Ink and Pastels:
V. Fear.
He wouldn't stop drawing. His hands were covered in the dust of his pastels. Pen ink darkened the pads of his fingers. Paint splattered over the exposed parts of his arms. He didn't want to forget. He couldn't. Her bright smile started to stain the page of his sketch paper.
'
'
'
The walk back had been intensely quiet.
Her lips felt swollen.
The skin of her chin and around her mouth irritated from the friction of the scruff of hairs on his chin.
Sasuke was walking a few paces behind her. Slowly.
She could feel his stare boring into her back - but she didn't dare turn around.
Even though euphoria was coursing through her at high levels, she had an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach.
She hadn't imagined the shaking of his hand against her neck.
His long fingers had trembled ever so slightly.
When he had finally pulled away from her - his cheeks a bit flushed and his chest heaving with his heavy breaths - one of his hands lightly trailed down her jaw.
Ran across her lips.
And he pressed a quick and chaste kiss against her forehead.
He hadn't spoken.
She wasn't sure what was running through his mind.
Had the kiss involved too much saliva?
Did he not enjoy it?
She didn't even know if she was a good kisser.
A sigh slipped past her lips as she walked along the sidewalk, back facing towards Anko and Kakashi's house.
She was ready to just curl up inside her sheets and replay the moment of Sasuke kissing her over and over before she succumbed to sleep.
Her eyes trailed along the street.
It was deserted save for a few cars parked on the side of the curbs.
Leaves and other debris collected in the storm drains.
Fast food wrappers.
Little tree branches.
She wanted so badly to reach a few inches backwards and take a grasp of his hand.
To feel his calloused fingers intertwine with hers.
At least then she'd know he was alright.
She wasn't positive for the reason why he had so suddenly kissed her either.
Maybe he was just hormonal and wanted to smash his lips on hers.
Or perhaps it was because of what she had asked him earlier that night.
She hated to think it was because of something worse.
That he had been thinking over their conversation and dark thoughts were slowly stewing in the back crevices of his mind.
As she contemplated over the plethora of reasons for his sudden onslaught of affection, and whether or not she should just suck it up and confront him - his fingers gripped around her wrist.
His thumb and ring finger created a tight clasp around one of her wrists.
She supposed that was as close as she would get to having her hand held.
"Sakura," His deep, faintly accented voice called out to her.
"Hm?" She nonchalantly muttered, keeping her face forward as they walked.
"Highlight of my night."
Her cheeks flushed slightly and she coughed to hide her embarrassment at wanting to suddenly skip down the sidewalk in joy.
She kept herself in check though.
Simply smiling to herself as they continued their trek.
His fingers gripped her wrist tighter.
'
'
'
"All set back there?" Kakashi's head poked inside the backseat.
Once they had gotten back from their stroll, Ino was complaining about how tired she was, wanting to get home.
Kakashi had already put Anko to bed - and he and Sasuke helped carry Ino into the backseat where she stretched herself out and fell asleep.
Sasuke loaded up the trunk with the extra dishes and leftovers.
Then attempted to sidle his way into the drivers seat, but Sakura declined.
Insisted on driving herself.
He had merely grunted in disapproval but complied with her demands.
"Yes," She replied, opening up the drivers side door, "Thank you for having us Kakashi. I really enjoyed dinner. Sorry about Ino, work seems to be stressing her out lately. Or maybe it's just Kiba."
"Better get that boy in check. But it was our pleasure. Come again soon." He lightly kissed her forehead, shook Sasuke's hand tightly, and headed back inside.
She slid inside the seat. Buckled up. Put the gear in reverse.
Sasuke was watching her quietly with that dark, imploring gaze of his.
She ignored it.
Concentrated on pulling out of the driveway.
She started to drive down the road.
Air slithered through the vents, cold and refreshing as she tried to quell the nerves swirling around inside of her.
Ino's soft snoring reached her ears from the backseat.
Sasuke's arm had reached over to sling along the back of her seat.
"Did you enjoy your evening?" He asked suddenly. Very softly. A light murmur.
"Did you?" Her response came fast. Imploring. Hesitant.
She could see from her peripheral - his dark eyes resting on her. The hand resting in his lap seemed to tighten slightly.
His dark hair pressed back against the head rest of his seat.
The hand that was against her seat shifted, and she could feel his fingertips moving to lightly twirl a stray strand of her hair between his fingertips. The piece of hair darted to and fro and his gaze of sight moved to stare outside the window.
