Author's Note: Well I really left this hanging high and dry, huh? My sincerest apologies guys. I have lost all of the prompts that I have written for this, as my old computer shit itself, and thus I haven't come back to this in ages. My bad.

Listen to Celia Pavey's rendition of Simon & Garfunkel's Scarborough Fair. Mesmerising.

Disclaimer: IDNON, BIDHTOS! That is all.

*-Drabble .003-*

Summary: When Sasuke turned for her, he had been expecting a sensuous siren. What he got was even better. The Voice inspired.

Categories: Romance, Fluff, Friendship

Rating: T (for language)

Scarborough Fair

Shrill screams pierced the atmosphere as yet another judge turned for a less than mediocre singer. Sasuke sunk back into his plush red chair, eyes closed as he took in the nervous tenor of the man currently seeking to impress with misplaced vibrato and pitchy runs. The competition to find the most powerful new voice the Five Nations had ever heard was well underway, and not once had the raven haired man turned around. He was hard to impress, and even harder on the aspiring singers, and would not allow for such a weak plethora of wannabes to share the distinguished platform that he stood upon.

Uchiha Sasuke was at the forefront of the music industry, with vocals that could melt the chrome off of a car and reduce it to a simpering mess on the floor and an array of musical instruments under his belt.

Coupled with being the biggest producer of quality contemporary tracks in the world, the Uchiha was the most affluent judge on the panel of stars, and thus was subject to their whims as they scolded him for his brutality. They may have years of experience over him, but they could not deny the superior edge he had over them all as the man who had built his image from the ground up. He had been doing this for ten years, and now the twenty-six year old was restless with the need to find something truly special, unique, to fill the void in his desolate existence.

He wanted to share his world with someone truly deserving of the privilege, and so far he was anything but moved.

Expression schooled into pensive neutrality, Sasuke shifted in his seat, folding his right leg over the left as he waited with a mounting sense of impatience for this painful charade to end so that he could dish out some useful tips at how not to suck so badly. All the while he fiddled with the pendant around his neck, his family crest cool to the touch as he hummed along with the bridge of the song.

I'm sick of subpar. Throw me something amazing, someone that I can mould into greatness, he mused as he rocked his raised foot in clear impatience.

Two of the four judges had turned for this train wreck, and Sasuke began to question the validity of these alleged professionals' talent—even if he had worked with them before, he had thought them average at best. Good for making one hit wonders, but not consistent enough to maintain their status with complete records. Their lack of awards in contrast to his library of them stood in testament to this. Thankfully there was another judge who shared his apparent disdain, one Yuuhi Kurenai, whose lips were pressed into a taut line as she met his gaze with amused eyes.

He leaned toward her, shaking his head as she laughed at his disgruntled expression.

"Not doing anything for you either, Sasuke-san?" The elder woman quipped with a sultry smile, the white-gold band wrapped up in a promise against her ring finger reminding Sasuke that she was not available for flirting with.

She was twelve years older than him to boot, so she was clearly off limits. Kurenai was quite the stunner, with luscious mahogany tresses that fell around her shoulders in thick waves and psychedelic crimson irises that beckoned men closer like the call of a succubus, and she definitely did not look like she was thirty-eight. Never the less, she was happily engaged, and in no way was she putting herself out there to mingle.

But he couldn't help the swell of smug male pride that filled him whenever she cast him a fleeting gaze filled with yearning; he was a keeper, in every sense of the word, and the strength of his family's famed genes had served him well over the years. Being handsome and talented really paid well in this consumerist society. He had done very well for himself, in every respect. Now he wanted to share his wealth of knowledge and wisdom with the new generation of musicians.

The audition came to a blessed ending, and Sasuke recomposed himself as his chair spun around in tandem with Kurenai's, his face carefully blank as those who had been foolish enough to turn gushed over the man's potential for greatness. When it was his turn to speak, a terrible silence fell over the crowded theatre, and Sasuke swore he could hear a pin drop amidst it all as they waited with bated breaths for his commentary. He didn't disappoint.

"Mei and Darui obviously weren't hearing the same audition that I was, because I didn't think much of it." The contestant flinched, cheeks withdrawn and pale as Sasuke settled his severe eyes on his trembling frame. He continued without pause, raising his hand as said judges bristled in annoyance at his rude comment.

