This drug dealing, womanizing, tattooed, mess of a human had just thanked her- and she didn't know what for. It could have been for not pressing the fact that they were in some way bonded to one another but it could have been for agreeing to let him leave in peace as well. Sakura thought that maybe just maybe it was for being her- and secretly she hoped that she was right.
"I've done things that would break you Sakura." He said solemnly, "I have done things that have threatened to break me before."
Sakura raised a perfectly arched brow at the stoic man before her, the expression on her face mildly challenging. Sasuke could see in her expression that he wasn't dealing with fragile Sakura at the moment, he was dealing with strong Sakura; the one who had survived her Father's assaults and the one who had remained human afterwards, the very one who smiled every single day despite the things she had been through, and the very one who's lips he so desperately wanted to lean down and kiss.
Of course he banished the last part of his thought into the vault of all his banished thoughts, that existed somewhere deep within the confines of his brain.
"Sasuke," She said, her tone mildly amused with just a hint of a hard edge, "Are you insinuating that I'm too fragile to face the world that you come from?"
He spoke without a moment's hesitation, his tone was final and his expression was certain.
"Yes."
Green clashed with black and ever so slowly Sakura's lips turned upwards into a smile. She was amused, and Sasuke couldn't figure out why. He had done nothing pleasant, done nothing decent even and he was left baffled by the girls cheerful expression.
"You forget that I come from the very world that you yourself are speaking of. I am a product of that environment- I have seen things Sasuke, things that you have seen and probably done. I have done things that you would never believe I would do…Because I come from the same place as you do."
Sasuke was shocked at the girl's words, but he realized that she was correct in all the things that she had said. Sakura did come from the world in which he lived; she was the child of one of his most frequent customers. Not to mention that she had been through things that ought to have landed her ass in therapy.
He wasn't pleased with the realization that she was no stranger to his life style, but as he crossed his arms over his broad chest a smirk worked its way onto his handsome face, because he was pleased about one thing- and that was that maybe just maybe Sakura Haruno was tough enough to handle him after all.
"Wipe that smirk off of your pretty face Sasuke Uchiha!" Sakura said testily, "You need to start taking me seriously-"
"I do." He said quickly, because if there was one thing he had ever taken seriously, it was her. In fact, he was quite sure that he took her too seriously- his actions in the past had confirmed it.
"Sasuke-" She said, shock apparent in her tone. The pinkette sighed, exasperation clear on her face. She placed her small hands on her hips and closed her eyes before speaking again, this time in a much more controlled voice. "You obviously don't take me very seriously Sasuke, because if you did then we wouldn't be having this conversation. If you did, you would have told me years ago that you knew the kind of life I was living."
"'Hey, I know your father's a hardcore drug addict. What? What's that? How do I know? Ah." He paused and stroked his chin, "I'm his drug dealer!"
Sakura smiled despite the severity of the topic at hand, because Sasuke was acting out a skit- and it was out of character and adorable. Sasuke on the other hand had an eyebrow raised and waiting for her to admit that he was right.
"Okay, Okay." Sakura said giggling just a little, "I admit it sounds pretty terrible. I just don't understand why you wouldn't have told me Sasuke…"
Immediately Sasuke's ever famous guard snapped back into place, and he was wary of what he should and should not reveal to the beautiful girl in front of him.
"I just didn't." He said and his dark eyes flickered to hers momentarily, and he wasn't surprised to find that she didn't believe him at all.
"I know you're lying." She said simply and he smirked at her in response, because whether or not he would admit it, he was proud of her for being so perceptive. He banished the feeling of pride and leaned in quickly, placing a chaste kiss on Sakura's forehead.
"I'll see you later." He said, and with that he got into his own car and drove off, leaving Sakura standing there wondering if that was the last she would ever see of him.
.
.
.
It wasn't until later when Sakura was sitting alone in her apartment that the reality of the fact that she may never see Sasuke again set in, and when it did she allowed herself to breakdown, and she did the only thing she could think to do-called Ino.
.
.
.
Ino had tried to ask Sakura what had happened with Sasuke, but like she had been doing a lot lately, Sakura just shrugged her off and told her they could talk about it later. So, the blonde did what she had been doing a lot lately and went in search of Naruto- who may or may not have become the new object of her affections.
As Ino drove to Kiba's, which is where the two blondes had agreed to meet up and talk, she mused about how far the two of them had come. Ino had learned that despite Naruto's carefree attitude, he was more than able to take things seriously.
The way he cared about Sasuke and Sakura had left in her in awe on several occasions- one of which was the first time he ever snapped at her…back when she had asked him if Sasuke was in a gang.
The blonde's actions had proved to her just how loyal of a person he was, and Ino knew that because of that fact she could always trust him. And maybe just maybe, that's why she had begun to fall for the hyperactive guy.
When the blonde bombshell pulled up to Kiba's she found that her heart rate began to speed up- because there he was smiling like there was no tomorrow and waving at her animatedly.
She got out of her car and walked over to him (not that it didn't take all she had not to run) and gave him a hug. She relished in the feel of his arms around her waist…and for a moment she completely forgot that they were here on business.
