Song of a Cherry Blossom
by Diana-san

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Chapter 14

The fork paused in front of her mouth as Sakura glanced up. As she guessed correctly from the malice dripping in the voice she heard earlier, it was Aoi. Standing with her group of clone followers, Aoi walked forward to Sakura's table with her heels clicking at each step. She couldn't help but notice how the bright red dress on Aoi was clearly tailored to be tight in all the wrong areas. It was almost revolting and made Sakura's stomach churn a little.

"Nice of you to join us," Aoi said, her tone clearly hinting at the opposite of what she just said. Aoi smiled sweetly as she crossed her arms.

Sakura flashed one of her own fake smiles at Aoi. "It was a pleasure to come here. I didn't know we were having a dog show today. Your outfits are quite suiting. I'm sure you'll win first prize in the talents section. Your bark sure is worse than your bite," Sakura said in reply as she took a sip of her cider from her glass. She flashed another sweet smile at Aoi as she slowly reveled in joy. She knew that her words were slowly creeping under Aoi's skin and reaching a boiling point inside.

Aoi's hand twitched but she regained her composure. "Well, at least I am in an outfit that is worthy enough to be even considered in the show." Aoi looked up and down at Sakura's outfit. "Clearly better than being an abandoned dog dressed in rags."

Sakura dropped her fork on her plate, knowing that this battle wouldn't end easily. "Even Cinderella started out in rags. I'm glad you can give me such honor. If you were the evil step-sister, let me clue you in. In the end, I always win." She picked up her fork again and took a stab at the steak on her plate and proceeded to take a bite.

Aoi stamped her feet. "You think you're so smart with your little remarks, don't you?" Aoi's voice reached a shrill high as she stomped over to hover right over Sakura's table. Aoi slammed her hand against the table causing the clinking of the plates and champagne glass on top.

"Geez, can you calm yourself down?" Sakura exclaimed as she scooted away in her chair. The overwhelming scent of Aoi's perfume made Sakura want to gag.

"CALM? You want calm? You poured spaghetti on me!"

"Are you still holding that over me? It happened like forever ago."

"It was two days ago!"

Sakura sighed. "So what do you want me to do? Apologize?"

Aoi crossed her arms again. "Apologize? What good will that be? Your words are worth about as much as the lint in my closet."

"That's good because I wasn't planning on apologizing for anything to begin with. Watching you covered in spaghetti was the highlight of my whole week. I would do it again if I were given the chance." Sakura stood up at the last word. "Now if you excuse me…"

Sakura made her way past Aoi but Aoi reached out her claw-like hands and grabbed onto Sakura's right shoulder from behind.

"Where do you think you are going? I wasn't done talking to you," Aoi growled.

Sakura shrugged Aoi's hand off and whirled around to face Aoi. Sakura towered over the petite girl whose heels only brought her to just at Sakura's nose level. Sakura knew she could take her on if she wanted to. But this wasn't the place or time. Sakura knew she shouldn't bring any more attention to herself. A small crowd was starting to form and knowing her own temper as well as Aoi's, things could get ugly quickly.

"I'm done talking to you. So I think I'll take my leave now," Sakura said calmly as she began to walk away from the scene.

"Since when can servants dictate the master's command?"

That one line put a stop to Sakura's steps. She turned around slowly. "What did you say?" she asked, daring Aoi to repeat it once more. Her emerald eyes bore into Aoi's dark brown eyes. Sakura knew her gaze right now was dangerous and threatening to Aoi because the petite girl in front of her slowly shrunk back a bit. But knowing of the crowd that was surrounding them, Aoi couldn't show fear.

Aoi stood up straight. "Y-you heard me. A servant. A commoner. A nobody. Dressed like you're attending your own funeral, aren't you? You don't belong here. So go ahead and walk away. Walk back to your pathetic life." With those words lingering in the air, Aoi picked up a drink glass and took a sip as if to make a point in the differences in status between them.

Sakura growled lowly. Then she did something she never thought she would ever have done in her life.

She lunged.

