DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO. MASASHI KISHIMOTO DOES.
It's perfect.
There.
A girl stand, her side facing the audiences, as they took the appearance of the girl in the painting. Her petite body shows under her white nightgown that flew by the wind, flawless skin, soft and creamy. Her seemingly soft hands trying to grasp the cherry blossom petals that were taken by the wind. Her rosy hair went with the wind as well but careful not to block her face, it just flew perfectly almost making her look like she has a halo but in pink. Her face spells pure elegance and serenity, she seems calm, happy, contented.
Everyone turned to look at the person that seems to be in the painting.
Sakura.
His Masterpiece
You're Mine, Only Mine"
Chapter 10: "The Question"
Sakura looked at Sasuke in shocked. This went unexpected. Sure, she knows that Sasuke is a great painter but never had she expected that she will be the centre of his masterpiece.
Shin continued his lecture, giving small remarks telling his class that they all did well, except for the people that didn't do anything or haven't been able to present their artworks due to some things. He also told them off that they need to leave their artworks in the school property centre, saying that it will be used in the upcoming art exhibit.
As for Sasuke and Sakura, they didn't talk to each other when Sasuke settled down in his seat, not even sparing a glance when he sat. Knowing that this would cause gossip, he thinks for his next move that will surely assure his spot in Sakura's heart. Not that he will say that aloud. It's even weird for him to even think about it.
Sakura sits there quietly, ignoring the glances that her classmates throw at her, she knows that this will spread fast, as soon as they leave the classroom, the news will spread in no time. She expected that Sasuke's painting is going to be beautiful and that it would impress everyone in their class and even Shin but this is totally different. She thinks that the reason that Sasuke painted that particular scene because it is beautiful but she couldn't shake off the thought that Sasuke maybe, just maybe, starting to like her back.
The art class was dismissed and they went to their next classes.
"They're such an idiot!" Ino remarked as she stared back and forth at Sakura and Sasuke's retreating form, both are going on the opposite way of the hallway to their next class.
"I-ino! Why did you say that?" Hinata gasped looking at Ino's annoyed look.
"Just look at them! Sasuke did a romantic thing and Sakura. "SA-KU-RA!" She just stared at him and didn't even say a word!
"If I was her I'm going to make a move and kiss him right in front of everyone!" Ino said in full excitement, causing Hinata to blush on what Ino had just said.
"B‑but maybe they're just… just shy?" Hinata doubtfully said. Ino rolled her eyes on Hinata's attempt to defend the two.
"They'll work it out eventually! Don't worry!" A very familiar voice said. They turned to the source of the voice and saw Naruto leaning against the door frame, "I know Sasuke! And you know Sakura too, Ino! We're worried about nothing!"
Ino looked at him at disgust, he has never been serious about anything except being in a relationship with Hinata of course, 'Maybe he really did mature, huh.'
Ino huffed in annoyance and waved her hand on the two, "Fine! Fine! I just can't wait for them to get laid!"
"Uchiha."
"Akaningyo."
"So you got some senses and finally made a move to get her from me?" Sasori said, leaning on the lockers.
The hallway is empty, as soon as the bell rang signifying for the lunch break, he immediately went to the lockers knowing that Sasuke will go here first before joining his friends at the cafeteria.
The empty hallways are the greatest thing that Sasori could imagine because then he can now talk to his competitor. At first, he was shocked as well, it is indeed beautiful and maybe this might be the most beautiful painting that he has ever seen, in their current level, of course, he couldn't take his eyes off of the painting, it screams peace in his mind but he shook it off and rolled his eyes. He never expected that Sasuke would make that move, he can imagine if someone else did it but Sasuke? Not Sasuke.
"She was never yours and will never be."
Sasuke didn't eye him and continued putting unnecessary things to his locker and getting what he will be needing for his class after lunch.
"You think you won?" Sasori glared at his back, "I'll still fight for her."
Sasuke this time looked at him, "You know for a fact that she likes me, and also for a fact that I like her. What part of it that you don't get?"
