In the Palm of My Hands Chapter 14: Love, a naruto fanfic

A/N: It seems that everybody is liking it so far (am I keeping you in anticipation? *wiggles eyebrows*) or either want to kill me for letting this happen, I will inform you that I will be underground for every pitchfork and torches and hang-ropes and swords and guns and snipers and knifes that could be heading my way by the end of this chapter.

Especially for this one… hehehehe… *laughs nervously*

So, on with the show, I hereby present to you:

Forgive me for this one though, for I am a hopeless romanticist.

Disclaimer: Honestly, they should totally make me the owner of Naruto. I would make it so much better. Sasuke would be so much hotter (as if that was possible). Sakura so much cooler. Karin so much dead. Who the hell is Kishimoto Masashi? Who the hell are Dattebayo and TV Tokyo? I self-proclaim myself to be the new and awesome owner of Naruto… ………… Tch, in my dreams. I own nothing people. NOTHING. Not even the teeny tiny multi-millionaire brands I've put in here.

Nothing.

Accoralada

In the Palm of My Hands

'Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?'- Moulin Rouge

"A divorce?"

Sakura's face was serious. Completely and utterly serious. "Yes. A divorce."

Sasuke didn't know what to say. There was a complete list of the most shocking -not to forget horrible- moments of his life. The blame of that list, half its content, was created by Sakura.

"No." He stated.

"Excuse me?" Sakura couldn't contain the serious, monotone façade she had before.

"You heard me." Sasuke said simply, almost casually. "No."

"No, as in; you would not give me a divorce?" Sakura asked incredulous.

"Exactly." Onyx orbs giving no emotions what-so-ever.

"How can you not?!" Slowly anger was building into her.

"I will not give you a divorce. Not as long as I-"

"Do not dare to finish that sentence, Uchiha Sasuke, for I am neither yours nor your property."

"You married me because I wanted you to." He easily said in his full confident, arrogant self. "You married me because you had feelings for me."

"I used to have feelings for you." She hissed as soon as that last line left his lips. She did it fast.

Maybe too fast.

Standing his ground, he took a step near her. "You cannot grow over feelings such as those, Sakura. Your love was never true if you just stopped feeling it overnight."

"Well, accept it, because it is so."

He stepped closer. "That is a lie."

"It is not, I assure you." Her hands settled on her hips. "I have long since forgotten these mismatched feelings that I harbored for you."

She could not find the guts in this situation for him to smirk. That self-centered, egoistical, pompous, arrogant, sexy side-ways smirk.

But he did.

"Then," He almost grinned. "Let me remind you how it was to feel that for me."

It took one other step and he reached for her, pulled her –none too gently- into him and sealed his lips with her.

It felt like a personal blessing from any kind of god up there to feel her lips, or any part of her for that matter, on him.

He could taste her shock even on his tongue as he licked her bottom lip. She gasped hard, and not one for letting such an opportunity go, he probed his own way in her without permission. He deepened the kiss, his slick organ sweeping inside her mouth, making his body temperature rise a few degrees.

It has been months since he had the pleasure and satisfaction of kissing this woman. Even if it was her that provoked the kiss for all the wrong reasons, he did not care. Point was, that he felt her. Lips, tongue, teeth, body and soul was in his arms and he enjoyed it.

Hell, he loved it.

And he wanted to feel that again.

Pushing himself harder to her, trying to trigger a reaction, they both stumbled a bit back but didn't fall.

Sucking her tongue into his mouth gently, he savored her taste. She still smelled, felt and tasted amazing. He had the idea that he was touching a piece of heaven.

She didn't respond to him though; she just stood there. Frozen, still of the shock he was sure. Glancing at her, he found her emerald eyes that entranced him in the past more often than he likes to admit, so close, bright and wide open.

This was, however, not the look that he desired from her. He wanted her to react, to kiss him back, to touch him, to moan for him, to arch her back for him, to whisper his name for him, to do at least something!

And something she did alright.

It was in a flash that she was pushing him off of her and the flat side of her hand slapped him quite painfully against his cheek.

His face forcefully turned to the other direction, its skin now burning hot red. The sound of her hand coming in contact with his face echoed a bit too long through the empty hallway.

He could still feel it though; the need, the desire, the love, the lust, her warmth, still pounding in his veins, making his breathing heavier and his body shake.

She was panting. Her body was shaking of rage, her eyes spewing out flames, her lips were swollen of his cause, her cheeks were flushed, her hair somewhat askew, and her hands were itching to hit him again and then some.

She looked absolutely damn beautiful.

With the backside of her right hand, she wiped her lips as if she tasted something awful.

Their kiss, that lasted longer in his own world than in reality –which was hardly thirty seconds- was over before it even began.

"What the hell?!" She all but screamed in fury towards him. "How dare you kiss me?!"

The look in Sasuke's eyes was enough to kill. The eternal flames of hell are nothing compared to the anger that was captured in his hues.

Quietly and gritting through his teeth, he told her, "I am not going to let something go that I love."

As much as the truth it was, as much as openly honest he was, she was not effected to his line in the least.

"You know nothing of love." Emerald orbs darkened and narrowed.

"I know love when I feel it, Sakura." He still talked calmly; not about to snap once again. He knew the game of rage all too well to lose yourself in it and get carried away.

And it was exactly that attitude of him, that aloofness, cool, impassive attitude that he displayed right now is what she hated more than anything.

"You don't, Sasuke. You never loved me, you never even cared for me. We were never meant to be together. Sarina Karin was the apple of your eye, so don't pretend you do now." She was not buying his lie. "And I demand you to give me a divorce!" She added in an afterthought.

"You can forget about that." He stepped closer to her again.

"Stay away from me-"

But he ignored her and came nearer, reaching for her.

She flinched away from him immediately.

"I will not give something of mine away for someone like Tatiana Kiyoshi." His voice was small. Whispering, one would say.

"It is not your business if I divorce you for Kiki or not." She could not stay any longer in Sasuke's presence. Fingering the keycard of her hotel room in her pocket, she backed away to her door.

Sasuke saw her intentions and wanted to grab her, but she, quicker than the eye could see, pulled out the keycard, opened the door and slammed it shut inches in front of the Uchiha's face.

She leaned her back against the door, her feet wobbly and her heart rate 100 miles per hour. Her hands trembled of the adrenaline, which began long before she was on this side of the door.

She didn't hear him go away, but he was always silent and fast like that.

Taking in short breathing exercises to make her heart calm down, she heard something that made her sharply take in a breath and let it hitch in her throat.

"So you wouldn't forget," She heard his soft deep voice against the door. "I love you."

He stood there, his forehead gently leaning against the door, knowing full well that she was leaning on it too, whispering the words that came straight from his heart.

Both stayed stock still, each on either side of the door, they breathed calmly oxygen through their lungs.

While still sitting against the door on the floor, she let it dawn on her what just happened between them. They fought, again, he claimed that he… oh God, loved her and she… she asked to divorce him.

A sudden rush of wanting to hyperventilate took her.

How long had she craved, longed or even needed him to say those words? How long had she dreamt of him saying it to her under the moonlight and between the scent of roses? And how long after she stopped wanting that and told herself that dreams would not ever come true, he came and said it to her?

"Your love was never true if you just stopped feeling it overnight."

She recalled his words and it made the back of her eyes burn awfully and fill full with tears.

He had been right. Because even after a year of suppressing it deep down, fighting it by forcing herself to like another man, she could not control her heart.

But she was damn far from surrendering to it.

The next day, both Uchiha and still-technically-Uchiha-but-goes-by-the-name-Senju cancelled the meeting.

- One week later. Senju Estate, Miami –

"Sakura I can't take this anymore!" Tenten yelled out in frustration. "What has gotten into you? What the hell happened?"

The pink haired woman said nothing and only kept emerald eyes focused outside on the two white butterflies fluttering around each other on the Violets that grew in the garden.

They were supposed to drink tea; Tenten, Tsunade, Shizune and herself. It was done partially to keep her mother off of the liquor at one in the afternoon and to catch up what happened in both Berlin and Las Vegas. While Shizune and Tsunade already told their side of the trip, Tenten and Sakura didn't get much further than their departure from the mansion.

The two older women were particularly curious as to what went down there since Sakura had said less to nothing to anybody since they arrived back. For Tenten even since they were still there.

But they kept their mouth shut in inquiring because Sakura wouldn't even say a word to the Hinosyuri. So why bother?

"She has been depressed for more of this week, I don't know what's going on with her." Tenten sighed and let her body fall gracelessly in a lean chair.

"It happened there, ne? Since when has she been ignoring you like this?" The blond Senju asked while sipping her tea, her pinkie neatly lifted in the air.

"Uuhm… I'm not quite sure." Tenten scratched the top of head, thinking, and making a face.

"It must have been at some moment when you left her alone." Shizune suggested, pouring another cup. "She cannot have become like this one minute over the other."

"Oeh, I remember!" The brunette chirped up. "It was when she came back from the meeting and I found her asleep already. And it was really early to be in bed. The next day she was like a picture of her husband."

An eyebrow twitched after that particular comment. "I am still in the room." Sakura snidely barked, glaring at the women in front of her.

"Well, then actually be in the room. You've been a walking statue all this time and frankly, it's quite annoying." Tenten retorted back, shooting her with a glare to match.

Sakura chose not to answer that, instead she kept her gaze cold and rudely slurped the rest of her tea, and all but threw the cup back on the table.

"Is there… something you like to share with us, Sakura?" Her mother asked her gently a little above her cup, all too surprised at her daughter's attitude.

"If I wanted to share anything don't you think I would've done so already?"

Tenten growled angrily. "Wow, woke up on the bitchy side of the bed this morning, huh? Or are you just PMS'ing?"

Emerald clashed with cacao brown eyes and held a fierce battle against each other.

Shizune sighed, leave it to Tenten to make such a crude remark. The Hinosyuri was overall a sweet woman but beware once she's pissed off. That mouth will be the end of hers some day.

Tsunade held her tongue to scold Tenten, and looked back at Sakura. "Are you sure that nothing happened in which we could provide you our help with?"

"Absolutely nothing." Sakura shot back.

"Nothing that troubled you while in Las Vegas?"

"Nothing."

It was a little hard for each of them to say anything, except for Sakura. She wasn't planning on saying something in the first place.

"I don't know what the hell is going on what her." Tenten spoke up. "It's like she saw Sasuke there or whatever."

Unwillingly Sakura sucked in a gasp and her body went rigid.

The women dropped their jaws in realization.

"You met Uchiha Sasuke in Las Vegas?" Tenten gaped at her, while Sakura skillfully averted everybody's eye.

"When?!" Tsunade wondered, her expression not much different than the chocolate brown haired female.

A gulp. It was loud and all heard it, cracking through the silence.

"When?!" The three women interrogated all at once.

Logic worked in the Hinosyuri's mind. "At the meeting, didn't you?"

Sakura flinched at the memory, as if it physically hurt her. Deciding that she was already caught for the way she was acting, she might as well tell them the full story. But she had yet to meet anybody's eye contact.

"And after the meeting too. He stayed in the same accommodation." She found out that her mouth was dry, despite having just gulped the rest of her tea not so many moments ago.

"He stayed in the same hotel?!" Tenten yelled. "Our hotel?!"

The silence screamed the answer to her.

Tsunade became serious instantly. "Tell us what happened, Sakura." Her tone was motherly, comforting. A tone that she couldn't use for far too long.

The former Haruno swallowed, her orbs still set outside. The white butterflies were gone, the wind had picked up a little, she could see it by the way how the flowers danced.

"I knew I shouldn't have gone to Las Vegas. Stepping into the meeting he sat there. Across of me. After the meeting, all I wanted was to escape from him, and I did. Until I was in the elevator. There was where our argue began."

"And then?" Shizune asked, quite into the story.

All the while emerald hues didn't broke away from outside.

"He… he told me he…" Sakura gulped. "That he loved me." A careless whisper.

The female's gasps ran through the room.

"Oh my God… I can't believe this!" Tenten said breathless. "He actually said.."

"Yeah." She answered and switched her gaze to the three before her. "And I told him that I wanted to divorce."

With mouths wide open, disgraceful, and eyes open to their maximum, they stared at the heiress.

"So…" The chocolate brown haired woman began unsure, a little bit breaking the awkward quietness. "You're finally divorcing?"

She nodded nonchalant. "I don't know why he didn't pursue me sooner to file for divorce but… I guess we know now why."

She felt a little better telling this to the women close to her, not tremendously lot, but still lighter. She should have done this sooner than brooding around.

"If he loves you.. then… what about Sarina Karin person he's dating or whatever?"

It was a question that, in reality, played in her mind for some days now. Sasuke may have told her that he supposedly loved her, but if he did, then what was he still doing with Sarina Karin? So far she knew, he was still very much with that woman.

Oh honestly, she could see it alright how much he loved her. Yeah right.

Besides, she told herself, she was with Kiki. She didn't ask Sasuke for suddenly requiring her love. She was happy with Kiki. She wanted Kiki.

She did.

Sasuke was, as she already told him, -and herself- too late.

Karin and he deserved each other, just like he wished for.

Tenten flicked her gaze towards Sakura. Ever since she met Haruno Sakura, she was always sweet to her. And in the year after, she never heard her talk about Sasuke again.

She assumed as much after hearing her history from Shizune, who heard it from Tsunade-sama, that she was, if just a little bit, still heartbroken after what went down between her and Uchiha.

At least, any normal woman would.

In the year she spent after, while being in Europe and Japan, Sakura had not dropped one tear in cause of her and Sasuke's… break-up…? Or at least not in front of her, Tsunade-sama, Shizune and Miguelina.

Instead, Sakura showed a determination that she would avoid talking about Sasuke as much as possible, or her life in general before she met them all, for that matter. Except about Ino. Tenten knew Ino before she even met the platinum blond woman by all the stories Sakura told her.

Point is, is Sakura really as tough as she looked and was she really over Sasuke? Because Tenten saw that even if the heiress dated some other men, she never stayed with them long enough for their relationship to become serious.

Tatiana Kiyoshi is the farthest that Sakura has come within consideration of a relationship.

But Sakura's chapter with one Uchiha Sasuke is still not done.

Tenten snapped back from her own world when she heard the main female from her thoughts speak.

"Tomorrow…" The heiress began, "I will seek my lawyer and file for divorce."

- 3 days after return in Miami, Uchiha mansion –

The sound of clicking heels from her Prada in the silent halls always made a shiver of delight run over her spine. It gave her the feeling of pure feminism, and power over her looks means that she felt sexy.

Exactly what she needed tonight.

Her fingers tingled and her toes curled knowing what she will accomplish soon. She was excited, more exciting than she has ever been. She was giddy, like a child in a toy store, or like a bird in the sky. She felt great, like she just passed a test with flying colors or like she just bought a killer outfit.

There was little that could ruin her mood at the moment, and that was only better for her.

It was late, a little over one in the morning. Nobody except she, him and two maids were present in the mansion.

Even better.

And he was probably in the bedroom.

Could it get any better?

Feeling a grin etch its way to her lips, she shook her head. There was no room for over-confidence this night.

Stopping in front of a dark oak wooded door, she fixed her clothes one last time. He was right behind it, right there for her to take.

She knew how to play her cards and tonight she would go for a royal flush.

Slowly she turned the knob and the sound of said door echoed hallow and kind of eerie when opened.

That did nothing to faze her.

She bit her lower lip in order to prevent any kind of moan from escaping her when her crimson orbs landed on the youngest Uchiha.

He stood in his balcony, while the television was talking but his eyes were facing upwards, clad in only a black sweatpants that hung deliciously low around his hips.

Karin wanted to sigh. Uchiha Sasuke truly was a sight to behold. What she loved the most of this gorgeous man must be his abdomen. She adored that part of his anatomy almost as much as… that what is below his abdomen. Almost.

She could warily see the look on his face, only because her attention wasn't particularly there, but when she did lift her gaze, she wasn't surprised to see nothing but blankness.

He was in his thoughts, she could tell, if the way he stared in outer space like that was any indication. He was always focused, at any part of the day, even now, lost in thoughts she knew that he was aware of her presence in the room even though he didn't acknowledge her.

Not that that will stay that way for long. She almost beamed at that thought.

Stepping forward, she closed the bedroom door, and walked up until the entrance of the balcony, leaning against the frame.

"Sasuke…" She whispered, not wanting to talk in normal audible level.

He blinked, but did not move his eyes from the sky. It was enough for Karin to know that she had his attention, if only part of it.

"Come to bed."

There was a pause, almost a pregnant one, when he answered, "Go on, I will be in later."

Somehow, Karin knew this. But, as forehanded mentioned, she was prepared and played her cards well.

"Come to bed with me."

His eyes didn't connect with hers and he turned to stare off at the dark night sky again.

She saw this coming, Sasuke didn't come near her ever since he returned from La Vegas and that could be only because of one reason.

Haruno.

How and when they could have possibly met, Karin had no idea, but she could tell that Sasuke saw her. They haven't done anything though, she had noticed that too, woman's intuition one could say that something did went down between the two.

Something far from her reach of understanding.

And she was going to stop that now.

Stepping behind him, he being at least a head taller, she kissed his naked shoulder gently.

