Hello, everyone! Here is the seventh 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
As Sasuke took one last scornful glower in the mirror, he decided it was time to join the rest of his friends. He whirled quickly to his right and made his way to the wooden door with a purpose. If he was going to go back to everyone, he would make sure they would have no idea that anything had gone wrong in the first place. He would maintain a stoic composure and if anybody asked where he had been, he would reassure them that there was nothing at all to worry themselves over.
The young man huffed assuredly and placed a firm hand on the door to push it open, but just as he was about to put pressure on it, it burst open harshly, nearly knocking into him and swinging him off of his feet. Attempting to not let this dwindle the confidence he tried his damndest to muster, Sasuke slightly shut his dark eyes and shook his head. It was a minor setback, but if he wouldn't let his companions know that anything was affecting him, then he sure as hell wouldn't let a complete stranger know that they shook him in that very moment. A split second later, he opened his reddened eyes with resolve and held the door open with every intention of rushing right through it.
It wasn't until he darted his eyes over to see who swung the door open that Sasuke halted; it was Sakura. She was breathing heavily as if she had just ran a marathon and her skin was flushed, accenting her cherry features delicately. If Sasuke didn't know any better, he would have sworn that there were miniscule tears lining her green eyes, sculpting and framing them like a tapestry. Sasuke was rooted in place and it felt as if time stopped for them.
It seemed as if he kept on running into Sakura everywhere, even there in the men's bathroom. The whole thing seemed crazy to him, as if the heavens truly had no mercy upon his debilitated soul. There was no one the universe seemed to draw him to more, consciously and subconsciously, and Sasuke had no idea whether it brought him joy or distress. The confusion her mere presence brought upon him led him to wish for even more respite from social interaction altogether.
But, he was stuck in this moment and there was no way to get around the fact that he came face to face with Sakura. As her labored breaths died down and she maintained fierce eye contact with him, Sasuke released his grip on the door and let it swing slowly closed, allowing the squeaking of the metal echo throughout the porcelain of the bathroom. Once the noise came to a definitive stop and Sakura's breaths hushed into silence, Sasuke found his choked voice. He let the door of the entrance encase momentarily, but he would make sure that the opening that was developing between them would remain hatched.
"What are you doing here?" Sasuke's raspy voice echoed, letting each pointed word reach its mark as his eyes bored into Sakura's. "This is the men's room."
"Well…" she shyly responded, letting her eyes divert to the white lining of the walls, opting to count each cemented square rather than to look directly at Sasuke. "I was worried...about you, I mean. You've been gone for a while, and you said you wanted to stay by my side tonight. You don't have to, of course, but you didn't tell me otherwise. So, I came looking for you..."
Sasuke didn't respond. He merely shoved his hands in his pockets and continued staring stiffly at Sakura's timid figure. He supposed she had pure intentions and didn't mean any harm in her actions, but in all honesty, that's exactly what made Sasuke's chest ache even more. He wished with every fiber in his being that she had dishonorable motives; it would make it all the more easier to shut her down and cut her off. He refused to admit that he cared for her because he didn't deserve someone to give a damn about him, let alone someone who didn't know jack shit about him.
His silence caused Sakura to ramble on.
"There was a man…" she continued meekly, not wanting to divulge too much information but seemingly desiring to prolong the dialogue between her and the guy she put in so much effort to seek out. She kept her bashful eyes fixed on the wall. "I ran into him on the way here. He said you may need help...I hoped I could be the one to give that to you."
Sasuke's teeth clenched and he squeezed his dark eyes shut in agitation. The only person she could have possibly run into in the brief moments before then who would speak to her in such a way was his older brother. He knew that irrefutably. Clenching his fists and biting his tongue, Sasuke resolved to remain silent or risk letting regrettable words spill from his lips, haunting and taunting him until his last breath.
He let Sakura's admission hang in the air and let it dissolve into nothing. He knew he couldn't let himself get lost in sweet words lest he head into roads best left untraveled. The heart that ached inside his chest longed to reach out to the lifeline she endearingly offered, but the rational, much more cynical brain that churned its cogs over and over inside his head reminded him that it was a horrible idea. Willing his thoughts and heart rate to slow down to an acceptable speed, Sasuke forcefully blew air out of his nose and opened his heavy eyelids.
"Well, forget about it," he uttered, not daring to raise his eyes to see if Sakura was finally looking his way. Instead, he turned his gaze to the steel handle of the bathroom door, burning holes into it as if he could open it with his racing thoughts alone. Quelling his itching fingers if only for a brief moment, Sasuke continued in a hushed voice. "It's none of your business."
