Teardrops in Summer

Teardrops in Summer

Chapter 2: A Candlelit Dinner By The Beach

Summary: Two siblings find a diary up in their attic amongst other long forsaken mementos. Opening the diary, they discover the story of an old romance that took place in an old beach house near the sea as they themselves journey to a part of their past.

Standard Disclaimer: If I owned the Naruto franchise, I wouldn't be stuck writing fanfiction now would I sunshine?

--

Aneko: Okay, okay. I am so sorry… I really was planning on continuing this fic, I just labored on everything too much, haha… I was just teasing you guys to review!... Please don't kill me –whimpers-

Sasuke: Don't worry, Aneko WILL continue this fic…

Itachi: You're just saying that so you can get it on with that pink haired cutie… Foolish ototou.

Sasuke: –blush- Shut up, I so do not!

Itachi: -smirk- Is that so? Then you wouldn't mind me asking her out tonight? I'm planning on taking her to a restaurant, some sight seeing, then maybe we can go back to my room an—

Sakura: Eeep!

Sasuke: -Sharingan on- Don't you dare!!

Itachi: -flicks on forehead- Got you, foolish little brother…

Sasuke –blushes even more- …I hate you…

Ahaha, I so swear that this is the last time that I will be using dialogues! I just couldn't put anything to say, lol. Besides, I just lurv Itachi, he's a good big brother.

--

With the pink diary still in reach, pale hands shifted through the box where she found the diary. Rummaging around, she found what she was looking for. Sure slender digits held a black device… It was a camera; its lens had a slight crack at the upper left side.

"Mommy, mommy!" a little girl the age of eight was wearing an orange swimsuit, water dripping from the ends of her hair.

A pink haired woman ran to her daughter, abandoning the meal she left cooking in the kitchen. She was wearing a blue housedress with a white apron that said 'Kiss the Cook.'

"What is it honey?" Sakura crouched down to hold the girl who shared the same color of hair as hers.

"Shinobu-niichan pushed me out of the pool."

Sakura looked at the little girl sobbing on her apron. She smiled a little as she cradled the young one's head. Her two children always fought but she knew that they cared for one another, even if the older one doesn't always show it.

Sakura comforted the girl through her soothing voice. She convinced the little girl to come outside with her to her big brother, Shinobu. When they reached the front yard, they saw a black haired little boy at least three years older than the little girl holding on to her mother. He was lounging on the cutesy plastic inflatable pool, both his arms hung out the sides.

"Shinobu, what's this I hear that you pushed your little sister out the pool." Sakura said with motherly reprimanding.

The boy lifted one eyelid open, took one look at the sobbing girl latched to his mother, and then scowled. He took the earphones on his ears and sat up straight on the pool.

"It was too crowded." He put it as simply as if it was common fact (Which it was). Sakura sighed, just like her son to give an answer so obvious like that.

"That may be so, but that still doesn't give you a reason to push little Suki out. Now apologize please, for your kaa-chan?"

The boy quietly stood out the pool and approached her little sister. She crouched down so he could be face to face with her. He smirked a little and poked her on her forehead.

"Sorry, Suki-chan."

The little girl's sobbing eventually stopped as she launched herself on her brother, cheering.

They hadn't known it back then, but their mother secretly took a picture of the two of them.

--

Sitting on a cab, Sakura took in the sight of Okinawa. She put her head outside the window to breath in the warm breeze coming from the sea. She could smell the discrete smell of the sun on white sand and heard the laughs of the people enjoying themselves in the beach.

As she settled herself on the seat, a new band of worries plagued her. What if Sasuke's already sold the beach house? Or what if Sasuke was too mad at her and didn't let her in? That would be so embarrassing… Wait, she wasn't even sure if Sasuke was there or not.

She groaned and slammed her hand on her forehead… So much for thinking things through. As the taxi bounded up the curve, Sakura could see the tip of Sasuke's white paneled beach house. Nostalgia seemed to creep in her as she remembered the time she spent there.

The taxi cab reached its destination so Sakura took her bag and exited the cab. Dust clouds crowded her feet as the cab sped off. Sakura gripped the handle of her bag and sucked up air into her lungs. This was it; she was only doing this for the sense of adventure, just like those highschool horror dares.