"You seem troubled." She faked a concerned tone, one that wasn't so hard to act. "You're thinking about something you don't specifically like, by the way that you are brooding like this."

Sasuke did nothing to give her some kind of a reaction or respond, as she expected.

Sliding her hand from behind him, she let it rest on his chest, and standing on her tiptoes she whispered in his ear once again. "Come to bed with me."

He only shook his head no shortly.

Pouting slightly, she spread her fingers and began to let them glide lightly over his warm skin. Her fingertips barely grazing him.

"Ah come on Sasuke," She breathed this time more seductively, practically purring his name. "I know how much you hate going to bed with a troubled mind."

She bit back a smirk when she felt him shift as she kissed that spot a little behind his ear.

"And you know I could be very helpful in letting you forget your daily problems."

Sasuke didn't say anything, only a quiet sigh escaped him before he turned to her. His eyes were closed, which was out of the ordinary because he always looked her in the eye. He touched her cheek in a manner that frankly, he never has done with her before.

But for Karin it didn't matter, because while kissing her, in a strangely soft and gentle kind of way, he guided her to the bed.

And that was all that she wanted.

- 2 weeks later –

A cool breeze went through the open window, making the dark curtains sway up and down. Early sunlight fell through said window right on a tanned face and closed lids.

He slept so peacefully, he didn't want to wake, but already he could feel the grin stretch across his lips.

Thin sheets covered him from his chest and down, a position where it usually doesn't even cover him. Usually the sheets are either somewhere at his hips or legs, or on the ground because he kicked them off in his sleep.

Usually, Naruto thought smiling, eyes still closed, was most definitely not now.

Revealing ocean blue orbs slowly, the morning sun shining right on him, he squinted his eyes.

Quickly glancing to the clock on the nightstand he discovered that it was a little over 6.

Not even on a normal workday was he up at this time of the day, and if he was in any other circumstance than at the moment, he would be very pissed off by now to be even awake.

The difference this time, was solely because of the female body that was sprawled across the rest of the bed. Her head was upon his chest, still sleeping soundless, and her long dark hair over his abs and her shoulders.

How the light illuminated on her skin, her face so peaceful and serene, made Naruto think she was an angel straight from heaven, a godsend, blessing him with this weird feeling in the pit of his belly, that honestly, he had never felt before in his entire life.

He was happy. Truly and utterly happy. He felt like she belonged here and he was meant to be here with her. There were some few and very rare once-in-the-blue-moon moments that he got a glimpse of such happiness he was experiencing right now.

He looked down at her, seeing only the half of her face, sleeping quietly.

She was so beautiful, this sunflower of his.

Emphasizing; his.

He was very well aware of what he was doing and with who he was doing it with, but he didn't care. Hyuuga Hinata wasn't ever going from his grasp.

After their first date he became well acquainted with this woman. Of course that night there wasn't anywhere he could take her except those few tables away from her family. But that didn't matter, because he was in her presence, fairly alone, and he could talk to her.

A thing that any other time Naruto didn't even bother to do with women he was interested in. Talking with them to get to know them, that is. But, as it already appears, since the day he first saw her she was nothing like all the other women.

And he didn't even know what it was that makes her so special and stand out from all the others that he has an eye on, but it was not something that he cared to specially unravel, as long as she was with him.

Their second date soon followed, and that was not even a week after their first. He asked, once again, Hiashi if he could get the pleasure of taking his eldest daughter on a date another time. For some reason, there wasn't even the slightest of hesitation when he acquired.

That date, he went totally cliché, he found so himself, and brought her to a nice restaurant.

Upon the date she asked him to stop seeking for her father's permission if he wanted to stay in touch with her. It was not that she felt honored that he did so, she had stated softly with her trademark yet cute blush of hers, but she tried to be independent, and away from her father. To be much like her cousin; Neji.

Naruto laughed then, and told her that though Neji is very much steady on his feet, he had yet to meet anyone colder and more serious as he was. With the exception of Sasuke.

And so they talked the entire night about themselves to another. Their date ended with a simple thank you and the most sweetest kiss on his cheek he had ever gotten.

He tried to keep the touching and kissing as long as possible from her out of respect of her being the heiress of the Hyuuga clan.

She had given him her private number, one that was Hiashi and Neji free, she assured him. He called her, when he thought he was going crazy with doing nothing with that number.

That was 3 days later.

If anything, she sounded more than happy to hear him ask her out once again.

This time he brought her to a gallery show, one specifically of flowers. He remembered quite well that she said that she loved flowers. At the end of that night, when he brought her to the door of her house, and he was getting another kiss on the check and a thank you, he couldn't help himself; at the very last moment he turned his head slightly to the right and their lips connected.

It was their true first kiss. She gasped and backed a step away, but he followed suit stepping with her and kissing her again.

She hesitated for a moment, but Naruto's tongue that asked for permission along her lip was all that needed to persuade her.

It was gentle and overly sweet, so completely un-Naruto like that it was strange and unfamiliar to him. But pleasant nonetheless.

It took him everything he had to pull away from her sensual and delicious lips, and to keep his hands off of her and at his sides.

Abruptly he had moved away from her, apologizing immediately for not controlling himself and kissing her so suddenly.

He didn't even look up at her face to take in her expression. Surely it must have been a mixture of shock and anger how he so easily claimed her lips without so much as a warning or her clear permission. Hell, he even didn't want the gap that she created early, exist between them and taking the hint that she did not want to be kissed by him.

Bowing his head slightly to her, he turned back to his car, quietly saying her name and a goodbye.

Soft hands on tanned and strangely whiskered cheeks stopped him from moving all together. She turned his sad looking face her direction and he saw on her the most dazzling smile ever.

She said that he shouldn't have stopped, and he replied back with saying that if he did not do so, it wouldn't have stayed with only kissing.

The look in his eyes when he warned her was enough for her to know with what he meant with that.

She paused, but then gave a shy smile underneath and told him that she didn't feel a difference in herself in minding to do that than actually wanting him to do so since earlier this night.

Unable to hide his grin he kissed her again, this time her reaction was immediate. Flushing at her own words, she asked, between their lip lock, if they could go back to his place.

That was all the approval he needed.

And so they ended up making love in his bed.

Naruto realized, whilst deflowering her, that he acted so differently around her. He whispered soothing words in her ear, almost poems and rhymes, all about her. He told her that he was sleeping with her not as someone who was after the power of her clan, or as a suitor for the heiress, or as a player who only wants one thing, but as a man in love.

When he came, it was a rush of ecstasy he had never felt before, to really make love, including emotions and feelings.

He wanted to have it the rest of his life. He wanted, no, needed her for the rest of his life.

He understood lust and desire, he lived with them for years, night after night with all kinds of women, but with Hinata, lust and desire and with a combination of love… it was out of this world.

And after they were completely whole because of each other, just before they succumb to their exhausted but very much satisfied sleep, he whispered, while spooning her from behind, lowly in her ear his love for her.

This is where she belonged, right here; legs tangled, arms around each other's waist, hair across pillows and sheets, hearts beating purposely for another and preferably, naked.

Each and every day.

Smiling he looked back up at the ceiling, hugging her a little bit closer to him.

He was being so sappy.

- 3 weeks later –

Tenten growled under her breath. She really didn't want to go anywhere doing anything today. But being the assistant of Senju Tsunade, she didn't had that luxury.

It wasn't like she was lazy of nature, oh no far from it, but it was just one of those days where you just get up and want to walk in your pajamas all day and eat yourself sick on snacks. Rather chocolate –or anything covered with- or some good ice cream from the box. God bless Ben & Jerry's .

But no. Her plans had been cancelled, stepped upon, destroyed, burned and thrown out of the window when a slightly beginning-to-get-pissed-because-of-all-these-papers-on-her-desk busy Tsunade called her in and asked for a favor.

That favor existed of getting outside, into some taxi, and drive all the way to the other side of Miami.

And judging by a look up in the sky, it seems that the weather isn't going to cooperate either.

Great.

Something more to disheveled her mood.

She should ask for a new set of knifes at Tsunade to make up for this.

Thankfully, though, Tsunade did already call a cab for her, since Tenten didn't own a driver's license, she usually go by Tsunade's extravagant limo's or simple public transport. It would keep her 'down to earth' as she would put it.

Her mission for today was, -since she was forced to do this she calls this her mission- to go pick up a package at Rich & Famous inc. headquarters, since the package is too important and therefore cannot be trusted to be sent by mail, it must be picked up and signed for from someone in Tsunade's highest circles or by herself.

And that's where Tenten comes in, sitting in the cab right now still grumbling in her mind.

If it was any other day, then she didn't mind going, but as it seems, faith wasn't exactly being nice to her. She wondered why her blond boss couldn't sent Shizune? It doesn't particularly seem that Shizune did anything else except standing near her side.

Yet Tsunade always complained that she lacked help.

Although knowing better, Tenten knew Shizune did well her stuff, but always in the background when no one actually notices. That didn't meant that Shizune could have done this for her today.

After a drive for at least 45 minutes, –she wasn't kidding when she said it was at the other side of Miami- the taxi came at a stop in front of a relatively tall building. It wasn't some skyscraper but it was grand enough.

Entering the building, she went straight to the reception; there sat a lady with reading glasses on the tip of her nose looking all full of herself. She didn't notice or heard Tenten standing there at all, she continued reading her book in silence.

Tapping her fingers, Tenten waited with impatient politeness for the receptionist to see her.

And she waited.

All in all Tenten waited a full minute before rudely clearing her throat and not bothering with hiding the glare from her face. She all but barely contained the sarcastic 'Hello, do I finally have your attention, bookworm?' from spilling out of her mouth.

The receptionist, having the gal, didn't even apologized at not seeing her earlier, and actually did a quick once over of her with a crunched up nose, and asked with an annoyed-covered tone, "Yes?"

Pursing her lips and ignoring the woman's attitude all together, -because really, she didn't want security on her ass for punching the woman and become unable to get what she needed to pick up- and asked where the office of Mr. Maito Gai was.

The receptionist, a woman probably not much older than Tenten herself, reluctantly told her where; her face showed as if she didn't trust her in the slightest and wanted to ask for some identification and the purpose why she was here. Apparently, she had thought better of it and wisely kept her mouth. If not, Tenten would happily shut it for her.

Off to Maito Gai's office, she only hoped the man wasn't there himself. He was a complete buffoon yapping something about youth this and youth that and telling lame old stories of when he was in his own youth and that he missed it and praised it and about his goal in life is to defeat a certain someone and whatnot. If that wasn't enough, he was also completely obsessed with the color green; all his shirts, suits, ties, socks and even his boxers were green –proclaimed by himself, of course- and told her he wore green spandex for training –and for the fun of it- at home.

She didn't even want to imagine that.

Worse thing was, he is trying to set the trend with the full body spandex, -mind you- and even successfully accomplished with getting some to wear it.

She didn't even want to wonder who those idiots are.

And except that Maito Gai was a straight out weirdo, he had a doppelganger, one that could have passed for the man's son if she didn't knew better and had the displeasure of once meeting him; Rock Lee.

Now that was a weird pair. They were exactly the same, from the out-of-style bowl cut, to their unbelievable cavemen eyebrows, to their weird green fetish, till their declarations of youth. And they had a very sickly, almost gay-like, relationship between them. One moment they could be hugging and crying crocodile tears together, the other moment they're punching each other's teeth out and making impossible ridiculous bets and promises.

But despite his Willy Wonka behavior, Maito Gai was a sweet and honest guy to the core, and shockingly a hidden business man.

He once said that he never wanted to enter the world of business such as these, but because Hatake Kakashi did it, -the certain someone that he wants to defeat- he, naturally, became so too.

And he wasn't all that bad, really. He became this company's first and foremost business analyst. He was also the one that handled all the important papers and contracts. Hence why she should pick up this 'gravely emergent' package –as Tsunade stated- at him.

She was just hoping that he wasn't there. It would save her a lot of time and uncomfortable hugging and awkward conversations. She could just let his secretary get it and she could sign it at her.

Yeah, quick in and out.

Finding the place, she discovered that though everything up until now was completely against her, she did have this little luck that indeed Maito Gai wasn't present at the moment.

Instead she found, as she was hoping, his secretary.

She asked her, a whole lot friendlier than the previous woman, about the package that was supposed to be assigned for Senju Tsunade.

Thankfully, once again like she was hoping, she didn't need Mr. Maito himself to be here to get the package.

"Here it is!" The secretary held up a brown sealed envelope with a smile. "All you need to do is sign here."

"Wow, thanks. I thought that I needed to get this straight from Mr. Maito himself." If she could, she would have wiped her forehead out of relief.

"Well, yes that is actually how things needs to go around here with packages such as these."

"Then why am I the exception?" She really shouldn't be looking the gift's horse in the mouth. She should taken the envelope and leave.

"Mr. Maito already had an appointment when the call came that someone was already been sent to come and get this." She pointed to the package. "But he wasn't about to cancel such appointment because, and quoting him, 'it would be another youthful day going to waste if I don't meet him as of today,' and he said that it doesn't happen often to him that he could meet one of his once upon a time student. So he left this in my responsibility."

Tenten could have sweat-dropped. She wondered who would be willingly want to have an appointment with that man off the record.

She didn't even want to think about it.

He was definitely with Rock Lee.

"How long has he been gone for then?"

The woman's eyes glanced at a clock. "For about an hour, they should be about ready by now. Mr. Maito has to return to the office. Actually," She said after a pause. "He should have returned fifteen minutes ago."

Tenten's brows furrowed, but shrugged anyway. "Maybe it took longer than expected."

The woman gave her a look that said that would be quite impossible, then switched her gaze the other way. "I do not think so, because here's the man he had the appointment with."

The chocolate brown haired woman braced herself. Now she's going to get it. Rock Lee with all his weirdness and praising and endless talk of nonsense. She prepared for an overdoses of the color green, blinding white teeth, thumbs up and good-guy poses copied from a really bad superhero.

Turning around, already cringing, she set her most shining smile, or at least attempt to.

And yes, there stood… Hyuuga Neji?

Stoic lavender eyes looked at her without the slightest trace of shock or recognition. It seemed as if he was looking right through her.

Everything in his expression was the complete opposite of Tenten's.

Her smile first froze, then shrunk. She very much tried to keep her eyes from popping out of her head and let her jaw drop to gape at him like an idiot. Though she did succeed in not looking like a retard, her small smile did entirely vanish.

He did not need nor deserved a smile from her.

With a cold, careless blink, he walked to the desk Gai's secretary was occupying and completely and flatly ignored the Hinosyuri at his side.

"I was sent to give you this," He stated tonelessly, holding out what appears to be a note. "And to inform you that Gai won't be retrieving to his office for an unknown period of time, because he was…" Dubious of how to put it, he went for; "He has his own reasons, which I am sure is a waste of time and utterly ridiculous."

"Well, that's Maito Gai for you." Tenten remarked quite snidely and dripping with sarcasm. She did not like the prospect of being ignored. Especially not by this prick.

Not even sparing her a glance, much less a reply, he went about to continue with the secretary. "This building should tighten their security in some sorts. It appears that you people allow any sorts of persons walk in here." To which he purposely refers to Tenten.

And to put insult to injury, at the now already fuming Tenten, he looked down at her, really looked down at her as if she was a pebble in his shoe and all but hissed, "Specifically a scumbag like you."

The woman could practically blow steam from her nose, that much of her blood was boiling with rage. She wondered in how much trouble she'll get if she pounced on him now and strangle him to death, bring him back and then repeat the action. How she wanted to curse him to hell and back, yell every insult she knew in his face, followed by a punch in the eye, but she couldn't. At least, not until they left the building. She was here in the name of Senju Tsunade and it would be the unforgivable to damage her reputation just by her own lack of control for vengeance.

Instead, she took the higher up and actually forced herself to calm down. If he wanted to play that way then fine, let's see if he could take as good as he gave.

"Oh, I don't see the problem of that, as much as I would agree to such suggestion," She played it innocent. "Besides," She looked up at Hyuuga with friendly – a little too friendly- eyes. If he squinted long enough he could even see underlying smugness in them. "If they allow you in here and actually give permission to let you speak to someone as terrific and way greater in achieving something in life than you'll ever have as Mr. Maito Gai, then I'm sure I am nothing to be worrying about. After all, a parasite as yourself succeeded in wringing your way in here." She added a tight false smile as finale of her retort.

The secretary saw clearly how Hyuuga Neji's lips turned down into a scowl and a glare etch onto his face. Immediately the temperature went a wholly lot colder in the room and the tension grew so thick that even she thought in having trouble with breathing.

"To think, Hinosyuri, that you have civilized in the years that we have not met, brings down my expectations of you, even if they were little to begin with. Alas, it seems that you could get a Neanderthal out of its cave but not the cave out of the Neanderthal."

It surprises her still with how much vehement he could talk without changing his fact to match his tone.

"That is very sad to hear." She spit back. "Because contrary to you, I didn't had any expectations of you in the years that we haven't seen each other at all. I knew, and still do, that you were a stick-in-the-mud, with or without the influence of your dear uncle. Apparently polished turd it's still a turd."

