Like a Star

07

A/N: I have struggled real hard to think of upcoming plots for this story. So please don't hesitate to help suggest me ideas, I appreciate that a whole lot! But don't worry, it's not utterly plotless ;P Has an ending. That counts...right?

Standard Disclaiming Properties Apply

Day 4; Seoul, East Asia.

Sakura sat at the front seat with Sasuke, who was driving the car. He had told her something about a photoshoot at the countryside, and she had been very excited to follow. Now it had been an hour since they've been on the road and all Sakura could see were the endless patch of green grass and some cattle along the way.

"Sasuke…" she muttered lazily, leaning her head against the window.

Sasuke looked at her through the corner of his eyes. "Hn?"

"How long is this going to take?"

"We're almost there."

But she couldn't quite comprehend 'almost there' because all she saw were endless lands and pathways up the mountain. "Do you have to drive every time you have a photoshoot?"

Sasuke stayed quiet and shook his head. "I just felt like driving today."

Sakura rolled her eyes. "But they offered a painless ride by your own personal jet. I'm sure that's way faster than—"

"Are you uncomfortable being in a car alone with me?" accused Sasuke.

"No! It's not like that—no. It's just that, we've been driving for ages. And you know…"

"What?"

"I sort of…" Sakura's cheeks burned with embarrassment. "I need to go to the bathroom."

His eyes widened and found it hard to find a decent reply to that, because the closest bathroom would be the oak tree a few miles ahead of them.

"So, yeah. How long is this going to take?"

Sasuke shook his head as he stared ahead at the mountain. "Almost there."

Naruto shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket. "There you guys are!"

"Hey. Hey—um. Where's the bathroom?" Sakura asked, doing a little dance.

Blue eyes stared at her weirdly. "Um, down that lane and to the left. It's a unisex bathroom so…" before he could even finish his lingering sentence, Sakura had run off towards said area. Naruto looked at Sasuke who just stared ahead, "did you bore her to death, teme?"

"Shut up, dobe."

Naruto snickered and punched Sasuke's shoulder. "You don't have to be so serious about it, I'm sure she would've done a lot better traveling with someone who talks." He laughed.

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Just tell me where the chalet is."

His friend pointed to far East. "You see that wooden house-like-thing? Yeah, that's it. So, are you and Sakura…"?

"Don't even think about it."

"Jokes, jokes—but since you're being really defensive…"

Sasuke glared. "Naruto."

"Okay—okay. God you're humorless." Naruto rolled his eyes and patted his friend's shoulder, which earned him a grunt from the Uchiha. "—You're lucky she's even putting up with you. Poor girl." He joked and walked away.

Sasuke picked up his bag of belongings and slung it over his shoulder. "Hey dobe?"

Naruto looked over his shoulder. "Hm?"

"I stopped by some store to get your stocks of ramen—but it seems you won't be needing it anytime soon." Sasuke smirked. "See you later."

Blue eyes enlarged so wide, he thought his eyeballs were about to gorge out.

"Bu—But—TEME!"

Sakura walked out of the bathroom, and wandered around the serene location. She looked around at the proud mountains standing erect from the ground, and the group of birds searing through the pale sky and thought about how lucky she was to be at this stage of life. Brilliant green eyes twinkled as she looked at the rare flowers blooming lazily at the edge of the cliff, and heard the snap of a camera.

She whipped her head around. "Wha—"?

The man, who stood, with probably the biggest camera Sakura had ever seen, waved frivolously at her. "Stay where you are! This is—perfect!"

The sound of clicking and flashes of light from the camera baffled her. Then she let out a sheepish laugh, "I'm not—I'm not the model. Um. I don't really, take pictures…"

"Darling, what are you talking about? Your youth seems to shine and blossom under the blanket of splendor! You are gorgeous!"

Sakura mouthed a 'thanks' as the flashes of light kept on attacking her continuously.

The man put his big camera aside and grinned at her. "I'm Gai—famous photographer of the youth!" he stuck his thumb up in pride and winked.

Sakura smiled cutely. "I'm Haruno Sakura."

"What a youthful name! Captures the astounding beauty of the cherry blossom! Would you pose for a few more shots, dear fair one?" he grabbed the camera and begun zooming in and out.

Green bemused eyes blinked and she nodded. "Alright, sure!"

