Strawberry Panic! (Naruto Style!) Chapter 14: More Than Best Friends!
(Note: From now on, Sakon will play Kaname, and Tayuya will play Momomi. Again, sorry about the changes in the characters. Also, I know that Sasuke doesn't appear in this chapter, except in the flashback when Sakura remembered they shared their first kiss and the time that they made love.)
The next day...
Suigetsu, Karin, and the Saintly Chorus Of Spica were singing.
"I don't really know if God exists, but, last year, when it was spring, during our practice with the Saintly Chorus, I met an angel." said Suigetsu to himself.
Later that night...
Suigetsu, Deidara, Ino, Sakura, and Naruto, were all having a tea party in Naruto and Sakura's dorm.
"Oh? Is Karin not coming?" asked Sakura.
"Oh! Yeah, that's right." said Suigetsu.
"Is she sick?" asked Naruto.
"No... that's not it..." said Suigetsu as Karin fell asleep in her dorm that she shared with Suigetsu.
"I heard... that the summer groceries were brought here this morning. I was almost going to prepare Karin's favorite milk tea for tonight." said Naruto as Deidara looked at Ino and asked:
"Huh? What's wrong, Ino?"
"Well, um..." said Ino as she got out a bag of candies.
"Oh? What's that, Ino?" asked Sakura.
"I thought it would be a good ideas to bring these cookies that I made in cooking class today." said Ino.
"Mmm... those cookies sure look good. And they're baked just right, too." said Naruto.
"But, now that we have one more cookie, what are we going to do now?" asked Ino.
"Hey, don't worry about it, Ino! I'll just have two cookies." said Sakura.
"Sakura, what are you, an eight-year-old?" asked Deidara.
"Oh come on, Deidara, am I not allowed to have a cookie?" asked Sakura.
"Of course. We'll just save one for Karin..." said Naruto as he looked at Suigetsu.
"I... I have a request." said Suigetsu.
Later that night...
Ino and Deidara were leaving Sakura and Naruto's dorm.
"Good night." they said in unison as they walked back to their dorm hand-in-hand.
"Hmm... I guess Suigetsu is totally out of it, then." said Ino.
"That's probably because something must've happened between him and Karin." said Deidara.
"What? You're out of it too, aren't you, Deidara?" asked Ino.
"What? What are you talking about, Ino? Of course I'm not out of it. That's impossible. Why would I be out of it, Ino? Why?" asked Deidara.
"Oh, really?" asked Ino.
"Yes, but why are you staring at me like that, Ino? Huh?" asked Deidara.
"But, I'm not..." said Ino.
Later that night...
Suigetsu was spending the night in Naruto and Sakura's room.
"Naruto." said Sakura.
"Shh." said Naruto as he told Sakura to whisper.
"Hey, Naruto, about Suigetsu-" said Naruto as he told Sakura to go back to sleep.
Suigetsu then remembered the time that he tried to kiss Karin as Karin also remembered the same thing that happened to them the day before.
Flashback...
As Suigetsu began kissing Karin passionately, the sakura shell dropped.
"No!" cried Karin as she pushed Suigetsu down... and began to cry.
"Karin!" cried Suigetsu as he looked at her.
"Suigetsu... why... why are you doing this to me?" asked a sobbing Karin.
"Well... I... just listen to me, Karin-" cried Suigetsu as Karin interrupted him by saying:
"No! Stop... please..." said a sobbing Karin.
End of flashback...
Soon after, Karin fell asleep.
The next day...
Naruto and Sakura noticed that Suigetsu was gone.
"When did Suigetsu leave?" asked Sakura.
"It was right before you woke up, Sakura." replied Naruto.
"Hey, Naruto, do you think something must've happened between Suigetsu and Karin?" asked Sakura.
"Unfortunately, Sakura, yes, I'd have to agree that something did happen to them." said Naruto.
"Naruto, do you have any idea what happened between Karin and Suigetsu?" asked Sakura as she looked at Naruto.
"Sadly, Sakura, I don't. But whatever happened between Karin and Suigetsu is none of our business." said Naruto as he tied the lace on Sakura's dress.
"I'm worried, Naruto..." said Sakura.
"I know." said Naruto.
Just then, there were strange noises coming from the next dorm.
"What's going on?" asked Sakura.
"The noise must be coming from next door..." said Naruto.
Baki and Kankuro were having an argument.
"Why can't you just-" cried Kankuro as Baki interrupted him by saying:
"I refuse!" as he kicked Kankuro out of their dorm.
"Just what the heck do you think you're doing, Baki, you stupid idiot?" cried Kankuro.
"I'm not a stupid idiot! It's all your fault, Kankuro! You stupid idiot!" cried Baki.
"Why the heck is it my fault? You're the stupid idiot, idiot!" cried Kankuro.