Waiting for a fleeting moment that felt like a million years, Sasuke realized that he didn't know if he wanted to hear Sakura's response to his harsh statement. Maybe he was a masochist, enjoying hurting himself through hurting others? Or maybe he was merely a naive fool, finding excuses left and right to make everyone hate him. He wouldn't blame people for hating him when he already hated himself the most. Deciding that it was better to flee rather than stay and hear her inevitably defeated response, Sasuke finally let his pale hand reach for the door's handle and attempted to push through once more and escape the room. Once again, he was stopped from leaving when he froze in place, feeling Sakura's warm, comforting hand cover his own. At a loss for words, Sasuke's eyes silently drifted from her soothing hand that lightly but firmly gripped his own, all the way up the expanse of her bare, toned arm, and stopped at her enticingly slim neck. Her body was free of any pesky jewelry, yet her aura alone made her seemingly glow. It really was a shame that he couldn't bring himself to look her in the eyes again; he knew that if he allowed himself that pleasure, there was no going back. He needed to harden his resolve and leave while he still had the chance to call it quits.
"I meant what I said before, Sasuke," Sakura muttered loud enough for Sasuke to hear, but quiet enough to prevent her words from bouncing off the porcelain walls. Her fingers tightened around his own as she prepared herself to continue, not waiting for Sasuke to look her in the eye. "I want to be there for you. I want to be someone you can rely on. Call me selfish, but I want to help you with whatever you may be going through. Just tell me what I can do, and I'll do my best to do it."
Sasuke remained still, not daring to utter a single word. Barely breathing through his nose, he couldn't wrack his brain for a proper response. Sakura had been getting to know him through the short amount of time between when they met and that very moment, but she hardly scratched the surface. She had expressed her desire to get to understand him, but deep down, Sasuke knew that if she saw the blood-curdling face of the monster beneath the surface, she would be running for the hills. Yes, she whispered sweet nothings into his ear, enticing him to let his guard down, yet they were all empty words. Sasuke convinced himself determinedly of that fact; he kept on repeating it over and over again until it became true.
Fiercely ripping his eyes from Sakura's graceful neck to her powerful green eyes, he never risked letting his resolve falter. His left hand covered their joined ones; for a brief moment, it seemed to the outside world that he was accepting her offer and giving into his overwhelming need for consolation. Instead, he yanked her hand off of his right one and released it, letting her drop it limply to her side. As he maintained that ferocious eye contact, he saw hurt and devastation swim behind her eyes. Feeling a pang ring through his chest because it was him that evoked such a horrible emotion from her, he hardened himself even more and made one last statement, nailing the coffin between them.
"Like I said, forget about it," he stated, letting his back turn to her as he swung open the door and took one step through the threshold. Sasuke felt that by shutting her out was a saving grace for Sakura; she didn't need to get involved in his galaxy of unending suffering and twisted familial relationships. There was so much more negativity beneath the surface, like the underbelly of an iceberg that refused to sink or melt into nothing. He declined the opportunity to drag Sakura into that abyss. He took one more step so that both feet were through the doorway and kept his back to Sakura, feeling her eyes burning holes into the back of his messy head. "This isn't any of your concern and frankly, I have no idea why you're sticking your nose into somewhere it doesn't belong."
Sasuke released his increasingly firm grip on the door and let it swing closed, blocking off his view of a doe-eyed Sakura, standing in place like a deer caught in the headlights. His treatment of her wasn't fair, nor was it bearable by either of them. But, in Sasuke's eyes, it was increasingly necessary. As his feet pulled him away from the bathroom, widening the distance between the pair, all Sasuke could focus on was each reverberating footstep that echoed through the hall. Keeping his eyes down in a melancholy manner, he counted each step it took before he turned the corner, officially obscuring his view of the bathroom door.
It took him twenty steps; each stride felt like he was walking on a bed full of nails. Sasuke shoved his hands in his pockets and kept his eyes down, counting thirty steps before he reached the door back to the show he had forgotten all about. Opting instead to leave altogether, Sasuke shifted on his right foot and took another fifty paces until he reached the double doors that would release him from the suffocating building and out into the world that seemed to hate him so damn much.
Alone. All alone. Alone was all he would ever let himself be.
