AN: So... It's been awhile, hmm? My poor beta-ees have been so patient with me and I owe them TONS of cookies. TONS!
Anyway... Here's a little something, rated T for a word or two. Enjoy, and review! (If you fave without reviewing, I will haunt you! ;))
"Naruto!"
At the shout, the blond boy ceased running, standing straight. He didn't turn.
"Naruto. I know where you're going! But you can't!" Sakura, pink hair disheveled, dropped from a tree branch to land behind her friend.
"I have to go, Sakura, and you know it."
Sakura pushed sweaty bangs out of her face, adjusting her forehead protector. "You can't—You can't keep running off at every mention of Sasuke!"
Naruto was silent, but his shoulders told a tale of tension.
The cherry-pink girl sighed, stepping closer and placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "I know how you feel, Naruto. He was my teammate, too. But… He's changed, Naruto. He isn't the same anymore. Hinata—"
She broke off as Naruto whirled to face her, eyes blazing and brimming with unshed tears.
"Don't-!" He stopped, voice breaking, before trying again. "Don't tell me that! I know all that! And Hinata, she…"
His tears finally spilled over and Sakura, heart clenching within her, pulled the bright-haired boy into her embrace. Older than her, taller, more powerful, he leaned on her for support, and they sank to the dusty forest floor as he freed his agony and feelings of hopelessness.
"What am I doing wrong?" he sobbed. "I've failed time and again to bring back my best friend, and then I failed to protect those precious to me from that very same friend. What am I supposed to do?"
Sakura's arms tightened. She knew it did no good to tell him that maybe it was time to stop searching, chasing. In the beginning, it had been mostly for her, for her broken heart and hurting eyes, regardless of his own unmistakable feelings. But part of the reason had been for himself, and over time it had consumed him, until there was no room for her, and she had been relegated to the place in his heart reserved for his precious people, and nothing more.
Naruto pulled himself together and sat back on his heels, wiping his eyes and nose with the sleeve of his jacket. "Sorry, Sakura-chan," he said. He kept his gaze down, but Sakura could see the overflowing sadness within those brilliant blue eyes
Not knowing what else to do to restore him to his usual cheerfulness, Sakura clonked him on the top of the head. He fell back on his butt.
"Hey!" he all but whined, giving her a mock glare. "What was that for?"
"Look, it's true that Sasuke is a dick, treating his best friend that way, but you can't blame yourself for his actions. All you can do is choose how you will react next. And no matter what, I'll be there with you."
"Sakura!" Naruto sniffed, wiping away a few more tears. "But weren't you here to stop me?"
That had been the girl's intent, but she just smiled her sunniest smile and said, "Of course not, idiot! I couldn't let you do all the work without me, dummy!"
"Geez, no need to be so mean," Naruto muttered. Nevertheless, he was smiling, too.
"Just you wait, Sasuke!" he said to the forest at large. "We'll bring you back someday, so you better be ready for us!"
The bright-eyed boy grabbed the pink-haired girl and pulled her to her feet and hand-in-hand, they continued the journey, chasing the next unlikely, impossible rumor.
And Sakura knew that, no matter how long it took, no matter how old they grew, no matter the battles they faced, or Death itself, that Naruto would always chase Sasuke. And she would be right there chasing Naruto.
End
Review! And if you do, I might just have another ficlet up my sleeve! =^.^=
