DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO.
Start Again
"I'm here without you baby, but you're still with me in my dreams"
Sakura woke up extra early the next morning just so that she could sneak out while her parents were still sleeping. She placed her uniform, tied her hair up, placed a few make-ups on her face and she was ready—except for her eyes. They were all puffed up from her crying.
"Ah, this is also all their fault!" Sakura cried, pointing at her eyes. "Now they're all going to laugh at me" Sakura pouted.
Once she was done talking to herself in the mirror, she sneaked out of her room, making her steps extra careful so that they wouldn't notice. Sakura went down the stairs and sighed, "Good, mission—"
"What mission?" Jiraiya's voice chimed. Sakura's big grin immediately fell to a frown.
"Nothing" Sakura muttered. She smelled bacons and eggs around the room and instantly, her stomach growled. Jiraiya chuckled, "I'm guessing you don't eat breakfast"
Sakura rolled her eyes, "What do you care?" she said and sat on the chair.
Jiraiya placed some bacon and eggs on her plate and placed it in front of her, "You're my princess"
Sakura snorted, "Princess. Rebellious princess, huh?"
"Rebellious?" Jiraiya frowned.
"I date the one man you hate" she sneered and placed eggs on her mouth.
Tsunade went down the stairs and sat next to Sakura, not saying a thing to her. Jiraiya sighed, "C'mon, can't you guys make up already?"
"I'm not making up with that woman. She's the one to say sorry, in fact, both of you are!" Sakura cried and drank her juice. Tsunade snarled, "Excuse me, young lady? What did you just call me?"
"An old woman!" Sakura cried and ran off out the door before her mother could punish her. It was just in time when Sasuke's Lamborghini parked up in front of her house. "Sakura Haruno! You are not to ride that damned car to school!" Tsunade said, getting out of the house. Sakura turned around and stuck her tongue out at her mother, "Make me!" she cried and ran to the car of Sasuke. She went inside the passenger's seat and slammed the door shut.
Once she was in, the car immediately sped off to school, leaving an angry Tsunade and a tired Jiraiya behind.
"You and your parents have a funny relationship" Sasuke said, chuckling as he remembered Sakura's childish actions a while ago.
Sakura just rolled her eyes at him and stayed silent. Sasuke glanced at her and noticed that her eyes were in puffs, indicating that she was crying the whole night. Sasuke frowned, "Okay, tell me what happened"
Sakura sniffed, trying to hide the tears that are about to escape her eyes. "I don't want to talk about it" she said.
Sasuke sighed, "Are you sure?"
Sakura nodded her head and looked at her window. She sighed, she was so tired. She had fell asleep late last night because of her crying. She'll probably just sleep around in school today. Plus, prom is coming 2 days from now and Ino's going to be mad at her if she doesn't go. So, might as well go.
Sasuke parked the car in his usual parking lot and held Sakura's hand. Sakura looked at him, "I know, I look ugly right now. You should just go first and I'll follow after"
Sasuke chuckled, "You're not ugly, love"
"Are you kidding me? Look at me! I look like some…ugh! I don't even know how I look like! I just look ugly!" Sakura cried.
Sasuke sighed, tears were already rolling down her face. Probably from the fight last night with her parents and that she thinks she looks ugly.
"Just—don't embarrass yourself with me" Sakura said and before Sasuke could reply she walked out of the Lamborghini and started walking to school. Sasuke immediately followed her and caught up to her, "Hey! Don't just do that" he said, a frown appearing in his face.
"Look, I'm not in the best of moods okay? I'm exhausted! And plus, this whole problem with my parents. God damn it!" she cried, stomping her feet and walked away again.
"Sakura-chan!" Ino's voice chimed, making the two look up at her. Ino stared at the worried look of Sasuke to the sad and tired expression of Sakura. She also noticed that Sakura's eyes were all puffed up and she almost laughed. Almost.
"S-Sakura? What happened?" she said, worry obviously in her tone.
Sakura sighed, "I just want to be alone right now, okay?" Sakura said and walked up to the stairs that led inside the school by herself, leaving the two alone.
Sasuke placed a frustrated hand through his hair. Ino eyed the Uchiha, "What the hell did you do, Mr. Uchiha?"
Sasuke looked down at the blonde and glared at her, "I didn't do anything Ms. Annoying"
"What did you just call me?" Ino yelled as Sasuke began walking towards the entrance of the school.
Sasuke didn't answer Ino and continued to walk around, looking for Sakura. "Hey, dobe, have you seen Sakura?" Sasuke asked his best friend who was hitting on some girl.
Naruto just shrugged, "I haven't seen her anywhere. Why? What's wrong?"
"Parents" Sasuke groaned.
"I'll help you find her. I'll call you when I do" Naruto said, worried of his best friend and Sakura. Sasuke nodded and muttered a 'thanks' to Naruto. Sasuke moved on, looking around the place. Damn, why did this school have to be so darn big. Then a thought hit him, he hadn't search for the one place that seemed obvious—too obvious.
