Well, here it is! The sequel to "The Way of the Sky"!
The Festival
Sora POV
"SORA-SENSEI!!! GET YOUR BUTT OUT HERE!"
"Shut up Naruto! I don't need you to shout at me every morning from the porch!" I glared sleepily down at the young teenager one floor below me, who was glaring with equal intensity up.
"What do you want this early anyway?!" I shouted, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, and trying desperately not to chuck a nearby vase at him.
"Today's the day! Even Sasuke's pumped!"
"...Ugh.." I mumbled retreating away from the porch and back into my room; ahh there was my futon, time for another 5 minutes.
"... Wake up you lazy bum.." a voice came from the doorframe, but I didn't bother looking up, for I already knew who it was.
"..Go away Sasuke... I'm tired.."
"That's what you get for staying out all night.." he mumbled, and I could only imagine a smirk curling across his lips, "..get up, the festival is today.."
"Oh fine.." I muttered darkly, getting sleepily out of the futon and stretching tiredly, "go on now," Igestured for him to leave, "I'm a big girl, I'll meet you there with Kakashi-san."
"Fine," he replied, leaving my room slowly, but pausing one moment before leaving, "but you'd better not try to sleep again."
...damn I thought silently while waving goodbye to him. I dragged myself across the room and pull a beautifully carved box from a shelf, and begin to pull out my spring-time yukata; the very one Yukiko had made me...
"Oh Yukiko-chan! This is too much! I insist you let me pay.."
"Oh nonsense Sora-chan, please wear it, and make sure to give this back to your friend.. Naruto I believe?" Yukiko handed Sora another box and smiled warmly.
"Now make sure you have fun at the festival!"
"You're not going?"
"Oh I'm getting too old for this sort of thing.. perhaps I'll stroll around for a while, but not too long.. I don't have a stand this year either, so I really don't have a reason to go there."
"Oh," She commented with a slight frown on her face, "please change your mind! I'm sure you would have fun!"
"Oh Sora-chan, you can tell me all about it next week, but for now, go deliver Naruto's brand new outfit!"
She had given me such a beautiful yukata; a warm sunny yellow, with soft flower designs astrewn across the fabric, all tied together with a smooth pine green sash.
I hadn't seen yourself in it yet, but by the look of the sun, I was late, so there was no time. I rushed to tie the yukata on by myself, and hastily tied my hair up with a violet hair-piece Shikamaru had given me when we were younger, and then sprinted out the apartment and into the town, .. I don't need to wait for Kakashi, he's probably even beaten me.. wow.. that's pretty pathetic..
I arrived breathlessly in the center of Konoha, and saw, to my amazement, Kakashi dressed in a spring-time attire as well! Wait- Kakashi beat me? Oh man...
3rd Person POV
"... and even though you're keeping watch for trouble... you're here to have fun too.. and," Kakashi paused in his 'inspirational speech' and eyed Sora with a visible smirk, "... finally decided to join us Sora?"
"Er- yes, sorry about that!" She smiled and scratched her head, trying to avert the attention away from her.
"... So make sure there's always someone in your area to keep watch.. we only need to watch the four main entrances to Konoha, so you can wander a little... until tonight at the fire-works, remember, we'll meet back here."
"Hai!" came the unanimous happy reply of Jounins, and instantly the group separated for a joyous day of fun in the festival.
Kakashi turned and smiled at Sora, bowing slightly to show respect, just as she did. He looked so comfortable in his plain black yukata, tied simply with a forest green sash, matching to hers.
"Ready for a fun-filled day?!" She questioned, nearly leaping up into the sky to perform three somersaults, causing Kakashi to chuckle, "...wait.. didn't you promise to spend the day with Sasuke neh?"
Sora grinned slyly, "Well, he's late isn't he? I have the right to leave.."
"..Actually.." Kakashi commented amused, "he's right behind you, Ohayou Sasuke-kun."
"Ohayou Kakashi-sensei," Sasuke replied, his face still as stone as ever.
