All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for their daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere
"I want to hide a precious jewel I stole from a museum here," Sakura responded seriously. To Anko, disrespect in a witty manner was one of the most important thing about the modern world. She gave Sakura a small grin and went back to her book, still agitated by the entire idea of reading. Sakura caught a peak at the book's cover, it read Deadly Fashion, How Kunochi's Use of Jewelry is to their Advantage. Sakura never read about that subject, so she was interested in it. "Is there another copy of that in the Library?"
Anko just sighed and handed her the book, "I've read it, I just thought I'd have to go over it." Sakura hungrily grabbed the book and began skimming through the book, noticing a few jewels she thought looked familiar. Suddenly, without warning, Sakura started coughing violently. Anko looked up and at first thought it could be some flu or something, until she saw blood. She quickly handed her a Hall Pass and sent her to the school's medical nin.
Sakura arrived with blood trickling from her mouth and saw that she wasn't the only patient, Sasuke was there too. She had a few bruises, but otherwise he looked normal; maybe a teacher was paranoid. "Give whoever did that to you my regards." Sasuke commented referring to her bloody mess. Sakura could never think straight enough around Sasuke and his friends for a witty answer, so she chose to hold a dignified silence.
When the medical nin came in and saw two injured students and sensed the static, she sighed, "Another fight? Why we have a school of ninjas I'll never figure out!" Sakura looked to the woman and spoke slowly, "What did you say?"
And their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow
No tommorow, no tommorow
"We weren't fighting; do you think she could hurt me this badly?" The medical ninja felt the static in the room rise to a higher level, so she quickly sent them both back to their classes, claiming that Sakura was reacting to stress and Sasuke was just a hopeless case.
When the school finally came to an end, Sakura her three "bodyguards" next to her as she examined the school's buliten board. She saw a flyer, Sakura Blossom Festival! and knew that would be a good excuse to stay out of trouble; pretending to be shopping. "You should go Sakura! It has your name on it! Literally!" Naruto exclaimed in his usual loud manner.
"Shut up Blondie, people are staring!"
"What'd you say dog breath?"
"I'm not going. Do you expect me to go to a place where it's beauty or death?"
"Come on Sakura! You aren't ugly!"
And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which Im dying
Are the best Ive ever had
find it hard to tell you
cos I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
Its a very, very
Mad world
"Unpopularity is the same thing. Everyone will recognize me, even with a mask. Know anyone else with pink hair?" Silence followed her words, until Garra spoke up, "Wig." He didn't waste words when it came to trivial matters like these. Sakura sighed, defeated. She hated "arguing" with Gaara because his logic was equal and sometimes outranked her own. "Fine, I'll go, happy?"
"We'll bring Hinata and Shino too, all schools are invited."
Sakura and Hinata were at the mall together shopping for dresses, and a wig for Sakura. Hinata decided later to get a long-haired wig too just for the novelty. They were looking through the kimonos when they heard a shout, "What the heck! This is so not designer style!" They turned and saw Ino yelling at the poor sales clerk, the second of which looking strongly tempted to quit. Sakura felt sorry for the woman, so she called out to her, "Do have this in a different size?" The woman ran away from Ino as fast as she could and approached Sakura, "What size would you like?"
"Well, it's a perfect size in the waist, but in the chest..." Sakura felt her cheeks turn pink, and the clerk understood. She nodded and showed Saukra a technique to tighten the chest without it being noticeable. When Sakura and Hinata made their purchases and left, Ino was already long gone.
"Was that acting, or did you really need help?" Hinata asked, referring to the question about the kimono.
"A little of both." Sakura responded, she really did like the kimono, and she really feel it was too loose in her torso. She and Hinata had purchases everything and left, ready for the next night's festival.
