Bottled Stars
Summary: Stars are too pretty to be admired from afar. NarutoSakura
drabble.
“That is the milky way, Naruto,” Sakura explained slowly, pointing to
the long stretch of white, dazzling stars above them. The black, gorgeous sky
looked like it was covered with a blanket of stars as the two ninjas gazed at
the stars, lying on top of the Hokage Mountain. Having Naruto back after his
three long years of intense training with his so-called pervert sensei, Sakura
heaved a long, drawn out sigh as she turned her head slightly to see the blonde
propping his head with his arms, staring into the peaceful night sky.
“…Ne, Naruto, how’s your training? Was it tough? I remembered training
with Hokage-sama…” Sakura gave an involuntary shudder. She definitely wouldn’t
want to remember those awful times…
Naruto twisted his head and scratched his chin, thinking hard. “Eh…
Well, we did training, I learned a few more jutsu and that pervert still did
his so-called ‘research’ sometimes!” Naruto frowned at his last words. Then he
could imagine a few women running after Jiraiya…
Sakura nodded and giggled at Naruto’s reaction. Yeah, he had grown
over the years.
“Ne, Sakura-chan?”
“Yes?”
“It’s your birthday coming up next week right? What would you want for
your birthday?” Naruto grinned mischievously.
“Well, I want the stars in the sky then, now that you asked!” Sakura
joked, flicking Naruto’s forehead lightly to earn a small pout from the blond
genin.
“Okay! And this time, I will keep to my promise because it’s my ninja
way!” Naruto yelled to the village below, standing up from his spot on the
fourth’s head sculpture. Naruto’s face fell immediately, looking crestfallen
after shouting those words. He regretted saying them out loud right away. He
had failed to keep the promise to Sakura about getting Sasuke back and now
this? Who is he trying to kid?
Noticing her old teammate’s miserable, sad expression, Sakura gave him a
reassuring smile. “Naruto, I know you will be able to stick to your words. I
believe in you.”
Although still looking a little gloomy, Naruto nodded mutely and
grinned. “Yeah, I know, Sakura-chan. Anyways, it’s getting late, I have to get
home and unpack some of my stuff…” He gave a little wave to Sakura and walked
towards the direction where they first came from.
Facing Naruto’s retreated back, Sakura called out, “And, Naruto?”
Naruto spun around when he heard Sakura’s words. “Sakura-chan?”
“We will bring back Sasuke together. It’s a promise,” Sakura said, a determined
glint blazed in her eyes. There wasn’t a suffix ‘kun’ after the name ‘Sasuke’.
Naruto gave a true, sincere grin. “Yeah. This time, if we have to drag
him back, we will!”
Sakura could only smile when he ran off in the night.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o
“There!” Naruto shoved a huge bottle that was decorated with a beautiful
lace that was tied onto the neck of it to Sakura. The pink kunoichi blinked in
surprise. “Happy Birthday, Sakura-chan!” Naruto was there, grinning as usual.
Sakura stared into the tiny, miniature glittery stars that were inside. Did
Naruto fold all these just for… me?
After a long moment that was accompanied with a pregnant silence, Naruto
looked a little dejected and he tried his best to mask his disappointment. “You…
Don’t like it?”
“N-no, Naruto, I love it!” Sakura blinked back a few tears and bit her
quivering lower lip. “I-It’s just that…” It’s beautiful, Naruto. But all
those years that I’ve treated you so badly… You still made an effort to make me
all these?
“That’s good to hear! Ah, Sakura-chan, are you crying?” Naruto glanced
at her; his face had a word ‘concern’ written on it. “Did I do anything to make
you cry?”
“N-no! I’m j-just happy that’s all…” Oh my, I’m stuttering!
Naruto sighed. “I thought you didn’t like it…”
Sakura laughed, giving Naruto a playful, light punch to Naruto’s
shoulder. “Baka!” The word came out, not filled with the venom and hurt like it
had last time.
Naruto grinned, scratching his head sheepishly. “Hehe… Sakura-chan, next
time, I will get real stars for you!”
The pink birthday girl flicked gently his forehead like yesterday. “I
love the way stars are up above in the sky for us to admire already, Naruto.”
Sakura proceeded to hug her teammate; the tears that were glistening in
her eyes before now came flowing in rivulets. The shocked blonde merely stroked
his crying friend on her head, unsure of what else to do.
I love the way you are, too, Naruto, was left
unsaid.
I don’t know how this idea pops up, but it did. Well, hope you enjoyed it nevertheless. Feedbacks and constructive criticisms will be appreciated.