"Your pitch was all over the place, and you have no control over your use of vibrato. If you want to improve, you need to learn how to balance your breathing with the expansion of your diaphragm. That way you will produce a cleaner, more resonant tenor. You have potential, but you aren't as polished as they proclaim you to be. Don't let their empty praise blow your head up too much, because as far as I'm concerned, you aren't a threat in this competition." Sasuke finished with a bored stretch of his shoulders as he reclined like a king in his throne as he gazed down at him imperiously.

Kurenai bit her lip to hide her growing smile. For someone so young to the industry, he had a wealth of experience to share, and he had given a useful critique of how the boy could improve his technique with atypical Uchiha flair.

It seemed that the young man had taken his words to heart, as he thanked him profusely before Kurenai addressed him with a sweetness that she did not feel in her heart of hearts.

"Regardless of this, you're through honey. Go with your gut and pick whoever suits your needs. You have two solid coaches to help you work on your vocals, after all." Sasuke rolled his eyes as the boy cast her a cursory glance, cheeks tinted pink as he settled for second best scraps; Mei was positively glowing with the thrill of conquest, having sealed her team first place on the leader board with the most contestants so far.

"Looks like you've got your work cut out for you, Sasuke-kun." She cooed with a salacious smirk his way, his bored expression dampening her flirtatious mood and replacing it with soured ire.

"Quality over quantity, Mei. You're currently losing in that respect." Was all he deemed her worthy of; his own smirk sweetened by the flames of rage that erupted behind those pretty eyes of hers. Hey, he could certainly appreciate a fine looking woman, even if she was annoying as fuck.

They all spun back around, facing the excited crowd as they chanted his name in a dying refrain as he closed his eyes once more. At the rate he was going, he would be out of the competition long before someone up to his standard made their grand appearance. He didn't really care either way. The only reason he had bothered to participate in this joke of a talent show was to curb his growing case of boredom. He had nothing else to preoccupy himself with, and if he was to be honest, he was interested in seeing if anyone could satisfy his expectations.

After six days of tedious auditions, he was becoming listless, and the point of this sham was quickly losing its prevalence. They had been a long string of days, minutes bleeding into endless hours as he was consumed by mediocrity. Sasuke was nearly over it all, his exasperation trickling into his expression as he heard the faint clack of heels against the polished panelling of the stage.

They echoed quietly in the din, and Sasuke peeked out at the audience with interest; their awed expressions enough to instil the tiniest sliver of intrigue in him as he made himself comfortable. He heard the audible clicking of a jack fitting into a guitar, and he smiled at the familiarity of it, his own fingers following the motion subliminally; they hadn't had anyone play anything acapella yet, let alone acoustic, so he wondered idly if they could play in sync with the band. His hopes weren't particularly high in that respect. They weren't the best in the world for nothing.

So the Uchiha was left pleasantly surprised when the first gentle strumming of chords filtered into the din, the tune one he was well acquainted with as he tilted his head to hear it better.

A folksinger huh? Let's see how they do…

A sweet, melodious voice broke through the silence, summoning goosebumps on his arms and the back of his neck as his eyes snapped open with vicious intent.

The girl had barely gotten three words out when Sasuke's hand had snapped forward, as if by compulsion, slamming down on that famously un-pressed button as the octave of the audience rose into a fevered shriek of surprise.

The other coaches, stunned by the intensity of his sudden movement, quickly slammed their own hands down on their buttons; if Uchiha Sasuke wanted her this much, to have him smack his button so early on in her audition, then she had to be something else. Even more so since she was the first one he had bothered to turn around for in the first place.

Sasuke had expected a woman with a siren's lure when he had turned for her; what he had gotten was far better. She was an elfin goddess, dressed like a dainty fairy in a white chiffon sundress and a beautiful flower crown resting over rosy locks.

Her green eyes nearly bulged out of her skull, her voice rising in surprise even as she continued to sing; a four chair spin, with her absolute idol Uchiha Sasuke towing the line, was inconceivable. She had come into this competition with him in mind; with the man whose voice had captured her heart and inspired her to be like him, but to have all of them share his sentiments caused an eruption of butterflies to explode in her tummy. She was already nervous enough; she had never even seen this many people before, much less performed at that scale, but to have those darkly expressive irises zeroed in on her every move made her heart constrict painfully in her chest.

He was so, so beautiful in real life, and the fact that he was so close subpoenaed a lingering sense of awed apprehension beneath her breast.

