DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO.
Start Again
"I'm going home, to the place where I belong. You know, your love has always been enough for me"
I looked at myself in the mirror, it was exactly 7 in the evening that we finished with everything. My make-up, fitting of dress, a pair of heels, my hair—gosh, no wonder girls are so busy during prom! They all had to pretty themselves no matter what. I smiled at my reflection. I looked so different—I'd say I looked beautiful, just for this night, I thought I did.
My lips were puffy and pink, my eyes in the shade of a light pink that complemented by green eyes. My eyelashes were darker and were lined perfectly. My cheeks were pink and my hair was up in a messy bun. Strings of hair were down and it curled all the way down—a wavy curl? My bangs were tucked in my right ear and everything just took my breath away—especially the dress. It was amazing how everything fitted on me perfectly.
The heels made my legs look longer and it was nice—it really was. I turned around to finally look at my mother and smiled at her, she was smiling back at me, "You look beautiful"
I gulped and nodded, "You know, Sasuke will be taking me to prom"
Tsunade sighed and smiled at me, which deeply surprised me. I was expecting her to be mad at me, yell at me or anything negative! But…it was actually other way around. I furrowed my eyebrows at her reaction and she giggled.
"Sakura, tonight is prom. Just for the night, I'll let you go with that troublesome man" she said.
I smiled widely at her, "Thank you"
She nodded, "Well, I think your father is around" she said when we heard a click of the door. I nodded and went out of the room. I went down the stairs until I finally reached the living room. My father was turned around, drinking water. He was dressed formally in a black suit and a brief case on the other hand—he looked like a business man.
When he turned around his eyes widened and he dropped his brief case on the floor. I giggled, "Hi dad"
He breathed in and walked towards me, "My god, you look so beautiful. Twice as beautiful as your own mother"
I smiled widely, "She was the one that did all this"
He cocked one eyebrow up, "So, I'm guessing the two of you already made up?"
I nodded and he sighed, "Well, thank god"
"Where have you been?" Tsunade's voice chimed up. Jiraiya looked up at mother and smiled, "Just business"
A few minutes later after talking about prom and everything else, a honk in the car came. I smiled at both my parents. "I think I would have to go"
Jiraiya stood up, "I think not yet"
I furrowed my eyebrows at his reply, "Why not?"
"Bring the man in, Sakura" Tsunade said, a smile on her face. My heart beat slowly went fast and my eyes widened, they wanted to meet Sasuke? The man they hated me to be with? I can't believe this!
"Y-You want to m-meet him?" I asked.
Tsunade and Jiraiya both stayed silent for a while and soon nodded their heads. Sakura bit her lower lip and walked out of the room. She went out to find Sasuke wearing a black tux that had a black tie undone. He looked awfully sexy in it and I almost took him there when I smelled his light perfume.
He smirked at me, "You look beautiful"
I blushed slightly, "Well, you look handsome"
He smiled and opened was about to open the passenger seat. I stopped him and he looked up at me in surprise, "You don't want to get in?"
I shook my head, "My parents want to—erm—meet you"
Sasuke eyes widened and he chuckled a few seconds later. "That's…weird?"
"Yeah, it's weird" I said and chuckled as we walked towards the entrance of the house. He opened the door and there Tsunade and Jiraiya—mom and dad—sat, looking absolutely serious and terrifying. I gulped, this isn't a good idea.
Jiraiya stood up and smiled casually at Sasuke, "It's good to finally meet you, boy"
Sasuke smiled uneasily, "You too, sir"
Jiraiya snorted, "Don't call me that. It makes me feel old, call me Jiraiya"
"I'm Tsunade" Tsunade stood up finally and walked up to Sasuke to shake his hand after Jiraiya.
Jiraiya eyed the boy, "You both know that both of us," he looked at Tsunade then back at us, "don't agree with…this"
I rolled my eyes and sighed, "Yes, dad, we both know"
"Sasuke—am I right?" Jiraiya asked.
Sasuke nodded and Jiraiya continued, "You know that the world out there is very dangerous," I felt Sasuke stiffened at the last word of my father's phrase and he continued, "And just because we don't approve of this, doesn't mean we don't want you to protect our daughter from all the crimes in this world—"
"Jiraiya, I perfectly understand and I will protect Sakura no matter what—even if it takes my life. You have no need to tell me of this, I know the situation of the world" Sasuke said steadily although he was slightly shaking. My eyes furrowed as the air around the both tensed and everything seemed serious.
