The Time it Took

Summary: Haruno Sakura can never forget what he did to her. Her parents moved her to a new place with new faces...just to forget. Two years can do a lot to change one girl. SakuraxOC

Chapter Four: Year Two Part I

Sakura walked into the summer sun, her long pink hair tied back into a high ponytail. The strap of her tank top fell off her shoulder as she continued to walk through the trees. She took a deep breath of the afternoon air and sat at the foot of a tree. She sat there, relaxing as the clouds passed by overhead. The fresh green leaves cast its shadow onto the forest ground, making the forest floor seem more like an ocean than a grass infested area.

"This," began Sakura, "is the life."

She drew one of her long longs up and placed her hands behind her head. She closed her eyes and smiled to herself.

…

…

…

"Die!"

The lavender haired girl quickly dodged the flame attack and threw shuriken at him. Her long cloth belt caught fire and forced her to untie it and glare at her foe.

"You are such an idiot!" he yelled, making hand signs for another attack.

"No," she retorted, "you are the idiot. I trained myself."

"I trained you!" He drew the katana, the blade gleaming in the fire's radiance.

She grew enraged, running at full speed towards him. "STUPID JERK!"

…

…

…

Sakura opened her eyes with a start. She inhaled deeply and sighed. She thought a nice relaxing walk would take the images away from her mind…guess she was wrong.

"Saku-rin!"

Sakura looked ahead and saw Sanosuke, his hair now too long that he had to tie it back. Being a stubborn boy, he refused to cut his hair, believing that the population of the opposite sex would find it more appealing to them; which in the end, proved to be true.

"Hey, Sanosuke-kun, what's up?"

Sanosuke smiled. "I'm good, what about you Saku-rin?"

"Same old, same old. What are you doing here?" She asked, standing up and brushing away specks of dirt and strands of dead grass from her skirt.

"Well, I'm running away from Himiko. I mean, why else would I be here for?"

Sakura forced a smile. On the eve of Himiko's 15th birthday months ago, Sanosuke told her that he was in love with someone else. Yup, that killed her. Himiko never even looked at Sakura in the eye anymore, she rarely spoke to her. Himiko just assumed that it was Haruno Sakura that her dear Aoyama Sanosuke fell in love with.

"I see, well, good luck with that." Sakura began to walk away when she heard a female voice calling his name.

"Sanosuke-sempai! Where the heck are you?"

Sanosuke was about to run full speed towards the deeper parts of the forest when he realized the speaker was not his 'beloved' Himiko.

Natsumi walked up to Sakura and gave her a friendly hug. "Onee-chan, I didn't know you would be here as well!"

Sakura smiled and said, "I wasn't planning on it!"

Natsumi smiled back and turned around to find her sempai sitting on the ground, a blade of grass between his lips. She put her hands to her hips and said, "Sempai! You should be at the meeting! The Council is very enraged with your actions! They thought you had the shinobi under control!"

"So what, who cares? I already know who the shinobi is, why bother reporting it when I can handle it by myself? 'Sides, the shinobi isn't doing anything or hasn't done anything since the town meeting." he said, yawning and taking a quick glance at Sakura.

"Some Chosen One you are. You're nothing but a…a…um…" Natsumi thought of a word to describe him when Sakura finished her sentence.

"A lazy bum…as Nami-chan would put it."

Instead of ignoring what she said, Sanosuke stood up and said, "Who cares what the brat would say."

He then walked away, tossing the blade of grass behind him.

"Is Sano-temme gone yet?" Nami said, jumping from the tree branch. She ran a hand through her lavender hair and sighed. "He is such a bother sometimes."

Natsumi giggled and began to fiddle with her long locks of lavender. "Na-kun, where have you been?"

"I was at the meeting in place of Sano-temme. The school gave me a call so I went."

"How was it?"

"Boring, I can see why he doesn't go."

"Don't say that! You know you give him a hard time already as it is."

Sakura entered the conversation by saying, "Nami-chan, how do you torture Sanosuke-kun?"

Nami smirked and shoved her hands in her pockets. "Ooh, many ways. Many and many ways, Sakura-neechan."

Sakura could only smile.

Sakura was walking briskly towards her home, glancing at her watch. She knew she was way late for the luncheon her aunt has prepared…way late. Her mom told her to stay home today, but no Sakura had to go and protest, saying she needed air.

She could just jump over the rooftops and make it home in less than five seconds, but she lived in a village where shinobi were strictly tagged: ENEMY TO THE PEOPLE.

She continued to walk – more like quickly jog – to her destination when she heard a familiar voice in the alleyway.

"Oh, please, like I didn't hear that one before. Go kiss a frog or something."

Sakura peered around the corner and saw a lavender-haired girl tugging at the bandanna on her head.

Nami? What is she doing here? Of all the places, why here?

A male voice, irritated at Nami then said, "I'm serious. I don't care what the Council says. I just want you to lay low."