Th-Thump, th-thump, th-thump! Her heart pounded in a frantic dance beneath her ribcage as she locked gazes with him; singing in a bittersweet serenade to the man she adored so dearly in secret, watching with mute fascination as his lips moved in time with hers.

He was singing along with her!

Elation filled her to the brim, and she grinned as she fingered the strings of her acoustic guitar with renewed vigour. His expression softened as he observed her smiling features with increased fervour, revelling in her ability to weave a story with her voice alone as the remaining judges sighed in admiration.

Sorry to say this, but she's mine. Fuck off! He hissed internally, his lips pulling into his most sensual smile yet as he folded his hands beneath his chin and leaned forward, eyes boring into her pretty face as she crooned with closed eyes.

"Oh my goodness…!" Kurenai exclaimed with a sigh of absolute bliss, expression thoughtful as she took a peripheral glance at the raven haired man next to her. He was so focused on the pinkette that he had not noticed her blatant staring at all, and she marvelled at the spell that this young girl was casting over him. Her skin prickled with sensation, and she drowned in the melodic sound of the song reaching its crescendo for a moment longer, knowing that this was a battle that she was not capable of winning.

After all, what Uchiha Sasuke wanted, Uchiha Sasuke got, and no one would stand in his way. Not for long, anyways.

"Then he'll be a true love of mi-ee-ine...." Sakura finished with a flourish, demonstrating the flexibility of her tone as the bewitching majesty of her performance came to an end. There was a split second of silence, before the crowd burst into applause, gracing her with a standing ovation that was mirrored by all of the judges, who practically shot to their feet as they readied themselves for a battle of epic proportions. They were going up against Sasuke, after all. They needed to be prepared for blood to be shed, because from the determined set of his masculine jaw and the unrelenting glint in his obsidian orbs, he wasn't giving her up for anything or anyone.

Mei was the first to jump in on the action, startling the timid rozen maiden with her blunt forwardness.

"What's your name, sweetheart? How old are you, and where are you from?" Green eyes wide and lips trembling with nerves, the young woman curled into herself a little more, intimidated by the beauty before her as she responded shyly.

"My name is Haruno Sakura. I am eighteen years old, and I am from Konohagakure." Sakura supplied with a smile, proud of herself for not allowing her nerves to get the better of her. Not once did she stutter like she usually would when she felt especially intimidated, and it was an achievement in and of itself. She struggled to fight back her inane urge to giggle as the judges stared her down. Before the auburn haired woman had a chance to sink her teeth into the terrified pinkette, Kurenai spoke up; the admiration in her voice summoning pleasant tingles all over her body.

"You have an incredible gift, Sakura-chan. I wish that I could share what we just experienced with you, because I don't believe you realise just how talented you are." Sakura blushed, shifting from foot to foot, as she thanked her with as much sincerity as she could bear to muster between her jitters.

"Your voice is simply sublime. It has this rich, ripened quality that very few are fortunate enough to have, so cherish it. If you were to join my team, I would endeavour to nurture that sound as much as I can." Kurenai stated with conviction, smiling at the reserved smile that pulled on the petite woman's lips as Darui and Mei began to throw their pitches at her with frazzled discomposure.

Sasuke merely sat back in his chair, dark eyes calculating as he formulated his plan of action. Kurenai certainly had a way with words, but he was equally as articulate, and twice as motivated to succeed, and so he had no intention of losing out to her.

When he stood in an elegant posture no one else could ever hope to emulate, everyone's eyes were drawn to him, the sheer amount of concentration on his face startling everyone into a pointed silence as he locked gazes with Sakura. Her heart hammered beneath her breast, pulse skyrocketing as she swallowed. Her mouth was suddenly very, very dry.

Sasuke's arms swept in a wide arc as he gestured to the members of the audience, all of whom were still standing for her, his expression betraying nothing but confidence as he smirked at her from his chair.

"This is what real stars are made of, and you shine brightest of them all, my fair lady. I knew from the moment you opened your mouth that you were something else, and no one but yours truly is capable of bringing out the best in you." Sasuke began with an eloquence that made the women in the room scream shrilly in response, his handsome visage glowing under the incandescence of the exaggerated lighting as he stepped down from his podium.

"To be frank, none of the other contestants in this competition have anything on you. I have been waiting for you for a very long time, Sakura. For the first time in a long time, I felt like getting up and singing; I wanted to sing with you, and in order to fulfil this desire of mine, I need you to work with me. Choose me, Sakura. I'm the best fit you'll ever get. I want you on my team, because I know with you we can win this."

