Chapter Seven
I tried to scoot away as far as possible from the smirking Uchiha. If I could, I would slap that playful smirk off his stupid, perfectly angled face. He wasn't looking at me, but I continued to glare at him from above my water, hoping that at any moment he may burst into flames. I had other things I could preoccupy myself with… like seeing if Itachi was there. He hadn't come in my room to speak to me in three days but I still couldn't fall asleep until two, and last night four. I constantly worried that I had offended him in some way. Had I said something wrong? I wanted to ask Sasuke, but there was no way in hell I was going to speak to him first, especially after he took me here.
I took a second look at my surroundings. Mostly racers and grease monkeys like the Hawk, all talking and laughing and sharing drinks, most likely alcoholic. I looked over at Sasuke. He was talking to Karin, who had her body half pressed up against him, a seductive grin on her lips. Sasuke didn't seem to notice her obvious flirtatious behavior, but I doubted things like that got through Sasuke's thick skull. Suigetsu looked at me and grinned but I pursed my lips, crossed my arms and looked away. He snorted and continued talking to Jugo, who I noticed had quite the bipolar streak.
The booth all five of us were crammed in seemed to be getting smaller and smaller the longer I sat there. I knew that Sasuke had to watch over me, but I rather him continue his activities while I wasn't there.
"Sasuke, where are we going?" I called to the raven haired boy I was holding onto. He didn't answer, and I groaned. We'd passed my street, and were heading into the downtown area. I was getting tired of his detours. I looked behind and noticed Karin driving her Cobalt, Jugo sitting silently stoic next to her.
"We're going to Hamatsu's, Sakura-chan!" Suigetsu had called from his motorcycle after he had pulled up next to us. Hamatsu's?
"A bar?" I called back, my forehead creasing with my frown. "Why?"
"For fun!" he called back, but I wasn't sure as Sasuke sped up and the wind blotted out all sound.
"Oh, cheer up, Sakura what else would you be doing on a Friday night?" I heard Karin call from across the table. I could tell the redhead didn't care for me much, but I couldn't say that I minded very much. She was way to loud for my taste; Sasuke seemed to agree because he shot her a look. The bar had turned on Blink-182—more like blasted it and I had unknowingly begun to tap my fingers with the beat. "Sasuke thought you might enjoy something other than being cooped up in your—ow!" Karin was cut off by Sasuke elbowing her in the side. Karin looked at him with a pout on her lips and he closed his eyes, crossed his arms and leaned back against his seat. I looked at him questioningly but he refused to make eye contact with me.
Was this Sasuke's attempt at trying to earn my forgiveness? I hoped for it but I strongly doubted it. I doubted Sasuke cared that much. A country western song came on and Suigetsu perked up. "Hey, Sakura-chan, you want to dance?" he asked, getting up from his seat. A cold panic rushed through me. Dance? My mind blanked, and I felt like I was walking along in a dreamlike state as Suigetsu pulled me from the seat and dragged me to the dance floor. No one was on the dance floor—the scuffed up wooden stretch of floor was completely empty of people. All I could think of to get my mind off what I was sure was to be pure embarrassment in a few minutes was that it was strange that a Country song was being played in a biker bar in the middle of Japan…My whole body tensed as my school shoes clicked against the wood. I realized I was clutching onto Suigetsu's hand for dear life, but if it hurt him he didn't seem to mind.
"I—I can't!" I said, beginning to pull away from the dance floor. "I can't dance! I have two left feet, I'm clumsy, I—"
"Shut up, Sakura." Suigetsu said with a grin on his face. "You don't have to be a good dancer, the man is supposed to be." He grabbed my right hand in his, placing his other hand on my waist. I began to hyperventilate.
"W—what about my left hand?" I squeaked. All I could think of was how much I wanted to leave. I could feel sweat on my neck and my hand get clammy against his. I couldn't do this! In front of all these people? Suigetsu smiled and placed my left hand on his right shoulder.
