, don't you remember what happened the last time we went drinking?"
Anko gave Sakura a grin that if she hadn't known the woman as well as she did would have made her shiver.
"Yeah, I remember. That's why we're doing it again."
Sakura sighed. "Anko, if you'll recall, last time you got us banned from three different bars."
"You worry too much Haruno. When they say 'banned' it means don't come back for a month or so. We'll be fine."
"It's been two weeks."
"There you go worrying again."
"Forgive me for being logical."
Anko just pulled a lock of Sakura's hair and tugged her along. "Where's Karin?" Sakura asked wondering where the third of their normal trio had disappeared to.
"She's meeting us there."
Eventually, they arrived at a seedy looking bar where it looked like people came to frequent in some sort of illegal activity—knowing Anko she was one of those people. The things she had seen that woman do in their short acquaintance. Sakura shook her head. It was best not to even go down that road.
Sakura's eyes alighted on Karin in the back of the bar waving her hand to catch their attention. She noticed then that out of the three of them she was dressed the worse. Karin's flaming red hair was skillfully pulled up into a ponytail and arranged artfully around her face. She wore a black tube top and black shorts that looked more like undergarments than regular clothing. Sakura could see several men eyeing her already. Out of the corner of her eye she gave Anko a once over seeing how the woman had foregone her normal tan jacket and only wore her fishnet top. It was the first time that Sakura noticed that the woman wore nothing underneath said top. Her tan skirt fell to mid thigh—not that many people's eyes went that far after seeing her top….
"Why do you two always make sure I look the worst out of all of us? Couldn't you have at least let me go home and change first? I look like a nun slumming with prostitutes."
Anko pinched Sakura's cheek. "Aw, little Haruno wants to be a hooker, too? Isn't that cute?"
Sakura sighed realizing trying to explain to Anko that she didn't want to look like a hooker was pointless. Still, she just wished she was dressed a little…cuter. Sakura looked down at her drab pink top and shorts with a scowl. They were so aggravating.
Sakura slid into the booth beside Karin pausing momentarily to allow her to scoot over while Anko slid in across from them.
Anko looked at Karin with a scowl noticing that she had started drinking without them. "You could have waited skank." Anko snatched the drink out of Karin's hand for herself. Sakura didn't even bother to try to explain how unsanitary that was because she knew the woman had some sort of snarky comment waiting for her. Instead, she signaled to a waiter to head their way all the while ignoring the scowl that was on Karin's face.
Drinks were ordered and drunk and Sakura had to admit she was feeling pretty mellow. She was glad that Anko had come along this evening. Her thoughts would only serve to make her more and more upset had she been left alone and pretending that she wasn't really thinking about it. The evening moved along and surprisingly enough the three single friends were joined by one of Sakura's married friends.
"Temari, what are you doing here?" Sakura asked, with a raised brow. Temari slid inside the booth beside Anko forcing the woman to move over. Anko scowled, but didn't argue—which was surprising. Anko always found something to argue about and she had a particular fondness for picking at Temari.
Sakura, on the other hand, got along with Temari rather well. The woman was likeable in her way, but Sakura didn't actively go out of her way to spend time with her. It just seemed really awkward to her since she used to be head over heels in love with her husband. It was her personal rule.
Stay away from old flames and their wives.
"I've been looking for you all evening. If I had known you were hanging with the degenerates I would have come here first." Sakura looked around her slightly amused. They were in the seediest bar in Konoha. Sakura knew that—and yet for some reason they always ended up here. It just so happened that this night they never moved on to a better place or a worse place depending upon their mood.
"Look Sand bitch—" Anko started, but Temari immediately interrupted her tapping the headband that hung around her neck.
"It's Leaf now—remember it." Temari stated, and then turned her attention to Sakura. "I need to speak with you privately.
"Anything you say to her she's just going to tell us eventually—you might as well say it now." Karin said as she brought her glass to her lips. Karin…didn't like Temari. It wasn't out of some misplaced feelings of affection for Sasuke either. No, Karin had officially joined Sakura in the 'Sasuke Uchiha is so not worth it' club. Rather, Karin didn't like Temari because she represented everything that she felt she would never be and it galled her. She was never rude to Temari—because she was afraid the woman would kick her ass, but she was never exactly pleasant, either.
Temari looked at Sakura for confirmation of these words and Sakura just shrugged. She probably would tell them everything so it wouldn't make much difference if Temari spoke to her privately or in public.
Temari rolled her eyes and began speaking. "Sasuke's worried about you." A silence settled over the table. Sakura sighed, put her elbow on the table, and her face in her hand. She pursed her lips at the words not believing them even for a millisecond.
"You mean you're worried about me."
Temari paused. "No…I mean Sasuke's worried." Sakura looked at Temari's deadly serious face and fought to hold back a snicker. She would have succeeded if Karin hadn't obviously stifled a giggle. Anko, on the other hand, didn't bother with subtlety and sprawled across the table in full blown laughter. Sakura and Karin joined her right after and glancing at the stern frown on Temari's face only made them laugh harder.
