A/N: Aaah, I'm sorry the update is late again! ." I was so busy with life, having to have completed a gallery piece which took ages and also being ill for a long time and all sorts of things!
Don't ever fret though, my beloved readers! I do not abandon stories!
Thank you for your continued support and especially the beautiful reviews! You really make my day!
Now enjoy!
Chapter 6: The Memories
Haunting flashes of smiles and sparkling, large eyes echoed like whispers in front of his inner eye.
Malachite hues twisting into the brightest of viridian one could imagine, glittering with such intensity it was blinding.
And those smiles.
They devastated him. Caused an inner yearning he could never sate.
A sorrow never to be diminished.
Sasuke roused himself violently.
Sakura might have stopped her night-parades, but still he found himself incapable of getting proper rest.
Lately he'd often have dreams of memories he tried so hard to forget.
The raven-haired man could not quite comprehend what caused the constant reminiscence, but it happened, and way too often for his taste.
It left him confused, unconcentrated, tired.
Sighing as he sat up, legs flipped over the side of the bed, he raised his fingers to rub his eyes as they leaned on his strong knees.
He needed a cup of coffee.
And a massage would be nice.
Something to rest him enough or drug him painless until all the strenuous meetings and paperwork was over and done with.
At least for the day.
Taking a peek with one of his obsidian eyes at the clock beside his bed, he took note that it was only 5.31 a.m.
"Damn..."
Luck had to curse him into not finding any long sleep anymore.
Considering the fact that he had been awake at 2a.m. once because of the scratching cat, and at 3.30 because he needed the loo.
Pushing himself off the edge, he trudged languidly outside of his room, ignoring the fact that it was still pitch black outside; well, not quite.
There was some sort of dim light gradually growing at the distant horizon.
Dawn was approaching, even though slowly.
Yet Sasuke knew this apartment like no other, obviously, having lived in it for so many years by now.
It was an easy and quick march through the corridors towards the living room and thus into the kitchen, where some tomatoes lay expectantly on the counter for him to grab and pop into his mouth.
He chewed contently, near to happily as he returned back into the living room, asking himself if the news were on right now so that he had at least something to do.
After all, he doubted he'd manage to sleep again.
He was, even though not prepared to admit, scared of those dreams.
He couldn't take all the visions and flashbacks which constantly plagued his healthy mind.
Sasuke knew that if they popped up more and more frequently, he might lose himself to insanity.
The bright light of the TV screen blinded him at first, causing the Uchiha to squint his eyes before they finally adjusted.
Out of respect he tuned the volume down so that it was barely audible.
He turned once more, returning to the kitchen to grab more tomatoes when he noted a dark figure seated outside on the balcony.
Halting, he expected the worst, when he made out the delicate contours and the soft shading of light as the sun peeked over the hilltops in the far distance.
Sasuke frowned upon recognizing Sakura's figure.
Instead of interrupting her, however, he decided to watch.
She sat perfectly still, legs stretched out, hands behind her to support herself in a more or less upright position.
He gazed as the melting orange hues poured over her round, heart-shaped face and softened her features further.
She enjoyed the warmth, he could tell by her blissful look.
It painted her hair a maddening pinkish red, causing it to shine brightly and make the twisting, winding corkscrew locks seem immaculate and artistic.
He shook himself out of his reverie.
So what?
Sakura liked to waste her time up early in the morning to watch dawn.
Stupid.
There was nothing special about the sun popping up every day at the same time.
That was its job.
That was the way of nature and physics.
Well, if it fascinated her. As long as she didn't terrorize the whole block into joining her fun, she was allowed to do whatever pleased her mind.
Shrugging, the Uchiha left the kitchen and returned to the living-room.
He had better things to do.
"Akuma, take a shower now!" He called angrily through the polished wooden door as he knocked harshly twice, before returning to his room to righten his shirt.
Having decided to take the boy to school for once to show that he somewhere, deeply down, did care for his nephew, Sasuke was rushing to prepare his own attire and necessary extras.
He never knew how lazy and slow the kid liked to be.
Nothing like the rest of the Uchiha heirs, Sasuke thought disapprovingly.
Still not hearing a rouse from the room, he called out once more "Akuma!"
