The healing of a Konoha Blossom Chapter 4, a naruto fanfic

The Healing of A Konoha Blossom

Chapter 4

Sakura slowly followed the Uchiha to the car and stopped in her tracks when she saw what he stood next to. A beautiful black, sleek Lotus Esprit. She very nearly wanted to faint. The car was beautifully made, and came with a heavy price. She knew his family was made of money, due to his father's well renowned law firm. His mother was deeply infatuated with fashion, along with the Yamanaka family; co owning the Yamanaka line of top of the line clothing that was sold in high end retail stores.

Way out of her pay grade.

The state payed for her tuition and other small things, her uncle sent some money also, But she barely scraped by.

"Hey."

She nearly jumped out of her skin at his voice, and she looked up at him sheepishly.

"Hm?" She twisted her hands against her shirt in apprehension, and he sighed.

"Get in." He threw the door open and sank into the driver's seat. She slowly followed suit, afraid of leaving even a fingerprint smudge on the new looking wax job. Sasuke cranked the car, and it purred to life.

She fastened her seat belt, and the two rode in uncomfortable silence down the winding road that led down the wooded, mountainous area.

–

Sasuke drifted to a stop at a stop sign, blinker on to turn right on the empty, desolate road that led into the bustling town of Konoha. Instead of going, he threw the car into nuetral and sat back into his seat. Sakura eyed him out of the corner of her eye and stared when she saw him cross his arms and begin to relax.

"What are you doing?"

"Sitting here until you find it in you to talk to me."

She was flabbergasted.

"I have been talking to you, you idiot."

"You're the idiot." He countered. His eyes narrowed on her then, and she shrank back against the door, and started jiggling the handle. The click of the lock made her freeze, and she glowered at him.

"Let. Me. Out."

"No."

"You can't do this." She furiously rubbed her face with her hands, feeling the overbearing tension in the air seem to enter through her skull and form an aching pain within her brain. "You can't just leave and come back and expect every thing to be the same! It's not! It will never be the same!"

Her last words ended in a shriek and Sasuke stared at her as if she'd grown a second head.

They were both silent for a few moments; Sasuke staring at her with his jaw clenched, Sakura wringing her hands in her lap.

They could sit there for hours on end with no one pulling up behind them or driving past them on that seemingly quiet road that led into town. Sasuke suddenly let out a pent up breath as Sakura suddenly murmured, "I wrote to you."

He paused when he heard that, and looked over at her once more, his hand on the shifter ready to shift from neutral to first gear.

"Tch."

"I did. I got the address from Naruto. I wrote to you twelve different times within the period of a year. Then I stopped because I never heard from you." She stared down into her hands as she said this, her voice wavering.

He said nothing, and pulled away from the stop sign, turning right. She heard him growl low in his throat and she turned to look out the window at the scenery that flew by her side of the car.

–

Sasuke whipped into a parking space at the front of the lot and turned the car off.

"I didn't get a damned thing from you." He seemed to snarl. Sakura practically threw off her seat belt, wincing as it smacked the area above her seat.

"You're calling me a liar?"

"Maybe." He countered, leaning toward her. In the sudden blinding fury that overtook her senses, she didn't realize how close they'd become. The sat twisted in their seats to face each other, barely inches apart. She could see his nostrils flaring as he breathed heavily, deep pools of onyx fixed onto her face.

No, lower, She thought.

Her brow furrowed in confusion. Sasuke's right hand gripped the seat above her shoulder, knuckles white.

Then, someone stood at Sasuke's side of the car, face smashed against the window, cheeks blown up with air and tongue against the clean glass.

Naruto Uzumaki made an odd sound from deep in his throat, and Sasuke turned to him and lost it.

He threw the door open and the Uzumaki fell to the ground in a heap of laughter. Sasuke grabbed him and for good measure tossed him another four or five feet, and Sakura shakily got out of the car.

Was he staring at my mouth? She thought, her face turning a light shade of pink.

Sasuke looked back at her, seemingly calmer now, and she blushed a deeper red. He quickly looked away, grabbing his blonde haired friend and helping him to his feet a few feet away.

"Sakura!"

Said girl turned at the voice, and Ino Yamanaka jogged over to her, long hair swaying in the breeze from her pony tail. Her bright blue eyes twinkled in merriment as her eyes landed on the pink haired young woman in front of her.

"Daddy just gave me a good amount of money for making good grades this semester. Honor roll, baby!" She casually looped an arm around the rosette's waist. "Let's enjoy our little shopping spree." A winsome smile spread over the blondes face and Sakura mumbled something under her breath about not having any money to spend.

"Nonsense!" Ino practically yelled, gaining the two boy's attention once more. "We need to get you something sexy."

Sakura, looking mortified, caught Sasuke staring after her once more as the blond proceeded to drag her through the maize of cars in the parking lot of the mall.

–

A few hours later...

–

"Don't worry, Sasuke, I'm sure Ino won't go too crazy." Naruto yelled loudly across the table in the crowded dining area. Choji Akamichi and Shikamaru Naara sat next to Sasuke, watching Naruto affectionately feed Hinata with embarrassed and disgusted looks on their faces. Sasuke glared over at him and pushed his food around on his plate. He had other things on his mind. Naruto had his arm thrown over Hinata's shoulders, leaning against her as he slowly pushed a piece of sweet and sour chicken into her mouth.

Sasuke slumped over and growled.

"Get a room. Hell, get the fuck away from me." Naruto slyly grinned and pulled Hinata closer to his side and kissed her on the cheek.

"It's not my fault you're jealous, Sasuke. Maybe if you'd tell her the truth-"

"Hey guys! We're-" Ino yelled, and stomped her foot in anger as they came up behind Naruto and Hinata. "Ya'll were supposed to wait for us. I'm starving!" She turned to the rosette beside her. "Shopping burns a lot of calories, huh Sak?" She smiled brightly and Sakura blushed red, giving a slight smile herself. Sasuke leaned back against the chair and looked over at the rosette. She sported at least six heavy bags that looked to be stuffed with clothing. Sasuke's brow furrowed.

