lavendersmiles:

The One Who Waits

SasuSaku Month 2018

Day 14: Wait for Me

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Author’s Note: I just wrote the jumbled plot bunnies in my mind… and yeah still behind with the prompts… 😖

FFnet link

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“Sakura… arigatou.”

The silence that followed was filled with unspoken feelings. For a little while longer, you allowed yourself to bask in the warmth she radiates. You don’t know if you could ever feel that ever again.

Hitting a pressure point on her neck, she started to lose a grip on reality. And as she started to become unsteady and ultimately fall, you used your own body to catch her from hitting the ground. The tears that flowed from her closed eyes glistened in the moonlight. For a few more moments, it was just you and her and the falling leaves.

You carried her carefully to the stone bench. It’s the least you could do, after she opened her heart for you, and only you. Despite your genius status, you still couldn’t fathom how she just knew you were leaving the village. You never told anyone of your plans, yet she still found you. Instinct? A sense of foreboding?

You will never know now.

Gazing at her sleeping form, you reached out to gold her hand, one that was starting to get colder due to the night’s temperature. Suddenly the thought of the possibility of coming home after seeking revenge came flooding in your mind.

“Would you still care?” you mouthed softly, fully aware that she won’t be able to answer.

Yet something in your heart hoped that somehow she will. Though not a minute longer, you shove the thought away, thinking it will only serve as a distraction for you. He might use Sakura against you, because despite everything else, she remains to be one of your most precious people. In a twisted way, you’re protecting her and she will just have to live not aware of that fact.

Before you could think about it, you pressed your lips against hers like a fleeting touch. You’ll forget about this moment of weakness and she will never know. Stepping back, you turned towards the village gates again, delayed but still determined.

Maybe she’ll wait for you… maybe she won’t… only the years can tell which one will happen.

.

.

The shinobi war unlike any other finally came to an end after the Infinite Tsukuyomi was released. After your treatment and a long arduous trial, you were declared pardoned of your crimes. Being able to perceive everything in a new light, you wanted to see the world and along the way, redeem yourself of all the wrongdoings you’ve done. It was a self-imposed mission that you needed, something no one can stop – not even Sakura.

She and the sixth hokage came with you to the village gates. Kakashi, like the father figure that he is to all of you in Team Seven, left with reminders that he hopes you will take to heart. When Sakura asked you to stay a little while longer, it felt like déjà vu.

This time, you explained it carefully to her, hoping she’ll understand. For a moment, you were tempted to accept her offer of coming with you, but you managed to catch yourself and turned her down. Maybe someday, but not now. She is still needed in Konoha, and you won’t be selfish anymore.

Her mood immediately darkened and the sight felt like a punch to your gut. Hoping to appease her, and wanting to at least leave her with something, a thought passed your mind.

Lifting two fingers, you poked her forehead right on her seal, proclaiming – silently vowing – to see her soon. And as another heartfelt ‘thank you’ left your lips, a blush formed on her cheeks which you responded with a small yet genuine smile of your own. In that moment, you wished she would somehow understand.

And as always, she did.

.

.

You sent a note to Kakashi that you’ll be coming back home for a while. You don’t know what to expect, but a soft voice in your head ignored for so long whispered, expecting that the certain kunoichi mentioned by Naruto in his letters who is spring personified would be there.

As you stepped closer to Konoha, a feeling of dread started to slow you down. You still don’t know you if you even deserve this chance of having a future so different from before; and though you try to deny it, there is a little fear in your heart. Fear that maybe you can never truly belong anymore.

Fear that she already got tired of waiting for you to come and moved on.

But Sakura always had a special ability to see the good in even the worst, and you hold on to that belief. The promise she held in her eyes when you left was your source of hope in your travels, after all. Maybe, despite the time that passed, she will be there to be with you.

The village gates came into view and with it were three figures waiting for you. It caused you to momentarily stop, a surge of feelings you couldn’t name one by one washing over you. Pink hair swayed with the wind as she opened her arms to welcome you back.