Both men didn't say anything and continued to stare into each other's eyes as if they were talking in their minds. Then all of a sudden, Jiraiya smiled and chuckled, "I see…I understand"
Tsunade looked at both worriedly and sighed, "I think it's time for these youngsters to go to prom"
Jiraiya nodded, "Of course, we don't want their friends to be waiting for them"
I nodded and walked with Sasuke to the porch of the house until Tsunade stopped us, "Ah wait a second!" she cried and disappeared upstairs. I looked at Jiraiya confusingly and he just shrugged having no idea what she was up to.
Soon, Tsunade came back with a camera on her hand and I had to laugh, "Seriously, mom?"
Tsunade rolled her eyes at me, "Oh come on, I just want this to be a moment to remember. Now, take a pose, both of you annoying lovebirds"
I chuckled and held Sasuke's hand. I looked up at him and smiled. He looked at my eyes intently and a smile was on his face. I wondered what he was thinking about but the way he looked at me made my heart tingle and I felt warm all over.
2
The moment she walked towards me, my heart melted. It was so impossible for someone to look so beautiful and it was more impossible that she was all mine. She looked up at me sweetly with those emerald eyes of hers and her pink lips curl up to a smile and she was the mere meaning of perfection. When I talked to her parents—down to the moment her dad somehow knew about us—all I could ever think of was Sakura.
I would protect her no matter what and those words that I told her dad were true. She was everything I ever wanted and she's everything to me. She was fragile and I will forever be by her side, no matter how far I would be—she would always be the only one.
Instead of looking at the camera for a pose for her mother, we looked into each other's eyes for a moment and we couldn't tear away. Her emerald eyes glittered and I thought I had stopped breathing. She was more beautiful than a goddess—hell, not even beautiful is enough to describe her. I looked into her eyes and what I saw was something that would last forever—a ring with her name in it around my finger and the same with hers. Beautiful and amazing children with her—a family with her.
I looked intently at her and I know we were both seeing the same thing. We saw forever in each other's eyes.
3
When both parents saw the teenagers look at each other, they saw trouble—a good and bad way. Tsunade, from the moment she took that picture and she saw it, she definitely knew both were meant for each other. Jiraiya, when he saw them look at each other's eyes saw that it was kind of bittersweet.
Sasuke and Sakura looked at Tsuande and Jiraiya, "I think it's time for us to go. Bye mom, by dad" Sakura said sweetly as both walked away.
Tsunade felt a tear escape her eyes and she immediately brushed it off. She felt Jiraiya's hand around her shoulder and pull her closer to his chest. "He meant it, don't worry" Jiraiya whispered to her.
Tsunade smiled, "I know"
Sakura and Sasuke walked out of the car. They had finally arrived in prom and all their friends were waiting for them. Ino was the first one to run towards Sakura and inspected her dress, "You look amazing, Sakura!" she cried.
Sakura chuckled, "Oh shush, Ino, you look better than me" Ino was wearing a red dress that hugged her curves in the right places and she looked absolutely marvellous. Her blond hair was down and she had brushed off the bangs that usually covered her right eye. "I know, puffy eyes"
Sakura for the first time, didn't mind Ino calling her that. Sakura turned to Hinata who was wearing a white simple dress that was spaghetti in the back. She looked pure and sexy at the same time. Hinata's hair was up in a ponytail and her make-up was light just like Sakura's, "Wow…Hinata"
Hinata blushed furiously, "S-Sakura-chan, you look beautiful"
Sakura rolled her eyes at that and looked at Tenten who was wearing a simple black dress that was bare at the back. It was short and she had matching black doll shoes with that that had heels. Her hair for the first time, was down and she looked stunning. "Tenten, is that even you?" Sakura furrowed her eyebrows.
All of us laughed at that and Tenten nudged my arm, "Oh stop it you"
"Who are you guys with?" I asked.
Ino shrugged, "I'm with Sai. He asked me out!"
