Title: Protect Me

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Summary: AU- Sasuke is the son of an important politician and Sakura is his personal bodyguard. She's extremely professional, and she's always making sure he doesn't get hurt. It's a difficult job, for the Uchiha tends to run away all the time. It annoys her, but how else can he attract the attention of the girl he loves?

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A/N: This is another request I found around tumblr and I basically told sasusakunaru7 that I was going to write it XD I'm an AU lover, and since it's been a while since my last AU, why not, right? Well, I hope you guys enjoy it, and don't forget my Reviews.

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There was a gray haired guy standing in front of the door, blocking the exit. Another blonde one was sitting on a chair, with his eyes aimed at the floor, as his attention was far from that room. A third, red haired man was standing on his feet, with his arms crossed over his chest as he walked around, trying to make the clock run faster. The silence enveloping the room was screaming, and the anxiety was holding a knife against those men's throats.

They were waiting for a sign.

They were waiting for an order.

They were waiting for over 2 hours, and they were growing incredibly impatient.

Almost impatient enough to forget everything and simply pull the trigger, killing their special hostage.

Yes, the fourth man in that room was in a quite delicate situation, where his life could end in a blink of an eye. His life was at stake, but Uchiha Sasuke didn't seem worried about that at all.

In fact, that cocky smirk on his face showed anything but concern.

That Uchiha…

Inside that small captivity, apart from Uchiha Sasuke, the son of the country's secretary of defense, who was poorly tied to a wooden chair; there were also three other men, all of them armed and ready to shoot the raven haired boy. For his father had been responsible for their brothers' imprisonment, the bandits had successfully planned on kidnapping the young Uchiha, and were now demanding a response from the secretary. A response that would set their brothers free and that would also make the secretary renounce his position.

Without Uchiha Fukagu to take care of the security system, the crime would soon rule the city of Konoha. It would be the solution for all of those who use illegal methods to make a living, and it would also make the population surrender to crime. Everything had been narrowly planned, and now that they had the boy, all they had to do was wait for the secretary to renounce his position. It would be just a matter of time, they knew, and for that, they could wait a little longer, for sure.

But not while that boy was smirking like that.

He should be afraid at that time. He should be worried about his life and the city, but instead, he was holding that creepy smirk on his lips.

And that smirk, mixed with those bandits' impatience, and the blonde's short temper, suddenly became incredibly annoying.

" You have no idea of how much I want to rip this smirk from your face, you brat." The golden haired man said, pointing his gun towards Sasuke's head.

" Knock it off, Deidara." The red haired man interrupted, glaring at the blonde one. " We're not killing the boy. Not until his father renounces."

" Tch…. But look at him, Sasori-sama! Making fun of us with that smirk, Hun!"

" Shut up, already. You're too loud."

" Hun…" The blonde pouted, returning his attention to their hostage. Deidara was able to keep his mouth shut for exacts 7 seconds before the words exploded from his mouth once again. That man really needed to learn a bit of self-control. " You think your father will save you? You think we're afraid of him? I'll tell you something: We're not! So wipe this stupid smirk off your face, or I'll make you swallow an explosive. Your daddy won't save you."

" Tch… Here we go again." The gray haired man sighed, shaking his head.

" Hidan, you should be helping me with this brat! We have to teach him that his papa won't stand a chance against us, Hun!"

" Hn, My father…" Sasuke said, almost as a whisper. His smirk was still playing on his lips, and by the amused expression that was ruling his face, it was possible to tell that none of those threats had affected him. In fact, all of those words had just made him want to laugh out loud in pure anxiety. " It's not my father that you should fear, barbie…"

" You called me what!? You brat, I will-"

" Deidara!" Sasori said, with a serious tone in his voice, as his honey eyes aimed at the door. A strange sound had caught his attention, and by the way the gray haired man took some steps away from the door, they concluded that whatever had created that sound, was something powerful.

Something powerful, and definitely, beautiful.

His rescue had finally began…

" I wouldn't want to be you right now…" The Uchiha's smirk grew wider, as his dark orbs were focused on the main door. He wouldn't want to miss the grand entrance of his personal heroine.

