I know this chapter took a while, and I'm sorry. This one gave me a lot of problems, and went through a lot of rewrites – and ended exactly the way I wanted to hold off on. Sigh. But it's cool.

A lot of you have been asking about the pairing, and I know it's partly my fault for my last AN. So, I'm just going to explain the pairing thing once and for all. There is none. I did consider making it KibaSaku to please you guys, but a comment from Aleph Conquest encouraged me not to. I hope you guys will continue to read, and be satisfied by the end, but, to be honest, this decision was more for myself. I want to write something new. So… yeah. That's my thing.

So a lot of you are hating Kiba. This makes me very happy – it means I'm doing my job right. :D I told you there would be a twist!

Serendipity
Chapter Three

Sakura didn't hesitate to shove Kiba away from her. Eyes wide with panic, she immediately slipped out the bathroom and headed for the door, barely pausing to snatch up her bag. Kiba was silent and unmoving, still in the bathroom, as she flung open the door and ran out.

She was surprised he didn't follow her, and when she left the building, Sakura couldn't decide if that was a good thing or not. It had grown even darker while she had been inside, and shadows loomed large all around her. Ino had probably already left, and the next bus wouldn't be for twenty minutes.

Sakura knew she was being irrational, tightening her grip on her bag and glancing uneasily around her, but she couldn't quite forget what had just happened to her, or what Kiba had said:

"Amazing what some people will do for a pretty face…"

A hand landed heavily on her shoulder, and Sakura jumped, heart in her throat.

"Sakura!"

She whirled around and glowered up at Kiba. "Get away from me," she snarled, backing away from him.

He held up a hand to stop her. "I'm not going to attack. I just need to help you."

Need? What happened to wanting to play the knight in shining armor? Sakura glared at him, pulling her jacket tighter around her against the sudden chill in the air. "I don't need anymore of your help, thanks," she said acidly, turning her back on him.

The campus was nearly deserted on such a cold night, but one boy, a little older than Sakura, passed by her quickly, head bowed against the wind. He glanced at her absently, then slowed, eyes widening. He smiled at her, then hurried on his way.

Sakura felt a shiver go down her spine. It was ridiculous to be so afraid suddenly, she knew. That guy, her attacker, had been drunk, and she hadn't been paying attention. It wouldn't happen again.

But even then…

"I made you like this," Kiba said suddenly. His voice was loud in the still darkness, and Sakura turned to look at him. "So I promise to protect you."

She was almost tempted to let him.

"Just take this – this illusion, or whatever it is – take it off me!" she hissed, balling her hands into fists.

"It's a genjutsu," he said, "And I can't." Before she could say anything, he went on, "And why? weren't you tired of the fives? You're a ten, now."

"I did want to be beautiful," she admitted, frustrated. "I hated being a five. But…" She didn't know how to explain the way she felt when she looked at her reflection. Shocked – and a bit pleased – at her beauty, but also sick, when she remembered that it was all smoke and mirrors, wasn't real. And it couldn't be real – she had never seen anyone look the way she did under the genjutsu. It wasn't normal.

"But…?" he prodded.

"But—it's not right. It's not me," she fumbled, trying to make him understand her.

Kiba didn't look impressed. He folded his arms across his chest and shot her a very dry look. "Why? because I made you more beautiful than you really are? It's not a lie – just an enhancement." He leaned closer suddenly, dark eyes scanning her features, and Sakura took in a sharp breath at his sudden proximity.

He smirked after a moment, and smudged his thumb across her lower lip. It came away coated lightly with her gloss.

"Make-up, plastic surgery, fancy hair products, skin treatments… isn't it all just to make yourself look good?" he asked. "I didn't do anything you don't do yourself."

"I just make myself shinier," she argued. "You gave me a new face!"

"Not entirely true," he said. "I just made it better. it's like permanent make-up."

Sakura ran a hand over her face. This was—she didn't know what this was. How was she to explain to Kiba what he had done to her was not what she wanted?

