Hi everyone! Here's the conclusion to Step13's arc! Thank you for being so patient guys!
And thank you so much for all the reviews, too! Over these past few weeks I've never gotten so many additional faves and reviews watches for this story after a chapter - feel so loveds.
SOOOO, read on, I'll stop here. But at the end before the preview check me out - I have some more news pertaining to the story thanks to you guys! :D THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT EVERYONE!
Step 13: THE JEALOUSY Pt2
Naruto has just confessed to Sakura, and she still hasn't given him a response. Meanwhile she's still trying to figure out who the girl was from Sasuke's hospital room. With her birthday engagement coming soon, Sakura wonders if she should settle, despite having feelings for Sasuke. However, now she must put her heart on hold while she helps Naruto reunite with his mother, while watching Sasuke fall into the arms of another girl.
It goes without saying Naruto and I left school IMMEDIETLY as soon as the bell rang. We both agreed it'd be better to go before we got any slack from the others – especially Sasuke. The two of us were avoiding him for obvious separate reasons.
"I don't know about this, Sakura," Naruto says as we skate down the shopping district. He wears his blue-grey hoodie over his head. "What if I ramble in front of her? What if I mess up? W-What if I rant about puberty or something?"
"She's your Mom Naruto, not your date," I assure in some humor to lighten his anxiousness. "And I'll be there making small talk so it won't be all awkward. Calm down."
"Right," Naruto nods, gulping nonetheless. "Not awkward. Not awkward."
I smile a little to myself and shake my head, skating down. Baby steps, but this is still something. Besides, anything is better than dealing with Sasuke right now. I've been avoiding him all day at school today, especially after hearing how he was in a bad mood earlier during lunch.
Now that we know where the just-bought building is, Naruto and I skate right up to it and kick up our boards into our hands. The store windows are empty and the sign above is still lacking. A red headed woman inside is busy sweeping among piles of boxes that weren't here yesterday. Of course I walk in first.
A small bell that was never removed from the store before rings, alerting the tomato-hair lady to our arrival. "Oh my gosh customers already? Oh no no no no no I haven't even set up yet!" she panics, spinning in circles.
"O-Oh no we're not customers! I mean- we are or will be but-" Wow, and I thought Naruto would be the ramble talker. "Uh, hi," I start over with a quick smile. "I'm Sakura, we met at my Mom's party at the Harunos?"
"The Haruno's? Sakura?" Kushina recognizes. "Oh! Hey! Sorry for the mess! I just bought the place yesterday and without any hired help it's up to me to get it running," she grins with a laugh. Her personality radiates with positive energy and spunk – a lot like Anko back in the guys' garage. "Why don't we head into the back room and I can make us some tea, huh?"
In minutes, the three of us are in the back room of the shop, whose walls are also lined with cardboard boxes. Our skateboards are lined up by the front of the shop. The woman Kushina pours us some tea in some quality china that I'd recognize from my Mom. "Thank you very much," Naruto says. His voice is so controlled and quiet here.
"Sorry for dropping in suddenly. I remembered you from the ball and I thought I'd drop in and say hi," I add in.
"Most kids of the host never usually give me a passing glance," she laughs, sitting herself down. "I feel pretty neat having the Haruno Daughter at my poor excuse of a business investment."
"So you're opening a shop?"
"A ramen bar," she grins, nodding. "I've been wanting to run one for a while in my own restaurant. I just couldn't really find a good place for it. Ramen's still an in-thing right?" she asks nervously.
"Of course!" I grin surprised Naruto isn't saying much. "Oh uh, this is my friend- um-"
"Menma," Naruto nods, offering his hand to the lady.
Menma? What kind of identity shield is that?
"Menma. Very nice to meet you," Kushina smiles, shaking her son's hand. I can almost feel the spark between their touch, unknowingly reunited. But Naruto says no more. Idiot.
"Your Mom throws the most beautiful parties, Sakura."
"Thanks. You looked really pretty too, I remember. Your dress was gorgeous."
"Aw, you're so cute," Kushina gushes with a red face. "To be honest those grand parties aren't really my thing. Your Mom and I went to high school together you know."
"No way."
"Mhm. When she heard I was in town she invited me over to one of her balls. You look just like your mom when she was your age."
"Ahh. Ha, that's cool…" I force grin. Aw Mom. I look at Naruto, sitting like a mute duck. Say something, you dolt. When the stare doesn't work, I kick him under the table.
"Ack!" Naruto jumps. "Ah-uh- I mean, sorry um, flem." 'What did I just say?' "So, what made you come to Leafville, Kushina?"
"No clue, really," Kushina starts, holding her cup in her hands for the warmth. "I came from America and business just ended up sending me to Japan. What better place to sell ramen, right?" she laughs. Kushina really is a beautiful woman. "I've been catering events from home for years, saving up until I could open up my own shop."
"That's really great," Naruto smiles sincerely, very warmly.
"Thank you," Kushina nods, a little nostalgic in her eyes. "I used to go to ramen bars all the time with my family."
"You have kids?" I ask, feeling a secret jab in my ankle from Naruto. Well someone had to ask eventually.
"No. Widower," Kushina nods with a shrug that spells 'kinda'. "The whole move would be a fresh start for me, you know? Only I put all my savings into buying this shop and the apartment upstairs and the lane ticket that I never realized I'd need workers. I don't even know the first thing to setting up a shop." The way she tells the story is not in the least bit nervous or scared. "But I'm just happy I made it. I'm really happy to be opening the store soon. Ramen!"
She's definitely Naruto's mother. "Say do you need help cleaning up the shop and setting up?" I offer, feeling Naruto jump a little in his seat. "We'd be glad to help out after school."
"Oh no I couldn't possibly-"
"Please? You need the help, right? And Menma here loves ramen," I point out, Naruto nodding shyly in support. I kick him one more time.
"Yeah we'll totally be there!" Naruto says instantly, giving me an 'Are you happy?' stare.
"Wow, the city's a lot nicer than I thought it'd be," she gushes, thankful. "I'll pay you minimum wage out of my pocket too!-"
"No it's cool," Menma holds out, surprising me with his speaking up. "Anything for a ramen shop."
Kushina looks surprised too by the boy's offer, but she smiles in a way that makes your heart melt. "Thank you, Menma."
