Chapter 3: Between you and me

Sakura walked to school that Friday morning. As she did, she passed the park and saw people putting up booths and rides. Some were hanging lanterns and signs. Sakura was excited about tomorrow and she couldn't wait. Sakura continued her way to school, but she decided to stop by a store. It was still quite early so she entered the shop. A store specializes in charm making. Sakura scanned through the pendants displayed but something stood out. It was ordinary yet something about it made it different from the others. It was a purple gem, formed into a tear shape.

"Can I see that?" Sakura asked the man behind the counter.

"Ahh...a very fine choice young lady." He said as he took out the pendant.

Sakura took it from the man's arm with care. She stared at the pendant and smiled.

"Young lady, look at it closer. Inside you'll see a feather, it is color black but the other half is white." He said.

Sakura looked at it closer and saw that there was indeed a feather.

"Is that a real feather?" Sakura asked.

"Of course, they say that the feather belonged to an angel. The angel, with darkness he was tainted yet a part of him stayed pure. It happened to him because he decided to go against the law of nature. Angels and demons aren't meant to be together; in fact, it is the complete opposite. Angels and demons are meant to be apart, they are supposed to loathe each other, not love one another. Nevertheless, these two star-crossed lovers would cross the universe for each other. They went against the law of nature and thus lead them to their tragic end. They say that when the two were sentenced in exile, they left something behind to remind others of their love and it was this very feather that was tainted by both an angel and a demon. The tear shaped crystal it is in, was their tears." He said.

"That was a very beautiful story. In the end they both ended up together… by the way how much is it?" Sakura asked.

"I'll give it to you for free." He said.

"Why?" Sakura asked.

"Well...since you are the first person who ever made time to listen to my stories. Think of it as a thank you gift." He said as he gave her a chain to go with it and placed it in a blue box.

"Ok. Thank you very much for your kindness." Sakura said as she left with a blue box in her hand.

She arrived at school with few people in the classroom. She saw Sasuke sitting on his desk, staring into an empty void.

"Good morning Sasuke-kun." Sakura said as placed her things on top of her desk.

"Morning." Sasuke said as he continued to stare into nothingness.

"Thank you for the gift Sasuke-kun." Sakura said.

"No need for thanks." Sasuke said as he looked at Sakura.

"Here." Sakura said as she gave Sasuke a blue box.

"What is this?" Sasuke asked as he looked at the box curiously.

"It's my gift to you. Since you gave me a gift, I thought of giving you one too." Sakura said.

"You didn't have to you know." Sasuke said.

"I felt that it would be rude to not give you anything other than a thank you. Please take it Sasuke-kun." Sakura said.

Sasuke opened the box only to find a necklace in it. Sasuke took the necklace by the chain and stared at it. At first, he thought it looked somewhat plain but when he looked closer there was a feather. It was very mysterious and dark but beautiful at the same time.

"Th...thank you Sakura." Sasuke said as he wore the necklace.

"Your welcome Sasuke-kun." Sakura said as she sat down.

Sasuke stared at the necklace, it was an amazing piece of art. He couldn't help but smile.

Class started, Sakura glanced at Sasuke and saw him rubbing the pendant with his thumb. Sakura smiled and knowing that Sasuke had liked her gift. Sakura looked back at the blackboard, now it was Sasuke's turn to look at Sakura. He smiled as she saw her hair flowing with the wind, as she pushed the stray bangs away from her face then writes on her notebook. Sasuke realized that Sakura was indeed very beautiful. The way her eyes would glimmer when she smiled, the way her face would turn red when she would get mad, when she would pout when she was sad. It was all so endearing. Her beauty captivated him; she had a different beauty, different in a way that it stood out of all the girls and few boys have noticed that. She was simple and she had a very upbeat personality. At that moment, Sasuke realized how much Sakura had made an impact on him. He smiled lightly then looked back at the teacher. The memory of her smiling face still lingered in his mind as if she was there in front of him. Meeting Sakura had marked at space in his mind and soul. A space that would only be for her and it would be there as long as he lived.

"Sasuke-kun, let's go home together." Sakura said as class ended.

"Uh...sure." Sasuke said as he stood and took his bag.

Sasuke and Sakura were on their way out when someone shouted Sakura's name. Sakura looked back and saw Ino running towards them.

"Hi Ino." Sakura said as she smiled.

"Sakura, I was going to ask you if you wanted to come with me to the festival." Ino said.

"I would love to Ino but Sasuke-kun already asked me." Sakura said.

"Sorry." Sakura added.

"Ohh...too bad! well I'll just see you around! Bye Sakura!" Ino said as she ran off.

"Let's go?" Sakura asked.

"Ok." Sasuke said as they left the school.

