Chapter Two: He Loves Me; He Loves Me Not

It was raining cats and dogs; the sound was so loud that she couldn't even hear herself think. Rain cascaded down and spun a gray veil across the vast forest. Rain fell off the rocks and trees in sheets, like a gauzy curtain. Her young muscles rippled as she ran behind her team, her green eyes barely able to keep track of them in front.

Sasuke stopped suddenly and took refuge behind the thick tree bark. Its texture was rough and wet; it scraped against his bare right hand. His Sharingan was out, glowing like danger on his face. The branches overhead had reached out and intertwined into a tangled mess, but Sakura could still feel the cool lash of rain on her skin. Heavy rain and wind pushed at her from behind as if trying to get her down. She pressed herself flat against the tree and hid behind it when she saw Sasuke flick his fingers to signal Neji to go right.

It was a race against time to catch the Rock spies before they took off with the stolen scrolls. Tired and exhausted, they had hidden in a cave ahead. It was now or never. Chakra fizzled around Sasuke's right hand and turned into Chidori; it stretched out five meters ahead of him, and a bloodcurdling scream tore through the misty morning and shot out of the mouth of the cave. The sound progressed into a gruesome shriek and, suddenly, died out. The man was probably dead.

Standing stiff and alert behind the tree, Sakura could see nothing - she did not have Sasuke's unmatched foresight or Neji's ability to cover a vast span of distance in a heartbeat. She was ordinary. Her skills were something she had made for herself. She was not born privileged. Little by little, she had honed herself into an exceptional medic, but it was difficult to please Sasuke...he always nitpicked about everything she did. It was almost childish, this odd side of his character to demand perfection in the tasks he gave her. He was never fair, not to her.

Steps, so many of them, sloshed through water, and she shrank into the ground to avoid any attacks sent her way. She was a medic. Sasuke had asked her to stay hidden. She was going to listen this time and avoid the lash of his scathing tongue. Rain filled her green eyes and ears. She had one hand in the mud to keep herself steady as she wiped her eyes and face on the back of her hand. The noises, the screams…they were drowned out by the wind and rain.

Sakura's eyes skittered across the area and then to Sasuke as he casually clashed with seven ninjas. Blood flew into the air and quickly disappeared under the heavy rain. The men screamed. A few more cuts, a few deep slashes through the sides, tearing through muscles, and they were dead—all of them. He did not even have his Sharingan out. A smug expression was on his face. Something she was so familiar with. Something she intimately resented.

A loud sound distracted her, and she twisted her neck to look back at the source of the noise. Naruto was making a Rasengan with a single hand, something he had mastered over the past few months. It took him years to accumulate enough experience through his clones to manage this feat. He shouted silly things, sounding off on various childish obscenities as he slammed the Rasengan into the gut of the unsuspecting ninja in front. The force of the attack sent him flying backwards.

Two of his clones grabbed one of their injured fellow teammates and carried him out of the fray. Sakura looked on through the sheets of rain to Sasuke clashing with another ninja in a manner as if he was playing with him. She couldn't see his face clearly; it was enshrouded by dim shadows of the trees and the heavy fall of rain between them.

Slowly, Sakura raised herself to her shaky feet. The biting cold pressed in on her body, while a cool wave raced through her, and her heart deliciously fluttered, warming her up. The harsh sounds of metal against metal were jarring—the motions of the Shinobis' sword dance slowed down. Sasuke was just playing around. He cut here and there, and then he would flash to the back and kick the man forward, sending him crashing into the mud.

The man was livid. Embarrassed. He clenched his teeth, raised that sword high, and charged, only to be shown the same courtesy again. His face was flat in the mud this time. Sasuke placed his sandal on his back and slammed him back down as he tried to get up. He was too weak to get away; he helplessly wriggled there like a fish out of water. It was a bit odd to see Sasuke draw amusement from something so silly.

Her eyes roamed to the left to gaze upon Neji. He was a skilled shinobi. His swiftness and speed always amazed her. He was no Sasuke, but he was the second fastest shinobi on all the squads. His fingers jabbed into the joints like bolts of lightning and felled the ninjas one after another. He sent the men sprawling to the muddy ground, and few crashed helplessly into the trees around him.

