Reminiscence
Memory: Prelude to Tragedy
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
-:-
The winter days slowly passed by, the death of the late Haruno slowly fading away with time, while the rare snow continued to slowly fall to the surface. The genin teams had been receiving a handful of days off due to the unusual snow, but were still forced to train under the uncanny conditions to hone their developing skills. Many stuck together as they were all quite close, while some trained all day until they were close to fainting from their exhaustion.
Sakura sat on her bed, wrapped in her blankets, looking out of her bedroom window at the snow gently falling. The death of her father had not yet faded away into her memories; it still remained at the front of her mind. She couldn't help but envy his eternal peace, but smiled at his memory.
"I can't remember at time when it would snow..." She silently whispered to herself.
Her emerald eyes continued to look out through her window, and she closed them as she took deep breaths.
"I wish I could remember. I could remember if you liked the snow or not...and I would go out there, and cleanse my pain through the snow touching my skin..."
Her lips were graced with her smile, and she opened her eyes once more and continued to stare at the white beauties falling down to the Earth.
-:-
Late morning had soon arrived, and Sakura made her way downstairs and found her mother clad in her ANBU uniform. Haruno Kiyami was just fastening on her ninja headband when she heard her daughter walk down the stairs, and stop at the foot of them.
"Kaa-san?"
Kiyami turned around and faced her daughter, completely dressed in her ANBU attire, holding her mask in her hands.
"Yes, Sakura-chan?"
Sakura walked up to her mother and stopped, standing there with her arms crossed.
"Mission?"
Her mother smiled.
"Looks like you caught me."
Silence loomed between them, and Kiyami made a move to place her mask on her face, slowly eyeing Sakura's actions before completely covering herself.
"I need to go now, Sakura-chan."
Sakura nodded, and slowly watched her mother begin to make hand signs to lessen the amount of time needed to reach her squad's meeting spot.
"Kaa-san, rank and squad?"
Her mother stopped abruptly, and smiled beneath her mask, a small, hidden tear crawling down her cheek.
"S and Haruno."
Sakura's eyes widened.
Suicide...and...Haruno...
"You're going with Tou-san's squad?"
Kiyami slowly nodded.
"Yes, Sakura-chan. Your Tou-san never was able to finish the mission assigned to his squad. The Hokage wants this mission done as soon as possible, and I told him I would be able to fill in for Tou-san. He assigned me the mission with much dismay and persuasion. So Sakura-chan, don't worry. This was my choice...this was my path. I'll see you soon."
Sakura forced a smile to grace her pale lips, and slowly nodded. She quickly walked over to her mother and hugged her, inhaling the calming scent that she was so familiar with.
"I'll see you soon, Kaa-san...don't leave me..."
More unseen tears began to crawl down Kiyami's face, and she couldn't help but embrace her daughter back. Soon, it was over, and she began to form her seals again.
"Sakura-chan...don't worry. Live life at your fullest...be proud of yourself. Don't waste a minute of your life, Sakura-chan, because your life is valuable, like everyone else's."
Sakura nodded, and soon her mother was ready to vanish. As smoke began to cloud her body, she smiled underneath her mask, and gave one last look at her daughter.
"I love you, Sakura-chan."
The smoke completely clouded her, and when it had disappeared, she had gone. Sakura smiled at the emptiness, and tears began to roll down her cheeks.
"So I'm left alone again."
-:-
Afternoon came, and Sakura found herself sitting at the roots of the cherry tree once more. She felt that this place soothed her of her pains and worries, and always found that she would come here automatically when her mind was clouded. A gentle breeze passed her by as the snow continued to fall; enjoying this setting, she leaned back and closed her eyes. However, she soon opened them again after she felt something behind her that was not the trunk, and found her eyes locked with onyx ones.
"Here again?"
She smiled at the sharpness of his voice, and leaned forward, giving him room to slide between her and the tree.
"Yes, I'm fond of this place."
She felt his warmth emit onto her back, and then leaned onto his body, her head resting on his chest. His arms wrapped around her body, and she smiled, closing her eyes, beginning a long trail of thought. He remained silent, his mind itself going into trails of thought.
"Sasuke-kun..."
He looked down at her, acknowledging her to continue.
"I have a bad feeling..."
Sasuke smirked.
"Again?"
Sakura smiled.
"A different one. The feeling you get...when you say good-bye...forever."
Pain began to jolt through Sasuke's heart, as he was thrown into bitter memories. He remembered the last time he said good-bye to his mother and father. He remembered how he had done it with such simplicity; if only he knew they would die, be killed by their pride and joy, while he was away, off frolicking and enjoying his life!
"Yeah...I know that feeling," He replied, every word seeming to be spit out with harshness and hatred.
Sakura flinched at how he said his words, and looked at him, sincerity shining through her emerald eyes.
"I'm sorry."
Sasuke smiled down at her, and looked up at the grey sky.
"Kaa-san took over Tou-san's mission."
At this, Sasuke immediately looked down at her. He could see her naiveté; how she thought she would be able to survive the mission her father was killed in after a retreat. But, as he looked closer, he could see that she too, realized the harsh reality of the world. Her naiveté was merely a mask to hide her real emotions.
"...I see. Sakura, don't wear the mask."
Sakura's eyes widened, and a bitter smile emerged onto her pale lips. She slowly nodded, and the two were left there, in the silence of the day.
I can't help but feel this is a prelude to tragedy...
Tbc.
Sorry for the shortness! As the title suggests, it's just a prelude/prologue chapter.