Discalimers: I don't own Naruto, Kishimoto Masashi does.. Yaddi yadii yadda..
Twenty two more filler episodes to go! I hate the filler episodes, the manga is definitely better than the anime at this point in time.
People from the Philippines, can anyone recommend a great Manga/Anime Shop? I'm in Manila, by the way. Thanks!
Thanks to the following who reviewed:
Blackrose113
Ellamoony
Blackangelblood
Gozarunoda
Jahannah12
Mucho amor-.xo simplee sweet
Warning: The chapter is a bit touchy (you'll see later why) so if you are below 18 but mature enough to read the fic, by all means, go ahead. If not, er.. read at your own risk. Id rather not go around poisoning young innocents..
"" Spoken words
'' thoughts
When the Snow Melts..
Chapter VII
The Price of a Promise
It was eerily silent in the spacious room of the only female kage in the land – Godaime Hokage. The tension was practically tangible in the air. The blonde sannin was seated behind her desk, eyes closed as if in contemplation. In front of her was another blonde, eyes seemingly brimming with curiosity but was obviously withholding himself from talking. Another golden haired person, a woman, whose hair was gathered into a loose ponytail, blue orbs holding no emotion was standing not far from them. A pair of deep charcoal eyes was gazing outside the window at the far right, clearly having the look of boredom in them.
The other occupants made no sound at all, waiting for the others to speak. Most of them had been on the edge as of late, since a fragment of the past they thought that was long gone had come back, but was a far cry from what she was then.
The Hokage stubbornly refused to answer any questions pertaining to the pink haired kunoichi, settling for a glare for each query. It's not like she did not like to answer any of them, it was more like she did not know the answers herself. She would be sending a letter to the Mizukage about this.
Sounds of footsteps from outside the door alerted everyone, all pairs of eyes became fixed on large wooden doors, mixed feelings abound. A slight creaking sound emanated from the doors before being opened completely. Three figures walked in, the other two walking behind the feminine figure who was in front of them. Emerald orbs stared emotionlessly straight at the Hokage, practically ignoring all the other people in the room, including a soft gasp from the blonde woman, whose azure eyes, no longer emotionless, were reflecting intense longing.
She was one of the people who just couldn't let go; who never believed that her best friend turned rival turned best friend again was dead, as the Hokage had proclaimed four years ago. She had volunteered for every search mission for the pink haired shinobi the Kage had instigated, every single one without success. Yamanaka Ino.
"Mission accomplished, Hokage-sama. The group of the renegade-nin was successfully eliminated."
Even though she did not don her mask, no emotion could be seen on her face.
Sasuke's onyx orbs took in all of her, how she looked confident as opposed to how she was last night. She was just like a scared child then, in search of someone to hold onto, to support her, just like when they were genins. But now, she exuded nothing but calmness, professionalism and poise.
"I know that. What do you intend to do now?"
They all looked at her, each hoping that her story would have a happy ending, that all the troubles of the past would be laid to rest.
That she would stay.
"I intend to go back to the village of Mist. My business here has ended, Hokage-sama."
Tsunade's expression was that of barely concealed anger, Ino's brow was raised in confusion.
"May I remind you that you are still a shinobi of this village, Sakura, you have responsibilities here in Konoha."
Her former teacher's eyes stared at the Mist Protector wrapped tightly on Sakura's right upper arm before glaring at her protégé.
Lifeless jade orbs suddenly flamed in anger, her hands were clenched so tightly they were beginning to turn white. A thought crossed her mind and she sneered at the idea but refrained from saying it out loud.
"I am no longer a Konoha shinobi. I have not been for the past six years. The only reason I have come here is to finish a mission given to me by the Mizukage and not to stay here. Now that we have accomplished it, I will return to my home, Mist."
The sound of Tsunade's palm slamming on the table resounded over the deadly quiet of the office.
"What do you mean you don't belong here! You were born here in Konoha, you served here from when you were a genin up to when you became ANBU! I taught you everything Sakura! Everything! Doesn't that mean anything to you!"
She spoke in a calm and soft way, just like how she did back then.
