S . t . a . r . d . u . s . t
Part 1
Leaning over, she peered at her reflection in the water. She faintly wondered if and how she could turn back time; back to the time of team seven. Even though those genin days were not perfect, she wanted it with every fiber of her being. After Sasuke had deserted the village, Sakura pushed away the girl inside her that could only cry and do nothing on that fateful night. That was then, this was now. Sakura Haruno had grown into a beautiful woman, who's grace and elegance were known through out the five great nations. Not only was her beauty legendary, but her skills as a medical ninja.
Suddenly, for no apparent reason, the thought of Kakashi entered her head. Sakura's lips drew into a small smile as she reached up and clasped one of the three charms on her necklace; it was of a wolf. Fighting back a tear, she stared hard into the water. Kakashi was hailed as a hero when he died fighting Madara Uchiha. Ironic, isn't it? He spent most of his rainy days there, staring at the etchings of lost souls. Now his name was added to the Hero's Monument, right beside Obito Uchiha and next to Rin; his original teammates.
If you be my star
I'll be your sky
The evening shadows drew long marks against Konoha's Great Faces. It was time to head home. Pushing off her elbows, she started down the dusty road; alone. As she returned home, she walked up the stone steps swiftly; only to pause slightly at the door. The smile that was once upon her face was now gone.
"I'm home.." She whispered, knowing no one would answer her. She twisted the knob, the door opened with a slight creak. Quietly she entered and closed the door with a soft click.
Unfortunately for Sakura, her parents were killed in a blast while Madara and those allied with him attacked the village. Sighing, she unstrapped her pouch and extra skirt, laying them on the nearest table; among the many textbooks and scrolls. Making herself some tea, she sat at the table, intent on reading the latest medical scroll from Suna. Pouring herself a steaming cup, she brought it to her lips, only to pause. A dusty Icha Icha Paradise book sat among the piles that have been read, but never had gotten put away. Again memories assaulted her five senses of when team seven was one.
Leaning over the textbooks, she picked up and dusted off the porn novel. Opening the book, she could feel the brittle pages almost break in her firm hold. Briefly a flash of Kakashi entered her mind; he was reading the book and giggling. Sakura closed her eyes and snorted with laughter. The happiness was short lived and she carefully closed the book.
you can hide underneath me and come out at night
when I turn jet black and you show off your light
Holding the book close, she climbed the stairs to her bedroom. A slight breeze blew in from her open window as the full pale moonlight penetrated the walls and floor. She sat down on the edge of her bed, again staring at the book; lost in memories.
THUCK!
Startled, she was pulled out of her reminiscing to see the picture frame of team seven had been blown over and laid face down. Placing the book next to the picture, she righted the frame with extra care and almost cried out when she saw a thin piece of broken glass; stretching over the middle of the photo. A sign of a bad omen. Swallowing hard, she placed her thumb over the pane of glass, tracing the broken edges. Broken and shattered; just like her life. Many times she contemplated taking her own life… but…
I live to let you shine
I live to let you
S . h . i . n . e
She had to go on living, for all of them.
Sakura would never forget the day when Kakashi fell. It was so alive and vivid in her mind. Sakura's hands started to shake slightly, as the mental stress started to eat away at her mind, trying to block those bloody and gruesome thoughts out of her head. They came rushing up with a vengeance regardless of how hard she tried to stop it.
Blood stained hands.
Blood stained clothes.
Try to stop the bleeding.
Tick. Tock. On the clock…
World's spinning… spinning…
…Down into the black abyss.
but you can skyrocket away from me
and never come back if you find another galaxy
far from here with more room to fly
just leave me your stardust to remember you by
Sakura awoke from passing out, grasping her head gently. Reaching for the pill bottles on the nightstand, she took a few. Breathing slowly and with big gaps of air swelling her lungs, she felt better; for the moment anyway. Reaching blindly, she found the frame, which had found it's way onto the bed when she collapsed, and gently extracted the picture. A single tear slipped down her cheek and landed on the photograph. She quickly wiped it away, for fear it would smear or disfigure the perfect image of her past life with ugly blotches. Sakura placed the precious object within the folds of Icha Icha Paradise.
Part 2
The sea caressed her tired feet. She had made it to the place she said her everlasting farewell. Watching the waves rush in and out, she breathed in deeply; it had a calming effect. The salty spray assaulted her pretty face as she smiled and lifted her arms. In that moment, she felt free. The necklace about her jangled in the breeze blowing in, she grasped the charms to steady the chain. This time her fingers drew around the hawk. Regret gripped her heart in a blinding fashion, but overwhelming love and understanding made those emotions wash out with the tide.
"Sasuke…" She whispered to the wind.
Closing her eyes, an image appeared in her mind. She stood over the great Uchiha, having beaten him after she chased him from the battlements of Konoha. Panting slightly in exertion, she leaned over him. Grasping his collar, she reared her hand back to give him the final blow and stopped. Releasing her grip, feeling like all her strength fled her, she plopped down onto the sand. Sasuke just laid next to her, gazing up at the clear blue sky. Both listened to the waves crashing on the rocks and the hush of the salty water as it rushed upon shore.
if you be my boat
I'll be your sea
"Sasuke.."
His jet black eyes slowly turned to his fallen enemy.
"I want you to live, but not like this. Be happy, have a family." She croaked out those last words, knowing they were never meant to be together.
"….a-annoy-ing.." He wheezed out with a smirk and turned his head to the sea.
She smiled and closed her eyes for a brief second, saving this precious memory.
