Author's Note: First and most importantly, I'd like to give the biggest thank you to my new BETA READER: theeuniverse. Thank you so much for helping me edit this chapter. As always I hope you enjoy this chapter. Thank you for your patience as always.
Disclaimer: I do not own any Naruto Characters
He could remember the first time he had met her as if it was just yesterday. Although it was a good 3 years ago, he could recall everything vividly. From the bags under her eyes to the genuine smile she carried on through it all.
Flash Back
"Sasuke! Oh my god, please don't stop!" The girl screamed beneath him, his tongue travelled down the crook of her neck as he continued to fuck her. She was sitting on the hotel room dresser, her hands in his perfect soft jet black hair, her naked legs wrapped over his waist with her bright red stilettos still on. He had one hand on her perfect naked waist, the other grabbing onto her long blonde wavy locks. He could smell the intoxicating scent on her, her whines and cry for his name drove him crazy.
"Sasuke! Oh god!"
Just like any night, he could never remember how he got here. It was always after a couple drinks of whisky, tequila and then some type of drug to give him the feeling of satisfaction. This time it was two pills of Molly's, which was fitting for his best buddy's birthday party at the most high end club in Japan. He had just finished travelling back from Greece over a business trip his father asked him to take care of. He needed something to get rid of the stress.
The sound of the dresser banging against the walls were almost as loud as her screams. He didn't know who she was, just that she was a super model all the way from Italy. Everything around him was a blur, only feeling the high from her screams, the euphoric feeling from the Molly's and the buzz from the alcohol. This…This was his addiction, this was what he needed to be content. What people do not understand is that for someone who had it all, it was harder to feel satisfied. He needed the constant high. He never really talked during these nightly sessions, his lips were always busy tasting the soft skin of whoever he was with. At least he didn't have to feel guilty about cheating on Karin, now that she was away doing her own thing.
This was his moment, his favorite time. He loved the feeling of her slim hands all over his hair, and the sound of her panting. Just as he was about to finally finish, he was interrupted with a loud constant banging on the door. At first he clenched and ignored it, but eventually he had to stop because the banging persisted. He groaned in annoyance and found his clothes on the floor and wore them as best as he can. He was going to tell the person who interrupted his high with a good beating – his father didn't put him into all those physical training for nothing. He was leaking of excitement to just kill the person on the other side of the hotel door.
He took a quick chug of the remaining alcohol in the whiskey bottle and stumbled along towards the door.
"Just ignore them, they'll eventually have to leave," the girl who was screaming his name earlier spoke, angry because it was ruining her moment as well. He ignored her and went to open the door, there stood his brother who matched the angry expression he had just before he opened the door.
"What the fuck are you doing? I have been calling you over ten times." his older brother asked impatiently.
"What does it look like I am doing? What are you doing here? How did you even find me?" He managed to mutter through the state he was in.
"Mom…. She's in the emergency room, she got into a car accident." With just those words, he experienced a numbing feeling he'd never felt before. The ringing in his ears and the weakness in his legs were indescribable, it was with those words that sobered him enough to realize how serious the situation was.
The ride to the hospital was a blur, it was silent and cold. Itachi stopped right at the entrance of the hospital where Sasuke forced himself to walk in and face reality. He stumbled in as people asked him if he was fine. All he managed to mutter was his mom's name.
"Sasuke!" this time it was his father's voice. He had found Sasuke mumbling at the receptionist area frantically, "Where is she?" his eyes focused on his father who walked him to a room where he watched his mother lay in a frail white bed with a bruised and bloody face. She had an IV attached to her and she wore an oxygen mask alone with other wires that connected onto a screen. Seeing his mother gave a sort of relief…Seeing her awake and conscious.
"Mom!" he ran to her as she smiled through the oxygen mask, her hand shakily ran through his black hair that matched her long strands.
"Is she okay?" his eyes turned towards his father who seemed grim and did not want to answer the question.
"Where are the doctors? She looks like she's in pain!" He yelled, although things were still dizzy he managed to analyze his mother's pained expression.
"Sasuke calm down, you don't need to make a scene when Mom's like this." Itachi had arrived. Before Sasuke could argue with his brother, there was a knock on the door. His black orbs stared at the young girl who stood there with a clip board, her small body wore a white lab coat with a stethoscope around her neck. Her unusual pink hair was tied back into a pony tail and her green eyes focused on the documents she had in her hands and gave the men a quick smile before walking towards Mikoto, ignoring the fact that Sasuke was sitting right next to his mother. He watched her walk over to the other side of his mom and placed her hand on her arm, and gave a soft smile.
"It looks like the sharp pain you're experiencing is a collapsed lung. From the x-rays, your broken rib punctured your right lung. We will have to perform surgery to get that patched up." Mikoto nodded at the girl.
"I'm worried because your oxygen level is very low. For your safety, we're going to go in there while you're awake to inflate that lung and then perform surgery once your oxygen level is safe enough," she explained to Mikoto, her big eyes travelled to Sasuke's father who remained silent.
