♥Caricatures of Intimacy♥
Chapter 2-Lines Are Meant To Be Crossed
With life, there are always decisions to be made, but what happens when those decisions interfere with how you want to feel about something. Could choices change how you see someone and possibly alter how you wanted to see them in your mind? Sakura and Sasuke learn the hard way that sometimes you can't really choose who you fall in love with. It just happens. ☼
Sakura's Journey…
Sakura roused from under her blanket, her eyes red and puffy, her stomach feeling empty and her heart even more so. Last night's situation had gone farther than she had bargained for and she felt like drifting away from the white noise called her life. So much went spinning madly out of control that she could feel every last fiber of sanity slip from her. Depression was an understatement for how she was feeling on this particularly cloudy day.
" Somehow I had known he would call me a whore, but I never really expected him to say it so…seriously," she sighed, ruffling her tangled bed head. Her fingers caught the tied up ends and she pulled her hand from the mess. She had a feeling that today would be no better than last night.
She knew she and Sasuke hated each other, but she hadn't thought the rules of their loathsome relationship had changed. Something uncomfortable had taken place somewhere along the time of Sasuke entering the bar and the heated argument outside. Things were always mean and nasty, but something was hidden, she could feel it.
The next few days were going to be rather interesting. Why she even cared about the words that had come from his mouth, she was far from finding out, but she knew something brewed beneath her exterior. Something dark and forbidden, she just didn't know what.
Sasuke's Journey…
" What was she thinking? I don't care if I hurt her, but…," Sasuke groaned and let his head fall in his hands as he sat hunched over in his bed, his bare chest chilled in the morning air within his apartment. Everything with her was extreme or not, no in between, and her little performance last night, for whatever reason, was wearing on his tired mind.
" Why am I thinking about her? Of all people…" he sighed.
She had blatantly thrown out the fact that he was hitting on that stupid woman with him. She meant nothing to him and Sakura knew that, but for her to even mention it made her seem…jealous on some sort of standpoint. He had pointed it out to see some sort of rise out of Sakura…but to his dismay, she had just taken it. In fact, she had cried.
" There's no way she could…" he mumbled before letting his thoughts get the better of him. ' No, I hate her, she hates me, that's the way it's always been. She's a bitch for even thinking that she could take things that far. She always has to have the last say. Well at least I got to it before she did this time,' he thought finally, nodding his head while his anger took hold over his regret and confusion.
He reached over to the chair beside his bed and pulled his black Jonin shirt on before stepping into his shorts on the floor. He quickly ate then slipped his sandals on and looked briefly out the window. Rain threatened on the horizon and he sighed. Today was just one of those days, he could feel it.
Meetings Of Sorts…
Sakura turned the shiny silver handles and the water slowed, drenching her face to her feet before a steady drip commenced as the water was shut off. She wiped her face, clearing the water from her eyes before groping about for her towel.
Her fingers grazed over the soft fabric and she gripped it and immediately brought it to her face, drying her eyes to greet her tired face in the foggy mirror across from the shower. She wrapped the towel around her slim body and stepped out of the tub onto the cotton bath rug and sat down at the tub's edge.
She had a meeting to go to, she was sure she would be late though. Tsunade had something worth discussing and apparently needed Sakura there. She took the folded towel on the floor beside her and wrapped her hair neatly atop her head.
The shower had washed away some of her weariness, but her eyes cried out to be closed and resort back to pleasant dreams. But she had duties that required attention, and being all business, Sakura wasn't about to slip up in her more than perfect record at the ANBU headquarters.
Top of her class in Gen-Jutsu and one of the greater tactical minds next to Nara Shikamaru, she wasn't surprised her name came up often in the referred ninja book. She often times felt like Tsunade's lapdog, the way she was worked around the clock, constantly at beck and call.
She applied her make up quickly, noting to cover the rather dark circles under her eyes before leaving the bathroom.
Concern with the lack of ability with the Jonin around the ANBU headquarters was starting to become Tsunade's favorite topic. She could never have enough Jonin level ninja, young and fit with the best of talents. Sharp minds, quick reflexes, Kekkai Genkai. She was too fond of ninja with a good family background than with the ninja him/her self in some cases.
That's where Sakura came in. She was in charge of testing the Jonin to make sure they weren't slipping in older age or young at that. A yearly exam was held for the veterans, every 6 months for new recruits. Dull as her job was becoming, she always managed to score a winner to brighten her day every once in awhile.
