*~*~* Bruised or Healed *~*~*
~ Chapter Four ~
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto it belongs to the great Masashi Kishimoto. You know I saw a picture of him and he so FREAKING YOUNG!!! Well it was shocking to me because I was expecting him to be older. Judging by how mature he sounds on his interviews. I thought he was in his late thirties >.Author's Note: Hi everyone! Finally the Christmas chapter is now up! I really thought allot about how this one is going to be like and it's a chapter I really looked forward to be writing! ^___^ I hope you all like it as much as I loved writing it! ^___^ And to all you people waiting for Naruto to come, I hope you are pelased with his chapter! ^0^
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About two weeks had passed since Sakura last encounter with Camilia back when Camilia came over with her three kids so Kuraku and Misao could work on a project. Sakura remembered that day so vividly. The day Camilia brought over Naruto's green tracksuit. The suit he saved Tsuki in.
'I'm so dumb I should've asked Camilia questions about Naruto. Who knows!? It might not even be the same Naruto as I knew. Maybe they both happen to have the same name and same tracksuit ... in the same size ... Damnit! I'm so dumb!' thought Sakura furiously as she started stabbing the chicken that she was cutting.
"Sakura-san is the chicken really that hard to cut?" asked Tsuki able to listen Sakura cutting while he was playing with his car track set (that came with two mini-cars) which Sakura had given him for Christmas.
Sakura looked at the chicken, which now looked as though it had acne scars with all her stabbing.
"Yeah, It's very... rubbery," lied Sakura as she laughed nervously.
"Sakura-san can I help you?" Said Tsuki as he watched his mini-cars do a loop on the track set.
"I wouldn't mind having a little helper. Can you get me some tomatoes from the fridge?" asked Sakura sweetly.
"OK Sakura-san!" replied Tsuki with a smile.
It took Sakura another ten minutes to finally finish putting spices on the chicken and place it the oven plus another five minutes to make a salad (with the help of Tsuki of course!).
"Sakura-san can we have rice to?" asked Tsuki as he got out a pan.
"One step ahead of you," replied Sakura as she took a lid of on the pots to reveal rice.
"Cool! What's for desert?" Asked Tsuki.
"I don't know, that's up to your father," answered Sakura.
"Again?" asked Tsuki sounding as though whining.
"He is your father," replied Sakura with a small laugh.
"Well while were waiting for your father to come back how about we play a game?" asked Sakura.
"YAY! I love games! Which one are we playing? Can we play football (aka soccer)!?" Asked Tsuki excitedly.
"We can't play soccer in the house sweetie," said Sakura.
"I don't like that rule! Hey let's play monsters! Can you be the monster because it's funner when you're the monster!" Said Tsuki happily.
Sakura smiled. "Ok but I'm gonna give you five seconds to run!" said Sakura in her witchy-monster voice as she started counting.
Tsuki giggled and started running away.
Sakura finished counting to five and started running after him but rather slowly so the game would be more fun for him.
"I'm going to get you! Ahehehehehe!" Cackled Sakura in her witchy-monster voice.
"Ahh! It's the evil Witch Lady! Run away!" said Tsuki fearfully though making it obvious that it was fake with his giggles in between words.
"I'm going to eat you alive!" said Sakura shrilly.
"Oh no! How will man kind live!" asked Tsuki now doing a voice of a news reporter.
"I'm looking for a young boy to put into my lovely stew!" Cackled Sakura.
"You will never catch me! Run awa- Daddy!!" Shouted Tsuki cheerfully as he saw his dad through the window he ran towards the entrance hall to meet with his father when he opened the door. Sakura smiled to herself and quickly ran into the kitchen to check on how dinner was doing. Luckily the chicken and rice was ready so she turned off the oven and stove. She put three plates out on the counter and quickly set the table. She walked out of the kitchen and walked towards the entrance hall to get ready to leave.
"Sakura-san thank you for making dinner, and thank you for working today, Are you sure you didn't mind working on the eve of Christmas Eve?" asked Yorokobi when Sakura came into sight.
Sakura smiled. "No not at all! You know I never mind being with the kids," answered Sakura with a smile as she opened the closet and took out her boots.
"Well that's good but from now on you can have your break. Come back a week after January. Oh and here is your pay check and your Christmas bonus," said Yorokobi with a smile as he handed her two envelopes.
