Author's Notes:
I'm sorry. Writing this chapter – believe it or not – took a few months because I'm critical and sometimes, feel like not writing at all. I'm just having a bit of a rough time with my muse these days. I hope this chapter is entertaining, in spite of flaws and hot smut still NOT taking place in this chapter XD (but then, if that's what you're looking for, then you're reading the wrong author, the wrong fic and ... well, the wrong author again).
Anyhow, this was – lovingly and very nicely – bet'd by Dooki-chan. Some goofs might remain because I think, after writing it for so long, I think I've been rendered blind to the errors ;_; (I added new parts as well!). I also got excited and um, I'm taking a look at this every now and then.
And one more thing: the support this fic is receiving is astounding, so much that I feel totally, totally undeserving, but t-thank you!
--
There were several things that Sakura had to do before she formally introduced Naruto to her best friends. They – she and Naruto, that was (and just because she collectively referred to her and Naruto by using a pronoun didn't mean anything, damnit!) - were on their way to Ino's apartment, passing by rows and rows of trees. The trees, apart from being green-leaved and of – for tree standards – medium height, weren't remarkable in any way.
Sakura guessed that there were others things as well, like houses and people, but she didn't really pay attention to them. As it was, Sakura was far more interested in Naruto. And yes, that was rather pathetic. Besides, describing a rather insignificant setting wasn't her forte. And she detested reading most classical novels because they just paid too attention much on just that.
Furthermore, even if she wasn't willing to admit it out loud – and she wouldn't have done so for any money in the world, she really was too engrossed with having Naruto by her side. Dumb, but that was the way her mind worked right now.
And he's really here with me. I just hope it'll stay like that. Good God, why am I being so – for lack of better word – cheesy lately?
It had to be all those love comedies she'd watched as a thirteen-year-old. They, no offence intended, tended to warp your brain with unrealistic notions. Sakura had quickly realised this after she'd received a first kiss. What those films had described as a life-altering, beautiful experience, Sakura had experienced quite differently.
It was wet. And didn't send tingles don't my spine at all. Nor did my life change dramatically.
"Number one: Ino is crazy," she said somewhat testily, as memories of Ino's attest insanity flooded her brain.
"The good kind of crazy or the bad kind of crazy?"
Sakura paused, utterly paused. Expressions like "facepalm" and "sweatdrop" ran through her brain, but then she realised that such terminology was really most unfit for this kind of situation. "There are different types of crazy?"
"Well, there's the good kind – you know, just a little batty but in a fine, exciting way. You know, people who come up with those crazy plans that turn out to be fun. Like I used to have this friend in elementary school who taught that eating bugs-"
Sakura wisely stepped onto Naruto's toe, earning a loud ouch and what the fuck do you think you're doi... from her very much affronted companion.
"Oh Naruto, get a grip on yourself – I just stepped on your toe."
"But it hurts!" Naruto wailed in a very unmanly fashion, and kept hopping about on one foot, looking very much like an over-excited chimpanzee. Or something like that.
Gosh, Sakura thought, men are so useless. And she further maintained that men were a) really wimps when it came to pain and b) had the social skills of apes. Only that apes had the excuse of being cute. Most men, especially those unshaved jerks who thought that the "weaker's sex" only saving graces were boobs and ass, were rarely anything but cute. Revolting was the more fitting word.
Naruto, himself, just concluded that he'd maybe lowered his guard a bit too early.
Should have figured she wasn't going to appreciate the tale of Tetsuda and his habit of eating spiders... really – women. So very humourless.
"I don't want to hear that! But Ino is the good kind of crazy."
Apart from the time where she thought that getting drunk at the school festival was a good idea.
But that wasn't something she was going to share with Naruto. The one time she'd sung to Madonna's "Like A Virgin" in front of her classmates, not to mention the entire school staff, wasn't something he needed to know. In all due respect to herself, Sakura had been eighteen back then. Everyone did crazy things at that age. Eighteen was a formidable age, after all and – to give credit to that age-old saying – you were only young once. Sakura had done a lot of dumb things in her youth. In fact, the "singing along to Madonna, dressed in your bikini top and a flimsy mini-skirt" had been one of her less harmful mistakes (even if she'd not been able to face the rest of her classmates for about a month without turning red).
