Prologue:
Super Rich Kids
Sakura ran her finger along the rim of the glass again, slow and knowing, eyes wandering aimlessly around the lounge. The ice had finished melting a few minutes prior and now her Negroni had lost its taste much like she lost interest in the night. It was only her second drink, so she was sober enough to regret staying in. Konoha Fashion Week was right around the corner, after all. Ino was headed to her final fitting, Sakura had already had hers, but she wasn't allowed any such outing in the public eye until the shows, when she was to take her prized seat front row next to her best friend, matching Louboutin's and all.
Sakura shifted in the stool, straightened her back; she never stepped out of the exclusive booth anymore, but it didn't hurt to make sure she'd at least look decent if someone snapped a picture of her having a drink by her lonesome. It was annoying as hell, but Ino made sure to drill it into her head that the flames wouldn't fan out if she kept feeding them. So, Sakura, begrudgingly, lay as low as her temper allowed. It wasn't easy, though. Unfortunately, she was aware of who was staying in the master suite across the hall from hers, and it did nothing to lighten her mood.
Her phone lit up. Apparently Ino found her predicament amusing. Sakura grimaced and shot back a fiery reply, but she felt like the butt of a very annoying joke when she got the next text.
-say what you want forehead but you're still at the bar and if he's really staying there you know he'll be down there soon-
Ino nailed the sore spot, obviously, but that didn't mean Sakura had to take it nicely. The rest of her stale Negroni vanished in one gulp.
Alright, she was dragging her feet leaving for her room, fair. But she was home. If anyone was intruding, it most definitely was him. And speaking of –
There he was. Sasuke Uchiha, in the flesh, looking the billion he was worth. It pissed her off to admit how well he pulled off his fabled all-black outfits; he wasn't in close range yet, but she could recognize an Uchiha-tailored Dior suit a mile away. They hadn't made eye contact yet, which was fantastic, because it gave Sakura the time to assess the situation, prepare for the unavoidable encounter. There were nerves crawling up her spine, but she supposed she should count herself lucky. Despite his fame, Sasuke was a rather shadowy public figure. Sightings happened about five times a year. And still he had a way of landing himself among the Top 10 Most Attractive Men. Every. Single. Time.
Oh, right. Sasuke wasn't just rich and hot. He was also her ex.
Her ex that she hadn't seen once in two years. Her fingers gripped the empty glass before her hard to distract from how natural it felt to be in the same room as him for a second. His face carried the signature neutrality most tabloids called either 'mysterious' or 'uninviting.' Sakura always thought that was journalist speak for 'he was scowling,' but that also meant the paparazzi had never seen him truly mad. Sasuke's glower was for the ages… and she was now its target because he finally caught sight of her. Sakura felt time stop, and it'd be so serendipitous to say it the Celine Dion way, because 'it was all coming back.' But no. In a moment that felt so removed from reality and that seemed to stretch for freaking forever, Sasuke blinked, glared, and sat at the opposite end of the bar.
Excuse me?
Sakura was vaguely aware of her mouth hanging open as she continued to stare at his now turned head. There was no way he didn't account for her being there. He was staying at Haruno International, for god's sake. Her eyes kept burning holes into him, but he didn't seem to mind enough to look her way again. Right. It was all coming back, how Sasuke had a way of filling her with fluttery butterflies one moment and murderous rage the next.
I'm not drunk enough for this shit.
Enough stalling. Sakura would have actually assessed the situation, but her way of dealing with Sasuke Uchiha had never involved much critical thought. Sure, the timing was bad, but her mood was worse. She stood herself and strode his way, swinging her hips and clinking the very fancy heels she'd prepared for the occasion with each step.
"Hello," she said with surprising pleasantry.
Sasuke half-turned, just enough to lock eyes with her. Sakura couldn't immediately read his expression, but she had the distinct feeling that it wasn't neutral. He only grunted and nodded in acknowledgment, but the staring contest was still on. Well, too bad; she felt pretty confident looking at him in her burgundy satin cocktail dress.
"Is this seat taken?"
He frowned the tiniest amount at that, which usually meant he was not in the mood for bullshit, but she couldn't care less. She slid into the seat at his right anyway.
Sakura carefully placed her clutch before her and put on her pageant smile. Ino would have been proud.
"I didn't expect to see you here, but it's such a nice surprise."
Sasuke had yet to reply as he waited for his whisky neat, while her words marinated awkwardly in the space between them. It took an incredible amount of willpower to stop herself from stomping her stiletto heel into his foot. Once he got his drink, he nodded at the barkeep to go away, which tested her patience somehow even more.
Don't forget who owns this place, jerk.
"Hello, Sakura."
She fought the tingle of his voice this close to her after so long, but it didn't pose much of a challenge. It was his scent that did – clean, but minty and coated in tobacco – and his stare under a fringe longer than she remembered. Okay, fine. He was hot. But she already knew that in detail. She was at a loss for what to say, though. So much for making Ino proud.
"What brings you here?"