She continued to drive.
He took what seemed like years to give her a reply.
"Aa."
She chewed on the bottom of her lip in contemplation.
Fingertips roughly gripping the rubber cover of the steering wheel.
Silence dragged on.
Ino's soft snoring the only source of noise.
Lights flashed by her vision as she drove.
Bright signs depicting places to eat and places to rest.
She often lifted her eyes from the road to glance at Sasuke - whom was staring really intently out the window.
Fingertips still twirling loose strands of her hair.
Black eyebrows furrowed.
Dark eyes in slits.
For the duration of the ride - he didn't ask again if she enjoyed her evening.
As Konoha grew closer, his gaze seemed to become as bleak as the night sky.
But his fingers continued to toy with her hair.
Occasionally brushing against her neck.
She tried to stamp down the nerves boiling in the pit of her stomach.
Suffocating her.
'
'
'
Sakura had decided to drop Sasuke off at his apartment first.
That way he wouldn't be troubled with the burden of helping her lug Ino out of the car and into her bed.
And she wouldn't have to have any awkward conversation with him - for Ino would be in their company.
She pulled up to the curb.
Vibrant green eyes lifted from the road, finally, as she shifted the gear in park to look at Sasuke fully.
Now that she wasn't distracted by the road.
Those dark eyes.
Brooding.
Gazing off into space.
Staring at his apartment building.
A few moments passed in awkward silence.
He finally glanced up at her.
One of his eyebrows quirked in slight puzzlement.
"What are we doing here?" His gruff voice ground out.
Sakura blinked.
Ino shifted, mumbling in her sleep.
"Well. I brought you home?" It came off slightly as a question, for she wasn't sure why it seemed his words were laced with such disappointment. Did he not want her to take him back home to his own place?
"Why?" She fought off the urge to bash her head against the steering wheel.
"Why not? Isn't it normal protocol when having picked up the guest from their apartment, instead of letting them drive themselves, to bring them back home?" His dark eyes rolled.
"Obviously, Sakura." The sound of her name on his lips made her heart trill.
"I don't see the problem here then, sir. I bid you goodnight."
She turned the key towards the left, pulling her lanyard from the ignition. Keys clanked against her thigh as she shifted herself to push her door open and escape the inquisitive and aggressive looks of the man in the passengers seat.
Sasuke's hand flashed out to yank the door to a close.
Her breath hitched when he leaned towards her. Effortlessly moving over the center console that proved to be quite the hassle - and brushing up against her. One of his hands caressed the side of her cheek.
His other hand lightly pressed against the window so he could grab his bearings. Not let his weight topple over her.
"May I ask," Her voice was shaky, breathy. "What exactly it is you're trying to accomplish here?"
"No." A scowl affixed itself on her features.
He smirked. Then leaned so close that his nose was inches from her own.
"Sakura," He spoke. Firmly. Full of intent.
"What?" Was all she could manage to croak.
"Let me take Ino home."
"That would be pointless. Then I'd just have to drive again back to your apartment. Hence saving time by dropping you off first."
"Hn. Stay in my apartment then."
Her eyes widened. "Why, are you telling me to spend the night in your apartment?"
A dark smirk flourished onto his face. "Who says we'd be sleeping?"
Sakura snorted. Laughter spilled from her lips and she pressed a hand to one of his shoulders, trying not to let tears spring from her eyes.
"Sasuke, did you just make a joke?" His eyes rolled as he pulled back, shaking his head at her.
"Let me take your annoyingly inebriated friend home. I want to take you somewhere."
"Again? I keep telling you - the dumpster and I are through."
He sighed.
Grabbed the keys from her hand.
Demanded they switch seats.
Then he was off to her apartment.
'
'
'
Ino was safely tucked in the comforts of her own sheets.
Door closed.
Glass of water and two aspirins on her bedside table.
Sasuke was cracking his knuckles.
"I don't really think it's wise to take Ino's car without her permission."
"I'm sure she'd give it to you regardless."
"That's besides the point!"
"Fine. Would you like me to walk back and get my own car?"
Sakura grumbled under her breath, crossing her arms against her chest in defiance.
Sasuke took that as compliance and gently shoved her in the direction of the passengers seat.
She sat grumpily.
Fingertips harshly gripping the fabric of the jacket she had looped her arms through.