"The good news is that everything else is intact. It will be a smooth fix. Nothing else is broken, no internal bleeding. Just a collapsed lung, one broken rib and mild concussion; the collapsed lung happens quite often. Your healing process should go smoothly. I will make sure it does" she assured Mikoto who smiled through the oxygen mask.
"I'm sorry, but where is Dr. Tsunade?! Who are you to tell my mother what she needs to do? I need a doctor, not a nurse! We don't need an amateur," Sasuke scoffed and glared at the woman – girl, Sasuke reminded himself. He was not one to have a good temper. His mom had just gotten out of a car accident, he wasn't going to have a nurse look after her. His head was still pounding from all the substances that were in his body.
"Excuse me, I am a resident at this hospital. Dr. Tsunade does work here, however she is away. I am qualified enough to know what a collapsed lung is on an X-ray. Your mother's oxygen is low enough for me to really not care about what your opinion is. I am here to save her, not to hear you whine and be arrogant. You shouldn't be too judgmental on a nurse; they are as bright as a doctor, with just a different occupation." All four pair of eyes looked at the pink haired girl in shock. No one has ever spoken to Sasuke the way she had, her green orbs glared back with the same animosity.
"You have no right to judge. Now this argument is wasting our time, I tried to save some time by not kicking you out of this room. We don't usually allow members who are clearly intoxicated and under drug use in the emergency room with our patients. But because all I care about is saving your mom, I am not going to do that," she spat the words bitterly with no form of sympathy to him. He looked at the girl in complete and utter astonishment.
Her annoyed face quickly changed when she looked down towards his mother. "I'm sorry Mikoto, I want to make sure you're going to be okay. Now I'm going to call in the nurse now to start the procedure. I will be honest, it's going to be quite painful. You get to choose one of your handsome men to stay and comfort you while we do the procedure" she smiled and tried to keep it upbeat for Mikoto who held Sasuke's hand.
"Looks like you're the lucky one," she looked back up at Sasuke with a forced smile.
"Give me a second," the pink-haired doctor left the room to call one of the nurses to help her. Sasuke looked at his mother who smiled at him weakly.
"She's the first girl to talk to you like that" she spoke through the mask.
"Yeah…" he didn't say much, at this point all he wanted was his mom to feel better, to have this nightmare go away. Within minutes she showed up with a man in short brown hair and in a pair of scrubs.
"This is Ryu, he's going to assist us with the procedure. We're going to sanitize you first and then go ahead," she flipped his mother's gown out of the way, enough to expose her bare back to the young doctor but covering it away from her son's view. Whatever she was doing, Sasuke felt his mom's weak hand squeeze his tighter.
"Ugh!" she muttered out, he couldn't bear to see the pained face she painted on.
"You're doing great Mikoto. We're almost done. You're doing amazing, just a little more" she said positively to the woman who clenched her jaw to avoid any screaming. Sasuke watched the young doctor insert a thin clear tube like into his mother's side. She was focused and at the same time, she tried to keep it light for his mother.
"You're going to squeeze your son's hand enough to get him registered in too," she managed to lightly chuckle, hoping that Mikoto can concentrate on something else, while she tried to inflate the lung.
"Okay! Looks good. All done! You did great," she said in relief as she stared at the monitor while Ryu the nurse patched her up with the tube still connected.
"I've scheduled you in for surgery in the next hour. It should be enough for your oxygen level to recuperate," she took her medical gloves off and tossed them into the medical waste box. Her hand then placed onto Mikoto's shoulder, she gave it a light rub before leaving the room.
"You're a lucky woman. You have two caring sons and a loving husband. Three handsome men looking over you," she winked at Mikoto, trying to lift her spirits and left the area to update his father and Itachi.
Sasuke looked at his mom whose face seemed less pale. "I'm so sorry mom."
"You shouldn't be apologizing to me. You should be apologizing to the sweet girl who made me feel much better."
After the two hours had passed, Sasuke and the rest of the family waited at the waiting room while Mikoto was taken into surgery. He hated being in public and being exposed, because even in places like these, there were always gasps and giggles. He and his brother were always the center of attention, and to his distaste even in hospitals. But the one thing that caught his eyes was the pink haired doctor who genuinely paid more attention to his mom than him. She hadn't even given a glimpse to him or Itachi, all she was doing was paying close attention to all her patients.
He watched her run around in the ward he was in. He sat there silently next to his quiet father who seemed to be just as nervous as him and his brother Itachi. With the time he had, he was able to sober up slightly and analyze everything around him. He watched one of the paramedics pass her a Red bull in which Sasuke heard a distracted 'thank you.'
"You are a life saver! I needed this so bad," she expressed to the man with short and neatly combed hair in a paramedic uniform. She grabbed the Red bull and gulped it down as if it was fresh water given to a man lost in a desert. She gave a sigh of relief and threw it into the recycling bin, and went to continue her errands.
"Man, look at her go," his brother's voice was calmer this time. Sasuke expected both of them to give him a world of lectures about what he was doing just a couple of hours ago. He knew he reeked of alcohol and he knew that he didn't look too sober either. It seemed like watching the pink haired doctor run around was enough to get their minds off of things. The more he looked at her the more he kept finding things about her that he couldn't turn away or not pay attention to.
