LIFE'S HARDEST LESSON

LIFE'S HARDEST LESSON

Ch 5: A new change

"So, how did it go?" Kakashi asked as he opened the door to his apartment for Sakura. She sighed and made her way to the couch, "Well, he didn't speak to me, but he didn't make fun of me or mock me. Though, he was watching me a lot." Kakashi nodded, "That's a good thing, and that only means that the plan is working." Sakura huffed, "Yeah, but I still don't like doing this to Sasuke. Isn't there another way?" Kakashi smiled, "As a matter of fact, there is, and you're doing that tomorrow when all of you go to the festival. You can talk to him then, but only to the point where you only seem like a friend and not some fan girl." Sakura leaped off the couch, "Yes! So, what's the plan?"

Naruto chewed on some cotton candy and looked around.

Sasuke and Sakura late at the same time? What's up with that?

He turned his head and saw Sakura walk toward him, and he felt blood run down his nose. She wore a v neck white tank top, denim capres, and no head band on her head so that more of her hair flowed freely. It wasn't like it was skanky or anything, but it was a lot more than Sakura usually showed. "Hi Naruto," Sakura said as she came up next to him. Naruto said something in gibberish as he looked at her. Sakura figured out that he wasn't looking at her face and she wailed on his unknowing head. "That is so immature you idiot!" Naruto flew a good 100 feet in the air, (a new record,) and landed in the water fountain far away. While people ran to Naruto to see what the commotion was, Sakura brushed herself off and said to no one in particular, "I think I'll go play that new game everybody was talking about," and she walked off. She made it to the water dunker, (the thing where you hit the target and a person on the platform falls into a tank of water. For the people who didn't know.)

Oh, this is going to be fun.

Sakura bought 3 hits and smiled at the target, then hit it so hard that it almost cracked and the man fell into the water tank. Suddenly, alarms went off announcing that she was the 100th winner. Sakura squealed, "Oh yeah, who's the winner? Me! Yes!" She turned to the guy who ran the booth and asked, "What did I win?" He said, "An hour in the water tank." Sakura's smile faded,

Of all days to wear a white tank top.

Sasuke looked around the area where they were all supposed to meet up.

They couldn't wait for just a few minutes?

"Sasuke?" Sasuke turned around to see a wet and confused Naruto with a swollen face. "What did you do to Sakura this time Naruto?" Sasuke smirked. Naruto's face did not change, but asked, "Why are you wearing that Sasuke?" Sasuke looked at his black skin tight shirt and black cargo pants, and then said, "Tch, cause I felt like it." Naruto then shrugged and said, "Well, I know Sakura said something about playing at the new water dunker. Let's go find her." When they both made it to the booth, Sasuke felt blood running down his nose and Naruto almost fainted. Sakura was sitting angrily on the platform and soaking wet. They also noticed that a long line of young men were waiting their turn to soak Sakura. (LOL) When Sakura them her face turned deep red, and she jumped out of the tank and landed in front of them. She smiled nervously and scratched the back of her head, "Heh he, kind of a long story." After they still didn't say anything, she waved her hand in front the two of them. "Hello? Earth to Naruto and Sasuke." They finally snapped out of it and Naruto said, "Ha, now you know how that feels!" When Naruto saw Sakura's vein pop up, he quickly added, "Uh, how about we ride on a rollercoaster?" Sakura smiles then and says, "That sounds great!" Naruto lead the three as he was looking for a good one. Then he sees the scariest one, the "fall of death." When they got on, Naruto got in, then Sasuke, then Sakura and the coaster started rolling. It was comical if saw the 3 in the very front because Naruto and Sakura had their hands up and laughing madly while Sasuke just sat there. At the actual fall of death where they were falling down 100 feet, Sasuke watched Sakura's face. Her eyes were closed with her hands up, as if she were enjoying the wind in her face with her pink hair flowing wildly. For some reason, Sasuke felt awestruck at that one moment.

Why haven't I noticed how beautiful she was?

After the ride, Naruto jumped off and was going crazy like his hyperactive self usually does. "That was awesome! We should get on again!" "I agree that it was awesome, and that it almost dried my clothes. But, it is getting late and I really want to ride one last ride before I go home." Naruto whined, "But we've only been on a couple of rides!" Sakura replied, "Well, that was because I showed up a little late." Naruto huffed, "Well then, what ride do you want to go on?" Sakura pointed at the biggest Farris wheel at the festival, "That one, but first I gotta go to the bathroom real quick. I'll meet you two up there in a minute." As she left their sight, she quickly ran to the Farris wheel and quietly slipped to its control panel.

Phase two, initiated.

