Dreams are Dreams
Chapter eight
By cocoa-latte
AN: Again, I'm extremely sorry for the lack of updates. Thanks for all the reviews and encouragement!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Sakura was sitting on one of the white lounge chairs in front of the lit fireplace. Her eyes brightened as she watched the immense flame and the smoke that emitted from the flames. She closed her eyes and listened to the sound of the fire.
She faintly heard the doorbell ring over the crackling of the fire. She didn't bother getting the door. There was fifteen other people living in the lodge; surely, someone would answer the door.
It was snowing heavily outside again, to Sakura's delight. She loved winter as much as she loved spring. Waking up in the morning, after a heavy snowfall was one of the most beautiful things she ever witnessed. When everything was covered in a nice comfy blanket of snow, it was like a fairytale. She and Sasuke would be walking in powder snow, hand in hand, cheeks rosy from the cold. Sakura laughed bitterly out loud. That would be a fairytale that wouldnever come true.
Her feelings were always mixed up when it came to Sasuke. It confused her. He had made it clear long ago, that she wasn't right for him. She was too weak, too annoying, and maybe too ugly for him. She silently chuckled, and to think of all those wasted years chasing him, making herself look pretty; just for him. But things changed, her love for him faded.
She wanted someone that would be nice to her, someone who appreciated her for who she was, someone that wasn't Uchiha Sasuke.
Sakura could here the voices of Ino, Naruto, and Hinata through the doorway. She tore her eyes away from the flames when she heard her name. "Hn?" she replied.
Hinata appeared at the doorway, her cheeks rosy from the cold. "S-sakura-chan, Ino and I w-were going to make cookies. W-would you like to help?"
Sakura shrugged. It wasn't like she had anything better to do. Sakura got up and followed Hinata to the kitchen. The kitchen lights weren't on, leaving the room dim. Sakura saw a crack of light from the fridge.
Ino was checking over the recipe with a frown on her face. "What's wrong Ino-pig?" asked Sakura teasingly as she used a hair band to tie her hair in place. Ino didn't reply. "What type of cookie are we making anyways?" asked Sakura in a slightly annoyed tone.
"Chocolate chip cookies I think," answered Ino absently, "but there's something wrong with the recipe."
Hinata looked up. "C-can I see?" asked Hinata timidly. Ino handed her the recipe and continued taking ingredients out of the refrigerator. Sakura walked over to the counter and looked at the ingredients that Ino pulled out, on the counter, laid an egg, some flour, sugar, and chocolate chips.
"Does the recipe look funny to you Hinata-chan?" asked Ino as she washed her hands thoroughly.
Hinata nodded. "W-where did you get this recipe?" asked Hinata.
"Um, not sure. I don't really remember to be honest. It doesn't' matter where I got it, we can just kinda make up the recipe on the way, while we make it." answered Ino casually, "If it's really bad, we can give it to Chouji, he'll probably eat it. Or we can make Shikamaru eat it." There was a definite evil glint in Ino's eyes.
Hinata and Sakura looked at the blonde warily.
Before Sakura could disagree, Hinata had already agreed. Sakura frowned upon the recipe doubtfully.
Ino was measuring the flour and sugar as Hinata pulled out a wooden spoon from one of the drawers. Hinata handed the wooden spoon and the flour and sugar for her to cream. Sakura took the wooden spoon and the flour and sugar from Hinata with a uncertain look on her face. She wasn't even sure if they had measured the ingredients right. She didn't say anything, if the cookies didn't turn out well, they could always give the batch to Naruto, or as Ino had said earlier on: Chouji, or Shikamaru.
Hinata took out a small bowl and cracked the egg into it and added a few drops of vanilla.
Ino was measuring the flour with some measuring cups that she found in one of the wooden drawers. Ino used the measuring cups and measured the flour hastily and sifted it with a sieve that sat on the countertop.
Ino chatted happily with quiet Hinata and silent Sakura. They were placing the cookies onto the cookie sheet, one by one. Hinata slid the first batch of cookies into the already preheated oven.
The last batch of cookies was finally done. Sakura placed the cookies carefully onto a large platter and set it on the table. She hadn't had a chance to try them yet. Not that she really wanted do, or anything.
