Unpredictable Fate

AN: That you for your continued support of this story. Things may seem confusing at first, but stick with it to the end.


Unpredictable Fate

Chapter Three: The Reason of Existence


Sakura

At one point in everyone's life, you began to wonder if you have done things right. If your choices up to this point have been worth it.

The rest of the reception had gone by quickly. She had stood up and said her toast to the newlywed couple. As if her life was on fast forward without that Marine by her side. Strangely, the thought didn't scare her.

Shortly after the reception, a man pulled their car around and they were off to the airport. Shikamaru's friends had apparently arranged the honeymoon place, so neither of them knew where they were going. She decided not stick around. There wasn't much to do.

She had yet to see Naruto since the dance and his toast. Guests were already leaving. She quickly glanced at the clock on the wall, eight pm.

Sakura said goodbye to the people she did know before walking out to Temari's Jeep. Ever since she left Sasuke, she had been staying with Temari, until she can find her own place. She had yet to see Sasuke since. And that was fine by her. She was about to get into the driver's side before she noticed a piece of paper under the windshield wiper. Her hand reached back out and grabbed it. It was folded once, as she pulled the two sides apart.

Until we meet again
361-530-4024

No name. But she knew exactly who it belonged to.

She placed the note in the passenger seat beside her, then turned the ignition. She started to back up but was cut off by a Cadillac behind her. It was parked behind her and she couldn't see the driver. She honked her horn, trying to get the driver's attention. But he didn't move. Must be talking with someone, she thought dryly. But most of the guests had already left..

"What the-?" She heard herself ask.

But as soon as the words left her mouth, the Cadillac peeled off of the lot. Weird. She pulled out of the small parking lot and onto the dirt road that lead out of here. It was a thirty minute drive back to Temari's place. At least she will only be gone two days, Sakura thought sadly, not looking forward to being in a house all by herself. She was not scared to be in a house by herself, hell no, she can take care of herself. She just got so damn bored when she was by herself.

A wheezing noise brought her back to reality. Her line of sight glanced to her fuel meter. The arrow was past the E. The car shuttered to a stop as she slammed her head on the steering wheel in defeat; causing the car to honk.

"Dammit. Dammit. Dammit. Temari." She said with each dammit her head hitting the horn.

Sighing loudly she leaned back into her seat.

"Of all the rotten luck.." She moaned, pissed with herself for not checking the gas earlier.

Can't call Temari. Tenten lost her phone last night. Defiantly can't call Sasuke. Her eyes glanced to the note in her passenger seat. She hesitantly reached over and grabbed the piece of folded up paper.

Should I call him? Or not? No don't, remember you just met him. Shut up. You're stuck in the middle of nowhere, alone. Well you got a point but still..Her conscious fought with her, until she made up her mind.

"Enough." She said to herself. "God I need help." She mentally chuckled.

She yanked out her phone and dialed the number on the paper.

"..." She waited as the phone rang.

"Corporal Uzumaki."He answered all business-like. Corporal?

"Uh... Naruto?" She asked.

Silence. "Sakura?"He asked, sounding more excited.

"Yea." She chuckled nervously. "Where are you?"

"Is something wrong?" He asked, hearing the worry in her voice.

"No. Well. Yes. My car broke down and... I couldn't think of anyone else to call." She said.

"I'm on my way." He asked sternly.

Silence for a few seconds.

"Hold on, there is some idiot in a Jeep parked on the side of the road without their emergency lights on."Naruto sighed, annoyed.

She laughed, but then saw car lights behind her. "Hey, there is a car coming down the road. I'll see if I can flag him down." She said into the phone, getting out of the car.

"Be careful."She barely heard Naruto mutter.

A familiar Cadillac slowed to a stop in front of her. Great the same one from the parking lot..

"Uh Sakura, do you happen to drive a white Jeep?"She heard him laugh.

"Yea, how did you know?" She asked, as the car' Driver's side door opened.

A man in a tux stepped out with phone pressed to his ear.

"I'm staring at it."He said, closing the phone and walking to her.

"You're the asshole in the Cadillac?" She asked, laughing, as she pocketed her phone.

"Small world remember?" He said, raising his eyebrow at her. "So what's wrong with your car?"

He strolled past her and toward the Jeep, placing his hand on the hood.

"Um well, it's not my car. It's Temari's. She forgot to fill it up." Sakura sighed, once again scolding herself for not checking it.

"Good." Naruto laughed slapping his hand on the car, "Because I know nothing about cars and how to fix them."

