Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. But I'd like to own a Sasuke-kun plush, though T.T So that I could huuug him when he's oh-so-SasuSaku in the anime/manga and beat him up when he's being evil. -smirks wickedly-

Inner Tsukiko: o.O;


---

♥ Chapter VIII: Concern ♥
---

Sasuke opened his locker, looking for his books, when he realized something was wrong today.

He tried to recollect in his mind what was wrong.

He had woken up, eaten breakfast, been driven to school in his brand-new limousine (his old had gotten some bird shit on it, so his butler had insisted on getting a new one instead), he had met his friends and now he was going to get his books.

Something was missing.

What?

He looked around in the corridors. Yeah, all the fangirls were drooling over him. And there was Sakura with Tenten, Hinata and that goddamned Hikari…

… right?

He looked again.

No, just Tenten, Hinata and Hikari.

Hikari went towards him. "Ne, Sasuke-kun…", she blushed. "I've a gift for you…"

Sasuke moaned. Ever since she had heard from Tenten and Hinata that 'Sasuke's only friend who was a girl except Cindy had given him a gift', she had tried to give him gifts everyday. Lame gifts, I can tell you, because Sasuke didn't like them at all.

"Where the hell is Sakura?" he abruptly interrupted her normal speech, and gazed coldly down at her with his obsidian eyes.

"Sakura?" All Hikari's embarrassment was blown away. "She's ill. High fever."

Fever? Sasuke thought for himself, and hid some worry.

"Hn. Is she doing fine?"

"How should I know?" Hikari asked irritably, then making her voice smooth and seducing: "But I could show you to her house…"

"No thanks, I know the way", he snapped. "Aren't you her friend anyway? You should know."

"Sakura is ill as hell, she could barely speak this morning when I phoned her and asked where the hell she was since we planned to meet at the metro station", Tenten informed him. "I hope she's getting better soon."

Then Sasuke remembered how wet she had been back there at Versailles yesterday. No wonder she was ill, she had been soaking wet, and besides, they had slept without a blanket. He concentrated himself. Don't blush. Don't blush. Why the hell do I want to blush anyway? I'm not a pervert like Kakashi and think anything weird about the word 'slept'…

Then the image of Sakura leaning towards his chest and him playing with her hair came to his mind again. Thankfully, Neji interrupted his daydreams.

"Yo, Uchiha, comin' any time soon?" he heard him call.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm on my way!" He slammed his locker shut after taking his books, and walked away without another word to the girls.

"Did you see how mad he got when he got to know about Haruno's illness?" somebody whispered as his back retreated.

"Yeah! And he looked kind of in a daze…"

"I've heard that something happened at Versailles."

"Oh my god! You mean they're an official couple?"

"Not yet, but maybe they will become one…"

Tenten glanced at Kari's face as the whispers spread from one to the other. She didn't look all too pleased…

---

Sakura coughed.

And coughed.

And coughed.

"DAMMIT!" she swore loudly before breaking into several coughs.

"Stop talking, Sakura", aunt Cecilia said in irritation as she brought a tray of water in a bowl and another towel. She put the towel in the water and then squeezed it, putting the wet towel on Sakura's forehead which pretty much resembled a fire. "Do you want to see another movie?" She glanced at the TV screen in Cindy's room which was showing the end of Perfect Blonde 2.

Sakura nodded glumly as aunt Cecilia handed her a cup of water which Sakura eagerly gulped down. A day had passed quick, and even though it felt as though Sakura was being tortured, she did pretty fine anyway.

"And by the way, Sasuke is at the door", Cecilia added as she proceeded out of the room and Sakura tried to drink more of another glass of water on the beside table. Sakura almost spat out the water.

"WHAT!" she bellowed.

"SAKURA! BE QUIET!" Cecilia yelled. "DON'T TALK TOO MUCH!"

As Sakura calmed down, Cecilia calmly continued: "He's coming in soon."

Sakura groaned. "Tell him that I'm seriously sick and that he'll get sick too if he comes in here."

"I've done so already", Cecilia smirked. "But he just wants to come in and see you. Can't hurt for a couple of minutes, would it?"

"Okay, then", she croaked before drinking more of the water. She heard her aunt talk with someone (apparently Sasuke) in the hall before the door to the room was opened and Sasuke stepped in.

"Sakura?" he asked, looking at her pitiful state.

"Don't get too close", she coughed. "You might catch a cold, too." She smiled weakly at him.

"Hey, you look dead", he sneered at her. "Look a bit alive and happy, like you always do otherwise."