"Have you talked to Sasuke?" She asked when she pulled herself back into present day.
Naruto nodded but his expression gave nothing away- and Ino knew it was a bad sign, because if it had gone well and he had agreed to stay then Naruto would be much more excited than he was at the moment.
Ino raised her brows in inquiry and the blonde boy in front of her sighed as she snatched her hand and led her inside the house and out to the backyard. One thing you could always count on at one of Kiba's parties was that if you needed a quiet place to go the backyard would be free.
As the pair found their way through the house and outside Ino's anticipation was building, as was her anxiety. For her, a world renowned drama queen, it seemed as though the very existence of her beloved best friend Sakura was hanging in the balance…and not tipping in the right direction either.
"Ino." Naruto said when they finally came to a stop against the side of Kiba's house, "I did talk to Sasuke, but as I'm sure you've guessed it didn't go well. Just like I said it wouldn't. He won't stay, he refuses to stay, and I can't change his mind."
"Is he really leaving to get away from Sakura?" Ino asked, her tone much less cheerful than usual. The girls whole attitude had deflated after hearing Naruto's words, even her bright red shirt seemed to have gotten duller.
"He wouldn't say." Naruto said, and Ino could tell from his tone that he wasn't happy about it at all, that he felt hurt by Sasuke's lack of explanation. "He just said he had to, and he told me to stop bothering him about it."
"It doesn't seem very Naruto of you to listen to him." Ino observed.
"You're right." Naruto said, and he laughed weakly, "But I can make you one promise that is very 'Naruto'."
"What's that?" She asked, and it seemed as though hope had returned to her bright blue eyes.
"I won't ever stop hounding him once he's gone, and I will never stop trying to get him to come back." Naruto said, and as he spoke the determination in his voice grew stronger.
"I believe that." Ino laughed, "I just wish he wasn't going, it's going to ruin Sakura."
"It's going to fucking save her."
"Sasuke!" Naruto said shock evident in his tone, "When the hell did you get here?"
Sasuke didn't answer his best friends question; instead he turned his dark gaze on the girl that he was with. He crossed his arms over his chest, and the white fabric of the t-shirt he was wearing strained against his muscles as he did so. Barely visible beneath the dim house lighting, Ino gulped at the glare being sent her way.
"You would be wise to keep out of my business." He said boredom lacing every word and somehow making them all far more threatening, "I know what I'm doing, and I know how to deal with people who need to be removed from my life. Sakura is one of them, and you don't even know half of the fucking story."
"I know that you knew her father! And that must mean you're involved in some pretty shady shit Uchiha, because he was one fucked up guy!" The blonde girl said defiantly.
Sasuke smirked and chuckled darkly as he ran a hand through his hair. Ino's eyes were no longer intimidated and instead blazed with irritation.
"I dealt his drugs." Sasuke said coldly, smirk still in place, "I didn't just give them to him every now and then, when he bought- he bought from me. Did you guess that? Or are you surprised?"
Naruto merely looked regretful, and Sasuke knew the second he had found out the two were involved that was the inference his friend had made. Ino on the other hand looked appalled, and not for the first time the blonde girl began to cry.
She wasn't sobbing, and she wasn't making a scene which was so very Un-Ino. Instead of her usual breakdowns, Ino simply lowered her head and let the tears stream silently. Naruto sighed and pulled the girl to him consolingly.
Ino raised her head from Naruto's chest and locked eyes with the Uchiha tears still streaming down her face.
"You…are responsible for every single bad thing that ever happened to her!" The blonde girl pointed at him accusingly and her crying eyes were suddenly full of fire, "You are the reason she was violated, and you are the reason she was beaten and had to work two jobs!" Ino was growing louder and closer to Sasuke with every word, until finally she jabbed her finger into his chest, "You are a monster." She sneered, and the words were the most menacing to ever leave her blood red lips.
Sasuke didn't back away from the girl like he usually would have, and he didn't deny any of the things that she was saying, he simply ran a hand through his hair and then removed her hand from his chest.
"Heroin was responsible for the things that happened to Sakura." He said stonily, "And I may be a monster- but at least I'm not doing everything in my power to get her to fall in love with me! You think I'm good for her? Do you think that you trying to get her to want me- is what's best for someone as damaged as she is?"
Ino was slightly taken aback, and slowly she shook her head as a small smile made its way onto her beautiful features.
"I think that what's best, is for her to be happy. And I think that you make her happy Sas-"
Ino was cut off by the loud ring of her phone, she thought about ignoring it but when she glanced down and saw that Sakura's picture was flashing on the screen she knew she had to take it.
"Hello?" She said, ignoring the look of annoyance from the Uchiha in front of her.
"Who the hell is so important…" Sasuke began, but Ino interrupted him.
"Sakura- listen to me please." Ino said her eyes locked on Sasuke's now attentive expression. "Everything is going to be fine, I know that you're worried….I don't know when he's leaving Sakura… You really think that today was the last time you're ever going to see him?"
Ino raised her brows at Sasuke and mouthed the words 'when are you leaving.'
