Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ In Any Other World ❯ It's Too Clich� I Won't Say I'm in Love ( Chapter 2 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Things get hectic as everyone tries to find a date to the upcoming festival. Shikamaru becomes suspicious of Naruto, while Sakura has her own problems to sort out at the BBQ.

Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 02.03.2008 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.8K | Visits: 241 | Status: Work In Progress

In Any Other World

Chapter 2

It's Too Cliché I Won't Say I'm in Love

She ran.

Well at least that's what Sakura would've done if this was a dramatic romance movie, but alas to much of her displeasure and embarrassment it is not. She would have done just that if she had a legit excuse to get out of there but as the pink haired girl was assigned Sasuke as a patient she couldn't think of any.

Once Sakura gazed up into the ebony eyes of her teammate a shiver went down her spine. She abruptly stood up from her seat, her mind determined to get out of the room and hide from those eyes as quickly as possible, smiled politely as if nothing had just happened, “W-…Well let's get on with the check up I guess.” She stuttered. The female hastily went through the regular check up procedures until to much relief she was able to stumble her way with a flushed face to the door with the last words of, “I'll let Tsunade-sama know the check up is done and you'll be able to leave,” hang through the air as she left the raven haired teenager a lone to himself.

Sakura burst into Tsunade's office and before the Hokage could get the words `My, that was fast, Sakura!' out of her mouth Sakura practically shouted, “Sasuke is ready to go home,” turned on her heels and stormed out of the hospital.

The young pink haired teen made her way home careful not to run into anyone she knew. She practically burst down the door in her haste and startled her mom half to death. “Sakura, why are you home so early?” The pale fragile face of her mother was spread with worry, which was enough to calm Sakura down.

“Oh…I just decided to get home early; I didn't get a lot of sleep last night. I'm sorry for scaring you.” Without another word she sprinted up the stairs and out the door and sat on the railing of the porch in thought.

Sakura looked down at the streets in thought, biting at her lip as she tried to gather her scattered emotions. In any normal situation she would have been ecstatic that Sasuke had shown her any affection yet alone kiss her, and she honestly was.

…Honestly, I'm happy. Sasuke has finally returned some sort of affection that I've been giving for the past years. But…love isn't supposed to be this simple is it? In all the books I've read the two always have to struggle with their feelings before even getting the courage to tell the other but yet a little less than an hour ago Sasuke showed his feelings without hesitation. And those eyes…

Once more a shiver was spread through out Sakura's body as she remembered the constricting gaze of the Uchiha. She clutched at the railing, remembering the reason she left so abruptly.

I know I have been getting these feelings for him again and that kiss showed me it's possible they aren't like my old ones, and I could have easily told these mixed feelings to him but when I looked into his eyes it was like I was suffocated…Those eyes felt like they could see right through me and it scared me. The thought that he could see into the depths of my fear and emotions was too much for me.

The confused adolescent's thoughts were scattered when she heard Ino's voice shout from below, “Sakura! What are you doing, you're going to fall!”

Sakura jumped in surprise and looked down at Ino, “I find that extremely insulting, Ino. I'm a kunoichi after all; I find it highly unlikely that I would fall from here!” I retorted. The blonde simply shrugged her shoulders and motioned for her to come down.

“Sakura, everyone is gathering for BBQ tomorrow night, you should come too. I invited everyone,” Ino said enthusiastically when Sakura came down to see what's up. Sakura immediately knew who `everyone' consisted of, after Sasuke left the group of rookies started to spend more time training together and became closer friends, if possible.

Sakura thought for a minute, she wasn't sure if she would like to face Sasuke about the events of today that soon. I might as well get it over with. “Oh, sure I'll go. It's the 19th of March tomorrow, right?” The date struck a bell; Sakura snapped her fingers in realization and excitement. The 19th of March was the date Temari was going to come to visit Konoha. “Temari is coming tomorrow! Let's invite her too!”

Ino looked a bit taken aback by this, there was a hint of reluctance in her face but she instantly hid it and nodded, “Okay!”

Back with Sasuke

Sasuke seemed unfazed by his teammates frantic actions, well actually he didn't even have time to think about it since Shizune entered his room followed by Naruto. “Well, you are free to go Uchiha-san. Naruto will take you home and you're free from teaching duties for the rest of the week.”

