Hajimemashite and Konnichiwa, dearest reader-san! Apple Fairy here! . Thanks for the reviews! They all make me smile and giggle with happiness! x3
forever...haaayy!!!!- Thanks for the compliment, hun. Yeah...I would be a little happier if it was true.
Oh well. At least writing's fun: )
-hands you pounds of tissues-
Sorry for all that crying! Sorry for making your eyes hurt! Gosh I'm horrible...D:
Um, but...glad you liked it anyway. :-)
pinkcrayon- First off, hun, I love your name. x3
Thank you for the compliments! I hope you continued reading!
Ceri- Thanks for the compliment, hun! Of course I'll keep on writing. I'll be writing even if I'm on my deathbed!
(Although, I'd rather not die, anyway. xD)
kazahan moon- Good luck with those fangirls! xD
I told you not to kill him...Hey, wait. What would happen if Sasuke really does kill Itachi? Then wouldn't fangirls chase after him? O.O;
Wow, that would suck. xD
Yah, Kabu-kun's a good guy.
But he's evil, too.
Basically, he's an enigma. D:
Anime/Drawing Freak- I'd love to see the video on Youtube:D
What's it called? And I don't have a MySpace, so I don't know if I should still visit yours...D:
And the reason I was ashamed of the chappy...was because of how passionate it was. T.T
I'm just too sensitive. Don't worry about me. : )
Was the reason Lent or schoolwork? (By the way, I'm out of school, so I've got more time on my hands. x3)
Of course you can call me that, dear. I don't mind.
(Funny thing is, I'm the youngest child in my family. xD)
Yeah, a lot of people seem to like my name. I adore apples, and love fairy tales, so it stuck. x3
I'll call you ADF (Anime/Drawing Freak). I could call you Khris-chan too, if you want me to. :3
(LOL. I'm a poet and didn't know it. :D)
I luff you, too, hun!
(Silly goose...of course I know in a sisterly way. It'd be weird if you loved me from one review reply. xD)
Manga Fanatic- UPDATED as soon as could. :3
Thanks for the compliments, hun. And of course I'm up to date. I wouldn't be writing this if I wasn't. xD
For proof that I am: Suigestu's fang-filled mouth makes me smile. x3
D:
Yeah...I don't know why it makes me smile...it just does. -.-;
Pale Moonlit Nightsky- O.O
-tackleglomps- ZOMG, I haven't seen you in, like, ever! x3
Yeah, I know about the whole schoolwork thing. At least it's summer now. :3
I hope you didn't lose your account. You had such a pretty name...D:
Yeah, I was embarrassed and ashamed of writing such a passionate chapter (you know I like writing fluff...)
But then again, I'm just overly sensitive. Don't worry about me. x3
You mean there's a modern-day pink haired girl?! That's awesome. :D
I've never actually thought of it that way...-gazes off into distance-
I remember writing on the walls when I was 2. Does that count for anything? xD
LOL, Finding Nemo reference...x3
O.O
ZOMG, I have a song. You've really outdone yourself this time, Moonlit-chan. xD
(That's totally going in my profile.)
Nah, it's okay that it's short. I don't mind. The fact you reading it is good enough for me. :-)
Thank you, once again, Moonlit.
Naomi McKay- Aww...but Kabuto is morbid. D:
Nah...I'm a fluff writer. It took me a lot of courage to write all this passion. D;
But I will, however, update, hun. :3
Jess- I've added another chapter, but hun, you've got to remember I'm going with the series here. Unless Kishimoto-sensei writes it, I will not do it. Just trust in Kishimoto-sensei, okay, dear:3
And please be patient. There are other fanfics out there, after all.
Extra note on this chappy- This chapter is basically here to show the daily activities of Sasuke and Sakura's relationship (back then). It might bore you...sorry if it will. D;
There is a song here too. 'Truly Madly Deeply' by Savage Garden. Go to a website named Lyrics. (dot com after that of course.) If you go on look under their name, and look for the song title they'll let you listen to the song free, as well as let you see the lyrics. (How nifty:3)
I suggest listening to the song, when it's written in the chapter, to fully enjoy the experience of the chapter.
But I'm not forcing you to, huns. I'm just saying it'd be more exciting if you did.
Disclaimer- I do not own Naruto.
Memories
Story by Apple Fairy
My eyes have seen many things...
My hands have touched various things...
I have survived a lot of things...
I succeed at various tasks...
...Don't hold me back now.
I'm a fool.
I should've seen what was there in front of me, before I threw it away so carelessly.
I should've cherished it more.
But if I did, would I be here, as I am now?
Click.
The screen went black. He stared at it with a sad eye.
Kakashi leaned back on the couch. He sighed loudly.
He should see this... Kakashi concluded and put his hands on his face in stress.
A creak was heard and the jounin turned his head to the door.
There stood Sakura, a surprised look on her face.
"Oh! Kakashi-sensei! What are you doing here?" She asked lightly. Kakashi blinked and turned away from her.
"Just reminiscing." He answered tiredly. The silver-haired man grabbed the remote and pressed 'Eject'. The VCR hummed and released an unlabeled video tape. Kakashi grabbed it and began to head out the door. Sakura blinked in confusion.
"Where are you going, Kakashi-sensei...?" She asked. Kakashi looked down to her. Her eyes were innocent. The jounin smiled under his mask.
"Don't worry about it. Oh, and Sakura...don't you think you should spend your free days in another way than coming here?" Kakashi asked, changing the subject.
"But if I don't take care of this place, then who will, huh?"
Kakashi didn't answer and merely walked away.
"Suit yourself. I bet cleaning his house is what all the kids are doing these days anyway." He replied playfully as he walked out of Sasuke's old apartment. Sakura had said something mocking back at Kakashi but he didn't hear her.
He had to give this video to him. It was his last chance.
The ground crunched under his feet. Kakashi glanced up.
Ah, just the person he was looking for.
Ahead of him came a man in glasses looking over some reports. He hadn't noticed Kakashi walking toward him. He looked up for a moment and his eyes widened.
Kabuto stared at Kakashi in fear, but soon wiped it off his face, now changing his look to a calm one. He walked by him without a worry.
Kakashi couldn't hurt him here. He was in territory of the Sound village, and any attack he tried would be a declaration of war. He knew the jounin was too smart for that.
So he was safe.
"Wait." Kakashi ordered him as he stood side by side with him. A chill ran up his back. He won't try anything... Kabuto reminded himself uneasily, ...that would be foolish...He knows better than that...right?
"Don't worry. I'm not going to decapitate you or anything. I'm only here because I just finished a mission and have no choice, but to cross the Sound village for my way back." Kakashi informed him as if he had read his mind. Kabuto relaxed a bit.
"Really? What was the mission?" He asked, curiosity getting the better of him. Kakashi glared at him.
"I mean you no harm, but I'm not stupid Kabuto." He snapped at him. Kabuto suppressed a smile. He loved pushing Kakashi's buttons.
Kabuto shrugged. "Whatever. Well, see ya around." He began to walk away.
"Wait."
Kabuto did so and turned to him. Kakashi had a video tape in his hand. What was he getting at?
"Could you do something for me?" He asked.
"No." Kabuto told him flatly.
Kakashi sighed an old man sigh. Kabuto almost laughed.
"Then...could you do something for Sasuke?"
Kabuto was taken off guard. He hadn't expected him to ask that.
Ever since their one-day visit to Konoha, Sasuke had changed a little. He acted more unfeeling than before. He didn't even have his little temper tantrums anymore. It hurt to see him like this. He thought he had given Sasuke another chance out of this hell.
Instead, apparently, he had thrown him into another one.
Oops.
Was he given another chance to help him be saved? Maybe.
Strange that the angel coming with the miracle would be Kakashi with a video tape.
Kabuto shrugged it off. Beggars can't be choosers, he supposed.
"What is it?" He asked. Kakashi held up the video tape.
"Give this to Sasuke. Make sure he watches it. That's all I ask."
"And if I refuse?"
"I never said you had to do it."
But Kakashi did want him to take it to him, though. This was his last chance. He was lucky enough as it is for Kabuto to be there. He was hoping to see him on his trip through the Sound country.
He had, thank god.
Now, all that remained was for Kabuto to deliver the video. Then, his plan would be complete.
Hopefully.
"...Fine." Kabuto responded after taking his sweet time answering. Kakashi calmed down and the medic-nin took the video from him.
"Thank you, Kabuto." Kakashi said gratefully. Kabuto glanced to him.
"Never mention it."
He walked away, video tape in hand.
Yes, Kakashi knew the risks. Kabuto might never deliver that video. He might destroy it or keep it from Sasuke forever. The silver-haired man sighed.
It was out of his reach, though. He had done all he could. He could only hope for the best.
It was his last chance anyway.
"A video?"
"Yeah." Kabuto confirmed and held up the topic of conversation. "Just watch it, okay? That's all I ask." He ended with his fake cheerfulness he had long ago mastered. Sasuke raised an eyebrow at him.
"Why should I? And where did you get it? What's on that thing anyway?" The Uchiha-heir asked with annoyed curiosity. Kabuto merely walked past him and put the video tape on top of his VCR. Sasuke's room had its own television and VCR. He was given special treatment.
Kabuto envied him, but not so much as why he got it.
"Because I said so. Where I got it is none of your business. You'll find out if you watch it." Kabuto replied to all of his answers. The truth was, Kabuto had no idea himself what was on it.
He hoped it was something good and not something like 'Make-Out Paradise' the movie. Kabuto shuddered. Sasuke would surely kill him if it was that.
Sasuke paused. "But I want to train." He argued. The silver-haired teen glanced to him with boredom.
"You know that Orochimaru-sama is out on business. There's no one to train you."
"I could train by myself."
"No. You have to watch this." He replied. Kabuto finally remembered. He was older than Sasuke. He felt good to boss Sasuke around with help of his age. It made him feel superior.
Still, as always, Kabuto had a most weird complex.
Sasuke scowled as Kabuto began to leave the room.
"And where are you going anyway?" The midnight-haired boy spat. Kabuto looked to him with a playful glint in his eyes.
"Training." He told him smugly and closed the door behind him. Sasuke would've probably yelled something, but didn't. His mind said he would look like a fool.
These days, after his midnight visit to Sakura, he followed his mind, his logical reasoning, faithfully. His heart, his emotional reasoning, stayed silent.
That was fine with Sasuke.
He told himself to forget her. To move on, so she could as well. He decided to lock up his feelings and focus on the matter at hand. No more needless thoughts of 'love that could've been' for him.
It was just what he needed to do at the start.
He glared at the video tape, not daring to approach it. What was Kabuto plotting?
Just ignore it, and go train. You have to get stronger. His mind commanded. Sasuke began to do so, till a small, weak, and hurt voice piped up.
Please, Sasuke, watch it... the voice pleaded. It sounded wounded and sad.
He soon realized this was his heart, so battered from neglect and abuse. He took pity on it and grabbed the video tape.
Go train. His mind hissed. Sasuke scowled.
Oh, shut up. It's not going to hurt if I watch one stupid tape. He snapped back. His mind retreated, not used to such harsh rebellion.
Sasuke felt his heart swell. He was sure it was proud of him, but decided not to dwell on it and slid the tape into the VCR.
He sat down on his bed, which was parallel to the TV, grabbed the remote, and pressed play. He leaned over, putting his forearms on his knees, and watched, unsure what was coming.
First, was static. Sasuke was about to press eject, thinking it was some stupid joke from Kabuto, until a scene popped on.
The vision was a bedroom turned on its side. Like some sort of funhouse. The picture was a little fuzzy.
It was a home video, done by a cheap video recorder. A hand-held one, Sasuke guessed.
Suddenly the bedroom sprang to life and turned back upside up. Just as everything should be. A person looked into the lense. Sasuke recognized them immediately.
It was that blond-haired, baby-blue eyed boy, Naruto Uzumaki.
A chill ran up Sasuke's spine. What is this?
Naruto peered at the camera some more and looked around the room. Sasuke noticed it was a complete mess, but Naruto seemed oblivious to it, as if he had grown some sort of immunity to it. Naruto looked back to the camera and widened his eyes.
"Oh! It's on, isn't it?" He asked himself. The angle soon turned back to the lopsided room and clicked off. Sasuke scowled.
Idiot...He commentated. It seemed like Naruto to leave such a stupid scene, one he had caused, on a video.
Another scene came on. The first thing Sasuke noticed was the sound of sandals crushing on the ground. The scene was a road, surrounded by trees. The angle shook a bit, as it would throughout the movie, but that was always the quality of a home video.
"And now for the awesome Sunny, Sunny adventure of Naruto Uzumaki!" A voice boomed. Sasuke almost jumped. It was so loud...
The camera focused on a face. The same face Sasuke had seen in the beginning.
"Hey there! This is Naruto Uzumaki, the next Hokage, here! For the next three days, I'm going to record all of my adventures!" Naruto informed the viewer with enthusiasm.
"Hey, idiot. Your loud voice is hurting my ears. Stop freaking out about a vacation, will you?" A deep voice taunted and ordered. The voice sounded so foreign, yet somehow familiar to Sasuke. The camera turned to the voice's owner. Then, he understood.
There stood a black-haired boy, arms crossed, wearing a deep blue shirt, white shorts, and bandages tied around his calves. He looked to Naruto boredly.
It was Sasuke.
It felt strange seeing his younger self. It was like he saw a different person. Not anything like himself.
The midnight-haired boy shrugged it off, though, and continued to watch.
