SMOKESCREEN
CHAPTER 10
thoughts.
PREVIOUSLY…
Her heart, one that had seemingly pulsated at a racing speed, had somehow slowed down drastically, as though it was painstakingly consumed into a black hole leaving with nothingness.
Sasuke.
SAKURA'S POV
Her mind was in swirls and her heart felt liked it had plummeted pit bottom. She didn't understand what was wrong with her. She didn't comprehend what was going on. She only knew she needed to leave the scene. The only problem, her feet felt like it had been cement to the concrete pavement.
It was a torturous moment as her mind replayed what she saw, holding her frozen.
Seconds ran as she struggled to move. A little by little, she managed. But alas, luck didn't seem to be on her side, as she failed to retreat gracefully, and she ended stumbling and falling to the ground. Astonished, the pinkette let out a loud shriek into the quiet shuffles of the night, attracting immediate attention from her surroundings, including the ones she wanted to see least.
"Sakura!"
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SASUKE'S POV
If there was one fact that the Uchiha heir couldn't deny, it's be how good a kisser Riko was. Yet nonetheless, as always, there was something missing that he could never put a finger to, something that made her a whole lot different as compared to the other flings and one night stands.
Riko was like a tiger on a loose, hungry for his kisses, the heat that was building, and for the every ounce of affection he could fill her with. Desperation, not passion – at least which was what he felt.
Then a clicked sounded in his mind, maybe…
A shriek. A damn loud one. One so loud, and the further amplification from the quiet roads, immediately startled the couple. Onyx irises flickered to the direction of the disruption.
Pink.
One word – Sakura.
His face remained passive, but his mind was already inscribing surprise. Wasn't she supposed to be asleep? Why is she here? Is she alright? What happened?
Questions flooded his head, fogging all thoughts of prior activities. Sakura – was all that held his current vision field.
"Sakura!" He called out, as he hurried over towards her.
SAKURA'S POV
"Sakura, are you alright?" She heard him, and noted that his voice was raspy.
Probably breathless from all the making out.She thought cynically to herself.
"Sakura?" She heard, once more. His tone this time was softer, still raspy, but in a slightly pleading tone. So what?! She was feeling bitter and she didn't know why, only the fact that she really didn't want to look at him.
She felt him lay both his hands on her shoulders – they felt warm, yet they only seemed to decrease the temperature around her.
"Sakura. Look at me." She didn't want to, and was tuning him out. She was feeling cold for sure, and maybe nauseous. Ill? Maybe, she just needed to sleep now.
RIKO'S POV
Amethyst eyes watch the tall figure ran off towards the girl with pink hair.
Pink – Haruno Sakura? Was she with him? Did they came here as a group?
Riko didn't know what to make that of. She wasn't angry or irritated, just slightly disappointed that she'd be sleeping alone tonight.
Walking towards the commotion, she noticed that Sakura hadn't responded to Sasuke, and seemed to be shivering badly. She didn't understand why seeing how the night was only been slightly chilly and she saw that young Uchiha was probably just as clueless with that fact from the worried expression he had. The blonde couldn't help but felt extremely surprised - one for a fact that the usually emotionless boy was expressing a look of concern, and secondly to a girl no less.
Knowing him for the past year over, and having bed with him on countless occasion, he never cared much for her. And she knew, it was a norm - a simple game he played. Any other girl had to be smart enough to know what they were getting into to sleep with the almighty Uchiha.
She also knew that this girl hung out in a clique, with him in it. But all the times she witness the both of them, rarely did she see interaction. So why? Was Sasuke not nothing but a heartless male?
Was loyalty one of his fine traits? That he cared her for the pink girl because she was a comrade?
Riko, could say, that she was deeply amused by all that she had witnessed during that short time, even when Sasuke left in a hurry carrying the Haruno girl in his arms, ignoring her despite calling him a couple of times. A smirk graced her full lips as she stalked back to the hotel as well.
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SASUKE'S POV
Moments had passed ever since they returned to their room, and Sakura remained in her trance.
The young man was at lost. This had never happened before, and it scared him. Those sage-green orbs, glazing into space, frightened him. What has gotten into you Sakura?
Often when people are lost in daze, the only way was to beat them out of it or give them a cold splash.
Sasuke opted the latter - that is if he wanted to keep his head where it was. Laying a hand on Sakura would meant possible disown age from his mother and Itachi, then being bitch slap by Ino and Tenten and a high chance of being killed off by pinky herself. On an off note, the young man frowned, annoying woman.
