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Aftereffect-Chapter Twelve is here! :)
trueblue51,mannuj,sakuraseeker2792, ILoveSxS,LoveThisStory! -Some of you were confused by Sasuke's actions and some of you had really good guesses, this chapter should clear things up :))
ili-OHHH your sooo Awesome. Thank you sooo much for your sweet words, I know you guys are here for me and I appreciate that. And LOL! You always make me laugh out loud! I love your enthusiasm for SasuSaku to start heating up!
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Misskonoha- You always know what I'm hinting at with a single 'line' or comment, I just love that! Again, your guesses are pretty spot on in some area's but we will wait and see how this thing rides out :) Oh, your going to be even more frustrated with Sasuke's fan-girls the first half of this chapter.
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Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, simply the plot.
Chapter Twelve: Cracked.
When you feel my heat
Look into my eyes
It's where my demons hide
It's where my demons hide
Don't get too close
It's dark inside
It's where my demons hide
It's where my demons hide
-Imagine Dragons
"What took you?"
Sakura's unfocused eyes snapped out of their trance at the sound of Naruto's voice. She found his blue gaze watching her peculiarly from the rear-view mirror, that his hand was currently wiggling about to get a better angle of her in the back-seat of the car. Any other time she would have rolled her eyes or smirked at his silly antics... but at the moment she was feeling rather deflated. She flashed her eyes over to the raven-haired boy sitting loosely in the passenger seat before answering the blonde,"I had to grab a jacket from my dorm... It's a lot colder at night here..."
He seemed satisfied with the answer, giving her a teasing smirk,"Well, you did live in the desert before right Sak? Makes sense-OW!"
This time she did roll her eyes, she had barely put any pressure into the punch at his shoulder... and Suna was not a 'desert'...Well, not entirely. He rubbed at his shoulder with a pout in place, claiming that he bruised easy. She merely muttered 'baby' under her breath.
At that, his voice rose even louder in indignation and defense, earning a chuckle out of her. He grinned at the sound too, completely dropping the case. More than obliged at making her laugh, even if it meant looking like a fool himself.
Though the boy beside him was the complete opposite. His expression was one of utter boredom and distaste, as though he'd rather be anywhere else.
She couldn't help but silently agree... she wasn't feeling up for anything right now.
Heaving a tired sigh, Sakura resumed watching the tree's and tall buildings swoosh by in a fast motion through the window as they passed. Her mind tracing back to the still-fresh events, that transpired after class.
Eventually, the rosette got her wits about her after Sasuke's exchange and exited the room with a carefully placed - cool exterior. Walking through the halls, she inwardly planned out what course of action to take around him when they would inevitably reach Naruto's home. She would be strictly professional, focusing only on the project and nothing more. She would make sure Naruto was present at all times during the duration of her stay... and she would maintain a healthy distance from the young Uchiha and his alluring charcoal orbs.
Reaching a hand out to push' open one of the double-doors leading outside, a very distinct, venomous voice hissed her surname from down the hall. Her hand rested on the door as she turned her body slightly, green eyes traveling toward the source.
Karin was quickly making her way down the hall to where Sakura stood. Her expression, furious.
Sakura was pretty sure- no -damn certain, as to what was about to come out of the fuming girls mouth.
The fiery red-head didn't stop until she was a mere foot away from Sakura and started,"Let me make this clear for you a second time, since it obviously didn't register the first... Sasuke, is mine."
Well, she gets right to the point doesn't she?
Sakura's hand dropped from the door and she turned her body fully toward the girl before her, and waited.
Karin took another step closer, watching Sakura as though she was a repulsive bug she wanted to squash,"First the racing alley, then the high-jacking of his Jet-ski and now your in his group..." Her voice was low, threatening,"Care to explain..?"
Sakura's eyes narrowed, "I don't owe you anything-"
"The hell you don't!" She interjected in a shout, and as if on cue, both Ami and Ayame turned the corner, but stayed where they were, watching the scene with obvious enjoyment.