And I don't regret a moment of it. In fact, I'd do it all over again.
Sakura wondered if Naruto, who definitely had to have skeletons in the closets, felt the same way.
...
Shikamaru was a really happy man. At the age of twenty-seven, he'd accomplished things in life that most men could only be envious of: he'd managed to combine his pastime with his job.
And he'd married his first and only love (well, there'd been that crush he'd had on Temari when he'd been thirteen, but somehow it had never come to fruition. Maybe, he'd been a bit too terrified of her – what had it been? - fan... yes, fan which she used to whip the leaving daylights out of unsuspecting men).
"Shika!" his wife – the ever-loving and graceful creature – yelled into his ears, and when he didn't budge, kicked (not so lightly, unfortunately). Shikamaru, roused to motion by that gentle caress, sat up in bed. He had to close his eyes for a bit as his surroundings were blurry. Ino just didn't understand that awakening like this was terrible. He felt like being on a ship. Everything around him was spinning, and it wasn't nice at all. No one likes seeing his wife with two heads.
Ino, however, didn't have any more patience and – not caring a whit for decency – screeched this time like a harlot gone wild:"Get up!"
"It's only twelve," Shikamaru responded idly, and scratched his head, wondering what all this hubbub was about. He didn't recall anything special about today, other than that it was troublesome to be torn out of a good day's rest. He thought, all things considered, that he rather deserved it. But then, women were annoying creatures. Ino was a woman, thus she was an annoying creature. Only that he loved her for it. Because, even if she was she was annoying, Shikamaru had to say that she was his annoying creature. It didn't make a lot of sense, but then has love ever abided by the rules of logic?
"Only twelve?" Ino responded, looking fairly dumb-struck, then Shikamaru saw that she looked mildly regretful. So, she had forgotten that he was a hard-working detective.
"Yes, and you need to consider that I was awake all night, working on that one case..." Shikamaru reminded his wife, thinking that she'd take a hint and maybe not yell so loudly. He did have a headache, and all her screaming didn't make it better. She was lovely creature for the most part, but sometimes a tad bit too vocal. Though, there were times when his male ego appreciated her being – yes – so very vocal.
"Oh, poor you!" Ino snapped, folding her arms in front of her chest as she continued her rant," I let you sleep all the time! And why do you always have to work at night? Wouldn't it be better-"
"It just works better for me at night," Shikamaru said, and got up. He was resigned to his fate, and would do his wife's bidding. After all, men were only slaves who served to perform the odious that women felt too dainty to do.
Only that was clearly rubbish, Shikamaru realised, as he pulled himself on his feet. He wasn't Ino's slave, and – if he'd really wanted to – could have put an end to all of this.
"Hmm," Ino replied, wrapping her arms around his waist," I just wish you'd not be asleep all the time. I sometimes get too little of you, what with you being busy at night and -"
Shikamaru grasped the hint immediately. He smiled, in spite of himself. Closing his hand over Ino's, he turned to face her – and smiled. "If you want, I'll take you out this weekend?"
Oh yes, he was really a fortunate man.
...
"Just remember: be yourself," Sakura told Naruto before she rang the doorbell. But then she paled, remembering that maybe this wasn't such a good idea. "Eh, just don't talk about farting and ... for God's sake, don't mention Jiraiya and his questionable habit of voyeurism."
Naruto blinked at her incredulously.
What does she think I'm stupid?
Naruto nodded, and stole a quick at his surroundings: red carpet, very comfortable-looking couch and other furniture that reminded him of English aristocracy He really didn't feel like wasting his time on inspecting it.
A building in Victorian style... whoever lives here is loaded.
No, he wasn't jealous, even though he found it unfair that some people weren't subjected to traffic jams and the hooting of cars twenty-four hours a day. Oh well, perhaps, he should have taken Tsunade's advice and become a lawyer. But then, Naruto remembered, he'd just always been into drawing. So, he'd taken that, instead of stressing himself over a major that wasn't his thing.
Naruto's reflections were interrupted when the door was opened, revealing a good-looking blonde.
