After All

lavendersmiles:

SasuSaku Month 2017

Day 2: Something More

***

 I didn’t plan on writing today because I felt that my first prompt, Utakata Hanabi, took up my quota of creativity for now. But then inspiration hit me when I remembered today’s prompt while washing the dishes >///< This is my first time to write in second person, and I don’t know if I should pursue it. I guess my first time in joining SS month is also a bunch of firsts for me ❤ 

It’s again posted at FF 🙂

***

You couldn’t look at her. No. Her tears will only make you
waver.

But her words… they are almost like a jutsu that makes you
want to stay. You remember everything despite your denial. You will always
remember every moment with the people dear to you.

She offers to make your life happier if you don’t go, but then
you remember Itachi… and your own weakness. Your path is different from theirs.
You already set your heart on revenge, and no one can stop you – not even her.

No, she doesn’t deserve to be tainted with your darkness.

And as she tries to stop you, you went to her back, all in a
blink of an eye. You tried to deny it, but you like being close to her. Loneliness
starts to disappear when she’s around. In these precious seconds before you
leave, you bask in her warmth – the warmth she always radiates.

The warmth that your stone-cold heart needed but stubbornly refused.

“Sakura… arigatou…” is all you can say. You want to tell her
more, but suddenly words fail to form. And as you put her to sleep, you caught her, causing both of
you to fall to the ground. You hold her close to your heart, for you are afraid
this might be the last. And as you leave her unconscious on the bench, you held
her hand one last time.

As you left the village, all bonds do not exist anymore for
you. Not even your bond with Sakura – the girl who cried when you nearly died,
the girl who stopped you from being consumed with darkness.

The girl who loves you.

You two are now just former teammates, after all.

Nothing more.

***

As you proclaim your plans of a revolution, you saw her shocked
face.

Puzzled. Almost disappointed.

When you turned your back to leave, she called out to you,
saying that she never thought you’d turn out like this. Without even looking,
you know tears are flowing down her cheeks once again. It seems like you always
make her cry. That thought somewhat made a small pinch inside you. Of all people, she doesn’t deserve to cry. Not her. 

You couldn’t turn around now… her tears will make your
resolve wither. She has that effect on you. It’s a power that is special to
her. Ever since.

She asked if she still had a place in your heart even just a
little. Of course. She will always be one of your precious people, even if you
deny it a thousand times to yourself.

When she begged you not to go for the second time, you
remember that night all those years ago, and you stopped.

She really does has
an effect on you. How annoying, you mused.

Before anyone could react, you cast a genjutsu on her. She
can’t stop you now.

You two are just strangers with memories, after all.

Nothing more.

***

When you came back to the village, she was there to welcome
you with open arms and a smile that can rival the sun. That alone filled your
heart with warmth that reaches your soul. The weariness from your journey seems
to just disappear, now that she’s here.

As she says “Okaeri, Sasuke-kun,” you gaze into her eyes,
greener than the fields in your travels and sparkles like the stars at night. A
small smile formed from your usually stoic face as you replied with “Tadaima,
Sakura.”

You wondered to yourself, if this is what home feels like. It’s
been so long since you had that feeling, and you want to immerse yourself in
that again.

But does she consider you as her home too?

You two are just friends with a special bond, after all.

And you know, deep in your heart – more than ever – you want
to turn it into something more.