Hold onto me
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Summary: After the tragic death of her beloved fiancé, Sakura finds herself falling into the depth of depression, and her voice were heard as she calls out to him, he'd heard her and he promised her he'll be there for her, but he came back with a price. Yet fate have not let her down, meeting a mysterious young artist sparked the fire of life into her heart once more, and love begins to blossom; If only she'd never opened the door to that other side. (Sasori x Sakura. Past Sasuke x Sakura. Setting in an AU).
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and their characters.
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-Prologue: A tragedy-
Happiness is but a fleeting mirage. So frail and translucent it passed right through slender fingers, fingers trying to reach and desperately grasp it within reach. Yet... yet even so it slips away into the abyss of darkness. Same slender fingers covering delicate face of a woman, holding back the sobs escaping her pink lips, eyes sewed shut tightly, forbidding the tears from ever falling. But they fell anyway. Just as water slipped by, salty tears of sorrow never ceased. She cried and cried, until the tears becoming a river in her heart, numbing the pain. And then... it was just emptiness. Hurtful emptiness grips tightly onto her fragile heart.
Sasuke.
A vision of a beautiful elegant white dress, fitting on her slender form, so white and beautiful it made her Cinderella, a picture perfect princess for the day. Echoing sounds of bells and flowers descending from the sky, flowing on gentle breeze, it turns her dream vision into a reality. It's their wedding day. A precious moment that would tie them together as husband and wife; a day of oaths and promises. A fantasy soon is crushed. Hammered and obliterated. Like shattering glass into a thousand pieces and scattered, a glass vision of a dream that can never be fixed ever again. That white dress now stained and dyed into pitch black. Those flowers falling from the sky like snow, wilting away as they touched the ground. Wilted just like her dream. Sea foam eyes darkened with sadness and hollow.
'Sasuke. You promised to not leave me.'
So why. Why was he leaving her? Friends and family around, sharing her grief just for him, but her grief was inconsolable. Sasuke. He was everything to her. Sasuke. He was her everything. SASUKE. He was her life. Now, he's gone. Denial. She's in denial everything had happened, refusing to accept reality, because if she does, it just meant she's admitting he is gone. But he was not, he'd promised. He's here with her. Always. So she calls and calls out to him in her heart, in desperation for him to make true of his promise.
'Isn't it right, Sasuke? You'll never leave right?'
"Sakura-chan..." a blond young man called softly after her, after noticing everyone was starting to leave. Everyone that is but her. She stood still. Stationary there like a frozen flower, untouched by time. If only that statement was true. If only she wasn't so pale in complexion. If only she didn't have those ugly darken bags under her eyes, ones spoken greatly of many sleepless nights; not without him by her side. If only she didn't look like a withering flower instead of a beautiful blossoming bloom in the brightest summer. If only.
"Sakura-chan."
The blond calls her again, worry and concerns written clearly in his eyes for his dearly beloved. A greatly held friend in his heart, an unrequited love he selflessly gave away for his best friend. Yes, she'd known, he'd known, they'd known. But she'd chosen him instead. Sasuke. She broke his heart. Still with a big smile of sun, he told her 'Loving someone is to let them go. Their happiness is mine. Be happy Sakura-chan' and she cried. The cry baby of the group. They protected her. The nurturer, the healer of their wounds. Now... it was only two of them instead of three. He was gone. They've both known this day would come, but it came too soon and too unexpected.
"Sakura-chan."
And she found herself crying all over again in his arms. Wrapped around her like a protective brother he'd been for her. A good friend. Their best friend. The only connection left in her life that proves he existed. "Naruto." Gasping out a barely whispered voice, ache in despair. It broke his heart. No matter how it hurts him to see the woman, the love of his life with another man, Naruto always be there to support and comfort her. Both a joy and heart wrenching sight. Still he smiled. Beamed at her. She saw. He saw. And what they saw was a strong kindred spirit, who shine so bright, untouchable, out of their reach. Uzumaki Naruto was and still the golden heart in which glued them together. Haruno Sakura is the compassion that blossoms love and Uchiha Sasuke was strength and raw darkness. They, together, led him out of his abyss.
"It's unfair." The world is cruel, "He's not gone! He's not, he's not-...!" Whence her hysteric continues the sadness to pour forth, and the blond continues to hold her tight. Blue eyes watered, and then she understood. Naruto took it just as hard as she have. The blond had fought tooth and nails to reach acceptance with the dark haired male. Naruto had made a brotherhood bond with Sasuke, kept his promise to Sakura and brought him back to her. Only now.
Just to lose him anyway.