"Hey, who's calling who the idiot, huh? You're just jealous that this story isn't about you, you teme." Naruto retorted. He aimed the camera at his face.
"That's Sasuke Uchiha. He's my rival, but he isn't good at anything." Naruto whispered. Sasuke guessed the kyubi boy was explaining all the people that were going to be in the video, in his own little way.
He didn't much care for Naruto's explanation of him. He had gotten used them over the years, so much that he didn't even care anymore.
"Sasuke-kun, don't be so mean. Naruto-kun's just having fun." A sweet voice scolded lightly. Sasuke felt his heart lift. He knew this voice. With its sweet high and low notes, he could notice it anywhere. The camera shifted and viewed the figure as she walked.
It was Sakura, hair short and smile big. Sasuke felt a weakness in his legs and a chill through his chest. She was so beautiful back then...
"Thank you, Sakura-chan!" Naruto grinned at her. Sakura smiled.
"Anytime, Naruto. Just be quieter, okay?" She asked politely. Sasuke knew this was the time when Sakura was learning to be nicer to Naruto, instead of yelling at him needlessly. He remembered he had told her not to bother when she informed him of it. Sakura only smiled and said she would bother.
"Okay, Sakura-chan!" Naruto yelled cheerfully, obviously already forgetting her request. The camera turned back to Naruto, his cheeks red and his eyes love-struck.
"That's Sakura Haruno. She's the girl I like a whole lot. I bet she likes me too, she's just too shy." He whispered with a giddy voice. He sounded like a smitten schoolgirl.
Dream on. The Uchiha-heir commented sourly. 'Like a whole lot'? He sounded like a ten-year-old. He felt a jealous feeling gnaw at him, but shrugged it off.
"Sasuke, Sakura's right. Don't forget that we're a team." A deeper voice pointed out. The camera turned to the voice's owner.
There stood a man with silver hair, a mask, an eye covered, and a book in his hand. It was his old teacher, Kakashi. Sasuke felt a little pang in his heart, but ignored it.
This man used to be like a father to him, but that was then and this is now.
The camera turned back to Naruto's face, momentarily.
"That's Kakashi-sensei. He's really strong and stuff, but he always reads these weird pervy novels." Naruto whispered with a smile. Sasuke had no comment to this. The camera turned away from the baby-blue eyed boy and back to Kakashi.
"Yeah, Sasuke! Kakashi-sensei's right. You should be nicer to me." Naruto taunted and turned the camera to the midnight-eyed boy. The younger Sasuke seemed un-effected by all the scolding and merely continued to walk, hands in his pockets.
"I could say the same thing about you, dropout." Sasuke retorted emotionlessly. The camera shook for awhile, and the scene began to go to the ground.
"Wh-What was that!" Sasuke could hear Naruto yell. The camera stopped mid-way, and began rising back up. Someone had caught the falling camera.
"Actually, Naruto, Sasuke's right, too. I want you to improve your attitude towards Sasuke as well." Kakashi said in his tired voice. The Uchiha-heir bet he was making that "What-will-I-do-with-you-kids?" expression.
"H-Hey! Not you, too, Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto whined. The camera angle went back into focus. It was aimed at Sakura's face. She looked it over with her emerald eyes for awhile and aimed it at Naruto, who was looking at Kakashi with an 'Aw,-come-on!' expression.
"Naruto! Don't drop the camera like that! You'll break it!" Sakura yelled in an annoyed voice. Naruto flinched and turned to look at Sakura.
"B-But, Sakura-chan-!" The kyubi boy began to plead.
"Forget it, Naruto. Let's just make this trip worthwhile, okay?" She asked softly. Naruto hung his head.
"Okay..." He muttered. He looked like a whipped dog. Sakura turned the camera back to her. Sasuke felt his heart pound to see her face so beautiful and bright.
"Anyway, let's start asking everyone what they're expecting from this trip!" She announced cheerfully. Sakura cleared her throat.
"I, myself, am expecting a lot of fun, excitement, and lots of laughs. I hope we get to make a lot of memories with each other!" She announced cheerfully. Sasuke suppressed a smile. How was it that her cheerful voice always got him to smile?
The scene turned away from the pink-haired girl's face to Naruto, done with sulking, and watching Sakura. He jumped a little when the camera turned to him.
"What do you expect from this vacation, Naruto?" Sakura asked him with a happy tone. Naruto grinned and looped his arms behind his head.
"I expect a lot of adventure! And-!" He trailed off skipping towards Sakura, "-I also look forward to a first kiss with you, Sakura-chan!" He ended with a voice thick with love. The scene began shaking as it soon focused on the ground.
"N-Naruto! Get away, you idiot!" Sasuke heard Sakura yell. The camera came back up for awhile. It showed Sasuke, his eyes holding a jealous gleam.
He remembered how he felt then. He suppressed the urge to run over to them, tear Naruto off her, and tell him to back off. Sakura was his girlfriend by now. He knew he was supposed to keep their relationship a secret then.
So he chose not to act out of character.
But he did choose to 'protect a teammate', as he called it.
The scene went back to static for awhile. Sasuke waited for it to clear up, patiently.
The camera turned back on, it now focused on Sasuke's face. He turned his head.
"You didn't break it, you dope." He taunted in a monotone voice. The camera turned to Naruto, his face full of bruises, thanks to Sakura, and his glare directed at Sasuke.
"I know that..." He muttered. The camera turned to Sakura, her arms crossed and her glare full of poison and directed at the ground.
"You okay?" The camera's holder asked gently. Sakura turned her head to him, the hate vanishing, now replaced with a look of shyness.
"Yeah." She whispered with a meek smile, her cheeks turning pink. Sasuke remembered he had returned that smile.
Sakura looked to the ground again, embarrassed. She held out her hand.
"Can I have it back now?" She asked timidly. The camera turned and shook a bit, the scene now on Sasuke a smile disappearing from his face.
"So, since you're here..." Sakura spoke, her voice becoming more cheerful. "...tell me, Sasuke-kun, what do you expect from this vacation?"
Sasuke stared at the camera and looked ahead. It looked like he was thinking.
"...I guess...Just to have fun..." He said with a hollow voice.
"Sasuke, you're incapable of having fun." Naruto taunted with a grin. Sasuke snapped his head to him.
"Well, you're incapable of growing a brain, Naruto." He called back. The older Sasuke almost smiled.
"What! I graduated from the Academy, y'know!" The blond-haired boy called back.
"How long did that take you again?"
"Oh, would both of you shut up!" Sakura yelled. The two boys snapped their heads to their female teammate, eyes wide and faces shocked.
"What?" The kunoichi asked with uncertainty.
"N-Nothing, Sakura-chan..." The kyubi boy trailed off.
"Actually, " Kakashi piped up, closing his book, the camera now turning to him, "...Sakura's right. We're almost there anyway. Sakura turn off the camera, okay?" He finished, asking politely.
"Okay." She agreed. The camera shot down to the ground, focusing on Sakura's feet. Then everything went to static.
Sasuke felt a pang in his heart.
He knew what the video tape was.
It was the tape of when team 7 went on a tropical vacation together. They had won it back during the 'Konoha Sports Festival', credit due to Naruto.
Kakashi decided they should go on it as soon as possible, and they all decided on a seaside hotel. Naruto claimed it would be 'a wonderful paradise'.
So they all agreed to go, Sakura saying they should tape it, so as to keep it as a memory. Everyone in the team got a copy of the tape, but Sasuke decided not to take it with him when he left the village.
Too much emotional luggage.
But how did Kabuto get this? He wouldn't dare go to Konoha when Orochimaru was away, right?
The Uchiha-heir grabbed for the remote, so as to turn it off. He knew if he continued to watch, it would hurt him.
Please, Sasuke...watch it...for them... His weak heart pleaded. Sasuke stopped. Should he watch it?
The static disappeared and the video resumed. Sasuke placed his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands, and continued to watch.
The scene was a small living room. The main color was white. White couch, white carpet, white lamps, you name it. It looked clean and refreshing, the typical hotel room. A pair of large glass doors stood at the far right of the room. A hallway on the right wall led out of the living room. Sasuke remembered that's where their rooms were.
"Wow! It's so elegant!" Sakura called out. She ran out into the middle of the room and looked around herself with amazed eyes. Naruto ran onto the couch and plopped right onto it.
"Hey, hey, Sakura-chan! Try the couch! It's really comfy!" Naruto called. Sakura turned her head to him and sat down on the couch. She smiled.
"It is! This is wonderful!" She squealed. Sasuke walked next to them, his eyebrow raised.
"You guys are acting like a bunch of kids." He told them flatly. The older Sasuke remembered that they were hurting his ears with all their yells.
A mischievous grin spread on Sakura's face and she grabbed one of Sasuke's hands. His eyes widened.
"C'mon, Sasuke-kun! Sit with us!" She cheered and pulled the midnight-haired boy toward them. Sasuke tried to break off her hold.
"S-Sakura!"
Naruto grinned and grabbed Sasuke's arm along with Sakura.
"Yeah, Sasuke! Don't be such a sour-puss!" He joined in. The kyubi boy, with the help of the kunoichi, pulled the Uchiha-heir. Sasuke lost his footing and fell into their laps, his head on Sakura's. The two trouble-makers laughed happily.
"Alright, you two. Stop picking on Sasuke." Kakashi scolded them playfully. The camera shook a bit and moved closer to them. Sasuke finally realized that it was Kakashi who was holding the camera.
Naruto grinned to the camera. "Okay, fine. Besides, it was fun enough seeing the look on Sasuke's face." He jeered lightly and stood up, sliding off Sasuke's legs. Sasuke flipped over, his hair tussled and his eyes annoyed.
"I won't forget this, Naruto." He threatened with a snarl. Sakura smiled at him and brushed his hair out of his face. Sasuke looked up to her, his cheeks turning red. She giggled at him.
"Don't forget, Sasuke-kun. I helped, too." She grinned. Sasuke looked to her boredly.
"Women aren't allowed to participate in revenge." He told her flatly. Sakura glared at him.
"Oh my god, sexist!" She scolded and pushed him off her lap. Sasuke fell with a thud. The older Sasuke remembered that he wasn't trying to be sexist. He had just wanted to hear her laugh again.
Yeah, and that went well. He noted sarcastically.
"Ha ha! Sasuke got scolded!" Naruto pointed out. The midnight-eyed boy glared at him as he got back up.
"You..." He began.
"Sasuke-kun! Naruto-kun! Look at this view!" Sakura called from the glass doors. The camera rushed over to the voice. A great brightness overtook the entire screen, soon adjusting to the immense light.
The view was the giant, sparkling blue sea, a clean, pure beach bordering it. Underneath them was a tropical forest, palm trees and everything.
The camera turned to the three kids, Naruto and Sakura wide-eyed. Sasuke just stood there, looking bored.
The older Uchiha-heir realized that they were on a balcony.
"It's beautiful..." The pink-pearl haired girl whispered. Naruto turned to the camera, his eyes excited.
"Kakashi-sensei, Kakashi-sensei! Can we go to the beach, now?" The baby-blue eyed boy asked hyperly.
"Hmm...Well, I don't see why not." The jounin approved. Naruto grinned with excitement, Sakura already running to her luggage.
"Yeah! Thanks, Kakashi-sensei! You're the greatest!" The kyubi boy cheered, running back inside as well. The camera angle went to Sasuke, still looking at the scenery.
"Well? Aren't you going, too?" The silver-haired man asked. Sasuke glanced to his teacher.
"Hn." He responded and walked back into the room. The camera aimed at Kakashi's face. If you looked closely enough, you would notice he was smiling underneath. The camera aimed at the ground, and then static.
The static disappeared, sounds of seagulls and ocean waves not too far away. The scene was one of a beach, sand clean and sea sparkling. Other people were on the beach as well. The camera focused on Kakashi, now in a pair of deep green swim trunks, his mask and headband still on. He held a beach towel and umbrella in his right hand, his book in the left as he walked toward the beach, looking for a good spot.
"Hey, Kakashi-sensei." The camera's holder called. It was Naruto. The jounin glanced to him.
"Hm?"
"Shouldn't you take your mask off? I mean, doesn't it make you hot and stuff?" He asked skeptically.
"No, I'm good."
"You're weird, Kakashi-sensei."
"As are you." Kakashi retorted.
"H-Hey-!"
A crunch of sand was heard behind him, and the camera snapped to the person. It was Sasuke, a pair of sunglasses on his head, as he wore deep blue swim trunks, a small Uchiha fan symbol on one of the lower corners.
"What are you yelling about now, dope?" He asked flatly.
"Hey, where's Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked, ignoring his rival's insult. Sasuke shrugged, nonchalantly.
"She's coming." He muttered. He didn't sound so sure of himself.
"Guys! Wait for me!" A female voice called. The camera focused behind Sasuke, to the voice's owner.
There ran Sakura, her hair tied up in a green scrunchie. She wore a revealing pink bikini, with a plunging neckline. The camera slid down slowly, then lifted back up. It was now focused on Naruto and Sasuke, their eyes wide and cheeks red. The pink-pearl haired girl stood in front of them with a confused face.
"Hey, what's wrong with you guys?" She asked innocently. The orange-trunks clad boy shook his head slowly, dumbfounded, and Sasuke slid his shades in front of his eyes.
"N-Nothing..." Sasuke muttered. The emerald-eyed girl raised and eyebrow at them, but shrugged.
"Well, whatever. Let's go!" She cheered, grabbed both of their hands, and dragged them toward the sea. Sakura looked behind her.