There was no telling what Ino talked her into buying. He pushed a chair back that was next to him in the crowded dining hall and nodded in her direction. She sat down, dropping the heavy bags to her left and scooted up to the table. Suddenly a young woman walked up to their rectangular table with an armful of plates. She placed a steaming plate of food in front of Sakura, Ino, Choji and Shikamaru.

"Oh, wow, Thanks Shikamaru!" Ino exclaimed, looking down at the delicious food before her. "You're such a great guy!"

"Uhuh." Shikamaru agreed monotonously, but agreed none the less. He smiled, and Ino threw her arms around the young man next to her and smacked his lips with her own. He discreetly gave the lady that served the food a thumbs up sign and whispered, "Perfect timing! Better late then ever!"

Sasuke snorted next to Sakura and she turned to see him smirking as he pushed his food around his place.

Sakura felt like the odd man out.

She looked down at the steaming plate of delicious smelling food, and she froze.

In her mind, she thought, it's so stupid to be upset over food at the same time her brain registered it. Her mother's favorite dish to make. Sesame chicken, steamed vegetables and onigiri. She hadn't had it since that horrible day. She refused to touch the stuff.

Her eyes welled with tears and she stood quickly, knocking the metal chair she sat in to the floor with a loud, metallic bang. Sasuke looked up at her, brow arched, seeing her panicked look. Naruto looked down at what she was staring at and cursed loudly.

"Damn it, Sasuke, you dumbass!"

Sakura turned and ran.

Everyone else jumped up to go after her, but Sasuke waved a hand and ran after her.

–

By the time she got outside on the west side of the mall, she'd managed to attract a lot of attention. She couldn't hold the tears back. They flowed freely down her face, and she didn't stop running until she reached the sidewalk that led down the busy street and away from the mall.

"Sakura!"

She walked briskly now that she heard him call her name. She held a hand at the painful stab in her ribs on the right side hearing him call her again, closer this time. She picked up her pace once more to run, but tripped suddenly on a crack in the sidewalk. She closed her eyes as she braced for the hard impact of her body meeting the ground, but it never came.

She slowly opened her eyes, dimly registering the fact that there was a pair of long, well muscled arms around her torso and chest, holding her inches from the cement. She was pulled effortlessly upright and to her feet. She looked up to see Sasuke staring down at her with what looked to be concern etched into his usually empty onyx orbs.

"Leave me alone, Sasuke. Go away!" She turned to walk away when he let his arms drop from around her, but his large hand closed around her wrist. He pulled her back and she raised a hand to slap him, but he caught her other wrist with his free hand and pulled her closer to him.

"Can't you see I want nothing to do with you?" She yelled into his face, gaining the attention of people that passed by the on the street. Cars even slowed to see the drama unfold on the street, but she didn't care. It seemed as though Sasuke didn't either, because he made no move to make her shut up. "You left! I heard nothing from you in four years and you suddenly show up and try to worm your way back in the circle we all once had! Go away! I hate you!"

Sasuke seemed to flinch back at those three words, and for some odd reason she felt satisfied. He gets to feel at least an ounce of the pain I went through, She thought.

"You weren't here, Sasuke. I had no one...Naruto tried, but he...he couldn't...Ino moved to go to modeling school..." Sakura blubbered on, then came to her senses when she leaned into the Uchiha's now soaking wet, tear soaked long sleeved t shirt. She shoved him away and turned to run again.

"Sakura, stop!" He yelled, but she tripped again and fell face first to the cement.

–

"Sit still, damn it." He ordered, fixing her with an obsidian glare. "You're lucky you don't need stitches." Sakura tried to sit back and relax on the bench that Sasuke sat her on, but the burning pain from her deeply scratched hands knees and forehead made her whimper.

"It's you're fault..." She murmured, wiping her tear stained face with her free arm as Sasuke cleaned her other hand with a cotton ball soaked in alcohol.

"You're the one that suddenly ran off like that. I just followed to see what the hell your problem was." She looked back down at his hands that gently held her wrist, and her hard gaze softened.

"I...I'm sorry." She murmured. Sasuke stopped what he was doing and looked up at her. She pulled her hand back into her lap, wincing at the stinging pain. "I guess...Naruto didn't tell you..."

"When it comes to you, Naruto doesn't tell me a damned thing."

"He's just protecting me." She answered, trying to justify Naruto's lack of disclosure.

"Hn."

"Two weeks after you left...mom and dad got into a bad car accident." She murmured. Sasuke stayed where he was, squatting in front of where she sat, visibly stiffening. "They...they were both hurt really bad. They'd both stayed late at the bakery to make me sesame chicken and a cake for my birthday...because they were going on a cruise that weekend on the twenty eighth..." She sniffled loudly, feeling the tears coming on once more. "I was the only living relative...I...I had to make the decision to take them off of life support."

She sobbed, covering her face with her hands, and Sasuke didn't move for a moment as he let his mind process the information he just gathered.

"Ah...Shit." His arms suddenly wrapped around her, pulling her to him.

It only made her cry all the harder.

Later...

They walked down the ¼ mile long pier that went further out into the ocean, Sasuke with his hands shoved into his back pockets, Sakura with her arms wrapped around her middle. They made small talk, sporadic conversations about nothing and everything. There were a few fishermen sitting on the end of the pier, trying to make a big catch for the evening, but they payed them no mind. The sun was slowly sinking below the water, the sky and the sea seeming to melt together. Sakura leaned against the railing and looked below them to watch the seawater splash around the large braces that held them up over the deep water.

