I Miss You
2
The silence rang in his ears as they sat across from each other. Naruto sat on his couch, while Sakura sat on a chair with only a coffee table to separate them. After letting Sakura into his home neither of them had yet spoken. The atmosphere was tense and he couldn't help but feel like something was wrong.
"Would you like something to drink?" Naruto asked quietly, thinking of the spirits her and Shikamaru had shared. He thought of how she never drank, which only increased his feelings of something being wrong.
"Sure." Sakura replied. Naruto got up from the couch and started to walk to the small kitchen. I don't have much. He thought suddenly regretting the question.
"I only have water is that okay?" He asked.
"That's fine." She replied. Naruto poured her a glass and returned to the couch, handing her the cup.
"What brings you here?" He said finally. Sakura took a small sip of water and put the glass down on a coaster. He could tell she had drunk a good amount before he saw her with Shikamaru. What were they doing together anyway? He thought to himself shaking of the bit of jealously in this thought. Of course they were just having dinner.
"We don't talk anymore." She said. "I miss you." This was not what he had expected to hear.
"We've just been busy Sakura. It's no big deal we can always find time to hang out." He proposed.
"That'd be nice but…"
"But what?"
"I still care about you." She said looking down at her hands. Naruto didn't really know what to say to this so they again sat in silence for a time. She must mean as friends, but I already knew that. I wonder why she feels like we're not good friends anymore… I mean we've been through a hell of a lot together. He thought.
"I care about you too Sakura. We'll always be good friends even if we don't see each other a lot, and that can always be changed so cheer up." He grinned. At this Sakura looked up and into his eyes, looking as though she was searching for something in them. Neither of them spoke once more and Naruto couldn't help but feel like he hadn't helped her.
"Your completely oblivious sometimes you know that Naruto?" She said sadly. "I don't know how else to say it…"
"Say wh-?" He began.
"I love you Naruto." She declared staring straight into his eyes, again in a way that searched his soul.
"Sakura I…" But what could he say? Did he feel the same anymore? He remembered a time when he would have given anything to hear her say that, but now he didn't even know how to reply. He then recalled the last time she had said those words to him, and suddenly he didn't feel bad for her anymore. How could she say that to him again? She doesn't love him, she never did. Sasuke was the only person Naruto knew she ever loved. Why now though? Last time she at least had a good reason. She was trying to stop me to go find Sasuke herself.
"Why are you telling me this time?" He said questioningly.
"What do you mean 'this time'? I'm telling you because it's how I feel." She said looking very confused and slightly angry.
"Sakura you never loved me, and you never will. I don't believe anything has changed, so why do you want me to believe you now?" A hurt expression shot across her face. She then looked at her hands once more balling them up into fists, most likely resisting the urge to punch him.
"I knew it. I knew you didn't feel that way about me anymore." Sakura said getting to her feet and looking into his ocean blue eyes once more. "If you want to be with someone else now fine, but I will never stop loving you Naruto."
"Stop lying to yourself Sakura." Naruto said, angry that she would continue with this act.
"I'm not lying to you!" She said angrily. Suddenly Naruto got to his feet.
"You never loved me admit it. I was just there when Sasuke went away so you thought you'd just settle for the other team mate!"
"That's not true!"
"Or was it because I got stronger and all of a sudden I was interesting?" He accused. She then turned around and walked to the door stopping just before she turned the knob.
"I'm sorry Naruto. I'm sorry you think that. I'm sorry I was never strong enough to help you in the past. But I will never be sorry that I told you I loved you. I'm telling you the truth." And with that she opened the door and went out into the night.
Naruto sat back down on the couch. I'm so stupid. I don't really think she settled or that she said she liked me because I got stronger… I was just so mad. I know I must have hurt her, but I was just so tired of her lying to me… Was she lying to me? He thought to himself getting up from the couch and getting ready for bed. Of course she was lying to me… but she seemed so sincere. I just don't know anymore.
The next morning Naruto woke to a knock at the door.
"Good morning Naruto." Hinata greeted cheerfully. "Have you had breakfast yet?"
"Not yet, let me get dressed and we can go if you want?"
"That'd be great!" She said walking in and sitting on the couch. As he walked toward his room he noticed the glass of water still sitting on the coffee table. How could I forget she was here last night? I'm sure if I apologize and tell her I really didn't think those things that we'll be able to go back to normal. After Naruto was dressed they started out toward the restaurant.
"You seem to be deep in thought." Hinata observed. "Are Hokage duties on your mind?"
"Yeah, I've just been pretty busy." He lied. He didn't think it was a good time to bring up Sakura to Hinata.
