A.N.: Wow. I'm amazed at myself for updating so fast. A miracle! Or a bad omen? XP
But then… this chappie is mostly a filler… Sorry 'bout that. I'm so stressed out by things happening one after the other lately that… I can't write properly. I know that's not an excuse, but… gomen nasai. +bows deeply+
sweetpotato1992: Thank you! Makes me happy you liked it!
Phantomsnow: Sorry about it. I also planned to the fight, but in the end... I lacked the courage and will to do it. So sorry for dissapointing you.
Fitful Fantasy: Yeah, I wonder that too. +snickers+
Shii-Chan: Thank you so much! And here is your wish! XP
Ookami Aya: Oh, thank you for that review. I'm taking the liberty to put your review as an omake. If you don't really like it, then take the liberty to kill me. ..but please, no so painfully...+hides+
trixiebell: Wow! A new reader! Welcome on board, then+hangs cookies+ Don't worry, there's still something to see. And I'm flattered by your words of encouragement +pose very much like Lee's+ XP
AngelzNDevilz: Thanks! And I'm updating... weird for me to do that so soon ... --;,,,,
trulywicked: Thanks+blushes+ I also like Sasu-chan that way. +snickers+
Mikra: Thanks. And sorry 'bout the grammar stuff. AGAIN. Sorry! I really, really need a beta... I'm so clumsy... --;;;,,,, And hope you like this chappie that I miracoulsy finished so soon.. even if it's only a kind of filling...
xcloudx: Thanks! ;P
Princess Teah: Thanks! Really! So flatered... +tears of happiness+ and thank you for the chocolates. I'm really an addict to them... :9
Fushica: I'm happy you're happy. XP
singingrain: Yeah! Me too... Sasu-chan can be so scary when he's mad... +trembles+ Yeah... it was really a miracle that time.XP and this time too! I'm updating! I'm updaaaaaaaaaaaaating! XP
Xia Momo Capernicus: Yeah... I agree with you... They are just..missunderstended... T.T Hope you like this chappie.
Disclaimer: I don't own it. Wish I did it, though. I wouldn't be having these money problems then… T.T
Warning: Boy on boy's love. Don't like it, don't read it. No flames, if you don't want to die. I do accept constructive criticism. Oh, and some OCCness too. AND bad languages and cursing.
Principal pairing: SasuNaru.
Now, on with the story! ;D
Notes: Re-edited, kinda
Saint Valentine's Day a la Naruto
By Aya Honey
Chapter 12: Evading Mortal Dangers—or trying to?
At first he didn't know what passed through the teme's head—even when most of the time he did not know what was going on inside there anyways—when the asshole threw those kunai, successfully breaking the embrace, just when he was getting comfy and relieved and assured in that hold.
Not that he would ever say that out loud.
Anyway, what did surprise him was the sight of Sakura-chan accompanied by a very uncharacteristic quiet of a friend and rival that went by the name of Yamanaka Ino—no, that was wrong; they were both so uncharacteristic quiet, not even bickering. Although it seemed that the moment they were alone, they would try to choke each others gut, arguing of who was at fault for their current predicament.
But back at the matter at hand, both girls were looking suspiciously guilty, if the way they were approaching them—slowly, painfully slowly, as if afraid of reaching their destination, and almost dragging their feet along the ground, and not quite looking ahead of them (more like to Sasuke), but just their head bend down looking at their feet. It was really unsettling, to say the least.
And then, what should've surprised Naruto the most crashed suddenly on his mind, his mind that was already quite shocked with the importance of the day's events—Sakura and Ino had been watching them, what happened to them, what they—He didn't know how much of it they actually witnessed, but at some point they might've, they might've—
Red to his ears, he was just about to open his mouth and ask Sakura-chan what they both were doing there, when his boyfriend? companion? most important and grumpy person launched another set of kunai towards another direction quite opposite from where Sakura-chan and Ino came out, near some trees and foliages. And as his mind was already frantic screaming, trying to figure out how many of them they really were—when he saw and heard what a certain kunoichi said, making him turn another lovely darker shade of red.
"Thank you for the lovely view, but as much as I'd love to stay, I have to leave now. See ya!" he recognized her. She was Gaara's sister.
