...
Chapter 14: Christmas.
...
Christmas day
Sasuke PoV.
-x-
I woke up by the sound of my new phone alarm.
'MERRY CHRISTMAS TEME! =D'
Hn. Note to self. Don't let Naruto get near my stuff again... ever.
I shut the alarm off and then I notice I had one new message. I swear if its one of those stupid jokes Naruto sends on Christmas I will kick his blonde ass. But it wasn't from Naruto it was from Sakura.
I felt as if the phone had take a long time to show what she wrote.
No, I wasn't desperate to know what she wrote, not after knowing nothing, not seeing her pink weird hair, not listening to her annoying sweet voice for a week. no… not at all.
'damn cheap phone'
From: Sakura.
Hey Sasuke! Long time no see huh? I just wanted to remind you about the party 2morrow.
I hope you can come. It'll be so much fun. Merry xmas =).
Sakura.
For the first time in a long time a small smile found its way trough my face.
I went down to have breakfast but all the maids were busy preparing everything for my parent's arrival so I just took a bowl of cereal.
"Otouto, did you fall off your bed? You woke up earlier than I expected"
"Hn. Dobe's fault."
"did he put your alarm again?"
"Hn" I reply nodding.
"Typical him, you shouldn't let him near your stuff" as if I didn't know it.
"Anyways… Are you ready for tonight?"
"That depends on what I should be prepared for." I said while putting the spoon with cereal on my mouth.
"I'm just asking… after all dad will be here and you know how unpredictable he is"
"Should I have a reason to be worried?" 'He knows something I don't'.
"n-no, what makes you think he is planning something?" he stuttered so it's obvious he was lying.
"I never said he was planning something" I reply raising my brow.
"well you sound as if you think he is planning something" itachi's voice came back to normal but his eyes narrowed a bit.
"You are not telling me something" I said as a matter of fact.
"I don't know what you are talking about Sasuke but even if I knew I'm not in the position to tell you, anyways you will find out tonight… sorry but I gotta go" he grabbed his car keys. "see you at dinner otouto"
'he totally knows something'
But what could that be? Knowing that I can expect anything from father.
Later that night.
-x-
"teme! You have to go to Sakura's party! So you better be there on your own or I'll drag your ass with me" Naruto yelled through the phone and I have to put it away from my ear. How can someone be so noisy?
"dobe shut up, your giving me a heartache, I never said I wasn't going to go, I told you that maybe I would be late"
"I know but Couldn't you just tell your parents to dismiss you earlier today?"
"you know how my father is, and also he wants to talk to me it will be… difficult"
"yeah I guess" I heard him sigh in the other side of the line. "do you know what he wants to talk?"
"no, Itachi knows something but he didn't say a word to me" I said kind of annoyed.
"Hmm, well I hope it will be good news at least" I heard my door opened after someone knocked it three times.
"Sasuke-sama your parents have arrived, they expect you to join them in the living room" one of our butlers said. I nodded and he left my room quietly.
"dobe I got to go"
"okay teme but you better not use your parents as an excuse to not go because I swear I'll make Itachi tell me the truth so I can kick your ass" I smirked.
"Ha, as if you could, see you later dobe" and I hung up on him.
I left my room to meet my parents. My mom was standing in front of dad and she had an uneasy look on her face. Dad was sitting in one small sofa with his back at me. As soon as I stepped in the room my mom's face changed into a big smile.
"Sasuke dear" she walked gracefully to give me one big hug. "I missed you so much"
"hi mother, I missed you too" yeah I miss my mom, who wouldn't after spend like four months without seeing her?
"Sasuke" my dad's firm voice echoed inside the room and I bowed to show him respect
"Father" somehow this is the only show of affection –respect- between us. Now that I think of it, I never have had any hug from him since I have memory.
"how have you been, Itachi and you?" yeah, Itachi comes always first.
"fine"
"Is he doing a good job in the company?" 'oh yeah sure, great job. That bastard is always lacking from work, that lazy ass is always here instead of going to work'.