Naruto and I get to work immediately, helping Kushina unpack all the boxes, cleaning dust around the area. We start painting the walls of the front of the store before unpacking there, and cleaning the counters that'd end up being the cooking station. It's a lot dirtier and dustier than I thought it'd be but it's a lot of fun! Kushina even puts on a radio into the plug that has us just working and singing in a casual mood.
"Haha!" Kushina yells, slamming her paint roller down onto the newspaper covered floor. "DONE!"
"Kushina what about the ceiling?"
"What?!" she panics, looking up with me. "Aw man!"
Naruto's busy sweeping dust by the counter, but he overhears me and Kushina's girl bonding, and he can't help but see a bit of his personality in his wild mother. I laugh as Kushina goes on complaining about how she thought they were done.
By sunset, we're setting up the back room. "Hey Sakura would you mind running down to the dango store down the street and getting us some grub?" Kushina asks handing me a fifty dollar bill.
"No problem," I smile, and I can see a panic stricken Naruto across the room. His eyes spell DO NOT GO. "n will stay and keep you company, right Menma?" I cheerfully yell across the room.
Naruto's mouth drops over as his mouth and his arms motion an obvious 'NO WAY', until Kushina looks and Naruto's body settles into a charming and alright smile. That doesn't stop him from glaring at me on my way out.
I walk down the street to that dango place where the girls and I go sometimes. I have a pretty good idea of what to get us until I enter and see a bunch of the guys sitting at another table, just lounging around. What?
Kiba sees me first. "Oi, it's Sakura guys."
"Kiba? Neji? Shikamaru?" I blink, walking up to them. They even have food. "What are you guys doing here?"
"Wasting the best years of our lives," Kiba smiles with the utmost positive sarcasm. "And where have you been?"
"Helping out at one of the other shops. What- Why here? Why now? You guys never come here."
"Well with you off with Naruto and Sasuke off with Rina, skating's not as fun as it used to be," Shikamaru shrugs. Somehow hearing Sasuke's with Rina again makes me a little sad, but I try not to let it show. Too late. "And uh, the girls felt bad so they gave us their coupons to this place."
"… I gave them those coupons," I remember. Ah forget it.
"So how are you and Sasuke?" Neji cues in.
"We're alright," I lie, sort of. "We haven't talked in a long time but, we will eventually."
"Sure-Yeah-Okay," the guys say as thy turn back towards their table. Okay now what's this?
I make my way around and force seat myself beside Neji at their table. "Come on quit sulking guys. I mean for once you're not chained down to Sasuke's bossiness or my dilemmas. Enjoy the freedom! Try new things!" I look at Shikamaru in the eye. "Go after girls!" I clue in, remembering Ino. Shikamaru blinks at me, clueless.
"Sasuke cancelled practice again today," Kiba says quietly to me. No way. He, cancelled again? "He told us to tell you if we ran into you."
"He's so lenient now," I frown, noticing the very unusual change. "Sasuke's never lenient about practice."
"Look," Shikamaru says. "We're bored but we're not stupid. What happened between you two?"
"Well, isn't it obvious he's really into his whole childhood friend reuniting romance?" I remind quietly and with a loss of spirit. "As long as he's happy, right?"
"What about you?" Kiba frowns. Ino said the same thing. "Not to state the obvious but since this guy and laptop-man won't say it… Aren't you into him?"
Is it that obvious to the guys? "E-Even if I was he doesn't like me that way. Sasuke never had and he never will. Especially with perfect Rina living in the same house as him, probably sneaking into his bed when they can't sleep or playing games or, eating meals together…" I start to go on, realizing I've probably said too much. "Look if he's happy then I'm happy."
Kiba, Shikamaru, and Neji all look at one another with worry. There isn't really much they can do besides hear me out.
Meanwhile across the shopping district in a small book store café, Sasuke and Rina sit at one of the tall for-two tables, drinking coffee – not a scene Sasuke would ever find himself in, but Rina liked it. "This is actually pretty cool," Sasuke nods, watching Rina read some fascinating book she bought.
"Thanks for taking me here," Rina smiles, putting it away. "Being with you again these past few days have been amazing. I never thought I'd ever get to be with you again after I moved away."
"Yeah…" Sasuke recalls. "They built that giant mansion where all those houses used to be."
"I can't believe yours was the only one left standing," Rina laughs, remembering my name.
"Miraculously," Sasuke shrugs. "But Sakura's been a good neighbor. We never actually talked until this year. I never would've pegged her for a skater but she's actually really good."
"That's cool," Rina grins, but inside she could feel a ripple in her heart. Sasuke was talking about her again. Sasuke never really ran on monologues about me, but he'd bring me up in small details whenever he could, and he never even knew it. But Rina could count the times on her hands. "Was she your replacement best friend?" Rina asks with furrowed eyebrows.
Sasuke's face changes. "Sakura wasn't a replacement for anyone, Rina. And, you moved. We moved on. People change."
"You haven't changed," Rina admits quietly.
As much as Sasuke would like to say that, to keep her happy, he couldn't lie. He never lied to me, so why start now. "I have," he affirms. "And I'm sure you have, too."
"No!" she snaps suddenly, a huge break in her quiet demeanor. "I-I, I guess I have but, the way I feel about you is still the same. You're my best friend. Sasuke Uchiha. The little boy across the street. We were friends with only each other and no one else."
That wasn't particularly true. On the block, yes. But Sasuke had other friends. He had Naruto and the guys in elementary school.
Rina on the other and believed she was the only one in Sasuke's world until she moved. She wanted that world back. "We grew up, Rina…." Sasuke tries to let down gently. Sadly.
"But things can still be the same," Rina tries. "I know you have a girlfriend and all now but, we can still-"
"Rina," Sasuke tries again. "I'm cool with reconnecting with you and all but, it can't all be exactly the same as it used to be. It's been years."
"You really like her," she frowns. "That neighbor of yours."
For once, Sasuke had no answer. His mouth went to open no but for some reason nothing came out. Instead, "Rina-"
"I used to have a crush on you, you know. When we were little," Rina confesses to Sasuke, causing his eyes to widen. He wasn't expecting that, but the words weren't as soothing as he thought they' be. Two days ago maybe so, but his mind now was filled with confusion and a paranoia that I was still with Naruto. "And, I still have feelings for you now." Rina holds her hands over Sasuke's on the table. "I like you, Sasuke."