Sakura was still looking when muddy hands grabbed at her throat and lifted her off the ground. Her eyes opened wide and turned to terror; her feet shook violently, unable to find purchase on the ground. The pressure was building around her throat. Sakura's eyes rolled back into her head and her throat spasmed violently. Her lungs burned. She reached up and grabbed the man's wrist, and releasing chakra into her hand, she crushed it completely. He let out a choked scream and faltered, and she slipped down from his death-hold. That was all she needed. She pushed back, slamming her back against the tree to dislodge her attacker.

His powerful grip slackened, and Sakura twisted away and spun around. Her fist flew in his direction. He was still quite fast; he ducked and avoided her attack. The tight, trembling fist slammed into the tree and tore clean through. The broken bark crackled, swayed, and then toppled over to the left. She jumped back when his sword slashed through the air. He suddenly stopped. There was a glint in his eyes. He opened his hand, and the sword fell down. With such inhuman swiftness, he opened his jacket, and terror washed over her: so many explosive tags were stuck to his chest, and they were about to explode!

Sakura flashed back, but it wasn't enough. Her mouth opened wide as she let out a loud scream. That was when she felt someone grab her and flash away. The explosion engulfed her vision in a flash of blinding light. She got knocked out of the air and crashed into the mud, rolling around on the ground and clutching her hand to her chest. Mud covered her face, her head, and stuck to her hair, while also coating her left side.

Slowly, she pulled her head up and saw Sasuke standing before her, his wispy Susanoo protecting him from harm. The rib-cage had taken the brunt of the explosion, cracking slightly, forcing him backwards as his sandals slipped in the mud below; yet, he managed to hold his ground, his hands raised high, as the aura swirled around him and expanded wide, shielding him from the intense heat of the flames.

Her breaths were loud and quick, and her heart beat madly. She was sweating despite the chill of the rain. She straightened her torso and lifted herself up on her elbows, looking back. Neji stood with Naruto and two other ninjas behind her. His jacket was in tatters, and he held onto an injured Naruto.

Sakura looked back at Sasuke again, and her eyes traveled over his back and the bleeding arm. A thin, spiky rock was stuck in his lower arm, and fresh blood was flowing down his white elbow. As the shockwave passed, the spray of rain returned. The heat was gone. Rain cooled the hot air around them. He pulled his hands down, and the Susanoo disappeared like a ghost before him.

His expression was guarded as he turned around and pulled the rock out, leaving a deep hole in his arm. He looked down and his face softened. "I thought I told you to keep watch. What were you doing?" he asked, his voice gentle but still carrying a hint of venom.

Sakura coughed, and her fingers reached up to touch her bruised throat. "Someone grabbed me from behind," she said. "I didn't see who it was."

You better pray it doesn't happen again, Sakura. Next time, I will send you home for disobeying me. He said in anger and walked away without another word.

Warmth rose to her cheeks and she felt humiliated. Slowly rising to her feet, she watched him leave them all standing in the rain. Her gaze shifted away, filled with sadness.

The night came and stars wheeled across the sky. The mission was over, but Sasuke's work was far from done. He sat alone in his office, skimming through the details of the mission. They had to chase Rock spies disguised as bandits and retrieve an official scroll in their possession. These spies had stolen it straight from the office, using a network of tunnels they created beneath the heavily guarded security department.

They were right under their noses the whole time, and no one saw it coming. If Neji's Byakugan had not pierced through the ground and detected a subtle crack in the lower pillar, the crafty crooks would have gotten away. It was a close call. Sasuke did not even have time to form a proper team; he just took the men still in the office. And only the great Sage knew that he never wanted to take Sakura with him after that last mishap.

Sasuke could still see how desperate and hysterical she was during their mad chase of him. He hardly had any nice thoughts about her. She was still the same: hopelessly infatuated and stubbornly childish. Years had given her no wisdom. He had tried to get her off his team many times, but it was hardly that easy. Naruto was infatuated with her, and Tsunade loved her. She threw her in his face because she was probably—in her very humble opinion—the best medic-ninja on all teams, and Naruto just wanted to put his prized "Naruto-chan" in her girly place and be ecstatic about it all day long.