She watched him silently as he pressed his foot to the gas - speeding off into the dark.
Stars blinked above.
The night sky glared.
Moon shining effervescently.
His tall frame was snugly filling the space. One arm draped over the back of her seat. The other gripping the steering wheel - tugging it in different directions every few minutes.
Left.
Sharp right.
Right again.
A small U-turn.
Oh, another right.
She had no clue as to where he was headed.
Even her probing questions had yielded no results.
"Where are we going?"
"Somewhere."
"Somewhere, such as?"
"A place."
"What place?"
"Hn."
"I don't think 'hn' is a place."
"Aa."
She huffed. Turned her body in the direction of her window.
Ignored the amused glance he tossed in her direction.
Stubborn bastard.
"We'll be there soon."
'
'
'
Lights attacked her.
Brilliant flashes.
White and blue circular lanterns strung on long strands of string.
Towering trees.
Patches of damp grass. Ripped in certain spaces - exposing dark mud.
Mud that her tiny heeled boots slightly sunk into as she got out of the parked car.
"Uhm. This looks like an abandoned car lot."
Metal was everywhere.
Heaps of broken cars littered the perimeter.
It was a huge field, though.
A large cliff off to the distance - a pathway where a car could easily glide along.
The strands of lights ran for miles, outlining a sandy, dirt pathway in the direction of the cliff.
Cars were everywhere she turned.
Piles of them.
Cars that seemed to be fixed were sitting in messily painted white lines made to resemble a parking space.
She blinked. Continuously. For a few moments.
"Like, where villains go to hide dead bodies."
"What kind of things are you watching?" Was his exasperated reply as he stood out of the car.
She found herself smiling and his eyes rested on her.
Lingering.
Before he then turned when she noticed his lips were fighting off the urge to twitch.
The stars gleaned above, creating an illuminating glow underneath the blue and white lights.
Small orbs of a pale navy color that danced across the ground as he began to lead her down the path towards the cliff.
"So I'm assuming you like to work on cars? Actually - you mentioned you graduated from Oto with an engineering degree. You aren't by any chance friends with Kiba and Suigetsu are you?"
"Yes. I'm friends with Suigetsu. I know of Kiba - but I haven't had the chance to go to the shop yet and properly meet him. The bookstore is busy."
"Interesting. That never clicked. But...wow."
"Hn?"
"There are a lot of cars here."
"Some I've worked on by myself. Others Suigetsu has helped with. The guys at the auto shop come often when they need to think. I come here a lot when I can't draw or paint, when art escapes me. And I tinker with the broken vehicles."
"I feel like this is an art form in itself. Fixing broken cars."
He smirked. Quieted down as he continued to bring her towards the cliff.
She had to admit this wasn't what she was expecting he wanted to show her.
Sasuke.
A man who loved to draw and paint and escape in art.
But he also worked on cars.
Built them from broken pieces and scraps.
Mended the ones that could be fixed. Recreated from the ones that couldn't.
As they reached the top of the cliff - there was a sleek black car, rusted just a smidgen, and cloaked halfway with a tarp - Sasuke draped a huge black blanket from a bag she had inconveniently not noticed.
The cliff overlooked the city of Konoha. She inhaled at the sight.
Tall, over-empowering buildings and lights and sounds.
She had never seen the city from up so high before.
Or so far away.
It was surreal.
They both settled upon the hood.
His arm brushed beside hers. His thigh pressing gently against hers.
Sakura hesitantly shifted. "What, uh, was it that you wanted to show me?"
Seeming to sense her wariness, he lightly pressed a hand against her back. She bolted a bit upright at the contact, swallowing.
"This was the first car I owned. My brother and I worked endlessly every summer fixing it up. Naruto as well. That's how I met Kiba - at a car convention in college. It's a piece of crap. The engine is shot and I'm not sure how to get it back to it's former glory. I just - " He paused for a moment.
His fingertips glided slowly down her back. She shivered.
"...I just can't destroy it. It's the only thing I really have left of my brother."
"Sasuke," Sakura rested one of her hands to rest lightly on the top of his thigh. "You still have your memories of him. Those will never fade."
"That isn't enough."
"Why aren't they?"
"Because memories aren't as precious as the real thing. Memories become distorted. They do fade. They may always be there, but memories don't always last."
"Memories, true, aren't as precious as the real thing - but sometimes it's all you have. Memories is all I have of my parents."