This woman was completely insufferable. He wondered what any man would see in her, for all she displayed was being a bitch with a witch's broom shoved up her ass attitude.

Tenten turned towards the secretary. "It s best that is I should leave before I do something I surely would regret because of your presence. Would I be alone I don't think I would have been this regretful." And the shooting of hints loaded with hate continued. "And I don't want to be any longer in his majesty's presence anyhow."

"Though it seems that someone recognized ones highness," He refers to her sarcasm. "I shall take my way, for I was only here to overhand this," He told the secretary, nodding to the note. "Unfortunately, I had to cross roads with some… inconveniences."

Tempted to spit on his shoes just to spite him, she nodded her goodbye to the other female and turned on her heel. A few seconds later she heard his footsteps coming the same direction as she has.

Though they were only one floor up, she took the elevator just so she wouldn't have to go into the same space as he if she went with the stairs. They couldn't even be in one room together, much less breathe the same air. As she thought, he opened the door to the staircase and the last she saw of that arrogant dick was his long coffee-brown hair, that she wished she could cut it while he slept just to ruin it all.

The elevator could take as long as it wanted, in hopes that she wouldn't have to bare the sight of him in the entrance hall. And she didn't, which she was grateful for.

Though coming a short stop at the door, she cursed. "Shit." Rain. And not just some spit and splatter but really pouring cats and freaking dogs outside. It became practically dark because of the grey almost black clouds pregnant full of rain. And by the looks of it, it wasn't going to stop soon either.

She knew that this wasn't the best of days and she knew the weather wasn't going to cooperate from the moment she stepped out of the house. She should have taken an umbrella or something.

Deciding to at least go find a cab for a ride back home, she tugged Tsunade ultra-important envelope under her arm, protecting it as much as she could.

Stepping outside, it didn't take 10 seconds before she was soaked till her underwear, so hard it was raining.

Holding out a hand and yelling for a taxi, she asked herself if any cab would stop for her now. She didn't think any driver would want someone as quenched as a dog in their backseat, wetting everything.

She had to stand in the middle of the fucking road to stop the next coming cab.

She smiled to herself and went about to open the door when another hand gripped the handle before her.

A much bigger hand.

Whipping her head towards said hand's owner, she glared. "What the-?!" She all but screamed, not that it mattered much with the heavy rain and all.

"This taxi, I believe, is mine to take." Hyuuga Neji stated calmly, but incredibly serious nonetheless.

"Well go believe somewhere else, because this one is mine!" Tenten shouted back.

It seemed as if it was only now that the rain was touching him, because he looked dry, unlike her who stood exposed to this rain yelling 'taxi' and wet to the bone for the last 10 minutes now.

"It is not. I was trying to secure a taxi al this while now, before you. Therefore, I have right to take this taxi."

What she hated so much about him was the way he said everything. As if he was always right and everyone has to do his bidding. Such as now, he was basically telling her to fuck off and find another ride even after she stood in the middle of the rain.

"If you were here before me, then why didn't I see you?" She knew he was lying, he was completely dry up until now.

Sighing, probably saying in his head how annoying she was being, he pointed back from where he presumably came from.

He stood below a roof?

Tenten felt like an idiot. A wet, angry idiot.

The taxi driver opened the passenger window and scowled. "Are you getting in or what? You're holding traffic!"

Only Tenten bothered to look behind the cab to see a line of 3 cars waiting.

Neji took her distraction and opened the door, but Tenten, the stubborn woman she was, found that she had as much right on this ride as he did, pushed right after him in the car.

Both gave their destined address at the same time. Neji glared.

"Which one is it?" The man asked.

"Mine." Neji instantly piped out. "It is closer." He said, as if that was an explanation.

After a couple of minutes riding and stopping for some street lights, while clutching herself against the seeping water, curiosity became greater than her brooding, and with narrowed orbs she turned to the ever-so serious Hyuuga.

He wanted to raise an eyebrow in question at her, but he chose to do absolutely nothing.

"Why is someone like you taking a taxi anyway?"

Not turning his face, though switching his eyes, he briefly glanced at her.

The hair that was not tugged into one of her weird buns and were supposedly to be bangs, clung to her face now, her brown hair seemed black because of the water.

"I do not need to explain myself to you why I go by taxi, it is not your business."

"It is when you are stealing the ride from me." She did not even let a pause come before she shot a retort back.

He slightly turned to her, giving her the satisfaction of letting her see more of him than his profile. "I did not do such a thing."

"Yes you did."

"We merely got the same taxi."

"You're avoiding the question."

"I have no obligation to answer you."

"Is it completely embarrassing, idiotic or does it have anything to do with nudity that you go with a cab?"

"No."

"Then answer the freaking easy question!"

The driver looked through his rear-mirror to see the arguing man and woman glare daggers at each other. Though the man seemed more collect, the woman seems like she was about to explode.

"Flat tire." Neji said after a long while.

Tenten stopped gritting her teeth and sunk back in her seat. "See? That wasn't hard. You didn't die a painful, agonizing slow death of apocalypse doom by saying that."

… "Yet." She mutter, and even if Neji caught that too, he decided not to respond to that, for he was grateful that she shut her trap now.

The taxi stopped once again for probably another light, as he too let himself relax a little in his seat. Or as much as relaxing he could while being himself and in public transport, he was never comfortable with.

When he felt that the car didn't move after at least 10 minutes he looked up.

"Why aren't we moving?"

The man behind the steering wheel looked at him through the mirror. "It seems there is something jamming the traffic. Probably an accident or whatever because of the rain." He said it casually, as if this was an everyday occurrence to him. Maybe it was. "This could take a while."

It still poured hard outside and he wanted it to stop, because with this rain the traffic isn't going to go anywhere.

Tenten, still clutching herself, wanted the rain to stop too. The sooner the cars began to ride the sooner they'll be at their first stop, and the sooner she'll be gone from... him. To make the matter worse, she is starting to get cold, making her tremble.

The trembling piqued Neji's interest, and that is saying a lot since there wasn't much that got his interest, especially from this woman. He glanced at her; her face still held traces from anger, the way her lips are tight and a frown on her brow, but she was getting cold. He could see the goose bumps rise on her skin while she rubbed her arms.

She must be cold, it's the consequence of standing in the rain earlier for merely a taxi.

The car wasn't going anywhere and the longer they stood here, the more she began to shiver. It was not that he actually saw her than felt it beside him.

Looking outside to determine where they are, he cursed in his mind. This rain didn't have any intention of stopping for the next week, is it?

Sighing, he reached for his wallet and took out more than enough cash for the trip till here and a tip, and opened the door, once again into the pouring rain.

Tenten's eyes widen for a bit, wondering where he was going –purely out of curiosity- and if he arrived already. That was until Neji opened the door of her side.

"Get out." It was a demand, and a not so very friendly either.

"What?! No!" Of course she protested. She wasn't going to very much follow his command than enter that rain again.

"Get out of the taxi." He stated once again.

"No."

"Look," He let an exaggerated, tired sigh. "You're obviously cold so you need to get away from here."

"Who says I'm cold?" To prove her point, she dropped her arms from herself and glared. But she couldn't make the goose bumps disappear though.

"Listen, my place is not far from here." He just knew he was going to regret this, being –for once- the noble one. "You can dry up there, and when this obvious traffic jam has cleared up, I will arrange another taxi for you."

She looked Neji up and down, seemingly to be weighing his request, but then turned her head back to the front of her. "I rather stay here and wait for it myself. It would be more enjoyable now since you are gone."

She has to do this the hard way, doesn't she?

Or else she wouldn't name Hinosyuri Tenten.

Fine. If she wanted to play the hard way then so would he.

Opening the taxi's door to its extent, he all but roughly grabbed Tenten's wrist and pulled her out.

"What the hell? Hyuuga, unhand me this instant!"

Oh, and now she was speaking formal. He could care less now.

Pulling her to him, outside in the rain, she immediately protected Tsunade's envelope. The little bit of drying her clothes were doing, soaked all over again.

"Hyuuga, I'm warning you," She tried to screw her wrist out of his tight grip. "If you don't let go of me I'll-"

"What?" He hissed, with a sharp turn he was all the way in her face, noses a couple of inches removed from each other, kind of startling Tenten. "You'll do what?"

She was shocked, by the sudden movement, and was quiet for a moment. But it was enough for Neji to turn back and drag her down the street.

"Ah, lemme go, you long-haired gorilla! Get off of me!" She screamed through the streets, though no one seemed to pay any heed to her except the strange glances and the curious looks from all the drivers at the road, who still stood in the traffic jam, mind you.

"Hyuuga this is called kidnapping! Let go, let go, let go!" He ignored her. "Help!" She started to yell. "Help, I'm being woman-napped!"

She's less a woman than a man, he thought sourly.

She continued yelling ridiculous things while he kept dragging her. Never in his life did he want to get to his place as fast as today. And it seems like exactly today that his place was further away from him than ever.

"I'm being abducted by this empty-headed, proud, vain, son of a bitch! Someone do something! Quick, call the army!"

For one moment, he prayed, can't she shut up for one moment?

He could see his building now, even through the rain, and damn he was thankful. At least inside he could stuff something down her throat without any witnesses.

"Let go of me!"

They walked in the building and though Tenten quiet down, her struggles didn't cease.

All the way till here, she tried to knock him over, hit him, let him fall or anything for him to let her go, which were all in vain of course. He had an iron grip that not even Superman could bend.

When they were in the elevator going up, he let go of her.

"Uh, finally. If this is going to bruise then I will sue you for manhandling me."

He didn't respond but he did switch his gaze to her wrist. Although he would never admit it out loud, he didn't want to hurt her.

"Where are you taking me? To your home, the deepest circles of hell?"

Again, no reply.

"I guess that if we were, then we should be going down instead of up. You're not going to bring me up here, just to push me down and let me join you in hell, do you?"

As much as tempting that he may do just that, he couldn't. Push her from up here, that is.

"Jesus, on which floor do you live? Hundred ten?"

At floor 12, a building that exist of 14 floors up, the elevator stopped.

Quietly stepping out, he reached for his keys. Tenten followed suit, even if she should have taking the staircase immediately to escape, but she was curious as how his place looked like.

He lived in apartment 37, printed in golden letter.

Neji asked himself if he was doing the right thing by inviting her into his home, he didn't like people in his house. He didn't like people in general, and now he was about to take in a very annoying one into his territory.

"Do you always take so long to open your own damn door? Hurry up."

Make that a very irritating-to-the-bone person.

He was never going to do such an act of generosity ever again.

The first thing he did when he opened the door was take off his shoes.

"Do it too." He said to her. "I don't want any of your filth sprawled around in my house."

Glaring, but for once saying nothing, she took off her shoes and walked bare foot into his apartment.

She was surprised at how… nice his place was. Though the main theme was black and white –you could really see he lived here alone and without a woman- it wasn't bad. There wasn't many furniture, enough for a single person, and all was tight and clean. But it was his window that made the apartment breathtaking.

It was huge, and had a magnificent view on Miami and the ocean. Too bad that the heavy rain was spoiling it and all but still… it was amazing.

She put Tsunade's package, that didn't get all too wet, down on a glass table. Her eyes never left the view from outside. Neji returned from some hall only to find her staring out of his large window that took about 2/3 of his wall.

Everyone, well the one or two people who came in his apartment, was entranced by his window and the view that came with it. The first time he set foot in here he wasn't the exception. That's why he bought this place to begin with.

"Here." He said out loud to catch her attention.

She turned around just in time to see the white large white towel thrown at her, but too slow to catch it on time. It hit her in the face.

Growling low, she yanked the thing off of her, grumbling a 'thanks'. Though she didn't realize that being so violent with the towel has made one of her buns to loosen.

Neji watched stoically how one bun hung weirdly to the side of her head.

She dried her face and her arms, and didn't notice a thing, until the bun completely loosen and wet hair spilled past her shoulder and her back. Growling more, she loosened the other too, she had to dry her hair anyway so why not now?

No one actually knows how long Tenten's hair is. Neji saw the long ponytail she had at the Hyuuga benefit ball, but he honestly thought it to be fake. She seemed like someone who doesn't like long hair and it going in her face, hence why she always had it in buns. But seeing her now, finger-combing her hair that actually reaches her mid-back till waist, he found out that it is her hair.

He wanted to cock his head to the side to inspect her further more with her hair loose and framing her face like that and how much of a woman she looks like that, until he snapped back to reality.

"I gave you the towel to dry up."

Finally realizing that the Hyuuga was still standing there, she looked his way while she continued drying her hair.

"What do think I'm doing? Wiping my butt?"

"After you took a shower." He ended as if she didn't commented.

"What?" She gazed at him surprised. "I am not going to take a shower here."

"I suggest you take one, and wear some dry clothes." He gave her an once over with his pupil-less eyes. Seeing all her clothes cling to her form in all its wetness. "Unless you want to catch a cold or a disease worse than that." He regarded her.

"I rather rot."

He sighed once again. He did that more today than ever in the entire span of his whole life. What was wrong with her?

Couldn't she, like every other normal human being, be grateful of a very rare once-in-a-lifetime offer and accept it?

But he forgot she wasn't particularly normal… much less a human being.

Now Hyuuga Neji was not someone with a temper, but really, after an hour spent with this woman –a useless waste of his hour- he was beginning to have a short leash with her, who was more stubborn than a donkey forced to climb a high mountain with a fat ass on its back.

"Look, I don't like you." Tenten snarled. "You practically kidnapped me up here and now you're forcing me to take a shower and change clothes? Into whose actually? Not yours I hope, when I have desire of getting cooties of your weird underwear I'll give you a call. In the mean time, I stay in these clothes, my clothes, right here."

Slightly turning away from him she continued with finger-combing.

Neji couldn't take this anymore. "Woman," He warned her, and at a tone that got Tenten to snap her head back to him and glare. "Despite the fact that I know you are an ungrateful, egoistical, sarcastic, stubborn bitch, I will ask you for the last time to get that shower. I'll let your clothes take a turn in the dryer, until then I will lend you some of mine."

Tenten merely scoffed. "Since we're going Tarzan style, man, lemme tell you something for once and for all." Neji already knew what was coming. "I do not want and will not have a shower here. I will, however, call a new cab from here until the traffic clears. And if I do get some disease, I hope I'll infect you so when I die, I take you with me. But so far, I'll maintain in being the ungrateful bitch and all the other above you just called me."

This was it. Grabbing her elbow he spun her to him. She actually was surprised to have him this close and him manhandling her, again. Lifting her so that she'd be eye to eye with him, forcing her to stand on the tip of her toes.

She stared straight into dangerous narrowed Hyuuga-trade orbs.

She blinked.

"Take the shower, Hinosyuri, or I'll make sure myself that you have it."

He had to admire this woman's guts. Even though he used his most serious threatening tone, and his most deadliest look, which all combined had any other peeing themselves and heading the very other direction of him, she faced him head on. She scowled just as hard back.

He got to admire that.

Or, she was just stupid.

He chose the latter.

"You're so full of threads, Hyuuga," How she spat his name. "But they're all empty. Hell, I'm more afraid of my three year old cousin's pet rabbit than you."

Inching closer, lifting her higher, still by the elbow, he cocked his head the littlest of bits to the side. If some bystander passed them, then he would've thought that they were some intimate couple, standing like that.

"You do know," Neji began, deep voice even. "That your eyes and mouth are saying two different things."

She blinked, suddenly feeling cautious. "Yeah?" That was definitely a swallow. "As do yours."

Even coming a millimeter closer, his tone dropped an octave. Or two.

"I mean it, Tenten." A shiver past her that had nothing to do with cold. But rather her name being deliciously dropped by his lips. "Warning you, take the shower."

She shut up. Maybe she should take the shower, what was so bad about that? Warm water gliding over her still tired muscles and then cozy warm dry clothes when she went back home.

It was just Hyuuga Neji.

Standing her ground, lifting her chin in pride, their space between them getting even smaller, she narrowed her eyes in determent.

"Make me."

The slow smirk inching on his lips was the only warning she got before he kissed the hell out of her.

She made a hard protesting sound from his lips, and she instantly made to push him off. However, the harder she pushed with her hands against his chest, the more he pushed backwards.

With all her might, just as she felt his tongue trying to probe his way into her mouth, she ripped her lips away from him. She didn't notice though, that even while breaking contact with the Hyuuga, he kept nudging her somewhere.

"What are you doing?!" She angrily hissed at him, trying very hard not to pant because of the lack of oxygen.

Smirking, he leaned forward. "Making you." His voice no more than a husky whisper.

She glared. "This is called sexual assault, Hyuuga."

"It was your challenge, Tenten." He breathed into her ear, its whisper crawling over her skin into her wet hair. Could he have said her name any more sexier?

This time, she controlled her pants not just only because she needed air.

"This isn't what I meant." She regarded him.

With the same smirk he backed away, his hands off of her, meaning that he wasn't pushing her to go anywhere. They stood in a hallway now. How they got there, Tenten had no clue.

"Then be my guest," He said airily, as if the argue of before of her staying to shower didn't take place at all. "Leave if you wish."

Tenten didn't like this. She didn't like this two second silence. She didn't like the look on his face. She didn't like this hall.