The rooftop. It's where all of them huddle and gossip about stuff or just talk about stuff. The whole group goes there after dismissal or when we plan to skip class. Really, it's weird that the teachers hadn't notice that when one of the group is absent, all the others are. It was just plain obvious that we were skipping.
Sasuke ran through the flight of stairs until he finally reached the restricted area of the school. He slowly opened the door to find Sakura, at the edge of the rooftop, sitting by herself and looking down on the ground. Sasuke went closer to her until he could hear her sniffs and sobs.
He sighed, "Sakura"
Sakura snapped her head up at Sasuke, "Sasuke-kun" she said, a frown on her face. Sakura stood up, wiped her face and looked up at Sasuke. "I'm sorry for running off like that"
"It's alright" he said and noticed that Sakura had tears running down her face still. It broke his heart to see her like this—how many days—years, has she cried alone like this?
"Hey, love, stop that" he said, trying to wipe off her tears but they just kept coming. He frowned, and went down on his knees. He looked up at her and kept wiping off her tears.
"What can I do to make you happy?" Sasuke asked.
Sakura paused in her crying for a while and looked down at Sasuke's black orbs, "I like hugs" was her soft reply. Sasuke smiled, my girlfriend is so adorable but now is not the time for this. Sasuke stood up and placed his arms around her small body, hugging her as tight as he can without breaking her.
2
It was the day of prom already. Oh how fast things go by. For the past 2 days, Ino had been teasing me about my puffed eyes—even though were already gone now. God damn Ino, I felt so conscious that day. People would give me those stares—especially Ami. They all laughed when I passed by them and god was I embarrassed. Also in the past 2 days, I've been doing my best to avoid my mother. Even though we live in the same house, I was still able to manage it…a little.
Obviously, dad thinks he has to do something about it—which is right. This can't go any further but I ain't apologizing to her! She should apologize to me, and to Sasuke. I sighed as I tied my hair up in a messy bun. It was already 4 in the afternoon. There was no classes today since there's going to be prom tonight and everybody would be so busy in the morning.
I sighed, I practically just read a book the whole day. I didn't really mind about my dress—I'll just wear that simple dress that Ino gave me on my birthday, nothing more, tie my hair up in some bun or something, add some make-up, wear some heels that I hadn't worn in years and I'm ready…that's all you got to do right?
There was a light knock on my room, "Come in" I cried.
Soon a blonde went inside the room and I glared at her, "What do you want, mom?" I said coldly.
She sighed, "Look, Sakura we can't keep acting like this forever!"
"I know that, but I'm not going to say sorry when it's not even my fault" I sneered.
Tsunade sighed and sat on the edge of my bed, "Stop reading that book"
I cocked one eyebrow up and continued reading until she snatched it away from my hands, "Hey!" I cried.
"Look, I'm sorry okay?" Tsunade said, sounding frustrated of my actions.
I rolled my eyes, "What, did dad force you to say sorry to me or something?"
"Stop this, Sakura. You're father didn't force me to do anything. Now, I'm sincerely sorry, but I still think the same way about that boy" Tsunade frowned.
"Why mom? Just tell me why and maybe I might even understand! You're not telling me anything! I-I feel like you're hiding something from me!" I cried.
Tsunade looked down the ground, expression grim. She looked up at her daughter, "Sakura…it's not that easy"
I furrowed my eyebrows, "What do you mean?"
"It's not that easy to tell you these things" Tsunade said.
Sakura snorted, "Why couldn't it be—"
"Look, the Uchiha's aren't who you think they are" Tsunade said, cutting me off. Confusion written all over my face as I looked at my mother's grim expression.
"Are you saying that Sasuke's hiding something from me?" I asked.
"Not technically" Tsunade frowned.
Before I could say anything, Tsunade placed a box in front of me. It had wrapping around it and I looked up at her, "What is this?"
"A peace offering" she replied.
I slowly untied the ribbons of the box and out came Ino's dress. Except it looked 10x more beautiful. It had roses around the top, circling my shoulders, arms, up to my breast. At the end of the dress, it was flowing freely, like the waves. Another layer from the inside of the dress went out a couple of inches from the first layer.
"M-Mom, did you know?" I asked, putting the dress on a hanger, careful not to drop it on the floor or else it might get ruined.
Tsunade shrugged, "Well, yeah. Kakashi, you're adviser, is a good friend of mine. He told me that your prom is today"
Sakura bit her lower lip, "Did you do this?"
"Well, I got it from my other dresses and slowly sewed them all together. Turned out it beautiful. It's perfect for you, Sakura" Tsunade said, standing up and placing her palms on both my shoulders.