"Hey, Kakashi-sensei! Are you coming?" She asked. The camera lowered a little.
"No. I've got to set up this stuff."
"How about after that?"
"Then I've got some reading to do." He told her light-heartedly.
"Kakashi-sensei, you're so weird!" Naruto called back with a grin.
"Is that the stove calling the kettle black?"
Kakashi didn't receive his answer, as he turned the camera toward him. Then, static once again.
The obsidian-eyed boy didn't have to wait long this time. The scene switched back on, aimed at the sand. The first thing you heard were stifled giggles.
"Naruto, I don't think we should..." Sakura cautioned with a stifled laugh. Her hands were over her mouth as the camera focused on her. She was wet, a towel around her neck, standing under the shade of their umbrella. The camera turned to Naruto crouched down with a small sand shovel. He placed a finger over his lips, signaling her to be quiet. Sakura grinned underneath her hand mask, her face turning red.
"Now, should we make him a mermaid, or a macho man?" He asked quietly. Sakura attempted to stifle more laughs that tried to escape and show her happiness.
The camera moved over to a sleeping Kakashi, his hands clasped above his stomach, and his book over his face. The silver-haired man was peacefully oblivious to what the kyubi boy was plotting.
"C'mon, Sakura-chan. Choose!" Naruto stage-whispered the camera backing out to show the both of them. Sakura held one hand over her stomach, trying her best not to laugh.
"M-Mermaid..." She whispered, some of her giggles escaping. Naruto grinned at her.
"One Kakashi-sensei mermaid coming up!" He cheered with a soft voice and began to shovel some sand. Sakura dashed from there, and when she determined she was a safe distance away, began laughing hysterically. Sasuke let himself grin at this.
The camera turned back to Naruto, Sakura's laughs still audible.
"Y'know, Kakashi is going to kill you when he wakes up." Sasuke scolded. He was the one holding the camera. Naruto turned his head to him.
"Not if he doesn't know it was me. Wanna help?" He asked with a grin.
"Not on my dead body."
"Suit yourself. More fun for me." He giggled and went back to shoveling. Naruto stopped for awhile and slowly picked up the 'Make-Out Violence' book off his sensei's face.
"Here," The blond-haired boy called out and tossed the book to Sasuke, the camera shaking a bit as he caught it. ", you can read this." Naruto finished.
"I don't want to read this weird stuff." The Uchiha-heir argued with a whisper. Sasuke remembered he was really battling with himself to read it or not.
"I want to read it, Sasuke-kun." Sakura offered, her face red, but her fit of giggles gone.
"Fine." He responded, holding out the book to her. The intelligent-kunoichi smiled and took the book gratefully. She was like a child receiving candy.
Sakura flipped open to the first page, plopped herself on the ground, and began to read. The angle came level with the ground, showing all of them now, as a pair of feet dashed across the screen. Sasuke came into view and sat next to Sakura leaning over and reading the book with her.
"I knew you couldn't resist, Sasuke." Naruto jeered. Sasuke glanced to him, his cheeks becoming pink.
"Shut up, dropout." He retorted and went back to reading.
A few seconds later, a giant red blush covered Sakura's face. Sasuke's eyes widened a little.
"Oh my..." She whispered. Naruto looked up to them.
"What, What? What is it?" The kyubi boy asked impatiently, almost done with the chest, now working on a fish tail. Sasuke noticed that Naruto sure had some artistic talent when it came to his pranks.
The emerald-eyed girl looked up to him, flustered.
"Y-You'd have to read it for yourself." She explained, mortified.
"Let me see then." He asked eagerly. Sasuke looked at him with irritated eyes.
"You finish up with that." The midnight-haired boy told him flatly. Naruto glared at him.
"Let's switch places, Sasuke!" Naruto stage-whispered.
"Not on my dead body."
Naruto scowled at him, and worked faster. Typical, he wouldn't ask his precious Sakura-chan to help.
"Sakura-chan, Sakura-chan!" Naruto called with a grin. The cherry-blossom-haired girl turned her head. She immediately clamped a hand over her mouth, her cheeks puffing up from the laughter.
Kakashi the mermaid was complete, a full voluptuous body and everything. Sakura handed the book to Sasuke, ran out to a far place, and began laughing again. Sasuke raised an eyebrow, but began reading again. The blue-eyed boy ran over to him.
"Okay, Okay, let me read!" Naruto pleaded. Sasuke glared at him.
"Don't be so eager." He scolded him and opened the book so he could read with him. Naruto's eyes widened. He whistled.
Sakura ran back to them, her face red and her smile still there.
"Naruto-kun, you're a genius." She whispered and sat in the middle of them. The sunshine-haired boy grinned at her.
"Glad to be of service."
Sasuke rolled his eyes and went back to reading. Sakura grabbed it from his hands allowing all of them to read.
The teammates all widened their eyes.
"He reads this during our missions?" Naruto asked, stunned. Sakura placed a hand over her mouth. Sasuke slid his sunglasses over his eyes again, a blush on his face.
"Hrmm..." A deep voice groaned. The three ninjas snapped their heads to their awakening sensei.
"Oh...why do I feel so heavy...?" He asked groggily. Kakashi looked down at his sand mermaid body and his eye widened. He snapped his head to his students, noticing his book in their hands.
"Hey!" The jounin exclaimed. They all scrambled up, Sakura still holding onto the book unconsciously.
"Run for it!" Naruto yelled and began to run, his teammates running after him. Their teacher got up, dusting sand off him, and ran after them. Kakashi kicked over the camera, showing a clear horizon of sand. You could easily see the running students.
"Sakura-chan, the book! He wants the book!"
"Take it, Naruto!"
"No! Give it to Sasuke!
"I'm not taking the thing!"
"Get back here, all of you!"
Sasuke ran toward the camera, him in the lead since he was the fastest, the rest following after him. The Uchiha-heir tripped over the camera changing its angle, and falling with a thud. Sakura tripped after him, landing on him as well, Naruto following in suit.
They made some sort of Team 7 sandwich.
Kakashi stopped in front of them, an evil gleam in his eye.
"I've got you now..." He sneered with an evil-villain voice.
All of them screamed, Naruto squirming, accidentally kicking the camera. Then, static once again.
The midnight-haired teen tried to hold back his laughter, telling himself that it wasn't that funny, but to no avail.
Sasuke Uchiha, after so many months of bottled-up emotions, began to laugh.
He laughed until his cheeks hurt, and tears came to his eyes. So many memories, so much happiness...
...It had been awhile since he could remember these fun memories of Team 7. The obsidian-eyed teen had kept them locked up for too long.
Sasuke felt warm inside and he felt his heart swell. It was like him leaving the village had never happened, and that he was merely watching a video tape of a few months ago, able to see those people if he just walked out his door.
Then reality set in.
He wasn't near those people. He had thrown them away, along with all the wonderful memories that could've been.
He felt his heart pang. His smile slowly turned into a frown.
God, how reality hurt.
Sasuke watched the rest of day one with a bittersweet feeling.
He watched as the team received their punishment of 'lights-out by ten', played volleyball; Sakura hugging Sasuke each time they scored a point, Sakura collecting seashells; Naruto videotaping her and making her laugh with his comments, and at the end of the day Team 7 heading back to the hotel; Naruto being carried by Kakashi after falling asleep.
It made Sasuke feel softly nostalgic.
He closed his eyes, as he remembered the parts the video camera never caught; His lone moments with Sakura.
His mind drifted to a far-off memory...
Sasuke raised his head as he heard a knocking on his door. He slipped on a tank top, still in his swim trunks, and opened the door.
There stood Sakura, a smile on her face, wearing a pair of denim short shorts, her bikini top still on.
The midnight-haired boy raised his eyebrow.
"Sakura? What-?"
"Ta-da!" She cheered and held out her hand. She was grasping a seashell bracelet. "I made it for you, Sasuke-kun!" She explained happily.
The emerald-eyed girl grabbed his hand and slipped it on. She smiled an accomplished smile.
"Do you like it?" Sakura asked innocently. Sasuke looked past her. No one in the hallway.
Good.
He grabbed her hand, pulled her in, and closed the door behind her. Sasuke immediately kissed her on the forehead.
"Thanks." He whispered sweetly. The intelligent kunoichi blushed madly.
"S-Sasuke! What if someone gets suspicious...?" Sakura asked with uncertainty. The midnight-haired boy smiled at her.
"Don't worry."
"But-!"
"How long did it take you to make this?" Sasuke asked, changing the subject. The Haruno girl smiled and picked up his wrist, admiring her craftsmanship.
"About two hours. Do you think it's good? I mean, I was really hoping to get a conch shell..."
"I don't think that's possible around here."
"What about the souvenir shop?"
"Those might as well be clay."
"Can't you trust anyone?" Sakura asked with a coy smile.
"I'm a ninja. What do you think?" He responded matter-of-factly.
"What about your teammates?"
"I wouldn't trust Naruto with my grocery shopping, much less my life."
Sakura laughed.
So the couple continued to talk of the day, and the scenery, as they both looked out Sasuke's window, feeling the wind as they leaned out. Sasuke grabbed a hibiscus from a nearby plant, placed it behind Sakura's right ear, and kissed her softly. She smiled at him shyly when they parted.
"I have to go, Sasuke." She whispered. The Uchiha-heir felt his heart drop. He wanted to spend more time with her.
"Alright."
Sakura kissed him one more time, before she opened the door.
"Sasuke-kun."
"Hm?"
"Tomorrow night...want to go on a walk with me?" She asked sweetly. Sasuke felt his heart soar and he nodded.
"I'd like that." He confirmed. Sakura opened the door and waved before she left. Sasuke smiled at her. The door closed with a soft click.
The midnight-eyed boy looked down to the seashell bracelet on his wrist. He kissed it.
Tomorrow night...it was a date.
His mind returned to the present...
Sasuke felt his heart pang. Such gentle love those two used to have...
The static disappeared, adjusting on a bedroom. Under the crisp blue sheets, laid Sasuke, asleep. A few stifled giggles were in the background. The camera turned to Naruto, dressed in an orange T-shirt, and black khakis. He turned to the camera, putting his finger to his lips, signaling 'shh' once again. The kyubi boy crept to the bed.
"On the count of 'three', Sakura-chan." He whispered.
"Mm-hm." She mumbled, trying to hold back her giggles.
"One."
"Two."
"THREE!" Naruto finished, and cannon-balled on the bed.
"What the-!" Sasuke exclaimed, jolting awake. He flailed around till he realized his predicament. He glared at Naruto, who was sitting on his stomach.
"Naruto, you twit, get off me." He ordered. By now, Sakura was giggling merrily. Only Naruto's antics could make Sakura laugh so.
"Good morning, Sasuke!" The trouble-maker greeted. The Uchiha genius pushed Naruto off him, on to the floor with a thud. Suddenly, the door clicked open, the camera going to it, Kakashi's head peaking through.
"Sakura, Naruto, have you woken up Sasuke yet?" He asked with an absent-minded tone. Sasuke looked straight at the camera with a glare. The older Uchiha-heir remembered that Sakura looked back with fear, her giggling stopping immediately.
"Yeah, I'm awake." He muttered. Kakashi turned to him.
"Good. Now get dressed, we've decided to go sight-seeing." His teacher advised him cheerfully, and closed the door behind him. The kyubi boy jumped up from the floor, ran towards the camera, reached down, and made it move. Sasuke guessed he had grabbed Sakura's hand.
"C'mon, Sakura-chan! Before Sasuke decides to eat us for breakfast!" He commentated. The screen went to static once again.
The first thing you heard was the rustles of the leaves. The screen focused on a tropical forest. The students of Team 7 were walking ahead, whoever taping them behind them.
"Wow! You don't see these kinds of trees in Konoha!" Naruto exclaimed turning his head this way and that, like a hyperactive squirrel. Sakura twirled around, wearing a pink tank top, denim short shorts, and the red hibiscus in her hair.
"Look! What a beautiful bird!" She pointed to the treetops. The camera turned to where she was pointing. There stood a bright orange bird, ignoring the human attention. The camera went back to the students, all looking to it.
"This place is wonderful..." Naruto whispered.
"C'mon, guys. Sakura, didn't you say you wanted to go to..." Kakashi's voice trailed off. Sakura turned to the camera with a grin.
"...Hibiscus cliff! Yeah, to see the scenery. C'mon! It's only a little ways up ahead." She hurried and began to run forward, the trees getting less dense. Naruto followed after her.
The camera turned to Sasuke, a bored look on his face.
"Well?" Kakashi asked. The Uchiha heir glanced to the camera, wearing a black tank top, the Uchiha symbol on the back, his sunglasses on his head, and a pair of denim khakis.
"Well, what?"
"How do you like this place?"
"It's okay..."
"Sasuke, you should be more grateful for all of this."
"Hn."
Sasuke ran after Sakura, leaving the camera and Kakashi alone. The silver-haired jounin took his sweet time getting up to the cliff. Brightness overtook the screen, until it adjusted.
The scenery was beautiful, a full view of the coastline, and the forests bordering it. Around the cliff, hibiscuses surrounded them, hence the name, Sasuke guessed. The camera turned to his students. All of them awe-struck.
"It's gorgeous..." Sakura whispered. She inched closer to the edge.
"Sakura, don't!" Kakashi yelled.
Too late.
Sakura slipped, and began falling, the hibiscus floating off her ear. Her scream echoed through Sasuke's ears. Naruto reached out for her, Sasuke who was a ways off, running to her aid.
The camera shook, and aimed at the ground.
After a few screams and yells, and a sound of scuffling, the angle aimed back up.