"Business."
Well, damn. "Naturally. But you haven't booked Haruno International in years."
He raised one brow.
"Do you need my patronage that badly?"
Sasuke's face wore most expressions well, but Sakura had always wondered why he was so intent on only switching between murderous and freaking cocky. It made her want to wipe his smirk clean off. She felt the smile stretch across her face way past the limit of pleasantry, so she gestured for the bartender.
"What shall I bring you, Miss?"
"Scotch."
It was an excruciating couple of minutes until she was served her drink and left once more to her lonesome with the biggest asshole she had ever met. And to think she had let herself feel some sort of excitement about the prospect of their reunion. Her agent had advised her against this, and Ino agreed. When did that ever happen?
Sakura's luck was so unserious though, because just as her anger boiled over, Sasuke fished his phone out of his pockets and clicked his tongue. He was quick to put it away, but not quick enough for Sakura to miss the caller ID. She snorted.
"Daddy?"
He pinched the bridge of his nose. "No."
"Wow," she smirked, "I never knew you felt that way about Kakashi. I totally get it though."
"No."
"Our breakup makes so much more sense now."
At that Sasuke, stiffened. Serves you right.
"Naruto."
"Oh." She blinked, feigning concern. "Poor Naruto."
"Shut up. The idiot messed with my phone."
Sakura swirled her glass and looked around meaningfully before taking a sip.
"Careful, if anyone heard you talking that way about your friend, they might get the wrong idea."
Sasuke glared daggers at her, but then smirked spitefully.
"I don't need PR lessons from you."
Sakura felt her cheeks burn. Touché.
"How is he though?"
In all honesty, she missed being around Naruto Uzumaki, of complex fame. His father was the state governor, but while Naruto seemed to share his passion for politics, he also had a vested interest in… ramen. Thus, the fairly successful Ichiraku Ramen chain was born. Naruto and Sasuke were probably as close as Ino and her were so, in the wake of their disastrous split, he had to pick sides. Sakura begrudgingly got over it.
Sasuke reached for his drink. She wasn't exactly calm, but at least the ice was broken.
"Getting on my nerves." She cocked a brow. "Advocating for… something."
"Insightful."
He finished his drink and called for the butler once more. The night was young and Sakura got the feeling they were racing each other to inebriety. Before he could order him around again, she leaned forward on her elbows and smiled sweetly.
"Martinis, straight. Put it on his tab."
She felt Sasuke's burning eyes on her, but she tucked some of her fringe behind her ear, giving no indication that it bothered her at all. The bartender looked from one to the other quite confused, but he nodded and provided them with the drinks.
"Don't remember offering to pay."
"But isn't it impolite to make the lady pay for the first round?"
Sakura wondered how much more she could stretch his famously thin patience, and it felt like she was close to the limit when he clicked his tongue. But strangely, she didn't want to call it a night yet.
"Tch. Isn't this your bar? So much for that feminism act of yours."
"Wow, chivalry is dead after all." And it died with- "Wait."
His eyes widened a fraction, before he set them straight ahead and downed his martini. She couldn't help the smirk on her face. She also couldn't help that she didn't have a smarter jab to throw.
"Have you been following me?"
"No." he grunted a bit too fast for comfort. "You're everywhere. Naruto won't shut up."
"Well, which is it?"
Sakura knew it was dangerous territory and she might get karmic retribution for her smugness, but she didn't care so long as she got to embarrass Sasuke Uchiha. She once thought their relationship was the best thing that ever happened to her and then he betrayed her and set off a very public, very messy breakup that tarnished her reputation overnight. The media coverage was insane and she'd learned not to risk something of that nature happening again. The climb back to Konoha's Sweetheart was a steep one, and her father's recent fall from grace didn't help either. Meanwhile, trust the public opinion to side with the hot dude, because as far as she was concerned, Sasuke walked out of that whole situation unscathed. The anger in her stomach felt hot, and righteous, and she wasn't going to quit halfway.
But Sasuke let go of his empty glass and turned his body to her, eyes dark, causing some of that anger to drop lower.
"Talking big, weren't you expecting me?"
She froze. Serendipitously, all of the alcohol she'd consumed suddenly tipped her into drunkenness and she could bet that her cheeks were starting to reflect that. She opened her mouth to snap back, but he beat her to it.
"Half empty lounge, no paparazzi in sight. And I run into you looking straight at me, dressed to impress."
"I may own this place, but obviously I can't have a drink in sweats." She spat. "Why, are you impressed?"
Sakura must have been well on her way to intoxicated because she could swear she saw his eyes get even darker. But it always takes two to tango, and his cheeks were a bit flushed too.
"Still impatient. That's what we're doing, having a drink?"
She wanted to punch him so hard she'd forget about the other things she felt like doing. He'd hurt her so much.
"What the fuck does it look like we're doing?" she snarled before she could catch herself, much to her own surprise.
"Careful," he said mockingly, "Watch out for the press, princess. They're out to get you."