That has to be Ino, Naruto thought as he walked in, taking in that the smell of – could it be? - ramen floating in the air. Someone here, he mused appreciatively, was a good cook. Due to the fact that both he and Sakura weren't really all that talented in this area, he'd gotten very much accustomed to pre-made food. Going to restaurants wasn't something he really indulged in – it tended to a bit too expensive for his tastes.
"So you must be Naruto!" Ino said, and grasped him by the hand, pulling him even further into the living room. Her hand was warm, and Naruto could also tell that she used jasmine perfume, and his eyes travelled from well-shaped body her neck. She wasn't looking, so Naruto felt he could inspect her without being reprimanded.
I shouldn't be checking her out, but ... hmm, she's quite ... hot. Yes, really good-looking.
What Naruto didn't realise was that Sakura was observing his every move.
And she was – even the word "furious" didn't cover what Sakura felt like! She had trouble breathing, had to refrain herself from screaming and knew that her face was turning red. Not out of embarrassment, but the simple fact that she was angry. Feeling that she had to give her anger some sort of expression, she – not so gently pinched Naruto's arm. Her nails were sharp. After all, as the wise saying among the "weaker sex ", you never knew when you needed to defend yourself. And in matters of self-protection, everything went.
Naruto hissed in pain. "What was that for?"
"Hey, don't the wrong idea, stud! She's a married woman," Sakura whispered angrily into Naruto's ears, pinching him even harder just for the heck of it. "A very happily married woman, I might add."
Sakura wasn't going to allow Naruto to check out her friend. Besides, what was up with him right now? He hadn't behaved like this before! Right now, Naruto was being so very typically macho that it made Sakura quite sick. And, grinning impishly, she watched – with no inconsiderable amount of sadism – how much her not so gentle jab in the stomach had hurt him.
I definitely didn't take him along for this. Really. Why must men always be so shamelessly interested in one thing?
She knew that Ino spelled "femininity" and, when she'd been younger, Sakura had been jealous. Jealous that Ino could be so beautiful and charming without coming across as "trying too hard". In fact, Ino had never been baiting for boyfriends since she'd already had Shikamaru wrapped around her finger. Or something like that; Sakura doubted that anyone could fool Shikamaru into submission.
"I'm sorry!" Naruto said quietly, and suddenly felt guilty for having done what he'd done. Perhaps, he should have been more surreptitious about undressing Ino with his eyes. He just couldn't help it, at times! He was a hot-blooded man. Men had the right to fantasise. He didn't think that Sakura the very pinnacle of virtue, either! He'd seen how she had looked – rather longingly – after Sai's behind. A hyena would have been more subtle about it.
Even right now, Sakura's behaviour was bordering on animalistic.
She's behaving like a lioness protecting her cubs. Or like a hawk with a precious -
It then hit him hard. Was Sakura jealous? And if she was, why his pulse quickening that much? Why, in the name of whatever the hell governed the processes of the universe, did Naruto feel like his cheeks were glowing, and his heartbeat increasing? He wasn't a fairytale princess who'd just caught a glimpse of her knight in shining armour. And yet, stealing another glance at Sakura's angry expressing and noticing how she was angrily chewing upon her lip, Naruto broke into a smile.
Why does it make me feel like jumping in the air and screaming "YAY"?
Naruto found himself really grateful when his thoughts were interrupted. Not that he was avoiding the topic, no sir.
"My husband will come out soon. You'll have to excuse him. He's a bit shy around strangers. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll go and leave with Sakura to do something important," Ino cheerfully said to Naruto, pulling Sakura into the kitchen.
Ino didn't feel like adding that Shikamaru simply felt that it was too bothersome for him to come out of the bedroom. She sighed. Maybe, her mother-in-law hadn't been that mistaken about whips in the bedroom.
Perhaps, it was time she took her advice into consideration and put it into practice, even if such brutality didn't really stomach well with her. Upon second thought, it rather disgusted her and Shikamaru wasn't that easily beaten, anyway.
If anything, she thought, the more you tried to cage him in, the more defiant that guy got. Oh well, she'd deal with it. After all, Ino was fairly certain that she had quite a few flaws herself.