Sakura took the envelopes and smiled. "Thank you so much!" said Sakura happily as she put her jacket on.
"Do you want me to drive you home?" asked Yorokobi with Tsuki in his arms.
"It's ok, I'm fine with the bus and luckily there's still some sun light out," said Sakura with a smile.
"Ok then," answered Yorokobi kindly.
"Wait Sakura-san we need to give you something!" said Tsuki trying to get down from his father arms. Yorokobi put him down and Tsuki grabbed hold of his father's hand.
"Sakura-san wait here! Me and daddy will be back!" said Tsuki excitedly as he led his father up the stairs.
Sakura smiled and nodded. And shortly after Tsuki came bolting down the stairs with a present wrapped in red paper with a golden bow on top of it all.
"Here Sakura-san this is for you! From all of us!" said Tsuki cheerfully handing her the present
Sakura smiled and took the present. "Thank you so much Tsuki-kun!" said Sakura happily as they both hugged each other, Tsuki gave her a kiss on the cheek. Sakura smiled. She and Tsuki soon both let go of their hug.
"Thank you too Yorokobi-san," said Sakura with a smile.
Yorokobi smile. "Your very welcome, you have yourself a good holiday," said Yorokobi with a smile.
"I will," said Sakura while opening the door. "But if you need me for anything don-"
"Sakura-san we'll be fine, take this time to relax," said Yorokobi returning to his usual calm self.
Sakura smile. "Ok, but I honestly wouldn't mind," said Sakura sweetly stepping out of the house.
"Bye Sakura-san! I'll miss you!" said Tsuki. Sakura nodded.
"I'll miss you too! Tell Kuraku I wish her a Merry Christmas to ok Tsuki?" asked Sakura sweetly.
"I will! I promise Sakura-san!" said Tsuki with a cute smile.
"OK! Have fun you guys!" said Sakura as she started walking down the stairs. Yorokobi both smiled and nodded and shut the door. Sakura smiled to herself and started walking her way to the bus stop.
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"Ahh, I'm finally home!" said Sakura with a pleased sigh as she shut the door behind her and leaned her back against it.
Sakura didn't greet her parents because they weren't home and they wouldn't come back until a couple of days after January. Her parents were out on a trip to Europe. {A/N: I've always wanted to go to Europe! It's in my list of things to do but will probably never happen ^^'} Her father won the trip from work. He was dubbed employee of the month of December and since December was the month of Christmas a special prize was always given out. Mr and Mrs. Haruno had both suggested on returning the tickets since it was only a trip for two but Sakura refused that and told them both to go ahead with their trip. It took Sakura allot of convincing for them to go but they finally went on their trip. It never really bothered Sakura much that here parents weren't spending Christmas with her. Christmas didn't seem important to her as it used to she sometimes felt sad about it but somehow it was a feeling she couldn't control.
Sakura took off her coat and boots and sloppily put them away. She looked at the gift that Tsuki, Yorokobi and (assumingly) Kuraku had given her. She felt tempted to open it but she took and placed it under the Christmas tree in the living room. She smiled to herself and walked upstairs to her room. She got undressed and took out her lavender bathrobe from her closet and put it around her body.
"I need a warm bath," said Sakura quietly to herself. She didn't know why but she suddenly started feeling tense and felt as though a hot bath was needed. She was in the bathroom and sat on the verge of the bathtub. She turned on the water tap and let it run. She ran her fingers through the water and she started to feel relaxed. After awhile the bathtub finally got full and Sakura turned off the tabs. She took off her bathrobe and dropped it onto and floor and got into the bathtub. She had a sigh of relief as the warm water covered her body. She rested her head on the verge of the bathtub and closed her eyes, she felt so relaxed she felt as though she could fall asleep.
About nearly an hour later Sakura had finished her bath and was now in the living room sitting on a couch watching TV. She still had her lavender bathrobe on and her wet pink hair was wrapped in a watching towel. Sakura rested her head on a pillow and continued watching TV. The show, which she was watching, wasn't too interesting and Sakura was slowly falling asleep.
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Sakura woke up the next morning feeling cold. She groaned and slowly opened her eyes. She lifted her head but it felt heavier then usual.
"Crap! I fell asleep with my towel on!" said Sakura rather loudly as she bolted off the couch. The TV was still on but Sakura quickly turned that off. She ran upstairs into the bathroom and took her towel off from around her head.
