CHAPTER 9: SASUKE'S SIN (PART 1)
It was dark and he was alone. Well, not really…..alone. The music at the background was low and deep, sending soft musical vibration across the dark maroon velvety walls. Up there on the stage was a lone singer dressed in rich red velvet dress, singing 'Fly me to the moon' in deep sensual voice, eyeing him from where she was standing.
The feeling of deep grief and misery clouded his every fibre and being that it relatively became a part of himself. Reaching out for a bottle of vodka, he drowned it with just one long swing. Hoping the alcohol would help him to relieve the pain and guilt twisting in his gut, but no matter how much he drank, the unforgotten memories keep haunting him. Unwilling to release him from the pain and torture his mind and soul.
Burying his face into his arms, Sasuke groaned in frustration and crying out with grief. "Why? I'm so sorry…..please….Hime….don't leave me…." He moaned the same words all over again, like chanting some sort of mantra.
The bartender sighed, looking mournfully at the sad young man, who was totally oblivious with what is happening around. "Sasuke, I think you have enough now."
Sasuke's crimson red eyes glared balefully at the bored looking bartender. "I…can have you….killed, you…know?" He pointed at the bartender, with heavily lidded eyes.
The spiky pineapple-shaped head man with a lazy look on his face put down the glass he was cleaning and sighed in front of Sasuke. "Your father told me to keep an eye on you and your drinkin', Sasuke. And I intend to do just that."
Sasuke glared at him.
The bartender smirked. "Besides, you can't kill me….not yet, kid." Then, he smirked. "Now, don't feel bad Sasuke. Its just that you're still not at par with your brother."
Sasuke sneered.
"Sasuke-sama! Let's go back now, you've drank too much!" A young man in a traditional male kimono with the Uchiha symbol etched behind said, taking the sake bottle away from him.
"Give it back to me, Noboru!" Sasuke drawled, snatching back the bottle from the young man.
"Bu…but Sasuke-sama!"
"Oi teme! You're still drinking?"
Sasuke flinched when he heard an extremely familiar penetrating voice which earned his rude snort.
Damnit! What the hell does he wants now? Sasuke muttered angrily in his mind, obviously cursing the appearance of his bestfriend.
"Sasuke-kuuuun!" A very sexy looking young woman with pink haired ran up towards him and latched herself on to him like some kind of life-sized parasite.
Shit! You really hated me, don't you? Sasuke looked upwards in disgust, and at the same time, ignoring his female team mate. A very annoying female team mate.
"More!" Sasuke demanded. "I want more!" He slammed his hand on the table. Crimson red eyes glared at the waiting bartender.
"I think you have enough, Sasuke," the bartender replied.
Naruto was furious at the way Sasuke manhandled Sakura and as he was about to respond to Sasuke's unbelievable cruelty to the woman he loves, Naruto was pulled aside by Noboru, Sasuke's personal attendant.
"Naruto-sama, could you please advise Sasuke-sama? He has been drinking since this afternoon," Noboru said, bowing slightly to Naruto.
Naruto looked at him and said, "Hai Noboru-san! And please call me Naruto. All the 'sama' stuff is too formal and stuffy for me. And don't worry Noboru-san! I'll get Sasuke outta 'ere! Believe it!" The blond blue-eyed young man grinned at him. Noboru sighed in relief.
"Oi Sasuke-teme! How about we spar?" Naruto grinned.
SMACK!
"What did I say about calling Sasuke-kun that way, you idiot!" Sakura yelled at Naruto. Her flowing pink locks swinging around like delicate pink sakura petals as a reddish hued ribbon intertwined her pink glory.
Sasuke flinched at the colour of her hair. It really hurt his eyesight.
"Dobe," he paused, drowing another bottle empty. "Take her away with you. I can't stand the loud noises."
Sakura's jade green eyes widened. Naruto thinned his lips and was prepared to yell at Sasuke when Noboru placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Please Naruto-sama," Noboru looked pleadingly at the blond blue-eyed hothead.