"What's the problem, Sakura?" he pressed. "This is your appearance now. This is what I gave you. It's not going anywhere. Nothing's changing. Accept it. Move on.

"Besides," he went on, before she could sort out her thoughts, tone casual, "You're now the most beautiful girl in the world. There's not a man alive that can resist you." He paused. "If there's anyone you're interested in…"

Her thoughts immediately jumped to Sasuke. Cold, distant Sasuke, who was never interested in anyone or anything, and had never looked twice at a girl would he be affected by her now?

Sakura abruptly cut off that train of thought. That was wrong to even be thinking – that much she knew.

And yet…

She had to work to get her voice out. "I thought beauty was in the eye of the beholder," she said.

"Not this beauty," he replied. "Nothing subjective here."

Sakura felt her cheeks warm with anger, smarting in the cold, but she said nothing more.

There was a rustle, and she glanced up at Kiba. He was walking past her, up the tree-lined path to the bus stop. "C'mon," he said, pausing to look back, "I'll take you home."

Kiba didn't have a car. Instead, he took Sakura onto the bus she would have ridden alone. She protested at first, but after feeling all the intent gazes on her as she walked down the aisle to her seat, she was glad to have Kiba by her side, if only to block her from their view and them from hers.

When she got to her apartment, Kiba waited for her to walk in and shut the door, then left, heading back to the bus stop to return to campus. She didn't invite him in, merely locked the door, kicked off her shoes, and shuffled off to her room. Ino called out a greeting to her and offered dinner, but Sakura waved her off, closed her bedroom door, and stood, blinking in the dark, before flopping down on her bed, exhausted.

Sleep wouldn't come, though, and Sakura lay awake, eyes closed, relaying the day's events.

"What did you do to me?" she had asked on the bus. They had to whisper, and Kiba leaned close to her so she could hear.

"Like I said before, genjutsu. Basically, I cast an illusion over you, so that everyone else is seeing—" He waved a hand towards her—"this knockout."

"Except me," she said.

"Right." His smile widened. "I thought that might creep you out in the morning."

Sakura had turned to stare out her window then, at the city lights blurring past. She was getting no answers from Kiba, and she was fed-up.

She could see her reflection in the window – her real reflection. Plain, unremarkable, and honest. Then she saw Kiba's reflection beside hers, and narrowed her eyes. He seemed to read her mind, because his hands flashed through his strange gestures once more, and a moment later, she was staring at his illusion, as lovely as she had been an hour ago.

And this was what everyone was seeing when they looked at her.

"Why did you do this?" she asked in a low voice that cracked. Kiba didn't seem to hear.

Lying in the darkness of her room with only the sound of her own soft breathing, Sakura knew that she wasn't making any sense. Any girl would love to be so beautiful. She herself would have loved this chance, had it been offered to her before. But it was one thing to accept a gift of beauty—it was entirely different to have it forced on you.

At least, that was what Sakura told herself, rolling onto her side and staring at the way the sliver of moonlight spilled in through her window to play on her desk. She couldn't think of any other logical reason.

She stared at the soft light bouncing off her textbooks and forced herself to stop thinking, and focused on her breathing, until her eyes drooped shut, and sleep stole her away into blissful oblivion.

Sakura had woken up at noon the day after her confrontation with Kiba, and thus had already missed half her classes. Ino had texted her though, with a: i tried to wake u up, but u seemed so tired, i let u sleep in! take the day off today, k? i'll get ur notes. love u!

So Sakura, mentally and emotionally drained, had taken a three-day weekend to hand around the apartment with Ino: making cookies, watching chick flicks, and gossiping late into the night. It had been a very relaxing weekend, and part of Sakura was depressed to already be back at school on Monday. The other part of her was determined to look on the bright side of things.

Kiba had put his genjutsu on her and it didn't seem as though he could – or would – be taking it odd anytime soon. It was best if she learned to accept what she had been given.

