blackheart01 has signed in.
blackheart01: Hiya everyone! How's it goin'? It's been a long time since we've updated this story so...Gomen (-_-)'
Fortunately, Duchie was able to come up with this chapter, it's mainly her work, and I was a bit busy with my other stories, so yeah... I wasn't able to contribute a lot..eheheh... Wonder how it goes?
Duchess has signed in.
Duchess: Meaning to say, majority of the mistakes are mine. *gulps nervously* A-Anyways, on with the s-story!
blackheart01: Sakura-chan, saying the disclaimer? (puppy eyes)
Sakura: (sigh) These two girls don't own Naruto...also puppy eyes don't work on me so quit it! (glares at blackheart who sweatdrops, while backing away)
Chapter 7
-0-0-0- Eros : God of love -0-0-0-
...
"Oh, still awake? Very unlikely, did something happen?"
To which, Sasuke frown at his elder brother's remark for several reasons. First, because he so rudely entered his room at this hour of the night. Second, why didn't he knew that he entered? And third, is because of his deduction that there's something bothering him. As if.
Well, not really. He shifted uneasily on his bed.
He tore his gaze from the ceiling, adjusted his hands at the back of his head and looked at his brother, who comfortably grabbed a chair to sit on and placed the tea on his (Sasuke's) study table. "You coming here, is what I think that is more unlikely."
"What? I can't come to my little brother's room now?" he said, sipping the said drink.
"Hn."
He cooed. "You really hate it when I call you that." He smiled. "So what are your plans for tomorrow? You know, Valentine's?" he beamed while wiggling his eyebrows.
He twitched an eye for a second, willed away the images that almost, almost haunts him every time this so called Love Day comes, wherein a mob of girls came chasing him with animated hearts on their eyes and chocolates, then put up a smirk on his face. "Hn." For some reason, the girls get an abnormal hormone hyperactivity during that day, preying hungrily on him and trust me, he experienced enough to affirm that.
"I bet you're thinking of how you can ask that feisty classmate of yours to go out?"
Okay, if he was the one drinking that tea, he's sure he would choke on that or better yet spit it out on him. Even if that's embarrassing. But since that's not the case, he glared at Itachi and his weird suggestions. Really, why would he think that?
"Haruno?" he said incredulously.
"Oh, so that's her name."
Seriously, he feels like Itachi is playing with him. Why would he come into his room anyway? And him? Sakura? On Valentine's? You've got to be kidding me. That's the last thing he would ever, ever think of in his life.
But wait, that rings it. If he would stick with Sakura tomorrow for practically the whole day until this February 14th ordeal is over, chances were, no fan girls can come up close to him. And here he is, brooding of how he can escape those girls when the answer's right in front of him. Problem is, the pinkette is being annoying these days, after the cabin incident, he noticed that she is deliberately ignoring him and only talks to him when its about their training and even makes the training harder for him. But being the smart guy that he is, of course he would chose to be with the troublemaker Sakura than those sickening, irritating presence of the fan girls.
Even if he doesn't want to admit it, he needs that weirdo's help.
Uhm question, how to approach a girl?
...
The following day, everything started out well. Sasuke had planned what he needs to do last night, he settled of getting help from the pinkette as a last resort if his plan backfired. Well, not really help as in asking her. You know what I mean. And yeah, his pride is getting better off of him. To start with, he decided that he needs to come late than his usual very early arrival and staying at their classroom routine, so by the time he came, the students are inside their respective rooms and no one would see him. Which is fine, considering that Kakashi is their first class.
He asked the driver to stop a few blocks away from school rather than the school gates, and wear a cap upon walking on the streets. He entered the school surreptitiously, making sure that no one will notice him. He saw their building on his view, so he made hurried steps to go inside. Their room is on the fourth floor, (heck, so high) now if he could just sneak in and—
"Sasuke-kuuunnn!"
"KYAAA!"
"Hey girls, he's here!"
—get away with the fangirls. Damn. Too much wishful thinking.