The kyubi boy held onto Sakura, his hand still grasping hers. She had her face buried in to his chest, her body shaking.
"Shh, shh...Sakura-chan, you're alright now." Naruto cooed.
"I don't want to die. I don't want to die..." She was mumbling, obviously scared of the fall.
"Is she alright?" Kakashi asked. Naruto looked up to him.
"She's a bit shaken up...and I think her ankle got injured." He said with a sad tone.
"We're taking her to a doctor. Naruto carry her." The silver-haired jounin ordered. His voice had changed, sounding like the ex-ANBU he was. The sunshine-haired boy nodded.
"No!" Sakura objected. Naruto turned to her shocked. Tears were streaming out of her eyes. She looked down.
"Sasuke-kun..." She mumbled.
"You want Sasuke to carry you?" Kakashi guessed. The pink-pearl haired girl nodded her head. The camera turned to Sasuke. He had a stunned look on his face.
"You heard her, Sasuke." The jounin ordered. The midnight-haired boy turned his head to him with confused eyes. He nodded his head slowly, awakening from his shock.
"Got it." He okayed with a stern voice.
When Sakura climbed onto his back, you could finally see the blood oozing from her right ankle. It was scary for Sasuke to see it in the middle of this fun-filled trip. To see this girl who was giggling from her teammate's actions, suddenly look so frightened and traumatized in such a small amount of time.
Reality really did hurt.
The angle turned to the ground again, the screen turning to static. Sasuke closed his eyes as he filled in what the video camera never saw.
His mind drifted to a far-off memory...
He could feel her breathe on the nape of his neck. He felt her shivering.
It wasn't cold. He knew that she was scared. Sasuke could still hear her mumbling.
"Sakura." He whispered. She squeezed her arms around him tighter. He turned is head so that his lips brushed her ear.
"It's alright. I'm here." He whispered reassuringly. The pink-rose haired girl sniffed and looked to him.
"I don't want to die, Sasuke-kun..." She whimpered. It pained him to see her like this.
"Don't worry. You're not going to if I'm around." He reassured her. Sakura buried her face into his shoulder, and began crying again.
The Uchiha-heir leaned over and kissed her on the head, rubbing his cheek against hers afterwards.
"Shh, shh...you're safe now. You're safe now, Sakura..." He cooed. This was all he could do. Reassure her while Naruto was the one that saved her.
How he wished he could've been that person to save her from a plummeting death.
"I love you..." She whispered with a wet voice. Sasuke kissed her on the cheek.
"I love you, as well." He whispered so silently that only she was to hear him.
Sakura buried her head into his shoulder again, calming down a bit.
When the team had finally arrived at the doctor, he had told her that she could still walk, but not too much to put stress on it. After that, the team decided they had enough sight-seeing for the day. Sakura kept on apologizing for ruining the day, but Naruto reassured her that she had no sort of thing. The team decided to watch some movies, Naruto voting on horror movies. He had said that the first blood-curdling scream was what always drew his attention. The most memorial and traditional part of a good horror flick. They all obliged with his choice.
After the first movie, Sakura claimed she had enough for the day, her face slightly green, and said she would go on a walk.
"Sakura, you need someone to go with you." Kakashi reminded that at the start of the vacation, none of them are to ever venture out alone. It was much too dangerous, he had said. Sakura smiled.
"Sasuke-kun, want to go on a walk with me?" She asked sweetly, turning down Naruto before he even got the words out. Sasuke glanced to her, his cheeks pink. He stood up and walked across the screen, the oblivious female already opening the doors to the mysterious phantom shrine.
"Sure." He accepted, opening the door. Sakura's eyes softened and gleamed as she walked ahead, limping a little. Sasuke closed the door behind them.
"H-Hey!" The kyubi boy objected. A scream erupted from the TV, attracting Naruto's attention. It seemed the oblivious female had found a cellar full of dead bodies.
The two held hands, her still limping behind, him walking with her patiently.
"Do you feel better now?" The midnight-haired boy asked. She nodded her head.
"I'm feeling better now. It was...just so scary, Sasuke. I could feel the ground fall underneath my legs, and knew I was going to die. I literally saw my life flash before my eyes. It...was just frightening." She confessed.
"I've gone through that before."
"Really?" Sakura asked, her eyes widening. "When?"
Sasuke cocked an eyebrow at her.
"You don't remember? When Haku 'killed' me." He explained. Her face became shocked.
"Were you scared, too?" The intelligent kunoichi asked cautiously. He avoided her gaze.
"Hn."
"You don't want to talk about it?"
Silence. Sakura squeezed his hand. She smiled a reassuring smile.
"Okay."
Sasuke almost smiled. He loved when she knew to keep her space, unlike that pestering bimbo she was before.
"Actually..." The Uchiha-heir spoke. The pink-pearl haired girl looked to him with curiosity.
"...I was actually disappointed."
"Why?"
Sasuke closed his eyes. He also liked how he was able to spill his heart out to her with no regrets.
"...Because I didn't kill him yet. I promised I wouldn't die unless I killed Itachi."
Silence engulfed him until Sakura squeezed his hand.
"You should be more careful then, Sasuke-kun. Don't make your loved ones worry."
Sasuke felt his heart swell. Don't worry. I won't ever make you worry. He reassured her in his mind. Sasuke felt his toes touch sand and looked up.
They had reached the beach, alighted by moonlight. The world had been painted subtle and blue, by the full moon. Sakura closed her eyes, and smiled.
"It sounds beautiful, doesn't it?" The emerald-eyed girl asked silently.
"What does?"
"The waves. They're the sounds of nature, Sasuke-kun."
The coupled walked forward, sitting down in the sand as they did.
"Sasuke-kun?"
"Hm?"
"What did you see when you saw your life flash before your eyes?"
Sasuke thought for awhile.
"Fangirls." He said with a straight face. Sakura burst out in laughter.
"S-Seriously?" She asked trying to retain her demeanor.
"Seriously. I saw myself as a child training, and there were fangirls. I saw myself graduating from the Academy, and there were fangirls. I saw myself walking down the street on Valentine's day, and there were a lot of fangirls." He explained with a small smirk.
"How'd you know it was Valentine's day?"
"The fangirls were carrying chocolate meant for me." He shrugged. Sakura began laughing again.
"Well, we know who Mr. Popular is." The intelligent kunoichi commentated slyly. Sasuke raised an eyebrow at her.
"What is with you girls and Valentine's day, anyway?" He asked. "I swear, if I ate all the chocolate I get from that day alone, I'd die of a heart attack."
Sakura smiled.
"Because, Sasuke-kun, girls put all their hearts into the holiday of love! The make chocolates with all their feelings, knowing somehow their feelings will be received!" She explained hyperly. Sasuke rolled his eyes at her.
"They might as well be training then giving me something I'd never eat."
"You don't like sweets?"
"Despise them."
"But what about their feelings, Sasuke-kun? Don't they matter any to you?"
"You're my girlfriend. You should be bothered that I receive so much chocolate then telling me to appreciate it." He informed her. The pink-pearl haired girl's eyes widened.
"Sasuke-kun, say that again."
"Say what? That you should be bothered?" He guessed skeptically. He didn't like where this was going...
"No! Before that!" Sakura urged him. Her eyes sparkled with eagerness.
"You're my girlfriend...?" The Uchiha prodigy guessed again. Sakura smiled happily.
"Again!"
"What?"
"Say it again!"
"You're my girlfriend..."
Sakura hugged herself and squealed. Sasuke raised an eyebrow at her.
"Sakura, what the hell-?"
"Sorry...It's just that you've never said that to me." She explained shyly, her cheeks getting red. It felt so final to her. She was Sasuke's girlfriend. The guy she's loved for years...the one she's admired for his confidence for so long...was her boyfriend.
She felt so giddy inside. This was love, she was sure of it.
"You're so weird..." Sasuke responded to that, turning his gaze from her. It felt weird to say it, that she was his girlfriend. Sure he'd never say it to her, for prideful reasons, but it wasn't that big of a deal...was it?
Oh hell, for whatever reason it was probably just a girl thing.
Sakura looked up to him meekly.
"Can you say it again?" She asked softly. The midnight-haired boy scowled. He didn't want to...
"You're my girlfriend." He mumbled. Sasuke suddenly felt a heavy weight on him. He turned his head, and saw Sakura, her arms around him and her head laid against his shoulder. He felt a chill run up his spine.
"I love you." She whispered. The Uchiha-heir paused and put his arm around her, laying his head on hers. Maybe, he could understand, just a little.
"Sasuke-kun, dance with me."
The midnight-eyed boy turned to her, stunned.
"What?"
Sakura stood up, breaking off Sasuke's hold. She looked down to him shyly.
"Dance with me." She repeated. Sasuke stood up, dusting sand off him as he did.
"What's gotten into you?" He asked with curiosity, not rudeness. It struck him as odd that she would request something so out of the bluely. Sakura looked out to the sea, the full moon reflected on it.
"The moment feels right." She explained as if that was a logical enough reason. Sakura turned back to him. "Dance with me, Sasuke." She asked again, softly. Sasuke crossed his arms.
"No."
"Why not?" She asked disappointed.
"Because it's silly."
"You can't dance?"
"No! I just don't want to."
Sakura smiled.
"There's not much too it, Sasuke-kun." She explained and placed her hands on his hips. "You just gotta move your hips!" She ended cheerfully. Sasuke felt his face flare and stepped away from her.
"S-Sakura!" He exclaimed mortified. She grinned at him. The Uchiha-heir felt annoyed with her and began to walk off.
"Sasuke!"
Don't look back... He told himself. He felt a soft press against his back.
Sakura was holding him from behind.
"I'm sorry..." She apologized. Sasuke felt his heart swell.
Suddenly, he wasn't mad at her anymore.
"Dance with me?" She asked innocently. He sighed.
"Alright."
He held her hand in his, his other on her waist, her other on his shoulder.
"I've never danced before." The midnight-haired boy confessed. The Haruno girl smiled.
"Just follow my lead." She instructed.
When Sasuke finally got the hang of it, Sakura thought of a fun idea.
"We have to dance with music." She pointed out.
"We don't have any."
"We could sing."
"No way."
"Why not? You can't sing either?"
"No. I just don't want to sing."
"C'mon, Sasuke! I'll be singing with you!"
"No."
Sakura puffed her cheeks. Sasuke suppressed a smile. She looked like an angry puffer fish.
"Fine then. Suit yourself, I'll just sing without you." The jade-eyed girl huffed. The two got back into dance positions.
"Just this one song, Sasuke, and I'll be happy." She whispered. Sasuke nodded.
Sakura laid her head against his chest, took a deep breath, and began.
I'll be your dream
I'll be your wish, I'll be your fantasy
I'll be your hope, I'll be your love
Be everything that you need
As Sasuke swayed with her he recognized the song. It was called 'Truly, Madly, Deeply'. His mother used to sing it all the time. He knew the lyrics by heart.
He could sing it with her if he wanted to.
Sasuke decided he would and sang the next verse.
I'll love you more with every breath
Truly Madly Deeply Do
I will be strong, I will be faithful
Coz I'm counting on
A new beginning
A reason for living
A deeper meaning, Yeah
Sakura looked up to him stunned. He merely smiled a small smile. Sakura sang the chorus, feeling her heart swell.
I want to stand with you on a mountain
I want to bathe with you in the sea
I wanna lay like this forever
Until the sky falls down on me
As they danced, Sakura questioned what she loved most about Sasuke.
His confidence.
Yes, that's what attracted her to him, that festival night. He had what she never knew when she was a child. He inspired her to get stronger and to believe in herself more.
Not to mention, how good it felt to be around him. That, could only be explained by love and nothing else.
She closed her eyes and heard his voice sing, thanking the heavens above for letting her meet such a guy.
And when the stars are shining
Brightly in the velvet sky
I'll make a wish send it to heaven
Then make you want to cry
It was a beautiful song. She was a beautiful girl.
Basically, in Sasuke's mind, the moment itself was beautiful.
Sasuke loved her. He loved how down-to-earth, and care-free she was. He loved how she always would listen to his problems.
He loved everything about her.
She was his guardian angel, his sweet love, his...partner in life.
Yes, Sasuke wanted to always be with her. Heck, he wouldn't mind marrying her even!
Don't get too giddy with the moment. His heart warned him, Just enjoy the feeling now.
Sasuke agreed to do so, and let Sakura's soft voice sing.
The tears of joy for all the
Pleasure in the certainty
That we're surrounded
By the comfort and protection of
The highest powers
In lonely hours
The tears devour you
Sakura felt good to bring up this dance. She knew the moment was right. You just had to go with what felt right in love, she guessed.
It felt perfect to dance with Sasuke, swaying with the song, their voices being the only sound. She never wanted the moment to end.
She smiled as she heard his voice sing the chorus, wondering if he was singing to her.
I want to stand with you on a mountain
I want to bathe with you in the sea
I wanna lay like this forever
Until the sky falls down on me
The midnight-eyed boy never regretted caving in to this choice. Sure, it had bruised his pride a little, but it still felt so right. To be with her, and only her, under the full moon. Which reminded him, hadn't it been a full moon when he told her of his prayers? And on their first date?
Sasuke almost chuckled. It was as if when the full moon shone, their feelings did too.
He shrugged off the theory. It might be just him.
Oh can you see it, baby?
You don't have to close your eyes
Coz it's standing right before you
All that you need will surely come
As the emerald-eyed girl sang, she decided she sang to him. Did he know that she would be his everything? Did he know that she would be there for him when he's sad? Did he know that if he waited patiently enough, his goals would be achieved, and she would be there by his side the whole time?
