Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Make me or break me
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Chapter seven
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Awkward.
Yes, that was the word.
Sakura was celebrating one of her good friend's birthday at a restaurant downtown. As she was staring at the colorful alcoholic cocktail in front of her, she remembered how she got there in the first place. The invitation was kind of sudden and she barely had anytime to get ready, so she opted for a simple, black dress that hugged her body tightly.
It was a good thing that she had already bought Tenten's present intending to give her the gift even if her friend didn't want to celebrate. She had gotten Tenten a golden necklace with a small, but beautifully sculpted in the shape of a butterfly golden pendant. Tenten was too much of a tomboy to wear this kind of things everyday, but Sakura figured it would help her impress her in-laws, since everyone knew how stuck-up the Hyuugas could be. She was sure Tenten would thank her later.
Tenten was one of her childhood friends. They managed to stay relatively close over the years, despite them working in different fields. Tenten was a badass cop along with her fiancé Hyuuga Neji.
The girl had a very pretty face. Her eyes were beautifully shaped and she had long, brown lashes. She usually wore comfortable, not very revealing clothes that complemented her athletic figure. The girl sat in front of Sakura.
Next to Tenten, Neji looked as composed as ever. He was a hunk of a man who radiated confidence and strength. If there was one woman who could match that, it was Tenten.
Next to Sakura sat no other than Kiba Inuzuka, the man who came with his niece about a month prior. Turns out, he liked Sakura so much that he told his friends, Neji and Tenten who were his old highschool classmates, about how he met the prettiest doctor ever. Tenten figured it was her duty to play matchmaker and the rest is history.
She supposed she should have felt nervous, but she didn't and she wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. Maybe it was because she's been through so many things at the hospital that nothing phased her anymore. Or maybe he was just the kind of guy who didn't make her feel…that way.
She couldn't be sure.
"So one time, were in English class and the teacher started telling us about his college girlfriend and how he asked her out." Kiba was reminiscing a funny moment from high school.
"Oh, remember when we had that teacher freak in computer science? He didn't actually teach, he was only asking for tips on how o propose to his girlfriend." Tenten laughed along with him.
"Let's hope he didn't take your advice."
"Why? The gym is a place as good as any to propose."
"Maybe for you, but most women would find it crude."
"Who died and made you expert, Mr. Romance?"
Sakura concluded that Neji and Tenten were made for each other. They enjoyed each other in any way possible. From fighting over petty things to cooking together, even though Tenten was always one step away from burning the house down.
As she took another sip from her drink, she looked outside the window to realize that it was already dark.
That's when she saw him.
Uchiha Ssuke was walking down the street with a girl with purplish-black short hair. She felt like she was stabbed in the heart. It was a wonder to her how good things, like good guys who liked her made her feel nothing, but bad things, like Sasuke not giving a shit about her almost made her cry.
"You ok?" She turned to see Kiba looking at her curiously.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks. Just a little bit tired."
"I bet you're tired from all that work at the hospital, doc." He said, clearly trying to boost her ego.
"It's a…rewarding job." Sakura said giving him a smile and thanking the waiter who took her empty glass.
"Would you like anything else, Miss?"
"Yes, I'd like one Martini, please." She said giving him the waiter a flirtatious smile. If Kiba noticed, he didn't say anything.
Seeing Sasuke with that woman made her angry. She was tired of being the proper lady that everyone wanted her to be. She was tired of working so hard to please everyone when no one wanted to please her.
Although, maybe Sasuke was right. Sure, she knew a lot about death and sadness and sorrow, but what did she know about how to approach people when they didn't need her and her medical expertise? Because Sakura knew that there was a life outside the hospital, even if she wasn't exactly the best at living it.
But stealing a glance at Kiba, she decided she would change that. As he waiter came back with her drink, her eyes glinted with mischief. She was young and she would make sure to have fun.
Lots of it.
A couple of drinks later, it was way past midnight and they had started dancing. Kiba was a gentleman, always shielding her from the perverts who wanted to steal a dance and always glaring at the perverts trying to grope her. I wasn't like she needed his protection for she could deal with this kind of men on her own. She had done it in med-school when she went out with her girls.
Oh, the memories…
In fact, Sakura was sure she had a lot of fun at University. Maybe she just lost her touch ever since she came back to live in Konoha. Also, the fact that her girls had scattered all around the world didn't help much.
But, she decided as she took a sip of her drink, she wouldn't let that stand in her way. Not anymore at least.
It was past three in the morning when she decided it was time for her to go. Kiba was looking like he was about to complain, but instead, he offered to help her find a cab. Sakura gladly accepted and bid Tenten and Neji goodbye.
The two exited the restaurant and walked down the road.
"I hope you had a great time." Kiba offered.
"Yeah, I had a great time." Sakura said before tripping over a rock.
She regained her balance in a second, but Kiba still grabbed her arm. It was a good opportunity for him to touch her.
"You alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks."
"Too many martinis?" He said smirking down at her.
"No, I can handle my booze just fine, thank you."
Now that was a lie and Sakura knew it all too well, but just because she knew it didn't mean that he should.
"Really? Then you wouldn't mind if I kissed you, would you?"