The two boys stepped into their house and sighed in relief as the warmth of the heater greeted them. “Oh, Sasuke, do you want to go down and get BBQ with everyone tomorrow? Ino invited us!” Naruto said eagerly.

The raven haired ninja just simply shrugged impassively, “Sure. I don't really have a choice do I?” The kyuubi holder just grinned mischievously and shook his head and bounced off shouting something about ramen as he went.

The doorbell unexpectedly ring and Sasuke cursed under his breath, “What the hell, we just got home!” He snarled as he opened the door and there stood Shikamaru at the door. “Yes?” The raven muttered.

Shikamaru simply sidestepped the Uchiha with his hands in his pockets calmly, “Where's Naruto?” He asked looking around the house; the other boy slammed the door shut moodily and slipped off into the kitchen.

A minute later Naruto energetically bounced into the room with a rather grumpy looking Sasuke in tow. “Sorry about him, Shikamaru. He gets moody when he gets back from check ups.” He patted Sasuke half heartedly on the shoulder, who simply just shrugged the hand off and leaned against the nearest wall. “Sasuke, can you go make some tea please?” The boy simply raised an eyebrow questioningly and walked off into the kitchen surprisingly listening to the orders.

The Uchiha left Shikamaru and Naruto sitting on the couch, “So what's up?” The energetic blond asked. The lazier one of the two hesitated for a minute before explaining to him.

“Well I just decided to come and see what was up. Since when has he ever been anywhere near compliant?” Shikamaru asked and turned his face in the direction of where Sasuke was. Naruto just made a confused face at him.

“What do you mean?”

“Whatever, it doesn't matter. Are you going to the BBQ tomorrow?”

“Yeah, I think so. Temari is coming too right?” Naruto questioned with a mischievous looking smirk on his face. Half the citizens in the village could guess that Temari and Shikamaru had a…thing for each other, neither willing to even admit yet alone acknowledge the feelings.

A light red dusted the brown haired boy's face, “I think so,” failing horridly at trying to act like he didn't care at all. Naruto let out a snort of laughter.

“Oh, Shikamaru, you should try asking her to go to the festival with you. She'll be in the village for a week, right?”

“I don't know…She'll probably want to go with someone else,” Shikamaru said. He muttered under his breath, “Festivals are so troublesome…” Naruto broke back into laughter at what he said.

“Shikamaru, both you and I know that Temari has no one else to go with. Plus, I'm sure the Council will be ecstatic you are taking someone who has that much power in Suna to the festival of Konoha.” Naruto said darkly.

Shikamaru made a strange lazy “tching” noise, “Well, are you inviting a girl to the festival?”

It was Naruto's turn for his face to turn into a dark red scarlet, he started to stammer, “U-uh…W-well…No, I don't think so.” His friend looked at him questioningly, clearly not expecting this as his reply. “The p-person I would like to ask…Well, h-…SHE! …She doesn't like me back so there's no point in asking really!” By the time the sentence was out Shikamaru looked at him suspiciously.

Naruto pretended to look at his watch as if it was extremely too late for his friend to be in his house, “WOW! Look at the time, Shikamaru you better leave it's getting late!” The blond grabbed his best friend's arm and dragged him to the door and pushed him out. “See you later!”

“What about my tea?” Shikamaru demanded.

“What?! Tea parties are for little girls!” Naruto hurriedly said in a panic to get the guy off his property.

Shikamaru rolled his eyes and began walking down the sidewalk, “I'll see you tomorrow, Naruto.” Naruto simply watched him walk away in relief.

“Well, that was interesting.” Naruto visibly winced as he heard the Uchiha's voice from behind him. The red color that was fading came back full blast in the blond's face. He would have done anything just to crawl in a hole and hide there than face his best friend. “I made this tea for nothing then, I assume. And you know, Naruto, offering guests tea is manners. Not `tea parties for little girls' as you so bluntly put it, dobe.”

Naruto turned around to be greeted with Sasuke's full blown smirk. The blond scowled, “I don't want to be scolded about manners by you, teme,” the blush immediately fading away.

After one of their heated arguments they sat down on the couch drinking their team talking about what kind of missions they will do once Sasuke is off his punishment. Somehow their conversation led to the upcoming Festival.