"Of course" I nodded but I was mentally rolling my eyes.
"Sasuke son I need to discuss something with you" that's my dad for you, always going straight to the point. I notice my mom tensed before speaking.
"Darling why don't we wait for later, dinner should be ready by now"
"Mikoto we have enough time before dinner, and also Itachi is not here yet, you wouldn't want to start before he arrives" his cold voice made mom shut instantly. I could tell by her look that this was going to be bad. Really bad.
"Son, as you know your mother and I have been taking care of 3 different companies in Rain City, Sand City and Sound city and that's the reason why we barely spend time here, and you as heir of the Uchiha's, will one day take the lead in them"
I always knew that I would be running the companies along with Itachi , but why talk about this now? I still have to finish one more year of school and then college.
"that's why you need to be prepared…" he inhaled some air before speaking again "The company in Sound is broke and we need it to form new alliances with strong companies in that city, we need you to take care of it…"
"The company is broke?"
"and also the principal of sound high, Orochimaru, told me that they would give you priorities if you join them, and useful classes like business management that will help you to restore our company" he finished ignoring my question.
"But dear I think Sasuke is doing just fine with his grades here, he is a wonderful student, and he never gets in trouble -"
"No, he lacks acknowledgements, look at Itachi he was straight A student, no one has ever had a better record than him. Not even you" he said while his eyes were boring into mine and my fist unconsciously clenched.
I hated this, this was the single reason I hate when my parents, or more like 'dad' was here. I hate the fact that he always finds something where Itachi is far better than me, it made me feel like I was a black point in the rice, like I was doing always the wrong thing.
"That's why you'll be leaving to Sound City after winter vacations are over"
"WHAT?! Why? School isn't over yet so why should I go so soon?" my brows knitted together as I raised my voice, I knew I was being un-respectful to him, but hell I was pissed. Why doesn't he let me do my own choices?
"Don't dare to raise your voice at me, the sooner you leave the best would be for your future and our companies" all he thinks about is the stupid company and money.
"I don't want to go" my cold stoic voice back.
"Don't be un-respectful Sasuke"
"Sorry, allow me to correct myself… I won't go"
"You don't have another choice"
"I don't care" I said turning to leave the room until his voice stopped me again.
"If you don't go I wont have another option than to arrange a marriage to save our company" his emotionless voice made me stop in my track.
"WHAT?!" I yelled but this time it wasn't just me, but my mom's choked voice too.
"Uchiha Fugaku who gave you the right to make that kind of decision?" my mom screamed with her hands on her hips demanding for an answer.
"I'm his father, and I have fully right on him" he said with his eyes still fixated on me.
"You are taking this too far and also you are rushing the things! Sasuke is just a boy, he can't get married so soon… and that's so… old. And all of this for the company is too much Fugaku he has the right to choose whom he is going to marry with" At least someone is supporting me, but it seems nothing that she says is going to change his mind, his stoic face never flinched at my mother's outburst.
"Sasuke has to start to make his own decisions, so now is the moment to do so. Now tell me what did you choose son? Leaving or getting married?"
"I won't leave…" I said striding to the door and before I could step outside the room I started talking again "and don't even think I'll get marry with some stupid girl I don't even know" I opened the door only to find Itachi standing outside.
"Where are you going otouto, is dinner ready?" he asked me but I was at the door by then.
Sakura's PoV
...
I was checking my reflection in the mirror. I was finally done changing and I was waiting for my friends to arrive. I am really excited for tonight, what can I say? I feel really optimistic, like something good is going to happen or maybe is the fact that mom is acting cheerfully, and that's something good.
Usually she spends this day all sad and is easy to tell that the smiles she flashes at you are fakes. But since I told her that we wouldn't be alone at Christmas she has acted as hyper as Naruto. And all I can say is I'm happy.
Maybe all we needed this past years was some kind of other people company, since dad's death.
"Sakura you look beautiful" Mom said when I entered the kitchen.
