Broken Youth:Ch1.3 Remember 1

Broken Youth
(Life of Konoha Academy Teens)
CH1.3:Remember I

The girls walked to the playground hand in hand. Even though they had just met, they acted as if the had know each other for eternity. The girls soon gained sight of the park. It was a bit a ways but it could still be seen. Sakura squinted a bit and noticed that the playground wasn't full as it usually was. The park was normally overflowing with screaming, crying, laughing children at this point of the day, but for some reason all those children weren't there.

"There aren't as many people in the park today," stated Sakura.

"Well, it's not all bad at least we'll have more park to play in," said Ino.

"I guess your right," Sakura said with a smile. The girls kept walking towards the park.
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The boys were now engaged in a game of tag, after they had finally stopped laughing. If anyone would have seen them laughing, they would have never suspected that they had just met moments ago;They wouldn't have suspected it because their laughter was not of strangers, but of true friends.

When the girls were only a few feet away they suddenly halted. They stood looking at the three figures who were joyfully playing tag.

"Boys," said Ino as she stood petrified yet she showed no fear on the exterior even though she was full of it. Hinata quickly scurried behind Sakura with much fear for she had never really been around boys her age other than her cousin Neji. She tightly gripped Sakura's arm shaking. Sakura felt the shaking as she turned her head to give her a warm smile and patted her head the other girls head to comfort her. Sakura like Ino showed no fear even though she was more afraid of the boys than Hinata. Ino shook her head getting rid of the fear and took a step forward, the other girls slowly followed.

"They're nothing to be scared of they're just a couple of boys. They don't bite," said Ino with an encouraging smile. "At least I think they don't," she quietly murmured.

"You're right," said Sakura.

"Yeah, there's nothing to worry about," said Hinata, her voice was very shaky.

"Come on, let's just go have fun," said Ino.

"Okay," said Sakura as she lost her fear. "But the last one to the swings is a rotten egg!" She began to run and so did the others.

They all reached the swing set out of breath.

"Aw, I didn't get to see who the rotten egg was," said Sakura.

"Oh, well maybe next time," said Ino. Hinata only giggled.

"Well, now that we're here why don't we swing? I bet you can't swing higher than me," bragged Sakura as she placed her flowers on the ground and hopped on a swing.

"You're on!" said Ino, doing the same.

"Bet we can," said Hinata following them and there began their little competition.
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The boys were by the merry-go-round. Sasuke and Naruto were trying to avoid Sai who was currently it;when the girls arrived to the park.

"Girls," Sasuke said pointing towards them when he spotted them on the swings.

"I'm not falling for that one," said Sai who had his back to them.

"And not just any girls, pretty girls," said Naruto.

"Huh?" said Sai as he turned around to look at them. The other two boys walked towards Sai to get a better look. They just stood there with their mouths slightly open as they stared at them.

When the girls glanced over at them, the boys quickly looked away with slight redness to there cheeks.

"We should go talk to them," suggested Naruto.

"Why?" asked Sasuke.

"I don't know? To be nice," was Naruto's reply.

"Naruto has a point," said Sai.

"What Sasuke don't tell me you're afraid of girls having cooties?" teased Naruto.

"I'm not!" yelled Sasuke red-faced.

"Okay, let's go and talk to them then," said Naruto.

"Fine," said Sasuke "But you go first."

"No problem buddy I'll go first," said Naruto wrapping one arm around Sasuke's neck.
They all walked towards the swings and stopped right in front of them. Naruto gulped and after a moment of trying to part his lips he finally managed to say "Hi!" as he wove his hand and smiled.

"Hello," returned the girls with a warm smile. Sakura and Ino both jumped off the swings and landed on their feet, even though Sakura almost lost balance fell on her face. Hinata on the other hand put out her foot down and dragged it across the sand to stop herself, then she stood next to the other girls. The boys all gulped and took a step back. They stood in silence for a while, only examining each other. They all didn't know how to act in front of the opposite gender.

It took all of Naruto's courage, but he finally said " So what are your names?" he did not look at the girls when he asked the question.

