IV - One of Them

Sasuke knew perfectly the way to the Hyuga compound, after all he gave many rides to the dobe – cars consume a lot of money and taking the subway is a lot easier, he would say, but in the end he'd want Sasuke to take him to his girlfriend's house anyway.

But this time it wasn't his best friend taking the passenger's seat on the left side.

He watched her from time to time, perhaps curious about the way she acted. She stared out the window and when occasionally her eyes threatened to close, she'd forced them open and would shake her head. He knew she was tired and the doses of sake that he paid her to drink were not helping at all, but he perceived that she wanted to see the city anyway, and her face was fascinated with every illuminated sign with bright kanji. He saw how excited she got when they passed the Rainbow Bridge. But, by the way she looked, he knew that she would not stay awake long.

The path that usually took 20 minutes took twice that.

But, except the world's largest crossing in Shibuya - which was not crowded but had a considerable number of people walking through - there were hardly any people in more residential areas in the neighborhood and there were almost no cars on the street. It was late at night.

But he did not want the ride to end anytime soon.

The rain was considerably worse and puddles were forming in the pavement when he arrived at the house. He stopped the car and stretched to the back seat to grab a black umbrella. He opened the door and went to the other side only to see Sakura finally asleep.

"Sakura" he shook her shoulder lightly.

Her only reaction was to move her face a little to the side.

He sighed, annoyed. Calling her again a little louder, one of his hands held the umbrella while the other cupped her cheek moving her face toward him, and because she let the window open, it was damp just as her chin length pink hair.

Slowly she blinked, showing him her green eyes. She was blushing, but he wasn't sure if was because the sake or his hand that remained on her cheek. He retracted it and looked impassive at her. She rubbed her face, offered him a lazy smile and withdrew from the car.

"Thank you… for bringing me here. I don't think I could stand to stay any longer there…" she looked like she could fall sleep standing up anytime.

"Hn" he should thank her too. Sakura was the perfect excuse for him to leave the karaoke before Naruto tried to make him do something stupid.

"I can go the rest of the way alone, you know is just over there… and…"

"Why were you acting like that?"

"What?" she looked up at him, confused.

"In the karaoke" he said as the rain was falling around them.

"I…I…" She understood what he meant and didn't think much about what she should say to him. In spite of knowing Sasuke a short time, she felt good by his side and trusted him. Or perhaps it was only the alcohol that has left her more uninhibited. "I always wanted to be a musician… not necessarily professional… but…" she smiled "like Naruto perhaps." She paused and sighed, but her lips were still curved upward "But it seems like there's something holding me down like I can't do it… I don't know…as if I wasn't good enough."

He didn't say anything, but his eyes were focused on her. And to Sakura, it felt good to be heard by him.

The sentiment of not being good enough was known to him. He used to feel that way about his older brother. Sasuke was never as good as him.

"Truth is I don't know what to do. What profession I want…" her green eyes started to look around. Too many thoughts were running through her mind. "If I want to do something in the area I'm working with Tsunade-shishou… or if I want to be a singer…"

"You should try it before complaining" Sasuke said sharply. "At least you can choose."

Sakura immediately turned her head in his direction. He had an expression of disgust and anger. She knew she shouldn't annoy him with his personal issues, but she wanted to know more about him. She wanted to see beyond the image built over him.

"Why you say that?" she asked in a voice not louder than a whisper.

He looked at her and contemplated whether tell her something or not.

"Since the day I was born it was established that I was going to work in my family's company."

"And did you ever wanted to do something else?"

Sasuke fell silent again. He honestly didn't know the answer himself. After living a life only to correspond to everyone's expectations, he didn't know where his wishes were placed.

He wondered if just once in his life he was free.

Sensing his discomfort, Sakura tried to lighten up the mood.

"That's okay if you don't want to tell me… I bet it's something embarrassing like a hentai costume store with hentai accessories in Kabukichō. Not that I do not like this kind of thing."

Sasuke rolled his eyes and Sakura giggled lightly.

They resumed their walk and in a few seconds they were in the front of the house.

"Thank you again, Sasuke-kun." She smiled at him and he nodded slightly.

He didn't move for a moment, only observed her in the empty and poorly lit street as the rain fell. Slightly damp hair sticking to her face, flushed cheeks, her big green eyes and her slim body. Sakura felt his gaze upon her and all she could do was to look back at his dark eyes with her shiny ones. She saw something in them briefly, but as soon as it came, it was gone.

