"Along the Track"
"Hey Deidara-sempai" Sakura greeted and tucked a lock of cherry pink hair behind her ear. The wind blew to the east, carrying the brown leaves of fall away. It was already cold.
Silence met Sakura.
She imagined his face and his laugh and his jokes and his smile and (there's just so much) simply him. But somehow the image wasn't as sharp as before. Nor did her eyes become blurry and such.
"I came to give you my answer sempai." A bit overdue but well, it's better late than never.
Naruto stared Sakura's back, seemingly out of place in the encounter.
Well, he sort of was. A bit.
Sakura took in a deep breath and sighed. "I can't go out with you sempai…I…I met this guy. He's annoying and loud and unorganized. We argue a lot"
Silence.
"He…He's sometimes unreliable but he's determined and…and…"
Naruto took in a breath and stared straight ahead. He felt as though he was being judged. Somehow he was. He stood straight, smoothed his hair and put on his war face.
"Strong and tough…and I like him a lot"
She imagined him frowning and sprouting words of disdain but she imagined him…
"I hope you're happy for me sempai…and don't worry if he ever hurts me, I'll give him a thump or two for you" Sakura chuckled. Her eyes brimmed with tears because this was goodbye and hello and it was bittersweet and cold and warm.
I'm moving on but that doesn't mean I'm forgetting.
Sakura laced her fingers with Naruto's and stared straight ahead. They walk away together leaving an eternally silent Deidara. Leaving the Iwa no Deidara's tomb.