title: the condominium
summary: we’ve got a new neighbor in town
date: 07.05.14
prompt: day five – keepsake
notes: alternate universe
rating: k
warning(s): none
chapters: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4
.05.
“Um…hi.”
Sasuke blinked.
When he had gone to answer the soft knock on his apartment door, he hadn’t been expecting her – Sakura.
“I’m sorry; is this a bad time?” She shifted on her feet, features clearly expressing regret as her brows furrowed with uncertainty, “I know I said I was going to check up on you, but you were already checked out by the time I came by, and I’ve been crazy-busy since then.” She took a step back, “I didn’t mean to bother you, I shouldn’t have assumed–”
Sasuke stepped aside, opening his door wider, “It’s not a bad time. I was just finishing up some paperwork.”
She blinked, still hesitant, before a smile curled her lips, “Okay. Thank you. I, um, brought some snacks?” She held up a tray with two coffee cups and a brown, paper bag, “I just got off work but there’s this amazing coffee and sweets shop just down the street.”
“…I don’t…like sweets,” Sasuke admitted as he closed the door, watching as she began to unpack the food onto the kitchen counter.
“Good thing I got your coffee black,” Sakura smiled, lifting the cup, “I figured you had your preferred creamer, or whatever, here. And I got bagels, in case you didn’t like the pastries.”
“You’re very…prepared,” Sasuke observed, one brow raised as he watched her neatly line the options.
“Well,” She shrugged, “I barely know you. I might as well cover my bases.” She grabbed her cup and sipped on it, closing her eyes as the warm substance warmed her throat, “Yum.” Then, remembering her manners, she grabbed his coffee and held it out for his right hand to take. She eyed his cast, “How’s the arm?”
It had been a few days since he was discharged from the hospital. Sipping on his own coffee, Sasuke glanced down at the white cast and shrugged his right shoulder.
“I’ve managed. At least it’s not my right hand.”
She grinned, “That’s good.”
He stared at her and her beaming smile for several moments before tentatively moving towards the armchair. He didn’t invite guests over, and, when Ino and Naruto came around, they just made themselves comfortable without his consent. Without prodding, Sakura settled herself on the couch perpendicular to his armchair, curiously observing the interior of his apartment as she drank her coffee.
“…So, uh, I feel like we got off on a really…unconventional start.” Sasuke raised a brow and Sakura giggled, “I mean…I don’t want you to feel weird, but I kind of knew about you, before I actually met you.”
Sasuke sighed, “Ino.”
“Ino,” She agreed with a shake of her head. “So I feel kind of bad that the information between the two of us isn’t…even.” She smiled, “But, from my own personal experience, I’ve already gathered that you’re a pretty nice guy – considering what you did for me on the elevator.”
“Better than having to deal with a mental breakdown,” Sasuke responded with a half-shrug.
“Nevertheless, you didn’t have to do what you did. And I appreciate that.”
Sasuke stared at her and sighed again, “So, what has that nuisance told you?”
Sakura giggled, “Oh, so you think she’s annoying too? I think we’re off to a splendid start then.” When Sasuke smirked, Sakura grinned brightly, “She hasn’t shared much about you. All I know is that you both went to high school together and she ‘saved you from social boredom’ because you were ‘a pariah of fun’. Her words, I swear.”
Sasuke scoffed, “I was blunt towards her. That’s it. I think I was just a breath of fresh air from all the popularity that followed her.”
“Either way, she appreciated the friendship you offered her. You kept her real.” Sakura smirked, “Thank you for that.”
“It’s not hard to do. She’s not stupid.”
“But she can be a little reckless.”
“There’s that.” Sasuke took another sip of his drink before eyeing Sakura, her eyes lowered as she got lost in her own thoughts, “…So she told you a lot about me. Why haven’t I heard anything about you?”
Sakura looked at him and held a hand to her heart, “Ouch, Sasuke.”
His eyes widened, “I didn’t–”
She laughed, “Relax.” She stared down at her cup and her countenance became a little more reserved, “…I asked her not to talk about me. I know how she is – I’ve heard about these mysterious friends of hers – Kiba, Shikamaru, Chouji, Karin, you – and I guess I didn’t want to be talked about. Not to say she would speak ill of me but…” She smiled fondly, “I’d just rather not. And she respected that. I…liked the idea that I could make friends on my own, without this preconceived picture painted in people’s minds, especially since it was my dream to move back to Konoha. And it’s a pretty small city and Ino’s name carries a lot of weight. I don’t mind being associated with her but I don’t want to be a name attached to hers. I wanted to make my own.”
