Chapter 1: Special Name

Genre: Romance / Humor / Angst / Hurt

Rating: T

It was the month of March. The windows of all the buildings were frosted due to the cold weather outside, making the windows translucent. The bustling streets were lit with various vibrant colors, making the "nightlife" of the village glistening. Apart from street vendors selling various toys and food appetizers, there were many bars and strip clubs on the corner of the street. Among the many crowded places, one of the bars was filled with laughter and smell of expensive booze. The bar was one of the recommended places of the village, often visited by the previous Mizukage Mei Temuri. It was about midnight.

A brunette wearing her tactical uniform was in deep thought. Sitting on one of the bar stools, with two empty glasses of the "special vodka" made in the Village of the Mist. Her index finger kept swirling around the corners of the empty glass; her gaze was on the pacing of the finger. The bar was almost full, filled with top businessmen and top shinobi of the allied forces. Her gaze shifted towards the bartender, showing off his skills with the bottles with his water jutsu, making 10 bottles flip and juggle all together. She was amused by the act, realizing that ninja art could be used for acting as a clown. Her gaze went back to the glass, her fingers started to move again. She kept thinking about the memories that were flashing in her mind - About Konoha, her parents, Nanadaime Hokage, her friends and him.

Why did I have to be sent on a mission at this time of the year?

.
Why did it have to be this very day?

" You are drifting off a lot Sarada-Chan, " Said a handsome of a man sitting next to her. " Are you missing home? ".
"Huh…Sorry, Kagura kun! I think this is the first time I will spend my birthday outside of Konoha. " Said the tired Kunoichi. Sarada was in the Village Hidden in the Mist for a diplomatic mission. There was some political strife between the daimyos of both lands. , Nanadaime Hokage would have sent Shikamaru to handle something like this, but he wanted his successor to be trained in political matters.
"Don't worry, Sarada-Chan. I think everyone back at home misses you too." Kagura said with some encouragement," And I think I am not that bad of a company, you know?"
"Oh! Please don't think that way, I am enjoying myself! "Said reassuringly. " I think it's very sweet of you to spend some time with me rather than with your friends tonight".

Kagura blushed a little. "It's no problem. I think no one should spend their 20th birthday alone." He says while brushing his hair. Sarada always thought that Kagura was a good-looking guy and that he was the successor for the next Mizukage, made him very easy to connect with. Sarada and Kagura had developed a decent friendship over the years, but they never went together unofficially outside other than their professional environment.

" I think… that we have never really gone together… like this" Sarada said with a little patch of blush on her cheeks. Her voice trailed off. Looking at the blond silky hair made her wonder, Do all blonds are this attractive? Or is it just her luck? , This led her mind to think of the idiot and her idol. She was fairly attracted to the Hokage but his son was just … the eye candy of all the girls of their age group (She was no exception).

"Earth to Sarada-Chan, Did you hear what just I said," He said while poking her cheek. Sarada was startled and sheepishly apologized.

"Sorry! Again!" Sarada said while waving her hands in the air and making a sorry cuteface.
Looking at a startled Sarada, made Kagura blush even more, he had not seen such a cute side to a very serious and stoic woman. He always thought Sarada was beautiful and he always was very curious about her other expressions. Once, a very long time ago,when he was in Konoha for some business, he had seen how close Boruto was with Sarada. He always had his way with her; he could make her laugh, angry, excited and again a lot angry. He had always believed that Sarada and Boruto were dating until Sarada had made this misunderstanding clear. He was happy that his longtime crush was single. He finally had his chance to show his fun side to the brunette, and the timing was just perfect, a night just before her 20th birthday and no sign of Boruto.

"You know what! It's time for another round!" Kagura said with an unexpected enthusiasm." Another one please." requested the future Mizukage.

