From Wells and Scrolls
Written for HalfBlackWolfDemon for the prompt: "Special Summoning Technique"
The bed sheets were a kind of clean that seemed too new to have been used before. There were children laughing, and a breeze snuck in that smelt of summer: greenery, mugicha, and sunshine. A town in the throes of an early summer morning. Kagome knew this was not her home, and it was not her bed. Just as she knew it also was not the feudal era, nor Kaede's home. She didn't know where she was or exactly how she ended up there, all she remember was that strange spell pulling her away from what was to be her happy ending.
After all, was that not how it went in every story? That the hero might follow their own path of their own free will toward their own happiness? Was the ending of a tale not supposed to end with them being selfish for once and at the right time? And most importantly, had she not given enough to end the shikon's long story with love finally prevailing?
For the first time in years, Kagome felt a tear slide down her face. She held onto the sheets beneath her until her knuckles turned white as the sobs she couldn't hold back anymore came tumbling out. It wasn't fair. "This wasn't supposed to happen… It's not…not fair."
For the first time ever, Kagome cried against destiny, against the cruelty of hope, and for selfishness.
Sakura leaned against the door to her bedroom, a breakfast tray held securely in her hands. She was a skilled shinobi with exceptional chakra control, yet she wished more than anything to have a civilian's sense of hearing at that moment. The cries were soft, would have been unheard to anyone with no chakra training, yet they echoed in Sakura's mind. The heavy weight of guilt pressed against her breast just as real and steady as the tray digging into her palms.
No, it wasn't fair. She was a selfish person, she admitted that to herself a long time ago. But she was fine with that. Whatever it took to be with her boys, right?
Yet she never meant to ruin someone else's life. She never meant to drag an innocent person into her world simply because she couldn't pass up the opportunity to be the same as them: a summoner. The bond and strength between a shinobi and their summon was legend. She had been selfish. And that young woman had suffered for it.
And she would own up to it. As Tsunade had told her, she would take care of her. After all, it was the duty of the summoner to care for their summon, no matter the circumstances that brought them together.
So Sakura put a smile on, turned and knocked thrice on her door. She said, "Good morning! I hope you don't mind that I made breakfast." And then she entered. While Sakura may not know anything about the woman she was now responsible for, she knew she wouldn't want anyone walking in and seeing her cry. Not friends, and especially not a stranger.
Sure enough when Sakura finally entered, it was to a bright-eyed woman whose only sign of her earlier grief was a hint of red to her nose. The girl smiled back, pausing just long enough to assess her and the earlier greeting. It was strange, to be glanced at so quickly and yet so thoroughly by someone she was sure was not a ninja. Sakura almost didn't hear her reply to her greeting.
She set the tray on top of the bed, before sitting down at the end. "I don't know what you remember, but I want you to know I didn't kidnap you or anything like that." Sakura almost winced, but she was never really one to beat around the bush.
The girl only smiled wider. "I know. While I was just about to leave to be with my…friends, I heard something. Something about a summon…technique?"
Sakura couldn't help her blush. "That was me. I didn't know it would summon a person. I thought it was going to be an animal. And I know I couldn't ever apologize enough for what grief this may cause you or your family."
But the girl only waved off her apology. "It's fine," she said. For a second, Sakura swore she felt a wave of sadness that couldn't possibly be her own fill her up until she felt like crying. "No one will even know I'm gone."
"I'm sure that's not true. From my experience, families always love each other. And miss each other."
"I know."
Then she smiled. It was genuine, as if she knew hers did, but she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something else going on. She didn't know how she could be so sure her family wouldn't miss her, yet knew they loved her at the same time. And while she was used to bugging someone until they told her, she knew she only did that with friends and patients. This girl was neither. So her questions could wait until another day, another time when they knew each other better.
For now, Sakura would be content to wait. She would watch and see what she could discern on her own, and then hopefully ask when they knew each other.