"Aa...I..." Sasuke seemed to freeze. His words trickling from his mouth like ash. Fragmented. Fumbling.
"It's okay," She smiled brightly in his direction. "Memories give you something to fall back on. A strength of sorts."
"Sakura." She lifted her head to stare up at him.
He was staring down at her.
A dark expanse of worry. His eyes always conveyed things his words just couldn't. She could see he was worried about his brother. Perhaps worried about what this was between them.
The wind was furling around them, distorting the strands of his hair to flurry around his face. Such dark strands. Caressing his cheekbones.
The glowing city a large backdrop behind him.
A huge camphor tree off to his side.
The leaves fluttering to dust across the ground.
Her heart was nervously ping-ponging in her chest as their eyes met.
One of his hands was curled into a fist. A fist that her other hand came to rest upon.
"Sakura, you sure are something." His other hand came to lightly run across her cheekbone. The pad of his thumb ran along her jawline. His lips came to ghost over her own. "I don't want to break you."
"Isn't that part of the risk? Having the power to break someone, but trusting in them not to." He chuckled dryly, simply shaking his head in response. His dark hair shielded his eyes from her gaze as he rested his forehead against her own.
She eventually let her head droop to rest on his shoulder. The hand of his that had trailed along her face pulled her against his side, shielding her from the chilly night air.
As they watched the night descend faster upon the city of Konoha, letting their hearts beat slowly in rhythm to their hushed conversations about dinner at Anko and Kakashi's and Ino's murmuring in the car whilst she slept, Sakura noticed something.
Sasuke finally reached over to grasp her hand in his.
Intertwining their fingers.
And he wouldn't let go.
'
'
'
Page ten of her fifteen page report was now staring at her from the screen of her laptop.
It had been a few days since Sasuke had kissed her.
He had taken her home after spending an hour longer staring at the city. They hadn't talked much more, but she was okay with that. Sitting there so close and letting him rest against her was success enough.
Besides.
Her mind had been far away thinking of him pressed up against her. His lips consuming her own. His internal walls falling just momentarily in her presence.
Sasuke.
She still couldn't really figure him out.
He seemed so fallen apart.
Despaired over the loss of his brother, but still fighting so hard to keep him alive.
Although he was never really sure if he'd ever see him again.
Seeming to hide the feelings he was developing for her, but also wanting to show her. Just slowly.
She sighed.
Ino was off at Tenten's getting breakfast before heading into work.
She hadn't heard from Hinata in awhile - she assumed the school year was getting a bit hectic with the holiday season around.
Nor had she heard from Karin. Karin was always busy so she didn't really expect much communication with her.
She fisted her hands frustratedly into the depths of her pink hair.
Pieces limply hanging down, all mused from her recent shower.
She couldn't stop her mind from wandering towards him.
It was a bit silly.
The guy kisses her and she goes into all swoon mode.
Ino would be dying with sheer happiness if she knew.
It made a soft sigh slip past her lips once more, as she leaned back in her desk chair.
Her jeans were dark, the material on her thighs a shade lighter. She tugged down her red camisole, the white lace sweater sticking to her back.
She was a bit confused on the situation with Sasuke as she started thinking it over.
He seemed interested in her, yes.
Of course.
But he seemed to be harboring dark things from his past that he couldn't quite seem to get over.
Not that she thought it was a bad thing, but she just wasn't sure how much help she could be to him.
Her world was colorless.
It was bleak.
She was a doctor in training.
That wasn't really incredible when she couldn't even get past her internship.
She had just been working constantly for years.
And what else did she have?
She could bake. And cook. But even that skill was mediocre.
She sometimes helped Ino out.
Her life paled in comparison to his.
Even paled in comparison to her friend's lives.
She was starting to ponder on what Sasuke even saw in her.
If he really saw anything at all?
She shook her head.
Being cooped up writing all day was starting to muddle her thoughts. She was moving towards unfavorable situations and she didn't want to think how darker her thoughts would get if she continued to worry.
Taking a hold of her cellphone, she dialed a number and leaned back. Wet hair tickling her cheeks.
"Hello?" The voice answered quickly.
"I think it's my turn to take you somewhere precious to me. Would you like to come with me to visit my mother?"
'
'
'
The heels of her tan boots clanked nosily against the cobblestones.
Wind rustled through the trees and along the small creek that ran in the center of the cemetery.