Slowly, she stepped up the stairs and into the front porch. She dropped her bag on the wooden floor and looked at her wristwatch; it was nine in the morning. Her heart pounded in sync with the beat of her knocking on the door. She waited a few seconds to see if anyone would answer the door. The cicadas resting on the trees and grass around her made a soft shrill sound.

When no one opened the door, Sakura noticed a doorbell. She stuck her tongue out and slapped herself upside the head lightly. She was a little stupid sometimes. Sakura rung the doorbell twice but still no one answered.

Sakura sighed dejectedly but smiled, as if saying that she knew it all along that no one was going to answer. She turned from the door and hoisted her bag to her shoulder. Before moving any further, she heard the creak of the front door open and came face to face with a raven haired and coal black eyed man. Surprise was written all over his face.

--

Bright sunbeams bathed Sasuke's pale body; from his strong legs to his muscular six-pack torso, even to his angelic face. He lay curled up in his hammock by the beach, resting, while a cool glass of Bloody Mary sat under the balmy sun.

Somewhere in the hazy bliss of satisfaction, Sasuke heard a knock on the door. He decided to ignore it and let his senses indulge in the soothing crash of the waves and the mild caress of the wind. He heard the doorbell next and got up, his toes dug deep in the hot sand. His girlfriend (meaning the hussy he dragged to his bed for the week) was coming that day and he figured it was probably her. He thought it strange that she was here this early since she wasn't supposed to be there until the afternoon.

He groaned as he reached the sala de recibo, the parlor. Due to work, he never really had any breaks from the power hungry grasp of the corporate world. This weekend was one of the rare times that he set aside for himself.

Reaching for the doorknob, he didn't even had the chance to breathe in as the oxygen in his system got knocked out because of the shock. Opening the door, he saw long pink tresses blowing in the wind. Ever so slowly, the person owning the pink locks turned around and revealed breathtaking green irises that had brightened his days years before.

He figured his face was still contorted in that way a stunned people do and that he still hadn't said a word because she smiled at him. In truth, it was because she was shy that she was at his doorstep without any notice; also because after years of not seeing the Uchiha, it was funny seeing his face like that, half dressed and all.

Putting a hand on the doorframe then leaning against it, Sasuke called out her name as he was shaken from his stupor by memories of pink hair mingling with his, wide bottle green eyes, and cherry lips.

"Sakura…"

--

"So… Are you going to let me in or not?" she figured there was no harm in asking since he was just standing there. He blushed a little and led her into the kitchenette for a seat and a drink.

"Which would it be? Lemonade or tea?" he asked her, but then he knew she was going to say lemonade so he went ahead and took a pitcher of it from the fridge. The only sound that could be heard was the flow of liquid from the pitcher to the glass. It was still a little bit tense as both of them tried to start conversation.

"So what brought you here?" Sasuke asked, carefully taking note of the huge bag she had with her. Sakura faltered and sweatdropped for a while.

'Damn, didn't really think this one through.'

She quickly thought of a lie to tell him. "Ah, well you see… I'm here for… work! Yeah, that's it work! I came here to photograph the Matsuri Parade here in Okinawa."

Sakura remembered that she still had her camera strapped around her neck and showed it to him.

"So you're a photographer now are you?"

"Hai. Freelance actually."

After that, they both brought their gazes down to the floor again. The atmosphere was back to being tense again. How do you start conversation with your ex-boyfriend whom you haven't seen in years? The sun's light filtered through the large glass window that adorned the kitchen to their awkward faces.

"So… What's the bag for?" Sasuke cursed himself inwardly. It wasn't like him to be speechless, much less in front of a woman. Sakura on the other hand, nearly choked on her lemonade. She really expected for Sasuke not to be there, but lo and behold, the handsome god was here.

"W-well, you see… I was w-wondering if I c-c—"

"Spit it out." He realized he had said it rather harshly and apologized. He was so used to his subordinates stammering whenever they talked to him.

"IwaswonderingifIcouldstayhereforawhile?!" she said a little too fast.

Sasuke arched an eyebrow. "Sorry, I didn't quite get that." (I'd say it was the Cho Chang Style but that's too wrong…)

Sakura's cheeks were burning bright red with embarrassment. What right had she to suddenly impose this on him? A little slowly now…

"I was wondering if I could stay here for a while. At least, until after my work is finished."

She sighed a little when he didn't answer. She could feel his eyes in her, but he wasn't glaring.

