Hi. (: Thanks for the reviews, alerts, and favorites, everyone! ^^ Kanryu-chan is very very very happy! Here is a second chapter to you, and if you shower me with lovely reviews once more, you will get an update on Single's Awareness Day! I mean, Valentine's Day. x] I'm proud to be celebrating Single's Awareness Day with my friends, and for those who are in relationships, early Happy Valentine's Day!
25 Reviews for next week's update pleaseeee? *-* With an abundance of chocolate?!
Disclaimer: Oh man, Sasuke. What the hell are you doing. Do not own.
Chapter 2 - A Pretty Still Doll
Sakura delicately unfolded the pink tissue paper that encased the roses. As she gently placed them into a half-filled vase, an unsuspecting thorn on the stem of a rose ripped the smooth skin of her palm; vibrant red blossomed against soft white.
She instinctively drew back her hand and gazed at the shallow but wide gash on her once unblemished skin. Withdrawing a handkerchief from the unseen pockets of her dress, she quickly suppressed the bleeding within a matter of minutes. Lightly dabbing another towel across the cut, she bit her lip as it stung. But this could not be compared with the abuse by her Mother.
After setting the bandage properly, she changed into another pair of gloves that did not allow skin to show. Since she had already made an appearance tonight…a momentary escape to the balcony cannot hurt too much, can it? It will do her throbbing hand some good.
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He waited patiently for her beside the opening to the terrace, partly hidden by the heavy drapes. The cold air that drafted in from the open doors provided much relief to the warm room of merry aristocrats. The party had gone from normal levels of chattering to rowdy. Background music could be heard to guide the dancers in the middle of the dance floor.
A sigh left his lips and he could only be grateful for the secrecy the drapes provided him. Usually at parties he would have already been swamped with countless women asking for multiple dances. As a well-known person in this society, he had no choice but to agree to the demands of the wealthy women. Refusing them will harm his family's reputation along with the family business.
However, he had a mission tonight. Rather, he wanted to clarify things. Others have spoken of Sakura, the youngest of the Haruno daughters as the quiet one who never or rarely even speaks. He had found this quite odd, for Yume had actually once tried to seduce him with crude methods and her flirtatious personality. Furthermore, one of his friends had almost fallen for Miyuri's trap, by being too drunk and almost being dragged off to a random hotel somewhere. With two sisters as sinister as that, how far off could the youngest one be?
But after he saw how Sakura had reacted with Kakashi, he realized that she was indeed different than her sisters. They were touchy-feely, but she was reserved and did not touch him at least once. Unless he counted how her fingertips had slightly touched Kakashi's when she received the flowers. What a respectful woman…Hn, there she is.
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Sakura walked out quietly into the raucous room and looked around. Everyone was busy socializing – flirting – with one another. She saw her Mother in a far off corner with, hopefully, a man of respectable value amiably chatting away. Who knows? Maybe she will soon have a new stepfather. At least she can make it onto the balcony without her noticing. Thank goodness. She should have brought a shawl…
Clicking her way to the terrace, she failed to detect the presence of a man with midnight-blue hair standing beside the drapes. The cold air washed over her and stifled her for a moment before she adjusted to the dramatic change in temperature. Silent snow drifted still from the night sky. It was too beautiful an evening to be missed.
A sudden draft blew its way across the city and Sakura flinched as it struck her. Too cold. As she stepped back from the initial shock of the wind, a jacket was placed carefully around her shoulders. Hands gently but firmly held her as she righted herself.
"It's too cold outside without a jacket." A husky voice whispered into her ear.
Holding the jacket tightly around her, she gracefully turned around only to see a man in a white dress shirt looking down at her holding a bouquet of flowers. The light from within the ballroom casted shadows over his face and obscured his features. Light reflected off of his blue-black hair and the breeze lightly ruffled his shirt and exposed pale white skin.
"Thank you for the jacket, but won't you catch cold if I am wearing it?" Sakura softly inquired.
"Hn. A man must withstand the icy weather for a lady; even more so for a reputable lady such as you." Sasuke smirked. "As for these flowers, they are for you."
The man whose name she did not know handed her a bouquet encased in red tissue paper. Within were white petunias and a single black rose. Curious as to why there was a black sheep among the white flock, she caressed the petals of the rose with her injured hand. The white reminded her of snow that she could never see enough of whereas the black rose…reminded her of her–
"I hope to leave a lasting impression like this rose among the sea of white." He said with just a hint of amusement.
