Date: 5/16/13
Rating: T
Genre: Cute, Humor, Romance, Time Travel
Prompt: Sasuke and Sakura have been dating for a while, and Sakura teases Sasuke about what a boring boyfriend he is, never taking her anywhere romantic. They end up making a bet; Sasuke must try to give Sakura the most interesting week of her life, but if he fails, he has to do something horribly embarrassing. (Same goes for Sakura if he succeeds). He starts off confident, but Sakura decides to not make it easy for him.

***Note: Another one of my favorites.

It started with flowers. A bouquet of red roses from the Yamanaka Flower Shop. Simple. Thoughtful. And although Sakura loved the gesture, she couldn't help but feel smug. Really? This was the best Sasuke could do? If so, then Sakura would win the bet in no time.

"You don't think I could do it?"

But that was Sunday.

Sakura thought about it for a second and shook her head. "Not a chance."

And today was Wednesday.

Smirk. "You're on."

And for the first time since this whole bet started, Sakura was starting to realize that she might actually lose. No, if things continued they way were going, then Sakura was definitely going to lose. She grimaced. She knew Sasuke was competitive, but she had no idea he could be so creative. If she had, she wouldn't have challenged him in the first place.

She groaned. Things weren't supposed to happen this way!

Sakura passed by her reflection and stopped. Sakura could just see it now. They would enter the bar for Ino's party, dressed to the nines. Sasuke would look handsome as ever, but unlike the all the other times they'd gone out, the attention wouldn't be on him. The bar would go quiet, at first in shock and then in amusement. That's when the laughter would begin. Because even though Sakura would be wearing the perfect outfit, one she had planned out for weeks, her makeup would look horrid, done by no other than her boyfriend; all because she lost a stupid bet.

At least if Sakura won, Sasuke's makeup would look decent enough. She'd put a little blush here, some eyeliner there. Maybe she'd even add a little lipstick. Maybe. But with Sasuke, there was no telling what she'd look like. Unless there was something he wasn't telling her, he'd probably never even seen an eyelash curler before in his life. And knowing her friends, especially Ino, everyone would want pictures. Sakura would be subject to sheer humiliation, immortalized on four by six inch photographs.

"God damn it, Sasuke-kun," Sakura said under her breath.

"Yes?"

Sakura spun around. "Oh, Sasuke-kun! When did you get here?"

"Right now."

"Of course, you did," Sakura said, laughing awkwardly. "Well, I'm just going to go now and—"

But before she could walk—run—away, Sasuke grabbed her wrist and started pulling her in the opposite direction. "Oh, no you don't. You're coming with me."

-xx-

"I don't know how he's doing it, Ino. It's like he knows exactly what I want, like he's making every fantasy date I've ever dreamt of into reality. The spontaneous trips to the hospital. The ballroom dancing class—yes, Ino, he actually danced. I can't believe it. It's almost as if," Sakura stopped and turned to Ino, her eyes turning into slits. "You haven't been telling him have you?!"

"Of course not!"

But Sakura wasn't stupid. "Liar! You have!"

"Okay," she said lightly, "Maybe I've been helping him just a little."

Sakura made a face. "A little." Pause. "A little?! Ino, tonight he got a freaking band to play our song as we had a picnic on Hokage Mountain and watched the sunset. In what world is that helping him a little?!"

Ino raised both of her hands and backed away slowly. "Hey, Forehead, up until this point I only thought Sasuke-kun was just trying to be a romantic boyfriend. I had no idea about this little competition of yours until you came bursting in my house thirty minutes ago." Sakura sighed; Ino was right. "Besides, you still have a few days left. You can still win."

"How?"

Ino smirked. "Give him a challenge."

-xx-

Time travel. Sakura chose time travel. She didn't know how Sasuke was supposed to accomplish it, but that's what she told Ino she wanted.

It must have been really challenging because Thursday passed without a single thing from the Uchiha. And while Sakura felt relieved that she had regained the upper hand, she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed that Sasuke skipped a day. Then, as Friday rolled around with no sign of Sasuke, Sakura had to wonder if he'd given up.

Yet, there she was, sitting across from him, at the same restaurant where they had their first real date. Sakura smiled. She supposed it was time travel in its own right. He did try, and that's all that mattered.

"You know, Sasuke-kun," Sakura said as they walked outside after dinner, "this was really cute, but I don't think simply eating at the same restaurant really counts as time travel."