"Tsunade-shishou, I am grateful for your patience and all the knowledge that you have given me, but I have thought about this for years."
After speaking those words, Sakura reached inside her pocket and walked towards her former sensei.
"Arigatou gozaimasu, Tsunade-sama. For everything.
She gently placed her Konoha forehead protector on the desk, before bowing to her former teacher. She turned her back and nodded at Akito and Satoshi before walking towards the door. Tsunade stared at the protector in front of her; then at Sakura's retreating back.
She was walking away from them. There was something very familiar about the scene, a shinobi leaving her own village to serve another, the difference was that their reasons for doing so. One had done it for power and the other-
"You cannot leave the village Sakura. The guards have been informed of the situation and will not let you pass. Even if you get pass them, I will not hesitate to declare you a missing nin."
Everyone looked like they wanted to say something, but could not bring themselves to say so. Sakura turned around and with an impish smirk on her face and spoke in a smug voice.
"I know that Hokage-sama."
"Sakura-chan.."
Her steps came to an immediate halt when she heard that voice- which was once childish and almost girlish when they were in team 7, and was now a deep manly voice.
"Don't you have a family and friends here in Konoha, Sakura? Aren't they enough to make you stay here?"
The childish desire that has been burning within him all this years was still there; the desire to see his precious Sakura-chan alive. He never did believe that she was dead. She was his Sakura-chan and she would never give up on life. The sinking feeling that she blamed him for everything that happened to her because she almost died in order to protect him was there. The guilt resurfaced once again, making him feel entirely responsible for the hell that she had gone through.
'Please don't hate me, Sakura-chan..'
Her voice was controlled but icy and sharp.
"My only family here in Konoha perished because of a fire and because of a mission. Friends? Do you call leaving out a person to die in some country without bothering to look for her friendship? I have nothing left here. Nothing."
It happened so fast that she had to do a double take of what happened. Her head was turned to the side due to the force of the slap; her cheek was throbbing and warm. She looked up to meet eyes of smoldering cobalt, tears freely flowing from her eyes to her cheeks.
"How can you say that Sakura! Didn't look for you! I didn't stop trying to find you! We never believed that you died! Don't you understand that!"
Emerald turned glacier cold.
Flashback:
It was two years since she last set foot in the village she had served for the most part of her life, the village that she would have given up her life for. She felt a tremor run her back as she neared it, the gates coming in her view. Beside her, silver eyes watched her in amusement, he knew how this had meant to her, that she'd be able to go home to her friends. He crushed the feeling of sadness that he felt, it was unfair to her if she knew his feelings for her, she would probably hesitate to go back, it was not unknown to him how grateful she was to him and might sacrifice her own happiness for him.
He was the shinobi assigned to accompany her in her journey home. The others could have done it but the Mizukage insisted he do it, the man was aware of how deep his attachment to the pink haired shinobi was. He noticed that his companion stopped moving and he did as well.
Emerald orbs showed anxiety and fear.
"What if they've forgotten me? They didn't look for me. What if they are already happy with their lives?"
He gave her a reassuring smile as he laid a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't be silly, Sakura. I think they looked for you, just not in our village. And I think they'd be happy to see you. So let's not keep them waiting."
He hid all his feelings for her, he chose to treasure the time he had with her, and the little time remaining for them. She looked up to him and gave him a radiant smile. The smile that he saw in his dreams, the one that he learned to love.
"Ne, I want to surprise them. Can we wear our masks?"
He nodded and placed his mask in place and she followed suit.
She felt her heart quicken its pace as they passed the gates. It was great to be home, to see the place you were born in, where you had spent a greater part of your life in.
"Yukito, can we go to the memorial stone? I haven't said hello to Kaka-sensei for two years. I think he might get mad if I don't drop by first."
"No problem, Sakura. Lead the way."
