VI: Step Forward Again

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The next morning begins like every other - early, and far before dawn breaks beyond the horizon.

Like clockwork, Sakura sighs into her worn pillow, reluctant to move from the warmth of her covers. But a decade of habit won't break so easily, and so she rises to face the paling shadows surrounding her.

It's nearing winter, she notes distantly, a sudden pang of nostalgia beating at her chest. Konoha rarely encountered drastic changes in the seasons, but Japan holds an era of cold that strips its trees bare.

It marks another sharp difference in the world, because the leaves in Konoha had always remained constant.

With a deep inhale, Sakura crosses her legs, eyes closing as she pulls away from her thoughts. Even breaths center her focus inward and she exhales to the steady beat of her pulse.

(The consequences of a new body go far beyond the loss of muscle mass and height; it brings not only the question of how it happened, but exactly what had changed?

Could her cells have regressed in such a way to leave her at a younger state? Or, worryingly enough, could this be a whole other, entirely new body?)

Her chakra expands, pressing against the limits of this hindering body, fighting against the constraints.

This was the first thing she had done after entering this new world. Her chakra stores had remained untouched, left as they were when she had been twenty, and that is suspicious. To have such unbridled chakra, unsupervised within an untrained body - that would have left the energy bursting beneath the skin, transforming into -

"Oh," Sakura says quietly. She stares at the ceiling above her with narrowed eyes. "Is that what it is?"

It certainly answers where Yuuki came from, but not for anything else. The others around her don't necessarily have an excessive amount of chakra; rather, perhaps it would be better to say that they have an unusual hold over their own systems.

"That's some food for thought," she murmurs, slipping away from her bed without a sound.

(bitterly, she tries not to imagine how long it would have taken to realize this, if she had remained blinded by her own grief, by her own pride.

Months in, and only now is she starting to ask the right questions).

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Nikaidou drops her off at the school's entrance with a cheerful wave before moving to park his car.

(with a wry turn of her lips, Sakura half-heartedly waves back, already resigned to spending her mornings with the man for as long as he teaches here).

Hands tugging at her bag, she walks at a sedate pace, content to absorb the clean, pristine gardens around her. Unsurprisingly, Yuuki circles around her, cautious eyes darting at every corner. It's a bit early but as always, she can spend some time at the rather luxurious library in the high school sector -

"HARUNO SAKURA!" A high-pitched voice bellows. "I've found you!"

Fainter, in the distance, a rather familiar voice protests, "No, not her - "

Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on who you ask), Sakura has all the time in the world to decide how she wants to deal with the incoming child. Her fingers twitch and Yuuki, kunai in both hands and poised to attack, stands down.

She hums contemplatively. She could throw their body across the lawn, or use an impressive maneuver to flip them on their backside, or -

Feeling rather generous, she ducks, the motion causing the charging girl to trip and fly forward into the grass below.

"Ouch," Sakura remarks, a touch unsympathetically, but whatever, she's been kind, that's all that matters.

"Misaki!" Hinamori rushes into view, short of breath from her run. "Oh gosh, I told you not to bother - now look what happened to you!"

The young girl pauses, as if suddenly remembering her audience, and flushes when she catches Sakura's eye.

"I'm really sorry, Haruno-san," Hinamori says, a nervous look crossing her face as she reaches for her friend lying prone on the ground. Her Guardian Characters shift hesitantly, a careful distance away from Yuuki. "She's not the type to really listen… "

At this, Sakura purses her lips, a heavy weight against her heart.

I did this, she reminds herself. And I can be better than this.

"That's alright," she then says, and allows a hint of warmth to show in her smile. Without realizing it, Hinamori's shoulders relax a fraction. Sakura kneels forward and offers a hand. "Sorry for that - are you okay?"

A heartbeat later, the girl leaps to her feet and pounds a hand to her chest, as if she hadn't just planted her face into dirt moments before.

"I'm perfectly okay! Nothing can beat Watarai Misaki!" she declares and places an approving grip on Sakura's shoulder. "You're better than expected, Haruno Sakura! Now, fight me for - "

"For nothing!" Hinamori blurts out, frantically grabbing onto the girl and dragging her away. "Come on, we don't want to bother her."