The show was about to begin, and his seat was right in the front row.

All that was left for him to do was sit back and wait.

Wait to be saved.

Wait for her to come for him.

Wait to be free.

And after a frightening scream that was followed by a painful silence, the door opened and the three men finally saw the face of horror.

And horror had never been so pink before.

Six pairs of eyes couldn't believe in what was happening at that moment. That scream was still echoing in their ears, and their hearts rates were still accelerated from the fear of the unknown. Sweat was still streaming down their faces, and the images of an enormous guy were still crossing their minds. There was probably a mistake going on, for the person they were expecting was nothing like the one that showed up. The person they were expecting was definitely not a girl.

The person they were expecting definitely didn't have pink hair.

But the person he was expecting was doubtlessly the one pink haired girl standing right in front of them.

And now the fun would finally begin.

It was only after a lot of observation that the three bandits finally decided to do something about the girl standing in front of them. Her short, pink hair combined to her two-pieces suit gave her a professional look, and for a moment, the bad guys did believe she was just lost around that old building. At first, they thought she was just passing by, but as soon as Sasori saw the way her emerald eyes locked with Sasuke's dark orbs, the red haired man knew they had a connection. A connection that could be really troublesome for the criminal's plan.

The bandits exchanged a few glances for a while until the red haired one decided to break the silent that settled around the room. The criminal didn't move from his place, as his eyes remained set on that girl.

Indeed, she was certainly a cute, little girl. Too bad she had crossed their way.

" What are you doing at such a dangerous place, little girl?" Sasori said, placing his gun back on his waist and placing both of his hands on his hips. He was also offering her a side smile, as if trying to intimidate her somehow.

And if that was his objective, Sasuke knew, then he would have to try a lot harder than just that smile to intimidate that girl.

" I have business with the Uchiha."

"Oh, what a coincidence… We also have."

" Hun… And what kind of business do you have with him?" Deidara started walking towards her, holding his gun down and also holding a cocky expression on his face.

" It's none of your concern."

" What an arrogant girl! Tch, why can't we kill her already, Sasori?" Hidan said, pointing his gun towards the pinkette. Her emerald eyes merely acknowledged his presence, not leaving that gun out of her sight.

" Hidan, drop down your weapon." The red haired leader started, not taking his eyes away from her. " You see, if your business with him is similar to ours, then we could join forces, what do you think? I wouldn't mind having such a beautiful girl like you by my side."

" By your side?" She lifted one eyebrow, noticing as the grizzled man slowly put his gun down.

" You see, Hun… " The blonde continued, stopping right in front of her. She could see the way his bangs fell forward, hiding a prosthetic eye. He was looking at her with a dirty gleam in his eyes, and her fists were clenching in nausea. " I think our boss' idea is quite interesting… I never had the chance to… Work with a pink haired lady before."

The way he used that dirty tongue of his to wet his lips was the one thing that made her patience explode. She wasn't going to stand those words any longer, and the way they were underestimating her for being a girl was just making her sick. The pinkette will never work with that kind of people. In fact, as her job demands, people like that are her real enemies.

People who dare to disturb her peace.

People who dare to disrespect the law.

People who dare to touch Uchiha Sasuke.

Yes, anyone who dares to lay a finger on that boy will have to face her fury. As his personal bodyguard, Haruno Sakura is supposed to protect that raven haired boy.

And none of those three men would stop her from doing her job.

When the blonde was about to reach out his hand to touch her, Sakura quickly held his wrist, twisting it to his back and grabbing his gun with her free arm. The other two men were looking at her with widened eyes, watching as she used Deidara as a human shield.

For a girl, she wasn't that delicate…

" You bitch!" Hidan said, pointing his gun towards her and the blonde. It was clear that if he pulled that trigger, Deidara would get the shot, and would most likely die.

But would it be that bad? Hidan thought.

" Oi, you bastard! Don't you dare shoot me!" The blonde said, widening his eye as he looked at his partner.

" Tch, shut up! Who told you to be caught by a girl? Just don't move, I know what I'm doing."

" W-What!? Don't do it! Sa-Sasori-sama, tell him to stop!"

