A/N:
My gratitude for you is like sand on the seashore. Countless.
I apologize to everyone who had been offended by the gender-related concerns included in this fic. I have nothing against other genders. Whenever I write a certain outlook, it doesn't always mean I think that way. I try to portray how the characters would view things. If what I wanted to convey wasn't clear enough that it has given you a different message, I'm sorry.
To the guest reviewer who pointed that out: I'll put the tone of your comment aside, along with the stereotypes you mentioned. If that's how you express yourself, then I respect that. I just want to say that I'm also a girl, and I personally think the word 'gay' is not an insult. I guess it just depends on how one perceives the term. Also, I'm not an American. I take that as a compliment, by the way, since English isn't my first language. But you're right when you said I should be more broad-minded. And so should you and anybody else. The way a person interprets and reacts to things has everything to do with his/her own mindset. We create our own realities through our thoughts, beliefs, and actions. You can call this literature whatever you want, but this 'rubbish' story is what makes me happy. And your review only strengthened my resolve to improve on how I write it. In the end, I am still my own worst critic. It's generous of you though, because despite the rubbish quality of this story, you've still progressed reading until the previous chapter. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and having the time to read this fic.
I also want to thank the other guest reviewer (you know who you are :)), who helped me clear things up. You have no idea how your statement inspired me further to stand up for myself. From the core of my heart, thank you.
Like all or most writers in this site, I still have a lot to learn. I accept criticisms; but consider that I'm also human, and like most living things on this planet – regardless of location or other differences – I have feelings, too. You could get your point across in a more diplomatic way. The netiquette rules have their own reason for existing. Now, I understand better that there is much more to writing. I'll try to be more sensitive about what I write next time.
This is, by far, the longest note I've written in my entire FanFiction life, and it's consuming the window space, but it's a relief I got that out of my system, and you're probably wondering when the story will resume, and blah blah blah blah, so… sorry for the inconvenience… here it is.
Chapter 12
The Hike (Part 1)
Sakura sighed, letting all the carbon dioxide out her lungs, prolonging the exhale until the demand to breathe in registered. She would take any form of distraction right now, anything to forget about where she was.
"…and then old man Jiraiya sprang out of nowhere and I was so scared to death, I almost peed on my pants! You should've seen him Sakura-chan! He's scarier than any ghosts in the movies. And he's not even wearing any make-up! Speaking of make-up, there's this one time during a storm, when…"
Sakura tuned out the voice from her left. Three hours had passed, yet Naruto was still energized and wasn't running out of stories to tell. It proved entertaining at first, but her ears could only take so much, specifically, the left ear.
To her right though, was complete silence. Sasuke sat there, gazing through the car window with earphones plugged on both ears. She shouldn't have agreed to switch places with him when he asked. But he had done so with almost, again, almost pleading eyes that made no room for a negative. It was rare for him to be in a good mood – if you consider a smirk one sign of happiness – so, Sakura just accepted the offer.
Not that I care about his mood or anything.
She first thought that Sasuke preferred the window seat, because he wanted to get a good view of the landscape. But it turned out he knew how Naruto behaved during long travels like this.
Since it was the start of summer vacation, her dad decided to have a little trip to Yama, a mountainous rural area eight hours away from Konoha. Kizashi had mentioned that this would be a great time to finally have some family bonding, so he took a week-long leave from work.
When he said 'family' though, Sakura expected it to be just them two with a few bodyguards; not the amount of people currently in this van.
She didn't mind having Kakashi, who sat on the driver seat, or Iruka, who settled at the passenger side. But why did Tsunade and Shizune have to tag along? It wasn't that she hated their presence, she actually enjoyed their company. Sakura just expected this to be her and her dad's moment, with no other interruptions.
She stared at the brown hair in front of her. Her dad was sitting in between Shizune and Tsunade, having a chat of their own. They were doing well so far in ignoring Naruto's blabbing.
She frowned. Shouldn't she be the one sitting beside her dad? She was, after all, his family. Instead, she was stuck here at the back with the two other bodyguards. The two opposing forces: the dark and the light, the moon and the sun, or the yin and the yang. If the seat behind them weren't folded and occupied by their luggage, she would have preferred to stay there and have the entire row to herself.
Sakura glanced to her right and met a pair of black eyes. Pause. He wasn't looking away, and her eyes were glued on his. How do you breathe again? Since she was on the brink of suffocation, Sakura averted her gaze to the front and spared her lungs.
Why's he looking at me like that?