"Damn it! It's still moist!" said Sakura running her hand through her hair. She opened a drawer and took out a hair dryer.
"Might as well get it dry. I might not get sick," said Sakura with slight hope as she roughly plugged in the hair dryer and flicked the switch and started running the hair dryer over her head.
A few moments after her Sakura came out of the bathroom with her hair fully dried.
'Stupid TV show! If it wasn't so boring I wouldn't of fallen asleep!' roared Inner-Sakura. Sakura sighed to herself and walked downstairs to the kitchen. She sat on the kitchen counter.
"Today is going to be so boring! There's nothing to do ... I could go shopping but it's Christmas Eve and everything is going to be crazy and incredibly packed," muttered Sakura to herself while swinging her feet.
"I should be having breakfast but I' don't feel at all hungry, oh well might as well eat something while I'm here," said Sakura to herself as she took bread out of the pantry, then she opened a cupboard under the sink and took out a toaster. She plugged it in the toaster and popped in two slices of bread and pushed down the switch. Sakura smiled to herself and walked into the living room where the Christmas tree was. She looked down onto the Christmas tree and spotted the present Tsuki, Yorokobi and Kuraku had given her the previous night. She smiled to herself again and picked up the present. She sat down on the couch and rested the gift of her lap.
"Should I open it now? Or save for Christmas morning?" pondered Sakura.
'HELL YEAH! Open it NOW!' cheered Inner-Sakura punching and kicking air.
Sakura smiled like an eager child on their birthday, she gingerly took off the golden bow and soon after started ripping off the paper wrapped around it. She opened the box to see two envelops, a piece of folded red construction paper and something wrapped in tissue paper. Sakura took out the construction paper knowing that would be a homemade card by Tsuki. On the front of the card was a snowman made with cotton balls and under the snowman Tsuki wrote 'Shimo' which was the name he had given to the big snowman that he, Kuraku and Sakura had build previously. She smiled to herself and opened the card. The card was decorated with glitter and had two drawings, one which was a Christmas tree made with crayons (with a hint of green glitter) and the other drawing was one of her and Tsuki holding hands and under the drawings he wrote 'Merry Christmas' Sakura smiled to herself and held the card close to her as though hugging it.
'He's such a sweet kid, it makes me so happy to know him,' said Sakura happily to herself as she placed the card on the coffee table. She heard her toast pop out of the toaster but she ignored it and continued on with her present. She took out another envelope and opened it and it revealed folded black construction paper. On the front there was a golden moon with silver snowflakes and silver banks of snow. She smiled and opened the card on the left side of the card was a drawing of a brick fire place with a Christmas tree beside it Sakura smiled to herself, she was amazed with how well Kuraku could draw and on the left side was a note which said:
Dear Sakura-san, I hope you like our present for you. Father and I picked it out. Tsuki helped too but he only picked out the colour. Have a merry Christmas and good New Year. And Sakura-san please try relaxing during your break because lately you have seemed to be thinking allot about something and judging the look of your face it something that you regret like asking for information about something or someone. Well anyways enjoy your holidays.
Kuraku
"Whoa. That was weird. Kuraku has been observing me? Well at least this letter shows that she's starting to care about me and not acting so distant. It's scary how she does it but it's sweet of her to care," said Sakura warmly as she put Kuraku's card on the coffee table. Sakura reached for the other envelope and opened it. It was a store-bought Christmas card she opened it but it had very few writing from Yorokobi but it didn't bother her since the card came with a Christmas poem. She read it and smiled and placed it down with the other cards on the coffee table. She finally took out the present, which was wrapped in green tissue paper. It felt soft and Sakura could tell it was clothing. She unwrapped it to reveal mittens, hat and scarf it was the colour red, Sakura smiled remembering when Tsuki had told her that red was his favourite colour, she also loved how they looked, they looked so beautiful it made her eager to wear them outside to show them off to people. She saw tags hanging from them and just for the sake of it she looked at them and her eyes went wide with shock when she saw that they were a designer label.
'I should just enjoy it and not worry about the price, there such a kind family,' thought Sakura happily to herself, she placed them delicately on the coffee table and looked at them for a while.
"Oh what am I doing!? I have to show Ino this! She's probably going to kill me. But the look on her face will be worth it. This will be a good Christmas after all!" said Sakura happily as her stomach started to growl.
"After I have breakfast," said Sakura with sigh as she went to the kitchen to eat her breakfast.
