This is dedicated to all those SASORIXSAKURA lovers out there! I'm wit ya a hundred percent on that. As i was reading a Sasori fanfic the other day, I had this amazing idea to switch sweet caring Sasori into a girl's body, and who's better for that position than Sakura herself? Ahem...before I stupidly give away more hints to the story, I'll say this:
Disclaimor: I hate typing up this statement every freakin time ~.~, So lets cut to the chase...I DO NOT own Naruto in any way, I only own the story idea.
Only as a Memory
She ran. She ran past the Candy shop, past the gas station, till she finally made it to the airport. Emerald eyes searched frantically for the familiar eyes. Oh how she missed him. 'He' who was always by her side. 'He' who was always there to comfort her in the hardest of times. Yes 'him'.
The pink haired girl searched the area; her heart feeling like it could burst. She ran through the crowd of the airport and occasionally tripped a few times. After dusting herself off she continued to run. She wanted to see him for so long. 2 years. She missed him for 2 years. She missed his presence, his soft gaze when he looked at her, his favorite habit of running his hand through his hair. Everything. Only god knows how she survived without him for that long.
Her breathe became uneven as she tired herself out. Her lungs gradually began to outdo her strength but she still couldn't give up. Once or twice she bumped into the passengers that got in her way. "Hey watch it!"
She gritted her teeth, holding back a retort and continued where she left off. Dammit, where is he? The people passing by became a blur as she could only focus on one thing. Where the hell could he be?
She stopped at the last waiting area, her heart racing and her lungs drained energy. Panting she looked around the room, desperately holding down her disappointment. He wasn't there. He wasn't there for her.
Her tears began to fall on their own as her legs gave out underneath her. She buried her face in her hands and continued to sob. He wasn't there. Why would he? He probably found some other life without her. Moving on and leaving her in the dust. Taking all her hope with him and leaving nothing but a shell in its wake. Sakura felt disgusted with herself. If only she stopped him from leaving all those years ago…
"Sakura."
Sakura's breathing stopped, her eyes widening. He couldn't be…?
"Sakura are you okay?" a familiar voice asked.
She wiped her tears away. Her gaze fell on the figure in front of her.
She choked out a simple, "Yes."
The familiar red head, which she desperately missed, stood before her. He smiled softly with those creamy hazel eyes of his while offering a hand out to her. Sakura seemed in a daze as she took his hand without hesitation, standing up rather clumsy.
Her tears threatened to emerge again but Sakura didn't care. Her only concern was seeing Sasori again.
"Idiot. Don't scare me like that." He said teasingly. Oh how she missed that voice! That smooth clear voice that got her out of depression many times. Many, many times.
And that's when he wrapped his hands around her waist to pull her in a big hug. She clutched his shirt in her hands and sobbed, not being able to hold it in any longer. God, she felt embarrassed being a crybaby like that. She missed him like hell. Him leaving has done a number on her conscience.
"Sasori. I missed you so much." He rested his chin on her head to reassure her, rubbing her back with his hand. Sakura noted with a smile how much taller he was, almost a head taller than her to be precise. "I missed you too." Sasori whispered softly in Sakura's ear.
For what felt like an eternity, they stood there, just happy in each other's presence. Until Sasori broke it off. "Sakura we're attracting attention."
"So?" she replied.
Sasori sighed. "Let's get out of here before we get arrested."
Sakura smiled contently at him. "And what pray tell would we be arrested for? We didn't do anything wrong."
He replied with his own smirk, "For disturbing the peace of course." Sakura rolled her eyes. Still the sarcastic type I see. But it felt reassuring that he never changed. And that's what she wanted the most.
Sasori let go of her and started walking towards the entrance. "Hurry up before I leave you behind." Sakura frowned and followed behind, refusing to be left behind again. Sasori was back. He's back by her side, back home.
"Oh Sasori, honey! I'm glad you're back safe and sound." Sasori was welcomed with a crushing hug.