Sasuke completely understood the need to make one’s own name, himself, “…You said ‘move back’ to Konoha?”
Sakura nodded, “I went to West Konoha Elementary School with Ino and then I moved to Sunagakure. When a residency position opened up at Senju Hospital, I knew I couldn’t pass up the chance.” She spread her arms out, “So, here I am.”
“Here you are.” He repeated with a small smirk.
She smiled, “And what about you, Uchiha Sasuke? Tell me about yourself.”
“What do you want to know?” He drawled, examining his coffee cup – Sakura’s name was scribbled on the side with a heart beside it.
“Anything you wish to tell,” She replied, “Though I’d like to update my knowledge. Ino says you’re a hermit. And that you like an unhealthy amount of tomatoes.”
“Tomatoes are far from unhealthy,” Sasuke scoffed. She giggled and he sighed, resigned, “I grew up in Konoha, moved to Otogakure for middle school, and then I moved back here for high school and college. I majored in Business and currently work as the CEO at Uchiha Corp.”
Sakura nodded, “Impressive.”
Sasuke shrugged, “Hn.”
Sakura curiously eyed him after his nonchalant response but brushed it off, much to his relief. She, instead, eyed his cast and giggled at the squiggly monster Naruto had drawn near the wrist. Sasuke also eyed it, but rolled his eyes as he recalled the memory of Naruto almost breaking his arm, again, trying to draw the eyesore onto the stiff compress. Ino had pressed her purple-stained lips into a puckered kiss, with a flamboyant message that read ‘feel better soon, muffin’ below it.
“May I?”
Sasuke looked up just as Sakura produced a marker from her messenger bag, an excited grin on her lips.
Slowly, Sasuke held out his arm as much as he could, “Hn.”
She grinned with glee and made her way toward his arm chair, kneeling down to be eye-level with his cast. She carefully began to draw on the white canvas, careful to not apply too much pressure, her tongue sticking out with concentration, “You know, Sasuke, besides Ino…you’re technically the first friend I’ve made outside of work, and in Konoha. So, thank you.”
“…It’s really nothing.”
“Is it?” She smiled up at him from under her lashes, “You make a really nice friend.”
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
Her eyes widened and she shot to her feet, instantly returning to her messenger bag and removing a small, black pager, “Oh, crap.” She turned back to him and offered an apologetic smile, “Emergency. I need to go. Sorry, Sasuke.” She grabbed her things; her coffee cup included, and made for the door. Moving with her abruptness, Sasuke followed her, holding open the door as she stepped out and turned back towards him, “Thanks for letting me in. Maybe…Maybe we can do this again sometime?”
The hopeful look in her eyes despite her frenzied state caused him to nod without thought, “Aa.”
She smiled, “Great. Let me know when!”
And she raced down the hall, towards the elevators, grinning with relief when the doors slid open within seconds.
“Bye! Enjoy the bagels!”
When the elevator doors closed and silence prevailed, Sasuke slowly closed the door to his apartment and inwardly questioned what had just happened.
Haruno Sakura – what a strange yet intriguing girl.
Curiously, he looked down at his cast and eyed the newest addition on his forearm. She had drawn a cartoon version of him and her, both carrying a coffee cup and a bagel in each hand. Under it, in her neat manuscript, she wrote, ‘when you don’t feel like being a hermit, give me a call’ and seven digits ended the message.
Smirking, Sasuke walked towards his dining room table and picked up his phone. There was no harm in keeping a phone number, right?
title: the condominium
summary: we’ve got a new neighbor in town
date: 07.02.14
prompt: day two – late
notes: alternate universe
rating: k
warning(s): language
.02.
Days had past and Sasuke continued his routine life. Work had gotten a little busier but it was nothing he couldn’t handle. Summer was in its final weeks and the weather was starting to get slightly colder, but the Uchiha was mostly an indoor individual, preferring to read a good book or watch an interesting show on the television.
Tonight, however, Naruto had invited Sasuke over in a video game tournament challenge. With nothing else to do on a Saturday night, Sasuke called for a pizza and settled into Naruto’s messy unit for some tolerable company.
“Take that!” Naruto shouted, mashing the buttons on his controller, tongue poking out in concentration, “You’re going down!”