She couldn't help the laugh that escaped her lips. Don't most guys act like they know a lot about cars to impress girls? But here Naruto openly says he has no idea. But then again, Naruto isn't like most guys.

A clap of thunder shook the sky overhead as lighting flashed on the distance.

"But it was sunny this morning.." She heard herself complain.

"You forget this is Texas, darlin', home of the most bipolar weather." He said in a mock Texan accent. "Here, lock the car up and we'll come back tomorrow to pick it up. I have a can of gasoline back home." He told her, normally. "I'll drop you off at your place and we'll come back in the morning." He suggested, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly.

"Deal." Sakura agreed, walked back over to her car and pulled the key out of the ignition.

As she locked the car, Naruto stood by the passenger door of his car. At first she was confused. Isn't he driving? But her question was answered as he opened the side door for her. She raised her eyebrow as she got into the car. He shut it gently behind her, before running back over to his side.

That was new for her. Sasuke never did that for her. Only in public where they could be seen. Naruto hopped into the car, just as water droplets began to splatter across the windshield. She took in both her and Naruto's appearance. It looked almost like they were going to prom. Her in a dress and him in a tux.

"So where am I driving you to, miss?" He asked, like it was the most normal thing to say.

She glanced over at him, "024 Lincoln. That's Temari's address."

"You're staying with her?"

"Yea." She told him, her head looking out the window at the rain, which was coming down in buckets now.

"You said earlier that you didn't know who else to call. What about your boyfriend?" He asked.

Sakura hesitated a bit longer and Naruto interrupted her.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to-" He was cut off by her voice.

"No it's alright. My ex-boyfriend." She said, pointing emphasis on the 'ex'. "We broke up. It wasn't working out."

Silence for the rest of ride to her place. Sakura opened her mouth twice to say something but she couldn't find the right words. He seemed more relaxed, than he did two weeks ago.

While he was watching the road, she watched him out of the corner of her eye. The very sight of him made her heart ache with longing. This emotion wasn't new to her, but yet it seemed so much more intense with Naruto. His eye glanced at her and she turned her head away quickly.

"You want the radio on?" He asked, smiling.

"Sure." She reached for it the same time he did.

Their fingers brushed across each other. But neither of them drew their hands back in recoil. A hot fire started at the point where their skin was touching and ran throughout her body. Just like after their dance, her mind reminded her.

Naruto ended up pressing the button to turn the radio on. He drew his hand back and place it back at the wheel. His knuckles white with the pressure from holding the steering wheel so tight. His lips in a tight line.

Her heart plummeted. Was he that repulsed by her touch? She turned to the window, disappointed. Her hand still tingling with his touch.

"Here we are, ma'am." He said pulling to a stop in front of Temari's house.

She was about to thank him but he jumped out of the car, pulling an object out with him, and rushed to her side in the rain. The object was an umbrella as he popped it opened and opened her door for her.

"This isn't really necessary." Sakura chuckled.

He rolled his eyes, beckoning her with his hand, "Humor me."

She sighed loudly, annoyed. His eyes lit up with her defeated gaze as he lead her to the door.

"I'll be by here in the morning." He told her.

"What time?" She asked, unlocking the door.

He shrugged his shoulders, "As soon as you call."

And with that he was gone. His car sped down the street.

Sakura let herself into the house and locked the door behind her. She went straight to her bed to lie down. She was asleep almost instantly. Her dreams constantly changed but one dream remains the same. A blonde Marine standing in front of her, but his eyes never seeing her. His blue eyes blank with that thousand yard stare as he watched something that was not really there. She called out to him trying to get his attention, but he did not see her, for she was not real either.


The next morning.

Sakura woke up groggy, she had one hell of a headache and could believe the dream she had last night. Her car broke down and Naruto drove her home. What a weird dream. She thought as she looked out the front window. The driveway was empty, no car. It wasn't a dream..

She pulled out her cellphone and checked the time. Twelve'o'clock? She quickly dialed Naruto's number.

"Hmm?"

"Naruto? Sorry I woke up late." She apologized.

"No. It's fine. I just woke up too. You ready to get your car?"

"Yea." Sakura told him walking around to the closet to get dressed.

"I'll be there in about fifteen. See you then."

The phone clicked as she hung up. She tossed her phone on her bed and stared at Temari's closet. Her clothes were on the right side of the closet in a small section. Sakura didn't want to impose. Flipping through the articles of clothing, she decided on a simple shirt and jeans. She slipped her phone into her front pocket and went to sit and wait on the couch. Little did she know her life will never be the same again..

Ding-dong.

