Like a Star
05
A/N: It's addictive, very addictive.
Disclaimer: If you keep on asking me, I'd sue you. Yea that's right.
Day 1; Seoul, East Asia.
Her green eyes opened delicately, awakened by the soft streak of sunlight streaming through the curtains. Wow, that was a weird dream wasn't it? Her actually meeting Sasuke and he was Onyx's secret identity. What a crack.
Sakura slipped on the white fluffy bathrobe.
Wait. Where was she? Sakura scanned around the unfamiliar hotel room with confusion in her eyes. She wasn't in her room. Oh yeah that was right—her eyes lingered on her luggage—she was in Seoul.
There was knocking on the door and it startled her.
Quickly, she glanced over the implanted digital clock in front of her—8:40 A.M—it read and she wondered who might be knocking at her door at such an ungodly hour. Regardless of her indecent sleeping attire she decided to find it out herself. She tightened the ribbon on her bathrobe and quickly gathered her pink hair into a ponytail.
Behind the door stood Uchiha Sasuke with his famous oversized glasses.
She squeaked like a frightened mouse and stared at him wide-eyed. So it was not a dream. Stupid Sakura.
He surveyed her sleepy green eyes and the oversized bathrobe on her. The sight tugged at the corner of his lips. He should have probably texted first, or something of that sort, but he could not resist the look of surprise on her face. It was worth it.
'Did I wake you up?' asked Sasuke with a smirk.
"No, I just generally look bed ridden on a day-to-day basis." remarked Sakura sarcastically. She stood aside and beckoned him to come inside.
Sasuke snickered. 'I never knew you were such a morning person, Sakura.' She grunted and quickly smoothed her frizzy hair.
"I recall someone else hates being woken up uncalled for too," reminded Sakura. She thought of all the times he had been so angry at her for texting him in the afternoon (well, it was 3 A.M. where he was at but that was besides the point.)
"You texted me about pancakes, Sakura. Pancakes."
Sakura snickered. "They were heart-shaped and I was proud of them! They deserved recognition."
Sasuke leaned against the door and rested his sunglasses on his dark hair. "So I expect you to be ready—in, say—thirty minutes?"
"How about I decide how long I get ready for and you keep yourself busy?" asserted Sakura. "You may be a superstar but in my space," she gestured around the room. "I make the rules."
Sasuke snickered; he liked her feisty attitude. Not many people could rebuke the almighty Uchiha the way she just did. But that was what made her special. He gave a mocking bow. "Okay then, one hour. I will be waiting outside."
"Make it two."
The sun polished the ground as it warmed the earth; sparkles of golden light glimmered off the ocean's surface. The trees were bright colors of greens and yellows while the sky had not been detected with a single shred of puffy cloud. Sasuke convinced her that the morning was the best time to be outside; and he was certainly not lying.
"Remind me again," said Sakura while adjusting her coral sundress she'd bought before the trip. "The reason why I am being dragged around town by you?"
"If you prefer to rot in your room out of boredom then be my guest." replied Sasuke.
She laughed. "I wouldn't mind."
Sakura noticed how he was trying his hardest to remain low profile behind his shades. It made sense, thought Sakura, because if anyone recognized him there would be a stampede of fangirls trampling all over them. She shuddered at the thought. Plus, she reasoned to herself, it was nice to have Sasuke all to herself.
"So, where are you taking me?" wondered Sakura.
"Gyeongbokgung Palace."
Sakura scratched her head. "What now?"
"It's a palace built in 1395 by the founder of the capital, which is where we are now." explained Sasuke and continued after Sakura prodded him for more. "It contains the National Folk Museum of Korea; one of the biggest attraction here."
"Sounds interesting!" chirped Sakura.
He smirked. "I knew you liked historical things." They walked some more until they reached, what Sakura assumed to be, an outlet mall. "What do you feel like having for breakfast today?"
A small blush spread over her face. "I don't mind, Sasuke. You choose."
"I have a place in mind."
They entered a restaurant that was gleaming in golden light. In each corner were thick white roman columns supporting the massive ceiling that was gilded in antique gold. Dangling from the ceiling were two massive chandeliers that showered the room with sparkling light.
Sakura's mouth was wide open in awe. She examined the carpeted floor that was cream with mini black stripes going across to the mahogany tables draped in pristine white tablecloths. In the centre of each table was a red candle and expensive looking chairs tucked inside. They both waited at the entrance and a man dressed in black and white suit made his way towards them. Sasuke merely took his shades off and was recognized; he grabbed two leather bound menus and beckoned them towards the VIP section.
The waiter was about to pull the chair for Sakura when Sasuke raised his hand—I got this, he gestured—and pulled the chair behind for her before taking his seat. Sakura felt awkward being in a place so expensive and fancy but Sasuke's presence comforted her while simultaneously sent her heart racing to the heavens.
Not only was he dangerously handsome but he was chivalrous too. Could there be anyone more perfect in this world?
"So..." started Sakura as she fidgeted with the hem of her dress. "Not too shabby, sir."
Sasuke smirked. "I figured you should experience the best this city has to offer."
"A cute deli in the corner would have sufficed." joked Sakura with a smile. "But thank you, I—holy crap—forty five bucks for a bowl of cereal?" exclaimed Sakura in disbelief as her eyes scan down the oversized menu. "Sasuke, I can't afford this!"
