Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the character in it.
XIII.
- Take-Off -
"Dad?" Sakura leaned on the door with heavy concern on her face. "Please, come out."
Her heart sank within her as she saw the expression on his face. She predicted her parents wouldn't be particularly happy with her being a field medic. Accepting that decision wasn't as simple when you imagined the possibilities of your child being hurt to the extent of disability and even death. Going straight to the battlefield brought some serious consequences. Sakura had not overlooked the facts, but she was led by a conviction. She knew her presence, her skills, and knowledge were needed there and if she rejected the offer, it wouldn't have been the right choice. It was something completely different when she faced her mother and father and told them about it.
"You could be anything else. Work everywhere else," he fumed from the other side. "Did you do that to hurt me?"
"No..." Sakura rested her palm on the wooden door to her parents' bedroom, where Kizashi had currently locked himself in. "It's complicated. Come out and we'll talk about it."
"Sakura," Mebuki's soft voice reached her and she turned around. Her mother wrapped her hand around hers and pulled her away.
"Leave him alone. He'll be fine."
They sat at the table in the dining room together. Mebuki neared her chair to Sakura so that they touched their shoulders and smiled at her. A while ago, Mebuki started making mochi dumplings and was busy with the process while Sakura tried appeasing her father, making countless attempts to get him out of that room.
The flour was already rolled with cornstarch and just waited to be molded into fluffy balls. Mebuki even prepared slices of anko paste in order to fill the dumplings with them. She tore a small part of the viscous mixture and handed it to Sakura before taking one for herself. They took some of the paste and enveloped it with the white dough, using their palms to create smooth globules.
"I didn't think he'll get so upset," Sakura looked down at the fluffy white ball in her hand with a sad expression.
"What did you expect him to say? That he's happy for you?" Mebuki smiled at her warmly. "You know him so well and yet I seem to know him better, in the end."
"Of course you know him better, you've been together for years," Sakura snapped. "I thought I could make decisions for my life without others hanging over my head. And I think it's fair I wanted a change in my life and made a step toward it."
"We both understand and respect that," her mother replied in a calm voice. "What you don't see is that... he loves you more than his life," Mebuki spoke with a content smile on her face. "Don't say you know that because you have no idea."
Sakura gave her a sour look. "Because I've never been a parent, yeah."
"You'll understand, one day."
"I hate when you say that. What if I never become a parent?" Sakura frowned, still angry. She tore another piece of the sweet flour and continued with another sweet ball.
"You might."
"Like you'd know," Sakura sighed in exasperation.
A brief silence spread between them as Sakura noticed another smile on her mother's face, this time holding a more different meaning.
"What?" Sakura hissed.
"Nothing. Just remembered something I read long ago. Don't know if it's true or not but... possibly."
"Tell me."
"Fun fact." Mebuki glanced at her daughter. "A group of scientists decided to make research. Turns out men are attracted to women who smile, but it's not true the other way around. It was a curious little article that made me think."
Sakura raised a brow. Not one of these stupid articles they stuff women's magazines with. They almost made her vomit. "What you're telling me doesn't fit your relationship with Kizashi at all. What you've read is a lie. As most of what they write in these magazines."
"There must be some kind of universal truth in all this. Not the article in particular but... the concept." Mebuki shrugged. "I believe everything that exists, does exist on the principle of balance. I am not one to laugh out loud and live through things thoroughly the way your father does. And somehow, sometimes I think him cute when he does that."
"And where are you going with this?"
"I am ready to believe joy attracts sorrow and light — darkness. Which is why..." Mebuki paused, furrowing, "I am concerned about you."
Sakura raised her eyes to Mebuki in surprise but hurried to lower them as a thought crossed her mind and made her blush. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine."
"If you're not perfectly careful," Mebuki continued but her voice was measured and slow, "and if you don't know when to give up on things that carry no future, you're going to suffer, brought down along with them."
"Mom, why are you telling me this?" Sakura was almost angry with her mysterious tone.
"Women are the weirdest creatures," Mebuki's smile widened. "I don't claim to understand them, but I know myself well enough. I am convinced you wouldn't abandon the job you loved so much if you haven't found a new passion."
"I..." Sakura furrowed but decided it's not wise to oppose her, in the end. The red on her cheeks only deepened.
"Does he make you happy?"
"Happy? No," Sakura snapped quickly, too embarrassed to talk about that with her mother. The latter waited out a few seconds in torturous silence until Sakura didn't give up. "...and yes."
Mebuki chuckled. "Is he happy with you?"
Sakura gave out a mirthless laugh. "Imagine the most unhappy person and then multiply the unhappiness by ten."
"I see. Parents dead?"
"Brother too. A month ago."
Mebuki shook her head.