"Umm… Okay." Sarada wasn't fond of the drinks Kagura had been ordering. It did not feel right. This made her remember her previous birthday with a certain blond idiot. He always made the right choices when it comes to her. He knows about her more than anyone. Even Chocho and Sakura didn't know things that Boruto did. Sarada had her first drink on her last birthday with that idiot - Rice Whisky with soda. Her 19th birthday, if considered a success, was all because of him.
They had their last round and they were fairly drunk. They talked a little about work and then landed a topic Kagura didn't want talk about.
"Hahaha! Yeah-even Boruto would have loved that game! " She said with some excitement.
"Yeah…" Kagura was a little disappointed that she kept thinking of him even when he is not here.
"You don't know that how much he loves to play that stupid video game of his. Once I caught him playing that stupid game during a mission, I had to snatch it away… seriously he is still a child. He has always been one. He always gets on my nerves and he is such a big flirt. I have lost the count on how many fangirls just wait outside our apartment,just to SEE HIM! Argh, he makes me so mad. I wish he had more sense in him to keep the toilet seat clean while he takes a piss."
Sarada trialed off about ranting on Boruto and his antics, meanwhile Kagura had gone into a deep state of unrest. Hearing about Boruto and Sarada sharing an apartment made him feel uneasy, very uneasy.

"Aa… Sarada-Chan? You live with Boruto?" Kagura asked with a pinch of hurt.

"Oh, yeah we both shifted together last year as we both wanted to be independent and not rely on our parents. And we could share the rent together" said the Kunoichi nonchalantly.

"But don't you think that a man and a woman sharing an apartment gives the wrong the idea" asked Kagura carefully.

"Yeah maybe but, Chocho was already sharing her an apartment with Sumire and Mitsuki wanted to live alone for his research purposes…Boruto and I don't care what other people think, it always been like that for us… being judged because of out parents status ... and regardless of how hard I'm on that idiot, I trust him the most." Sarada trailed off saying that. She was now deep in her thoughts. Thinking how long they have come together. How they could fight together with blinds on and with the strongest of the enemies. Fighting and supporting each other beyond the fighting and bloodshed. They were the anchors to each other, but these feelings were all subconsciously embedded in both of them, deep within them. But talking with Kagura and comparing Boruto to Kagura, made her realize how important Boruto was to her. He always knew what was best for her. Even when she didn't know what was best for her.

On the other hand, Kagura also trailed off in his thoughts this time. Thinking about how close Boruto was with Sarada, and how they had special names for each other. It made him fume with jealousy Hmh, really "Idiot" What the hell? Why can't I get a special name? We have so much in common and still, she laughs remembering about that idiot. ARGH! No, calm down… I need to try harder.

"Umm Sarada-Chan… I know I have never said this to you, but I think that you have very beautiful…" Kagura said while being embarrassed.

"Sarada-Chan…. Sarada Chan… SARADA!" Kagura shouted enough to get Sarada's attention.

"Huh! Oh! Sorry hehe! I don't know what's happening to me!" Sarada was very sheepish and confused as to why was she thinking of that idiot when she was spending time with this handsome blond.

Kagura placed his hands on top of Sarada's,"No problem, I was saying that you have very beautiful eyes." Now Kagura was very stern with his answer.

"Thank you so much Kagura-kun," Said a blushing Sarada "I like your hair very much."

This surprised Kagura and blushed from the neck." Thank you Sarada-Chan"

"Umm, do you think that we can… you know have special names for each other" Kagura was very nervous by now.

"What special names?"

"Umm you know like you and Boruto have for each other" By now the Sarada slowly pulled her hands back on her laps. Kagura noticed the discomfort from Sarada and frowned.

"Oh, that! Well, I don't consider that a special name, it comes on its own, I just speak the truth! He is an idiot after all!"

"Haha! Yeah…But still, what would you call me?"

"Umm, what's wrong with Kagura kun? It's a nice name you know"

"Thanks, but I still think friends should have special names, like what does Boruto calls you, umm I can't remember…"

.

"Ah, Four Eyes" Sarada said with a little annoying voice.

"YEAH that, four eyes, I think that is a cute name"

"Hahaha, you think so? I think he gave me that name to mock me."

"Haha yeah but I think it's nice to be so… so open and carefree with each other."

"Hmm if you think like that then, yes it's nice to have special names."In between the talk, these two both had forgotten that there was a birthday they had to celebrate.