The things he did to please her, to keep her close—his stupidity was limitless. Naruto still couldn't understand that she was only using him to stay on his team and try her hand at pursuing him into bed. Her frustration had only inflamed her obsession. He had tried to pass subtle hints through Naruto's thick head, but his ears were clogged up with her passionate nighttime warbles, and despite Naruto's precious stamina and interesting talents, he was rethinking this absurd arrangement.

He created the final letter on the scroll, watched it dry out, and rolled it up. His task was complete. He got to his feet and took a few steps, the scroll still in his hand. He looked outside the office window, and then he turned his eyes slightly to look at the clock: it was just three minutes past midnight.

He pressed his forehead against the cool glass, gazing out at the clear night. The rain had stopped hours ago. He moved slightly and tucked the scroll into the large, ornate cupboard—a gift from his own family. He wrinkled his nose as a familiar scent drifted toward him from just beyond the door. Not a second later, the door clicked open and someone entered his office.

He frowned and said, "Why are you still here? Go home. We have an important mission tomorrow."

When no sound came from her, he turned around and looked at her, standing in the dim light of the bulb. Sakura had washed her dirty hair. Her fair face, framed in pink hair, was filled with a little desire; her cheeks, a little pink. And she breathed a deep sigh. She was holding a scroll in her hand. Her eyes were upon his face, and he felt as though she wanted to say something intimate—and very unbecoming—to him.

"I," Sakura began and coughed, her fingers brushing against her bandaged throat, "came here to give you my report." She took three long steps and placed the scroll on the table.

Sakura kept looking at him, the red in his eyes, holding her gaze as if she wanted to trap him against the wall and have her way with him. There was a slight tremble in her pink lips (she was on the verge of speech), but she mashed her lips together to swallow her words. His eyebrows went up, and then a slow, slow smile graced his face, the look in his eyes like that of a wolf staring at a carcass he wanted nothing to do with.

What do you want, Sakura? He hoped she hadn't come here in hopes of playing like last time; his voice dropped low, taking on the tone of a lover. His face turned mischievous—that mouth curling into an exquisite smile.

Shock passed over her face and then it hardened in anger. "I just came here to see if you were all right. That's all," she said and turned her eyes away, her cheeks red with repressed anger.

Sasuke raised his arm and turned it slightly with his other hand. It was bandaged, and the wound had nearly healed. "Looks fine to me," he said and returned his gaze to her face. "Is that all?"

Sakura gulped down the lump in her throat, her heart racing; hot blood coursed through her veins as her own arousal pushed her towards him. She did not know when she had closed the gap between them. She grabbed his hand, placed it on her cheek, and turned her face to kiss his palm. She bit the tip of his finger, her eyes darkening, and then pressed her body against him. The heat was unbearable, making her head spin. She just wanted him to melt into her. It was such an honest thought, and she was not ashamed of it.

She moved her hand up, pulling the jacket's zip down the length of his body. She only managed to make it halfway before he grabbed her wrist, his lips an inch away from hers. His hot breath blew across her sweaty face, causing a shiver to run through her. "Stop it!" he let out a low hiss and pushed her back. He looked angry now, his Sharingan blazing dangerously, warning her to back off.

Hot breath hissed in and out from between Sakura's teeth, and her face mimicked the expression on his with the same intensity. "You're so heartless!" she exclaimed. "All I desire is a bit of your time. You don't even have anything to lose, but you torment me because you can." She choked out, shaking and balling her fingers into fists.

"Aren't you used to this treatment by now?" he mocked, and his mouth pulled into a half-smile despite himself. "You're such a masochist, Sakura. If I were you, I would've given up on me a long time ago. I don't know why you even keep coming back just to experience rejection over and over again. Do you take satisfaction out of this arrangement?"

Color flowed from her lips, and then it suddenly deepened in her cheeks and lips. There was an angry glint in her ferocious green eyes, and the muscles in her face worked in nasty fury. "Don't mock me because I love you. You have no right. All I ever asked of you was to love me back. Even for a few moments. But you're so selfish. You only care about yourself," she said in a deep voice that wavered with the usual desperation.

"Why don't you love Naruto?" she asked quickly.

