Perfect Them
Being betrayed was better than this -- than that thing on her finger. [Sasuke/Karin[Onesided Sasuke/Sakura
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Author's Note: Sasuke--though mostly with Karin/Sakura moments. Ah well.
---Shredded---
In the brightest hour of my darkest day
I realized what is wrong with me
Can't get over you
Can't get through to you
It's been a helter skelter romance from the start
Take these memories that are haunting me
Of a paper man cut into shreds
By his own pair of scissors
--Papa Roach, Forever
"Welcome, Sasuke." He grunts and gives her a sharp nod, more than she's gotten from him in almost three years. Karin is soon by his side and Sakura smashes her immediate annoyance. "Karin," she says politely. "How are you?"
Karin smiles at her in that way that lets you know that she feels that she's on a level higher than yours. "Wonderful Sakura-chan," Sakura hates the way she says her name, but says nothing as she leads the two into her home. "I heard you had a successful mission?" Sakura falls into an easy chatter, listening as Karin casually slips in little sordid details that she has no doubt that any day now Sasuke will be down on one knee.
Sakura can't see it happening, but nods and suppresses false delight, patting Karin's hands and feeling as though she's swallowed something rotten.
------
It's huge.
Sakura's stomach drops to the floor. Each word that comes out of Karin's painted lips feels like a knife shredding through the broken remains of her heart. Karin's shoving the thing under nose and Sakura can't help but study it.
She's never seen so many diamonds in a ring before, and momentarily she wonder's how Karin is able to lift her hand. "And, oh Sakura-chan!" Karin gushes, watching Sakura's stricken face with malice. "He got down on one knee, and the baby--"
Baby. Sakura's world zero's in on the word. "Baby?"
"Yes," Karin lowers a hand to her stomach, her eyes misty. "I'm pregnant!"
Pink-haired Uchiha's fade faster than Sakura's willing to let them, and it hurts more than she's allowing to show. She hates that Karin can see the pain she's suffering. She still loves Sasuke, and Karin knows she does.
He's watching them with a hooded expression from the corner, and Sakura forces her mouth to move, makes herself congratulate Karin. Praying the night will end and allow her to cry as she longs to now.
------
"The wedding is in two weeks," Karin says, slurping her milkshake with enthusiasm. Ino's eyes blink over to Sakura before they rest on Karin once more.
"That's wonderful, Karin!" The blonde tells her, momentary worry settling in as something seems to break further in Sakura.
"Everyone is invited." Karin said as she pushed her milkshake away, patting her mouth daintily with a small napkin. "I hope you're both there."
"Of course," Ino answers for them quickly. "We wouldn't miss it."
Karin stands, grabbing her purse from the counter, her ring catches the light and shines. Sakura doesn't move. "I'll see you two later, alright?"
Ino waves goodbye and then turns on Sakura, looking annoyed. "Look, Sakura, I know you like Sasuke but you really have to stop being rude to Karin like that, she hasn't done anything!"
Sakura realizes the worry she had seen in Ino's eyes was not for her, but for Karin. "What would you know, Ino?" She leaves, throwing a ten on the counter to pay for the meal she hadn't touched.
Ino follows her, grabbing her by the shoulder once they're out of the store. "Sakura," Ino stops, hesitating, "I don't know who you are anymore."
Sakura looks back at her. "Neither do I."
------
Sakura hands Sasuke the small platter of food, feeling listless as she looks around the large entrance to the Uchiha mansion. This should have been her's, Inner Sakura pips up unhappily. Sakura can't help but to agree.
"Thanks," Sasuke says gruffly, the way his eyes shift lets her know that he doesn't want to stand near her much longer.
She smiles, "you're welcome Sasuke, thank you for inviting me."
"Hn." He leaves her, walking to the large table to set her plate down. She watches, wondering if he knows what it is. Probably not. She hadn't even meant to make it, almost as if it was a force of habit she found herself making a tomato casserole, something she had invented. It was the first meal Sasuke had ever complimented her on.
He doesn't even look at the food, but instead rushes back to Karin's side. Sakura turns and slips away through the back exit, knowing she won't be missed, but wishing she would.
-------
Chapter Four, review please.
Beta: SkippingAlice
Manga Girl -- MoonVeil
Giggle Snort of the Chapter: "I love California, I practically grew up in Phoenix."
- Dan Quayle, former U.S. Vice President