Uchiha Sasuke walked in from the far end, running his fingers through his hair when he heard loud praises of approval and the flashing snaps of a camera. He would've walked right up to the photographer and tell him not to mess around with his personal friends, but the view of Sakura posing against the wild scenery told him to do otherwise. He leaned his shoulder against the huge rock by him, and camouflaged his figure silently behind shades of leaves.

Her pink hair blew madly around her, and somehow he thought it looked beautiful.

"Seems you are enjoying this more than you usually would, eh Sasuke?" Kakashi mused which caught Sasuke by surprise. His manager should really stop sneaking up to him like that.

Sasuke rolled his eyes and didn't realize the smile he had on his face. Within a second, the smile had been replaced by his usual neutral expression. "Don't you have work to do?"

Kakashi pondered for a while. "Why? This seems to be more—entertaining. Don't you think?" he grinned as he looked at the view of Sakura knowingly, sensing Sasuke's glare on him. He rubbed the back of his head languidly and placed his hand on the ravenette's shoulder. "Anyways, the photographers are asking for you. Make sure you know which one's the dressing room, don't want to send the idiot and get him lost again."

Sasuke scoffed. "It's typical of the dobe." He rolled his eyes and muttered, "I'll be there in a sec."

Kakashi waved his hand dismissively as he walked away. "Again, don't be late. It's bad for your reputation."

Sasuke scowled and leaned back against he rock, he thought that he might as well enjoy watching his friend living in the second of fame for a while. After all, he'd like her to feel belonged to what he did for a living.

He smiled and shook his head. It looked like he was enjoying this more than Sakura was.

An hour had passed since Sasuke's first photoshoot session and Sakura decided that she should take her own tour around the place. She thought the location was beautiful, breath-taking more of. Sakura walked near the edge of the cliff and took in the scent of crisp pine trees that wafted through the breeze, and felt herself smiling. It was one hell of an experience; she knew that was for sure.

"Enjoying it here, Haruno-san?" Kakashi stood by her side, looking ahead at the view as well.

Sakura nodded. "It's amazing. You guys get to do this a lot?"

Kakashi shrugged. "Depends on what the photographers want really."

She smiled. "Well, it's an interesting job I must say."

"It is. Say...you don't happen to be extending your stay anytime soon are you?"

Sakura blinked. "I'm sorry, what was that?"

"Seems that having you around makes my client very—hm, what's that word for it. Oh yes—happy. " He grinned through his mask and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

"You mean Sasuke?" asked Sakura.

He looked at Sakura's dancing green eyes. "Ah yes. And you know what they say—a happy client makes a happy manager. Or at least, something along those lines." He gave a wink that made Sakura laugh.

She smiled but it disappeared quickly. "I don't think I can Kakashi-san."

He waved his hand dismissively. "Oh please, just call me Kakashi."

"Okay, Kakashi. I don't think I can do that, I happen to be leading a very normal, boring, student life back in Konoha. Don't think I could just keep, you know, being on holidays. But I so would if I could." She sighed and looked at the same group of birds twittering on the peak of a mountain. "I'll do anything to stay, though."

Kakashi sighed and rubbed the back of his head. "Pity though."

Sakura nodded mutely and watched as the birds soon vanish from view. "Yeah."

"Aw, c'mon. Don't be an asshole and tell me where you kept my stash of ramen. Yes. I did say my—which technically means I have the rights to eat them." Naruto leaned against the velvet couch and whined.

Sasuke grunted and folded his arms against his chest. "No."

"But—"

"No."

"I'm starving—"

"Your problem."

"Teme!"

"Idiot."

"Asshole!" Naruto stuck his tongue out and got up, glancing at his Rolex watch. "Anyways it's dark, and night. And I'm hungry. So I'll do my own treasure hunting since my dear ass-hat friend of mine wouldn't tell me where he kept them. So later." He gave a slight wave and left the room.

Both Sasuke and Naruto was in Sasuke's room when they bantered about the whereabouts of Naruto's stash of ramen that Sasuke had hid. Only if Naruto knew that Sasuke had placed them well hidden under his own bed, he smirked at the thought.

He walked over to the coat hanger and took his jacket with him, putting it on before he left the room. Sasuke felt the lack of ability to sleep starting to annoy him, so maybe he should just linger around in the living room by the fireplace. That was what he usually does on trips like these.

The night breeze was soft like cotton, which made the walk outside very pleasant. Everything was dark with the exception of the fire's glow coming through the window ahead of him. Someone must have left the fire on.

