Ookay--so I'm well aware that this chapter is OOC.
I'm sorry...
But I must!
Or my story will have no good romance!!
Forgive me...
And review.
Oh, and...thanks for reading these notes!
I love you guys...
:)
Chapter Fourteen:
Marry Me Juliet
"You wanna pull her close but your heart has froze. You kiss her but her eyes don't close."
Since when did I leave my curtain open?
Sasuke squinted his eyes against the light pouring in through the open curtains. He twisted his head to the other side of his pillow, avoiding the glare on his face. He peeled open his droopy lids to see Kiako curled up in a ball on his right, watching him with raw, palmy eyes. Her tiny body lay facing him, her face half submerged in his pillow.
"What. Are you doing."
Her curious little eyes puckered to life. "It's eight already, Sasuke. Wakey wakey!" Her long hair was tangled all around her body and he noticed now that she was already dressed in long pink pants and a short sleeve black shirt. Around her neck was a long silver chain with a heart pendant on it. In the middle was a glistening diamond, and the word 'love' engraved at the point on the bottom of the heart. He could have sworn he had saw that necklace somewhere before.
It's only eight?
"Try sleeping."
A frown overtook her face almost instantly and he frowned sourly at her in return.
"Sasuke, I'm hungry!"
He sighed and quickly sat up, rubbing his forehead roughly. The last thing he wanted was to listen to her complaining. So he looked over his shoulder to find her already standing by his bed, smile shining like the north star, and her tiny little body swinging back and forth anxiously.
After an almost sleepless night, Sakura had awoken at five in the morning, made her bed, showered and went to the hospital immediately to offer her assistance. Whatever excuse she could find to leave Sasuke's house was acceptable. After all, Kakashi had only told her she had to suffer through the night. It was now eleven, and honestly, she was hoping she could just go home and relax. Against her chest was a stack of files and documents she already needed to take home and sort through. But even that was tolerable. No more pointless and cruel missions to babysit children with her ex crush. She had other things to think about. But with Lady Tsunade being gone doing God knows what with God knows who (hopefully not Kalei!?), Sakura was almost positive there would be another workload at her office just waiting for her to come and take care of. But right now, other more pressing matters were at the front of her mind. As she was strolling down the street, crowded with morning people looking for things to buy or places to eat, she spotted, on accident, Taru talking to some young women with long green hair and dark, red eyes. Her wavy hair was pulled into a pony tail at the base of her neck, and she was wearing a tight gray kimono. Even from this distance, Sakura could tell the woman was maybe two or three years older than her, and using her beauty to attempt to woo Taru.
And the stupid boy just flirted back, a wide, attractive grin on his face.
Sakura rolled her eyes and made her way over to him and his maiden, in search of answers for her questions.
"Oh, yes. He's a ninja here as well, a jounin I believe. Every three years my parents allow me to make a trip up here and see him." Sakura heard the lady's low, smooth voice as she came within range of their conversation.
"Well, I'd be happy to escort you to his residence, since you're lost." Taru's womanizing tone hit Sakura straight in the face. She needed him right now! No way was he going to go and get his flirt on.
The woman reached her hand out and gently placed her pale fingers on his chest. "I'd be most obliged-"
Sakura slipped herself into the tiny space between the two, careful not to drop her papers, and the woman instantly dropped her arm to her side. Her smile faded almost as quickly as she took a step back and Sakura was pleased to find she had snuck up on them so stealthily.
"Sorry, ma'am, but I'm afraid this ninja is needed at the moment." She cooed sweetly, earning a distasteful frown from the woman. Sakura glanced over her shoulder at Taru, who was now looking away with a sad expression on his face.
"I see." The woman muttered, unhappy with Sakura ruining her flirting. "I suppose I'll have to find my brother some other way."
Sakura raised her arm, using her other to hold the papers tightly, and pointed down the street to a chubby ninja with long red hair and plump cheeks. "That shinobi down there goes by the name of Choji Akimichi. He'd be more than happy to help you find your brother." After a moment, the woman's frown turned to a glare and she sighed deeply with resentment. Without even a 'thanks', she turned on her heel, in the opposite direction of Choji, and stormed off unpleasantly. The instant the woman was gone, Sakura turned around and faced Taru.
"Well, hello, dearest." He replied mockingly. "How can I help you this wonderful morning?"
She narrowed her eyes and flashed him a sarcastic smile. "Start by being a little more self righteous. Don't flirt with women so nasty as to not even thank a girl for offering her help."
Taru shrugged. "Or taking it away."
Sakura rolled her eyes and shifted the stack of papers she had cradled to her chest.
After a click of his tongue, Taru scratched his head and addressed Sakura's matters. "You said something about needing me?"
"Oh, yeah. I need you're help."
"How can I be of service?"
Their eyes met.
"Who is Madara?"
