Keep Holding On
XxX
Hello, again!
XxX
Disclaimer: I don't have an anime to my name!
I walked through the gates with the sun beating down hotly on my back. I smiled and waved at Genma, who was currently working at the gate. He didn't usually work there but on occasions he would. He winked at me and I rolled my eyes at him. Genma may be a bit of a flirt...okay a HUGE flirt, but, he was a nice guy. I made my way down the streets of Konoha and headed towards the hokage tower. I smiled at a group of kids that were playing ball at the play ground.
In a sudden burst of happiness I leapt giddily on a nearby roof and began to race against my shadow, laughing at how I kept well ahead of it! When I stopped outside of Tsunade's office I did a 'in your face' dance at my shadow, which in return immaturely imitated me. I stuck my tongue out at it and turned toward the open window. I smiled seeing the tired form of Tsunade that was lightly snoring.
I hefted myself over the ledge of the window and landed lightly on the floor of my teachers office. I quietly made my way towards her and groaned. Why? Because Tsunade wasn't tired...no she was smashed. "Aw, come on." I said, exasperated. I sighed at my teacher's hopeless-ness and took a blank scroll off of her desk and began to file a report on my mission. It was basically me babysitting a head of a village because he suspected he was being targeted by bandits...for 5 strait months. Real waste of time. Though I did enjoy the super soft bed, clean clothes, long hot showers, and amazing gourmet food. So it wasn't that bad.
When I finished, I fished a bottle (AN:hard time spelling that! _') of painkillers out of my backpack and set it on her next to a note that said,
" Tsunade,
stop getting drunk or I won't help with paperwork anymore.
P.S. The report is on you desk or your drool washed it onto the floor!
Your Beloved Student,
Sakura."
I nodded happily and placed a whisper of a kiss on the top of her head and giggled as she made a unconscious swipe at me. I gave her a final glance and jumped out of the window. I looked out at the village. God knows how much I love this place. That I'd do anything for it. I smiled and dropped gently to the ground. I turned and began heading home. I sighed and listened to the birds sing out merrily.
My sensitive nose caught the smell of dango coming from a nearby food stall. My stomach grumbled, enter exasperated sigh. I knew that if I tried to move on my stomach would complain the whole way, so it would be in my best interest if I just bought some and ate it on the way home. I went into the small eatery and quickly ordered a box of dango and (upon serious thought) a cup of their Super Secret Specialty Tea.
It came in a blue paper cup that had an intricate black design at the bottom. I exited with drink and dango in hand, but nearly dropped both when I heard a loud growl erupt from my stomach. I laughed and took a swig of my tea, relishing in it's sweet taste and aroma. It was definitely deserving of that ridiculously long name. I walked in a calm silence to my home.
Something's off...
Such as?
Like...where is everyone?
Are you blind? There are lots of people here.
I meant ninja!
There was Genma and Tsunade.
You usually meet up with Naruto by now.
He might be on a mission.
Okay. That might be...but, there is definitely something wrong.
After that oh-so comforting conversation with my Inner I couldn't help but notice how I wasn't seeing any of my friends. Oh! They're probably at Ichiraku's, I thought, happy that I had a reasonable explanation as to why I wasn't seeing them. And even if they're not they probably just have other things going on.
I made my way down the street and Ichiraku slowly came into view. I strained my ears to see if I could hear the babble of Naruto, but was only met with bubbling sounds of the ramen broth. I frowned, thinking I might've found Naruto and he'd begin to ramble on about a mission he just go off of throwing in his trademark 'Believe it!' occasionally. I shrugged and continued down the hustling and bustling street.
As I got closer to my house my stomach gave a small flop. What was wrong with me? Was I honestly worried that I hadn't seen anyone? I've had a bunch of times where I got into Konoha and I didn't meet up with anybody! So why does it feel different today? It's beautiful out and I just had some pretty good food...hey! It might've been my eating a bit to much! That has to be it! There's always a reasonable explanation behind things that don't make sense!
