Kushina was amazed at how well their moms had done the scrapbook.
The time whenthey sat on the couch complaining about how boring August was.
The timewhen they stood side by side as they watched their best friends dance on her aunt's wedding.
The timewhen they sat together on a beach chair the day they barbecued on October.
The time whenthey were told they'd be moving soon and Itachi was back.
The time when they were making the model while she was extremely sick.
The time when he gave her the bracelet on her birthday.
The time when theyhad gone to the movies at midnight.
The time when they gave their mothers a plate full of decorated strawberries.
The time when they had snuck out for a date without her father's knowledge.
The time when she beat Arashi in fencing from his perspective.
The time when they were leaving for the field trip.
The time when they took group family photos on Itachi's wedding day.
The time when they sat exchanging their numbers as if they just started dating.
The time when their moms almost blinded them on prom night with their cameras.
The time when she said goodbye to Sasuke and cried for the first time in front of everyone.
And finally, a picture of them as babies, after she had hit him with her rattle and he got over it, and wound up falling asleep next to each other as Naruto rolled around on the floor.
Kushina hugged Mikoto's gift to her chest, tears welling up in her eyes again while ignoring the critical stare of some women seated next to her. They had created so many memories this past year, it was so heartbreaking to leave it all behind.
"I will always love you, no matter what," he had promised her as he embraced her tighter when he felt his shirt get wet.
She wanted him to stupidly come after her when she left. She wanted him to make her stay and fulfill his desire to go to the same college.
And so did he. But they knew they couldn't.
She sat on the ever familiar plane that she once loved riding, but now it only made her want to bawl at how much distance it would take her away.
"Here," she extended her hand with a smile, a piece of cloth between her fingers that he had immediately recognized.
"You're giving me your fat cat t-shirt?" Sasuke asked. He knew how much she loved it.
"I want it back when I return," she snapped hautily, but it had come out as a sob.
She hugged him the very last one, lingering and tight, and had broken down into sobs surprising everyone there greatly. Her friends had tears in their eyes too, and so did their mothers and soon everyone was crying- It was like someone well-known had died before them.
And she had.
Gone was the girl who could roam the earth freely, with only her opinion at mind and uncaring of what others thought of that. Now, sitting on that plane ignoring the flight attendant who nagged at her to put the book down, was a girl who now had someone else at heart.
"It's alright," he had soothed her, the only one not in tears as he wanted to remain strong for her. "Don't change Kushina; because you're-"
"-very annoying Miss. Just put the book down and tell me what you want." She stood impatiently tapping on her cart.
"I want to go home," she found herself subconsciously whispering.
"We alldo hun," she rolled her eyes. "We'll be there once the plane-"
"Sasuke's my home!" She snapped at her, glaring the most scariest glare she could muster. The attendant pushed the cart hurriedly, fearing the redhead's wrath and ignoring the angry protest of the person seated behind her. She now realized as she slumped back on her chair dejectedly.
Neither England nor Konaha was her home.
Home was with him.
She inhaled deeply, straightened her back, shoved the book inside her bag and wiped off all emotions on her face. This what she was good at, before Sasuke had come along that is; hiding her caring virtues. Now, since they were apart, she could do that again. Until the next time they meet because, as he had said himself, she was-
"Anything but fake."
