Tsuki: Dun dududun dun dun duuuuuun! Final chapter for Change of Heart (before the sequel of course :3) Well today's disclaimer is by Naruto-san! Have at it Naruto!
Naruto: Yay! Alright, Tsuki doesn't own Naruto, hehe, believe it!
Tsuki: Thanks Naruto! Alright enjoy everybody! Oh, and extra special thanks to my friend xXemocolorluverXxbecause she's been totally awesome and has given me an idea for the sequel which will be up in the next few days, (of course it's not going to be a one-shot)! Okay, let's begin!
^..^
Sakura rose from her bed, her emotions scattered. She was very excited of course, today was the first day Sasuke would be able to leave his house, and start his life! Of course it took a lot of persuading the Hokage, but she finally decided to let him out for one day only, until his release from house-arrest that is. Still it was much better than nothing.
She picked out a red tank that ended above her belly button, and dry-fit black shorts, along with her ninja boots. Smiling to herself, she began to prepare the food for the picnic. She made some iced-tea the night before, and put it into canisters, along with some cups. She also had quite a few onigiri's, so she packed those and some tomatoes. As she grabbed them out of the fridge she smiled to herself, and thought back to her first few visits with Sasuke.
"Meow."
"Ahh!!!" Sakura shrieked and fell flat on the floor. "Oi, what the hell?" She rubbed her back and stood up to be met with bright green eyes staring back at her from the counter. "Jinxy, what the heck are you doing here?" The cat meowed again and she sighed. "Right, cats don't talk. Stupid Sakura, huh Jinx."
She lifted the cat off the counter, and brought her to the couch. Jinxy purred as Sakura pet her, and she leaned back, relaxing. "I don't know how you got here, but I'm kind of thankful. Luckily I live alone so no one will see me talking to a cat." She laughed and Jinxy looked up at her. "Well, I get to see everyone together today, in peace, for the first time in a long while. Well, maybe not in peace, Naruto will probably be yelling. Maybe the boys will even get into an argument like they used to. I never thought I'd miss their yelling at each other."
She glanced at the clock, and still had a while before she had to leave. "Well Jinx, I'm going to go see Lady Tsunade. See ya." She got up and left her house, yet Jinxy stayed close behind.
"Lady Tsunade, Sakura's here to see you." Shizune peaked through her Hokage's door.
Sakura, what's she doing here? "Send her in." Tsunade demanded. No sooner had she said that, did Sakura walk in, Jinxy close behind. "Hello Sakura, what's with the cat?"
"Hello Shishou. That's Jinxy, and I have a favor to ask of you." The Hokage groaned.
"Okay, what do you want?"
"I want to go on the mission to annihilate Kabuto Yakushi."
"No." Sakura glared.
"Why not!? I'm perfectly capable of it, and you know it!"
"I refuse to send you on such a dangerous mission."
"Whatever you say, I'm going!" Tsunade groaned again.
"Fine, but if you better not die or so help me!!" Sakura laughed and the Hokage smiled.
"I plan to do as little dying as possible Shishou."
"Good, now leave so I can enjoy my sake in peace." Sakura smiled and gladly left her teacher, thankful for the secured spot in the mission.
"Well Jinxy, we still have a while. Let's visit Ino and tell her how things are going."
"Sasuke, I'm here to pick you up!" Naruto called, his voice echoing in the near-empty house. All the ANBU took the day off today since he was leaving, except a few of course. Sasuke was outside again, this time sitting in the sun though. "Sasuke, I thought you didn't like sitting in the sun to much?"
He grunted. "Sakura said I should more." Naruto smiled.
"So I take it you like Sakura?" Sasuke didn't reply. "Well, no matter. C'mon, let's get moving. Oh here, let me lengthen the restraints some more." Now Sasuke could pretty much freely move his arms about. He rose from the chair, and followed Naruto who led him out onto the street. The few pedestrians who were out there watched in fear and surprise as he wandered out of his abode, but he paid them no mind. Truly he was looking forward to this, as he had been for a while. It would be a bit painful he supposed, but nonetheless he would enjoy their company.
"I'm excited, are you excited? I am." Naruto continued talking but Sasuke let his voice zone out as he took in the surroundings. The village hasn't changed much; it seemed slightly less lively today though, even though the weather was nice. News of my outing may have hit the streets. He assumed darkly. Sasuke missed the days were people would greet him with waves and smiles, instead of scared glances. Even girls who had once worshipped the very ground he walked on, ran in fear. Naruto, being Naruto took no notice of this observation.
"So anyway, we're meeting in the cherry-blossom park, next to the river. Y'know, the one near the bridge?" Sasuke nodded. "Okay, here we are!" Sasuke saw the most heart wrenching view he had ever seen. Sakura sat alone on a white blanket in a clearing of cherry trees, the blossoms still falling. She was smiling looking right at them as she set out the cups and plates.
"Naruto, Sasuke-kun, you're here!" His mind flashed pictures through his head, making him see the young Sakura in her red dress with her short hair, waving at them to come over. He smirked, and luckily for him it went unnoticed. Jinxy, the cat he found, was curled in a little ball on Sakura's lap, and every once in a while she ran her hand through its soft fur. They neared the blanket and Naruto sat on Sakura's right, Sasuke on her left. "Kakashi-sensei isn't here yet, but he will be soon." Sasuke still saw her as the twelve year old, Naruto as well, and he was enjoying the memory more than he thought he would.
"Hey guys, sorry I'm…" Naruto cut Kakashi off.
"You're late Kakashi-sensei!"
"I know; I got lost on the road of…"
"Liar!!!" Kakashi, Sakura, and Naruto all laughed at the déjà vu, and Sasuke smirked a little too much, this time it didn't go unnoticed. "Oi, teme, is that a smile I see?"
"Sasuke is smiling? Oh, Sasuke you are!" Sakura laughed. Sasuke groaned and if you looked close enough, you could see the light tinge of pink on his cheeks. Sakura passed out the onigiri's, and poured the tea, while the team laughed together, just like they used to. Kakashi with his nose in his book, Sakura smiling back and forth between him and Naruto, and Naruto himself was laughing.
Sasuke felt a pressure on his back, and opened his eyes to see it was Naruto's hand. "Hey Sasuke, it's good to have you back." Now Sakura's hand was on his other shoulder and Kakashi looked up from his book, smiling at him.
Sasuke, for the first time in what seemed like forever, felt tears collect under his eyes. He was home, and they were there with him. The cherry blossom petals swirled around them in a sweet smelling cloud, and time stood still again. He was here, with his team again, and this time it wasn't a dream. Sakura leaned over and hugged him.
"We missed you." He wasn't afraid now, he hugged her back, wrapping his arms around her in a full embrace, and then, well, then Sasuke wept. He cried for everything he missed, and everything that he hadn't cried for when he should have. He only wished he could hold onto this moment, to this girl, a little bit longer…
^..^
Tsuki: *sniffles* aww~, so beautiful! Sasuke has a soft spot…
Sakura & Mizuki: *cries*
Tsuki: Well, that's all folks!! I will now work on the sequel, which will include the battle against Kabuto! And it will hopefully be a lot better than this one! It will be more SasuSaku too, I promise!! Well, thanks to everyone who reviewed, I really appreciate it so so so much! :3
See ya next time! *howls*
~Tsuki