A/N: Is anyone still here? Hello? Hi... sorry that it took me so long to even publish the first chapter but school is not going so hot for me at the moment, so I'm trying to make everythng up. As for this story, I got it all done and written. And I'm a lousy typer. This will be great fun I guess... but I stare pointlessly at this blue screen as I am typing this at this exact moment for you guys that are still waiting for me. I thank you. Now on with the story!
Disclaimer: Naruto me no touchy! Just the fanfiction I made!
Chapter 1: New Beginnings
The day broke off its morning glow as the Village hidden in the Leaves was slowly awakening alongside it. Dew was sliding off the numerous leaves as shopkeepers were opening their doors to begin a new day. Elders were taking in their morning stroll, feeling every bit of safety that the village provided. And children were opening their eyes to the sunlit rays that were invading their rooms.
A pink ball of hair yanked herself out of bed taking a towel out of the closet and strolling down toward the bathroom. She carefully hopped into the shower and turned on the hot water, hoping it would wake her up from last night. She couldn't sleep from all the excitement that would happen today. Once her whole body was completely rinsed, she opened the shower curtain to reach for the shampoo which was just outside the shower door. But instead of grabbing the shampoo and using it for her, she flung it across the bathroom toward the raven haired boy's nose.
"Get out Daichi!" Akemi yelled at the top of her voice toward her twin brother. Daichi did not need to be told twice as thousands of other items that were in the bathroom were being flung at an incredible speed, one after the other. Once he was outside and caught his breath he went yelling inside his mother's room.
"She threw the shampoo bottle!" he whined. He noticed that he was yelling to the air, as his mother's room was vacant, the bed neatly done. He walked toward the kitchen where Sakura was, fixing three bento boxes for today. Daichi held up the shampoo bottle, which Sakura looked back, and tried to suppress a smile. The imprint of the shampoo bottle was on his face.
"She threw the shampoo bottle." He murmured.
"You know she doesn't like it when you go inside the bathroom during her shower time…" she simply replied as she wrapped up all the lunches. She walked past him and went upstairs to see what she was planning to wear to the hospital today. All she could think of was comfortable shoes. Daichi was close behind, taking out all her thoughts of comfort from her mind as he yelled "MOM!"
"What is it Daichi?" she calmly replied. As she walked to her room Akemi opened the door, letting out the steam from the bathroom. She saw Daichi and like the young and precocious 5 year old that she was, stuck her tongue out as she blew raspberry sounds in his direction. Daichi was all but ready to lunge at her; until he felt a pull on the back of his pajama t-shirt and his feet descend from the ground. He knew he wasn't going anywhere as his mother picked him up in the air, locking him in place. Instead of losing control like Akemi always did, Daichi was calmer, but did break lose when he had to. This just wasn't one of those times. Once Sakura noticed that he was calmed down she let him touch the floor again as she herself continued on picking out her outfit for the day. Daichi turned around and followed his mother inside her room.
"You baby her mom," he scoffed at her. Sakura saw the annoyed look in his eyes and pretended not to notice. Just as Daichi was about to leave to get ready for school, she grabbed him and threw him toward her bed as she tickled him in all the most vulnerable spots he had. He burst out laughing as tears were staining his eyes, begging his mother to stop as he was trying to wiggle his way out. But he knew that it was no use as she kept tickling, letting out a few of her own giggles. Once that was done with she picked him up and tussled his hair as she paraded him with uncountable kisses. After what seemed like hours, she finally let him out of her grasp. Daichi no longer carried the angry scowl that disturbed his young boy's features; instead he held a smile that carried so much yet none at all. And it wasn't until he turned his head away from her that she stopped smiling and simply called out his name.
"Sasuke-kun…" Daichi turned his head, his green orbs so much like his mother's that she broke the illusion just as soon as it came. She turned her head away from him, as she found the outfit that she was looking for and went to her bathroom hiding away all her tears of sadness and frustration with the close of a single door. Daichi left her mother to her thoughts as he went to his room, ready to start the day.
It had been five years since Sasuke's departure. She had only heard from Tsunade that he was reporting monthly, but he was nowhere near the village to come down and say a little hello? She hated him immensely for that. And she would never forgive him for that. All Sakura could do was wait and comfort herself in the fact that she is not alone, not anymore. She had Akemi and Daichi to thank for that. Naruto and Hinata, Ino, Lee, and even Sai. The last thing she was was alone, that's what she would always say to herself in moments like this.
After composing herself, Sakura opened her bathroom door and heard the tiny growls that were coming out of Akemi's room, hearing the word "dress" countless times. She popped her head in her room as Akemi was flinging clothes left and right.
"Where is my striped dress!?" she yelled out. Sakura shook her head, gave a sigh, and walked in her room. Akemi turned in the direction her mother was going, and her black coal eyes lit up as she saw her mom holding the dress that she was demanding. She gave out a little gasp as she snatched it from her mother's hands and ran to try it on. When she came back, Sakura stepped back to admire her daughter's adventurous attire. It was a simple striped dress, with an open top, leggings stretching down to her knees. Sakura beckoned her forward so she could do her hair, to which Akemi squealed with delight.
