While He's Away
Author's Note: Hello, first off I would like to say it's been awhile since I've written anything on here, but I think I'm getting back into this. Therefore, I apologize if you find any mistakes, and if you do, please tell me. It feels good to be back here as well. Also, this story is set in an AU, specifically modern day Tokyo. The rating might change later, too.
I hope you enjoy.
Chapter 1: Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fonder
"Wait for me, Sakura. I promise you, I will come back. I promise." the man begged, while gripping her shoulders tightly, with desperate eyes.
She looked at him with doubt. "What if you don't come back? What will I do? I can't help but think that way. I'm just trying to be realistic."
The man's grey eyes softened. He even knew there was a possibility that he wouldn't come back. "I don't like to think about it, but wait for me. I love you. I love you so much, and when I come back, I'll make sure that you won't ever lose me again."
There was a silence between them. They stared into each other's eyes with such intensity; they could stay like that for hours. The pink haired girl sighed.
"Okay. I'll wait for you. I love you, Neji. I love you, so much." Sakura's voice began to break and her eyes became glassy.
Neji embraced her tightly, and planted his lips onto hers. She gladly returned the kiss, never wanting it to end.
Neji was the first one to break the kiss. He looked into her beautiful, green eyes one last time.
Sakura watched the love of her life board the airplane.
Sakura's eyes opened wide. She had the same dream again. Her heart was beating fast, and she can feel tiny droplets of sweat, trickling down her forehead. The pink haired woman wiped the sweat off her forehead with her hand, and went into sitting position on her bed.
'I need to stop having that dream. I need to. I know he'll come back home, but I can't help but worry. I just need to relax…' Sakura glanced at her clock, which was on her nightstand. It was only 7:30 AM.
'It's Saturday…What to do today…I finished all my homework when I came home yesterday, and Tsunade didn't assign me clinic duty today either. So, I'm completely free. Ino is working today and so is Hinata. Maybe today should just be spent at home.' Sakura climbed out of bed, cleaned herself up in the bathroom, and headed towards the kitchen.
The pinkette grabbed a pan from the cabinet and cracked a few eggs, making them spread around the pan. While waiting for the eggs to be ready, she popped in two pieces of toast in the toaster.
Once the eggs were done frying, she set them on a plate. She heard a familiar tune go through her ears, although it was distant. Her phone was ringing. Sakura walked quickly back to her room and grabbed her phone, answering without looking at the caller ID.
"Hello?" Sakura said.
"Sakura-chan! It's Ino. Sorry, I know it's early, but I'm at work already anyways. I was just calling to see if you wanted to have lunch together in the afternoon. How about it?!" Sakura thought Ino was being unusually loud at this time of day, but she didn't mind.
"Sure, Ino." Sakura yawned.
"Great! Meet me at the Konoha City Cafe at 12:30! Bye!" Ino hung up the phone, without allowing Sakura to say anything back.
Sakura took her phone with her and went back into the kitchen. The bread was done toasting, so she added it onto her plate with her eggs, and seated herself at the dining table.
Sakura heard another noise, which came from outside. 'Must be the mailman…' Sakura got out of her seat, bringing her toast with her. She opened the door, and grabbed a bundle of mail. The first thing she saw was a letter.
A letter from him. Sakura's eyes widened, and while heading back to the kitchen table, she threw the rest of her mail on her couch.
Sakura tore the envelope open, eager to read what was inside. She unfolded the letter and began to read:
Dear Sakura,
I apologize if this letter gets to you very late. Military mail tends to ship slowly. I just wanted to tell you that I love you, and I'm doing just fine. Don't worry about me. On the other hand, I worry about you every single day. I hope your nursing studies are going great. I bet they are, you're brilliant. I also just want you to know that I'm sorry for my absence. I know that I can't replace your feelings of being lonely, right now, but I promise when I return, I'll make it up to you. I don't know how I'll do it, but I will make it up to you. For now, please take this traditional Japanese hair piece I found in my travels.
Sakura looked inside the envelope to find something wrapped in a red fabric. She tore it off gently, revealing a red and pink flower hair piece, with faux pink petals dangling from the bottom of it. She had to admit, it was beautiful. Sakura went back to reading the letter.
Since the New Year is coming up, I decided to add an extra accessory to your outfit. Sorry, the hair piece is kind of your Christmas and New Year's present. I would give you more things, if I had time. Sorry, once again. Anyways, I know you'll look beautiful in it. I'm sorry I won't be there to spend Christmas and New Year's with you, but remember, I'll make it up to you. I promise. I can't stress it enough. I don't know when I'll be home, but hopefully it'll be soon.
Love,
Neji
Sakura smiled. It had been ages since she received a letter, but she was glad that she got one. Neji wrote the letter in November, and she received it on December 28th, meaning today. Sakura immediately grabbed a piece of paper and a pencil and began to write. She pushed her breakfast aside to give her more room to write.
Dear Neji,
You wrote your most recent letter in November, and I just got it today. The military mailing system does suck, but I'm happy that you wrote me. I worry about you as well, even though you tell me not to. Isn't it funny, how we tell each other not to worry, but we still do it, just because we're stubborn like that? Haha. It's only natural of us to do so. My nursing studies are going great, Tsunade is a great teacher, and you know she has always been. It's hard being away from you for so long, and I honestly do get lonely, but I know that I'll see you again. I just try and busy myself with other things, so I won't feel that way. It's okay that you aren't spending the holidays with me. Ino hosted her annual Christmas party, and it was a lot of fun. She'll be planning her usual New Year's party too, so that's coming up soon. So I'm not going to be lonely during these times. I still wish you were here, though. Thank you for the hair piece, it's beautiful. I love it. I don't love it as much as you, though. Thank you. I hope you're doing well, make sure to take care of yourself.
Love always,
Sakura
Sakura sealed the letter in an envelope, went outside of her apartment, and dropped it into the mailbox. She climbed back upstairs and looked at the time. It was only 8:30. She decided to read a book until it was time for her lunch date with Ino.
Author Note: Well that was the first chapter. For more clarification, Neji is apart of Japan's Self-Defense Forces, which is the Japanese military, specifically the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, which is the Navy. Don't worry, things will become more clear as the story progresses. More clarifications will be cleared in the later chapters. I hope you enjoyed, please leave a review. You can review, favorite, whatever. Anything is appreciated.
