It has been brought to my attention that Sakura using –kun is actually considered rude because of age difference between her and Naruto. I'm sorry! I did not know that and from here on out I will stop using it (: Thank you all for your support and I hope you like this chapter(especially because we're going to learn a lot about Naruto and Menma… and there are some random time skips because the main story will take place when Sakura is an adult and we actually need to get there)!
The wind was fierce, bitter, and bone chilling. It howled like the wolves up in the mountains and sent a shiver down your spine just the same. Her parents talked about record lows settling over their town, whatever that meant. All she knew was that it was cold. Sakura never liked wearing her snow pants to school (mostly because a rude boy named Suigetsu called her fat) but her mother insisted, forcing the puffy contraption on before she could resist.
A glare was sent her mother's way when Sakura remembered the incident. Her mother was equally as bundled up; wearing her own set of snow pants and a puffy coat. She wanted to pout and complain but when they neared the school she noticed that other kids and parents were donning the same type of apparel.
Sakura couldn't help but grin when a light haired boy with snaggy teeth walked into her vision wearing the same clothing. Ha! Now he couldn't call her fat!
"Sakura, you should say excuse me." Her mother scolded.
Her mother tugged on her arm before she could even comprehend what had happened.
"Oh, Mrs. Haruno, it's ay-okay! I wasn't paying attention either."
Looking up to see Naruto's bright smile shocked Sakura right out of her boots. Naruto and her mother were talking…?
"No, Sakura. I can't meet your mom, ok?"
"I'm your little secret."
They knew each other?
"What brings you to town, Naruto? The snow storms haven't been too terribly bad; who needs work done?" Sakura's mother asked, smiling brightly at the boy who emanated the sun itself (Well, Sakura sure thought so).
The blonde's thumb jerked back towards the school building. "The school wanted Jiraiya to come down and hold an assembly about survival tactics in the mountain. Crazy, right?" He laughed. "The old coot sent me down to talk instead. For a chatty old man he has some serious stage fright."
Sakura tugged on her mother's parka so she would look at her. "Oh, Sakura! This is Naruto. He lives up in the Hokage Mountains. You can thank this man for your bedroom, dear." Sakura must have looked confused because both adults laughed. "Naruto is contractor with his brother Menma. They come down and help out the town quite frequently."
She nodded, choosing to mostly ignore her mother in favor of looking at Naruto. He was smiling down at her but she didn't return the favor. If he came to Konoha often why was he her little secret? Why wouldn't he meet his mother if they already knew each other? Was he ashamed of being her friend? Would everyone make fun of him because he chose to be her friend?
Her mother's sleeve seemed to be very comforting as she hid her face away from him.
All three of them parted ways once they walked onto school grounds, Naruto enthusiastically waving goodbye with a smile that Sakura used to think was bright and perfect. She ignored the scolding her mother gave her for not returning Naruto's farewell, but she didn't care. Naruto was embarrassed by her and that hurt. He wouldn't get a goodbye from her, nuh-uh!
Class went on normally until the principal called all students down for the assembly. Naruto was happy and energetic in front of the students and staff. His blonde hair bounced and Sakura caught herself staring at it and his bright smile many times. His teeth were a shade of white that rivaled fresh snow and when his smile became really broad it looked as if he had fangs.
But she caught herself before her thoughts traveled too far. She was his secret as much as he was to her.
Secrets didn't seem too fun anymore.
It was during lunch when she saw Naruto next. He was talking to a teacher when he happened to look over at her, catching her eyes. Sakura looked down at her sandwich shamefully. He wasn't supposed to catch her looking!
The table bounced when a heavy body plopped down across from her and she yelped. Naruto was right there.
The four girls at the other end of the table halted their actions and chose to stare over at them. Sakura could feel her face heat up.
"Hi Sakura!"
The whole lunchroom seemed to die down and she felt like every pair of eyes were currently on them. Crawling into her bed and hiding under her blankets seemed like such a good idea right then; hiding from the sticky eyes.
Why was he talking to her anyway? Didn't he not like her? Wasn't he ashamed of being her friend?
She felt tears begin to materialize and she sucked in a breath, begging for them to just go away. Naruto didn't like it when she cried. The darker, soggy spots on the white bread of her lunch informed her that her tears already fell and gosh, she just wanted to crawl away.
