Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, and I certainly do not own any of its characters, places, etc., etc.
Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy this story. Criticisms are welcome (but no flamming please). Thank you, and have fun. R & R.
These days, Naruto somehow always ended up in the hospital after another grueling mission. It wasn't all that bad being in the hospital; he was able to see his friends come and go by, especially Sakura. But today, Sakura was no where out of sight. Instead, Hinata appeared. It was unusual since the girl never came to visit him, or so he thought.
"Man, stuck indoors when it's another perfect day to train," Naruto said. "At least you're here with me, Hinata."
"Um, yes…., I'm here… and you're there, Naruto-kun," Hinata said awkwardly as she pulled the curtains. She was blushing madly. Nonetheless, Naruto didn't mind it at all since he was used to her unusal habits. The sun was in their faces.
"I wonder where Sakura-chan could be," Naruto whispered, looking up at the high and white ceiling. "I haven't seen her since the day I was put into the hospital."
Hinata stopped pulling the curtains. Her hands slid down on the soft fabric, and her clear, light violet eyes were slightly turned to him. She tightened her lips, and clenched onto the curtain. The good news was Naruto was too busy pondering, so he wasn't able to see what Hinata was going through. She turned around and smiled brightly at him.
"I'm sure she's fine," Hinata said hesitantly. "Perhaps busy…."
"Really? But she's always the first one to see me around," Naruto said, clueless. Just then, the door slid open, and Naruto saw high heeled sandals appear.
"Sakura…!" Naruto said, but after seeing who's face and chest appeared, his anticipation suddenly disintegrated.
"Oh, it's old lady Tsunade," he said unenthusiastically.
"Who are you calling old, you ungrateful brat?!" Tsunade yelled.
"How troublesome," another voice said, appearing behind the tall, beautiful woman.
"Shikamaru!" Naruto said, and then he saw another bulgy figure emerge from the door. "Choji, what are you guys doing here?"
"We just came to see you since you're out of here today," Shikamaru exclaimed. His lazy expression never changed much. Choji just munched on his beef flavored chips.
"Hey, hey," Naruto said, lightening his face. "Do you know where Sakura-chan is?"
The sudden joy was swept away as the faces of each individual looked at each other for words hesitantly. Tsunade was the first one to speak.
"She's busy working so you won't be able to see her in a while," she said. "You're dismissed from the hospital!"
"Oh, okay," Naruto replied, not noticing everyone's troubled looks. He was busy wondering about Sakura.
The sun was high up in the sky like every other day. Feeling the warmth, Naruto closed his eyes with his head held high up. The soft breeze caressed his cheeks and ran through his gold hair. Another good day….
He was thinking of going to the Ichiraku bar, and was about to turn his one foot away from the road. But in the distance, he caught the glimpse of the soft, pink pastel colored hair flowing in the breeze. He could recognize that color from miles apart.
"Ah, Sakura-chan!" Naruto yelled and ran towards her. But before he knew it, the girl turned around, gave him a quick glance, and punched him right in the stomach.
"Uck!" Naruto yelled painfully. The punch threw him right to the wall, which could have almost destroyed the whole building.
"Sakura… chan….," Naruto stuttered, clutching on to his belly in pain. He looked at her distortedly. The soft breeze that had stopped a moment ago was crossing the street again, passing by the pink haired figure. The girl stared at him coldly. It wasn't a spiteful one, nor a hateful look, but more of an annoyed, disgusted look. She was walking away now.
"Wait…. Sakura…," Naruto said. The pain was excruciating.
The last thing he saw was a faint, blurred vision of Sakura walking further away from him until she was barely seen.
"Back so soon?"
Naruto's eyes slowly slid open, and Shikamaru was there, sitting on a stool right next to him. Quickly, he sprang up, but the familiar pain pressed against his stomach.
"Ow, ouch…," Naruto grunted, holding his stomach with his right hand. "Shikamaru, what are you doing here?"
"I should be asking you the same question," he said. "Seriously, what happened to you? The villagers found you sprawled on the ground after they heard a huge thud. The right behind you had cracks all over it, or so they said."
"I….," he said, trying to recall the moment. Just then, the door slid open, and in came Sakura with a smile.
