Hello, everyone! Here is the sixth chapter of Healing Demons. Please review and enjoy! :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. All rights belong to Masashi Kishimoto only.
SUMMARY: Sakura was a diligent medical student with dreams and aspirations of greatness. Sasuke's dreams had been crushed by a dark past, leaving him broke and depressed. What happened when these two crossed paths and their lives got interwoven together? Modern world AU
After years and years of grueling work and schmoozing with the best of the best, Ino was finally ready to debut her signature garments at Konohagakure's annual fashion show. Ever since she was a small child, she knew deep down in the pits of herself that she was a creative soul that needed an outlet. Through trial and error, she finally found that medium to be designing different articles of clothing that anyone could wear.
She had a particular interest in floral patterns as well.
In preparation for this final test down the runway, Ino tried to persuade Sakura to be her model, attempting to reassure her that she indeed possessed the proper beautiful qualities that the other models had. She even went as far as to say that her best friend was far more alluring than the girls she would send down the runway during the show.
She wasn't lying, anyway.
Of course, though Sakura would go to the ends of the earth for Ino in any other case, she vehemently denied all claims of beauty and insisted that Ino find someone much more suitable for the job. The young woman was afraid that proportions would be skewed and she refused to be the cause of her best friend's failure. It was nonsensical reasoning, but Ino let it slide. She knew that Sakura had other important things on her plate to worry about at that time.
But, now that Sakura's finals came to a close, Ino looked forward to showing off the looks she infused her blood, sweat, and tears into to the world, with Sakura sitting front row to the spectacle. She also managed to rope Naruto and Hinata in to coming, along with the ever-elusive Sasuke Uchiha. Smirking to herself wickedly, Ino pulled back the burgundy curtain separating the aspiring designers from the crowd slowly pouring into the large, dimly lit room the show would be held in.
She spied Naruto's tousled blond hair in the second row to her left alongside Hinata. The young man was animatedly talking to his beloved girlfriend as she politely nodded every few words, though one could tell that she was slightly uncomfortable. Sitting in a rigidly proper fashion, her light eyes darted around the room in search of something, or someone. Her delicately manicured fingers were folded tightly on her lap in an attempt to keep composure. The sparkling lavender promise ring Naruto gave her seemed to glint its dazzling shine even from where Ino stood.
A wave of guilt washed over her. She knew where the source of Hinata's apprehension stemmed from: the inevitable appearance of her strict family. The main reason a fashion show was chosen as the final for Ino's Fashion Design degree came down to one word: networking. The students would indeed be graded on their garments for their vision and mastery, however they would be expected to make a name for themselves in the industry and beyond. Hinata's family would no doubt be attending this show in good form; making an appearance at a highly profiled event would boost their image and possibly aid in their search for a good investment.
Ino prayed to the gods that wanting the Hyuga family as an investor wasn't too selfish of her, given that she knew how heartless they could be to one of her closest friends.
Tightening her grip on the curtain with her slender, perfectly manicured fingers, Ino let her sapphire eyes drift to the pair of people seated directly in front of the couple. Sakura was speaking to the male seated beside her very intimately, as if the conversation was reserved for only the two of them. It was clear he was listening intently to every word spoken, though his arms were gruffly crossed in front of him and his eyes seemed to dart to the room's entrance every few seconds. To an outsider, he may not have come across as anxious, but Ino knew better; her best friend was focused on trying to calm her companion's nerves. It was the inherent healer in Sakura very being that reared its head every so often.
Ino didn't know much about Sasuke Uchiha, but what she did know was that he had very prominent connections. He stemmed from a distinguished and notable family that had the wealth and power that many people spent their entire lives working endlessly for. As the leaders and directors of Konohagakure's police department, his family founded Uchiha Security Enterprises, which in turn became an endless source of income for them. Known for their brute but professional and effective tactics, the Uchiha family quickly found a name for themselves within the community. They were the main contact for protection during low and high profile events alike. No one was even remotely comparable.
