key:
"talking"
thinking
kyuubi
Remembering the Past
She opened her eyes for what seemed like the first time in a very long time. Her eyelids parted and the image that graced her was that of the crescent moon hovering above. She didn't shift her gaze, but felt around with her other senses instead. She was laying on her back, the grass underneath her was covered with shattered leaves. The air smelled like the beginning of fall, and she could hear the breeze whistle lightly through the trees around her. She could sense that she wasn't alone. "Ah, your finally awake", she turned her head in the direction of the voice and found a figure leaning on a tree staring at her gently. I know that guy, she gasped quietly, It's the guy who stabbed me with a katana! The guy who killed me- wait a second! She shot up at the thought and regretted her decision immediately because the sudden movement made her feel dizzy. She placed a cool hand on her forehead and closed her eyes in hopes that it would stop her head from spinning. "Not so fast, your still getting use to your body" the man had moved and was now crouching down next to her, he placed a supportive hand on her back. "What?" she stared at him, "What have you done to me?"
He sighed, "You still don't remember…" She just stared at the man. "Ah, I know what to do", He exclaimed and reached into his yukata. A hidden weapon? She flinched away from the man, he frowned at this and finally pulled out a beautifully decorated silver mirror. Something about how this man before her looked at the beautiful mirror in his hands made her feel sad and nostalgic. "You told me once that looking at your own reflection usually helps in these situations", before she could even reply to that statement the man had turned the mirror so that she could see herself. What she saw almost shocked the hell out of her, and she grabbed the mirror from his hands to get a better look. The person in the mirror seemed just as shocked as she was, only this girl had stunning crystal blue eyes, beautiful pale skin that seemed to glow, and long light silver hair that reminded her of her previous sensei's own hair. She was puzzled at first, but then they hit her, the memories, like a ton of bricks. It felt like the wind had been knocked out her and she fell back on to the soft leaves that littered the grass. She kept her gaze steady on the moon before her. This sudden action frightened and confused the man and he started to panic.
"Usagi! Talk to me!" The man's gold eyes widened frantically as he gazed upon his fallen companion. He let his hand fell to her cheek and she shifted her vision to the man at her side, his face colored with worry. She couldn't help but smile at the funny surprised face he wore "It's okay, I'm fine". He wanted to protest on how she did not look fine, but the sound of her serene voice made him relax. I remember everything now that my soul is back in it's true form, but for some reason, even though this is not the first time Zen has retrieve my spirit after I've allowed my soul to reincarnate into a human life, I wish I didn't remember… I wish I was still Sakura Haruno. She closed her eyes and let her mind wander for a while. She knew where her duties lied, but she still couldn't shake the longing to be a certain pink haired kunoichi again back with her friends in Konoha. She missed them. "I'm sorry… for taking you from your human life", she heard him speak as if he could sense her inner turmoil. She at up, this time slower, and touched the man's cheek gently "It's not your fault, you were worried that someone might have taken advantage of my vulnerable state, plus I know you must have had difficult time watching over both the moon and the night sky, Zen". The man smiled at the sound of his name and he placed his hand on hers. He didn't want her to let go, but after a few minutes he let her take her hand back from where it was placed on his cheek. She stood up a little wobbly at first, but the uneasiness faded as her mind quickly remembered how to maneuver. "Well, we should probably go back", Usagi motioned slightly to the moon.
"Um… about that", Zen touched his index fingers together in a sitting position and looked up a her with the face of a child confessing his mischief to his mother. "We kinda can't leave yet… because I sort of, accidentally lost my katana", he laughed nervously. "What? How do you lose such a thing? Do you even have any idea as to where you might have lost it?" she lectured him, "I know where it is!" he stated defensively crossing his arms. "Oh, and where is it?" she enjoyed joking with him, but the joke ended when he replied in a serious tone "It's with your previous body…". "But don't worry! I can get it back easily, you don't even have to come!" He tried lifting the mood. "No, I'll go with you, I wanted to say good bye anyway", she replied. "Are you sure?" he couldn't help but be worried about the girl, he didn't just want to protect her from physical harm, but emotional harm as well. "I'm sure", she reassured him with a genuine smile, and it was true, after all she did want to see Konohagakure once more. Though she couldn't help but wonder if going back would make it harder to let go.
At Konoha (5:00AMish):
"Why can't I go find that monster right now!" Naruto shouted at the Hokage in protest. "First of all, Naruto it's dangerous for you to leave the village right now because the Akatsuki, and the second reason is because… the funeral is today and you of all people should be there to participate!" Tsunade's strong voice weakened at the mention of the young kunoichi's funeral. "Oh" was all Naruto could say in response, he hadn't known that his dear friend and teammate's funeral would be today. "But I'm still-", he began, but was quickly cut off, "You're still going to search for the killer? I knew you would say that. That's why I'm assigning you to mission in order to find the criminal… at least this way you'll be properly supervised. Come here tomorrow morning for the mission details", The man's eyes lit up at her words. "Thank you so much, Granny Tsunade!" I won't let you down!" Naruto smiled and began to exit the office. "Naruto, wait." He turned back to face the Hokage. "Just promise me you'll be careful and that at the first sign of trouble you'll come straight home!" She paused, she couldn't help but feel like a mother, after all she did love the boy like a son, then she continued "I don't know what I'd do if I lost you too, so please, promise me you'll definitely come home." Naruto understood and nodded "I promise! I'll definitely come home, believe it!" He grinned brightly at the women, and left. Naruto was almost home when he noticed the sun rising. He paused to watch it as a light breeze ruffled his spiky blonde hair. "Don't worry Sakura, I'll definitely avenge you, believe it", he whispered as if the wind would carry the message to girl's lost soul, where ever it was.
In the forest:
They journeyed to the leaf village through the forest that was slowly illuminated by the sun's early light. They kept silent, until a breeze suddenly flew through the trees and whipped up their hair and Usagi could have sworn she heard the nostalgic words "believe it" as if they were whispered to her by a blonde boy himself. The thought of the energetic boy's frequently used motto was enough to make her smile and soft giggle escaped her lips. "Hm? What's so funny?" Zen questioned her. "Oh nothing, I was just think about how your name doesn't suit you, your too obnoxious" she lied. "Oh yeah? Well, your name suits you too well! Usagi, It just flat out means moon!" Now they were both laughing and joking, and Usagi couldn't help but she realize how Zen resembled Naruto in personality, yet Sasuke in appearance, which only made her laugh that much harder.
