Chapter Two

AN: Hello everybody! sorry for the long wait! RL has been kicking my ass lol hope you like this chapter.

The night's air begun to drop a noticeable temperature, the crowd thinning out as people retired home. The two children continued on with their games, winning a few prizes thanks to the raven-haired boy. They'd managed to play all the games for free, all thanks to everyone knowing who Naru-Chan was. Sasuke felt proud that the beautiful angel was so well known, so well liked by everyone. You'll know when you see her The words his father said earlier rung in his ear as the two children stood next in line to get their face painted, hand in hand.

He liked the feel of her hands in his, and that she'd always initiated the contact. Her free arm held the fox he'd won for her while his housed the various other prizes he'd won for her stuffed in an unzipped backpack they'd won at a pie throwing contest, overflowing with many goods. As they waited for their turn; her standing on her tiptoes to see how ahead of the person in front of them, he couldn't take his eyes off the beauty that is the blonde. She's the one his father was right, you do just know.

Pride filled him for holding her things like he'd seen his father do many times for his mother. He wanted to carry all of her things, but his angel refused to let go of the fox, causing more pride to swell within him. He'd never had such feelings before, he just wanted to play with her forever.

"You're a pretty good friend 'Suke" she smiled brightly at him causing a fierce blush to spread across his cheeks at the new nickname, she chuckled slightly before continuing "I thought you were a meany at first tryna steal Kurma from me, but tuned out to be a - a- " she scrunched her face in confusion with an adorable thinking face, causing his small heart to beat at a rapid fashion. "Aye, whatsit called? Not a dragonslayer, but they can slay dragons anyways?"

Sasuke had no idea what the animated girl was trying to say and it must have shown on his face as his beautiful Naru begun to get slightly frustrated.

"Yaknow, the people with swords and they slay the dragon and rescue people. It starts with an N I think"

"A knight?" Sasuke supplied still unsure. Though he was pretty sure it didn't start with an N.

"Yeah that's it! You turned out to be a knight"

"Who's Kuruma?" he asked instead to keep the gushing within him at bay.

Naru shakes the fox and smiled brightly at the raven haired boy "Cool name huh?"

He nodded once in agreement.

"Oh, Naru-chan" the woman who'll paint their face greeted brightly, startling the both of the children who didn't realize they were next in line. "I was wondering when you'd come to my stand"

Naru let go of Sasuke's hand to rub the back of her neck and laughed, oblivious to the feeling of loss she caused the boy with the lack of contact. "Yeah, sorry it took so long Ayako-san"

"And who's your friend?" Sasuke couldn't help the blush that crept up his cheeks. Everywhere they went, someone would ask who it was that Naru was with and each time he'd felt the need to leave a good impression, to seek their approval that he was the best for Naru.

Sasuke straightened his back, his face serious as he answered the woman before Naru had the chance to "Sasuke ma'am, it's a pleasure to meet you" he finished with a bow, careful to not let anything drop from the backpack.

The woman brought a hand to her mouth and giggled. Sasuke frowned slightly, not understanding what was so funny. "And what would you like painted?" the woman asked as if she hadn't laughed, she turned her attention back to Naru "I know you want a fox" and turned back to Sasuke "but what would you like Mr. Sasuke?"

It seemed Naru-Chan really liked foxes and everyone knew it. He wondered if he too should get a fox to match Naru. Normally Sauske didn't like doing what everyone else did unless it was his nii-san, but there was something about the girl next to him. The need for her to keep liking him strong. Absently he fiddles with his necklace hidden underneath his shirt. I found a new home for you. Where you're meant to be.

"What bout a wolf 'Suke?" Naru asked, looking at him with her wide blue eyes, nearly stopping his heart. He loves the new nickname, only when she says it. Only she can call him that. "Wolves are cool too! After foxes, 'cause foxes are the coolest"

He nods eagerly before facing the woman once more "Wolf please"

She chuckled once, picking up a thin brush and dipped it into the small pallet filled with orange paint. "Are you two going to make a wish? Or have you already? She asked as her brush made contact with the tip of Naru's nose.

"Wish?" he asked confused.

"The lan-"

"Be still Naru-Chan" the woman scold "the lanterns." She finished for the little girl, trying to keep her from moving while she continued her work. "You write your wish and send them up with the lanterns so that your wish will come true"

Sasuke thought about it. He knows what lanterns are; they have them in Suna too. He'd seen some float in the sky throughout the night, and now that the woman brought it to his attention, he knows he wants to make a wish with his little fox.

That thought brought a small smile on his lips, he likes that. That's what he'll call her.

Little fox

As he looked at her, she did remind him of a little fox, even with the faint whiskered like scars on her cheeks that he has to squint to actually see. He'd noticed them at times like this when he's really close to her and the light illuminates them.