Through the years, they amassed a fortune large enough to become one of the most powerful families throughout Konoha. To many, this meant trying to weasel their way into relationships, professional and romantic, with any member of the noteworthy family. It certainly helped that a majority of the members were attractive, charismatic, and downright fascinating. At least, that is what Ino heard through the grapevine.
Again, she didn't know Sasuke Uchiha very well personally, but that didn't stop her from encouraging the blooming connection forming between Sakura and him. It could have been beneficial in more ways than one.
Deciding to leave her friends to themselves and focus on the task ahead, Ino released the curtain from her left hand and swiveled on her right heel. Headed in the direction of the garments she spent so much time perfecting, she smiled to herself with her immaculately painted red lips and let her mind develop a plan advantageous for all.
If the Uchiha family was so influential, there was a sizable chance they would make an appearance at this fashion show in hopes of scouting new investments. If that were the case, then she could use her connection to Sasuke to her advantage. Not one to think only of herself, Ino reasoned that if she encouraged Sasuke and Sakura to grow closer together, it would help Sakura break out of her shell and finally find a worthy man. The entire situation could be seen as a win-win.
Ino tied her flowing golden hair into a high ponytail with a periwinkle ribbon in preparation of her vital task at hand. If she could pull this off, everyone could be happy in the end.
Exhaustion pulled at Sakura, attempting to drag her down and down until she couldn't function anymore. Her limbs felt as if they were pulling themselves through muggy water and her eyes burned with the desire to rest. She stayed up the previous night obsessively reading her romance novels, trying with all her studious might to know what to do and how to behave around someone she may or may not have romantic inclinations towards. An all nighter plus a morning shift at the bookstore was a recipe Sakura was not equipped for. But, she continued to brush it to the side, ignoring the incessant whining of her body.
The previous day at the lake had been splendid for her; she was granted the ability to spend one on one time with Sasuke and he was now sitting directly beside her at Ino's show. To say that she was internally ecstatic would be an understatement. She was able to kill two birds with one stone and show Sasuke that she truly cared about his well-being while also being able to inconspicuously ask to spend more time alone with him.
Would this be considered their first date? Sakura didn't know, but her heart was soaring at the limited space that spanned between them.
She let her slender left shoulder graze Sasuke's broad right one, and to Sakura's immense pleasure, the slight intimate gesture was not met with rejection. She leaned into his warmth minutely, and whispered into his ear, careful to let her breath caress his skin but not let it cause him to flinch away in disgust.
"Ino's been working for years on this collection," Sakura began, trying to scrounge for any excuse to close the distance between Sasuke and herself, "It really means a lot to her that we're here to support her."
In response, Sasuke solemnly turned his dark head to his right to meet Sakura's bright eyes. When their eyes connected, Sakura's stomach fluttered with a thousand butterflies. It seemed that this was becoming a consistent occurrence, but she didn't think that she would ever get used to the sensation. Letting her flourishing feelings take control, Sakura continued with one last statement.
"It means a lot to me too," she pointedly added, never breaking the intimate eye contact that she held with Sasuke's dark orbs.
Sasuke merely maintained their eye contact in response, gazing into Sakura's windows to her inner self. There was a calculating nature to his stare, as if he was trying to figure out the motives behind her statement. It was clouded over with precise consideration and mysteriously laced with reflection. It drew Sakura ever-closer physically and emotionally to him in fascination. Sasuke's eyes remained in their welcomed place a moment later, then diverted back across the increasingly crowded room.
What he seemed to be in search of, Sakura had no idea. But, she could tell that it was something he was warily troubled by. There was nothing she could think of doing for him but keep his mind off of whatever ailed him.
Sakura looked down at her phone and noted that there were about ten minutes until the show was supposed to begin. Licking her dry lips and resolving to grasp at whatever straws she could find, Sakura timidly handed her phone over to Sasuke, ensuring that it landed directly in front of his line of sight in hopes of distracting him.