You felt like time slowed down that very instant. And then you realized, you weren’t actually waiting for her to accept you. She already did, ever since. You were just simply blinded by hate to notice it. A love that you shoved aside in favour of revenge. She was always there, always a constant pillar of support.

You were actually waiting for yourself to be deserving of her love. Until now, you still think that she deserves someone else, someone not haunted by the claws of the past. But unfailingly, never wavering, she chooses you over and over again. Despite everything you’ve done, she would still constantly pick you among the rest. She gave you another chance and you won’t allow anything or anyone – not even your idiotic self – to waste it now. You knew that you are a changed man, still a work in progress, but hopefully good enough to be able to stand beside her.

This time, you promised to yourself as you hugged her back, neither you nor her would be waiting in uncertainty ever again.

yumikinechan:

Burn

It burns when I see him again,

Near death on the bridge of Tazuna’s bridge.

I’ve never seen a person I loved so broken and bloody before.

My body holds a mind of its own as I hold him close, trembling like a broken machine against this man I have come to love. He smells like sweat and blood.

For once in my life since meeting him I don’t think about whether he saw me as annoying or not for being beside him.

Sasuke is dying.

I never knew just how much tears a person could produce,but it feels like I produce them all.

I think of nothing but Sasuke as I cry over his dead form, wanting to avoid the needles of Haku’s wrath sticking out of his body and failing badly. I can’t stop shaking with the anger and pain weld up inside me.

I miss him even as I stare into his pale and scratched face, knowing in those moments that I will have to leave him.

I hang on anyway, I hang on in the whirlwind of incomprehensible thoughts flying through my head.

Sasuke, Sasuke,Sasuke…

I’m sorry I was so annoying, I’m sorry I wasn’t a better teammate for you, I’m so sorry…

Please come back…

Please-

“Sakura?”

I gasp, hearing Sasuke Uchiha’s voice once more. Then my eyes widen when I register his open eyes. The dark color of them are filled with surprise at my face.

I am too happy and relieved to see him again. It is like he came back from the dead just for me, but I know it isn’t like that. I know it but I don’t care. A joyous sob escapes my lips and I bury my face in his neck.

“You’re alive!”

I felt Naruto and Kakashi shuffle in behind me to get closer to Sasuke, happy to see their teammate and student alive as well.

“Ack, Sakura, I can’t breathe!”

He chokes, and I reluctantly let go of him.

As the others begin to talk to him I notice Sasuke still staring at me like it was the first time we ever met.

I can’t even feel surprise because I know that in a way for both of us, it is.

After all, this is the first time I realized how much I love Sasuke, and for him the first time he actually sees me.

The Sakura Haruno who loves him.

lavendersmiles:

Coffee, Books, and You

SasuSaku Month 2018

Day 13: Summer Heat

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Author’s Note: I go for AU if my brain’s too tired to function 😂 will probably edit this if I can probably never 😑

FFnet link

***

“Why are we here, dobe?”

Cerulean eyes flashed with annoyance. “Oh come on, Sasuke. I can’t bear the heat anymore! We need to cool down ‘ttebayo. Especially you.”

“Then who was the idiot who made me go to this place huh?”

“Me!” A pause. “Hey! I’m not stupid!”

Sasuke did the breathing exercises that calm him down. He needed to, or else he would reduce Naruto to shreds, and that would cause Kushina-san to chase after him. She’s dubbed as the ‘Red-Hot Habanero of Konoha’ for a reason, and the dark-haired teen doesn’t want to have a first-hand experience to know why.

Naruto nudged his side. “It’s your fault you lost the bet. Don’t be a sore loser, teme.”

His reply was a glare. He still couldn’t get over the fact that he lost an arm wrestling competition against his best friend, though he won’t ever verbalize that. If only he won, he could be lounging at his library right now without a care in the world and no loudmouth to annoy him throughout the summer vacation. Now, he’s stuck with the Uzumakis in their villa at the beach a plane ride away from the city. Though the view was great, he was still grumpy over his loss.