Sakura was taken aback by his straightforward question, but she remembered her decision from earlier that evening, so she gave him a coy smirk.
"You don't waste any time, do you?"
"Not when I have such a charming girl in front of me." He said looking at her with an intense look.
"Then I guess no, I wouldn't mind." She said smiling her Hollywood smile.
Kiba smirked at this. He grabbed her waist and brought her closer to him. Sakura expected a slow, sensual kiss, but was kind of disappointed. He slanted his lips over hers and parted her lips with his tongue. She was taken aback and was unsure of how to respond to this. Turns out, he didn't wait for her to do anything and simply let his tongue roam her mouth without paying any attention to her.
Soon, Sakura felt him move so that her back was facing the wall of a random building. The air was chilly and the night was a deep dark. The streets were empty and offered them great intimacy in a very public place.
Next thing she knew, his large hands were on her waist. His mouth was still attacking hers in a way she had never been kissed before. It was kind of rushed and sloppy.
Sakura decided that she wasn't drunk enough to receive these kind of ministrations from him, even if she enjoyed talking to him very much. It was too much, too soon and on top of that, with the wrong person. She pulled her head a little and he didn't insist.
"I think I should go home…" She said looking him in the eye.
"Sure…um…let's get you a cab." He said grabbing her hand and starting to walk down the road.
Sakura wasn't really sure how to act after what happened. Was she the only one who didn't enjoy the kiss? Was he some kind of player who would forget all about her tomorrow?
Had she been the one who sucked at the kiss?
All these questions were running through her mind when Kiba started talking again.
"So, I'd like to take you out if you'll let me, of course."
"Yes, I'd like that." Sakura answered without really thinking about it.
"That's great, then." He said as they neared the taxi. "Is tomorrow ok for you?"
"Yea, sure."
"I'm glad. Meet me at Sahara at eight?"
"I'll be there."
Kiba smiled and gave her a peck on the lips and Sakura got in the car and left.
And that was it.
But as Sakura let the taxi driver take her home, she wondered how she managed to get herself in this situation. She didn't exactly know Kiba. She knew he was a good guy, but she wasn't all that taken with him. Not the way she was with Sasuke. Maybe that was that problem. That she liked Sasuke.
Was she wrong to kiss Kiba?
It wasn't like he expected her to be all in love with him, right? She didn't even know him.
Sakura was already feeling the alcohol wearing off and she decided that it was a very bad thing to drink when you're sad and jealous. It made you do stupid things.
But maybe, just maybe, Kiba was a good guy and she'd fall for him. If that was the case, then she'd have nothing to worry about.
Worst case scenario, she wouldn't fall in love with him and she'd just go on a couple of dates with him. But casual dating wasn't a bad thing, right? How can you find the love of your life if you don't even talk to men?
She paid the driver and climbed the stairs. She entered her apartment and started getting ready for bed. As she lay in bed she as started thinking about the meaning of life and love. She was almost afraid to go out with Kiba because she felt strange. She felt, dare she say it? Dirty…
But what's the harm in an innocent little kiss, right?
It wasn't quite right. Not for her at least, but she decided that it was too late (or too early?) to think such thoughts. She did however go to bed that night with a firm decision.
Whatever happened, she would not use Kiba to get Sasuke's attention.
Ooo000ooO
Sunlight hit Sakura's face and she stirred a little before opening her sleepy eyes. Morning came all too soon for her. After last night's events, though, sleep was the last thing on her mind. Once the numbness of sleep passed away, she had no hopes of getting it back.
Left with no other choice, she went about her morning routine. While she turned on her coffee machine, she also went to her laptop to put some music on. Soon, in Sakura's chic condo, the sensual beat of 'Jolene' by Dolly Parton (Kygo remix) were heard.
'Jolene…Jolene…'
It was a wonderful feeling to taste the bittersweet coffee while relaxing your senses with good music.
It was pretty odd how she found herself understanding the lyrics very well. Indeed, she felt like going and begging that girl to leave Sasuke alone, but that would be just pathetic, she knew.
Another odd thing was how she never knew how much she actually wanted Sasuke. Not until she saw him with another. Or until she was kissed by another… She wasn't sure.
This made her somewhat question herself and her feelings. Was she in love with him or just infatuated by him? It was hard to tell, really. What was it about him that made her tick? From what she knew he wasn't exactly the most intelligent man in town. It was possible he never went to college. And he treated her badly the last time they saw each other, like he didn't care about her.
Did he? Care?
Absolutely not.
But did she care that he didn't care?
Apparently no.
Next she brushed her small teeth and washed her face. She had bags under her eyes from lack of sleep, but she decided that it was better to go out with Kiba later that night than staying inside her home by herself wondering why she never attracted any male attention.
As she stepped into the shower, she let herself be soothed by the warm feeling produced by the speeding water drops that hit her skin. The sweet perfume that radiated from her skin once she applied the pink shower gel made of grapefruit made Sakura smile in delight. She could eat the whole bottle.
Once she was done showering, she was pleased with the tingling of her skin and the sweet scent that surrounded her.
Feeling in lighter spirits she decided to get dressed for the day. Just then, her golden iphone vibrated, signaling that she had a new message.