--
"Don't you think that leaving them alone like this is bad?" Sakura murmured, caressing her wrist – Ino's grip had been surprisingly strong.
"Why? Let them chat. Besides, Shikamaru might not look it, but he's actually very sociable when properly motivated. Now, help me boil the water!"
Ino: always the perfect slave driver. And "properly motivated", eh?
Sakura rolled her eyes, and reaching for the cupboard above her, pulled out a pot and moved to the sink. She opened the water tap to let it be filled.
"He never talked to my other boyfriends," Sakura noted, realising all of a sudden that she'd called Naruto her "boyfriend". She felt like slapping herself. "Wait, I didn't mean it like that. Naruto is not my boy-"
Ino didn't seem to have time for Sakura's protests. "He never liked them. Least of all, Sasuke."
"Ino-" Sakura started sternly. She really didn't want to bring up that topic again.
"Sorry, Sakura-chan. I didn't realise that that name was still taboo."
"It's not! Actually, the more I think about it, the more I wonder how stupid I was back then. A brick-wall would have been a better boyfriend."
In fact, maybe that was Sasuke really was: a brick wall. I mean, he never paid any attention to me and geh, the way he ended things with me ... just thinking about it makes me want to break bones. Or rip out balls and declare that all men should be burned at the stake. Would serve them right.
"You were in love. You couldn't help it."
"Oh Ino. Even if I was, I should have known better. I mean, being in love doesn't mean you have to be blind."
And, secretly, Sakura wondered whether she'd only fallen so deeply in love with Sasuke because he'd been the image of what she had considered "Prince Charming."
Geh, why am I over analysing this? Stupid Sakura!
"Sakura, you can turn the water tap off already – the pot's overflowing!"
--
Naruto sat down and made himself comfortable, wondering about that "husband". Maybe it was one of these prematurely balding guys who looked like an overgrown nerd, and still kept jar glasses under his bed. Ugly men always got the hottest women. He let out a sigh, and scratched his left arm – why wasn't there anything to read in this house?
A sigh interrupted his thoughts, and looking up, Naruto found himself staring into the bored expression of a man about the same age as he. Something akin to excitement sprang up inside of Naruto, and he started to tremble, not knowing why.
It can't be but that guy ... he's eerily familiar. I'm sure I've ...
"Naruto Uzumaki?" the guy dispassionately drawled, talking as casually as if they'd been pals forever, "Didn't think I'd meet you here."
"Um, do we know each other?" Naruto asked dumbly because his memory was really failing him now. He was pretty sure he'd seen that guy – this weird man with the sharp features and odd-looking hairstyle – somewhere before, but he couldn't place it exactly. Damn it, this had to be old age – and he wasn't even thirty yet. Hmm, perhaps he and that guy had met during a convention or a college party?
"Oh yes. We used to go to middle school together," Shikamaru replied, wiping a strand a hair from his forehead.
"We d-did?"
Shikamaru simply flexed his fingers, taking a seat beside of Naruto. He scratched his head, then yawned and finally just seemed to occupy himself by staring holes into the wall. "Yes, we – that was me, you and Chouji – used to have detention together fairly often too. "
Then it flashed through Naruto's brain. "Shikamaru? You're that guy who always fell asleep in class!"
And, Naruto recalled, his grades had just as bad as his. Perhaps, even worse because he'd slept through all his class and, despite that, Shikamaru had never struck Naruto as dumb. Indeed, far from it. There was something in his eyes that hinted at anything but foolishness. No, they were sharp.
"Yes. I'm honoured you remember," Shikamaru said in a mocking tone, and rolled his eyes. He definitely seemed to be the very opposite of touched. But Naruto wasn't sure: reading other people's minds was not exactly his forte.
"We kind of all lost touch once we reached high school..." Naruto started awkwardly, "But it seems life's been serving you well, heh?"
"Hmm, I guess." Shikamaru simply shrugged, making himself comfortable on the couch.
"You're talking as casually as if we were discussing the weather. But I can see that you're loaded," Naruto said, a bit annoyed that the other man was being so blasé about all of this. Hell, if Naruto had been in his position, he'd probably have been boasting till no end. Guys just were like that – you talked big in order to maintain your pride.