Whose fucking fault do you think that is?
"Last I checked, you didn't care about such trivial matters."
"But you do."
Sasuke looked so blissfully arrogant that the anger started to hurt. She hadn't seen him that way in a long time, because it was not something he could showcase in front of the cameras and hope it wouldn't hurt the Uchiha business empire. She hated that she knew it to be his own way of challenging those close enough for sport, for protection. She loathed the stale questions that surfaced like the goosebumps on her arms, questions she would be both brave and reckless enough to ask. She knew he might answer them now, even if unintentionally. Well, she had known. People change.
One thing that she suspected had not changed though, was that if she got up now and put an end to this flaming pile of shit, Sasuke would not follow her. He would not engage with her again. And that, Sakura forced herself to understand, was a blessing. She had no means for revenge, and she had to admit that it would be hollow. She was done feeling hollow.
C'mon, Sakura, you've had enough. Count your losses for once.
So, she sighed, blinked slowly and rested her head in her hand. The smile that came next was unexpectedly effortless.
"Are you being a jerk because I said your brother was handsome on that show?"
Whatever clapback he was expecting from her, it apparently wasn't that. Sakura knew it was a stupid thing to say, but she hoped it would lighten the atmosphere. What it did instead was, for some goddamn reason, piss Sasuke off. She didn't know what else to do with the familiarity of seeing his mood spoil like milk other than… laugh. It didn't go well.
"What's so funny."
"Sasuke, c'mon. That was a joke," she managed between giggles, "You know, comedy. Still a foreign concept to you?"
When he narrowed his eyes and turned away, she couldn't help but wonder.
"Okay, I take it I need to get you another drink."
"That I'm paying for."
Sakura rolled her eyes, "You act like you actually care."
Sasuke looked back at her in passing, with the most annoyed expression she had seen on him yet. It was at least a little bit rewarding. He searched his pockets and produced a pack of cigarettes and his lighter. Sakura felt her heart stutter and hated herself for it. Sasuke had an extensive collection of vintage lighters and despite only ever using a few of them on rotation, he hardly ever left the house with this one. It had belonged to his father. Sakura didn't know what to make of it.
She tapped her fingers absently before pointing to the pack. He offered her a questioning look, but it was overshadowed by his usual smirk.
"Didn't you quit?"
Yeah, well she quit many things. Was it really her fault some of them came back to haunt her?
The night was becoming more loaded with every second.
"You definitely have been following me."
He didn't budge this time, only complied and provided her with a cigarette. She wondered what it would feel like after so long. Sakura tried reaching for the lighter herself, narrowing the gap between them but he moved it to the cigarette now between her lips. There was a familiar pride almost to still herself, wait for the flame to catch, all while drowning in the black of his eyes. Many similar memories resurfaced, sending shivers down her spine.
It burnt at first, as she watched him light one for himself. Her throat felt dry, and she felt a vindictive righteousness creep under skin. Months and months of herbal teas and nicotine patches. And now none of that mattered, because of a split-second decision. She never got rid of the lighter he had given her after all.
The alcohol was still riding high in her veins apparently, because once the tobacco stopped burning, her eyes started to.
Sasuke ordered another drink for himself and weirdly enough, sipped at it in silence. She smoked the rest of her cigarette, eyes wandering aimlessly along the bottles on display, until something within her finally snapped. The self-care mantras she had been battling all evening in her head finally came to a halt. Or she simply couldn't listen anymore because of a very loud and consuming thought.
Why now?
Sakura put out the butt of her cigarette before dropping it crassly in the ashtray, suddenly very lucid and very pissed off.
"Are you going to tell me what you're doing here or not?" she asked a bit breathless.
"That's none of your concern."
"Right. Because it has nothing to do with me."
The mockery in her tone made him stiffen, hostility at the forefront once again. Well, that was something she could handle.
"It's funny though, because it absolutely does concern me. It concerns me when you of all people show up here two years after ruining my life."
"Don't blame me for your stupidity." He growled, low and… wounded?
"You're right, I wasstupid," she hissed, "But I don't see how that's the reason I couldn't show my face in public for a year. You cost my family millions. Spare me the righteousness, Uchiha."
"Don't you just love it," he muttered under his breath. His mouth was contorted into a semblance of a smile, but his eyes were sharp as daggers.
"What? What is it this time, Sasuke?"
"Stop playing dumb, Sakura. It stopped working a long time ago."
She only realized how close they had gotten when his breath finally hit her face. It set off every alarm bell in her head and she could almost hear Ino chastise her; this was not the time, not the place. She was right about the latter, because the time had never been more right. Sakura made a point of looking around the bar before she drew back.
"You want to go for blood?" she said, barely more than a whisper. "Let's take this somewhere else."
The only confirmation she needed was his eyes leaving hers first.
