Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Chapter VI: Rose Quartz
"It's like you're my guardian angel!"
Your guardian angel, huh…? Sasuke stared intensely at the pink gemstone that lay on the palm of his hand. But in the end…
"You're so cold! Maybe I should call you ice block-kun from now on instead!" Giggles erupted from her mouth. That familiar laughter.
… I wasn't able to protect you.
"Sasuke-kun," a hiss came from the darkness. Sasuke narrowed his eyes and glared at the figure that could be seen from the little window on his locked door.
"Orochimaru," he snapped, acknowledging the man's presence. The pale, almost snake-like psychiatrist chuckled dryly.
"Rude as always, Sasuke-kun. Some things never change, do they…"
Sasuke didn't respond. His glare only intensified, and some specks of red could be seen in the icy onyx of his orbs.
"Are you getting… attached to her?"
Taken aback by the question, the chicken-haired youth flinched. It was a mere movement, but Orochimaru saw it perfectly. "Who?" he heard him ask.
"You know pretty well who I mean, don't you, Sasuke-kun?"
"I've no idea, snake-bastard. Tell me or die."
Another dry chuckle. "You know that one won't work on me, Sasuke-kun. Your hypnosis isn't advanced to that grade so that it can match mine."
A snarl. Then, "Tell me."
"Itsuino-san. Doesn't she remind you of someone?"
"I've no fucking idea what you're talking about."
"Pink hair… green eyes… ah, what's that in your palm, Sasuke-kun?" The sneering face bent closer towards the window to see. "… A rose quartz, isn't it?"
In an instant, however impossible it seemed, Sasuke was at the door, only the metal bars of the window separating him from the man named Orochimaru. "Shut the fuck up or fucking die."
Orochimaru's sneer only widened. He lowered his voice to a mere, ragged whisper: "… Are you falling again, Sasuke-kun?"
"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Sasuke bellowed, shaking the metal bars violently. Two nurses rushed towards the scene.
"Orochimaru-san, maybe it's better if you distance yourself –"
"Uchiha-san, please calm down –"
"Nothing, nothing." Orochimaru's sneer turned into a faked smile in front of the worried women. "He just got a bit upset by some reminiscing, didn't you, Sasuke-kun?" He didn't as much as flinch as he saw Sasuke's deadly glare, which any ordinary man would've run off screaming at. The women shifted uncomfortably, before the three left his cell.
Sasuke went back to the cold stone wall he had been leaning against and sunk down once more, on the floor, his bare feet just as icy as his heart as they touched the concrete floor. Getting attached…? Me?
He laughed bitterly. No way.
No fucking way.
His brother's words echoed in his brain, hatefully, mockingly. Haven't you realized it yet, foolish little brother?
Every time you love someone…
… every time you get attached…
… they'll die.
"CONGRATULATIONS! YOU'VE WON FREE DINNER FOR TWO! FREEEEE DINNER! FOR TWOOO!" the man boomed gleefully as he waved, maniacally, the two pieces of papers in front of Sai's face. Sai blinked. "DO YOU GET IT, YOUNG MISTER? FREE DINNER FOR TWO! TAKE OUT YOUR SWEETHEART TO THE DINNER OF HER DREAMS! YIHAAAA!"
Sai sweatdropped. He had just entered the market lottery in hopes of winning something useful; dinner was something he definitely didn't need. Firstly, he wasn't the kind of guy who had specific food likes or dislikes, and secondly, he didn't have anyone to invite. He only knew one person who'd be starving enough to eat everything except the peasants on the street…
"Is it really worth inviting her?" Sai muttered out loud as he walked down the empty corridors. The students had all gathered in the cafeteria for lunch; those that weren't starved enough to gulp down the horrid food of the school chefs went outside the school grounds. But Sai was, as mentioned before, not the kind of person who cared much about food. As a matter of fact, he could do days without food if he had to; Sakura had been shocked to find out this, who couldn't survive for more than three hours without anything to eat.
