FicWad

AN: As you visualize the following sequence in your head, eliminate all sound effects. Imagine a silent film – wherein the dialogues are inserted through title cards – except instead of black and white you can just picture it in a faded color scheme. Do this, until you read the lyrics of the song. You'll know when you're there.

-Sunday night-

Sakura and Sasori wandered along the stalls.

…

In a yakitori stand, they met Choji who was clad in a green yukata with butterfly prints. He was with a tanned girl wearing a black and grey diamond patterned yukata with a white obi. To Sakura's surprise, Choji introduced the girl as his girlfriend.

…

They saw Neji and Tenten – who aimed for a couple look with their matching blue and white yukatas – compete to see who is better at catching a goldfish while Hinata and her younger sister cheered them on. They were wearing a lavender yukata with dianthus prints and an orange yukata with goldfish prints respectively with matching yellow obis.

…

They found Lee – donning a green happi – manning a stall that sells plastic masks. His only customer was a tall boy – in his casual clothes – who wore his sun glasses over a bug inspired mask.

…

They approached a shooting gallery to say hi to Ino who happened to be with Shikamaru, Temari and Temari's younger brother

Ino wore a blue aster patterned yukata with a violet obi. Temari was wearing a black yukata embellished with ame patterns and a red obi while her younger brother – a boy with red hair and the same teal eyes as her – donned a maroon yukata. Shikamaru wore an oversized plain white t-shirt, beige short pants and a pair of summer sandals.

The two girls were relying on Shikamaru to win them a prize. Ino wanted the pig plushie made with an intricate floral fabric while Temari wanted the kamaitachi doll.

To their dismay Shikamaru could only win the very common tanuki doll.

Both girls weren't pleased with it so they ended up giving it to Temari's younger brother who immediately grew attached to it.

…

…

…

Ino walked towards Sakura as Temari was demanding shikamaru to try again.

{"Hey."}

Sakura gave Ino a weak smile.

{"Hey."}

{"So~ How's it going?"}

Sakura lowered her head unable to say anything.

{"I see."}

Ino completely understood her silence.

{"Well… Just remember that no matter what, I'll still be here for the both of you."}

…

A few moments later, Sasori walked passed Temari's younger brother who now held two tanuki dolls.

Temari decided to take matters into her own hand.

…

Sasori approached Sakura and Ino holding two plushies himself.

{"Oh my gosh! You did it!"}

Ino was very grateful to Sasori for winning her the pig.

{"Thank you so much! You're the best!"}

{"No problem."}

Sasori smiled at her then looked at Sakura.

{"Here."}

{"Thank you."}

Sakura accepted the other doll.

{"Er… why a snail?"}

-wondered Ino.

{"Actually it's a slug."}

-Sasori corrected her.

{"Okay. But… Why a slug?"}

{"The guy just gave it to me because I… snailed the shot!"}

-Sasori quipped

/{"Ba-dum-tss~"}/

Sakura beat an invisible drum.

Ino cringed at the deadpan humor.

…

After about a second the three of them broke into laughter.

…

{"Ino!"}

Temari called, looking a bit shamefaced.

{"I'm going to the yakisoba stall. You wanna come?"}

{"Yep! Wait for me!"}

Ino yelled back.

{"I'll see you guys around."}

-Ino waved goodbye at Sakura and Sasori before running off with Temari.

Sakura and Sasori then left Shikamaru and Temari's younger brother – who now held three tanuki dolls – to continue their leisurely stroll.

.

.

.

Sakura and Sasori came across Naruto, Karin and Sasuke at a takoyaki stand.

{"Sakura-chan?!"}

Naruto – who wore a dark grey yukata with and an orange obi – acknowledged her first.

{"Oh. You're with… 'him'."}

{"Naruto."}

-Sakura turned to him.

{"/Him/?"}

-Sasori raised an eyebrow.

{"And… Karin and Sasuke-kun are here too."}

-Sakura noted.

{"Told you we'd meet."}

Karin grinned at her. She was clad in a violet yukata with peony patterns and a purple obi.

{"Orochimaru-san let us take the day off. Well technically, it was so Sasuke has more time to care for his uncle at the hospital but Nurse Rin insisted we might as well take this chance to see the fireworks. She said, she also wanted to spend more time with Uncle, right Sasuke-kun?"}

Sasuke gave a weak nod. He was wearing a navy blue hooded vest over his white t-shirt, black capri pants and a pair of slip on sandals.

{"I… see."}

Sakura gave him a weak smile.

{"I heard your uncle is in recovery."}

{"Aa."}

{"That's good to hear."}

{"Aa."}

Sasuke then looked at Sasori.

{"Hey."}

Sasori greeted him nonchalantly.

Sasuke raised an eyebrow at him then glanced at Sakura.

Sakura put on a half-smile and shrugged.