Instantly,out of nowhere, he saw a horde of girls, running towards him. Without missing a beat, he darted left towards the soccer field. Before he reached it, he scooted again to intentionally lose them and swerve to the back of the building, where it's dark and no one can see him immediately. The crowd seems to be half now as he can see from his spot, some were smart and even suggested to go by groups and start searching the school grounds. He decided not to stay where he was, coz if the situation comes, he won't be able to escape as he's on a dead end. The girls continue to look for him. Holding his cap, wait, he lost his cap! Damn, just as he was about to flee. He peeped again, and the girls were looking at the opposite direction. He slip quietly, but one spotted him.
"There!" he saw Karin pointing at him and sprinted at his direction with the other girls tailing her.
What are these girls? Hounds? he thought while running away, and tried to put as much distance as possible with the girls. But its draining the energy out of him. He can't come close to the building still. He saw a bush and hid there. The girls' steps went past him, lasted for about a minute or two. Panting and annoyed to no extent, Sasuke begrudgingly observed any stray movements. His plan of completely ignoring them is not working.
He heard a rustle on a nearby bush. It couldn't be another fan girl. Heck, he's still not recovered from running. He stooped lower on the bush and tried to maintain his breathing because someone might hear it. Could they figured out that he'd purposely lost them again and hid somewhere?
There's none. He stood up.
Then, all of a sudden, he saw the person he never expected the most.
Sakura appeared behind a tree, stifling a yawn.
...
A pair of green orbs meets onyx ones. One narrowed. Other stared.
"Just what on earth are you doing here?" a totally infuriated voice rang out.
"Hn."
"Don't you give me that response!"
"You should be in class." he stated instead.
Onyx eyes stared some more.
Green orbs glaring now.
She smirked. "Like there is a class. Ino sent me a text message just now that it's just half day. I shouldn't have come if I knew. Anyways, I'm leaving."
That alarmed him a bit. No classes. Whole day of fan girls. He blurted out the first excuse that came into his mind. "Naruto is looking for you." Stupid, stupid excuse. He cursed inwardly. As if Sakura will buy that. He should have said Neji, Shikamaru or Sai—
She froze. Then gaped. Then closed her mouth. "Did you, by any chance, see Naruto with Rock Lee?"
"..."
"Oh, right. You didn't know him yet. He has these big eyes, thick eyebrows...?"
"Hn?" he played along.
She suddenly look worried.
"Oh, damn! How can I go home now? Lee might be at the gates, or whatnot. You!" she pointed at Sasuke. "You are not going to tell them that you saw me. You—" she smiled menacingly. "...are coming with me."
And before he knew it, he was dragged by her. A couple of fan girls, saw them but left them alone after getting just one deadly look from Sakura. They practically created a space for them to pass while whispering. She is definitely the last person you wanna mess with especially if she just woke up.
Oh but there's one who isn't the least affected.
"Wait a minute— what is happening here?" Karin blurted out. "Are you seducing our Sasuke-kun!?" she accused. That twitch his eye a bit.
She scoffed. "Me? Seducing him? Karin, I didn't know you have a wild imagination. Not that you have a brain to begin with and jeez girls, five more-meter radius. Look at the Uchiha's scared face."
This time the onyx eyes glared too.
"Then why are you holding him?" a random girl he recognized as Riku, one of Karin's minions, asked warily.
She let go of his hand. "Now I don't."
"Che. " Karin sneered. Then looked at Sasuke, with batting eyelashes. "Sasuke-kun, dear, would you like to have a lunch with me?" Swear, he can just vomit now.
Sakura snorted. "Dear?"
"SHUT UP HARUNO! Why don't you just shoot arrows, and leave us alone here?"
"I would prefer that but no." she smiled mischievously. "I have to go somewhere with your dear Sasuke-kun." she said the last part sarcastically.
"Where is that?"