"But he is." The blond told her curtly, so painfully honest that cut right through her heart. Shatter that illusion."I don't want to believe it either, but we can't deny the truth, Sakura-chan." To her, it felt like he'd betrayed her. Shocked sea foam eyes stared at pleading blue, and she pushed him away. "Sakura-chan. He may be gone, but he's still with you. With us. In here." Pointing toward his heart with a small smile. "In our hearts, dattebayo." That smile. That ridiculous verbal tics in which Naruto had always used, after giving his heart warming speech or promises had always made to her, or anyone else for that matter, enough so they'll put their faith into him. Into his words. Not this time. No consolation could help her. Regardless, he'd tried. Still trying.
"Thank you, Naruto." She smiled with tears, and her form shook.
"Sakura-chan."
"I'm fine now. Don't worry." He didn't believe her. Not once. Because there are no words to describe the pain she felt in her heart, nothing can drench the feeling of falling and falling, never again resurfacing. Sakura felt it; she'd fallen so far not even Naruto can pull her out. Not anyone, but Sasuke. "It's alright, Naruto." She smiled again. A smile that broke his heart more so. "Hinata is probably waiting for you." Yes, she'd known, the bright sunny boy is moving on. Hyuuga Ninata is a sweet girl; no doubt she would be the perfect half for her beloved friend. "I'll be fine. I'll just... need a moment..." before turning once more to look at the perfectly still grave of her deceased fiancé. With no more words, he'd respect her wish; it doesn't mean he wants to leave her like this. All alone. Reluctant, but nevertheless, Sakura needed her lone time.
"Sakura-chan. We'll wait for you okay?" at that time, the blond was unsure if she'd heard him. A thick blanket of silence covered over them like a heavy oppression. If only she'd seen him, how his fists clenched by his side. His own tears pooled in the corner of his eyes. Tears for the loss of his best friend, and the tears for the girl he'd loved. She would have seen how much hurting it is to him as it does to her. There was absolutely nothing he could do now to ease the pain she'd felt. Nothing. "We'll..." unsure of what to tell her, it was very much unlike him, granted who could blame the blond in this situation, no one would know the right words to say. "We'll get you in an hour okay?"
For her, out of respect, he'd left her in peace.
She was alone.
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"Sasuke." she lay down onto the top of his grave, trying her best to hold onto him as her reality slipping away. "Don't leave me." The sky cried then, witnessing as the sadden maiden beg her long departed love. "Don't go." Don't leave. Same chanting over and over again, until the rain soaked through her black dress onto her thin body. No matter how cold or cruel the world is, she'll cling onto that last shred of connection she has with him. With Sasuke.
"I love you."
Maybe if he could hear her...
...then maybe he'll stay.
She fell asleep on his name. As promised an hour later, she was carried off into the car by her friends. All worried for her well being as she slept through the rain and tears on his grave. From then, everything changed, she was becoming a quiet dainty little thing while her friends continue to move on. She was stuck. They love her, as she loves them. But their love was not enough. Just like a flower...
...but a blossom frozen in time.
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-Chapter I: Fateful crossing -
It was decide upon for a change. Something new. Something different and away from all of that sadness and aching in her heart. So she'd done the only thing she'd thought of; leaving it all behind. Getting away from Japan was the only way, an escape really, in despite of her parents pleading and her friends wishing her to stay. Haruno Sakura couldn't. She couldn't live another day like this anymore. After graduating, with plans carefully lay out, preparation almost completed. She took matters into her own hands. It was enough; she has to regain control back in her life. Luckily. Her job employment had a branch in India that needed staff member, without a second's thought Sakura took the position. 'I have to get out of here.' It was her only thought. Too many memories of Sasuke here, holding her back; the happy and the sad.
And her parents.
Oh she'd remembered their heartfelt words ever so clearly.
[ "Sakura, are you sure about this? India is quite away." Her mother would say, worried etched upon her aging face, concern about the environment her daughter will be living in. "What if you need someone and we can't get to you? What if something happens to you?" And more and more concern like white noise in the back of her mind, Sakura could hardly hear those words. It was fortunate her father was there, he understood her dilemma, against his own personal emotion for his only daughter to leave; he supported her. With all of his heart. Sakura, with a grateful smile knew she could depend on him. For comfort and support. Even though she was following his footsteps of becoming a young and talented doctor, she was going to be far away. It was for the best, she'd convinced herself.
"Sakura. Whatever that you've decided." He said to her in that warming fatherly voice, the voice that clearly says 'you're my onlyprincess' a father could say, and it clenched her heart, refusing the tears or faltering her resolve to depart her hometown, she had to be strong. "We'll support you. Just so you know if you decided to come back, we'll be here for you. This is your home after all. Or give us a ring, we're just a phone call away," followed by that hearty laughter embracing the comfort around them like a true family. She'll miss them. Sakura really would, but this is something she needed, a change to settle down the aching in her heart.