"But I feel dead", she protested. "And –"

"Hush. Don't get too fired up now", he smirked as he put a hand gently to her mouth (A/N: since when did he walk so fast towards her bed? o.O). Sakura's cheeks turned bright red. "Your throat might get worse."

Then he slowly withdrew his hand. "So, how're you then?"

"Not good", she croaked and drank more water.

"I can see that", he grinned.

"Then why ask?"

"Bored."

"Nani? You've come here because you're bored?"

"Yup."

"Eeeh! Get out of here already, Sasuke-kun, I'll infect you if you don't!"

"Just kidding." He chuckled. "I came here for a reason."

She then noticed his shoes. "Sasuke-kun, you aren't taking off your shoes?"

Sasuke shrugged. "I'm used to not doing that, sorry. Why bother?"

"Ah... this is my cousin Cindy's room, I don't know if she'll like it getting dirty."

Sasuke immediately stiffened at that. Sakura looked anxiously at him. "Sasuke-kun? Are you not feeling well?"

"No, I'm doing fine", he replied shortly. "I came here to fetch the physics essay we were writing before we went to Versailles, you've gotten it, so I wanted to get it so me and Naruto can finish it."

"Oh. It's in my backpack, over there", Sakura responded, trying to hide her disappointment.

"Arigatou. Ja", he just said as he took the essay and closed the door to her bedroom again.

Why am I so concerned? she asked herself in her mind. Why? Why do I care? Why do I want him to come here to see how sick I was? Why?

---

Dammit, I came there to see her, and I ended up saying I was just going there to get the physics essay. Dammit, dammit, dammit, Sasuke swore as he went back to the limousine and muttered 'home'. Why do I care anyway?

Because you like her, inner Sasuke said in a bored voice.

Who the heck are you?

Your inner self. Don't you know that?

What the hell?

I've been here since your birth. I just didn't want to show up until now, inner Sasuke yawned. You've a very boring life. Now when it has started to get interesting, I wanted to show up.

What interesting? What the heck do you mean?

I mean, inner Sasuke smirked, that you're developing some feelings for that girl.

Whaat!

You deny it. You're afraid of being heartbroken again, ne?

No! I just think of her as a… fellow classmate. Maybe a friend.

But you're afraid that you'll get dumped again and that she'll pretend like Cindy did, ne? I can understand why, my Outer Self. If it would've been me, I would've done the same too. Maybe you should just wait to see what happens? But make sure you know what she feels before you show some affection too…

Affection? What the hell?

Just kidding. I meant friendship-like affection.

That made more sense. Maybe you're sensible after all.

Duh. I'm you, stupid.

You do realize that if you call me stupid, you mean that you're stupid too, right?

Oops. You heard my thoughts? But anyway, you're concerned about her, right?

… A little. Because she's concerned about me.

Weird logic. For years, fangirls have been all over you, and it's not like you were ever all over them.

That's true, but then again, those annoying fangirls were never normal.

Hmm. That sounds sensible.

Duh, what do you think? I'm the Super Genius Sasuke Uchiha.

So am I! Miss her, don't cha?

Eh?

I said you miss her, don't you, Super Genius Sasuke Uchiha?

Miss her? No.

Don't lie to your Inner Self!

I don't.

Yes, you do. I can see your perverted thoughts about when you pulled her to your chest that night at Versailles.

What the…! I'm not perverted! I was just thinking of what a good chance it was to…

… kiss her?

NO!

Hahahaha, you're funny, pal. I was just kidding.

… Sometimes you're just as damn annoying as the dobe.

Thanks.

Hn. I meant it was such a good chance to… AH, WHAT THE HELL, I DON'T KNOW! I JUST THOUGHT SHE WAS CUTE!

Miss her cuteness? Be honest this time…

"Sasuke-sama? We're here", the driver said.

"Hn", Sasuke muttered as he scrambled out of the car. Well, maybe I do miss that…, he admitted to himself. And what the hell, I was talking to a weird voice in my head. I knew I shouldn't have let Naruto treat me some of that damned ramen of his…


Tsukiko: I might be a bit busy tomorrow, so I decided to publish this early (it's July 30th soon anyway, just a few minutes in you're in this timezone or maybe half a day if you're in another, but whatever) :) I hope you liked it... I hope it wasn't too short.
Inner Tsukiko: More SasuSaku! More SasuSaku!... And the other couples too.
Tsukiko: Yeah, there's more SasuSaku coming soon, and major NejiTen on the way :D I'm currently working on the bonus chapter (also known as the twenty-fifth chapter... sorryguys). The next chapter will be published August 2nd. Ja ne!