Sakura stepped out the taxi and stood by him. "Mom calm down. He just got back, don't kill him already." It's just like her mother to be over-dramatic. Sasori hugged back and chuckled. "It's good to be home Mrs. Haruno." He said, his hair swaying with the wind. Sakura couldn't help but stare at her friend's face. He was so perplexing it was mesmerizing. The red hair of his was no longer short but wavy and it reached past his ears, with bangs that framed his face nicely. No stop it Sakura! This isn't the time to be oogling at his looks.
"Hey Sasori since you have no place to stay yet, how about you stay at our house?" Sakura asked him directly. He gave her a sarcastic smirk. "Nah, that's alright. I think mom rented me an apartment somewhere."
"Somewhere?" she asked in a suspicious tone when they stepped inside the house. "Yes somewhere." He replied in the same tone while taking his shoes and practically throwing himself on the couch. The comfortable way he adjusted to the house washed all doubt from Sakura's mind. Maybe he hasn't forgotten all about her in the 2 year absence…
"Liar." She said, plopping herself right to him snuggly. He reached for the remote and turned the TV on. "Alright alright. I'll stay just for you selfish little lady. Just don't blame me when I end up kicking you out of bed every morning." Sasori told her nonchalantly. He relaxed his shoulders against the couch and closed his eyes, raising his legs on the table. He never does change. Sakura just snorted in a quick temper way.
"Closing your eyes when you just turned on the TV is a waste you know." She retorted. She sighed inwardly. She really did miss him and would it kill him to act a little nicer? I mean, she is a lady you know. The legs on the table are soooo polite.
Sasori opened one eye to look at her then smirked his smirky smirk. Over the years Sakura has gotten used to that look that said "Why would I care?" so she's not one bit surprised. He's 15 for god's sake and his character hasn't even matured at all. Sakura mentally thought that thought for a second. Would she want a mature Sasori in the house?
"Sakura, Sasori! Guys get to bed because you have school in the morning!" Sakura's mom shouted from the kitchen. Both Sasori and Sakura snickered. Of course they're going to bed, but who said anything about them going to sleep. Tsk. Tsk. Such bad teenagers they are.
"Alright mom!" She grabbed Sasori's hand and sped upstairs to the rooms, she placed a finger on her lips. "Shhh. You know the drill." He smiled excitedly and took out a dummy made puppet from the closet next to them. It was always traditional for these two to sneak in each others rooms at night and talk. So that they wouldn't get caught, Sasori designed and built a puppet from wood. The puppet takes the place of the one sneaking and they are home free while the moms don't know what hit them. "Man, it's been awhile since I've used this."
"Yuh huh. You're telling me. While you were gone, poor dumbo here has grown cobwebs."
Sasori just gave her an apologetic smile. "Well, he's still useful atleast."
"True."
They gave each other one last evil grin before heading off to their rooms. Yep they still got it. The special bond they shared has not changed over the years. Lets pray to god that it will stay like this too.
"Sasori."
"Yeah?"
"You're squishing me you know."
"Deal with it."
"When did you get so big?"
He locked eyes with her. "That's something called hormones."
"Hormones or not-ow! Hey careful there! That's my sensitive side."
"What can I do? You're the one who suggested it." He retorted while rolling his eyes.
Sakura huffed out in annoyance and blew on a strand of hair. "Well it would feel more comfortable if you didn't have to push so hard." (O.o)
Sasori sighed and shifted himself more to the left so that both of them were comfortable. "Happy?"
Sakura nodded once before letting out a big yawn. Man was she exhausted today. A lot of emotion submerged and she would appreciate a little sleep. She smiled, squeezing Mister teddy bear beside her in a hug. Another one of their traditions were to cuddle themselves in bed with the huge teddy bear right in between them. Then once they are comfortable they turn on the laptop and start searching hilarious pictures over the internet. (lol you thought they were doing something else?). Sasori squeezed himself more into the bed to stop himself from falling off. Really. He was getting too big for this. Why was he trying so hard to fit in with Sakura right there?
"You still kept that teddy bear all this time?" he asked the cuddled up girl next to him. She yawned once again before stating, "Old habits die hard."
He nodded in understanding and took his time staring at the girl he adored so much. She really hasn't changed at all. She still keeps that pixie like hairstyle, natural pink color that makes a heart frame around her face. People used to make fun of her big forehead but Sasori knew the truth behind it. The forehead made her more cute and delicate. He felt as if she was a flower that could easily be broken with a twitch of his hand. Not that he would even dare.
