Sorry for the late update you guys! I meant to put this out yesterday before midnight, but none of the computers would get on the internet. I had to work all day too, so I had to wait until now… ^^' Anyway, here's the New Year's chapter of Secrets!
Sasuke sat at his desk, staring out the window next to it and trying to ignore the piles of unpacked boxes around him. He was currently sitting in his new bedroom in Konoha, trying to block out the noises of his family getting ready to go to the festival in the center of the city. He ignored the knock on his door as Suigetsu stuck his head in.
"Oi, Sasuke!" He said loudly. "You comin' or are you gonna keep moping in here all night?" Sasuke sent a glare at the white haired teen, wishing very much to throw something at that annoying grin. Suigetsu held up his hands in mock defense.
"Just askin' sheesh…" He muttered, leaning on the door frame. Sasuke noted the purple kimono Suigetsu was wearing, with a silver and grey design of the sea along the edge.
"So you're really not goin', huh?" Suigetsu asked, arms crossing over his chest. "Don't you think it would be good, considering how we have to live here and all? Why not celebrate our moving here at the festival?" Sasuke shot another glare towards Suigetsu and turned back to his laptop that sat closed on the desk beside him. Opening it up, Sasuke turned it on with a quiet grunt.
"I'm not going." He stated for the hundredth time. "I can't stand crowds and this festival is overrated." Suigetsu shrugged, muttering an exasperated "whatever" before leaving. Sasuke heard the other boy shouting down the hallway that he "was being a sissy and refusing to go to the festival." The raven haired boy rolled his eyes and started up his laptop, trying to once again block out everyone in the house. He wasn't very successful as he was interrupted a few minutes later, this time by Karin.
The girl had pulled her haphazardly cut red hair up into a ponytail, part of her hair already falling out of the band. She wore a black kimono with a flower pattern around the right side that reached up and across the front of the outfit. The flowers were shades of red and pink. Karin's kimono was left slightly opened at the top and the hem pulled up past her knees. She crossed her arms and pouted at Sasuke, peering over the rim of her glasses.
"Please come with us, Sasuke…" she said sulkily. The raven haired teen rolled his eyes and fixed her with a pointed stare.
"No." Karin sighed in frustration.
"Why not!" She whined. "It'll be fun, I promise!" Sasuke sighed and got up, walking towards Karin and causing her to stumble back a bit in surprise.
"I said, no." And he promptly shut the door in her face. Karin's muffled voice called through the door.
"Why don't you want to come? It's our first week in Konoha and you haven't left your room once!" Sasuke turned from the door, yelling back over his shoulder in a matter-of-fact voice.
"Too cold." He heard Karin sigh in exasperation as he sat down again in his chair. Thankfully she took the hint and was going away.
"Wait a second!"
Well, so much for that.
"You never get cold! You're a fucking walking heater!"
At least he remembered to lock the door.
oooooOOOOOooooo
Sakura stared intently at the little puffs of fog that appeared in front of her face every few seconds as she exhaled. She shivered violently and pulled her jacket tighter around her, rubbing her arms and fingers to put back a little warmth in them. Around her, she listened to the chatter of the rest of her friends as they tried to make themselves comfortable on the blankets. All sixteen teenagers were currently spread out across the flat roof above the main office building of Konoha high. From their vantage point, they had an amazing view of the city that stretched out across from them, lights twinkling in the night time sky and flashing by along the highways.
They technically weren't supposed to be there, since the school was closed for the holidays, but it beat the crowded square of Konoha's center where the festival was taking place. Some of them were still dressed up in their festival kimonos, piles of blankets draped around them or heaters blazing off heat near them. The group had been at the New Year's Eve festival for the past four hours and had snuck back here to watch the grand finale. Sakura could see the lights that lit up the square and although they were pretty far away from it, they were using Neji's laptop to view the live streaming of the festival. Tenten's loud voice cut above the laughs and chatter of the teenagers.
