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Chapter 4
.
.
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I will never again receive your love
.
.
nor will I ever be needed
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.
and that's how I found myself all alone
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.
what was it that you told me,
back then?
She woke up the first thing in the morning. Her eyes fluttered open, showing the brightest emerald orbs anyone had ever seen. She stared at the ceilings of her room. She was lying on her back, the thick bedcover keeping her warm in the cold room. Her bangs touched her eyes as she blinked. She brushed her eyes slightly with her right hand. Turning to her side, she stared at her phone that lied on top of the nightstand sleepily.
She closed her eyes.
She didn't remember much from yesterday's events. She remembered waking up in Itachi's room. He didn't seem like himself as he hugged her and told her to let him court her. Somehow, she accepted; that sincere look on his face made her do it. Then, she took a shower and got ready for the tea party that Uchiha Mikoto had planned for them. What happened at the tea party, again? Her memories were all blurs and she couldn't recall what happened that afternoon at the rose garden. She sighed.
Other than that, she felt so calm. She hadn't had a nice sleep ever for years. This was the first time she woke up without feeling any anxiety. She yawned sleepily. She snuggled in her cover and onto the depths of her pillow comfortably, enjoying the pleasant feeling. She smiled to herself. This must be what a normal person would feel every morning. She wished she had mornings like this every day.
Putting both of her hands on top of the pillow and beside her head, she sighed. What was her plan for today? Well, scratch that. She had to remember what happened yesterday, first. Opening her eyes a little bit, she was shocked to find a tattoo on her left wrist. It looked like some kind of a fan; like an Uchiwa.
Uchiha.
Her eyes widened.
Now, she remembered everything.
She touched the Uchiha symbol that now had imprinted on her wrist with her delicate fingers. She remembered it burning yesterday; she remembered it giving her so much pain. Her eyes stared at the symbol and her eyebrows furrowed. She was in so much trouble, wasn't she?
The tattoo on her wrist was like some kind of a seal of her fate that she belonged to one of the Uchiha siblings. It made her like some kind of property. And even though she didn't like the thought of belonging to anyone, she felt like this was inevitable. Like she knew that this was going to happen in the near future, whether she liked it or not.
It must be because of the things Sasuke said in that dream. Sasuke had said things about her being his and all right from the first meeting. When she thought about it, she didn't deny or dislike the thought. But, she did deny her engagement to Itachi first, even though she accepted to let him court her in the end. Ugh, this was all too confusing.
Which one of them is the right one?
She didn't know. She didn't know the answer to anything. She was just as lost as a newborn, knowing nothing about the world happening around her. Her gaze lingered at the symbol on her wrist, still. The more she looked at it, the more she was confused.
You have to figure this out yourself.
The golden-eyed girl, the other Sakura that had been in her last dream said that clearly. It was a mystery; a puzzle that can only be solved by herself.
You have to choose him from your heart.
The thought may be simple to the ear, but she wasn't even sure of her own feelings. She was confused herself on how to think and feel. Her feelings were mixed on hatred, longing, anger, and love. All were directed to different people at once that she didn't know how to feel correctly. She brushed the tattoo, concerned. What was she going to do?
She wanted to trust, but she was afraid.
Her phone rang, leaving her out of her thoughts. She blinked, staring at her vibrating phone. She leaned to the nightstand and took it. She looked at the time on her phone screen; it was 8.42 am.
The caller's ID showed Kazehaya Wei. Sliding her finger to the right, she accepted the call.
"Hello."
The reply was quick. "Good morning, Sakura-sama."
"Good morning." She could tell that Wei was smiling from the other line. Her voice must have given off the fact that she just woke up.
"Sakura-sama, are you well?" His voice was filled with concern.
She blinked. It must have been because of yesterday's events. She suddenly fainted and gave everyone a shock at the tea party. She recalled Sasuke, Itachi, and everyone's worried look on their faces. She smiled a little bit.
"Yeah, I'm fine." She heard a relief sigh.
"You fainted again due to your low blood pressure, Sakura-sama. The Uchihas and Haruka-sama were very worried."
Ah. Her anemia. She totally forgot about that.
She had totally thought that she fainted due to the fact that her wrist gave her so much pain that she couldn't hold it anymore. The burning feeling she felt on her wrist made her cringe at the memory. She was getting swayed again between dreams and reality. However, these dreams were happening frequently that she was sure they weren't any coincidence.
They were very real. She knew that much.
"Mm-hmm. Sorry." She played with the hem of her favorite nightgown. The maids on her house must've changed her clothes when she got here yesterday. She stared at her blue and pink nightgown she was currently wearing. The fabric was pure silk and very comfortable to the skin; she ordered it. Someone from the family knew the tailor ever since she was a little. They made the best nightgowns and robes with the best quality.
Come to think of it, who brought her here? She spoke again, "Do you know who brought me here?"
"…Yes, Sakura-sama. Itachi-sama took you back. His younger brother, Sasuke-sama, was also there with him when he brought you back to your house."
So they were the one who brought her back. Somehow, she wasn't surprised. It wasn't likely that Fugaku and Mikoto would tag along, seeing as both of their sons must have volunteered to bring her back. And Haruka would most likely let her alone with the Uchiha brothers. After all, she was literally engaged to Itachi. It was normal for someone to at least bring back his own betrothed back to her house, right?
She was already calm about the thought being engaged to Itachi, and had accepted that very fact. She felt nothing; no nervousness, anger, embarrassment, or excitement. She just accepted it. Besides, even if she was against it, there was nothing much that she could do.
This was how she always acted.