They stopped in front of a black memorial stone in the middle of the village. Colors of reds and yellows welcomed them, autumn was upon the country. She gazed lovingly at the name of her former teacher, Hatake Kakashi. He had died during one of the dangerous Class S missions, when he protected his other teammates from an incoming attack. The man became really close to her heart, when her parents died of an accident when she was only fourteen. Naruto was training with Jiraiya and Ino was out in a mission. The other person she considered a friend was still not retrieved by Konoha shinobi, he was still a missing nin. Only Kakashi could comfort her then, he never left her side. From then on, he became closer to her than ever, even more than Naruto or Ino.
She took her mask off and a small smile was tugging on her lips.
"Hello, sensei.. Did you miss me?"
Yukito simply watched her and let her free her emotions, she told him of stories about her departed teacher; he knew how important he was to her.
Sakura gently traced the name of her former teacher when she saw something that would change her forever.
She became frozen on the spot, she wasn't sure if it really was there and she took a closer look, her nose nearly touching the cold surface of the stone.
Tears sprang from her eyes in a steady flow, alerting Yukito that there was something wrong. He crouched down beside her and tipped her face towards his.
"What's wrong?"
He was shocked when instead of answering; she buried her face into his chest, clearly upset by something. Silver eyes rested on the monument, looking for that something that may have upset her.
Haruno Sakura
It was engraved like the other names but this was entirely different.
She was alive.
"That's why they didn't look for me! They declared that I'm dead! That's why they didn't bother!"
She was angry and disappointed. Who wouldn't be? She waited for two years to go back home, only to find out that they all thought that she was dead. He was snapped out of his thoughts when he felt her weight disappear from his chest.
Her eyes were red and puffy from crying, but the emeralds still showed resentment. She wiped the tears off her face with the back of her hand then took the proffered handkerchief from Yukito.
"Let's go home, Yukito."
"But aren't you..?"
His voice trailed off, he couldn't say what he wanted to without upsetting her again.
"Our home Yukito, The village of Mist. I've visited sensei long enough. Right sensei?"
She faced the stone again in an effort to hide the tears that won't stop falling.
'Is this what you wanted Yukito? To make her stay in Mist even if the price is this?'
He faced her before offering his hand to her.
'Call me selfish, but I can't let her stay here like this. I can't let her get hurt.'
"Put your mask on, Sakura. We're going home.."
"You mean to say that if you believe that a person who is MIA is still alive, you carve her name in the Memorial stone. Is that it Ino? Bullshit!"
Ino looked at her disbelievingly.
Naruto looked guilty as ever.
With all her defenses crumbling before her eyes, she continued to step away from them.
"I've always thought that you held on to the promises you make Sakura. Kakashi would be disappointed."
'Sakura, never ever turn back on your word, never make a promise you can't keep. You know how hard it is to be left with a broken promise right? You feel that you've been betrayed, that you've been cheated on. It's enough that only a few would have to go through that, you should spare the others from that kind of pain.'
She turned around sharply to face her sensei.
"I have never broken a promise, Tsunade-sama. Never."
Tsunade smirked at Sakura, finding the upper hand in the situation.
"Then you will stay in Konoha. Do you remember what you told me when you became an ANBU?"
Her eyes became glassy as she tried to remember.
'Ne, Tsunade-sama. I know it's too early to say this but you know, I want to feel how it is to live like an ordinary woman, without missions and such. Iie shishou, don't give me that look, I'm not quitting right now, I just became ANBU. But I was thinking, can I be relieved from duty after three years? I'd like to see how it is to be free from the fighting and bloodshed. I promise that I'd work really hard for three years. And it's not like I won't return, if I find it too boring I'll be back.'
"I promised that when I was 17. I'm 24 now sensei, the three years are up."
A smirk on her face reflected how confident Sakura was about her answer. She felt that she was not bound to any promise whatsoever. However, the same could be said about the Godaime Hokage.
"You said that when you became ANBU. You served ANBU for a year before your disappearance. Technically, you still have two years left."
The emerald eyed woman became silent and lost in thought as she tried to weigh her sensei's statements.
"You have declared her dead, Hokage-sama. It is the same as letting go of your shinobi, she doesn't have to stay here, and she will go home with us. Besides, Mizukage-sama considers her as one of us-"
Akito was stopped in midsentence when a cold hand wrapped around his wrist.