Sakura rolled over so that she was facing Sasori. His breath hitched. She was so damn adorable like that. Those emerald eyes of hers could only be used to hypnotize him, making him putty in her hands if she wanted. He was grateful she had never used that trick on him before.
Even now he was having a hard time controlling his actions around her. One wrong movement could ruin all the self-control he worked up from the past.
"Sasori." Sakura whispered lightly. He looked at her and tried to stop himself from smirking. "Yes, my teddy bear loving friend?"
"What are you thinking?" The question caught him off guard. He staggered a bit for words before speaking. There's no way he could tell her what was really on his mind. Come on seriously, that could ruin everything.
"Why do want to know?" he asked cautiously, raising his eyebrow in suspicion.
Sakura didn't know why she wanted to know either. The fact was, she admired Sasori for his quick witty actions, his smooth daring voice that could get you out of danger in the nick of time. She wanted to know what made him so calm and reassuring even in the most suffocating of times.
Age 8
"Sakura careful! Don't fall into the river!" Sasori cried over the roar of the water.
Sakura reached down to get her teddy bear, but tripped on the slimy edge and tumbled right into the danger of the stream. "Sakura!"
"Sa..saso..ri! Hel—" the little girl never got the chance to continue as she bobbled in and out of the water. She desperately tried to find any form as safety but there was none. Up ahead she could vaguely see the river go downwards to the lower part of the city. Her eyes widened, fear clutched her heart in a suffocating grasp. There was no way out for her.
Sasori ran as fast as he could with the rope in his hand. He had to save Sakura, he will save her.
"Sakura grab on, quick!" he threw the rope towards the drowning girl and prayed heavily that she would grab the line. A few seconds went by without response, Sasori was about to call for help when he felt a tug on the line. Using all the strength he could muster, he pulled on the rope till he could help Sakura out of the water. Her eyes fluttered in and out of consciousness, as Sasori pumped a few times on her chest. "Stay with me Sakura! Don't leave me, don't leave…" a few trickles of tears fell on the pink-hair's face. There was no way he will let Sakura die. No way.
Sakura's eyes fluttered open, she sat up with Sasori's help and coughed out a handful of water. She was alive, she was alive!
"Sa..."said boy grabbed her hand in his and whispered lightly against her face. "You scared the hell out of me! Please…don't do that again."she chuckled breathlessly. "Thank you."
The red-head smiled softly at the girl beneath him. "I will always protect you, so there's no need to thank me."
"Always?"
"Always…" his smooth caring voice was the last thing she heard before she was swept away into darkness.
Ah the good times. The times where she and Sasori were inseparable, never leaving one another's side for anything. He always kept to his word, always and always.
"Because." She whispered against the teddy bear. She clung protectively to the bear plush, relinquishing the past memories that have resurfaced on her mind. He scoffed at her answer. "That's not much of a reason."
"Can you tell me anyway?" she asked, emotion visible in her voice.
He sat there for few seconds debating whether to answer that or not. But now is not the right time, he just needs more time to sort all the emotions out before giving his Sakura the heads up. He placed the laptop on the table beside him and got out of bed. "Sasori?"
The red-head turned around and gently covered her with the sheets. "Just go to sleep for now." He smiled. "We have a big day tomorrow right?"
She furrowed her eyebrows but quickly straightened them out; the thought of walking with Sasori to school was reassuring. She nodded once before watching him close the door behind him. Sigh. She honestly wanted to know what was in his red-head brain. Why did he leave all those years ago? Was he tired of protecting her all the time?
These thoughts raided her mind as she slowly drifted off to sleep. Unknown to the both of them, a star smiled down upon them. Swish and swash and the magical spell was done. Blue light swirled around the teenagers' bodies, erupting in a bundle gold feathers once the spell had been finished, then the star raced away to be called on another night. My dear readers, now is the time where the story begins.
Wow I wonder what might happen next...oh yeah i created this story right? Lost in thought there for a second. Sasori is very distracting ya know. -cough- Anyways...REVIEW TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT! THIS STORY DEPENDS ON IT!