"You're kidding me! This is your Christmas present! These are like ten thousand yen {A/N: That's about 84.45 in USA dollars} each! And it's by my favourite designer! I hate you so much! And you get like three weeks off of work! And I'm stuck here on Christmas Eve!" said Ino with a sigh.
"Don't you get off early?" asked Sakura while admiring her mittens.
"Now that you mention it I do! I almost forgot that!" said Ino cheerfully. "Good, how about we go out for lunch? I'll buy," said Sakura with a smile.
"You better! With all that money you make!" said Ino with a small laugh.
Sakura laughed. She looked around the flower shop and smiled. She didn't know why but it always smelled more floral during the winter.
"Here Sakura let's leave now, I'm hungry and I wanna get the hell outta here!" stated Ino as she grabbed her blue coat from under the counter.
"But won't your mother get mad at you for closing the shop early?" asked Sakura.
"Yeah but she's gonna get mad at me anyways for not cleaning my room or making my bed this morning," said Ino with an annoyed sigh. "Well anyways let's go!" ordered Ino while walking out of the shop.
Sakura held in her laugh and followed Ino and watched her as she turned the sign to "closed" and locked the door.
"So where are we going?" asked Ino eagerly.
"I don't care anything that has food," answered Sakura with a smile while watching the snow falling.
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"Uck! I'm soaking wet!" said Sakura with a small laugh as she walked into her house and took off her shoes. Sakura glanced over the clock and it read eight PM.
"Whoa! I've been out all day. Go figure I'm flat broke now," sighed Sakura while taking off her jacket.
She had just come back from dinner with Ino, Shikamaru and Chouji. After she and Ino had lunch they met up with both of the guys while walking through a mall (Ino wanted to try on practically all the clothes in the mall even though she didn't plan on buying anything). After they met they all spend a couple of hours having a snowball fight except this went to the extreme it was more of a war, well a war mainly between Ino and Shikamaru, but after they all started feeling rather hungry so they all went out to dinner (Sakura wasn't hungry though so she only had a small salad). Sakura really enjoyed the dinner there were many laughs and the conversation were always interesting, but of course when the bill came it was at an insanely expensive cost due to Chouji's eating habits, which made them all broke. As soon as they got out of the restaurant they started another snowball fight (or should we say war?) this time it was everyone against Chouji and then soon it became everyone against each other as soon as Shikamaru "accidentally" threw a snowball at Ino.
Now Sakura was lying on the couch in the living room as though she was dead.
"Man, I'm so wet and cold ... it'd probably make allot of since to get changed so I won't get sick," muttered Sakura lazily as she forced herself off the couch and slowly walked to her room to get changed into her red cotton pants and into an oversized grey sweater. She opened her drawer to reveal her stash of chocolates. She took out a box and started eating.
"Hmm this is to boring ... maybe if I start reading that book that momma gave me about that etiquette crap that she thinks I need to read," said Sakura with part disgust. She looked under her bed with all of her other abandoned things and she finally found it.
"Finally found the stupid thing!" growled Sakura. She rested her bed and propped herself with pillows and she started reading begging at the prologue.
"God, who ever knew a prologue could be so boring," said Sakura with a bored yawn.
"Once you master these techniques you will be beloved by others because or your talents for etiquette, blah blah blah," said Sakura partly reading from the book.
"Forget it there's better ways to spend my Christmas!" growled Sakura as she threw the book across her room.
"Like ... sleeping," said Sakura with a sigh. She changed her oversized sweater into a pink t-shirt and tucked her self in bed.
"Good night you loser," said Sakura to herself as she closed her eyes.
Sakura was sleeping peacefully until she heard tapping on her window. She slowly opened her eyes waiting to hear it again in case it was possibly a fragment of her imagination, but she heard it again. She turned around to face her window but saw nothing.
'It's probably just the wind blowing the stupid tree branches,' thought Sakura to herself as she tried to back to sleep. But the tapping continued but the tapping started getting harder. Sakura angrily huffed and got out of her bed to her window to see what was wrong but when she got to it she saw nothing. She turned around to go back to her bed.
"Stupid Nature!" hissed Sakura angrily. She heard the tapping again and quickly turned around to open the window. She quickly scanned the area to see if it was some mischievous kids but she saw nothing. The wind started blowing she closed her eyes enjoying the wind against her face but soon after it started to get cold so she opened her eyes and slowly closed her window. She turned around and came face to face with a pair of blue eyes.