Sasuke's speechless still, honest to God confused with how he really felt about that.
"I know how sudden this is, and I am so sorry for coming between you and Sakura," Rina starts, "But I know you feel it too! The childhood we had together? Us meeting again now? Don't you think it's a sign for us to… you know… pick up where we left off."
"Rina," Sasuke says breathlessly.
"If you're the guy I know you are, I know you'd never cheat," Rina accepts, squeezing Sasuke's hands. "So I'll let you think about it before you commit to a decision. Just remember what I said, alright?" Rina picks up her school bag and leaves the table. "I'm going to head back to the house for now okay? I'll see you tonight."
"Yeah, later," Sasuke says, still letting it sink in. I need to talk to Sakura.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
It was another long day of mother-seeing with Naruto. We left the store laughing, Naruto a lot more talkative after I returned from the dango store with food. I can't say that talk with the other guys didn't bring me down a little, but at least Naruto was beginning to bond with his mom – even if she didn't quite know it yet.
"You've gotta loose the Menma name," I laugh as Naruto walks me to the culdesac.
"I will, I will. Just, later," Naruto sighs, scratching his now hoodless head. "I don't wanna ruin it yet between me and my mom and make it awkward. I'll tell her when I think we're ready."
"Can't wear that hood all the time," I remind, ruffling his hair. I haven't been this casual with Naruto in days.
Back in the Uchiha household, Sasuke sits in his room, shirtless, looking out the window. He notices me coming home with Naruto, us walking slowly and talking happily. Laughing and conversing. Shoving one another and me trying to mess with his hair. "Guess she took my advice," Sasuke mutters before hearing a knock on his door.
It's Rina, with a cup of tea for Sasuke. "Hey… I thought you could use a drink."
"Thanks," Sasuke says lowly without eye contact, keeping his vision glues to the window.
Rina takes a few steps forward, close enough to see what Sasuke is seeing. The head of pink was enough for her. Before she can say anything, Sasuke turns and quickly walks past Rina and out the room.
"Well here we are," Naruto presents as we arrive in the middle of the culdesac. "Your castle awaits."
"Why thank you my good sir," I bow jokingly in return. We laugh together.
"We still up for tomorrow after school?"
"Okay, but you better tell Kushina tomorrow!" I say with a punch to his arm. Naruto smiles but, I watch it fade as he sees something over my shoulder. I look back, seeing Sasuke leaving his house. He can see us.
"I uh, better go," Naruto says, quietly again. "See you tomorrow?"
"Yeah, see you tomorrow," I hug quickly as Naruto skates away.
Sasuke comes up behind me just in time as we watch Naruto disappear into the night out the culdesac. "Do you come home this late with the dobe every day now?" Sasuke asks.
"What's it to you?" I defend. Sasuke has a blue hoodie zipped on, and I can see a bit of his chest. What, did he rush out here as soon as he saw us? "So how are you?"
"I'm good. How was your date?"
"We weren't on a date."
"Well you two only ditched two days in a row alone. Sounds like a date at least."
"Hey Kiba said you cancelled practice today. It's not my fault everyone's all over the place."
Sasuke narrows his eyes. "Are you saying it's my fault?"
"I don't know – you've been one-on-oneing with Rina too, haven't you," I point out. "Besides, I'm only taking your advice, remember? Weren't you the one who said I should go for Naruto if he likes me?"
"Y-Yeah but- Agh," Sasuke frustrates, running his hands through his head. "You know what, forget it. I don't even remember why I came out here anymore. I'm gonna head back inside and-"
"No, tell me," I assert, turning him back around towards me. "You obviously saw Naruto and me and just had to come out here."
"Oh I'm sorry. Was I breaking something up?"
"I don't know! Maybe!" I provoke. Oh my god jealous Sasuke is such a- "Wait…. You're jealous!"
Sasuke's stare. "Excuse me what?"
"You're jealous," I grin and nod, finally understanding.
"What I am not jealous," Sasuke says irrediculously. First Ino now me. "If anyone's jealous it's you!"
"What?"
"Ever since Rina came to live with me you won't even look at me. What gives?"
"First and foremost I am not jealous. Awkward maybe but not jealous. Excuse me for thinking something may be going on because you only live with the poor girl!"
"Hey I'd never do anything like that to Rina."
"You sure? You're the one who told me you're this giant player and pervert who can't keep his hands off women. Now here's one right in front of you and you go all soft on me saying you don't have feelings for her. Since when were feelings ever part of your equation?" I snap.
"What do you think I can just have sex with her?"
"I wouldn't be surprised." Okay. That was harsh. "Hey it's fine. We're only fake dating, remember? Besides, we agreed we'd have our first times only with people we really and sincerely liked. You look like you like her so who am I to hold you down?"
"Rina's just a friend!"
"Yeah and so is Naruto," I mock, raising my eyebrows. If he won't let me deny things then why should he?
Meanwhile up in Sasuke's room, Rina watches on as Sasuke and I talk (argue) from the window. In a way she can tell it's because of her, but she doesn't care. The look on her face is cold, and stoic. Manipulative. She can see the success in her doings – we're fighting. We're going to break up. Just like she wants.
"And what do you think makes her so special," I say in a whisper, walking up closer to Sasuke with an intense glare. "Sure she's your freaking childhood friend but I know you like her. Why stall? Go for her for all I care! You have her and I have Naruto! Why is this such a big problem?!"
Sasuke holds his breath, being the kind of person to yell back. But Sasuke's never seen me so driven like this before. He knew I was only yelling like this because of the way I felt, maybe jealousy – he wasn't sure. But those last words I said hit him hard. "Alright," Sasuke says calmly as I back off. "You go, hang with Naruto. See if I care," Sasuke finishes before calmly walking away back to his house.
I'm left, catching my breath, totally frustrated and confused and, agh. I don't know.
I go back inside the mansion, not even caring how late it is. "You're late again," Kakashi notes, sitting on the staircase with a book.
"Sorry," I mutter, stuck in a sour and regretful mood. Did I just seriously yell at Sasuke like that?
"Would you mind dropping off this cake over to the Uchihas?" Kakashi asks, lifting a white cardboard box with red and white string. You have got to be kidding me. "Your mother says it's left over from her party and she wanted to give some to Sasuke's family."
