Bundyangel: Hiya all! I'm SOOOOO sorry for not updating in more then a MONTH! I would understand if you all would either throw random things at me or shank me. I would understand. Seriously.
Anyway I kind of went brain dead on what to write for the next chapter added to the fact of school, social life and all the things I have going on this kind of took a back seat.
Still STILL no one has told me what the headbands proper name is and seriously I can't find it anywhere.
Any who, here are the reviewers I got for chapter 5:
sequha
&
jami16
Oodles of love to you both for reviewing I appreciate it, truly I do!
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Disclaimer;
Me: Well… uhh… I kind of don't have anyone to do it again… Gah this really has got to stop!!!
-Looks around, then sighs, pulling out a box-
Me: I'm sorry everyone but it had to come to this…
Everyone in the background: OH DEAR GOD NOOO!!!
-All rush forward but it is too late as Bundyangel rips off the top of the box-
-Gai and Lee burst forth from the box complete with green spandex, twinkling smiles, declarations of youth, and random shojo backgrounds-
Gai: Ah Lee! Truly youth was on our side today as we have BOTH managed to escape the dark box of un-youthful torture!
Lee: Oh truly Gai-sensei! The fountain of youth burns proudly in us both!
Gai: That is true youth Lee!
-Both Gai and Lee tear up-
Lee: Gai-sensei!
Gai: Lee!
Lee: Gai-sensei!
Gai: Lee!
Lee: Gai-sensei!
Gai: Lee!
Me: Oh dear Lord what have I done? UGH! Lee! Gai!
-Gets attention of the two taijutsu users-
Me: err… right! You both being the youthful beautiful beasts that you are, –wink- Will you do my disclaimer for me? It tears me apart to do it myself! I am just a simple artist; things like this are beyond my abilities. –big glossy tear eyes-
Lee: YOSH! Gai-sensei! We, in our youthfulness, should do this deed for poor Bundyangel-chan! What do you think Gai-sensei?
Gai: That is truly youthful of you Lee! It shows your pure youthfulness!
Lee: Yosh! Bundyangel-chan does not own Gai-sensei,
Gai: Or Lee,
Lee: Or any character in the Naruto series, including Naruto-kun.
Gai: Though it pains her and tugs at her youth, Bundyangel-san doesn't own the plot of Naruto, the scenery, the music, or any of the names. She makes no claim to it all.
Lee: She does however claim the plot of her story and being a rabid Naruto fan especially on her OTP SasuXSaku!
Me: Thank you Lee-san. Thank you Gai-sensei. You were very thorough. –Wipes away a tear-
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"Baaaka"- regular speech
'Baaaka'-thoughts, flashbacks, and italics
'Baaaka!'- Inner self's
The Ancient Curse of Love PART I OF III
Part 1 - Running from the pain
Chapter 6: Finding some Truths in a World of Lies.
By Bundyangel
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(Normal P.O.V.) – (With Sakura)
Beep.Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Sakura eyebrows furrowed and she blinked open hazy eyes to all white. Blinking a few times more to clear her vision she turned her head to the right to see the familiar machines she worked with on a daily basis, including the one making the god awful noise that woke her from her sleep. Sakura knew where she was.
The hospital. More precisely the Konoha Hospital in the hidden village in the leaves.
Sakura shivered and then sucked in a breath sharply as needles of pain shot into her shoulder. It all came back to her: the mission, Orochimaru, The fight, the seal, Sasuke, and… the kiss.
Sakura groaned as she swiveled her head to the other side and smiled as she saw two unconscious blonds. Naruto was leaning back in his chair with his arms hanging off the sides and Ino had slipped sideways with her head on Naruto's shoulder. What amused Sakura the most was the large dribble of spit that was about 2 seconds from falling into Ino's once again long hair.
Sakura debated mentally to try and wake her friend or not. She pushed herself into an upright position and with a smirk on her face closed her eyes and carefully folded her hands in her lap. She started mentally counting, Inner Sakura cheering along as she went.