"Naruto couldn't protect me." She suddenly said, making Sasuke look at her with a curious expression. She sighed, letting her arms drop from around her stomach. "When you left, the bullying got worse. It's...tampered down a little bit now and days, but people still know me as forehead girl, billboard brow...mouse..."

Sasuke said nothing. He just stared at her. She ran a hand through her pink locks, but they just blew back into her face as the wind blew at her back once more. "Ino really helped when she got back from modeling school. Naruto helped somewhat, but a lot of people knew how to work around that, since we only have two classes together."

"Hn." He started shrugging out of his jacket, and handed it to her. She looked down at it and after a moment of hesitation she took it and put it on. His masculine yet pleasant scent surrounded her, and she was instantly warmer. It wasn't snowing down here below the mountain, but it was still cold winter weather.

Sakura pressed her lips together and looked down at her feet. "I imagine everyone is wondering what happened."

"Aa." He nodded to her, agreeing with her that it was time to get back. As she came up beside him, he gently put a hand on her arm. She turned to look at him, and he gave her a solemn expression. "I didn't leave because I had a choice. If I knew...what was to come...I would've stayed to be here for you." Both of their faces took on a red stain, and her eyes widened at the confession of sorts. "I'm...I'm sorry that I wasn't here."

"You're here now, right...?"

"Aa." He smiled warmly at the rosette, enjoying the rare smile she suddenly returned. "If anyone gives you any problems...let me know and I will take care of it."

Her brow furrowed in confusion, and she stared at him for a moment before nodding. He placed a hand at the small of her back and walked beside her as they slowly walked back to the shopping center.

A few days later...

Sakura finally had the time after taking the second semester tests at the end of the 9 weeks term to help Genma in the library as she promised that she would. Every year when she had the time, she assisted the man by returning the books to their proper places, so he could manage other necessities. Naruto barely passed, thanks to her and Sasuke's tutelage, she and Sasuke, as usual passed with flying colors.

Their history project went well also, and without incident (Without her killing Lee after all of his professions of love and destiny and the Uchiha and Lee killing each other; because it came pretty close)

She bent down to gather a few books in her arms. Then turned to replaced the newly returned books back onto the shelf. Suddenly someone slapped the books out of her hand, and they fell to the floor with a loud thud.

A pretty blond was standing in front of her with a mean look on her face. The evil grin on her face twisted her beautiful features, making her look like someone out of a rocky horror picture show. Her doe brown eyes were narrowed on the slightly shorter rosette that stood before her.

"Hey billboard brow." She sneered, and Sakura simply stared up at her.

"Alyssa..." She mumbled, bending down to pick the books back up. "To what do I owe the honor...?"

Alyssa's eyes seemed to flame, and she scowled. "You need to stay away from Sasuke." She put her hands on her hips and Sakura wanted to laugh. "I saw you two walking around like old pals at the pier. You'd better quit playing the little games your playing or you might just get burned."

"Is that a threat now?" Sakura countered, her temper rising. She fought reason, but reason be damned if this little hussy was going to threaten her over nothing.

"It's a problem, little mouse. You..." Alyssa jabbed her fingers into Sakura's collar bone. "Need to leave Sasuke alone. You selfish little bitch...you're making him stay with you instead of with his real friends."

"I-"

"Sakura." Sasuke walked around the corner to her rear, staring Alyssa down. "Am I interrupting something...?" He had a book bag that looked to be laden with books and other things, and he let it fall to the ground. His Gakuran was unbuttoned, the top of his shirt disheveled and parted at the top, his tie undone and hanging from his neck loosely. Both girls before him stared, but Alyssa was first to recover as she remembered why she was there.

"N-no, Sasuke-kun." She smiled, facial expression changing to a beautiful, fake mask. "I was just asking billboard brow here where a certain book was. Right?" Alyssa fixed Sakura with her gaze and Sakura merely bent down without answering and gathered the books on the floor. Sasuke watched silently, crossing his arms over his chest.

Alyssa made a harrumphing noise and twirled on her foot to walk away.

"Hey, Alyssa...?" Sasuke suddenly said loudly, and the girl turned back toward the Uchiha with a dreamy eyed look on her face. Sakura wanted to puke. She dropped her books again in disgust. "Make sure you don't make promises to people that you can't keep." Alyssa's face fell, and she turned back around, a little less gracefully, and left. The library door slammed shut, and Sakura muffled a giggle.

"I never realized that someone like that could be such a bitch." Sasuke muttered.

"She's one of the main ones." Sakura murmured, bending down to her hands and knees to gather the hard bound books. He sank down to one knee and picked up a couple also and helped her place them back onto the shelf.

Genma poked his head around the corner a few seconds later with a confused expression on his face. "Hey what was that loud noise?"

Before Sakura could answer, Sasuke interjected. "I think that girl Alyssa left so mad that she forgot to open the door to walk out."

Sakura covered her mouth as she leaned against the book case at her side, trying not to laugh.

–

"Hey Sakura!"

The rosette turned as she heard her name, squinting against the glare of the sun. It was another beautiful, yet chilly day, but soon those days would be long since passed. Naruto and Sasuke were leaning on the brick stairwell that led up the to the front entrance of the school; the blonde with his arm yet again wrapped around his lavender haired girlfriend, and Sasuke standing alone looking bored and annoyed. They were all still clad in their school uniforms, waiting to go up to their dorms and change for the day off.

It'd been two weeks since Ino took Sakura shopping, so Ino finally took initiative and dragged Sakura to her ancient but brand new looking Ferrari enzo and made her carry her bags of new clothing back toward the school before she left for the day.

Sakura's shoulders slumped as she sighed and she rolled her eyes as she walked over where the three of them stood.

"I've gotta get this stuff upstairs." She announced, shrugging her shoulders to show them the heavy load she bore.

"They let out for Christmas break this next coming Monday, Sakura," Hinata exclaimed, smiling at the rosette. "Are you're plans still good?"