"It's okay. I can just find a hotel in town—"

"No...!" he was a little embarrassed because he almost sounded pleading, "You can stay. It's okay…"

Sakura couldn't hide the smile on her lips. This day was full of surprises. She chuckled a little before tackling him with a hug. "Thanks a lot Sasuke!" Said man uneasily wrapped his arms around Sakura slim waist, it was calmingly familiar.

Sasuke led her up the stairs to the second floor where the bedrooms were, the sounds of their feet connecting with the stone stairs rebounding across the silence of the house. He stopped by the door leading to the guest bedroom, and so did she. They stared at each other for a while, adjusting four years of past memory. Sakura smiled at him, just like she did before.

"Uh, thanks again Sasuke…"

"Hn"

Sakura entered the room; and only when he had heard the faint click of the lock did he dare to breath normally again. He still didn't believe what had just happened. He stood outside her room for a quite a while, taking in the image of the pink haired woman who magically arrived at his doorstep and compared it to the pink haired girl he used to date in college.

Sasuke went downstairs and sat back on the hammock. He looked at his hand, speckled with fragments of sunlight, before ramming it through his hair. He let out a frustrated groan and reached for the Bloody Mary he left.

Sasuke took a gulp to calm his nerves, and then grimaced.

"It's warm."

--

The sky was orange.

That was the first thing Haruno Sakura noticed when she woke up from her little nap. Rising up from the covers of the bed, she looked outside the window to see a bright ball of fire descending down the sea. With half-lidded eyes, she looked around her, silently wondering why she wasn't in her room.

'Oh right… I'm in Sasuke's place."

Making up her mind to get up, she slipped out of the covers and put on her white flowery sandals. She looked around for her purse and found it on the stand near the bed.

'Maybe I should go to the grocery or something…'

Going down the stairs Sakura noticed that all the lights were turned off. She couldn't find Sasuke and figured that he was sleeping up in his room so she though she would just write a note to say that she left.

As she was searching for a piece of paper on her purse, she heard light footsteps approaching her.

"Where are you going?" That staccato voice sent shivers down her spine. Even more so when she realized that the salient man was only inches away from her. She blushed as she felt Sasuke's arm encircle her waist.

Sakura immediately bolted out of his grasp. She knew all too well that a smirk was forming on his mouth, and sure enough when she faced him, there it was.

"I was th-thinking that I should g-go to the grocery store. You know, to buy some stuff." She said all too rushed.

He advanced towards here and she soon found herself being backed too the wall. He raised his eyebrow.

"Oh really? Do you even know where the store is?"

"Ah, well not really…" she averted her eyes from his smoldering gaze. What is it with him right now?

She gasped when she felt her back collide with the wall. He seemed to be expecting this and put his face near hers. His lips were inches away from hers, she noticed. Her only means of escape were blocked by his two strong arms on either side of her head.

So close

Nearly there

"Then I'm gonna have to come with you then, won't I?"

Then just as fast as he came, he was gone. Sakura slapped cheeks lightly to get rid of the blush on her face. Seriously, what was she getting herself worked up on?

Sasuke no longer harbored any feelings for her, right?

And besides, she was getting married already.

She sighed and followed him out the house. Sasuke tossed her a black helmet, and as if sensing her confusion, he pointed at the black motorcycle in the garage. Her mouth formed a small 'o' shape as she recognized the contraption.

"You still have it?" she asked him. Her reply was a simple nod.

The black motorcycle was the same one Sasuke used before in college. He reasoned that it was easier to get around places with a motorcycle. It was also the same one that they used during their dates.

Sasuke straddled the motorcycle and Sakura followed suit. She wrapped her arms around Sasuke's torso so she wouldn't fall off as Sasuke started the engine in sped off without any further word. Sakura pressed the side of her head on Sasuke's back and closed her eyes, enjoying the wind flying against them. They both produced a small smile, though unbeknownst to them, and thought…

'Just like old times'

--

"Oh come on, Sasuke. Don't tell me you came with me just for the hell of it. I could've found the place easily ya' know?"

Upon reaching the nearest convenience store, Sakura decided to start conversation to relieve the tension. The quietness was stifling her and she never was a fan of the word 'quiet.' It gave the feeling of loneliness.