'5…' 'Fuck yeah oh HERE WE GO!'
'4…' 'Oh hells yeah! Take this Ino Pig!'
'3…' 'Revenge is SOOOOOO sweet!'
'2…' 'Whose the better one now?!'
'1…' 'AAAhahahahaaa! SHANNARO!!!'
…
"WHAT THE HELL?! OH MY GOD NARUTO EWWW!!!!"
"Huh? Oh. OH! Eheheh, Gomen Ino-san GOMEN!"
"IM GONNA KILL YOU SO DEAD HINATAS BYAKUGAN CANT FIND EVEN FIND YOUR REMAINS!!!" Sakura opened her left eye a slit and grinned when she saw Naruto cowering in the corner bandaged up with Ino standing over him her hand raised with a kunai in it and a large drop of drool sliding down through her hair,
"I SAID SORRY INO!!!"
"YOU DROOLED IN MY HAIR!!!" Sakura opened her eyes and a full-fledged smile spread across her face, she pushed it back down though as she cleared her throat.
"Ino-pig, if you kill Naruto Hinata will turn your innards into gruel. Also the drool is running into your hair. If it dries it'll smell like ramen. You do realize that, right?" Two blond heads whipped in her direction and Sakura managed to suppress her grin as Inner Sakura rolled on the ground laughing her ass off.
"SAKURA-CHYYAAAAAAAN!"
"Forehead-… Oh.My.God EWW!" Ino screeched loudly and zoomed out of the room intent on scrubbing her hair till it squeaked.
Naruto blinked as Ino left and Sakura smirked. Any jab at Ino was a good jab in her book. Naruto sighed in relief as he pushed himself out of the corner and plopped down in the chair he had previously occupied. He grinned sheepishly at Sakura and leaned forward,
"How are you feeling Sakura-chan?" Sakura smiled lightly at him and tilted her head to the side,
"I'm fine Naruto. A little stiff, a little sore, but otherwise I'm fine. I'll be okay." Sakura drew back a little as Naruto leaned even further forward and dropped his smile,
"Are you sure Sakura-chan? You fought Sasuke and Orochimaru, and then you passed out. Plus that mark… Are you really okay?"
"I'm FINE Naruto really. You should have more faith in me. If Sasuke could take a curse mark as a 12 year old Genin then I should be able to take it as a 16 year old Chuunin." Naruto furrowed his eyebrows and looked unsure. Sakura let her gaze wander his face and her eyes landed on the bandage at the back of his head, "How are you doing Naruto?"
Naruto touched the back of his head and gave Sakura a foxy grin,
"I'm great Sakura-chan! Sasuke-teme just has gotten lazy and can't knock someone unconscious right anymore! Shows how much good Sound has done for him!" Sakura smiled and her gaze dropped to her lap,
"Yeah. It's done plenty." Naruto gave her a 'huh?' look before he got to his feet and locked his fingers behind his head,
"Weeell, Sakura-chyyaaaan. I've got a ramen date with Hinata-chan at so I'm gonna let you rest, neh?" Sakura grinned at him again and nodded her head,
"Sure Naruto, you go have some fun. Would you do me a favor on your way out? Tell the head nurse I don't want any visitors at least until tomorrow please?" Naruto gave Sakura another worried look before he sighed and closed his eyes a moment before opening them and giving her another small smile,
"Alright Sakura-chan. I'll let her know, But I am coming to see you tomorrow! Sayonara Sakura-chan!" Sakura gave him a small wave as he left and smiled,
"Ja ne Naruto." Sakura kept the smile up until Naruto left.
Once he left the smile slipped from her face and her shoulders lowered as she slumped back. Sakura reached up her right hand to clutch at the bridge of her neck where it met her shoulder. The curse mark had been prickling ever since she woke up and now it had become a dull throb. Clutching the mark harder, Sakura's gaze dropped to her lap and what happened the day before flashed through and consumed her thoughts.