Kiba
Good morning, beautiful! Can't wait for tonight. ;)
Of course the message made her feel good, appreciated, but once again she had doubts that she was doing the right thing. Deciding that it was still best to give him and herself a chance, she replied.
Good morning! See you at eight, then.
Not wasting anymore time, she decided to get dressed. She opted for a tight beige top and a colorful skirt that flowed freely from the waist to her knees.
She then sat at her vanity table and started putting on make up. If there was something Sakura liked, then it was pampering herself. She believed every woman deserved to feel beautiful. She applied some foundation and a touch of blush. Then she started working her magic on her eyes. She went for a light shade of pink that brought out her eyes. A little bit of perfume and she was ready to go.
By the time she exited her apartment, it was nine thirty. She felt ready to get some things done. It was a good thing she had a day off because she could finally do something that she had put off for far longer than she should have.
Buy herself a car.
Yep, she thought as she brusquely walked down the streets of Konoha, she didn't know what she wanted, but she would get it nonetheless.
Soon, she found herself standing in front of Konoha's most well known car shop. From what Sakura knew, they had a variety of brands and models. Outside the shop, many men were discussing details about mechanics and consumption and those were the things that Sakura still understood, but there were more that she had never heard about. She felt her confidence slipping and wondered if she should have maybe asked someone to come with her.
It was too late to back down, though. So, without another look back, she stepped into the huge showroom, ignoring the fact that she felt way too feminine and quiet to fit in there.
There were just too many car models for her to choose from. She wanted something safe, comfortable and that had a nice appearance, but she felt that if anyone of those salesmen heard her they would just smirk ironically at her.
The first brand that she saw was Volkswagen. She always liked Ino's Beetle, but she didn't feel like it was the right car for her. Still, she got in the car to see how she felt in it. Despite Ino always trying to get Sakura to drive her purple Beetle, this was the first time Sakura actually sat in the driver's seat.
She had to hand it to Ino, it was probably the cutest and most feminine car there is. It was a little wonder. Just when she was about to get lost in her thoughts and remember the fun she and Ino always had when they went for a ride, she was startled by a tap on the window.
Now that was just perfect. The last thing Sakura needed was for one of those salesmen to tell her she couldn't even get in a car she may want to buy. She was pissed.
She opened the door and hastily got out, disregarded the fact that the man helped her open the heavy door and was ready to give him a piece of her mind. When she took a better look at him, however, she noticed that right in front of her was no other than Sasuke.
And all words died in her throat.
He was dressed in dark jeans and a black shirt which didn't cling to his body but managed to show his defined muscles nonetheless. His eyes were just as dark as ever and his hair was perfect.
"Sakura." He greeted.
"S-Sasuke…" She managed to mumble, but couldn't say another word to save her life.
"I saw you looking at the cars." He said after a while, after seeing that she wouldn't say anything. It was weird for him to start a conversation but he had wronged her so it was only fair.
"Yeah, I want to buy one." She said still fidgeting but managing to spit out some coherent thoughts nonetheless.
Sasuke smirked down at her. It seems that she had taken his advice after all.
"Hn. Good. Now let's find you a car. What are you looking for?"
"Wait. You work here now, or what?"
Sasuke looked at her like she was an alien. He contemplated a little before answering.
"Hn. No, I'm friends with Sai, the owner. I told him I'll help you out."
"Oh, but you don't have to."
"I want to, Sakura. Especially after what happened the last time we saw each other. I'm-"
"You know what? Let's not talk about that. No hard feelings, ok? We're cool."
Sasuke frowned. Why wouldn't she let him apologize? It was his fault and he shouldn't have said any of those things. But seeing her guarded posture and the fact that she didn't want to discuss what happened, he decided to let it go. Maybe she needed more time.
"So, then. If you want so bad to help, I won't say no since I'm in over my head here."
Sakura swiftly changed the subject and Sasuke found himself feeling a little bit relieved, but also a little bit guilty because he knew he was taking the easy way out.
"I see you're looking at this Beetle here. What do you think?"
"I like it but it's not for me."
It seemed legit to Sasuke.
"What kind of car do you want?"
Sakura seemed to think it over a little before answering.
"I want something comfortable and safe. I want something small so I can park easily."
"Price?"
"Not too expensive."
When the words left her mouth, Sakura wanted to turn invisible. What would Sasuke think of her now? That she was cheap? That would be understandable since he only drove supercars that cost a fortune. And most people wanted big, shiny, expensive cars, what would a guy like Sasuke think of her now.
"I-I mean I don't want a cheap car, I just-" Sakura started blabbing and making an effort to explain herself.
"You want a city car. It's a good choice. Let's get going." Sasuke simply stated and started walking motioning for Sakura to follow him.
To say she was surprised would of course be an understatement but she followed him nonetheless still having trouble understanding him. Wasn't he the big, bad racer who only cared about cars?
He suddenly stopped in front of a good looking yellow car. Upon further inspection, Sakura realized that she was looking at a MINI hardtop. She knew it was quite popular, but she wasn't sure it was right for her.