Or, maybe, just maybe, he already knew.
I'll be your dream
I'll be your wish, I'll be your fantasy
I'll be your hope, I'll be your love
Be everything that you need
In the last three verses they sang together, voices in sync, hearts beating sweetly.
I'll love you more with every breath
Truly Madly Deeply Do
I want to stand with you on a mountain
I want to bathe with you in the sea
I wanna lay like this forever
Until the sky falls down on me
I want to stand with you on a mountain
I want to bathe with you in the sea
I wanna live like this forever
Until the sky falls down on me
They finished the song, stopped dancing, but still held each other.
"Sasuke-kun?"
"Yeah?"
The pink-pearl haired girl blushed as she looked down.
"Were you singing to me?" She asked shyly. Sasuke widened his midnight eyes and blushed.
"I..."
Sakura looked up to him with innocent eyes.
"...Yes." He confirmed, awkwardly. Sakura smiled, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him softly. He blushed madly being caught off guard so much. He wrapped his arms around her waist after awhile, and they stayed there, soaking up the moment slowly. When they parted, they smiled at each other shyly.
"I love you." Sakura whispered.
"I love you, as well. Truly, Madly, and Deeply." Sasuke responded playfully. Sakura giggled at this.
"Let's go back. The others will wonder where we are." He informed her. Sakura felt her heart fall. She didn't want to be brought back to reality just yet. It felt much too good with him.
But he was right, as always.
"Okay." She agreed, let go, and began to walk. The Haruno girl felt a sharp pain run up her ankle. She crouched in pain. Sasuke immediately put a hand on her shoulder.
"Sakura, are you okay?" He asked worryingly. Sakura nodded with a grimace.
"I'm alright. It's just my ankle..." She explained. Sasuke crouched down. She looked to him confused.
"Get on my back." He ordered her. Sakura began to argue, but thought better. It was hard to win in an argument with Sasuke.
So the pink-rose haired girl climbed on his back. He began to carry her back to the hotel. She felt her heart swell.
He's such a gentleman. She joked.
Sakura started to rubbed her cheek against his neck, nuzzling him, giddy with love. Sasuke blushed madly.
"Sakura, stop."
"Why?"
"Because it's embarrassing." He explained awkwardly. The emerald-eyed girl smiled sweetly. She kissed him on the shoulder and laid her head down on it.
"Fine. Suit yourself." She replied with playful curtness. Sasuke felt himself blush when he soon regretted making her stop. The Haruno girl opened one eye, a mischievous glint on it.
"...Fine...you can do it...just until we get close to the hotel." He caved in. Sakura suppressed a smile. She knew Sasuke too well, and began snuggling him again. The Uchiha-heir felt somehow tricked, but shrugged it off. Her nuzzling made him feel too good to worry about that.
Sasuke turned his head to her, and she looked to him. He leaned over and kissed her sweetly. When they parted, she smiled at him meekly.
"Forever." She whispered. Sasuke nodded.
"Forever."
Naruto turned his head as he heard the knocking. What was it now? The guy in the movie was just receiving a mysterious letter from that girl he accidentally drowned last summer.
"Hey, dropout, open the door." Sasuke's muffled voice called from the other side. The kyubi boy scowled, grabbed the remote, and pressed 'Pause'. By now, he was watching the videos alone, Kakashi turning in early. Naruto wished that it could be just him and Sakura...her holding him in fear...His cheeks became red with the thought...
"Naruto, you idiot. Hurry up." Sasuke interrupted. The blue-eyed boy huffed and got up from the couch.
On the other side of the door, Sakura looked to Sasuke worryingly.
"Sasuke-kun, you don't have to bother Naruto-kun like that. I mean, you have the key right?" Sasuke glanced to her boredly.
"But I don't want to drop you." He whispered. Sakura smiled and inched to his face for a kiss on the cheek.
The door opened and she froze.
Naruto stood there his eyes widened.
Shoot! Did he find out? The Haruno girl fretted.
"Sakura-chan! Are you okay?" The blond boy asked worryingly. Sakura almost breathed a sigh of relief.
"She's fine. Her ankle just started hurting." Sasuke answered for her and walked by him. Naruto trailed after him.
"Are you going to be okay, Sakura-chan? Do you need some ice or something?"
Sakura smiled and looked back to him.
"It's okay, Naruto-kun. I think I'll just go to bed." She reassured him sweetly. She felt touched by his worry.
Sasuke felt jealous at him.
I said she's fine, so back off. He told his rival off in his mind and scowled.
Naruto sighed when they walked into the hallway. He grabbed the remote and pressed 'Eject', just as the guy saw that drowned girl staring at him from the waters. Sakura was right, it was getting late.
Besides, he had a special plan for the team tomorrow.
"Sasuke-kun, I think I can walk now." Sakura reminded him when they arrived at her door. Sasuke nodded and allowed her to get off. She paused in front off her door. The pink-pearl haired girl wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him, him wrapping his arms around her waist.
When Sakura parted she smiled at him.
"Thank you for a wonderful night."
"Anytime." He replied back. She broke off her hold, opened her door, and looked down shyly.
"Goodnight, Sasuke-kun."
"Sweet dreams, Sakura."
She smiled at him, and closed the door with a soft click.
Sakura felt her heart soar, and wanted to twirl around the room for all the sweet bliss she felt.
...Alas, she didn't, because of her ankle, so she merely collapsed upon her bed, hugged herself, and sang quietly.
I want to stand with you on a mountain
I want to bathe with you in the sea
I wanna lay like this forever
Until the sky falls down on me
Sasuke smiled as he heard her voice sing softly, and walked back to his room, happy for such a girl.
His mind returned to the present...
The static disappeared from the screen. Sasuke shot his eyes open, feeling his heart ache badly.
Oh, what he'd do to have her sweet kisses back...
The scene was a white table, some counter tops behind it. The midnight-haired teen guessed it was the kitchen. The enormous amount of food on the table looked pricy and delicious.
Room service. Sasuke summarized. The camera turned to Naruto, his mouth watering, his sleeping cap still on.
"It looks delicious!" He exclaimed. The kyubi boy grabbed a chair, sat down, grabbed a pair of chopsticks, and clapped his hands together.
"Itadikimasu!" He cheered, snapped the chopsticks, and began serving himself.
"Wait." The camera's holder ordered. It was Kakashi. The blond-haired boy snapped his head to him.
"What? What is it now?" He asked annoyed.
"You have to wait for the others first."
"But-!"
"Don't whine so early in the morning." A voice commanded. The angle turned to it, and there stood Sasuke, hair tussled and eyes tired. It seemed like Sasuke Uchiha wasn't a morning person.
"But I'm hungry, Kakashi-sensei." Naruto begged, ignoring his rival's complaint.
"Sasuke, where's Sakura? Did you eat her?" Kakashi asked, his tone becoming playful at the end. Sasuke shot him a glare and sat down at the table, his chin in his hands.
"She's brushing her teeth." He answered tiredly, closing his eyes.
"Hey! Hey, Kakashi-sensei, can I eat now?" Naruto asked loudly. Sasuke's brow furrowed.
"Please shut up." He commanded. The kyubi snapped his head to his rival.
"Hey, don't be mean, Sasuke-bastard!" He scolded loudly again. The older Uchiha-heir wondered if Naruto did that intentionally.
Sasuke put his hands over his ears, his eyes becoming irritated.
"God, I just woke up, you idiot! Can't you be quiet-?!"
"Sasuke-kun!"
The camera turned to the voice's owner. There stood Sakura still in her pajamas.
"What?" He asked a small tint of shame in his voice as he removed his hands from his ears. She placed her hand on her hips.
"Be nicer to your teammates! Naruto didn't do anything." She scolded him. Sasuke glared at her, but soon turned his gaze down.
"Hn."
"Oooh...Sasuke got in trouble...!" Naruto taunted. Sakura shot him a look and he soon shut up.
"...So can we eat now, Kakashi-sensei?" The kyubi boy asked meekly. Kakashi sighed an old man sigh.
"Yes." Naruto's face brightened and he began to eat cheerfully. The others following suite, but not so eagerly, the camera laying on top of the table.
"By the way, Naruto..." Kakashi asked, not touching his food, merely reading his book, "...didn't you say you had something to tell us? That's why the camera is on, y'know."
The blond-haired boy looked up confused. He finished chewing, swallowed, and grinned.
"Yeah! I did!" He remembered happily. You could notice Sasuke next to him rolling his eyes.
"Well?", Sakura asked, "What is it?"
"Drum roll!" He cheered and began tapping his chopsticks against the table. After three seconds he stopped, and grinned a Cheshire cat grin.
"A treasure hunt!"
The room went silent.
"...What?" Sasuke asked with an 'are-you-serious?" look on his face. The kyubi boy turned to his rival.
"A treasure hunt." He repeated.
"Naruto, explain." Sakura ordered, her voice thick with anger. She looked like she was about to throw her rice bowl at his head any second. The blue-eyed boy smiled at her.
"I heard it from pervy sage! He said that there's buried treasure here!" He explained, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a folded piece of paper, "See? He even gave me a map!"
"Naruto, let me see that map." Kakashi asked. Naruto gave it to his teacher's out-stretched hand. He unfolded it, and scanned the paper.
"Well? Is Naruto gypped yet?" Sasuke asked tiredly. Naruto snapped his head to him.
"Hey! What kind of question is that?"
"A rhetorical one."
"Why you-!"
"It's real." Kakashi piped up. The two rivals turned their heads to him, Sasuke with stunned eyes, Naruto with excited eyes.
"Really?" They asked in unison. The jounin glanced up to them.
"Yup. It's a genuine map."
Sakura grabbed the map from her teacher and scanned it.
"He's right. The directions aren't fake and it's pretty accurate." She confirmed. The sunshine-haired boy jumped from his chair.
"Oh, yes! I'm gonna be rich! Imagine how much ramen I could buy with this treasure! Maybe it's full of gold, or maybe diamonds!" He cheered and listed off what could've been the treasure. Sasuke snatched the map from her and scanned it with disbelieving eyes. His eyes widened, his face shocked when he realized that Naruto was right for once. Naruto wrapped his arms around Sasuke's neck.
"See, Sasuke! It isn't a fake! Now I'm gonna be rich! Isn't that wonderful?" He asked hyperly. Sasuke hung his head.
"Yeah...wonderful." He grumbled with a defeated voice. Sakura put a hand over her mouth and began to giggle.
"Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt to go on this hunt. I mean, it is our last day here." Kakashi okayed. Naruto grinned, and let go of Sasuke.
"Really, Kakashi-sensei?"
"Yes."
"Woo-hoo!" He cheered, and danced around the room. Sakura turned her pink-pearl head to Kakashi.
"But, Kakashi-sensei you said we could try out this hotel's hot springs." She pointed out. The silver-haired man turned his head to her.
"True. We can do that before we go treasure-hunting then."
"What? B-But the treasure hunt, Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto whined. Sakura shot him a look.
"Consider your teammate's needs, Naruto!" She yelled at him. The kyubi boy cringed and hung his head.
"O-Okay..." He caved in. Sakura smiled.
"Okay! I'm going to go get my bath stuff!" She cheered, got out of her chair, and ran out of the camera's view. Sasuke stood up, and walked out of the room, his head still hung low. You swear you could've heard him mutter "Impossible, the dropout's right."
Kakashi's hand outstretched to the camera. The screen turned static. Sasuke ran his fingers through his hair as he recalled the memory.
His mind drifted to a far-off memory...
Steam rushed into his face. Sasuke blinked for awhile till his eyes adjusted to the giant pool. A wall of bamboo stood to his right. The women's bath was on the other side.
Sasuke noticed that he was the only one in there.
Well, it is the morning...people usually use the bath during night. He hypothesized and dipped into the warm water. The Uchiha prodigy felt his muscles un-tense.
He leaned against the stone-bordered edge, and sighed. He had to admit, it was really relaxing.
Sasuke heard the door on the other side open. He guessed Sakura had entered the women's bath.
He had an out-going urge to call out to her, but suppressed it. He couldn't take his chances and look like a fool. Besides, he didn't know if she was the only one in there, or if it was her at all.
He smirked and closed his eyes.
Dear god, what has love done to me? He asked himself jokingly. He heard the water splash with the person's entering.
"Ahh..." A sigh sounded. Sasuke noticed it as Sakura's.
He seriously wanted to call out to her, just to get her to make that surprised look on her face, even if he couldn't see it. He bit his lower lip.
Don't do it... He told himself. He opened his mouth, then closed it. Don't.
The midnight-haired boy rolled his eyes. Oh, screw it.
Sasuke smiled and began to call her name, but the door to the men's bath opened. He quickly closed his mouth, and stopped smiling.
Naruto quickly got into the bath, his arms crossed and his face a scowl. Sasuke cocked an eyebrow at him. Should he even ask? Oh, why should he care?
Just ask. His heart told him. The heart not only helped in love, but friendship as well.
"What's wrong with you?" He asked. Naruto glanced to him with anger, and pouted.
"The treasure hunt..." He mumbled.
"Still stuck on that?"
"Yes! I mean, I could be rich, but instead I have to soak in a bath!" He whined.
"Naruto! Be patient! We are going, but we're going to do what I want first!" A voice from the other side yelled. It was Sakura.
"S-Sakura-chan!" Naruto exclaimed, a worried look on his face.
"Yes?"
