Title 3: Of Darkness Past.

Flutter … flutter

'What the helz is that?' There was no way Sasuke would believe that was a ghost, floating in the classroom, fluttering its creepiness.

About to get up, his hand was pushing against the locked door to support his stance.

But this girl.

Sakura wouldn't let go of him and pulled him back down. She was shaking madly, like vibrating machine.

"Sakura. It's alright." He comfortably touched her head. But the girl was too unstable to notice.

Looking down, it was getting a bit annoying by her clutched, it didn't matter how much he like her closeness. Even if she was scared of ghost or darkness, for her to react like that was a bit too much.

He tugged the girl forward again. But she was too stubborn to move.

"D-don't." She tightened her grip, practically pulling him harder back down on the floor.

Sigh~

Hand rustled his hair. He peeled her hands from his shirt, preventing the material from tearing.

"Then stay here. I'll check it out." Turning around, he faced the door.

"W-wait. D-don't leave me." Sakura stood up to follow Sasuke, hand fisting the back of his shirt. Hiding securely behind him and they moved slowly, step by step.

Whoosh … Whoosh … Whoosh …

"Gah!!!" Sakura ducked down, her body trembled on the ground.

"Cheh." Sasuke appeared to be unyielding.

"S-sasuke … senpai?"

"Sakura. Get up. It's only a fake doll hanging from the ceiling." Calmly, he explained to the girl.

"??" Slowly her fingers moved from her eyes. "What?" She pouted as the hanging hideous doll swung around. "Why that … lil thing…" Rolling up her sleeve. Fuming.

"Some one left the door opened so the wind must have made it fluttering around." When wasn't he the smart one?

"Ah. I know whose room this is." Slowly remembering from the lack of light. "It's Kakashi-sensei's. He teaches music theatrical history. I used to have him. He'll be my teacher again next semester." She was happy from her discovery.

"Ah." Nodding his head. 'It's that perverted teacher. I'm not so surprise he has something like this in his room.' Sasuke walked over to examine the opened window. Sadly, it was screened. 'Good.'

"This must be one of his prop." Sakura continued her ramblings. "??" She noticed Sasuke by the opened window. Even being under the dark room, slightly lit by the hovering moon, Sakura could make out his manly profile. Strongly built, leaned but not too overly buff. Perfect.

'Wow.' He was gorgeous—for the lack of words to describe a beautiful man. If he was a girl, she would surely be jealous.

"!!" Sakura quickly diverted her eyes away. Not letting Sasuke knew she had been stalking him.

She winced lightly at the sound of his voice, salling out her name.

"Sakura."

She turned her eyes.

"It's screened. We can't climb out."

"???" Finally noticing an opening, she dashed over. Her finger poked the flimsy screen layer that was in use to keep the bug away.

"It's big enough for us to climb out but … I guessed we're stuck in here." Sasuke tried his best to sound disappointed.

"Let's tear it up!" Sakura pulled out a pair of scissors out of no where.

"Fuck. Sakura, no!" Holding the girl back by the arms, he struggled to stoped this crazy girl.

"Let's me tear it." She thrashed about.

"Where did you get ..ugh .. Sakura! ... That is violating school property!" Using his long leg, he straightened it to keep their distance from the poor window.

"No!"

"Principal Tsunade is going to skin you alive!!!" Hopefully, she would listen now if he used that maniac woman as a threat.

"Hm?" She calmed down.

"I'm sure someone would walk by. It's only nine something. Maybe someone is still here."

"…"

"You've seen Tsunade. She'll craze up if a little damage is done to the school." Safely taking the scissors from the soft hand, and then tossed it away. He was pleased to feel her composed body cooled down.

"…"

"What's wrong now?" He questioned her weird quietness.

"Can you let me go?" Sakura quietly mumble.

"I'm sorry!!!" Sasuke released his hold on the girl arms from behind. It felt so right. He didn't notice. Her body fitted his form so well.

