SMOKESCREEN
CHAPTER 7
thoughts.
- Sakura at age of 15 -
Sasuke-kun seems to cling to me, and unwilling to talk much to anyone else. Even when its Naruto or Ino, which leads her to scold him often.
PREVIOUSLY …
Would you like to have tea with me?"
"Eh- eh, now?" Sakura blurted, or rather squeaked once more, in a pitch higher than usual.
"Well, yes." Sasori stated as a matter of fact, his red orbs displayed amusement.
"But- well, I'm supposed to be studying for examinations, and sort of tutor Sasuke-kun. How about we postpone it? Like maybe, tomorrow after my paper or Saturday?"
"Saturday then. I'll pick you up." The Akasuna heir merely smiled when Sakura nodded her flushed head.
INO'S POV
It was right after the last paper and the blonde and friends had gathered in the school hallway as usual, as they waited for each of them to come out of the classroom.
"Gawd, he's slow." Ino complained, and just at that moment, her object of critique came into view, an arm slung casually over Karin.
"Oi! Sasuke-teme. Can't you just wait till you meet us before you go round frolicking?"
"Yeah, and of all peo-" Before the long hair blonde could complete her sentence, Sasuke shot her a glare before whispering something into Karin's ear which she responded with a giggle and gave him a lingering kiss before throwing a look of triumph at the gang and sashayed off. Bastard.
Making sure that the red head wasn't in sight, Ino continued her sentence." Of all people, you just have to include her. I hope you do remember that none of us over her is on good terms with her."
The Uchiha simply gave a shrug and nonchalantly replied. "Sakura has nothing against her." I swear, I was pretty much flabbergasted at his response. I mean for goodness sake, he and Sakura were almost inseparable, and he acted like Karin was never the betrayer. Seriously, bastard.
And the rosette said nothing either, but Hinata didn't failed to notice the discomfort and the disturbed look that hid within the emerald pools of Sakura. Instantly, the soft spoken girl brought up a different topic. "So shall we head for lunch?"
The gang decided lunch at Midori, a place that could fit the eight of them, and at the same time fulfill Naruto's ramen craving yet serve decent food.
"I seriously have no idea how anyone of you could survive any day without ramen." The sun-kissed blonde male commented in between slurps of his third bowl.
Everyone else rolled their eyes at him, whereas poor Hinata tried to come up with a good answer. "E-erm, I mean Naruto-kun. If ramen were to be everyone else's favourite food, there may not be enough for you."
"Aa, you're right." The young Uzumaki replied chirpily."Gosh you're so smart." The others simply shook their heads in disbelief. It was then when Ino cheerily suggested.
"You know, we should plan something for the holidays. It's a full month and I'm sure we don't want to waste by lazing around in Konoha."
"Well, what do you suggest then?" Sakura asked her friend.
Smirking triumphantly, the blue-eyed girl replied. "A week in Mizu no Kuni, while residing at Yamanaka's holiday resort by the beach. Daddy actually suggested it, as long as we don't turn the place up-side-down."
"Yeah, awesome Ino. What say you guys?! A little sunshine away from this freezing cold…" sang the blonde male.
"I think it's great." Seconded Tenten, as she gave her boyfriend a pleading look waiting for him to agree.
"I guess that would be fine with me." Sighed the stoic brunette and in an instant had Tenten beaming.
"Uh-huh. And that way, Hinata will be able to go as well." Ino chirped, whilst she inwardly gave herself a pat on her back. There wasn't really a need to ask the rest, seeing how Shikamaru would definitely give in despite himself muttering troublesome, Shika-kun never fails to make me happy, and her pink-hair counterpart, like the blonde female herself, would agree to this trip. Whereas the other stoic male, he wouldn't say no to Sakura. "Seeing how its Friday, how about we get home today packed and we meet tomorrow evening at the airport, that way we can reach Mizu no Kuni by night, have a good rest before enjoying ourselves."
"I can't!" Sakura exclaimed upon hearing Ino's plans and immediately all turned to her, causing the rosete to blush.
"Why can't you?" Her best friend asked, surprise riding up her dainty features. Seldom had she ever has Sakura against her.
"I-I… haveadatetomorrow." Mumbled Sakura, her face heating a notch higher at ever word.
"WHAT?!" both blondes ejaculated, their state of surprise turning to shock, despite inwardly they had no idea why were they at all. I mean, why would we? Like said before, Sakura's failed relationships are as bad as Sasuke's dating games. The only problem, is that Sakura actually expected things, unlike her male counterpart who gives no shit about anything. And I hoping Mitto would be the last. Shifting her cerulean irises over to the raven male among them, Ino swore she saw him tensed up of some sort. Sensing a hint of unexpected, the blonde female nudge Naruto who was sitting on her other side. Instantly he too let his gaze fall over to his best friend.