"Naruto, I heard that you were in the hospital again," she said. "You moron, should you really get into fights after a gruesome mission?"
"Sakura-chan…," Naruto said, but at that moment, the light bulb in his head flickered. "Sakura-chan, it was you!"
"Of course, it's me," she said, fluffing his pillow and smiling sweetly. "Don't you recognize me?"
"No, what I meant was that you….," he tried to say, but looking at her face clearly, he started to hesitate. "Never mind…."
"Okay then," Sakura said, staring at Naruto awkwardly. "Tsunade-sama told me not to bother you, but I wanted to see how you were doing today anyways since you are back in the hospital."
"Baa-chan… told…?" Naruto said curiously. 'Did she lie to me?' he thought. 'But why would baa-chan not let Sakura see me?'
"She said that you'll be fine in another week," she said. "I'll be off. You best be taking care of yourself."
"Yeah…," Naruto said, staring at her almost blankly and dazed.
It didn't even take him a week to get out of the hospital. Only three days was good enough. Naruto healed fast, and he felt refreshed. Still, the thought of Tsunade lying to him still rang in his mind. Crossing his arms, he continued walking on the busy road. People lightly brushed past him.
"Why would she do that," Naruto whispered to himself. "It just doesn't make any sense." Also, he was wondering why Sakura had punched him so hard to the point where he almost smashed into the wall and then acted as if nothing had happened afterwards.
"Naruto!" the sweet, sing-song voice called out to him. He froze in one space, and felt the chills crawl on his spine.
'Eek, Sakura-chan…?' Naruto thought.
"Oi, Naruto, what the heck is wrong with you?" Sakura said as she slapped Naruto's back lightly. He quickly, and stiffly, turned around. Facing her, beads of sweat started to roll down on his cheeks.
"Huh, are you alright?" she said as she put her hands on his forehead. "Huh, slight raise in temperature… you're not sick, are you?"
"Of course not, Sakura-chan!" Naruto replied as fast as the lightning. Sakura stared at him as if he was from another planet, but then later made a sly smile.
"Of course, an energetic idiot like you doesn't get sick too much, huh?" she burst out laughing.
"Sakura-chaan… that's way too much," Naruto said with his head slowly slumming down. However, he was glad. She seemed like the normal Sakura-chan that he knew well. He loosened up like he usually did in front of her.
"So… uh, Sakura-chan, do you want to go out on a date?" he asked, putting on his usual idiot grin. Sakura narrowed her eyes.
"I'm really busy, Naruto. Besides, shouldn't you be training or something?" she said, giving him a small sting to the heart.
"Then, after sunset.....!"
"Oh, come on, you idiot. Don't be so silly. Here," Sakura said as she took out a slip of paper from a book she was carrying. "We're having a Rookie 9 reunion party at the restaurant."
"Hey, how come I didn't get one?" Naruto scratched his head and took the invitation slip.
"Because we all made a reservation at the restaurant for today, but you happened to end up in the hospital three days ago. We tried to change the schedule because of you, but the restaurant lady said no," Sakura told him. "Well, luckily, now that you are out here a-okay, it would be great if you can make it there. Well, see you later."
"Wait, Sakura-chan!"
"Yeah?" she turned around.
"Do you know why I ended up at the hospital again?" he asked, wanting her to tell him the truth. Instead, the wrong answer came out of her mouth.
"I don't know specifically, but I heard that you got into a fight. Tsunade-sama told me," she said pleasantly. "Listen, I really have got to go. I'll see you soon." And then, she left without anything else for him. She left him there, shocked. He clenched onto the tiny slip of paper.
'Why is everyone lying….?' Naruto thought.
"Choji, slow down! You're definitely going to choke on a piece of meat one of these days…," Ino sighed.
Many of the Rookie 9 members, including Sai, sat in a large room, grilling meat, laughing and eating. Some couldn't make it, like Neji, Shino, and Tenten, who were off on a sudden assigned mission. Ino was awfully chummy with Sai while Shikamaru sighed and muttered how troublesome girls were under one single breath. Choji was, as usual, busy eating, and Rock Lee, inspired by this began to eat a lot as well. Hinata sat next to Naruto, fidgeting with her fingers and blushing madly. Kiba sat next to Hinata, sighing and noting the fact on how clueless Naruto can be. Sakura came in late, and sat near where Naruto was sitting.
