Here is chapter four, people!
Thank you very very much for the faves, alerts and, of course Reviews :D Although I'd really wish all of you would leave me a nice review! Please! *begs* A simple word or anything will do, it may seem nonsense but it seriously gets me going more xD
Oh, and by the way, I've figured out this story will have about 10 chapters...I guess!
Enjoy!
Critical of your Love
And the more you try to resist my being
the more you fall for me…
Chapter 4: Time leads back to the Beginning
Finally the week had reached Sunday; the only day in the week where Sakura could truly relax. She needn't go to the veterinary, only check up at the sanctuary, which she already had done this morning.
The sun bathed the roads of Shinjuku in a soothing light, warming it slightly, as the full power of the rays had yet to come. The air was damp and smelled sweet in a way that annoyed Sakura's nose. Not many people walked along the streets, everything was rather calm like very morning.
The rosette leaned out of her window and took in a deep breath. She enjoyed the silent moment, the tranquillity that surrounded her. She had been in too much of a fuss lately, and it caused her nerves to burn to their smallest end. During the last two weeks she had felt like punching, assassinating, hugging, kissing and making out in one go. Hatred and love returned to their former place and bribed her from both sides. The only problem was Sakura couldn't decide which side was stronger, and which more tempting. She actually felt like doing both.
"Sakura!" She heard a voice call faintly.
Her eyes travelled down the window and towards the passenger path, where a woman with chocolate brown eyes stood, waving frantically at her.
"Oy, Sakura-chan! What're you doing today?"
The emerald eyed girl smiled at her friend, "Nothing! You, Tenten-chan?"
"Good deal! I just wondered if you wanna go shopping today?"
This made Sakura grin. Some time out with mates, away from stressy work and even worse ex-boyfriends was what she needed. Some time not to think, but simply to enjoy.
"I'm in! Wait a sec!" And she rushed back inside her room and grabbed some clothing.
"You saved my day." She announced as they entered the well cooled Shopping mall.
"Hah, thought you could do with some change of scenery. After all, you didn't look too good the other day." Tenten, for once, had her long hair down in two pony tails, and wore a nice summer dress.
"Yeah…thanks Tenten." Instead of continuing on that subject, she marvelled at Tenten's…girlyness, that she had formed over the years, "It's amazing what a husband can do to your attitude."
Tenten halted at a clothing shop, shuffling through a few blouses, "What do you mean?" She frowned.
"I mean, look at you. Remember when we were younger? You were a complete tomboy, and now…You're a proper woman; you dress girly, you look it too, all nice. And I thought you told me you toughened up." She began to giggle.
"Oy, I'm still tough!" Tenten began to blush, "It's just how we all evolve over time, I guess. And what about you, Mrs. Ex-boffin? You wore horrendous stuff back then, making you look more of a geek than you actually were. And now, I think you're the most eye-catching woman in this whole province!" She placed her hands on her hips, grinning.
"Don't exaggerate." The rosette stepped into the shop and walked in between different clothing, looking at anything that interested her.
"I'm not exaggerating, there is a simple way of finding it out is there?"
Sakura turned, "Don't even think about that. I'm not in for nightclubbing."
"Me neither, I'm married anyway, but I bet if we did go, that every single man in the pub would've asked you out or at least flirted with you, maybe just boring small talk."
"Anyways, what do you wanna achieve with this?"
"Just telling you how you changed. But even when you were a geek, he still fell for you."
"Yeah, but I guess 'cause he had no one else left that he hadn't dated yet."
"Don't talk codswallop, you were the reason he nearly went mental. He liked you for who you are, not because you simply were another girl. Then he wouldn't have stayed with you for a good 8 years!"
Sakura stopped. She held a specific dress in her hand, and now looked into the mirror.
Eight years…eight years…was it seriously that long?
"Sakura? Sakura!" She turned and saw her friend standing there, tapping her foot, "Are you listening?"
"I am."
"Then what did I just say?"
"That we knew each other for eight years. Sasuke and me, I mean."
"Yees, and after that?"
She frowned, "What, after that?"
The chocolate haired girl indicated to her left, now walking towards Sakura and grabbing her arm, "Look who's walking in the mall as well?"
The almond eyed girl looked about confused, but soon discovered a bundle or black spikes.