There was a sudden bang of the door and muffled footsteps, indicating someone trudging along in socks.
The raven-haired man let out a strained sigh.
Okay, so he wasn't in best terms with his nephew right now.
And had lost his respect.
Didn't mean the world would go under, did it?
Sasuke usually dismissed any attention not received quite quickly.
When he needed attention to sate his inner self, he could quickly gain it. It wasn't for nothing that women from all over chased after him like he was the hottest price in town.
Which, well, he was.
He was even in magazines to prove this.
The kind a girl would hide under her bed – if they had the need to hide anything like that at all.
So what did it matter to him if his nephew currently displayed a strong dislike towards his rather ignorant, asshole, arrogant jerk of a-
Okay yeah.
Sasuke understood.
Something needed to change. He needed to regain the trust and admiration of Akuma was quickly as he had gained it in first place.
When the boy had been so small and easily inspired by his cool, successful and handsome big Uncle.
Finishing with adjusting his tie, satisfied with his neat appearance, the charcoal-eyed man left his dorm and trudged over the the bathroom door opposite the bedrooms.
His ears made out the distinct noise of splashing, pouring water and the smell of hot steam rising together with almond and honey shampoo.
He knocked twice.
"Akuma?" He better be showering now, or he'd be late for school and earn himself more scrutiny from the teachers already.
Upon hearing no answer, which caused a vein to pop at the side of his temple, Sasuke grabbed the door handle.
He might be angry with him, but he still had some form of respect to display.
He couldn't walk around acting as he pleased and believing he didn't have to pay for the consequences.
The Uchiha's had a name to preserve and uphold, not to ruin and trample on.
So how dare the boy just turn on the tap to make it seem he was under the shower, when really, he was lazying around?
He trudged inside, seeing as the door possessed no lock, and was greeted by a misty cloud of drenching steam.
Strong fragrances of shampoo, a bit too feminine for his taste, invaded his nostrils and he sneezed.
So maybe the skunk was in the shower but decided to be a little brat who needn't answer his Uncle's calls.
"Akuma, turn down the heat." He scolded, moving towards where he knew the shower stood.
The faucet was turned off, the gushing noise diminished immediately, not without leaving a silent echo within Sasuke's hearing.
As the fog was gradually sinking towards the ground, Sasuke was surprised to make out a curvaceous, tender body followed by tumbling, soaking pink hair and-
Pink hair!?
Uh-oh.
"Sasuke!?" He heard the aghast voice of none other than Sakura shout through the mist, seeing her emerald eyes glower at him in horror and shock before he felt a harsh, sharp pain inflicted on his left cheek.
He shook his face, fingers immediately flying up to the consequential throb that now possessed his carefully shaved skin.
"Get out!" she roared as her frantic fingers grabbed for the soft towel to cover her exposed contours, "NOW!"
He rushed backwards, grabbing the door and shutting it behind him as he stood outside, eyes wide from shock and his cheek still stinging painfully.
"Ojisan?" He heard a meek question, turning his head much to late to see his nephew stand there with a bowl of rice and some chopsticks, nibbling on them, "What're you doing?"
Oh wonderful.
The day couldn't have started any better.
The ball flew artistically over the blue-streaked sky, spinning rapidly before landing exactly where he had planned for it to land.
With a swift kick, he managed the ball near the goal, past the incapable goalkeeper and inside, flinging it roughly against the net.
"GOAL!" a boy behind him, who was playing on his team, called joyously.
He smirked in triumph, turning to watch the spinning sphere be thrown out of the goalkeepers hands and towards the field.
He was speedy like a cat, catching it in no time manoeuvring it elegantly back towards the goal, shooting it in like a football star.
They all cheered in joy.
Some girls giggled, but he showed no interest.
One had especially flamboyant curly hair.
Which caused his eyes to widen fractionally, raising his right arm so that he could view the wristwatch attached to it.
"I need to go!" he announced quickly, before turning away from the field and trudging towards the cluster of trees at the other side.
"What!? You can't leave now that we are winning man!" A boy called devastatingly.
"I have a place to be right now, you gotta play without me." He didn't care for their approval or not; he needed to be somewhere and that was all that mattered.