Naruto looked at Noboru and sighed. His cerulean blue eyes looked at the drop dead drunk young man.
"He is such a bright young man," Noboru looked sad. "I wonder what happened to him that got him in this predicament?"
Naruto's usual expression was replaced by one that he hadn't had for a long time.
A look of despair.
Naruto looked at his bestfriend and then at Noboru. "They say love heals, but at the same time, it can also kills."
"Shut the fuck up, dobe," Sasuke muttered darkly.
"So what, teme?" Naruto yelled. "Do you think by drinking yourself to death that she'll come back to you? After all the things you put her through?" His cerulean blue eyes flashed angrily. "And don't treat Sakura-chan like some cheap toy! She's worth more than that!"
Sakura's eyes widened at Naruto's indirect confession. A hand on her lips, Sakura felt remotely guilty by the way she treated him. All the while, it was Naruto who always stood by her side, cheering her up and letting her beat him to pulp just so that she would smile. Biting her lower lip, Sakura suddenly felt a wave of guilt overcome her that her eyes were burning with fresh hot tears.
Naruto noticed the tears in her eyes and his guard was down. He looked at her worriedly and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Sakura-chan, are you alright?"
Sakura looked up at him with her trembling lips. "Naruto you idiot!"
She pushed his hands away and wiped the tears with her hands and replied, "You….don't have…to…..defend me. Let Sasuke-kun do whatever…..he wants."
Naruto being Naruto looked at her gently and touched the top of her head. "Okay Sakura-chan. Anything you want, but I don't like seeing you cry."
"You don't have to worry about me, Naruto."
"But…"
"Just leave Naruto!" Sakura yelled.
"Both of you just leave. You guys are just a pair of eyesores," Sasuke added, taking another gulp.
Naruto narrowed his eyes as he took the cup away from Sasuke's hands and threw the glass to the wall until it left a patch of wet mark. By this time, the singer has stopped singing and the band just silently dispersed after the bartender signaled them to leave the stage in case of a brawl.
Sasuke whirled, facing his bestfriend. His usual dark eyes turned instantly into crimson red with two tomoe circling the pupil.
"She is not coming back, Sasuke! When are you going to realise it? You made us all swear not to mention her name, and you think it is easy for us?!" Naruto yelled, pulling Sasuke's front shirt. "You think I am a moron, don't you? But which one of us is the real bastard, huh bastard! It was you who betrayed her and we all pay for the consequences and whose fault is that, huh? Tell me!"
Sasuke's crimson eyes turned back into black obsidian. The memories flashed back into his mind like long forgotten pictures that shook his reality.
"Face it Sasuke! You're dragging us all into your grave! I don't care if you pull me in, but don't involve Sakura-chan!"
"Naruto…" Sakura gasped.
"Sakura-chan may be in love with you, and she may mean nothing to you. But, she is someone important to me, teme!"
Naruto did the inevitable. He punched Sasuke hard across the jaw, tumbling the dark-haired young man back onto the ground.
"Sasuke-sama!" Noboru cried out, helping Sasuke up but only to be pushed away.
"What do you know, dobe?" Sasuke sneered, wiping the string of blood flowing from the corner of his lips, staggering up on to his feet with Sakura helping him, also to be pushed away. Sakura fell onto her backside and Naruto quickly helped her up.
"Teme! You don't have to hurt Sakura-chan!" Naruto yelled.
"Shut up Naruto!" Sakura yelled back at him. Naruto looked hurt.
"But Sakura-chan…."
"No buts, Naruto."
Naruto glared back at Sasuke. Knowing how Sakura love Sasuke, Naruto just let it slide. It was tough for him to be in a love triangle. But what matter most was Sakura's happiness. Sakura is his first love and Sasuke, his bestfriend. Naruto swore to keep their friendship no matter what, even if it cost him his happiness. He'd rather see Sakura happy than anything else. Nothing else matter. It's the most painful love triangle Konoha has ever seen.
