Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

There was something different in his demeanor.

Sakura pushed herself up on her hands, slowly sliding off the table, but her eyes never left his face. Though she was already used to his more cryptic nature, she found his current facial expression even more opaque and unreadable. She grimaced slightly when her feet met with the carpeted floor. She'd need a change of underwear after what they had just…

By now, she'd expect some smart remark out of his mouth—

"Maybe I should open up that secretary position after all," he commented slyly, buttoning up his shirt and smoothing out his suit jacket.

—there it was.

Sakura shrugged lightly, following in suit: fixing her blouse and tucking it into the pencil skirt that was bunched up around her thighs. However, she couldn't help the smile of amusement on her face. "I'm happy with the position I have at Lira."

It was still there. She could see it. Though she hadn't known him for very long, despite all the activity they had no reservations in indulging in, Sakura found she had caught onto his subtle style of hinting at the thoughts in his head, the feelings he never showed.

"As your boss," he answered, placing an extra emphasis on the term, "I can easily change that position."

"I knew you were trying to coerce me into something."

The raven-haired man chuckled. "Believe me, Sakura: if I wanted to persuade you, I'd be using a more… conventional method."

Sakura arched a brow in wonderment, leaning forward on her palms that were now spread on his desk. She loved the way his gaze was solely focused on her: so attentive and attuned. It made slight shivers run down her neck. "And that would be…?"

Sasuke smirked, copying her movements until their faces were a few inches apart. His mouth opened to respond in whatever way his arrogant self would allow for first, but the buzz of the intercom interrupted them, and the sound of a man's voice filtered through.

"Mr. Uchiha, the meeting starts in ten minutes."

Sakura saw his fixated attention on her break away as he picked up the phone and began speaking, and a feeling of crestfallenness began bubbling up inside her. Was her expectation too high? What fulfillment was she looking for in this sort of a relationship? It had been purely physical, and she was sure that it would continue that way. Though Sasuke had not clearly iterated it before, she was certain that all he was looking for was—

"Sorry, but I have business to attend to," he announced formally, setting down the phone.

"Ah, okay." Sakura forced a smile and quickly grabbed her purse. "I have to go through there, don't I?"

For a split second, there was something different in his eyes. A sort of warmth, care, and something… she couldn't quite figure it out. But whatever it was, it made her stance on their relationship tilt slightly. She heard him chuckle lightly. "Yes. My chauffeur will drop you home."

He had noticed the disappointed look on her face. He watched her hurry out the way she had come, a quick curse leaving his lips that had now turned into a small frown.

Maybe it was the natural, masculine lust that was drawing him toward her, forcing the image of her vibrant face when she smiled in amusement or blushed coyly into his mind every damn minute of every damn day since he had met her. Maybe it was the fact that she was the first to pique his interest in a very long time. Maybe it was the curiosity he still held that wanted to delve far beyond the exterior that he had had the pleasure of enjoying the night before, and still craved with unfulfilled desire.

Whatever it was, Sasuke found it to be a foreign desire. An unexpected desire. Something that was, in all honesty, making him think twice as to whether getting involved with this woman was the right thing to do in the first place.

"Mr. Uchiha, the meeting will start in five minutes."

The sound of one of his subordinate managers startled him, breaking the train of his thoughts. He let out a frustrated sigh. "I'll be there," he snapped.

Sasuke ran a hand through his hair, strolling through the door of his office and to the elevator, unable to think of anything else but the pink-haired woman who had strolled into his life and threatened to make him go insane if he couldn't focus on anything else. Then again, hadn't he initiated their whole relationship?

"Sasuke!"

The sound of the woman's voice that shrilled above the incessant noise of paper and established conversation made him curse and he began to furiously jab the elevator button. He glanced to his left, noticing the figure that was approaching fast. Where the fuck was the elevator? He wasn't in the mood for—

"Sasuke! I've missed you!"

The man let out a grunt when two arms suddenly wrapped around his neck, pulling him down.

"Let go, Karin," he said, prying her hands away.

"We haven't talked in so long," she whined, oblivious to the irritation she caused him simply by her presence.

"I've been busy." He skillfully sidestepped her when she tried to latch onto his arm again, entering the elevator. His jaw twitched in irritation when she followed him inside just in time before the door closed.

He felt the atmosphere between them suddenly change when he noticed her square her shoulders in his direction. "Sasuke, um… I was thinking: would you, um, like to go out for dinner later this evening?" Karin stared up at him with pure hope in her eyes, her hands clasped neatly in front of her.

The small bit of kindness and empathy that he managed to reserve allowed him to remain silent and wait for her to complete her question. This was the hundredth time she had made some sort of advancement since they had first met, and each time he had made it clear he wasn't interested. At the moment, Sasuke couldn't remember what had caused them to meet in the first place; all he knew was that his brother had something to do with it.

