Once Upon A Time...
Once Upon A Time
By Mija
Disclaimer~Nope do NOT own Naruto and company, this fic is in response to the fireworks/festival challenge on SasuNaru100, will be posted at SasuNaru as well. Rated G.
Five year old Sasuke was trying not to panic. His big midnight eyes shone with unshed tears as he looked around, biting his lip, not yet willing to call out. He was an Uchiha for goodness sake, and Uchiha's did not get scared. But he was, he was very scared. He was lost. It was the Spring Festival and he had been with his parents and his older brother, who for once did not have to be away on some mission or the other. He recalled being so happy that his big brother would be home and that they could spend the spring festival together. He also recalled how proud his father and mother looked as they walked with thier eldest, thier pride and joy, the heir of the Uchiha clan. So proud, that they hadn't seen Sasuke stopping to look as a booth that had all sorts of stuffed animals which you could win by catching the most fish in a cone like cup.
By the time Sasuke had turned around to ask if he could play the game, his parents and his brother were gone. He had paniced a bit as he looked around franticly, hoping to catch site of the bright elogent gowns his family had been wearing, which had the Uchiha fan crest upon the back of it. But the more he looked around the more his fear grew. He couldn't see them. All around him were strangers, families, couples and groups of friends all laughing and crowding the street so thick, that you couldn't seem to find a place to squeeze through. None of them bothered to spare a glance at him, or see the fear creeping into his eyes as he franticly looked around, wanting with all his heart to call out to his family. But calling out would admit to his fear, and that would bring shame to his family. His older brother wouldn't be scared, and Sasuke wanted to be just like him. If for nothing else but to garner the same pride and love his parents showed Itachi. Sasuke loved his older brother, but sometimes he hated how everyone seemed to ignore him when his older brother was around, or compare him to Itachi, and found Sasuke lacking.
So there he was even more lost and scared than before. He had went in the direction he had last seen his family go, but the further into the crowd he got, the more turned around he seemed. Bodies pushed him this way and that and all he could do was wade threw the mass of bodies and hope to come out unscathed and find his parents. But that seemed impossible now. He was at a part of town he did not recognize, but then again he was not really allowed out of the Uchiha compound alot, and if he was, it was with a guardian and it was usually straight to the academy or store and straight back.
So thats how he found himself at the outskirts of the village. He walked down the dirt path, swiping the few tears he had allowed himself to shed. He really wasn't watching where he was going, but he did realize that thier was no longer lots of people pushing him this way or that. He was alone. Kicking a few stones along his path he found himself on a tiny hill overlooking the village. He could see the fireworks already lighting the sky and he looked up as a particularly bright burst lit up the inky blackness. Thats when he heard a noise. It startled him and he whipped his head around in fear. But when his eyes adjusted, all he saw was a boy about his age sitting not far from him. Big blue eyes wide with awe as he gazed longingly at the night sky and all the bright flashes of the fireworks.
Sasuke had never seen this boy around, but he wasn't all that suprised, he usually didn't associate with anyone other than his clan, or those that visited his clan, which were kids just like him, of nobility and rank. Sasuke could tell by the ragged white t-shirt and dirty tan shorts that this kid was not of the noble part of town. He seemed to be alone, dirty and a bit side, even if his face was lit up with awe and a huge smile. Something in those azure eyes spoke of pain, loneliness, sadness. Sasuke not one for talking just looked at the boy, his blond hair all askew in spikey angles, going every which way, as if he hadn't bothered to brush it. Something in Sasuke's five year old chest seemed to twist oddly. He didnt know why but something about this kid called to him.
"Hey?" called out Sasuke, much to his suprise as to the surprise of the boy who swirled his head around to face the person who had called out to him. For an instant those eyes showed fear, not plain 'im scared' but true fear, as if Sasuke were about to hurt him. It made Saskue feel funny inside his tummy and deep in his chest.
"Wh..who are you? What do you want? I havent done anything wrong." came the high pitched voice that could not hide his fear. His blue eyes wide, his face scrunched up in a wince as if waiting for something bad to happen.
"Didn't say you did...whats your name?" Sasuke asked, for some reason, needing to know who this kid was. His gut told him this boy would be important to know someday.
"Why do you want to know?" the boy replied stubbornly, crossing his arms over his chest, trying to look all cool and tough, but Sasuke could tell it was an act.