"Do you possibly want to give me your number?" Sakura whispered over to him. She balanced her phone on her four fingers while supporting it with her clean, unmanicured thumb. She had unlocked the touch screen and opened the page where he could enter his number so he could fulfill her request with ease. Sakura silently willed him to respond positively, but the worry that he may feel pressured to say yes clung to the back of her mind. Still, she steadfastly waited for Sasuke's answer.
Neglecting to answer verbally, Sasuke merely took the phone from Sakura's graceful fingers and started to type in his phone number. Instead of watching him type everything in, Sakura discreetly analyzed Sasuke's features from his right hand side while he was preoccupied. His eyes were screened by unfairly long lashes and his eyebrows, tensed together in either concentration or something much more worrisome, were unruly but shaped just right to frame his face. The bags that hung under his eyes seemed much more prominent than before, troubling Sakura much more than she cared to admit. His lips seemed to be tightened into a sneer, but she could tell that Sasuke meant no harm by the menacing expression he projected to the world.
With the small amount of time she had to get to know him, Sakura knew that Sasuke just needed someone who understood him like Naruto did.
"There," Sasuke finally said, breaking through the comfortable silence that grew in the air, "I rarely respond, but I might from time to time...as long as it's you."
At this quiet proclamation, a blush crept across Sakura's feminine features, illuminating her eyes and highlighting the burgeoning adoration that was not so easily hidden from her face. It felt strange to her that such a secluded and secretive man was willing to open up to her in such a subtly obtainable way. She didn't feel special or anything more than an ordinary girl with an above-average intelligence and work ethic. Conversations didn't come naturally to her and it took every bit of effort she could scrounge up to maintain an adequate discussion with someone she did not know. Despite this fact, it seemed that speaking to Sasuke like they were the only ones in the entire room came naturally to her.
Sakura averted her eyes from Sasuke's as he handed her phone back over to her. It was increasingly difficult for her to maintain eye contact when the warmth in her chest was bordering on unbearable. Though the guests of the show had all but filed in, filling in each and every seat surrounding them, Sakura's body was only acutely aware of that fact. Sasuke was like the world's strongest magnet to her and she couldn't focus on anything but the pull tugging relentlessly at her.
"Don't worry, I won't bother you too much," Sakura teased, still staring at her phone where Sasuke gave her what he considered to be highly confidential information. It would continue to astound her to no end that he trusted her enough so soon to do that for her. Shoving her phone back into the brown satchel she brought along with her, Sakura opted to stare ahead at nothing in particular. It was better than continuing to cause her heart its persisting palpitations. While Sasuke and Sakura said nothing in those few moments, the murmurs that could be heard echoing throughout the room died down to a dull buzzing and eventually came to a respectful stop. It was a signal that the show would start within a few seconds. The moment the crowd stopped talking, Sakura felt Sasuke stand up from his seat and head towards the exit, causing her to send him a questioning stare.
"Bathroom," was all Sasuke said in response. It was a good enough explanation for Sakura, though the timing of his decision left curiosity to roam free within her mind. She fought the urge to follow him; it would be weird for her to follow him around like a puppy dog. Sakura tried to convince herself that she wanted to pursue Sasuke out of the area because she missed his presence next to her and not because she had a nagging feeling that something was amiss. She didn't know him nearly as much as she'd like to, and it was her overactive imagination that urged her to make sure he was feeling alright.
"Okay, I'll obviously be here when you get back," Sakura whispered as she looked strainedly up at Sasuke. She heard Naruto's conversation with Hinata behind them halt as if he too was wondering why Sasuke chose then of all times to get up and leave his seat. Bless his heart, he didn't say anything, though Sakura knew that Naruto's silence spoke volumes; it caused her anxiety about Sasuke's wellbeing to increase tenfold as she watched him walk away in the direction of the bathroom. It wasn't too far away, but he would certainly be gone for at least ten minutes. Sakura wanted to follow, but her support for Ino's fashion show took more priority for her in that moment. She had to remind herself that she was there for her best friend and not for some boy who may or may not even feel the same way about her.