Immediately he picked the roseate up once more, carrying her into the bathroom and laying her in the tub. On the count of three, he turned on the shower at full blast, the heater on minimum.
A loud gasp escaped from Sakura's lips. Her bright emerald orbs widened in shocked, her frame, visibly stood frozen, indicating her state of conscious.
Sasuke was unsure of what to expect, but he knew he need to get her dried up. Hurrying over the instant he regained composure; he grabbed the towel he had prepared and quickly draped it over Sakura's petite frame.
Seemingly at the slight movement from her surroundings, her green irises followed, only to fall on the form of the young Uchiha, and realization hit her at the recent happenings.
Although the increase of the temperature from the exterior seemed to be more comforting, Sakura was still shivering - all thanks to the idiot over here.
"Sasuke! You bitch!" the pinkette gasped. "What the hell was that for?"
"Hn. Reviving you, stupid." The reply was monotonous, yet deep within Sasuke finally felt the deceleration of his heartbeats. "Hurry change out of your clothes before you get hypothermia."
He added tonelessly, before exiting the bathroom.
SAKURA'S POV
Peeling off her wet garments, the girl stepped back into the tub and decided to shower instead, a hot one. She needed to think.
She didn't understood, didn't see a reason how and why that her body reacted the way it had.
And she recalled that it was not the first time.
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She was tired, warmed up from the bath, but tired. But he was not letting her off just yet.
"You alright?" He quizzed, his dark, elegant brown furrowed into his pale features, and I couldn't help but inwardly squeal. I always thought that that particular expression retained the innocence in him, the current campus Casanova, Don Juan, playboy, sex-god or whatsnot the girls call him.
Letting out a sigh, I know his keen senses have once more been place on alert as he eyed me skeptically.
"I'm fine Sasuke-kun. I..." I didn't know what else to say. There wasn't a reason, or an excuse. It was weird, confusing and indescribable. Shaking her head lightly, the young Haruno hurriedly threw on a smile and faked a yawn. "I'm kinda tired, think I wanna sleep now. You should sleep too. We got a long day ahead tomorrow with Ino's planned shopping spree."
With that Sakura climbed under the covers and lay to sleep, not before catching a peek at the horrified expression on the Uchiha's pale face.
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SASUKE'S POV
The instant the door flung open, a certain brooding male lay flat onto the bed. His right arm toss over his pale features while the other lay limply beside him. He was exhausted, and peeking beneath his arm, he eyed the equally exhausted, coral hair girl beside him.
"Sometimes, I really wanna kill Ino." He muttered under his breathe.
"Hmm? You said something Sasuke-kun?"
Breathing a sigh, he asked. "Is Ino an alien or part of the robot race?"
"SASUKE-KUN! That's mean!" the girl exclaimed.
"You know I'm right, stop denying it." Irritation was at its peak, but he was talking to Sakura now, and she was not at fault. Tsk. Life sucks when you can't even vent your anger.
"Still, you don't have to say it out." She was starting to whine, sure signs of Sakura-is-fatigue-and-is-also-irritated.
"Hn. She's not here anyway."
"Enough. I'm not gonna further argue with you. I'm gonna bathe and then I'm gonna have a good night sleep before tomorrow." Sakura spoke with a pout as she gracefully grabbing her bath things and headed for the bathroom.
"And I'm not joining you guys tomorrow. I'm set on it!"
"Sasuke-kun!!!" Sakura was whining for sure now, as she shook him awake. He had fallen asleep while waiting for his turn, and yet even after her bath she was set on him going.
"Sakura, I'm not going and that's final! Look, even you look drained by today's event. Are you even sure you could survive tomorrow?" He really didn't want to argue with her over such meaningless topic, especially since he was still pretty much perturbed by Sakura's action from the previous night. Yet, she could simply toss the issue aside but relentlessly harp over a stupid shopping trip.
"Yes I can. I've even been on a week's spree with her. And I was fine after that." She was sitting up right, projecting her strong intent, in hope of persuading him.
Girls. Never could understand them. The young Uchiha swore he really wanted to kill Ino then, though Shikamaru and Sakura would probably have his head if he did too. Sigh.
"Fine, then your companionship and the other girls would do just fine. I'll tell the guys tomorrow and we could just hang out somewhere till you are done."
"But-"
"Not listening!" The young man stated before hurrying off to the bath, in hopes of avoiding the roseate.
