Generally speaking, Sakura would like to be happy. In fact, most, if not all, of her actions are centered on that goal. However, life seems to have different plans for her. Life or in other words, her housemates, are all hell bent on making sure her days are few and full of strife.
Soon after fall break, finals quickly approached. Being the studious academic she is, Sakura was more than prepared to brave the storm that is Finals Week. As such, time that would normally be spent cramming for tests was efficiently utilized in finding another place to live. Because as she so poignantly stated to Madara, her stay in the house was temporary.
And she meant that.
Now, you might ask, how in the world are her housemates torturing her in regard to this matter? And she would like to point back to a statement Shikamaru made to her before this entire fiasco began.
"Well, good luck. With finding a place and getting out of there once you do."
She finally understood what he meant by that. Not only did that fucking genius jinx her but he knew this would happen.
In short, they won't let her leave.
It all started with Shisui being obnoxiously loud every time she'd call a potential landlord. He'd make it so impossible to have a decent conversation. Then Madara caught on with his weird gift giving that was bordering on him basically being her sugar daddy. It was like he was incentivizing her into staying with money.
Fucking weirdo…
And Naruto, bless his heart, would throw away the daily paper as if anyone still reads that thing or posts ads about wanting possible tenants. And while she doesn't have any solid evidence of Itachi engaging in foul play, she knows he's playing a part in this somehow too. Because all her applications to other apartments have been rejected. Mysteriously rejected.
Surprisingly enough, Sasuke hasn't gotten involved at all. And she's pretty…concerned about that. It's his fault she's stuck here to begin with, and he even chased her down at a party and essentially begged her to stay in the only way Uchiha's know how.
What's his deal?
"Really, you should just give up, Saks." Another weekly conversation with Ino over the phone and over a hot bowl of miso soup. The temperature was dropping steadily these days. Christmas was right around the corner and while Sakura had never been a huge fan of the cold, it's always nice to warm up with soup and some light chemistry reading.
"I really shouldn't, Ino. I mean they're practically sustaining me, and it just feels weird…" She frowned, adjusting the phone between her cheek and shoulder. Her spoon picked at her still steaming soup as she flipped a page and awaited a response from her friend.
"What's wrong with that? You know, dozens of girls would kill to be in your shoes. Just enjoy it while it lasts! If there's one thing I know about apartment living, it's that it sucks. You've got it made, Forehead…" Part of Sakura actually did agree with Ino. Recalling her time in the apartments, it did kind of suck. Sometimes the water would go cold in the middle of a shower. The lights would flicker. Her neighbors were rowdy. The list just goes on.
"Mm," she hummed, pausing on a paragraph that she'd read about three times now. "Maybe you're right…"
"Aren't I always? Ah! Sai is calling me. Gotta go!" Click! Oh. Well…that was nice.
Just as Sakura made a move to grab her phone, it slipped from her flimsy grasp and plopped right into her soup.
"Great…" Making quite the splash, it splattered on parts of her face and shirt, much to her dismay. Using a nearby napkin to clean her front, she failed to notice the presence of a hand extending a handkerchief in her direction.
"Hm?"
"Why do I get the feeling these kinds of things only happen to you?" Ah, a familiar face she didn't mind running into. Immediately her eyes fell upon a disheveled mane of red hair that for once was a sight for sore eyes.
"Probably because it's true. Thanks, Gaara." Taking the cloth, she dapped her clothes a bit before focusing on her impromptu lunch buddy.
"Aa. Studying?" He spotted that aged chemistry book littered with notes, highlights and post-it tabs.
"For next semester, yeah. Tsunade-sensei only gives one hard test and well, I passed that one. Finals are going to be pretty easy this time around." For that, she was thankful. Gaara seemed impressed with her response if his approving nod was any indication.
They lightly chatted for about an hour or so, carrying on casual conversation. With him being a political science major, they don't see each other often. But she hears enough about him from Naruto and vice versa that they're kinda sorta like good friends.