When the other woman had almost finished her breakfast, Sakura spoke again. "By the way, I'm—"
"SAKURA-CHAN~"
Both women jumped as Naruto swung into her room and onto the bed from her open window. Without missing a beat, Sakura punched him in the face and right off her bed. She rolled her eyes at his whines about how mean she was, yet she didn't miss the way the woman had reached to her side as if going for a weapon. Again, another question for another day.
But as quickly as she reached for a weapon that wasn't there, her surprise turned to concern as she leaned over the bed to check on the idiot. Sakura just sighed. "He's fine. I barely hit him." And really, he should be glad that she wasn't twelve anymore. And that she didn't use chakra.
Naruto sat up and rubbed the back of his head. He offered a grin to the unknown woman, but Sakura noticed how she couldn't keep her eyes off his stomach. It was almost like she knew—but, no. That was impossible. Only a sage could detect that.
"Right, sorry. I forgot she was here. 'M'Naruto. Pleased t'meet ya!"
For the first time since she walked in that morning, Sakura saw a true smile grace the girl's face. It was soft and warm and small, but undeniably fond. She could only shake her head and smile herself; Naruto's charisma was at it again.
"I'm Kagome. Nice to meet you, too."
"As I was trying to say before knuckle-head here barged in,"
"—Hey! I just wanted—"
"I'm Sakura."
"—to see if you wanted to train with us."
Sakura turned on him then. "And did you forget that you're supposed to be helping me help her!?"
He chuckled and rubbed his head again. "Umm, yes?"
Typical Naruto. She growled, almost playfully as they were so used to this routine by now, and raised her fist. He could stop her if he wanted, she knew, but he never did. It was just their relationship.
But this time, they both stopped at the sound of laughter. She looked over and saw Kagome with her hands covering her mouth as she laughed.
"She's welcome to come, too, 'ttebayo! It's summer! No need to stay cooped up in inside!"
She only shook her head. "But she just woke up. And I haven't explained—"
"If it's all right," Kagome said, "I wouldn't mind. And we could talk while we walk, right?"
"Yup!" Naruto turned to Sakura then, eyes big. "Whaddya say, Sakura-chan?"
She could only smile and shake her head. "I can't entirely say no to that logic."
As Naruto fist-pumped the air and hopped about, and Kagome watched on laughing, Sakura couldn't help but feel like this just might be the start of a friendship they all needed in their lives.
I'm so sorry for the long wait. But...life happens. Between work, being unofficially engaged, getting my second degree, and trying to close a loved one's estate are all all-consuming things. I'm so glad you all have been enjoying this story, and I hope this chapter didn't disappoint. To clear up a few things:
1. Tsunade has been Hokage for five years, which puts that rookie nine at around 17-18. I gave the war arc a happy ending as Sasuke is back in the village and relatively well-adjusted given everything. Kagome is also about 18-19 at this point.
2. Sakura won't be a bitch in this story. Yes, Sakura uses violence but that's mainly because that's who she is: a blunt, direct person. Training under Tsunade didn't help this. But she has grown up, just as she did in the manga. (I really only use manga versions of the characters because I can't watch anime.) Her acts of violence with Naruto are just acts of habit, but she's actually less violent than Kagome used to be with Inuyasha. Character development, it has happened to both girls.
3. I don't use the fanon ideas of "inner beasts" or "mating". No one in Naruto is actually and truly a "demon/youkai". And I prefer not to do "matings" as they are usually an extremely unhealthy co-dependent relationship. The only time I will do that is if I'm deconstructing the idea.
4. I'm not review-driven, won't ever hold chapters hostage for reviews, nor do I write purely for reviews. These chapters are short because this was originally a one-shot, but I broke it up into smaller, easier-to-read chunks. Each chapter ends at a scene break, where it seemed best to end a chapter. I'm sorry if it comes off as me fishing for reviews, because I'm really not.
And, as always, don't be afraid to let me know if you liked or hated this.