You and Me Chapter 1, a naruto fanfic

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters featured in this work. I also don't own the songs that will be mentioned. They belong to their respective artist. No infringement on their respective copyrights is intended in any way, shape or form.

AN: Firstly; I'm sorry about the Title and the Summary—I'm really not good at it. Secondly; Thank you for reading 'Thinking About You'. I'm sorry you had to bear with my inexperience and error-filled writing. I hope you can extend your patience with me, as here I am, yet again.

So, I worked on this after TAY but I confess, I procrastinated. I almost pushed this project even further into the back of my head when an inspiration for a new fic had hit me, BUT, I just couldn't resist writing this one after all.

OAN: I'm sorry that it's not a sequel. No new conflict will arise and no new major development will occur.

Main pairing is SasuSaku.

Mild SuiKarin.

"Dialogue"

['Internal Monologue']

("Character speaking is either not the focal point of the scene, or not present in the scene at all")

... - (Centralized) FADE IN/OUT and Cutting to a different [set of] character[s] within a continuous scene.

... - I also use three of these consecutively (for dramatic purposes) to cut to a monolugue or a flashback.

/Flashback within the 'major fashback'/ Sometimes, ONLY DIALOGUES when it is enough to move the story and there is no need to retell the full scene. If you pay attention, you should know which character says what. (Sorry for being lazy.)

. - A certain length of time has passed/New location/ End Scene

Chapter 01/(10.1)

...

The music coming from the garden resounded within the acoustic space the moment the couple clumsily stumbled into the dimly lit room.

The silence returned to the wine room almost instantly.

As soon as she closed the door behind them, he gently pressed her up against it.

A moment ago, when she kissed him, he was overwhelmed. He felt the warmth of her body and tasted the sweetness of her soft, trembling lips and he was done for. (See, that was what he was afraid of over eight years ago.)

Then, when he held her and kissed her—and he did so without inhibitions—and she let him, he was set on taking it as far as he could. Sensibly of course.

Which is why; when Sasuke moved his left hand from her neck to her shoulder and then further down her slender arm and he realized that her hand was still on the door knob and it was cold and shaking, he stopped kissing her.

He wanted to make sure that she wanted 'this' as well. That she knew 'exactly' what was about to happen between them—the things he'd do to her if she allowed him to. ONLY AND IF ONLY,

Sakura was definitely flushed and unable to keep her eyes on him.

"Are you okay?"

"Hm?" Her lips were tightly pressed together.

"Is 'this' okay?"

"U-Uhn." Sakura nodded. She finally let go of the door knob, leaving Sasuke's hand there in place of hers. She held onto his shirt and buried her face in his chest.

His right hand, slid from her side to the small of her back and then trailed up till it was on her nape. "Look at me."

Slowly, she looked up.

He kissed her on her forehead.

Sakura closed her eyes as he did so and took a deep breath to calm her nerves.

He just stared at her, taking in her features.

When she opened her eyes, she looked into his.

Without breaking eye contact, Sasuke finally locked the door—sealing the deal. The 'click' sound it made reverberated, not only in that room but, he swears, inside his chest as well. He had Sakura wrapped her arms around his neck before placing his own hands at her back and pulling her closer to kiss her once again.

Sakura's arms tightened around his neck as she kissed him back.

Eight frustrating years just for this?

She was worth it. Definitely worth it.

The kiss becomes more sloppy, aggressive. They were taking from one another just as much as they were willing to give the other—begging to be taken, to be more precise.

When they broke the kiss for much-needed air, Sasuke pulled her away from the door and led her towards the round table placed at the very center of the room and directly below the dying light fixture.

He hoisted her up so that she was sitting on the table and then he positioned himself between her legs. His mouth found hers again. He held her tighter—pulling her even closer towards him that she felt the rest of him.

She was startled and he took advantage of her surprise to slip his tongue inside her mouth. Also, he urgently needed to devocalize the groan that almost escaped him because of the contact. He made her moan into his mouth instead, as he worked his tongue. He felt Sakura loosen up. When he was sure that she didn't mind and in fact enjoyed the invasion, he decided to conquer more of her.

Sasuke started by rubbing himself against her in a slow pace. It was both pleasurable and agonizing at the same time. When Sakura spread her legs wider to accommodate him, he undulated his hips a bit faster. He couldn't keep going at it though because it was beginning to be more painful than enjoyable for him.