"I...Um, yeah, I'm still good." She answered, not liking the way they were looking at her. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine." She smiled nervously, and Hinata reached out and patted her arm.

"If you want to stay somewhere, let Naruto, Ino or I know and we'll bring you with us."

"Thanks, Hinata." Sakura murmured, and met Sasuke's soul searching gaze. She said nothing; she didn't owe him an explanation.

She turned to walk off, but heard a muffled curse and Hinata's gasp. She turned back only to have the Uchiha fall right on top of her, her bags of clothing getting thrown up into the air and scattering everywhere as they hit the ground.

"Damn it..." Sasuke cursed, coming up on his hands and knees, lightly slapping Sakura's cheek to see if she was okay. Her eyes snapped open, and she fixed him with a glare. "Naruto shoved me."

He helped the rosette up and helped her gather her things. Sasuke sent the blond a scathing look as he followed her through the double doors.

It took everything Naruto had in him not to laugh as Hinata slapped him on the head.

–

"So..." Sasuke searched for something to talk about, finally fed up with the awkward silence between them. "What are your plans for Christmas?"

Sakura paused on the stairs, halfway up to the second level of the small room that she stayed in. She continued up the steps in silence for a few moments.

Then, "I have nothing and no one to go home to." She murmured, "so why bother."

"You know Naruto would probably slap you if he heard you say that."

"Oh well." They continued on to the second floor and turned right down the hall. Her room was the fourth on the left, and she fished around in her pocket for her keys. She then kicked the door open after she slid the key home, and dropped her bags just inside.

"Thank Kami that we have no classes the rest of the day today." She muttered, as she began to sort through the clothing. Sasuke's face went red when she pulled out under garments, and he turned away.

"You can't stay here by yourself."

Sakura stopped what she was doing and looked up at the Uchiha that stood facing the wall.

"What? No...Not you. Not you of all people. Don't start."

"I mean it." He looked over his shoulder at her as she placed the new underwear in a drawer at her bedside table. "I won't allow it."

Sakura stood up and glared at him. "You can't run my life like that." She came up to him and jabbed her finger into the muscle of his chest. "I've been doing this since I came to this school."

"Wh-?" His eyes narrowed in disbelief. "Where the fuck did you stay before?"

Sakura glared him down, not wanting to belief she had to explain all of this and reopen freshly healed wounds once more. "My...My uncle is my legal guardian but he didn't want me, so I had to go and live with a foster family, on the condition that my uncle gives child support on a monthly basis." She scowled and began to wring her hands in her long sleeved t shirt. "He still supports me, but this next March, I turn 18 so I am on my own. If I keep my grades up, I'll be fine."

"Hn." Sasuke grabbed her wrists in his hands. "Stop." She froze, and he relaxed his grip. "Not everyone thinks, when you do that, it's cute. And your lip. Stop biting it. It's getting annoying."

a slow blush crept across her face, and he had to look away and release her hands to put an end to the annoying thoughts in his head.

He looked away and ran a hand through the ebony hair that hung in his face. "Do you have your math book? I still have homework to do and I forgot it in class." Sakura studied him for a moment then bent down to grab her backpack. She unzipped it and grabbed a hardbound book, hefting it out and tossing it onto the bed.

"I'll help you out," She added with a smile. "I still have a few problems to do too."

Later...

"Sasuke...did you mean that when I fidget that you're saying it's cute?"

Sasuke closed his eyes, feigning annoyance that she suddenly broke his concentration. He looked up in her direction. She was sitting back against the wall, staring at her toes as she wriggled and bent them; fidgeting when she got nervous about something, he'd always guessed.

"You're over thinking things." He replied monotonously.

"What does your family do for Christmas?" She asked quickly. He closed his eyes once more and let his forehead come to rest on the cold pages of the book he leaned over.

"You're not going to let me finish this are you...?" He threw his pencil down and sat up. "All right..." He sat back against the pillows, making her scent rise up to fill his senses. Raspberry. A hint of chamomile. He shook his head.

"We really don't do much of anything. I know there's this huge Christmas party at my dad's firm. They do it every year. We play dirty Santa, give a gift to each other, and that's it." Sakura smiled.

"That's more than what we'd do at my foster home. I hated it there...That's why I went here as soon as I could. Naruto doesn't even know about the foster situation. I told him I went to live with my uncle. If he knew what really happened, he'd freak out."

"Aa." Sasuke bent back down toward his work, writing down numbers and solutions to problems. When he finished the last few equations he slapped the book shut. It was unusually quiet in the small dorm room, and he looked around, stopping when he saw the rosette sprawled out on the bed next to him, using an arm as a pillow, her body curled around his but not touching him.

She'd let her hair down. Some of the thick, pink strands fell across her face, giving him the urge to tuck it behind her ear. He licked his lips, fighting the urge to do so off, then his eyes fell on that naturally pouty mouth of hers.

She was right. He did mean that he thought everything she did was cute. The nervous fidgeting she always did since he could remember. The way she'd bite that lip of hers when she thought about things. The way she'd unconsciously tuck her hair behind her ear when she was in an awkward situation. How she still to this day tried to stay strong but still looked to be falling apart on the inside.

He reached out and ran his long, lean fingers over her face, down her cheek, to her jawline, then chin. He tucked the thick wave of pink behind her ear, then closed his eyes.

Kami, he wished he could have stayed.

–

Monday Morning- Release for Christmas break- December 21st

Sakura's smile faded when she walked through the empty hall and came to the opening of the double door entry that led to the front office. Sasuke stood there, his cellphone at his ear, arms and back devoid of baggage. He was talking fast.

Was he talking to his parents?

She decided to keep her distance and turned around. As she started to make her way back to her room until he left, He suddenly called her name.

"Sakura!"

She stopped and let out a pent up breath of air. She turned as he came up to her, a rare smile on his face. "C'mon, go get your stuff packed."

