Hello my fellow fanfiction-dwellers,
It's nice to see that I have been gaining some followers. Someone asked me if this was a NaruSaku story, and yes it is. But as I told them, the characters must grow and come to realizations themselves, just like we do everyday. I hope you have come to love this story as much as I enjoy writing it. I know my grammar is a bit off, and please ignore it. I am not a master writer, I never claimed to be. But my grammar is a lot better than most out there.
Please, enjoy this chapter.
Ever-presently Yours,
BonezChapter 8Break, and yet
Naruto sat in the windowsill of his and Jiraiya's apartment. The street below was busy and bustling with shoppers leaving the market, and late-risers rushing before the stores closed. It looked both chaotic and exciting, as everyone were greeting friends, laughter from the occasional child, and yelling from the parents. Yes, it looked like an everyday afternoon. Naruto barely noticed as he was lost in thought.
Jiraiya left that morning while Naruto still slept. Not that he minded, it was better that he left without saying anything or Naruto would have begged to go once more. He wouldn't have been able to handle another 'no' from him. He felt ashamed that he wasn't strong enough to accompany him, he had been training so hard this past year.
I guess it's all for the best, I mean, I don't want to go get her without being able to protect her. What if something went wrong, and I wasn't able to do anything about it? I wouldn't be able to live with myself. Ha, I highly doubt you're weak Naruto. If you weren't able to control my power, than you definitely would't be able to protect her, but you can. Anyways, why listen to Jiraiya? Just go, you know you want to.Shaking away the words of his inner demon, Naruto supressed the sentence he continued on with. It took most of Narutos training to cope with the words from the Kyubi. The Kyubi was a powerful nine-tailed fox demon that had been placed inside Naruto by his father, who died in the process. He would sometimes speak to Naruto, as a friend. They had fought most of Narutos life, but as he became stronger, the demon had grown to admire him.
Even when they got along, they weren't without differences. The fox demon wanted Naruto to grow stronger, and believed he would only get that way if he got out in the world. He also wished Naruto would be a little more aggressive with the things he wanted. It embarrassed the demon to have Naruto pout to Jiraiya, even if it annoyed the old man. There were times when he felt Naruto needed a push and insisted on pushing him to a limit. Naruto held his ground, another thing the Kyubi admired about him.
You and I know well enough I would never betray Jiraiya. Besides, I want Sakura to see how much I've grown from the crybaby-Oh trust me, you're still a crybaby. Go pout for Jiraiya and maybe you'll get your way.Naruto grinned at this prospect, it was always so much fun bugging his sensei.
Yeah, maybe. Well, in the mean time why don't you go train. It would be best if you could control my power just a little more. Becoming stronger will only help you find the woman of your dreams right? Heh. Maybe, once you find Sakura, she'll leap into your arms and scream to the heavens how she has always been inlove with you and then you both can run off into-
Blushing furiously, Naruto surpressed the demons voice and looked down at the street. The Kyubi had a nasty habit of staying up late and entertaining himself with Narutos dreams. It was an annoyance Naruto had come to deal with his whole life. At the very least he was happy that no one else would have to power to see the things he wished would come to fruition.
The Kyubi did have a point though, training more would push him closer to his goal. Finding her and taking her away from Konoha, to the lovelly city of Suna. Sakura, his little blossom, would be free'd from that dreadful place and would eventually find happiness here. He was sure of it.
Rising up from the window, he leapt out onto the street. Startling some of the shoppers with his graceful land from the heavens he bounded off for the outskirts of Suna, where him and Jiraiya practiced almost everyday.
d-o-n-'-t-l-e-t-m-e-g-o-d-o-n-'-t-l-e-t-m-e-g-o-d-o-n-'-t-l-e-t-m-e-g-o-
Sakura limped towards her bathroom, set her bag on the floor and leaned against the doorframe. She was tormented by her ankle as it shot pain up her leg if she stepped on it in the slightest. It amused Sakura a tad; something as small as a twist of an ankle could cause her this much pain. Limping over to the toilet after her short break, she sat and and gently lifted her foot. Setting it down on the bathtub beside her she took a good look at the damage.
