Disclaimer- I do not own Naruto.

Summary:

Childhood playmates separated for 10 years. What will happen when Sakura returns 10 years later?

'thoughts'

"spoken"

'inner'


Chapter 9

"Hey y'all." Sakura called out, as she made her way over to the mat where the girls were while Sasuke joined the guys in a game of Frisbee.

"What's with the look?" She asked Ino, when she realize them staring.

"Is there something going on with you and Sasuke?" Ten Ten inquired.

"No." Sakura scoffed a reply.

"Then do you feel something for him?"

"NO!"

"Ok, then." Ino said, but really deep down inside she was all excited into bringing the two together. The answer was totally oblivious to the two idiots. Not to mention, even if she was wrong, it'd be fine. As long as Sasuke is the one having the feelings, Sakura would be an easy feat.

Once the food was set up, the boys came over, and the group started their meal, where Ino had purposely had Sasuke sit beside the pink hair girl.

Lunch was fine. Honestly, there was good food, and the company was awesome. Sakura thought so, except other than the fact that the couples were behaving intimately to their own partners, completely lost in their own world, thus leaving Sakura and Sasuke by themselves. Uncomfortable with the public display of affection, Sasuke led Sakura to a Cherry blossom tree away from the mushy scene.

"Seriously, how did you ever manage to sit through all of these?" Sakura asked.

"If it ever happened, I would have disappeared long ago." Sasuke replied stoically. "But they don't usually do this. Some weird wind must have blown pass."

"Aa." Truthfully, Sakura was in doubt.

'I mean, why his friends would do it all of a sudden. Technically, it's quite mean to do that to a single friend. '

'Well, technically, he has your company now.'

'Hn. Puh-lease. Like why on earth has this gotta do with me?'

'Hn. Like puh-lease. Are you blind?' Inner Sakura rolled her eyes.

'Huh?' Sakura asked her inner, subconsciously letting a slip of a disgusted expression that did not go unnoticed by Sasuke.

"What's with your face? Are you having spasm or what?" he commented jokingly.

"What?!! No, you baka." Sakura scoffed, and defending herself with a playful punch on his arm.

"Hey, looks like the two are hitting off real good." Ino whispered into her boyfriend's ear, and at the same time tried to send the message across to the rest, who immediately agreed.

Knowing their friend, Sasuke is lowest on his guard once he is tipsy, Ino decided to execute a next plan.

Coming up with an excuse, Ino had Shikamaru go over to tell the group to split themselves for the time being, and to meet up again at night for a couple of drinks at the bar.

"Hn, so what you wanna do?" Sasuke asked Sakura after his friends left.

"I'm fine with anything."

"Hmm… " Sasuke thought to himself, as he laid under the cherry blossom, where Sakura sat beside him. He was quite baffled by his friends abrupt decision, and was at quite lost at what he want to do while waiting for time to pass.

Glancing over at his companion, he saw her lost in her own thoughts, squinting into the clear sky. The bright rays of the afternoon sun shinning on her face brought out a radiant glow in her. Her silky pink locks, was swept aside by the cool breeze, revealing emerald orbs against her dark lashes. Once more, Sasuke felt lured and trapped by the mesmerizing sight. And yet, once more, he found his hand attempting to reach out to caress her face, and for her rose bud lips to meet is own.

It was only when she turned to look at him, did Sasuke finally snapped out of the trance.

'Holy sh-! What did I almost do?!'

'You almost attempted to kiss her, teme.' Inner Sasuke quipped.

'What?! Huh? No, I did not. How could I? She's my friend, that's illegal. And I don't love her. Damn it. And who are you to call teme?!! '

'So what if you don't? And why can't you?' Inner Sasuke questioned his confused outer.

'Hn.' Was all Sasuke said, then decided to take a shut eye.

After Sasuke's friends left, the area of the park they were in, was pretty much left with the two of them. The park was pretty, Sakura thought. The blue sky, the white, fluffy clouds and the chirping of the birds in spring. Not forgetting, the crystal clear pond, which was in full view from where they were sitting, amongst the full bloom cherry blossom trees.

'A perfect romantic ambience… and the only thing missing is a boyfriend. Hn.' The pinkette scoffed to herself, then turned to look down at her friend, who was lying beside her and shook her head, 'Haa, not a chance. No way.'

'Is that what you really think?' her inner asked.

'Aa, I guess. ' Sakura replied with uncertainty.

'Hn.'

