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Cannonball
Sasuke had always been a horrible swimmer.
pride. He was too tense, too aware, too suretoo stiff, like boards, like walls, like Sakura laughed at him a lot of the time, but she was rude that way, and he had accepted it as part of herresigned himself to a small eternity of her hushed sighs and constant interruptions. She poked him in the shoulder, her nail digging near his bone, when he explained this with the patience that usually characterized her, moments before a fit of pique. Youre annoying, he groused, tired and wetsoaking in too much river water, slowly drying under the sunlight. He kicked small stones out of his sandals with a frown. His hair hung limp, and decidedly undignifieda waterfall in blue-black. You talk too much. And you play around, and act less-than-half your age. You should be ashamed of yourself. Oh, be quiet, Sakura said, playfully. Youre just angry because I had to rescue you. She smiled, vaguely wicked, and entirely unsettling. I had to save you from drowninglike you were some pretty, pretty princess. Che, Sasuke said, making a face. I can still taste you. Sakura colored a bit at the reminder, but recovered admirably. Thankfully, Sasuke didnt comment. And I wouldnt have fallen in, if you hadnt been having those odd muscle spasms on the dock. I was dancing! You were flailing, he sneered. Yeah? Well, you float like a rock, you uptight jerkface! Hn, he saidgruntedhis generic response to everything save catastrophe, and annoying as it was to be in her debt, it wasnt quite that. He bent over, hands on his kneesshook his head to rid it of the wetness purposely dripping on her brand new sandals in the process. Sakura shriekedas he knew she wouldbefore falling in a clumsy heap. Well, youre frumpy, she said, trying very hard to be appropriately angry, though her smile was ruining the overall effect. Youre frumpy, and boring, and dull. If I hadnt been around, you wouldve fallen into your unnecessarily deep, dark, dank pit of teenage angst. And you wouldve stayed there until the time came for you to sell your soul to Armani, and walk around with your Blackberry, and your nose upyour eyes to the sky. What with the way you would have gone, you would have forgotten what the ground looks like. You should be thankful you have me around to save you from

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yourself. She patted herself on the shoulder, her features artfully arranged in an expression of mock-suffering. And what would be so wrong with that? he asked, intrigued by the last comment, even as he ignored the rest of her spiel. After youve spent these five years telling me to aim high, and reach for the sky, Id think youd be delighted. Yes, Sasuke-kun, Sakura said, leaf-green eyes now wide and serious. Reach for the sky. But dont ever forget what the ground feels like underneath your feet. Touch the sky, but not at the expense of losing your ground. Whatever. That doesnt even make sense, and you talk too much, he said, annoyed again at her flights of fancy. Sakura was impossible, he thought, as he watched her fold their blanket, and then pick up the leftovers from their impromptu picnic. Bookish, but dreamy, and disappointingly romanticshe was a study in opposites. At once fickle and obstinate, firm but kindand he hated how inadequate it was, that shesvexing, and soothing, all in one breath. What are you staring at, she said, her voice softer now, as she held the wicker basket containing half-a-bowl of watermelon close to her chest. Her green eyes were wide and fixed on his face, uncertainty and hesitation etched on her every feature. He smirked at her lack of artifice. Sakuras face read like a favorite novelan old book, with familiar lines and creases. Im sorry. I thought I heard some low buzzing sound from the vicinity of my ankles. Would you happen to knowow! Damn it, stop hitting me, you harpy! Im not short!

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There was an unconventional sort of liberation in her pink hair, he thought, as he smirked inwardly at the way her cheeks puffed out with all her ire. There was a sense of resolve in her green eyesa freedom that allowed dissonance, a freedom to be mismatched, to be To be. *** Sakura liked to touch him. He could never tell if she meant tomostly, they were brushes of her hand against his, nudged shoulders, poked sides and, on one occasion, three accidentallytangled fingers on the way home from school. Sorry, she said, when they reached his home, hoping his mother had not seen their hasty disentanglement. Her cheeks just barely matched her hair, and had he been the type, he wouldve smiled a little at her flustered state. As it was, Sasuke pretended he didnt notice the flush on her cheeks, pretended he had not heard his mothers gentle teasing, and that he had not noticed his fathers quiet approval. Itachi smirked, looking comfortable and cool from his position against the kitchen countertop. home? Whats this, Sasuke? What kind of gentleman allows the girl to walk him