{"So~"}

Naruto joined them holding a plate of steaming takoyaki.

{"Did you come to buy some Takoyaki?"}

{"Y-Yes."}

-answered Sakura as Sasori approached the takoyaki vendor.

{"How come you didn't get us some?"}

-Karin questioned Naruto.

{"Your date is right there. Ask him to buy it for you."}

-Naruto motioned for Sasuke.

Karin turned to Sasuke and pleaded.

{"Sasuke-kun. Can you you buy me some takoyaki?"}

Sasuke nodded then moved closer to the stand.

Naruto winked at Karin who smiled at him in gratitude.

Sakura look on at Sasuke and Sasori who found themselves in an awkward situation as they stood so close to each other while waiting for their turn to get served.

Sakura let out a sigh.

Naruto moved closer to her.

{"When did you get here?"}

{"We've been here a while. I saw everyone by the way."}

{"Really? I guess I'll go meet them too as soon as I make my escape from Sasuke. Gotta give these two some er… privacy, /if you know what I mean/."}

-Naruto grinned.

{"Oh. I… saw Hinata as well by the way."}

-Sakura quickly changed the subject.

{"Hinata-chan?"}

{"Yeah! She looked stunning in her yukata. You have to go see her in it!"}

{"Er… okay. Y-You look great in your yukata as well."}

{"Thanks."}

{"I gotta say… I missed the braids. Oh, I'm not saying I prefer the braids. The ponytail and even just… l-letting your hair down suits you too. You look good n-no matter how you wear your hair. You look good no matter what… to me… Sakura-chan."}

Naruto was acting timidly.

{"T-Thank you."}

{"Yeah. Well. I-I gotta go."}

-Naruto motioned for Sasori who was coming towards them.

{"Here you go."}

Sasori held the takoyaki towards her.

{"Thank you."}

Sakura picked up one of the toothpicks and helped herself to one takoyaki.

As Sakura was blowing on the takoyaki, Sasori glanced at Naruto who had joined Sasuke and Karin once again.

{"Who's that guy by the way?"}

{"Oh."}

Sakura had just put the steaming takoyaki inside her mouth. She fanned her mouth with the same hand holding the toothpick as she chewed.

{"T-That's…"}

Sasori looked back at Sakura and chuckled.

{"Finish that first."}

{"Uhm…"}

Sakura swallowed.

{"That's Naruto. Sasuke-kun's bestfriend and Karin's cousin and adopted brother."}

{"Is that so?"}

Sasori looked back at the three.

Karin was being demanding and wanted Sasuke to feed her. Naruto was obviously supporting Karin and insisting Sasuke to indulge her. Sasuke eventually got himself ready to feed Karin only to put the takoyaki inside Naruto's mouth.

Karin acted like Naruto stole his thunder while Naruto seemed to be pointing out the fact that his tongue was burned. Sasuke on the other hand was smirking.

{"That certainly puts him in a tight spot."}

-Sasori mumbled.

{"Hm?"}

Sakura pardoned.

{"N-Nothing."}

Sasori turned back to her.

{"Here have some more."}

{"Okay."}

Just as Sakura was about to take her second takoyaki, she glanced upon Sasuke who eventually gave in to Karin's request.

Sakura held the slug plushie tighter to her chest – her shift in mood did not go unnoticed by Sasori. She continued eating as she watched Karin chew her food like she just tasted heaven in her mouth.

Naruto said something to Sasuke then suddenly looked at her.

{"Sakura-chan!"}

Sasuke glanced at her as well.

Their eyes met and she quickly looked back at Naruto.

{"We're headed to the riverside now. Wanna go together?"}

-asked Naruto.

{"Erm~"}

{"It's fine. Let's go with them."}

-Sasori told her.

{"Okay."}

Sakura nodded.

{"We're coming!"}

-she yelled back at Naruto.

Sakura and Sasori followed behind the three as they made their way through the crowd.

The whole time, Sasori was observing Sakura as she was observing Karin and Sasuke's proximity.

.

.

.

Down by the riverside, their group met Ino's group with the addition of Choji and his girlfriend.

Ino called them over and they accepted her offer to share their spot.

Choji and her girlfriend occupied one blanket while Shikamaru (because he's lazy)/, Temari's brother /(due to his sister insisting) and the rest of the girls apart from Karin shared another blanket.

Shikamaru was lying down as if he was ready to take a nap. Beside him, sat Temari and her younger brother who still held the three tanukis. To their right, were Ino and Sakura holding their respective plushies.

Naruto was more than willing to take Karin's place beside Sakura as the girl was pretty much contented to stand beside Sasuke while holding onto his arm.

They stood behind Naruto and somewhere close to them stood Sasori.

Tenten suddenly came up to Naruto with the Hyuugas behind her.

