Chapter Three
"Be crazy. Be stupid. Be weird. Be whatever. Because life is way too short to be anything but happy."
She had been dreaming of the perfect dress ever since she could remember. She had always loved fashion. From a young age her mother had flown her all over the world just to see the latest designers show off their new lines at different shows. She had been to New York Fashion week numerous times, along with France and Italy. She had met designers, had bought their clothes and hand bags. She lived for fashion. And ever since Itachi had proposed to her, in what she thought was the best way possible, the first thing she had done was rush out and start trying on dresses.
"Oh my god." Kimi said aloud as she stood in front of the mirror. She moved her body so that she could take in all the detail of the sheer dress that she had adorned. It was definitely not the traditional type of wedding dress. And it was a far cry from the dress that Mikoto had picked out for her earlier.
"It's you." The shop attendant murmured as she buttoned the round white buttons up along Kimi's spine.
The future bride swore she was glowing. The dress was absolutely perfect, the whole thing was sheer with lace clustered in random places and also covering up her most private parts. It was fitted to her slim body, more so once they sent it off to fit her specific measurements. The straps that helped hold up the material were see through, and on top of all of that it was her favorite designers 2015 collection.
She had found her dream dress.
"Are you ready to show them?"
Kimi squealed to herself and nodded in confirmation to the attendant. Mikoto's style was not this, that was for sure, but she was sure that if she just told her how much she adored it, then she would be okay with her decision. As for the elders of the clan, well, it wasn't like they were going to be alive for much longer. They were all old as bats, and besides she knew that her wedding was going to be on the front page of several magazines. After all she had snagged up possibly the most handsome and eligible bachelor in Japan. The heir to a massive media empire. She seriously struck it rich this time.
Gathering up her flimsy skirt she followed the attendant out of the room and toward the viewing room. Her smile growing wider every foot she grew closer to them. One of her bridesmaids turned to look at her and Kimi couldn't help herself from feeling triumphant when her jaw dropped.
That was definitely the reaction that she was wanting from people. She wanted them to talk about her, wanted them to be her. Nothing was wrong with that. She was born to be noticed.
"Oh my god, Kimi." One of her bridesmaids said stunned.
"I know right?!" She squealed, "It's absolutely perfect."
The bride to be grinned at herself in the three-way mirror and took notice of her fiancés mothers face. The attendant walked up with a lace veil and placed it on her head along with a crystal barrette.
"What do you think mom?" Kimi asked, eyeing Mikoto cautiously.
The older Uchiha didn't say anything for a few moments. She just sat there on the plush couch and examined the scene in front of her. She had a lot of thoughts about the dress. She had truly hoped that her future daughter in law would have better taste than that. The wedding would be in a huge church, over four hundred people would be attending, and a lot of those people were business associates and family friends. They came from old money, old money that was turned into new money. She liked Kimi, she really did, but sometimes she honestly wondered if the match was the correct match for her elder son. Itachi had always been a quiet boy, a man of a few words, and most of all he always did what was expected of him. Sasuke had been the complete opposite, he had rebelled the moment he had got the chance. And even now, when he was twenty-two he still rebelled. Hung out with a female with vivid colorful hair, and a loud young man. But she sincerely liked them, Kimi not so much.
"I think, sweetie, that it's very revealing." She said finally.
Kimi stood in front of the mirror, with the veil covering most of her face. Lifting the veil, she turned to face her future mother in law.
"It covers what needs to be covered. And besides, the dress makes the perfect statement. I want to turn heads and be something that people talk about."
Mikoto sighed and shook her head.
She was definitely going to make something.
xxxxxx
Sakura felt like she had been sitting in front of the blank canvas for what felt like hours, with her charcoal in her fingers. She had a major assignment due in a few weeks, a huge assignment. And out of all the times she could get artist block, it just had to be now. Groaning, she leaned her head against the easel. She needed a muse, or something to that extent. The last time she had talked to someone about what she should paint, Sasuke had just hmphed at her and Naruto had droned on for god knows how long about frogs. Toads to be more exact. She had no idea what his obsession with those slimy green creatures was, but it was annoying.
