Long weekend coming up! Yaaay!
I finished this chapter quite earlier than I expected too.
Disclaimer: I'm still on planet Earth and kickin' it! Haven't been around for a while on here, so what does that tell you? I don't own Naruto :'(


Let Me Breathe

They say that it's okay to hide the truth from people if it means it's protecting them from something awful. However, hiding the truth can lead that person to getting into trouble. If the lies continue then you're just digging a deeper hole for yourself.


~Flashback~

As the car pulled into the driveway, the person who was up on the balcony was trying to open the window. The man in the car got out and locked his car doors. He then made his way to his front door and opened it quietly, assuming his daughter was asleep. The person on the balcony successful opened the window and gently pushed it back so that no noise was made. Before proceeding into the room, the stranger pushed the curtains to the side and quietly entered, however the breeze from outside pushed the window back even more, making it hit the picture on the wall and knocking it off the hook. The man was half way up the stairs and he heard the noise. He ran up the stairs and barged his daughter's room. He caught the person who broke into his daughter's room standing next to her bed. Furious, he charged at the person but unfortunately for him, the person was too quick for him and escaped. He walked over to the window and shut it but forgot to close the curtains. He then walked over to where his daughter laid and just shook his head as she wasn't woken up by the sounds that were made. After alarming his clock because he knew she wouldn't wake up unless something loud blasted into her ears, he made his way out of the room, shutting the door quietly behind him. He was shook by what happened and was glad that he gotten home just in time. The man went to lay in his bed but was not able to sleep as thoughts ran through his mind of the possible things that could happen to his daughter if she was taken.

~End Flashback ~


There laid the pink headed beauty. Hair sprawled over the pillow as she turned over onto her back. She looked like sleeping beauty, lost in a never ending sleep. In a way this is what Sakura yearned for; she wanted to escape from this world where she had to pretend. Sleeping forever sounded like a good solution. Her chest rose lightly and fell back down. Her lips parted and a sigh escaped from her mouth as her alarm clock went off. She groaned and was searching for her alarm clock with her hands. Once her hand hit it, she chucked it down onto the ground. Sakura was not too fond of alarm clocks but her father insist that she has one because she is a deep sleeper, which Sakura didn't see a problem in. She opened her eyes and was greeted by the sunlight beaming into her bedroom. Strange, is what she thought because clearly someone has been into her room and set her alarm and she knew exactly who set her alarm off but the curtains was mystery. She furiously threw the covers off her and jumped off her bed.

She slid down the railings of her staircase then angrily approached the entertainment area as she heard chattering coming from that direction. As she was about to enter the arch entrance way, the voice she heard made her stop and her heart started to speed up rapidly. It was his voice. It was the voice that had her stop walking in the hallway. Looking down at her attire, she realized it wasn't appropriate enough (in her father's eyes), to be greeting someone. Being shocked that he was here inside her house, talking to her father, left her standing at that spot. But she instantly snapped out of it as she realized if he came through this entrance way, he would see her without the glasses and baggy clothing. However, it really wouldn't make a difference if he saw her like this because she looked completely different out of her disguise. She could easily lie and say that she was her own sister or something! But then again, there was that one person who always screws up your plans and for Sakura, it happened to be her father who would obviously tell Sasuke the truth. She sighed and once again, she had her back against the wall and was ease dropping on the conversation taking place in the room next door.


Sasuke's POV

I usually don't tag along with my father to his business meetings but this one caught my interest. It is rare that my father has a meeting over about a person and when he does it's because the suspect is putting the company in jeopardy of bankruptcy. It's quite amusing that someone thinks they can make my father's company go bankrupt. But this meeting was over a particular person who isn't even causing trouble for the company. To be honest, I don't even think this is even a business meeting. I never seen my father so concerned for a person, besides his own family members but for a mere stranger is just…odd. When he informed me that he was heading over here, I could tell it was serious and was an urgent matter. I glanced down at my father's hands and he kept fidgeting his hands around. When he fidgets his hands that means something serious is going on. I've been to plenty of meetings to analyze these things. My eyes were still on his hands and they followed as he reached over to pick up his mug of coffee to take a sip. "What do you suppose I do?" the man who was sitting across from us spoke. He was partners with my father's business and his wealth was up there with ours.

"Hmm, I'm not sure. You could always…move?"

