Aneko: Howdy there peoples. I'm back with another fiction!! Yay!! I figure that my new inspiration is the fact that very shortly I will be locked up for six hours a day in that prison they call school…yuck…
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto…
Happy Birthday
Sakura woke with a heavy heart, looking at her calendar. She knew what day it was without looking, but she wanted to hope that just maybe she was wrong.
The date was circled in bright red. She was right. Sakura wished she could just pull the covers over her head and forget the world today, but she dragged herself out of bed. Tsunade would be angry if her apprentice missed training just because of a day of the year.
Sakura remembered the last time they had celebrated it. They had been Team 7. Sasuke had acted like it was not a big deal, but Sakura felt he had been happy. Naruto had acted like…Naruto. And Kakashi had watched his students with a smile in his eyes (and on his face probably, but it was hard to tell with that mask).
It had been so long since then, and now Sasuke was gone. Today made the pain of this knowledge even worse for Sakura. What was it, two years now?
Sakura dressed for the day, and began her walk to the hospital. She had started helping out there in the mornings on Tsunade's orders. They trained in the afternoons, but her teacher figured she could get plenty of good experience in the hospital.
"Hey, forehead!"
Sakura was pulled from her thoughts by Ino, who was waving from the door of the flower shop her family owned.
"Ino."
"Well, don't just stand there. Come on over!"
After Sasuke had left, Ino and Sakura had become friends again. They still competed, but now it was in a friendly sort of way.
Sakura followed Ino inside, and her friend took a seat behind the sales counter.
"Did you want something, Ino?"
"Not really. You just looked so gloomy out there. Cheer up, Sakura! If you walk down the street like that, people will think the world is ending!"
"But…" Sakura's eyed fell, studying her feet.
"I know, Sakura."
Sakura looked up again. Ino's eyes were softer, and there was a sad smile on her face.
"I know what day it is- you weren't the only fan girl!" She smirked at this. "...but you gotta cheer up. How can you go find Sasuke when you're moping around here?"
Ino smirked again. "You'll find him, Sakura. You'll bring him home."
She pressed a pink rose into Sakura's hands.
"Ino…"
Sakura shook her head, smiling once more. "You're right. Thanks Ino!"
She waved and left the store.
"Good luck forehead!" Ino called after her.
Sakura threw herself into work with a will. Ino was right. She didn't have time to be depressed. Each day of training would bring her closer to Sasuke.
Still, in the middle of crossing the hospital courtyard, Sakura couldn't help but pause, looking up into the sky.
"Happy birthday Sasuke," she whispered.
...
...
...
Sasuke froze as he entered his room in Orochimaru's lair. He was certain he had just heard someone call his name…
Aneko: Ta-dah!! Not much, but hey, when I get ideas stuck in my head, they won't leave 'til I write them down. Ja. sayonara.