"Inviting who?" a voice interrupted Sai's thoughts. Sai's cheeks turned a deep shade of scarlet as he turned around, face to face to a certain spiky-haired genius, the maths teacher Nara Shikamaru – the rumored lazy ass who had 200 in IQ.
"Nothing," Sai said swiftly and as nonchalantly as possible… though he had to admit it was a pathetic attempt to fool Shikamaru, whose eyes never missed anything. Shikamaru raised an eyebrow at the piece of paper in his hand, before a smirk crept upon his face.
"Dinner for two, huh? Taking out Sakura?"
"W-w-w-what? NO!" Sai almost yelled as he hid the two tickets in his pocket. Shikamaru's grin just widened.
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah! Why should I bring the ugly hag?"
"You always treat her to lunch, don't you?"
Sai cursed Sakura for telling Ino the secret who couldn't help but tell her boyfriend the secret who now couldn't help but tease Sai for the secret.
Oh, those unbelievable women with their goddamned secrets.
"Well, yes. But that's different. Asking her out to this would be a… date."
"And that'd be wrong how…?"
"Because it'd be troublesome."
Shikamaru considered it. Then he nodded in agreement. "That's true. So you're not inviting her?"
Sai heaved a sigh as he stared at the tickets on the palm of his hand. Shakespeare was a true genius, and I agree… to invite or to not invite, that's the question.
"Mou… I'm HUNGRY!"
A loud grumble was heard as Sakura grinned embarrassingly at her black-haired patient. Sasuke's eyebrow was merely cocked upwards. "Why didn't you eat breakfast before you left, then?" he wanted to know.
"Eh heh… well, I… uh… well, you see, there were some… hmm… important… papers…" She trailed off, seeing Sasuke's blended expression of amusement and disbelief, she sheepishly smiled and said apologetically: "Well… I watched Spirited Away."
"In the morning?" Sasuke's eyebrow went further upwards. Sakura was starting to wonder how far it'd go… but she decided not to push her luck. He seemed to be in an uncommonly good mood.
"Well, no. In the evening. I overslept," she laughed, her tone excusing. "I didn't want to keep you waiting, you know?"
Sasuke rolled his eyes, then smirked. "You like Spirited Away?"
"Yeah!" Sakura's eyes glittered happily. "I don't care that people think it's childish… it's beautiful! And sorrowful at the same time. I always cry when I watch the part where Chihiro has to leave and is not allowed to look back…"
"So…" Sasuke's smirk widened somewhat, and a somewhat half-teasing glimmer appeared in his usually blank eyes. "You wouldn't mind being spirited away yourself?"
A thoughtful expression appeared on Sakura's face. Then, "Well, depends on who it'd be to spirit me away, of course. And who it'd be to rescue me."
"And if it was me?"
The question took the pink-head by surprise. But she smiled all the same. "Would you be the one to spirit me away, or to rescue me?"
He didn't even think twice. "The one to spirit you away."
"Well, then…" She beamed. "… feel free to spirit me away, Uchiha-san." She then glanced at her wristwatch. "Oh! I've to leave now, Uchiha-san. See you tomorrow!" She waved cheerfully as she exited his room, not even bothering to wait for a reply.
He found himself staring at her retreating back. What did just come into my mind?
'The one to spirit you away.'
How stupid can I be, really?
'Are you going to spirit me away, Sa –'
The familiar voice appeared in his mind. His eyes turned bigger and fearful before he screamed out in anguish.
Ring, ring. Ring, ring.
She picked up the phone. "Haruno Sakura here! Who am I speaking with?" Silence. "… Haruno-san, is Uchi --?" The voice continued to speak. But Sakura couldn't make out the words. The younger version of Sakura, however, seemed to understand perfectly. Confusion. "No. Shall I leave a message?" Awkwardness. "… Thank you. Please tell him that his brother has lost all his memori –"
Ring, ring. Ring, ring.
