Naruto had not been the only God interested in the bright flame of Sakura's soul. There had been another who was just as drawn to the possibilities Sakura's future held. The Goddess who was intrigued with Sakura made Naruto a deal. He was to train her and take care of her until she was of age. Once Sakura had become a magician, she would then know of the other God who had bestowed her blessings upon her. The Goddess simply sat back and waited in the shadows for the day she could walk into Sakura Haruno's light.
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Dancing Embers
Chapter IV
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The smell of ramen curled its way from the kitchen to the front of the ramen stand; beckoning to the potential customers walking past on the bustling street. The smell made Sakura nauseous so early in the morning. The sky was a soft pastel shade of blue; open and cloudless. The fresh autumn breeze swept through the stand, pushing some of the scent of ramen away from her as though the wind goddess herself had heard Sakura's plea. The wind felt crisp; the scent of change evident in the air.
It had only been a week since her encounter with the young captain. Sakura was grateful that she hadn't run into him again yet, but there was a part of her (which she denied the existence of) that felt a bit disappointed. Her life had been at a bit of a standstill as she worked diligently to raise money for the oncoming academy entrance dates. Her little game with the Uchiha had brought a spark of light into her somewhat stagnant life; albeit a nerve raking one.
She had been in her toes for the past several days, constantly looking over her shoulder as though he would tackle her at any given moment. The eerie feeling of being watched often times crept up her spine; as though he was just behind her waiting for the opportune moment. Naruto had made her jump several times, much to his enjoyment, when he caught her off guard. Yet even though she felt as though she was constantly walking on broken glass, she felt so much more alive.
Birds chirped their morning song over the ambience of the crowded streets. Familiar faces waves their greetings to Sakura as they walked passed. She felt a bright smile light up her face with each familiar face that walked by, their smiles contagious. Teuchi hummed cheerily in the kitchen as he prepared the days broths, the deep sound vibrating an air of comfort throughout the stand. Sakura tucked her long cherry blossom tresses into a bun, ensuring that every strand was in place. It wouldn't do to have hair in the customers food. She tied the white bandana on behind her bangs, and adjusted the white uniform.
Today was going to be a good day. She could feel it in the way the wind softly caressed her face; she could see it in the way the townsfolk seemed to have a little merry step to their walk. Something was coming over the horizon she knew, it was just a matter of waiting to see what it would be.
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Naruto sighed, holding his hands behind his head in an aloof posture. It had been a slow day for the police force. A sky blue eye turned to the right to look at his partner. The black haired male was brooding again; no doubt thinking yet again about how Sakura had given him the slip. Sasuke had yet to tell Naruto about the ordeal; his bruised ego probably wouldn't allow such a slip of information to pass. Naruto knew that it bothered Sasuke to know that he could take down men twice his size, and yet had been tricked by a soft pink haired girl twice.
Naruto had kept an eye on the two of them separately, trying to determine if another God was meddling in their lives. Thus far he had not seen anything which pointed to that conclusion. It wouldn't be totally unreasonable to think that the fates were behind this. After all Naruto couldn't even use his foresight on them. Perhaps the fates had something up their sleeves. However Naruto couldn't help the inkling feeling that he should keep watch anyways, just to be sure.
"Hey teme you going to eat ramen with my for lunch today?"
"Che." The sound was the only answer Naruto received as Sasuke disappeared.
Heh, suit yourself teme.
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Naruto's bright sunshine hair flashed into view as he ran over to the Ramen stand waving joyously.
He is WAY too happy today.
Sakura waved back, though much less enthusiastically, to her God friend. He perched himself in the seat he sat in everyday, the whiskers on his face spreading out widely with his grin.
"Hey Sakura-chan!" Sakura giggled behind her hand, amused with the Gods antics.
"Naruto did you get laid today or something?" Naruto looked at her incredulously.
"Sakura get your mind out of the gutter!" He scolded her like that of a child, disbelief shining evidently in his cerulean eyes. She laughed, shaking her head.
"I am only teasing you. What has you in such a good mood today anyways?" Naruto shifted in his seat a bit uncomfortably, making Sakura's smile falter a bit. She knew that squirm all too well.
"Eh, Sakura-chan I have a bit of bad news." Sakura couldn't help but feel a bit dejected at the proclamation.
And today had been going so well too.
"Good afternoon Naruto! The usual?" The Fox God's face lightened up like a beacon when he saw the ramen chief.
"Please!" Teuchi nodded, turning back to the kitchen in to fill Naruto's order. Sakura placed a hand on her hip, shaking her head at the older mans retreating figure.
"I don't know why I am here to take orders if he is always going to take them for me." Turning back to Naruto she added, "so what's the bad news?"
"Well they have decided to move the academy dates a bit earlier this year. They are going to be placing the entries three weeks from now."
"What?!" She hissed. It suddenly felt like reality was crumbling around her; her life falling into that of a black void. She didn't have enough money yet to enter into the academy.
That means I'll have to wait another whole year.
