Chapter Nineteen

                                    

                                          
19.
"If you want something smooth on your wall, you could do worse than John Currin," said Sasori, pointing to a painting of a nude woman from the Renaissance era. He is currently hosting a presentation about contemporary European paintings created in the 18th century at one of the national museums in Tokyo.
"He is about the only contemporary painter who can paint. There's usually something interesting and allegorical, plus of course, there is a very high perv quotient," continued Sasori with a somewhat distracted focus on the intimate part of the painting of the naked woman.
Unexpectedly, Sasuke stealthily crossed the room to where Sasori was giving his lecture on Renaissance painting, causing Sasori to be shocked when he noticed Sasuke had been standing right in front of him the whole time.
"Did you see her?" Sasuke snapped bluntly, without engaging in small talk.
"Out! Cut it!" Sasori exclaimed angrily, instructing the cameraman not to record it.
"Sorry, everyone, sorry. It's my stalker," said Sasori with a fake grin. "Fuck off, Uchiha!" Sasori snapped, clenching his fists. "Some people have jobs to do," he criticized again.
"Did you see her surrounded by police, dogs, handcuffs?" Sasuke shouted back.
"Come on, she's a big girl, she can take care of herself," said Sasori with a dismissive grin.
Sasuke's fury was palpable, and his voice dripped with anger. "I'm asking you one more time. Did you see her?"
Sasori couldn't resist mocking Sasuke further. "Just one more time? Your façade's slipping, dear."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed, and he spoke with barely restrained irritation. "I'll take that as a yes."
Sasori, sporting a smirk, answered with arrogance. "Yes, I did see her. Thought she was smuggling seashells or mangoes. Quite the intrigue, I must say."
Sasuke's patience was wearing thin. "Right."
Sasori chuckled wickedly. "Good."
The tension grew as Sasuke demanded, "Will you step outside, please?"
Sasori replied with a dismissive tone, "Not happening. Do you even realize what century we live in, Uchiha?"
Sasuke's frustration boiled over as he warned, "Are you coming out voluntarily, or do I have to drag you?"
With a smug grin, Sasori taunted, "You'll have to drag me."
Without further ado, Sasuke grabbed Sasori by the collar of his shirt and forcibly dragged him out of the museum building.
Sasori desperately clawed at Sasuke's face and attempted to kick his legs in resistance. However, Sasuke's anger had ignited a fierce strength within him.
As the two men grappled, several visitors passing by in the park area near the museum couldn't help but watch in surprise. A woman, casually enjoying a Snickers bar and engrossed in her novel while sitting on the paving near a pool, dropped her candy in shock when she witnessed the commotion.
Sasuke's fury knew no bounds, and he forcibly pushed Sasori's body into the fountain pool, sending him splashing into the water. But Sasori, defiant as ever, retaliated by gripping Sasuke's shirt collar and shoving him back into the pool. In no time, both of them were soaked from head to toe in the fountain pool.
"You're pulling my hair!" Sasori roared as Sasuke gripped his hair tightly, determined to submerge him in the water.
"I'm not going in the bloody water!" Sasori screamed again while landing a ferocious punch on Sasuke's face.