Things pretty much happened this way. She'd give in to anything that her father or her stepmother had both requested. Her personal opinion never mattered. Not that she cared whatever she was about to do in her present life anymore. However, she decided she'd change that part of herself. She could never again abandon this life that her mother cherished more than her own.
"They wanted to stay for the night, but the doctor said it is best that you have your much needed rest without any interruption. So, they reluctantly left."
She left her thoughts and processed the information in her head. Her eyebrow raised in curiosity. She couldn't help but notice, but—
"A doctor?"
"Yes. Kabuto-san, the doctor that treated your deceased mother, came by with your mother's request. He checked your condition. His instruction was that you rest thoroughly for the whole week."
She wasn't one to care, much less get suspicious, but seriously. A doctor? Haruka knew from a long time ago that she suffered anemia, related to her mother's death. She couldn't sleep till late and she refused to eat regularly for a whole year, so her health condition wasn't stabilized. However, even though Haruka had heard of this before, she pretended not to take notice. What made her do now? Her curiosity was at its peak again.
Did it have anything to do with her engagement? Was it an act in front of the Uchiha brothers? It must have something to do with those matters. After all, Haruka was always calculating. She wouldn't take any action without considering what effect and advantage it had on herself. Her anemia could be a thing for the Uchihas to get worried about and Haruka would be the second person to be asked, after herself of course.
"Oh, I see." She paused. "Is there anything else?"
"There is one more thing. It's about your father." His voice turned serious.
Her eyes were clear and her ears perked, curious as to what Wei had to say. What about her father?
"What is it?"
Wei's voice was careful, as if considering his choice of words. "Your father was admitted to the hospital this morning. His fever from the cold turned serious, and it seems he needs to be hospitalized for a few days."
Her eyes widened in pure shock.
What happened with her father? How did he..? She never knew much about her father's daily activities, seeing as she never talked much to him. He was almost like a stranger to her now. However, this didn't mean she could forget his position as her father and more importantly, the last remaining member of her family. She clenched her hands on the hem of her nightgown at the reminder.
She felt an intense déjà vu. This tight feeling in her chest was similar to those dark times when her mother left her forever. The fear and pain she felt at that time was incurable. It felt like her chest was teared up into pieces without her consent, and she couldn't scream even if she wanted to. Her eyes began to well up with tears.
This time, she wouldn't let things slip her fingers that easily.
She held her tears back and composed herself. She was still in another person's presence; Wei was on the other line, waiting for her reply. She took a deep breath, calming herself.
Things won't happen the same way twice.
Her voice was low when she said, "…Which hospital was he admitted in?"
"The Everlasting Hospital, Sakura-sama. The same hospital that Haruno Hana used to be admitted in."
Of course. She couldn't forget that hospital. She remembered going back and forth to that place to visit her mother, Hana. She still remembered the scent of the building, the surroundings, and the room where her mother used to rest in. The memory was etched upon her mind almost permanently. Even if she tried to forget it, they'd just haunt back at her, coming back to her within her dreams.
"…Okay. Thanks, Wei." She turned her body to lie on her back. "Is that all?"
"Oh, I almost forgot." Wei's voice turned its normal tone, remembering something. "I must inform you that your friends have been asking for your new phone number for awhile now. Should I tell them?"
Her friends. They were around only because she was the daughter of the Haruno. They were a bunch of rich kids that knew nothing and do nothing. They'd spend days hanging out with each other and living the high life. They'd drink, go to karaoke, play the arcade, visit malls and go shopping together, or try different kinds of expensive restaurants. Anything to spend their free and allotted time. The fact that she hated the most was she was actually one of them, too.
She met them from his father's associates and she'd been friends with them ever since. The best things about her friends were they never took anything personally, and all the things they did was just for fun. They could care less about anything, so long that they could still spend money and have their own fun. But somehow, she wasn't in the mood to mess around right now.
She already had tons of problems happening right now.
She closed her eyes.
"No, don't tell them." Her voice was clear.
"As you wish, Sakura-sama. Do you need anything for today?"
She turned her head, opening her eyes. She stared at the large wooden wardrobe that was located on the corner of her bedroom. She had a plan in mind for today.
"Yes. Take me to the company."
I need to see something for myself.
Haruno Haruka's heels echoed throughout the large room of her office as she entered, the Head of the Fujisaka Company following behind her. Technically, it was Haruno Kou's, the Head of Haruno Company, office. But, seeing as he was currently unavailable due to his sickness, his wife came to take full charge of the company.
The young black-haired woman which now held the position of the Head of the Haruno Company, halted to a stop when they reached the leather sofa that was located in the middle of the large office. She turned gracefully and gestured to the older man to sit before her,
"Please, make yourself comfortable, Fujisaka-san."
Fujisaka Ryou was silent as he took a seat on the sofa. His face was contorted to a worried look. He needed to get this agreement going, for his company was almost falling apart. He was a close friend of Haruno Kou since their young age. However now, even though his company was in trouble, the new Head of the Haruno Company was fully taken by his wife. He hoped that she'd taken consideration of his good companionship with her husband in this considered agreement regarding his falling company.
But so far, the situation wasn't that good.
Haruka took a seat across the man; a smile was on her face, like usual. She leaned to the table between them and gestured her hand to the man, "Tea, Fujisaka-san?"
His gaze lowered to the tea cups in front of him. The fragrance of the English breakfast tea was inviting. Too bad that the man was too worried about the agreement to actually have the thought to spend this conversation with tea talk.
He cleared his throat, "I would like to get this agreement done first, Haruno-san."
