Faded Cherry Blossoms
She smelled of soap and freshly baked bread. It was a comforting scent. Though the color of the cherry blossom had faded, her sweet scent still lingered.
Fading green eyes looked mournfully up at him.
"I hate you, you know," she confided in him, nodding thoughtfully.
He held tightly to her aging, liver-spotted hand.
"I know, I know," he replied wistfully. "Just keep on hating me a little longer, won't you? They're coming soon."
"I'm sorry," the green eyes grew sadder. "Why couldn't I have fallen in love with you instead of him?"
"Hey," he smiled gently at her. "Nobody's perfect, you know."
She snorted. "Hmph. You're one to talk."
"I know. I'll keep talking and you keep listening. They'll be here in just a bit."
"I could've loved you, you know," she cried petulantly. "I could've, I could've, if I tried—"
"Na, now, don't force yourself."
"But, if only – his eyes were always on you. Maybe if I had met you first, then—"
He tilted his head thoughtfully at her. "No use dwelling on the 'what ifs' right now. After all, you are smarter than that."
She stared at the young man before her, his long blonde hair, his still bright blue eyes, the youthful face and whiskered cheeks, all still the same, after all these years.
"I know. He loved you and I love him. Thank you for loving me all these years." She sighed and closed her eyes. "I'm just going to sleep for a bit now." She exhaled in one slow breath. Her chest failed to rise again.
Naruto cried.