What pushing her off the edge...
... Was that pendant.
"Here. A memento from me." Her gentle father would pull out a silver necklace, holding onto a moderate size five petals flower, of which one of the petals was coloured in purple. "When you're sad, or need some comfort over there. Hold this and think of me. Of us. That we're right there beside you, dear." The dam broke. The luggage fell from her hands. Tears trailed down her eyes and hugged them. Her strong mother and warming father. "I will. Thank you. Thank you. I love you." Thank you for bringing me into this world. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for being there for me. Most of all thank you for being such wonderful parents. All the thank yous weren't enough to express her gratitude for the couple in her small arms. Sadly every young bird must spread their wings and take flight.
So she did, and left the nest. ]
Two hours after the heartfelt of her parents, Haruno Sakura finds herself pulling her luggage at the airport. Two hours riding in the cab toward the place that would take her far away. Two hours of parental love, only to meet the love of friends, the bond of friendship. Her friends were all there to see her off, a last reunion until the next time, but never a goodbye. Goodbye meant forever, therefore Sakura wasn't going to leave for good, just enough to find herself again. Of course Uzumaki Naruto is there along with his new sweetheart. There's also Yamanaka Ino, her childhood best friend, teetering toward tears of losing her best friend. The platinum blond had come a long way from being a florist of her parent's shop, to an assistant in medical department, just as Sakura. They promised they would do everything together, so they did. Even so loving the same boy. But Sasuke had chosen her. No bad blood came between them, the ties of friendship were stronger, and theirs last even through that too.
"Fore-head!" The blond young lady called out toward her, waving frantically, and then only broke into a run, flying into Sakura's arms. Their friendly nickname banter was only for old time sake, in which bad habits die hard. "I can't believe it!" She whines against the pink haired maiden's gentle smile at her best friend. "You're really leaving me. You're really leaving us." No matter how happy the others were for her, there's also the about of sadness of seeing your friend leave and being left behind.
"Yes, Ino. I have to." An apologetic smile falls upon her face. Hoping that arguing with Sakura holds some merit but a futile attempt at that, her mind was made up and she was an hour away from departing for her flight. Indeed it was like becoming a farewell. But not forever, just for now. "You have my number, Ino. I'll call you, and if you need me call me and whine out like a pig then." And graciously laughed at her jab, just for the sake of lifting up the mood.
"You better! If you don't you better watch out, and we'll all spam your emails!"
At this moment, Kiba, a shaggy brown haired boy with a large dog drops in their two cents, "Hell yeah!" Grinning that wolfish grin and holding up his thumb, "Just because you're going off, doesn't mean you're out of this circle. You're stuck with us, aaaaaalll the way." Such reassuring words only touched her heart more so. Overlooking such a dramatic display of comical scene and loudness, yet the words were heard and understood.
"Sakura-chan," It was Naruto's turn. "No matter how far we are, we'll always be there." Grinning that Oscar winning award smile, "So better be prepared to come back during my wedding with Hinata-chan, dattebayo!" winking at his blushing sweetheart. Wherein the blond is a confident young man, Hinata was a shy and timid young lady, but someone who will still hold her ground. "N-Naruto-kun..." trying to reprimand him and fidget with her fingers; embarrassed. Completely utterly embarrassed, but not ashamed. No never ashamed, always proud of him.
"You bet." Sakura laughed.
It wasn't a forced or formal laughed, but a genuine one where everyone could recognize, and it brought a relief upon them. Months of hearing her...of hearing her forcing laughs, forcing herself to smile for the sake of her love ones, broke their hearts more than it could. Now. Now it was okay, it is going to be okay.
"Ding. Flight [...] is ready for boarding. Please be at the boarding gate." And the announcement repeats.
"Guys, I have to go."
Gathering around for one last group hug, Sakura felt the warmth around them embracing her. It was something she'll miss greatly. Their last farewell, happy face and waving energetically. Sakura couldn't help but felt as if she was leaving behind something precious. Her will faltered for a moment. No. She held strong. With a smile, she left. All the hugs and kisses, all the heartfelt parting, the gifts secretly stashed into her luggage; they all stayed to watch as her plane took flight, and off she went. Their beloved cry baby. The healing blossom of compassion.
Goodbye for now, Haruno Sakura.
"Take care, Sakura-chan." Naruto whispered quietly as he looked on.
"We'll pray for her, Naruto-kun." Hinata smiled at him as they held hands.
They all did, so she can overcome the loss.
If only they knew, how deeply the loss engraved into her heart was...
