Chapter 3
Author Notes; this chapter is a bit more serious than the last two but it is necessary I promise. And I won't say that I do but I might have already written the 4th chapter with gooey Kakasaku interactions…but I won't say that I do or not but if people review than I might get it send to my beta and updated within a week….sounds good? Please review!
Special thanks to ShipperTrish for being a great beta!
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Ino continued to move her mouth at a rapid rate discussing the latest gossip. Most, of course, concerned her friend sitting across from her who stopped listening 10 minutes ago, but Ino continued to discuss the hearsay to a somewhat willing Hinata.
Although Hinata wouldn't take part in spreading the slander she heard, she enjoyed the time spent with the few friends she had and would gladly listen to whatever they had to say. Hinata glanced at Sakura and could tell by her body language that she was remembering something and by her expression, that something confused her. Hinata always thought Sakura was the strongest and smartest person she knew and couldn't imagine what could perplex her.
"You haven't said a word the entire time, forehead." Ino said as the waitress poured her a third glass of tea.
Sakura glanced up. "I'm sorry, what?"
Ino rolled her eyes. "What's up with you today?"
Sakura shrugged. She had been thinking of Kakashi ever since this morning. She couldn't get the baka out of her head. She sighed and sipped on her tea. Ino smiled and leaned forward.
"If you want a man so bad, all you gotta do is ask."
Sakura nearly choked on her tea. She coughed loudly as Hinata covered her face and giggled softly.
"What?!"
Ino shrugged. "I can tell what you said last night was true."
Sakura rolled her eyes. "I was shit-faced."
Ino shook her head. "The truth comes out when you're drunk, forehead. You want a man and you need one bad."
Sakura glared at Ino. If she said it any louder she was going to stuff a fist down her throat and see how well she could talk then.
"Despite what you may believe, I don't need a man. I'm perfectly happy."
"I don't see how. The only man you're around with is Kakashi. Is he giving you all you need?" She asked with a sly smile.
Sakura nearly fell out of her chair. "NO!" She yelled being more defensive than she needed to be. "God Ino, he's my teacher!"
Hinata blushed. "Ino, you shouldn't say such things out loud. People might gossip." She said softly.
Ino leaned in and nodded. "She's right. We don't want people to think something like that, but you do need to go on some dates, forehead. You're uptight."
Sakura rolled her eyes. "Well, it's not like anyone asks me."
Ino laughed loudly. "You're intimidating, fists of fury."
Sakura nodded. She never really gave any men a fair chance, but Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi didn't help. Any boyfriend she ever had, they scared away. No man was brave enough to stay with her for more than a month or two which was hardly any time to get serious.
"I don't need a relationship right now." Sakura said truthfully.
"Who said anything about a relationship?" Ino said with a wink.
"I'm not going to go and shag just anyone!"
Hinata laughed softly and Ino smiled. "Why not? You're a ninja. We can get away with anything since our lives are so short and depressing."
Sakura glanced down at her watch glad to see it was time to meet Kakashi and stood up. "I got to go…"
"Ya, ya. Tell Kakashi I'm still waiting for him." Ino said in a suggestive tone.
Sakura rolled her eyes and hated that she felt jealous when it wasn't her place, but she couldn't help it. She felt that way towards all her boys. Haruno Sakura didn't like to share.
She waved goodbye to the two girls as she quickly got away as far as possible. Since there was no chance Kakashi would get there first since he was generally late, she decided to take the longest route to the designated training ground. The park was beautiful around this time of year although it was still chilly and not yet spring. The park had quietness about it that she loved.
A cold gust of wind made her shiver and blew her hair into a tangled mess. Sakura found an empty bench to fix the damage the wind had done. Her hair had always been the subject of her vanity and no longer was it short and spiky, but long with slight curls. Her hair dangled just above her buttocks. Sakura braided her hair into one long braid that hung over her shoulder.
