Me, nervously looking at all the works I posted and haven't updated in months: HEY
How are you doing? I'm hoping you've been okay. I mentioned this story a few times on Brilliance and only found the will to post it now. Apologies for those waiting to see updates on askshikasaku; next week I'll be free for sure once all my tests are over, and hopefully everything will go well until the year is over. Still, feel free to send asks; I only have one in the askbox right now.
Anyways, this is an AU. I think you've all noticed by now that I draw inspiration from things that happened to me. Well, some very specific things in this piece did happen. The most important one is the place in which the first segment, so to say, takes place. If you want to better visualize what where they are, you can look up Hotel Pontal do Ocaporã and Porto de Galinhas on google. I've been to that place once and it was my favorite trip so far. Also, the name comes from a song by OneRepublic of the same name.
I'm breaking this work up in chapters instead of posting it all in one go because I'm an anxious little shit and I don't want to wait until I'm 100% done with it. Plus, you'll get to read it slowly instead of reading it all in one go.
Have I mentioned that I'm working on a new fanfic? LMAO
Enjoy! And please let me know what you think.
i
Kakashi was a good driver. The turn signal was no mystery to him and he never exceeded the speed limit. In fact, because of that, they always arrived late when he offered to drive them anywhere, but today there was no rush to get to their destination, although Sakura begged to differ. Sharing a backseat with Sai and Naruto, the latter of which was wildly gesticulating as he held a one-sided argument with the other party was grating on her nerves. Sai did not grace him with all of his attention, too focused as he was on the sketchbook in his hands, but he said just the right things to get Naruto going for weeks.
She had popped her earphones in a long time ago and was going through her entire library of songs on her iPod in an attempt to drown them out. Kakashi was calmly bobbing his head to the sound of classic rock music playing on the car radio, easily ignoring the blonde, and Yamato was studying the map to give him the right directions. With her chin propped on her palm and eyes looking at the speeding scenery outside, Sakura could only hope the road trip would reach its end soon.
Naruto's and Sakura's parents were neighbors and therefore the two grew up together. Kakashi was a friend of his father and so he was always around, knew them from a young age and was their teacher in a few classes they shared in college. Sai was Yamato's son, who in turn was one of Kakashi's friends and one of their teachers from one of the many courses they took. Together they formed the oddest mix to ever be put in a car to go on a road trip after graduation, especially considering that they barely knew Sai and that their other close friend had chosen to travel somewhere else with his other friends instead. It was okay, though, because everyone needed some time away from him for different reasons.
The older they got, the more she realized that Sasuke might not be able to give her the attention she craved, especially when she had made moves on him before and he had turned her down each time. After a while, you just realize that the friendship will never progress and you have to give up before it deteriorates, and she would rather keep him as a friend and let go of her feelings than to have him turn his back on her. It had been years since she decided not to pursue anything anymore, and now he was officially out of her reach. Not that she minded, though; really, she should have seen that coming.
As for Naruto, they just engaged in too many fights and she was not going to patch them up if they decided to wrestle on the beach.
Kakashi changed lanes to overtake the white car ahead. At least, that was what she thought he was trying to do, because in the end, both cars were moving side by side at the same speed. He had engaged in a talk with Yamato as they discussed if they should stop for a bathroom break or to have a snack, and Sakura was left to stare at the sedan beside them, trying not to punch Naruto into next week if he elbowed her once again.
Whatever violent thoughts that were in her mind in that moment disappeared once she caught sight of the driver and effectively ignored everyone else. His profile was simply perfect. A sharp jaw and a straight nose with a pair of sunglasses perched on top. Dark hair gathered in a ponytail. A smirk playing on his lips as he talked to the person on the passenger seat. She fought the urge to roll down the window or to press her face against the glass. He seemed so handsome from a distance; she wondered if he was just as much from up close.
"Kakashi, are you trying to get the car to race us or what?"
Their teacher and friend noticed what he meant and stepped on the gas, going fast enough to successfully overtake the white sedan and returned to the same lane it was cruising. Sakura twisted around on her seat to look at the occupants of the car. A bearded man sat beside the one she had been checking out, both of them laughing at something. Dejectedly, she sat back down and punched her best friend on the arm for ruining her sight.