A little wooden bridge connected one side of the grave site to the other.
One side was for huge tombstones.
The other side was for smaller tombstones where it was decorated to resemble a field of flowers.
So many colors and species.
When her mother had passed - she had chosen to bury her on the more elegant side.
Where the flowers were brilliant.
Because her parents had named her after the Sakura blossom - and she wanted her mother to be buried with her passion. Her passion for flowers and gardening and just making life beautiful.
Her fingertips gripped the railing of the bridge as she stood to stand alongside the bridge and she tilted her head back to gaze at the sky.
Blinking away tears that threatened to fall.
Gray peacoat fastened to the second button.
White scarf peeping from the huge bag at her feet.
It hadn't taken her long to get here.
The grave sit wasn't too far away from Konoha.
Just about a half hour drive.
Green eyes darted towards the side when a throat cleared.
Sasuke stood there all bundled up in a black coat.
Dark blue jeans.
Black laced up boots.
That dark blue scarf he had been wearing when she first met him tied securely around his neck.
Instead of it's usual styled wave it was all messy. Strands stuck up in all directions, as though his fingers had constantly run through it and pushed it up. Or it had been slept on awkwardly and he didn't bother fixing it.
"You know how much of a pain it was getting here? All these stupid little roads where the signs were barely legible. And I had to of passed them at least three times before finding the right ones." He grumpily rumbled.
A small smile appeared on her lips.
"My apologies, you grump."
"It would have made more sense to ride together."
"I'm sorry. I had to run a few errands before I got here."
Sasuke shook his head from side to side, shoving his hands into his pants pockets, and making his way to stand beside her.
"Hn." He leaned down to take hold of her basket, before nodding his head in the directions of the smaller section of tombstones. "I'd like to pay my respects to Mrs. Haruno, if you'd lead the way."
'
'
'
They sat in front of her mother's grave in a pool of mid-morning sunlight.
A red blanket was spread out beneath them. The soft, green grass peeking through little tears in the cloth.
Her fingertips nervously teased the little blades of grass.
In a way, Sasuke was meeting her mother.
On their grave was a large vase that Sakura had shoved a dozen different kinds of flowers into - courtesy of Ino's expertise. This morning she had brought along a bouquet of Sakura blossoms.
She had fixed the vase, erasing away the dirt and dust.
Ripping out weeds that had formulated around the grave.
She gestured towards the gravestone as Sasuke sat there silently, "This is my mother."
Her fingers still toying with the grass as she saw him swallow before speaking. Hands neatly folded in his lap. Taking a small bow towards the grave before words came flooding from his lips.
"Hello, Mebuki Haruno. I'm surprised your daughter allowed me to meet you, but I'm honored. My name is Sasuke Uchiha. I'm sure you're wondering what my intentions are for you daughter? Well. Kakashi already gave me his opinion on the matter. But I made it very clear to him. Your daughter is gentle...and has a huge heart...and I have no intentions of causing her any harm." She blinked.
Opened her mouth to speak, but then closed it.
Sasuke was having a conversation with her mother.
About her.
How he cared for her.
And was promising that he wouldn't dare hurt her.
She couldn't help but to stare. Blankly.
She turned, swallowing down tears and her words, occupying herself with the things in her basket.
She had made a picnic basket.
Filled with items from Tenten's restaurant.
It was the least she could do for dragging Sasuke all the way out here.
She pulled out paper plates and plastic utensils and napkins.
Wasn't sure what he wanted to eat so she left the food unattended.
Instead taking out paper cups to pour some water into from an enclosed pitcher.
When Sasuke finished his small speech, his dusky gaze penetrated hers.
"I don't really remember my mother much, considering she passed when I was very young. But...I think she would have liked you. You hide behind this gruff persona but deep down you have a heart and it's filled with loneliness but you're struggling to be a better person. I'm not sure why I had to lose her so soon...but I'm glad that you wanted to come with me."
She glanced at her mother's grave, smiling warily down at her hands plucking at the grass still.
Unsure really of the reason why she had suddenly just wanted to bring Sasuke here to meet her mother.
It was just a thought that had suddenly occurred to her.
She needed to get out of her house for a little while.
Take a break from writing her report.
But she was glad she had brought him with her.
His voice pulled her from her thoughts. He was picking through the food, arranging items on their plates while he let her stew in her memories.
"I would have liked to meet your mother, but this is fine as well."