"I always knew you were a chicken shit," He needed to stop fooling himself that in some twisted kind of way, he was attracted to her. And she needed to do that too. "Run away from here and from me since the moment you laid eyes on me." And he meant that for today and six years ago when they met.

The chemistry, the tension was always there. She guessed it was because they didn't get along. And because when they did meet, they always erupted into a fight. In a reverse physiology it was because they were attracted to one another.

Because, honestly, Hyuuga Neji was hot in his own way. He was tall, a quality every woman liked, he had gorgeous eyes, beautiful silky hair that framed his face, what would have looked weird and gay on any other. He was smart and he worked hard to get in this position of life he has now.

By his reputation –what she reluctantly heard of, surely- many females desired him, and he had his fair share of relationships over the years, but it never ended well. Because he was… either too cold, always in for business, or too serious. In other words, he was himself.

And Hinosyuri Tenten, she was beautiful herself, but she didn't publically displayed it as other women. She had just the right height, the right curves, had fantastic legs, especially on heels, and when smiling could pull off looking like an angel. She was smart, wasn't Tsunade's second seat assistant for nothing and independent.

Too bad she had an attitude like a dead rotten fish in a trashcan.

He had heard, -do not ask how- that men liked her looks, if she really went for it, but her snidely character was something they could not put up with. She was all hell and spitfire and didn't do anything on command nor a whim, had a tongue as sharp as Rambo's knife, much that broke her own relations with men. To sum it all up, she was herself.

While he was too arrogant, too proud and too commanding, she was too boisterous, too callous and too rebellious.

Can you imagine the two clasping and mixing together?

Exactly.

You get a day full of fighting, insult, glares and pure, carnal sexual chemistry.

The latter of which they both ignored with their very own existence.

And here Hyuuga, no Neji, was practically telling her that she was too scared to surrender to those feelings and give in. She was Hinosyuri Tenten. She wasn't scared of anyone.

And she'd be damned if she let an asshole such as him call her a chicken shit without proving to him that she was the opposite.

She flared her nose. "Fine!" In one final blow she stood tip-toe and slammed their lips together.

Actually smiling into their kiss he didn't waited a nanosecond to respond; both of his hands flew to the hem of her shirt to pull it off of her head while blindly leading them to the bathroom.

Tenten wasn't even going to waste time to unfasten every single one of his buttons of his white dress shirt, she simply ripped the fucker open. Buttons were thrown all around in his hall, followed by his own shirt that fell limply on the ground a few steps away from her own blouse.

He lifted her by the back of her thighs and she automatically wove them around his hips as he turned on the lights. That all without them breaking their heavy tongue-sucking in the slightest.

They had sex that day in the shower, in his hall, on the cough and on his bed.

- The next morning, Senju estate, Miami –

Birds were singing, crickets were chirping, a dog barked in a distance, dew covered the grass, the sky had a pink and vague orange glow and it was promised to be a beautiful day, unlike yesterday.

Too bad Tenten had none of that as she quietly as possible opened the door of the Senju villa. Though it was only something about 4:30 in the morning, she didn't want to risk anything. Shizune was an early bird and Tsunade wasn't the heaviest of sleepers, so if she could just slip in unnoticed, the better it was that she didn't get caught, the less questions she had to cough up for answers and the more time she had to think of an excuse where the hell se was for the entirety of yesterday.

She didn't want them to know, thus they could not see her in this state. Hell, she looked like sex.

Her hair, though poorly combed with her fingers, were strewn and loose. One glance and they'd know for sure that something happened for rarely she had her hair open.

But for the love of her she couldn't find anything to put her hair back in the usual buns.

Second to that, if one of them would come too close to her they would smell sweat, sex and him.

Mostly him.

Not that they knew Neji's scent, but it smelled male and that was enough.

And lastly but certainly not least, if they did caught her for questions she must find her voice first. It was so hoarse and dry from screaming, moaning and purring his name all night long, she wondered if she could ever talk normally again.

It was his fault. She cursed him.

Tip-toeing up the stairs, through the halls, she found her way in front of her honey-colored bedroom door. She swatted the invisible sweat off of her brow.

Thank God. She made it.

Quietly she opened her door and saw her still made bed. And just as quietly, she closed the door.

She was home, nobody awoke, she was in her room, she was in her bed, she was safe.

Nobody noticed a thing.

Now, the exploiting of a good excuse may begin, yeah.

Four hours later, she was deep asleep, her mouth open, which drool came out from, limbs every possible direction and the only thing visible of her was the top of her head.

Suddenly her body was hit by cold air.

When her body, sooner than her exhausted mind really, noticed the lack of a blanket, her arm began to search for it. The damn thing must have fallen to the ground; wouldn't be the first time.

Warily and with one eye open she moved her head over the edge of the bed, glancing around to find no blanket… instead, she found several pairs of feet standing at the end of her bed.

"Ahem."

She froze.

Shit.

Feigning as if she had no idea why they were here, she looked up. "Hey," She scraped her throat. It was better that they were here at this moment than earlier when she was sneaking in. "Hey guys, what are you doing here?"

If she didn't knew any better, she could have fooled herself that her throat was so croaked because of sleep, and, well, not of… uh, other things.

The faces of Tsunade, Sakura and Shizune weren't joking. Miguelina was probably still sleeping, she wasn't one for getting up this early.

To get her more intimidated, Tsunade began in that harsh leader voice of hers. "Miss Hinosyuri," Uh-oh. She's in some deep shit now. "Would you like to inform every single one of us as to where you were?"

Tenten gulped. "Can't that wait until," She glance at her clock. "Later?"

If she could, she would stall as much as possible.

"No." Was the answer she got in return from all three of them.

Well, here goes nothing. Sitting up she rubbed her eyes. "So yesterday as I was picking up that very high secured package of yours Tsunade-sama," Who said ass-kissing won't bring you far? "I run into my cousin's wife's brother's son's best friend and we began to chat a little."

They raised an eyebrow.

"And we didn't notice the time and as we saw that it was getting late, we also saw the unfortunate heavy rain. She hooked us a cab but it got stuck in traffic and she asked me if I wanted to wait it out until the traffic clears at her place, since we were closer. I agreed but the rain kept falling, and I didn't want to get your package wet, you see, and so I stayed the night."

By the look on their faces she could tell that they seemed to fall for her lie. It wasn't a complete lie, except for that 'she' is actually a 'he' and 'stayed for the night' was actually 'having wild, sweaty, animalistic sex,' the rest was the truth.

Sakura chimed. "Why didn't you… you know, call?"

Ah, she was anticipating that question.

"Yeah, I should apologize for that. My friend and I stayed all night long catching up, I simply forgot calling. You guys know what it's like, right?"

Maybe because it was in the morning that they still didn't have the exact energy for an entire interrogation, but it was looking like they were letting her off easy.

Maybe not Shizune. "What's your friend's name?"

Fuck.

"Ashley…" Simpson? "Valentine."

"Never heard of her."

"Of course not. She's my cousin's wife's brother's son's best friend who lived here for four years already."

They were actually believing her innocent white lie. She could have grinned at her victory.

Sakura and Shizune both shrugged, clearly having enough explanation and turned to walk away. Tsunade, on the other hand, stayed for a moment. Her posture in itself was enough to let Tenten swallow if she didn't know any better to not do just that in front of her.

The blond Senju's narrowed gaze stayed on the Hinosyuri, it was to make sure she wasn't lying.

Tenten knew that stare; Tsunade used it often in business meetings or contract dealings. It was done so that nobody would back out from a deal or double cross a Senju or even speak when she didn't wish it.

Yes, the looks of Tsunade were powerful. That's why she was known by all and respected by all. Though Tenten believed it was because she was feared by all more than respected.

But in order for Tsunade to believe her all the way, she needed to stare her back down. One nervous look to the side and she's done for.

A minute of complete silence and staring at each other passed, then Tsunade nodded and turned to leave also. "Have a pleasant day."

Tenten could have squealed. She's really a freaking mastermind.

It was something about 8:40 in the morning, she might as well get up and have some breakfast.

After she had a good shower, brushed her teeth and combed her hair back into the original buns.

She sighed. Nobody asked any more questions. Not even Miguelina, who, like, lives for gossip.

The day went perfectly normal, that is until Ino came.

Tenten hid her gulp very well when the butler brought Ino to them. Either that or nobody paid enough attention to see it.

Now, one might think, with these specific panic thoughts that Tenten was afraid of Ino. Well, she wasn't. At least not of the actual person in general. Point was, Yamanaka has some sort of thing in getting to know your business, and with her around the subject 'boys' and 'sex' never stayed very long out of topic.

And then she is sure that she'll go nervous and Ino would know and that will be the end of her.

'I sound as if I committed the worse crime ever and no one may know about it.' Her conscious reached her. 'I had sex. Plain, simple, normal, good sex. There is nothing wrong with that.'

No there wasn't. But God! She had sex with Hyuuga Neji! Hyuuga freaking Neji! She had sex with that unbelievable jackass, the prick she hated for years, the idiot, the imbecile, the rude son of a bitch that made her blood fume with rage. She claimed in her head that he was the last person on earth that she'd ever want to be in one country with if she had to choose so, and there she was, getting fucked by him in more ways than one.

And liked it.

It was a mistake. A grave mistake that should never be repeated, –even if she wants to- never. Be it any other man than Hyuuga Neji.

And she was very happy without any man in her life, and just because she had amazing out-of-this-world sex doesn't mean that she wants to be with him.

So if Ino finds out, she'll never hear the end of it. She had already twist the truth –she'd never admit that she full out lied- to the others, waste of her excuse.

"Then yesterday I was in the mall-"

"Truly Ino," Sakura cut her off. "When are you not in the mall? It's like your second home."

"As I was saying," Ino glared at Sakura for interrupting earlier and wisely ignored the comment she made. "I was at the mall and saw the most cutest shoes of all entire cute shoes history."

Tenten rolled her eyes. "You claimed that you saw 'the cutest shoes ever' just last week." As long as she acted indifferent and normal then nobody will notice a thing.

"Ah, that is ancient past. This is present." Ino shrugged it off.

"What do you find so terrific at shoes every week anyway? One pair is enough, you probably have about two hundred pairs by now."

Ino sighed. "Tenten, Tenten, Tenten. My blind innocent friend. Let me teach you something. A girls top priority are four things; clothes," She counted on her fingers. "Shoes that matches the clothes, chocolate, and carefully keeping check of her weight because of the chocolate."

"Those are none of my priorities!" She snapped back.

"Ah, but you are forgetting that you are Hinosyuri Tenten," Ino stated matter-of-factly, like it was complete logic. "Therefore, you do practically nothing what the next girl would do."

"What's that supposed to mean?!"

"Absolutely nothing." Ino held up her hands in defense and backed a little. "I just mean that you are not as… as, uhm, as…"

"As what?"

Ino looked over her shoulder to Sakura with a desperate hopeless look. "Help me." She squeaked.

Sakura only laughed. "No way. You got yourself into this mess, see it to yourself to get out of it too."

"I'm waiting." Tenten glared. "I am not as what?"

Ino blinked and stayed quiet. "Okay, awkward. Topic change; so I heard you weren't home last night."

The brunette wanted to protest at the way Ino pried herself out of it by changing the direction they were heading, but as soon as she heard what it was about she got nervous. Pictures flashed in her mind's eye of yesterday's event; scenes of her and Neji wet and groaning in the shower, of her and Neji doing it in his hall standing up, the cough they occupied that soon followed, and then the bed she spent sleeping in, after they had another round in it, of course. It was as if she could still feel him pounding into her, merciless, hard, yet unbelievable good she thought she saw heaven. With that length of his he brought her to places she only lusted after in her most kinky and dirtiest fantasies, fantasies that half of them were made true by him just last night.

"Wha… what do you… how do you even know?" Her brow furrowed, while one eyebrow lifted in question.

"Sakura called me yesterday to ask me if I heard anything from you, since you disappeared and all without a trace. It wasn't what you usually do."

Tenten swallowed. "Y-yeah, I had somewhere to be."

"I thought you were with an old friend from you cousin's… aunt, friend, whatever?" Sakura inquired, also quirked a brow.

Shit. How could she have forgotten that?

"I was!" She tried to stay calm, but she had a terrible poker-face. "I was somewhere in Miami and needed to be with her."

"And you stayed with her till this morning?" Ino asked, beginning to become suspicious.

"Yes. It was still raining you see, and we were talking and I-"

"What is her name?" The blond cut in.

"…" Shit, shit, triple shit. What was the name again that she used? What was it?!

Both Sakura and Ino came closer, waiting for the answer.

It never came. Tenten could only gape at them. How could she forget that name? The one important name that saved her butt this morning, what was it?

"Well?" The Yamanaka drawled. "What is her name?"

They were met by silence.

"You were with no old friend, were you?"

That was half true, she did know him for quite some years. But still she did not answer.

"You didn't show up back home at- what was the time again Sakura?" Baby blues turned to the pink haired.

"Almost five in the morning."

"Ah, showed up back home five in the morning," She expertly, like CSI, went on. "You didn't give a phone call that you won't come, you sneaked in the house and you lied that you stayed with an old friend." She narrowed her eyes and looked deeply at Tenten, who was still quiet.

They all knew what was about to come.

"You were with a man, weren't you?" Ino said calm, almost stating it than asking.

"What?! No! I wasn't! I wasn't!" She instantly began to freak. "I wasn't with any man doing anything. I was just, not home with-"

Abruptly Ino gave a loud squeal. "Aha." She dramatically pointed an accusing finger up Tenten's nose. "You had SEX last night, didn't cha?"

A look of complete horror coma on her expression. So this is how it feels to get caught when committed a crime.

"No! No, I didn't! I-I-I- was, I was at-"

"A man's house having sex!" Ino pointed and screamed. Sakura's jaw was at her feet and eyes opened at their maximum.

"You have to listen to me," Tenten tried again, epically trying to appear less agitated. "I was just-"

"Having sex! You can admit it Tenten, we caught you red handed in the cookie-jar." Ino laughed, mirth completely filled in her baby blue orbs.

Tenten didn't say anything anymore. It was hopeless, Ino just knew it. That, and the fact that she is totally a moron and can't lie.

She sighed. "Fine."

There was an audible silence following that almost physically hurt. She raised her hues at the two.

"S-so it's true?" Sakura whispered.

"That's what Ino said, didn't she?" Tenten snapped.

"Yeah, but I was- I was…" Ino stammered. "I didn't know you were actually… I thought you wouldn't be serious."

"Well it is."

"With who?!" Ino and Sakura chorused at the same time.

Oh my God. How was she ever going to say this? They knew him. And they knew how he and she were to another. They're going to wonder what all these years of spewing hate to each other had meant for real.

"Who?!"

"Uh, actually, I don't think that is any of your business." She needed to cover this up, they couldn't very much think anything of it.

"Ah, come on. I tell you about Shikamaru and I all the time, and about what we do together." She winked and snickered suggestively.

"I never asked you to! Besides, we always stop you before you go all detail-y and goo-y and gross."

"Yes and now we are asking you to go all detail-y and goo-y and tell us everything." The Yamanaka shot back eagerly, she needed to know every single thing, till the last moan she dropped.

"But contrary to you, I don't want to tell you anything what I've done and with whom I've done it with." Tenten retorted, crossing her arms.

"That is totally unfair!" Ino screeched.

"That's life for ya." Tenten shrugged.

Ino sharply whipped her head over her shoulder. "Senju slash Uchiha slash Haruno," What a mouth full, she thought. "Help me with this."

Sakura raised her hands like she wanted nothing to do with this, also deciding somewhere in the back of her head that she would not comment on the last names thing. "Hey, you are the one who is so desperate for gossip. It is her private life."

"We're her friends. We are her private life. And we need to know who else has entered this territory."

"But if she doesn't want to tell us, who are we to make her?"

Ino scoffed. "Everything! Not telling this to us is like buying a new dress without getting confirmation of your BFF that it looks good on you."

"You can't compare that to this, she doesn't want-"

"It's Hyuuga Neji!" Tenten screamed out.

The reaction was immediate.

"WHAT?!" Eyes were wide, mouths were open, limbs hung limply and brains couldn't comprehend the words that came from her lips.

"Did I just heard you say Hyuuga Neji?" The blond asked breathless.

She couldn't state the word, so she nodded.

"Hyuuga Neji? As in; Hii-juu-ga Ne-ji?"

"Y-yes."

"Hyuuga Neji, tall, dark, quiet and handsome… that Hyuuga Neji?"

"Didn't I just say yes? It is him! You don't need to repeat his name all the time for I don't want to hear it." The woman hissed, getting pissed off. As if the fact that they caught her because she was so stupid wasn't making her angry enough already.

"But you've always hated the guy." Sakura said softly not wanting to get Tenten anymore stressed.

"Yeah, well, you'd be surprised what you could or would do with people you hate." She purposely shot this to Sakura, though what the intention of the comment was the rosette couldn't figure out.

If this wasn't shocking news and wanting to stick to the topic, Sakura would have asked what exactly she meant with that, for she couldn't possibly mean…

"So, you decided that you wanted to have sex with him?"