Sakura soon composed herself when she realized that Temari was in no way, shape, or form amused. Although, she couldn't say the same for her friends. It took them a bit more time.
"Okay, Temari. Tell me what's going on."
"You're single."
"I am?" The droll tone that slipped forth from her lips did nothing to help Anko compose herself nor did it lessen Temari's irritation.
"Sakura, he thinks you're still carrying a torch for him." Sakura sighed, ignoring the howls coming from her two friends. "Must we do this with them here?" Temari demanded.
"It wouldn't be an issue if you hadn't insisted upon this ridiculous conversation."
"Is it ridiculous?"
"Temari, you don't honestly think I still want your husband, do you?"
"No…but I do think you're lonely." Anko and Karin quieted down at those words and looked at Sakura whose face was expressionless. "Sasuke seems to think you want the impossible. That you're holding out for the perfect man when he doesn't exist."
"Did Sasuke really say all those words or are you expanding his thoughts?"
"He can be rather expressive when he's being a moody bitch."
"Ah, I see."
"Do you?"
"Yeah, I do. Sasuke's irritating you and since you find some validity to his claim you can't just kick his ass and screw him to throw him out of his funk. You actually have to make some sort of effort to correct the problem, right?"
"Right." Temari said with a smile and a nod of her head.
"So what do you want me to do, Temari?"
"Well, this is where Sasuke and I differ. Sasuke says you need a husband—"
"You and Sasuke talk about me far too—"
"But I say you need a good, long, thorough screw."
"Who doesn't?" Anko interrupted, followed by Karin's, "Say it!"
Sakura just looked at her friends torn between laughing and hitting them. They weren't making this any easier to deal with. Especially, since she knew Temari wasn't going anywhere until she felt the issue was settled.
"And if I say I'm fine with my life just as it is."
"Then you're a liar."
Sakura and Temari stared at each other; neither willing to be the first to break eye contact.
"You can do it, Sakura! Stare her down!" Anko shouted. Sakura felt, rather than saw, several heads turn their way and knew it wouldn't be long before they were thrown out…again.
"If I wish to live a lie then it's my choice, Temari."
"What if I could find something to make you happy?" Sakura blinked startled and Temari shouted her victory causing Sakura to chuckle. With a roll of her eyes, Sakura demanded clarification to the woman's words. "I have a man in mind for you."
"Damn it, I don't want a blind date."
"A blink fuck then?"
"Temari, I'm not about to go screw some strange man!"
"Why not?" Karin and Anko asked simultaneously.
"You know…just because you two have no morals doesn't mean I don't either."
Anko frowned. "And here I thought I had been rubbing off on you. Guess I'll have to try harder."
Temari ignored them and focused on Sakura. "What if it isn't some strange man?"
"That would probably be even worse."
"Damn it, Sakura!"
"Temari you just can't come in here and expect to fix all of my 'problems'. This is my life. Not yours. Not Sasuke's. Mine. All mine. While I appreciate the sentiment I'm going to have to ask you—and your wayward husband to mind your own business." Sakura rose to her feet.
*"Oh no! You've gone and made Pinky all mad and junk." Sakura's lips curled into a snarl at the nickname which only made Anko chuckle.
"Goodnight." Sakura said and walked out of the bar.
The cool, fresh air hit her face making Sakura realize late that the bar had been filled with enough smoke to make one think there was a fire nearby. Sakura shook her head and sighed wishing for her bed so she could snuggle under the covers and forget this night had ever happened.
Sakura had barely taken two steps before she realized she wasn't alone. Her hand moved discreetly to her ninja pouch until a voice called out,
"You won't need those."
"Sasuke." Sakura said relaxing a bit, but not much. The Uchiha still made her uneasy…but that tended to happen when people wrapped their hands around your throat with the intent to choke the life out of you. Despite that, just the sight of him was still enough to make things clench low in her body. Sakura had always been the visual type of chick, a.k.a. a sucker for a pretty face. That didn't mean she had to like it.
"Sakura, is Temari in there?" Sakura nodded her head at his inquiry and took a few steps hoping that was the end of the conversation.
"Did she talk to you?"
"She did." Sakura realized then that escape was going to be no easy feat.
"And?"
"And, what?"
"Sakura." He said her name in such a way that made it seem like all his troubles were her fault.
"Sasuke." Sakura said right back knowing well that if he minded his own business her love life wouldn't be an issue. What was wrong with him anyway? The only people he even seemed to remotely care about since his return were Naruto and later on Temari. Especially, after she turned him down. He hadn't really been nice to her since. So she avoided him if at all possible—though how can you avoid someone that's stuck on the same team as you?
"Did you agree to Temari's suggestion?" Sakura could tell that he was irritated that he had to spell out the question but Sakura wasn't put on the earth to make his life easier. The sooner he realized that…the better.
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because it was a bad suggestion."
"You need to let go and move on."
"Let go of what?"
"Me."
"Sasuke, if you'll recall I was the one to tell you that a relationship wouldn't work out between us."
"That doesn't mean you haven't thought you were wrong."