"Any plans for winter break?" Oh, that was a no brainer.
"Pffft. Yeah right, I never do anything over break. What about you?"
"Going back to Suna. You can come too, if you want. Since you're not doing anything." Did he…was this a…has she been set up? Geez, she really didn't think Gaara had it in him to deliver such a flawlessly executed invitation!
"Huh…winter break in Suna…I'll think about it!"
Then finals week rolled around and drained pretty much everyone to the brink of insanity that break really couldn't come soon enough. As students prepared to leave and head home or their various personal destinations, Sakura was packing for trip in warm, sunny Suna! Say goodbye to coats and scarves for the next couple of weeks. This girl is on vacation!
"How the hell did this happen…?"
Is what she wondered, currently seated beside a snoring Naruto in the back of Itachi's SUV driving up a lone road with the presence of snow steadily increasing as their trip continued.
Oh yeah, she remembered now. SOMEONE found out about her plans to go to Suna and proposed the whole house spend winter break at the Uchiha Family Ski lodge instead.
"Stop glaring at me, Sakura. This wasn't my idea." Sasuke could feel her pretty much leering daggers into the back of his head as he swiped through meaningless content on his tablet. And while this whole setup did sound familiar, he made it a point to meddle only once a year. This was definitely someone else's doing.
"Mmngrh….hah?! Nnn…" Naruto startled himself awake and quickly groaned before stretching his limbs and grimacing at the taste inside his mouth.
"We there yet?" He asked, letting his head rest on the middle seat where Shisui and Sasuke sat. He watched Itachi give him a side glance from the rearview mirror and grinned hopefully in response.
"Is your seatbelt on, Naruto?"
Pause.
Click!
"….it is now!"
"You mean to tell me you've been riding all this time without your seatbelt on?" Sasuke half turned with his brows furrowed and a slight smirk to his lips.
"You say that like you're surprised. Tch."
"Cops, Naruto. You're in a car full of cops."
"Oh…—."
"Uncle ain't a cop."
"Damn straight."
"Hn. We're about fifteen minutes away." Everyone seemed to outwardly sigh in utter relief after that. The car ride had been terribly long and after she and Naruto expended far too much time at the last rest stop, Madara yelled that they weren't taking another break until they arrived at the house. What a bit—.
So, there Sakura sat, arms crossed, and gaze focused on the outside ever-changing scenery of the world. As much as she would prefer to be working on her tan, part of her didn't mind the quiet ambiance of the mountains. Besides, she may just get a white Christmas. Which…didn't sound too terrible. It isn't her favorite holiday but that doesn't mean she can't at least try to enjoy it.
Ino's words, not hers.
'Since when did she become so optimistic?' Another sigh slipped from her lips as she turned her head just in time to catch Naruto staring at her side profile. His stiffening form prompted a raised brow which then triggered a rather sheepish, yet characteristic grin coupled with the subsequent scratching behind his head.
"What…?" She called, lowering her arms to her lap as she watched the blond sort of fidget beside her. Naruto frowned rather innocently before slouching back in his seat slightly, arms draped along the back.
"Mm? Oh, nothing. I uh was just thinking…uhh…your hair has gotten longer!" Both a smooth transition and keen observation. She can't help but believe that's not entirely true and that he may or may not be up to something she more than likely won't be happy about.
"Yeah so?"
"Sooo…long hair suits you. You're really pretty, Sakura-chan!" Definitely up to something.
"Ugh, I'm going to throw up." Came a chiding Sasuke from the middle row which prompted a quickly cautionary glare from Itachi.
"Not on my leather seats."
"What the hell kind of reaction is that, bastard?!" Naruto was quick to react adversely to Sasuke's response to him complimenting Sakura and with good reason! His arm extended just far enough to rudely shove his so-called best friend, earning a snarl from the youngest Uchiha and quizzical glance from the one seated beside him.
