Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any affiliated characters.
Anywhere you go, anyone you meet
Remember that your eyes can be your enemies.
I said, hell is so close and heaven's out of reach.
I ain't giving up quite yet, I've got too much to lose.
Sweet And Low - Augustana
Still Late April - Monday
The seating arrangement was already fixed. Kiba and Hinata sat on one side of the lunch table. Sakura sat next to Naruto on the other, so the only open spaces for a new arrival were beside either of the two girls. Surprisingly, Sasuke chose the spot beside Sakura, which sandwiched her between the two unlikely best friends. This had been the same pattern used when they walked through the theme park, and she vaguely wondered if this would become an unspoken but time-honored tradition.
Nothing out of the ordinary was said to acknowledge Sasuke's sudden return, and lunch time continued on smoothly like normal. "Ugh," groaned Kiba, checking the underside of the table, "so much gum."
"At least you don't have my punishments," reminded Naruto sourly.
"What was yours, Sakura?" inquired Hinata lightly.
"I'm helping out the drama department with the next play, Ninja's Love Blood, or something. Maybe it's about vampires. Sasuke, you should try out," Sakura joked easily.
After talking to him in the car outside of Ichiraku's, she decided not to treat him differently just because he was a smidge intimidating. He wasn't such a cold jerk as the rumors made him out to be.
"Che," he breathed, finding her ridiculous. A little lacking in the conversation department but still a nice guy she thought.
"No, Sakura has a point. You're really pale and you've got the silent, menacing attitude going on," pitched in Naruto.
Sasuke cut his eyes at his friend and narrowed them, "If I'm a vampire, what does that make you – a troll?"
"Nah, I think Naruto is too stupid to be a mythical creature," said Kiba, "even a troll."
"Hey! Am not! I could be … a Ninja! They aren't mythical, so hah!" "
So you agree that you're too stupid to be a mythical creature then?" smirked Kiba, catching him in his blunder.
"That's not what I –"
"Let it be known that Naruto is dumber than a troll," announced Sasuke.
"That's not nice, Teme!" cried Naruto, pouting his lip.
Sasuke rolled his eyes and they landed on Hitomi just as she scurried passed the table, pointedly dropping her gaze to ignore him. The awkwardness lasted momentarily until Sasuke, jaw working, pushed back his chair angrily to chase after her. Naruto grabbed his shoulder and pulled him down. "Not here, man, you don't want everyone watching," he reasoned.
Sasuke said nothing, steaming as he sat slumped in his chair. No one really knew how to recover from the harsh atmosphere. "I'm out of here," he said finally, unable to stay in the cafeteria any longer. Naruto watched him go, and Sakura watched the pain in Naruto's face resurface. "I don't know what else to do," he admitted with an overcast frown.
"He must really like Hitomi, huh?" said Sakura softly.
"Yeah, but that's not completely it," he struggled for words, sending Hinata a pleading look.
"It's not our place to say. I only told you so you could tell Sasuke," replied Hinata, silently pleading for him to drop the subject.
"Told what?" asked Kiba, who glanced curiously at Hinata. He had never known her to gossip.
"It's just Kiba and Sakura. We aren't telling the whole school," persuaded Naruto.
"I guess so," she conceded still a bit uncertain.
"Hinata heard Hitomi and her friends talking in the bathroom. Sasuke's acting like that because Hitomi broke up with him because she thought that –"
"Hitomi's moving," shortened Hinata helpfully, preventing Naruto from babbling more.
"Yeah," cemented Naruto. Hinata blushed at his gracious smile.
"I went through something like this before," inserted Kiba. Three teenagers looked at him incredulously. "Hinata, do you remember the first dog I had?"
"Truffles?"
"Yeah, the week before she ran away, she distanced herself from me," he said.
"What the hell does that have to do with anything?" asked Naruto, fixing Kiba with an irritated, incredulous look.
"I'm saying that Truffles must have thought it would be easier to leave if we weren't as close," stated Kiba.
"Apart from that being the lamest thing I've heard in a while," Sakura ignored Kiba's glare, "I think you might be on to something. Has Sasuke been able to talk to Hitomi about it?"
"No, she keeps running away from him every time he gets close. It's not healthy for him to spend so much time alone. If he doesn't get some answers soon, he's going to go crazy," worried Naruto.
"Yeah right," scoffed Sakura.
"No, he's right, Sasuke has a one-track mind. Some call it determined, other's call it obsessive," said Kiba.