"But that's exactly what I'm trying to do!" Watarai protests. Her feet fail to drag against the floor. "We're fighting for love, remember?"

"Well, she's not wrong there," Ran, to the side, remarks.

Hinamori shoots a panicked look before pulling on Watarai's arms ever more firmly. Moments before they leave, Hinamori stops and gives a final bow.

"I'm sorry again, Haruno-san!" the girl says, eyes closing at the words.

Unwittingly, the corners of Sakura's lips lift, and she shakes her head.

"No harm done," Sakura says reassuringly, and is rewarded with Hinamori's returning hesitant, but sincere smile.

"Okay, see you later in class then!" Hinamori waves, a bit more confidently, and departs soon after.

Left alone on the paved road, Sakura glances upwards at the rising sun and notes sadly, "Is it just me, or is it getting harder and harder to find kindness, Yuuki?"

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

She's picked up on the habit of following her "guardian," and school grounds are no exception.

It's suspicious how often this school hosts these malevolent X Eggs and several days later, Sakura gets a front seat view of Nikaidou's meddling hands.

"I can see it," Nikaidou murmurs, right in the middle of recess where countless children are running. He pushes up his glasses and smirks, acting as if the height difference between him and his students will somehow hide his malicious intentions. "I can see your heart's egg."

"That's so creepy," Sakura hisses to her Guardian Character. They're hidden within the trees the school's endless gardens and Sakura cringes when Nikaidou curls his hand. "I am so uncomfortable."

"That just confirms his involvement," Yuuki blandly responds, unmoved by Nikaidou's questionable actions. The little woman tilts her head as the chakra surrounding Watarai becomes increasingly dark.

"It is concerning," Sakura agrees, eyebrows furrowing as it becomes clear that Nikaidou, somehow, can manipulate other people's chakra. She would be more alarmed, but she's fairly certain Nikaidou can only affect others to a limited extent.

And because it's important to gather as much data as possible, Sakura decides to observe Hinamori's light show once again.

"Nikaidou isn't the only one," she surmises out loud, realizing how stupid she had been this entire time. Her mind works furiously against itself. "He manipulates them, yes, maybe even brings out these so called X Eggs… but Hinamori can change them back."

For the first time in months, Sakura feels a sense of interest beginning to stir in her mind.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

The night chases after the dying sun on a Tuesday evening, as Sakura walks back from another session with Watanabe. Her shoulders ache from the strain of constant movement and she sends a soothing wave of chakra across her muscles.

She sticks to the brightly lit sidewalks, not exactly afraid, but cautious of the city's darker parts. Passing by heavily decorated stores (in preparation for the upcoming holidays), she stops short right as a tiny figure flies right by her nose.

Without another thought, her hand reaches out and latches onto the little figure.

"I know you," Sakura says as one corner of her lips lift upward. Cat-boy's Guardian Character vibrates within her palm and her smile becomes more pronounced. "Aren't you a little far from home?"

"I did nothing wrong, nya!" the tiny character squirms in her grasp. "Let me go, let me go!"

"We should interrogate him," Yuuki bradishes a kunai and brings it close to her peer's face. "He was trying to attack you."

"No, no, I wasn't doing that!" the cat protests, its tail moving erratically from side to side. "I didn't see you, really, nya!"

It raises a paw to cover its eyes and whimpers, "Please don't kill me!"

With a frown, she lets go and says, "I wouldn't do that. What kind of person do you take me for?"

(then, in a voice far too interested for comfort, she wonders if one could actually murder Guardian Characters).

"A ghost," the cat blurts out; and, perhaps sensing her not-so-innocent thoughts, he flies swiftly to a safer area, far away from her hands. "Or, or a ninja!"

"Well then," Sakura turns to Yuuki, a little pleased at the given assumption. "I guess we can let this slide. Just this one time."

Yuuki snorts, but obligingly puts away her weapons.

"You should give your friend a reminder," Sakura tells the relieved Guardian Character. She bares her teeth suddenly and is rewarded with a terrified shriek. "He really needs to control his pets."