" Hn, I want to see what our little girl will do now." The red haired one said, crossing his arms as a patient expression ruled his face.

" You two!"

" Just don't move, Deidara." Hidan said, trying to aim at the pink haired girl. He was a skilled shooter and her head wasn't that hard for a guy like him to strike.

He was really good when it came to aim.

But he wasn't just that fast.

Sakura took the brief seconds he hesitated on shooting her to perform her own move. She used the blonde's gun to shoot at Hidan's legs, making the criminal scream in pain and fall bleeding on the floor. His gun fell almost a meter away from his body, not giving the man any chance to recover it and shoot her.

One was down.

Now just two more.

" Ha! You deserved it, Hun!"

" Tch, shut up, you bastard!" Hidan screamed, trying his best not to cry in pain.

" Shut up, you two! She still has a gun!"

" Yeah, but it has only one bullet, Hun."

In response to the new info given by the blonde, the Haruno girl didn't hesitate before shooting Deidara's right foot. He screamed in pain, and as she let him go, he crouched his body so he could touch his wounded foot. His hands were trembling, and his blue orb was sending the girl a deadly look from below. The blonde was certainly mad at her, but before he could even say anything, Sakura charged her foot and the last thing he saw was her black, leather boot approaching his face.

That was certainly a strong kick, coming from that little girl.

And now, there was only one left.

The red haired leader did the one most predictable thing one could ever do at such moment. He ran towards Sasuke, with his pistol in hand and ready to blackmail the girl with the Uchiha's life. If she was going through all that trouble just for the boy, it could only mean that she wanted him alive, Sasori thought. And he was right, for sure. Sakura needed him alive, and that was exactly how she would deliver him home once all of that thing ended. She was going to make sure he returned with all of his pieces together to the safety of his house. And for that, letting that red haired man open a hole in his head was not acceptable.

Letting him die was not acceptable.

It was when Sasori was about to lift his gun to point at Sasuke's head that he felt something hard being pressed on the back of his own, red head. It was something cylindrical and it didn't take long for him to realize that it was a gun. At the same time, he dropped his own weapon to the floor, and slowly turned his body so he could face those stunning emeralds of hers once more. It was clear that she had won, so why not taking one last, good look at his beautiful enemy, right?

" So apart from strong, smart and beautiful, you're also that fast, little girl…" He smirked. " Interesting… Are you sure you don't want to join me? I would be pleased to have you by my side as a beautiful work of art."

" I'm not a criminal."

" If you say so… Then will you at least visit me in jail?"

" Hn, Have a nice trip to your new home."

And so, with one last hit, Sakura gave him a riffle butt, making the red haired man fall unconscious on the floor. By the time the leader was down, all the others were also laying unconscious and bleeding due to her precise shooting skills. Of course, none of them would be dead by the time the police arrived, but none of them would be able to escape the destiny that awaited for them behind bars either. Justice would take good care of them, and she would take good care of him.

Now her job was almost done.

Without saying a single word, Sakura approached Sasuke from behind, untying his hands and freeing him from his hostage condition. She observed as he stretched his body, and turned to face her with an amused expression. Apparently, the Uchiha had enjoyed the show.

" You took some time to end those bastards, Sakura… Maybe next time you can be a little faster."

Not even the smirk on his face was able to make any word leave her mouth. Her green eyes were still glaring at him, and he could tell she was a lot angrier with him than with all the other men together. Her wishes were to kill him at that exact moment, but she knew that if she did so, not only she would lose her job, but she would also be arrested along with those criminals and become a criminal herself. She would embarrass her whole family and she would also be judged by the whole society of personal guards.

Her name would be disgraced in front of the whole Konoha City.

But because she needed that job, Sakura held her murdering wishes and simply glared at him.

Oh, how she hated him at that moment…

" Walk, Sasuke."

" Tch, Are you mad at me? I was kidnapped, Sakura! I'm the victim here."

" I said: walk."

Due to her current mood, the Uchiha decided not to play with the beast any longer. He swallowed trying to ease the dryness in his throat, stuffed his hands in his pockets and started to make his way towards the exit. It was a silent way towards the car, as she followed him right behind, still holding that same cold expression on her face. Sakura was exhaling her rage through her skin, and the driver didn't hesitate on realizing how dangerous it would be to make her even more irritated.

