Chapter Two

*Six Months Later

The sweet smell of caffeine wondered to her nose, "mmm, one coffee with lots-" She was interrupted by the Barista, "lots of French Vanilla and enough sugar to rot your teeth." He smirked, "I know." The Barista was cute, and the harmless flirting was just a bonus. "That's why you're my favorite, Kiba." She winked at him as he handed her the beverage. The blush on his cheeks was adorable, "I bet you say that everyone."

"Maybe." She shrugged her shoulders, "but I only mean it when it comes to you." She smiled and waved bye, she left the small Coffee Shop making her way across the street to the Hospital that she volunteered at for extra credit. Leaf Hospital was the best in Japan; the best of the best, fight tooth and nail to become part of the staff here, the doctors are well established and have very accomplished resumes. Tsunade may have been retired but she had pull with the Medical Board to get Sakura hands on even if it was volunteer work, she was thankful for the opportunity. She made a couple of new friends along the way, Hinata Hyuga, Tenten Tamura, and Neji Hyuga, who is Hinata's older cousin. Hinata was quite shy and a little timid, once she got used to you, she was sweet enough to make your teeth hurt, Tenten was another story, the brunette was fierce and full of determination. Neji did not speak much, especially if he thought you were not worth his time, unless you were Tenten you could not get much out of him. He was extremely intelligent though, and Sakura felt she could learn a lot from him. Overall, she was honored to work with them, their instructor, Dr. Itachi Uchiha was in a different category altogether. He seemed distant, a little agitated, and annoyed with their presence in the beginning, probably assuming that we were not cut out for the medical field. One case at a time they proved him wrong and now they had what Sakura liked to call mutual respect, though Hinata and Tenten considered the 'respect' reserved for her only.

"Sakura! Over here." Hinata was wavering her down; the Nursing Station was the usual meet-up spot, Sakura put a little more effort into her walking. "Good-Morning." She greeted the lavender-eyed women, she consider Hinata a unique beauty, especially because of her eyes.

"How are you this morning?"

"Better, now that I have caffeine. I studied to long last night, plus Ino came home blistering drunk crying about how she ate all the cookies." Hinata laughed at that. "I'm sorry to hear that."

"She'll learn, I set her alarm to 7:00 this morning before I left the apartment I heard the alarm followed by her body hitting the floor." Sakura giggled.

Sakura took a sip of her sugary beverage, 'man, this is delicious. I'll definitely be hyper after this.'

"Sakura, could you ran this file to Dr. Uchiha's office?" The nurse got her attention, "Sure, Kurenai." Sakura sat her cup of coffee down, and took the folder from the nurse's hand. "Hinata, I'll be back."

"Of course, I'm sure Dr. Uchiha is in dire need of your assistance." She teased, "It's not like that." She defended herself.

"If you say so, Sakura." Hinata shooed her away, Sakura playfully rolled her eyes, "Whatever."

There was nothing between her and the Uchiha, he did remind her of someone but at times, he was completely opposite. She admired him because he was brilliant, and now that they saw eye to eye, he was a kind man. Sakura could not deny though that he was drop dead gorgeous, she could appreciate a fine specimen when she found one but she was not romantically interested, and neither was he despite what her friends may think. She was about to knock on his office door when she heard voices, it sounded like Dr. Uchiha was arguing with someone.

"You need to call him Itachi."

"I will not, I have given up that right to participate in Business matters."

"I will not beg aniki." 'aniki? He has a brother. Who knew?'

Silence

'I really shouldn't be eavesdropping.' She scolded herself.

"Please. Itachi, I'm not ready for that commitment yet."

'So much for not begging.'

Sakura knocked lightly on the door, "Come in." Sakura was focused on the patient's file in her hands when she opened the door. "Dr. Uchiha-"

"Sakura?" She followed the voice; sitting on the couch with his elbows on his knees was that handsome face that dreamed about very so often. Sakura never saw him again after that night, she went out of her way to find him but she figured that he returned to wherever he came from. Sasuke cleaned up nicely, his hair was still long but somewhat styled, dressed in a fine black suit with a collared shirt and tie to match.

