She met him at the tender age of ten, forming a bond slowly over the years but could love possibly form between a human and spirit?
A story based on the movie Light of a Firefly Forest, if you get the chance watch the movie its very good.
I don't own Naruto neither Light of a Firefly Forest but enjoy.
I'll Be Waiting
"How do you get close to people if you can't touch them?" She began arranging the flowers she picked before shoving them into the waiting spirits face.
"I don't," His blank stare lowered to the arrangement of purple wild flowers hiding the small child's face. "I've been alone all my life." He drew his face in closer to the small bundle of flowers, inhaling the intoxicating aroma. Sakura's large eyes peeked through the wild flowers, watching as a small smile curled the pale spirits' face.
Her forehead crinkled in confusion, slowly lowering the flowers she held tightly to inspect Sasuke. His expression hadn't wavered, that serene smile still captivating his lips. Her heart thumped loudly against her chest as she inched closer to him, the flowers slipping through her slackened hold. Through all the days she spent here with the silent spirit, he never showed any emotion, not one crack in that hard façade, until now. He appeared quite peaceful, the young girl marveled, her emerald eyes trailing his lucid form.
He was a man of few words, she noted from the way he spoke to the other spirit dwellers but even then, she found herself wanting to be near him. At times he could be cold and cruel to the young girl but she knew that was his way of being nice to her. She was truly all he had.
"Sasuke-kun," His eyes opened, panic briefly flickering in the depths of his dark eyes at how close she was. Their noses were a breath apart. "What were you thinking about?"
Her wide eyes were filled with interest, her chubby cheeks tinting pink. Sasuke scrambled to put distance between them, muttering a stream of curses as he ran an angry hand through his dark hair. The kid was becoming unable to keep up with, his shoulders hunching as he felt her presence nearing once more. It wasn't like he didn't enjoy the small girl's company because he did but he was at his wits end trying to get her to understand he couldn't be touched.
She watched from a short distance as he yanked at his hair, her lips tugging into a pout. "I'm sorry Sasuke-kun," His actions cease at the soft sounds of her sniffling. Inclining his head over to her, his eyes widened. "I won't ever touch you, okay?" Her tiny hands swiped at the tears escaping her eyes, lowering her head to hide her sorrow.
"Sakura," He just watched as she cried from afar, not knowing what else to do. "Don't cry." He found himself crawling over to her hunched over form, his hand poised just above her racking back. She suddenly jerked away, an uneasy smile splitting her tear streaked face. "You can't touch me no matter what."
'I don't want you leave me.' It was as if he could hear her thoughts, his demeanor going back to the familiar stoic, brooding spirit that she met a year ago. Rising, he left her briefly to fetch one of the sticks littering a dying pine tree a short distance of before striding back to the young girls side. Holding the free end of the stick out to her, he watched her face brighten as she grasped the stick. "It's like I'm holding Sasuke-kun's hand."
"Do you ever wonder what's outside of this forest?" She leaned back onto her hands as she got comfortable against the stair, her face inclined to the sky. Her hair spilled well over her shoulders, her gaze peering over to the quiet spirit beside her. His lips were drawn in a thin line, his elbows resting onto his bent knees as his eyes leveled with the unknown human world below.
"I wonder about life itself," He lifted his hand to the waning sun, watching the filmy flesh glitter with distain. "I was once human when I was a child. I remember wondering off into this forest the same way you did. I was searching for my onii-chan when Bakeneko found me." He seemed lost in his thoughts, his dark eyes empty as his lips curled down. Sakura leaned up, her eyes shifting from him to the limpid hand he held to the sky.
"I couldn't find him no matter how hard I looked. I must've circled this entire forest three times trying to find my older brother. It never occurred to me that he could've left me there to parish. Bakeneko and Akateko found me hidden in a bush crying. I couldn't survive in this forest alone, that I knew, and the realization that he left me….it was like…my family didn't want me. They were trying to get rid of me." His fingers curled into a fist as he brought it to his side, his eyes tilting towards her. She felt the debris of his frigid glower, shrouding from the spirit slightly. "B-But you're here now."
"The Forest God used magic on me. A small spell that will affect me the rest of my life," His eyes drew back to the horizon ahead. "In order to keep living, I gave up the will to be human. This body of mine —" He inclined a transparent hand in her direction. " —is very weak. The spell could break easily from a human touch." Sadness swept over his face for a moment, his gaze lowering to his wooden geta's as he drew his hand back. Her arms enveloped her knees as her eyes left him.