Taru opened his mouth to say something and then stopped, closing his lips tightly and furrowing his brow. "Why are you suddenly asking?"
Sakura thought back on that night when she had heard Taru and Sasuke speaking about the true leader or the Akatsuki. Truth was, as she was lying in bed last night, being unable to fall into a slumber, the thought had crossed her mind, and she now needed to know.
"It's about time I asked, isn't it?" She answered calmly, and Taru just puffed out his cheeks, clearing his throat.
"I'm not completely sure. Rumor is, he goes by the name of Tobi in the Akatsuki. I only heard this through Kakashi, and I have no idea how he found out." Taru rattled off all he knew while Sakura memorized every detail. "Pein acts as leader, but Madara is the higher power. That's really all the more we know."
Sakura furrowed her brow. "Madara. I've heard that name before. Wasn't he the one who fought the first Hokage at the Valley of the-"
"Yeah, that's him. Old Lady Tsunade knew about this, too. I'll bet she told Kakashi, and maybe some others."
"That'd make sense but...that fight was so long ago. Isn't he-"
"Dead?"
Sakura nodded hesitantly.
"Like I said, we don't know much."
Taru's eyes locked on Sakura's while she processed the information. Was this the guy Sasuke was after? Her eyes burned into Taru's and she took a step closer.
"Madara..." Her gaze now flickered to the floor as the wheels turned in her head. Taru, noticing this, sighed hesitantly and nodded. He knew exactly what she was thinking.
"Madara Uchiha."
The weight on her shoulders suddenly felt like it increased, and it made sense. That's what Sasuke was after now. And it was clear that he was staying in Konoha to gather the information that people like Tsunade and Kakashi knew. He was using this town to it's benefit. As all of Konoha was using him to theirs.
She nodded as she swallowed hard, her throat raw. The two of them just stood in silence as Sakura let everything sink it. Taru watched her carefully, curious as to if he should have been the one to tell her that. But after the silence became unbearable, he spoke up.
"Is that all? Did you want to know anything else? Anything else bothering you?"
Sakura glanced up at him and then away, her eyes dulling by the second. And Taru never missed a beat of it.
"No. Not so much."
He raised both eyebrows and she looked back at him, blinking a couple of times in response to his unbelieving look.
"What?" She asked.
Taru shook his head, smiling at her with his white, flashy teeth. "I've known you for almost a year, and out of all the people I've ever met...I've never come to know some one so fast. You're honestly going to try and tell me something isn't wrong when something very obviously is?"
Sakura flashed him a quick smile and then drew in a full breath, nodding her head.
That's one thing I love, and hate, about this guy.
She tilted her chin toward the ground and after a moment, felt Taru knocking on her head gently with his knuckles. She looked up at him through her eyelashes and the simple gesture made his breath lodge in his throat. It took him a moment to remember to say something.
"So? Wanna try that again?"
Sakura pursed her lips. "I'm just worried, that's all. Do you know where Lady Tsunade even went? What's her mission exactly?"
Taru pinched the bridge of his nose with his index finger and thumb and closed his eyes tightly, indicating deep thought. Sakura shifted her weight onto one leg, hoping he had an answer to that.
"You know, I'm not even sure. Never asked. I guess all I really know is that she's stationed all the jounin and lower class ninja to watch the town and it's near surroundings. The ANBU are the only shinobi out tracking the Akatsuki. I guess that's what the Sand Village is doing as well."
Sakura perked one eyebrow and shook her head against his words. "How do you know all this?"
He let out a short, sarcastic laugh. "I was just up at the city hall last night. I was briefed on all the changes and what was going on. They expect a lot from us now. It's just that the certain few of us-" He waved his hand between him and Sakura. "-Are suppose to be around this village until Grandma Tsunade's return. We're the most advanced protection."
Sakura just nodded. What was she suppose to say to this? Nothing, really.
Except maybe I should have got my butt up to Lady Tsunade's office and figured this out for myself. I can only imagine what other load is up there waiting for me.
"Answer your questions?" Taru's voice broke through Sakura's inner scolding. As Taru took a step back, she took one forward and opened her mouth quickly to speak.
"Just one more-"
"Yup." Taru replied with another brilliant grin.
He was always so carefree. And fun. Generous, interesting and intelligent. The type of person Sakura needed to be around to loosen nerves and release built up stress. The type of person who she had become friends with in just three days. Somewhere along Sasuke's absence, she looked to Taru for guidance. He gave great advice and was there for her when she needed someone to scream at. He was also adorable and had let Sakura lean on him at the roughest points in the past. And now...she watched him smile at her with his most valiant grace, and she wondered if even he was feeling the pressure every other shinobi was feeling at this very moment.
"-Did, uh...do you know if Kalei went with Lady Tsunade?" Her voice was urgent, words hurried.
