-7-
„Personality can open doors, but only character can keep them open."
Elmer G. Letterman
„In attempts to improve your character, know what is in your power and what is beyond it."
Francis Thompson (1859 - 1907)
Ring, ring…right, ring…ring, ring…
Sasuke lifted himself out of blankets and rubbed his still closed eyes. Then, through morning blindness, he found the cell-phone that was ringing and flipped it open.
"This better be a very beautiful woman, or I'm hanging up" he mumbled to the receiver.
"No, this is actually the case calling" a sharp voice of Temari hurt Sasuke's touchy ears.
"This is your lucky day, you're beautiful enough for me to imagine you naked. Is it THAT important to wake me up at…" Sasuke looked at the clock dial "five am?"
"Actually, yes. We have a 47-year-old male, perfectly healthy until this morning"
"If it's poking, means pregnancy" Sasuke mumbled, falling back to bed.
"It's a he, Uchiha" Temari said in pissed tone "wake up already"
"No can do. Nobody's there to make me coffee. What are his symptoms?"
"Temperature, cough, weakness, vertigo…I know it sounds like a normal flu or something, but it didn't show up on blood test. We did an X ray, but it revealed practically nothing"
"When you say practically, it usually means something. What was it?"
"It was a little thicker than it's supposed to be. But the guy's gotta cough, so it's supposed to be that way"
"Right. Grab a lung tissue and be quick about it. When I'm at the hospital, I wanna see it under microscope" Sasuke ordered, sitting up.
"You think it's something particularly in his lungs?"
"I don't know. That's why I'm ordering you to do the test. Get to it" and he flipped the phone closed. Sasuke yawned lazily and stretched himself. Then a soft knock drew his attention. Uchiha sighed. Why oh why that bitch cannot be sleeping? I just don't want anyone around me at least in the morning. Save me somebody! Maybe I should become a monk and go treat people in the monastery. Most of my problems would be gone. And the halo on the head does seem nice…
"What?" Sasuke snapped at the woman behind the door, only wearing short silky red nigh-gown.
"I-ah-heard you were awake, so…I brought you some coffee" she showed him the steaming cup in her hand "thought you'd function better in the morning with it" she smiled kindly.
Gimme that coffee! NOW! She's SO goddamn right, I need to function now! God bless her being here! Forget about that monastery! I can pray to god here!
"Thanks" Sasuke snatched the cup from her and took a gulp "why are you up so early? And barely dressed?"
"I have some things to do. And I just got up, just like yourself" Sakura took her green eyes on the tour around Sasuke's muscle mountains and a slight blush dusted her cheeks.
"Don't overheat" Sasuke smirked at her "I really have no time to change your light…bulbs" Sasuke's look went straight down to Sakura's breasts. The woman reached out her hand flicked him into forehead.
"Get going. Isn't that why you got up?" she gave him a grin and walked away.
"Yeah, and to annoy you. That's what I'm best at"
-x-
Half an hour later…
"So, how can I help you in this beautiful morning?" Sasuke asked his team when he finally got to the hospital thirty minutes later.
"Are you alright?" Temari instantly asked?
"Shouldn't I be?" Sasuke sipped the coffee he bought on the way.
"You look…happy" Karin said carefully.
"Sounded like an interesting case" Sasuke shrugged and marched to the whiteboard "so, any ideas, now that my bright head is here?"
"Well, we did the lung tissue biopsy, but it didn't reveal anything" Karin reported "his toxic screen was negative, also his family history didn't reveal anything similar"
"Ok, so, you said his symptoms were…" Sasuke took the marker.
"Temperature, cough, weakness, vertigo" Temari said "the cough got worse, by the way"
"How worse?"
"Dryer, deeper"
"This could be just a simple lung inflammation" Shikamaru suggested.
"Nah, lung inflammations are never simple in the first place" Sasuke said, not tearing his eyes off the whiteboard.
"Sarcoidosis?" Karin suggested.
"Fits the symptoms" Sasuke agreed "but it doesn't explain why it broke out so suddenly"
"Could be chronic. They usually don't break out for years" Temari just shrugged.
"Then again, why didn't the lung tissue reveal something?" Sasuke ignored the last statement.
"The X ray showed increased masses in one side of his lung. Maybe we just didn't take the right spot" Temari confronted.
"Which means you're an idiot" Sasuke looked at her with a little smirk "alright, start him on steroids. Let's see what happens"
"Hey, if it's not sarcoidosis, his heart will blow up" Karin protested.