I turned around and faced my mother. She looked at me and smiled, "I'm sorry" she said sincerely, "I know, I haven't been the best of mothers and so has your father, we haven't been there for you your entire life and you've been alone…so, I decided—your father and I decided that we'll be staying here with you always. We will never leave your side again"
A single tear slowly left my face as I looked up at my mother. A smiled at her and hugged her tightly in my arms. She breathed in and I could tell that she was also smiling as she caressed my pink hair. "Thank you" I whispered.
My mother slowly took my hands off her and she bent down, looking at me while smiling. How long has it been like this? When it seemed like there were no problems in the world? How long? 5 years ago? Even more? Well, however long it is, I don't mind because now is now.
"Now, are you going to that prom or not?" she asked, cocking one eyebrow up and smiling playfully at me. I snorted, "Yeah, if I don't go, Ino will kill me"
She let me sit down on a chair in front of the mirror. "Wait" she said and walked out of the room. A few seconds later, she came back with a make-up box in her hand. She placed it on the side table and went back to me with a brush on her hand. She slowly brushed my hair and I relaxed. It felt good if your hair was brushed by your mother. She brushed it softly and tenderly and I relaxed with every movement of the brush in my hair.
"Now, tell me everything about what I missed" Tsunade smiled, looking at her daughter through the mirror. Sakura chuckled, "I don't know where to begin"
3
Jiraiya waited until he heard a cling and the elevator doors opened. He swiftly walked through the halls, dodging the people passing by him swiftly. He could see the men in black in every corner of the hospital, eyeing people as they walked by. "Excuse me" Jiraiya said to the counter where a girl was sitting down.
She looked up, "May I help you?"
"Do you know where Uchiha Fugaku's room is?" Jiraiya asked.
She nodded, "Yes, I do. But it seems that only relatives are permitted to enter"
Jiraiya smiled, "Don't worry. I'm a loyal friend of his"
The girl sighed, "Alright, but these men have beaten up people who try to go inside the room"
"Don't worry about it, he's a friend" a familiar voice said. Jiraiya turned to find Mikoto, lovely as ever smiling at him. "Good to see you, Jiraiya"
Jiraiya smiled, "You too, Mikoto. I just came by to visit Fugaku"
She chuckled, "You haven't told me you had arrived. Since when?"
"2 days ago, it's been busy lately and with Sakura," Jiraiya sighed and glanced at Mikoto, "You know about this, don't you?"
"We do" Mikoto frowned as she led Jiraiya to Fugaku's room.
"I thought we had an agreement that we'd do your business as long as she stays away from your family" Jiraiya said.
"I know, we had but…it's also been hard with Sasuke. For now, we're doing our best to protect Sakura" Mikoto affirmed as she opened the door to Fugaku's room. There, Jiraiya saw the frail form of Fugaku. He was awake and he glanced at Jiraiya and smiled, "Well, well" he said. His voice was crackling and sounded two times older than how he usually sounds like.
"It's good to see you, old friend" Jiraiya said, standing in front of Fugaku's bed.
"You too" Fugaku replied.
Jiraiya's friendly face turned into serious business as he looked at his partner in crime, old friend, and also a foe, "I think we have some business to talk about"
4
It was dark and cold in the meeting office. The Otogakure family huddled around in one room, smoking cigars and listening to their leader. "We have to destroy this Uchiha family" a cold, snake-like voice said.
"It's going to be hard, boss. The Uchiha's are one of the most powerful families in the whole world" one of the men said, puffing out smoke from his mouth. The man eyed him, "They're only powerful because everybody is afraid of him! No one has the guts to make a move!"
"Now, the Otogakure family will make a change" he continued, "We'll destroy the family, we'll chop the family members one by one until there's no one left but the Don and now he'll cower in fear of the Otogakure family" he laughed manically.
"Orochimaru-sama, that sounds like a brilliant plan" a white haired boy said, sitting beside him. His name was Kabuto, the right hand of Orochimaru. Clever and smart, but almost just like Orochimaru, psychotic.
"And what do you suggest we do now?" one of Orochimaru's men asked.
Orochimaru smiled cruelly, "Well, since we've failed on killing Fugaku, we'll save him for last. Also, I hear that there is one person that might be just the easiest target of the Uchiha clan"
"Who is it?" one of them asked.
"Sasuke Uchiha" Orochimaru chuckled darkly.
A/N: DUN DUN DUN. oh whatever will happen to Sasuke~! hihi, I uploaded as soon as possible. TOMORROW IS THE START OF SCHOOL. oh god, i hate first days. I hate school. Anyway, thanks for all the viewers who come this far~:" i love you all..you make so...happy. oh god, im gonna cry. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ;_;
goddess-ish: don't say anything! my identity is confidential, yo.
Gothic Saku-chan: thank chu~!
LoveForAnime: Righhhtt? xD THEY'RE PERFECT FOR EACH OTHA.
Night Kaida: YES, YES THEY ARE.
Sakura'sGhettoInner: HAHA, I couldn't think of any other character to be Sakura's parents! They're perfect parents for her no matter how funny that is xDD AHAHA, thanksss!
harunosakua: THANKS, I WILL.