"The part that you will have her. You don't deserve Sakura, Sasuke. Not even a single hair deserves to be yours." Sasori smirked at him, he knows that Sasuke's beyond irritated at this point. Uchihas.
Sasuke scoff, "And what Akaningyo? Do you think you deserve her? Have you forgotten? You're a fraternity member and I know what you do."
He didn't wait for Sasori to reply, he gathers his things in his bag and went to the way where the cafeteria is.
"I won't give her up… I'll get her. No matter what it takes."
Sakura can feel the knowing stares and glances that her schoolmates give her, she was getting her lunch at the counter and she can already feel the glares that bore at her back that she guessed Sasuke's was a part of his fans club, 'Stupid fangirls'. She sighed in defeat getting her orders at the counter and ignoring the girls that glared at her.
Looking up for her friends in their usual seat, she plumped down next to Naruto. Hoping that they won't talk about it and just let them deal with it. Unfortunately for her, luck is not on her side.
"How's our lucky little Sakura doing?" Ino teasingly said, suggestively wiggling her eyebrows.
"What are you talking about, Ino-pig?" Sakura blushed, eyeing her food instead.
"What do you mean what am I talking about?! Isn't it obvious?! Sasuke likes you! You've been waiting for that your whooole life!" Ino exclaimed even making big gestures with her arms and harms.
"Ino-pig, shush! Everyone can hear you!" Sakura said getting nervous at the knowing stares of their schoolmates that passes their usual table, "Nonsense! It's not like everyone doesn't know about!"
"Ino's right, I hear a bunch of fangirls talking about it at my last class before lunch," Tenten said nodding thought. "I think one of them is in our art class... the girl that draw Sasuke, remember?"
"You're pretty famous Sakura-chaaan!" Naruto cheerfully said hooking up an arm on her shoulders which she bitterly shrugged off, "I bet Sasuke's thinking about asking you out now! Heh! That Teme! I know he likes you back!"
"Not you too, Naruto!" Sakura sighed for the umpteen time, "Let's not think about this too much, maybe Sasuke painted it because of the scenery and not because of me."
"Yeah right. If Sasuke's such a great artist then he could just remove you from it, if he wants to paint the scenery that is!" Ino concluded, rolling her eyes at the end of her sentences. "Or maybe… YOU ARE the beautiful scenery."
"Oh yeah! Now that you mentioned it… How did Sasuke have that picture?"
"What picture?"
Sasuke winced when he saw that he get all of the attention of his friends, this rarely happens. Especially from Shikamaru and Neji, that is lazy and doesn't care about him, respectively.
Naruto almost throws his drink on Hinata when Sasuke suddenly speaks behind him. "Well! Speaking of the devil!"
"Hn." Said person, sits down on the space beside Sakura putting down his tray on the table.
"Teme! How dare you not to speak to Sakura after that!" Naruto turned to look at Sasuke, ignoring the blushing Sakura between them.
Sasuke looked back at him eyebrow raised, then he turned to look at Sakura and break into one of his smirks. "After what?"
"Just ask Sakura out, Teme! You're so dense!" Naruto accused. Which gained a snort from Ino, "Coming from the idiot that didn't know that a certain girl likes him until after 8 years?"
"10" Tenten corrected, giving Ino a high-five and laugh afterwards. Neji and Shikamaru sighed at this, "Troublesome women."
Hinata blushed from this, as Naruto stayed quiet but glared at Ino and Tenten in response.
Sakura suddenly saw Ino's eyes glints mischievously. 'Don't you dare, Ino-pig!' The two exchanged glances before Ino speaks again, "Soo…"
"Where's Sasori, Sasuke?" Ino smirks when he saw Sasuke flinch in her question. 'Oh? Did I hit a soft spot?'
"Here!"
Everyone turned a look at him, mostly in shock and disbelief. Seems like destiny is joking around them.
Sasori took a seat at the only available seat at front of Sasuke and started eating his food, ignoring the stares that he receives. Talk about awkward.
