SE: I don't even know anymore. Enjoy this slightly filler chapter.
Disclaimer: No.
II. School, Shells and Sparkles.
"School?"
"Mm-hm." Nikaidou watches carefully behind his glasses as Sakura shovels a plateful of eggs into her mouth. "You don't have a problem with learning; in fact, I think you're more intelligent that most your age. It's too bad your amnesia interfered with your basic understanding of basic history and geography. Not to mention a lot of other things. But I'm positive you'll fit right in."
Sakura in return does not give a single reaction to his words and instead downs her cup of milk before looking curiously up at her pseudo-uncle.
"You think so, Yuu-oji-san?" The man nods cheerfully as the calculated look in his eyes disappears in a nano-second. Sakura gets up from her stool and skips over to the frying pan on top the stove. "Seconds, Oji-san?"
"No thank you, Sakura-chan." For a moment, Sakura sees from her peripheral view Nikaidou raise his eyes in appraisement. "Aren't you afraid you'll get fat?"
"Of course!" Sakura exclaims while sitting back down with a filled plate of toast, bacon, eggs, and strawberries. "That's why I run around town all the time!"
"Eh… I guess that's a pretty smart way of staying fit!" And then the two let out a peal of laughter, while chatting about nonsensical things and essentially, playing the part of a happy family perfectly.
The subject of corporal education is left aside and forgotten by the time Sakura heads out for her daily morning run and Nikaidou enters the basement for whatever work he supposedly does.
But it does not leave either side's mind, and sometimes, Sakura wonders if she should have given an answer at that time.
As she jogs around town, Sakura eases up her pace and lets her body take over for her, allowing her to take a meditative look on the past few weeks.
Her transition into this world was smooth, easy, and suspiciously enough, fast. Only two days after introducing Sakura to his modest abode, Nikaidou, over a simple dinner of fish and rice, presented papers that looked far more complicated than what a mere forty-eight hours should create.
(Though all she did back then was exclaim her amazement at the pristine, foreign papers, Sakura takes the time to burn their entire official looking titles into her memory for future reference).
And after taking a week to drool over the treasure trove that was the local library, and fumble through the advanced technology of a computer, Sakura has gleaned from the little information available to her that such a task takes time, energy, and most importantly of all, connections.
Adoption papers, papers from an orphanage that she has never lived in, a passport, and so much more that Sakura can barely understand what they all imply.
But she does understand. And that is that Nikaidou is much more than what he seems.
Shreeeeeek!
Sakura freezes all of her muscles and jumps gracefully back to avoid the speeding car passing by her. She glances around and curses in her mind for her inattentiveness. With narrowed eyes, she takes in the rushing cars and the people waiting impatiently on the side of the road.
Gritting her teeth and pushing down her wounded pride at not knowing anything about this world, Sakura approaches a friendly-looking woman of forty and asks,
"Excuse me, but when exactly do the cars stop moving?"
Sakura subtly widens her eyes and the confusion on her face is not faked at all. The woman recovers surprisingly quickly from Sakura's apparently strange question and answers hesitantly,
"Oh, I'm, um, waiting for the pedestrian lights to signal it safe to walk."
A bit of prodding and Sakura soon learns all about traffic lights and sidewalks and stop signs and – to the woman's insistence – how to be safe when near the road. She devours the information with childish eyes and a calculating mind, the strange looks around her be damned.
She knew these runs around town would be useful.
A month after her untimely arrival to this new world, Nikaidou approaches Sakura with an intriguing question.
She is sitting outside, admiring the limited but budding vegetation. Spring is just around the corner, and Sakura cannot help but be fascinated by the new plants and medicine this world has to offer.
(She wonders if the hospital she originally came from has realized that she stole one of their first-aid kits on the day of her departure. Hopefully they will not miss it too much; Sakura has only just began to analyze the fascinating wonders of this word's common medicine).
"Sakura-chan, what are you doing outside when it's so cold?"
Sakura allows her body to jump slightly in response to the presence she has felt since fifteen minutes ago.
"Oji-san! You scared me! And what are you talking about? The weather is simply perfect."
Their conversation then runs its course as they talk about their day and tonight's dinner, and it all seems monotonous and mundane until Nikaidou casually asks,
"Sakura-chan, what is your dream?"
The question is not misplaced. They had already entered the subject of future careers and such, and the question is innocuous enough for a guardian to ask his young charge.