Which was probably why, when Sasuke and Naruto walked into the pizza parlor, she didn't sink down in her seat. Instead, she sat up a bit straighter, trying not to stare.

This time, Ino was sitting with her back to the door. Even so, when Sakura's eyes widened in surprise, she knew just what had happened, and sighed.

"Can't he find somewhere else to get his tomatoes?" she muttered. Sakura stuck her tongue out at her.

It was just her luck that Sasuke chose that moment to turn around and catch sight of them.

Sakura met his gaze, jaw dropping in mortification and cheeks blooming with red. Naruto stepped up beside Sasuke, slices in hand, and followed his gaze to her. He smiled wide and bright, and immediately headed for them.

"Naruto's heading this way!" Sakura whispered frantically to Ino.

Ino looked bored, chewing on her crust. "I noticed. It's kind of hard not to."

"Hi, Ino! Sakura!" Naruto greeted cheerfully – and loudly. "Mind if we sit with you?"

Ino's eyes flashed when she looked at Sakura, and she immediately pasted on a blindingly white smile. "Sure, no problem!" she chirped, shuffling over to make room. "The more, the merrier!"

Sakura thought she was laying it on a bit thick. Naruto obviously didn't, since he plopped down right beside Ino and gestured for Sasuke to do the same.

It was only when Sakura looked up that she realized he was waiting for her to move.

"Oh!" She flamed red and scooted to the edge of the seat, pressing herself against the wall of the booth and wished she could disappear, especially when Sasuke sat down beside her, his leg only an inch from hers.

Ino was trying to hide a wicked smile as she asked, "Do you guys come here often?"

Naruto shook his head. "We've only been here a couple of times before," he said around a mouthful of pizza. "Good food, though. You guys?"

"We've been coming here since first year," Sakura said. She kept her gaze firmly on Naruto. Beside her, Sasuke was silent, working his way neatly through his slice of pizza.

"Then we will, too! We'll eat lunch together! Right, Sasuke?"

Sasuke swallowed, reached for his drink, and rolled his eyes. "You need to learn some social grace."

"And you need to learn to be human," Naruto shot back brightly.

Sasuke shook his head. Sakura smothered a giggle, catching Naruto's attention. His bright blue eyes were curious. Sakura squirmed in her seat.

Naruto squinted, tilting his head to the side and studying her for a long moment. Ino raised an eyebrow at this, and even Sasuke's attention was caught, though his interest was minimal. Typical Sasuke.

Finally, Naruto cleared his throat and announced, "You look different."

Sakura had to work to smother her wince. Naruto seemed to misunderstand her expression, because he said hastily, "I mean it in a good way!"

"Thanks," she mumbled.

Ino was trying to hide a smile, raising her eyebrows meaningfully at her, and Sakura blinked, then slid her gaze to her right.

Sasuke was turned to face her, expression serious, eyes intent as he stared at her. Even when Sakura looked away and conversation resumed, his eyes didn't leave her face.

"You look happy."

Sakura jumped, then whirled around. She was mildly annoyed – but not entirely surprised – to see Kiba, standing in front of her, hands in the pockets of his leather jacket, looking as if nothing had happened between them

"Hey there," he said casually.

Sakura stared at him, at a loss for words. Finally, she managed to say, "Don't you ever have class?"

"In the evening," he said pleasantly. "So I thought I'd come looking for you. We could go for coffee. Again," he added with a wry smile.

There were two things Sakura wanted to know: (a) how and why did Kiba keep following her; and (b) what had happened to him? Had she imagined the darker, harsher Kiba from Thursday?

But she was in a good mood, and she wanted to deal with Kiba while the going was good, so she shrugged, smiled, and said, "If you pay."

"So, didn't see you around on Friday," he said when they had settled down with their drinks.

"It's a big campus," she said after she took a fortifying sip of caffeine. "And I skipped classes. Wasn't feeling well."

"Hmm."