"What a fabulous show of talent we had here tonight," a booming voice resounded through the thick air as Sakura forced herself to walk up to her crowded friends with a terse smile. It was a tough endeavor bringing herself back to reality and dragging herself back to her friend's fashion show; to her only delight that night, the show was over by the time she arrived. After several minutes of searching, Sakura finally spotted two bright heads of blonde hair sticking out like a sore thumb. It was one of the times she was grateful her best friends had naturally abnormal manes. Wordlessly slipping in between Hinata and Ino, Sakura listened in to the remainder of the conversation she intruded on. "There are many promising hopefuls this year, very much including you, Miss Yamanaka. You've given us a lot of material to ponder on, so please make sure to keep in touch. Keep our business cards, and we may possibly reach out for a formal consultation over dinner. Please keep up the beautiful work and speaking for yourself through your material."
The lady speaking directly to Ino reached her overly decorated, pristinely manicured right hand out for her friend and Ino enthusiastically took it to shake. With one last subtle nod towards Ino and a sideways glance over to Hinata that was impossible to miss, she quietly dismissed herself to speak to another student that participated that night. Waiting long enough so that the older lady was out of hearing distance, Ino turned to her friends and squealed in excitement, letting her sprightly smile take over her smooth face. She took a few brief moments to calm down before she spoke in a hushed tone.
"That was one of the investors that were invited to come tonight," Ino excitedly whispered to her three friends while pocketing the business card she had been handed. Her sapphire eyes darted across the room in search of something. A new investor, Sakura presumed. Her eyes locked onto a group of dark haired patrons and a wicked smile spread across her lips, spelling out to Sakura that she was scheming something beneath the surface. Everything would come to light eventually. Directing her eyes back over to Sakura, Ino added, "Speaking of which, where did you and Sasuke head off to?"
"Oh, uh," Sakura began, trying to find the words to describe what had just transpired without one, letting herself begin to cry or two, divulging too much information she knew deep down that she shouldn't disclose. She felt Naruto's gaze turn to her and knew that he had an inkling of what transpired. Regaining control of her composure before she lost it, she plastered a faint smile on her lips and made up a white lie, trying to laugh away the lingering pain she felt. "Well, Sasuke had to go to the bathroom and I went after him, thinking maybe he got lost. We both ended up losing our way in the end."
"Okay…" Ino responded, clearly not totally convinced with Sakura's answer. She sent a confused and concerned glare over in her direction, and dug for more information while also dancing around what she truly wanted to know. "Well, where's Sasuke now? If you both got lost, surely you found your way back together?"
Sakura had no explanation to give, no justification for why she turned back up alone and empty handed. She couldn't even reason with herself why it hurt so much that she was flat out rejected; she hadn't poured her heart out. This was a man that she hardly knew, had just met. Why did she feel the need to give herself and her time to him? Why did the fact that he so harshly shoved her out of his life bother her to her very core? Why did his denial of her cut her so deeply? She wasn't sure she wanted to delve deeper to find out.
She was sure that if she looked any further into it, she would have to break down the very wall she built up to protect herself. The very thought of it scared her immensely.
Instead of replying to Ino, Sakura merely provided a dejected shrug of her shoulders. She let her green eyes drift to the ground and remain there; she had no energy to pretend it didn't get to her anymore. It wasn't as if her friends couldn't see right through her anyway. She was always one to wear her heart on her sleeve.
"I think I have an idea of where he might be," Naruto chimed in, stepping into Sakura's line of sight and placing a strong, reassuring hand on her shoulder. She still did not lift her eyes to meet Naruto's in fear that his confident compassion would make her break down in front of everyone around. He squeezed her shoulder in understanding and continued, "I'll catch up with you guys later. For now, I'm going to find that asshole. Call me if you need anything, and I mean anything."
Sakura looked up to Naruto in gratitude in time to watch him give her one last reassuring squeeze and Hinata an embrace sprinkled with kisses on her delicate temple. She had no idea what would transpire between the two close friends, but she could only hope and pray that it wouldn't end in a fight, verbally or physically. Even if she weren't the reason behind their disagreement, Sakura would find a way to blame herself after uninvitedly inserting herself into somewhere she didn't belong.
It was her fault, and hers alone.
She watched Naruto excuse himself through the gathered crowd conversing with each other, then push his way past the double doors and out of sight. He wore a determined mask of irritance that she was grateful was not projected in her direction; Naruto was terrifying when he got angry. But though she was so recently hurt by Sasuke, she did not wish for him to be on the receiving end of that fury. He clearly had enough of his own to go through at the moment.
