lavendersmiles:

SasuSaku Month 2018

Day 15: Training

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Author’s Note: Work makes me fall asleep when I come home, but the love for my OTP is stronger and I’m still behind

FFnet link

***

Eyes the color of the earth looked around, anticipation keeping her on her toes. She received a letter stating that the founder of the children’s clinic where she’s working will come to visit and all the staff was eager to meet her again.

Then she saw it, pink hair that could only belong to the strongest medic in Konoha – probably the entire shinobi world, accompanied with the dark-haired member of the famous and legendary Team 7. The two came closer, and when they were already near within earshot, the head staff waved her hands in the air to greet them.

“Haruno-san! Uchiha-san!”

“Ogata-san! Hisashiburi!” Sakura exclaimed, hugging the older woman tightly. The latter also greeted Sasuke, to which the man responded with a nod. The two were then ushered towards the receiving area of the clinic and were served with warm tea.

After a few minutes of catching up, the medic went straight to the important topic. “I came to check up on you guys, and we also heard that there were bandits around the area?”

The young woman nodded and shuddered. “Hai. It was a large group and all of them were captured before, by Uchiha-san.”

Sakura looked at him, a bit surprised. “So that’s the reason why you looked confused when Kakashi-sensei sent us to investigate?”

“Aa. I thought I already dealt with the problem,” Sasuke admitted.

“But apparently another group formed and they are still just waiting to strike,” the older woman continued. “Though they haven’t come near here yet –”

Ogata spoke too soon. Suddenly the doors were opened by force and three burly men came in brandishing swords almost as large as them.

“We’re here to get –”

The robber wasn’t able to finish his sentence as they were rendered unconscious by the two Konoha shinobi. The battle didn’t even last a minute, for the group of twelve was nothing compared to the two that make up the neo-sannin.

Sasuke and Sakura stood side by side, gathering the criminals outside the clinic.

“Looks like we didn’t have to search for them. We should tell Kakashi about this,” the lone Uchiha announced. The medic nodded in agreement.

“We hit two birds with one stone today. Not only did we check up on the clinic, but we also cleared the mission of getting rid of these idiots in record time I might add,” Sakura replied with an amused tone, earning a smirk from her companion.

“That was awesome!”

Both turned back to see the children looking at them with awe. They rushed towards the two, forming an excited circle of little ones trying to get their attention. Their chatter was interrupted with a bright flash of lightning promptly followed by a loud clap of thunder, causing some of the youngsters to scream.

Sakura took everyone inside while Sasuke was responsible to take the men to the Raikage. He didn’t return until late afternoon, just as the rain stopped for a bit. Not long after, the storm continued to rage on. The Uchiha was immediately occupied with the kids, as they still look up to what he did just this morning. The kunoichi couldn’t help the fit of giggles as mismatched orbs sent a look on confusion towards her.

“It’s your turn, Sasuke-kun. They’re already finished with me.”

The children took him to the playroom as Sakura continued with healing the sick ones. After that, she sat down with the staff and discussed the clinic’s matters. The meeting didn’t last that long and afterwards she offered to help with making dinner.

The pinkette went to the large room to call everyone to eat. It functioned as a conference hall and the kid’s preferred space to play when they couldn’t go out during the rainy days. An amused smile formed when she saw the little ones in front of Sasuke in a basic taijutsu stance.

“Balance is important, not just with your body but with the mind as well, okay?”

The children nodded and chorused, “Hai, Uchiha-sensei!”

Onyx and amethyst looked up to see delighted emeralds. Sakura gave a small chuckle as she walked towards him. Standing beside her teammate, she faced the youngsters and clapped her hands.

“Time to eat, everyone!”

With an eager and unanimous “Hai!” from them, little feet rushed towards the dining hall. The two adults were left behind, walking slowly and taking their time.

“You were teaching them taijutsu?” The medic began.

He nodded once. “Aa. They begged me to. It was either that or they want me to read a storybook for them.”

