[A/N] Still dedicated to Tara. :)
Shelter from the Rain
a vampire fic
2} puzzle
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from the start, it was a dreamlike reality
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Sasuke's smile was frightening. "Do I scare you?" he asked, and gently moved the unconscious Karin to the other end of the sofa. He rose to his feet and walked up to Sakura until only a few inches separate the two. Sakura met his eyes—they were a faint scarlet, tinted with the lust for blood.
"Yes," she answered in a whisper. "You scare me."
He put his left hand on the back of her head and his right on her shoulder. "But you're not running away, either," he murmured, and leaned towards her throat. His tongue extended and Sakura winced as she felt him lick her neck.
"Is this why you bring girls over almost every night?" she asked quietly.
He pressed his lips to her throat. "Mm."
"Then is the whole playboy thing a farce?"
He pulled away from her neck and looked at her. His red-tinted gaze was intense; Sakura pursed her lips but didn't cast her eyes away. "Of course," he said, taking her face in his hands and tilting his head a tiny bit, as if preparing to kiss her. "I need blood after all."
"That's such a cruel thing to do," she whispered. It made sense, now; the whole reason he had acted as an indiscriminating playboy was to seduce girls of all kinds to come home with him, where he could bite them in privacy. "Lying to those girls…"
He leaned in a little closer until she could feel the heat of his breath on her cheek. "It's necessary for my survival, you know?"
Was this an ability he possessed as a vampire? She felt utterly captivated by his low voice, almost lusty, even—his every word seemed to make her melt from the inside. Sakura could feel her cheeks burning, but she fought against the overpowering heat, trying to keep her mind under control. She hated being manipulated. "Is this what you do to all of them? You whisper like this… and make them faint, and steal their blood."
"Correct," he said into her ear. It tickled.
"You're not even giving them what they want," she said, as his lips returned to her throat again.
"Like I said, it's necessary. Do you think I actually want to have sex every night? I don't want to fuck every girl that comes, I just want their blood." It tingled where he spoke, his lips moving against the sensitive bare skin of her neck.
Sakura didn't have the energy to get embarrassed by his frank speech. Her fever was still running, and she was tired. "Why do you have to do that, play around with those girls and lie to them? Why not just get a single partner?"
He pulled away and closed his eyes. He dropped his hands dropping to his sides. "That's the ideal, I suppose. But I didn't feel like revealing my nature to anybody… especially not a stupid girl." He ran a hand through his hair, a graceful gesture. "Rumors spread fast… I can't trust anybody."
They were quiet for a moment. Then Sakura reached up and put her hands on his chest. His bare skin was warm and she could feel his tight muscles under her fingers. "Let me…" Sakura looked up at him. He opened his eyes and the two gazed at each other as she whispered, "Let me be your partner."
He leaned in towards her. "Do you know what you're saying?" he asked, his voice almost a growl. It was sad for Sakura to admit to herself, but he was… sexy. Everything about this boy in front of her was overtly sensual, from his naked chest to the charcoal eyes that gazed at her.
"I know exactly what I'm saying," she said, trying to block out lusty thoughts. "You can use me however you want…Just don't play around girls anymore, I hate that the most."
"So Haruno Sakura-san is actually a stubborn person, hmm?" He put his hands on her cheeks; the fingers were cool against her hot skin. "I didn't know that. Frankly, I know nothing about you except that you live next to me and you scored number one on the school entrance exam."
Sakura didn't give any indication of an answer.
"Why are you protecting those girls? All they do is bully you, isn't that right?"
She still didn't deign to give him a reply.
Sasuke took advantage of her silence and pressed his forehead to hers. "Can I kiss you?" he suddenly asked, and his lips were so close she could smell a faint cherry scent—probably of Karin's chapstick.
"No," she replied bluntly, and pulled his hands off her face. "Get a girlfriend to do that with. But I'll give you blood, so don't… don't trick any more girls. Please."
"Are you the type of person who loves justice?" he asked, sticking his hands in his jeans pocket and looking at her inquisitively.
"Not really. I just hate men that play around with girls," she said, and turned away. She put her hand on the doorknob. "Anyway, I'll… come by tomorrow, I guess, to give you blood…"
His slammed his hand against the door, so close that his arm brushed her hair. Sakura was trapped between the door and the warm, bare chest that pressed lightly against her back. She could feel his body heat through her thin shirt. "Sakura," he said into her ear, sounding impatient.
She grit her teeth. "Please don't call me so familiarly, Uchiha-san," she said, the words taut with agitation.
He blatantly ignored her protest. "Why do you hate guys like me so much, Sakura?" he asked, his deep voice making her shiver. "Why do you cringe when I touch you? It's like you're scared… You're making me curious."
