I think I am dead... Sooooo tired.. BUT! I finished! Who would have thought that this would end up being rather lengthy? I remember when I posted the first chapter asking whether I should continue. And now its so, O_O
Anyway, please enjoy! and R&R the review button is your friend. Click him. ^_^
It was time. Sakura was just about ready. Excitement bubbled inside her at the thought of going up to the training ground where the festival was being held. The New Year's festival. Last year, she had made a promise to herself that by the next festival she would be a ninja, a kunoichi. Going back there would mean she had fulfilled it. It was exciting. Her stomach fluttered. She had also stood in front of the shrine that was up a set of stairs from the training ground and prayed, asking for Sasuke. Her chest tightened.
In a way she had got that too. Sasuke was divided into a few pieces as far as ownership went. Naruto had the biggest piece, as his best friend, his rival, his most important person overall. And then Sakura liked to think that she had the next biggest piece; as his friend and team mate, maybe someone he wanted to protect.
The girl placed a final clip in her hair and took a last, long look in the mirror, curving her lips into a tiny, natural smile to check her expression still looked good with her hair tied up. The girl in the reflection was quite beautiful, dressed in a powdery, patterned, pink kimono with red cherry blossom print sprinkled on the shoulder and trailing over one side of her chest. At first she hadn't been sure about matching her pink hair with a similar coloured kimono, but once it was on she couldn't bear to take it off. Pink was kind of her colour anyway.
"Sakura! You'd better hurry up," called her mother from down the hallway.
"Ok!" she called back and hurried through the door and out into the warm, early evening light.
Sasuke and Naruto were waiting for her at the edge of the clearing. Sakura's feet slowed as her heartbeat picked up. Both boys were dazzling in their kimono. Sasuke in deep blue, his pale face turned to the sky with his arms folded inside his sleeves, and Naruto in striking orange, looking down toward the lines of stalls, standing awkwardly in his geta. Neither had seen her so she stood for a moment, just watching them. Naruto turned to Sasuke and the taller boy lowered his chin to look at the shorter one as he spoke. The blonde's smile was huge as he pointed at something. At that moment, Sakura's figure in the distance caught Naruto's eye. He stumbled forward and waved to her. She smiled and hurried forward, her heart soaring as they came into hearing distance and Naruto called her name and then Sasuke smirked a little.
"What should we do first?" asked Naruto, standing closely by her side. Sakura turned to him. Today he seemed younger than usual. Could it be his first time at something like this?
"We should go up to the shrine first," she told the boy and then looked to Sasuke. He agreed with a tiny nod.
"Alright! Let's go!" yelled Naruto. Sakura and Sasuke both shushed him as they started towards the stairs.
Sakura opened one eye as Naruto muttered under his breath something about Hokage and smiled. To her left, Sasuke stood in front of the shrine with his eyes closed. His lips moved silently as he prayed. I wonder what he's wishing for... thought Sakura, staring at his long eyelashes. The boy suddenly opened one eye and looked directly at her. A breath she had been holding hissed between her teeth as he scowled softly. That was a 'mind your own business and hurry up' in Sasuke language. Sakura quickly closed her eyes.
What to pray for...? For years she had always prayed for Sasuke. That wasn't really an option this year...
Got it! She pressed her palms harder together and pulled her eyebrows into a concentrated frown.
Please, O Kami sama, please help me to see clearly with unclouded eyes. Please help me to choose someone without being shallow. Please help my heart to be true.
Sakura opened her eyes and looked to Sasuke again, even though he had scolded her for it a second ago. Her determined frown faded into a sad smile.
You were always my number one... But it's impossible now, right? So thank you Sasuke kun, for my first love and know that I'm trying my best to move on from this moment on ok…?
Sasuke's eyelashes fluttered in silent response.
"All done! What did you pray for Sakura chan?" said Naruto, clapping his hands together. Sakura blinked.
"Um.. clear skin," she smiled. Naruto laughed. "Like that's a problem for you."
Back in the heart of the festival, Sakura spotted Ino immediately. She frowned across the space and Ino frowned back before motioning her over with a smile. To get her away from Sasuke? Or to be friendly? Because sometimes Ino could be close to friendly. Sakura considered her. The blonde haired girl was standing with Shikamaru and Chouji, along with Hyuuga Hinata and her team. Sakura was reluctant to leave her boys' side but the other girl was getting impatient.
"Sakura! Come here!" Ino yelled.
The pink haired girl touched Naruto shoulder
"I'm going over here for a bit ok?" she said. He turned to her and grinned.
"Ok, we're going to go play that game!" replied Naruto excitably, pointing at the kingyo sukui game. Sakura smiled as Naruto hurried off, dragging Sasuke by his sleeve.
