Reviewers:

Atengawchok: We'll see on that ;) I'm finding that a triangle of dialogue and body language is very fun to write.

Kzzzz: Well...mmmaaayyybbbeeee? Thanks.

AN: Thanks all. Happy everyone is liking the dialogue between the three characters so far. It was this interaction in my head that got me down this story path so I'm glad that people are enjoying it so far. I always thought that Sakura could be a bit of a sadist, inflicting pain while not realizing it. I mean, she DOES hit Naruto quite a bit, ne? :)

Anyways, Enjoy!

Glazed Emeralds: A Hallmark Story

Chapter 5: The Beautiful Meadow

"Dammit! Was that the right fork in the trail?" Naruto cursed as he groaned into the open air above him. Naruto breathed heavily out through his mouth, his eyes straining to look down at the map that was supposed to lead him to his land. Why was this area so underdeveloped and wild?!

Getting out of town had been easy; there was one road in and out. When he got to the first turn, he went left...and ended up having to circle back like an idiot when he realized that he should have gone right. From then on, it was like a treasure hunt, trying to find where the dirt roads led to the small gravel driveways that led to beautiful houses that were in no way the right direction.

Everything looked the same to him in this forest, and maybe if he wasn't so frustrated, he'd appreciate it more, but not right now. He'd spent the better part of the morning driving perhaps all around Konoha County, and had even stopped by the vet clinic where this energetic female with red tattoos on her face had pointed out where his plot was, all the while trying to convince him that he needed to buy a puppy.

Finally, he had parked in a small flat area before the trees, next to an old pickup truck that had seen better days. Its paint was faded and it may have looked better in its prime, but now it was a rusted bloody brown and white background. Naruto was just glad that he had parked and he found the sign that showed a small trail heading in the right direction.

It was well worn and he supposed that people walked it often enough, if the small boot tracks were any indication, though many seemed to be of the same person's size. But then the trail diverged into many claims and he was lost as he stared at the absurd image on the map.

"Can someone tell me what a lopsided turtle means?!" Naruto yelled out around him, pulling at his hair. How was he supposed to find a tur- "Oh…"

Naruto quieted as he stared at a number of trees near him, with arrows and turtle designs carved into the bark itself. "That must be it." Naruto figured as he walked through the trees and emerged from the forest.

"Wow." Naruto uttered as he stood on the edge of the trees, looking out upon a field of low lying grass, with a number of streams crisscrossing around it, surrounded by swatches of small brown poles of lumber sectioning everything off. This looked wonderful.

Naruto moved forward, and as he came across a huge rectangle of space, he looked down and saw his godfather's claim, the biggest of all, before him, next to a stream that bended just out of view.

"Man, the sunsets must be amazing here." He spoke to himself as he moved around the corner of a small hill where the stream meandered around, a small eden of trees and bushes blocking his view. "I'm sure I'll get some great sights out of this place."

With that thought in mind, Naruto turned around the corner and came across a Greek goddess bathing in the stream. Okay maybe not bathing, but damn! There was a woman his age sitting along the bank of the small stream, her exposed arms propping herself up as she leaned back, enjoying the sunshine. He looked up and-

'Dang it's Sakura!' Naruto freaked at seeing her lovely face, eyes closed as she smiled, her hand reaching over to brush water against her ankles. 'So that's her smile.' Naruto thought as his eyes took her relaxed state in, her gentle smile was laid back and content and at ease. That's why she didn't smile at him then. He no doubt made her antsy with his perverse eyes.

Naruto made to move away before she realized he was here when he looked down at her ankles. They entranced him so. They were small and dainty and perfect for her size. He'd seen her thighs yesterday, slick with sweat, but now it was like they framed her feet perfectly. Naruto gazed back up and came across Sakura's intense glaring eyes and a scowl that made him want to profusely apologize for ever being born.

"Geez Naruto! How are you here?!" Sakura yelled over to him as she pushed herself up to stand in the stream, her hand resting on her hip as if she was posing at a photoshoot. 'So powerful.' Naruto thought as Sakura rolled her eyes at him. "Do you have like a girl fetish for everything we have or something? I mean, you stare at my neck, my thighs, and at my ass every time and-"

"Sorry!" Naruto called back in a panic, the feeling of tears burgeoning behind his eyes. "I swear I don't mean to! I just...I um…"

Sakura sighed across from him, making him pause as she blew out a quick puff of air before she rolled her shoulders and looked back over with an embarrassed frown. "No…No, I'm sorry. Y-you didn't do anything wrong. I Just-..." She bit her lip, and Naruto wondered what her lips tasted like. Bad Naruto! "It's just that...you startled me." Sakura's voice grew quiet. "Not many people are out here much."

"I...I understand. I'm still sorry. You looked really peaceful laying there." Naruto confessed. If Sakura thought that flattering, she didn't show it.

"So if you're here, then can I assume that you're looking for your claim?"

"Yeah."