She cleared her throat, "uh hello, Sasuke." She gripped the folder tightly in her hands. Dr. Uchiha raised an eyebrow, "Am I missing something?" Sakura forgot he was in the room, "Sasuke, this is the Sakura you spoke of?" Dr. Uchiha pointed in her direction.

"Spoke of! Sweet Kami! Dr. Uchiha knows we practically sucked faces months ago. Sasuke and his huge mouth!'

Sakura covered her red face with the folder, and spoke behind it, "I'll be going now." Sakura made her escape before one of the brother could stop her.

The door slammed behind her, Sasuke glued to the couch. "Aniki? Why didn't you tell me she worked here?" The pink haired women really captivated his little brother, he could not blame him. The young Uchiha give his brother the death glare but it was not as threatening, especially when your little brother worshipped the ground you walked on.

"You weren't very specific with details of her appearance Sasuke." He stated, "Sakura is a common name in Japan, and you never spoke of a last name. How was I to know?"

"Fine." Sasuke pouted, his little brother may seem all big and bad on the outside but in the inside, he was very possessive, a little bit of a sore loser, and cuddlier but he was sworn to secrecy after that one night he walked in on him and Naruto spooning one another.

Itachi sighed. "What?" Sasuke asked. "Sakura didn't leave the folder."

"Sorry!" Sakura yelled, as bumped into another doctor, she ran as far as she could from his office. 'Stupid stupid stupid! What are the odds? Why didn't ask for a last name?'

"Sakura! Where's the fire?" Tenten stopped in front of her. "I got to get out of here, ASAP! Tenten, something terrible has happened!"

Tenten knew Sakura was a little on the dramatic side, but she had never seen her so worked up before, "let's just take a breath." Tenten led her to an on-call room. "In through your nose, out through your mouth, Sakura."

"I know how to breathe." She argued.

Tenten laughed, "you could have fooled me, now what's going on?" Sakura started pacing back and forth. "Hinata said you in Dr. Uchiha's office… did he finally put the moves on you?" Tenten was bouncing with excitement. "But, you wouldn't be running away if that happened? Right?"

"Tenten now is not the time!" Sakura groaned, "Oh my Kami." Sakura gripped her hair and dropped the folder, 'how much does he know? How long has he known? The possibilities are endless.'

"Sakura, let's sit and you can start from the beginning."

She told Tenten everything, the women was so invested in her story that she grasped at the right moments followed by 'you didn't, you did! Sakura you naughty girl, I am impressed.'

"What does this Sasuke have do with Dr. Uchiha?"

"IT'S HIS LITTLE BROTHER TENTEN! ARE YOU NOT FOLLOWING." The brunette was silent, and then it clicked. "HOLY SHIT!"

"Yes, thank you. Now you understand." Sakura covered her face with her hands.

"What are you going to do?" Tenten felt for the girl, she rubbed her back for comfort, but she was slightly envious, Uchiha men are rumored to be excellent lovers, and Sakura has two, well one for sure at least almost did anyway!

"Ran away, and never return." Sakura spoke through her hands, "you can't do that." Sakura nodded frantically. "You wouldn't leave Souta."

'She's right. Damn her.'

Sakura removed her hands and faced Tenten, "no, I wouldn't."

Sakura's pager went off, "great it's him."

"You know, you didn't do anything wrong Sakura, this happened way before his brother became your boss." Sakura smiled at her friend, "Thank you, Ten." Sakura picked up the folder from the floor.

"Anytime."

"If you happen to sleep with one of them, or both! I want details!" Her brown eyes shined with mirth.

"Pervert." Sakura shut her in the on-call room.

"I'll leave you my office; she should be on her way back." Itachi gave Sasuke the speech, "Try not to continue your actions from last time in my office."

"Tsk." Once Itachi was out the door, Sasuke thought back to that night in the Pool and now. Sakura looked happier, her hair was pulled up in a ponytail with bangs that framed her face and she wore scrubs, navy ones. He never would have thought that she would pursue a career in Medicine, according to his brother she was an excellent student, smart, skilled and caring, her bedside manner won over every patient.