"Man! This is going to be a long daaaay!" Kiba said eating his lunch, looking at his friends.
Naruto, Sasori and Sakura stood at the gates, waiting for Sasuke, Sasori and Hinata at their meeting place to walk home together, this became their routine but Sakura seems nervous on having both Sasuke and Sasori with them.
"Sakura-chan? Sakura-chaaaan!"
Sakura snapped out of her thoughts when she hears Naruto calling her, "What is it Naruto?"
"You look nervous." Naruto commented, frowning ever slightly at her, "Geez! Thanks, Captain Obvious!"
"If you're worried about me and Sasuke, don't be," Sasori spoke this time looking at Sakura as if she's the only one there, completely ignoring Naruto who looked at them back and forth.
Sakura looked at Sasori as well looking worried and nervous but before she can say anything Sasori's phone rings, "Oh wait. Let me take this."
With that he picked it up and went to the other side, a little far from them, making sure that they won't hear his conversation to the caller.
Naruto and Sakura didn't saw the bad at this, besides Sasori always get so secretive when he answers his phone and for Sakura, she guessed that maybe it is about their business or from the leader of their fraternity which Itachi is also a member of.
"Ne, Sakura-chan?" Sakura looked at Naruto and raised an eyebrow at him, prying her eyes away from Sasori. "Yeah?"
"Umm... Uhhh…"
Now Sakura's really curious Naruto never acted this way, stuttering and didn't know what to say and how to say it, 'It must be about Hinata'
"About Hinata-chan…" He shyly said, having a small blush on his cheeks, unable to meet Sakura's eyes. "I want to take her out on a date… And ya know! I think it's better if I take her anywhere else… I know she's getting sick of ramen! I j-just… I just wanna make her happy."
Sakura softened on Naruto's reason, seems like the two hit it off. "Naruto… You know by now that Hinata will do anything for you and I don't think that she'll be sick of what you love, especially Ramen! But if you want to take her somewhere else, I know a place! It's in the Kagura district, the name of the restaurant is 'The Place', it sounds so simple but it's a nice and cozy restaurant. Plus! I think Hinata will love the design of the restaurant and the food too! I can guarantee that it's delicious!"
Naruto stared at her in awe noting down in his head the name of the restaurant and where it can be found.
Noticing the incoming footsteps, they looked inside the campus to see Sasuke and Hinata walking to their way.
"Hinata-chaaaaaan!"
Naruto runs to Hinata and hugged her tight, she looks that she's going to faint any minute now, Sakura debate whether it's because Naruto hugged or she's out of breath. It can also be both.
Sakura looked at Sasuke, this time, as he walked to her place and stopped when he's at front of her, not sparing a word, he's just looking at her
"Sasuke-kun."
Sakura called up to him softly, like it was one with the wind.
"Sakura-chan."
And the moment was ruined by none other than Sasori, Sasuke glared at him, seeing that Sasori strike a glance and a smirk at him before looking at Sakura, who's looking at him when he called her.
"I think I'll be going now. I need to take care of something."
Sakura narrowed an eye on him, 'He's acting suspiciously'
Sasori pocketed his phone and went to look where Naruto and Hinata are, "Naruto! Hinata! I should be going by now! I need to run an errand!" Waving his hand on them.
Naruto immediately went to their spot with Hinata behind him, "Well then! We should be leaving as well! Right, Hinata-chan?"
"Y-yes," Hinata responded, eyeing everyone. "Wait. You two?" Sakura looked at her for an explanation. "Yes, N-naruto-kun said that we'll g-go to a restaurant in t-the Kagura district."
"What?! Naruto!" Sakura looked at Naruto in anger, who held his hand at front of him in defence, "S-sorry Sakura-chan, I just wanna take this chance to take her out! And hey! It's not that bad! You'll get to be with Sasuke! So… We'll be going! Byeee!"
Naruto grabbed Hinata and ran for the bus stop, not waiting for Sakura's reply nor letting Hinata say her goodbye.
