Chapter Title: 'The Promise of You'
Belonging To: 'Conscious Dreaming'
Author: Miss.Yamapi.Kara
Genre: General, (Romance), Science Fiction
Warnings: None outstanding
Rating: T
Base: 'Naruto' by Masashi Kishimoto
Chapter Summary: Let's set the stage.
Chapter Soundtrack: 'Promise of You' Edwin McCain

Disclaimer: I do not claim ownership over the manga, anime or other variations of what I know as 'Naruto'. I am gaining no profit from this piece.
I have no intimate connection to mentioned established institutes/universities/brands/other names that may be used in this story.
I do not claim ownership over the songs named above.
All material other than the above-mentioned is claimed as the sole property of myself.

Heads Up: If necessary, action will be taken to protect my own writing. It would be greatly appreciated if fellow avid writers, all readers or general persons would respect the content of this document and not copy it. If it is desired by anyone to use any part of the text on the page, I would bid him or her to contact me and it shall be discussed.

Miss.Yamapi.Kara

Author's Note: Chapter six, hoooo!

This chapter is dedicated to everyone who made it possible for 'Promise of You', performed by Edwin McCain, to reach my ears.

Proceeding...

Conscious Dreaming

-

: The Promise of You

-

... The promise of you

It sleeps in the air

The air that I breathe

and I know that it's true

Don't have to convince myself to believe ...

It has been exactly two months since they last met, in the playground surrounded by mist.

During that time, both young men have searched for each other. Somehow they have been unsuccessful and therefore are now irritated and perplexed.

You must understand, neither knows exactly what he is seeing while with the other man in that World.

And, of course, both expect that everything that happens in the AdvanceTechWorld is false.

The programmer knows the codes that create landscapes in that World – he has firsthand knowledge that it is a place fabricated by humankind.

The student knows just as well – a technological plane not physically reachable to the human body cannot offer any truth to what he has seen.

But both feel that it is not entirely correct.

What they found and experienced when together could not have been less real for the simple fact that their knowledge is obsolete to their feelings. Their beating hearts were pumping real hot blood; their ears were consumed by the sound.

The story they were watching is in them.

And now, both want to know the end.

And you're glad.

... So much love wasted

It slipped right through my hands

You see it in the eyes of the lonely

As they make their weary way

The shimmer in the eyes of longing ...

10:20am : GMT+1
Zurich, Switzerland
Milchberg Complex, Apartment 508

"Whyyyy..." Blue eyes squinted at the ceiling.

He was lying on his bed, frowning and whining and altogether annoyed.

He'd been chosen to attend a convention in Japan. He'd been assigned to promote AdvanceTech and speak specifically about AdvanceTechWorld to a congregation of hundreds of people.

Maybe thousands.

And he hated public speaking.

"This is all Sakura's fault." He pouted as he remembered how the woman had flushed and resolutely stated that a trip would do him good.

Apparently, in suggesting him to Management she had forgotten that this 'trip' consisted entirely of business matters.

But among the annoyance he felt, there was also warmth. He was glad that Sakura hadn't abandoned him after that outburst two months ago.

And if he were to be honest with himself, his frustration was not all derived of Sakura.

He hadn't been able to find that man again.

Not for two months.

He shifted his head and looked at the computer sitting idly on his desk.

'Maybe, I can start a fresh search after this trip.'

His bed creaked as he swung himself to his feet.

"Well, better start writing that speech..."

... My dreams of salvation are slipping out of sight

In the shimmering moments of the twilight

The closing of the tide

The whisper on the wind of a rescue

A saviour in time ...

5:20pm : GMT+9
Kobe, Japan
Kobe University, Building 3, Room 7

"Finally." Black eyes lowered as he spoke under his breath.

He stood from his chair, his English lecture having ended, and rolled his tired shoulders.

It was just as he'd lifted his bag to his shoulder that his lecturer called to him from the front of the room.

"May I have a word."

And, of course, he obliged.

"I can't stay long, Kakashi." Lately he'd been very irritable, and he was loathe to admit as to why.

"Only need a minute. I'd like to offer you these tickets." Kakashi reached into his pants pocket and retrieved a slim white envelope, "There's a tech-convention in Yokohama next week. My partner and I were going to go, but you see, there was this accident with a bulldozer and our living room wal-"

"You want to get rid of the tickets."

Kakashi grinned fondly at his student, "Indulge an old man, would you." He handed over the tickets and continued, "Knowing you, you won't need to use your recess to study. Find a friend and have some fun."

With a pat on the shoulder, Kakashi sent his student off into the wide world to find a friend.

As the young man walked towards his next class he considered the offer.

He'd been unusually volatile for the last two months.

He hadn't been able to find that man again.

It was hurting him more than he let himself know.

Perhaps a break would do him good.

'Maybe I'll learn something while I'm there. It is a technology convention.'

His hand touched the smooth wooden banister of the first of many staircases to climb.

"I have nothing better to do."

You're wondering now what happened to the two.

Did they meet? Did they miss?

Since you first read that article, 'Unreal Reality', you've been waiting.

You want to know.

You're dying to know.

And you will.

Soon enough.