He heard her knock on the door, he cleared his throat. "Come in."

Sakura slipped back into the office, "I knew it would be you." She shut the door behind her and leaned against it, the more distance between them the better. "You've been this close this whole time." Sasuke told her. "Look, I had no idea Dr. Uchiha was your brother."

"And I had no idea that this amazing Ms. Haruno was you." He sounded somewhat bitter.

"Amazing?" She questioned, 'maybe her friends were right after all.'

His dark eyes boar into her, "it appears my brother is quite taken with you as well." Sakura was confused. "Excuse me? Your brother is my boss. You misunderstand."

Sasuke frowned, "maybe, maybe not." He approached her slowly, when he was right in front of her, he spoke, "but I found you first." He brushed a pink strand behind her ear, the contact made her body quiver. "Therefore, you belong to me." He sounded so smug, and for a moment, she believed him.

'Earth to Sakura. You belong to no one! You're your own women!'

Sasuke watched as the emotion in eyes change from want to annoyance, Sakura brushed past him and placed the folder on Itachi's desk. "Sasuke, I belong to no one. I haven't you in months you can't just stake your claim on me." She crossed her arms, "besides it was one time, it wasn't that big of a deal. Oh, Why! Why tell your brother about that moment? Hmm. It was private."

She planned to walk back out of the office when Sasuke caught her wrist, "Sakura that was the best part of my whole trip." His voice was soft; his grip was strong but did not hurt her.

She did not know whether to believe him or not, she could not deny that she thought about the time they shared, and even hoped things turned out differently. The opportunity was standing right in front of her again, "Sasuke." Green clashed with Onyx, "Lunch, please." He asked.

She thought it over and smiled, "you know for someone who doesn't beg, you've been doing that a lot lately."

He smirked, "So nosy." He released her wrist, and opened the office door for her. "I get lunch at 12:00; I'll be in the courtyard."

"Hn." Sakura waved bye and turned the corner.

Sasuke pulled his cell phone from his pocket and dialed his number, "Father, I wouldn't be able to make to lunch today."

"Sasuke, this is the lunch with your future wife and your in-laws. You will be present along with us." His father demanded.

"I'm sorry father, something has come up. I won't be there."

"Sas-" He hung up the phone, he wasn't ready for a marriage and he'd do anything to avoid it.

When Sakura found Dr. Uchiha again, he was standing at the Nursing Station, charting. "Ms. Haruno." He greeted her, like usual. She sighed, "Dr. Uchiha, I don't want our work relationship to become uncomfortable."

"Why would it?" He continued to chart, "Well, for starters because of Sasuke." She waited for him to speak, when he did not she continued, "He seems to think that you're "taken" with me." She used air-quotes, "I know that's not the case, of course."

He put down his pen finally, "Ms. Haruno."

"Sakura" she corrected, he eyed her for a moment. "Sakura, Sasuke is extremely possessive if he feels threatened, he's going to jump to certain conclusions."

She understood what he saying but he didn't agree that their relationship was strictly a "work relationship" that made her nervous. "Yes, but Dr. Uchiha, we have a strict work relationship, right? No feelings involved." She spoke more clearly, hoping he would get the hint.

"There are quite a few feelings involved, Sakura." His voice was lovely.

She gulped.

His eyes matched his brother's, if not just a tad lighter; the dark orbs filled with amusement, Sakura was gaping like fish. Dr. Uchiha was chuckling, "I'm only joking Sakura." He found amusement in her predicament.

"WHAT?" She screeched.

"You're an excellent student and beautiful, Sakura but you're too young for me. Also, we work together that's taboo." It was as if he was scolding her for even having that idea about him.

'These Uchiha men are going to be death of me.'

She placed a hand on her racing heart, and took a deep breath. "You could have given me a heart attack, ya know." She glared at him.