"Me? Lay low? Please, I have done nothing like that…not yet at least. Besides, it's you I should be watching."

The male figure then stood up, his ponytail swaying behind him, and grabbed Nami by her shirt. Her small body was lifted into the air as he said furiously, "You little brat! I am only telling you this because of the shinobi attacks! You and I are the only ones in this stupid village that know the shinobi arts!"

Sakura gasped, placing her hand over her mouth and resisting the urge to scream, "You guys are shinobi!"

Nami pounded on his fist forcing him to let go and said fiercely, her golden eyes turning into an icy death stare, "Idiot! I haven't used those worthless arts in years, and you and I both know that there is one more besides us. You're so blind and pathetic, Sano-temme."

"I know that! But at least she lays low!"

Sakura whipped herself out of the alleyway and ran home, regardless of the fact that she bumped into many people, or for the fact that her mom was waiting outside as she quickly passed her and shut her body into her room. It was shocking, both Nami and Sanosuke know the arts of the shinobi, the forbidden arts of this very village they resided in.

But of all people…why them?

"Sakura! I told you to be here before one! Now look at the time! Your aunt has prepared this for a long time now, and you go and not show up! What has gotten into you, young lady?" Her mom yelled with her hands at her hips; her face red from screaming at the young rebellious girl that used to be her angelic daughter. Teenagers, why did Kami-sama have to make them so darn disobedient?

"What do you have to say for yourself?"

Sakura looked at her feet, covered by her white cotton socks. She said nothing as she sat on her bed, already guilty at missing the luncheon. Guilt aside, her mind was still racing about Nami and Sanosuke…

"Sakura! Are you listening to me?"

She mutely nodded at her mother and muttered a quiet and unheard, "It was a stupid luncheon anyways."

"Good, I'm glad you understand. But for punishment, for the rest of the day you are forbidden to leave this room. But be grateful, I'm being lax with my punishments, Sakura." Haruno-san said, closing the door behind her.

Sakura didn't care what her punishment was as she was too busy trying to figure out the thoughts and images that were rudely thrust into her mind. She ran a hand through her hair and said angrily, "Where is Nami when you need her!"

"You called?"

Sakura turned to her window and saw Nami sitting on the sill, smiling her silly smile and swinging her legs as they were a foot from the floor. "I heard you got in trouble and couldn't leave…so I decided to come to you instead!"

Sakura smiled back and motioned for Nami to sit on the bed with her. "I'm glad. I need to talk to you about something…"

Nami shook her head. "No, no, no. I have to talk to you about something. I know you saw me and Sano-temme talking earlier. Oh, and please don't lie to me Sakura-neechan. You are the shinobi of the village. From Konohagakure, am I right?"

Sakura gaped at her, nodding slowly and saying, "How did you…?"

The lavender-haired girl giggled, her golden eyes twinkling. "I could sense your chakra from the moment you stepped into our village last year! It was weird though, so I went to the forest and saw you there, kunai at hand. Oh, as well as Sano-temme's sword by your side."

Nami laughed harder as she saw Sakura's confused emerald eyes. "Don't worry! I'm not telling anyone! Neither is Sano-temme, he wouldn't tell anyone."

"But how did…" Sakura said, finally finding her voice.

"Maybe I can show you instead."

"How? How can you show me that you and Sano-kun are…or….I mean…how?"

"Like this!" Nami said, placing her index finger to Sakura's head.

Before Sakura could understand her actions, she drifted into a deep sleep.

Just to let you guys know:

((blah)) - Sakura's thoughts

blah> - Nami's thoughts

((Where am I?))

Sakura was in total darkness, nothing could be seen…then like a bell being struck, the darkness crumbled around her, revealing a forest scene.

((Am I watching this? Is this for real?))

A lavender-haired girl, her hair tied in two messy braids was crying at the base of a tree. Her white shirt was stained…with blood.

((Blood? What's going on!))

The girl was talking to herself, mumbling over and over the same thing:

"I'm weak."

A young boy came up to her and sat down. He looked at her and said calmly, "I can help you…take away the pain."

Her golden eyes looked up into his onyx ones. They were filled with concern for her. "How can you help me…the pain is too much. How can you help me Sano-niichan?"

((Sano-niichan…))

Sanosuke smiled. "By teaching you what I know! These attacks are too much, I agree about that. But, Nami-chan, you can't always hide in your grief."

"NO! You're wrong. My brother…he was…and…I saw…" she burst into uncontrollable tears, her small shoulders shaking.

((Nami and Natsumi…had a brother?))

Sanosuke held the small, fragile girl and whispered, "I can teach you how to be strong…being strong for Kazuma is the main thing now…"

The scene turned black again, Sakura stood there, as Sanosuke held Nami, both engulfed in the darkness.

((I didn't know…))

She heard voices in the dark void. Sakura listened.

"Where are you going Na-kun?"

"Out."

