tampered | RP Log: Ongoing

RP Log: Ongoing

When; This afternoon
Rating; G
Characters; Haruno Sakura & Uzumaki Naruto.
Summary; Naruto and Sakura meet up at the carousel.
Log;

Just follow the ticking.

It wasn't hard for Uzumaki Naruto to find the carousel. That monotonous tick-tock-tick and the overall size of the thing gave it away, making it stand out like a sore thumb amongst the sea of people in the square. Sakura's pink head wasn't hard to pinpoint, either.

"SAKURA-CHYAAAN!" The blond-haired shinobi called out across the crowd even before he landed in front of her, prepared with his usual ear-to-ear grin. While he didn't exactly understand what had happened, or why they they both came to this place, he knew that everything would work out for the best. As long as he really was alive, he'd make sure of it.

"Hey, hey -- so where are we? How long have you been here? I just got here! There were strange people having a tea party or something over there, man, it was weird! And what's with this spinning thing?!" Naruto walked up to the carousel and eyed it suspiciously, not liking the feel of it one bit. "It makes too much noise!"

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Sakura was pretty confused herself, and her embarrassment grew as Naruto actually caught her blushing. Whoops. Stupid, Sakura! She'd never done anything like that around Naruto before. Then again, this Naruto was different. Older. But still the same, in a lot of ways. Confusing.

Shaking it off and pretending like nothing happened, she nodded in response. He was actually making a lot of sense. "Alright. We'll just see what happens, hmm?" she smiled hopefully.

"And if you two decide to fight to see whose stronger than the other, I'll kick both of your asses. Got it?" she added threateningly, raising her eyebrows and giving him a look. Sakura hated when the two of them fought. "It's crazy enough here without fifty million Naruto replications or Chidori's flying every which way," she muttered.

Eyes as wide as saucers, Naruto knew that Sakura did not hand out idle threats. Her beatings were worse than any of those he'd encountered by his enemies. Ever. He became so tiny and insignificant around her when she was like this, shrinking and making sure he put enough distance between them so that his bones remained in tact.

"I promise! I'm not gonna do anything! Honest!"

A dumb idea dawned on him then and he couldn't resist the urge to poke at her. "You were just blushing!" He pointed out, leaning in and grinning wide, almost lecherously, really. "You crushing on me like this, Sakura-chyaaaaan~?"

About to reply with one last (and mostly idle) threat, complete with waving a clenched fist around for emphasis, Sakura froze before the words could come out of her mouth. Crap, how did Naruto get so smart? Crush? No, no, no. That was ridiculous? Her, having a crush on this older, smarter and good looking version of Naruto? No way. Right?

Still, that wave of panic that washed over her was coupled with her now natural instinct to wallop the blonde idiot for teasing her like that. It looked like that raised hand was going to come in handy after all.

Not wanting to completely knock him off the carousel, she smacked him upside the head, HARD. So hard it stung her hand a bit, and she rubbed it grumpily when she finished. "Shut up, Naruto! I don't... have a crush on you!" she snapped, blushing even brighter now.

Naruto screeched in pain and surprise, though he really should have expected as much out of Sakura. Flinching away while cradling his injured head - God, did that sting! - he offered her a sheepish grin.

"Well, you're acting so weird around me, I couldn't help but jump to conclusions! Besides..."

Sombering up, Naruto straightened himself and looked down at the crowd below them. Not really seeing them, but it felt more comfortable than looking at Sakura at that point. "You asked me before, and I didn't really answer... I've always liked you. Just... one of those crazy things I've always been stubborn about, I guess. Even if it's futile, even if it's not meant to be... it's how I feel. But we're from different times and so much has happened, and I don't want to monopolize on anything or make things feel weird. I think I finally came to realize long ago that you liked Saskue..."

Besides that, her comment about not having a crush on him, as if it were the most dispicable thing in the world, hit a soft spot. He shot a thumbs-up and weak smile in her direction, nonetheless. "As long as Team Seven stays together, I don't really care what happens!"

Sakura had long since lost track of how many times she had found herself gaping at Naruto since they had first met up again. This one topped the cake. To know that someone had feelings like that for you was one thing. To hear them outloud, and from that person, was a completely different story. Sakura's hand was still stinging from whacking Naruto over the head, and for once, she actually felt guilty.

The look on his face was like a slap in itself. Words were stronger than physical blows sometimes, and all of her indignant anger from only seconds before deflated as fast as it had come. The fake smile and thumbs-up weren't helping, and neither was Naruto's obvious willingness to put his own feelings aside for her happiness. How many people were willing to do that for her? Not many.