"So we're all here," Ino said as she piled pieces of meat on a small dish. "This is for you Sai!"
"Uh, thank you," Sai replied back politely, putting on a smile.
"Hey, those were mine, Ino!" Choji whined, but after Ino gave him a sharp glance, he backed away slowly and started to throw in more meat on the grills fast.
"Anyways, let the party begin!" Naruto yelled.
"Naruto, you idiot, sit down and eat!" Sakura yelled furiously, and he obeyed quickly. Sakura's scary methods worked many times on him.
'Well she's got him whipped,' Shikamaru thought and sat there quietly, observing.
"Uh, Naruto-kun, here," Hinata said as she silently passed a small dish full of cooked meat to Naruto. She was able to overcome her nerves just for this moment. Still, she had tints of pink on her pale cheeks.
"Wow, gee Hinata thanks!" Naruto replied with his usual energetic gesture. "This is for you." He passed her some meat as well.
'Naruto-kun….!' Hinata's cheeks were flushed. She suddenly felt very hot, and she wanted to take off her jacket. But before she could do anything, Hinata fainted backwards.
"Uhh… Hinata," Naruto said, shaking her arms. "Hinata?"
"Oi, oi, why do you always faint like this when Naruto's around?" Kiba asked the rhetorical question.
While this was going on, Sakura sat in her seat, bored and observing Naruto, Kiba, and Hinata. Truthfully, Naruto paying attention to Hinata somewhat irritated her.
"Hey, Sakura-san," Lee said out of the sudden, catching her attention. "Would you like me to pour you some water?"
"Uh, thank you, Lee," Sakura replied politely. She handed him her cup, and he took a small, metal kettle full of hot water. Slowly, he poured it and gratefully she drank it.
And so, for an hour, this affair had continued. More meat was brought in; Ino flirted with Sai and growled at Choji. Shikamaru sat there smiling at their silly nonsensical business, and Hinata took care of Naruto, until to the point where Ino made a good remark about it.
"So Hinata, you're getting awfully chummy with Naruto there," she said slyly. Hinata blushed again in embarrassment.
"Is it so…," Hinata whispered with her head slummed down. She averted Ino's cerulean eyes full of curiosity and jest.
"Ah, Naruto, you are one awfully lucky guy then," Ino shouted sprightly. This only made Naruto slightly tilt his head sideways.
"Lucky? What do you mean by that?" he asked. Clueless as ever.
"Oh you are so naïve, huh," Ino said.
"Huh?" Naruto said. "What's so funny?" At that moment, everyone except Sakura had burst out laughing. Suddenly, they all heard a loud slam. Sakura's fist was firmly rooted to the table.
"I'm going out for some fresh air," she snapped. She stood up, slid the door open, and walked out.
"What's with her?" Kiba said.
"Oh, that Ino-pig, being stupid as ever," Sakura let her anger out in the corridor. She was marching madly across the hallway. "That little freak! Who does she think she is anyways?" Then, she stopped, realizing what she was doing.
'And yet, why did I get mad over that? It was no big deal… just a light joke, is all,' Sakura thought. 'Maybe I just need a break…?'
She walked to the nearest ladies room to freshen up. The washroom was neat and clean, at its best. She walked to the sink, slowly twisted the sink tap, and held her hand under the flowing, cool water. She splashed some water on her face, and repeated the procedure two to three times.
Splash, splash….
The water was still running, and she caught a glimpse of her face on the large, rectangular mirror. Sakura stared at herself closely. She saw herself in there, with her usual pastel pink hair and emerald green eyes. Water was dripping down on her cheeks and at the strands of her hair. Suddenly, in the reflection, she caught herself slowly winking back.
'Wh-what…?' Sakura thought. She peered into the mirror again. She thought that the dim light was playing tricks with her reflection.
But there it was again, another wink.
Just then, she felt a huge pang in her head. There was another pang after the first one, and another one after five seconds. She slid down on the floor, holding her head tightly with both of her hands. She bent down, trying to think clearly. Still, there was more of the pang, and each of the pang grew faster and louder than the previous one.
She wanted to call out for help, but it felt as if someone was holding her tongue....