"Again?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, I though you might want to…hang out…"

"Don't be stupid Na-chan."

"But you used to…!"

"That Nami is gone, ever since Kazuma died, Nami died too."

((Nami-chan…so much pain…I never knew))

"Ka-chan…he's not dead! Ka-chan is still alive! He wouldn't die! You know that!"

((Natsumi-chan…))

Sanosuke sat on the branch, watching Nami, a smile crept on his lips.

"Good! Now do it again!"

Nami nodded and she made various hand signs before a huge mist engulfed them both.

Once the mist dissipated, Nami stood there, smiling. "I did it! Sano-niichan! I did it!"

Sanosuke smiled at her and said, "Good job…Nami-rin. I knew you could do it! That's the tenth jutsu you've learned and mastered in one week…amazing."

Nami blushed. "Not bad for ten years old, right?"

"Right. Now let's focus on your fighting skills."

"Hai!"

((No…she likes him))

Sakura stared at the smiling Nami, her eyes shining…

Nami appeared in front of her, an older version of the images that Sakura was seeing.

When I was ten, war broke out with the neighboring country. My brother, Kazuma, died at the hands of a shinobi. He was…the only one of three of us to get killed…and we were together that day. All of us…the Kawahara Triplets…Na-chan was unconscious…and he died…in my arms…his blood…my blood flowing…his life running away from his body… >

((Is she talking to me?))

Sakura-neechan, have you ever felt the pain of losing someone you love? >

((Yes, Nami-chan…it hurts))

The older Nami looked ahead and Sakura followed her gaze. They were watching a younger Nami, sitting on the ground in front of a grave, and crying. Sanosuke stood behind her.

"Nami-rin…don't cry."

Nami stood up and wrapped her arms around Sano, burying her face in his shirt. He put an arm around her as she said in between sobs, "Kazuma…Kazuma…"

Sanosuke put a hand on her head, allowing her to cry.

Sometimes, when you're in love it's painful.>

((I know that…but why are you showing me this?))

Nami and Sanosuke were walking along the path, her small frail hand was being held by his bigger one. Nami was still sniffing.

"Don't cry anymore Nami-rin! You shouldn't…"

He picked her up easily and carried her to sit upon the large rock. He smiled at her and said, "Smiling is what you should be good at!"

She blushed as his fingers brushed away crystal orbs from her cheeks, she looked down at his onyx eyes and slowly smiled at him.

"See! That's better! Maybe it's because your on that rock and looking taller than me that made you smile! Or maybe it's because…" He paused, and looked away from the small girl.

"Sano-niichan? What's wrong?"

Sanosuke brought his face closer to the little girl, and brought his forehead to her own. "Nami-rin…if I did something…would it be wrong?"

She blinked at him with innocent eyes, confused at his question. "Nani?"

He brought his lips to hers, answering her simple question. Her eyes grew big at his sudden action, yet she felt relaxed at his action…as if…it was supposed to be.

Sakura stood there, stunned at what she saw. Nami was three years younger than him! The scene before them darkened yet again until a swirl of colors and a blur of light came into view.

((What's going on?))

Himiko. >

Nami was a little older than ten, and sitting on her own, fiddling with a tree branch that has fallen from a tree. She heard laughter and sighed.

"Sano-chan!"

"Himi-rin! Stop! That…that tickles!"

Giggle giggle. Laugh laugh.

The scene changed yet again, the trees ablaze.

"Die!"

Nami quickly dodged his attack and threw shuriken at him. She untied her cloth belt and watched it turn to ashes before her.

"You are such an idiot!" he yelled, making hand signs for another attack.

"No," she retorted, "you are the idiot. I trained myself."

"I trained you!" He drew the katana, the blade gleaming in the fire's radiance.

She grew enraged, running at full speed towards him. "STUPID JERK!"

Katana hit skin, metal drew blood, girl saw boy, and found hate.

"Sano-nii…no, Sano-temme! You messed with the wrong girl!" she spat, blood oozing from her arm.

"What did I do?" He spat back, swinging his blade, her blood drizzling to the edge.

"Think, you played with my heart long enough!"

Sakura woke up with a start, she was by herself, in her room, the window was open, and Nami was no where to be seen. She stood up and again went to the roof of her "permanent" home. The whole life story she has just scene was disturbing, yet…it somehow calmed her. All this time, ever since the whole "Uchiha Incident" she has never felt so separated from the world. Sakura believed that she was the only one that had to live through memories of pain and sorrow. But upon seeing past images of one younger than her…

"Well Sasuke," she whispered, her emerald eyes staring at the stars, "I guess I wasn't the only one to get hurt by love and you weren't the only guy to toy with one's emotions."

She sighed. She grasped the necklace around her neck tighter.

"Uchiha Sasuke, if you only knew how much it hurt."

To Be Continued

Author's Note: Eh…high skool is draining my life away… Reviews/comments/suggestions/flames/anything else are welcome!