Reviewers:
BirdManJon: Indeed. If I bring Sasuke in, what should I envision for their meeting? In this world, could there be quite a few Sasuke's running around?
Guest: For sure! #2 for giving Sasuke a beat down. Geez, so far people really want Sasuke to get some. I mean...he deserves it in the anime and source material in my opinion.
Scooby Doo 150: Naruto Shippuden was my utter hope for the two teenagers to man up and kiss, show PDA, and marry at the end. I had watched 600 episodes! For...a lie. Can't even do Boruto. Yeah, Ino looks worse off, Naruto bland...Sakura still looks HOT, but she's wasting her life with that horrible husband. Feel like some FALSE WORLD, using Tsukiyomi, happened or something...like that.
Kingred94: Your guess is as good as mine, Kingred. Maybe girls 'like' the badboy who would try to maim, murder, beat, and fuck other women in front of them instead of the warm souls who, while pervish in the bedroom, would take care of their needs instead?
Mario 64: That does sound interesting for a concept. I could see some scenes in my head using that idea, but nothing set in stone for now. Honestly, I think you'd be better off writing those. Sounds like you have your own concept and everything. By the time I thought of watching the movies, the fake ending had come out and I lost all want to support the author. Now...I just use the characters that they were supposed to be intended as ;)
SPOILER ALERT: The Series of BORUTO is really a FALSE WORLD, using Tsukuyomi, happened or something...like that. They are Still in the Battle with Madera. Hence why NARUSAKU FOR THE WIN! :):):)
AN: Wow everyone! You all REALLY REALLY showed up for last chapter. So proud of myself to have such avid readers.
AN2: Hey Guys, I will be ABROAD for the next 2 1/2 weeks so I'll be away from posting until I get back. I hope you all enjoy your time off from reading my story ;)
Enjoy this chapter.
Glazed Emeralds: A Hallmark Story
Chapter 18: To Me, You Matter
Four hours later, Ino pulled off the main street, her huge hulk of a 4x4 an absolute eyesore in this area made of fancy cars and expensive taste. Ino cursed inside as her phone had died an hour ago while Sakura had been sniffling out her horror story of the last eight months.
As she waited for a couple to pass by walking their pathetically small excuse for a dog, she questioned this entire section of the city. 'Who could even afford this area?' She wondered to herself. 'Surely not the average person. Maybe if one worked 3 jobs or something insane like that but-'
"Sakura!" Ino shouted out of the window, parking her truck over the sidewalk to the shouting of the streetwalkers around her. 'It's two in the morning dammit, go to bed!'
Ino raced to the wall, where her broken friend leaned against the corner, naked to the elements and at risk to be associated with the risky women around her. Ino could already see her shaking legs and her tear stained cheeks, but what was important to Ino was the look on her best friend's face. Sakura was looking towards her with pure, unadulterated love, knowing that she came all this way with only a call between them and just that was enough to make this trip worth it.
"I-Ino…" Sakura muttered as Ino's body slammed into her own, arms tangling around her torso and patting down her unruly hair. Tears that were held back soon flooded down her cheeks as Sakura gripped back, desperate for the warmth of a friend.
"Oh Sakura! I'm so happy you called. You don't know how much I've missed you." Ino babbled into her ear. "You truly are my sister, you know that? Oh god, I'm just happy to hug you." Ino shushed as she tightened her arms.
Those words surged like a knife through warm butter, slicing straight to her heart, and Sakura's last vestiges of a wall were torn down, and she tightened her grip and cried.
"I'm an idiot!" Sakura screamed into Ino's bosom, startling Ino as she readjusted herself to console her harder.
"No, You're not-"
"Yes I am! I'm such an idiot, Ino! You were right. Everyone was right. They told me not to come here and I did!"
"Hush, Sakura. It's okay now-"
"People from the city are horrible Ino! I've been lied to, stolen from! There's this wonderful couple I work for, but after work, I get ruffled up for my paycheck! Who does that?"