Taru wrinkled his nose and, after a somewhat hesitant and suspicious nod, replied. "I do believe she did."
Sakura felt a funny tingling sensation wipe over her skin and she quickly nodded, hoping Taru wouldn't see her incredible wave of disappointment.
"Okay. Well, thanks. Sorry I ruined you're chance at a date." She kept her voice perfectly, and Taru rolled his eyes almost as if he had never noticed her mood change.
"Oh, you know. There will be others." His hazel eyes caught hers at that moment, and she quickly rolled her eyes and looked away. After a short wave and sarcastic laugh in reply, she spun around and took off in the opposite direction, putting behind the conversation with Taru so she could focus on getting her feet to take her to the city hall. The last thing she needed to worry about someone who meant so little to her work load.
She paced from building to building, weaving through the people and being careful not to think to much on any one subject. Her eyes never left the street in front of her and her expression never strayed from calm. The papers were snug against her chest and she could feel tension build up in every muscle on her overworked body. Round one corner, round another. She was walking toward the city hall, but it had felt like she was simply walking in circles. Until she came to one corner at a rather normal speed, that somebody managed to collide with her going 100 MPH. Being on guard so well, she only stumbled back and grunted, but the hit had loosened the stiffness in her arms, and all the papers had come crashing down. They fluttered to the sidewalk in a chaotic pile. After a moment of letting the wind come back to her, she took a step forward and crouched down to pick up the papers. Only, she noticed somebody helping her. In no time at all, the person, who hadn't even muttered an apology, handed her the papers, and she was slowly pulling her body up right...when she saw a pale hand stretch out and catch the Uchiha emblem hanging off her neck in front of her chest. The dangling emblem was now secured between two fingers, and Sakura became speechless, looking up and noticing a just as speechless Sasuke caressing her, or his, necklace.
His eyes moved from the necklace to her eyes and she suddenly became very still, embarassed and breathless at the same time. What was he thinking?
It felt like time stood still for those few seconds.
He simply glanced at the emblem once more and then back at her, and this time, shockingly, she had managed to muster enough movement to take a step back, allowing the emblem to be pulled from his fingers. His hand dropped to his side.
"You're wearing it." Was all he said. Sakura's mouth was dry, lips parted slightly. She glanced around, looking for something to say, but nothing especially natural came to mind. She finally looked back at him and shrugged.
"Well, you gave it to me. It didn't just fall from the heavens that night."
Why am I being such a bitch...?
Sasuke's lips pulled up in a crooked smile for only an instant, and then his face became stoic once more. "No, I guess not."
Sakura nodded, swallowing hard. It burned all the way down to her stomach.
"But I thought you said you didn't care about me anymore?"
Her jaw fell open as she noticed his serious face. As in...was this a serious question?!
Oh shit! Oh shit! Oh shit! Now he's going to think I still love him! Wait...
Every thought that crossed her mind in that one moment contradicted itself. Either she loved him or didn't? Which was right? Her heart or her will?
"Who said I still did?" She narrowed her eyes and tucked the necklace into her shirt, as if to pretend he had never noticed it.
He perked one eyebrow, his lips drawing into a tight line. "Then why are you wearing it?"
She rolled her eyes, glad that her mind was now in full swing and she could ramble off whatever nonsense was at the top of her head. "Should I not be wearing it? Would you rather I leave it on a shelf and let it collect dust?"
Sakura notice his face crumple a bit, fists clench just slightly at his sides.
"I'm humoring you." She finished, feeling the icy words freeze her tongue. But Sasuke was unaffected. He simply nodded at her mockingly and then rolled his eyes.
"Or lying to me." She opened her mouth to deny that, but he spoke again. "Got up and left early enough this morning? Memories that unbearable?"
"Hardly." She spat instantly, and then relaxed her tone so she wouldn't sound so cold towards him. Truth was, he was half right. "I only needed to be there that night. And I had things to do this morning." She glanced off to the side, face becoming calm. "It was nothing personal."
"Never is." She looked back at him to notice him walking toward her, or really, just trying to walk past her. His hands were in his pockets and his face was bored as he strolled right past her. For a moment, she didn't know what she should do, but then she found herself turned around, facing his back as he slowly walked away from her.
"I take it Kakashi came and got her?" She said a bit louder so Sasuke could hear her. Slowly coming to a stop, he turned half way around and nodded.
"Mission accomplished." He replied.
Sakura let out a tiny laugh and nodded, while Sasuke smirked back just slightly.
This felt nice. Just being...
...Well really, who was she fooling? They could never be just normal friends.
"So...we're okay?" She found herself asking suddenly, wiping the smirk clear off his face.
A pause.
"We're okay."
She narrowed one eye, her tone becoming lighter. "No more awkwardness?"
"None." The response was quicker, and so was Sakura's heart rate as she noticed him smirking back at her triumphantly.