Like a lion attacking its prey, Sakura threw her body at Aoi. She reached out her hands to grab at Aoi's shoulders to push her down against the floor. The two struggled as the crowd watched on in shock with their mouths gaping open. Aoi's shrieks filled the air as Sakura grabbed at Aoi's brunette curls and effectively ruining however many hours Aoi invested in styling it. Aoi shrieked some more but reached out her claws to tear at Sakura's blazer and managed to tear off a button and loosened a thread. Aoi bit Sakura's wrist and Sakura yelped in pain as she jumped off of Aoi and instead went to tend the red swelling forming on her left wrist.

Using this chance, Aoi pushed Sakura down and then spat on her face.

Sakura blinked as if snapped out of her illusion. The sticky liquid was dripping down her face, traveling down her cheeks and going to the chin. Sakura reached up a hand to touch her face and caught a whiff of the smell of apple cider on her fingertips. Aoi was standing a foot away from her with an empty glass in her left hand and a satisfying smirk on her face.

Aoi's hair was completely in place as it was before without a strand loose in place. Sakura looked down and saw that her blazer was still perfectly the same dull blazer it was five minutes ago, with all buttons intact and loose threads out of sight. Sakura stood dumbfounded, realizing she was only imagining the whole scenario and looking like an idiot while Aoi took advantage of the situation to dump apple cider all over her.

"Looking dazed aren't you?" Aoi replied as she put her glass down on top of a table. "You should really pay attention next time because it seems as if your outfit was begging to be put out of its misery and thrown into the trash. Now I guess it has got its wish."

Aoi laughed and her posse joined her in laughing and pointing at Sakura with whispers filling the air. The crowd got bigger as everyone looked on at the two girls in the center and the silence was broken as people began to whisper to each other about what had just happened.

While Sakura was imagining the ferocious fight between her and Aoi, the brunette took the chance to pour her glass of cider on top of Sakura's head. The evidence of her actions dripped down from Sakura's pink locks as Sakura clenched her teeth, angry with herself for letting Aoi getting one over her.

The sounds of the crowd got louder as the whispers no longer remained whispers but jeers and laughter.

"Get out of here!"

"You don't belong here!"

Sakura bit her lip. She was too strong to let those words get to her. She wouldn't cry, she wouldn't let them see any weakness in her steps as she turned to walk towards the door to get out of there.

But before she took a step further, her eyes looked up and met with a pair of onyx eyes staring back at her. Her breath hitched when she realized who it was. Sasuke was standing fifteen feet in front of her. She didn't know why but at the moment, she wanted to shrivel up and crawl into a hole. Standing in front of him in such a mess with a crowd laughing at her and all at a party that he tore up her invitation to was like piling up the daggers into her heart. If there was any lower than low, Sakura was sure she reached it.

Sakura hesitated as she took her first step because that walk of shame seemed to be ten times harder now that she had to walk by Sasuke when she was trying to avoid him this whole time. By then everyone in the ballroom was aware of the commotion coming from the courtyard. People hurriedly step out of the way between Sasuke and Sakura as if not wanting to be caught in the crossfire that might ensue later.

The cherry blossom held her head high as she took her first step down the path suddenly cleared for her. With her eyes never leaving Sasuke's own, she bravely walked forward and made her way slowly to the door. But before she even got halfway there, a figure emerged from the crowd and stood in her path.

"Haruno Sakura. What do you think you are doing wearing that outfit here to this party?"

Sakura's eyes flickered with confusion as she stared at Tenten who stood as an obstacle between her and the door. Tenten pursed her lips as she placed her hands at her hips as she waited for an answer.

Sakura was speechless for a moment. Finally after an excruciating long moment, Sakura made a response. "Uh, I'm sorry?"

Tenten shook her head as if disappointed.

Aoi stepped up from behind Sakura. "Don't worry Tenten. This thing was just about to make her way out and dump itself elsewhere. We were just cleaning up the mess for you."