"Leaving him to his thoughts right now won't help," agreed Hinata.
Sakura looked at all three of them, fully aware of an impenetrable wall. They knew each other longer and knew each other better than she ever would. For the first time, she understood what it was like to be alone in a sea of people, and she didn't like it.
"So what are we going to do?" asked Kiba.
"I don't know," shrugged Naruto helplessly. It was evident that the feeling was foreign to him.
"For the time being, let's just make sure Sasuke isn't left alone," volunteered Hinata. Four eyes met each other in realization.
"I'll go after him," said Naruto.
"You're job is to follow my orders and help us get ready for the show. The production is set for the second Friday in May. You should meet here every day after school until then. Any questions?" said Yuka Kurasawa, smiling with pure poison. She remembered Sakura from the jelly incident – that much was obvious.
"What do I do first?" Sakura asked politely, giving Yuka no more reasons to hate her. Thirty minutes later, green paint covered her hands, speckled her face and dotted her hair as she prepared the homemade trees for their stage debut. Yuka shook her head when Sakura requested a paint brush, claiming "We always paint our trees by hand. It makes the leaves appear more swirly." She also told her to work outside so paint wouldn't get anywhere important.
It turned out the auditorium was near the back of the school, so once again, Sakura retreated to the cherry blossom trees. As she slapped the last bit of green on the final tree, she decided to take a break. Yuka would give her another task the instant she stepped in the door. If only Yuka wasn't the drama club's president … Sakura lamented regretfully.
She tucked a stray hair behind her ear and cursed, pulling her paint-covered hand away quickly. That was the reason green streaked her hair and face. She couldn't seem to grasp that whatever she touched would turn green until the paint dried. She grabbed the paper towel she'd been using and cleaned most of it off her hands.
"Oh, good, you're finished just in time," said Yuka as she approached with two guys flanking her. "Take those inside so they can dry," she told them, pointing to Sakura's hand painted trees.
"Did you use your hands?" chuckled one of them. Her cheeks burned pink as her hair when she caught sight of the devilish grin playing out on Yuka's face. More swirly my ass, she thought bitterly. The boys disappeared with the trees, leaving Yuka and Sakura alone behind the school.
"Now that that's taken care of," she glanced at the cherry blossom trees and cut her sharp eyes at the green-eyed girl, "stay away from Sasuke."
"What?" Baffled by the command from left field, she didn't conceal her utter confusion.
"Don't get too friendly. I saw the way you looked at him when I found you two in the tree over there."
"What look?"
"Don't get smart with me. I know you're trying to sink your claws into Sasuke. You jumped on him faster than I did after his breakup with Hitomi," she accused.
"No, I wasn't –"
"Just remember that a freak like you with a huge forehead will never date Sasuke," she claimed snottily.
Sakura's eyes narrowed to slits. "If you don't get out of my sight right now, the freak with the forehead is going to kick your ass," she threatened dangerously, meaning every word.
Yuka stepped back in fright but recovered her irksome bravado. "Yeah right, you won't do anything," she snorted, "if you hit me, you'll get more detention."
Sakura clenched her jaw, hating that she was right.
"Now get the paint and take it inside," Yuka demanded.
Sakura grabbed the can roughly and some sloshed out onto her shoes. "Damn it!"
With a cursory glance, Yuka turned up her nose. "Those sneakers were ugly anyway. Just like you. Which is why Sasuke is way out of your league," she finished snidely, flipping her hair and walking back inside.
How did they know Yuka was the most fitting punishment for me?
"Hinata! Hey, Hinata!" bellowed Naruto as he raced through the front courtyard teeming with students leaving school after dismissal. He flagged the female Hyuga down with success, waving Anko-sensei's dry cleaning above his head. She waited by the front gate, heat flushing her cheeks a light pink.
"Is it just me, or was Sakura unusually quiet at lunch today?" Hinata felt the familiar twinge of jealousy in the pit of her stomach every time Naruto mentioned her newest friend. It's okay if he likes her. I can't make him love me. She pushed the envy away like she did every time, covering it with shame.
"I guess," she replied evenly.
"Yeah, I thought it was weird … but that's not why I found you. I think we need to expedite a meeting between Hitomi and Sasuke so they can resolve everything."
"Naruto, I-I think they need to work this out on their own," said Hinata.
"But Teme can't force Hitomi in to speaking," he said.
"And Hitomi doesn't want to broach the topic with him," understood Hinata.
"They're frozen as they are. Basically, it's up to us to break the ice," finished Naruto.