Sakura stepped out of the water, onto the dry grass and Naruto watched as she bent over to grab a towel from her bag. Naruto this time had the decency to look away as she did so. 'She must have a fetish for bending.' Naruto snidely thought, but was impressed by her balance. He'd most likely fall right over like an idiot. Sakura pulled her feet up one by one and wiped the water away, leaving her dry once more.

She gestured to the markers around her, at the petal symbols engraved on the wood. "This is my land."

Naruto nodded along as he looked at the small woodland behind her, at the small raised hill that gave her an elevated view of the rest of the meadow, and of course at the bank of the small river. "It's nice." He smiled over to her, recalling seeing a few more plots of land with the same symbol on them. Maybe she owned more than she let on.

"I was just washing off after a hike." Sakura defended self-consciously as she moved her weight from one foot to the next, obviously nervous.

"I understand." Naruto nodded, oblivious to her nervousness. "It's a warm humid day."

"Well…" Sakura uttered as she shooed him with a wave of her hand, basically telling him to go away. "If you head over there, you can see the squares with their identifiers. Look for your claim number on them and make a symbol that you want to give to Ino for your claim."

Sakura looked away, muttering to herself about him being here and everything as she put her socks and boots back on her feet, all while standing in the open. Naruto stayed where he was, and when she turned back around, her annoyance reappeared on her face. "Look Naruto, you're a nice guy and all, but I really want to be alone, okay? So just...find your claim." Sakura sent him a pleading look as Naruto responded with a guilty smile in return. He knew he was in trouble once again. "Okay...you need help? What?"

"I uh...this is my claim."

"...What?" Sakura deadpanned, her face growing dark and deadly, as Naruto gulped.

"This is my claim."

Sakura's breath shot out as she jumped over the stream in a single bound and moved to his side, snatching the map from his hands and looking it over with ever growing anger. "….no...No! Damnit! How could-"

"Sorry!" Naruto yelled back, scurrying away as Sakura moved her fist through the air.

"Huh?" Sakura froze mid swing as she looked over to a fearful Naruto gazing back at her. For the first time, Naruto saw embarrassment flood into Sakura's cheeks, her red hue flaring up along her neck, matching her hair.

'Kawaii.' Naruto's brain melted. 'She looks so...cute when she's embarrassed.'

"Naruto, I'm sorry." Sakura refuted as Naruto stepped closer as she graced his sleeve and pulled him back. "It's not about you. It's that pig, Ino!"

"Pig?"

"Well, I … she and I have nicknames...but she giggles like one! Oh geez! A-anyways…She promised me this claim and that she wouldn't sell it!" Sakura bemoaned. "I was going to pay for it next summer after the winter rush and pay in installments."

Intense guilt rushed through Naruto's heart. For some reason, seeing this woman in sadness hurt him ten times worse than her accusing him for ogling her. He didn't like it one bit, he had the wort gut wrenching pain inside of him, and he could only lamely argue back.

"I saw other claims with your symbol. Were you hoping for the whole meadow?"

"No, but...I wanted to own this particular side with the stream around the hill and...this claim is the last one."

"...Godfather bought it last year."

Sakura's teeth cracked. "That bitch promised me two winters ago."

"I um….I'm sorry, Sakura."

Sakura sighed as she bowed her head, her emerald orbs hiding behind her pink treshes. "It's not your fault. You said your godfather bought it?"

"Yeah."

"Well...are you going to build on it?" Sakura looked over worryingly. "Can I ask that you please don't."

"Why? Does it really matter?"

Sakura rolled her eyes and began to walk forward. "Come over to my side."

"What?" Naruto nervously rebutted as she gracefully pranced over the stream again, like a teenager enjoying the sunshine. "I don't want to upset your peaceful relaxation. I…"

"I gave my permission, didn't I?" She snapped back at him and soon Naruto found himself standing next to her on the hill, his willpower shot when she dominated the conversation.

"Now what?"

"Sit."

"What?"

"Sit!" Sakura rushed out as her hand pushed on his shoulders. 'Her first touch, ' Naruto thought blindly as she shoved him back onto his butt on the small hill, before swiveling around to join him at his side. Naruto grunted from the abusive push, but when he opened his eyes, he was amazed.

"...Wow…"

What he'd thought when he entered the meadow earlier raced through his thoughts. A nice sunset on the flat terrain, and a nice sky? Well, this hill raised just a bit, and everything about this meadow increased by ten. Naruto's eyes shimmered in awe. He could see now why she didn't want him to build. If she had this view at all times...well. It was perfect.

'She's perfect.' Naruto thought as he turned to see Sakura in a dream state, her eyes glossing over as she calmly stared out at the horizon and sighed happily. For once, they were silent between each other, and it wasn't awkward. It was peaceful and just right. The atmosphere out in the woods must have been her weakness, because Naruto felt like he could see her defensive walls slide off her limbs, as she sagged contently into her seat on the grass.

"...I love it here." Sakura whispered to the wind, but enough for him to hear. "I like to come here all the time, especially during the summer...to be alone. Our town is small, but it does feel crowded at times. I was thinking of putting something here...I'd like a small cabin."