It is the glint behind Nikaidou's seemingly hidden eyes that give him away. He is far too interested in this question and the answer she will give him.
Clinically, she observes his strained smile and his focused eyes that are trained solely on her face, instead of trailing to look at his surroundings as he usually does when holding a normal conversation.
Sakura ignores the restless nervous energy that clings to her heart; she tunes out the voice that shrieks at her to rid the man of his suspicious intentions that could get her killed, the voice that tells her she is never safe, that everyone is an enemy, and that she can trust no one.
(The voice that she could never get rid of, after the war).
She turns back to the smiling young man and considers his question.
What is my dream?
To become the best medic in the world .To never let my precious people suffer. To never give up when all is lost, because that's what Naruto did, when a beast with power beyond what man could comprehend nearly destroyed the world.
To never let go of who I am. To forgive but never forget.
To find my friends, my family, my home.
Sakura ponders over her thoughts, and gives Nikaidou a sincere smile for once.
"Hm… I guess, to travel the world, Yuu-oji-san."
To find a way back home.
Briefly taking note of Nikaidou's cheerful but hasty departure, Sakura looks up to sky and notes dispassionately that the starts are not as bright as they are in Konoha.
But still, this world does have its merits.
Perhaps it's time to start being proactive for once; Kami knows daily runs are not going to cut it anymore.
Four weeks later finds Sakura tugging at the impractical uniform of Seiyo Academy.
Apparently, Nikaidou had taken her silence as acquiescence to enroll her into a school, and though his sneaky ways do not surprise her anymore, it is the specific school that leaves her a bit apprehensive.
Though Sakura is all for exercise and staying fit (she has taken to joining numerous dojos in hopes of making up for all that muscle loss), Seiyo Academy is the fourth closest school near Nikaidou's house.
Meaning, it is quite a distance for a normal civilian child of Sakura's (apparent) age.
But Sakura makes no note of it out loud, and Nikaidou does not give an explanation.
(Sakura realizes that this is how life usually goes with Nikaidou; though there is not much she can do about it as of now).
"Excited?" Nikaidou pops his head into her nearly barren room with a lopsided smile and disheveled hair.
Sakura hums and picks up Seiyo's impractical bag (the strap is too long and the buckle inside wastes so much energy when you only have seconds to deal with the enemy -).
"A bit nervous, actually," And for once, Sakura gives Nikaidou the honest truth; but it is for the children, and not because that has Sakura nervous. What if she loses control of her emotions, her temper?
One slip-up with a 'playful' punch will leave Sakura with one dead child and too many questions that cannot be answered.
But she masks those emotions away and puts on the perfect shinobi front, because apprehension aside, she knows she can pull this off.
She has to.
("Sakura-chan, what are you talking about? You're one of the best shinobi I've ever met! Of course you can do it!").
Letting out a shaky breath, she allows this one moment of weakness in front of Nikaidou because the man will probably assume it's from first-day nerves that all young children tend to have.
She can do this.
Just – Just consider it a reconnaissance mission, Sakura. Information is vital, after all. And what better way is there than to learn from a school?
What better way indeed.
Apparently, in Seiyo Academy, transfer students are rare. There's a primary, elementary, middle, and high school section that encompasses all ages, so there are hardly any new faces during the school year.
So. Transfer students are rare. Even with the start of the new school year, children are straining to get a good look at Sakura's face as she stands in front of the classroom, as if she's a new specimen on display.
"Wow, another transfer student!"
"She has pink hair, too!"
"I wonder if she's related to Hinamori-san!"
Ignoring the whispered statements and the not-so-subtle glances, Sakura takes quick note of this 'Hinamori' (and oh, the girl really does have pink hair) before grabbing a piece of chalk. She writes her name confidently and surely, letting the years of calligraphy and fuinjutsu run over her like refreshing water.
"Good morning," Sakura states, as the whole classroom instantly silences at the sound of Sakura's calm and collected voice. "My name is Haruno Sakura, and I will be your classmate from now on."
She gives a brief nod as she catches the gaze of every single student.
"I hope we can get along."
Sakura once again ignores all the stares and nods as the hesitant teacher asks her to sit near the corner in the back. Taking note of the eyes that trail after her, Sakura situates herself into the desk near the window and takes a moment to find every single exit available to her in this room.
Giving a small smile to Hinamori on her left, Sakura sits smoothly down and pulls out a notebook, completely ready to immerse herself into this fragile world.
