AN: Hmm well I've been thinking of ways to add more humor and happy moments to what otherwise is looking to be a rather sad story, as I said the end will be happy, but it looks like a long run of sadness, so I've decided that I'll be spending a little longer on each chapter, writing it that is. Hopefully that will allow me to come up with some happy scenes…who knows maybe even a flash back or two…(that just struck me, a stroke of genius -)
After the horrible start to the summer Sakura avoided any and all mention of her two former friends. This was easier than she thought it would be, once she said to her friends that she wanted nothing to do with them once they tried to break up her and Neji, she saw that they respected her wishes. The hardest part was convincing Neji she meant what she said the night of the party. He was convinced that she just said it in the moment and would regret it later, but she insisted that it was more than that. It was over.
She went on with her life as normal, just avoiding their phone calls, knowing they were going on a summer trip together, having planned it many months ago and the news re-circulating its way around the schools gossip channels, she didn't have to worry about seeing them after June.
Her memories where harder to lose though, flashes of their childhood together kept running through her head at the oddest times, and pictures she kept of them seemed to pop up whenever she moved anything in her house.
Looking for a box of old school papers she instead found an old box of pictures, the first one she saw was one of her, Ino and Sasuke dressed up for Halloween as the three Musketeers all in matching blue and white outfits, with bags for candy and toothy grins. In the background was Sasuke's older brother looking particularly bothered having to accompany the 'munchkins' out trick-or-treating that year.
"Ha you're just jealous that you don't have great friends like mine." Sasuke's young voice rang out, taunting his stoic brother.
"Shut-it Pip, I may be being force to do this, but I'm still bigger than you and your little girlfriends…" Itachi sneered menacingly.
"They're not my girlfriends!" Sasuke yell defending his reputation as a cootie conscience seven year old, "They're just my friends who happen to be girls…get it right! Besides, mom and dad will be mad if Sakura and Ino' parents complain about you so there." Sasuke finished his speech by sticking his tongue out at his brother.
"Oh, very mature Pip, maybe there won't be enough of you left after I'm done with you for their parents to have to complain about…" Itachi glared at the three kids before turning away and beginning their first trip to a door this thirty-first of October.
"Who does he think he is? We're the three Musketeers! Come on guys, we gotta think of a way to get back at him, he can't treat us this way…" Sasuke whispered to the two girls.
"Well he's your brother, and he scares me, if you want to do something to him, you have to think it up, I'm not touching him unless I can blame it on you." Sakura said and crossed her arms, beside her Ino followed suit and nodded her head.
"Fine then." Sasuke pouted, "I'll think of something… just you wait, it'll be good, but you have to help me ok?"
"Yeah!" The girls shouted in unison after exchanging glances.
Sakura leaned into Sasuke and whispered into his ear, "You sure he won't kill us?"
Sasuke turned around and gave her a hug. "Course I am, I'm the guy and I won't let a big bad guy hurt you…don't worry, I won't let anything bad happen to you…ever!" Sasuke grinned big.
Sakura smiled shyly, "Thanks Sasuke, I believe you. Now what are we gonna do to him?"
After many more houses and their candy bags much fuller than they began as, Sasuke finally got the most brilliant plan to get back at his brother.
"Hey guys!" he whispered urgently to the girls, "I've got it! I know what to do to Itachi! But Sakura, you'll have to get close to him…is that ok?"
"If we can get him I'll do it, after all you're here, and you'll protect me right?"
"Course I will! Now here's the plan"
…
Sakura walked up to where Itachi was, a few feet ahead of the 'munchkins' as he called them. "Itachi…, where are we going? I mean do you have any planed routes, or is it all random?" She asked sweetly.
Itachi having a slight soft spot for the petal haired shy girl, looked at her as gently as he could manage, before saying, "It's rather random, if I think a house looks good, or if I know they give good candy I'll go there. Why?"
"Well I was wondering if I could choose a house we could go to…please?" she asked as sweetly as she could, gently looking up at him and biting her nail.
Wondering why the girl looked oddly like she was flirting with him, he agreed that she could pick out the next house they go to, earning him a mega watt smile. Turning and returning her finger to her mouth she looked around, seeming to contemplate which house to choose. Grinning wildly she grabbed his hand and pulled him along to the house of her choice, which just happened to be the house of his best friend, and also of his crush, it looked like the were having a party of some sort. Most of the kids from Itachi's class were there and seeing the way they were headed Itachi quickly dug his heels into the ground and said: "Ugh how about that lovely house over there?" He pointed randomly, his finger landing on a house shrouded in darkness its porch light not on and looking very much like no one was home.
"No you said I could choose…and besides no one lives there…duh!" Sakura replies saucily…doing her best impersonation of Ino that she could muster.
Behind her Ino put her hands on her hips and said, "That's her trying to stand up to him like I would! Please I'm not like that…duh!" she huffed madly.
Sasuke looked at her with a skeptical look, "Oh yeah you are."