"I didn't decide anything." She glared at the blond. "The idiot had to drag me up to his place because there was traffic and I was getting cold."

"There was traffic?"

"Yes there was."

"I don't believe that."

"Fine then," Tenten crunched her nose. "If you know that much better, then why don't you tell us how it went, hmm?"

"Ok, ok, I get your point." Ino surrendered. "Continue."

"I didn't want to go with him in the first place, but the stubborn ass took me anyway. We came at his apartment, proceeded with insulting each other, and he forced me to shower. I didn't want to… one thing leaded to another and then bam," She made an exploding gesture for effect. "We slept with each other four times."

"Fo-four times?!" Ino gaped. "He has quite the stamina and energy, eh?"

Here is where Tenten began to grin, though she didn't want to. "Hell yeah."

"And now… you're in a relationship with him?" Sakura asked curious.

Instantly the grin vanished from her face. "Oh hell no. it was an one time thing. We both were just caught up in the lust and I don't know for him but I needed it badly."

"Ha, I told ya!" Once again Ino pointed a finger up her nose. "I told ya needed a boy. One that could bring you to your heights and more. Look at you now. You're all loosen up!"

"I think I needed his dick more than himself and mind you, he has a nice dick."

Sakura shook her head at the two laughing females.

- 3 days later –

A wind past by her, one that made Sakura smile as it picked up the fruity scent around her. A strawberry was tapped against her closed lips, asking for entrance, begging to be eaten.

"Please, angel, open up."

Emerald glanced over to hazel surrounded by forest-green and saw the mirth of amusement in those orbs.

"It must be lovely to be tapped against those lips." Kiki brought the strawberry that he was holding away from her mouth and brought it to his eye level. "I envy you, Mr. Strawberry, that you may kiss her lips without needing to get permission."

Sakura laughed at Kiki's serious look he gave towards the fruit. "You're being corny."

The man blinked. "Corny? How so?"

"You brought me to a park, under a tree, having pick-nick on a red and white pick-nick cloth with wine, and giving me compliments all through this day. And now you're jealous on a soulless fruit. I'd say that's corny."

"Ah, what a man has to do to be romantic nowadays." Kiki said theatrically. "Honestly, Miss Senju," He smiled at the face she made when he called her that. "You hurt my feelings."

"Forgive me, dear Mr. Tatiana," He, in return, smirked. "Hoe can I make it up to you, for hurting you? As it was not my intentions to do so."

Kiki popped the strawberry in his mouth, slicked his hair back, only for that rebellious lock fall back onto his forehead a second later, and rolled his eyes to the sky. "Let me think," He said, as if he was great in thoughts.

"Come now, there must be something that I can do." She followed how his strong jaw moved when he chewed.

"I don't know, you hurt me pretty badly, I need a good remedy."

"You don't look like you're hurt badly, as you say."

He smirked sideways. "My favorite uncle is British, I was taught never to show emotions."

"That's a lie." She laughed.

"Indeed it is." He smiled back, staring at her. He waited till her laughter died down and letting her notice that he was watching her every move. Just before she opened her mouth to ask what he was looking at, he cut her off.

"Kiss me."

A little bit taken aback, she asked, "How so sudden?"

He slowly but surely neared her, inching his face closer to her. She didn't back away from him.

"This is you making up for hurting me."

She flashed him a quick smile before they connected, a sweet kiss, she tasted the fruit on his tongue and felt his hand slip in her hair and caress her cheek.

He broke away from her after a while and she reluctantly let him go.

"I'm going to divorce Sasuke." It slipped out of her before she could stop it. She didn't meant to tell him now, breaking their moment with the mention of his name, but she just did.

He tensed.

She guessed that if she wanted to move on with her life she had to forget her old one. Maybe she even wanted to continue it with Kiki. She liked him and he seemed to like her well enough too. Maybe it was good for him to pass on from Karin as well.

If she did, if they did, then she wanted to start something with him without the name 'Uchiha' officially still stuck to her. She didn't want Sasuke, or his heart that he was offering. Now he would know how it felt to be her when he was hung up with Karin.

As cruel as that may sound, she wasn't one for returning on her word. So what if her own skipped a beat when he told her that he loved her? So what if she secretly know that somewhere deep inside of her she was still weak for the man? So what?

Sasuke was being selfish. An egoistical, self-centered, selfish man. He didn't care how she felt when he asked her to marry him. He didn't care how she would react when he got drunk on their wedding night because he was thinking of Karin. He didn't care what she did when Karin came back for him and he didn't return until the next day probably fresh from her bed. He didn't care that she left him while she was still workless and without money, because he had Karin back at his side. And he doesn't care what will happen with Karin, now that he supposedly loves her. He does not care that she wants to divorce him because he doesn't want to let her go. He does not care in the slightest because that is how Sasuke is. He only thinks for himself and what is good for him.

She doesn't want that. She doesn't want him. Not any man who is a careless bastard.

Not Uchiha Sasuke.

And besides, she needed to get over him already. For real. And he just needed to get over her. He'll survive, with his egoistical features he'd be up and sleeping with other women in no time like nothing happened.

Then she could be concentrating on her and Kiki's relationship in peace without interferences all the time, in her future.

She wanted Kiki in her future. Though he was introduced to her as merely an escort to spite Sasuke's life, he stayed with her nonetheless and they grew very fond of each other. Dare she say even more than fondness?

Therefore, if she really longed for Kiki to be there in the present and more, he needed to know this, that she was going to divorce Sasuke, that she was truly letting her past go.

"I do not know what to say, Sakura." He said after a long while. His face seemed like he couldn't decide on which expression to take. "'I'm glad' because I could finally have you without anyone hindering, or 'I'm sorry' because you could have troubles with letting him go."

She smiled sadly. "How about both?"

Apparently he let his facial features change into sympathy. "Sakura." He said softly, cupping her check as he said it.

She leaned into him, and even though he wanted to pull her close and kiss away her troubles so much, he prevented from doing so. This was not the time.

"I'll be here." His lack of resistance agitated him greatly, but he managed to avoid touching her lips and planting one of two kisses on her temple. "He's a wall that you need to overcome. And I'll be there on the other side being your net to catch you, if needed."

This was what she liked so much about him, many of the other more attributes; he gave no pity. Understanding, yes, reassuring, too, but he didn't gave her pity that she didn't want. He helped her, in any way he could, especially if the subject is Uchiha Sasuke.

"Come now," She tried to brighten up the mood. "Let's not dwell on such depressive matters."

"Indeed you're right." He smiled, quite dazzling, as always. He picked up a grape from their basket. "I have to envy more of these fruit." He tapped it against her lips.

Sakura giggled.

"Ah, such a marvelous sound that is. A repeating of that and you'll make the rest of my week."

Seriously, she thought, how come this man wasn't married or dating somebody before, was a riddle to her. He's so incredible. He was too good to be real. He was tall and beyond handsome, amazing eyes, amazing ass and he's charming, funny and sweet.

Men such as him were either already married or gay. Or the biggest womanizer on the face of the planet. Much like Sasuke before he met the Sarina. He switched from woman to woman like underwear.

Or maybe Kiki was exactly like that but he decided to change?

Change for her.

- 3 days later –

Alone. That was what he was at the moment. All alone.

Nobody was in the house for the weekend.

No parents.

No friends.

No woman.

Not even maids or butlers. He gave them the weekend off, which was rare if only for the holidays.

He was completely alone.

And he loved it.

Karin was that weekend out of town with her friend. She also mentioned something of going to her parents. They claimed that they haven't seen her for ages and wanted to spent more time with her. He was sure it was more her father's saying than her mother's.

As for his parents and friends, he especially asked them not to drop by because he needed some time to 'catch up' with his office work badly.

He still can't believe they actually fell for that trap, since he was Uchiha Sasuke, he had everything ready on time.

But he was glad, nonetheless, that he was alone with nobody to interrupt this silence. Silence in this house nowadays was as rare as pure gold. Either Karin was always breaking it or Naruto, or his mother or some kind of butler slash maid.

Now, none of them were present. For the whole damn weekend.

God was blessing him for sure.

He had no work to do, -not necessarily, but he will find some, just for the heck of it- and it was turning to be late in the afternoon, sipping his straight black coffee.

He felt good. He felt at ease. He felt relaxed.

The thought alone of all the possibilities of what he could do today uninterrupted could make him jump in glee, if he were any other person. All done in quiet silence.

It almost made him smile. Just almost.

His father would be proud of him because he was so addicted to silence as himself. Sasuke truly loved it, with all his heart, almost as much as he loved-

The front door bell ringed.

That bell was nine of the ten times unheard if one of them were in the living area as he was now, usually there was a special butler to answer the door, but since he send all home and the mansion was pretty much deserted save from himself, he heard it loud and clear.

He was already frowning when he reached the door, quickly looking through the peephole.

He didn't see a person but he caught a quick glimpse of a silver Mercedes parked in the front.

Naruto. The blond obnoxious bastard. He thought that he made it clear that he could not be disturbed this weekend. He's going to punch that asshole back into his mother's womb –nothing personal to Mrs. Uzumaki- for doing this.

Slamming the door open he growled.

But halted.

Everything about him halted for a measure of a good 5 seconds before he blinked. But not able to pick up his cool yet.

"Sakura."

He just barely was able to keep from stuttering, that's how shocked he was. Though as shocked as he was he had to admit it was a delighted surprise to see her here. Swallowing and picking up his wits, he pulled himself together. He smirked, crossed his arms in front of his chest and leaned against the frame.

"Why, Mrs. Uchiha, what brings you to my doorstep?"

She scowled –not that her face was content before either- when he emphasizing her official surname. He mocked her even, the arrogant dick.

"I'm here for you." She was surprised, actually, that he personally came to open the door. There was a butler for this.

"You couldn't resist me." He chuckled. "All that hard-to-get at Las Vegas was just a detour. You-"

"Do not flatter yourself, Uchiha." She snarled nastily at him before she could proceed. She didn't want to hear his cocky bull. "I'm here on business."

"Of course you are." His smirk widened. She didn't like it at all. "And you shouldn't snide your own name like that, Sakura. It only kills the mood."

If he loved anything more, he realized since Las Vegas, was how damn beautiful and hot this woman got when angry. How feisty her eyes got when provoked, the color on her face and neck changing because of her boiling blood, her shoulder that squared by determination, her spine straightens just so she stood taller in a form of intimidation because he very much dwarfed her height, and that still while leaning against the door alone. He wondered how he could stand there without taking her on the spot.

"There is no mood to kill, Sasuke." The man was completely insufferable.

He struggled against flaring desires just because she said his name.

"I need to discuss about something with you."

His face went black. Play time was over if her stern voice was any indication. He pushed off of the frame, standing his full height. The pink haired scowled a bit more because now she had to lift her face slightly if she want to keep looking into his eyes.

"Then come in." He opened the front door wider and stepped aside as invitation.

Sakura hesitated. She didn't want to enter that house again. She swore last year that then was the last time that she had stepped foot in it.

It could be good closure if she did this in here.

Sasuke raised a monotone eyebrow. Why didn't she come in? It isn't like she didn't already know the place. Hell, she lived in here for some good time, more of the time she worked here. So she isn't a stranger by any means.

She couldn't very much waltz in there like nothing happened. It was in this house that the trouble started, who knew who was in there at the moment? His parents? Naruto? His brother?

Karin?

She couldn't.

Putting two plus two together, Sasuke sighed. "There's nobody here, if that is what you fear."

Sakura glared. "That is not what I am afraid for." A lie. "I just don't want to see this house again." A half lie.

"I'm not going to discuss anything with you standing out here." Not that he was going to do much of that inside either. "Your choice."

How she would have turned back to the car just to make a statement that he had nothing to say in this scenery, but she needed to do this. She needed to be free.

"I wouldn't very much like to be in the same room with either your woman, your parents, your friends, or your brother. I can barely stand the sight of you, let alone them. "

Sasuke narrowed his gaze, wanted to comment solely on 'your woman' part but decided against it. He wanted her inside his house, not inside her car driving away from his house.

A scoff came from the female, frowning.

"I can assure you it is safe. There is nobody present, nobody at all."

She snorted at his, her frown deepening. "I hardly believe that. There are still the maids and butlers."

Sasuke blinked slowly. "You shouldn't frown so much, Sakura. Soon it'll stick that way." She huffed and was about to snarl back at him but he went on before she could. "However it is true. Nobody is here. I gave everybody the weekend off."

Sakura stood astonished. "You never give anybody off unless it is an emergency or the holidays."

He lifted a shoulder, shrugging. "I needed the silence."

Tch, yeah right. Sakura rolled her eyes. When she still worked there he never needed any silence, even if it was unbelievable chaotic because his parents and his friends were present.

"Are you coming in, or what?"

She shot him a glare. She'd rather not, really she didn't, even if the house was empty, but things needed to be settled. Reluctantly she dragged her legs into the house.

Sasuke closed the door behind her as soon as she stepped inside fully.

"Do you want something to-"

"Let's cut to the case immediately. I don't want to be present in here any longer than I have to."

He suppressed the urge to scowl at her. "I presume you still know where the Grand Library is?"

She merely narrowed her eyes into slits and sharply turned on her heel. He quietly trailed behind her, truly had a moment to check her out.

She was completely in red today. A simple sleeveless red dress that reached the top of her knees. A red hair band kept her bangs on place and some sandals adored her feet.

He wondered how she was able to make such a simple wardrobe into a breath taking outfit without even trying.

With hasty steps Sakura walked into their destined location, keeping her eyes strict forward and her stride powerful. She didn't want to see anything that reminded her of her awful time here.

Sasuke soon followed, leaving the door open; there wasn't anybody to hear them anyway.

Sakura stayed put on one place with her back facing Sasuke. Nobody said anything for a while. Nobody moved.

It was Sasuke, surprisingly, who walked over to his desk, while Sakura stayed still, effectively he was now in her vision. At the corner of his lips there played a smirk he wanted to release badly, at some point, but kept it in for the sake of the glare she started to have.

Suddenly she walked towards him, her eyes focused on him, concentrating on every move he made. She stopped short in front of the man. He was very much tempted to pull her waist flush against him and showed her a kiss like no other, but remembering the last time he did an action akin to that, he went against that decision.

"You may begin any time you want." Sasuke crossed his arms but a playful smirk represented his face.

The things she longed to do to wipe that smirk completely off of his face. However, she needed to stay serious and an adult. She dug into her bag she had around one shoulder, roughly shoved him away from the desk, -caught off guard he almost fell- and threw three files on the top of it.

She sharply turned to him. Sasuke glanced at her then at his desk. He went over to them and read.

Issuance of Proceedings for Divorce

"You think that you're funny?" He merely kept himself from crunching the paper and burning them.

Sakura didn't even bat an eye leash at his very much expected reaction. "As you can read, which I'm sure you still can, they're divorce papers. It's one copy for you, one for me and once copy for the lawyer that I took the privilege to take for the both of us; you need to sign all three of them. And as soon as you do, we're divorced."

"As if." He wasn't going to sign anything. He let his eyes fall over the paper anew, this time also noticing that she already signed her name below it. The other ones probably too.

"Sasuke." Her voice was cold. Cold and stern, more than he ever heard from her. She wasn't joking. "This isn't about whether or not you want or don't. I'm not playing any more games. Mark my word that you will sign those papers."

If there was anything he couldn't stand from anyone at all, it was cockiness. Call him hypocrite but he couldn't tolerate it at all if not the very slightest. "You became very full of yourself, didn't you?" He sneered at her, not bothering with hiding his glare, not the wasn't giving him an equal back. "You shouldn't spread such bold shit comments like that."

"I guess becoming this arrogant has wore off from you and lingered." She narrowed her eyes to slits. "I say nothing except the truth."

"Fuck no." He immediately replied. "I find your naivety almost laughable." His voice was nothing but a low growl of steal. "If you really thought that from the moment you stepped out of your house and into my direction with in mind thinking that is going to work by making me bend just on your command, then you never knew me at all."

If only she could wring this guy's neck! "This is what infuriate me so much about you. You think that everything has to go by your biding, by your will. The world does not turn around you!"

"Damn right it does." The nerve of this man. "For you, at least at this particular moment it does involve around me. It is my signature you need to get your freedom. Mine, not anybody else's."

She made a foolish step closer to him. "And this is the exact reason why I'm divorcing you, this was always the reason why I left your ass. You're a selfish son of a bitch and I can't stand it."

Contrary to her, he was paying attention that she was nearing him, in anger though, but getting closer nevertheless. "I don't see your problem." He tried very hard to keep the proud smirk off his features. "You used to stick around for me all the while till Karin returned. Before that your own world existed of only me. Hell, you even married me because you were so into me. What happened? I thought they said old habits die hard."

Though his physical appearance didn't show it, she could see it in his onyx orbs that he wanted to smirk that arrogant way of his. God, she wanted to slab him again. He very much deserved that slab. She wasn't the same who put up with his crap anymore. But if she did that, the chance of him getting to sign instantly turns nil. If it wasn't already.

"My habits died a year when I was gone, but it was my mistake for not divorcing you when both of us were willing."