Sasuke stopped. "Who said we were time traveling?" Sakura tilted her head; he was smirking. "Anyway, I'm not done yet. I can still win this bet." He pulled out a blindfold from his pocket, instructing Sakura to turn around. And when he was sure the black cloth was secure around her head, Sasuke took Sakura's hand and gently led her through the streets of Konoha.

"Sasuke-kun," Sakura asked after a few minutes, her excitement growing, "where are we going?"

However, Sasuke shushed her and whispered softly in her ear, causing Sakura to giggle, "Now we're time traveling."

The rest of the journey continued in silence, and although Sakura tried to map out where they were, it seemed Sasuke took every opportunity to twist and turn through the village just to disorient her. But it wasn't too long until Sasuke finally stopped, telling her that they'd finally arrived.

"You've never asked me," Sasuke began, "my perspective." Sakura could hear him walking away from her, but she when her hand went to the blindfold Sasuke instructed her to leave it alone and not to move.

"Your perspective?" she asked.

"Of that night, when I left. I know you've always wondered." Sakura swallowed, her heart racing. He sounded so far away. "Well, now I'm going to tell you." It got quiet again, the only sounds coming from the crickets humming and the wind whispering through the trees. She didn't know how it was possible—it must have been the blindfold—but it almost felt like they had actually time travelled back to that night.

"I was so set," Sasuke started again, "on my decision, choosing to leave in the middle of the night so no one could stop me. Yet, there you were, waiting for me with your words of hope and promises. You really used everything you had, didn't you? But when that didn't work, you told me you loved me."

Sakura heard him sigh. "My back was facing you, so you couldn't see my face. But at that moment, right after you confessed, I remember cursing you. Because of all people, it had to be you who met me that night. And for a split second, I honestly did consider your offer. But my need to kill my brother was stronger than any desire to stay. So instead, I called you annoying, hoping that you'd understand that I did remember. Everything. And I was grateful." He paused. "Do you remember what happened after that?"

Sakura wasn't sure if he was looking at her, but she nodded anyway. "I said I'd scream if—"

And just like that night all those years before, Sakura suddenly felt Sasuke directly behind her. "Thank you," he said quietly, "for everything."

She gasped; she knew what was coming next and braced herself. Even with the blindfold on Sakura shut her eyes, but instead of what she expected, she felt herself being lifted into Sasuke's arms as he walked towards what she could only assume was the bench. Laying her down gently, Sasuke sat beside her. Sakura felt him take her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers. His grip was tight, almost shaking, as he mimicked the motions of brushing her hair from her face and tears from her eyes.

"I remember looking down at you, wanting to promise myself that I'd come back to the village once I killed him. But I knew I couldn't do that, and maybe this was selfish of me because you were unconscious, but I couldn't just leave, not without," Sasuke stopped mid-sentence and kissed Sakura on the lips. It was just a peck, and yet, it still was enough to make Sakura's heart skip a beat.

They stayed like that for a little longer until Sakura finally felt Sasuke slowly let go of her hand. The silence had returned, and suddenly, she couldn't feel him anymore. She started to panic. "Sasuke-kun!" Sakura exclaimed as she ripped off the blindfold. But there he was, still sitting beside her. He never left.

"Welcome back." Sasuke gave her a small smile, but upon seeing her face, the smile quickly turned into a frown. He looked worried. Maybe he went too far. "Sakura, are you okay? You're crying."

She shook her head. Although the tears continued to flow down her face, Sakura began to laugh and pulled Sasuke in for a kiss. He really did it. Sasuke actually time travelled.

"You win."

-xx-

"It's official." Sakura looked at herself in the mirror. Her dress was stunning, and her shoes matched perfectly. Not even a hair was out of place. But her face looked about a shade darker than her skin. The lipstick was the wrong color, and her cheeks were too pink. Sakura didn't even want to get started on her eyes. "This really has been the most interesting week of my life."

But even though Sakura seemed fine, Sasuke knew better. He sighed. "Here."

She turned to him, confused. "But, Sasuke-kun," Sakura said as she stared at the blush brush in Sasuke's hand. "I lost."

"I know that," he said, willingly giving Sakura the freedom to do whatever she wanted with his face. "Now do it before I change my mind."

"But why?"

Sasuke shrugged and gave her a kiss on her too pink cheeks. "Because you're my girl."