"Sakura. I'm sure things can get better. Maybe if I'm here-"
"Here?" Sakura choked up, looking up at Ino's eyes. "No...please...I want to go home…"
Ino smiled grimly. Of course she wanted Sakura to come home. She wanted to talk to her every morning, go hiking on the good days, lounge around on the snowy ones. She wanted to work alongside Sakura as they made their small township a fun tourist spot to be.
"Sakura, are you sure? You have jobs here. I'm sure people will miss you."
Sakura shook her head desperately. "I want you more! I can't go back. Please! I can't….can't…"
"Okay." Ino sighed, rubbing Sakura back as she fell into a fit of anguished tears. "Come on, my truck is right there."
Taking a slow route, Ino eased the truck door open and pushed Sakura up. "There we go. Okay?" Ino looked over at Sakura, who tearfully looked down at her, all buckled up, and absolutely broken like a frail child on a bad day after school. Ino smiled back. "Let's head back, ne?"
Ino shut the door and went around the front where the driver's door had stayed open this entire time.
"Ma'am?"
Ino turned to the voice she'd heard behind her, and widened her eyes. She'd never met a police officer before. They had a sheriff and all, but this guy in front of her looked out of shape and had way too much on his belt. All the same, she saw the badge and smiled.
"Evening officer. Is everything okay?"
"Young lady," The officer pointed to the sidewalk. "Is this your truck?"
Hours later, back out of the city and on the open road, sunrise just began to crest over the horizon as Ino drove back home. As she gazed out along the straight drive, she looked to the pink slip on her console and shrugged. What did she care, getting a ticket for parking on a pedestrian sidewalk? People did that all the time in Konoha. Either way, she'd pay for it. Ino looked over and frowned. 'It was worth it.'
Ino reached over with her right hand, and pushed the rogue hairs behind Sakura's ear. Her sleeping, tear crusted face lay crumpled into the door frame of the truck, passed out after hours of emotional exhaustion. She hadn't told Ino anything about what happened, Sakura's murmuring words like blubbers on her way over, but Ino knew.
Her mother had told her she was living with Sasuke one week on, and Ino did have social media. When Sakura never called her, she stalked his profile. He regularly showed himself at parties and with numerous women, but never with Sakura. Ino grit her teeth, holding back her own tears as Sakura muttered nightmares in her sleep. The words of sex, betrayal, and used garbage flooded the interior of the truck, and Ino's hand brushed against the scalp of her friend's head to assuage her.
"I'll never love again…" Sakura choked out, and Ino looked over in horror. A set of determined eyes narrowed and the truck sped up. Ino would fix this. Maybe not now, but Sakura would be happy in time, and then...then she'd find love. Until such a time, she had her Mom and Ino to love her.
(Present)
Sakura quieted as she finished her story, the silence of the area suffocating the air of sounds. Sakura sniffled as she looked down at herself in the water, tears staying at the edges of her eyes.
'I can't believe I told him that.' Sakura thought, stunned at her actions. She hadn't told anyone in town what had happened to her in the big city. They gave her space and time to get better and with time she did overcome it, but not without leaving some things out.
Sakura brought her hand up to her breast, clutching over her heart. Who was she to correct their fears? They could think she got tricked and abused. Were they wrong? Right? The only one she'd told was Ino, but she'd been a muttering mess in the car, and Ino never talked with her about it. Sakura wouldn't let her talk. Why was she talking about this anyways? Why was she so comfortable with the man beside her? Comforted by some stranger.
Sakura turned her gaze briefly to gauge Naruto's reaction. His eyes were open, his pupils dilated, but Sakura cowered and looked back down. He must be taking pity on her. The poor broken Innkeeper who couldn't leave town because she was afraid.
"S-Sasuke...just hearing his name sets me off. There were days...a lot of days...where I couldn't get out of bed." Another sniffle sounded from her nose as Sakura shook her head.
"My heart...it doesn't work anymore. I have trouble showing the emotions that are me...I'm sorry I yelled at you when we first met...I've been angry at the world for so long...now I just feel...empty…"
Naruto said nothing between her whispers, and Sakura sighed. "That's why I am not able to smile. It's just so hard- oomph!"