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[India]
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Arriving at her destination was almost hellishly hot. Sure Japan has the same heat, but this was scorching, in which almost melting her skin right off her bones. Maybe a little exaggerating, but still. The hours on flight had settled down her emotional turmoil, gave the girl much to contemplate about and not lamenting the past. About him. Hoping and hoping there's a new start, only to feel like a hypocrite in contradicting herself; wanting a new change but never letting go of the past. Sasuke was and is still the love of her life, he was gone. No one can ever replace him. Replace and fill in the hole etched deeply in her heart.
'Sasuke.'
No. Reprimanding herself for wallowing in the past. Shook herself from that unpleasant train of thoughts, all while heading toward the luggage reclaiming sector. People stared. Not because she is a foreign in their country, not at all, internationals were widely accepted. They were staring because she was different. She stood out among the rest. Criticizing stares could be ignored; Haruno Sakura was used to such tact. Her hair pink as the colour of cherry blossom. No natural hair could be this colour, maybe exception of by dying their locks. People who made their hair bright were scorn upon, stereotypically believed to be rebellious law breakers. Sakura can't really explain how her hair is naturally pink, it was a lost cause.
With eyes bright green full of life, she ignored them.
Sakura was the few rarities with such uncommon colours, nevertheless, it didn't change who she is. Thankfully her ride came, Shizune, the assistant of the top medical specialist had come all the way to India long before, trying to help and stave off the newly outbreak of illness across India and Asia. Sakura had offered the job position and arrive to help. Tsunade, a renowned female medical specialist had trained them both, and took delight in knowing her two students had taken matters into their own hands.
"Sakura!"
The woman with short black hair called out to her, ecstatic she had a fellow student under the same teacher had come. She was holding onto a white paper with Sakura's name on it. All while resisting the urge to jump in joy, as Sakura resisting the urge to sweat drop. It was a save nonetheless, because the young blossom haired girl didn't speak the language they've used in India. Yes she is efficient enough in English to understand them, only left a problem. It's the accent. Both hers and theirs clashed horribly and made it difficult to get the message around. It seemed like Shizune understood and doing great with what Sakura is lacking.
"Hello, Shizune-san. Thank you for picking me up." Sakura replied politely.
"Don't worry about it, Sakura. We're gonna be working together from now one, right?" the playful woman winked. Overlooking her age, she was the quite mischief to a degree, but strict. Efficient in what she does and does it flawlessly, something even Sakura can envy...sometimes.
"Gods, it is so hot." Sakura complained after setting her luggage the car trunk Shizune is driving and took seating on the passenger seat. Window opened and still the heat was excruciating. Sometimes Sakura wondered how on earth the people lived actually survived here. Better yet, it is no wonder people stared at her, she was remarkably pale, compared to the locals here, all dark and tanned skin from the concentrated rays of the sun. She did not envy them at all.
"Hey, hey, if you're already complaining about the heat. Then you're not going to survive here at all." Shizune said playfully as she drove into the city. The city. It was bustling with crowds, bikes, old and new types of vehicles of different shape and sizes, some she'd never seen at all, but on the whole, it looked less modern compared to where she came from. She could see the economy struggling to survive, not all houses were made of concrete or wood. Mixed and match mashed together. The sight just blew her mind away. Not all was bad it seemed. Like all places, there's always a line in which divided the rich from the slums. And in her heart Sakura knew she'd made a right choice by coming here, and aiding them of course. Sakura, no matter what befalls of her, wanted to help out every one as much as she could.
The drive was quiet. Some small talks. Shizune would update Sakura of their current situation, the products, the medicines, the vaccines in development. While Sakura would grow interest and asked about the culture. Admittingly, Shizune absorbed in work, haven't gotten much time to integrate much of Indian's tradition; just enough. Never minding the heat, traffic delayed them; street vendors would try and introduce them to their products, car window by car window. Streets distracted the blossom haired girl with their colourfulness, how bright and vibrant and lively it was. Oh, and the smell of foreign food that had her stomach protesting.
"Hungry are you?" Shizune laughed.
"I guess." Sakura was embarrassed. Flushed cheeks not from the sun.
"Don't worry we're almost there, then, maybe I'll can give you a little tour." And it was a plan. With a promise of food on the way. It made her belly happy to hear that.
What they both didn't want to venture into was Sasuke. Shizune knew how deeply loss of love one can caused. She'd seen it in Tsundade, and now she's seeing it in Sakura. It was heartbreaking sight. Only reason why she didn't outwardly asked 'Hey find someone new?' or something thoughtlessly along the same line. It would just be like treading on thin ice, and trying not literally step on a landmine, one so without doubt could potentially go off. That, would have been on a sour note. Awkwardness and everything alike, leading to just plainly unhappy. Luckily for them, Shizune being the older of the two had ample experiences to understand.