Sakura only wished that she could be the one who could support him in his time of dire need.
"Well, since it's just us girls again," Ino cut through the silence between them like a butter knife, clearly trying to nullify any tension that manifested itself within those brief moments. She let her eyes go between Sakura and Hinata, both of whom were tense and clearly only trying to save face for their blonde friend. She had to return the favor and try to distract them and hope that her way of doing that wouldn't do the exact opposite. Praying to the gods that what she was about to do wasn't too selfish of her, she continued. "Why don't we use our wily good charms to good use and enchant some investors?"
Thinking that this was exactly what she needed to keep her mind off of Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura agreed wholeheartedly. She herself hoped she wasn't being self-centered by focusing on her woes when the day really should have been about Ino. Hinata nodded her agreement with a soft smile, more than happy to help out a friend no matter the cost. Ino figured that since Hinata was among them, the only way she would mingle with the Hyuga family was if they approached her first. It was a long shot, but if she was truly as good as the others before had praised her of, then she would need to think of a sneaky excuse to avoid Hinata getting caught in their spidery webs.
Sakura graciously smiled and followed Ino as she headed off in the direction of the people that caught her eyes before Naruto decided to leave. She lightly linked her right arm with Hinata's left and laced themselves through the crowd like a ballroom dance. She let her mind ease with the soothing thought that she would be spending the rest of the night with the girls who truly cherished and cared for her; she wouldn't let cruel words and bitter treatments get in the way of enjoying her time with Ino and Hinata.
At least, that's what she tried to keep reminding herself once she saw the family that Ino passionately approached, introducing herself and her companions. Sakura's heart beat faster and faster until it galloped like a horse on a race track. She tried and failed not to let her expression sour, attempting to school it into cool indifference. But, once she made eye contact with Itachi Uchiha, all sense of calm within herself flew out the door.
It would be onerous interaction to endure.
"Miss Yamanaka, what a pleasure to finally meet you," a gruffly professional voice spoke, cutting through Sakura's vexation and giving her something to latch on to rather than her own tormentous thoughts. She lifted her heavy eyes to the source of the greeting; by the sophisticated way he was dressed and the gray hairs accentuating his features rather than dragging them down, Sakura concluded that this was most likely an elder in Sasuke's family. Whether or not it was his father, she had no idea. Intrigued, but not allowing herself much more than a grain of curiosity seep through her expression, she listened in to the conversation between her friend and the Uchiha family. The older man extended a veiny but strong hand out in greeting. Ino took that hand enthusiastically. "We have heard much about your work ethic and the quality of your pieces. We are not usually ones to invest in the material world, but if you were to convince us, we may be more than happy to oblige."
"That's wonderful to hear, Mr. Uchiha," Ino replied, maintaining the handshake for a moment longer to establish confidence. Sakura watched as she looked the intimidating man directly in the eyes and found herself wishing that she could project that sort of poise and tenacity. When she was in these kind of future-determining situations, Sakura felt the need to flee with her tail between her legs. She never did, but she wondered if Ino experienced the same apprehension as she did. Maybe she did, and that's why she had Hinata and her by her side the entire time. Ino let go of the firm grip the two held and let her hand drop to her right side before continuing, "I was truly looking forward to seeing if you were going to attend the fashion show and I am so happy you did. It's an honor that you've even recognized me to begin with."
The older Uchiha man let his lips turn slightly upward in consideration, then he crossed his toned arms in front of him. To most, it would seem stand-off-ish, but he was able to convey that he was getting comfortable with the guests he held conversation with. His eyes scanned the company held before him: Ino Yamanaka and her two companions. He tilted his head downwards in greeting to the two latter women.
"The delight is all mine. But, please, Miss Yamanaka," the older Uchiha began, acknowledging her once more and letting all of his attention be grasped by the aspiring fashion artist, '' please indulge me. Convince me once and for all that you, out of all the students here dreaming the same dream as you, should become sponsored by me? Why I should I invest in you when I can take my money elsewhere?"
Sakura intently watched her friend out of the corner of her eye as Ino's lips quirked up in a mischievous nature. She knew that look painted all over Ino's face; she had expected a battle and she came prepared to give the fight her all. She knew that her endeavor was no easy task and for all Sakura knew, maybe that was why she chose it in the first place. That, and because she could tell by just how that family carried themselves that they were loaded. If they could line their pockets with cash and golden linings, they would be a great support system to have behind Ino when she strove to begin her own business.
