Chapter 4-Getting to Know You
Sakura and Sasuke swam back to the beach. People had started to claim spots on the beach. Sasuke grabbed his, very long, towel and wrapped it around himself. That's when he noticed that Sakura didn't bring a towel for herself. Without realizing it, Sasuke took the end of the towel in each hand and pulled Sakura into an embrace. He felt her lean her head upon his chest. He gently stroked her lushious(sry for misspelling) pink hair. Wrapping his towel completly around her, Sasuke reached and pulled out his cell phone. Quickly he dialed a number, "Neji...Sasuke. I was wondering if you could take my shift this morning. I have something to do." Sakura watched Sasuke talk for a moment. "What do you mean? But Tenten's here. Thought so. See ya." Sasuke hung up his phone, "I want to show you something." Sasuke grabbed Sakura's hand and lead her to his SUV.
Sakura climbed in as she saw so many people before her do. Sasuke went to the driver's seat and turned on the car. The radio blasted and Sakura had to cover her ears. Sasuke muttered, "Sorry," as he turned the radio down. Sakura removed her hands and placed them upon her lap.
"So, where are we going?" asked Sakura.
"It's a surpise," Sasuke replied, simply.
During the ride, Sakura stared at the ocean. She was thinking about how humans could not appreciate it. Its beauty and all the wonderous things that live in the ocean.
"Something wrong Sakura?" Sasuke asked when he noticed her silence.
"How can humans take the ocean for granted? How can they not appreciate its beauty? The ocean has many wonderous things in it. All the fish and mammals that live there."
"I guess humans nowadays take after their parents, who take after their parents and so on."
"So you're saying that it's our ancestors fault?"
"Uh huh. Why are you so facisnated by the ocean anyway? It's just water."
"Just water? No, it's much more then that."
"How so?"
"Well like I said a few minutes ago, the ocean is home to many amazing creatures."
"You sound like a marine boilogist."
"I'm not. I just know these things." The car was silent for a while. Sasuke stole a few glances at Sakura. She was continuously staring at the ocean. The way the wind blows her hair, it makes her look even more beautiful. Wait, what am I thinking? I just met Sakura yesterday. Well, with what I have planned, I will get to know this mystery girl.
"We're here," Sasuke announced. Sakura stepped out of the car and looked at where we arrived. It was a huge house. Of course her house was bigger since she had the whole ocean. Her eyes widened.
"You live here?"
"Only for the summer but since I'm done school, my father thought of giving it to me. We have a privet beach you know."
"I didn't."
"Come on." Sasuke grabbed Sakura's wrist and pulled her. He brought her towards the beach. Once at the beach Sasuke led Sakura to the shoreline.
"The sand's so soft."
"I know." Sasuke sat down and motioned for Sakura to sit next to him. Together they watched the waves for a few minutes. Sakura leaned her head on Sasuke's shoulder, "Sakura, tell me about tis father of your's that everyone's afriad of."
"Well, my father is like the head of my community."
"He's the mayor?"
"You could say that. Anyway, he's way overprotective of me. If someone wanted to be my friend or even talk to me they would have to fill out an application or get a security check. That's when he's around. When he's not, like when I'm out, I can hang with my friends freely."
"Well, what about your mom?"
"My mother is dead. She was murdered. The police never found out who did it. It wasn't actually a gunshpt wound. They said it was more of a stab. Her case was classified as unsolved or mystery. It was ten years ago next month." Sakura's eyes started to tear but she quickly wiped them away, "So what about your parents?"
"Well, my father is a big business man but we've kinda lost the father/son relationship. He's been concentrating more on his business then his family."
"And your mother?"
"Dead. She drowned. The undertoe had pulled her out and she swallowed too much water. By the tome the lifeguard got there, she was dead."
"I'm sorry. Tenten told me that your father remarried."
"Yeah. I got a stepmom and stepbrother. My stepmom only cares about my stepbrother, Itachi. Everyone knows, except my dad, that she married him for his money. Itachi is older then me. He's like the brother I never wanted but somehow got. He's a pain in my ass too. Do you have any siblings?"
"I used to have an older brother. He got caught in a crossfire with a police man and a criminal. The police's bullet hit shoulder but the criminal's hit his heart."