"No, I can't do that. They will eventually find me and her. Damn it! I can't believe they spotted her." The man slammed his hand down onto the table, making the mugs jump a bit. Her? Who was her?

"Are you sure it was them?"

"I know who I saw. I'm just thankful I got here at the time I did or else who knows where she would be right now." The man buried his head in his hands and then rubbed his head.

"Yes be thankful for that. Maybe you need to go in a different approach with her attire"

"I tried but she's stubborn, just like how her mother was…" the man paused. My father sighed. Ah, we're talking about his daughter. Interesting.

"Yes, just like her mother. You two were such trouble makers" my father chuckled, reminiscing the old days I suppose.

"Ha, tell me about it. It's my own damn fault that things ended up this way. I thought I could do something but I could-"

"Oh stop with the nonsense. You did everything you could; you know that, she knew that, everyone did! It's sad to know that things have ended up this way but we can do something about it and we will" the seriousness that my father carried would scare people. "Sunday." My father suddenly stated.

"Sunday?"

"Yes, Sunday. On Sunday, come over for dinner at my house and we'll discuss the approach you shall take"

"Hmm, Sunday you say?" the man was in deep thought. I could tell because of his body language with his hand placed over his mouth and was rubbing his finger above his upper lip, staring hard at table. "Alright. Sunday at…?"

"Come over at 5. You know how Mikoto is." The two laughed. I was glad that the atmosphere was back to a light and airy one.

"Ah, yes. Well, sounds like a good plan. My daughter and I will be there." We stood and the two shook hands. I went and stood at the entrance way then I spotted a certain color which caught my interest. Pink? She instantly came into my mind. I kept staring at the color and the more I did, the more I thought about her. This was starting to become annoying.


Here I stood with my back against the wall and ease dropping again. It saddens me to know that my father has to put up with all this stress that I'm creating. At times I feel like I'm such a horrible daughter and I probably am, I just don't want to acknowledge it. I sighed. If only I could just leave and end this misery for him. But what aggravates me is that those people were after me last night and I had no clue. I never experienced them coming after me, but my father has told me on several accounts that they have tried and almost succeeded. And after hearing that conversation that my father had, it made me realize how much trouble this is creating for him. I glanced to the right and noticed that my hair was noticeable. I started to panic because I saw Sasuke staring over at my way. I prayed that he didn't see me and I ducked down and went under the table that was nearby. Having to sneeze, I tried my best to keep it in but as always, that was a fail. "ACHOO!" I snuffled.

"My daughter must be awake. Perhaps I can get her to come down and say hello." I stayed under the table and sat there still like a statue. I saw 6 feet walk by and heard my father continuously repeating my name and telling me to come down. Oh how he's going to get a heart attack once he sees that I was down here the whole time. I then heard the door close and I knew, well I hoped, that it was safe to come out. I waited for my father to go into the dining room and then went in. "Oh Sakura, good afternoon. You just missed meeting one of my very good friends." Technically I didn't, but he doesn't know that.

"Good afternoon, father. Oh, well maybe next time I'll be able to meet him."

"Yes, on Sunday you'll be meeting him and his family."

"Really now? How exciting!" Although, it really wasn't since I'll be seeing Sasuke there. Then my eyes widen.

"Dear, is there something wrong?"

"Dad, you know how whenever I go to any of your business meetings or gatherings and I don't have to wear a disguise?"

"Yes"

"Well, with this particular outing…am I to go as myself or what?" I already knew the answer but I was hoping he would say the opposite.

"Of course you're going out as yourself. My friends haven't seen you since you were a little girl." I sighed, I knew it.

"Couldn't you just allow me to wear my ugly glasses and baggy clothing just this one time?!"

"You will not! My daughter will represent herself as this beautiful, young intelligent woman she is becoming to be."

"Really, dad? You now want me to show off who I truly am? The amount of times I begged to be normal and now when I choose not to be, you reject the idea?! You, old man, need to make up your mind!"

"How dare you raise your voice at me! I did not raise you to be this way!" he suddenly stood up and was pointing at me, but I kept my cool or at least I tried too.