She picked up the phone. "Good evening, it's Haruno Sakura! May I help you?" Worry. "Sakura! Something terrible has happened!" Curiosity. "Ten --? What is it?" Anxiety. "… Ne – has been in a fight! He's really injured! Can't you come and treat his wounds?" Urgent reaction. "I'm coming right away, Ten –"… Jealousy. "… Where are you going, Sakura?" His voice was dark. Mysterious. Familiar. "… To Ne –kun." She could feel his eyes on her back when she left the house.
Ring, ring. Ring, ring.
She picked up the phone. Widened her eyes. "Otou… san?"
Ring, ring. Ring, ring.
Each signal was stronger than the previous. Soon they weren't sounds anymore… they were waves. Waves of different power and force; she was standing in front of a mirror looking at the reflection of her younger self. The mirror cracked. Voices… pictures…
Memories.
The mirror shattered completely.
Ring, ring. Ring, ring.
She was standing all alone in the darkness.
She could see the back of somebody.
A boy with raven-haired hair.
Ring, ring. Ring, ring.
He was walking away.
NO! DON'T LEAVE ME – DON'T LEAVE ME HERE, Sa –
She then realized she didn't know his name, despite him being the most precious person to her. Tears flooded down her cheeks.
Ring, ring. Ring, ring.
I've lost… my… memories.
My most precious memories.
Ring, ring. Ring, ring.
I've lost myself.
Sakura sat up in her bed so suddenly that she threw off the blanket. Looking around her, she was astounded to see that the sun was only setting. Oh, right. When I came home after Uchiha-san's appointment, I ate so much I became sleepy. Then I went to sleep…
Ring, ring. Ring, ring.
Cursing the damned telephone, Sakura graciously jumped off her bed and staggered towards the living room, before answering it, silencing the signals.
"Hello?" she impatiently muttered.
"Ugly."
"Sai!" Happily surprised, she was glad to tell somebody about what she had just dreamt about. "You can't guess what I just had a nightmare about. Oh god, it was so strange –"
"Doyouhavetimetomorrowevening?"
"Er… what?" She furrowed her eyebrows. It was abnormal for Sai to speak so fast.
"Do you… have time… tomorrow… evening?" he repeated slowly.
Why does he wonder that? "Yeah. Why?"
"Well… uh…"
An awkward silence followed. Sakura laughed to break it. "C'mon Sai, tell me what's going on!"
"I've got… free dinner for two. Don't think it's something special because it's not I just don't have anyone to bring okay it's not like it's a date or something I don't even care if you're going to say yes or no or whatever I don't even know why I'm doing this I should just hang up I –"
"Breathe, Sai. BREATHE. Do you know the word?" Sakura giggled. "Okay, okay. I get it. A friendly dinner, not a date. What're you so flustered about?"
"… Nothing…," he muttered.
"Okay, good. What time should we meet?"
"What about 6 p.m.?"
"Great! And place?"
"I'm picking you up."
Sakura almost dropped the receiver. "What?"
"I'm picking you up," Sai repeated, his voice once again a bare mutter. Wow. That's unusual, Sakura thought, but shrugged it off.
"Okay, thanks. Well, see you tomorrow then. Bye!"
"Bye."
She put down the receiver and exhaled. "Whoa. Now that's uncommon." She stared out of the large windows of her living room at the blazing sky and the setting sun.
I wonder if there's anything left in this world that can still astonish me.
Ring, ring.
"Damn!" Sakura swore out loud before she picked up the receiver and said sweetly: "Hello?"
"Haruno Sakura-san, right?" She recognized the voice.
"Ah! Uzumaki-san! May I help you?" Somehow… it too, felt familiar.
And strangely precious. But not in the same way as with her onyx-eyed patient.
"… Yeah. Since Sasuke's getting his monthly health examination, your appointment with him tomorrow will be moved to 6:05 p.m."
"Okay! Thank you for informing me!" she exclaimed brightly.
"No problem." Was it just her imagination, or did he sound sad? "Goodbye."
"Bye!"
She put the receiver back once more. Then, it struck her.
"Wait… wasn't my dinner with Sai 6:00 p.m.?"