"Tsunade-sama, you do understand how I value each promise I make. However, I need you to promise me that after two years, I will be released from that vow and will be allowed to return to my home-the village of Mist."
Amber eyes looked indignant and were about to retort but stopped when his eyes met her defeated emerald orbs, and when she shook her head gently.
"A promise is a promise."
She said it as if she was talking to Akito when in truth, she was trying to convince herself of that reality.
"Very well, Sakura. You will stay here in Konoha and serve as ANBU; after two years you can do as you please. I promise that."
Sakura sighed and nodded in concession.
"Onee-sama. I'll tell mother and the others what happened. I'll be back after a week or two to bring your things. I'm sure Mizukage-sama would allow me to go here."
She smiled weakly at him before enveloping him in a hug, making the young man blush uncomfortably.
"Tell okaa-sama I'll be okay and not to worry. I'll write to you. Take care of yourself and the clan as well. I know you won't let us down."
Sasuke watched with concealed interest how Sakura looked at the chestnut haired man. It was softer and more relaxed compared to how she glanced at them. It was as if she had a special connection to him, it can't be helped, after all, the man was the brother of the man Sakura loved, Yukito. He suddenly felt the desire to destroy something but held back. He was convinced that he felt like that because he was simply being protective of whom he thought was his family.
"Ne, I hate being ignored you know. Don't I get a hug, Sakura-chan?"
Satoshi watched with amusement as Akito flared up at his words. Ever since Yukito's death, Akito watched Sakura like a hawk, protecting her from the advances of men who wished to court her or even came near her.
"Don't call her Sakura-chan, pervert."
Akito was still glaring at Satoshi and even more so when the other man ruffled his hair up, like he was some brat. He wasn't that young, he thought. He was eighteen already.
Sakura frowned at the two of them before coming in between. Akito looked like he was ready to rip Satoshi in half.
"It would probably be a miracle if the two of you can go back to Mist without one killing the other."
Sakura hugged Satoshi, even with Akito's protests.
Naruto watched the scene, his heart nearly drowning in jealousy. There was once a time when she spoke like that to him, back to when she thought of him as a friend; back when she reprimanded him when he did something stupid. But there was also hope. In the two years that she would stay here, he'd do his best so that Sakura-chan would forgive him. With that new resolve, he looked at her again, eyes aflame with determination.
"Go home safely, Akito, Satoshi."
Akito bowed respectfully to her.
"We will be going now, Sakura-oneesama. Rest assured the clan will be protected and taken care of, as the former clan patriarch had intended."
"Sakura-chan, if anyone is stupid enough to hurt you in any way, tell me, I'll make sure he gets his just desserts."
Akito nodded; Satoshi looked at Sasuke in the corner of his eye.
The two disappeared in a gust of water, leaving Sakura in the office alone with her former comrades.
"By the way Sakura.."
She was walking towards her old home, a huge apartment near the Western Gates of Konoha. After her parents died in a fire accident, she couldn't bare to live in their old house. She bought the apartment with her own money from her missions. She looked at her companion from the corner of her eye.
It just had to be him. It had to be Uchiha Sasuke. Looks like Tsunade was still a bit incensed, she had assigned Sasuke of all people to watch over Sakura for the next two years. Punishment for not reporting back, she said. It was either him or Naruto but the latter had a wife and a child so the decision was the former missing nin.
A long time ago, she would have jumped when she found out that he was going to live with her. But that was back then, when she was a naïve and gullible child. A child who loved the charcoal eyed prodigy just like the rest of the female population. But this was now, her eyes have been opened to reality, that he was no prince charming, that he was just his former teammate, who refused and cannot bring himself to love another human being.
She placed a hand on her cheek where Ino had slapped her earlier. She saw her when she entered the room, looking at her like she missed her.
'Crap..'
How can she be like that when they didn't look for her. Old wound were still fresh, stubbornly refusing to heal.
She sighed inaudibly.
'The two years would definitely drag..'
She stopped when she was in front of what she used to call home. It wasn't anymore; it only reminded her of her past in the village, of all the hurt she had experienced in the Village of Konoha. Sasuke did not speak a word, he simply watched her silently. She bent down to the level of a potted plant, a place where she kept her spare key.