"OI, shut it!" she yelled excitedly. "The countdown is about to start!"
Tick...
Sakura got up to move closer to the laptop, finding a spot next to Naruto. The blonde haired boy was sitting next to Hinata, hands wrapped tightly around a steaming cup of cocoa as he was chattering away about how excited he was to see the fireworks display. He scooted over to make room for Sakura on their blanket, moving a few of the noise blowers and blow horns that were assembled in a small pile near him. Sakura sat down and snuggled closer, thankful for the new source of warmth. Tenten called out the start of the minute countdown, nearly yelling the number at the top of her lungs.
Tick…
The pinkette looked around at the shadowy group, all sitting down around Neji's laptop, watching intently with excited faces or talking to each other happily. Sai was telling something to Ino, who seemed to listen with rapt attention, but would cast furtive glances across the group every now and then. Sakura knew she was trying to see if Shikamaru was looking her way. Shikamaru, however, seemed to have no intention of looking away from Temari, who was currently cuddled up next to him and whispering something with a smirk.
Tick…
Her brothers were sitting close by, both scowling and arms crossed as they watched their elder sister and her boyfriend. Lee was sitting with Neji and Tenten, boasting about his New Year's resolution to beat Neji at a judo match. The Hyuuga boy was sitting as stoically as usual, egging Lee on as Tenten yelled at both of them to shut up so she could hear the laptop. Kiba had sat down on Hinata's other side and was attempting to get her attention from Naruto. Shino stood in the back, silently watching the group as always, the lights from the city glittering back against his dark glasses. Chouji seemed to be in a deep discussion with Yoko, probably about some new kind of French pastry that Yoko had tried.
Tick…
Everyone looked so happy and perfect to Sakura, especially her best friend who had started an argument with Kiba. If only it could stay like this… She thought forlornly. It had been a very uninteresting year so far, even though they had added Sai and the Sand siblings to their little group of misfits. The new additions had a unique way of fitting in to the group individually. But in the end, everything had worked out and they were all one big happy family. Well, that wouldn't last for long. The count had finally reached ten, and the others were starting to get up, grabbing noise makers and setting down cups of hot chocolate.
Tick…
Sakura vaguely heard Naruto turn to her and ask her about her New Year's resolution. She kept her eyes glued to the laptop, watching the numbers tick down to zero. It was ironic, really. A simple countdown to bring in the new year, and it felt more like it was the countdown to a bomb that was just about to blow. And in a way, it really was.
Tick…
Tick…
Tick…
"You wanna know what my resolution is, Naruto?" She asked as the clock ticked closer. She saw her friend nod vigorously and grin down at her from the corner of her eye. Her lips pressed into a thin line as she watched the numbers change. It's now or never, she thought bitterly. What a great way to bring in the new year… Sakura opened her mouth to speak.
"He came back." She said, just loud enough for Naruto to hear over the shouts. Sakura saw him open his mouth, lips beginning to form a question in reply.
Tick…
"Who?" He asked. Sakura finally turned her head to look up at Naruto, her green eyes bore deep into the blonde's cerulean blue orbs watching her, grin disappearing from his face. The timer reached zero and their friends burst into loud shouts and screams, jumping around them as a light shot up from the city's center, like a shooting star in reverse. Sakura braced herself for the proverbial bombshell that was about to explode around her. A shower of lights lit up the dark sky as she stared up at her best friend, finally allowing the panic she had been feeling ever since the beginning of school to show. She couldn't help but feel regret for what she was about to do as the name formed itself on her lips.
"Sasuke."
BOOM.
Well, that's it! I know the moment was really clichéd, but oh well. I kinda liked it myself. I honestly didn't think I'd be able to write this chapter at ALL this week. My family and I have been trying to put up the inside Christmas decorations and clean out my room ever since Sunday. We've been trying to get ready for our host student to get here and I've just now had time to write this today (Wednesday). I hope you all liked this and I'll try to start on the actual thirteenth and fourteenth chapters tonight!
~Cherry