Haruka lifted her glass of tea to her lips with her dainty fingers and took a sip of the warm tea. When she was done, she lowered the glass and put them back on the table. She put her hands on top of her thigh in a polite manner and her face turned to a fake worried look,
"I'm really sorry, Fujisaka-san, but I'm afraid the agreement is no more." Her eyes were sharp and cunning black as she spoke. "The contract is terminated. There is nothing that I can do that can be of help for your falling company."
"There is something that you can do, Haruno-san. Please—"
"And turn this company down a hill from its high-standing position? I'm afraid it's not possible, Fujisaka-san. I won't let something that disastrous happen."
"All that you need to do is just to keep the contract going like it always does, Haruno-san! With the way your company is right now, it will be just like a common liability and credit." The man was literally pleading, but Haruka wasn't one to differ.
Haruka's voice turned hard, "Yes, but that was before the situation in your company turn to experience great loss. The company isn't capable of restoring your falling company back to its previous condition. I'm merely keeping the company safe and sound, the way it currently is. It can't be helped, Fujisaka-san."
She stood from her seat and started to walk in the direction of the exit. If this was what the old man wanted to talk about, then this was just a waste of time. She had other more important appointments concerning the company's capabilities to lengthen its limbs known to the world. The loss regarding his company's dismissal was nothing. She'd cover that up in no time.
Fujisaka-san stood not too long after, following her steps to the door in a hurried manner. He spoke rather desperately, "Please, Haruno-san. Our company has been working for over twenty years. Please consider this once more."
Haruka put a rejecting hand on his direction and never turned to face him as she kept walking. She kept a passive gaze on the door and said, "This conversation is no longer needed, Fujisaka-san. Please leave immediately."
Her movements were quick as she reached the door and the two bodyguards assigned to protect her every actions that stood by the door opened the double-doors for her. However, she was met with another surprise. Her heels clicked softly once, signaling a stop of her movements.
Her stepdaughter stood in front of her.
She was staring at her expressionlessly. She was wearing a short blue strapless dress that reached her mid thigh. Covering the plain dress was an armless jeans vest. On her left wrist dangled several bracelets, to cover up the Uchiha symbol. She was wearing a Gucci handbag and her heels were blue, matching her dress.
Haruka gritted her teeth mentally. This situation was troublesome. Fujisaka-san was still behind her and she needed to get away quickly. On the other hand, she was sure Sakura had heard their conversation. Her face showed nothing though, just like the times they spent together. Sakura never showed anything in front of her, after all. She found that understandable. She smirked.
"Ah, Sakura-chan. Is it already time for lunch?"
She smiled at her stepdaughter. This could all turn well if she wished so. After all, she was in control of everything, including this petite girl that she called her daughter. Well, stepdaughter.
Sakura said nothing, still staring coldly at her. Her eyes turned to the side when she noticed Fujisaka-san came closer to both of their presence. Fujisaka-san seemed to recognize Sakura as the daughter, though said nothing. He was about to say another word when Haruka beat him to it.
"Gentlemen, would you please escort Fujisaka-san out? He no longer has any business here."
Fujisaka-san said nothing to her rude remark. He seemed to be giving up on his efforts to convince the cunning woman. He glared at both Haruka and Sakura. Haruka didn't waver, and Sakura could only stare back. She wasn't at the very least intimidated by the man. If anything, she pitied him.
The men quickly escorted Fujisaka-san out, as ordered by Haruka. Both women watched silently as the man was manhandled pretty roughly by the two men which were Haruka's bodyguards. Sakura glared at their figures. She didn't know Haruka had been putting her defenses up. The bodyguards were an inconvenience.
Sakura was the one to turn to face her mother and spoke, "I need to talk to you."
Haruka glanced at her first, and then turned and gave her the sweetest smile she could conjure. She said, "It is rare sight that Sakura-chan comes to me personally." She looked at her watch for a second. "Shall we talk over lunch, then? There's this new sushi place…"
Sakura's eyebrows were furrowed. She didn't want any of this nonsense. She just wanted to talk to her. No more, no less.
"Don't get too full of yourself. The office will do."
Haruka seemed the slightest bit disappointed. She made a sad expression, "Oh? The office it is then, if you say so." She turned and started to walk back into the office. "This way."
They both walked into the large office from earlier. Sakura walked pass the woman and sat on the sofa nonchalantly as Haruka closed the door securely behind her. She walked towards the sofa and sat on it in the same manner. She still had that smile on her face, and Sakura could swear if there's anything that she had always wanted to do, it was—
She smiled, "So, what is it that you wanted to talk about, Sakura-chan?"
—to wipe that smile off her fake face.
"What happened to Father?"
Haruka blinked, taken aback by the sudden question. So Sakura still cared about her father. She held the urge to smirk as she lowered her head with a sad expression on her face and said, "Kou-kun was admitted to the hospital this morning. He has been complaining about his cold for the last three days now. His fever got worse this morning, so I thought getting it checked by the doctor would be the best decision. I was right." Then, she lifted her head and smiled at her stepdaughter. "But don't worry, Sakura-chan. He'll be alright soon."
Sakura didn't seem to hear her last words of comfort. Her head was filled with other questions she had in mind. So what Wei said was true, though she didn't doubt his words in the first place. Did his cold get that bad until he had to stay in the hospital for a few days? That seemed a little bit off of him. She was really worried.
"Is that all that you wanted to ask me?"
Sakura lifted her blank eyes and stared at the woman she called her stepmother.
"What did you do to that old man, in Father's place?"
Haruka seemed calm about the matter, though. She ignored the cold tone of her stepdaughter's voice and said, "Oh, you mean Fujisaka-san? I only did what Kou-kun would do if he were here." Haruka then lifted a hand to her mouth and laughed softly. "Sakura-chan, you wouldn't understand such trivial things. It isn't in your interest, after all."