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SAKURA'S POV
Sakura woke up to another morning, her insides churned as she found herself once more tangled with her childhood companion. However, her confused state scared her much and settling with initial hesitation and determination, she successfully forced herself to detach herself from Sasuke's warmth.
It was almost ten o'clock and she was to meet the girls soon enough. Glancing once more at the still asleep Uchiha, she decided to try once more. Lightly placing her dainty hand by his sides, she called him.
"Sasuke-kun~, you sure you aren't coming along with us?"
"Mphm." A muffled response was all he gave, and the girl twitched slightly.
"Are you really, really, really, sure?"
"Aa."
"Ok then. You've no reason to hate for doing this then." And with a silent countdown, Sakura hands contacted with his ribs, working an efficacious wake up call.
"Gah!" The young man startled, and sat up to face Sakura, his larger hands getting a good grip on hers. "What'd you want annoying?"
He was indeed in a grouchy mood, but this barely confounded the pinkette.
"Go with us."
"I've said no, plus I've text the rest of the guys, and they all agreed as well." This was a reason Sakura couldn't refused, and the young woman was a little disappointed, that Sasuke couldn't help but give in. "We'll meet for dinner, I promise."
Tilting his head to meet her viridian orbs, he finally got her to accept it. Heaving a sigh, she beat a smile into her crestfallen expression, Sakura stood up, her hands still intertwined with Sasuke's as he walked her out of the room.
As the door closed behind her, she swore under her breath, damn straight she knew she heard a yell of victory from her room. Stupid Sasuke.
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Surprisingly, shopping that afternoon didn't seem as exhausting compared to the previous day. This, the young Haruno told her friends, which Ino merely shrugged off, reasoning that they didn't had to babysit four babies, unlike the previous day, causing the girls to burst into giggles and agree.
Free of their burden, the girls had subconsciously became too engross with their shopping, squealing every now as they caught eye on beautiful apparels. It took couple of hours before Tenten finally surrendered to her growling stomach. They had been so caught up, that the four had unknowingly missed lunch. At the wave of her white flag, the others unanimously agreed as well.
Since it was too late for lunch and too early for dinner, and they were planning on meeting the guys, Sakura and friends decided to head by the nearest café for tea break.
Settling at a table by the window, the girls had themselves each a cup of mocha milkshake and shared four different flavor of cheesecake - one could say, it was vacation love.
Halfway through their break, Sakura had to excuse herself to the washroom, little did she knew what a surprise she was in for.
Upon exiting the female bathroom, standing right in front of her was none other than Uchiha Itachi.
Personally, the pinkette felt that she probably had been tired or caught in her own world as she was honestly startled by the appearance of the older Uchiha.
"Ack!? Itachi nii-san!"
"Sakura?" It was a clear question in his tone, but his face remained passive, mildly causing the girl to twitch. Uchihas.
"What are you doing here?" Both siblings queried the other at the same time.
"A, Ino invited us down for a week's retreat."
"I see, so that's where you guys been. I was only told that the both of you were on holiday." The older man mentioned with uncertainty, but the look on his sort-of-adopted-sibling seemed to have confirmed his mistake.
"Itachi nii-san! I told you the day before we left! Guess to show that you haven't been listening." The young lady emphasized on his error with a whine.
"Aa, my apologies. It must have slipped out of my mind."
Letting her frown disappear, Sakura decided to change the topic as he escort her back to her table. "So you're probably here on work basis? Are you alone?"
"Aa, we finally clinched this deal earlier on. So I'm guessing the rest would like to take a few days break before returning, you know Kisame and the guys. Bunch of slackers… "Itachi heaved a slight sigh. They were already at her table, and the other girls had taken notice of the extra presence and exchanged acknowledgement.
"Eh? How about you join us? We're just about to leave and continue shopping." Ino butted in.
"Erm, hehe, that is if Itachi nii-san and you guys don't mind shopping with us." Sakura added in sheepishly. With Sasuke being very much like his older brother, her gut feeling told her that the older male would equally dread occasions such as this, especially with Ino.
Itachi however, simply blinked a couple of moments. Probably the thought of spending time with his siblings, it seemed weird. But thinking twice, he knew the last time he spent time with Sakura was possibly years back. With consideration, his gave a brief smile and nodded. "I don't mind; just let me notify the rest."
