Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Author's Note: Here's chapter 2. To those who have read the story before I revised it, please don't get confused. I mixed up the events a bit…well okay, a lot xD But I added a few scenes as well and I think I like this version better :) Enjoy!
Also, to answer a few of your questions – yes, of course Sakura and Sasuke will be together sooner or later – plus all the fluff. And Naruto's going to be much like the matured one in the series, I guess – still humorous as ever. As for the other questions, I can't answer them since they could be a spoiler for the story. I'll reveal those as the plot gets clearer though :)
As for the person who sent the colorful flame – who also did not log in and left no email whatsoever, thank you for adding to my review count xD
Where
I Belong
Similarity
Sakura smiled as she looked out the window of the carriage. It looks like the kingdom didn't change much… She thought. It looked as lively as it was before – the streets were full of people and it seemed there was going to be a festival.
She smiled, realizing what the festival would be. It was a tradition in the kingdom to have a Cherry Blossom festival every year. Naturally, she attended those when she was younger…
"Are you okay, Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked. He was seated facing her. She nodded. "I'm fine, Naruto-san. Thank you for asking." She replied.
They were the only ones seated inside. He had told her some of the things she would be doing as the prince's bodyguard. She had learned many things about Naruto during their trip to the castle as well. He had been the friend of Prince Sasuke since he was very young.
He was an orphan so the king and queen decided to take him in to help in the palace. "You'll be meeting him soon, together with King Fugaku and Queen Mikoto." He said. "You're going to be asked about your basic information, skills and ermm…other stuff. I think…" He continued.
She smiled at his childish antics. Then, her eyes widened in realization. It was a good thing that Naruto didn't seem to notice it. Background information? Where do I get that?! She thought, panicking. 'Gah, you're so paranoid…use your brain…and they said you were smart.' Inner Sakura said.
Sakura rolled her eyes. Easy for you to say… she retorted. "But I have to tell you something though…" Naruto said, whispering. He leaned closer to her. "What is it?" she asked. "No one knows this except for me and Sasuke…so don't tell anyone, okay?"
She nodded, getting interested for what he was going to say. "Sure…" she replied. "Sasuke goes out of the palace alone sometimes…he's been doing that since many years ago. He's been putting chakra on his hair to make it appear brown."
Her eyes widened. Brown? She thought, suddenly remembering Daisuke. Nah, that's impossible… She decided, and shook her thoughts away. "He even uses this name…something that rhymes with Sasuke…" his voice trailing away as he thought of what it was.
Sakura leaned closer, listening intently. "Gah…I forgot. Hehe…" Naruto said, scratching his head and laughing. Sakura sweat dropped. "Sorry…it's just that he barely does that anymore…he stopped doing it often when he was 11 I think…" he said.
Sakura nodded. Probably he was too busy… she thought. And Daisuke's face suddenly appeared in her head again. Why do I keep thinking about him now?! She thought furiously.
"But…if ever he does go out, just leave him. I think he needs some time alone anyway. You know…to think things over. Also, leaving the walls of the palace would do him good." He added. Sakura smiled. "Don't worry, you can count on me."
He gave her a toothy grin. "Oh and you'll be staying in the prince's room." He continued, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. She stared at him with widened eyes. "WHAT?!" she shouted. He winced at the loudness of her voice.
He touched his ears. "Gee, Sakura-chan! Not so loud…even I'm not that loud you know." He said. She rolled her eyes. I don't think so… She thought, remembering him shouting about her being so good when the tournament ended.
"But seriously! Staying in his room?!" she demanded. Naruto grinned at her. "Don't worry, Sakura-chan! The room's really big anyway…it's not like you have to sleep beside him or anything." He said.
She rolled her eyes again. Like hell I would… she thought. "And Sasuke's not that kind of person…" Naruto said. Sakura's eyes narrowed.
