AN: Hi all! It feels great to be back. I know it's been long…erm 3 months to be exact, but who's counting:) Just wanted to humbly apologize for how delayed this update has been. I understand that people hate waiting, but I've really had NO time to work on this story while trying to balance friends, mountains of homework, my research position, and most importantly sleeping whenever possible! I hope I haven't lost everyone with this delay and I sincerely hope everyone enjoys this chapter. Thanks as always for your encouraging, awesome reviews and happy reading!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Chapter Six
Sasuke was seeing red. Literally.
Sakura had walked in with another man. And for some reason his body viewed this man as a dangerous threat because his sharingan had been unconsciously activated. His rapidly slipping mind was screaming one message: The threat needed to be eliminated. Now.
What the fuck does she think she's doing?!
Sasuke watched as Sakura noticed his presence and froze in mid-step.
"What is he doing here?"
Hitoshi's question pierced the silence and made Sasuke's blood boil. It was funny ,really. Sasuke had been asking himself the same question.
Seemingly unable to compose herself, Sakura simply stared at the raven-haired man, her eyes wide in shock. Hitoshi's gaze narrowed and shifted back and forth between the other two until it rested upon the back of Sakura's head.
"Sakura?"
Don't talk to her.
Don't look at her.
"Hey…Sakura?"
Hitoshi extended a hand forward and lightly placed it on the pink-haired woman's shoulder.
Don't touch her.
She's mine.
"Sakura, is everything okay?"
No. You're in the way.
Sasuke's mind was flooded with murderous intentions as Sakura finally appeared to snap out of her trance and turned around to face Hitoshi.
"Oh…ah I'm fine Hitoshi-kun."
Hitoshi-kun?!
"Um Hitoshi you know Uchiha Sasuke ,right?" Sakura gestured toward the couch, but didn't bother to turn and face Sasuke. Hitoshi gave a quick nod in response.
"And Sasuke, this is Takuda Hitoshi. We work together at the hospital."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed menacingly, but he gave no offers of greeting or acknowledgment. How could he? He wanted to rip the other man from limb to limb.
"Sasuke, what are you doing here?"
The question caught him off guard and for a moment his usually passive expression faltered. Sakura appeared to be caught in between a mix of fear and anger as she looked questioningly at the Uchiha and at the same time attempted to appear at ease in front of Hitoshi.
"I was just stopping by after returning from my mission."
"Oh."
Sakura's eyes met his and she flinched under his piercing gaze.
Scared Sakura? Sasuke quelled a derisive chuckle as he regarded the frightened looking woman in front of him.
"I guess I came at a bad time."
Sasuke's suggestive tone didn't go unnoticed by the other two and Sakura flushed a light shade of pink.
"Oh um it's not like…we were just…"
One of Sasuke's raven eyebrows rose in feigned amusement and his mouth contorted into a mocking smirk. The effect on Sakura was immediately visible as she flushed an even deeper shade of red.
It made Sasuke want to ravage her.
"I didn't realize you were dating a co-worker."
"Dating? Um Hitoshi and I are just—"
"Fucking?"
Sakura made a strangled sound in her throat and Hitoshi's face looked like it was on the verge of turning purple.
They asked for it…
"So I guess that's a yes?"
In his wildest dreams, Hitoshi couldn't have envisioned a more terrible way for the night to have turned out. He would've been happy with a nice cup of tea with Sakura and then maybe a hug. Heck, a freaking handshake would have been fine!
But, no. Uchiha I'm a god Sasuke just had to be waiting on the couch when they walked in.
I have got to be the unluckiest guy ever…
Hitoshi stood behind Sakura and felt his face heat up uncomfortably as Sasuke asked if he and Sakura were…were…well you know.
"So I guess that's a yes?"
Hitoshi was in close enough proximity to Sakura that he could feel her entire body stiffen in response to Sasuke's jibe. Yet he couldn't help but feel a bit sad that she felt that disgusted with the idea of being together with him.
Am I that inferior to Uchiha Sasuke?
"Sasuke, stop acting like a child."
Sasuke's usually calm exterior faded as Sakura's reprimand interrupted the silence. Hitoshi involuntarily took a step back as he caught a glance of the Uchiha's smoldering glare.
This is not good.
"Glaring at me isn't going to do anything, so why don't you just do what you're best at and leave."
Though Sakura was obviously trying to sound strong, Hitoshi could hear the tremor in her voice and he placed a supporting hand on one of the pink-haired woman's delicate shoulders. From the look that Sasuke gave him, this was not the best move.
I really don't want to be on the receiving end of that wrath.