Sakura screamed at the top of her lungs with fear and stumbled backwards.
"Sakura-chan! Calm down, it's me Naruto!" said a voice calmly.
At the word "Naruto" Sakura instantly stopped screaming, she slowly stood back up on her two legs and tried to get a good look of the man who stood in front of her. From what she could tell with the moonlight he had blonde hair and blue eyes and at the side of his face he had scratched which looked like whiskers.
"Sakura-chan it's me, Naruto? Do you remember?" asked Naruto with a smile on his face.
Sakura had a small smile. He still looked the same, his voice was deeper but he didn't change much. She smiled more broadly.
"Yes, I remember you but one question ... What do you think your doing sneaking in my house at this hour! You scared the living hell outta me!" half-shouted Sakura as she smacked the side of his face.
Sakura gasped after she did this. 'Why the hell did I just smack him?!' asked Sakura nervously to herself.
"Good to know that you haven't changed much," said Naruto with a small laugh as he rubbed his cheek.
'Man that really hurt!' thought Naruto to himself.
"Naruto I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to do it! Here let me see that," said Sakura worriedly as she got closer to him to see the part of his face, which she hit.
'Damn I can't see anything!' muttered Sakura to herself as she turned on the lights, it stung her eyes but she ignored it and got back to Naruto.
"Sakura-chan, don't worry I'll be fine," answered Naruto heartily.
"You sure?" asked Sakura worridly.
"Yes, I'm positive," replied Naruto with a smile. Sakura smiled and put her hand on his cheek and slowly starting running it through his hair. Naruto could see that tears started welling up in her eyes. She blinked and tears started to slowly run down her cheek.
"Naruto ... I'm so happy to see you again," said Sakura softly as she wrapped her arms around him and started sobbing. Naruto smiled and wrapped his arms around her.
"I missed you so much," sobbed Sakura.
"Sakura-chan, I'm sorry for leaving ... l missed you too ... I always thought about you that's why I had to come here," whispered Naruto into her ear. Naruto used his fingers to bring up her head so he could look into her eyes. He wiped away her tears with his thumb and he slowly brought his face closer to kiss her forehead.
"Sakura-chan will you accompany me tonight for Christmas? For once I'd like to spend it with someone special to me," asked Naruto with a smile. Sakura looked into his eyes with a smile and gently nodded.
"Really? That's great! C'mon let's go!" said Naruto excitedly as he opened the window (it's those type of windows that open like door doors instead of sliding them open) and jumped on the ledge maintaing perfect balance. Sakura smiled to herself, he was the same energetic self.
"But I'm still in my pyjamas! And I only have socks on my feet!" said Sakura sounding slightly shocked with the whole idea of getting out through the window.
"Your Pyjamas are fine! And I'll carry you to where we are going," replied Naruto with a kind smile.
"Fine, but let me at lest get a sweatshirt," answered Sakura as she quickly pulled out a red sweatshirt that buttoned up at the front. She quickly put it on and only did up only three buttons. Naruto smiled and jumped out of the window. Sakura ran towards the window and looked down to see Naruto smiling back up at her.
"Sakura-chan jump down and I'll catch you!" said Naruto loudly.
Sakura looked pretty nervous but she climbed on the ledge and held on with dear life, with one arm she closed with windows and she closed her eyes and let go falling into Naruto's back.
"Oops, sorry," said Sakura rather shyly.
"It's ok as long as you're safe," replied Naruto sincerely. He got back up with Sakura holding on to him with her legs wrapped around his waist and her arms around his neck. As soon as he was on his feet Sakura dropped her legs and Naruto held them (like a piggy-back ride type of thing) and started running.
"Where are going?" asked Sakura as she leaned her head against his.
"You'll find out, it'll take a while before we get there so you can sleep if you want," answered Naruto while looking in front of him.
"Ok," replied Sakura slowly as she started falling asleep.
"Sakura-chan? You can wake up now," said Naruto in a low voice while shaking her shoulder.
Sakura groaned and opened her eyes, she was in an unfamiliar bed and in an unfamiliar room, she figured it was Naruto's home.
"How long was I sleeping?" asked Sakura as she sat up from in his bed.
"Not that long maybe just an hour? Anyways come with me," said Naruto as he reached out a helping hand. Sakura smiled and took his hand and brought herself up.
