Author's Note: This is dedicated to all those who had reviewed this before it was deleted! Ehehe! So sorry about that by the way!
F R O M . A . D I S T A N C E
1. Little Secrets
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"Sakura-chan! Hey!" Naruto came jogging up to the pink-haired shinobi, stopping a foot in front of her to catch his breath, finding it easier to do so without straining his lungs by resting his hands on his thighs in the process. Sakura had paused mid-step to tilt her head at the blond in front of her.
"Naruto? What are you…? I thought…you were on a mission…you're not supposed to be back until tomorrow…"
She was clearly confused. She had remembered him saying that his mission, which he refused to unveil and remain secrecy…
"Sorry Sakura-chan…" He rubbed the hair at the back of his head sadly "hokage's orders." he had explained, would take him two weeks to complete, maybe longer.
Naruto quickly recovered and trapped Sakura in a big bear hug.
"N-Nar…!" Sakura's voice was muffled by the unexpected display of affection. She didn't think he had the energy to embrace her as tightly as he did in his state.
"Sakura-chan! Ahh! It's been so long!" She was happy that he was back nonetheless. It had been quite some time. Her days were rather boring without the hyperactive teen around. He was always there to keep her company, make her laugh, and make the simplest thing seem amusing to her.
"Hey Sakura-chan."
"Yeah?"
"Look what I can do!" With one spoon in hand, he placed it on his nose, his arms at the side of his face for balance.
"Tada!"
She turned from the window she was staring out of at the Ichiraku Noodle Shop to watch his playful antics from across to where she sat. She giggled and rolled her eyes.
"Naruto, you're unbelievable."
At that, he just smiled. "Oh yeah? Treat you to Rose Garden tomorrow if you can do it too!"
Sakura never backed down on a challenge, especially when it was from Naruto.
"You're on!"
She had indeed missed those days where they'd hang out together during her lunch break. She rarely had anytime to actually talk with him at all. With her busy schedule at the hospital, it was impossible for her to do anything with anyone anymore. But it was partly her fault. She was the one who signed up for it in the first place. But that was to occupy herself for the time being while Naruto went off to missions. She thought it unfair. Why didn't they ever assign her missions? It wasn't like she was incapable of fighting or strategizing. In fact, she was quite good at both. So what was the matter?
Damn sexist…She had silently amended in her head, forgetting that she had to breath.
She gasped, coughed a few times, and cursed at Naruto for forgetting she was human, and that she needed air to live.
Naruto quickly backed away and rubbed his nose sheepishly.
"Sorry Sakura-chan, it's just…been so long…"
Sakura gave out an exasperated growl.
"It was just two weeks! Two. Weeks. Fourteen days can't compare to how long it's been since…! Since…!"
Sakura stopped herself from saying anything more. She embarrassingly darted her eyes to her left, reluctant to see Naruto's reaction after her outburst.
There was the other reason why she signed up to help out at the hospital.
To keep herself from thinking…
…about him…
Naruto's eyes softened, and he couldn't help but feel responsible for her sudden outburst. She had changed so much over the years…drastically.
Slowly, she dropped her head, her hair and bangs blocking her eyes from view.
He was the only person she had actually willed herself to grow close to after…
"Naruto…I'm so sorry…"
She had done it again. Overreacted.
Naruto shook his head. "Naw, it's ok. Hey, do you wanna go eat someplace?"
It was Sakura's turn to shake her head.
"You go on ahead. I have some errands to run."
"Oh ok then. I'll come by the hospital tomorrow if you're still up for Ichiraku's."
Sakura waved her hand as she started on her way. "Sounds good."
"Same time?"
"The usual. See you then!" She replied before disappearing.
Naruto stared after her.
Sakura-chan…
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She sat at the edge of the Hokage Monument, looking over the village, her legs dangling in the air. She felt totally at peace whenever she came up here. She didn't have to think, didn't have to worry about what was going on. That's what she loved about this place.
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Naruto leaned back against a tree, eyes closed and arms folded over his chest.
"You're killing her, you know."
Out of the shadow, stepped a dark figure. "We all die eventually."
Naruto appeared behind him, glaring at the back of his head.
"I see you haven't changed a bit, Sasuke."
"Hn."
"You wouldn't even care if she died out of depression."
"You read my mind."
Naruto raised a fist. "Bastard!" He jumped on him, but Sasuke just smirked and disappeared.
He still sensed his chakra, but he was nowhere in sight.
"…we'll meet again..." The forest echoed.
Naruto looked up at the trees looming over the forest in sickly green masses.
"…damn…"
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Author's Note: Just a reminder, this is a repost. The reason for my absence in is that I went to the Philippines to visit my relatives and well, have a blast of course! And you know how it is; you don't want to be tied down to the things back home when you're on vacation. So I decided to delete all my fics for the time being until I get back. What I wrote, "I am truly sincere that it has come to this but I was given no choice", was a lie. Ehehe…I just didn't want to worry about my fics while I was enjoying myself and getting reacquainted with my cousins, whom I haven't seen for eight years in my parents native homeland. I hope you understand. And you don't have to worry about my other works. I'll post them up soon so just sit back and relax! My stories aren't going anywhere again (cross your fingers)!
love sucks always,
lovesucker