Disclaimer: I do not own the manga/anime naruto in any way shape or form.
Hey Ino… Do you remember that day still? That second day in the park?"
Morning had come much faster than the pink haired girl had realized it would. Maybe guess sleep is more magical then one can give it credit for? She did not know really what to think as her eyes creaked open to allow the bright light in. Eyes closed again from the glare as they tried once more to open to the world outside.
Blankets were tossed from her small frame as Sakura climbed out of bed, her pink hair standing off in different directions as she looked around groggily for her little Usa-chan. "Usa… where are you?" She spoke to herself quickly, calling out for her stuffed rabbit. "There you are!" Sakura seemed to brighten as she finally spotted her pink rabbit lying upon the floor.
"Don't run off like that!" She spoke to the small plush toy in a reprimanding tone.
"Sakura!"
The small girls attention was taken from her friend for a moment as she looked toward the door, "Yes Mama?" She replied, calling out as cheerfully as possible.
"Get changed and come downstairs! You're going to be late!" Her mother called back up to her daughter, warning the girl.
"Alright!" She replied as loudly as possible before going about what her mother asked of her.
Sakura had quickly shed her nightgown to cloth herself in a more suiting red one-piece. Hopping quickly up in the chair of her beauty table, the small girl grabbed at a pinkish-white hairbrush and went to work at getting rid of the misplaced hairs or tangles that bothered her. Once the task was finished, the brush was placed down upon the desk and she looked herself over in the mirror, taking a moment to try and practice smiling.
'Ino…' She thought of the blond form the day before, raising a hand to brush at the bangs that covered her forehead and the tops of her eyes. A small blush darkened her cheeks before her head shook from side to side to remove her thoughts.
"Alright! Today will be a good day!" Sakura spoke to herself loudly, before jumping from the chair and rushing outside her bedroom door to nosily clomp down the stairs of her home.
"Mou, Sakura-chan. Do you need to be so noisy this morning?" Her mother asked the girl with a smile on her face, happy to see her daughter in a much better mood then she had been in the previous weeks. "Come now! We need to get you to school before you're late young lady!" Mrs. Haruno spoke with a joyful tone in her voice, ushering her daughter out of the house. "We're leaving now!" She and Sakura called out together as the two of them made their way out of the front gate of the Haruno residence.
"You know Mama! I met a really nice girl yesterday!" Sakura piped up happily as she held upon her mother's gentle hand.
"Oh? What is her name?" The elder woman asked, interested since her daughter never really spoke of other kids, or of having friends other than her stuffed bunny for that matter.
"Yamanaka Ino!" Her reply was loud as she yelled the blonde's name. Causing her mother to laugh softly.
"Oh? Yamanaka Ino-san? Sounds like a nice name. You'll have to introduce us some time." Mrs. Haruno teased her daughter back, smiling all the while.
"Mmnm!" Was all Sakura managed to squeak out before the two reached Konoha Kindergarten.
"Achoo!" Lazy blue eyes stared ahead as a hand rose to rub at a small blond girl's nose. "What was that?"
"Maybe someone is talking about you Ino-chan?" One of the nearby girls quickly spoke up, trying to sound smart.
"Yeah right! That only happens in stories!" Another of the kids surrounding Yamanaka Ino broke into the conversation.
"Really! My dad said it's not true!"
"Nu-huh! My mommy told me that's that happens!" The two kids began arguing which of their parents were correct as Ino sighed and looked out the window of her classroom. Her thoughts on a girl her age, wondering if that same girl was going to really show up at the park.
"Ino-chan! Ino-chan!"
"H-huh?" Ino was brought out of her thoughts as one of her friends called her name louder and nudged the blond upon her shoulder. "W-what is it?"
"Ino, are you okay? You seem to be spacing out a lot today…" A girl who sat next to the blonde answered.
"Y-yeah, I'm just fine. I guess I'm just a little sleepy!" Ino replied back, raising a hand to the back of her neck to rub it lightly as she and the other kids all laughed. "Eh heh heh…"
A few of the other children of the classroom quickly rushed into the class a moment later, yelling that they should all get to their seats since the teacher was coming.
"Oh! We'll talk more after class!" Ino and all her friends said to one another.
"Ino! Come on!"
Class had ended for the day and the kids of Konoha Kindergarten were released from what they called their holding pens. Many had been picked up by the parents but a few had managed to sneak off to the nearby park.