"A fight?" asked Sakura.
"It looks like it..." said Naruto.
"Then how about-" cried Kankuro as Baki threw a book at him and angrily asked:
"What did you just say?"
"What are you doing, you crazy man?" cried Kankuro.
"Who told you those words?" cried Baki.
"What are you talking about? I say those same words everyday! " cried Kankuro
"Man, you just love to throw things at people, don't you?" cried Baki.
"That's self-defense!" cried Baki
"How is that self-defense, Baki? You could be a little bit nicer..." cried Kankuro.
"Um, Naruto, are they going to be okay?" asked Sakura.
"It happens a lot. They fight only once a year." said Naruto.
"I see..." said Sakura.
Just then, Baki and Kankuro noticed Naruto and Sakura and quickly went inside their dorm.
Later that day...
The Saintly Spica Chorus was singing.
Meanwhile, Jugo was riding on his horse, Star Bride as he noticed Suigetsu standing there.
"Are you..." said Jugo as he approached Suigetsu.
"I remember you. You're Karin's boyfriend..." said Jugo.
"Karin is practicing her singing with the Saintly Chorus right now." said Suigetsu.
"Aren't you also a member of the Saintly Chorus as well?" asked Jugo.
"Yeah." said Suigetsu.
"Do you know how to ride a horse?" asked Jugo.
"No. Not at all, I'm afraid." said Suigetsu.
"I see. That's too bad. Goodbye." said Jugo as he left Suigetsu alone.
Meanwhile, with Naruto and Sakura...
Naruto and Sakura were trying to find outfits for Baki and Kankuro to wear.
"Well now... let's see... since Kankuro wears an archery practice uniform, he's always had some kind of protection made by Baki himself, right? But he didn't like the gift that Baki made him, so without telling him, Kankuro decided not to wear it. That's why Baki got mad, right? Kankuro then ended up telling Baki that it was badly sewed..." said Sakura.
Naruto then giggled at Sakura and said:
"Sakura, if you pay too much attention to their fights, then there's no telling what will happen next."
"Oh?" asked Sakura.
"Usually, whenever Baki and Kankuro start fighting, they always make up later on one way or another." said Naruto.
"Huh? But still... I wonder if Baki and Kankuro have made up yet?" asked Sakura.
"Me too..." said Naruto as he took out one of his clothes.
"Oh! Naruto! Those clothes!" cried Sakura.
"What about it?" asked Naruto as Sakura remembered that he wore those same clothes when he gave her the red ribbon.
"Sakura?" asked Naruto.
"I'm going out for a walk!" cried Sakura as she ran out of her dorm.
"Wait! Sakura!" cried Naruto as he stood in the doorway.
Later that day...
Sakura then stopped at the pool where she and Sasuke shared their first kiss. She then climbed down the ladder to which there was no more water in the pool and started looking for the red ribbon that Naruto gave her when he went to go and visit his family. Sakura then found a pink ribbon, but was disappointed that it wasn't the red ribbon that he gave her.
"No, that's not it..." said Sakura as she continued her search for her red ribbon that Naruto gave to her as a present.
Later that day...
It turns out that Sakura had looked for her red ribbon from Naruto all day.
"I'm so sorry... Naruto." said Sakura.
"Sakura!" cried a male voice.
"Huh? Oh! Hiyate-sensei!" cried Sakura as she turned around only to find Hiyate standing there.
"What are you doing over there?" asked Hiyate as Sakura told him about the red ribbon that was given to her by Naruto.
"Here, these are the lost-and-found items." said Hiyate as he gave her a box of lost-and-found items.
"Thank you so much." said Sakura as she carefully observed the box and started looking for her red ribbon.
"You know, Sakura, it would've been nice if you had found what you were looking for, don't you think?" asked Hiyate as Sakura finally found her red ribbon.
Later that night...
Sakura then showed Naruto her red ribbon that he had given her.
"Wait! Sakura! Is this... is this the red ribbon that I gave you?" asked Naruto.
"Yes, Naruto, but it's also the ribbon that you tied around my hair during our summer vacation. I lost it... and then I went to go look for it." said Sakura.
"So that's why you ran out, right? Thank you... Sakura." said Naruto as he looked at Sakura and smiled.
"Now, now, Naruto, don't thank me. After all, you were the one that gave me that red ribbon, and I was the one who had lost it way back then... but... I didn't really think of it at all... until today. So I'm the one who should apologize." said Sakura as she remembered the time that she and Sasuke kissed... and the time that they made love.
"But... Naruto... there's something... that I have to tell you... huh?" asked Sakura as Naruto put the red ribbon back on her hair.
"Naruto?" asked Sakura as she looked at him.
