The glaring sun penetrated the wispy, sheer curtains that covered the window. A gentle, autumn breeze was gliding through streets of the town. The sing-song chirps of the migrating birds were fading in the distance while a scent of freshly fallen leaves drifted into a certain peach-colored bedroom on this lovely morning.
A barely moving form was twisted and tangled between the sheets and pillows. Coral locks were tossed carelessly about on the white linens. The sound of soft breathing stopped the second emerald eyes fluttered open. Half lidded eyes examined the room in a disoriented manner. The teen sat up and raised her arms over her head to stretch every muscle. After reaching for the sky, she let out a satisfying yawn and then slouched back into a lazy position.
Her tousled hair could have housed a bird or two and her bloodshot eyes could have gotten her mistaken for a drug addict. This cranky expression wasn't indicating any excitement for this beautiful day.
Suddenly, the wheels in her head started turning. She quickly glanced at the clock and jumped out of bed. Her hands gripped the edges of her floriated curtains and threw them aside in a theatrical gesture. The window opened completely and she did not hesitate to feel the wind press up against her. It was insanely refreshing.
Sakura Haruno just remembered today was Saturday. A precious part of her weekend. A special day, no doubt. She didn't want to waste her day in bed, sleeping like a log.
Hell no.
It was the weekend and she couldn't be happier.
Nothing could ruin today. Nothing!
[4] The Connections
Rushing water circled the drain as Sakura brushed her teeth thoroughly. She rinsed her mouth and made a wide smile at the reflection in the mirror. Her pearly whites shined back at her. Success.
She made her way back into her room and pulled open a drawer. She did not regret planning her outfit the night before. On a typical morning, she would change her outfit 4 times before she was satisfied. Would this shirt go with her shoes? Did those old jeans make her butt look fat? Can this sweater make her look anymore flat-chested? But that won't happen today.
Nope, not today!
After throwing on a red v-neck shirt and stepping into a pair of beige cargo shorts, the pinkette heard a call from downstairs:
"SAKURA! Breakfasttt!" The stairwell carried the blasting yell into her room. In response, the youth groaned and rolled her eyes. Her mother was not a good judge on proper "indoor voices."
"YEAH, YEAH! I'M COMING," she yelled back. After raking through the knotted mess she called her hair, Sakura practically flew down the flights of stairs and into the kitchen. Her deprived appetite instantly took a liking to the aroma of pancakes sizzling on the stovetop. Her mother stood in front of the range with a spatula in hand. She was wearing a tan plaid apron and a smile on her face.
Every time Sakura looked at her mother, she would wonder why she didn't get the gene for her glossy, blonde hair. After all the years of taunting from schoolmates, it bothered her endlessly. On the other hand, she still had a normal eye color, right? She knew she got it from her mom who was sporting the same hue of green.
"There's a batch ready for you," announced her mother, pointing the spatula at the plate of pancakes resting on the table. She beamed a good-morning grin and then, she turned and went back to flipping cakes.
"Thanks, Mom." With a bottle of maple syrup in one hand and a fork in the other, Sakura started devouring her breakfast. Before she could even take a second bite, the cook began to lecture her.
"Don't eat too fast; you'll hurt your stomach. And sit up straight when you're at the table. Oh, and try not to get syrup in your hair like last time! It ended up all over your clothes, too…"
"I was five the last time you made pancakes, totally doesn't count…," she retorted with a mouth full of syrupy goodness. When she placed the fork down on the plate, Sakura noticed a glob of syrup on the tips of her bangs that framed her face. Before her mom could turn around and say "what did I tell you?" she wiped off the sugary goop to save herself from the embarrassment. Her mom turned around a millisecond later.
It would seem that luck was on her side today.
"Do you have plans for later?" the cook questioned as she placed more pancakes onto a plate. The woman turned off the stove and took a seat at the circular table. Her daughter was already finishing up her first piece and was soon reaching for a second. "Goodness, slow down. They're not going anywhere."
"I know, I just really need to get my energy going," the adolescent replied as she drizzled more syrup onto her plate. "You know the Fall Festival is back in town? The three of us plan on going there early when all the booths are being set up. All the good stuff is there in the morning. So excited!"
"Mmm, the Fall Festival? Sounds like fun, but be careful. There's a lot of strange people out there," spoke the parent in a motherly tone. "And remember to bring your house key, okay? I won't be home when you get back."
"Right."