'Strange. The plant is still alive, healthy even.'
She stood up and opened the door. She flicked the switch, and the lights in the living room and kitchen went on. A pink eyebrow was raised when she noticed the condition of her apartment. A slim finger glided on top of the table to check for dust, she found none. The mirrors were shiny, as if they have been polished recently. The seat covers looked as if they were freshly changed. Then another thought occurred to her. She was gone for six years but her apartment still had electricity. It was as if she never left.
"Naruto has been cleaning your apartment ever since you disappeared."
'But I do most of the cleaning'
Sakura was shocked but showed no signs of it. Whether it was about the Naruto cleaning part or Sasuke speaking in his own volition, she didn't know which one was more disturbing. Naruto? The ever lazy and unkempt Naruto who slept in filth which he referred to as his apartment cleans her place?
Sasuke remembered what Naruto said during one of their cleaning sessions. It would have been classified as a D rank mission but the two ANBU shinobi couldn't care less. Even if one of them would never admit it.
'Sakura-chan hates it when her place is dirty. So it's up to me to make sure that the place is sparkly clean until she comes back.'
Denial.
Uzumaki Naruto has always been in denial. He had said that Sakura was just in some other village recuperating and she'll come back again. While the other shinobi has accepted the fact that the pink haired shinobi was no longer alive, a few stubbornly refused to do so. Naruto, Hinata, Ino and secretly, himself.
The others knew what the two of them were doing but mentioned nothing about it. If it was their way of putting up with the regret, then let them be, they said.
Now that he thought about it, Naruto was right all along.
But he wasn't sure what was more painful for the golden haired idiot, the idea that his Sakura-chan hated and blamed him with all her heart or the thought that she had indeed gone over to the other side.
But she was real, she was here. He was convinced from the time he had felt her soft hands in his, when she was reaching out for someone to hold her, to chase the darkness away.
He discreetly looked at her, taking in the glorious shimmer of her pink hair, her porcelain skin which looked soft to touch. She had indeed grown, he admitted to himself. Unlike their other peers who hasn't seen her for six years, he hasn't seen her for eleven, for he left Konoha when they were only thirteen.
"You can sleep in the bedroom at the left of the hallway."
He had already brought his clothes in this morning, the decision that he would be Sakura's "babysitter" as Ino had nicely put it, was decided at that time, since Naruto was a bad choice. Aside from the reason which they told her that he was married to the Hyuuga heiress, there was a possibility that the roseate haired kunoichi blamed him for the accident; hence would not prove to be cooperative at all. He was the only person who was not present when it happened and Sakura may not consider him as an adversary. That and there still might be a tiny speck of a chance that she might have feelings for him; according to Tsunade.
Sakura's fingers wrapped tightly around the cold doorknob of her room. She took a deep breath before opening it and stepping inside. What Sasuke said may have been true. The bed sheets looked like they have just been washed. She looked around the room before wandering around, stopping in front of her dresser. Her things were exactly where they left them, a picture of her and her family, of Kakashi and her during a festival and the old Team 7 picture. Her emotions were in turmoil as she recalled the nights she spent here, crying herself to sleep when dreams of her parents haunted her. She smiled at the fluffy couch placed near the balcony; Kakashi had slept there for nearly a week just to comfort her when she woke up screaming. If the man hadn't been like a father figure to her then, as well as her sensei, others would have suspected that they had a relationship.
'I still haven't said hello to sensei and okaasan and otousan.'
She opened her closet to change into something comfortable. It was like the rest of the apartment, her clothes were neatly arranged, just like how she left them. Naruto really knows her well.
Was she angry at him? Did she hate him?
She looked at their picture again.
"Not now, I'm too tired to think about it."
She finished changing her clothes before plopping down the mattress, eyes shutting, drifting off to sleep..
-
The warm rays of the afternoon sun peeked through the clouds, making the breeze warmer. The fresh green leaves swayed with each blow of the wind, making some petals fall towards the ground. It was as if life was breathed unto the world, as spring has arrived, causing bright green leaves grow again from the branches of trees nearly frozen by the wrath of winter, flowers of all shapes and sizes to bloom again, splashing the land with its warm colors, thawing the frozen lake back to its old form, bountiful of fish and life.
