Chapter 9: Fireworks

I sighed. What was I doing? I really wasn't the kind of person to do this. But…I did act that way toward her. So…I had to do something. Dammit, I hated this feeling of guilt. I had to do this carefully. She probably hates me by now. I looked up. It was getting dark and I decided to find her. I left the festival and started to walk to her house.

A few minutes later, I started to pass by the bridge. But my eye caught a hint of pink. So she was going to sulk on the bridge? How predictable…

I approached her and she jumped and looked at me. Her eyes were red and puffy. Once she took a look at me she sighed and laid her head on the railing.

"Hey Naruto….," she replied quietly. I stood next to her.

"You ok?" I asked. She didn't reply. I cocked my head and looked at her.

She sighed again, not taking her gaze off the water.

"Why….why did he act like a jerk?" she asked and wiped her eyes. "I mean…one moment he says he likes me and the next—"

"He's back to his stupid attitude?" I finished. She looked at me, then back at the water. She nodded.

"I mean if you're going to be my boyfriend, you have to act like it…" she said and I heard her give a soft snob. I looked at the ground. Guilt struck me again.

"I'm so stupid…" she said. I looked at her and tears were falling into the river below.

"Why say that?" I asked and leaned onto the railing to stare into the water as well.

"Because….I should have never asked him to stay, knowing that he could never…"

"Like you?"

"Yeah…but who cares…I've always been watching the fireworks alone…and I can handle watching them alone again this year…"

I looked at her. What did she mean "always watching the fireworks alone"?

"Wait, but haven't you always gone with Na—I mean me?" I asked. Crap, almost slipped. Luckily, she didn't notice.

She sighed. "Well…yeah…but…"

I smirked. "You've always wanted to be with Sasuke, huh?"

She nodded. "I just…I just wanted to at least watch it once with him…because…I've…"

She paused and waited for an answer. She sighed again. "Naruto…you know I've always loved him..."

My eyes grew wide to her answer. She did?

"He would always be on my mind…but now…I feel like…I've made a complete mistake in liking him and asking him to stay….I bet he was happy to leave. I bet that he never liked me at all…maybe everything….everything….was—"

"A lie?"

She looked at me, then back at the water again. "Exactly…"

I turned around and walked to the other side of the bridge and leaned on the railing.

"What if it wasn't? I bet he really likes you!"

She turned around. "He would never like me…."

I walked over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Yes he would."

She sighed and took my hand off her shoulder. She then looked back at the water. "How would you know?"

I sighed. " 'Cause I wouldn't be standing here if I left…" I replied. She turned and looked at me confused.

"What?"

I sighed again and undid my technique, by changing back to my old self.

Sakura frowned and looked away. "Naruto, you don't have to comfort me by changing into Sasuke."

I groaned. "Dammit Sakura. You really are slow. And here…"

I said and took out a necklace I bought after our little "show". The necklace had a charm that looked like a cherry blossom. She turned around and looked at the necklace.

"It's a….ugh, just take it…," I said and tossed the necklace at her. She caught it and observed it. I waited for her to say something. I sighed.

"Look I'm sorry alright? Can you at least talk to me?" I asked. Wow, I was practically begging for forgiveness. This is not like me at all. Again, she didn't say anything. I sighed.

"Look, I'm not Naruto. It was uncomfortable just looking like that ugly dobe anyways."

Nothing. I sighed and turned to leave. All of a sudden, she grabbed me by my waist and started to cry. Damn, she had a hard grip. I took her arms off me. I smirked.

"Sakura…y'know…," I started and crossed my arms. She looked at me. I smiled.

"You cry way too much…" I said and took her hand and pulled her as I started to walk.

"Where are we going?" Sakura asked me. I smirked.

"Don't you want to see the fireworks thing?" I asked. She smiled and kissed me. She nestled her head in my arm. I smiled. At least, she forgave me now.

"But Sasuke-kun, I bet the stands are already filled up," Sakura said to me and tugged on my arm. I smirked.

"Who said we were going back to the festival? Especially after the scene we made…," I said and quickly swept her legs intro my arms and carried her off to a far off tree.

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

"Naruto-kun! Where are we going?" Hinata asked catching up to me. But I wasn't in the mood to answer questions. Stupid Sasuke….treating Sakura like that. He was gonna get it bad. I jumped off and arrived near the bridge. I looked around and saw pink. SAKURA! I started to move but stopped. There was someone there with her. I hid my a nearby rock.

"Naruto-kun!" Hinata called out behind me. I turned and shushed her. I then looked forward and saw that the other person was…..

"Hey Naruto…."

I heard Sakura say and I saw that there was a person trying to impersonate me. What the heck? I frowned and started to get up.

"Naruto-kun! Wait! Look!" I looked again and Sakura and the "I" were talking. What the heck was going on? I frowned. I hated standing around doing nothing. I knew I shouldn't have left Sakura with a yarou like Sasuke.

"That's it I want to know who this imposter is!" I said and started to get up again. Hinata pulled me down again.

"Naruto-kun!" Hinata said and pointed forward. I looked at where she was pointing. Now it was Sasuke talking to Sakura! UGH! WHAT THE HECK WAS GOING ON!? (A/N: Awww! Poor Naruto! Must be hard being real slow.) I continued to watch as Sakura continued to talk to Sasuke.

"I'm gonna kick his ass for treating Sakura like that back there….," I growled and got up. Again, Hinata pulled me down.

"Naruto-kun, I think it's best for the two to work it out," she said. I sighed. I knew she was right. I looked again and I saw that Sasuke started to carry Sakura and head in the opposite direction the festival. Once they left I stood up and helped Hinata up.