"Sasuke!" he's snapped out of his thoughts at the sound of Naru's voice "gee, ain't ya listening?"

Sasuke just stared at her, most likely conveying that indeed he wasn't.

She couldn't see him because her face was being painted, and he's sure the woman would scold her again if she turned her head, but she seemed to get it just the same.

She let out a sigh "I asked do you wanna do the wish thing?"

He opened up his mouth to reply but it was cut off by the shout of his name by an all too familiar voice. "Sasuke!" his frantic mother doesn't give him the time to react as he's engulfed in the familiar embrace of his mother, causing the bag to fall off his shoulder and land on the ground.

He'd forgotten all about letting his parents know he'd be playing with his new friend. She pulled away from him slightly, holding him at arm's length to look at him, the shame he felt for worrying her caused him to lower his head, avoiding the worry and relief her eyes portrayed.

"We've been looking all over for you. Do you know how worried we were? I thought something terrible had happened to my little boy."

"I'm sorry mom, that was very bad of me"

She sighed heavily and brought him back to her chest, hugging him tightly. "Let's go find your father, we've all been looking all over for you" she whispered to him.

She'd finally released him, her worried onyx trying to bore into his, but his head remained down avoiding contact. "Honey" she says softly lifting his chin, but his eyes traveled behind her to his blonde little fox looking at them with an adorable tilt to her head. He blushed in embarrassment that he'd gotten in trouble in front of her.

He vaguely acknowledges his brother not too far behind Naru a hint of amusement in his eyes, but his little fox occupied his attention at the moment.

"It's late" his mother's voice brings his attention back to her "we're going back to the hotel" Panic wells up within him at the thought of leaving Naru behind. He opens his mouth to uncharacteristically beg his mom not to make him go when the angelic voice cuts him off.

"This your mama 'Suke?" She asked, pointing to his mom from behind.

Mikoto turns around to see the adorable child she'd completely missed in her relief of finding her youngest son. They'd sent Itachi to look for his brother after he didn't return after ten minutes when Itachi came back fifteen minutes later empty handed stating he couldn't find him, she nearly went into a panic right then and there. They'd split up, Kakashi following her husband while their son paired off with her, the worst possible outcomes filled her head more than once.

The little girl was adorable and also looked familiar, but she couldn't quite place her finger on why. She turned back to her youngest and noticed his once pale skin tinted with pink and a knowing smile graced her lips.

"Oh, you made a friend" she commented.

Sasuke nods once "I'm sorry for making you worry, but can I please stay just a little longer? Naru-chan and I are going to make a wish on the lanterns" he looks up at her with pleading eyes

She sighs resigned, Sasuke never pleads and for him to now, how could she deny him? Plus it was obvious he may have developed his first crush on his new found friend.

"Ok" she finally relents and see's the bearly there smile on her youngest son's lips "but I want you to stay right here while I find your father so he'll know we've found you" Sauske nods eagerly " and we'll escort you to the lanterns, but after that we have to leave. Understood?"

"Yes mother"

After his mom left, his brother stayed to keep an eye on him and his little fox. Itachi was a silent shadow, just watching the two as the interacted. An observant eye watching their every move in an analytic way.

Sasuke avoids looking at his nii-san and soon forgets about his presence as his world is again consumed by his little fox.

"Ey 'Suke ya think you'd be my friend forever" Naru asked as it was now Sasuke's turn to get his face painted.

Even with the paint covering her nose, cheeks, and eye area, she looked so beautiful and his heart nearly stopped.

"Always" he breathes "I promise"

"Stay still child" the face painting woman scolds him as she dips her blue coated brush on his cheek, causing a cold sensation on that area.

His face was still being painted when his mother showed back up with his father in tow. Kakashi-san was nowhere in sight and his little mind didn't really question it. He didn't know the man that well anyways.

"Wow 'Suke, you look pretty cool" Naru complemented with a big thumbs up when the lady was finished. He's been blushing way too much this night, so unlike him.

"You look pretty too" it's not until after the words left his mouth that he felt like a fool. She didn't call him pretty and now he's just embarrassed himself.

Naru scrunches up her face, her bottom lip pursed "ya weird ya know? I ain't pretty weirdo" she shakes her head with a roll of her eyes.

He didn't like that. Didn't like that she doesn't know that she's pretty. Really pretty.

Prettier than all the flowers in his mother's garden. Prettier than the rainbow that shows up after a rainy day.

"Yes you are" he hopes his sincerity conveys on his face.

Naru shakes her head again "weirdo" she repeats. Her eyes wonder behind him and he follows suit to see what she's looking at.

His family.

"Let's go to the lanterns," she says "looks like ya going to have to go home soon. Me too"

That brought about a curiosity he'd never thought to ask about "Where's your parents?" He hadn't seen them all night.