Mebuki Haruno worked as the sous-chef at the Four Leaf, a four-star restaurant near the heart of the city. It's a highly acclaimed bistro, making it highly demanding. She spent most of her evenings at her job, working under the head chef for 5 nights a week. This left Sakura at home alone for most day, but she was used to it. Her mom became a single parent after she filed for divorce when Sakura was only 3 and the youngster couldn't remember a single thing about her father or what even happened to him in the aftermath. Not that she really cared, after hearing all the stories her mom would tell. Apparently, he wasn't a bucket full of sunshine.
But for a single mom with a decent paying job, she was doing just fine in a small 2-bedroom, 2-story house in a nice neighborhood. For the most part, they were happy.
"I'm going," called Sakura as she jumped out of her seat and rushed to put on some studded, red sandals. She grabbed her black tote that was sitting near the doorway and waved to her mother, still enjoying her breakfast at a humanly pace.
"I think you should take a sweater!" her mom called back. "It's supposed to get really cold later on."
The eager young girl threw open the door and used her hand to feel for the wind outside.
"It seems fine to me!" It's fricking PERFECT out there!
Her mother sighed. "If you say so…but if you get sick-"
"I know, you told me so! I get it…" Geez, moms always think they're right.
"As long as you know the consequences," she laughed. "And there's some money on the table that you can take with you."
"Got it!" She snatched the few bills sitting at the table near the front door. "Thanks! Gotta go!"
"Have fun!"
Sakura stepped onto the bus and slid a prepaid card into a card reader. It made a sound to signal her payment was successful and she went take a seat near the back. She needed to take a public transportation to get to Ino's place that was closer to their destination. Ino lived in the center part of Konoha where the festival was, while Sakura lived in the city's outer ring where all the suburbs were. The north side suburbs were more for the rich folk, while the south was geared towards the middle-class, like the Harunos. The heart of the city was usually for lower-middle class but Ino's family was anything but.
Ino Yamanaka lived with her mom and dad, but they were pretty well off. Her mother ran a flower shop that was doing pretty damn well, considering it was just a flower shop. Her father spent his time endorsing the Yamanaka Flower Boutique and traveling to promote its business. The two of them spend their time working, or spending money on their only child, the overindulged Ino we all know and love. The three of them lived in a roomy loft that was right above the workplace. The only child was already in line to work there as well, so she didn't have to worry about money or a future.
The heart of Konoha was home to many thriving businesses and industries, but still had many apartments and public transit options for the busy people who couldn't afford cars of their own. Even so, it's almost thrilling seeing the packs of businessmen, employees, and travelers walking on the busy sidewalks, past the tall buildings and skyscrapers. Even in the late hours of the night, you'll never be walking alone no matter how deserted the place seemed.
On the north side of town, in "richville", the atmosphere was completely different. The tall buildings were replaced with fancy mansions and villas. There were no masses of people talking on their cell phones or calling for taxis. Instead, you would spot the occasional jogger or dog-walker. The residents displayed gorgeous landscaping on every yard with wide, open streets. Sometimes, there would be large fountains greeting you at the driveway. This is the neighborhood where the Hyuuga family lived.
To put it bluntly, Hinata's family was wealthy. Ever since she moved here almost 3 years ago, Hinata never mentioned just how wealthy her family was, but she was nice enough to never flaunt it or let it corrupt her. In the end, she was really lucky to live in such a big, traditional home, even if she had to share it with her large family.
Sakura always wondered how Hinata could possibly stand it. Even though she has only been to the Hyuuga residence a couple of times, Sakura knew just how packed her family was. Rumor has it that the elder of the house, Hinata's grandfather, built the place with his bare hands. It's a miracle the old geezer was still kicking and staying there. Her uncle, Hizashi Hyuuga, and his son lived along with her immediate family despite the underlying tension in the house. It was always awkward whenever Sakura or Ino would drop by. Curiosity and nosiness would get the better of her from time to time, but Sakura tried her best to refrain from asking about the family's secrets.
It would seem that every family had its own garbage, whether they lived the life of luxury or in a modern high-rise.
.
The bus screeched to a stop in front of the Yamanaka Flower Boutique. Sakura dodged the bodies of the other commuters and made her way to the exit. As she placed a foot down on the concrete, she heard a high-pitched squeal.
"FOREHEAD GIRL!" yelled a blonde, clad in a loose, plum sweater and navy skinny jeans. Her suede, violet boots were stomping against the sidewalk as she ran from the store's doorway. "Are you ready? We need to get going, ASAP. We don't wanna miss anything!"
Ino ran up to Sakura and linked arms with her. The two could see Ino's mom through the store windows. They both gave a pageant-princess wave to Mrs. Yamanaka who was standing at the register. The woman waved back before going back to a customer. Having walked only one block down, the two girls could already hear distant music coming from the festival.