"It has an all-turbo powertrain lineup that features a three-cylinder entry engine that complements 134 hp with an EPA line of up to 30 mpg city/42 mpg highway/34 mpg combined (in the Hardtop's two-door body style). For more pop beneath the hood, the available four-cylinder turbo ups the ante to 189 hp, yet still turns up EPA marks of 25 mpg city/38 mpg highway/29 mpg combined."
Sasuke seemed to know every single detail about said car. It made Sakura nauseous to think that she'll have to tell him that she didn't want to buy it especially since he seemed so interested in it.
"It's a cute car, but…I don't think it's what I'm looking for." She said before she lost her courage and actually bought a car she didn't like.
"Hn."
"Look, I don't want you to think I'm a pretentious bitch, it's just that I-"
"Sakura."
"Yes?"
"You're far from a pretentious bitch. It's your money so you get to choose. And just for the record, I wouldn't buy a MINI either. I just thought that you'd like it since it's popular with the ladies."
And with that he continued to look for cars that fitted her description. Sakura wanted to say that he was also popular with the ladies but chose to remain silent, given the fact that he was helping her out.
Next they stopped in front of two Audis and Sakura felt her mouth watering.
"This here" he said pointing to a gorgeous silver car "is an A3. And that one over there" he said referring to a golden one "is an A1."
"They're both gorgeous. What's their price?"
"The A3 is 35.000$ and the A1 is 26.000$. I can probably get you a discount, though." He said in a very serious manner.
"If I'm going to buy an Audi, then I'm probably going to buy the A1, but I'd like to see more cars, if that's ok with you."
Sakura refrained from telling him that she didn't want to pay that much for a car. She was just a resident after all and she didn't want to ask her parents for money.
"Sure. Let's get going." Sasuke said without complaining and Sakura wondered if he was like this when he bought clothes as well. Then a memory passed through her mind and she couldn't help but giggle.
This of course attracted Sasuke's attention, who raised an eyebrow at her. Sakura was baffled by her own stupidity. She racked her brain for a smart lie but couldn't find any so she went for the truth.
"I was just thinking about when I took Shikamaru shopping for a dress back in high school. It was quite amusing, you know."
"I can't imagine Shikamaru going shopping." Sasuke said smirking and then stopping in front of a black BMW.
"This is a BMW 1 Series 3-door. Fuel consumption in l/100 km (combined): 8.0–3.4. CO2 emissions in g/km (combined): 188–89-"
Sasuke went on and on with the boring details and even though Sakura wanted to pay attention mostly because his voice was so smooth but also because the facts seemed important, she couldn't help herself when she saw the coolest convertible she had ever seen in her life.
"Sasuke!" She squealed and grabbed his arm.
"What?" He said somewhat alarmed because usually Sakura was kind of a quiet girl.
"Look over there." She said while dragging him towards a red BMW.
"This is a BMW series 6 convertible." He said sighing and running a hand through his hair.
"I know! Isn't it great?" Sakura asked with excitement evident on her pretty face.
"I don't think its right for you, Sakura."
"And why not? Just think about it." She said turning to him with a wild grin on her face. "Imagine how hot I'd be in it and imagine how many hot guys I'd pick up with it."
"You don't need a car to be hot, Sakura. And I didn't know you wanted a bloke magnet." He said with a frown on his face.
"Oh hush! And wipe that look off your face. You pick up girls with your fancy car as well. You're all like 'Hey babe, this is my fancy McLarren. Oh, and I'm Sasuke, by the way' when you see a hot girl."
"Am not." Sasuke denied for he clearly wasn't like that, but Sakura managed to shut him up nonetheless.
Just when he was about to try and pursue her again to look at the smaller car, he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned and saw Sai smiling at him. When he had seen Sakura, he was just finishing discussing some last details regarding his new car with the man. Sai was the showroom owner and he was also an ex-agent so he helped them out. He had excused himself and went to see what Sakura was up to, leaving the owner to go about his business. Now it seemed Sai's curiosity got the best of him.
"Hello!" Sai said as he walked past Sasuke and neared Sakura.
"Um…Hi!" Sakura said shyly.
"My name is Sai. I'm Sasuke's friend." He said still smiling.
"I'm Sakura Haruno. Pleased to meet you." She said and extended her hand to him.
"The pleasure is all mine." Sai said while shaking her hand. "I own this showroom. I take it you are interested in this convertible."
"Oh, it's a gorgeous car, but I'm afraid I'm looking for something a little more…modest." And Sakura felt like biting her tongue the second time that day.
"Sasuke's helping me find something." She said quickly, trying to change the subject, which made said man look at her curiously.
"Is he now?" Sai said glancing at Sasuke and then giving Sakura a once over. Once. Twice. Then he smirked wickedly at her.
"Any friend of Sasuke is a friend of mine. Here, take this bloke for a ride in this car to see how you like it." He said putting the key in her hand.
"Thanks, but I don't want to buy the car." Sakura said at a loss for words.
"I wasn't talking about the car." He mumbled under his breath and Sakura had a hard time hearing him.
"Could you say that again, please? I couldn't quite catch it." Sakura requested politely.
"I said you don't have to buy it. Just go for a ride and have some fun." He said not accepting the key back.
He walked toward Sasuke and just before he passed him he stopped and put his hand on Sasuke's shoulder. "You're welcome." He whispered and then left.