He better not be…
Meanwhile…
Sasuke was looking out the window of his carriage. "Sasuke, are you alright?" Mikoto asked him. He raised his eyebrow. "Of course…why?" he said. "Well, you haven't been arguing about not getting a bodyguard anymore." Fugaku replied.
"Hn. It's not like it's going to change anything." Sasuke said. Not that I would want it to… he thought, smirking. Fugaku sighed.
"Ino is coming sometime this week." He announced. Sasuke raised his eyebrow. "Yamanaka Ino? The princess?" he asked. The pig? He added in his head. Mikoto and Fugaku nodded. His eyes narrowed. "Why?!" he asked, remembering her last visit…
She was always clinging to him, sounding very much like a fan girl… Sasuke cringed at the thought. He looked at them. Mikoto looked down while Fugaku sighed. "We'll talk about it when she comes." He replied.
Sasuke looked at them suspiciously. His father was usually straight to the point when talking about things.
Why was this matter so different?
"Here, give your things to him." Naruto said. Sakura nodded, giving her small bag to the man he pointed to. Naruto eyed her bag. "That's all?" he asked. She nodded at him. "Okay, I guess you could buy some clothes later on…" he said mumbling. He led her to a big door inside the palace. "Wait here…" he said, entering and closing the door behind him.
Sakura barely heard him. She was looking around, observing the palace. Hmm…not much guards as the one in Sound. Most of them are quite young too…about the same age as me. She thought and cringed, noticing some of them staring at her.
She then realized the reason why most of them seemed young. She frowned, remembering what her father and mother talked about years ago. Uchiha Itachi…
She was grateful when Naruto went outside and told her to come in. She looked around the room. It was very spacious. She averted her eyes to the people before her, bowing gracefully in the process. It was always better to make a good first impression.
King Fugaku and Queen Mikoto were seated properly and she could tell that they were very poised. She looked at the prince. His head was resting on his palm, while his arm was supported by his elbow.
"Hello Sakura-san. Welcome to the palace." Mikoto said, smiling at her. Sakura smiled back. "Thank you, Mikoto-sama." She replied. "Naruto had briefed you about what you will be doing, am I correct?" Fugaku asked her.
"Yes, Fugaku-sama." She replied. "Please tell us more about yourself. We need to know your background information…" Mikoto said. "Well…" Sakura started confidently. She had already thought of things to say…
"I don't think it's necessary." Sasuke said. Everyone's heads turned to him. Sakura's eyes slightly widened. That voice…sounds familiar. She thought. Before Fugaku could reply, he continued.
"I'll be the one she's going to guard anyway. Besides, I can take care of myself." Sasuke said. Fugaku sighed, running his hand through his hair. It was a habit that Sasuke got from him. "Very well…" he replied. Sasuke smirked. "I'm going to train with Naruto and Kakashi-sensei…" he said, standing up from his chair.
"Sasuke, show Sakura your room. She can go around while you train, or maybe watch you…" Mikoto said. He nodded. "Fine." He replied, waking past Sakura. He stopped and looked back at her. "Are you coming or what?" he asked.
Sakura nodded. "Sure…" While walking to his room, there was silence. But it was not what Sakura thought it would be. It seemed comfortable…even his aura seemed familiar. She glanced at him.
His eyes look like Daisuke's…but Sasuke's looks colder. Sakura thought. He caught her staring and looked at her in the eye. She looked down as soon as she realized that he had caught her looking at him. He smirked.
"It's here." He said, opening the door to his room. Sakura nodded. "Okay. I'll go around, if you don't mind." She replied. "Hn." He said. She raised her eyebrow, suddenly remembering that Daisuke used to say that word often too.
It was either a yes or no. It was up to her to figure out what he actually meant…
Daisuke, again? Why does he keep on popping in my head lately?! Sakura sighed. Surprisingly, she understood him. It was a yes…
"Okay, see you later." She said, walking away. He smirked at her retreating back.