Her dark eyes flashed hatred, and she felt singed by his words. "That's none of your concern," she said through clenched teeth and backed away.

"Of course it's not," he began and fixed her with an amused look. "Why should I be concerned when you are just using him to try and get into my bed?" He flashed her a meaningful smile and then turned his eyes away in a playful manner.

"T-that's not true," she stammered through emotional words. Her voice was garbled by the sobs that burned her throat. She felt humiliated and stung. "I'm not on this team to seduce you. Don't mock me. I just want to prove my worth as a shinobi to my parents. You wouldn't understand . . ."

He smiled, and it was a cold smile that mocked her. "Of course you are." He said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "That would explain your irritating habit of coming here, begging for a romantic tryst. Your pathetic attempts at flirting have become so boring now." His eyes remained fixed on hers, unwavering in their intensity.

Sasuke's words struck her and they struck her deep and they struck her raw. The sting was shameful. "You were never this cruel, Sasuke," she breathed out, took in a long breath afterwards, and went on, "You were never this cruel. I've loved you since I was a child. Why are you so hateful? You're never fair to me. You always hurt me. Why, Sasuke? Don't do this. Don't hurt me . . ."

Sakura's head was bent now. Her eyes misted over and streamed out fresh tears. She raised her hand and wiped at them, trying to even out her breathing. When she raised her head, her eyes were red. He didn't seem moved. He was cold—so cold and cruel. His eyes slightly twitched, and he looked at the door. A smile danced on his lips as he spoke coldly: "Your lover is here. Want to continue? He may love this free spectacle!"

Naruto said, "You scolded her again?" With his hands on his hips, he continued, "You can be so mean, Sasuke."

"Nothing that would concern you," Sasuke said and turned around to pull out a scroll from the deep corner of the cupboard. "Why are you here? If you came here for Sakura, then she already left a playtime invitation for you. Go and play with her and stop bothering me."

Naruto's face flushed in embarrassment, and he looked away. "That's not what I asked," he said in a huff and crossed his arms. "Why are you up so late?"

"Office work," he droned as he slowly opened the scroll. "You know, I don't care how you play with her; just keep her restrained. She's out of your control." He turned around and glared at him with annoyance on his face.

"You don't have to be so grumpy all the time," Naruto mumbled and looked up at the still fan. It had been shined to perfection: an odd Uchiha habit to keep things disturbingly clean. Itachi was even worse. He could have sworn he saw his own reflection in that fan's blade last time he went to that cold tomb Sasuke enthusiastically called his Nii-Sama's lovely office; or it could've just been his mind playing tricks on him. Itachi, in his humble opinion, was creepy.

"It comes with the heritage and responsibility. You wouldn't understand," Sasuke said with a smirk. "How's your wife? She probably knows about your little affair. The whole team probably knows. I don't think it's a big secret, really. Soon, your parents will start breathing down your neck, and then you'll start weeping before me. It's an endless cycle, and it's really tiring."

Naruto's eyes widened. He looked a little confused. "I don't think she knows. I don't think even my parents are certain of it. They just like making guesses to shame me," he said, looking a bit alarmed. It was obvious that he wasn't sure of his own thoughts. The look faded from his face; he blinked and turned to face Sasuke. "I intend to end it anyway—I just need the rank."

Ah, the rank… aren't you working so hard for it? Playing with Sakura and all that. But I am a terrible friend. Why would you need my advice? You can do without it.

"I love Sakura. You know that!" Naruto said, breathing heavily as he worked himself into anger. His cheeks and nose were red now. "Do you always have to mock me?"

"I'm not mocking you; it's not as if you listen to me anyway," he said and placed the scroll on the table, his red eyes meeting his. "Hinata is your wife. Her family, your family, will only make things worse for you. Go see her from time to time. That's all I'm suggesting. She isn't contagious."

His words silenced Naruto. He appeared to be lost in thought, as if he didn't know what to say. "How long has it been since you last touched her? Sooner or later, this will escalate; two clans will get involved, and she might just give in to her natural desires. It would be so amusing that you're the one who pushed her to look for a lover...something interesting to look forward to rather than cleaning gardens and painting terrible lamps all day long, you know?" His countenance was now filled with sarcasm.