Ino walked along as most of her friends ran ahead, eager to be the first ones to the playground equipment. Her sky blue eyes peered around ever so often, trying to catch a glimpse of the pink hair of whom she had hoped to befriend. 'Sakura… I wonder where you are…'
Her footfalls became quieter as Ino made her way to the spot she had first met the strange girl. She had seemed so frail, so fragile… she had also seems scared of everything around her. It made Ino feel sorry for her, almost want to take her by the hand and comfort the small girl. Well she was going to in her own way anyways.
"Iiya!" Sakura Haruno cried out loudly as she was pushed down onto the concrete walkway of the park near her kindergarten. Her hand hurt from the landing as a bright red mark appeared upon her palm. She cradled the injury with tears streaming from her eyes, only causing the scrape to sting further from the salt in her tears.
"Take that Forehead!" The kids from the day before all yelled in unison as they crowded around the small pink haired girl.
"Yeah! You shouldn't be smiling like you were! It just looks ugly with that large FOREHEAD of yours!" A smaller of the four yelled out, kicking a small bit of dirt onto Sakura's dress.
"W-why do you..." The pouts Sakura made began to increase in tempo as dirt was kicked over her dress. "…always pick on me?" She had finally managed to mumble out between sobs after a minute.
"Why? Because you're so ugly! That's why!" The lead boy retorted back harshly, raising a balled up fist in preparation to strike the defenseless girl.
Sakura's eyes widened with fear when she saw the fist rise up and curled herself into a ball to try and lessen the impact. "Mmn." She whimpered out pathetically which only caused the boys around her to smile.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing to her?" A loud voice called out, causing the boys to turn around to confront the newcomer.
What the four beheld was a furious looking face of a blonde girl about their age. She stood watching the scene with her fists clenched tightly. Her eyes looked as if they would be meeting a very untimely end.
"Hey… isn't that Yamanaka Ino…?" one of the bullies muttered.
"No… you don't mean her right…? Her dad will so get us!" The other two complained to their other friend who was still trying to defiantly stand up to Ino.
"Y-yeah right! She wouldn't dare…" He had muttered less likely to do anything now. His feet began to slowly back up away from Sakura who stared wide eyed at Ino.
Ino slowly walked toward the pink haired girl sitting upon the ground, her eyes still on the four boys who had now backed away fully. "I will tell my papa on you bullies! He's REALLY strong you know!" She had heard them talk about her father and knew they would run away if she mentioned him.
"Please don't!" They all yelled out together before turning around and running off.
"Cowards…" The young blond mumbled to herself before looking down at Sakura who had renewed tears in her eyes. "H-hey! No! I-I'm sorry Sakura!" Ino couldn't stand to see this girl cry like this. "Pl-please Sakura… don't cry. I'm here for you, 'kay?"
Even though the crying didn't cease immediately, Sakura's sobs did begin to lessen over time. Finally her hands moved away from her eyes and she just sat on the concrete with the other girl beside her. The pink-trussed girl flinched slightly when the blonde's had brushed against her forehead but only brushed some of the bangs from her eyes. The same green ones looked up into blue and a small smile appeared upon Sakura's face.
"Hey see! That's what I came to see!" Ino finally spoke more cheerfully, helping Sakura up and aided in brushing off the girls clothing. "There… Oh! I almost forgot. I brought something for you."
"You did? For… for me?" Shy as ever, Sakura mumbled out her words, looking up into the light blue eyes of the blond.
"I did…" Ino said happily, fishing the ribbon form her pocket and presented it to Sakura. "Here see! I'm giving you this. It you put it like this…" Ino proceeded to go behind Sakura and gather the pink hair that hung over her face to hide her forehead and pulled it back, tying the ribbon up. "There! You look a lot better now!" She smile as Sakura turned to look at her, a shy at first, but soon a bright smile of the girls own which caused Ino to blush slightly.
"I still do… It was the day you saved me from my despair… I'll never forget what you looked like… I had thought, 'How Cool…' I wonder, what did you think back then?"
A/N: Okay so... It's been three years since I updated this story. Alot of stuff happened, such as me loseing my house etc. So I am VERY sorry everyone. Over the past few days I've written some chaps so I will get them typed up. for but the time being, heres chapter 2.