Blush…

Both the raven head and pink cherry filled the room with crimson hue.

[…]

Embarrassing quietness lingered between the two. Sakura propped her elbows on the window stilt, keeping her eyes busy as a lookout. She couldn't dare to turn around and looked at the man. Her body was still flushing from feeling his warmth against her. She shivered … not from the cool air but the arousing feeling. 'D-damn … it felt …good.'

While the pair of emerald scanned the ground, a pair of obsidian kept his gaze fixed on her from his seat on the desk, not far from behind. Even a gentleman as he was, he couldn't help his urge of checking her body. Starting from the tip of her swinging little feet, up to her long lean shapely legs, her curving waist, long slender back leant on the window frame. Her soft tiny frame was tempting. Then her hair, soft with the scent of cherry blossom, he adored that scent.

Shiver. The little girl's chilling act went by noticed.

…

Plop

"??" Sakura was startled by the feel of a soft fabric was placed on her.

"Here. You must be cold. Let's close…" His hand reached out. "W-wait. Don't … Keep it. I like the breezing air." She held his hand.

Winced. He jolted at her touched.

"T-thank you for this… where did you?" She turned around to ask and noticed he was still wearing his shirt. 'Aw…'

His finger pointed up. "From that." Sasuke had stripped the doll off its dress.

"EH??" Sakura hung her mouth as she looked at the partially nude body of the doll. "Kakashi-sensei is going to tear up if he saw this."

"Cheh."

"Heehee …" Sakura giggled at his warm gesture.

"Sakura?" Keeping his arms enclosed around her. His fingers clutched the metal frame tightly. It was a reminder to himself not to take any further advantages.

"Hm?" Innocently response as she busily fixed the cloth over her chilly frame.

"I know it's normal for girl to be scare of the dark or ghost…"

"…"

"But you seemed to be … more …" Trying to find the right words.

"I have phobic of darkness, ghost story, and being trap." She bluntly answered his unasked question.

"EH?" Sasuke stood up, pulling his arms back from entrapping the girl.

Softly chuckled. "You must think it queer, huh?" Sakura kept her head down. A few flying strands of pink tresses were being tuck behind her ear.

"…" He kept silent hearing her story.

"Back when I was young …" 'Why am I am telling him this? But I can't help it. It feels so …'

Push.

"Ack!!!" A small girl with long pink hair was pushed down on the dirt ground. There was a small group of students circled around her frail body. Laughing as she sobbed uncontrollably.

"Move!" A harsh loud voice commanded the group to spread.

"KARIN!!!" The little girl saw her supposed savior, a classmate of her piano class. Karin was her backup partner in the country junior piano competition.

"Hmp." Karin, stood crossing her arm, flipped her red head around. She flinched in disgust as the pink head jumped her for help.

Grab. Pull. Push.

"Sakura." She snarled at the girl as she fell back to the ground.

"!!!" Emerald eyes widened. 'No. What's going on?'

"Take her away." Karin commanded the group to pull the helpless girl, dragging her to the nearby shed.

"No! No! No!" Sakura continued kicking, thrashing.

"What are you doing? Why are you doing this? Karin … Stop."

Throw. Close. Lock.

Sakura opened her eyes in pain as she was surrounded by complete darkness, even when it was day light outside. She heard the noise outside as the kid blocking out the door.

Panic, her arms and legs crawled to the door, pounding it nonstop.

"Karin. Stop this joke. I need to get to the train station. I need to get there. Maestro is waiting for me. For us!"

From the outside, she could hear. Karin hauntingly laughed.

"No. You don't have to. Just stay there and enjoy. Hahhaa."

"What?"

"How could a kiddo like you get the chance I don't! For five years, I've patiently waiting and practicing. Then YOU!"

She gave a hard kick from the outside.

"You came! How are you able to be chosen with just six months practice?"

'No. No. No.'

