It was a busy Saturday at Paradise cafe. The income was never this good for as long as Sakura had been working there. Two thousand bucks and counting. And it was only 7 pm. "Looks like I'll have to give you a promotion, Saku-chan. Or an additional day off from work. Business just keeps getting better and better with you around." Kakashi praised.
"Thank you, Kakashi, but I don't have anywhere to spend the extra money I already have. And free time only means staring at the ceiling of my apartment for another day. I get enough help from Ten-chan so I never overwork or anything." she smiled with a little blush.
"You're too modest and kind for your own good." he ruffled her hair lightly and smiled. "Maybe that's what attracting so many customers nowadays." he winked at her and returned to taking orders from customers at the bar.
"Saku-chan there's a family of three in my section. Could you please take them for me? I'm about to tear myself apart as it is."
"Sure. Where exactly?" she smiled tiredly.
"Table eleven. Thank a bunch!" she hugged her quickly and ran to the kitchen for her orders.
"Asuma-san! Kurenai-san! I see you're back already." Sakura greeted their regulars.
"Good to see you too, Sakura. How are you?"
"I'm good. What can I get you today?" she asked with a smile.
"What's today's special?"
"Tomato soup and sweet-sour chicken with rice."
"We'll take two orders of both. What about you, Konohamaru?" he asked this twelve year old brunet nephew in front of him.
"I'll have the same, just without the soup. I'm not that hungry." he mumbled.
"Did something happen that you lost your usual appetite, Konohamaru-kun?" Sakura asked seeing his troubled face.
"I got suspended from school til Monday." he confessed.
"What happened?" she asked.
"I got in a fight with Inari. He made Moegi cry again."
"Did you start it?"
"...Yeah."
"Well, then I'm proud of you. You got into trouble and are taking full responsibility for causing it." Asuma praised.
Sakura chuckled and was about to walk away when Asuma asked for ice cream for dessert. Two chocolate and one vanilla.
"-I'm serious! We're working our asses of!"
"What's going on?" Sakura asked with a frown.
"Tenten just-" said girl glared a t her boss.
"Oh, no you don't, Kakashi!" she looked at Sakura. "We need help around here, as in now, and he says he can't afford it for now." Sakura chuckled evilly.
"If I remember correctly, Kakashi, you told me that business gets only better and better." she barely contained her laughter at his face. "And you offered me a raise for all the work. So why don't we combine that and just get another waiter. Tenten and I could use some help. Especially in the weekends. Pwease." the girls looked at him with puppy dog eyes and he growled in annoyance.
"Ugh! Okay. I'll start looking for someone tomorrow." he walked away huffing as the girls high fived and laughed like schoolgirls.
"Order up!" they heard Shino, their second chef.
Sakura stretched tiredly as she finished cleaning the last table. Tenten had already finished hers and left ten minutes ago to catch a ride with Choji. They lived in the same neighborhood.
Sakura was too tired to be as quick as her coworker. And she didn't have anything to be late for.
Kakashi was always the last to leave since he lived on the second floor of the building. Sakura has been there once for the cafe's second birthday party about a few week ago.
She gathered her stuff and headed for the exit. "Kakashi, I'm leaving!" she bellowed. "Goodnight!"
"Sweet dreams, kiddo!" was her reply.
She walked over to her dark blue mustang, threw her stuff in the trunk and sped off home. The sky was clear after the mid day rain, so she lowered the roof.
It was close to midnight, so only a few cars were on the road. Since tomorrow would probably be as bad as today was, she decided to go to the 24/7 grocery store about half a mile from home and restock on supplies. Clearly, she didn't plan on doing anything other than relaxing on her only day off on Monday. Maybe read a book or something.
Reaching the store, she parked her car and entered the building. Looking around and putting some items in her cart, she looked at the fridge that held ice cream and other frozen desserts.
'I got more tips than usually... Oh, why not?' she smiled and took out a carton of rocky road ice cream. "Might as well spoil myself a little." she giggled to herself. Picking up some vegetables she went to pay for the stuff.
Exiting the store she noticed some people walking around. A group of five probably coming from a party and discussing it rather loudly, a jogger about a hundred yards in front of her. People she saw at the store. Just passersby. The street became deserted as everyone went their ways.
She was about to put the groceries on the back seat, when all of a sudden someone took hold of her midsection and put a hand on her mouth, muffling her shocked scream. She dropped her bags.
"The keys or your life, girly. Which it gonna be?" his voice was sharp and low. His breath stank of pot.
"Mm-m-mm" she mumbled against his hand. He was about a foot taller than Sakura.
"Give me the keys or I'll kill you!" he hissed in her ear.
"I suppose she told you to let her go." their eyes widened. It was the jogger from a minute ago.
"Go to hell, motherfucker! Give me the keys!" he practically yelled. The guy ran to the attacker and shoved him away from Sakura. She ended up on the ground by her car. "You'll pay for that, you little punk!" he took out a pocket knife and charged at the guy like a bull.
He started waving the blade in front of him and managed to cut his hands in a few places before the guy caught his hand and forced him to the ground. The attacker was bulkier and stronger than the jogger, so he wrestled out of his grip and threw him off and punched him in the face. The man picked up his fallen blade and was about to cut him to pieces before a glass bottle hit the back of his head. He dropped unconscious. The guys breathing came out raspy as if in pain as he hissed trying to get up.