((Oh my god FLASHBACK!! Everyone scream NOOOOOOO!))
Sakura growled in anger and reaching into her pouch threw out several shuriken's. Sasuke sighed and simply stepped to the side and waited till he heard the sound of them hitting tree bark before he disappeared from view. Sakura spun around trying to pinpoint him and growling once more, screamed out,
"Damn it Uchiha! Don't you hide from me! I hate you Uchiha! You're a coward who can't face the fact that I'm stronger then you now!" Sakura felt tears stream down her cheeks and she sunk to her knees. Sasuke narrowed his eyes but didn't move from his hiding spot,
"I hate you Sasuke, I hate you!" Sakura's voice cracked on the last word and she furiously wiped away the tears,
"I hate you for making these tears! I hate you for thinking you can waltz back into my life without a consequence! I hate you for abandoning us! I hate you because you don't care! I hate you for leaving me! I hate you so much Sasuke!" Sakura punched a fist into the ground as she gasped for air and hiccupped once,
"I hate myself even more for the fact that I still care! I hate that I still want you to come back! I hate that I need your respect!" Sakura's arms collapsed down to her elbows and her shoulder shook as she continued to cry with her face buried in her arms.
Sakura didn't stop crying when he appeared over her and she didn't look up when he softly said her name,
"Sakura." He paused, "You're worse then annoying now. You're rather pathetic." Sasuke crossed his arms before turning and walking away…
((Oh my god end of flashback! Everyone sigh and say hallelujah!))
Sakura sat strait up and then leaned forward as the last memory ran through her head,
'How could I have been so stupid?'
'It happens to the best of us.'
'Why did I give in to the horrid thing?'
'Because it screwed with our mind, duh.'
'Why did Sasuke kiss me and why did I let him?'
'Because were friggen HOT! And he's fucking GORGEOUS! Girl have you seen his eyes?!'
'What was I thinking spilling my guts to him like that?!'
'You were thinking that it was about damn time he heard the truth!'
'We've been through that before, he doesn't care about how I feel.'
'Thank you captain obvious!'
'SHUT THE HELL UP INNER!'
'…Err… sorry?'
Sakura sighed and sent her inner self a mental apology. How screwed up was she? She even snaps at and is mean to herself. Sakura dropped the arm from her neck and stared at her hands. Feeling tears well up in her eyes she jumped at a sudden voice,
"Stop it." Sakura blinked back her tears as her face snapped up to stare into the silver eyes of the Hyuuga prodigy.
Neji was leaning against the empty doorjamb, Naruto having forgotten to close the door. His arms were crossed and he just seemed to ooze importance and power. Sakura sat strait again and gave him a small smile,
"Neji. How are you? How is everyone?" Neji stood strait and walked further into the room closing the door behind him,
"I said to stop it." Sakura looked at him confusedly,
"I don't understand. Stop what?" Neji smirked
"Pretending." Sakura gave a annoyed huff,
"Pretending what?!"
"That this experience doesn't affect you." Sakura's eyes widened and she froze in shock,
"W- what are you talking about? I'm not pretending anything." Neji walked forward until he stood at the end of her bed. His arms remained crossed and he closed his eyes momentarily,
"Yes you are Sakura. You are upset, confused, angry, in pain, and frustrated. Yet as soon as anyone gives a sign they are near you put on your happy act."
"My 'happy act'?" Neji nodded,
"Yes, your happy act. The one where your shoulders square and a smile almost never leaves your face. You force a sparkle to your eye and assure everyone you are fine and you'll be okay even when inside you are crying and mentally tearing your hair out and clawing your eyes for even thinking of showing weakness in front of people."
