Karin walked up to the mirror in a clothing store. She rested one hand on her hip and tilted sideways to inspect the back of her dress. This black dress shimmering in silver hugged her body and highlighted her curves quite well. She smiled appreciatively.
"What do you think, Sasuke?" She turned towards the man standing a few feet away from her with a sour look on his face.
"Karin, you told me on the phone to meet you here because there was an emergency." Sasuke said. He was pissed but kept his voice low.
"In what world, is shopping for a dress an emergency?"
"Oh, you know, I was looking through my closet this morning and realized I didn't own a black dress." Karin replied, utterly oblivious to Sasuke's displeasure.
"Well, not one with a neckline like this, anyway. And I needed my boyfriend's opinion on this matter. You don't mind, do you?" She turned and pouted at him.
Sasuke took a deep breath, trying to control the frustration building inside him. He had had enough of this relationship. He supposed it was his fault for letting this drag for so long. Two months to be exact. But every time he tried to end things with her, she would pretend not to hear and would pull a stunt like this.
"C'mon, let's try some other shops in the mall." Karin grabbed Sasuke's arm and dragged him out of the shop.
Sasuke reluctantly followed Karin through the crowded shopping mall, his patience wearing thin with every step. As they browsed through racks of clothes, Karin chatted animatedly about the latest fashion trends, completely oblivious to Sasuke's disinterest.
She made every purchase using Sasuke's credit card. Which he didn't really care about. He was willing to pay any kind of amount just to get rid of her.
Meanwhile, Sakura, who had been shopping in the same mall, spotted Sasuke from afar. She was out looking for some robes and did a double-take when her line of vision was filled with a tall, dark man dragging his feet behind a woman. She knew that woman to be Sasuke's girlfriend, having met her at Naruto's wedding. Naruto had told her that Sasuke wasn't happy in his relationship, and it showed.
Sakura pursed her lips. Thinking quickly, she exited the store she was in and followed Sasuke. They had just entered another store. By the time Sakura reached him, Karin had taken some clothes to the try room. She came up behind Sasuke and gently tapped on his shoulder.
Sasuke turned, and his eyes widened in surprise when he saw Sakura standing there. Her presence felt like a lifeline in this chaotic shopping ordeal.
"Sakura, what are you doing here?" Sasuke said, attempting to keep his voice casual.
"Come with me if you want to live." Sakura said, her eyes sparkling.
"What?" Sasuke asked, furrowing his brow in confusion.
Sakura rolled her eyes playfully.
"Oh, come on, don't you watch movies? Never mind, I was shopping a few stores away, and I saw you. You looked like you needed help. So, let's get out of here before she gets back," she said, her words rushing out with urgency.
Sasuke stared at her, momentarily distracted by the wide emerald eyes that were fixated on his. He couldn't help but be captivated by the concern and determination in Sakura's gaze. It was a stark contrast to the disruptive and unpredictable nature of his current relationship with Karin.
Slowly, Sasuke nodded, his shoulders relaxing. "Okay."
Sakura beamed, her smile lighting up her face. "Come on."
Sasuke allowed Sakura to take his arm, and together they swiftly made their way out of the store and towards the mall's exit. Sasuke allowed Sakura to take his arm, and together they swiftly made their way out of the store and towards the mall's exit. As they stepped out into the fresh air of the mall's open space, Sasuke couldn't help but feel a sense of relief and gratitude for Sakura.
They made their way across the busy road, the hustle and bustle of the mall slowly fading into the background. They entered a cozy coffee shop, and Sakura chose a quiet corner booth for them to sit.
As they settled into their seats, Sakura gestured for the waiter. The waiter arrived, and they placed their coffee orders. As they waited for their brew, Sakura studied Sasuke's face, her curiosity piqued. "So, Sasuke, what's been happening with you and Karin?"
Sasuke hesitated for a moment, his eyes focused on the tabletop. "It's... complicated."
Sakura raised an eyebrow, her intuition kicking in. "Complicated how?"
Sasuke sighed, realizing that Sakura was perceptive and not easily fooled. "She sort of... inserted herself into our relationship. We've been together for a couple of months now, but I've been trying to end it for a while."
