A/N: Hello once again. Truthfully, right after the last update I was pretty much tempted to call this chapter my last. Yes, to simply stop abruptly.
Unfortunately, my inner seemed to be really adamant to finish writing this story. IDK why. So yeah, with thanks to inner me, I present to you without further ado, Chapter 8 of SMOKESCREEN.
P.S.
Just so, next week would be the start of my major project, so I'm not quite sure if this would be the last one till break. So that's about all, ja matte.
SMOKESCREEN
CHAPTER 8
thoughts.
- Sakura at age 16 -
I made Sasuke-kun play a game with me. That is to pretend to not know each other when we get to Senior High. It's the only way to get him to mingle.
After weeks, Sasuke-kun seemed to mingle a lot. The way he does It, disturbs me. Alot.
I got a boyfriend, and Sasuke got himself a girlfriend after that too. But he says she isn't. After a week I don't see them hanging around anymore.
PREVIOUSLY …
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?"
SAKURA'S POV
The young man of the Akasuna family had took her dainty hand, and literally brought her into the land of fairytale. He was like a prince, and stood far out as compared to all the guys she ever dated. Funny how she never considered dating aristocracy.
He allowed her to make much of her own decisions other for the fact he was mainly the one to lead them around. They didn't go to any of the fancy places one might expect of noblemen; in fact they went to common places such as the zoo, and the night market.
The zoo was interesting, she hadn't been to one since she was a child, and to see how he reacted so adoringly and with much fascination to the animals intrigue her much. It was a simple understanding to all, for any guys who love animals, are easily kind and gentle enough. Akasuna no Sasori, unlike other guys, he had not made a single effort to hide anything that diminishes a guy's reputation. He displayed all sense of chivalry and not one sense of male chauvinism.
The date had gone well, or as considered up to now, as she sat beside her companion in the limousine. Dinner was fun. Far different from what she ever experienced. Being part of prestigious family, most of her dates often tried impressing her by taking her to restaurants, although many fail to hold out that long, seeing how their finances paled in contrast to the Uchiha's wealth. So instead of a dinner, the Akasuna heir had boldly took her through a night market, and had them finger food. It was life, he explained. And it takes off a whole lot of stress when one realizes how he is human like any civilian. No rules, nor reputation to uphold.
It surprised the pinkette a whole great deal. That despite the freezing night, the streets were far from freezing, with crowds jostling with one another, emitting the warmth of life simplicities. Not forgetting to mention, the warmth from the red head's large callous hands as well, as he lightly laced through her own digits, as they maneuver through the crowd, keeping her close to him at all times.
Now as they arrived at the enormous doors of the Uchiha mansion, she wondered how the young man would end their night.
As he walked her towards the celebrated entrance, she noticed how despite his calm demeanor, he was slightly fidgety. Nervous? She pondered.
"Sakura, " His deep voice called out, and yet she couldn't help but compare that his wasn't at all as smooth as Sasuke. Sasuke. Inwardly she frowned. Of all times, when she knew she had fun, he had to degrade her day.
"I honestly enjoyed myself today. And I hope you did too."
"I did." The girl interrupted, flashing another of her smiles, partly also to force out her previous thoughts.
"I'm glad, and I really wish to see you again." Her viridian orbs noticed the tinge that seem to formed on his pale features, and she couldn't help but thought it was cute, and at the same time wondered if she has the same expression when she realized he was asking her out again.
Bowing her head slightly to hide her knowing pink cheeks, Sakura managed to reply him. In a barely audible tone, she answered." I'd love too."
And once more she couldn't help but notice how his ruby-red eyes lit up like shining gems, and the shy smile he originally had widening into a grin. A warm feeling started in her stomach, and she wondered if she was starting to like the guy for real.
"I'll pick you up on Wednesday?"
Then she cringed. "A, gomennasai. But I'll be out of town for the whole of next week. How about the following week? I'll call you?"
The shine in his ruby-red orbs seemed to falter slightly, but nonetheless, it continued to light. Taking a step closer to the rosette, Sasori gently took her hands, increasing her heart beat. It was formal, and gentlemanly, and not at all surprising for an aristocrat, yet she was, surprise and her insides seemed to flutter when she felt his warm lips graze her right hand.
"Goodnight Sakura." It was a simple act, yet the young lady couldn't help but went on cloud nine as she head in for the night.
SASUKE'S POV
It was close to 10 o'clock when he pulled into the driveway with a brunette for desert. He didn't care, he was feeling spoilt, especially how after a certain pinkette ruined his fun once more the previous night. And he hadn't really had his chance to vent. It was almost eating him up, and when he snapped last night, it only intensified his frustrations. He didn't mean to lose it, it was just… Argh! To hell with everything.
Hn, and speak of the devil, as his coal black orbs caught sight of a certain girl at the porch. There she stood smiling her trademark smile. It was his favourite of all her smiles, the sweetest one she ever had, one she does when she was elated. Often it had his heart pooling into warmth.
But yet, as he watch her lips curled, into her flushed cheeks, and all in due result of the date she had with some random male, who so happen to leave a kiss on her porcelain like skin, tainting her purity, he felt anger.
Getting out of his convertible, one of the few cars he owned (there are others, some belonging to Itachi), he tossed his keys to their residential attendant before swaggering indoors, arms adorning the skinny frame of his next toy. She had rich brown curls that flow till her mid back, with matching eyes to match. Quite a doll, he'd say. He had met her near the night life district, and decided to forgo drinking instead. Her name, he didn't quite remember, Amaya? Or was it Ayame? She had looked familiar or like any other chicks he had found, although he barely remembered them unless they were from school. But the names hardly register anyway.
She had approached him, and he couldn't say no, right?