"That would be helpful" Sasuke shrugged "that is, if you make it in time with the pedals"
"Have you got any idea of how pissed Tsunade will be?" Shikamaru noted "it will be a drag of listening to her, screaming throughout the corridor"
"Yeah, but it's also fun to see her face going all frown. Gives me an opportunity to mock her" Sasuke smirked "now get going. Tsunade-the-need-for-anger-management didn't hire you for nothing"
-x-
Sakura walked in a little café, with muted light and little tables with candles on each. She approached the person she was looking for.
"Hey, sorry I'm late" she smiled to Itachi, who politely stood up to greet her "you wouldn't believe the traffic"
"It's nothing, Please" he showed to the chair and the couple sat down.
"You said it wouldn't take much time, cause I really don't have any today" Sakura smiled nervously "lot's of business with lawyers and stuff"
"So I understand. Tsunade told me all about it. Your foster parents should really get sewed for doing this to you"
"Maybe, but first I need my money back. I really need to promote my paintings, if I want to have something to eat on my own" Sakura sighed, thinking about Sasuke and his forced generosity.
"That's exactly why I called you here" Itachi gave her a vague smile "there's an exhibition at the Modern Art Museum next Friday. All of the most famous artists will be exhibiting their painting there and…maybe you would like to join?"
"What, you mean like…the part of the exhibition?' Sakura leaned forward, not believing what she has just heard.
"Sure. I've got a lot of contacts among the organizers and thought you might be interested"
"I am, but…it's actually…well, I don't think I qualify for such a high-class event"
"Why wouldn't you?" Itachi also leaned forward on his elbows "if you don't try, then you really don't qualify. A person must always fight for what he or she does"
"That's how you became what you are?" Sakura asked, biting her lower lip and smiling at the same time. Itachi scoffed softly.
"You can…put it that way. So, what do you say? You're in or out?" he looked straight into her eyes "as a bonus, you won't have to worry about the escort"
"Because you will be there?" Sakura gave him a grin "well then. Sounds perfect"
"Next Friday it is" Itachi said in a low voice. Both sat immobile for a while. Then Itachi leaned in and kissed her.
Sakura didn't answer the kiss. It was unexpected, un-waited….Unwanted? No, this doesn't feel that bad, but…it also doesn't feel…right. Although I must admit, it's good. But it is too soon. Shit! Why am I even thinking this?! Of course it is too soon!! I want to suck faces with Sasuke, not his brother!!
Sakura instantly tore off and looked at him with wide, amazed eyes. She lowered her look and stood up.
"I'll…bring you the paintings next week. See you by then I guess"
"Sure. Call me"
"Sure. Bye" and she quickly walked out of the café. Itachi leaned back on his chair and victoriously smirked.
-x-
Four hours later…
Sasuke was sitting in the hospital's café, poking his salad with a fork and watching the distance. Naruto approached him with an inquiring look.
"Are you playing Sherlock Holms?" he asked, sitting next to Sasuke.
"No. I'm surprised you actually know the guy's name" Uchiha retorted and dug into his salad, but again didn't put them into his mouth, but only continued stabbing.
"So, what are you doing?" Naruto asked after few moments of falsely trying to figure out why his friend is trying to kill the salad.
"Investigation" Sasuke said in one word and showed to the table in the other side of the room. Naruto looked at the three people sitting there and nodded.
"So, the pink-haired one must be Sakura" he deduced "the one with the biggest bobs…well we all know who she is. Whose the guy?"
"That's why I said it's an investigation" Sasuke slowly took a sip of the juice, not tearing his eyes from the three.
"Doesn't look like Itachi. Although has something to him" Naruto too glued his eyes to the distant table.
"You wish! It would be too much of a pleasure if he had a paper face"
"Maybe the guy's blood pressure is low"
"He wouldn't be moving…and smiling in that annoying smile so frequently"
"Do you think he's her boyfriend?"
"He's too young for her" Sasuke shrugged.
"Not Tsunade! Sakura" Naruto received a death glare from Sasuke. He then turned to the three and then back to his friend. Slowly, a shrewd look crawled into Naruto's face.
"You're jealous" he stated.
"No I'm not"
"You are. What kind of an idiot would be lurking around for a woman, if he didn't care about her"
"You're asking for it" Sasuke threatened.
"Sasuke. I don't really get one thing: is it so hard to actually tell someone what you really think of her?"
"I told her already" Sasuke said, not even glancing at Naruto.
"You did. And?"
"I told her she's a bitch. Then she slapped me" Naruto stared at Sasuke for a while.
"I see. You should…I don't know. Just…sit with her for a while and just talk"
"Would that turn her from being less of a bitch?"
"No. That will turn you into more of a human being, which will lead into her not being a bitch. For god's sake, the woman's hot!"
"So I see" Sasuke nodded and took another sip of juice "that is what makes her more annoying"
"Because you want her, but you cannot get over your principles?"