That girl could easily kill all of them with her bare hands. And because of that, the gray haired driver simply opened the door for the young Uchiha and bowed down his head so he didn't have to meet her deadly expression.

It was not like he wanted to die during his work shift.

" Get in the car."

" But Sakura, I feel like we still need to talk and-"

" Get. In. The. Car."

And when flames started to burn her emeralds, Sasuke decided that there was really no time for jokes at that moment. The Uchiha did as he was told, entering that black SUV and carefully watching as the pinkette followed right behind. She was sitting near the window, with her attention focused on the street as the car quickly started to move. Her delicate features and that diamond shaped mark on her forehead were softly being reflected on the glass, and the raven haired boy couldn't help but paying attention to her whole self as she sat just a few centimeters away from him.

Centimeters that, for someone in love, seemed longer than infinity.

Yes, for as hard as it was for him to accept it, Sasuke was in love with his cold-hearted bodyguard. He isn't really sure of when it happened, but he thinks it was when she first knocked him out during a their sparring session. The way she knocked him out, without caring about who he is or what his father would think about; made him feel as if someone could finally see him as Uchiha Sasuke, and not as the son of the security secretary. She sees him as the human being he is, and never before being himself had felt so good.

The way Sakura doesn't do everything in the world to please him is also something that makes his heart beat a little faster. In a world where people accept every word he says, having a girl like that helps him stick to the true reality of the world. She doesn't bow down her head whenever he passes, and she looks deep into his eyes whenever they are talking. She respects him for what his father has done to help the city, but in her head, respect has nothing to do with adulation. For she respects him, she priories a sincere relationship, and if she ever disapproves his behavior or his words, the pinkette won't hesitate in correcting him, no matter how rude she has to be sometimes.

If she's rude, it means she cares. It means she's honest and it means she is showing him her true feelings for him.

And you can call him a masochist, but when she sends him those deadly glares, oh, how deeper he falls for that girl.

In fact, he loves seeing that side of hers so much that every single one of his kidnappings have been worth it. They are all worthy in the end, when she comes dressed in those beautiful clothes and saves him from a new group of bandits.

If only he could register all of those moments…

But no. His hands are always tied, and at that moment, while they were silently heading back to the Uchiha mansion, her tongue was also tied. And whenever that happens, Sasuke knows he has to do something in order to make her talk to him again. In order to calm her down before she commits a murder or does something that will make him suffer forever.

Something like quitting her job.

And that would be unacceptable.

The whole way back to his house was annoyingly silent, even if he tried to start a conversation now and then. The driver parked the car in the garage, and as all the other days, both Sasuke and Sakura headed inside the mansion. They crossed long hallways, passing by many of the employees and through the other rooms so they could finally reach Sasuke's own. Sakura was supposed to escort him all the way there, and for the Uchiha's distress, they were almost there.

They were almost there and she still hadn't talked to him. And by the way she looked, it would take a long time until she could finally say something again.

Maybe even forever.

And if that was the case, he had to do something as fast as possible.

Thankfully, a message was sent from above, giving him an idea of what to do.

When they were passing in front of his father's office, a message arrived on his phone, making the Uchiha, and consequently the Haruno, stop. He read the short text, and when his eyes left his cellphone screen, they went straight to her green orbs. Apparently, the message he had received had something to do with his pink haired bodyguard.

" What is it?"

" Hn, it's from my father. He wants both of us in his office right now. He said it's something about what happened today."

" Tch." Her palm went to rest on her face, as she slowly made her way inside Fugaku's office. Her head was shaking in denial, as she imagined what was going to happen inside that room.

She was definitely going to lose her job. And it would be all because of that boy.

The room was empty when they entered and the Uchiha said something about having to wait a little more. She saw as he sat on the chair, without a care in the world as she was almost exploding in anxiety due to the possible end of her career as a bodyguard. Sakura was definitely going to be fired for letting that boy being kidnapped again, and even if she tried to explain that it was Sasuke's own fault, Fugaku wouldn't simply believe her.