"Here close you eyes, just so it will make it seem more special," said Naruto with a sweet smile. Sakura couldn't resist and she closed her eyes, he still held her hand and led her to where ever he wanted her to go.
"Sakura-chan you can open your eyes now!" said Naruto cheerfully (still holding Sakura's hand).
Sakura opened her eyes to see a dinner table set for two. There were sterling silver plates and sterling silver forks, spoons and knifes even the drinking glasses looked fancy there were also two bowls beside the plates. In the middle of the table there was a turkey, with a big pot of rice on the left of it and to the right of the turkey was a big pot of ramen (the only thing which didn't surprise Sakura) there was also a salad. Sakura looked at it with complete awe.
"Naruto this is so wonderful!" said Sakura happily.
"Thanks. I worked all day on making it perfect just for you," replied Naruto with a smile.
"Here take a seat," said Naruto leading (he's still holding her hand) Sakura to her seat. He let go of her hand to pull out her chair. She smiled sweetly at him and took a seat as he tucked in her chair; he quickly went to his chair and sat down. They both looked at each other and started serving themselves. Naruto cut out a huge piece of turkey and took a whopping amount of ramen. Sakura sat there watching him.
"Sakura-Chan aren't you hungry?" asked Naruto holding a turkey leg in front of his face.
Sakura stammered with this question, she was hungry she hadn't really ate dinner but if she said yes she probably would of sounded stupid since she was just looking at him but she didn't want to say no because it would be lying and also it would've probably hurt his feelings after all he went through to prepare this meal.
"Don't tell me you're on one of those diets? Sakura-chan you don't need a diet your perfect! Don't try changing yourself," said Naruto snapping Sakura out of her thoughts. Sakura looked into his eyes and they had a concerned expression.
"Ok, I'll eat something," replied Sakura going along with the diet thing. Naruto smiled warmly and continued with his eating.
About an hour passed and the dinner plates laid on the table abandoned. They were both sitting on a couch talking to each other. Sakura was laughing listening to some of Naruto's stories where we got stuck in bad situations such as when he tried saving a cat for a little girl but afterwards her mother started hitting him with her purse thinking that Naruto was bothering her daughter and the cat, but then suddenly something came to her mind.
"Naruto-kun? ... Can I ask you something?" asked Sakura rather shyly.
Naruto looked amazed that she finally had called him 'Naruto-kun' he could've jumped up and down with joy but he remained calm. "Of course, Sakura-chan," replied Naruto wondering what she wanted to say.
"Why... why did you leave Konoha village? And without saying good bye?" asked Sakura to sounding slightly sad and not making eye contact.
That question really hit Naruto hard, he never thought of her asking that. He did have a reason for leaving but he really didn't want to reveal it. He left because he was sick of it, he was sick of how peaceful and boring it was, he was sick of the same routine of being hated by the villagers becomes of some stupid fox spirit inside him, but if he said it like that to Sakura it would've seemed that he quit on becoming Hokage, that he quit trying to make everyone to acknowledge him but he didn't quit on that he still had the same burning desire to become hokage! He always thought that he left because he wanted to train by himself and by his own rules but he wasn't to sure of why himself.
"Well ... Sakrua-chan I have no good reason I just wanted to try something new," answered Naruto looking at the ground.
Sakura knew that wasn't the full answer that there was more behind the reason why he left but Sakura didn't try to make him tell her, she knew how stubborn he was. She had a feeling that he is going to tell her ... but she would just have to wait for the time to come, but he still didn't answer why he left without any good byes.
"Sakura-chan ... I'm sorry for leaving without a good bye," said Naruto as he turned his head to look at her.
She turned and looked at him. "But why didn't you say good bye?" asked Sakura softly.
"I thought ... that you wouldn't care," answered Naruto looking away from Sakura.
"I was so devastated when you left! Why would you think that I wouldn't care?" asked Sakura with concern written all over her face.
"Because ... you seemed to never care about me before, you were always busy chasing Sasuke and never cared if I was alive or not," replied Naruto sounding slightly scared of what Sakura's reaction would be.
'He's right ... I was always so mean to him and always pushed him away to chase Sasuke who would push me away,' thought Sakura to herself, there was a long awkward silence.
"Sorry, I shouldn't of said that," said Naruto sounding rather sad.