He started to walk away and she felt something indescribable to see him leaving. She felt the need of calling him but she didn't, and the image of his back made all the joy she felt during their brief conversation dissipate.

He entered the car and took off, and she observed until the last moment, until the car disappeared in the corner.

She couldn't understand why she felt that way though. The feeling was suffocating.

She quickly walked through the traditional entryway, genkan, and removed her shoes. She placed them in a shoe cupboard, getabako, and put slippers. She slid down the wall slowly and sat on the floor while one hand rearranged her short hair.

"I see you're back, Sakura-san." Hiashi said with his imposing tone. "But where are Hinata and Neji?"

She got up quickly with a shocked expression, after all, sit on the floor all sloppy definitely isn't a habit of the house or the prestigious family. She bowed "Hiashi-sama."

"So, where are my daughter and my nephew?"

"Oh… I was kind of tired so I came back early. They're still in the karaoke." She awkwardly tried to explain vaguely wondering why he was not in bed. The man made a grudge face.

"And how did you get back?"

Sakura was feeling uncomfortable with the questions and the way he was asking them.

"A friend of them brought me." Sakura wasn't sure if Sasuke should be called her friend. She certainly did not saw him that way.

"Who?

"Sasuke-kun." His name left her mouth naturally.

"The Uchiha?"

She nodded effusively.

He got even more disgusted.

"That wretch… and I hope that disgusting Uzumaki wasn't with him"

Sakura thought she had not heard right and when was about to retort, he interrupted her.

"Go to your room. I'm sure you want to rest. Good night." And he left without giving her a chance to speak.

Sakura remained still for a few seconds, confused. In her mind she debated whit herself if she really heard the head of the powerful clan inveigh Sasuke and Naruto. To Sakura, he always seemed grudgingly with her. And she couldn't understand why. Did she do something wrong? Even the few times they had a meal together, he never said much. Why did he received foreigner in his go home if appeared he didn't like them? Or maybe she was the problem.

She started to walk in the large house. It was a mixture of a traditional Oriental house with an occidental one. Looked more Western, but the decoration had many typical Japanese artifacts.

She reached her room and changed herself, before going to bed.

Half hour before she was so tired that she slept in the Sasuke's car. Now while leaned back on the pillow, she could not stop thinking about why Hiashi cursed Naruto and why she felt so bad to see Sasuke go.

The breakfast in the morning on Sunday was slightly different than in previous days. The table was set as always and every one was sitting in its right place, but there was an indescribable tension in the air.

Sakura didn't understand anything but she wasn't stupid. She was an observant person and could see things weren't too good between the Hyuga family, especially between Hiashi and Neji. The cut sentences, the stares… She looked at Hinata and she saw how she was sad about it. She tried to calm tempers of the family, inventing some subject to be talked about, but it was in vain. Her father was still grumpy and Neji seemed very resentful.

Hiashi also seemed disappointed wirth Hinata, giving her reproving stares.

Sakura thought about saying something just to relieve tension, but not about the karaoke last night, since this seemed to be the reason for the awkward moment at the table.

Then the memory of what Hiashi said about Naruto came to her, and Sakura imagined that perhaps Hiashi wasn't too happy about the boy her daughter was dating.

In that moment, Hinata was nothing like the happy girl when she was beside Naruto. Sakura felt bad for the girl she grew up used to call 'homestay sister'.

The following Monday she did not leave as early as usual.

"S-sakura-san, I-i thought yo-o-u already had gone to Ueno." Hinata said, surprised. She was heading for the kitchen when she saw the English girl standing there.

Sakura smiled "Well I should, but I wanted to ask you something"

"Wha-at?"

"I was thinking… Naruto once said to me that you are a great cook and I know that you make bentō in the mornings to eat during your lunch break. Then, could you please teach me? We could even have lunch together today… you, me and Naruto… and he could call Sasuke-kun too."

Hinata seemed to rejoice and be glad as well. Hearing Naruto's compliment to her was really nice and the idea of having lunch with him and her friend was even better. "A-a-are y-you sure, Sakura-san? Won't you be late?"

"I can get a little later today. My shishou won't mind" It was a lie, Tsunade would surely be mad at her. But to her it was more important to see her friend happy.