She rushed to the door, couldn't helping her excitement. Sakura pulled open the door not bothering to see who it was. She already knew.

He stood in the doorway his hand behind his back with his same lopsided smile. He was dressed pretty much the same as her. Casual.

"You ready to get that car of yours?" He simply asked.

She nodded and followed him to his car. Like always he opened the door for her and rushed to his seat before backing out of the drive way. They didn't say much on the way to get Temari's car. Just some small talk that ended just as quickly as it started. But never once was she uncomfortable.

The white Jeep soon was a small blur in the distance as they approached the car. Naruto parked his car a car length away in front of the Jeep. Before he could open the door for her, Sakura jumped out, smirking at him. He rolled his eyes in defeat and opened the trunk to his Cadillac. Pulling out a gas container, he brought it to the side of Temari's car.

"This is about two gallons, I think." He said as he opened the container and started to put gas in her car.

"You think?" She questioned, raising her eyebrow playfully at him.

Completely ignoring her comment he added, "It should be enough to get you to a real gas station." Emptying the container, he turned to her. "All done. See if it works."

She ran over and hopped behind the wheel, surprised nothing was stolen. She put her key in the ignition and turned. Nothing. She tried again but the car didn't budge.

"It's not starting." She called to Naruto.

"For the love of-" She heard him shout as he walked to the front of the vehicle.

"Pop the hood." He told her.

She did as he told her and pulled the lever, releasing the hood.

"I think your battery is dead." Naruto said after a few minutes.

"I thought you don't know anything about cars." She laughed, coming to stand by him.

"I don't." He replied, pointing in the car.

On closer inspection she saw her battery was smoking. And small sparks were still coming out of it.

"Oh.." She started.

"Yea.." He laughed. "Also more bad news. I don't have jumper cables or whatever you need to fix this."

"Guess I'm stuck with you." She heard herself say.

"What do you want to do now?" He asked, closing the hood of the Jeep.

What did she really want to do? Well, her conscious was tired of her hiding her true feelings. She wanted nothing more than to be alone with him. It seemed like some invisible force was drawing her to him. The longing she felt when with him was hard to explain. The only word she could think of was love. But even that word was tossed around, downgrading its true meaning. Truth be told, words could not describe this feeling she had for him. The longer she was with him the stronger the feeling got. She was already crossing the point of no return, might as well enjoy the ride.

"Anything." I just want to be with you, she mentally added.

"I'll show you one of my most favorite places to be." He told her.

Taking her hand he led her into the woods by the road. And they never looked back.


"Where are we?"

"I used to come here as a kid." He said smiling.

They were next to a river. A quite large waterfall was roaring beside them. It was a very rocky terrain. He pointed to a small patch of land in the middle of the river. It was a small island. It was big enough for three people to lie down on. It was after the waterfall where the water was calmer after passing over the cliff. Five stones not submerged water lead from the land to the island. This place looked oddly familiar. Like an old memory you just couldn't put your finger on.

Naruto easily jumped from rock to rock to reach the island. However Sakura wasn't so optimistic. With her luck, she'll probably slip and break something. Seeing her unspoken distress, Naruto beckoned her with his hand.

"I won't let you fall." He promised.

She made her way towards him, slowly. He was already sitting down, seeing she didn't require his assistance.

"I still love this place. It always calmed me as a kid." He told her.

She stayed quiet. Drinking in the sight if this place, trying to remember what it reminded her as and trying to balance this feeling for Naruto.

"You seem distant." Naruto commented, laying down, placing his arms behind his head.

"It's just... I'm-... Uh!" She sighed in defeat, trying to find the right words.

He chuckled, looking at her.

"Is there something you're keeping from me?" He asked, raising his eyebrow.

How did he..? This man hardly knew her and he was reading her like a open book.

"Yes..." She said. "There is something I want to talk to you about but I don't want you to judge me."

"I won't. Go ahead." He offered.

"Um.. I don't know how to put this, Naruto.." Sakura started, her body turning to face his.

"Go on." He urged her, his eyes never leaving hers.

She took a deep breath, trying to suck up the courage, "When we first met, I felt as if I was a half of a whole. But as soon as you made your way into my life. I didn't feel that anymore. I felt complete."

He breathed out a breath he didn't know he was holding, "That's it, Sakura? That's what you were so nervous to tell me about?" He chuckled wildly, then leaned back to face her, "I've waiting for someone to enter my life and make me forget my past. No, not forget; make me not care about anything else. Sakura, I've been waiting so long and could never find that person. But then I found her. Sakura I found you."