"What! I am not you take that back!" she yelled and gave chase. Sasuke sensing danger ran, hard and fast away from the blonde fireball and made a bee-line for their target destination, hoping, though this wasn't part of the plan, that it would help them get there faster. Indeed as he ran past his brother and Sakura, with an irate Ino hot on his heels, his brother and Sakura joined the race.
"Hey you two! Don't go running off! Are you nuts there's all kinds of crazies running out tonight. Do you want to get eaten by one of them?" Itachi yelled grabbing Sakura's hand so as not to lose her too in this not goose chase.
Finally reaching the party house, Sasuke stopped, Ino followed suit, but followed up by pouncing atop Sasuke and beating him with her fists.
"Ouch! Hey Ino I'm sorry, Ow that hurts stop!" Sasuke yelled from beneath the flying fists of a furious Ino.
"Hey you two cut it out! What are you doing? I'm so gonna-"
"Itachi?" He was interrupted, whipping his face up he saw his best friends sister, his crush staring at him, she was dressed as a pirate, looking very, in Itachi's eyes, cool.
"What's going on? And," she muffled a giggle behind her hand, "Who's your girlfriend?" gesturing to his hand holding that of Sakura. Quickly dropping the girl's hand he realized he would never live this down…seeing as every one in his class was now staring at him and the three children. Small chuckles could be heard, followed by a general roar of laughter filled the night air.
"Oh god" Itachi breathed, starting to realize just what the 'munchkins' had brought down on his head.
Sakura at the urging of her friends walked up to Itachi and re-took his hand and, facing the older girl said: "Hi I'm Sakura Hurano, Itachi's new girl friend. Nice to meet you."
"Likewise." The girl said walking towards the small group she sank down to Sakura's level and said, "Just where did you meet Itachi and how old are you?" she smiled gently playing along with the kids game.
"I'm seven," Sakura said, "and gosh I've know Itachi forever, he's always been the guy for me." She said before dissolving into a fit of giggles. The twelve year old girl joined her knowing this was all some joke and openly laughed at Itachi's expense.
Itachi now red in the face, picked Sakura up into his arms candy and all, and said, "Sasuke, blonde-one come, we're leaving." And in the midst of giggles and jokes of 'robbing the cradle' Itachi made his way out of the yard and stomped his way back to his house. Never saying a word he simply made his way to his room and locked himself in.
'That was the best!" Sasuke screamed, "Sakura you were amazing…at first I didn't think you would do it but you did. We can do anything!" He rejoiced throwing his arms around his two best friends before saying, "You know what? We are the three Musketeers; we should make a vow,"
"What's a 'vow'?" Ino asked.
"It's ugh I don't know…a ugh…Sakura?" Sasuke said, looking to the smartest of the three for an answer.
"A vow is like a promise between friends or people you know. Like to never hurt each other, or to return a doll. Stuff like that."
"Oh see yeah, let's make one of them. I vow to always be your friends and never hurt you two." Sasuke said with his hand over his heart.
"Yeah me too, but also I vow to always be there for you two." Sakura said her hand also over her heart.
Ino catching on that that's what you were supposed to do when making a vow quickly put her hand over her heart, and said, "Yeah what Sakura said! I ugh Vow that too!"
"Alright, this will be our vow, to always be friends, to never hurt one of your friends and to always be there for each other. I vow this." Sasuke said.
"I vow this." Sakura said
"Ugh me too, I vow this." Ino said
"Heh all for one and one for all!" Sasuke yelled, getting into the character he was for the night.
"What's that mean?" Ino asked.
"I dunno." Sasuke said, "But it's the thing the Three Musketeers say and now we're them, so we should say it too."
"Ok, one for all and all for one!" Ino yelled.
"No Ino. All for one and one for all, get it right." Sasuke said angrily.
"Oh yeah sort all for one and one for all." Ino said quietly trying to remember it.
"Yeah all for one and one for all." Sakura said, putting her hand out in the middle of their small circle. Sasuke getting the idea put his hand atop hers and grabbed Ino's to complete the scene. Saying the line once more the three threw their hands in the air and smiled to each other.
It was still a few years before they realized the meaning of that phrase, although they drove their families crazy using it following that Halloween. Thinking about it now, Sakura realized that they had broken all three of those vows in the past year…whatever happened to them? 'Life was so easy back then.' Sakura though before putting the picture away and abandoning her search for those papers.
Later that day Sakura's mother came home, from work to find her daughter sitting looking blankly at the wall.
"Sakura? Honey, what's wrong?" She asked gently, "Are you and Neji having problems?"
"Hmm?" Sakura finally broke out of her thoughts to face her mother, "What'd you say mom? Sorry I guess I wasn't listening."
"That's ok; I asked if everything was alright, you seemed so sad sitting there. How are your friends hmm? I haven't heard you talk about Sasuke and Ino for a long time, are…you all still getting along?" Her mom asked tentatively.
