Belong

Part 3: Words

"What were you guys talking about?" Sakura asks

"Nothing important. I should get going. See you later"

"Idiot!"

She was mad at herself or mad at him.. maybe? She couldn't figure it out, it was frustrating but she let it go before it could drive her insane. But she still wondered, did he really stay by her side the whole time while she was out? The chilly wind that was no longer a bother her and so was the the ground beneath her. She walked in her room, put on her shoes, took her fan aggressively, put on her head band and that's when she walked in;

"Are you okay?" Sakura asks

"Yeah. I'm fine!"

"Doesn't seem like it. Tell me what's going on, you seem mad about something"

"Nothing. Excuse me!" She says walking past Sakura

"Wait!"

She stopped

"You're going to have headaches every now and then. Every time you do, take this"

She hands her some pills

"Thanks."

The next day was bright and beautiful, even though the village was strictly surrounded by trees hence it's name, there was still something beautiful about it. The positive energy, you could feel it in the air. Even the people had beautiful smiles on their faces perhaps that was it, what made the village beautiful, the people. They walked through the village to the guarding post, both in silence but they both seemed comfortable with it.

It seemed like everywhere she was except her home village was beautiful, first it was the Leaf now here. From there she knew she needed a change of scenery. Move somewhere else, start over. But how would she do that? She can't just up and leave. She can't just leave her little brothers, Kankuro and Gaara alone. Maybe they'd be okay, she thought. Gaara is the Kazekage after all, they're both practically adults so they don't really need to be treated like kids anymore but leaving them.. Would she really do that? Did she really have the courage to leave her home and the only family she's left with? It's not forever, right? She'd still visit sometimes, she thought. So where would she go? Where would she move to?

So many questions.

"What's wrong?" Shikamaru asks, pulling her out of her thoughts but she didn't say anything nor did  she even look him, she just ignored him, made it seem as if he didn't say anything.

"Argh! Girls, they're all the same. Why did I bother to even ask?"

"Excuse me!" A brown long haired female about Temari's height called out jogging towards their direction "Sorry to bother you, it's just that my little sister made this for you"

"For me?" Temari asks, the girl hands out a charming bracelet with a flower on it

"Yes. She's very shy so I decided to give it you myself. There she is" She points out to a little girl in a distance

"Why me?"

"Because she  knows you're the one who got hurt when the enemy attacked. So she made you this" The girl states

"Thanks but.. I don't really wear these" Temari states

"Please.. At least except it. It's a thank you for keeping our village safe. Of course, she's also greatful to all of you, so are the rest of us" She says, in Shikamaru's direction

"It's okay. No need to thank us"

"I'm Misora" She introduces "Mind if I accompany you?"

"Of course not." Shikamaru says, with his charming signature smile

The girl somewhat reminded her of Michiko, she barely knew Misora but she could tell there was something that makes both of them almost the same. Was it the warm smile she wears? That warm smile she often sees on her Michiko, she missed her. Missed how she would tell her to smile more, to laugh at least if not every day but at least every once in a while.  She missed how Michiko would always try to uplift her mood which she would at times but in the end would still go back to her now normal sunless state. How she wished she'd be truly happy again and all the negative and suffocating feelings and emotions would just disappear. Sometimes she'd cry herself to sleep. When she's alone that's what happens, she snaps, at least that's what used to happen, it's been a while since she's cried to sleep

All these people around her, Misora too. They live in one of the unfortunate villages, there's limited resources, they're vulnerable to rogue Shinobi and other criminals and they get attacked too apparently, so how were they able to stay so cheerful?.

"Misora, why are the people of this village always... happy?" She finally asks

"... It's how we've always been. My mother always says "A positive mindset brings positive things." That's what she always tells my little sister too. As people we have to always stay positive so that we can overcome adversities. That's just how the people live here. We don't hold grudges or fight each other. We don't hold on to the past, we learn from it. That's why this village is so peaceful despite being attacked by outsiders sometimes. This may not be a big village but we're content with what we got. That's why everybody is always happy and smiling."

'We don't hold on to the past'

The words echoed in her mind, almost making her believe Misora said them to spite her but she was right and she knew it. Maybe this is it, maybe she'd move here, it's the perfect place for her. She thought.

______________________________________

Unravel-ken: "Even unhappy people can have happy moments." -NF