"I could draw Sasuke getting eaten by a dinosaur…" she mused to herself, half-jokingly.
Cocking her head to the side, she jutted out her lower lip and seriously started to contemplate it before shaking her head and ultimately deciding against it.
"Having trouble?" A male voice asked, causing Sakura to scream and jump. Swiveling around on her stool with her hand clutching at her chest she narrowed her eyes at the man that had a nasty habit of sneaking up on her.
I really should put a bell on him, she thought to herself as she resituated herself on her stool.
"Jesus Itachi, stop doing that." She snapped at him before turning her attention back to the blank canvas. "But yes, yes I am."
The older man grabbed a stool and pulled it up beside her and sat down. He was still in his work clothes, a simple button up collared white shirt and black slacks, and normally she would assume that he was just on lunch, except this time his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and his normally neatly pulled back hair was put into a man bun once again.
"Can I help?" He asked rubbing his neck. Sakura shrugged her shoulders.
"Honestly I don't think I'm going to make any progress on it today."
"Tonight." He corrected.
"Huh?"
"It's dark." He murmured gesturing at one of the windows in the art room.
"Well shit."
Itachi only hn'd as Sakura rocketed out of her chair and rushed over to where her things were. At this point he was quite used to her randomly spazzing out. Out of the few weeks of them speaking to each other, he had noticed that she was somewhat of a space cadet. Also, she was very forgetful. Oh, and she hated Math with a ridiculous passion. Which he only knew from the few times that he had saw her at the café on his lunch hour. He had sat with her for a few minutes and explained some of the equations, her being completely surprised that he still knew how to do them considering he had been out of school for over six years. He didn't have the heart to tell her that he was somewhat of a brain. He liked math, science, actually he liked anything that stimulated his brain. On his days off he usually just put on sweatpants and played Sudoku or read a book all day. Mind you lately he had been reading text books, which could possibly be why he had been able to explain her math problem to her, he had just finished reading through his old college algebra book.
"Do you have something planned?" he asked, as he pulled out his smart phone that had been buzzing for quite some time. Kimi had went dress shopping earlier in the day and she had been trying to get ahold of him since, apparently her and her mother had disagreed on a dress and she was wanting him to speak to his mom about accepting her. He really could care less. He was much more interested in what the fluorescent haired female rushing around the room was up too.
"I do actually."
He raised his eyebrow as he pressed the ignore button on his phone, screening another call from his fiancé.
"Deidara and some friends are coming over tonight to drink and pig out on food." Sakura said, as she stuffed a notebook in her bag. Itachi looked up from his phone and focused on her. "You're more than welcome to join in." She finished with a broad smile.
She lifted the bag onto her shoulder and looked around the room checking to see if she was forgetting anything and Itachi stood up and pushed the stool back to where he found it.
"I don't have anything better to do."
Sakura grinned at him and motioned for him to follow her.
"Where did ya park?" She asked, "You are totally giving me a ride home."
xxxxxx
8 years ago
Haruno residence
America
Caroline wasn't entirely sure how she was going to break the news to Sakura. It had just been confirmed that Yuki, Sakura's father, was being transferred to France. She was at that age where it seemed like the whole world was against her, and Caroline understood. She had been young once. She had thought that her parents hadn't understood what it was like to be a teenager then, had screamed and even yelled at them, because they didn't understand what it was like to be in love or to have their hearts broken.
It wasn't until she got pregnant with Sakura that she realized she owed her mother and father a huge apology. It was rough being a teenager. They said that it was the best time of your life, and at thirty, Caroline could truthfully say that she didn't miss it in the slightest. She didn't miss her school where the others had made fun of her and she definitely didn't miss how immature the guys were.
