She met him at the tender age of ten, forming a bond slowly over the years but could love possibly form between a human and spirit?
A story based on the movie Light of a Firefly Forest, if you get the chance watch the movie its very good.
I don't own Naruto neither Light of a Firefly Forest but enjoy.
I'll Be Waiting
"Are you lost? Did your parents forget you too?" Her large green eyes glanced up to him from her crouched position, her tiny chubby hands cradling a swaying dandelion.
"Hn, I don't have parents," His voice held no emotion, his dark eyes glancing upward to the rustling leaves of the trees. "This forest is my home." The sound of crunching leaves drew his attention back to the small child, her large emerald eyes shimmering with confusion.
"What do you mean you don't have parents? Everybody has a To-chan and Okaa-san." Her pink brows furrowed as she crossed her tiny arms in mock confusion. The young girl looked no older than ten, her strawberry locks a curly frizzy mess atop of her head. His lips held a scowl, his hands deeply pocketed as he circled the child, taking in her tiny sundress smudged with dirt, her tiny knees marred with small cuts and bruises. Her gaze followed him, twisting her torso slightly to keep up with his movements.
"Humans don't usually come to this forest," His gaze met hers as he put distance between them, his back slouching against an aging oak tree. He crossed his legs at the ankles; his geta's sinking into the plush grass. "This is a resting pace for the spirits."
"A resting place?" Her arms lowered. "To-chan once told me about a pace the spirits dwell. The Forest God protects the spirits that have lost their way; in turn the spirits live in peace among each other." A cheeky grin lifted her dirt streaked face, lifting her arms in victory. "It's real!"
Her tiny legs pumped as she ran out to him, her arms outstretched. A loud crash echoed throughout the small forest, the small child wailing out in pain as she cradled her reddened face. A large red mark marred her forehead where she ran head first into the tree the boy had been slouched against, tears brimming the corners of her eyes.
"Spirits can't be touched," His head peeked from the side of the trunk. "We will disappear if we're touched." Her tiny hands rubbed furiously at the new bruise, wincing from the waves of pain vibrating through her skull.
"To-chan didn't mention that." She lightly muttered, blinking up through the pain as the spirit came back into view. His geta's slapped against the dried leaves, his pale skin appearing translucent beneath the sun's rays. His dark eyes, hooded by thick lashes, eyed her curiously, his hand rising to swipe the few leaves nestled within his dark locks. "What, I don't look like a spirit, do I?"
She shook her head as a small snicker escaped her lips. Her hands smoothed the wrinkles from her yellow dress as she tried to appear more presentable, her fingers combing through her rats nest of pink hair. He watched the small girl fret over the dirt smearing her cheeks, scoffing in disgust as she stuck her thumb in her mouth then abruptly jerking it out to smear over her cheeks. Eyeing her blackened thumb appreciatively, her doe eyes met his blank stare.
"What's your name? I'm Haruno Sakura."
"Why did your parents leave you?" He avoided her question, strolling in the direction of the open field, not waiting to see if she followed. The light sound of eaves crunching perked his ears, tilting his head to catch a glimpse of her rushing to catch his long strides.
"On the way to the market I lost sight of my To-chan," She hoped over the small rocks scattered along the small narrow trail they took. "He always said when I get lost; the Forest God will help me find my way back." The tip of her shiny shoe caught the edge of one of the smaller boulders, jolting her forward as her arms flailed to stop her fall. The spirit paused, his torso twisting as Sakura wobbled closer to him, her tiny legs staggering to catch her footing.
His brow cocked, his patience thinning as he side stepped the barreling child, watching her trip over her footing and ramming head first into another tree. "Why do you keep moving?" She whined, cringing as she tried to lift her aching head.
"If I touch you, I'll disappear," He crouched to her eye level, the other end of the narrow trail transparent through his lucid form. "Spirits are different from humans. How many times must I explain this to you baka?" Swiping the lingering tears from the brink of her eyes, she took in the spirit's appearance for the first time since they spoke.
His dark bangs framed a maturing pale face, his dark brows knitted together as those dark eyes held no emotion, as he watched her. His broad nose upturned at the tip, his full lips curling downward at the ends. A light flush settled over her tanned cheeks at how beautiful he was, her hands wringing together in a nervous manner. He seemed oblivious to her sudden change in demeanor, his gaze set on the small knot forming on her forehead.
His hand rose midway inching towards the reddened knot, halting abruptly as the sound of a twig snapping in the distance registered. He jerked his wander hand back, inclining his head in the direction the noise came from. "Your parents have come searching for you Sakura," He rose, silently seething at the curious part of him for almost touching a human. "You must go before the Forest God figures out more humans have entered this forest."