Before they knew it, shopping turned out to a whole new experience. Towing with the four, they had Itachi, Kisame, Deidara, Kakuzu, Hidan and Sasori. It was quite a weird sight to behold, seeing how the six young men donned in formal attires following four young, possibly ditzy high school girls. The most amusing scene Sakura could agree with was when all of them entered a shoe shop. It catered to both genders, so their male tag alongs were entertained as well. For a big guy with such a scary looking face, Kisame was a shopping whore, getting as excited as the girls. Deidara too contributed, goading all of them to try on the shoes, even if one had not a single intention of purchasing. He placed especially more effort with Ino, and she happily end up buying four pairs at a go. Even the quieter ones such as Itachi and Sasori bought a pair each.
Sakura had to admit, shopping was so much more entertaining that day then the previous, and her thoughts couldn't help but brush by images of Sasuke. Sasuke-kun.
It was only when they accidently brush shoulders upon exiting the shop, when the fact of his presence being here nailed into her mind. Looking up to her object of collision she found ruby red orbs gazing at her, and she couldn't help but slightly blush - both at the fact of their close contact and ashamed for disregarding his presence.
"Aa. Sasori, nice to have met you here today. I hope our antics haven't exhausted you yet." It was hard to not notice that his expression seemed to have slightly brightened.
"Yes. I was quite surprise when Itachi told us of this sudden plan. Although to be honest, I was really glad, that we were able to meet after all." His voice was earnest, and smooth. Not as silky as Saske-kun's though. But the rosete couldn't hide a faint blush anyway. "It's alright, I haven't been on a walkathon in a long time anyway. Furthermore Ino-san has mentioned that we'll be having dinner soon. So I guess it'll be fine."
Then it rang in her mind. Dinner. She will finally get to see Sasuke soon.
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"YEAH!" The Uchiha shouted victoriously the moment Sakura left the room. It was on purpose, and he so knew she would be piss. How he would have given to see the look on her face. Her ink brown furrowing, elegantly shaping her large jade green eyes, her button nose scrunch up, and holding her full lips into a pout, multiplying her innocence against her snow fair skin. She was almost an angel in real life. Le sigh. But he couldn't or she would have returned back in here and attempt another round of persuasion. Annoying girl.
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The dark hair teen finally awoke at noon when Naruto came hammering on the hotel room door, almost causing it to fall apart. Fortunately Shikamaru had held him back, or they would have to answer to a screeching Yamanaka. The guys were starving for lunch and could hardly wait for the Uchiha to wake. Surprisingly, the pineapple head teen to have awoken before he did, although he did fell back asleep in Sasuke's and Sakura's room while waiting for him.
After chugging down lunch, Naruto became restless and dragged all of them to the beach. The three others would have finely settled on lounging on the portable beach recliners had Naruto not whined the whole time about wasting away their youth. For a moment, the Uchiha could've sworn he saw the tensed up expression on the Hyuga's face.
So they ended up playing a game of Frisbee. They didn't have as much trouble as the previous time other than rejecting these four other random girls by the beach. They ended up having a couple of games with them, and it seemed that any breaks in between gave them opportunities to flirt with the guys.
Honest speaking, the girls score pretty much average in looks, plus he wasn't in the mood for chicks. He could easily turn them down by throwing icy glares, and so could Neji. Shikamaru could have pass off his meaness with a bored look. The only problem was Naruto who was far too cheerful. Furthermore, he seemed to be smarter then, not screwing up on his comments, and had not managed to piss any one of the girls then. It was quite a problem, that when a familiar figure with platinum blonde hair and amethyst irises called shouted for his name, Sasuke couldn't help but grin.
A/N: Gomenasai for the the slow update. Writer's block. It's terrible. and weirdly I could only focus and start writing 11pm and after D:
I'm trying to update longer chapters, and school's reopening in a week's time ): I just hope I'll be able to update as often as possible. So yeah. I hope you guys like this chapter. Even though the previous update didn't had much reviews, I'm still really glad when I saw the number of visitors and the hits. Especially for this story, cos for a period it really felt like it was a flop. So yeah, thanks for reading.
Anyways, as said, reviews does make a difference as how my chapters will turn to.
To Shubhs: I've brought Sasori and pals to the beach, now is to wait while the story unfolds ^^
Just to clarify; currently I'm taking a step at a time, changes vary though I'll try hard to not stray to far. And I've got Sasuke in slight OOCness, and a major OC - Riko. I haven't have thorough ideas on how much I want to focus on her yet, so yeah. Feel free to drop any ideas.
See ya.