Author's note: So sorry for the long update. I can't use the internet during weekdays since I'm staying at another place during the weekdays. I can only update during the weekends. I've also changed the title of this chapter because I found out that the previous title didn't suite the story.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
Chapter two: Sakura's Night Walk
Sakura's POV:
"Natsukashiku mada tooku
Sore wa mirai no Yokusoku"
So dear and yet so far,
That is the promise of our future
"Fields of Hope" Gundam Seed Insert Song
Outside this room, the rain keeps on pouring. It seems to me like the weather is sharing my sorrow. The rain falls with my tears for someone whom I can never win back again. For someone whom I can never be with or have a happily ever after with. It falls for my love, Uchiha Sasuke
He was a person so dear to me. But was destined to be so far and forever out of my reach.
Although I know that if I step unto the stage his face won't be there to cheer me (even though if ever he was there, I doubt he'll do that being the stoic Uchiha that he is) me. He won't be there after the show to congratulate me or eve be there for my performance. He won't be there. He was never there for me.
I thought that when he went back form Orochimaru, he would be different, that he would start to treat me as an equal, as a teammate and lastly as a woman, but no. He still treated me as a worthless piece of trash.
But something weird happened upon his arrival from finally defeating his brother. I was there at the gates with several other medic nins when they came, the five shinobis that were supposed to retrieve Sasuke 6 years ago has now achieved their goal. We rushed all of them on stretchers with me tending to Sasuke.
While I was checking his vitals (my hands trembling because of my nervousness) I saw him looking past me. As if something very intriguing was behind me. These eyes held longing, longing for comfort and a home that was taken away from him at an early age.
Iknew then that he was reaching out. Reaching out towards his family, his long dead family. Being a medic nin, I've seen things like this happen to patients that are either very young or very old. Those who are too innocent to know what death is and those too old to feel any disappointment in experiencing it.
I panicked of course because I knew that he was at the barrier of life and death. I wouldn't want him to die. So when he raised his left arm towards his family, I grasped it, tears spilling from my eyes and unto his pale face.
"No," I said, looking at him, begging him with my eyes and words. "Don't look at them. Don't follow them. Please Sasuke, please stay . . ."
He looked at me with confused eyes then it became gentler. The gentlest expression I've seen in him. This was the first time I saw him like this. He then tightened his hand in mine and smiled. He, the great Uchiha, known to be stoic and a cold-hearted bastard actually smiled.
"I don't want to go," he said, then became unconscious. I felt shocked by the series of events. And that time, I felt happy, really happy and for the first time in years I cried, not because of sadness, but because of happiness.
But when he woke up, he went back to his old self, the cold-hearted Uchiha Sasuke. He never showed that side of himself to anyone, even to me. I felt disappointed but besides that, I felt relieved because at least, my life during the genin days will surely be back again. My life with Uchiha Sasuke, although I know that he would never think of me but a mere trash in his way.
Judging by his actions and his look every time his fangirls went rampaging him, I know that he would never be that comfortable with a girl that forced her presence with him. So I waited for him to make the first move, for him to approach me. But that time never came. And after a long time of waiting, I knew that Uchiha Sasuke will never return her feelings for him.
I should have realized when I was younger that he's too great for me, too perfect for a person as ordinary as me to be with him, too Uchiha-like to be part of a Haruno's life.
I look at that closed door right now. Any moment the stage manager would be calling my name. I'll sing the two songs assigned to me for him. For until the end of time, I'll be in love with him. I will forever be bound to be unhappy without him by my side.
I shall forever remember this day in my life. I'll remember it as one of the saddest ones.
The door opens. I see the head of the stage manager stick out and say, "Sakura, two more minutes."
I guess it's time for me to break a leg. But for what cause? The one that I'm singing for won't be there. He'll never be there. He'll never be there for me.
I can never again go to that day twice. The day that we were kids, the days that we were innocent. I wish I could have at least been with you during those times that you needed a friend. The times after the massacre of your family that you needed a crying shoulder, someone that can smile for you and make you feel better. I can never be with you anymore. There are so many other greater women then me out there in the world. I'm sure you'll find someone that will be more worthy for you than me, someone who'll be a great addition to the Uchiha blood.
"Nido to ano hi wa modorenai
Kimi ni wa mou aenai"
Can't return to that day twice,
I can't be with you anymore
- "Shiroi Tsuki White Moon" Faust VIII image song
Normal POV
The curtain opened and out came Sakura in an elaborate gown, holding a microphone in one hand.
She went to the center of the stage with the spotlight being reflected by the beads carefully sewn in her dress. Then she started singing.
"As I rest against this cold hard wall
Oh will you pass me by
Will you criticize me as I sit and cry
I had fought so hard
And thought that all my battles had been one
Only to find the war has just begun . . ."
Tenten and nehi were there smiling at their friend. Ino was there at the front row at the left side, cheering Sakura on while Shikamaru looked at Ino with an expression of regret and extreme sorrow.
"Am I not strong enough
Am I not pure enough
To break you, pour you out and start again
Am I not brave enough
To break you, pour you out and start again
Am I not brave enough
To take this chance on you
Please can I have one change to start again."
At the back row, a figure was looming over. His dark onyx eyes looking forlorn and lonely. He keeps his eyes on Sakura singing a song he knew was silently dedicated to him. The sad song of a love that she cannot ever achieve with him.
The audience applauded after the song ended and Sakura looked at them and smiled a sad smile.
