OMG. It's been so loooong since I last updated! I feel so old right now. I'll be graduating in the next 3 weeks. Huhu. I'm going to miss high school. DX

Anyway, enjoy this little chapter! :D

The "Cousin"

the perfect disguise

"Ugh."

Sakura could barely open her eyes. Strange, she could hear the faint sound of the sea. She laid on something that seemed like... sand.

The beach?

She groaned as she helped herself up, surprised at the sudden change of her surroundings. Last time she checked, she was in her room in the Uchiha manor, listening to her music box.

She stood up and noticed that she was wearing her green tank top and orange shorts. The waves crashed the massive rocks by the shore.

"Sakura..."

Who's there?

"Sakura..."

She turned to the sea, whose waves sparkled from the sunlight. She closed her eyes as a rather strong breeze came right her way. And the moment she opened her emerald orbs, she saw a magnificent castle sitting on the white sand. The massive marble doors opened, and Sakura's eyes closed from the blinding light inside...

"Welcome Sakura..."

***_oO0Oo_***

"Wakey-wakey sleepyhead!"

Sakura could feel slender hands shaking her as the irritating voiced nagged her. She defended herself with her blanket and pushed the pillow to her face, making her voice muffled, "Ghoww oweee."

Sakura didn't want any disturbance, not when she had an unusual dream. Not that she was surprised-she always had unusual dreams these days-but last night, it was something peaceful, something familiar.

She heard a sigh from the intruder. She thought that it was the end of the disturbance, but she suddenly felt forceful hands stealing away her fluffy fortress, making her nearly roll out of bed.

"Come on, Sakura!" It was Ino's voice. How did she even get to her room? "We need to fix you up for the festival!"

The pinkette slowly opened her eyes and saw an annoyed blonde with her hands on her hips. She saw Sasuke behind her, leaning on the door. "Sorry," he said. "I tried to stop her."

Really? So he's a gentleman afterall. So sweet, so considerate...

"And you snored like a pig."

...not.

"Meanie."

"I'm just telling the truth."

She stuck out her tongue. "Liar."

"Am not."

And then they had our usual glaring contest.

"Ugh! The sexual tension is killing me!" Ino said as she pretended to be suffocated.

Sakura rolled her eyes and got out of her bed. Taking the blonde by the hand, she said, "Come on Ino." And they walked pass the nonchalant Uchiha.

After they closed the bathroom door, Ino looked sternly at her bestfriend. "What's up with you two?"

The pinkette opened her mouth but never got to say something. She eventually came to realize that she didn't know either. So she avoided Ino's gaze as she blushed in embarrassment. It's like all of the sudden, she felt a surge of emotion when she saw Sasuke. Maybe, it's because of her dream.

"Let's get breakfast," she abruptly said, leaving the confused blonde in the bathroom.

***_oO0Oo_***

It had been awkward eating breakfast this morning. Sasuke kept noticing Sakura fidgeting in her seat, never taking her glance off the food as they ate. When he asked her to pass him the butter, she quickly retrieved her hand upon the slightest touch of their fingers.

Ino said she didn't want to eat even though she didn't took one single bite before leaving her house. So she said she'll be upstairs, to rummage through the wardrobe for Sakura to wear.

Sasuke breathed deeply before opening his mouth, "Hey." It was weird for him to start a conversation, he usually stayed as quite as possible, only giving occassional grunts. But maybe something's wrong with Sakura. Maybe she's sick. "You could stay here, if you want to."

She slowly looked up, flustered. "No, I'm okay."

Her reply sent him a guilt punch right to the chest. He knew she had doubts going out with him. He finally had the guts to ask (read: force) her to go with him in the festival in hopes of her remembering him.

"You sure?" he asked.

"Yeah."

After breakfast, Ino giddily came down and pulled Sakura to her feet. "I have found just the thing for you!" she said as she locked themselves in Sakura's room.

Sasuke just shrugged and proceeded to his room to get dressed himself. But what welcomed him inside instead was a rather ransacked wardrobe, save the undergarments section.