He allowed her to dominate the kiss so he could focus his attention on his hands. While Sakura sucked on his tongue, he began hiking up her skirt. He brushed his hands across her bare thighs, moving up till he reached the edges of her underwear. He licked the corner of her mouth as he slip his fingers into the garment and grabbed her by her hip bone.

He looked at her as he traced the protruding bones with his thumbs. He waited for any objection from her and when none came, he went on to removing her article.

Mouths slightly parted, lust etched on their faces, they stared into each other's eyes as he pleasured her. Sakura didn't last in their staring contest. She closed her eyes and bit her lip as she tried her best not to gasp. She couldn't hold onto him any longer so she held herself up by resting both her hands on the table.

A few more probing and rubbing and Sasuke made her threw her head back this time. He nuzzled into her neck, breathing heavily, while he sped up the rhythm of his fingers. Soon she was shivering and tossing about under him.

He licked the flushed skin of her neck then dragged his tongue up till he reached her left ear. "Can I?"

She looked away in embarrassment and nodded her consent instead.

Sasuke pulled away from her and started undoing his belt and then his pants.

The light inside that room, though not too bright, was enough to illuminate three walls of honeycomb-patterned racks that housed liquor bottles.

Reflected in every single bottle—almost like a kaleidoscope—Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura became one.

FLASHBACK

"You didn't have to turn her down like that.", said Suigetsu as he picked up the empty bottles filling up on the bar counter and threw it into the trash bag he was dragging along with him.

"Aa." Sasuke stared at the pair of hair clips right in front of him.

"That's it? That's all you have to say?"

"I panicked! Okay?!", Sasuke blurted. "So many thoughts were going through my head- I-" Sasuke lowered his head. "I should've- I was aware of it. Of her feelings. Of mine. I mean, I made a choice to stay with her all summer. I threw away, probably, the only chance I'll ever have to fulfill my brother's last wish because I wanted to be with her. 'My brother', Suigetsu. I knew about Sasori and I've known of Naruto's infatuation for her long before I even knew her name. On top of that, I can't stay here—Three reasons! I had three good reasons not to, yet I fell in love her! But she's not committed to Sasori anymore and that changes everything! For her. For me. F-For Naruto."

Sasuke picked up the glass of whiskey beside the accessories but he held off on drinking it. "What else could I have done? What reason would be acceptable for her after... After I almost kissed her? After everything? Wasn't that easier to believe? That all this time, I was just fooling around with her." He then downed his drink in one go.

"What the fuck were you thinking in the first place?"

"I couldn't control myself around her anymore. I couldn't think straight anymore. I made a mistake. And I couldn't take it back. She told me she love me but I c- ... H-How was I supposed to deny that I have feelings for her? She already knew! How was I supposed to convince her otherwise—I sure as hell couldn't convince myself."

"You're an idiot."

"Aa." Sasuke nodded.

"Why didn't you just own up to it? Why didn't you just go right ahead and tell her the truth?"

Sasuke slowly shook his head then picked up the whisky bottle. He was going to pour more into his glass but decided against it and drank from the bottle itself instead.

Suigetsu came up to him and stole the bottle away from him, his action causing most of the liquid to spill on the bar top and even on Sasuke's clothes. "Enough! You need to get some sleep. Take a shower. And then, clean up your mess!"

Sasuke didn't even have the will to glare at Suigetsu for what he did. "I hate that you're not really working for me because that means I can't fire you."

"Sober the fuck up and call her.", Suigetsu demanded before throwing the bottle into the trash bag as well. "But first,"

Suigetsu let go of the bag and picked up a cloth. He then moved towards the icebox. He returned to Sasuke with a makeshift icepack and forced it into his hand. "For your swollen cheek. How many times did she hit you?"

"Once." Sasuke stated. "Each." He stared absently at the makeshift icepack for a few good seconds before conceding and holding it up to his cheek.

Satisfied, Suigetsu picked up the trash bag once again then turned away from Sasuke.

Sasuke's nose crinkled. "Is this a rag?", he implored as he watch Suigetsu walked away.

"Damn right it is, bastard!", Suigetsu yelled back before disappearing into the back room.

Sasuke's brows drew together. He pulled the waste cloth away from his cheek only to bring it up again because he couldn't deny that it was soothing.

Left alone in the bar, he reflected on his actions.

Karin didn't bother to dress up. She didn't even comb her hair. Her glasses hung on the collar of her oversized jumper. Her long and baggy sweat pants was decorated with crumbs from the cakes she's been eating. She ate her misery and frustration away. If someone saw her in that state and ask her why she looked miserable, she would just blame it on lack of sleep and the medical drama she had on.