"Why me?" she asked, aware of her rapid pulse.
"Because you're really smart and I know I can count on you," said Naruto honestly.
Hinata's smile scarcely did justice to the extreme giddiness threatening to lift her body off the ground.
"Do you have a plan?"
"You're really smart and I know I can count on you," he repeated.
Hinata laughed at him; Naruto grinned ear to ear.
"I was hoping we could brainstorm together. Want to grab a bite to eat. I'll buy," he offered. Hinata almost stopped breathing.
"Y-yes, that would be great!" she beamed. It was so close to being a date. Too bad he isn't interested in me.
"Let me go tell Neji I don't need a ride." Naruto watched her go. His ever present smile disappeared as her small back traveled to the parking lot. Neji shot him a curious but unmistakably cross look over Hinata's head. Naruto stared back evenly, daring him to challenge their dinner plans.
I'm not breaking any rules, Neji. We're just going to Ichiraku's to talk. Neji beckoned him over with a wave, and Naruto arrived in full confidence, a slight wrinkle on his forehead the only sign of displeasure.
"Are you driving?" interrogated Neji.
"No, I thought we could just walk. It's not that far from here."
"What if something happens to Hinata? Walking is too dangerous."
"I'll be with her the whole time. You aren't the only one who can protect her," he said calmly.
Hinata stood between them, head swiveling back and forth.
"I'm the most qualified though, and I say it isn't safe for her to walk. Get in the car, Hinata."
"Neji, please, I'll be fine," pleaded Hinata.
Naruto clenched his fist, giving in to Neji's demands. "Fine, I'll drive if that makes you feel better."
"I'm filled with relief," he scorned sarcastically.
"Then it's settled," hissed Naruto through his teeth.
"Hinata, will you wait by Naruto's car? I need to talk to him alone for a minute."
The flash of confusion on Hinata's face mingled with horror at the thought of her cousin drilling Naruto before they could leave. This isn't even a date! She watched intently from Naruto's car. Unable to hear them and poor at lip reading, Hinata crossed her arms and waited.
Neji wasted no time. "Where are you going?"
"Ichiraku's Ramen."
"What time will you bring her home?"
"5:00."
"See to it she's home no later than a quarter till."
"Fine."
"And Naruto?"
"What?" he snapped irritably.
"Why are you doing this to yourself?"
A dark sheen shrouded Naruto's eyes in response. Neji allowed that as a suitable answer. "It's hurting her too, you know. It would be better for everyone if you'd just leave her alone."
"I'm following the fucking rules, Neji. I'm not asking her to the prom; it's just ramen."
"But you love ramen. There's no just about it," said Neji smugly.
"You're point," sniffed Naruto stiffly.
"Just don't forget that nothing can happen with you two. It doesn't change anything, even if she does like you," reminded Neji.
"I know that!" hissed Naruto. He snagged a glance at Hinata, and his whole face softened. "I know," he whispered.
"Well," Neji cleared his throat, "as long as we're clear." As Neji drove away, Naruto made his way to Hinata.
She asked him if everything was alright. He responded with a cheerful yes, alleviating her worries with his patented smile. He opened the passenger door for her chivalrously, and as he traveled around the car to the driver's door, his hand paused on the handle.
I love this girl, and she likes me. Why, when it's so simple, does it have to be like this? Damn you, Neji – I can't forget even for a second. Everyone thinks I'm an idiot, but sometimes that's the only way to pretend I don't know what I know. I pretend everyday that I don't know Hinata likes me.
"Naruto?" Her sweet voice propelled him from his miserable mind.
"Hmm? Oh, sorry, I spaced out again, didn't I?" he bubbled lightly in excuse.
"You do it so often I'm used to it," she tittered.
Naruto's eyes turned a deeper blue at the sound of her laughter. She's so beautiful, he thought abruptly and then put the car in drive.
"Why do you have a bag of clothes?" she asked.
"Oh yeah, I need to make a quick pit-stop at the cleaners first," he said sourly.
After Yuka's oh-so-scary warning to stay away from Sasuke, Sakura finished organizing the costume closet without another encounter of the bitchy kind. As soon as she was dismissed from her personal detention by her personal torturer, Sakura grabbed her bag and headed home. The ten minute walk blinked by and she found herself waiting for the elevator in the ground floor of her apartment complex. Moving in had been a breeze without lugging all their belongings up three flights of stairs.
Sakura showered and worked on her homework until five, when she promptly started dinner as usual. When Rei Haruno slumped tiredly through the door, a pasta dinner presented itself appetizingly on the dinner table.