"Oh my god, I can't believe it's back again!" Ino exclaimed as she added an extra jump in her step as she walked. "Can you believe it's fall already! God, time flies, right?"
"Yeah, I know what you mean. It feels like we were here just the other day…"
Every year, the Annual Fall Festival bloomed overnight on the first week of October. And every year since the beginning of high school, the trio would go and spend money on handmade trinkets and souvenirs, food and drinks, games and prizes. But this year, someone seemed to be missing out on the retailed fun.
"Did Hinata say she was coming?" asked the pinkette. The energetic music in the background was getting even louder now.
"Oh, right! That's what I needed to tell you. I called her last night and she's sad to report she couldn't make it." Ino placed her hand on her heart in a dramatic manner. "Sucks…I miss her already." She recovered from her grief quite fast as she flipped her ponytail over her shoulder.
"No way! Did she say why? She loved the little candy apples on a stick…" It was Sakura's turn to mourn the absence of a beloved friend.
"Family stuff. You know, the usual."
'Shocker,' thought Sakura cynically."It still won't be the same without her…"
"You said it, Pinkie…"
Just because Hinata was missing the festival, doesn't mean the rest of Konoha was. The largest street running around the town square was completely blocked off to traffic. It seemed like the whole city's population was being stuffed into one place, amazingly. Multicolored booths and stands were set up all along the sidewalks while the busy mobs of people walked down the middle. In one area, food trucks were serving different delicacies and fast foods. There was a large stage equipped with subwoofers and microphones for hired talent to perform in the square while rows and rows of metal chairs were set up for the upcoming audiences. Bubbly pop music was blasting through the speakers when the two girls stepped into the happy chaos of it all.
"Wow, it's so crowded!" yelled Sakura, trying to get Ino's attention over all the noise. They were trying to squeeze their way through the multitude of people until they spotted something worthwhile. "I've never seen it so packed before!"
"I know right? Holy crap, I swear I felt someone touch my ass!" Ino shoved a tall man in front of her and pulled Sakura along. "I can barely breathe! People need to learn about a new thing called DEODORANT."
Once the teens reached a part of the fair that wasn't as packed, they took a breather and looked around. Lanterns with leaf patterns and the Konoha symbol hung from every lamppost. Small, golden- and reddish- brown Christmas lights were twisting around archways and decorating stands. The smell of fresh apple butter and pumpkin pie mixed into the air and tempted the taste buds of the festival-goers. The atmosphere felt lively and welcoming for the new season ahead and although the place was jam packed, the girls weren't any less excited about having a great time.
"Oooh! Look, Sakura!" The blonde ran over to a booth covered in inexpensive jewelry and other shiny accessories. She held up a necklace for her friend to see. It was a petite cherry blossom on a simple, silver chain. "Pretty, no? And it's nicely priced, to boot."
Sakura walked over to get a better look at the necklace. She held it delicately in her hand as she inspected it herself.
"It is really cute." And it would be perfect for her. She looked towards a mirror sitting on the table as she wore the piece around her neck. It looked fitting right where it was. Ino clapped her hands excitedly from behind.
"It's like it was made for you!"
Sakura smiled sheepishly. She didn't want to be loose with her money, but she would be lying through her teeth if she said the necklace wasn't adorable. Worth it. "Looks like I have to buy it then, huh?"
"Does it look like I'm giving you a choice?" challenged Ino, putting her hands on her hips and a devilish grin on her face. It's too bad Ino wasn't a saleswoman yet. She would have done an extraordinary job.
"Nope, I guess not." The two of them laughed and Sakura reached into her bag and pulled out her wallet. She handed a few dollars to the vendor who thanked her graciously.
"Woohoo! First purchase of the night!" Ino threw her arm over Sakura's shoulder. The green-eyed girl cringed under the weight, but soon chuckled after. "It's going to be a good night! I can just feel it!"
'Me too,' Sakura thought.
While Ino walked away ready to inspect more discounted accessories, Sakura lagged behind as she took another look in the mirror. She liked what she saw because Ino was right; it looked like it was made just for her. A cherry blossom for a cherry blossom.
She didn't care if her wallet felt a little lighter. She had no regrets.
.
The horizon was painted a multitude of colors where the sun settled into the background.
Konoha's Annual Fall Festival was in full swing; more crowded than ever. The live bands were now performing cover songs in the square. Many swarmed to listen to the blasting music up close and little kids were running around, looking for the next carnival game to play. Couples were everywhere, sharing drinks and snacks as the sun went down. Somewhere deep in the festive commotion, a distressed sigh could be heard.