"Well, I'm Ino," she said. She was standing in between Sakura who was to her right and Hinata who was on the left. They moved towards Ino and slightly hid themselves. "Please excuse my friends they're a bit shy." Ino said as she gently tapped Sakura to make her speak.

"My name is Sa-Sakura," she said her face turning a bit pink.

Hinata followed her face already bright red. "Um...I-Im Hinata," she said in a soft voice.

"It's very nice to meet you all. I'm Naruto," he said no longer in fear.

"I am Sai," he said smiling of at least trying to.

"And I'm Sasuke," he said looking away over his shoulder.

"I like you flowers," complemented Naruto trying to keep the conversation going. The girls thanked him and after the ice broke it wasn't hard for any of them to speak to each other.

Minutes Later...
Naruto and Hinata sat on the grass behind the swing set looking at the clouds overhead.

"Hey, that one looks like a bunny!" Naruto said as he pointed to one of them.

"Yeah, and that one looks like a hedgehog," Hinata said giggling. Naruto growled remembering what Sasuke had said earlier.

"That one looks like a heart," they both said at the same time. They both looked at each other and quickly looked away their faces slightly blushing. They sat there not saying a word, then Naruto pulled something out of his pocket.

"Um...When I was at the river earlier today I found this rock..." he showed her a light purple stone in the form of a pentagon. "...and well I want you to have it... um because it matches your dress and...your eyes. Here have it," he handed it to her. She took it from his hand and examined it with her fingers it was smooth and soft.

"Thank you," she said smiling.

"You're welcome," he said scratching his head.

"I want to give you something too," Hinata said.

"Oh," Naruto said surprised. "There is really no need to."

"I know," Hinata said with a smile. She took out something she had tucked in belt. It was what use to be multicolored butterfly hair pin, but now it was just a simple butterfly without a pin.

"It isn't much, but I want you to have it," said Hinata.

"Cool, a butterfly!" he said truthfully. He had never had anyone give him a gift like that before, he would have excepted it no matter what it was. "I'll add it to my bug collection."

"You have a collection?" asked Hinata.

"Yeah..." he continued.

At that same time:
Ino and Sakura were looking over Sai's shoulder at his drawing. Occasionally Sakura would lift her head to glance over at Naruto and Hinata or turned her neck to see Sasuke who went back to lean against the cherry tree. She would smile when she looked at them.

"Nice beast you drew," Ino said when Sai finished drawing.

"Thank you," Sai replied.

"Whoa, it almost looks real," said Sakura.

"I guess it does," said Sai.

Sakura looked at the lonely Sasuke once more then went to Ino and whispered in her ear "I'll be back, okay?" Ino nodded and Sakura walked to Sasuke.

"Um...Ino," said Sai looking at her and scratching his cheek. "Would you mind if a drew a portrait of you?"

Ino smiled as she said "Not at all, Sai. Where do you want me to stand?"

"You can seat yourself in front of me." he said.

"Okay," Ino said as walked and sat herself in front of Sai. "Is this okay?"

"Perfect. Now just relax while I draw you, okay," said Sai.

Ino nodded and tried to be as relaxed as possible. Sai let his eyes connect to his hand, he glanced at Ino only a few times while drawing her. Sai drew carefully trying not to have any imperfections. Ino sat patiently as he drew. She did not take her eyes off him for a single moment while he drew. After a few minutes, the waiting paid off.

"Done," announced Sai.

Ino let a long breath slip out as she stood up to go see the portrait. She was nervous to see the results, not because of Sai's drawing ability, but of how Sai had perceived her. Once Ino saw the drawing her jaw fell wide open. "It's beautiful, thank you Sai," Ino said with much emotion in her voice.

"I didn't make it beautiful I only drew what I saw," he said as both his and Ino's face began to get warm. Ino turned to look at Sakura. When she saw her she smiled.

"Hey, Sai do you mine doing me a favor?" asked Ino.

"No, not at all. What is it?" said Sai.

"Would you please draw a portrait of them?" she said pointing at Sasuke and Sakura. Sai looked at them with a smile and said "I'll be glad to."

to be continued...