"Oi," Kakashi muttered, before placing his hand on Sora's shoulder in a friendly manner, ".. don't forget to keep an eye out.."
"Hai, now have some fun Kakashi!"
He chuckled again and started shuffling off to the nearest stand; the manga one, and naturally, the largest poster happened to be...
COME COME VIOLENCE! ALL NEW! ON SALE!
A sweat drop slid down Sora's forehead, ... Are those things even allowed at this kind of festival...?...
"Apparently not..." Sasuke smirked, "so let's go.."
She shrugged and smiled warmly at him; there was something different about him today... Something had been different with him for the past few days, but she just couldn't put her finger on it. Maybe it was the fact he wasn't nearly as silent as he usually way, or maybe it was the fact that he could actually joke without insulting someone...
Or maybe it was the fact that she saw him 24/7.
He insisted on Sora training him harder and harder, to take him to the next level, faster and faster. He didn't rest until he was satisfied with his progress, and even then, he was always in thought about the training.
... Maybe he'll take it easy.. just today... Sora think silently and glancing up at his facial expression; yes, she was glancing up at him, when he grew taller than her was completely beyond me, but she decided not to make too much of a big deal out of it.
... heh heh heh... at least Naruto's still shorter than me...
"... What?" Sasuke eyed you with a mischievous smirk, "could have sworn Naruto was taller than you now..."
Sora tried desperately to look not look embarrassed, but that was pretty hard considering she just spoke without even knowing, "Whatever, come on! We're wasting time, let's go!"
She grabbed him by the hand, and began to run (as quickly as she could with her yukata on) to the nearest game.
Sasuke POV
Finally, Sora decided she wanted to try and win a fish with the rice paper net, but after the tenth try, was starting to get annoyed.
"... Are you ready to go yet?..." I inquired, watching Sora's anger with an amusement.
"No!" She exclaimed, ready to dip another net in to catch a fish, "and I won't be done, until I catch a fish!"
And then, like a stubborn child, she squatted down in front of the water, a look of complete and utter concentration washing over her face.
"... We've been here for almost an hour.. aren't you ready to--"
"Oh Dang it!" Sora threw the net down to the ground with an annoyed expression, "I almost had it Sasuke!"
I let out a sigh of reluctance, as she leaned down with a new net, and squatted down beside her, but just as she were about to dip her net in to catch a fish, I gently took her hand and quickly guided it, swiftly into the water, and when it emerged, there was a small fish flopping on atop the paper.
Sora smiled and studied my face; it was one of complete calmness, and after staring for one moment too long, I shifted my embarrassed expression downward and pointed at the fish, "... You should pick it up before it--"
"Alright," she gently tugged her hand away from mine and put the fish into a cup, and then let out a triumphant sigh, "I knew I would be able to do it."
3rd Person POV
As the both of them began to walk away from the booth, Sasuke commented what Sora had thought he would have commented long before, ".. I don't see what was so hard about it.."
"It was hard! Sheesh! I don't think you understand how- how the little fish always swam away and--"
"--feh.. you still could have used your chakra.."
Sora gasped with mock shock, "Are you telling me you cheated Sasuke?!"
He shrugged indifferently, "..Hungry?"
She nodded and began walking to a food vendor. Sora paid for a bag of candy, and Sasuke bought a few rice balls, and somehow, the pair aimlessly wandered through the festival, laughing and joking the entire way.
Finally the sun began to set, and they were finishing off some of the food Sora had bought earlier.
"...And then Naruto fell face flat, and when he looked up, I swear he looked just like that frog!"
Both of them laughed, but the laughter was followed by an awkward silence.
The kind of silence Sora despised. She stared out at the slowly setting sun and pulled out her last lollipop. Out of the blue, Sasuke broke the silence, "... You really look nice.."
You turned your head and smiled at him, and started sucking on your lollipop again.
"Really?"
".. Hai.." he murmured quietly, avoiding her warm gaze.
"Arigatou Sasuke-chan."
"..Feh.."