She just gave him a deer in the headlights look. "Wh-what are you...?"

"You're coming home with me."

She could've fainted right then and there.

–

Sasuke drove down the busy interstate with Sakura sitting in the passenger seat. She dressed comfortably in a pair of jeans and a loose basketball jersey from her sophomore year. Sasuke was dressed rather nice, in a pair of black slacks and a button down shirt. She wanted to curse him, but at the same time she wanted to thank him. She really didn't want to spend her last Christmas at school by herself. She watched the scenery go by through her window for an hour, then two hours, then finally grew bored.

"Sasuke, do your parents know I'm coming over?" She asked, looking over at him. He had his seat pushed back, looking very comfortable, as if he were sleeping. She wondered for a minute if he could see over the steering column. The cruise control was on; he hand one hand on the steering wheel, the other was resting on the middle console.

At her question he cocked his brow and glanced over at her. "...Yes, and no."

"That doesn't make sense." She pouted, and looked straight ahead once more. Sasuke sighed, and sat up, straightening the seat once more, clearing his throat.

"See...I told them I was bringing a friend home because they had no where to go for break. They didn't really ask questions. They usually don't give a damn what I do." Sakura nodded in understanding.

"If I brought a boy home my parents would have went ape shit." She stretched and yawned, then crossed her arms over her bosom. "I have to pee."

Sasuke maneuvered the car over to the right side of the highway toward the exit ramp.

–

Sakura got out of the car and walked up the path toward the beautiful house. The front porch was surrounded by lattice, with a beautiful, deeply green colored vine growing over it's expanse; large pink stained green bulbs that looked fit to burst with color come spring. It looked to be a huge two story house, with a living space above the garage. There was a quarter mile long driveway that led through the woods, a large lake present behind the house that Sasuke said was good for swimming in when they moved back a while ago.

She marveled at the huge brick structure, standing on the porch, and Sasuke tapped her on the forehead. "You ready...?"

"For what?"

Instead of answering, Sasuke knocked on the door, loudly, and after a few seconds of waiting, the door was flung open. Sasuke's father stood there with his mother, the picture of perfection and class. Sasuke's father had long, brown hair held back into a low pony tail, and was dressed in a black suit, white shirt and black tie. His mother had equally black hair and eyes like Sasuke, a pale complexion next to fugaku's sun kissed skin, hair pulled into a curled up do, and a casual but classy looking dress that accentuated her beautiful figure. Her stoic expression softened when her eyes immediately landed on her son, and she reached out for him instantly.

She drew him against her bosom and hugged him tight, and his father smiled at him. As she released her son, Sasuke cleared his throat.

"Mom...This...this is Sakura Haruno. She's the friend I told you that was going to stay at the school for two weeks by herself."

Mikoto smiled, adding even more beauty to her already lovely features, and Fugaku's scowl deepened. He stared at her hard, and she wanted the ground to come up and swallow her alive.

"So..." His deep rich voice suddenly shook her from her thoughts. "Is she pregnant?"

Sakura's mouth dropped open and she really wanted to bolt now. She wrestled with the sudden fury that threatened to consume her well being.

"No." Sasuke seemed to hiss.

Mikoto quickly recovered, and practically dragged Sasuke and his pink haired companion inside the house. "Sakura, huh?" She said, smiling wide at the rosette that stood to the side of the foyer now. "Come, come, Let me show you where you are going to be staying! Excuse Fugaku...he's just about to leave to talk with another client." She fixed her husband with a pointed look and Fugaku shook his head and walked out the door.

Mikoto Uchiha walked out to the large guest house out by the lake. It was dome shaped, much larger than it looked from the outside. Sakura fell in love with it as soon as she walked in. It had a king sized bed, a large dresser and flat screen tv, walk in closet, and Jacuzzi tub in the bathroom. She felt as if she died and went to heaven in that moment. The elder woman watched as Sakura looked around in awe, and she smiled. "You can use whatever you want. Consider this your home as long as you stay over the break. Any friend of Sasuke's is very welcome here." She put an arm around her son's shoulders, "He rarely brings anyone home anymore. Whatever happened to that Uzumaki fellow?"

"Tch..." Sasuke rubbed his nose. "I still talk to him, but he's still an idiot. He had his own plans over Christmas break." Mikoto smiled and rubbed Sasuke's hair then walked toward the door.

"Ill let you get unpacked. Sasuke, when you're through, I'll be in the kitchen. Are you two hungry?"

"No ma'am..." Sakura answered, Sasuke merely shook his head.

She silently shut the door behind her and walked back up toward the house.

–

"I can't believe he thought I was pregnant." Sakura mused. Sasuke smirked. "It's not funny." She turned to unpack her things and place everything into the drawers. "How many other girls have you brought home...?"

"None."

"Cold day in hell when I believe that..." She countered, as she shoved her things into the drawers.

"I only dated a few girls. Didn't bring any home pregnant or to live here temporarily." He paused for a moment, and she looked over at him when she finished, kicking the now empty luggage underneath the bed for safe keeping.

"Itachi was the one who kept bringing girls home." Sakura smiled as she fell backwards to the comfortable bed, inhaling the smell of fresh sheets.

"I remember your brother." She murmured. "Where is he now? Back in Oto still?"

Sasuke was silent for a moment, leaning against the wall behind him and staring out the window that overlooked the large body of water that engulfed the property. A strange sense of foreboding clenched at Sakura's insides, and she instantly regretted asking about him. She remembered looking around the house as Mikoto showed her around and thought to herself that there were no family photos with the eldest son in them. It was like he was completely erased from existence.

"He's dead."

"Oh..." She instantly started wringing her hands in the fabric of the comforter underneath her, the tension that was now between them palpable. "I...I'm sorry. I didn't know."

"I guess you weren't the only one that Naruto was attempting to protect." He stated monotonously, then walked to the door to leave. Sakura sat up and blew out the air she was holding in.

