Fleur de Cerisier

Chapter 9

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and this story is just a figment of my imagination.

Sai checked his watch for the third time and scanned the hall for the familiar pink hair. Naruto joined him after breaking away from a gaggle of ladies nearby.

"Sakura's late," he voiced Sai's thought and pouted.

After their cliff diving session, Sai had planned for them to visit a local eatery and talk about their relationship, when Sakura was called back to the hospital for an emergency procedure. They had shared a quick passionate kiss before he drove her to her workplace and she promised to meet up with him the following day. But he had not seen her since then.

She did call him during a brief lunch break two days ago, sounding extremely tired, "I can't leave for a while. There was staff shortage and Tsunade's assistant had fallen ill. I haven't been home for two days actually. I'll be lucky if I can go home tonight."

"It's okay. Will you be able to make it for the exhibition this Friday?"

"I won't miss it for the world," she had reassured.

Sai adjusted his navy blue tie and breathed in deeply. He had chosen to wear a white pinstriped shirt with his black pant suit and shoes for the event. He would have gone for his normal black tie, had Sakura not suggested they wear something of similar colour.

"She'll make it somehow."

Naruto gave him an amused look before they joined the crowd who had turned up for the Konoha National Biennale.

The art festival was held every two years to commemorate art from all corners of Japan and Konoha was chosen to host the event this year. The theme was "Fleur de Cerisier" to coincide with the spring season as Konoha was most beautiful with cherry blossom trees lining its boulevards. The Yamanaka manor was transformed into a temporary art gallery for the event. Guests were allowed to access certain areas of the gardens adjacent to the mansion that were lit with fairy lights to admire the blooming flowers.

While many would go for cherry blossoms and spring paintings as observed throughout the hallways of the art gallery tonight, Sai wanted something different. He wanted to paint a series of painting over the four seasons, projecting emotional growth over that period of time, not necessarily like that of an actual sakura. Naruto had been particularly taken in by this aspect of his proposal when he presented it to the committee. Sai was immensely proud to be selected to represent their prefecture and now as a finalist in the juried exhibition.

"Sai-kun, congratulations on being a finalist!"

"Thank you, Mr. Jiraiya."

The eldery man, who was part of the judging panel, looked around covertly and leaned down to half whisper, "I'm not supposed to say this, but your portraits have garnered very positive interest among the juries so far. I have a very good feeling about this."

"You think so, old man?"

Naruto looked more excited at the prospect of winning the competition compared to him. It would boost Konoha's cultural status throughout the nation.

"Now, where is your muse? I must meet her. Ah, there is Mr. Sasori. He's one of the juries this year. Come, we must greet."

Sai was steered over before he could say anything. Jiraiya introduced him and Sai greeted him formally.

The crimson-haired man returned the greetings accordingly. It felt like an act, pretending he did not know him. The man still had that same penetrating look. He wore a black pant suit with a white shirt and black striped tie underneath, which accentuated his red hair.

"How are you enjoying the night, Mr. Sasori? Everyone's excited about the winner tonight. Not to mention the auction right after," Naruto made conversation. Sai could see the glint of interest in his blue eyes.

"Congratulations on hosting such a grand event successfully. It has been an interesting evening." Sasori remarked and took a sip of his red wine.

"What do you think of this young lad's work? He's Konoha's best artists." Jiraiya patted Sai's shoulder in a fatherly manner. Sasori nodded as he gave a frank assessment, "Very archetype for a budding artist. It's a shame the pointillism drawing was left half completed. I would love to see the full product."

Naruto looked tensed at this. The boisterous blonde had wanted to submit a different painting but Sakura, who had sided with Sai, had insisted the painting was good as it is.

"Of course, of course. Ah, there is our muse," Jiraiya suddenly proclaimed and Sai turned around to see Sakura approaching them.

Sai excused himself from the group and met her halfway. He took in her sleeveless beige wrap dress with a V-neckline. The skirt was fluid and fitted at the waist with soft pleating and a semi sheer overlay with sequined embellishments. She wore stockings with her navy court shoes and had a matching clutch in hand.

"You look lovely," he said as he leaned forward to peck her on the lips. She had minimal makeup on – black eyeliner, peach eye shadow and a dash of nude lipstick and her hair was softly curled.

"Thank you. You look pretty dapper yourself. Sorry, I'm late."

She smiled at him sheepishly and slipped her arm under his proffered one. Steering her over to the group, Sai introduced her, although it was rather unnecessary seeing they all knew each other.

"Ms. Sakura. It has been a while," Sasori commented when it was his turn. She nodded and shook his hand, "Indeed. How have you been?"