"Che...whatever I could just call you dobe if you want." Sasuke retorted with a snort. Sitting down to a shocked looking blond who seemed to cringe from him and want to hit him at the same time.
"Why are you here? Who are you?" the boy asked with suspicion.
"My names Sasuke...whats yours?"
"Im Naruto."
"Why are you here all alone Naruto?? did you loose your family at the festival too?"
"No...I...I dont have any family...is that why your here?? you lost your family?"
"Yes...I turned around to look at something and when I looked back they were gone."
"Im sorry, I could help you look for them if you want me to."
"Why would you do that? You don't even know me?"
"Because your lost and its Spring festival, everyone should be with thier precious people on festival."
"And who are your precious people Naruto?" Sasuke asked, curious, but already know by the tense way the boys body got, that he didn't have anyone and for some reason he found that really really sad. The blond seemed nice and it was sad that he was alone. Maybe they could be friends, then he wouldn't be so alone anymore.
"Here, you want one? The festivals almost over and its customary to light a sparkler at the end to celebrate a wonderful and prosperious year we had, and hopes for a wonderful coming year, as well as give thanks to family and friends, as well as wish for even more precious people in your life in the year to come." said the small blond next to him, holding out two very worn looking sparklers. If Sasuke didn't know any better the sparklers were older and aged, as the boy had saved them for a long time.
"Sorry I only have two, but they still work and will be okay to light them, they will still reach Kami and will hear our wishes." added the blond with a goofy little grin, a bit of a tint upon his face. Sasuke took one and in no time the two worn sparklers were lit and although they didn't have much power, they did sparkle nicely. So Sasuke watched in silence at the sparkler and his companions sparkler made a soft glowing light as they sat silently upon the hill, both smiling soflty as they watched.
Not long after the sparklers had died off, the blond got up waved at him and said he hoped to see him again some time soon, before running off. Sasuke was confussed, wasn't the boy supposed to help him find his family. But even as the thought came to his mind, he felt the familiar presence of his older brother coming up the hill behind him.
"There you are little brother...we...were worried...why did you run off?" asked his brother Itachi.
"Sorry brother, I got lost."
"You missed most of the festivities and the fireworks."
"I saw them from here just fine." he didn't tell his brother he had been watching them with a blond blue eyed boy, that he hoped to see again some time real soon. Itachi picked him up and but him atop his shoulders and they went back to thier family and soon Sasuke forgot all about the blonde boy as the years went by and he did not see him again. For Sasuke that one night became sort of a dream, an illusion that he wondered if it had been real at all. It wouldnt be for many years to come that he would run into that blond once again, and even more suprising that the blond wouldnt mention that night, as if didnt remember it at all.
But as the years wore on and Spring Festival came and went, Sasuke often found himself, lighting a sparkler alone on a hill, where he could watch the fireworks and think of a night he had spent it with a boy who had shared his last Sparklers with him.
As for Naruto, he often spent the Spring Festival on a diffrent hill every year, lighting two sparkles and remembered fondly of a lost boy who had shared a very precious moment with him. For in that instant, Naruto had not felt so all alone, shunned or loathed. It was one of the precious moments he held in his heart, and even though he now knew the full name of the boy he had spent that magical night with, he never brought it up. For Naruto bringing it up now would just tarnish the image he had in his head. Back before his clan had been slaughtered, back before they became rivals, and teammates. That moment was to special to Naruto, to taint it with what was NOW, not THEN. Once Upon a time, when things had been simpler. But his wish was always the same as he lit his sparkler, that he would one day find that boy again, not the rival or teammate he had now, but the boy he used to be before tragedy had stuck him and made him the stoic, emotionaless boy he was now. He wished for the boy he once was, who had shared a night with him with out judgement or spite. Naruto was sure if he wished for the same thing every Spring, it would happen eventually. Ironicly this was also Sasuke's wish as well, to let go for even a bit, and be the boy he once was, sharing a special moment with a blonde blue eyed boy, that had been scared but innocent at the same time. When he had also been innocent and nieve Once Upon a Time.