Shikamaru walked lazily into the room. He glanced over to the cookies on the platter then glanced over at Sakura, Ino, and Hinata. "You made this?" he asked in a lazy drawl. Hinata nodded absently. Shikamaru pondered for a while. "May I have one?" Ino and Sakura nodded together, eyeing the cookies. Shikamaru took a cookie from the platter and stuffed it into his mouth. He grimaced and swallowed difficultly.
"This stuff tastes like shit. What type of crap did you put in it?" said Shikamaru in a disgusted voice.
Ino eyed him evily, with a bit of a maniacle grin on her face."What did you say Shikamaru-kun?" asked Ino in a dangerously low voice.
Shikamaru was sitting on an old brown couch in front of a roaring fire with an ice pack over his soar eye. He groaned. This had to be the worst day ever. Two hits from Ino was all he needed to be as beaten up as this. Who knew that she was that strong?
Sakura was lying on her bed reading a book while curling her hair into pink locks. There wasn't a special occasion happening or anything. She was just plain bored. By the rate that the snow was snowing, they'd be snowed in by tomorrow.
Ino was pacing back in forth the cold bedroom. 'Damn, maybeI hit Shikamaru-kun a little too hard. I hope he didn't get hurt- wait,how did that happen! Why am I thinking of Shikamaru's health all the sudden? Why-'
Ino's thoughts were cut short by a loud slam on a door. Ino's head snapped up. She could hear the footsteps of the person's feet on the unpolished wooden floor. "Damn people. So annoyingly loud," she muttered under her breath.
To be honest, she felt guilty for hurting Shikamaru. Again. This was the second time in the trip that she had hurt him. First it was the ski lift incident, and now this. She had that feeling in her stomach. What was it again? Oh yes, guilt. She hated that feeling.
Sakura glanced up from the book she was reading. She glanced over at Ino who was still pacing back and forth on the wooden floor. The look of worry and guilt was written all over Ino's face.
Sakura hid a small smirk. She knew that Ino was feeling guilty for hitting Shikamaru, even thoughshe hadn't hurt him that bad. Well at least not bad enough for him to bleed. Maybe he bled internally, but everyone gets bruises once in a while.
There was a knock on the door, so quiet that Sakura and Ino had to strain their ears to hear. "Who's there?" asked Ino vaguely.
"Umm, H-hinata," answered the timid chuunin.
Sakura placed her book carefully on her bed and swung open the door. Her smiled brightened, "Konnichiwa Hinata!"
"Konnichiwa Sakura-san, Ino-ch-chan," replied the dark blue haired girl, "I brought some m-medicine I made for Shikamaru-san.
Ino's head quickly shot up at the sound of his name. "He doesn't deserve it," she spat. "That idiot," she mutted under her breath.
"I-i'll just leave it here then," said Hinata quickly, turning to a shade of bright pink,as she placed the heavy bottle of medicine on the desk that sat neglected by the doorway.
He was still slumped over on the armchair in front of the roaring fire. The ice had long melted. What was now left was a bag with cold water. It'd hurt too much for him to get up and get more ice. He hadn't moved in the pass fifteen minutes. He just sat there, thinking.
He groaned and sat up straight in his chair. He really liked Ino. She was his friend, his team mate, and hi-
"Shikamaru!" a voice shrieked rather loudly.
'Great, she's gonna give me an ever BIGGER beating.'
"SHIKA! Hinata told me I should go out and give you the medicine she made, but you don't deserve it."
He groaned again, 'why does she have to be so loud? My poor eardrums."
"Are you even litsening to me?" she asked sharply.
"No," he replied. 'Man, that woman just keeps getting more and more annoying.'
"Sorry, I couldn't hear you properly. What did you say?"
Shikamaru figured that it'd be best if he stayed quiet. Ino breathed in and out deeply. "Anyways, Hinata made some medicine for you."
Shikamaru reached out and took the medicine from her and mumbled thanks.
"Don't thanks me, thank Hinata!" Ino growled, as Shikamaru covered his ears to block out the noise even though he could still clearly hear her words.
"Hai, Ino-chan." replied Shikamaru dully.
After plenty dinners of eating nothing but ramen, they were escaping to a nearby restaurant. Sakura was waiting by the front door along with everyone else. Cross that. Almost everyone else. They were still waiting for one person.