"And no more fights?"
He pulled the corner of his lips down and tilted his head as if he couldn't promise her that. "Well...not each other."
She laughed. He felt better knowing he could still make her laugh. "I can live with that." She muttered softly. Sasuke just nodded and turned around.
Sakura memorized each foot step, wondering if this was really what 'being okay' felt like.
Or maybe if it was still just simply being in love.
"You, my friend, have absolutely nothing in common with Hinata, and shall never have anything in common with her, so long as-"
"You don't know."
"Yeah, like you don't know what you're talking about."
"Give me a break, will you?"
Taru chuckled graciously and rubbed the back of his head. "I'm just telling you, dude."
Naruto sighed heavily and frowned. "And I'm just telling you what she told me at the Ikiru festival, dude."
Taru looked at Naruto, both eyebrows raised incredulously, forming lines on his forehead. "Yeah, but...Hinata? Liking...you-"
"-Loving, actually-"
"-It's just...like, wow." Taru shook his head viciously and when Naruto pouted at him, he burst out into more playful laughter. "Relax, whiskers, I'm only kidding with you."
Whiskers. This was what Taru called Naruto on occasion, with his permission, due to his containing the nine tailed fox. Naruto happened to be completely okay with it, mainly because Taru was like another brother to him.
The two approached a picnic table outside of a sweets shop on the main street. Kakashi and Kiako were sitting peacefully, while Kiako munched on something chocolate looking. She never looked up, but Kakashi noticed the two and waved.
Naruto sighed at Taru, hinting to drop the conversation, and they both walked over to the edge of the table.
"How's babysitting?" Taru asked, placing both hands on the table top. Kiako ignored him, finishing whatever desert she was gobbling up.
"Well, I'm alive. Slightly broke, though. She eats everything."
"You could never tell." Naruto muttered under his breath, and Kiako beamed up at him. Taru laughed in turn and shot the girl a mischievous smirk.
"I bet Kakashi's been a lot of fun, right?" He asked, and Kiako shook her head.
"He's okay but I stayed with Sasuke and Sakura last night! That was more fun."
Taru's face went blank instantly and Naruto groaned almost as quickly.
"Yeah, meanwhile, his "teammates" or whatever...stayed at my house. I had to kick them out this morning." Naruto glanced over at Taru, who was now staring at the picnic table, trying to match up what Kiako had just said.
"Sorry about that." Kakashi murmured, standing up. He stretched out his arms and took a few steps away from the picnic table, and Kiako fell into step right beside him. "You mind watching her for a little bit? I'd like to talk to Naruto for a minute." Both Naruto and Taru shot him suspicious glances, and almost as if Taru had forgotten about Kiako's earlier statement, he shrugged.
"Sure." He replied cooly, and instantly, Kakashi nodded and the two walked away from him.
"So what exactly did you do last night?" Taru asked in a fake bored tone, now turning his full attention to Kiako. He was hunched over on his knee's and at some point during Kakashi and Naruto's leave, Kiako had placed herself right in front of Taru.
"I stayed over at Sasuke's house!"
A pause.
"With Sakura?"
Kiako nodded, a giant smile bursting out on her vibrant face. "You jealous?"
Taru narrowed his eyes, a hint of something different in his look now. Disappointment? Frustration?
"Curious." He muttered, giving Kiako this unexplainable look, that clearly only she could understand, because her smile vanished immediately and she frowned.
"But I don't get it. Sakura's..." Taru muttered to himself.
"Sakura's, what?"
The two of them looked up behind Taru to see Sakura walking over to them slowly, unsure of whether or not she should be barging on this conversation. Last thing she wanted was to hear something about her she wasn't suppose to hear. And her suspicion only heightened when Taru turned to face her with both eyebrows raised and a tiny smirk on his face.
"Sakura's...here. I feel like I just seen you this morning." His mocking tone made Sakura furrow her eyebrows and click her tongue.
"Yeah, feels like that." She looked down at Kiako, who stared up at her with wide eyes. Something about her look made Sakura uncomfortable. "And you? You managed to survive this morning?"
Kiako only nodded, eyes still big and curious, as if all the world was unknown in those few seconds. Sakura chose to ignore that as she heard an exasperated sigh come from Taru.
It was then, as she turned to look at Taru, her eye caught something off in the distance a few feet, approaching them slowly. Sasuke. He had just been saying something to Kakashi and Naruto, who had turned and went in the opposite direction, and then turned and came toward her and the other two. She quickly took a deep breath and tried to figure out why his presence was rattling her. She was fine by him just a few hours ago.
Well, sort of.
Keep it cool, Sakura. Friends. You guys can manage to be just friends.
And then she noticed something else.
Taru, his all of a sudden uptight, uncomfortable expression, focused on Sasuke, who seemed to be ignoring him completely and focusing on a skittish Kiako. She jumped behind Sakura right away, peering over her hip.