"Sai?" I furrowed my eyebrows. Somehow, Sakura and everybody else expected it to be Shikamaru. Isn't Sai rumoured to be the player next to Uchiha? And now that Uchiha isn't a player, he's the only player now. Although Sai and Ino are together in prom, everybody—the whole school—knows that Shikamaru and Ino has a thing for each other.
"Yeah, Shikamaru didn't ask me out but what do I care!" Ino laughed uneasily. That was just obvious.
Sakura turned to the others, "How about you guys?"
"I'm with Neji" Tenten smirked. Sakura cocked one eyebrow up as Ino nudged her shoulder, "There's a thing between them and I have a feeling both of them has some secret relationship, ey?"
Sakura wriggled her eyebrows, "TELL US EVERYTHING!"
Tenten looked around first and then went to her friends, "Huddle!" she cried and the four girls all huddled together, "Okay, so I slept with him"
The three gasped, "Oh my god! When!" Ino cried.
"Well, something happened during the planning of Sakura-chan's birthday that didn't go out so well" Tenten half smiled.
Sakura rolled her eyes, "Screw that, tell us what happened!"
"Okay fine, so after I turned the lights down, I hurriedly look for a place to hide when I tripped and I kind of fell over Neji and he kissed me!"
Hinata squealed the loudest. She was a fan of these romantic kind of stuff—she was a hopeless romantic but shy to ever show it.
"Oh my god! Then what?" Ino cried.
"So I was walking back home after the whole incident and he kind of caught up to me and everything was blurry okay? Pops wasn't home, this was an opportunity and you all know he's my big time crush—"
"You aren't a virgin anymore!" Ino yelled and Tenten immediately broke the huddle circle and covered Ino's red lips, "Shut up you loudmouth!"
Ino giggled and rolled her eyes, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry"
Sakura turned to Hinata, "And you?"
"I-I'm n-not with a-anyone" Hinata stuttered and all of us frowned, "You should make a move on Naruto, he's complete dumb shit" Tenten said.
"B-But—"
"Ola ladies~" speak of the devil, Naruto came towards us, "Why don't we all go to prom now and have the time of our lives?"
Ino rolled her eyes at him, "You're complete dumb shit!"
Naruto just scratched the back of his golden hair, "Uhm…okay?"
"Bye, idiot" Tenten rolled her eyes at him also and walked towards Ino.
Hinata ran towards them, leaving Sakura and Naruto alone. Naruto looked at Sakura and shrugged, "What was that about?"
"We were just talking about how blind and stupid you are, Naruto" Sakura said and walked off with the other girls. Naruto was left there, dumbstruck and didn't know why every girl hated him. He frowned when he felt a rough hand around his shoulder, "What the hell did I do, teme?"
Sasuke sighed, "What the hell DIDN'T you do, dobe?"
4
The first dance, Sakura danced with her friends. They all laughed and their funny dancing moves and soon, they had ran out of breath and decided to sit back down but the boys weren't there anymore, instead there were just there near the buffet, getting more food than they already ate.
"They are such pigs!" Ino cried.
"I know, just like you" Tenten snorted, earning a glare from Ino.
Before Ino could say anything, Hinata spoke up, "I-Ino, S-Sai is dancing with another girl"
Ino's eyes widened as she looked around until her eyes stopped at Sai—dancing with her number one enemy: Ami.
"Son of a bitch!" Ino yelled and stomped off into the dance floor, followed by Tenten trying to break off the two. Hinata stood up, worry obvious in her face, "I shouldn't have said that!" she cried.
Sakura held Hinata's hand and placed her back in her seat, "I think you should have. I also think, Ino had expected this. Sai is not a very great guy"
"Y-You think so too?" Hinata asked, looking into Sakura's eyes.
"Everyone thinks so too, Hinata" Sakura chuckled. Hinata frowned, "I see, but why would she say yes to Sai?"
Sakura thought deeply until she saw who Shikamaru was with. It was Temari. She was from another class and she was kind of pretty, yes but Ino was definitely more prettier than her. Sakura smirked, "Maybe it was because Shikamaru didn't ask her out and she planned to make him jealous?"
"Ino likes Shika?" Hinata asked innocently and Sakura shrugged, "Everybody knows that there's a thing between them—I know you do, too" Sakura winked.