For crying out loud! Is he stalking me or something?! Why is he nearly everywhere I go! I have to check my showers, who knows if he hasn't installed cameras of some kind!!
"Sakura!" Tenten was pulling her towards the entrance now, urging her towards a coffee shop not too far from where they were.
Both collapsed onto the chairs, tired of the near encounter.
"I think he's following me…" Sakura managed to choke out.
"Following you? I thought he had a girlfriend?"
"He does, oh Christ, I hope she's not here!" Now Sakura started bobbing her head around.
"You've met her? What she like? Like those bitches he used to date?"
"No, not really. All chirpy and stuff, and I guess she's obsessed with me."
"Obsessed with you? Why the hell that? Doesn't she know you're his ex?" Tenten began to giggle.
"Nope, he didn't tell her. Nor did I. We've got kind of similar interests, so she likes what I'm doing, you know, work-wise and hobby-wise."
Tenten rose an eyebrow, "It's obvious." Finally someone came and took in their orders.
"What is?" Sakura grabbed the small menu card already on the table and quickly flickered through it.
"What does she look like?"
"Oh…well, long brown hair, slightly wavy, type of my height, slim, green eyes-"
"Green eyes?"
"Yes, and?"
"Oh come on Sakura!" She looked her friend straight into the eyes, "Doesn't that woman remind you of someone?"
The woman rolled her eyes, "I thought that too, but I doubt it now."
"Why?"
"Don't know…I mean, he got bored of me, that's why he left, so why would he want a woman just like me if he's bored anyway?"
"You know precisely that that is not quite true. I bet it wasn't boredom that led to you two splitting up."
"What then? Fate?" She began to laugh at her remark, "Oh no, moreover his job, his career came first."
"Sakura!"
"What?!" the rosette took a sip of her freshly bought coffee.
"Let's stop these theories." Tenten sat up properly, "Maybe you should spend some time with him, see how he acts."
"He argues." She spat in.
"Not only he."
Sakura took another sip, "But he provokes it."
"Not only he does."
"Weren't we here to not talk about this subject?" Sakura stood up, frustrated, "No matter what I do we always end up at the same point! See, that's why I simply want him gone. I've been perfectly fine all these years, and now he's decided to walk back into my life to ruin it once more!" She nearly screamed the last bit.
Tenten sighed, closing her eyes and opening them a few seconds later, "Sakura-chan. You can't make him disappear. But maybe if you'd know what he is going through at the moment, or what he is up to, then it could help you…at least befriend with him, so that you won't tense up every time he's there and you'd have life a little easier around you."
The female hesitated, then slowly sat down, "I just don't want to see him again." She buried her face into her arms, feeling like she should cry.
"How about we go to the pets shop?" Tenten suggested, "Animals always get you off horrible thoughts."
Sakura's head popped up like that of a small child, "Yes!"
It had always been her passion to go to the pet shop if she ever went into a shopping mall. Sakura would usually whinge and whine about how the animals shouldn't be placed ins such circumstances and cages, naming different consequences.
"Look, they've Shiba Inus!" Tenten gazed inside the glass cage, waving a finger in front of the tired dog which slumped in front of her, "Not very happy he is."
Sakura pressed her face next to Tenten's, looking at the doggy, "Hey little fellow."
Immediately the canine jumped onto his feet, hackling and barking at Sakura, whilst scratching the window.
"How do you do that!" Tenten marvelled, staring at her friend with glittering eyes, "You always manage to get any animal hyper and addicted to you."
"Don't ask me." Sakura shrugged, smiling at the dog, "Maoh, they should get the dog out of here, it's-"
"Don't even start!" Tenten complained, walking over to a puppy chow-chow that yelped on the other side after it discovered Sakura.
"They're going to start a fuss like this." Sakura mumbled, "They did it last time as well."
"As long as we don't get kicked out." Tenten gulped as even the terrier and the Schnauzer began to yelp.
She turned around and soon saw how people stopped by, wondering what the barking was about. The shopkeeper stood up too, now marching towards them.
"Okay, lets get out before we get into trouble." Tenten grabbed Sakura's shirt and tore her out of the shop.
Just as the pink haired female turned, giggling and waving at the puppies, she felt her body crash against something hard and resistant.