The abundance of life everywhere opposed the coldness surrounding a young woman's heart.
She was seated under one of the maple trees, eyes of sea foam green draped with sadness gazing off to the far horizon. It had been a few months after her supposedly return to her former home. But alas, everything was not what she had hoped to be. She was usually a cheerful woman but the events that have passed as of late have left her reclusive and silent, opting to stay alone by herself. She hasn't cried from that autumn day in Konoha but her face was devoid of its usual brightness.
Gray eyes glanced over her, brimming with worry. She kept everyone she knew at a distance, including him, smiling at them saying she was all right. He knew it wasn't his place to say anything but he knew that it was up to him to comfort her, especially now when she was dispirited. He closed the distance between the two of them and sat on the shade of the tree beside her. He didn't speak at first, waiting for her reaction to his presence. Silence reigned, making her deep breaths audible.
"Yukito.."
She was still staring of to the distance, while he turned to face her.
"Yes?"
She drew her knees closer to her chest, resting her chin atop them.
"Why am I always left alone?"
He could see her eyes starting to turn glassy, the unshed tears gathering at the corner of her sad eyes. He sighed softly, turning his head to look at the cerulean sky. The wind blew, teasing the short strands of his midnight blue locks.
"I don't think I've ever left you alone, Sakura."
She looked at the sky just like he did, eyes squinting because of the brightness of the sun.
"I know. Have I been living a lie? Maybe no one really cares about me.."
He suddenly wrapped his arms around her waist, letting her head rest on his chest. His voice was gentle but was drenched with emotion.
"Never say that again Sakura. Mother, Akito, the whole clan cares about you. I care about you. Even if the world abandons you, I'll never leave you Sakura. Never."
His softly spoken words broke the dam of emotion she'd been trying to keep ever since she got back; the pain of betrayal, the sadness of being forgotten, of being given up on. The pain was like a dull knife, piercing into her soul every waking moment. But he was there. He had always watched over her, and given her comfort even if she refused it.
He was there.
He never left.
Tears fell in a continuous stream, her sniffles muffled by his shirt. She clung to him like he was clinging for her dear life. His embrace grew tighter as he soothed her back.
"I'll be here Sakura. I'll stay by your side. Always."
Her sobs even grew louder, his words reached her soul, melting the frigid wall she built around it.
He suddenly disappeared, leaving her alone in the vast field.
"Yukito?"
She stood up and ran to look for him. She saw him standing far from her with his back turned to her.
"Yukito, wait!"
She ran faster but his figure became farther and farther..
"Chotto!"
She woke up with sweat trickling from her face, her breaths shallow and forced. The moonlight reflected from the broken pieces of a shattered crystal vase on the floor. Sakura closed her eyes as she tried to remember how warm Yukito felt, how secure she was when his arms were around her. How gentle his voice was and how soft his gray eyes were, like the color of clouds that brought rain on earth. One by one her tears fell again, leaving salty tracks on her face.
"It doesn't matter anymore, ne? You left me here alone.."
She picked up one of the broken pieces on the floor, its edge shining in the low light. She raised her other hand, turning it, exposing her wrist. Old scars could be seen across the wrist, some small, some long, but they stayed there, as a reminder of what she tried to do from a year ago. Akito or Tsubaki would appear from nowhere and stop her before things went out of control. But there was no Akito here. There was no Okaasama here. There was no one here that cared about her. No one.
She placed the jagged edge inches above her wrist preparing for the slash. She closed her eyes tightly and smiled softly.
"I'll see you again Yukito."
A swift movement then the piece went through flesh. The warmth of blood flowing from an open wound alerted Sakura that the deed had been done.
But there was no pain.
She opened her eyes to see another hand atop hers, bleeding profusely. Onyx orbs were like dark flames of ire, burning like inferno.
"What do you think you're doing?"
His voice was louder than usual and obviously strained.
