What the New Year Brings

Disclaimer: I do not own "Naruto" or "No One" by Alicia Keys.

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Also, the small bit of info mentioned about the Japanese New Year was taken from Wikipedia.

Chapter 12-The First Dance

"I don't understand. How could you not?" Kakashi asks with a smirk, his one visible eye sparkling down at me.

"Had no reason to. When you know it's always going to be there, you just automatically put it off until you never do it at all. It's human nature to procrastinate." I say with an offhanded shrug of my shoulders.

"Never take things for granted, Sakura, even if you think it'll always be there. You'll only regret it when you wake up one day and find that it's gone."

"I know. It's just so easy to get lost in everyday life and forget."

"And yet, not taking things for granted is what breaks up that monotony in the first place. C'mon, Sakura. How could you miss out on all this after all these years?" He asks, looking out into the distance and prompting me to do the same.

I put down my jubako box filled with osechi (a traditional dish eaten on New Year's consisting mainly of seafood) and take my place next to him near the rock's edge.

I gotta admit, the man's got a point.

Looking out into the quiet, still night, we see all of Konohagakure spread out below us, sparkling like the stars hovering above in a sea of ink-black sky.

It's breathtaking.

"You're right, Kakashi. What was I thinking to miss out on something like this after all these years?"

We exchange smiles and stand close together in comfortable silence. Somehow I think our conversation isn't really about the view atop the Hokage Monument anymore, while somewhere off in the distance, a soft melody drifts through the air.

"Crazy kids. Can't keep their music down." Kakashi mumbles, but he's smiling down at me and his hand is outstretched in offer.

I smile back and silently take his hand in acceptance, letting him pull me into a slow dance, his hand resting low on my back and mine resting high up on his shoulder. But as for our joined hands, he doesn't hold them up in the air like you normally would while dancing. Instead, he rests them intimately close to his heart.

I just want you close
Where you can stay forever

I'm vaguely aware of us swaying to the music, our feet not really moving, but I'm distracted by other things, like the way he's looking at me now.

You can be sure
That it will only get better

It's the same way he was looking out on all of Konoha...

You and me together
Through the days and nights

Like he's never seen anything more beautiful...

I don't worry 'cause
Everything's gonna be alright

Like I'm something so valuable, that he'll never take me for granted.

People keep talking
They can say what they like

This is all new to me. I have been taken for granted before...

But all I know is everything's gonna be alright

And had my heart broken.

No one, no one, no one
Can get in the way of what I'm feeling

But right now he's only making my heart feel light and complete...

No one, no one, no one
Can get in the way of what I feel for you

And there's nowhere else and no one else I'd rather be with right now.

You, you
Can get in the way of what I feel for you

I can feel him pulling me close, closer than I already am. I let him.

When the rain is pouring down
And my heart is hurting

I rest my cheek against his chest breathing him in and taking in his warmth, our clasped hands held between our rapidly beating hearts...

You will always be around
This I know for certain

I feel him press his masked lips on the crown of my head and somehow it feels right. Everything feels right...

You and me together
Through the days and nights

I lift my eyes up to his again and his eye is still sparkling down at me, creased in a smile...

I don't worry 'cause
Everything's gonna be alright

I raise my hand up to his cheek and he puts his hand on top of mine, pressing it harder against him.

People keep talking
They can say what they like

Then he raises my other hand up to his other cheek, slowly making me pull down his mask...

But all I know is everything's gonna be alright

My breath is caught in my throat and my heart feels like it's beating impossibly fast. I don't really understand it because I've already seen his face before...

No one, no one, no one
Can get in the way of what I'm feeling

But then again, that may be the reason why...

No one, no one, no one
Can get in the way of what I feel for you

I was already falling for him before he showed me his face...

You, you
Can get in the way of what I feel

And now, looking at him looking very handsome and unbelievably young...

I know some people search the world
To find something like what we have

I'm falling even faster and harder than before...

I know people will try
Try to divide
Something so real

As he lowers his head down at the same time I lift mine up for a soft, lingering kiss, I know my fate has been sealed...

So 'til the end of time
I'm telling you that

I'm in love.

No one, no one, no one
Can get in the way of what I'm feeling

Hopelessly, recklessly, in love.

No one, no one, no one
Can get in the way of what I feel for you
Oh oh oh oh...

To be continued...