Unconsciously, the pink-haired girl's hand clenched the strap of her handbag at her words. When she realized what she was doing, she immediately unclenched her hand. She wouldn't get triggered by her simple ministrations. Not this time.
"Don't act like you're in charge. You are only taking in Father's place."
Haruka blinked at her harsh words. She didn't expect those words to come off her stepdaughter mouth, really. So she had the guts, after all. She gave her a knowing smile, her eyes sharp.
"I know, I know. Don't you worry, Sakura-chan."
Then, she changed the topic quickly.
"So, what do you think about lunch? You haven't had any plans yet, right?" Sakura turned her gaze away from the wicked woman, ignoring her questions. "Originally, I wanted us to have lunch along with Chairman Inuzuka. Kiba-kun also has been asking about you a lot lately, Sakura-chan. Are you still getting along—"
Suddenly, Sakura stood from her seat. She stared at Haruka for two good seconds, and then she made a move towards the exit. She couldn't be in the presence of this woman for too long. Her very being was enough to make her blood boil throughout the whole day.
"I'm leaving."
What was she thinking? Getting her engaged to someone was one thing, but to play tricks behind the Uchihas to get more advantages was another matter entirely. She wasn't like her. She couldn't, wouldn't play dirty. She wasn't stupid. She wasn't a double-timer like her. Just thinking about doing it made her stomach churned.
Sakura was at least pleased that her stepmother didn't stop her from leaving. When her hand touched the door handle, she froze in place when she heard that voice filled with fake sweetness called out to her.
"Oh, Sakura-chan?"
Her stepmother gave her a "farewell" that made her shudder. Whether from the cold air-conditioned room or the sheer evilness of her voice, she didn't know. She bet on the latter, though.
Her warning was clear, "I hope you'll be a good girl and serve Itachi-kun well. At the very least, you want to make your father happy, right?"
Serve the Uchiha? What was she, a dog? Her tricks were also so old-fashioned. Triggering her using her father, wasn't that too cheap of her? And here she thought that her stepmother was a high-standing person. It seemed she was wrong. Appearance could be deceiving, after all.
She didn't reply as she pulled the handle in a harsh manner and stepped out of the room. The atmosphere was already intense and the air felt different. She really couldn't stand that woman. Well, no matter. She already got what she came for.
An enemy's enemy is your friend, right?
The grass blew as the wind came. The sun was bright and sunny; it felt nice to her skin. She sat on the soft grass, closing her exposed legs together and hugged her knees close with both of her arms. Her hair blew softly on her face and behind her back. Her bangs brushed her eyes a little bit, but she ignored them.
She was sitting at the top, watching the children play soccer down the hill of the grass. They were having so much fun that it made her chest fill with envy. When was the last time she laughed at absolutely nothing and ridiculous things? She hid half of her face behind her arms. Ah, she missed those times.
She smiled, a real smile, seeing one of the kids fell and cried really loudly. His friends laughed at him at first, but then they came and comforted him wholeheartedly. He stopped crying then and laughed at something his friends said. She could see them clearly; their expressions, their laughter.
A friend. She wished she had one.
A friend that didn't care about her status, money, or anything else. Someone who would see her just for her. A friend that would complain at anything to her, say ridiculous things, telling different kinds of stories together, listening to their problems, and talked to their hearts content. They would have the time in the world. And then, they would become what people said best friends.
She sighed. She was indeed a lonely girl.
Tears began welling up in her eyes and fell to her cheeks. Out of most people, she pitied herself. She deserved all of this from the very start. She never made an effort to do anything, she simply let things happen. She never cared about anything; she never cared about her mother's feelings. She knew nothing, understood nothing. She promised to herself and her mother that she'd make a change and live this life to the fullest.
But, what could she do?
Biting her lip, she tried to keep her tears at bay, but they wouldn't stop. They kept falling, from her glassy eyes, her pink cheeks, and pass her chin. She felt an emotional blow after hearing her father's condition. She felt like she wanted to do something, but she couldn't figure out exactly what. She wanted to make sure her father wouldn't leave her like her mother did, but what could she do?
She broke to a soft sob.
"Sakura?" A male voice came from behind her sitting form.
She gasped, her eyes wide. Who would find her, at this place? She came to an unknown park to have time alone by herself. Now, out of all times, someone had found her. Without turning to see the intruder, she wiped the tears away and hid her face behind her arms that rested on top of her knees. She ignored whoever called her and pretended not to notice.
The man walked closer to her, his steps known by the sound of the grass. When he stopped, he lowered his body and towards her closed-in form. She could feel his breath on the back of her neck and her eyes widened in recognition when she heard his voice,
"Are you okay?"
She wondered why she didn't notice before that it was him. She lifted her head and turned to face him. Her eyes were immediately met with those onyx orbs that she didn't realize she had missed. Unconsciously, she said his name in a low whisper, "…Sasuke."
Said man didn't say anything. He watched her face intently, seeing the tear-tracks on her face and the slight pink color on her cheeks. Her eyes were a little bit puffy and red. Even though she'd just cried, she looked nothing less than adorable to him.
Sakura stared at those onyx orbs that made her insides calm. Her tears stopped falling and her heartbeat grew faster. What was he doing here? She could feel his breath on her face, and she quickly realized that he was standing too close for her comfort.
She put hands behind her back to create space between them, suddenly feeling awkward and self-conscious. She brushed her eyes with both of her hands to clear away the sign of her tears, but her hands were stopped by his. Her wrists were held by his large hands and she stared at him with her wide emerald eyes.
"Don't do that. You'll swell your eyes more."
