People are just BEGGING to progress reports on my other story, Naruto Truth or Dare. So far, I'm dry, blank and clueless. I've started the chapter up to like page 2 but now I'm done. I'll need a while to collect some clues before I resume it.

If anyone has a song called "Home Tonight" By Aerosmith, I WANT IT. Please PM me.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: I have a blogger account you can visit to see daily updates on my stories (their status) and so on and so forth… it's in my profile as well. http://bubblesrinowayo. I'm thankful for wonderful reviews.

My Sweet Little Game Chapter 12

"Good morning!" Sakura said, as she walked down to the lounge of the hotel. She was the oblivious one to all the trauma last night. In fact, when she woke up, Sasuke was no where to be found.

Sasuke was the only one at the table however. He looked up at Sakura and offered a smile. Breakfast was already spread out and Sasuke was reading a brochure.

"Where is everyone?" Sakura looked around.

Sasuke looked around. "Tenten went home with a migraine and Neji had an early practice he needed to catch. He told me to tell you he'll see you later." He said, trying to daringly conceive the fact that Tenten actually left last night and Neji went home shortly after that…

Sakura looked skeptical but sat down anyways. She stared as Sasuke indifferently continued reading his brochure while nibbling a carrot.

Sakura wondered what this quaint feeling it was in her stomach. Butterflies…calmness and tranquility. How long has it been since she's shared a meal with Sasuke in the morning with a big bright sun lit outside and a small breeze gently rustling the opened windows as soft distant clangs of silverware was heard.

Sounds exaggerated, but whatever.

"So…where did you go last night?" Sakura asked softly.

Sasuke looked up and looked back down. "I couldn't sleep so I took a walk outside."

Sakura nodded and stared down at her plate, a bit frustrated that Sasuke felt her presence in the same bed as him would be disturbing and unnerving. Normal teenage boys would have their hormones over brimming by now, but maybe Sasuke was just not interested in her…

She took her pair of chopsticks and started eating.

In Sasuke's mind, on the other side of the table, he was beginning to come to his senses. Life was complicated. And when you add in "love" it becomes even more complicated and harder to deal with.

Last Night…

Sasuke sighed and leaned against the wall.

Tenten turned her head and stared at Sasuke, straight in the eye.

"Can I ask you something?" Tenten asked, seriously.

Sasuke turned his head.

"You're…"

He waited as Tenten popped the question.

"…In love with Sakura, aren't you?"

Sasuke immediately lifted his head from the angle against the wall and stared at Tenten. His expression changed from surprised to immune to laughter and he laughed his solemn laugh. Was he in love with Sakura? That thought never crossed his mind.

Tenten looked at him straight in the eye seriously and challenged him some more. "You love Sakura." She stated.

Sasuke looked at her, smiling.

Tenten looked at him solemnly. "Uchiha Sasuke, tell the truth. Do you love Sakura or not?"

Sasuke's smile disappeared and he propped his head back against the wall. He seemed to be in thought when he closed his eyes and answered Tenten's question.

"No I don't." Sasuke said, seriously.

Tenten stared unbelievingly at him. "Then why were you jealous?" she asked him. "You set me up to see if Sakura would be jealous as well. Seems to me, she still has feelings for you."

Sasuke sighed loudly. "You're asking the wrong person that question. I'm have no feelings towards Sakura whatsoever. A person worthy of Sakura should be trustworthy as she's always claimed he's supposed to be. I wanted to make sure Neji wasn't a cheat"

"Seems like her man is trustworthy." Tenten replied.

"Yea, I guess that Hyuuga guy is…" Sasuke said. "He genuinely likes her."

"Well I was talking about you." Tenten said, directing it at Sasuke.

Sasuke turned his head and frowned. "Me…"

"When Sakura claims she wants a trustworthy man, she was referring to you, idiot." Tenten smiled softly. "I'd think it'd be quite obvious after 5 years of love lust after you, Sasuke."

Sasuke frowned.

"Face it." Tenten declared. "Love is destiny. And no matter how hard you try to run from it, it'll get to you. And no matter how much other people have been hurt from it, you must accept it, live with it and move on."

Sasuke vividly remembered last night with the strange confrontation with Tenten. He realized Tenten must have really hurt from Neji's claim that he loved Sakura. But it's true…

Love is destiny.

But no man would give up without a fight. Sasuke truthfully thought that there was no love connection between him and Sakura. It was child's love. There was no meaning under it.

Sakura sat dully, observing the hotel while eating an omelet.

Sasuke sighed sharply and put down the brochure. He stood up.

"I'm going to get some fresh air." He declared and left the table.

Outside…

Sasuke was having flu-like symptoms. His head was dizzy, his chest was pounding and he was flushed. The air was nauseating in that hotel so he escaped outside to catch a little breeze. The sun was up and villagers roamed about.

A blonde ponytail wagged as a pair of large sunglasses covered the eyes of a gorgeous girl, romping on the streets, a large hand bag by her side and a latte in hand.

Yamanaka Ino.

She lifted her sunglasses and spotted Sasuke right off the bat.

"Oh my. It's Sasuke." She said, with great regard.

Sasuke turned around by the mention of his name and saw the cute girl skip towards him, down the streets.

"Hello…" He greeted and paused.

"Hello yourself." Ino said pleasantly. Her nasty confrontation with Sasuke the other day seemed way passed them. Or at least her.

"It's a tad early for you to be out on the streets with nothing to do." Ino observed. "Were you drinking?"

Sasuke shook his head. "No, I…" He paused, trying to find a good way to tell Ino that he spent a night at a hotel for a boy draft in the same bed as Sakura because his crazy girlfriend suggested the idea before creating public media dispute.

"It's a long story." He said.

"Does Sakura know?"

"What?"

Ino stared as if that question was the stupidest in the world. "What do you mean 'what?' I'm asking if Sakura knows."

"Knows what??" Sasuke asked, confused.

Ino opened her mouth to speak but stopped herself and smiled slyly. "You…you haven't heard?"

Sasuke wondered if the world was playing games on him. Somehow, this one week period was getting the best out of him.

"Heard what? If you're gonna make a point out of it, might as well tell me about it." he said coldly.

Ino pursed her lips.

"Does she know that Neji is giving her a promise ring?" Ino asked.

Sasuke stared. "A promise ring…"

"Yep. And you do know that promise rings lead up to engagement rings which lead to marriage and kids and---"Ino stated, oblivious to the dark cloud over his head.

"Why are you telling me this?" Sasuke asked. "Does this concern me at all?"

Ino stared, puzzled. "Of course not. I was just wondering if Sakura knew, silly. I thought you'd know this by now."

"No, unfortunately, Neji forgot this little piece of news to mention." Sasuke said, dripping with sarcasm. "But it's fine. I'll let Sakura know."

Sasuke flushed as he turned away and began walking.

"Where you going?" Ino asked.

"Inside. I'm having flu-like symptoms. Best not to stay out in cold weather long." He claimed.

Ino smiled.

"Flu-like symptoms, eh?" She asked to herself and laughed.

Because that was the oldest trick in the book. Those symptoms are merely symptoms of undesired love.

Feh. I have a bunch of ideas for this story. But this update went by pretty fast. As of my other story "Naruto Truth or Dare" check my blog on h t t p / b u b b l e s r I n o w a y o . b l o g s p o t . c o m /

It'll include update info.

Thanks for reading, everyone. I sincerely appreciate it.

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