Like A Film
Chapter One:
Blank
It was raining when she met him.
--
"Shikamaru, we're going to be so unbelievably late, and I'm going to beat the person driving this car with my bag!" Ino screeched into his ear, her fist waving angrily in her strapless lavender gown, small sequins lining the bottom with black pumps and a fashionable patent leather skinny belt wrapped around her waist. Her hair was long and curled around the bottoms, giving her a feminine look to match her soft makeup. Her mentioned bag was a simple black clutch, with a dark purple ribbon tied on the middle.
The brown-haired pineapple head simply let out a grumble as his grip on the steering wheel tightened. He then grew bored and simply opted for staring out the windshield and into a black Mercedes that was also attempting to steer its way through the traffic.
He watched with apathetic intensity as the rest of the cars attempted to merge, and the blond, spiky-haired driver of the Mercedes turned-with probably the same boredom-to the right to take in the sight of the Metropolitan.
The blonde male's shoulders tensed and Shikamaru saw it immediately. He turned in the same direction and could barely comprehend anything as his brown eyes traveled from the imense building and the dwarfed people, to the tall man that stood atop the museum, arms outstretched, nearly reaching the edge.
From the backseat of his navy Wrangler, Sakura's scream seemed to echo through his mind.
"HE'S GOING TO JUMP!"
--
Sakura had always been beautiful, Ino thought to herself. When she was even just a bud-as Ino liked to say-Sakura had been beautiful.
The blond would never admit it, but she had been jealous of her pink-haired friend ever since they met in the Sacred Heart Academy, and told her that she had to become independent and strong to truly blossom. Sakura believed her.
Ino could only feel happy to see the pink-haired beauty prosper and bloom into a beautiful flower.
The day Sakura had stood up for her was when she bloomed.
Two young girls, about twelve, sat in a field covered in beautiful flowers, all of different color, shape and size. The girls smiled and laughed as they picked them carefully, placing them into woven baskets, the sun shining bright on their pale skin.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the whore and forehead girl. What are you ugly losers doing here with flowers in your hair? Trying to look pretty, hm?"
The blond and the rosette froze, glancing up at the intruders.
"A-ah. Ohaiyo,...
...Tenten."
"Whatever. I just have one thing to tell you, Sakura. Stay away from Neji. Got it? He's mine."
Ino inhaled sharply as Sakura cowered next to her.
"But, but...Neji's my friend! Why do you want me to stay away from him?"
The bun-haired girl narrowed her chocolate brown eyes and glared daggers at Sakura.
"Because he's MINE!"
"Neji isn't something to own!" Sakura shouted indignantly, her hands balled together in front of her chest as she sat up.
"If you know what's good for you, Sa-ku-ra, you'll stay away from Neji." She ordered, picking Sakura up in the air by her shirt collar.
"Put her down! You can't tell her what to do!" Ino shouted at the older girl, standing up with his fists clenched at her side.
Tenten sneered at her, releasing Sakura and crossing her arms, the two girls behind her copying the movement.
"Oh, yeah? And what are you going to do about it, pig?"
Sakura snapped.
"HEY!" The pink-haired girl shouted, jumping-(though slightly stumbling)- to her feet in a nervous but angered flourish of flowers.
"No one-" She seethed, "And I mean no one calls Ino a pig-" She pulled her fist back. "-Except ME!" And then she punched her.
Tenten clutched at her nose, the pain coursing through her nasal cavity and into her veins.
"And never tell me to stay away from Neji!"
On that day, Tenten ran away with one hell of a bloody nose.
--
That girl was beautiful.
He didn't know who she was, but all he could say was that she was beautiful.
Long, cascading pink tresses. Bright emerald eyes. Soft, ivory skin. It was like a perfect painting, but now she was running.
He didn't have long to react until he saw the passenger door of the jeep Wrangler behind him open, and then a flash of pink was all he saw.
Now he had to save that stupid, suicidal teme.
After all, it was his wedding night.
--
Organ music played methodically, a blushing bride heading towards her future husband who stood waiting at the front of the aisle in a black tuxedo and curious black hat covering his face much like her veil did to hers.
The large crowd of people-the bride's family on one side and the groom's on the other-were whispering and commenting on the bride.
"She's so beautiful..."