"I don't think of you as just a spirit. You age in your own sort of way and have opinions and feelings just like humans do," She felt his eyes on her as her cheeks reddened. "Every time we're apart I think of you. During the winter time when I visit my To-chan all I can think of is if you're warm enough; in the spring, summer, and fall all my thoughts drift to Sasuke-kun." His lips upturned slightly at her confession as he leant onto his knees once more.
"Every year is something new wit you Sakura. It's like I'm living like a human through your eyes." He was suddenly silent, his face growing callous as he turned from her. Her teeth worried over her lower lip as he rose, her eyes trailing after the lonely spirit. She could never understand him even when he opened her to bits and pieces of his life, always watching him from afar. His life had been taken from him at a young age. What if felt like to be cared for, loved; what it felt like to live, be touched…
He would never know.
"How long will you be gone this time?" His back faced her, his hands deeply pocketed as he watched the sun set. He felt a twinge of sadness pull his heart, his ears perking at the sound of light footfalls. This new emotion seemed to overcome him every time they parted, frightening him almost. It was like he didn't want her to leave. He sneered at how weak he was becoming, tensing as her warmth scorched his side.
"I won't be back until summer. To-chan has a new family that I have to become familiar with," A sad smile split her lips. "I'm going to have two little brothers." Pain wrenched her heart, the urge to brush her hands over his broad shoulders overwhelming her twitching fingers. How had she come this far as to love someone she couldn't even touch? If Ino could see her now, the obnoxious blonde would probably mock her for being such a fool. Her fingers toyed with the wool scarf tied around her neck, the light breeze making small goose bumps form along her flesh as she waited for him to say something…anything to her.
The silence between them lengthened, a sigh slipping pass her lips as she strode pass him to descend the remaining stone stairs. The trees rustled in her wake, the small Kodama snapping their heads in sorrow, some falling and disappearing through the crown of her head and shoulders. He didn't call out for her, his dark eyes following her longingly. She wouldn't be returning to him until the summer, far too long for his liking. It wasn't as if he liked the poor human, but without her around paralyzing him with her sweat scent, showering him with her human gifts, or her nagging high pitched laughter that seemed to echo throughout the forest, he was alone.
"Sasuke-kun," Her upper half turned in his direction, her foot poised at the bottom stair. "Take this—" She began unraveling the scarf from around her neck. "—Okaa-san says it's supposed to be a cold winter this year." She held the scarf at arm's length watching as he mechanically began to descend the stairs, slowly closing the gap between them. His filmy hand reached out hesitantly for the scarf, his dark eyes blank as they found hers. His cold fingers ghosted over her fingers, his aura biting her warm flesh as he took the scarf from her.
Eyeing the multi-patterned scarf analytically, de stretched the material out to its full length before him as if trying to figure out how to wear it. Sakura tried to hide her snickers, guiding his movements to wrap the scarf around his neck. Rising to her tips toes she moved in closer to tie the scarf securely round him, her fingers trickling along the fabric of the scarf as she felt the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. This had been the farthest she had come to actually touching him, a hot flush spilling over her cheeks as her eyes peeked up to him.
Their lips were a breath apart, his warm breath fanning over her already flushed face as he watched her silently. His expression was blank, those onyx eyes chilling her as she averted her eyes. "See you soon Sasuke-kun."
"How come you don't really talk to me?" The young girl scaled a nearby log as they trailed alongside a Lilly pad lake, her arms stretched on either side as she teetered. The handsome spirit grunted in reply, his eyes wearily watching as she fell off the rolling log time and time again. Shaking the stray flowers from her curling hair, she straddled the log.
"How old are you Sasuke-kun?"
"Ne, old enough."
"What's old enough?" Her legs swung back and forth as she eyed the tall spirit curiously. He sighed in irritation as he settled into the grass, his legs crossing indian style as his eyes shut. There was no end to a young girl's fascination. From the little he knew of the human race, they were curious creatures. Haruno Sakura was one of the over-talkative curious types which he found painfully annoying.
"I don't age like you humans. You age by years, I do by centuries." She paused, her green eyes darkening.