Sakura blinked in confusion, hastily pulling herself together to catch up with the fleeing spirit. His pace seemed fluid, almost as if her were gliding over the ground as he guided her back to the entrance point. Her large jade eyes watched him from behind, entranced by how well the setting sun shown over his dark spikes. A large fan, the top portion white the bottom portion red, stretched across the back of his wide collared shirt signifying his clan.
"This is as far as I go," His geta's faltered midway, his foot poised on the first descending stone stair. "Beyond these gates you will find your parents." Her gaze followed his down the molding stone stairwell, her small strides pausing as she reached him. Silenced stretched between them, almost deafening to the young child as her gaze found its way back to the handsome spirit beside her.
"Could I come back here?"
"Never come back here Sakura," His eyes never met hers, the sound of the human world just a few meters below prickling his ears. "Not all spirits are like me." Her gaze fell, her grin faltering as she slowly began descending the stairs. She could feel his eyes burning a hole through her, resisting the urge to glance over her shoulder to see him once more.
"Sakura," His child-like voice rang over the bustling of the small forest. Said girl jolted to a stop, catching her footing briefly as her head whipped back in his direction. "It's Sasuke, Uchiha Sasuke." A dark flush tinted her cheeks as a wide grin split her chubby face. The spirit grunted lowly before slumping back into the dwelling of the once lost spirits. Her hand clutched at her heart, the organ beating wildly against her rib cage as she tried to regain her hitched breathing.
"Sasuke-kun," She bounded down the remaining stone stairs giddily. The spirits name whispered throughout every cell of her being, his handsome scowling face imprinted within her mind.
9 years later.
Sakura hastily tied the ends of the handkerchief, securing both ends as she strode out of the kitchen almost knocking over her mother. "Ah sorry mother, I'm in a hurry." She steadied the elder woman with her free hand. The woman teetered slightly as her hands grasped her daughters face, her wrinkling fingers weaving through the long curly salmon mane.
"I'm sure your friend could wait a few minutes dear," Her mother began fidgeting with Sakura's attire much to her protests. "Your clothes will get wrinkled if you don't wear them properly. I don't want you out too late this time that forest isn't safe. You could very well get lost again."
"I know mother," She groaned trying to weasel from her mothers' primping. "I won't be out for long, I promise." He mothers' fingers paused form musing her daughters' naturally curly pink mane, a smile curling her aging face. Releasing Sakura, her hands folded over hear heart, her emerald eyes taking in her matured daughter.
"Be careful dear," She stood to the doorway, watching as Sakura slipped her shoes on before bounding out the door waving energetically. "Forest God, protect my cherry blossom."
Sakura's fast pace faltered at the bus station, her fingers nervously combing through her strawberry curls as she released the bas she was carrying. Settling onto the empty bench, trying to catch her breath as her eyes scanned the empty road for the bus. "I guess I missed the first one." A small groan vibrated along her throat as she tried to relax, a grin lacing her pink lips as her eyes inclined to the clear sky. Clouds drifted through the multiple blends of blue, calming the inner turmoil flustering her.
Today would mark a new year she would get to see the spirit that captured her heart nine years ago. Uchiha Sasuke. She inwardly shuddered in delight at the thought of being in close proximity of the brooding spirit once again. An amused giggle bubbled along her lips, her mind jogging fondly back to the time she spent with the stoic spirit last year when she taught him how to fish. She could almost perfectly vision how adorable he looked curiously watching as she showed him how to string bait along the hook.
In the short years she had known the silent Uchiha, she never once saw any sort of expression from the pale man, captivated by the way his dark eyes lit with interest. A boyish grin held his mouth once he mastered fishing, holding his first catch at arm's length, his eyes held true excitement. Granted, the fish wasn't large enough to be boasting worthy but the look on his face made her heart soar.
Tires slapping against the road caught her attention, her eyes peeling from the sky to the charter bus dragging to a stop. Leaning forward to retrieve her bags, she rose to catch the bus.
Reaching the halfway point between the bustling human world and the forest of spirits, Sakura's eyes brightened at the sight of the paling spirit perched onto the last mold stone stair. "Ah Sasuke-kun," She waved animatedly, a cheery smile tainting her full lips. Rushing up the few stairs distancing them, she hastily removed the few bags bundled in her arms.
"Yo," He rose, slightly taller than her as he spun on his heels beginning his stroll through the sacred forest. "How long do we have this year?" Inclining his head in her direction, his step faltered. Sakura stood in the same spot he left her which was unusual for her, her sparkling jade eyes focused on his translucent form. From the time they met when she was ten up until now he hadn't aged at all physically. "Ne, Sakura come on."
Shaking from her trance, she reached for her bags once more before bounding behind him. The many Kodama trailed after them, cracking their heads loudly. Her eyes scanned the canopies, noticing the different spirits watching her, their eyes warning her not to get too close to their Sasuke.
