~Konoha High School Art Club~
3
Welcome! To The Konoha High School Art Club!
"S-Sasuke...w-wait..." Saseme stammered asshe tried to tug her wrist free of her brother's grasp,"Y-You're squeezing too tight...it hurts!"
"Huh?" Sasuke gasped when he realized what he was doing and quickly loosened his grip,"Sorry..." he said softly, gently holding her wrist in his hand,"Are you okay?" he asked this as he gently rubbed at the red maring that he had left behind. She was pale and rather frail. Saseme was delicate, and had never been much of a fighter, despite growing up with brothers...
Naturally, Sasuke took it upon himself to make it his duty that he always make sure she was safe. And always protect her.
My Most Precious Person...
"I...think so?" she said softly,"I know you didn't mean it..."
"Right..." he sighed while his dark eyes narrowed, identical to hers, only his trembled with concern as he plaed a kiss on her bruised skin,"...I'll...take you to the nurse..."
"Ah-Wait...!"
XXXXX
"There, that should do it." said Sakura as she finished wrapping Saseme's hand,"Now all you will have to do is ice and heat."
Of course her brother took her to the Nurse anyway.
And of course Sakura was Nurse Tsunade's student aide.
"Thanks, Sakura..." Sasuke said softly as he carefully took his sister's bandaged hand in his.
"Of course, Sasuke~" Sakura swooned.
Of course, Sasuke paid it no mind.
"Come on then..." he said softly hooking his hand in Saseme's,"Now that we know there's no serious damage...let's get some food in you."
XXXXX
They walked down the hall ways in silence, hand in hand to the roof where they often ate their lunches together.
"Sasuke..." she called softly, finally breaking the silence between them as he picked at his plain white rice,"...Don't you think you were a bit rash?"
"Huh?" he stopped mid bite and looked at her.
"I mean...he really didn't do anything wrong..." she blinked shyly,"I really do think he was just trying to help..."
"Huh...whatever." Sasuke muttered,"I don't trust him."
"How can you really say that if you don't know him?"
"You don't either..." he said back,"So how can you really say he's just being nice?"
"I...well..."
There was another long silence between them before he finally sighed and made eye contact with her.
"Saseme." he stated her name firmly,"You're too naive, you know..." he blinked,"You trust too quickly, when you should really keep a measure of caution..." he said,"We are Uchiha..." he blinked,"No one is 'just nice' to people like us...and besides." he scoffed,"His whole vibe screams I'm a thug."
A Soft snort escaped as she tried to stifle a laugh while Sasuke wore a sly side smile.
"I know you only mean to prtect me..." she said to him softly,"But sometimes I feel you may have too much caution..."
"And I feel you may not have enough..." he sighed,"Let's talk about something else." he said placing down his bento,"...Have you thought about what you're gonna do?"
"Huh?" she asked him questioningly, though truthfully she knew what he was referring to.
"Don't play dumb, Sausy." he blinked,"I'm talking about your extra ciriculars." he stated,"You know the school requires you to either be on a sports team or in a club."
"I'm already in a club, Sasuke." she spoke up defensively and he held his gaze on her a while in silence.
"...I mean a real club." he blinked,"...One that's not in danger of disappearing."
She froze up and sighed sadly.
"...I know you love the Art Club." he said," But you know just as well as I do, it's in danger of not lasting." he sighed,"...You really ought to consider your options and find a new one to join for when Art Club goes under..." he said,"...If you want...I could find a way to squeeze you into The Kendo Club?"
"I tried Kendo with you at home..." she said softly,"It's scary, and the loud claps of the wooden swords scare me too..."
He sighed.
"That's because you're out of practice." he said,"You just need a little more time with it that's all." he blinked,"Anyway be it Kendo or not Sausy, you are going to need to find something." he stated,"Art Club is going under, it doesn't have enough members and if it can't get saved, the school isn't going to bother to fund it anymore..." he sighed and rose to his feet as he closed the lid to his now empty bento,"Look...I'm just saying...you should really take some time to consider your options." he let out an exhausted hum as he put his empty lunch box away,"Anyway, I'm off." he stated,"I don't wanna be late for Kendo Club..." he said softly,"If you have the time today...maybe just consider sitting in on it?"
"We'll see..." she sighed softly.
He nodded, accepting that for an answer as he left with a wave.
"Well, if not...then I'll see you at home." with a click of the roof top door behind him, he was gone, leaving her alone with heavy sighs and thoughts.
XXXXX
"SAY WHAT!?" Naruto let out a dramatised cry as he stood alone with the Student Body President during the lunch hour.