An awkward silence surrounded the three, no one wanted to speak but then Sasori sighed, "Well, I should be going as well. See you tomorrow. Good luck." He walks down the alley without sparing a glance, his last words are seemingly directed to Sasuke and not to Sakura.
When the two of them are finally alone, Sasuke took his chance to go with his plan. "Let's walk. The sun will set soon."
"O-okay!" Sakura was a little shock, Sasuke isn't really the one to start conversations.
They walk in silence, just their footsteps and the sound of the cars and the people passing by is heard, unless they can hear each other's heart that. Oblivious of each other, Sakura starts a conversation this time, "Sasuke-kun?"
"Hn." He grunted as he took a glance at her in the side of his eye.
"Why did you painted it?" Sakura asks looking at him as they walk side to side. He didn't bother to answer, thinking about how he could deliver his words correctly.
Thinking that he won't respond to her question, she sighed in defeat and return her gaze on the road.
"I think it's beautiful."
Sakura's head perked up when she heard his answer, "Beautiful? He saw Sasuke nodded in response. "I can agree with that, the scenery is indeed beautiful…"
'But why me?'
Sasuke suddenly stopped in his tracks, "I'm not talking about the scenery, Sakura."
Sakura stopped when she heard it, her hearts starts beating like crazy, faster than before. She turned around to look at him, he has his eyes on her, his face looked calm and stoic but she saw his lips turning upside.
"W-what do you mean?"
"I painted it because I think you stand out on that picture. The scenery is nice but doesn't forget that you're in the centre of it."
[FLASHBACK]
It was a spring night and the Uchiha brothers decided to get a walk on the beach, Itachi said that it was scenery to see. Besides, he wanted to have some time with his brother.
"Is it really necessary?" Sasuke asked his big brother, Itachi as he put his shoes on.
"Back when you were just a little kid, you always asked me to play with you and now you resent being with me? You're already putting your shoes on." Itachi answered, a soft smile gracing his face.
Sasuke sighed in defeat and stood up. "Let's just go, Aniki." He walked passed Itachi and went to the door.
"See you're even excited." Itachi shakes his head, following Sasuke out.
They decided not to take the car and walk their way at the beach that's when they saw a very familiar girl going out of her house and locking it.
She wears a white nightgown and a straw hat with a red ribbon on it, she also wears a shoulder purse where she puts her key when she finished locking up her place.
"Sakura-chan." Itachi is the first one to greet her, earning her attention.
"Itachi-san!" Sakura looked at Itachi first and to his side, "Sasuke-kun!"
Sakura walked to them, eyeing the two, "Where are you going? It's already night time!"
Itachi chuckled at her and pats her head only to ruffle her hair, "We should ask you the same Sakura."
She suddenly realizes that she's going out as well, "Ah… I'm going to the beach for a walk."
The elder Uchiha looked at her in disbelief, "Really? We're going to the beach as well. You should come with us."
Sakura looked at Itachi and then to Sasuke, "Is it alright, Sasuke-kun?"
Sasuke looked at her, he can't help but to smirk at her antics, she's pouting and putting up her pleading eyes. "Aa."
"Then it's settled! Let's go." Itachi clasped his hands together and continued walking.
Sakura is about to follow Itachi but she was stopped by a hand on her wrist, "Sasuke-kun?" She looked back at him, seeing that he's eyeing her purse, she looked at it and saw that it's closed.
"Give it to me." Sasuke demanded, looking back at her eyes, "W-what?" Sakura swears that if this isn't Sasuke, she would run off screaming that the person is a culprit. "Your purse. Someone might grasp it away from you. Give it to me, I'll carry it."
She stood there in shock but gave him her purse, "Thank you, Sasuke-kun."
"Hn."
Sasuke smirked at her, very close to a smile, she can say.
"What are you two still doing there?"
They were suddenly interrupted by Itachi. That had been two houses away from them.
They immediately walked to Itachi and he smiled at the two, the purse that was once with Sakura wasn't gone unnoticed by Itachi, he just smiled at them. 'Ah, young love.'
