High school is nothing like I thought it would be. It's so frickin big and it sucks being a freshman. First day, I got loaded with 7 books to take home and I already have to do an oral report. Damn. Stupid textbooks. The updates will slow, but ideas will continue to flow. Ja ne. Oh yeah. Steve Irwin died today. Wahhh:( I hope his family does ok.
Ch.23: I Will Always Love You
It was the first day of July. Sakura awoke to the feeling of something tickling her stomach. She rolled onto her other side and cracked her eyes open to see half-lidded eyes looking at her. "Mornin' sleepy-head." whispered Kakashi before kissing her on the lips.
Sakura mewed in pleasure and returned the kiss. "What time is it?" she asked. Kakashi ignored her question and began kissing down the curve of her neck.
"Kakashi." she breathed. He smirked against her skin. "What?" he asked seductively.
"Seriously, I need to know what time it is."
He continued kissing her neck. "Would I be able to continue without anymore distractions?"
Sakura bit her lip. "Depends."
"10:30."
Kakashi was about to return to her neck when she bolted upright. "10:30?! I overslept!"
Kakashi rested his weight on his elbow as he sat in the bed. "So? We're on vacation. You can stay in bed as long as you like or how much I like."
Sakura laughed. "If you had it your way, I'd probably never leave bed and I'd never be able to walk straight again."
Kakashi put his finger to his chin. "I see no problem there." Sakura punched his arm playfully.
"You hentai!" she exclaimed. He smirked. "And that's the way you love me."
He made a move toward her neck when she held his shoulders. "Kakashi, we need to tell everyone we're alright. They must've been really worried about us."
Kakashi sighed, dejectedly and nodded. 'I was hoping she wouldn't remember that until later.'
Sakura kissed his forehead. "Come on. I might let you finish this later if you're good." she winked. Kakashi immediately brightened and kissed her before heading towards the shower.
Sakura smiled. 'I'm in love with a pervert.'
'But you wouldn't want it any other way. I'm glad you realized your feelings for him, but….how will you tell the others?'
Sakura gasped. 'I forgot!'
She sighed and wrapped her arms around her knees. "I guess I'll tell them today." she said softly to herself. After she showered, she ran downstairs and told an ecstatic Kisa to gather everyone in Naruto's room at 11:00. Kisa nodded and Sakura went to tell Kakashi what her plan was.
In Naruto's room….
"So why are we all here?" Sasuke asked.
"Dunno, teme. Kisa called everyone over here saying it was important."
"Hn."
The door creaked open. "Sakura! Kakashi!" Ayame and Keiko ran up to Sakura and hugged her. "Okay. Okay! You missed me. I get it!"
Ayame and Keiko let go. Saita pulled her against him. "You're ok, right?" Sakura nodded happily. Sasuke sighed in relief.
"So how'd it go last night ,Sakura-chan?" Naruto yelled.
Sakura froze. 'He k-knows I-?'
'You idiot! He's talking about the lake thing. THE LAKE THING! Now tell him before they get suspicious.'
'Right.'
Sakura sat in the middle of the bed. Kakashi sat on the edge beside her while everyone else huddled around her. "Well, apparently Kakashi and I helped these two spirits get reunited with each other after years and years apart."
"Still have no idea how we did it though." interjected Kakashi.
"Kisa-san and Hiro-san told us why. Tell them Kisa-san!" exclaimed Naruto..
Kisa smiled and grabbed Kakashi's hand and Sakura's hand and put them in hers. "You two are the reincarnations of those two spirits. You see, the girl you saw, Sakura, was the girl in our village legend. She was in love with the prince who inhabited Kakashi's body. An evil princess tricked the girl into thinking that the prince didn't love her back. She drowned herself in her grief. The prince chased after her, but arrived too late. He read a letter she left saying she loved him. He died of heartbreak and they're spirits were cursed to never be able to reach each other." Kisa smiled. "That is, until now. I believe they're very grateful to you both."