She could feel her body sagging to gravity under the heavy weight of the news. She suddenly felt more tired than ever before in her life, as though the last five years of steady labor were finally catching up to her. Her heart beat heavy in her chest, disappointment hungrily snaking its way throughout her being.
"I know you said you don't want my help.." He rambled on "but I found a good gig for you that would make you enough money in time for the entrance exams."
Sakura's ears pricked up, her demeanor changing immediately.
"Oh?"
Naruto's head bobbed up and down enthusiastically. "Yeah! There's a bar downtown that has live performances. They were looking for a singer to perform on Friday nights. I told them you'd be perfect for the job. They pay really well, and the performer also gets a share of the nights tips. "
"Hmmmm..." Sakura pondered over the idea. She hadn't ever sang in front of others; Naruto had been the only one to ever hear her while she sang to an imaginary crowd in the shower. She knew her voice was pleasant enough in and of itself, she had just never really had the desire to sing. It wouldn't hurt to take up the job offer, considering she couldn't do any street performances with the Uchiha on her tail.
"Okay, that sounds perfect! Thank you so much Naruto, this means a lot to me." He smiled brightly at her. This really was looking out to be her best day ever.
"Of course Sakura-chan." As she turned to get him his order, she missed the mischief in his eyes.
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Two weeks. It had now been two weeks since he had ran into the pink haired hooligan. He had been too busy with work to have been able to continue his search for her. Suddenly the crime rate broke out into an all time high this week. Sasuke rubbed his throbbing temples in his office, as he shifted through even more paperwork. He needed a break from this chaotic mess.
Just as he thought his day couldn't any worse, a golden ray of sunshine sprung into his office like a bat out of hell. An audible sigh rang out through the room.
"Teme you have to come out drinking with me tonight!" The overly optimistic blonde all but shouted at the black haired male. Sasuke could feel his temples throbbing.
"And what makes you think I would want to do that?" The whiskered male scoffed, placing a frown on his face in mock hurt.
"But I thought you loved hanging out with me." The corner of Sasuke's lips quirked into a smirk at Naruto's antics.
"I have never once indicated this to be the case." Naruto waved him off as though the statement just spoken couldn't be further from the truth.
"Eh whatever, you just need help pulling that stick out of your ..."
"Naruto can you get to the point?"
Naruto's face broke out into his mischievous grin. Sasuke's didn't like the look on his face, already prepared to flat out tell the blonde no to his request. There was no way he was going to...
"Well you see my friend Sakura has a gig tonight at this bar. I wasn't able to go last week because of work and I really wanted to bring some friends with me to make sure she has an even bigger crowd this week."
...miss this for the entire world.
"Your friend Sakura?" He let the normally chatty blonde continue his conversation.
"Yeah! I know you haven't met her before, but she's really awesome. She's trying to make enough money to enter the academy next week. I thought having a bigger crowd there tonight could help her out. She really deserves this." It had to be her. How many girls were named Sakura trying to raise money for the academy in the city?
"Hmmm.. I'll consider it." Not wanting Naruto to become suspicious, he kept up his cool and indifferent demeanor.
How interesting it would be if they knew each other.
"Thanks Sasuke, you're the best!" Sasuke smirked to himself as the blonde left his office.
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He should never have come; the pink haired hooligan was not worth the aggravation. He nearly rolled his eyes as the ray of sunshine himself complained for the sixth time that night about being late. Served him right for inviting Kiba. The canine lover was always known to be late. It didn't help that the tattooed faced magician had convinced Naruto to pregame.
The group of men entered the bar, sitting down to order their drinks. Besides Sasuke, Naruto had also invited Shikimaru, Choji, Kiba, and Neji who had politely declined; just as Sasuke should have done. His nerves were already grated down by the irritating day he had had, only to be further aggravated by the nuisance of a drunk Naruto and Kiba. Only Shikimaru seemed to understand his pain as he continued to drink with an occasionally muttered troublesome.
Sasuke avoided having any drinks in case he ended up having to chase once again after the pink haired vixen; if it was indeed her performing tonight. It seemed the performance was on a short intermission, the only music being that of the crowd murmuring over each other in the overly crowded bar. He sat with his back to the bar, his elbows resting on the table top; completely disinterested at the moment. He zoned out the playful bickering between Naruto and Kiba, obsidian eyes glued to the small stage. The instrument players were setting back up on stage.
Once pink hair hued lilac by the bars blue lights caught Sasuke's eye as he saw the pink haired hooligan walk onto the stage. Eyes from all around the room turned to her, as she stole the attention of the room. Her aura naturally drawing in the attention from all around her. His breath hitched as he saw her performance costume.
She wore a more traditional styled crimson top with a high neck, satin buttons holding the piece together in a sideways slant down her throat. The top pleated down in three sections into that of a very short skirt, only a long piece of the crimson material covering her. A long pastel pink sash was tied around her waist, the left over material was left to hang at her side. Long black boots, with crimson lining the boots in various places covered her long legs, only a hint of her upper thighs viewable. Long black glove ran up her arms, only the pointer fingers left uncovered. Her waist long hair was left down, flowing freely about her as she moved; a ruby crystal studded headpiece decorating her head, a teardrop shaped ruby dangling over her forehead.