"Hmm? You don't think Saks is pretty, cousin?" The car suddenly grew quieter. Well…quieter than it had been for most of the ride. All ears were trained to hear Sasuke's response and Sakura found her leaning closer just to make sure she heard it clearly. Not that she's particularly interested or anything like that!
"I didn't say that."
"So, you think she's pretty."
"I didn't say that either."
"Make a definitive statement then." Shisui was really driving this conversation for some strange reason and Sakura couldn't really understand why.
"No." That response struck the curly haired Uchiha and even earned a glance from the commonly quiet Madara in the front seat. Naruto also stiffened while she could've sworn she heard a sigh come from the driver's seat.
Why did they all tense up, she wondered?
"It's not that hard! Watch." Shisui proceeded to turn to Sakura who served him a look of warning because she knew what he was about to do and she absolutely didn't want him to because what the heck that's totally embarrassing.
"Sakuuuuura-chan~." He purred, prompting a deeper glare which did nothing but encourage this behavior of his.
"Don't you dare."
"You're absolutely gorgeous! See? Now you try, Sasuke!"
"Oh my god…"
"I'm not saying that."
"Well, not in those exact words. You gotta put your own spin on it! Uncle, you try!"
"Don't!" Sakura was so adamantly against this sudden lesson on complimenting her that she was pretty sure she was going to be the one throwing up pretty soon.
"Hn?" He craned his head back to give Shisui a narrowed look before Sakura felt his gaze fall upon her and she rightfully jolted. Again, the car fell silent, half of them wondering if he actually would while the other half hoped he wouldn't.
"Sakura," she grimaced. This is insane. He's not…he's not going to do it, right? He won't!
"You're not bad looking." Oh.
Oh.
"Hah?! You can do better than that!" Oh, was he quick to reprimand his efforts or lack there of in this case. Madara aimed a glare at his talkative nephew before showing a rather pronounced frown as if he found no fault with what he'd said.
"Shisui, shut the hell up." Spoken through gritted teeth though not quiet enough to not cause a raised brow to rise up on the face of the older male. Apparently, her response was somewhat telling concerning this compliment of his.
"What, do you believe you're too good for my kind words, Sakura?"
"W-What?! No, that's not—!"
"He's gonna flex again…"
A huff escaped him as he suddenly whipped out his phone, seemingly done entertaining the youth in the backseat. Itachi gave something of a snort before making a left turn up a winding road that turned into something of a steep incline.
"You did say to put your own spin on it, Shisui." Leave it to Itachi to play devil's advocate in this situation.
"Yeah but that spin sucked! It lacked…passion! Heart! True honesty! Itachi, show 'em how it's done!"
"Can I please object to this?!"
"Nope." This curly haired cheerful bastard better sleep with one eye open.
"A compliment for Sakura, huh?" Gods, why did he seem so amused by this?
"Hey, we're here!" Naruto shouted from the backseat and thank the heavens; he was actually correct. Their arrival was just the distraction Sakura needed to be freed from this present onslaught of unwanted compliments by her housemates. The timing honestly couldn't have been better.
One by one they clambered out of the car with Madara heading for the door to unlock it, Naruto making a quick snow angel, Shisui whining about having bad cell reception, while Sakura moved to the back of the car to grab her things.
As she grabbed onto the handle of her bag to give it a heft tug from the bottom of the pile, she heard the sound of feet crunching in the snow and could only wonder who was approaching her now.
"Sakura, you—."
"Sakura—."
Sasuke. And Itachi. Both of them now stood on either side of her sharing looks with each other then with her, one attempting to mask some present irritation while the other's gaze danced with mirth. She, on the other hand, was very obviously flustered and annoyed.
"I swear, if either one of you says anything even remotely resembling a compliment, I am going to scream loud enough to trigger an avalanche to bury us all!"
A/N: Woooooo! Winter break! Did a big time skip but I think it'll be fun to play around with them in a different setting! Also, they won't be alone in the mountains! I'll be bringing back a couple of characters while also introducing another group! Kudos to whoever can guess who our mysterious cameos will be! Also, yay Gaara!
See ya next time!