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

It is entirely coincidental when Sakura encounters one of Hotori's infamous tirades.

"Bow before me, you peasants!" the young boy bellows, slamming his foot onto the chair next to him. "Or face my royal wrath!"

"Kneel for your king!" Hotori's Guardian Character, Kiseki, roars in conjunction, brandishing his crowned staff like a mighty sword.

"Oh my," Sakura brings a hand to her cheek, unable to completely remove the interest from her voice. "Am I interrupting?"

She presents the stack of papers from the teacher's lounge and adds, "I was sent as a gopher."

"Oh, thank you, Haruno-san," Fujisaki smiles graciously, like a queen pardoning her subjects, when the other Guardians freeze momentarily at Sakura's appearance. "That was very kind of you."

Sakura nearly lets her lips twist downwards. One could hardly call this kindness, and she knows all too well her struggles with the topic.

"It was no problem," Sakura says, irony tinting her words as she shrugs. She watches with a glint in her eyes as Hotori becomes even more insufferable, forcing Fujisaki to try and calm him down.

"Um, I'll take those, Haruno-san," apparently the only one brave enough to approach her, Hinamori awkwardly accepts the documents, her three Guardian characters hovering cautiously behind. A moment later, Miki, the blue one, floats a little closer in hidden interest.

Feeling rather generous (and perhaps still leaving a twinge of shame in her chest), Sakura gives them both a warm smile.

"Thanks, Hinamori-san," she says to the girl's flushed face. In the back, Hotori finally returns to his senses, breathing a weary sigh. Almost deviously, Sakura pitches her voice a little higher and adds, "I've noticed you're quite reliable - almost like a prince, wouldn't you say?"

"Oh no," Miki then says as Yuuki slaps her forehead in disbelief.

Oh yes, Sakura thinks, taking in the glorious show of Hotori flaring up once again, much to the other Guardians' alarm.

"I hope Hotori-san is okay," she then tells the panicking Hinamori, quite insincerely. "He seems a bit more energetic than usual."

And then she takes her leave, filing a note in the back of her head that vocal triggers are legitimate factors she'll have to consider as well.

(Unbeknownst to her, in the wake of the chaos left behind, Souma Kukai sits despondently in a corner as his Guardian Character pats his head solemnly in comfort).

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

One night, during a meal with takeout, she is asked a rather interesting question.

"Christmas tree?" Sakura takes another bite of her Chinese food, savoring the crunch of fried chicken. "What for?"

"Well, for Christmas, of course!" Nikaidou smiles, eyes creasing as his voice reaches an all time new level of high. "Don't all kids want one for their home?"

He sends a casual glance over to where Yuuki sits patiently at the dinner table, all too overt and not quite subtle enough.

"Hmm," Sakura hums, her chopsticks in one hand and her chin resting on the other. Her eyes trail over his innocent expression and, almost like a tiger too eager for its prey, she asks slyly, "Is that what you think I am, oji-san? A kid?"

Genuine surprise flickers through Nikaidou face before it shutters away completely, hidden under a beaming smile.

"What else could you possibly be, Sakura-chan?" he chuckles, swallowing another mouthful of noodles.

Indeed, Sakura thinks, giving her own pleasant smile as Nikaidou continues to speak, what else could I possibly be?

She's not an expert on microexpressions (that field is entirely left to Ino), but Sakura knows all too well the common tells of the human face. A hint of mocking scorn, a sea of brimming curiosity, and -

You really do think I'm just a child, Sakura realizes as Nikaidou forms his words in a subtly patronizing way. You like the control and you can't possibly imagine it being in someone else's hands. In a child's hands.

Well, that makes sense of course. A bachelor in an empty home with malicious intentions working alongside others like him?

This could go well, or terribly wrong, Sakura thinks with a plastered on, bright expression. She turns to Nikaidou and tells him a Christmas tree would be a wonderful idea after all.

"Right? I knew you'd agree," Nikaidou says, immensely pleased for some strange, strange reason.

