Chapter 7

Snow. And in Konoha, snow meant icy roads, which at this age, Sakura wasn't comfortable driving on icy roads. So, what was meant to be a more private meeting meant that her dad was now driving her to meet the person that had changed her life. The airport was still a thirty-minute drive from their current position, but with each passing minute, she felt her stomach twist tighter with anxiety. Karin had been texting her all morning, asking about updates on their meetup, wanting every single moment detailed to her. Sakura normally would be annoyed, but the distraction helped to occupy her mind from becoming sick from anxiety. What would he think when he met her? Would his expectations be too high? Would she even match what he envisioned in his head when he saw her? Only then did she notice that she had been twisting her hair around her finger, giving it a tug to bring her back to reality.

The snowy landscape continued to pass by in the truck she was a passenger in. It meant that Sasuke would have to sit in the back, giving him the perfect view of her while she would be unable to look back as much. It gave him more time to focus on her and determine if she was worth his time. Biting her bottom lip, she felt her cheeks heat up in embarrassment at the idea that he would see her and immediately regret the time they had wasted on her. She felt a pair of eyes on her only to see her dad looking at her with a strange look.

"Getting nervous?" He asked, eyes peering at her from behind a pair of thin, metal glasses.

"A little…" Sakura groaned. It wasn't often that her dad took an interest in her feelings. He had always been someone who showed little to no emotion in most situations, so feelings weren't something he was entirely comfortable dealing with when it came to his family.

"You'll be alright. He's been with you this long and hasn't run away yet, I doubt he will." Her dad said, his tone just as detached as normal, but she knew it was his way of comforting her.

"Thanks, Dad." Sakura murmured, looking out the window as the signs for the next exit meant the airport was looming even closer.

She took a deep breath as the miles shortened between where she sat in the truck and the airport. Then she felt her phone vibrate and instead of Karin, it was Sasuke and her anxiety rose. He was waiting for her, and she could feel her entire system wanting to shut down. She managed to explain to her dad where he was, earning a nod before looking back out at the scenery around her, the airport promptly in view. What should she do? What was appropriate? Should she hug him? Would that be too forward? She shut her eyes, counting backwards from ten to try to get some sort of control over her emotions, but it didn't seem to be as helpful as she had hoped. Now they were along the long stretch of road, the names of various airlines visible and she saw that he had seen her description of the truck.

Then she saw him and felt her entire body scream to run away, to tackle him, to just faint. She wasn't sure which direction her system was going, but she had to get it together before she opened the truck door. He had a large suitcase with him for his two weeks stay, Sakura having spent the morning preparing the apartment over the garage for him, she hoped he would enjoy having time to himself while settling into this new. Once they stopped and Sasuke recognized the truck enough to begin walking towards it, Sakura took in a large amount of air, letting it out quickly before opening the truck door and stepping out. As she was a bit shorter, she knew how amusing it looked to get out by the slight twitch of his lips as he watched her. His dark eyes bore into her green ones, towering over her by several inches, the top of her head almost coming up to underneath his chin. Without a single thought, she went for it and walked the few steps it took to meet him and wrapped her arms around him. Instantly, his scent enveloped her, and she instantly relaxed in his embrace, his smell nearly addicting as she let him go and looked up at him.

"Oh, let me help with that!" Sakura quickly stated, reaching out to grab his suitcase only for him to move it behind him, his brows raised.

"I have it, thank you." He said, a smirk playing against his lips. "Let's go."

"Oh, okay." Sakura said, frowning slightly until she felt him embrace her quickly, a genuine smile on his face before he let her go and placed his bag in the seat behind her dad before getting situated in the seat directly behind her. Sakura got in, the suitcase leaving no room for her to be able to sit beside him, but it was for the best. There was a chance it would snow, and he didn't need to get his suitcase wet just so she could sit beside him. Getting in her seat, she turned around slightly, offering a smile that he instantly returned.

"How was your trip?" Sakura asked, watching him curiously.

"It was alright. Only a very small amount of turbulence, but nothing concerning." Sasuke shrugged, then he turned to her dad. "Can we stop somewhere? I wasn't able to bring a few things on the plane that I needed."

"Sure. We will stop when we get closer to home." Her dad responded. "So, tell me a bit about yourself."

Sasuke began telling a little bit about his family as Sakura texted Karin, talking about how he really was cute. She felt giddy now, seeing that his reaction was more like her own and felt a little bit better. Yet, she still felt nervous about being near him. She could still smell him on her clothes, and she had to contain her squeak of excitement. The drive was relatively normal, more her dad and Sasuke talking. She felt her phone vibrate and saw that Sasuke sent a text and she felt her cheeks go red as she realized she had been quiet this entire time.

Sasuke: Everything okay?