Sakura froze stiff. Was she that readable? Obviously since Neji had just told said back to her, her entire strategy to be strong. Sakura opened her mouth to reply but Neji held up a hand and continued,
"Don't try to defend yourself to me Sakura I am not making accusations. I am stating a fact. I have learned form Naruto you can change destiny and defy fate but I still remain right in one aspect of my former opinion. People cannot change themselves." Sakura sat up with a new fire in her eyes,
"No you are still wrong! Look at Naruto he changed him self! He used to be weak, a loser, and a dead last and now he is strong!" Neji shook his head,
"Naruto was never a loser or weak. Naruto was never a loser because he never gave himself that label, so he was never a loser. Naruto was also never weak. He has always been strong simply because of what he has gone through his whole life. He was strong but in different ways then of power. He is however still a dead last. He's the only shinobi in our age group still a Genin, as he was the last of his class that graduated from the academy." Neji sighed as he took Naruto's former seat and he continued,
"Uchiha always called you weak and annoying. You were always the burden of your team. This is not true. You were not physically strong but you were very intelligent and perceptive. Intelligence IS power. Being perceptive could save your life. You are not annoying. Things you said annoyed the Uchiha because he did not or could not respond in a way that would not show his emotions, as was his way. You however ARE a burden." Neji paused and Sakura visibly flinched,
"You are a burden because you DID label yourself as one. Though you have tried to change that fact it remains the same. Who was the one on this last mission that needed saving? You were. Who was the worst hurt? You were. Who needed protection? You did. You try and hide your flaws under a happy demeanor and a chakra infused punch but the fact remains the same. When it come to your team, you are the burden." Sakura bowed her head silently and clenched her hands in her lap and was about to respond when Neji continued again,
"Thankfully you labeled yourself a specific way. You say you are a burden to your team. But I nor Shikamaru nor Hinata nor any of the shinobi other then Naruto, the pervert, and the Uchiha are your team. That is why you have your happy act. Because it is the only way you have to avoid the fact that to your team you are a burden. But to the rest of you aren't. You are a valued kunoichi and a good friend. That is why you should not use your happy act." Sakura looked up with a small cracked smile and said softly,
"Thank you Neji. In your own unchangeable way, you helped. I guess I just don't want anyone to have to pity me or defend me anymore. I want to stand on my own two feet." Neji smirked at her and stood,
"No one wants pity. Also you can stand on your own feet. Everyone can." Neji raked a look over her and stood, "You'll just do it once your healed. If you'll excuse me I think I stayed longer then I intended." Sakura smiled at him and Neji nodded before turning and leaving the room shutting the door behind him.
Sakura mulled over his words for a minute before sliding back down under the covers and drifting off to a deep sleep, a smile adorning her face.
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Bundyangel: hellllllo everyone! I tried to make this chapter longer to make up for the fact I haven't updated in a month! I swear I'm really really REALLY sorry!
I talked the plot of this story over with my brother and I've figured that the first part of my trilogy (this story) will be about 12 – 13 chapters long
NOW DON'T PANIC! This means that there are at least 6 more chapters after this one! I promise you'll love it!
Now not only has NO ONE told me the name of the headbands (is it really that difficult?) but no one has said their opinion about me putting a lemon (sex scene) in the story, seriously people I WANT YOUR IDEAS AND OPINIONS!!!!
Tell me things! Where did I suck? Did I draw things out to much? What do you think will happen? What do you think SHOULD happen? Talk to me people! I swear the only thing ill do is thank you for your opinion! FLAME ME IF YOU HAVE TO!
Anyway pester me if I don't update. Really though, two reviews a chapter is not a whole lot of influence to update. Seriously 'update soon' as a review does nothing for me. You say that and I go 'Yeah well you get in front of my computer and kill the writers block bunnies trying to have sex in my brain, write a long chapter with as few errors without a beta as possible, and then maybe just MAYBE 'update soon' will give me inspiration I need to write the next chapter. Good luck with that.
Sorry the lack of response to my story has been getting to me. Anyway I still love you all! I do appreciate the reviews even with 'update soon' it just doesn't inspire me. Ja ne!
Reviews with the button make the button and angel happy!