Are you staying for dinner, Sakura-chan? Mikoto asked, while behind her Sasukes eyes promised retribution for Itachis quip. Ium, I, that is Sakura began, fumbling over her words, and her hands fluttering at her sides. She had known Sasuke for five years, and that had been her first invitation. Sasuke had always ushered her out the door with all due haste, and now stuttering and awkward waif that she wasblocking the light and, bungling her first impression, Sakura thought rather dismally that she understood why. Thankfully, Sasukes mother had the goodness to rescue her from the sea of incoherency. Yes, by all means, Fugaku, lets set another place, Mikoto said, answering her own question. Wed love for you to stay, wouldnt we Sasuke? I just spent the last eight hourswhatever. Sakura, do what you want, he grumbled, and turned away from her bright eyes to reach for a freshly-baked biscuit. Sakuras smile strained at his reaction and grew tight at the corners, and she shook her head, in an effort to avoid Fugakus knowing eyes. Maybe another time, Uchiha-san. I need to get home. She slipped out, amidst protests, shaking her head and smiling wide-open, like windows in June. Sasuke looked at her retreating form from his seat at the dining room table, noting with practiced ease the amount of effort she expended to avoid looking at

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him. He could have been nicer, he supposed. But he couldnt understand why she had taken such offense. He had said much worse, and had ignored her more thoroughly on other occasions. Perhaps there was something else on her mind. He would ask her about it tomorrow, Sasuke decided, before tucking into his dinner. *** Sasuke was thoroughly confused. Hed tried calling Sakura when he saw her at her locker, only to be ignored. After he had hastily stuffed the rest of his books into his own meager space, he had walked to the end of the hall where she was making the turn to go to homeroom. When she had heard his footsteps, she had quickened her pace, almost as though she was avoiding him. To make things worse, he had been waylaid by that idiot Naruto, who insisted time-after-time that they were rivals, and that Sasuke had better watch out because Naruto had been watching him, and no, not in the happy way, you pervertugh, no! And now, he was in the middle of receiving a brain-numbing lecture on the many reasons you suck, and should bow down to my incredible awesome, garnished with a dollop of no wonder Sakura-chan hates you, and your girly face, what the hell did you do, you bastard? Sasuke ignored the normal grammatically incorrect vitriol, biting back the urge to tell Naruto that he would be a hell of a lot more intimidating if he exchanged that orange track-suit for something more respectable, like, oh, maybe a beanie. What did you say about Sakura, dead-last? Predictably, Naruto huffed, sucking in nearly all the air in the surrounding countryside. I am not a dead-last, you stupid prissy-facedpriss! Sasuke sneered. Focus, you idiot. Sakura? eyes. Naruto snapped back to attention, unholy mischief lighting in his wide blue

She hates you. She never wants to talk to you again. She asked me if she could join my nonexistent harem, Sasuke quipped, bored. my fanclub, you asshole, shut the hell up, with your hair gel, and your stupid eyeliner, what the hell do you know, anyway? For the hundredth time, Sasuke said, voice now sharp with impatience, I do not wear eyeliner, and this is my hairs natural state. Not that I should be explaining myself to losers like you. Ha! Naruto gloated. I notice you havent denied anything I said about

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Sakura-chan! Thats because he knows it isnt true, and Sasuke-kun isnt the type to mince words, said a new voice, floating over from the now opened doorway. Sakura stood there with a smile twitching on her lips, but she still had not deigned to give Sasuke a second glance. Weve already started, and you two are officially late. She moved her gaze to the white walls behind them both, her hands still playing with the blue tie at her neck. The amusement in her eyes was almost tangible now, and Sasuke could almost hear the giggles. What arent you telling us? huffily. She turned a pinched look at something over his shoulder, before replying

Kakashi-sensei thanks you both for the extra assignment that youll both be presenting tomorrow morning. What sort of assignment? Naruto asked suspiciously, crush momentarily forgotten. You have two choices, Sakura said, primly smoothing down the folds of her skirt. You can either give a comprehensive report on the history of sex as conceptualized by the ancients Or? Sasuke asked, willing her to acknowledge him. An interpretive dance, she said, now addressing her green-painted nails, depicting a fertility rite from ancient Mesopotamia, complete with full headdress. Homemade, of course. Naruto gaped at her in disbelief, before pouting, and then trudging into the classroom, unwilling to bear the brunt of any more punishment. Sasuke looked at Sakura, who stood holding the door open, her pink hair like a curtain around her face. There were small snuffling sounds coming from her, andfor a momenthe worried that she might have started crying. Sakura, he began, almost sorry. He lifted a wavering hand to slowly nudge her chin up, but before his fingers could get within her eyes reach, her head snapped up; and she looked at him, her white teeth poking out of her mouth to bite her lip in an effort to keep from laughing too loudly. Sasuke lowered his hand back to his side before she could see it, but Sakura was too busy trying to control the sudden fit of giggles that had escaped her to notice anything other than the quietly surprised look on his face. gasps. allow it. It serves him right, she thought, as she laughed softly, her breaths coming like Sasuke almost rolled his eyes at her immaturity, but his inbred gravity wouldnt

