Epilogue
Cherry blossoms floated down that gorgeous afternoon in spring. She spread out the red and white checkered blanket on the soft, green field, under the shadow of the sturdy, yet delicate tree she and her boyfriend had planted only 3 years ago.
She unpacked the straw basket that was stuffed with homemade delicacies, and laid them all out. Lastly, she unpacked a book bound with a plain black cover. She opened it to the page where she had left off, and fingered the dried cherry blossom she used as her bookmark. This cherry blossom was different from the rest of the flowers that were blooming this spring. This one was special.
"Oi! Hinata-chan! I'm here!" Naruto roared loudly, running over to her boisterously. She shut the book and set it against the tree's trunk, waving to Naruto happily as he dropped down beside her on the picnic blanket.
"Wow, Hinata-chan! You made this all for us? I'm so happy!" Naruto grinned, making Hinata's heart skip a beat.
After eating a very well made lunch, the pair leaned against the trunk of their cherry blossom tree, and gazed at the petals that drifted from the branches.
"I still remember that trip like it was yesterday…" Naruto whispered.
Once Naruto had fallen asleep, leaning against her shoulder, Hinata picked up her book, and opened it up once more.
The cherry blossom bookmark was bloodstained, and Hinata had found it still hanging loosely in her hair when she was in the hospital that day 3 years ago, so she had taken it as a memorial of the day she and Naruto became more than she had ever hoped for. Funny thing about cherry blossoms:
They were even more beautiful when they were splashed in blood.