"Let him go." the blonde kid muttered, "He has a date."
A gush of mocking "Uuuuh's" rushed after him, but he swatted that off coolly.
"He's got a girlfriend."
"He's going to meet her secretly and then he'll kiss her!"
"Haha! How disgusting!"
Stupid talk, Kuro mused.
Stupid talk for some nearly nine year olds.
But what did he expect?
"Did you manage to displease a woman?" Large, dark eyes blinked calmly in front of him as Hena stopped her busy typing to stare at her boss in mild shock and pleasing surprise.
Why pleasing?
Well, the old lady would be lying if she said the young boy didn't deserve a slap or two.
With all the women he usually...had it was a miracle that no insanely crazy husband or hurt ex suddenly popped up in the office with determined intentions of roasting the Uchiha's balls and insisting in Hena's office to do so.
Often-times she would imagine such scenarios, having calculated an exact probability of what any of the women that constantly marched in and out of this place like they owned it actually wanted from Uchiha Sasuke.
1% went to stabbing him 37 times and jumping out of the window, dying a blood-splattering death on the cold harsh road outside and making a big scene out of it in newspapers for at least 2 weeks.
99% went to seducing him into fucking their brains out.
Up until now her calculations had always been precisely accurate.
Even though she never got into the first stated situation.
Ever.
"Lucky little boy." she chastised inwardly, trying to stiffle her laughter when she once more inspected the bright red patch on his left cheek.
He grunted darkly.
"Is Uchiha Sasuke gonna tell me the fantastic story of his first proper time being beaten up by a woman because he is a selfish jerk?"
"He is not-" the words came out disapprovingly together with a dark glower which would have caused any other person to piss their pants.
Not so Hena.
"-gonna tell you such a story."
Now she had to chuckle.
Could you blame her?
Her lips wrinkled upwards as the elder secretary handed him an icepack wrapped in a thin, small towel for him to cool his cheek.
The pinkette had a damn harsh right hand.
His cheek felt like it was on the verge of exploding.
"Then may I at least know the name of the feisty admirable woman who had the guts to slap the Uchiha Sasuke?"
"What would it bring you?" he still growled lowly.
"I want to congratulate her on her courage and award her the honourable certificate of "You have guts"." Hena twirled her eyes, "What do you think I'll be up to?"
"Sakura..." He held her gaze for several seconds.
Nothing passed between them except for silence. Both were fantastic in concealing exact thoughts and emotions.
"The pink haired bubbly lady with the funny imagination? You live with her right? She declined your invitation into-"
"Hena you know exactly who I mean, she is walking in and out here so often and has quite a unique colour of hair, it is impossible not to remember her."
"Sweet how you said that."
"Said what."
"The last sentence. Sounds nearly romantic. If you take out the dark tone of voice you are currently using, of course."
"Hn."
She clucked her tongue against the roof of her mouth before smiling lightly again.
"Well, what did you say to cause her such fury? Tell her she was fat? Said her work was lousy? Insult her hair?"
"No."
Hena raised an eyebrow, "Don't tell me you tried to hook up with the poor thing."
"Would it surprise you?"
"No, but I am a hundred percent sure she would decline. Such an innocent girl doesn't belong in the bed of a man like you."
"I did not try to hook up with her."
"Then what?"
"I...surprised her in the shower."
Another moment of gushing silence filled the air between them.
"And that is not counted as an attempt to hook up with-"
"I was not trying to hook up with her!" He nearly roared.
"You are right. It is more so counted as being a perverted stalker-"
"Hena." Aah, she knew that tone.
The threatening, low growl of her boss when he was on the verge of exploding.
Not a sight one must behold.
She had seen it many times, when he scorned business-friends and employees.
Hena had never been the target of his outbursts. She didn't want to start with that, either.
"Alright, alright. I'll zip my lips up."
"Thank you."
Another chuckle.
She just couldn't help it.
"I really like your hair." he smiled at her sweetly, mustering the best curl of his lips.
The tears still streaked down her cheeks, staining them a rosy hue and leaving them to glitter in the evening sun.
"T-Thank you..." she hiccuped afterwards.
"Ignore their comments, they don't count. It doesn't count what anyone says about your hair..."