There was swelling, not very much but swelling all the same. A bruise was making it's presence clear and the rest of her ankle was red. She swore under her breath and turned the tubs facet on. Running the water over her fingers she adjusted the temperature a tad; making the water hotter. When the heat was to her liking she pushed herself off the toilet and began stripping down.
Reaching over to the metal rack, she blanketed her naked body in the fluffy white towel and began brushing her hair. Noting the small knots she began to untangle them and groaned in frustration. One knot was refusing to be removed as she tugged and pulled and pinched. Looking into the mirror she leaned in to get a closer look at the knot when she bumped her hurt ankle on something.
Yelping in pain, she fell backwards on her bottom and stared angrily at the messenger bag she carelessly dropped on the floor. Just as she started picking it up, a scroll fell out and onto her lap. Muttering a reminder to herself about securing her bag before going anywhere, she grabbed the scroll and stared at it.
"I wonder what the big deal is about this contract?" She thought out loud.
That woman made this thing seem like a big deal. It just makes me curious about what the terms might be on this new job. Who cares! a better job with more pay, less hours AND you get to be the boss of everyone? I say take it, CHA! Yeah, but I should really think about this. What if something in here is more sinister than I can imagine. What if I have to dedicate my whole life to this thing? It sounds a lot better than waiting for a boy whose not coming. Well, I don't know if he's coming or not. But it is time to start living my life for me. Exactly, living my life for me. Time to take charge and show that little boy I knew back then that I can do things on my own. I am successful, sexy and powerful, CHA! I just wish I knew what was keeping him. Oh, for petes sake! Open the scroll already, you know you want to.Sakura really did want to. This contract was just the thing she needed by the way "Taree" made it sound. Taree, such a strange contrast to Takeshi. The scroll was still in Sakuras hand as she pondered her choices. So far the pro's weighed over the con's and by a stroke of luck she was the one chosen for this job. They wouldn't have chosen her if she wasn't capable for it. Sakura placed the scroll back in her bag with a weight growing on her shoulders.
Sighing, Sakura looked over at the bathtub and watched as it slowly filled. It was just reaching a quarter ways full and Sakura remembered she needed to add bath salts and bubbles. Crawling over to the sink, she hauled herself up and looked in the cabinet behind her mirror. Pulling out vanilla bath salts and bubble bath, she hopped eagerly over to the the tub. Things were about to get relaxing.
Pouring the salts and cream into the tub, she watched as bubbles sprouted from where the water hit water. Patiently she waited until the tubbed filled to a measure that she seen fit. Smiling to herself, she turned the facets and put her hand into the tub. It was hot and smelled wonderful, Sakura couldn't wait to jump in.
Taking off her towel she lowered herself into the tub and sighed as the hot water caused goosebumps to crawl over her skin. She grimaced softly as she felt her muscles begin to unclench and her ankle stopped throbbing. Looking over to the messenger bag on the floor she grew occupied with its contents. That scroll just wouldn't stay at the back of her mind. Reluctantly, she pulled an arm out of the tub and pulled her bag closer to her. Sakuras hand disappeared and reappeared with the scroll.
Think about it Sakura, you could continue living in this ancient building, or you can go live on an income that could bring a new home. Maybe with groceries spilling out of the fridge. Better yet, you could save money and wait another year. If that blonde haired boy doesn't show himself by then; leave. Or y'know, go out looking for him yourself. Either way, you're still going to have a better life with a better paying job. I could do that... but what about the contents of the contract? What if there's more to it than better pay, there has to be a downfall to this.What's worse, living like this, in the most dangerous part of Konoha OR being able to quit a job and have more time for yourself. C'mon Sakura, make a decision.
That's when something in Sakura snapped. All the hurt she felt over the last couple years, all the let-downs and hopes crushed came back to haunt her. This was not the way Sakura Haruno deserved to live. In this small apartment building, barely any food in the fridge and no money in her pocket. There were many more things to life than waiting on a friend that hadn't kept their promise for a year and a half. A year and a half she waited, a year and a half she was left disappointed day after day.
Enough was enough. It was time to start doing things her way.
