Fading Dreams and Blossoming Faith
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto,while this plot is RIGHTFULLY MINE! XD
A/N: Italics are for Inner Sakura, while the underlined are for the inner thoughts of anyone, and lastly bold for both Sakura and Inner's thoughts
Read and...
Chapter 9: Endemic
RECAP
Shisui then waved his goodbye to the still immobilized Sakura. When the two Uchiha's left her side, Sakura felt sudden chills. All the fangirls of both of the Uchiha finally revealed themselves from their hiding places. All started staring- no, to be precise, their eyes were boring into the pink haired girl, with a slight intent to kill.
'Ne, Saku-chan...? Is it me, or do I feel like all eyes are on us?'Inner Sakura asked cautiously.
'I think all of them are looking at us,' she answered. 'But I have the feeling that it is time for us to...'
'...RUN!' Inner Sakura and Sakura said in unison.
Sakura dashed for her dear life, wanting to survive yet another day.
'I hope we can return home in one piece,' both wished.
End of RECAP
Dogs barking…
Guns firing…
Swords clashing…
Noise that one's wishes not to hear.
As the noise depletes, her shadowed emerald eyes searched for her companions…
Pleading and praying for their safety.
They were still there, finishing off the remaining attackers
She had spotted one of the opposite party as he approaches one of her companions
"Kakashi!"
Dear Self,
Hi there, It's been a while hasn't it. Well in the past few weeks I had worked my beautiful butt off due to my EVIL DEMON LORD boyfriend. Why?
First, I had run all his errands with his faculty work at school. I mean I literally had to RUN from one building to the other! And thanks to that I ruined my beautiful track attendance, having so many damn late and also the fact that being a sensei had been crossed out of my career path!
Second, everytime that I would have the time of my own, I would suddenly be dragged away by his evil ways. For example: If he don't want to attend any event that the Akatsuki planned I would be his stand in! (Oh, Akatsuki are his cool friends. I always wonder how the group came together)...
Again, Akatsuki... Although I like most of them... I'm still darn pissed off with my demon lord minions... There would be no end with their nagging if I don't bring them bentos. I'm more likely a lowly slave by those lazy butts! (Now that I do think about it, It's their entire fault, No, This is all Hidans' fault that my vocabulary widen with full of trash words!)
And third and the most annoying thing that my demon lord did was...
"NANI! No way in hell you're going there Sakura-chan!" Naruto fumed
"You better go there forehead, maybe Sensei would give you detention if you don't" Ino smirked "Right Sasuke-kun?"
"Hn." the raven haired student snubbed the blonde
"Sakura-chan, just break off with him~" Naruto whined as he knelt down beside her
'Oh... How I wish...'Sakura whined sarcastically
'Just eat your pride already'Inner Sakura spatted
"S-S-Sakura-chan, a-are y-you alright?" Hinata worriedly asked
Sakura nodded in return
"You!" the loud blonde shouted, pointing at the raven haired "Teme! You better asked your Baka nii-san to back off at my Sakura-chan!" Naruto ordered
"Hn..." Sasuke snubbed while kicking Sakura's chair on the process
'Saku-chan' inner giggled 'How I wonder why Sasuke so... so... you know...'
"...Charming?"Sakura grumbled
'Right! And that's the reason we...'Inner expecting Sakura to continue
'...love him...'Sakura continued monotonously as if she just recited again the line for a hundredth time...
"Hey, ugly" the emotionless student poked the pink haired classmate and cutting her off with her train of thought
"What!" she snapped
'...' Sai just stared at her
'Why the heck is wrong with these people! They're all pissing me off!' Sakura barked
"OH my Youthful Cherry Blossom!" A familiar voice sing songed outside the hall way. Sakura made a tinge of disgust knowing full well who would next to barge in her wrecked life.
Sakura along with the other students inside the classroom looked at the back door as it finally opened and revealed the bowl cut senpai
"Oh, Cherry Blossom! Why oh why do I have to hear such rumors that-" The bowl cut poetically said as he went towards the pink haired
*whack*
"Oh, Sakura! How has it been?" a brunette asked as she appeared at the back of the bowl cut while juggling a rolled paper in her hands
"Ten-Ten-chan" Sakura greeted happily "...Pretty much hectic, I guess..."