Since the day in the karaoke, Sakura had thought about what Sasuke told her. He was right. She should face her problems. And seeing the guys having fun so freely made her want to sing and play again.

She went one more time in the music shop she already knew in Ginza. The guitar that caught her attention cost ¥ 28890, about £ 217. To her, it was expensive and she could not take money from any place of her carefully planned budget. But she was determinate that this was something she would buy. Her old guitar was home and she needed one new, anyway. The old was a student orange one. The new was black, beautiful and also cost a lot more.

But to get that money, she would have to find a job. That was something that wasn't going to be easy. Hire a gaijin only with a student vista? It was illegal, but at least it wasn't going to last long, she thought. So she was definitely doing this.

Moreover, she needed to gather more money, because if she stopped hanging out with Naruto and the other boys, they would find strange. And the least she wanted was for someone to worry with her.

So she started to look for a job without telling her homestay family and friends about.

And she also asked Naruto. Not directly, of course, but it was easy to get information from him.

"So Naruto, if a gaijin, supposedly, wanted to work in Tokyo, where would he go?" Sakura said trying to sound as convincingly as possible.

"Hun… I guess most foreigners go to work in factories furthest from downtown, but if someone wanted to work in the city, right here in Shinjuku would be easier since it has one of the highest rates of immigrants. There are jobs in stores and restaurants." Naruto said thoughtfully.

Sakura was wrong when she thought Tsunade would be mad at her. Mad was an understatement. It was something more like wrath. She made Sakura go all over Ueno, working hard. It was only the beginning of the day but Sakura was already dead tired. She sighed.

The two of them were sitting under the trees in Shinjuku Gyoen, a large park with the most beautiful garden she's ever seen. There were a lot of people doing the same thing, since it was lunchtime and many people take this moment to eat outdoors.

"Teme is never late…" he said looking away.

"Maybe Sasuke-kun is not coming…"she said sadly.

"No. I bet there's something holding him back in the office. He'll come I'm sure." He finished with a grin. "He normally wouldn't come, but he's being acting weird these days. Well, weirder. And he likes this park very much. He thinks I don't know, but I do know that he comes here to relax, especially in that bridge" he said pointing to a small red wooden bridge over a pond. "I used to see him there when we were younger. Don't worry, he'll come."

She smiled back. "I hope so." Sakura said, looking forward "After all, I don't want to be the only one proving my ability to make bentō. I'm sure I learned to make it perfectly from Hinata and since she did one for you I made one for Sasuke-kun."

"I know sometimes he and I don't get along very well, but I don't want him to die Sakura-chan!" he said playfully.

"Naruto… shut up" she said trying to sound angry but not managing to hide her smile. "Anyway, why Hinata is not here with us?"

"She wanted to come so bad… but the Hyugas are going to make a festival to open the fall season, so she's kind busy. Is the season when sales are greater and Hinata is the one to organize everything."

"That's awesome!" she was glad for Hinata but disappointed that she didn't come. She seemed so thrilled with the idea.

"You're coming with us this year. Sakura-chan, you're going to see how beautiful it is!"

"Hinata is a really sweet girl, one of the best people I've met. You're really lucky to have her."

"I know." Naruto said with a bright smile.

In the few moments of silence that followed their conversation, Sakura debated with herself if she should ask Naruto something that was troubling her for quite sometime.

"Hey Naruto, there's something I wanted to talk to you… about Sasuke-kun."

He looked at her questioningly.

"He told me about… what happened to his family…" She trailed off not knowing how to continue and Naruto's face turned into a serious one.

"I would never think he would say something like this to someone he barely knows. But…"

"Was he always like this? He seems so tired… unhappy."

"I met him after the death of his parents, and he was already a cold, closed person. But after what happened to his brother he got worst…"

Brother? He never said anything about that… So there was even more he didn't tell me about?

"I think the weight of the past turned him into a cold person. He lost his family and also had to cope with many liars, profiteers and self-interested people in his work." Naruto thought for a moment. "Let me just give you an example: there was this outsourcing company called Hebi or Taka… I'm not sure, but anyway, the three of them always wanted something in return and tried to be friendly with him just because of his power and money. There was a woman with funny hair and clothes that constantly tried to flirt with him even when he didn't care if she existed or not. And behind his back she badmouthed him and leaked information about the company. And there was a white-haired weird looking dude that used his position with Sasuke to do dirty jobs. And there was another guy that I don't remember anything about, but people said he was bipolar. I'm not saying they were bad people and that Sasuke did the right thing by getting rid of them; I didn't know them well, but…"

"That's just how people are…unfortunately" Sakura intervened.