"U-Um...this is a really nice bath, don't you think?" The kyubi boy asked, trying to regain some honor with the girl.
"Yup! It's really relaxing! See, Naruto-kun, this isn't a waste of time!" She convinced him with a cheery voice. The blue-eyed boy smiled, a shade of pink covering his cheeks. He looked back to Sasuke. The Uchiha prodigy cocked an eyebrow at his rival.
"She called me 'kun'!" He whispered to him excitedly. Sasuke rolled his eyes at him. It irked him a little, but he shrugged it off.
Naruto couldn't stand a chance winning a heart that was already his.
The door to the men's bath opened again, and in walked Kakashi, a towel on his face, and his headband still on. He dipped into the waters and crossed his arms. Sasuke ignored him.
"Hey! Sakura-chan! Sakura-chan!" Naruto called out excitedly.
"What?" She asked from the other side. The kyubi boy grinned his cheeks reddening.
"This bath would be better if I got to take it with you!" He cheered. Sasuke snapped his head to him, a look of kill in his eyes.
What did you just say?! If you're wondering, that's my girlfriend you're talking to. So if you ever talk like that to her again, I'll kill you! Sasuke told his rival off in his mind. He seriously wanted to tell that to him. No, he couldn't. Is it alright to punch a guy in the throat if he acts crude to the woman you love?
Sasuke calmed himself. He's just messing around...Don't let it get to you.
The Uchiha prodigy ran his fingers through his hair. Besides, Sakura's going to chew his ear out right now. She wouldn't take that kind of crap.
He almost smiled at himself for getting to know her so well.
"You know what would make my bath better, Naruto?" Sakura asked, ignoring Naruto's antics. Naruto cocked an eyebrow.
"What's that?"
The pink-pearl haired giggled. Sasuke became confused by her actions.
"If I could take my bath with Sasuke-kun!"
And Sasuke blushed. Not just a small one either, but one red enough you could identify it in the steam. Sasuke snapped his head to Naruto and Kakashi.
Yup. They were staring at him, wide-eyed.
"Sasuke, are you...blushing?" The blond-haired boy asked with amazement. Sasuke brought his hand to his face.
"N-No...!" He denied. Bathe with Sakura? No! Out of the question!
"Sasuke, you're blushing." Kakashi stated. Sasuke glared at him.
"No, I'm not. It's...It's just really hot in here." He denied again. Sasuke thought it over. An image of him and Sakura bathing together came into his mind. She, pressed against him, reaching for a kiss...
...and then he got a nosebleed.
Sasuke's eyes widened, as he brought his hand up to his nose. Too late, the other two had seen.
"Sasuke...you just had a nosebleed...didn't you?" Kakashi pointed out. The midnight-haired boy glanced to the door out of there.
"...I'm done here." He announced, rising from the bath, and leaving the place. He could hear Naruto's laughs on the other side of the door.
"Oh my god! Did you see that? He totally had a perverted thought, right there! I swear!" He pointed out. Sasuke scowled as he walked to the changing area, only wearing a towel. Naruto won't let me hear the end of this... He thought sourly.
So after Sasuke got dressed, and returned to his room, waiting for the others, and trying to calm his mind down from the images that caused nosebleeds, a knock was heard at his door. The Uchiha prodigy turned his head to it, sitting on his bed, his head in his hands.
"Who is it?" He asked with an irritated voice. Dear God, if it was Naruto...
"It's Sakura. Can I come in?"
Sasuke felt his heart jump.
"Y-Yes..."
The door clicked open, and there stood Sakura wearing a red shirt with slightly puffy sleeves, and short denim shorts. Her hair was tied up in a red scrunchie. She smiled and closed the door behind her.
"Are you okay?" The pink-pearl haired girl asked sweetly. Sasuke turned his head away from her, his back to her.
"...What do you think?" He asked in a grumpy tone. She's probably angry at me for thinking of her that way...God, I feel like a jerk. He scolded himself. Sakura walked over to him, placing a hand on his back.
"Do you still feel hot? If the bath was too much for you, Sasuke, you could've told me..." She reassured sweetly. Sasuke looked up to her with a confused gleam in his eyes.
Huh?
"Wh-What do you mean...?"
Sakura blinked for awhile. "The heat was too much for you right? That's why you got a nosebleed, isn't it?" She explained.
She...She thinks I got a nosebleed because of the temperature? Not because of that image?
Sasuke almost breathed a sigh of relief.
Thank God...she doesn't know.
However, Sasuke's heart would have none of that.
Tell her. She has a right to know. It ordered him. Sasuke looked down and glared at nothing in particular, just out of anger.
No. You want her to hate me?
The worst part in a relationship is lying, Sasuke.
I'm not lying. I'm just hiding the truth.
Sasuke!
Fine! I'll tell her, but if she breaks up with me, all the blame's on you.
"S-Sakura..." He called out weakly.
"Yeah?"
"...I...I didn't get a nosebleed because of the heat."
"Really? Then how did-?"
"You know when you suggested you would like to bathe with me?"
"Yeah..." She responded. After three seconds, her eyes widened and her cheeks grew red. Sakura was a smart girl, she could figure it out quick without him telling her.
"Oh my god..." She whispered and covered her mouth with one of her hands. Sasuke averted his gaze and looked away from her, a blush flavoring his cheeks. Where was a hole to crawl into when you needed one?
"...I'm sorry..." He whispered. He looked like a scolded dog. Sasuke prepared himself for the worst.
A lecture? He could handle it. A slap? He'd survive.
A breakup?
He wasn't so sure if he could live through that.
Then, the thing Sasuke least likely thought he'd receive, happened.
She laughed.
The midnight-eyed boy looked to her as if she was crazy.
"Sakura...?" He called out confused. The emerald-eyed girl stopped and smiled at him, her hand returning to her side.
"I didn't think it was possible." She told him, still trying to suppress fits of giggles.
"What do you mean?"
She grinned a Cheshire cat grin.
"I didn't think it was possible that the great 'Sasuke of the prestigious Uchiha clan' could have such thoughts..." She told him mischievously. The Uchiha prodigy felt his cheeks heat more. He looked away from her.
"Oh, shut up..." He mumbled. He would've preferred the slap better than the teasing. Sakura sat next to him.
"So? Was I taunting you with a 'come hither' look only wearing a towel? Or was I begging for you to scrub my back, wearing nothing at all?" She asked playfully. Sasuke put his hands on his face, and laid down on the bed with a thud.
"I don't want those images in my head!" He whined jokingly. He suppressed a chuckle. God, how did this girl make him act so? Was it love? Or that care-free charm of hers?
Sakura smiled and fell back with him. The two laid next to each other, his arms falling to his sides.
"I'm surprised you're not mad." He spoke after a few minutes of comfortable silence. The intelligent kunoichi turned her head to him.
"You're a guy. It was going to happen sooner or later." She told him bluntly.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"What it sounds like."
Sasuke felt angry with her, but gave up. He would be going into a decided battle if he argued with her.
Besides, she had one nasty temper if you provoked her.
"So you're not going to break up with me?" He asked silently. He wanted to make sure.
"Of course not, Sasuke-kun. I love you." She whispered. Sasuke glanced to her and felt his cheeks heat. She smiled.
"I love that expression of yours."
"What expression?"
"The 'I'm-so-in-love-with-this-girl-but-I-won't-tell-her-because-I've-got-a-lot-of-pride' expression." She shrugged. Sasuke laughed.
"You name my expressions?" He asked and looked at her as if she was crazy. She pulled an innocent face at him.
"I name Ino's, too." She added sweetly. The midnight-eyed boy chuckled.
"Oh really? What have you named my expressions then?" He dared to ask. Sakura looked ahead, deep in thought.
"Well, when you get angry I call it the 'Get-outta-my-way-or-I'll-snap-your-neck', when you look annoyed that's called 'Naruto-shut-up-now', when you look stubborn it's named 'I'm-going-to-be-difficult-about-this-so-you-better-give-up-now'..." She listed. Sasuke fought back a grin.
"You are so weird." He shook his head.
"I'd like to call it 'creative'." Sakura replied proudly. Sasuke rolled his eyes at her response.
"This is the 'Stop-wasting-my-time-I've-got-training-to-do' expression." She noted.
"Oh, would you stop."
"I could go on forever, Sasuke."
The Uchiha prodigy glanced to her.
"What's the name of the expression of when I'm sad?" He asked silently. Sakura smiled a sad smile.
"That one doesn't have a name. It's more of a signal for me to hurry up and comfort you." She whispered sweetly. Sasuke blinked for awhile. He reached over and grabbed her hand. She squeezed his hand back.
He looked away from her, a blush flavoring his cheeks again.
"Say it." Sakura ordered him playfully. Sasuke closed his eyes, a smile on his face.
"I love you." He whispered. Sakura reached over and kissed him on the cheek as he opened his eyes.
"This is the 'Why-didn't-I-fall-in-love-sooner?' expression."
"Shut up, Sakura." Sasuke told her lightly and kissed her, his hand on her cheek. When he parted, the two looked at each other with immense love.
Then, there was a knocking at the door.
The two sat up in shock, looking at the door horrified.
"Sasuke! Are you ready yet? We have to go on the treasure hunt!" Naruto called from the other side. Sasuke scowled. I'll kill him...He thought sourly.
"I'm almost ready." He yelled back.
"By the way, have you seen Sakura-chan? I can't find her."
The two lovers looked to each other with uncertainty.
"No, I haven't."
"You sure?"
"Yes." The midnight-haired boy replied through gritted teeth.
"Well, okay."
Sasuke waited until he heard the footsteps leave down the hallway. Why hadn't he noticed his chakra level when he arrived?
Maybe he was too into the moment.
The emerald-eyed girl looked to him meekly. "Guess I have to go." She whispered.
"Yeah." He responded sadly. Time was too short, he sweared...
Sakura stood up and Sasuke stood up with her. She began to walk off, until Sasuke caught her hand. She snapped her head to him.
"Sasuke-kun?"
He pulled her toward him, closing her into a hug. Sakura widened her eyes.
"I love you." He whispered. The pink-pearl haired girl smiled warmly. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her head into his chest.
"I love you, as well."
After a few minutes, Sasuke finally let her go. She smiled at him.
"See you soon, Sasuke." She cheered and walked toward the door. Before she turned the doorknob, Sasuke called out her name. She turned her pink head to him.
"Forever." He told her. Sakura nodded.
"Forever."
Then she left. Again on that day, Sasuke asked himself what 'love' had done to him.
His mind returned to the present...
The screen clicked on showing the students of Team 7 looking at the map together.
"Apparently, " Sakura began, " we're supposed to start at the beach."
Naruto nodded and began walking towards the shore, the others following. Naruto hummed happily as he walked. He was obviously eager to get his treasure.
"Stop." Sasuke commanded the map in one hand, a compass in the other. His teammates stopped and spun around, the team already on the shore.
"What is it, Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asked lightly. The Uchiha-heir took his sweet time answering as he looked to the compass and to the map, squinting his eyes now and then.
"This is the starting point." He explained. Naruto grinned.
"Yeah! We're one step closer!" He exclaimed. Sasuke looked up to them.
"We're supposed to walk northeast until we reach a line of palm trees." He continued, ignoring Naruto's cheer.
"Okay then! Let's go team!" The kyubi boy ordered and began to run. Sasuke glared at him.
"You're headed northwest, you dropout!" He yelled to his rival. Sakura covered her mouth and giggled.
So the search went on as it did, the team following the map's directions and a conversation between Naruto and Sakura on what the treasure could be, and what they could possibly buy with the treasure. Sakura would attempt to get Sasuke to join in, but he proved much to difficult and she eventually gave up.
Then, the map proved to be a real puzzle.
"Strange." The camera's holder noted. It was Kakashi.
"What is?" Naruto asked. The camera shifted down a little, showing a nice view of the forest ground.
"The map. There's something wrong with it." He explained in his passive voice.
"What's wrong?" Naruto asked, his voice laced with worry.
"Look, " He began, some paper shuffling being heard. " it splits. The map says to go two ways here."
"Why?" Sakura asked puzzled. The sound of snatched paper was heard.
"It seems to be fine. They both lead to the "treasure" anyway." Sasuke's voice reassured.
"So which one do we take?" Naruto asked.
"We could split up." Sakura suggested.
"That's a wonderful idea, Sakura. Alright, Sasuke and I will take one path, and you and Naruto will take the other. Understand?" Kakashi commanded.
"Wait, why can't Sakura go with me?" Sasuke blurted out fastly, his voice sounding a bit offended. There was a pause, the camera still angled at the forest floor.
"...Sasuke, do you want to go with Sakura?" Kakashi asked, curiosity getting the best of him.
"...No."
"Then why ask? Is there a reason you want to go with her?" Kakashi continued to ask; He put too much emphasis on that 'reason'.
"...I'm just saying is that she'd be more safer with me than Naruto. I mean, she does have an injured ankle..." He mumbled. The older Uchiha-heir raised an eyebrow.
Nice save, Romeo...He mocked his younger self.
"H-Hey! What's that mean, Sasuke-teme?!" Naruto yelled.
"What do you think, dobe?" Sasuke asked smugly, his flustered excuses gone.
"I'll be fine." Sakura's voice piped up. A moment of silence past.
"What?" Naruto asked dumbly.
"I'll be fine traveling with Naruto, Kakashi-sensei. Okay, Sasuke-kun?" She asked sweetly. The older Uchiha prodigy remembered he felt hurt, but decided to agree. He might've been hinting that they were more then teammates anyway if he went with her.
