Sakura Blossoms - SasuSaku

Chapter 7

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Sasuke

Sasuke was noticeably off the entire rest of the day at work, unable to focus on much of anything. He couldn't keep his mind from drifting back to the times when Sakura said his name with a smile on her mouth, rather than disdain in her eyes. Back in high school the pair were inseparable. Sure they still hung out with Ino, Hinata, Naruto, and the rest of the gang. But what Sasuke and Sakura had was always different. He always felt like he could be himself around her, and he knew she felt the same at one point.

He knew in his heart that if her father had never fallen ill that she would have stayed with him. Her leaving was a direct result of having to chase financial freedom in order to treat her dads condition. Sakura's plan was always to become a big star, but she had her studio here and the record labels ate up whatever she put out regardless. The touring was always to supplement her income in order to care for her parents. When her dad got sick the flower shop took a huge hit, her mom and dad had to stop working and pay someone else to run it. Household bills never stop and medical treatments are ridiculously pricey.

On some level he could understand why Sakura did what she did. He wanted her to be happy, he really did. But she didn't even ask him to come with her. After he finally admitted his feelings and expressed his desire for a future as more than friends she had broken the news that she was leaving town the very next week. It crushed Sasuke on the most intimate level. To be rejected at a time when he had decided to bare it all. This is where the resentment formed. He had to convince himself he hated her just so he could stop loving her. How messed up is that?

~

As he locked up his office and headed to walk out of the building for the day he was cornered by Tsunade.

"How did the meeting go, Uchiha?" Tsunade asked wryly.

"It went better than I'm sure even you expected. We're all going to be mature about this and focus on the matter at hand." Sasuke explained. "But you should have warned me. Giving me cryptic messages and waiting for me to be surprised is a dirty trick even for you"

Tsunade smirked and put an arm around Sasuke's shoulder.

"Don't take it so hard Sasuke. I think this will be good for the both of you." Tsunade said. "Now get home and start studying the case, protege. I have a long night of saki and gambling ahead of me" Tsunade grinned.

Tsunade turned on her heel, grabbed Shizune and hurried off before he could even wave goodbye. He headed out the door of the office and jumped on his black motorbike, forgoing the helmet as usual because how could he risk messing up his hair? He sped out of the parking lot and turned toward home, merging onto the highway. Before he knew it there was a familiar figure on a red motorbike speeding up beside him, revving his engine in a taunt. Obito popped a wheelie and flipped him off before speeding off. Like hell he'd get punked by Obito and that toy he calls a bike.

Sasuke sped off leaving tire tracks in his wake. He wheelied up as he met Obito and flashed an obscene gesture before dropping down and speeding away. He liked the cat and mouse game of a bike race. Adrenaline coursed through his veins as he felt Obito gaining on him, and he decided to do something crazy. He slammed the E brake and jerked his bike backwards. He was now speeding along the highway in reverse, staring back at Obito deadly calm.

Obito just smiled and neared closer. At that same moment sirens blared and both of their heads jerked to the side of the road where a police car had been posted. Since Sasuke was driving like an idiot he failed to notice before it was too late. He whipped his bike back around forwards and thought to himself, if I get caught street racing under gang affiliations my career is done and I'll never be able to help Sakura. That thought was all it took to convince him to hit his nitrous tank and rocket out of there. He left Obito in his dust and rode hard until the sounds of the sirens faded. Who cares if Obito gets pinched by the cops, Sasuke had a future and a path he refused to falter from.

Sasuke pulled into the driveway and parked his bike in the garage spot as always. He grabbed his stuff and hurried inside like the cops might still be on his tail and waiting to grab him. Paranoia was still looming over him after the events of this afternoon. How stupid could he be to be roped into street racing with Obito? Sasuke knew better than to risk his freedom and reputation for something so childish and dangerous.

If Itachi found out about today he would be pissed. Sasuke was never supposed to be involved with the gang in the first place, that was always Itachi's number one rule. But after his world fell apart he felt like that was the only place he could belong anymore. A shell of himself was who the gang knew. They didn't know Sasuke Uchiha as a mended and whole man. He had worked way too hard to be dragged back into that life now. He would never disappoint Itachi again.

As he stepped into the house he was met with Itachi's voice calling from the living room. He put his stuff down and hurried through the house to see what his brother wanted.

"What's up, Itachi?" Sasuke asked.

"You tell me, little bro. Did anything particularly interesting happen today?? Itachi asked coolly

An invisible bead of sweat formed on Sasuke's forehead. Surely Itachi didn't know about the racing? It had only been a few minutes since he'd left Obito in his dust and outran the cops. Surely word couldn't have traveled that quickly. Maybe it was about the thing with Sakura? Or maybe he was just being a good big brother and checking in.

"Actually, no. It was a pretty normal day by all standards." Sasuke tried to lie.

"Oh really Sasuke?" Itachi looked pissed now. "Care to explain this?"

Itachi shoved his phone into Sasuke's face. Sasuke saw a picture of himself, riding his bike in a reverse wheelie down the freeway while flipping off the camera. Shit. Obito must have snapped the picture without him noticing and immediately sent it to Itachi. Obito loved to stir the pot when it came to Sasuke.

"Look, Itachi, I can explain." Sasuke started. "It's really not what it looks like"

"Explain away because I am genuinely curious how you could even lie your way out of this." Itachi said with malice in his voice. "You can't bullshit me, Sasuke. Street racing and running from the cops aren't the actions of someone who claims to have gone straight. What would you have done if you were caught and you lost everything you've built at the lab?"

Itachi looked disappointed now more than anything. Sasuke felt the shame and regret rising up his throat like bile.

"Okay. It's exactly what it looks like." Sasuke admitted. "Obito taunted me and I didn't even hesitate. I couldn't let him punk me out on that tricycle he calls a motorcycle."

"Regardless of Obito's actions, you should have ignored him and came home." Itachi stated flatly. "You're supposed to be the one with some sense in your head. You're the one who always has to come home, no matter what. I can't bear the thought of anything happening to you, Sasuke. Please just stop acting recklessly."

Sasuke bowed his head in defeat and said "I promise I'll get my shit together, Itachi. I know how much you love me and I know how much me being successful means to you. My head was just a little unclear today and it made it all too easy to take Obito's bait."

Itachi's eyebrow quirked up at that last part.

"What's got your head messed up? Want to talk about it?" Itachi asked.

Sasuke did not want to talk about it. He needed to sort this out on his own before he tried dragging his brother into this emotionally charged situation with Sakura.

"Nah man, just regular stuff. I am tired though so I think I'm gonna head to bed." Sasuke said quickly and headed for his bedroom before Itachi could object.

Once he was in his room behind his door he relaxed a little. He could always relax just a little more when he was alone. No one's eyes observing his quirky mannerisms. No one expected him to carry on a conversation. Just him and his thoughts. But tonight he wasn't so sure that was a good thing.