Her hands relaxed and he released his grip on her wrists. He brushed the bangs that touched her eyes away. She seemed dazed and he took this chance to sit comfortably beside her and on the soft grass. She could feel his body heat by their current proximity. Not that she'd mind, he kept her warm and the wind wasn't so cold on her bare skin anymore.
She turned her head away from him and lowered her gaze to the grass around them. She said softly,
"What are you doing here?"
He was silent, but then laughed softly.
His laugh was warm and gentle; she couldn't help but admit she liked it. It felt pleasant to her ear. She turned her head to look at him again and he unexpectedly met her gaze on the way.
"I should ask you the same question. What are you doing here?"
She stared at him for awhile, admiring his face. She never thought she'd say this, but he looked handsome today. He was wearing a black polo shirt and black trousers, along with blue-black sport shoes. He looked a lot younger with casual clothes. Her gaze turned back to his eyes. Just staring at him made her forget her worries she felt just now.
If he noticed her staring, he didn't say anything. He glanced at her clothes. What was she wearing? The dress was too exposing and the vest didn't help much. He almost blushed if not for the fact he had amazing self-control.
She huffed softly. "I believe I asked you first, Uchiha-san."
He smirked immediately at her remark.
"Oh? It's Uchiha-san now?" She raised an eyebrow at him. He smirked at her. "But, I don't remember you ever calling me that in Elysian."
Her eyes widened. The dream—
"It's real, Sakura."
Her expression must've given away what she had always wanted to ask to him from the very start. Now was the time she had been waiting for. Now was her chance.
"Everything from the dream… is real?" He nodded.
"Everything."
Sakura wanted to ask him so many questions, but now that she had her chance, she was at lost with words. She hesitated. She lifted her left wrist and drove the bracelets away slowly.
She showed him his family insignia that was carved on her wrist, his gaze following her every movement. She said in a soft whisper, "What about this? What does this mean?"
He smiled softly at her, then said, "Sakura, you know the answer to that."
She was confused now. "What do you mean? If I know, then I wouldn't be asking you."
He gripped her left wrist in a gentle manner and touched the tattoo with his fingers. His gaze turned to look at her again, "Do you know what the mark means?"
She nodded. "I had a dream. Another girl that looked like me, came and told me. This symbol literally means that I belong to one of you Uchiha brothers. But, which one of you…?"
He brushed the Uchiha insignia with his fingers, over and over again.
"Tell me, Sakura. Who do you think first, the moment you see this mark on your wrist?"
Her eyes widened. He was implying that that was the answer to all the riddles? Then—
"Sasuke—" He put a finger on her lips.
"Now you know." He stared at her intently. "Would you keep it a secret?"
"Why?"
"It wasn't yet time. Promise me, Sakura."
His look was pleading.
"Promise me you'd keep this a secret. Until then, this was just us to know."
She wanted to ask him why did they have to hide this from everyone, but the way he looked at her told her everything that didn't need to be told. His eyes were assuring. It was as if he was telling her to leave everything to him. He would take care of everything. Even the engagement with Itachi, even with her dreams, with everything, all that he'd asked of her was to keep this a secret.
She could live with that.
"Okay, I promise. But, you have to promise me something in return."
The way she said it seemed somehow childish, but he liked it. She was starting to act like her old self again. She seemed adorable right now and he had the urge to pinch her cheeks and tease her about it. Though, that would break her chance at making him this precious promise. He chuckled inwardly.
"Sure. What is it?"
She turned away from his gaze, embarrassed to say it out loud.
"Don't leave." Don't leave me all alone.
He blinked. His eyes softened. Of course, why couldn't he guess it sooner?
She had said something similar in that dream, too, hadn't she? At that time, he had no choice but to leave her. The time given for them to talk with each other was short in Elysian, but for the place to be theirs for granted was already a miraculous gift from the Heavens. After all, no common human could enter and leave Elysian just like they did.
"I won't." His voice was firm.
She was speechless when he'd said it like that. She had expected him to laugh for asking him to promise such a ridiculous thing, but he went along with it anyway. Her shoulders relaxed and she had a look of relief on her face. She was easy to read like an open book and he could tell what was going on inside her mind with every detailed expression on her face. He chuckled.
He gave a tug on her wrist he was currently holding, and she immediately returned his gaze. He was going to ask her something.
"Now, won't you tell me why were you crying just now?"
She immediately turned her head away and lowered her gaze. "It's nothing."
Then, he caught her off guard. He knew she was going to say that. He released her wrist and pulled her by her hand, hard enough to make her fall towards him, but not hard enough to hurt her. The action surprised her as she fell, her hands on his chest. Their face was inches apart. Her face turned red.
"W-What are you doing?"
She'd never been this close to anyone before, much less an opposite gender. The last time she was this close to someone was her now deceased mother. She remembered the warmth of her body as she hugged her close. The feeling was similar to the one she was experiencing now, but this time her heartbeat couldn't stop growing faster by each passing second.
She made a move to push back and create space between them, but he didn't allow it. He pulled her closer, her arms slipping through his sides and his arms fell onto her waist and back instantly. She unconsciously gripped onto the back of the polo shirt he was currently wearing.
Now, she was squished between his arms. Her whole form was in contact with his, and she blushed harder. What was with this intimate position? She pushed to get away, but he was stronger. He leaned his head on her temple slightly and his grip was firm but gentle.
She was forced to stay still. His breath was on her ear. Her heartbeat grew faster. Her cheek touched his chest. He could feel the soft skin of her arms due to her exposed clothing. Her legs touched his. She could smell the warm scent of his and he caught the vanilla-scented shampoo on her hair. They both stood still.
They could feel everything.