Her hand tightened on the doorknob as she answered quietly, "Because it was guys like you that ruined my life."
"Is that so…" He moved his hand from the door to the top of her head.
His condescending patting was annoying. She slapped his hand off as her temper rose to a teetering high. "Stop treating me like a dog, Uchiha-san."
He dropped his hand. "My bad," he said with a smirk that had no apology in it whatsoever.
Sakura opened the door. "I'll come tomorrow night," she said as she walked out of her neighbor's apartment. "…After dinner." She shut the door behind her and hurried back to the bed in her apartment, where she could lie quietly and process everything that had just occurred. It was too much to understand, just then—it felt like her mind was going to overload and break down.
But the ultimate fact was that Uchiha Sasuke, of all people, was a vampire, and she was now his blood-offering partner.
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but a willing one indeed
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Sasuke chuckled as she slammed the door behind her. She was such an interesting girl. He'd never really paid much attention to her, but lately she had been catching his eye. It wasn't that he was attracted to her, but rather, he was interested in why his next door neighbor acted the way she did sometimes.
She was quiet at school, and didn't seem to have any friends. It wasn't like she was ugly or anything—actually, she was quite the beauty—but she didn't seem to have any range of emotions. Sasuke had never seen her smile or laugh during school, and he'd assumed she was just a person who was obsessed with studying and tended to remain indifferent to the world. Even though she was bullied at school, like the incident this morning with the tacks, she hadn't once cried or even tried to seek revenge. Yet tonight she had actually seemed angry at him, and had admitted to being scared.
She had emotions after all.
It had also surprised him how she hadn't reacted much to the way he'd teased her, even going so far as to lick her neck and kiss her cheek, all done to see if he could fluster her since he had assumed she was innocent with sexuality in general. She hadn't seemed surprised; rather, she'd looked disgusted and uncomfortable. She hadn't seemed fazed at all when he'd asked to kiss her. Sasuke was sure now that Haruno Sakura must've had some less than innocent experiences with men, and her last comment made it an almost definite: "Because it was guys like you that ruined my life."
Perhaps she'd dated a man who was loose with women before? Or maybe she'd dated someone who was two-timing her? Whatever had happened, it must've had a big effect on her life. What kind of guy would've done something to hurt her? Why?
All the questions he thought of just led to more, making Sasuke more and more curious. There were a lot of mysteries surrounding his next door neighbor, that much was sure. With their new agreement, however, perhaps he'd discover some answers as he spent more time with her when she came and offered her blood.
Sasuke lifted his fingers to his lips and walked back over to Karin. He didn't feel like continuing with her; after having gotten to close to Sakura, he'd lost his appetite for anybody else right then.
Sakura's blood was absolutely tempting. It had taken all his willpower not to tear into her enticing throat. Tomorrow night he would get a taste of it, and for that, he was actually rather excited. Haruno Sakura… From now, he would be sure to keep an eye on her.
After all, she was an alluring new game for him to play.
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but it became something so much more
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They hadn't spoken the next morning, even when they passed each other at the shoe lockers this morning, so Sakura was surprised to see a tiny folded piece of paper land perfectly in the center of her desk, in the middle of class. She looked to her right, where her only desk neighbor sat. Uchiha Sasuke had his head on the desk again, surrounded by his slender arms, but his eyes were open and he was smirking at her.
Sakura unfolded the note and read it with curious eyes. Give me your phone number, was written in his sharp-edged scrawl. Sakura turned and glared at the note's writer. He was still smirking.
And hiding fangs under those sensual lips.
Sakura scribbled the digits on the other side of the paper and flicked it back to him when the teacher's back was facing her. Sasuke stealthily slipped it in his pocket. Then he closed his eyes and proceeded to fall asleep again. How did he get in the top five for every exam when all he did was sleep? Honestly, it was frustrating to see his name so close to hers on the list hung on the general school board. Sakura was always number one, but she actually worked hard to earn that spot.
She turned her attention back to the class. No way would she ever lose to him when it came to school and academics. This was the only area in which she absolutely refused to lose to him, because it was the only thing at which she was better. If he took that away, she would have nothing left.
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not that he cared
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Sakura pulled on her waitress uniform slowly, her eyes rimmed with noticeable dark circles. She was so tired. Tired of everything. Tired of working after school every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday until 8 at night. Tired of studying until late at night to ensure perfect grades. Tired of having the pay the hospital the goddamn bill from her mother's time there. Tired of feeling rejected and abandoned by every person she ever knew.
Her cell phone buzzed. Sakura flipped it open and saw she'd received a text message from an unknown number.
Where are you?
PS. If you haven't figured it out, this is Uchiha Sasuke.