Things like her petite figure running around, and her green eyes although paired with dark circles were still sparkling. He watched her cute small defined nose scrunch whenever she looked down at a file. He noticed her perfect smile with the dimples on each side of her blushing cheeks.
Suddenly he can hear one of the nurse call out for her name.
"Sakura! He's coding!" Before he could even understand what was happening he watched her sprint into the room just across from where he was sitting at, although they tried to close the curtains, he could still see the chaos behind those baby blue drapes.
He watched her pump the man's chest with all her energy. She was trying to recuperate his heart beat; resuscitate him - she was doing CPR on the man who seemed to not respond to her hard pressing hands against his chest.
"Come on! Come on!" he can hear her angrily beg as she continued to press his chest with all the strength her tiny stature can produce. He watched her facial expression become a pained and exhausted one. She continued her CPR for over ten minutes, every minute she'd stop and asked the nurse to check on pulse, but she was only met with the silence.
"Start the defibrillator! Give me a two!" they handed her the device and she looked at the other doctor who waited for her call.
"Okay," she pressed the two objects she held onto the man's chest. There was an electric shock that ran through the lifeless man. They continued two more each with a higher currency. It looked like she didn't want to stop, but a hand was placed on her shoulder. The other doctor present looked at Sakura in angst.
"Sakura…it's not going to happen. Just call it," his voice was soft to her, he was in his mid-30s and had been watching over and helping the girl try and revive the man who now laid there unmoving.
He watched the calm and collected girl go from exhausted to full of anger. As if she had lost her sanity like she couldn't handle the emotions bottled up in her. She slapped the glove box and the plastic cotton holder off the mini counter next to the bed, looking to just put her anger and frustration towards something.
Sasuke could hear her mumble weakly the time of death. The older Doctor placed a hand on her and tried to comfort her, "It's not your fault Sakura," but she didn't have it, she couldn't. All she did was walk out of the scene.
"Go home Sakura, you should have been home 8 hours ago," the same doctor that consoled her said softly.
"It's fine… I'm waiting for Mikoto to come out of surgery," she weakly said, her eyes accidentally caught a glimpse of the perfectly stoic man sitting just across from her, his beautiful intoxicating eyes on her.
She walked over to him, her hand placed on his broad shoulder.
"She will be okay, I promise," the smile she gave him was so genuine and unfamiliar. It was comforting.
It was then that he learned of the young Doctor's name: Sakura… Her unique beauty and her selflessness will always be engrained in him. To be able to care unconditionally to a stranger is simply amazing.
End Flash Back
Somewhere in between then and now, she became his existence. He kissed her cheek, although in bad circumstances thankful his mom was tended by the too young of a doctor with abnormal pink hair.
"I am so sorry! I feel so bad that I didn't even get to formally introduce myself. Seriously, you are so gorgeous! I love your outfit and your hair. Wow, I can see why you're a top model. Like just, wow." Sakura continued to ramble on about how beautiful Karin was. They were standing around a small round wooden table, beneath an enormous Sworovski Chandelier that dangled atop of the Caesar stone floor, her emerald eyes were glowing as she stared at the woman standing on the other side of Sasuke.
"Thank you," Karin did not know what to say, even as sweet as the pink haired girl was, she couldn't help but feel resentful towards her.
"You must feel so pestered all the time, you know with everyone trying to get a picture with you and stuff," although Sakura kept talking, all Karin could pay attention to was the way Sasuke's arm was wrapped around the green eyed girl so protectively; all she could see was his onyx eyes set on his girlfriend with an amused look. The smile he wore while he stared at Sakura was so alien to her and so painful to see. She absolutely hated this nightmare she was forced to call reality. Honestly, hate is an understatement. Karin felt betrayed, hurt, but most of all anger to the woman who took her Sasuke away from her. She despised this pink-haired freak with every fiber of her being.
"Yeah, it's hard but nothing like Sasuke's been through. So I can't complain," as soon as the words came out of Karin's mouth, Sasuke flashed her a look as if to warn her to not go too far but to his surprise Sakura laughed.
"Sasuke? He had people follow him around?" She repeated what Karin said as if it was some sick joke. He found it hard to fight the smile playing on his lips, but went along with it.
"Is there a problem with me being part of the Tabloid?" Sasuke inquired curiously and playfully.
"Who would want a prick on media?" she teased him and he just smiled, he had nothing to say. He was just addicted to her, addicted to the way she was able to treat him like a human being, not some sort of god on earth.
"You know you can be also be an asshole sometimes, right?" he reconfirmed to his girlfriend who just cutely winked at him and took a sip of her freshly served glass of red wine. Karin watched the two and could only feel sick to her stomach. Today was supposed to be her day not theirs.
"So how does it feel to be back?" Sakura asked, her eyes on Karin while Sasuke's attention was all on Sakura, his fingers tucked a pink strand of hair behind her ear while she continued to carry on a conversation with Karin.
