Reflected Scars

MORE ON THE PLOT!!:

That last chapter was only half a dream see the alarm clock went off before he could finish it. So people, be warned when he falls asleep again … it isn’t going to be pretty. But it is going to be a few more chapters before that happens, and chapter titles will be named to, indicated.


Chapter 11

Long walk.


‘It’s been a few days since Sasuke-kun and I have had time alone. Usually Naruto is here being annoying, but this morning it’s just me and him.’ The pink hair ninja thought to herself as she stood waiting for their sensei and Naruto to arrive. Thanks to the amazing work form all the ninja in the village the day before the damage from the hurricane was now almost completely gone. Only the oddly deformed garbage cans and plastic bag stuck high on tree branches were left to remove. The warm breeze washed over the two students waiting at the bridge scented of flowers and sawdust.

Sakura looked over at her teammate and long time crush Sasuke as he stood motionless, eyes closed as they waited. Maybe she could chat with Sasuke for a while sense Naruto was taking his time this morning. She then rolled some ideas of conversation topics around in her mind before speaking.

“Hey Sasuke.” He opened one eye in her direction and waited for her to continue. “See any good movies lately?”

The sudden urge to slap herself was almost to much to refuse. ‘First chance I get to sit and chat with Sasuke and all I can ask him is, ‘seen any good movies lately?!’ Why the hell didn’t I just ask him about the weather?!? What the hell is my problem!! I use to be really good at this.’ Sakura sighed as Sasuke closed his one eye and went back to waiting. The sun rose soon silently in the horizon, as the two team members waited for their number to increase by one, and for their teacher to arrive.

*POOF!*

“YOU’RE!!!.... not Kakashi–sensei..” Sakura’s ritual morning accusation was cut short as the smoke cleared to reveal a green-spandex wearing man with thick eyebrows. He grinned spread from ear to ear hiding most of his face…except the eyebrows.

“And it’s a good thing I’m not too! I’m much better looking and stronger too! Ha ha ha ha ha!!” he laughed heartily for a moment before he was interrupted by Sasuke.

“Gai Sensei, why are you here?”

The older man snapped his fingers and puller out a piece of paper. “That’s right! The Hokage asked me to come tell you all that Kakashi is gone on a mission and won’t be back till after the holidays. So you’ll all get off early!” The man then entered into another healthy bout of laughter, before realizing something, “Hey aren’t you a man short?”

“Naruto isn’t here yet.” Sakura informed the green ninja turning and looking in the direction the loud blond usually came.

Guy scratched his head a moment then shrugged and turned to one of the post next to him on the small red bridge. “Alright then I’ll just tack this here. He’ll see it when he comes. Bye!”

*Poof.* And in a whirl of smoke he was gone again.

Sasuke turned and started to walk away. Morning sunlight casting his shadow on the ground in front of him, dancing on his feet.

“Sasuke…”

“Have fun. See you in a week.” He waved without looking back at her.

His eyes turn to the sky where the suns warm rays caressed his face. ‘Dope must have slept in.’ he though as he headed home to grab his pack and head out to camp early.

~*~*~*~*~*one hour later*~*~*~*~*~*~

A passing breeze rustles the white paper tacked to the post, as a pair of tired blue eyes reads and re-reads the scribbled words over and over again trying to make sense of it. Slowly he mumbles to works out loud to himself, his lips dry and cracked moved slowly as his voice reached his ears, “Kakashi sensei… has been assigned to a mission for the week… all training has been canceled till further notice…?”

“… Canceled….”

“… Canceled till further notice?”

Naruto once again rolled that information around his head. He knew, he knew what that meant, but it wasn’t clicking for some reason. Does that mean their gone somewhere? Why wasn’t Sakura or Sasuke there to meet him? Where did they go?

‘…next to the beach so I’m going to practice some water Ninjutsus. Well after I go swimming. It’s been so long since I’ve seen them, I can’t remember what they….’

‘That’s right, Sakura was going to visit family… and Sasuke was going camping… but that doesn’t explain why they’re not here!!’ Suddenly it clicked. No one is here because someone had come and told the others Kakashi wasn’t going to be here today so they left. But wait! He was here late today, so how long had everyone been gone? Did he just miss them or are they still in the village?! Maybe he could still catch one of them if he hurried.

Turning he bolted in the direction of Sakura’s house. Down the street he ran as fast as his legs would carry him. People were just blurs, and words were lost in the wind that swept by his ears. He slowed and came to a stop on her doorstep and peeked threw the window, only to see his tired looking reflection looking at him. She has gone. His shadow hung on the white door as he stood there silently. Inside his mind was screaming at him from every direction. Finally chousing a voice he turned away, biting his lip and ran down another street heading cross-town. Ignoring the world around he flew up the stairs and hammered on the door before halting and thinking about what he would say.

‘Hey Sasuke I’m having bad dreams. Can you help?’ ya right. That would earn him a queer look and the door slammed in his face. But he had no chance to think of something so he just waited for the door to open. And he waited. Then knocked louder. And waited… he knocked again, feeling the tightness in his throat increase along with his heart rate. Sasuke wasn’t answering the door. He was gone.

His feet moved his body back down the hall, down the stairs and out the apartment doors. Kakashi was gone, Sasuke was gone, Iruka, Konnohamaru, and Sakura were gone. Cool air ruffled his hair Naruto realized where he was. The bridge stood cold and empty like it had half an hour ago.

Wind blew the leaves around his feet as he looked around him. Finally the words escaped his lips,

“I’m alone.”


Enc chapter 11

Long walk…