Title: The Children's Garden

Rating: K

Summary: Why do they call it a CHOICE if they were just going to pick for you, anyways?

AN: READ&REVIEW

Disclaimer: Do not own Naruto… but if I did the Uchiha brothers would use their sexy bods to kill off their enemies, instead

Prompt 14- summer

Ever since the age of seven, Sasuke's parents always gave him the option of either spending his summers with his annoying and loud best friend who lived in Suna, or to stay home alone in Konoha with servants to wait on him hand and foot.

So, naturally, he chose the latter.

And, naturally, his parents chose him the former.

It had been on one of these yearly visits that Sasuke had managed to slip away temporarily from his host family and find himself within a museum.

It was big, bigger than any museum he had seen in previous visits with his family. Its wonderful size captivated the little boy, sending him deeper and deeper into the building's massive depths. It was only when he had passes the same statue twice that Sasuke realized he was going around in circles. Before he could panic though, something caught his attention.

Almost hidden from view in a faraway corner was a little girl. She was standing still, attention captivated with a painting in front of her that at first, Sasuke had thought she was one of the exhibits herself. What with her white dress with the gold trimming around the sleeves and collar, and hair the same color of cotton candy done in elegant curls. Who ever heard of anyone having pink hair, after all.

She suddenly turned to look at him. "Are you lost?"

It took a while for Sasuke's senses to come back to him but he finally muttered a convincing "No."

"Which can only mean you are," the girl smiled. "I know my way around this place. My father owns it." She tilted her head at him. "Are you sure you're not lost?"

"I said I'm not lost," Sasuke bit out. He hadn't meant to sound rude or mean or whatever else his mother would say if she had heard him talking that way to a girl. He was sure now that she would run away and cry and he would never get out of this fortress. Sasuke fought a snort.

Much to his surprise, she did neither of those things. Only simply went back to staring at her painting. Curiosity soon got the better of him as Sasuke slowly approached. "What are you staring at?"

"It's called The Children's Garden," she said in a way that made Sasuke think she was used to being asked the question. "It was drawn by an anonymous painter in the early eighteen hundreds in Sicily." Turning to look at him, she continued, "It's one of my most favorite paintings in the whole museum because it was drawn by a woman."

"If it's anonymous how could you know it was drawn by a woman?" Sasuke frowned. The painting depicted was of a boy and girl, frolicking around what seemed to be an open field. Their backs were mostly turned towards the viewer but from body language, it was probably safe to say they were happy.

"The way the painter captures the essence of love, there's no way this wasn't drawn by a woman. Mother's love, and all that."

"Hn," was all he said. Not because he didn't think that logic seemed to fit. More like he didn't know what to say to that. "Do you always stand here and stare at it all day?"

"Uh-huh. I told you. This is my most fav-"

"Yes but why? Do you wish your life could be like that painting?" Sasuke smirked. "Playing in an open field?"

"Why would I wish that when my garden is this museum?"

He really didn't know what to say to that. This was girl was weird as she was smart, Sasuke decided. "It's getting late so..."

"Yeah. Are you sure you can find your way out?"

Sasuke bit his bottom lip in contemplation. It was only a few seconds before admitting, "If you could just point me in the direction of the exit..."

"How about I walk you there? This place can be confusing."

"Fine."

And they set on their way. Glancing back one last time to the mother's painting, he silently wished they could stay longer.

"What's your name anyway?"

"Sasuke. Sasuke Uchiha."

"Well, Sasuke, it's nice meeting you. I'm Sakura Haruno. And don't worry," Sakura said smiling, "They're not going anywhere."

Throughout the entire plane ride home, he would never forget those wide green, glassy eyes. The color of spring leaves, he had told his mother when he got back from his trip.

Mikoto Uchiha had seemed pleased her son had found something of interest for once in his visits, and even more so when that interest happened to be a person -a girl.

Something told her that her son would be more inclined to going back next summer. And the summer after that. And the one after that one.

She had not been disappointed.