Sora smiled warmly to herself; no one ever complimented how she looked. As a kid, she really was a beautiful child, but no one spoke to her, so it really made no difference. She opened her mouth to compliment how he looked, until Sakura's voice broke the silence, "Sasuke-kun! Sora-sensei! Over here!"
Sora turned and glanced over to see Naruto with a sleek black yukata, and his hair cut (by yourself), with Sakura grasping his arm with a sly blush spreading over her cheek.
She smiled proudly, Naruto had asked Sakura out, and she had accepted! With her help of course, he had finally gotten that 'sexy smirk' down, and she had cut his hair -against his will of course- to look relatively tame.
Even though Sakura kept trying to deny to everyone it was a date (she could often times be found sporadically denying that she had even accepted Naruto's request to go to the festival), everyone knew they were cute together.
"Hey Sakura-chan! How's it going Naruto?"
"Hello Sora-sensei! Oh I'm fine, thank you!" Sakura couldn't stop smiling!
"Erm.. fine," Naruto commented, looking slightly uncomfortable for once in his life; Sora knew something was wrong, so she did what any friend would have done, "Hey Naruto, I have a question for you?"
His expression flooded with relief, and he instantly followed Sora out to the brush area, "What's wrong Naruto? You got Sakura didn't you?"
"That's not it! I love Sakura- er- love having her around! It's just... what happens.. when she keeps looking over with these... er.. THOSE... green bubblyish eyes?!"
"What?!"
"You know!"
"No, I don't, enlighten me."
He let out an exasperated sigh, "she keeps giving me these googly eyed looks!"
..." 'Googly eyed looks'??? I'm sorry Naruto, you're going to have to be more--"
"It makes me want to- want to.."
A look of realization spread across Sora's face, "Oh! She's giving you the look!"
"What look?!"
"The look!"
"What?!"
She smiled and patted him on the shoulder, "You don't have to worry Naruto, she likes you. Just do what you feel is right--"
"I can't!"
"What do you mean you can't, you got her to say yes to the date, didn't you?!"
"But you were the one on the side telling me what to say! I don't know how to do it myself!"
"Yeah you do, just be yourself."
"I can't! She hates me when I do that!"
Sora gave Naruto a weary, yet knowing look, "Less than you know, now come on, I have to report back to Kakashi, and you need to get back to your date!"
Sora turned and began walking away, until Naruto called her name.
"Yeah?"
"... Thanks Sora-chan... For everything.."
She smiled warmly, "Don't think about it... I'll be sure you return the favor," you winked and continued walking.
"Well, I'll see you two later at the fireworks alright? Sasuke and I have to go and meet with the other Jounin now."
"Hai. We'll see you later Sora-chan!"
Sora waved farewell one last time and departed with Sasuke, never knowing it would be the last time she would see them, for a very long time…
(Maybe I should just stop here…nah! I'm feeling nice! So on with the chappie!)
"Halt, identification please," outside the borders of Konoha, one of the Jounin stopped a caravan of travelers, "sorry, security is tight after these past threats," the Jounin apologized quickly, and then left his hand out for the identification.
The man to which he was waiting for on the identification said nothing, but lifted his hand; a dark purple shade reflecting off his fingers; a sign of the Akatsuki.
The Jounin's eyes widened, as he quickly took a fighting position, "B-By the command of the Hokage, you shall not pass through, prepare to di--"
thud
"...damn security these days.." Kisami muttered darkly, before glancing aside at Itachi, who's hand had currently disappeared into the folds of his robes.
"Itachi," one of the Akatsuki members addressed quickly, "this had better be worth-while."
"...it will..." he replied stoically, "...it will..." and just like that, the Akatsuki entered Konoha with no interference.
Without even having to say a word to one another, they split up into their pairs and instinctively scouted out the best spots to wait for their signal.
Mere moments passed before a sight occurred that would completely change Itachi's plan, something he would have never counted on happening, not now, not ever. So for the first time, in a long, long time, Itachi, felt his heart skip a beat.
He saw one of his only friends from his past; he saw Sora…
A.N.: I wonder how Itachi's going to handle this!
Well, find out on the next chapter of "All By Myself"!!!