She understood. The unfortunate part was that her daughter didn't realize that. And perhaps payback was a bitch, but her once easy to handle daughter had grown unruly recently. Actually she had been like this for the past few years, never wanting to spend time with her. And Caroline couldn't remember the last time that she had actually hugged her only child. It was like she hit a certain age and physical contact had been completely shoved off the table. She was lucky if she could get a fleeting kiss from her when she was leaving the house to go to the mall or heading to school.
She didn't look forward to telling her daughter that in a few weeks they would be on an airplane traveling across the ocean and setting up house in a country that she had never been too before. She felt for her daughter. She knew how frightening it was to move to another country, but when she moved to America she had been in her twenties and studying abroad.
She yearned for a relationship with her daughter again, but from the way things had been going it didn't seem like that was going to be happening anytime soon. Pinching the bridge of her nose, Caroline stopped in the middle of the hallway. Her headaches had been getting worse and worse. She blamed it on the stress of everything. With her husband going back and forth between France and America, everything was up to her. She had to keep an eye on their daughter, and with the bills and making sure dinner was always on the table. It was taxing on her, but she was strong. She had been doing it for fourteen years, and she would keep doing it for another twenty if she must. All the stress would go away when Sakura grew older and out of her hateful teenage age. Besides, someone would have to be able to know how to do everything whenever she had grandbabies.
Rubbing her temples she moved along to one of the back rooms that was littered with boxes. Sakura would be getting home in about thirty minutes, she might as well finish packing up the study and distribute the rest of the boxes in the other rooms. They would have to ship all the important things over in a week so that it would all be ready for them when they arrived at their new home. That was the worst part about moving across the ocean. Kneeling on the carpeted floor, Caroline looked around the blue study. Shelves lined two of the walls and each one either was filled with books or with some kind of model that she had built out of boredom. Some of them even built by her daughter. She smiled to herself as she reached into one of the shelves and pulled out a clumsily put together automobile. She
Remembered the day that Sakura had put it together so well. It had been raining for a straight week and they didn't have anything better to do, and Sakura had been so stir crazy having had to stay indoors. So when she had come across the models at a hobby store she couldn't help herself. They had sat together and watched Disney movies for hours, just building model after model. Looking up to the shelf above it, she grinned. The ship that she and Sakura had built was still there and still looked great and god knew how old that thing was. At least over ten years old. She probably wouldn't be able to get her teenager to build another for old times' sake with her.
With a rueful smile she grabbed a few books and placed them neatly into one of the boxes.
When Sakura got home thirty minutes later she knew that something was off. Boxes were all over the house and the family pictures that had been at home on the entrance wall were removed. Square imprints showed where they had all once rested. She didn't like this, not in the slightest. Dropping her book bag to the ground she placed her cell phone on the small table to the left of her, one of her favorite paintings had used to hang above it, but it was no longer there.
"Mom?" she called as she kicked off her shoes.
No answer sounded as she slipped off her jacket and dropped it on top of her bag. Turning right she walked down the carpeted hallway, her anxiety rising as she noticed the other pictures and paintings that had been placed on the walls all her life were missing as well.
"Mom?" She called again, this time she could hear a faint answer.
Walking into the master bedroom, she stopped short as she observed her mother throwing clothes into one of the many huge cardboard boxes. Fragile written on the sides of some. The antique dresser that her mother placed all her perfume and jewelry on was cleared off, and the bed side tables were completely cleared as well. The drawers opened and empty.
"What is going on?" Sakura asked slowly as she surveyed the room.
Her mother walked out of the walk in closet and smiled softly.
"Oh hey honey, how was school?" She asked, evading the question.
"It was fine," Sakura answered, "What is going on?"
The older woman pursed her lips as she walked back into the closet and threw a few pairs of shoes into the box next to the closet door.
"Your father got relocated."
Relocated?
Relocated?!
"What do you mean relocated?" Sakura asked, her voice rising a little. She could feel a bit of hysteria kick in.
"It means that your father got transferred to another location."
"You mean like a town away right? I have sports and I'm Juliet in Romeo and Juliet at school."