Her stomach twisted in anxious knots while she nervously fiddled absently with her hands. "Right. As long as the team stays together," she replied, chewing on her bottom lip. "Though you know, Naruto. Things may not always be as futile as they seem...?" she trailed off, cheeks rosey pink again as she looked away, out over the crowd of people below them. Sakura still loved Sasuke of course, but these weird feelings... as unexplainable as they were, were there.

Maybe it had something to do with the crazy city they were in. Those drinks at that club? The carousel? So confusing. She looked back at Naruto, wondering if the idiot had caught on to what she had meant.

Whatever the reason, though Naruto could be pretty dense at times, he was not unable to pick up on what she meant. His eyes widened yet again and he kneeled down so that he could look at her face-to-face.

It was still so odd, being so much taller than her.

"What are you talking about?"

His tone was gentle, assuring her that no mockery whatsoever was implied behind it at all. He honestly wanted to know what she had meant by that. It wasn't all futile? Did Sakura harbor feelings of her own, for himself, and he just hadn't been aware of it?

"You can tell me the truth. Anything. I don't care, whatever you have to say. You'll always be my special girl, Sakura-chyan."

Thank god for an older, smarter Naruto, and damn him both at the same! Light colored eyelashes rested on blushing cheeks as Sakura looked down at him, her mouth suddenly very dry. She hadn't really expected him to catch on, or react this way, for that matter.

Why was he being so perfect? Stupid Naruto! Getting under her skin like that in every good and bad way possible, looking up at her with those gentle, warm blue eyes that were about to make her spill her guts out to him. Not to mention him callign her special. Crap.

Taking a deep shuddering breath, Sakura met his gaze firmly, regardless of the embarrassed flush on her cheeks and her trembling hands. "I just meant... that maybe your crush on me isn't as hopeless as you assume. Maybe I feel something for... you... too," she replied slowly, wanting to tell him and wanting to run away at the same time. This was Naruto, for goodness' sake! What the hell was she doing?

Fairly certain that it all might have been a dream - for that would explain a whole hell of a lot - Naruto resisted the urge to pinch himself after her bashful confession. It was the twist of all twists, the childhood crush that hated him witha passion in the beginning ultimately reciprocating his feelings.

It had to be a dream. His face grew hot with blushing and his heart skipped a beat or three. It was all he could do, just standing there, not to do or say something incredibly stupid to ruin the moment.

One question still remained, though, and he had to ask.

"What about Sasuke?"

"Sasuke-kun..." Sakura sighed heavily, tearing her eyes away from Naruto's flushed face. "You know I'll always like him, Naruto. I always have, ever since I was a little girl," she replied. It was honest, and she wasn't afraid to admit it. Sasuke was her dream come true, her biggest fantasy, her childhood love. But when had he ever reciprocated, or even shown the slightest interest? Never.

Realizing how she must have looked and sounded, Sakura's gaze darted back up to Naruto's. "That doesn't mean you're second choice or anything!" she amended, shaking her head vigorously. "It's just... seeing you here like this has put things more into perspective, I suppose. You've done so much for me, Naruto," she smiled shyly, twisting her nervous hands behind her back.

"I was horrible to you and you were still always there for me," she added. "And regardless of all the times I yell and punch you for being the idiot that you are, I-- I care about you," she flushed again, looking down at her feet.

Sakura successfully mangaged to assuage any and all inadequacy Naruto might have had between himself and Sasuke where she was concerned. That he might have been second choice to her, it was a very real worry.

"Horrible to me?" Naruto's lips curled into a grin, remembering back to those lonely days when everyone and their uncle seemed to hate him. It was no skin off his nose; his goal never wavered and their dislike never once stopped him from sticking up for his village. It was that stubbornness that earned him so many precious friends, too. "Yeah, a lot of people might have been? Whatever, it doesn't matter."

Hesitantly, Naruto reached out to playfully tug on a lock of bubblegum-pink hair. "I care about you both. But where Sasuke felt like a brother... I had always hoped that maybe someday you and I could be something deeper."

He paused and blushed harder.

"Ahh! Look what you're doing to me, Sakura-chan! Making me say such embarrassing things!"

Sakura wasn't exactly sure she should be so easily forgiven for the way she had treated him in the past. The way Naruto overlooked it all was heartbreaking, but a part of her was glad that he didn't hold a grudge against her.

While the both of them were blushing idiots now, Sakura couldn't help but smile teasingly at Naruto and further his embarrassment. "Something deeper, hmm? Well, Naruto. You've already held my hand at least five times today," she commented, raising an eyebrow and sounding much more confident than she actually felt. Her cheeks were still pink and she was breathing shallow, nervous breaths.

This had to be the craziest situation Sakura had been in. Ever. Forget the Chuunin exam, or almost being crushed to death by Gaara's sand, or fending off Zabuza. Standing in front of Naruto and discussing their feelings for each other topped the list, or at least the list of things Sakura never thought she would ever do.