Sasuke stated resolutely, expression unforgiving in its intensity as he held out a beseeching hand in her direction.

Sakura was lost amidst fluster, her hands folding over her mouth as she looked between all of the coaches faces; they all wore varying degrees of desperation well, but Sakura's heart had already settled on one man. And nothing could dissuade her from her choice.

"Thank you all so much… for turning around for me… I didn't think it was possible, so you have my eternal gratitude. But there is no one else I would rather work with than you, Uchiha-san." Sakura said with a broad smile his way, accentuating the dainty lines of her face and causing a pleasant twist in his gut as he strode over to her; pleased to hear the others cursing him to hell and back for snatching her away from their grasps as he climbed the short steps to meet her half way.

It became apparent to him then how tiny she really was, even with the aid of high heels, as he equalled her height while she still stood atop the stage. He was no slouch, after all, standing proudly at 184 centimetres tall, which meant that she was no more than 5"3. That was nearly a foot of difference between them.

Sakura reached out for his outstretched hand, hesitance lining her apple green eyes as he folded it within his; he was cool to the touch, but the heat in his expression belied this exponentially.

He helped her down the steps, reaffirming his grip on her hand as he walked her off the set and into the back room where her parents were awaiting her return with bubbling glee. Sakura could not believe that her number one inspiration was so close to her; that he had wanted her specifically on his team. That she had been the one to reinvigorate his desire to perform. Biting her lip, she revelled in his proximity; he was a lot taller in person, his stature imposing in stark contrast to hers, and he completely dwarfed her out.

She felt small next to him, and it wasn't just about physical height. She ought to be intimidated by his presence, but the tender way he cradled her hand, as if it was made of glass, filled her with a deep-seated sense of comfort, and she lived for that moment even as he opened the door for her. She thought that he would leave her then, but she was left pleasantly surprised when he followed her in; a careful hand resting against the small of her back as her parents came into view.

They perked up significantly, her mother's excited screaming making the pinkette blush as she attempted to cover her face with her hands. Sasuke chuckled, an amused smile on his lips as he watched the equally tiny lady throw her arms around her daughter's shoulders and squeal into her ear.

"Oh baby girl, you did it! I'm so proud of you!" Haruno Mebuki exclaimed with an overjoyed wail, tears filling her jade green eyes as she pulled back, holding her by the shoulders before she ran her hands through her hair and pressed a kiss to her forehead—only to sneeze at the close proximity to her real flower crown.

"Oh dearie me, there goes my hay-fever!" Mebuki continued with a titter, stepping away at the insistent prodding of her husband Kizashi, whose grin was vaguely reminiscent of Sakura's as he lifted her off the ground without further ado. She let out a loud gasp, cheeks flushed with colour as he spun her around; her eyes meeting with Sasuke's amused countenance as he observed their embarrassing display with a nostalgic smile.

"That's my girl! You kicked ass, princess! Couldn't be prouder of you than I am now!" Kizashi stated firmly, giving her a hard squeeze before he finally put her down. Her father turned his gaze to the refined man standing behind her, hands in his slacks pockets as he gazed back with more pride than any man could ever muster directed solely at his pink haired angel.

"You won't do any better than my baby, kid. I hope you realise this." He said conversationally, extending his hand for the taller man to take even as Sakura slapped him—hard—on the arm for being so unforgivably rude.

"Papa! What the hell? Don't speak in such a vulgar way to Uchiha-san!"

"Sasuke is fine. Since we'll be working closely together, there isn't any need for formalities, Sakura." Sasuke murmured softly, reaching out to shake hands with her father and mother respectively; Mebuki a little starrier eyed than before as she got a good look at the raven haired rock star up close.

"My goodness Sakura-chan, you certainly know how to pick them!"

"Oh my god—"

Just kill me now please.

"I'm glad that she does know how to do so. I wouldn't be standing here otherwise." Sasuke responded easily, the calmness in his baritone leaving a deep impression on both parents; their clear approval of his presence more than evident in the way that they relaxed their tense frames.

Sasuke had this aura about him, after all, that made him hard to approach—the true superstar atmosphere—and they had assumed that he would thus be a spoilt, pretentious asshole. So they were pleasantly surprised that he was as down to earth as the rest of the world pretended to be. He turned to face Sakura as she shifted nervously in place, before he reached out for her hand, lifting it to his lips as he pressed a lingering kiss against the warm flesh and bone.