"Sakura? Why are you crying?"
"Naruto doesn't like me!" She blurted. Sniffling, hiccupping, and rubbing her face into her soggy sleeve. "You're embarrassed by me."
"What?" He exclaimed. "Sakura, I thought we were best friends?" Naruto was leaning forward and keeping his voice hushed. The girls at the far end of the table were staring a bit too intently.
"You said no one supposed to know about you and Menma…"
"They aren't, Sakura. People can know about me and uh, my brother, but they can't know about us. Your teacher thinks I'm talking to you about your family's barn right now, they can't know were friends."
Her sleeve was damp and sticky so she used its opposite for a final wipe across her nose and cheeks. "You and Menma aren't embarrassed by me?" She mumbled, sounding drained.
Naruto pursed his lips, looking across the table at her with bright blue eyes that made her oh so happy before that morning. "Never, Sakura."
Eyes were all over them, Sakura could feel it. It wasn't unnerving anymore. In fact, Sakura felt so uplifted because of Naruto. He liked her! He considered her his best friend! Menma must feel the same.
"Menma and I are… different," He mumbled. "It wouldn't be acceptable for you to be friends with us at your age, Sakura. People just wouldn't like it. That's why I wouldn't meet your mom and have hot chocolate with you. When you're older we'll be able to do more of those things, but for now we just have to keep doing what we're doing."
Visits between Sakura and her two boys—as she liked to call them—went on as usual. She had grown from four to seven before she started to notice strange patterns and weird habits between them. She noticed that on the days that her parents fought in front of her Naruto or Menma(whoever happened to meet her that day) always seemed edgy and uncomfortable. When she happened to have a good day at school Naruto or Menma were calmer and much more fun to be around.
It was as if they knew how she felt about the day. Her mother always said she was like an open book so maybe they could read her just as well?
Sakura also noticed how much both of them cared for her. Always patching her up when she fell or scraped her knees. It was nice. Sakura liked it a lot. It meant that they cared, right?
Summer was just beginning to settle in over Konoha, melting the snow that hid lush, green undergrowth. It was still cold out and Sakura's mother got her a red coat that she excitedly showed off to Menma.
The dark haired brother grabbed her hand and led her towards whatever destination he had in mind. Menma and Naruto were very different, she had noticed long ago. Menma was quieter and smiled less than Naruto. Jokes weren't his thing, which was more of a Naruto trait. If she had to compare them to something it would have to be her mother's frying pans.
She couldn't help but giggle at the thought of her two best friends as cookware. Naruto once called her idealistic and explained that it was a good thing that her thoughts tended to be out of the box.
Menma was like her mother's large black skillet. It was tough around the edges and took a while to warm up when on the stove, but once it was ready it always fried up the most delicious fish.
Naruto was definitely her mother's non-stick pan. He was clean and smooth and very easy to handle. Her parents never had a problem when using it and it was very easy to clean while Naruto was very easy to talk to and get along with.
Kurenai-sensei briefly talked about analogies earlier in the school year and the pinkette wasn't quite sure if she was using them correctly.
Her arm was being tugged on a bit roughly as Menma led her to wherever he planned. The black haired man seemed grouchier than usual. Looking down at their intertwined hands, Sakura realized that his darker, tan skin was practically her pale shade. She always liked the dark tint to his and Naruto's skin. It was nice and different compared to all of the pale people in Konoha, including herself.
Skin tones were the only thing on her mind that she didn't even notice that her knees were in the mud and blood was dripping down her elbow and pooling around her fingers.
"Shit, Sakura. I told you to step over the… branch," Menma spoke, ending his sentence breathlessly.
Tears pooled in her eyes much like her blood and pain shot up her elbow. But she didn't cry because Menma was soon applying pressure to her cut and growling to himself. His blue eyes were hot like wildfire and his breath was unsteady. He sounded like he was in more pain than she was.
"Sakura, close your eyes…" He growled, glaring at her with eyes that physically stung her. Why was he so angry?
But Sakura complied because Menma looked scary and she didn't want to anger one of her only friends. The pressure of his hand lifted and was replaced with what felt like a wet sponge. She curiously wondered where he got one from and then it moved. She squealed because it felt gross.