“Eeeh I would have liked that,” Sakura replied with a teasing tone and Sasuke just nudged her playfully. A month already passed since they traveled together and both were in a level of comfortable far exceeding those of just teammates.

The dinner was a rather lively affair. The storm continued outside, and when the clock strikes nine in the evening, it was then bedtime for the kids. As he accompanied the children to their room, Sasuke felt a hand tugging his pants. When he looked down, he saw a little girl with cerulean eyes holding a teddy bear.

“Uchiha-sensei, can you please check if there are monsters under my bed?”

A young boy around the age of nine came towards them. “Mihoko, you shouldn’t disturb Uchiha-sensei! You saw them fight, right? They’re tired and they need to sleep too.”

The lass looked down in embarrassment. Then, her eyes widened when she felt herself lifted up by Sasuke.

“It’s okay. You don’t have to be afraid,” he assured her.

The child smiled brightly at him, wrapping her tiny hands around his neck. “Arigatou, Uchiha-sensei!”

It took a few more minutes for everyone to be tucked in. One lone hand stroke the the top of Mihoko’s head, making her fall asleep quickly. Sakura couldn’t help the smile on her face. “I didn’t know you get along so well with children, Sasuke-kun,” she whispered.

He merely shrugged. “It’s training,” he replied softly a second later.

The kunoichi tilted her head to the side in confusion. “Training for what?”

Sasuke moved the little girl’s blanket towards the child’s chin. He glanced up and simply answered, “For our future.”

An amused smirk formed on his face when the medic’s face turned as rosy as her hair, eyes wide with surprise and her jaw slightly dropped. Lifting two fingers, he lifted her chin up to close her mouth. It rested there for a few moments until he poked her forehead softly.

“Come on, let the children sleep.”

Sakura was still frozen in place and so Sasuke took her hand with his and led her out of the kids’ room.

laine-o:

The Teahouse

Sasuke had never really been one to think about girls, much less actively pursue one. In fact, he had never really thought about it much even since when he entered the Ninja Academy at the age of five and encountered girls really for the first time. All that drastically changed when he was twelve and became a genin. It seemed that the world had all about imploded when he set foot into that cursed classroom. It seemed that every single girl there vied for his attention and fell all over themselves for it. It was foolish and unbecoming. Even now as he grew taller and stronger, it never seemed to stop. It was annoying, really.

Sighing, Sasuke shifted on the bench he was sitting on. To guard against the winter cold, he rearranged his black cloak and scarf tighter about him with his one right hand. A couple of women walked past, giggling, and trying to catch his eye. He ignored their attempts at getting his attention and eventually they disappeared from his line of vision.

Staring down at his only hand in his lap, Sasuke tended to reflect on his life and what he had done. Today was no different. His mind often wandered back to his goals as a genin and how misguided he had been. He thought about how he had killed his own brother, the last of his flesh and blood with his own hands. Sasuke wished if only he had been stronger and not been so consumed by revenge, maybe his brother would still be alive today. Maybe if he had just done things a little differently…

Sasuke had done so many things that should not have been forgiven so easily. Even she, who should not have forgiven him so easily, had as well. She annoyed Sasuke the most after all. She, his best friend, and teacher had all forgiven him way too easily. However, it seemed more as if his official pardon from Konoha Village had been granted by the village elders in an attempt to hide the fact that Uchiha Itachi had in fact been the village’s greatest hero. Sasuke’s various accomplishments taken from when he was a missing-nin such as eradicating members of Akatsuki (Itachi included), disposing of the criminal Orochimaru, and helping secure victory during the Fourth Great Shinobi War were just merely excuses Konoha’s elders had used to pardon Sasuke and to hide the truth about Itachi.

And yet, for all of his achievements that granted him his pardon rather easily, Sasuke was incapable of properly asking a girl on a date.

It had been about a year since he had last seen her.

Upon this thought, it seemed as though a boulder had settled into his stomach. It made Sasuke uneasy. Uchiha men were nothing if not proud of being certain and sure about themselves. The unease he felt only served to make him feel more anxious.