She ran a hand through her slick wet hair, blow-drying it tediously with her fingers. Her short-sleeved Jonin shirt hugged her upper body, extending to her hips before her shorts covered her bottom half. Black was becoming her favorite color these days. She liked the contrast of her hair against the dark fabric.
She tied her satchel and leg wrappings tightly about her thigh before slipping into her knee high boots and grabbing a quick breakfast before scooping up her papers. Files of ninja examination turnouts were due to be turned in and Sakura had spent the last few weeks slaving over which ninja she might have to drop, if any. It was always hard to let one go, simply because of old age or inexperience. But ANBU was the best of the best, and there were no exceptions.
Well, that wasn't always the case. There was one such ninja that she had let stay on, although it had seemed he wasn't what he had been talked about as. The great fighter, number one as a rookie Genin.
He also had a huge chip on his shoulder due to his family status in Konoha. Powerful families meant a bigger influence over ol' Tsunade, and he was no exception. She scowled at the thought of the day she was forced to send him in to take his exams for a second time. That never happened.
Once should have been enough, but Tsunade had expected great things, and until she saw them, she wouldn't let him out of her sight. He was to be the greatest of the great, but unfortunately his attitude begged to differ.
His arrogant chatter and disrespect towards her and the other proctor for the exam was incredulous and thus she grew to hate him. For every 6 months he had to take that cursed exam, she was forced to endure his foul temper and harsh language.
And for reasons she couldn't fathom, she was sent to train him to use his Kekkai Genkai in a more effective way. Naturally, he was a sexist and convinced himself he wasn't in need of a female's help in his own bloodline trait.
That was until she kicked his ass after she overheard him calling her a dumb broad. He didn't take kindly to the awakening that he wasn't such hot stuff and from then on they hated each other.
Sakura stepped out the door, the apartment on her right opening at the same time to present a grouchy looking Sasuke. Sakura kept her eyes on her feet while she locked her door and quickly made for the ANBU headquarters building at the far end of Konoha without so much as a word to her neighbor. Sasuke paused briefly to watch her go. She was headed in the same direction he was aimed to go. He wondered what Tsunade had up her sleeve today.
He decided to beat Sakura to the headquarters to see what was going on and his gut instinct told him she would be walking the whole way rather than just transport herself there. He locked his door, stuffed his key in his pocket and disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Sakura pulled her head back from the doorframe of the shop across from their apartments. So he thought he would get the upper hand did he, knowing she would walk due to the stress on her mind.
' Well, as usual Sasuke, the days activities have begun,' she mentally checked as she burst into cherry blossom petals and vanished from sight as the pink petals scattered across the ground.
She landed roughly atop the ANBU headquarters' roof and made for the roof's exit. Tsunade's office sat just below her feet, and knowing Sasuke's range of transporting himself, he would be just a few blocks away.
She made her way over to the door, taking the steps leading down to the 14th floor two at a time. She made it to Tsunade's office without anyone noticing her entrance and with a bright smile, opened the door.
" Well Sakura, looks like you're second to come in for the meeting today," Tsunade said from her tall chair behind the expansive oak desk. Scrolls littered its glossy surface along with numerous missing nin reports and what looked to be a half eaten sushi platter. Her eyes roamed the office and stopped at a chair before her desk, occupant seated comfortably with it's back to her.
She cautiously made her way to the chair beside it and took a seat. Naturally, of all people, it would be the one person she detested. To top it off, she wasn't sure she was ready to even speak to him on a business level yet after the occurrences last night. Sasuke smiled at her from his chair, a sneer more like it, and she settled back farther in her seat.
" Alright, now that we're all here," Tsunade said happily, standing up out of her chair and making her way to the front of the desk. She sat neatly on a bare spot upon the desk and her eyes scanned to two seated before her.
" I have an assignment for you both. This involves teamwork and some level of respect," she added, noticing the change in temperature since leaving her chair.
" Look, I know you don't exactly see eye to eye, but you need to get past all that. As I was saying, you two are to be placed together for training. Sakura, since Sasuke just passed his 6 month exam," she beamed over at Sasuke who nodded his thanks, " anyhow, since he just passed, I want to make sure his skills do not slip. Therefore you are in charge of his training until I see results."