"thanks mom, you too" I said winking my eye at her making her laugh. "do you need help?"
"oh no, don't worry I'm almost done honey" she said as she placed some food in the oven. "When are your friends going to come?"
"They said they would be here after spending some time with their families, I guess we will be waiting a little more"
"Oh I see" I stood there watching her cooking until she spoke again.
"You know Sakura? I'm really happy that you have invited your friends over, this way I can get to know them better, and also is good for us… for you" she wore a real smile on her face, not the fakes she used to give on this day.
"mom" I whispered but she didn't seem to hear me.
"I know in the past years Christmas wasn't a pleasure date for you, and I didn't help much, did I? but I guess it's time to move forward… I am so sorry It took me a long time to realize this" I walked to give her a hug.
"it's okay mom" I told her and she gave me a sweet smile.
This Is the Christmas I wanted. a Christmas where mom would be smiling and not crying.
"Sakura dear could you open the door?"
"Huh?"
"Someone is knocking at the door"
"Oh right" I guess I was so absorbed in my own thoughts that I didn't even hear the knocking sound. "Coming!" I yelled before opening the door.
My eyes widened a bit fraction, the last person I was expecting to arrive first but the one I wanted to see the most.
"Sa-Sasuke… you came" I pointed him with my finger.
"you know? Pointing at people is rude Sakura…and are you planning on leaving me outside all night or what?" he said with his beautiful smirk that I missed so much.
"Oh sorry, he he, come in" I cleared the entrance way for him to walk in.
Normal pov
-x-
Sakura's house was nice and elegant, it was not too big but small either. The world that could describe it better was 'cozy' or so Sasuke thought.
"Sakura dear who was it? Oh hi!" Sakura's mother greeted the boy when she caught sight of him.
"Mom this is Sasuke Uchiha"
"is a pleasure to meet you miss" he said bowing his head.
"Such a charming gentlemen, the pleasure is all mine" she said with a smile on her face while she stole a glance at her daughter who was unconsciously looking at said boy.
"okay I guess I need to hurry with the food, feel yourself at home Sasuke" and darted to the kitchen with a grin on her face that no one noticed.
"I didn't expect you to be so early, Naruto told me your parents were here and that you would arrive late"
"Hn"
"What happened? Your parents didn't come?" she notice the somber look that appeared on his face.
"Hn. They did"
"then why are you here this early?"
"I … didn't like the food" 'lame answer' he thought.
"Sasuke that's not a good reason" she said quirking her brow upward and he sighed in a tired manner as he took a sit on the sofa next to him.
"I didn't want to be there" he said in a low voice as he closed his eyes. Sakura's eyes went wide with worry and sat down beside him.
"what happened?" Sasuke hide his clenched hands inside his pockets and his face was downcast with his bangs covering his eyes. he doesn't wanted to tell her or anyone… at least not now.
"I would prefer not to talk about it" …and absolutely he doesn't want to tell her.
Sakura was about to say something, but she decided not to, after all this is Sasuke and he hardly expresses himself.
She wanted to know so badly what was going on, but she couldn't push him, this would only lead to make him leave.
"Don't worry, I'll be here" she answered with a small smile that made him look up to her face. "When you want to talk about it I'll be here, and I promise you that I will try to help you in anything I can Sasuke-kun"
For a minute he thought she was going to beg him to tell her what was wrong but she just offered him her support. And he was grateful for that.
He has to think of something to make his dad change his mind… or in the worst case scenario then he would have to pick a choice.
"Thank you Sakura" she just kept smiling as always.
Sasuke PoV
"so how are your vacations so far?" I was grateful that she changed our conversation I wanted to forget about everything related with my dad.
"lame, yours?" I answered with my smirk, my good mood returning to me.
"better than yours, that's for sure" she said sticking out her tongue. "you should have go to the mall with us yesterday it was so much fun"
"my stupid brother dragged me to the company he said it was 'father's orders' " I quoted with my fingers.