"Hn." Sasuke replied.
"Then it's decided. You and Naruto take this path, and me and Sasuke will take the other." Kakashi ordered.
"Okay." They all replied in unison.
"Kakashi-sensei! Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto called.
"Hm?"
"Can me and Sakura-chan have the camera?"
"I don't see why not."
"Yay!"
The angle viewed up, a worm's eye view of Kakashi's face.
"Oops..." The jounin uttered a slight surprised look in his eye.
"What is it?" Sakura asked innocently.
"I left the camera on."
"Kakashi-sensei, you're so old!" Naruto taunted lightly. Kakashi ignored him, and the scene turned to static.
The static disappeared and a scene of Sakura looking at a map came into view.
"Apparently, we're supposed to look for a large rock with a 'U' carved on it." She spoke and looked to the camera.
"Right! Rock named 'U'. Got it!" Naruto okayed. He was the one holding the camera. Sakura began limping ahead, turning her head this way and that looking for the boulder. The camera moved as well, following her, the crunch of leaves being the dominant sound.
"Don't you think it was nice of Sasuke-kun to give us the map?" Sakura asked sweetly.
"You kidding me? He was all smug saying 'I've already memorized our route, you guys can keep the map.' I bet he was just trying to look cool...He's probably already forgotten it..." Naruto protested with an irritated voice. Sakura frowned at him.
"Why do you hate Sasuke-kun so much?" She asked with a bothered tone.
"Why do you like him so much?" Naruto shot back. Sakura's emerald eyes widened a bit and her cheeks became red. She averted her gaze.
"U-Um...Oh look! It's the boulder!" She exclaimed changing the subject. She ran out of the view of the camera. The angle chased after her, shaking rapidly. It stopped at a stone's wide edge, a 'U' was roughly carved on it.
"N-Now let's see what we're supposed to look for next...W-We're supposed to go west until we reach a crescent-shaped dune. Well, c'mon Naruto, let's go." She announced hurriedly, and began walking, a blush still on her face.
"Sakura-chan...that's east." Naruto told her. Sakura stopped and turned toward him.
"O-Oh...sorry about that." She laughed nervously and walked a different way. The camera followed her.
"Sakura-chan, you never answered my question." Naruto pointed out curtly. The camera view was now right next to her, showing her face in profile. She was looking down, shyly, a blush flavoring her face, quickly glancing every now and then to the camera.
"What do you mean...?" She asked rhetorically.
"You know what I mean. C'mon, tell me...", Naruto began, his voice becoming playful, "...what is it that you like so much about Sasuke-bastard?"
Sakura gulped.
"P-Promise you won't tell him?" She whispered, now turning her head to him, a shy look on her face.
"Cross my heart and hope to die." Naruto confirmed. The older Sasuke suppressed a smile. It would be totally pointless if he kept it a secret if he was video-taping it.
"So what is it? Is it 'cause he's from a prestigious clan? Or is it 'cause he's 'good-looking'?" Naruto guessed. Sakura shook her head.
"It's nothing like that." She denied.
"But I thought that's what all you fangirls liked about him." Naruto said confusedly. Sakura glared at him.
"What? Now I'm some lousy fangirl?!" She asked angrily. The camera shook.
"N-No! I-I-I was just, um, uh-!"
Sakura raised her hand and it quickly disappeared from the screen, a harsh thud was heard, and the camera now showed a sideways view of the forest ground.
"O-Ow..." Naruto grunted weakly. Sasuke suppressed a laugh. Sakura, always with her short temper...
The camera got up slowly, now showing Sakura with her hands on her hips, a look of anger on her face.
"That hurt Sakura-chan..." Naruto whined. The pink-pearl haired girl crossed her arms.
"You deserved it." She told him curtly, and began walking ahead. The view followed her.
"Okay, okay. I'm sorry I called you a fangirl." Naruto apologized. Sakura glanced to him.
"Apology accepted." She replied curtly.
"So what's the real reason you like Sasuke-bastard?" Naruto asked again. Sakura's face got pink and she smiled.
"He's...He's very inspiring. He's confident, and courageous..." She listed shyly.
"So? I'm confident, too." Naruto pointed out in an annoyed tone. Sakura glanced to him with soft eyes. Sasuke noticed she had that look in her eyes when she was in love. It made his heart swell.
"He's very gentle, too. And sweet." She added softly.
"What Sasuke are you talking about? I've never seen him be 'sweet'."
Sakura shook her head.
"If...If you saw the real him you'd understand."
"But I don't. I still don't see why you like him."
"It's love, Naruto. Only the person with the feelings can truly understand." She told him sweetly.
A moment of silence filled the air. Sasuke felt his heart ache. He craved for her touch and love now.
"...Sakura-chan, I-"
"Look! It's the dune!" She exclaimed excitedly, cutting off Naruto. The camera turned to a dune, in, yes, a crescent-shape.
"Now let's see...What else are we to look for..." Sakura wondered as she checked the map. She hummed happily. It made Sasuke smile.
"Sakura-chan..." Naruto called out.
"Okay! We're supposed to go look for a group of stones in the formation of an 'X', due north. That's where the treasure is supposed to be. C'mon, Naruto, we're almost done!" She cheered.
"Sakura-chan..." Naruto called out once again. She looked to him.
"Hm? What is it?" She asked with a smile.
"...Nothing. Never mind. Let's go get that treasure!" He cheered with her. She grinned.
"That's the spirit!" She replied, and walked ahead. Naruto turned the camera toward him. His face looked tired.
"Geez...now that she's got her precious 'Sasuke-kun' on her mind, she's all happy and giddy. Gosh, that guy annoys me..." He complained. Sasuke raised an eyebrow.
Same here, Naruto... He thought bitterly. The camera turned ahead, and chased after the emerald-eyed girl. Sasuke picked up the remote and pressed 'Pause'. He brought his knees to his chest, laid his chin upon it, and closed his eyes.
His mind drifted to a far-off memory...
"To the northeast...we're supposed to go to an opening with...two hibiscus bushes on the...right, and one palm tree on the left." Sasuke recalled, opened his eyes, and looked to Kakashi. The jounin nodded his head to his student.
"Okay. Shall we go?" He asked lightly.
"Hn." Sasuke replied, and began walking to their destination.
"Sasuke." Kakashi called. The midnight-haired boy snapped his head to him.
"What?" He asked. Sasuke wasn't prepared to start up a conversation with his sensei. He was too worried of leaving Sakura with Naruto.
Who knows what that idiot will do. Sakura could probably protect herself, but with that injured ankle... He reminded himself nervously. I mean, he continued, what was Kakashi thinking anyway?
Sasuke's mind came back to the moment at time. He would ask his teacher that later.
"Why did you want to go with Sakura so badly?" Kakashi asked, curiosity lacing his voice. Sasuke looked away from him.
"It's not that I want to go with her; It's just that I think she would be safer with me."
It was Sasuke's fake excuse. He was going to stay by it.
"Sasuke, is Sakura..." Kakashi trailed off.
" 'Is Sakura...' what?" Sasuke pressed. Was Kakashi smiling under his mask, or was that just him?
"Is Sakura...the dream girl? The one you went on a date with?" Kakashi asked mischievously. Sasuke froze.
Oh, this guy was smart.
"No." Sasuke denied. How'd he find out? Was it because of how over-protective he was being of Sakura? Was it because of their date last night? Was it because he was wearing the seashell bracelet Sakura made him?
Sasuke shooed away all those reasons. It didn't matter. What did matter, however, was that he knew...
...or, he thought he knew.
"Really? I thought it was her...I mean, she's the most possible candidate..." Kakashi flustered. Sasuke began to smirk.
"Then who is it?"
The smirk left Sasuke's face, now replaced with a frown. Man, was this guy persistent.
"That's none of your business." The Uchiha-heir told him flatly. Here, he thought his sensei had gotten over that...
"Is it Hinata?" Kakashi asked, not willing to give up.
"No."
Hell, I don't think I've ever even talked to her...Sasuke commentated with an 'are-you-serious?' tone.
"Is it Tenten?"
"No."
Sure, she's powerful, but so what? She's much too headstrong...Sasuke thought wearily.
"Is it Ino?"
"Hell no."
Are you kidding me? She's loud, rude, and annoying. Sasuke complained with an irritated tone.
"Is it Temari?"
"No."
She tried to kill me once. And she's way too overbearing...Sasuke commentated sourly.
"Then who is it? I can't think of any other girls who isn't a fan of yours..." Kakashi wondered. Sasuke raised an eyebrow at him.
I'm pretty sure Ino's a fangirl... He corrected his teacher.
"I told you it doesn't concern you. So leave the topic alone." Sasuke told him flatly. He noticed the hibiscus bushes and the palm tree. He closed his eyes and tried to remember where to go next. What was it again? To the east was supposed to be...two coconut trees intertwined. That's right. That was where they were headed.
Sasuke looked around him, walked to the east, and ignored Kakashi.
"...Can you at least tell me how she's like?" The jounin asked gently. Sasuke suppressed a sigh.
"Then will you leave me alone?" He asked in an irritated tone.
"Yes." Kakashi agreed in a cheery tone. Sasuke looked at him with a raised eyebrow. It wouldn't hurt...I mean, if I just describe her personality...
"She's...very sweet. She has a bit of a short temper, as well as a stubborn streak, but she's the kindest girl I know. She's very smart and practical. She...she makes me smile, as well." He explained quietly. Sasuke cursed himself over and over. That is as much as Kakashi is getting out of me. I swear, getting me to say such weird things...He cursed love again; Knowing he could never truly hate the beautiful emotion.
"...Are you still with her?" Kakashi pressed.
"Hn."
"She rejected you, didn't she?"
"No." Sasuke blurted out without thinking. He cursed himself once again. He knew what Kakashi would say now...
"Then...you are still with her." Kakashi concluded with a playful tone. Sasuke responded with silence.
"Sasuke...is she your girlfriend?" The silver-haired nin asked again. Sasuke stayed silent. He decided he would stay silent, ignoring Kakashi's inquiries.
I won't slip up again. He assured himself.
"Let's assume she is." Kakashi continued. Sasuke scowled, but still looked around for the landmark.
"My guess is she has...beautiful brown eyes?"
"They're green." Sasuke blurted out again. He unconsciously brought his hand to his mouth. Sasuke cussed over and over in his mind.
"Ah, so we have a lead." Kakashi said slyly. Sasuke suppressed the urge to punch him, knowing very well his teacher would block it.
"Look, we're supposed to look for a pair of intertwined trees. Be alert." He snapped.
"Isn't that it over there?" Kakashi pointed out. Sasuke snapped his head in the direction he was pointing. There were a pair of trees, planted closely, intertwined and reaching high. Sasuke walked over to it and looked up.
"...It has to be coconut trees." He added. Kakashi knocked on one of the trunks. Something quickly hit Kakashi in the head.
"Ah!" He exclaimed, a coconut landing on the ground next to him. Sasuke suppressed a smirk.
"Well, I think I've clarified that." Kakashi commentated rubbing his head.
"Are you sure you're a jounin?" Sasuke asked smugly. Kakashi glanced to him, and kicked the other trunk. A coconut hit Sasuke on the head.
"Ow!" He exclaimed. Sasuke looked to the item that attacked him, and quickly snapped his head to Kakashi, glaring at him with irritated eyes. Kakashi had a bright look in his eye.
"Now, what's next?" He asked not jokingly, but friendly. Sasuke suddenly felt uneasy. Why though? It was just Kakashi, poking fun at him and asking questions about his private life...
Oh, that's why. It's because he was acting like the caring father Sasuke never had.
Sasuke shooed away this train of thought, and closed his eyes.
"We're to go...north. There should be a formation of rocks in the shape of an 'X'. That's where the treasure is." He retold his teacher, opening his eyes as he did. Kakashi nodded.
"Then let's go." He ordered in that ex-Anbu voice, looked to the sun, and headed in a direction. Sasuke followed quietly.
He felt a little sad that Kakashi had gotten serious, but shook it off.
He had a father. A father to avenge. He told himself over and over that no one could properly take his parent's places.
He was fine with the originals...it's just that they were taken from him.
He would get revenge for that.
Sasuke looked to Kakashi's back.
He's only my sensei. He is only meant to train me and make me stronger. He will never take the place of father... Sasuke told himself.
But father is gone, Sasuke. Someone has to take his place. Teach you life's lessons and be that source of unrequired care. Kakashi has done that for you; Remember when he told you what love was, or when he helped you prepare for your first date? He's in your life for a reason. His heart told him softly. Sasuke shifted his gaze down.
He's in your life to give you strength and nothing more. Don't forget your goal, Sasuke! His mind yelled at him. Sasuke sighed heavily.
"Sasuke, are you alright?" Kakashi asked worryingly. Sasuke shot his head up and looked at Kakashi, who stopped walking and was turned to him.
He had a look of concern in his eye. Sasuke smiled a small smile.
"...Yeah." He whispered. Kakashi smiled under his mask.
"That's good."
Sasuke felt a funny feeling. Was this the feeling you have after receiving paternal love?
Maybe. Or maybe, he was just thinking too much into it.
His mind returned to the present...
Yes, that was a long time ago. Kakashi was like a father. Naruto? His brother. That funny and rivaling brother he should of had.
Sakura? The girl next door he would fall in love with.
That was how his life was meant to be. With new people filling in the roles, his life would've still been able to go on.
He wouldn't of been lonely.
But that's the past. He reminded himself, opened his eyes, picked up the remote, pressed 'Fast Forward' until it showed the team together at last, pressed 'Play', and continued to watch.