"Erm... Shizune-san, I have to ask." Sakura started and turned to ask the other woman, "Where do I stay?" Financially, the blossom haired younger woman wouldn't be able to stay if she's constantly living in a hotel. Expenses would be jaw dropping. Unquestionably her family is wealthy, doesn't mean she have to flush her money down the drain for everyday hotel room luxury, compared to those suffering outside. It was just... it was not right. "I mean, I don't think I have enough to pay hotel off for a month let alone a year. That's just crazy."
"Oh, you won't be staying in a hotel, Sakura," She grinned without any concern of taking her eyes off the road. That scared Sakura at some point. At least it doesn't get them killed right? Well not yet any way. "Lady Tsunade had made an agreement with your parents before you packed, and secretly they, your parents purchased a small comfortable cottage house just on the outskirt of town just for you. You got to admit Lady Tsunade has great taste in picking out a place for us." The amount of awe and astonishment didn't describe the feeling that the younger medic felt right about then. Her parents and her mentor had planned this out? And she hasn't even announced her plan of departure that long. Falling back onto her seat, in which the young girl didn't know she was on the edge of her seating, letting out a relief breath. One Sakura had no idea she was holding onto, until it was out.
Another supporting comfort from her parents and her mentor, all while making a mental note to thank them once she'd arrived. Probably tonight. "You mean you have a place like that too, Shinzune-san?" Shizune's uncle was quite a political figure, of course being his niece would give her some privilege right? "Oh, me?" the woman beamed once again, "I'm staying in a villa house my uncle and Lady Tsunade used to stay while in India." Then that smile turned into a small frown, "But you know, the house is so big, it gets pretty lonely. But good thing Lady Tsunade kept the house keeper and the gardener, otherwise...you know the rest," Laughing uncomfortably afterward.
"I see. I'm glad." And it finally sunk in.
Sakura would be alone in this new big cottage house, in India, without knowing much of anyone but Shizune, and maybe the rest of the medic corps here in India branch. Still no need to fret over such trivial matter right? Work will surely keep the young medic occupied enough; the moment she'd gotten home is to want to sleep through the day.
"Don't worry, Sakura, if you need housekeeping, we can find you one." Again, someone else was making sure she was comfortable. More and more of her family and friends trying to accommodate her needs. Flare of warmness brushed her lonely heart once more.
"No, it's alright, Shizune-san." Shaking her head at the offer, "I'm sure I can manage. Beside, work would keep me all busy right? If not, housework would be a nice work out." Smiling positively at her reasons. Or perhaps they were excuses.
"Alright, if you say so."
While Shizune continues to focus on the road, another particular thing noticing while passing the busy streets and toward areas with more trees were. "Are those... monkeys?" Sakura asked in astonishment, green eyes widened and staring at many, many of the said creatures on the trees, on the rooftops, on the streets, everywhere. "Ah, those," the darker haired woman laughs, stopping by a road sign and a monkey dropped down onto the roof of their car, nosily poking its head into the open window of the driver's seat. "In India, they are worshipped there; they are part of the culture after all." She said and giving the monkey a fresh piece of fruit from her car compartment.
"Remember back home we have isles dedicated to rabbits, dogs, cats, etc?"
Small islands where either rabbits, dogs, cats were vastly populated, co-existing with the people living there. It wasn't a strange sight to see them littered around almost anywhere on these islands, and Sakura couldn't help it, but found those bunnies extremely cute. "In some countries, they have crabs, horses and more. But here, monkeys." At that same moment another monkey chose to jump onto of the car roof above Sakura, making the poor girl jump in her seat, added in with a small squeak escaping her lips. Green eyes widened staring in bewilderment at the furry mammal, while Shizune held back a giggle.
Chattering noises and the creature touched her pink hair.
It seemed like other humans and these monkeys have something in common with attracting to the weird pinkness of her hair. Nudging it away as Shinzune gave it another piece of fruit, and deciding to drive away that point before they get swamped with a group of them. Something not really pleasant. Soon enough another half an hour drive, they've reached at Sakura's new establishment. Exactly on the outskirt of town. Surprisingly for a dry and mostly sand covered like desert place, they had greenery of trees covering the land.
"Alright, we're here!" Shizune announced after parked neatly into the parking slot.
Killing the car engine and first one out.
One word; Amazing.
Sakura couldn't believe her eyes landing onto the place. It even had its own porch in front and on the back eclipsed by a huge front yard, vast backyard, and in middle open garden, connecting each room perfectly. So much open space, and airy it was. Like a dream house really.
"Well what do you think?"
"It's amazing."
"Feeling up for a little exploring?"
"Sure."
