I do not own Naruto, unfortunately.


"Hey Sakura-chan, do you think that I made the right choice?"

She stared at him in disbelief and then proceeded to lightly hit his head.

A light breeze ruffled his already messy hair.

"Oi! That hurt Sakura-chan!"

She scoffed and rolled her eyes. It was not that hard to be honest. Leave it to the idiot to exaggerate things.

"Sakura-chaaaan."

She laughed at him. He was too old to whine but it strangely suited him. He still had that certain light in his eyes. He still grinned that stupid grin of his. He still reminds her of the good old days, of puppies that begged for your attention, and of sunshine during spring. So bright and so warm.

"But still, do you think that I made the right choice?"

She looked at him fondly, shook her head, and chuckled to herself. Of course he made the right choice (Sometimes it was stupid yet so right). He always had and it was odd for him to doubt himself.

Another light breeze came and it brought the pleasing scent of jasmine.

"Hey! I'm being serious here!"

She glanced at him and laughed. He looked so adorable trying to act childish. Especially with the pout he had on his face (A pout that she would never deny if it was paired with his damnable puppy eyes). He was like a puppy, honestly.

"Yes, laugh all you want Sakura-chan. And here I was hoping for a serious grown-up conversation. I was wrong. Shame on you."

She laughed again. Oh how she missed him (him and his joy). He had been so busy lately and it felt nice hanging out with him.

"Do you think that Shikamaru would be willing to listen to my serious old self?"

Oh how was Shikamaru anyway? She hadn't seen him around lately and that was odd. He usually spent his breaks with her, usually in the form of mutual cloud watching and lazy afternoon naps (and talks about troublesome women and of the teachings of his father and sensei).

"You hadn't heard? He was sent off on a mission with Ino to Suna. You won't be seeing them for a few months, tops. I miss that lazy bastard already."

Yeah, he never really gets any work done when that cloud-loving man was not around. And wasn't Ino supposed to be taken off duty for a while (she should be resting that damn pig)?

"You're wondering about her, huh? She really wanted to go to Suna this time of month. She said that these rare dessert flowers were supposed to bloom and she would be damned if she doesn't get a sample for the hospital. She said something about healing properties and stuff, I think."

She narrowed her eyes at his sheepish look but she was mildly surprised that he listened to Ino's ramblings, especially with her flowers. That woman could go on and on about plants but her findings does help the hospital. She tapped his forehead and gave him a questioning look.

The wind brought the sweet sound of birds singing this time.

"Don't worry about her Sakura-chan! She's been taking good care of herself! Promise!"

She gave him a look but soon smiled. Knowing him, he was probably keeping a close eye on her. He had this habit of looking out for everyone but that's just him and his stupid heroic tendencies.

"Have you heard about Ten-ten? Can't believe that she went and became a sensei! I really hope that her students won't mess with her weapons!"

She nodded her head. Sai told her about it yesterday and she was not that shocked. Mildly surprised but not shocked. Besides for her love of weapons, Ten-ten always had a soft spot for children that she sometimes shows. She would make a great genin sensei (and a terrifying one too).

"Sai gave me a painting yesterday too. Named it 'Blue'. How creative of him. But besides that, he is still the same jerk he was last week."

Ah, Sai. You lovable bastard. She sighed and rubbed her forehead. Sai never really changed after all these years. Sure, his smiles were getting more real (with her help too which she was very proud of) and his understanding of emotions were a lot better (yep, still her) but he was still the Sai they knew when they were still teens.

"Kakashi-sensei finally retired and I actually heard granny complaining about her bad back a few days ago!"

She hummed and closed her eyes. She was getting all sleepy all of a sudden.

"And don't get me started on Gai-sensei and Lee! They still wear that green jumpsuit! But Hinata finally won her right as a heiress against the elders. I feel happy for her."

Hinata? That was good to hear. After years of trying to prove herself, she finally won her battle. She looked at him through half lidded eyes and just basked in his warm presence and listened to his ramblings about his and her friends. His talks on how proud Kurenai is of her daughter and how the rest of the teachers were, how the trio of rascals were just promoted to chunin and just about everything that happened in the village.

She had missed him.

(Him and his ramblings and warmth and love)

She was taken out of her sleepy state when he stopped abruptly and muttered something she almost missed hearing. It was rare when he whispered. It was usually important when he did.

"Do you think I made the right choice?"

Yes, you did. You always had made the right choice and you always will.

"Do you really think I made the right choice?"

You did you idiot! Listen to me! You made the right choice!

"Did you think so little of me?"

She suddenly stilled at the tone of his voice. He sounded so sad, so lonely and the words he said was barely above a whisper.

"I don't think I made the right choice."

She growled in frustration. She yelled at him for being so blind to not see that what he chose was for the best of everyone! He saved so many lives and he had done so much good!

"I know I made the wrong choice."

You. Did. The. Right. Thing.

"I'm sorry."

She screamed at him. There was nothing to be sorry about. It was for the best and he did not have to kick himself for it. He did not have to hurt himself and he did not have to cry because of it.

He. Was. Right.

"I'm so sorry."

She felt tears of anger running down her cheeks. How many times did she have to say that there was nothing to be sorry about!

(She chose to ignore that fact that the tears she had was not of frustration but of something else she did not want to name. Regret, perhaps? No not regret, she would never regret anything that concerns him)

She stared at his face. He had tears running down his cheeks and his eyes were the deepest shade of blue. He bowed his head and said something that always broke her heart to hear. Especially with that broken tone of his, and the hitch of his breath that almost sounded like a sob.

"I love you."

I know.

"I failed you."

You did not.

"I'm sorry."

She longed to touch him.

"I love you."

I love you too.

She watched him slowly collect himself. It almost hurts (its heartbreaking really) to see such a great man break down in front of her. He dried his tears and stood up (He always does). He leans close to her and kissed her forehead.

"It was nice talking to you again."

It was.

"I miss you."

She misses him too. Very much so.

"I'll talk to you again next week, okay?"

He took a deep breath and smiled that smile of his (That small upturn of his lips that looks so sad and wrong). He then shook his head and placed a handful of white wild flowers near her. He glanced at her and nodded.

The wind blew again and carried the scent of something familiar yet not.

And that was that.


So this is a thing.