Though Sakura didn't like the fact that it was the Uchiha family that Ino set her sights on, she reluctantly admitted that it surely wasn't a misstep on her part.
In the minute second between Mr. Uchiha's inquiry and Ino's assuredly sophisticated response, Sakura flicked her eyes over to Itachi to study his schooled expression. She was shocked to see that his creamily dark eyes were already analyzing her and seemingly disregarding the main conversation at hand. Concealing her surprise, she quickly flitted her eyes down to the ground and prayed that her skin did not flush like it seemed to do quite often by then.
She had no idea how these Uchiha men had such an overwhelming effect on her; it took more than an ounce of effort to keep her composure over a single glance from their entrancing eyes. It was disconcerting to say the least.
"I am so glad you asked, Mr. Uchiha," Ino's voice responded, breaking Sakura out of her reluctant reverie. Secretly glad that there was a distraction to keep her away from her own thoughts, Sakura latched onto every seductive word that came out of Ino's eager lips and maintained her focus on her friend's face. She pointedly ignored the eyes boring holes into the side of her skull, undoubtedly analyzing her every expression. "As I'm sure you've done your research, you know that my family owns the best floral shop in all of Konoha. Their drive and work ethic has been passed down to me fair and square, and I utilize it every day whether it's for work or pleasure. Lucky for me, my chosen field matches both of those criteria which means I would no doubt give it over 110% every single time I would come out with something new. I am confident you were able to see just a glimpse of that today, and that was just a scratch on the surface of what I am able to accomplish. I have my friends here with me today, Sakura Haruno and Hinata Hyuga, who would vouch for me to the end of the world. And as you have also seen, I have no problem giving credit where credit is due, and I kicked ass tonight."
"Hm, Hyuga you say?" Mr. Uchiha responded after a brief pause, uncrossing his arms and scratching his non-existent stubble with his sturdy right hand. His eyes drifted over to Hinata whom granted him with a shy but friendly smile, tucking a stray strand of dark violet hair behind her delicate right ear. If she wanted to chime in with her own words, she did not give any indication. Sakura realized it was likely because she normally was not given any opportunities to voice her opinions in these business conversations within her own family. Sakura didn't stop the twang of pity that dared show itself within her chest. Her eyes went from Hinata back to Mr. Uchiha to see what he decided to say next. "I thought you may have been from that family, Miss Hyuga. Well, let me just say as much as I respect your family and their opinions, I must form my own of my own volition. And Haruno? I don't suppose I've heard that surname before in the buzz that makes its way around Konoha. Do your parents own any businesses around here?"
Sakura refused to let his comment burn shame throughout her features; she was positive that he was a blunt and very business-forward man. Though the comment sluiced through her like an insult pointedly intended to harm her, she wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt and brush it off. Instead of letting her temper get the better of her, Sakura merely placed a pleasant smile on her lips and replied.
"No, sir, they do not," she began, scrounging her brain for a proper explanation that she knew he would accept and not use against Ino. The upper class in Konoha, though most had good intentions close at heart, had a tendency to let their prejudice shine through in moments like these. "But, they are both extremely hard working people whose work ethic keeps food on the table and helped me get through medical school. So, I will surely be the one to make a name for the Haruno family around here."
At that comment, the first thing that Sakura heard was a hearty laugh emanating from Itachi to Mr. Uchiha's right hand side, drawing her attention back to the captivating man. She spotted a bright smile carved out on his flawless face and he stepped up to her and place a strong hand on her left shoulder in an awfully familiar way. Sakura's first instinct was to flinch away, but there was a warmth in the gesture that had her melting indiscreetly into his touch. It was almost brotherly in the way he treated her and she had just met him that night.
"I like this one," Itachi proclaimed to support his action, and turned to smile warmly down to Sakura. She turned her eyes up to meet his and was surprised back her lack of embarrassment at the intimate space between them in front of so many people, including his prestigious family. She supposed it was a natural way she felt towards members of the Uchiha family. Sakura allowed herself a small grateful smile in Itachi's direction which he enthusiastically returned before turning back to his family to continue. "I think both Miss Haruno and Miss Hyuga's opinions should hold a fair amount of weight in this matter."
"I have no doubt they do," Mr. Uchiha replied, pointedly looking in Sakura's direction and not concealing the fact that he took a mental note of her. What that note said, Sakura had no inkling whether it was good or bad. Before she could muster the courage to speak again, his attention went back over to Ino with a stoic expression but faint twinkle in his eyes as he spoke to her once more. "You are kept in good company, Miss Yamanaka. I will take your proposal into heavy consideration and we may just be in business. You should hear back from me within the week."