"No honey."
Sakura bit her lip as her breathing quickened a little.
"Well how far?" she asked, her rather large eyes wider than usual.
Her mother walked out of the closet and this time looked Sakura straight in the eye and didn't break eye contact.
"Your father has been transferred overseas. In France."
"France?" Sakura asked loudly. "France?! You're kidding me right?"
Her mother didn't say anything.
"But... But… I have friends here."
"Well you can make new friends, it'll be a good experience for you." Came her mother's reply. Sakura couldn't believe it. How could her mother be letting something like this happen to her? She was finally in the right clique in school, she had the right friends, she had even made the cheerleading squad that day and now it was all going straight into the trash because her father couldn't have a normal freaking job like all of her friends.
"I don't want to make new friends." Sakura said intensely.
"I don't know what to tell you honey."
"I'm staying."
Her mom came out of the closet and stood in front of her daughter, her hand resting on her hip.
"You're going."
"No, I can stay here. I'm sure one of my friends parents will let me live with them."
"You're going." She repeated.
"I haven't asked yet. You can't just say no!"
"I can. And you're going; there is no way I'd leave you in America when I'm across the ocean."
"But I haven't asked yet. I'm sure we can figure something out."
"Sakura." Her mother said sternly, "I said you are going. I put some boxes in your room, so if you can please start to pack up your books and trophies and things."
Sakura could feel her eyes burning. Why didn't her mom just freaking understand? She didn't want to move anywhere, she wanted to stay here. In this town, where it was home. She had lived here all her life, her father had never been relocated before, and all of a sudden that was happening now. She knew that he had been up for a promotion, but she hadn't thought that it would involve moving overseas and away from everyone that she knew and loved. What was she going to do without her best friends Brittani and Jasmine? Did France even have shopping malls? Where at in France would she be living? Don't get her wrong, she had always wanted to travel, but she hadn't thought she was going to do that until she had graduated high school. Didn't her mom know how hard it was to make friends? She had just found out that day that her crush had liked her back and now she had no idea how things would end up. She didn't want to leave.
She wanted to stay and by god she was going to find a way to do just that. Rushing out of her room she ran down the hallway and grabbed her phone off the hall table and went into the kitchen. All the way across the house from her mom she speed dialed her best friend. She couldn't even hold in the tears when her friend answered. She just burst out sobbing uncontrollably.
xxxxxxxx
Itachi had never been to Sakura's house before. He had only ever seen her at the café, and frankly he had assumed that she lived in some kind of one bedroom apartment. Not one of the historic houses that was located in the historical district in Konoha. Only really old money owned these kinds of houses, and they very rarely ever went up for sale. When they did the price was always a ridiculous amount. More than one of the houses in his part of the city, but whenever the houses did go up for sale they never stayed for long. It didn't matter the price, people always wanted to buy a piece of the past. To have one foot in that doorway, to have those bragging rights. He couldn't really blame them. If one came up for sale, he would really do some budgeting and attempt to buy one.
Their entire drive she had stared out of his car window. Condensation formed on the window, it had been a slightly dreary day that day. Might have been why he had gone out of his way to find the fuchsia haired girl. Might have been why he had been ignoring his fiancé all day as well. Rainy days always seemed to have a slightly negative effect on him. Always made him think of his life differently. Did he really want all of this? Did he want to be married to an heiress? Is Konoha where he wanted to be? Rainy days always made him feel trapped, but being around Pinkie over here seemed to make him feel like he was living a part of his life that he had ignored before. If he were to be completely honest with himself, he knew there was a big part of him fucking everything up.
Pulling into the long drive he couldn't help but let out a gasp of surprise at the old manor. It was absolutely beautiful. He steered his black sedan into an empty space beside an orange car that he knew to be one of his good friends, and apparently one of Sakura's good friends as well. Itachi turned off his ignition, and Sakura hurriedly removed herself from the car with a laugh. He followed suit, and followed her into the backdoor, past a small garden that made him stop for a moment at. He didn't know many people who had a knack for gardening, or even liked getting their hands dirty for that matter. He continued behind him, without a hesitating glance behind him, and entered the glass back door.