Sasuke pushed the thoughts from his head, shut his eyes, shifting a little on the bench, and waited. The chill in the air was not unpleasant and Sasuke felt that he rather enjoyed this weather. Winter was almost at an end, but soft snow still blanketed Konoha and brought with it a quiet sort of solitude.

However, that confounded boulder still nestled in his abdomen.

Sasuke had asked Sakura to meet him here today. Sasuke did not explicitly say it was a date, but he DID say he would see her next time he came back. Actually, Sasuke had managed to catch her during the past week since he had returned, but she had been busy with her hospital duties. However, what frustrated Sasuke was the fact that she did not even suggest that they see each other at all when he bumped into her. Sasuke thought to himself “Surely courtship was much easier during my parent’s generation, that, or Sakura is just incredibly dense, in fact—“

Sasuke’s thoughts were interrupted by a flash of pink in the corner of his eye and he heard a soft giggle.

“Morning Sasuke-kun,” Sakura trilled out. Sasuke peered at his pink-haired team mate out of the corner of his eye and acknowledged her with a barely perceptible nod. “…. Sakura.”

Sakura giggled again and sat down at the other end of the bench. She was wearing her usual outfit of a red top, skirt, shorts, black gloves, and knee high boots. To guard against the cold however, she was wearing a tan colored poncho with an attached hood over her outfit.

Sasuke continued to look at her from the corner of his eye. Sasuke decided that Sakura really had no clue as she was sitting much too far away from him.

This bench was a special sort of place for Sasuke and Sakura. It was the bench Sasuke had left Sakura on when he had defected from Konoha when he was twelve. It was the night Sakura had confessed her undying love for Sasuke.

Yet, here she was sitting on the other end of the bench, her legs dangling over the edge. Sasuke felt the knot in his stomach begin to loosen as he watched her legs swing lightly back and forth.

Sasuke was the first to break the silence. “How is the dobe doing anyways? How are him and Hinata?”

“He’s his usual cheerful bubbly self! I think Naruto’s going to propose to Hinata soon. Everyone knows already actually, even Hinata herself. It’s not really going to be a surprise because well, it’s Naruto, you know he can’t really keep secrets,” Sakura laughed.

“Hn. That idiot really can’t. How’s that pervert-hokage doing?”

“Hmm…” Sakura hummed, “you really shouldn’t call him that. Kakashi-sensei’s doing quite well actually. Times are peaceful so there really isn’t much for him to do. He visits the ninja academy often and spends a lot of time with Naruto since he’ll be the next hokage. Sometimes he, Naruto, and I get together and have dinner every now and then if we’re not busy. You should join us tomorrow since you’re in town.”

“Ah.”

A comfortable silence fell between them. Not an awkward sort of silence, but the kind of silence that falls between two people that just enjoy being in the presence of each other.

“Let’s get going,” a statement, not a question. Sakura giggled because giving statements rather than questions was just SO typical Sasuke.

Sasuke rose to his feet. Sakura followed suit, Sasuke watched as she brushed the snow off her behin—back of her skirt.

As they walked, Sasuke thought about the girl by his side. She was so different, yet so much the Sakura Haruno he had known when he was a boy of twelve years old. Sasuke frowned when he thought back on how much Sakura had fawned over him in the past and how much she did not now. He thought about the times back then when she actually had too much to say and too many useless stories to tell and too much gossip to share. Not much of a conversationalist himself still, now he wished she would fill the silence with her incessant chatter.

Sasuke stiffened when he felt a light touch on his arm. Realizing it was Sakura, he relaxed and looked at where she was pointing. “Want to go in there?” Sakura asked, pointing at a teahouse. It was a place Sasuke might have picked himself if he had not been so lost in thought.

It was a snow-covered old wooden teahouse that appeared to be well-tended.