"That sounds wonderful, Mr. Uchiha," Ino said in response, careful not to let her excitement take over in poor taste. She extended her right hand out for him and he firmly reciprocated the gesture. With a brief glance to both sides of her to Sakura and Hinata, Ino added, "These girls are truly my support system. They're superwomen in my eyes. I'm sure you'll see what I do in no time."
"We will see," he gruffly responded, but not without letting an all-too-familiar smirk spread across his face. With that simple expression, he truly looked like Sasuke and Sakura's heart stuttered for a brief second. This man was truly an Uchiha, but it wasn't just that. He was the Uchiha; he was older than Itachi and Sasuke, so he had to be either their father or uncle. But, she refused to jump to any conclusions because Sakura knew deep down what harm that could do. "It was good to speak with you girls, but it is time for my family and me to take our leave. I hope you three get home safe and sound."
Sakura simply regarded the older man with a polite tilt of the head in farewell, and he mirrored her gesture. She didn't bother to turn to her friends to her right to see how they bid their farewells, but knowing them, they surely did the same . Sakura instead focused on Itachi's hand that still lingered on her shoulder. She looked up to him questioningly.
"It was good to see you once more tonight," Itachi said, looking down at Sakura with the warmth she saw in his eyes previously, sending a shiver down her spine. He dropped his hand and reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card, handing it to Sakura in between two nimble fingers. She tentatively took it with an unsure hand and deepened her confused expression. Itachi continued, lowering his lips to her left ear and caressing her skin with his warm breath like an embrace. "This was a good interaction you've had with Father. He's not normally in this good of a mood, and you and your friends have surely tickled him. This is my number for future reference; use it for anything. I have a feeling we will see each other sooner rather than later, just as we did tonight."
At that, he retracted from her side quickly until his presence was merely more than a whisper. She had no idea how this meeting about Ino had turned into another intriguing interaction with Itachi Uchiha, but Sakura was sure she wouldn't give it up for the world. Though she had been pushed away earlier in the night by the man she had been growing attached to, this connection she had unwittingly formed felt like a foothold back into his world. Maybe it would be seen as invasive, but she wanted to get the message across: she cared deeply for Sasuke, demons and all. All she asked in return was for him to share that burden with her, whether there were romantic intentions or not.
Letting these thoughts consume her, Sakura watched their family leave through the back door that seemed to be exclusive to security, which made sense considering they were likely in charge of the security of this building. After their backs stepped through the threshold and disappeared from sight, Sakura turned to Ino and was met with an incredulous look from her.
"Would you mind explaining why it seems like you have every single Uchiha wrapped around your finger, Sakura?!" Ino exclaimed while Sakura heard Hinata harmonically chuckling in the background. Though there was a light-hearted air to her accusation, Sakura knew that she had forests and rivers and mountains of explaining to do, and she didn't even know where to begin.
The bar Naruto strode into had a quiet, sullen atmosphere with an ominous silence that gripped tightly to the stale air. The moment he made his way through the threshold, he let himself think that if the inner part of Sasuke's tormented mind had been personified, the darkened restaurant with eerily low vaulted ceilings would certainly be it. It was surely suffocating enough, Naruto mused.
Seemingly abandoned, especially considering it was barely evening in the middle of the week, the bar was bone dry of anyone except for a few drunken stragglers. It made it all the more easier for Naruto's vision to zero in on Sasuke's hunched back situated at a solitary stool in the back right corner of the bar. It almost seemed as if he willed himself to melt into the darkness like a solemn ghost, forgotten, rejected, and never to be seen or heard from again. Naruto's chest constricted as he saw the shadow that seemed to loom over his best friend, soaking up any positive, breathable air around him and cocooning him in a devilish embrace. He strained himself to not let the pity bleed through his expression as he approached Sasuke. Naruto knew he hated that.