"Hn"

Ah, the universal reply for anything, patented by the Uchihas. Sakura smirked, some things never changed. She continued to prod his back with her index finger, trying to annoy the answer from him. It worked countless of time against the universal Uchiha reply, and she was proud that she patented it herself, none other than Haruno Sakura.

A few more seconds of poking, Sasuke finally reached his limit. He turned around and grabbed her wrist so she would stop.

"All right, stop it already! I came here to buy grocery for dinner later."

Sakura's eyes widened. She didn't know Sasuke could cook.

"That's gonna be a sight to behold. The great Uchiha Sasuke, cooking. If only the fangirls could see you now."

Sasuke grimaced, another memory of their past. Back in college, he was constantly hounded by lovesick fangirls who kissed the ground he walked on. Not being conceited, but he chalked it all up to the Uchiha charm.

"Yeah well, you're horrible cooking from before forced me to learn how to cook lest I die." Back before, she was the one who used to cook for them. Sure she wasn't that good, but at least it was edible.

She gave him a playful punch on the shoulder. "You're still a jerk."

He smirked. "Hn. You're still annoying."

When they got to the frozen food section, Sasuke took a huge packet of skewered ribs and placed it along the other food in the basket. He had to scowl on this one as he reviewed the things that Sakura had put into the basket. There were yogurts, jam filled breads, and a tub of ice cream. He looked at her slim waist, and yet she doesn't even get fat.

Lining up for the counter, Sakura looked at Sasuke's back. He was being a gentleman and took the full basket from her grasp and was holding it with only one arm. Sakura couldn't tell if he wanted to make a good impression or just show off. She chuckled and decided that it was probably both.

Sasuke did not fail to notice the sound that came from her lips and threw her a 'tell-me-what-you're-laughing-at-or-else' look. Sakura shook her head as if to say nothing.

After paying for the groceries, they exited the store and looked at the sky. The moon was nearly reigning over the sky.

"We should hurry up."

"Hai." They both got on the motorcycle and sped off too Sasuke's house.

--

By the time they got back, the stars were already up in the sky. Standing on the porch, Sasuke took the house keys and unlocked the door.

"Wow it's dark here. Don't you ever get scared?"

"I'm not easily scared like you Sakura."

"Jerk."

Sasuke put the two bags of grocery on the counter in the kitchenette.

"Sakura, can you open the lights." His tone was more of a command than a request. The fluorescent lights immediately opened and Sakura leaned her body on the counter. Sasuke started shuffling through the groceries and preparing dinner.

"Hey, you need help with that?"

"And risk getting poisoned? No thanks."

"Kami, I was only trying to help, you don't have to be a jerk about it."

Sasuke chuckled at her behavior, she was such a child. As Sakura went past him to go back to her room, she let out a gasped as he slapped her ass in a playful manner.

"Just go back up and let me wreak some havoc in the kitchen, all right? And wear something nice."

Sakura's face scrunched up in mock confusion. "Why?"

"Because."

"Just because?" she knew he was annoyed whenever people didn't do what he said the first time he said it. But who cares, she's not his lapdog, and she loves riling him up.

"Go up Sakura." This time in a more stern voice. Sakura giggled a little. "Yes mother."

Sasuke started preparing the ribs when he heard Sakura shuffle upstairs to her room. He smirked, his plan was working well. He decided to take advantage of what fate had abruptly dropped on his lap, the chance of bedding Haruno Sakura. Harsh, he knew, but it's a dog-eat-dog world out there and Uchiha Sasuke was not going to pass up this chance.

--

Sakura looked at the full-length mirror in her room. She was wearing a simple red and white evening dress. The empire silhouette with its high waistline accentuated her chest and her slim waist. Her pink locks were neatly curled and were bordering her face perfectly.

She smiled slightly then sighed. She looked at herself from side to side on the mirror, judging every corner. It will have to do. Sakura went down to the kitchen expecting to see Sasuke there. What she saw was darkness except for the soft glow of fire outside the backdoor.

She followed it and what she saw next she swore was taken from the page of the most romantic novel in the world. The dinner table was set up on the spacious patio overlooking the sea. The glow of light that she followed was actually the embers of fire from the candles giving light to the dark evening.

Sakura gasped both in surprise and in awe. Everything was so perfect. The food on the table was placed faultlessly and the sea breeze was neither cold nor hot.