The sensations reminded her of when the Inuzuka's hunting dogs would lick her hands and give her face a couple of kisses. It was a warm feeling, warmer than her blood.
Her eyes opened before she could even help it and she met Menma's dark blue orbs, staring straight at her as he licked away the blood. His skin was suddenly darker, healthier. The drag of his teeth (were they sharper now?) on her skin made a shiver shoot down her spine.
The cut had stopped bleeding, she noticed as his tongue followed the trail of red liquid that had dripped down into her palm. Menma grabbed her hand, lifted it, and lapped up the rest of the red substance between each finger, staring straight at her with mischievous eyes.
"It would be best if you go home now, Sakura."
Naruto told her that he and Menma were different from other people when she was twelve. He told her about fairytales and stories about creatures with magic powers and he asked her if she believed in those things. When she said yes all he did was smile at her.
The Menma incident wasn't brought up after it happened. It was another one of their secrets, just like their friendship and now their identity.
Naruto said that he and Menma were wendigos. She had never heard of it before and Naruto laughed because apparently they weren't the most popular of creatures. Sakura picked up and handful of hay and tossed it away out of boredom. They were sitting in her family's barn because it was too cold to be in the forest and Naruto really wanted to see her. That made her happy.
Naruto said that he and Menma aged very slowly and that they were around the age of twenty-six. He also mentioned how they could feel human emotion, mostly hate and anger. She didn't understand what he meant when he said it fueled them, but he kept talking before she could ask.
It was fascinating and addicting to Sakura. Her very first friend was rare and different and he chose to be close to her. She felt like the luckiest girl in the world!
The blonde didn't expand on the topic, shooting down all of her questions and saying that he would tell her more later. Wouldn't want to ruin the fun, he said.
That night Sakura sat on her bed and stared out her window. Fresh snow was falling, covering up Naruto's footprints from earlier before her dad could find them. Her homework was nudged away by her foot, choosing to think about her best friends over geometry.
Could they fly? Could they read minds? Was their uncle Jiraiya one too? Did they drink blood?
Maybe that's why Menma licked her arm clean that one time. Was a wendigo another name for a vampire?
Neither of them would hurt her… No, they definitely wouldn't. She's known them for eight years and they've only gotten into a handful of spats. If Naruto or Menma truly wanted to hurt her wouldn't they have attacked when she was young and frail?
That would be the most plausible thing to do.
Sakura decided with a triumphant smirk that she would research wendigos at the library and see what she could find.
She went to sleep that night with dreams of blue eyes, fangs, and and imaginary creatures.
It was the last week of high school before graduation and Ino insisted that prom was a must. Sakura became friends with the blonde when they were twelve and assigned to be partners for their science fair project. Despite not really caring for one another before, being forced to learn if specific plants could be grown with soda instead of water made them hit it off and become close.
Their high school held the dance at some fancy hotel ballroom in Suna, the large city a half hour away. A black haired boy named Sasuke (who really reminded her of a quieter version of Menma) was her date but in reality they just posed as a couple for pictures. Ino went with her boyfriend, Shikamaru, a lazy brunette who had a really nice smile when he chose to show it.
It was fun night but Sakura just wanted to kick off the heels Ino forced her to wear and fall face first into bed. When she finally arrived the house was empty but her parents left the kitchen lights on for her. They must have taken the opportunity for a date night while she was out. Her heels were kicked off her feet in the blink of an eye and thrown in the middle of the hall.
She filled a cup with water at the sink and took a large gulp. The dance seemed like it was hours ago but her throat was still parched. Sakura set the glass down heavily when she noticed the tall figure leaning against the barn outside, staring right at her through the window. Sakura had to force herself to not run outside and meet him.
"Naruto," She greeted sweetly, stepping out her backdoor and following the frigidly cold stone path that led to the barn, ignoring it against her bare feet.
"Sakura," he said with an overjoyed smile. "You look dazzling tonight."
"Right back at you," She uttered, poking and prodding at the collar of his black dress shirt. "Why are you so dressed up, hm?"
"Why are you dressed up? Did you have a date tonight?"
"Oh be quiet. You're just jealous that you're too old for prom."
Naruto's warm palm grabbed hers and he grinned. "I've never been to prom before, you know? I just thought I could have one dance with the prettiest girl I know."