He wanted to pull the hairs from his head. Here comes that Karin shit again. Couldn't she get over it? Couldn't she realize that that was a grave mistake from his part? Couldn't she grasp the fact that he was blind?

And can't she see that he denied divorcing her because he loves her?

"It wasn't a mistake." His voice much more calmer now than a minute ago. He couldn't get anything clear to her while angry and practically insulting her. "We never meant to divorce to begin with."

If she was surprised by his change of attitude then she didn't show it. Sasuke carefully took one step towards her.

"What do you mean?"

He resisted the urge to chuckle. "If there is one thing that is true about this marriage, is the things I told you to persuade you to marry me. That was real."

Sakura didn't buy it. "This marriage, or if you can call it one, was based on a lie."

"No it wasn't." He proceeded, making sure to lock gaze with her. "I once told you that I wanted you to marry me so I could forget Karin."

Why did she suddenly got a clenching feeling in her belly? She wasn't going to like what he had to say.

"And I did." Her emerald hues widen for a fraction. "I forgot about Karin. It was the day that she returned that I realized that my mind was filled of you."

He should have felt discomfort telling her this, because he was never the kind of man to express anything with words, but he needed to say this to her. She wouldn't believe him otherwise. And the strangest of all is, he actually wanted to tell her this.

"I once told you that maybe I didn't love you right then, but I could. I could and I did. I didn't notice, not even in the slightest, I wasn't even prepared, it just snuck on me. And I tried to deny it, months, days, I tried to tell myself that I didn't feel anything of such for you. That I was supposed to love Karin and leave you to your own business. But people noticed what I tried to suppress. My mother, Itachi, my friends… even Karin. I've fallen. Badly. Just as I once claimed I could. The only difference between now and then was that back then, I didn't even wanted to. Now is a whole other story."

Sakura was unable shake the feeling that crawled over her skin the longer she stared at him.

Sasuke couldn't take this anymore though, he didn't want her to leave. He didn't want to lose her. Not now, not ever again and to another man. He told her the last time and she knows he was a selfish man. He always got what he ever wanted. And he wants her.

With a practiced, gentle movement, he had his hand on her cheek. She was looking right to him all the time, unblinking, and seemed to be pulled out of trance upon contact. She jumped a little, blinked twice, but made no action to get his hand away from her face.

"Sakura, I-"

"No." She stopped him, though softly. She did not let him end that sentence, she knew what he was going to say. "No, Sasuke. I… I already told you." He could hear that she was tired. He voice didn't rise in volumes. "This isn't about you. You may have fallen in love with me. You may not want to let me go, but I do. I do not want a man who's egoistic, as you are." She backed away, effectively made his hand slip from her skin.

This woman was making him insane.

Why of all the women in the world he could have, every single one of them were willing and almost begging him to pour his heart out for them as he just did, and she was rejecting him? Why had it to be her?

He didn't follow her but only turned his head to look at his side, creating a pregnant silence between them.

He knew he couldn't do it. He couldn't let her slip. But she was refusing. She wanted him out of her life. All because he was himself… because he was selfish. Inconsiderate of others around him.

If that is what she wants, then he was willing to change that.

Sakura didn't know where to look. One moment they were arguing, the other moment he was telling how he felt about her. She only came here so that he would sign and then they would be free. There was not much that needed to be dealt with. They never slept together, thus the marriage was never consummated. All they had to do was sign and they were over. She didn't want all this unnecessary melodrama.

What did she need to do for him to get this over with? She sighed, looking back up to Sasuke, realizing tat he was once again, coming closer.

"Before I even realized, it was you that I wanted." Sasuke began randomly, breaking the silence. "That was before it was too late."

"Sasuke…?"

"A great woman once said; 'In romantic love, you want the other person. In real love, you want the other person's good'."

Sakura didn't know what he meant with that, nor that he would ever remember such a quote. He turned his back to her, wordlessly walking towards the desk.

Without another warning he flipped open the first file he could reach and grabbed a pen that always lingered on the desk.

Sakura couldn't stop the throbbing course of pain in her chest even if she wanted to. Suddenly her throat was dry, she couldn't swallow and her voice was gone.

Clicking his pen, he looked at her. "I guess we're both of those mentioned love, isn't it?"

He signed. All three of them.

They were divorced.

The room felt closed off, like there was no oxygen left, she couldn't breathe. She couldn't think. None of this makes sense. Why wasn't it making sense? Why was she feeling this way? As if her conscious was trying to get her to protest about what Sasuke was doing. As if her hands had minds of their own and wanted to rip those papers to pieces. She should have been over-washed with relief.

Only… she wasn't.

Swallowing hard, she tried hard not to let her voice tremble. "Why did you do that?"

He stared a second too long to the files he just signed, before turning his head back to her.

Her breath hitched half way in her lungs when she saw the look in his eyes.

They were beautiful.

She couldn't even begin to describe them, but they were incredibly amazing.

"I knew you wouldn't believe me how I felt if I just kept on stating it." She got the idea that even he had no idea that his orbs were shining with such intensity.

"I had to show you," Sasuke continued. "And I can only do so by letting you go."

He grabbed the files, stretched his arm towards her, for her to take. She hold on to the papers, he didn't let go, if not he made the gap between them a little bit smaller.

"Your freedom. We're divorced, Miss Haruno." His volume wasn't much louder than a gently zephyr.

Her heart could explode any moment now, that fast it was beating. All the while Sasuke was indeed getting closer to her.

"You have no idea… how much… this meant… to…" His lips touched hers.

She knew he was going to kiss her, if him lowering to her level slowly by the second was any indication. But the thing that she was astounded of was that she did nothing to stop him.

Absolutely nothing.

It was like she wanted him to kiss her. To keep kissing her like he did right now. There was no tongue involved, it was not like the other kisses they shared; those were hungry and greedy, mostly of his part, but nothing of that sort was going on right now.

He was just sealing them, occasionally moving them along hers. It was simple, it was gently, it was the kind that made her insides go weak.

An arm of his snaked slowly around her waist, taking her closer but not crushing her form to his like usual. As reaction she dropped the file that occupied her hand just a second ago, only so one of her hands would tighten on his shoulder and the other on the back of his neck.

She wanted more of this, of him. The kiss was nothing like she ever felt before, not even with Kiki, and it made her addictive.

He tried to take this as slowly as possible, after all, he didn't want to scare her away. He wouldn't be forcing himself on her again. Hence why he was delighted when she immediately kissed back upon contact. But he almost came undone right then and there when he felt her lips slightly part on her own, only so that her delicious little tongue could slip against his.

It was an invitation he would never pass up, sucking her into her mouth, tasting her after months, playing along her own tongue, over the row of her teeth, deepening their kiss. Her taste alone, like red wine, shot a desire that went straight to his crotch.

Fight it back, his mind yelled, fight it back and don't lose control.

But it was getting hard with how her hand was going through his hair, her slick appendage doing things with his own he wanted her to do with his length, and her other hand sliding down over his chest.

She was purposely driving him insane, wasn't she?

The urge to just throw her upon the desk and have his animalistic, dirty, wet, wild way with her was almost too difficult to hold back.

Their kiss turned stronger by the minute, fierce and white-hot, an onslaught of touch and sensation.

Oxygen needed to turn into first priority again as he felt his lungs yearn for it. But he couldn't let her lips be, they couldn't lose the connection.

Reluctantly he slid away from her sensual mouth, placed a butterfly kiss on her jaw and went for the hollow of her throat. God, he could stay here for all time. Kisses were showered, but he only caught his effect when he catches her skin between his teeth. He grinned mirthlessly, since his face was hidden anyway, when his actions prompt little gasps.

Sakura was incapable of keeping her eyes open, no matter how much she fought it. Fingers curled in his shirt and short breaths became pants.

"Sasuke…" It escaped on a moan that only fueled his desire that heated his blood.

This was it. He needed to get her out of here. He needed to get her to his room.

Deciding that she had enough air to refill her own lungs, he shot up to her face. It was her turn to probe unyielding lips, parting them with her tongue and finding his. The hunger that she presented was something he didn't expect.

One way or the other he thought that she would hold back for reasons both of them knew all too well.

But she was careless. In fact, her hands slid down his stomach and abdomen, slowly though, like she was counting every muscle and every bump she met on the way down to the hem of his shirt.

'Exactly eight.' Her mind vaguely squealed.

She wasn't realizing that he was pushing her outside the Grand Library. Oh no, she was far too busy with slipping her hands underneath his shirt, feeling the way every part of that area rippled with the slightest movements he made.

If she was at her right mind she would've been impressed that he, as a man, -a very turned on man- could do two things at once; kissing her with his tongue somewhere in her intestines and leading her somewhere at the same time.

Her fingers went higher, over pectorals and sweeping over his nipples. Need pulsed down his veins at an alarming rate from her wonton actions. His hand wandered from her hair to her shoulders and glided them over her back and down, instantly discovering the zipper of the red summer dress she wore.

"This is wrong."

Sasuke questioned how in God's name she was still able to think straight, let alone put an entire sentence together.

Guess he wasn't doing his job right.

They were now in the hall, near the stair that led to the bedrooms. He pushed her against the wall; he was in no way intending to climb those stairs so they had to stop touching each other. He pressed her there, his lips sought her, as he memorized the taste of her kiss, the scent of her hair, the silk of her skin.

"How could this be wrong?" He whispered, his voice so deep it felt like oblivion of sweet fantasies realized, dreams that often vexed her sleeping mind. He traveled his mouth up to her ear, she could hear the cockiness in between the huskiness of his voice. "You desire me."

Personal space lost its meaning, his broad shoulders locking everything away from her sight, with all the roads leading up to his captivating face.

"And I'll be triple damned to hell if I didn't want you right now."

Hazed, he pulled her up by the back of her knees, and undone her zipper half way down. She was lifted up against the wall, startled she automatically cross her legs behind his back so she wouldn't fall. He put his hands on her hips and slammed himself vigorously against her pelvis. Hips grinded together, electricity shot through their bodies, both of them turned wet of arousal and dazed off the face of the earth because of all the pleasure. She tried her best to think, to say something, to beg. But even that was asking for too much.

Before she realized, they were up the stairs, and she was, once again, slammed against a wall, pressing them so close to each other she thought they would reach heaven any second now. The movement he did with his hips to constantly rub it against her was a phenomenal of feelings. All of them too good to be handled. It took all of her will power not the scream in ecstasy right then, crossing her ankles tighter around his form, making him groan deeply, moving arousal against arousal faster.

This unbelievable sexy man was feeling up the sides of her and doing wonders with his tongue over her neck and collarbone. He was like the epidemic of sins, she was sure, a human was not capable of making her body feel this hot like he was doing at this vey moment. She could feel her underwear getting heavy, but that could also be that the very hard and enormous erection was pressing on it over and over.

It was amazing. Delicious. An incomparable fantasy.

His hands were creating a world that she never knew, but longed for it more than anything. A world full of passion, lust, temptation, but strangely enough also security, safety.

His lips and tongue were crawling over her throat, nipping and biting and sucking on soft spots she didn't knew existed.

Her breath fanned his earlobe, making him harder with each exhale she took. "Sasuke." It was so soft, every syllable filled with hot desire.

He lost it.

He almost ripped the dress from her body, exploring new exposed skin with curious and fire spreading fingertips. He roughly pushed his way in her mouth, compelled by that she was reacting the same way. Their kissing turned stormy again. Demanding. Powerful and reckless.

He heard her groan in the back of her throat and he enjoyed her expressive sounds of surrendering to lust.

Lust that he created.

The only thing that detained Sasuke from sucked her nipples until they became harder than freaking diamonds was her red bra.

The two of them fell gracelessly on top of the bed, once he entered both of them in the bedroom. Who the hell cared how they dropped on the bed as long as they were on it.

Sakura couldn't have this anymore. Here she was, mind numb of everything that is reasonable, naked except her bra and panties and Sasuke was hovering over her, merely licking her collarbone as if it was the only thing he could do and he was still fully dressed. She needed to feel his skin on hers, not the cloth of his shirt. She needed to feel his abdomen, that out-of-this-world cut abdomen, ripple right above hers. But most importantly she needed something hard to quench the want between her thighs.

Without further ado, she lifted the shirt over his head, forcing him to lose his lips from the top of her right breast.

He was completely out of it, he wasn't even realizing what he was doing until Sakura pulled the shirt off of him. Her set of thinking, if she was that is, put him back on track; to get her out of these clothes. All of them.

His hand snaked behind her back and with a flick of his fingers the thing got loose.

As soon as her bra fell off she crossed her hands before his chest. She wasn't tremendously given and it was an area she was always unsure of. She was showing her chest now to Sasuke, who had, before Karin, countless of women in his bed. Who said that he'll like what he will see?

With a touch so gently of a baby, he pried her arms apart and kissed her. A never seen smile flashed over his lips.

"Don't you dare hide your beauty from me." His words were deep, hushed to a point she could barely hear them.

She was perfect. Her body had the color of an angel. Her stomach was begging to be licked and sucked from, her breast were amazing in every way. They weren't small at all, as she seemed to fear, in fact, he wouldn't have minded even if she was smaller.

Damn, his cock was so hard, making his gut ache and his brain sputter in an effort to function in spite of the obvious lack of blood. It screamed to him to just ravish her, making her yearn for it in every second of her day, every moment of her life. He knew it was weeping with pre-come of all the adrenaline and lust coursing through his body.

He leaned over, flicking his tongue over her right nipple and then quickly over her left, blowing on each of them and on their own accord they turned erect upwards to the sky. She moaned loudly, she didn't intend to, but the simple act of him blowing over her chest made her insides tremble of want.

Sasuke wasn't going to take long time just staring at them, he sucked in a nipple, twice hard then a soft one as comfort. His hands were at her hips in no time, one eagerly following her hipbone to the edge of her red panties. It wasn't there that his hands stopped though.

A sharp gasp and a faint moan escaped her as one finger slid over the front of her panties, pressing just hard enough to make a jolt course through her entire body. She must be dreaming, nothing in this entire world could make her jump up of pure pleasure just because his fingers touched her there.

Sasuke wasn't having enough of her sounds and grazed with his knuckles over her panty-covered clit. His hand came back practically wet of her essence, that much she was already flowing. A particular spot, a particular gasp made her arch her back uncommonly high and dig her nails in flesh. Sasuke grinned, releasing her nipple finally from his mouth to plant a kiss in the valley of her breast.

With a low growl of her name, he pushed harder, pinning her tighter to the bed, and bit down on the side of her neck, determent to leave his mark on her skin. Sakura wouldn't let him have all the fun, either. Hands that was digging just a moment ago in his shoulders, slid over his back, nails softly tracing the path she took the way down, until she reached his ass. It took a curious swipe there, only to come from behind to his front, following the last hard parts of his abdomen to the V-section of his hips that poked out from his pants.

She was ignoring the enormity of his erection in the front and merely unbuckled his belt. The feeling alone when she accidentally –or not- touched his member, got him to arch his own back and groan in the back of his throat. Pants and zippers came undone, black boxer short was revealed, but he stopped her hands before they took that off too.

She wasn't going to get to do that just yet.

He kissed her wrist, licking it once. She didn't know what was happening and how it was possible, but that made her as wet as a fish merely by that action. It completely turned her into a puddle of jelly in his hands. It was a secret he must have find out, because it was a simple act of him kissing the inside of her wrist.

He bend down over her again, kissing her mouth harder than either of them was expecting but didn't mind in the slightest. He pushed his erection once again against her wet heat, making her back arch again so that his hand could slip beneath. His felt his way down from between her shoulder blades, to the small of her back to the side of her ass, to the side of her thighs, till he reached the inside of her knee. He lifted it up and around his waist, putting it around him himself, so he automatically pressed harder into her. He grabbed her right arm, put it in the middle of his chest, and with guidance of his own he slid both their hands over his chest, circled his left nipple, gracing his side, following his v-cut, and let her slid that side of his boxers a little bit down.

Both of them groaned the more of his flesh was revealed. Her finger protested against his hand, calling for an exploitation of her own. He let her have her way, his mouth was very much still slanting over hers, his tongue mimicking what he was about to do to her lower region only ten times faster later. She freed her other hand from his hair and made her path to the other side of his boxers, the side that wasn't pushed down yet. As soon as the cloth was as low on his thighs as she could manage to push, and he was completely bare and poking against the inside of her panties, she ignored his erection to let fingers draw circles around his navel.

He wondered why in the hell she wasn't making any specific actions. But his thoughts were smashed upon as she let her forefinger slowly drag down the line of his navel to his crotch, a bee line over the length of him, playing softly on the tip that very much wanted attention, picked up some of his semen wetting her finger and down to the base of his erection again.

Growling low against her lips, Sasuke chocked back a groan as he felt her fingertips trail little patterns over his hips to his ass and then back up. The same way she took when she went down earlier.

He wasn't having much patients left in his conditions with what her hands were doing and how her mouth was tasting. Quickly he had his lips off of her, to the side of her neck, lifted her hips, with him still very much attached at her pelvis, felt her sides and dragged her soaking underwear that was very much glued to her center down. While he was at it, his boxers were gone too, both of their underwear were thrown somewhere over his shoulder.