Silently but subdued, I stomp over and take the box before stomping back out. Kakashi watches intrigued and confused himself as I slam the giant door shut. "… Mm," he shrugs, returning to his book.
xx-x-x-x-x-x-x-xx-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Meanwhile, after our parting, Sasuke returned to his abode in an angry and heavy confusion. Once insde, he looks around, feeling an incredible rise in warmth. The temperature got, higher? "Sasuke?" Rina's childish and shy voice calls as she walks down the stairs.
Sasuke's eyes widen at what she's wearing. She has small pajama shorts way above her thighs, and a tight curve-hugging white tank top, with her glasses gone. "R-Rina?"
"It got cold so I turned the heat up," she apologizes nervously. "It got really hot really quickly."
"Oh," Sasuke realizes; so it's not just him. But he can feel it getting hotter, for other reasons. His male hormonal instincts were kicking in, especially when she walked up to him.
"Are you okay? You look stressed," she says, right in front of him, a sincere look of worry.
"I just, talked to Sakura," Sasuke says anxiously, feeling warm in the face. He could see down her chest and oddly enough tries to look away. Even if he maybe did like the girl she was still the cute little neighbor he once had. It was different.
"Oh no. You guys didn't break up did you?" she asks, hugging Sasuke instantly. He could feel her leaning against his lower regions, unintentionally probably but that didn't help any. "I'm so sorry! It's because of me, isn't it."
"No way. It's not your fault. Sakura loves you." Sasuke makes a face she can't see at that obvious lie. He hesitantly hugs her, patting her as he tries to calm himself down. "Besides… Maybe I could have feelings for you."
Rina looks up, shocked and hopeful at the same time. "What did you say?"
Sasuke couldn't take it anymore. He didn't mean to say that last part out loud – why he wasn't even sure himself if he did. Mostly likely even it was a no! But the look in the girl's eye, the way she was dressed, his arms wrapped around her. The frustrated with me. "I-I…." Crap.
"I like you, Sasuke," Rina repeats, lower this time. Her eyes raises a little, letting a bit of her tank tops and bra's straps fall. She had him right where she wanted him. "Kiss me…?"
And just like that, Sasuke did. Not so much out of recuperated feelings, but the way she was just giving herself, he couldn't help it. Their innocent childhood romance kiss turned into a quick teenage make out session. Sasuke's hand lowered her straps while she unzipped his jacket, leaving him shirtless as he was before he left the house.
The two land on the couch, making out as Rina, surprisingly, went for Sasuke's belt and unbuckled it with skill, like she'd done this before. Sasuke wasn't going to argue –his mind was elsewhere where logic took a back seat. He ran his hand through her long silky brown hair and napped at her neck, eliciting a high pitched moan.
All while I stood at his house window, after he didn't pick up his phone. I could see them… and I felt disgusting.
"So…" I say to myself, watching my heart vaporize itself. "I guess you really do like her." I drop the cake Mom cake on Sasuke's doorstep very carefully not to ruin it. And without ringing the doorbell, I walk away, hugging my arms.
A few more kisses in, Sasuke can feel himself getting more turned on by the second. "No," he says inbetween kisses. "Hold on. I can't."
"Why?" Rina breathes, now in her bra. "What's wrong?"
"It's just," Sasuke pants. "I didn't break up with Sakura. We're still together," he lies, thinking up an excuse for his hesitancy. "I can't do this until we've really broken up."
"Oh," Rina says sadly, though inwardly she could feel a fiery jealousy. Even now, the rich heiress was still in her way. "That's okay. I get it. But…." Rina holds his face in her hands above him, cosign in on his ear and kissing it. "Once you guys do break up… let's pick up where we left off."
Sasuke nods, slightly confused with himself. 'Break up'. What a lie. But he didn't feel right doing this with Rina while he and I clearly weren't on good terms.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x—x-x
It's day three of the week – three days of complete brokenness in our gang of high school badassses. We haven't all been together in, forever. And it's beginning to take a toll on all of us.
Skating to school feels empty – like I don't deserve this skateboard unless I have my friends. Might as well just walk to school. Not to mention I'm still reeling from last night's… events.
When I enter the high school, I can overhear the rumors again of Sasuke and Rina. I can't erase the image of them together… having sex. I didn't stay long enough to see, but they probably did. They like each other. And… I practically pushed him to her. At least he got to have his first time with someone he really liked.
I see Sasuke by his locker, surprisingly without Rina. As I walk I look down, not waiting to see him. "Sakura," he calls, and I curse myself. "Can we talk?"
As per his wishes, we go on into an empty lab classroom, shutting the door behind us. Homeroom's still a while away, sadly. "What's up," I say emptily, trying to ignore yesterday's fight.
"I'm sorry about last night," Sasuke apologizes, surprising me. Sasuke Uchiha? Apologizing? "I know we argue about a bunch of stupid stuff but, whatever we fought about last night was nonsense."
It's difficult to make anything out of this. I'm still in shock mode. "I-It's fine," I say, taking a short pause. "How are you and Rina…?"
Sasuke pauses, too. "We're okay."
Despite the apology I know for sure he must really like her. I've never seen Sasuke act so different before. Maybe it's for the best. "Sasuke? I think we should stop fake dating."
This time it's Sasuke who's eyes widen. I keep my eyes to the ground, so he can't see them. "What?"
"You know, break up, stop dating. We're both legally single again," I try to say.
"Whoa wait slow down," he tries, hands on my shoulders. A part of my heart skips a beat, feeling his touch, but I have to block it out. "Where's this coming from?"
"We… don't have to keep pretending we're dating anymore."
"But why-"
"I know you have feelings for Rina," I smile painfully. "I know you say you don't now but, I think you really, really do, Sasuke... And, I don't want to keep holding you back from all these things just because I need a fake boyfriend. If you're happy, then I want you to be happy," I explain. "We, don't have to keep acting anymore."
It was a lot harder pushing that out, but I did it. Now I just have to finish and walk away. "But Sakura-"
"I've gotta go," I say before he can say anything. Sasuke's hand, having went to grab mine, catches the air as I turn around and head out of the classroom. I slam the door closed behind me, leaving Sasuke inside.
I rest against the door for a second for a deep breath and a quick wipe of my eyes before I rush steadily to homeroom.
