Chapter 2: Sakura's Birthday
Sasuke and Sakura — 15 years old
Tomorrow is Sakura's Birthday.
Kakashi has ordered both him and Naruto to get Sakura something for her birthday, even implying that it is a mission and they must obliged.
Sasuke may be on top of his class because of his expertise in ninja arts but he was never an expert in choosing gifts—especially for a girl. Not wanting to sound like Shikamaru but he has to admit that choosing what gifts is surely troublesome. He thought he can just give her something useful but a part of him tells that it needs to be special. He knew that whatever gift he gives her, Sakura will surely appreciate. So why is having this dilemma anyway? He does not want to contemplate about it.
While walking in the Konoha shopping district he saw a store for girls' accessories. He felt a slight increase in temperature on his face but he brushed off his embarrassment and proceeded in entering the store. He caught the attention of the women's population inside and some has started squealing, some can be seen admiring him silently. Sasuke never liked this kind of attention he's getting from girls ever since he was young.
A bit annoyed, Sasuke casually walks in the shelves looking for something nice when someone approached him.
"Sasuke, what a surprise!" said a familiar voice. It was Izumi—his brother's girlfriend. "No wonder why the girls started squealing."
Luck must not have been on his side right now. The least he wanted is to be seen by someone he knows strolling in a girl's apparel shop. "What are you doing here?" He asked her annoyed.
Izumi giggled a little. "I should be the one asking you that. What are you doing here anyway?" He can sensed teasing in her voice.
"It's none of your business and stop bothering me." He said bluntly.
This was no surprise for Izumi, he always knew Sasuke like that—always mean but Izumi knows deep down that Sasuke does not hate her. He just don't like the idea that Itachi's attention is being divided between him and her. Well that was when he was younger. Izumi knows that she cannot win against Sasuke when it comes to Itachi's love. Of course Itachi will always choose his little brother under any circumstances, whenever and wherever. She accepted that she will only be Itachi's second priority and she is fine with that. Brushing all the thoughts aside, she started talking again.
"Maybe you are getting something for your girlfriend?" She teased.
"Girlfriend?" Sasuke was taken aback by Izumi's words but he immediately composed himself and brushed off his embarrassment. "You're being ridiculous. I'm not seeing anyone."
"It's okay Sasuke you can tell me. I will even help you choose something nice if you like." Izumi smiled genuinely, no signs of teasing. Sasuke is like a brother to her and she is very much willing to help him out in this kind of problems.
"Tch." Sasuke reacted in annoyance and grab something on the shelf he did not even bothered looking what that is and stormed in the payment section.
"Hey wait!" Izumi shouted and quickly followed Sasuke. On her way to Sasuke, Izumi noticed a poster hanging on the wall. 'A fireworks festival?' How can she forget about that? She smiles excitedly. Izumi knows that it was always a fireworks festival on Sakura's Birthday.
"It's for Sakura." Izumi did not even have to guess. She knew it was for his female teammate. "I know, it's her birthday tomorrow."
"God you're annoying." Sasuke muttered under his breath almost silently.
Sasuke hand over some cash to the cashier and ignored Izumi's presence. "You know, us girls sometimes do not prefer material things. Do you know what the best thing you can give to her?"
Sasuke just listened.
"Your heart." Sasuke does not know why Izumi keeps pressing on this topic. Is it that obvious that he is having that kind of affection towards Sakura? Wait, what?
Affection? To Sakura?
Sasuke did not gave much thought about his feelings towards Sakura and he wasn't sure if what he felt was actually love but he did know he cared for her. It is normal to care for friends right? So he dismissed those thoughts and just settled with his reasoning.
"Now you're being delusional." Sasuke grab the paper bag and walked outside the store. Izumi kept following him. He should have known, Izumi is persistent and does not know how to give up—maybe that's how she got his brother. His petty trick of ignoring won't stop her. His brother's girlfriend has decided to keep him company walking in the busy streets of Konoha.
"Come on Sasuke, you can deny it all you want but you know I am right." She really won't drop this conversation.