"Not what I expected," Karin said subtlety to gauge any reaction to Sasuke but his attention was solely focused on Sakura, who did not hide his disinterest in what Karin has said.
"Why not?" Sakura continued and seemed concerned, her eye brows down and waited for an explanation.
"I was promised things back then, but they were broken. It made me regret everything I've done," this time Karin noticed his perfect outlined jaws clenched.
"What happened?"
"You should ask Sasuke, he knows all about it," she smiled softly to Sakura, all she could hope for when she stared at those innocent green eyes were that one day she can go through the same pain as her, or worse. She felt bad that she felt so good wishing that. There was no room for guilt, because Sakura stole the only important thing in her life.
He remained quiet, Sakura stared at him waiting for an explanation. He took a sip of his scotch and smiled to Sakura, "I don't know what Karin is talking about."
"But she just-."
"It doesn't matter Sakura, either way I will fix it all. I've made up my mind, I will fix everything. No matter the cost," Karin explained.
Sakura smiled and cheered her on, "Well whatever it is, I hope you get what you were promised." Sasuke clenched his jaws tighter, because he knew exactly what Karin meant and the thought of someone threatening Sakura sparked a primal urge of anger through him.
"You know, it's so weird seeing you two together. You guys are so different," she looked at the two.
Sakura looked at her in question, "Really?"
"Well, yeah. I mean you're a doctor, usually they stay in relationships within their fields. I'm sure you guys have a lot of differences and beliefs. I mean Sasuke, he's in business. Businessmen are the predators of the world, and doctors…they're like preys," Sasuke gave her a warning look to which she purposely ignored.
"Yeah…You're right. I did have that rule going into medical school. But I guess things happen out of our control. Things happen that you don't expect."
"Oh my god, Karin! I love your dress is that Givenchy?" A girl interrupted and complimented Karin. The woman sitting beside Sasuke was eyeing him dreamily, clearly unaware of the conversation happening around her.
"No it's not," Karin said it in a flat tone, already caught on that the girl was only making conversation to be seen and acknowledged by Sasuke. The thing is, back then she never knew who her true friends were, because each and every one of them aside from Ino, used her to get a chance to be with Sasuke. Sasuke wasn't a man that could control his urges, and most of them did end up sleeping with him. They were stupid enough to think he had chosen them over her, but he'd always come back for more with Karin. She knew she'd always win, except for this time.
"Sasuke, hi. It's such a pleasure to meet you" she had long sun kissed hair that was in perfect curls, her beauty almost matched up to Karin's. She was curvy in the right places and her eyes were as addictive to look at as her perfect pouted lips.
"Tanya," she took her hand and placed it softly on his arm. He nodded and took another gulp of his scotch. "You know it's so nice to see you here, I haven't seen you around these events in so long. Back then I just never had a chance to talk to you, you're such a busy man," she laughed flirtatiously and stared into his eyes.
Red eyes stared curiously at Sasuke's reaction, hoping that this brooding an alluring man would do what he usually did. Sasuke used to give his known trademark captivating smirk, his eyes would wonder around the said girl's body. He would then make some excuse to step out and then do what he had to do with no shame.
Back then she cringed and prayed for him to resist temptation once, but this time the only thing she's wishing for was for him to do what he used to do. To have those addicting eyes travel up and down Tanya's body – to prove to Karin that he is still the same person she left a few years ago. Instead all he did was barely acknowledge Tanya, eyes always fixated on Sakura.
During this event, a lot had happened. One of the main things was that people thought Sakura was Sasuke's side girl for the day, and that Karin was still the girl he was known to always go back to.
"And who are you?" Tanya's voice was harsher than it was a couple seconds ago, as she directed her venom towards Sakura. Her eyes analyzed the shorter girl who has Sasuke's arm around her.
"My name is Sakura, it's very nice meeting you," Sakura smiled oblivious to the intent and was about to extend her hand for a handshake, but Tanya interrupted her.
"Yeah sure, that's nice. Sasuke, I promise you I can definitely give you a better night than whatever this one can do," she smirked when she watched Sakura's facial expression changed from friendly to utter shock.
"What family are you from anyways? I've never seen you around. You're not really the type Sasuke usually goes for…you know, short." Sakura was at total loss for words, she couldn't believe there were people like Tanya out there. Suddenly she started to understand what Naruto was talking about.
"For someone who just comes here and decides to talk to me when I clearly have no idea who you are, you talk big. You should watch the way you talk to my girlfriend." He really did try to behave, but he just couldn't stand the type of crowd he was in. Maybe it was being around people like Sakura that got him to realize how bizarre his world was. How ridiculous and obnoxious people with money can be. For some reason, they think they have this sort of entitlement, even though someone like Sakura has been saving lives can be so humble. The stark differences of his world before and the world Sakura introduced reverberated to his being. He promised to himself, he will never go back to his old ways.
Tanya's surprised face was enough to kill Karin inside, to watch the woman look speechless and stared back at Karin confused. Did the Tanya girl catch on that Karin wasn't the one anymore? Will this news start to spread like wild fire? If it did, she would have to put it out as soon as possible.
