Chapter Three: Konoha Jamboree! J

"It's getting late, so shall we go now to the Jamboree?" Sasuke said bluntly, tapping his foot impatiently as he waits for Sakura outside his _house_. He had been waiting for about half an hour and the sun set already.

"Okay, here I go…" she said. "How do I look?"

"…"

He was speechless. She is really beautiful in that green kimono with white flowers in print design. Her long pink hair contrasted well with it and her red ribbon too.

"Now then?"

"It fits you-- it looks pretty better when you wore it," he told her nonchalantly, but true to his heart.

She excitedly smiled at him and slipped her arm into his. "Ikou yo!"

"…Hai," he said as he smiled at her too.

As they walked under the vividly starlit night skies, Sasuke felt a peace of mind. And Sakura only feels excitement. She was thinking on how the Jamboree is, on how many people go there… maybe children, families… friends and _lovers_. She was choosing in where she'll categorize her and the Uchiha who silently catches fallen Cherry Blossoms from his hair. She loved that innocent look of Sasuke, how he smiles at the blossoms… despite the fact that he is _serious_ in trainings and everything. She knew she was staring at him for a long time already, but who care? She just wants to cherish _that_ Sasuke-kun…

"Nani?" he asked her "dirt on my face or blossoms?"

She shook her head and smiled. You're just _cute_. Her mind tells her. The inner Sakura gets thoroughly excited,

"Hell YEAH!!!" it shouts. "Do I have a _crush_ on Sasuke-kun already?!"

While Sasuke silently shrugged, and then took a stolen glance at Sakura. The night is really perfect. Even the skies and stars seem to agree with them. She leaned on his shoulder while they are now approaching the Jamboree. The tent was perfectly placed as if it was really a part of the plaza. Sasuke never jolted his body as she leans on him. She is really _sweet_. That is the real Sakura way, but the Sasuke way of appreciating her actions is through him alone. The same unadulterated snobbish, straightforward reaction lingers his personality.

"We're here," he finally broke it. She quickly slipped out her arm and clasped her hands in awe.

"This. Is. It!" she replied one by one and almost jumped.

"Hell yeah!" the ever excited inner Sakura backed up.

She liked the lights, the merry-lit stalls, the people who seem to welcome her with a smile, the circus-- but especially _his_ presence. He was still, looking at every corner. He hasn't yet got off his guard as she is enjoying everything. The whole place is crowded, who knows if one works at the castle-- or one was her fiancé already? He must not let his guard off. Sakura released him from the daze. She tagged him away the entrance.

"Let's enjoy this night, Sasuke-kun!" she exclaimed "c'mon! I wanna play there!"

"Okay, Sakura-chan…" he said back.

"FINALLY!" she exclaimed "I got free from that 'Princess' you've been calling me,"

"Well…" he began defensively "you are my princess whom I sworn to protect,"

She was flushed and stood still for a moment. The words she's waiting! Not that exact, but it's too solemn to be true! He really wants to _protect_ and _save_ her! Is this the coming true of her dreams?

"I thought you wanna play?"

"HELL YEAH!" the inner Sakura exclaimed

"C'mon!" she cried and they ran for it…

"That's what I like in her--- her energy aside from her pure vulnerability…"Sasuke thought within him.

"Okay… 3 out of 5, you get a fan," the owner said…

"Arigatou!" Sakura said. "Heck! 2 to go, I should have gotten it for that teddy bear!"

She pointed to a white teddy bear located at the top of the stand.

"I'll get it for you," Sasuke said. He paid for it, and then got ready to throw the kunai. He smirked. "This will be easy,"

He quickly moved every kunai straight to the target. Sakura clapped in awesome admiration, and the rest of the people present at that area adored his quick movement and 100% hit rate. So eventually Sakura had the teddy bear, hugged Sasuke for getting it for _her_. On the other stall, a blonde boy with blue eyes tried that same game but failed _many_ times. Sakura and Sasuke approached the place.

"Dobe, you didn't changed." Sasuke replied vexingly.

The blonde looked back, and then threw the kunais continuously.

"Sorry," the storeowner said.

"Sasuke-_bastard_!" he exclaimed. He looked at the girl beside him. He was quite shocked.

"Stop calling him like that!" Sakura exclaimed angrily.

"Nani?" the guy said. "Are you with this _bastard_ tonight?!"

"Yeah, any objection?"

"None!" he said nervously. Sasuke smirked at Sakura's wildness, she scared off the guy named Naruto.

"Wait! You're his sister?"

"Iie," she answered calmly

"Umm… long lost _AUNT_?"

"Iie…!" she answered as he begins to irk her.

"How about… a relative? Mother?"

"Iie!!!!!" she screamed out at him, which almost destroyed his ear drum and created a scandal. "You are really a _IDIOT_!"

Sasuke snickered at the treatment the _Dobe_ gets from his _friend_. For 5 years they both haven't seen each other. They've been lawful enemies, in the age of twelve. But those times he was really better than Naruto--- being the so-called genius ninja and super rookie / Genin. He passed everything with flying colors, and Naruto passed through by hook or crook. He always dreamed of defeating Sasuke, and never thought of making friends with him. He also thought of being the number one, but unfortunately, it is Sasuke who has the luck and abilities.

"Surrender, Dobe?" he finally asked.

"Then who is she in Uchiha Sasuke-bastard's life?"

THUD,,

"I. SAID THAT. YOU. WON'T. CALL. HIM. BASTARD!!!" she motioned and gave him an unexpected attack by her fist.

"Itai!!!!!!!!!!" he cried out loud. "What kind of girl is this that Sasuke--- Sasuke has tonight?"