"Wrap around porch?" Naruto voiced across to her, as she nodded along with his idea.

"Maybe…" Sakura finished her monologue as she looked up and her eyes smiled. "Hey! Look!"

Naruto followed her gaze and couldn't help but smile. Out across the meadow, coming out of the woods was a pair of foxes, moving through the tall grass as they meandered through it as if they weren't even there. Their orange fur somehow blended perfectly into the background and suddenly they were gone. Naruto made to stand when he caught sight of them as they jumped through the air at the other, playing around as they cavorted and tumbled through the grass.

A quiet laughter sounded in his ears and Naruto looked through his peripheral vision as Sakura laid her head on her knees and smiled through the scene, her eyes happily fogged over as she watched them play. Perhaps she used to run through a field like this when she was little and was remembering it. It made Naruto fully realize the depth that was his innkeeper; calm, rational, and reserved, but also self conscious, had an aggressive streak to her, and was searching for a rock to steady her footing in life.

"I spent months looking at the plots here." Sakura voiced quietly. "The best spot would be built right there, where they play, where your plot is. Naruto, are you going to build it?"

Naruto watched the foxes begin to settle down, but his heart began to pump harder as he thought of his own situation. "...When I was given this land, I figured I'd just come out and see it. I had no plan. But now that I'm here, in this peaceful place...I don't know."

Another minute of quietness took over, but Naruto liked this atmosphere. It was soft and mellow. This place was relaxing him like the city never could.

"...I-I want to apologize to you." Naruto turned slowly as Sakura sniffled and rubbed her arms nervously. "I yelled at you the other day for looking at me. I know it's not a good reason, but I'm just not used to being looked at...and I have a temper." Sakura bit her lip, and he could tell that apologizing was hard for her pride. "A really bad temper. I shouldn't have held it against you."

"Hey." Naruto smiled lightly as he leaned over, his hand propping himself on the grass. "You shouldn't have to apologize. You have no need to defend yourself, Sakura, for speaking your mind. I ogled you yesterday, and you gave me an appropriate response."

Sakura looked over shyly, her emerald glowing behind her bangs as her cheek rested on her knee. "...You ogle a lot of girls, don't you?"

Naruto blushed at the light accusation. "I guess people just don't notice in the city." He mused. "Or they just don't care."

Sakura nodded along with his admittance, her voice thoughtful as she mused. "Well, Ino and I are your age, so I suppose I should be flattered, right? A guy checking me out when Ino's so attractive?" She scoffed as she leaned back to look at herself and sighed. "… like I'm something to look at." Naruto held in his rebuttal that he found her extremely attractive, his fingers ripping the grass in between his fingers to alleviate the urge. "Just...please don't ogle me. It makes me feel...frantic." Sakura whispered, a cute blush dusting across the cheek that he could see.

Naruto wondered if frantic was truly the word she wanted to use, and imagined that her body was jittery and being held back. He nodded to her response, deciding to ease the mood. "Do you come here often?"

Sakura peeked over with a neutral face, but her eyes smiled at him, at his little pick up line that she no doubt heard many times from the vacationers from the city.

"Every few days or so. Yesterday when you saw me, I was coming from here."

"Really?"

Sakura nodded. "That trail behind the bus you got off at? That leads up here."

Naruto was stunned as his expressive eyes widened. "You ran all the way out here? That has to be twenty miles!" He exclaimed as he looked at her legs. She must have great legs to be able to do that.

But Sakura shook her head with a scoff. "Try five."

"How?" Naruto countered. "I drove forever to get here."

Sakura smirked back. "It cuts right through the forest. No roads. Some rocks and low hills. I get to see the animals often, even on the trail."

"Sounds like a peaceful hike. Maybe I should try that hike."

Sakura nodded. "It's peaceful."

Naruto smiled before a nagging thought came to his mind. Maybe she was lying to him. It was a hike just to get here from the road after all. He was confused. "But I saw your truck! I mean, that beaten up old thing. You didn't want to hike today?"

Sakura smirked snidely back at him. "Well, …I have a customer to take care of now." Naruto felt bad all of a sudden, like he had ruined her day coming out here, but before he could speak, she continued. "Don't feel bad." Sakura shrugged. "It's not that bad. I should feel lucky to have a customer during our town's low point in the year."

"...Hey Naruto...if you do decide that you don't want it...I could pay for it...in installments and all...I would take care of all the paperwork too…"

But Naruto grinned over, smiling at her. "Is that how you bought the other plots?" He imagined her having the decency to blush behind her mask of indifference. He had stayed too long. The mood was over, and so Naruto stood up and stretched. "Well, I'll check out the land...maybe build off your view if I can."

"Appreciate it." Sakura voiced as he jumped over the stream to his side. "And Naruto...thanks." Sakura called over, her hair blowing in her face, covering her from the nose to chin, leaving only her emerald eyes in view. "This was...nice."

Naruto nodded over his shoulder and turned away, figuring that every time he looked upon this meadow, he would only see emerald.

Hope you enjoyed.

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