Conundrum
Keep your temper
She walked behind her mother and father, as they proceeded up the steps to the colossal Uchiha residence.
This was apparently the summerhouse, and yet it seemed at least seven times as large – and ten times as grand – as their small but adequate home. She could not enjoy the surroundings, though, as the butterflies in her stomach were far too distracting.
At least this should have counted as a proper ailment.
Since the vision, or dream, or delirium, a few hours ago, she had been awfully jittery. Although she proficiently fooled her parents, her own nerves were another matter. Moments with the creatures, their absurd appearances, and the smoke that dulled her senses and brought her back to her world – to the voice of her nagging mother precisely – invaded her mind again.
She violently expelled the images.
They reached the door at last, and upon knocking, were greeted by a servant. He led them through the beautiful abode and out into the garden.
The butterflies worsened in their assault.
Her parents were noticeably wooed by the grandeur of the mansion, and the extravagance of the party. Well-dressed and remarkable looking figures sauntered around the garden, most European, but some obviously mixed and ethnic.
Sakura remained vigilant, hoping to avoid the man who had insulted her, and entranced her, all the same.
"Kizashi!" Sakura rotated her head to see Iruka greeting her father in a hospitable manner. They shook hands, and they talked jovially, she noticed the strain of the smile on her mother's face as she tried to maintain perfection.
Iruka pulled them further into the merriment, directing their attention towards various people and details and foods. Sakura followed at a small distance, that is, until her name was called out loudly. She turned around, curious to know who would make such a spectacle.
She blanched at the familiar face.
"How are you feeling?" Sakura attempted to smile genuinely at the sun-kissed blond in front of her. He was dressed in a chocolate brown coat and dark grey trousers, with a top hat slanted over his head. However, the oddity of his attire was in the orange necktie that stationed around his collar and at the base of his throat.
She felt it easier to smile at that, "I'm much better, thank you". Naruto grinned, "And have you had tea yet?", an unfathomable glint flickered across his face for a second and then it was gone. Sakura's smile faded, but she strengthened her resolve and shook her head.
She was pulled – it shocked her to be grasped so familiarly – towards one of the larger tables. The blond asked for her preferences and mixed her sugar before handing her the teacup. She offered a grateful smile in return.
While Naruto busied himself with his own cup, Sakura scanned the garden for familiar faces.
She froze at the sight of an excellently dressed Sasuke Uchiha – enveloped in a black studded tailcoat, a navy overcoat, and slimming black pants – conversing with two women.
Why did he have to be so delectable?
After a second of admiring the man, she cast her attention upon the females, and found herself biting her lip due to an illogical jealousy.
Sakura watched as the women smiled, and leaned down, surely to give a view, and invaded his personal space. She frowned unknowingly, cursing them to slip or embarrass themselves. However, as she watched the clench of his jaw, and the slight crease at his brow, and the tenseness of his posture, she realized the difficulty of his civility.
Looking down at the teacup in her hand, she sighed at the ridiculousness of her previous thoughts.
The girl failed to see Naruto regard her with a devious grin.
When she raised her head, she found herself gazing directly into the eyes of Sasuke Uchiha.
She quickly averted her wide eyes, a delicate pink tinge painting her cheeks.
"He never gives them any attention outside of compulsory courtesy", Sakura jumped at the interruption, turning to her companion; her face becoming impossibly darker at the knowing look. "I-I see", she cleared her throat and tried to collect herself.
Then she remembered the discourteous treatment she had received.
"I suppose the courtesy is reserved for the rich", there was a bitterness in her tone, and Naruto noticed it.
He glanced at his colleague before giving her his attention, "he finds it…", like Kakashi, the man fumbled with his words, scratching his head and smiling apologetically, "you could say, he's hardened to everything but procedures". The blond threw an enigmatic smile, and diverted the topic.
Scooping his teacup from the table, he took a sip.
"So, how long have you been living here?", he questioned. Sakura lowered her cup, "fifteen years; although it feels like a mere day", a sigh left her. Naruto observed her intently, his features morphing to a frown at her displeasure.