Naruto looked angrily at Sasuke, crossing his arms across his chest. "Don't think I don't know how you betrayed her, teme. And….." Naruto looked at him sadly. "I still don't know why you'd want to betray her that way. I know you're my bestfriend and all, but why, Sasuke? Why did you do it?" Naruto went on, tightening his fist in anger. "She loves you, and I know you love her still, but why Sasuke? I know the two of you had problems, but you've always got through it all since kindy and stuff. But why waste it all?"
Sasuke snickered, "Since when you've suddenly become an expert in relationship, dobe?" He took a glance at Sakura and back at Naruto, with a hint of maliciousness. "You can't even get yourself a girlfriend."
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura gasped. The friendly rivalry between the two legendary bestfriends has started to take a toll whenever they talked about 'her'.
Naruto was about to yell at him when Sasuke beat him to it. "Did you know who was it?"
Naruto shook his head.
Sasuke smirked viciously as he turned and looked at…..
-x-
Flashback: 4 years ago (Konoha University)
Naruto/Sasuke/Hinata/Sakura/Shikamaru/Chouji – 16 years old
"Yahoooo! We're finally here! Ne, Sasuke-teme!" Naruto looked at his bestfriend. Uzumaki Naruto, blonde spiky haired and clear blue eyes jumping up and down happily dressed in his orange and black jumpsuit acting as hyper as usual. And behind him was the silent and stoic Uchiha Sasuke, wearing a formal suit. Black trousers with white silk embroidered shirt and matching black coat, very Armani-ish style. The inside collar overlaps the collar of the suit giving wider access of his long slender pale neck and a hint of pale chest. Around his neck was a platinum necklace with the Uchiha family crest lying on his perfect pale chest.
"You're loud, dobe."
"Hey! That's Shikamaru!" Naruto waved ecstatically at the dark brown haired man whose hair shaped like a pineapple. "Oi Shikamaru!"
Shikamaru rolled his eyes upward in exasperation as he walked towards them, hands in his pocket and was practically yawning.
"Naruto, you're loud."
Sasuke smirked. "Don't say I didn't tell you."
"You're such a bastard, Sasuke," Naruto muttered back.
SMACK!
"Don't you dare call Sasuke-kun that, Naruto!" It was a pink-haired girl who just appeared out of nowhere, gave Naruto a complete whack on the head.
Sasuke and Shikamaru sweat-dropped.
"Err….I think Naruto gets it, Sakura," Shikamaru said, helping Naruto to get up. Sakura was clearly pissed angry at Naruto when she saw Sasuke. Immediately she latched her arms around his and was playing parasite.
"I don't think it'll do you any good reputation for bashing up the Mayor's family, Sakura," Shikamaru said.
"Hmph! It was all his fault, Shika-kun."
"Tha…thanks, Shika….maru," Naruto murmured as he could still see stars flying around.
"Whatever," Shikamaru said as Naruto could finally stand up.
"Sasuke-sama, your dorm and classes have been finalised. Would you like to see your room?" Noboru said, handing Sasuke his file.
"Hn." Sasuke said, pushing Sakura off. And put on his Armani shades, which made him looked extra cool. Noboru handed him his personal duffel bag.
"Is that all, Sasuke-sama?"
"Hn."
Both Naruto and Shikamaru rolled their eyes upwards.
"Why that bastard always have to look like that? Getting all the girls to himself?" Naruto pouted as they noticed that the girls around were gushing over Sasuke who slings the bag over his shoulder and walked dangerously. Sakura was glaring at all the girls who were practically drooling over him.
Shikamaru grinned.
"No Shikamaru! I don't want your answer!"
Sasuke turned around and smirked. "Deal with it, dobe."
"Why you!" Shikamaru held the angry blonde while Sakura had hearts in her eyes.
