The universe lies before you on the floor, in the air, in the mysterious bodies of your dancers, in your mind. From this voyage no one returns poor or weary. — Agnes de Mille
One step in the sand. Two steps. Three. Four. It went on and on as I stumbled through the heat of Brother Sun, who bore down on me with a vengeance. It had been merely a day since my departure, and I was starting to see the drawbacks of my pitch-black cloak. A poor choice of clothing, in retrospect, but it was never this hot when the City was around. I drowned myself in my own thoughts as I made my way through the barren wasteland, my throat screaming for even a drop of water. I nearly had a heart attack when a hand suddenly grabbing my shoulder.
Quick as lightning, I turned and snatched the offending hand in a vice-like grip, only to pause at the cheerfully smiling face of a man. He laughed brightly and it was so disarming that I loosened my grip enough for him to casually pull away. "Sorry about that," he said, "I didn't realize you were so jumpy!" I stayed silent, staring at him. His attire was so familiar that my mind was racing with not-really memories and barely recognizable emotions. Yes, something about the green vest he was wearing and the piece of metal tied to his head—especially the piece of metal tied to his head—was so alarmingly familiar.
Eventually, I settled for a small, "Hello."
He took that as an invitation. "So, what are you doing wandering the desert?"
"I'm not wandering."
"Really?" the man asked, smiling. "You sure seemed like you were wandering."
"I'm going to visit someone."
"Someone lives here?"
"I live just a day's walk from here."
"Why would you live in a wasteland?" he inquired politely.
I just frowned in response. "This is my home."
"You could have a better home!" His eyes suddenly lit up. "In fact, come with me! I'll show you an amazing place for you to live in!"
My eyes narrowed. "What is this place that is so amazing?"
"Oh, it's got giant buildings, everyone is friendly, and…oh, I just know that you'll love it there!"
Now that was intriguing. Large buildings simply no longer existed. If there was even a possibility that some had somehow survived passed the Revolution, then they would probably be in the Lost Islands, not on the Continent. Barely able to hide my anticipation, I asked, "Where is your home?"
I don't how it's possible, but the man's smile widened even more. "So you'll come with me?"
"After I finish my visit, maybe." If only just to see it.
"Wonderful! Yes, it's right over that hill!" As he pointed to the sand dune a few hundred or so meters to our right, I couldn't help but frown.
"There's nothing over that dune."
"How do you know?"
"That's where I came from."
"Well, then, it must be over the next hill."
"How close do you think you are to your home?"
The man shook his head. "It's got to be around here somewhere. It's so huge that no one could miss it…except maybe me. I'm just stupid like that." He proceeded to laugh. I felt a few puzzle pieces start to fall into place.
"What was your home called?" I asked hesitantly.
"It was Ko…Kono…huh. It seems that I've forgotten. I suppose that makes sense. I'm so stupid that I forget things all the time."
A pit formed in my stomach. Kono. Wasn't…wasn't that the homeland? And then it dawned on me. He's searching for the City. "I don't think our home is here anymore."
The man blinked. "Our home?"
"Yes, I'm from there, too."
"Oh, that's even better! Come on, we can go there together!"
My lips thinned. "Our home exists anymore. It's been so long."
He waved me away. "Nonsense! Our home is strong! The best of the best!"
"Then why has it withered away into the sand?"
"That's the thing, it hasn't!" the man said. "It's right over that hill!"
"It's a sand dune, and there's nothing behind it. Or behind the one after that. Or behind the one after that. You'll never find it. The City is gone."
The man stared at me and, for a second, I saw pain. I saw sadness and agony. I saw a wish for what the world was. But then it was gone, replaced by something just as startling: hope. Hope for the world we had lost. "You're wrong," he said firmly, "the City is right over that hill. Come on, I'll show y—"
"No."
"…what?"
"I said no. I'm not following you on your endless journey. I'm trying to find answers, not a place that no longer exists."
"But it does exist!"
"No, it does not." Silence. Then, "I think it's about time that we parted ways."
The man flinched back, as if hurt, before nodding. "Y-Yes, I agree." He mustered up a large smile that was so fake it hurt. "Maybe we'll see each other again."
"Maybe," I agreed. I turned, about to leave, when he asked me one more question.
"What's your name?"
I paused. Then, turning, I said, "Sasuke Uchiha."
Something clicked in the man's eyes. "Well, Sasuke, my name is Konohamaru Sarutobi."
I am Konohamru Sarutobi, and don't you forget it!
"I knew you."
"I knew you, too."
"Well, now I'm sure that we'll meet again. Goodbye, Konohamaru."
He smiled. "See you soon, Sasuke! Just you wait, the next time you see me, I'll be in the middle of our home, right over that hill."
I turned and walked away, one hand in the air. "Maybe you will."