Another image of flawlessness was the obsidian eyed man standing beside the perfect arrangement. He wasn't smiling, but hey, at least he wasn't his normally scowling face. That was a bonus in anybody's book.

Sasuke walked over to where Sakura was rooted. He smirked. Ha, score! He knew sappy romantic stuff like this would get any girl wide eyed.

He gave her the traditional 'up-and-down.' Nice., very nice. She didn't look to bad herself, he noticed. The beige off-shoulder chemise gave off the feeling of classy innocence while the dramatic red skirt that began down her chest to just inches above her knees gave him a good look at her legs.

Sasuke didn't have to be a fashion critique to admit that Sakura looked gorgeous, especially with that pink blush forming on her cheeks.

'I wonder if she'll blush even harder when I lead her up to my room…'

Sasuke led her to the table helped her sit like a gentleman would, not like someone trying to romp with you. Her smile was still in place as she admired the entrée. Sasuke took the seat across her; she shyly lifted her eyes to meet his.

"Wow Sasuke. I didn't know you could cook like this." The amazement was still in her voice and in her eyes.

"You never asked."

Sakura smiled a little. Sasuke never was one to talk so bragging was not one of his favorite past time.

His hypnotizing voice brought her out of her reverie of the past. "So, shall we eat?"

Sakura nodded happily and took the knife and fork to eat.

--

It was amazing! Twenty minutes into the dinner and the tension magically vanished. They were their usual selves, Sakura talking non-stop and Sasuke trying to ignore her. Then again, that could've been the wine they were drinking.

"Hey Sasuke, remember, hic, when we were together… Do you still remember how Ino used to pine over you?"

Sasuke slammed his palm on his face for two reasons; one was he remembered that blond banshee, and second was that he didn't remember how much of a drunk Sakura could be. I mean how could you forget that about your ex?

"Hn"

"Yeah well, hic, she's married now. Do you know who?"

"I couldn't imagine." Well it was true; anyone willing to marry that blond was either forced or deaf.

"Shi-shikamaru married her. Who would have thought he could work up the energy, right?"

Sasuke remembered how those two were always together anyway. He remembered Ino making shikamaru all the dirty work. He looked at Sakura again; she was now standing up on her chair with a glass of wine in hand. He smirked, maybe if he was lucky, he could get a strip show out of this.

After a very hard talk with his conscience (he had one?), he decided it was not right. Besides he wanted her in his room.

"Sakura, come down will you."

"Aw, Sasuke is such a party pooper." She pouted sexily. Sasuke gulped in the lodge in his throat, he was trying not to jump her now. 'Self control, self control,' he repeated in his head over and over again like a mantra.

Sakura giggled and agreed to go down. Stumbling up the stairs, Sasuke led her to upstairs. For some reason, he decided to escort Sakura to her room. He sighed; things weren't turning out the way he planned.

They stopped when they reached her room's door. She leaned on the door and encircled her arms around his neck. Once again, their faces were so near; their lips were only inches apart.

"Thanks for the wonderful dinner Sasuke."

"Hn, you're too drunk too even remember anything." His hands went down to her waist. She slapped him lightly on the shoulder in retaliation to his comment. He could smell the intoxicating wine on her.

Sasuke let go of her and so did she. But before he could go, he felt a small hand grip his wrist. He looked at her and they locked gazes. He drew near her, just enough so he could properly see her in the dark.

His eyes widened when he saw Sakura approach her. When she was directly in front of him, she stood on her tippy-toes and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"Good night, Sasuke-kun." She said in her melodic breathy voice, and then went in her room.

Sasuke just stood there, dumbfounded. He was still staring wide-eyed on where she was just moments ago. He brought his hand to where she kissed him… She called him, Sasuke-kun…

He walked back to his room, the moonlight from the window made his skin paler. Sasuke smiled, and he noticed that he seemed to be doing that more often since this morning…

--

Yes, finally over! I just finished work (summer job) and did this in a hurry. I had to bail on fanfiction for a while 'cause work was annoying, and because I need to concentrate. Hey, at least it earns me money, right?

So there you go. Was it fluffy enough? I really don't know. My brain just racked up what it could. By the way, tell me if there's any wrong grammar or spelling. LOL, I'm such a martinet for grammar.

Review if you don't understand something about the story. Or just review if you like it, just a small, 'hey, nice work' or 'what the hell were you thinking' to let me know that you actually read this thing. Thenx