"Yeah… but we can always change."

"Really?" she asked feigning skepticism.

"Really, believe it! Look at me and teme for instance… we used to completely despise each other but them our bond grew up into a friendship. And now he's more than a brother to me. I think I can understand him somehow, since I didn't have parents."

"You… didn't?"

"They were american researchers that traveled around the word. They died in an accident here in Japan shortly after I was a born."

"I'm sorry"

Naruto smiled… "No, that's okay, because I know they were great people and wherever they are, they looking after me." He looked at her "And besides, I found people who believed in me, like my first teacher, Iruka-sensei and the man who adopted me when I was twelve, Ero-senin and of course Hinata, my friends and Sasuke… I used to feel lonely because I had no family and was excluded because I was different… but I met with people that made me feel accepted"

"That's good"

"It is… and is like this park."

Sakura looked at him strangely.

"This park is divided in three distinct garden styles, apart from the French formal, there is Japanese traditional and the other is the English Landscape. Even though different, they look good together."

Sakura giggled and rolled her eyes "Wow, Naruto, you're such a poet… omedetou gozaimasu." She congratulated him in a tone of mockery.

"Arigatou, Sakura-chan."

"I thought you were in China" Sasuke said with his almost expressionless face if not for the light narrow of his eyes that showed his irritation.

"The businesses there are great and I thought I should come here to give you and this company a little help with my power and influence." Yakushi Kabuto, a man with bleached hair and glasses told him with a malicious smile.

"I don't need it."

"Hum… it is funny how a few months ago you wouldn't deny my assistance." He said sarcastically.

Sasuke stayed quite but his eyes were looking dangerously at Kabuto.

"So, I think a partnership between you and I would be very beneficial for both of us."

Again, silence.

"You know what I want right? And you own me. After all, every single company you eliminated was with the help of my power." The smile never left his face.

"Get out of here" he said gritting his teeth.

"My assistant Zetsu will contact you… But don't forget Sasuke-san, you can deny what you did in the past as much as you want, but you'll always be one of us." When he got no response, he continued "that's what you like and want, more power and influence. I know you well and I'm sure you'll accept my proposal. I'll see you soon." He finished leaving the office.

Sasuke stayed there for a long time. Sitting in his chair, elbows on the table and interlaced fingers covering his face partially.

How he hated this.

How he hated people and this company, how he felt disgusted. And for him, there was no prospect of change or improvement. In his world, all he could see was an empty life, empty people and empty feelings.

He forced himself to forget all of this and get going to Shinjuku Gyoen. The park was near the building where he worked and only in a few minutes he got there. He saw how the coloration of the leaves was starting to change. Soon would be autumn.

He went to the place where there were several people eating under the trees. He always liked to come here alone to clear his thoughts. Today, this was not the case, but he hoped he could at least get a distraction with his best friend and the annoying girl with short pink hair.

He saw them and noticed how easily the two interacted. Naruto probably had said something funny (and stupid) again and he could see how she laughed and when it ceased, how she rolled her eyes. Sakura was radiant. She wore a green tiara on her head that matched the color of her eyes. She looked so free-spirited, carefree and happy. And his best friend wasn't much different. It was then he felt alone.

He could never be like them.

"Sasuke-kun!" her loud voice broke his chain of thought. She was gesturing with her hands, calling him to join her and Naruto.

He gave a slight nod in acknowledgment and move closer to them.

"Hey teme! Why took you so long?" Naruto said excitedly.

"Work" he said simply.

"Well, let's forget this for now. Look what Sakura-chan brought to you!" he said handing him the bentō Sakura had made.

"I don't want it."

"What?" Naruto said surprised. Sasuke saw the sad expression on her face as he said this but he didn't care, he couldn't care. He did not want her to get closer to him because she would only get hurt in the end. He didn't need her friendship. Came here it was a mistake, he noted. But lately he could not understand his own actions. The fact that he told her about his past and the ride home were already things he would not normally do.

"That's ok if you don't want. Don't worry Sasuke-kun." She said with a small but genuine smile that reached her eyes.