A/N~Ya I know it sucks but its just something I thought to write down for the challenge, le sigh...my writing seems to be getting worse now a days. Hope someone likes it on some level, huggles and smiles and thank you's for reading this, Mija...:-)
By Mija
Disclaimer~Nope do NOT own Naruto and company, this fic is in response to the fireworks/festival challenge on SasuNaru100, will be posted at SasuNaru as well. Rated G.
Five year old Sasuke was trying not to panic. His big midnight eyes shone with unshed tears as he looked around, biting his lip, not yet willing to call out. He was an Uchiha for goodness sake, and Uchiha's did not get scared. But he was, he was very scared. He was lost. It was the Spring Festival and he had been with his parents and his older brother, who for once did not have to be away on some mission or the other. He recalled being so happy that his big brother would be home and that they could spend the spring festival together. He also recalled how proud his father and mother looked as they walked with thier eldest, thier pride and joy, the heir of the Uchiha clan. So proud, that they hadn't seen Sasuke stopping to look as a booth that had all sorts of stuffed animals which you could win by catching the most fish in a cone like cup.
By the time Sasuke had turned around to ask if he could play the game, his parents and his brother were gone. He had paniced a bit as he looked around franticly, hoping to catch site of the bright elogent gowns his family had been wearing, which had the Uchiha fan crest upon the back of it. But the more he looked around the more his fear grew. He couldn't see them. All around him were strangers, families, couples and groups of friends all laughing and crowding the street so thick, that you couldn't seem to find a place to squeeze through. None of them bothered to spare a glance at him, or see the fear creeping into his eyes as he franticly looked around, wanting with all his heart to call out to his family. But calling out would admit to his fear, and that would bring shame to his family. His older brother wouldn't be scared, and Sasuke wanted to be just like him. If for nothing else but to garner the same pride and love his parents showed Itachi. Sasuke loved his older brother, but sometimes he hated how everyone seemed to ignore him when his older brother was around, or compare him to Itachi, and found Sasuke lacking.
So there he was even more lost and scared than before. He had went in the direction he had last seen his family go, but the further into the crowd he got, the more turned around he seemed. Bodies pushed him this way and that and all he could do was wade threw the mass of bodies and hope to come out unscathed and find his parents. But that seemed impossible now. He was at a part of town he did not recognize, but then again he was not really allowed out of the Uchiha compound alot, and if he was, it was with a guardian and it was usually straight to the academy or store and straight back.
So thats how he found himself at the outskirts of the village. He walked down the dirt path, swiping the few tears he had allowed himself to shed. He really wasn't watching where he was going, but he did realize that thier was no longer lots of people pushing him this way or that. He was alone. Kicking a few stones along his path he found himself on a tiny hill overlooking the village. He could see the fireworks already lighting the sky and he looked up as a particularly bright burst lit up the inky blackness. Thats when he heard a noise. It startled him and he whipped his head around in fear. But when his eyes adjusted, all he saw was a boy about his age sitting not far from him. Big blue eyes wide with awe as he gazed longingly at the night sky and all the bright flashes of the fireworks.
Sasuke had never seen this boy around, but he wasn't all that suprised, he usually didn't associate with anyone other than his clan, or those that visited his clan, which were kids just like him, of nobility and rank. Sasuke could tell by the ragged white t-shirt and dirty tan shorts that this kid was not of the noble part of town. He seemed to be alone, dirty and a bit side, even if his face was lit up with awe and a huge smile. Something in those azure eyes spoke of pain, loneliness, sadness. Sasuke not one for talking just looked at the boy, his blond hair all askew in spikey angles, going every which way, as if he hadn't bothered to brush it. Something in Sasuke's five year old chest seemed to twist oddly. He didnt know why but something about this kid called to him.
"Hey?" called out Sasuke, much to his suprise as to the surprise of the boy who swirled his head around to face the person who had called out to him. For an instant those eyes showed fear, not plain 'im scared' but true fear, as if Sasuke were about to hurt him. It made Saskue feel funny inside his tummy and deep in his chest.
"Wh..who are you? What do you want? I havent done anything wrong." came the high pitched voice that could not hide his fear. His blue eyes wide, his face scrunched up in a wince as if waiting for something bad to happen.
"Didn't say you did...whats your name?" Sasuke asked, for some reason, needing to know who this kid was. His gut told him this boy would be important to know someday.
"Why do you want to know?" the boy replied stubbornly, crossing his arms over his chest, trying to look all cool and tough, but Sasuke could tell it was an act.