"You're right, you didn't! You didn't raise me to be this way because you haven't been raising me up at all! It's either business meeting here or there. You never found time for us to spend with each other and it hurts dad, it hurts! You have no idea what I'm going thr-"

"Of course I-"

"No, you don't! Do you have any idea how hard it is to go to school and have nobody to talk to? Do you know how hard it is to pretend to be someone who you aren't? No, you don't because you don't have to be or don't choose to be. I was forced to be someone else. I don't know the full story behind why I have to be, but I'm starting to get fed up with this act I put on. I need someone, just someone to talk to!" my shoulders were shaking as the tears build up in my eyes.

"Sakura, I never knew"

"Of course you didn't" I started to walk out of the room "And you probably never will because you're too damn consumed on trying to protect me! I can protect myself, dad. I'm not that same little shy girl anymore but in your mind I am and you need to grasp the fact that I'm not. Of course there are times where I'll need others to protect me but to hide who I am? That is just outrageous! I only do this for you, everything I do is for you…when will I get my chance to do things for myself?" and I ran. I could feel the tears starting to stream down my face. I ran out of my house and down the street, I could hear my father shouting for me to come back but I didn't want to be near my house for a while. I stopped running and realized I was out of disguise. For the first time I wasn't around the protection of my father and was showing how I truly looked. I spotted a park that had a swing set and surprisingly it was empty. Being cautious, I looked around to make sure no one suspicious was here. After deciding the place was safe, I sat down on the swing set. I breathed in the cool air. It was refreshing to be out of the house, the atmosphere in there was suffocating me. I felt terrible for yelling at my father like that but he just got the best of me. Sighing, I started to swing higher and higher. I then started to laugh, laughing at what I said to my father, about him not being there. Of course he's been there for me, but just not in the ways I wanted him to be. Then I began to cry, I cried because I started to remember the days when I was little and how my father used to do everything for me. I guess he has given me the chance to be myself but I just haven't realized it. I suddenly jumped off at the highest peak I reached when I was swinging and thankfully landed safely on the ground. I started to run back to my house. I owed my father an apology.


Sasuke's POV

It's bad enough that you get dragged to go shopping for stuff with your mother but it's downright embarrassing when you go with your father and he has no clue what he is looking for because he's either lost in the aisles or well…yeah that's the only option. Once my father found everything he was asked to get, or so he claims he did, we proceeded to the check-out area. "If you can find a beautiful girl like that, I would approve right on the spot!" Twitch. The things my father say are just unacceptable.

"Dad, I understand mom saying that but when it comes out of your mouth is just disturbing." We moved up to the register.

"What I'm just saying. But she also has be smart so she will need to be able to prove that." My father flashed a smile as the girl who was cashing us out and she blushed a bit. I sighed.

"Really now? I thought that was quite obvious you would want me dating someone smart." I saw the girl staring at me, but I wasn't about to flash a smile to her like my father did. "Plus, why are you telling me this all of a sudden?"

"Well, I'm just thinking about your future and the type of daughter-in-law I would like to have." My father passed me the bags to carry out.

"Shouldn't you worry about Itachi's love life instead of mine? I'm still in high school for goodness sakes!" We proceeded to the car.

"Well, that is true but at the same time I can worry about yours. Hmm, I should have a talk to your brother now that you mentioned it."

"You're telling me that you haven't spoken to Itachi yet?! But you and mom are constantly on my ass about getting a girlfriend?!" I chucked the bags into the trunk and slammed the trunk cover down, and then I made my way to the passenger door and got inside.

"I'm not saying I haven't. I just haven't really touched upon the issue as much as I do with you." I rolled my eyes at his response. This is just ridiculous! My father started the car and we were off.

"That's peculiar. Why would you talk to your youngest son about his love life but not the oldest? And I know you guys didn't harass him about it when he was younger like how you and mom do to me."

"Well, son. Your dear brother has dated some strange women that your mother and I just see no use in talking to him. You know he won't listen to us, he'll continue to date those weird women." I chuckled because it was true. Itachi has some weird taste.

"You have a point there."

"One point for me, zero for you!" My father laughed. I rolled my eyes and looked out the window. I then saw a girl running and she had pink hair. Of course Sakura came to mind but I couldn't determine that my answer was correct because I couldn't get a proper look at her as we just passed by quickly. I probably must be going crazy to even think that was Sakura. She's probably at home, in her room, doing some weird shit. I chuckled, that girl sure was an oddball but something about her makes me want to find things out about her.