"I'm afraid I can't, Karin. I'll be busy for the rest of the day."

"Tomorrow?"

The sound of the elevator ding allowed him to gather his words carefully before he could say something rash. Sasuke sighed, thankful that the doors had opened, giving him a path to freedom. "Look, I'd like to just stay… friends," he managed to say, though he hardly considered the woman as one. "I'm late for my meeting," he informed just before she could respond, believing it to be an appropriate segue that would relive him of her.

His ears vaguely registered the sound of her farewell. Karin wasn't the woman he was focused on.

The woman he wanted was the one who was making him unsure of himself.

The smell of brewed coffee jogged her senses from the night's slumber. Sakura blinked a few times before sitting upright, realizing she had slept on the couch the entire night.

At present, Sakura was used to being… alone. But, there was something gnawing at her insides, making her restless and irritable. She was used to the idea that Ryou had cheated on her. There was nothing new in that regard. It was simply a thing of the past; something that flew over her head as an event of no bearing or consequence. However, she knew the source of the fidgety feeling inside of her.

Sasuke.

"Good morning, Sakura," greeted Mayu, handing the pink-haired woman a warm cup of coffee. "I thought I'd make you some coffee."

Sakura smiled gratefully. "Thank you. Although, I could have done it myself."

"I don't mind in the least bit. After all, it is my job."

The woman eagerly took a sip of the beverage, feeling it run down her throat with soothing effects. Her previous feelings of laziness drifted away like the steam that rose from the warm cup in her hands.

Bliss.

"I wanted to inform you that Mr. Arata called while you were asleep."

Sakura froze for a split second, and looked up, guarding her slight apprehension by a mask of nonchalance. "What did he say?"

"He asked where you were."

"And?" Sakura couldn't help but feel nervous.

Mayu gave the woman a small smile, her eyes crinkling in the process. "Don't worry," she said calmingly, "I told him that I did not know where you were."

"Did he ask anything else?"

"Not really. He said he'd be back in a couple weeks."

Sakura visibly relaxed, sagging against the cushion of the couch. She let out a loose breath and took another sip of the coffee. She looked up to see Mayu shift on her feet before she sat next to her, placing a light hand on her shoulder. "I've been wanting to tell you that I know about what… Ryou did."

Sakura glanced at her and was immediately surprised by the look on her face.

"Please don't be mad. I did not mean to get involved in—"

"I'm not mad, Mayu," assured Sakura with a genuine smile.

"Okay, but I just wanted to say that I kind of knew about it…"

Sakura arched an eyebrow, but remained silent, letting her finish her explanation.

"It was a hunch… much like yours."

The pink-haired woman nodded, pressing the edge of the cup in her hands against her mouth. "Yeah, I felt the same," she muttered lowly.

Mayu stood, apparently relieved as if she had lifted a weight off her chest. "If my opinion matters, Sakura, I'd say he isn't deserving of you, and your are entitled to someone else who is."

Sakura smiled warmheartedly. "Thank you."

A part of her wondered why Ryou had called to ask about her. Why would he care anyway? However, a more dominant side of her was trying to coax her index finger to press the "call" button on her cell phone. She had spent a total of ten minutes in indecision in the comfort of her bedroom. Sasuke had not called her since she had left his office yesterday, and at the same time she didn't want to seem clingy and crowding. With a determined breath, she pressed the button and put it up to her ear.

He picked up on the second ring and his smooth tenor temporarily made her forget how to breathe. "Uchiha."

Sakura stilled, not expecting such a business-like greeting. Quickly recovering her composure before the pause would become awkward, she answered. "Hello."

For a second all she heard was static, until his voice cut through, deeply, as if he was there next to her speaking into her ear. "Sakura. Can't go a day without me, huh?"

His voice raised goose bumps all along her arms and her cheeks reddened. "I thought I'd switch it up this time and call you instead of you calling me."

"That's very thoughtful of you," he teased, the amusement clear in his voice.

Sakura ignored and continued talking. "Are you busy?"

"Are you asking me out on a date?"

"We're definitely past the date stage," she reminded flatly. The silence that yet again met her ears was deafening, and it only succeeded in making her heart beat faster. Was he… rejecting… her?

"I'm sorry, Sakura, but I'm busy with work."

Yes, he was.

"It's a Saturday," she found herself saying, automatically reasoning with him.

"I know. Being a CEO is a 24/7 job."

It was a lame excuse. "Okay then." Sakura swallowed the bit of hurt she felt, though she was sure it had leaked into her voice enough for Sasuke not to end the call right then and there. She didn't know what was preventing her from doing so. She already felt embarrassed for some unknown reason.