It almost appeared like he had been asking a silent question, as if he had sent a message by merely gazing back at her. A message that she couldn't quite decipher yet…
Was she just imagining things? What if it was really nothing to him? She risked another glance at Sasuke, whose head was now angled towards the tinted glass. The window framed a live painting of the sinking sun, looking down at its own reflection on the surface of the sea.
What if Sasuke didn't see her in the same way she sees him?... And what if he did?
She wouldn't dare to find out… for now. In an odd way, Sakura wanted to be friends with him. And she wouldn't ruin the under-construction friendship, by telling him about the absurd thoughts of him she had been having lately. She just wanted to get to know him better. But after what happened at the firing range, Sasuke had been more reserved than usual. He stayed with her most of the time, and yet it looked like he also avoided her.
Sakura shifted the focus to her hands, folded on her lap. And the memory of the faint electric shock, caused by his grip, resurfaced.
Could he… perhaps, had felt that too?
With that in mind, Sakura struggled to keep the corners of her lips from tugging upward.
"…told you it's funny Sakura-chan! See? I made you smile! Oh! I've got another one! When I was in high school…"
The rustle of dry leaves under thick-soled boots and the loud pants were the prominent noises Sakura could identify.
"Wait, Sakura-chan!"
…Aside from Naruto's voice.
"Sakura-chan! Slow down, will yah?! Teme and I were supposed to be at the front line!"
"You aren't fast enough."
"Have you forgotten what they said at the orientation? We should take our time all throughout the trail, or else we'll easily get tired."
She? Haruno Sakura? Forgot valuable information? Not a chance. She remembered it like every letter in her name. She just didn't care about that anymore.
Sakura kept her eyes on the dirt path and tightened her grip on the hiking sticks, determined to walk ahead of the rest. The backpack's weight was manageable. This was one of the times she was grateful for spending hours at the home gym; one of the advantages of exercise.
The high sun bowed down at them, taunting their pursuit to journey close to it. Clear blue sky added to the misery; no clouds to shade them from the giant star's blinding smile. The tall trees earlier had been kind to filter the rays, but this area right now only offered bushes along the way.
They had left the mountain resort this morning and had been walking for two hours now. Because they were in Yama, it was only reasonable to try the most famous attraction of the province… mountain climbing.
They were expected to finish the trail before dusk, but Sakura planned to cover it earlier than that. She wanted to get this over with.
Even in their walking formation, Sakura didn't get the chance to walk beside her dad. The coordinators had suggested that since two of them had experiences in the medical field, those two should be distributed in their pairings. So, Sakura was partnered with Shizune, while her dad was with Tsunade. And the bodyguards stayed in front and at the end of the line.
This may be the only time that Sakura could have her dad all to herself, and yet the odds were against her favor. After all the disappointments, she still dared to give her dad a chance to redeem himself. They only had each other, and she didn't want to lose him too.
Right now, fate was playing with her, though.
So much for 'family' bonding.
Yes, they could still talk, since he was just a few steps behind. But walking side by side was way more different. It was more convenient to ask for help from your partner, or give that person a hand in return. You could exchange more experiences or open up to more personal matters. And you could motivate each other to keep on going, because both of you have gone through – and would continue to venture on – a single path, together and at the same time.
Shizune was a good conversationalist partner, but after an hour of walking, she had been catching her breath and just remained silent. Behind them, her dad and her shishou had proceeded chatting about pointless things. Sakura was sick of all their college day stories and couldn't take any more, so she had settled to stride past Naruto and Sasuke to take the lead.
She should have been the one talking to her dad in the first place. The grouping in two's was only a suggestion. Not a must. It could be followed or not, depending on a person's preference. And she chose to go against it.
Her leg muscles were protesting, but Sakura forced them to keep moving forward, one step after another. Endurance was the key here. From a distance, thick vegetation awaited them. The tall trees could hide them from the sun's glare. So, Sakura quickened her pace, eager to reach the canopy of branches.
"Sakura-chan! Wait for us!"
She looked over her shoulder and spotted Naruto beside Shizune, while Sasuke was catching up to her a few meters away.
"Sakura! We'll stop under those trees!" Came Kakashi's voice from the very back.
Since it was her Kakashi-sensei's orders, Sakura could only respond with an exasperated sigh. Fine. I could use a break, myself.
They gathered around the pile of rocks at the side to replenish and to admire the greens and browns of nature.
Sakura was sitting on one of the far rocks, when Kakashi approached and sat on the space next to her. They gazed at the miniature clump of trees scattered at the valley before them, while hearing Naruto's distant yells as he entertained everyone else.
"What's bothering you this time?" Kakashi said.
"Nothing… Just tired."
"That's probably because we should rest for five to ten minutes every hour, and we had been walking for two hours straight. Naruto's been reminding you about that, but you never listened."