Two days later, I saw something. At first, I thought that it was just a mirage. Yes, that had to be it. The heat was getting to me, or maybe it was my lack of sleep. As I got closer to it, though, I realized that was not so. And how odd it was to see something like this in a desert. A house, that's what it was. A warm, welcoming house. It contrasted almost comically with its bleak, desolate surroundings. All it needed was a green yard and a white picket fence, and the illusion would be complete.
As I came closer, I only had one question in my mind: How has such an ancient home survived? More than that, it looked perfectly fine. Maybe even brand new, though that was highly unlikely. And that's when she walked out. She had pink hair and a spotless red dress, and she hummed a jaunty tune as she walked out the front door and into what would have been her front yard. She squinted her eyes slightly and, when she spotted him, her eyes lit up with joy. "You're finally here!"
As I walked closer, I asked, "Do you happen to know me?"
"Of course I do!"
"Are you Sa—"
"You're the mailman, aren't you?"
I paused. "What?"
She gestured to her mailbox which we were standing next to. "You haven't come by for a long time. I really should report you!"
"I'm not—"
"Look at this!" she exclaimed. She pointed to the red flag on the side of her mailbox. "I've had this up, just like I'm supposed to and yet," she opened her mailbox, "you haven't delivered it!" Indeed, inside the mailbox was an old, crusty piece of paper. It was yellowing and it looked like it would fall apart if someone so much as breathed on it. The inside of the box itself was covered in spider webs and, off to the side, I spotted a dead spider, curled up on its back. On the back of the note, only two characters survived the harsh sands of Lord Time: Ka and Ta. "Do you have any idea," she went on, "how worried he must be?"
I assumed that she meant whoever the letter was addressed to, but that didn't matter. Clearing my throat, I said, "I'm not the mailman."
She blinked. "Oh. I'm sorry."
"Don't be."
"Are you a patient, then?" she asked suddenly.
"What do you mean?"
"Are you hurt? Do you need medical attention? You do, don't you? Yes, I haven't had a patient for so long. One day, they just stopped coming."
"Are you a doctor?"
"I am," she said, nodding. "Come on, I'll fix you right up."
"But—" She ignored me, closing the mailbox, grabbing my left arm, and leading me inside. Her house was completely barren except for a single couch in what I assumed was the living room and a mattress on the floor. "Hey, w—" I protested as she forced me to sit down on the couch. She rolled up the sleeve on my left arm, eyes narrowed.
Finally, she said, "You've come here before."
"What?"
"This arm," she said, poking my left arm, "is not natural. It's my handiwork, or at least someone who worked closely with me."
I pulled my arm away. "I…I suppose." I had always known that my left arm wasn't always mine, but I had never given it much thought. "That's not why I'm here, though."
She frowned. "Why are you here, then?"
"Someone came to my residence three days ago. He was a man called Naruto Uzumaki."
Sakura stood up. "I remember him. I also thought he was the mailman. If you do find him, please scold him for me, would you?"
"Naruto or the mailman?"
"The mailman."
"I don't think the mailman is a mailman anymore."
"What do you mean?" she asked curiously, before pausing. "Your eye, why is it covered?"
"What?"
"Your left eye. You shouldn't cover it. It impairs your vision."
"It doesn't impair my vision."
"Yes, it does. You probably just don't realize it. Uncover your eye." I stared, then nodded, pulling the hair away from my eye. Sakura blinked. "You eye is purple."
"Yes, I know."
"Does it hurt?"
"No. My eye is fine."
"It might be an infection, or maybe a parasite."
"It's not an infection or parasite, it's a…" I trailed off. It was something. I had it for a reason, but I forgot what.
"It's an infection."
Irritated, I shoot back, "Then what is that mark on your forehead? Is that and infection?"
"This mark stores and siphons my energy properly," she said. "Your eye, however—" She was interrupted by a small beep. Her eyes widened. "The cookies are ready!" I looked on in disbelief as she turned and ran to get the cookies.
Maybe this wasn't the right place. Maybe this wasn't Sakura Haruno. Maybe I should just get up and walk out. But I didn't, because something about this place was familiar. And this house…it wasn't normal. There was something off about it. When the woman returned, she was carrying a tray in her hands. It was filled with bulky, charred cookies. As she cheerfully offered me her burnt cookies while eating one herself, I realized that this woman wasn't all there. It was like she picked and choosed when she did and didn't want to see the world for what it was. I…I felt pity for this woman. For Sakura Haruno. So I took a cookie and slowly bit into it, trying my best to ignore the bitter taste. I stood up and when I was done, I said, "I just need you to answer one question." Please be able to do at least that much.
Sakura bit into another charred cookie, but she nodded. "Of course, what is it? I know every herb on the planet! I can cure nearly every disease! What do you need?"
"Who is Sarada?"
Suddenly, my back was on the wall and her hand was on my neck, squeezing it dangerously tight. Her emerald eyes gleamed. "How dare your filthy mouth utter her name."
tbc
I wrote this in a few hours and haven't really proofread it. I think I need to get a beta reader.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed! Remember to Favorite, Follow, and Review! Until next time, this is SSSRHA, signing out!