"Don't worry about it! Just let me lead!" Suigetsu moved his left foot up and I followed with my right. He stepped up with his left, then moved slightly back with his right. I followed with my right and left feet. We repeated this step a few more times, and I was finally catching onto the rhythm. "See, Sakura-chan! You're doing the two-step." I looked at my feet and then up to Suigetsu and smiled. "Okay, I'm going to throw you a curve ball!" he yelled above the music and my eyes grew wide as he let go of my waist, taking my hand and spinning me around. He spun under my arm and grabbed my right hand with his right, spinning me faster and then grabbing my left hand with his left, my back pressed up against his body as we walked forward. "Do you trust me?" He yelled and I was about to scream 'no' when I felt my whole body being thrust forward. I screeched as my nose almost his the ground but all of a sudden my arms were jerked forward and I was spun to facing the ceiling, Suigetsu's hand firmly on my back. Suigetsu pulled me back up, and I landed against him, my right hand back in his left and my left hand grabbing desperately at his shirt.
"You idiot!" I yelled, hitting him, but it wasn't very hard and I realized I was laughing as he led me around the dance floor again. The song soon ended and as I headed for the booth, I noticed a majority of the bar was watching us dance. A blush crept up from my toes and spread to my cheeks. Suigetsu and I simultaneously plopped down into the booth. I immediately clasped my hands together and stared at them furiously.
"Wow, Suigetsu, I didn't realize what a great dancer you were." Karin said, an expression of new respect on her face.
He shrugged. "Lived in the States for a couple years." He said simply, but there was a smugness in the grin on his face. Sakura snuck a look at Sasuke. He was sitting stony faced, very intent on staring at the straw in his glass.
"Do you want to dance, Sasuke-kun?" Karin asked, eyes bright with hope, hands clasped together under her chin.
"Hn." Was his simple reply and she flopped dejectedly onto the back of the booth, huffing her disapproval. Jugo looked over at her, opened his mouth to say something, and then closed it again. He suddenly looked angry and pushed Suigetsu out of the booth, walking determinedly toward the bar to get something else to drink. Suigetsu gave him a dirty look, but righted himself and sat in the booth again. The four of us sat in silence, everyone looking in different directions with the exception of Suigetsu, who I kept catching looking at me. I simply avoided his gaze, not wanting to get caught up in dancing again—no matter how good he was.
A club song came on and people started entering the dance floor. I looked outside. It was dark. I hadn't realized how long we'd been here. Suigetsu recognized someone he knew and walked over to speak with them. Karin looked over at Sasuke once more before sighing and joining Jugo over at the bar. Crap. I picked up my straw and swirled it around in my water, avoiding looking at Sasuke at all costs.
"You know, it is your fault that you ran off at the car show," Sasuke began, uncrossing his arms to pick at the hem of his cargo shorts. I raised an eyebrow in disgust.
"What? You're making this my fault? If I hadn't been at the car show in the first place none of that would have had to happen anyway!"
"Yeah but it would have been fun and perfectly fine if you just stayed by my side," he began, looking at me. "and hadn't run off with Gary or whatever the hell his name was."
"It was Gaara…and he seemed to have more concern for me than you did. You had to run off with that lovely girl Ino who just had so much interest in my past. Did it ever occur to you that I just didn't want to talk about that? Or maybe I had other things to do besides go and look at stupid cars?"
"Well it seemed like you were perfectly content when Itachi showed up in his car…" Sasuke mumbled, but I still heard him.
"What are you implying?" I asked, my heartbeat fluttering at the mention of his name.
"I saw your face when he helped you in the car…you loved it!" he asserted. My mouth gaped open at his accusation.
"Th-that is completely untrue! I was just surprised that an Uchiha could have such manners! In comparison to you, who always throws me on the back of a motorbike when I have skirts on and who drags me to places like this against my will!" my voice was gaining volume and the people at the next table over looked over.
Sasuke looked away from me, crossing his arms again. I imitated him, looking out towards the dance floor. All the dancers were pressed up against as close as they could, grinding against each other. The song ended and a slower song came on. Most of the people left the floor, some irritated that their sexcapade had to end because of the slow song. Many couples stayed to dance, arms around necks and hands on hips. I much preferred having to look at this than the orgy a few moments before. I dug in my bag and found the small silver object I had been looking for. I paused after I opened it up. Should I text him? I wanted to so badly.