She remembered Itachi being a loving elder brother. He was even nice to her. And amazingly tolerated Naruto well. Sasuke revered his elder brother and rival. He always competed with him for his father's attentions.

She felt terrible for making his content mood go down the drain like that.

knock~

The light taps on the window next to the bed made her jump to her feet and look over. Sasuke stood at the window with a look of annoyance on his face, motioning for her to come outside. She held up a hand, telling him silently to wait just a moment, and she went to the drawer to her right and searched for something nicer to wear.

–

Sakura slowly emerged from the guest house, smoothing the front of the smoothly woven tunic down her legs. Sasuke looked her over two or three times from where he stood a few feet away in the yard then shrugged. The tunic was a deep red in color, slightly darker, almost crimson. Her leggings and boots were black in color to match in contrast. The two colors together really seemed to bring out her best features: Her long , muscular legs, deep iridescent eyes, and bright, rosy locks that looked freshly tousled to frame her small heart shaped face. He even noticed the smokey eye shadow she threw on to add a deeper effect on her eyes.

The Uchiha shook his head. "You didn't have to change."

"Well, thankfully I did bring the new clothes that Ino bought me. I just wanted to look nice for your parents...that's all. You know make a good impression."

Sasuke scoffed, and she frowned seeing the look on his face that seemed to say, "someone like you can't ever begin to impress them."

He nodded toward the lake, seeming to say that he wanted to show her around. She wiggled her toes in the tall, knee high slouch boots she wore, glad that the terrain didn't look rough. As they walked along, with Sasuke pointing certain things out to her, She walked beside him, looking around and observing the beautiful scenery.

The birds chirped loudly, getting the last of their song in before the sun sank down below the tree line. An eagle circled a few times below then flew on to the west, toward the huge pines that stood tall and proud over the oaks and conifers.

"It's nice out here." She concluded, as they walked along the shore line of the deep blue lake on their way back. Sakura held her boots in one hand, letting her bare feet sink into the gravel and sand mixture, marveling at how serene the water was. The water was cold but bearable. After their long walk she enjoyed the chill that helped cool her body down. She walked closely to the Uchiha next to her and he didn't seem to mind.

"It's do-able." He replied, shoving his hands in his pockets. "A lot better than staying at the school for two weeks, right?"

"Yeah." She beamed at him, and he stared for a moment before looking away. His mother was waving in the air in their direction to gain their attention, and Sasuke smiled.

"Hungry?" He asked, and she followed his gaze.

"Very."

He waved back to his mother, who then turned and walked back into the house, leaving the sliding glass door ajar behind her. He started to walk up the hill that led to the house and stopped when Sakura's arms encircled his waist. Her forehead came to rest on his back between his shoulder blades, hands clasping at his well muscled abdomen. He looked down, seemingly stupefied, her body meeting his back, leaving nothing untouched. He relaxed after a moment, allowing her to hug him to her.

"Thankyou..." She murmured.

He smiled slightly, but said nothing in return, letting her stay where she was.

–

Mikoto smiled when the door opened, Fugaku had arrived back at the house a few minutes earlier, just in time to set the table for dinner. Sasuke smiled back at her as he pulled Sakura inside behind him.

"Sakura." She greeted the rosette sweetly as she stumbled into the kitchen. "I remember you when you were a little girl. You and Naruto. How are things? Your mother, and father? And the bakery?"

Sakura looked everywhere but at the Uchiha matriarch; Sasuke made a slicing motion at his jugular vein and Mikoto quickly understood why.

"Sakura...I'm sorry. I didn't know." Said young woman let out a sigh and faked a bright smile.

"It's all right, Mikoto-San, It happened a while back." She excused herself with a whisper and walked past the elder Uchiha, and Mikoto looked at Sasuke with a stern look.

"I just found out myself." He whispered.

His mother pursed her lips and pointed after the young woman that walked into the hallway, and he followed after her.

"Are you all right?" He asked, hand touching her arm as he walked over to her. She looked up at him, and smiled.

"Y-yeah. I guess it's just something that I haven't come to terms with yet. I don't really care to talk about it."

"I Under-"

"Sasuke!" Fugaku's voice echoed through the house, making Sasuke stop and look up. Said boy rolled his eyes and walked down the hall, motioning to Sakura to stay put.

–

"You called?" Sasuke asked, sliding the dining room door shut behind him as he walked in. He eyed the table in between him and where his father stood; it was set perfectly, as it always was, this time with three seats. He looked back at his father who stood at the head of the table with his arms crossed over his chest, with a solemn expression on his face. His jacket was casually laying across the back of his own chair.

"I wanted to talk to you about this...friend of yours."

"Aa." Sasuke shoved his hands into his slacks, staring his father down.

"You know that I don't allow this." Sasuke nodded. "But since you said a friend was coming over to stay, Ill let this happen one time. After this, she can stay at the school." Sasuke closed his eyes, drawing his bottom lip into a thin line, showing his irritation.

"How long have you two been sleeping together..." His father braced his hands against the heavy oaken table, and it creaked under his weight.

Sasuke gave a derisive snort, and his father's look darkened. "That's privileged information. As if I would tell you that."

Fugaku's fist slammed down onto the table, making a loud banging sound, echoing with the clatter of the china and utensils as they jumped up from the shock of the blow. Sasuke's mother's gasp was heard from the kitchen, and Sasuke turned to open the door and leave once more.

"Just remember, son, my house is not a brothel!" He yelled, and he made sure he yelled it loud enough for Sakura to hear it.

Sasuke snarled in discontent, and slammed the door against the doorjamb as he walked out, his temper soaring. His onyx eyes fixed on Sakura, and he grabbed her by the elbow and proceeded to drag her mercilessly up the stairs, giving her no time to stand on her own. Sakura pulled against him, asking him to release her.