"Somewhere secret." Sasuke raised an eyebrow at this. Why is she doing this? Then, she took hold of his hand again and smiled innocently. "Right, Sasuke-kun?" she said while gripping tighter on his hand, then he caught on. She was acting. Dumbfounded, he looked away. The fan girls sees this as his approval so they gasped.
"WHAT THE HELL?!"
"When did—you two together?!"
"This is so not happening!"
Then unbelievable as it was, the fan girls are scuttling away, with disappointed and sad faces, hauling a screaming and hysterical Karin in tow. He felt movement on his left. Sakura removed his hand off him and to his surprise, she is smiling triumphantly.
"Why did you do that?"
"I wanted to freak out Four-eyes." she narrowed her eyes. "Don't tell me you're worried that they'll talk about us instead of thanking me? Egotistical, aren't we?" she said scoffing.
"Hn."
"You were having problems with them in the first place, just trying to give a hand. Besides, I have no choice. Captain will be mad at me if he finds out that I let you get harassed by those girls."
"You wanted to avoid Naruto." he pointed out.
"Oh and that." she giggled. "Enough of this. Let's go to the camp." she said and started walking towards their training grounds. He followed her without complaint, (seriously can you?) while thinking of different things.
It seems that he needs her help after all. Good thing that she didn't find out his problem. Fan girl predicament solved. But, now he is indebted to her. He must do something in return for her. He sighed and unconsciously look at his palm. His eyebrow arched at the sudden thought that came into his mind.
Sakura's hands are warm. Firm. Silky.
And he liked it.
Weird.
...
They were walking on a different path this time, for they're heading towards the girl's cabins. They stopped in front of a large greenhouse.
She went inside, while him still following her. They've passed a large garden full of seedlings of different plant species. In the end of the path, there's a coffee table. They didn't stop there but went to a door at the right and there, revealed a gazebo in the middle of the flowerbed under a glinting sun.
"This is Hina-chan's place. Nice, right?" she asked.
"Hn," he nodded in approval. He's not actually the nature-type but the place really is beautiful. It gives you the feeling of comfort and solitude. And that's what he is. A solitary man.
"I also have some plants here. If you look at the right, there, that's narcissus plants. Beside, are hyacinths and anemones."
"Myth related, I see." he muttered.
"Yeah, and that's not it. I have trees too. But they're still young so they're still inside the greenhouse. And one kind of herb."
"Which is?"
"Tarragon. Scientific name: Artemesia Dragunculus. Artemesia. Artemis, got it?" she stated, smiling.
What should I say now? he thought. Obviously, Sakura is trying to start a conversation, which, he never bothered to do in his life. He felt obligated to be considerate with her and try to reply, because in the first place, she helped him.
"Is there anything else about you not connected to Myth? Anything?"
Okay, not that kind of question. But he can't think of what to ask anyway. Its not like he wanna know something about her. Though, it might be interesting to know if there's something she is fond of that is normal. Or common, for that matter.
Her look shifted to glare. "Yeah, actually there is." she replied. That caught his attention. "I hate you with no Greek or Roman influence, how's that?" she retorted.
Way to go in starting up conversations.
"Hn. Why were you looking for Rock Lee earlier anyway?" he asked somewhat bluntly.
She raised an eyebrow. "Heck, never! I was just asking coz, you know...Valentine's.. and—"
"You have a date?" he sounded a bit incredulous.
"No!" she said mortified. "I'm trying to avoid him, for your information. Because unlike you, I don't tolerate admirers. fans, stalkers whatever you wanna call it." she spat.
He smirked. "You really have an awful, loose sense of judgement towards me."
"I don't think so. In fact, I know you're a social retard just by looking at you."
He narrowed his eyes at her. "Then you must be blind."
She cooed. "Oh, you tell me."
Teasing. She is definitely teasing him but damn, he is still annoyed. He looked to the side and stared at the scenery. Did he just say that he needs to do something to pay her back? Oh, coz he is definitely doubting that now. He shouldn't have come to school. Damn Itachi and his crazy antics. For persuading-blackmailing him to come today, with his mom as his accomplice, insisting to ask Haruno Sakura on a date. And mom, being his mom, got frantic about his 'baby' going out with a girl. They even stuff a pack of chocolates in his bag. Oh hell.
