Inutenshi: It's Friday, 10:43pm, and I start Christmas break on Tuesday!
Sassy: Yeah!
Saku: Yay!
Inutenshi: Woot!
Sassy: Whoohoo!
Saku: Yipee!
Inutenshi: This is the last time we eat Cocoa Pebbles this late! XD Wheeeeee!
Sassy: Someone quit slipping me anti-depressants! Whoo!
Sasu: I'm overly tired! (jumps on Sassy's back) Yeehaw!
Inutenshi: Here's the next chappy! Yay! PUDDING! (passes out from sugar rush)
They walked quietly, side by side. Black beside red. Calm and relaxed next to blush and fidgeting. They strode through town together, they're boots crunching in the snow covered side walk. All was calm and quiet. The streets were nearly empty while friends and couples remained warm inside their homes or wherever they'd decided to be. It was snowing lightly, the flakes catching on the hair and clothes of unsuspecting people outside. Puffs of steam escaped with every soft breath and noses and cheeks were painted light pink form the chill.
Sakura's cheeks were the shade of her hair as she walked beside her unexpected date, her bare hands clasped together in front of her. Inside her long red jacket, she was shivering and goose bumps were popping up everywhere. Sasuke, on the other hand, was quite warm in his grey mittens and scarf. His eyes fell on her quivering lips and hands that rubbed together unconsciously.
"Cold?" He asked, hiding his smirk behind the scarf as she shot him a dark look.
A small chuckle escaped him as he stopped, slipped off his gloves and scarf, and held it out to her. She too stopped and looked at the offerings in confusion.
"Put them on." He commanded.
"But…won't you get cold?" She protested.
He merely shrugged and said, "I'll live."
Sakura took the garments and stared at them thoughtfully before handing him the left glove back. He looked at her with one eyebrow raised.
"Our uncovered hands will keep each other's warm." She said with a sweet smile that earned her one in return.
Sasuke slipped the glove on and reached out for her uncovered hand, but instead got the end of his long scarf wrapped around his neck. The other end was fastened around Sakura's, hiding her smile, but not the glow in her face that told him she was.
"Sharing is caring." Sasuke laughed slightly at the cheesy comment, but clasped her hand and pulled her along beside him none the less.
"So where do you want to eat?" He asked. "Please don't say Ichiraku."
Sakura put on a fake pout and sighed.
"Okay…" Then she smiled and pointed to a restaurant down the street. "There. They have the best poki jyu."
Sasuke raised a brow.
"The best what?"
"Poki Jyu!" She answered excitedly. "Shredded seaweed on top of the rice, then tuna poki is put on top. It's reeeeeeaaaally good!"
He just shrugged. "Fine. I'll take your word for it."
"Yay!" She squealed happily as she nearly dragged him to the restaurant.
Little did the poor Uchiha know that after that night, he'd probably never taste again.
After the waiter showed them their table, Sasuke helped Sakura out of her jacket, lightly brushing her almost bare shoulders. The shirt she'd changed into was black, long sleeved, and had a very open neck that left her soft, pale skin vulnerable to him should decide to taste it some time that night…
…No more Icha Icha Paradise for you Sasuke Uchiha…
This was just a date between to good friends…with one slowly trying to seduce the other.
They both ordered hot chocolate to warm up. Neither liked coffee. Too bitter even with cream and sugar. Sakura made most of the conversation while they waited for their order, most of which was about all that happened while Sasuke was gone and small gossip about in-team couplings.
"So the lazy bum is finally settling down?" Sasuke mused. "Never thought I'd live to see the day.
Sakura giggled. "Well, it was Shika and Ino's dads that made the arrangement. Their moms are making the plans."
"And neither is complaining?"
She shrugged in reply. "They were at each other's throats for the first week, but they've quieted down a lot." A bright smile found her lips. "They're already betting when they'll have their first kid and if it'll be boy or girl."
Sasuke sighed, but laughed. "Oh please…"
"If it's a girl between February and July Ino picks the godparents. Shikamaru picks if it's a boy between August and the January the next year."
"Have they decided who yet?"
She shook her head just as the waiter arrived.
"Enjoy." The young man said with a smile and left.
Sasuke eyed the meal suspiciously. It looked hot…really really hot. He was almost afraid to touch it, but when Sakura gave him a reassuring smile and started eating, he decided it was safe…At least until he took a bite.