He seemed to look away when she turned her sudden bright smile in his direction.
'
'
'
They had finished eating in the company of her mother.
Sakura laid on her back against the blanket, basking in the dazzling rays of the sunlight draining down on her.
Sasuke sat beside her, his fingers curling in the stringy strands of her now dry hair.
He was twining the strands through each of his fingers as he stared ahead of him. He leaned back a little, still in a sitting position as she listened to the way his breaths mixed with the air.
She was having a bit of a hard time forming coherent thoughts when his fingers were running lightly through her hair. His other hand dangerously close to holding her other hand.
A little warm breeze rustled little broken petals collecting against the dirt around the gravestones.
Eyes half-lidded, she peered up to see Sasuke staring intensely at her mothers grave.
In his free hand was now a charcoal black pencil.
A crumbled piece of sketch paper lay spread across his thigh. Folded in multiple places.
He was drawing something.
She couldn't see what it was exactly from her position.
"What are you drawing?" His eyes didn't waver from where his attention was focused on her mothers' grave.
His hand rapidly moving to and fro on the piece of paper.
A bit shakily.
"This moment."
"You know..." She paused for a moment. "I'd like to see more of your art. Everything you do. What you've worked on. What you're working on now."
He smirked. An upturn in the corner of one of his lips as his hold broke, to stare down at his piece, before his hand darted fast against it once more.
"When?"
"How about now?"
"I figured you wanted to rest and relax a little longer."
"Not if you're letting me see your artwork."
He chuckled lightly, "Aa. Well, lead the way princess. After all, I got lost before."
"Because you're lame, Uchiha."
"Hn."
" As I've told you before, you really need to expand your vocabulary."
"Fine. I disagree with your illogical and nonsensical retort towards my persona."
'
'
'
After they had cleaned up, and said their goodbyes to her mother, she sped off in Ino's car.
Ino had let her borrow her car for the day - having asked Kiba for a ride before he had gone into his auto-shop.
Sasuke followed close behind in his own expensive black car.
She tried to quell her sudden nerves.
Sasuke meeting her mother. Sort of.
Her getting to see pieces of his art.
Pieces that she was sure were full of passion, of his hidden intrigue.
Sasuke was an enigma.
He was intriguing. Captivating. Dark. Brooding, and mysterious.
He was a lot of things.
And he had captivated her world.
She wanted to learn more about him - and that included what he liked to draw, or paint, or whatever else it was he did with his artistic abilities.
She only hoped that his world wasn't darker than she imagined.
And that he wasn't pulling her into a world that was only going to break her.
For Sasuke was damaged.
But that didn't mean she wouldn't do everything she could to stay by his side.
To be there for him.
'
'
'
Here she was.
Standing once again in the little alcove by the front door of his apartment.
She had left the picnic basket in the car - along with her coat.
Her fingertips rubbed at the red sweater on each of her arms, bunching up the fabric as she glanced around.
Taking every thing in again.
His kitchen was a bit messier than last time.
Opened, empty cups of ramen perched on his counter tops and a few on his kitchen table.
Dishes stacked in the sink.
Empty glasses.
Bowls with sauce residue.
One of her eyebrows arched inquisitively.
She figured Sasuke wasn't one to leave his apartment so unkempt.
As Sasuke stepped in - having left momentarily once they stepped inside to retrieve something from his car - he took one look at his kitchen and swore. He tossed his keys and jacket against the sofa in his living room and made his way into his kitchen.
He looked up, inhaled deeply with his eyes shut, before exhaling nosily.
"I need a moment to clean up Naruto's mess and then I'll show you some of my artwork. Naruto likes to believe he can barge in whenever he pleases and make a mess of other people's stuff."
Sakura laughed gently. "He sure is lively. Would you like some help?"
"I'd rather you not see what a slob he is. I can handle it. If you go down the hall, past a few doors, take a left and then go towards the second to last door on the right, you'll find the room where I keep my art things." She blinked as she tried to process the directions.
But she nodded anyway.
Leaving her boots by the door, she smiled in amusement as Sasuke rolled up the sleeves of his cloudy dark blue sweater and got to work cleaning his kitchen.
She walked past the few doors he mentioned. Found the hallway corner that led to the left. However as she tried to remember what door he had mentioned, she instead walked accidentally into the last door on the right.
