Inevitable Attraction

Soft Strokes

By Elli Cole

Sai x Sakura

Her smile never left her lips and it disturbed her somewhat. She wasn't doing anything joyous nor was she happy in any particular reason but the emotionless man in front of her just made her smile. The feeling confused her, it made her vulnerable to him and yet he does not know it. She let out a sigh and rubbed her arm awkwardly.

She cleared her throat to gain his attention. He looked at her momentarily with an annoyed look upon his face. "What do you want, ugly?"

"Why do you think I want something from you?" She drawled back, anger overriding purpose.

"You're the one who came to me," Sai retorted back with a small smirk.

"Bastard," Sakura mumbled under her breath as she plopped herself on the plush grass beside him.

She closed her eyes and rested her back against the rough trunk of the cherry blossom tree. She turned to her side and tried to take in the soothing heat he produced and radiated to her. It soothed her and it almost had lulled her to sleep when she had heard his voice and the soft strokes of his brush across his parchments.

She lazily opened one eye and watched as the swift and precise movements of his wrist and fingers had created the perfect picture of her lying down beside him. It entranced her, the way he did it so fluidly and she loved how she was portrayed so beautifully by the man who called her as ugly. She opened her mouth about it but found out no words would pass through her lips.

She resorted to watching him finish his latest piece.

A few more graceful strokes and shadings on her face and arms as she rolled over, creating a feline pose. He looked at her with curious eyes. "Don't move," he told her lowly.

She blinked and looked at him, confused.

"Don't move, Ugly," he repeated. "I'm drawing you."

"I can see that," she chided back irately. "But why would you draw something as ugly as me?"

"As of now I find you an interesting subject," Sai said with a simple nod of his head and continued stroke for stroke, his drawing almost coming to life as Sakura watched on, clearly lost but intrigued.

She stayed in the same position for quite some time before he had suddenly put down his brush and let out a relaxed sigh. She turned to him with a raise of her brow and an inquisitive smile. "Why did you draw me?"

"I have nothing better to do." He replied carelessly.

"I see." Sakura's smile faltered and she turned away from him. A few moments of silence had passed the two when Sai suddenly stood up with a yawn, his arms flying above his head in a stretch.

A frown had appeared on her lips when he started to walk away from her, leaving her alone under the flourished cherry blossom tree. She shook her head and closed her eyes, knowing that the young man wouldn't come back for her. She dozed off after a few minutes but woke up with a soft nudge on her shoulder.

She groggily opened her eyes and rubbed them with the back of her hand. She almost gasped when she saw Sai with a sheepish grin etched on his face. He was holding two ice cream cones that were almost melting. She looked at him, surprised.

"Sai—"

He interjected. "It's the only thing I can give you for allowing me to draw you."

A broad smile plastered across her face when she accepted one of the cones. "Thank you."

He shrugged and sat down besides her, enjoying her presence and the cold the ice cream gave off in the warm weather. Sakura gave him a few looks here and there and she had just had the revelation about she had mused earlier and she was utterly wrong. Sai wasn't as emotionless as she thought he was.

He turned to her and gave her a small smile and licked his ice cream cone with a spark in his eyes she hadn't recognized before. She smiled to herself and took a lick on her own cone. It was a lovely day and she was right on spending that time with him.

oOo

End Note: On every other one-shot, there would be different couplings revolving around Sakura and the guys. Find out the next coupling at the next one-shot on the update! Till the next chapter, please review.