Word gets out quickly that Seiyo Academy has another transfer student (apparently, Hinamori arrived at this school only a few months ago), and Sakura soon finds that rumors, no matter the age or world, will always prevail.
"I heard that she's the heiress to a big-shot company in France –"
" – She probably has a job as a part-time model – "
"Kyaaa – Look at her; She's reading such a complicated book!"
"Apparently, a bunch of top-notch colleges has already offered her scholarships!"
"Look at that pink hair! She's probably Hinamori-san's long lost cousin!"
Sighing as she takes note of the staring children (from both her class and others), Sakura easily pays them no mind as she looks over her notes and the extra medical books she was able to gather from the high school library a few miles away.
Interestingly enough, there are hundreds of countries and just as many languages as well in this world. Japanese schools take care to teach the younger generations another language (usually English), and Sakura finds it amazing how easily she can create codes just by using a different language.
She vows to take out extra English books from the nearby library as soon as possible.
"There's no doubt about it! Hinamori-san and Haruno-san are definitely related!"
With a snap, Sakura closes her textbook on cell division and immediately, the escalating noise dies into utter silence.
Calmly still, Sakura gazes coolly into the eyes of the amassed students crowding around the classroom door in irritation.
My tolerance with annoying brats can only go so far.
"While I appreciate the welcome from each and every one of you," Sakura watches with petty satisfaction as the children wince at her freezing voice. "I think it is quite rude for you all to goggle at my face; it is quite bothersome for myself, Hinamori-san, and the rest of my classmates."
To make it even clearer that she will not tolerate blatant staring, Sakura narrows her eyes and adds in,
"You are welcome to ask questions, but if all you plan to do is stand and stare at my face: I must ask that you leave."
Sakura lets the temperature in the room lower even more.
"Immediately."
Not even a moment passes before the once crowded doorway is void of all human beings, and Sakura exhales in exasperation as whispers start again.
She turns to the pink-haired girl to her left and dips her head in apology.
"I apologize for this inconvenience, Hinamori-san." Sakura pauses and smiles a little abashedly. "I didn't expect the rest of the school to act this way."
Hinamori waves away the apology with a bored face and only glances at Sakura before turning her gaze back outside the window.
"It's fine," Is the girl's succinct response, and Sakura raises an eyebrow, because clearly, the girl is anything but fine. Hinamori might be an adequate actor, but as the best friend of psychology genius like Ino, the child's eyes tell it all.
Hinamori's eyes tell Sakura that the girl is in awe, in fear, and in hope.
Sakura can spend a whole day analyzing Hinamori and probably find the right answers to each of those emotions, but she instead leaves the girl be.
The child is just a civilian, after all.
Sakura blinks as small flare of energy bursts out from the middle of the auditorium.
"Yes! I'm sorry for what I said before! The truth is, I like you, prince!"
Was that –
Sakura frowns as whispers break out across the whole student body. Only a few weeks into the new term and Hinamori is already causing a commotion.
Siting back properly into her chair, Sakura considers that small burst of energy.
From what I've seen, Hinamori is a girl far too shy to make an open declaration like that in front of the school. And there's no mistake about it; that energy that made her act like that…
Huh.
Sakura lifts the corners of her mouth as she relaxes into her seat. After months of passively waiting, she has finally found some sort of lead.
Chakra. There is chakra in this world.
"It's okay! See? Regular people can't see Guardian Characters."
Sakura stares blankly at the little flying person with pom-poms in its hands. Indeed, while the – what was it? – Guardian Character exudes to the brim with chakra, it feels a bit different from what Sakura is familiar with.
Her hands twitch and Sakura tries to contain the urge to grab the specimen and examine it from head to toe.
Where did this little character come from anyway?
Sakura glances at the slightly panicked Hinamori and sighs.
Of course it is Hinamori; the girl never seems to catch a break.
She watches in amusement as Hinamori defies physics and gravity to spin multiple times in the air. Though Sakura can easily do a stunt like that as well, it's interesting to see someone as skinny as Hinamori pull it through with just a burst of unbalanced chakra.
Sakura pauses in the hallway to look at the floating character outside. Smiling slightly in surprise, it only takes a second of hesitation before Sakura casually walks out the door, and approaches the Guardian Character.
This one is a bit different from the pink-one with a sports hat, as it is instead drawing lazily across a tiny notebook in concentration.