“Think again, loser.” An amused smirk pulled Sasuke’s lips as he produced a combo, watching his character kick Naruto’s off-screen.
“Fuck!”
“I win – again.”
“Not fair!” Naruto ran a hand through his spiky blonde locks, staring at the Game Over screen with dismay.
Sasuke glanced at the clock on Naruto’s DVR surprised that it was already so late into the night – about two hours past midnight. Sighing, Sasuke stood up and scratched his fingers against the nape of his neck as he regarded the mess of pizza boxes and ramen cups littering the floor.
“…You’re such a pig.”
“Shut up, bastard.”
Sasuke wasn’t going to clean it up; he kept his mess to himself and already threw out his paper plate and beer bottles. Grabbing his coat, he made for the door.
“I’m leaving.”
Naruto glared before waving a dismissive hand, “Yeah, yeah, get out.” And, with a final scowl, he ran off towards the bathroom attached to his bedroom.
“Idiot.” Sasuke muttered, turning the handle of the door and opening it a fraction.
“Crap.”
The sound of jingling metal hitting the carpet paused Sasuke’s venture into the hallway. Rummaging down the hall caused him to close the door until only a sliver of space remained so he could better hear. Absently, his eyes flickered back to the DVR, recalling how late it was.
2:23 AM.
“Oh, come on, where did I put my keys?”
It could only be their new neighbor – Sakura – and Sasuke curiously peered beyond the door to see her searching through the contents of her messenger bag. Her back was to him, her hair – it was pink – tied up in a messy bun and her petite form dressed in a warm, but stylish trench coat.
It was quite a late time to return home. Perhaps she went out to those lavish parties that Ino always boasted about. Perhaps she attended a club function – it was Saturday – with friends or a significant other.
His hand jerked on the door handle. Why did he care?
“There you are!” Her exclamation was whispered, laced with a fatigued yet triumphant sigh. After a few more moments, the woman was entering her apartment and closing the door behind her with a quiet click.
What a strange woman. Although, Sasuke would admit, she wasn’t a bad neighbor. Since the day he helped her on the elevator he hadn’t seen her since – and none of the music started up again either. He figured that was initially Ino’s doing.
“Uh…What are you doing, Sasuke?”
Sasuke straightened with startle before allowing his annoyance to morph into a glare, which he directed over his shoulder towards the confused blonde.
“Nothing.”
Naruto raised a brow, unconvinced, “Right…” His blue eyes flickered to the door handle in Sasuke’s grip and then to the sliver of space that could view into the hall, “Is someone out there?” When Sasuke shifted from one foot to the other, Naruto’s blue eyes brightened and he grinned, “Is it our new neighbor?”
He bounded forward and yanked the door open, ignoring Sasuke’s irritated protests, and visibly deflated when he only found an empty hall.
“She just got in,” Sasuke sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he walked past him.
“And you were just spying on her?” Naruto whispered mockingly, eyes trained on her door at the opposite end of the hall, “…Is she hot?” He grinned, “I haven’t met her yet. I wonder what she’s like.”
Sasuke shook his head, continuing his way towards his own unit, “Shut up, Naruto.”
Naruto pouted, crossing his arms over his chest just as Sasuke unlocked his door, “Well, good night to you too, bastard.”
Sasuke crossed the threshold into his apartment, closed the door, turned on the light, and exhaled softly.
Uchiha Sasuke didn’t involve himself with his neighbors – and if he did, it was only with a select few.
Naruto was a childhood friend and Yamanaka Ino was someone he met in high school, who wouldn’t take a hint. Her presence only became tolerable when he gave up and just let her do what she wanted without wasting energy on protests.
A few other tenants were business partners or acquaintances whom he might occasionally have drinks with – if Naruto or Ino forced him.
And his former neighbor – Sasori – he never interacted with, at all; unless they coincidentally caught the same elevator.
He had been content with his scarce interaction with Sasori, so he would be content with any limited interaction with this Sakura also.
He headed to the bathroom and heard the pipes running along his walls, no doubt this Sakura taking a late shower after her late night activities. He glanced at the clock above the door and wondered if this would be a frequent occurrence.
title: the condominium
summary: we’ve got a new neighbor in town
date: 07.01.14
prompt: day one – the smell of fresh paint
notes: alternate universe
rating: k
warning(s): none
.01.