Sasuke just 'hn'ed and turned his attention to Sakura, who struggled to keep a calm composure together. The little kid behind her wasn't helping any.
"Hey." She said, keeping her voice nonchalant and kind. Sasuke nodded. He ran a hand through his long, silky, hair, allowing Sakura to soak up every detail. And then, he turned his attention to Taru, who was trying desperately not to glare. It wasn't so much that he had something against Sasuke personally, but he didn't like the thought of him and Sakura together. And he still owed Sasuke a punch.
"Sup." Taru let the words slip between his lips in the calmest voice he could muster and Sasuke, in turn, just glared at him, as if he was the most unimportant and annoying person in the world.
Just then, in a swift motion that nobody noticed, Kiako lunged herself at Sasuke, who was fast enough to swipe her off the ground and into one arm, her butt planted on his elbow while she wound her arms around his neck. The action caused Sasuke to sigh and place his free hand in his pocket, but much to Sakura and Taru's surprised, he didn't seem bothered enough to yell at the little girl for invading his personal space.
"Sasuke!" She chirped cheerfully. "Can I stay with you and Sakura again?!"
Sasuke didn't fail to notice from the corner of his eye the twitch that echoed off Taru.
Ah, sweet satisfaction.
Sasuke smirked at Sakura, who was also aware of Taru's rising ire. But the only thought she had about it was that he wasn't fond of Sasuke. So she raised one eyebrow, slightly irritated, with her earlier nervousness now gone.
"You can stay with Sasuke." Sakura sputtered to Kiako, uninterested. Her strong gaze rested on Sasuke, though, who payed no mind to her attitude.
Taru now rested his stare on Kiako, and when Sakura glanced back at him quickly, he was wearing an expression like she hadn't seen on him before. His eyes appeared dark and serious, holding onto Kiako's face as though he was trying to reach her a message. And when Sakura looked back at Kiako, she could tell that not only was the little girl not paying attention to Taru, she was purposely trying to avoid his gaze.
How could Sakura tell? Because every so often Kiako's eyes would flicker half over to Taru...and for once...Kiako's smile had moments of fakeness. Something Sakura had not seen on the cheerful child's face before.
And then Kiako frowned heavily. "But I want to play with you and Sasuke...together." She pushed her lower lip out, and her words caused Taru to scoff quietly. Sasuke turned his fierce eyes on him, who was now staring at the ground with an awkward smile on his face.
Sakura just sighed.
Together, huh?
"Kiako," Taru looked up at her, the same awkward and crooked smile on his lips. "Are you trying to play match maker?"
Sasuke's eyes narrowed and simultaneously, Kiako stuck her tongue out on him.
"Taru, I love both Sasuke and Sakura, even if you and Lele don't!"
The corner of Taru's lips dropped and he now glared at her dangerously.
It was if the air had become thick enough to choke off Sakura's vocal cords, because her mind was working...while her voice was not. Neither Sasuke nor Sakura had actually listened to the meaning of Kiako's sentence. All they seemed to notice was Kiako's use of Kalei's nickname, Lele, and how she had so easily grouped the two of them together. Sakura, imparticularly, put all the puzzle pieces together.
Kalei and Taru.
They knew each other.
Why else would Kiako have made it sound so much like they did?
Sasuke put Kiako down to her feet, and as if she understand the problem she had just caused, she took a step away from Sasuke and bit down on her thumb, watching a very angry Taru stare at her with an intensity Sakura had never seen on him before.
Sakura turned her body to face him with a firm and serious stare. "You know her." A short pause. "How well do you know her?"
After a moment, Taru looked down at Sakura, his expression relaxing. He couldn't find it in him to glare at Sakura. Not like that.
In that instance, he pushed Sasuke and Kiako out of his mind, so he felt like only him and Sakura were standing here, having this conversation. It was now or never. He wasn't sure exactly how Sakura would react, and he just as unsure about what he wanted to say or how this would turn out...but...
"Pretty well." He said slowly. Sakura's mouth opened to say something, and then she hesitated, just for a moment.
"That day..." Sakura glanced behind her at Kiako, who was staring at the two of them with wide eyes. She brought her gaze back to Taru. "In the alleyway...when Kiako fell in front of us...you knew her?" Her last few words cracked, showing her real frustration with Taru.
Taru swallowed, feeling all his words disappear, and his stomach flipped uncomfortably. "I never told you that I didn't know her, Sakura."
Sakura flinched. He was right. Thinking back on it...he had never seemed as surprised by the little girl as she had.
-
"Hey. Have a nice trip?" Taru asked.
"Are you alright?" Sakura asked. The little girl smiled back and nodded.
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" The little girl spoke.