As she watched Sasuke head through the black double doors in a fairly hurried fashion, it took an enormous amount of effort for her to peel her eyes from his retreating back and over to the stage where the host was introducing the designers and welcoming everybody to the show. The words spoken were merely an afterthought to Sakura as she let her inner nurturer run distressed circles around and around in her head.
Though Sasuke's enigmatic presence was compelling and drew her in, she knew in that moment that it was going to become a problem for her very soon.
Sasuke splashed cold water on his face and tried to will his to continue its flow through his veins. It had run cold once he noticed his greatest fears for that day were realized. He should have known that it was a very real, very substantial possibility, but his desire to push everything out of his mind had taken over and he stupidly decided to remain ignorant to that fact. Letting his head hang with his bangs covering his tired eyes and gripping the gray marble sink until his knuckles turned white, Sasuke flinched when he heard the bathroom door squeak as it was gently pushed open, waiting for the inevitable. He heard heavy footsteps click across the tiled floor and come to a stop right next to him.
"Who would have known you would be here, Sasuke?" he heard the smooth voice say. He refused to acknowledge the presence of the other person with a response verbally or physically. When he didn't answer, the voice continued. "I'm glad to see you're out and about, even if it's just for one day. It's promising."
Knowing that the man would not go away until he held a proper conversation with him, Sasuke lifted his eyes up to matching dark ones in the mirror, neglecting to push the hair from his face. It wasn't disgust or resentment he felt when their eyes met; it was merely numb apathy. He experienced this nauseous angst through the knowledge that where this man was, he was following another, much more detestable one.
"It's none of your business, Itachi," Sasuke began, willing a calm storm into his voice in an attempt to shield the tornado brewing inside him and hold his ground, "I'm not here for anything related to our family. Don't think you can come strolling in here and drag me back to where I'm no longer welcome."
It took everything in Sasuke not to break eye contact with his older brother; he did not hate him per se, but his association to everything that Sasuke lost over the last couple of years did birth a form of ire within him. Not daring to release his strong grip on the sink to turn around and come face to face with his brother, Sasuke stayed rooted in his spot willing Itachi to receive the message and leave him the hell alone. He watched his brother's lips twitch slightly downward and, to Sasuke's chagrin, Itachi crossed his arms and remained where he was standing directly behind him.
"I see you haven't changed much since the last time we spoke," Itachi calmly stated, staring at his younger brother in a professional manner. His perfectly shaped right eyebrow quirked up almost tauntingly, as if he were daring Sasuke to lash out at his criticism. He continued, "Whenever I come along with an olive branch, you find some way to paint me as the bad guy. I'm not nearly as evil as you think, Sasuke."
Sasuke gripped the sink tighter until his fingers became numb. This is exactly why he didn't want to come today. He didn't need a confrontation, and he certainly didn't wish to rehash old issues that he would much rather keep hidden in the dust of the past. He didn't like where this conversation was headed, but before he said anything he may further regret, Sasuke bit his tongue as much as humanly possible. But, he knew deep down that his resolve had weakened over the years and he had a clear breaking point. He could only hope and pray to whatever god had his interests in mind that day that Itachi wouldn't goad him into reaching that point today.
"Listen, Sasuke," Itachi's even voice continued after seeing that Sasuke would not grace him with a reply. His arms remained crossed in an authoritative fashion and his coal eyes were lined with a seriousness that made Sasuke's stomach churn with enmity. "You've pushed away so many people who care about you and paint yourself as the victim. It's about time that you take a long look in the mirror and work towards bettering yourself."
The younger Uchiha finally snapped and whipped around, his face coming inches from Itachi's freshly clean cut one. It was clear who had the money to keep up appearances and who did not.