"Sasuke, it's okay. I am 5 foot 1, she's not wrong you know," Sakura tried to defend the girl, not because she actually respected Tanya, but for Sasuke's sake. She knew how stressed out he'd been about this event. She knew that he was always worried that she would feel out of place, and as much as she did feel out of place, she didn't want to burden him with that.
Just like that, his jaws relaxed and his thin lips touched the top of her head again. He took a deep breath and looked back to the crowd. Throughout the evening, people kept coming to talk to Sasuke, their eyes on Sasuke but also on Sakura with curiosity. Karin had been whisked away to entertain other people since it was her party after all. They knew there was something different, and now everyone wanted to know who Sakura was, what her story was. Most were just apprehensive about her.
Rumors about Sakura spread in the party faster than a bullet. Talks about her being a gold digger and that they have never seen her before. She was then labelled as an outsider who somehow miraculously won his heart. Although, on the other side of the coin, the younger men of the Gala can see what Sasuke saw. She was the Arwen from Lord of the Rings at this Gala. A beauty that was rare and indescribable. She had an innocent and exotic demeanor in contrast to the stereotype beauty around the elite. She had that rare attractiveness, where she was equally beautiful but cute, small and dainty at the same time.
As the party continued Sakura's light continued to dim, the reality of what she got herself in was more visible.
"You're awfully quiet, not your annoying obnoxious self," Sasuke teased her, she slapped him lightly on the arm and just smiled. Although she tried to hide it, he knew her like a book inside out. That face of hers said it all. She was not having the best time, especially having all these strangers come up to them and basically talk to him about business or what not. They spoke of business and money and things she couldn't grasp. Women would come up to Sasuke and just bluntly flirt with him and give her the judgmental looks. She was usually very oblivious to it, but when it was happening as blunt as it was, it was hard to not notice.
Suddenly the person she fell in love with, this man became someone who overshadowed her. He presented himself so differently from what she was used to. His demeanor like Itachi was completely changed in this environment. The respect he got from everyone here was unbelievable.
"I love you," he reassured her. Sasuke knows how hard it must be for her. He kissed her forehead and brush the loose pink strand away from her porcelain face.
"I love you too Sasuke," she replied instantly, without an air of doubt or hesitation in her voice.
His lips touched her lips softly, his arms wrapped around her petite waist while they stood on the shiny beige floor. He knew how uncomfortable it was to have people consistently come up to him and start up a conversation especially the females who would give her a different look. He knew that as strong, independent and positive she was, it was getting to her.
"So are you going to tell me why you keep wanting to ditch me?" He asked her about earlier in the day, his tone soothing to her soul. He wanted to just go home with her and hold her tight in his arms. He just wanted to watch Netflix with her or just lie in bed as she played with her 3DS.
She turned around and looked up at the beautiful man she fell in love with, "You know why. Sasuke-kun, it's not nice that I take all your time and make you ditch your friends. I just didn't want to be the burden. I don't want to be that anchor you know?"
"Sakura, you're never going to be a burden. What's a burden is this gala, I'd much rather be at home and doing things that will make you scream." He teased her and held her tighter, he felt almost guilty when he looked at her. He can read her like an open book, even with that smile he knew she was not having a grand time. So he hugged her, in a way to tell her that he will always be by her side, even if she claims she doesn't need it.
Her green eyes analyzed everyone around her. People are chuckling and drinking their fancy drinks in their fancy branded clothes she's never heard of. As much as she hated it all, as much as she hated to admit it, she felt at home as long as he was by her side.
"So ask away," he said as she looked at him confused at what he meant.
"What do you mean ask away?".
"You do have questions, don't you? Regarding my confession and everything around you,"
He said as she looked up, and then to him.
"You know, you can say something right now. Anything... Ask away, I'll answer truthfully," he anxiously said to her, his eyes on her unpredictable facial expression.
"So do you judge me when I eat my Tostitos and salsa?"
"What? How does that relate to anything?"
"Well people with your class usually don't eat canned things full of preservatives. It's always gold flakes and black truffles or something..." She cited examples from tonight's dinner as her eyebrows scrunched adorably in recollection.
"Do you find it disgusting when I eat it?" She asked him, he shook his head, his heavy expression lifted and light.
"Yes, I do find it disgusting, I do judge you. Not because of my 'class' but because you eat an abnormal unhealthy amount of it. I don't even know why you're asking that when I've told you many times to stop eating a whole jar in one sitting."
"Hmm. Touché" she agreed, he smiled and kissed her right cheek and then to her plump pink lips.
"You are crazy. You know that?" He laughed at her. "…crazy and fucking gorgeous, I just cannot get enough of you." He whispered to her ears, his hand wrapped around her waist.
"Sasuke-kun, not here!" She giggled and pulled back before his lips was placed into the crook of her porcelain neck.
"You make it really difficult," he spoke over the orchestra playing in the background.
"So the only question you have is the Tostitos question?" He teased her, his fingers traced her jaw line.