She was the first one to talk out of embarrassment, "S-Sasuke—"
He sighed dreamily. "Stay still, Sakura."
She complied. She didn't find the situation disliking, but it was rather comfortable. His body was warm. It was the first time for her to come in contact with a man, and she surprisingly found this feeling pleasant. She didn't know that someone could be so warm and comfortable, like a pillow. She hadn't felt this safe being in another person's presence in a long time, too.
On his side, he felt like in a heaven. Her skin was exposed enough to let him feel the silkiness of her skin, but it didn't trigger lust. He felt comfortable just holding her like this. It felt like an eternity since he held her this close. He loved the way her petite form fitted perfectly against his. He closed his eyes. Did he deserve this, deserve her? She was like an angel and he was a sinner. He made so many mistakes a long time ago. Even now that he tried to atone for his sins, he still had the feeling he hated the most: guilt.
Sakura.
His fingers moved in a small circular motion on her back and waist.
"Sakura, tell me. What happened?"
Her eyes fluttered open slowly. She didn't realize she had closed her eyes in the first place. This felt like a dream. Where were they? Where did he come from? Everything just seemed to vanish from her, leaving just the two of them in this time and space. She couldn't hear anything else beside his heartbeat as her ear laid against his chest. She couldn't see anything but his black polo shirt she was currently gripping with her hands. She couldn't feel anything but the masculine and built form of his body.
For a moment, she had forgotten that she was still sitting on a grass field under the clouds and sunny weather. She'd forgotten that this man that was holding her in his arms wasn't certain in his intentions. He could likely be an enemy, but her heart screamed no. Her instincts were screaming at her, just like their first encounter in her dreams, that he was the one she could trust.
She gripped his shirt tighter, "My father…"
Her body started to shake. She was reminded of her father's condition again, and she couldn't help but close to tearing up again. She remembered her helplessness. She couldn't help but feel embarrassed against this unknown man. His fingers kept going on a circular motion to comfort her.
He spoke to her ear softly, "What about your father?"
She touched her forehead against his chest, closing her eyes again. She thanked him for letting them on this position. This way, he couldn't see her face.
"He… got admitted into a hospital." He was about to say something to comfort her, but she beat him to it. "I-I'm afraid… I'm afraid that… I'll lose him. I'll lose him like I lost Mother."
She broke into a sob and whispered, "He's the last one I have."
His eyes widened.
Sakura suffered so much in this life. He didn't realize it much until now. She traded her life for this. He had checked her whole background, such as her family condition. Her mother died when she was young, and her father remarried to another woman. To him, this was all easy to figure out. It was like a scene from a drama on TV channels and he could tell what was going on from the very start. However, Sakura didn't know. She was the naïve one.
His grip on her got tighter.
He wanted to tell her, but how would she react? It would be too much for her. The way she was now, she was near to breaking apart into pieces. He glared at the spot on the grass behind her. He had to move onto his plans much quicker. He had to help her.
"Don't worry, Sakura. I'll help you."
She opened her eyes, surprised by his sudden remark.
What?
"I'll help you save your father. He'll be safe and sound, just as you want him to be."
She pushed back to look at him, hands on his chest.
"But, how…?"
He touched her cheeks with his calloused hand. She didn't resist. He smirked softly.
"We'll do it together. I have a plan."
She stared at him, having nothing to say. His hand left her cheek and patted the top of her head. She smiled, her cheeks still slight pink. When he looked at her like this, he couldn't help but think, again:
So innocent.
"Give me your hand, Sakura."
Her face showed confusion, but she did it anyway. She lifted her right hand between their bodies. He slipped something from his pocket and onto her right hand, a soft click following after.
Her eyes brightened.
It was a silver charm bracelet. It was thin and light, it fitted her hand perfectly. From the center of the bracelet was a round circle. Dangling from the circle was a snowflake and a sea pearl. She admired the bracelet with her other hand, touching the snowflake with her dainty fingers.
She whispered, "It's so pretty."
He leaned his forehead on hers. She lifted her gaze from the bracelet to his onyx orbs, surprised. Onyx orbs clashed against emerald.
"Consider it a gift for trusting me."
Trust? Ah, he meant just now. She had told him the matter about her father and showed her honest feelings in front of him. She couldn't hold her smile as she gave him the most sincerest look.
Her cheeks brushed soft pink, "Thank you."
He smiled at her. She wouldn't know, but this bracelet was filled with his chakra. This way, he'd know if something dangerous was about to happen to her and he could watch over her. In another way, it was the second mark he has on her, beside the Uchiha insignia on her left wrist. Of course, he wouldn't tell her that.
He stared at her face. She looked happy. She lowered her gaze and admired the bracelet again. He smirked mentally. Other than the bracelet was from a famous brand, it was a limited edition. She wouldn't find it anywhere else. And if he knew anything about Sakura, it was she admired the simplest things in the world. He was also happy that he got to see her wearing it; the fact that she liked it was a bonus.
"You're welcome."
They stayed like that for awhile. Sitting on the soft grass as the cool wind blew, the clouds covered the grass field from the bright sun. They talked; for the first time in decades. Their laughter could be heard from afar, their faces showing brilliant expressions.
For something new had been born, from this.
A spark.
They were both too preoccupied with each other's presence that they didn't realize someone was watching them from the dark shadows of a tree.
He was walking through the busy streets, hands in his pockets. The day couldn't get much worse. He just had a meeting with the clan elders. As usual, they were comparing him with his older brother, Itachi, again. He was tired of their rude remarks. He knew no one could be better at clan politics than Itachi, but he thought he already did enough. He took care of everything for five whole months and no problems had occurred since then, but the elders just won't approve of him as nicely as they approved Itachi.