"Since you did go all this way for me to find that red ribbon that I gave you, I felt that it was more important than the ribbon itself, Sakura. So I'll remember this... forever." said Naruto as he smiled at Sakura.
"Thank you, Naruto. But really... this will be..." said Sakura.
"...this will be ours... from now on... forever... and most importantly... always... Sakura. And that way... you and I... will never be apart... never. I'll be happy." said Naruto as he finished Sakura's sentence.
"Oh, Naruto..." said Sakura as she smiled at him.
Later that night...
Kankuro was sewing something while Baki fell asleep but somehow woke up and noticed that Kankuro was sewing a shirt.
"Ow!" cried Kankuro.
"You're such an idiot..." taunted Baki.
"Shut up, Baki! Go back to bed! Ow!" cried Kankuro as he continued sewing his shirt. Baki then walked up to Kankuro and said:
"Here, Kankuro, give it to me."
"I'd rather do it myself, thank you very much!" cried an angry Kankuro.
"But, Kankuro, you have to go to Sewing Class tomorrow, don't you? And how are you going to practice sewing on your shirt if you keep hurting yourself with the needle, silly goose? What are you so angry about, Kankuro?" asked Baki as he sat down on Kankuro's bed.
"That's because if I pull the bowstring, then the charm sometimes pokes my chest." said Kankuro as he looked away from Baki.
"Yeah, right. I did it in the same place last year. Oh! I know what's wrong! You grew out of a shirt again! That's why when the bowstring poked your chest, Kankuro, it ended up being in the same place as it was last year... am I not correct... Kankuro?" asked Baki as he looked at Kankuro.
"Yes." said Kankuro as he nodded his head.
"So why didn't you tell me that you already grew out of it the year before, huh? I would've helped you fix it, you know." said Baki.
"That's only because you noticed that I've already grown out of it when I didn't tell you that time." said Kankuro.
"Is that so?" asked Baki.
"Yes." said Kankuro as he looked away from Baki again.
"I see. So that's why you were so happy last year. That's because you wanted me to notice that you grew taller, is that right? Come on, answer me, Kankuro Of The Sand Village, Sunagakure." said Baki as Kankuro landed on the bed.
"Don't call me by my full name." said Kankuro.
"I'm telling you, Kankuro... you're being dishonest with yourself. After all, you did want me to notice, right?" asked Baki.
"Just shut up!" cried Kankuro.
Meanwhile, with Naruto and Sakura...
Sakura was tying the pink ribbon on Naruto's left pinkie.
"Deidara told me... that Suigetsu didn't go to practice singing with the Saintly Chorus Of Spica today." said Naruto.
"I knew it..." said Sakura.
"The only problem is, we can't figure out why Suigetsu didn't show up for practice..." said Naruto.
"Well... I guess this means that we can't get Suigetsu and Karin back together again. We don't even know how to get them back together. But if they tied a ribbon like this, then would it work?" asked Sakura.
"Maybe... but it's not only just a ribbon, Sakura. But if Suigetsu and Karin had one thing in common, then they'd get back together again." said Naruto.
"Huh? What are you talking about?" asked Sakura.
"It's getting late, Sakura. But don't worry. I'll explain everything tomorrow." said Naruto.
"Yeah." said Sakura as she nodded her head.
"You know, come to think of it, which bed should we sleep in tonight?" asked Naruto.
"Huh? Which one, huh?" asked Sakura as she and Naruto went to bed.
The next day...
Naruto came to Spica to visit Suigetsu.
"Good morning." said Naruto.
Meanwhile, with Karin and Deidara...
While the Saintly Spica Chorus were getting ready for their singing practice, Karin was still waiting for Suigetsu to show up as she looked out the window.
"Hmph. So I guess he's not coming, huh?" asked Deidara.
"What?" asked Karin.
"Suigetsu, I mean." said Deidara as he also looked out the window along with Karin.
"Yeah..." said Karin.
"But that's okay... I'm not that worried about him as you are. But... the both of you are not acting like your normal selves." said Deidara.
"I know." said Karin.
"Oh come on, Karin, don't worry about Suigetsu all day! He's the one that's wrong, not you!" cried Deidara as he looked at Karin.
"No... no thank you, Deidara." said Karin as she looked at Deidara.
"But... I don't... huh?" asked Deidara as he noticed Sakura walking.
"Sakura..." said Deidara.
Meanwhile, with Suigetsu and Naruto...
Suigetsu and Naruto were walking inside the church as Suigetsu opened the door which showed the outside of the church.
"This is the first time that I've been here." said Naruto.
"It's just the backyard of the cathedral. You can also enter here from the main entrance." said Suigetsu.
"But, usually, no one comes here." said Naruto.
"I know. But that's only because this place is of no use to me. But, the Saintly Chorus usually practices here at this chapel. But I usually come here when I'm too lazy to go to practice." said Suigetsu.