Taru chuckled softly to himself. "Because you just face planted-"
"If you're hurt at all, just let me know." Sakura interrupted, her smile growing. The little girl nodded and took another step toward them.
The little girl just stared for a moment.
"I know she's ugly but it's impolite to stare." Taru casually spoke again. Sakura slammed her foot down on his.
"Are you lost? How old are you?" Sakura asked.
The little girl started twirling in circles. "I'm 7, and no, I'm not lost. But thanks, pretty lady." She stopped spinning and bowed her head. Sakura nodded and watched as the girl turned and skipped off.
Sakura sighed heavily once more as Taru stumbled over to her.
"Yeah...thanks pretty lady. I think you broke my foot."
-
Something in Sakura snapped at that moment. "And all the stuff you told me about her that day, like her modeling and her becoming an ANBU captain...where'd you hear it all?!" She was now shouting, and random people on the street shot glances at the arguing two. Sasuke noticed this, but just like Sakura, he was taking in everything Taru was saying. So he knew Kalei. Was that why Kalei had assigned Taru to watch over Sasuke if they should need to go on a mission?
Taru sighed and a pained look overcame his features. "She told me." He breathed deeply, figuring there was no reason to lie.
Sakura wasn't sure why this was so upsetting. Of course, she was expected to get a little angry...but this? She wanted to throw Taru off a cliff right now. And she couldn't quite understand why.
And he could tell. "Sakura-"
"Don't." She snapped dangerously, eyeing him with as much intensity as she could manage. She shook her head viciously and then snarled at him again. "You knew I hated her. You let me go off about her so many times and you knew her? And the times you called her beautiful and...and..." She was at a loss of words. And her last statement made Sasuke twitch angrily himself. "You know what, I hate you."
Taru's mouth fell open, but before he could form solid words, Sakura was storming off, pissed at the world. And here was one of her best friends...standing here watching her go. He took one step to run after her but he felt a tight grip on his forearm hold him in place. He instantly glowered over his should at Sasuke and pulled his arm away roughly.
"Did that make you happy?" Taru hissed, earning a distasteful scowl from Sasuke.
"You're misery, yes. Hers, no." Sasuke took a step toward Taru, who stood up straight and met Sasuke head on. There was no way he was backing down.
"Stop it! Stop it!" Kiako squealed, pushing her way in between their legs. Her face was all blustery and she looked as though she was going to cry. "I'm sorry! I never meant to hurt her! I just thought it was for the best." She looked up at Taru with pleading eyes, and his vicious expression relaxed a bit.
Sasuke clenched his fists at his sides. "What was for the best?"
Taru's hazel eyes locked on Sasuke's onyx ones, and he swept Kiako up into his arms.
"What are you hiding, Shokei." Sasuke whispered loudly, more a statement than a question. He knew there was something going on. It was just a matter of finding out what it was.
"Nothing you need to worry yourself with, Uchiha." Taru snapped, leaping out of sight with a sorrowful Kiako held tightly to his chest.
Sasuke just stood there, in his own thoughts, wondering where he could find a now pissed off Sakura.
She was shuffling down an empty street an hour or so later, still fuming mad. But also, she was mortified. Taru was probably the one person she had never had a serious argument with. And here she had just thrown that perfect streak out the window. Not only was she mortified, she was second guessing herself. Maybe that wasn't a real reason to blow up on him.
But he never told me he knew her! All those times I said I couldn't stand her, or...just...
She swallowed thickly, feeling all the anger engulf her once more. He could have mentioned that him and Kalei were like, best fucking friends!! Maybe then she wouldn't have made a point of confiding in him about things. She couldn't even imagine how things would have turned out if she had known Taru last year when her and Kalei had got in their first fight.
She stomped. She huffed. She acted like a spoiled child.
And she knew she was doing it. That was the worst part. But still...
Suddenly, she felt the presence of somebody near her and she planted her feet firmly on the ground, closing her eyes and huffing out one last agitated breath. Of course she knew who it was. Misery becomes familiar after so many painful encounters.
"Coming to my rescue?" She said icily.
Instantly, she felt something firm, Sasuke's back, leaning on her back, and she shifted herself so she was leaning on him as well. He was extremely fast, appearing behind her like that. His arms were crossed and a small smirk was on his pale lips.
"Don't I always?" He retorted, and Sakura slowly opened her eyes and stared at the ground wearily. Being around Sasuke was, surprisingly, dissipating her anger and just making her weary. And his simple words gave her a few quick flashbacks on all the times he had, in fact, come to her rescue.
Woo, what a hero.
"Yeah. When you're here." She said smartly, yet in a tired voice, and turned around, while he, too, turned around and faced her for a moment, then he took a step past her. She sighed as she heard his sarcastic chuckle.
"When I'm here." He repeated in his low, I'm-a-smart-ass-but-you-know-you-like-it tone.