And then the weapon-lover made her appearance.
Those two must most probably have seen it all, all that transpired between them.
If not all, most probably, by 'lovely view', she meant their kiss.
And that though, that realization, wasn't any comforting.
Not that he could really blame them; the woods were public anyway.
But still, they should've just—
"What are you doing here?" Sasuke's cold voice snapped him from his internal reverie, realizing how Tenten was already by the two other girls' side, almost cowering at the teme's rather cold glare.
Silence was their answer.
"Let me rephrase the question then, because it seems clearly obvious what you were doing here. How long have you been here, watching?" Sasuke's voice colder and more annoyed than ever.
"Weell…" Sakura-chan started, or tried to, a hand rubbing nervously at the back of her head, looking apologetically at the raven—at both of them, and having the decency to blush.
"…Sakura-chan? You were…watching us…?" Naruto asked, confused. He couldn't fathom a reason why his friend would be there, watching them…
"Weeell…" she said, trying to stall, but then she decided that she at least owned him her sincerity, even if that meant offering her head for Sasuke to cut it off. Not quite literally, hopefully, but with Sasuke, you could never know for sure… "…Yes, we were."
"Sakura!" Ino said, alarmed at her rival-slash-friend's admittance. Sakura paid her no mind, though. It was obvious enough what they were doing now caught, and more so to Sasuke. It was useless to try to hide or deny it now.
"…Why…?" the blond male asked again, more confused than ever.
But before she had the chance to answer however, Sasuke answered it for her.
"Because they were spying on us; weren't you, Sakura? Ino? Tenten?" he asked them levelly, too levelly for him.
Blood would be spilling soon, that was for sure.
Because by the way the (pissed) Uchiha was eyeing them, by the look of his eyes, it was certainly saying something along the lines of 'Give me a good reason why I shouldn't kill you here, right now.'
And Naruto was beyond confused now.
"…But… but…! Why would you that, Sakura-chan?"
Damn those earnestness and hopeful clean-azure blue eyes of him, which were looking so pleadingly at her, looking for answers. She knew for a fact he didn't like to be lied about, and so did Sasuke.
So, before the raven haired irritated (and may she add, pissed one) nin had the chance to say anything witty-fully-sarcastic, she yelled "I did it because you two were too stupid, too coward to act, without someone interfering!"
And that response certainly wasn't what either of the boys expected to hear, if their shocked faces said anything about that (even Sasuke, forever emotionless, had the tiniest of the surprised expression on his face, by the way how his eyes widened slightly at that).
Naruto had still that stupid astonished expression pasted onto his face, his jaw still opened, even after some moments of complete silence. Sasuke, on the other had, rapidly reacted at the word 'stupid', and 'coward' being referred to him, and so he reacted by shooting his most powerful 'Death Glare' at his former female teammate, perfected by him after years.
But Sakura, being used by that glare after so many years of being the end target of it, developed an immunity against it, very much like Naruto did. And so, said glare didn't affect her not even slightly, and she just ignored it, pinching a hand to the bridge of her brows, sighing deeply before continuing with her explanation, calmer now. "You see, Sasuke-kun, Naruto…" another sigh—
"We all knew you two liked each other, since gods know when." Ino blatantly stated, cutting the other. Now that big-forehead had already and successfully put the ropes around their necks, she may as well open their eyes. Or something like that. No time to sweet-talk here.
"…Like…?" Naruto was blushing so deeply it was almost cute. Hence the word almost. Ino cut him out, though. "You too, Sasuke-kun. It was obvious."
Sakura had her eyes shut closed, expecting for the worst. But then, minutes passed, but nothing came. She mustered then enough courage and adventured to open one of her emerald-green eyes, and then the other. 'I guess… that was reason enough for Sasuke-kun not killing us.' She thought, relieved. Then…seeing how Sasuke didn't say anything, didn't do anything, didn't show any kind of emotion that promised sure death on his face, she began to feel worried (even when she knew, with all the years she'd come to know him, that even when her former crush and teammate made sure to never show any kind of emotion onto his face, anger somehow wasn't quite nor smothered nor masked.)
It was like seeing the calm before the storm. And if the storm was anything like the Uchiha standing in front of her, it would certainly be a mortal one.