“Besides, this café is nice. Not too crowded in the early afternoon, just how you like it you antisocial prince. Remember Gaara’s sister, Temari? She actually owns the place. And I know someone who works here. She makes awesome coffee too.”

Before he could protest any futher, Sasuke was dragged inside. A chime signalled their entrance and the two were greeted with the cool air from the aircon. The first thing that the Uchiha noticed was a girl wearing the café’s uniform with hair the color of cherry blossoms and eyes sparkling like emeralds, smiling at them.

“Sakura-chan!” Naruto exclaimed, running towards the counter, his best friend slowly followed.

How fitting, Sasuke thought.

The pinkette gave the blonde a high five. “Hey Naruto! Long time no see! Back for summer vacation?”

“As always. But now I got Sasuke with me,” he proclaimed, placing an arm around his brooding best friend.

“Ah,” the emeralds turned their attention to onyx who regarded her coolly. “So this is the best friend you keep talking about. I’m Sakura.”

She handed out a hand and he shook it. Sasuke then quickly retracted his hand, trying hard not to dwell on the warmth that came over him unexpectedly. He tried to tune out the conversation of the two until he felt Naruto nudge his side again.

“So what do you want, teme?”

“Expresso,” Sasuke answered curtly.

Pink eyebrows rose. “In this summer heat? Really?”

He directed a glare at her, but she didn’t even flinch. “So?”

To his surprise, she rolled her eyes at him. It was rare for a girl not to fall into his charms and it seems like she’s one of the very few who doesn’t treat him like some sort of ‘heavenly god’ – his fangirls’ words, not his.

“Well, if it’s your thing.” Sakura then turned her attention to Naruto. “Caramel macchiato frost with nachos and cheesy fries still?”

“You know me too well, Sakura-chan.”

“Puh-lease. It’s your go-to order every single time.” After writing their orders down, she chimed, “Wait for 15 minutes okay? Make yourselves comfortable.”

The two found a place at the corner of the room and immediately Sasuke crossed his arms and laid back on the armchair. “If I don’t like the coffee here I’m going home back to Konoha, Naruto.”

Said boy shrugged, not thinking he was actually serious. “That’s your call, Sasuke. But let me just tell you that Sakura-chan’s coffee making skills are the bomb.”

The pinkette appeared with their order a while later, placing them on their table.

“Here you go. Enjoy!” She directed a smile at Naruto which immediately turned into a frown when her eyes landed on Sasuke. He didn’t mind it and simply took his cup of coffee and took a sip.

He felt warm and alive all of a sudden.

.

.

Every day, the duo stopped by for snacks. Sasuke agreed – much to Naruto’s teasing – that the coffee was great and it wasn’t long until they were treated as regulars. But then two weeks before the summer vacation comes to a close, Naruto caught a cold and the Uchiha didn’t want to know why. Not wanting to spend his afternoon beside a sick loudmouth who insists that he’s fine, he found his way to the café. A smirk formed on his face when he saw that he was the only customer there. He didn’t find the pinkette at the counter, only Temari who upon seeing him raised her eyebrow.

“You’re not with the loudmouth brat? Okay then. What would it be this time?”

“The usual,” he answered promptly. The teen then sat at the corner which Naruto and him silently marked as theirs and took out one of the books he brought with him.

Finally, some peace and quiet.

“No. Way.”

Sasuke sighed, his plan to relax obviously failed. He looked up to see Sakura with his order, eyes wide with bewilderment at him – or rather, at his book. She immediately placed the tray on the table and sat across him, still in awe.

“How come you already have a copy of ‘The Shinobi Tales’ fifth book?!” she shrieked.

He placed the book down, slightly amused that her eyes followed it. “My cousin owns the publishing house.”

If possible, her eyes widened even further. “Wow. That was just released last month. It hasn’t even reached here yet.”

To her surprise, he handed the said volume to her. “You can borrow it for now, since you’re practically drooling for it. I need someone to rant with in a particular scene.”

