A/N: (Edit: 6/27/08) The long awaited time has come! Now, I know that you guys may be crying your eyes out when you read this, but… This is the Final Chapter! The sequel is called The Seal of Trust if you're interested. Thanks for reading and reviewing everyone! I really appreciate every single one deeply.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
The Dating Game
Summary: Meet Uchiha Sasuke, the hottest playboy in Konoha High. Meet new student Haruno Sakura, a former playgirl who quickly regains her title. But, after an "accidental" encounter, will things start to heat up?
Chapter 23 – Finale
Haruno Sakura woke up bright and early, a bright smile on her face even though her body was weary from just waking up. The pink-haired girl got out of the sheets of her bed, walking towards the mirror to fix up her messy bundle of hair. Once it was fixed and neat, she smiled at her reflection in the mirror.
She quickly got dressed, sliding on whatever she felt like at the moment and walked downstairs. "Sakura-chan," her mother greeted her, "good morning."
Sakura smiled genuinely, "Yeah, good morning, Mom!"
Her mother smiled warmly at her, "You're in a good mood today, something happen?"
A small blush covered Sakura's cheeks and her mother's smile widened as she laughed to herself. "Ah, I see Sakura-chan. Well, you have your fun with your little 'boyfriend'."
"He's not my boyfriend!" Sakura replied hotly, feeling her cheeks grow warmer.
Yeah, Sasuke-kun may not be our boyfriend but we'll take care of that, Inner Sakura said mischievously.
Sakura's mother nodded her head, "Right, Sakura-chan, Sasuke-san isn't your boyfriend…"
Sakura cocked her head to the side in a confused manner, "How'd you know…?"
Mrs. Haruno filed her papers together as she looked at her daughter; "His mother and I were awake and saw what 'happened' between you two when you came home."
"What, you didn't trust me so you spied on me?!" the pink-haired girl questioned, lifting an eyebrow.
Her mother piled her work in her bag, "Oh no, Sakura. We just happened to be awake at the time. Of course I trust you."
Sakura shrugged, "Yeah, whatever. I need to go, see you!" Sakura's mother motioned her hands for her to stop and her daughter looked at her questioningly, "What? What is it?"
Mrs. Haruno gave her a small smile, "Your car's in the workshop right now, it's being upgraded. You should have it back by tomorrow."
Sakura gaped and quickly said, "How am I supposed to get to school then?"
Her mother picked up her bag and walked over to her daughter, giving her a light hug, "I'm sure you can catch a ride with someone. I'm late so I can't drive you, I'll see you later if I can." Just before she left, her mom glanced back at her. "Why don't you catch a ride with Sasuke?" She gave a coy wink seeing her daughter's face spread red with a blush,
"Mom!" Sakura called back, a question she was uncalled for.
"Just a thought, Sakura!" and with that, her mother left, leaving a slightly angry and embarrassed Sakura behind. She sighed, walking outside as she pulled out her cell phone to make a call to Ino for a ride. She speed-dialed Ino's number and waited patiently as the signal connected and the rings were stopped by Ino's cheery voice.
"Hello?" Ino's voice came through after the third ring.
"Ino-pig! Hey, it's Sakura," said girl spoke into the phone, feeling relieved that her blonde-haired friend had picked up.
"Forehead-girl! What's up calling so early in the morning?"
Sakura smiled on the other line, "I just need a fav—"
"Hey," came the low, husky voice of Uchiha interrupting Sakura's statement to Ino and grabbing the pink-haired girl's attention.
"Hello? Forehead-girl? Is Sasuke-kun there? I thought I heard his voice…"
Quickly remembering Sakura was on the phone, she said, "Oh, um, never mind what I was going to say, Ino. I'll see you later at school, okay?"
"Okay… sure, forehead," spoke the blonde with uncertainty, her eyebrow rose in a confused manner from the other line as she hung up.
Sakura hung up her phone and looked at Sasuke, trying her best to cover up the uncomfortable feeling in her stomach that was forming because of last night's events with the young Uchiha, "Sasuke-kun, do you need something? You interrupted my phone call, you know!"
