Chapter 8

Conceptualizing?

"Good night," Naruto says.

"Good night," Sakura and Takara say.

Naruto goes to his apartment while Takara unlocks her apartment. Sakura and Takara walk inside. Takara locks the door while Sakura walks further inside.

"Welcome... to my depressing abode!" says Takara in a playful tone. "I know there's nothing here but-"

"A song journal? You write songs?" Sakura asks.

"Yeah. Well I mean, kinda, I mean, I used to. I haven't finished any in a while," Takara says embarrassingly.

"I think it's cool that you've written songs," Sakura says.

Takara smiles. "Thank you. They're not that good. I wrote songs and would pretend to perform them in my head when I was younger to have some sanity. Pretending to hear tons of screaming fans excitedly waiting for me to come out on stage... feeling loved and wanted... that's all I ever wanted back then. I'm sorry, am I ramblin on? I'm sorry, I- I'll shut up!"

"Takara, no you're fine. It's okay to open up about your feelings and what's on your mind," Sakura says.

"Yeah?" Takara asks. "I'm not used to having anyone listen to me."

"Then get used to it," Sakura says. "Me and everyone you met tonight like you and will listen to you."

Takara smiles. "I'm so thankful to have met you guys."

Sakura smiles and giggles. Takara sits down on her cheap flooring and Sakura looks down at Takara's songbook. The front cover has clearly been painted over with green paint. There's little doodles all over the front. Some hearts, stars, skulls, pansies, and little kittens. The front of the songbook reads "Takara's Songbook. Please Stay Out" with a heart afterwards. Sakura smiles at the heart.

"One day, if you're okay with showing me your songs. I'd be more than happy to hear them, or read them," Sakura says.

Takara's face turns red. "Um, maybe... We'll see."

"Okay, no pressure," Sakura says.

"Thank you," Takara says. "Okay! Night night time!"

Takara lays down on the uncomfortable flooring. She puts her cheap pillow under her head and brings up one of her throw blankets to her body.

"Here Sakura," Takara starts to say. "You can use half of my pillow and the other blanket. I know I literally don't have much, but it's something."

"Aw, Takara. You're too kind. Giving when you don't have much. Thank you," Sakura says.

Sakura lays down next to Takara. "Good night Takara! In the morning I'm going to buy you a bathing suit and other things you need. No buts about it!"

"Are you sure Sakura? I feel like I'm using you or taking advantage of your generosity," Takara says.

"No, not at all! I honestly don't mind helping out a friend in need," Sakura says.

"Thank you. I have to repay you somehow," Takara says.

"Nah," Sakura says. "Just be my friend and I'll be happy with that."

Sakura turns around and tries to fall asleep. Takara turns around too. The two girls' backs facing each other. Takara's eyes are wide open and her brain is racing. She's more anxious than excited to go shopping for her apartment and for bathing suits. Takara hates her body. A big scar on her stomach, a bruise on her thigh that has never gone away, and cigarette burns all over her feet, and some on her ankles.

Takara sits up from the floor. Sakura has already fallen asleep. Takara looks around in the room and looks at her window. Takara gasps and runs to her window. When she looks out the window, she sees nothing but darkness.

"What the...?" Takara thinks to herself. "I could have sworn I saw Leiji or Leitangi. I mean they are brothers so they do look similar. But I could be seeing things. It is my first night here. Maybe having Sakura's company isn't so bad."

Takara looks down at Sakura sleeping, then back at the window. Takara's mind keeps racing.

"I have to know if someone is or was outside my window!" Takara says to herself.

Takara quietly goes to her back door and goes outside onto her patio. Takara looks around the dark and quiet Leaf Village. It's as quiet as an abandoned home. Takara sees no one or anything. She shrugs her shoulders. "Guess it's my brain messing with me."

Takara walks back inside her home and she quietly gets back to the floor that Sakura is sleeping on. Takara closes her eyes and tries to get some sleep.

"Whew, that was a close one," someone outside quietly says.