'Oh whatever, its not like I really care.' Well its true she doesn't. Afterall, there isn't a need for a boyfriend. She can survive independently, and she knows she would always have her family for support, and her friends… Hmm, her friends aye… Well, there is Sasuke. He is quite well for a friend. Then she realized, 'Damn that friend. He's not asleep is he?'

'Well, technically, he is lying just right here with his eyes shut.'

"Erm, Sasuke?"

No response.

"Sasuke??" Sakura called again, the sound of threat creeping in dangerously as veins of twitch starts appearing on her forehead.

No response. Then she snapped, and there went a punch to the ebony hair teen.

Immediately, Sasuke woke up, with confusion written all over his face, he looked up.

"Wha- What?"

The rosette pouted, and whined to her friend, "Well, you left me sitting all alone while you slept. And, it's like here I am, bored with nothing to do. That's mean ya know."

"Eh? Aa." Sasuke grunted in a hoarse voice, which apparently displayed clearly that he was barely awake. In his blur state, he draped his arm over Sakura's stomach and mumbled," Sleep, there's time." Then back into dreamland, he went.

'What-the-h-. Sleep?! Here?! Is he nuts?!' So it seemed, what bothered her was not because of his close contact, but sleeping in a park. 'Seriously, how much more random can things get?!' Sakura huffed to herself. Giving up, she close her eyes and fell asleep whilst sitting up.


When Sakura opened her eyes, the sun was already setting beyond the trees, reflecting a golden hue on the entire park, warming up her body from the hours of unconsciousness. Yes, apparently they had slept for almost four hours, from the time on her watch. Yet it seemed her friend still hasn't had enough sleep. As she moved to straighten her aching back, Sasuke started to stir, but made no other signs of being awake.

"Sasuke." Sakura called out gently, as she nudged the raven hair boy.

"Hmm?" Came a reply, but his eyes were still closed.

"It's already seven. Aren't we suppose to meet Ino and the rest?"

"Aa."

"So, wake up already." Sakura said in a firm voice, annoyance starting to creep in.

"Aa." Replied Sasuke, and sat up immediately, who knew jolly well that it'd be better to avoid pain.

"Hn." Sakura smirked.

"Hn. Are you hungry?" He asked, ignoring Sakura.

"Darn right I am." Sakura replied, as a growl was heard from her stomach.


It was 7.30 that evening, and the bar was fairly empty. Both Sakura and Sasuke were early, and decided to grab a bite before the rest arrived. So far they were having pizzas and drowning Erdingers with it.

By 8, the rest had already joined them, and the couple already had two glasses of the beer, that hardly affected them, seemingly the alcohol percentage was quite low. The ladies then had apple martinis each and vodka for the guys.

Small talks were made between as most of the evening was spent in silence as they enjoyed the music played by the band that night and drinking.

Sakura eyed the number of glasses on the table. It seemed to her that Sasuke was able to hold his liquor well, seeing that he had drowned down two glasses of Erdingers, and had two glasses of vodka and is currently having his third. However unbeknown to her, Ino thought mischievously,' Sasuke may be a good drinker, but all one need is to get him tipsy to watch a good drama.'

Randomly, the martinis had come with a cherry each, and Neji had decided to pick the stalk that Ten Ten had left on the table after eating the fruit, and put it into his mouth, tying a knot.

"You know, it is said, that those who could tie a knot are good at making out." Ino said.

"Really?" Sakura asked. Then the rest all seemed to turned to a red-face Neji and Tenten, seeming to ask if it is true. But they gave up, when the couple decided to make no comments.

Curiously, Naruto decide to try it too, and when he managed too, he goaded on the other two guys to do the same. Of cos, with his girlfriend being Ino, Shikamaru had no choice but to play along. Fortunately for him he managed as well. With the only one left, everyone turned to look expectantly at the Uchiha.

"What?" Sasuke asked monotonously.

"Try it, teme." Naruto told him.

"And why should I?"

"Well,…" Naruto thought for awhile, exchanging looks with Ino, he decided," Unless, you are bad at making out, prove it to us."

"Why should I?"

"Well, then again, I bet you haven't even given anyone your first kiss." Smirked the blonde male, causing his mates to snicker at Sasuke. Being his best pal, Naruto is one to know best, Sasuke's weakness – his pride. Though it was mean, but in such case, no one had any idea how much they were enjoying it. "Ain't that true, that's why you're afraid."

"No am not!" Sasuke defended himself.

