Chapter 1
It's been about five months since Sasuke-kun left. I remember when Ino and I fought over him. I loved him more than any other guy. Now he's gone. And so is Orochimaru.
I've thought about all the things that could've happened to him. He could've become Orochimaru's slave. He could've given up his body and Sharingan to Orochimaru. He could he dead right now.
I think about him everyday. Some nights I cry. It's hard to stay happy in such a joyful season.
I heard the doorbell ring. I went downstairs to see who it was.
"Hinata," I said when I saw my friend at the door.
"Hello Sakura," the Hyuuga girl said shivering.
"Come in," I told her. "It must be freezing out there."
"It is," she said, and I watched the perfect white snow fall from the sky.
"So, what did you come here for?"
"Well, I thought we could do some planning for Christmas."
"It's not fun without Sasuke-kun," I said automatically.
"He's been gone for almost five months now," Hinata said. "You've got to learn how to let go. You can't let love control your life."
Hinata was right. But I couldn't let go of Sasuke-kun.
"Well anyway," Hinata said. "I thought we could spend sometime with Naruto and other friends and have fun and do Christmas shopping."
"Without Sasuke-kun," I muttered.
"Stop thinking about Sasuke!" Hinata shouted. Her loud voice surprised me. "Why can't you try to be happy with the people you've got right now? I know you love Sasuke, but you've got friends too. There's me and Naruto and Ino and even you sensei, Kakashi-sensei."
Hinata was really right. I closed my eyes. I've got to let go. Sasuke-kun isn't the only person I love. I've got a lot of friends. I said sorry to Hinata.
"It's okay," she told me. "Just don't forget about the people other than Sasuke." I smiled.
"You wanna start shopping right now?" I suggested. She grinned and approved of my suggestion. We put on our coats and left the house.
"So, who are you gonna get presents for?" I asked Hinata.
"Naruto-kun," Hinata said, "and you. And my teammates, Kurenai-sensei, Neji- nisan, my father, and my sister.
"I see," I said. "You, Naruto, Kakashi-sensei, Ino, my parents, Tsunade- sama - "
"Tsunade-sama?" Hinata wondered.
"Yes. She's helped many people recover, like Lee-san and Sasuke-kun." Then we both heard a voice from behind.
"Yo, Sakura!" Kakashi-sensei said happily. I smiled. "What are you two girls doing?"
"We're Christmas shopping," I told him.
"A gift for me?" Kakashi-sensei suggested. I giggled. Hinata let out a small laugh too. "I just have to tell you one thing, Sakura. The next Chuunin Exam is coming after Christmas. So don't lay back on your training."
I nodded. I was definitely going to participate in the exam. But without Sasuke-kun, my group will only be me and Naruto. Maybe Asuma-sensei would let Ino come to our group because Shikamaru was already a chuunin. But it's Christmas time. I shouldn't worry too much about the Chuunin Exam.
"Where do you want to go?" I asked Hinata. She shrugged. I looked around. I suggested that we look around in a ninja equipment store.
"Sugoi!" Hinata said when we entered the shop. We immediately began glancing around everywhere. There were many things that I had never seen before. My eyes caught attention to a particularly strange weapon. I asked Hinata what it was.
"It looks like a kunai," she said. "But the shape is a lot different from a regular one."
Hinata had found the items she wanted. She got ointments, and interesting forehead protector, and one of the strange kunais. I chose pretty much the same things. We paid for the items, but right before I left, I saw weights. I picked them up. They were heavy, but not heavy enough. I asked a worker for the heaviest pair of weights. He gave them to me with a confused look on his face (what ninja girl would want the heaviest weights in a store?). I could barely pick them up. Then I bought them.
I caught up with Hinata, who was waiting outside.
"This should be enough for today," I told her. We lugged our bags back to my house. I had too much trouble. The weights were killing my arms. I didn't try to look as though I was carrying something that was a hundred tons. I decided it was good training.
"I'm going to start wrapping my gifts," Hinata said when we were back at my house. "The ointments are for Naruto, Shino would probably like this kunai. . ."
* * * * *
We spent our whole afternoon and evening wrapping gifts and talking. It was 9:00 PM before I noticed. I told Hinata what the time was.
"Eh?" she said. "Um, maybe I should get going."
"It's okay," I told her. "Today was fun with you."
Hinata smiled at her. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow."
"Oh, you can't come over tomorrow," I said.
"Why not?"
"Because Kakashi-sensei invited me to hang out with him and Naruto and Ino and Shikamaru. Sorry Hinata."
"I-it's okay."
"Maybe I can ask Kakashi-sensei if he'll let you come along with us."
"No, it's okay."
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
"A-alright."
"Bye!"
"Goodnight! Bye!"
Hinata left my house and went down the village streets to her own. I watched her run through the frozen, bitter air. I wondered what was going to happen on Christmas day. Things are just perfect. Nothing bad could happen, like Lee-san going through surgery or Naruto going on an important mission. I just want a time where everything is happy and nothing bad will happen.
But there's one burden that will remain in my heart. Sasuke-kun.
