Another Love Story?
A/N: Hoo boy. Hey everyone! I'm really sorry about the huge delay. I had written the first chapter during the second semester, and immediately after things got REALLY hectic at school, and the homework got piled on. Thanks for the handful of reviews I got, and I'll be taking the criticisms to heart. Hope you enjoy chapter 2.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. If I did, the characters wouldn't be wearing such obvious clothing, and I'd hire a new voice actor for Naruto. American AND Japanese.
Narration
"Speaking"
Thought
Kyuubi / Inner Sakura
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Sakura and Naruto casually stepped down the dirt roads of Konoha, searching for a place to eat. Naruto had been training severely, as usual, and was about ready to devour the next thing that he saw. The two conversed about random events, past and present, leaving somewhat long and awkward silences in between. Or, at least, awkward to Naruto. At the moment, two things were battling for domination in his mind: Hunger and Sakura.
Bad time to be hungry…and with Sakura-chan, he thought, as he glanced over to her occasionally as he spoke. He pretended to pay attention, while thinking to himself all that might go right today, and, unfortunately, all that could go wrong. He panicked mentally, while attempting to keep a calm physique as he spoke with Sakura, but he knew that if they didn't find somewhere to eat so he could take his mind off of things soon, he would start freaking out like he did at the training grounds with his horribly embarrassing comment, regarding a very strange dream.
"Naruto…Hey Naruto, are you alright?" Sakura asked, looking at Naruto quizzically, as he stared off in front of him, lost in his thoughts. He quickly snapped his head to meet her gaze, and attempting not to blush, he thought about his words carefully before he spoke.
"Oh yeah…I'm fine. I'm just hungry, Sakura-Chan. Are we almost there?" he said, clutching his gut as it roared. This statement wasn't entirely false, as he was terribly hungry. He put on a whiny face as he added the last part, to create the illusion that he was acting normal, when in reality his mind was in a state of turmoil.
Sakura rolled her eyes and replied, "Yes Naruto, we're almost there. But if you start to act like a pig in there, you'll be sorry," she threatened, looking at him with a raised eyebrow, as if daring him to be stupid. "Give me a reason, and you'll be paying for a new wall," she finished. Naruto gulped at that. Sakura could be so violent at times.
Sakura's definitely Tsunade's apprentice, he thought, rolling his eyes. He then thought about how Jiraiya's actions and behavior had impacted Naruto since they started training. With a look of horror, he realized that if he wasn't careful, he might become as perverted as his Sensei. He gagged at the thought.
"Naruto, you must be really hungry. I guess you didn't notice, but we're here," Sakura said, snapping him out of his thoughts. He looked up to see that she was in fact telling the truth (As if he would doubt her), and smiled with relief.
"Finally! I'm starving!" he said enthusiastically; hunger outweighing his ability to think. Sakura sighed as he rushed in, and followed when he motioned for her to do so. The hostess brought them to their table, and giggled as she walked away. Naruto looked at her puzzlingly, before realizing that she must have assumed that he and Sakura were on a date. His eye twitched and he looked to Sakura, smiling sheepishly.
"I guess she thought we were on a date…" he said without thinking, before the wheels started turning again. He opened his eyes wide, and he flinched, expecting to be hit for saying what should have been left unsaid. However, when he found that he was, in fact, not laying outside on the streets, staring through the hole his body had made in the wall, he looked at Sakura to see her nodding in agreement.
"I guess people don't realize that guys and girls can be just friends nowadays..." she said, looking at the menu. Naruto sighed with relief, and relaxed visibly, as he picked up the menu, when he heard Sakura say something.
"Naruto, come sit over here by me!" she said, motioning for him to sit next to her. He simply stared, mouth wide open, as he remembered last night's dream.
I don't believe it. This is too good to be true, he thought, as he stood up slowly and moved to her side of the table. However, when he looked to where he was just sitting, and beyond the chair, he saw Sai walking to their table. He looked to Sakura, who was waving him over. He sweatdropped, and sighed mentally.
I had to think it…he thought, disappointedly, as he looked to his teammate who had just taken a seat where Naruto was moments before.
"Hello Naruto-Kun, Sakura-Chan," he said calmly, putting on a smile as he picked up a menu. Naruto whished strongly that Sai weren't here. He had hoped for some alone time with Sakura.
Looks like that's not going to happen, he thought, looking at the two of them. He turned his attention back to the menu, and shortly after, a waiter arrived to take orders. They made their selections, and the waiter relieved them of their menus and walked off to pass the orders to the cooks. Meanwhile, Sakura, Naruto, and Sai had engaged in conversations, once again talking about random events, which were often accompanied by awkward silences. They chose to avoid talking about Sasuke, as none of them had wanted to feel depressed today.
Much to Naruto's appreciation, their food arrived and they ate in silence, unsure as to what they should talk about. Naruto was busy mentally, trying his hardest to keep his voice in check, as well as his thoughts. Now was not the time to get excited, or panicked.
This is the hardest I've had to think in a while, Naruto thought. I don't understand why it's so hard for me to be calm around Sakura-Chan today. It's just like any other day. So why do I feel like this? He asked himself, struggling to grasp the concept. In his desperation, he even thought to question the Kyuubi. However, he knew that it would be a foolish act, as the demon fox trapped inside of him would care nothing of the "pointless problems and emotions of humans", as he would say.
Well, it looks like I'm on my own, he concluded, as they finished their breakfast in silence, while Naruto was just happy that he could share the meal with the pink-haired beauty sitting next to him. He wondered what, if anything, could possibly go wrong?
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A/N: Well, there's chapter 2 for you people. I'll try and get the next one up quicker, but it depends on my laziness, and my social life. Comments are always welcome. Flames are good for a quick laugh. See you next time.