"Ughhh, I'm starvingggg…," whined Ino, collapsing on a bench with her bags of merchandise. She carried fashion necklaces, handmade scarves, two pairs of earrings and a new canvas tote bag. The desperate girl looked through her old bag for any spare change she had left over. Too bad, she was flat broke.
"I warned not to buy that bag," spoke the pinkette in a matter-of-fact tone. She took a seat next to Ino who was still digging passed her makeup, sunglasses, and lotions hidden in the recesses of her bag. The excavation was fruitless.
"I couldn't help it! It was too cute! It tricked me…" The blue-eyed teenager slouched in her seat and pouted like a little toddler. Sakura couldn't help but giggle at the girl's theatrical antics.
"This isn't funny! I'm going to starve to death right here!" A loud grumble went off in her belly.
"You've been going on and on about how you wanted to go on a diet, right? Well, now's your chance! Starve." Sakura smiled wide, playfully. She stood and pulled out her wallet which still carried enough money for dinner. As she walked away, she spoke over her shoulder:
"Greedy piggies don't get food." She stuck her tongue out in a mocking manner.
"Bitch…"
Sakura laughed her way to the line at a food truck called Zero Calories. Her eyes grazed the menu of the greasy, cholesterol-filled snacks that were currently being drowned in boiling oil. Seeing how every item on the list could cause a stroke, Sakura seriously doubted the food had zero calories. Corn dogs, chicken fingers, French fries. Funnel cakes, donuts, even the deep-fried Oreos piqued her interest. Sounds deliciously unhealthy.
Heart attack on a plate, here I come.
She took a step forward after the man in front of her was finished. Green eyes scanned the menu on the side of the truck one more time before placing her order.
"Hi, can I have… two corndogs and two water bottles, please?" She spoke aloud as she went through her wallet to pull out some cash.
"No problem, lady!" replied a chirpy, familiar voice. She looked up at the ordering window and instantly recognized the guy at the register. Blonde hair, blue eyes, the weird whiskers on his face…
"Aren't you… Naruto?"
"Yup, who wants to know?" he asked with comical suspicion as he punched the order onto the register. She laughed at his facial expression. Meanwhile on the register, the price of her food showed up for Sakura to see.
"Hey, I'm Sakura. We go to school together. I've seen you around before. You're new right?" Sakura smiled kindly at him and handed over the money. There was something about Naruto; he had a nice atmosphere around him.
"Heheh, yeah. I've been goin' to KHS for like…a week now?" He smiled back at her and calculated her change. "I've seen you like once though."
"Really? When?"
"Yesterday, don't cha remember? You were talking to Sasuke," Naruto answered. He turned his back to her as he picked up a couple of water bottles and corn dogs on a stick.
"Sasuke"? I don't know a Sasuke…
"You really don't remember? What, did you hit your head or something?" he joked as he stuffed the food into a brown paper bag. "Angry looking guy with zero emotions and stupid black emo hair?"
"Oh! Him! Right, haha, I just never learned his name…" Until now. She felt a cold sweat on the back of her neck. Her stomach turned in the most uncomfortable way. She just could not shake this unpleasant feeling.
Crap.
She forgot Naruto was there, standing in the parking lot, watching her get humiliated by the dashing devil himself. Naruto was so far away though, it's not like he heard them or anything. Unless he had super amazing hearing, but what are the chances of that?
"I didn't know that bastard had any friends," he laughed and shoved some napkins into the bag as well.
She didn't know he did either. It was strange when she thought about it. Whenever she was with him, it felt like the whole world evaporated, leaving just him and her standing alone together. She completely forgot about Naruto or the chance that anyone else could have been possibly connected to him. But since Naruto was there yesterday, that would mean that the two of them were…
"Aren't you friends?" Sakura questioned when she took her order from him.
Please say no, Please say no, Please-
"Well, yeah, I guess you can say that." He laughed again. "I've known him since, like, forever."
Great. Just when she thought this Sasuke fellow was some random douchebag that she would probably never ever see again in her entire life, she bumps into him at school AND bumps into his bestest bestie best friend foreverest. Does he even go to her school? Does he know anyone else? He appeared out of thin air and now it's like he's everywhere and nowhere at the same time.
"Forever's a really long time…," she commented, clearly uncomfortable. She really didn't know what else to say; she just wanted to get the hell out of here.
"This line is taking a really long time, too!" yelled a chubby, middle-aged man with a sweat-stained wife beater. Judging by his size, he should be hitting the salad bar and a gym, not a food truck at a festival. Sakura thanked Lady Luck who on team Sakura for the moment. Saved by the fat guy.