Deidara and Kisame were hanging out in the kitchen waiting patiently for their friend to get there. They had only been there for maybe thirty minutes before she had texted them saying that she lost track of time and was now heading their way. One could only imagine their surprise when the owner of the house walked in through the back door with a thick book bag resting on her shoulder, with their enigmatic friend following semi close behind her. Both of the men shared a look as Itachi closed the door behind him.
"Well, would you look at that eh?" Deidara called, feeling a swell of pleasure as his friend's shoulders tensed up before finally relaxing and turning around to face him.
"Dei." Itachi replied with his famous stoic expression.
"Finally decided to get away from the wicked witch eh?" Dei asked with a broad smile on his face. Itachi glowered at him for a moment before transforming his face back to his usual blank look. Sakura smiled a bit as she eyed the two friends, before she eyed Kisame and squealed.
The pale man grinned as the small girl threw herself into his arms and hugged him tightly. They had been friends since the day that she had got a job at Deidara's café. Her mother had still been alive then. He had been there through the complete breakdown that she had gone through. So he couldn't help but feel a special connection towards her. He had always had a soft spot for her, and it slightly unsettled him that his friend Itachi was now hanging out with her. It was enough that his little brother was always around, giving the unknowing girls those gooey eyes that told him that they were starting to want more. As far as he was concerned the only relationship that the girl had had after her mother's passing and since she had graduated high school and entered university was with him. Although it was mostly kept it on the down low. He didn't really blame her though; he was years older than her. And he figured that she just needed someone during those times. Although he would prefer that she was with him all the time, but he couldn't be selfish. Even though it had been years since the death he knew that she still had trouble with people. Especially men, considering what her dad had done. He really couldn't blame her.
xxxxxxx
Hours passed by quickly before Itachi realized what time it was, and he was reminded that there was another world out there that he was securely in when he turned on his cell phone. He sat on the steps that led up to the back door that he had used when he first entered her house. Scrolling through his phone he sighed at all the missed calls and unread text messages that were from his fiancé. Shaking his head he swiped to the right of one of the messages and held the phone up to his ear, waiting for her to answer him.
It didn't take long for her high pitched yell to filter through the hand held device. Itachi closed his eyes in annoyance and just let the girl rant. After all it was close to Three in the morning, and the last time he had spoken to her she had been upset about something his mother had said while they had been dress shopping.
"I'm really sorry that I lost track of time Kimi." He replied into the receiver. "I was working on a big account. It means that I have to spend more time in the office at ridiculous hours. But hey if I can land this account we should be able to take that honeymoon that you've been talking about."
He knew what would calm her down. And usually that always involved the subject of money. And he was right because the shrill volume that she had answered with had dissolved into a soft purr of happiness. He stayed on the phone with her for a few more minutes, not realizing that towards the end of the call he had an audience.
Sakura had watched as he had left the kitchen and headed out side with his phone. Deidara had told her that it was probably so he could call the witch. Sakura had laughed at that, but she couldn't help but follow him out the back door. Leaving both of the men in the house to their own devices. She didn't worry much though, considering Kisame was already passed out on the couch from drinking too much alcohol that he had offered her constantly all the night. She had politely declined it though; she knew how she got whenever there was some liquid courage in her system. That was probably why Kisame was always calling her and wanting to hang out with her now. She had got drunk with him a few times and each time had ended in a way that she felt slightly ruined their friendship. She seemed to always make bad decisions whenever she drank, but she didn't really regret any of them.
She listened as Itachi promised that he would meet whoever was on the phone for lunch the next day. She leaned her head against the cool glass as she heard him tell the other person that he loved her and would see her later. She took that as her opportunity to slip out into the rather chilly air. She made her way toward him, her bare feet not making much of a sound against damp pavement.