"Che...whatever I could just call you dobe if you want." Sasuke retorted with a snort. Sitting down to a shocked looking blond who seemed to cringe from him and want to hit him at the same time.
"Why are you here? Who are you?" the boy asked with suspicion.
"My names Sasuke...whats yours?"
"Im Naruto."
"Why are you here all alone Naruto?? did you loose your family at the festival too?"
"No...I...I dont have any family...is that why your here?? you lost your family?"
"Yes...I turned around to look at something and when I looked back they were gone."
"Im sorry, I could help you look for them if you want me to."
"Why would you do that? You don't even know me?"
"Because your lost and its Spring festival, everyone should be with thier precious people on festival."
"And who are your precious people Naruto?" Sasuke asked, curious, but already know by the tense way the boys body got, that he didn't have anyone and for some reason he found that really really sad. The blond seemed nice and it was sad that he was alone. Maybe they could be friends, then he wouldn't be so alone anymore.
"Here, you want one? The festivals almost over and its customary to light a sparkler at the end to celebrate a wonderful and prosperious year we had, and hopes for a wonderful coming year, as well as give thanks to family and friends, as well as wish for even more precious people in your life in the year to come." said the small blond next to him, holding out two very worn looking sparklers. If Sasuke didn't know any better the sparklers were older and aged, as the boy had saved them for a long time.
"Sorry I only have two, but they still work and will be okay to light them, they will still reach Kami and will hear our wishes." added the blond with a goofy little grin, a bit of a tint upon his face. Sasuke took one and in no time the two worn sparklers were lit and although they didn't have much power, they did sparkle nicely. So Sasuke watched in silence at the sparkler and his companions sparkler made a soft glowing light as they sat silently upon the hill, both smiling soflty as they watched.
Not long after the sparklers had died off, the blond got up waved at him and said he hoped to see him again some time soon, before running off. Sasuke was confussed, wasn't the boy supposed to help him find his family. But even as the thought came to his mind, he felt the familiar presence of his older brother coming up the hill behind him.
"There you are little brother...we...were worried...why did you run off?" asked his brother Itachi.
"Sorry brother, I got lost."
"You missed most of the festivities and the fireworks."
"I saw them from here just fine." he didn't tell his brother he had been watching them with a blond blue eyed boy, that he hoped to see again some time real soon. Itachi picked him up and but him atop his shoulders and they went back to thier family and soon Sasuke forgot all about the blonde boy as the years went by and he did not see him again. For Sasuke that one night became sort of a dream, an illusion that he wondered if it had been real at all. It wouldnt be for many years to come that he would run into that blond once again, and even more suprising that the blond wouldnt mention that night, as if didnt remember it at all.
But as the years wore on and Spring Festival came and went, Sasuke often found himself, lighting a sparkler alone on a hill, where he could watch the fireworks and think of a night he had spent it with a boy who had shared his last Sparklers with him.
As for Naruto, he often spent the Spring Festival on a diffrent hill every year, lighting two sparkles and remembered fondly of a lost boy who had shared a very precious moment with him. For in that instant, Naruto had not felt so all alone, shunned or loathed. It was one of the precious moments he held in his heart, and even though he now knew the full name of the boy he had spent that magical night with, he never brought it up. For Naruto bringing it up now would just tarnish the image he had in his head. Back before his clan had been slaughtered, back before they became rivals, and teammates. That moment was to special to Naruto, to taint it with what was NOW, not THEN. Once Upon a time, when things had been simpler. But his wish was always the same as he lit his sparkler, that he would one day find that boy again, not the rival or teammate he had now, but the boy he used to be before tragedy had stuck him and made him the stoic, emotionaless boy he was now. He wished for the boy he once was, who had shared a night with him with out judgement or spite. Naruto was sure if he wished for the same thing every Spring, it would happen eventually. Ironicly this was also Sasuke's wish as well, to let go for even a bit, and be the boy he once was, sharing a special moment with a blonde blue eyed boy, that had been scared but innocent at the same time. When he had also been innocent and nieve Once Upon a Time.
A/N~Ya I know it sucks but its just something I thought to write down for the challenge, le sigh...my writing seems to be getting worse now a days. Hope someone likes it on some level, huggles and smiles and thank you's for reading this, Mija...:-)