"You're wrong. I don't see her that way." Sasuke said and did not feel truthful about his response nor felt it was a lie but he just say it anyway in hopes of making her stop.
"Well tell me about it after you see this." There he saw Sakura sitting in the bench with some random guy in the garden of Konoha Hospital. Sasuke felt his eye twitched.
The guy is dressed in uniform so Sasuke can tell that he is also a medic, probably Sakura's co-worker. Sasuke felt the urge to activate his Sharingan but refrain himself to do so. He cannot hear them but he can use his Sharingan to read their lips and know what they're talking about. But no, he is not that kind of guy. He has so much pride to eavesdrop to a conversation.
Izumi noticed Sasuke's internal struggle and believe she has pestered him enough and decided that it is best to stop. Izumi believed that Sasuke is a smart guy and he knows how to deal with any situation just maybe, he needs a little push when it comes to girls. "Well I'm off, Sasuke. Invite her to the festival. She'll be thrilled about it!"
After doing long walks, he decided to go back to the Uchiha compound and coincidentally met his brother, Itachi returning from a mission.
"Itachi."
"Sasuke." he acknowledge him. Itachi noticed something's troubling his little brother. His eyes went on what Sasuke is carrying.
"A gift?"
"Ah. Teammate. Birthday."
"Well?" Itachi asked while they're walking.
"Well what?" Sasuke asked back.
"What's troubling you?" Itachi continued. He has known Sasuke his entire life and even if Sasuke wear the most impassive face he can pull off, Itachi can still read the hint of emotion behind his blank facade.
"Your girlfriend is annoying." Sasuke stated. Remembering how much Izumi has pestered him about his affection towards his female teammate.
Itachi felt a small smirk graced his face and he can't agree more. "She can be, sometimes."
"More like, all of the time." Sasuke retorted.
Itachi chuckled lightly and proceeded in asking. "What did she do this time?"
"She's insisting I am in love with Sakura." Sasuke sighed tiredly.
"She might be right." Itachi answered casually.
"You too?" Sasuke answered exasperatedly. He doesn't want to think that Izumi has too much influence on his brother that his line of thinking is becoming more like her. "You should spend less time with her, you're beginning to think like her."
"If it's not true, then it would not have affected you." Itachi explained.
Sasuke stopped walking so did Itachi. Sasuke just stared downwards not wanting Itachi to see the expression his face has.
"Come on, Sasuke." Itachi put his hand on his shoulder. "It's has been awhile since we talked."
The siblings find their way on the Uchiha training grounds where they used to practice fire style technique when they are younger. They both seated in the wooden floating dock but Sasuke just had his gaze on the lake in front of them and has no intention to initiate the conversation.
"I was in the same age as you when Izumi and I got together." Itachi started.
"Did she confessed her feelings to you?" Sasuke asked. His eyes are still on the lake in front of them.
"No. I've always known Izumi has feelings for me but I was very occupied with my missions and my career as a ninja. I did not really gave it much regard." Itachi answered.
"So how did you two got together?"
"During your age, courtship and dating are starting. Izumi started to get attention from the boys. That's when I realized that I can't let anyone else have her, of course with the help of Shisui's teasing." Itachi remembered.
"You got jealous over a boy?"
"Not just some boy, he's also from a prominent family—a Hyuuga and my rival." Itachi explained. "But this isn't about me little brother. Let's talk about you and Sakura."
Still there were still no words from the younger Uchiha so he continued. "Do you like her?"
"Honestly, I don't know but when I saw her earlier with someone else I think I felt something." hearing those words Itachi realized that his brother is not so little anymore.
"So you got jealous over a boy, too?" Itachi smirked. They really are undeniably brothers.
"Shut up." Sasuke said embarrased. "Izumi suggested I should take her to the festival on her birthday."
"I can't see why not." Itachi replied. When Sasuke is lacking an answer he talked again. "I know you already know this, Sakura is a very pretty girl. If you do not hurry then some boy may have already asked her on that festival."
A memory of Sakura and the boy from earlier entered his mind. He knew from then that something must be done.
A/N: Sorry for the slow update.