"…"
"Care to share?"
Should I tell him? But what if he tells dad about it?... "No, it's nothing."
Kakashi sighed. "If you say so. Just bear in mind that we're a group here, and one's actions would affect everyone. Not all of us go to the gym as often as you do. Whatever your problem is, put it aside for now, and take the time to appreciate this trip. Focus on what's going right."
On what's going right?...
For some reason, Sasuke was the first one her mind pictured. She really needed to stop thinking about him. But how could she? He would literally be everywhere she was!
Kakashi stood up and dusted his pants. "You ready to get climbing again?"
"Yeah." Sakura hoisted her backpack and adjusted its stomach strap, before joining the others with her Kakashi-sensei.
Gravity and the uneven ground were the main obstacles they needed to overcome. Add the sun's heat and the sloping path, not to mention the backpack's weight, and you would have one of the most intense workouts ever discovered. Sweat and heavy breathing were the common factors in their group.
Sakura had regained her position beside Shizune and matched her speed. After the small talk with her Kakashi-sensei, her selfish actions became clear. Shizune had been with her during her hardest times, and now, it was Sakura's turn to give back the support. Like her dad, Shizune wasn't an athletic person either. So, fatigue could easily cling to her.
"Sakura-chan, sorry if we're moving too slow." Shizune spoke beside her.
"It's okay. Actually, if we walk at this rate, we'll be able to pay more attention to the beauty of the surroundings."
"Yes… Isn't it wonderful, how all of these harmonize with one another?" Shizune waved a hand to indicate the natural world.
Unlike the concrete, steel and glass that make up the majority of Konoha; plants, trees and animals dwelt here. Instead of the traffic noise and chatters of a crowd, the rustle of leaves on tree branches and the chirping of birds in different pitches blended into a melody. Pine cones, small rocks and fallen leaves were the only things that littered the ground. And the open clean air made it easier to breathe, alleviating the weariness of the hike.
Another factor was the presence of companions. Knowing that you shared this experience with others could give a sense of belonging and acceptance… of harmonizing with other people, and at the same time, with nature. Nature had its way of bringing living things together. And the experience could be magical.
"Yeah… It is." Sakura couldn't help the smile that graced her lips, when her gaze landed at a certain mop of black hair in front of her.
Another obstacle greeted them along the trail. A boulder, not lower than her waist, was embedded onto the sloping soil. One had to climb over it to get to higher ground and move on. They were a few feet away from the large rock, when Shizune noticed Sakura's untied laces. So, they moved to the side for a while and let the others go ahead.
While she was busy tying the hiking boots, Sakura sneaked a look at the boulder. Her dad had already climbed past it, and Tsunade was the next one to do so. The moment Tsunade placed her hands on the rock; her dad extended his hand for assistance. And Tsunade held onto it as she climbed over to higher ground.
Irritated, Sakura returned to the laces and finished it in an instant. She and her dad should be the ones helping each other out. She stood up and strode over to the large rock, where two offered hands appeared before her. Sakura followed the hands up to Naruto's grin and Sasuke's stoic face… then back to the blonde… and to the black-haired one.
"No thanks, I can do this on my own." Sakura climbed the boulder, using her gloved hands for support. Once she succeeded, she turned behind to help Shizune.
This time, their formation was reversed. Kakashi and Iruka took the lead, while the remaining bodyguards were behind Sakura and Shizune. After observing the change, Sakura preferred this arrangement. At least, she couldn't clearly listen to her dad's story-telling, unlike a while ago.
They reached the rocky part of the trail. The trail that stretched on far enough to go around the world and connect back at the starting point… the trail that seemed to have no end.
Their energies had been measuring low, but they continued pushing themselves to their limits and kept on climbing up the steep slopes. A few bushes were the only plants scattered on the rocky terrain. No more tall trees for natural umbrellas. No more five to ten-minute breaks. No more complaining about fatigue. Because the destination was only a breath away…
It took one more step, before Sakura was on top of the world. The strong breeze celebrated with her as it embraced her figure and fanned her skin. At this moment, the journey proved to be worth it. All the sweat, callouses, scratches, and enduring were rewarded.
Green covered humps of earth sat in random formation around the mountain beneath her feet. They could even be mistaken for giant broccolis. Natural contours, shaped by time, ran down onto valleys and ravines. Rivers and streams were no more than a thread, as they rushed down to the lowest ground surface.
From this view, gravity worked in two directions: one from the ground, which puts all these in place; and one from the sky, which pulls all these upward. More distant landforms stretched as far as the eyes could see; where they appear faded or almost transparent. Just above was a vast field of light blue, adorned with high thin clouds and groups of birds too far to recognize.
