Sakura in the Sky with Diamonds
I'm used to relying on strangers. I've had to in order to survive. Sometimes I wake up not knowing where I am. I still get afraid- I think that is an emotion I'll never quite shake. It is my fault and I get that, but it still hurts to know that I might never get to apologize to them for what I've done.
"Sakura! Sakura get up!" The shock of being shaken awake made the pink haired girl sit up straight in the bed. She looked around and the first thing she noticed was Naruto leaning over her, his arms gripping her shoulders.
"What," Sakura's voice was cut off as Naruto picked her up in his arms and ran into the kitchen. Just as he did, the front door crashed down and in came men wearing hazard masks. They held guns.
Naruto pushed open the back door and put Sakura down. The girl barely touched the ground before he grabbed her hand and yanked her into a run.
It was still night, and the earth was completely silent except the sound of heavy breaths and feet crushing dirt.
Naruto looked over his shoulder and saw the enemies standing on the back porch, watching them escape.
One of the men stepped ahead of all the others and held a rifle in position to fire. "Fuck!" Naruto yelled as he pulled himself and Sakura down to the ground and covered the young girl with his body as best he could. The bullet hit air and everything once against settled into silence.
The blonde looked up and watched as the men walked back into the house one by one. The man with the gun stayed still the longest and Naruto watched him intently- though he couldn't see his eyes.
As soon as they all disappeared, the young man stood and helped the pink-haired girl to her feet.
"What the hell was that?" Sakura mumbled. Her heart was racing and she felt she was shaking slightly.
Naruto looked to her and pulled her toward the direction of Konoha- opposite of the house they once resided in. "Remember the bad guys I was talking about?"
"The Akatsuki?" The young girl shook her head as she spoke, still confused.
"Ya," Naruto replied and looked back to make sure they weren't being followed.
"What do they want?" Sakura asked and looked to the man for answers. When he said nothing the girl sighed. She stole a look behind her and stared directly at the porch. The back door was closed and the house seemed quiet. Her mind swore it saw one of the men in the window watching them. "We should hurry," She said.
Naruto looked to Sakura and they gave each other an uncertain glance.
"Yea," He muttered.
The pair began to run for the city.
…
"Wait," Naruto huffed as they came to a stop a half a mile or so away from the city.
"What?" Sakura answered. They both breathed heavy from behind the masks that still clung to their face.
"We can't just walk up to the city. They'll kill us," He began but Sakura interrupted him.
"Who?" She said but Naruto didn't answer her question. Instead he led her behind a rock and kneeled down, pulling the girl with him.
"Here's the plan. See the street?" He asked and Sakura nodded. "See the manhole in the middle?" He asked and again she replied with a slight nod of her head. "We're gunna go through there to get to the city." The pink haired girl frowned.
"How are we gunna get the top off?" She asked. Naruto grinned.
"With this," He said and dug a hole in the ground. Eventually he pulled out tool box and from it he grabbed a crowbar.
Sakura looked at him as if he were an alien.
"What the hell?" She said as Naruto was burying the tool box again. He looked at her so innocently it made her want to puke.
"What?" His voice was full of feigned ignorance. Sakura stared at him blankly before punching him in the arm. He flinched and rubbed the sore spot. "Rude," He mumbled and she glared at him. "You forget I've been to the city multiple times. I have my secret little tricks. Always remember that!" He said. "Now come on," He stood and the girl followed in suit. "Follow me."
Sakura didn't even have time to answer because he was already grabbing her hand and running off towards the manhole. He had the lid off and on before she could even blink.
Before she knew it, she was climbing down the latter and standing on the concrete floors of the sewers.
…
Everything got so complicated so quickly. I can't keep up, my mind can't handle this. I'm waking up to a completely new world. Before…my world was screwed up…but never like this…I feel like a stranger. I feel like I shouldn't be here. I'm numb, and I suppose that's how I have survived these things and my thoughts so far.
"Hey, you ok?" The man spoke gently and it shocked the girl. She looked at him as they walked. Naruto was holding a flashlight that he had supplied down there and was shining it ahead of them. He seemed to know exactly where to go, and Sakura just followed.
She didn't ask any more questions. She didn't think she could handle to know what was waiting for them in the city. She was afraid that if she knew she wouldn't be able to face it. She wouldn't be able to find her mom and dad because she would be too scared to save them. If they are alive…
Sakura snapped her head forward and pushed the thoughts from her mind. "I'm fine," She answered sternly and Naruto exhaled.
There was stillness in the sewer. The echoes of shoes hitting the ground was the only thing that kept Sakura to the world she was thrown into.
That and her stomach roaring suddenly.
Naruto snickered and Sakura balled her fists. She went to look at him, but the man was already running ahead of her. The anger the girl felt was replaced with the most familiar emotion she had- confusion.
"What're you," The girl said before she realized that with Naruto went the only source of light she had. The girl gulped and quickly followed in pursuit of the boy.
Eventually the blonde stopped and he shined the flashlight at a door. He went inside and as Sakura entered the confined space to join him she saw a candy bar being shoved in her direction. She looked up to the man offering her the food and he had a huge smile on his face.
"Told ya I got secret tricks," The girl hesitated for a second before her stomach began thinking for her. She reached for the candy and munched on it, thanking him quietly. "No need." He said and turned back to the box he retrieved the food from.
He picked it up and rested it between his forearm and hip and set the flashlight on a shelf- making sure that it gave him enough light to look around.
"Where the hell did I put it…" He trailed off as he searched the small closet. Sakura watched him between bites.
"Where's what?" She asked.
"Aha! Here," He said more to himself and held up a backpack. He unzipped it and stuffed it with tons of candy bars, ramen and water. He included a few bandage, some rope, and two pocket knives. "I was able to get some clean water and food, so we should be good for a while." He said under his breath and slung the backpack over his shoulder.
Sakura didn't ask how he managed to retrieve the very limited source of essentials.
They exited the closet and continued on their way down the halls of the mucky sewers.
…
Konoha was dead.
At least, that was how Sakura saw it as they quickly came up from the manhole.
Buildings that weren't destroyed to ash were thrashed- the windows broken, doors ripped off hinges. Trash flew in the breeze amongst the broken streets. Street signs were no longer standing, and cars were destroyed. A few of the tallest buildings were on fire. Billboards were spray painted with certain insignias and below that would be a name. It was like gangs in that they had their own representations- and you probably shouldn't get involved with them.
Naruto steered them into an alley and through a back door of what used to be a casino. He handed her a pocket knife and she held it tightly in her hands. They were squatting in a corner and once the blonde said the cost was clear, they began walking towards the stairs in the back.
The lights that normally make a casino attractive were all out and the only light was that off the windows giving the moon access to the huge building. As they walked they passed tipped over chairs and tables. Cards and poker chips scattered the floors. The smell of smoke and sweat was in the air. There were a blood stains on the carpet and walls and a knife stuck into a poker table. Sakura felt overwhelmingly uncomfortable.
"Are you sure were safe?" Sakura whispered beside him. He gave her a small grin.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." He answered. The girl didn't answer just gave him a wary looked and hoped to God he was telling the truth.
...
Author's Note:
Thank you all for your reviews! I'm so happy that you like it :) Please leave me a review and let me know what you like, what you don't like, helpful tips, anything that'll help make this story better! Thank you!