It felt like Hell had released all of its wrath inside his mouth. His tongue wanted to shrivel up and die from the intense spiciness of the dish. It took all of his will power to chew and swallow the chunk in his mouth. Sakura curled her lips in to keep from laughing at the look of relief on his face.
"You…You!" Sasuke growled, griping his chopsticks until they began to splinter and crack. "You are the evilest girl I've ever encountered!" He yelled with a laugh.
She gave him an innocent smile, her tongue poking out between her lips.
"You must have a cast iron stomach to be able to eat this."
"Sugar and spice Sasuke-kun." She retorted. "Sugar and Spice."
After a long argument about who would pay, which Sasuke won, they left the restaurant, too hot to need the scarf and gloves.
"Let's get ice cream." Sasuke said.
"But it's winter Sasuke." Sakura replied. "It's too cold."
He gave her an evil glare, but couldn't stop the smile.
"Listen here you conniving little wench. It feels like the Seven Gates of Hell just opened up in my stomach. I don't give a rat's ass if it too cold. I'd eat the snow on the ground if I didn't know where it's been or who's been there. Now are you coming or not?"
She looked up at him with wide stunned eyes, a crooked grin on her face and, quivering form.
"Fine…" She squeaked out. "Have it your way."
The burning Uchiha practically dragged the poor kunoichi down the street and into the nearest ice cream shop. It was 10 minutes before closing time. The girl behind the counter was wiping down the light blue top uninterestedly while talking to the boy on the other side, giggling and blushing girlishly. Sakura thought it was cute. Sasuke just wanted his cold treat as soon as possible. He pulled her up to the counter, clearing his throat to catch the employee's attention.
"Wha-Oh!" She immediately straightened up, slipping into hard worker mode. "I apologize. How can I help you?"
Sasuke glanced at the flavors, immediately choosing, then looked at Sakura.
"You first."
She smiled her thanks and told the girl she wanted Strawberry. Sasuke got Black Cherry. After Sakura talked Sasuke into letting her pay, the girl said that she could keep the shop open for them to keep warm until they finished. Somewhere along the line, Sakura and the ice cream girl started making friendly conversation while Sasuke and the girl's boyfriend watched from the side.
"So where does your boyfriend plan on taking you after this?" The girl, Suki was her name, questioned with a playful wink. "Maybe go back home and cuddle up for the night."
Sakura blushed furiously casting a glance at her ever watching teammate.
"Oh…He's not my boyfriend." She replied with a shy smile. "He's my teammate…and a really good friend."
"Hmmm…" Suki raised a questioning brow, almost looking disgusted. "Like a friend with 'benefits'?"
The kunoichi's eyes widened.
"Heck no! I'd never do that to someone. What's the point of…that…if there's no emotion?…No passion?"
Suki smiled and switched topics, much to Sakura's relief. Sasuke switched his gaze to the floor, taking a bite out of the cone, guilt and confusion suddenly taking over.
What was he doing there? Was the whole thing even real? Did his jealous pride, inflated by the thought of losing something even as trivial as a girl to his two of his friendly rivals, push him to do it? Was he just trying to get into the medic's pants? Be a friend with 'benefits'?
Or did he actually like the young woman who fawned over him as a pre-teen, confessed her love for him, and possibly continued pining for him even after his betrayal?
"Hey man…" The boy, Taro, said as he pulled him over to a table. "Don't think too much about it."
Sasuke looked at the boy crossly, tugged his arm away, and then glanced back at the girls. They weren't even paying attention.
"What are you? A psychic?" The jounin snapped.
"I'm a student counselor at the regular school." Taro said calmly. "And I've been down your road before...competing over everything with your friends. That's how Suki and I got together. Good God, everything I tried worked with that girl, then…I actually started to like her."
Sasuke scoffed. "Whatever." And bit the cone again.
"That's what I said to my old counselor and you know what he told me?"
"Don't know. Don't care."
"Come on pal. Humor me."
"Fine." The Uchiha growled out. "Um…Tell her the truth?"
Taro smiled.
"Let it flow."
Sasuke looked at him like he was crazy.
"Let what flow?"
"Look. You like her and you two are good friends right? So are me and Suki, and look at us now. I let things go on, told her about the whole thing, and now we've been together for nearly two years."
No reply.
"I know not everyone has a happy ending Uchiha boy," He knew pretty well who he was talking to. "But…you gotta try to make your time together as fun as possible…" The boy trailed off, looking at Suki's laughing face longingly with just a hint of sadness.