"Well, I don't know. Do you really ask me about my life?"
"I do-"
"I mean about me being broke as fuck," she interrupted him.
"Of course not. I'm here for you through it all, I don't care about that. Besides you don't need to worry about being broke anymore."
"So first of all I would like to say, same goes for me. It is nice knowing you're well taken care of, I guess... But I don't care, whether you're a fucking homeless man on the streets or apparently the richest man in the world. I love you for you, Sasuke. Everything from your arrogant annoying face to your sweet and adorable protective side," she poked his forehead.
"By the way, I don't need you to take care of me in a monetary way. I can handle my finances myself. I don't need you thinking I am gold digging or something," Sakura added.
"Sakura, I know you're not that kind of person."
"Either way, what I am trying to say is I can take care of myself," she assured him.
"I appreciate that you love me for me, but I know behind that huge forehead of yours, you have something to say to me," he chuckled knowing how annoyed she can be at the mention of her forehead. Although she is perfect in his eyes, her forehead was one of her insecurities.
"I already told you Sasuke, it is a lot to take in. Give me some time, I am sure I will have some questions for you eventually. Then you will really regret giving me the okay to ask you questions. You'll just be super annoyed," she retaliated playfully.
"I don't think you can surpass the annoyance you already possess," he teased.
"I hate you," she squinted her eyes, tiptoed and tried her best to see him in eye level.
"I love you too," it was this kind of release that made him more like himself. Being around someone like her, a new light and a breath of fresh air, he had never felt before. Around her, he felt new and liberated. Someone who was treated equally, not as someone with the upper hand. Sakura did something he thought was impossible: she made him head over heels for a 5 foot 1 pink haired girl.
"So this is the girl everyone is talking about," a new high pitched voice rang through the scene interrupting Sasuke and Sakura's playful banter. She walked along side Karin, her purple eyes matched her purple dyed hair.
Before Sasuke or Sakura could acknowledge the two girls, there was a heavy feeling on her head, her green eyes looked up and noticed Itachi's arm rested on her head as if she was some wooden stand.
"I thought you wanted to get drunk today," he questioned her. Sasuke was relieved that it was only just Itachi and not anyone else.
"Are you kidding me? Not here, not with all the important people seeing if I am the right fit for Sasuke," Sakura said scandalized that Itachi even thought she would do such a thing.
"If you think Sasuke is waiting for a blessing from anyone here, then you are just completely and utterly wrong Sak," Itachi chuckled and called her nick name affectionately.
Sakura looked at him surprised. "I think everyone here is looking for a blessing from us. Fucked up, right?" Itachi continued and Sakura just stared in confusion.
"Okay, you name the shot," he changed the subject catching Sakura off guard.
"You're going to drink? Come to think of it, where is Izumi and Sophia?" she realized his wife and daughter weren't around.
"She's in New York with Sophia visiting some family. I couldn't go because I had to stay for work purposes." Itachi was a little different from his younger brother, he was well behaved and trusting. Izumi would have no problem leaving him on his own.
"So then, every shot I take you take two?" she questioned him, hoping he'd agree. "So are you trying to get me drunk?" he raised his perfect eyebrows.
"Yea, well since you don't have to be responsible for anyone," she gave him one of her charming smiles and continued, "I think watching you hurl would be entertaining."
"Whatever makes you happy Sak, but just to let you know, Uchiha's have a really high tolerance on alcohol consumption. I'm surprised you're not asking my little brother here to get wasted too," he pointed over at Sasuke who stayed silent.
"Are you kidding me? You know how long I've been trying to get him drunk, he won't budge!" She exclaimed and stared at the guilty man she fell in love with. "Yeah, it's already hard to make sure you don't do anything stupid when I'm sober, I can't even imagine watching over you when I'm intoxicated," Sasuke defended himself.
"Okay, but I can totally take care of myself!"
"I'm sorry, but outside of the hospital, you suddenly become the world's clumsiest person in the world. Hands down, the worst hand-eye coordination and self-inflicted accidents. I will save the embarrassment and not list them," Sasuke said.
"Yeah, I'm going to have to agree with Sasuke on that. You have butter fingers; it's like all your hand and eye coordination is all used up in the hospital and by the time you're out you, just like that you lose all of that talent," Itachi laughed at her and Sasuke smirked at her.
"Thanks guys…Thanks for making me look like an idiot."
"Our pleasure," Sasuke said between his perfect teeth before kissing the top of her head.
"Both of you are dicks," she mumbled in embarrassment.
"Itachi-san, it's been very long since I've seen you," Karin broke the conversation. The more she was around Sakura, the more she hated her. Itachi was never the happy type. He was firm and strict like his father. Always serious and never someone to be lightly spoken of. She made sure to talk to him politely, because never in her life has she even see him smile. Every time she tried to make conversation, it was always short and to the point. He never liked to make conversation with her. But tonight this short, pink haired girl was making people act completely different. Karin didn't understand it and didn't want to even try to understand it. All she knew was that she wanted this girl to go away. She wanted the smile to be wiped off that face.