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Satisfied? he asked instead, dry like wit. A bit, she said, her eyes still bright with mirth. Your hurt, he thought, as he ushered her back into the classroom, and took his usual seat at her side, your hurt, for my humiliation, though he still didnt understand yesterdays distance. Still, all in all, it was a fair exchange. *** Sometimes, Sakura wondered when they had begun. It was difficult to remember their meeting, she supposed, as ordinary as it had beenshe had done her best to block it out. Children were cruel, she thought ruefully, and anyone who disagreed, needed only to glance at the nearest playground. There was always one who was singled out, one decidedly different, even if the reasons were unknown at the time. Shed been teased for that particular anomalybecause that was what she had been, even if the children had not known the word yetpast the point of tears. And then, she had come, an avenging angel with sunlight in her hair and the sky in her eyes, with her red ribbons and purple barrettes, and she had pushed them away, had walked her home, had been her center. Yamanaka Inowho had been as loud as she was quiet, as strong as she had been weak, as bright as she had been shadowed. It was a match made of opposites, and for a while, she had thrived, picking cosmos and blowing bubbles under dappled sunlight. And then, she remembered with barest regret, and then, we had to go and grow up, and I went and realized that it wasnt enough. She had loved Ino, and Ino had loved her, she knew. But Ino had loved Sasuke too, and that was when the trouble had started. We cant be best friends anymorenot if we like the same guy, Ino had said with childlike solemnity. Her voice had not wavered, even when her resolve had. So were rivals now, she had replied, not a question, not an answer. I wont lose to you, Sakura, and I wont go easy on you. I dont want you to, Sakura had replied, returning her talisman, a strip of red she had worn in her hair every day before. Looking back on it now, Sakura still wondered why Sasuke had chosen her. When she asked him, all she received was his generic responseyou were less annoying, and she was louder than your hair. Still, she smiled at the memory. He had stepped in a few months after, to save

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her from another of her pink-clad demons. Ino had watched from the sidelines, a look of resentment on her face, but, Sakura fancied, hopefully, a bit of gratitude, too. As it was, their relationship consisted of a series of highs and lows, glaring matches in the halls, and stilted hellos whenever they happened to meet on the street. She still missed her, but there was time, yet. There was a little girl in her, a ghost she had yet to banish, and she preferred it that way. She wouldnt change her past, no matter how much she had cried, and hoped, and wanted. For one, it would have changed her present, and she was quite happy with her current state of affairsliar, it whispered, fitful and honest, and she tamped that box shutand for another For another, it had given her Sasukerestitution in blue flip-flops, and black jeans, with a smell like sandalwood, with a smile like snow in July. *** She was standing too close to him. Sasuke shifted his weight, and allowed his irritation to flash across his face. The frown lines that his mother teased his father about were apparently a hereditary trait, if Sakura was to be believed. You could irrigate an entire country, Sasuke-kun, with those grooves on your forehead. Feh, he grunted, because she smelled like skin and rainwater, and it was terribly unromantic, and who was she to talk about foreheads? She was still entirely too close. What the hell are we doing here, anyway? Well, Sasuke-kun, she said, putting one slim finger on her cheek, her eyes crossed, as though she were deep in thought. Theres a Ferris wheel about fifty-three steps to the left, and a cotton candy stand due north. There are flashing lights, and crying children, and you said youd win me a stuffed animal before night fell, so obviously I never said that, he interjected, before she flashed him a look. so, obviously, she continued, as though he hadnt spoken, were at a carnival. And were here to have fun. I hate fun, Sasuke groused. I could be doing something important, like working on my college applications, or studying for our exams, or at least looking for internships. Were not all like you, with your ridiculous IQ, and your almost-top rank, and your And who, exactly, she said pointedly, poking him with each word until he felt like nothing more but a glorified pin cushion, who exactly beat me out for my almosttop rank? Hm? Who? Shikamaru, he answerednot without rancorbut he knew when he had lost.