Hanging from the top of the door frame of the entrance, was a canvas fabric split down the middle. The gently worn canvas cloth had characters on it that were gently rubbed away from years of use. Sasuke entered first and parted the cloth for Sakura. When her shining eyes emerged from behind the cloth to meet his, Sasuke felt his breath catch in his throat, his mouth felt dry, but the knot in his stomach loosened completely.

The interior of the teahouse was constructed of well-oiled wood. An small old lady with silvery-white hair pulled into a bun wearing a pale lavender kimono was sitting at a counter where incense was burning. Her eyes crinkled with a smile as Sasuke and Sakura approached.

“A table for two please,” Sakura smiled. The old lady nodded and reached under the counter for a menu. The old woman stood up and gestured for the pair to follow her into the teahouse. At a leisurely pace, the old women led them into a high-ceilinged room containing about ten to fifteen wooden tables. Paper lanterns hung from the eaves, casting a warm glow from the ceiling. Eventually their hostess indicated a table in the corner next to a window situated in the back of this large room. Sasuke seated himself on the side of the table next to the wall, Sakura took the other side and they settled on the cushions. Sasuke sat with one knee up while Sakura sat on both her knees.

“It is only you who tends to this teahouse.” Again, a statement, not a question.

“Yes it is,” the old lady replied. “My husband built this teahouse for me, he died seven years ago.”

“Ah, that’s why I was drawn to this place. It seemed so well-cared for despite its age,” Sakura murmured.

“Thank you, my dear. Please make yourselves comfortable, I’ll be back in a few minutes.” The old lady set down the menu and padded away.

After the old woman left, Sasuke found himself studying Sakura as she removed her gloves and then the cloak from around her shoulders. He realized that this girl, no, woman, was someone he hardly knew now. Sakura was a powerful kunoichi with outstanding medical prowess and incredible chakra control. During the 4th Shinobi War, he remembered how he had admired her power when she fought the juubi clones. She rescued him too–found him when he was wandering another dimension’s desert, where he might have perished from the heat and dehydration. Her confession. How Sakura fiercely declared how much she still loved him. Sasuke regretted his actions, how he had cast a genjutsu on her and how during the Hokage summit, he had almost killed—

Sasuke shook his head, dispelling his thoughts. He decided not to dwell on his dark thoughts right now when he was with Sakura.

Sasuke’s mismatched eyes roved over Sakura’s form. Now she was studying the menu intently, unaware of Sasuke’s gaze. He looked at the creamy skin on her neck, the gentle swell of her breasts and noticed how her hips jutted out from either side of her slim waist.

Finally looking away from her, with the grace of a seasoned nin, Sasuke removed his cloak and smoothly unwound the scarf from around his neck. Sasuke didn’t notice Sakura’s eyes following his movements.

“I’ll never get tired of watching you.” Sasuke heard Sakura breathe.

Sasuke froze in the middle of removing his scarf.

“What did you say?”

Color rushed to Sakura’s face, abruptly she stood up, turned heel, and stammered over her shoulder “I gotta go to the washroom!” She quickly walked away.

Sasuke sat stunned for a minute at what had just transpired. Gathering his composure, he decided he’d ask her about what she said when she returned.

——————

Meanwhile, in the washroom, Sakura splashed cold water onto her face to cool down her heated cheeks. She had totally spoken her thoughts out loud without thinking. Sakura stared into the mirror in front of her and sighed in frustration at her still rosy cheeks. She swiftly splashed more of the icy water to her cheeks and resolved she wouldn’t hang out with Sasuke alone again. They needed Naruto to get rid of this weird tension between her and Sasuke.

“What is with Sasuke-kun anyways? Why is he only asking me to meet with him and not having Naruto or even Kakashi-sensei come along? What was his problem?!” she fumed to herself in her head. This wasn’t what she had in mind really when Sasuke had told her he’d see her when he came back.

Sakura froze as she remembered the words of her sensei.

“A true shinobi seeks for the hidden meanings within hidden meanings.”