"No, you were right ... I was always mean to you and acted as though I never cared but Naruto I did care, Sasuke was just a crush, sure I may of been to fond of him but was just a crush-"
"He was a crush?" asked Naruto hiding the fact that he was incredibly joyous when she just said that 'Sasuke was just a crush.'
"Yes just a crush, I have no feelings towards him anymore," replied Sakura rather bitterly.
"May I ask why? You seemed so attached to him," asked Naruto with caring eyes.
Sakura got up from the couch and stood right in front of him and started walking around saying "Well ... it was on his birthday, months before I started making his present I planned on making him a pot and grow a flower in it to give to him, It took me about two months to make the perfect pot and another three months just for the flower to grow into a stupid bud! Well I was so proud with it I worked so hard on it and I was really proud of it! And when his birthday came I was so happy sure that he'd appreciate it but when I gave it to him he looked at it with disgust and didn't even dare to look at me. And instead of muttering a thanks or anything he just called it trash and dropped it on the ground and the pot broke, and I spend so much time on it I spend months perfecting it. He didn't even just hand it back he just dropped it to let it break. And of course it cut me deep but it got me the angriest I've ever felt! All that work was wasted and I did something that I thought I'd never do to Sasuke ... I slapped him hard across his face, by the look on his face he looked just as shocked as I was but what gets me mad now was that I ran away crying but I stopped when I got home and realized what I was thinking what I had sacrificed and what I had become and I've been happier since I finally let it go," answered Sakura emotionally while walking around and doing hand motions.
Naruto couldn't help but feel bad for her, which could easily be read by the look in his eyes. He to got up from his seat and walked closer towards Sakura, he looked into her eyes and hugged her.
"It's ok if you want to cry Sakura-chan, you can let it all out," said Naruto calmly.
She leaned her head against his shoulder. "No, there's no reason too, it was a good thing because I finally could live much more happier I started being friends with Ino again and I found myself finally having some self-respect," answered Sakura her voice sounding slightly muffled. Naruto had a feeling that Sakura was only lying to sound brave but he wasn't to sure. He looked down on her long pink hair, he brought his hand and started running it through her hair something he had been aching to do ever since he first saw her.
Sakura brought her head up and looked into his blue eyes and beamed at him.
"Naruto-kun thank you," whispered Sakura as she leaned over and delicately kissed his neck. Naruto cupped his hand under her chin and slowly brought his lips toward hers but Sakura pulled away.
"Naruto-kun I'm sorry but this seems wrong," said Sakura taking three steps backwards.
"Why?" asked Naruto (sadly) stepping towards her.
"Because I just figured out that there was a mistletoe above us," answered Sakura simply.
Naruto blushed but didn't say anything, he probably sounded stupid to Sakura for putting that there in the first place.
"You don't a need a mistletoe as an excuse to kiss me," Naruto head shot up he looked at Sakura to see her elegantly smiling. "See here's another reason why I'm happy why that Sasuke-thing happened ... I finally realised how I feel for you, ever since you left I've been miserable I could never really guess why but then it hit me it was because of you. You're the one who brought happiness into my day you were my happiness ... Naruto ... I lov-" But Sakura was cut off. Naruto placed his two fingers on her lips to silence her he looked into her eyes and with his fingers he started outlining her lips. He removed his finger and smiled. He ran his hand through her hair and stopped as he reached the back of her head and he slowly brought her face closer to his. His other hand went around her waist. Sakura slowly closed her and she soon felt his warm lips against hers. She could feel tears starting to well up in her eyes but she fought them back. She left his lips now at her neck kissing her slowly and tauntingly; he kissed from her neck to her chin to her mouth once again. But this time the kiss was more passionate more deeper then before. Sakura started to feel dizzy with happiness as he started kissing her neck again.
"I ... love you ... Sakura," said Naruto slowly in between kisses. Sakura cupped his chin and leveled his eyes with her and smiled, she brought her lips to his and kissed him deeply, he quickly replied to the kiss and tightened his embrace around her.
'I can't believe this is happening, it has to be a dream ... no it's real it's all real, he's finally here with me,' thought Sakura happily to herself.
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I'm finally finished! You know I thought this chapter was supposed to be allot shorter but I found myself to keep on writing and writing! Well I hoped you all enjoyed I really did think allot about it and worked on it like crazy! This in my Christmas present to you all! MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! ^.^ I love you all! ^___^
~SpiritGoddess
And the story isn't over yet incase it may of seemed like so.