She was a part of these… a part of all the wonders and mysteries of the natural world… a part of life. And at this very second, that connection became clear.
No words could explain it. This type of communication did not need any language. When you gaze at nature, it was unstoppable to admire the masterpiece of imperfections, the beauty that no eyes could see. Because the five basic senses become secondary and internal feeling was the priority.
"It's breathtaking, isn't it?"
Sakura turned to the right, put all her issues aside for a moment, and mirrored her shishou's smile.
"Absolutely… Though, I think it's more of 'indescribable'."
Tsunade gave a soft chuckle. "Indescribable it is."
Another voice spoke to her left. "Hey honey, look! There's the resort we came from."
Kizashi pointed at the small man-made structure near the foot of the mountain. The highway could also be spotted, stretching around the base of one hill and hiding from view.
Sakura squinted. "It's so little."
"And so is everything else."
"Yeah… I knew there are many mountains here, but I didn't expect to see this much."
"Well honey, you're seeing the literal picture of the saying: Once you reach the peak of a mountain, you will discover that there are many more mountains to climb."
This part of the journey was Sakura's favorite. Not only because she made it to the summit, but also because her dad stood right beside her.
"Hey teme!" Naruto yelled not so far from them. "Check out those hills! They look like ass cheeks, don't you think? I'm gonna name it… The Mighty Ass Valley!"
"Hn. Dobe."
"I like it. It rhymes!"
After taking pictures and having enough rest, they started descending the mountain through the other side. Walking downhill was easier and faster, with the exception of the very steep parts of the trail.
At one part, the slope was almost 90 degrees and the lower ground was approximately 2 meters deep, deeper than the previous ones. This area could even be mistaken as a cliff, or a mini version of one. Due to the angle of terrain, they would have to remove their bags in order to crawl downwards. Going around it was not an option, since wild thorn bushes were scattered around the area.
Kakashi was the first to descend. They tossed the packs over to him, before following suit. When it was Sakura's turn, uncertainty made its presence known. What if she slipped and crash down? Or what if she couldn't find anything to grip onto? Sure 2 meters wasn't that deep, but the downhill below was overwhelming, that a single mistake could send her straight to the foot of the mountain without bothering to walk.
Don't look down, Sakura. You can do this.
Out of habit during situations like this, Sakura raised a hand to her chest to reach for her pendant… only to hold nothing. She looked down, and sure enough, the silver that had been resting around her neck was nowhere to be seen.
Numbness and panic set in.
Oh no. Sakura scanned the ground and walked away from the mini-cliff.
"What's the matter?" Shizune asked.
"My necklace… It's missing!"
"Didn't you put it in your bag or pocket?"
"No, I was wearing it all this time."
"Then it should be here somewhere." Shizune joined her in the search, along with Tsunade and the two younger bodyguards, since the adult males had already descended. After a few minutes, no sign of the necklace was spotted.
Sakura ran her fingers through her hair. "I'll go back on the trail. It must've fallen along the path."
Naruto gasped. "What?! We're already halfway down and that thing could be anywhere at this mountain! That's insane!"
"I don't care! I won't leave this mountain until I find my necklace!"
Tsunade interrupted. "Sakura, can't it wait until tomorrow? It's five o'clock, and it will be dark soon."
"But what if some animal or hiker found it first? Shishou, you know how important that is to me."
Tsunade stared at her – contemplative, before sighing in defeat. "Fine, I'll go with you."
"It's too dangerous!" Kizashi called from below. "It wouldn't be wise to travel at dark. I won't gamble anyone's safety on account of a lost necklace. No one is going back there. We are all heading to the resort together and that's final. Now, get down here. All of you."
The logic and sense of authority in his tone left no room for any more arguments. So, everyone kept quiet and followed his orders… except for one. Sakura balled her fists and remained standing at the side, while Tsunade and Shizune moved down.
The rational part of her was overpowered with anger. And without thinking, Sakura sprinted back to the opposite direction, keeping her eyes on the ground for the necklace.
"Sakura-chan!" Came Naruto's distant yell.
She ignored him and kept running up the slope. If they would only make excuses, then she would just have to search on her own. She continued climbing until Naruto's calls died down.
When the need to take a rest hit Sakura, she paused at the side and sat on a large rock. It was getting dimmer at every minute, and her throat had started drying out. She reached behind, and then another realization sank in. She left her pack behind!
Dammit! You're so stupid, Sakura. Stupid! Now what?!
"Sakura-chan!"
She turned to the way she had come from, and recognized Naruto and Sasuke striding towards her.