Unknown to me, hiding behind the girls room door, just adjacent to the science lab was Rina, having heard everything from the bathroom walls. She exits, watching me walk away fast. "So they were only fake dating…?" Rina realizes.
Back inside the science lab, Sasuke is left speechless, and still. His hand is still holding out to where I was once standing, his eye on the door. The room was so silent, Sasuke could hear a pin drop. Sure we were never together, and yes the break up is only imaginary to an extent, but Sasuke couldn't deny it hurt somewhat. Somehow. And he didn't know why.
Frustrated, Sasuke leaves the science lab slowly and sluggishly, still reeling from what just happened. We… broke up? "This is so stupid," Sasuke frowns, running a hand through his hair. Why was he so worked up over an end to a fake relationship? Wasn't this expected from the beginning anyway?
"Yo," Naruto calls, walking down the hall towards Sasuke, looking rather serious.
He couldn't possibly already know, right? "Haven't seen you in a while," Sasuke says stoically, remembering how many days Naruto's spent with me now.
"I wanna talk to you about Rina," Naruto brings up, totally serious. Him too? "You're not just hanging out with her to make Sakura jealous are you?"
"I've already been through this with her, no," Sasuke replies plainly. "And what's it to you, anyway?"
"I just want to protect Sakura," Naruto affirms. "Even if it's from you."
"What are you-"
"Do you have any idea how painful it is to watch you two together? For her?" Naruto argues, like Sasuke was totally blind. Maybe he was, because this is news to Sasuke by the look on his face. "God dammit, Sasuke, sometimes you can be so dense sometimes. And I know dense. I wrote the book."
"Sakura isn't into me that way," Sasuke confirms. "Besides, aren't you? You've been hanging out with her so much."
"For the record what we're doing is none of your business," Naruto starts, pressing a finger to Sasuke's chest. "She's just helping me with stuff, nothing more."
"Oh?"
"Yeah," Naruto says, as a matter of fact. "Look Uchiha, if you like this Rina girl or not, do what you want. But I'm in this to protect Sakura. In case you haven't heard, there's been rumors going around for days about you and Rina – you and Sakura probably having already broken up."
Sasuke's acknowledged rumors about the topic, but he never knew they were that serious.
"You and I aren't blind, Sasuke. Sakura's a great girl. Everyone knows it. And the second the school knows you two are over, there are guys who are going to go after Sakura, guys who will pounce on her the second you two are done," Naruto narrows his eyes. "She won't want that so I'll be there for her when it happens. Not because I like her but because she's my friend first."
Sasuke can just stand, his expression empty but his eyes full of realization. As sad as he was to admit it, the dobe was right.
The school bell rings, signaling the assemblage to homeroom. Naruto starts to walk on. "See you later, Sasuke."
Naruto leaves, but it takes Sasuke a couple seconds to start moving too in the opposite direction, but not before pounding a fist into a nearby locker on his way out.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
By lunch period in the afternoon, I've numbed my mind to the idea of Sasuke's and my break up. Fake break up actually but, you know.
I haven't told anyone yet, let alone any of the guys. I tried ignoring Neji in homeroom, and Shikamaru and Kiba in Lit. Ino's been hounding me in all my AP classes, where I'd just put my head down so she'd leave me alone. And Naruto, well, he must be able to sense something because he's given me my space.
Why do I feel so horrible about this?
"I mean, Sasuke's happy, so I should be happy," I tell myself, walking alone down the halls. Okay maybe I do have feelings for Sasuke. That just means I want to see him happy, so…
My mind trails off in itself as I order lunch in the cafeteria. I walk out the kitchen with a tray, lost in the sea of the student body again. As I look for a deserted table, I overhear more voices I pass.
"I hear Sasuke's going to dump her any day now."
"Isn't it obvious? He and that new girl look so cute together! I'm envious!"
"They'd have beautiful children together. Not like with that Sakura girl. Pink hair, hello?"
"It's only a matter of time before Sasuke does something totally romantic for her!~"
"I haven't even seen that Haruno girl with him this week."
"That's just because she's a desperate whore who gave up her everything to the first boyfriend that came along. I mean how does somebody like her end up with Sasuke Uchiha in the first place?"
"Obviously a fluke."
"I knew they'd never last."
I can't take it anymore. Dropping my lunch tray I sprint straight for the direction I think the door is. On my way, I don't see this guy I bump into. His tray falls too, and his lunch spills all over my shirt as I fall. I hit the ground, with moist food soaking on my shirt and pants, a mess all around me.
"Hey look it's the soon to be Uchiha Ex," a girl teases in a table beside me. A bunch of the teens start laughing as I feel myself dizzy from the spiral of laughter. Unable to take any more of it, I stand right up and run straight out. I can still hear their laughter echo from inside the cafeteria.
"Harsh," Shikamaru frowns, he and their gang watching from their usual table in the back of the cafeteria. Everyone was there, except me. And they along with the rest of the student body had just witnessed my utter fall in the social tier I never even cared for.
Rina, sitting beside Sasuke, smiles a little in content.
"Sakura…" Ino frowns, wanting to get up before Kiba holds her shoulder. There was nothing they could do.
Everyone was still laughing, gossiping. Sasuke's never heard so much of it before until now – after Naruto pointed it out. And this was what I've been listening to for the past three days? And the laughter just seemed to grow louder and louder in his head.
Unable to take hearing any more of the teasing or ridicule directed at me, Sasuke stands straight up with a bang of his foot on the lunch bench. It's enough to echo over the hundreds of voices of teenagers, causing everyone to look at the almighty and pissed off Uchiha.
The room is silent. "You should all be ashamed of yourselves!" Sasuke lectures, a completely serious and pissed off look in his eye. Even more surprised were his friends at his table. "That's my girlfriend you're all talking about."
Confirming so, loud and clear for everyone to hear, Sasuke gets off the table and starts walking towards the cafeteria exit, leaving the others behind in awe. The student body is still shocked and silent.
Some pave a pathway for the frightening Uchiha, and if you were in the way Sasuke would shove you to the side, not caring where you landed. As he passes the table where the snotty girl was, the last one who made a remark towards me, Sasuke sends a silent annoyed glare at her before running out the cafeteria doors too.
"Did you just see what I fuckin' saw?" Kiba asks with a growing grin.
Ino smiles weakly. "I think so."