"Hectic... Hectic... It's not HECTIC, but rather a big troublesome PUNISHMENT!" Naruto corrected
"So it's true then" the brunette concluded
Sakura sighed with a single nod
Lee went back to his feet and went teary eyed beside Sakura "Oh, my poor sweet cherry blossom, don't worry, I would always be here when you wither, for I would be your fer- ooof"
"I think that would do..." Sakura brushed off her hands
Everyone stared at her in disbelief. All eyes wide opened, only a few seem not to be affected much.
Ten-ten burst to laughter as she went beside Sakura "Tell me everything" she giggled
With a sigh of relief, Sakura nodded and went back to gather her things to retire for the day. Ten-ten with a captured Ino in her grip was waiting by the door.
The three girls left the room stomping the blocking bowl cut senpai along the way.
"Did she-?" someone in the class blurted
"Yup, that's Sakura-chan" Naruto grinned
"..."
"Well, the idiot pretty much received that kind of upper cut blow from some time now" Kiba answered the curioused class while pointing at the grinning blonde
"...!"
"I'm off then as well" Shikamaru announced lazily
"See you guys next week!" all bid goodbye to one another and exited the room while stomping the bowl cut senpai along the way
FLASHBACK
"This would be your assignment for next week" Itachi announced at the class
"WHAT!" The blonde smacked one of his hands on his table while the other was pointing at the black board where their assignments were written "That would be utterly impossible! That's 20 pages!"
"It is possible, Uzumaki. You have two free days to work on it." Itachi retorted
"NO!" answered back angrily as he slammed both of his hands at the table
"Yes. If you start now, you would probably finish the assignment before passing the paper" Itachi retorted
Small snickers erupted, while Naruto grumbled as he sat again on his chair.
*RIiiiiiiiIng*
"That would be for today. Hyuuga-san, please be kind enough to collect the assignemnt at Monday and deliver it at 8a.m. sharp"
"H-hai" Hinata stuttered
Itachi then walked down to the door, then stopped after opening and looked at the direction towards his pink haired girl "Sakura" he called. When the said girl finally got his attention "Tomorrow. Konoha park. 8:30" Then he walked out
All eyes then finally snapped towards the pink haired classmate who paled in her seat
End of FLASHBACK
"So, Sakura" the brunette started "It would be tomorrow right? The date I mean with 'you-know-who' she cooed the last word
"I don't even have a single clue what I am going to do" Sakura slumped
"Oh, don't worry, that's the reason why I specially invited Ino" the brunette winked at the blonde... Ino on the other grumbled something under her breath as she was still being dragged by Ten-Ten.
...Next day...
5:45 a.m. Sakura's room
The pink haired shuffled under her bed cover. Not due to awakening, but...
'Can't sleep'she grumbled...
7:30 a.m. Sakura's bathroom
'What the hell am I doing, really?'
'Well, right now... You're practically deciding whether what pair of clothes you would be wearing...'
'...'
'You know, I rather choose Ino-pig choice that Ten-ten's sporty choice of clothes'
'guess, that would do'
Sakura picked up the white floral blouse that was partnered with a black skinny jeans and wore it. After doing so, she patched herself with light powder and some lip gloss
'That's better...'
'You know, we could ditch this date'inner suggested
'If only we can'Sakura sighed
8:10 a.m. Konoha park
'Early... You! Why are we soOooO EARLY!'inner whined
'Better we get here early than be here late... I don't want to get in his bad side...'Sakura confessed
'Tell me, what are we going to do here for a whole 20 minutes?'
Sakura stared the empty bench near the clock tower. She walked towards the bench and sat there as she slung her hand bag to her lap.
'Sight-seeing Inner'
'...'
Sakura stared at nothing in particular. There were mothers walking with their children. Families having their morning exercise. The elderly are there doing their own thing. There was nothing to look that perk her interest. It passed 3 minutes since she arrived at the park...
'Aaargh! Can't take the isolation! Where the hell is he!'
'Inner, I suggest that you help me organize on the advice Ino and Ten-ten gave us, if you wanted to do something that is...'
Talking to her inner self, a man sat beside her. 'Too close!'Inner pointed out in annoyance
Sakura glanced lazily towards the person who just arrived. He was wearing a 3/4 long sleeved white polo, which the first two buttons were left open for all to glimpse his mascular collar bone. He was also wearing black pants, not too skinny or baggy, just perfect with his long legs. His onyx eyes were piercing to her emerald eyes ever since she glanced at him.