He sighed. What was the point of his hard work, all this time? Not that he needed any compliments coming from those old and good-for-nothing clan elders. Itachi always hated them, too. He could feel Itachi being burdened by their orders and requests. Sometimes, he pitied his older brother. Being the oldest and the next heir was just too troublesome. He had to admit, even if he wanted the position, he wouldn't be able to bear that much of burden of his precious clan.
Sakura, the past Sakura, had always said she had wanted nothing to do with the clan, either. Sure, the elders approved of her from the very start, seeing as she was strong and intelligent, and also the apprentice of the Fifth Hokage. There couldn't be any better woman out there. However, Sakura herself had said clearly that she wouldn't want anything to do involving his family's clan politics.
His family was blessed with great power and control ever since the beginning. The Uchihas were respected beyond times and always had their reserved place in this world. They were intelligent and they had self control; they had the perfect looks and appearances. They were blessed, but they were also cursed. All these things that they've taken for granted caused them greediness and selfishness. They couldn't care for anything more than their own precious clan.
He stared at the glass windows of the stores. He was passing through the shopping district, so he saw a lot of female attributes and accessories. He saw many jewelries stores and wondered for a moment. Itachi was engaged to Sakura, but they weren't official yet, right? The party was delayed the last time, so the next one was supposed to be this weekend.
That meant Itachi hadn't put any ring on her finger yet.
That thought surprisingly made his chest felt relieved. He couldn't bear the thought of his Sakura engaging to someone else other than himself. Not that he'd admit, but they were going to engaged real soon if he didn't do something about it, quick. The last one was just pure luck that Sakura had suddenly fainted when meeting Itachi for the first time. He chuckled inwardly. She must've been shocked to find someone that looked a lot like him.
Come to think of it, Sakura would be most surprised when she'd learn about his family and what they really were. Sasuke smirked. However, judging from the look on her face when he told her in her dreams, she'd trust anything he said and believed it.
His thoughts were interrupted when he saw something sparking from the corner of his eye. He turned nonchalantly to see what it was and his eyes widened when he saw a bracelet that would fit her perfectly. Unconsciously, his steps halted to a stop. He made a turn and entered the jewelry store.
"Welcome, welcome! What can I help you with, young man?"
The store keeper greeted him excitedly. He was a middle-aged man that wore a grey suit with golden tie. His appearance looked elegant. He looked around and saw the famous brand that was this store's name. He didn't realize it because he just stepped in unconsciously after seeing that charm bracelet. Well, he wanted nothing less than the best, after all.
He pointed the snowflake charm bracelet with his index finger, "I want that one."
The store owner laughed loudly and walked towards the glass where the bracelet was put in and took it with his gloved fingers. Sasuke followed him and stopped in front of the glass table. The store keeper put the charm bracelet on it for him to see.
"You have exquisite taste, young man. This charm bracelet is a limited edition. Its design was an original from Swrvsk*. The snowflake carvings are flawless; you'll find the bracelet simply just perfect."
He stared at the bracelet. The more he looked at it, the more it'd be fitting for Sakura. The bracelet showed elegance and simplicity on it. The snowflake was just like Sakura; how she was fragile to the touch, but she brought beauty to the world. It seemed the opposite of her image of spring, but Sakura always preferred Winter to Spring. She had said it to him in roughly like this:
What do you mean? Winter is the most beautiful season of all! Geez, Sasuke-kun!
She pouted and ran a hand through her pink locks.
Just because my hair's pink and my name's after that cherry blossom tree, doesn't mean I like Spring the most, you know..
Sakura liked the idea of seeing the snowflakes falling from the cold winter air and building snowman together. She was just like a little child; amazed by such simple things and always adored the nature of the seasons.
"Do you want to wrap it as a gift?" The store keeper asked him, pushing him out of his thoughts.
He shook his head, "There's no need."
He had plans for the bracelet. He had to put his chakra in it, first. That way, he'd be able to keep her safe, even if he's not around. His chakra would alert him if any danger came close upon her. And then, he'd give it to her the next time he met her, personally.
He couldn't wait until he saw her wear his gift.
Chapter Bonus
They were still sitting on the grass from earlier, chatting nonchalantly. Sakura was still sitting close near Sasuke, and he held the urge to chuckle. She was embarrassed a moment ago by their proximity, but now he didn't hear her complaining about it anymore. He smiled at the thought that this was the way she'd accepted his presence. They were talking like the old times; they'd put their guard off around each other and just enjoyed their allotted time together. No serious business.
After all, this all may seem like a new beginning for her. For him, this was what he longed for.
"Okay, my turn. What about… favorite food?"
Sasuke raised an eyebrow at her question. They were asking each other questions in order to "get to know each other". However, her questions were just too mainstream for his liking. He had thought about something…he didn't know, deeper?
"Tomatoes."
She blinked. "Tomatoes isn't an acceptable answer."
"Why not?"
She put a finger on her chin as a thinking gesture, "Well, technically tomato is a vegetable. Or, is it a fruit?" She shrugged, then sighed. "Okay, I'll let this pass. Your turn."
He smirked. He had one question in mind.
"What do you picture in a relationship?"
Her head turned towards him so fast that she felt downright dizzy. Did she hear right? Her eyes were wide, staring at him.
"What?"
He sighed. "If that's too hard for you, let me rephrase." He cleared his throat as she glared at him. "What do you see in a boyfriend?"
She opened her mouth to answer, but what surprised her was she didn't have an answer to that question. Now that she thought about it, she'd seen her friends date and have relationships, but she was never interested in stuffs like that. Would this make a big problem for her now? She shook her thoughts off. She thought for an answer,
"Someone I can count on, I guess. Someone I can trust."