Three floors. In the middle was an open space botanic garden like, looking to the other side, looking below. Nothing confines. Nothing tight. The architecture felt completely different to those back home in Japan. Of course Japan had their many cold winters and snow, open space like this for the sky and sun meant freezing one's ass off. India was perfect, because it allows air in and sun shine bright. "It's perfect." Sakura exclaimed upon standing in the mid floor banister. "It's like one of those holiday homes."
"Isn't it?" Shizune grinned once more.
Now more than ever, Sakura is very much thankful for her parents and her mentor Lady Tsunade. That urgency to call them and sending them her gratitude were just unbearable, but knowing Lady Tsunade, she'll probably ask for more wine to drink in form of a 'thank you' more than needing to saying it.
"Speaking of which, Sakura. Do you want me to show you around, before heading to work tomorrow?"
"That would be great, Shizune-san!" They still have many hours of daylight left.
And that's how Sakura spent the afternoon after arriving in the morning in India, of course, after leaving her luggage in her room and locking her house. The street is busy as ever, Shizune also warn the young girl to keep her wallet close, lest she'll be robbed blind by street children or thieves. Naturally on the way of the small tour, Sakura bought the few street food being sold by multiples of food vendors, her belly demands food compensate. Problem? There's just so many to choose from, it was completely over her head. The locals? People wearing colourful tunic dresses and clothing. Head hammering of chattering in a language that blew Sakura's mind off and unable to interpret. The thing is...
... it was insanely crowded.
Small narrow streets and alleyways, even the large main roads were filled to the brim. Sakura had a hard time catching up to the eager older woman leading the way, and not before long.
"Shizune-san?"
They were cut off.
"Shizune-san?"
A full circle turn, right, left, around. Sakura called toward her fellow co-worker, only to have the locals staring at her weirdly. Few locals were sitting comfortably in the corner, the others standing and chattering away with their friends, some were doing laundry up above, and the rest walking passed by her. Her foreign language and calling had all nearby heads turned toward her direction. Greatly embarrassed, Sakura marched on, calling for her peer. Only receive more stares in return. Panic begins to rise in her guts, and the blossom colour haired girl could only think of the worse.
A dirty and ragged child bumped into her.
Normally Sakura didn't mind, but she felt their small hand frisking her.
"H-Hey!"
In her unsuccessful attempt to grab the child, the boy, he'd only giggled and nicked off with her pink coloured wallet and took off. With Sakura hot on his trail. "Hey you little thief!" She yelled and continues to give after the chase, "Come back here! I said come back here thief! I'm so going to spank you!" Of course no one would understand the foreign language enough and comprehend her plead. Twisting into more corners, venturing different alleyways, bumping into varies bodies, yet still hot on the kid's trail. There was no way she was going to lose her wallet!
The little thief seemed flustered, unable to get rid of his chaser. Haruno Sakura of course had been training on tracks during high school, there's no way she'll lose in this game of chase especially not when her athletic pride is on the line. If the kid thought he could lose her by jumping over walls, the little thief is gravely mistaking. The blossom coloured hair woman would catch up, and stop him every turn. Only to have the sneaky little thing doing the unexpected, by twisting around and crawling into different holes. Just like a rat. Where the hell is a sledge hammer to whack a mole, because this game felt awfully akin to it.
"Stop! Hey! I said stop!"
By some miracle or blessing from Gods above, a stranger the little thief bumped into grabbed the boy's elbow, effectively yanking him backward and halting his mad dashing. Just in time as Sakura was beginning to run out of breath, the sun was burning on her flushed skin and jet lag was murder.
("Let me go! Let me go!") The little thief would thrash about in the young man's arm.
The young handsome man, now that Sakura looked carefully at him, has a magnificent shade of red colour hair, like the blood red or sunset with the bright golden shine of the sun through it. Just like flames dancing on the sky. It was just equally beautiful as his golden brown eyes, borderline molten gold, behind a bored and aloof expression.
("Stealing is wrong. I strongly advice you, to return what you've stolen, kid.") Giving no indication he was about to let the kid go any time soon.
("No!") Clutching the pink wallet closely to his chest, hissing and struggling out of that steely grip. ("Mama is sick. Need money to get her medicine!")
After that. The young man went quiet, saying nothing after the child's outburst. Sadly Sakura didn't understand or have a grasp of the situation such as communication barrier; the language was so... unfamiliar, strange and completely went over her head. Still, it is her wallet, and she was tired. Taking matter into her own hand, Sakura does one thing she knows; snatching the wallet back and staring at the child, who looked crossed between angry and in tears, readying for the waterworks.
Sighing, taking a few dollars out, and placed it onto the kid's hands with a smile. "Don't steal okay?" changing into English instead of Japanese, cringing at how stranger it sounded coming out from her lips. She was so rusty from many years of unused. Hesitant if the child could even understand her, if at all. Staring at the money in his hands, small, tiny hands, and then up at the bizarre pink haired woman, before smiling and rushed off.