You just got moved up my priority list, young Nikaidou, Sakura inhales more of her food, tossing some pieces to Yuuki at a speed far to fast for Nikaidou to catch. In retrospect, she should have focused on the man's intentions far earlier on but - well. Hindsight is twenty-twenty.

Just you wait, she thinks, eyes closely following the man's every move, every little speech pattern and gesture. I'm going to enjoy unraveling you till you're nothing more than a thin piece of string.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

In the dim, fading light of the early afternoon, Sakura exits the high school sector of Seiyo Academy with a wide yawn.

"You spent too much time in there again," Yuuki says to her, nearly scolding in her nature.

Sakura shrugs at the lecture because it's not as if there's anyone to miss her if she stays out too late. For all his claims of acting as a responsible guardian, Nikaidou is far too lax about Sakura's whereabouts in the daytime.

"I'm going to pick up more snacks," she then says, laughing at Yuuki's look of disgust. "What? It'll be a long few weeks and you know it."

"Stake outs are not an excuse to eat sweets," Yuuki huffs as Sakura waves off the words. She's one of the finest medics Konoha has ever seen. High cholesterol and other medical problems will never be a problem for her.

Their delightful banter continues even as they pass by the elementary sector of the school, only interrupted when they nearly bump into the famous Royal Court.

"Good afternoon, Haruno-san," Hotori begins after a stuttering halt. The other Royal Guardians murmur their respective greetings, although one remains silent.

"Good afternoon," Sakura repeats, eyes moving from one child to the next. She allows her features to soften, and smiles when the others imperceptibly respond to the lack of threat.

To her far left, Hinamori vibrates nervously, hands clenching open and closed. Eyebrows raising, Sakura asks, "Is everything alright?"

Hotori and Fujisaki immediately send each other looks, even as the youngest, Yuiki, hesitantly pats Souma's shoulders. The boy, as always, is unnaturally pale at the sight of her.

(Now that is a problem Sakura isn't too sure she should even address. For some reason, Souma is incredibly sensitive to chakra and thus, poorly reacted to the tiny slip of killing intent Sakura had released months prior.

At this point, it's becoming an entirely whole other complication, and she's tempted to just let it pass without another word).

"It's Su," Hinamori rushes to say, her eyes constantly moving to the streets around them. "She went missing last night and, well, we're trying to look for her."

"You lost your Guardian Character?" Sakura tilts her head and cynically thinks that this is what happens when you have more than one. "If you would like, I'd be more than happy to help. Another set of eyes could be useful."

"It would be great if you could!" Hotori immediately says, incredibly pleased at Sakura's sudden, placid offer. His words do, however, completely drown out Souma's weak cry of - "Don't do it!"

"Yes, thank you, Haruno-san," Hinamori quickly adds on, shifting her weight for side to side. She gives a worried, but appreciative smile. "You're nicer than you look."

When Sakura blinks at that, Hinamori lets out a little gasp, realizing what had just been said.

"Let's get started then, shall we?" Fujisaki, ever so the queen of tact, interrupts gently. "Splitting up will be for the best."

Since the other Guardian Characters had long since departed on their own search, Yuuki joins Sakura in their journey east, weaving through apartment complexes and arriving at a damp, narrow alley.

"You just want to test out your senses," the little ninja accuses as they walk past several dumpsters.

"And I'm helping a young girl out," Sakura answers back pointedly. "It's a win for everyone."

Rolling her eyes, Yuuki sends out a flash of intricate, bubbling chakra and Sakura accepts in easily enough.

"As much as I hate to say it, I have no idea how this actually works," Sakura admits with defeat, fingers brushing past the headband suddenly resting on her forehead. "I mean, chakra manifesting into solids? Real life, physically detailed solids? This Character Change should be inherently impossible."

"Let's go," Yuuki says, dutifully ignoring Sakura's academically based whine. "There's not much light left in the day."

"Spoilsport," Sakura grumbles in return, a hidden smile forming as her hands gently cradle the temporary forehead protector. At the center of the cool metal, she could easily trace the carved outline of a leaf - an exact replica of the protectors back at Konohagakure.

In some ways, it feels like coming home.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

The Character Change doesn't do much beyond her usual capabilities. Perhaps it is because she can utilize her chakra in ways no other child can, but the benefits are still quite rewarding.