She suddenly heard her ringtone and started looking around for her phone. She picked up the remote and pointed it towards the television to pause her program.

By the time she found her phone, the ringing had stopped. She checked her call log and was taken aback. She stared at her phone screen, stupefied. She received an e-mail and was suddenly in a state of panic. After a little struggle with the pillows and cake packages, she finally got out of her bed.

Naruto was fast asleep on the couch when Karin made her way to the genkan while dusting off the crumbs from her clothes. She gave herself a once-over before opening the door slightly for Sasuke.

Sasuke had sobered up, taken a shower and had changed into fresh clothes. Getting some sleep was impossible though. He put away his phone the moment he saw Karin open the door. "H-Hi." He seemed awkward and apologetic.

"What do you want?" Karin faked an angry face.

"I... I—These are for you." Sasuke brought up the plastic bag he had with him for emphasis.

"Are you seriously going for me now? I won't go out with you. Not after all that!"

Sasuke lowered the bag.

"If you think, for one second, that I believed you when you told Sakura that you were only fooling around with her, then you're gravely mistaken. So you fell in love with the same girl Naruto likes? S-"

"Keep it down. He's in there with you, isn't he?"

"Settle it with h-"

"Ssh."

"Don't shush me! Settle it with him if that's what it takes! I couldn't care less if you two battle it out. Fight for her. Or not. That's up to you! But don't you dare use me to avoid or get over your feelings. I'm not going to be your-"

"I'm leaving Japan."

Karin fell silent.

"In three weeks."

"Eh?!" Karin almost forgot she was suppose to be upset with him. "S-So?"

"I may not come back."

Karin had to completely open the door at that.

"It depends really.", he continued. "I can't really say at the moment. All I know is, that's where I have to be."

"W-What? Why?!"

"After Itachi died, I made my grandfather a promise. And now he needs me to act on it."

"You mean, all this time- Why didn't you say anything until now?!"

"I don't know. I honestly don't know. There was a time when talking to Naruto again, talking to you like this—A few months ago, none of it seemed possible. Things were constantly changing. I made wrong decisions and in trying to fix what I did, I ended up making other mistakes, one after another."

Karin's expression softened. "I never realized that you had so much weight on your shoulders," She moved towards Sasuke and gave him a hug. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I slapped you."

For once, Sasuke didn't struggle out of her embrace. Nor did he tell her to let him go. "No. 'I'm' sorry. About Sakura. I should've- You're important to me. But I-"

"Shut up! Don't apologize." Karin held him tighter. "If people ask, I'm the one who rejected you."

Sasuke chuckled.

"It's the truth anyway." Karin let him go and took a step back. "I'm not gonna go out with you. Not even as a pretense."

"I know." Sasuke raised the bag towards Karin again. "Here. I really just came here to apologize."

"So this is your way of appeasing me?" She took the bag from him. "What's in it anyway?"

"It's your favorite."

"As if you would know what I-" Karin was surprised when she saw the hashimaki.

"I do pay attention to you too, you know."

Karin was moved. "I see." She finally smiled at him. "Thank you. I really was upset, you know. I mean, just look at me." She motioned for her baggy sweat pants.

"Are those Naruto's?"

"Yep.", Karin snorted. She then realized that Sasuke was also smiling. Then and there, for her, it was more than enough. "Really. Thank you. I appreciate it."

Sasuke bobbed his head. "Well, see you around."

Karin carefully considered as she watched him walking away. "Sasuke-kun!", she suddenly called him.

Sasuke stopped and looked back.

"You know what, I just realized that you might actually be the one who's suffering the most right now."

Naruto yawned. He had his hand under his shirt as he knocked on Karin's bedroom door.

"Karin. What about lunch?"

There was no answer.

Listening closely, it sounded like she had company.

"Karin?" Naruto opened the door. He blinked a few times while his mouth hung open as he found himself looking at Karin and Sasuke who occupied their own spot on the floor while watching television. They were both surrounded by pillows and sweets. Between them, empty food packages had piled up.

Karin sniffed as she found the scene moving. She wiped her tears with the sleeve of her hoodie before taking a spoon full of chocolate pudding into her mouth. Afterwards she passed the cup to Sasuke.

Sasuke accepted the cup. He sighed before dipping his own spoon into the treat.

"T-Teme? What's going on here?"

Sasuke and Karin turned to look at him.

"Dobe."