Sasuke's gaze once again fell on Sakura and Hitoshi felt her body tremble against his hand.
She doesn't feel anything for me, does she?
Hitoshi sighed tiredly.
He would never illicit this type of reaction from her. This passionate demonstration full of anger and fear and downright gut-deep feelings. It was painfully obvious that the Uchiha had a firm hold over Sakura's emotions. And by the look on Sasuke's face, it seemed that he wasn't going to be letting go of that hold anytime soon.
Looks like I've lost huh?
Hitoshi vaguely heard Sasuke say something about Sakura really getting around these days and winced when she accidentally elbowed him in her rage.
I never had a chance anyway…
That stupid, arrogant, bastard Uchiha Sasuke!
Sakura was beyond mad at the smug man sitting only feet in front of her. She was livid.
How dare he come into her home, sit wherever the hell he wants, antagonize her guest, and then proceed to judge everything she did? And what made it that much worse was the fact that he knew exactly what he was doing and was probably enjoying it.
When I get my hands on him he's going to wish he'd never been born!
"So you seem to really be getting around these days huh Sakura?"
Bastard!
Sakura felt her elbow collide into Hitoshi's stomach and immediately felt a wave of guilt wash over her. Turning around, her medical instincts kicking into action, she placed a gentle hand on the area where she had struck him.
"Are you okay? I'm so sorry."
Hitoshi seemed oddly calm as he nodded and reassured her of his good health. On the other hand, Sasuke's mood at the moment seemed to be the very opposite of calm. In fact, he appeared to be on the verge of losing it at any moment.
Is his sharingan spinning faster or I am just imagining things?
In the blink of an eye the Uchiha was up from his position on the couch and advancing toward the unsuspecting couple.
"Sasuke, what—"
Grabbing Sakura's arm roughly, Sasuke jerked her away from Hitoshi and stepped in front of her petite frame.
"I think it's time for you to leave."
Hitoshi flinched before setting his chin defiantly and returning Sasuke's hostile glare.
"I'll leave when Sakura tells me to. I don't take orders from you."
Sasuke fixed his menacing gaze on Hitoshi, yet didn't reply. The whole atmosphere was making Sakura feel like she was suffocating.
I just need to end this right now before things get out of hand.
"Sasuke, please just go."
Again, the Uchiha made no attempt at replying. Even so, his silence was more frightening than anything he could have said. On the verge of panicking, Sakura stared at his firm back that was currently impeding her view of Hitoshi and tried desperately to think of what to do next.
Maybe I could use my super strength to knock him unconscious and then drag him out of the apartment and—
"I thought I told you to leave."
Sasuke's cold voice interrupted the pink-haired woman's jumbled thoughts.
Hitoshi, just stay calm and please don't make him angrier!
"And I thought I told you that I'm not going anywhere until Sakura wants me to."
Oh no…
"Leave."
"No."
"You might want to reconsider what the consequences of staying will be."
"The only thing I'm considering is Sakura's safety. And she obviously won't be safe with someone like you."
Sakura's eyes widened upon hearing Hitoshi's words and she was glad that no one could see her blush from her current position behind Sasuke.
This is so not good.
Sasuke remained mute, but from her vantage point, Sakura could see the muscles of his back stiffen in anger.
"Hey guys cool it, ok? This isn't a big deal, if we could just—oh!"
Sakura's words were cut off sharply as Sasuke grabbed the front of Hitoshi's shirt and shoved him back against the closed door.
Oh my god!
"Don't think that you can mess with an Uchiha and walk away unharmed."
"Sasuke, don't!"
Grabbing Sasuke's arm roughly, Sakura desperately tried to stop the situation before it careened completely out of control.
"Let him go Sasuke! Let him go right now!"
Hitoshi seemed to have the semblance of mind not to react in any way to the furious Uchiha who currently had him in a very helpless position.
Sasuke didn't react to Sakura's shouting and instead moved his hands up to Hitoshi's neck, where he held on with a vice-like grip.
Oh no, no, no…
Sakura again yanked on the Uchiha's strong arms, but to no avail. Feeling panicked and helpless, tears filled her usually cheerful green eyes.
"Sasuke-kun, please."
Sakura's quiet, tearful plea seemed to stir something in Sasuke and he turned his head to face the pink-haired woman.
"Please."
Sakura saw a hint of something in his eyes that made her already frantic heart beat even faster. Was it pain?
Does seeing me cry, make him hurt?
Sasuke was in a bad position. If he let Hitoshi go, it meant that he was weak and that he actually cared. But if he didn't let him go Sakura would get hurt.