She walked up the the front of the stage, her face changing from serene into mischief as she put on her performance face. Watching her change from girl who walked in like a goddess, and seeing her now as the pink hair vixen from hell, it was like seeing two completely different people. Viridian shaded eyes glistened under the soft lighting of the bar, traveling around each of the faces in the room.
"This will be our last song for tonight." She gave a warm smile as the audience made their disagreement audible. A melodic laugh filled the room through her mic.
"Well if you all liked it that much you can see us again next Friday, same time same place." With a wink to the crowd the instruments began to play, as the song started he watched as her eyes first caught Naruto's. He felt the blonde wave at her from beside him. Viridian met obsidian, she gave him a curious wink moving her eyes back to the rest of the crowd.
Heh, cheeky.
chiisa na kata o narabete
aruita nandemonai koto de waraiai
onaji yume o mitsumeteita
(We walked with our shoulders in line,
Laughing about things that didn't matter,
As we looked onward toward the same dream.)
Her sweet voice filled the room like thick honey, the airy softness of it Involuntarily sending chills up Sasuke's spin. Her voice almost seemed to be laced with magic, entrancing him just as she did when she was dancing. The soft blue glow of the room gave her an angelic look, her hand caressing the mic with a softness of that of one who touched a lover when saying goodbye.
kimi ga inai to hontou ni taikutsu da ne
samishii to ieba warawareteshimau kedo
nokosareta mono nandomo tashikameru yo
kieru koto naku kagayaiteru
(When you're not around, I'm so bored,
But when I say I'm lonely, you just laugh at me.
I just keep counting up the things I have left,
That shine brightly and never fade away.)
Her eyes drifted to where he was seated, if she was looking to him or Naruto he couldn't tell. Her eyes held a soft glaze to them as though she was recalling a distant memory. There was a lingering sadness in her voice; the sadness of an old wound which had healed but would forever leave its mark imbedded into ones skin. Gone again was the fiery woman; in her place was a complete stranger. A soft delicate petal lingered there on the stage, innocent and breathtakingly beautiful.
nanoku mono hikari no naka umareta hitotsu no ai
meguru kisetsu o kakenuketeiku sorezore no ashita o mite
sorezore no yume o erande
(This single love was born among a million rays of light;
We run through the passing seasons, seeing each of our many tomorrows;
Choosing from each of our many dreams.)
Beside Sasuke, Naruto uncharacteristically smirked. Sakura probably didn't realize that her voice held the magic affinity of air inside of it, captivating the entire crowd; including the stoic Uchiha Captain. It tickled Naruto pink to know that the Uchiha was caught in her spell, and would be dumbfounded after this. It was worth the rage Sakura would unleash upon him later just to get under his partners skin.
As she finished the song, the instruments played their last notes, and the crowd broke out into loud cheers. Sasuke got up off of his seat immediately to go after the pink haired hooligan now that he had a chance. A firm grasp stopped him as he got off his stool. Sasuke turned around with a raised eyebrow.
"Teme where are you going?" Sasuke gave Naruto a look which said 'none of your business dobe.' Yet he stopped in his tracks anyways. He had forgotten Naruto and the guys were here. How could he explain arresting Sakura in front of them? It was his pride or his opportunity.
"Bathroom." He lied hoping that could buy himself some time to come up with a different plan. Upon hearing this a heavy drunken arm swung around his shoulder, the man holding all his weight against Sasuke.
"Ah let me come with ya, I need to take a wiz." Sasuke inwardly groaned at the canine magician. Sakura turned her head towards him as a few members of the crowd finished talking with her. She looked at him amusedly as though she knew his predicament. To his irritation she had the nerve to childishly stick her tongue out at him; leaving to go behind stage. Sasuke shoved Kiba off of him, turning back to the bar. He needed a drink.
A few minutes later Naruto said his goodbyes, as he stated he planned on walking Sakura home. Obsidian eyes watched as the golden head of hair left through the back of the bar, gears turning in his head. It was no matter that he was unable to catch her tonight; he knew where she would be next Friday.
Same time same place.
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Sakura swung Sasuke's keys around her finger, her little trophy for tonight's victory. She half ass-edly had slapped Naruto upside the head for his little games, and then proceeded to hug him for his absolute genius. The look on the young Captains face when he was unable to do anything about her being right in front of him had been priceless. Naruto and Sakura walked home on good spirits under the silvery glow of the moon.
Here is another quick chapter. The song was Orange by 7 oops! I really love it, I think it's so pretty. Anyways I shall be back with the next update in about 2-3 days :).
I'm not so great at coming up with outfits, so here is the inspiration I got for Sakura's performance outfit, if you want to see it:
violetky. deviantart art/Commission-July-03-Outfit-Design-548831945