"Gain her trust."
He frowned at his sudden statement. "Hn?"
"Her trust, little brother. If you get that, everything will be smooth between you two. Why on earth would I do that? he thought.
"Be a friend first, of course. Then strengthen the bond by increasing encounters—"
"Encounters?" he asked curiously.
"Yes, like instances or events wherein you could spend the time together. Until you can't practically live without the presence of the other."
"Creepy. And this is coming from my brother who switches girls every time?"
"Hehe. Yes, but this is not about me Sasuke! I'm saying this for you to have a normal social life!"
"Absurd."
"Afterwards, you could asked her on a date."
"I told you, I'm not interested—
"Okay, I get it. The thing is for you to have a good relationship with people, trust is the key. Sometimes it matters more than love. Anyways, you still need to straighten out things with your classmate you had a fight with. You mention that she is going to be your coach?"
"Yes?"
"OK, but with teachers, there's a different approach." he grinned. "You need to act as a troubled child so she will always—
"You also make a move on teachers?!"
"What? No! I was about to say the strategy to make a good impression on teachers so they won't be hard on you."
"Oh."
"Remember, gain her trust."
He was snapped from his reverie when he heard a rumbling sound. He automatically snapped his head left to right to check where that was coming from. Then he saw Sakura, holding her stomach with a little blush.
"I'm starving. I haven't eaten." she confessed. "Do you have food?"
He stared. "Where's yours?"
She shot him a dark look. "Give me your bag."
That startled him. No, she can't see his bag's contents. Itachi placed a lot of sweets there. And, he doesn't wanna give her the wrong idea. She would definitely have something to tease about him again. He can't let that happen.
He smirked. "No way."
"Yes way. Give me that or I'll take it!"
He instantly snatched his bag when she began to reach for it. He clutched it protectively, hugging it like his life depends on it. She, on the other hand, kept pulling it from him. The chocolates must be crushed by now. Who cares?
"Why won't you share?!"
"Back off Haruno and stop mugging me."
"No I'm not! I'm asking nicely earlier." she snapped.
He sighed. "Fine, I'll get one for you. But don't touch my belongings."
She gaped but agreed. "Okay."
"Stay here."
There he left her and sauntered past to the field of flowers. After a few minutes, he spotted a place where shrubs grow and fruits are nearly dropping on the ground in abundance. There's also small trees that he can just climb. He went to a certain plant which is in front of him and harvest a lot of the pinkish fruits. He doesn't recognize it but there's ants bustling below the tree and carrying the remnants from the fruit that fell so maybe the fruit is edible. He also got a couple of oranges and berries before going back to Sakura.
She was still on the same spot, but resting her head on the gazebo's post. He noticed that she was wearing earphones so he just placed all the fruits he got on the table in front of her. She instantly removed it and went down to observe what he have gathered. Her eyes fixed on the pinkish fruits that he brought. She is looking at it closely, then smelled it afterwards. She must be checking if its poisonous or not. Then she looked at him after putting it down. She reached for strawberries.
"Where'd you get those?" pointing to the fruit she is holding earlier.
"Near the oranges. Why? Is it toxic?"
"Actually no, its used as an antioxidant now..." she said then got a piece and toss it at him. He begrudgingly took a bite and relish the sweetness of the fruit that's playing in his mouth. It surprised him that the simple fruit actually can be this juicy. Even the seeds can be eaten. He looked at Sakura who is currently staring oddly at him. Is there something wrong on how I'm eating it? he thought. "But before it was..." she trailed off.
"?"
"...'the fruit of the dead'."
...
"I don't understand it Sai." Naruto stated and shot a curious look on the black-haired artist, sitting across him with a book on his hands. They were in an empty classroom at the end of their floor.
"Is there something you do?"
"Of cou— Hey! what's that supposed to mean?!" the blond yelled indignantly.
