Yay for the new chapter that took me forever and a day to write!
Thank you for all the reviews and interest in this story. It has made writing it worth it so far.
A/N I do not own Naruto or Pride and Prejudice.
Chapter Four: Gone Before Really Existing
Sakura was glad to have her sister home. As polite and kind as it was for the Uzumakis to take care of Hinata, she had missed her sister a lot. Laying in bed, her thoughts slowly drifted to the events of that day. Seeing that damned Uchiha, and even having dinner with him there. He alone was enough for her to want to politely decline the insistent invitation of Kushina to stay for dinner.
At least he had been mostly silent for dinner, though, she wasn't sure if it was because he was just that way, or because he felt that she wasn't even worth talking to. He did of course, converse with Naruto different subjects were brought up. He was polite to Naruto's parents. But Sakura might as well have not even existed.
Sakura grunted. She reprimanded herself for even thinking about that whole stupid situation anyway. Who cared about that stupid Uchiha?
She had closed her eyes, as if ready to drift off in a nap when suddenly one of the house maids came busting through her door, making Sakura jump up.
"Sakura!" She exclaimed. "Hinata is acting all wierd. She is just sitting on the stairs staring outside. She won't even reply to me." Sakura frowned. That's odd. She wondered what would make her sister stare off so blankly. For some reason, she had a feeling that it wasn't the good kind of blank stare either.
"Okay, I'll go talk to her and see what I can do. Thanks." And with that, Sakura walked past the maid and headed to the staircase. Indeed there sat Hinata, still as a statue.
"Hinata?" Sakura called. No answer. Not even a turn of the head in acknowledgement. "Hey, Hinata what's wrong?" she asked as she sat beside her sister. Hinata burst into tears.
"Naruto... and his family. They are gone. They just packed up and left. I guess Minato and Kushina had to return to one of their other residences because of work, but Naruto left too. Why would he leave? This was supposed to be their new permanent residence. I thought that they... he... liked it here." She sobbed into Sakura's shoulder. Sakura wrapped her arms around her sister for comfort.
"I'm sorry Hinata, I wish I could say something to make things better, but I can't." She admitted.
"I-I really liked Naruto. I have never met a nicer man besides father in my life." Hinata sniffled. "What if I am the reason he left? What if it was my fault! I don't even know what I would have done!"
Sakura shook her head. "Hinata, I doubt you were the cause. Just sometimes... sometimes things happen and we don't always have the answers to them." Hinata just continued to sob and Sakura comforted her.
The next two weeks were lonely. Hinata had left to go spend time with her aunt, uncle, and cousin Neji to get out of town for a while. When rumors had started that the Uzumakis had left because of his involvment with a girl in town, she couldn't bear it.
She at least still had her friend Tenten, which kept her company whenever she could, but Tenten didn't grow up with the luxuries of what Sakura grew up with, and she was always busy working or running errands.
One day Sakura was running, headphones in, jogging through the streets of town when suddenly something caught her attention. She didn't realize that she had been staring at it and not paying attention until she ran right into something... or someone.
"Hey! Watch where you're going miss!" A voice exclaimed. It definitely belonged to a man. Sakura was knocked right onto her butt and looked up, a little winded.
"I-I'm sorry!" She exclaimed. The man towering over her was tall with dark hair and dark eyes... just like Sasuke Uchiha. He offered her a hand in which Sakura just stared at it for a moment, lost in though.
"Um, would you like some help up?" The stranger ask quizically. Sakura was snapped back into reality.
"Oh um yeah, how kind of you. I'm sorry I wasn't looking where I was going." Sakura mumbled. She grabbed the man's hand, allowing him to pull her back up.
"It's all good. I wasn't the one who fell on my ass." the man chuckled.
"Um, yeah..." Sakura smiled.
"I'm Sai, what is your name?" The man asked.
"Sakura. Nice to meet you Sai." This time, they shook hands.
"You had some serious speed going with that jog." He commented. Sakura laughed.
"Thanks, I think." She replied.
"You're welcome. Well, see you around, Sakura." And with that, Sai smiled and was off. Sakura just stared at him for a moment. What an interesting man.
Sakura continued her jog eager to get home and get cleaned up. She was meeting her friend Tenten at a coffee shop around noon because apparently she had some interesting news to share.
Sakura left her hair straight and down, pulling her bangs back with bobby pins. She put on a cute white sheer button up that still contoured her curves, but loosely, a black tank top underneath, and some pretty cool dark wash skinny jeans. She slipped into some black strappy sandals.
"Hey dad," she called. "I'm going out! Let me know if you need anything!" Sakura heard her father yell back an 'okay' before closing the front door behind her. At least it was a beautiful day out.
Tenten was already at the coffee shop, seated and waiting by the time Sakura arrived.
"There you are! I was beginning to worry slowpoke!" Tenten teased upon seeing the pink haired girl walk in.
"Oh sorry for being only 5 minutes late." Sakura retorted sarcastically with a smile.