And theeere ends this week's chapter! Heheh. So right now, my job practice has ended and Easter holidays have begun – I'm hoping I WILL have time to write anything, because all of my friends are so ecstatic about having any holidays WITHOUT studying after the job practice and a bunch of tests, that we all plan to meet A LOT. So far I've finished Chapter 7 and is beginning on Chapter 8; and also begun to write new fanfics (see my profile for more details about said fanfics). And Everlasting Dreams is STILL in process – I've ranted on about this forever, I know, but I've planned 33 of 52 oneshots so far and not finished a single one of them!
Reviews Corner (Whoa! Almost 100 reviews already... keep on going, everyone!!)
HPBabe91: The past's coming soon, heheh… -smiles evilly- Thanks:D
angel2559: Thanks, and done:D It's updated!
Crazy Gal42: Nauw… I hope it's going better for you in school soon. It's not going pretty well for me either – okay, so it does in certain subjects because they're easy, but I hate stuff like sewing and that (not cooking, though). In Sweden, we've got this grading system of Very Well Acceptable, Well Acceptable, Acceptable and Not Acceptable. In the middle of the semester we receive a warning if we might get a Not Acceptable in something… and guess what? That bitch of a sewing teacher gave me one! I'm already doing my best! Yeah, I know! Can't believe Sakura is a yaoi fangirl… -snickers- You've read the latest one? I HATE KARIN!... Okay, I don't, as long as she doesn't seduce MY – uh, I mean, Sakura's Sasuke! And thanks for the review!
Freedomstar999: Thanks :D I did, what do you think?
sasusaku4life: I'm glad you like it :)
paintupurple: Hahah, lawl. :D I'm glad it does! –grins evilly- It's supposed to. Thanks for the review:D
pinky101: I'm glad you do ;) Thanks for the review! (Hey, it rhymes!)
R o x a s G o e s Q u a c k: Thank you:D
warming Sunshine: You've learned already, my dear prodigy student! No, I'm just kidding. XDD Of course I'll explain it laaaater… -smirks evilly- And thanks!
Crimson Blossom: Thank you, and don't worry, you don't XD My English teacher actually never says that kind of stuff. She instead demands me to read and pronounce everything difficult in class because I'm the only one who can speak American English without sounding like a wannabe-American… or at least that's what people say. o.o; Sorry if I started a rant, heheh –sweatdrops-
greenishsunset: Thanks:D
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-Out-of-Inspiration-: Thank you:D
yourdarkdesire: Thank you, and here's a new update… what do you think:)
honoring death: You never know… XDDDD You'll just have to wait and find out. :D And thanks for the review.
purplecherry5: The problem is… I don't even know how to add C2 stories. XD I'm staff of 4 C2 communities now, and so far I haven't added one single C2 story because I don't even know how to do it. Hahah, mission accomplished. ;) Thanks for the review!
Kunoichi142: Thanks! Well… we'll have to see, I guess :D The past's coming soon ;)
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Tsukiko's Ultimate Blah-Blah-Blah:
Five Inspiration Sources This Week:
My sister: We've got the weirdest, most random conversations EVER. This ALWAYS inspires me.
Narutofan Forums: Konoha Plaza is a great place to start to look for random topics. And the SasuSaku FC inspired me to plan Kisses of a Killer, my soon-to-come Itachi x Sakura x Sasuke melodramatic action love-story.
Silverdragon994: Silver, you evil bananas-lover, inspired me to plan a SasuSaku oneshot:D Mwahahahah. –random evil laughter-
Gabzillaz on Deviantart: Gabz, that wonderful Team 8-crazed artist (and debater :D)… also inspired me to plan a SasuSaku oneshot in Everlasting Dreams. :D Her art is frickin' beautiful… everybody who's Team 8, NaruHina or SasuSaku crazed, CHECK OUT HER ART GALLERY!
Ice Cream: Believe it or not, I get the weirdest inspiration whenever I think or eat ice cream! … Just the thought makes me want to eat it NOW…