Sakura turned back toward him once more and he was facing her too, a smirk still present on his gorgeous face. She rubbed her forehead gently and sighed again, feeling way to mentally exhausted to pick up a conversation with him.
Then his face shifted, and he became serious.
"You okay?"
He really didn't know why he was asking. He knew the answer. He just felt like if he were to ask her, he could address the situation more carefully.
She raised both eyebrows and let out a short laugh, as if he were the world's biggest idiot. And being the silly girl she was, she had fallen for him. "Rhetorical question?" She asked lightly, causing Sasuke to flash her a brief smirk. "You know, I actually thought I knew him pretty well." She shook her head and ran her hand hastily through her hair, causing it to fall in all the wrong places. Yet it did not disturb her beauty. "I should just accept that everybody is a liar and..." Her words ran flat there and she looked back at Sasuke, eye's darkening with past reflections. She paused a moment, and then spoke. "I should have learned from you."
He bit his lip and narrowed his eyes. "I thought we weren't doing this anymore." He replied calmly. She pursed her lips.
Had they not agreed to no more arguing? And just earlier today, too.
"I thought a lot of things." She let out a deep breath and turned her gaze to the ground in front of her. "God, when do the disappointments end." And he honestly saw something deep inside her dark emerald eyes that made him think she was going to cry.
So, he let his instincts take over.
He reached out his hand and snatched her wrist, not pulling her quite yet. She glanced up at him quickly and all the questions ran through her eyes. He could see everything.
"Let's go." He demanded, causing her questioning eyes to widen.
"Go where?"
"You'll see." And he proceeded to tug her along, not hearing a single protest from the frail girl behind him.
They had simply rounded a corner and taken a few steps before Sakura noticed the Eternity Garden, and how both her and Sasuke were standing in front of it.
"What...what are you doing?" She asked finally, as Sasuke turned to face her, his normal expression in place.
"You annoy me when you're like this, so I'm attempting to help."
She stared at him flatly. "So you're not doing this just to make me feel better."
"Well...no not really."
"Everything you do has to benefit you. Do you ever do anything just for somebody else?" She snapped, raising one eyebrow.
Sasuke smirked. "Would you believe me if I said yes?"
"No." She answered immediately. He almost wasn't able to even finish his sentence.
"Then why bother asking." But it wasn't a question, and he didn't give her any time to reply. He turned around and gestured her forward toward the gates, and she hesitantly took a few steps forward.
"I can't." She mumbled randomly, coming to a stop. Sasuke, who was one step in the garden, turned and faced her with a annoyed look.
"Why?"
She tapped her finger on her chin. She was one step from the gates, glancing above her at the beautiful architectural work of the gates. "I'm suppose to go in on a special occasion." She glanced back down at Sasuke after a few seconds. His stoic eyes melted into hers.
"I'm asking you to go in with me." Both his brows raised, and his words made Sakura's heart skip a beat. "I think this is a pretty special occasion."
And just like that, she was walking down the firm dirt walkway, eyeing the millions upon millions of flowers to her left and right. Multi-colored pebbles lined the walkway and it strained Sakura's eyes to see all the colors in the near dark. It was now a little past sunset and the night was approaching.
The garden was built so that a small walkway stretched from the gates, to another pair of wire gates. These gates were level with the walkway, and after you walked through the second pair of gates, the land sloped into a crater-like garden with Tsunade's statue in the middle. White wire fences lined the huge rectangular garden, and a row of evergreens coated the inside and outside of the fences.
Sakura and Sasuke slowly made their way to the second gates, and then Sakura turned her awe-struck gaze up at Sasuke.
"Why'd you bring me here? I mean, now of all times." He looked down at her and leaned his head in just a bit to whisper to her.
"This is when the lights come on."
That wasn't what she had meant, but what happened next was magical to her.
Because on cue, she noticed something flicker down by her feet. A string of lights were weaved through the large pebbles and around the second set of gates, and they flicked on one by one. She looked behind her and noticed the evergreens on both sides of the fence light up with bright gold lights, illuminating the healthy, colorful flowers blanketing the ground. Sakura could tell now with some lighting that there was numerous types of flowers all around her, and now she was dying to see what the rest looked like. She held her breath and took a step in front of Sasuke, closing her eyes. He placed his hand on the small of her back and pushed her forward until she was right at the gates, and the rest of the garden became visible. After a brief moment, he spoke to her.
"Open your eyes." His beautiful voice reached her.
And obediently, she did, letting her eyelids flutter open in wonder.