"I look forward to our next meeting. Be prepared. I won't go easy on you." Sasuke muttered with a charming smile her way, his eyes smouldering into her soul as he slipped out of the room; leaving in his wake the smell of delicious aftershave and a serious case of hardcore fangirling courtesy of herself and her ditsy mother.

"You lucky bastard!" Darui called out enviously, Mei's death glare burning into the side of his head as Sasuke made himself at home in his chair once more. He wore a satisfied smirk, fingers returning to finger his pendant as he relived the moment once more.

What a voice.

What a personality.

She had the look and the sound that he was looking for. He already had an image in mind for what he wanted to do with her.

Now all he had to do was fill up the rest of his team so that he could start working pronto.

Kurenai observed it all with an entertained smile. Sasuke was too easy to read sometimes. Now that he had found what he had been looking for, he was getting his shit together and his game on.

No way was he going to lose this.

No way.

Sasuke had chosen to prepare his group in his company studios, and thus Sakura stood outside of his imposing offices with huge eyes. She had often seen it on the television and in magazines, but never in person, and the sheer magnitude of the building, coupled with the hustle and bustle of the city, heightened her anxiety tenfold. She had never seen such a huge complex before, being from the outskirts of town, and thus she was intimidated by the scale upon which it existed.

Swallowing audibly, Sakura slipped out of her discomfort, taking a shaky breath before she adjusted her sling bag on her shoulder and made her way through the automatic doors. She could do this. Sasuke had said as much. If he had faith in her, then she would believe in herself a little more too. The pinkette shuffled tentatively into the humungous foyer, the nearby receptionist beckoning her over with a sweet smile as she asked if there was anything she could do for her.

"A-Actually, I'm here for Sas—Uchiha-san. For The Voice…?" Sakura trailed off meekly, her green eyes expectant as the woman's face shifted into a stunned stupor. She recovered quickly, however, and smiled politely in response; there was a certain unpleasant tension in her expression, and it occurred to Sakura that this woman was jealous of her.

So many people loved Sasuke, so it was only natural that she was less than happy to be meeting someone who was going to be working very closely with him from now on.

"Uchiha-sama is currently in a meeting. He won't be available until two o'clock, but feel free to wait in the reception room. Tenth floor." She simpered with a very fake smile, the malicious edge to her voice not going amiss with the pink haired vocalist, as she shrunk away from her venomous glare and stepped into the nearest elevator without ever looking back.

Sakura sighed softly.

This was going to suck, if jealous onlookers were going to make her life miserable just because she was going to get cosy with the renegade rocker. Her cheeks darkened at the insinuation of her last thought, and she shook it off as quickly as it had occurred to her.

She wasn't going to get naked with him!

She was here with the rest of her teammates, and she was going to learn how to use her supposed talent to make people happy.

There was nothing more to it. And even if she had entertained the whimsy in the back of her mind, but she knew nothing would ever come from it. He was eight years older than her, and possessed a status that she couldn't even begin to touch. She was a speck of dust beneath his feet; microscopic and forever out of his reach, and she preferred it that way.

Ha, like he would ever take an interest in her beyond the scope of his practice!

The ding of the elevator landing at said man's floor pulled her from her thoughts, and Sakura sidled onto the eerily quiet landing with nervous anticipation. It looked like she was the first of the contestants to have arrived, and so she made herself comfortable as she waited with bated breaths to meet her competition.

Fifteen minutes bled into an hour, and soon she was left with only ten minutes before she was supposed to meet with Sasuke for their allotted studio session. Not a soul had appeared. Sakura had been played, and she felt tears of frustration filling her eyes to their capacity as she furiously blinked back her urge to scream aloud. Why were women so fucking petty?

"What are you doing here, Sakura? We're meeting on the thirteenth floor today." A suave voice that was distinctly masculine filled the uncomfortable atmosphere with warmth, and said woman spun on her heel, green eyes hypnotic under the fluorescent lighting as she was met with expressive onyx.

"Uch—uh, Sasuke-san, good afternoon!" Sakura exclaimed with a flustered bow, loose pink tresses falling into her face as she took in his attire as discretely as possible. He wore a white form-fitting t-shirt with a black peacoat over the top of it, and tight grey denim jeans that were tucked snuggly into an expensive pair of leather boots. With the addition of a silver chain and pendant around his neck, the odd ring or two, and a leather bracelet on his right wrist, he looked positively gorgeous; his mussed up sex hair and smouldering expression enough to suck the moisture out of her mouth and instead replace it a little lower on her anatomy.

