Author's Note: In case no one saw my profile, my username was previously "weirdcrazyanimefreak" and I had written two fan fictions "Sasuke Knows and Remembers" and "Their Bonds of Love". I am currently re-writing it and it has a plot line this time! (In case you didn't know, the last story didn't. I made it up as I went...) :P
It's really important to check out my profile page because that's where I post announcements about the story's progress and any head's up that you the reader would like to be filled in on such as the impending deletion of my two previous fan fictions.
I posted on my profile last fall that I want to be able to get this story up this spring. My hope is that it would have been completed and I could post the updates weekly. Unfortunately, my life is one chaotic event after another so I can't promise weekly updates. (My life will be in upheaval for the next 2 months for sure.)
Including this chapter, I probably only have three chapters worth of writing down on paper. Then I type it up, edit it, let it sit a day, edit it again, upload it to , do last minute edits and author's notes, and finally post it. I'm hoping to get that extra push to dedicate my time to writing and updating for you guys. Especially when I know you'll be waiting...hopefully.
This is technically Chapter 1, but it's also my introduction to the story to give a you feel for my writing style and character interaction. A teaser chapter, if you will. Now I shall no longer detain you from reading the purpose of clicking upon my humble story. :) Read away!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Naruto. All credit goes to its creator and artist Masashi Kishimoto.
Lightning ripped across the sky, its veins penetrating the ominous and dark clouds. Thunder cracked like a bullwhip, startling Sakura. She shuddered as the wind picked up.
"Oi, Sakura-chan, you got here early," greeted Naruto, taking a seat beside her at Ichiraku's.
She rubber her arms and smiled, "Yeah, I finished at the hospital early today," said Sakura. "All I had was paperwork this evening."
"Sounds fun," joke the blond.
"Mhm, loads of fun," she remarked sarcastically.
"What can I get for you two tonight?" Teuchi asked cheerfully. It was always a pleasure to see his two favorite customers frequent his humble ramen shop.
"I'll have your ramen with extra pork," Naruto requested energetically.
"Chai tea would be nice, thank you."
"Coming right up," chimed the owner. He turned to face the steamy kitchen giving his visitors privacy.
"Aren't you gonna to eat something?" inquired Naruto.
"No. I'm not very hungry. I snacked earlier anyways, so I should be fine," Sakura responded nonchalantly. She began drawing circles on the well-worn countertop with her index finger.
Naruto's expression became sober. He lowered his voice, "Today's a bad day, isn't it?"
The side of her mouth curved up into a grim smile and she gave a breathy laugh through her nose. "What do you think?" The wind blew into the shop, curling icily around the occupants. Goosebumps rose over the kunoichi's body and she tugged her sleeves down further then folded her hands in her lap.
"He'll come back, Sakura-chan. I will fulfill my promise no matter what." He placed a hand over her folded ones. "Jeez, Sakura-chan," he exclaimed. "You're hands are freezing."
"That's because it's cold out," came the blunt reply.
"Here," Naruto removed his cloak and gently draped it over her shoulders—shoulders that have been carrying too much pain over the years. "It's no good having a sick healer."
"I'm not going to get sick just from being cold, you know." Nonetheless, Sakura pulled the cloak tighter to herself against the cool September winds.
"Here're your orders," announced Teuchi as he proudly set their dish and drink before them.
"Thanks, old man," the blond grinned cheekily at the ramen shop owner before digging into his portion with enthusiasm.
"Hai, thank you," replied Sakura. Happy that his customers were satisfied, he busied himself in the kitchen once again.
The petal-hair kunoichi brought the cup to her lips and took a first sip. The hot liquid washed down her throat and filled her belly with exquisite warmth. She closed her eyes contentedly. "Mm…"
Naruto could be heard heartily slurping up his noodles beside her. Taking another sip of her tea, Sakura freed her mind and let it wander. Listlessly, she wondered, Where are you now, Sasuke-kun? She recalled the last time she saw him. Three years ago she had left Kakashi-sensei and Naruto to kill Sasuke herself. What a fool she had been. She had no resolve and she couldn't put her feelings aside to complete her own mission. She still was a fool.