Sloshing water surrounded her, and a pair of arms encircled her chest, pulling her into the warmest chest she'd ever felt. Red blush surged into her cheeks as Sakura found her chin being lifted up by loving fingers and blue eyes gazed down at her, dominating her mind as they bored deep into her very core.
"That guy...is a fucking idiot."
The waterworks began to cascade out of her eyes. 'W-what is he trying to do? Cheer me up?'
"B-But I-" Sakura began to deny, but Naruto's hands gripped each of her cheeks, and leaned in, shutting her up with a kiss at every pause in his voice.
"That bastard...gave you up...that's his loss if you ask me...you are smart...witty to a fault...you're kind...you always worry about others and try to make them feel included...you are funny...I'm always laughing around you."
Streams of salty liquid just kept sliding down her cheeks, and her throat was constricting so tightly, she wondered if she could even breathe. Why did every word he said make her heart ping and pop?
"Sakura...you're a great person, and no matter what someone has done...or thinks of you...to me...you matter."
Sakura crushed her face into his chest, unable to face this reality any longer. Her arms tightened to the point that she could hear his ribs cracking, but she didn't care. Her entire body was melting in the water, her entire being was shaking and jittering at his words, or was it because she was crying more than she had in years?
'Oh god! I'm crying in front of my customer!' Sakura wailed to herself. 'I must look so ugly and disgusting right now!' She was making a fool of herself, so why did it feel so right...so good to let him in?
"Should we head out?" Naruto whispered into her hair after what was at least twenty minutes of crying. Sakura looked up at the moon, confirming the time there and nodded. She slowly disentangled her limbs from around him, her skin sticking to his like glue.
Sakura tried to look embarrassed when he grabbed her hand in his, but she couldn't help but smile as he pulled her towards the showers. Sakura could only think and react as Naruto's hands skimmed all over her body, rubbing the water from the shower head through her hair and alongside the fabric of her swimsuit. The actions didn't build an urge tonight like it usually did. Instead, she was feeling content...as if they'd already done the deed and were laying in bed.
As she let Naruto baby her, toweling her off and brushing his fingers through her hair, she could only humbly watch and observe the way he treated her. Her eyes were glazed over whenever he appeared in front of her. 'Has something changed about him?' He looked different to her.
Going through the main courtyard and up the stairs, Sakura's hand tightened within his with every step. He was such a gentleman; he deserved a good fucking from her for making her feel like this.
They reached their rooms and Sakura pulled him over as she turned to her door, but her arm suddenly pulled taut and her eyes quirked as she gazed back as Naruto stayed put.
"Naru, don't you wanna-" Sakura stalled as Naruto reached forward, tucking some wet hair behind her ear. Sakura blushed again as he sighed and looked down at her, his eyes sizzling into hers.
"Not tonight."
'It's not because he doesn't want to fuck me.' She could see it in his eyes that he wanted to. Ever since their first night, they'd fucked. They'd entered this carnal relationship for the feelings and the attraction. But now...he was even more amazing.
Sakura's lips curled into a thankful smile, but her eyes remained neutral. Naruto was coming to understand her so well. He knew that she was emotionally delicate right now, her defenses down, and she was trying to use sex to bring her walls back up. Sakura sighed and nodded, before turning to her door to unlock it. He could have easily ravaged her tonight. She only wanted to make him happy.
"Oh! But Sakura!"
Sakura turned back, as Naruto edged inside his room and turned back to close the door. "Just to give you a heads up...I may want to fuck you twice as much tomorrow...Just giving you a head up. Good night!"
The door closed with her desperately wanting to snog him a good while. The way he said that, the way he acted completely normal and unchanged. He wasn't changing how he acted after hearing all of her charred past? Sakura let a lustful smile settle upon her face as she let out a soft giggle. And he was dictating twice the sex tomorrow? 'Geez! What a pervert!'
Sakura closed her door and sighed. 'But then again,' Sakura thought as her loins stirred and her mind for the first time in a while was clear and tranquil. 'I could go a few rounds tomorrow too. God! I'm as bad a pervert as Naruto!'
AN: Would LOVE to know your thoughts. Thanks