Leaning into the rosette, a red-manicured finger-nail jammed into her shoulder,"Your going to get out of his group for the project-"
"I won't," Sakura stated, cutting her off before dusting the shoulder the red-head jabbed none-to-gently with an exaggerated brush of her hand. The rosettes own anger was simmering within, she refused to be told what to do. Especially from the likes of her. The fear of confirming their suspicions of her and Sasuke being an item was disregarded for the moment.
Karin's face changed into one of disbelief, then back to the burning hatred, she seethed in a low tone."You better back the fuck off or I swear I will make your life a living hell-"
"Karin, Sakura, do we have a problem here..?"
Both set of eyes snapped down the hall to find Kakashi, Sakura's ever-tardy math teacher, strolling toward them almost casually. The book that was usually glued to his hand was surprisingly tucked under his arm. As he neared, Karin took a step back, plastering on a strained smile,"No sir, me and Sakura here were only discussing our up-coming game this Wednesday."
She's good under pressure isn't she? The rosette silently praised (or cursed) Karin's ability to create convincing lies at the very last second.
Stopping just before them, he gave a curt nod,"Aa... Is that right, Sakura?"
She caught the doubt playing in his eyes as he studied her and paused, flashing her gaze over to take in Karin's features that seemed provoking, as if she was 'daring' the rosette to say otherwise. Sakura let out a small sigh,"Yeah... discussing our game... this Wednesday."
"Yup, I'll see you for practice tomorrow then Sakura," she cheered with a knowing' wink, walking away from them and toward Ami and Ayame, still watching from down the hall. The rosette proceeded in pushing the door open, adding a little more pressure than needed. Kakashi swiftly fell into step after her, effortlessly keeping up with her hurried steps. When she caught sight of him behind her, she turned a quick corner, attempting to dissuade him and heard a light chuckle resound, still right on her toes. She stopped with a huff, and turned on him,"What is it Mr. Kakashi..?" Her frustration evident, as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"That's what I want to know... " He said in a persuading tone, stuffing a single hand into his pocket,"Now, what did Karin really say to you Sakura?"
Her lips formed a thin line and pink brows dipped low in thought, she mentally readied a disarming response until a shadow fell over her own.
Her petite frame remained facing Kakashi, but she turned her head slightly toward the owner of the second shade, to meet ice-cold black eyes.
"What did Karin say to you?"
There, a mere three feet away stood Sasuke Uchiha. Devastatingly handsome... and downright distraught. Her own anger was forgotten at the sight, replaced with something akin to alarm.
Oh hell, this was seriously the cherry on top her freaking 'sundae.'
She wanted to swallow the forming lump at her throat but found it completely parched, clearing her throat instead, she stated nimbly,"It was about our up-coming game," and with that, turned away from both men in a stride, prepared to run if need be. She was not going to get anyone involved in this, absolutely not.
She would handle it.
Sakura vaguely heard Sasuke exchange words with Kakashi but didn't look back to see. Keeping her quick pace, her dorm building finally came into view and she sighed in relief, hurrying inside.
The scratching sound of her pen against her notebook filled the quiet room. They - or she, had been at it for several hours now. Naruto had brought them into his spacious, neon-orange furnished room, when they first arrived. The blonde had been super enthusiastic about getting started quickly but had yet to do anything significant besides play some gruesome video games on his round, orange bean-bag. She had anticipated such from him, so she really wasn't that surprised.
Sakura sat on the floor, leaning against the wall, with her note-book propped up on her bent legs. Sasuke sat in the same fashion right across from her, save for his arms being crossed loosely over his chest, one leg being out-stretched before him, the other bent and balancing their project packet, that he was still reading over. He hadn't spoke a word since they arrived.
"Sakura please, pleaseeeee I'm dying."
She huffed, gripping the pen in her hand in irritation. Naruto had already eaten countless amounts of junk-food, the proof (wrappers) was still sprawled all around his feet, yet he insisted he was about to pass out from not eating in hours.
Aside from being dramatic, she did find it hilarious that he needed her permission to go get some food, it was his home after-all, how was she supposed to stop him? Although, she had been ignoring his request for the last half-hour because she didn't want to be left alone with Sasuke... For several, obvious reasons.