She conjured Sasuke's face up from memory. His stony, black eyes revealed nothing to her. She took another sip of her tea, washing away her gloomy thoughts. Sakura relaxed her stare on the back wall of the ramen stand.
Naruto set down his chopsticks and promptly made his wish for a second bowl known. The fox-faced man sat silently for once as Sakura mutely meditated beside him. Once his order came he scooped up the noodles with less vigor, but enjoyed it nonetheless. Sakura finished off her tea and placed some money on the counter beside her empty mug.
"Naruto, I think I'm going to head home now."
"So soon?"
"Yeah, I have some things to take care of before tomorrow," she shrugged off Naruto's cloak and handed it to him. "Thanks for lending it to me."
"You can wear it home and return it to me later if you want," he offered kindly.
"It's okay, Naruto, I won't need it. It's not that far of a walk home," she attempted a weak smile, hoping it was passible.
Naruto made no comment but stood and embraced her tightly. Sakura's breath hitched in her throat. Don't cry. Don't cry. Her lip trembled dangerously. He leaned slightly away and stared at her intensely. "I don't break my promises."
She bit the inside of her cheeks. "I know." How could I make you vow something that may never happen? Please don't feel so obligated to me. She closed her eyes and briefly took in the comfort of his warm body against her cold one. "I'm sorry." I've caused you to carry a heavy burden, my friend.
She heard him chuckle softly, "Don't be. He's our friend. We can't give up on him." I wish I had your faith, Naruto. He kissed her forehead softly then pulled away. "Goodnight, Sakura-chan," he smiled affectionately.
A gentle smile unwillingly crept to her face in return, "Thank you. Goodnight." She waved then turned towards her house.
Naruto stood and watched her figure receding into the dark of the night and uttered, "You're welcome."
Sakura walked back to her apartment with heavy feet. She hunched her shoulders and wrapped her arms around the night's chill. If only she hadn't been so wrapped up in her own thoughts she wouldn't have forgotten her own cloak in her office. When she came to her dark home, Sakura fished the key out from her pocket and unlocked the door. She flicked on the foyer light and slipped off her shoes shortly making her way upstairs. She turned right around the corner and proceeded to the end of the hallway where she opened the last door on the left and entered her bedroom. Sakura slipped out of her clothes and headed to the bathroom next door to her room. She turned on the shower and brushed her shoulder-length locks as she waited for the water to warm up. Once she stepped into the small compartment goosebumps raced over her body as she relished the heat of the water pounding on her back. She systematically shampooed and conditioned her lengthening hair and scrubbed herself clean. After she finished washing she turned and let the water run down her face. It was then her tears mingled and washed away down the drain.
Sakura stood in the shower for some time before she cut off the water supply and toweled off. She scrub-dried her petal-colored hair and wrapped herself in the towel. In her room the kunoichi dressed in an oversized sweatshirt and flannel pajama pants and grabbed an Anatomy and Physiology volumefrom her bookshelf. Settling cross-legged on her bed, she flipped the book to a random chapter while combing through the snarls in her hair.
"The volume of blood that flows…" It didn't take long for her to become absorbed in the intricacies of the human body. "This means that blood flows slowest where the cross-sectional area is greatest, just as a river flows more slowly as it becomes broader." Hm, she thought, that's a really good way of explaining it. Once she pulled herself away from the book, Sakura returned it to the shelf, closed her curtains, and crawled beneath her blankets.
Her thoughts reviewed what she read but it wasn't long before they wandered back to Sasuke and her childhood memories, and before she knew it, she was peacefully asleep.
Author's Note: How was it? Is my writing style easy to follow or confusing? Does my dialog need help? Did you see any huge inaccuracies with the characters, world setting, speech, or personality? These are the things I'd like to know so I can continue to improve my writing. Your reviews and constructive criticism is greatly appreciated. I do not appreciate pointless flames about the pairing(s)-not that there are any at this point. But it makes me wonder, "Do those people really like wasting their time insulting the hard work of others because of a difference in opinion when they could have been reading something they enjoy? What a strange world we live in..." -.- Anyhoo, thanks for taking the time to read. :)
Blessings,
~Twyla