'Stupid Kakashi-sensei, he's late for this, he's late for that. Can't he ever be on time? Now they were going to be late. She had already made reservations.'
As if right on queue, Kakashi walked happily into the room. He could feel the anger, annoyance, and the glares directed towards him. He had a hidden smile behind his mask. Maybe instead of giving an excuse he could... pretend that he wasn't late.
"Well, what are you waiting for? We're going to be late!"
Someone opened the door and a large gust of wind and snow blew into the warm indoors. Sakura was still glaring at Kakashi as she walked out tge door after him.
Sakura wasn't surprised that the walkway was already covered in a thick blanket of snow, even though it was cleared earlier that day. They trudged slowly through the snow.
Sakura could feel her nose plug up. She rubbed it heavily. God, it was so cold. She crossed her eyes and looked at her nose. Bright pink. 'Great,' she thought sarcastically, 'now, I'm Rudolph.'
"Sakura-chaaaaan,"called Naruto in his usual whiny voice.
"What do you want this time?"
Naruto lowered his voice, "You know Hinata-chan?"
"I know her," She replied as she slightly rolled her eyes.
"She's really pretty. Do you think so?" asked Naruto anxiously while twiddling with his fingers.
"Yah. She really likes you. So why don't you go talk to her?" said Sakura, smiling.
"Really?" his voice was hopeful. "How about Neji? I'm positive that he doesn't like, or trust me."
"I'm sure it'll be fine."
"Really, Sakura-chan? I hope your right! Thanks a whole bunch! Wait here for a moment. I'll be right back." He gave her a pearly grin, before heading off to talk to Hyuuga.
Sakura could see from the corning of her eye, Naruto and Hinata chatting happily. Well, more like Naruto talking and Hinata patiently listening. It was only Hinata who could listen to Naruto's incoherent words.
Sakura could hear the flutter of a bird's wings. She looked up and saw a heron start to fold up it's wings and land on the snow covered fir trees nearby. As the bird landed, Sakura saw the snow start to slip from the branches. Her eyes widened as she saw the snow fall and land directly on Sasuke's head and body, and go down his back.
Serves him right." Sakura could hear Naruto say rather loudly.
A/N: Yes, I'm finally through with another chapter! This chapter was suppose to be up yesterday, but my beta would rather read a story on fanfiction, than edit this chapter. (I know, I think I would too.) I'm sorry that I'm being mean to Shikamaru and Sasuke, but it's for a good cause, I promise. Thanks to everyone for reading, and a bigger thanks to everyone who reviewed! Last, but not least, thanks to my beta: evil-mittens! I know you hate to edit my crappy story, but you edit it anyways. Thanks!
animEvivvErz: Thanks! Yah Sasu/Saku does take longer to develop. They'll probably be the last to get together in this fic. Oh, and thanks for reading the chapter repost!
Wormkaizer: Thanks! I'm sorry that there's not much Naru/Hina in this chapter. /
Metalicgal: Thanks! I didn't update that fast, but do I still get the plushie? Lol. I don't have any plushies either. I'm not sure where you get them. I only have Naruto figurines.
LiveLoveLaugh: I like you pen name. ) Yes! I updated! (even though it took kinda long…)
CrAzYbAbY123: Thanks! Sorry that I didn't update that soon…
Joekool: Thanks! Yeaah, stinky skunk. "I am singing in the sun! juz singing in the sun! the sun is burning me OH im singing in the sun! im singing im singing in the sun!" that made me laugh so much! The sun is burning you? Ouch.
DrEaMeR1003252: Thanks! Oh, how did you get to review four times on one chapter? It only lets me review once…
BrokenAngel,ForgivenDevil: Thanks for the suggestion. And perhaps… later on, Hinata will peek in on Naruto… ) I didn't realize that I said Kiba twice there in chapter one. Thanks for pointing that out!
Timeshifter16: Hmm… quicker updates? I try! I really do! I'm sorry that there wasn't a lot of Naru/Hina in this chapter…
kyoru 4 eva: Thanks! Here's the next chapter!
Warprince2000: Thanks! Here's the next chapter!
Irukapooka: Thank you! You're fic, "what am I doing here?" is great. Will you update soon?