Chapter 22: Scandal and Truth
Sasuke feels furious with what he is currently witnessing, Sakura being all chummy with this American, Sai. Granted, Lady Sakura is an American herself but still.
He tried to regain his composure but every time his eyes accidentally looks at them, he can't help but feel like punching this man to oblivion.
'This is outrageous! Why am I being like THIS?'
He sighed, he knows he is in no position to act like a jealous lover but quite ironically, he is sure acting like one.
As Sakura excused herself, informing them that she will be writing a correspondence to Lady Ino that she will be inviting Sai to tag along with her, the three men were left in the drawing room.
The silence was deafening and subtle tension in the atmosphere is somewhat felt.
Naruto broke the silence by sipping his tea noisily, "Ehm, it is a little uncanny but when I looked at the two of you… you could pass off as brothers, same pale skin, same dark hair." He laughed nervously, 'Damn you bastards, talk…'
Sasuke can't help but rose his eyebrow with Naruto's comment, 'Surely, he is jesting.'
With a smile permanently fixed on his face, Sai replied, "I don't think Lord Sasuke will like that, his face is inexplicably sour for the last few minutes. I value my life, Dickless."
Naruto turned bright red as Sai mentioned that shameful pet name, the one he gave him when they were still young.
'Oh, for the love of everything holy...' Sasuke thought as he accidentally spilled the tea on his breeches.
"I have you know, Sai! I grew! I am now a man, a full grown, red blooded MAN… that pet name doesn't affect me anymore," Naruto defensively exclaimed while having a little shaky tone.
Sasuke looked at Naruto incredously which in return, Naruto gave Sasuke a stink eye.
"With the looks Lord Sasuke is giving you, Naruto, it seems like you did grow but not enough," Sai said nonchalantly.
Sasuke can't help but smirked, he never met anyone who has the audacity to say something as vulgar as that to Naruto's face except his immediate family, they are truly are close friends.
"Well, I have sent my response to Lady Yamanaka for tomorrow. I do hope she is fine with me bringing you along Sai," Sakura said as she entered the drawing room.
Sakura definitely felt something as she came in and by the looks of Naruto's red face, she is sure that Sai had said something he should have not said, again.
But there is also something else entirely, she can feel the tension coming from Lord Sasuke as he looked at Sai. It was as if he was sizing the man, silently judging Sai with his eyes…
Sakura shook her head, she is probably imagining things again, 'A bad habit when it comes to Lord Sasuke, I need to stop honestly.'
"Come on Sai, how about we stroll around the park? I could show you around," Sakura said as she extends her hand to Sai.
Sai looking at Sakura's extended hand but felt someone else looking as well, it was Lord Sasuke, and he is definitely staring at Sakura.
Sai felt a little mischievous at the moment, he wants to play around these two who obviously has some strong attraction to one another.
'How oblivious can they be?' Sai thought with a grin.
"Why sure, thank you for offering Sakura dear," Sai said, teasingly.
Sakura, shocked with Sai's reply, suddenly stepped a little back.
Sasuke stood up as well, "Well then, Naruto get up. We must accompany Lady Sakura and this… gentleman on their stroll."
Naruto stared at him as if he grew another head, "Why? Sakura could ask her handmaid to be her chaperone… We have a card game to attend to. "
"Because… Lady Sakura has recently debuted and it won't do her good for her reputation to be seen with Sir Sai here, even though they are friends. The ton doesn't know that," Sasuke explained, well, he actually tried to come up with an excuse just so be able to follow the two childhood friends strolling.
"Ah! It definitely won't do good for Ugly to have her reputation tarnished by little ole me…Lord Sasuke is right," Sai agreeing with Sasuke, and desperately trying to stifle his laugh.
It seems like his journey to London will be an exciting one courtesy of his dearest friend, Sakura, and this lord Sasuke, Sai thought.
The stroll was a little awkward for Sakura, as she can feel someone's eyes boring through her bonnie to her head. The feeling is slowly creeping up her spine and she starts to feel a little clammy.
"Why Sakura, you don't look good," Sai said as they stroll down the park.
"I am fine, Sai. I think the weather is getting to me," Sakura lied.
'What do you mean weather? It is so bright and sunny today," Sai said, with his trademark smile.
Sakura knows that look; the look that often put say to her that Sai is up to no good.
"Sai, I can see it in your eyes, your plotting something! Don't even think about it!" Sakura whispered.
"I am not doing anything, although the man behind us is probably aching to strangle my neck…" Sai said with a little laugh.
"Sai, it is not like that. There is nothing between Lord Sasuke and I. He isn't angry or anything… he just… looks like that sometimes… well, most of the time."
"Like what? Like he wanted to kill every person in existence? Like he is constipated every hour, every day?"
Sakura laughed hard and smacked Sai's arm because of his comment about Lord Sasuke.
Lord Sasuke is indeed a person who seems like he is always on the verge of popping a vein on his pretty little head, but Sakura knew that the man has a lot on his plate ever since his brother and father died.
Although Sakura could not help but agree with Sai, it seems like Lord Sasuke's mood had been fouler than ever, since Sai arrived.
It gave her stomach little butterflies, honestly.
If Sasuke's eyes could get narrower, it was definitely this time. Seeing Sakura laughed her heart out with what that man said to her, infuriated him.