Sakura blinked. "Wow. You're an arrogant SOB." Sasuke opened his mouth to reply but Sakura raised her hand to halt his words. "I've heard enough, Sasuke. I'm going home."
"Naruto is worried."
Suddenly everything made perfect sense to her. Of course, Naruto was worried since Naruto actually cared about her well being. However, Naruto knew her well enough to know that he couldn't force her to do anything. All the power at Naruto's fingertips and he was still a pussycat when facing her. So he sent Sasuke in his place. Sakura scowled and made a mental note that on the next mission Hinata went on she was going to put a hurting on her blonde friend. She'd wait until after Hinata was gone because she didn't want the former Hyuuga to fret.
"Then you can tell him that his concern is misplaced. I'm fine. We spoke and I am more than happy with my life."
"I won't lie for you."
"Then tell him that I'm too much of a bitch for you to deal with and leave me the hell alone."
Sakura stalked off but before she could get far she heard Sasuke yell out.
"This is what you become when you hang out with women like Mitarashi." Sakura immediately turned around and walked back to Sasuke. She extended a slender finger and poked him in the chest. It didn't matter that his body was rock hard and didn't move an inch. The gesture was meant to show her irritation at him and yet she somehow had the feeling that he thought of her as an insect—far beneath his glorious Uchiha dignity.
"Where the hell do you get off talking about my friends?"
"You call that a friend? The second you turn your back she's going to stab you in it."
"Yeah, you know a thing or two about that don't you?"
Sasuke's lips curled upwards into a snarl. "Get over it, Sakura."
"You know what Sasuke? I've gone out of my way to give you wide berth and leave you to live your life in peace. Why don't you do the same?"
For a moment Sakura didn't think he wasn't going to reply to her comment, but he surprised her by answering her. Although, she wasn't quite happy with the response she received.
"Because I don't want to."
"Why not?"
"Tch. I want you to be happy."
Sakura was certain that she had never been more stunned in her life. She never thought she'd hear words about happiness escape Sasuke's lips—especially not directed her way. She supposed that this was the hard work and effort that Temari had put in to him. Sakura was certain that she would never have been able to help him reach that level. Suddenly all the anger she felt drained out of her.
"Goodnight, Sasuke."
"If you can't try to move on you should at least stop hanging around Mitarashi…and Karin." He said as an afterthought.
"You don't know anything about them."
"I know enough. Mitarashi's the type to revel in the misery of others, and she's getting off on yours and as far as Karin is concerned-."
"What about her?"
"It would just be wise to stay away from her. She's not the type of woman you can trust."
"Why not? You did."
"And in the end she turned snitch."
"And you didn't deserve it? You tried to kill her, too!" Sakura immediately snapped her mouth shut and took a calming breath. Anger was not the path to walk down when dealing with Sasuke. He was an expert at it and she was barely a novice. The best way to be able to make it to her bed would be to calm down. "Look, don't presume to know what I'm feeling Sasuke…better yet don't pretend to care. You want me to move on…then stop standing in my way."
Sakura immediately felt Sasuke's hands on her shoulders as he shook her slightly. Sakura was about to push Sasuke off her when suddenly he freed her and pushed her away causing her to stumble backwards.
"You're an idiot, Sakura."
"…"
"Sasuke!" Sasuke let out an irritated grunt when he saw his wife glaring at him with her hands perched atop her hips. The sneer on her face promise a world of pain later on this evening…and he found himself slightly looking forward to it. "Apologize."
"Why? I'd just be lying."
"Sasuke Uchiha…." Temari growled. Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"I'm sorry my wife caught me telling you the truth."
Sakura's mouth dropped open and a snicker escaped as Temari smacked him on the back of his head.
"What did he say, Sakura?" Sakura shrugged her shoulders offhandedly.
"Nothing worth repeating."
"Don't protect him!" Temari yelled.
"Why would I?" Temari paused, thinking over those words. It didn't take her long to figure out that Sakura had come up with some sort of loophole to keep her from getting the information that she wanted.
"Of course you wouldn't protect him. That must mean you're protecting yourself." Sakura had the thought, 'Curses! Foiled again!'*
"Temari, all I want is to go home and get in the bed. Is that really too much to ask?"
Temari's eyes softened. "Look, Sakura. You saved my little brother's life—" Sakura nearly groaned at the reminder knowing she wasn't going to like what came next. "And all I want is to see his savior happy. To me, if anyone deserves to be happy it's you. Can you please just do this…for me?"
Sakura mentally applauded Temari for switching tactics. She knew herself well enough to know that if her friends were dead set on ensuring her happiness then she would fight it tooth and nail. However, the second they ask her to do something as a favor to them…she was a sucker every time.
Sakura swore softly. She really needed to stop being such a goody-two shoes.
A/N:
*There was this Geico commercial you may have seen where there's this pot hole that a car ran into and it started talking. (I love this commercial) so the pothole said 'Oh, no! Your tire's all flat and junk. Did I do that…'
*This is from some old Cartoon that I can't remember for the life of me.