Chapter Seven
Entering the Other's World
"We were fifteen at the time," Sasuke explained to her when they were in the sitting room away from where he heard her arguing with the guy who came to see her.
How could he forget Kiba Inuzuka?
He was fifteen, before turning sixteen, as he said, and they were discussing this over none other than hot chocolate that Kabuto had made up for them because something strong would only make things worse. "We'd been at each other's throats since the start of high school because we were from good families, but therefore, our lives were different. He enjoyed being the one to talk about me out of everyone else, dogging me at every turn, and then one day I lost it on him. He was the one who took the knowledge about my brother to the next level. I never regretted doing that in the slightest - out of the others before him."
Sasuke could rarely remember every face that he bruised and even broke the noses of, but Kiba Inuzuka was the one who gave him the most hell that he took far more personal than any of the others. But now, after all these years, to see him with Sakura - were they together?
From what he listened in on - without her knowing until Inuzuka was gone - it didn't sound like they were an item, and it made him relieved. Why would she be with the likes of him? It also didn't sound like Kiba changed at all in the years. Why was he not surprised?
"I don't like the idea of you working for this beast." Of course, the guy didn't use to call him that when they were younger, so it didn't surprise Sasuke, either, that he did now like everyone else.
And here was Sakura, defending him. "Don't. Call. Him. That. I appreciate all your concerns, Kiba..." Although by the little choke in her voice, she must be far from it. "...but I won't let you disrespect him. Especially when you're standing on HIS property." Sasuke allowed himself to smile a little, and that was when his high school enemy mentioned the broken nose that made her freeze in place. But it didn't seem to make her think less of him. He was more than happy she was siding with him. She doesn't see me as the monster.
Now, with him done telling her about the many times Kiba would post the foulest of things on the walls and even on Facebook, Sasuke chose to keep quiet on exactly what they said since enough was known as it was - and though he always hid it, they darkened his festering psyche every day until he decided IT that night when Kiba had to mention that he was the "greatest ass in nature - it's a damned shame your brother didn't kill you when he had the chance". When the words hit home, it took him back to what Itachi said to him...
"You're not worth killing, foolish little brother."
Yes, Kiba drove him to nearly take his own life.
When she learned this, Sakura's eyes flashed, and she sputtered like there was no tomorrow. "S-Sasuke, how could he...?"
"Yes," he answered, sipping the chocolate. "But it was years ago."
She shook her head furiously. "No, years ago or not, he made you like this besides you choosing to do all that. If that's the case, then why the hell is he so interested in me, and what am I supposed to do about him now?" she asked angrily, but before he could think or say anything, the doorbell rang. She growled. "Could it be Kiba?" Sasuke pursed his lips and shook his head. If it was, then Kiba could not be stupid to do something as come back for a second time - no, it was the delivery he personally asked to be customized from the flower shop.
"Thank you very much," he told the delivery man after signing his name and taking the flowers in the silver mercury vase, turning to hold them out for Sakura to see, as she had come to stand beside him. Her eyes widened. In the vase were white lilies fresh as fallen snow, paired with miniature roses red as the berries, as well as little waxflowers. "They are...for you," Sasuke mumbled, looking down at the floor. "I never did this before, but I thought you might like them..."
She took them and inhaled before sighing. "I love them, but you shouldn't have done this -" she protested.
He knew she was going to say something like that because the lady over the phone advised that she would, but he interrupted her calmly. "No, but I wanted to. I thought that they...reminded me of you. Pure and fiery at the same time." Oh, yes, it means THAT, but damn, Sasuke, change tactics now that you don't know what else to say. "And, um, I wanted to ask you about Thursday which Suigetsu asked about."
"T-Thursday?" How amusing it was, that something as simple as a bouquet given to her at a random but right time made her forget. He laughed again and clarified.
"Thursday - the dinner meeting with Suigetsu and the board," Sasuke answered. Her eyes sparkled with remembrance. And he wasn't afraid to ask her this: "Are you free that night? Business dinner, and I'd like my...assistant with me."
Her jaw was dropped to the floor and she didn't seem to be aware of it. Chuckling at the show, Sasuke reached to close it for her, putting his finger to her chin and sealing it. "I...have a class, but I should be done by six," she answered.
"Then I shall pick you up at seven."
~o~
Thursday...a dinner date with her boss in front of his partner and the board. Talk about intimidation. She was going to be surrounded by associates that she never met, and compared to them, she never so much as had experiences in their field, besides reading. But not only that, how could she even let go of Kiba's visit - and then Sasuke revealing another truth behind his teenage suicide attempt and before that?
Kiba was one of the main bullies to push Sasuke past his limit.
He made Sasuke try to take his own life.
