Title: A New Era
Author: Shera
Disclaimer: Throws away the tinfoil and picks up paper instead. "The following is a fan written story. Naruto belongs to its respective owners. Please support the original release." Huh, what a funny thing to be written here…
(On a side note I don't own the rights to Jim Croce's "Time in a Bottle" either. Copyright: Denjac Music Company, Spobs Music Inc.) Please support the original release.
Chapter 28
Sakura gently rocked the chair with her feet as she unsuccessfully tried to get her little girl to sleep. Kameko had missed her nap and was excessively cranky but she still refused to close her eyes. Her mother was just about at her wits end as to what she wanted.
"Kameko, you're a sleepy girl. You want to close your eyes. Yes, you do," she tried to convince her to no avail. Her mouth was in a firm line of defiance. Sakura wondered what Lee did to get her to drift off so easily for him. It seemed to her that he barely placed her in the crib before she was knocked out cold.
"You had a bath, you've eaten, been changed, and cuddled what more is there?" Sakura gave her a raised eyebrow which she imitated. Lee would probably laugh when he got home to find her in this predicament. With a sigh she rearranged the blanket and resumed her previous motion. Mindlessly she started to hum in rhythm to the movement.
Kameko's mouth turned up in a smile with her few teeth glinting in the light, "Oh you like that, huh?" She tilted her head in an attempt to egg her mother on. A lullaby duh, why hadn't she thought of that? "Let me see," Sakura had never been very musically inclined herself. The longer it took for Sakura to come up with a tune to sing the more inpatient the baby became.
"Ah yes," one had finally come to mind. She heard it on a regular basis coming from the children's wing in the hospital, "Twinkle, twinkle little star…" She stopped abruptly at the look on her daughter's face. I don't like that. Sakura sighed, "You are so spoiled."
Surely her own mother had sang to her growing up. Faintly she could remember a tune, usually accompanied by a guitar, " If I could save time in a bottle; The first thing that I'd like to do; Is to save every day till eternity passes away; Just to spend them with you."
A little yawn escaped the baby as Sakura tried to remember more of the song, "If I could make days last forever; If words could make wishes come true; I'd save every day like a treasure and then; Again, I would spend them with you."
She struggled to dredge up the next verse from her memories. Kameko's eyes were half closed but she could regain conciseness very quickly. Luckily she was saved when she heard a male voice interrupt her panic, "Are you not going to finish the song?"
"I don't remember the rest of it," she whispered frantically as Lee entered the room.
He smiled in amusement as he crossed the room, "The chorus goes like this, 'But there never seems to be enough time; To do the things you want to do, once you find them; I've looked around enough to know; That you're the one I want to go through time with'."
Sakura held her breath as the baby grew relaxed in her arms. Now that she could remember she sang the next verse, "If I had a box just for wishes; And dreams that had never come true; The box would be empty, except for the memory of how; They were answered by you."
Lee joined her as they sang the final chorus together, "But there never seems to be enough time; To do the things you want to do, once you find them; I've looked around enough to know; That you're the one I want to go through time with." They touched foreheads so their eyes could search deeply in one another. The room was quiet except for the deep breathing of their daughter. Lee winked at her before taking the child to her bed.
"Why didn't you tell me that you sing to Kameko?" she asked in a teasing way.
"Uh," he seemed embarrassed, "Well, I knew you would want me to demonstrate and I thought it would be better to, uh, not." Maybe he wouldn't be signing any record deals any time soon but his voice hadn't been unpleasant sounding either.
She shook her head before quietly exiting the room with him following behind. "What do you sing?" she asked curiously.
He seemed rather unsure about replying, "Oh, this and that."
"This and that?" She watched as his face became a more interesting color. He mumbled something that she didn't catch, "What?"
"M-mostly old love songs," he replied quietly. "She seems to prefer Elvis Presley though." Sakura laughed behind her hand as she imagined her husband in a white jumpsuit and sequins. Then the vision tilted his dark sunglasses and gave her a blazing smile. The image was fairly believable. So her daughter was a little 'rocker'.
He squinted his eyes at her clearly seeing the mischief in her own. Somehow he suspected that she would have 'difficulties' sleeping later than evening.