The whole time during prom, everybody danced and moved around and the boys just ate and chatted. Sakura was always dancing with the girls because Sasuke hadn't really asked her on a dance and she was wondering why and what his plan was. Was he planning to not dance with her the entire prom night? She frowned, when will he ask me to dance?
"Beautiful ladies and gentlemen! This is the last dance before we tell you who prom king and prom queen are! So get ready!" the DJ said and piano started playing.
Sakura looked down on her feet, watching the people get their boyfriends and dance with them. Then, Sakura felt a hand on her shoulder and she looked up and smiled. "Would you like to dance?" he asked in a deep voice. Sakura nodded and stood up in her chair.
"I thought you'd never ask" she said as Sasuke led her to the middle of the dance floor. Somehow, everybody made way for them and everybody suddenly stopped dancing to look at the two. Oblivious of the sudden reaction to everyone, Sakura placed a hand on Sasuke's shoulder and her other hand on his hand. Sasuke placed a hand around her waist and held on to her hand.
He smirked, "Just follow my steps"
Sakura chuckled, "You still remember that I don't know how to dance very well"
"You dance weird with your friends" Sasuke whispered and Sakura blushed, "I'm sorry"
"Don't be, you are too adorable" he chuckled and began to dance.
Heart beats fast,
Colours and promises,
How to be brave, how can I love when I'm afraid to fall.
But watching you stand alone,
All of my doubt, suddenly goes away somehow.
One step closer…
Sasuke rested his forehead on Sakura's and she smiled at the warm action of Sasuke as they spun around the dance floor and the spotlight was on them.
I have died everyday waiting for you,
Darling don't be afraid, I have loved you for a thousand years.
I'll love you for a thousand more…
"I love you so much" he whispered in Sakura's ear. Sakura closed her eyes at the feeling of his warm breath on her ear and she almost cried of joy at how meaningful those words are when it came out of his mouth, "I love you too" she whispered back.
Time stands still,
Beauty in all she is,
I will be brave, I will not let anything take away,
What's standing in front of me,
Every breath, every hour has come to this.
One step closer…
"Tell me how much you love me" Sakura breathed, wanting to hear more of his sweet words that come out of his mouth. He looked into her eyes, "I will love you always. When this dark hair is white, I will still love you. When the smooth softness of youth is replaced by the delicate softness of age, I will still want to touch your skin. When your face is full of the lines of every smile you have ever smiled, of every surprise I have seen flash through your eyes, when every tear you have ever cried has left its mark upon your face, I will treasure you all the more, because I was there to see it all. I will share your life with you, Sakura, and I will love you until the last breath leaves your body or mine"
"Wow" Sakura breathed at the long confession he made.
"You don't remember?" he asked and Sakura shook her head in response. "I don't"
"A Lick Of Frost by Laurell K. Hamilton" he said.
Sakura's eyes widened, "You read it?"
"I was interested as to why you were so curious about it" Sasuke chuckled.
I have died everyday waiting for you,
Darling don't be afraid, I have loved you for a thousand years,
I'll love you for a thousand more.
And all along, I believe time will find you,
Time has brought your heart to me, I have loved you for a thousand years,
I'll love you for a thousand more…
Piano echoed through the dance floor until the last note of the piano and the lovers stopped dancing and looked into each other's eyes, "Looks like it's time for king and queen" Sasuke whispered and slowly let go of Sakura. Sakura looked around and noticed that everybody was in a circle and looked at them, "So it's official?" one of them cried and everybody broke into an applause except for some girls.
The lights lit up once again and everybody looked up at the stage, "Well, looks like we know who our prom king and queen are since only one was dancing" the DJ laughed.
"So, the prom king and queen, please—"
The DJ was cut off when Hinata was suddenly pushed up on stage by the girls. She was blushing madly as everybody had eyes on her, "Hinata?" Sakura whispered to herself.
Ino went to Sasuke and Sakura, "We are taking none of her Naruto love anymore and its final for her to make a move! And I thought this was the perfect opportunity"
Sakura's lips formed into an O at Ino's plan, "You evil witch!" she cried and Ino laughed, "I'm genius"
"Go Hinata!" Tenten's voice could be heard around the crowd. Hinata blushed widely as she took the microphone from the DJ's hands.