"At Hamatsu's. I know it's an inconvenience but can you please pick me up?" I chose Itachi's contact number and pressed send. I yelped as I was pushed out of the booth. I gained my balance and stood up.
"What the he—" I began as Sasuke stood up. He grabbed my hand and I realized we were heading towards the dance floor. I began to resist, but it was as if I wasn't even pulling back at all. Sasuke just kept walking. Not again!
Sasuke walked to the back corner of the dance floor and turned to face me. I gulped in anticipation. Was he expecting me to get as close to him as the other couples on the floor? Why was he even dancing with me after I bitched him out? He took my right hand in his, placing his other hand on the middle of my side. I hesitantly put my hand on his shoulder. He walked forward with his left and I stepped back with my right. The way he danced was very commanding, but compared to the forceful, rough Sasuke who dragged me over here, this Sasuke was very gentle. He moved to the side and I followed. I tried to follow him as well as I could, but it took a while to fall into a rhythm with him. Once I thought I could handle dancing without looking at my feet I looked up and accidently looked straight into Sasuke's eyes. They were looking at me with a very confused expression. His eyes trailed down to my lips and he smirked. I began to feel self conscious…was there something on my chin?
"What?" I asked him in an irked tone, resorting to anger because I wasn't sure what other emotion I was supposed to show in front of the irksome Uchiha. He opened his mouth to respond but then he looked behind me and his face contorted into a scowl.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, stopping the dance we had finally gotten into rhythm with. I looked behind me and saw Itachi standing there, a straight look on his face as he glanced down at me and then back to his brother.
"I'm not quite sure." Was his simple response. "I thought Sakura needed a ride home."
"Well, she's fine. She doesn't need you popping up everywhere offering to take her home. She can stay out, I'm here." Sasuke said, clearly irritated. Many of the girls in the room were staring at Itachi with smiles on their faces. It made my face warp into a frown as well.
"Um, actually Sasuke-kun…I asked him to come get me." I said quietly. Sasuke looked at me then backed up. He looked at me with a hard look on his face then began to stalk off toward Karin and the rest of the gang.
"Fine, then." He mumbled as he passed. I wasn't sure why my stomach dropped with guilt. It wasn't my fault he pissed me off enough to make me want to go home…
"Are you wanting to stay, Sakura-chan?" Itachi asked and I shook my head. I kept it down as I made my way toward the exit, Itachi following silently behind me. I regretted making Itachi pick me up. I had caused a fight with Sasuke and if he didn't want to talk to me I had just forced myself into a very awkward ride home in a very closed-space car. The sound of LMFAO drifted into the background as we walked outside. I stopped when I realized I had no idea where I was supposed to be going.
Itachi stopped in front of a sleek, scarlet motorbike. Of course. I would have to wrap my arms around him but there left little room for conversation. I bet he did that on purpose. He handed me a black helmet and swung his leg around the bike to mount it. I grabbed my skirt to adjust it before I got on the bike when Itachi reached into the bike's side pouch and pulled out a pair of jeans. I stared at them and then looked at him, but he had his helmet on with the visor down. I took them and began to unfold them.
"Thank you." I whispered to him and he turned around to face forward. I slipped them on under my skirt, and then took my skirt off. I swung my leg over and grabbed onto Itachi's torso. He kicked off the curb and entered the street's traffic. He was a much safer driver than Sasuke, but the Uchiha boys definitely liked speed. I clasped him a little tighter and moved my head to the side to lean my forehead against his back. I would have traded anything to be able to take my helmet off and place my cheek against the soft fabric of his shirt. Maybe some of his creeper-ness was rubbing off on me…
Itachi gently glided into the driveway, pulling up to the front of the house. He sat with the engine running, waiting for me to get off. I slid off and grabbed my skirt, unhooking the helmet and taking it off. I shook my hair out and hugged the helmet to my chest. Itachi looked over at me and held out his hand to take the helmet, but I squeezed it tighter to my chest, looking at his hand and refusing to look at his helmet. I wanted to see his face. I wanted him to talk to me. Seeing that he wasn't getting his helmet back, he put his arm down and revved his engine, lifting his foot to leave.
