MisoHime
Author's Note:
Hi again, how are you?
It's the start of my mid-semester break, but it doesn't feel like one at all.
I have more submissions the week I get back, meaning that I won't be able to really rest for the next few days.
Important:
Also, I hope those of you reading this now are aware that I am in the midst of rewriting the early chapters of this story.
Do take note that this doesn't just mean that the spelling/grammar/sentence structure has been changed, but also parts of the story.
I have made some major changes to the storyline, which can also be said for the other past chapters I have yet to rewrite.
Seeing as I can now see the direction of this story, I'm forced to alter some of the events of the previous chapters so that it all makes much more sense.
If you were unaware of this fact and are still under the disguise of the chapters I wrote five years ago, I highly suggest you take the time to re-read the early ones once again.
Thanks, and a special mention to my reviewers of Chapter 15:
- MissKonoha: Thank you for reading! I'm glad you like this story. I'll continue to write with your continued support!
- guest: Thank you so much, do enjoy this one too.
- sasusakusara7: I'm so happy you like my story. I'm afraid the more interesting part of this chapter was pushed back to the next one, but fret not, I will be updating again soon. Hope you still like this chapter, though. Leave me your thoughts if you do!
Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto, and the inspired book for this story isn't mine either.
◊▫ 星の十字 ▫◊
Hoshina no Kurosu
Jūroku
日付
Hidzuke
It would be a Friday night when Sakura would have to go on a date with Itachi.
There hadn't been any contact between the two of them ever since that incident in the alleyway on the night of the party. With her memory of that particular evening foggy, she had almost assumed she had dreamt the entire conversation with the man, but when she opened her locker earlier in the week, Sakura was greeted by a small note.
Attached with a loose piece of string, a piece of card stock scripted the words "Friday night, dress traditionally and expect my arrival at 7:00 sharp."
There had been no signature or initials signed at the footnote. If it hadn't been for the fact that Sakura vaguely recalled agreeing to an evening out with him, she would have never known that the elegant flourish of the penmanship belonged to Itachi.
'Leave it to him to be perfect in even his handwriting' she had thought after reading through the invitation.
His words puzzled her. The oddity of his invitation was no surprise, she didn't expect him to forget their deal. The request on traditional clothing, however, threw her off. Why on earth would he be asking her to wear something traditional on a date?
Frowning in confusion, Sakura did a quick mental run-through of her wardrobe for her traditional clothes. Over the years, her parents had routinely had her outfitted for a customary kimono and a spare yukata for the summer season. They were mostly worn for cultural festivals or formal family gatherings, but there hadn't been an occasion for them in quite a while. Using it for a date surely wasn't a social norm - not in their day and age, but Itachi didn't seem like the kind of person to not do things without reason.
Perhaps he meant to take her to a family occasion?
Her stomach turned violently at the thought. The suspicion was logical - especially since his family was such a large community. As the heir to the head family, he was sure to have duties that requested him to attend many meetings and dinners with the rest of his family elders. Did he need her as company for one of said events?
Sakura sure hoped not.
The last thing she wanted was to meet the Uchiha family. So far, her experience with them hadn't been a particularly great one. Itachi would have to be blind to ignore the fact that she was also the daughter of his father's long-time rival and enemy. To bring her to any family event would result in not only a very uncomfortable, but very antagonistic exchange and she had no plans to be ridiculed by any of his snooty relatives.
She shoved the rest of her books into her bag and moved to slam the locker shut before a heavy set of binded white papers tumbled out and fell with an indignant 'thump' against her feet.
Sakura bent down and grabbed the fallen object. She didn't remember owning such a thick report, and couldn't recall ever owning anything of the sort. Her confusion lasted only but a second before she caught the words printed on the front of the cover.
"Romeo & Juliet" - Manuscript (Revised Edition)
Character: Juliet Capulet
Casted to: Haruno Sakura"
Her fingers spasmed around the thick papers and it almost fell from her grip. Her heart squeezed painfully in her chest. She felt short of breath from the pain caused by the words. Her copy of her script had been shoved to the very back of her locker during a hysteria of tears just hours after the catastrophe of her recast weeks ago.
Sakura had completely forgotten that she had left it there.
Her eyes continued to stare at the printed words. How her heart longed to flip through the pages and skim over her lines - lines that she knew even without the help of a script.
She swallowed roughly and shoved the script back into her bag. She would incinerate it when she got home or something - away from the eyes of any watchers before she subjected herself to another breakdown.
In her other hand, she still held Itachi's note, which was creased in the corner where she had gripped it a little too tightly. She ran her fingers over the words, the ink was dark and solid against the grainy surface of the paper. Her role as Juliet might have been over, but life moved on. There was no sense in dwelling on things she couldn't change.
The petite girl slipped the note into her bag along with the manuscript and the rest of her textbooks before zipping it up and reached to close her locker door. The metal felt cold against her clammy palms.
