Raptured ◈ Sasuke Uchiha

XXVIII

"Come on Akane, Hinata!" The girls pushed us inside one of the stores selling their ocassional clothing for the festival. There was a musical fireworks display starting midnight and every women from around here were excited to find their partners before then. I sighed feeling a sense of cliché like any chick flick novels. I wasn't going to get married anytime soon and would never will be. Hinata shyly took out one lavender colored yukata. I crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes. "I already told you guys, I have one at home. Stop getting so hyped for such a petty thing like this." They all pouted, except for Tenten.

Sakura crossed her arms, not letting this issue go. "Alright, but we all wanted to see what you're wearing after we bought for Hinata." I mentally rolled my eyes, thinking of ways to escape from them. The purple haired princess came inside the changing room, trying out the clothes the girls threw out to her. This was toture. I have nothing to do with this but they decided to kidnap me soon after the male Uchiha took his leave. I sighed, leaving me with no choice. I clasped my hands in concentration. Command T: Reduction! I glanced on top to see Sakura and the girls searched for me in surprise. I used my chakra to jump over the rather large looking clothes in my view.

My sweat dripped on my forehead, feeling my chakra deplete from using my jutsu. I can go to Naruto to ask for help. I thought but he would only pry me with more questions. "She escaped!" I heard Sakura exclaimed within my hearing range. I dodge a couple of girls arguing over one dress and proceeded to head for the exit. My head shot upwards. It feels so different within this perspective. "Mama, what's that?" The pig tailed blonde girl pointed at me. Her rather large mom tilted her head. My body froze from fear. "It's a cute toy!" Uh oh. The child squealed in delight. "I want her Mama! Can we buy her?" She asked her mother. I quickly ran for my life. I hate dress ups and tea parties! The girl squealed when she saw me moving. I was as tiny as a key chain. "She's cool!" She said in awe, running to catch me.

No way! No way! No way! I keep chanting inside my head, getting out of the store. I jumped from one person's shoulder to another. Occasionally, seeing some people widen their eyes at me. I glanced at my back to see that she was gone. I sighed in relief. I gasped feeling large fingers clutching the back of my shirt. My eyes darted at Sasuke who looked at me with his scrutinizing eyes. "Let me go!" I squealed, trying to escape from his hold. "What are you doing?" His question seemed rather loud in my ear. I scoffed, crossing my arm while pouting. I probably looked like a child right now. "I was trying to escape from the girls who were shopping for their dresses but it seems that a young spoiled brat saw me and wanted to buy me as her play thing." He merely hn'ed as response.

He remained silent, putting me on the right side of his shoulder. "Where are we going?" He says nothing in return, passing by the crowd without making a ruckus. I trailed my eyes on the road, realizing that we were heading to my house, hundred meters near to my family's abode. "If you would remained on that size, how can you be able to protect me?" He sat on one of the benches, taking a slow break. Basking ourselves from the sounds of nature in which the crowded village couldn't provide, I squatted on his shoulder. My eyes closed, gathering chakra that he emitted from his body.

I felt his chakra in mine, slowly releasing it in one jutsu. Command T: Expansion! I opened my eyes to see that his arms encircled around me, holding me in place. His eyes never left mine athough I sat on his lap sideway. His gaze was cold but a sudden wave of fire beneath those hues. I had noticed that I was clutching his shoulders for support. His head closer to mine, his ears tinted red. However, none of us would want to move, remaining frozen of our position. "Why Sasuke..? Why must you do this?" No matter how he hides it, deep down I knew he was just as concerned as everyone else.

No matter how the years I've known him, he still remained a mystery to me. He was a puzzle that has yet to be solved. Everyone couldn't decipher his emotions. Naruto had bought out those emotions that I last saw when we we're children. I could feel the warmth of his breath  near mine. A blush crept my face, observing his features. Endless charcoal haze, long eye lashes, pink tinted lips, a strong angular jaw that looked like it was sculpted by artisans, I've never been so close to a male specie before. Strong emotions whirled inside me. I was raptured.

I never wanted to end this moment. I could feel his chakra bursting from excitement and nervousness. It almost suddenly looked like the person in front of me wasn't Sasuke, but a different being. It seems so unbelievable to be true. "Akane.." My name sounded so moist and soft when he speaks. It almost makes me feel I was worshiped. "Sasuke.." My voice sounded strained and hoarse, feeling tensed at the moment. I turned my head to the side. "I'm sorry.." He remained still, his demeanor changed abruptly. It was too good to be true.

"I have to go. The festival is almost starting." The sky painted crimson red, like that day. I remembered when I asked father about how they named me. Father would turn his head a bit, probably to hide his flustered state. "Your name, symbolizes the color of passion. The heavens were canvassed in deep crimson red when I realized that I fell for her." It was a bittersweet memory.

One step forward, two steps backward. No matter how he tries to hide it, deep down we know that he was rejected. I couldn't love. For me it was a crime. It was my divine punishment for I have sinned in setting out my revenge. Shutting out this emotion would aim closer to my goal. It was a weakness I have to get rid of.

Each step I took was surprisingly painful. I couldn't face him like I used to be.