-Believe Me, It's True-
Summary: Sasuke has always hid his innermost feelings for as long as he can remember. But at age sixteen, he can't afford to hide those feelings anymore. But what if the one he loves hates him for past misunderstandings? SasuxSaku
Chapter Eleven: Summer Rain
Sasuke stirred slightly on the makeshift bed, shifting his position away from the rising sun. He gave up and stood up from the floor in which he slept in. Sasuke stood by the open window, looking at the horizon as the sun rose slowly above the buildings.
"Sasuke?"
He looked to the bed and saw a half asleep Sakura, rubbing her eyes. She looked at him with wide emerald eyes and plopped her head back into the pillows, her cheeks rosy red. "Good morning."
"Good morning," he said, sitting on the bed. "Anything wrong?"
She buried her face into the pillow and mumbled, "Nothing."
"Are you sure?"
Sakura didn't reply, but shook her head vigorously.
"Sakura."
She shot out from her position and looked at him, her cheeks still burning. "Sasuke," she whispered fiercely, "if you don't get a shirt on right now my mom is going to think we did something last night other than go to a party!"
Sasuke looked at Sakura and laughed. "That's it? I thought it was something serious!"
"This is serious! What if she gets the wrong idea? I don't want to get into big trouble!"
Sasuke lay down on the bed, his head on her lap. He gave her a small smile and said, "But it's hot, you wouldn't want me to be sweating now would you?"
Sakura's face reached a whole new level of red. She looked from his amused eyes to his well toned, muscular, bare chest.
Oh hell! He is so hot! Look at his sexy, perfect body! Her inner-self yelled, drooling with satisfaction.
Sakura really was on the verge of fainting.
"Sakura? What's wrong now? You're so red, you're burning up!" said Sasuke quietly, sitting from his position and placing his hand on her forehead.
Sakura averted her gaze from Sasuke, and took his hand away from her. "I'm fine…don't worry about me."
He placed his hand under her chin and made her eyes meet his. "I can't help it…when it comes to you, I have to worry…"
"Oh, Sasuke…"
He leaned in closer, his lips barely touching hers. "Sakura," he whispered, his breath mingling with hers.
Sakura closed her eyes on instinct as Sasuke kissed her for the second time that day; she wrapped her arms around his neck as his arms crept to encircle her waist. Sakura pulled him in closer to deepen the kiss praying in the back of her mind that no one would be walking up the stairs, slowly opening the door and…
"KYAAAH!"
They broke apart and looked at the door where a blushing Natsumi was standing, her hands covering her lilac eyes. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I should have knocked, I mean, uwah! I'm sorry, sis!"
Sakura got of her bed and glared at Sasuke and said, "Natsumi! Don't be sorry! It's just someone didn't feel like listening to me!"
Sasuke shrugged that comment off and looked for his t-shirt on his bed and muttered something that sounded oddly like, "It wasn't my fault."
"Um…okay." Natsumi said, blushing more at the sight of Sasuke and the sight of them kissing. "But, Nami asked me to drop these off for you guys…I probably should have knocked…or come by at a later time…"
Sakura forced a smile, "No, not at all! It was great that you could come!"
"I'm sorry…but…"
Sasuke sighed. She acts like Hinata.
"What?"
"But…"
"Natsumi, spit it out!"
"YouguyslookedreallybusyandI'msossorryforbothereingyoutwowhenuguyswerekissingIdidn't mean to!" Natsumi blurted out, looking down at her feet the whole time.
Sakura looked at her, her face becoming instantly red. Sasuke coughed a couple times and continued to find his "missing" shirt.
"NATSUUUMI!" a voice called. Footsteps hurried up the stairs and the infamous Nami walked in, grinning like a Cheshire cat. "You forgot this picture!" she looked at her sister, who was still looking at the floor, then she looked at the blushing Sakura who was staring at the wall, and her golden eyes wandered to the Uchiha Sasuke who was…shirtless.
