Disclaimer: I do NOT own Naruto
A/N: Sorry for the massive delay for this chapter but now here it is so hopefully everyone enjoys it.
Recap:
Itachi sighed before smirking to himself in his now empty room.
His mind flickered back to the car ride experience that he had been a part of, along with Kiba and Sakura's father, with Gaara as the driver.
Itachi smirked.
"Don't die Kiba"
Kiba clung onto the car door, his seat belt tightly keeping him in place. His hands ventured along the seatbelt ensuring that it was definitely tight and that if the car was to come to an abrupt halt, he wouldn't be thrown forward by the impact.
Brown eyes quickly darted to his side where the driver sat there calmly as if nothing was wrong with his driving.
Kiba, unfortunately, had failed to retrieve his beloved keys from the dangerous driver.
Although he had insisted that he wouldn't step into the car with Gaara as the driver, he had been unceremoniously pulled into the car by an impatient, but calm, Gaara before Gaara drove off…leading to Kiba having to hurriedly put his seatbelt to save his life.
Another swerve around a corner led to Kiba's hands tightening on the door handle, his knuckles turning white.
"G-Gaara…you know, you slow down before you turn a corner…H-H-HEY DON'T SPEED UP!"
Kiba hoped that he would reach Sakura in one piece…or at least alive.
"Sakura seems happy with the younger Uchiha" commented Mr Haruno absently as he stared out the window, his fists instinctively clenching although a relieved grin settled onto his features.
His wife glanced up with a knowing smile and a twinkle in her eyes.
"Don't start playing the over protective father now. I know you like that boy as well" smiled Mrs Haruno, her eyes returning to the book she was reading as she sat curled up on the armchair.
Mr Haruno sighed.
It was true that he approved of Sasuke Uchiha because he made his daughter happy and seemed reasonable enough but he couldn't help feeling protective towards his daughter. After all, Sakura was his only daughter.
Standing there, staring out the window, he thought about all the events that had led up to this point in their lives where everything was peaceful once more and going smoothly. He enjoyed his conversations with Vince once more and they had sat down and discussed all their problems and conflicts, gently and cautiously sorting out their issues. Although their friendship would never be the way it once was, they would always be close friends.
Sakura's mother gazed at her husband before swiftly standing and strolling towards him.
"Kai…"
Sakura's father glanced towards his wife, lifting up an arm to wrap around her shoulders as she stood close to him.
She knew that the past events could never be forgotten and she knew that when she looked into her daughter's eyes and her friends eyes that, even though now they were clear and happy, they still held wisdom too mature for their age.
Suddenly, she felt her husband's arm stiffen slightly around her slim shoulders.
Glancing up instantly, she noted the shocked and slightly horrified expression on her husband's face as he stared out the window.
"Kai…?"
A loud crash resounded from outside.
Sakura's mother's eyes widened.
"What was that?"
Mr Haruno sighed.
"That was Gaara….and our mailbox"
Sakura abruptly wrenched her lips away from Sasuke's lips as a loud crash was heard outside.
"What…"
Sasuke sighed.
Wrapping his arm around her shoulders, Sasuke kissed her gently on the cheek before standing up and offering a hand to help her up.
As much as he would love to sit here and continue kissing her, he also knew that she was curious about what had caused the loud crash. He could see her furrowed eyebrows and confused yet worried look on her face.
He smirked as he noted her disheveled state, her flushed face and her swollen lips before he glanced away as she glared up at him, a knowing look in her eyes.
"Come on, let's go see what that whole commotion was about" murmured Sasuke, still quite smug but attempting not to exhibit it, heading towards the door with her small hand held comfortingly in his.
Turning the doorknob, Sasuke smirked.
Swooping down for another quick kiss, surprising Sakura in the process, he placed a chaste kiss on her lips before leading her out of the room and down the stairs.
Sakura smiled, her eyes gentle as she stared at Sasuke's back as he led the way in front of her. She still couldn't believe that she had met someone like him and she was glad that he hadn't given up on her during those past events. Although she probably wouldn't tell him that…it was too embarrassing.
Glancing up once more at his back, she felt a smile tug at her lips once more.
Well…maybe she would tell him that one day.
Abruptly, Sasuke stopped in front of her and Sakura swiftly moved to the side to avoid colliding into him.
"Sasuke…?"
All she received in reply was a sigh.
Following his gaze, she stared through the now open front door where she could clearly see a car that had clearly run straight into the mailbox but next to the car…her eyes widened.
There stood Kiba, shaking his head at the dented car and looking slightly disheveled and dazed, and Gaara, who was studying the mailbox with an almost puzzled look on his visage.
She couldn't believe it.