The walkway reached down into the rectangular and long valley, until it reached a large granite statue of Lady Tsunade just how Sakura had imagined. Only better. And to each side of her, more flowers decorated the soil, and tiny lights were weaved on the ground below them, lighting up the different colors. Four large black poles were placed symmetrically on each side of her, reaching to the end of the garden. And atop each of the black poles, a light flood of water fell of a round shape, casting water to the ground. Lights were strung up the poles, and the whole placed glowed with a brilliant wave of color. The sight gave Sakura chills, and she stared at it all with her mouth open, a smile rounded from her lips. Sasuke stood beside her, awed, yet not gaping. He was most infatuated with her obvious attration to the beautiful scene.
She was smiling.
And something told him that was all he really wanted.
In a trance like state, she made her way down the walkway, shooting her stares in every direction. She soaked up every detail, letting it consume her in a fairytale world. Before she knew it, she was standing in front of Lady Tsunade's statue, staring at it with a burning passion in her eyes. There was a shallow pool surrounding it in the same granite, and lights were embedded inside small glass holders under the water, casting up over the Hokage's statue.
But that wasn't what drew tears to Sakura's eyes. Or what caused every bone in her body to crumble.
It was the lone, beautiful cherry blossom tree, blooming in all its greatness, right behind the statue.
Sakura took a step back and lost her breath.
"Must have had you in mind."
Sasuke's velvet voice pulled her from her entrancement, and she turned her body around excruciatingly slow. Her eyes found his and it took all she had not to embrace him and break down into tears. She wanted so much to go back to the way things were a year ago...when he had told her he loved her...when he had held her, and kissed her...and made her everything okay. She wanted to feel like it wasn't a fairytale, but it was all real. And she wanted to thank Lady Tsunade...and she wanted to cry on her lap about all the things she had kept inside these past months. And she wanted to apologize to Taru...to Naruto. She wanted to be the little girl she was at age twelve, and live the carefree life she had pictured herself living. She wanted eternity, and everything else that came along with it. She wanted perfection. And the hardest part...was knowing she couldn't have it.
She let out a shallow breath, swallowed what she could with her dry mouth, and pulled herself together...just for Sasuke's sake.
"Thank you." She whispered. His stoic expression seemed familiar and soothing to her, and it made the night all the more perfect. "It's...wow." She glanced around her once more, spinning slowly to take it all in once more. "Really. Thanks."
His dark, mysterious eyes relaxed and he ran a hand through his raven hair. He took a step toward her, closing what little space was between them, and her tear filled eyes widened.
And Sakura knew...in that moment...what she wanted.
She rested her hands on his chest, smelling his sweet breath fan over her face. Oh, wow, did she miss him. She leaned up on her tip toes and closed her eyes, while Sasuke closed his as well.
But it was once she came within an inch of his face that she felt her breath hitch, a pain shoot through her chest, and all the reluctance in the world to move even farther. She removed her hands from his chest immediately and her eyes shot open, allowing a tear to escape her eye. Sasuke, too, lifted his eyelids to look at the pain-stricken frown on her face. Gracefully, she fell onto her heels, staring at his chest. But she made no move to widen the space between them.
"I'm sorry." She whispered too quietly for Sasuke to even hear her.
She could not forget his lies. He had promised her something he could not keep. He had hurt her in more ways than anybody else ever could. And she was simply not ready to lose herself to that nightmare once again. No matter how much her heart bled for him.
She clenched her fists at her sides as Sasuke took a step back. She glanced up at him to see him outstretching a hand to her. Unconsciously, she let out a slow, tender laugh.
Shake hands? Are you serious?
Sakura curled her lower lip into her mouth and tried not to smile, as she noticed the very tiny crooked smile Sasuke was giving her. After a moment, both of them returned to seriousness, and Sakura reached her hand out slowly. Her fingertips brushed his and she pulled her hand back an inch. But after a moment, she built up the courage to extend her hand the rest of the way. His firm grip seized her soft hand with a thirst for her touch, and he pulled her harshly, so she wouldn't have time to pull away.
Her feet lost balance as she fell into him. Her hands landed on his firm chest once more, and this time, their bodies were touching, emitting an intense heat. Sakura looked up at him with eyes so wide she was sure they were spilling all her secrets. Sasuke just watched her for a moment. He placed one hand on her upper arm, allowed a tiny space between them, reached up her other hand, and placed his knuckles gently under her chin. She tilted her chin down in reaction, shaking her head softly. Found at a complete loss of her words, this was her pathetic protesting. Because deep down, it was what she wanted. But of course, she was scared.
Sasuke gently lifted her chin to him while she continued to shake her head just slightly. The movement was almost unnoticeable.
"We're gunna be okay." He whispered to her, mainly trying to convince himself. And then in the swiftest of movement, his lips swooped down and caught hers for the shortest of moments. Long enough to stop time, yet short enough to leave her wanting more. He pulled back and looked into her far away eyes. He wasn't willing to risk anything else. She was already what he had left damaged and broken.
Until she was able to give herself back to him...he'd just have to give her a little push.
Next Chapter
Plastic Glue