Naruto looked at Sasuke. "Are you also on your period? Everybody is on their period apparently."

"Shut up Naruto!" Karin glared at him.

"Did you even sleep? Don't you have to be at work in a few hours? When did Sasuke get here and why is he watching that with you while eating all of..." Naruto looked down on the floor. "This."

"Pick a spot." Sasuke invited him.

Naruto cocked an eyebrow at Sasuke.

"Three weeks from now, I'm moving to the States."

"What?!" Naruto looked at Karin then back at Sasuke. "When you said 'you accepted your grandfather's terms', is this what you meant?"

"Aa."

"So, this is what your grandfather wants?"

"It's what I want. Mostly."

"Mostly? Not 'THE most'?"

There are rare moments when Naruto made it seem like he was far smarter than he let on and this was one of those moments. Sasuke couldn't respond. He handed Naruto the cup.

Naruto was on a roll that day for he took the hint and dropped the topic.

He reached for the cup and joined them on the floor. As soon as he was comfortably seated, he snatched the spoon from Sasuke's hands and helped himself to the chocolate pudding. "So what episode is this?", he asked, looking towards the television.

Karin smiled as she and Sasuke followed suit.

"Later guys.", bid Naruto as Sasuke and Karin stepped out of the house.

"Aa."

"See you at dinner."

Naruto nodded at Karin before closing the door.

"Do you really still want to work there even after I told you everything?", Sasuke asked Karin as he led the way.

"Yeah. Why not?" Karin stated, matter of fact. "It's not like I don't enjoy working at the bar. Besides, Naruto will start asking questions if I suddenly stopped going there. Is that what you want? "

Sasuke smirked. "You just want to see Suigetsu."

"Hah?! That's-" Karin turned to Sasuke blushing. "Just what are you implying?"

"Paid attention, remember?" Sasuke walked on ahead leaving an extremely embarrassed Karin.

"W- Err- I-" She ran after him. "Wait! Sasuke-kun, wait up!"

Sasuke and Karin were shocked the moment Sakura entered the break room. They were obviously not expecting to see her so soon.

"Good afternoon.", she greeted them nonchalantly.

"S-Sakura?", Karin murmured.

"You came?! Y-Y-", said Suigetsu as he walked in.

"Of course I did.", said Sakura matter of fact. "Well, if you'll excuse me, I'll just get ready for work."

Sakura left them and headed for the changing room.

"Did you see that?", Karin turned to Sasuke. "She just- Her hair, Sasuke-kun. She's..."

Sasuke felt horrible.

...

/"And..." Sasuke hesitated for a moment before finishing what he had to say. "Letting your hair down like that suits you best."

"Oh."

Sasuke moved his hands as if he wasn't sure what to do with it until he remembered that he was going to put in inside his pocket then he turned around./

...

"What now?", asked Karin. "I'm not going to pretend that we're together."

"Then do nothing. Say nothing.", he instructed.

Karin sighed as Sasuke made a move to follow Sakura.

"Sakura.", Sasuke called her from outside the changing room "A word. At the office. Now."

"Okay.", she yelled back.

Sasuke walked away from the door and made his way to the office.

Sasuke took his seat just as Karin walked into the room. "What?!"

"Are you going to throw her out?"

"No. I-"

"You're not planning on being rude to her again are you?"

"I'm not!"

"Let me talk to her. I'll ask her to stop coming or take a break at least."

"Y-" Sasuke didn't get to tell Karin whether she could stay or not because Sakura suddenly arrived.

"Did you want something?", Sakura inquired with the same nonchalant tone she started with.

"Sakura.", Karin spoke first. "W-We're worried about you. It's okay for you to take a few days off. Actually," she turned to glance at Sasuke. "It's okay if you… decide to… quit at this point.", she told her sensibly.

"Because of what happened this morning?" Sakura was upset. "I'm not that weak. I've experienced rejection quite a few times you know. With my own parents. With the other kids back at my elementary school. With the other students at our current school. You guys didn't even know about… about Sasori. That was two weeks ago. I can't help but feel like I'm being looked down at right now."

"But," Karin looks to Sasuke for help.

"My confession aside,"

Sasuke and Karin looked at her again.

"I was serious about helping Sasuke-kun so… if it's up to me, I would like to continue working here as I originally intended."

"But you-"

"I totally understand if you don't want me here. I'm sure that Karin is upset with me right now and-"

"That's not it!", Karin retorted. "I mean, YES. I am upset. Of course I'm upset with you. Why did you lie to me? To us? All this time?"

