Title: Of Pyromaniacs and Fire(wo)men
Rating: K+ mild language (like MILD. Maybe just one swear word?)
Summary: With a flick of his wrist, he set her world afire –literally.

Disclaimer: Do not own Naruto… but can I at least try buying it? Pretty please?

Prompt 4- burning/ignite

Ever since I was five, boys flocked to my end of the world to bring me chocolates, flowers, gifts wrapped in shiny red paper and adorned with pretty pink bows. They came from afar to celebrate me.

It wasn't a 'just because' spur of the moment thing, nor was it my birthday. They have celebrated me ever since I took my first breath in this world. They worship a good thing when they see one.

And why wouldn't they? My fair skin can't compare to that what's-her-name princess (seriously? Snow White? Can I see some identification?) and my voice is like warm sunshine rays in June. My eyes are like glittering exotic gems and my hair… well, my hair… hmmm… let's just put it this way: it's one of a kind. Like the rest of me.

Yes, I was a piece of art that needed hanging on a museum wall. But because I was such a rare find, people tended to focus on my looks rather than these things humans have: feelings.

So I guess I should be thanking my father and kissing my mother. My genetic looks caused car accidents on the street and men died at my feet on my way to Victoria's to check out her Secrets.

So, yes, thankyouthankyouthankyou oh blessed goddess looks-o'-mine! Because thanks to you, while people are busy starring at my beauty, they are distracted long enough to notice the fact that I ABSOLUTELY HATE THE FUCKING ATTENTION AND I WISH I HAD THE GUTS TO KILL MYSELF.

Of Pyromaniacs

and

Fire(wo)men

February 14 - Valentine's Day

Sasuke could already see a line forming just outside the physics classroom door.

And by the looks of it, they were holding their breath, counting down the seconds until class would be let out to -once again- praise Cupid on her day.

That wasn't really her name, FYI. Sasuke called her Cupid because on days like these, every second month of the year on the 14th, he was forced to endure another round of strange guys dropping to their knees for her, wishing they could be her hero, her man, her true love, her everything special and covered in powdered sugar…

Only Cupid had the power to make the guys fall in love with her.

Only Sakura had the power to make him feel this way for her.

She tries her hardest to take the best possible notes she can before class is over. But her hand is shaking something fierce like an earthquake movie and now her s's are starting to look like sideways eights and she's forgetting to cross her t's and dot her i's. She usually draws hearts instead of actually dotting them but today, today was not the day to do so.

She glances up towards the clock above her professor's desk. In two minutes, she would be thrown out to the sharks to be devoured whole. Oh how she wished this day would just end!

She could already make out a group of impatient boys all lined up like soldiers going into battle just outside the door. And maybe in their heads they were doing just that. No one said getting her attention on Valentine's Day was an easy task. In fact, last year, Sakura remembered two guys went to the hospital because they had both broken their wrists punching the hell out of one another. It was barbaric. It was stupid. And she really didn't want to be here.

Sasuke wasn't too thrilled when he glanced back at the clock. It informed him he had 45 seconds before the annoying school bell dismissed them for home. And Sasuke didn't want that to happen just yet.

Before leaving for school this morning, Sasuke motivated himself with his 'I'm going to tell her' speech while brushing his teeth. Although he always gave himself the same speech since he was five, year after year, Sasuke felt that this time really was different. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but something about this Valentine's seemed to be promising.

Perhaps it was the way that when he was in period two English with Sakura (he shared four out of the seven classes with her), he had dropped his pen right near her foot. As he was going to retrieve it, she picked it up, picked off the dust particles that the pen's rubber grip had attracted, and handed it back to him with a smile.

This normally wouldn't have fazed him (much) since he always dropped his pen everywhere and if it weren't for Sakura he'd have been using blood to take notes throughout the remaining school year. But there was a slight moment where Sasuke could almost swear the world tilted...

There they were, crouched underneath their tables, talking about a pen:

"Sorry. It seems to have a mind of its own."

"Slippery little sucker, eh?"

When all of a sudden she smiles and it's not one of her happy smiles. It's sad and cracked at the edges and fraying and no girl as glamorous as Sakura Haruno is allowed to have a smile like that. Ever.