Why 'mortal' (and lethal, and its synonymous) and Uchiha always had to be associated, in any way possible, damnit!?
But she too, was pissed, damnit! She was only trying to help—not, that wasn't quite true. They were only trying to help, and that was the way he was thanking them!? By not hearing them!? By just killing them because they were merely curious and wanted to take a peek at things!? Okay, that was not very nice, she had to admit that—the peek thingy—but still!
"Come on, Sasuke-kun—you weren't going to act if you hadn't been envious somehow of Hinata-chan and Kiba!" and at that being said, she clamped her mouth shut by both hands, eyes bulging. Crap. She hadn't meant to say that… Ino just sighed, slapping her hand to her forehead. Trust big-forehead to be that way when pissed…
Sasuke's eyes narrowed at Sakura's outburst. "…Hinata…?" Does this mean that…she's involved in this too?
"Weell… you see… we, umn… how to explain this…" Tenten was nervously fidgeting, never looking at any of them in the eye.
Sasuke sighed then, trying to calm down, pinching his brow bridge, his dark eyes closed. "…How many of you are involved in this…thing?" he asked, carefully. …It was oddly silent though, his dobe wasn't saying anything… it was like the idiot was in a state of shock, or something.
"…Just…the three of us." Intense glare. "…okay, and Temari." Another set of glares. "And…Hinata-chan…along with Kiba." Sakura added, hurriedly. 'Sorry, guys…'
"That's all?" the dark-haired nin inquired.
"…Yes, that's all there is." Was the quiet-like answer. The haired bubblegum then sighed for the umpteenth time, and then stepping a little closer. "…Sorry, guys." She started, looking at both of them in the face, meeting their eyes. …Naruto, by the way he was so quiet…he most probably… "We hadn't…meant to hurt you or anything, it's just…"
"…Then why didn't any of you trust any of us to handle…our feelings?" Naruto asked, too quiet for him.
"…It's that… we just… were just sick of you playing hitting around the bush! …You weren't doing anything…and it was so painfully obvious… and we just wanted to the two of you happy." She paused, looking at the blond nin pleadingly in the eye. "…Sorry for being impatient, and for not waiting for the two of you to sort that out… But I guess we just got too worried, and we wanted the best for you—and that is what friends are for, Naruto. Sasuke-kun." She finished, a small smile onto her face. "…Sorry for that over-worrying-thing, though." Was added, while sticking her tongue out, in an embarrassed motion.
Then, it was the blond boy's turn to sigh, and Sakura was relieved when she saw a small smile lighting his face. "…I guess then I can't stay mad at you for that, Sakura-chan. Thank-you."
Glancing, Sakura could see a small smile trying to make its way on Sasuke-kun's face, as what appeared to be a response for Naruto's bright one. She then heard the whiskered boy add as an after-thought, a confused expression—again—placed on his face. "…I still don't really know how much you did— for us."
It was Ino's turn to talk, and a strange sour-like-quality was tinting her voice. "Not much, really." And the meaning behind that was 'Not as much as I'd like it…'.
The other girls sweat-dropped at that, clearly understanding the blond-bleach-haired kunoichi's unspoken words.
'Idiot', the older male endearingly thought, if such a word had an 'endearing' quality.
"Well…" Ino said after a while of silence, for the umpteenth time that day in front of their… former preys?, taking some steps back nervously. "…I guess…our mission here is done…so… we really ought to go… Ne, girls?" and that last sentence-slash-question was meant as a cue, for the other females nin replied a nervous and hasty "…Yeah…it is…", them also taking some steps back. Then, the three of the female ninja quickly began to walk away (it could be defined as more like running) trying to take advantage of the opportunity now when Sasuke-kun wasn't in killing mode, when that cold, smooth, piercing clear voice stopped them on their tracks.
"…But you still hadn't answered us…how exactly did you 'help us', by the means of eavesdropping." That really, really stopped the former running female nin, nervously sweat-dropping.
Shit. They were really trying to seize that opportunity to flee without the blood-shedding…
"'Eavesdropping' is such a harsh word, Sasuke-kun." Ino started, quickly facing the boys, trying to appease one in particular, waving her right hand in a really (and not quite succeeding) Kakashi-like-motion. "We were merely…making sure all went according to plan."