She was on a date with Sasuke. Not that she’d ever get the answer out of him if she asked him directly. He just wasn’t that kind of person. The fact that he had made the first move though, spoke volumes. With this realization, her anxiety finally faded and the color left her cheeks.

She couldn’t stay in this washroom forever. After a deep breath, Sakura opened the door of the washroom and went back to their table. Sakura started to kneel down on her original cushion, when their eyes met. Sasuke, using his only hand, patted the cushion to the left of him, signaling to Sakura that she should take the seat next to him.

“It’s okay! I’m fine where I am!”

“But over there you have no wall to lean on.”

Sakura paused for a moment, at a loss for words. Not truly understanding Sasuke’s intentions, quietly, she stood up and complied.

Sakura moved over to sit next to Sasuke on the free cushion. As she does, her thigh brushes his. In a hardly noticeable movement, Sasuke breaks the contact.

“You seem tense. The tea will calm you.” Sasuke had ordered tea and had a few sips of it already while he was waiting for Sakura to return. Sasuke picked up the white teapot on the table and poured the steaming light green liquid into a simple white tea cup. His fingers graze hers as he hands her the tea cup, lingering slightly, before releasing the cup.

“It’s a rather soothing brew isn’t it?” Sakura commented as she leaned back, closed her eyes and took a long draught from her cup.

When she opened her eyes again, she found herself staring into Sasuke’s black obsidian eye and rinnegan eye. Sasuke had leaned forward, with his sole hand planted on the ground on the other side of her, to her left. Sakura’s back was still against the wall.

Sakura swallowed the tea with some difficulty and felt her heart hammering in her chest, the sound thundering in her ears.

“So what did you mean with your comment earlier?” Sasuke asked in a soft, low voice.

Sakura brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, something she tends to do when she’s nervous, Sasuke noted. “I was just.. uh.. making a joke, trying to make you feel uncomfortable.” Sakura bubbled out, trying to brush off Sasuke’s question.

“You know what you said.”

Sakura closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths to steady herself, much to Sasuke’s amusement. Finally steeling her nerves, she opened her eyes and said with surprising clarity, “Yes, it’s true, I would never get tired of watching you, ever.”

As soon as the words had left her lips, Sasuke leaned forward and his lips brushed hers in a light, gentle kiss.

Withdrawing, Sasuke noticed Sakura’s mouth hanging slightly open in shock, her eyes wide and round. “We better get going,” Sasuke smirked. At that, Sakura seemed to snap out of her daze and managed to nod. The both stood up, gathered their things and donned their outerwear.

As the couple approached the counter, the old lady smiled brightly, “Leaving already?”

Sakura fumbled around in her poncho, looking for her wallet. Sasuke was already placing coins on the counter and didn’t let her pay.

Sakura bowed to the old lady, thanking her profusely. “Thank you for everything grandmother. Your teahouse is lovely. I’ll come visit you again soon.” Sakura gave her a bright smile and clasped the old woman’s warm, small hands. Sasuke nodded a silent thanks to the matron who quietly chuckled.

Sasuke once again parted the curtains for Sakura. Sasuke realized that the writing on the cloth had rubbed off where the fabric had been repeatedly parted in the same place, likely by the woman’s deceased husband for her. Similar to how he’d been parting the curtain for Sakura.

Sasuke stepped outside. Snow had started to gently fall.

Sakura had already walked ahead of Sasuke and was in the middle of the street. She twirled around with her arms in the air in delight at the falling flakes.

Sasuke quietly watched Sakura. She seemed almost like the first flower to bloom at the end of winter, signaling the beginning of spring. So delicate and beautiful, but powerful enough to bloom despite the lingering chill.

“While I love the beauty of spring and the warmth it brings, nothing quite beats being with the one you love on a quiet and cold winter’s day,” Sakura sighed, looking over in Sasuke’s direction.

