(a/n): Numbah two.
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Nothing's gonna change my world.
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Missions went by quickly, the days blurred together in a myriad of laughter, training, arguments, repentance. The four of them were a little happy family, and they always would be.
She walked a little behind the rest of them. Their silver haired teacher strode leisurely in the front, one hand in his pocket, and the other lovingly embracing a copy of Icha Icha. Sasuke had his arms folded across his dark blue shirt, glaring moodily at nothing. The expression didn't look sincere, though; At least, that's what she thought. He'd been content in his isolation for so long, it was just what his face looked like, even when he was - just a little - happy with his current companionship, and lifestyle. Her other teammate, the blonde haired fox host, had adopted an overly exaggerated gait, jacket tied around his waist and hands behind his head. His features were animated. Either glaring fiercely up at the sun, for cursing them with the dreadful heat, or grinning hugely when he caught the green eyes of his female comrade.
Said instance occured just then, and the boy slowed his pace to walk next to the pinkette. She smiled back at him, with more shy delight. "I, uh.. I like your hair like that, Sakura-chan."
A pale hand reached up, brushing against the pink knot at the back of her head. It was still pretty short, so lots of strands had come down, framing her face delicately. She laughed, face turning down, conscious that the compliment didn't invoke the same deep-rooted aversion it used to. In fact, if she was being totally honest with herself... When she looked up again, intending to roll her eyes at Naruto, the raven haired boy a few steps ahead of them was looking back, and his dark eyes met hers for a second, before he huffed and turned his head sharply away. Butterflies fluttered around in her stomach, and her cheeks colored faintly. It didn't feel the same, though.
"Sakura-chan," her eyes were drawn back to the blue irises beside her, they were suddenly hopelessly sad. "I promise... We'll get him back." A cold weight settled in her stomach, an emotion creeping into her limbs, making her breathing erratic, and her movements twitchy. Panic.
Wide eyes darted towards Sasuke, then back to Naruto. He wasn't making any sense, and she shook her head at him, mouth moving wordlessly. "Sakura..." It was Sasuke, he'd stopped moving, and stood facing her with his eyes settled on a figure laying in the dirt. She couldn't bring herself to look, only watching the blank look on his face; the emptiness in his eyes. "Thank you."
He began to walk away, and the panic errupted in her chest with renewed vigor. She tried to shout at him to wait, but no sound passed through her lips. Frustrated tears stung her eyes, and she began to chase him, but a noise behind her caught her attention. She turned around quickly, and noticed Naruto sinking into the ground, unconscious. She shouted to him, pleaded, and swore, but the boy remained unresponsive. Sakura spun around again, watching Sasuke move farther away, almost out of reach. Naruto groaned, mumbling feebly, and she took a step towards him; Sasuke's words echoed in her ears, and she stopped.
What do I do? The girl's fingers dug into her hair, gripping her head tightly, like the difficulty of deciding would tear her in half.
"Sakura?"
No.
"Sakura!"
I can't choose.
"Sakura-chan!"
"Stop it!" A pair of rough hands were gripping around the tops of her arms. At first she thought their owner was shaking her, then she realized it was her own thrashing that shook the bed. She stopped imediately after the revelation, waiting in silence for her eyes to adjust to the sudden darkness. She was in her apartment, in her bed, safe. Of course. Naruto sat in front of her, forehead creased in worry. Her breathing calmed, soon enough, but she couldn't make her heart slow it's furious tempo no matter how hard she tried.
"You were, uh... Nightmare!" He stammered, releasing her arms, and glancing around nervously. "I tried to wake you up, but you only kept shaking your head, and then you kinda," he brought his gaze back to her, sheepishly indicating a red mark on his cheek. "Are you - Oh!"
She'd thrown her arms around his neck, burying her porcelain face into his warm, tan shoulder. She felt him hesitate for just a second, equilibrium confused by being smacked, shouted at, and then hugged. But he was still Naruto, and never let slip an opportunity to hold the pink haired girl. She enjoyed pretending that everything was fine for a few minutes, with his arms squeezing her to his chest. He heaved a sigh, obviously assured enough to return to his previous state of mind. "Tired," he mumbled, returning to the pillow with her still locked in his arms.
But the girl was anything but ready to sleep. Her thoughts were racing between indecision, and wrong choices, and What If's. "Naruto," she whispered, "Are you awake?" The only response she got was a muffled snore, and she sighed. The boy shifted in his sleep, arms tightening reflexively around the object of their desire, face inclining into her hair; a light smile curling his lips at a dream. She freed one hand, resting it against his whiskered cheek. "Even back then...
"I would've picked you."
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I don't really like sadder fics, but once I started, the words just poured out. I dunno if all the stories will have a lyric theme, like the previous one and this one (the lines just fit perfectly) but they might; it'd be a fun project.