Sasuke wanted to roll his eyes but then he looked at Sakura and didn't know if he should sigh because she was being a pain or smirk at how pretty she looked being so childish and excited.
"Oh, Sasuke, I'm going to drive a BMW convertible!" She said squealing.
And that's how Uchiha Sasuke found himself in the passenger seat in a red BMW convertible on the high way.
"Are you sure you can drive?" He said unsure of her as a driver.
"Of course." She snorted.
Truth be told, so far, Sakura drove better than a lot of racers he had met.
The music was blasting from the radio since the car was new and it didn't have any music on it. Currently, Sasuke was tortured by 'Toxic' by Britney Spears. Sakura, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying herself.
"I feel like one of those hot girls in music videos." She said smirking at the road.
"You're not one of them." Sasuke said matter of factly.
"Now that was just mean, Sasuke. I know I'm not. Will you just let me pretend for half an hour?" Sakura said irritated and silence followed.
"You're better." Sasuke said not quite thinking about it.
"What was that?" Sakura said still concentrated on the road.
"You're better than them. They're fake, you're not." He said, even though he didn't feel like explaining himself.
"Thanks." She said quietly but the smile on her face was loud enough to make Sasuke'd heart skip a beat.
"You're smiling a lot." He remarked.
"That's because I'm happy." She answered truthfully.
"Because of the car?" He asked truly curious.
"I don't know." She said not so truthfully since she knew that she was happy because of him. "I'm just having a good time."
"Hn." Sasuke said and looked out the window, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.
Sasuke decided to stop listening to the lyrics. Instead he just watched the scenery. Since he was always driving, he never got to enjoy the view. Now he was finally seeing things that he would usually just drive by. It was a nice change.
He turned to see Sakura was not as childish as before, but the look of contempt on her face made him appreciate the moment even more. As he turned his eyes back to the view, he realized he was having a good time as well.
They were departing Konoha fast and the scenery was changing quickly from the lush green of the forest that surrounded Konoha to the rocky mountains. Now Sasuke was not exactly the romantic type, he didn't bother to distinguish the shades of colors and didn't stop to smell the flowers. This time, however, he was surprised by the many shades of brown, beige and grey he could see.
He realized that the highway from Konoha was one of the few that offered the drivers, or rather the passengers, a wonderful view since most robbed them of this pleasure. He didn't get to finish the thought, though, because soon his nose was invaded by a fresh, salty smell. In the distance he could see the wild sea and the golden beach and he realized they had strayed quite far from Konoha even though he hadn't plan for something like that to happen. It should've bothered him since he always had to be three steps ahead, but something told him that Sakura was as surprised as he was.
He decided that it was ok to let loose once in a while.
Meanwhile, the song on the radio changed. Enrique Iglesias was singing his I wish I was your lover.
This made Sakura blush, but she was sure Sasuke couldn't tell it was from the song, since she was quite flushed before because of the wind caressing her face. It was a wonderful feeling, to travel the world in such a luxurious manner with a partner who captured her interest and made her feel safe. She felt like she could go to the end of the world with him and not regret it in the slightest.
"Sakura, I'm hungry."
Sakura wanted to laugh. He sounded like a little kid asking his mom for food. She was sure he was not used to this since he looked surprised by his own words.
She looked at the clock and it showed 12:24.
"I'm kind of hungry too. We should stop somewhere."
"I know a place. Just take the first exit."
Sakura listened o him and soon found herself driving on a narrow but well kept road by the sea. She followed his directions and soon they stopped in front of a marvelous wooden house with a thatch roof. There was a sign that caught Sakura's attention:
Welcome to Nelly's
"Wow…Sasuke…" Sakura said awed by the scenery.
The house was pretty big, but it didn't lack the sense of home which most hotels did. It was built on strong, high pillars, so that the sea wouldn't destroy it should it come to that.
The walls were made of polished wood and the roof was made of straws. The young medic could smell the salty air and hear the waves crashing on the shore.
Sasuke didn't get to answer her because soon an old lady approached them.
"Sasuke!"
"Nelly. It's good to see you again." Sasuke responded with a nod.
"And who might this young lady be?" She asked acknowledging Sakura.
"This is my friend, Haruno Sakura. We'd like to grab something to eat if that's ok with you." He said while the woman took Sakura's hand and smiled friendly at her.
"Of course it's ok. My, you're such a pretty thing aren't you?" She said still eyeing Sakura.
"Thank you…" Sakura said blushing like mad and looking at her feet.
"Sakura's kind of self-conscious, Nelly. Go easy on her, will you?" Sasuke said smirking at the two woman.
"Stop being such a smart ass. Don't let this one bully you, Sakura, he's actually a soft one." Nelly said grinning and Sakura giggled at her words.
"Am not." Sasuke said pouting.
"If you say so. Now take this pretty lady to a table and wait for me there."
Sasuke put his hand on the small of Sakura's back and guided her toward a table with a great view to the sea. He pulled Sakura's chair and she was impressed by his mannerisms.
"This place is surreal. I can't believe I didn't know about it." Sakura said trying to strike a conversation with her quiet friend.
"Not many people know about it. Nelly prefers to have few clients. She wants to make just enough money to live comfortably by the sea."
