When Sakura was with Ino she laughed. She did the things all kunoichi must learn to do: flower arranging, dancing, and acting as any civilian girl would. Sakura was a typical girl.
When Sakura was with Sasuke she fought. She trained saying nothing; instead she let every action speak. Sakura was a warrior.
When Sakura was with her mother she was content. Every household task held its own satisfaction. Her mother had never been a boisterous woman and Sakura found herself reflecting that. The silence was there just as her mother was. Sakura was her mother's daughter.
When Sakura was alone she thought. Letting all of the days events trickle into order as her inner self squawked and danced about keen to be heard as Sakura sat back and enjoyed her own private show.
Sometimes thinking scared Sakura though, she couldn't remember everything. Her father was being lost to nowhere. His scent was no longer in the weave of his clothing nor was it in her mind. What frightened her more was that Naruto was starting to do the same.
She loathed her mind for that; for being feeble enough to forget them, all the details she had hoarded deep within. Recalling them only sparingly like digging up precious jewels before burying them again to keep them safe.
They were going like water through a sieve and she couldn't stop it. Her inner self was never present when she thought as hard as she could tearing apart her mind to remember. She never could.
Every letter that came to Sakura from Naruto was tenderly placed in a box that she had bought for that exact reason. She would read the letters when the night was too dark for her to bear alone, when Sasuke was too cold to be human, when the bullies were still too big and strong and she too weak. Naruto's aura shone through every piece of paper and called to her. It gave her something to rally behind, he could never be forgotten all the way, she had evidence of his existence: something even her forgetful mind couldn't lose.
Cradling the box to her chest she could almost feel his long forgotten warmth seeping into her and calming her already troubled mind. What bothered Sakura the most was she could never write back; they were always on the move and to leave an address was unacceptable. She learned of all the new techniques he was taught, of Kakashi's latest antics, not to mention the people he met along the way. Little to nothing was kept from the letters, even some things Sakura would have preferred he left out.
When Sakura was alone she simply was. She allowed impulses to have free reign, a fact inner Sakura was most appreciative of, letting emotions come and go with no resistance or hindrance from her. Sakura was Sakura.
Ok, I have been mulling over this chapter for quite the length of time. I wanted to break it in two with the first half being what you just read and the second half being Naruto's take on their separation, sadly my Muse washed its hands of this idea. So I apologize for how short this is.
You know there is a new scientific study that shows that reviewing is good for your health. This survey was funded by none other than myself, Cloey Marie, and by funded I meant made up entirely. But you shouldn't risk your health by not reviewing. Therefore review, please. –Cloey Marie-