"It's a good thing I know CPR, right?" He teased, and left her standing there to gather her thoughts.

"Do you plan to stay in my office all day little brother?" Sasuke was counting the minutes until 12:00; he still had thirty minutes to go, he did not responded but stayed lounged on his brother's couch.

"Are you going to mention to my student that you're in fact in an arrange marriage with the daughter of a Nobel family."

More silence.

Itachi was fed up with his little brother's antics, "Sasuke you can't-"

"I won't marry her. No matter what father says, I don't care if he disowns me." He spoke the truth.

Itachi sat in his chair behind his desk; he bought up his elbows to the smooth surface and rested his chin on his clasped hands, "All for this girl?" He could not believe his brother would throw away his family's Business for fling, Sasuke worked hard to gain the approval of everyone on the Board despite his father's lack of faith.

"No." Sasuke sat straight up, much like his brother, "because I'm tired of everything being chosen for me."

Sakura chose a table that was somewhat hidden so her friends could not spy on her lunch date with Sasuke. She did not allow herself to get a big lunch, her stomach was in knots already, she settled on a small salad, fruit and a bottled water. She kept an eye out for the Uchiha, and finally spotted him she raised her hand to wave and caught his attention.

"Hi." She greeted as he sat across from her. "Are you not going to eat?" She asked as she placed a grape into her mouth.

"Uh, no. I don't enjoy Hospital food." That made sense, though; but this Hospital had rather good choices.

"Shoot yourself." She took a sip of her water, "so, what'd you want to talk about?" She didn't know where to start? It is not as if they are old friends that were connecting.

Sasuke remained silent, 'this is seems like a bad idea.'

His silence was discouraging.

"20 questions?" He smirked. She could not help the smile that pulled at her lips. "Alright, it's my turn."

He gestured for her to start. Sakura bought her finger to chin, and tapped lightly. "Where did you go?" She did not specify but he knew what she meant. "After that night we left Vegas and returned to Japan. It was only a one day trip, just to get the approval of my position as CEO from our overseas Corp."

Sakura nodded her head, "I tried to look for you, but my father isn't a patient man."

"It's alright." She smiled warmly, that comment made her heart flutter.

"Why medicine?" Her demeanor changed, "pass." She whispered. He thought that was strange, "you can't pass." He told her.

She released a breath, "fine. Ask me that another time."

'There'd be another time? That was promising.' He thought to himself.

"Okay. How's your brother?"

Her face lite up at the mention of him, "you remembered." Those green eyes softened.

"Hn."

"He's great actually. Souta. He is in the fifth grade. It's to the point now that his big sister isn't allowed to walk him all the way to the School doors or ask for hugs because he is a 'man' now." She laughed. He liked when she spoke about him, he could tell she loved him deeply much like him and Itachi's relationship.

"Anything new in your Business world?" Sakura popped another grape into her mouth. Sasuke heard Itachi's words about his current arrangement with a certain female; he smashed that feeling in his gut.

"Well, the company is still in one piece." Sakura listened as he spoke, "my father still hasn't stepped fully down from his position but he's been helping get me better acquainted with our Board Members and clients. It's challenging at times, he's built this whole relationship with each and every client it can be unnerving for them to put their trust in me." He placed both hands on the table; Sakura reached out a placed her hand over one of his.

"You can do it. I have faith in you." Her touch was warm and soft; Sasuke's chest clenched at her words, those beautiful eyes would be the death of him.

A light blush tinted his cheeks, "you'll do great." She squeezed his hand and then released it.

She continued to eat her lunch, "your turn."

Sakura's pager vibrated, "Crap, I got to go." Sakura stood and took her tray to the trash bin, "It was nice seeing you again, Sasuke."

"Wait, Sakura." Sasuke pushed his chair back, and tried to catch her.

Sakura stopped just for a moment, and faced him.

"Can I see you again?"

"You know where to find me, Uchiha." She smiled, "Haruno Sakura! Report to Nurses Station!" The intercom went off.

"Crap. Bye." He watched as her pink ponytail swung back and forth until she was out of sight.