Okay, so the moment of truth is upon her and all she can do is take a deep breath (in through the nose, out through the mouth like her yoga instructor taught her) and let it out slowly.

As she does this 12 more times (because she thinks that 13 is a luckier number than 14) she catches a look her neighbor is giving her.

Sasuke isn't one for too many words as he prefers for his actions to speak louder than them, so the look on his face is saying something along the lines of 'no one like her is allowed to look miserable.' And Sakura knows he's figured her out.

He's really smart, now that she thinks about it. And the knowledge of it is as startling as a high pitch alarm. Bu no, that's an actual alarm signing her fate over to the pile of young men now rushing in through the door and overwhelming her.

She continuous with her breathing exercises because she hadn't even made it to nine yet.

She looks like she's gonna bolt any time soon. But she really is a strong girl because even though heart shaped boxes presumably containing chocolates and her favorite flowers (tulips) are being shoved at her from all different directions, she still manages to smile, thank them for their gifts, and manages to exit the room without sprinting. Or screaming.

Sasuke is still sitting at his desk watching the scene unfold before him like a bad car accident. He wanted to tell her that she really was the girl of his dreams. But he thinks that a girl like Sakura has heard it all and -of course she's every guy's dream girl!

Sasuke sighs and begins putting textbooks and pens back into his backpack. His subconscious was telling him this year might have been his year.

His subconscious was a big fat liar.

She was free of her school duties, and as her admirers got into a debate of who really loved her more, Sakura pulled a Houdini and made her escape.

She was making her way through the park, the longest way to get to her house, but she really didn't think she could face another hormonal driven teen male.

Or perhaps God hated pretty people.

Because out in the distance, there seemed to be someone there, as if waiting for her.

Something in her snapped. She had had enough. She couldn't even walk to her home in peace!

As she neared her target, she realized who it was, and her angry footfalls suddenly lightened.

It was Sasuke.

She stopped about a foot in front of him.

It was Sasuke. Sasuke with a lighter.

"I didn't know you smoked." Because she really didn't.

"I don't." Because he really didn't.

"Oh. Then you must really like certain songs," and she prepares to leave because it's just Sasuke out here and she really doesn't think he wants her company. Even she didn't want her company.

But his voice calling out her name stops her in her tracks. She'd never heard her name on his lips before. She sort of wished he'd say it again.

"You should have seen how you looked all day today. I see how today affects you, and you should know that your feelings do matter."

Whatever she thought he was going to tell her, she would never have predicted this. It was enough to keep her quiet.

He went on. "Every year it's the same thing. Don't you get sick of it?"

She wanted to respond but all she managed was a bob of the head.

"I want to say that I'm not like those other guys but…as you see me here, I'm sure you've already figured it out. You're very smart, after all."

Finally she finds her voice. "Sasuke." But can't say anything more because Sasuke apparently needs to finish what he's started.

"I want to be different. You make me want to be different. This isn't something that comes naturally…but I want you to know that what I feel for you, every time I look at you, it's fierce and just as hot as this flame," -cue flame- "It's as hot as... As hot as..."

"A tree on fire?" she guessed.

"Well," he paused. "I wouldn't have phrased it quite like that. Why…"

Sakura points to the poor tree that's suddenly as flammable as the cards she disposed of in the girls' bathroom.

Sasuke, never one to work under pressure, swears as he puts out the flame with his shirt sleeve an Sakura giggles lightly behind him.

"I must say, that's one way no one has ever tried to get my attention." And because she's feeling giddy (almost setting things on fire does that to her) she asks, "So who's the fireman in this relationship?" And for the first time she smiles because she can finally say the word without wanting to scratch out her eyes or go jump off a bridge. The word naturally slips off her tongue, because deep down, she knew this was meant to be.

"You're not the fireman, Sakura," he sighs as he takes her hand and walks her home.

"What? You don't think I'd look cute dressed as a fireman, er, woman?"

Despite making an ass of himself and almost committing mass wildlife murder, he smiles. Because she's his and this was the way it was meant to be.

"Adorable."