Naruto opened his door to his apartment, semi tired for the day, but lead Sakura in. He wasn't sure why she would want to come over, but she insisted. He walked into his small living room and turned on the TV, looking back at Sakura. "You wanna watch a movie?" He asked.
Sakura looked at him in delight. "Sure! Let me see what you have..." She looked at his collection of movies and wasn't able to make a choice. They all sucked in her opinion. Action and bad comedy. No romance...that's what she needed to set the mood with him. "Hmm...I know!" She looked up at Naruto. "Ino has this movie I wanted to watch so I'll run down to her shop and get it from her!"
"Um...okay... " Naruto replied. "I'll make the popcorn." He said as Sakura left out. "Man that girl is strange..."
Sakura looked at the sky, it was begining to turn pink and orange. She loved this time of day because it was so relaxing and peaceful. Sometimes she would catch herself acting like Shikamaru and enjoying the passing clouds. She had come to realize why so many of her friends do the things they do.
She began making her way down the street looking at some people that were at corner shops and stores. She looked at the sky once more and thought about Sasuke. She went through her memories with him over and over again and thought to herself a lot if there was anything she could have done to stop him from leaving. She remembers the night he left. How he hurt her...not from the knock out shot to the back of her neck, but from not caring one bit for someone that loves him.
She suddenly was pulled back to the world when she fell on her butt from walking into someone. "Ahh! Oh excuse me!" She looked up to the hand that was offered out to her as help to get up. She looked up at the hooded Raven. It freaked her out some to see an unknown shinobi in the town and freaked her out even more not being able to see his face from the hood. She hestintly took his hand and he gracefully pulled her up to her feet.
"Lost in thoughts?" He questioned in his monotone voice. His eyes peered down upon the pink haired girl. Her eyes reminded him of his sister's who was still resting in the hospital.
Sakura looked away some. "Yeah...it's a habit..." She looked back at him. "You're not from around...here are you?" She questioned as she looked at his attire. His oversized hood casted a black shadow on the boys face and his huge scarf covered the lower half of the ninja's face. She looked at his well kept leather shoulder armor. His torso sported a tight spandex tank top that was black as well. He wore another scarf around his waist and it holstered two ninja swords. His forearms were also covered with a leather armor. His pants were a black baggy cargo with his ninja pouches. His outfit clearly showed that he was a master of stealth.
Raven pulled down his hood. "No I am not..." He replied as his eyes connected with Sakuras. "I am from the Hidden Shadow. I'm here because something came up in my mission."
"Wow...he's so handsome..." She thought to herself as she looked into his eyes and saw something that turned her mind away from his looks. His pain...She could see his pain. She knew of these eyes because they were the same eyes that Sasuke carried. His facial features were smooth and his face was emotionless along with his voice. His hair was similar to Sasuke's, black with long bangs that cover some of his face. "Oh...Well I'm Haruno Sakura!" She said with a smile.
"This is a shinobi? More like a little girl to me..." Raven thought to himself. "Musei Raven. (Silent Raven)" He replied. "I don't mean to keep you..."
"Yeah I have to be going anyways..."
Silence.
"It was nice meeting you Raven." Sakura said breaking the silence between them.
"It was nice meeting you too, Sakura. Maybe we will meet again one day." He replied.
Sakura smiled. "He is very polite...for someone so dark..." She thought to herself. "Bye!" She said with a smile as she walked off down the street toward Ino's shop.
Raven took another look at her and put his hood back up. He continued to aimlessly walk along.
XXXX
Mean while at a resturant...
Shizune savored the sweet and sour pork in her mouth. "Mmmm...this is so good!" She said as she looked up to Kakashi. She saw that his mask was down and her eyes lit up. "I never knew...Kakashi was this handsome." She thought to herself.
Kakashi took a bite of his dumpling as he looked up at Shizune. "Yeah, the pork is really good here. This is one of my favorite places to eat...and it's even better with someone like you on a date." He said with a slick smile.
"Oh stop it!" Shizune said playfully as she began to blush. "You're just saying that..." She took a sip of her sáké. She had a bit of sake already and was feeling a bit loose.
"No, I really mean it." He replied as his visible eye looked down. "I'm glad that I have someone that cares about me..."