Sakura tries to cut him off but he silenced her by placing his finger on her mouth.

"What I'm trying to say, Sakura, you gave me the reason to live. The will to live. As soon as I got shot and hospitalized, I wished I had died back there. And I was okay with that because no one would miss me. All my family was gone, what was the point anymore?" He voice broke, slightly. "I'm glad I didn't. Because if I did, I never would have found you. The moment my eyes met yours something changed. Some part of me was altered for the better. Yea, I saw that Sasuke had you and my outer shell of me knew it was a lost cause. But deep inside of me, I knew I could not and would not give up." He chuckled at his rambling. "I guess what I'm trying to say is that I love you, Sakura."

"But in the car, when our hands touched you pulled back, disgusted.." Sakura trailed off.

He laughed softly, "I'm not that dense, its just well, I was trying to restrain myself from you. Love is a very strong emotion, Sakura."

Her name being rolled off his tongue sent shivers to her very core. It was three little words that would change her attire life. Sakura stared at him wide eyed for a long moment before she whispered, "And I love you, Naruto."

And as if that was all the reassurance he needed, his lips crushed urgently against hers. She responded back, pushing herself up against him, every fiber in her being screaming for her to get closer, but she just couldn't get close enough. Naruto brought his hands to the small of her back, pulling her to him, not wanting to let go. Sakura pulled back for air quickly but put her lips back on Naruto's once she caught her breath. She wished she didn't have to breathe otherwise she'd never stop kissing Naruto.

Naruto's kiss was rough, but Sakura didn't care. She was returning the kiss even rougher. Sakura nibbled on Naruto's bottom lip, her hands rubbing up and down Naruto's back. He licked Sakura's lips, begging for entrance that was quickly allowed. Their tongues swirled around each other's mouths, which felt right. It felt like they've done it millions of times before. Sakura pulled back for breath. Naruto's lips never left Sakura. He places them on the corner of her mouth, her nose, her cheek, her chin, her shoulder, her neck, her ear, anywhere he could. Sakura's hands found Naruto's chin and brought his lips back to hers. She slowed the kiss down, pouring out her emotions through it.

"I love you Naruto." Sakura said again with her lips still on Naruto's. She needed to hear herself say it, so she knew she was making the right choice. But she knew she was. Something deep down inside her was going to never let him go.

Naruto pulled back and held her face in his hands, rubbing her cheek with his thumb. "I love you more than you'll ever know." Naruto looked deep into her eyes, showing how much he cared. He pulled her into a tight hug, showing no signs of letting go.


They stayed in each other's arms just staring into the sky. Naruto's arms were around her protectively and her head buried in the crook of his neck. The sun had started to go down over the horizon. She didn't realize how long they were here but she didn't care. This moment was so perfect she didn't want it to end.

"Have you ever wondered what the purpose of life was?" He asked randomly, looking at the sky.

"Yea. I think it's to find the purpose of life." She smiled into his neck.

"And what would yours be?"

"Well of course I found it, Naruto. It was you." She looked up at him. "Now that you mention it, I never thought of my purpose of life. I guess that's because I haven't met him yet."

Naruto looked down at her, as if he was studying her.

"God, you'll be the death of me." He mockingly moaned.

"What's yours?" She asked.

"I was the type of person who thought there was no purpose. That shit just happened in random. I began to think that way after my parents died." He said, his voice dropping a bit. "But at the wedding when I saw you, again, I realized that it was no coincidence. Almost like fate brought me to you, in my darkest hours. Such unpredictable fate.." He murmured, burying his mouth into her hair.

"Tell me about your parents." Sakura said, randomly.

He was silent for a moment.

"You don't have to if you don't want to." She said quickly.

"No, no. I was just thinking how to word it, Sakura. You are my life now, so you deserve to know everything about me." He smiled and kissed her hair. "My parents didn't really die in a fire. That was a cover up. They were gunned down in a home invasion. You see, my father was a powerful man in the military. He was a General and he specialized in weapons. I was home at the time in my room, when his best friend came to talk to him. His name was Vincent, if my memory holds." He laughed. "Vincent had a daughter about my age. We were pretty close, but I can't remember her name for the life of me." Sakura's eyes widen a bit. "Oh Sakura don't be jealous. She was just a childhood friend."

"I'm not jealous." Sakura defended herself.

"Right... Anyway, to make a long story short. Vincent shot my father twice in the head then killed my mother. He asked my mother if I was in the house. She said no trying to save me and told him I was spending the night at my friend's house. He believed her then killed her. I heard the whole thing from up stairs. He then let the gas to our stove leek out and lit a match. You can guess the rest." He added, sadly.