"Ah, I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to say hello. Welcome back Karin," he kept it short and went back to the conversation he had with Sakura.
"What's the first shot?"
"Tequila," she suggested. His eyes widened, "Are you crazy? No, we won't start with tequila, we end with Tequila." he raised his hand and suddenly as if he was a genie, a server arrived by Itachi's side.
"Did you girls want a shot as well?" his tone changed when he asked both Karin and the girl next to her, Ami.
"Of course we're in," Karin answered, happy that Itachi acknowledged her.
"Can you please bring us 4 black label Johnny Walker shots," Itachi ordered an extra shot for himself, following through with Sakura's request.
"Make that 8," It was Naruto, who was with the girl Sakura believed to be named Hinata. There was also Ino and her boyfriend, Sai. Sakura's eyes brightened, Ino came over and draped her arms over Sakura.
"Where have you been?" Ino giggled, clearly a little tipsy.
"Here, where have you been? Hi, Sai!" Sakura laughed back and hugged her best friend, eyes on her boyfriend who nodded to acknowledge her.
"Around, you should've hung out with us. How is Lee?"
"He's doing great. I got a text from Tenten, she said he's responding!"
"Amazing! Does that mean we can go bottoms up all night?" Ino exclaimed excitedly, Sai shook his head in embarrassment of his clearly drunk girlfriend.
"Sure," she smiled as Ino snatched her away from Sasuke who groaned when his grasp on Sakura was taken away.
"Karin! Did you meet my awesome smartass nerdy best friend?" she dragged Sakura over to Karin who nodded.
"Sakura, this is my childhood friend Karin, she's pretty awesome too!"
"Thanks Ino, we already met while you were drinking somewhere," Sakura laughed innocently.
Sakura still felt like an outsider in this glamorous gala where Sasuke continued to get interrupted, one after another someone would come and introduce themselves. Male or female, they seemed to have the most utter respect for him and Itachi. Yet Sasuke remained by her side, he made sure to never leave her out of his eyesight.
Time went on and finally Karin went to get her parents who had been busy with greeting the appropriate guests. Likewise, Sasuke was surrounded with people trying to catch his attention. Although this was a pathetic resort she was using, she wanted her parents to meet Sakura, and hopefully somehow drive her away. Sakura was Karin's personal nightmare that she badly wanted to disappear. The only people who might be able to help out, is her parents.
"So, are you doing okay?" Sasuke turned to Sakura with a soothing voice, his eyes rested on hers who nodded with a gentle smile.
"Yes Sasuke, that's a question I should be asking you," she knew how much stress he'd been put through, she also knew how he didn't like having people always try to stir up a conversation. She knew he was more of an introverted person, someone who'd rather stay quiet than to start up a conversation. The only time he was a loud mouth was probably around a select few which were herself, Naruto and his family. Other than that, he never really made an effort to talk to anyone. He always had a stoic look on.
His firm hands once again placed around her waist, as much as he was happy the group was around them for a while, he was glad they all parted their own way. All he wanted was to be alone with her. His back against the wall and her body lightly pressed up against him.
They were in a quiet area, hidden away from the crowd. In the corner of her green eyes she could catch a glimpse of something. Something she prayed was just a dream. She did a quick double take before ripping herself away from his grasp.
"I have to go."
"What?" It was so sudden and out of nowhere, that he was just more confused than anything. Before she got away, he grabbed her again and held onto her.
"Sasuke, I have to go," she was being frantic and afraid. Sakura wasn't a woman that was easily afraid, but here she was shaken and begging Sasuke to let her go. To get away; to run away.
"Sakura, what's going on?" he looked at the direction that she was looking at. There walking towards them was Karin's parents.
"Sakura, it's fine. They can't do anything to you. Just relax, I'm here." He tried to console the girl in his arms but she wouldn't listen to him.
"Sasuke please, I'm begging you," but before he could make a peep, Karin's parents already reached the two.
"Sasuke, is this the girl my daughter talks about? I will tell you now she's not good news, if she's anything like her filthy mother," his eyes widened as much as Karin's.
"Who let the wrench come in here? What'd she do, brainwash you, Sasuke? You are choosing poorly." Karin's father has a firm voice, and his eyes never away from the girl in Sasuke's arm who was now quiet and shaken up.
"Excuse me, who are you to talk to her like that?" he didn't care who he was talking to anymore, or what kind of a past he had with the older man before him. No one can to speak to Sakura the way he just did.
"I'm her father."
"What?!" It was Karin's voice this time, Sasuke painted on the same surprised look as Karin. He quickly glanced at Sakura who remained quiet. Her eyes were pained, more pained than he'd ever seen.
He realized at that moment that he wasn't the only one holding secrets, because from what she had told him, her parents have all passed away. But here they were standing awkwardly, her father well and alive.
"Don't fucking call yourself my father," Sakura seethed through clenched teeth. Throughout the time they spent together, he'd never seen her as angry as she was at the moment.
"You walked out on us, and fucking left mom there to die. You legally sent me away when I was fucking 5 years old. Mom had to do everything. So no, the title 'father' is not something you can use casually," Sakura spat with venom to same arrogant man.