Campus was still filled with students - a massive crowd that moved in ever changing directions. Juniors and freshmen alike moved to different classrooms or to the public spaces. Majority of the seniors would be gone by now. They're schedules allowed the second half of the day to remain free for extracurricular activities, or for study periods in the library for those working to prepare for upcoming exams.
Sakura stuck to the crowds and moved along with the flow of traffic. Her face shielded by a curtain of pink hair as she moved swiftly to the car park. Sai was in the art studio working on his final project, and the drama department was going dress-fitting for the play. There was no need for the tech crew today, which meant Sakura's presence would not be required.
With the sky rolling with thick clouds overhead, she scurried along to her car, fishing her keys and keeping her back to the drama building. Secretly, she was relieved to have a break from it. The mental torture of watching the cast go on with their rehearsals and fittings was painful enough. Seeing Sasuke included made her ache even more with the reminder of the two things in life she lost along the way:
Her dream and her heart.
Friday evening, Sakura stood in front of her bedroom mirror and stared at her reflection.
The entire house was quiet, with both her parents working late and Sai still cooped up in his project, there had been nobody around to witness her attempt in donning on her kimono by herself.
Typically, her mother helped her assemble the formal wear, what with all the folds and sashes being an intricate process. A traditional kimono was a must-have for every female in Japan - both young and old. It was the essential piece of clothing that proved their heritage, and while Sakura usually wore it with pride, she couldn't help but grimace at it now.
The garment was a deep red - like the colour of wine, with small white flowers peppering the areas around the hem and torso. Her obi was a cream colour, like an offset white. A jade coloured piping ran the edges of the sash, the colour blending at the ends where a neat bow was tied behind her. Small flower-shaped beads hung in delicate stands around the decorative lining that went on top and around her waist, making her figure appear dainty and feminine.
It was her favourite kimono, mostly because even after three years, the cloth remained just as luxurious as the first time she wore it. The hems of the outfit ended just shy of her ankle , showcasing her pale feet and neutral, pink-lacquered toes.
Every time Sakura wore it, she carried herself with new found confidence that matched the grandeur of her kimono.
Tonight, she just felt ridiculously overdressed.
It had taken her a good two hours to wrangle herself into the outfit. With so many layers and only two hands, it was difficult to wrap herself in the kimono. Her obi had proved to be the most challenging part of the ensemble. Her spine had needed to be contorted when she was wrapping the belt around her waist. It was no mystery now, why they usually required two people to wear a kimono.
Sakura took a breath as she observed her reflection. Her face was pale but flushed around the cheeks from the struggle of dressing. Her eyes a little too wide, perhaps from her nerves.
While she had no intention of actually courting the older Uchiha, she fully intended to repay her debt by going on this date, and while he was not her first date, it certainly was a different type of first.
'Who would've thought I would be going on a date with an Uchiha'
Sakura's heart seized with emotion as a different Uchiha's face flashed behind her lids. One who was slightly younger, with a leaner figure and spikier hair.
She flinched away from the thought, mentally shoving it to the far corners of her mind. She refused to think about him now, lest she risk any tears ruining her light makeup.
Sakura brushed through her hair as she thought about the irony of it all. Here she was, preparing herself to go on a date with the elder sibling of the man she loved, to repay a debt which resulted in a fleeting kiss with said younger brother.
'No wonder Sai was so amused'
When she had told her friend about her upcoming evening with Itachi, his expression was shocked for only a second before he released sarcastic snort. Apparently the entire situation was so unreal that he couldn't believe in Sakura's dumb luck. If he had been available for tonight, no doubt he would be lounging on her bed right now, sketching whilst he mockingly pointed out the endless outcomes of her date.
A slender hand ran through blush-coloured locks. Setting the brush down by her vanity, Sakura decided to let her hair down in her casual, but neat style. She didn't think there would be a need for a formal head-do. She forwent the norm of her hair accessories and settled on pinning a matching hair barrette to clip her bangs back instead. Her kimono was traditional enough. There was no reason to overdo it.
Green eyes flicked to the clock by her nightstand.
6:55 p.m, Itachi would arrive soon.
She gathered her phone, wallet and keys and slipped them into a small pouch just as the doorbell rang downstairs.
'Early, if not prompt,' she thought, 'as expected of Uchiha Itachi'
Slipping into her sandals, she made her way downstairs and to the door, making sure to check herself in the mirror once more to assure that not a hair was out of place.
Itachi stood at the threshold of her home, looking even more dashing than he did in casual jeans and shirts.
"Blossom." He greeted.
His hair was groomed back to his typical style, neat and practical. His bangs fell slightly to the front of his face when he moved and his eyes were shadowed with mirth. His lips were upturned in a satisfied smile as he surveyed her outfit.
Sakura took the time to look him over. He, too, was dressed in a traditional yukata. The under robe was a muted grey, layered over with a deep charcoal, which looked almost black in the waning sun. His sash was tied neatly around his waist, and fabric of his garment held no creases. His smooth, muscled skin peaked through the V-cut of his outfit, subtle but not inappropriate.