The scene was fixed on the ground where a small group of stones formed an 'X' shape.
"So, this is where the treasure is?" Sakura asked. She was holding the camera. Naruto walked into the scene, carrying a shovel in his hand.
"It's a good thing I brought that scroll with the tools sealed in, isn't it, Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto grinned. Kakashi walked toward him, his book in his hand.
"Even though I was the one who had to seal them for you? I still remember that day when you came to me, carrying two shovels and a scroll asking for my help..." Kakashi responded in fake absent-mindedness. Naruto frowned.
"Hey! At least I came prepared..." He muttered.
"Hey, dropout, quit talking and hurry up." Sasuke ordered flatly. The camera turned to him, his shovel already in the ground.
"Patience is a virtue, Sasuke-bastard." Naruto shot back. Sasuke glared at him.
"And silence is golden, Naruto-idiot." Sasuke snarled. The two glared at each other in utter dislike.
"Naruto, Sasuke." Kakashi called, walking toward the camera, and then walking to the side, off-screen. A plop was heard and the camera turned to him. He was sitting on the ground, next to Sakura. The camera turned to the two rivals who looked up to Kakashi.
"Yeah, Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked.
"Whoever digs up the treasure first...may have it." He told them boredly. Their eyes widened, and Naruto grinned widely. He began digging at a rapid pace.
"Oh yeah! Talk about motivation!" Naruto cheered. Sasuke looked up to him, scowled, and began digging again.
The camera turned to Kakashi.
"Hey, Kakashi-sensei." Sakura called out lightly.
"Hm?" He responded, not looking up from his book.
"What do you suppose is in the treasure?" She asked, curiosity lacing her voice. Kakashi turned his head to her.
"Well...I'd have to say that...what you guys will find...will probably disappoint you." He concluded, and shrugged.
"Why do you say that?" She asked skeptically.
"You'll see."
He left it at that.
So a few minutes passed, when finally a loud 'thunk' was heard. The two rivals froze, and looked up to each other with widened eyes.
They had dug themselves a fairly decent hole that came up to their hips.
"I think that's the treasure." Naruto whispered. Sasuke gave him an 'are-you-serious?' look.
"As if I didn't already know that." He retorted. Naruto glared at him and opened his mouth for a come back.
"Sasuke, Naruto, what're you waiting for? Hurry up and bring up the treasure." Kakashi called out before Naruto could say anything. The blond boy closed his mouth and snapped his head to Kakashi.
"Okay." He agreed. The two finally unearthed the treasure, and heaved it out of the hole. It was your typical treasure chest; Old and worn from age, and seeming to scream 'Open me!'.
The camera quickly rushed to the chest. Some footsteps were heard behind. Sasuke guessed it was Kakashi taking his sweet time to get there.
"It has a lock." Sakura pointed out. Naruto crouched down next to the chest, took the lock in his hand, and looked it over. He smiled.
"It looks breakable. Sasuke-bastard, hand me that shovel." Naruto asked. The camera turned to Sasuke with a look of irritance on his face. He reached down, and handed the shovel to his rival.
"There's a word called 'please', Naruto." He snapped.
"Yeah, yeah..." Naruto mumbled. He raised the metal part of the shovel, struck the lock, struck it a second time, and the lock finally gave way and broke. Naruto grinned.
"Now! To open the treasure!" He cheered. The team gathered around him and the chest, eager to see the reward for their work.
A sound of stressed metal was heard as Naruto opened the lid. Inside sat piles upon piles of golden coins. Naruto's eyes widened and his mouth turned into an opened mouthed smile. He began laughing.
"Oh yes! Oh yes! I'm rich! Who knows how much ramen I could buy with this!" He cheered, and began jumping up and down. Sakura put down the camera, tilted upwards (a full view of the team), and ran her hands through the coins. She smiled giddily.
"There's so much...Oh my god..." She whispered excitedly. Sasuke just stood there with widened eyes, an impressed look on his face. Suddenly his face became skeptical, he crouched down, and examined the chest's side.
"Hey..." He spoke. Sakura looked up to him, a look of pure ecstasy on her face.
"What? What is it, Sasuke-kun?" She asked breathlessly, still a bit excited. He glanced up to her.
"This has my clan's symbol on it." He told her flatly. Sakura soon wiped the look of glee on her face, and replaced it with confusion.
"Really?" She asked skeptically.
"Really. Just look for yourself." He reassured her, and turned the chest for her to see. Sakura looked at the side, and looked stunned.
"You're...You're right." She confirmed true. Sakura looked up to the now dancing Naruto.
"Hey, Naruto! Look here!" She called. Naruto stopped his dancing and looked to his teammate.
"What? What is it?" He asked happily. Sakura motioned to the right side of the chest.
"This has the Uchiha clan's crest on it." She told him. Naruto furrowed his brow.
"No way. Let me see." He denied, ran over to them, crouched down, and looked. He raised his head, his back to the camera.
"I-It does! But what's that supposed to mean?" He asked worryingly.
"It means...this belongs to my clan." Sasuke told him boredly, and leaned back, his hands supporting him. Naruto turned his head to him.
"So?" He asked impatiently. Sakura sat down, her legs to her sides.
"It means, the treasure is all Sasuke-kun's since he's the last of his clan." She informed him with disappointment. The kyubi boy snapped his head to Sakura, a look of dread on his face.
"You've got to be kidding me." He denied weakly. Sakura closed her eyes and sighed.
"No...I'm not. That means none of us gets the treasure...it's all his." She explained in a half-whining tone. Naruto snapped his head to Sasuke.
"Not unless he shares it...right, Sasuke?" He reassured in a shaky attempt of a friendly tone. Sasuke glanced to him.
"You're not getting any, if that's what you think." He told him smugly. Naruto glared at him.
"H-Hey! That's mean! I mean, who was it that brought the treasure map?! If it wasn't for me-!" Naruto argued. Sasuke ignored him and looked directly at Sakura.
"I'll give you some if you want, Sakura." He offered gently, his eyes softening. Sakura widened her eyes at Sasuke and smiled meekly. A red tint colored her cheeks.
"U-Um...th-that's sweet of you, S-Sasuke-kun..." She complimented and placed her gaze at the ground. She shyly brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, and glanced up to him every now and then. Naruto soon stopped his yelling and looked between the two rapidly. He soon rested his gaze on Sasuke, albeit an angry one.
"Hey! Now you're getting all sweet on Sakura-chan?! How dare you!" Naruto pointed out in an offended tone. Sasuke's eyes became hard again and he glared at Naruto.
"No. I'm just giving her some of the treasure. You don't get any because you're too loud." He retorted. Naruto raised an eyebrow at Sasuke.
"Hey, Sakura-chan gets loud, too..." He excused. Sakura snapped her head up a look of kill in her eyes.
"Naruto! How dare you! I should smack you upside the head for that!" She threatened, raising a fist for a hit. Naruto scooted away from her scaredly.
"S-Sakura-chan, I-I-I didn't mean it like that...I just...um..." The blond haired boy excused in a frightened tone. Sakura fulfilled her threat, and whacked Naruto on the cheek. Naruto fell down with a thud.
"Ow..." He groaned. Sakura crossed her arms and legs.
"Hmph. Serves you right." She said in a snob-like voice. Kakashi walked over to the treasure chest and retrieved one of it's coins. He looked it over and closed his eye.
"It looks like this is no one's treasure." He spoke tiredly. His three students turned their heads to him.
"Wh-What do you mean, Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked, worry in his voice. Kakashi sighed, reopened his eye, took the coin in between both of his hands, and snapped it in half. Sakura and Naruto gasped in unison.
"It's fake. It looks like this is made out of...copper. Not worth much, unless you want to melt the metal and make weapons out of it, but then again copper weapons are very lousy in battle. In other words, Sasuke you own a chest full of decoys." Kakashi explained in a dry voice. Sasuke looked to the treasure chest, and back to Kakashi.
"How did you know this?" He asked fiercely, a little annoyed at the new revelation. Kakashi tossed the broken coin pieces into the chest, reached into his back pocket, and took out the map. He opened it, scanned it's contents, and pointed to one of the locations.
"Here. You see the stone carved with a 'U'? That stands for 'Uchiha'. And the way it splits? That's meant to confuse the enemy, and make them give up." Kakashi pointed out.
"So? Why would my clan send people on a wild goose chase?" Sasuke pestered. Kakashi glanced to him.
"I've heard of this during the Great Ninja wars. There was supposedly a weapons storehouse for the Uchiha's around here, and to lead the enemy off, they buried a fake treasure here. The time it would take to find it...and the split path...was probably very efficient. I heard they sold these maps to anyone who was interested. I didn't think one would be around for so long..." Kakashi explained in an indifferent tone. Sakura raised her eyebrows.
"That's clever." She complimented. Kakashi shrugged his shoulders, and threw the map into the treasure chest.
"Well, that was a fruitless quest. It's getting dark. Let's go back to the hotel and pack." He instructed and began walking off. Naruto sat up, and reached for the camera.
"Jeez." You could hear him say before the screen turned to static.
Sasuke fast-forwarded through the static, knowing the next scene to come.
The static disappeared. It showed the backs of Kakashi, Naruto, and Sasuke, all with their luggage, heading back to Konoha.
"Despite that lousy treasure hunt, this was actually kind of fun, wasn't it, Sasuke-bastard?" Naruto asked cheerfully. Sasuke turned his head to him, a glint of embarrassment in his eyes.
"I guess. I would be happier knowing I was training these last few days." He commentated in an irritated tone. Naruto sighed a sarcastic sigh.
"Jeez, Sasuke...are you never content with what you get?" The blond boy asked tiredly. Sasuke turned his head away from his rival.
"Hmph." He replied. The older Sasuke stared on with hardened eyes.
My friend...
"Naruto's right. This was actually great relaxation. Remember, Sasuke, a great warrior must always rest when he needs to." Kakashi added. Sasuke glared at the TV screen.
My teacher...
"Sasuke-kun." Sakura called out sweetly. He turned back to look at her; She was holding the camera.
"Hm?" He questioned.
"...I think you enjoyed the trip. You just don't want to admit it...right?" She asked playfully. Sasuke's cheeks pinkened and he turned his head away.
The older Uchiha-heir frowned at the video.
My love...
The camera turned to Sakura, a smile on her face, her eyes softly nostalgic.
"I...want to put some last words before we end this day." She whispered. Sasuke watched patiently.
"This...this team is named Team seven. Our leader is Kakashi Hatake. The teammates are Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki, and, me, Sakura Haruno. We are assigned to carry out missions for our village. We are loyal Konoha ninjas." She explained matter-of-factly. Sakura gulped, and looked down shyly.
"But, in actuality, we are more then that." She added. Sakura looked back into the camera with soft eyes.
"We're comrades, and we're friends. We are all a part of a puzzle. If one of us were to go missing...then we'd never be complete. We might as well fall a part if one of us leaves. But...I know we'll be with each other for a long time." She spoke sweetly. Sasuke felt a pang in his heart, but ignored it.
"We...effect each other greatly. We are all responsible for walking into each other's lives, and leaving a great impact. We are all capable of helping each other, and we do, in our own little ways. We all..." Sakura stopped, and thought of a good word to use. She bit her lip as she thought, and finally opened her mouth.
"We all care for each other. We're like...second family. Yeah...that's what we're like. A...A second family to each other." She smiled.
"We're team seven. We consist of...", She trailed off, pointing the camera at each person when their name was called, "...Kakashi Hatake, our wise and kind teacher. Naruto Uzumaki, our funny and good-hearted jokester. Sasuke Uchiha, our intellectual and confident genius, and..." Sakura trailed off and pointed the camera to herself. "...me. Sakura Haruno, our sensitive and sweet backbone." She explained playfully, probably not believing her words describing herself. Sakura's eyes became teary.
"We're team seven. We're family...and I know...it will always be that way." She finished with a wet voice, on the verge of tears. The emerald-eyed girl ran out to the front of the team, all of them stopping in shock as Sakura positioned herself on the middle of them. Sakura held out the camera so that it showed all of her teammates. She smiled sweetly.
Then static.
She had used up the last few minutes of film to explain her thoughts on team seven and show them all, in one last group shot.
Sasuke picked up the remote and rewinded it to Sakura's last words.
"We're team seven. We're family...and I know...it will always be that way."
He paused it on the last group shot of team seven.
Her words rang through his mind.
...and I know...it will always be that way.
Sasuke glared at the TV. He grabbed for a kunai from his pack and shot it at the VCR. The VCR fizzed violently after being hit, and the screen gave away to static.
Sasuke sat up and walked out of the room, ignoring the video's cries of pain.
He had training to do.
So, he has moved on.
He finally forces away the feelings of loneliness and want.
But what of her? Will she do the same?
Only time will tell. He, however, chooses to stay silent. When he speaks again, you shall know.
That's the end of chappy 21. Thanks for reading, huns:3
Yeah...Sasuke has moved on. He still loves her, but he will now ignore those feelings of love. (How terrible...)
And the dance was actually inspired by my own parents. I saw them dancing to this song once at a cousin's wedding, and I just thought it was beautiful! x3
Although, it might've made Sasuke terribly OOC...Sorry...T.T
And this was my first time writing Naruto (for a whole duration of story). I hope I didn't make him too OOC...
The whole thing where Kakashi chased Team 7 on the beach...I just wanted to put in comedy. xD
Anyway, hope you liked it, huns! I hope you have a wonderful day! Ciao!
-Apple Fairy