Yet with all the time he took to stroll, he still managed to catch up with Sakura in the foyer. Sakura, he really didn't want mention her, just her name is killing his urges, yet intensifying his frustrations – annoying him endlessly. But with a hair colour as vibrant as hers, who could ever miss her?!
He knew his muscles had tensed up, and without a doubt, his companion felt it as well. Ignoring his thoughts, he steered her away from the pinkette, pace increased, hoping to get to his destination quick.
Seriously, how could anyone walked that slowly?!
However as they bypass her, his onyx orbs couldn't help but automatically shift towards her. And as he expected, and had hoped not, he noticed her crest fallen gaze on him. How she was one moment as happy as a lark, and the next, not exaggerating, almost like a broken doll. Was it his fault?
My fault?
Hell yeah, right. As the couple got closer to his room, his thoughts drifted to the times he tried hard to make her happy. Frowning at this realization, he became irate. For the change of record, if dating other guys makes her happy, so be it.
With traces of second thoughts diminished, the young man vented with all his might. Be gone with all lust and cravings.
SAKURA'S POV
It was almost a couple of hours after dawn, when a certain emerald eye girl found herself tossing and turning in bed.
She didn't understand the reason for her insomnia. Although she must say she was quite disturb by the sight of Sasuke with another girl once more. And with Amaya no less. Sure she was pretty, but like any other women he had slept with, she probably was another skank. She had seen her flirting and making out with other guys before, not that it surprised her.
She remembered pausing right outside his door, as she once more, contemplated to intrude. But with regards of previous incident, she hadn't known if the raven hair teen had cooled off enough. Then again, since when he needed more than a blink of an eye to forgive her, but something held her on.
Giving up at her inability to sleep, she decided to wake up and start packing. It was gonna be a whole week, and she had to make sure she brought enough.
It was almost noon when the pinkette decided to grab her toiletries. In the midst of packing her necessities, the door from Sasuke's side flung open. Entered was the prodigy himself. Ignoring her presence as usual, he went over to do his business, whilst they girl only continued with what she was doing. After muttering a rude "move over", the young man continued with washing up, before he left. Not long after, just as Sakura was about to finish packing the last bit, the same door swung open once more, this time to reveal a partially nude Amaya. The intruder was very much shock, seeing how her brown orbs widening to almost the size of dinner plates, and almost in a flash darkening into a scowl.
Sakura who only felt bad to be in there while the guest needed the lavatory, merely mumbled. "Oops, sorry." Then grabbing last bit of her items, the pinkette scurried out.
The ride to the airport was a silent one. Sasuke had the family chauffer to drive them there, so it didn't gave him any reason to not talk, or rather interact in any form. But it did and it was weird, at least in Sakura's opinion. She never once had any form of war against Sasuke. Well, at last one that lasted so long. They usually made up within a day.
If one to reason out in due of Sasuke's anti social self, it was a failure, for Uchiha Sasuke was never a quiet person in her presence. In fact had she need to be honest, he was probably one the most annoying person on earth. Well, he does gets on my nerves.
Even as they approach the already arrived clique at the airport, it didn't lighten the load in the pinkette's heart when the ebony hair teen only nodded in response at Naruto's usual insult.
INO'S POV
They look so cute together. Regardless the number of times she repeated, it wasn't going to wear off. Some things just stay that way, like their relationship. And a twitch popped out from her forehead.
She never understood how deep one could ever bury themselves in a state of oblivion or denial. It irritated her to no end. But, as her azure orbs took in the scene before her, as her two friends got closer, those thoughts were not priority. What was, is to find out what's happening.
It was weird in a sense, but it was there. That tense atmosphere that seemed to fall between the pair, so thick it was killing the holiday mood. And Ino knew for sure, she so wanted to kill the obsidian eyed boy.
Deciding to lighten the air, the blonde female cheerily moved over to Sakura, pulling her towards the other girls as they led the way through the departure gates.
"So, how did your date went?" Ino asked, genuinely curious.
"Eh? It was fun. Sasori really surprised me."
"Wow, wow. Someone is already on first-name basis, huh." Tenten chimed in, causing the pinkette to flush.
"W-well, he asked me to!!!"
"You could've insisted." Retorted the blonde girl, but gave Sakura a smile anyway and a ruffle to her pink locks. "Oh well, Sakura, you're just being you."
And the rosette gave a smile in return.
SAKURA'S POV
It was great to finally be able to talk to the girls. It lightened up her mood, and everything felt the same as always, and Sakura was starting to feel mighty glad about this holiday trip. That is until she realized she had to endure sitting beside Sasuke once more for the next four hours.
It would have been like all neutral and after the pinkette plugged in her iPod. It would have been. Until she woke up half an hour before the plane touch down, and found herself leaning on Sasuke's shoulder. She doubted the male to have fallen asleep, since it was almost impossible to find an Uchiha asleep in public, but nonetheless believed so, just in case, and continued staying in that position. One where she leaned on his shoulder, as his lay against hers, and his lean arm loosely wrap around her waist.
She couldn't stop wondering, although it was highly plausible that he was just too used being around her presence.
And her thoughts didn't stop until he awoke and immediately slid back up into his seat, and prepared to leave, as though nothing had happened.
But that was almost hours earlier, as she currently sat in her bedroom at the resort. Sakura had only returned a couple minutes ago from supper with the clique and was preparing for bed and a whole day of fun ahead.
Jade green orbs darted to her cellular. Checking the time, it read 01:30. Pooh, how awesome, I've been lying here for almost two hours. Tossing her petite body once more, it froze just as a knock was heard from the door.
Quietly scurrying over, the rosette peered through the peek hole. It was entirely unexpected, but the girl was just as surprise to find Uchiha Sasuke outside her bedroom.