"Sakura."

"No, it's fine. I have some other—"

"Sakura." The way he commanded her name in his dark tenor made her stop speaking immediately and obey. "You're hurt," he observed quietly.

"I am perfectly—"

"You felt the same way yesterday when you left my office," he continued.

Sakura paused in surprise. How would he know such a thing?

"I know the time I have known you doesn't compare to anyone else, but to me, you are easily readable. Like an open book."

Her heart thud loudly in her ears. His voice slithered over her skin, tingling every inch in its wake. "I'd like for you to be the same," she answered densely.

"We can have a deciphering session if you like."

"Much to your arrogance," began Sakura, attempting to further their conversation, "I did not call for the reason you implied earlier. I just wanted to… talk."

Sasuke chuckled at her sarcasm. "About?"

"To sort things out. Set things straight." Hadn't she said that to him before? They hadn't really resolved anything then.

"Tomorrow."

"Okay. Sounds good." Sakura quickly ended the call there, feeling her erratic heart beat die down with every passing minute.

Did she really love him?

It was the single question she had been asking herself since her conversation with him last night. Reika buttoned up her blouse and pulled on a pair of beige slacks. Nothing would suffice in distracting her mind other than the promise of work and errand running. She swiftly got into her car and swerved onto the street, leading herself through the usual route she took to work.

Though she had verbally ended their relationship, she couldn't ignore the raw, consuming feeling inside of her. What had attracted her to him in the first place? Her mind involuntarily flitted back to his wife, the image of the pink-haired woman flashing across the back of eyelids as she remembered her first and only meeting with her. What must she think of her?

Reika had never thought it to be of any consequence, so why was she caring now? Was it because her world was falling apart? Was it because she was losing… the man she had believed she was in love with?

It was the best reason she could think of.

Her response to the greetings her fellow coworkers said to her in slight surprise upon seeing her present in the Ara Ltd. building on a weekend were monotone and strictly routine. Her actions were emotionless as she rode the elevator up to her floor and locked herself in the office Ryou had allotted for her.

With a frustrated sigh, Reika slumped onto her chair and began mechanically going through a pile of papers on her desk she had set aside previously. The way she was forcing her emotions down and into the depths of her conscience proved to be ineffective. As she raised the next piece of paper, her vision blurred, and her eyes glazed over with continuing feeling. A single tear trickled down her cheek before she tossed the page aside, letting it glide down to the floor with slow, swaying movement. Burying her face in her hands, she cried softly.

She was stronger than this.

Why couldn't she… focus?

Had it been thirty minutes? Maybe more? Her lost sense of time caused her to lift her head in slight curiosity, her eyes falling onto the clock against the wall. She hadn't been able to get much work done—heck, she hadn't gotten anything done.

The skin beneath her eyes felt puffy as she wiped her face once more. Figuring a trip to the bathroom and splashing some water on her face would help, Reika walked out of her office silently, melding with the crowd of moving people and papers well enough so that no one bothered to noticed her reddened face.

Swinging the door to the ladies' room open, Reika headed straight for the first vacant sink and immediately splashed a revitalizing handful of water on her face. The skin of her upper cheeks stung with dried tears and the slight redness told her they were inflamed from the incessant crying and falling of her tears. When her eyes met with the reflection of her face, her mind could not help but wonder about Sakura and what she must have felt. Had she cried like she had? Reika was sure she had felt much worse. A sting of guilt stabbed her hurting heart as stared at her reflection. The sudden shame that had surface caused her to avert her gaze as if she couldn't bear to look at herself and let out a loose breath.

A small part of her wondered if Sakura would… forgive her, because she was sure as hell that she, herself, would not.

"So am I your default hangout buddy now?"

"What do you mean?" Sakura stared at her friend, wide-eyed and hurt.

"Hey, I'm just kidding," assured Ino, nudging her arm slightly. "So how is this sexy affair of yours playing out?" she asked as they entered a small café across from the hospital she worked at. Sakura had called her earlier with the need to talk, and she had eagerly obliged. Plus, there were some details she needed to be filled in on.

"It's working out… fine."

"Define: fine."

"I don't know what else you want me to add. We meet every now and then."

"You just 'meet', huh?" teased Ino as they took their seats.

"And have sex," Sakura added with a whisper, just so that her friend could hear. She couldn't help the sly smirk on her face.

"I think he's changed you."

Sakura raised her eyebrow. "In what way?"

"You're more blunt, to-the-point."

"I'm always blunt and to-the-point."

"Oh please. You wouldn't have just said what you said if this was you talking a few weeks ago."

"I've hardly known him long enough for him to have an effect on me, Ino."

"That can apply to a number of things."

"Point taken."

"Well since you are so blunt now," began Ino in excitement, "tell me how he is."