I took a key out of my backpack and opened the locked door to my house. I smiled once I got in, enjoying the way the sun shined in from the old curtains. "I'm home!" I shouted out. I knew fully well that nobody was listening, but it just felt right to announce my presence. My dad died when I was 9 and my mom was currently in the hospital fighting a battle with a serious disease.
I'll go visit Mom as soon as I unpack. I hope nothing serious happened while I was away! I don't know what I'd do without Mom...NO! I won't act like she's dead! And even if she was Mom wouldn't want me to be constantly broken hearted! I have to be strong! While I was lost in my thoughts I unconsciously made my way up to my room on the 2nd floor. I opened my door and quietly set my pack on my bed and began to quickly unpack everything.
When I had put everything away and tossed my dirty clothes in a hamper I quickly dashed down the stairs leaping over the last 5. I landed with a small *shunk* produced by my feet. When I left my house I made sure to lock my door. I then began my small trek to the hospital.
XxX Small Trek Later! XxX
When I got into the hospital I was instantly greeted with several warm welcomes from passing by nurses who knew me. I couldn't seem to remember their names but I smiled and greeted them back. I took the fact that everyone was meeting my gaze as a good sign, and assumed that nothing major happened with Mom while I was gone. My feet made light tapping noises as I made my way through the halls.
When I reached my mothers room I smiled at her. She grinned right back as I entered her room. "Hey, Sakura." Mom greeted.
"Hey. How are you?" I asked.
Her face twisted up and she stuck her tongue out. "I hate the hospitals food. There isn't any unhealthy stuff!" She exclaimed.
We both laughed and I settled in a chair next to her. I couldn't help but notice a vase of flowers that rested on the bedside table. "I don't know who they're from." Mom sighed out. I glanced at her, her face was a bit puzzled and yet admiring the beauty of the flowers. I smiled, knowing that she loved mysteries. "So how'd your mission go?" Mom asked.
"Total waste of time. The guy who I was protecting had false assumptions that he was being targeted to be killed! But, I did enjoy the pampering that he insisted I have." I laughed.
"Careful, dear, you might just give Naruto competition." My mom giggled.
"Mom!" I whined.
"Daughter!" She whined, as well.
I pouted and she laughed at me. It was at time's like this I forget that she could die at any given moment.
"Oh! That reminds me! A young man came in about 3 months ago, we stared blankly at each other for a moment and he suddenly said, 'You're not Sakura'. I laughed at him and he glared at me! It only fueled my laughter more. So I asked him, 'If I was?' and you know what he said?"-she paused and let me (on cue) shake my head no-"He said, 'I'd smirk at how old you've become.'! I picked up the nearest thing on hand-which just so happened to be a clipboard and nailed him in the forehead!" She laughed, triumphantly.
"Aw, Mom." I sighed, exasperated.
"Don't you, 'Aw Mom', me! He called me old for goodness sake!" She defended. I sighed again but agreed to what she said.
"Alright I'm heading home. By the looks of it, Mom, you seem to be getting better! You'll be out of here in no time!" I exclaimed. She gave a grunt and I laughed. I gave her a quick peck on the cheek before turning and leaving.
When I left the hospital the sky was painted fiery red with the setting sun. I stretched and headed home. As I walked I couldn't help but hear the ruckus erupting from Ichiraku's, I smiled, thinking it was Naruto and the others. As I got closer I could pick out individual voices, Naruto (with him being as loud as he was it was easy), Ino (shrill screech for whatever reason), and Kiba (almost as loud as Naruto, almost). I knew that there were probably others with them like Chouji and Hinata but they were relatively quiet.
But, upon getting closer I realized that there was another voice that I'd never heard before. It most differently belonged to a female. Also, for some unknown reason, it put me on high alert. Like this voice came from someone I would fight against. I'm guessing it was because it had a 'snotty' feel to it. Obnoxious almost...okay it was completely obnoxious!
