I'm sorry if I made Sakura seem like the bad guy in this chapter, I didn't mean to. ): She's actually my favorite female character. Gomen!

:-:-:

Aki 02.

4 years have past.

16 different season changes. 4 years for the Konoha 13 to advance in their skills, techniques and knowledge, and hopefully mature. 4 more years for people to change.

Fuyu's curious eyes wandered around the classroom, despite knowing it like the back of her hand.

Two cracks in the right top corner, three across the wall on the right. A squeaky step on the left side of the class room… She listed off as she scanned across the classroom.

As they did everyday, they found their target on Sasuke Uchiha.

Like every other day, he sat by himself, staring out the window to his left. Refusing to talk to anyone. Refusing to let anyone in.

Not even Fuyu.

You've changed so much Sasuke. She thought to herself, sighing lightly.

As if he read her mind, he sharply veered his gaze over to Fuyu locking his onyx eyes onto her golden brown ones.

I'm so used to your glare Sasuke, it'll take a lot more to scare me away. She thought to herself, maintaining her gaze at him.

Sasuke's calm, emotionless expression slowly turned into a scowl.

Fuyu. He growled mentally, showing it clearly in his eyes.

In contrast, Fuyu's eyes showed how hurt she was. Eventually, she tore her eyes away from his, focusing on something that isn't powerful enough to evoke the feelings she previously did anything to avoid.

Why have you changed so much, Sasuke? She asked herself, squeezing her eyes shut. Shutting out the heartbreak. Shutting out Sasuke's glare. Shutting out Sasuke's sadness.

Unknown to Fuyu, Sasuke maintained his glare on her. Only this time, his eyes not scolding but showing pure sadness.

He turned back around, looking back at the window the filtered in the Autumn sun's bright rays.

"I promise I'll never leave you Sasuke." a young Fuyu's voice echoed through his mind. "I'll tell you what Sasuke, let's pinky promise each other that we'll never leave each other alone. No matter the circumstance."

As much as he would deny it, almost everyday, that same voice, that same day, those same promises replayed in Sasuke's mind. Torturing him. Scolding him for even threatening to break those promises.

No matter what he did, he could never forget those words even after 4 years, no matter the circumstance.

I hope you know I still remember those promises. Sasuke thought to himself. No matter how hard I try, I can't forget them.

"Class!" Iruka Sensei called, attempting to gain the bustling children's attention. "Class!" he repeated slightly louder.

Taking in an agitated sigh, he prepared to put on his tyrant teacher face. "SIT DOWN NOW!" He ordered, successfully gaining the students attention.

"It's about time." he sighed. "Anyways, I'm sure all of you know what tomorrow is."

"What's tomorrow Iruka Sensei!" Naruto asked from his seat.

"If you give me a moment, I'll be able to explain it Naruto." he replied through clenched teeth. "Tomorrow will be Academy Graduation day. Believe it or not, all of you are more than ready to start your lives as shinobi."

Every pair of ears perked up at the words 'start your lives as shinobi.'

"Shinobi?" a girl whispered to her friend beside her.

"I'm going to be the best!" a boy protested.

"No way, you'll have to go through me first!" another objected.

"Oh please. Like either of you can become successful shinobi." a girl countered.

Sasuke smirked silently at all their meaningless claims.

"Alright alright. That's enough." Iruka called. "Anyways, as of now, this is your last day o bring an academy student. From now on, you will be expected to think and act like a shinobi."

Naruto rose his hand enthusiastically, waving it in the air to increase his chances of being noticed. Not that the Jinchuuriki wouldn't be.

"Yes Naruto?" Iruka said exasperated.

As soon as he was called on, he slammed his right hand down onto the table. "One day, I'm going to become hokage. That way everyone will respect me…that way, I'm going to make everyone recognize my existence!" Naruto claimed loudly.

Fuyu couldn't help but crack a small smile at her comrades claim. I have no doubt that you'll become hokage, Naruto. She thought to herself, looking up at Naruto with admiration. You did promise me after all.

She slowly scanned across the classroom, once again locking onto Sasuke. Although, some promises are bound to be broken. She added sadly.

:-:-:

"So now, I bid you, my students farewell and a good luck on your future trials!" We were taught by the best. Fuyu thought to herself.

Fuyu happily took in the scenery around her. Golden leafs that gently floated down from their various heights and piled gracefully on the ground.