His eyes were focused tenderly on her the whole time. His gaze never wavered.
She tried to look him into his eyes with her large, forest-green orbs.
"...it only matters what I say." but his words came out in such a tiny whisper he believed she did not quite hear.
He could not believe the words which infiltrated his conscience.
Hena was not just saying that right now, was she?
She had to be joking. This all was to be a stupid joke.
Before he quite knew, anger clutched at him like a maddened monster, causing him to abruptly stop his paperwork, stand up and storm out of the office not before grabbing his keys and blazer.
"Uchiha!" Hena called after him, still standing with the small piece of paper neatly tucked into her hands.
Yet the raven-haired business-owner ignored her protest-filled calls and continued his angered trudge towards the bottom of the building and inside the car he owned and drove around this place.
Turning on the engine harshly, he manoeuvred his way out of the parking lot and made a dash for the primary school of his nephew.
The boy had uttered one wish. One. Bloody. Wish.
To be let to live a normal life for at least a short amount of time.
Sakura included.
With going to school and all.
If that were to be your biggest dream, then how come you try and do everything to ruin it!?
Not caring for the law and safety regulations and the dangers of being discovered, he grabbed his cell phone and dialled in Sakura's number.
His words were short and gruff.
"Sakura. To school, now, Akuma was in a fight again."
He didn't wait to listen to her exasperated tone and shocked cry, simply dabbing the red button and continuing his drive.
Finally reaching his desired designation, and entering the complexity with quickened steps, he halted as Akuma's tutor stood slap bang in front of him; she probably wanted to go see if he had arrived.
He was glad to not have bumped into her and thus caused another discomforting situation that day.
"Uchiha-san." she spoke, mildly surprised.
"I'll talk to him at home." Sasuke threw in assuringly, not sure what to actually say. He had never been a parent himself, had never desired to start a family.
And Akuma wasn't doing well in winning him over to reconsider.
"Yes...well, this time he seems to have beat up three boys solely. They are all alright, just some bruises, but still, as I have said before, we-"
"Yes." he interrupted her with a seductive smile.
He needed no explanations, he knew the consequences and the warnings.
She needn't repeat.
He had no nerve for that right now.
"I promise to take care of the matter." He spoke calmly, looking her deeply into the eyes before turning to approach Akuma, who received a dark scrutinizing glare.
"Akuma, we are going." He barked before dashing back outside the building, the young boy stumbling to keep up.
Just as he exited the place, he saw Sakura running towards them with a worried facial expression.
"Hey, I'm here, what did the teacher say?" She huffed in between pants.
"We're heading home. Get inside the car."
Even though the rosette was assured the command was directed at the young nephew, she got inside nonetheless without further ado.
He was in a particularly foul mood today.
She couldn't blame him, she knew her slaps hurt.
The drive home was as silent as Sakura remembered their first journey to be. She guessed Sasuke stuck to this strategy in order not to lose control over the vehicle and cause a massive crash and maybe even multiple death.
So when they were finally back at the apartment, all inside and door shut firmly, she knew to plop her fingers inside her ears as he roared across the living room.
"Akuma! Seriously!? Twice?"
The boy sighed.
"I thought you had everything sorted out with Sakura." He mocked as he spat the words.
"It's not that easy." he whispered, pouting and glaring at the carpet.
"Alright, what in God's name is not easy about not getting into fights at school!? You are eight! Eight year olds aren't supposed to get into fights!"
"What would you understand!? The young Uchiha bellowed back, "Not like you care except for the damn reputation of this damn family! Nobody ever asked what happened, what I feel! You all just wanna tell me how to behave perfectly like...like some Disney prince!"
Instead of continuing their argument as Sakura had expected, which partially amused her because she was to see an eight year old tell off great Uchiha Sasuke, Akuma pushed passed them and disappeared within his own confines with an evident thud.
Sakura could tell a storm was brewing inside of Sasuke. The colour of his midnight eyes shift microscopically, displaying and evident rage from having suddenly been released, noting the determination in his feet to step and follow the kid inside his room and give him a good lecture or two.
And as crazy and insane her actions might seem to anyone else, for she knew not to poke a lion that was ready for attack, she stopped him, grabbing his arm quite forcefully and holding him back.