Sakura wasted no time grabbing her clutch, smoothing the skirt of her dress and walking away from the bar. She was seething with new, raw anger and didn't register what he said to the barkeep as he followed her out of the lounge. They said nothing on their way to the elevator, his steps the only confirmation he was still around. The seconds before the door opened and closed after them were excruciating, but they both knew that as long as there were eyes to watch them, they shouldn't do anything to draw their interest.
Once inside, she waited. It felt the wrong kind of right to see Sasuke concede and press the floor button she knew he would. That was all the grace he offered her though, because the next moment he had her cornered to the wall, glaring down at her but decidedly not touching any part of her. Was it crazy that she kind of wanted him to?
"Finally," she whispered. "I was worried there for a second."
"Cut the bullshit, Sakura."
"There are still cameras around, you know."
He showed her that dead eyed smirk again, like a wild animal barring their teeth at its prey.
"You wouldn't have brought us here if anyone actually checked the tapes."
Sasuke slammed his fist over the buttons and the elevator stopped abruptly. The lights flickered dangerously a couple of times.
"Don't ruin my fucking property too," she snarled.
"Nothing I can't pay for."
Sakura raised a brow, "Really? I don't seem to remember you paying for what you did to me, though."
"Drop the fucking goody shtick."
"I must say, I didn't miss the Uchiha pride."
Sasuke huffed, "Seems like you've been chasing it to me."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means, stay the fuck away from me and my business,"
"With pleasure," Sakura squared her shoulders, "But I'm not the one keeping tabs on my ex of two years."
They hadn't broken eye contact since he had her glued to the wall, but she could still see his hand fisting next to her head.
"You're so fucking annoying," he drew in a breath, "You have them all wrapped around your finger,"
"What the fuck are you talking about?" she spat, still very angry, but also a bit confused.
Sakura had no idea what she could've possibly done to offend him. She wasn't thinking clearly either. It was kind of hard to, when she was fighting tooth and nail the urge to either sock or bring that stupidly gorgeous face down to hers.
"I said, stop playing dumb. Do you think I don't know about Itachi?"
She drew a blank.
"What."
Of all the things Sasuke could've brought up to hurt her, Sakura wouldn't have bet on his brother. That's because she had no freaking idea what he had to do with anything. Her relationship with Itachi had been amicable both before and after Sasuke. Was that what bothered him? That his older brother didn't stop doing business with them? That Itachi didn't speak out against her, that he still sent her flowers for her birthday?
Was Sasuke really that fucking petty?
"Are you being serious right now? What's Itachi got to do with anything?"
"When will you stop lying through your fucking teeth,"
That did it. All of the patience left her body and Sakura pushed him away from her. She was trembling with rage.
"I don't know what you don't understand or what you're trying to get me to admit to, but I'm fucking tired. You don't get to come here after everything and expect me to play along with your delusion."
For a second, Sasuke looked genuinely hurt, but as always, it was gone before she could stop her heart from reacting. Sakura felt like that tiny confinement was spinning with them inside. Something had to give. She had a vague idea what was going to.
"To think it would've been yours," he whispered, but her ears were ringing. It made no sense, so he might as well have said anything else.
Sakura rubbed her face exasperatedly.
"This is not how I wanted to spend my evening."
Sasuke smirked again, with enough bite to reach his eyes this time around. It went straight to her knees.
"I know what you want, Sakura."
She was tired. No, she was frustrated. If there's one thing she learned from media training though, was that when you can't beat the narrative, you change it.
"What do I want, Sasuke?"
It was lightning fast and painful like a crash. Sasuke slammed her against the wall, the metal cage shiveringly cold against her bare back, but it didn't matter because he was burning hot against her core.
She registered his hand in her hair, pulling it apart with pleasurable pain while she made for the exposed part of his neck. He tasted bitter like the alcohol and the evening, with that hint of Marlboro red she didn't want to admit he missed. Sasuke was quick and aggressive and she had so much of everything pent up it didn't even matter that they weren't moving smoothly against each other. The dizzying fury was pooling somewhere very specific and it was ironically easier to think. But Sakura was so tired of thinking.
Sasuke lifted her up along the wall and in their haste, her arm hit the alarm button, causing the elevator to briefly shake before the doors slid open. They parted, hungry for air and there was a silent understanding in their eyes. Sakura reached for their floor button and that was that. Sasuke had her off her feet the moment the doors opened again and in a thick haze, they made it to his suite.
"Where is it," Sakura breathed, throwing her head back while he kissed down her neck.
"Chest," was all he said against her skin. The brief feel of his teeth made her tingle.
She had no idea how long it took for her to retrieve the card from his pocket, nor to unlock the door, because it was just so hard to think of anything but the way he sucked on her skin like he wanted to eat her alive. Well, they had skipped dinner.
She spun around to face him after pushing the door open and Sasuke picked her up in a hurry. They hit something as they stumbled on their way to the bed, but Sakura didn't much care. She didn't even care that she'd lost a shoe by the entrance, so much so that she kicked the other off.
