SSM21 Day 3: Nighttime
"Sasuke-kun." Sakura's weak voice murmuring the three syllabus of his name with the addition of the honorific he has grown to like coming from her.
Her body falls forward, and before it reach the dirty ground Sasuke uses his hand as anchor to support her unconscious body.
Head strain upward as he watches the big bright moon in the black non starry sky, Sasuke sighs. He pulls out the other hand that tucked deep in his pocket while listening to Sakura's chaotic speech earlier. He used both hands to hoist Sakura up and carry her bridal style.
Sasuke gazes down at her vulnerable tears streaked face, regretting what he is about to do to her. He couldn't go back now, not even to send Sakura on the comfort of her house, as he knows, one step backwards and he won't be able to left the village behind.
He walks to the bench, and stop beside it. His stares never leaving Sakura's face as he carefully, gently lower her down and place her on the bench.
Her confession earlier. It was too genuine to be faked. She might be desperate, but he knows Sakura enough to know that she's spoke her heart. It's been years now that he has heard that word coming from someone directed at him, that's why he couldn't take his mind away from it.
He touches Sakura's cheek, cupping it at such gentleness, wiping her remaining tears in the process. He realized it before, but right now is when he really acknowledge it. Sakura's feeling has never been one sided.
He remembers vividly when he was just a child, getting overwhelmed by the pink haired girl who somehow manage to give him a challenge in written test, who is just so clever that he has to work extra hard just to beat her during exam. He admired her then. He always does, because she is one of the reasons he was top of the class. He makes sure that his skills in everything is over average level, just so he could beat her during exam. It help a lot when the girl is lacked in so many things beside theoretical related. She was shy, and has zero shinobi skill. He thought she's annoying when she start to fawning over him, like the rest of the fangirl. He hated it, for once he thought maybe there's someone worth compete with. Sakura though surprised him; even though turning to be one of his fangirl, she's still the smartest in their class, she wasn't as good at it at other tests, but decent enough for him to acknowledge her. And when they were declared to be in the same genin team, he started to feel the urge to keep her away from danger, to always be her protector. He makes sure, during mission, that she is always in his range of sight so he would detect it if enemy is nearing her.
Her approaches are what annoyed him to no end. Despite that, he can feel the rage and some mixed feelings he couldn't comprehend what it means coming from within him when someone like Lee make a move on her. Sure, she rejected each and every one of them, but the thought that she'll call other people with -kun honorific just didn't sit right for him.
He pushed all those thoughts away as he caresses her cheeks, hoping that he didn't have to do what he's about to do. Hoping that his family is still very much alive, that his brother isn't the murderer of his entire clan. Hoping above all, that he won't leave the girl on the bench, cold and alone and in much danger of many possible things, and perhaps tell her he feels the same about her, probably not as much as she does but close enough that they can share it together. Hoping that Sakura isn't the one coming to talk him out and convince him to stay, so he won't be left wondering things he is currently wondering.
"I'll come back," His mind speaks to Sakura, wishing she hears it. It was nighttime, he's leaving Sakura on the bench. He's walking out the village, become a missing nin, maybe. He wonders if what he's doing is an act of betraying the village, and if they will kill him for what he's about to do. He hope so, because once Itachi is killed, there's no more purpose he has in life. Sakura will found a new boy while he's away, someone she deserves. Someone that can always be by her side, that can always protect her. Because it's nighttime, and he do a lot of thinking during this time, and right now he's thinking about a future of him and Sakura, and he just know, he knew that there's nothing he can give, he can offer, this girl that loves him with all her heart. He doesn't deserve her.
As he bends down, a tear roll down his cheek. He kiss her forehead, linger there for a second while the reality sat in. He's leaving everything behind, his family, his friends–or friend really, his home, his sensei of whom he respect, Sakura, Sakura.
And with that, he walks away. Not looking at her again, knowing if he does he'll just delay his journey. Its too late anyway. And his companion is waiting for him.
She'll be sad for a week or two, or maybe a little longer. But she will move on, she will. After that, she will realized she doesn't really loves you. It's just a feeling she mixed with her simple crush. She will get over it, she will get over you.
He chanted over and over again, hoping that its true, knowing deep down it don't. Because Sakura is passionate and honest, and even though he haven't admit it out aloud, he is too, falling for her. Who wouldn't if its Sakura. Beautifully pretty, annoyingly kind, hair oddly pink, and eyes mesmerisingly green, Sakura.