Sasuke looked up at Taro's face and followed his gaze towards the girl talking with his teammate cheerfully. There was something wrong with her, he could tell. He wasn't a doctor, but there definitely was something unsettling about her. She was surprisingly thin and pale and looked quite tired, though her smiling face hid it well.
"She's sick…" He stated plainly.
Taro nodded.
"It's hard seeing her suffer on a daily basis. One day, when she was in the hospital, I asked her if she wanted to die…to stop the pain forever."
The life sustaining organ in the jounin's chest tightened.
"She looked up at me, held my hand, and said 'No Taro…I'll take this pain, welcome it with open arms if it means I can be with you…Because, If I go now, before I'm all used up…It won't make anyone happy…"
But revenge...That won't make anyone happy…
Sakura's voice echoed in his head and his aching heart pounded furiously.
"No one."
No one…
"Neither you."
Neither you…
"Nor I."
Nor I…
"When I asked why she thought no one would be happy that she wasn't suffering anymore, she said 'I don't want you to be alone longer than you have to…'"
Are you going to choose to be alone again?
"It's painful…I know…Every time I wake up in this place without you…I know you feel it too."
On that day, you taught me that solitude is painful! I understand that now!
"You have other friends, family, people that will be there for you when I can't anymore…But you've told me how you felt…I know how you'd feel…"
I have a family and I have friends, but…If you're gone…
"I know you'd still feel alone." A single tear hit the table top.
It would be the same as being alone…
Sasuke remembered the desperation in her voice and the drip of her tears striking the cold stone ground.
"She said she loved me that much…"
I…I love you with all my heart!
"She loves me so that she would stay with me and endure the pain with no regrets…We'll make our last days as fun as we could…We'll be happy together...for as long as we can…She would do that for me…"
If you stay with me, I'll make sure you won't regret it! Everyday will be fun! We'll be happy! I'd do anything for you! So please stay here!
This was killing him…
"I want to help her…do something to keep her from hurting so much….Anything…So that she could stay…"
I help you with your revenge! I do something! So please stay here…with me!
"And when she goes…I know I can't go with her, but..."
And if you can't stay…take me with you…
"I'll wait…until I can see her again…"
Taro shook his head, scratching it nervously, tears still evident in the corners of his eyes.
"Ah I'm sorry man." He said sheepishly, rubbing his eyes. "I didn't mean to go off on you like that. Suki says I'm too emotional for my own good."
Sasuke shook his head slowly, his head hung low.
"It's okay. I was a jerk. I should be apologizing."
The boy patted the other's shoulder.
"Don't sweat it. I'm not saying that she's gonna die before you she hears what you want to say.
Why? Why won't you tell me anything? Why do you always stay silent? Why won't you tell me any-
Why do I have to tell you anything? Its none of your business! Stop concerning yourself with what I do!
A shaky hand ran through its owner's midnight hair as he let out a heavy sigh.
"That's…kind of what I'm afraid of…What if-"
"Hey Sasuke, Suki is locking up now. I'm sure you don't want to get locked in over night." Sakura called, holding the door open.
Sasuke stared at her for a moment before smiling.
"Be right there."
"Remember." Taro said as they both stood as headed towards the door. "Let it flow, but don't take too long. You never know what'll happen if you turn away even for a second."
He took Suki under his arm, smiling brightly.
"Let's get you home, missy. Your dad almost had my head last week for getting you home late."
"Okay." She replied with a blush and a smile. "Bye guys! Hope to see you again!"
Sakura and Sasuke waved good bye and started down the other direction. Sasuke's arms was wrapped tightly, almost possessively around her shoulders, his hand shaking slightly.
"You cold?" Sakura asked. "Want the other glove?"
He merely shook his head and led her on…to where he wasn't sure, but as long as he was with her,…he was…happy.
Inutenshi: I know I know...I ended this chap kinda sad, butI needed to get in some Sasuke angstiness. I mean, you gotta admit that possiblythe only ways he'd ask Sakura out is if his pride went 'fwoosh!' (big ballooned signed 'Sasuke's Pride' fills up), he wanted some action, or if he actually likes her back
Sassy: Hey! How dare you make me look like a pervert!
Saku: (comes out of the closet wearing a sexy bunny outfit, blushing) Can...Can I take this off now? >.
Sassy: O.O
Inutenshi: O.o...
Sassy: G-get back in there!
Saku: O.O EEP! (runs back into the closet)
Inutenshi: Pervert...
Sassy: S-shut up! (goes into the closet)
Inutenshi:...Oook...Chap 4 coming up!