She was about to get up when an elderly woman stopped in front of her blocking out the sun and casting a shadow over her.
"Hello, Grandmother." Sakura greeted pleasantly and scooted over so the elderly woman could rest. Sakura looked around. Surely this woman wasn't alone. She looked to be in her 90's and she doubted that the Hyuuga clan would allow her to wander all by her lonesome.
Her large white eyes followed Sakura's movements and a sly smile spread across her wrinkled face. Sakura reacted like most who saw her and presumed as much as she did now.
Sakura turned back towards the elderly woman and smiled as pleasantly as she could. "Can I escort you back to the Hyuuga Manor?"
Sakura watched as the woman shook her head and said "No" which sounded an awful like a sigh. Sakura took in the woman. She had a very small frame and old age had little to do with it. Sakura could tell by her bone structure that she had always been a petite woman. It was a little humorous that she wore so much jewelry. Sakura imagined that the old woman would fall over any minute from the sheer weight of it.
She wore a traditional kimono as many her age did, but the kimono was unlike Sakura had ever seen and she had to admit that the old woman was either blind or had horrible taste. The kimono was a deep plum color with golden leaves sown into the sleeves. The kimono also had several small holes and rips from wear, and not many elderly women, especially those of the Hyuuga clan, wore their hair down. Her hair nearly reached her ankles. It was a beautiful white with a streak of gray.
"I didn't mean to offend you, I just presumed…"
The elderly women raised her hand and shook her head. "There is no need to apologize. It is a common mistake, but you must be smart to recognize your error so quickly. Most people are talking Hyuuga politics before I have to tell them the truth." She replied in a soft but raspy voice. Sakura cold tell she had smoked for years.
Sakura smiled and nodded. "Is there anywhere I can help you to?"
"Not eager to get rid of me, yeah?"
Sakura shook her head "Oh, no, no! Of course not!"
The elderly woman laughed. "I am Azarni and I'm very glad to meet you Sakura."
Sakura tilted her head. "How do you know who I am?"
Azarni turned towards her, her white eyes taking in every movement of the young girl before her. Sakura shivered. It felt like the elderly woman could see inside of her thoughts and see into the depths of her soul.
"Because I knew I had to be here today and meet a young girl with the most unusually colored hair and, well, I never go anywhere unprepared…Habit of my younger days as a ninja and it wasn't difficult to find out who you were."
Sakura frowned and touched her hair. Although it was an unusual color, she wished people would describe it in a different tone.
The elderly woman was making less and less sense and she wondered perhaps if she was confused and lost.
"Ah, that look...I'm used to that, too." Azarni said and laughed at her own joke.
"What did you mean that you were meant to be here and meet me?"
"Actually, what I said, Sakura. Or do you not believe in fate?"
Sakura shook her head. "No, I believe in free will."
Azarni smiled softly. "Just because you are meant to do something doesn't mean that you have to. There are always choices, many paths that you may walk down, but there is also one path that is the most likely and most chosen and that is what I see."
"Are you saying you're psychic?"
"I hate that word and all the other stupid titles, but yes, to cut to the chase, yes I am."
Sakura didn't want to be disrespectful, but this woman was obviously troubled and perhaps it would be best to take her to the hospital.
"My clan disowned me because they thought in the same lines as you." She said softly. "I was 14 years old and claimed that I could see the future. They left me with nothing." She said sadly.
"I'm sorry, Azarni. I have been so disrespectful."
Azarni grabbed Sakura's hand and squeezed it tightly. "We live in a world of legends and living myths. Perhaps you can be open-minded briefly to an old woman's words?"
Sakura nodded slowly, but didn't know if her rational mind could ever believe anything this woman had to tell her.
Azarni had a sad smile, but nodded.
"I dreamt of your future and although it is unwise to reveal the secrets I have seen, I have decided worse could happen if I did not warn you."
"Warn me?" Sakura replied softly. Azarni nodded leaning forward.