Likewise, Sasuke took in her apparel with a touch of approval lining his handsome visage; she wore a high-waisted skirt the colour of salmon, a thick pleated belt folding over the space where it met with her white floral tee, and soft brown platform shoes that held her weight with ease. Another of her delicate flower crowns sat atop her head, as authentic as she was and equally as vibrant as he noted with some awe that not a speck of makeup was on her face. That was a rare thing indeed.

"Good afternoon, Sakura. What exactly brings you to this floor?" Sasuke questioned softly, voice rich and sensual as he gave her a pointed stare. She shifted from one foot to the other, cheeks growing pinker by the second as she cast a fleeting glance his way; she quickly averted it when his intensity proved too much for her to handle at such a close range, her plush lips parting to speak.

"I think your secretary misinterpreted the floor I was supposed to wait on."

"Uh-huh." Sasuke countered dubiously, lips twisting in distaste as he thought of a way to fire her that would cause utmost humiliation.

How dare she take out her petty feelings on one of his valued team members? It was inexcusable.

He closed the distance between them, noting that she smelled of coconuts and green tea as he reached out to brush a stray strand of pink behind her ear. Her hair was pulled up into a loose bun atop her head, and it framed the delicate structure of her small face beautifully. He couldn't help but pause to admire her a little longer, pleased that she had her own keen sense of visual aesthetic, and one that worked for her own tastes; it made selling her music to the world a lot easier, and that niggling desire to produce for her gnawed at his brain like an irritating gnat.

Shaking it off without ever showing an external flicker of his musings, Sasuke wound a careful arm around her shoulders, swivelling her around as he led her to the elevator once more.

"I'll be sure to thank her for her disservice to you as soon as we are done today. For now, let's meet up with the others." The raven haired Uchiha stated quietly, voice carefully neutral as he took them up to the top floor without pre-empt. Sakura felt the nervous butterflies return with a vengeance as his cool hand settled over her exposed shoulder, his fingertips ghosting over the planes of her upper arm as he pressed his remaining index finger against a digital scanner.

The door slid open without a sound, and they stepped through into a huge reception hall filled with eleven other people (excluding the technical support workers and his personal assistant, who welcomed them both with a pleasant smile.) Sakura didn't miss the excited and stunned expressions of her fellow teammates as they turned the full force of their scrutiny on them; realising that what they were looking at was Sasuke's casual "embrace" only after he had removed his arm from her sinewy muscles.

Her cheeks, perpetually pink in his presence, were stained scarlet, and she buried her face in her hands as she hurried over to the comfortable settee to join them in silence. Sasuke had to swallow the urge to smirk in sadistic glee at her fluster, before he shifted into work mode. He had meant what he had said when he was going to win with her. Now all he had to do was polish her off alongside those who were fortunate enough to make it through. Naturally, he wanted to challenge them all, but his gaze lingered far too long for his liking on the fidgety pinkette as he paired them off for the battle rounds.

Coincidentally, he chose the second most promising singer in his troupe to go up against her, as a means of proving their collective worth; he knew that both Sakura and Kin would give each other a run for their money, and it would be an event that would invariably go down in music history. More than anything though, he wanted Sakura to prove his gumption correct; because he couldn't see himself performing with anyone else on the big stage but her.

Sakura was terrified, to be honest. She couldn't believe that Sasuke would pick someone so freaking talented she could reduce buildings to rubble with the sheer power behind her vocal chords to be her opponent in the battle rounds.

I mean, I have nothing on her! Timid little folksingers are not compatible with sassy dead-wringers! And I say this because she look like she could wring my voice out through my eyeballs and obliterate it completely! Inner-Sakura wailed despairingly, not acting as the comforting comeback queen should be as she dissolved under the pressure of her impending panic attack.

The pinkette took a shaky breath to steady her spastic nerves before they spilled out of her body through her sweating pores, biting her lip as she sized up her odds. So far, they weren't looking great.

When did the dainty flower ever trump the clump of persistent weeds?

Sakura was more than sure that the Uchiha was out of his mind if he thought she could ever stand triumphant in the wake of devastating talent such as Kin's. And damn did that girl know it too. She merely gave her a casual once over, before smirking like her victory was a given.