Naruto watches on, albeit jealous, but glad I was in good hands in the end. He looks to Rina, silent in the matter, and can't help but recognize a similar but distasteful look of jealousy in her eyes as well.
Elsewhere I sob and cry openly, a mess and a broken wreck, running for the girls bathroom. Luckily it's empty of any other girls and I rush to hide inside a stall, locking it and holding my legs up to cry.
I can't believe that just happened. I've never cried so uncontrollably before. I've never felt my heart physically ache from such emotion before. I've never…. I wish I never.
"Sakura!" Sasuke yells, running all over the school. Some underclassmen still in the halls would get frightened by his sudden appearance and yelling. "Sakura!" he shouts, looking left and right for her.
Sasuke would go on for the rest of the school day looking for me, but never finding me.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
2:45 PM
"So you guys haven't seen Sasuke at all either?" Kiba asks, he and Neji and Shikamaru sitting on the school's front steps with Ino.
Neji shakes his head. "He skipped all our afternoon classes."
"And mine," Shikamaru notes.
"He's been looking for Sakura all day," Ino frowns, her head on her hands as she sits on the last step. "She's been so quiet today. I couldn't find her either after lunch. I wonder if something happened between them."
"SAKURAAAA!" they hear inside the school, causing all of them to jump a little. That was Sasuke's call. Ino was right.
"Well, here he comes now," Kiba figures, seeing a tired and running Sasuke coming out the doors. His head looks left and right, scanning the front of the school before his upper torso falls to catch his breath. "Sasuke where the fuck have you been?"
"Have you guys seen her," Sasuke pants, showing fatigue openly for the first time in forever.
He has a one track mind too, huh? Ino figures. "You couldn't find her either?"
Sasuke figures I've been MIA all day after lunch from everyone. He'd spent hours circling the school, unable to find me. He'd checked the staircases, the lockers, the rooftop and our secret office. Even Akamaru couldn't sniff her out.
However, hearing the faint sound of skateboard wheels, Sasuke looks to the distance of the school parking lot and sees two skaters skating off on their usual route away. Naruto and me.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-xx-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
"The shop looks so much better now with your guys' help!" Kushina gushes, now a little bit at sunset. Naruto and I have been here all day, helping out his mother fix up the soon-to-be ramen shop. Luckily by now the awkward tension between Naruto and his mom has been resolved, because I've been quiet all day.
Kushina had asked 'Menma' if anything was wrong with me, and he covered for me saying I just had a really bad day at school today. That way the two kept off any red-zone questions like 'Are you okay?' and stuff like that.
Naruto's been such a good friend today.
"So Menma, I'm hoping you'll be visiting my shop more often when it opens," Kushina smiles, hanging some door-curtains to the back room entrance.
"Actually uh, I'll be moving," Naruto replies, caching my attention from the front of the shop. WHAT? Liar…..!
"Moving?" Kushina gasps, obviously saddened.
Naruto gives off an apologetic grin. "Heh, yeah. I won't be able to see you or this place when it's bustling but, at least I was able to see this place in its birth! And I was able to meet the amazing owner of such a great-to-be establishment!" Naruto's energetic grin softens. "It was a pleasure helping you out, Kushina."
Naruto, or 'Menma', offers his hand out to the woman, who takes it and shakes his hand back.
I watch sadly from where I sweep by the door. Does Naruto really have no intentions of ever seeing his mom again?
Later on, we send the hooded teenager out for food this time, since I did so yesterday. And now it's just Kushina and me, sitting at one of the stools by the counter, drinking some tea she's prepared for us while we wait for the food to get here. "You excited about opening day?" I ask.
"Definitely. I'll open officially in four days," Kushina smiles dreamily, sitting beside me finally. She's exhausted, but she looks like the happiest woman on earth. "It's too bad Menma won't be around. I've grown quite fond of him."
"Really?"
"I really have. He reminds me of my own son."
So she does remember. "You had a son before?"
Kushina remain silent for moment, but she doesn't look regretful for the slip up. "Let's just say in the states I wasn't in pretty good shape. But now here I am, pretty happy and well off after some therapy after my husband and son died."
"I'm so sorry."
"It's okay, Sakura. They're in a better place," she says sweetly. "My son loved ramen, so, I wanted to do something that'd remind me of him."
I want to tell her. I want to say it so bad, but I know it's not my place. "I'm pretty sure he'd be very happy to see you doing this."
"That means a lot, Sakura, thank you."
The front door rings and we see Naruto walking in with food from the tea house. His hood is still on, sadly, disguising his recognizable hair. "I got the food!"
We spend the last bit of evening celebrating the completion of the shop's set up with tea and dango and more sweets. A little ironic in a ramen shop but nonetheless it's a happy, small celebration. And alas comes the end of the day when Naruto and I have to go.
"I'll stop by sometime," I say, hugging Kushina.
"Thank you so much," she says before going to Naruto. "And thank you too, Menma. I hope I'll be able to see you again someday."
"I doubt it but, I hope so too," Naruto says, bitter sweetly. I can hear a bit of sadness in his voice, so I step back a little to our skateboards by the door.
"Hey don't say that. The next time you come here, you can have ramen on the house, how about that?" Kushina tries to persuade, putting her hand on his hood, as if to ruffle his hair if it were visible. "Knowing you you'll probably show up in this silly hoodie of yours you always wear-"
Kushina pauses, having moved the hood a little – not fully but enough to catch sight of some blond hair underneath. And in that realization, 'Menma's' blue eyes shine right through as if for the first time. The woman's eyes freeze, and become a little more reflective under forming water.
Naruto gets a hint that she may have caught on, and he fixes his hood to cover that speck of blonde. "I'll see you around, Kushina…?"
The woman holds her hand over her mouth as Naruto nods farewell, turning around to head back to me. But with his back turned, Kushina tackles the boy in a hug that tugs at my heart. She buries her eyes in the back of his shoulder, not sobbing but clearly staining the hoodie with tears. "Thank you for seeing me, Menma," Kushina says weakly, hugging the teen.
Naruto's head is down, with his eyes at his feet, but I can see him shed a tear, too. "About that son you told me about yesterday," Naruto starts. So she told him the story, too… "I can assure you he's very touched with the idea of you opening a ramen store." He holds one hand up to her arm, embraced around him. "I won't be around to see your shop bustling with orders but, maybe he will someday."