Entering it slowly, for she was wary she had indeed gotten the wrong room, her eyes widened at the absolute disarray that she beheld.
It was a study.
But.
A desk was clouded with papers all scribbled upon, in shreds. Some full pieces were still left but were fluttering around the room. Easels were all torn, the canvases ripped and wood in small fragments.
A trash can underneath the desk filled to the brim with scraps of paper and worn sketchbooks, even bits of what appeared to be bloodied tissue.
"What the - " She knew this had to be the wrong room, and her anxiety grew as she heard Sasuke's irritated mumbling and his footsteps approaching. She stumbled out of the room, closing the door as quietly as she possibly could.
She reached for the next door and slid inside.
Breathing a huge sigh of relief as this appeared to be the right room.
What the hell had she walked in on?
Why were so many pieces of art in ruins? Pages of what was probably writings of some sort, a story or poetry all torn and crumpled. And the bloodied tissue had to of been from destroying the canvases and even easels. Wood bits were everywhere.
Had Sasuke done that?
What had caused him to be so angry to destroy his things like that?
She wanted to ask - but was afraid of what his answer would be.
She pushed back the thousands of questions and concerns racing through her brain when Sasuke entered the room, brushing back wayward strands of his dark hair away from his face.
Taking a moment now to really look at the room she was now in - she was in awe.
This room was a lot nicer.
Hardwood brown flooring.
A soft blue rug that covered the perimeter of the room spread across it.
A large easel in the corner with a canvas half finished.
It appeared to be a cityscape, dancing along a purple and blue ocean.
Table off to the side with tons of art supplies - paint tubes and cases upon cases of charcoal pencils and pastel crayons and a profusion of other things.
Color attacked her.
Pieces of his art was stapled to his walls - picture frames and simple pieces of paper. Drawings of people, she could see portraits of Naruto and an older man that must be his brother. His parents too, perhaps.
There was so much to take in.
Such raw emotion radiating off every different piece.
Drawings of forests and towering trees.
Starlight skies painted.
Darker pieces of skulls with a heart in the mouth.
Warmer pieces of sunlit waterfalls and flowers.
"What's your consensus?" He leaned against the door frame. All chiseled and dark. Arms crossed against his broad chest.
"It's...amazing. This is all so beautiful, all beyond words, Sasuke."
"I spend a lot of my time in here."
"I just can't believe you did all this. I can't even correctly draw stick figures." He chuckled, and moved towards her. He leaned down towards a bookshelf covered not only with books but sketchpads - to take one off.
He flipped through it for a moment before handing it over.
"I have dozens of these. Some depict earlier artwork. Others newer stuff. You're welcome to look through whatever you want, whenever."
"Thank you, Sasuke. I just don't know where to begin. This is a lot of precious stuff."
He rolled his eyes, "Only you would think crappy drawings when I was a child constitutes as precious. But take your time. I'll just sit over here.
She glanced over into another corner of the room where there was a gray saucer chair. And a black beanbag chair. She assumed it was where he would sit and just draw, as he happened to walk over and plop himself into the saucer chair, using the beanbag as a foot rest.
Turning her back to him, she began to explore his world of art.
Gazing at the sketches on the walls.
Touching the edges of paintings finished and half-finished perched against the other wall.
Pieces of sketch paper littered the floor, but unlike the the other room, they weren't in shreds or crumpled to bits.
She began to take her time looking at everything before she settled on the floor, picking up a random sketchbook and flipping through it.
Years of how his talent expanded flooded her eyesight as she moved from one book to the next.
She started to lose herself in his world.
'
'
'
Her eyes widened as she suddenly looked up.
What time was it?
She glanced at the phone in her pocket and frowned as she noticed the day had evaded her.
The time had slipped, and it was evening.
About five o'clock.
She peered over her shoulder to see Sasuke had fallen asleep in the chair.
Standing, she made her way over to kneel in front of him. Her fingertips lightly trailed over his cheek, her thumb barely running across his lips. He looked like he was in a deep sleep.
His head slightly hunched over, chin resting against his chest.
Legs sprawled out in front of him.
She knew it meant it was her time to leave.
Give him some rest.
Finding a blank piece of paper, she quickly jotted down that she wanted to thank him for coming with her and to call her later - she wanted to discuss some things she had found in one of his sketchbooks.
Glancing over at the bookshelf once again - she grabbed one that was marked more recently for his artwork. A few months ago.