"I'll be quick... I promise!"
And Naruto was already slipping past the door before she could object.
Sakura sighed dejectedly, eyeing the boy still sitting across from her wearily. She felt the atmosphere change at once upon the blondes departure. It was strange really... She secretly feared that if she was to reach her hand out, she would get shocked by the electrical currents floating and swirling around them... Making her even breaths hitch and then release before it repeated again... She was seriously losing her mind, she decided.
Although his silence was unnerving, to say the least, not that he was usually talkative... but by now he would have said something, whether to interrogate her about Karin or to make Naruto feel stupid, like he usually did. Neither had happened though. So the rosette continued to openly study him, and was sure he could feel her eyes on him but he had yet to call her out on it... What was his deal?
Setting aside the original plan to not converse with him, let alone - be alone with him, she broke the silence,"Hey, you haven't said a word in hours... are you still working on the formula..?"
Silence. Not even the shifting of his body, or the blink of an eye to let her know that he had heard her. Her brows creased, frustration growing, she set down her pen and notebook, folding her legs beneath her bum. She also recalled his agitation during class, and of course after class, when he caged her in. He had been having a battle within himself, she could see it in his dark gaze but he never uttered a word to her... like now. Was he angry with her?
"What's your deal... are you mad at me?" She found herself inquiring without a second thought, overcome with the need to know what he was thinking. As to why that was, she discarded. Unconsciously leaning on her arm and not as much against the wall behind her as she waited.
He shifted, finally. Bringing the out-stretched leg toward him, he set aside the packet and rested his muscular arms on both bent legs before his eyes blinked up at her. The weight of his stare had her wishing she had kept her mouth shut. They were a black-abyss, with both unspoken questions and answers, and she was transfixed by them, unsure of how much time had passed before forcefully tearing her eyes away from their hypnotic clutch.
"Does that fact bother you..?"
She wasn't sure if it was disdain in his low tenor or curiosity but again, unhindered by her usually guarded or anxious thoughts she answered honestly.
"... Well, yes."
"Why."
She sensed the anger simmering just beneath his cool exterior at the sharp question... She couldn't fathom why he was saying these things or why she cared so much... but the thought of him being angry with her was enough to have her confessing everything.
"Why-? ...Because we're friends-"
"Friends,' Sakura?" His voice was lethal, taunting even, as he pushed off the floor to a stand. Sensing the tangible air thicken within the room and his obvious cracking facade, her stomach churned in a dizzying motion and she quickly pushed to her knee's and stood as well.
"If that was true you'd tell me what Karin said."
He was testing her, cornering her, into telling him, she knew... The only option was to seal her mouth shut. No matter what lie she threw to disarm him, he'd know.
"Naruto told me what Ami and Ayame did this morning."
He was taking slow steps toward her, like a panther closing in on its prey... and she gritted her teeth, her own anger surfacing. Leave it to the blonde to keep everyone informed.
"I'm handling it-"
Their was a black-fire in his eyes,"What did Karin say to you." His command left no room for debate as he came to a stop just before her petite frame.
She let out a frustrated huff, running a hand through her hair,"Why - why are you doing this? Why wont you let me handle it-"
His eyes narrowed into slits, "Are you really so ignorant? ...I thought you were smarter than that." He sneered, taking another step closer, invading her personal circle.
"Your the one who wont understand me! If any of you - especially you, were to get involved it would only make everything worse!" She said with more malice than intended, it had been a long, long day... and she did not need him questioning her intelligence.
He was so close, she was leaning back against the wall hoping to create some space - any space, her breathing becoming slightly ragged.
His obsidian gaze seemed to burn her with the red-hot fury whirling within them,"They're doing this, because of me."
Of course they were bullying her because of him, but she hadn't expected him to - well, actually she wasn't sure what she had expected, but it wasn't this - it wasn't that underlying emotion within his dark gaze.
Guilt. It was guilt she realized, just beneath his anger...
She was too familiar that particular emotion... They were more alike than she initially knew. And suddenly, it was extremely difficult to breathe.