"Sasuke, you're hurting me!" She cried, as they reached the top of the stairs, and her bare feet squealed in protest as she tried to brace herself on the now bare, hardwood flooring. He came up to a door on the right, and pushed it open.

He shoved her into the room and finally let her go, much to her relief, and slammed his bedroom door. She looked down as she now furiously rubbed her now sore and reddened arm, trying to keep an eye on the angry young man that stalked over to the stereo that sat on top of the entertainment center in front of his neatly made bed.

"Sasuke...what happened...?" She asked. "Are...are you okay?"

Instead of answering her, he smashed a button with his finger, and the sudden, ominous screech of a violin invaded her ears and cut out all other sound. She instantly covered her ears, gritting her teeth. She watched, eyes wide, as Sasuke slowly sank down to the carpeted floor, cradling his head in his hands, rubbing his temples, eyes tightly closed, looking like a small child that was suddenly so vulnerable to the world.

The sound of a door slamming interrupted the terrible sound, and the whole house seemed to vibrate in its wake.

Other then the painfully loud wail of the musician sliding the bow across the strings of his instrument, it was silent. Sakura began to regret taking Sasuke's offer. She didn't belong here. Something was going on. She realized now that she wasn't the only one that had wounds that never healed.

–

"Sasuke..." She murmured, after sitting on the floor a few feet away from him for more than an hour. The room was pitch black, and the ominous look in the Uchiha's eyes had frightened her. She could barely make him out in the pitch dark of the room, but he was still in the same position he was in earlier; sitting on the ground, legs crossed, fingers laced through the ebony locks of hair at his nape.

"Sasuke..." She came up to her hands and knees and crawled slowly to him, but he didn't move. If he were staring at her she couldn't tell. Her hand landed on his thigh and she squeezed lightly, sliding the silky material of his slacks across his leg. His hand suddenly gripped her arm in a bruising, iron like vise, and she tried to break free. He pulled her to him, and wrapped his arms around her.

She settled involuntarily into his lap, feeling his breath fan the side of her neck as he inhaled deeply, trying to calm himself.

She felt his heart beat against her own chest; his lips and nose press against her neck; his hands cradling her back; her legs settling on either side of his hips; Her bottom pushing down against his pelvis. As embarrassing as it was to her, she pushed it aside.

"Are you okay...?" She asked, letting her hands come up between them to run along his face. Her fingers laced themselves into the feathery bangs that settled over his brow, and he sighed in contentment.

Then, without any warning, he leaned forward and his lips met hers. His momentum threw her off balance, and as she went down on her back to the floor he followed. It was a slow, gentle kiss.

Her first kiss.

His body covered the length of hers, leaving her trapped under him. Her heart pounded within her chest, her head spinning. She didn't know what to do. Sasuke's fingers threaded through her hair and pulled slightly, making her angle her neck oddly and gasp out loud.

His tongue swiftly entered her mouth, brushing against her own and exploring it's new found territory. Sakura's mind raced a mile a minute.

It wasn't as disgusting as she thought it would be; having someone else's tongue in her mouth. Seeing Naruto and Hinata go at it was rather disturbing but...Sasuke suddenly doing it to her made it bearable. It was pleasant for her first kiss. She tentatively touched her tongue to his, enticing his own into a twisting dance, and moaned her confused approval as his large hand closed over well rounded breast under her clothing.

How did his hands get under my tunic...? She asked herself.

Sasuke suddenly tore away from her as if it were nails on a chalkboard. He was panting loudly, and staring down at her, eyes wide. He flipped the switch to the lamp on that sat on the bedside table, and Sakura blinked quickly, letting her eyes adjust.

"Sorry..." Sasuke muttered, as he offered her his hand, smoothing his pants down with his free hand. She hesitantly took it, and he hefted her up. She ran her hands along the front and back of her thigh length tunic, smoothing it down and straightening the wrinkles. "My dad can be a total asshole sometimes..." He finished. "I'm sorry if you heard what he said."

"I shouldn't be here." Sakura murmured, looking down at her bare feet, curling her long toes into the lush beige carpet.

"You're such an idiot." Sakura quickly looked up to see his onyx eyes narrowed on her. "Stop talking like that." And with that, He walked to the door and nodded for her to follow. Her stomach suddenly growled loudly, and Sasuke turned to look at her with a smirk on his face. "Let's go get something to eat."

–

As they neared the front door, Mikoto's voice drifted to their ears from down the hall.

"- Shouldn't talk to him in that way, Fugaku! What on earth did you say to him to set him off!"

There was a muffled reply, but it wasn't even audible. Sasuke stopped at the door and listened. Mikoto scolded him, but they couldn't understand what she was saying. Obviously she didn't want her son to hear the horrible things she was saying in response to what her husband told her.

"He's your only son, Fugaku. He's completely different that Itachi. He genuinely brought that girl home because she had no where to go. Her parents died, and now she's all alone." They heard her walk across the tiled floor in the kitchen. "That poor girl only has her friends to rely on. They're not...sleeping together. I can tell. They're just friends."

Another muffled response.

"All you're doing is pushing him away. The only way he is going to learn is to make his own mistakes in life, not have his father keeping him on a tight leash. I don't want to see him angry like that, Fugaku. That boy has been a recluse since what happened to his brother. This girl isn't like her at all. And now he's playing that...that horrible song every time he gets upset and goes into one of his episodes-"

That was all Sakura heard. Sasuke took that moment to grab her by the arm and drag her out front, slamming the door behind him. He got into the driver's seat and Sakura followed, as the engine roared to life.

–

Sakura sat up, draping her arms around her knees, curling her toes into the forest green grass. They were at the park, which was unusually empty for a Monday night. Maybe it was because it was three days until the holidays and everyone was spending time with their loved ones. She looked up at the clear sky that was filled with bright white stars and smiled.

"Sasuke..." She asked, looking back down at him in wonder. "What happened...?"