Kiba and Gaara were here…
"Sorry, Mr Haruno. I'll pay you back for the mailbox" greeted Gaara as he stepped through the front door.
Sakura's parents who were standing next to the front door glanced at him with slightly amused expressions.
"It's fine Gaara. You don't need to pay for anything" replied Mr Haruno.
Kiba shook his head as he stepped through the door after Gaara, exchanging a knowing look with Sakura's father before her parents walked away.
Sakura was shocked.
She definitely hadn't been expecting them back so soon but she hadn't seen them for so long and her eyes drank their appearances hungrily, instantly verifying if they were healthy or not.
Gaara appeared the same although his red hair seemed to have grown slightly longer. Kiba, although he seemed a bit pale and dazed, was the same grinning boy she remembered and she was glad.
She was content that they hadn't completely changed.
When they had initially left, Sakura had been glad for them but also worried. She was scared that once they left, when they returned they would be completely different people…people that she would no longer know.
Sakura's viridian green eyes widened as Gaara's green eyes found hers before she glanced at Kiba who grinned sheepishly and held out his arms.
"Uh…Surprise?"
Kiba's eyes scanned over the sight in front of him.
He hadn't seen Sakura for so long and the sight of her was definitely a relief. Especially when Gaara was all he had for company overseas.
Her pink hair had grown longer and she appeared healthy and well although Kiba glanced at her swollen lips suspiciously before his brown eyes travelled downwards and analysed the entwined hands of Sakura and the younger Uchiha.
Glancing briefly at the younger Uchiha, who merely raised an eyebrow at him and greeted him with a smirk, Kiba sighed.
His eyes widened as a pink blur suddenly hurtled into his outstretched arms and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Kiba…it's been so long!"
Kiba's brown eyes softened as he returned Sakura's hug.
"I've missed you Sak"
Reluctantly he released her so that she could hug Gaara.
Kiba grinned and reached out his hand to shake the younger Uchiha's hand.
"It's been a while younger Uchiha"
"Yeah"
Kiba couldn't help but notice that after Sakura's greeting, she returned back to the Uchiha's side instinctively.
His eyes softened on the two.
As a couple, he knew that they probably still argued a lot with both of their stubborn personalities but even Kiba had to accept how absolutely perfect the two of them together were. He also had to entrust Sasuke to protect Sakura while Kiba and Gaara were overseas and so far, Sasuke hadn't let them down.
Even though initially he had been jealous, just observing how content Sakura was beside the younger Uchiha erased all those feelings. After all, he had always wanted Sakura to be happy again.
"Um…so what happened to the car?" questioned Sakura, peering outside once more before her father closed the front door.
Instantly reminded of his recent near death experience, Kiba's brown eyes narrowed at Gaara who merely stared blankly at Sakura.
He felt sick just remembering all the swerves, the sudden accelerated speeding, the abrupt halts and the final crash into the mailbox at which he had promptly lurched forward against his seatbelt, feeling as if all the air had been knocked out of him.
"See Sakura, this is what happens when you let Gaara drive" stated Kiba as calmly as possible.
Realisation dawned on Sakura's features while the younger Uchiha turned to glance at Gaara, raising an eyebrow as if to consider how someone could drive that badly.
"That mailbox appeared out of nowhere" reasoned Gaara, shrugging.
Doubtful glances were immediately thrown in Gaara's direction.
Sasuke shrugged and smirked at Gaara.
"Hey, I should introduce you to a guy called Naruto. I think you two would get along well. You can even drive his car"
Kiba watched as Sakura instantly hit Sasuke's arm.
For some reason, seeing Sakura and the younger Uchiha acting so familiarly with each other created feelings of relief yet envy within Kiba. He couldn't help but feel that the physical distance between Sakura and Kiba and Gaara during their overseas studies had prevented him from witnessing her growth. He had been worried that the distance would cause their friendship to become distant but when Sakura swiveled around to shoot him a gentle smile, Kiba knew that it would be fine.
"So…what brings you two here so early?" questioned Sakura inquisitively, a curious gleam in her viridian eyes as she led Kiba and Gaara into the living room before settling herself onto the couch with Sasuke beside her.
Kiba shot Gaara a wary look, unsure of how to approach her question.
It was true that they had arrived here to ask Sakura about the diaries and to verify if she wanted to search for Akira's painting but both Kiba and Gaara hadn't exactly thought about how to ask her.
Combing his fingers through his tousled brown hair, Kiba released a soft sigh before glancing up into Sakura's inquisitive eyes.
"Um…well…you see…" began Kiba hesitantly, his mind racing with ways he could ask her while Gaara remained silent next to him, completely unhelpful.
Kiba sighed once more.
"Sak…don't misunderstand this, but have you already read through Akira's diary or Itachi's diary?"