"Hello there," Sakura greets with a smile. There is only the sound of pencil scratching against paper as the little person assumes Sakura is not talking to it. A few minutes of silence pass as the character slowly stops drawing and turns in surprise to Sakura.
Sakura in turn lifts up a hand gently in greeting, and says again,
"Hello, my name is Sakura. It's a pleasure to meet you." The character hesitates for a moment before softly landing on top of Sakura's hand and dips its hat in return.
"Hello," It – She, Sakura realizes, after hearing its voice – replies with a soft but bland voice. "My name is Miki."
"Miki," Sakura tests the name out and smiles again. "That's a wonderful name."
The Guardian Character turns slightly pink but nods her head in thanks.
"Thank you."
Sakura relaxes slightly as the feel of chakra softly pulses from the character's body, and she gives a more genuine smile.
"I hope you don't mind me asking, Miki-san, but who exactly are you?"
And thus commences the long explanation about Guardian Characters and Eggs, and inner hearts that all children have inside of them.
"… I see. So if Hinamori-san does not quickly believe in herself and in you, you will soon disappear."
Sakura frowns as Miki nods her head in agreement.
"That's right." Miki does not question how Sakura can see the Guardian Character when Sakura does not even have one, and for that, Sakura is glad. It seems as the people here who have this special power to Character Change and Transform assume the energy is magic, rather than chakra. And Sakura can see why; the chakra here is rather sparkly and free-spirited, as if it has a mind of its own.
Gosh, if Sasuke could see this now. His eyes would go blind with his all-seeing Sharingan at sight of this sort of chakra.
"Perhaps," Sakura hesitates, because she is not sure if it is her right to enter someone else's business. "Perhaps Hinamori-san is simply confused. Surely she does not know what having a Guardian Character entails. Maybe if you explained it to her like you did for me, she would be more understanding."
Miki stops drawing her sketch of Sakura to look back at the woman-turned-child in child-like hope.
"You think so?"
Sakura looks fondly at the shy introverted character and begins to stand, mourning already the loss of friendly chakra that exudes from the tiny person's body.
"Well, it won't hurt to try, right?"
Sakura return to the arts and crafts room without fanfare, and sits down in front of Hatoba Yuki, and dips her head in apology.
"I'm sorry, Hatoba-san," Sakura smiles a little embarrassedly. " A teacher stopped me before I could head back to class, and we talked for a while."
"Oh, it's no trouble at all, Haruno-san." Hatoba laughs reassuringly and gestures at her own blank portrait. "We have enough time to finish each other's portraits. And you can call just call me Yuki, you know."
Sakura grins back, somewhat pleased to have a friendly relationship with someone, even if she was ten years her junior.
"Then please, call me Sakura, Yuki-san," Laughing away Yuki's insistence to change the suffix to something more familiar, Sakura listens amusedly as her new friend recounts Hinamori's amazing talent at drawing.
Dimly, in the back of her mind, Sakura finds herself wondering if she will ever find a way back home. The chakra here is so different that what she is familiar with, and weeks of research brought nothing familiar of the space-time travel sort.
Being a shinobi is a tough occupation, indeed.
Sometimes, I wish I could just fly across the worlds and land back in Konoha.
I wish I could just let loose and break the ground, like the good old days. Where I could punch someone in the face and not have to worry about the consequences. Where I could heal till my body reached exhaustion, and where I could fight and spar with my teammates.
Or at least, Sakura grimaces as she looks back at her still developing muscles.
I wish I could have my old body back.
"Hm. While I did think all of those things, I didn't actually expect something like this to happen."
Sakura blinks rapidly at the phenomenon in front of her, and takes a deep breath. Trying not to scream at how illogical this is, she lifts up the egg on top of her bed and prods it hesitantly.
As if burned, Sakura leaps back and instinctively moves into a defensive stance.
Holy crap, it's warm!
She takes in the sight of the light pink egg and hesitantly, reaches forward and picks it up. Examining the design, Sakura notes approvingly of Konoha's symbol etched on to the bottom and goes on to trace a finger briefly over the cherry blossom flowers sketched all around edge of the egg.
"Will wonders never cease," Sakura thinks briefly out loud before smiling grimly at the egg.
The egg, as if sensing Sakura's bitter but hopeful thoughts, twitches slightly in response before remaining completely still.
SE: And... done. Finally, we get to see Sakura immerse herself into the world of Shugo Chara, and bring chaos into its world.
Comments or thoughts?
Regards,
Searching. For. Enadi.