Children waiting for the day they feel good
Happy birthday, happy birthday
Made to feel the way that every child should
Sit and listen, sit and listen
There was only one more day of school until the festival, and Sakura spent it in bed, apparent the "stress-induced" cough was actually an illness, not deadly but enough to get a girl out of History class. Sakura spent the day reading the book she borrowed from Anko, becoming more and more impressed by the second. Apparently, her necklace's jewel was called a Crimson Sacrifice, named so for a myth told by an ancient people about it:
Once there was a man, neither poor nor rich. He worked hard like the other men in his village and he was never hungry. He had one horse, three cows, and a dog he called Blessed. Put short, he was content. However, soon he began to yearn for more. He wanted a wife and children, but he had neither. So he prayed to the goddess Kera for his desires while sacrificing one cow. Kera was pleased with his offer and sent him her daughter Livan. Soon, the man and Livan married and had many children. But, Livan was never told once by her husband that he loved her, and that thought haunted her every night. Thus, she prayed to her mother for guidance. Kera looked down at her daughter, "Being married to him is not enough as proof that he loves you?" Livan shook her head. "And what of the fact that he has never once betrayed you or seeked scorn?" Livan once again shook her head. Kera told her daughter that before the new moon the man would prove his love. When the new moon came, Livan had not received her idea of love, until later. She came upon a red gem, one so bright and beautiful it had to be her mother's promise. Then, Livan noticed that the gem was bleeding. She ran to her husband, but it was too late, the jewel was made from his heart and was as beautiful as his love.
Sakura layed down the book and picked up her Crimson Sacrifice. To be precise, there was a simpler name for it; Vivan after the girl. Sakura refused to call the lovely stone by a name shared with an ungrateful woman. She put it around her neck (she bought a new chain) and watched the still lightless gem. According to the legend, the gem glowed because its owner experienced the same strength as the man when he sacrificed his life for Vivan's happiness. Sakura smiled fondly at her treasure and wondered, What happened to that boy? Did he sacrifice his life for my happiness? Sakura hoped he didn't, she wouldn't want to be compared to Vivan like that.
Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me, no one knew me
Hello teacher tell me whats my lesson
Look right through me, look right through me
Hinata and Shino's school day ended half and hour sooner then Sakura and Kiba's so they arrived home before Kiba. Hinata expressed concern at the ides of Sakura going to the festival, but Sakura wasn't going to waste a no-return-policy dress. She and Hinata dressed for the festival, and looked at themselves in the mirror. Sakura wore a cream colored kimono, which slowly faded to a pale pink as it neared her feet. With Hinata's help, it was form fitting in the chest as well as the waist, but everywhere else the dress was light and flowing. Hinata's kimono was a pale blue, with blue birds embroidered in a blue one shade darker. Her dress was the same style as Sakura's, the sleeves only went to her forearms. Both Sakura and Hinata still had their faces undecorated, they needed to get their wigs on.
Sakura bought a wig with long brown hair the color of caramel. After she had it on her head, Hinata twisted and bound the hair into a knot on top of her hair, still looses enough to suit her age. For good measure, Hinata stuck two pink chopsticks in the hair. Then, it was Hinata's turn. Hinata's wig was the same length as Sakura's, but it was black instead of brown. Sakura braided the hair and then twisted that into a bun identical to her own minus the chopsticks. The two girls then picked up identical white masquerade masks. The masks were unadorned and covered the upper half of their faces, with holes for the yes of course.
The girls went down and Kiba was wearing a red yukata while Shino's was a navy blue. They were impatiently waiting for the girls, while they weren't in any hurry. Finally, Kiba told them that if they didn't leave soon, the moon would burn up and fall from the sky. With a laugh, the four friends left for the Sakura Blossom Festival, where they'd meet Gaara.
And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which Im dying
Are the best Ive ever had
I find it hard to tell you
cos I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
Its a very, very
Mad world
AN: I am very sorry of really long wait! My lifestyle hasn't given me much time for writing, please forgive me! I promise I'll get a new chappie each week! Even if it ends up being a really short one! T-T
