Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto nor will I ever.
Summary: Sequel of Teashops-- "Happily ever after." What if there was no "happily ever after?" What happens next?
Pairing: Deidara X Sakura
AN:
Repentance
01. Two different worlds
"Happily ever after."
What if there was no "happily ever after?"
What happens next?
"At this rate, our water supply won't last till noon. I'm going out to get some, make sure I don't see the shop in pieces when I come back."
The scent of hot bitter tea filled the morning air added with a bit of morning mist and wind to add a humid feel to the environment. On the corner of the road sat a lone teashop, man by one elderly woman and a younger male, a son maybe. As people walked by during work or free, they found themselves going toward the shop, like bees attracted to flowers. The old woman or the male would greet them, whoever would go out first. The woman wrinkles all over her face, old and weary of this world. The male wore a straw hat, masking his face from the world. It did not matter to the customers that sat there though for the two were very kind in the way they treated their customers. They did not taunt, mock, or insult anyone of any status.
The sound of a rushing river flowed smoothly across the serene forest, moving a like a slithering snake. Fast and swift, but never out of pattern. Crickets chirped their melody; butterflies flew around the spot.
The elderly woman began her daily duties, beginning by picking up a wooden bucket and heaving it over her shoulders. She felt its heavy weight pull her down the moment she got. Imagine it filled with water. Her years were finally taking toll on her, like they were already five years ago. A pink haired medic had told her so. She had replied at that time, saying she still had to tend to the shop. How much longer could she suffer this type of work before she could no longer lift a finger?
"I'll get the water," The man seized the bucket, refusing to let the old shop owner carry the bucket, despite her complaints, "Remember what the doctor said about you carrying heavy stuff?"
"I know, I know," sighed the old woman, "Can't an old woman do what she wants in peace." She coughed into her hands.
"If it's nothing that speeds up your life," answered the blonde nonchalantly, "Just fill up the teapots before the customers arrive.""Yes, yes," the elderly woman fanned the fire, "I'll do that." "Don't push yourself too hard," said the blonde, putting on a hat, "I'll be right back, un."
"You're crying," stated Shikamaru, his hands in pocket. Women were always emotional. That was why he preferred to avoid them during their emotional periods.
"I'm not," Ino stated dully, "Just feeling the nostalgia of visiting an old friend." She lit a small smile to her face, placing down some flowers on the grave. She fingered the words on the grave, wiping off the dirty dirt that had gathered over time.
"Besides, I just got something in my eyes," she declared, wiping her eyes with a napkin. Ino took a deep breath.
"That still counts as crying," argued Shikamaru, "Besides don't scratch your eyes, it's bad."
Ino glared. How dare he say that? "Alright you're not crying," he sighed, about to say something troublesome but decided against it. "It's…been five years, huh?" asked Ino, whispering the words. "…since Sakura's death."
"It wasn't your fault," said Shikamaru, "She probably wouldn't have wanted you to blame yourself."
"But if she hadn't gone on the mission, she wouldn't have-" Ino looked down to the ground.
"Ino-" Shikamaru started to say.
"Let's go before Naruto gets here," Ino wiped her tears once more, getting off from the ground.
"It'll be loud when he gets here," Shikamaru agreed.
The two disappeared, leaving only behind a bouquet of flowers left on the grave.
Haruno Sakura
Missing
"Back with the water, un."
He dropped the container on the ground, allowing a few drips of water to splash onto the dirt floor. The journey back had been annoying, as usual. He noticed that the owner was still here, tending the fire.
"Still didn't die yet, un?" he asked.
"Not yet," the old lady wiped her hands on a towel, "Go heat up the water for the next set of customers."
"Right, right, un," nodded Deidara, laughing softly. The teashop owner was amusing sometimes. He looked around at the small shop. There was something that attracted him back.
His laughter faltered. Something was missing. Something he forgot about. He glanced briefly at the room. All the chores were finished. There was enough lumber and food in storage to last at least for a few months. The water jug had been refilled today from the river. There was nothing missing.
Unless…
"Hey, old granny…is today September fifth?" he asked, staring into the boiling water. The water remained still, seemingly to not be unaffected by the hot current of the flames, burning underneath.
"Yeah," she grunted in reply, "What about it?"
The water boiled loudly, rising higher and higher in the pot until Deidara took it out from the battlefield, filling a teapot with an abundant supply of tea from the water.
"I see…it's nothing," his voice trailed off. "I'll go take this to the customers, un."
So that was what he forgot.
It was the day of her day, the day she fell of the cliff, the day she slapped away his harm and told him to 'let go'.
The hateful look from Sakura's face trailing down to her fall. It was a continuous loop, replaying again and again. It was a wonder that he could somehow manage to forget the date. Maybe it was all the memories clustered together so he could no longer distinguish before real and fake.
Real and fake. What those words actually mean?
Today was also another date. It was the date Deidara had quitted the Akatsuki. Rather, he chose to leave with a word to them all, slipping off his ring and throwing alongside the cliff. The others would find it soon and think he was dead, if he was lucky. After that, he chose between Konoha and the teashop, who to visit first. The results were the teashop. It was the only place that was as close as the term 'home' could come to anyways. He had met up with the old shop owner. She had been ill at that time, collapsing in front of all the customers. It was then he decided to stay for a while, at least until the owner of the stop was healthy enough to tend to the shop by herself. By some odd miracle, he had found himself working here, regardless of the old lady's health. Deidara was working here, a missing nin wanted in five different countries each holding its own Hidden Village. At least they would never find him working here.
'It's going to be soon anyway…'
He had always watched for the signs. It was easily to tell when someone was dying or not when one knew the signs. Even a kindergartener could do the math.
Why couldn't he have saw how close to dying she had been?