A/N: I placed a song entitled: Watashi-tachi ni Naritakute / Wanting to be together with you [Sailor moon Super S Ending theme] which I think fits right to Sakura… and Kimi ni fureru Dake de / Just to touch you [Rurouni Kenshin Ending theme] for Sasuke… well, just look if it is really right to include these songs.

"Pretending"

-A Sasuke and Sakura coupling fiction-

Chapter Three: Stop Pretending

For once Uchiha Sasuke never felt this in his life: to be loved dearly and to love. His character is emotionless and cold… sarcastic and glaring… but nevertheless, he felt these through one girl named Sakura Haruno.

Words screaming in his mind are wanted to be burst out to be said to that certain emerald-eyed girl with pink hair and pale face… cherry lips which he had kissed, lean body warm for him to hug.

The girl didn't expect. She pondered at this: and she never wanted to feel that same old Sasuke-kun rejection… a failure she'll carry all her life.

Words don't come out of Sasuke as he merely stares at the smiling Sakura, and everything he cherished about her. The weak attitude, strong personality, and her utmost concern for him.

He wanted to make her happy, but afraid she'll just get hurt. He wants to be with her, but afraid he can't do anything for her.

Thoughts of her… thoughts and thoughts… please leave me alone now… please..

A Sasuke Uchiha never demanded for something such as peace of mind… and the rest that has bolted him out of the blue. These feelings and the feeling of love-- for her and no one else.

~*--

"What are you doing there, people?" Naruto shouted. "We're going now!"

Before Sasuke can say a single word, Sakura immediately left, and called Naruto back.

"We're coming!" she shouted. Then smiled falsely. "Let's go, Sasuke-kun…"

She clings in to his arms and sadly felt a feeling she hated most-- feeling of loneliness.

~*--

"Ah! It's a wonderful day out!" Kakashi said. "What do you think, Sasuke-kun?"

"Uh, yeah." The same mysterious Sasuke came back with fleeting thoughts in him.

He maybe thinks about what I told him… I hope he does answer me immediately Sakura thought of these things. She can't actually control him, but she holds something between them: their show as boyfriends.

She nodded vehemently, and then Naruto noticed her feeling unwell. He asked what's going on, and Sakura said that she is not really feeling well, for she has just gotten into sickness. Kakashi told the 4 to go home while he spends their private time together. Of course Naruto thought it was something PERVERTED, knowing Mr. Kakashi is… anyway they go home.

~*--

"Do you want me to take you home?" Sasuke asked formally.

"No-- I just made a pale excuse," she said. "Sasuke-kun… I really want to be alone  NOW. So please-- just leave,"

"Goodnight," Sasuke said and left her. Afterwards she arrived home, and she can't hide her feelings anymore… As soon as Sakura opened the door of their house, she fell down in tears and sobbed.

I hope this will be the last time I'll cry for you, Uchiha Sasuke…

~*--

Anata to deatte kara

Mune no oku de hikatteru

Itoshisa ga setsunakute

Shizuka ni hitomi wo tojita

[Ever since I first met you

I've been shining in my heart

My love causes so much sorrow

I broke off my glance so quietly]

Nan de mo nai shigusa mo

Goku futsuu no kotoba mo

Omoidasu sono tabi

Namida ga desou ni naru

[Your insignificant gestures

And your ordinary words

Every time I think of them

I feel like I'm going to cry]

Koi wa Lonely Lonely heart

Hitoribotchi yo

Lonely Lonely heart

Yorokobi mo kanashimi mo itsu datte

Watashi dake no yume no naka

Koi wa Lonely Lonely heart

Dakedo kitto itsu no hi ni ka

Anata no tsuyoi ude ni dakarenagara

Watashi-tachi ni naritakute...

[Love brings a lonely lonely heart

I'm just all alone now

Lonely lonely heart

All the joy and pain I feel, I'm always

Dreaming it by myself

Love brings a lonely lonely heart

But I know that someday it will come

While I'm being held in your strong arms

Wanting to be together with you...]