The three of them walked to the beach, sometimes one of the two, Itachi and Sakura, opens up a conversation with Sasuke occasionally giving his remarks and comments. Nevertheless, the walk to the beach is enjoyable, even there are several times that they stopped talking, the silence never bothered Sakura, it was a comfortable silence and she enjoys being with them.
As soon as they reached the beach. Sakura stared at it in awe. It's spring season and the cherry blossoms fly with the wind, the moon is like kissing the sea as the water reflects the moonlight, it's better than watching fireworks.
All of a sudden, she gave her straw hat to Sasuke, who grasped it right away as Sakura runs to the seaside, she stood there for a minute and tried to look on her surroundings spinning as she goes.
'It's beautiful.'
But it's not the scenery that he was looking at, it's that girl who's trying to grasp the petals that the wind blew.
Click.
Click.
Click,
Sasuke furrowed his eyebrows and looked beside him, he saw his older brother, a camera on his hand. Itachi felt that Sasuke looked at her, "Sorry to ruin your moment, Otouto. You were staring at her and I thought I should get a picture. I think it will put into good use."
"I'm not staring at her," Sasuke said in defence.
"Anything you say, Otouoto." Itachi smiled softly looking back at Sakura.
[END OF FLASHBACK]
They both remember that time, they sure did. But back then, Sasuke was in denial and Sakura was oblivious.
Sakura refused to meet Sasuke's eyes and instead she suddenly found the ground interesting, she doesn't know what to say, she wants to ask him why exactly did he paint that, is it because he just finds it beautiful? Or is it because of something else? She wants to ask him about his feelings for her. She's so confused.
"Why are you crying?"
Sakura shot a looked at him and touched her face, she's indeed crying. She looked at Sasuke who is gracing a frown on his face and then she turned to look away. She doesn't know what to say. She just wants to disappear and forget that this day happened. She's so confused, afraid, worried, nervous.
"N-nothing."
She simply says.
Sasuke felt a pang of guilt in his chest. It never happened before. He hates it when he can't bring himself to say what he wants to say, maybe that's just how he goes. That's what Sasuke Uchiha is.
He sighed and slowly reached out for Sakura, his hand rested on her cheek, his thumb gently wiping away her tears. He turned her head to face her, he can see her confused eyes that wanted answers and that she refused to meet his eyes.
"Look at me."
Sakura didn't follow Sasuke's command, she simply looked down on the ground.
"Tch, you're annoying."
This time Sakura shot a look at him, only seeing him smirking at her. "I hate you!" She throws her fist on him, wanting to punch him straight in the face only to be caught by Sasuke's other hand.
"You hate me? Then I should cancel the reservation at the La Presa on Saturday if you hate me that much."
Sakura looked at him in disbelief, "What do you mean a reservation?"
Sasuke smirked at her as he let go of her fist and her cheeks, "I'm taking you out."
"What do you mean you're taking me out?"
Sasuke shakes his head on her, "You really are annoying."
"Wha– Wait!"
Sakura walked after Sasuke as he starts walking to the path where their house leads. Distant voices were heard from Sakura that was answered by grunts from Sasuke.
As they walked away, they didn't notice the silhouette of a man that stands in the dark alley. A visible smirk plays on his lips.
"A date, huh?"
He chuckled deeply in evil, eyes lingering on Sakura's back. Who turned around as if she felt his gaze but runs back to catch up to Sasuke.
"It's time to come and get ya."
Who is this man?
A/N: Here is it! Sorry while I was writing this, I suddenly got a mental block, more like writer's block. The first one was deleted so I think that made it hard for me since I tried to make this with the flow and not playing too hard.
Anyways, let me know who do you think this guy is! Hmmm.
For Angie, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to leave this on the curb but my personal life really took a toll on me so I got to stop and focus on those things first but here I am, I'll finish this once and for all. And also, I will be posting some of my drafts. Thank you for the support and still reading this!
I'll be posting the next chapters in a few days.
Please R & R!
~Yatsu Narurasuke