"Were you waiting that long?" he asked
"Not much" she answered bluntly
"Tell me, did you not see me earlier since you were you too preoccupied with yourself, or you intentionally snobbed me?" he asked in a cold manner especially towards the end
"... W-wh-what?" stuttered, Sakura asked
"I arrived here much earlier, and you happen to walk past me" he informed
'heh...'inner snickered
"The second option would be much better to describe it... Sorry..." she silently muttered feeling a sudden chill down her spine
"Since we're here now, let's better go" Itachi stood up as he set his hands to assist her, she complied making her hands reach out for his.
'During date, holding your partners hands is the best, it would forever symbolize the strength on how the two people strongly fights for the other to be at their side.' Ten-ten squealed as she gave the advice
'You know, that advice doesn't seem to imply in our situation'
The two silently walked together hand in hand. At first, holding each other's hand seems to be uncomfortable. She tried to get away from his grasp, but later on gave up as soon as she realized that the more she tried to struggle, the more his grip tightened. Sakura obediently followed his way since she technically had no idea where they would be going.
'I guess that advice works especially when one is the possessive type'
They walked almost everywhere in town. Glad she wasn't able to stumble with anyone she knows. They went to the shopping district, to the well known bridge, at the riverbank, until they stopped at a certain bus stop.
"U-um... Are you...?" Sakura asked
"Yes. We would be going there" Itachi answered already knowing what her question was.
'Remember... during first date... going to the amusement park would make your relationship far stronger' Ino advised
Sensing her small fidget, Itachi squeezed her hand lightly for assurance. The small gesture made Sakura snapped back into reality.
'Here goes... Let's make ourselves far more bonded with him'she cheered at herself lifelessly, yet sarcastically
'NoOoOoOo!'inner dramatically cried
The couple arrived at the amusement park, packed by so many people. The ticket booth was jammed by a long line of people...
'Heh! This line would never make us have a ticket for today'inner spatted
"Waiting is not only necessary in an amusement park, also in a relationship. Waiting can make couple bond more, learn more about the other... Why you ask? In a ride, it would only last in a short period of time, waiting can last longer... It's like it would test your patience with one another... Something along those lines... Did I get that right Ino?" Ten-Ten tilted her head in a matter of factly way
Ino sighed in return "Forehead, just remember, make those times to know more about him, because time never stops..."
"Let's go" Itachi told her, as they resumed walking
"U-um.." she reaponded unsure
"Sakura, do you remember what I told you last time?" he stopped on his tracks and faced her
'Let's go on a date, I mean, we haven't had our first yet... So maybe within this month, be prepared... I already have a two yearly pass to the amusement park...' Itachi told her (previous chapter) before he went back to the side of Shisui and left.
She felt embarrassed, forgetting those phrases when he whispered to her back then. She slumped her head down It wasn't entirely her fault; it was a full whole month before it had been executed. Maybe for real couples, they would always remember that kind of conversation. But their relationship is only due to the gratitude and contract they had... She nodded to stop the awkward silence go...
She looked back at him, wherein he finally led her near the entrance itself.
"I-Ita-?" Sakura was about to ask when she saw her devil holding a two limited year pass
"I already have the tickets" Itachi informed her
"Since when?"
"For a while..."
"How?"
"Shisui."
"Why?"
"Hn."
"Tell..."
"No"
Inner being annoyed 'Sakura! Why the hell are you playing with him with the one word game!' she spatted
...
...
'A-and t-that GENERAL! I hate him! This basically all his fault we're in this situation'Inner Sakura fumed while thinking of ways on how to torture Shisui's inner
Sakura laughed at inner. 'Hey inner, since you've become a no help for a while now, let me remind you, we are still having a 'date' with the devil incarnate. And right now... I finally decided...' she smirked leaving her inner wonder
'What are you planning?'
'Following an advice'Sakura chuckled
...
'NoOoOo! You can't possibly mean...'
'Yup! That advice inner'
'Why all of a sudden!'Inner said in a disbelief manner having a terrified plastered on her face
'Paying, for making my head hurts with your loud ruckus'
'I hate you!'inner venomously spatted
'Then hate me'Sakura countered
'...'