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Who else, Sasuke-kun? Youre so annoying. over. I thought so. Now come with me. I found a panda bear I liked three stalls

She dragged him along, her small fingers clinging to his wrist with unsurprising tenacity. The bow of the yellow sundress she had chosen for the occasion fluttered behind her like some wayward butterfly. Under the cacophony of the carnival lights and screaming festivities, he caught the strands of some long-forgotten song and huffed. Sakura had been humming it for the better part of the last three days, a melody in threequarter time. Stop humming already. Its Annoying? Why do you think I do it? she said, throwing him a thoroughly impertinent look. Sasuke felt the corners of his mouth turning up in a reluctant smile. Youre slightly less insufferable, she continued, when you look at me the way youre doing right now. Instantly, the smile vanished. Look at you like what? She stopped, turned around to look at him, and he was struck by how small how brightshe looked against the backdrop of a starless night. Sometimes, she said, softly, sometimes, you look at me like youve forgotten yourself. Like Ive made you lose a little of all your silly control. It, um, validates me, if that makes any sense. Id love it if you could trust me enough to fall just a bit, but I guess theres time for all that later, maybe, if youll allow it, she finished, looking almost embarrassed by the admission. Sasuke swallowed the sudden lump in his throat, the strings of her melody thrumming through his blood. He wondered what to say to thatwhat there was to saybut Sakura saved him as she usually did, by turning away, tangling her fingers with his, loose this time, so he could pull away when he wanted to. He didnt. *** Sakuras called for you, otouto. Itachi held the phone up and away, just beyond Sasukes grasp, clearly delighted by the height difference. Itachi, you bastard! Give me the damned Sasuke-kunyour language! Really, now! With deft hands, Mikoto grabbed the phone away from Itachi, and gave him a

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knock on the head as punishment. Sasuke felt validated for a moment, until she turned the full-force of her glare on him. Still looking at him, she pressed the speaker button on the handset. Sakura-chan, she said, her voice now sweet, and devoid of its maternal venom. Sasuke-kun cant come to the phone right now, because hes being punished for being vulgar. Is there anything youd like to say to him? Ive put you on speaker. Sasuke cursed inwardly at the muffled giggles he heard from the phone. Oh, no, Uchiha-san. Ill, um, just call back. When would be a better time? Probably soon, Itachi put in, voice devoid of humor, though the glint in his eye told Sasuke better. Its never too soon to start planning the wedd A barely restrained growl of fury was all the older Uchiha got before Sasuke lunged at him, hands already reaching for his throat. Mikoto stepped away to avoid being hit by a flailing limb. Im sorry that my children are such boors, Sakura-chan. Oh no! Not at all. Sasuke heard in the midst of his impromptu throttling session, and he could almost picture her waving her hands in protest. Stupid girl, he thoughtalmost fondlyas Itachi reversed their position and left him face down with his hands behind his back. Good evening to you, then. Good night, Sakura said, and Mikoto clicked the end button. Ah, their father said, striding into the room with his eyes on the newspaper. He gave his wife an absent pat on the head, and received a growl in return. Very nice Itachi. Practicing your police academy techniques? Itachi coughed. Of course. Mikoto rolled her eyes. *** It had been a bad idea to let her have that last cocktail, Sasuke realized crossly, feeling her breath skate against the nape of his neck. There were things pressing against his back, his long-repressed hormones cried gleefully. Girly things! Soft, round, girly things! Having her legs around his waistalbeit, not in the precise way that usually preceded these nights of passion, or so he had heardwasnt helping either. back. Sakura, blissfully unaware, mumbled something incoherent, and shifted on his

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Lightweight, Sasuke mumbled under his breath, hoping her father was asleep. The last thing he needed tonight was an inquisition. He could already feel the beginnings of a migraine. There was a damp spot forming on the back of his navy-blue button down, and he grimaced at the clammy feel of it. And, her moving around isnt helping matters, he thought rather uncharitably. Luckily, her doorstep was only a few steps away. He bent down, and gently unraveled her, steadying her when she wobbled, holding her against him when she started to sway. Can you stand? he asked, his breath ghosting over the strands of her hair, trying not to breathe anymore of her in more than he already had. She felt heavy against him, her hands soft against the exposed skin of his arms. When she looked up, her green eyes were half-shutdeep green and slumberousand a strap of her white camisole had fallen halfway down her arm, leaving her shoulder pale and soft and bare. Sasuke felt himself react to her, prayed that in her state, she wouldnt notice. Mmm. Is it morning? she asked, tangling her fingers into his hair, smiling up at him through sleep-drunk eyes. Its past midnight. Youre at your doorstep, he said, hoarsely. And Im about to put you to bed. And will you be here when I wake up, later? she asked, voice low with promise. Her fingers were weaving patterns through his hair, nonsense words in languages long dead. No, he said, and wished he could forget the world, too. No, not yet, I wont be. And youd hate me if I were. Would I? she asked softly, pulling him down for a good-morning kiss because it was past midnight, and he had been too surprisedtoo arousedto be honorable about it. It was as sloppy as the word recalled, she would think laterafter the memory returned and she had stopped screaming incoherent curses into her pillowand awkward, as kisses went, because she had been drunk, and he Well, he had been Sasuke. And still was. (Was that your worst kiss? she asked him later, after the after, after the fairytale, still upset that it had been their first and she couldnt quite remember. No, he replied, because he knew better, and she had been the only one he had ever kissed anywayTraumatic Fourth Grade Incident with Naruto, notwithstanding and simply because love had taught him the value of small untruths.) *** Inevitably, the morning came, gently insistent, and falling on her bedroom floor.