Ripping off the seal that kept the scroll closed, she pulled it down and read the words written in red ink.
To Whomever Opened This Contract. Upon opening this scroll, you are now under the terms of the Akimichi Restaurant, with over five locations across the land. You are to be the new host of a new location, you do not get a say in where you are placed, as you will be moved into another freshly built building. You will be accompanied by someone on the journey of our choosing. Your pay will increase by five times, and you are to work four days a week, twelve hour shifts. By opening this, you agree to live in the apartment above the resturaunt for two full years. If you do not agree with these terms, feel free to leave. Taskeshi Rutemot
Signed by co-owners,
Taree Luffwindel
A ring interrupted Sakura as she read the contract. Groaning, she refused to get up and answer, but her kindness knew it was rude not to answer a phone when you were clearly home. Forcing herself up, she wrapped herself up in the house coat she kept behind the bathroom door on a hook. Putting a little more pressure on her ankle, she steadily walked to the phone and picked it up on a ring.
"He-"
"Ms. Haruno. It's nice to see that you've accepted the offer so soon." Taree's smooth voice spoke on the other end.
"How did you know I already opened the contract?" Sakuras voice shook as she looked around the apartment for anyone. The windows were shut with the drapes hanging in front of them, the door was locked. No one in sight.
"Oh my dearest, stop looking around the apartment, no one is there. Let's just say that scroll has more secrets than I originally let on." She laughed over the phone as if this was funny to her. "Anyways, have you decided to go along with the contract?" Sakura could hear her puff out what she thought was cigarette smoke.
"Well, you really have left me no choice, have you? We dare on your life right?" Sakura sat down on the rickety couch next to the phone and looked at her nails. They were clean to a 'T'.
"No, no we didn't." She could almost hear Taree smile over the phone. "I like to have a little fun with my contracts." Inhale, puff. "Would you like to know the new location hostess?"
Grinning at her new title, she looked up at the ceiling and closed her eyes. "Why not."
"Suna. We will be in touch this next month." Click, Taree hung up.
Sakuras eyes shot open and she stared blankly at the ceiling once more. She couldn't move, she barely breathed and her mouth was hanging open.
Suna... she said Suna right?I'M GOING TO FIND NARUTO IN SUNA. HELL YEAH! Wait... Suna. I'm going to have to work hard if I'm going to prove to Naruto that I've grown! SUNA THOUGH! Here I come Naru-Naru! d-o-n-'-t-l-e-t-m-e-g-o-d-o-n-'-t-l-e-t-m-e-g-o-d-o-n-'-t-l-e-t-m-e-g-o-
Naruto, up high in the air, threw shuriken at a log that swung down from a post that was 18 metres long. He felt a shiver up his spine as he landed on the ground. He didn't know where the shiver came from, it was a lovely, sunny desert day. Shrugging it off, he walked over to the log and stopped the swinging process. Pulling his shuriken down he looked at his shirt. It was drenched in sweat from the hours of training his body had just went through.
"Naruto!" A soft, sweet voice called him from a distance.
Naruto studied the wholes made by his shuriken and yelled back "Hey Hinata."
The young girl, called Hinata, ran up to him and held her head down. "H-hey Naruto, I was just wondering if you wanted to, uhm, come with Kiba and I to get ramen. If it's not too much to as, I mean..."
Naruto turned around with a smile on his face and nodded. "Yeah for sure, since when do I turn down ramen right?"
Hinata gave a small smile as she blushed. Naruto brushed it off as heat from the humid air and put his arm around her shoulder. "Now, now, stop looking at the ground. Friends look eachother in the eye."
Finding herself rude, Hinata lifted her face and looked Naruto in the nose.
"Close enough." Naruto laughed and removed his arm. Walking away he turned back and called to her. "Well aren't you coming?"
Hinata raced up to him and walked side by side. She was a very quiet, shy girl that was always picked on by her cousin Neji. Neji found it practical to be hard on his little cousin; trying to toughen to the girl up. Having almost no self-confidence she looked to Kiba and Naruto for guidence in life. They proved to be powerful friends that always managed to stick up for her in any situation.