Sakura flipped it shut and tossed it back in her bag. Why the hell did he care? Was he that hungry for blood? Or was he toying with her?
She headed out with a plastered smile and began her three-hour shift.
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it was a bad idea to ignore him
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Sakura headed over to his apartment right after dropping off the leftovers the manager had given her today—roast chicken and a bunch of fries. It would be a happy dinner. At least, it would be if she didn't get her appetite spoiled by this dreaded visit. She politely knocked on his front door.
And waited.
And waited.
She decided to barge in, and once she had stepped in, saw that he was sitting on the sofa, texting somebody nonchalantly. He looked up, smirked, and slid his phone shut. He then proceeded to pat the sofa cushion, the spot beside where he sat on the end.
Sakura just stared at him, nonplussed.
"Come here," he said, a little impatiently.
"Well, you don't need to strip me, right?" Sakura asked, staying still. She had no desire to go where Karin had lain just the night before. She would not be humiliated in the same manner as the red-headed girl, never. "Why should I get on a sofa?"
"I have a question for you, too. Why didn't you reply immediately to my little message, Sakura-chan?" Sasuke asked her, his voice soft but menacing.
Sakura felt a chill run through her. "I didn't see it until now."
"Liar."
She made no comment.
"Come here, Sakura."
What was this…? Sakura felt her body begin to move, as if under his control. She fought against the command, willing herself to stay still. "What the hell are you doing to me?" she yelled.
He just smiled. "Sit beside me and give me your blood."
Her body thrust forwards and she lost all self control. Her legs moved forward and seconds later Sakura found herself sitting next to the school idol. He pried her high T-shirt neckline away and pressed his lips to her skin, breathing in her scent.
Somehow, Sakura had to admit to herself it was very, very sexy... but her heart was screaming for him to stop.
"I'm going to bite you, Sakura," he murmured, his lips brushing against her neck, attempting to stimulate her. His kisses made her skin tingle, but she stubbornly remained silent. "But are you really sure about this?" he asked her quietly. "You're sure you want to be my partner?"
"I am," she answered.
He then opened his mouth, and in the corner of her eyes, Sakura could see the sharp fangs protruding from between his lips. She felt her body go numb at the sight of the pointed teeth. No wonder he never smiled while showing his teeth.
She closed her eyes, too afraid to watch. He was really going to bite her. Would it hurt? Would it feel good? Was this even sanitary?
But all thought was lost once his teeth impaled her throat.
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it hurt
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"Reply promptly when I send you a message, Sakura, or I will punish you." His little smile was sadistic. "I can make my bite even more painful than that."
She didn't refuse, her hand pressed against her neck and her breathing shallow. It was the most painful thing she had ever experienced—even worse than losing her virginity. She felt like her soul had been ripped into pieces.
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until now, that had been the most painful of all
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Yes, her appetite was now very, very ruined.
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all thanks to him
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Sasuke wasn't satisfied.
He was hoping to go further, dig a little deeper and see how Haruno Sakura reacted to his touches. He wanted to see how he could hurt her, plague her with fear of him. If he'd wanted to, he could've used his ability of control to force her to submit to him.
But that wasn't fun. He would do this without any advantageous abilities.
How long would Sakura last, he wondered, a small smile on his lips.
How he loved to toy with her.
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there was no right or wrong with him
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Come tonight.
Sakura glared at the little screen.
I'll come at 9, she replied bitterly. Today was Thursday, another day of work, and she was walking over to the restaurant right now. Did he really need blood everyday? Her hand automatically reached up and pressed against the punctured area of her throat. Last night had been incredibly painful. She hadn't known a vampire's bite would hurt as much as it did.
Her phone vibrated with his reply. Come earlier, the message said.
Sakura gave him a terse answer. No.
Reason being?
Work.
What work?
Nothing to do with you.
Everything to do with me. You're my partner. As my partner, I expect you to tell me any information regarding you.
Sakura almost threw her cell phone onto the concrete sidewalk, but she just let out an angry sigh and answered him. It was her fault that she was in this situation, and she would deal with it maturely. I'm a waitress.
Where?
Leafy Diner.
He didn't reply after that, and Sakura was glad.
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a bad idea to tell him anything
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"He's so hot!"
"I know! Is he a high schooler? I don't mind a younger guy, personally."
"Ohh, who cares how old he is? I want to take a picture of him."
Sakura tried to block out the squeals of the other waitresses as she did her homework on the little table, but it was to no avail: her ears heard every word. This was supposed to be her relaxing five-minute break before her last 30-minute shift until she could go home.
"Okay, I'll ask him what he wants to drink," one said, giggling. "Then you can go next."
The other nearly pushed her out the door. "Go, Haruka! Get his name!"