Why is she so fragile?
It seemed like he'd been watching out for her wellbeing for much of his life. As an adolescent he'd always had to save the girl with the cherry-blossom hair and green eyes that constantly sought out his for reassurance and support.
Now that she worked as a doctor and rarely needed saving from physical danger, Sasuke seemed to have to pay much more attention to the welfare of her mind and emotions. It was a task that he had often neglected before, but at the moment seemed very important.
You're growing soft Uchiha.
But seeing the tears in her eyes and hearing the pain in her voice was becoming hard to bear.
Should I just let him go?
Turning away from Sakura's gaze, Sasuke glared at the surprisingly placid Hitoshi. An unexpected wave of jealously coursed through his veins and he involuntarily tightened his grip around the other man's neck.
He can't have Sakura...I won't allow it.
But hearing a muffled sob from Sakura immediately dissipated his anger and instead filled him uncomfortably with guilt.
I can't be the cause of her pain. Not today at least...
With an inaudible sigh of defeat, Sasuke removed his hand and stepped away from a coughing Hitoshi. As Sasuke expected, Sakura rushed to Hitoshi's side and used her chakra to heal any damage that his neck might have suffered.
"Hitoshi-kun, are you alright? Do you need anything?"
Hitoshi nodded 'no' and used his right hand to massage the sore skin.
Reassured that Hitoshi was in good health, Sakura turned around sharply and rounded on Sasuke.
"I can't believe you did that! Hitoshi is my guest and most importantly, a friend of mine! Is this how you normally treat people you've just met? Practically kill them and don't even apologize—"
"Sakura stop."
Sasuke was surprised to witness Hitoshi telling Sakura what to do, especially since she was defending him.
Confused, Sakura turned to look at Hitoshi.
"I understand that you're upset with him right now, but don't get worked up on my part."
"Hitoshi-kun, what—"
"Just forget this ever happened okay?"
Sasuke's eyes darted questioningly to Hitoshi's. What he saw there was tiredness, maybe even some sadness, but most importantly resignation. Hitoshi knew he'd lost.
I guess he's smarter than I thought.
Sakura, however didn't seem to understand Hitoshi's behavior.
"Hitoshi, you don't need to act like this didn't happen, he should be apolo—"
"Really, Sakura, you know me; I hate conflict. Besides, it's getting late and I should get going."
"What?"
"If you need anything, just let me know. I'll…I'll come anytime. Goodbye Sakura."
Before Sakura could say anything more, the brown-haired man opened the door and exited quietly, but determinedly out of the apartment.
This was it. The last straw. The final heart-breaking thing Uchiha Sasuke could inflict upon her without receiving any indication of her pain.
I just don't care anymore.
Sakura was beyond shocked over what had transpired in the small living room of her apartment only moments before and she was nowhere near in a state to deal with the raven-haired man still standing before her.
He needs to get the fuck out of my life.
She was tired of his behavior, of the unexpected visits and jealous actions that didn't seem to be rooted in anything other than Sasuke's twisted need to own people. To not share them with anyone else even if he had no claims over them other than those of a physical nature.
He doesn't even love me. He doesn't give a fuck about how I feel or how everything he does hurts me!
Risking a glance up at the Uchiha, Sakura was unsurprised to see his calm, black eyes staring back at her emotionlessly.
Does he ever feel anything?!
Her heart clenched painfully as she realized that he probably would never understand her; would never care enough to try and bring her happiness.
Just end it Sakura.
"You should leave now."
Sasuke didn't reply, but instead focused his eyes upon her own.
"Leave."
He made no move for the door.
"Can't you ever say anything?! I told you to get out so just go!"
"No."
"Why do you even want to be here?"
He took a step towards her and she backed away in anger and disgust.
"Do you enjoy tormenting me? Do you want to ruin any chances I might have to enjoy a healthy relationship with a guy who actually cares about me?"
Sasuke's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"So you like that guy?"
"It's none of your concern."
"Goddamit Sakura, tell me the truth. Are you sleeping with him?"
Sakura let out an incredulous laugh.
"Everything always revolves around sex with you, doesn't it?"
"So you are."
"What?"
"I can't believe that you'd stoop low enough to fool around with a co-worker."
Sakura felt red-hot anger boiling up inside of her and it took all of her resolve not to attack the arrogant, hypocritical man standing in front of her.
"Don't insult my friend."
"Friend? Don't you mean 'fuck-buddy?'"
"Shut up Sasuke!"
"What? Did I touch a nerve?"
Sakura advanced toward the Uchiha and stood up to her full height ,with the top of her head just grazing the tip of his nose.
