DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO. MASASHI KISHIMOTO DOES.
It was perfect. Simple and yet elegant and he loves it. She is perfect.
"Sasuke-kun."
Sasuke snapped out of his senses and ignored the giggling Ino behind the door, poking her heads out.
Instead, he looked at Sakura, head to toe and gave her an amused smirk, making her flustered, "Hn."
"Should we go then?" Sakura managed to say not looking at Sasuke.
"Aa. Let's go."
Sasuke offered his arms on Sakura that surprised her and reluctantly took a gentleman's gesture. Which Sakura has never seen before.
Walking back to Itachi's car, he escorted her to the passenger's seat and went back to the driver's seat.
"Have fun you two!"
Hearing Ino says her goodbye as Sakura waves her hand in response, this time allowing Sasuke to pull up the windows and starting the engine, driving to La Presa.
A/N: Quick note and suggestion, If you can please listen to "Bella Notte", Italian romantic music, this is the youtube link for it, [ watch?v=QALRgeSoZRs ]
This might get you into the vibe of the Italian restaurant and the dinner date and of course what will happen in this chapter.
"You're Mine, Only Mine"
Chapter 12: "Beautiful Night"
They sat in silence as Sasuke drives them to the restaurant, Sakura faced outside the window, looking at the night stalls that have been set up on the side of the street and some bars that just opened, the city lights were amazing, a sign that Konoha is a city that is improving and being more than of the other cities.
Sasuke glances at her once in a while not removing his focus on the road for they might get into trouble if he did. He instinctively grabbed into his pocket while his other hand is on the steering wheel feeling a long box that barely fits enough inside his pants' pocket.
They arrived at La Presa at exactly 7 in the evening. As Sakura was to expect of Sasuke, always at the right time.
The never seen gentleman was the one to get out of the car and went to the other side to help Sakura to get out of the car as well, assisting her by the hand.
"Thank you, Sasuke-kun." Sakura smiled at him, giving her a smirk in return.
"Hn."
The valet of the restaurant comes at them when he saw that they managed to get out of the car, "Signore?"
Sasuke gently handing Itachi's keys on him, both of them nod in acknowledgement. Sakura almost forgot, this is one of their restaurants, not completely owned by them but the Uchihas are co-owners of La Presa, a classic Italian restaurant. She remembered that Sasuke once brought Sakura here with his mother, Mikoto, whose insisting that he should bring her around since they were childhood friends.
Sakura snapped out of her thoughts when Sasuke handed his arms again, which she took gratefully, clinging her hand on his harms as he guides them inside the restaurant.
La Presa is an expensive restaurant, one can tell, but as a co-owner, meals for Sasuke and his company are always free. Sakura can still remember the multiple digits that she saw on the menu from the very first time that she went into the restaurant and she knew that she can't pay that without eating the next few days or even weeks.
"Signore Uchiha"
The receptionist greeted him in grace, he must be working here for a long time, Sakura noted for the old man holds grace and a high honour on him, she can tell. "Signora" He looked at her briefly and return his gaze at Sasuke afterwards, "I take that this is your date."
"Hn. Sakura Haruno." Sasuke gestured his hand towards her and then to the receptionist, "Mr Fuji Yamamoto, La Presa's manager and receptionist, also a friend of our family."
"Ciao. Buona sera, Signore Yamamoto." Sakura greeted in Italian, a small conversational Italian words that she learned years ago, Mr Yamamoto was taken aback but gave her a small smile. "Buona sera, Signora Haruno."
Taking a good look at the two, he made a gesture on his hand and another restaurant staff came. The new guy must be covering for him. With a small nod from each other, Mr Yamamoto faced the two.
"Please follow me."
They made their way to the elevator that sits in the middle of the restaurant, encircled by the several seats and dinner tables, "Signore Uchiha had set the finest dinner and the finest place that the restaurant can offer for your date, Signora. I'm sure that you two will have a great night."
Ting!
When the elevator doors slowly uncovered the floor, Sakura was taken aback, she never came in this floor before, what La Presa's most famous for, dining at the top floor of the building and having a 360 view of the Konoha from the top. It is indeed a breathtaking scenery, she can already tell without walking and looking closely from the floor-to-ceiling glass windows as the Italian music plays in the background, a very relaxing place to have dinner, indeed.
Getting off of the elevator, Mr. Yamamoto led them to a table where a waiter awaits for them, "Riservato per Signore Uchiha e Signore Haruno." The waiter smiled at them, allowing himself to slip bypass them with a small nod, leaving them with Mr Yamamoto again.
Sasuke nodded at him, "Grazie." He smiled in return, knowing what Sasuke meant behind those words. "Goditi la serata, Signore Uchiha, Signora Haruno."
Sakura smiled him as well, looking as he returned to the elevator, Sasuke caught her attention again taking her by the hand, going into their reserved table and seats. He gently placed her on her seat, pulling and pushing her seat for her comfort, and doing it for himself afterwards.