"That's too much for you," Sakura said and smiling victoriously, as Sasuke followed it with his you-did-it-well smile.

"Why are you together? Sasuke NEVER goes with any girl except when it involves mission!" Naruto said.

"Things change, dobe, but not YOU…" he said. "Let's go Sakura-chan,"

"I finally got it!" he exclaimed. "The lady is Sasuke's _WIFE_!"

"But how did he fell in love without certain interest in girls?"

This time Sasuke moved while he was blushing.

"You're really--- a Dobe!"

"I did said wrong again?!" he exclaimed rubbing his aching head. "Maybe girlfriend,"

He looked at him blankly, and then somewhat nodded.

"Girl… friend, a girl which is a _friend_,"

Sakura glanced back at the words he just said.

"So we're friends," she told herself, "friends, Sakura… friends…"

"… And besides I work for her," Sasuke added, relieving himself from that _tough_ interrogation by Naruto.

"Yeah, so shut the hell up!" Sakura cried out. "Let's go!"

Naruto just looked at them, with a mark of doubt. Anyway, he was shocked to hear 'friendship' in the Uchiha's words. True to that, he even said he _works_ for the girl. So the Jamboree seems to get related in his job. But is getting a teddy bear part of it? Naruto was bugged by more questions forming in his mind. Mingling, and making him numb. He continued his walk and said that he mustn't talk of the _bastard_. He looked around, luckily they're gone. In his walk he saw a girl with that certain Byakugan eyes…

"Yo! Hinata!" he greeted. "Alone?"

"Yah…" she answered blushing and then averted her eyes away his sight. Naruto has always noticed her eyes averting his sight since when they were at the same grade and level… and he's fought her brother too.

"Where's that Neji?" he asked, looking around.

"He said that he has no time to go with me,"

"Why not go with me?" Naruto asked her suddenly. "I am alone too. Just awhile ago I saw Sasuke-bastard with a girl."

"Sasuke Uchiha?" question lingered in Hinata too. "With a girl?"

"Yeah, I don't get if it's job-oriented but he told me it _was_ his _friend_."

"But I thought he's not interested in making friends?"

"Dunno," he answered, and then offered his hand. "Shall we?"

She shyly took his invitation and they moved forward together. Anything can happen that night, and so it is a way of making people close-- the Jamboree… everyone's attention was now on the fireworks.

But Sakura can't see it as fine as she wants, and so she thought of an idea in climbing up a tree. On that tree Sasuke was beside him… evenly appreciating the beauty of the fireworks display silently, without any reaction.

"This is the most beautiful display I've seen in my lifetime," Sakura said "better than the display at the palace every New Year…"

Sasuke clearly remembered his _own_ family celebrating New Year 's Eve with fireworks too. Angst was the thing he only felt for missing it. Anyway, at least this night, he has _someone_ to share stuff like those.

"They say that fireworks are used to take the attention of Kami-sama," he suddenly said.

"For what?" Sakura curiously asked

"Wishes…" he grunted softly. Sakura closed her eyes in hoping that Kami-sama might hear her wish--- to find her prince charming…

Just right after the fireworks display, it suddenly rained. The two of them got down already and went back to the tent. The relentless rain didn't stop that easily, and caused some people to stay longer in the tent. Others have their umbrellas and abruptly left the area for home. In Sasuke and Sakura's case, the place is _far_ and muddy is the path to take. Grimly, Sasuke sighed, looking up the dark sky.

"Did someone wished to rain?" he whispered sarcastically…

The rain continued, getting heavier and the drops seem to get bigger. Some people decided to leave before it gets worst.

"I think we should also leave," Sakura said.

He nodded, but before she got her feet outside the tent, he moved to carry her. He quickly grabbed the girl by the waist, hoisting her up over his shoulder. Sakura's face glowed red with embarrassment, she is too shocked to move. Sasuke quietly carried her away from the tent, not giving her a single glance. Seconds passed by, then minutes, neither one saying anything. Sakura turned and stared at Sasuke, her face merely inches away from his. She was too nervous to fight his decision, her limbs practically paralyzed from the shock of what was happening.

"Nee… you don't actually need to---" she began shyly.

"Oh no! I guess I'm falling for him!" inner Sakura whispered into her mind.

"I don't want the pretty kimono get spoiled, 'y know…" he said in the Sasuke way, "And I don't want you to get soiled too."

"And you?" she said and then he tagged her closer to his body, making the inner self of Sakura and herself flushed, unable to react and _touched_ by his mere _humanitarian concern_.

"… I don't care,"

"…"

Sasuke finally put her down as they arrived at an Onsen Inn--- famous for their Hot Springs. Sakura almost clapped, having her very first stay in that kind of hotel. Sasuke cringed when he knew that there's ONE room left, a suite for them to occupy. Of course because of the continuous raining, he agreed and then they entered the hotel. The receptionist gave Sasuke a towel, who was dripping wet. Sakura felt sorry for him, but he took it as a simple _nothing_.

"Here we are, sir, ma'am… enjoy your stay!" the receptionist ended, leaving them inside a room almost as big as Sasuke's hut, and really occupied with lots of stuff--- a fridge, TV, radio and a LARGE and spacious luxurious bed.

Sakura and Sasuke leapt in joy deep inside, and then were destroyed by Sasuke's sneeze…

A/N: This is my first Naruto fic so don't get mad at the mistakes I'm doing! I missed some letters when I type, so it makes grammatical errors! They are actually typographical ones! Now I didn't intend to write Naruto as a kunai missing ninja--- well, I want to add some OOCs… just leave reviews regarding it so I may improve. Look, I haven't researched about some facts, so GOMEN! Just please, review!