"I've pushed everyone away?!" Sasuke began, letting his voice raise an octave, not caring if anyone outside heard this increasingly tense exchange. Itachi did not move a centimeter; if he was taken aback or intimidated in any way, shape, or form, he did not let it show whatsoever. "You're the one who let our father and mother disown me when they didn't even have the decency to get all the facts! You're the one who was always far too busy whenever I needed you! You're the one who had the audacity to feed me scraps from the dinner table like a broken, homeless stray and then act like you were doing me some goddamn favor! Save the high and mighty act for someone who will buy your bullshit."
"I'm sorry you've let yourself think that way for so long, Sasuke," Itachi expressed, never breaking the hostile eye contact shared between the brothers. They were five years apart in age, but the depression that ate at Sasuke day in and day out aged him far beyond his years. Itachi uncrossed his arms and reached into the right pocket of his black cashmere suit, elegantly grabbing a business card and handing it to his younger brother that stood inches from him. "Despite what you think, I've always had your back when it comes to father and mother. They love and care about you, though you clearly don't want to believe anything that I say when it comes to them. Take this card. I know you have my cell number, but it also has my new office number. You'll see in the days to come that changes are happening whether you're there or not. And I'd like to see you come around."
Without bothering to read the card being handed to him, Sasuke merely grabbed it and shoved it into the back pocket of his dark jeans. He really didn't care; he just needed to get out of the bathroom that felt like it was closing in on him. The four walls seemed to inch in second by second, absorbing all the oxygen he needed to breathe. It was as if he were cornered into a place where he couldn't get back from and he needed to fight to find a way back to the light. Even if Itachi were right with everything that he said, Sasuke wasn't prepared to hear it. Everything was much too dark, far too muddy for him to see clearly. The timing was all wrong, and it felt like it would never be right for him.
Something like pity flashed across Itachi's darkly chiseled features and he raised his right hand and held it briefly over Sasuke's left shoulder as if he would pat him reassuringly on the shoulder, promising that things would turn out alright in the end. But, as quickly as he itched to do so, he decided against it and clenched his right hand into a fist and lowered it back down to his side. Sasuke knew he meant well; after all, he was the only Uchiha to even remotely help him since he was cast out on his own. But, he couldn't help but lash out. He was there, and he knew the words would stick one way or another.
Sasuke knew deep down that that made him a horrible person and an even worse brother.
Letting his features soften minutely and taking a few steps back to lean back on the sink, Sasuke sighed heavily and let his bangs hang over his eyes once more. He felt the urge to apologize; after all, at least it was Itachi that came to speak with him and not anyone else from their family. He had no idea what would have transpired if he came face to face with his traitor of a father. Sasuke was certain he would have let his desire to avenge the wrongs against him by the ones he trusted most and all reason he barely even had would fly right out the window into the dark of the night. His eyes spotted the black designer shoes that Itachi wore, polished without a single blemish in sight. When he saw that his older brother was not making a move to go, he lifted a solemn gaze back up to the man who appeared to merely be a slightly older version of himself. He supposed he was; though his accomplishments gargantuanly overshadowed Sasuke's by his age.
A naive, immature part within Sasuke tried to argue that it wasn't fair, but deep down, he knew that Itachi put in the time and effort to deserve where he was in life. So, Sasuke wasn't surprised when he made one final departing statement.
"Father named me as his successor, and I plan to take over the company within a few years time," Itachi stated. Sasuke's eyes remained on his brother, though his gaze was unfocused and cloudy. The older brother took his silence as an invitation to continue. "My desire it to work alongside you, but you will need to finish school in order to do that. I do not wish to impose more hardship upon you, Sasuke, but I truly feel that this will be what's best for you. You have my new business card, so if you decide that this is worth pursuing, do not hesitate to reach out to me."
With that admission, Itachi did not wait for a response. He merely pivoted on his right foot and headed back through the bathroom door, leaving Sasuke behind to process this new information and decidedly wallow in his own self-hatred.