"Years from now a most terrible thing will happen to you. The worst imaginable for a woman."
Sakura gulped loudly. The worst that could happen to a woman is rape, a living nightmare for all women.
"But Azarni, I'm strong. I doubt that anyone could force me…"
"But there are those who can, Sakura, and will…you must protect the child."
Sakura stood up and shook her head. "You think I would keep a child that is conceived during a rape?"
Azarni looked up at Sakura. She didn't want to tell Sakura this. She truly wanted to protect her of this horrible truth, but she had seen the other paths that Sakura would most likely take and had to warn her.
"You must."
Sakura shook her head. "You're crazy."
Azarni reached up and grabbed her hand. "What do I have to say for you to believe me?"
Sakura crossed her arms. "Something that no one else could possibly know."
Azarni smiled. "Like last night, you had a little embarrassing entanglement with your former sensei?"
Sakura's mouth dropped. Kakashi would never tell anyone.
"And that you lied to him? That you actually remembered everything, but were so embarrassed you pretended you forgot?"
Sakura blushed. "How can you know that?" She whispered a little frightened.
"Because I can see it." She replied. "And what I said before is true as well."
Sakura sat down next to her. "I'm going to get raped?"
Azarni nodded. "I wish I could spare you."
"Why do I have to keep the child?" Sakura asked looking down at her feet.
"Not even I can see everything…but it's important."
Sakura felt like crying.
"If it helps, Sakura, you will be stronger than you are now and you will survive…you have to."
Sakura nodded. "How many years away is it?"
"Many." She replied and gripped Sakura's hand tightly.
"Is there anything else I can tell you, perhaps something that will make you feel better?"
Sakura sighed. "I don't know. Maybe you can tell me who I will lose my virginity to?"
Azarni laughed. "To be honest, I don't think I should tell you."
Sakura laughed. "Why not?"
"Because it will effect you greater than you can imagine, but I can tell you some details mind that I can't reveal who he is."
Sakura smiled. "Okay."
"He is handsome." She said looking off distantly. "He has had such a difficult past. He had lost a lot. In fact, you are one of the few people he trusts, even with his life."
"Will it be good? Because Ino says the first time is usually pretty bad."
Azarni smiled. "It will be painful at first, but he is a good lover and will take his time to please you."
Sakura blushed.
"There is a boy coming towards us in green spandex."
Sakura eyes widened. "Oh no…Lee." She whispered.
Azarni smiled. "Leave it to me. I should be going anyhow."
"Will I see you again?"
Azarni looked down at the girl. Her eyes were hopeful. Azarni nodded although she knew she would be long in her grave when Haruno Sakura sought her out.
Rock Lee jumped out of the brush with a determined look on his face and spotted his target. He ran towards Sakura. "IS IT TRUE?!" Lee yelled loudly. "Is it true you are looking for someone to take…"
"Ah, what a strapping young man." Azarni said.
Rock Lee looked up and for the first time noticed the small elderly woman.
"I'm sure he can't be as strong and kind as you said he was."
Rock Lee smiled giving his best stance.
"Will you honor me and walk me home young man?"
Lee looked sadly at Sakura and then at the elderly old woman and nodded. "I will be honored."
Azarni smiled and looped her arm around his. Sakura watched as they walked away. Azarni had given her a wink before departing and she heard Azarni asked in the distance if Lee wanted to know his future.
Sakura stood up realizing how late she was going to be for her training session with Kakashi and took off towards the training grounds.
Kakashi was laying beneath a tree happily reading his dirty little book. Sakura appeared beside him.
"You're late." He said with a slight tease in his voice.
"You see there was this elderly woman and she wanted to tell me my future."
"Good one." Kakashi replied and stood up. "I'll use that with my kids someday."
Sakura smiled and stood up as well. "All out?" She asked.
Kakashi nodded. It had been too long since they had this much fun. Might as well cause some destruction as well.
"Wouldn't have it any other way."