"I know it's rather sudden." Neji blinked, his Vise President Lee standing beside him,"But this school requires that each student partake in some kind of extra ciricular activity." he blinked," You must either be part of a sports team, or join a club." he said,"Now I'm afraid the sports teams are all full and try outs are all done and over with." he stated,"So all that's left for you is to join some kind of club."
Hinata, not far down the hall blinked and quickly ducked behind a wall to listen in.
"Jeeze what a pain." Naruto huffed,"All right fine...so what sort of clubs does this place have?"
"Well...I lead the Martial Arts Club, or rather as most students around here simply just call it the Karate Club." he blinked, " If you would be interested in doing that?" said Neji.
"This is true." said Lee,"We are always welcoming new members."
"However we do require that you wear a Ki." said Neji,"Which means you will have to hang your jacket in the locker room during practice."
"No can do!" Naruto scoffed as he gripped at the opening of his long coat,"This coat is like my skin, and I ain't shedding it!"
Neji sighed.
"W-Well...the next most popular club would probably be Kendo." said Lee,"And their uniform also has sort of long coat like tops so...maybe they will let it slide if you insist on keeping it on..." Lee blinked,"They are always allowing new members too..."
"You would have to speak to Sasuke about that one..." said Neji.
Naruto twitched.
"SASUKE!? NO WAY!" Naruto huffed,"If that guy's in charge of the club then I want to be as far away from it as possible!"
Neji heaved a heavier sigh.
"...I do not know what other options are open." said Lee as he sifted through the papers,"The Music club is full up and the Literature and Poetry club is all girls, you would be the only guy, but I suppose it is technically still an option..."
"U-Um...if I may suggest something?"
"Huh?" Lee and Neji both blinked and looked back to find Hinata slowly creeping shyly out of the shadows of her hiding place behind the wall.
"Hinata?" Neji blinked,"What is it you have in mind then?"
"W-Well I mean..." she stammered nervously twiddling her fingers,"Th-There is one more club, with plenty of room for new members and is very welcoming."
"Fine then." Naruto huffed,"The least I can do is check it out so..." he shrugged,"Lead the way..."
XXXXX
Saseme sighed as she slid into the Art Room and gently closed the door behind her so as not to disturb the other members...
Even though those members only consisted of Gaa-chan and herself, along with the Club President.
"Saseme...you're late." A pale skinned male spoke softly at the head of the room without looking up from his iesle, "I was beginning to worry you may not make it today."
"Sorry Sai-Senpai..." she said to him softly, "My brother wanted to talk to me about something..."
"No need to worry." he smiled at her warmly,"I'm just glad you made it." He rose up to greet her properly when his dark eyes widened with concern,"Oh my-Saseme, your drawing hand is injured?" he gently took her hand in his to annalyse its bandaging.
"Oh, it's nothing serious." she said softly,"Sasuke just squeezed it a little too hard."
"I see..." Sai sighed,"Well I hope it heals up soon, it would be a shame to not see more of your talent in action." he blinked,"How is the last project coming along?" he asked me,"Our topic was Portrait...did you manage to do one?"
She twitched and looked down sadly as she gripped the edges of her sketchbook.
"Well...I did do one...but..." she sighed and handed him her sketchbook for him to flip through until it landed on the damaged wrinkled page that was her brother's face.
"I see..." Sai sighed clicking his tongue with a look of sadness,"So it was damaged...hmm." he blinked,"Well...maybe I can press it." he said,"Meanwhile...go ahead an do some free hand that won't be so strenuous until your wrist is better."
"Thank you, Senpai." she bowed respectfully before making her way beside Gaara who looked at her with an apologetic concern. As he opened his mouth to say something, a light tapping sounded against the room door.
"Enter." called Sai, and in walked Hinata.
"Hinata-chan~!" Saseme beamed happily and ran to greet her. She was in the Literature and Poetry Club. She also headed the cooking Club and sometimes visited the Art Club with snacks.
"Oh no, Saseme-chan...your hand..." she said softly holding her friend's bandaged up appendage in her hands rubbing it warmly.
"It's nothing too serious." Saseme smiled.
"So what brings you here, Hinata?" Sai asked gently walking up to greet her as well.
"W-Well, actually..." she gulped,"I-I was asked to escort...a new member for your club..."
Their eyes widened.
"A new member? Really?" Sai blinked,"Of course we have the room and are always willing to welcome a new member...so where are they?"
"R-Right...uhm.." she gulped and bowed politely,"P-Please, allow me to introduce...Naruto, Uzumaki..."
Gaara and Saseme both gasped, as Sai-Senpai's eyes widened while the blonde transfer stepped foot in the room and blinked awkwardly.
"I see...Naruto Uzumaki." Sai smiled warmly,"My name is Sai, and as President of the Art Club, I would like to welcome you."
To Be Continued...