"Then prove it."

"Tsk." Feeling annoyed, the raven hair boy picked up the cherry stalk from Sakura's side and place it in his mouth. After five minutes of playing around in his mouth, he felt his jaw aching and decided to give up and spat out the stalk.

"Ahah! So you failed." Naruto cried out while the rest snickered at their friend. "So it seems you are not a very good kisser, for all you know you don't even know how too."

Being the so ever the prideful one, Sasuke got annoyed he immediately turned to his right, where Saskura was sitting beside him.


To everyone's shock, Uchiha Sasuke did a very despicable act.

Being already tipsy from the alcohol, and annoyed by his friends, Sasule turned to Sakura and cupped her face and smack! He was kissing her. The poor girl who was all too surprise to react, simply let him slid his tongue into her mouth, feeling, and practically raping her lips, as he kissed her, hungrily with fiery of passion.

In fact she was more than surprise, yet she wasn't shock. It was as though she foresee something like this, but maybe because she couldn't help but felt that each movement he made was so filled with a feeling so indescribable. It was as though he wanted her, and more of her. It was as though, at this moment she knew he would never let her go. For the first time, Sakura felt an overwhelming sensation of love, and it wasn't from her parents or brother. But so what?!

All of a sudden, Sakura regained her state of blurry, and pushed the raven hair male away. She could feel her face burning with heat, but she wasn't angry, neither was she hurt nor embarrass. It was more like annoyance or maybe even amusement, in fact wasn't much of a bother to her, but he still deserves it.

Instead of a slap she gave her friend a whack on the head hopefully to wake him up from his unclear state of mind. Seriously, what was he thinking, kissing her like that? Nope, no slap, she decided, but she still felt like strangling the boy.

"UCHIHA SASUKE! WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU THINKING?!! ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FREAKING MIND?!!!!" Sakura screamed in his face, which seemed to seemed to only react because of the screech but no the content. "Holy sh-! I so can't believe it. URGH! YOU MORON!!"

With a final whack to his head, Sakura excused herself, smiling, she said, "Sorry guys, but I think I better leave already, apparently this dude here is too bad in a condition to further remain here." With that, she dragged the dazed Sasuke out of the bar, leaving his friends somewhat, baffled, shocked and amused.

"Well at least it is confirmed he does likes Sakura." Ino stated.

"But still, we have to admit, that was a shocking scene, afterall none of us were expecting something like that." Tenten commented. "Sure we expected something stupid from him, but that was utterly moronic."

"Lucky for him, Sakura doesn't seem to take it too serious."

"Ya." The group agreed in unision.


With Sakura and Sasuke, …

After leaving Timbre, Sakura managed to flag a cab, and had reached the Uchiha residence. Pressing the doorbell, Sakura couldn't help but felt nervous. Seriously, for god's sake, what would Mikoto-san say, seeing her son drunk like this.

Fortunately for her, the one who opened the door was Itachi.

"Hn. Look what the wind blew in." The older man smirked.

"…"

"Did you have any problems bringing him home?" Itachi kindly asked.

"No, I didn't." Sakura replied politely.

"Well, I'm quite surprise you're the one here, usually it'd be one of the guys. What happened?"

"Just too much fun?" Sakura volunteered her answer with uncertainty.

"Hn, alright, whatever, I'll take him from here. You must be tired from lugging this buffoon home, now run along and go home." Itachi said.

Bidding the older Uchiha a good bye, Sakura headed home.

Quitely, Itachi helped his younger brother onto the bed, as since his parents were already asleep. Which, in a way was fortunate or else his mother would have made a fuss.

"I seriously hope you didn't do anything to allow me to make fun of you, little brother." Itachi muttered to the sleeping figure. With that, he left the room, closing the door behind him.


Despite the four hours of sleep initially, she truly was exhausted. Or maybe that was an exhausting experience. Lying on the bed, there wasn't a chance for her to think through her day, as she immediately fell into deep sleep. Yet not before a pair of obsidian orbs flashed across her mind as she remember the taste of his lips, and the tenderness of them against hers.


A/N: ZOMG! Finally, submission is over. Three cheers.

I've got awesome reviews the last time, had me all high. Thanks a lot peeps. :))))))

It's 2.30am over here, oh, and here it is. The ever waiting new chapter, and the kiss everyone's been anticipating. So how's it? Hope to hear from you.

And hopefully, more reviews than the last. :))))

Enjoy.