"Smells delicious," she complimented, depositing her briefcase on the sofa next to Sakura's school bag. As custom, she changed out of her work clothes before sitting down at the table with her daughter, who had already loaded her plate with food.
"I'm starving," Sakura's mother declared, piling her plate with a hearty helping. "So how was school?" inquired her mother, taking a drink of her water.
"It was fine," responded Sakura. She hadn't bothered to mention her detention. With her mom's work schedule, she would never know that Sakura stayed an extra hour after school. Her mother returned around 5:30 on a good day.
"Have you met any cute boys lately?" She shot Sakura a conspiratorial wink, her blue eyes glittering.
"No, mom, sorry to say I haven't," she responded immediately, glancing once to the chicken on her plate.
"When I was your age –" Rei Haruno began lightly.
"Can we stop pretending," snapped Sakura bluntly, her mother's face crumpling in surprise.
"Please, mom, you can't protect me forever," she tried softer now, feeling guilty of the pain that flashed through her mother's eyes.
"I know I can't protect you forever. I remember every day when I walk in this house and worry I won't find you in it," she said in a hard voice, her face swimming with emotion.
"I know. So let's stop glossing over it and talk. Why won't you show me the letter?" Sakura shocked her mother again with her knowledge.
Smiling ruefully, her mother stared sadly at her daughter, "Nothing gets by you, huh?"
"You're just bad at hiding things," amended Sakura with a slight smirk. "Is it dad?" When she pressed for answers, it seemed as if her mother was going to wave her off and tell her not to worry again, but then something changed her mom's mind.
"No, not exactly," she hedged. "It's … your grandfather now. I'm just thankful they only have our old address."
"You have Gaara, Temari and Kankuro check our old mailbox?" Sakura asked.
"Yeah, in case some bills or important things get sent to the wrong address," she answered.
"So … what does the letter say?" continued Sakura.
"You found it but didn't read it? That's surprising," commented her mother.
"I was getting ready to leave for school. I would have been late." I was scared of what I'd see.
Her mother glanced at her and twiddled her thumbs, a nervous habit. "I think you better just read it for yourself," she said at last, fetching the letter from its new hiding spot: under the coffee maker.
"That was smarter than the microwave," commented Sakura as she removed the paper from the envelope. Her hand trembled slightly as she unfolded the letter and began to read.
It has come to my attention that you disobeyed a direct order from your father, who is too soft for his own good to forcefully carry out his own will. I, however, am not. Remember that in your stage of foolish teenage rebellion. You are part of this family. As such, you will learn to act like it – one way or another. Best regards.
Sakura set her jaw upon finishing the passage. Short and direct – that was her grandfather, all right.
"Don't worry," comforted her mother, "you don't have to go. You don't ever have to see him if you don't want to. The law isn't on their side."
Sakura didn't say a word. She ripped the letter in pieces and tossed the scraps in the trash.
Her mother watched in a silent struggle, fighting the urge to hold her only daughter in her arms tightly.
"I feel better," Sakura announced abruptly.
"I guess it was stupid to hide this from you," responded her mom but traces of uncertainty lingered in her blue eyes.
"I'm not a little girl anymore. I can take care of myself," boasted Sakura, alleviating some of her mother's worry.
"You'll always be my little girl," she said softly.
Sakura turned away to hide the glistening of her eyes. "I'm going to take a nap. I'll do the dishes later."
"Don't worry, I'll get the dishes," offered her mother.
Sakura closed the door to her room and fell face first on her bed.
You'll always be my little girl …
That was a phrase doting father's told their beloved daughters. Sakura closed her eyes, willing the frail tears away. Not once had her father uttered it to her, including those far away years when their happy family of mom, dad and baby girl had existed.
She recalled a time when she had given anything to be her daddy's little girl. The thought sickened her now.
A/N: It's been a while. I finally sat down to write. I wanted to give a glimpse into what is going on with Sakura. Also, I wanted to give Naruto more credit as a complex character. He's deeper and more aware than he seems … but mostly he's a clown haha. I'm trying to get the Hitomi/Sasuke drama tied up soon as well because then I can move on to building the Sasuke/Sakura relationship, but Hitomi is necessary for just that. Anyway, please review!
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"Words are our most inexhaustible source of magic."
~ Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
An era comes to an end. Thank you J. K. Rowling for defining my childhood. Mischief Managed.
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See you next chapter,
RadiantSun