Sakura knew her parents were still friends with Sasuke' parents and Ino's dad; Ino's mom having divorced, just recently divorced her third husband and was currently in Cancun searching for number four. Not wanting to upset that friendship she quickly made a vague answer up. "Uh, sure mom, why do you ask?"
"Oh uh, no reason sweetie, just you know wondering what's up in my little girls life…heh heh heh. Well I guess I'll get started on dinner then shall I?" Sakura's mom rushed out; quickly standing she made her way into the kitchen.
'What was that about? How weird…' Sakura thought.
Mid June, coming home after a date with Neji, Sakura was surprised to hear her fathers voice shouting from upstairs…he was supposed to be out of town…and why was he yelling?
"I can't believe this… you're my friend! I trusted you and this is how you repay me!"
Stopping in the middle of the entrance way Sakura listened trying to hear more with out interrupting anything when she saw her father angrily making his way down the stair. Without stopping he grabbed his car keys and pushed past Sakura out the front door.
"Dad…?" Sakura tried to get his attention, but without success. Wondering what in the world was happening she slowly made her way upstairs…hoping to ask her mother if he had a call from work. Seeing no-one in the hall she wondered if her mother was even home, but she had seen her car outside, and she didn't say anything about going out so she assumed she'd be in her room. Making her way to her parent's room she heard muffled sobs. Cautiously walking to the open doorway she peered inside, only to be confronted by a sight that made her heart break. There on her parents bed sat her mother, half naked sobbing her eyes out into the naked chest of a man…and not just any man but Inochi Yamanaka. Ino's dad, a man she had always thought of as an uncle.
Sakura slowly backed away from the sight, but not before hearing, "Shh Hana, it will be alright I'm sorry it had to happen this way but it'll all work out. I love you and Aoi will just have to accept that."
Quickly turning away, Sakura stumbled her way down the hall and the stairs, the reality of what was happening setting in. her parents were going to break up, her mom was cheating on her father with her best friend's father…but wait Ino wasn't her friend anymore…
"Oh god…" Sakura whispered searching for her keys, having to remove herself from the whole thing. Finding them on the floor near the still slightly open front door she made her way to her car. Starting it and driving away, she had tears pouring down her cheeks.
"Why!" She yelled driving aimlessly around till she found her way to Neji's house. Getting out of her car she stumbled out and ran to the door, ringing the bell and leaning against it, knowing his parents still weren't home. After a minute an angry, wet and towel wearing Neji threw open the door never expecting to see his girlfriend, her face red and covered in tears, sobbing her heart out.
"Sakura what…?" Was all he was able to say before she threw herself in his arms.
"Oh Neji I can't go back let me stay here please! I need you! They…it's horrible! How could they!" She stuttered between sobs.
Neji awkwardly held her trying not to lose his towel in the process and flash his goodies to his nosy neighbor he saw watching them suspiciously from behind her lace curtains.
"Sakura, I'm sorry for whatever happened, but could we go inside please?" He pleaded feeling the towel slip once again. Without waiting for her answer he picked her up and shuffled backwards into the house. Then turning and walking in he set her on the couch, all with out-amazingly- exposing himself to his shell-shocked girlfriend. Readjusting his covering he sat next to her and discreetly reached around to the phone and called Hinata telling her to quickly come over, that it was important.
"Sakura?" He once again questioned…she only once again threw herself into his arms and said more incomprehensible cries. With nothing else to do her held her tightly and comforted her with his presence.
'How come this seems to be a reoccurring position I'm in with her? And why is this the only time I've been very nearly naked, and all that's happening is she's crying and I'm feeling awkward as hell?' Neji wondered his fate and how it liked to play games with him when it came to this girl.
"Shh now, it will all be alright, I'm sorry for whatever happened, but I'm here, I've got you." Instead of reassuring her like he had hoped, this statement only seemed to fuel her tears. He having unconsciously having repeated two phrases at once that had recently brought her sadness.
"Why me?" She sobbed, but before she could continue she was interrupted by the door bell ringing and a worried Hinata making her way into the sitting room.
"Neji what…?" She started, then seeing Sakura and her condition quickly situated herself on the other side of her and placed her arms around the girl's shoulders.
"Would you mind if I leave you alone with her for a minute Hinata?" Neji questioned gesturing to his lack of clothing. Hinata only nodded, never saying a word only holding the heart broken female and cooing nonsense.
Finding the nearest set of clothes Neji quickly donned them, before returning to the sitting room, and his broken little love. Exchanging glances with his cousin it was decided that, though they didn't know the problem they would stay by her through the heartache.
After about an hour Sakura has cried herself to sleep and Neji carried her to a spare room and asked if Hinata wouldn't mind sleeping with her incase she awoke. Agreeing it would be best; she nodded, and set about readying herself and the unconscious girl for sleep. Neji would sleep in the room nest to just to be close.
A/n: Ok well I guess I'll end it there for now, I can't think how continue for now. Well thanks, as always for reading.