"I––" She started.
"Would you like a dance on this fine night, fair lady?"
A sigh escaped her lips as she realized that she was no match for this clever man. He certainly knew how to push her buttons…in a nice way. She didn't feel irritated at all. Not one bit. She rather liked his presence and his cunning way of speech. Propping the garland of flowers on the side of the balcony, she returned to stand in front of him with her arms in the jacket's sleeves.
"Outside?"
"Crowds irritate me." He simply stated.
"Ah…I see."
"Shall we?"
"O-Okay."
She wondered whether her stuttering was due to the cold or her anxiety of dancing with this mysterious man. Gently stripping off her gloves, she placed them into the pockets of her dress and put her hands into his already waiting ones. His were rough, but they were considerably bigger and warmer than her petite and slim hands. She hoped he wouldn't notice the bandage around the palm of her hand as they started a slow dance.
He turned slightly and light from the inside of the mansion threw his features into full view. Pale white skin with onyx-black eyes. His hair was blue-black just as she had assumed from earlier. He was stunning. She stood and rudely stared at him unabashedly for mere moments until he spoke up.
"Like what you see?" He breathed into her ear.
Surprised, Sakura quickly looked away, stumbling in her steps from the embarrassment that he had managed to notice her staring. A light blush stained her porcelain white cheeks.
'A white and delicate flower indeed…' he thought as he caught her before she tripped over completely.
"T-Thank you." She stuttered.
"It is getting rather cold. I believe it is time you return inside, Sakura." He said.
No formalities. Her name rolled off his tongue quite nicely.
He left her side only to pick up the bouquet she had left on the balcony floor and returned it to her. Lifting her bandaged hand to his lips, he sensually brushed his lips across the loosened bindings. She blushed more so at such intimacy and looked down. He smirked at her shyness and lightly unwrapped the bandages from her hand. He looked at it with distaste before pulling out a dark blue handkerchief from his shirt pocket and firmly tied it around the cut.
"You may keep the jacket until next time we meet." He offered.
"There's no need. If you are leaving then I–"
"You want to stay out here for a little longer, don't you? I don't want to risk the chances of you catching cold."
"But you––"
"I will be fine." With his hand, he gently stroked the cheek Hizuka had struck earlier this evening. Sakura involuntarily flinched at the touch. She could tell that it was still swollen.
"Just as I thought…a cold towel will cease the swelling. Try to keep your hand dry and disinfected. It will heal within a matter of days." He quietly said.
"How can you tell…?" She whispered.
"A man is very observant of the woman he has taken a fancy to."
"…"
"We will meet again." He turned to leave the terrace and back into the noisy hall before a hand pulled on his to stop him.
"…You have not…left me with your name." Sakura timidly asked.
It is rare for her to initiate any sort of contact with anyone, especially with the opposite gender.
"Uchiha Sasuke. There will be no second reminders." He smirked and dipped down to place a chaste kiss on her forehead before he disappeared into the throng of people.
She stood in shock on the lonely balcony, replaying the few scenes from a few minutes before. The world doesn't seem to be so dull anymore. She walked back into the building as a small smile touched her lips. The first one in many years.
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"So you did find her." A voice stated once he stepped into the black car.
"Hn."
"Sasuke-teme, don't one-word answer me, dattebayo!"
"You're loud, dobe."
"Your jacket's gone along with the bunch of flowers…" His friend started. "…Do you think you left a 'lasting good impression'?"
"Good or not, it does not matter– –"
"––because [I'll] take her in the end." He finished. "Yeah yeah, I get it, teme. You like her."
"Hn." Naruto knew him well…a bit too well for his liking.
"If you wanted to ask when we arrived, we just got there. I thought I would've had the chance to slip in and taste some food, but nooooooo, you just had to finish your business earlier than the scheduled time." Naruto pouted.
"Next time." Sasuke absentmindedly waved him off.
Naruto continued to ramble about useless things for the duration of the ride until they reached the Uchiha Manor. He proceeded to mumble something in his ear as they stood on the steps in front of the main door. Sasuke didn't catch it. It opened to reveal Sasuke's mother in a white nightgown…with a photo book in her hands. Damn. Not this again.
AND SO! The second chapter is finished! Like it? Dislike it? d: Review please!!!
- Kanryu out 6/02/10