Her reaction completely disarmed him.

"Hn" he said, not even knowing why he was saying that. He went to a stall selling food not bothering to look at them.

It upset Sakura that he preferred to buy something to eat rather than the bentō she made. But the fact that at least he was going to have lunch by her side was enough to make her smile.

"Sasuke stop being a bastard!" Naruto screamed "Anyway, as I was saying before to you Sakura-chan, this park is divided in three gardens, but that is not the only reason why it's famous." He said while opening Sakura's bentō and starting to eat even if he already ate the one Hinata made for him. "This is the best hanami spot in the entire Japan. Your birthday is in time of Shidare, right?"

"Shidare?"

"Yes, late march or Weeping Cherry. It's the name given to the cherry trees that bloom in this period."

"Hai!"

"So in spring next year we're all going to go. You and me, and also teme and Hinata, the guys from the band… everybody!"

"Of course! That would be awesome." But on the inside her thoughts were different: I don't know if I'll be here until spring. A small, sad smile appeared on her face.

"Apparently, I'm not the only one who came back." Kakashi said by the phone.

"No." Sasuke was standing next to the large window observing the city below.

"Does Naruto know this?"

"No, he doesn't."

"You have to be careful, Sasuke. He will do anything to take the company from you."

"You didn't have to call just to say that." He said so far, since he was no longer paying attention. In reality, he wasn't worried at all. He knew he was better than Kabuto.

He hung up, but didn't move from form his position. Everything below seemed, to him, so small, so meaningless. He was watching everything with detachment as if he was not part of it. When you grew up the way he did, when you're powerful, when you're so above anyone else, what means everything to them as happiness, fun, relationships, ceases to mean anything.

The rest of the day was a completely waste for both Sasuke and Sakura. To her it was an unsuccessful day in attempt to find a job. She knew it wasn't going to be easy, but she was beginning to discourage and doubt herself. She didn't even know how to start really she just went to some places where Naruto indicate but none of them was interested in her, which was understandable. To him was another stressful day in work in which someone from a past he rather forgot reappeared in his life.

In the evening she returned to the park and went to the red bridge Naruto told her about. She crossed her arms over the railing, resting her head on them while observed the pond. She stayed there for sometime thinking about the guitar she wanted to buy, the fact that perhaps her travel would be shortened, the tension in the Hyuga house, Hinata that hasn't been to the park and the distant way Sasuke acted with her in the lunch.

"I thought I said to you that if you wanted something you should try." A familiar voice told her.

Sakura smiled and straightened and Sasuke approached the railing.

He didn't expect to see her here, he usually come to this place when he needed some peace of mind – which was the case on that day - but she on the other hand wasn't surprised to see him at all, since Naruto told her that Sasuke used to come to the small bridge often.

"I am. But I need to buy a guitar first."

"Do you at least know how to play? I thought you said you did not know."

"I do." She replied quietly. "But my guitar is not with me and it's exceeded. I need to buy a new one. Too bad I can't take the money I use for transportation and food."

He thought for a moment offering buy the guitar for her. But he would never do that. Instead, he said "I'm sure Naruto would let you use his."

She shook her head. "I know, but I want my own. To practice, to play in the streets… this kind of thing." She smiled to him but it wasn't the real one he was used to see. The one that reached her eyes.

"Something happened." He stated.

"I just can't understand…" she seemed upset and angry at the same time "…how people can be so mean to others. It isn't fair."

He didn't know who she was referring to, but if only she knew what he had done, she wouldn't say that in front of him.

Sasuke could see in her eyes that she thought he was a good person. Someone that is honorable, reliable. But he knew he wasn't any of that.

He had previously asked to himself why he tends to act differently with her. But right now, after their conversation, looking at her he knew why.

Both shared something. They were two lonely, bitter strangers.

Each in its own way.

PS: I forgot to tell it last chapter, but green tea ice cream is weird.

PS2: My birthday is in Shidare too! Two days later than Sakura's.

PS3: Kabukichō is the red-light district, if you know what I mean…^^

PS4: I'm sorry it took so long to update this story. I could say it's because I'm in a period of tests in college, but it was not for that reason alone. I'm with post-Pavement depression. Does this happen to people? After seeing a band you really like you get sad because you know it was awesome and it's never going to happen again? =/

Thanks for reviewing and reading, it's what I most like about writing here…