"that's a shame. Well to tell the truth the mall wasn't that fun… it could have been better"
"then why did you say it was so much fun?" I threw her a mocking glare.
"I was trying to make you feel bad for not going with us"
"oh my, I feel so wanted" note the sarcasm in my voice. She chuckled.
"to be honest it' would have been more fun if you have gone" was she blushing? Or maybe it was me blushing at her comment, it made me happy.
"Oh yeah, it's more fun with me around"
"yeah you are the soul of the gang" and she burst in fits of laughter, and I just… chuckled.
She stopped just to look at me with her face full of astonishment and her finger pointing at me.
"Did you just chuckle?"
"yeah, so?"
"I wanted to make sure it was you, I thought It was my imagination." I raised my brow confused at her answer. "oh you know it's true! you never chuckled, laugh and hardly smile"
"So?" she dropped her hand and her astonished face turned into a big grin.
"It's nice to hear you can chuckle too"
"hn" I smiled. If only she knew I only do this when I am with her.
"Sakura dinner is ready… do you want to eat now?" Sakura's mom yelled from the kitchen.
"Are you hungry?" my stomach betrayed me suddenly as it grunted. I felt so embarrassed when she giggled at the action.
"Okay I'll take that as a yes" she took my hand and led me to the table. I felt an electric rush on my skin when she touched my hand. But it felt good… really good.
"And I bet you are going to like my mom's food"
The food looked really tasty. And it was indeed. Sakura's mom is a great cooker and I bet not even our chef could make the turkey as tasty as hers.
We spent the dinner talking, well… more like Ms. Haruno asking me about my family, school, things I like and the typical questions you do when you meet someone. Sometimes when I gave her short answers Sakura complement them.
Right there, I found out how much she knows about me, I bet not even Naruto knows me as well as her even if he knows me for longer than her. And that discover brought a smile on my face.
When we finished eating I gathered all the dirty dishes and put them in the kitchen sink before convincing Ms. Haruno to let us do the work, after all it was the polite thing to do. She made the food, we clean the dishes. Sakura told her we would take care of this and then she left us alone.
"You know Sasuke-kun? This is really nice of you" she said while I handed her a clean and wet dish so she could dry it with a rag.
"it's nothing"
"no really, I mean… I bet you never do this in your house, you have butlers and maids that take care of that, and coming here and do this… I don't know… says a lot of you"
"I already told you, it's nothing" I said throwing at her drops of soapy water.
"Hey!" and she imitated my action.
We kept our little struggle until the floor was so wet that made Sakura slide almost falling. I tried to grab her but ended up falling on top of her.
She was blushing, and surely I was too. But I didn't made a move to stand up, instead I did the otherwise.
I leaned down… slowly… almost touching her cherry lips…
"Wow guys! Sorry! We didn't know you were busy" I quickly stood up getting away from her after I offered her my hand so she could stand.
"Naruto shut up! W-we fell" Sakura said redder than before.
"yeah right guys" he said with a smirk on his face.
"Shut up dobe"
"YOU SHUT UP TEME! You are just mad because I didn't let you finish –OUCH!- WHAT THE HELL?" I pounded him on the head… hard.
"for not stop blabbing you moron"
"you deserve that Naruto"
"Ow Sakura-chan you are being mean" he said pouting.
"hmph, anyways who let you in? I never heard you knocked the door"
"y-your mother let us in a-and she said you were h-here" Hinata responded this time.
Thank Kami Sakura's mom didn't enter trough the door or it would've been worst.
"Oh okay… and what took you so long? I thought you said you were going to be here early?" Sakura said turning now to Naruto.
"Oh yeah I was! But Kakashi, Tsunade and Shizune went home to dinner and they took their pets Pakun, Kakashi's dog and Tonton, Tsunade's pig and they crapped all over the place and the stupid perv old man made me clean before leaving" he said crossing his arms in front of him angry.
"And did you clean everything?" Neji asked this time.
"of course why do you ask?"
