Chapter 4

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Well, this chapter is a bit shorter, but I wanted to upload so…please review :)

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Inkunata walked stiffly alongside Sakura as she went on and on about absolutely anything and everything, while Sasuke walked with his hands in his pockets looking straight ahead, and Inkunata was often pulled under Sakura's arm or had her own arms hooked through hers.

"This is wonderful," Sakura giggled as they walked into another shop. "Oh, Sasuke, we should buy you something from here!"

"I'm fine," he mumbled.

Inkunata grinned at Sasuke as Sakura went ahead through the clothing racks. "You said that as if she would listen," she laughed quietly.

He shook his head. "You owe me big time, Pudding" he whispered, using her new nickname. She loved it because only he would use it, because he had made it for her.

"Come on, I'll buy you something," Sakura said.

He rolled his eyes and obeyed Sakura's call. She spread a shirt over his torso. "How does that look?"

"Divine," Inkunata replied. Sasuke shot her a warning glance.

"I thought so too," she beamed, draping it over his arm. "Try it on!" then turning around to browse through again, she said, "Oh, this is cute…"

Sasuke started toward the change rooms and beckoned to Inkunata. She shook her head, but a firm point to his current location made her jump and rush to him. She followed him in and he locked the room.

"Listen carefully. I'm sick and going to go home. You tell Sakura this. She's upset but understanding. Clear?"

Inkunata shook her head and began to unlock the door. "Nah. You can stay-"

Sasuke grabbed her wrist from the lock and, grabbing her other wrist, pinned her to the wall. Inkunata's eyes flew wide open as his breath tickled her face. He towered over her. She felt butterflies in her stomach from being so close to him…and in such a position.

"I'll repeat: is that clear?" he said through clenched teeth.

Inkunata stared at him for a second then leaned forward and placed a kiss on his neck. His eyes widened and he let go of her in shock. Inkunata nodded. "Clear."

Then she ducked under his arm, unlocked the door and hurried out to distract Sakura as Sasuke made his escape.

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I had no trouble telling Sakura that Sasuke had left because he was 'sick', but it was sticking with her until the shopping spree was over that killed me. Luckily Sakura had lost interest after her beloved had left.

"Alright Sakura, I'll see you at school," I say, eager to get away.

Sakura gives me a poor, pathetic smile and leaves. I sighed in relief. I figured I would kill Sasuke next time I saw him.

I hurried back towards the entrance, but I stopped at that first shop and poked my head inside. My eyes were set on a dark, navy shirt I knew would look gorgeous on Sasuke. I felt like such a schoolgirl for buying a shirt for my crush, but I had to. I rushed it, grabbed it and hurried to pay, the lady at the counter recognising me and smirking. She knew.

Once I got home I folded the shirt and put it in a bag and changed. I needed to get to school for my first martial arts lesson from Sasuke, and I was already late!

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My hands were sweating and I rubbed them viciously against my pant leg, hoping she wouldn't be able to come. If the kiss on the cheek had driven me crazy, the kiss on my neck would drive me into a mental hospital. I couldn't bring myself to wipe it off, even though the very idea sounded stupid. No matter how much you rubbed at a kiss, it wasn't coming off. I was beginning to love and hate this girl. Wait…love? What am I on about?

"S-Sor-ry I'm l-late," she panted as she ran into the gym with a plastic bag on her arm. I raised an eyebrow as she hurried right over to me and thrust the bag into my arms.

"What th-"

"O-Open it."

I obeyed and stared at the item as I pulled it out. A navy shirt in my size from the shop. I looked at her as she tried to steady her breathing, smiling immaturely at me. I couldn't help but grin.

"I had to buy it. It'll look good on you."

I looked into her eyes and then in typical male fashion - a generalisation which I am not usually part of but I join for this time only - my gaze falls to her body, taking in what she was wearing…and I sort of checked her out while I was there.

Her hair was tied into two ponytails as usual. She wore a large jumper but a short plead skirt with long striped socks that came up over her knees. I looked back into her eyes. They flickered with anticipation and excitement. My eyes drifted to her lips and my heart jumped at their shine from the lip gloss she wore, and their thickness was enticing, as if she was daring me to kiss her senseless right then and there. And damn I wanted to.

I tried to concentrate and put the bag on a chair.

"Thanks," I said. She nodded.

She clasped her hands behind her and waited patiently.

"Alright, we'll begin with the basics…"

I tried as best as I could to help her move without touching her too much, afraid something would happen. Romance was the last thing I wanted.

She blushed at my comments and my touch. She did well, and I was pleased that she had been almost mature about it. Yet every time I explained something to her I looked at her lips and remembered the kisses on my cheek and neck. If in her own strange way she was trying to seduce me, it was working.

"Okay…that was good. I guess we'll meet again in two days?"

Inkunata nodded and sort of shifted as if her nervous system had two actions clashed but finally one of them won. She rushed over and hugged me.

"Thanks Sasuke. I really appreciate it."

"Uh…anytime."

She smiled and ran out, and my knees gave way from under me.

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