Anata no sugu chikaku de

Zutto watashi matteru no

Kidzuite wa kurenakute

Nan do mo gakkari shita wa

[Right at your side, I'm standing there

I'm always waiting for you

But you don't return my advances

I've been disappointed so many times]

Dare ka wo suki ni naru to

Naze konna ni kurushii no

Watashi dake hitori ga

Kaze wo hiita mitai ni

[Then I fall in love with someone

Why does it cause me so much pain

All alone, by myself

It's like I've fallen sick]

Ima wa Baby Baby love

Douzo onegai

Baby Baby love

Samishisa ni makesou na sono toki wa

Tekagami wo nozokasete

Ima wa Baby Baby love

Naita yoru mo itsu no hi ni ka

Mukashi wo natsukashinde waraiaeru

Watashi-tachi ni naritakute...

[And now it's baby baby love

Please, I beg of you

Baby baby love

When I feel I going to lose to this loneliness

I have to look into my hand mirror

And now it's baby baby love

Seems like every day I'm crying through the night

I long for the past, smiling to myself

Wanting to be together with you...]

Dare mo shiranai

Secret tears

Nugueru hito wa

Only

Watashi yori

Watashi-tachi ni naritakute...

[Nobody knows about these

Secret tears

The one to wipe them away is

Only…

Not just myself,

But wanting to be together with you…]

Sighing dramatically and crying, Sakura felt she was alone in a cold city… depressed and has nowhere to go…

~*--

Ah-- Kimi ni fureru tabi ni kimi e to chikazuite

Ah kimi wo kanjita mama boku wa mitasarete

Takamatte iku kokoro wo tashikameru you ni

Kimi wo tsuyoku dakishimeru yo

[Ah- Every time I touch you, I am close to you

Ah-  when I felt you I was filled up

To make certain of my rising heart

I'll hold you strongly.]

Imi wo naku sasende

Kowaresou na kokoro nando mo

Nagusameru youni

Sotto tsutsumikomu kimi no ai

[Screaming without meaning

My fragile heart, many times

Has been consolingly

Wrapped softly by your love]

Baby sou sa itoshii sono sugata wa

Donna toki ni mo boku wo sasou Woah

Nani mo ka mo wasureru hodo

[Baby, yes! That beloved one

Is always inviting me, Woah

Until I forget everything else!]

It's already 11:37 in the evening, yet Sasuke can't sleep and he turned so many positions of sleeping but it won't come to him. He clutched his fists as he thought of making Sakura cry--- the worst thing he can do to her. He rejected her and because he didn't even react on the words she said a few moments ago, that means rejection, what else…

And as Sasuke tries to sleep for the 187th time, his eyes remain open. What he wants now is to see Sakura, and so he retreated to her house.

~*--

Sakura was now drowned into dreams about that same person, Uchiha Sasuke. But still, her ninja senses are in action, and she learned through these senses that someone is about to enter her room… she pretended to be sleeping, but is ready for an assault.

Sasuke watched her sleep carefully, and does not know that she know he's around. Sakura readied for an action, and then…

"What do you need, huh?" she shrilled "I am gonna shout if--"

"It's me," he said gently. "… Sasuke,"

"Sasuke? What are you planning? Why are you here at this time?!"

"I… can't sleep," he said.

~*--

"And why at my peaceful house?" Sakura continued. "Why not bug off Naruto?"

He smiled at her.

"Okay, I can go now," he said. "Actually I just want to see your face, goodnight and sorry,"

See me? Why?

"O-oyasumi…" she just replied, as she flushed in deep red, and Sasuke noticed it. He looked back, then kissed her cheeks.

She can't believe it, and just looked at a peripheral vision Sasuke was jumping happily up-and-down the roofs of the houses of people.

Sasuke, I love you so much… I hope you love me too…

***To be continued!***

Notes: In the last part, Sakura has hoped for Sasuke's love in return… so watch out for the last chapter after this!

The cutest Naruto character is none other than: SASUKE-KUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!