Sasuke's teeth were rough with her lip, but his hands were gentle when he placed on the edge of the bed. She wondered if he had forgotten her weight, or how to use his, before he turned her around and pulled on the thing string that held the upper half of her dress in place. It fell in one, swift move, so quick that she reflexively covered her now bare chest with an arm. The way they've been biting one another's head off for hours on end, literally and figuratively, one would think there would be no modesty left. Maybe it was spite. Maybe she wanted to hear him want for her. She felt his stare eating at her back, but all she did was lift her free arm to remove the claw hairclip haphazardly holding the remnants of her updo. Much like her dress before, her long, slightly damp hair dropped in one fell swoop, flowing waves that covered her shoulders and spine.
She felt his hand gather and pull her hair out of the way, and then his lips fleetingly before her back was to his hard chest through his unbuttoned shirt. His breath was hot on her neck and his scent dizzying, but what did her in was the low growl of his voice in her ear.
"Sakura,"
It was warm, and wet, and his hand had come around to her front, grasping her arm. So, she dropped it.
She felt him smile against her skin, and his hand was rough and inquisitive, and it was less blood to her head and another splash of heat to her groin. It wasn't enough. Sakura wanted the overflow.
When her hips rocked back against his, Sasuke's hand moved away from her breasts, up her chest and throat, and covered her mouth. He bit her ear enough to make her whimper, and it was drop after drop into the pool as she kept quiet, waiting and wanting through his kisses along the curve to her shoulder. His hand cupped her chin, leaving only his thumb to press against her lips, so she parted them for him.
"Good," he whispered, finding her tongue. "Now wait." The burn in his voice was intoxicating.
Sasuke used his free hand to shimmy her dress off her hips and down her legs; it fell to the flower and then she was back on her knees on the bed, only now he had unhindered access to where she wanted him most, and he wasted no time getting there. His fingers were quick, and precise, more than she would've expected given their time apart. Her mind was cotton, and she could only cry, causing her lips to close over finger in a sucking motion. He grunted, quickening his over her throbbing cunt. God, she hated… something. She wasn't sure what, or who, if it was her knees buckling from the pleasure, or how he whispered her name with the reverence of a daring opponent. She could feel his hardness through his pants, pants that she gripped for dear life, gasping for a release heading her way.
Sakura closed her eyes, and sucked in a breath, but it didn't come.
Sasuke had stopped moving his fingers, and was laughing in her ear; a low, guttural, fucking despicable sound.
"Still impatient,"
"Sasuke," she whined pathetically over his thumb, hating herself for it but not enough because she had been so close.
He ran his other finger over her swollen clit once before removing his hands from her body altogether. The haze was thick still, but her femininity deserved vindication, so Sakura spun around to spew fire. Sasuke was stare at her, and there was none of that hate that had landed them here in the first place. Maybe the slate could've been wiped clean if he kept showering her in that reverent gaze that she had come to so many times before. She wasn't sure if that counted as a smirk, but the part of his lips stirred a want so visceral she instantly wanted to bridge the gap. Her panties slid further down her legs as she moved closer, and she was met with the hand that had brought her to the top and then denied her the drop down. Sasuke waited.
Sakura held onto his wrist and brought the fingers to her mouth and sucked them clean without tearing her eyes away from the tempting pits that were his. Now that was a smirk.
"Fuck, Sakura," he whispered, not a command, not a plea.
She waited, but she wasn't going to forever. His shirt was already mostly unbuttoned, so she made haste of it; her dress was getting lonely after all.
Sasuke had always been a marvel – the broad opening of his shoulders, a wide bridge between two sloping hills that were his thick arms. His abdominals hardened to meet her palm as it glided to the rim of his pants. She threw her head back and locked eyes with him again.
"Sasuke,"
"What do you want, Sakura?"
She bit her lip.
"Ask."
She dared her hand to the zipper, and slowly dragged it down.
"That wasn't a question," he said, bringing his lips to hers.
"…you," She whispered between chaste kisses, attempting to pull at his trousers.
Sasuke bit down on her lip, hard, causing her to whimper. His hands were now gripping her hips, pulling her flush against him. Even through the material she could feel he had grown very hot, and very hard. She let her hands wonder up his arms until they nestled around his neck.
"And what do you want from me?"
"Sasuke,"
He huffed, but that arrogant smirk didn't falter once.
"I want- fuck-" one of his hands made its way to her clit again, and pinched.
"Words, Sakura."
"Fuck you," she gritted her teeth, but he laughed. "Please,"
"Good girl," he kissed her once last time. "Turn around."
She did as told, permanently getting rid of her underwear in the process and ran a hand through her hair while she waited. She could hear his pants fall to the floor and his boxers followed soon after.
He ran one hand between her shoulder blades and down her back, pushing her forward. Sakura braced herself, but the airy kisses he was leaving drowned the moment he entered her, slow, gentle. Only when he was all the way in did she gasp. This wasn't new, she had to remind herself. They'd had sex many times before, and she knew how big he was. But she couldn't help the cries that leaked from her sealed lips, the way she couldn't wait to ride the waves over that dam once again. It had been so long. This would be over soon, and god knows what that would mean, but in this moment, as he thrusted deeper and harder, she felt her body rejoice being his.