Sakura scoffed, looking away to hide her smile as Naruto pulled her away.
They walked into the barn and Naruto kicked the door closed behind them. Sakura secretly relished in the sensation of warm hay underneath her feet. She would have rather worn the deathtrap heels then stand on the chilly path.
Naruto grinned down at the pink woman in his arms. He watched her go from a weeping child to a brilliant woman. Her lavender dress completed her natural pastel pallet and flowed down her body like water. Small gemstones on her bodice twinkled in the light of the electric lamps hung from the rafters of the barn.
Thin arms loosely wrapped around his neck while he placed his own respectably on her waist. Sakura smiled up at him.
She was warm and soft under his palms, swaying to some imaginary song playing in her head. Her smile was radiant and wide and full of so much happiness that it calmed his rushing blood. No wonder Menma wanted to be around her so much. Sakura easily calmed down the dismal urges that constantly loomed over them.
But people have been getting angry in Konoha, especially Sakura's parents. They have been throwing fits over Sakura's college costs and how they would pay it off. An elderly couple on the far side of town recently lost seven sheep to some wolves and were raging about it. The Akimichi's were losing money from their deli and Choza was stressing himself into an anger filled stupor.
Naruto and Menma could feel it. The town was slowly building up into a wrathful bomb of negative energy. If he were to come instead of Naruto he probably wouldn't have been able to control himself. The darker entity probably wouldn't have even asked before he went in for the feeding.
But Naruto was a gentleman and would at least treat her to a dance first.
They swayed for a bit before Naruto twirled Sakura under his arm, grinning at the way her dress fanned out and kicked up some straw.
"How was the dance?"
"Eh," Sakura shrugged, stepping back into their makeshift tempo. "I'm glad I went but I'm also glad that I came home."
He chuckled and spun her around again. "So you could get out of your shoes?"
"So I could dance with you, silly!"
He grinned. "I guess I can't blame you; I'm hotter than that Uchiha with the pole up his ass." Sakura shot a glare at him. "Sorry, sorry. It isn't my fault you can't see how much of a dick he is."
Sakura huffed and chose to drop it. "Did Menma want to come?"
"He really wanted to come tonight," Naruto said in an undertone, avoiding her eyes. He sighed and looked back down at her. "The town is getting restless, Sakura."
"Oh…"
Their swaying slowed considerably, the hay barely crunching underneath their feet.
"Naruto, do you need to… you know?"
He nodded with a slack jaw, looking unhappy at the thought. "I promise we won't do it again for a while…"
"Just shut up and do it if you need to. I already told you Naruto," Sakura growled.
"Yeah, and it was stupid." He snapped. He wanted to smack himself for spitting at her, but he was craving and she knew this.
She learned that it was best to prepare for the pain; taking it unknowingly just hurt worse. Sakura tensed up underneath him.
God, he hated doing this. Menma was the one who usually did this. Why couldn't his darker doppelganger buck up and handle doing this without incident? Now he left the duty on Naruto's unwanting shoulders.
Sucking it up like he wished Menma could, he pulled the purple strap of her dress off of Sakura's shoulders, leaving her creamy skin open for him. "You'll have to go cover this up before your parents get home." Naruto warned.
Sakura nodded, pushing her forehead into his shoulder. Naruto sighed uncomfortably before he scraped his teeth over her shoulder. Her skin became red and agitated, causing the blood to flow faster as her heart anxiously sped up. He grasped her arms in an iron grip—Sakura tended to react violently towards pain—before he swiftly bit into her shoulder and let her blood pool in his mouth.
LET ME JUST SAY THAT THIS IS NOT A VAMPIRE FIC. I WILL EXPLAIN TONS MORE IN THE NEXT CHAPTER. NOT TWILIGHT. NOT TWILIGHT. NOT TWILIGHT.
Woo… ok… yes. Thank you all for reviewing and favoriting and just keeping up with this story! It means a lot to me. C: I have gotten so many nice messages and reviews about this… It just warms my heart! Haha! Thank you!
Please tell me what you think and hopefully I can update soon so you guys can figure out all of the juicy little details between Menma, Naruto, and Sakura!
(Please excuse any grammar/spelling mistakes)