Sakura: Sorry, I'm normally quiet, you know this.

Sasuke: As long as you're okay.

Sakura: I'm just nervous.

Sasuke: Why are you nervous? It's just me.

Sakura: -.-

She then felt a hand reach around and tap her shoulder, causing her to turn in her seat to look back at him and feel her cheeks turn red. He then engaged her in mindless conversation, ranging from school to his family. She followed along, treating it like she would over the phone with him. Yet, in the back of her mind, she still felt a sense of anxiety at the idea that at any moment he would get bored of her. So, when they parked and the three of them walked into the store, her dad stated he would be going to look at a few things and to meet him up front before walking away. Now she was alone with Sasuke at her side, and only then did she get a good look at his attire. Nearly in all black, she noted the black leather jacket, black shirt, dark blue jeans, and black shoes. His hair fell carelessly across the left side of his face and his normally shaggy hair was starting to lay flat now. She had noticed the change as he grew it out slightly, but it looked amazing on him.

They began to walk to essentials, Sasuke giving her a list of things he needed to which she led the way. He was on her left, walking very close to her so that she could feel his body heat radiating against her side. They made it to an aisle as she stood a foot back to give him space to look around. They were alone in the aisle, so he had a moment to look around. Though, he seemed to have other plans as he walked up to her, leaving barely a foot between them and her breath caught. Then he was mere inches from her before he wrapped his arms around her and picked her up, swinging her in a circle. Sakura squeaked from the random and unexpected movement before laughter took her over. He set her down and she looked up at him, feeling her face beaming as he reached up and cupped her face in his hand. She leaned her face into his hand, feeling the warmth he possessed, her eyes focused purely on him.

"I suppose we need to hurry." Sasuke said, letting his hand fall to his side before turning and grabbing what he needed.

It was a large store, so after he grabbed the few things he needed, they hurried to make their way back toward the front, seeing that her dad was there waiting for the two of them. As they were on their way back to her home, it would be getting to see him meet her mother, brother, and family dog. She thought back to late summer when one of the family dogs passed away under the care of a veterinarian. The idea still caused her eyes to swim with tears, but she pushed that feeling away and was determined to focus on the good. The person she had developed feelings for from a distance was now just a few feet behind her, his scent enveloping her. When they turned in the driveway, she took a breath and hopped out. Yet again, Sasuke was adamant he carries his own bag, smirking when Sakura pouted in frustration.

Her home was nice enough, on a plot of land with no one around for a good bit, which provided a very large front yard that led into a wooded area. The home was made of brick, light in color and sturdy, so the white door didn't seem out of character for such a home. They entered and her mom was there, sitting on her chair reading a book, reading glasses perched on the tip of her nose as she did so. Looking up, she smiled up at the newcomer, setting her book and glasses down as she did so. Standing up, she walked over and introduced herself, giving Sasuke's hand a shake in the process. So formal, Sakura thought as she watched their interaction. And just like normal, the family dog Koorogi began barking, her black and white fur nearly standing on end. Sasuke watched her curiously and then sat down on the floor, setting his suitcase down beside him.

"Be careful, she's not one to warm up to strangers." Sakura's mother warned, watching Koorogi pause in her barking, watching the stranger curiously.

Sakura sat down beside Sasuke and then watched Koorogi walk up cautiously and instead of coming to Sakura, walked up toward Sasuke, keeping a distance, but enough he could hold his hand out and let her sniff him. As if deciding how she felt about him instantly, Sakura watched Koorogi walk onto Sasuke's lap, looking up at him and wagging her tail shyly. Both Sakura and her mother, Mebuki, watched in amazement at seeing Koorogi take a solid interest in Sasuke. After everyone this dog had met, he had to be the first one she trusted instantly, which was a sign to Sakura that Sasuke was just as good of a person as she had assumed.

"She's never done that before." Sakura mentioned, and as if on cue, Koorogi made her way to Sakura's lap, but turned to eye Sasuke, wagging her tail and tilting her head down as she did so. "And I feel like she's flirting with you."

Sasuke smirked at Sakura's giggle and they both watched the dog make her way back over to their guest, her tail wagging even more when he went back to petting her. After a moment, he got up, much to Koorogi's disappointment and they went into Sakura's room and her nerves shot up again. He looked around, already semi familiar with the colors she had chosen, but he still looked around, occasionally touching a few trinkets and looked back at her. Sakura watched as he walked up to her and he looked like he might kiss her and she felt her face heat up at the idea, but he did something that confused her. Instead of a kiss, he reached up with his hand and poked the middle of her forehead. Bringing her hand to the spot, she looked up at him curiously, but he merely smirked at her before looking around a final time.

"Have I told you I hate plane rides?" Sasuke asked, looking at her and raising a brow. "They give me sinus congestion."

