Memories Back Then

2

Chapter 2

Promise

I wonder if that boy really was going to help replace that barrette. Sakura thought swinging alone on the swing set awaiting for the raven haired boy that she met only yesterday to return. But what if he forgot about me like the rest? The little girl stared down at her feet letting her pink hair shield her face from the world around her.

"SAKURA!" She heard someone scream. There was only one person that screamed her name to greet her and he was dragged away an hour ago by his 'Red Hot-Blooded Habanero' mother.

She looked up to see Sasuke running towards her with a small jade green gift box. He ran all the way to her panting for air when he finally reached her.

"Here." He said in between pants as he handed her the green box. Sakura looked at him surprised before tearing into the box and staring into the box in disbelief. The pink haired girl didn't know what to do but throw herself onto the raven haired boy.

"Thank you, thank you Sasuke!" Sakura whispered into his ear letting tears swell in her eyes.

Sasuke sat there frozen before returning the hug with a smile. "It was nothing, me and my brother went straight to the store after we dropped you off! I hope its like the first one."

"It is, now my mommy won't get mad." She said smiling happily wiping away her tears staring down at the barrette.

"Good. Here let me put it on you." Sasuke offered taking the firefly barrette from her hands then standing up and walked behind her. He gentely ran his hands through her hair and took a good amount of hair back before binding it back with the barrette. "There your beautiful again."

Sakura just blushed at the comment and sat there hugging her knees to her chest. Sasuke sat beside her and examined the girl that he came across just yesterday. She wore a frilly green dress, that almost matched her eyes, it had fireflies at the hem it was paired with white sandals. She has long pink hair passed her shoulder blades that smelled like cherry blossoms every time Sakura moved her head. Sasuke blushed noticing the little details about Sakura that he didn't notice before.

Sakura peeked through her hair and watched Sasuke look towards the sky. He looked so mature for his age, while all the other boy acted like a bunch of weirdos in Sakura's opinion. He wore a dark blue t-shirt ,that had some sort of red and white fan on his back ,and khaki shorts with a pair of dark blue sneakers to match. His hair was styled up into what resembled a chicken butt, his hair looked black from afar but up close it looked to be tinted blue. His face looked like a porcelain doll with distinct features and black coal eyes that weren't cold as they were meant to be.

They sat in comfortable silence not being bothered be each others presence. It was an hour before the skies were suppose to get dark. Sasuke knew that his brother would come looking for him soon but he didn't want to leave Sakura. From the moment he saw her held prisoner in that group of girl's hands he felt as if he needed to protect her.

"You know Sakura, if those girls ever come across you again I'll protect you from them!" Sasuke proclaimed jabbing his thumb towards his direction while giving the pink haired girl a goofy smile. He earned a giggle from the girl who smiled at him.

"Like a shinobi who protects their village?" Sakura asked who soon became embarrassed by her choice of words.

"More like a shinobi protecting the princess." Sasuke said. "I didn't know you like ninjas."

"I like playing ninja with my friends. I'm also pretending to be the most strongest kunoichi in all the land." Sakura stated proudly pumping her hand into the air.

"Not as powerful as me! I'm an avenger!" Sasuke said leaping up in a heroic fashion before covering his face with his arm in a mysterious fashion.

Sakura just giggled at his antics before Sasuke kneeled back down beside her laughing to himself.

"Let's promise to be best friends from now to forever Sakura! I'll never let anyone hurt you." Sasuke looked at the girl who only smiled at his words.

"You have to pinky promise Sasuke!" Sakura pouted as she crossed her arms over her chest. The raven haired boy extended his left pinky out to her.

"I, Sasuke Uchiha, promise to be Sakura Haruno's best friend and protect her as the shinobi I am." Sasuke said sternly trying to make his eight year old face seem more serious.

"I, Sakura Haruno, promise to be Sasuke Uchiha's best friends and stay by his side through anything like the kunoichi that I am." Sakura then extended our her right pinky and wrapped it around Sasuke's. "Ima hold you to your promise Uchiha!"

"I'll hold you to it too Haruno!" Sasuke said with a smile. "I won't forget this."

Sasuke looked toward the sky and noticed the sun going down.

"I think we'll have to go soon. My brother is going to be looking for me soon."

"I wish we could play a little longer." Sakura said getting sad at the thought.

"Don't worry Sakura I have a plan! I'll get Itachi to take me to your house and then will go to my house and play ninja till we have to take you home." Sasuke said proudly thinking its the most cleaverest idea in the world.

"Ooh ok, I'll tell my mommy when I get home then." Sakura said clapping her hands happily.

From their place at the swing set there came a rustling sound from the bushes that were near by. Sasuke came towards the pink haired girl and shielded her while Sakura peered over the raven haired boy's shoulders curiously. The rustling ceased as a figure came into view, making Sasuke step into a fighting stance with his instincts running.

"There you are Sasuke. I been looking everywhere for you." The figure spoke calmly emerging from the bush.

"Itachi! You scared us." The raven haired boy exclaimed putting his defenses down once again.

"I was only toying with you little brother." Itachi smiled. "Now let's go. Are we walking Sakura home again?"

Sasuke looked toward Sakura who nodded shyly before the boy nodded toward his brother in response.

"Lets get moving then." The oldest Uchiha brother said before walking ahead of the two kids.

"Come on Sakura." Sasuke said before grabbing a hold of Sakura's hand. The pink haired girl blushed madly following suit after the boy still wondering how they came to cross paths.