He continued, "time tends to escape us all", Sakura hummed in agreement, "...either you kill it, or you employ it".
The girl frowned at his words, "wouldn't killing time be a waste?"
She scrutinized him, becoming suddenly wary and uncertain about the friendly man.
He took another sip, "unsuccessfully killing time would be a waste", there was an edge to his voice, "if you can't kill it properly, employ it". Sakura felt apprehension fill her, the strangeness of his words echoing her head.
He quickly reverted, laughing good-humoredly.
"By the way", she glanced at him over her cup, "if you would like to escape, there is a pretty little hedge to the left of us, past the garden".
Sakura peeked curiously towards where he pointed.
"…Not a bad way to kill time", he sent an unnerving smirk, that did not bode his cheery face.
Luckily, another guest intervened, addressing Naruto familiarly, and the two begun conversing. Before she could be included, Sakura excused herself – barely escaping. She placed her teacup onto one of the tables and sent a suspicious look towards the strange man, before returning her attention to the party.
She watched the men and woman engage in their small talks about food and fashion.
How very mundane.
She looked around for her parents, but seeing them conversing with Iruka and the other guests, she let them be.
Sakura drew away from the tables and laughter, her enjoyment minimized by the memory of her queasiness upon interaction with all three of the men her father required.
She moved into the garden, where a number of people strolled and chatted.
Catching sight of the tall hedges Naruto had mentioned, she absentmindedly drew further and further from the party. The girl soon become conscious of the fact that the estate was so unnecessarily large it could accommodate a maze.
Sakura smiled from a mixture of amusement and irritation.
She snuck into the maze, admiring the well kempt hedge. Turning from left to right to another right and then a left, she delved deeper into the puzzle. She walked a good thirty minutes, meeting a dead end or two, before finally arriving at a small clearing. An oak tree marked the middle, hanging over a bench.
There, the elusive Kakashi sat. He looked up from his book, raising a brow at her presence. It seems he was as shocked by her appearance as she was by his.
"You're a long way from the party, Miss Sakura", she gulped in embarrassment and unease.
Walking closer, just a little, she calmed her nerves, "I apologize". She looked around the small clearing, "This wouldn't happen to be the middle, would it?"
Kakashi momentarily lowered his book, and examined her. She shifted in discomfort.
"Where do you wish to be?", his voice was calm but there was a devil in his eyes, "the middle?". Sakura stiffened, "that would be alright". Kakashi continued though, "Or from where you came?" Sakura did not understand why she jerked the way she did, but the man in front of her seemed to notice.
She calmed herself again, "where should I go?"
Kakashi studied her carefully, "If you don't know where you are going, any road can take you there…", he paused, if only to mess with her, "but if have even the slightest of preferences – say, life and death –", he smirked as she flinched, "you should voice them".
Sakura fiddled under his gaze, but pushed through the uneasiness. Squaring her shoulders, she looked directly into his eyes, "then the middle please".
The man smiled, the same crinkle at the corner of his eyes, "it would be on the left – left the rest of the way". Sakura smiled, more honestly than she had in a while.
She thanked him before walking pass the bench and into another narrow passage.
She missed the smirk on his face.
The hedge carried on and on, and after twenty minutes she wondered if maybe she had been led astray. She sighed, her legs aching and her chest hurting under the tightness of the dress. Fortunately, it was not long before the narrow walls opened up into a wide clearing with a spectacular sight.
A cherry blossom tree stood in the centre, with pink petals littering the area.
It was Dazzling.
She had expected a fountain – the usual centerpiece – but this was far more refreshing; like a breath of fresh air.
As she strode towards the stump, she disregarded all else, unable to notice anything aside from the magnificent beauty of the flowering plant. Sakura felt elation at the feel of bark under her palm, a strange elation that she could not understand, but which revived her.
To think this gorgeous plant was her namesake.
The girl smiled, peering up at the branches and flowers.
"Why are you here?"
Sakura jumped back at the familiar voice. She spun around and stiffened, the hair on her nape rising.