Sasuke looked up from his business and looked at Nami. "Hey."
Nami turned bright red and said, "OH MY GOD!"
"What?" he asked.
"YOU…"
"I…?"
"ARE…"
"Am…?" Sasuke began to feel a little scared of Nami's sparkling eyes.
"SO…"
"So…?"
"HOT!" Nami screamed, looking at him with pure delight like a little girl, her mouth dropping to the floor. "Sakura is so lucky!"
"Um…thanks…I guess…?" Sasuke said, feeling uncomfortable and started to look for his shirt even faster.
"Nami! What was that for?" Natsumi asked, forgetting her own sudden outburst. "That wasn't very nice to say to Sakura's guest!"
"You mean Sakura's boyfriend…" she muttered amusingly.
"Nami!" Natsumi hit the back of her 'older' sister's head.
"What? It's not like I'm lying or anything! You and me both know that they always make those lovey dovey eyes at each other…and remember when –" Nami then stopped herself short and smiled like a devil plotting an evil plan. She rubbed the back of her head, "Oh…Sakura…"
"What?" Sakura asked her emerald eyes fierce.
Nami smiled and gave Sakura all the prints in her hand. "Oh! Nothing at all! Here! It was from last night's party!" she said, dragging Natsumi out the door and slamming it behind them. They could hear them walking down the stairs and closing the front door.
"What was that about?" Sasuke asked, leaning over Sakura to see the pictures in her hands. She too was puzzled by the sudden leave of the Kawahara twins.
Sakura smiled and sat down on her bed again, leafing through them all.
"Sasuke! Look at this one!"
He sat down next to her and looked at the photograph. It was of Sakura and Sasuke being pushed by the twins so that they stood together. Sakura was blushing and Sasuke was looking at the ceiling.
"Look at you," Sasuke said, pointing at her. "You looked so beautiful last night."
"T-thank you…" she muttered, flipping to the next picture. "Wow, Nami is really good with a camera!"
This was a head shot of Sakura, smiling at someone who was cut off from the picture. Sakura flipped the next one to see another head shot of herself, the next ones consisted of Sakura, Sakura, and Sakura; save for the one where it was both her and him dancing.
"She must really like you…"Sasuke said, "almost all of these pictures are of you…"
"Not this one!" she said, giving him a picture of himself, his hands in his pockets, smirking. "Pretty good…"
"No, I like this one better," he said, pulling out a picture of him and Sakura. Sakura instantly turned red and snatched the picture away from him and tossing behind her back. "Sakura! That one's the best picture"
"Well, Nami shouldn't have done that anyways," said she, crossing her arms, her cheeks still flushed.
"Fine then, I'll just have to do it again…" he said teasingly, leaning in towards her.
Sakura pushed him away. "Sasuke! Put your shirt on first," she whispered to him.
"Why?"
"Sasuke!"
"Shh…don't say anything…" he said, before fully capturing her lips once more. Sakura moaned in disapproval but gave in when she figured out that Sasuke was not going to let go of her.
Not this time, Sasuke thought, mentally smiling.
Oh well, her inner-self mused, you know you like it.
Oh shut up.
You know you do.
Remind me to kill Nami.
Why? Because she took a picture of you guys making out?
SHUT UP!
Haha, the girl tells all.
Sasuke broke apart and looked deep into her emerald eyes, "Sakura…I need to find my shirt still…"
Sakura smiled mischievously and said, "Shut up, Sasuke, you idiot." She wrapped her arms around him and kissed the amused Uchiha boy, shirtless and all.
Sakura beamed as Natsumi wrapped her small arms around her. "I'm going to miss you, Sakura…" she said, her lilac eyes brimming with tears. "You have to promise to come back one day and visit! Please don't forget about us, sis!"
Sakura patted her head, and replied, "Oh, Natsumi, I'm never going to forget you. These past few years with you were a blast."
Natsumi smiled and sniffed as her tears were falling down her cheeks. Nami stood behind her sister and smiled while biting her nail nervously.