Children who just started the academy a year ago, playing in the various piles. Something that she hasn't done in years.

Something she used to do with a particular someone.

"Do this for me, Fuyu." Fuyu clenched her fists as tightly as she could. I let you down, papa. She thought to herself as she tilted her head back, trying to refuse the tears from flowing down.

"Fuyu." a calm voice called from behind her.

Quickly shaking her tears away, she looked behind her right shoulder to her caller.

"Sasuke." she whispered, stopping so he could catch up to her.

Fuyu watched his every step, how careful they were, how calculated they were. I guess that's one benefit to you changing.

"Fuyu." he repeated once he finally caught up to her.

"Sasuke." she repeated with a light smile tugging at her lips.

He looked over at her, and despite not having a visible smile, there was one showing clearly through his eyes. One that Fuyu could easily identify, causing her smile to grow even more.

"It's been a while." he finally said, turning his head back to look ahead of him.

Fuyu shrugged her shoulders. "I guess we just don't have any time to talk anymore."

"That's not it." he quickly objected. "We don't make time…for each other anymore."

"I know." she agreed quietly "I feel like, each day that passes we're getting farther and farther away from each other." she chuckled, trying to lighten up the situation.

"Do you remember our promise?" he asked out of the blue.

"Of course! How could I ever forget?" Fuyu responded happily.

"Our actions display that we have."

Fuyu stopped midstep as soon as those words left his mouth. Sasuke calmly looked behind him, noticing she was no long by his side.

"I don't think it could've been helped." she said, just below a whisper.

Sasuke rose an eyebrow, signaling that he wanted her to explain what she meant.

"Even when we were little" she began "after you finally left the hospital, and got back into a normal routine after that everyday you became more and more shut in. It progressed so much that over time, you completely shut me out." she explained, allowing a single tear to run down her right cheek. "I always wondered, 'what happened? why aren't we as close anymore?' But I could never figure it out." she said,

mostly to herself.

Another tear flowed.

She looked back up at Sasuke. "I miss being close to you. I miss being the one that you'd cry with. I miss being-"

"That was a long time ago." Sasuke interrupted.

Another tear flowed.

"I know that. But that shouldn't mean anything."

"You're constantly think about that, aren't you?" Sasuke asked, looking down. "About that time."

Fuyu nodded slightly. "I know you are too."

Another.

"I just don't want all that time we spent together, to go down the drain." she whispered. "Please Sasuke. Don't let go to waste." she pleaded quietly.

Another.

Sasuke looked up at Fuyu. His close comrade for as long as he could remember. The one he used to go to, just because he no longer had an older brother to depend on.

His friend.

As soon as she started crying, she managed to stop just as quickly.

"Anyways, good luck tomorrow. I hope you get a team that help grow even more. And I hope that finally you get the satisfaction you've been searching for." she wished, rubbing the remainder tears from her eyes, preparing to separate their paths. Maybe for good.

"I hope we'll make time for each other." he responded, causing Fuyu to be at a loss for words. "I almost miss being close to you." he confessed reluctantly. "I wish I didn't have to depend on you so much back then, but I wish even more so that I didn't have to need you now."

At his surprise, Fuyu pull him into a tight embrace, causing their slight difference in height to be exaggerated.

"I don't care if that was supposed to be an insult or worse" she began "I'm just glad you miss me Sasuke."

Another and another.

After who knows how long, she finally pulled away revealing her tear stained face.

She backed a few feet away, gaining a small distance from her friend.

She held out her right hand, with her pinky out.

Her golden brown eyes intently stared into Sasuke's pure onyx ones, daring him to reject her offer, their tradition since they were little.

Finally giving in, he held up his right hand and hooked his pink with hers.

A bright smile formed across Fuyu's face as another tear ran down her cheek. "From now on, we'll promise to make time for each other. Even if it's just a few moments."

Sasuke simply smirked at her sudden change in mood. "Promise." he mumbled only loud enough so Fuyu could hear.

:-:-:

For the first time, in a long time both Sasuke and Fuyu felt their brittle friendship begin to heal back into the strong as steel one they had formed when they were younger.

Thank you so much for reading! Every read that my story gets means a lot to me. :)
Please leave a review/comment about what you think about this chapter, and what I can/should work on. I'd really appreciate it!

-EZ