She was facing the only man who seemed to terrify and arouse her completely and all at once. She gulped shallowly. Standing in front of her, once again, was Sasuke Uchiha.
This time, there was no third person.
His right hand supported a small pipe, stationed at the corner of his mouth. He stared coldly at her, reminding her of his previous harshness. Sakura had to remind herself that he had asked her a question, and was expecting an answer.
She couldn't straighten the slight crease in her forehead as she opened her mouth to speak, "admiring your hedge, I suppose", she bit her tongue the second the last two words left her.
He sneered, as he had the last time, "you suppose?", he spat the question like acid, "have you ever held a resolute stance?". She shrunk back into the tree. Her gaze drifted from left to right, swaying but never staying.
Her nails sunk into the bark, "yes", despite her exclamation, she bit the middle of her top lip.
He watched her like a hawk, blowing smoke from the corner of his mouth, "why are you here?"
She found herself hypnotized by the elusive vapor.
"Am I-", Sakura paused to study the smoke that exited his mouth, "not allowed to be here?"
The Uchiha glared, "you don't answer a question with another question", his reply dripped of derision, snapping her back to reality, "answer my question, properly". Sakura cringed. She could have better endured the company of both Kakashi and Naruto than the domineering presence and cruelty of this man.
"I-I was curious"
He seemed to accept the answer, judging from the comparatively calm expression on his face. "About what exactly?", in the same mesmerizing manner, he blew another cloud of smoke.
Sakura had to force back the scream of frustration, a pout setting onto her pretty face instead.
"The middle, I-", she cut herself short, placing her fingers over her lips. She received a brief, smug smirk from Sasuke, which was promptly replaced with the usual impassiveness.
He lowered his pipe and tapped lightly against its side, "And what do you think?"
She did not steel herself for the simple question, "I think it's", glancing up at the pink blossoms, fluttering in the wind, she smiled, "beautiful". Sakura did not expect him to remain silent as long as he did, nor did she expect to be caught in an intense and overwhelming stare when she returned her eyes to him.
Any words she may have had were lost under the gaze.
She was surely going to suffer a heart attack in the middle of a maze, under a lovely blossoming tree.
He put the pipe up to his mouth, a little too slowly, too seductively, "Why are you really here?"
Sakura had to fight the spell he cast upon her.
She frowned in confusion and irritation. Was he toying with her?
An unusual fire pumped through her veins. "I'm here-", she breathed in and let a forgotten, long suppressed, energy overcome her, "to escape your pathetic excuse for a party". She did not completely meet his eyes, but even looking at his face was an improvement. She exhaled deeply, relieving the tension.
He stared blankly. She heard him puff a few times and watched him release the smoke.
Then, Sasuke moved forward.
Immediately she regretted her words.
Her new-found confidence vanished in the panic she felt from seeing the man approach. Her heart raced and her eyelids drew back so her eyes magnified into dinner plates. She could not possibly have shrunk any further into the tree.
"a-ah", he was far too close now, a mere meter's length, and still approaching!
Once he stood an inch from her – far too close for comfort – he hunched over her, so that his face was near her own.
Sakura seemed to have forgotten how to breathe, contrasting her fiery state a minute ago.
Sasuke Uchiha lowered his pipe from his lips – she traced his movements with fascination and trepidation – and opened his mouth sensually, blowing the smoke over her face. She leaned back as much as she could, which was not much, and coughed. If her lungs hadn't rejected the strong scent, she would have been transfixed.
She forced her eyes open, desperate to see him.
He watched her attentively, taking another swig of his pipe.
Sasuke swept his left hand under her chin, bringing her closer, till their lips were a fraction apart. He observed her dazed expression, "A suggestion-".
He exhaled directly into her mouth, smirking as she chocked.
"Keep your temper"
When she opened her eyes again, he was gone.
This is a Sasuke/Sakura story, but trust me - it's not a classic love story.
The next few chapters will be darker.
Also, I'll be doing a fairytale anthology - keep an eye out!
Thanks for reading, review.