The grip on her hand became tighter.
"Why the hell do you care? Let go of me!"
She struggled against his strong hold but was unsuccessful.
"This is none of your business, Sasuke!"
Red swirls of sharingan suddenly appeared as his glare intensified.
"Why were you trying to kill yourself Sakura?"
Deep pools of jade became icy, to match the tone of her voice.
"Because I want to die! I want to die, do you understand! Do you know how it feels Sasuke? To be left alone with no one to love you? I was happy once, but everyone left. Okaa-san. Otou-san. Kakashi-sensei. Yukito. Even my so called friends from Konoha abandoned me! You don't know how it feels like! You chose to leave everyone, you always have. I'm always left behind. Always."
Her voice became softer and his grip on her loosened, enabling her to free her hand.
He moved back a bit, studying her tear stricken face.
"I have always chosen to be alone, because I'd rather not be betrayed again. But unlike you, I've never felt how it is to be loved again and love. That's the difference between us. Maybe I really don't understand you. Maybe I never will."
He turned away from her, walking towards the door.
"I've always thought that you were weak Sakura. But I never thought that you were a coward."
He closed the door behind him, leaving Sakura alone again.
'Maybe he's right. I'm being a coward…'
She didn't stop crying that night.
It was still dark when her eyes fluttered open.
"5:15?"
She was never a late sleeper and was usually awake in the early morning. She got a towel from her closet and took a cold shower to jolt herself awake. Thoughts of what transpired during the evening made her feel uneasy. She had accidentally hurt Sasuke when she was trying to..
'It was his fault for intervening..'
But Sakura was not immature, she knew whose fault it was and who deserved an apology.
She stared at her old red cheongsam, the one she wore six years ago. It was like she was back to who she was then. Plain, old Haruno Sakura. Sakura who chased Uchiha Sasuke, in an effort to make him fall in love with her. She shook her head to clear it from unnecessary thoughts.
She found herself walking in the streets of Konoha, earning stares and whispers from some of the villagers who may have heard of her return. But she didn't care, she didn't even bother looking at them. A lot of things have changed, new buildings erected, some destroyed. But it was still Konoha. Where she was born, raised, betrayed, yes, pretty much the same.
She was standing in front of the memorial once again, like how she did during the past. When she had problems, she would find herself there, to ask for strength and guidance from her beloved sensei. But he never spoke back. But sometimes, words weren't really necessary.
"Hello, Kaka-sensei.."
Her voice was always controlled but it was when she spoke with Akito and the other clan members, her other friends from Mist or Kakashi that it becomes as soft and melodious as it once was.
"Ne, have you met Yukito? I was with him four years ago, remember?"
She was so engrossed with speaking that she didn't notice another figure hiding behind the trees.
"You know, the guy with blue hair and silver eyes? Don't get mad kay, sensei? You see, I was supposed to marry him."
She stopped to search for the right words to say.
"But he isn't here anymore. He's probably with you, up there. Ne, don't pollute him with your Icha Icha paradise novels. He's innocent unlike you."
'That's why he got you pregnant?'
That was what Kakashi would have said had he been there. She smirked at the thought.
"You guys are never fair, you always leave me alone."
A small tear fell from her eye. Her voice trembled a bit but she continued speaking.
The figure behind her, a man with hair as bright as the summer sun and eyes as blue as the deep sea was about to come to her but was stopped when a bandaged hand gripped his shoulder. He frowned at the intruder, but the other, with hair as dark as ebony and eyes as dark as the starless night looked forward, at the coral haired kunoichi.
"Now no one's here with me.. I can't even return back home.. All because of that dumb promise."
She was scowling now, like a young errant child who has been reprimanded. She suddenly smiled when she remembered what Kakashi used to make her do when she was angry or mad. It was a relaxing technique that the silver haired jounin taught to her, since she was known for having a bit of a temper.
She took a deep breath before singing.