Kagura's eyes went onto the wall clock when he realized that he had prepared something special for Sarada – a boat ride under the star with champagne.

"Oh! It's about to be 12 in about an hour," Said Kagura, stopping the awkward silence.

"Oh yeah" Sarada wasn't expecting anything from Kagura for her birthday.

"Well, do you want to…" Kagura was about to ask her to come with him to the docks when he noticed the glasses trailing off to the tip of Sarada's nose. He moved his hand to slowly push the glasses back to its place. Their eyes met and this made Sarada blush and Kagura bushed even more after realizing what he had done. Kagura had never been this close to Sarada. They were leaning towards each other, close enough to even feel each other's breath, it was a very intimate moment for both of them.

Man, this is too close. I think this is the moment, I think I can I do this. Ok now or never. But, this is our first date, and I don't even know if this is a date… dammit I'm going for it. Kagura thought.

"If this is a staring contest, I would like to join in" a voice came from behind the sitting figures. They both turned to look at a man wearing a black hooded cloak with a sword at his back, very rugged look, like as if he has been traveling for a very long time. His ocean blues eyes had a tired look and he was holding a red rose in his hand.

"BORUTO", Sarada jumped out of excitement when she saw her best friend and jumped into his embrace. After two long months, she saw him. He was out on a mission traveling through many dimensions. He had taken steps to become more like his idol, Sarada's father - Sasuke. Even though she would not accept this in front of him, but she missed him a lot. His embrace gave her a warm feeling, which was lacking in her tonight. Her head perfectly fitted under the crook of his neck. She felt as if they were complete. Boruto brought his arm around her waist and whispered under her ear," Missed me?" This made Sarada blush from her neck. Boruto pulled his head away to look at her onyx eyes. Their eyes met and there it was, the longing to see each other for so long was all communicated through that glaze. Boruto pulled away his right hand from the embrace and poked her nose with the red rose. This made Sarada startle a bit and then she snatched the rose and pouted away from him.

"You have some guts coming all the way here," Sarada said with a strict voice." You can't abandon a mission for some trivial birthday".

"You know I didn't say that rose was for you," Sarada felt a little ashamed," and regarding the mission, I finished it earlier than expected." Said the blond shinobi.

Sarada turned around and motioned her hand to give the rose back. She didn't even look at him. Boruto flicked his fingers to use transportation jutsu and a huge bouquet of Sakura daffodils appeared in his left hand. "These are for you." Sarada took the bouquet and blushed even harder. Damn, he knows which flowers to get for me.

"And what about the rose" moving her hand to give the rose back to Boruto.

"That I got from some girl outside … hehe, I think it doesn't matter now" Boruto said sheepishly. Brushing his hand through his hair, revealing his blonde hair, which was under the black cloak.

"Idiot! Hmp" Sarada took both the rose and the daffodils and smelled them. Both were so soothing to her.

Meanwhile, Kagura saw the two best friends with absolute disappointment and jealousy. That idiot destroyed my moment and those flowers aren't even fresh either. No taste! Sarada-Chan deserves better!

"Um… I'm also here you guys." Kagura tries to get attention.

"Oh, Kagura! How's it going?"

"It's been great… until you came," Kagura said, saying the last part audible to himself only.

"Cool, anyways thanks for taking care of Sarada for me!" Boruto said with thumbs up.

"Yeah, no problem" Kagura replied. He felt as if a thousand kunai's had stabbed him at that very moment.

"Anyways, we are getting late Sarada! He is about to close his shop!" exclaimed the blond shinobi.

"What are you sayyyiiing…" Sarada was about to finish her sentence when Boruto pulled her out of the bar.

"What are you doing, you IDIOT?" Sarada was furious and confused where Boruto was taking her.

"Squids!" He said while running.

"What?!" She was very confused by now.

"We had our first squids at that shop! I want to relive that with you."

"Oh" Sarada blushed at the memory when it was the budding ages for their friendship. At that time she had a crush on him but, the times were tough, they had to fight a war, the way they lived their lives were at a risk. They did not have time to think about things like relationships. But now, they had time. She had the perfect moment to tell him what she felt for him.

To be continued

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