"Itachi!" I cried before he got too far, and he set his foot back down. The helmet looked back over in my direction. He wouldn't even take off the damn helmet to talk to me. Something snapped. He was going to talk to me, and he was going to like it. "Why are you ignoring me?" I wanted to add 'what did I do?' but I didn't think that saying something along those lines would enforce my determined attitude. The helmet kept looking in my direction, and he still made no move to take it off. I stood there staring at his faceless body, the silent moments stretching out forever. I was preparing myself to chuck the helmet at his head and run inside when I heard a sigh in the helmet, and his hands reached up to unhook the clasp. It was just a sigh, but it was the most beautiful noise I'd heard since he spoke at the bar. The helmet slipped off his head, and his obsidian eyes focused in on mine. I felt my breath hitch in my throat.
"I am not ignoring you, Sakura." He said the words with sincerity, but I didn't believe them. I didn't know if I was more irritated at the fact that he really was ignoring me, or the way I felt after hearing him say my name. My fingers clasped the helmet, my knuckles paling. "I was very unprofessional the other night. I was more immersed in our conversation than I should have been, and if someone had come to harm you I wasn't as mentally and physically prepared as I should have been. Therefore, I would like to apologize to you."
"Well maybe I don't care if you're being professional or not!" I hissed, crossing my arms around the helmet. I knew I was throwing a tantrum like a three year old, but I didn't care. "I miss talking to you…" I whispered under my breath, and I looked away from his face. I didn't want to look at him. I hadn't meant to say the last part aloud.
"I'm sorry," he said moved the straps of the helmet to put them back on again.
"I just don't understand…your brother acts unprofessional all the time and he still manages to—"
"Take you to a car show that has shootings? Take you to a bar and dance with you without noticing anything in the room but you? Anyone of those people could have been someone the Hyuugas hired to hurt you. I was standing there quite a while before he even noticed me. I worry about you constantly when you're with my brother because he is so unprofessional."
I didn't know what to say. Itachi just said he was worried about me. My stomach fluttered and the corners of my mouth kept tugging up, begging my lips to form a smile but I refused to let them—I still had a point to make.
"But I just don't understand, we spent weeks talking. The only time you've ever complained about being unprofessional is after we started talking about your past." I noticed Itachi's fingers clench around his helmet from my peripheral vision. "I'm sorry that I butted into your personal life, that wasn't right for me to do even if this wasn't a bodyguard situation." I swallowed hard. I couldn't believe I had resorted to this. Begging someone to talk to me. Something drew me to Itachi that I couldn't explain. I needed him to talk to me, to relate with me, to make me feel less alone. "Just please, keep talking to me," I whispered. He looked at me with a look in his eyes that I couldn't pin down.
"I'm sorry," he said again, breaking eye contact with me.
"Why? I wish you had told me that you wanted to keep this relationship professional before you even talked to me! I thought you were someone I could trust who would listen to me!" I cried. He continued to study his bike, simply taking the words I threw at him. "Are you angry with me because you could be doing anything else other than having to babysit a girl like me?" I asked. "I know Sasuke feels that way."
"No, Sakura. That's not it," he told me, eyes flashing as he looked back up at me. "Stop assuming things."
"Well that's what I have to do because you just won't tell me why you won't talk to me!" I didn't want to do this. I didn't want to fight with him. Tired. I was tired of begging him to talk to me. I thought back to the past few nights. Sleepless because all I could think of was how he was out there. So close, so far away. I couldn't do this anymore. My breathing became more shallow. He was speaking to me, but all I saw were his beautiful lips moving, pressing each other with each syllable he uttered, taunting me.
"If it's such a hassle for you, just quit," I began. The words he spoke died on his tongue. "No, I'm releasing you of your duty." I said, avoiding eye contact with him. "After tonight, I would like someone else to watch during nights." I slowly walked over and gently placed the helmet on the back of his seat. He was so close. I could reach out and touch him. "Thank you for everything," I whispered and walked to my door, unlocking the door. I took the key out and turned around. Itachi was gone. My face was warm and wet but I continued through the door, shutting the door tenderly behind me.