Saita shook Sakura's shoulder gently. "So what happened? You left out a lot."
Sakura blushed. "Well, where should I start?"
"From after you ran from Sasuke." replied Keiko.
Sakura took a deep breath. "Well, I ran to the lake and cried on the pier. A glow came from the lake and I saw a glowing woman standing on the water. She asked me why I was there and I told her something painful happened."
Kakashi stepped in. "I was chasing after her when I saw a man in the shadows. I started following him, when I got to the lake."
"The woman asked if she wanted me to take the pain away. I agreed."
"YOU WERE GOING TO COMMIT SUICIDE?!" they all exclaimed.
Sakura sweatdropped. "Well, I was going to take her hand when Kakashi came."
"I stopped her from killing herself and told her I loved her."
"I told him I loved him too and then the two spirits were reunited. They said they thanked us and wished us happiness."
Everyone in the room was silent. "What?"
Kakashi and Sakura asked. "Y-y-you just said you loved her." stammered Naruto.
"And you said you love him back." smiled Kisa. Keiko and Ayame screamed and hugged her. "We're so happy for you Sakura!"
Ayame released her and turned towards Kakashi. "I'm glad she returned your feelings, Kakashi."
Kakashi's eye widened in horror. "Y-you guys knew?"
"Well, me, Ayame, Kisa, and maybe Hiro and Keiko knew she liked one of you guys. We just didn't know if she'd choose Sasuke or you." stated Saita. He patted Kakashi on the back. "I'm happy for you!" He said cheerfully. He leaned towards Kakashi's face, eyes flaming. "But if you hurt her, I'll see to it that you'll never be able touch another woman again."
Kakashi nodded. It wasn't that he was afraid of the threat, it was the look in Saita's eyes and everyone else in the room.
Sasuke sighed. 'So she really did choose him. I hope she's happy with him.'
'Sorry man, but I guess she isn't the right girl for you. But remember what I told you earlier. Make sure she knows you love her and keep her safe and happy.'
'Hn.' He walked towards the door and exited the room. Sakura noticed this. 'Sasuke…'
Sakura crawled over to Kakashi. "I'm going out for a little while. I'll be back later."
Kakashi looked around, noticing the missing Uchiha. He looked her in the eyes. "I understand."
She smiled and kissed him on his masked lips chastely before walking out the door. Naruto turned confusedly at Kakashi. "What was that about?"
Kakashi smiled at his former student. "Just letting someone know something important." Naruto sat puzzledly as Kakashi smiled. 'I hope Sasuke will be okay.'
With Sasuke………He was about to walk out of the inn when he heard footsteps behind him. He drew a kunai out and turned to face the person in a defensive position. "Sakura?" he asked, surprised she had followed him out. "What are you doing here?"
Sakura walked in front of him. "Just wanted to know what you were doing. So what are you doing?"
"I was going to go on a walk in the park."
"Can I come?"
"Hn." Sakura giggled at his signature remark. "Thanks."
In the park…..
Sasuke and Sakura were walking to the park when they stopped. "How'd we get here?"
Sasuke shrugged his shoulders. They weren't in the park, but at Lake Clarity. "Oh well, it seems nicer to walk here than at the park anyway."
"Hn."
They walked in a calm silence when they sat under a plum blossom tree. They sat like that for a few minutes when Sasuke spoke up. "So why did you really follow me here?"
"I wanted to see what you were up to."
"Liar. Tell me why."
Sakura sighed. "I was worried about you. You seemed to be depressed these last few days and when you left today, I wanted to make sure you were ok."
Sasuke looked out at the lake and Sakura gazed sadly at the grass beneath her. "It's about me, right? I understand if you hate me now. I'll keep out of your way now." whispered Sakura.
"It's...not that, Sakura."
She looked at him confusedly. "Then, what is it, Sasuke?"
Sasuke went silent, searching for how to say what he knew he needed to tell her. She watched his serious face. 'It's like he's trying to tell me something. Something he wouldn't normally say. Something very hard for him to say.'