He had already done so much for her... Why was he so attentive of her?
Was she always going to be the damsel in distress in their eyes - his eyes..?
"... Why do you always have to be the hero Sasuke?" She said in a whisper, wanting to lighten his burden, her burden... Why did everyone seem to get dragged into her circumstances, her predicaments as of late? She felt her own guilt strings tugging ruthlessly at the sight of him.
Before she could process another thought, or even register what was transpiring, there was a pressure against her lips.
She sucked in a sharp.
Sasuke... Sasuke was kissing her. She felt her knee's buckle with the realization. Stumbling back against the wall for support, he took the moment to move even closer against her, his left hand steadying her by the waist and the other wound gently over the side of her jaw and neck. Her eyes were still painfully wide, as his lips pressed more firmly over her own and she felt her head sway with the dizziness hazing over her.
Unable to stop him, since she couldn't even think a coherent thought let alone command her body, yet unsure if she even wanted too. What the hell was happening to her?
He broke away from her lips then.
His black - black eyes fluttered open, still a breath away from her panting, paralyzed form.
Neither spoke for a moment, sharing the same breath before he leaned in to whisper in her ear resolutely.
"Because... I'm not your friend Haruno."
Her breath hitched at both his words and the different kind of fire now reflecting in his eyes - desire. She fought the shudder threatening to wrack her body, leaning her full weight against the wall now. He closed eyes, taking a deep breath before releasing her and then he was walking away, disappearing out the door.
Once he was out of sight, she let her shaking legs give out, her body slid down against the wall in sheer after-shock.
Did that - Did that really just happen?
Her hand was moving up and brushing against her lips before she told it too... Yes, it did just happen. She was still panting from the swell of emotions swimming within her and felt the hysteria slowly rising. Sasuke Uchiha had kissed her, and though she hadn't exactly responded - she hadn't stopped him either.
Her breathing becoming harder by the second. She wanted to blame it on her shock, on him catching her off guard but that would only be half-true. She wasn't stupid, she couldn't put a name on the feelings she held for the young Uchiha heir but she knew there was attraction. So much so, that it scared her, made her want to keep her distance... Made her defensive around him. Yes, it was a defense mechanism she was accustomed to, so as to not get hurt... or give a boy the power to hurt her.
'I'm not your friend.'
She groaned into her hands at the meaning of his words... Was he warning her, that he was trouble, and to be wary of him? Or was he stating he would never be just a friend with her? Maybe it was a bit of both... and she now felt faint within the claustrophobic room.
There was not enough air - would never be again.
She needed to get out of here.
Crawling over to her bag, she hastily grabbed her note-book and the project packet, jamming them inside before throwing the strap over her shoulder. She pushed to a stand, stumbling as she did, due to her legs still feeling as though they were made of jelly, before exiting the room with as much dignity as she could muster.
Tuesday came around with a beautiful morning. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and she rotated onto her back in her bed.
Uncaring of what was going on outside her dorm room.
The straw-berry blonde laid awake in her bottom bunk for several hours, even before Ino and Hinata were up, and getting dressed for their morning classes. She didn't have the mental or emotional strength to face the day, still trying to grasp all that happened the day before.
When she had gone down to find Naruto, to convince him to take her home, there was no sight of the dark angel wreaking havoc on her emotional state. She was more than relieved. The blonde had complied but not before questioning her about what was going on and why Sasuke had left early too. She hadn't answered any of his questions, so he eventually dropped it, only silently mulling over it all.
The instant she stepped foot into her dorm room Ino had been grilling her. Sakura was aware that she sometimes wore her heart on her sleeve, but her best-friend had a disturbing knack of knowing when something was wrong with her. Aside from the conniving girls giving her a hard time, Sakura didn't confess anything. She wasn't ready to admit anything aloud. She knew her friend was unsatisfied with the response but the rosette convinced her she'd tell her later.
Overcome with panic for some time, she tried to keep her jumbled mind preoccupied. Getting to work, she cracked open her note-book, working on assignments that weren't do until next week, an essay due in a month, and even that damn Chem project. She had opened the packet to find that he had nearly finished all the formula's in the correct order, momentarily in awe of his sharp and quick mind, she snapped back a second later to hastily throw the packet aside in anger.