"You've been doing really great Naruto. I always knew you'd reach your dream, and become Hokage." She said encouragingly. They reached the restaurant and took their seats. After ordering Naruto couldn't help but think back to what Sakura had said. 'If you want to be with someone else now fine, but I will never stop loving you Naruto.' She thinks I'm with someone? He thought looking up at Hinata who was now taking a big drink of water. Does she think I'm with Hinata? We're just friends I'm sure Sakura must know that…
"I'm glad you believed in me." He said with a small smile. "It's why I know we'll always be good friends."
"Of course!" She said smiling back at him. After they finished their breakfast and paid, they walked out into the crowded Konoha streets.
"Good morning Naruto!" A few passersby's would say.
"Morning." He'd reply. It felt so different to have so many people recognize and respect you as their leader. And he remembered a time when he was treated very differently.
"You look sad again." Hinata pointed out on their walk back to his apartment.
"Just thinking about the past…Hey Hinata, have you talked to Sakura lately?" He asked.
"Not really, I've seen her a few times at the hospital though. You should go see her sometime; she's amazing at medical ninjutsu."
"Maybe." He said doubting at this point she'd even want to see his face.
"You guys get in a fight?" She asked.
"Kind of…I just don't know what to do." He admitted.
"The great Hokage who can figure out immense world issues can't even fathom what to do about a girl." She said with a giggle. "Just talk to her. She cares about you, and I'm sure she will get over a silly fight." There's that word again. He thought. She 'cares' about me…but in what way?
"Do you think she really cares about me?" He asked.
"I didn't want to say it Naruto, but I'm your friend and you're always oblivious so I feel like I should be the one to tell you." She said stopping outside his door. "She absolutely loves you."
"How do you know?"
"It's written all over her face. I know exactly what someone in love looks like." She said. "I myself used to look to you that way. Of course that was a long time ago. Our friendship means a lot to me and I can tell you and Sakura's fight is bothering you. You haven't really been spending a lot of time with her huh?"
"Not really…Thanks Hinata I think I know what I have to do." He said leaving his door and bounding down the street.
"What's that?" She called.
"I'm gunna go see a girl." He called back giving her his signature grin.
As Sakura left Naruto's apartment all she could think about was how angry she was at him. He's so stupid…I'm so stupid. How could I think he still has feelings for me? Of course he's moved on. When I see Ino I'm going to kill her! How could she suggest that I tell him how I feel?
"Sakura!" Someone called from behind her. She turned around and found Ino running up to her. How ironic… She thought. "What are you doing out here?" Ino asked.
"Just came from Naruto's… What are you doing?"
"Just got back from the flower shop. I had to set everything up for tomorrow. How did everything go at Naruto's?" She asked with a smile.
"Horrible." Sakura said glaring at her friend.
"What happened?" Ino asked as they headed toward Sakura's place.
"He doesn't believe me."
"What?! How could he not… Well it is Naruto, the same guy who is totally oblivious to girl's feelings."
"Still Ino it's never going to happen now." Sakura said defeated.
"Don't worry Sakura he was just being a big jerk like all guys do."
"But he's right to think that I don't love him. I've treated him so poorly in the past, and thought of no one but myself. How could he ever believe someone like that could love?" Sakura asked.
"Sakura listen to me. You are the most caring person I know. You love with all your heart, anyone can see that. You take care of so many people at the hospital and never give up on a patient. So don't let some guy who can't see how genuinely kind you are upset you." Ino said giving her a hug. They had reached Sakura's door and said their goodbyes.
"Thank you Ino, I needed that." Sakura said waving Ino off.
The next morning Sakura already felt much better. She got her cup of tea and checked her clock, still early enough to enjoy some breakfast before she would head to the hospital to finish some paperwork. As she began to scramble some eggs she got a knock at the door.
"Hey Sakura. How are you feeling? Thought I'd stop by and check on you." Shikamaru said with a grin.
"Feeling better after a good night sleep." She laughed. "Come in I was just making breakfast."
"That's just what I needed after a night of Sake." He said as he took a seat at her dining table. "Are you going to talk to Naruto today? You guys seemed pretty awkward last night."
"I already did." She said. Yeah and I wish I didn't.
"That doesn't sound like it went well."
"Not really, I don't think he returns my feelings."
"I can't believe that. After all these years?" He said skeptically. Sakura then began to lay out breakfast and as they ate they talked some more about life in Konoha. Thankfully he steered clear of anymore mention of their Hokage.
"I just don't know how our Sensei's did it. These kids are such a handful." Shikamaru said discussing his pupils.
"Well you've been doing a good job." She said taking a bite of toast.
"I hope so."
"Are you kidding? I've heard them say such great things about you when they come in the hospital for their examinations." She said encouragingly as he took his last bite of breakfast.
"I'm glad to hear it."
A soft knock came from the door just then, making both of them stop talking.
"Expecting company?" Shikamaru asked.
"Not that I know of." She replied.
"Then I wonder who that is." He said as Sakura got up to open the door.
Thanks for reading, as always don't forget to review if you can. :) Hope you guys enjoyed this one. There will be more to come.