"Oi! Forehead!" called Ino.
"Coming!" yelled Sakura.
Ino linked her arm through Sakura's, meeting the pink haired girl as she approached the group.
"Let's not do any of that rival stuff today ok?" said Ino in a low voice as she pulled her over to the others. Sakura glanced at her doubtfully out of the corner of her eye and Ino sighed, knowing Sakura didn't believe her.
"Ok, actually, it's because you're the only girl who'll actually talk around here," said the slightly taller girl, rolling her eyes in Hinata's direction. Sakura turned her eyes to the Hyuuga heiress who was standing between her two male team mates, Inuzuka Kiba and Aburame Shino. Hinata was cute but very shy. She looked more nervous than usual; kind of shrinking into Kiba's side with one hand curled in a tight fist at her chest and the other hanging by her side, her fingers quivering like she wanted to reach up and grab Shino's hand. Sakura could see a conversation between someone like Ino and someone like Hinata being rather awkward.
"Hi Hinata," said Sakura politely, approaching Team 8 and smiling reassuringly at the girl. Hinata jumped and smiled back timidly in greeting, apparently too unsure to say anything. Her unusual eyes skittered nervously.
"What's wrong with you Hinata?" said Kiba softly and Hinata peeled her gaze off Sakura to look up at him.
"I- um- nothing..." she replied, throwing a frightened glance over her shoulder. Sakura, Kiba and Shino all looked behind them and Hinata hung her head.
At the stall opposite them stood three people; two boys and a girl. The tallest boy was glaring straight at them, his light lavender eyes boring deep holes in the back of Hinata's head. Sakura felt Shino tense and Kiba growled quietly.
"Who is that, Hinata?" asked Kiba, his voice rough and hard.
"N-No one Kiba kun, its nothing," replied Hinata. She sounded like she was about to cry.
"Hinata..." said Kiba warningly and Shino put a hand on her shoulder.
The group began to approach, led by a boy in a green kimono with black hair. Sakura felt a giggle bubble behind her lips as the leader walked determinedly forward, his hands fists by his side. He was quite possibly the strangest looking boy she had ever seen. He was tall and lanky; the kimono didn't suit him very well. His face was set in a frown; his round eyes were bright and caught the light of the lanterns strung overhead that a man was bringing to life as the sun went down. Sakura flicked her gaze to the other two members.
The glaring boy was actually pretty good looking with delicate pale skin and a face that was slightly sharper than most of the boys around. Even as he walked, he stared at Hinata, who was half turned to them, partially hidden behind a serious Kiba who was standing firmly in front, tall and protective. The girl in the back of the trio's expression was light and she smiled apologetically, trying to level out the hostility and seriousness of her team mates attitudes. They stopped in front of the group of younger kids and Sakura felt Ino come to stand next to her followed by the rest of her team. Regroup, safety in numbers, it was a natural ninja instinct.
"My name," said the green boy loudly, stepping forward and speaking directly to Sakura, "is Rock Lee! And..." His face flushed a bright pink and he bowed lowly to her, his shiny, mop-top hair falling forward. "I love you!"
"Wa..?" said Sakura, her head going completely blank. The green boy, Rock Lee straightened to his full height and took a small step towards her. Sakura lifted her chin a little to look at him.
"I love you, Sakura san," he said, smiling at her gently. Sakura's mouth twitched as she tried to decide what kind of face she should make right now.
How did he know her name...? She was sure they hadn't met before. What was with this confession from a complete stranger? Her green eyes travelled the length of him. He had a full head over her; tall and slim with long limbs. His face was so strange though and the way he moved and spoke, it was honest like he wasn't hiding anything. The boy had a certain feel to him. Trusting and truthful. Sakura felt herself blush despite herself under his intense gaze when she reached his dark eyes. He loved her? Her stomach twisted with shapeless, nameless emotions. What on earth was she supposed to say to that? How sudden.
At that moment, the female member of the trio stepped forward and smacked Rock Lee on the upside of his head. He stumbled back a few large steps and threw her a confused look.
"Lee, what are you doing? Confessing like that! She doesn't even know you!" the girl scolded and Lee's head dropped down, his round eyes falling away, looking to his feet. He looked a bit like a puppy dog. Sakura smiled and couldn't help but laugh a little at his expression. Lee looked up at the noise and gave her a large grin and the thumbs up, earning him another smack on the head.
The girl from the smaller group turned, and smiled at Sakura. She was older, they all were. She was a little taller than Sakura, shorter than her male team mates and had chocolate eyes and light brown hair, pulled into two tight buns on either side of her head.
"Sorry, I'm Tenten; we're ninja, a year above you guys. Team Gai; me, Lee and Neji. Nice to meet you," she said.