"Thank God the war spared you and Kizashi. I wouldn't know how to continue living if you two were taken away from me," she leaned her head on Sakura's shoulder for a moment. "Tell me about him."
"You don't want to know," Sakura sighed.
Mebuki suddenly looked at her seriously.
"You'll leave in a few days," She said in a firm voice and made a pause, her eyes slightly dim.
There's always the chance that I might not see you again.
Sakura didn't have to hear the words out loud in order to understand. Mebuki held her emerald eyes on Sakura for a longer amount of time. As if she tried to... memorize her features. And still, there was bitterness in her expression, one that she couldn't hide. A deep sigh escaped Sakura's lips. She counted the things she had to spare her mother in that conversation.
"He's actually quite nice, but he doesn't know it yet," Sakura said, comprehending her own words as they came out of her mouth. Her gaze rested on a point in the air in front of her.
Mebuki let out a chuckle at how thoughtful her daughter became all of a sudden. "You think there's hope, then?"
"There is," Sakura spoke absently, placing the last mochi in the large glass dish, "If a person still seeks help from another then there's still hope, I suppose."
"Oh?" Mebuki didn't quite get what she tried to say.
"He marked a few cases of highly illogical behavior. Such as seeking help from me while convincing everyone else he doesn't need any."
"I'll tell you this straight. You've always been like that with people. There's something about you that makes them trust you."
"My hair and its color have other stories to tell," Sakura scoffed. "Good thing my eyes didn't turn pink. Then people," Sakura emphasized, "would've had nightmares about me."
"But they trust you anyway," Mebuki shrugged. "He surely has seen that in you."
Sakura remained silent for quite some time, thinking over her words.
"I don't know... guess you're right."
"I am," Mebuki chuckled. "You're going to be a great field doctor. You're strong enough for that kind of job."
Before even finishing her sentence, she stood up and took on with cleaning the table, gesturing to her daughter that she can rest on her chair. The door to the living room opened slowly and Sakura turned immediately. Kizashi was stooping with his hands in his pockets, resignation written on his weary face.
"Oh, papa," Sakura stood up, brows furrowing. She went to him and looked up, hands slowly enveloping him in a hug. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. It's just—"
"Come back to me whole, do you hear me?" Kizashi spoke in her hair, ignoring her attempts to explain. "Promise?"
"Promise," Sakura smiled, although he couldn't see. "You know what time is it now?"
Kizashi backed away from her, the sadness discarding from his expression with every second until it didn't disappear completely, ending up with a smile.
"No. Tell me."
"Time to eat some mochi, of course," Sakura imitated a scolding tone but then she gestured to the table. "This way, sir. Please have a seat."
"Don't eat the sweets yet, I've cooked dinner!" Mebuki's masterful voice resounded as she dashed into the room just in time to catch them reaching for the mochi which resulted in both Sakura and Kizashi jumping in surprise. Mebuki paid no mind to their perplexed expressions, but instead went to the table and took away the dish, disappearing with it.
Sakura and Kizashi exchanged looks.
"I think I like this restaurant already," Kizashi announced and laughed out loud, joined by his daughter.
She never thought she'd set foot in that airport but life was a funny thing. The little wheels of her suitcase she dragged behind rolled with a continuous, calming sound. At any other time, it would've been crammed, but the war suspended the normal traveling, and flights were only allowed on business matters and important political meetings. That was why the airport had more police officers than civilians around. She walked with confidence, glad that the hour was too early for her parents to come and send her off. Knowing her parents, they'd hug her so many times that she would've missed her flight.
Sakura walked through the terminal and waited patiently for the officers to check her passports and permit documents. That airplane was only for the military and it didn't surprise her that they were so thorough in their examinations.
"Keep walking until you reach the second check at the entrance of the airplane. Safe flight, ma'am." The officer returned the documents and Sakura nodded, continuing through the corridor. Her heart was beating vigorously in her chest, nerves so tensed that she found herself heaving a heavy sigh as they finally let her through and onboard. All these wishes for a safe flight only made her more nervous.
But as she walked down the alley, eyes nailed down in a search for the spot where her place was mentioned, the sound of a familiar voice made her stop.
"Man, she's hot and she's a doctor. If you don't do something about it, I will."
Naruto was cut off by Sakura's coughing whereat he turned sharply with the widest grin on his face.
"Oh, hey! Where's your place?"
Sakura's gaze went from Naruto to Sasuke behind him and back before it shifted to the ticket in her hands.
"Well. Turns out I'll be sitting here," she pointed to her right. Three places. "Are you guys here too?"
"I have the one next to the window!" he exclaimed, the suddenness of his remark making her blink.
"Okay," she drawled, still not making a move.
"Should I help you with the luggage?" he offered cordially as he put up his own suitcase. Sasuke already put his own while Naruto talked with her and now waited for Naruto to move away, hands resting at his sides. He would probably have to wait a lot more, Sakura thought, knowing Naruto and his lack of keenness when it came to everyday trifles and situations.