Sakura frowned, concern etching her features. "That sounds frustrating. Why is it so hard to break up with her?"
Sasuke hesitated, grappling with his thoughts. He wasn't used to sharing his feelings, especially with the woman he had a crush on.
"Karin doesn't handle rejection well. I've tried to end things a few times, but she always reacts... unpredictably."
Sakura nodded, beginning to piece things together. "So, she's been manipulating you into staying with her."
Sasuke nodded reluctantly. "Yeah, and it's been exhausting."
Sakura's expression turned determined. "Well, we can't let her keep treating you like her own personal guinea pig-"
"Hey!" Sasuke protested.
"-so, we'll figure out a way to get rid of her, permanently."
"But how?" Sasuke asked, still unsure about how to navigate the complicated web he found himself trapped in.
As their coffee arrived, the two of them started outlining their plan, piece by piece, ensuring that Sasuke could finally break free from Karin. As their conversation grew, he felt like he had a fighting chance to regain control over his own life.
Sasuke and Sakura continued to brainstorm a clever plan to break up with Karin. The coffee shop's atmosphere became an incubator for their plot.
Sakura, with a sly grin, suggested, "How about we create a situation that would make Karin lose interest in you, without directly confronting her?"
Sasuke leaned in, intrigued by the idea. "What do you have in mind?"
As Sakura delved into the details of her intricate and devious plan, Sasuke found himself captivated by her intelligence and determination. For a moment, he forgot what they were talking about and got lost in the emerald eyes that stared back at him. The way her lips moved while she spoke made him want to lean in and kiss her.
"-and then she will be out of your hair for good." Sakura finished. She sat back and crossed her arms, looking proud.
Sasuke blinked and mentally shook himself. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Teaming up with Sakura was going to be a torture, but in a totally different way.
"Cheer up, Sasuke! It's a good plan," Sakura assured him, misinterpreting his actions. She pulled out her phone and began dialing, setting her plan into motion.
Karin stormed into her apartment, her temper flaring after her disastrous attempt to keep Sasuke by her side at the mall. Her anger mixed with confusion as she tried to understand why he had suddenly decided to leave. She kept calling his cellphone, but he never picked up, infuriating her further.
As she tossed her purse onto the couch, her phone buzzed with a message. Fuming, she snatched it up, expecting to see a text from Sasuke. However, her irritation turned into surprise as she read the sender's name - Suigetsu. It had been years since she'd last heard from him.
"What does he want now?" Karin muttered to herself as she tapped open the message.
Suigetsu had written, "Hey, Karin. Long time, no see."
Infuriated, she fired back a response, "You've got some nerve texting me after three years of silence. Leave me alone."
"I understand that you're upset. I just want to talk to you about something. Can I come over?" Suigetsu replied.
Karin scoffed. Was he serious?
"You're out of your mind if you think I'm letting you enter my home." Karin texted back. Her phone pinged with the sound of text again but threw it on the couch.
A few moments later, she picked it back up, intrigued.
"Please, this is important. I'm not happy the way we left things. I think about you all the time. I need to see you." Suigetsu was persistent.
Karin stared at the text. Her heart melting with each second. Her eyes softened. But then she shook her head. She needed to pull it together.
Her fingers hovered over the screen as she considered her options. She took a deep breath and finally replied, "Fine, you can come over. But make it quick."
Suigetsu's reply was swift and to the point, "I'll be there in 30 minutes."
Karin paced around her apartment, her emotions a whirlwind. She was still furious with Sasuke, but Suigetsu's message had stirred up a mix of old feelings and curiosity. As the minutes ticked by, she started to second-guess her decision to let him in.
When the doorbell finally rang, Karin's heart raced. She took a moment to compose herself before opening the door. There stood Suigetsu, looking more mature and put together than she remembered.
He was wearing brown leather jacket over blue jeans. His striking white hair, slicked back and styled with gel, added an air of sophistication to his overall appearance.
"Karin," he said softly, his voice tinged with a hint of regret. "I've missed you."
Karin's anger momentarily wavered, and she found herself struggling to maintain the icy demeanor she had intended.