The raven-haired teen looked around her, then diverted his onyx gaze back to her as he looked at her face. "Where's your car? I thought you would've been starting to drive out to school by now."
Sakura smiled, saying proudly, "It's in the shop getting upgraded." Sasuke gave her a mock impressive look causing the girl to roll her emerald green eyes.
"So you called Ino for a ride? You could've just come with me," the Uchiha said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"I don't need to rely on you for little things like this." stated Sakura haughtily, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Well, you might as well come with me now. Especially since you hung up on Ino and it'd be pretty weird if you called her back since you were the one who ended your little 'conversation'."
Sakura sighed, realizing he was right and there was no point to argue. She followed him into the garage in the Uchiha Estate as the raven-haired boy went inside the drivers' seat and the pink-haired girl went inside the passengers' seat. Sasuke put the keys in the ignition and twisted them, turning on the car's engine as it made a soft revving sound, purring.
He drove out and drove to Konoha High with little to none conversation during the time. As they drove there, Sakura fought back not wanting to realize what she really had said the previous night has Inner Sakura kept on shoving the obvious in her face.
You know, denial leads to insanity, Inner Sakura said in a know-it-all tone.
Of course you would know, Sakura responded back to her inner self.
When they got there, Ino was just parking her racing red Ferrari and got out, the blonde-haired girl seeing the young Uchiha and Sakura walking out of his car. Ino walked up to the two of them, a really confused expression plastered on her face. "Hey, forehead girl? Sasuke-kun? You two—I didn't—Wow!"
Sasuke looked at her with a stoic look and Sakura blinked her eyes, "Ino-pig?" she said, waving a hand in front of her friend's face, "What're you talking about?"
Ino frowned at the question she was asked and looked at Sasuke and back at Sakura, "Is there something 'going on' between you two?"
Sakura blushed and Sasuke moved his face aside and coolly stuck his hands in his pockets. "N-No way Ino-pig! Sasuke-kun just gave me a ride since my car's in the shop and—"
Ino held her hand up with a cocky smile on her face, "Yeah, sure Forehead. I see what's really going on."
Sasuke scoffed at the comment and Tenten came up beside Ino after spotting them from afar. "Hey Ino-chan! Sakura-chan, Sasuke!" The brown-haired girl greeted, resting her elbow on Ino's shoulder in a friendly manner with a happy smile on her face, "What's going on?"
Ino smiled and whispered in Tenten's ear, using her index finger to point to Sasuke and Sakura as she whispered. When she leaned back with a triumphant smile on her face, Tenten's chocolate brown eyes widened. "I can't believe it! Sasuke and Sakura?"
Sakura glared at her blonde best friend while the Uchiha prodigy grew bored and walked off towards Naruto, Neji, and Rock Lee—who were standing not too far.
"Ino-pig!" Sakura hissed at her, "We're not going out! How many times do I need to tell you that?!" Ino widened her smile and Tenten looked at Ino with uncertainty.
"Besides, Ino-chan, would Sasuke really get whipped so easily?" Ino stopped smiling and pondered the statement Tenten said in her head.
Then the blonde-haired girl shrugged, "Well… I guess that's true. But come on! It's pretty obvious he has a thing for Sakura! He wouldn't even treat me like that when we were going out!"
Sakura shuddered unconsciously at the thought. "I think you're just hallucinating or something Ino-pig. Sasuke-kun doesn't treat me different in any way!"
Ino mockingly nodded, "Yeah, he just gives rides to his next door neighbor all the time." She scoffed at her statement, "Face it billboard brow!" Sakura frowned and shook her head, her arms over her chest. Ino sighed and looked at Tenten. "Let's try and get Sasuke-kun to admit it and get those two lovebirds together!" Ino paused, leaning over to Tenten and whispering, "Besides, it's obvious Sakura likes him back."
Tenten nodded, deciding to follow with Ino's plan. "Hey, Sakura-chan, me and Ino-chan need to go… review homework! See you!"
Do they even have any classes together? Sakura thought as she saw her two friends rush away. School soon began as everyone shuffled to get to their classes.
When Sakura entered her Science class, she walked over to where she saw Tenten and Sasuke talking alone.