The hotel they were staying in was beautiful with lush vegetation and wood paths that led to different places. Their apartment had three rooms, two bathrooms, one sitting area with a tv and a balcony with a view from a distance of the ocean and pool area. Plastic chairs, tables and reclining beach chairs were scattered orderly about the pools, one of which had a fake waterfall and a big thatched roof on opposing sides, under of which was located a bar with many submerged stools and concrete tabletops that peeked just above the water. The restaurant was located nearby, part of which was concealed within walls with tall, wide windows, but some tables were set on an open balcony that overlooked the beach that could also be seen from the pool area. Clear blue water washed up on the soft, white sand, the waves so gentle that foam was hardly visible.
There was also a playground for kids, a gym, a tennis court and some other features that clearly did not get their attention as much as the pools and the beach did. The older adults changed into swimming trunks, Kakashi with that ever present, ugly disposable mask on his face and aviator sunglasses to hide most of the scar on his face, and left the three freshly graduated college students to their devices. They, too, changed into bathing suits, but before they headed for the pools after them, they decided to explore a bit.
Sakura thought she saw a white sedan in the parking lot. Upon closer inspection, she found that there were three others as well. Of course; as if that would be an exclusive model.
Naruto decided to go for a swim. Sai settled for a walk on the beach with his camera; he enjoyed taking pictures just as much he liked drawing landscapes and people. Sakura decided to be the sensible, polite one and headed over to their teachers to greet the couple they were talking with by the pool bar.
Kakashi had a tall glass with a frilly umbrella before him on the tabletop when he waved her over. "Sakura-chan! Come meet our friends." Water danced above her knees as she walked over to them in the shallow part of the pool. The woman had long brown hair, beautiful red eyes and a protruding belly that confirmed a pregnancy. Her husband, perhaps, had a bearded face that she found oddly familiar. "These are Kurenai and Asuma. They're here with some graduates as well."
She smiled at them, all the while trying to figure out where she had seen that man before, when Asuma glanced at the path emerging from the buildings and raised a hand. "And there they are."
A plump man with spiky brown hair donning and open button-up green shirt and black shorts, a bag of chips in his hands and crumbs clinging to the corners of his mouth. A model-like blonde beauty with a curvaceous figure and a bust Sakura wished she could have, her long hair flowing behind her like silk in the wind. And a man with a ponytail that was much too familiar as well.
Horror dawned on her as she realized that one of the white sedans in the parking lot belonged to them.
The group was not so bad. Kurenai was kind, but she mostly spoke with Ino, glad that she had a female friend to spend time with now. The boys formed a group of their own and engaged in many activities, although Choji always made sure to bring food and Shikamaru, the one she had been shamelessly checking out on the road, often complained about it all, but ended up going nonetheless. As much as he was handsome, he seemed like an overall lazy guy. Ino confirmed that to be true after a few hours in her presence.
Sakura was unsure whether or not they were engaged romantically. They would have to be blind or stupid not to want to date Ino, honestly; she was much too good-looking in her two-piece purple bikini and made Sakura feel very self-conscious with her short pink hair and petite figure with more subtle curves. She felt slightly relieved to know that she seemed to be interested in Sai – of all people – but still did not seem too comfortable with the idea of trying to flirt with Shikamaru. Aside from the bare minimum greetings, they only seemed to talk when everyone was together to play a game or to eat at the restaurant.
Ino seemed like a cunning person, so she dared not ask her about Shikamaru in any way, unless the conversation they were having allowed her to ask one thing or two before quickly trying to steer the conversation away from him, but still remain within the same topic.
On their third day there, Naruto and Choji were in the pool talking, Sai was in one of the reclining chairs drawing some of the palm trees and plants around the pool area, Sakura was on the chair next to his reading one of her medical books, Shikamaru was just next to her taking a nap, and Ino – where was Ino? Her absence did not bother her much. She was much too content with her book and her sunglasses with mirrored lenses to care. Sakura could read in peace and steal glimpses at the sleeping figure on the chair to her right without him or anyone knowing. Kakashi and the other adults were always too busy by the bar having drinks and talking about whatever.
A shadow fell over her. Sakura looked up into the eyes of Ino who had her hands perched on her hips. "Are you studying?" She hissed accusatorily and made to hoist her up and away from her comfortable spot. "No way! We're going out for a walk now!"
Shikamaru woke up with Ino's loud words, which attracted stares from other people as well. If everything else was not enough to burn Sakura to a crisp in embarrassment, the knowledge that she had disturbed him certainly did. The blonde was a little kinder as she sweet talked to Sai and asked him to look over her medical books before pushing her along the way where a waiting Kurenai was standing as she gently rubbed her stomach.