Spend all your time waiting for that second chance
for a break that would make it okay
there's always some reason to feel not good enough
and its hard at the end of the day
I need some distraction
oh beautiful release
memories seep through my veins
it may be empty oh and weightless and maybe
I'll find some peace tonight
In the arms of the angel
Fly away from here
From this dark cool hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You were pulled from the wreckage of your silent reverie
Here in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here
So tired of the straight line and everywhere you turn
There's vultures and thieves at your back
Storm keeps on twisting
Keep on building the lies
That you make up for all that you lack
It don't make no difference
Escape them one last time
It's easier to believe
In this sweet madness
Oh this glory and sadness
That brings me to my knees
In the arms of the angel fly away from here
From this dark cool hotel room
And the endlessness that you feel
You were pulled from the wreckage of your silent reverie
And in the arms of the angel may you find some comfort here
Here in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here…
A serene smile lit her features as the last note of the song faded. This was why Kakashi had often asked her to sing when she felt angry or sad; it channels her feelings to the surface, making her a great deal calmer.
A smile, similar to Sakura's was lingering on Naruto's lips as he realized why Sasuke had stopped him when he tried to come near Sakura, because the raven haired man knew that she could resolve it on her own, better than if he interceded. He turned to face his companion, only to find him gone.
The pink haired woman went home, feeling strangely refreshed. She found Sasuke in the kitchen, in front of the stove, stirring something in the pot that appeared to be composed of vegetables, meat and noodles. It was odd to see her former teammate doing of all things, cooking. She walked towards the kitchen utensils he used to prepare the food and placed them on the kitchen sink. She proceeded to wash them silently.
Meanwhile, he scooped some of the soup and placed them on two bowls beside him. He placed them on the table and sat down, obviously waiting for the other occupant of the room to sit down.
"It's not poisoned."
He broke the silence with his deep baritone voice. It was obvious that even Uchiha Sasuke couldn't stand the silence for too long.
"I know.."
She placed a pair of chopsticks near his left hand and she snapped apart her own pair. She subtly watched him as he raised the chopsticks to his mouth to bite on the piece of meat. Her eyes traveled to the bandages wrapped around his hand, the one which she accidentally stabbed last night. Despite his efforts to hide the discomfort, it was obvious to a person trained in the medical field how pained he was. It was pure luck that she didn't cut deep enough to damage the bones, only several blood vessels.
She slurped the last portion of the soup, and waited for him to finish and place his chopsticks on top of the bowl. He was about to stand but she beat him to it, she took the bowl from his hands and placed it on top of hers. She gingerly washed those in silence as Sasuke remained in his seat.
She dried her hands on the towel and turned around. He supposed that she was headed out of the kitchen but to his surprise, she stood in front of him but she avoided his stare. She picked up his hand and removed the bandages carefully lest she hurt him. She was oblivious of the piercing gaze that was sent to her direction by the man. Green chakra rushed to her hands, making it glow like it was on fire. His brows knit in confusion but since he could not feel any destructive aura from the chakra, he remained silent. She placed her hand directly above his, only mere centimeters apart. Slowly, the damaged vessels were repaired, the torn muscles went back to its original form; and the porcelain skin was mended, as if it was never damaged at all.
She took out a bottle of alcohol and a cotton ball from her pouch and proceeded to wipe the dried blood from his hand. After which she stood wordlessly; then started for the door.
"Thank you.."
Memories of the unforgotten past resurfaced. Those were the same words he said to her before he left the village eleven years ago. It was his frigid reply to her when she had declared her undying love for him.
"You said you never loved again ever since the massacre.. But you were loved, Sasuke. You were loved."
She walked away from him, leaving onyx eyes filled with emotion rarely seen in their depths.
Authors Notes:
Loooooooooong chapter..
The song "Angel" was from Sarah McLachlan.
School has officially started which means updates would be slower than usual.
Finally a chapter with a solid SasuSaku in it..
I haven't abandoned "The Talk", it's just that I'm really busy okay?
Is the story still confusing? I'm trying my best to make it as clear as possible; obviously I'm not really doing a good job. (sniff..)
How was the chapter? Was Sasuke a bit cold? Too OOC? I'm trying my best to make him as realistic as possible. (tears hair off..) Feedback..
Reviews are appreciated as well as sensible flames.
Thanks for reading!