"No need," Sakura replied with cold politeness.
"Right," he turned to Sasuke, his voice now close to a whisper: "She's angry."
"Move," Sasuke demanded with a thunderous expression and Naruto jumped, sitting on the farthest place with the swiftest movement, eyes fixed straight ahead and hands intertwined in his lap. Sakura couldn't help but crack a smile. His vigor was so strong and at the same time comical that she couldn't possibly be mad at him for more than a minute. She shifted her gaze on Sasuke, stepping back and allowing him to sit.
"You're the one in the middle," he said, busy glaring at Naruto.
Sakura furrowed at her ticket and hurried to push her luggage next to Naruto's. Seems that she had the one in the middle, after all. Sakura sighed and took her seat next to him.
"Didn't you have a girlfriend?" she inquired after a voice announced their soon-to-be departure.
"What? Who?" Naruto faced her sharply.
"Hinata?" Sakura reminded and then continued quietly, "She is a diamond in the rough. I hope you know that."
Naruto's playful smile faded away as he lowered his gaze.
"I do. Sorry."
"I'm not mad," Sakura chuckled. "If I was, you would already be with broken proximal phalanges. On both hands."
He looked at her in confusion and she knew she had to explain but instead, her fingers traced a line on his hand, showing him exactly which bones she'd aim for.
Naruto backed away from her, the color from his face disappearing. Sakura was about to continue the conversation but was distracted by the sight. She could see through her window as they gathered the needed speed. Slight concussions started as they came off the ground, the movement creating an unpleasant sensation in her stomach. They were in the air but... the concussions didn't quite stop.
The plane shook continuously for a minute, then two, and no one said anything in one long moment. Sakura had never traveled on a plane before, but she was pretty sure something's wrong. Her eyes followed the restless air-hostess that made her way to the cockpit. The turbulence became a tad stronger in a few seconds and Sakura let out the breath in her lungs in an ineffective attempt to calm down but her hands were already shaking.
"Okay, guys. If we don't live through this one, I love ya," Naruto leaned forward, giving them a peace sign. Sakura chuckled nervously, but he didn't receive Sasuke's attention. The latter appeared just as cross as before, staring at the far point of the alley. "No? Okay."
"It's your captain speaking. Please, stay in your seats and remain as calm as possible. Over."
"They ain't saying what the issue is," Naruto noted thoughtfully. "Not good."
"At least we won't die old," Sakura's voice trembled as she spoke the words with an awry smile.
A painful spasm rent her heart as the plane's torso still rattled violently. Did she... see her mother and father for the last time? She looked down, with her eyes dimmed. And he didn't even want her to go, how ironic. The tears welled up in the corners of her eyes. Mebuki was strong, she would live through it but Kizashi...
A foreign touch wrested her out of these dreadful thoughts. She hadn't realized her hands were shaking terribly until now. Her gaze fell down onto her left hand, now laying still under the gentle pressure of another, way warmer and steadier than hers. Sakura raised the soft moss of her eyes to Sasuke who watched straight ahead, no visible emotion on his face. At the moment the rattling ceased, though, he took his hand away.
"Whew," Naruto exhaled. "Close call."
"Apologies for the inconvenience. The plane is out of danger now. One of the horizontal stabilizers didn't respond as it had to. It's an electronic problem that can be fixed. You can rest assured, everything is under control. Over."
"They better not make me go in there," Naruto murmured.
Sakura raised a brow.
"He's a pilot," Sasuke finally spoke, to her surprise.
"What?" Sakura's eyes widened. "You? A pilot?"
"The best one around. But that's a secret," Naruto winked at her.
Sakura gasped. "Are you serious?"
"Absolutely." Naruto puffed up his chest.
"Everyone on this plane," Sasuke dragged her attention again and she faced him, "is capable of doing much more than carrying a gun around."
"Yeah, I forgot," Sakura said. "Elite Soldiers."
A/N: Thanks for reading. That was a kind of a transition-filler and that's why it's shorter. Ugh... I've got so many things I have to write ahead, it's frustrating. Just decided to underline, although faintly, where the deepest affections of each of these three lay, in the face of death. Hope you won't be disappointed with the experiment/demonstration. Off-topic, I've got the dumbest title names, they're hilarious. Should've added Humor in the genres up there, just for the titles.
Can I just say something? I'd like to stop and thank you all from my heart for being so nice and kind to me. I didn't quite expect the story will be liked at all, especially considering my still unpolished writing. Knowing how hard it is to receive positive reactions while writing one of the world's most popular fictional pairings, I am almost convinced I'm doing ok. Thank you for the support. See you next time. I'm finally moving to another set. We're going to the front.