("Thanks lady!")
For certain, the kid didn't understand what she was saying, either did Sakura. Regardless the message received and understood. That's what it all mattered. Some called her for being a soft hearted fool, even Sasuke did too, and perhaps she is a fool for being compassionate, it wouldn't change who she is. Now she was left, with him. At the moment that Sakura think about it, he was dressed very modern and casually, albeit a bit dark, unlike the traditional colour flare of the locals, and a pair of headphones clung around his neck. The young man's accent weren't thick and heavy like the locals, not that Sakura knows remotely an ounce about the language, it was something different right? He didn't exactly have much resemblance to the locals either.
"Um... Thank. You." Again using her English tongue, in a slow manner, as if trying to speak to a child. Or getting the message across.
"You're welcome."
It was clear. Influence English language. None of that thick Indian accent, or heaviness to his voice. It was perfectly deep with about of boyish tone, it was so scarily alike of those people born in Western land and forgotten their native tongue. Flushed in both embarrassment and shock, for the first time in this distant land, she'd met someone who spoke influence English without much of an accent. Unlike her of course, Japanese accent oozing through the English she'd spoken.
"Y-you know English?" She stammered.
"And Japanese. Need a demonstration?"
One of her cheeks puffed out in an angry pout, somehow he made that replied more or less like an insult. They barely met for five minutes and she's already being offended. The nerve!
"H-How do you even know, I'm Japanese?!" Switching back to her mother tongue.
He also switched smoothly between the two. If she'd thought his English was perfect, his Japanese was absolutely delighted to the ears. Smooth and silky like chocolate. "This place isn't big enough to out hear your screaming, little girl." Of course he'd rolled his eyes at her exclamation AND screaming. People from the next country could even hear her yelling as she chased after the little thief. Watching with disinterest amazement as she puffed up even more so at his rude remarks.
She takes it back. He was not amazing.
"And you're just rude!" Language amazing or not, the person just sucks. And a bastard.
"I hadn't realized." He snorted and pulled back on his headphones.
"Jerk."
"Is that anyway to thank someone who stopped your thief?"
That stung, and Sakura immediately stop her cursing at him, and had all the modesty to become embarrassed. He was right. He just saved her from being robbed after all. If this wasn't exactly a crap day for the young woman, she would have been more of a level headed than this... then again; Sakura had always been a hothead, taken from her mentor of course.
"You're r-right. Um... t-thank you." If only he wasn't good looking.
Sakura always had a weakness for good looking men.
"Again. You're welcome." A haughty smirk on his face she wanted to wipe off.
Bastard.
Without another word, the young man merely walked passed her, minding his own business. Sketch pad in his hand, pencil in another as he strolled on the afternoon sun. Resuming back to normalcy, as if the meeting had never occurred, and that somehow ticked Sakura off. On a normal day, it shouldn't, but something about this redhead seemed to bother her. In every. Single. Ways possible.
"Hey, wait a minute." She runs toward him.
He didn't stop. Or appeared to have heard her among the background noise.
And blaring music in his ears.
"Hey! I said wait!" Sakura yells as she walks beside him.
Sparing her a glance, "What?" a single glance that easily interpreted as 'Why are you following me?' message, and just as effortlessly reduce anyone under those gaze as if they are an idiot. Sakura felt like one, and it made her mad. Well madder at this guy trying her patient.
"I don't know my way around here, so. You should become my unofficial tour guide."
She stated proudly, but only to shrink back at his look later after saying it. Successfully, she'd made him full stop on his tracks, eyes fully trained on her, if not slightly widened a fraction. Staring her down with his scrutinizing gaze, before scowling. Scowling if one looked closely at him, otherwise from afar, he appeared to be completely aloof and disinterest. Seriously, was the guy made out of stone or what?
"And do pray tell why I should trouble myself babysitting your ass, little girl?"
"I'm not a little girl." She retorts back. "What, you're just a few years older than me or something?" Leaning forward, hands on hips, returning his critical look right back at him. There's no way he was THAT much older right? He looked what? Late twenties? Early thirties? Haruno Sakura just in his early twenties. Their age gaps shouldn't be THAT big right?
He sighs. "Answer the question."
"Because it's the right thing to do." Again exclaiming in a proud manner once more. Topped with a grin even Naruto should be proud of.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"What...?"
"What kind of shit is that?" maybe she was insane. He'll never understand the mechanic of women.
"That's common sense, old man. You do have common sense right?"
"Old... man...?" his eye twitched.
"Since you insisted you're 'older' that makes you an old man, right?"
"You insufferable, brat. Have parents not teach kids manners these days."
"Oh they do, just not to assholes."