"dobe your room is so messy that I bet you couldn't even find where the crap was"
"hmph" he pouted crossing his arms in front of his chest ." My room is no that messy and I'm sure I cleaned everything"
"okay stop guys, enough talk about crap for tonight" tenten middle breaking my little fun.
"Where are Ino and Shikamaru?"
"they are on his way here"
Sakuras PoV.
-x-
Sooner, Shikamaru and Ino arrived, and even Rock Lee and Kiba came. The girls and I were chatting. Tenten was telling Ino all the details to Ino about when they found us, Sasuke and me in the kitchen almost…well… kissing.
"Sakura you naughty girl!" Ino told me excitedly.
"Ino stop, I told you guys it was an accident, we slipped!"
"yeah suuure"
"PIG SHUT UP!"
"t-that reminds me when we found Ino and Shikamaru i-in the janitor's closet making out"
"HINATA DON'T TALK ABOUT IT!"
"yeah who knew that lazy ass had it on him?"
"TENTEN STOP IT NOW!" a furiously red Ino was yelling while we burst laughing.
"At least I wasn't caught in a heated make out session with my boyfriend by his uncle" Ino said with an evil smirk.
"INO! I told you to never brought that memory up again!"
"YOU WHAT TENTEN?!" I screamed shocked. And Hinata giggled.
"Dad was so chocked, since that day he always knocks before entering a room to not find any surprises… especially when Tenten is at home" we burst into fits of laugh again except for a very red and annoyed Tenten.
The night was really nice. Everyone were talking, laughing and eating and just having a great time. Mom spend a while talking with some of my friends, until she said she was tired and was leaving to sleep.
The first to leave were Rock Lee and Kiba, followed by Tenten and Neji, saying that she still had to go to her grandma's house.
Ino was fighting to keep Shikamaru awake.
"Come on lazy ass! It's Christmas! Time to party! You can't fall asleep"
"Ino you troublesome woman let me rest a bit" he reply before falling asleep on the sofa again.
"There's no point Ino, we lost him"
"-sigh- I guess I'll let him rest or else he is gonna fall asleep while driving and get ourselves killed" I chuckled at Ino's answer. "oh forget about it, Shikamaru wake up NOW!"
I didn't want to hear Ino yelling and Shikamaru answering how troublesome women are so I left them.
I watched Sasuke leaning against a wall and Naruto and Hinata were near him. My blond friend was trying to make my shy friend laugh louder by telling her all kind of jokes and failing miserably when she just gave her shy giggle.
"Are you enjoying the night?" I asked Sasuke when I positioned myself in front of him.
"Oh yeah, watching Naruto choking on his own soda is making my night" I turned to face Naruto and indeed he was choking on his soda while trying to make Hinata laugh but he just ended making her worry. But after the serious situation I couldn't help but chuckle a bit.
"Are you having fun?" he startled me with his question, I was so absorbed looking at the couple in front of us.
"yeah I'm having a great time"
"that's good" I nodded my head.
"the best part is mom had a great time too and she doesn't ended up crying as every Christmas"
"and neither you"
"yeah… I guess this is what we needed. Company… friends…" the corners of my mouth were upward and to my surprise a small smile was gracing his features making him look even hotter.
"hey guys" Naruto called for us.
"What is it?" Naruto's mouth twitched into a huge grin and Hinata had a tint of pink on her cheeks and she was muffling her giggles with her hand.
Naruto pointed at something above us. I blushed a deep red and Sasuke's eyes went big.
"Oh look at the time Hinata I have to take you home or your dad will kill me for sure" I notice the wink he sent her before dashing to the door.
"And you guys have to do It or you will have bad luck believe it!"
"B-bye Sakura-chan, Sasuke-san" and they left us alone...
under a mistletoe.
I tensed. I didn't even know mom put mistletoe inside the house! Of course I wanted to kiss him but… did he? What happened earlier I thought he was going to kiss me but the guys interrupted our little moment. Damn them.
"What are we-?!" he didn't let me finish. He crashed his lips against mine and before he could broke the kiss I kissed him back.