Sakura rolled her eyes. "Oh, he's fine. Good health. Work keeps him busy—"

"You know what I mean."

Sakura couldn't help the slight blush on her cheeks and averted her gaze when Ino began giggling. "Well… he is…" Sakura cleared her throat, "commanding and… innovative…"

Ino's eyes widened, her voice lowering to a whisper, "you did some kinky stuff with him? Holy shit."

Sakura shook her head furiously, motioning her hand for her friend to stop talking. "I did not," she whispered back.

"What he hell does innovative mean then?"

"You asked me and I told you. Don't jump to ridiculous conclusions."

"Well excuse me: after living so long with Shika, innovative has a totally different connotation to it."

"Okay, but remember, this was supposed to be about what I wanted to talk to you about."

Ino sighed in defeat. "Alright, alright. What is it?"

"Mayu told me Ryou called last night while I was asleep. He was asking about me."

"What exactly?"

"About my whereabouts."

"Why does he care?" asked Ino in slight curiosity.

"That's what I want to know."

"For all you know, Ryou has moved on," Ino commented, fully aware that any statement relating to her husband would not have any effect on her like it used to. "Don't think too much of it."

"Well, that's not the only thing. He—we talked earlier... about the divorce. He isn't inclined toward it."

Ino snorted. "Does he have to be?"

"I can't believe—he doesn't want the divorce to become public, you know."

The blonde shrugged in understanding, surprising her friend. "You forget how you were sought after before you married him."

"That's not the—"

"It's why he is so against it," Ino interrupted. "Don't think about him, okay? This is about getting your life back in order. Have you filed them yet?"

Sakura shook her head. "I managed to get them signed... I have to get around to doing that. Soon," she added anxiously.

Ino placed a placating hand on her friend's shoulder. "It'll all work out, Sakura."

She had never been to this particular place before.

Reika walked in, scanning her surroundings with newfound interest as the smell of brewed coffee wafted to her waiting senses. She pulled her fleece jacket around her body tighter and walked over to the counter to place her order.

"Just a regular coffee please," she said when the man behind the register smiled widely.

"Is that all, miss?" the man couldn't help but give her a second cheeky grin, apparently pleased by her feminine beauty.

Reika ignored his cheery attitude, her mind occupied by obviously more important and life-determining conflicts. "Yes, that's all," she repeated, handing him a couple of bills.

"If you'll just wait over at the side there," pointed the man, "you're order will be ready soon.

Reika nodded mutely and walked over to the small group of people that had gathered at a side table and were waiting for their orders. She took the time to breathe in deeply, attempting to calm her senses with the heavy scent of coffee that hung in the air. Out of natural habit and curiosity, Reika swiveled on her feet slightly, glancing at the people who were seated and in deep conversation. There were a few couples, some families…

… a sudden flash of pink made her freeze. Her eyes were wide in pure surprise. She unconsciously shifted to get a better look at the person's face, noticing a blonde woman seated opposite her who was whispering lowly as if their conversation was secret.

As if on cue, the pink-haired woman glanced up in the midst of speakin and her emerald eyes met hers: pure shock and unexpectedness present on her face.

Sakura glanced upward in frustration, letting out a loose sigh. "Ino, I don't know—" she froze midsentence, her eyes looking into a pair of blue ones that were staring back in mimicked surprise. Since when did—

"Hello, Sakura," chimed Ino, wavineg her hand in front of the woman's face, "who are you looking at?" Ino followed her friend's line of vision and was immediately met with the appearance of a professionally dressed woman with brown hair and wide, blue eyes. "Who is she, Sak?" asked Ino, shaking the Sakura's arm as if to break her stare. "Do you know her?"

"It's her."

"Who?"

Sakura turned to connect gazes with Ino. "She's the lady Ryou has been cheating on me with," she informed lowly.

"Regular coffee!"

The announcement of her order, jolted her to reality. Reika was in a daze as she walked over to the table to grab her beverage. With a determined breath she made her way over to the two women who now had her undivided attention. They watched her with guarded, judging eyes. She wasn't so much worried about the blonde who was giving her a lethal stare. However, she was surprised to see no hostility in the way Sakura looked at her as she approached them. It only furthered her resolve… for making amends…? Was that it? Was that what she wanted to do?

"Hello, Sakura," she greeted, guilt leaking into her voice.

"Hello."

Reika shifted her weight to her other leg in an attempt to relieve her nervousness. "Can we talk?"

Author's Note:

I hope that piques your interest! Please do review. All the feedback I got for the previous chapter was so insightful and it made me emotional. T.T

You all made me so happy!

I know this chapter focuses more on Reika, but she is an integral part to how the rest of this story will unfold.

Thank you! Loveee. :* :* :*