She apologized with a kind smile, though there was something in her eyes that she could not name. "Ino wanted to take a walk on the beach with us."
Sakura complied, although she knew that the pregnant woman should be resting with her feet up on a soft cushion, but the sand was just as soft. The water was warm was well, and Kurenai kept her engaged in a conversation about her major in medicine whilst Ino looked around them all the time as if looking for something very specific. There was a palm tree in a grassy patch where they stopped for a while to let Kurenai catch her breath. Merchants passed by them offering to show local sweets and crafts. The older woman bought a few sweets for Choji.
"So, Sakura." Something in the way Ino pronounced her name did not sit well in her stomach. She swiveled around on the balls of her feet with hands propped on her hips and lifted a brow at the pink haired woman. "Shikamaru, uh?"
She paled considerably before crimson took over every inch of her face. Kurenai shook her head at the blonde's forwardness and patted the young woman sitting beside her gently on the back. "Ino can smell things like from miles away."
Sakura buried her face in her palms. "Where'd you get that from?"
"Oh, please, Forehead." Hours into their fresh new friendship and they already had nicknames for each other. "Did you really think that mirrored sunglasses would fool me?"
Her ears were ready to fall off if she continued to experience such embarrassment. Ino flipped her long hair over her shoulder and Kurenai settled a friendly hand on her shoulder. "It takes a while for Shikamaru to make a move. He's dated only one girl seriously, right?" She looked up at Ino for confirmation and continued. "We aren't leaving so soon. Maybe we can help you."
She did not know what to say. Sakura did not even know if Ino was subtle enough to hint at it to her childhood friend, still she nodded her head anyways in hopes that they could just go back to the hotel and she could hide in some dark place until she was feeling mildly like herself again. They helped Kurenai up to her feet and backtracked their steps. Sakura breezed past the boys once they got there, not daring to look up in her rush to go to her room.
The hotel was located in a small town that lacked the glamour of big cities like Konoha, but its cobblestone streets and its simple buildings gave it a special charm. The best time to explore was in the evening, for during the day the sun beat down mercilessly on them. Upbeat songs drifted from within restaurants and shops along with the delicious smell of dishes that had Choji trying to figure out the best place to grab a bite. He ended up stopping by various stalls and smaller snack bars to get smaller portions so he could have a bit of everything.
Shikamaru and Ino walked at his pace whilst she kept a steady talk with Sai as he briefly stopped every now and then to photograph something eye-catching. Naruto and Sakura walked on ahead looking at different display windows and exchanging opinions on the many things they saw. He tossed away his empty milkshake cup and offered to buy her another ice cream cone if she wanted, to which she declined. He casually slung an arm over her shoulder as they leant forward to examine something else that was being sold. Ino narrowed her eyes at them.
She looked at her friend and then glanced behind her, wondering what Kurenai would do in a time like this. She really wished these old people would quit stopping at every bar they saw for drinks and chit chat; she was on a mission and needed some help!
Taking a deep breath, Ino considered her options. She knew that Sai knew just enough about the duo ahead to mention what needed to be said. "Don't you think they make a great couple?"
Shikamaru, who up until that point had been walking while looking up at the stars, glanced down at them in that moment and missed his step on one of the cobblestone. Ino knew that it most likely was just a coincidence, but chose to believe what she wanted to believe.
Sai lowered his camera, quickly checked the picture he had just taken, and then looked up at his friends. "Naruto has a partner."
"I can see that."
"No." He shook his head as if to stress his point. "It's a man from Konoha. Sakura is friends with him."
"They must be looking for a gift to him then." Ino hummed in contemplation and chanced a glance at the man next to her from the corner of her eyes. Shikamaru seemed to have regained his composure and perhaps was aware of the games she was playing. He had always been too smart for his own good. "Doesn't she have a boyfriend?"
The group stopped as Choji wandered to another establishment when a delicious sweet smell reached his nose. Sai went on. "I heard from Naruto that he was hoping she would date his best friend."
"Really? What went wrong?"
"Sasuke turned her down." He said in a flat tone as he adjusted the configurations of his camera for another shot. "Multiple times. I guess she just gave up."
Ino frowned genuinely at that. She knew Sakura for a very short time, true, but she could not fathom why someone would ever reject to go out with her like this. Sure, she liked to study in a trip to the beach instead of lying back to get a tan, but she was nice and fun and pretty. She seemed to care deeply for her friends and was as patient with Naruto and Sai as her temper would let her. She had just met Kurenai and asked her daily how she was doing because that was her instinct as a medicine graduate.