OOO
Carefully she checked her supply of bandages, ointments, medicines for pain and poisons, along with a tiresome array of other such things. Her surgical tools remained in her sterilization unit. Once she checked her station another time she made sure their generators were in full working order. With nothing more to distract her Sakura took to pacing. She had been so involved in the act that she hadn't noticed Ino's approach. Sakura felt herself halt as she realized her friend had weapons on her instead of gauze and tape.
"Where are you off to?" Sakura asked.
"I've been assigned elsewhere," the blonde said easily.
"Oh," Sakura supposed that made sense. Ino did have a particular skill set that would be more useful on the battlefield.
"Before I leave I have something I want to say to you." Several things mingled in Sakura's head as she thought about their history together. Still she wasn't prepared for Ino's words, "I know." The girl with the pink hair felt a stone drop in her stomach, "I've known about you and Lee…for awhile."
Embarrassed she looked away, "Oh that's just-"
"Don't bother lying to me besides I wasn't finished yet." She walked towards her long time friend and wrapped her arms around her shoulders. "I'm glad for you, Sakura. If he makes you happy then who am I to stand in your way?"
Sakura felt tears prickling in her eyes, "If you knew then why didn't you say something sooner?"
"I was sworn to secrecy by Neji."
"What Neji knows too?"
"Yeah, Ten Ten told him."
"Ten Ten too?"
This was getting out of hand. Ino watched as Sakura absorbed all of this, "We're the only ones though. Neji said it wasn't our place to tell so we'd have to wait. It was just as well. I needed some time to think about it myself but I guess today's as good a day as any. I'm proud to have you as my friend and if we live through this I want to see the two of you walking through the village hand in hand."
A peace settled over Sakura as she hugged her friend before she left the tent. She took a shaky breath as the noise of movement continued just beyond the tent flap. Out there several other squads were breaking up into different groups as well.
It was a bleak time with everyone thinking the same thing. This may be the last time I can shake your hand, hug you or see your smile. Neji wasn't one for sentiment and Ten Ten didn't expect it from him either so instead they were talking about their other squad mate.
"We should tell him," Ten Ten huffed. Neji didn't seem to hear her as he packed his pouch carefully. "You know, so there won't be any secrets between us." She glanced over her shoulder at her weapons scroll. There was no need to check it since she was always prepared. "It wouldn't be good meeting our maker with a guilty conscience," she said grimly. His eyes met hers briefly before going back to the task at hand. "Lee would be heartbroken I'm sure."
"Would you stop talking about Lee's love life for a moment?"
Her eyes enlarged slightly at his sudden outburst, "Sorry." He seemed to be looking for something. Which was odd since he rarely lost anything. Neji was particular about having things a certain way. "Can I help y-?"
"No," he said abruptly.
"Fine," she said as was her usual response. She looked out beyond the fields where the energy was different. Something was defiantly coming. A shiver of anticipation went through her body as it prepared itself to use the weapons at her disposal.
"It looks like it's about time," she stood up and shouldered a scroll.
Neji stood as well, "Before we depart…" The female brunette faced him curiously.
One of them should say something about the bonds they shared. They would sound strange from him so she took the task upon herself, "I know we've come a long way as comrades and I can't believe we could be marching to our deaths. We'll be okay though."
"I wasn't going to say that," he said simply. Now she was truly bewildered even more so when he closed the distance between them. "Ten Ten, I…" she raised an eyebrow but said nothing, "I- oh never mind. I want you to wear this." Into her hand he pushed something oval and metallic. She opened her hand and saw a locket gleam back at her. With her brow furrowed she looked at him asking without words, "It's been blessed to keep you safe."
Ten Ten let the scroll go back to the ground as she turned to let him put it on her. She silently examined the gift, "Is there something inside?"
He looked away to cover his embarrassment, "Some of my hair."
"No way! Neji, you cut your hair? Your precious Hyuga hair that men have worn long for generations?"
His glance would not meet hers as if to say 'yes'.
"Where did you cut it?' she asked moving to inspect his flowing locks.
His hand went up to stop her, "It's just hair. It will grow back."
She couldn't help to grin at how flustered he seemed to be. Easily she undid one of her buns and pulled out a kunai. Before he could stop her she had sliced off a small lock of her own. Quickly she pulled an empty vile from her pack and slipped it in. After she put a stopper in the opening she closed her eyes and prayed over it silently. He was still at a lost for words even after she had pushed the vile into his hand and was redoing her hair.