"Well lets hurry and order! I'm starving!" Tenten whined. Sakura sat across from her friend, and picked up the menu. She was busy reading the contents when suddenly she heard a voice that seemed somewhat familiar.
"So, the sweaty jogger actually cleans up to be a pretty lady." Sakura's eyes snapped up from the menu to see Sai with coffee pot in hand and smirk on face.
"Hey! Y- I mean, you work here?" Sakura asked, a little surprised.
"Yup. Gotta pay bills somehow right? The question of every adult." Sai replied.
"What are the odds of running into you twice..." Sakura mumbled. Tenten just stared at them.
"Do you guys know each other or something?" She asked quizically.
"Your friend here ran right into me and fell on her butt! It was quite graceful." Sai replied with a smirk. Sakura could feel her face going red. How embarrassing.
"Maybe it wasn't an accident." Tenten giggled. Sakura instantly began to glare daggers into her friends skull.
"Well, if it wasn't, then I might have to ask her for a date." Sai replied, looking straight at Sakura, giving a small smile. Crap. Sakura never coped well being put on the spot. Tenten stared at her awaiting her reply. There was an awkward silence that seemed to go on for an eternity before Sakura finally replied.
"Um, yeah sure! Why not?" Sakura replied nervously. She couldn't remember the last time she was even asked on a date.
"Okay then. I get off in about thirty minutes. If you will hang around, we can grab some lunch somewhere and go from there?" Sai asked. Sakura nodded.
"Sure. I suppose we can do that." She replied with a nervous smile.
"Cool. Well, now I have to do my job. What can I get for you ladies?" He asked.
"I would like a caramel iced tea." Tenten replied with a huge grin.
"I'll take a vanilla chai tea." Sakura replied, handing back their menus.
"Alright, I'll have them right out then, ladies. Thanks." And with that, Sai was off.
Sakura and Tenten spent the next thirty minutes chatting away, though inside, Sakura was freaking out by the second as time drew nearer for her date with Sai. Before she knew it, Sai was walking up to them, no longer in his waiter attire. He wore some jeans and a simple black v neck.
"I'm not interrupting anything too serious am I?" He asked, trying to politely interrupt. The girls stopped and looked at him.
"No, not at all." Tenten replied with a grin. "I'll get going. Sakura, give me a call soon! Have fun you two!" And with that, she said her goodbye, grabbed her things and walked out.
"So, what sounds good for lunch?" Sai asked as Sakura grabbd her things.
"I was thinking some sushi and some coconut ice cream afterwards?" Sakura suggested, hopeful.
"Sounds good to me. Let's get going then." Sai replied, motioning for Sakura to lead the way. He opened the door for her as they excited the coffee shop.
After grabbing lunch and getting coconut ice cream, the two were chatting away, having a good time. Sakura felt much less awkward and more comfortable as she spent more time with Sai. He really was a kind man. Sai was walking her back to her house when suddenly Sakura saw a familiar figure that she didn't expect to see ever again. She stopped dead in her tracks.
In front of her stood Sasuke in a navy blue polo shirt and white jeans. He didn't have a very amused look on his face at all, which Sakura assumed was a pretty normal facial expression for him, however his usual frown seemed to carry more disdain than usual.
"Sasuke?" Sakura asked in disbelief as if she was seeing a ghost. He glared back at her for what seemed like an eternity before turning his glare over to the man standing beside her. He said nothing and shoved past them, almost as if storming off. Sakura didn't know what else to do other than watch the raven haired man storm away.
"What an asshole." Sakura mumbled under her breath as soon as she felt he was out of earshot.
"That would probably accurrately describe the great Sasuke Uchiha." Sai replied with a small smile as if trying to lift the sudden dreary atmosphere.
"Do you know him?" Sakura asked, suddenly interested by Sai's comment.
"It's a long story, but in short, we were almost like brothers. We grew up together because my father was his father's butler at their estate. When he died, he of course left his son everything, but he also left me a considerable amount of fortune. Sasuke refused to give it to me, and threw me out. I don't think that Sasuke was ever fond of the way that his father admired me. He was probably jealous even." Sai replied.
"What a cruel thing to do!" Sakura exclaimed. She immediately felt sorry for Sai. Life would probably have been easier for him if he had received the gift that had been left to him. Sakura could feel her disdain towards the Uchiha grow. The thought of him even began to make her feel like her blood boil.
"It's no matter. It is what it is. I just continue to live my life the best I can and be a good person." Sai replied, trying to sound happy.
If Sasuke didn't already have a frown on his face, an even bigger one was plastered on his face now. He had hoped he would never have to see Sai again. Not only that, but seeing him with Sakura made him even more irritated. What the hell was she doing with him anyway? But more importantly, why the hell did he care?
So yeah, I know it's been like forever and a day since I've updated this, but it just got so hectic with the holidays and whatnot. The good news is, I did get a tablet and a wireless keyboard... so maybe writing chapters will be a little more convenient.
Sorry for the Sai/Sakura in this chapter. I promise that it is essential to the story!
As always, reviews are always really appreciated!