"Clearly not, you and your filthy mother couldn't leave me and my family alone."
"She was fucking dying! It was a desperate plea. Believe me, if I had other resources I wouldn't have tried to contact you. Either way it was a waste of time," All she can remember was the pain her family went through, her mom, and how her last resort just let her go without so much as a glance.
"You are nothing to me! You are dead to me. How can you sleep at night knowing you killed mom?! She was sick for four fucking years! She raised me on her own! You signed me off so that I could be a legitimate bastard!" At this point, Sakura was screaming with hot angry tears flowing from her eyes. She didn't care who was around, all she can see is the man who betrayed her more than anything.
"Dad…what is the meaning of this?" Karin asked and confused at the revelation she witnessed.
Sasuke could feel the girl shake in his arms. He was shocked to the point where he has no idea how to react or what to do. Before he could even think to say anything, he quickly and firmly held the hand that was inches away from his girlfriend's face. It was Karin's mom who looked at Sakura in disgust.
"Don't you dare fucking touch her," His voice this time was leaking of something Sakura was unfamiliar with but Karin was all too familiar with. It was a stern and dark tone Sakura never experienced, but standing where she was, she didn't even notice that Karin's mom was about to hit her face. His body language was intimidating, his facial expression ice cold and eyes murderous. He was a completely different person and directed his glare at the lady with hair as red as Karin's.
"You…you are the one that ruined my life! You are the result of my heart break. Your whore of a mother deserved everything that came to her. She tore my family apart, that bitch…like mother, like daughter. Now it's you trying to break my daughter's heart," she said between her clenched teeth, careful not to even lay a finger on the now quiet and confused pink-haired girl. Even she knew better than to piss Sasuke off.
"What?" Sakura asked confused.
"Don't be all naive now, don't pretend like your mother. You know what you're doing. Sasuke was supposed to marry my daughter and like your mother, you just come in the picture and try to ruin everything. What did I ever do to deserve this?"
Sakura remained silent in utter shock.
"You steal the love of her life, just like what your mother tried to do to me."
"What are you talking about?" Sakura was baffled; her tear strained face glanced to Sasuke. She wanted answers.
"Do I need to spell it out for you? Karin and Sasuke have known each other since childhood. They grew up together. They loved each other. She gave her life to him, and now she comes back crying to me and tells me that he had fell in love with someone else, even though she waited for 4 years to come back to him."
"You don't belong here Sakura. Go back to whatever hole you came from and leave my family alone." the older man said to her, she looked at him in disbelief. She couldn't believe the nightmare unfolding.
"I-I have to go," she ripped herself away from Sasuke's hold and ran off ignoring his calls to her.
The crowd parted as Sasuke ran after Sakura. She made it outside and almost ran into the huge garden.
"Sakura! Wait!" he held onto her hand to stop her from going any further. There they stood outside of the big castle, under the dancing stars.
"I can't do this Sasuke. You're right. I can't handle this, I don't want to be in this situation anymore."
"Sakura. Please calm down," his voice was low and soothing, he was afraid at this point. Afraid that this was it.
"Calm down?! In one day you told me that you're part of the world's most powerful family. Now, I find out I am some homewrecker. I clearly don't know you at all, but I was hoping you'd understand me a little. That you know I would never want to be in between something and hurt someone. Who are you?! Seriously?! Because in there you are a completely different person, people in there kiss your fucking feet! I've been so stupid to not even realize that I have been killing someone. I've been killing Karin who apparently is my half older sister. Now, you expect me to stay calm?!"
"I'm sorry Sakura…Let's just go home and we will talk this out."
"Sasuke…" she was crying, she looked so vulnerable. He couldn't help but to hug her tight and protect her from it all, regretting that he took her here. He planted a kiss on her head and waved one of the butlers to get his car. He'll send a text to Itachi to get someone else to drive his other car home. He knew that he would have to hold the girl in his arms for a while.
"We'll be okay. No more secrets from now on, we will always be truthful to each other. That's my promise to you. I will never let you go through this again." he hugged the shaking girl.
"I can't, Sasuke…I don't know if I can do this," Sakura continued to sob and held onto Sasuke like a lifeline.
"You'll be okay. I promise I'll make it all better. Let's just go home and figure things out. I know everything's a mess right now, but we will work through it." The limo arrived and he pulled her in, her head resting against his chest.
"I'm sorry I hid that from you, Sasuke. I guess I wasn't fully honest in our relationship either," Sakura mumbled tiredly in his chest. Sasuke can't help but notice how exhausted and fragile she looked. She was in pain and he can't stand the thought of her getting hurt.
"It's okay, we'll talk about it after a nice warm bath or when you're ready to talk. Let's just pause it all." he kissed her cheek and held her tightly. They watched the street lights go by, both minds drifting to the chaos of their thoughts.
Author's note: I hope you enjoyed the unexpected twist. I would really appreciate any feedback from my readers. Please read and review, let me know what you thought of this chapter.