"I bet she's so excited to be getting married in this gorgeous cathedral!"
"Oh, I hope she and our son have a wonderful life together."
"They better, I had to miss the gala for this wedding."
A giggle.
"Oh, Itachi. You're such a kidder."
A grunt.
"Whatever."
And the last whisper of gossip.
"Where's her sister?"
"Tell Sai to take my place tonight, Naruto. I've got a place to be."
--
The bride's red-headed father was linked by arm to her, leading her towards the altar.
She finally stepped up, her bright red hair revealed, long and straight on one side, and short and curly on the other as the groom removed the veil from her face. He looked up to stare into her black eyes, the hat that was once obscuring the view of his face moving to reveal a pale face with a wide, fake smile.
"Konnichiwa, Karin."
A high-pitched scream echoed throughout the dimly-lit Cathedral, breaking the silence.
"SAI!?"
"Teme, I can't do that. Not this time. This time it's your wedding."
--
I hate weddings. Even if it's my own.
They make me feel as if I have to be happy about something. What is there to be happy about? At another person's wedding, it's not like I'm marrying someone. And at my own...well, it's not as if I loved Karin.
I saw a flash of pink but ignored it, probably just a woman (or man) wearing something in such a color.
I opened my arms out wide and stepped forward a little bit, nearing the edge of the Metropolitan Museum's roof.
I'd rather die than marry for money.
And with that, I jumped off.
"I don't care, Naruto. You don't have to go to the wedding, just tell Sai to be there. He'll know why."
--
"HE'S GOING TO JUMP!" Sakura shouted.
She pratically ripped the seat in front of her out of the car, pushing the passenger door open and running-with difficulty-towards the spot where the man was about to jump.
He spread his arms and jumped, Sakura screaming as she chased him down to his falling point, ignoring the fact that one of the heels on her gold sandal-heels broke. She hobbled towards him, skidding on her knees that were painfully protected by her long, cap-sleeved pale green gown. A floral pattern of gold and very light pink cherry blossoms decorated the spots around her waist and towards the chest-cut of the dress. A very thick, golden silk sash was tied in a large ribbon that sat on her back.
The mystery man continued to fall until he hit her arms. He had obviously passed out during the fall, since he made no movements at all.
Sakura hoped he wasn't dead as she attempted to lift him with her own strength. The rain poured down, ruining the waves she had put into her hair, along with the ties and clips that put it into a classic pony-tail up-do.
It soaked his beautiful face, his dark, spiky hair sticking to it. It soaked his tuxedo. It soaked them both down to the core.
She whispered quietly into his ear.
"Watashi wa...Haruno Sakura desu."
"Sasuke, you stupid bastard. Why are you doing this? No matter how much of a bitch she can be, Karin doesn't deserve to be ditched like that."
--
Naruto was shocked, staring at the scene before him. The teme had just been freaking caught from his death by-
"HOLY SHIT THAT'S-THAT'S-!"
"I can't marry her, Naruto. I don't love her-"
--
"SAKURA!"
Ino popped open her ombre umbrella, the light and dark blues swirling together in the rain. She held it over her head and stumbled towards the two in her very high shoes.
"Sakura! How could you do something so stupid!? Are you okay? Is he okay? Who is he? OH MY GOD THAT'S UCHIHA SASUKE!"
Sakura turned sharply towards Ino. "Uchiha Sasuke?"
Her platinum blond friend nodded, causing Sakura to look back down at his face.
"What's wrong?" Ino asked.
She stood up, the heavy weight of the Uchiha not phasing her at all.
"Sakura...?"
"If this is Uchiha Sasuke, then what is he doing here?" Sakura asked, a sudden fierceness entering her voice.
"What do you mean?"
Sakura's bangs shaded her eyes as she lowered her head.
"On this very day, six pm tonight, Uchiha Sasuke is to be married at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in this very city."
Ino tilted her head to the side, curiosity washing over her features. "Sakura...how do you know this?"
Her friend looked up, a betrayed look on her pale face. "Because he's supposed to be marrying my sister."
"-You know that."
Translations:
Watashi wa Haruno Sakura desu. My name is Haruno Sakura.
Teme. Bastard.
Konnichiwa. Hello/Good Afternoon.