The sound of hammering and heavy movement started at around seven in the morning. As an early riser, the commotion didn’t bother Uchiha Sasuke. He promptly readied himself for another day at work, brewed a fresh cup of coffee, and read the rest of yesterday’s paper at his sleek, dining room table until his scheduled time to leave, at half past eight, sharp.
A little annoyance rose when he had been shaving at the bathroom mirror as a particularly loud noise on the opposite side of the wall caused his cabinet to shudder and his right hand to jerk, dangerously close to slicing his skin. Another fraction of irritation was added when obnoxious music started to play, interrupting his quiet morning – although muffled, it wasn’t something he was accustomed to as he tried to tranquilly peruse the fine print of his Konoha Chronicles.
Sasuke was aware that a new neighbor would be moving into the unit beside his – 703 to be exact – and he was only slightly curious as to who that person would be. The resident before had been a quiet man – Sasori – who moved to Sunagakure to continue his schooling. At least, that’s what his other neighbor – and self-proclaimed best friend – Uzumaki Naruto, had shared only a few weeks ago.
Dark eyes glanced out the window of his apartment and he watched the sun languidly ascend above the waking metropolitan that was Konohagakure no Sato. His balcony – situated on the seventh floor, out of twelve – had an amazing view of the city. And, indeed, it certainly was a view he paid for in order to live quite so comfortably. The complex was built only a few years before, standing on a high hill nearer to the city’s perimeter. The neighborhood was quiet and its residents were quite well-off.
Which made Sasuke slightly intrigued as to who their new neighbor was. Konoha Condominium was filled with popular figureheads and idols. Most were young and were raised by money; and others were brilliant and worked commendable jobs. A number of models inhabited the building, a few political figureheads; some had ties to the administration of justice, others were self-made entrepreneurs, and he also recalled a five-star chef – it was an interesting variety of people.
And Konoha Condominium made absolutely sure that its residents were happy – including high security for their high-profile tenants allowing for their necessary and desired privacy.
Although, Uchiha Sasuke would frustratingly admit, that with such strong personalities collected in one place, it wasn’t surprising when drama would spontaneously erupt between them.
Personally, he did his best to stay out of it.
Noticing the time on the black clock hanging on his wall, Sasuke neatly folded his paper up and grabbed his keys. As he exited his apartment the sounds of hammering and pop music grew louder, echoing down the carpeted, dark-green hall. He locked his door, just as 701 opened.
“Morning, Sasuke.”
Sasuke turned to regard the tall man who was standing at the door at the end of the hall, on his right. He was rubbing sleep from his blue eyes and stifling a large yawn, shirtless and with only a childish sleeping cap and bright, orange pants as his form of modesty. He sluggishly bent down and picked up his bundled newspaper before squinting to see beyond Sasuke, towards unit 703.
“I guess the new neighbor is finally moving in.”
Sasuke half-shrugged, “Aa.”
Uzumaki Naruto grinned, “Who do you think it is?”
Sasuke sighed, turning away towards his left and heading towards the elevator, “I don’t care.”
He could imagine Naruto rolling his eyes at his retreating back before hearing the sound of the door closing seconds later.
Uzumaki Naruto – he was a current student of Konoha University, studying politics to follow in his father’s footsteps, Mayor Namikaze Minato. Sasuke knew him since elementary school. Middle school was spent in Otogakure for Sasuke, but when the Uchiha returned for college, their unorthodox friendship continued where it had left off.
Pressing the down button for the elevator, Sasuke patiently waited, absently checking his phone for any new emails. The smell of fresh paint caused his nose to itch and he scratched at it with a grunt. The music resonating off the narrow hallway suddenly switched to a lowered bass song and his dark eyes slid to the opened doorway, at the end of the hall, with a frown.
The new neighbor was lucky that their walls were thick and that there were only three units per floor. Naruto could sleep through anything but Sasuke could not. If the rest of this person’s residency was going to be filled with obnoxious noise he would undoubtedly file a complaint – or confront the individual with his irritation.
DING!
The elevator doors slid open, the hammering abruptly stopped, and footsteps quickly sprinted towards him.
“Hey, Sakura–!”
Sasuke paused from entering the carriage as a slender, young woman leaned against the door frame of 703; her grey-blue eyes alight with evident excitement. However, when they landed on Sasuke, she chuckled sheepishly and offered a small wave.
“Oh, morning, Sasuke.”
Sasuke entered the lift, “Hn. Ino.”
And, just like Naruto, he could imagine her grey-blue eyes rolling as she swiped her blonde bangs from her face, while the elevator doors smoothly closed in front of him.