'That's right, if you hate me, then it basically means you hate yourself'Sakura pointed out
Inner was stabbed by an imaginary arrows as she felt herself knelt down defeated
'Afterall he had the good cards at his hands'Sakura muttered to her Inner Self
"Dating is like a card game, sometimes you have the good hand, and sometimes you get the bad hand - just play along and always remember be yourself and have fun!"
Itachi and Sakura finally made their way inside the amusement park, as they headed first to the fast food area to grab some lunch. Itachi bought onigiris while Sakura bought anko dumplings and Caesar salad.
"Is that the only thing you're eating?" Sakura wondered as Itachi started to eat his second onigiri
"I'll ask the same to you" Itachi asked as well as he saw Sakura Just finihed with her dumplings
"This fine" Sakura answered "Want some?" she asked as she unknowingly made a blunt move on her part as she offered her fork with some of the cabbages in her salad
"Mind if I do" Itachi answered as a gentleman as he swallowed swiftly the fork and brushed off all the greens in one swift move
Sakura blushed as she realized what she just offered. 'My salad... My fork... Now in his mouth!'
"Thank you" Itachi made his signature angelic smile that caused a rapid havoc on Sakura's chest
'Open ended question is a key for an essential date...'
The two finished their food as they finally made their way towards the different attractions available by the park. Time to time Itachi would ask Sakura her likes and dislikes, which also caused her to ask the same thing with him.
"Why are we going there?" Sakura asked in a shaking voice
"I want to check out what the others were fussing in this attraction" Itachi answered
"Then go! Suit yourself, I'm staying here" Sakura demanded as she crossed her arms as emphasis she was totally serious in her statement
"No can do" Itachi then grabbed Sakura by her wrist as she protested with no avail.
"KYAAAAA!"Sakura shrieked like a she-beast with every encounter they'll pass in each part of the house. With every seconds ticking, Sakura's life force depleted as it finally on the verge of her deep untimely comatose
Before Sakura felt light-headed as her legs buckled up, Itachi expertly maneuvered his hands to catch the ill-fainted pinkette.
"You're shaking?" Itachi assessed
"OF COURSE I AM!" Sakura snapped back with the last reservoir of her strength "DIDN'T I JUST SAID THAT THIS IS THE LAST PLACE I WANT TO BE IN!"
Itachi chuckled with the reaction Sakura gave him. "This things are just plastics" Itachi informed as he grabbed one skeleton hand hanging at the corner
"DON'T YOU EVEN DARE GET CLOSE TO ME YOU, YOU-" Sakura started accusing Itachi as she backs away with wide steps...
"YO!" Someone greeted as he grabbed the pinkette by her shoulders
"¥$(%|/}!" Sakura shrieked with incomprehensible words of different curses all over the world in her last ounce of her energy, as her sight finally dimmed.
'Saku-chan' Inner called in a worried voice 'Saku-chan, please don't die on me yet'
'...hmmmnnn... Shut... it...' Sakura snapped listlessly '...how... can... I possibly die... when you are still full of energy?'
Inner laughed. 'Then wake up... I think you finally have your turn for punishing the poor evil general'
'Huh? What did I do?' Sakura asked confusedly. Last thing that was registered on her was that she cursed then fainted and that's pretty much it.
'Itachi's being the devil/evil lord reincarnate... Had been bullying his cousin in his own way for quite some time now'Inner Sakura informed
Slowly, she opened her eyes to assess where on earth had she been laid on. It was a typical white room with shelves of medications in every corner. She then noticed her 'devil' was sitting beside her bed just like the time when she fainted at school...
"You're up." itachi said in a sweet voice "Sorry... If I had dragged you there even knowing you're protest"
'Hmph'Inner snorted
"What happened?" Sakura asked
"The theme park management accommodated us" Itachi answered
"Where is-?"
"You'll never see him for a while. I made sure of that" Itachi reassured as he smirked at the time when he told her what he did to his own blood relative
'Creepy'Inner Sakura commented
"Do you want to go home?" He asked
Sakura shrugged. "I think you owe me for a pay-back" she grinned after knowing what's what her devil hates at the amusement park
"If that pleases" Itachi answered as he had paled slightly knowing what was to happen
"Go! Go! Go! Itachi-san!" Sakura cheered the raven haired man as he ate his third plate of steak
'That would better keep him shut!'Inner Sakura snorted
'Well, I'ts pretty much his fault anyway...' Sakura agreed 'You know, he's quite the caring type'Sakura assessed
'Huh?'Inner Sakura gave a questioningly look
'If he doesn't want to, he could always deny right? But he still agreed to partake in this eating competition, even if it means to stain his image'Sakura giggled with the thought
'You quite have a point there' Inner Sakura agreed 'So... Do you bet he's going to win?'