"You too, I'm Haruno Sakura," replied Sakura, a little timid.
"Did he freak you out?" asked Tenten gently, like she was speaking to a child. Sakura frowned a little, unsure whether she liked that.
"Apparently he's taken a liking to you." Tenten laughed, carrying on the exchange between them as both she and Sakura turned to the topic of the conversation, stepping away from the big group. Kiba broke off from the group too and approached the boy named Neji. Hinata hid behind Shino. Sakura suddenly felt alone as she left the safety of Ino and the others.
"Lee is a bit naive and just jumps into whatever he's committed himself to, but he's loyal and hard working and a good friend of mine," said Tenten next to her and Sakura watched as Lee joined the one sided conversation Kiba was trying to have with Neji. The Inuzuka boy didn't look happy and Neji appeared to be ignoring him.
"He says he loves you so he is probably really serious about it... I want to ask something of you, Sakura san," said Tenten quietly.
"What is it?" replied Sakura, her voice higher than normal, startled by her name being popped into the sentence so familiarly. Tenten took a few steps towards her team mates and then turned to the younger, pink haired girl and smiled.
"Give him a chance."
With that and a friendly wink in Sakura's direction, she moved off with her two boys, tugging Lee roughly by his green kimono sleeve.
Behind Sakura, the other six had regrouped. Kiba's growl rose above the other chatter, rough and aggravated. Sakura stood where Tenten had left her, staring after the small group until she heard Naruto's loud voice calling for her.
"Sakura chan! Sakura chaaaan!" She blinked and started towards him, not bothering to say goodbye, as he waved her over to where he and Sasuke were crouched in front of the goldfish catching, Kingyo Sukui stall. She took one last look at Tenten's departing group.
Please help me to choose someone without being shallow. Please help my heart to be true.
The girl smiled and shook her head.
"Rock Lee huh.."
…
Naruto crouched back down next to Sasuke, balancing himself carefully on his geta and smoothing his new kimono while they waited for Sakura. He could hear the click of her wooden shoes as she hurried over.
Kingyo Sukui was probably the most frustrating thing ever. All you had to do was catch the little goldfish and get them in your bowl, but the net was made of thin paper and always broke before you could get one. Naruto had sat for ages trying to catch just one fish while Sasuke stood leaning against the side of the stall.
After a while, the Uchiha boy had looked over. Naruto heard him laugh quietly at the blonde's frustration. Looking up, Naruto found Sasuke lowering himself onto his knees and picking up a net.
"You can't catch one, Dobe?" he had asked, his manner unusually gentle as he carefully hovered over a fish. Naruto watched him with wide eyes as Sasuke's face grew quiet, all emotion dropping from it. Concentration. Light from the lanterns had danced softly across the boy's pale skin. He had looked so beautiful in that moment. And then the net had broken. Neither boy could catch one of the bright glimmers of orange.
Sakura floated down next to them, easily sliding into a delicate crouching position. She was a flower in her pink kimono, a true cherry blossom with her hair tied high and her eyes a softer shade of green under the lights.
"Can you catch us a fish Sakura chan? Teme is too unskilled to get one," said Naruto, jerking a thumb at Sasuke. In response, Sasuke bought his fist down on the blonde boys head. He was quicker to snap after failing to catch a fish. Naruto rubbed his head as Sakura handed over a few coins and brought the paper net to the water.
Naruto watched her intently and could feel Sasuke doing the same. There was something very entrancing about watching a girl playing the game. Sakura's fingers looked different to his or Sasuke's on the net. She held it gently rather than gripping it anxiously. Faster than Naruto's unready eyes could track, Sakura flicked her wrist and suddenly, right there in her little silver bowl was a tiny fish, swimming frantically.
"That's amazing Sakura chan! You're really good at this!" cried Naruto, jumping up and reaching after the fish as Sakura handed the bowl over the counter for the man to put in a bag.
"Can I have it? Can I?" asked Naruto excitedly. Sakura laughed and plopped the bag into his awaiting hands. It was like jelly in his palm. It jiggled as the water rolled up the sides of the plastic, refusing to sit still, making the fish toss and tumble clumsily. Naruto made a small noise of delight and then looked up to thank Sakura but was stopped when his blue-fire eyes reached his team mates faces. Both were watching him with a strange fondness in their faces. Sakura was smiling gently at him; Sasuke lips were lifted the tiniest bit. Neither seemed to realize that he had looked up. They looked taller than normal.
"What?"
"Nothing, Naruto," said Sakura. "Nothing."
…
At the far edge of the training ground the grass was longer; hip height. They stood in a line; blue, pink, orange. The now dark sky exploded into colour, each burst making the breath in Sakura's chest catch and release slowly. The fireworks were dazzling and almost every person at the festival had gathered to watch them.