"This is only 5 years chance. I will not sit back and let an amateur child take it away."

'Karin, don't do this.' Sakura gripped her small hand on the door handle that she felt from the darkness.

"I'll take my righteous place. Then we'll leave without you to Tokyo."

"Hahahahahah!"

"And for the whole night I was locked in that shed. Until a policeman who was looking for me found me." Tears were running down her eyes.

"Didn't anyone say anything? They could have caught that …" "My parents won't let me. We owed too much to her family." She looked up. Her eyes were blotchy red. "Beside it was Karin who led me into this magical world of music."

"Huh?" Sasuke was confused, why was Sakura defending the girl who made her this way.

"She was the daughter of my father's friends. Who allowed me to play in front of Maestro? Gave me chance to be taught by him. To be his pupil. I stole her spot light." Sakura wiped off the tears. "Ah." She let out a long sigh. "Seven years already. She's probably still in Europe. I've haven't seen her since." Little tears showed up.

"Then again it's give and take. If I went, I wouldn't be here. Attending this school. Befriended everyone." 'And meeting you.' Smiled.

"…!" Sasuke was shocked by this girl. Truly it wasn't just her beauty that he was mesmerized by. It was her pure heart. At that time he felt really guilty.

His hand unknowing reached out to her.

Vrmm … Vrrmmm…

"??" Both jolted at the vibrating sound.

"What's that?" Sakura curiously asked from the strange sound.

"!!!!" Callused hand suddenly moved to his vibrating pocket.

Vrmm …

Blink Blink…

An accusing finger pointed at him. "You…!"

Hand reached in his pocket to take out the cell phone he hid earlier. 'Damn.' Looking at the caller screen. 'Naruto. Fucking …'

"Sakura… I … I …"

Dark auras blazingly blasted from her. Her eyes burnt a blue tint fire. She roared. "Sasuke!" He could only peep down, feeling tiny at the raging girl.

"You do have a cell!" Using her bag, she hit him, nonstop.

Pat. Pat. Pat.

Sasuke ducked, trying to block from her blow. "I didn't know." Stupidly trying to get out, saved him from the situation.

"How can you not?! It's in your pocket!"

Hit. Hit. Hit.

"I have a lot of things in my pocket!"

Slap. Slap. Slap.

"Gah. What kind of explanation is that?!" She couldn't believe she just told him her secret story. This man. 'GAH!!!'

Grab. Push. Sasuke retaliated the hits. He grabbed both of her arms.

.

.

.

.

.

I wanted to stay by your side longer."

Thump. Sakura's heart beat a mad symphony as she was pushed by this man who just confessed to her. Was it a confession?

"Sakura." He captured this little girl in his luring trap. Looking down at the widen eyes of forest green.

"Sen-senpai…"

"Don't." Leaning down, closer to the girl, he softly let out his breath to soothe her goosebumps skin.

"??" Her face was blushing mad.

"My name. Say my name." Damn those hormones were making him mad, taking over his senses. His blood pressure rose to a dangerous level.

Intertwined their fingers, freeing his other hand, Sasuke pushed the girl up by her waist, closing their gap.

Just a little more.

Sakura body felt as if she was floating. Her knees were weak by this handsome's embrace. Blush crept up her body. Jagged breath heaved her plump chest and made contact with his chisel torso.

So close.

"S-sasuke…" She shyly said his name. 'F-Fuck.' He couldn't wait, feeling her hot breath.

Just a tiny inch.

.

.

.

.

"Bleeeeeeeh!"

Punch.

Thud!!!

Sasuke's immediate reaction made him gave the haunting face a punch in the face thru the screen layer.

"What was that?!" Sakura with one hand hold tight to him while the other cling to his shoulder, she turned her head in the direction of his straight out muscular arm. Out toward the gapping hole, freshly made.

"Kakashi sensei!!!!" Sakura screamed out as she looked at the nose bleeding man lying on the ground. A flashlight rolled out from his lifeless hand.

