A Celebration of Our Own
SasuSaku Month 2018
Day 7: Tanabata
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Author’s Note: So I originally planned a hurt/comfort plot for this prompt after squeezing my brain but I don’t need that kind of negativity in my life 😂 Then this idea appeared and… yeah… I crave fluff.
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Sakura felt torn, but her responsibilities as a medic nin came before her own selfish desires.
Sasuke just came back from his self-imposed road to redemption yesterday, just in time for the tanabata festival Konoha is known for, and Naruto already arranged that Team 7 will go together. Though he insisted that he was just passing by and wanted to deliver a message to Kakashi, his presence in the village was enough to make the kunoichi smile throughout the day. She knew that the streets would be filled to the brim with decorations and food, and most of all she looked forward to spend some time with her silent dark-haired teammate.
It’s been so long since he came home. He wasn’t able to go to Konoha personally during the attack of the human time bombs when they asked for his help, but he played a crucial part in solving it. She was a bit heartbroken that he couldn’t come back, but she understood his reasons. Sakura knew from the bottom of her heart that the village was Sasuke’s home, and he would always find his way to return to it – in his time, when he’s ready.
That’s why she hugged him a little too tightly when they greeted him at the gates yesterday. After a hearty dinner at Ichiraku’s, Sakura dashed her way to her favourite store to buy a new yukata to celebrate the occasion. It was the perfect shade of green that matched her eyes, with her namesake decorating the obi and sleeves.
Sakura started to fix her things in her office, excitement coursing through her veins. Despite the busy day at the hospital, the thought of being with her beloved team energized her more than her seal. But then, just as she was about to end her shift, she heard a nurse running towards her direction, and the door was slammed open.
“Sakura-sama! I’m sorry for intruding but Tsunade-sama needs you at the emergency room quickly!”
Not needing another word, the medic ran off and arrived in record time. What she saw stunned her momentarily. Four shinobi – ANBU, the masks and their outfit were a dead giveaway – were fighting for their lives on the hospital beds. One suddenly started vomiting a bloody mess, and Sakura sprung into action.
“It’s a bad case of poisoning, Sakura. I already had Shizune look at their blood samples to identify the culprit,” the former hokage briefed her on what was happening. “It’s making them bleed profusely, slowly turning their organs to goo, and shutting down the immune system. We need to act fast.”
“Hai, shishou.”
Immediately her healing chakra glowed.
Sakura forgot about the seconds, minutes, and hours that passed. All her focus was on her patients and the determination to save them urged her tired body to heal them more. And when she thought that ordeal was over, her pediatric patient with a broken pelvis started deteriorating, leaving her no choice but to perform another surgery stat.
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Sakura removed the OR cap and went back to her office to take a warm shower. It was already ten in the evening, and she already sent word to Naruto that she couldn’t come to the festival with them, as she was stuck in surgery. She passed by a nurse’s station and saw a bamboo plant decorated with all things that showcased tanabata and filled with tanzaku. She saw he own piece of paper, wincing inside.
I hope Team 7 will have a great time at the festival today!
‘There’s always next year, right?’ Sakura thought to herself, smiling sadly. ‘There’s always next time.’
The kunoichi sighed and proceeded to take the aforementioned shower to wash away the stress and frustration of the day. After changing into a new set of clothes, she grabbed her swivelling chair and took it to the balcony. Her stomach protested that it was empty, but she paid it no mind. She just wants to see the fireworks. She looked up the sky, waiting for it to shine with a thousand colors.
Just then she felt her heart stop when she recognized an all too familiar chakra signature. She could sense him anywhere.
“Sa-Sasuke-kun?!”
Indeed, mismatched orbs that could only belong to the sole Uchiha greeted her. “Aa.”
Sakura stood up, a blush forming on her cheeks. “What are you doing here? I thought you were going with Naruto and the rest.”
He shrugged. “I escaped. Too many people. You know I don’t like the crowds.”
She couldn’t help but laugh good naturedly. “Still the same old Sasuke-kun. Let me get a chair for you,” she offered, dashing inside and appearing with the furniture a second later.
“Arigatou,” his deep voice could still make her heart melt. Both sat side by side in silence for a few moments, until Sasuke handed out a bento box to her hidden by his cloak.
“I had a feeling that you still haven’t eaten anything since you were in surgery, so I brought you something.”
Tears of joy started to form on her eyes and now she was certain that her heart’s gonna burst. “You didn’t have to do this, Sasuke-kun. But thank you so much,” she beamed at him. The former avenger looked away hide his emotions, but his orbs focused on her again when he heard her delighted gasp.
Sakura recognized the street food served at the stalls during tanabata. The first layer contained okonomiyaki, takoyaki, yakisoba and ikayaki. When she lifted it to see the next layer, it was filled with dango, daifuku, and ringo ame.
“I know that you liked festivals and the food so much, so I thought that since you’re busy saving lives, I’ll bring a bit of the festival to you,” he admitted, eyes earnest.
She didn’t know if someone already died due to too much giddiness and overwhelming happiness, but Sakura though she might be the first one. She stood up, placed the food carefully on the chair, and tackled Sasuke into a hug that caused the two of them to fall on the floor.
“Thank you thank you thank you, Sasuke-kun! I’m so happy right now!” Indeed, the night took a 360 degrees turn, and she couldn’t be happier. Here she thought she would be spending the seventh day of the seventh month alone, but now she’s with the man she loves with her whole heart, and he brought her favourite festival foods to her.
‘You’re just making me fall in love with you even more, Sasuke-kun.’
All of a sudden she felt him stiffen. It was then that it registered upon her brain that she said her feelings out loud.
Just as she was about to pull away and apologize again and again, Sasuke hugged her back. Now it was her turn to be shocked.
“Anything for you, Sakura.” He pressed his cheek at the side of her head, and the kunoichi wondered if it was her heart that was beating so hard or his. She loosened her hug on him to look at his profile. Unconsciously, almost like instinct, their faces came closer to one another. It felt like the pull of gravity, sparks tingling the air.
When their noses touched, a screeching sound was heard following a loud explosion. The fireworks finally started. Noticing their position, they both turned away to hide their blushing faces, deciding that the display of colors signalling the end of tanabata was a good thing to turn their attention to. Throughout the time that the night sky was illuminated with sparks of light, Sasuke didn’t release his hold on her waist, and Sakura could hardly pay attention to the beautiful display.
The heard the cheers of the crowd when the last and biggest firework shone its glory. After a few minutes, neither of them spoke a word, too content in each other’s presence.
Then Sakura’s stomach grumbled again.
She felt the blush heating her face up, and the amused smirk Sasuke gave her did nothing to calm her down.
“You should eat,” the Uchiha announced with almost a teasing tone. After saying her thanks, she digged in, closing her eyes in pure happiness when she tasted the takoyaki. Munching on it, she took another ball of the food using her chopsticks.
“Say aah, Sasuke-kun.”
He looked away and she pouted at that, but her heart soared again when she saw his mouth partly open, his silent affirmation to allow her to do what she wanted.
And so that was how the two spent their first tanabata together in a while… eating, her talking, him listening… both knowing that there was no other place they’d rather be.
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