The ages change as the story progresses. I do not own Naruto. Enjoy
August of 1966, the rainforest of the Amazon
Chapter 1: Crossing Over
"How well I have learned that there is no fence to sit on between heaven and hell. There is a deep, wide gulf, a chasm, and in that chasm is no place for any man." –Johnny Cash
A swallowed sob found it's way back up Sakura's throat as she tripped over yet another large root of a strangler fig tree. She stumbled to catch her balance and continued to run full speed to the waterfall ahead. The high-pitched screech of brown and black howler monkeys echoed through her head, bouncing off the walls of every hideous emotion that inhabited the darkest corners of her mind. For a moment she lost focus as two leering eyes of the enormous alligator that inhabited the water stared longingly at her slim frame that his body ached to devour.
"Out of my way." she hissed as she dove head first into the water pouring from above. The waterfall had such force that she didn't even have time to see the jagged edges of the rocks below that would inevitably end her life.
"We're…. we're moving?" Sakura shook her head trying to understand the full impact of their words. All she could manage to do was stare dumbly at her hands folded on her lap.
"Oh menina, we thought you would be so happy…?" knelt down next to her only daughter and rubbed her shoulder lovingly. "What fourteen year old girl wouldn't want to go to live a normal life in a normal country?"
The word normal always struck Sakura as a very peculiar adjective. In Baghdad, Shi'ites males as young as six beat their chests with razers and bath in each other's blood in a ceremony mourning Mohammad's grandson who died for his followers. This, to them, was normal.
"You wouldn't even have to have a mosquito nest over your bed anymore and all those pesky shots you hate so much, well, you won't need them in America!" suggested from across the table.
"But I have friends here!" Sakura cried. Of course this wasn't true and her parents knew it. It was hard living in the Amazon where your pink hair and fair skin stood out against the native villagers. Her parents had come to Brazil as missionaries to aid the tribes that had little contact with the outside world. These tribesmen mostly kept to themselves but when one of their people's lives were in jeopardy they would always come to the helpful home of the Haruno family. "I just don't understand… you guys love working here so why the sudden change?" Sakura hated the way her voice came out in a childish whine. Sasuke would disapprove.
Sasuke!
Sakura grew impatient to hear her parents reply. All she could think about was how she had to get to the waterfall as soon as she could. "Well, you see," started uneasily, "there are some people here who don't like us educating and helping these natives. They think it will give them certain ideas about revolution."
"More like equality," Mrs. Haruno snorted.
"America has decided to take us in as refugees for now. We hope to be able return to your grandparents and all your elementary school friends in Japan soon though."
Sakura couldn't take it anymore. The only thing she could think of was how she could ever manage to leave Sasuke.
"Sasuke!" Sakura screamed as her head broke the glass-like surface of the Great Aio River. "Sasuke! Sasuke!" She paddled as fast as she could until her fingers hit the muddy ground of the riverbank. She scrambled to her feet and stumbled her way on to the soft grass. She loved the grass here. It was so soft, like a puppy's fur. She rolled over on her back to see the clear blue sky, something she rarely saw back at home. If she could call the Amazon home that is. She felt her bottom lip tremble as the tears slid involuntarily down the sides of her face. "Sasuke…"
"Yes?" A face eclipsed the sun and clear blue sky from her view but boy was she ever so happy to see him. "You're not looking too good kid. Tears don't suite you."
Despite her ever-growing despair Sakura choked out a genuine laugh before lightly placing her index and middle finger on his forehead and playefully pushing him away so she could sit up. She tried in vein to wipe her tears away on her soaking arm as she turned to face Sasuke.
"I'm leaving." Sakura whispered. To her surprise Sasuke smiled.
"Good. You deserve a normal life in a normal country."
Sakura rolled her eyes. There was that word again: normal. "That's what my mom said. She wants everything to be all so… normal."
Sasuke just chuckled and shook his head. If you remember I'm actually older than your mom I just don't look like it. Aren't you the one who pointed out that I'm going to be sixty-six soon? Besides, if they could see inside your twisted little mind like I an they would know that there was no way of saving you now.
"If you actually believed that you would stop trying to fix me all the time." Sakura ran her fingers through the fine, soft grass. When she first started crossing over she would pick flowers and grass but she soon learned from Lord Osanshouo that these things were forbidden because it would disrupt the balance of this world. To Sakura, the balance seemed to be thrown of kilter too easy for her liking.
"I don't try to fix you Sakura I try to educate you." Sasuke took notice to Sakura's gentle handling of the earth around her. "You've grown since you started coming here. You've learned a lot."
I have haven't I. Sakura thought silently to herself.
"Damn you two! I want to know why she's leaving!" An angry Ino jumped from the bushes followed by a wailing Hinata. Hinata stumbled over her chubby 3 year old legs into Sakura's arms still crying.
"Wh-why-why Sakura-ra- chan?"