In just a few, falsely confident strides, Naruto walked up behind Sasuke and placed his right hand on his friend's left shoulder. Naruto felt Sasuke's entire body go rigid and spotted his struggle to keep a firm hold on the glass of whiskey he had been nursing. After waiting a briefly tense moment to evaluate if Sasuke would retaliate to his presence, Naruto was met with a long-winded sigh and a defeated gulp of liquor. Once Sasuke downed and finished his drink choice, he heavily placed the glass back down on the bar, disregarding the coaster he undoubtedly was originally intended to use. Naruto quietly watched as he bartender wordlessly took the glass to clean and questioningly raised his thumb up in the air; it was a non-verbal way of asking Sasuke if he wanted another. Turning to see his response, Naruto spied a barely discernible nod of his head as he crossed his arms to support his weakening body on the bar itself. He followed that up by putting two frail fingers up in the air and pointing to Naruto.
Taking that as an invitation to sit in the chipped and worn stool to Sasuke's left, Naruto slipped down and sent a grateful smile in the bartender's direction. He knew he wasn't going to enjoy the drink Sasuke had chosen; though he wasn't one for fruity drinks, Naruto's cup of tea was not the heavy, smokey whiskey that seemed to entice Sasuke in his times of ire.. But, he would surely accept the glass of liquor with a strained but appreciative smile. It wasn't often that Sasuke extended an olive branch in his direction, no matter how small the gesture may have been.
Crossing his own arms in front of him, mirroring Sasuke's posture and heaving out a deep sigh, Naruto went against his usual instincts to talk animatedly in an attempt to drag Sasuke's spirits from the gutter; from knowing his best friend for such a long time, he could tell from the very fiber of his bones that the funk Sasuke was in was deeper, much more troubling than usual. There must have been a catalyst, some other cause to make him storm out completely, leave everyone behind in the dust. There was no real way to approach him without ripping off the band-aid. On one hand, Naruto could remain silent and merely offer Sasuke the comfort of his presence alone. On the other, he felt that there was a necessary communication needed between them. It could be cathartic, it could be strenuous. The only way to find out was to face it head on with a courageous heart that was willing to share its bravery and warmth.
Naruto's eyes drifted to the bartender who just arrived with their ordered drinks and reached into his pocket for his leather wallet. Grasping it and pilling it quickly from his pocket, he whipped out his credit card and paid for the drinks, insistent that Sasuke not spend too much of the money that he truly did not have.
"That'll be it for tonight, sir," Naruto said, looking the bartender directly in the eyes, letting his seriousness become palpable enough for Sasuke to groggily drag his attention up from the dull nothingness he found himself in up to his best friend's sunny demeanor. Naruto waited for a nod from the man before turning his cerulean eyes over to meet Sasuke's with conviction, but letting his soft side for the man peek through. Sighing, he addressed him, "Sasuke, what are you doing here?"
Expectedly, Naruto was met with silence. Sasuke merely turned to his freshly replenished drink and raised it to his lips, taking a small sip of the strong whiskey before placing the glass back down. The strained expression that was making its way across Sasuke's face told Naruto that he had words that could not form themselves coherently, leaving him tongue tied and speechless. Despite his friend's torment, this gave Naruto hope because it meant that he was actually willing to speak his truth that night. Naruto patiently waited for Sasuke to find the words.
"Itachi was there tonight," Sasuke tentatively began, careful to not divulge too much that he couldn't take back in the end. His hands cupped around the glass in front of him while he studied the bubbles and ripples of the liquor as he swirled it slowly around. Distractions would be favorable in any moment he decided to open up his chamber of innermost thoughts. "And Sakura...she was there too. And so were my parents. Worlds collided...and I ...I lashed out. Like I usually do whenever those people get involved."
"Those people? Sasuke," Naruto said, leaning in closer to Sasuke, disregarding the glass that was situated to his left, out of sight, out of mind. "Those people are your family, Sasuke. And I'll say it again like I've said a million times before: you're going to have to let them in and forgive them sooner or later. They are not your enemy."
"They are my enemy! They've proven it to me time and time again!" Sasuke said, gripping his glass with both hands tighter and tighter until his knuckles turned white. He noted the elevating volume of his voice and reeled himself back in, all the while avoiding eye contact with Naruto. He continued, "I'm dead to them, and that street goes both ways. And itachi has the audacity to spew those same lies to me. No one will put themselves in my shoes."
"Sasuke," Naruto replied with enough rage in his voice that it held Sasuke's attention once more, leaving him speechless. Naruto was not one to let his negative emotions take over; he was the positive beacon of light in Sasuke's life of darkness. But, if he needed to put his foot down and be stern with him to get his point across, then so be it. He would bitch slap Sasuke with the truth and see what good that would do. "Be grateful that you have a family to go back to and make amends with. I have not had that opportunity since I was eleven years old. Take it or leave it, your family will be there whether you like it or not. And I say that you are wasting your opportunity with bitterness and quite frankly, immaturity."