I opened my eyes for the millionth time. Everytime my eyes were drawn to the bumps in my ceiling that looked like the tall silhouette of Itachi. I knew to anyone else they would be bumps on a ceiling. My hand wondered to my old cell phone. I desperately wanted to call and talk to Naruto, but I couldn't bring myself to. He wasn't happy with me lately and if I called him now, I felt that in some small way I was using him. Just calling him because Itachi wouldn't talk to me. I knew that Naruto would forgive me, that he'd talk to me because he was just so forgiving and naïve like that. I glanced over at the clock. 3 'o'clock. I sighed, burying my head under my sheets. He was out there. I could get up and apologize for what I said, take it back. But even then he still wouldn't talk to me. It wouldn't make a difference.
The next time I opened my eyes, heavy light shone through my window. I glanced at the green fluorescence next to me and noted that it was nearly two in the afternoon. I didn't feel like getting up, but I knew that I didn't want to waste my day either. Someone knocked on my door.
"Sakura-chan?" Tsunade walked through my door. She leaned against the doorway with her arms crossed and flashed a grin at me. I sat up, my hands in my lap and smiled back at her. "I'm back from my Thailand trip!"
"You've been gone so much lately…how's your health?" I asked. "Not drinking too much sake, right?" She pursed her lips.
"Sakura, how long have you known me? Of course I drunk sake. Still going strong with my no gambling promise though." She said, winking. I smiled and was surprised to feel a tear run down my cheek. "Hey, Sakura, what's wrong?" Tsunade crossed the room and set on the edge of my bed, rubbing my arm. I swiped the tear away but another followed.
"I miss you," I finally said, placing my forehead on her shoulder. Isn't it funny how seeing a motherly face can make your emotions go haywire. She patted my back.
"Well let's go do something fun today. We'll take Shizune, eh? And what about Naruto, I haven't seen that kid in a while." I shook my head.
"Naruto and I aren't speaking." Tsunade's eyes flashed.
"Did that brat do something to you?" I shook my head again, smiling.
"No, just a spat is all. We'll get over it." She didn't look convinced, even a little suspicious but she shrugged and let it go.
"Alright, I'll have to trust you on that one."
"I thought you said she only had one drink!" Shizune cried over to me from the other side of Tsunade. I tried to look over at her, but Tsunade's enormous chest was blocking my view.
"It's the—" Tsunade hiccupped. "EYE OF THE TIGER, yeah it's the thrill of the FIGH' risin' UP to the challenge of our rivals, yeah! Guitar solo, hit it Shizune!" Tsuande sung at the top of her lungs.
"Shh, Tsunade-sama we're going to get complaints from the neighbors!" Shizune said, sweat arising on her brow.
"Oh, come on you only live once you guys! Gotta make it count! Screw the neighbors they never let me borrow that damn egg anyway…"Tsunade mumbled as Shizune and I placed her gently onto her bed. She was instantly asleep, mumbling and snoring. I shook my head and looked over to notice Shizune doing the same. We smiled and exited the room. I walked her to the door.
"Thanks for tagging along and helping me get her home, Shizune-san." I said, nodding my head in thanks. She smiled.
"It was nothing, Sakura, thank you for being more mature than your shishou…" she said, sighing and shaking her head again.
"Goodnight." We said at the same time. I watched her get into the cab, waved and shut the door. What a night. I could still hear Tsunade's mumbles from the front hallway. Thank god I couldn't hear them from my room upstairs.
I sluggishly made my way upstairs and stumbled into my bathroom, turning the water to hot. I needed the steam and the warmth and the pelting water pressure to ease away my stress and calm me down so I could possibly get to bed at a decent hour. I stayed under the running water until it turned cold and stepped out. I inhaled the smell of my bathroom. I loved the smell of my room after a shower. It smelled like my coconut shampoo and my cherry blossom soap. I scrubbed my head with an extra towel and then wrapped myself in it, flipping my hair over and grabbing my hairdryer. I ran my fingers through my rosette mop, finally content with my mostly dry yet slightly damp hair. It seemed to retain more of the yummy coconut smell if I kept it damp.