So you still understand…
Sakura looked around. So far, she had seen clinics, numerous bedrooms, the dining room, meeting room, throne room and many others. Again, it was evident that there weren't many guards around.
Although, she could see that each guard was well- trained. They all had a well built body and it was obvious that they were ninjas as well because of the shuriken pouches she saw on their legs.
She sighed. The palace was large and she had been walking for quite some time now. She looked around for a place to rest. The next sight she saw made her gasp.
A garden…
It was beautiful, full of different kinds of flowers. There were also numerous cherry blossom trees. She smiled and decided to rest here for a while.
She sat down with her back leaning on one cherry blossom tree. She sighed, once again looking at the pendant he gave her. A small smile appeared on her face.
She touched it and was about to fall asleep when she heard noises coming from not so far away. She turned her head. Judging by the lack of flowers or trees in that nearby area, she supposed it was the training grounds.
She smirked, remembering that Sasuke, Naruto and this Kakashi guy were training. She stood up and dusted herself, walking towards the clearing. She smirked with only one thought in mind.
It's time to see what they're made of.
"Kage Bunshin Technique!"
Sasuke smirked. "Too easy, dobe." He said. Soon, a large ball of flame was exhaled from his mouth and many of the clones disappeared. "Teme!" A voice shouted from behind.
Sasuke's eyes slightly widened as he turned his head and jumped out of the way, just as Naruto aimed for a punch to his face. He missed by mere inches. Sasuke narrowed his eyes at Naruto's smirking face.
"Who's the dobe now, teme?" He said. Sasuke smirked back, getting into a familiar stance.
"Still you."
Sakura's eyes widened, looking at Sasuke more intently. That stance…his fighting style…
Only one person came to mind: Daisuke. She shook her head from right to left vehemently, disregarding the thought and focusing more at the task at hand. Sasuke was gripping his left arm with his right hand.
Soon, what looked like blue electricity shot out from his arm. "So you want it like that, eh?" Naruto said, grinning wider. She averted her eyes to him instead. There was a blue ball of chakra forming in his palm.
Although, before they could charge at each other, a man with silver hair and a mask covering almost his whole face - excluding his right eye stood between them. "Get out of the way." Sasuke growled.
Sakura observed the man more closely. She realized he was holding a small book. She cringed, seeing the title. Pervert… She thought.
"On the contrary, I think it would be rude to neglect our guest." Kakashi said, his right eye looking at Sakura. In a matter of seconds, Naruto and Sasuke turned their attention to her.
"Who might this young lady be?" Kakashi asked. Sakura smiled, bowing to him. "I am Haruko Sakura, Sasuke-sama's new bodyguard." She said. "Yeah! She's really good at fighting, right Sasuke-teme?! She kicked that big guy's ass in the tournament!" Naruto exclaimed.
"Hn." The stoic boy replied. Kakashi's eyes glowed with amusement. "So she won the tournament? Too bad I wasn't able to watch." He said. She simply smiled back.
"Why don't you have a spar with Sasuke?" He suggested. Her eyes widened as she waved her hands in front of her face. "No it's okay…"
"Hn. I could beat her in a matter of seconds."
She glared at him. Hard. "What makes you think I'd lose?! Y-you…you arrogant bastard!" She exclaimed. Her eyebrows were twitching and her hands were clenched. He smirked back at her.
"You're too weak." He stated, smirking. Naruto and Kakashi watched in amusement. No girl ever called Sasuke an arrogant bastard, much less provoked him. She grit her teeth. "Why you little…"
Before she could charge at him, a high-pitched voice was heard not too far away.
"SASUKE-KUUNN!"
Author's Note: I think it's pretty obvious who that voice belonged to xD Anyway, thanks for all your reviews. They really make my day :) Oh and to those who also read my other story – Race of Romance, chapter 4 is up. Please read and review.
- Gabbeh
Posted: December 16, 2006
Rewritten: May 1, 2007