"This next song is entitled 'I Promise'. I dedicate this song to all those lovers out there. For I would know that everyone of you would like to promise to the one that holds your heart all that I am about to sing," Sakura said smiling a genuine smile this time, looking at her friends, Neji and Tenten and Ino and Shikamaru. "And I dedicate this song to the man I'll forever love but I know that won't be able to give it back."
"Will I always be there for you
When you need someone
Will I be that one you need
Will I do all my best to
To protect you
When the tears get near your eyes
Will I be the one that's by your side Will I be there
when you call me in the middle of the night
Will I keep the rain from falling down into your eyes
(I promise) I promise
(I promise)
I promise I will"
Neji looked at Tenten who was by now looking at Sakura with pride in her eyes. She was proud of her friend. He smiled at her and as if feeling his gaze on her, Tenten tilted her head towards Neji and smiled. He smiled the only smile that was reserved for Tenten. He then held her hand and intertwined his fingers with hers.
"When you're sick
Will I take care of you
Take your darkest night and make it bright for you
Will I be there to make you strong
And to lean on
When this world has turned so cold
Will I be the one that's there to hold
"Will I be there
when you call me in the middle of the night
Will I keep the rain from falling down into your eyes
(I promise) I promise
(I promise)
I promise I will"
Shikamaru looked at Ino with determination in his eyes then slowly went out of the auditorium. She looked at the place where Shikamaru was a while ago and was disappointed to see that he was no longer there.
"Will I be there
when you call me in the middle of the night
Will I keep the rain from falling down into your eyes
(I promise) I promise
(I promise)
I promise I will
"And I'll love you more everyday
And nothing will take that love away
When you need someone
I promise I'll be there for you
There for you
"Will I be there
when you call me in the middle of the night
Will I keep the rain from falling down into your eyes
(I promise) I promise
(I promise)
I promise I will"
By this time, Sakura had tears flowing freely down her face although her voice didn't change. She looked at the back to see if, by some twist of fate, he was here. But she saw nothing. She knew that he would never come, and indeed he didn't.
"I promise
I promise
When you call me
I promise
I promise I will"
After the show, the rain turned into a drizzle and a lot of people were walking towards their homes. Sakura didn't want to do that. She needed time to be alone, to recollect her thoughts and finally let go her love for Sasuke.
She walked towards the back of the auditorium, where an old bridge was located, right above a small creek known for the fireflies that flock there during the rain. She didn't care if she was beginning to get wet because of the drizzle. She had to do this, to at least free her of her pain even just for now.
She wasn't aware of a dark figure looming behind her, following her. His used to be black eyes turned red to see for any dangers near them.
Sakura arrived at the bridge and sat over the ledge, careful so that her dress won't touch the water. Fireflies were flying around her, making her look more ethereal and a different kind of beauty that only she could possess.
The red eyes disappeared to be replaced by black ones, filled with sadness and regret. He watched Sakura carefully, smiling to herself and her hair being carried by the slight breeze. She shivers as the breeze hits her wet bare arm. Then the unexpected happens, she falls to the creek.
Sasuke jumped out of his hiding place and ran towards the bank of the creek. Since it was very shallow and the current wasn't that strong, the only injury that Sakura must have was from the fall.
When he reached her, she was lying face flat on the creek.
"SAKURA!" he shouted.
He turned her over and placed the upper part of her body on his lap with his arm serving as a pillow for her head. "Sakura," he softly said, caressing her head with his left hand. She feels warm, Sasuke thought, but a little cold. She musn't stay outside this long especially if it's raining. As if on cue, the rain started to pour harder.
Sakura, feeling the rain on her face, opened her eyes and met a pair of very worried onyx eyes.
Sasuke smiled a tender smile as he saw Sakura's eyes flutter open. But then there was rejection in his eyes. There was no way that a woman like her will forgive her for what he did before. But what the heck, he thought, holding Sakura close. I don't care, at least I'll be able to tell her what I'm feeling for her.
"Sakura, I'm so sorry. I would never have hurt you intentionally. It was just that I was to damn proud to accept that what I'm feeling was love. I'm so sorry," he then held her away from him so that he could cup her face with his two hands. "I hope I'm not too late to say this but I love you and I'm willing to do anything to get your love back."
Sakura was astonished, she could never have dreamed that Sasuke loved her all this time and was willing to do anything for her to love him again.
She reached out and touched him tenderly on his cheek, tears of joy flowing down her face. "You can never get back something," Sasuke's eyes closed and his face contorted with pain, "That you never truly lost."
And Sakura saw the Sasuke that she saw when he came back from killing his brother, he smiled a tender smile and claimed Sakura's parted lips.
The rain poured even harder but for the two lovers, nothing could even disturb their little get together. For the sky was not mourning but was rejoicing for there is always a rainbow after the rain and life grows during it. Like the love of the two of people oblivious of it.
Author's note: Sorry if it came out a little weird in the end and a little OOC. Thank you to those who reviewed. I also would like to say that the next chapter won't come next week because a friend of mine blackmailed me into doing a fan fic with one of my lease liked pairings. I don't know if it'll come out that good because I was forced to do it but I hope it will (for the sake of my dignity).
The songs that are included in this chapter are "Strong Enough" and "I Promise" both by Stacie Orrico. While I was writing my story plan down, I was listening to her CD and got the feeling that those two songs will best describe the relationship of Sakura and Sasuke. Hehehehehehe
Please review and no flames please.
- sorry for the cliché saying there, I couldn't think of anything else. So sorry