An open sob can be heard from Kushina, and I turn around towards the window door for teir privacy, not that it's much. After a few more silent farewells, Naruto and I finally leave the place. By now he's walking me back to the mansion out of courtesy. "I can't believe you didn't tell her it was you," I say.
"I think she figured it out," Naruto says bittersweetly. He sounds…content.
"You're not gonna see her?"
"Hey she's made a new life for herself. I don't wanna ruin that."
"I don't think you'd be ruining it," I frown. "Or, are you not ready to face her as Naruto yet?"
"Not yet," Naruto admits, but he wears a small smile. "Someday I'll go back and see her. When I'm ready. But, I wouldn't have gotten this far if it wasn't for you. So, thank you. For helping me."
"Of course," I smile back as we near the culdesac. It's a wide open concrete circle, and the stars ae visible tonight. In the distance of the mansion, past the gates, I can see someone sitting in front of my front three steps, in front of the huge corridors. "Is that… Sasuke?" I spy.
"I think so, Naruto confirms, the two of us stopping in front of the sidewalk before he can see us. "I should let you go from here."
"Probably," I sigh, not sure what's worse, staying here with Naruto or going back there to Sasuke. If I go there, he's bound to talk about something. But if I stay here, then…. I'll have to tell Naruto what I've been putting off all week.
I should probably do that first.
"Naruto? About… you know… what happened a couple days ago at my place." Naruto looks up, his face stoic as Sasuke's. I bite my lip as I try to say it. "I'm sorry…"
"You don't like me that way," Naruto rewords, a lot more comfortable with this than I am.
"Naruto I-"
"No, it's cool. I understand. You still like Sasuke," he fills in, surprising me. He knows too? "Cut the guy some slack when you see him. He's been looking for you all day after lunch. From what I hear from the others he skipped all his classes running around the high school trying to find you."
I feel butterflies in my stomach. Did he really do that? Why? "Really?"
"Really. You'd have to be deaf to not have heard him screaming your name," Naruto nods, a small smile on his face. "So, you should probably go see him. Knowing that teme he's been waiting on your front door since dismissal."
Mm. He has a point. "Thank you, Naruto." In return and not expecting it on his part, I lean forward and kiss the Uzumaki's cheek, sparking a small jolt from his head. Before I can go and head back to the mansion, I feel a tug and I feel Naruto's kiss – on my lips.
My mind blanks out, but he releases me quick enough that it isn't intrusive. "Sorry," he apologizes, a little in a daze like me. "I had to do that once before..."
I nod, understanding. "It's okay."
Smiling, he lets go of my arms. "Right. Well, goodnight."
"Goodnight," I wave as he skates off. Leaving me alone and still in shock, I touch my face. It's warm, but not flustered. If anything I've learned from that last kiss with Naruto, it's that I'm sure I don't have any feelings for him.
I'm sorry, Naruto. And now with that ordeal over with, I turn past the gates and start walking down the long garden.
Across by my front door…
"Still here, are you?" Kakashi says to Sasuke, opening the door again. The teen still sits on my front steps in the night cold, waiting. Kakashi holds some hot chocolate. "You want a drink?"
"I'm fine," Sasuke says tired, resting his head in his hands. He can't see me yet through the endless darkness at the end of the garden. "It's not that cold."
"You must've messed up pretty bad to be waiting out here half the day," Kakashi figures, standing behind the door. "You two okay?"
"… I dunno," Sasuke answers, before seeing a figure walking down the cobblestone path. Sasuke's head lifts a little.
Kakashi sees me, too. "Good luck," he bids, closing the door.
"Sakura," Sasuke says, standing up. All the life slowly starts to return to his legs.
"Sasuke," I greet, dragging my board behind me. "What are you doing here? Came to lecture me for Kakashi about coming home late?"
"I'm sorry," he says again. He apologized earlier today, but it still freaks me out when he says that. "About the rumors. I cleared them up so you're okay now. Everyone will stop talking about us."
"Sure they will," I smile weakly. "If you'll excuse me Sasuke I'm tired so I'm heading inside."
"No," Sasuke holds on, turning me back around before I can reach the door. "I told everyone we're still dating."
My eyes clear up a bit, and I look up at Sasuke in disbelief. What did he just say? "Are you serious? But, but why? Why would you do that-?"
"I can hold on a little longer until your birthday," Sasuke tells me. "Besides the skate competition's still in two weeks. Can't really train you too well if I'm dating someone else, right?"
"I- I don't know what to say," I say shyly, pushing my hair behind my ear. "Are you sure? What about Rina? "
"I can figure her out later. You and I aren't really dating but I made a commitment to you first," Sasuke assures. "We made a promise remember? I help you, you help me. We're in this to the end, and, that's not now."
And it's not too far away, either. "Okay," I say quietly as he lets go of my shoulders. "Can I go now?"
"… Yeah," Sasuke nods, realizing how serious this just got. "So, are we still fake dating?"
"We're still fake dating," I confirm, wiping my eye casually. "Then uh, practice after school tomorrow?"
"You sure you're not hanging with the dobe again?"
"We're done with what we needed to do," I answer gently. "And I finally answered him. I… I don't," I shrug, still guilty honestly. "I couldn't do it."
As sad as that was, Sasuke felt a little content. "I'm glad you were honest to him," he notes. "And to you." I look up, seeing him walk towards me and hug me. He whispers, "And to be honest, I'm kind of glad for your answer."
….
"Goodnight, skater-poser," he bids, walking off coolly once more, leaving me the awkward and silent victim without the last word.
Goodnight Sasuke.
Back inside, Kakashi sits by a pillar in the ballroom. Was he waiting? "So did you two talk?" Kakashi asks. Guess he knew, too.
"Yeah," I say tiredly. "I don't really wanna talk about it right now Kakashi so I'm just going to go up to bed. You can pester me in the morning but not now."
"Fair enough. But Sasuke left a letter on your desk okay?"
A letter? Heading up with a motive now, I look for the said letter. And there I find a folded piece of paper like Kakashi said. I drop my board and school bag, heading back to my bed to read it.
