Pink Champagne

Chapter 7: One Last Time

Sasuke pulled up to valet, handing him the keys. Another held the door open for Sakura to step out. Sasuke came around, holding his hand out for her to take.

"You're my girlfriend remember?" Sakura slid her hand into his, interlocking their fingers. She smiled, wishing what he said was more true than it really was. Once they got into the elevator to take them to the top floor, she gave his hand a squeeze.

"I'm tough. Else who could put up with Naruto's antics for as long." Sakura reassured him, earning a hint of a smile. His grip got a little tighter, when they walked into the room. They were escorted to a window table with a man who looked like Sasuke, just an older tired looking one. His cheekbones were more defined and his face was slimer, but there was no doubt it was his brother.

"Itachi, this is my girlfriend, Dr. Sakura Haruno. Sakura, this is my brother, Dr. Itachi Uchiha." Sakura bowed, to him, while he returned the gesture.

"It's nice to met you, please sit."

"It's wonderful meeting you, finally. Sasuke has told me so much about you." Sasuke held out her seat, before sitting in the next to hers. Itachi gave his brother a look.

"He let something's out for me, but I think that's his way of letting me pleasantly surprised. He failed to mention how stunning you are." Sakura felt her cheeks redden.

"Thank you."

"Maybe because I think her brain is more beautiful." Sasuke retorted back.

"Women also like to be complimented on more than one thing little brother." Itachi opened up his menu. Sakura glanced down to see the prices. The red in her face quickly drained, her eyes meeting her date. With her student debt, eating here would add another 10 years more to pay off. She thought it would safe to just get a salad. Sasuke waved over a waiter, ordering one of her favorite wines along with their food. Sakura was slightly impressed how he remembered.

"So how did you two meet? I'm assuming it wasn't totally with work. Sasuke told me you are in a different focus."

"Neonatal. We actually met through our mutual friend Naruto Uzumaki." Sasuke grabbed his glass of wine, taking a relatively large gulp. His brother's eyes back on him.

"I wasn't aware you were still communicating with that idiot." Sakura's hand tightened around the stem of her glass. Irritation starting to stir in her. Naruto was many things, but he was never one who should be looked down upon. Glancing at Sasuke, she could tell he was feeling the same way.

"Well, when he meet a friend like Naruto, you tend to want to keep him around, no matter how much of an idiot he seems to others." Folding his hands in front of him, Itachi never lost his smile.

"So how long have you been dating? Sasuke loves to keep me in the dark."

"About a week or so after he first came." Sakura lied through her teeth.

"That's quick, I didn't know you worked that fast." Itachi raised his eyebrows teasingly at his brother.

"Have to be quick to be a trauma surgeon." Sasuke was already moving on to a second glass.

"Well Dr. Tsunade, had actually asked me to show him around, and since he was new to town, I offered to show him where most doctors liked to go to eat. Cafeteria food is great here, but sometimes you need a break. Well, soon we found ourselves eating out together almost daily and you know him, once he set's his mind to something he goes for it."

"I do know him, he tends to not be quick about somethings. It took Karin, what was it? 3 years of begging you before you agreed to date her?"

"Well, I gave it shot."

"She was gone in less than 6 months." Itachi sipped from his own glass. Sasuke turned his eyes to Sakura, tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear.

"Well, I never really wanted to date her in the first place, did I?" Sakura blushed, taking a sip of her own wine.

"Oh the food smells good." Sakura broke the awkward silence that was falling over them, when she spotted the waiter coming over.

XXX

Most of the meal with silent with some talk about Sakura's degree and some amusing childhood stories. At the mention of dessert, Sasuke excused himself from the table, leaving the two decide on the sweets for themselves.

"I took him out for ice cream once after a hard day, you would have thought I took him to see a dentist." Sakura teased once he left.

"Sakura, I enjoyed our dinner, and I must say I find you very pleasant to talk to."

"I feel a but coming." Sakura leaned back in her chair, glass of wine rising to her lips.

"I understand you are in a lot of debt." She paused, her eyes narrowing at him, when he pulls out a checkbook.

"Excuse me?"

"I'm willing to help pay whatever you ask for in order for you to break up with my brother."

"Did you have me investigated?" Sakura placed her glass down. She didn't know what to say or how to respond to this.

"Look. From what I do know about you, I believe you will go far in the Neonatal world. You are a brilliant surgeon, but Sasuke needs a housewife. He has a bright future ahead of him back at our family hospital. It's been in our family for generations, and he needs to marry someone who is able to take care of him. I don't want to see my brother ruin his life over a city hospital and a girl he has no future with." Sakura clenched her jaw, she felt tears forming despite her best intention. She would not cry in front of this man, but that didn't mean the need didn't exist. It was like having someone slap what she already knew about herself in her face. It was one thing to think that you weren't good enough for someone but to have someone else say it, it was humiliating. Her phone began to ring, Hinata's name flashing up. Without a moment of hesitation, she answered, no longer caring what this man thought about her.

"Hinata?"

"Sakura, thank god, I tried calling the hospital and they said you weren't working, so I was debating about ruining your downtime, but I was like I can't-" Sakura was slightly taken aback. Hinata wasn't one to panic talk, this was more of a Tenten or Ino thing, not a Hianta thing.

"Calm down, I can come over right away. I'll be there in 20 okay?"

"Okay...thank you!" She heard a little hiccup on the end of the line. Hinata had been crying, her friend needed her more then the asshole seated in front of her needed an answer.

"I'm sorry but I have to go help a friend." She downed the rest of the wine in her glass. "I don't need your money, nor do I want Sasuke's if that is what your implying. Our relationship will always be determined by us and no one else. And for the record, he's 10 times the man you will ever be." She grabbed her jacket from behind the chair, quickly making her way to the elevator. When got to the exit, she asked the valet to call her over a taxi. Before the cab arrived, an out of breath Sasuke emerged from the doors.

"Sakura! What's going on?" Glancing behind him, she saw Itachi watching from inside. Smiling up at him, she wrapped her hand around the back of his neck, dragging his lips to meet hers. Sasuke was shocked by the quick kiss, her smile still on her face, yet he noticed her eyes were red, just like who they normally get when she holds back her tears after she looses a patient.

"Hinata needs me, I have to go. I'll call you later?" She grips his suit jacket, straightening his tie a little.

"I can take you." He offers, but she shakes her head.

"Stay with your brother, it's not everyday your family comes to the city." When the taxi finally pulls up, Sakura turns to leave, but Sasuke, pulls her back kissing her again.

"Text me when you get home okay?" He whispers to her. Sakura is slightly shocked by the second kiss, she simply nods, before ducking into the cab. He watches the car drive off, before turning to his brother. Itachi stood there, handing his ticket to the Valet.

"What did you do?"

"I tried to save your future Sasuke."