Once they all meet up and Sasuke and Sakura entered the cart of the Farris wheel, the man who ran it stopped Naruto. "Sorry, but only two are allowed at a time." Naruto sighed, "Aw man, I'll just go get some food while you two are riding." He walked away as the Farris wheel slowly made its way to the top. Sasuke began to feel uncomfortable as they made their way to the top. Suddenly, when they made it to the top, the Farris wheel stopped. Sasuke looked down and saw the man say stuff in frustration and hit the control panel. But, Sakura seemed relaxed and she sighed as she looked off at the sunset as its final rays stretched out across the village's forest, creating beautiful scenery. "Isn't it great to just watch the sun go down every so often and feel at peace?" She spoke softly. Sasuke's eyes stared intently at her face, the sun lightly touching her face making her look as if she glowed. Then she looked back at him with her green eyes shining like an endless ocean. He felt his cheeks burn and he looked away, trying to swallow the annoying lump in his throat. He felt her presence come closer, and when he looked again, her face was merely inches from his own. With concern in her eyes, she asked, "Sasuke, you look a little red. Do you have a fever?" She placed her palm on his cheek, sending an electric shock through Sasuke. Only her hand's soft touch showed just how much she cared for him, he felt the love radiating from her finger tips. His brain wasn't in control anymore; his body only reacted on instinct as he leaned in closer. Their lips almost grazed, feeling the warm breath of one another on their lips, and then the Ferris wheel started again. Sakura sat back down and acted as if nothing happened. However, she gave Sasuke a genuine smile before getting off the ride. Sasuke growled to himself,

I've never lost so much control of myself in my life. She's driving me crazy! Why haven't I noticed all the little things about her that I've never seen before? Like her hair being caught in the wind, the way her eyes sparkle when she's happy, and that intoxicating cherry blossom perfume... Well, it's because I'm going insane that's why. This is the same annoying Sakura that would never leave me alone and give me some air to breath. But, then again, she hasn't done that in a few days. Is she really over with me?

Sasuke was so much caught up in his own thoughts that he didn't hear Naruto calling him until he was yelling in face. "Hello, Sasuke, do you still want to stay with the living?" Sasuke finally came back to reality to give Naruto a nice comeback, and then everyone left for the night after saying a few good-byes. Sasuke walked in his same sulking way with his hands in his pockets on the way home. Though, instead of turning right to his house, he turned left toward Sakura's new apartment.

I think I might take that tour Sakura offered.

"Oh, how I wonder who that could be?" Kakashi snorted sarcastically, as if he didn't know. He barely had time to open the door before Sakura burst through the door and jumped around the living room like an ecstatic puppy. Kakashi chuckled and shook his head, "Sakura, Sakura, Sakura, as violent as always I see." Ignoring the comment entirely, Sakura spat out excitedly, "Oh Kakashi! I just know I'll have him head over heels by tomorrow! The way he looked at me tonight proved it!" Kakashi raised an eyebrow, "What kind of look?" Sakura replies, "The kind that says, 'I've never realized how much I love you.'" Then Kakashi asks, "Did you do what I told you to do?" She nodded her head, "Yes, but I took it up a notch." Kakashi gave her a look, "And that was?" Sakura said, "Sit down and I'll explain." Kakashi sat down and she continued, "Well, I rigged the Ferris wheel that once we got to the top we'd have a few moments together. Then, I could tell that he was blushing because I made sure that my face got some sun so that I glowed. So, I came real close to his face like this," Sakura got just as close to Kakashi as she did Sasuke. It was an unexpected move and Kakashi couldn't stop himself from holding his breath, "Then I put my hand on his face and asked if he was okay," She put her hand on Kakashi's face and Kakashi's heart skipped a beat.

What is wrong with me? He thought.

"And then the Ferris wheel started again, and that was about it." Sakura concluded. Kakashi collected himself and started breathing again, then said, "It seems you'll have him head over heels soon. But, just to on the safe side, tomorrow you'll need to cool it down a bit to not to seem so obvious so that he'll come to you." Sakura smiled content with today's achievement. She said, "Well, good-night Kakashi. Thanks again for the advice." She gave him a quick hug and then left, closing the door quietly behind her. Kakashi still sat where he was, not comprehending the feelings that are coursing through his body. It was true that Sakura was the only single woman left in the village that he has not dated yet, but even thinking about that made his stomach churn at the thought.

Not even a chance Kakashi, she's too young, she loves another guy, you're a pervert, AND she's your ex-student. There are just too many odds stacked against you; she would never like you in that manner.

He knew his common sense was right. Well, sure that she has grown into a magnificent body, that she was intelligent, full of spirit, and had that enormous strength and willpower. But, a relationship like that would not be worth it if he knew it would be so hard to get her. But, then again there has never been a woman that didn't fall for the charm of Hatake Kakashi. He might seem to have a big ego, but then again, he was telling the truth.

With a girl like Sakura, it might just be too easy.

He grinned to himself as he got up to start dinner, but his smile faded as he noticed that his vital male organ had grown from Sakura's close touch.

Sasuke came over to the apartments, but didn't know which one was Sakura's. He strained his ears and heard her voice on top of the second floor balcony. He jumped to it and almost came in until he noticed something. The apartment he was looking at was definitely not Sakura's, it looked too much like a bachelor's with the scattered clothes and food. And, the fact that Sakura was leaning closely over his ex-sensei. He had to hold in a gasp as he jumped down.

No wonder she seemed over me, she's got herself a boyfriend.

He could not help but feeling pissed.

Well, it wasn't like I've never had the chance to be with her before…I guess I know now what it means when people say that you won't be grateful for something until its gone.

However, he knew that she must have some feeling left toward him.

I guess I need to tell her how I feel. Damn, I'm never good at stuff like that.

He tried to figure out what to do without embarrassing himself and still express his new found feelings toward Sakura as he walked home.

Sorry everyone that it took me so long to write this one. I had to make sure that it was extra juicy before I'd ya'll read it. So, please write reviews and tell me what you think.

If you do, I'll make the next chapter faster! :D

Your friend,

Darkened petal : )