Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
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Mage of Chocolate
Sakura was… upset, if that was the right word. Yet again, Sasuke – being the jerk he was – had ignored her efforts in training today. He had called her a loser, weak. The usual thing.
"Why am I getting so upset?" she asked herself angrily. "He does it all the time."
She reflected on the why of her emotions as she neatened up her apartment. She hadn't been in a good mood for the past several days, not just the past few hours. Even the chocolate didn't help as much as it usually did…
Chocolate had always been a comfort food for her. Whenever she was upset, or sad, or angry, or any other strong emotion, she would go to her special stash and slowly eat a bar. It was a wonderful thing, chocolate. And it reminded her of her mother…
A shadow announced someone's approach to the mouth of the alleyway where a five-year-old Sakura was hiding. Face still wet with tears, eyes still blurry, Sakura debated whether or not to run. She hugged her knees tighter to her chest. The alleyway where she had taken refuge – where she always took refuge – had only one exit. That exit was currently blocked by the approaching someone. Was it a friend or a foe? If she moved now, she could get to the roof before whoever it was found her… a safe choice. But she could not move; her muscles were locked. Even if it was those bullying boys coming back to have another go at her, she couldn't make her body respond.
"Sakura, dear?"
It was her mother. She didn't move.
The shadow vanished as her mother entered the gloomy alleyway. Wending her way through the many stacks of stored boxes, she walked to Sakura's hiding place. Her mother always claimed that she always hid in the same spot. Bust Sakura did change it: sometimes atop a teetering stack, sometimes in the overturned barrel. But her favorite hiding place was among a maze of boxes that had a feeling of a fort about them. She felt safe there. And the boys had never found her there…
Her mother stood in front of her, and then knelt down. She tucked a strand of her daughter's pick hair behind her ear gently. As her hand withdrew, she traced a dark bruise on Sakura's left eye.
"They've been picking on you again," her mother sighed. "Come on, dear, let's go home."
Sakura timidly shook her head, hugging her knees.
"Here," her mother said. She handed Sakura a chocolate bar. Sakura slowly reached out a small hand and took it.
Her mother smiled encouragingly. She took Sakura's other hand. "Let's go home."
This time, Sakura agreed. She walked out of the alleyway, one hand in her mother's, the other clutching her chocolate bar.
Now her mother was dead, but Sakura still found comfort in chocolate. She could feel her mother's spirit, feel her love, when she had a chocolate bar in her hand. That comforting sense was like magic. Chocolate reminded her of that magic.
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A/N: ok, this came about because I had a vague – very vague – idea for a fantasy fic. This was the result. Not fantasy. I put it in the spiritual category 'cuz I thought that fit best, because Sakura was reflecting. That's why. Please let me know in your review if I should change the category.