"I'm doing well."

"That's good to hear. Mr. Sasori was once a visiting doctor at Konoha Hospital."

Sakura turned to look at the rest of them.

"I almost forget you are a doctor first," Jiraiya nodded at this.

"How do you like Sai's panting?" Sakura asked and there was a brief silence before Sasori responded, "The pictures don't do you justice, I see."

Sakura chuckled at this, "You must be flattering me, Mr. Sasori. I find them representing me as I truly am. Not someone of unworldly beauty or perfection – just a human being who is capable of showing emotions."

Naruto perked up at her speech but Jiraiya let out a boisterous laugh and all attention was on him.

"True enough, Ms. Sakura. Now, Sasori, I believe the juries will have to convene to vote. Shall we?"

Sasori nodded tersely and gave Sakura one last glance, before turning to leave with Jiraiya. Sai noticed the wistful look on her face. She looked at peace and he was glad. He fished a glass of champagne from a passing waiter.

"Champagne?"

She turned to smile at him.

"Yes, please."

Naruto looked at both of them perplexedly.

"Is anyone going to tell me what that's all about?"

"Nothing."

They echoed in unison.

The whole affair was fairly tedious, culminating to suppressed excitement when it was nearing nine o'clock. They were chatting with Ino and her fiance, Chouji about the rose garden when Jiraiya announced that the award ceremony was about to begin. Sakura and he took their seats with the other participants, who were his competitors, and their plus ones, while Naruto sat among the important people on the other side of the room, including Ino. The fact most of them, including him, had matching egos made the small talks somewhat stilted.

When Jiraiya announced his name as the winner of the competition, Naruto made a loud whooping sound and punched the air with one arm. Sakura, who had been holding his hand up till that moment, turned to beam at him and threw her arms around him. Jolted by her hug, the fact he had won the award finally sunk in and the next moment, he was kissing her. At the back of his mind, he registered the cameras flashing and the deafening applause. He pulled away before they made a circus act of themselves and got up to accept his award.

His acceptance speech was short and almost perfunctory thank-yous – the juries, the mayor, the city council, the hosts.

"But, most of all, I would like to thank my muse – Ms. Haruno Sakura. For her admiration for art, and for finding the courage to share her story with everyone tonight. Thank you."

The photographers were relentless in getting their shots of the couple and they managed to get away when the auctions for the paintings began. They took refuge at a koi pond that bordered the adjacent Yamanaka Rose Garden.

Sakura had taken off her shoes and propped her legs up on the bench, bent at the knees to make room for him. Sai loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top button of his shirt. He leaned his head back to stare at the starry sky above.

"I thought it would never end."

"Well, you're the first winner in decades for Konoha. It's bound to generate a lot of interest. Congratulations once again."

She raised her champagne glass to toast him, took a sip and passed the glass it to him. He returned the toast and finished the drink.

"So, that's a very touching speech you gave back there."

He gave a casual shrug, his face feeling hot as he remembered their kiss at the award.

"I'm a-muse-d," her impish grin punctuating the intended pun. He looked away as a smile threatened to break through. It had been on impulse but the feeling had come so natural to him. Turning to face her, Sai leaned forward and placed the empty glass on the empty spot behind her and rested his hand on her waist.

"You're more than a muse to me."

Sliding his hand along her waist, he pulled her closer and she leaned heavily into him, her hands looped around his neck as they shared another passionate kiss. He was careful to not mess her hair up as he held the nape of her neck. They pulled away for air after a while and she rested her head against his chest.

Sai drew soothing circles on the bared skin of her dipped back dress.

"We'll do this properly."

"Properly?" Sakura pushed off him as he sat up. He redid the button on his shirt as he explained, "Dinner at Matsuri, some dancing…"

He stood up and draped his coat over her.

"And see where the night takes us."

She slipped on her shoes and he helped her up.

"Sounds lovely," Sakura murmured in response while straightening his tie.

They walked back to the mansion and just as they reached the French doors, someone suddenly stood out from the shadows. Sai immediately stepped in front, shielding Sakura behind him. They stared at each other for a moment before Sai greeted the man.

"Mr. Sasori."

He looked behind him before speaking.

"Congratulations on your winning."

"Thank you. How may I help you?"

"I would like to talk to Sakura."

"I've a private event to attend," Sakura adopted a formal tone and Sai could feel her tightened grip on his upper arm.

"I'm leaving tomorrow morning, so I would greatly appreciate if you can spare me some time."

Sai noticed the stiffened look on the man's face as he said it.