How would a father believe his own son provoked his own kidnapping?

It didn't make sense even in her head, but more than anyone she knew that was exactly what had happened. She didn't know exactly why he did it, but the pinkette was sure he escaped when he told her he was going to the bathroom and went straight to encounter those bandits. She can bet her own finger on that supposition, and as always, she wouldn't lose that bet.

Sasuke had really done what she was imagining, and he knew she was aware of that. She was sure of that, and when that dirty smirk of his went to play on his lips, the Haruno girl couldn't take it any longer.

If he wanted her to be fired so badly, then she would give his father an even better reason to do so. If he wanted her out of his life, then that was what it was going to be, she thought.

Barely she knew she had fallen for his trap.

" You think this is a joke, Sasuke?"

" Uh?"

"You think being kidnapped is just a game? Your life was in serious danger, damn it! What were you even thinking when you had such a brilliant idea?!" Her eyes were towering over him, as her fists were clenched in anger.

Haruno Sakura had finally exploded.

" What are you talking about? I don't kn-"

" Oh, don't play dumb with me! We both know you escaped that bathroom just to get rid of my watch! Your life isn't a game, you idiot!"

" Tch, I'm alive, aren't I? You saved me, didn't you? Then there is nothing to worry about, Sakura."

" Of course there is!" She screamed, making his eyes wide in surprise. Why was she exhaling herself so much? " What if they had pulled the trigger?! Don't you think about this! You could have… You could have died, you bastard! Don't you think about what we would all feel if you died?!"

As his eyes watched as her whole body reacted to that possibility, the Uchiha's heart skipped a beat. The way her cheeks were red in anger and the way her fists were shaking… The way she was breathing heavily and the way her voice trembled; made him realize something he had never considered before. Something that made him regret all the stupid things he has ever done in order to get her attention.

Sakura worries about him.

More than just because of her job, she truly cares for the Uchiha and his death would affect her in ways he couldn't even imagine.

He's important for her.

And at that moment, he couldn't be any happier.

" What if I hadn't arrived on time!?"

" But you did, didn't you?"

" Uh?"

With his face now holding a serious expression she had never seen before, Sasuke stood up, towering over her body, as his dark pearls were connected to her green emeralds. The intensity emanating from them was leaving her uncomfortable and her throat went dry for a moment.

Since when could he make her lose her balance like that?

" T-That's not the point! What would have happened if I had been shot or something? Who would have saved you then?!"

" Hn, in this case, I would have saved you, Sakura."

"You? Tch, don't make me laugh, Sasuke… You're just a spoiled brat that can't even hold someone down."

" Wanna try?" He smirked, crossing his arms over his chest. If there was one thing he knew, was that his bodyguard couldn't run away from a challenge. Especially a challenge so easy like that.

" What? You and me?"

" Yes. Right here and right now. Unless you're afraid, of course."

" Hn, you won't make me fall for that. Your father will be here soon and if he sees me hurting his son, then instead of fired, I'll be arrested."

" Oh, Are you that afraid of my father, Sa-ku-ra?" He smirked again, teasing her even more.

" You…"

She glared at him, and the idea of knocking him down did cross her mind at that moment. She wanted to shut his mouth, but something inside of her spoke louder, making the Haruno simply count up to three and wait for her desire to vanish. She was not going to let him drive her insane.

" Nice try, Sasuke… But it won't work with me." She smirked, turning around, as she started to walk towards an empty spot closer to the door. There was no way she was going to stand that close to him.

But that didn't stop him from being that close to her.

While the pinkette seemed distracted on her way towards her spot, Sasuke made his move and ran after her. He was going to perform an attack she had once taught him, and that basically consisted on a strong pull on the shoulder, so the opponent could lose balance and the user could use his own weight to bring the other down.

It was simple, he thought.

But when his hand grazed the girl's shoulder, Sakura already started a counter attack, pulling his hand and his body over her head and throwing him down. Quickly, she sat over his chest and formed a weapon with her fingers, as if to pretend he was completely doomed.

If that was a real fight, the Uchiha would be dead.