"Sasuke," she moaned, breathless, and he grunted her name in response.
She couldn't help it. Sakura straightened her back and roamed over her shoulder until she found his hair to tangle into. She pulled, making him groan and quicken the pace.
"Touch me," she managed between cries, "Please, I want to feel you touch me…"
"Fuck, Sakura,"
It was maddening when he held her close to his chest, his other hand searching for her clit. If she could think, she would've wondered if it meant anything that they knew each other so well, or that they had marked each other so profoundly to be able to find their way home after so long. But then, if she could think, she would hate that she thought that at all.
So, she closed her eyes, and begged, and cried, and listened to the most pleasant parts of Sasuke's vocabulary, and rocked her hips to melt into his. And then, she got what she wanted. He followed her over the cliff, and he said something but she couldn't make it out anyhow. The sparks thinned after a while as her mind faded back into active consciousness. She was using her hands for support, but mostly it was Sasuke's tight hold that prevented her from tipping forward completely. Her legs were shaking and she thought his should've been too, so she gave into the weight and exhaustion and dropped to her knees. Much to her surprise, he followed, his breaths still quick and shallow. When Sasuke swore, she filled with pride, but then she realized it wasn't because of her.
There was a grating buzzing in the room. It took Sakura embarrassingly long to also realize that it was Sasuke's phone. He did nothing, so they waited out the call, tangled together still. The buzzing stopped, he took a deep breath in, but then it rang once more. And again. And again.
Sasuke removed himself from her with a colorful slew of words and sat down at the edge of the bed. She could feel him seethe with annoyance as he looked for the source of the noise and inwardly thanked whoever was calling. Besides pestering Sasuke, it was a good stimulus to distract from what had just happened. She didn't want to think about it.
"Fucking bastard," she heard Sasuke let out through gritted teeth. "What the fuck is it?"
Sakura heard a male voice say something, because either the volume was really high or the speaker was being very loud; she decided it was the latter when she was able to put a name to that pitchy voice.
"Okay, shut the fuck up, I've been trying to reach you for hours," Naruto snapped at whatever Sasuke was saying.
"Is that Naruto?" she said without thinking. It shouldn't have been loud enough, but Sakura's luck was always so unserious.
"And I went- Wait. What was that?"
"Nothing." Sasuke said, turning around to glare at her.
"Okay, fucker, that was a chick's voice. Where are you?"
Sasuke pinched the bridge of his nose. "This better be fucking important, Naruto-"
"No, no, don't change the subject! Wait. Don't tell me- Is it a date? Are you actually on a date?"
"NO."
"Then who's that."
"Karin."
Sakura could hear Naruto burst into laughter.
"Nice try, but she's with me. You didn't even bother to answer her texts, rude."
"Naruto-"
"Nah, don't Naruto me, I had to listen to Itachi and Kisame bitch for hours because you dropped the face of the earth. At least tell me- is she hot?"
The inkling of a thought popped into her head the moment she recognized the man on the other end of the line and Sakura didn't want to entertain it, per se, but now that she was thinking with the right part of her brain, she briefly considered the potential consequences. Then she said, to fuck with it, because yes.
"Hi, Naruto!" she said, definitely loud enough and genuinely happy.
There was a moment of peace before both men registered what just happened. Sasuke turned to her again, his murderous stare diluted by how petrified he also looked. Then, Naruto spoke.
"Hi!- Wait, didn't that sound like-"
Sakura enjoyed the 'fuck' written all over Sasuke's voice that he couldn't say more than she ought to.
"Yeah, it's me. Hi, Naruto, how are you?"
"…SAKURA?"
"Yes, like I said-"
"OH MY GOD."
Sasuke roughly dragged his free hand over his eyes, and moved to hang up, but Sakura sprang forward and snatched the phone from his hands.
"Sweet Fucking Baby Jesus, I can't believe this."
"It's good to hear you!"
"Wait. Where are you. What are you guys doing."
Sakura glanced sideways at Sasuke, whom had just begone death incarnate.
"Uh,"
"Hang up." Sasuke snarled.
"I get the impression that I'm going to be in a lot of trouble if I disclose any more."
"I can't fucking believe this. ARE YOU GUYS GETTING BACK TOGETHER?"
"No- I don't think-"
"Shit, that actually makes sense. Itachi said it was an important client, but I said, what did he need a new suit and that fucking lighter and the lambo for?"
Sakura's mouth hung open, but before she could reply, Sasuke caught her by the wrist, stole back his phone and promptly hung up. She was suddenly very aware that not five minutes prior they were in postcoital bliss and that they were still naked, but she couldn't think of anything else to say.
"You brought the lambo?"
"I hope you're looking forward to being dead."
"Oh, don't start with me. You came here dressed to the nines, in the lambo. Wow."
"Sakura."
"Wow."
