-1Cherry blossoms fluttered and danced in the skies of Konoha. The wind played with Sakura's blush colored hair causing it to tickle her cheeks; quite a few strands snuck their way into her thin mouth. Sakura was getting quite annoyed, not only with the wind teasing her, but that her platinum blond friend was dragging Sakura to every dress store known to man in Konoha. Luckily there were only a few, but Sakura was both shocked and regretting the scene of a sea of dresses. 'This was going to be a long day', the bubblegum haired kunoichi thought.
Finally, after Sakura was completely buried in a pile of what Ino called 'rejects', they found a perfectly elegant dress that suited Sakura. But of course the size did not fit our poor ninja. Ino boiled at this, Sakura thought she was going to eat the dress, or at least rip it apart. Ino threw her arms in fury and screeched things out like "ARE YOU JOKING ME?!" and "OUT OF ALL THE DRESSES THIS ONE WAS….." and also "WE WALKED FOR HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS", est. This caused a bit of attention and Sakura hid her face in her hand. 'This was going to be a long day.'
The store clerk shot her head at Ino and rushed over with a somewhat creepy smile that said 'get out or shut up….please'. "Is there a problem?" Ino was angry, her world was crumbling, and this lady asked if there was a problem.
"What do you think?!" Ino was screaming in the air about a dress and walking for hours, seriously isn't that kind of a give away?
Sakura knew that Ino was stressed, with the wedding and all. But, she had to stop the conversation before Ino tore this woman apart. Sakura was about to speak up when the tiny bell chimed in the doorway. It was Shikamrau, Sakura was quite surprised at this, Shikamaru was usually too lazy to do anything.
Ino lit up like a light bulb and rushed over to suffocate her groom. "SHIKA!!!!!!!!" she shouted. 'Of course' Sakura thought. Any guy would have been surprised at this behavior but he was used to this, anyone who knew Ino that well would be. "Wait" she asked. "Why are you here?"
He smirked and remarked "you have the biggest mouth in the world."
Soon after Ino untangle her self off of Shikamaru she pointed accusingly at the store clerk. "She's being mean!" Ino sounded like a toddler when he was around, she always would whine and complain, wait, she always did that…..
He sighed and muttered something about this being a drag. He looked over to the woman who was being pointed at by his fiancé, he was tired and annoyed, but this was Ino and well, she was different. The woman began to panic and blurted out "if you need a dress we'll fit you in one, i-if that's what you want of course." Ino immediately painted a grin on her face. "Lets go Sakura!" Sakura handed the mountain of rejected dresses to the woman (store clerk) and ran off. At this Shikamaru walked away and muttered something like whatever I'm out.
"So you want ze beautiful dress for this young madam we?" a man named Jacque announced as he circled around Sakura examining her with a measuring tape. The closeness made Sakura uncomfortable as he muttered random numbers.
"Ummmmmmmm……………sure." Ino replied scratching her scalp. "Oh, and I was thinking of a design like this one." She showed him the strapless silver dress that complimented Sakura's skin an hair color.
"We! It if perfection" Jacque squished his fingers into a bird mouth form and kissed his finger tips.
Sakura was trying not to yelp with pain. Sure Jacque was amazing when it came to sewing the dress and drawing out the sketch but when it came to needles and sharp objects on people there was a flaw. He kept accidentally poking her with little pins. It stung her skin, and it added to her 'perfect' day. He was finally finished and Sakura let out a sigh of relief. He kissed his finger tips once again and said "magnefic". Sakura felt a blush coming upon her cheeks, she wasn't used to everyone gazing upon her and looking pleased. She smirked 'if only Sasuke saw me in-, no, I promised my self not to think of him, give up Sakura, he'll ever come back'. (a/n sorry if Sakura seems like a pessimist but after Sasuke left she sort of gave up hope so …… ya moving on) "Come zee yourself in za mirror."
He took her hand graciously and led her to her reflection. 'There wont be enough room for my big forehead', Sakura thought. FLASH time seemed to stop for Sakura, as he led her to the mirror there was this odd feeling. She thought she saw raven hair and a blue shirt? "Walla!" The gorgeous black locks turned back into luscious blond hair. Sakura was once again day dreaming of Sa- no him. She turned toward the mirror, and she saw a reflection that seemed, almost……unreal. Sakura's soft hair seemed to stick out even more, if that was possible. Her hair was longer, now that Sa- I mean he was gone. Yes, since Sakura, to protect Sasuke, sliced her hair. Her short hair only brought back memories, memories that weren't needed. (a/n yes, I know Sakura, in the manga, has short hair after Sasuke leaves, but I wanted Sakura to have long hair, I like long hair so, sorry if your mad, back to story)
"FINALLY!, MY BRIDESMAID HAS A DRESS!!!!!!" Ino bellowed, ecstatic that the long hours spent finding this item has finally paid off. Sakura just stared, she lifted a hand and touched her silky hair, was this……was this really her?
"Vat do you think?" Jacque asked. He stood beside Sakura in the mirror. Sakura blinked her emerald slowly and opened them again. This time it was not Jacque in the mirror but…….him. She saw him smirk his famous smirk, something that made her almost faint before. But, that was before, and Sakura wasn't the Sakura before. She blinked in shock and Jacque returned to his normal appearance.
"Well?" Ino asked a little breathy. She was worried, worried that they had to find another dress.
"I love it" Sakura replied. She did not lie, but she was still shocked at the recent events.
"oh good", she sighed her hand covering her heart.
Sakura and Ino left the store quite relieved. The wind continued to play with Sakura's hair, Ino's must have been less interesting to the atmosphere since it was not free like Sakura's. It was secured in a high ponytail preventing any problems with the wind or hair in her mouth. Ino and Sakura walked out onto the stone road, the bell chimed in their ears as the door crashed behind them. Ino, orange bag in hand was beaming, as Sakura was. Even when he left Sakura was able to smile, at least with her friends. Yes, her friends could pull her out of the deepest pool of sorrow.
Hinata sprinted threw Konoha, her sandals scratched the pavement making dirt scatter around. She pushed threw the crowd, trying to make a path to her destination. The news repeated in Hinata's head. 'he's back' she thought. 'Naruto's back!' "Sorry. Excuse me, sorry ma'am." Hinata mumbled. "oomph!" Hinata found herself looking at two bright ninjas. One with blush hair and another with platinum. "Ino! Sakura!"
"Oh, hello Hinata! Is there something wrong?" Sakura asked a bit worried. Hinata was breathing at an abnormal speed. What was going on?
"Sa-Sakura-san, I-Ino-san, he's back." Hinata panted out.
"Naruto?" Ino announced. "Well, did he…….". Ino knew Sasuke was a touchy subject to Sakura, and Ino never really wanted to bring him up in a conversation when the girl that he hurt the most was around. Sometimes Ino felt like dragging him back here herself just so she could see Sakura smile like she use to, big and bright.
Hinata knew this too. But she couldn't lie to them, nor could she just ignore the question. "Yes" she answered. "Sasuke is with him." Hinata saw Sakura's eyes widen, she thought this was the best time to go reunite with Naruto, and leave Sakura with Ino. Hinata was their friend but Ino could help Sakura better. With that Hinata excused herself and ran off.
Sakura's eyes were covered by her long bangs. She was confused, and shocked. "Why?" Sakura mumbled barley loud enough for Ino to hear.
"What?" Ino asked. She comforted her friend and was now at Sakura's level.
"Naruto, I better go see him!" Sakura exclaimed, her face was masked with glee, and Ino knew this. Sakura sprinted toward the gates to Konoha. She left Ino to stand there in awe.