"You have destroyed Konoha, but the five great nations will be after you…" After Sakura had learned what the Elders had done, her love for her village waned; since her love of Sasuke Uchiha outshined her duty as a ninja.
"Go on…" She whispered, "Go. I'll tell everyone you died, that I killed you. Live… and be free."
a depth of pure blue just to probe curiosity
ebbing and flowing and pushed by a breeze
After a few moments of silence, he grunted.
Sasuke sat up with a grimace. He gazed longingly at his ex-teammate before stumbling onto his feet. Sasuke tossed his sword next to Sakura and nodded. He solemnly promised to give up this life of darkness in trade for a new life.
"Farewell… Sakura." His words were real.
As he turned to leave, he saw a tear streak down her beautiful face. Sakura managed to limp back to Konoha and tell her story. She didn't shed a tear, only a hardened resolve was found in her eyes. That was the day she found closure; she had saved him from his destructive path.
Sakura gazed out into the horizon, shielding her face from the harmful sun rays. It had been five long years since that day, yet she faithfully came to this spot every year, on that day. She had lied to her comrades, to the five great nations; all to save her beloved.
I live to make you free
I live to make you
F . r . e . e
She walked down the beach, letting the waves that came rushing in cover her feet with lukewarm water. She giggled softly as she watched the small crabs and clams scurry about the sand. A cry of a bird made her divert her attention skyward to see a lone hawk fly high above the beach, near the cliffs. Extending her arms up and with both hands, she cupped the bird imaginarily in her finger tips. She pursed her lips, always out of reach. Why was love always so elusive? The bird changed it's course, turning west due to riding the warm thermals.
Following the bird for a mile down the beach, it finally got out of her sight and made her stop in her tracks. The pink tresses danced about her head as the sun set behind her.
but you can set sail to the west if you want to
and past the horizon till I can't even see you
far from here, where the beaches are wide
just leave me your wake to remember you by
Sakura knew, her feelings for Sasuke would never change.
She twirled in a fast fashion and into the surf she went. Floating on her back, she gazed up at the white clouds that were coming in. The ocean supported her supple body with a gentle caress of up and downward motions. Faintly an outline of a bird appeared through the cloud cover and trekked across her vision.
A small smile graced her lips.
"I love you…. Sasuke."
Part 3
"Naruto!" Sakura said while gathering him up into a hug.
The hokage laughed as his old teammate hugged him.
"Good to see you Sakura-chan. How is my Hinata doing?" A look of sadness crossed the kunoichi's features, before a smile upturned her lips.
"She's fine, and you're baby boy will be due soon."
Naruto grinned, his blue eyes blazing with happiness.
For a moment, it stole her breath. If only she could bottle that happiness and save it for herself. Sakura turned to see Hinata waddling down the path as Naruto passed her quickly greeted his lover with a passionate kiss. He had recently returned on a trip from Suna; talking to Gaara about the next ninja exams. Sakura was happy for the couple, but a lingering sadness filled her heart. She loved Sasuke and he promised to start a new life. A life without her and Naruto. Sakura did not tell Naruto of the deal she made with Sasuke. For she knew if she did, Naruto would have never stopped chasing his best friend.
If you be my star
I'll be your
S . k . y
"Ne, Sakura-chan, want to get some ramen with us?" Naruto's arm was wrapped around Hinata's waist.
Pulled out of her reminiscing, she smiled once again, "Sure."
After dinner with Naruto and his wife, she was walking home by herself; a puff of steam escaped her lips. Konoha was changing it's season, and it would be winter soon. She didn't mind the cold, but she couldn't stop staring at the full moon that hung in the dark light blue sky. The clouds were rolling in once more as she quickened her steps towards home. She needed to be prepared for the ninja exams tomorrow. Not that she needed to take the exams, no. Sakura needed to prepare her weapons, seals, and medicine to protect Naruto. She had become the Hokage's first assistant and right-hand. It was her duty to protect him at all costs.
Once again, her attention drew to the full moon.
She remembered that night, when Sasuke locked her out of his heart for good. Intense sadness and despair gripped her for a moment, before she managed to push it down. Shaking her head, she broke out of her morbid thoughts.
"I seriously need to stop thinking about him." She whispered and with shaky fingers, she unlocked the door to her house.
you can hide underneath me and come out at night
when I turn jet black and you show off your light
"Welcome everyone!" Naruto's big voice boomed from the Hokage's box that loomed over the large stadium. Hinata smiled lovingly at her husband, while sitting in a chair behind him. She had a protective hand over their unborn infant son who was due in the first few weeks of February. The crowded roared in approval while Naruto gave the introductory speech before settling down next to Hinata. Sakura stood solemnly behind the chair, always by his side. This was her life now, her duty.
"Ne, Sakura-chan, are you ok?" His blue eyes searching her own.
"I'm fine Naruto." Her monotone reply made Naruto pause for a moment.
"Brings back memories, doesn't it? Heh, I remember they tried to fail Sasuke, but they made an exception." Naruto's eyes drew back to the stadium and grew distant and wistful.
Suddenly she had an urge to tell Naruto that Sasuke was still alive, that everything was a farce… that he was still alive; out there somewhere. Swallowing, she diverted her green eyes downward, and ignored another round of cheers and roars from the crowd as the first match began.
I live to let you shine
I live to let you
S . h . i . n . e
The end…?
A/N: I just had this urge to write this short story, a kind of memoirs from Sakura's view. I wanted it to be sad/melodramatic. I also wanted to portray Sakura's relationship with team seven (excluding Sai), if dark times does come upon Konoha, and the aftermath. Lyrics used: Boats And Birds by Gregory And The Hawk.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.