A/N: Its been quite awhile since I had the time to put my hand on making SasuSaku fics again. Well, in answer to the requests I got,this is a little something I thought of while watching the rain from my bedroom window. I hope those who read my previous fics would like this one too. This is a multi-chaptered story so I need your reviews to keep it going. Anyhow, this is getting too long so let's get on with the story. –Aerin
-WAITING FOR THE RAIN-
STORM CLOUDS
With the rain comes comfort
With the rain comes tears
With the rain, warmth is brought
With the rain, we banish fears.
It was late afternoon in Konoha Middle School. The bell happily signaled the end of classes but instead of being on her way home, Haruno Sakura was on her way to the Principal's office.
" What the heck do they want with me? Its been a week since I transferred here but it seems that everything would never be right again."
Forcing the bittersweet memories from her head, she plastered a smile on her face and knocked on the door. The gentle principal ushered her in and asked her to sit by the receiving area of the office.
Sakura felt her stomach clench in anxiety. Somehow, she felt that something was desperately wrong but then she thought:
"Transferring here was a mistake right from the start."
The principal, Mrs. Hayatori whispered to an aide to get a pitcher of water and serve it with two glasses. Seeing the gesture, the clenching feeling Sakura felt on her stomach intensified. Her mind shouted multiple reasons all at once but none of them made sense. Her hands started shaking on their own and she struggled, desperately for control.
" Uhm, Mrs. Hayatori, I hope you don't mind me asking but….Did I do anything wrong? Am I candidate for detention? If yes, I wish to know so that I can tell my parents—"
" They won't be worrying for you anymore Sakura. Your parents they're—"
Sakura saw the anguish in Mrs. Hayatori's face. She placed her hands in her heart for fear that it might burst. She tried to urge her on but no words came out of her parched lips. She felt everything go dark and without warning, tears started to fall from her eyes.
" They are gone aren't they? They went home without me because you told them I have to remain here for detention. Tell me Mrs. Hayatori, I will see them again won't I? I will stay here for detention then, just tell me I'll see them… Won't I?"
Mrs. Hayatori's heart broke at the sight of Sakura desperately asking her for comfort, forcing her to consider uttering a lie if only she could ease her pain. But she could not bring herself to lie to her because it will do nothing but intensify the pain. Summoning all her self-control, Mrs. Hayatori braced herself for one quick answer:
" Your parents are dead Sakura. It was a car crash, the medics didn't make it on time."
Even before Mrs. Hayatori told her the bitter truth, Sakura knew. By the time Mrs. Hayatori opened her mouth to speak, Sakura wasn't hearing anything anymore, only her tears, falling like rain on the office's soft carpet. Blinded by tears, she bolted out of the door, and ran out into the night.
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" But Mrs. Hayatori, this is the only time we have the school court on reserve. The whole week is packed with activities and the team cannot afford to skip practice for an entire week. And besides, I don't see why I have to leave the team to practice on their own just to go in search of some hapless wench—"
Mrs. Hayatori could not contain her anger and impatience anymore.
" I will have none of this from you young man! Your father is the school's main benefactor, but it does not mean that you have the right to disobey orders from the school principal! Now, go and search for her, the rain is falling in torrents. Look at that! The poor girl must be soaking wet right now!"
"Why does it have to be me, Mrs. Hayatori? There are a lot of maintenance people to spare out there! I'm the team captain of this school's basketball team for Pete's sake! Tell them to search all over the town with this blinding rain. I am in no way suitable to sacrifice my—"
" Enough. If you really want to know why it has to be you, well, your father himself told me you'll do so."
The whole basketball team was in shocked silence.
Then, in a matter of seconds, the vice-captain took charge of the team's practice. Mrs. Hayatori smiled as she watched the young man run out and brave the storm.
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" Once I find that wench, I will strangle her until all the water she has on her body dries up. Then I will hang her on a clothesline across the street and watch her being ran over by some car. Then I will present her squished body to Mrs. Hayatori and the old woman will surely faint. She will regret the day she forced me to follow the rules by using my father. "
He continued splashing on the street, his blue jersey, wet despite having an umbrella. His anger intensified as the wind howled and the rain seeped through his entire body. He was almost done searching every nook and cranny of this small town, yet there was still no pink-haired girl to be seen.
" I'll be damned! I will definitely look stupid the moment I step on the court, wet all over. I might as well jump into the river and—"
The sudden realization brought chills into his body. He found himself running towards the edge of the town, towards the riverbank. He didn't know this girl (this wench! He reminded himself) but he was hoping against all hope that he saves her on time.