Sakura could have fallen out of her chair or fainted in the least, but instead a giant O shaped her mouth and her eyes stared at Tsunade, never blinking.
" Y-you're not serious sensai, are you!"
" Well yes, I'm quite serious Sakura, and I wouldn't leave him to anyone else. You're the best I have!"
Sakura's face fell a bit and she slumped back into her chair. She would have been more enthusiastic at being called "the best", but somehow after finding out she was training Sasuke, it just didn't make up for it. Sasuke had a scowl upon his face that not only amplified his disappointment, but if looks could kill, Tsunade would be a pile of ashes.
" Alright, that's settled. Sasuke, you are to meet Sakura whenever she feels fit for a training session and since she is training you, please treat her with the proper respect a sensai would receive. And Sakura," Tsunade added, Sakura frowning even deeper.
" You are to make sure he improves. Make me proud to call you the best. If, for whatever reason, he shouldn't be ten times better by the next exam in 6 months, you will train together again and again until you work past you're personal problems and focus on the one's at hand."
Sakura groaned and nodded, Sasuke looking as though he had been plowed over by one of Tsunade's jutsus. She beamed at them and waved her hand.
" Now, now, I'm sure you want to go and schedule Sasuke's daily training, so scoot."
Sakura rose but paused as Sasuke made his way out the door. Tsunade's cocked her head as Sakura presented the files she brought with her.
" Are these the ninja results?"
Sakura nodded, still a bit fazed from recent news. Tsunade chuckled and set them upon her desk.
" Sakura, what's wrong with you today? You were here after the Uchiha, a first for arriving after anyone else. And you had a dour look about your face the second you walked in."
Sakura sighed and fell back into her chair.
" Tsunade, he hates me, I hate him. How the hell do you think I'll pull off training him?"
Tsunade laughed heartily and Sakura frowned.
" Sakura, believe it or not, I've hated everyone I've had to train, save you of course," she said as her face flushed in mock embarrassment. " But I never let that get in the way of doing my job. Remember that, although you may hate him, there are things about him that you don't know. He may be someone you may turn out to like. The time you have to spend together will be crucial, so make the best of it please."
" Yes sensai," Sakura said quietly before rising to leave.
" Oh and Sakura!"
She turned as Tsunade threw a pouch to her. " If things go awry, give him this," she said with a wink and Sakura nodded, forcing a sad smile.
Sakura left Tsunade's office in a worse mood than she woke up in. She was more than disappointed at having to waste time training Sasuke when she could be working and training herself.
" Why do these things happen to me!" she sighed as she walked out the front doors into the dreary day. Slight raindrops fell from over head as the rain shower began. Sakura groaned and her face fell even lower than it had been before.
" Just your luck, eh?"
Sakura turned around to see Sasuke leaning against the building. His face was expressionless and he pushed himself off the wall to walk towards her. Sakura accepted defeat and her dour eyes watched him as he came towards her slowly.
" So when are you going to start training me?"
Sakura just stared at him as the rain fell on them in the empty street, her hair flattening to her head as it soaked through. His hair hung limply in his face, giving him an even gloomier expression if possible.
" Whenever," she said nonchalantly as she wiped the trails of rain out of her face, sweeping her wet hair out of her face and back behind her ears. He watched her sloppy grooming and smirked.
" Well, how about now? You're not busy, so how about we go to the fields to practice tai-jutsu or something?"
For once Sakura could see a civil side to him and she smiled, although it still looked a bit like a frown.
" Alright. But we start with the basics."
Sasuke nodded and Sakura inwardly thanked Tsunade for ordering him to pay her some respect.
" So do you even know how to train someone, or is acting like Tsunade's slave the only thing you're good at?"
So much for that theory. Sakura groaned and narrowed her eyes at her "student" as he smiled over at her, a gleam in his eye. She silently cursed herself for even thinking the punk had a sense of respect. She politely smiled as her evil thoughts formed words in her mind.
" Sasuke, if there's anything I know how to do, it's teaching ingrates like yourself to be the best they can be. Unfortunately, your best might not be enough for ANBU. There's only soo much I can do with talent-less losers."
Sakura waved her hand carelessly, an evil grin spreading over her lips as Sasuke absorbed her words, his face darkening at her snide remark. His fist clenched in annoyance and she could feel his anger emanating off of his body.
' Hehe, I'm so bad,' she chuckled to herself as she watched Sasuke try to restrain himself. Well, she shouldn't just stop there. If she was going to poke and prod him, she might as well do it to her heart's content.