"Ne, Sakura chan." The girl turned as the boy on her right called her softly.
"Yeah?" Naruto didn't look away from the sky. A blue and pink explosion lit up his eyes.
"Did you do everything you wanted to this year?" he asked. Sakura paused.
"No," she told him honestly, chancing a glance at the boy to her left. Sasuke didn't look.
"Oh," said Naruto. "I did everything I wanted to do. I wanted to become a ninja. I wanted to eat a lot of ramen. I wanted to go on cool missions. I wanted... to make some good friends. I think I did all of them." Finally he turned his face to her and grinned. Naruto was close and she noticed that he had grown, his gaze much closer to hers all of a sudden. He was taller and stronger but he was still the mostly the same; hyper active, loud, easily excited, childish. He would always be that goofy kid. Always the baby of their family. And Sakura and Sasuke would always have their places too. Everyone in their team had a set place, a set role. That would never change, no matter what.
Slowly, Sakura reached out and pulled Naruto's hand from his side. He stared at her, amazed by the contact. She smiled as her other hand came out slowly. She pressed her fingertips to the inside of Sasuke's warm palm. He jumped but when he saw she was joining them all he opened his fingers and allowed her to hold his hand. His face was flushed and he looked angrily embarrassed.
Sasuke's hand was folded carefully in hers. Naruto's was warm and friendly and fitted neatly. Sakura's heart swelled with warmth.
"Sasuke kun, Naruto... Please look after me again this year..."
She stayed a little longer in the long grass, holding their hands before; with a smile she let them go and stepped back. They looked over their shoulders and she flashed them another reassuring smile.
"See you later," she said. "Happy New Year."
Enjoy this moment, she thought as she retreated out of the long grass.
…
Sakura stood next to the Kingyo Sukui stall, watching the flickering fish. Ino appeared by her side.
"Sasuke loves Naruto. I thought you should know," the pink haired girl said quietly. She felt the other's surprise and they stood in silence for a long moment while Ino overcame the shock.
"Aren't you upset?" asked Sakura, her eyes following one particular fish and then swapping to a new one when two fish crossed paths. There was a silence.
"Sasuke has been out of reach for a long time. I'm shocked, I mean him and Naruto? But I kind of always knew it would never be me... It was fun chasing him though..." said Ino
"Yeah..." murmured Sakura. Ino moved closer to her. The atmosphere between them softened.
"What are you gonna do Forehead? Me and you aren't the same, you have to see them everyday." Sakura sighed painfully, her chest growing tight again. She reached up to finger her long bangs that were left loose to frame her face.
"Maybe I'll cut my hair..." she said to herself. Ino tensed. Both of them had grown their hair long for Sasuke. Sakura lifted her chin. "Or maybe... I'll give someone else a chance to with my heart."
…
Sasuke yelped loudly as Naruto wrapped an arm around his neck and fell backwards, pulling them both down. The world disappeared behind the high grass and now it was just him and Sasuke under the fireworks.
"What do you think you're doing? Usuratonkachi!" yelled Sasuke as he sat up angrily. Even sitting up they were hidden by the long grass. Naruto tugged on Sasuke's sleeve, closing his eyes and breathing in the safe scent of the warm ground.
"Let's sleep here tonight Teme," he said softly. Sasuke bristled.
"Sleep here by yourself. I'm not staying." He tried to stand but Naruto kept a firm grip on his sleeve and pulled him back down on the ground to lie next to him. This time Sasuke didn't try to get back up.
A few stalks of grass formed a thin wall between them. Naruto watched Sasuke through it, unseen. Sasuke was watching the fireworks again. His arm was lying on top of Naruto's; in the same place it had fallen when Sasuke was drawn back into their hideaway. A light fluttering started in Naruto's stomach as his eyes gazed steadily, staring at nothing in particular, just Sasuke. His face heated and his breathing ceased as a thought struck him. Was he enjoying Sasuke's company too much? Was that wrong? He blinked slowly, his body so heavy and comfortable, his eyes so mesmerized by Sasuke. Did he like Sasuke more than he should? He blinked again.
If Sasuke went off with someone else... If Sasuke smiled at someone else... If Sasuke said 'Dobe' or 'Usuratonkachi' to someone else... If Sasuke slept next to someone else... If Sasuke breathed his sweet breath on someone else... If Sasuke let someone else get close... someone who wasn't Naruto...
None of that sounded right...
Without thinking at all, Naruto moved his thumb and stroked the inside of Sasuke's wrist. The skin there was soft and hairless. Sasuke turned to look at him, his eyes brimming with the light of the fireworks overhead.
Are we... more than friends...?