She wanted to look over it at home, and she wrote that she'd bring it back the next time they saw each other.
Placing a soft kiss on his forehead, she made her way towards the front door.
Briefly glancing back at that seemingly forbidden last door that held so many secrets. So many questions.
She was worried there was more to Sasuke than he was letting on.
'
'
'
Ino was already home.
She had ordered take-out from Tenten's and coincidentally Tenten was in their kitchen as well, feet dangling off one of the barstools.
Her hair was in her signature brown buns, dark brown eyes gleaming as she took in Sakura's flushed cheeks and the sketchbook tucked tightly underneath one of her arms.
"Well, Pig told me you must be out with the boy. I wanted to stop by and see how everything was going. Haven't really seen you in awhile." Sakura smiled widely and rushed over to envelop Tenten in a quick hug.
"I'm sorry, Tenny. Things have been a bit hectic, but I've been meaning to talk to everyone. But before I divulge, I'd love to eat."
"Yeah, so would we, Forehead. Been waiting for hours." Ino whined.
"More like thirty minutes." Tenten interjected.
"That's hours in my life, darling." Tenten shrugged her shoulders as Ino scowled. Sakura laughed and hurried to drop her stuff in her room, before making her way back downstairs to sit with her two friends and eat.
Whilst they ate burgers, Ino eating instead a chicken salad, Sakura relayed how her date had gone.
How she had taken Sasuke to see her mother earlier that morning.
And how he had shown her a bit more of his artistic world.
She didn't bring up the wrecked room.
Tenten informed her of how work was going, and how Neji had tried to contact her.
Neji.
Sakura frowned, her chin resting in the palm of one of her hands.
Neji.
The man she was going to marry - but something had gone wrong.
Neij.
The man she had been so in love with to the point that she would do anything for him.
"Well for Kami's sake, Tenny, spill the deets. Did you talk to him?" Ino's blue eyes were wide with curiosity.
"Yes...but I think maybe I should tell you guys what happened that night before I tell you what he talked to me about earlier today."
Ino was rapidly nodding her head in consent, but Sakura shook her head in slight disagreement.
"I think we should wait for everyone. We were all so worried about you Tenten, and I know you weren't ready to share what happened, but I think it'd be better if we were all here."
"I agree," Tenten nodded, a bit nervously, wringing her hands together.
But before any of them could do anything, Sakura fidgeted as her cell phone in her pocket started to vibrate violently.
She had placed her phone on that setting in the chance that Sasuke would call her later that night.
She was a bit worried.
Moving towards her bedroom, ignoring Ino's catcalls and Tenten's knowing looks, she answered the call and started to probe him with jokes. "I glanced at a lot of your sketches while you fell asleep on me. There's a lot of interesting stuff you've drawn over the years, Sasuke. I'm a little questionable of your nature - " As laughter tumbled from her lips, she was quick to freeze as his voice flooded her ear.
Void of humor.
Low.
Filled with distress.
"Sakura. I think my brother is back. He broke into one of my rooms. Well, it was their room. I changed it into a storage slash study room of sorts. I kept all the artwork I made for him. And made for Hana. And all the things they collected - trinkets Hana collected or made, items Itachi bought."
So that was the room she had stumbled upon.
"What? Why would he come back just to destroy that one room?"
"I don't know. Maybe because Hana found him and it didn't go well? So he came back to destroy everything that was evidence of them. I don't know where he is now, Sakura. I fear perhaps alcoholism has gotten the best of him and he's out there somewhere. Struggling."
"I'll see if any of the local hospitals or smaller health offices have seen or heard anything."
"I'm going to go look for him."
"Sasuke, he could be anywhere. It's getting later - it seems a little futile."
"Finding my brother isn't futile, Sakura."
"I didn't mean - "
"I'll let you know if I find him."
He hung up and Sakura let her cell drop onto her bedspread.
Itachi had come home.
To obliterate a room in his brother's house.
And now he was out in Konoha somewhere - maybe under the influence of alcohol, flooded with pain.
She stood there in her room, trying to think of the places his brother could have stumbled into if he was indeed in the state his brother thought he was in.
All the while, her fingers were shaking.
Sasuke had sounded so distraught.
Angry.
As though he was all alone. '
What was happening?
Woah.
Dark turn.
I hope you enjoyed.
Sorry again for the late update - but I hoped this again makes up for it? At least a little.
I don't own Naruto.