He looked good. But then again, he was Uchiha Itachi.
He watched her survey over his outfit, an eyebrow quirked slightly. In his hand, he presented her with a small bouquet of cherry blossoms, and Sakura fought back a snort at the fit. She nodded in thanks and tucked the flowers away before accepting his offered elbow.
She looked up and moved with him to his car. Her eyes didn't have to shift to his to know he was staring at her.
"What?" She questioned, uncomfortable.
The realisation that this would be a legit date made her a tad edgy. It wasn't that she thought she would have a bad time, or that Itachi would be anything less than a gentlemen. It was more of the fact that she would have to spend the entire evening trying to ignore the fact that he resembled so much of his brother it made her heart seize at every glance.
"You look enchanting in a kimono," his voice was smooth, controlled.
"Thank you." She replied politely, ducking her head to avoid his intent gaze.
He opened the passenger door for her, helping her into the seat before gently shutting it and making his way to the driver's side.
"I am surprised you heeded my words on tonight's dress code."
The car smelt faintly like him, rich and exotic. He eased out onto the roads without hesitation. All of his actions were smooth, controlled, graceful.
"I figured I had no reason to doubt your suggestion," Her eyes remained forward-looking as they passed by the houses of her neighborhood and entered the main district of Konoha, "would you care of enlightened me as to why, though?"
He smiled lightheartedly and gazed ahead at the roads, swiftly avoiding traffic. "It is deemed appropriate for where we will be going."
"And where is that?"
"I would prefer that particular detail remain a secret for now," his eyes flickered briefly to her face in mirth as the lights from the passing structures refracted the light in the dark interior of his car.
She watched him, trying to read his face for any clues, but Itachi remained as impassive as ever. There were no hints, everything concealed within the recesses of his mind.
Mentally sighing, she looked back out the window. The sky was awash with a blend of colours. Pink, orange, purple and deep blue bathing the sky in a myriad of tones. The sun streaked across it and the imposing structures of the city beamed with lights against the backdrop of the evening sky. The night was coming to life. Soon, the sky would darken and the city centre would be bathed in the bright bulbs.
The drive was relatively quiet. The sound system playing a peaceful, instrumental composition in hushed tones to help fill the silence.
"I'm pretty sure a date usually calls for at least some talking, you know." Sakura pointed out, looking back at the man behind the wheel.
He didn't seem surprised at her comment, but an amused quirk of his lips gave away his reaction. "There is no reason to rush our conversations," he replied without shifting his eyes from the road, "we will have plenty of time to talk tonight, Blossom."
She didn't bother to reply to his comment, instead choosing to address his term of endearment, "I would actually appreciate it if you just stuck to 'Sakura'"
His eyes met her's for a quick moment. "As you wish... Sakura."
The way he said her name made her tense slightly, the voice was smooth and hypnotic. But without any real interest in Itachi, Sakura was sure she didn't feel the full effect of it.
The rest of the drive continued on without any spoken words. The traffic remained light, an oddity for Friday night.
Sakura chanced another glance to Itachi again. He remained as cool as always, his focus on the drive as he navigated their way through the busy city centre. Sakura herself had no clue where they were headed. She never ventured so far into the city hub, but clearly Itachi had no problem cruising them to his destination.
Not too long later, he pulled his vehicle to a stop in an area Sakura was not personally familiar with.
The building they arrived in front of was quaint but still grand. It was clearly a traditional Japanese restaurant, with the exterior reflecting the historical architecture of Japan. The host who greeted them on the front doors was dressed in traditional clothing, and he smiled and bowed at the waist in a polite, respectful manner.
"Uchiha-sama, what a pleasure to see you once again."
Itachi nodded to the host and helped Sakura out of the vehicle. She struggled to maintain her composure at the sight of their venue, which posed in such a pristine sight she could have gulped in intimidation. While Itachi handed his car to a nearby valet, Sakura observed the grand structure.
The architecture was clearly authentic Japanese. A warm glow shone from behind the rice-paper windows of the exterior and the entrance boasted a lavish entrance consisting of natural timber flooring with a water feature running below the decks. Stone imprinted with the traditional characters of the restaurant's name were carved at the base of the entrance. The doorway covered with a cloth noren and past the entrance, Sakura could see how the timber paneled flooring of the entryway gave way to the classic tatami mats. Soft instrumental music could be heard, along with the smell of food and mingling with a soft echo of trickling water.
Stomach grumbling slightly with renewed appetite, Sakura followed up the stone steps by Itachi's arm. He guided her as they followed the host, who would be leading them to a private room near the back of the restaurant.
She couldn't help herself from taking a deep, yet slightly shaky, breath.
The real part of the date had just begun.
End Note:
To be honest, this chapter was actually way longer.
It was over triple the length of this chapter, but seeing how extensive it already was, I was forced to shave off parts for the later chapters.
I hope you look forward to the next update, which will be Sakura & Itachi's real date.
Do review, it keeps me motivated.