Because that's the only that counts for anything in the end.
"I should have guessed sooner though. I'm sure Ino mentioned your name once or twice... Guess, I wasn't paying attention then," Shikamaru drawled, rubbing his chin. Now that that he thought about it, he was sure he'd heard the name "Naruto Uzumaki" drop out of her mouth some three or four times. Oh well, he reasoned, it wasn't that important.
"You don't pay attention to her?" Naruto asked, confused. Damnit, he thought, if I had a wife like that, I'd be sure to always dote on her. Some men were just too lucky. They always got what they wanted, and then had the defiance not to value it.
Why are you complaining? You've got Sakura. You only have to finally gather your wits together and take the next step. What? What the hell am I thinking?
"No, not when I'm asleep."
"What do you do for a living?" Naruto didn't want to talk anymore about how he seemed to mistreat his wife. Then again, he didn't know much about them – and he didn't want to assume things about people he didn't know much about.
"Detective. Not part of the police. I'm a private investigator. And you?"
"Really? That's cool. I'm a mangaka," Naruto said, rubbing his hands together in an awkward fashion. Somehow, he didn't feel that his job was going to impress Shikamaru that much.
Because it's not like you can beat being a detective. Unless you're a superhero.
Shikamaru's reaction was interesting to observe; his eyes widened slightly, but he quickly composed himself and then – to Naruto's amazement – he really looked at Naruto know, his eyes showing a glint of interest and maybe even respect. "Interesting. Sakura must you love for it. She always wanted to have a man who'd understand her passion for manga."
Love me for it? Man who understands -? Wait, there must be a big misunderstanding!
Naruto waved his hand. "Well. She likes it, but ... we're not um, you know."
"Not a couple?" Shikamaru offered and stared up at the ceiling. Naruto wasn't sure whether that was a) an insult b) a subtle hint of his being bored or c) simply the man's irascible-inducing habits.
"P-precisely," Naruto supplied, feeling hotter and more awkward than ever.
Why is my face that hot? And why the hell am I so angry?
"But you like her, don't you?" Shikamaru demanded, deciding to not play along with Naruto's dumb game of denial any longer. It was just too vexing and straining for his nerves – and he needed those. "Don't lie. When you talk about her, your eyes light up and you smile. She's, at the very least, a friend of yours. But I doubt that your interest in her is merely platonic – no, you're attracted to her."
Naruto brought his hand to his profusely sweating forehead. So, he was that obvious, after all. And there really wasn't any point lying to his guy. "I am, but-"
He remembered then why he'd moved into the new apartment in the first place. The old place, which was always too loud and hot at nights. His older apartment had been larger – and it had been close to the shore as well.
Was just too much filled with painful memories. Sure, it was nearly two years already, but I just couldn't bear to be confronted by the memories day in and day out.
"But?"
Why was it that Shikamaru managed to unsettle him so much? He wasn't probing: it was only one word, but that one word was enough to make Naruto want to share and spill out his innermost thoughts. Sighing, Naruto realised that the reason why he wanted to talk so much was because he hadn't talked to another guy for ages. And the bastard Sasuke didn't count. Nor did Kakashi. Or Jiraiya.
"Look, I'm not willing to get in a relationship just yet. I've been through a bad – really bad – break-up and ... you know the saying once bitten, twice shy?" Naruto asked, sheepishly and started playing with a loose string on his sweater.
"You're the not the only one. Break-ups are common."
"No," Naruto acknowledged sadly, "but I had really thought that we would work out. She was supposed to be everything. Hell, she was everything and then ... everything kept falling apart. But then, after four years, it just was over."
"Four years? Wow, that's pretty long."
"Yeah, we met at university."
"So you're telling me you've only been in one serious relationship?" Shikamaru asked, surprised though his tone didn't betray a single emotion. But then, looking at the blond man and how he was fiddling around with his sleeves, he realised that it maybe wasn't that much of a shocker. From what he'd grasped so far, Naruto was – in spite of his best attempts at hiding it – a rather insecure and easily flustered person.