After a series of greetings, Hinata and her younger sister replaced Naruto on the blanket.

Naruto was now standing near Karin and Sasuke while Neji and Tenten settled to stand behind Shikamaru and Temari.

Sasori moved further at the back.

A few moments later, the fireworks show began.

…

…

…

About a minute into the show, Sakura glanced back at Sasori who took the moment to look away from the fireworks to smile at her.

She smiled back.

A huge and bright explosion made her look at the sky again.

…

When Sakura looked back again, Sasori was gone.

{"Sasori?"}

Ino glanced at Sakura and looked back.

{"Excuse me for a moment."}

Sakura told Ino then stood up.

Everyone's attention turned to Sakura for a brief moment as she stood up but they eventually went back to watching the fireworks.

Sakura quickly put on her Zori and passed between Naruto and Karin.

{"Sakura-chan?"}

{"Sakura?"}

Sasuke also looked back at her as she hurriedly made her way through the people gathered in the area.

…

…

…

You promised me, we'd always be fine

Guess you lied

Cause now the whole world can hear our silence

And here we are, where we said we'd never be

You'd do anything for me

But how can you lift me up when you're on your knees?

It's not that I don't want you

It's just I don't know how

To love you like I used to

So intense and so profound

And if I could change my feelings

I would forfeit all my bones

Cause your love is worth a fortune

But my heart's already broke

You could never be second best

But second chances are hard to find

When you damaged everything I had left

And here we are, where we said we'd never go

And I know I've been so cold

But pushing you away is how I cope

It's not that I don't want you

It's just I don't know how

To love you like I used to

So intense and so profound

And if I could change my feelings

I would forfeit all my bones

Cause your love is worth a fortune

But my heart's already broke

And if beggars can't be choosers,

Then I'm begging you to choose

And if lovers can't be losers,

Why do I always end up (bruised?)

It's not that I don't want you

It's just I don't know how

To love you like I used to

So intense and so profound

And if I could change my feelings

I would forfeit all my bones

Cause your love is worth a fortune

Yeah your love is worth a fortune

Yeah and those hardest to love need it most

But my heart's already broke

(BROKE – Lauren Aquilina)

…

(6.4)

BROKE

/- Silence -/

"SASORI!"

Sasori turned around and saw Sakura running pass people to get to him.

He let out a sigh then smiled at her. "You came looking for me.", he told her as she was getting closer.

"Of course I looked for you!"Sakura stop to catch her breath as soon as she was in front of him."Don't go disappearing just like that!"

"That proves it. I really am a bad person." Sasori had his palm on his face. "It made me happy to know that my leaving had an effect on you."

Sakura moved closer to smack him on the chest. "Don't say something so sad!"

"Then allow me to say something else." Sasori held her hand to keep it planted on his chest.

Sakura nodded as she looked at him with sad eyes.

"But first…" Sasori let go of her hand. "…Close your eyes."

"Why.", questioned Sakura.

"Just do as I tell you."

Sakura scowled at him.

Sasori raised his hands. "I won't do anything funny I swear."

Sakura let out a sigh of defeat. She stood straight and closed her eyes.

…

She flinched as soon as she felt Sasori hugged her.

"No peeking.", murmured Sasori

Sakura stilled.

Sasori leaned and whispered in her ear.

…

…

…

Tears formed in Sakura's eyes.

…

…

…

Sasori drew himself back and gently brushed his thumbs over her eyes. "Don't open them yet."

He then wiped her tears and said; "Now I need you to count to twenty before you open them okay?"

Sakura nodded.

Sasori then started smoothing down her hair.

…

…

…

Sakura sighed heavily before opening her eyes.

She looked around but Sasori was nowhere in sight.

She then looked down at her hair that Sasori had undone.

The sound of the fireworks drew her attention and she looked up at the sky.

She let her ears be filled by the loud noises surrounding her and her eyes be captivated by the explosion of bright colors.

…

/"We've known each other since we were kids and… For as long as I can remember, I kept praising you and told you all the words that I knew you wanted to hear the most.

That's why… I was really confident that when it comes to you, I would win. /No matter what./

All I wanted was for you to see just how smart and beautiful you truly are. I wanted you to appreciate the good things about you that I love. And… that was really all I ever did. I focused on all the good things about you.

You've changed. /In a good way/. I saw it and I felt it. It's like… Little by little, you started to like even the parts of yourself that you use to hate. You've become braver and stronger and… /kinder/. You've become… far more beautiful than ever.

And…

It all happened in just the short while since he became a part of your life.

How can I possibly beat that?!"/

.

.

.

/Noir/

/./

/./

/./

{"I will always be grateful to you for loving me. But… you can never love me the way I want you to… because… you were never in-love with me."}

/./

/./

/./

{"The only person you ever truly fell in love with… was Sasuke."}

/./

/./

/./

/TBC/