"Are you sure you don't have a 'thing' for Sakura-chan?" Tenten said, putting a hand to her chin as she narrowed her chocolate brown eyes.
Sasuke scowled, "How many times are you going to ask me that? I said, and have been saying, 'No'."
When Sakura neared them, Tenten saw her and quickly changed the subject and went to go take her seat when Kurenai walked in. Sakura raised an eyebrow at her actions before taking her seat as well.
As Math came along, Sakura walked inside to see Ino and Sasuke talking alone.
First Tenten, then Ino-pig? thought the pink-haired girl.
"Don't worry Sasuke-kun! You can tell me you like her, I won't tell a soul!"
The Uchiha sighed, "I don't feel that way, Ino. Even if I did, I wouldn't tell you if my life was on the line."
Sakura coughed and Ino gaped before shaking her said and quickly saying, "Oh, Sakura! I didn't see you there!" The latter spoke rapidly before walking away, turning around and smiling saying suggestively, "Well, I better leave you two alone." Sakura frowned and Sasuke scowled. The blonde-haired girl giggled at the sight, quickly taking her seat.
"What's up with her? And Tenten-chan? What were they talking to you about?" Sakura asked, pointing her emerald green gaze towards the young Uchiha.
Sasuke narrowed his onyx orbs, "I have no fucking idea." He looked at her and smirked, "Why? You're not getting jealous, are you?" He rose an elegant eyebrow.
Sakura scoffed, "Arrogant as always, eh, Sasuke?"
Sasuke's smirk widened, "You want me to change that, Sakura? I thought that's what you loved about me." Sakura rolled her eyes, teasing him by giving the raven-haired teen a flick on the nose and taking her seat.
Ino, sitting right beside the pastel pink-haired girl, leaned over toward her direction, "See? What I'd tell ya? He only treats you like that."
Sakura shook her head at Ino's statement. I'm sure he treats everyone else like that… right?
Again with the denial? I thought we took care of that last night… her alter ego replied grumpily.
When Math ended, Tenten and Ino quickly met with each other during the few minutes they and in between classes.
"Did you get him to say anything?" Ino asked the brown-haired girl.
Tenten shook her head, "Nothing, you?"
Ino shook her head as well. "He's one tough cookie!" the blonde-haired girl commented. "To think that's what I used to love about him!"
"Maybe, if we get Naruto, he might tell him. After all, Naruto and him are like brothers, I'm sure Sasuke would tell him! And besides, Naruto's a guy and he'd probably feel more comfortable with that," Tenten suggested, looking at Ino for her approval of the idea.
"Brilliant, Tenten!" Ino said, looking around for any sign of the hyperactive blond-haired boy.
When she found him, she pulled Naruto towards her and Tenten, slamming his back against the lockers.
"Ow! Tenten-chan, Ino-chan, what was that for?!" Naruto said, rubbing his back.
Ino waved her hand, "Forget that, Naruto. I need you to help me and Tenten get Sasuke-kun and billboard brow—er, I mean Sakura, together. But first, we need you to get Sasuke-kun to admit that he does like Sakura, you think you can do that?"
Naruto gave a foxy grin, "No problem! I've been dying to bother Sasuke-teme about this!" Ino left, heading off towards her class as Tenten and Naruto walked towards Weapons' Class. Anko entered and class immediately took session. Naruto sat beside Sasuke, nudging him with his elbow to get his attention.
"What do you want?" asked the Uchiha frustratingly at Naruto.
"You like Sakura-chan, right?" Naruto said.
Sasuke frowned and furrowed his eyebrows, "Why has everyone been asking me that?"
Naruto shrugged, "I don't know what you're talking about, I just want to know!"
The raven-haired boy contemplated the thought for a moment. Then, Sasuke smirked, "Of course I like her. She's hot and has a killer body, not to mention she's smart. Just my type."
Naruto sighed and shook his head, "Sasuke-teme, I mean a girl you'd get whipped with, you know?" Sasuke looked at Naruto and raised an eyebrow.
Naruto waited for an answer and sighed when he realized he wasn't going to get one. The raven-haired teen looked down, pondering Naruto's words in his head.