"Well three. Counting my high school experiences. Is that so surprising?" Naruto knew that he wasn't very experienced, and he knew that most guys would have laughed knowing how little he'd gotten around, but then he'd never been interested in casual sex. He might play the role of the laid-back, flirtatious guy well, but it wasn't really who Naruto was.
"Have you told Sakura about this?"
"Hell no," Naruto protested, turning pale. "She probably thinks I'm a macho or someone who's not serious enough for a committed relationship."
Shikamaru shook his head. Really. "Are you sure that this isn't only a foul excuse?"
"Yes, but Sakura's ... she's kind of out of my league. I bet the guys she goes for all ... well, she'd probably go for my best friend: he's all dark-haired, mysterious and ... geh, Sasuke is just that that type of guy girls would die for. Too bad, he's too much of a git."
"Sasuke?"
"Yes, Sasuke Uchiha. Sure you heard of him. I'd meant to introduce Sakura to him, but he's always out of the country-" Naruto started, rubbing his hands in excitement. He'd felt for quite a while that it was necessary for his two best friends to meet, so that his life could be richer.
"I don't think that would be a very good idea."
"And why not?" Naruto inquired, suddenly feeling that the room was growing too hot for his tastes. He didn't like the way Shikamaru was gazing at him; his expression was a mixture of something that could have only been described as shock. Even if his eyebrows were merely furrowed and the frown on his face had heightened considerably. Yet, for a stoic person like Shikamaru to look like this, it had to be something serious.
"How troublesome, but -" Shikamaru directed Naruto to lean closer into him, "Sasuke Uchiha? If he's who I think he is, then he's the one who was Sakura's first real boyfriend. He dumped her by e-mail after they'd gotten intimately involved. She was quite distraught about it back then."
That was when the world stopped; Naruto couldn't breathe. It felt as if a heavy axe had cut through the air, and they were confronted by an empty vacuum.
"Oh fuck." Naruto couldn't say anything nor think of anything else.
It's just the worst kind of irony. It just had to be that the woman I really thought could hit off with Sasuke was already his at some point. And he dropped her like a cannon ball.
"You can say that again."
"But-"
"Every word of it is true, I assure you." Shikamaru pulled out a cigarette from the box placed inside his pockets. Lighting it, he saw through rings of smoke how Naruto's face darkened, and his blue eyes twinkled with something that could only be anger (they nearly blazed red, he thought).
"That bastard!" Naruto muttered, clenching his jaw so tightly that it made him groan. "I told him time and time again that he should stop treating women like mattresses, that he should finally find someone worthwhile and -"
"You were thinking that Sakura might be just that – the right woman for him? You didn't make a move on her because you think you're not good enough for her? And you're also scared."
Naruto ran a hand through his hair. "Yeah, maybe it makes me a coward. But I'm not sure I can go through all the ups and downs of a relationship again. I'm not too much into pain - "
"It's fine. I'm not telling you to make a move on her. Hell, I'm not Ino." And he really wasn't: he felt that the whole match-making business women were so fond of going gaga over was pure rubbish. Honestly. The decision whether or not to get involved romantically should rest with the person in question - and not outsiders.
"But?" Naruto knew there was a catch somewhere. There just had to be.
"But, I'm telling you that she knows disappointment just as well as you do."
Nothing else was said. There was nothing to be said anymore. Ino and Sakura marched in soon afterwards, and the conversation took up another flavour altogether as the women discussed their favourite topics. And that was fine with Naruto because he really, really didn't want to talk right now. But still, he smiled and grinned when Ino started telling tales about her high school days and he eagerly joined in with Shikamaru about women being "troublesome in the way always bought twenty pairs of new shoes each week".
And yet, even though he had fun, the new intelligence he'd gained pressed itself onto his mind.
...
Naruto knew he shouldn't have been angry over an event that had happened years and years ago. What did it matter that Sakura and Sasuke had dated once?