Glancing down at Hinata, Naruto patted her head. "Someday you'll be able to look at yourself like I look at you."
Hinata blushed crimson and dared to ask "H-how do you look at me Naru-kun?"
His smile faltered and he stopped walking. "Well, you're a wonderful person with a lot to give for the sake of giving." Hinata almost fainted, hesitantly he continued. "But can I please ask you not to call me Naru? Just call me Naruto."
Hinata backed away, panicking. She feared she may have offended Naruto. "I'm sorry! I didn't know that made you uncomortable, I really thought it sounded cute, and it suited you because you're cute and oh my I don't know what I mean by that, I'm really sorry Naruto, how dare I call you that-"
Raising a hand, Hinata clamped her mouth shut and closed her eyes tightly. "No, it's not that you have made me uncomfortable, it's just..." He trailed off and looked at the vastness of the desert. "There was someone very dear to me, in the orphanage I left, who called me Naru. It's just a reminder that I don't need right now."
Nodding, Hinata understood his trifle of emotions when it came to the girl called Sakura. She was almost envious of how far Naruto was going just so he could see her again. Any girl would be jealous of that, there were so few people who kept promises like the one he made. Hinata wanted Naruto to look at her differently too. She admired him in many ways, and was madly inlove with him. She would never tell though, some things were best kept secrets.
Naruto started walking away and he turned his head to the side with a smile. "Coming slow poke?"
Hinatas face brightened and she paced herself to catch up with him. Maybe one day he could be hers, and she would be his. Dreams had a habit of being unpredictable, coming up when you least expect them to. Naruto had been Hinatas dream the first day they had met.
d-o-n-'-t-l-e-t-m-e-g-o-d-o-n-'-t-l-e-t-m-e-g-o-d-o-n-'-t-l-e-t-m-e-g-o-
Waking in the morning, Sakura felt refreshed after a long nights sleep. Half-awake she let a smile creep up on her face and rolled over onto her side. Suna, that's where Naruto was, that's where she was going next month to live and work. She also had 3 days off in the week, which would give her plenty of time to look for her long lost friend. Sitting up she grinned at the sunlight coming in from the window.
Today was the first day in a while that she had felt hope in her heart. She would find him and re-unite with the only family she had in the world. That same hope got her out of bed and into the shower. She sang as she scrubbed her hair and washed her face. When it came to brushing her teeth, she felt restless and began to sway back and forth with her eyes closed. Getting dressed, she danced around the room while sliding on her clothes.
Arriving at her work for the day, Sakura bounced on the balls of her feet and pranced into the back to put on her apron. Today she was working at the flowershop, as she had the day off from the resturaunt. While she tied the straps together on her apron, she hummed a tune she heard when she was a little girl. The title was forgotten but the tune stayed in her head, funny how that works.
The front door bell rang; signalling a customer had walked in. Sakura twirled around, plastering the brightest smile she had in her arsenault. Her smile quickly dropped as it was just her coworker, Ino. Spinning on her heels, she turned around and began humming to herself once more.
Ino sauntered in with the kind of confidence few girls could achieve. She was a very pretty girl with gorgeous blonde hair that fell down to her waist. Keeping it up in a high ponytail, she refused to let it get tangled or besmerched with dirt. Gliding with ease past Sakura she smirked at the girl who was now preoccupied with floral arrangements. Sakura was never in this kind of mood and Ino felt it was a nice change of pace.
Going to the back, Ino made her way over to her cubby and hung her bag on a rack. Slipping on her apron she tied it and walked over to Sakura. Ino snuck up behind her and racked her brain for a good scare tactic.
"It's not going to work Ino."
Sticking out her bottom lip, Ino was disappointed that she wasn't able to get the girl. "Wow, someone sure is sharp today, what's gotten into you forehead?"
Sakura, still smiling, spun around and bedazzled Ino with the happiness written all over her face. "I've received a promotion from the resturaunt!"
Ino, jumping up and down, squealed, hugging Sakura. "Oh my, really!? Since when!?" Pulling away she held Sakura by the shoulders and looked skeptically at the girl. "And who did you have to sleep with?"