That wasn't the typical answer, was it? He decided to push on her answer more.
"What about physical appearance?"
She blinked innocently at him. "What do you mean? Those things don't matter at all."
Now this took him off guard. He had never asked her about this even in her past life, but he was surprised by her honest answer. Was this what makes her different? Was this what makes him feel attracted to her? He felt a warm feeling in his chest at the sight of her.
He blinked. He didn't realize he was staring at her openly. She was looking at him, concern in her eyes. She waved her hand in front of him and said, "Sasuke?"
He pushed her small form backwards and onto the soft grass. She shrieked softly and fell gracefully, his hands keeping her from falling too hard. He was on top of her in a second. His face was so close to hers. He touched his forehead with hers and stared at her more intently.
"Sasuke?"
He didn't answer, touching his nose with hers. His bangs touched her face slightly. Their lips were inches apart, and she couldn't help but held her breath. Her eyes were wide, staring at his. Her hands stood still on his chest, unmoving. This was all so new to her that she didn't know what to do. She decided to follow the scream of her instincts on her mind.
"Close your eyes, Sakura."
His warm breath fell on her face and her eyes fluttered close. He leaned in, now their lips inches apart. He stared at her closed eyelids. She was beautiful. More beautiful than anyone else in the world. And she was rightfully his. He had to just make sure she was right where she belonged. With him, forever.
He took a deep breath and locked her lips with his instantly. He put a hand on the side of her face to keep her from moving as he licked her lips, urging her to open her mouth. She gasped. He quickly took the chance to insert his chakra into her mouth; his chakra flowing greedily into her mouth and into her body.
She made a move to push him by the sudden chakra intrusion, but his arms on her back kept her in place and he pushed more chakra into her body. She was surprised, he knew. But, she needed his chakra to fully awaken. It was going to take time until she did, so until then he'd decided to put his chakra inside her step by step.
Now was the first step.
When he decided that his chakra that was flowing inside her was enough, he pulled back. She panted due to the lack of oxygen. She put the back of her hand on her mouth, staring at him, surprised.
"What was that?"
He stared at her appearance. Her hair was a little bit messy, cheeks pink, and her lips were red from the earlier kiss. He smirked. He took her wrist in one hand and felt her heartbeat under his fingers, keeping her close to him.
"My chakra. I put some of them inside your body."
"…Chakra? Why?"
"You'll understand someday. Right now, you need to rest."
True to his words, she felt her body suddenly grew hot. She put her arms around herself, feeling something not right going on with her body. This was different from those times she fainted. She felt like there's some intense flow inside her body that she couldn't control. Her head began to spin, her vision turned into blurs. She almost lost her consciousness as she heard his last words.
"Sleep, Sakura."
Her eyelids felt heavy as they fluttered close.
"I'll protect you."
Don't let me go
.
.
.
Hold me tight, yes, with all your strength
.
.
And tell me we'll go on together
.
.
.
your hand in mine was warm
.
and gentle
A/N: The charm bracelet, Sterling Silver Snowflake Bracelet, belongs to Swarovski.
The song lyrics at the top and bottom of the story is from the song:
Departures~Anata ni Okuru Ai no Uta~
Departures ~The Love Song I Send You~ by Egoist (Supercell)
Now, as promised, here are the credits for those who have reviewed, followed, and favorited my story:
Credits
iamegoos and MewRose – the part where Sakura found out her father was admitted in The Everlasting Hospital. The hospital name is inspired from the song: The Everlasting Guilty Crown – Egoist.
Guest, Guest, and Guest (All Unknown) – the part where Sakura faced Haruka, her stepmother and found out she was dismissing her father's associates nonchalantly. Fujisaka Ryou is an OC, I created the name randomly.
Peridot Angel and x-tracutie – the quote Sakura said in her mind: the enemy's enemy is your friend. She was referring to Fujisaka Ryou.
Katelyn (Guest) and animexpercy – the part where Sasuke found Sakura crying on the grass field, alone. He located Sakura nearby, noticing her chakra signature rising up and down from afar.
Blissangel91494 and svetlana35 – the part where Sasuke gave her the charm bracelet as a gift for their first date -oops- haha I meant for her trust issues with him.
nightmarerabbitalice and 96bittersweetblackcat – The part where Sasuke saw the charm bracelet on the glass window of a jewelry store. The snowflake reminded him of Sakura that he was enchanted by the bracelet, just like he was to Sakura.
Kiki721 and Ringo23 – the part where Sasuke inserted his some of his chakra signature and normal chakra inside Sakura's body to mark her as his, or you could say that was an excuse for him to kiss Sakura. Whatever, right? Haha.
These are the credits from after I posted Light of Fireflies, Chapter 3. Thankyou so much for your kind reviews and support! Please take care of me in the next upcoming chapters, too!
Please PM me if I miss any of you guys' name. I'd like to put your names at the credits as my thanks and also a reminder. Thank you!
This fic has been beta-ed by Michlynx. Yes, I finally found my Beta. Thank you so much for correcting my spell mistakes and some grammar errors!
Upcoming chapter: Chapter 5
Who do you think will win, Sasuke or Itachi?
Which methods in capturing Sakura's heart that you think effective? Sasuke's or Itachi's?
Will Sakura have enough courage to strike back and do something?
The truth about Haruno Haruka will be revealed in Chapter 5!
Thanks for reading Light of Fireflies, Chapter 4. I'm kinda down because I don't have much time left to continue the story, so please let me know what you think about this story.
Review please!
July 17, 2015
cheraurel