Sakura pet Hinata's hair lovingly. Out of all of the Kawa children Hinata was her favorite. Something about how she wore her heart on her sleeve made Sakura admire her. It was a brave ability that even the strongest men didn't have. "For our safety." Sakura looked up at Ino who stood defiantly with her arms crossed. As tough of a demeanor Ino tried to hold Sakura could still see her eyes begin to water.
"The safest place for you to live is here with us. So that excuse doesn't count!" Ino stomped her foot in the way sassy seven year old girls do. Like Sasuke, all of the Kawa children ceased to age once they crossed over. Ironically, little Hinata was the eldest child. Nobody knew her exact age and nobody ever asked. There was always an unsettling fear of knowing just how long this place had been there.
Once a child crossed over they very rarely were able to cross back. Even if they could go freely, none would want to. This place had been created as a safe haven for children of varying age to live in peace. All of the Kawas had been abused in some way or another and in the midst of the most terrible situation Lord Osanshouo extracted them from their world and planted them in his. There were few serious rules about living on this side, but one of the most important was that you never talk about the past.
"Ino, would you do me a favor and take Hinata back home and send Lord Osanshouo our way please? I promise Sakura will come visit before she leaves. Besides, I doubt this will be the last time we'll see her. She probably won't leave for a couple more months, right Sakura?" Sasuke asked.
Sakura blushed. "I- I don't exactly know… I didn't ask. I came here as soon as a found out." She knew she had messed up. She should have been more patient. Damn her childish behavior. She so often wished that she were more mature, like Sasuke. He had all the wisdom of someone who had lived over six decades yet still had the youthful body of a sixteen year old.
Hinata scooted off Sakura's lap and gently kissed her cheek. "Goodbye Sakura,I love you." She whispered in her small childish voice. For some reason this broke Sakura's heart just a little bit. She hugged Hinata before releasing her into Ino's care.
"We'll have to work on your patience." There it was again, always trying to fix her. "Your world moves fast and the brash are always the first to get a bullet through their head."
Sasuke never told Sakura what had happened to him that landed him in this world but whatever it was it had blurred the line between pessimism and realism for him. He was always making bitter jabs at the human race that sent a chill down Sakura's spine. Something wicked had happened to that boy.
"Well that's just the thing… we're kind of in a hurry to leave. I guess there are some pretty powerful people here that don't like my parents educating the natives. We're moving to America because they promised to take us in as refugees."
Sasuke's face grew very grave. "Your parents are good people Sakura. Remember that." Both Sakura and Sasuke proceeded to sink into a thoughtful silence until the soft patting of Lord Osanshouo's webbed feet were heard just inches away.
Sakura remembered how odd looking she thought Lord Osanshouo was with his salamander appearance and human demeanor. He was a salamander god that protected the children as well as the Great Aio River. In all, there were thirty lords that protected and insured the balance of this great realm they lived in. They were called the Trinity because the lords were separated into three categories: water, air, and earth. There were ten in each.
"So, you're leaving. I can't say I'm too upset. Of course, I don't want to see you go but you need to live a normal life in a normal country." The great salamander said as he slowly lowered himself down to sit with Sakura and Sasuke. He smoothed out his Kimono and placed his staff across his lap.
Sakura cringed at that word again. "Why does everyone keep saying that?"
Osanshouo laughed heartily, "Because it's true Sakura. For some reason, you have the ability to pass between these worlds as freely as you want. Although I disapprove of the way you do it, you will find your way back if you ever truly need us."
Sakura's lower lip began to tremble. The first time she crossed over it was a year ago. She went swimming in that waterfall and the alligator had come after her. She would never forget that moment. She opened her eyes underwater just to see the open mouth of a monster rocketing towards her. Ever since then she would just try one way or another to kill herself in the waterfall and she would always end up back in Sasuke's world. No one else had ever possessed the power to go back and forth as freely as Sakura did. But she knew that it wasn't her. It was the waterfall.
"I know." She whispered. She knew that unlike the Kawa children her life was just fine the way it was. Her parents loved her and she spent most of her time helping the sick and injured. So truthfully, there would never be a time when she needed them. Sakura knew that she was not the only one to realize this. Sasuke was extremely quiet as he stared down the vast royal blue Aio River. The water of the river was something else that struck Sakura as odd. It was completely still and if a wake was made it immediately ended after it had been created. It was one of the most breath taking spectacles of nature she had ever seen. "I'm going to miss you." He finally murmured, never taking his gaze from the river. "But you need this in order to be happy."
Sakura swallowed hard as she felt a blush creep up her neck and onto her face. Sasuke never spoke like this. He was always so brooding and focused. Emotions weren't really his forte.
"We'll all miss you Sakura. I understand from Ino that the move is for your family's safety. That means the move isn't far off. So come see the children and spend as much time as you can with each one."
Surely enough, Osanshouo was right. Sakura's family moved only two weeks after breaking the news to her. During those two weeks she was kept busy for punishment after running off into the rainforest for several hours. She had no time to sneak off to the rainforest and was forced to leave without giving the salamander, the Kawa children, or Sasuke a final visit.
