Chapter 9: Framed

A/N: On contrary to popular belief… I'm not dead…yet. Not that I know of anyway. Read and review like always.

"We better go…" his lips were almost touching her ear. It made her feel warm all over. "Naruto, I know you like to talk but I have to go to Hawaii today so… we need to get going now before we catch traffic," the couple left the speechless blond and his irritated raven haired friend in the yard and silently left the party.

"Thanks for rescue," the pink haired photographer said as they drove off. "Uh," the red head uncomfortably replied as he recalled his bold actions a while ago. "I swear Naruto's trying to play matchmaker again," she shook her head incredulously as she let out a giggle. "Again? Does he do that often?" he looked directly at her beautiful face after the lights turned red. "Y..Yeah… there was one time he tried to hook me up with someone who had very round eyes and thick eyebrow… I think his name was Lee," the event a while ago lay forgotten for a moment as the two conversed comfortably with each other on the way to the airport.

"Here we are," Sakura let out a sigh as they parked. "Who are you going with anyway?" he tried to lengthen their time together as he removed his seatbelt. "Oh a co-photographer, she's very good I'm sure you've seen her shots in some famous magazines," she opened the car door reluctantly and to Gaara's dismay.

Upon his insistence, Gaara carried her not so heavy luggage for her. "You know, you don't have to do this," she felt a bit awkward being sent off by him of all people. " I didn't think you'd mind," he smirked handsomely making her stomach do sommersaults. "I…it's not like I mind. I'm glad you're here," she reassured him with a gentle smile.

"That's weird, I remembered her saying this is the place we'll meet," the pink haired photographer looked around to find her companion. Since Gaara doesn't know what she looks like, his jade eyes just wandered around. A certain someone caught his full attention.

A man with spiky raven black hair and black eyes wearing an American suit was heading for their direction. "Nice to meet you again," onyx versus jade was the battle. Upon their eye contact, each wasn't able to look away or blink. "Sasuke-kun, what are you doing here?" Sakura tried to break the tension.

"Your partner in this project had…some emergency so she can't come," he replied without looking at her. "However, I'll be coming with you. You need a partner in this project and I have business I have to attend to in Hawaii as well," Sasuke confidently tore his glare away from the red head and to the worried lady photographer. NANI?! If his eyes could kill… Sasuke would've been dead… in about a hundred different ways.

Sakura walked uncomfortably in between Gaara and Sasuke as they head for their assigned flight. "Sorry but this is where we split up," the tone of sarcasm in his voice was enough to make Gaara strangle the life out of him. "Gaara-kun, here," she handed him the photo of them together taken in that shrine a few days ago. "I told you I'll give you one didn't I?" her smile was so radiant it made him forget about a certain someone glaring at them.

"Were going to be late," their exchange of smiles was interrupted by a very monotonous voice. "Don't worry I'll take care of her," the triumphant look on the bastard's face as he place an arm on her shoulder to guide her was the last straw.

Without thinking, Gaara caught up to them, took Sakura away from Sasuke's malicious touch and gently kissed her lips. His arm was around her waist and his hand was on the back of her head as his lips were on hers. Of course, Sakura was stunned…at first but then she closed her eyes and relished the feel of his lips against hers.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he watched their little intimate display. People around them started to stare. He was like an antagonist in some sort of tragic love story. The one to whom the heroine was forced to marry even if she loves another man. And that man was obviously the one she is kissing now.

They kissed openly and intimately it was as if the whole world didn't exist. When they broke apart for air, the two had the same shade of red in their face. "Take care of yourself," he whispered while he held her tightly as if she's going to disappear. "You too…" she returned his gesture with equal intensity.

The lady photographer can't help but touch her lips every now and then as she watched the scenery grew blurry on her window. She was acting like a high-school girl that received her first kiss but she didn't care. All she knew was that, that kiss… mean something… something great…something wonderful.

The irritated look on his face didn't disappear as they board the plane. All throughout the flight, she rarely talks to him… her eyes were always on the window as she touched her lips again and again accompanied by a love-struck smile.

Out of sight… out of mind…Gaara, Sasuke proclaimed as he smirked inwardly. Finally, they were in Hawaii.

On their first day, Sakura barely had time to rest. Her boss, Sasuke, immediately requested for her to accompany him in the famous landscapes.

Thankfully they were able to exchange e-mail adds and numbers on the way to the airport. She barely managed to make a decent mail to Gaara telling him that she's already in Hawaii together with a picture of her wearing a necklace of orchids.

As Sakura was taking a few shots of the sunset by the beach, her cell phone in her bag rang. Sasuke watched her as she was so engrossed with taking pictures while he on the other hand answered her call.

"No need to be worried about your girl Gaara. She's in good hands," he quickly said as he heard the voice on the other line. "Where is she?" Gaara demanded. "Well I can say that she's at the beach taking pictures or… she's on my bed…naked," this was his time to irritate him and he was enjoying every moment of it.

With that the call ended, Sasuke erased any traces of the call before returning her phone in her bag.

That night, Sakura was glad to receive mail from Gaara it contained the usual hello and how are you doing statements but his last statement made her eyebrow raise. It says… I'll be seeing you then. Whenever he say those words he would appear in front of her in the most unexpected moment.

Well it's not like he'll appear in front of me. I am afterall in Hawaii. She refused to expect that he will come for her until…

"Sasuke-kun, I thought you said this was supposed to be a business meeting," she looked around and saw a very romantic setting where the people were mostly couples. There was soft music in the air and the tables were candlelit.

"You think about it too much," he pulled out a chair for her. Sakura reluctantly accepted. Dinner was quiet and formal. Conversations were only about the sceneries and nothing personal. She felt stiff… as if her breath was controlled and her heartbeat was voluntary.

"Why don't we dance?" Sasuke offered her his hand. "I don't think that's a good idea," she tried to decline but Sasuke took her hand. "I'll teach you if you don't know how," his lips were grazing on her earlobes. It made her skin crawl.

"I think she prefers to be taught by me…" Sakura's emerald eyes widen in surprise as the familiar cool water scent plagued her senses. A handsome red haired man wearing a loose tie, open coat, blue shirt with black slacks stepped in. "G…Gaara?" she wanted to make sure it was really him or if she was dreaming.

When he offered her his hand, Sakura accepted without second thought. Sasuke was again left to stare at them. "What are you doing here?" she asked immediately as they began to dance with the romantic tune. "I told you I'll be seeing you didn't I?" his hand crept around her waist bringing her closer. "Besides I don't like him being around you too much," he was obviously pertaining to the pitiful man glaring at them.

"Sasuke's just my boss," she can't believe that he was THAT jealous. "I know… I trust you… it's him I don't trust," he reassured her as he caressed her cheek with his fingers. "How did you get here so fast anyway?" she closed her eyes as she felt his sweet caress. "I got on the next flight…" he smirked as he threw a glance at the place where Sasuke was once standing on.

"But the real reason was… I wanted to see you," they got lost in each others eyes for the longest moment before they leaned in to let their lips touch.

A/N: Was this a bit cheesy? Read and review please…