He quirked a skeptical brow. "Sakura, who said you were paying?"
Sasuke laughed at the confused expression on her face.
"I'm not quite sure if I have made this clear but I got every aspect of your trip covered." assured Sasuke.
"I'm paying you back for this one day." insisted Sakura. "Anyways, aren't you always super busy?"
Sasuke gave a questioning look. "What of it?"
Their conversation was interrupted when the waiter came over. Once their orders were taken, Sakura smoothed the bottom of her dress and looked up at Sasuke who quickly looked away. She was confused but said nothing of it. "Do you have a day off today?"
"You can look at it that way, yes."
"So I have you all to myself?" teased Sakura.
He smirked. "If you say so."
Sakura felt her cheeks burn and mentally cursed him for being so smooth.
Breakfast that morning was by far the best one she'd ever had not to mention pretty darn expensive. But all was paid in courtesy of Sasuke.
If it was possible to die from swooning Sakura would be lifeless on the floor that moment.
"Where are we going now?" questioned Sakura.
"Subway." he quickly glanced at his wristwatch. "Damn, it has been a while since I've been on one."
Obviously, she thought, unless he was asking for some death wish from the suffocating amount of squealing fans. Sakura looked around hesitantly. "Are you sure you don't mind?"
'I'll manage.' replied Sasuke.
Once they went through the ticket booth they entered a busy train. All the seats were occupied so they stood and held the supporting pole to keep themselves from falling. Sakura must have lost balance once the train began moving but Sasuke caught her by the waist; his arm lingered there protectively throughout the ride. She felt electricity surging through her veins from the touch and it made her knees feel weak.
As more and more people went inside, Sakura was forced to step closer to Sasuke until eventually there was no space between them anymore. The smell of him—a sweet masculine scent—was forever tattooed in her mind.
When Sakura buried her face in his chest Sasuke tried to hide his smile.
The sun was a soft glinting gold, bleeding streaks of honey in the sky. Sakura looked at the majestic temple surrounded by a pond that was so clear and tranquil. The view of trees in all sorts of earthy colors overwhelmed the place and made it look infinitely more beautiful. She walked further to the edge of the bridge where it was connected to the pond and saw her own reflection on the water's surface.
"It's amazing." whispered Sakura to herself watching as the sheer image of Koi fish swam beneath shimmering water.
She crouched down and poked a finger on the clear surface creating subtle ripples to form around it. The water was like melted silver underneath the sunlight. Her eyes glistened with joy when she saw a tortoise paddling happily nearby.
Everyone was too busy being awed by the palace; kids were more than eager to feed the fish while the elders were fascinated by the old historical architecture. Sasuke observed through dark tinted shades. He reasoned to himself that no one would recognize him and he took his glasses off.
The image of Sakura crouching by the pond made him wish he had a camera at his disposal.
"Look!" exclaimed Sakura as she pointed to the far edge of the pond. Sasuke directed his gaze to where she was pointing and saw a flock of swans floating calmly.
"Aren't they just beautiful?" murmured Sakura in awe.
He kept looking at the whitest one out of the three flapping its wings before floating calmly on the pond with its partner. With both of their minds captivated in thoughts Sakura got up and took her camera out.
Not long after, an old couple walked across the bridge and happened to catch Sakura struggling with the camera. They both looked at her and back to Sasuke admiringly then offered to take their picture of the both of them together. Sakura looked a bit hesitant; in her mind Sasuke probably felt the very least bit comfortable taking a picture with her.
Instead, he grabbed her by the waist and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "Smile for the camera, Sakura."
The day was almost over when Sakura had noticed her sudden craving for ice cream. The man behind the ice-cream parlor handed her cookies and cream while Sasuke opted for mint chocolate instead.
"I had such a great time today." confessed Sakura before licking a droplet of melted ice-cream. "You are one lucky bastard, Sasuke."
"Oh?" challenged the young Uchiha. "And why would that be, Sakura?"
There was an empty bench that overlooked the pink glimmering sea. He made sure that the seat was clean enough before assuring Sakura it was alright to sit. Sasuke leaned against the wooden texture and breathed in the salty air.
"For being able to travel to all these amazing places!" exclaimed Sakura.
Sasuke laughed. "I don't get to do that often you know."
He offered if Sakura would like a taste of his ice-cream and she did the same.
"But—mmf—you really should. I mean you're—mmf—able to ask for a day off right? I say take advantage of it."
"Not unless I wanted to get fired"—he chewed a chunk of cookie from her ice-cream and wiped the corner of his mouth—"Sakura."
Sakura paused with a look of confusion and turned towards him. The warm sunlight casted shadows beneath his cheekbones and highlighted the golden specks in his brown eyes.
"Then…why did you do it?" wondered Sakura.
Sasuke gazed into the pale green of her eyes and grinned. "It was worth it."
A man famous for his spiky grey hair and fetish for perverted books sat at the edge of the roof with his mask covering half of his face.
"So..." said the man to no one in particular. He watched his client chatting away with his pink-haired friend from above. "Looks like the heartless Uchiha had found something else he cherishes more than his guitar."
Kakashi snickered to himself and continued to read his most beloved book.
"This shall be interesting."
A/N: What would I do without you guys? –tears- Reviews to make me happy! I shall opt for more than twenty on this chapter alone, prettyplease? :)