And what was worse: he DARED to tell her that he wanted her to be careful around the "Beast"! Who did he think he was?! Did he honestly think that Sasuke wouldn't tell her the truth that he did? He really thought that she and her boss wouldn't start trusting each other, was that it? Now she began to be a little more worried than before. If Kiba could be as bold as that, what was he going to do if he couldn't "compete" with his old high school foe? The one he made miserable himself...
Sakura was torn between telling Ino or not. She was her best friend, this was her cousin - could she have known this? No, because she never would approve of something like this.
"So...tonight is the big date," Ino said on the day that finally arrived when their shift was closing. Sakura nodded, but that also made her roll her eyes.
"It's not just a date, Pig. A business meeting, that's all." She wasn't sure if she could let go of Kiba's accusation of her and Sasuke "dating", either. They weren't, but why did it rile her so much?
Ino's eyes sparkled. "A business meeting you're getting all dolled up for," she teased, tongue drawing on the words. "You have a dress?"
"Of course." The one that Mom bought me in high school that I hadn't worn since she died. And it still fits. "But please don't tell Kiba," she pleaded, looking her friend in the eye, who nodded.
"Yeah, he's gonna get a little jealous. I know. But because you're my best friend, I won't force you to date him."
Sakura smiled gratefully. "Thank you. But it's still no more than a business date. And I don't think Sasuke will ever be anything other than my boss." But when the deal was up, what would happen then?
He was going to pick her up at her house at seven, which was an hour after her class was over, so she had no choice but to hurry and get ready when the time came. And when she was ready, she found herself looking in the mirror to see what was a form of her old self. The dress was made of velvet, dusty rose and almost matching her hair, and had short sleeves as well as a ruched bodice. Her favorite earrings remained as they were since they were all she truly loved wearing in her life.
The hour approached seven, and she was so excited now that her dad even noticed. "Kumquat, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you wanted to date the 'Beast'," Kizashi teased when he looked her over. "Man, you look just like you did then."
"And what does that mean?" she teased, batting her lashes and picking up her black shawl. "Dad, it's not a real date. First Ino and now you - I think I could only take so much." But Kiba is another story. If he finds out, what is he going to say or do?
"Okay, okay, just asking. But after this...I can't help but wonder," Kizashi said, and there it was, "what about when the deal is up? Could he drop it just like that or keep it to the end? And what could happen afterward is what's concerning me. There's that Kiba fellow..."
"Daddy," Sakura interrupted with a little sigh, wrapping the black cotton around her shoulders, "Kiba is not my type. I don't want to deal with him right now, and after his visit to the Uchiha Estate days ago, it's solid. He's turning into a jerk. He thinks Sasuke and I are dating, but it's not true. And if he so much as finds this out..." Her dad got the hint when she stopped the sentence and nodded. At the same time, they heard the sound of a vehicle pulling up.
He's here.
She stepped out there, holding onto her coat - which she would need when the evening was over - so he could see her. Her father stayed in the doorway and watched her and Sasuke who couldn't take his eyes off of her. And she couldn't take her eyes off him either, in his black suit and light blue shirt - before he snapped out of it and went around to open the door for her like a gentleman. "You look...very nice," he said just as she went up to him. Timidly, blushing a little besides the cold, she thanked him and got inside.
She heard him inhale and thought maybe he smelled her perfume. The scent still reached her nostrils. It was lush, with rose, jasmine, orange, and sandalwood. And as soon as he was in the car, he didn't yet start the engine, but he told her to look in the glove compartment. Furrowing her brows, Sakura opened it up, and there was nothing much but some papers, but one thing stood out in the form of a little white box, and inside was something that was starting to be a bit much just like when he gave her the flowers.
First, he gave those blossoms - and on the day he told her what Kiba did to him and his retaliation - but now he was giving her a necklace. A green crystal shaped like a teardrop was placed amidst a sculpted piece resembling underwater coral, in gold against silver. Although, Sakura couldn't find the words to refuse him.
If she didn't know any better, she'd say he was really starting to treat her as a princess and an equal.
~o~
Out of everything else, Sasuke chose the necklace because he just happened to be out one day and saw it in the jewelry store. He was compelled to get it because it was a simple piece of paradise. And then when he came to pick her up, he thought the wind was knocked out of his lungs at the sight - and sweet smell, when he stood beside her and opened the door.
When they arrived at the restaurant, Suigetsu called them over to greet them, and when his eyes rested on Sakura, he whistled. "Wowza, Sasuke, you really did pick the first and right one." The Uchiha narrowed his eyes at the implication, and it was dropped when introductions were made to Suigetsu as well as the other men at the table, and immediately it was down to discussions before the food would be served. Behind them, a warm fire was going in the electric fireplace.
At first, it seemed shutting the model down and letting people go was going to be worth it for them all, but what about pensions and such? It had been taken into consideration, but it always came down to this. Sakura stayed quiet the majority of the night but listened intently. But he could see that she was troubled by this very much, except she was unsure whether or not she should speak.