Interesting. Yamanaka Ino already lived on the tenth floor. This possibly meant that she was helping their new neighbor move in. And the name she called – Sakura – also implied that his new neighbor was a woman. Additionally, Yamanaka Ino was a renowned model of Konoha – perhaps a friend of hers, another model, would be moving onto his and Naruto’s floor?
Pushing his hands into his pant pockets, Sasuke felt that was enough information for the day, and patiently waited for the elevator to bring him to his desired destination.
DING!
The elevator doors slid open and he was immediately greeted by boxes. He stared; allowing his gaze to wander over three medium-sized cartons marked K-Haul and neatly scribbled with the words Books, Pillows, and Sheets. Two petite hands clutched the underside of her load – decorated with one ring on her right-hand thumb – and smudged with yellow and blue pigments.
“Is someone there?” Her voice was soft, filled with a little struggle, but mostly muffled by the boxes that obstructed her face from view.
Sasuke grunted, side-stepping past her as she maneuvered her short self onto the lift, the smell of paint following her. This woman was probably his new neighbor. She was quite small to be carrying so much – quite small to be a model too.
“Sorry, stranger.” She chuckled sheepishly, leaning against the back bars to help support the weight she carried, “Um, do you mind pressing for the seventh floor for me, please?”
She seemed to be trying to shift so she could see him – he presumed so she could, somehow, physically convey her request and her gratitude – but all he could see was her hair – pink hair? – off the reflection of the gold wall behind her.
An exotic model, perhaps?
Sighing, Sasuke pressed the indicated number, “Sure,” and watched it light up before stepping out of the lift. As the doors closed, her fingers twitched and wiggled in an attempt at a poor wave, before disappearing behind thick metal.
“Thanks a bunch!”
Spinning on his heels, Uchiha Sasuke returned his hands to his pockets, walked through the fancy lobby, and exited Konoha Condos into the brisk, sunny morning, the smell of fresh paint lingering upon his senses.
Prompt: The Smell of Fresh Paint
Event: SasuSaku Month 2014
Date: July 1, 2014
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Rating: K
Warning(s): None
Note: Post-War
The Smell of Fresh Paint
“Isn’t it perfect?”
Sakura grinned widely as she lifted her hands in the air and basked in the sunlight streaming warmly through the opened windows. She was surrounded by several packing boxes and scattered sets of furniture, which were covered by sheets of white cotton. Standing near the doorway, Naruto grinned just as widely – finding Sakura’s excitement to be contagious – while Sasuke leaned against the bare wall separating the living room and kitchenette, observing the kunoichi’s child-like glee with a raised brow.
“This is so…exciting!” Her emerald irises gleamed as she looked around the space, jumping between boxes, rummaging through her things, and finally unpacking the picture frame of Team Kakashi in their genin days to proudly set upon the mantle of her fireplace, “Perfect!”
“This really is a nice place, Sakura-chan!” Naruto offered as he removed his hands from his pant pockets and looked around. He moved towards the window and glanced out towards the street below, “Nice neighborhood too.” He grinned, “Sure you don’t need a roommate?”
“Nope!” Her response was sung, still brimming with delight as she removed another picture frame – containing an image more recent and with additional members to their family – and set it beside the first, “I am going to enjoy my independence to the fullest! I will cook for myself, come home as late as I want, do whatever I want, and decorate however I want and–Can you believe it?” She whirled around, eyes wide and shining as she clasped her hands together, “I have my own apartment! I’m paying for it myself!” Her smile turned softer, a little more self-reflective, “I’ve started my life as an independent adult.”
Naruto gave a small half-smile and Sasuke curiously observed the expressions that played across Sakura’s features. As boys who had lived alone the majority of their lives – not by choice but by circumstance – they couldn’t empathize with Sakura’s eagerness to live a life in solitude. Though they understood the need for freedom – liberation – both Naruto and Sasuke had left Konohagakure no Sato to uncover their respective potentials, trading the comfort of camaraderie for their own self-discovery.
This seemed to be Haruno Sakura’s form of personal growth – to leave the shelter and company of her parents and become a stronger person on her own.
Sakura, who had noticed her teammates’ silence and contemplative countenances, allowed a softer smile to tug her lips, “You know…Weekly dinners, movie nights, hangouts…You guys can come over whenever I’m not exhausted out of my mind. I’ll even give you both an extra key, just in case and for emergencies.” She pointed at them and narrowed her eyes, “Just remember to knock first before you come barging in.”