"Say, chief, be careful okay?" Nami said, scratching the back of her head. "Get back to Konoha safely."
"We will, Nami," Sakura said, "Oh and, I won't forget you also." She grabbed the little girl and gave her an embrace.
Nami pulled away and gave her a contagious smile.
Sasuke just stood there, watching it all.
Sanosuke came up next, the last one seeing as Himiko wasn't there. "My dear, Sakura, good luck."
She looked at him, puzzled.
"With Uchiha-bastard over there." He whispered closely to her ear.
Sakura giggled and whispered back, "Thanks."
"Oh! One more thing!"
"What is it, Sanosuke?"
Sanosuke didn't answer for his lips were pretty occupied with someone else's…
Sasuke rushed over to the pair and landed a perfect punch to Sanosuke's jaw.
"Hand's OFF," he said fiercely, murmuring afterwards, "Man that felt good."
"Sasuke, you shouldn't have done that." Sakura said; looking down at the body sprawled onto the floor.
Sasuke just grunted and began walking ahead, leaving the residents of the mountain village.
"Well, I guess this is goodbye. See you around!" Sakura exclaimed, waving.
"BYE!" Nami yelled, waving her arms off.
Sakura smiled and turned around to have one last look at the village she called home for the past two years. She has had so many memories here…Memories are what you make them after all…
"Sakura," said Sasuke, who was far off from Sakura, "hurry up!"
"I'm coming!"
Yeah, as many memories I have made here, I will probably have made much more with Sasuke!
Sasuke walked slower as Sakura finally stepped up next to him. He smiled as her eyes went up to meet his. "Finally, you slow poke."
Sakura remained silent, but returned the smile. She put one finger to her lips, signaling for him to be quiet. "I'm tired," she whispered
Sasuke nodded mutely, and continued to walk down the path. He snuck a few glances at Sakura who began humming a soft tune. She looked at him and turned away, blushing. He took her small hand into his and whispered, "Tired or not, two days is a long time to be quiet."
"Sasuke…you're ruining the mood," she said happily, squeezing his hand.
Sasuke didn't say anything as the two shinobi stopped, already a couple miles away from the village. He didn't say anything as Sakura let go of his hand and jumped to sit at a tree branch. He remained silent as she looked down at him, smiling as her legs swung back and forth, back and forth.
"Sasuke? Why?" she asked.
He looked at her with puzzled onyx eyes.
"Why me?"
Sasuke leaned against the tree and said nothing.
"Sasuke, answer me!" She said sternly.
He grunted in reply.
"Oh!" she jumped down from the branch and landed in front of the boy. "Why won't you answer?"
He shrugged his shoulders and smirked.
"Uchiha Sasuke!"
"Let me tell you a story instead."
He placed his forehead on hers and said quietly, "Once upon a time, there was a stubborn girl who always acted like she knew everything." He kissed her gingerly. "There was a boy who thought she was the most annoying person in the world." Another kiss. "The girl loved this boy, and the boy did too…but the boy was so idiotic to never tell her. But now he can." Sasuke gave her a long, deep kiss. "I love you, Sakura, enough said."
When Sasuke let her go, she stood there in absolute bliss. She slowly smiled and uttered a small, "Wow."
Sasuke smirked and wrapped a protective arm around her, causing the kunoichi to blush. "Let's go, Sakura, we've got a long way to go."
She nodded slowly and followed Sasuke's lead back to Konoha.
"Where are they?" Naruto yelled. "They should be back by now!"
The sun was long gone, and only the bright full moon shone in the sky; small little crystal stars hanging there as if by a string. The night sky would have been clear if it weren't for the lingering grey clouds…
"Naruto, they'll be back…" Hinata said.
Tenten nodded, "Yeah, no need to stress about, right Lady Tsunade?"
The Hokage nodded, a vein popping on her head due to Naruto's irritable fidgeting and yelling.
"WHERE THE HELL ARE THEY?"