Sasuke walked Sakura up to her doorstep and they bid goodbye.

"See you tomorrow Sasuke-kun." Sakura said.

"Ok, I'll pick you up say, five thirty pm?" Sasuke asked.

"Ok. Bye Sasuke-kun, take care and thank you for walking me home, bye." Sakura said as she went in and closed the door behind her.

Sakura peeked through the window and saw Sasuke walking away. Sakura leaned on the door as she felt the beating of her heart hastened.

"Why is my heart beating this fast?" Sakura thought as she placed her palm on top of her heart.

As night came, Sakura sat on the edge of her bed looking at the kimono that was hanging behind her bedroom door. Sakura smiled and lied down and before she closed her eyes.

"I'm so excited about tomorrow. I can't wait to spend the night with you Sasuke-kun."

"Goodnight Sasuke-kun. Sweet Dreams...I...love...you..."Sakura said as she closed her eyes and fell asleep.

The next day Sakura was awaken by the sound of her alarm clock. Sakura woke up exactly 7:00 am. She stretched her arms and stood, slipping her slippers and went to the bathroom to take a bath. As the water trickled down her soft supple skin, she could feel the excitement build up in her. She quickly rinsed off the soap and shampoo left on her and grabbed a towel. She stepped out of the steamy shower room and looked at the clock. She got dressed and dried her hair. She tied her hair into a ponytail, picked up her art materials, and placed them inside a dark green bag. Sakura prepared a simple breakfast, which consisted of two loaves of bread, scrambled eggs and a glass of cold orange juice. She finished approximately 8:30 and headed for her art classes, grabbing her bag and her sketch pad on the way. Her art classes were held in a small house by the ocean. She entered the classroom and saw that her teacher, Tsunade was there, working on a painting.

"Good Morning Tsunade-sama." Sakura said.

"Good Morning Sakura. Others called me and said that they won't be able to make the class today. So it's only the two of us and I think some other girl." Tsunade said as she smiled.

Sakura sat down beside the window, in front of her was an easel and placed her sketch pad on it. Sakura loved sitting by the window because she is able to see the things outside and that is the source of her inspiration. Whether it be a bird, or an odd looking cloud, she would draw and bring it to life. Suddenly another girl entered the room.

"Sorry I'm late Tsunade-sama." She said.

"Oh Sakura, this is Hinata Hyuuga and she will be joining us from now on." Tsunade said.

"Hi..." Hinata said shyly.

"Hi Hinata-chan. I'm Sakura Haruno, nice to meet you." Sakura said as she shook Hinata's hand.

Hinata smiled and shook Sakura's hand.

"Ok let's get started. I want you to picture something or someone in your mind that makes you happy. Let it be a plant, a pet or even a person, as long as it makes you happy. Now go on and start." Tsunade said.

Sakura closed her eyes, a lot of things came into Sakura's mind then suddenly Sasuke's face appeared in her mind. Sakura's eyes shot open.

"Why am I thinking of him? Does he really mean that much to me that he always comes into my mind? What have you done to me Sasuke-kun...but I'll draw you anyway because in a way you do make me happy even if it's only a memory of you." Sakura thought as she drew Sasuke's picture.

Noon came and it was already time for Sakura to go. Sakura glanced at Hinata's drawing. It was a weird picture because it was a picture of a bowl of ramen.

"A bowl of ramen? Hmmm...weird. But maybe it reminds her something or maybe because it's her favorite food...Who knows." Sakura thought.

"I'm going Tsunade-sama, bye Hinata." Sakura said as she tore the picture of Sasuke from the pad and kept it in her sketch pad.

"Bye Sakura." Hinata and Tsunade said.

Sakura walked back to her to house and left her things. She then left the house again and continued to the art museum. Sakura loved art, and it was obvious. Sakura worked there and her shift ended at 3:30. She went home and took her late lunch. Sakura took a shower and got dressed in her kimono. Sakura made retouches as she fixed her hair into a messy bun. She clipped her hair with a clip that had Cherry Blossom designs. When she was finished, the doorbell rang. She answered it and saw Sasuke in a hakama. When Sasuke saw Sakura, enthralled by the looks of Sakura he spoke.

"You look beautiful Sakura." Sasuke said.

Sakura blushed looked at him as she played with her kimono.

"Thank you. You look good too Sasuke-kun." Sakura said, not looking at Sasuke.

Sasuke took Sakura by the hand and led her to the festival.

A/C: chapter three is finished! Actually I'm already writing the sixth chapter but I'm going to need to get reviews. Please and thank you!

Thanks to the reviews of…

Animexloverxx

sasukeschick

and to the reviews of the people on the previous chapter…

Animexloverxx

Neji's girlfriend

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