Sasuke reached out with his hand, wrapping his arm around Sakura’s waist, pulling her tightly against his chest. Sakura found her face and hands pressed into Sasuke’s warm, broad chest. Staying there for a few moments, she drew her head back and looked up into Sasuke’s face. They both looked at each other and their lips, hovering like fireflies, dance back and forth until they meet for a kiss. Sakura wraps both her arms around Sasuke and his hand moves up from her waist and into her hair, his hand on the back of her head, drawing her deeper into this kiss.

As they kiss, Sasuke’s hand travels downward to her neck and his hand lightly grazes her arms. Sasuke’s tongue is allowed entry to Sakura’s mouth. Without thinking, his hand eventually brushes over her breast and Sakura gasps against his lips, startled by the touch. Sasuke freezes and pulls back, breaking the kiss, as he’s gotten carried away. Now was not the time. Not on such a day of such beautiful melancholy and gentle solitude.

In a rare moment, Sasuke’s cheeks flush from slight embarassment. Sakura smiles at Sasuke and seems to understand. Rising on tip toe, she gently kisses his cheek. Sasuke’s face breaks into a gentle smile at the kind gesture. Sasuke shifts Sakura to his right side, sweeping her underneath his cloak. His arm travels around her waist and her left arm winds around his. Arms around each other, they walk back to Sakura’s place together, feeling warmer than they had ever felt on a cold winter’s day.

———————————————————————————————————–

So this is like my first and only fic I’ll probably ever write. I’m sorry if it’s kind of.. boring? I had to get it out of my system and really I just wanted to convey a quiet winter atmosphere that reflects the beginning of or the budding of Sasuke and Sakura’s relationship. It starts out very gentle and slow. But there’s an underlying warmth and coziness there, that I think is similar to how it feels when you’re curled up next to a fire on a cold day. I like their quiet understanding they’ve developed (they have always had it, but it was more tumultuous and angsty) by the time they are adults and their connection that they don’t express outwardly with words or show to others, it belongs to them and they only show it to each other. They’re all about little moments and small gestures. I can’t really explain it. But they give me a lot of feelings. So I had to write this. I’d appreciate any feedback. I hope it’s decently written. 🙂

–Laine-O

pain-somnia:

ssm day 19: coffee and tea

SasuSaku Month Day 19

Title: Yuanyang

Prompt: Coffee and Tea

Rating: T

Disclaimer

Day’s Notes: a fluffy canon compliant continuation of this one shot (x) but you don’t have to read it. this fic can stand on it’s own. The Day 16 fic is also meant to be paired with those two fics but can stand alone (x)

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Years of traveling light and using summoning tattoos had left Sasuke a minimalist. When he had first acquired an apartment when he returned to Konoha, his home was empty except for the bare essentials.

That was, until Sakura got involved in the arrangement of his home.

When they were simply spending time together, Sakura would bring something along to add more life to his apartment. Something to make it more “lived in” as she put it.

.

.

A wall clock in the shape of a cat on the wall by the fridge.

Wind chimes that hung on the veranda.

Succulents from Yamanaka Hana, imported from Suna.

Throw pillows and an afghan, handmade by Sakura and her mother, for the well worn couch that found its way from Kakashi’s old apartment.

And slowly, she put her touch on the more intimate parts of his home. Her little things made their way into his bedroom.

A reed diffuser for the calming essential oils she used for aromatherapy.

A wall tapestry with a painting of mountains, a gift from Sai.

Blackout curtains, so that he wouldn’t be disturbed by the bright Konoha sunshine that shone from the inconvenient east facing bedroom window.

.

.

These were all things that weren’t necessary to live but they were things that made his life better. Each little piece made his apartment a home not just shelter.

But Sakura was slowly crossing the line.

Sasuke lifted up the metal tube contraption and and spun the handle at the top. There was a slight disturbance in the flow of the spin.

A grinder.

Sasuke set the grinder back down on the countertop, not quite sure what to make of it.

“Sakura.”

“Hm?” Sakura hummed, walking into the kitchen with dish rags fresh from the wash.

“Why do we have this?”

“For coffee.”

“Sakura. We don’t drink coffee.”

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