"That's an interesting way to see things."
"She lost her husband and son a few years ago. That changed her." Sasuke said closing his eyes.
"Oh." Sakura said letting silence take over once again.
Soon, Nelly came and put the food on the table. Sakura was shocked when she saw everything she brought. And they haven't even ordered.
Firstly, she brought water and coffee.
Then she came with a fish platter for two. It had everything Sakura could think of. From grilled fish to oysters and squids.
They ate in silence and time seemed to fly. Soon Sakura felt like she would explode if she ate another bite, but being the lady that she was, she decided to keep that for herself. Nelly came again soon after with desert.
Said desert consisted of vanilla ice cream with hot raspberries. Needless to say, Sakura was delighted. She ginned at the big cup of ice cream and attacked it despite her conscience's protests.
Sasuke smirked at her antics and enjoyed seeing her so carefree and peaceful. The first time they had met, and after that as well, she was stressed, tired and sometimes even in danger.
Her beauty, though, was a constant.
"How did you like the food?" Asked Nelly when they finished eating.
"Oh, it was delicious, thank you very much." Sakura was quick to answer.
"It was good as always, Nelly. Put it on my tab, please."
"Sure thing, Sasuke. And bring this pretty lady again." She said winking at Sasuke.
"W-wait…" Sakura tried to protest but Nelly seemed like she didn't hear her.
"Sasuke, I'd like to pay for my food."
"Hn. I don't think so." He said after pretending to think about it for a second.
"It wasn't a request, Sasuke. I'm going to pay. We're not on a date, you know. And even if we were, I'd still want to pay."
"Tch. Stop being difficult."
"I'm not."
"Look, don't worry about it. Just enjoy." He said and left no room for discussion.
Sakura found herself rendered speechless. What was she supposed to say?
She glanced to the beach, thinking of a comeback when she saw a small pontoon she hadn't noticed before. A smile lighted up her face and she forgot all about the bill.
"Sasuke, do you think you can take a picture of me by the sea? I'd like to remember this day."
Sasuke was glad the money topic was closed and also he wasn't surprised by her request since most girls liked to take photos, but he was pleased by her motive. To remember this day. It warmed his heart to know that she enjoyed the time she spent with him.
"Sure." He said and followed her.
When they got to the designed place, Sakura put on her Hollywood smile, only this time, it wasn't fake. There was a ship behind her and Sasuke thought it would look good if she moved so that he caught it as well in the picture.
She did as he told her to, but she slipped and fell right into the sea. Sasuke was startled and didn't think much when he put her iphone down and jumped after her. When they both reached the surface, Sakura was laughing hard.
"I know how to swim, Sasuke."
"I couldn't be sure." He said embarrassed.
"Now we're both wet." She said pulling her hair out of her face. "Though it's funny how you got wet for nothing."
"Maybe I wanted to take a bath." He said and then felt like slapping himself for being so childish. Next thing he knew, Sakura was splashing water on him.
"What?" She asked. "You said you wanted to take a bath. I'm just giving you a hand." She said grinning sheepishly.
Her amused face changed into a confused one when Sasuke dipped under the water and out of her sight. Before she could guess what he was up to, he surfaced right in front of her and started splashing great amounts of water on her, nothing like her small drops.
She jumped as far as she could for him trying to run away but he caught her by the waist and held her in place while still splashing the salty water on her. Her checks were red from the got sun and her breathing was hurried because of her effort while her hair was wild and shiny. And she fit perfectly into his arms.
Sakura felt like she belonged in Sasuke's arms. She felt everything when he took her in his embrace. She felt like a woman and a child at the same time, like her heart was in the greatest danger ever, but the rush she felt made her want to risk it all.
Oh, how she would have risked everything to be with Sasuke, but what about his girlfriend? It was against her nature and moral code to hurt someone. Her childish struggle in Sasuke's embrace ceased and a wave of guilt washed over her. He had someone and truth be told, ever since last night, so did she. There was nothing wrong in being friends with Sasuke but it was in that second that she realized that any other feelings would have to be buried in the darkest corner of her heart.
Sasuke noticed the change in her demeanor and ceased his actions immediately. He had a feeling he had overstepped some boundaries and that was the last thing he wanted to do with Sakura. Yes, she was just too good for him, but maybe he could be a friend of hers, just to keep an eye on her and make sure she was safe.
The two parted and stared at each other. They could still feel the heat radiating from each other in the cold, salty water, but Sakura was starting to acknowledge the cold and she started shivering slightly. Sasuke noticed this.
"You're cold. We should get out."
"Y-Yeah, it would be g-good." She said trembling.
Sasuke lead the way to the shore and then back to the house where Nelly was waiting for them. He didn't fail to see the way the beige top clung to her body like a second skin and the way the sunlight made her look naked. If mermaids were real, Sakura could easily pass as one.
"My dear children, look at you!" Nelly said trying to reprimand them but the grin on her face and the affection in her eyes showed prevented her from doing so.
The two didn't know what to say and Sakura was still shivering because of her wet clothes which didn't go pass Nelly.