What the hell did she have to do to get him out of her mind?
At that moment she hated him, more than she ever - ever had.
Tuesday afternoon came around, the sun was blazing, the sprinklers were chattering and she shifted into the fetal position.
She had yet to leave the warm confines of her bed.
She was safe here... not even the stress of her math quiz today would get her moving and out the door. She only wished she could shut her mind off, even for a minute. It always seemed to draw back to him, and his lips pressing against her own. Her heart dropped into her stomach just thinking - remembering the ordeal.
Instead of pushing aside the memory, she finally allowed herself to take the time to consider Sasuke Uchiha and his actions.
He was effortlessly smooth, confident, reserved, ever-teasing her, constantly showing up and witnessing things she wished no one ever would, and yesterday, he made his intention toward her pretty clear.
What was she supposed to do?
Just let him in..?
The thought scared her to death. Sakura found herself wondering how anybody ever fell in-love... Not that she was in-love with him but even liking him made her feel so vulnerable... to trust someone with what was left of your distorted - damaged heart, was terrifying to say the least. Yet she couldn't deny how she felt for him... but also, couldn't even put a name on it.
Did she like him? She knew it was more than simply being attracted to his incredibly gorgeous features... It was more than just lust, she established that.
But... was it the same for him? Did he see this beyond lust like she did..?
One part of her was skeptical but the other stronger part said yes, it was more.
Otherwise he wouldn't go so far for her... if it was mere lust, right?
The knots in her stomach only grew, causing her nausea to intensify and leaving her unable to have a bite to eat all day. Even as Ino came barging back with Hinata, Naruto and Tenten in tow, trying to shove food down her throat.
She couldn't stomach her own thoughts, let alone actual food... but managed a bite or two of the 'easier to stomach' peach they brought just to put them at ease. The blonde haired boy eventually departed after some time, having to go discuss an event with some of the guys, he ruffled her hair playfully before leaving. Although she didn't miss the worry etched upon his brow.
All three girls seemed to turn on her after his absence and she debated shouting his name to have him come back to avoid the up-coming topic. Was she really that obvious? She had to wonder...
"Okay forehead, Ive had enough of your moping... What happened with that sexy Uchiha..?"
Her eyes in-admissibly widened and face instantly heated over, leaving her slightly breathless with the force.
The blonde pointed an accusing finger with a triumphant smirk,"AHA! I knew it!"
"How..?" Tenten watched the blonde in awe from her seat on the floor, waiting for her to reveal her psych powers.
The blonde beamed where she sat beside the rosette's still laying form,"Well, the last thing she told me was that her Naruto and Sasuke had a group project, and that she was going to go to that knuckleheads house to get started... But when she came home in the condition she did yesterday I knew something was up."
The brunette nodded, taking in every word before she turned questioning eyes on the strawberry-blonde.
Feeling all three sets of eyes on her, she knew they weren't going to let this go, so she turned away from them. She faced the wall, and gave them her back-side before she inhaled a shaky breath, getting her buzzing nerves under control, she debated how much to tell them to get them off her back.
"I just think he's - worried about me..."
Ino's arm steadied her over Sakura's body, gripping the sheets beside her abdomen, as she leaned over the rosette,"About everything that's been going on with those bitches? Okay... Then whats going on with you? ...Talk to us."
She closed her eyes, already drained from the short conversation. She didn't want to lie to them, so she would simply sum it up.
Whatever way they interpreted her next words was fine with her. Even if it made her look weak - overwhelmed by those cruel girls.
Which, they were actually the last of her worries. She only had one sole reason - person for her current condition of anxiety and depression.
"I'm just - worried about me too..."
Her walls were still standing, but there were cracks and fissures left in its wake.
...
..
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Well..? ;))
How was that..? Lol, I'm DYING to know your thoughts/reactions. I'm not putting any 'thoughts to consider' or notes' this chapter because I simply want to hear you guys out.
And, I update a week later because I couldn't resist :)
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