"Think what you want"
"Ok. Ok, whatever you say" Naruto sighed and looked at the three (chatting, laughing, eating, drinking…the usual stuff) "so, what does your gut tell you?"
"That they're not a couple" Sasuke sighed and this time put salad into mouth for real "their closest relationship must be friendship. Not sure about The-Breasts-Of-Sheba"
"You sound relieved" Naruto noted.
"Just because I sound like that, doesn't mean I am" Sasuke shot back and stood up.
"Do I want to know what else happened between you two?" Naruto looked up at him.
"We kissed and she brought coffee for me this morning" Sasuke shrugged and walked away. Naruto was left mouth open. What an idiot. Look at that woman! She could have anyone she wants and now…she's interested in such a jerk. The world's going crazy.
-x-
Sakura watched Sasuke leaving the café with smirking look and then turned to the guy by her side.
"Hey, Sai. Didn't you come to participate in the exhibition next Friday?"
"As a mater of fact I did" the man smiled a little artificially "are you in it also?"
"Yes. Since today"
"Hey, what did I miss?" Tsunade interfered.
"Well, Itachi called me this morning and…well he proposed me to enter the exhibition with my own works. I agreed"
"Now that is interesting" Tsunade smirked.
"Itachi…Itachi Uchiha maybe?" Sai asked in a wandering tone.
"You know him?" Sakura raised her eyebrow at him.
"He's quite famous in donating modern artist in Canada. And since the organizers came from there, he must also be pulling the strings"
"I see. To tell the truth, I'm already looking forward to it"
"Yeah, you should, girl" Tsunade sipped some juice through straw "this could be your big chance for a big break"
"Yeah. And Itachi even invited me to go with him" Sakura smiled nervously.
"Even better. You can concentrate in hooking him up" Tsunade winked.
"Do you like him, Sakura?" Sai asked out of the blue.
"Well" Sakura remembered their "kiss" "you could put it that way" she sighed "but it's nothing serious. Yet"
If I can't have one Uchiha, I could just take the other one. AS IF! I'm onto him, really. Sasuke that is. I suppose it is already too late for me to be hooking Itachi up, when I already got hooked up by Sasuke. Even though he didn't really do anything…only push me away.
-x-
Later, in the late evening…
Sakura knocked at the door of Sasuke's office and entered. The Uchiha lifted his head from the file and looked straight at her with inquiring look.
"Not coming home tonight?" she asked, closing to his desk.
"Doesn't seem so. I have a very serious patient"
"Is he dying?
"Sure does. It's an exact illness and at the same time, it's not the exact illness"
"Sounds like a handful" Sakura sat in front of him in a chair and took the little ball. She started tossing it between her hands.
"Why are you here?" Sasuke suddenly asked.
"Well, I figured that maybe if you're going home, you could drive as well. But looks like I'll have to take a bus"
"How come your friend didn't take you?" Sasuke asked provokingly.
"Oh, you mean Sai?" Sakura gave him a little smile "he had just gotten into city. Doesn't have a car yet"
"U-huh. Fine, I'll order you a cab" Sasuke grabbed the phone and made a call. Sakura watched him talking and arranging.
He's actually taking care of me? I don't believe this. What is up with him? And he didn't even call me a bitch today. Maybe he just…really feels something? Maybe I was the one who didn't see it, although he was showing it all along? This is insane!
"Cab will be here in ten minutes, so you better hurry up. And no need to pay. I'll transfer them money"
"Why are you doing this?" Sakura asked straight.
"You want me to call it back?"
"No. I mean I…I'm thankful. Thank you"
"Yeah. And if you're going to make out with a driver, please do it outside. The night's warm enough"
"Right" Sakura sighed and stood up to leave "see you whenever you return"
"Yeah, whatever"
Sakura was about to leave, but whirled around at the door and walked back to Sasuke.
"There's an exhibition next Friday and my works are being shown at the Museum of Modern Art. Will you come?"
"Hm, let's see" Sasuke pretended to be thinking "Fridays are usually my hooker days so…"
"Don't act like a jerk. Will you come or not?"
"I'll…think about it" Sakura nodded and walked away.
"I liked the painting" Sasuke said "if you hanging it in the exhibition make sure no one buys it"
"Sure" Sakura smiled at the middle of the door "thanks"
And she walked away…
This wasn't that bad. Naruto was right AGAIN! Why all the dimwits are usually right? I'm starting to feel like going out of my mind not because of The Bitch, but because of him! Stupid Naruto! Why does he always have to score?
--
A/N: Like where this is going? Press the GO button! You will know more totally for free! All you need to do is comment!
Achem…ok, that was awkwardly commercial. Sorry. Thanks for reading and commenting that you already did ;) glad to have you all as readers ;)