"Where are we going to go now, Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked.

"I'm gonna go follow them," I said and started to walk off.

"Why?"

"To see that that dobe Sasuke won't do anything to Sakura."

"I'll come with you!" Hinata said and I nodded.

"Just be quiet…," I warned. With that we jumped off and started to follow them.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

"Sasuke-kun? Where are we going?" I asked. He smirked and stopped at a tree branch and let me down.

"Here," he replied and sat down. I looked out. In front of me, I saw a perfect view of the village.

"Why are we here?" I asked. He groaned.

"Wow, are you seriously this slow?" he asked and chuckled. "You'll see in a sec."

I sighed and sat down next to him. It was quiet and I looked over at him.

"Sasuke-kun?" I asked. He looked at me.

"Why…why did you act like such a jerk back at the festival. Thanks, to you I had to wash all that barf off. I mean, you acted all kind at the hospital and then when we arrived at the festival you….you I don't know…changed…and I figured…that everything was just a lie…" I said and fiddled with my fingers. A breeze blew and I rubbed my shoulders. All of sudden Sasuke wrapped his arms around me.

"Cold huh?" he asked. I nodded.

"Well, to answer your question…ugh….it's real complicated," he replied and sighed. I looked up at him and our faces were like nearly inches away.

"I can try to understand if you try to tell me…"

He sighed again and looked away.

"I'm not usually a person who explains my feelings…"

I sighed and fidgeted with my hands. I could feel his gaze still on me. He looked away and stared at the sky.

"Look, Sakura….I just got over telling you how I felt….you know…"

"About me?" I finished for him. He nodded.

"I just…I just like to…"

"Express your feeling in public?" I finished again. He looked at me and smirked.

"Yeah…sorry…I made you angry or confused or whatever…," he said and looked away. I kissed his cheek and laid my head on his shoulder. Sasuke didn't tense up this time, but instead he tightened his grip on me. Should I forgive him? I sighed and I heard him give a slight chuckle.

"What's so funny?" I asked. He smiled and looked down at me. Our lips were just inches away.

"You never told me why….you were always so interested in me…," he said and kissed me lightly. I giggled and placed a hand on the side of his face.

"I don't really know….at first…I liked you for you're handsome looks…"

He chuckled and I continued. "But….once we became a team…I saw more than what the other girls saw. I saw the real Sasuke Uchiha. Sure, you might me a big loser jerk snobby person….but…I know…that can be a sweet guy Sasuke."

I finished and we just stared at each other for a while. He chuckled again.

"Yeah, I know….I'm so stupid or annoying….or any of the above," I said and sighed. Just then, fireworks exploded in the sky causing me to jump. The fascinating thing was however, that they were clearly shown. I mean, all the other times I've been to the festival with Naruto, I had to watch them while trying to look over other people's heads. While here…here I saw them with nothing in my face and it was clear. I stared at the clashing colors. I was so fascinated by the fireworks that I didn't notice Sasuke was staring at me until he spoke.

"You're neither of those…well….not too much anymore…" he said and looked at the fireworks exploding in the sky. I looked at him and slowly a blush rose to my face. I looked back at the sky. We continued to stare at the fireworks exploding in the sky. I could even hear the people from the festival being amazed by them.

"Sakura…"

I looked at him and he was still looking at the sky.

"While I was away….have you ever liked Naruto?" he asked and looked at me. I raised an eyebrow. He smirked. "'Cause…you I heard that you guys have been hanging out a lot and—"

"Are you kidding me?! Me? Like that baka? No way! We're just friends. I mean sure we hung out a lot but I mean….I never liked him as in a couple. And with the whole attending the whole festival thing, I mean he forced me too. If I didn't he would bring out his sob story. Why would you ever think I like Naruto? That perverted, weirdo, baka…"

I stopped due to Sasuke chuckling. I frowned.

"What's so funny?" I asked. He rolled his eyes.

"You never shut up do you?" he said. I looked away and blushed. Just then I felt his hand take my chin and make me face him. Soon enough, our lips were just inches away and I blinked. He then leaned in and kissed me. I kissed him back. I slowly slid my arms around his neck and I felt him put his arms around my waist and bring me closer to him. In the background, the fireworks continued to explode in the sky. A few minutes passed and we were slowly making out and were enjoying every minute of it. I ran my fingers through his raven black hair and he carefully caressed my cheek.

Suddenly a rustle in the trees made us break apart and Sasuke stood up. I looked back.

"What was that?" I asked. Sasuke reached behind him, but he stopped remembering that he didn't have any equipment. He then clasped his hands together as he was about to make a hand formation. I stood up and grabbed his hands.

"Maybe we should just go home…" I suggested. He looked out into the darkness of the trees.

"There's something out there…I know there is…," he said. I looked out into the forest. Nothing made a sound.

"Sasuke…you don't want to cause a scene, especially when the festival is going on," I informed. He looked at me then back at the forest. He sighed and swept me up bridal style.

"Let's go it's not safe here…," he said and just as he was about to jump off. I grabbed his arm. He looked down at me. I smiled and kissed him briefly. He smiled and I swear that I saw that he was blushing. I then nestled my head onto his chest and looked at the necklace he had given me as we headed home.


Wow...haven't updated this in a looooonggg time. Why? 'Cause I frequently go on deviantart now...and I mostly post my stories there. I finished this story a while back so I won't be posting any Author notes at the end of the next few chapters. But I will post one at the vvvveeerrryyy end. So look out for that!

()v