Chapter 22

After we had all finished eating, Naruto, Shikamaru and I parted ways to rest before bed. I was sitting on my bed in my PJs after a long, hot shower. I ran my brush through my water-tangled hair while I thought about home. Then when I was finished brushing my hair, I read one of my favorite books, a romance novel, while humming a favorite song of mine, a show-tune from an old Disney movie.

Shikamaru was sitting on his floor reading a puzzle book that Obi Wan had given him. One of the problems was being tricky, so he assumed his trademark pose: on one knee with his fingers in a relaxed circle near his stomach. He figured it out and moved onto the next puzzle, thinking about Ino, Choji, Asuma-sensei, and just home in general.

Naruto had snuck downstairs to the training center. He didn't feel like talking to anyone at the moment, not even Sakura.

Well, maybe Sakura, but he didn't feel like putting that to the test.

He scrutinized a kunai, then threw it expertly at the target in his blind spot, all with barely a movement. He created his Rasengan, but then let it fade after a moment. He considered trying out his Rasen-Shuriken on something to keep in practice, but he ended up deciding that being destructive was probably not the best way to get on the Council's good side. A little while later, he slipped back upstairs and went straight to bed, but tossed and turned for a while after that.

I looked up from my book and saw the clock. It read 1 AM, and I was appalled at my unusually late bedtime. Time had really flown. I folded down the corner of my page, stretched, and pulled the cord on the light to turn it off. I slumped back on my pillows and smiled at the darkness that surrounded me. But the darkness was soon fractured by a beam of light and a shadow that showed Naruto poking his head through the door. "Sakura, I can't sleep."

He sounded exactly like a little kid. I was about to tell him to just go back to bed, but then I sat up in bed.

"Okay, then. Go get some shoes on and meet me back here in five minutes."

I took him by the hand out to a park that I enjoyed to meditate in. "Sit," I told him quietly, motioning to a soft patch of grass swathed in moonlight. He did. I placed myself right across from him, and close enough that our knees were touching.

"So what's been bothering you?" I asked him, still holding his warm fingers between my hands.

Naruto shrugged. "Nothing, really. I…I just…I don't even know anymore. Everything's just so…"

I leaned over, hugged him and kissed his cheek. "I know what you mean. But don't worry, we'll be home soon."

He smiled softly and nodded. Then he pulled me into his arms then slowly laid us back so we could look at the stars together. I half-smiled up at the moon and stars, and shivered a little at the slight breeze that barely brushed my shoulders. Naruto rubbed my arms slowly and sighed, but neither of us really said anything for a long time.

We watched the celestial beings dance across the sky, and I eventually sat up. "Hey Naruto?"

He pulled up on to his elbows. "Hey what?"

"I think we should head back. Judging by the stars, I think it's almost 5:00."

"Could we wait a just a little while longer? I wanna see the sunset."

I shrugged and pulled him up into a sitting position next to me so I could rest my head on his shoulder. "Okay then. I can wait for a few more minutes."

A little while after I said that, Naruto started in with "The Finger". My eyes closed slowly and our lips met just as the first rays of bright sunlight came over the horizon. We pulled away slowly and looked at the gorgeous sky. It was painted with dazzling yellow and orange rays, purple clouds, and a perfect navy blue backdrop.

I sighed happily as Naruto kissed me again. This really was a good life, and maybe this dimension wasn't so bad after all. We held each other and just relaxed for a short while longer, but then I stood all the way up and smiled. "C'mon Naruto. We really do have to get going."

"Ah. Okay." He stood up too, and gave me one of his perfect hugs. "And thanks for everything. I feel so much better now."

I had no reply except to whisper in a small voice, "I love you."

I could feel Naruto blush as he eventually replied, "I-I love you too."

I stepped back and grinned, ecstatic at his reaction. But I had something in mind. "Race ya back to the building."

"You got it, Arukas." He smiled back at me.

"Shut it. Ready…set…GO!"

And we were off, running towards a new future with each other.