Sakura suddenly blinked her eyes open, looking over his face. His eyes connected with her before he pressed again on her, taking in her gasping reaction once she felt him naked against her very core.

He closed his eyes tightly then, trying to stop himself from exploding on the spot as he felt exactly how wet she was, her heat washing over his arousal. Pleasure so intense it was painful swept through his body.

"Sas-Sasuke."

He was almost there, he cursed. His mind wanted to do nothing more than to enter her and fill her so up that he might fear his length would come out on the other side of her. He needed to breathe, as hard as it was at the moment. He needed to cool down just a little, step on the breaks and forget the warm wetness of her vagina against him.

He looked up at her, and was struck cold when he took in her expression.

"Sasuke I'm… I am- I didn't…" Fear, there was actual fear overtopping her cloudy hazed eyes. He was sure her eyes weren't even emerald anymore, but a more darker shade than that.

He couldn't believe this. She was… virgin? "But… but the year…?" He panted, he was really incapable in creating a normal sentence. "But, Kiki?"

She gulped and shook her head. "Never."

He wouldn't have known. He really wouldn't. The way she was acting, the touches she was giving him, this feeling alone… he wouldn't have known. Here he was, about to penetrate her almost as roughly as he would allow himself, and that was pretty hard, and she was still pure. Untainted. Never in her life.

The wild caged beast in him calmed down. She was a virgin, and he couldn't be any happier than ever that she was. He would be more than honored, blessed and giving for having her this way. She was pure, she was his. He wanted to be her first, there was no feeling better in his whole body, in his chest, than knowing that right now, Haruno Sakura was for him. She was offering her virginity like this. He didn't know why, but he didn't care to find out either.

He would love like no other.

A smile almost reached his face, again, as he lifted himself up and over her, first kissing her cheeks, then her nose, the center of her forehead and one chastely on her lips. As he moved up his erection shifted up from between her legs and over her belly, leaving a wet trail in its way. She moaned when she felt the hot tip of his dragging along her skin.

"Sakura." He laced one hand with her own, softly kissing each of her digits before he turned down to nuzzle his nose with her. He was so gentle with her then, so soft, she could have cried. His lips moved, forming and saying words, but no sound came from his throat.

But she knew exactly what he said.

Softly he penetrated her and groaned of the tightness when the head of him was in her. She's so fucking warm. That is all he could think about. Warm and wet and tight and whatever fevered dreams he had about her, but this is nothing compared to the real thing.

The resistance Sakura felt when Sasuke was deep enough was not actually pain. She didn't know if it was because Sasuke was taking his sweet slow time to enter her, and it was uncomfortable yes, and she needed to adjust, that too, but all in all it felt comfort but a little too much. Like a drink too strong or a candy too sweet.

Senses went sky high. She felt everything. The twitch of his erection, the pulsing throbbing of her walls, the sweat on her brow, the brushing of her breast against his rock hard chest every time she took a breath and the anxiety of him to get a move on. She heard everything. The way he panted, the sound of his air-conditioning, the cracking in his bed, the sound of flesh moving over flesh, her heartbeat and maybe even his own.

He stretched his back, moved his hips backward slowly and with a movement so fast it was barely there, he took sharp thrust in her.

She wanted to kill somebody of pleasure right then and there. Her keening moan that escaped her throat unwillingly fueled Sasuke to move again. He had trouble not to break the woman's hand he was still holding of the feeling of her alone. A pump must faster than the first shocked both of them. He never had this at all. Not with Karin, not with nobody. His muscles shook to keep in control of his orgasm. The way she could make him come almost immediately this fast was a wonder in it's own. Not even when he was just a virgin did he had the urge to come this fast into her as he did now. But he would not, lightning may hit him, a truck may smash him, hell, they could neuter him with a blunt axe if he let it end right now, before it even began.

She was the fault of all, or rather, the godsend of all to that had him this way. There was no difference in the throbbing of his dick and his heart the more he picked up the speed. The faster he went, the more gasp and moans were released from her throat, the more wetter she became, the slipper her passage became for him to move on to.

Was it even possible for a woman to make him feel this way? For her to be this wet? For him to grasp her hips and almost let him bruise them because of this alone? He groaned when he let go of her hand and all digits of her found their way to his back to dig sharp nails in flesh. He moves harder, faster, stoking the fire between them until it was about to explode.

She was almost screaming in his ear, trails of angry uncontrolled nails racked down his back. He felt nothing. Only her core around him, her breast bouncing up against him with ever thrust he made. He lifted up her hips slightly, getting his pace up a little faster. Her back became the perfect arch when he reached a spot that could make her yell out to God, one of his hands followed her back, fingers lighter than a feather tracing over her spine, making her shiver harder than ever.

Just the sight of her was enough to bring him, a shuddering breath left his body as he almost surrender to the feeling and pleasure. The air turned heavier, the sound of their bodies meeting each turned more repeatedly, their movements were slick and fevering, there was no space between them, and just when she thought he'll slow down his pace for unknown reasons, he went faster with zeal.

Skin was on skin, mouth was on mouth. Fingers curled of lust, sweat rolled of their backs and limbs and foreheads and hair. She gave him a shrill of pleasure he never experienced; placing him on a plane of ecstasy that he thought was unreachable until now.

"Sas-Sa…" She couldn't breathe, couldn't see, she was blind and deaf, only feel.

"That's right." He panted, a sweat drop rolled from his temple to his jaw. "Say it."

The feeling was overwhelming. This was magic. It had to be magic. The way his hips moved, those delicious, well cut and oh so strong hips, the way those fine muscles of his abdomen rippled, the way they glinted with sweat, the way his lips spoke and his voice hushed, it was magic. It was so unreal she had a feeling that someone was having her under hypnosis. Her world turned of colors, his length beat down on an nerve of pleasure that she wanted to pop open already, over and over with each short and powerful jerk of his pelvis.

She had to say it. Scream it. "Sasuke!"

The groan he let out then was definitely the most sexiest thing she had ever heard. He panted against her skin, moving faster, pumping into her as hard and as deep as he could, hitting cervix and more each time over, needing to hear more of her breathless moans and keening encouragements.

"Sasuke…" He was reaching there. This feeling so good, so hot, so strong it almost hurt. She needed to make this clear. "Sasuke…" But it seemed she couldn't continue than with only panting his name. Her eyes opened and onyx hues so dark there was nothing like it so narrowly opened looked down at her. She was huffing, she was scratching nails over him again when one hard thrust almost got her to jump up.

She was coming, she knew it. She was coming. Sasuke was making her come, his thrust turned the same, every time she jumped up higher, his jerking was harder, stronger than any of his thrusting before. His strong arms caught her every time, his lips kissed hers every time, their eyes locked every time.

She felt it, a wash so strong she spilled over him. Her throat needed to scream but there was no sound coming out of it. She felt every single thrust of his when her vision turned black. The pushing of his very much swollen erection in the whole time orgasm took control of her body. She was in heaven, Sasuke brought her in heaven, this was heaven. Her finger went over his chest and stopped below his abdomen, in some form extending her climax at the delicious feeling of hard muscles.

She came, she just came with him in her. Because of him. He moved in harder, she was making the passage so slick, so wet that she was, it was a freefall of slipping in each time, each moment harder than the first.

Her face was in a gasp, her eyes opened up to him again after the whole feeling of a nuclear bomb exploded in the pit of her core slowly ebbed down.

She mouthed his name slowly, her hands flew to his wet hair, pushing past a bang, and whispered a word too soft for him to hear. 'Goodbye.'

She arched her back highly, her hips grinding down on his own and her legs tighten around his waist. Something twist inside him, and he's slamming into her powerful enough to make the bed crack noisily, yelling ridiculously loud than ever and coming so hard he swears he can see stars. His release spilled into her and over their thighs, his hips spasms until every drop of his come was out.

He didn't know with which energy he was still able to stay balanced on his arms, or where it came from, but he did. He held on long enough to stare down her face, an expression so beautiful he wanted to see it forever. "Sakura," His voice was hoarse, soft, and scraping. "Always remember," He couldn't get this across because he was panting too hard, breath was difficult to catch in his position. "That I…" He dropped on her. Unable to keep himself up. She received him with open arms, letting his full weight lie on her.

It took at least a minute for him to get control of his breathing. He was still lodged into her, but slipped quite reluctantly out of her. She groaned, she was already used to him being in her that she didn't want him out.

He raised on one of his elbows, the look in his orbs said it all what he wanted to say and unconsciously she returned it. He kissed her lips shortly, breathed in the hollow her neck, words whispering against her skin. "Aishiteru."

She heard them and felt the call all the way into her heart but she kept her lips sealed. This was not for them to continue but to end it. Her eyes fell droopy and she knew Sasuke was watching her when she felt him shift to lay beside her. She was exhausted, of everything. Of her emotions, of all the drama, of Sasuke.

The only thing she did was let sleep take her in, naked inside Sasuke's bed.

She turned in her sleep, sighing contently, feeling strangely satisfied and relaxed since a very long time. She wiggled her nose, much like Samantha for a moment, and snuffled more in a ball.

Her movement was halted though, not because she randomly stopped, but because something was blocking her actions. She didn't pay any heed and just continued her sleep.

It was until an hour later that the bed sink and a warm breath fanned against her face gently.

Her eyes popped open faster than the speed of lightning, looking straight into the face of Mr. Uchiha Sasuke ex-husband himself. His bang fell on his cheek, the blankets were high just above his shoulder, covering her as well under one blanket; the air was chilly, he always had his air-conditioning quite high and last night was no exception.

She can't believe that she lies here in his house, in his room, in his bed, staring at his face, with his breath on her face. Her ex-husband's sleeping face just an inch away from her own. She could not believe it.

The worst of all was how she ended up in his bed.

Sakura gulped quietly and blinked. She had to get away from here, away from him.

Now.

The first thing she did was check if one of their bodies was touching the other. But other than her leg crossed over his nothing seems to be connecting. He was not holding onto her waist possessively or their limbs tangled in impossible webs.

She exhaled in relief and took her leg off of him, crawling slowly and with as little movements as she could muster towards the edge of the bed.

The blankets slipped and her very much naked body was met with freezing cold air. Nipples turned stiff, skin caught goose-bumps and shivers crawled over her spine. Her arms crossed the vulnerable state of her chest and she shivered once again.

Sasuke truly represented coldness in every way. He loved cold. Cold in his room, cold in his character, cold in his heart.

She couldn't find her underwear between the clothes thrown around the room, who knows where it ended up. She couldn't remember where Sasuke had thrown them. The only thing she could remember clearly as day was his hands and the way they made her feel.

It was only then that it dawned on her. She just had sex with Uchiha Sasuke. She lost her virginity to her ex-husband. It was not just only sleeping with each other.. they were speaking to one another. He was telling that he didn't want to lose her, while she was saying goodbye. He loved her enough to let her go and she…

She wanted to forget him.

She came here, needless to say yesterday, to end her book with him, not to continue it.

Looking over her still naked shoulder, seeing an asleep Sasuke alone in his bed. She was ready to leave him. Forever.

Yesterday she was just caught up in her emotions, in lust and lingering goodbyes. Before they both fell asleep last night, when he said that he loved her and sealed it with a kiss, that was the very last time he'll ever kiss her again.

Because it's over.

Totally and utterly over. Sasuke and she had nothing more tied to each other. Both of them could go and live their life. Sasuke'll get over her with someone else and she will try to reach for that desired happiness with the man who's at her side; Kiki.

No more stress, nothing.

Finally standing up from his bed and grabbing the first shirt littering on the floor; his, she put it on to hide from the air-conditioning's temperature. Just beneath the bed she found her underwear and bra peeking out.

She opened the door to the hall and warmth easily hit her. Now she remembered why she used to avoid Sasuke's room when she was still working here.

"…Sakura…"

Said woman froze. He did just not mumble her name in his sleep.

Eyes widening, she turned looking towards the bed. He was not awake, that was a blessing, but the frown on his face and him mumbling her name wasn't a relief either. It was only now that his arms began to reach out to hold her, but they were only met by her empty space. After at least half a minute of his hands going restlessly about on the bed he stopped moving altogether and continued to sleep.

A stiffened spine in a state of shock, she relaxed little by little. He was still sleeping. 'Thank God.'

The last thing she wanted right now was for him to wake up and confront her of what happened last night. The words that he whispered, the look of grateful love shining in her eyes, the gentle kisses, the soft touches… she was not ready to hear the meaning of it at all by him.

This was her goodbye. Her farewell.

She walked over to his side of the bed, clad in only his shirt. His face was fully turned to her, his expression serene. She took a good look at him. God, he was beautiful. From his perfect eyebrows, to his aristocratic nose, to his desirable shaped mouth, till his strong jaw; he was gorgeous.

She felt lucky, somewhere deep inside of her, that he was her first.

Unconsciously, a small smile graced her lips, and slowly she bent forward towards his face, keeping an eye on his breathing pattern as she inched closer.

Their noses touched, she felt him exhale each time, her gaze searching his face.

"Sayonara." She whispered against his lips. Then she gave him a kiss. A brief, chaste, goodbye kiss.

Never again.

Knock, knock, knock.

Silence.

Knock, knock, knock.

No sound.

More persistent knocking.

"Coming, coming. Hold your horses!" There was shuffles and movements as well as some curses coming from inside.

The door angrily swung open.

"Please tell me she's with you." Tenten rushed inside as soon as the smallest opening was revealed.

An irritated platinum blond glared daggers at the intruder. "Do you even know what time it is?"

"Yeah," Tenten shrugged nonchalant. "It's six twenty-three, what is the big deal? I asked you a question."

"The big deal is," Ino's eyebrow twitched. "That it is six twenty-three AM. On a freaking Saturday!"

"Yeah. So? I'm only here for a purpose you know."

"And what's that? Interrupt Ino's beauty sleep?" The poor Yamanaka did look like she just rolled out of bed. Her long hair was very much akin to Medusa at the moment, her eyes were heavy and was that… stinky morning breath she smelled?

To Ino's chagrin the Hinosyuri merely smirked. "Please, I don't think that even if you sleep for a hundred more years to come you'll look beautiful."

"Would you cut the bullshit and tell me who you're looking for?!" She snapped back.

"Oeh, not much of a morning person, huh? Doesn't matter." Her face turned serious instantly. "Sakura, is she with you?"

The blond frowned. "Here? No. Why? What is going on?"

"She's not home. In fact, I don't think she even came home yesterday."

A slight panic went through Ino. "I haven't heard anything from her. Where did she go yesterday?"

"That's the thing," Tenten said a bit stressed. "She didn't give an exact location where she went, she just told us that she had to go and do something and then she was gone."

"Cell phone?"

"Left at home."

"Kiki?"

"Haven't checked with him yet, but he'll be responsible enough to let somebody know. He did it twice before."

"Then call him." Ino moved into the direction of her telephone.

"Not now, it's too early."

Ino shot Tenten a definite death glare. "So it's ok to wake us up but not Kiki?"

Mocha colored eyes switched to her friend with a snap. "Us?"

A grin stretched along Ino's face. "Yeah, Shikamaru and I; us."

"Well, I'm sorry that I've interrupted you two in your aftermath." She smiled mischievously. "But you're missing the point though, I had to lie yesterday to Tsunade that she was with you so she wouldn't freak out. But what if something did hap-"

Knock, knock, knock.

The sound was soft and barely there but the two heard it anyway. Looking at each other, they went to Ino's front door together.

It was Hinosyuri who opened it.

"Sakura!" Two voices ran out.

A tired looking Haruno raised her head slightly towards her two best friends. "I knew you would be here, Tenten." Her voice was quiet, like she didn't want to speak.

Both friends blinked. "Where have you been?"

She sighed, entered the apartment, passing the two and casually dropping herself on the cough. "Making a closure."

Eyebrows shot to the sky in question. Baby blue and mocha brown switched glances before each pair eyes narrowed slightly.

"What kind of answer is that, Sakura?" Ino was the first one who frowned and walked until she was in front of the sitting female.

Tenten followed suit. "Yeah, what's with the whole 'closure' deal? Just tell us where the hell you've been hanging out this entire night."

"You know, you're the one to talk who disappeared the other day too without so much as a word." Sakura snarled back at the brunette.

She, in response, stayed quiet. Indeed, who was she to say anything? She's only branded as a hypocrite for acting this way.

"That's beside the point." Yamanaka retorted. "She's merely concerned for you. We are concerned for you. We don't want to go all CSI on you, or have some kind of Sherlock to find out what happened to you."

Emerald orbs closed as she sighed again and pinched the bridge of her nose. "You're right, you're right and I'm sorry. Yesterday was just so tiring."

"You came here for obvious reasons to tell us, so… just tell us." Ino pushed her gently into confession. "Start with where you've been."

"Sasuke."

The surprise made them gasp, instantly they were sitting at either side of her. "And what… happened?"

Sakura's gaze stayed on the floor. "We argued." She shrugged, as if it wasn't to be expected. "He told me the same as in Las Vegas."

'Which was that he loved her.' Both Yamanaka and Hinosyuri thought.

"…And then he… well, he signed the divorce papers."

"WHAT?!" They screamed a little too loud.

"Yup, no longer an Uchiha, but back to the old Haruno."

