Something Better Than A Kiss

Chapter 2

Sakura's POV

I take a good look at my apartment from 25 feet. The rebuilding is almost done, just a little bit of painting should make it as good as new. It's a 3-story building with 15 apartment doors. It's residence isn't big, just a couple of families and other ninjas. It isn't noisy either, which makes it perfect for me. As I get closer to my home, I feel the more and more dislike to end the day. I've never felt this in a long time and I actually missed it. All my duty at the hospital and all the missions made me forget what it is to unwind. Maybe I should take a walk for a while, or maybe go to my favorite place in the Leaf Village. I walk past my apartment, the Yamanaka's flower shop, the weapon store, the Academy that held all my memories as a kid, past the training grounds where Kakashi-sensei always comes in late, and finally arrive at the place only I can go to. Not many people go in this place because of a ln old hag's legend. It was a story of a young man and his best friend.

The young man's name was Sigan. Sigan was always a mysterious person, probably because he was so silent and he always ignored everybody, not until Yazuga became his only friend, his best friend. One day, they say, the two went out on a mission and stopped to the place where I am standing right now to take a rest. Yazuga left to bathe in the nearby lake while Sigan was left alone with a bonfire. Then suddenly, enemies from the South came to slaughter the two high-ranked ninjas. But the two were outnumbered, that's for sure. It was a top secret mission so they didn't expect anyone to know their whereabouts. They both fought desperately but also, they promised one thing to each other. That if one of them dies, the other shall abandon the dead and try to go back to the North to report the intel. Their enemies were strong anbu. They both know for sure, they were no match to them. There was blood everywhere. Wound opened and bruises took form. The wind blew hard and then a lightning user from the anbu ended Yazuga's life. Sigan's mystery exploded. His hatred to the world was overflowing. He was his only friend and yet he was murdered. He was very furious. Little did the anbu forces know that he was the three-tails' Jinchuriki. He killed all of them, turned away from the mission, from the world he knew. Sigan cursed this place. He called it hell, a place of hatred.

The elder's legend tells us that anyone that goes here shall experience their own hell.

For me, it was totally different. This place is where I can find peace. But for them, this is a place where one shouldn't be going to. I look at the metal fence behind me and tell myself that they don't know what they're talking about.

I sit down by the clean lake where a single enormous tree stands tall. I place my weight on the tree and think about the Sakura I should be. Back when I was a little kid, I already dreamed of my ultimate crush, Sasuke Uchiha. His coolness overflew in my eyes. I aspired to be a great ninja just to make him think that I am worth his attention but I didn't want to be a great ninja because it has been my dream. Sometimes, U reall hate myself for it. I was such a fool for always thinking about him.. Maybe it's time to dream for myself so that I can face a fight standing alone. No more Sasuke, no more love. Just dreams, just take opportunities.

I take a deep breath to sink it all in. Yeah, I'll just do that. Beside, I don't think Sasuke can possibly love any girl.

I close my eyes as the breeze gets colder. I think of staying here for a while, or maybe I can take a short nap just to relax before I finally go to sleep at my apartment.

I sigh to myself.

If I nap here, I'll probably wake up in the morning. So I try to think abour something else fun. Aha! A bath will do! I immediately put my fingers into the lake to check its temperature. It's a bit cold, but I like cold. So I take off my clothes and jump into the cold lake. The splashes of water touches the warm grass. I giggle. I could live in this place. I look into darkness again, to feel the heaven in this place and not the hell they were talking about. I am being lost in relaxation as I smile to myself.

All of a sudden, something bumped into my moment. My eyes open immediately. Something just brushed against my skin that made me almost jump out of the water. My brows get closer to each other in wonder. My eyes open wider rhis time when I saw who bumped to me.

"Aaaaackk!!" I scream and try so hard to get away. Damn it! I really need to get out of here but how?

He does nothing, his eyes wide open too but his left eye is red and swelling. I can't think of anything. I'm all naked here. I can't get out of the water with him looking. He can't either. Of all people in the world, why should it be him? Was he following me all this time? I'm so embarassed.

"Wha- what are you doing he-here?" i ask as my cheeks heat up.

"I- I wa-was just..." he stutters.

I point my index finger toward him. "Were you following me? How dare--"

"I wasn't" he says coldly. I fall silent. How am I going to get out of this awkwardness? And should he so know that I was here? He has excellent senses for heaven's sake!

So bottomline:

I am totally naked in 6 feet away from Sasuke Uchiha, he is too, and the water of thjs damn lake is the only thing between us.

"Uh okay so turn around and I'll get out of the water." I say. "No picking!"

"Whatever" he says flatly as he turns around.

I get out of the water in the flash. The cold air hits my skin and I shiver. I bend down to get my clothes and fvck!! They are all wet.

"Sakura, hurry up" he calls. I bite my lower lip. What am I going to do? The water must have went to my clothes when I jumped into the lake. Ugh Sakura how could you be so stupid. My heart races as I panic. Sasuke calls once more, "Are you done dressing up?"

I curse as I wear all my wet clothes. Who cares if they are wet anyway? I calm back, "Yeah". I reallt want to get out of here. Sasuke turns around to my direction.

"Why are your clothes all wet?" he asks, his brows furrows.

"Why so you care?" I retort and cross my arms.

"Tsk. I asked you a question. You shoukd answer me rather than giving a question back" he points out. "*Sigh*. You can wear my shirt right there. Get me my pants too" he says.

"Sasuke, I'm fine. I'm going home now" but even before I turn away, he argues again, "No, Sakura. You'll get cold."

I must say I am taken by surprise. Flushed by his words, I walk to the other side to get hus clother and realize, this must've been the longest conversation I had with Sasuke. Well we missed a lot of chances afterall.