He said nothing else for a moment, which was fine by Sakura. She sipped quietly at her cup, feeling better than she had in Kiba's presence than she had on Thursday, until he finally spoke.

"How are you doing?"

She set her cup down with a sigh. "Better," she admitted slowly. "I'm learning to accept this."

"You act like I've cursed you." Sakura shrugged, and Kiba said, "You're in a good mood. Why?"

"Nothing," she lied. She didn't want to go into the details of her lunch with Sasuke. That was personal – and part of her felt guilty about getting his attention in such a cheap way.

But maybe Kiba was right – maybe her beauty, fake as it was, was hers now. Surely she couldn't be expected not to use it to her advantage.

Right?

Kiba just smiled as she wrestled with her own thoughts, and Sakura had the feeling that he knew exactly what had happened. He didn't press though, instead leaning closer, elbows on the table, and beckoning for her to do the same. "I want you to try something," he said.

Immediately, Sakura was on her guard. "Try what?" she asked suspiciously.

"Nothing crazy," he promised. "I just want you to see the advantages of being pretty. It opens up a whole new world for you."

Sakura was hardly impressed. "Right. And how do you propose I do that?"

Kiba smiled and dug into his jacket pocked. Sakura watched, intrigues, as he pulled out—

"A pen?"

"Trust me. Just go over there—" He pointed to the area around the line for Starbucks—"And drop this there. See what happens."

Sakura didn't move. "But," she said, "People always pick up pens for me."

"Just do it," he said, so firmly that Sakura was halfway to the line before she realized what she was doing. Still, she was already there – it couldn't hurt to do as he said. She was growing curious, anyway.

She glanced around. A couple of people glanced her way, but the majority were focused on buying their coffees, so she held out her pen, bit her lip, and – feeling like an idiot – dropped it.

Immediately, three people broke out of line to bend down for her pen. Sakura was taken aback when a boy with green eyes held Kiba's pen out to her.

"You dropped this?"

Dumbfounded, Sakura reached out to take it. "Thanks."

She smiled – and the boy turned red. She had never gotten such a reaction before.

She was starting to see just what Kiba had meant by a whole new world…

She started to head back to Kiba. He had obviously been watching, and he looked very pleased with himself.

Was this why he had cast the genjutsu over her? To show her what it was like to be desired? It seemed ridiculous, even pointless.

But before she could ask, Kiba straightened in his seat, expression darkening, and from behind her, she heard her name.

Sakura turned, and there was Uchiha Sasuke, staring down at her, with an expression she couldn't understand.

"Oh, Sasuke!" she said, surprised. What was he doing? Looking for her? Why? "Hey! What's up?"

Sasuke set his mouth in a firm line. His eyes were narrowed and blazing, and she took a startled step backwards.

"Are you okay…?"

"Sakura."

Sakura tried to turn to look at Kiba, but Sasuke reached out and grabbed her by the elbow. Her heart thudded in her chest. Finally, her crush of six years had noticed her – but he didn't look happy.

"I knew it," Kiba growled. He, too, gripped Sakura's other forearm in one large, tanned head.

"Knew what?" Sakura asked. Her voice shook, and she tried to pull back from the both of them. Their grips were unusually strong. "Guys?"

Sakura was watching Kiba, so she didn't see what Sasuke did, only that Kiba flinched, pulling back from Sakura with a hiss of pain, and Sasuke was able to pull Sakura to him, much to her surprise.

Her pulse quickened. "Sasuke…?"

He looked down at her, and she was shocked to see he was glaring. "Start talking," he snapped. "Why is there a genjutsu on you?"

I know that some of you might feel that I'm pushing this beauty thing too far, but even though I agree that it's a little extreme, I don't think I'm pushing it too far, for two reasons. First, Kiba has made Sakura the most beautiful person in the world. There is no one better looking, and she is beautiful to an extent not possible for normal people. Also, this is a fic about beauty, as you will see in future chapters. I have to take some artistic license. So yeah.