Itachi looked up surprised as she sat down next to him on one of the steps. He gave her a half smile before scrolling through his phone again before hitting a button and turning off the bright screen.
"It's getting late." He said after a few moments of them sitting in silence.
"Yeah." She agreed, "Calling your fiancé?"
Itachi nodded slowly.
"I didn't realize how late it had gotten."
Sakura smiled slightly, "Yeah that happens to me all the time, usually when I'm up painting. I suck at timing."
He left out a slight chuckle.
"I know. You were late when we went to the arcade."
"I'm always late. Don't ever expect me to be on time." She said laughing as she elbowed him in his arm.
"Kimi is the same. But don't be late on her once or you won't hear the end of it."
She nodded; she could feel like there as something about their relationship that bothered him. It really wasn't that hard to tell. Considering she wasn't his fiancée and he was currently sitting outside of her house at three am, and he was just now getting ahold of the woman that he was supposed to be marrying in god knows how long.
"Are you and her okay?" Sakura asked after a few moments. Itachi just gave her a slight smile before looking up into the cloudy night sky. The clouds were moving semi fast so you were still able to randomly see the stars peek out from behind them.
"Were fine." He answered slowly, "I'm just not entirely sure."
"Sure about your marriage?"
He laughed while shaking his head.
"It sounds crazy."
"Well," Sakura started, carefully thinking up what she wanted to say. "It's not crazy. You can be stupid, you can be crazy, and honestly you can be anything. But just make sure that you are happy with what you are doing."
He stared blankly at the pinkette for a few moments before nodding his head rather quickly and changing the subject to her garden.
"So," he started nodding his head toward her garden. "It's not every day that I see someone is growing a garden."
Sakura laughed and agreed.
"You're completely right. My mom loved gardens; it seems to be a good coping mechanism. Or at least that's what all the doctors told my aunt after my mother passed away. So far so good though."
"How long ago did she pass?" He asked gingerly.
"It was back in high school." She said smiling. "I started the garden shortly after, when I finally moved into this house. It helped bring me back down to reality."
Itachi didn't know what to say, so he just nodded his head and rubbed the pink haired girl's shoulder, before asking her about what she liked to plant. They continued on with their conversation until the sun started to rise and Itachi decided that it was best that he left. As he got into his car and backed out and Sakura disappeared back into her massive house. He couldn't help but feel like something was changing in their friendship. He couldn't help but feel like he might be going a little too far. He didn't like lying, but he really didn't want to admit to anyone about his friendship to this girl. At least not just yet. Call him selfish.
xxxxxxx
Sasuke sat at the booth with his best friend and stared at his phone. The time was half past one and even though he knew that Sakura sucked with time management, she was later than usual. Naruto hadn't said much, he had been too busy chowing down on the complementary breadsticks that the server had brought over when they said they were waiting for another person. It was a nice restaurant, one of the more casual ones that he frequented. Usually he liked to go to the more formal ones, with the nice dishes and crystal ware. Those always had the best food, but he was the only one who really appreciated good food. Naruto was usually happy with just cup-o-ramen that he could just make at home in his microwave, and Sakura always preferred a juicy burger compared to some fancy plate that she swore they were ripping her off with. She always argued that they didn't serve her nearly enough food for the amount of money they charged. He didn't really understand, but Naruto always readily agreed. Of course he would though; those two were as thick as thieves.
"Is she coming?" Naruto asked from across the booth, Sasuke nodded before glancing back down at his phone.
"She said she was bringing someone with her, so that might be why she is late." Sasuke said hotly.
Naruto couldn't help but laugh at his friend. One thing that Sasuke hated more than anything else was when someone was late; he was always upset with their pink haired friend. But Naruto knew that that anger never lasted that long. All Sakura had to do was flash one of her bright smiles at the dark haired man and everything would just drain away. He didn't know when it had happened. But his best friend had become enamored with his other best friend.