If she could speak to me, she can do so to these men.
"Well...are you sure you want to let go of the people you already have?" she asked, looking around at every one of them.
"Lay-offs are part of business," one said, and Sasuke would never forget him, for he was one of the chiefs who dared to challenge him when he first joined.
She nodded. "Yes, but a new model will take a lot of manpower. With a little training, couldn't they easily take over the new production? Or find new people who already know how to do the job?" she suggested. He happened to like this, personally. Training would take time, but they were all better off. And the man who questioned his assistant was still trying to pester her - just like he had done to her.
"You don't know some of our people, Haruno-san. Change doesn't come easily." Her eyes twinkled.
"You're right about that. However, it never does. But with the alternative, you'd be surprised as to how many employees are willing to go through training..." Now her green irises locked with his dark ones, knowingly. "No worries about new hires, quick turnovers. Just think about all the time and money wasted on employees that bail after the initial bonus kicks in."
Which meant training the employees based on company policies and procedures. "Then perhaps, Sasuke, you can look into that when you come to our New York facility," the old man told him. Gladly.
The rest of the evening was very smooth, and soy-dipped steak was served along with chicken entrees, sushi platters, and finally every option of sweets, which Sasuke knew he would refuse because of his lack of a sweet tooth. But to watch Sakura and that pink tongue as she delicately licked about the soy-dipped white balls caused a lump to form in his throat. Then a certain part of his body in the name of those things started to...
Why the hell did this happen, and why at a time like this?!
He hadn't felt like this since he was a teenager, and the many times he recalled masturbating was a release of tension to help him sleep at night. He didn't know if it was even a good idea since he was aware of what could happen without protection. Even then, marriage was too great a step for him to take, and even if he WAS interested in a willing woman, would she have cared for him as Sasuke and not some human wallet?
He needed a little more time, maybe a week or so, to think about this.
Not only was it himself, but he didn't want to make her feel like she owed him in this way.
His stomach tightened into a knot when her eyes flickered over to him and then roamed over his body as if having an idea what might be wrong with him. Sasuke cleared his throat and reached for his wine glass, which earned a few raised eyebrows, but he assured them all he was fine - when the truth was far from it.
He was relieved when the alcohol dampened the pit of his stomach by the time the evening was over, and they were just grabbing their coats and leaving. To distract himself from his unwanted thoughts, he congratulated her on how well she did tonight. "Only I doubted that one old man appreciated what I had to say," she said with an awkward smile. He laughed.
"He doesn't have your...compassion." The moment he said that, another spark may have flown.
"You know, compassion can't be a bad thing in business."
Sasuke nodded. "But I never said it was." Except I never thought it was reliable or suitable, either. He found himself looking at his watch, surprised at how it wasn't that late. "Um, do you have some time right now?" He just hoped that it wouldn't involve that reaction in his body sparking again because there was something else he wanted to show her besides his mother's gardens; this place was beyond there, and more private where he would sometimes clear his head.
This spot was further in the forest. Snow glittered across the landscape. The mountains were gracefully and randomly curved, with evergreen and birch towering to the skies which glittered with stars and streaked with smoky gray clouds. It was like a painting. "This is...beautiful," Sakura breathed. "So peaceful..."
"My brother used to come up here," he told her, feeling a pang. "He'd bring me with him. He loved it up here. And it was where he would do his...training."
She looked at him with a wrinkled nose. "Training?" Sasuke looked ahead as his mind began to open again to the good memories before it all turned dark.
"Itachi wasn't only going to one day be in my position, but he was the youngest ever to be placed in the ANBU Black Ops."
The Ansatsu Senjutsu Tokushu Butai - also known as ANBU, meaning "Dark Side" - was a special assassination and tactics unit long a part of the government, in which age had no significance, but years ago with what his brother had done, it was disbanded and dissolved, but that was all Sasuke ever knew. His brother had been put in for reasons that he never understood, and no one would ever tell him. Because of what happened to him and his parents, he gave up altogether ever wanting to know because it only caused him more pain. Sakura's eyes widened at this knowledge.
"He...got into the assassination squad at how old...?"
"He was thirteen," Sasuke answered. "As far as I was ever aware of, that's the age that you have to enlist. I never understood in all my life why he would join, and our father never told me this. Because I started to hardly see Itachi anymore; he'd be gone for months at a time...until the night I came home to find him over our parents' bodies. I always remember what he said to me..." He stopped there, squeezing his eyes shut, and halting in their current place.
This spot was none other than a fallen tree trunk for them to sit on. The stars overhead provided much-needed light, although a moon would have made it better. "I was thinking this very carefully before I thought of asking you," Sakura said, looking at him but not making direct eye contact. "You never wondered why he did it?"