Self-hatred for letting his anger get the better of him. Self-hatred for lashing out at the only person besides Naruto who was supported him over the years. Self-hatred because he knew that Itachi was right; he truly was hindering himself from moving forward. It was a conclusion that Sasuke had known all along but ignored it as he swept it under a deteriorating rug.
Sasuke didn't bother turning back around to splash his face with water once more; he didn't want to take the chance he would spot himself in the mirror. He didn't want to see the failure lined under his eyes or the despondency that shaped his every feature. There was no way that he could look at himself and not see that past that lingered over his shoulder like a shadow that leeched the life from his veins. Sasuke bit back the tears that threatened to escape his eyes, proving to the world once and for all how weak and worthless he truly was.
The fact that he had convinced himself that he was worthy of the peace of mind he so fervently desired was a joke. It was an illusion he tried to create and to his disheartened disappointment, he resolved that he wouldn't give in to the delusion of peaceful contentedness until he could truly and sincerely deserve it.
It would be a long, grueling venture to attempt that, but until then, Sasuke would continue to deny himself any form of true happiness.
"Hey Sakura, how long has Sasuke been gone?" Sakura heard Naruto harshly whisper in her left ear from behind her. She felt his warm breath tickling her ear, letting her know that he was close enough to invade her personal space. She willed her bubbling irritation to simmer down before she looked over her left shoulder to look into Naruto's worried blue eyes.
"I don't know, Naruto," Sakura muttered, her voice brimming with exasperation. She wanted to convince herself that it was just because Naruto was being his usual annoying, nosy self, but she knew it was because she let her worry for the Uchiha control her emotions. Ino's garments had already been sent down the runway; they were a beautiful floral collection of dresses, rompers, and everything in between. Sakura knew that she would never be able to pull any of it off, but it was evident that her best friend put her heart and soul into all of it. She was grateful she didn't miss it not just because she would never hear the end of it from Ino, but because she wanted to support the very person who was her backbone through all of those years. But, now that it was over and done with, her thoughts naturally gravitated back to the man who consumed her thoughts since the moment she connected with him. She looked down at her phone that she removed from her satchel and looked at the time; it had been at least forty five minutes since the show had started. Sasuke had been gone for a long time and there was no way he was taking such a long bathroom break. She looked back up at Naruto and continued much more softly, "I'm going to the bathroom. I'll be back in ten minutes."
As Sakura steadily stood up with one final glance over to a worried Naruto and Hinata, Sakura made her way over to the double doors and through them, careful not to disturb the people around her enjoying the show. When she made it through, she was in an eerily empty white hallway, reminiscent of a hospital wing. She stopped in place and remembered that she had no idea which direction the bathroom was. Taking a moment to ponder, she decided to veer left and see where her feet would take her. She would find either the bathroom or Sasuke eventually, she presumed.
As her converse scraped against the white tile floor and bounced off the walls of the hallway, Sakura heard the music from the fashion show getting quieter and quieter as she left it behind her. It was all but gone once she turned the corner on her first right. She had no idea what to expect, but she guessed she wasn't all that surprised when the hall looked identical to the last one. If all the hallways would look exactly the same, she knew she would be walking in circles all night. So, Sakura decided that that was as good a time as any to use Sasuke's newly bestowed phone number and call him. She hoped that she wouldn't be considered a nuisance for taking what she felt was an empowered step.
Scrolling through her phone as she continued to walk, she found Sasuke's name and selected it to place a call. She brought the phone up to her right ear and listened to it ring. It rang three, four, five times, then once more before it was sent to a generic automated voicemail. Sakura sighed, cancelled the call, and let the hand holding her phone drop to her side. She supposed she could continue searching for Sasuke, but she had a nagging feeling that he possibly didn't want to be found.