Sakura can't really track Hinamori's Guardian Character down by normal methods - that is, by chakra signature, scent, or any other means. Hinamori's own signature is also faint at best and extremely volatile at worst. However, Guardian Characters do have a distinct mark on their systems that can be easily spotted if close enough.

The extra boost does not give her an extensive range for her senses. It does, however, grant a great amount of strength and speed, nearly to the ability fifteen-year-old Sakura may have had.

It's strangely invigorating, even if it isn't what she had in her older body; regardless, she relishes the freedom and ability to physically support the chakra reserves she still has.

"The next seven streets ahead are empty," Yuuki says to her, efficient as always as they fly past the rooftops with ease. The staggering difference between each building was a challenge at first, but practice and the added strength is more than enough to overcome it.

"And the ones more south are already covered by the other children," Sakura hums, abruptly changing courses to go north. She leaps from one side of the street to another, the immense distance between the two forcing her to land on a building's front side rather than the roof itself.

It's standard to hold a genjutsu up in civilian areas and so she does it without problem, immediately running around the building and continuing at a sideways angle.

They are rapidly approaching the main park of the city, its location in the central area near Nikaidou's house. Recognizing a familiar signature close by, Sakura crouches down and pushes off the building, sending her flying towards the center of the park.

She releases the genjutsu as her feet land solidly on the pavement below, and without preamble, she says, "I see you haven't had much luck either."

Bloodcurdling screams fill the air and, with far too innocent eyes, Sakura peers at Hinamori lying prone on the ground.

"Is something wrong, Hinamori-san?" prodding the girl lying lifelessly on the floor, Sakura hums. "Oh dear…"

"You killed her!" Hinamori's Guardian Character, Ran, wails after a moment of recovery. "She's dead, you killed her!"

(In the background, a panting Miki gratefully accepts Yuuki's offered cup of water).

"If she's dead, you'd be gone by now," Sakura says a bit heartlessly, lifting Hinamori easily into her arms. Sending a diagnostic jutsu through the girl just to be sure, she tells the two Guardian Characters. "She's passed out from shock. She'll come to in a few minutes."

("Wow, so cool," Miki whispers, stars in her eyes and hands on her cheeks as Ran watches on dumbly).

A sudden surge of chakra flares from the other side of the park and simultaneously, both Yuuki and Sakura swing their heads to that direction.

"Hmm, it's not Hinamori's signature but," Sakura shifts Hinamori into a more comfortable position and bursts into a sprint. Yuuki follows behind not a moment after, leaving the other two scrambling to catch up.

A minute later and nearly reaching the other side, a high-pitched voice rings through the air. At the sound, Hinamori's eyes flutter open, mumbling, "S-Su…?"

"Oh, you're awake. That's good," Sakura says casually, as Hinamori takes in the wind blowing through their faces and the trees running past them in a hazy blur.

"Haruno-san?" Hinamori shrieks after a beat of silence. "What the, ohmygod where am I?"

"And what is with this position?" the girl looks down at Sakura's arms in panic. "You're not the person I wanted this to happen withhhh - !"

"You fainted," Sakura shrugs while the girl continues to weeps theatrically into her hands. "Besides, I brought you to your Guardian Character, so I don't see the problem."

"My what - you mean, Su?"

Without bothering to answer, Sakura arrives at the intended location - turning around a hedge to arrive at a long stairway leading to a concert stage.

"Aaak!" Hinamori cries out in a strangled voice when she finds herself unceremoniously dropped on the grass. "What was that for - oh! Su!"

"A happy ending is always nice to see," Sakura says to Yuuki as Hinamori rushes to the her Guardian Character. Alongside the little girl stands a white, fluffy dog, its hackles raised as it stares down a young, blonde girl and -

"Cat-boy," Sakura purrs nearly unironically. Almost at the same time she comes into view, she catches the teen's eye and smiles with all of her teeth.

Appropriately, the boy takes a halting step back.

(Even better, cat-boy's Guardian Character releases a high-pitched keen before hiding behind cat-boy's sleeve).