They'd been teenagers then – hell, he he'd not even talked to Sasuke during that period. Because Sasuke had been an ass, and Naruto – in the belief that he could do better than deal with grumpy bastards – had put distance between them. Of course, fate had forged them back together, and Naruto knew that he'd never let Sasuke out of his eyes again. That moron was just too reckless when left unguarded – and Naruto, as much as he felt that his life would be less of a pain without Sasuke, had forgiven him. Naruto knew that Sasuke needed him, even though he had pretty funny ways of showing his affection. A girl should not stand in the way of his friendship with Sasuke.
And yet, the very thought of it all, the thought of Sakura and Sasuke together made his blood boil. He couldn't help from grinding his teeth together, and making a sour face at everything and everyone as they walked out of the fancy apartment; he barely even remembered saying goodbye to Shikamaru and Ino. He only smiled whenever facing Sakura, but even that was difficult – and judging by the frown she threw at him – he wasn't doing a very good job of not showing his displeasure. But, damn! He just couldn't help thinking that if he'd talked with Sasuke during that time, he might have actually prevented things from going that far.
Maybe, if I had, then Sasuke wouldn't done something like that. Gosh, what is with me and my many "ifs" today? You can't change what happened in the past!
They were – once again – surrounded by rows of trees, which whipped as a cool breeze drove through them. Naruto, feeling cold all of the sudden, started rubbing his hands together. It didn't help: the chill spread over his body, in spite of the fact that he was rather warmly dressed. His muscles seemed to be lax too and his head throbbed. Naruto sensed that this wasn't a good sign.
Great, he thought, I'm going down with the flu or something.
Meanwhile, Sakura couldn't help frowning herself – Naruto was, for lack of better words, off.
He's not talking. And why is his smile that forced? Looks as if he's swallowed too much lemon juice.
They had reached the apartment hall by now, and Naruto was still not talking – and a cloud of self-pity seemed to hover pressingly above him. Soon, they'd reach her door and Sakura really needed to know what was going on. Or she'd break something.
"Naruto?"
"Hmm?" He turned to face Sakura, fixing her with a look that made Sakura nearly jolt back – he looked upset, nearly. And that, in turn, made her upset.
"I don't know ... you're kind of awkward today, Naruto," Sakura murmured, feeling a bit out of funk. Had she made a mistake inviting him over? He'd seemed to be getting along just fine with everyone.
But he could be pretending. And I'll find why.
Naruto sighed; he couldn't lie – Sakura could read him like an open book, and she'd cut his balls off if she noticed that he was not being truthful. And he was tired, so very tired of it all that he just decided to blurt it all out. He had nothing to lose, anyway. "No, just thoughtful. Shikamaru told me about a certain someone. About Sas-"
Something in her brain went "whozz" when she heard that name. But, to her big surprise, it didn't shock her that much. She should have known that Ino would pull a stunt like that, especially since she'd been trying to get them together for how long now?
But how she got Shikamaru to mention Sasuke is beyond me. Hmm, she must have coerced him somehow. But I'll not think about it. I'm not not that interested in their kinky sex life. But yes, "properly motivated" indeed.
Sakura clapped his mouth shut. "He did?"
"Yeah ... and wh-what I wanted to say is that-" Naruto started, but found himself sourly interrupted when Sakura's lips brushed against his own. Something inside of Naruto died. He kissed her back just as gently as she did, pressing his mouth against hers and just liking the feel of her in his arms. In spite of all his protests when he'd talked to Shikamaru, he found them all melting away – and he groaned in protest when Sakura ended the kiss, if only to say:
"That's way back in the past. I don't care about it anymore. Whatever he said doesn't matter right now."
And she meant it – she really did.
Because I'm fed up of always living in the past, always letting myself be burnt by it. I like Naruto and he evidently likes me: it's really that simple. So what the heck is the point of running away?
Sakura leaned in to kiss him again, but Naruto pushed her away from him. Hot. He felt so hot, and if didn't stop right now, Naruto knew that he wouldn't have been able to do it any time later. But he also knew that this wasn't the right time nor the right place – as good as it felt.
"Wait, wait. I don't think we should ... immediately take things so quickly." Naruto looked right into her face, not avoiding eye-contact because that would have been so very wrong.
I need her to know that I care.
Sakura paused, turned stiff and felt a bit of anger flaring up in her. They hadn't even kissed properly! "Don't you think we've been skipping around the bush -"
Naruto shook his head, silencing Sakura by pressing a finger against her lips.