As she continued and took rounded the next corner to her right, resolving to attempt to go in a large circle to find her way back to the show, her ear perked up at the sound of shoes clicking on the tile reverberating down the hall. She could tell two things: one, these were definitely expensive shoes. The footfalls were heavy, but precise. The owner certainly had an air of elegance possibly on the arrogant side, and they were moving at a brisk but confident pace. The second thing she noticed was that they were getting progressively louder, which meant that they were headed in her direction. Sakura was unsure if she should make friendly eye contact with the stranger or look ahead as they inevitably passed each other.
As the stranger appeared within her line of sight from the next corner to her right and turned to face in her direction, Sakura was nearly taken aback by the beautiful stranger. She was right; the man was clearly loaded. He wore a strikingly black cashmere suit and a red and black tie. He was close enough for her to see that he wore deep red cufflinks that held a hypnotizing air to them. His dark black hair fell past his shoulders and was slicked back into an elegant ponytail that situated itself over his left shoulder. He was eye-catching and extraordinarily handsome, but that wasn't what struck Sakura the most. What shook her in that very moment was his astonishing resemblance to Sasuke, as if they were related in any capacity.
She shouldn't have been so surprised, though. Sakura had concluded earlier that day that she didn't know nearly enough about Sasuke as she would have liked.
As she got closer and closer to the man, Sakura couldn't tear her eyes away from him and he embarrassingly took notice. He stopped about ten feet from the young woman and Sakura followed suit. Unsure whether she stopped because she would speak to this mysterious man or admire him, it was clear that his air of authority and poise had a compelling grip on Sakura. Her emerald eyes watched his plump lips twitch up into a smirk, eerily redolent of Sasuke's own signature expression.
"You seem lost, young lady," the dark-haired man purred. Whether he was aware of his seductive presence or not, Sakura had no idea. A blush spread across her face like warm butter on freshly baked bread. "Perhaps I could be of assistance?"
"Oh, uh...yes...well, no. I mean, yes, I don't know where I'm going, but I wouldn't say that I am lost," Sakura stumbled clumsily over her words, averting her gaze from the attractive presence that this man exuded. Raking a gentle hand through her silky hair, Sakura wracked her brain for words to say. She bunglingly continued, "Well, do you happen to know where the bathrooms are? I am actually looking for a friend of mine. He's been gone for quite a long time now."
Unsure of why she was overexplaining herself to this man she didn't even know, she looked up hesitantly to see how he would respond. Sakura didn't know what to expect, but she certainly didn't anticipate a fairly shocked expression to flit across the man's features. But, as quickly as she spotted this reaction, the dashing stranger regained his composure and gave Sakura a slight nod in confirmation.
"It's right down this hallway on the left-hand side," the stranger said, looking over his left shoulder to support his claim. Tearing her gaze from admiring his handsomely alluring mien, Sakura looked in the direction his own dark eyes studied intently. She could tell that there were a million and one things racing through this man's mind that she would go to the ends of the ends of the earth to learn, but would never know. The only other time Sakura had such an inexplicably perplexing interaction with a complete stranger was with Sasuke, but she couldn't figure out the reasoning behind it or connection between the two. The man continued, turning his gaze back over to Sakura as if he were studying every crevice of her soul. She felt bared for all to see under his scrutiny. "There was a young man in the men's bathroom who was there before I left. If that's the friend you are searching for, maybe you could go check up on him, see if he's doing alright. You never know what troubles someone may be facing."
Sakura wasn't sure what to make of this man; he seemed wise and genuinely helpful. But, at the same time, she seemed to know much more than he would be willing to let on. Obviously, she didn't know the guy, so she couldn't grill him for answers. So, she took his fairly strange comment with a grain of salt and muttered a thank you to him before turning on her heel heading in the direction Sasuke possibly was. She prayed she didn't come across as rude or ungrateful; she just didn't want to waste more time admiring this man more than she already had. She had a mission to find Sasuke, and Sakura would see it through. It might not even be him, she reminded herself.