Getting whipped… with Sakura? Never thought of that…
When Naruto saw the change in expression in his best friend's face, his foxy grin went back on his face as he asked, "Well, Sasuke-teme?"
"…Yeah," came the reply from the well-known playboy. "I guess." Of course one such as Sasuke would only admit that to his blond best friend, knowing he could trust him.
Naruto grinned wider, patting his friend on the back, "I knew it."
Sasuke punched Naruto lightly on the shoulder, not wanting to make it too hard where Naruto would make a sound from the pain and get him and the blond-haired idiot in trouble.
"Ask her out teme! And make her your first official girlfriend!" Naruto suggested eagerly.
"Shut up, idiot," Sasuke responded, mouth quirking at the idea.
The class ended, and soon school was over. Ino and Tenten quickly met up and went to go find Sakura after what Naruto had told him.
"Oi, forehead girl!" Ino called out, waving to her friend. Sakura looked questioningly at Ino and Tenten as they approached her.
"Hey Ino-pig, Tenten-chan. What is it?" The two girls both had a wide ear-to-ear smile on their face and Sakura mentally cringed from their expressions.
"Sasuke-kun likes you! And if you want proof, go ask Naruto!"
Sakura shook her head, "I'm sure you just misunderstood, Ino-pig."
Ino widened her smile, "Naruto even told me Sasuke-kun would make you his first official girlfriend, not a girlfriend he picks up and dumps the next day."
Sakura scoffed and Tenten rolled her chocolate brown eyes. "Stop denying it, Sakura-chan! In fact, I want you to march up to him and ask him out! Go on, I dare you!"
Sakura furrowed her eyebrows, "'Dare'? What are we, six?"
Ino waved her hands in front of her face, "Never mind that! Go do it!" The pastel pink-haired girl sighed, deciding not to get into an unnecessary fight.
I need to get a ride from him anyway… Sakura thought as she made her way up to the young Uchiha.
"Sasuke-kun," she called out to him, getting his attention.
"Hey, Sakura," the Uchiha spoke, the pink-haired girl's name rolling smoothly off his tongue.
"Want to go out with me?" Sakura asked, mentally kicking herself for actually following the "dare" she had been given. She watched his expression change to a cocky one to a confused one. Sakura decided to rephrase her words, "Don't think too much of it, it was only a dar—"
"Sure," Sasuke answered, interrupting her. He then gave a crooked grin to her, "Even though I've never had a girl ask me out before…"
Sakura gaped as he walked up to her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "How about we make it more serious than a simple date and you be my girlfriend?" The Uchiha interrogated, nuzzling her neck.
Sakura blinked her emerald green eyes a few time before saying, "…A real girlfriend? Not someone you'll dump in the next few days and pick up a new one?"
Sasuke chuckled, "Yep."
Sakura smiled, "Okay, then." She put her arms around his neck, pulling his neck down as she captured his lips with hers.
Ino and Tenten high-fived each other from afar after seeing their public display of affection. "We're matchmakers!" Ino shouted, anime-style tears falling from her and her bun-haired friend's eyes in pride of her and Tenten's work.
Sasuke pulled back as a low chuckle escaped his throat, "Now let's do something about that virginity of yours…" Sakura laughed, playfully pushing him on the shoulder. Sasuke smirked, "That's no way to treat your new and only boyfriend, now is it, Sakura?"
Sakura giggled, "Possessive, aren't you?"
Sasuke smirked wider, "You're mine and only mine."
Sakura smiled, giving him a peck on the lips. "Don't worry, I wouldn't have it any other way."
The End
A/N: (Edit: 6/27/08) Wow, I can't even to begin to fathom how popular this fanfiction got. I didn't expect it to get as popular as it did, and I still get many reviews saying how they love The Dating Game so much they read it again and such.
Thanks for everyone who reviewed and read, and yes, there is a sequel called The Seal of Trust but I must warn you it is a little different in terms of writing style than this one, but I'm sure you know that if you've read it.
Keep reviewing if you wish, but thanks for reading and loving it so much you'd read it again! It's really nice.