"Ouch…" She mumbled, taking a step backwards, to find that the person she had walked into was, "…Sasuke."
"Sakura? What're you doing here?" He wore his Hawaii-shirt again, and she had to blush, noticing how she had touched part of his bare chest.
"I could ask you the same. I'm just hanging around with Ten-" The rosette turned, noticing how Tenten had gone, "Ten…."
"Tenten? She isn't here." He rose an eyebrow.
"Well" Sakura took a step backwards, "what're you doing here?"
He held up a plastic bag, "Doing some shopping. Food mainly."
"Oh…" And awkward silence broke in between them.
"D'you, maybe wanna join me?"
Sakura opened her mouth, wanting to protest, but she shut it again. She hesitated, "Alright." Was finally her answer and she walked along next to him, glancing over her shoulder and discovering how Tenten peeked over the wall, waving at her.
She glared back, however, ignored the fact she was alone with the Uchiha.
"Where do you live?" The raven haired man asked in his usual emotionless tone as he went inside the supermarket.
"Small apartment…near the suburbs."
"Aha."
"You?"
"Right in town, I have an apartment as well."
"You live with Nanami-san?"
"Not really, she has her own apartment, but stays around mine a lot. In a way we do."
Sakura hesitated, but couldn't bite back the question, "How long do you know each other?"
"Half a year. I met her at a business meeting of my dad; she is the daughter of one of the men that attended.
The rosette nodded, "And you immediately fell in love?" She looked in the other direction; towards the fruits and vegetables.
"No, not quite. We talked a little that day, and she came over another couple of times, and then, yeah, we got together."
Sakura smirked, "Didn't take you long to decide then." She mocked.
Sasuke had to chuckle, "Right, pinkie, are we jealous?"
Sakura gawked at him, "No way! I've had enough of men!" She turned around again.
Sasuke looked at a few packets of noodles, then back at her, "Really?" He gazed around the market, noticing a few men's eyes landing on Sakura. A part of him wanted to turn those faces into a bloody pulp.
"Yes, really."
"Well, I haven't seen one man in here that hasn't looked at you yet."
Sakura rolled her eyes, "Does that include you?"
"It does, actually." He smirked at her as she arched both eyebrows, "See, you never thought this would've ever happened, right?"
"What would happen?" He continued walking along the different goods.
"Well, that you'd be very eye-catching. When we were teenagers you always claimed to be the ugliest girl the world had seen."
"Well…it was true." She began to curl one of her locks more, resisting hard to blush and smile.
"It wasn't" he began "You just made yourself look that way."
"Are we here to talk about my beauty or do some shopping?" She interrupted, knowing where this would lead to.
"Both." The answer was plain, and normal, but confused Sakura greatly.
"I think you need my help with something." She said as she turned to face him, stopping him on his way.
"What do you mean?"
"Oh come on, cockatoo head, we're not arguing here, which we did the last times."
"Can't I have a normal talk with my ex?"
"No you can't."
"You want to argue?"
"Yes!" she crossed her arms and frowned.
He quirked an eyebrow, "For what reason?"
"None." So I have a reason to be mad at you and just bugger off!
"I don't want to." He gave back coolly.
"Why?"
"I'm not going to act childish because you feel like it?"
Finally! She shouted mentally, "Oh, so it's me who's all childish here and you're grown up and logical?"
"What?! I didn't claim that."
"You thought it!"
"So we can read minds now, can we?" He glared down at her.
"Just admit it!"
"Admit what?"
"That you thought it!"
"Thought what."
Sakura took a breath, being irritated herself. She touched her forehead, frowning, "Dunno…"
"You even lost track of the conversation?"
"Yeah…I guess I just wanted to argue to get out of here." She admitted, not looking him into the eye.
Sasuke stayed silent for a moment, "You are a child sometimes" He shook his head, smirking, "How about the child and I go get an ice cream?"
"Sounds good for the child."
"So where is your girlfriend?" Sakura inquired as she glanced at her vanilla and raspberry ice cream.
"She went out with a few of her friends." He began licking his ice cream.
"Oh…" Sakura still stared at hers.
"Something wrong with it?" He frowned at her.
"N-No!"
"Why not eat it then?"
"Because…I like watching my food before I eat it!" she huffed.