"Oh, I'm so sorry. Do you want to lay down?" Sakura asked, looking over at her bed. "We can get you situated in the apartment above the garage after a nap."

"Only if you lay down with me." Sasuke stated, Sakura instantly feeling her cheeks heat up, but nodded.

So, she climbed into her bed, taking up one side as he shrugged out of his jacket and laid it on top of her dresser. Their eyes met in the mirror, and she blushed more, earning another smirk from him. She could see the outline of lean muscles against his pale skin from what was exposed from his black shirt. He then took the other side; Sakura having already faced away from that side. The bed sinking was the indication as she refused to look in the mirror, but then she felt his arm wrap around her, pulling her towards him. With her back against his front, she felt comfort and before she knew it, she had been lulled to sleep and slept for the longest time until she heard a voice.

"What are you two doing?"

Sakura was startled awake to see Sho standing on her side of the bed, watching her curiously before his eyes wandered to the figure behind her. She felt Sasuke stir and then he moved closer, laying his chin against her shoulder. Sho didn't budge but continued to eye him as he had just gotten home from his last day of school before winter break. His brown eyes twinkled with that look of someone who was up to something before the twinkle went away almost just as quickly. Sasuke sat up and Sakura took that moment to sit up as well, stretching her limbs yawning slightly before looking back at her younger brother.

"We were napping." Came the deep voice from behind her, Sakura turning to look at Sasuke who looked bored. "What did you think we were doing?"

"I don't know." Sho responded, also looking disinterested. "I'm going to go play a game."

He walked off, leaving Sasuke and Sakura alone once again. So far, aside from cuddling with her during their nap and the moment in the store, Sasuke had been a gentleman with her. Taking the moment to sit up, she ushered him up to the apartment he would be staying in. Walking up the stairs in their garage, she opened the door and looked inside. Seeing that her mom had recently cleaned and dusted the area, it looked great. He set his suitcase down and looked around the small, but open area. The kitchen was small, but large enough to contain a stove, oven, microwave, and sink to their left. In front of them was a living room with a television and couch. Beyond the kitchen was a small guest room with a bathroom. And to their right was a bigger room with a private bathroom. They walked into the room, hardwood floors not even making a squeak as he made his way inside.

"I hope this will be okay." Sakura offered, waiting for his response.

Sasuke turned at that time, eyeing her for a moment with a curious look on his face. Sakura felt unsure and shifted on her feet slightly, tucking some of her hair behind her ear before looking up at him once again. Then, as if the floodgates had been opened, she watched as he made his way to her, reaching up to cup her face in his hands before she felt his lips against hers. Without a thought, Sakura brought her arms around his neck, pressing herself against him. It was at that moment she felt like her entire body came to life, his lips perfectly moving over her own as if they were made to do just that. His hands were calloused, but not enough to be uncomfortable. She moved her hand through his hair, the strands soft to the touch. Sakura clung to him, a slight moan escaping her lips as he continued before he suddenly leaned back, breathing hard. Taking a moment to catch her own breath, she looked up at him, seeing lust and love in his eyes, even with so little emotion evident on his face.

"About damn time." Sakura said, earning a chuckle from Sasuke before he kissed her again.

Their kiss lasted as long as last time, but this time felt slower, as though they were savoring their moment together. Just as he began to kiss his way down her neck, they heard loud footsteps approaching and quickly jumped back from each other, managing to calm their breathing before the door burst open. Sasuke pretended to be in the middle of explaining how the apartment should suffice and seemed to have everything he needed. Sakura turned, smiled at her little brother, and checked the refrigerator to see that it had been stocked with things that he enjoyed. And checking the few cabinets above the sink, saw that they had also been stocked up. Her mother had done so a few days ago, which Sakura had been thankful for.

"Dinner is ready." Sho said, looking at them suspiciously.

"Thanks. We will be down in a moment." Sasuke responded.

"Want to play a game with me after dinner?" Sho asked him, looking up excitedly.

"Sure." Sasuke gave Sho a warm smile, which melted Sakura's heart instantly.

A/N: Yay! Had my first review for this story! I'm glad it's being enjoyed, so thank you Gabi2801! Soon, we will be establishing the second pair for this story, but naturally we need to get these two amazing characters well into their relationship first. Even if I write crack pairings, I do appreciate the canon pairings, so I'm enjoying getting to write about these two and will be just as excited about the other two. Once they get through the "new" feeling of their relationship, I plan to get Sasuke back to being more in character. I feel as though anyone in this position would just immediately be out of character when you see someone you have feelings for the first time. However, once things feel more "real" and established, then you can go back to being your normal self. Until then, he might seem a bit more affectionate than he is, so be patient with me!