"He signed the papers? Just like that?!" Ino gaped at her.

Sakura said nothing.

A pregnant silence fell.

"He divorced me because I asked him to let me go." Not a complete lie. "Then… then we…" She trailed off.

"Then you…?" Tenten continued.

"And then," She ended her sentence in the tiniest of voices. "…We slept together."

To say it fell quiet was an understatement.

That was, until Ino fainted.

"Oh my God, Ino!" That reaction came only from Sakura as she dropped to her knees next to the blonde's limp body. "Ino! Ino!" She patted her cheek. "Oh, shit, Ino wake up!" Nothing worked. "Tenten, help me!" She turned, only to find said woman in a state of frozen shock that could have been humorous if the situation was different.

She snapped her fingers in front of her face. "Earth to Tenten, do you copy?!"

It took at least 10 minutes for the two to return back to normal.

"I don't know why you reacted that way." Sakura was the one standing before the two woman now, glaring them down with her hands on her hips. Ino and Tenten looked like they were children getting scolded. "But it was no different than what Tenten did."

"Of course there's a difference!" Ino yelled, pointing a finger. "That was Tenten and Neji, you are a complete other case!"

"How so?"

"Well, with Neji and I there were no feelings involved… Sasuke told you he loved ya, divorced you, and, well, took your virginity." Tenten wanted to cringe at the last part, not because she was disgusted but that she actually said it out loud that one has deflowered her best friend in such circumstances.

"He didn't take anything." She almost growled in reply. "I gave it to him, it was a mutual decision."

Ino made a face. "So you both just sat down and discussed that he was going to be your first?"

"Of course not! What are you, retarded? I don't know him but I wanted closure. Feelings lingered and we said goodbye that way." At this Sakura closed her eyes, a sad look covering her expression, almost regret.

Swallowing after a minute, Ino blinked. "Ok, so what did you guys do in the morning?"

The woman's composure turned rigid.

For the millionth time that morning did the eyes of the blond and brunette almost pop out of their sockets. "You didn't do anything?"

"I had to leave!"

"You left without speaking to him what happened?"

She only nodded her head in conformation.

"Shit, Sakura, you shouldn't have done that. Now he'll think you regret sleeping with him!"

"Which I do!"

"You just said it was a mutual decision!" Tenten pointed out.

"It was! But…" As she lowered her voice she also cast down her eyes. "I shouldn't have done it. I should have just gone, force him to sign the papers while all the while ignoring him and everything that left his mouth."

As emotional as she always was, she couldn't have denied Sasuke even if she wanted to. Every time that he said that he loved made her heart cry out to him in return and made bit by bit her brain go numb. She went to his house with her mind fully intact, blocking her heart and emotions out for no matter what, but it seems they out best her anyway. By the time that she returned his kisses and moaned his name for the first time, she was already brain dead and it was her heart that made her act in that manner. She was hopeless. Hopeless for Sasuke. And that was the very last time that she would be exactly that for him. There is no repeating of last night.

"I didn't want to sleep with him, I didn't. But in the end, it turned out that I was too weak. I've sworn though from the moment I stepped out of his house, that I'll never be weak for him ever again. I wont allow him to have my emotions in the palm of his hands. I won't ever."

Ino stood from her place to hug her friend. "And we'll be there to help you out, Miss Haruno."

"Yeah," Tenten jumped to join them. "You can count on us, Haruno slash Senju!"

Sakura smiled when they had a group hug.

"So," Ino began. "How was he in bed?"

That question earned her a hard punch in the shoulder by Tenten.

Karin smiled when she opened his bedroom door. It was still quite early and she was at least a day earlier home than expected, but she doubts that he'll mind. The whole mansion was empty, and they got the rest of the weekend for themselves.

He was still in bed, she mused. Though normally he would be up in this time around because Sasuke was never someone who slept very long.

Unbeknown to her, that was the first thing wrong in the environment.

Walking closer to him, she noticed that he was asleep disarrayed and on the wrong side of the bed. He must have taking advantage of owning the whole bed for himself.

It was the second thing wrong.

And his arm was thrown on the occupied side of the bed, probably missing her.

Ignorant of all these, she slipped out of her pumps and climbed on the bed. She shoved the Bordeaux colored sheets away from his upper body and kissed his naked shoulder blade.

His hand moved, slightly searching for something.

Then she kissed and licked the backside of his neck, enjoying the clean scent of his hair.

His eyebrow moved, his hand continued to search the empty spot beside him.

She went on higher and lightly sucked on his earlobe.

He made a groaning sound.

Huskily she giggled in his ear, then proceeded to kiss a spot right behind it.

He groaned again. "…Sakura."

She practically jumped off the bed.

'Wha-what did he just say?'

It was only now that she noticed what she just missed. It was almost eight in the morning. Sasuke was always already awake by that time, unless he had sex the night before. He always slept on his side of bed even if he was alone on it. And then there was that searching hand.

She should have known it from the moment she stepped inside his bedroom. He had slept with somebody and she just caught the answer of Sasuke himself with who. That dirty, sneaky, filthy whore! She probably had people telling her that she was out of town so she could come and seduce Sasuke into his bed. And knowing that he was all willingly, it was just the perfect set-up.

Oh no, Karin will not have it. Sakura could very much go fuck herself. How dare she come and screw Sasuke like the little slut she is on the same bed that Sasuke…

Clenching the end of her skirt, she stormed out of his room, leaving him sleeping in bed.

This little game will be over.

'Checkmate.' She hissed in her head. 'To the victor goes the spoils.'

Needless to say Sasuke was disappointed when he woke up. An unfamiliar empty gap was left behind in his chest that she took with her departure.

Everything was suddenly so quiet without her here, even if she stayed for a span of a couple of hours, he was immediately certain that she belonged in this house, in this room, in his bed. But now there was only silence.

For the first time in his entire 26 years of existence was he bothered with the silence around him. It continued to annoy him when he was in the shower. He rather would have not, showering that is, because Sakura's delicious fragrance was all over him, and he would have continued to catch sniffs of his own skin just so her scent would stay longer imprinted in his mind, if it wasn't so unhygienic.

The silence was still irritating when he dressed and also when he went down the stairs to catch a cup of coffee.

It was when he reached his kitchen that his mind was instantly buzzed away from the remaining quietness.

He had never felt this nervous before. He had difficulties with swallowing all of a sudden and though he just showered, he could feel sweat forming on his brow –that's how nervous he felt- and his hands turned clammy. He lost his sense of reasons for just a moment, he lost his cool demeanor for at least 5 whole seconds and of surprise he took an actual step back.

He forced himself not to stammer or sound like a fool, but he couldn't quite keep the shocked tone out of it.

"Karin."

She blinked up to him, slowly, angry. "Who did you expect? God?"

"No." He didn't need to answer that for they both knew it was a rhetorical question, but he had a feeling that if he didn't say something, the look in her crimson orbs would only become more vicious than they already were.

He cursed in his mind. What was she doing here? Wasn't she supposed to be out of town or at her parents or something till tomorrow evening if not Monday morning? Even more dreadful questions entered his head. Since when was she here? Did… did she see Sakura? Did she know at all?

He didn't want any more problems than he already had.

"You were asleep till remarkably late today."

She knew. She has got to know.

"I had a late night because of Naruto yesterday." Smooth, he complimented himself, really smooth. Even if she did know he'll won't be the first one to admit.

Upon looking at her he thought how everything in his life turned about now. He never felt the love back for Karin after their almost wedding.

He tried to, really, because she was still the woman who could make him forget all the troubles in the world with the simplest of touches, but that was also it. This, whatever they had, was merely physical. And he did want to have the emotions that what he used to feel for her, he did. Hell, he stayed with Karin even after Sakura returned and after the Hyuuga party; that was him trying.

But there was nothing. Only sex.

As he slowly –and in the beginning reluctantly- realized that he had feelings for Sakura that he was supposed to have for Karin, nothing worked. As selfish as he may be, he wasn't making anybody happy with his decisions he was optioning; getting jealous in front of Karin for Sakura because of either his own brother of Kiki, storming out of parties because of said jealousy, almost fighting on beaches, making love with Sakura on the same bed he always spent his nights with Karin.

There was no use in letting Karin on that there was going to grow anything between them again. Their flower withered a long time ago. Keeping her on a leash was only inconvenient for them both. It would be best if he broke it off now; when the house was empty with no servants to eavesdrop or birds to whisper on the news.

After what happened between Sakura and him he had made up his mind. He was going to fight for her, and that would be a hard task in accomplishing that if he was held back because of another woman.

"Karin, I-"

"Before you say anything Sasuke, I want you to know that I forgive you." In a blink of an eye, her strangely angered face magically switched into a sweet smile.

"Forgive me for what?" She was probably going to confront him sleeping with Sakura now.

"For sleeping on my side of the bed, of course." She giggled. "I don't know what got into you that you've slept there but there's a secret I know now of you when you are alone." She grinned, walking over to the machinery on kitchen island. "Coffee?"

Sasuke didn't know why her attitude went from fury to housewife gentle in one minute.

Without getting an answer from him, she went about to get the coffee machine ready, but as soon as she wanted to refresh the pot, she hastily put it back on place. Murmuring, she put her hand against her mouth. "I can't stand the smell of it."

Because the muffling of her hand, Sasuke didn't hear her last comment, but shrugged it away.

"Karin… I thought you would be back tomorrow."

"Uh-huh, that's true. But because I finished my business quickly, and I didn't want to hear my father whining in my head that I should visit more often, and I missed you terribly, I returned back. Nice surprise, ne?"

Sasuke merely blinked stoically. "What did you actually do there?"

She refused to say anything for at least 2 seconds, then went to check the cupboards. "Maybe I should make a pie," She ignored him. "It's been years since I've baked one. Oh, and maybe some cookies too for your parents and Naruto when I see them Monday. I'll make chocolate chip cookies, that's everybody's favorite." She talked more to herself than to him. "Too bad there is no such thing as Ramen-cookies. Naruto'll love them."

Oh no, she won't be seeing Naruto or anyone Monday. By that time she'd be out of his life.

"Karin, listen, you know this isn't going to work." It's better if he just put it out there; straight to the point.

"You're right." Her hands went to her hair. "I can't bake a pie, I don't even know how many eggs should be in it, and I'll only burn the cookies. I can't even do a thing as simple as this, let alone-"

"No, Karin," He wouldn't let her finish, it would have been best if he did though. "That's not what I meant. What I meant is, that…" He didn't know how to say this. He never actually dumped a woman like this. Most of his relations were only of one night and in the morning he'd leave the women to their own business. It was never on a scale like this.

He should probably say what actually went down. "I divorced yesterday."

Karin's face instantly lit up and Sasuke opened his mouth to continue but she beat him to it. "That's wonderful news, Sasuke!" She almost squealed. Her expression turned somewhat if not a little bit serious after that.

"Before you say anything more, Sasuke, I've got something to tell you."

Her plan was going to work no matter what.

Sakura felt… happy. Maybe more in the area of content but she felt good.

It was a beautiful day, the weather not all too clammy. She was in the mall with her two best friends, buying some new clothes that they highly needed in their closet. Well, Ino a little less than the other two but that's a given.

It was more the sudden inner peace she felt. It was like a heavy weight has been lifted from her shoulders, after she came home from Sasuke 2 days ago. She even made another date with Kiki this weekend.

"And so he fell flat on his ass, just because he tripped over a twig, a damn twig!" Tenten showed them with her fingers how thin the mentioned twig was. "It was ridiculous and comical, I swear I've never laughed so loud in public."

Ino grinned beside her. "I would have too. Who trips over a twig as thick as my pinky? Anyway, you guys wanna go and do our nails?"

"My nails always break after three days." Tenten protested, slightly whining.

"That's because you never take care of them as a lady."

"You're saying I'm treating my nails as a man?"

"Exactly."

Sakura just knew there was going to be an argument between them, but it was always so fun to see.

"You little bitch!"

"Geez, Tenten, you've got to relax. Maybe it's best if you pay Hyuuga Neji another visit."

Tenten fumed turning crimson, whether it was because of rage or embarrassment, Sakura didn't know. But that could have been because she was laughing too hard alongside Ino.

When their laughter died down a little the emerald eyed female responded. "Sure, Ino let's do our nails." She stole a tear of joy away from her eye. "I don't want to go home yet anyway."

Hinosyuri stayed quiet as she went along to do their nails. The nail salon wasn't too busy but they still had to wait for their turn.

"Maybe I should take a pedicure." Tenten spoke after 15 minutes. "Maybe I can handle my toe nails as an effing lady."

Ino almost snorted. That didn't stop the dead wish that she got shot her way in any case.

"Is it just me but it is getting freakishly hot in here by al the mental dagger throwing." Ino didn't even turn to her friend to know that the brunette was staring a hole in her head.

"Oh, believe me, I can throw daggers at you for real." And she really could.

"Okay," Sakura jumped from her seat, earning both of their attention. "I'm going to get some milkshakes to cool both of you down. It is a too nice of a day to be arguing about the most lamest thing like teenagers."

"We're no teenagers!" They cried in choir.

Sakura smiled, feeling too well to be angry at anything today. "What do you guys want?"

"Strawberries." Both said again. A look was thrown across.

"Lemon!" They were still saying exactly the same.

Sakura could feel the electricity between their eyes cracking and hear their minds growling.

"Chocolate!"

"Banana!"

That made her smile widen. "Banana and chocolate it is then." She turned out of the salon. "Keep watch of my seat." She told them behind her shoulder.

She practically skipped over to a ice cream stand that surprisingly sold the best milkshake of this side of Miami. They beat McDonalds!

Before reaching there, her eyes glued on a small but cute boutique that held one of the most gorgeous little black dress that she has ever seen. It was nothing impressive, she noted, but she was sure that if she'd wear it, it'll be totally sexy.

"I want it."

On the other hand she didn't exactly needed to pursuit the dress, for there wasn't any special occasion coming any time soon that she was aware of. But it was simply so sinfully beautiful, it would be a true sin if she didn't just buy it.

Her nose practically squashed on the window shield, milkshakes long forgotten, she thought that she is going to buy it.

"Ouch!"

She bumped into someone though.

"Look out where you're walking next time, I'm in a delicate state!"

"Sorry…" She murmured still entranced by the dress. She barely looked up and continued on her marry way. That dress is going to be hers.

"Well, well, if it isn't Miss Haruno Sakura." The same voice stopped her this time.

Slowly said woman turned around only to be met by piercing crimson hues that matched her hair.

"Sarina Karin."

"Ha, good that you remembered the name, girl. But I suppose you must recall the one you used to serve as a maid, right, servant?" With a sideways sneer, she mockingly laughed.

A glare easily come on Sakura's face upon hearing what Karin had to say. "Right at back you, it's very good that someone of your caliber remembered my name. But I suppose you must do exactly that, especially if it is the very name of Sasuke's wife."

"Ex-wife. I heard you finally had the nerve to step up. And here I was thinking you were merely being a coward, hiding behind Kiki's back." Her face became an ugly crunch when she said his name.

"I bet that was not the only thing you heard." Sakura couldn't help but to let a smirk grace her lips.

Karin dug her nails in her hands. She knew exactly what she meant; that they slept together. "Yes, I am aware that you forced yourself on him like the slut you are. Doesn't surprise me though. He did it with you merely because he pitied you." As convincing as she tried to overcome, the scowl on the redhead's face didn't do the trick.

The rosette knew she was lying only to provoke her. Not that it was working. "You can tell that to yourself as much as you want until you believe in it, but I know the truth. Qua forcing, it was more, shall I say completely the other way around. While he kept telling me, repeatedly no less, that he loved me." She could have laughed at her expression.

"Out of my way, Karin, I don't have time for your bullshit." She walked past her.

But right before she passed her shoulder the Sarina spoke again. "And when, in the course that he was fucking you sideways and back, if he supposedly loved you, why didn't he tell you, then?"

Sakura sighed and turned to her, prepared to get her off her back once and for all. "Tell me what?" She could try, she really could put the effort to try and get her mad if not sad. But it was just another lie to get her angry in any way.

"That I'm pregnant. For three months already."

An evil sadistic smile formed its way on her face, her eyes resembled the spewing red flames of hell.

"I'm pregnant with Sasuke's child."

DO NOT KILL ME!

I just KNOW there are people, probably most of y'all, who wants to kill me, and you have all the right to do so too. I mean... Karin is pregnant, and YES she's pregnant of Uchiha Sasuke and no other, or else I would have let you know. So don't make any suspicions and such saying that maybe she cheated again, no she is for real in child of him.

Repeating: DO. NOT. KILL. ME.

Unless you don't want another thrilling and most definitely interesting chapter after this, you should not kill poor little ol' me.

This is the first I've written a lemon and published it. I am so scared, and yes it is totally and completely lame, but I will try with all my might to change that.

Now I'll go and fear for my life. Success to y'all who fuming.

Wish I could send milkshakes or heart-shaped pancakes to all of ya!

R & R

-
-

'But I wont stop until that boy is mine.' – Lady GaGa 'Paparazzi'

In the Palm of My Hands

Acorralada

Stay tuned for next time

Same Site, Same Story