"I'm sorry."

"Drop it with the apologies already!", snapped Karin. "If you're doing it just so you can feel better about yourself then I don't want it!"

Sakura fell silent.

"Whatever!", Karin groaned frustratingly as she turned to Sasuke. "No one's really innocent anyway. I'm in no position to stay angry at you for keeping secrets. It's not like it's your fault you fell in love with Sasuke-kun either."

Sasuke rolled his eyes.

Karin then turned back to her. "If you think you're going to be all right here after all that's happened then suit yourself.", she told Sakura before walking out on them.

Sakura let out a sigh as soon as Karin was gone. She then turned back to Sasuke then lowered her head in apology. "About earlier, I'm really sorry. Please forget about... everything."

"Sakura."

Sakura straightened herself. "It's just as you said, two more weeks. Let's just get through this."

"Why bother? You know it's never going to be the same."

"I don't have any ulterior motives. Just selfish reasons at this point.", she admitted. "It's for my satisfaction. I just… want to finish what I started. After everything I've lo—I just want to see this through to the end. That's all."

"Fine. Do what you want."

"Thanks.", Sakura nodded at him before turning away.

"IF!"

Sakura stopped without looking back.

"If any of the following days, you decide to stop turning up here... No one's going to blame you."

"Uhn."

As soon as Sakura was gone, Sasuke winced.

'Fuck!'

"That did not go well.", Sasuke told Karin as soon as she came out of the changing room.

"S-Shut up! I was so mad at you for what you did that I forgot that Sakura lied to me as well.", she explained. "It's true though, I can't blame her for falling in love with you. I just wished that... that she told me." Karin frowned. "And why did she have to make it sound like I was trying to get rid of her. That pissed me off. We're friends, aren't we? Or, was I the only one who was thinking that?"

"Karin."

Karin turned to Sasuke with an annoyed face. "This is all your fault, you know."

"I..."

"It is.", Suigetsu suddenly joined them.

"Were you eavesdropping again?", Karin blurted.

"You're in the hallway. It's connected everywhere; the break room, the kitchen, the office-"

"I'm not in the mood." Karin walked out on the two boys.

"Glad you two made up.", said Suigetsu as he watched Karin leave. "How did it go with Sakura?"

"I couldn't..."

"You're going to try again, right?"

...

"Right?"

...

Sasuke sighed. He had to approach her at some point.

He was flapping the order slip against his palms as he reluctantly made his way towards the bar.

Sakura had just finished serving a couple their drinks and proceeded to wiping the bar counter.

He laid the paper on the counter and slid it towards her.

Sakura saw the paper from her peripheral vision and her first reaction was to read what's written. Looking at the person handing the slip came secondary.

It gave Sasuke enough time to look at how Sakura moved her eyebrows as she tried to read the order.

Sasuke took a step back when Sakura's brows furrowed. She was about to open her mouth to say something but she sniffed and seemed to have realized something.

She suddenly looked at him and then quickly returned her gaze on the paper.

Sasuke moved his hand away and she pulled the paper towards her. The moment she turned around to fetch what she needed to assemble the cocktail, he made a move to rest his elbows on the counter. He kept his head low and only moved his eyes.

At first, he kept his attention on just about anything that is not her. But when Sakura laid the glasses near him, he started shifting his gaze between that and whatever distraction he could find. Eventually, it was between the drinks and Sakura. Then finally, it just stayed on her as she move around the bar.

Before he knew it, he had started to trace the curve of her back with his eyes. Sakura suddenly stopped moving and he lifted his gaze to see her taking a moment to wipe her sweat from under her chin with the back of her hand. Sasuke froze. This was exactly how it started the last time. When Sakura tucked some hair behind her ear, he remembered when it was his hands doing it. His fingers twitched, and then, he remembered brushing his thumb along her lips. He could never forget how warm and soft it felt under his touch.

Zaku accidentally grazed him with his shoulder as he tried to get Sakura's attention.

Sasuke snapped out of his trance and instantly pushed himself off the counter.

"Oh. Sorry. This place is packed tonight-"

"Serve these for me." Sasuke turned away.

"Where are you go-"

"Table 13!", Sasuke yelled back as he pushed past people.

Sasuke retreated to the hallway and exhaled heavily.

It was going be a long week.

~[*]~

...

About the love scene;

If what you imagined happened was better, then by all means disregard the first part of the story. I'm sorry, I tried.

[*] = Kasabuta/One Ok Rock