'I bet he'll win'Sakura answered
'Why so confident?'
'He may not be truly my boyfriend, but I do trust him for some reason...'
'Since when?'Inner Sakura gave a curious look
'Don't know... Just now?'Sakura wondered
'Wow~'Inner said sarcastically
The eating competition finally ended as Itachi finally got none other than the first place...
'How perfect could he be'Sakura muttered
'Perfect? Him?'Inner said disbelievingly
'Hello? Have you seen him make any mistake... so far he had been pestering us? Is there any flaw in his dreamingly sexy body? Tell me.'
'... Did you just say?'Inner twitchingly disgusted
'I... I...'Sakura stuttered inwardly when a large weasel plushie came into her vision. She looked at the source as the man she just pushed to participate at the eating competition was at her front holding the said item
"Here" Itachi said as he shaked a little the cute mischievous looking plushie.
Sakura smiled as she reached for the prized item "Thank you"
"Where do you want to go next?" Itachi asked as they finally walked down the street of the amusement park
"Why don't we finish our date with that one" Sakura pointed her free hand to one of the known booths of the park, the Ferris wheel.
Itachi looked at the said ride. He did not liked it at all, after finishing at least 15 plates of large stakes that he least like to eat... Not one bit... But he agreed after being taunted by his little mischievous companion with her wide grinning face
"Itachi-san, can't take a little height?" Sakura teased as she twirled freely towards the ride
"Hn" Itachi grunted as he nodded to satisfy the little wants of the pinkette with him
Waiting in the longest line that the theme park could ever muster for the day, the two couple continued to talk about themselves...
"Sakura?"
"Itachi-san"
"Could you just call me by name without any honorifics"
"Nope"
"Hn."
"Tell me, then I'll call you by that name"
Itachi looked at Sakura. Seconds later he understood what she was trying to get from him "Why can't you just let go of that?"
"Curiosity kills me"
"My, my, then we just have to kill that curiosity of yours"
"Then answer"
"Say my name, then I'll answer" he offered his terms
Sakura looked at him suspiciously "You... You're not going to answer, aren't you?"
"Depends in your decision"
"Seriously... I was the one who asked first"
"Well yes... But I also have my own terms"
"..." Sakura gaped at him "Why you-?" Sakura then started fuming as she clutched tightly with the squeaking plushie
"NEXT! Sir, Ma'am" The ride caretaker called their attention as they were ushered to their ride
A very awkward silence engulfed the whole cart as Sakura just took her time to look at the scenery especially the darkening clouds of the sky. While Itachi just stared at nothing, but time to time he's eyes ended up with his companion who was still obviously sulking in front of him.
Itachi sighed. "I always happened to be there" He started breaking the silence. Sakura looked at him as he then continued "I happened to witness every attempts you made at my foolish little brother" he can't sustain himself as he released a small chuckle remembering those times
Sakura who heard his explanation wanted to die here and there. Jumping from the cart was one of the greatest options she finally had in mind to end her total HUMILIATION.
"I was quite astounded that you still kept doing those things, despite his rejection towards you" Itachi admitted
To the pink haired with the a big weasel plushie on her hands felt heavy, there were a whole lot of imaginary swords stabbed into her as someone who both either criticize her or appreciate all the things she stupidly had done in public. "Thank you, Itachi"
"There's no need for that. Tell me something…"
"What about-?"
"How did you fell in love with my foolish little brother?"
Sakura gazed at Itachi, as her eyes softened as she recalled how and why she had fallen to the person he had been calling 'foolish little brother' "I'm sorry, but that would be my secret for a while" she answered as she cut off their gazes
"Then I'll wait…" Itachi answered calmly
"Itachi…"
"Hn."
"Thank you"
"Didn't I-?"
"Just accept it"
"Hn."
'Thanks for today…'
To Be Continued...
A/N:…REVIEW! Now anyone could criticize me about the date!
And this chapter by the way is the newest! :) not the edited/revised :D