Sai just smiled at this. "Nothing. You were saying?"
"Oh." the blond seemed convinced so he went on. "I don't understand why we have to capture Lee and keep him hostage here?"
"Because he will pursue Sakura-chan remember?" then he spare a look at the guy wearing a green, skin-tight overall, with a puppy-look on his eyes. The said guy keeps on squirming while trying to say something but can't due to a handkerchief on his mouth.
"Oh, yeah..." he said scratching his head. "But I still don't get it. Girls are supposed to pursue the guys at Valentine's, right?"
"That is not the case with Lee or the fanboys." he sighed. "Anyways, why don't I go ahead and tell you the story I'm reading right now?"
"Is that the same material as what Kakashi-sensei's reading?" he eyed him suspiciously.
"No."
"OK, But that's better be good or else you will treat me at Ichiraku's for a whole week!" Naruto exclaimed excitedly.
Sai just smiled, while Rock Lee wriggling on the background.
...
Sasuke's back to brooding. After he made a scene of gagging out the fruit that he ate and watching Sakura laughing at him, guess you couldn't blame him.
"Still mad?" Sakura asked, smirking. "I told you it's not toxic right?"
"..."
"Oh, not talking huh?" she stated. "I didn't know you're sensitive."
"Life and death is not a matter to be joked about." he snapped.
She sighed dismissively. "Yare, yare."
What is wrong with this girl? he contemplated.
Sakura then stopped, she must have noticed Sasuke's seriousness. She reached for the remaining fruit on the table. The reason for Sasuke's annoyance. She divided it into two and take the other half. "I'll prove to you that it's safe." he offered the other half at him. He looked at her first then took the fruit eventually. "Let's eat it together."
"What if you're just trying to kill me? You hate me after all."
"Oh, I really hate you yes, but not enough to kill you okay?" she rolled her eyes. "C'mon, you didn't have any of what you've brought me. It's unfair that I am the only one who can get to eat." still persisting him.
"I'm not hungry." he countered.
"Trust me." she said firmly and a little impatient.
"No." he shot back.
"Gain her trust."
Itachi's voice reverberated on his head. For the first time ever, he's thinking of listening to his elder brother's advice. But that's what his brother wants right? To call off a truce with this girl. Besides, its about time. Maybe its best if he's on Sakura's side. That will mean fan girl-free life forever anyway. So, I just have to die to get her trust? That doesn't seem to make sense. Guess he have to try and see what happens?
He watched as Sakura took a bite of her fruit and decided to do the same. The fruit is delicious, sweeter the second time around.
"See? It's safe. Told you." Sakura said smugly. "It's coz you don't trust me, do you?"
I think I do now, he thought. Instead of replying, he chose to get the last piece of the produce and handed out the half onto her. "And you hate me, so we're even."
"Agreed."
Sometimes it matters more than love.
No conversation permeated between them after that as they stayed quiet, savoring the sweetness of the pomegranates.
...
"I guess everything went well today, huh?"
Sasuke tried to hide his startled expression with a blank facade. For the second time, Itachi barged into his room without him noticing his presence. How the hell he does that, Sasuke wouldn't know. Sasuke simply groaned in reply and went back staring at the ceiling as he lay on his bed.
"Are you going to completely ignore me and make me force you to talk, or will you answer me properly, little brother?" Itachi raised an eyebrow at him, walking over to the same chair he sat on before and settled himself on it again.
Sasuke growled irritated and sat up to scowl at Itachi, who simply stared back ignoring his dagger look. "Hn. It went fine."
The elder Uchiha grinned triumphantly, when the boy answered. "How did you do it? Did you ask for her help?"
"No. I didn't have to. She was able to help me without her knowing." he unwillingly replied.
"Why does it feel like something like that would happen?" Itachi mumbled, a flash of disappointment showed on his face. "Anyways, were you able to gain her trust?"
"...somewhat." he answered slowly, watching his brother's facial expression turn to confusion, so he decided to explain further. "She wasn't that hostile today. I could almost call it friendly, if not for the constant threats she gives me every ten minutes of our conversation." he added, making his brother chuckle.