"Some people just realize what they had after they let go."
She jerked her head towards Shikamaru. His gaze was set on the two friends as they finally agreed on something nice and entered the small shop with colorful walls. For a moment, Ino wondered if he was talking about himself and his ex-girlfriend, thinking back to the time when she broke things up with him about a year and a half ago and then randomly waltzed into his life about eight months later wanting to get back together. By then, he had fully healed and wanted nothing more with her.
He had that look again on his face, however, from when he sat down with Ino after that chance meeting and told her that it was finally time he gave someone new a chance. The aloof expression softened and his shoulders loosened their tension for just a brief second, but she saw it all. Shikamaru probably figured that this guy would act up when Sakura was happy with someone that she truly deserved, or when she was simply happy with herself.
Choji returned to their group with a sandwich looking thing that was oozing a caramel like filling from around the edges. Ino regarded Shikamaru as he declined a bite from Choji's snack, and made a mental note to plot a plan with Kurenai.
The sun rose early around here, at about five in the morning. Sakura found herself awake the moment the barest hint of light slipped past the heavy curtains and could not sleep afterwards. Quietly, she grabbed a book and sneaked out of her bedroom and out onto the balcony. They had found a hammock inside one of the closets and hung it up on the balcony minutes afterwards. She and Naruto had squeezed themselves in there and rocked back and forth like little kids, trying to shove the other out onto the ground.
She opened the sliding doors quietly and sat on the hammock that swayed slightly with the new added weight. The air was so fresh and birds were already singing nearby. The sound of the sea could be heard faintly on the background. She took in a deep breath and opened her book, immersing herself in a much needed quiet time.
Six pages later, the door to the balcony of the neighboring apartment opened and Shikamaru emerged from within with his hair down. Sakura looked up to greet him and noticed as he tucked away a carton of cigarettes into the pocket of his pants. She heard from Ino that he got that nasty habit from his teacher, and deeply appreciated that he decided to spare her from the awful smell of nicotine.
"Studying so early already?" He inquired as he lazily leant onto the wood railing separating them.
Sakura set the red page marker in place and closed the book. "I have to keep sharp."
One of his eyebrows quirked in wonder. "Why's that?"
She felt pride swelling inside herself for her accomplishments, but tried to sound like she was not bragging. "My teacher offered me a job after I graduated. I completed the obligatory hours of the internship under her watch some months ago, so I proved myself to be competent enough. I'll start next month."
Shikamaru seemed impressed at that and smiled at her excitement. "Sounds like a lot of responsibility."
"It is, but I don't really mind."
Quietness fell over them as the sun rose higher above the line of the horizon. Sakura placed her foot down on the floor to rock the hammock gently, but the coldness of the tiles made a shiver travel up her body all the way to her head. Engrossed as she was with her reading, she had not noticed that the early morning air was cold enough to make goose bumps rise on her skin. Sakura rubbed her arms distractedly as she watched a yellow bird hopping around on a branch not too far from her sight.
"Here." She turned to the sound of his voice just in time to catch the hoodie he threw at her. Fumbling around with the article of clothing as if at a loss of what to do, she looked up in confusion to see him chuckling softly at her, making a blush color her face. "You seem cold."
"I could just go inside to grab a blanket, you know."
"Too troublesome." He waved her words away with a careless swipe of his hand on empty air and watched her intently until she slipped it on. Sakura did so reluctantly, tugging on the collar to hide her flushed cheeks and catching a whiff of the scent in the process. Cologne mixed with cigarette smoke and... Grass. Never in her life had she thought she would find the smell of cigarette smoke to be so appealing like this.
The door behind her opened and the two twisted to look at whoever it was. Yamato poked his head outside, vision still bleary from sleep, and stifled a yawn upon noticing that Sakura was very wide awake. "There you are. Oh, morning, Shikamaru." He received a quiet greeting in reply. Yamato glanced at the top of the book on her lap and shook his head. "Give yourself a break, Sakura. Tsunade told you to enjoy the trip."
Her blush travelled up to her ears and she stammered for a bit, trying to find an appropriate excuse to say. Her teacher did yawn just then and turned around to head back inside. "Don't make me tell Kakashi so he'll have to hide it from you."
"What!? I should be the one hiding his books!"
Yamato laughed at her words and closed the door.