"So who's the guy?"
It was Shikamaru who spoke up, and it was a rare moment that the pineapple head genius decided to trouble himself to ask. However, knowing him, the only reason he did so was to lighten the sudden atmosphere that was surrounding the young Uchiha.
SASUKE'S POV
He didn't know why, but he was once more irritated, and more annoyed with the coral hair girl seated beside him. Why is it that she never understood to look carefully before doing anything? Is she that desperate for a relationship or what?!
"His name is Akasuna no Sasori."
"Akasuna… Isn't that the Akasuna Enterprises' only heir, they are on pretty good terms with Uchiha Corps." Hyuuga Neji queried with polite interest of Sakura's latest plausible victim. Or should that be changed to her predator? He didn't know, except for one thing he was annoyed, thoroughly annoyed. Shutting off the remaining conversation, Sasuke decided - he needed to vent.
INO'S POV
Once after lunch and plans decided, yes by the one and only Yamanaka Ino. I rocked. The girl cheered to herself inwardly, as she envision her upcoming holidays. And as decided by her, they had pushed it back one day, for packing and the tickets, and of cos for her dear friend, Sakura to go on a date before the trip.
Although it still was a pleasant surprise for Sakura to be dating one of similar status, especially since all of her exes and flings had been nothing much but brawn and empty heads of bastards from school or casuals she met in pubs.
All the more surprisingly, when the pinkette shared her story of meeting the young Akasuna heir Ino was even more surprise and maybe even excited for her friend. Afterall, it was almost like a fairytale, despite the fact it was even common for wealthy families to extend their family tree to another of similar statuses. But what does that makes Sasuke?
One would be even quite surprise how these two opposites get along, seeing how they were only bonded by a certain roseate, and maybe a certain blonde sidekick, that the azure-eyed girl absolutely adore, other than her boyfriend. Because unlike Sakura, Naruto was so full of pranks and plans, and awesome partner when she needed or wanted to execute any good fun. And like her, he had the same frequency as her when it comes to their two possibly oblivious childhood friends.
Thus, the girl decided to herself, for a long it concerned Sakura, it wasn't at all weird for her to care for Sasuke. When all of them split up, well said only Hinata and Neji cos they had a family dinner to attend, whereas a certain ebony hair teen had stormed off right after finishing his food without waiting for the gang.
However, to the two blonde, it only proven their speculation further to be right, although it pretty much confused them why he continued his Casanova ways.
They tried a couple of times before, when they were much younger, goading the youngest Uchiha to initiate the first move, however it was then when Sakura was so deeply infatuated with Negishi, totally blew off the raven eyed teen his hope. From then on, none of them spoke of the matter, not even to Sakura.
Everything was then left to be as it was; Sakura in her state of oblivion and Sasuke living in denial. It's a shame, maybe it is high time for another push at Sasuke. The petite blonde thought to herself as she eyed the disappearing form of said young man, and the once more crest fallen look on Sakura's heart shaped face.
"Really, Naruto. We've got to do something." Ino subtly told the sun-kissed male, and for the first time after years, he couldn't help but agree.
SAKURA'S POV
It was almost noon on a particular Saturday when her date came to pick her up at the Uchiha manor. She was quite surprise when he arrived in his own convertible instead of a limousine. She was even more surprise to realize that their dressing were in similar fashion, that to any random party, they would have seemed to have planned their dress code.
Sasori was dressed almost like how she had first met him, except this time, he had on a baby blue turtleneck cashmere sweater and beige slacks and a brown jacket over. Sakura herself, too had worn a blue cashmere turtleneck, only differ was it was a tone darker, and had on an off white denim skirt, with similar brown jackets and boots to match. Inwardly she cringed, crossing her fingers and prayed he didn't read too much into their dressing.
But that was an hour before. Right now the two were comfortably seating in a café on the outskirts of Konoha. They had already eaten lunch and were enjoying ice cream. Unlike most males that Sakura had met, Sasori was different. Well, he was definitely far different from an Uchiha, that it bewilders her how a guy like him is friends with Itachi.
Sure Itachi wasn't that bad, and in terms of comparison, the contrast between Naruto and Sasuke was stronger. That one different that really made him stood out from other guys is how much he enjoys sweet dessert. In fact he adores it, says him like a girl, it makes one feel better for a fact, not that he currently needed. And another was having ice cream in a cold weather such as this. Had it been Sasuke-kun, he probably chided me for being as retarded as Naruto. And Sasuke -kun would complain should I even offer him a lick of my ice cream.