She shivered as Naruto brushed a few strands away from her forehead. "It's not that, you know? It's because I really do like you that I don't want to push it any further." He smiled – not an ear-splitting grin, but a true smile.
And suddenly, Sakura felt very young and stupid. She'd practically thrown himself at him like a bitch in heat, and reddened at the thought of how snottish she'd been behaving a few moments ago. Sakura slapped herself on the forehead, reminding herself that this wasn't kindergarten, but real life – and in real life, you didn't go about kissing guys like that. Unless you wanted them to think you were easy, which Sakura really wasn't (and no, sleeping with more than one guy didn't make you a slut, she added mentally).
Maybe he thinks I'm desperate or something.
"Naruto? I'm sorry..." Sakura started, but could not find the words.
Naruto paused. "What are you apologising for?"
"For-" Sakura started, but something in Naruto's eyes made her stop – he'd never looked that imploringly at her, and he looked serious, less than the boyish man she knew him to be.
"Don't. And Sakura, you're making it very hard for me not to kiss you right now," Naruto admitted, leaning against the door to his apartment, and shaking his head in a nearly rueful manner. He coughed, and brushed a hand through his already messy hair. At first, Sakura didn't notice it, but then she discerned that his cheeks were slightly reddened – like those of a young boy who was about to perform a dance in front of his classroom. She couldn't restrain from giggling slightly – it lessened the lump in her throat.
"You're blushing." An unnecessary statement, maybe. But Sakura loathed the silence more than anything, and the silence that had draped itself over them like a heavy curtain was suffocating.
"Yes? I -" Naruto turned away, shielding his face with his hand,"it's a trick of the light's."
He's going even more red in the face. So, he's a bit shy as well.
"But I'm not blushing. Men don't blush," Naruto affirmed again, ironically growing even redder in the face. Sakura giggled and, folding her arms, shook her head. Men were really too stubborn for their own good.
Sakura decided that she'd tortured him enough for today. Besides, the tension and the awkwardness was nearly starting to physically manifest itself around them, hanging over them like an overripe peach – ready to drop on their heads. However, this didn't mean she'd take it easy on him; Sakura was only going to let him go for tonight.
I'll have ample opportunity to tease him more later on.
"I'll go sleep then. Goodnight, Naruto."
"Goodnight, Sakura-chan," Naruto half-said, half-whispered. It was only when he said it out loud that he realised what honorific he'd used. "Um-"
"And it was no trick of the light's – you were blushing after all, Naruto-chan."
Heh. Now look at his face. Looks like a deer caught in the headlights.
With that, Sakura closed her door and Naruto, baffled but still feeling surprisingly light-headed, let out a small laugh. Somehow, he felt that things would sort themselves out, and he grinned – grinned like a small boy, his features lighting up so much that it would have made anyone else – if they'd been present – want to smile with him.
But the grin faded when a simple, yet jarring realisation plummeted down on him.
Sasuke.
Yes, Sakura had said she was over him.
But he's a different man now. Less of a bastard. Or so I think. And damn, don't women always fall for the jerk-ass types?
Naruto knew that - once Sasuke came back from his business trip - he'd have to invite him over. He should have done so before, but had always pushed it away because Sasuke was so bitchy and difficult and – maybe – deep down, he'd been scared. Because, Sasuke was everything he wasn't: charming, talented and beautiful.
He was the sort of man women wanted their feet to be swept away off.
Kyoko also left me because I wasn't like Sasuke. Damn it, in fact she wasn't ever with me: I was only her substitute for something she couldn't have.
The memories hurt. And Naruto forced himself not to think about it all, for it only made his head spin and make him feel faint.
I never wanted to love again after that, just drown myself in my work and forget.
Slamming his fist into the wall, Naruto finally acknowledged that he'd been scared Sasuke would take her away from him. Only that now he knew that Sasuke had already been part of her life once.
"Really, that Shikamaru knows nothing: I don't stand a chance," Naruto said and then started to laugh hollowly, even though his heart hurt and the thought of losing Sakura tore him to bits and pieces.
--
TBC