Panting as she reached her doorsteps, she twisted the doorknob and walked inside. At first she thought her father wasn't home since the first floor was empty but when she walked upstairs, she heard a noise. Panic came over her and she worried that one of them was inside her house. Tip-toeing to the room where the noise was coming from, she prayed it was her father that was behind those doors or else she was screwed. Taking a deep breath, she twisted the doorknob slowly and pushed the door open. She let out a sigh of relief to find her father sitting behind his desk looking over papers. Her father looked up from his work and gestured her to come in and told her to take a seat. Sakura did as her father told her and just stared at him. Silence filled the room for a good few minutes until her father spoke. "Is there something you'll like to talk about?" She could see that he was tired as she looked into his eyes and that made her feel even worse. She thought he was drained from all the effort he puts in to protect her. She opened her mouth but then closed it. She repeated this a few times until she took a deep breath and spoke this time.

"I'm…I'm…I'm sorry!" she shouted. She sat there, staring down at her lap where she was twiddling her thumbs. Her father didn't say a word. He just stared at her, blinking his eyes. He was amazed by what just happened. Sakura wasn't the type to apologize.

"Sorry for what?" Her father placed the pen he was holding into the pen holder. He then prompted his elbows onto his desk and folded his hands under his chin.

"For yelling at you earlier. What I said was stupid."

"No." Sakura's head shot up. "What you said wasn't stupid" He sighed. He got up and walked over to the other chair that was next to the seat that his daughter was sitting in. "You had every right to yell the things you have been keeping bottled up. Me on the other hand…I, I guess I just assumed everything with you was alright but now I know it's not and I'm sorry for that. I'm sorry for not taking the time to sit down and listen to what you have to say or spend time with you."

"It's alright dad and I know you try and that's what counts. I can't be selfish and take you away from your work when that's important."

"But you're more important." Sakura smiled and hugged her dad. This wasn't like Sakura but something overcame her and she didn't mind. She didn't mind the moment that she was sharing with her dad because it was happy one.

"Hey, how about we go out for dinner. To celebrate a fresh new start!"

"Alright! Let me go change first." Her father nodded and Sakura left the room. She searched through her closest until she found the outfit she wanted to wear. After getting dressed and putting on those tacky glasses, before leaving her room she glanced over at the curtains that were still open. As sickening feeling came over her and went back to her dad's office. "Hey, dad."

"Hmm?"

"Could you explain why my curtains are open? I remember them being closed before I went to sleep." She knew why, she figured it out from earlier on but she wanted to see if her father would tell her the truth. Unfortunately, he didn't. He claimed that he was the one that opened them hoping the sunlight would wake her up and this disappointed Sakura. Why would he lie about the fact that they were in her room when he had told her other times when they have been after her. It just didn't add up. She was overwhelmed by the thought but brushed it off.

"So you ready to go?" she nodded and they proceeded downstairs. She was in deep thought again and missed a step. Her heart pounded rapidly. She took a deep breath to get herself back together and went back into deep thinking. Besides the fact that her father lied to her, but she also remembered that Sasuke too knows that her father's daughter, her, was in trouble. However, she was glad that her father didn't mention who his daughter was or things would just be too awkward for her at school. The touch she felt on her arm made her flinch. "Sorry! Didn't mean to scare you" she turned around to find her father giving her a worried look.

"It's fine dad. I was just thinking." Oh was all he said and told her to hurry up and get her shoes on or he was going to leave without. But Sakura knew that whatever happened during the middle of the night in her room has made her father more determined to keep someone by her side at all times to make sure nothing happens to her. It was overwhelming, as she realized her freedom was going down the drain and probably will never get it back until everything between whoever is after her and her father is settled. She slid on her shoes and rushed out the door. She looked up and saw something unusual up in the tree. Her eyes slightly widen as she realized it was someone sitting up there and where the tree was located, is where you can directly see inside her father's office. Her heart started too pounded rapidly again but she needed to look like nothing was wrong with her. Her father honked the horn which made her jump and she ran over to the car and get inside. As the car pulled out, she still had her eyes on the person in the tree as they were staring directly back at her.


Ooo freaky. Sakura has finally seen one of those people or is it? Dun dun dun duuuuuun!
Ah, who can't wait till the dinner that is taking place at Sasuke's house?! Wonder what is going to happen, hmm…
Not sure when the next chapter will be out, have lots of work to do!
Until next time!

PureElegance