Tenten smiled sweetly at Aoi. "You're such a sweetheart to help out. But I'm afraid you missed a spot. In fact, you missed quite a large spot." With that said, Tenten picked up the train of her dark jade green gown and walked over, past Sakura and Aoi to a hose by the fountain in the courtyard. In a matter of seconds, the hose came on and Tenten aimed it full blast at Sakura's direction. Sakura immediately closed her eyes and prepared to shield herself with her arms. But the hit never came. Sakura lowered her arms and slowly opened her eyes. She gasped at the image before her.

Tenten had, in fact, aimed at Aoi and her posse. The girls were shrieking as the wet water soaked them and their gowns from head to toe. Tenten grinned as she turned off the hose. "That's the way to clean out the trash."

Sakura gaped at her with her mouth open. Tenten just did what Sakura would only have imagined of doing. Before Sakura could say anything, Tenten came up to her and grabbed her by the wrist. "Come on, let's get you changed out of those clothes. I can't believe you didn't tell me you were coming. If you needed a dress, I would have gotten you covered. "

Before Sakura could protest, Tenten dragged her out of the courtyard admidst all the wide-eyed stares and gaping mouths. Everything became a blur to Sakura as she vaguely recalled going through the crowd somehow and going up a set of stairs before winding through identical corridors. Tenten brought her in front of large double-door room and without a second thought, the brunette pushed through and flipped on the lights.

The darkened room immediately came to life as the lights went on and acknowledged the presence of the two ladies. As they stepped in, the lights went on in a room further inside that Sakura figure for the bathroom. She almost screamed out loud, however, when the closet door beside her began moving. Tenten laughed as she pushed a few buttons on a remote she just picked up from somewhere and doors began to open in the room.

Sakura stared on in amazement as dressers and little compartment doors opened as she walked by, displaying beautiful gowns and accessories. The display lights for a shoe closet lit up and showcased the vast and endless rows of designer shoes all arranged neatly in their row.

"Uhh, Tenten?" Sakura voiced as her voice echoed in the room.

"Hmm, what is it Sakura?" Tenten asked as she sifted through a rack of dresses.

"Whose room are we in? Please don't tell me that Sasuke secretly likes to dress up as a girl sometimes."

"Didn't you know? He has a sick obsession with female clothes ever since he was a little girl."

Sakura gaped at Tenten who showed no sign that she was kidding.

"Haha, I'm just kidding. Wow, you really believed me there for a second, didn't you?" Tenten said finally with a laugh. Sakura laughed along weakly. "But don't you worry. This is Sasuke's sister-in-law's room. At least, it was supposed to be. Anyway, this room is a secret from most of the main staff and especially Sasuke's parents. Only Sasuke's grandmother and her staff of maids know about it. They are the ones who maintain it daily. And of course, now you know about it."

Before Sakura could ask anything, Tenten pulled out a bathrobe and two white towels from a linen closet. "Here, go take a shower inside and then we'll get you all freshen up when you come out." Sakura nodded without a word as Tenten handed her the robe and towels. "Shampoo and everything you need should be inside the bathroom. Just yell out to me if you need anything more," Tenten said as she guided Sakura over to the master bathroom.

With that said, the door closed behind Sakura. Left all alone inside, Sakura stared back at the reflection in the mirror of herself. Her hair was slightly dripping of what was left of the apple cider and when she briefly stroked her pink locks, it left a sticky sensation on her fingertips. Her blazer was sticking to her skin and Sakura saw how hideous her outfit looked tonight compared to everyone else at the party. Sakura grimaced. She couldn't care less what Aoi thought of her, but her words still rang some truth in them. The blazer was drooping as if someone really did just die. Her skirt was limped and dull like it got ran over. Truth be told, Sakura was probably attending her own funeral by coming to this house at all.

She undressed and quickly jumped into the shower as the hot water cascaded down her back and soothed her aching shoulders. She sighed. She couldn't wait to get out of here and crawl into her bed and just forget the whole night and the fact that the whole school tomorrow would be gossiping about her. Suddenly, Sasuke's face flashed into her head and the look in his eyes. Dark and brooding, Sakura couldn't tell if he was angry or sad. Pfft. Sad. There's no way. He definitely must be raging inside about how I embarrassed him by showing up at his house.

"Definitely angry," she murmured to no one in particular as the sound of the water washed out her words.