His large, enraged eyes pierced menacingly into hers as he demanded visually for her to let go, if she knew what was best for her.
But her determination didn't waver.
"Sasuke, that won't help him at all."
"Well, your advice didn't help him much either, did it?" He tried to contain himself.
"Nor will yours! There is more to the story than you would know!" She barked, scowling at him in return.
"What." Came the rude inquiry.
"He was trying to protect a girl." it came out so softly and innocently.
It sounded so familiar.
So known and clear and just like a déjà vu.
He frowned in confusion.
"She gets bullied a lot. I don't know why but he was only standing up for her."
Sakura's expression softened as much as did his as he relaxed within her grip.
"So...what do you suggest I do." he finally queried after a long thoughtful moment of speechlessness.
She looked at him in surprise.
His eyes didn't meet hers a he said that.
"Talk to him in a more empathetic way. I know you yourself were a model pupil back in the days, but try to imagine his situation and damn it, ask him how he feels."
He stared at her with doubt, unsure if he could act so...out of character.
"I'll help you." She smiled warmly at him, causing a weird tingle in his stomach for a few nano-seconds before it left, and he decided to follow her towards Akuma's room.
"Try be empathetic, huh?" He sneered inwardly, "Not that hard..."
"Shut up!" He roared with an angered expression, jumping to his feet.
But the boy in front of him just laughed and sneered, "Why? Are you angry because I insulted your girlfriend?"
His glare intensified.
"How sweet of you to always go see her secretly. The freak and the rich runt all together romantically. Let's all feel sick."
"Shut. Up!" He growled lowly, his temper becoming worse and worse with every second he had to continue listening to his classmate.
"C'mon, why do you waste your time with her? You could do better, you know. Girls like you, after all. So don't spend it with the bubblegum haired weirdo and her ugly green eyes and flowers and-"
That was it.
He wasn't having anymore of it.
Kuro lunged for the boy, forcing him to the ground and beating him senseless.
Thus it was no surprise for him to have landed in the headmaster's office, being picked up by his father a little after school ended.
And it had unnerved him senseless when he sat within the car in utter silence.
No word spoken.
No comments exchanged.
But he could feel the boiling anger radiating off his father a mile away.
Hence, when they got home and Sasuke tried to mad-dash to his bedroom, it was only to be expected that he cringed when his beloved dad spoke his name sternly, calling for him to stop and return.
Kuro had never been told off worse.
His father could be quite an impressive and intimidating personality.
The punishment was lenient, he guessed, having to be locked up inside the house for three weeks straight.
He was glad he wasn't to be quitting school and attending home-tutoring once more.
But the boy needed his freedom.
Sitting in front of his desk, glaring at a book from his own grand library, which he had read over and over again (just like all the others), was not what he desired to do right now, however.
Usually, Kuro wouldn't be bothered by such happenings.
He'd dismiss it as nothing to be worried about, he wouldn't miss hanging about outside with others for 3 weeks.
And indeed it wasn't the fact that he didn't get to see his friends to play football.
Or attend lessons like a normal student.
Not even going to see a movie (they had their own home cinema after all) or visit a friend around their house and try their mother's home cooked specialities (he had cooks; his mom would never be found swinging the cooking-spoon).
No.
The reason he had this twisting, heavy feeling at the pit of his stomach was because being grounded meant being hindered from seeing Rosalia.
That was something he could simply not endure.
Because of his stupidity and weak temper, he had ruined the chance of spending time with her.
Three weeks could easily turn into three years this way.
And what made it all the more worse than it already was?
She didn't even know.
He had no chance of informing her, he was banned from going outside.
Not like he knew where she lived, anyway. Or her phone number.
Damn it! Not even her proper name!
And though some might find it strange they hadn't exchanged their true identities, considering how close of friends they were, for them it was something special.
They still had secrets to reveal, and promised to do so when the time was ripe.
But not now.
Kuro sighed heavily.
How would she react to him missing at their usual meeting spot near the large cherry tree?
Would she feel lonely? Irritated? Devastated? Betrayed?
He would not know.
But he was somehow convinced she would be mad at him, and he feared once he was released from his temporary prison, he'd have a hard time reasoning with her.