Sasuke. Stupid Sasuke.
.. flashback ..
Right after lunch, or rather after finishing up his meal, Sasuke-kun had went to the restroom, and he returned only to briefly mention about going off. I mean, seriously, what kind of friend goes off with like this. And it wasn't even due to any emergencies, cos if there were I for one, would have known. But no, because I was self entertaining myself on my Macbook till late last night, and happened to catch a glimpse of him entering his bedroom, an arm slung over a girl's shoulder, when I was about to go get water, since it was late and all the maids were asleep.
Like usual, I totally should try not to let him further continue with mistakes. Although I swear the last incident wasn't on purpose.
But I did annoyed him the last time… After long minutes of contemplation, I finally made up my mind and entered his bedroom without knocking - hoping to feign ignorance.
Either I was too ignorant or I was well, plain shocked. In his bed and in the midst of a heated make out session, was Sasuke-kun and Karin, and both of them were already stripped of their tops. And either I should have entered earlier or I shouldn't have at all. Cos I simply stood there – shocked, like really frozen shocked. Now even as I glumly recall the incident, I can't help but cringe, the scene itself was disturbing, and the fact I had this weird feeling of betrayal and hurt, and I can't comprehend that.
When Sasuke finally looked up to identify the intruder, his face flashed annoyance before it further deepened into a scowl. He was really pissed, and I was still frozen. My mind was literally blank as I watch the disrupted scene further unfold. I briefly saw Sasuke-kun turned away from me, and faced Karin who was also quite shocked, probably to find me standing in Sasuke's room in nothing but my Victoria Secrets' nightgown. But of cos, for the times while we were friends, I never once brought her over before. It took quite a few moments before said red head decided to leave, with a once more dressed Sasuke and his hand on her frail elbow, directing out of the room, and probably out of the manor.
Karin threw me a hateful glare before she continued her way whilst clinging onto Sasuke-kun. It was another long moment before Sasuke-kun returned, and I was still stuck to the ground, my legs seeming to have lost its function for maneuvering.
He was angry, alright. Really angry. And I rarely see that side of him, only when he's really frustrated, and that only other time was whenever Fugaku tou-sama was angry with his grades. Naturally I was surprise, and worried. Slowly, but finally, I got back control of my body, yet, on its own, my hand reached out to him, who stood right in front of me, his frown seeming to have been etched there since forever. I was scared, but what further disturbed me, in deep anger, that he pulled away from me. Sasuke-kun never once did that. He never did, and he snapped.
"Enough Sakura." Venom was practically dripping at every syllable of the pinkette's name, and I thought I felt my heart rate slowed. "I don't interfere with the people you date. Stay out of mine." With that he turned to the bathroom, with that I thought I felt my heart stopped, and possibly it might have cracked. It was only when the warmth from the tears that seemed to scorch her frozen self, did the girl finally regain her own, and seek comfort in her own bed.
.. end of flashback ..
She must have subconsciously pulled on a negative expression of sorts when she realized the concern in Sasori's voice when he called her.
"Sakura. Are you alright?"
Jolting back to the present, the young lady merely flashed him one of her smiles, as he returned one of his own.
"You seemed a little out of sorts."
"Eh, aha, erm… just thinking about somethings." She replied sheepishly. She was so sure of the possibility of pink lacing on her pale features. And with that in thought, she noticed her companion grinning at her.
"Well, if it's anything to do with being sad, shall we not think about it and enjoy ourselves?"
A/N:
Am I late? I hope not. It feels like a long time since I've updated. Oh wells, as long as I get it here ain't it?
I really didn't want to place a flashback, never like one. But, it seemed like I didn't have a chance.
Anyways, like usual, I've got a start with the next chapter. But I'm not so sure about being completing on time next week, but I'll try. I'm suppose to be studying for my Jap test tomorrow. D: Wish me luck that I don't fail seeing how I'm not studying instead. Tsk.
And hopefully for the reviews. Really, I like how most of you guys alerted and all, but honestly, it doesn't really tell where I'm going. So, cross fingers for reviews.
I'm gonna be busy like soon, cos I've got my final presentation for Jap next week, and then another round of piling projects. So yup, no worries, I'll continue to work on the story whenever possible.
Did you catch the last chapt of Naruto? I hope you did. It was nice. Naruto is sucha adorable dude. I swear my heart almost melted for him.
Oh, and for the anime. Hurr, the episode was a total disappointment. Everything was weird. Oh wells, ja matte.