Sakura's eyes flashed in surprise while Sasuke's arm, possessively wrapped around her shoulder, squeezed her shoulder reassuringly.
A small frown appeared on her lips.
"Yes…of course I read them. Why?"
It was true that she had read them after much contemplation. At times, the diaries made her smile as they recounted the more content moments of the past while other times evoked feelings of sadness and misery. She had struggled to continue reading during those times but knew that she had to so that she could fully understand what had occurred in the past and the reasons behind them.
Sasuke bringing her chocolate and her other favourite desserts definitely helped during those times as well. When she read, Sasuke would place the desserts in front of her and leave the room, knowing that she wouldn't want him to be there when she revisited the past especially since it was a challenge she wanted to overcome by herself.
Sakura watched as Kiba shifted slightly, a nervous expression apparent on his features.
She was curious as to why Kiba had brought up the subject, particularly since he appeared uncomfortable.
"Well…Sak…when you read the diaries, do you remember reading about a painting?"
Sakura frowned, pondering.
She felt that she had read about a painting in the diaries before but it had only been a very brief section in one of the diaries so she wasn't sure.
"I might have…why?" questioned Sakura as Sasuke squeezed her shoulder again to reassure her.
She inwardly smiled, enjoying his small gestures of support.
Although he didn't converse that much and when he did speak, it was usually to make some smug remark, Sasuke definitely expressed himself through his small comforting gestures that filled Sakura with warmth every time.
Sakura observed as Kiba flung Gaara a, you-almost-killed-me-therefore-you're-asking-her, look.
Gaara sighed, green eyes flickering back to meet Sakura's question gaze as she quirked an eyebrow up in response as if to prompt him to explain.
Sasuke merely smirked at the two boys, watching in amusement and curiosity.
"Sak…Akira's artwork must have been significant to him. Would you like to search for it?" stated Gaara bluntly.
Kiba held his head in his hands, releasing a groan in response to Gaara's straightforwardness.
Sakura's viridian eyes widened in surprise at the question. She had definitely not been expecting Kiba and Gaara to ask her that.
Her mind whirled, trying to figure out how to answer it.
Did she want to search for Akira's painting?
She wanted to view Akira's last artwork but then discovering the artwork could cause old feelings to resurface and she would have to revisit the past once more.
Inhaling a shuddering breath, she slowly looked at Kiba who was staring at her in a reassuring manner and Gaara whose eyes softened slightly as they met her gaze.
She could do this.
Sakura had already faced most of her past and this painting would be the final puzzle piece of the past.
"Yes"
That one word contained a mixture of Sakura's emotions but the determined look in her eyes never wavered.
Sakura watched Kiba's lips split into a relieved grin while Gaara nodded his head in response.
Feeling the reassuring squeeze of Sasuke once more, she was startled when Sasuke slowly stood up and turned as if to head for the door.
"Yes"
The moment that word had left Sakura's mouth, Sasuke wasn't sure how to react or what to feel. In a way he was jealous that Sakura was determined to search for Akira's painting but he also knew that by discovering this painting, she would be able to completely move on from the past.
But Sasuke wasn't sure where this would leave him during her journey.
Whenever she had read through those diaries, he had left her alone knowing that it was her challenge and that she wouldn't want him there as she revisited the past.
However, he had still lingered, providing her with her favourite food as if to reassure her and also to maintain some of his presence around her.
Now that she was going to search for Akira's painting, Sasuke assumed that she would want him to leave her alone once more as he had for the diaries.
He didn't enjoy it but if that was what was necessary for her to face her challenges…
Squeezing her slim shoulder in a reassuring manner, he slowly stood up, ignoring Kiba's confused expression and Gaara's inquiring gaze.
Turning to head for the door, he instantly felt a smooth hand wrap around his wrist, preventing him from taking another step.
To say he was surprised was an understatement but outwardly, his onyx coloured eyes slowly travelled down to meet the confused expression of Sakura.
He maintained his gaze as Sasuke observed the realization of why he was leaving dawn on Sakura's features.
She frowned before fiercely staring at Sasuke, a determined look apparent in her green eyes.
"Stay with me"
In that same silent room, the painting awaits, its beauty timeless.
Where time has not affected it, time outside that silent room has shifted, its impacts affecting the people who the painting waits for.
Slowly, cautiously, hearts begin to gradually open up even more, tentatively accepting those that are significant as the clock ticks away, every second instigating a change.
But now the hands of the clock have halted.
Not moving forward, not moving back.
Soon the choices will be the fingers that move the hands of the clock.
The painting continues waiting in a silent room…
With a clock that has stopped long ago.
YAY another chapter done. Sorry for the lateness of this chapter but I hope you all enjoyed reading it!
Please read and review! THANKS XD
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