"Like today?" the Uchiha offered, raising a fine raven brow. Naruto was letting Sasuke do the smart-talk this time; he also wanted to know. Not that the blond was admitting the teme was smarter than him. Hell no.
"Yes! Like today!" Sakura hastily confirmed it, eagerly.
"If that really was the case, was it really necessary then for all of you to come? With just someone with an acute sight like the Hyuuga girl, or someone with a quick-range of fleeing skill, much like that Suna kunoichi, it would have been more than enough. And safer. So why to jeopardize the mission, by all of you coming here? You Sakura, more than anyone else, should be aware of that." The Uchiha there present inquired, letting his eyes linger on the emerald's ones, before letting his eyes roam the others'. It was time for them to spill everything. He wanted to know the exact truth. And the exact truth he would get. Not that he was ungrateful, or anything. It just…he hated having his life controlled somehow by something that wasn't at his own will. He'd had enough of that with Orochimaru.
"Well…anou…" Sakura began, very much like old insecure Hinata did, averting her eyes, and fumbling nervously with the end of her shirt.
"We…were watching how results of Gaara's conversation with Naruto." It was said bluntly by Tenten.
Silence. Utter silence. Not even the birds were chirping. In fact, they fled the nearby place, as if afraid of the heavy and deadly air surrounding them. It isn't even necessary to clarify from whom it belonged to.
And… suddenly the three kunoichi found it so difficult to breathe…
'We are so dead…' It was the unanimous thought shared by the three of them.
"…What…?" it was said, clearly attempting to rein on his temper.
SO dead…
The girls now were taking steps backs, this time really, really fearing for their own life. They knew Sasuke-kun couldn't stand the Suna's Kazekage (not to say he was jealous of him)—but they never thought, never expected… "S-Sasuke-kun…wait… you see—" Sakura tried to explain, tried to appease him, both the palm of her hands unconsciously trying to shield her from the imminent menace. The imminent menace that was beginning to tower them. The imminent menace that was seething.
Yep, no good.
"…So, he was involved in this too." He said, too close to comfort to the now scared to death kunoichi.
Ino knew she had to write her will before coming there.
Sakura knew she should have spent a lot more time with Lee…and not exactly by talking, before coming there.
Tenten knew she had to try her brand-new-sharp-shining kunai on someone before coming there.
The female trio could see all their entire life in a group of flashbacks coming to the back of their eyes.
He was close…so close…so close to killing them for being so damn fucking meddlesome and—
"But…" the blond nin said, pensive, "if that means Gaara was indeed involved…and all that he said to me was part of it… then doesn't that mean that he helped us, in the end? Because he did say to me to start admitting my real feelings… and so, that's why if accepted my feelings to you, teme. So, it wouldn't be nice if you killed them, even if you are jealous of Gaara knowing me so well." He finished, smirking broadly. Knowing full which strings to pull to tick the other's temper.
And that successfully stopped any killing attempt the Uchiha had with the girls.
But with Naruto, it was another different story.
Vocabulary:
I don't think there's any new vocabulary here.
Omake (by Ookami Aya)
A.N.: This was meant as a review by Ookami Aya. It really inspired me in the writing of this chappie. Thank you! Oh, I put this here without her concent... Please don't kill me...Ookami Aya... T.T
Sasuke: You have three chances to come up with a good excuse for spying on us and maybe I won't kill you.
Sakura: But we helped get you together!
Sasuke: Strike one.
Ino: We only want to see you happy!
Sasuke: Strike two.
Sakura: (whisper) This isn't working!
Ino: (whisper) What do we do?
Sasuke: I'm waiting.
Tenten: It's Itachi's fault!
Sasuke: ...Come on, Naruto. Let's go.
Naruto: Uh...yeah...
And the moral of the story is: When all else fails, blame Itachi.
A.N.: tee hee. Liked it? I must say… I kinda…like it. I'm still doubting though…
Now… I think 1 or 2 more chapters, and maybe an epilogue. Yeah. I think I said that last time… --;;;,,
Please, make my day by sending me those wonderful reviews of yours.
Ja!