"I-I'm sorry for the delay of p-prom king and q-queen b-but I have a confession t-to make" she stuttered but continued anyway, "Naruto-kun, I love you" and everybody gasped and some cheered for her braveness. I searched the crowd for Naruto and there he was by the side, his jaw half open and his eyes wide as he looked at Hinata.
"Naruto-kun, there is no pretending. Wherever you are and I know we're still high school but I mean every word I say, I believe you're the only one, I love you…and if there is life after that, I'll love you then" Hinata said, not even stuttering which got Sakura and the others in surprise.
"Ino, did you tell her to say that?" Sakura asked, whispering in Ino's ears.
"N-No" Ino stuttered.
There was silence and Hinata didn't know what to say anymore, "I'm sorry once a-again for the inconvenience" she said and was about to walk away from the stage when the DJ grabbed her wrist and let her stay put in the stage. He grabbed the microphone and smiled, "Come on out here, you lucky bastard! Naruto!" he cried.
Everybody was cheering and slowly Naruto emerged from the stairs, his eyes locked into Hinata's white ones. Hinata's heart beat faster than ever and she felt like she was about to faint but not this time, Ino and the others were right, Hinata had to stop acting so childish and it's time for her to make a move. She couldn't stand hiding anymore.
Naruto went closer to Hinata, "Is it true?" he whispered. His eyes were gentle and Hinata's heart melted, "Y-Yes" she replied.
"Give it up for the prom king and queen!" the DJ cried and everybody cheered. Naruto's lips went to his usual grin and wrapped his arms around Hinata's waist. He took the crowns and placed Hinata's queen crown first and then his. Everyone cheered, including Sakura and Sasuke. They didn't mind that they got the crowns—hell, they didn't care about being prom king and queen.
Soon, prom was done and everybody was getting out of the ballroom. Shikamaru was with Temari while Ino was with Sai and she looked mad at him and Sai just looked away from her, probably eyeing one of the girls. Sasuke was with Sakura as usual and Hinata was with Naruto.
"Bye guys!" Sakura bid the others goodbye.
"Bye! It was an awesome night!" Tenten cried back, her hands around Neji's arm as they walked off into Neji's car.
"Bye, girl. I guess I'm going home alone tonight. I ain't letting playboy get in my pants" Ino said, sighing. Sakura hugged Ino, "Don't worry about it, some guys are better" and with that, they walked off into their separate paths.
Hinata went to Sakura, "Bye, and your dance was amazing with Sasuke" she said. Sakura giggled, "And your confession was amazing. Completely brave!"
Sasuke sighed, "Now I wonder if both of you are finally going out"
Hinata blushed, "We went backstage and we…uhm…"
"Okay, I get it" Sasuke said.
Sakura giggled, "I can't believe this! I can't wait to see you guys tomorrow!"
Hinata smiled, "B-Bye Sakura! Have a great time with Sasuke" she said and walked off to Naruto's side.
Sakura looked up at Sasuke, "It definitely is a night to remember, huh?" she said.
"Definitely" Sasuke and once they turned around, Sasuke stopped walking and Sakura furrowed her eyebrows on who she saw. It was the man Sasuke once hated and didn't want to see again, and it was a friend of Sakura who was always there for her.
"Gaara?"
A/N: AHHH CLIFFIE, CLIFFIE~ 3 hehehehe. So, first day of school SUCKED. Gosh, everything was boring. All we were doing were introducing ourselves and blah blah blah and I slept in most of the classes as the teacher was discussing about their damn boring lives (look, i don't care who you are. I just want to get it over with) *Sigh*
ANYWAY, I'm probably not going to update on the weekdays, knowing that it's busy and stuff because of school but I'll definitely try to update during weekends!3
SO THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS GUYS, SERIOUSLY I LOVE YOU. And also, the more you give me reviews the more you get your chapters3 HEHE, LOVE YOU.
Night Kaida: HEY YOU! I replied to your review by PM:) check it out! in case you didn't notice it:)
LoveForAnime: MWAHAHAH I LOVE MAKING PEOPLE CRY XDDDDDDDDD and yeah Orochimaru = = I wonder what he's going to plan for Sasuke!
goddess-ish: SUCKED.
dangerouslycrazy: Here you go ma'am! I hope you're contented with it, ma'am!
Gothic saku-chan: thanks for your love3
harunosakua: HERE'S YOUR UPDATE GAL!3