"Do you hate me Sasuke-kun?" He exhaled slowly, opening his eyes to glare at the small cherry blossom. She didn't back down from his glower, her withering stare rivaling his. A humored smirk lifted his mouth, inwardly praising the small child. His antics were slowly beginning to rub off on her.
"To-chan hates me too," Tears pooled her wide eyes. "That's why he left Okaa-san, I was a bad kid." She tried to fight the tears as she sniffled, her button nose reddening. His façade didn't waver, his hands twisting the budding wild flowers that surrounded them. His gaze faltered, knowing the pain she felt all too well. The feeling of being unloved…not wanted.
"Your father loves you Sakura," He dug up the blooming pansy violet sprouting from the earth before him. "You're too young to understand the full concept of parents falling out of love. He isn't leaving because of you." He rose from his slouched position, crossing the distance between them as he held the flower out to the crying cherry blossom. "I'm sure your father loves you dearly." He watched as she hastily swiped the tears from her eyes with the heels of her hands before greedily reaching for the flower, chuckling as she brought it to her nose.
Her cheeks flushed as she inhaled the fresh scent saturating the flower, his eyes softening a tad. She truly was too oblivious sometimes, he noted, finding her antics adorable. A small grin laced her pouting lips as she tried to find a place to put her new gift. Notching the small flower onto the small bracelet of orchids she made earlier, she nodded appreciatively at her work.
"Sasuke-kun doesn't hate me," She released the breath she had been holding. "Thank goodness." His brow rose, perplexed as to why she was suddenly so giddy, turning on his heels as he began along the familiar path they always took, not waiting to see if she would follow. The crinkling of dry leaves crushing beneath her small footfalls signaled her trailing behind, a small smirk curling his lips as he relaxed.
"Of course I could never hate you, baka."
His nose wove into the soft fabric of the scarf he hadn't taken off since she left, her sweet fragrance swirling around his nostrils and in a sense, calming him. His eyes danced over the light blanket of snow covering the forest, his mind flooding with thoughts of how badly Sakura would've loved this. He vividly remembered when she was younger how she begged to stay one winter break to watch the first snow fall with him. He turned her down of course, explaining how she had to return to school, whatever that was, and continue her education. He could almost picture that adorable pout lining her lips, her small arms crossing in frustration as she stormed out of the forest without even telling him good-bye.
He scoffed at his thoughts, his fingers yanking the scarf loose from his neck in displeasure. Everything he thought of somehow included her since she left, his daily rituals even slowing tremendously being that his thoughts were off. Would she be returning today? What fruity fragrance would her luscious hair smell of this time? What was taking her so long to return to him?
Something within his chest ached as more thoughts of the maturing cherry blossom lingered his mind, his cheeks tinting pink as he tried to tie the ends of the scarf in the same fashion she had. The warmth penetrating from her slender fingers entered his mind, how soft her hair looked, falling in small tendrils well pass her shoulders, her content emerald eyes gleaming up to him, her full pink mouth splitting into a cute grin….Kami he missed her. He tried to shake loose the thought, sulking lightly as he gave up trying to tie the loose ends of the warm scarf. He couldn't miss such an annoying human. A beautiful human.
The chilly air rippled through his light clothing, his dark eyes shifting down the stone stairs leading to the human world. The world Sakura lived in. She hadn't even been gone a full two months and he was dreadfully missing her. She had never parted from him this long before and he confessed that he was missing the attention she gave him, the way her jade eyes sparkled whenever she looked at him…the way she cared for him. She was the closest thing to a friend he ever had…she was the closest person he had ever gotten to trust honestly.
"That human girl hasn't been around much lately. She usually stirs up the lot of us, wouldn't you agree," Sasuke ignored the intrusion of the spirit, his dark eyes still searching below for a hint of his cherry blossoms presence. "I've never seen you this interested in someone before Sasuke, its as if you've taken a liking to the young human girl."
"What do you want Bakeneko?"
"Merely keeping a lonely sprite company." The large shape-shifting cat licked at her bronze coat as she stretched her hind legs, her golden eyes shifting up to the silent Uchiha knowingly. A small smirk spread over her mouth, her sharp canines pushing over her lower lip. "I'm not lonely," He hid the shiver crawling up his spine as busied his hands with the scarf.
"Hoko has been keeping me company up until now." Bakeneko purred as she straightened, her tail swishing as she began circling him as if he were her next prey. She knew the Uchiha better than he thought, her slit eyes watching the emotions threatening to spill from the cold façade he had. He had always been a terrible lair, even as a child.