"Oh. I'm sorry."
"Well, what's done is done. The criminal is in jail for a 60 year sentence for his original crime and then killing my brother, which was a 3rd degree murder, added another year so I won't be seeing him for over another half century."
"There's cheerful news."
"I know. Hey, I got something to show you. Wait here." Sakura went down to the water's edge and picked up something. Sasuke tried to looked into her cupped hands. When returned, Sasuke saw that she had a baby sea turtle in her hands.
"What are you doing with that?"
"Showing you how wonderous the ocean is." Sakura whispered something to the turtle, of course using her mermaid abilities, she spoke sea turtle. The baby poked its head out of it's shell, "See. How could people not love that face?"
"The turtle is cute. Just like you."
Sakura blushed and went back to the shoreline to released the turtle into the ocean. She went back down to sit with Sasuke. A few more minutes passed and Sakura and Sasuke were deaf to any sounds besides the ocean and each other until, "Hey little bro."
Sakura and Sasuke turned around to see Sasuke's older stepbrother, Itachi, "What do you want Itachi?"
"Can't I say hi to my little brother?"
Sasuke glared at his stepbrother. Sakura noticed that Itachi, looked a lot like Sasuke, even though they weren't related. The same jet black eyes and matching hair. Itachi spied Sakura and said, "Hello, I'm Itachi."
Not wanting to make a bad first impression, Sakura got to her feet and said, "Nice to meet you, Itachi," Sakura held out her hand, "My name's Sakura."
"Sakura," Itachi gently grabbed Sakura's hand and kissed her fingertips. Sakura blushed, "Your name means cherry blossom right?"
"Right."
"I'm assuming your parents named you that for your hair?"
"Uh..yes."
"Very beautiful."
"Thank you Itachi. So how much older are you then Sasuke?"
"Five years."
"So that make you 22?"
"Correct. Now may I ask you something?"
"Of course?"
"Why would you want to hang out with Sasuke? I can show you a much better time?"
"Well...uh...he's nice to me." Sakura started to back away from Itachi but before she got too far she felt Itachi's arms coil around her waist, "Could you please let me go?"
"Maybe."
Sasuke was now furious. His brother was taking away the girl of his dreams, well at least last night's dreams. Sasuke looked at Sakura's face and he could tell that she wasn't enjoying one bit of this.
"Itachi, please get off me." Sakura still was trying to control her temper but used more firm words this time.
"What if I don't want to? I like this position."
"What if I don't?" Sakura elbowed Itachi in the stomach and made her escape. She looked back to see Itachi on his knees, clutching his stomach, "Pervert!" Sakura walked over to Sasuke, who immediatly pulled her into a close embrace. Sakura's head was against Sasuke's chest.
"You okay?"
"Yeah. So this is what I get for trying to be friendly?"
"Don't mind my brother. I think there's something wrong in the attic(brain)."
"Awwwww, don't you two make a lovely couple?" Itachi had recovered from his pain. Sasuke let Sakura go as she gave Itachi a glare.
"Leave us alone Itachi."
"You know Sakura, who would look better with me."
"You wish."
"I do wish."
"Ugh! You are so disgusting!"
"Maybe."
Sakura sighed as an idea formed in her head, "I think I have a way to settle this Itachi." Sasuke saw that Sakura had gotten a mischevious glint in her eyes.
"Pray tell."
"I challenge you to a swimming contest. If I win, then you leave me and Sasuke alone."
"And if I win?"
"Like that will happen but if you miracuously win then I will be your girlfriend."
"I like the sound of that. Deal."
"Ok. Now..."Sakura scanned the ocean. She spotted a rock. It was a couple hundred yards from shore, "See that rock. The first one to swim to it and back wins. And no cheating. You have to touch the rock."
"Very well." Itachi showed Sakura his hand so she could see that he wasn't lying.
Sasuke smirked. He knew that Sakura was very fast, but could she beat Itachi? Of course!
"Ready when you are Itachi."
"I'm ready. Ready. Set. GO!"