"NARUTO CALM DOWN!" the Hokage yelled.
"TELL ME NOW, YOU OLD HAG!"
POW!
A 'lifeless' Naruto was sprawled out onto the floor. Tsunade looked out the window of her office as the clouds began to cover the night sky. "She and Sasuke will be back…you all shouldn't worry about them."
"But…Lady Tsunade, when will they return? I cant help but be worried for them; Sakura especially," Hinata said, looking at Tenten who was equally as worried.
Tsunade smiled at them. They really were great friends to Sakura. "Don't worry ladies. After all, Sakura's with Sasuke…so we can relax."
"But that's why we're worried!" Tenten blurted out.
Naruto groaned and sat up, clutching the huge bump on his head. "Who wouldn't be worried, Sasuke's a bastard…he probably made Sakura stay at that village with Sanosuke – another bastard."
Tsunade shook her head in disapproval. She remembered the time when Sasuke came bursting into her office, just to know where Sakura went.
Sakura…
Sasuke sat quietly in front of the small campfire, watching as the colors of the rising and setting sun blended together in the flames. He sighed and looked at his surroundings. If they had kept on going, they would hit Konohagakure at dawn; but Sasuke wasn't going to let Sakura go without rest. He could hear the soft humming as Sakura walked closer and closer to him.
"Area secure!" she said cheerfully, "I had to make some last minute checks…but we're all good! But…"
Sasuke looked at her, "But…?"
"It's going to rain."
Upon saying that, small droplets fell on his head. He looked up as the rain began to fall faster and harder onto the ground. He sat up when the water extinguished the fire, the smoke curling into the air. Sasuke took Sakura's hand and led her to a huge tree with the branches so thick it acted as an umbrella to the pouring rain; but stray droplets managed to fall unto the pair. Sasuke wrapped both of his arms around her waist, moving her to make sure that her back was touching the tree, avoiding most of the rain. She snuggled in his embrace, in his warmth, her eyes closing in relaxation to the intimacy she was sharing with him. Sakura leaned her head on Sasuke's shoulder and sighed.
Sasuke looked at the girl and asked, "Are you okay?"
She shook her head slowly, grasping his dark shirt with her slender fingers.
"What's wrong?"
"I still….can't believe it."
Sasuke tightened his grip around her.
"I can't believe that you would love me so much," she said, releasing her hold on his shirt. He let her go.
"How can I make you believe me?"
"I don't know…"
"Sakura, please, I need you to tell me. Is it me?"
Sakura gave him a small smile, "It's not you…I believe that you love me, I just can't believe that it's me."
"Sakura," he started, "believe me, it is you. I want to be with you. No one else, just you."
Sakura looked at his pleading onyx eyes, if it weren't for the rain, it would have looked like he was crying.
"Sasuke…I…"
Sasuke looked away, staring at the rain falling to the earth.
"Look at me, Sasuke." She put her hand on his face and moved it to look at her. "Listen to what I have to say."
He looked at her, still trying to avoid her eyes. "I'm listening." The rain drops caused his bangs to cover his eyes, giving him a more mysterious air to him. "Talk to me, Sakura."
Sakura drew in a deep breath and quietly said, "When I told you I loved you I meant it, with all my heart. When I saw you with Ino, it broke my heart; and when I said forget all about me, I meant that too. I was thirteen! I was beyond crushed! You were the first boy I have ever loved and the first boy to ever break my heart. When I came back, all those feelings I had for you came back to me. It hurt me, it confused me! I brought myself to believe that I hated you so that I wouldn't get hurt. I saw you everywhere in my dreams, but they always turned into nightmares because you were always with Ino. Before, you were always with me…I don't want to admit it now…but after all this time I can't believe that you would love me after all the pain you put me through."
"Sakura, I'm sorry," he said, looking at her straight on, "I really am…I wanted to tell you everything…but I…Sakura, I just want you to be happy."
Sakura looked up at him, placing her finger to his lips, "When I see you and smile, it never is real…it's broken…I want it to be real, I want to smile just for you."