For the first time since they met, Sakura threw her bad first impression of him out of the window. “For real?! Let me guess, it’s about Daichi?”

Sasuke nodded, looking grim. He had no one to vent out his frustration about the series and was pleasantly surprise to found someone who could actually relate.

Sakura looked bewildered for a moment before giggling. Emeralds sparkled with something he never saw before. “You know what, you’re not that bad after all.”

.

.

After that, the two found out they were alike in so many ways, balanced with their differences in other fields as well. Friendship bloomed between them, but despite that, there was something bothering the dark-haired teen.

“Expresso again, I assume?” Sakura inquired. He gave a nod at that. Before she could speak again about his order, he cut her off.

“Why won’t you call me by my name?”

Jade eyes widened. She started fidgeting with the ballpen in her hand, a telltale sign of her nervousness. “You noticed, huh? Umm… it’s because I don’t know what suffix I should use for you.” He raised an eyebrow at that. “I mean, I know you a bit well not to add a –san but not close enough to just call you by your name.”

Sasuke couldn’t help but roll his eyes at that. “I actually don’t care. Use whatever you like.”

“Sasuke-kun?”

He tried to ignore how his heart stopped for a second upon hearing her rather shy voice saying his name with the affectionate suffix.

“Is it okay… if I call you Sasuke-kun?” A faint blush dusted her cheeks, and he tried to calm his heart that was racing a mile a minute and utterly failing. The lad just knew that he would end up a stuttering mess if he ever spoke now, so he just nodded in agreement. She beamed at that, clutching her hands together in happiness.

“Sasuke-kun,” Sakura spoke with more confidence. “Well, Sasuke-kun, should I go prepare your expresso and clubhouse sandwich now?”

He couldn’t help but smirk. “If it takes more than ten minutes I’m not gonna pay for it.”

She heard the teasing tone and just stuck out her tongue to antagonize him. It had the opposite effect, for it amused him instead.

.

.

Before, Sasuke wished for the days to pass quickly so that he could go back home, but now all he wanted was for time to slow down instead. He tried to deny it, but he looked forward being with Sakura. She was unlike any other he met and despite the short time they’ve been together he felt like they’ve known each other for so long already.

It was rare to find someone that makes you feel like you found something you never knew you needed.

His steps felt heavy when he entered the café… probably for the last time in a while. He already planned on coming back next summer, but those days seem too far away. Sakura smiled upon seeing him, nodding to indicate she already prepared his preferred meal.

He went to his seat and not a while later she came towards him. “You’re alone again? Where’s your best friend?”

Sasuke sneered. “Kushina-san had company and prepared a big feast. The dobe fell asleep right after, being his pig self. I think he’ll come here later though.”

She nodded, amused. “Right. It’s the last day of vacation after all.”

His heart sunk at that. When she laid his order on the table, he lowered his head and sighed heavily, catching her attention.

“It was nice meeting you, Sakura. You’re actually the only good thing that happened this summer,” he grudgingly admitted.

His heart swelled when he heard her laugh. “Should I be flattered? And why do you sound like it’s gonna be the last time we’ll see each other?”

Sasuke looked up suddenly and couldn’t stop the confusion that appeared on his face. Upon seeing that there was no customer aside from him, she took the seat across his. Her eyes sparkled as she revealed her plans excitedly.

“I’m actually going to Konoha University. I just got the news yesterday that got a scholarship there under Tsunade-sama’s tutelage!”

Onyx widened at that. “You’re actually that good?” he asked with a teasing tone.

She punched his arm playfully. “Hey! Don’t underestimate me! I’m the top of our class for a reason you know. You’re not the only one running for high school valedictorian,” Sakura answered with a smile.

A silence ensued, but there was no awkwardness in it, only anticipation for the future. “So, see you in spring, Sakura?”

She gave him a radiant smile that makes the summer’s sun dull in comparison. “Yeah. See you, Sasuke-kun.”