"Ikuto…?" the young girl turns her scowl to Sakura. An X Egg rests in the palm of her hand and a pair of jagged wings spread from her back. Her fingers clench the egg dangerously, digging harshly into the shell. "Who are you?"

Sakura does not even bother deigning that question with a response and instead, turns to Hinamori, a determined smile on the girl's lips.

"Oh!" Sakura gives a pleased look in return, pulling out a pair of shades from god knows where. Next to her, Yuuki does the same, a similar, tiny pair of sunglasses resting on her face. "I get a front row seat? Fantastic."

"The Humpty Lock…" the other blonde girl whispers, too soft for a normal person to hear, but as clear as day for Sakura.

So it's the locket that gives her powers? Sakura watches as Hinamori begins to gradually grow brighter. It's an interesting theory, because while rare, chakra stones do exist, and there are certainly several objects that could hold and release the energy as well.

It would explain how Hinamori is the only one to really "transform," so to speak, while the others wait on the sidelines.

Then again, the world does seem to enjoy aligning the stars conveniently for Hinamori, Sakura notes as she counts seconds it takes for the girl to finish.

At the end of the transformation, Sakura turns to look at the other pair staring blankly at the magically turned Hinamori, and thinks uncharitably: you had forty-five seconds to do literally anything and this is what you do?

Sakura shakes her head at the pair full of nothing but hot air and unimpressive antagonism.

As per usual, Hinamori nicely wraps everything up her disgustingly sticky solution and with creased eyes, Sakura carefully watches the other teenagers take their leave. Cat-boy sends one quick glance behind him before quickly walking away, and Sakura's smile becomes even more pronounced.

"Well, I'm glad everything worked out," she then tells Hinamori after the girl de-transforms (god, honestly, exactly when did this world become an anime for shoujo magical girls?). "I'm late to my next meeting, but it's good you found her safely."

Already, she can hear the calls of Hinamori's other friends and she is not looking forward to a repeat performance with Souma.

Hinamori starts before giving a strangely shy smile.

"Thank you, Haruno-san," a warm red flooding her cheeks as she gives a short bow. "You really did help a lot and I, um, really do appreciate it."

"You're very welcome," Sakura answers, finding it easy to lift the corners of her mouth. Turning to the girl's Guardian Characters, particularly to Su, she says wryly. "I would be careful from now on."

Then, with a firm salute from Yuuki, both Sakura and her Guardian character vanish from sight, disappearing into the setting sun.

("So cool…" both Miki and Ran say in hushed voices, much to Hinamori's alarm).

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

She is resting on the rooftop of Nikaidou's house, past the hours of twilight, where the brightest lights come from the tall poles on the streets.

"The stars there are so bright," she tells Yuuki, as they lay down on the shingles. The rough wood digs through the fabric of her second-hand pajamas but she can hardly feel a thing. A part of her is still there, in Konoha, where the constellations are blinding and still. "They fill the sky like unmeasurable dots and when I was little, I used to try to count them with my parents."

"Do you miss it?" Yuuki asks quietly, her breaths hardly audible but her chakra signature as bright as those same stars.

Did she miss what? Watching the stars, or the stars themselves? The world they came from or the village she counted them in?

"Every day," Sakura answers after a long pause. Staring up at the blank sky, she wonders if she'll ever see it again. "With each breath I take, Yuuki. Every single day."

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

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I think this is the longest chapter "a hop step jump away" has ever had o.o

That's pretty amazing, considering I started this fic years ago just for shits and giggles. Even worse, I think this chapter has the most crack I've ever seen in this story so - wow, go figure.

In this chapter, we see Sakura doing her best to Make Things Better between her and the Royal Guardians and only doing it Half Well. Instead she ends up choosing a (only slightly) better way to express herself by trolling them in the Worst Way Possible.

Still, it's all about Sakura discovering new chakra theories and deciding to focus on the world in front of her, rather than chasing pipe dreams as of now.

Hope you all enjoyed this chapter (you all, as in anyone who's still vaguely interested in this fic which is an alarming number) - let me know your thoughts!

- SE