Sakura and Itachi raced to the water's edge. Itachi, being taller, got there first. He was also the first to start to completly swim, without touching the bottom. Sakura dove under the water and let her mermaid abilities take over. Her gills on her hips controlled her breathing and her speed pushed her ahead of her opponent. Of course the potion made it so Sakura couldn't stay under forever. When she came up she was a few feet ahead of Itachi. Taking another breath she dove into the water and surged ahead. She came up a few feet away from the rock. She quickly touched it and used it as a push off going back to the shore. She swam past Itachi, who hadn't touched the rock yet. Thinking that he would cheat, she swam underneath him and swam back to shore. She felt her feet touched the sand and she jogged back to their starting place before she collapsed in exhaustion. Sasuke wrapped a towel around her dripping body, "Good job Sakura." Itachi finally reached the shore, also out of breath. He walked up the where Sakura and Sasuke were sitting.
"I guess you won."
"No kidding."
"Just because I promised to leave you alone, doesn't mean I won't stop trying to get you Sakura. Remember that. I'll be watching you."
"Yo stalker. Bye." Itachi growled and walked off. Sakura smiled and giggled a bit.
"How do you do it?" Sasuke asked.
"Do what?"
"Stand up to him?"
"He's just a guy. I tell him off the same way I tell other people off."
"But how do you find the courage?"
"Don't tell me your scared of your brother, Sasuke."
"I'm not."
"I think you are. If you weren't why would you be asking these questions?"
"Uh..." Sasuke looked at the sand. Sakura shook her head but rested it against Sasuke's shoulder.
"Don't worry so much, Sasuke."
Sasuke smiled, "So care to tell me where you got that necklace and bracelet?"
"My father gave me the bracelet. He worked near a dock and when they hauled in the dead fish, he picked off the shiniest scales. It was a present for my 13th birthday. My mother gave me my necklace. It was the day before she died. She was sick from food poisoning and she gave me it. It belonged to me great great great grandmother and was passed down."
"So they each have a special meaning to you?"
"Yup."
"I think I have a present to add to your collection."
"Real-" Sakura couldn't finsh, for Sasuke's lips had caught her's midsentence. At first she was in shock but then relaxed into the kiss. It wasn't a powerful kiss or anything, just a small, gentle one. Sasuke pulled back after a few seconds. Sakura looked deep into his onyx orbs and said, "I think that was the best gift so far." Sasuke smiled as he leaned in for a second one. This one was more passionate but still not all out. They spent the rest of the morning talking about their intrests and what they plan to do when they get jobs and their own life. Of course Sakura had to make some stuff up since she was not accustomed to human ways yet.
Around noon Sasuke said, "Sakura, you want something to eat?"
"Sure."
"All be right back."
"I'll be waiting." Sakura sat in the same position for about five minutes. She watched as the waves crashed against the shore. So graceful. The waves seemed to lul her to sleep. Se alyed down in the sand and closed her eyes.
Sasuke was walking back to Sakura when he saw her laying in the sand. At first he thought Itachi got to her, but then he noticed she was only sleeping. He gently shook her, waking her up.
"Oh hey Sasuke. Where did you come from?"
"My house. I brought you a sandwich. Hope you like turkey."
"Thanks." Sakura took a bite into the sandwich. Being from the ocean, she had never tasted turkey before, "This is really good." She said, once she had swallowed of course.
"Yeah. I usually put tomatoes on mine but I didn't know if you liked tomatoes so I didn't put any on your's."
"Thanks."
"No problem."
Once their sandwiches were finished, they started to talk again. The hours ticked by. Once in a while, they went swimming. Sakura showed Sasuke how to make a simple spear and catch fish, then how to make her special sushi. That was their dinner. Around 8:00 Sakura layed on her back and looked at the stars. Sasuke layed next to her. Sakura snuggled closed to Sasuke as he placed his arm around her, bringing her closer. Her head lay upon his chest. Breaking the silence, Sakura said, "The stars are so beautiful. Don't you think so Sasuke?"
"Yeah. My favorite constellation is Leo the Lion. What about you?"
"I've always seemed to like Gemini." Every moment was making it harder for Sakura to keep her eye open.
"Sakura?"
"Hm?" She said half asleep.
"I really enjoyed today."
"Me too..."Sakura yawned and fell asleep. Sasuke covered himself and Sakura with his towel. Since it was big, it covered them both and it was long enough to cover even their feet. Sasuke soon drifted into dreamland.