"Calm your man-tits!" yelled Naruto. "Sheesh…the mob gets crazy out here…" He turned his attention towards the pink-haired girl who looked like a deer caught in headlights. She really doesn't do well in awkward situations. "So, I'll catch ya at school, right?"
He was smiling a pearly-white, good guy smile. How could she possibly say no? "Sure."
She apologized to the grouch behind her and scuffled over to the bench where Ino was glowering by herself. Sakura held out the paper bag and the blonde's mood instantly recovered. She jumped up and hugged her friend, thanking her for the food without words. The hug made the dread dissipate, but only for a second.
Sakura looked back at Naruto, probably one of the nicest but clumsiest guys she has ever met, and he's connected to the prince of sheer darkness. And not just connected. He's friends with him! Best friends! How is that even possible…
"Sakura? Are you gonna eat that? Because I'll take it," asked Ino, eyeing the corndog in Sakura's hand. She was already finishing up her first one but could still feel her stomach rumbling. "Don't judge me. Shopping takes a lot out of you."
Sakura snapped out of her thoughts and gave Ino a blank look. The corndog was getting colder by the second.
"Oh, right…Uh, yeah. Here, you can have it."
"Yay! Thank youuu!"
After seeing Naruto, Sakura wasn't feeling hungry anymore and she probably won't feel hungry for a day or two at the rate that this was going.
So much for this day being "perfect."
It honestly boggled her mind. How could a good guy be friends with such a prick?
It's not like they could possibly have anything in common.
"'Stupid black emo hair'?" growled a looming voice from behind the Zero Calories truck.
"Hey, I had to say something," answered Naruto who had his back turned to the register, trying to appease the beast by fulfilling the fat man's order. "It's a pretty accurate description, if ya ask me!"
"No one asked you." Sasuke had his back against the metal vehicle. He avoided the line of people on the other side of the truck. "And my hair isn't stupid." But the black and emo part was clearly debatable.
"Uh huh, right. And I'm not incredibly awesome," purred the worker after checking himself out through a reflection from a silver tissue dispenser. He gave himself a little wink for the added effect.
'You're right, you're not,' Sasuke thought harshly, but refused to verbalize this fact because he was tired of arguing. He had other things to take care of.
"I'm leaving," he announced as he walked along the backsides of the booths and stalls.
"Wait! Where ya going!" yelled the cashier, turning towards the truck's back side door. The next customer, an old, wrinkly woman, yelled at him to get working. "Calm your saggy tits, grandma!"
Obviously, Zero Calories was going to lose customers whenever Naruto was at his shift. Only a few more hours of greasy torture because the poor guy can finally afford shoes and maybe even socks at a decent price. Then, I'm outta here!
.
Unlike Naruto, Sasuke wasn't here to suffer in an oily, metal contraption for money. He could pay other people to do that for him, even if that made absolutely no sense. But whatever, the Uchiha had an agenda of his own.
Last night, Sasuke was busy conducting research. After turning the private study upside and inside out, he found journals from his ancestors, dating back thousands of years, making descriptive recounts of Vampire Hunting instincts. A few journals specifically talked about the prey's scent and those explanations didn't differ from his mother's description by much. They all said the same thing:
An intoxicating smell. Strong, distinct, easy to find and easy to follow. Apparently, it didn't matter how far away or how masked it may be. The scent will always come through.
It just so happens that today, one of Konoha's biggest festivals was starting and everyone knows that opening days pull in the largest crowds. The set-up could not have been more perfect. Hundreds, maybe even thousands, of people were gathering here. The odor of all kinds of foods, candles, plants, and perfumes would taint the air. This mixture of aromas would act as the obstacles to his incredulous senses. This will prove if her scent really is special. Was it really inescapable? He wanted to see how easy it would be for him to track her in such unfortunate circumstances.
Unfortunate circumstances, indeed.
Unfortunately, he's been able to use the distinct smell in the air to pinpoint her exact location each and every time. He followed her to at least 20 different jewelry stalls and some booth about saving baby seals. Stalking, taken to the extreme.
Every other human smelled just like…a human. But her, she smelled like pure sugary honey mixed with a hint of the most exotic flowers the world has ever seen. It was exquisite. It would pierce through the walls of the boring stench of the regular living; a smell that was once appealing to him. But not anymore.
The only thing that haunts his mind was the crisp, delicious smell of a certain little cherry blossom. It was too bad Sasuke lacked a sweet tooth.
But the fangs seem to be a nice replacement.
The crowd acted as a perfect cover. He inched closer to his objective. Hundreds of people, lost in the madness and disorganization, would never notice one of their own was missing.
Just one.
The Connections.
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