"Sakura, why don't you go and talk?"

"Sai…," she looked at him in confusion but he placed his hand on hers, wordlessly conveying his insistence.

"Alright," she said after a while and turned to look at Sasori. The man looked relieved and he nodded at Sai and took a step back before turning around to walk into the mansion. Sakura clenched his hand before letting go.

"I'll be back."

"I'll wait for you at Matsuri."

Naruto had insisted for an afterparty at the latest pub that was co-owned by the three friends. Sai explained he would make transport arrangements, so it would be easy for her to catch a cab once she was done.

She hesitated and nodded in agreement before walking in the direction where Sasori had gone.

Two hours and three brandies later, Sai began to feel restless. He was sorely reminded of the last time he had felt like that. It was when he made the decision to tell Sakura about Sasori's hospital visit.

"I met him," Sai had paused to draw more courage, "The man with crimson red hair."

The room, which had up to then been filled with the sound of pencil scratching on paper, went quiet as they both stopped working on their drawing pads. Sakura had looked up with widened eyes.

"He came to the hospital, just before you woke up. He told me not to tell you before he left."

A thoughtful look flicked across Sakura's face and she resumed drawing.

"You know, Ino told me something very interesting the other day. After the great love affair with Shikamaru, not many people will understand her for choosing Chouji as her husband. She said, when it came to the end, she decided to choose the person who brings the best out of her."

She flipped her drawing pad around.

"Don't you think it make sense?"

Sai realised she had drawn him with a smile that did not match his mood.

All of a sudden, a plate of finger food entered his vision and Sai turned to see Chouji sitting at the seat beside him.

"Sai, you should have something solid after all that brandy. That's not how you enjoy a fine drink."

"I'm fine. Are there any message for me?"

"No, there aren't any."

Ino suddenly jumped onto Chouji's lap who managed to hold her. Naruto, too, had reappeared from the dancefloor he had been conquering for the past hour.

"Sai, where's Sakura?"

"She's still in a meeting with a friend."

"Oh, right. That friend."

Naruto gave him a pointed look which Sai chose to ignore. It caught Ino's attention as she started questioning Naruto about the friend. Chouji chose that moment to point at the painting Ino had commissioned a month ago hanging behind the bar.

"I find this piece really enchanting. Highlights the friendship."

It showed the three friends sitting on settee at Sakura's apartment. Ino was leaning against the corner of the chair in her sleeveless purple jumpsuit. She had one leg outstretched and another propped against Sakura, who was at the other end of the chair. In the middle was the blonde-haired man who was sitting at the top of the chair. He wore a pale yellow oxford shirt rolled up to his elbow and his brown chinos stopped short of his bare feet. He was leaning forward and held onto both the women's hands that were placed on his knees. Sakura had chosen a very casual outfit of teal jumper with a bunny cartoon and denim shorts. She had her legs up on the settee and placed a hand on the Polaroid camera, while an album laid propped on one of her foot. More films scattered all over the floor and the album.

"It does, doesn't it?" Ino smiled fondly.

The time they spent taking photos to set the mood had filled up the photo album Ino had bought. The whole process was not something Sai would care to repeat, but Sai found himself staring at Sakura's hand on the camera. It was as if she was inviting him to join in the fun.

"No wonder all those ladies are swarming me. I look good," Naruto joked.

They had an idle chat on the couple's decision to have a child soon before Chouji decided to call it a night. They left, dragging an inebriated Naruto with them.

Not long after that, the bartender came forward with a cup of coffee.

"Sir, we're closing in fifteen minutes."

Sai looked at his watch furtively. It was fifteen minutes to midnight.

"I'll have the bill, please."

"Mr. Akimichi and Mr. Uzumake have taken care of it."

Sai shook his head and smiled. He made a note to invite them for dinner some other time.

He finished the coffee before leaving the establishment. There was a pedestrian crossing to his left and he spotted a taxi stand opposite the road.

He could take the cab home but the lights at the pedestrian crossing were red and the taxi had left after dropping its passenger and Sakura...

He breathed in the air that was starting to feel chilly.

Had it been in vain all this time? He wondered.

Looking in front of him, he suddenly realised someone was at the other end of the pedestrian crossing. It was an almost surreal moment and his breath was caught in his throat. He wondered if he had dreamt her up, when Sakura suddenly raised her hand and waved at him. Perhaps it was the way she was beaming at him so brightly that he found the muscles on his lower jaw moved to return her smile.

He raised his hand in return.

There was an audible beeping sound and Sai looked up at the green light which was blinking rapidly now.

He smiled and took the first step forward.

-End-