Sasuke had to laugh at that.
"What's so funny?"
"Erm, you maybe? D'you think it's still alive?"
"Who knows." She stuck her tongue out.
"Are you trying to give me a reason to think you need a psychiatrist?"
"Oh, so you think I need one?"
"Maybe." Sasuke leaned closer and licked her cold refreshment, "It's completely fine and edible, Saki-chan."
Sakura's eyes widened for a minute and she felt her breath got caught.
He hadn't called her that in years now. He had been the one who came up with that nickname, and he was the last to use it. Occasionally Ino said it as well, but it wasn't the same when it left her lips compared to his.
"Oy, that's my ice cream!" She muttered, finally eating it.
"Well, you were gonna let it melt. I only showed you it's fine."
"I know it was fine."
"Sakura, are you desperate for an argument with me?" The Uchiha leaned back.
"No…" Liar.
"Well it seems so."
Okay, she was actually trying to start an argument. It wasn't like she did it all the time she saw him, but right now she was desperate to get out of here, sitting around with Sasuke. This tense feeling came back, and she was beginning to feel some kind of…admiration again, which she strongly tried to deny. She also wanted to get back at Tenten for leaving her with the Uchiha.
Just as she was about to confess to him, her phone rang and vibrated in her pockets. Quickly, she grabbed it, dabbing the green button.
"Moshi moshi?" She nodded a few times, making appropriate noises, then sighed and said, "I'll be right there."
Now pressing the red button, she looked up at Sasuke, "I need to go check up on the sanctuary" The Uchiha had already finished his refreshment and was leaning backwards, listening, "we've got a new income."
"So you have a sanctuary?"
"Yeah…didn't I tell you?"
"No. But Nanami did."
"Ah true, I told her, I remember."
"Well, would you mind if I'd join you?"
Sakura screeched inwardly. She was desperate for some time alone, to get her thoughts off things, but she couldn't say no to the Uchiha. She didn't know herself why. There was something about him, him and his attitude, that made her struggle to resist him.
"No problem." She answered with a smile, standing up.
They both left, heading towards the sanctuary.
"It's a hawk." Imai announced as she saw Sakura approaching up the hill, "His left wing is broken, and his foot is bloodied, but I can't touch him."
"Alright." Sakura increased in pace, stepping inside the old building and now looking for the injured bird.
"Wait" Sasuke grabbed her arm, "What're you gonna do?"
This time, they didn't flinch at the body contact.
"Erm…help the bird?" She rushed towards where Imai was leading them.
Inside a darkened room sat the hawk- well, half sat, for his foot was damaged and he had only his other leg to support him.
Slowly Sakura approached it, "It hacks as soon as you touch it?" She questioned Imai, who nodded nervously.
"Saku-"
"Sshh." Sakura turned to look at Sasuke, "Just stay silent." She smiled, then turned back to the bird. Slowly she neared it, looking it into the eye and staying calm and relaxed. As she was only five centimetres away from the table it stood on, she spoke softly: "Hey there, fellow, I'm not here to harm you, I'm here to help. Just trust me." Slowly she stretched out her hand from bellow.
The bird gave her a critical look, then made a slight sound before shuffling on his foot.
Sakura then touched him, relaxed and fearless, stroking his head and healthy wing.
And the hawk let her without protest.
"Now let's see." She carefully raised its injured wing. The hawk screeched silently, but didn't attack. He let her do what she needed to.
"Imai-chan, please bring me that special crème and the bandages.
"Yes, Sakura-chan." And the dark haired woman left the room with quick steps.
"How the hell…do you do that?" Sasuke came closer, being awed.
"I don't know. Imai-chan and I call it 'my magic'."
"It is indeed magic."
"Hey, can you hold the wind up like this?" She asked, looking underneath the bird, "I want to check something."
"Won't it bite me?"
"As long as you show now fear, no."
Sasuke did as she told him, trying not to show any fear through his body language as he held the wing in place.
Sakura looked around the bird, shuffled through the feathers and looked at its head in particularly.
"Female." She announced after her check-up.
"Wow, you're good with animals, don't you need a blood test to find out?"
"In some cases yes, but in this case no. there are signs that give away the gender."
"You mean like with budgies?"
"Yes, like with budgies, just different signs."