"Fuck you, Naruto, you have no idea what I've gone through personally," Sasuke spat, lifting his glass to his lips and gulping the entire drink on one gulp. Banging the glass back down on the bar, he attempted to flag down the bartender for another refill with his left hand, but Naruto stopped him by stopping his arm halfway. Narrowing his eyes and Naruto shook his head no, Sasuke continued, "You may have been there for me by my side, but you weren't able to see it through my eyes, feel what I feel, know what I know. Because of them, I can't focus, I can't keep a steady job, I can't maintain a healthy relationship. Hell, I even pushed Sakura away tonight, the one person besides you that even remotely seems to genuinely care, and now, she probably wants nothing to do with me anymore."
"Well, you're right about one thing, Sasuke," Naruto said, sighing heavily and not even caring to prevent the pity from becoming apparent through his features. His heart broke for his best friend, but there was a time when he needed to get kicked in the ass for being so blind to the world, and that was as good a time as any. He had let Sasuke wallow in his despair long enough, but he had given all the lifelines he could possibly muster; he now needed to climb out of his abyss on his own. Naruto knew deep down that he would stay by Sasuke's side every step of the way, but he couldn't coddle him, couldn't hold his hand anymore. And he needed to let his best friend know that. "I haven't been able to feel exactly what you have. But, your depression can no longer be an excuse to be an asshole anymore. There are people who truly care about you, and you are too blinded by your sadness and hatred to see that. I care about you, your family cares about you, and I'm sure if you were to reach out to Sakura again, you'll see that she still cares about you."
Sasuke remained silent, though Naruto knew for a fact he heard him. He grabbed his untouched of glass of whiskey with his left hand and slid it over to the young Uchiha. Bending over to make sure that he got Sasuke's attention and looking deep into his shattered eyes, Naruto began one last time.
"Here, you can have this," he began, pointing directly to the glass, but making sure to clearly grimace in its direction. He continued, "Though I wish you wouldn't. I'd like for you to clear your mind and steer clear of this stuff for a while. I want you to get your shit together. I want you to be the best version of yourself you can be. I know you can do it. Go apologize to Sakura. Apologize to yourself. Get your head on straight to see things from a different perspective. You may just like what you see where the grass is so much greener."
With that proclamation, Naruto stood up assuredly and patted him on the shoulder on last time before walking away and out of the bar. Sasuke knew deep down that Naruto was the last person he'd want to lose from his life, but he was unfortunately right; he was a train wreck. It wasn't as if he didn't already know that, but having it thrown in his face was like a ton of bricks landing directly on his face. Sasuke's eyes lingered on the glass of whiskey Naruto offered; Naruto acknowledged that he may have had a dependency on it. To have it verbalized was brutal for Sasuke and encouraged him to cut down on it. But, it was a crutch for him and his fingers itched to grab the glass and throat craved the burning bitterness of the liquor to slide down it like nectar.
Despite what Naruto said, Sasuke remained convinced that he didn't deserve the happiness that he claimed everyone wanted for him. No matter what Naruto claimed, even if Sasuke got his head on straight, he felt deep down that he had already pushed everybody away for good. Convinced it was probably for the better, Sasuke grabbed the glass, gulped the liquid down in one motion, and shakily stood up from the rickety stool he parked himself at that night., He decided to walk home that night; his apartment was right around the corner from the bar, and Naruto had been his ride to the fashion show that seemed like ages ago at that point. Gathering his bearings and nodding to the bartender in farewell, Sasuke patted his pants frantically, triple checking for his wallet, keys, and phone in each pocket. They were all there.
Satisfied, Sasuke strode over to the exit and opened the door; it had gotten so dark outside so quickly. Time really flew by for him while he wallowed by himself. He took a steadying breath as he walked through the door and into the night, hoping in the back of his mind that there was a semblance of truth in what Naruto said. Sasuke wanted to better himself, but wasn't sure he had what it took to function as a normal human being. He was unsure of many things, but there was one thing he was positive of: he must reach out to Sakura.
If he couldn't make amends with his family or even himself, he could at least apologize to Sakura and hopefully make it right with her, it could possibly be his first step in the right direction There was something special about her and he'd be damned if he let her go.
And it took the world freezing over for Sasuke to finally admit that to himself.
Hello everyone! This was chapter seven. I hope you enjoyed it! :)
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