'What are they whispering about? Why are they too close to each other? It will give people the wrong idea,' Sasuke grimly thought.
"Ehem, Lady Sakura… I don't think it would suit your reputation to be too close to Sir Sai especially that you are looking for a suitor. It might give the ton a different impression," Sasuke said with a little bit of a harsh tone.
"Is that true, Naruto?" Lady Sakura turned to her cousin who just shrugged his shoulder, neither confirming or denying Lord Sasuke's statement.
Sakura put a little distance between Sai and her so as not to give the people any ideas.
'Propriety... Even friends who are clearly enjoying each other's company are being judged',Sakura shook her head.
It was past three in the afternoon when they all went back to the manor. Since Sai cannot stay in the manor without any chaperone and not to mention, Duchess Tsunade has no idea of his visit, Naruto decided to have him stay with him for the duration of his London trip, also extending the invitation of playing card games with Sasuke and him in Lord Nara's bachelor home.
Sasuke's mood became insufferable.
That night's card game was the worse Lord Sasuke ever betted on and lost a couple of quids. His concentration was not in its best state. He kept being distracted, looking at Sai and thinking his relationship with Lady Sakura, how close they were, if there was any feeling between them.
Thoughts running rampant in his mind to the point that he had the worst play to date, even Naruto -who often loses, was able to win against him.
The men were curious about Sai and his relationship with the two royal cousins. They kept asking Sai how was America and how it was like living there.
"Well, Ugly was indeed boyish in our youth. She kept on doing things that a normal boy would do and that would be the cause of Aunt Mebuki twisting her ears," Sai recalled happily as he sips his tea.
"Ugly?" All of them said in unison.
"Oh, that's Sai's pet name for Sakura. She grew up with face always covered in coal and dirt. She had her two front teeth missing that time, too," Naruto explained nonchalantly.
Sasuke's eyes widen from what he heard, Sakura looking like a small boy who probably tried catching frogs with her face smudged with mud, 'So cute.'
"Is it true that Lady Sakura can shoot a gun?" somebody asked Sai.
"Oh, she truly can and very much on point when she uses a gun. She was taught by my Uncle to use a pistol and she even bested Dickless and I," Sai explained.
Lord Nara choked on his drink, "Dickless?"
"I told you Sai! Don't call me that anymore!" Naruto exclaimed with his hands shaking, face red as a tomato.
Sai stole a glance to the reclusive Lord Uchiha sitting on the far corner of the room, nursing his drink. He thinks that the Lord is listening but is probably pretending he is not.
Sai knows that this Lord is very much invested with Sakura, with the way he is reacting. What he doesn't understand is why Sakura keeps denying this and this man, seems like he is in denial as well.
'Let's see how will he react to this?' Sai thought.
"Even though Sakura is tomboyish, there is one thing I remember she did that was a little different, she kissed some boy, just to see what is kissing all about," Sai reminisced.
Sai can almost see Lord Sasuke's ears perked up with what he just said. He can see the young Lord adjust himself on his seat to move a little closer.
"Ah, I do remember that. She kissed that older boy from the neighbouring village and you could that boy turning so red," Naruto added with a smile.
"And Sakura, after kissing that boy decided to wipe her mouth and tongue on your shirt, saying that it tasted like a cured fish," Sai said.
"Are you jesting? Sakura kissed someone for the heck of it?" Lord Kiba asked.
"She did, and I do think she regretted it afterwards. Since then, that boy followed Sakura around. We need to knock some sense to him to leave her alone."
"She is very much experiments everything so as to learn by experience," Naruto added.
Sasuke can't help himself but mull over the things Sai just said regarding the childhood misadventures of Sakura.
'She kissed a young boy at a young age! That Lady is very feisty indeed,' Sasuke thought, a smile slowly breaking out of his face. He feels his ears starting to feel hot.
Sai can see that small movement of Lord Uchiha's lips. He didn't quite understand why is still there a fuss about finding a suitable suitor for Sakura when it is clear as morning that this Lord is quite smitten with her, and judging by Sakura's reactions earlier, it is a mutual feeling.
'Maybe a little push is what they need."
The next morning was a clear day for the Yamanaka Summer Luncheon and Sakura was especially giddy. She will be able to introduced Sai to her new acquaintances. They could probably share a few anecdotes of how the Americans are.
Lady Ino was especially excited for today. Yesterday, she received a correspondence from Lady Sakura about bringing an American friend to the Luncheon. Although, Lady Sakura never really specified if the so-called friend is a Gentleman or a Lady. Imagine Lady Ino's surprise as well as the majority of the ton when Lady Sakura came with an unknown gentleman in tow.
The ladies in waiting were all looking at Lady Sakura and her friend, and how they are a little close to each other. Lady Ino took a little glee when she spared a glance to Lord Sasuke following them behind.
He looked like someone ate his breakfast. His brows so knitted close together, they look like a unibrow from afar. His walk is rigid and his whole demeanour is more agitated and unapproachable than before.
Lady Ino smiled; she could feel Lord Sasuke's attraction to Lady Sakura like how she felt the sun's warmth. But other than that, Lady Sakura's friend - she admits to herself, was a looker.
She can wait to be introduced to the young American Lad.