She burst into a manic fit of laughter, unable to cope with either the revelation, or the past few minutes. Sasuke was quite obviously simmering with a lot of rage that she also couldn't deal with, so she stood up, found her hairclip lying on the floor and pinned her hair back up. She snatched a decorative bed sheet from under him, further pissing him off and did her best to ignore him as she wrapped it around her body.
"I am going to clean off in the bathroom." She shrugged. "Neutral territory. You're welcome to join me, but it's good vibes only. Or… you know. Not whatever you are right now."
Sakura ran herself a nice and hot bath, complete with lavender oil and a shimmery bath bomb. Despite her invitation, she cowardly hoped he'd wait for her to be done, so the sweet scents were as much a comfort as they were supposed to ward off the grinch in the bedroom.
But, tough luck. Sasuke soon entered the bathroom, looking no less pissed. At least his nakedness made for a great view.
"I said good vibes."
"Shut up," he muttered under his breath and stepped into the tub.
At least he made a face when the lavender finally reached his nostrils. Sakura shrugged, worked out a knot in her shoulder, and joined him. The bath was heavenly. Nothing like a tub full of water to wash off sweat, cum and vengeful exes. And it was even big enough for them not to touch. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath in.
"So-"
"What the fuck were you thinking?"
"…Seriously. Of all the things that transpired today, that's what you fixate on."
But Sasuke didn't budge so, working a temper, neither did she.
"You should count yourself lucky that wasn't Kakashi. Isn't Naruto supposed to be like, your only friend?"
"Do you have to be so annoying?"
"Yes," she dropped down to chin level, relishing the feeling. "Legal obligation."
For a few minutes Sasuke was quiet. He shut his eyes, face still contorted in constipated anger, but it was still a decent view when he slicked back his damp fringe.
Well, fuck-a-doodle-doo, don't I wish I was drunker right now.
"Do you… want to talk about it?"
Sasuke cracked open an eye.
"I mean, are you going to?" she watched him draw a deep breath and quieted down any expectations.
"…Fuck."
"Well, great start. I'm up for it if you are,"
Sakura felt herself cringe, but for some goddamn elusive reason, Sasuke… laughed. Actually laughed.
"Fuck, you can laugh."
"…Seriously, Sakura?"
"Can't blame me for forgetting."
Sasuke smirked, but there was no bite. If she shifted a little to the right, her legs would be in his lap. Sakura wondered what threshold she had to reach to be allowed that.
"Since we're enjoying such a nice trip in Switzerland, let's just… get it over with. Peacefully."
"Is that what you want, Sakura?"
She wrinkled her nose to hide the impending blush and shook her head.
"Keep that for the bedroom."
"Didn't seem to bother you before."
She huffed, "Is that why you brought the lambo?"
Stars, he laughed again. "Touché."
Now what?
"…So, why did you?"
"It's just a fucking car, Sakura."
"Sasuke. Please."
She didn't like that it was the only thing that ever endeared her enough to him, but she couldn't deny the flowery emotion in her stomach when he always gave in to anything that followed.
"Why now? Why at all?"
"I wanted answers."
And it only took you two years to want to hear them from me.
"I see," she hesitated, "But didn't you think you might not… be entitled to them anymore, after everything?"
The look he gave her said 'careful.'
"Not if they involve my brother."
Sakura let out an exasperated sigh, "Again with Itachi. Why do you keep bringing him up?"
"You know what I mean, Sakura."
"I seriously don't."
"…The scandal." He finally said and sighed, like it was a drag to even speak the words.
In short, Sakura was… baffled. The crux of their calamitous split was, indeed, a cheating scandal. Actually, rumors at best, but the media had a way of believing an allegation first and then demand that you prove it wrong. But Sasuke had said he didn't believe them, because there was no evidence, and she was so in love with him. Everyone around them knew that. It wasn't even made public who she was supposedly cheating on him with, so why did that matter so much? Unless…
"Wait…do you think it was Itachi?"
Sasuke didn't answer, but his eyes glazed over, two tired and impenetrable pits she had loved so, so much.
"Sasuke, do you think I was cheating on you with Itachi?"
It was unthinkable. She couldn't believe it. She had been so stupid not to believe it.
Back then Sakura assumed that the 'source close to the couple' that leaked the rumors and that damned voice message was trying to paint the narrative of her having an affair with either Naruto or Kakashi, because they were the only viable options. As in, she was around Sasuke a lot, so she was around them a lot. She never even considered the real gossip factor – the older brother. The heir of the empire and bachelor of the fucking century. Of course. Daddy's gold-digging hotel heiress lands herself the one magnate tabloids could never stop speculating about, and she does it by first publicly fucking his little brother. The response made so much more sense now. How could she have been so blind?
She had fucking baby thin skin. The hate got bad enough she spent her nights with tears leaking down her face and into her ears, and she wasn't eating, and they spared her. Her agent blocked comments. Ino masterfully avoided questions and hyped her up to see her through it. Her parents paid for a lot of the articles to be taken down. Sure, the mob went for her head, but without constant reminders, they were bound to forgive and forget at some point, because she put in the work.
