Disclaimer: DNON
Survive Chapter 4
"Sasuke-kun? What's wrong with her?" He glanced at Karin before returning his gaze at the cars in front of him. They were moving at a slow pace; Sakura had run off grabbing a taxi without any word of warning. Karin was worried, something had happened between her and Sasuke and he wasn't telling her what.
She looked anxiously at him, fearing the worst, before whispering his name again, "Sasuke-kun…did something happen between you two?" His head whipped around to face her and his grip on the wheel tightened. He looked at her anxious face and he saw that she was trying very hard not show the despair she felt. Her red eyes were wide in anticipation. He sighed heavily and leaned over to kiss her check swiftly, "Nothing happened…"
She sighed in relief as her heart returned to its normal beat. She smiled softly, "Gomen, Sasuke-kun, for asking…" She didn't get a reply as expected. Trying to lighten the mood, she animatedly began a conversation revolving around the time she had spent with his parents the past few days. She watched for his reaction and was relieved when he replied with soft sounds reassuring her that he was still listening. She had nothing to worry about; she knew she was being silly. Haruno Sakura was just a secretary.
Feeling slightly jealous of her mysteriousness, Karin fell silent, bashing the pink haired girl, after all she wasn't the one marrying Sasuke-kun. She wasn't the one who had known Sasuke-kun her whole life. She wasn't the one approved by his parents. She really had no right to worry.
Sasuke-kun knew not to hurt her; he couldn't hurt her.
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Survive Chapter 4
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"Taki!" Sakura exclaimed when she opened her door, surprised to see him in her apartment, "What are you doing here?" Only Taki knew where she hid her spare key behind a loose brick in the wall.
He looked amiably at her, "Why not? After all my favorite girl came home…and besides I was in the area and I thought may as well stop by…" She knew he was lying. He had come especially to see her.
She wrinkled her nose at him, forgetting Sasuke for a moment, "You lie…" In that moment she had never been so happy to hear a lie. She wanted someone to cry to; someone to whine to, and Taki had always been there for her.
His eyes softened, "You're right…I do lie."
She stood in the doorway as the tears finally began to fall.
He stayed and listened to her bluster about how unfair life was, how she wanted to be someone else, how she wished she was born rich. He stroked her hair when she threw herself into his arms.
As her tantrum finally died down, she blubbered, "I don't want to live a double role." She looked at him with wide eyes, "…I don't want to live a double role," she whispered again. Taki looked at her with disbelief. He knew exactly what she wanted: she wanted to quit.
His voice was soft, "I…can't let you."
She sighed in resignation, pulling away from him, "Why…" She knew the answer.
He ran his hands through his hair, "You know why, don't make me say it." His voice was harsher than intended, shutting her up. She stood up and walked over to her window, resting her hands on the window sill.
It was a moment, before he stood behind her, kissing her shoulder. She didn't resist as he turned her around. She let her eyes close, the image of Sasuke kissing her entering her mind. Taki's lips descended upon hers and a tear let slip, falling down her cheek.
His lips moved against hers, his hands traveling up her clothed chest, stopping to caress her chest. He pulled back, watching her emerald eyes open, emotionlessly. "I'll see what I can do for you," he said, frowning as she nodded slowly, "I'm not making any promises."
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Survive Chapter 4
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Sakura was avoiding Sasuke, Naruto observed, slouching on his swivel chair. He frowned at the back of Sasuke's chicken head, wondering why every female was attracted to him.
He was called dense, but people didn't realize that he caught on to more than he let on. For instance, when Sakura walked in this morning, her posture was stiff and her eyes were narrowed. She was staring at the floor. Sasuke had walked in to announce a meeting for next week, and he wasn't blind; he saw that she had stiffened straight as a board for a slight second, avoiding his eye.
Hah! So much being unobservant.
He knew that Sasuke knew the reason why Sakura-chan was acting like that.
She fidgeted nervously as Teme paused to talk to him.
He watched his best friend's gaze linger at her for a moment as if pondering whether he should say something or not. Naruto sighed heavily, deciding on questioning Sakura later. He sat at the desk across Sasuke's staring at the seven stacks of paper lined, waiting to be looked through. Sticking a pencil behind his ear, Naruto whispered, "Fuck my life," before attacking the stack with a sudden rush of energy.
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Survive Chapter 4
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"Sakura-chan! Come to lunch with me?" Naruto exclaimed, when she walked into his office, to hand a paper to Sasuke. From the corner of his eye, he watched Sasuke form a small scowl of annoyance. Chortling in his mind, Naruto continued to provoke his best friend, "Please?"
Sakura glanced at Sasuke before nodding in Naruto's direction, "Fine." Naruto couldn't believe how easy it had been. A couple of months ago, he had asked her the same thing and she had scowled before whacking him, muttering something about asking his own girlfriend out.