Reviews Corner

silver-jasmine: Thanks for voting and reviewing:D Hmm... maybe he was. I knew I missed some important detail... xP But I guess he wasn't, since he seemed pretty calm when he came back, ne?

MistressBlossom: Thanks, I will :D

silverkage-chan: Yeah, yay for SasuSaku moments! Gee, I'm so desperate for SasuSaku moments in the anime that I keep pausing three zillion times each episode Sasuke and Sakura interacts to look for the slightest clue. Hmm, I'm in the off-topic-mood today, it seems. But maybe it's just because I get so damn distracted by the damn cars that are so noisy not too far away from where I live. What the hell is happening? Oops, off-topic again.

Crazy Gal42: Thanks :D I don't like Cindy that much either... x.x

frienz4ever: Thanks, I will :)

kawaii chibi sasuke luver: Thanks? XD But yay for Hinata-like Sakura!

yankeesfan726: Thanks :D

Zuan: Thanks :D And you're welcome :)

Green Animelover: Thanks :D And also, thank you very much, but don't worry, I wouldn't think you're ignoring me anyway, because sometimes people get busy irl, ne:D But thanks so much for telling me anyway! Arigatou! n.n

it'sher: Well... Cindy is a common name, ne? XD Maybe she knows someone who's called Cindy... xD

HeartAngel: Thanks, I will:D

Akina Darkheart: Thanks! n.n

And guys, I think I forgot to say it in the previous chapters, but... I LOVE YOU ALL FOR YOUR REVIEWS:D So keep on reviewing, pleaaase? -showers you all with love-


Sneak Preview of Next Chapter: Savior... again!

"Why… have you brought me… here?" Then suddenly realizing the situation, she tried to struggle out of Sasuke's grip. "Ne, Sasuke-kun! Kari-chan will not like it if she sees –"

"I don't care", Sasuke breathed in her face as he leaned close, "What she cares about or not."


Fanfictions Coming Up!

Hi guys:D I'm glad that you like This Is (Not) My First Time so much, and I'm grateful for all the reviews I've gotten :) Anyway, to the topic... I want to ask you guys of a favor; can you please vote on which fanfic you want to see written next? I've a couple of ideas, but I don't know which one I should begin with...

Replacement - Obito asked Kakashi to take care of Rin in his place, and to grant his best friend's death wish, he obeyed. But what happens when Rin runs away because she thinks Kakashi's protectiveness is only for Obito's sake? And what happens when they meet, seven years later, both successful and skilled jounins and teachers of two teams, both called Team 7? KakaRin Minor SasuSaku
Genre: Romance

Don't Forget Me - During their last year in high school, we meet funny, kind and always late for class Haruno Sakura with her four friends, Naruto, Tenten, Neji and Ino. Then a new student arrives, ice prince Uchiha Sasuke, who Sakura's friend Ino immediately claims to be 'hers', and warns them not to try to 'steal' Sasuke. Then, to everybody's horror and surprise, something throws (well, roughly expressed) Sasuke and Sakura together, and just as suddenly as they're announced to be a couple, just as suddenly they're torn apart.. and once again thrown back together, in a cruel game of Hide-and-Seek, guessing and tag. Based on the Korean TV series, Dong Ji Lian Qu (I don't know its original title, tho, only the Chinese translation), which can be translated into something like 'Winter's Romance Tale' or 'Winter's Romantic Tragedy' or something similar (I suck at Chinese). NaruSakuSasuIno Slight NejiTen
Genre: Romance/Drama

Forbidden Memories - In order to free Sasuke from his curse, Sakura finds Orochimaru's henchmen who possess the power to granta wish for a high price... your memories that you must regain in order to make the wish come true, but you have a time limit... thus, Sakura becomes Orochimaru's test for Sasuke (who is forced to take care of her) to prove his loyalty and the fact that he has broken all bonds. But will Sasuke be able to pass the test? SasuSaku
Genre: Romance (mostly, it's slightly angsty here and there but it's mainly romance)


(A/N: If you find errors such as words pasted together likethis, sentences that are in bold or italics when they shouldn't be or sentences that are repeated even though they're not supposed to, please tell me. This happens a lot out of some unknown reason, and it isn't because it was like that from the beginning - no, when I edit the chapters after uploading them, they get like that. I don't know why, maybe it's my dad's computer being weird. And also, do the symbols ' and ... look weird? Because on dad's computer, it does.)