"It's not Rina that I like'…" I read aloud, reading over it a hundred more times before fully processing it. "… What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
So, if he doesn't like Rina, is he implying he likes someone else? It can't be me. Or is he in love with her? Oh no, don't do that to yourself, Sakura. Somehow reading this letter just frustrates me more, even after we've made up. I refold the letter and toss it somewhere over the bed, falling back with a huge migraine. "Sasuke Uchiha you are the bane of my existence."
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Across the street, Sasuke uses his keys to enter the house. It was a long day of, sitting. So he just wanted to go to bed so he can wrap things up back to normal in the morning with everyone else.
"You're home," Rina notices as Sasuke passes the kitchen. She sits at the table with a mug. "I've been waiting for you all day."
"Oh, sorry. You didn't have to wait up for me it's late."
"I got worried about you and Sakura after school today. She didn't look so good."
"Yeah. I fixed things with her so we're cool again," Sasuke nods.
"Dating cool?" Rina asks with nosy eyebrows. Sasuke suddenly remembers the previous night between them, about what almost happened, and what he said. That he'd need to 'break up' with me to do anything with her – not that he still wanted to anymore.
"Listen, Rina," Sasuke starts, pulling up a chair by the table to sit. "You and I have, something. Something that goes way back, okay? I get that. But right now, Sakura's my priority alright? She's my girlfriend and-"
"I know you two are fake dating," Rina states blantly, drinking from her mug.
Sasuke's eyes stay still. If it wasn't clear before, it is now. He hates surprises. "Excuse me?"
"Fake dating? Pretending? Covering up? You know," she says, placing her drink down. "I overheard you two in the lab this morning."
"So you knew all day?"
"And it makes me wonder if you like her too…" Rina states 'curiously', rubbing her finger on the rim of her mug. "I mean obviously you and I have chemistry. You can't deny that."
Sasuke sits still, seeing Rina in this new, light. This, knowledgeable and manipulative light. What else could she have known about?
"But you and Sakura Haruno… Hm, I dunno. After seeing you defend her at lunch it makes me really question whether you two are a thing or, 'a thing'," she says with a different tone.
Sasuke's never felt cornered by a girl before. Or at least like this. "What are you getting at?"
"Sasuke," Rina begins again, pulling her chair closer to Sasuke's. Her knee purposefully goes between his legs. "I'm a smart girl, so I know how these things work. Boy likes girl one, girl one may not reciprocate leaving boy sexually frustrated. Boy likes girl two, who doesn't need to be liked to let out his sexual frustrations." The longer her speech goes on, the closer Rina comes to Sasuke's ear. Her seductive tone is either alluring Sasuke or distracting him, he can't tell. "Do you like Sakura…?"
"I… I dunno," he says in a bit of a daze, just feeling her breath on his neck.
"Mm." Rina knew she was no match for the fake girlfriend, but while she lived in the Uchiha's house, she had enough opportunities to change his mind. Perhaps not mentally but, in other ways. "If you like," she says with a kiss to his neck. "You can do what you want with me, what you can't do to her," she kisses his jaw. "Besides, you're only fake dating, for whatever reason that is. Surely this isn't cheating then, right, Sasuke-kun?"
Sasuke, tempted once more by his childhood friends' alluring body, starts to slowly kiss her back when she goes for it.
He felt so wrong for doing this, right after we made up. But Rina's logic sounded right. It's not cheating. And no one would ever have to know.
Rina smirks inbetween kisses, at this point already sitting on Sasuke's lap. I won't loose to her.
Unknown to them, Itachi Uchiha stood at the top of the staircase, a full witness to Rina's seducing of his little brother.
Dun-dun-dun.
Hate this girl. Haha Anyway, like I said at the top in case you guys missed, I'm totally feeling the love from this story's admirers~ I seriously appreciate all the feedback and faves and watches! Shows me just how much you guys love this as much as I love writing it :)
And with the overall fanfic coming towards its end soon maybe uh 3 more arcs/steps? So-so? I've decided to continue the story not really with a sequel, but with a web comic manga maybe? Sort of? Experimenting. I'm revamping the entire set up so I have original characters and different faces but the same story and everything. At the moment I'm sketching out layouts for the pages as a test-run, which I'll post up first to dA to see how it goes. Watch me there if you wanna keep an eye out for progress! :D
(UPDATE: I have some sketches of the original characters for the comic on my dA! If you're interested, please support! :D Thank You! "
The Endearment of Fake Dating"
If you guys wanna support and see how this project turns out, review, PM, find me on my other art sites!
This fanfic has only gone onward for so long and so successfully because of YOU guys! If you want a webcomic, I'll try to work equally as hard on the art as I do here! Spread the word about the fanfic too - the better the turn out the story gets, the more likely this webcomic may turn out! I probably would've given up on this years ago if it wasn't for everyone! Each little thing is definitely appreciated! You have no idea~ So thank you again!
Tumblr: sammakesamess
DeviantArt: MemorySoul
PREVIEW FOR NEXT CHAPTER:
"What do you mean there's no practice today? Again?" All of us are up here in the school's empty floor, except Sasuke. "Did Sasuke say that?"
"Not really, but today's not really a good day," Naruto frowns.
x-x-x-x-x
"Oh you must be Sakura!" Mikoto realizes happily and gently. Such a different atmosphere than from my own Mom. She shuts her car door and smiles at me. "Why don't you help me bring in some bags and come in for a bit huh? I'e always wanted to meet you."
x-x-x-x-x
"If Kabuto's who I think he is, then those crazy loan sharks' base must be at that abandoned harbor," I say with cold eyes. "Do you know anything about Kabuto?"
"Not as much as you two probably already do," Neji shrugs. "I'm just Sasuke's confidant, but even I don't know everything."
x-x-x-x-x-x
"If you go now I swear I'll forget this in the morning and we can go on like we usually do," Sasuke warns.
"Like how? Like, you pretending you aren't in mortal danger and that I'm an oblivious little flower? Yeah right," I argue. "How dare you try and change the topic. How dare you say THAT right after you made out with Rina!"
Sasuke's eyes widen. "You saw that?"
"Damit Sasuke yes I did. I saw you kissing Rina!" I repeat, feeling my heart tear into pieces. And he doesn't even know why. "I know we're only fake dating but when you said you'd put Rina aside until our deal was over, I TRUSTED you!" I argue, loosing heart as I stand up. "I thought you were different, but I guess I was wrong. You're exactly what I thought you were."