"Where is that girl? She's been gone for about half an hour now," Ino said, worried about what might've happened to her friend.
"I'll look for her," he said, already putting on his shoes.
Out in the hall, Naruto heard people laughing inside the rooms. Some were quiet laughs, and some were loud and boisterous. Through the opaque, thin, white wooden doors, he could see the silhouettes of each people. While walking around with his wandering pool blue eyes, he came across an old service lady, holding a tray of cups and side dishes.
"Uh, excuse me lady," he said, stopping her tiny walks. "Do you know a girl named Sakura-chan?"
"Sakura-chan? I've never heard of that name before, young man," the tiny old woman spoke.
"Um, well, she's about this tall, she's really pretty…. And she has pink hair with green eyes and fair skin," Naruto told her.
"Oh, yes, her. She's quite the partier, that girl," the old woman remarked with a chuckle. "I'm just taking this tray to where she is right now. Would you like to come?"
"What? She's in another room?" Naruto said. Confused, he followed her. It was a bit of a long walk, with few crooked corners. But they soon stopped, and Naruto noticed that they were standing at the very end of the hallway, where shouts and burst of laughter and voices boomed out of each room. Where they stood, that room was particularly the noisiest.
"Well, this is it. We're here," the lady said as she set the tray down on the ledge. Naruto was still confused, doubting that Sakura could ever be intermingled in these kinds of places. But when the old lady opened the sliding door, there was Sakura, standing and dancing wildly in front of him. Around her sat men in their 30's and 40's, each with women in their arms.
"Here's your order, lass. Enjoy," the old women said and left. The pink haired lass quickly snatched up the cups and started pouring the drinks into it. The men laughed as she drank, and the women giggled.
"What the heck do you think you're doing, Sakura?!" Naruto yelled. "You can't even drink!"
The girl stared at him blankly, and the laughter stopped. Lights illuminated from behind the white paper doors, and those lights highlighted Naruto's anger.
But she didn't seem to care. Instead, she sat down on the floor with a thud, dug her hands into a man's kimono, and retrieved a cigarette pack. She flicked the pack open with her thumb, took out a stick of thin cigarette, and stuck it between her cherry lips. She made a quick hand gesture, and a man lit her cigarette. She smoked like a pro.
Naruto just couldn't believe it with his own eyes.
She put her feet up on the table and began to draw small puff with her lips. She ignored him and hoisted her cup high to the ceiling. With that, all the men and women in the room shouted, "Banzai!" and drank away.
"That's it," Naruto said as he took off his shoes and climbed up the ledge. He ignored the drunks, the smokers, and the tables full of food there. He cleared it all aside and grabbed Sakura's right arm. He pulled her up.
"What's the big idea, loser," Sakura slurred at him. He could smell the alcohol on her breath. She drank way too much.
"Sakura-chan, we're leaving," he said. "Come on, Sakura-chan. Let's get out of here."
"Who the hell do you think you are," she shouted. "Stupid kid, let go of me."
"What, stupid kid?" Naruto shouted back in surprise. She grinned at him.
"Oh… yeah, you are that stupid kid… the one that I punched earlier," she said slowly, nibbling the cigarette between her teeth. "What, you wanna fight me? Huh, punk? Wanna fight?"
The drunken men and women laughed at the scene. Naruto was flushed with embarrassment while Sakura riled them up by pushing Naruto to the wall.
"Listen you lil' punk," Sakura said quietly, leaning over him. "Get outta here before I give you another knocker… this time, to your head."
"Sakura-chan, snap out of it. This isn't like you," he whispered sternly, staring hard into her leaf green eyes. She stared hard back at his pool blue eyes, but laughed hard in his face. She clumsily sat back down again, puffing away on her little cigarette.
"That bitch? You want that little bitch out here?" she chuckled. "What do you see in that stupid moron anyways? She complained about a headache, so I took care of her."
Naruto stared at her with confusion.
"What are you talking about, Sakura-chan?" he said, lost in translation.
"I'm not your bitch, dipstick," the girl told him slyly.
Chills ran down his spine.
"Then… who are you?" he asked quietly, almost as if he was in a funeral home. The girl blew a cloud of smoke in his face. He coughed.
"Haruka," she grinned.