" Save? What the heck! I was thinking about strangling her!"
However, his angry voice didn't posses any conviction, his quick steps splashing into the puddles in the road. He desperately tried to calm his agitated heart but to no avail. He kept running while constantly searching for movement from his sides. He could see the river now, hear the water flowing into an angry stream. He swallowed hard when he reached the riverbank to have a better look.
There, floating in the water was a pink scarf.
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He could not help but sigh. Swiftly seizing the scarf from the river's angry current, he strained his eyes to look as far back as he can. Nothing. The river runs for miles and with the strong current, anything would have been washed away…anything….anybody…
" You don't seriously consider taking a bath in there do you? Unless you want to drown yourself and create a commotion big enough to be transformed into a film?"
He almost fell of the river. For a split second, he envisioned the mangled ghosts of those who were unfortunate enough (or stupid enough) to drown in the river. However, his grip to reality was stronger at this moment, hence allowing him to prepare the most sarcastic remark he could bestow to this person who dared to cross his path.
He turned his back with all the force of he could muster, only to find himself immersed in the green tear-streaked eyes of a girl. He swallowed his sarcasm whole that he almost choked on it.
Green eyes. Tears. Pink hair.
Wait a second…
" So you didn't drown after all."
What the heck was he saying? He was supposed to strangle this girl! Now here he was, almost sounding relieved. Perhaps it was the rain acting upon his brain. Or perhaps the river ghosts toying with him.
Banishing all these thoughts, he shook his head violently.
" Are you alright? Have you lost your way because of the rain?"
Without noticing his angry and frustrated reaction, the girl shifted her gaze from him into the river.
" I didn't know there was one place in this miserable town that can bring me comfort. All I remember was an image of me, running and running away from the scathing rain. Considering how humid it was in the last few days, I've waited for this rain."
The girl looked at the sky. He didn't know if she was crying.
" The rain finally came. But how I wish it never fell. How I wish this day never came to be…"
From the anguish in her voice, he saw her tears mingling with the raindrops upon her face. Forcing himself to take away his gaze from her, he managed to look at the dark sky and utter:
" Those are storm clouds up there. Tomorrow will come with more rain and nobody knows how much longer the sky is going to cry for us. But certainly, it will end and the sun will shine at last."
The girl looked at him, as if seeing him for the first time. She became painfully re-acquainted with reality by acknowledging this boy's presence. Reason came along with control that finally she managed to ask:
" Who are you? And why are you here? This isn't the best time to take a walk you know."
All his desires to strangle the girl returned, now more urgent.
" Well, I've been ordered by Mrs. Hayatori to search for one stupid girl who ran off into the rain without bringing an umbrella. So here I am, dripping all over, talking nonsense with her so she won't drown herself."
" Well, excuse me! I have no plan to drown myself in the first place. And thanks but no thanks, I am not going anywhere except here. And anybody wise enough would not consider running into the rain with only his jersey on."
He was definitely losing control. If she does not wish to go, he would drag her all the way to the school then. He's not used to being bossed around by anybody.
" All I know was that my father ordered me to search for you, and just so you know, I do not follow anybody else but him. Now if you would be nice and step into the umbrella to make my life less miserable, then by all means, do so. Faster if you may."
The girl walked out on him. Eyes wide with shock, he shouted in exasperation:
" Where the heck are you going? I'm not putting up with this!"
" What? Are you stupid enough not to know the way back to your own school? You were the one in a hurry."
Staring quietly at the road, he couldn't believe this wench was outwitting him. Clenching his fists, he walked past her towards the school… but discreetly looking back to see if she was following.
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" Oh good God! Thank goodness you're safe Sakura!"
Mrs. Hayatori uttered in relief the moment she saw Sakura enter the office. She drew Sakura aside and asked the aide to bring two towels.
" Thanks for nothing Dad. I cannot believe how you can be such a jerk sometimes."
" My goodness Sasuke! Are you not proud for doing a great favor to this pretty young woman here?"
Sasuke gave his Dad a stern look and gratefully accepted the towel.
" What do you want with this wench anyway, forcing me to go through all the trouble."
" I did not ask for your help in the first place so I don't owe you anything."
Sasuke and Sakura glared at each other. Mr. Uchiha intervened.
" Well, you two should start getting along quite well. She's gonna be staying with us son."
"WHAT!!!!"
Both of them could not believe what they heard.
And the rain fell on...
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A/N: Well? Should I continue on with this? REVIEWS PLEASE!A little inspiration from my readers would definitely help...lolz D