Sakura stepped out of the shower and slipped on the bathrobe and wrapped her pink tresses up in a towel turban. She splashed some cold water on her face and then patted her face dry. Removing the towel on her head, she quickly brushed through the wet hair with her fingers before blasting the hair dryer on her pink locks. Feeling fresh and renewed, she gathered up her ruined outfit and went out of the bathroom.

"Hey Tenten, do you have a shirt and jeans I could borrow? I'll return them to you at school or even tomorrow…" Sakura's voice drifted as she watched Tenten pull out a dress from the closet.

"…if you want," Sakura murmured as Tenten held the white pristine dress against Sakura and contemplated for a moment. Sakura stepped back a little as the fur lined white dress brushed against her wrist. The faux white fur circled the top and bottom of the strapless dress. The satin dress was completed with delicate rose stitching across the waist area. Tenten pulled out another item from the closet. This time, it was a white fur cape that glistened underneath the overhead studio lights making it look like a winter wonderland against Tenten's fingers.

Sakura gasped softly at the sight. Tenten grinned. "You like? Then it's settled," Tenten remarked as she handed the two items to Sakura.

"Wait—settled? What is settled? You don't expect me to change into this, do you?" Sakura asked in confusion as she held the dress and cape in both hands.

"Well, of course. Do you want to go dance in a bathrobe?"

"Dance? You expect me to go out there again after what happened?" Sakura shook her head as she tried to hand the clothes back to Tenten.

Tenten crossed her arms. "Honey, if you don't go back out there, what would become of you? You would not be able to face those wicked vultures with your head held high when you return to school."

"And you think I can face them now?"

Tenten shrugged. "Here goes trying. Look, Sakura. I didn't pick you out from all the other girls in school because I liked you." Sakura began to protest but Tenten held up a hand to silence Sakura. "Okay, maybe I did because I liked you. BUT it was because I saw something inside of you that I saw in no one else before."

"And what's that?"

"I haven't figured it out yet actually. Just a spirit that's different. No nonsense, no fake smiles. Just your true self shining through. I knew you would be quite a force to be reckoned with. And I was right seeing how riled up Sasuke gets at the mention of you."

Sakura could only smile wryly at that image.

"Now enough small talk and get your butt into the changing room and get into those clothes that I picked out for you."

Sakura sighed. It looked like there was no way out of it. Tenten was even more stubborn than Sakura and no would not be a viable option for her right now. Tenten opened a curtain to reveal a spacious dressing room equipped with three full length mirrors lit up by giant light bulbs that lined around the mirrors. A beautiful red cushioned bench was to the side underneath three hooks.

"Okay, but I'm only doing it for you. And you better even the score with Sasuke. I expect that 109th win," Sakura stated.

Tenten grinned. "Please, when I win, which I will, it's obviously going to be more than a one-point lead," she said with a scoff. "Sasuke is going to cry like a baby when I'm through with him.

Sakura laughed. "I guess when that happens, I will do anything you want me to. Even wear the frilliest dress you can find."

"Ooh, I'm going to hold you to that! Don't underestimate my skills in finding the most ridiculous outfit ever for you."

Sakura rolled her eyes before Tenten started nudging her into the changing room. "C'mon, I don't have all night, I have dancing and eating and mingling and laughing at wet bimbos to do," Tenten exclaimed.

With that said, the curtain was closed behind Sakura and she was faced with three versions of herself in the mirror. Sakura set her black outfit to the side as she gingerly held up the white dress she was holding her other hand. Afraid to break it or ruin it, she carefully hanged the cape on a hook beside her. "This must be expensive," she murmured quietly.

Tenten gasped as Sakura stepped out of the dressing room. "You look so beautiful," Tenten gushed as she rushed to Sakura's side. "Man, am I amazing or what? I should go into retail or something."

Sakura laughed softly as she slowly turned around for Tenten. The soft satin brushed against her skin and the fur bottomed lightly tickled her knees. Tenten ran into the dressing room and took out the fur cape hanging on the hook and draped it across Sakura's shoulders. "And now, the outfit is complete. Oh wait! Shoes!" Tenten exclaimed excitedly. Tenten handed Sakura a pair of silver heels adorned with a diamond encrusted bow on each heel. Sakura's eyes widened.