"...What the fuck?"

***_oO0Oo_***

"Hold still, will you?" Ino said as she massaged Sakura's scalp and applying more black dye to her cherry blossom hair.

After listening to her bestfriend's plan on her get-up, Sakura concluded that this may be the most ridiculous plan ever. When she said that she wanted to be not recognized as Sakura, she thought that she would just hide her hair with a wig and wear something odd. All she wanted to happen was not to have her be mistaken as Sasuke's girlfriend and be ripped to pieces by rabid fangirls. But no, Ino just had to be the perfectionist bitch she is and make her pose as Sasuke's distant cousin with matching Uchiha attire, Uchiha hair, and even Uchiha eyes! Before Sakura could argue, Ino had already dipped her head to the liquid black dye. And that automatically meant that there was no turning back.

Sakura looked at herself with jet black hair. She may be not that open to change, but she thought that black makes her look sexy. Ino styled her short strands into a cute ponytail before placing eye contacts over her green orbs.

"Put this on," the blonde ordered as she threw what it seemed as dark long sleeves and pants to Sakura. The pinkette held it up before her for a clearer view.

And with that, she snapped.

"WHY THE HELL DO YOU WANT ME TO WEAR SASUKE'S OLD CLOTHES?!"

Despite of being yelled at, Ino just narrowed her eyes and smirked at Sakura. "Sakura dear, you sure know your way to Sasuke's closet don't you? I bet you're familiar with his boxers, too."

"It's not what you're thinking Ino," she said as her cheeks flared up with embarrassment. Truth be told, she helped Sasuke with the household chores during her stay. She insisted on doing something while in the house-cleaning, cooking, even doing laundry.

Ino just shrugged her shoulders with the smug look still plastered on her face.

"Hey! You didn't answer my question!"

"Oh, didn't I tell you? To avoid further suspicion, you're going to be one of those Sasuke's male cousins!"

The thought of Sakura crossdressing as one of those gorgeous Uchiha boys is overwhelming. "It won't work. I can't be as appealing as them."

The moment she said that, she noticed Ino taking a different aura.

"You dare challenge my skills?" Ino pushed the clothes to Sakura. "You just do what I say and put these clothes on. Watch me. I'll make sure that you'll be the most attractive Uchiha bishie they have ever seen!"

As Sakura looked at those fiery lavender eyes, she knew that she would be witnessing the wrath of the Konoha High's Fashionista.

***_oO0Oo_***

"Hey, Sasuke."

Upon hearing the owner of the rather raspy voice, Sasuke had a hard time believing that it was Sakura who was speaking. She looked like a boy hitting puberty with a few fake bandages on the arms and face. And was that what he wore when he was still a freshman? It sure did fit her well.

"So you managed to make yourself an Uchiha." His comment earned him the sight of a tomato-faced Sakura who couldn't be blamed because what he said could mean different things. "I mean, as one of my cousins..." Maybe he was just carried away, seeing that the role fitted her well. Sakura could certainly be an Uchiha if could only...

Enough! he scolded himself.

"Uhh... thanks but no thanks. I could have just went alone normally if someone didn't forced me into being his bodyguard." Sasuke could tell that she's still upset. He's getting annoyed with her attitude. He hissed and grabbed her wrist before pulling her to the front door.

"Where do you think you're taking me?!" shrieked an alamed Sakura.

"Just come with me and I'll treat you."

They were getting near to Sasuke's motorbike.

"Treat me? That's all? Am I just some kind of dog to you?! Sasuke you better unhand me this ins-"

But before Sakura could finish, she was already sitting behind Sasuke with a closed helmet on to keep her from talking. As he started the engine, he looked back at Ino who was standing near the front door. "Thanks Ino. Will Shikamaru pick you up?"

The blonde smiled. "Don't worry about me. I already contacted him. Just go annd have fun!"

And with that, Sasuke's eye twitched before leaving. Having fun with this crazy girl isn't exactly easy as it seems.

Reviews, as always, are very welcomed! :DD