"Before you go, young lady," the stranger said, halting Sakura from heading towards where Sasuke hopefully was and causing her to look over her small left shoulder and meet the intoxicating eyes of the man she just met in questioning. The man continued, slightly smiling and letting warmth melt into his words. "What is your name, if you do not mind my asking?"
"Oh….uh," Sakura began, fully turning to face the stranger and placing her hands defensively in front of herself. Should she really tell him? If she did, would it bite her in the ass later down the road? She wasn't sure, but there was something in the back of her mind, an inner voice that told her to give him the bare minimum. She had a nagging feeling that this wasn't going to be the last time she would see this man, but she was genuinely unsure why she felt that way. Regardless, she resolved to give him merely her first name. "Sakura. My name is Sakura."
"Sakura, huh?" the man repeated, weighing her name and wrapping his lips charmingly around each syllable. A chill ran up Sakura's spine through either fascination or captivation, going all the way up to the back of her neck where the sensation made itself at home. It tensed her whole body to the point where she had to shake her head and remind herself to breathe. What was with her lately? The man continued, "Well, Sakura. It was my pleasure to meet you, if only for a brief momentary encounter. I do wish to speak with you in the near future."
The blush that spread across her face earlier deepened, flushing her features until it infected her ears and neck. There was no denying her attraction to his charm.
"Ah...yes, it was great to speak with you. May I ask what your name is as well?" Sakura replied in an attempt to sound unaffected, sticking her stiff right hand out to shake his own. As the man reached his long, dexterous fingers out to grasp Sakura's offered hand, Sakura noticed that the man wore a large ring on his pointer finger with the symbol that Sakura recognized to mean Scarlet. Her curiosity spiked even more when she noticed the jewelry adorning his hand. His palm met her own as he firmly shook her hand, then flipped her hand so that her palm faced down and his was directly beneath it. He took this brief moment to plant a firm but gentle kiss on the top of her hand, causing Sakura's thoughts to whisk away and render her speechless.
"Itachi," the man, Itachi, replied, looking up at her through his thick lashes as he kept his head down level with her hand. He flashed his bright teeth into a charmingly dangerous smile. "Itachi Uchiha. It is lovely to meet your acquaintance."
Uchiha. Uchiha. Uchiha. The name rang through Sakura's stupefied mind. It all finally made sense to her; why she was so charmed, so attracted to someone she didn't even know. Why this complete stranger resembled Sasuke so much, down to their very expressions. And it was most likely why he made the vague notion that she should probably go check up on the person he had just come across.
Because it was Sasuke. Someone close to, no, related, to Sasuke said that he may need her help. Sakura was grateful she listened to her instincts to follow after him rather than leave him on his own.
Itachi dropped Sakura's smooth hand from his full lips and let it dangle at her side as she processed who she just met. Since she didn't know much about Sasuke's family, Sakura didn't know what sort of relationship was forged between these two; for all she knew, they could either be the best of friends or the worst of enemies. But, it really wasn't her business at that point. Right then, she had to get to Sasuke.
He needed her.
Itachi spun on his heel and headed back in the other direction as Sakura looked on. She was so, so tempted to follow after him and ask him all the questions racing through her mind about the clearly younger Uchiha. But, before her voice caught up to her mind, Itachi was gone. Blinking, Sakura noted that there was no trace of him except the faint aroma of vanilla and cedar. Taking a mental note to pursue answers later, Sakura gathered her racing thoughts and turned back around to head to the bathroom where Sasuke supposedly was.
She had no idea what she would do once she got there. All she knew was that she was going to support him no matter what he was going through. She inadvertently got the blessing from another charming Uchiha. Sakura hurried up the hall and to the left, not wasting anymore time than she already had.
Sasuke needed her.
Hello everyone! This was chapter six. I hope you enjoyed it! Things are finally picking up and I hope that I've established why everyone is reacting the way that they do adequately. I love reviews and feedback. They truly help me update quickly because they give me the confidence and drive to move forward, so please don't hesitate to review/message me!
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