"You've been here since she left." He was silent, a scowl drawing his lips down as he tried not to rip the thick scarf Sakura had given him to shreds. He couldn't argue the specter on that, his head lowering as he tried in vain to hide the deep flush settling over his pale cheeks. "Maybe I miss her," He lowered himself onto the bench at the peak of the stone stairwell, sensing Bakeneko following suit, settling against her hind legs. A chesire grin held her large mouth as rested her head against his empty lap, her eyes slowly shutting. He glanced down to the spirit, hesitantly reaching out to caress her golden mane, his fingers threading through the thick fine hair.
"Maybe I do miss Sakura-chan."
"I wonder what it's like to go on a date," Sakura twirled, her dress rising through the air as she spun faster. "Okaa-san said when you really like someone you'll take them on a date. Would you go on a date with me Sasuke-kun?"
She jerked to a stop, her green eyes gazing up to him wistfully. He seemed oblivious to her question, slurping silently on the popsicle she brought him earlier. Balling her hands into tiny fists, she sped up until she was in front of him, her arms outstretched to block him. "Answer me Sasuke-kun!"
"You're too young to be worried about dating."
"I'm twelve and a half, a perfect age to start dating," Her fingers treaded through her thick mane as she pushed out her developing breasts. "You find me attractive right Sasuke-kun?" His brow rose, dark eyes peering down to the child he had begun forming a bond with. His eyes slowly raked over her maturing form, taking in the small swell of her blossoming breasts to her slender waist leading to the expansion of her ample hips. He had to admit, she was beginning to fill out nicely from the chubby ten year old he met long ago.
"Hn," Disposing of the finished popsicle, Sasuke set his attention back to her. "Do you want someone to just appreciate your body or respect you?" Her chest caved in as if someone knocked the wind out of her, trying to recover as he strode pass her.
"Would you respect me?"
"Shouldn't you be asking a boy from your class that sort of thing?" She trailed behind the transparent spirit deep in thought, her teeth worrying over her plump lower lip. He disregarded her silence as he led them to an abandoned temple. "Boys aren't too fond of me at school," Her voice hushed as if she were embarrassed to be explaining the situation to him. "I've never been confessed to before."
His geta's clacked against the wooden bridge they crossed, unfazed by the young girls' confession. He hadn't been surprised by it, sure she was beautiful but stressfully annoying and a bother to keep track of. If all human girls were like Sakura, he could understand why the male spirits bad-mouthed relationships so often. "Can't spirits learn to love?"
"Some have been in love," His voice lowered an octave. "Others live alone not knowing what love is. Not caring for a petty emotion. Things aren't the same in the spirit world as the human world. Once we fall in love with a person, animal, thing, who we fall in love with is our mate for eternity." His voice sent shudders up her spine as she struggle to catch his long strides. "There are some downfalls to spirits falling in love. You see those spirits?" Her gaze followed where he pointed, catching a glimpse of the greying sprites roaming along the riverbed as if they were confused, their face sunken as ghostly moans passed through their gaping mouths.
"Spirits with unrequited loves slowly lose themselves, going crazy with thoughts of why their feelings aren't being returned. They worry themselves day by day into stupor and become a demon."
"A demon?"
"Demons have human characteristics, meaning they take on human appearance, can no longer dwell among other specters and can be killed. Once they're dead, they disappear forever." Her hands wrung together as they neared the temple, her back stiffening as he faced her. His paling face held no emotion, his dark eyes taking in the many emotions rippling in the depths of her large green eyes.
"H-Have you ever experienced unrequited love?"
He could tell she was holding her breath as she waited for his reply, her entire face flushing as her eyes shimmered up to his curiously. Releasing an impatient sigh, he closed the distance between them. "I've never experienced love before," He wasn't that oblivious not to see that she had strong feelings for him. "I never had time to think about trivial things like that."
"It hurts," She clutched her heart, averting her gaze from his. "Being in love with someone that doesn't love you back."
"To-chan he's wonderful," Sakura brought another pocky stick to her lips before munching it down. "You have to meet Sasuke-kun." Her father chuckled at her excitement, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he reached for a pocky himself.