He looked over at her from where he laid in the grass, arms crossed behind his head, leg crossed at the knees before him, also staring up at the clear pitch black, star strewn abyss above him. He sighed and reached for the Styrofoam cup of coca-cola that they shared. He sipped on it, thinking for a moment as she sat patiently.

"Itachi...Killed himself two years ago." He deadpanned. Sakura's curious look fell into a frown mixed with a look of disbelief.

"We lived in Oto...things seemed to be going great. Dad's new partnership within the firm was doing well, making a lot of business. Itachi finished law school and moved back home, mom and the Yamanaka's fashion line hit off to a good start, I was okay with the new school system." He sat up next to her and ran his hands through his messy hair, sending it every which way. "Itachi met a girl...He dated her a few months, then...well...she got pregnant.

Itachi really, really loved this girl. You could tell by watching him stare at her; the way he acted around her. But that was her plan all along...to get Itachi to get her knocked up. She started black mailing him for money, and to get her to finally leave him alone and stop tormenting him, father payed her off and she left. Itachi wasn't the same after that.

I remember leaving one morning. Dad specifically told me to stay home and keep Itachi company because he wasn't feeling well. But Itachi gave me some money to go and get some pocky and other kinds of sweets. I was on my way home and I ate some of it because I got hungry. I walked in the door to see Itachi pull the trigger on the handgun he held inside his mouth. He stood in the kitchen..." Sakura sat there in silence, too scared to say anything.

"All I really remember about the whole thing is throwing up. Bits and pieces have come back but it's something I'd rather not describe."

Sasuke hung his head. He was still obviously hurting. The loss, like her own was still a fresh, deep wound. He clearly blamed himself. Just as she did. You couldn't throw a band aide over something that needed stitches. Sakura slowly let her hand slide over his leg and into his lap to lace her fingers with his own.

"I'm sorry, Sasuke." She slowly leaned against him, burying her face into the muscle of his neck inhaling the scent of his shirt and cologne. She didn't want to say anything else for fear of riling him up again. He didn't seem like it on the outside, but inside, to those friends who knew him well enough, Sasuke Uchiha was a broken man. Hurting, just like she still was, with no one to talk to.

Sasuke leaned into her smaller, more curved body, letting his hand rest against her hip.

–

Fugaku watched as his youngest son walked briskly toward the guest house where his 'friend' was sleeping and shook his head in disapproval.

"What did I tell you...?" He muttered, throwing his hands up. "Some woman's intuition, Mikoto." Said woman looked up from the bed she was propped up in, reading a book, and eyed him from the top of her glasses.

"Fugaku. Leave him be. He's not going to do anything. It's a wonder the boy isn't gay after you scaring him to death about sleeping with a girl."

Fugaku Uchiha scoffed. "I'd rather him be gay then get screwed over like Itachi did." He flinched when his wife suddenly slapped the book shut and fixed him with an irritated look. She looked ready to launch that particularly heavy looking book at his head.

"Itachi made a mistake. He didn't realize he fell in love with a conniving little brat. Not all women are the same, Fugaku. Do you forget how we met?" She threw the blankets off of her body, revealing the sleek, silken negligee that she wore. Her hair fell to her hips, the damp tendrils framing her face and hanging in soft curls around her body. The silken material hugged her bosom, waist and hips perfectly, and Fugaku gulped. Loudly.

"I have not, my love, but...I just worry Sasuke is working himself into the same situation..." He looked back outside, seeing Sasuke talking to the pretty pink haired girl and smoothly stepping inside. "I don't want our family name dragged into the dirt once again."

"It won't be." Mikoto's voice came from right behind him, and she was peering over his shoulder, watching as their youngest and only son shut the door behind him, excluding the elders from his suddenly private life he seemed to lead. "Let him grow up, Fugaku."

Her hands cradled his strong jawline, as he turned to her, her thumbs smoothing over his cheeks. "I think that girl can help him. He's going through a lot. Us moving...Itachi...and now back here making a fresh start...all in the span of four years; the poor boy is confused. Let him figure his life out. If he screws up, then his father can straighten him out.

"But...I think if he did screw up, that girl would set him straight. She has a temper." Her gaze flickered back down toward the guest house as the light flipped off. Fugaku fix her with a curious stare, and she smiled. "You didn't see the look in her eyes when you asked if she was pregnant." Fugaku shook his head. "And you really don't remember her do you...?"

Her hands moved to stroke the stray hair that escaped the ponytail at his nape. "I remember that loud mouth idiot Uzumaki...Not very different from his father, that one."

"She had one hell of a temper back then. She got bullied a lot." Mikoto murmured, pulling his hand, leading him to the bed. "I remember Sasuke coming home sporting bruises, lost teeth, bloody knuckles, nosebleeds..."

Fugaku's eyes narrowed at this revelation.

"What?" She asked innocently. "Sasuke begged me not to tell you or Itachi. He was protecting his little girlfriend from the other bullies." Her husband rolled his eyes, sighing.

"You've turned my son into a hopeless romantic."

"You were never here to turn him into anything else." She smiled ruefully, and he grabbed a handful of hair that cascaded down her back. He bent he backwards toward the bed, holding her up as if tipping her back at the end of a slow and sensual dance.

"Now I wish I was." He angled her face toward his own, and she giggled.

"You'll never be able to work that out of him. But...there is something here that you can fix in the meantime."

Fugaku narrowed his gaze onto her face, his own visage turning a slight pink color. "You're a little devil."

"Nothing you haven't brought out and nurtured, dear." And she wrapped her arms around his muscled neck as he lowered her to the bed, his mouth meeting her own.

A/N

Hey guys, I hope alot of you did stick around and wait for an update. I fell horrible not updating...but this story along with a few another brought back memories I wasn't ready to deal with. BUT, Im okay now and ready to continue! Please read and review and let me know you want to know what happens next!

UchihaSanNin