"Those aren't real diamonds, are they?" Sakura asked.

"Of course not, silly. Uh, but maybe you should be careful with them. I can't really tell the fake pair apart from the real pair."

Sakura looked at Tenten in disbelief. "You're kidding right?"

Tenten grinned. "Who knows? But in any case, it's not your concern."

As Sakura stepped into the heels, Tenten brought out a diamond necklace that glistened in the light. "Woah, I'm going to stop you there Tenten," Sakura said as she held out a hand to stop Tenten. Sakura pointed to her own necklace hanging down from her neck. "I have one and this is more special to me than any diamonds."

Tenten nodded, "I guess this is maybe a little too much. I'll put these back."

The dark bun-haired girl returned with hands empty and a big smile on her face. "Ready?"

Sakura frowned. "Not at all but it looks like I have no choice with you here."

"That's the spirit. Let's go dazzle!" Tenten said happily as she pushed Sakura towards the door.

With a deep breath, Sakura exited with Tenten in tow as the two went down the hallway and to the top of the grand staircase.

"You look amazing and as long as you keep your head held high, it doesn't matter what other people think," Tenten whispered in Sakura's ear.

Sakura nodded as she descended the stairs carefully while holding the railing with a death grip as her ankles shook nervously in the silver heels with Tenten following behind her. The stairs curved down and as soon as Sakura came into view of the crowd at the bottom, the sudden loud chatter came to a quick silence. Now all she could hear was the nervous and awkward coughs and clearing of throat of the people below and the eyes that stare back at her. Her heels didn't even make a sound going down since it was muffled by the carpeted steps.

Swallowing a gulp, she forced her head up high and continued the rest of the steps down. All the while, her mind was racing as she searched the crowd of eyes and looked frantically for a familiar pair that was warm and inviting and would hopefully rescue her away from the uneasy feeling of being the center of attention. She closed her eyes as she came to the last step and when she opened them again, she was met face to face with a pair of dark obsidian eyes. With a slight gasp, she stepped back in surprise but was only met with the step behind her and she fumbled a bit backwards before the arms that belonged to the pair of eyes caught her and pulled her closer.

"W-what do you want?" Sakura sputtered out.

"Nothing," he said with a smile. "Perhaps a dance?" He smiled again, this time a bit more coy and mischievous.

"Look Sai, I don't have time for you to call me names right now. Someone already beat you to it today," Sakura said as she tried to push Sai out of her reach.

"If you stick by me tonight, you can avoid all the awkward stares and whispers at school on Monday. They might have something better to talk about than snickers and laughs."

Sakura looked into Sai's eyes. "Oh great, an offer to be the center of rumors gossip rather than the object of taunts and name calling. What a great choice between the two," she said sarcastically.

Sai shrugged. "You'll be the center of it all either way. But it seems best to be called my secret lover rather than an ugly hag that you are, right?" he smiled.

Sakura growled under her throat. "You sure are pleasant and good in your people skills," she muttered.

Sai smiled as he stepped back from the stairs and extended his hand out. "A dance, fair lady?"

Sakura flashed a fake smile back to reflect Sai's own before taking his hand and squeezing it tightly. A little bit too tightly if she might add. Sai gave a wider smile as if he took no notice of the death grip on his hand.

"Don't mind if I do," Sakura said sweetly as she continued her death grip lock on his hand.

"You hag," Sai said through his teeth. He led Sakura to the dance floor amidst all the stares and whispers. The band took cue and began to play music and suddenly the dance floor was noisy again as everyone began to resume normal chatter and dancing. Unfortunately for Sakura, the music was a slow song and the two of them awkwardly held on to each other to sway to the music or at least make it look like they were moving in sync to the music or to each other.

"Thanks," Sakura said quietly.

"For what?" Sai asked.

"Nothing. Just wanted to say it. So why the interest in even helping me?"

"I don't have any interest. I invited you and asked to see what scary outfit you will surprise me with and you actually came through so I came to say good job."