Sakura giggled and shrugged Ino off. "Shut up Ino! And yes, really. I got it just last night from the bosses."
"Bosses." Ino rolled the word slowly off her tongue. "I thought you only had one boss? Where'd this other one come from?"
"Well, they're co-owners of the Akimichi branch. My other boss is a woman, her names Taree." Sakura explained to the confused blonde.
"Ah, who cares about bosses anyways! You've gotten a promotion, this is cause to celebrate." Ino looked around the store and picked up a single white lily. She placed it behind Sakuras ear and turned around. "We're closing up shop for the day, besides, no one comes in here when the days are this nice out."
"Ino, everyone comes here when days are this nice out." Sakura pointed out.
"Hey, hey. We're supposed to be celebrating, stop making me feel guilty about losing money for you." Ino excused herself and went to the front door. Flipping the sign to closed she mouthed sorry at a few customers that were headed towards the shop.
d-o-n-'-t-l-e-t-m-e-g-o-d-o-n-'-t-l-e-t-m-e-g-o-d-o-n-'-t-l-e-t-m-e-g-o-
Takeshi sat back in his leather chair and rested his legs on his desk. His left arm upright as he held a smoke at his lips. The other arm curled behind his head. He was never a man to indulge himself on rest; running many resturaunts at a time left little room for breaks. Today was no different from any other, except for the slight fact that he had found a successor.
Smirking to himself, he knew this day would come fast. It made the future of his treasure secure, and he was proud of her. Only someone of her nature would have the strength to carry on his legacy. Takeshi was not a man for family. The business life would take care of him, and it did take care of him. All of his conquests in life had been reached and he was content to leave this life. His mark was here, there was nothing more he wanted.
"Well Takeshi old boy," He spoke to himself, "time to find a new horizon in the next life soon." Pausing to take the last of his smoke, "We've done good buddy. We've done good. There's only so much a man can do. Better train this one up nice, better not fail me lest I come back from the afterlife." Ashing his cigarrette, he pulled out another one and lit it.
Suddenly Takeshi's eyes bulged as he bent over, ready to cough. Grabbing a tissue from his desk, he hacked and wheezed into the thin fabric. Grumbling to himself he sighed at the blood staining white.
"Time's running out soon old man." A feminine voice laughed from behind him.
Hoarsly laughing, Takeshi clenched the tissue in his hand. Leaning back he inhaled smoke and looked up at a beautiful woman wearing a tight black dress and brown cowboy hat.
"Ah, Taree, you are the vision of beauty as usual."
Taree chuckled and glided over to Takeshi's desk. Sitting on it she leaned forward and grabbed Takeshi's smoke from his fingers. She smiled sadly as she tucked it between her lips. Taree put her hand on top of her head and tilted her hat forward. Leaving her hand there, she hid her eyes from Takeshi.
"You old pervert." She said biting her lip with tears in her eyes. "Are you sure about me leaving to Suna, I could stay and help you. We are partners."
"Ahh, my dear." Takeshi looked down as he reached over and held Taree's hand between both of his. "That's why I need you to go to Suna now. A partner in business only picks up where the other is not able to. Right now, you are needed there more than here."
Taree grabbed a tissue off Takeshi's desk and dabbed her eyes. "Stupid, stupid old pervert."
Takeshi removed his hands and rose from the comfortable chair. "My dear, she reminds me of you when you were young. Just like you reminded me of myself." He patted her head in comfort. "You are stronger than you realize, and you will make her into your prodigy. She will surpass you, like you've surpassed me." Bending down he kissed her forehead. "You are both wonderful."
Taree nodded her head and got on her feet. "I promise to keep myself calm and strong. For your treasure."
Takeshi smiled and retreated back to his chair. "It's time for you to leave. She will see you in a month and she will be ready for her future."
Taree walked to the door and stopped. "And what of you?"
Takeshi ashed his ciggarette and began paperwork with a grin. "I won't be around."
End Chapter.
I've decided to make chapters a tad longer. I'm not saying that this will happen with every update, but it will happen frequently enough. Stay tuned, and enjoy. Bonez.