She left the two in the room for a moment and Naruto's blue eyes pierced Sasuke. Growing serious, he told Sasuke, "Teme…I'm going to tell her how I feel," he waited for Sasuke to say something. He watched his best friend run his hand through his hair tiredly and looked at him as if to say, "So?"
"Aren't you going to wish me luck?" he asked harsher than intended. Trying to lighten the mood, he walked up to Sasuke and joked, "Why Sasuke! You look so tired nowadays! Is Karin-chan keeping you up at night?" he asked snidely with a raised eyebrow.
He got the reaction he had wanted. Sasuke's eyes had narrowed into a glare and without another moment wasted, he strode out of the room, brushing the girl who stood in the door with a blank look on her face.
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Survive Chapter 4
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It rained, so Naruto's plan to impress was washed away. He frowned as he sat in the cafe with a drenched Sakura. Surprisingly, she wasn't annoyed; in fact she looked amused as she glanced at her surroundings. He scratched his head, "Hehe…So Sakura-chan, this didn't turn out as planned…"
She looked at the café they had ended up in. The seats were torn, the windows looked like they needed a good cleaning, "No," she mused, "I guess not!" She smiled looking at Naruto, "Not exactly what I had in mind," she said disdainfully looking down at her plate of untouched food.
Naruto followed her glance and gave what was supposed to be lasagna a disgusted look. "Nope," He leaned across the table taking a stab at her plate, "Come on, I'll bet you 50 dollars that you end up liking this," he smiled holding it at her lips.
She glared at him, "Not on your life…" she mumbled turning her head away.
"Aww… come on Sakura-chan! Take a risk…Live on the wild side of life! Join my side!" She looked at him with an eyebrow raised, he continued, "You need to have some fun, fulfill your darkest fantasies with me!"
She choked on her spit, grabbing the bottle of water, taking a drink from it, "Excuse me?!"
Naruto burst out laughing, "I was only kidding!" Begrudgingly, she let out a small smile, accidentally brushing her leg against Naruto's. He gave her a grin before taking a bite of the food. She watched his look turn startled.
"Naruto?"
He spit it back out, "Come on Sakura-chan, there has got to be a much better place around here; you don't mind rain, do you?" She giggled and shook her head.
Naruto gestured for her to step out first, "Ladies first?"
"Oh, you just don't want to get wet first," she grumbled, stopping in her tracks when she saw Taki across the street going into the deserted building. Her heart stopped beating and she pushed Naruto back in, "Wait! I think I left something!"
She dragged him back over to the table, chancing a glance out of the window. Taki was no where to be seen, "Whoops! Looks like I didn't! Shall we head back? Sa-Uchiha-san may get pissed if we are late!" Naruto frowned at the stumble of words, but didn't take notice, rolling his eyes as she stood there dripping.
"Come on," he grabbed her arm and pulled her outside, "hmmm…Sakura-chan! Don't you just love the rain?" he turned serious, "it frees a person don't you think?"
She blinked at him thoughtfully, "…I guess."
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Survive Chapter 4
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Sakura arrived the building wet and tired. She walked to her office and saw a note asking her to meet Sasuke. She sighed and looked down at her attire and frowned.
She took off her heels and slipped on a pair of flats, wincing at the squelch. Holding herself awkwardly, she walked to his office, freezing as soon as the door opened. He sat at his desk, the glow of the computer illuminating his face. His eyes were transfixed on the screen; he didn't notice her presence. She stood in front of the desk, amazed at how fast her heart beat by the mere sight of him.
"Sasuke?" she called softly.
He looked up, startled and let out a small smile, "Ah…had a little fun in the rain did you?" he teased lightly, his eyes stared at her emotionlessly in contrast.
She nodded, shivering, setting off the goose bumps. Sasuke frowned and walked over to her muttering, "You're cold," she didn't answer him, but he walked to the conjoined room next to his, disappearing for a moment. She stood with her arms crossed, waiting.
He came back carrying a jacket. He tossed it to her, "Warm yourself with it," there was no amusement in his voice, "be aware of the weather the next time you go out with the Dobe…"
She nodded gratefully, pulling on the jacket. She was aware of the stare set on her. Nervously she pushed her hair behind her ear, "Umm…I got a note from you?"
He sighed and muttered, "This is inevitable…" He stood in front of her, "I called you in for two reasons, the first is in reference to the incident that happened…"
She stiffened, knowing exactly what he was talking about, "Sas-"
He held a hand up, signaling for her to let him speak, "I apologize for what happened that night; I take full responsibility for it, but please… just accept my apology," he said sincerely. He held his hand out waiting for her to shake it.
A lump formed in her throat; she was given two options, though she deserved none. He took the blame when she initiated the kiss. She couldn't speak; the words were stuck.