"Makes sense."
Imai returned with the necessary things and lay them on the table.
"Alright, Sasuke, you have to help me right now."
"How?" he was still holding the wing.
Sakura quickly grabbed the ointment and opened the tube, "Hold the wing up and hold her down by the feet; but please her healthy one mainly."
He did as she told him, which nearly got him bitten as he brushed passed an open wound.
"This is going to be awkward." She said as she ducked and got up in between Sasuke's arms. Carefully she placed the cool crème on the foot and wing, also touching around the wing carefully to find out what bit was broken.
Sasuke breathed in deeply, taking in Sakura's sweet, aromatic scent that reminded him of spring and cherry blossoms. He looked over her shoulder at what she was doing, brushing past her cheek with his own.
The woman nearly froze at that point, but concentrated harshly on the bird as she wrapped the bandages around her wing and foot.
"Good, we're done. Carefully let go now." Again the Uchiha did as told, his warm arms now going back to their former place at his side.
Sakura quickly walked away from Sasuke, picking up the bird carefully and transporting him to a small cage Imai had prepared.
Sasuke was about to open his mouth and say something when his cell phone rang, catching his attention.
"Yes?…Alright, no don't worry, nothing happened. I'm fine! I'll be right there."
"Who was that?" Sakura glanced over her shoulder as she had finally closed the door to the cage.
"Nanami-chan. She was wondering where I was. We were meant to meet up."
"Oh.."
"Well, I better hurry, don't want to make her worry any more." He smiled at her and walked towards the door.
"Yeah, you shouldn't make special people wait." She mocked him.
"True…but she's not as special as you I guess." He gave her another look, then disappeared down the hill.
"Well, when did this weird feeling start?" She questioned as she stirred her hot chocolate and pulled the blanket closer around her slim body. The had taken off her glasses and left her hair out, which curled up into a bundle of locks.
"I don't know…it's quite old now, but it grew over time." He replied as she drank a sip and yelped, for the drink was hot.
"You must know some kind of date. Do you maybe remember what had first caused this feeling?"
Sasuke frowned, going back into memories.
He remembered how she had worn that beautiful light green dress with the cherry blossoms and the golden belt with the long boots. He remembered the sparkle in her eyes, the emotion they reflected. Her hair had been curly and glittery.
He also commemorated the day he'd seen her exit the shower, by accident, when he was meant to bring by some books. She had been ill and didn't make it to school, so he had volunteered to bring her all the necessary things.
He didn't know she was just taking a shower, and as her mother let him in and he crossed the corner, he found her naked, only having the thin towel covering up her private parts. That had been the first time he saw her without her glasses and with her hair down, if wet.
"Maybe…" He had said, "When…I remember when I saw you…" He pointed at her, thinking about different events which had let this feeling grow and grow.
"Me?!"
"Yeah, you…It's ever since we're friends really. So it's because of you I'm going…"
"Mental."
"Mental." He repeated.
He still tried to consume the knew fact: that he actually loved her.
Sakura tried to sit still. She didn't know what he'd do next, but she was desperate to know.
He looked up and kept his cold charcoal eyes focused on her. Many thoughts ran through his head, then he got up and placed the mug in the sink.
"D'you…wanna go in my room?" she suggested shyly, not knowing what she was attempting with that offer.
I have played your game for so long now
It's time for me to reveal the truth
Preview:
Sakura turned her head back towards the boys and girls in the other direction. She followed their actions, just staying seated in the water where she was.
Is actually not too bad… she told herself, I mean…quite soothing…and nice…
She couldn't resist but to turn her head once more, glancing over her shoulder. She somehow…stiffened at the sight, closing her eyes for a second, then stood up and walked back to the shore, where she sat down next to Hinata.
"Something wrong?" The dark blue haired woman questioned, not taking her eyes off her book.
"Nothing much, just a little crazy…" Sakura smiled at her, now holding her legs and just watching the blue sky. Hinata gave her a weird look.
Well, what do you guys think will happen next? Care to guess in a review? B) Poor Sakura is going bonkers :( And how does Sasuke feel? And there's still her secret ;D
PLEASE please please Review people! Just leave me a message, anything will do, even a one word message :) I answer back! xD Maybe you'll get something =D It gets you going, you know this by now xD