I turned my dryer off and ran a brush through my hair, catching my reflection in the mirror. I rarely looked in mirrors, because I didn't particularly care for the girl who stared back at me. Pink locks in layers ran to her shoulders. Teal eyes stared up from deep set eyes over high cheekbones and unfortunately under a wide forehead. I could settle with cute but I wouldn't call myself beautiful or gorgeous…even pretty seemed a stretch. I sighed and turned off the light.
I entered my room. I began to shiver. How odd, I usually kept it at a warm temperature. I wound the towel tighter against my body. I walked over to my set of drawers and opened the top one. I sighed again. The only pair I had clean was the black, lacy rubber band type that Temari had gotten me as a joke once. Alwell, that's what I get for not giving my laundry to Aizu on time. I slipped them on underneath my towel and then grabbed the matching bra. Might as well, it was Sunday tomorrow anyway. No school. I let my towel pool at my feet on the floor and I snapped the straps of the bra onto my shoulders. I closed the drawer and turned around to walk to my closet and was startled by a dark figure standing in front of me.
"Hello, Sakura-chan," a deep, mocking voice whispered in the darkness, lined with mockery. I couldn't see who it was or what he looked like, just his silhouette. I gasped to scream but nothing escaped. I rushed for the door but he grabbed my arm, throwing me on my bed. I began crawling away but he grabbed my ankle, pulling me onto my stomach. He flipped me over, towering over me. His knee was between my legs and with one hand he held both of my hands over my head. I closed my eyes and turned my head away slightly. My lip trembled and I whimpered.
"Look at me," he whispered and I slowly and reluctantly opened my eyes. The moonlight shown on his face and I saw dark scarlet eyes. My eyes grew wider as I stared into them, but when I blinked they had turned dark. The face of my attacker was quite beautiful, gorgeous even. He had very feminine features but the way he contorted them made them very masculine. He had a smile on his face that sent a violent shiver down my spine and gooseflesh spread over my skin. He noticed my reaction and his smile deepened.
His free hand grabbed my face, his thumb tracing my trembling bottom lip. He bit his bottom lip as he watched my whole body shiver in response. I wanted to close my eyes again but I was afraid he would force me to open them again. Who was he? What was he going to do to me? Was he a Hyuuga?
His hand left my face and trailed down my side, his thumb padded my breast and I could feel it travelling down my side.
"So you're the girl who has all the Uchiha boys flustered lately," he breathed, another smile playing on his lips. I could tell he enjoyed making me squirm, my shallow breathing making my chest rise and fall rapidly. His long hair tickled my bare skin, and I writhed under him. "I can see why…you do look particularly delectable." He sneered, licking his lips. He had domineering canines that made me quiver even more. A single tear escaped my eye and travelled down my cheek.
"Aw, Sakura…do I scare you?" he asked, gripping my hip roughly as he leaned down to my face. I closed my eyes as a soft, wet tongue traced his way up my cheek to lick away my tear. "Don't cry…" he teased, "I won't hurt you." He sighed and let go of me, standing up above me. "I wouldn't want to get in trouble with Fugaku-ojisama."
Fugaku…where had I heard that name? Fugaku…It dawned on me. Uchiha Fugaku. Itachi and Sasuke's father.
"I just wanted to introduce myself in a way you'd never forget." He said, smiling as he grabbed my knee and leaned over me again. "I'm Uchiha Madara, Itachi's replacement."
Well. There you have it! I had a lot of fun writing this chapter! Some part I'm not satisfied with and if you have any suggestions for me then feel free to talk to me. When writing the Madara parts I listened to 'Closer' by Nine Inch Nails. Rather gives it a sexy dangerous feel to listen to it when reading, if you ask me. I've always loved Madara's character since I saw Lily's drawings...so beautiful! She makes Itachi into one of the sexiest beings alive. Look up Lily's art on youtube...mmm. Anyway, college has begun for me so cranking out this chapter was a challenge, especially since it's been so hectic around here lately. Poor Damaged hasn't been getting any new chapters lately, either...maybe I should go write for Damaged? It's nearing the end, and I don't want to leave my Damaged readers hanging! Well, love you all and be prepared for the next chapter...can't wait to write it.