Naru grumbled, Sasuke decided he liked it better when she smiled. "Around" she answered with irritation. "C'mon let's go make our wish" the bright smile was back again and her small warm hands grabbed on to his and she ran in the direction towards the lanterns, his family following behind him.

He was glad his father helped him and Naru set up the lantern after they paid for it. When the stand people handed them paper and pen, Itachi was nice and helped Naru write hers since she was having a tough time spelling some words.

Sasuke knew what he'd wish for, he didn't need any help from anyone. He's a good speller, that's what his teacher Suzuki sensei always tells him. He hovers over his paper, blocking it from view from others with his arm.

"And F-r-i-n-d?" Naru asked Itachi, looking up at him with bright blue beautiful eyes. Sasuke didn't like that. He doesn't want those beautiful eyes on Itachi just him, but he ignores it to keep writing.

"F-r-i-e-n-d" corrects gently.

Susuke was curious as to what Naru's wish was, but he had to concentrate on his own so that it will come true.

I wish Naru to be my bride

`Sasuke

He folds the paper and walks over to his mom who's holding the lantern in hand waiting for Naru to finish writing down her wish.

When Naru was finished, his parents helped them pin their wishes to the lanterns and both children held on to it as his father lit the cloth,

"We gotta close our eyes before we let go" Naru says excitedly.

"Why?"

"So our wish has more power" she says in a 'duh' tone.

They close their eyes and release the lantern, only when they felt it leave their hands did they open their eyes and gazed up at the floating object.

"What did you wish for?" Sasuke asked his little fox.

Naruto remains quiet for a beat before answering "If I tell you it won't come true silly" she looked at him with that big wide smile of hers and his heart did funny things.

"I'm sorry honey" came his mother's voice from behind him. He looked back at her, and that look she gave him he knew. His heart sank. "It's time for us to go"

If he had to go there was one more thing he had to do. He couldn't leave until he did it.

"Can I say goodbye first?" he asked "alone"

His mom gives him a small understanding smile, his father's expression remained stoic and Itachi's calculating.

Mikoto's heart swelled at the sad look on her son's face. It was hard for others to see the sadness it held, but he's her baby, she can read all of his expressions. It was so adorable that he's experiencing his first crush but also heartbreaking that he had to say goodbye to the little girl so soon. They will be leaving for Suna in the morning, who knows when he'll get to see her again.

There will be other girls and more crushes, but this was still his first and her heart went out to him.

"We'll be over there" she pointed to the entrance of the park that they were currently residing in. They'd parked over there anyway, and after he'd said his goodbyes, it shouldn't take long to find the car.

She pulled her husband along with her "come along Itachi" she gently nudged him. She'll give them their privacy, though a big part of her was curious and wanted to see what was so important about their goodbye being so private.

Sasuke watched his family walk away and waited until he knew they truly had privacy before turning back to Naru. His heart nearly stopped.

She looked so sad, her once bright blue eyes now dulled in color, he wanted to brighten them again.

"Ya not comin back are ya?" she asked. He didn't answer, didn't know how "I can tell ya know. Thought ya just moved here, but your a visitor aren't ya?" he nodded once in conformation, swallowing the huge lump in his throat for making her so sad. "Ya goin to visit again?"

"I will" he answered with strong conviction, this he can promise and he knew how to make sure of it. "I will come back for you Naru, I promise will all my heart" he vowed.

A sad smile crossed her lip "you'll probably forget me" and then she chuckled rubbing the back of her neck "we just got to play for a few hours anyways"

He shook his head in denial "I'll come back"

He reaches behind his neck to unclasp the chain and held it up for her to see. The Uchiha pendant shined in the moonlight and she looked at his with curiosity.

"I give you this. It's really really important to me, now it's yours. Now I have to come back right?"

She smiles brightly at him, the smile so bright it nearly blinds him "Right"

He puts the necklace on her, it felt right. The necklace had found its rightful home. "Never take it off"

"I won't" she promised "I'll take good care of it. Believe it"

He hesitates for just a moment before he gathered his courage and wrapped her in an embraced in which she returned.

"Goodbye Naru-Chan" he whispered

"Goodbye 'Suke"

It takes him another moment before he finally releases her and reluctantly turns to meet back up with his family.

"Goodbye 'Suke" he can hear her call again "I'll keep it safe. Come back soon!"

A grin graced his lips. He'll be back, he has to.

She's his bride after all.

AN: So what did you think? this is the last chapter with them being this young btw. Please R&R I live for your feedback and interactions. Thank you to everyone who reviewd. I read every single one of them and they warmed my heart. Oh btw before I go..will anyone like to beta this? or know how I can find one? Until next time..byeeeee!