Naruto chuckled, “That’s very nice of you, Sakura-chan.”
She shrugged before delving through another packing box, “Just because I have my own apartment doesn’t mean I want to isolate myself. In fact, without having to worry about bothering my parents, there’s a lot more freedom for me to invite people over.” She smirked, “Stay the night for all I care.”
“So you won’t get mad if I come over to raid your ramen cupboard?” Naruto asked as he fished a packet from one of the bags near the kitchen entrance.
Sakura paused in her unpacking and stared at Naruto with innocence, “Did I mention that I have some pretty thick walls? So, should I ever decide to clobber someone, their screams won’t do a thing to help them.” She shrugged again before resuming her activities, “Just saying.”
Naruto gulped, glanced at Sasuke to see him smirking, and dropped the ramen packet back where he found it, “Well – ehrm – anyways, did you need help with anything else, Sakura-chan?”
Sakura shook her head as she removed several buckets from a box and set them on the floor, “Your muscle labor has been fulfilled, boys. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon; I think I’ve got the rest covered.” She grinned, “Thanks again for helping me move my things!”
“Of course, Sakura-chan!” He offered two thumbs up, “No problem at all!” He made for the doorway with a wave, “Let me know if you need anything else! I’m going to see if Hinata-chan wants to get lunch!”
Sakura smiled, “Have fun!”
“Thanks!” Naruto opened the door and glanced back at Sasuke, who was still leaning comfortably against the wall, “You coming, Sasuke-teme?”
Sasuke watched as Sakura continued to remove tin pails from a box, which was soon followed by a bundle of brushes. He shook his head.
“I’ll stay.”
Naruto looked between the two – Sakura tying her hair up and Sasuke watching her in silence – and grinned knowingly, “Alright; see you later!”
When the door shut, Sasuke pushed away from the wall and walked towards Sakura. She was humming a little tune, her right forefinger bordered in green light as she circled the digit along the top of one of the tin cans. After a few seconds she effortlessly popped off the cover to reveal butter-yellow paint.
“Yellow?”
Sakura glanced up at him, a single brow raised, though unsurprised by the Uchiha’s presence. Beaming, she stood up straight and grabbed a paint brush from one of the opened boxes, spinning the tool with nimble fingers.
“Yellow.” Her confirmation was accompanied with a smirk and a shrug, “It’s pretty.” She removed another paint brush and waved it, her smile growing playful, “Would you like to help?”
Sasuke wordlessly took the brush – earning a bright grin from Sakura – and followed her lead as she began to unfold white sheets onto the floor.
“And I’m thinking the bathroom will be light blue,” Sakura continued as she lined the cans of paint closer to the wall, carefully dipping the bristles into the liquid and transferring it atop white. Beside her, Sasuke did the same, “And maybe I’ll make my bedroom bright pink!”
Sasuke faltered, glancing at Sakura with a frown, “Pink? Bright pink?”
Sakura grinned impishly, excitement dancing in her eyes, “Pretty, right?”
“Bright,” Sasuke repeated, his voice a low mutter as he returned his attention onto the wall he was painting.
Sakura chuckled, “I like bright!” She rolled her eyes, “Besides, it’s my apartment – I can do whatever I want.” She pouted and turned a light glare on him, “Why? What’s wrong with pink, Sasuke-kun?”
Sasuke sighed, “There’s nothing wrong with pink, Sakura.”
“You’re darn right there isn’t.” She smirked as she dropped her brush into the yellow bucket before opening another tin with a few chakra-enhanced taps. Uncovering it, she tilted the pail for Sasuke to easily view, “It’s nice, right?”
Sasuke twisted his head to regard the strong-smelling liquid, raising a brow as he looked at the vivid coloring. It was very pink – a few shades darker than Sakura’s hair – and looking at it made his eyes slightly burn.
“You don’t like it,” Sakura snorted, judging his facial expressions critically.
Sasuke turned away, resisting the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose, “I didn’t say that.”
She laughed, “But your face did.” She shrugged, stood back up and resumed painting with the soft butter-yellow, “Maybe I’ll hold off with the bedroom.”
“Why?” The Uchiha glanced at her, absently noticing a smear of yellow across her left cheek, “It’s your bedroom. Do whatever you want.”