Sasuke felt like a bolt had broken out of his system at the question. No, he never wondered. He was too wrapped in his grief and his resentment to even think about that. But now it was impossible to even speculate. He'd prevented himself from being too far down that dark path that almost claimed his life. Itachi and Kiba, the others like them...he did his best and with so much effort, and help from Kabuto and his parents, to not even think about it anymore. "No," he answered. "But since Itachi could still be out there, I always kept to my promise that if I saw him again, I would make him pay." She shook her head.
"As much as I respect that choice, I don't know if that would help you. Didn't he say that you...wouldn't understand? To me, that hints more than just because."
Everything she said clicked, but so many years had gone by, the one who changed his life forever was gone, another still here and thought to take his assistant away over a misunderstanding - but here she was, looking out for him based on understanding despite never being there before as he had.
But she knew the loss of a family, just like he.
"And I hate to say it like this, but there had to be a reason he..."
"...killed them," Sasuke finished somberly, closing his eyes. But what could it have been? "I wish I knew there was a way to find out now, but as I said, I never bothered. And the police never found anything in a motive."
Suddenly, Sakura did one thing he never thought she would: she leaned over and placed her head against his shoulder. Something very warm washed over him. "S-Sakura," was all he could manage.
"I'm so sorry. But...what happened when you woke up and he was gone?"
"Just that I ended up in the hospital, no real wounds, and praying it had all just been a nightmare, that Mom and Dad were alive...but the police changed it all. They told me Itachi hadn't been found, and I told them everything I knew. After that, Kabuto and his parents returned when they heard the news. And you know how my life turned after that..."
Sakura said nothing to that, but then... "I get we all deal with loss differently, but what about growing and learning from the experience?" Something in Sasuke snapped, but not the way he treated her early on.
"Growing? I took to punching other boys because of what they said about me, I cut my own wrists in the bathtub, I ended up in a padded cell for a year - I put my life on hold and still managed in the place I am at now."
"Sometimes bad things happen to good people."
He said nothing to that, but he nodded and decided now was a good time to bring her home. Now they were inside the warm and cozy luxury - and that was when he chose to ask her about her mother, Mebuki Haruno.
~o~
Thursday night had been nothing short of memorable. Dealing with cynical old men far better than she did before, although not many raised their voices as Sasuke used to do, and Suigetsu Hozuki really was something else. That guy could have been Sasuke's friend like Kabuto, but it didn't seem he would have lasted as long as the silver-haired man had.
Sakura enjoyed sitting out in the snow, under the stars, with him telling her more about what he had to suffer alone. After he got into trouble, cut his wrists, and then more rumors got nastier...what else did he have, right? More than you realize.
The topic eventually switched to him asking about her mother in the car as he drove her home. Outside, he revealed more about his family - and how special Itachi was, in not so many words, but the knowledge he'd been in a shady operation at such a tender age gripped at her in more ways than one - and now inside the warmth of his car, she would reveal her turn.
"My mom would have been very understanding if she heard what I have, although at the time...it happened," she said with a fidget of her coat sleeve, "that's when I first started hearing the rumors myself. At first, she believes what she hears, until someone else opens her eyes for her." She sighed. "Ever since she died, I did everything I could to make up for not being there for Dad, because I was all he had left." Things would have been way worse if I never came back home.
Sasuke furrowed his brows. "Where were you when she died?"
"I was in Tokyo for a year for my education. Dad called one day and said she died, so I returned." Every word spoken, every moment, was still fresh like it was yesterday. She was nineteen when Mebuki was killed in the car crash. It was an evening when she and her husband were having dinner. The tire had somehow exploded and taken them off the road. The car then flipped over and landed on the roof, killing Mebuki and rendering Kizashi unconscious.
By the time he awoke, she was already gone. He lay there for about three hours, or maybe more since it felt like forever, and you'd think that someone would come by in time on a highway like that. But no saving grace would bring his wife back, and Kizashi was ridden with survivor's guilt for almost a year since then. As a way to cope with his grief, he buried himself in working to the point of exhaustion as his way of wanting to commit suicide instead of something direct as a knife or overdosing on his medication. He'd been so desperate that one time he did consider killing himself so he could be with her - but in the end, Sakura had kept him from doing something rash. Moving back to Konoha and rekindling old friendships as well as settling into the chair of an assistant was enough to make herself, her dad, and everyone happy. She tried to comfort Kizashi and herself in the fact that the tragedy happened for a reason.
Now she found herself thinking maybe it did. If she hadn't come back, she never would have met this man.
Kiba calling Sasuke what he did, the "greatest ass in nature", came from what two well-known historical monarchs (George II and Caroline of the Georgian Era) spoke of their eldest son (Frederic, Prince of Wales) whom they treated with contempt and suspicion.
God my heart moved so much. Just wait until the next chapter when we get more than just moving hearts... ;D