"So, now what?" she asked softly, looking up at him inquisitively and bravely taking a tiny step forward.

Likewise, the situation was probably one of the toughest Naruto ever had to face. For perhaps the first time in his life, cheesy smiles and overly optimistic adages didn't seem right. He found himself fumbling as to what to say or do next.

"Now...?" Naruto blinked. "Now... now we should go get Sasuke?" He knew that wasn't what she had meant and that she was referring to their relationship, but that didn't stop him from injecting a little bit of stupid into the conversation. A knee-jerk reaction to a new type of situation he hadn't had any experience with.

"Just kidding," he said with a shaky chuckle. There was one thing he could think of doing at that moment, but the innate fear of Sakura installed in him on day one made him apprehensive. He didn't want to make her angry or scare her. Then again, life was a series of risks for Uzumaki Naruto and when did he ever let doubt stand in his way before?

Suck it up, Naruto. The worst she'll do is hit you.

Steeling his guts, Naruto straightened and closed the distance between them. Taking Sakura's chin into his hand, he lifted her face and stared nervously down into her spring green eyes. What she could see in his own eyes, he could only imagine, but the sight he was greeted with made his stomach do cartwheels and his heart do backflips. She had the most beautiful eyes.

Naruto felt his breath catch as he leaned in and brushed his lips across hers. He could have sworn he felt the carousel beneath them stop at that moment.

And then it was over and he wasn't sure if he should start running.

The urge to smack Naruto once more arose again, and Sakura narrowed her eyes at him in slight annoyance. She should have expected that remark. Her hands, however, remained at her sides, fingers only twitching for a moment or two.

Luckily for the blond, he amended his response quickly to show that he was only joking around. Sakura could tell he was nervous, however. There was a slight quiver in his voice and laugh, and his cheeks were still tinted pink. Thank goodness she wasn't the only one unnerved by all of this.

When she had posed the question of "what now?" she had honestly expected more discussion. Likewise, she was surprised when a determined look crossed Naruto's face and he stepped closer to her, taking her chin in his fingers gently. Sakura gasped softly, gazing up at him with wide, wondering eyes, lips barely parted. It was still so odd to have him taller than her. She was sure that she was going to stop breathing and pass out anytime, or that she'd wake up and find herself in her bed at home in Konoha.

And before she could blink an eye, she was being kissed. By Naruto. On the lips. And what the hell? His lips were shockingly soft, and the entire kiss itself was sweet and gentle. How had this happened?!

Somehow, her eyes had fallen shut and when he pulled away, she swayed a little, feeling a little lightheaded. Green eyes fluttered open a moment later and she stared up at Naruto, one hand lifting to touch her lips.

"You kissed me," she whispered, looking awed. Well, no shit, Sakura, she cringed at herself inwardly. Never in her wildest dreams, or even in her darkest nightmares had she imagined that her first kiss would be with Uzumaki Naruto, of all people.

"It was really... nice," she added, still a little dumbfounded, but wanting to say something so he wouldn't get the wrong idea about her reaction.

"Yeah, well..." The hyperactive shinobi felt relieved since Sakura was making no moves to throttle him or beat him within an inch of his life. "It just felt like the right thing to do, you know?"

Naruto beamed his warmest smile, offering his outstretched hand to her once more. He thought that this world must really be a dream because having Sakura's kiss, a kiss with his childhood sweetheart, as his first? That was a dream come true.

Maybe staying in a place like this for a while wouldn't be so bad.

"Let's go get Sasuke, okay?"

[sorry for the double post, i just woke up and failed at teh engrish for a second xO]

Still shocked, but feeling a bubble of giddiness start to overcome her, Sakura couldn't help but return the infectiously bright smile. Naruto looked so happy. And she felt happy. True, the kiss had answered the question of "what now?" and not the unspoken "and later...?" but for the moment, it was enough.

Besides, she was pretty sure she had been kissed before Ino. Heh.

Taking the hand Naruto offered her firmly, she squeezed it warmly and nodded. Find Sasuke-kun now, who she was thoroughly excited to see again, think later. It sounded like a good plan to her.

"Mm! Let's go get Sasuke-kun," she smiled, nodding towards the cafe and letting Naruto lead her there.

[No worries! ♥! And end? (HOMG the kiss. You and Naruto keel me <3333)]

[plz end? not that i minded it but this log went on forevars, lolz~ xD time to go kidnap Sasuke! ♥

jlksdjfl-- your Sakura keels me ded Dx]

[Yus! My thoughts exactly! <333 And thaaaaank you ♥]

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RP Log: Ongoing

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