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She woke up to an aching head, and a knowing twinkle in her mothers eyes, and fielded her fathers questions about his precious Sakura-chan, and was it that Uchiha boydid he hurt you? Because Daddy can take care of it, and theyd never find the body! After a few bites of cereal, she stepped outside, calling for a respite. She took a familiar path, pushing out of the white picket fence that ran around the backyard, and brushing aside low-swept trees, lush with greenery. The air is cleaner here, she thought, contentedly. The smell of dirt and earth surrounded her, and at her feet, she felt a terrain shift as soil became sand, and stone. She laughedshe was still in her dress from the evening before, and her heels werent exactly made for walking down dirt paths. She bent, balancing herself against a nearby tree-trunk and slipped them off, wiggling her toes into the dirt with childlike abandon. That taken care of, she continued on her winding path, enjoying the quiet symphony. She was unsurprised to find him there, hands folded behind his head, looking up at the beginning. He had changed, or at least, she thought he had. His shirt was a lighter blue today, and he was wearing white shorts, and the ever-present blue sandals. She clucked her tongue, deciding she would get him a different shade for his birthday next week. It wouldnt do for him to be so monochrome. Perhaps a deep greenlike leaves, or if he was so insistent on a hint of blue, perhaps something like the color of water. The sky was still pink with morning, and rosy-fingers brushed soft strands of hair from his face, revealing milk-skin and dark eyes. He didnt stir at her approach, but she knew he was awake; and she slipped down next to him, and curled into his side, throwing her legs over to tangle with his. She traced the line of his jaw with her fingertips, smiling at the way his muscles tensed at the feather-light touch. Stop that, he said, voice gravel-rough, and sleep-deepened. Does it tickle, Sasuke-kun? she said in reply, teasing him. Hn, he grunted, grabbing her wrists in a firm grip. He opened his eyes, and turned to look at her. Your shirt is dirty, she said, solemn, and he knew she was just two moments shy of laughing. And your shorts probably are, too. Shouldnt you be running home to have your mother wash them? In response, he turned over suddenly, moving quickly so that she was lying underneath him, and he had her hands held high above her head. She was startlingly vulnerable, and yet, decidedly unafraid. He could hurt her, he thought, suddenly vicious, and his grip tightened around her wrists. Sasuke looked at her, pink hair splayed across the damp sand beneath them, her green eyes shining with something he was still hesitant to name, her mouth delicately curved in a small smile. Sakura was light, like air, like breath, like whispers at dawnshe was this

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moment, and every moment, hopeful and indomitable, imbued with the scent of water. And maybe, and maybe, he No. He couldnt say itnot yet. Not now. Instead, he bowed, nuzzling under her chinsuddenly shyand rested his head against the hollow of her throat. He whispered to her in silence, his lifes breath moving over her skin with quiet clarity. They were coming together, almost seamlessly, but the thread was still frayed, and there was still There was still growing to be done. There were bridges to cross, things to learn, and people to meet. So, they would wait, she thought. So, we will wait, he whispered. They were young, yet, and Sakura thought perhaps, that this was the kind of thing that would only grow better with age. They were still incomplete. But for now, they had this moment. Good morning, sunshine, she said, smiling up at the sky.

Corona and Lime

Sasuke likes Sakura because in between bouts of being terribly seriousa premed student, member of the student leadership committee, riding a full scholarship with perfect gradesshe is anything but.
He likes this because it is ever-new, and it is familiar, and no matter how much she has changed over the years (and no matter how grateful he is for this), there is some little perfect part of her that will forever be a child. And he likes that. Really. Except when it annoys him. Today, she is wearing an oversized tie-dye shirt, and she is smiling as he surveys her in absolute incredulity. The outfit is not the concern; he has grown used to her evershifting wardrobe, composed of comfort in all forms. No, what draws his skepticism is her wild query. Whats a good pickup line, Sasuke? He doesnt respond, and she waves her phone in front of his face. Ino needs to know. A swift glance down at a tiny screen and tinier words. Apparently, this guy looks like you. So? What pickup line will work? On you?