“Why did you rush Shikamaru out after he asked you if you were asking someone to go with you?” Sasuke asked curiously, Naruto could feel his face burning until he realized that he shouldn't have been around when Shikamaru asked him.

“How did YOU know about that? You eavesdropping bastard!” Naruto shrieked and pointed an accusing finger at the Uchiha.

Sasuke simply smirked at him, “I kind of live here and the kitchen is merely a wall away. It was kind of hard not to hear.”

“Liar…But anyway, are you asking someone?” Naruto asked slightly timidly. Sasuke took a sip of his tea to give him extra time to think about it.

“Why? Interested?” Sasuke smirked arrogantly, the blond felt the familiar sensation of his face burning embarrassingly.

Naruto shook his head and rolled his eyes, “You wish. I was only curious teme.” Sasuke gave a small laugh at the blond.

“Well, no. I'm sure much to your delight, I do not have any interest in asking someone to go to the festival,” Sasuke smirked as he made fun of his best friend. He received a slap in the back of his head for the comment, though he didn't regret it.

Next Day at BBQ

Sakura arrived at the BBQ late as usual and as soon as she entered the door she heard a familiar, “SAKURA-CHAN!” yelled from Lee. A faint blush rose to her face and she walked up to the table. “Hey everyone!” Sakura exclaimed and her blush grew when she had to take a seat next to Sasuke.

Sakura looked around at all her friends happily, but looked surprise when she saw Kakashi, Asuma, Yamato, and Iruka sitting at the table. “Whoa, what are you doing here? Whenever we ask you guys to join us you make up excuses!”

Kakashi chuckled quietly and said, “Ah, well I guess we were out of excuses. And I wanted to let you all know that you all have off on the day of the Festival so you can enjoy the festivities!” Sakura squealed excitedly and began to chat animatedly with Tenten.

Naruto sent Shikamaru and Temari a grin, yet Ino had a slightly worried expression on her face. The blond noticed and questioned, “Ne, Ino what's wrong?” The girl hastily shook her head her hair whipping Choji in the face, who started to choke on his steak. Ino thumped Chouji on the back a couple of times until the piece of meat passed down into his stomach.

“Nothing is wrong, I was just thinking that's all,” Ino said with a false cheery voice. Shrugging her shoulders carelessly. “Sorry, Chouji!”

Sakura cautiously looked at Lee, who looked as if he might explode into one of his `youthfulness' lectures, hoping that he would not ask her to go to the festival. Tenten sent him a reproachful look which didn't seem to faze him at all. “SAKURA-CHAN WILL YOU GO TO THE FESTIVAL WITH ME?”

Sakura's eyes widened in embarrassment and she could feel that her cheeks were as pink as her hair. The whole restaurant decided to turn silent at that exact time. She could tell the Lee was just as embarrassed as her. The kunoichi felt Sasuke twitch and she looked at him; he was currently glaring at his napkin. She smiled apologetically, “Lee-san...I can't, I'm sorry!” Lee simply frowned disappointedly and nodded.

The conversations started up again and the embarrassment died down, even Neji and Hinata loosened up a bit. It felt nice to be able to just sit back and relax like this and it make Sakura forget about her mixed feelings.

It wasn't until it got dark that they decided that they better go home. Near the end Sasuke pulled Sakura by the hand aside from everyone else. “Sakura…Will you go to the festival with me?” He was acting like nothing happened yesterday morning; Sakura had to admit she was hoping for a confession. A look of disappointment flashed across her face.

“Oh! Sure, I'll meet you at your house then…” Sakura said quietly, silence filled the air as she looked up waiting for him to say something. She wasn't sure why but the silence and the lack of confession made tears threaten to fall, “Well, I need to get home, my mom is waiting.”

Sakura began to hurriedly walk away until Sasuke grabbed her shoulder and pulled her around and kissed her on the lips for the second time in two days. The kunoichi couldn't suppress the tears that were falling from her eyes. The raven haired boy pulled away and was shocked by the tears; he raised his hands and wiped the tears away with his thumbs. “I'm sorry, Sakura.”

Sakura's eyes widened, shocked by the apology. She expected to wake up in her bed any moment now, this all started to become way to cliché for her liking. “Sasuke-kun…I-I…I love you.”