Sakura took advantage of the sudden serenity to finish the last problem. Done. Completed. Now she had nothing to worry about tonight and she could go early. Oh, right, she had to visit him. But still, after that she could just take a bath and go to sleep.
Haruka came back with a frown.
"What happened?" the other asked.
"He said his name's Uchiha Sasuke and he…" She turned to point an accusing finger at Sakura. "Wants to talk to you, apparently."
Sakura really wanted to punch something. "Me, you say," she said, pointing at herself.
Haruka sighed. "He said he's your boyfriend and you're the only one for him… or something. Is he for real?" Her brown eyes were accusing and jealous.
"The damn liar!" Sakura vehemently shouted. Then she slumped her shoulders, embarrassed, a blush adorning her cheeks. She was surprised at her own outburst. "…Sorry. He's… he's not my boyfriend. Not at all."
The waitress seemed to suddenly glimmer again as she turned back to the brunette. "Then we have hope!" she cried, taking hold of the other waitress's hands, who was grinning back.
The manager appeared from the kitchen, as if right on cue. "Sakura-chan, can you start now?"
"Yes," Sakura said, rising to her feet and tying her black apron on.
Haruka smiled at her. "I'll take care of the hottie, okay?"
"I'm fine with that," Sakura replied.
Haruka smiled briefly before turning and swinging her hips as she went to fill a glass of water for her charming new customer.
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only she didn't "take care" of him at all
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Did the damn bastard really have to stare so openly?
Sakura could feel his dark gaze on her as she went around, taking orders and handing the customers their food. Her cheeks had a permanent, defiant blush from his quiet scrutiny, and she disliked the feel of being constantly watched.
Why wouldn't he just leave? Was he really a sadist? Did he enjoy tormenting her like this? And was he really going to stay and watch her until she got let off?
Sakura sometimes overheard his conversations with the blonde or brunette waitresses when she waited on a table near them. They were mostly one-sided, she noticed, and the waitresses were not doing a good job of keeping the conversation impersonal. They were blatantly flirting as well, bending a little lower than necessary to expose their bust or meeting his eyes and giving him their most seductive smile.
All of which, Sakura was amused to see, Sasuke took no notice.
Then she realized she was watching them.
She quickly turned away and searched for a needing table.
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am I in denial?
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"Why did you come?" she asked him, as he followed her out the door.
"I wanted to see where my partner worked," he said evenly. "You're not touched at all that I'm walking you home?"
"We're next door neighbors, why wouldn't we walk together?" Though they never had before.
His dark eyes were unreadable as he said, "This is the first time, though."
Their thoughts were in sync—creepy. Sakura dropped her gaze to the asphalt, having nothing to say.
"How long have you been working?"
Sakura looked up again. "Why do you care?" she asked him suspiciously.
"You're my partner, aren't you?" was his reply.
She stared at the road again. "Since last spring."
"And since when did you start living alone?"
She hesitated. He was beginning to edge into very private, personal territory. "Last winter," she answered.
"So just half a year, huh?" He was gazing into some unseen distance, looking pleased about something. They walked quietly for a while, their footsteps echoing in the quietness of the empty street.
"You're not… going to ask about my family?" Sakura inquired, green eyes focused on the cracks of the road they walked on.
"Nope."
She whipped her head to gape at him with surprise. "So you're not a total bastard after all," she commented, mostly to herself.
His eyes seemed to darken. "I would hate to be asked about my family, personally."
"Worry not, as I have zero interest in you," Sakura told him drily.
"Really?"
"Yep."
"Even though I was voted number one most popular in our year?" he asked her, smirking arrogantly.
Sakura suddenly felt pissed. Okay, so she did have a little crush on him, but that was based on appearance and appearance only. His sadistic personality was a total turn-off. "No," she told him.
"I guess I shouldn't expect anything less from Little Miss No-name here," he said tauntingly.
She didn't take the bait. "Exactly," she answered him smoothly. He looked at her questioningly then, probably having expected she would argue. But Sakura knew it was the truth, so there was no point in fighting it, really.
She'd long given up on trying to be someone who could fit in, and accepted herself for who she was.
"I get the feeling you don't try hard enough," Sasuke said then, his voice soft.
"As if I haven't already? I've learned my lesson," Sakura replied. "And I've accepted it."
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it was too late, anyway
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But the girl Sasuke regarded before him wasn't the type of person who could be an outcast. She was pretty and genial, not a girl who was ugly or horribly antisocial. There wasn't a normal reason for her to be avoided so much as she was in school.
Sasuke had a feeling there was something more to this girl than what he saw walking beside him.
He would find her out—she was his game, after all, and even if she was a puzzle, he would solve her.