"Hey, guys!" I said, announcing my presence. All of their eyes turned simultaneously towards me, and if I hadn't known better, I would've thought there were traces of shock and guilt in them.
"Hey Sakura!" Naruto said happily. But, it didn't go unnoticed. Not at all. What didn't go unnoticed?
Where's my dang suffix!
What's with that?
Who told him to stop using it?
I don't know! But WHEN I find out, they're DEAD!
Got that right!
I smiled at him, setting aside my hurt. It would really surprise you how much that little suffix made me happy. "Hey, Naruto!" I said. I looked at the others, which consisted of: Ino, Kiba, Hinata, Sai, and a mysterious red haired woman who was giving me a look of disdain. I sized her up, she had red hair, brown eyes, glasses, and a leaf forehead protector tied around her neck.
"Huh. You think I would've met you." I said. She raised an eyebrow and cocked her head to the side. I could tell she was sizing me up, by her critical eye.
"Uh...Forehead? Do you know who she is?" Ino asked.
"I think it was implied in that last sentence, Pig." I stated. Ino and I still used our nicknames, from when we weren't friends and had ridiculous crushes on the Uchiha, for fun. It didn't have any ill content whatsoever. It was just our way of stating our friendship. Weird right?
"Have y-you gone to Ts-Tsunade yet, Sakura?" Hinata asked. I inwardly smiled, noticing that Hinata's stuttering had gone down while I was gone.
"Yeah, but, she was drunk. So I left a note and my report on her desk. Why?" I questioned. They all glanced at each other and Hinata turned back towards me.
"U-Uhm..sh-she would h-h-have told y-you th-that...uhm...N-Naruto-kun?" Hinata searched for help.
I turned my gaze to Naruto, who looked as though he was going to faint. "Y-You see, Sakura-chan"-YES THERE'S OUR SUFFIX!-"Tsunade would have told you that-if she were awake-she'd have told you-" Naruto was suddenly cut off.
"Argh! Tsunade would have said that Sasuke-kun and his team mates have been here for about 3 and 1/2 months!" The red haired woman shouted.
I froze. Sasuke? As in Sasuke Uchiha? He's been here for months? And I'm just now finding this out? Who are his teammates? Is the red haired woman his teammate? Did Naruto get along with him? And why am I turning away? And who's chest did I just ram into? And, now why does it feel I was pushed away? And who's going to catch me!
Well, the answer to that last question was that nobody caught me and I banged my head on a very hard chair. The 2nd to last one was because I was pushed away and as I opened my eyes I quickly found out who I rammed into. None other than Sasuke Uchiha himself.
"S-Sasuke?" I stuttered.
I titled my head back to get a better look at him from the ground. He wore Konoha's headband and a chunin vest. I stared into his eyes, which quickly swallowed me whole. "Karin, we're leaving." His voice was like ice. The red haired woman stood up and happily made her way to Sasuke...making sure to crush my fingers beneath her heel as she went.
I let out a hiss and cradled my fingers to my chest and glared at her. "Oops! Sorry!" Her voice sounded too high.
I wanted to claw her eyes out
and shove them up Sasuke's nose for pushing me,
then shove a kunia into his eyes,
and finally call him 'weak' while laughing.
When did my thoughts get sadistic?
After about a minute of sitting on Ichiraku's hard floor Sai finally helped me up. I dusted myself off and let out a grunt, "I'm going home."
There were no 'bye's as I left. I didn't know if anyone waved because I didn't glance back. I rubbed my temple and wished that I still had the stupid bottle of painkillers on me.
How'd you like it? Give me some idea's...like you'd like to have a SasuSaku fic or if you want Naruto to dump a bowl of ramen on Karin's head! I know that Sasuke is being a jerk, but, it's only going to get worse. Comforting, right? Well...he's going to get worse but MIGHT be nice later on. Depending on my reviews. Thanks for reading! Now Review! (I'm so demanding, right? ; )