10 November 2014
another time, another place
The Sincerities
Moving on was more simple than it was easy. It was simple in the sense that all he had to do was remind himself that his situation meant he had to . . . well, move on. It wasn't easy, on the other hand, because of how deeply invested he felt to her—because of how in-love he was with her, with every laugh and smile, every tear he'd ever wanted to wipe, every scream he'd ever winced at, every blink and every word, every inch and breath, every atom.
He fell in love with Sakura Haruno and as far as he and anyone else knew, she was a part of his reality.
. . .
After a while, he found that the less he thought about it, the more he was able to silently forget (or rather . . . lock away) whatever part of him still held on. Then, years after the war, he awoke one morning (and then many mornings after) before his wife who lay peacefully beside him, raven-haired and aristocratic and not Sakura.
On these days, he often stared at her with a faint ache in his chest before looking away, exhaling deeply after turning onto his back to stare up at their ceiling. Then, alone in his thoughts, he'd feel the unfortunate burn of bittersweet sentiment when he'd imagine if perhaps, in another time and place, he'd have instead awakened beside a once familiar head of blush-pink. Not long after, two pale eyes would open slowly and look at him endearingly, breaking the dream; he, too, would glance back warmly, but for a moment he'd wonder to himself about what it may have felt like to look into two bright, mint eyes.
Naruto didn't allow these thoughts to surface willingly, however; he was a married man who now had before him a new love—a new woman, a new reality. Even so, perhaps this is what managed to bother him the most. This 'new love' almost felt unattainable; it felt as though deep down he was cheating himself (as well as another).
Despite having moved on, there was no denying that a part of him still loved Sakura, and that even now as a new man there was nothing (and no one) that could completely replace what he once felt, lived through, and wanted.
.
.
author's note. This quick drabble, I suppose I should call it, is simply one of the thousands of perspectives one can choose to take on Naruto's future/the series' end and epilogue. As I wrote this, I imagined more of a newly-married, not-yet-a-father sort of Naruto, and I felt I was primarily depicting an extreme on what it's like when someone whom you love/ed so deeply is no longer in your life and future. Likewise, angst seemed more suitable than my usual fluff and romance.
Nevertheless, just because this is a bitter-tasting little account, it's not to say I won't update later on with romance to sooth those who, like Naruto (and myself), were not able to watch his and Sakura's relationship blossom; a new collection of drabbles, perhaps. Until then, these times will pass... so I hope those of you who are still left burned by the series' end are soon enough able to find some form reconciliation.
Many thanks for reading; reviews are welcome if so desired.
Yvette.
Credit for Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.