"Where's Sasuke-kun? Come on, let's not joke around."
Sasuke narrowed his eyes on her, "What?"
She giggled in return, bringing her hand on her lips like a lady, "I'm kidding. I never thought that Sasuke will be such a gentiuomo."
Sasuke shook his head on this and gave her a smirk of his own.
Sakura looked beyond the glass windows on their side, taking the scenery before them, Sasuke followed her gaze, right after.
"Wow, Sasuke-kun, I never had imagined…"
"Is it too fancy for your liking?"
Sakura snapped her head on him, eyes are wide as if she had seen a ghost, "Are you kidding me, Sasuke? This is the most beautiful thing that I've ever seen and experienced!"
Sasuke looked back at her and smirked in return, hiding his relief, "There's more to see."
"I'm looking forward to it then." Sakura beamed at him.
"I can't imagine how expensive these things are."
He shrugged at her, "It's free but I doubt that I think they'll tell this to my mother and father."
With that, the waiter went back on their table with a bucket of ice with a bottle of wine in the middle of it, "Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore." He declared opening the wine with pop and pouring it into their glasses.
When the waiter finished pouring them a glass of wine, he turned to Sasuke, "The appetizer will be here shortly, Scusami." Getting the bucket he went back to the bar.
"Is that, that bad?" She started again going back into the conversation that was interrupted.
"They'll tease me endlessly, my brother and mother that is."
Sakura giggled at his remark, did Sasuke just tried to tell a joke?
"I think that Uchiha-san wouldn't be pleased into teasing and just ignore this newfound information." She replied as well, shaking her wine a bit before bringing it into her lips.
He glanced at her and smirks, "He'll push the idea of getting married."
Sakura was taken aback and almost spats out the wine on him, "Sasuke-kun!"
He chuckled at her, "I'm saying the truth."
The two enjoyed the meal, making small conversation and laughing on each other's jokes. Many guests left the floor as the night went by. They shortly enjoyed the appetizer after the waiter leave and immediately given them their entrée in no time, pasta. Like she always likes, the best that she had ever tasted, she noted.
It was almost past 11 in the evening when the whole floor was empty, the restaurant is far from being closed, and the staff run it 24/7 after all. The only thing left on the floor was them and the bartender and waiter that is working behind the small bar behind the elevator.
This time they are hallway on their dessert, a Panna cotta and Cannoli with Affogato are served to them. Sasuke enjoyed the dessert, it wasn't composed of too much sweet for his liking, the waiter must tell the chefs that he is their guest that explains why his Panna cotta is not that sweet. Sakura that has a natural liking for sweets and coffee enjoyed the Cannoli and Affogato but didn't like the Panna cotta too much, saying that it was wiggly and that she didn't like gelatins.
Sakura was currently enjoying her Affogato picking some Cannoli as if it was milk and cookies.
He looked at him in unbelief, "You like sweets that much?" Sakura beamed when he asked stopping her hand from biting some Cannoli and sip on her Affogato instead.
"I LOVE IT! I would order for a mousse or tiramisu if I can!"
"I ordered for their finest and this is what they are known for." He said sipping into his own Affogato.
"Finest. For the finest lady?" Sakura asked jokingly, winking at him in the process.
Ever so slightly, Sasuke's eyes softened, "For the finest lady." He repeated with much more intense and was that … tenderness?
All of a sudden the Italian classic song in the background stops. For once, Sasuke thought that the music would stop but it was replaced by another music, Italian of course but this time, it's slower, much serene and dare he say perfect.
Ah, Bella Norte.
Sasuke can see Sakura's surprise in front of him, putting her Affogato on the table and looked around the place, stopping on windows beside them, gazing the beautiful night.
"It's really beautiful."
When she didn't hear a response or a grunt of agreement from him, she slowly turned her head to him only to be greeted by a hand.
Sasuke is now standing beside her, offering her a hand this time.
"Signora. Shall we dance?"
Sakura smiled genuinely at him, "I would love to."
Accepting his hand, he enveloped her hand in a gentle but firm manner. Leading them in the space beside their table, feeling the calm music that contrasted their beating hearts.
Sasuke opted her hand to his shoulders, where she gladly complied, putting both of her hands to each of his shoulders. While his hand rested upon her waist, slowly moving and adapting to the slow beat of the music, leading her with him.
They were soon dancing slowly, staring into each other's eyes, ignoring everything else but the both of them, feeling the sweet music, their sweet dance, the beautiful night.
"I like to give you something."
He started as they move slowly, not stopping their movement, he removed his right hand on her waist and pull something on his pocket that immediately caught Sakura's eyes, it was a black thin and long box, eyeing it curiously, she looked at Sasuke, only to found him looking at her, bringing his gaze back down the box, he opened it, revealing a beautiful necklace.