Sasuke eyes lit up slightly when he saw a pink flash, and his eyes widened when the girl that they had just been speaking about arrived at their table with a girl with long dark hair in tow.
Sakura smiled brightly, and quickly introduced the girl that she had brought with her. Her name was Hinata, and instantly he saw Naruto brighten up from where he was sitting. His blue eyes not moving away from the quiet girl that Sakura had just introduced as her math tutor. That had been why she was late, she had woken up late and then remembered at the last minute that she had to meet up with the girl so that she could at least pass her College Algebra exam. Sakura settled in the booth next to Sasuke as a blushing Hinata sat next to Naruto. She couldn't help but smile at the sight of the two of them. Naruto didn't look away and Hinata kept flashing glances at the blonde next to her.
They quickly ordered their food, as Naruto and Sakura talked animatedly. Hinata was slowly warming up to the young man beside her and she slowly started to get in on the conversation. Lunch went well and after they finished eating, and were getting ready to leave. Sakura and Sasuke stood outside as Naruto paid inside for Hinata. Sasuke shifted on his feet and turned to face his friend.
"So, Sakura." He started, getting the girls attention. "Would you go with me to my brother's wedding? I don't have a date and was wondering if you would like to go with me."
Sakura blinked a few times, before answering slowly.
"You mean Itachi's wedding?"
xxxxxxx
It was evening when Sakura had finally arrived home. And for once there had been no one there when she walked into the old quiet house. She quickly turned the deadbolt on her back door, the one lock that no one had a key to but her, and made her way upstairs. Stopping in the kitchen only to drop her phone and keys on the countertop. Today hadn't exactly been the best day, she could feel the depression starting to set in, the way it usually did during this time of year. It was really close to the anniversary to when her mother had passed away. Usually it wasn't so bad, but her father had been writing to her more and more lately, wanting to speak to her in person because he and his new wife were visiting Konoha for business. She knew when he left that he would probably move on. But she hadn't thought that he would have moved on so fast. There had been worries from her grandparents that he had been sleeping around on her mother, cheating on her during her last few months that she was alive, bedridden in one of the upstairs bedroom. Sakura's dad had been absent a lot during that time, something that her Aunt Tsunade had been pissed about and still held a grudge against.
She really couldn't blame her though. Caroline was Tsunade's best friend, before Caroline had Sakura and everything changed for the worse. Or so that was how Tsunade described it. Sakura walked up the stairs to the second landing and headed toward the room at the end of the hallway. Slowly she opened the bedroom door and walked into the musty room. She flipped the light switch and looked around the room. This was where she always came whenever she was feeling particularly sad. Dust covered the bookshelves that lined the left wall. An old television sat on top of a desk that her mother had used as a teenager. The fuchsia haired girl walked deeper in the room and walked toward where the dusty bed was located. She sat on the mattress gingerly and looked at the books that her mother used to have her read and smiled at the easel that was still in the corner of the room, just waiting to be brought out and used again. Her mother had gifted her that as well, the Christmas before she learned that she was sick. Sakura remembered the Christmas well. That was their first Christmas in France, after the big move. She had still been so angry at her mother. She had been angry with her mother up until the day they moved to Japan and into her grandparents' house. Where she had been left by her father to take care of her suddenly ailing mother, in a country that she didn't know the language, her only way of communicating with other locals had been because her Aunt Tsunade had helped teach her the language, as well as her mother. Naruto had helped a lot during that time, he knew English better than most of the other kids, and he had helped her become more integrated in society. Her mother didn't last long after the move though, when she started to spiral it was a fast spiral. And even though it had been at least five years since her passing, Sakura couldn't help herself as she felt tears start to well up in her eyes, causing her vision to blur. She ran her hand along the old comforter and slowly lowered herself to the pillow that smelled more of dust than of her mother. She blinked away the tears, letting them fall down her cheeks as she reached out her hand and stroked the model of an automobile that was clumsily put together.
AN: I'm baaaaaaack. Did you miss me?