"Were you ok?" Sakura nearly yelled.

"Yes, I got out in time before the house blew up. Afterward I had to move in with my grandparents. They died when I turned eighteen." He sighed.

"Whatever happened to Vincent?" She asked.

"I don't know. I was always scared he'd come back for me to finish the job. I do have a picture of him. Here, I'll show you." One of his hands dropped from her waist to reach into his back pocket.

"Here." He said, handing her a folded up piece of thick paper.

Sakura grabbed it and opened it. It looked like a family photo.

"That was taken when my and his family was having a barbecue." He said.

An older blonde headed man, which she assumed was Naruto's dad, had his arm around a man with brown hair. They were smiling happily. Two young kids were sitting next to each other at their feet. The young boy, Naruto, had his arm around the little girl's neck. And their moms smiling for the picture.

She nearly dropped the picture when she looked at the girl next to Naruto. She knew something about this photo was familiar. She had the same one at her parent's house..


Naruto

"What's wrong?" He asked, looking at Sakura's shocked expression.

"It all makes since now.." He heard her murmur.

"What makes since? Sakura, you're scaring me." He said, shifting out of their position.

She just stared at the photograph, "I knew you looked familiar. I just knew it."

"What?" He asked pulling her chin look at him. "What's going on-?"

She cut him off and shoved the picture in his face, pointing to the girl next to him when he was a kid.

"Naruto, look at the girl." She said, firmly.

"What about her?" He asked, confused.

Sakura shook her head impatiently, "No, I mean really look at her."

He stared at the picture, and then glanced at Sakura then back at the picture. He was about to say, 'I don't see anything' but something stopped him. His eyes widened in realization. The girl in the picture was Sakura. Same features, same pink hair. How in the hell did he miss that?

"How...?" He heard himself mumble.

"My father came home one night covered in blood and the smell of gasoline. He fell into my mother's arms, screaming 'I killed my best friend'. Naruto I'm so sorry." She pushed her way out of his unmoving arms. "I understand if you don't want to be with me or even near me." She continued, standing up.

You're going to lose her, get up. My mind told me.

Just before she took a step, his hand wrapped around her arm in a death grip.

"You must not have understood me, Sakura. You are my life now." He pulled himself up, still holding her arm. "And whether you like it or not, you're stuck with me."

"But my family killed your family." She injected.

"It's the past, Sakura. I don't care anymore. Whatever happens from now on, we will get past it together." He said firmly, standing up next to her.

His grip around her arm loosened as she threw her arms around his neck, pulling him in a tight hug. Surprised, his arms stayed by his sides before he wrapped them around her waist.

"Thanks." He heard her whisper into his shoulder.

"I will always be here for you." Naruto smiled down at her.

"I can't believe it. They always told me your family moved away. I was devastated." Sakura said sadly. "How could they lie to me?"

Naruto shook his head and offered, "Maybe they were trying to protect you."

"Naruto doesn't this bother you at all? My father killed your family." She looked up at him appalled.

He sighed, letting go of her. "Well yea. I'm pissed. Beyond pissed. But Sakura I have no evidence. And who am I to turn in my girlfriend's- no love of my life's father?"

"Girlfriend?" She asked, smirking.

"Yes I hope you don't mind. Do you consider us that?" He questioned. "If not I can always go back to that shy girl. Remember her? Hinata?" He offered trying to remember the name of the girl that liked him so long ago.

"You wouldn't." Sakura threatened.

"Oh I don't know." He trailed off.

Hearing no answer, he turned around just in time as she tackled him off the island and into the river. It was shallow but he was still soaked.

"Sakura..." He whined.

"Don't you remember this? I suspected this place was familiar. We always played down here." She remembered in wonder.

"Yes and you always drowned me. Twice." He added, pushing her off him and rolling her over so he was on top.

"I never would have thought you would become a Marine." She smiled up at him.

"Well you know what they say.." He trailed off looking into her eyes.

"What? Idiocy is only skin deep?" She asked innocently.

"Why you little-!" Naruto cut off before picking her up and carried her to the deeper side of the river.

"I swear to god, Naruto if you-" She was cut off by Naruto chunking her into the water.

He watched her with a playful smirk across his face. Just like old times... Everything was perfect. But something seemed off. Not just the coincidence, no, everything seemed wrong. Like smell of rain when there is none. A shiver ran up his back. Something was going to happen. Something soon. He just hoped he'd be able to protect her from it. Whatever it was, he had a bad feeling about it.