Sakura stopped dancing. "Hey, this is an outfit Tenten picked out," she retorted.

"Yes, and it looks very scary on you."

Sakura furrowed her eyebrows at him. "Why do you speak? You clearly don't know the way to talk and comfort a girl's heart."

"I wasn't trying to comfort you at all," he replied.

He stopped dancing. For a moment, there was silence between the two. "You look…"

Sakura waited for him to finish his words.

"…scary."

Sakura stepped on his foot.

Sai gave a small yelp as he hopped up on one foot. "Hey, you do! Look at you, all decked out in a beautiful dress and shoes and on your face is still an angry and annoyed look like you don't want to be here at all."

Sakura crossed her arms. "Well I don't. Not even for a little bit do I want to be here. This party sucks and the people here are all snobby and won't even care to associate with me so what is the point? To top it all off, I am stuck with you who did nothing but insult me when you first saw me. I WAS smiling before you went and opened your big mouth."

"Ah, but were you really smiling of happiness or just a fake smile hiding all your anger inside?" Sai noted.

"Why does it matter? Whichever smile I show, you'll still call me an ugly hag."

Sai smiled. "You don't know that," he whispered in Sakura's ear.

Sakura dropped her hands to her side. "You look scary. Scary beautiful," he said softly as the words lingered in the air. She stepped back and stared at Sai. He stood there with a smile on his face and his head cocked to one side.

"Let's go walk around, shall we?" Sai offered as no words escaped Sakura's mouth. He took her by the arm and noiselessly, they left the dance floor and went off to the side by a long table of appetizers and drinks.

"Hungry?" he asked.

Sakura shook her head, still in disbelief at Sai's words.

"Cat got your tongue?"

Sakura looked up at him. "No," she said coolly. "Just exactly why are you paying attention to me?"

"A little birdie told me that you were annoying forehead girl who always goes out to make trouble for herself. I thought to myself that I would like to meet such a person."

"Sasuke," Sakura growled.

"Yes, my dear cousin. Are you two an item?" Sai asked.

"Me? A couple? WITH HIM?" Sakura exclaimed hotly.

A few people nearby turned to stare at Sakura's loud outburst. She quickly dragged Sai away to a corner and lowered her voice. "No, not in a million years. Not if he was the last guy on Earth," she swore.

"Oh, then what about me?" Sai asked.

"What about you?"

"What do you think of me and you?" he asked with a smile.

Sakura gawked at him in disbelief. "Are you joking or just messing with me?"

He smiled again. This time, perhaps more sincere than all the previous times he flashed that celebrity smile around. "Hm, I don't know. I guess I was just testing the waters with you first before I asked someone else."

"Gee, thanks for making me a guinea pig," Sakura spoke sarcastically.

"What do you think of this painting?" Sai asked suddenly.

Sakura looked up and noticed the giant portrait that was hanging in front of them. "Way to change the conversation," she muttered.

She glanced at the portrait before observing the fine details of the drawing. Three people were standing beside a tall tree with a fourth person jumping down as if he just ran late and is coming to greet the other three. Their faces were too small to distinguish who they were but on each was a hint of a smile. Behind the tree was a breathtaking background of a beautiful town and birds flying across the blue sky.

"It's beautiful," she murmured softly. "What is it called?"

Sai nodded and shrugged. "The artist never named the painting. It was always left untitled."

"That's a shame," Sakura remarked.

"What would you have called it?" he asked as he looked over at her.

Sakura scrunched up her eyebrows in deep concentration. "Hm, even though the people in the painting are standing apart, you can tell that they seem to be really close to each other. Dependable and there for you. Like…a friend. Definitely, they aren't strangers. They're…friends."

"Friends?" Sai echoed.

"Yeah, good friends. The ones who will never leave you," Sakura said softly.

"Interesting."

The two stood there in silence, each lost in their own thoughts, as they continued to observe the painting before them with the noise of the party in the background behind them.

"Sakura…"

"Hm?" Sakura turned around. Next thing she knew, Sai was leaning forward towards her. Closer and closer, his face inched towards her own. And then, he kissed her on the lips.