It's Spring! (Well almost...) and everyone knows that flowers are born in spring! Hence, a new 'flower' is born!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or the movie Virgin Snow.

-Edit 3/29-


Title: Cherry Blossom Promise

Genre: Romance/Drama/Slice of Life

Time Period: AU/Modern Day

Summary: The fact that her father chose to send her to a new high school because of their sudden transfer didn't bug her at all. What bugged Ino Yamanaka was that he sent her there regardless of the fact that he knew she didn't speak nor understand the language. So how exactly is she supposed to fit in? Surely not by falling in love with the social outcast in the school.


Prologue: Where all stories unfold…

The cherry blossoms reflect in the window of the train

In my heart

I hear your voice

"Oi! Woman! You're too loud!"

A head full of cascading platinum blonde hair turned, the owner of said hair glaring daggers at the raven haired boy.

"Stop calling me 'woman' damn you! I have a name!"

A round of laughter was heard from behind and the blonde turned to glare at her so called comrades. A girl with shoulder length azure hair giggled and unfolded a large blanket, shaking it out to get rid of the wrinkles. The boy wearing sunglasses standing next to her grabbed onto the other end of the blanket and helped her set it down underneath the Sakura tree. Another boy with dark brunette hair decided to help the girl whilst giving the 'bug freak', as he called him often, dark glares.

Off to the side a 'big boned', as he would correct other people on, boy with short spiked tawny hair chuckled and unpacked the rest of the food in the picnic basket.

Taking a secretive peek from the corner of her eye the blonde watched the lazy boy rub his neck and mumble words of regret when his friend called him over to help. When his eyes caught hers he immediately gave her a questioning look, cocking his brow skywards. In return she simply stuck out her tongue and turned to face the sky, dismissing the boy's scowl.

Watching the falling petals she closed her eyes and smiled, a small blush radiating her cheeks…

BING BONG.

"Attention passengers, we have now reached Matsue station. Please take all your belongings and exit through the left doors. I repeat, we have now reached--"

"Excuse me Miss?" A light voice floated amongst the seemingly empty train. When the young woman did not respond he tried again.

"Miss?"

Cerulean eyes blinked in surprise and averted from the breathtaking view outside the train window. The passenger gently lifted her head to meet the man's gaze. She blinked at him in confusion, sitting up quietly.

"This your stop miss?" he asked and gestured towards the sign outside the train.

The blonde quickly turned her head towards his hands direction and she read the small blue sign hanging from the ticket vendor's window. Hurriedly getting out of her seat she grabbed her bag which had fallen on the floor during the long train ride. Dusting off the bag she thanked the man with a warm smile before making her way off the train.

Stepping outside the air conditioned transporter a light breeze gently slid its delicate fingers across her cheeks. Taking in the sweet smell of the nearby flora she was hit with a sudden wave of nostalgia. Had it really been four years? It only felt like yesterday when she had been recognized as the 'gaijin' of Matsue. Taking a light step onto the pavement Ino made her way out of the small train station.

This place really hasn't changed much…

A soft sigh of relief escaped her lips and a smile knitted its way into her pale features making her face illuminate with a bright radiance. Shifting the strap of her messenger bag she drank in the peaceful scenery and was once again greeted with déja vu. Another breeze began to pick up and Ino tucked a stray wisp of hair behind her ear quietly. The rustling of leaves sounded from all around and Ino continued her way down the familiar street.

Her pace immediately halted when another small breeze came in from another direction. Small pink petals had been swept away with the wind and were now carelessly falling on the pavement as if it was the first snow fall. Ino's eyes softened at the scene and she held her hand out to try and catch a few petals.

The cherry blossoms fall, fluttering down

Embracing every bit of my flickering love

Even now, I'm dreaming the dream I wished for with you that spring

Letting the wind play with her hair Ino closed her eyes and tilted her head towards the shining sky. Feeling a light sweep across her palm she gently closed her fist.

The cherry blossoms scatter…

Opening her eyes she lowered her gaze to examine her closed fist. A sad smile appeared on her face and she slowly opened her hand, revealing the emptiness that she had tried so hard to etch out of her mind for the past years she had been gone. Clenching her fist she continued to take her stroll down the street, her eyes carefully noting the convenience store on her right, the post office on her left.

Ino began to hum a small tune, telling herself that she was going to be fine and there was nothing to worry about. The waves of nostalgia seemed to hit her every time she passed a familiar area. Bringing her eyes towards the ground she sighed. It didn't help that she was already familiar with the whole town.

Her eyes hardened when she spotted a wooden bridge stretched across a small canal. The place beyond that bridge was the last spot she wanted to see. Ignoring the bridge to her left she quickened her pace, her hand clutching the strap of her bag in a deathly grip.

She passed the bridge hurriedly, ignoring the flood of memories she had vowed to keep locked in the back of her mind ever since she left Japan. A large gust of wind blew in from her left leaving her blonde tresses to tango expertly with the breeze. Ino watched in a trance as a swarm of sakura petals twirled and glided along the air stream, fluttering aimlessly until they hit the ground.

As if by reflex she brought her gaze across the canal and she spotted the field of sakura trees gently blowing in the wind. A sudden wave of melancholic nostalgia came rushing into her and she clutched her chest instinctively.

Turning away to leave she froze when a sudden pair of eyes caught hers.

Her voice instantly disappeared and her breath hitched in the back of her throat. Her lips began to feel chapped and she stared at the person with wide eyes as if she had had all the wind knocked out of her.

Shika…maru…

His face remained blank of any emotion but she could tell that he was surprised by her sudden appearance. She closed her eyes and evened out her breathing. The vision of him standing there had triggered another past memory of hers. She recalled how the two had promenaded on these grounds so long ago and how he stood underneath that same exact tree he was standing under now. She remembered every detail about that day. What he was wearing, what they ate, how he smiled at her when standing under that same tree. A slight prickling sensation began to develop in the corner of her eyes and she forced them back from where they came from.

She knew that if she were still her seventeen year old self she would have chosen this very moment to run away. Running was always the easiest solution out of a problem for her. But now….with him standing there she couldn't bring herself to do it. She was an adult now and she couldn't afford to act cowardly and childish anymore….

Ignoring the flurries of petals she fixed her eyes on him and voiced out what they had both been thinking at that very same moment.

"We need to talk"

The cherry blossoms fall, fluttering down

Embracing every bit of my flickering love

Those days I dreamed of on that distant spring day

Disappear in the sky


Tsuzuku...


Ugya! Intense! This scene won't continue until later on in the story though. Sorry! The next chapter will start where Ino first moves to Japan.

Lyrics brought to you by Ikimono Gakari from their song Sakura. It's a sad song that amazingly fits this story (almost) perfectly. Youtube it! It's a very good song!