"Sasuke, look what you did to the girl! She's shivering because of you." Nelly said clearly enjoying Sasuke's discomfort and the way he avoided looking at Sakura's delicate frame.
"It's not my fault she's clumsy." He said childishly and earning a pout from Sakura.
"Here's your phone, Sakura" Nelly said giving the young medic her phone. "Now come on you two, let's get you into some dry clothes."
Soon, Sakura was dressed in a red dress that was obviously too big for her, but she accepted it with gratitude, because the last thing she wanted was to back to Konoha soaking wet. Also, she didn't look half as ridiculous as Sasuke.
The Uchiha was wearing a pink shirt with different flowers imprinted on it and white shorts. He needed just a necklace of flowers and he would look like a native from Hawaii.
She refrained from making any comments, thinking that maybe the clothes to Nelly's late husband, but when the older woman wasn't looking, she did send Sasuke a teasing smirk, which he ignored promptly.
After they thanked the woman for her help and kindness, they found themselves driving back to Konoha at full speed.
The clock showed 15:32.
In about an hour they should be back in the city and Sakura decided to just enjoy the ride and stop worrying about all kind of things. Yes, she felt something for Sasuke, but she would work hard in order to keep those feelings platonic and make sure she would only send friendship signals from now on.
It wasn't her fault that she found him attractive and as long as she didn't act on that attraction, she had nothing to feel guilty about. Both his girlfriend and Kiba would have faithful partners as far as she was concerned.
Not only that, but Sasuke clearly had some issues and Sakura believed that she couldn't put up with all his outbursts. She had forgiven him for his drunken episode once, but she was sure that if it ever happened again, it would be even harder for her to get over it.
Sooner than she realized, they were back in the showroom. She had thanked Sai for his kindness and offered to pay for the gas but he wouldn't even hear about it and left the two to their business but not before making fun of their attire.
That is how Sakura found herself searching hurriedly for a car with Sasuke trailing behind her with a patience she didn't know he possessed.
The saw all types of cars, from Mitsubishi to Honda, from Smart to VW but none seemed to be to Sakura's liking. Just when she was about to call quits, though, her eyes landed on the cutest car she'd ever seen.
Sasuke observed how Sakura stopped in her tracks and looked with great interest at a white Fiat 500. He almost smirked at her reaction when her eyes winded and shined with desire, while she let out a small gasp, but he refrained from interrupting her in any way. She was just too amusing, like a child in a toy store.
He should have known she would go for the chic kind of car. Sasuke had to admit. Though, that it suited her.
The car was completely white and it looked just right for the strawberry blonde girl. The interior was classy and had an interesting design that wooed Sakura. The car board was white and the seats were of beige leather.
"Look at this, Sasuke. The seats have heating."
"It's leather. You'd freeze to death in winter without it."
"Yeah. And look at how pretty the board looks being white and all. Even the gear lever is white."
It was 17:02 when they finally exited the showroom and Sakura was the proud owner of a white Fiat 500. She couldn't take the car just yet because they were still some formalities to take care of, but Sakura was very pleased and Sasuke was glad the day had turned out like it did.
Currently, he was driving her home in his McLarren because he didn't want to let her walk home by herself.
"Thanks for everything, Sasuke."
"Hn. You're welcome." Sasuke replied realizing that normal people usually do this kind of things that seemed so foreign for him.
"This was the best day ever. I got myself a super cute car, I got to drive a super car and found the most delightful restaurant ever. I even got to go for a swim in the sea." She said laughing until she remembered something.
"Hey, Sasuke, did you get to take my picture?"
"I don't know. I was kind of busy diving after your clumsy ass." He said keeping his eyes on the road.
"Very funny. I'll just take a look. Keep your finger crossed."
Needless to say she amused him with her constant taking.
When Sakura opened the photo folder on her phone, she had a huge surprise waiting for her. Yes, Sasuke had caught her on camera exactly when she was in mid air, falling into the deep sea, but that wasn't all. After that, there were a few photos of her and Sasuke fooling in the water that Sakura assumed Nelly had taken. She started giggling, which captured Sasuke's attention.
When he pulled over in the parking lot of her apartment building, he asked her what was so funny and Sakura showed him the photos, earning a small, happy smile from him.
The first picture was of her falling which was a wonder that he had pressed the button before jumping after her. The rest showed them when they were splashing water at each other like careless teenagers. There was one in which Sasuke was towering over Sakura trying to intimidate her, but the girl seemed to just be amused by him and in no way showed any signs of fear.
Then there was one in which Sasuke was keeping her in place by holding her by the waist and Sakura was struggling to get free. If Sasuke remembered correctly, though, she didn't put to much force in her movements.
"Well, now I have a lot of photos to remind me of this awesome day. Thanks again."
"No problem." He said simply.
"Well I should go and change. I'll see you around." She said smiling at him and then got out of the car with a small wave.
Sasuke watched her enter the building and then drove off.
When Sakura entered her condo, she realized she had about one hour and a half to get ready for her date with Kiba. She quickly took a shower and washed her hair.
She had to re-apply make up since it was all washed out from her bathing experience. Then she chose to wear a beige dress that had red flowers imprinted on the sides, from her shoulders to her mid tights where it ended and they also decorated the waist.
