One Step Back a Time
CHAPTER VII – PROMISES
Author's note: Well, this is my final chapter, and I do hope you'll like my ending…=p
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto…..
" Now what? " Naruto asked Sasuke.
Sasuke gritted his teeth angrily. He turned to Naruto. " This was all your fault, Naruto. If you only believed me sooner this will not happen to us! "
" Excuse me! it's your fault why we're even here in the first place! Who took the wrong path and ended up here?! Who?! " Naruto retorted.
" That was ages ago, Naruto! And if I hadn't known it, you enjoyed staying here with Ino in the first place! " Sasuke mocked back.
" SHUT--- "
Their heated conversation was cut off when Sakura entered the room. She closed the bedroom door quickly and quietly as she could. Then, she went beside Sasuke's and Naruto's bed and untied them free.
" How did you come here? It's a relief Ino didn't saw you, " Naruto asked in amazement.
" Never mind that. The important thing is, you must escape again, but this time, you shouldn't let my sister see you. " Sakura insisted as she finished untying the two.
" Thank You, Sakura. I don't know what we'd do without you. " Sasuke said gratefully.
Sakura smiled appreciatively. " You're welcome. I won't forget you either, "
" You need to come with us. What if Ino found out you helped us escape? I'm sure she won't be happy with you, " Sasuke said worriedly.
" Don't worry, I know how to handle my sister better, " she replied. " Now go! Don't worry about me, I'm fine, I promise, "
Sasuke stared at her for a second. Then, he took off his ring from his finger ( it has a design of two snakes curled together to form a ring. He inherited it from his late father ) and gave it to Sakura.
" Here, " he said, putting the ring on her middle finger. " Keep this, because I'm coming back here for you. When I come back, I'll bring you to the city and I'm sure you'll enjoy it there. "
Sakura gazed at the ring admirably for a second. Then she smiled sadly. " Thank you for this wonderful gift, Sasuke, but, you don't really need to come back for me. Just go on with your life, and forget that you knew me. "
Sasuke shook his head. " No, I can't do that. You're the first girl that made me felt this way. I just can't forget that. So, I want you to be here tomorrow when we come back. "
Sakura caressed is face tenderly. " I will, "
Ignoring Naruto's smiling face, he locked Sakura into his arms. Sakura returned his embrace.
" You need to go now. " she said, breaking away from the hug.
Sasuke nodded. " I'll come back, "
" Yeah. Thanks for everything, Sakura, " Naruto said.
Then, with one last look on Sakura's smiling face, Sasuke climbed out of their bedroom window and escaped with Naruto.
" Sasuke! Naruto! There you are! " Li cried as he hopped joyfully towards them.
" Finally. We've been worried to death, " Kakashi said, punching Sasuke and Naruto's arms playfully.
" Are you sure you're alright? Can we get you anything? " Neji asked.
" No, thanks, but---"
" Where have you been? We've been looking for you for ages! " Sikamaru said as he sighed in relief.
" We'll explain everything to you later. But first we need to drive to the nearest police station, " Sasuke said.
Kakashi's brows furrowed. " To the police station? But why? "
" We'll explain everything on our way there. just drive up there because we need to hurry. We need to save someone. " Naruto replied.
" What?! But--- "
" Later, " Sasuke snapped sternly.
" What are you talking about? And why did you lead me in this forest? " the sheriff asked, totally puzzled. They drove on the forest where Ino and Sakura's house have been in.
Sasuke breathed again. " We already told you. We need to rescue someone here. If we don't, we'll be too late. Her sister's crazy, you need to lock her in. " he replied impatiently.
Naruto nodded in unison. " Yeah, totally crazy. C'mon further, I can already see the house. " he said as he pointed at a moldy - looking house. It looked like the house had been there for decades.
Sasuke and Naruto gasped.
" Blimey, this isn't the look of this house when we arrived a week ago, wasn't it, Sasuke? " Naruto said in awe.
Sasuke nodded. " Yeah, you're right. But I'm sure this is exactly the spot where Ino's house have been, "
The sheriff folded his arms. " Boys, no one's been living here in this forest. I'm sure of that. "
" No. I'm sure this is their house. C'mon, we'll go inside to make sure . " Sasuke insisted stubbornly.
They entered the house. To their astonishment, the house was a complete mess. It looks like the house should be demolished. All furnitures were broken, the floor creaks, and the whole house had been accumulated by dust.
" There's really something fishy going on here," Naruto said, his jaw dropped.
The sheriff shrugged. " I told you, no one really lives here, "
" But that's impossible! We saw them here! Maybe they just left this house or something last night, " Naruto retorted heatedly.
Sasuke went exploring the living room. Naruto's right, there's something fishy going on. Could it really be true? Did Sakura and Ino left this house last night? But no, Sakura promised she won't leave until he come back. She promised….
Then, something caught Sasuke's eye. He froze.
" N- Naruto, check this out, " he managed to choke out.
They approached Sasuke. They all stared at the life – size portrait of Sakura and Ino.
The sheriff finally broke the silence. " Oh, that… that's Yamanaka Ino and Haruno Sakura. They're half – sisters and they lived here. Unfortunately, the two of them have been diagnosed with the same sickness, and eventually, they died. As far as I knew, they've been dead for almost 50 years now…. "
But Sasuke was only half – listening. He don't know what to say. To make matters worse, his eyes fell on Sakura's hand on the portrait. She was wearing a ring on her middle finger, with the design of two snakes curled together…
Author's Note: Hello there! So, what do you think? Hell, I know the ending was quite frustrating, I don't know what's got into me… well, for my readers, I wanna thank you for reading my first fic, and I'm also glad to those who put reviews… I really appreciated it. Oh, by the way, I'm not sure if I'll be writing a sequel on this one, so, will you please let me know if you'd want me to, or, otherwise, you'd like it the way it is? Thanks again!