"If you're going to act like this, just leave!"
Some of Sasuke's cockiness seemed to have been replaced by anger as he clenched his fists and stared down at her menacingly.
"What did you expect Sakura? That I'd enjoy seeing you come in with another man? That I wouldn't be angry that you were having sex with someone that you barely even know?"
"I told you, it's none of your business who I spend my time with!"
"You're acting like such a slu—"
SMACK! The resounding sound of Sakura's hand slapping across Sasuke's face echoed throughout the room. Sasuke raised a hand to his cheek in surprise and touched the place where she'd struck him.
What have I done? I've never hit him before…
When Sasuke's onyx eyes locked with hers again, she was unsurprised by the anger she saw there.
Don't look frightened! Don't let him think that you're just the same weak girl you used to be.
Mustering up all of her courage Sakura forced herself not to look away from his smoldering glare.
"I told you to get out."
Grabbing her wrist in one quick movement, Sasuke unexpectedly pinned her between his body and the wall.
"Let go of me!"
"No."
They struggled for a moment before Sasuke pinned both of Sakura's wrists next to either side of her head and pushed his firm body against the softness of her curves. Sakura couldn't help but be acutely aware of the suggestive position they had unwittingly gotten themselves into.
Don't give into this now. Show him that you have at least some self-respect left!
"Get off of me Sasuke."
Sasuke lowered his face dangerously close to hers.
"Not until you tell me you're through with that guy and that you won't see him again."
Setting her chin defiantly Sakura went in for the blow she knew would hurt him the most.
"You can't own people Sasuke. You can't expect them to do whatever you want, whenever you want. It's not like I'm yours."
This seemed to be the last straw for Sasuke. Grabbing the back of her head roughly, he pulled her face up to his and claimed her lips in a searing kiss.
Sakura resisted for a few moments before giving in to the passionate ministrations of Sasuke's lips. Tangling her hands in his raven hair, she pulled him in closer and deepened the kiss.
She knew it was wrong. She knew he was only demonstrating his possessiveness over her, but she just couldn't stop herself. She loved him so much.
Sasuke's hands moved from her hair down to the hem of her shirt where he pulled upward until the article of clothing shifted up and over her head. With Sakura's help, he removed it from her arms and threw it carelessly upon the floor.
Again, their lips met and this time Sakura channeled all of her frustration, anger, and pain into the kiss. Clawing at the back of his shirt, she tried to inflict a fraction of the pain he inflicted upon her with every harsh word he dealt and things he left unspoken.
Soon the Uchiha's shirt was on the floor alongside her own and they were steadily losing control over themselves.
I can't do this. I just can't.
Gathering all of her strength, Sakura pushed Sasuke's warm body off of hers and grabbed her shirt off of the floor. Clutching it in front of her almost bare chest, she stepped away from him, but raised her gaze up to meet his.
"You just want to hurt me don't you?"
Sasuke appeared momentarily confused before an undecipherable emotion flashed across his eyes.
Running a hand through his tousled hair, the Uchiha looked away from Sakura's green eyes as if by doing so he could end some sort of struggle carrying on inside of him.
"Leave."
Sasuke gave Sakura one last look before silently opening the door and leaving the apartment.
Why does this hurt so much?
Sakura stood staring at the closed door that Sasuke had exited through only moments prior and let the profound emptiness wash over her. She had told him to leave, yes, but what she really needed more than anything was for him to stay.
I need you Sasuke-kun. I love you.
This just wasn't working anymore. Carrying on a friendship with him and then a sexual relationship behind the scenes was obviously not a permanent solution. Though Sasuke might not care, she did. She needed something more from him or just…well nothing at all.
Stop lying to him and to yourself Sakura. He has no idea how you feel and he might never know unless you tell him.
Though it terrified her to do so, Sakura knew it was time to tell him the truth.
But what about everything that's just happened?
It was obvious that she was losing him. He was walking away at this very moment and he might not ever look back.
So Sakura did the only thing she knew to do. She went after him.
AN: I know it's angsty and long. But I do have plans for the plot in case you were wondering :) As of now, things should be only going up from here for our favorite couple! As always, I can't make any guarantees about the next update, but I'll try my best to make the update gap shorter than the last. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving and thanks to everyone for your support and well wishes for college!
Coming Soon…Is it too late for Sasuke and Sakura? Or is Sasuke's cold heart finally warming up? Naruto and Hinata's engagement party might be the start of something new!
College really sucks sometimes, but the best way to put a smile on my face is to click that review button! It'll help me forget my homework for at least 30 seconds :)