That was why the fights started. The reason Sasuke grew colder, and suspicious, and angrier. It was too personal, he was too close. Naruto and Kakashi were easy to disprove, but Itachi had always had a soft spot for Sakura. The man was elusive, and needlessly cryptic, so it could be misinterpreted and spun into the sensationalist headline she now knew Sasuke had to pay to keep from getting out. But…
Sakura felt tears well up in her eyes, but she didn't close them, didn't move them an inch away from Sasuke's.
But he didn't answer.
And yet, that was the only confirmation she needed.
"I've been so stupid."
"Sakura-"
"All this time, I didn't even think that's what it was about. Fuck, and Itachi even sends me flowers on my birthday. Sasuke, I'm so sorry, I didn't know."
It broke her to see the lines of his face soften at least and know she was slowing starting to not give a fuck anymore.
"Still… why did you believe that?" her voice broke. "How could you? I showed you that freaking message, how could you believe I'd do that to you?"
"There was evidence,"
"What evidence? That he took me out for fucking coffee once in a while to ask how you were doing?"
She watched Sasuke's face for the exact moment he was left speechless in shock, whatever pieces he had held in secret finally connecting. She should've socked him in the face. All it took to undo her resolve was him showing up in a nice suit, have a few drinks with her and share a smoke. Had she really learnt nothing?
"Sakura."
There was enough rage in her to kick him in the face, or make a fucking wet mess storming off, and yet she did neither. The tears were uncontrollable. Sakura broke into shuddering sobs.
She hadn't cried about it in a while, it didn't even cross her mind that much anymore, because so much had changed. She resurrected her public persona from the ashes and fought tooth and nail to regain control of the narrative. Sasuke fueling the very public pain and leaving her high and dry for the vultures to prey upon was already devastating enough, especially because it was so sudden, because he never told her anything. But to think that was the extent of his trust in her…
It was the warmth of his hand pulling her hair out of her face that snapped her back to reality. The reality she was made aware of wasn't much better than the flashbacks that never truly left.
Sakura slapped his hand away and gathered her knees to her chest, putting as much space as possible between them.
"Don't- Don't you dare fucking touch me!" she snarled.
"Sakura, I-"
"You fucking asshole! To think I was willing to hear you out after you let them have at me, and that- that we- How could you do this to me?"
She could barely see through the tears anymore and there was something to be glad for in that. Because she couldn't remember so much conflict on Sasuke's face. Kind of funny to think that this was when and how he'd realize how much he had fucked up.
Part of her was sane enough to advise that she at least gave him a chance to explain himself. But the rest of her wall well gone and out for fucking blood. One last thing on the agenda.
"Tell me one thing, Uchiha." She hated the way he frowned at her. "I never did figure out who the 'source' was. But I suppose you knew, didn't you?"
Forget everything, this was the moment the fog lifted off his face, a priceless I Fucked Up moment full of conflict, distrust and the sheer anger of being fucking had. Sakura didn't really think she was going to get the name out of him, because it took a) years, b) god's patience and c) sex to even get him to this point, as well as her pride and dignity, but she must've looked horrifying because she still couldn't believe what she heard next.
"It was Karin."
She blinked.
"Karin."
He said nothing.
"Karin, as in Naruto's cousin. And my friend. And someone we all knew had a thing for you."
It wasn't unbelievable, stranger things had happened. But it was gutting.
"And you believed her over me."
The world almost went white for a moment.
'…to think it would've been yours.'
Then it went back to red.
Sakura stood up and got out of the tub, so fast she was sure she'd slip and crack open something. She didn't care.
"Sakura," Sasuke reached for her arm. "Wait-"
She pulled away before fire could catch her. She couldn't even be bothered to cover herself. This really wasn't how she wanted to spend her evening. He didn't even say 'please.' Well, that was a lie, she now realized. She had said 'Sasuke, please,' once, and that was the last she saw of him for two years. If that was how many business days it took him to process a request nowadays, she had better beg him to stay the fuck away. Instead, she fisted her hand so hard her nails were digging bloody holes and looked him dead in the eye.
"If that fucking lambo isn't out of the parking space in thirty minutes, I'm smashing it myself."
Then she was gone. He didn't stop her, salt to the wound, but he couldn't have anyway.
In the end, she supposed she was right. All there was left to do was to sit through the pain and come out the other side believing this was the blessing she spent the last two years convincing herself it was.
A/N:
disclaimer! i have absolutely nothing against karin as a character, i just needed a name to fill a trope and this is how the cookie crumbled
disclaimer #2 don't take this too seriously, this was written in 24 hrs life is too grim but writing dumb rich people is nice escapism
i wanna preface this by saying that writing this one was like a fever dream. it started out as 100% crack between sunimage and me and in our delusion ended up as 60% crack, 20% romcom, 20% who the hell hurt us