"Kakashi..." She looked at him. "Everyone in this town cares for you. We all understand that you have experienced loss in your life and so have we. It's what makes us stronger. Kakashi...I'll always be here for you when you need something..."
Kakashi looked up with a smile. "Thank you Shizune..."
"Hey, it's alright. Now eat up! We have to make it to the movies in twenty minutes to catch that show!"
"Right!"
XXXX
Sakura walked back into Naruto's place with the movie in hand and walked over to the TV. "Got it Naruto!" She yelled out with a smile.
Naruto walked over to the couch with a big bowl of popcorn. He sat down and watched as Sakura put the movie in. He was suprised when she nussled up against him. He looked down at her. "S-Sakura-chan..."
"It's a really good movie Ino told me." Sakura said as she leaned on Naruto with her head resting on his shoulder. She took some popcorn and ate it.
A smile appeared on Naruto's face. "So this is what she thinks of me..." He finally realized.
XXXX
In the movie theatre, Kakashi and Shizune watch a horror movie. The movie has had Shizune cuddled next to Kakashi, funny how a fearless shinobi needed comfort during a horror movie, still it brought her closer to him. The bass hit as a monster jumped out at the screen and made Shizune jump into Kakashi's arms. He looked at her as she looked back with a slightly embarrassed smile.
After the movie was over, everyone left the building. Shizune walked along looking at the stary night sky while holding onto Kakashi's arm. It was a lovely date in her eyes as she hadn't had this much fun in years.
"So...I'm guessing our date is over?" Kakashi asked Shizune as he looked at her.
"I guess..." Shizune replied looking down. "I had a great time and all..." Shizune knew all good things had to come to an end.
"...Want to come back to my place and stay?" Kakashi offered and he saw Shizune's eyes light up.
"Sure!" She replied with glee. She took his hand and walked towards his house with him.
XXXX
Back at Naruto's...
Naruto's shallow breathing as a sure sign that he was knocked out as he was resting on Sakura's shoulder. Sakura looked at him and smiled. "Awww...he's so cute when he's sleeping..." She proped him up gently as she stood, placing the pop corn on the table. She turned at tapped him on the shoulder. "Wake up sleepy head..."
Naruto stirred and looked at Sakura with tired eyes. He yawned. "Sorry Sakura-chan...I fell asleep..." He stood up from the couch and streatched his arms.
"It's alright, I still enjoyed the movie with you." She said as she walked him over to his bed. Naruto gracefully fell into his bed and was out cold."Wow...he must have been tired..." She thought with a smile.
XXXX
Else where in town...
Raven sat on a bridge railing looking up at the moon. His time in the village made him wish his home was calm and peaceful like this one. The people were nice and well off, with a few jealous shinobi, but with his clan's status that's to be expected. He looked down. "What do you want?" He called to a figure hidden in the shadows.
Asuma stepped out looking at him as he took a puff of his cigarette. "You're the ninja from the Hidden Shadow right?" He asked as he watched the smoke from his cigarette drift into the wind.
"I am, and if you are looking for a battle then I suggest you leave. I'm in no mood..."
"Tell me..." Asuma began. "Is Kenai still alive?"
Raven closed his eyes at the sound of the name. "Why do you want to know?" He asked coldly.
"Because I do." Asuma asked with slight aggression.
"And what is your relation with him?"
Asuma looked down. "...He was my best friend."
Raven opened his eyes and looked back at the moon. "I'm assuming that you are Sarutobi Asuma? Correct?"
Asuma nodded. "Yes..."
"He used to speak of you a lot. Said you were one of his best friends and a skillful ninja. He told me he gave you his trench knives..."
Asuma looked at his weapon pouch. "Yes..." He remembered the day he was given the blades.
"Kenai was my older brother..."
Asuma shot a serious look at Raven. "He was!"
"Yes..." Raven jumped off the rail and landed gracefully on the bridge almost as if he floated to the ground. "...But Kenai was killed in the massacre of the Hidden Shadow."
Asuma looked down. "I...I'm sorry..."
Raven looked at Asuma. "No need to be...I understand he was your best friend and you wanted to know. So there..." Raven walked past a silent Asuma.
Tears pelted the ground beneth Asuma as he silently wept. He took another his of his cigarette. "Kenai...damnit..." He clentched his fists as he looked at the moon.