I'd like to punch that look right off your pug-ass face, bitch! Inner-Sakura hissed vehemently, outer Sakura merely narrowing her eyes in an attempt at a mean glower as she curled her hands into fists. She would show this punk ass wannabe that she wasn't a pushover! Mark her words!

Sasuke noted Sakura's reserved mannerisms the second he announced that he was pairing her up with Kin, and for an instant he second-guessed his call; this feeling, however, was immediately quelled when he noticed the fire in the pink haired youth's eyes. She wasn't about to be intimidated into a corner, not by someone who flaunted their ability like they had already made it; and that's what had made the decision for him in the first place.

Granted the older woman had a wealth of tonal quality and intensity in her voice, but she did not have the gumption, the modesty, to make it in the cutthroat business that was the music industry.

She was so lost in pretentious airs that she thought herself superior; and that was when her downfall would inevitably come crashing down upon her.

After all, those who rise to fame for the sake of fame never last long in the spotlight.

Yes, she was talented; but Sakura was leagues ahead of her, and he was going to prove that fact to not only the world, but to the unassuming girl herself.

Don't sell yourself short, kid. You've got what it takes. It's high time you learned that for yourself. And I'm gonna be the one to teach you.

Sakura shifted in her stool, eyes trained on the door before she turned to face the woman sitting across from her; she was playing with her hair and constantly checking her phone as the incessant buzzing of incoming text messages filled the otherwise silent room, and Sakura prayed that someone would smite the damned thing before it drove her nuts.

She had never understood people whose lives revolved around talking to people without them even being there.

Wasn't it better to have them in person anyways?

Shaking her head in mute disbelief, Sakura's ears twitched at the sound of aforementioned door opening, and she fought back the shy smile that made its way, unbidden, to her lips as Sasuke stepped into the room. It was their allotted studio time, and he was to announce their song and help coach them on different ways of tackling it.

Sasuke sauntered in with an ease that made both girls swoon—one on the inside, one very openly—as he made himself comfortable in front of them. He was so close that Sakura could see the small beauty spot just above his left collarbone, and she could smell the spicy scent of cologne that made her warm to her toes.

It was decidedly masculine, and very soothing.

Sasuke's dark bangs shifted into his eyes, and he brushed them away with a flourish that could easily be passed off as model-like as he thumbed two sheets of paper from an organised black manila folder and handed them over to the two women without a word.

Sakura's eyes drank him in for a moment longer than necessary, and whilst Kin was preoccupied, he stared back just as fervently; when he raised a brow at her and gestured to the forgotten leaflet in her hands, Sakura felt her cheeks heat up once more, and she quickly snapped her gaze down.

Her mouth nearly fell open at the song choice.

Sia.

As in, the Queen Sia.

Big Girls Cry was bolded emphatically, and her mouth went dry as she took in the highlighted sections he had chosen for her to sing.

There were some real moments to showcase the uniqueness of her voice, but what worried her was the fact that he had chosen the very crux of the song as her deciding factor. It would make or break her attempt at a music career.

But more importantly, it would mark the end of her time with him should she fail.

And that, to her, was not acceptable. She couldn't leave. Not yet. Not now.

As intimidated as she was by this big song choice, she had to nail it. She wasn't about to give up her spot to the smirking seductress next to her, who was currently making googly eyes at an indifferent Sasuke.

She needed to win.

She needed to prove to Sasuke that he hadn't wasted his first turn on her.

That she was worth it.

Steeling her resolve, Sakura raised her gaze once more to meet with Sasuke's, and, as if predicting that she would fight for this, Sasuke opened his mouth to speak—his tone dripping with satisfaction at her determined expression.

"Alright then. Let's begin."

The butterflies currently caged in her tummy felt as if they were made of lead as she positioned herself in the makeshift arena where her battle round was taking place, her breaths leaving her lips in broken puffs of air as she tried to shake off her lingering jitters to gay abandon. Kin was as cool, calm and confident as ever; the bitch.

She had made Sakura's journey incredibly unpleasant, and the only silver lining in her suffering was Sasuke, who remained constantly attentive to her needs and looked out for her above and beyond the call of duty. When she had thought she was coming down with something only a day earlier, he had made a pillow fort just for her in his studio space and forced her to lie down and sip on lemon tea to help soothe her raw vocal chords.

She had never been so bewildered by someone before in her entire life.