But if she really was his enemy, then something like that would have never crossed his mind.

" Don't play with me, Sasuke. You know you can't wi-"

Before she could finish her sentence, the raven haired boy used his hands to cup her cheeks, and strongly, he pulled her down so he could capture her lips with his. It was a soft, chaste kiss, that made her heart skip a beat for a moment. Her cheeks were blushing madly, and desperately, she tried to break free from him. She tried to push him away with her hands, but when he felt her trying to slip away from him, Sasuke held her closer until Sakura melted in his smooth, pink lips.

Oh, that Uchiha…

Both of them remained like that for almost a whole minute, with her pink locks tickling the sides of his cheeks, and his hands now resting on her hips. Her hands were simply resting over his chest, as a smile played on Sasuke's lips.

So that cold-hearted girl had, finally, surrendered to him.

Once they broke free from the kiss, both of them were breathing heavily and there was a blush spread around their cheeks. Their eyes were still connected and their mouths were parted in awe.

What on earth happened to them at that moment?

Why did he kiss her?

Why didn't she pull away from him?

None of them knew, but none of them complained either.

In fact, both of them loved that tender, sincere kiss.

" Sakura…"

"S-Sasuke… I-"

The sound of steps coming from the hallway cut her words, and in a blink of an eye, they were both standing on their feet. Their faces were still flushed and her hair was definitely a mess. It was clear that something had happened between those two, and the whole Uchiha family could tell it as soon as they entered Fugaku's office and saw them looking at each other like that. And how happy they were for them.

" Oh, Sakura-chan! How nice to see you here!" The mother smiled, hugging the pinkette tight.

" I-It's good to see you too, Mikoto-sama."

" Stop with the formalities already! You're family already, right, Sasuke?" She looked at her son, winking and making the girl blush even more.

" Stop embarrassing them, mama." Itachi said, slapping his little brother on the back. " I'm sure they can decide these things by themselves."

" I-Itachi-san!"

" Nii-san, you-!"

" Oh, Sasuke… So you've arrived early." Fugaku cut in, looking as peaceful as always, as he walked towards his chair. The whole family stopped to watch as the patriarch placed down his papers, and looked at everyone with those dark orbs so characteristic of the Uchiha family.

Those eyes are certainly intense, and as soon as they looked at Sakura, she remembered she would be fired.

Oh, that boy…

" Sakura… Why are you here?"

" Uh?" Her eyes widened in awe and her mind went blank. Why was he asking her such thing when he was the one who called her in the first place? It didn't make sense, unless…

Sasuke.

" We are about to have a family reunion now and I thought you were going to rest after such a long day of work."

" Then you don't need me here?"

" Of course not. Well, if you want to stay, it will be a pleasure, right, Sasuke?"

" Hn, indeed." He smirked, and she glared at him.

" T-There is no need! I-I'll go rest right now, thank you, Fugaku-sama!" The pinkette bowed her head down,making her pink locks fall to the sides as she excused herself, before running away from that office and from all of the Uchihas. She was feeling extremely embarrassed, and her wish was to kill Sasuke right in front of his family. That boy is certainly a huge problem in her life, especially because he can affect her like that.

He can make her mad.

He drives her insane.

And he can truly make her fall in love.

" Stupid Uchiha…"

" Uhm… I wish Sakura-chan could have stayed longer." Mikoto said, pouting in disappointment as she looked at both of her sons.

" Sakura is truly an amazing girl, Sasuke." Fugaku started, nodding in acceptance as if to comfort his son's decision. " You have all my support if you want to date her or anything you teens do this days."

" Indeed… She's almost family, right, little brother?" Itachi teased, smirking at Sasuke.

" If it depends solely on me…" Sasuke started, smirking as he stuffed his hands in his pockets. The raven haired boy was quite confident about his answer, for deep inside, he knew what the future awaited for him. What the future awaited for them. " Hn, then Sakura is already the next Uchiha."

The end! haha The Uchiha family will love their new pink haired member, for sure!

So, I got a message that asked for a second part... What do you think? Please, leave me a Review with your opinion about the story and about a second part! I hope you've enjoyed it!

EphemeralSakura