She chose a pair of red stilettos and a white clutch to go with it. Her nails were already painted in red and her hair was almost dried.
She felt so tired and she dreaded walking to the meeting place, café Sahara, she remembered. To her surprise, though, she had luck and actually managed to find a cab.
Soon she was in front of the café. She took a deep breath and entered. She saw Kiba was already there and she approached him.
"Hey. You look good, Sakura."
"Thanks."
"We could go upstairs, you know. There are not a lot of people there." He said obviously shy and pointing to an upper level that had tables but that no one occupied.
"Um…I think it's better here." She said with a tone that ended the subject.
"Ok…" He said somewhat disappointed.
She didn't feel like being alone with him so soon.
The waitress came, took their order and left just as quickly.
"So, why medicine?" He asked striking a conversation.
"It's what I thought suited me best when I finished high school and I was right. Now, it's not just a job for me, it's actually part of me." She said truthfully.
"Wow. I like that you're so dedicated."
"Thanks. What about you? What do you do for a living?"
"Oh, you know…this…and that…" He said clearly uncomfortable with the subject.
"That's kind of vague." She said feeling curious because she felt like it was only fair for her to know, given the fact that they were on a date.
"Well, now I'm thinking about going back to college, but I haven't decided on the major yet."
"I see."
"My dad's a vet and so was my granddad. It's kind of a family tradition but I don't feel like it's my calling, you know." He said taking a sip from the coffee the waitress had just brought them.
"Well, you still have time to decide." She lied because being the kind of person she was, she couldn't understand how he could just let pass by him like that and not think about his own future.
"Yeah, that's what I think too. My parents don't exactly understand, though, but the thing is, I don't wanna do something that I don't like."
"That's understandable." And it really was, Sakura thought. She would hate her life if she didn't like her job so much.
"I did study a year of veterinary medicine, though. It just wasn't for me. I don't want someone else to decide my future."
"Seems fair to me. What did you do since you dropped out?" She asked before thinking it through, but was there a more gentle way to put it?
"I traveled. There are so many places to see and people to meet."
Sakura didn't want to judge but she couldn't not ask herself how she could present Kiba to her parents and friends. Everyone dear to her were people who had clear goals and worked hard to achieve them. What would they think of Kiba?
She took another sip from her coffee and noticed that time had flied, her coffee was almost finished and she was getting more and more tired, despite the caffeine flowing through her veins.
"I'm kind of tired. I hope you don't mind if I cut our meeting short, but I have to be at the hospital early in the morning." She realized that she spoke very business like and she was berating herself for it.
"Sure, no problem. I hoped you could have stayed longer, but I understand."
"Thanks."
When the waitress came with their bill, he insisted on paying eve though Sakura protested fiercely. They agreed that next time would be her turn to pay.
They exited the café and they started walking. Sakura had told him that she didn't come with a car so she'd like to get a cab. It seemed her lucky day because she actually found one.
"Thanks for the coffee." Said Sakura unsure of what else she could say.
"You're welcome." Kiba said and leaned in to give her a kiss which Sakura received, but she didn't let him deepen it.
"Well, bye!" She said with a small wave and got inside the cab.
Kiba said 'bye' as well but he was out of there before Sakura got to open the door of the car. As the driver took her home, Sakura felt like something was wrong. She believed that she should have felt butterflies in her stomach like she did with Sasuke, and not compelled to quickly end the kiss. It was unpleasant. She briefly wondered if Kiba felt the same and wondered if he would call her back.
That night, as she put her head on her pillow, she reached two conclusions.
One, she would stop thinking about Sasuke and until she got over him, she would refrain from seeing him and from talking to him.
Second, she would try to give Kiba a chance if he, too, wanted to give it a try, since he seemed like a nice guy.
Ooo000ooO
A/N: Phew! 60+ pages. Now, that's a record for me, but I just couldn't stop writing.
I really hope you guys like it since I worked so hard on it and I actually enjoyed the sasusaku moments. For those who said they didn't want Sakura to easily forgive Sasuke, I hope you are not disappointed. She did forgive him in a way because he asked for forgiveness and tried to make up for it in an awesome way. It's in Sakura's nature to forgive the people she cares about, but as you saw, she will not accept to be treated like that.
As of now, she has a boyfriend and she is trying to give him a chance and get over Sasuke.
Now, regarding Kiba. Please tell me what you think of him. Do you think he's the right guy for Sakura? This is a Sasusaku fic, but I'd like to think what you think about this type of guys.
Also, do you think there is something wrong with Sakura? Like, she only goes for bad boys and is being unfair to Kiba for not being so much into him?
Anyway, they are still at the beginning of their "relationship" so there's plenty of time for Sakura to fall for Kiba. Maybe. If he calls her, that is. Tell me what you think.
I had a bit of a setback with this chapter because I was sleep deprived and didn't save about twenty pages. As a result, I had to rewrite them, but I hope everything turned out alright in the end.
Also, I hope you like the songs and the cars.
Thank you all for your wonderful reviews. I was so happy last chapter was so well received and I can only hope that this one will be as well.
Please review!
Disclaimer2: I do not own Naruto, the songs mentioned on the radio or the cars described in this chapter.
Marie Blubert