She was pissing him off, and she knows it. Best logical solution to these annoyance, is to walk away, but he doubts she would remotely left him alone to his peace. And she knows she wouldn't let him off that easily, especially knowing now they can communicate without language barrier. "I should have let that kid rob you." He was definitely regretting it now. Anyone with weird pink hair is bouts to become a source of trouble. This just prove his theory. Resuming his pace, the young red hair man decided he wants to go, before they become the attraction entertainment for the local people to gather around.
As predicted, she followed.
The damn pink menace.
"You're not going to go away. Are you." It wasn't a question, it was a statement.
"Nope." She grinned, one that gotten under his skin.
Opting to ignore her wouldn't be wise either, lest she make a round two continuation of her incessant yelling and screaming in a foreign language among this neighbourhood. It was bad enough he had to deal with one loud mouth partner, whom he'd thankfully ditched, only to ironically attract another. No doubt the girl was enjoying herself at his expense. She is. He knows it. Mentally he cursed to himself in all the languages he knows. Sighing and pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Do enlighten me on perhaps why you are following me again?"
Shrugging. "I'm lost. And I lost my tour guide. You'll have to do." And then grinned once more, holding out her hands toward him. He looked at the offering hand and back at her, wary and suspicious as if the limb offended him. "Haruno Sakura." She introduces herself effortlessly.
"..." He didn't take her hand.
"What? Should I keep calling you 'old' man?"
"Hmph. Sasori." Not one to do it for her pleasure, he convinced, but rather to stop the headache she was giving him with her incessant none-sense. Heat was one thing, an annoying girl was another. He took her hand in a firm grip, and made his displeasure known. "Akasuna no Sasori."
"Eh?" his hand was warm in her small one. "Scorpion of the red sand?" large callous hand from holding brushes, sculptures and perhaps more. Delicate fingers of an artist for sure. "So your name is Japanese? You don't look... Japanese." Surely enough the man have that Asian exotic of someone from India, maybe he can be confused with someone from Eastern Asia too, but his skin was too pale in comparison to the local native. These bought questions to mind.
"I don't believe that's any of your concern, little girl." Pulling his hand back and fished out that pencil he'd pocketed. Damn, she's persistently annoying. However if he'd gotten rid of her, then he'll be with peace at last. "Where do you need to go?"
"I don't know. I'll have to look for Shizune-san."
"You have a cell phone? Try calling her."
"Oh...oh!" Scrambling to fish out her phone. "I hadn't thought of that."
And Sasori, merely gave her that look, easily read as 'Are you stupid or what?' look, completely owned the poor girl into embarrassment, and struggling with butter fingers for Shizune's number. Thank world for getting her fellow peer's number beforehand. Ring once. Ring twice, she picked up. Sakura begins to animatedly chatter away with her friend frantically on the cell, ignoring Sasori over all... who just rolled his eyes. The red head was thankful the attention was off away from him (for now), as he'd decided to focus on his quick sketches. In spite of his urgency to leave, he did in fact wait for her, and took her toward her friend by the end of that afternoon.
That day marked the very first time they've met.
The day of their fateful encounter.
.
- End of chapter -
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Author's note: I've been gone for a long time, and many of my stories were either left discontinued or removed due to FF (I'm not really sure why), I apologize for not making a continuation of them, due to expired inspiration. I've decided to start fresh, with Naruto fan fiction with the romantic pairing of Sasori and Sakura. For craving reason I love this pair, and truthfully, Sasori is the few of my favourite characters in the series. Sometimes I just think he doesn't have enough screen time, but then again he's not really a major character. My heart goes to him, even if he's a villain.
Sasori can be seen here as during his appearance in 'Tensei Edo' (Resurrection), where he appears older than in his puppet form. And Sakura during Blank period appearance, smooth straightened hair instead of messy ragged edge (without the seal on her forehead).
Why India? I get the impression that Suna is very much similar to India's desert, even the people's dressing code too, it is strange, but that's how I felt about it. If Naruto would appear in the real world then Sasori can certain get away with the appearance. I didn't make Sasori purely Indian though, he have mixed heritage and will be explained in further chapters. Japan for Sakura is common enough, there's no need for explanation.
Please forgive me for some grammatical errors and mistakes, I haven't written anything for a long time, and I'll do my best to correct these mistakes (pointing out will be most appreciated). Also please forgive me for not adding much of any other characters in, I only wished to focus mainly on Sasori and Sakura and the development of their relationship. The start can be a bit slow, but soon it'll pick up the pace.
I must however apologize if I offended anyone of my description of India, for honestly I've never been there, but I've seen enough on TV and books for some ideas. I want to keep this realistic enough, but still in fictional world. Therefore, anything within this story is purely fictional.
Thank you for reading.
Kio.