"You mustn't touch Sasuke human," One of the spirits whispered, backing further into the shadows of the leaves. "Never touch him." Sasuke shrugged from the spirits that began to gather around them, grunting lowly urging Sakura to continue walking.
"Sakura's a good human, there's nothing to worry about Akateko." A large red hand swung from the low branch, beady eyes glaring down to the young spirit Sasuke, unfazed from the stare down, held a protective arm out in front of the young Sakura. "Heed my warning human, we all live in peace. Do not take Sasuke from us."
"She means me no harm," Sasuke's eyes rose to the other spirits hidden within the leaves. "She means you all no harm." He stood firm to his word, his emotionless onyx eyes rivaling the beady eyes of the tree spirit. Akateko relented, swinging from branch to branch back into the canopies. The young girl rushed to his side, her arms outstretched as a smile laced her mouth.
He tried to swiftly dodge her incoming embrace, tripping over his own two feet as his hand sank into the earth to try to steady himself. The small girl hesitated to a stop, her slender pink brow cocking as she eyed the sulking spirit on all fours curiously. His shorts were smudged with dirt and grass stains at the knees once he regained his footing, scoffing as the girl giggled at his appearance. "Didn't I already say don't touch me," His hand rose as he snapped a rather large twig from a nearing branch. "Do you want me to disappear?"
"No," He whacked the back of her head with the stick, watching in amusement as she hunched over cradling her tender head. "Ouch Sasuke-kun! You're not supposed to hit a child." He discarded the snapped twig in a careless manner, his hands slipping into his pockets as he trekked towards the familiar trail they usually took.
Sakura snickered at the memory, gaining the brooding spirit's attention. His geta's halted as he twisted his torso to face her. "What's so funny?"
Her face flushed under his scrutiny, fumbling with all the bags cluttering in her arms. "Nothing, I was just thinking about the spirits that you share this forest with." His expression didn't change, not even cracking a smile as his gaze lowered to the bundle in her arms she was struggling with. Outstretching his hand, he turned his face away as a light pink hue tinted his pale cheeks.
"Give me those."
"W-What?" She looked at him with a dumbfound expression, her entire face flushing as her eyes cut down to his outstretched hand. The large hand glittered beneath the sun, the plush grass clearly visible through his lucid hand. Jutting out his chin defiantly, the spirit said nothing as he motioned his hand towards the bags once more.
"Oh," Stripping a few bags from her weary arms, she cautiously handed them over. "You really don't—"
"Shut up." He interrupted, snatching the bags from her to peek its contents. Her cheeks puffed up in anger, her brows furrowing as her free hand balled into a fist. If he sensed her anger he didn't let on, his eyes widening slightly as he pulled the tied bentos from one of the bags. His fingers worked at prying the small knot loose, that ever present scowl deepening on his lips.
"Sasuke-kun—" The knotted bentos were shoved rather roughly under her nose, stopping whatever she was getting ready to say. His eyes stubbornly urged her to untie the handkerchief, that pink tint returning to his pale cheeks.
A cheeky grin held her lips, discarding the rest of the bags onto a nearby boulder before drawing her attention back to the bentos. "It wouldn't hurt to say please."
"Hn," Plopping onto one of the few black stones aligning the small stream, he waited her rather grudgingly for her to finish. Loosening the knot, she handed him one of the bentos as she settled down with hers. Breaking apart her chopsticks, she was oblivious to the confused spirit eyeing the Shogayaki, Kinpira Goba and steamed rice oddly. His chopsticks poked at the carrots cut over the rice, blank eyes scaling Sakura as she wolfed down her meal.
"What is this?"
"Lunch—" She swallowed the food clogging her throat. "It isn't the rice balls my Okaa-san normally makes for you. I wanted to cook something different for you Sasuke-kun." A hot flush rose along the nape of her neck as she averted her gaze from his. Picking up one of the few pork slices with his chopsticks, he drew the dripping slice of meat to his lips as he chewed it thoroughly soon swallowing. He waited for a pang of disgust to sweep over his taste buds but none came, slightly surprising the stoic spirit.
"It's delicious Sakura-chan."
She fumbled with her flask, a dark flush spilling over her cheeks as her heart thundered against her chest. His voice sounded sincere as he munched the food she prepared herself greedily. "Thank you Sasuke-kun,"
Her fingers twitched against the cool surface of the flask, wanting more than anything to be able to touch him.
A/n: Alright I thought I'd try something new this time and finally write a Sasuke/Sakura story since I normally don't write a story of them two together. Like I said at the top, this is based on Light of a Firefly Forest and I don't own anything. I would like to have more reviews than I ever had on stories so please, please, pleaseeeeeeeeee review this story. But anyways, enjoy :)