There goes my first real kiss, taken by the first person I ever truly fell in love with.
The kiss we had at the party was nothing, we barely touched our lips and compared to this it was nothing.
The kiss felt like hours even though it last just a few seconds.
What did he thinks? Did he like it? And most importantly, would he kiss me willingly if we weren't under mistletoe or if our bodies were inches apart?
When we separated our faces were a dark shade of crimson.
"that was… nice?" I was at lost of words and what could I say? ... And nice was absolutely not the right word.
"A-Aa… you kiss great" he said astonished and the crimson color on my cheeks darkened.
'He thinks I kiss great, he thinks I kiss great!' my inner self burst out screaming in joy.
"t-thank you, y-you too" I diverted my sight away from him, I was too embarrassed to do so.
Then I felt a couple of eyes staring at us. I turned around only to find Ino with a huge grin on her face, that reminded me the look Naruto gave me before leaving, and Shikamaru fully awake by now gaping at us.
I can't believe I forgot they were here! by tomorrow everybody in Leaf City will know thanks to Ino.
"I guess it's time to leave Shika-kun" he just nodded with his gaze still on us.
"We'll talk tomorrow Sakura" Ino said winking at me, in other words 'you better tell me everything tomorrow'. I mentally sighed as they walk out of my house.
Sasuke PoV
-x-
When Naruto pointed at the mistletoe I didn't knew what to do and just when he left Sakura was going to ask me something I decided to kiss her before she could said the otherwise. The time was great and just before I could broke the kiss she started kissing me back! And then the kiss went from great to perfect.
First when we were in the kitchen and I tried to kissed her Naruto and the guys ruined it, but who would have thought that the same person who ruined it was giving me another chance?
I guess I'll thank dobe… someday.
She is a great kisser and when I told her that the look on his face was adorable, and just then we realized Ino and Shikamaru were still in the room.
Crap. Ino will tell everyone she knows, and Shikamaru… well, I would have laugh at his expression but that's not like me at all. Thankfully they left soon.
I watched as Sakura dropped down to the couch and I wondered if I should go, after all it was late and I could tell she was tired, but I'm selfish and I don't wanted to go home…yet.
So I followed her and took a sit next to her.
If we wouldn't have been under mistletoe would she have kissed me back?
"oh I forgot!" she stood up abruptly, walking towards the Christmas tree to pick a little envelopment.
"Merry Christmas" she handed me the present smiling but her face still held a tint of pink.
I opened it carefully. Inside was a black photo frame with a picture of me and her at the annual party, oh yeah… and Naruto behind us with a huge grin and his hands forming the peace sign.
"I thought a lot what to get you, and everything that came to my mind Naruto told me you already have it so I opted for something more meaningful" I couldn't help but smile.
"thank you" the worry she had, maybe for not knowing if I was going to like it, disappeared as soon as I said those words.
And what do I do know? I don't bring her present with me… I left it home for leaving in such a rush. So I did the first that came to my mind.
I kissed her on the cheek.
"I guess it's the only present I can give you for now" she shook her head blushing again.
"that's okay d-don't worry"
She closed her eyes and whispered 'thank you for being here Sasuke-kun' and before I knew she was fall asleep with her head resting on my shoulder.
The last thing I remember is stroking her hair away from her face before falling into a deep sleep with her in my arms.
chapter 14 finally done! :D
i had a hard time with this chapter because for some reason something felt off. but i like the final result and i really hope you guys like it!
school started this week. =/ hate it. school means no free time, too much homework, stress and barely time to write or read fanfiction :(
but anyways i'll try my best to update soon. and please review. even an its okay, terrible bad, or good chapter, i want to know your opinion :)
and thanks to all the people who review.Crimson Regret, Mistyjet , and my savior GisIzzy :D
-x-NeCROpHiLIA-x-, thank you for your honesty you were the only person who told me something about the new story. even thought i hated my own summary once i re read it, it felt so ... i dont know. but thank you so much for giving me your point of view :)