" Now, now, Sasuke. Don't feel discouraged if you can't perform up to par! I mean, I have weeks to train you to at least do as well as a circus monkey. Don't fret!"
By this time she was holding back tears of laughter as she watched him twitch. He glanced over and something murderous flashed in his eyes. She faked a gasp and kept walking, picking up her pace to gain the lead on him.
Turning around, she traipsed backwards while she taunted him.
" Sasuke, really. You shouldn't treat your sensai with such disrespect. When I tell you how pathetic and helpless you are, I expect you to take it in stride! Not everyone can be as big a failure as you! That's accomplishment all on its own!"
At this point she couldn't help but let out her laughter. She turned and clutched her sides as her laughter rang through the surrounding fields, tears of happiness slipping from the corners of her eyes.
" Oh goodness, Ahaha!"
Sasuke grinded his teeth as he watched her laugh at his humiliation. His face was stained a bright red and he could feel his blood boil. It was one thing for her to be training him, but for her to rub in his face that he had failed to meet standards once before was pushing it.
" Okay, okay. Woo, I needed that," Sakura sighed as she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. " I mean, it's not everyday I have the Great Sasuke Uchiha as my puppet, I mean student!" She finished off her giggling before turning to him, her feet planted in the center of a large meadow.
" Okay Sasu-" WHAM!
Sasuke's fist met Sakura's face with such force it sent her flying through the air. Sakura had just enough time to recover from his blow to catch herself and land skillfully on her feet.
Her hand rubbed her face where his fist had made contact and she could feel her jaw move in and out of the joint. Her eyes lifted and narrowed at him and he stuck his nose in the air, a sneer of victory on his face.
" You're going to regret that, bastard," she growled as she forced healing chakra to her jaw and she could feel the tingling of her jaw being repaired. Her fingers tested the joint before she smiled wickedly.
" Cheep shots will get you 3 hours of stamina training, Sasuke. I hope you're prepared for your punishment."
Before he could blink, she was gone in a flurry of Sakura petals. The rain had picked up considerably and now the warm earth emanated steam as the cool rain evaporated on its surface. He turned a full circle, the mist around him making it hard to detect where she might have disappeared.
" Now Sasuke, when you pick a fight, I expect you to give it your all. If you're holding back, I'll make you work like the dog you are."
Sakura's voice echoed through the clearing. Sasuke tried to pinpoint the location it originated from but instead, he felt a strange sensation at his neck. Before he knew it, he was pinned to the ground, a kunai against his jugular, his feet and hands pinned skillfully to the ground by Sakura's knees and legs.
She scowled at him from her seat on his chest, her firm grip holding the kunai against his flesh. His wide eyes narrowed as he realized he had been beaten again.
" You still have soo much to learn Sasuke. Did you really think you could beat me this time?"
Her voice held no mockery, just the truth.
" I…" " You what Sasuke?" The kunai dug deeper into his skin and he hissed as the sharp metal pierced his flesh, a trickle of blood sliding down his neck.
" I thought…maybe this time I was strong enough," he confessed and she released him, rising off his body to sit beside him. Sasuke sat up and frowned as he watched the mist climb from the grass around them. Sakura watched him closely, feeling a bit ashamed for her words earlier.
" Sasuke, you still have much to learn. Why are you soo impatient with yourself?"
" It doesn't matter."
Sasuke stood and walked away from her, his body language showing his deep shame at yet another defeat. Sakura struggled whether to get up and follow him or stay where she was.
" Where are you going Sasuke? I thought you wanted to train!"
" I don't care. Why waste your time, right…"
She watched his shadowed form vanish from sight as he wandered into the mist. Was she wrong to taunt him like she did? She knew his self-loathing ran deep and hurt him badly.
' I just wanted payback for what he had said to me last night. Did I go too far?' she wondered as she rose from the rain soaked ground, her clothes clinging to her body.
" I'm… sorry Sasuke," she sighed as she walked off in the opposite direction towards her apartment.
Author Notes:
DAG! I actually managed to update at a resonable time WOOO!
ehehe so yeah you see some of the softer side of the screwed relationship...Sakura feels like a bitch...Sasuke's a weepy girl POUT MUCH ehehe anyways I hope you all enjoyed and next chappy will be up soon!
;3 luv
Black