Sasuke flushed and replied, "Then why won't you?"
"It's not that easy…ever since then, it has been hard for me to smile…"
"Sakura I would do anything to fix your broken smile…"
Sakura nodded, "I know you will…that's why I want to start over with you…from the beginning, from the very first moment I fell in love with you."
"I would like that…"
"I want to remember how it felt to fall in love at first sight…with the famous Uchiha Sasuke."
"So, you're willing to fall in love with me again…even if you might get hurt?"
"Yes."
"Are you telling me that from after the Ino incident until now, with you in my arms, the lovely Haruno Sakurahas never loved me?"
She shook her head, the drips of water falling to the ground. "No, Sasuke…I have always loved you and always will, it just took me so long to accept it."
He looked at her, and his expression softened. "When you told me you loved me, years ago, I already knew that, but I never told you. I waited…I waited too late to tell you. Everything went wrong when I tried to tell you how I really, honestly felt about you." He let out a small laugh, "But I guess I told you that already…Sakura, you are the only one to make me feel this way. Haruno Sakura, believe me when I say this, because it's true, I love you more than anything; I will love you even if the world forbids it. I don't want to walk a separate path from you, I want to be by your side, holding your hand, walking along the path that you chose…the one that you chose for the both of us."
Sakura smiled, her tears mingling with the rain.
"Is that a broken smile? If it is…I can fix that…"
"No, Sasuke it's real…"
She looked at him, the smile never fading, even if the tears were still coming from her jade orbs. I truly love this boy…
"Sasuke…"
He looked deep into her emerald eyes as she placed her hand on his chest. He attempted to wipe the droplets away from her face, but failed because the drops kept on coming. She smiled at him.
"Sakura," he said, "you'll…stay with me then?"
She blushed.
"Sakura?"
"Of course I will you idiot."
He grasped her shoulders gently and gave her a small smile. "So, that means you forgive me?"
Sakura looked at him and smiled back.
"Sakura?"
She looked at him playfully and answered, "I forgive you…but if you do it again, then I am not going to be as merciful as I am now! I mean, once is okay, but twice? That's just pushing the limit! Sasuke you have to – mfff?"
Sasuke sealed his lips with hers for a short but nevertheless sweet kiss. "You talk to much." He whispered huskily.
"I know," she whispered back. "You just have to keep shutting me up."
Sasuke moved her pink tresses away from her face as she slowly began closing her eyes. He put his arms around her, and she did the same, but before their lips could meet, Sasuke placed his forehead on hers and murmured, "You're beautiful…can I keep you?"
She nodded, her cheeks flushed. Satisfied with her answer, Sasuke slowly placed his lips over hers, relishing every second before kissing her with so much hidden passion and forgotten love. They both yearned for each other…and this was their moment. Sasuke felt Sakura break away and opened his eyes to find a pair of emerald ones staring at him.
"Sasuke, I love you," she whispered, her lips wet because of the pouring rain.
"I love you, Sakura," he returned before pulling her into another kiss.
The rain washed away their sorrows, their regrets, their doubts and fears. The rain was cleaning them both of everything. Rain, after all, truly does wash the sorrows away; even if the heart is so filled with them…the rain will always make it disappear.
The End
-Author's note: IT IS FINISHED! OH MY GOD! Phew…I know it took me awhile to get it posted…but I did! Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter (reviews/comments/flames are welcome!) in fact I hope you guys enjoyed the whole story! XD I really would like to thank all the wonderful reviewers out there! Without you….I would probably be stuck on chapter two...but yeah, you guys kept me going! Even if I was updating too slow or making some chapters weird sounding…you, the reviewers, were always there to push my lazy butt out of its hours long nap! YOU GUYS ARE BEYOND WONDERFUL! XD And since plenty of people are asking for an epilogue…I decided to type one up! Once again, THANK YOU SO MUCH! YOU GUYS ROCK! until next fic! Ja ne!