"She's that tough, huh?" Sasuke nodded his head. "How were you able to survive the fan girls?" Itachi asked, wondering why his brother didn't look dishelved, harrased nor abused considering what day it was, plus he didn't reek of chocolates like the last year's Valentine's when he came home from school and Itachi was in Japan at the time.
"Easy. I spent the whole day with her. She's like an anti-fan girl charm." Sasuke shrugged, smirking as he remembered how Sakura scared off his annoying mob of nightmare.
"Talented, pretty and with an 'I-don't-give-a-damn attitude. Just you're type of girl huh?" Itachi teased.
"How did you know she's pretty?" Sasuke narrowed his eyes at his brother.
"Because you didn't deny it, and the fact that you also didn't deny that she's you're type." Itachi grinned mischievously.
"Hn."
"See? You still didn't correct me! You do like her." the young man's smile widened.
"Shut up." Sasuke rolled his eyes at him.
"You make this Haruno girl sound so interesting. You wouldn't mind it if I go there and meet her up would you?" Itachi asked feigning innocence.
"Do whatever you want."
"You don't care if I asked her out on a date or something?"
"Unless you're a Greek god or a myth fanatic like her, she wouldn't spare you a second glance." Sasuke answered dismissively, as he went to lying back on the bed, making it clear that he wants to end the conversation.
Sensing his brother's tired tone, Itachi shrugged and stood up from his seat. "You know what I'm capable of, Sasuke."
Sasuke frowned deeply at the ceiling at his brother's statement. "Whatever."
Itachi chuckled about to exit the room when Sasuke called him. "Yes?"
"Knock on the door next time, or I'll be forced to lock my door from now on."
Itachi smirked. "I got your room's key, little brother." he answered, before closing the door, leaving Sasuke to his thoughts.
Sasuke sighed, unable to sleep as he remembered the events that happened today. Spending the day with Sakura in the greenhouse was uneventful and interesting at the same time. They didn't talk much but he enjoyed the comfortable silence. Though it surprised him a lot that he could last with the company of a girl for more than an hour. He took the time to observe her as she busily tended to her plants for a moment as he ate. While ignoring him completely, Sakura allowed herself to let down her tough mask and Sasuke was able to have a glimpse of her gentle nature, even though it was mainly directed on the plants and not him.
At the end of the day, they agreed to wait for everyone to leave before them to make sure not one fan boy or girl could spot them and cause another rampage. They took that time to have Sasuke learn the basics of archery, the materials used to make the arrows and bows and how to take care of them. It somehow made the boy a bit interested on the topic. Sakura's lectures weren't as boring or exaggerated as a teacher's.
Unconsciously, he put his hand inside his pocket and he took out a small, round chocolate wrapped in a silver candy wrapper.
"Here."
"What's this for?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow puzzled.
"Since you've been a good student today, that's my reward to you." Sakura smirked.
"I'm not a kid. I also don't like sweets." he replied.
"Do whatever you want with it, throw it away or give it to someone." she shrugged. "Just consider it as my thanks for helping me avoid the fan boys, too."
"You helped me from those girls. We're just even."
"If you say so." she replied. They were already at the gates and she turned back to him. "I'll be on my way now. See you tomorrow at training."
"Hn." he nodded.
"Happy Valentine's to us. Congratulations for surviving this day!" she chuckled to herself, as she jokingly shook his hand as well, before leaving without waiting for his reply...
"Happy Valentine's, Weirdo." Sasuke smirked, as he fell asleep, his hand still clutching on the small treat.
duchess: I apologize if anyone is expecting of a very fluffy scene due to the title, hehe.. they're still not friends remember? Hope you enjoy it though. I'm tired. My back's aching. =^.^=
blackheart01: I'm sleepy...nyt nyt! (-_-)zzzzZZZ
blackheart01 has signed out.
duchess has signed out.
*read and review guys*