"Maybe it's not in as pretty a package but I'm sure it'll work just fine."
"Ten Ten," he said.
"It's just hair. It will grow back," she echoed what he had said earlier.
He seemed exasperated but put the vile safely away on his person nonetheless. They needed to go to their respective battle stations and yet both couldn't move their feet. Then she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his middle. Neji instantly stiffened at the contact before giving it back. Hesitantly his own arms pulled her closer to return the hug. She was surprised at this but also at how warm he was. What could have been a rather romantic moment to the average passerby was interrupted by their teammate, "This is not the time for sad farewells!"
They pulled apart at the sound of his voice. Neji silently cursed himself for dropping his guard at such an indecent time. To think that Lee was able to sneak up on them so easily.
"Speaking of sad farewells," Ten Ten used Lee's misinterpretation to her advantage, "Isn't there someone you want to see before things start?" He blinked at her blankly. "You know, somebody special." Neji thought that she was being way too obvious in what she was saying but Lee didn't seem to catch on.
"Gai- sensei and I will be together so I wanted to see you two first."
Ten Ten sighed loudly and her male teammate couldn't contain himself, "She meant Sakura you dumb ass."
They both stared at him shocked but his rant had already started, "We know all about your relationship so don't deny it. She does make you better though and I can see it more the longer you are together. Now that you have her don't screw it up! And you," his attention now directed at Ten Ten. She jumped as his unwavering eyes landed on her. He paused briefly as he seemed to try to reign himself in once more but thought better of it, "I was trying to-I wanted to ask- Ten Ten, when this is all over will you marry me?"
Lee and Ten Ten's jaws both dropped at this question. Neither of them knew what to say next. "Aren't you going to say something?" he asked gracelessly.
Lee tapped his fingers together awkwardly, "I see I have interrupted something. I will see you two later," he said while taking a few steps backward and slowly walking away. His teammates just stayed behind with flushed cheeks as Lee decided to do exactly as they had suggested.
Surely a quick moment with Sakura would be enough to lift his spirits through the raging battle soon to come. Though he couldn't be sure if she'd want to see him. She may be busy with her own preparations. It couldn't hurt to just stop by for a few minutes.
Sakura stepped out of the white tent to get the antiseptic stink out of her lungs. The air cleansed her as she took in a few sacred moments of peace to herself before all hell broke loose. Out in the distance she could see the troops mobilizing. Her heart skipped a beat as she watched and at the same time knew she would be seeing some of those faces within the confides of the tent.
She thought about her friends scattered about the area until her mind settled on Lee. Would she see him? Had the battle already started? It was eerily quiet out there and made her feel uncomfortable. She closed her eyes to help calm herself. Nothing had happened yet and already she was losing her cool.
Her eyes slid open and immediately caught movement beyond a ridge. From there Lee was coming towards her. He was walking in order to conserve his strength but once he saw her face he knew he wanted to be near her.
She was running as well and with a force that would kill any normal man she embraced him. Damn it all to Hell. She kissed him passionately in the field out in the open for all to see. This was the man she truly loved and she was determined to show it to the world. Even if the world only consisted of the medic nin getting their own air and a few stragglers. It was a start.
"Sakura," he pulled back nervously as he looked around him. "People are watching," he whispered.
"Aw, let those perverts look," she said finding his mouth again. He grinned widely as he kept her close to him for as long as possible.
They were interrupted by an unfamiliar shinobi running towards them, "We need a medic over here." Sakura sprang into action with Lee along for the ride. They stopped short when they saw that the ninja in need of assistance was Gai.
"We're right about to march off to war! What happed to him?" Sakura asked to no one in particular as she started to heal him.
"Gai- sensei, are you all right?" Lee asked resisting the urge to poke the unconscious man. They shrugged at each other as the sounds of battle got louder and closer. The blare quickly escalated and assaulted their eardrums. The war had begun.
A/N: So like I said, I don't own the song "Time in a Bottle". Its copyright belongs to the Denjac Music Company, Spobs Music Inc.) Again please support the original release.
I just don't want to see my story be ruthlessly taken off the internet for copyright reasons. Besides this song was performed on the Muppet show so obviously they have to have some sort of sense of humor about themselves.
