Riku: Ohayo…Konbanwa…Konnichiwa. Wherever country are you from, my greetings are for all of you. Nee, how are you guys? Still, interested with reading fan fictions with yaoi pairings? Of course yeah that's why you entered! Okay so I'm just feeling a little weird right now 'cause I'm going to be the very first student who will present a dramatic monologue in our class and I'm, very well, nervous about that 'cause I only have two days to prepare…Two days! Oh well, so the important thing why I'm here…is to update my story 'In Times Like These'. Hope you like the third chapter!
Complete Summary: The assignment was a 'dream come' true. A vacation in New York—A month in an elegant townhouse with a bonus generous enough to buy a whole new home. All he had to do is to masquerade as handsome Uchiha Sasuke's fiancée. But the dream job became a nightmare when Naruto realized that it's hard to pretend to want someone you are terribly in loved with. SasuNaru…
Setting (!) : United States…
Title: In Times like These
"Can't you understand that all was a joke? From the very beginning you should've known it. I thought if a marriage will engage us with each other, I may not achieve true happiness."
"What are you say—ing?" Naruto stuttered the words, his voice was shaking, even his eyes were blinking when tears were being fully controlled and stopped. But then as he struggled to cease his tears, the more his heavy emotions echoed with the strong roar and crack of rolling thunders crossing the mourning sky pounding from outside his wide suite window.
A man turned away from him and spoke in a grave voice; his mind was trapped inside his lamented heart. -It was a crucial decision.-
"No marriage will occur between us anymore. I have decided to cancel it for more important business matters which my parents has entrusted me with. Success is my goal." The man spoke with cold but unsure confidence.
When silence came on the other's side, the older man spoke once again.
"I'm sorry if I have bothered you." He turned his head to the downcast grimly face of the younger man. "I'm going."
--And his foot steps began clicking the marble floor of the hotel's hallway.
xXOOOXx
"No marriage….."
"Cancel it—"
"—For more important business matters."
"Success…is my goal."
"Sorry to have bothered you…"
"I'm going." Those words struck Naruto.
He urged himself to laugh at the recent words he just heard. "Are those words some kind of a joke?" He laughed again but then a strong sob came shaking through his red lips. Tears once more flooded down his whiskered cheeks that paled as realization came over his mind.
"So you're going huh?" Naruto muttered between hard smiling trembling lips. It wasn't really a smile. It was a smile of mockery—a mockery to his own foolishness and stupidity in falling to such a big joke.
"So all the while I am being caught in a joke…a lie? You're very stupid Naruto. How could you let yourself fall for a person who is now laughing at your foolishness?" Naruto crashed his paled face down onto his wide spread and quivering angry hands. He clutched the golden locks that touched his skin with his gripping fingers and cried harder. His knees fell on the carpeted floor of his room and leaned his back over the soft green settee located just beside him.
xXOOOXx
"I already did what you ordered me, father." A man with shoulder length hair tied up over his pale neck, spoke bleakly. Both his eyes were covered with harsh shadow and the atmosphere of his presence gave an intense meaning to the other man who sat comfortably smiling at his son's forced obedience.
"As my eldest son and the future president of this company, Itachi, I'm very proud of you." The older man leaned forward; intertwining his fingers as he pulled a smile of charade.
"You gave me happiness and big hope from you regarding the future success of our company. You will run this so it's a good start to obey and look twice to the circumstances that may happen if you do another big mistake in your life. That kind of relationship will do you no good. It's just a distraction and a big joke in someone's life. It may make you feel happiness but then power and success is the most impor—" The deep voice stopped as a heavy bang pounded the expensive glass table he was leaning on.
"Calm down, son." The man spoke seriously and stared at the raging eyes of his son.
(Okay…so the continuation of this flashback will be inserted as part of one of my next chapters. It will be cut first so wait for its continuation on one of my next chapters. It's also important for you to know things that caused Itachi to do that and you will only know if you continue to read! Okay. Grins wide)
Chapter Three: A Big Joke (Corny title eh?)
"Naruto…" The older guy spoke, after standing to face--surprisingly and longingly at Naruto.
"Itachi." Naruto muttered coldly, a tinge of hurt still intact in his voice though it was slightly harsh.
xXOOOXx
Naruto sat when Sasuke moved to give him space, his smile stayed on his face but then there was that phony meaning in his expression that shows travesty.
"You…already know each other?" Sasuke asked in slight surprise.
"Ye—" Before the word ended from his older brother's lips, an abrupt answer came.
"Not that much " Naruto said.
"I just recognized him from the old newspapers I've been reading from our company and…" Naruto looked up. "I think we just had a little talk when we bumped each other in Jiraya-san's company." He lied. (Which means—it didn't really occur)
Itachi placed intent eyes on Naruto's face. Sasuke saw it and noticed the sudden change in Naruto's attitude; and his eyes that keep on dodging his brother's. As he put his odd thoughts aside, he got hold of Naruto's hand and led it near his chest.
"Itachi…the reason I asked this special meeting is—" He glanced at Naruto who was waiting for him.
"—to present you my fiancée."
Itachi stilled and shot shocked eyes towards the two persons who had been very dear to his heart. It was a long moment of silence when Itachi had gathered himself up and tried to mutter his compulsory gratitude.
"Yo—you're fi—fiaancẻe…?" He spoke in hidden disbelieve.