"Thanks mommy!" she giggled as Sakura began separating a piece of her hair to put into a mini ponytail.
"First day at the academy. Are you nervous?" she asked.
"Why would I be?" Akemi reasoned. "I am gonna see Kikyo and Kumiko there. Its gonna be great!" she glowed, the excitement clearly visible to her face, even though it looked a bit tired and restless.
"No sleep last night I see…" Sakura pointed out as she laid a hand over her head. Green chakra began glowing in her palm. After a short second, Akemi's black eyes were shinier than ever, contrasting greatly to her bubble gum pink hair that was so like her mothers. "That's better. You don't want to look tired on your first day do you?" she smiled at her daughter, who gave the same smile back. Daichi approached the doorway, crossing his arms and leaning on the frame like a certain someone that Sakura could not help but give a second glance to. He looked (and sometimes acted) so much like his father…
The sound of the doorbell, startled all three of them as Akemi ran downstairs, Daichi following right after. Sakura composed herself, for the second time in the day, and walked downstairs, knowing precisely who was at the door and trying to hide her disappointment as to who she wishes it was.
"UNCLE NARUTO!" Akemi dashed into Naruto's arms as he extended them out to her, but fell backwards as he had not expected so much strength to come from it. Naruto laughed at her as he recollected himself to receive Daichi, who gave a very respectable bow. Naruto tried to contain his laughter and simply grabbed Daichi by his head as he brought him closer to him for a great big bear hug. Daichi was totally unaware of the sudden hug and lost all self-control, and blushing a rather dark shade of red.
"Daichi c'mon! No uncle for me today?" he teased.
"Naruto put him down." Sakura said. Naruto did as he was told and released Daichi who simply gave a mischievous smirk that was a trademark all his own.
"Good Morning Sakura-chan." He greeted her.
"What brings you here so early?" she asked.
"First day at the Academy! What else!?" he yelled almost as excited as Akemi was in the early morning.
"I would figure you would hate academy seeing as how you were very bad at it." she giggled, remembering all those clones that Naruto couldn't pull off. "Where's Hinata?"
"Taking Daisuke there as we speak! So we have no time to lose!" Naruto said with such enthusiasm that Akemi matched exactly.
"MOM! Let's go!!" Akemi whined.
Sakura could not say no to that face, and with that they were locking up the house for the day and taking off toward the academy. They passed many new faces and many old friends, waving to all. Akemi lost a bit of her spunk and clung tightly to her mother as if she was just a toddler, while Daichi walked beside her and Naruto observing everything that came in sight. A few people who walked by would inquire as to how Sakura was, and wishing her children a fun day at the academy, while others would look from afar, whispering their gossips to each other about her.
"Uchiha's children…" was all she could hear, but their disapproving glances made it clear enough. After Sasuke left Sakura in her conditioned state, Sakura vowed to shun her children's ears from hearing anything negative of their father. She always told them that she let him go, that he would soon be back. But they were not simple minded, they knew what people were saying about their father. How he left even though Sakura was pregnant. How the Uchihas were always to be a dark stain on the village. Ever since Itachi's departure. He wondered greatly who this Itachi was and when he asked his mother once, she never answered. Daichi would hear it all, as Akemi tried looking the other way. Even though they tried to ignore it, they always felt that stab of betrayal that their father embedded in their backs. Not to mention the tears that their mother would sob in her bathroom, thinking that no one was listening.
"Well here we are." Sakura broke into Daichi's thoughts as Akemi too was repeating what her mother was saying. Over and over. He quickly learned to ignore her and looked at his mother as she was handing over his and Akemi's lunch boxes. "Daichi, what's wrong?" she asked.
"Nothing mom, nervous I guess…" he didn't want to say what was really troubling as he glanced to where Naruto was going; to Hinata and his family. Daisuke looked in his direction, giving him a thumbs up, which Daichi returned with that smirk of his. Sakura looked in his direction and saw little Daisuke, his lavender eyes shining as strong as Daichi's in fierceness. Competition and boys; it will never die. Akemi gave a scream, making Sakura and Daichi turn their heads wildly locking their eyes on Akemi as she ran toward Ino's twin girls, who were running in her direction as well, Ino close behind. The three girls squealed ready to start the day as Sakura explained to Daichi that the bottom one was his and the top was Akemi's.
"Squid for you and extra rice for Akemi." She explained.
"I'll make sure she gets the right one mom." He answered. He really wanted to go and catch up with a few of his friends. But he knew the rules. Sakura turned her head "One kiss…" she repeated the beginning phrase of motto that she made up for her two children alone. He aimed straight for her cheek as he continued the motto, "…I'll miss…" as they both gave each other a quick embrace, "…you." They said in unison. Ever since they were little she never stopped repeating this. It was how they would always depart. How they would always know that she would come back to them, one way or another. Akemi walked toward her mother and did the same thing, only with more enthusiasm. Daichi handed her her lunchbox, and as soon as she checked she got the right one went inside with all the others, a grin plastered on her face, as well as on her older brother as they both looked back at their mother, watching them disappear behind the doors.