Sakura ran over to him and helped him stand up. "Are you alright?" she asked in a still a bit shocked, but concerned voice. The guy hissed as she brushed over a wound. "I'm so sorry. Let me help you."
She helped him lean on her car and quickly gave his wounds a once over. "None of the cuts look too serious. Some cleaning and wrapping should do the trick." she said to herself. "Thank you for helping me." she glanced at him. "That was very brave of you."
"Don't mention it- Ugh!" he grunted again as he was about to bend to pick up Sakura's groceries.
"What is- Oh my God." blood stained his dark gray sweatshirt. "Here, let me help you." she walked him to the passenger seat and quickly put the grocery bags on the back seat. Surprisingly nothing got out on the ground.
She drove him to her apartment and helped him up the stairs. After opening the door, she took him to her couch and helped him sit. Then went outside and brought the bags, leaving them on the kitchen table. "Try to get comfortable and don't move. I'll be right back." She went to the bedroom and pulled out a first aid kit. Then went to the kitchen for the icepack and came back.
His breathing seemed to calm down. Now that he was in proper lighting, she noticed his appearance. Jet black hair sticking up at the back, aristocratic face features, strong built, but not bulky. Incarnated definition of tall dark and handsome. She sat beside him and set the opened kit on the coffee table before them.
"Can you.. Take of your hoody? I need to clean up your wounds." he nodded and sighed tiredly.
He hissed as some loose threads ripped away from his dried up wounds. "Let me." she stood up and took the hoody off, slowly and carefully. He wasn't wearing a shirt underneath, which made the treatment a bit easier. But his hard six pack and biceps made it that much harder. "Um... Do you need painkillers?" she asked unsure as she handed him the icepack.
"No." his voice was melodic, but hoarse from lack of use.
She took out a cotton ball and applied some hydrogen peroxide on it. She softly cleaned his wounds one after another. After that she bandaged him up. Though she was concerned about the gash on his chest. She tisked.
"This one might need stitches. The cut's not too deep, but enough to cause discomfort and may bleed if stretched too much." she informed him.
"Are you a medic or something?" she looked at him for a second.
"No, but I know enough about cuts and bruises to tell that you're gonna be fine in about a week." she sighed. "Although this one's gonna give you hell. Unless you plan on laying off of sport for about a week or so." she laughed lightly, trying to make conversation.
He tried to sit up, but hissed as soon as he moved his right arm. She placed her arms on his back and forearm. "Don't push your self."
"I'll be fine." he retorted.
"You lost quite some blood. It's only natural for you to feel dizzy."
"I'm fine." he repeated.
"You're so stubborn." she growled, but yawned soon after.
"I should go. Get some re- Ugh." His wounds were more troubling than she originally thought. Blood started to show from underneath the bandage on his chest.
"Don't move. I mean it." she left and came back in a matter of seconds. She pealed off the bandage and put it away. Pulling out a medical thread and needle she got ready to sew his wound shut.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"The wound's too deep for bandages. I'll have to sew it together. Now don't move a muscle."
He hissed occasionally, but she finished quickly and placed a bandage over the stitch. "How do you know so much about medics if you're not one?"
She sighed and cleaned the mess up. "I didn't have anyone to care for me when I was hurt, so I had to learn to do so myself."
"I'm sorry." he apologized.
"Don't be." she smiled and for a second got lost in his eyes. Clearing her mind she stood up and threw the trash away. "You should stay for the night." He raised a brow at her. "Stressing your muscles may cause pain. Stay the night and allow the wound to heal a little." she sat beside him. "You know, as a thank you for saving my life." he was about to stand up, but she caught his shoulder and stopped him. "Hey. It's the least I can do. You took some nasty punches for me and you don't even know me."
"You don't know me either. For all you know this may be a set up for a robbery or something."
"I don't think a robber would take a beating for a fifty bucks worth of jewelery." she giggled melodically. He smirked. "You must be tired. You can take the bedroom. You'll be more comfortable there. I'll just grab a pillow and a blanket from the closet." she stood up, but he caught her hand.
"No. I'll sleep on the couch and you go rest. You must be exhausted after work."
"How did you-"
"You were in a grocery store at midnight. So unless you're a night walker, it's pretty much clear. And you're wearing a shirt with that cafe's emblem."
"You're observant. I'll give you that." she laughed lightly. "I'm Sakura Haruno."
"Hn. Sasuke Uchiha."
"Nice to meet you." she shook his hand lightly. "Um, I never saw you around. Are you new in town?" he shook his head.
"Somewhat. I'm from the Sound city. Moved in two months ago."
"Welcome to the club. I moved in two months ago, too. Only I'm from the Mist city."
"Well, I'll go put away the groceries. Would you like anything?" he smirked.
"A pillow and a blanket would be appreciated." she laughed and arranger his makeshift bed.
"Goodnight, Sasuke. And thanks again." she smiled as he laid down and closed his eyes.
"Night."
Hey guys! Chapter 2 up. Hope you like it and review to tell me what you think! Thanks in advance :)