Yet Kuro knew their bond and he knew Rosalia.
She would understand.
She knows he wouldn't leave her hanging without a proper reason, right?
Right?
Lazy eyes dug themselves into the neatly printed text, but the words turned into a jumble of nonsense within his mind, because he just felt so utterly guilty.
Knock! Knock!
"Come in!" Kuro called, believing it to be one of the maids requesting if he wanted dinner or whatever.
Knock! Knock!
"I said come-"
Bang!
Frowning, he stood up from his study place, trudging to the door and opening it silently.
There was no one outside.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Kuro turned, eyes scanning around wildly, until they stopped at his balcony door.
Even within darkness she glowed like the sun.
Her smile was bright and her eyes sparkly, just how be remembered them to be every day.
"Kuro!" Her harsh whisper reached his delicate ears.
He took quick steps to the door and flung it open.
"Rosalia! What are you doing- how did you get here!?" His tone was a mixture of shock and disbelief, underplayed by the sheer happiness he felt because of seeing her.
The girl giggled tenderly, "I snuck in! When I noticed you weren't coming to our usual meeting I knew something was fishy, so I came here to check on you..."
Kuro smirked, letting her past him inside his warm confines, "How do you know where I live?"
"The blonde boy you always play football with told me. I asked him when I was looking for you, because I thought you might be on the fields with your friends."
Kuro chuckled.
He knew she wouldn't misinterpret.
And he liked her very much for that.
"I still don't know how you got past the guards and alarms, though." he spoke playfully, still not quite believing her to be actually be inside his room.
"Well, a secret makes a woman a woman." she tapped the side of her nose and gave him a smug smile, causing both to burst out in laughter.
Until the young boy covered both of their mouths with his small hands.
"We have to be silent." He whispered once more, "Or they'll notice you are here."
She nodded quickly.
"I take it you are grounded?"
"Yup."
"How come?"
Twisting his head to another direction, he glanced at the window, "I..."
"Tell me, I'm sure it wasn't that bad."
Looking into her eyes, Kuro smiled.
She was being sincere and was attempting to help him.
She knew he had a reputation to keep up and a name to hold and that it wasn't easy being him.
She wanted him to know that she would understand, and help wherever she could.
"I beat up a boy."
her large orbs widened even further.
"How come?"
"He...said...bad things...about you." Scratching the back of his head, Kuro avoided her gaze.
"Oh..." was all she answered, however.
Silence filled the room momentarily, seemingly stifling.
"I'm sorry." Rosalia finally spoke, a clear tone of guilt present within her voice.
"It's not your fault! That guy had to right to say such things! I don't regret what I did, even if it means I'm grounded for three weeks now."
He watched her bite her lip worriedly as she averted her stare.
"Well..." a sudden, mischievous glitter sparked within her malachites as an idea popped inside her head, "We could, you know, sneak out." Rosalia nodded her head towards the balcony, "I got in here, I can get out easily. We spend time together and you return here before anyone notices!"
His charcoal orbs inspected her critically, before a gradual smirk formed on his lips, "You sure about that?"
"Why not. It depends on you, really."
Taking a quick peek at his wrist-watch, Kuro began to smile, "I have two hours before they will call me for dinner. A maid usually comes to my door but asks for permission to enter first."
Their eyes connected.
"You think that's enough time?"
Rosalia nodded eagerly, a rouge colour painting her cheeks as she smiled brightly, "That'll do." outstretching her hand, she turned towards the glass door, "Let's go, Kuro! We only have two hours to get out and back in here again!"
Laughing, he took her hand, leaving the pink haired girl to do the rest.
Suddenly he did not mind the idea of being grounded more often.
A/N: Sasuke is trying people, he is trying! Expect next chapter to have some SasuSakuness, if mild and only just starting.
Don't forget to review! All you silent readers, you review too! Even if it is just a word! I feel terrible when I don't get many reviews and it is demotivating! D: I know you all like to get reviews yourself, so do as you want others to do to you! XD
Oh, and don't forget to check out my other stories, such as Not the loving Kind and Nightshadows – all SasuSaku stories!
Thanks! *blows kisses*
