AN: For JustMeAndADream. Thanks!
(And I would like to point out that I TOTALLY UPDATED UBER FAST. Because, when fueled by such lurvely reviews, I rock like that 8)
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There are many, many different skills all ninja must master before they can be of any use to the society they live in.
They must learn to strengthen their bodies into weapons of destruction. They must learn the control needed to wield such power. Comradary, loyalty, determination – all traits highly prized among the elite shinobi.
But, of course, there is a darker side.
Sometimes, brute force and sheer will power will do no good. Sometimes, deceit is the quickest, surest way. Lying takes skill. But manipulation is an art.
Sasuke never did give Sakura enough credit.
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"The ultimate test of a relationship is to disagree while holding hands."
-Alexandra Penney
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Mockery #7 – Hell Hath No Fury…
like a woman who knows His weakness
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It should have been simple. He was used to rejecting her. He'd been doing it for years: Ever since he was twelve years old. All he had to do was turn to her, quirk one eyebrow in such a way as to question her sanity, infuse the exact amount of distain into his voice (so as to not offend her to the point of violence), and say no.
That's all. One word. One syllable, even. How many times had he told her the exact same thing? Countless times, surely.
But, this time, there was a new variable.
Today, as Sakura and Sasuke had walked back from lunch with Naruto at the ramen shop, she had told him about a get-together (party) Ino was apparently throwing later that evening. Smiling up at him with excited green eyes, she rambled about how most everyone would be there (missions had been slow) and how excited she was.
He knew what was coming. Sasuke wasn't a genius for nothing.
He had been completely ready for the question; ready to shoot down any hopes his girlfriend might have of him suddenly becoming social. Sure, he wasn't looking forward to the crestfallen expression she would surely don, but she'd have more fun without him anyway.
See? All planned out.
Then she grabbed his hand.
And, still talking, threaded her smaller, thinner fingers between his own. Her thumb was running up and down the side of his pointer finger, and he swore he could feel the whorls of her fingerprint against his skin. It was really quite distracting and he could feel his mind slowly fogging as her voice lost distinction and became a faint hum to his ears.
She was tapping the pads of her fingers against his knuckles. His fingers twitched, just a little, as the joints were pressured. Sasuke was quite immersed in trying to decipher the tune she strummed.
All in all, he was thoroughly enjoying this. Sure, he held her hand somewhat regularly, but… He went years without any contact that wasn't meant to injure. It was understandable a gentle touch could make him forget the world around him.
Right?
When Sakura suddenly stopped walking and turned to him, Sasuke almost stumbled. He recovered quickly though, and faced her in return.
Her delicate eyebrows were raised, her eyes expectant.
"So, Sasuke-kun?"
As she spoke, her fingers strummed over his knuckles once more.
"Aa," was his safe, monosyllabic reply. Inwardly, he cursed himself for zoning out like that.
Sakura's smile cheered him up a bit. As did the quick kiss she planted on his cheek.
"Thanks Sasuke-kun! I'll come get you after I get ready, ok?" Her fingers slipped from between his own, and he had to fight the urge to reach out for them. "Ja Ne!"
As she slipped into her house, it hit Sasuke. Shoving his hands into his pockets and inwardly swearing to keep them there forever, he started home, bemoaning the loss of his quiet evening.
In the house, rummaging through her closet, Sakura smirked in an extremely proud sort of way.