"Uhhh…" The silver hair man mumbled.

"GAH!!!... Come back. Come back." Sakura called out as she thought his soul was leaving his body slowly. "Get away. Get away." Hands shooed the imaginary angels floating down.

"…" Sasuke just stood on the side, one hand clutching her waist while cocking an eyebrow, inwardly fuming at the interruption.

[...]

"Here you go. Kakashi sensei." Sakura held out an ice pack to the injured face.

"Hmp." The man grabbed it. "Do you know what kind of trouble you two would get sneaking in the classroom at night? It's a good thing I was the one who caught you." Keeping his professional act. But secretly. Kakashi blamed his stupidity for interruption. 'Damn. I wasted a good free show.' "You two should be in glee if it wasn't because of the crazy paper work I have to file."

"I'm so-sorry. I stayed after to practice. And Senpai was there visiting and I accidentally fell asleep. When I woke up, it was this late already. And we tried to get out but … the front door was locked. And then we thought we saw a ghost in your class room. But it's only a doll. And and …" Blushed. She stopped talking.

Sasuke quietly sat on the chair of the infirmary room, while Sakura did the explanation to their freakish teacher.

"Locked?" Cleaning off the bloodstain, reapplied the ice pack on his forehead. "Front door has been broken for a while. You can only open it from the outside. They really need to fix that and my broken window. You could have used the side door."

"What?!" Her mouth was wide open, hitting the floor.

"You should know this Sasuke. Your mother designed this school." Kakashi turned to the boy calmly sitting on the side.

"Hn."

"Whaaat?!" Sakura quickly stole Kakashi's icepack.

Throw. The extra hard ice pack found its way to Sasuke's head.

Thud.

"Hmp. I'm sorry to have bothered you. Kakashi sensei. Thank you letting me out. I'll be going now." Bowed, she gave him something before rushing out.

With another injured body following behind.

"Wait. Sakura. Damn it. Kakashi. Send the damage check to my house." And he too was gone.

Kakashi sat there with a big sweat drop. He only wanted to return to get his forgotten stack of test paper. Eyes glancing down at the bundle of familiar fabric, he screamed.

"No! My Juliet!"

"Sakura." He ran after the girl who was zooming down the center yard heading to the entrance. 'Damn she runs fast.'

"Wait." He was no less. Picking up his speed, these two were racing.

Manically running down, Sakura face was scary. She was mad. Not once but twice he hid the truth from her. 'But.'

"I wanted to stay by your side longer."

Stop.

Sakura halted her pace.

"Woa." Sasuke almost past the girl.

"Sakura." Huff Huff Huff… running after her was tiring "Let me explain. I was … I."

Emerald avoided him.

"I…I…" He stuttered.

Sakura turned to walk away.

"Sakura." He helplessly was trailing after her. "I thought it would be a little fun teasing you a bit. I didn't know."

She ignored him.

"I was about to tell you!" Grab. Turn. "Sakura. I'm sorry." Hands holding her shoulders, he bowed deeply in apology. After the bow, he looked up.

Pa-Thump. His heart just jumped a beat.

Sakura looked to the side, avoiding his eyes. Her cheeks blushed a bright color.

"??" He was confused.

"I…I…Know. You just want to …" Blushed redder. Sakura shyly assured him.

'Is she mad?'

"It's alright. Nothing happened. I'm going home now." Sakura quickly got out of his grasp and walked away. Shoulder hitched hiding her blushing neck.

"…"

.

.

.

.

Sasuke stood there. With his hands hung in mid air where he had held her soft shoulders.

"Sasuke." Waving his hands in front of the boy, Kakashi was amused at where his palms were.

Slap.

The raven was startled out of his trance. "What were you doing to the poor girl?"

Holding his face. "Gah."

Kakashi smirked. "So…" His perverted self mocked the boy.

"Shut up."

"Eh?"

"Hn."

'Sakura.'