How could she just accept his apology when it wasn't even his fault? But how could she not? She couldn't tell him that she was attracted to him and impulse made her do so.
"Sakura?"
"I…um," she stumbled through the words, "Listen, I know it was the alcohol working, therefore there is nothing to forgive," she lied.
He withdrew his hand and nodded, "Aa."
He stepped back, quiet. "Ano…you said there were two reasons…?"
He nodded, "Yes…If you would like to, would you care to accompany me to Hyuuga Hinata's? She took a liking to you."
Sakura hesitated. Hyuuga Hinata, the heiress? Sasuke mistook her hesitation for discomfort, "Look, Sakura, you don't have to come, I understand if you are uncomfortable…" he trailed off miserably.
Annoyed that she was letting him beat himself up, she piped up, "No! It's not that; I was just kind of in shock…"
Silence met the room once again.
"Umm…I'll just leave now?" she turned, unsurely.
He grabbed her hand turning her around, "Please, I would feel much relief if you would just accept my apology." His eyes pierced hers and all she saw was honesty; it made her heart pang.
"I-I," she couldn't stand his stare, "All right, if it means so much to you, I accept your apology." She watched him let out a sigh of relief.
Wanting nothing more than to flee the room, she walked briskly out of the room, catching the faint whisper, "Thank you…"
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Survive Chapter 4
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Sasuke's honest eyes plagued her mind. Her heart beat guiltily each beat and she found herself cursing herself in the rain.
A heartless chuckle escaped her lips as she thought that this was the way she had gotten through life. Hadn't she used anyone who could give her an advantage? Hadn't she helped men cheat on their wives? How was this any different? She knew the answer very well. She liked Sasuke…no it wasn't just a crush anymore, it was something more.
She stared at the path in front of her as raindrops pelted the ground. Naruto's words came back to her mind, "It frees a person don't you think?" He was right. No one could tell she was crying. She was free to let her tears free.
Sakura hated herself.
She hated that her parents had left her to fend for her own. She hated that she lost her virginity to no one. She hated that in high school she felt the only way to earn respect was to show the other girls that she could do anything. She hated that she slept with guys. She hated that she met Taki. She hated that she was caught in bills from the past. She hated that she met Sasuke. She especially hated the last. Bitterly, she hardened her eyes.
How dare he apologize to her? He knew as well as she did that it was her fault. Was he trying to make her feel guilty? She tried hard to blame Sasuke. She did, but as she neared her apartment, she hated herself even more.
She saw boxes outside the empty apartment a few doors down and with a small sigh she wiped her face free of liquid and knocked on the door, curious to see who was there. No one was there. She turned back around and met an equally shocked face.
"Sakura?"
It was Ino. After years, she saw the girl again. Ino was everything Sakura had ever wanted to be. Ino was gorgeous; she was the girl who always smiled; she was the girl everyone had liked. Ino was the girl who had befriended Sakura…and Sakura stared at her with envy as she had done in the past.
"How are you?" asked Ino carefully, pouring coffee into a mug.
Sakura forced a smile, "Well and you?"
A big smile spread across the blonde's face, "Sakura! I'm getting married!" She held her hand up and the finger next to her pinky held a gleaming ring.
"Let me guess, Shikamaru?" she tried to fake enthusiasm as she cursed herself for accepting Ino's offer to catch up on what had happened in the last few years.
Ino nodded dreamily, "Yes! I don't know how we managed to stay together through high school and college, especially since we both went to different places, but a couple of weeks ago, he proposed!"
"Wow…That's some news…Congratulations!" Sakura smiled.
"And that's not all! I just got signed with the Hyuga's to model for their company! I'm only staying here for a couple of months until my wedding…and then…" Ino trailed off giggling.
Sakura giggled with her as the familiar jealousy spread through her body.
They grew quiet and the air was full of awkward silence. Breaking it, Ino asked, "So…what have you been up to?"
Ino knew what Sakura had done in the past, and had tried to talk her out of it. Ino knew the troubled life the pink haired girl had and had tried to help. Cautiously she said, "Sakura, it's okay if you don't want to tell me…just know that I'm here to listen as always!"
It was a lie…a big fat lie…an empty promise.
Sakura stood up and neared the door saying, "I work for Uchiha Sasuke."
Ino gasped at the mention of the famous name; her bright blue eyes grew wide, and she strode across the room and grabbed Sakura's arm, "The Uchiha Sasuke?"
Sakura smirked and left the room.
Been too long has it not? Oh do review!!!
Sasusaku779
I know that I didn't get to reply reviews this time, but next time I will, but I really would like to call out Soul of Aqua blue because you reminded me to update! I have realized that I am going too fast thanks to lovely QueenThayet12990, so I added the Ino scene as a sort of filler as well as the Naruto one! And you guys, I heart you! Each review makes me swell with pride!
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