He stepped into the room and was mildly surprised to see a head of pink from behind the couch. Sakura quickly turned around at the sound of the door and her face softened immediately when she saw Sasuke.

"You're not asleep." said Sasuke.

Sakura nodded and sipped her mug of warm chocolate. "Couldn't...What are you doing here?"

"I don't usually sleep early." explained Sasuke as he sat himself on the opposite couch to Sakura. "Naruto kept me awake for the rest of the night anyways, the idiot wants his ramen."

Sakura laughed quietly. "But didn't you stash it under your bed?"

Sasuke smirked and placed a forefinger to his lips. "Shhhhh—the dobe doesn't need to know that."

She gave a quiet laugh. Her fingers tightened around her scarf and Sasuke noticed the goosebumps on her arm; he had not noticed her thin silky pajamas and the way it conformed to her curves.

"So what do you do when you can't sleep?" wondered Sakura.

Sasuke mulled about the things he usually did late at night. "I play my guitar."

"Really? Acoustic stuff? That's awesome! I've always wanted to play an instrument. But these fingers are useless." Sakura gave a laugh that made Sasuke smirk.

"I could teach you some chords." offered Sasuke.

Sakura nodded then blushed at the thought of him sitting right next to her at an intimate distance to show her how to hold a guitar.

"Well, why don't you play something now?"

He grinned and blew a dark strand from his eye. "Yeah, I'll just go get my guitar. Have it somewhere hidden here."

Without another word he got up and walked around the brick mantel of the fireplace before grabbing a polished acoustic guitar from the corner. Sakura looked at him then at the black fitted shirt he was wearing that seemed to be depicting his muscles quiet well through the fabric. It made her blush when he sat back down again.

Sasuke looked distant in thought. "Uh..."

"What? Don't know what to play?"

He ran his fingers through his hair and ruffled it for a while then sighed. "Yeah I'm just thinking of something."

"Do a cover then!" chirped Sakura.

Sasuke raised a questioning brow. "Of what?"

She smiled. "Surprise me."

First he positioned the guitar across him before he played the first few chords testing if the guitar was in tune. The instrument fit snugly against him like they were both carved out of the same material. Then he took in a deep breath and began strumming a few familiar chords.

You'll always be a part of me
I'm a part of you indefinitely
Girl don't you know you can't escape me
Oh darling cause you'll always be my baby

Without realizing it a smile creeps across her face. Something viscous ran through her veins, she felt herself submerging in pure ecstasy. His voice was leather and honey. Sakura froze, her heart hitched in her throat, and felt her eyes glistening; the emotions were pouring out of him like water.

Ain't gonna cry no
And I won't beg you to stay
If you're determined to leave girl
I will not stand in your way

Sakura focused on his fingers and thought they had a life of his own. There was something so enchanting in the way he sung those words; he was the snake charmer and she was his python.

I know that you'll be back girl,
When your days and your nights get a little bit colder,
Oh I know that, you'll be right back,
Baby, oh, baby believe me it's only a matter of time
Of time.

The playing softened and the music seized to a soft fade. Sasuke set the guitar down (gently like it was the most precious thing he had) and looked at Sakura's twinkling green eyes.

He smirked. "...And that's all for tonight. Thank you."

Sakura blinked out of her stance.

"Wow..." breathed Sakura.

A smug look graced over his face. "I know." Then he ducked a flying pillow that missed him by an inch.

"Oh god, you're so up yourself." accused Sakura.

Sasuke frowned slightly as he looked at the former attacking object. His dark eyes scanned his surrounding then lingered on Sakura.

"Not sleepy yet?" asked Sasuke.

She yawned. Her face was bathed in the warm glow of the fireplace; he thought she looked so childlike.

Sasuke hid a smile. "I'll walk you back. It's night time. God knows what kind of man-eating animals are prowling out there now."

Her green eyes widened in alert. "What?"

"I'm joking, Sakura." laughed Sasuke.

"Yeah...hard to tell. That was mean."

He rolled his eyes. "Let's go."

Haruno Sakura then tightened the scarf around her and silently thanked life for throwing such luck into hers.

A/N: Finally! Chapter seven! It's been like, what, two months? I dunno. Anyways this is for you guys, and I'm hoping that it's a satisfying chapter. I owe you guys a lot for all the awesome reviews/favorites/story AND author alerts :) I love you guys—

I really do.

(Disclaimer: Song is by the all awesome David cook "Always be my baby" a cover from Mariah Carey's song. x] )

Oh btw, reviews please! :D