The Uchiha sighed and mouthed back 'tomorrow.' Ino felt herself stiffen, but Naruto didn't respond to the words, meaning he must have already known.
"Naruto just told me he's leaving tomorrow Sakura….no, no please don't cry forehead girl, it's going to be okay…Wow! What did you just say? You WHAT him?"
And that's when Ino locked eyes with the man in front of her and hit her speakerphone button.
"Love him…" Came the sniffling voice of Sakura, and that's when Ino felt Naruto stiffen and Sasuke bolted.
.
.
.
"Hold on Ino." Sakura said tears still streaming down her cheeks, "Someone is at the door."
The rosette walked over to her front door and opened it slowly to see who was on the other side so late at night. Didn't people stop visiting when it was after ten pm? As she opened the door Sakura fumbled over herself and dropped her phone, gasping loudly, and as it lay there on the ground she heard Ino's voice cackling through the receiver-
"That's who I thought it was!" She said, and then the line went dead.
"Sasuke…" Sakura said, slightly out of breath, "What are you doing here?"
But instead of answering the raven haired man just pushed his way into her house and crushed his lips to hers. Sakura was taken aback by his affection, but that certainly didn't mean she wasn't pleased. When Sasuke broke the kiss he pulled her against the thin white fabric that was covering his chest.
"You're such a good person." He said quietly, "And I refuse to corrupt you."
"Sasuke please…You won't corrupt me, you can't. Someone else already has." Sakura said in a thick voice..."
"I have to tell you something Sakura. I owe it to you to tell you why we have the connection that we do." Sasuke sighed and led her to sit down on the small couch in the living room.
"You don't have to tell me…" Sakura whispered in a small voice, despite the fact that she was dying to know. "I don't want you to tell me just because I pressured you-"
"You couldn't pressure me Sakura." Sasuke said with his signature smirk in place upon his face. "I am going to tell you because it's something you deserve to know. It's about your father."
Immediately Sakura felt as though someone had punched her in the stomach, she shook her head wildly; she didn't want to hear this anymore. She had changed her mind. Her eyes were wide with fear, because she had suspected this all along…had Sasuke only watched out for her due to pity? Due to what he knew of her father?
Suddenly two large hands were framing both sides of her small face, and she was forced to look into the onyx depths before her.
"You need to know this." He said, "You need to listen to me no matter how hard it is, do you understand?"
She nodded weakly, and tried her best to ignore the nauseous feeling inside her stomach. She took a few deep breaths and braced herself for what was to come.
"Your father never told me what he did to you." Sasuke began slowly, "I never knew he was your father. I knew who you were, and then one night awhile after I'd been dealing with him I heard him mention your name to one of the guys he was with, he was saying how excited he was to get his hit because it made things so much better, and he wanted to be high as hell when he finally went all the way with his Sakura…"
Sakura's eyes were wide and she felt like she might throw up from having to hear the disgusting words that her father had said. But Sasuke kept on speaking, and he kept his eyes locked on hers.
"I knew the name sounded familiar, I just didn't know why- and then one of the guys said something about always liking his daughters pink hair, and I knew it was you…And so, Sakura…I couldn't let him do something like that to you. I already respected you for having your head on straight, everything I told you about the classes we had together and thinking you were brave…
Sakura you were always so good, right down to the core…I couldn't let it happen…So I laced his drugs with a heavy amount of Exceytin xxx… and he was dead within in minute of injecting it."
Sasuke's face was grave as he spoke the words, and when he was finished he looked down at his lap. He waited for Sakura to speak, but she never did. Instead, she grabbed his hands and used them to tug him to her, and she kissed him as tears streamed down her face. Sasuke was shocked, but he kissed her back none the less.
"You saved me…" She said breathlessly as she placed her hands on either side of his face "You saved me once…and now I need to ask you to save me again Sasuke…"
The Uchiha's eyes widened a fraction and he found himself nodding his head slowly as he looked into Sakura's emerald orbs. They were so full of hope, and behind that they were wickedly determined.
"From what?" He whispered, as he gently removed her hands from his face and held them in each of his own.
"From myself." She said breathlessly.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow, because he didn't know what she meant exactly, until she took his hand and placed it over her heart.
"I don't want to shudder at every mention of physical contact Sasuke…I don't want to think of my father every time someone has contact with me…I don't want to be haunted by thoughts of him anymore…"
Sasuke's eyes grew wide as she began to speak the last sentence.
"I want to be haunted by thoughts of you." She cast her gaze down toward the floor, until Sasuke placed a knuckle under her chin and gently made her look at him.
"I don't know if that's a good idea Sakura…You don't want it to be me…trust me."
"You're wrong." She said, "I want it to be you Sasuke…"
"I've been with a lot of girls Sakura…" He said, and she could tell that he wasn't proud of that fact.
"I'm not like them Sasuke." She said solemnly.
"I know Sakura…I just…"
"Sasuke, please, I don't want it to be him anymore… Stay with me just for tonight, let me escape this…"
Sasuke met her eyes and the hesitation that was reflected in them earlier was replaced with something she couldn't put her finger on. And then he leaned in and whispered in her ear-
"I can be your escape."