He always came off as untouchable and anything but personable in the media, but he was quickly proving to be the exact opposite. He was considerate, incredibly charming and had a wonderful sense of humour; he was often with his best friend, Naruto, behind the scenes, and the antics that they got up to were priceless.

Sakura often found herself flabbergasted at the sheer amount of trust he was exhibiting around not just her, but the rest of his team in turn; by being himself, he had effectively converted any of the faithless (for although they had chosen him because of his qualifications and status, not all of the contestants had initially liked him as a person) over to his side completely, and not one of them wished to be anywhere else.

Sasuke treated them fairly, but was ruthless in the booth, and would let you know when you had fucked it up big time; at first it was a bitter pill to swallow, but as they adjusted to his tough coaching style, they realised that they were indeed learning something conducive from him, and it was showing in their rehearsals.

Sakura could honestly say that they were the most impressive collection of singers she had ever had the pleasure to know, and it was all thanks to the ceaseless efforts of their raven haired coach.

He had put all of his belief into their training, and now he was about to reap the rewards.

So far he had chosen three of his six finalists, and Sakura was hoping beyond anything else in the world that he would choose her once more.

And as the lights dimmed and the music filtered into her eardrums, Sakura fixed Sasuke with a stare so yearning that even he got goosebumps.

Sakura opened her mouth, silencing her pesky nerves once and for all as the sing-off began.

The judges couldn't believe what they were hearing. Honestly, they had all doubted that the pink haired teenager had it in her to sing one of Sia's songs to perfection, and had laughed in Sasuke's face at his lapse in judgement—but they had been very, very wrong.

Mei's jaw hung, hairs standing at attention against her skin as her eyes continually bounced between the two singers on stage. They were of the highest calibre tonight, and it was more than clear that Sasuke had a winner on his hands either way.

Darui was on his feet, stamping exuberantly as he spewed out profane phrases by the mouthful, his enthusiasm infectious, as soon Kurenai was standing as well; clapping and covering her mouth in awe whenever each of the girl's hit a particularly sweet spot in the lyrics with their incredible voices.

She cast a fleeting glance Sasuke's way, noting the severe expression on his face as he listened to every smooth execution with calculating eyes.

He was taking this decision very seriously, and she couldn't blame him. She did not want to be the one making such a tough call, as both were insanely gifted in their own right, and thus he had to be sure of what he wanted before he made his final decision.

That decision came as the final bridge to the song began, and the vocals shifted very cleanly over to Sakura; whose face was lost in the moment of the song as she tipped her head back and absolutely nailed the high note of the song.

Skin prickling with the raw intensity of the pinkette's crooning, the other judges turned to Sasuke, who had leaned back into his chair with a proud smirk on his devilishly handsome face, arms resting comfortably on the sides of his chair as he internalised his utter pleasure with practiced precision.

His mind was made up.

It had been from the beginning, because he had known how special she was right from the get-go, but he had needed her to see it with her own eyes before he could really shape her into a star.

Her surprise was evident too, as the minute the song finished, her mouth fell open in a gapless stupor, her vivid green eyes seeking his out as he met her fluster with a reassuring smile.

You did it.

And at crunch time, he did not hesitate.

"Sakura is the winner tonight."

When it came to Sakura, he never hesitated.

Which is why, even when he had won with her several months later, they continued to work together. He had insisted that she would be working under his music label, and that he was the only one competent enough to produce for her.

And she was more than happy with that.

Because somewhere along the line, or perhaps even all along, she had fallen for him.

Not that she ever breathed a word of it to anyone, because really, how inappropriate would it be for a nineteen year old girl to date a nearly twenty-seven year old man?

Especially one who was constantly in the media's eye, and who was also the one who had helped her rise to fame in the first place.

No, she couldn't afford to ruin his reputation.

So she swallowed her bubbling desire to be more than just colleagues and friends, and pretended that he meant nothing more to her heart than he really did.

And let's face it; if she had any willpower at all, it would soon crumble in the wake of his own conflicted feelings.

Said emotions eventually tore down her final defences the moment he kissed her for the first time in his office.

From there, she was a goner.

Her last thought being that his lips tasted like tomatoes; bittersweet and addictively delicious, just like the man himself.

Ending Remarks: I JUST WANTED FLUFF OKAY—

I have a few ideas that I will eventually find the time to post here, so I'll get around to them soon. Maybe. Don't hold me to that, considering the length of my last hiatus.

Until next time!

-x-R i n-x-