The chain was made in gold – there was a red hint on it – rose gold perhaps, she could say, holding a much beautiful pendant, a double-moon shaped pendant, a crescent moon was composed of small diamonds but the full moon that sits in the middle of it made her look at Sasuke, "Ruby?"
He shook his head and took the necklace on his left hand, putting back the box on the table not far beside him. Carefully, he unclasped the necklace and moved to put it on her, "Red diamonds."
Sakura looked at the cold pendant that rested on her, "It's the rarest diamond, Sasuke-kun."
Successfully putting it on place, he took a step back, eyeing her from head to toe, then rested his eyes on the necklace with the colour of his clan insignia, the white and red diamonds made the trick. He looked at her, at the entirety of her, he knew that it will be beautiful if she was the one wearing it and he was right. It looked very beautiful in her.
"You're a hard one to find, I don't see any difference."
She blushed on his words, she never expected Sasuke could be so romantic, she smiled at him. "Thank you, Sasuke-kun. I love it."
He smirked in response, pulling her again to him, resuming the dance they yet to be enjoyed and yet to be fully felt with the music.
Sasuke observed her, from her thin lips that had a smile that never left her face ever since they danced together, her small nose that compliments her small face making her look adorable and lady-like, her rosy cheeks that seemed natural and then her eyes. The jade orbs that looks precious as it is, the eyes that hold a lot of emotions and yet look so confident and strong, her beautiful eyes that stand out with her hair–
Sakura, on the other hand, did as well, starting from his lips that are thin but very masculine, his sharp-pointed nose that screamed sophisticated, his high cheekbones that made his face look sleek and elegant, and there is it, his eyes. His obsidian eyes that say nothing but pure elegancy, strong and intimidating, like an abyss that you could never escape once you fell for it, such intimidating eyes–
She's perfect.
He's perfect.
Feeling the gentle warmth that surrounds them, she let herself gave in to the urge of leaning her head on his chest, making her hands slip past his shoulders rested crossed behind his nape, this way she can hear and feel his heartbeat. It was racing fast when she leans on him but slowed after he sighed and surely, she felt him placed his chin above her head.
Closing her eyes, and never knowing that he did too, they glided to the music, not caring whether someone is looking at them, not caring even if they stayed too much, not caring if their dessert will soon gather arts that taunt their sweetness, maybe the ants will crawl at them too, this is sweet. Another side of Sasuke that no one sees before, no one but her.
Soon, Sasuke's hands on her waist snakes around her instead, squeezing her in a little, inhaling her intoxicating smell and gently letting himself relax in her presence, he didn't need to be guarded, he didn't need to deny, he likes this – no, scratch that – he loves this, holding her between his hands, dancing to the sweet music that he doubts that it was coincidental, just dancing, feeling, and grasping the moment before him.
They didn't want this to end for sure, the world might be ending but they never wanted to stop dancing. They never wanted to stop gliding to the music, wearing their emotions on their sleeves, being vulnerable for a while, being between each other's arm.
He didn't want to let go.
She didn't want to let go.
And they didn't.
A/N: Well now that's done! To be honest, I am NOT in the mood of making fluff and I think I'm so bad at it but I got the confidence of writing it when I came to this song "Bella Notte" which means "Beautiful Night" and I feel in love with the instrumental of it, it is very serene and elegant/ It's just perfect for this chapter and the scene, I really tried my best to make a good fluff without having Sasuke into a very out of character state, so I made it very minimal but romantic in the most fashionable sense. I hope you like it all. This is really a great chapter for me.
Originally, I was supposed to get this chapter and the previous one, Chapter 11: Who's Dating Who?, into one chapter but I saw that it went long so I have to cut it down and it perfectly sets into a 2k+ / 2k+ division so I think it's perfect for a filter chapter.
Anyways enough blabbering, I hope you enjoyed!
And please, oh, please. Leave a review. Per favore, signore e signora! Grazie! Arrivederci!
NOTES: Translations/Definitions/Description - According to an appearance in the story.
Signore - Mister/Sir
Signora - Madam/Lady
Ciao - Hello/Bye
Bueno sera - Good evening
Riservato (per) - Reserved (for) ...
Grazie - Thank you/Thanks
Goditi la serata - Enjoy your evening
Gentiuomo - Gentleman (in a word-per-word translation)
Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore - One of the most expensive wine. Having Ornellaia as its producer.
Scusami - Excuse me
Panna cotta - Italian dessert of sweetened cream thickened with gelatin and moulded. The cream may be aromatized with, coffee, vanilla, or other flavourings.
Cannoli - Italian pastries of the Sicily region.
Affogato - Italian coffee-based dessert. It usually takes the form of a scoop of vanilla gelato or ice cream topped or "drowned" with a shot of hot espresso.
Bella Notte - Beautiful night
CIAO!
~YatsuNarurasuke21