While walking towards his block, Sasuke dismissed his entourage of black and white clad men and also his personal aide, Noboru, insisting that he'd prefer to be alone in campus. Around at the same time, Sasuke managed to get Sakura off his back when the boys' dorm does not allow female students enter their premises, which provided relief for the younger Uchiha prince. While Shikamaru and Naruto went out to look for food, Sasuke felt a brief moment of liberation as he lay on his bed, calmly breathing in the freedom he is about to enjoy.
Unfortunately for him, he had to share his room with his loud bestfriend. But knowing Sasuke, he'd rather share with Naruto than anyone else. Both of them were friends since middle school and despite their personality differences, they worked well with one another.
Looking around his room, he'd noticed that it was well kept and cleaned by the orders of his personal aide. His clothing were neatly folded and kept in the cupboards and drawers, his toiletries were arranged impeccably in the bathroom and also his shoes in the shoe cabinet.
Taking off his black suit and threw it down in disgust, he rolled his sleeves up and opened the duffel bag which he put on his table. He took out some books and then a few framed photographs. One had him and his whole family. Another was him, Naruto, Shikamaru, Sakura and Chouji in candid. And another one had a picture of him only younger, with a small girl about his age who had short black indigo hair and large pearly eyes. Both were wearing children's kimono and were looking at each other.
Sasuke smiled as he touched the picture.
"I miss you, my princess."
He placed the framed photograph on his desk beside the rest and then kept the duffel bag underneath his bed after he took out the last item. A medium-sized leather bound sketch book, Sasuke finally decided to take a walk around his new campus, and at the same time, trying to look for a new place to hide from his fangirls.
He left a brief note on Naruto's bed and left the room.
Walking down the hallway, Sasuke walked out of his dorm, enjoying the cool windy breeze and walked with one hand in his pocket until he came around to a beautiful gothic looking building. He spotted an old looking tree right in the middle of the garden facing the building at the side. He sat down and opened his sketch book and took out a small charcoal pencil from his pocket as he began to sketch the building.
After a while, he heard some piano playing from inside the building and stopped sketching. It was a beautiful melody and suddenly he heard a soft voice singing.
Sasuke got up, pocketed the pencil in his pocket and walked fast towards the building. It was an odd structure for an old building, definitely gothic style. He jumped on the balustrade at the top with ease and entered from the window above. He jumped down from the window and saw a huge hall with a stage. And on the stage was a young girl playing a huge grand piano and was singing. Sasuke took a seat on top of the archway and began sketching until the girl stopped.
Sasuke raised his head from his sketch book and saw the girl ran from the stage, carrying a small bag. He noticed her hair was long and dark, wearing a long white camisole dress that reached around her calves.
"Wait!" He called out to her, but she did not listen.
Sasuke could hear the sound of rain pattering on the rooftop and was curious as to why the girl ran out. Did she notice him? Impossible, he was high up on the archway.
Sasuke jumped down to the ground with ease. And followed the way the girl ran out, only to find himself in surprise.
She was playing in the rain.
Her clothing was completely soaked as she was kicking the water on the ground with her bare feet. He saw her bag and shoes neatly put aside at the corner of the steps leading down and he looked at her.
She was enjoying the rain…like his little princess when it suddenly came to him.
Her hair was long, black indigo. And her eyes….
She looked at him.
Large pearly eyes.
Like hers.
Hinata… He breathed. Taking in all the image of the girl playing in the rain. She was laughing and giggling…..liking the feel of the cold water soaking into her skin like his old childhood friend did.
He smiled.
She stopped playing in the rain when she noticed someone was looking at her. Cocking her head at the young man leaning beside the pillar, she felt she knew him from somewhere. Until it finally dawned onto her.
She walked slowly towards him. Completely wet and unafraid.
Sasuke's eyes widened in disbelief. So was hers.
She smiled gently.
"Sa…Sasuke?"
He walked towards her, equally drenched in the wet downpour, standing right before her. He looked down into her wet pearly eyes.
"Hinata?"
-TBC-