"Don't think for a second that this changes anything, Suigetsu," she replied, her voice laced with skepticism.
Suigetsu nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I know I've got a lot to make up for. Let's talk, Karin. I promise it won't be a waste of your time."
Karin hesitated for a moment, then with a heavy sigh she stepped aside to let him in.
Sasuke and Sakura sat in his car outside Karin's building, discreetly watching Suigetsu as he entered.
"So, how did you know about this guy?" Sasuke asked, "and how did you get him to agree so quickly?"
"I called Naruto. He told me about Suigetsu and gave me his number. It wasn't hard to convince him to meet her. Apparently, he never got over her and wants to get back together," Sakura replied, munching on the popcorn she had grabbed from the coffee shop. She offered some to Sasuke, who accepted, his eyes fixed on the building.
Sakura looked at her watch. "We have about 30 minutes before you will need to go to her apartment and catch her in the arms of her former lover," she spoke nonchalantly.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow at her.
"You seem awfully calm about all of this. Makes me think you have done this before."
"I haven't, but thanks for the vote of confidence," Sakura replied, smirking.
Sasuke gave a small smile. "I appreciate your help, Sakura."
She gave him a reassuring smile, her emerald eyes reflecting a hint of warmth. "We'll get through this together, Sasuke. And who knows, maybe it'll all work out for the best in the end."
As they waited, both lost in their thoughts, the minutes ticked away, leading them closer to the crucial moment when Sasuke would have to confront Karin and her unexpected guest.
Half an hour later, Sasuke opened the door to his car.
"Time to face the music."
"Good luck," Sakura said, her voice filled with encouragement.
Sasuke nodded, feeling a mixture of anticipation and unease as he stepped out of the car. He made his way towards Karin's building. He hoped that the plan they'd set in motion would finally free him from this relationship that had dragged on for far too long.
Once he reached Karin's apartment door, instead of knocking, he whipped open the door, as planned. The sight that greeted him made him halt in his tracks.
Inside, Karin and Suigetsu were locked in an intense embrace, their lips just inches apart. The shock on their faces mirrored the shock on Sasuke's.
"What the hell is going on here?" Sasuke demanded, adding a mixture of anger and hurt in his voice, causing Karin and Suigetsu to jump apart.
Karin's face blanched, and she stammered, "Sasuke, it's not what it looks like!"
Suigetsu, equally flustered, attempted to explain, "We were just talking about old times, I swear. It's nothing more."
Sasuke, hiding his true emotions beneath a veneer of anger and hurt, fixed them with a cold, piercing gaze. "Talking, huh?" he spat, feigning rage. "You two have a funny way to go about talking."
"Sasuke, please let me explain," Karin took a step toward him, but Sasuke raised his hand.
"I have seen and heard enough. You and I are done, Karin."
As he walked away from her, his heart secretly lifted with a sense of relief. Karin didn't follow him. Finally, he had found a way out of his chaotic relationship with Karin, and it was all thanks to Sakura's clever plan.
He walked back to his car and got it. Sakura looked at him expectantly. His expression was neutral so she was probably wondering how it had gone.
"Well?" Sakura urged.
Sasuke paused for a moment, then flashed a thumbs-up.
Sakura cheered loudly and wrapped Sasuke in a sudden, exuberant hug, her enthusiasm catching him off guard. The sweet scent of cherries clung to her, making the moment even more surreal. Her ear brushed perilously close to his lips, causing an unexpected spark of awareness to jolt through him.
Sasuke's entire body tensed as he became acutely aware of their proximity.
Sakura, sensing Sasuke's stiffness, quickly unwrapped her arms from around him.
"Sorry," she stammered, once again misinterpreting Sasuke's body language., "I just... I'm happy for you."
Sasuke watched her, his internal turmoil hidden behind his unreadable expression. He hadn't expected this sudden closeness, and it left him grappling with emotions he hadn't anticipated.
There were so many things he wanted to tell her. To show her. To do to her. But he couldn't. It wasn't yet time.
Instead, Sasuke nodded, a subtle, genuine smile spreading across his face.
"Thank you, Sakura."