"That's gr—great. Omedetto..." His eyes expressed sorrow, but it didn't reflect on his face.
"But…"
"Aniki, you think this is a kind of—" Sasuke spoke with raised brow before letting the man beside him continue his statement.
"Big joke?" Naruto stressed eagerly.
"Can't you understand that all was a joke?" His own words echoed in his mind. Those are the words which led him in going crazy—the words that ended and gave so much hurt to his beloved. It was the one who broke the love that grew deep in his heart; the love from the one he kept dreaming to be with forever. Now, he is the one suffering…
"It's not that…" He finally said and his voice shook a little.
Sasuke's phone rang.
"Wait up…it's my client." Sasuke excused himself and stood up, striding near the counter.
For few moments that he was gone, he came back to apologize to Naruto about leaving for awhile. His client was asking him to go to his office right now for important and abrupt meeting because the president will be leaving for Europe tonight.
xXOOOXx
"Naruto!" Itachi cried as he was running after Naruto's retreating back. He was heading to get a cab near the stop light.
"Matte Naruto!" He cried once more. Before Naruto was able to go inside the cab's back seat, a strong hand grabbed his wrist that caused him accidental pain. It wasn't on purpose, but Itachi didn't have any choice. –Like what he experienced 'in the past'—
Still, Itachi didn't put away his gripping hand from Naruto. Instead, he pulled him forcefully towards his car.
"Go inside." Itachi said calmly.
"Let go!" Naruto exclaimed in anger, disregarding the pain that was numbing his wrist as he was trying hard to pull it away.
"No." Itachi spoke steadily, but his face was reflecting the battling emotions he was experiencing.
"I said let go of me! If you don't I'll…" Naruto was silenced.
"What will you do? You'll kill me? I'll let you do that if you go with me." Itachi said in a grave tone; very serious that anyone will be benumbed. He led Naruto to the front seat of the car, beside the driver's seat, and carefully let go of the other male's hand and shut the door. Naruto was really shocked, but his thoughts came back when the auto was already moving and the view on the window is passing fast—every motion of the people outside.
The car stopped.
"What do you need from me?" It was Naruto who broke the awkward atmosphere.
"Naruto…" The shaking muffled voice of Itachi murmured.
"Are you—are you really going to marry my brother?" The question was unclear, but Naruto answered.
"What do you think engaged people do? Marry each other, right?" Naruto strained his own struggling emotions.
No response came…
When Naruto attempted to threw his words, two arms encircled him.—Those arms felt warm but, Naruto thought, it was the arms of the person who crushed his heart…who broke his personality…and who flushed away his faithful dreams in life. He struggled out, expecting to move away from the force he made. Surprisingly, it tightened and Itachi's head slowly rested on his shoulder. Naruto could feel his shallow breath, the touch of his skin against him, and the hair that was brushing his neck. All felt like a good sensation.
"No…" Naruto spoke.
"No—Ge—get off me!" Naruto shouted and ran away. His tears were now flowing freely as he ran from where he was with Itachi.
xXOOOXx
Naruto stayed on the corner of his employer's elegant room. He was bewildered, angry with himself. Starting to calm his own feelings, a hand laid over his head.
"Ahh!" Naruto shrieked.
"What are you doing in the corner?" His employer asked.
"Uhh…uhhh…nothing." Naruto produced a smile.
"Wha—what…?" Naruto muttered as Sasuke pulled him and led him to his clothed chest.
"Do you know that you gave a lot of good luck in my life?" It was a simple statement and yet it gave Naruto a sense of deeper meaning. The hug tightened and Sasuke traveled his hand up to Naruto's chin and tilted the blonde's face up. He slowly leaned forward, smiling before he held the other's mouth with his.
(Do you think it's just an ordinary kiss?)
Sasuke drew Naruto's body closer. Deepening the kiss, he angled his head little to the side and opened Naruto's mouth with his tongue. He stepped backward as he felt Naruto's starting response; regaining himself to be the one dominant, Sasuke swung and slowly bent forward with Naruto's back towards the bed.
Naruto groaned and gave more of his response.
"You're amazing." Sasuke breathed huskily, panting. (Well…just a little)
Naruto's face was fully flushed and his lips are as red as a crimson-colored apple.
Sasuke grabbed the left wrist of Naruto carefully. "What happened with your wrist?" He asked as soon as he saw the brownish-colored bruise obviously presenting itself on Naruto's delicate hand.
"I—I accidentally bumped my hand on the door's knob lately and got this. Don't worry, it's not that serious." Naruto grinned weakly when he felt Sasuke light stroke over his pained wrist.
"If someone saw this, I might be accused of battering you. I don't ever want that to happen."
His words struck Naruto's heart. He felt happy…but with doubt.
"I don't ever want that to happen." Those are the words he always hear whenever he hurt himself.
Owari! (Woohoo! Another Chapter done…after a long time of busy school days—up until now.)
Well…I just really want to update for people to know that I will not stop writing. I've been gone long because of school works but then it doesn't mean that I will not continue anymore my stories…that's the least you should expect.
I'm happy for all the reviewers who gave me encouragement! Orewa URESHII! Honto ureshii! Domo Arigato minna-san!
Thanks for all your reviews…I do hope to have more reviewers…Many things will still happen so wait for it though it will take some long moments again I suspect based on school requirements…sighs…well then. Jan ne!—wait up for the next chapters! Love you all! grins wide