If I should stay
I would only be in your way.
So I'll go but I know
I'll think of you
Every step of the way.
Sasuke took a deep breath and looked at her. "It's not that I hate you. Far from it actually. I just hate the hurt."
"The...hurt?"
Sasuke's eyes became distant. "I hate how much it hurts to know. To know the fact that as much as I love you, you won't love me back."
He looked into her eyes. She searched his, realizing it was the truth. What she saw, broke her heart. It was a mirror image of how she had looked years before. The pain of an unrequited love. It's innocence, it's beauty, it's purity, it's pain. All things she'd gone through before and would never wish on anyone else.
And I... will always love you...
I will always love you...
My darling you
Sasuke looked away, ashamed. Sakura put her hand on his shoulder. He looked towards her and blushed as he felt her lips brush cheek. "Thank you."
Sasuke inwardly smirked. 'So the roles have reversed.' he thought bitterly.
"Sasuke. I want to know that you'll always be in my heart. You are one of my best friends and my first love. That place in my heart will always belong to you and no one else."
Sasuke smiled sadly. "I know. I'm sorry I've hurt you all those years ago. I just want you to know I'll always love you. You were my first love after all and one of my first friends."
Sakura smiled and placed her hand on his knee. "Thank you, Sasuke. You've no idea how much it means to me to hear you say that."
Sasuke looked at her. "And you have no idea how much you mean to me." They smiled at each other.
Bittersweet memories,
That is all I'm taking with me...
So goodbye, please don't cry.
We both know I'm not what you, you need.
Sakura and Sasuke sat side-by-side looking at the lake as the wind rippled the water. "Sakura."
She looked at him. "Yes?"
"Can I…Can I kiss you one last time?"
Sakura looked at him in surprise. "K-kiss me?"
Sasuke looked away. "Never mind. It was a dumb idea anyway. Sorry for making you feel weird."
"N-no! It's not that. I was just surprised. Why, though?"
"I wanted to kiss you one last time. After this, you'll be with Kakashi and I'll be alone. I'd like to know that before you go with Kakashi that you know how much I love you."
Sakura smiled softly at him. "Sure."
And I... will always love you.
I... will always love you, ohhh
I hope life treats you kind
And I hope you'll have
All you've dreamed of.
And I wished you joy
And happiness.
But above all this, I wish you love.
Sasuke sat next to her and tipped her face up with his finger. He gently placed his lips on hers and kissed her, putting every ounce of his emotional being into it.. That kiss signified his eternal love for her, the regret he harbored for hurting her so many times, and the sorrow he felt knowing she'd never be his. The guilt knowing he's broken her heart time and time again and she still loved him, and the joy that she knew how he felt and didn't deny him this one last thing. It was so beautiful, Sakura silently cried for him. 'I'm sorry Sasuke.' A tear slid down her face.
And I... will always love you...
I will always love you...
I will always love you...
I will always love you...
I will always love you...
I, I will always love you...you
They parted and stared at each other. "Thank you." he said
She smiled and grabbed his hand. "Let's go back." Sasuke and Sakura grinned at each other and ran back to the inn.
-------------
Sakura was sitting in the chair gazing at the starry night through the window. She stood up when Kakashi came out of the bathroom. Sakura smiled. "Hi."
He wrapped his arms around hers, her back against his chest. "Right back at you." he murmured against her neck. He kissed it quickly. "So how'd it go with Sasuke?"
She looked out at the stars. "Things were said, but nothing we could ever regret or want to take back."
He tightened his arms around her. "So, it went well?" S
he turned around in his arms. "Yes."
Kakashi kissed her lips. "Don't worry. We can do the treat anytime. You've been through a lot, whether you realize it or not. Come on. Let's go to bed."
Sakura nodded and looked back towards the night sky. 'Just remember Sasuke, I will always love you.' She went to bed with Kakashi while Sasuke was thinking the same thing about her.
Darling I love you
I'll always
I'll always
Love you...