"Since you've been here all I've been hearing is Sasuke-kun this or Sasuke-kun that, reminds me of the time you first entered the Forest of Spirits." A wide grin split his aging face as his hand rested atop of hers. Her head found refuge against his broad shoulder, welcoming the fatherly warmth seeping through her peacoat. The chilly air bit at her flushed face, nestling into her father's warmth as thoughts of the stoic spirit filtered her mind once again.
She couldn't stop the thoughts spilling through her mind, was he warm enough with her scarf, did he catch a cold, and did Sasuke-kun miss her, trying in vain to push back the selfish thoughts as she tried to focus her attention on her father. "To-chan," He grunted, squeezing her hand lightly to assure her that he was listening. "Can love form between two different…types of people?" She felt him shift, his chin resting atop of her head.
"Love is something unexplainable Sakura," His hooded dark eyes watched ahead as two younger versions of himself fumbled each other over a soccer ball, their heavy coats and scarfs weighing them down. "It has no limitations, no set rules or guide. Why, my little cherry blossom has fallen in love?"
"To-chan!" Her cheeks flamed with bewilderment, abruptly rising from her sitting position to stomp back in the house. He chuckled whole heartedly at his daughters' actions, knowing fully well that she was very much in love with someone. Sakura tried to calm her racing heart as she chugged the rest of the green tea in the fridge, soon slapping the empty flask against the counter and shutting the refrigerator. Her heart thumped painfully as she shrugged out of the heavy coat, her mind filling with thoughts of the sulking sprite once more. She yearned to be near him, watching the snow he said coat the small forest as they drank hot chocolate. Was he waiting on her? She flexed her fingers, the feeling of his broad chest tickling the pads of her digits, her cheeks flushing.
He felt warm beneath her fingers, his heart beating steadily as those chilling dark eyes watched her. She had been elated to finally be able to touch him, trying to hide her embarrassment as her eyes finally met his, noting how close their faces were. She wanted to kiss him, run her fingers through his soft looking hair but she couldn't. Grasping the flask in frustration, she released a shuddering breath.
Kami, how she missed him.
"Ah, Sakura-san," She face the woman blocking the doorway. "Would you like to help me prepare dinner?" The woman, her stepmother, face grimaced nervously as she entered the kitchen, her fingers fidgeting with the graying bun at the crown of her head. Her hazel eyes glanced up to Sakura hopefully, the gold flecks surrounding her pupils becoming more prominent. She was trying her best to make a good first impression, Sakura noted as she nodded.
Relief spread over her face, releasing a shaky breath as her wrinkling hands grasped Sakura's shoulders. "I was dreadfully nervous you wouldn't like me. Hideo told me so much about his beloved cherry blossom," She mused Sakura's straightened mane. "I feel like I know you already. I know I'm nothing like your mother but I hope we can be close." Sakura tried to shrug away from Asami's wandering hands, growing uncomfortable at the many compliments the woman threw out.
"I think To-chan is calling me. I'll help with dinner some other time Asami-san." She fled, bumping into her father as she staggered towards the stairs. Climbing midway up the wooden stairwell, she plopped down as she rested her elbows onto her bent knees. She felt out of place. Sure, her relationship with her father was still the same, but she didn't fit into the new equation with his new family. Hideo wasn't just her To-chan anymore. He belonged to Asami and their two kids now.
She had to accept that fact.
"Sasuke-kun, what am I doing here? I don't belong here," Her hands cradled the back of her head as she hunched over. "I wish you were here."
"Sasuke-kun," She leaned over the resting sprite, her eyes flickering over his peaceful face. "How do you know we'll always stay together?" Her hair formed a pink curtain around them, careful not to touch him. His eyes stayed shut, his scowl deepening as if he could sense her hovering over him.
"You're annoying," He inhaled her sweet smelling shampoo. "You came back even after I told you not to." Wiggling from under her, he rose as he inclined a nearing stick in her direction. Grasping the free end, she hoisted herself up as she dusted the front of her high waist jeans. "That doesn't answer my question."
"Do you like being here with me?" He tugged his end of the stick, gaining the young cherry blossom's attention. A light flush tinted her cheeks, her grasp on her end of the stick tightening. "Y-Yes."
"Then stay by my side Sakura-chan." His head inclined in her direction, a smirk lifting his lips.
I had free time so I updated, should I continue or discontinue? You guys aren't reviewing so I might just discontiue it :(