"So... this place... must belong to you then... Suigetsu..." said Naruto.
"That's right. This is also the same place..." said Suigetsu as he remembered that this was his special place that he shared with Karin.
Flashback...
Suigetsu walked into the backyard and found his best friend Karin... waiting for him.
End of flashback...
"This place... holds the memories that me and my best friend have shared together." said Suigetsu.
"You know, Suigetsu, the singing practice for the Saintly Spica Chorus has already ended just now." said Naruto.
Later that day...
"My best friend?" asked Karin as Sakura was looking for Suigetsu.
"Yes, I'm looking for your best friend. I also want you to tell me the place where you and your best friend first met." said Sakura.
"The place where me and my best friend first met... Sakura, please... come with me." said Karin as she began running.
"Hey, Karin! Wait for me!" cried Sakura as she ran after Karin.
"Me too, Karin!" cried Deidara as he also ran after Karin.
Meanwhile, with Naruto and Suigetsu...
Naruto and Suigetsu were waiting for Karin to show up.
"I guess Karin's not coming, then. He's not coming. I can't believe it... Karin already forgot this place. That's only because... she has more of a special place. And that's why... I'm not Karin's best friend anymore. It's because... I destroyed our friendship..." said Suigetsu as he began to cry.
"Suigetsu." said Naruto as Suigetsu noticed... that his beloved Karin came... along with Deidara and Sakura... right beside her.
"Karin..." said Suigetsu as Karin walked to him.
"You... you still remember this place?" asked Suigetsu as he looked at her.
"Yes... it's because... this is our special place where you and I first met!" cried Karin as she and Suigetsu remembered the first time that they met.
Flashback...
After Suigetsu skipped out on singing precious with the Saintly Chorus Of Spica, he met a girl.
The girl then sang "Eyes On Me" from Final Fantasy VIII.
Whenever sang my songs
On the stage, on my own
Whenever said my words
Wishing they would be heard
I saw you smiling at me
Was it real or just my fantasy
Suigetsu then walked up to her, but the girl ran as he ran to go and chase after her.
"Wait!" cried Suigetsu as the girl continued running but suddenly tripped over a rock as Suigetsu finally caught up to her.
"I'm so sorry!"cried the girl.
"Why are you apologizing? You didn't do anything wrong. You're the new transfer student, right? You like to sing, don't you?" asked Suigetsu.
"Yes." replied the girl as she, Suigetsu, and the rest of the Saintly Spica Chorus began singing "Eyes On Me" from Final Fantasy VIII.
Whenever sang my songs
On the stage, on my own
Whenever said my words
Wishing they would be heard
I saw you smiling at me
Was it real or just my fantasy
You'd always be there in the corner
Of this tiny little bar
My last night here for you
Same old songs, just once more
My last night here with you?
"I'm Suigetsu Hozuki." said Suigetsu as he stood up.
"I'm Karin. My name is Karin." said the girl who was now called Karin.
"Sing with me." said Suigetsu as he held out his hand for Karin to grab it.
"All right." said Karin as she grabbed his hand and stood up.
End of flashback...
"This is where I first met you. And that's why I will never forget it!" cried Karin as she had tears in her eyes.
"Oh, Karin... I'm so sorry, Karin. I'm sorry that I did all those mean things to you. I... at the time, I must have been... not my normal self... I'm so sorry." said Suigetsu as he also had tears in his eyes.
"No... but I was also very shocked and surprised, when I did such horrible things to you, Suigetsu. I'm so sorry." said Suigetsu as he shook his head to which he and Karin reconciled by hugging.
"Suigetsu, no matter what, we'll always be best friends." said Karin as Naruto, Deidara, and Sakura, smiled at their reconciliation.
Later that night...
Deidara, Sakura, Naruto, Ino, Suigetsu, and Karin were all having a tea party in Naruto's and Sakura's dorm.
"Today, we ended up being the ones to participate in Cooking Class." said Deidara as he took out some cookies that he, Ino, Karin, and Suigetsu made.
"Oh my, those look pretty well-baked, too, I must say." said Naruto in awe.
"Thank you so much, Deidara." said Karin as she smiled at him.
"Oh come on! I only baked them a bit too much, Karin!" cried Deidara as he blushed madly at Karin.
"Huh? That's weird. I only see seven cookies.
"That's right. We only have an extra cookie." said Ino.
"Those two cookies are only for someone else to eat two." said Deidara.
"Cookies? For me?" asked Sakura.
"Who else, Sakura?" asked Suigetsu.
"What?" asked Sakura as Ino, Karin, Deidara, and Naruto laughed at her.
"That time that I met her... I saw a true angel. But however, that angel wasn't only just for me." said Suigetsu referring to Karin as he looked at her.
Naruto:
Next Time: Heroine!