“I don’t know,” Sakura smirked, a teasing lilt in her voice, “Living on my own now, having unlimited amount of freedom – I guess I need to consider any visitors I’ll invite over – wouldn’t want them to judge me based on my bedroom color.”
Sasuke instantly halted his task, turning towards her with narrowed eyes, “What kind of visitors?” Bedroom visitors? Why the hell would she have any other bedroom visitors?
Sakura giggled, “Well, Ino-pig would probably complain that I didn’t choose purple instead.” She tapped a finger against her right cheek, “Naruto would probably suggest orange.” She pointed at him, “And you…” She trailed off, shrugged, and continued painting.
Sasuke frowned, “What about me?”
Sakura innocently tilted her head and grinned, “Sasuke-kun…Will you get in the mood surrounded by so much pink?”
The tenor of her voice, the hooded look of her eyes, the smirk forming on her lips – Sasuke lowered his paintbrush – and instantly matched her expression.
“Although, if I recall correctly,” Sakura hummed as she covered up another spot of white, “You were in quite the mood playing with, and pulling on, my hair a couple of nights ago – so I guess you don’t mind pink that much.”
She glanced at him and used her free hand to flirtatiously twirl a strand of pastel-pink around her forefinger.
A sudden clatter sounded and yellow paint splattered across the sheets laid out on the floor, Sasuke’s brush halfway sunk in the pail. Sakura raised a brow when he stepped closer and grabbed her brush, treating it the same way he treated his – causing yellow to splash across their clothing.
“Sasuke-kun!”
“Where’s your bed?”
Sakura laughed incredulously, “I’m sure Naruto put it in the bedroom?”
Sasuke smirked, wrapping his hands around her waist, “You said thick walls?”
“Yes, but–wait, hey! Sasuke!”
“Perfect.” The Uchiha had picked her up, hooking his right arm under knees and using his left arm to support her back. Swiftly, he maneuvered them through the maze of unopened boxes while Sakura laughed, half-heartedly squirming in his grip.
“Sasuke-kun! We have to finish painting!!”
Sasuke shook his head, pushing open the bedroom door with a smirk, and absently satisfied of the white-washed walls that greeted them.
Prompt: Swoon
Date: June 12, 2014
Fandom: Naruto
Pairing: Uchiha Sasuke x Haruno Sakura
Note: Post-War
Swoon
Click.
Sakura twitched, brows furrowing above closed lids and lips pulling into an automatic frown as her body shifted, burrowing deeper into the warmth of her pale-blue comforter to escape the sudden chill in her bedroom. Her knees pulled up, one arm sliding under her pillow while the other curled her blanket comfortably around her shoulders.
Shrrrrk.
Sleep was steadily being chased away and Sakura jerked between her sheets when a soft bump interrupted her dreams. Moaning – because she was tired and had just gotten home from a week-long mission – the kunoichi curled into a tighter ball and lazily pulled the covers over her head to muffle the annoying sounds that prevented her much-needed rest.
Self-preservation was clearly disregarded in favor of desperate respite.
Thud.
An irritated growl rumbled from Sakura’s throat, forehead pinched with unconscious annoyance as she pressed her comforter closer to her ear and tried to grasp the fleeting images of a wondrous dream – a dream where she had gone on a vacation on the beautiful beaches of Crescent Moon Country.
BANG!
“Wha–!” Emerald irises snapped open with alarm as the arm under her pillow immediately produced a kunai. She turned towards the source of the loud noise, adrenaline pumping through her veins as she squinted through the darkness towards her half-opened bedroom window.
A dark form was leaning against her dresser – the product of the loud sound – and she scowled upon noticing that some of the items atop had fallen to the floor in a mess. Her kunai remained lifted in defense, regarding the silhouette and raising an eyebrow with the lack of movement or words directed towards her.
“I swear to Kami, Naruto, if you’re here again to raid my ramen stash, I am going to throttle–”
“Saku–ugh.”
Sakura blinked, watching the form shudder before leaning more weight against her dresser, “Sasuke-kun?”
Worry washing over her, Sakura dropped her kunai on her lap and twisted around, blindly reaching for the chain of her lamp and yanking it unnecessarily hard to allow light to flood her bedroom.
“Sasuke-kun!”
He was equipped heavily though his clothing was torn and shredded in several places. A dark purple bruise marred his left temple and his lip was cut. However, the most prominent concern was the hand clutched to his abdomen where blood was steadily dripping onto her cream-colored carpet.
She hadn’t seen him in weeks – assigned to a classified S-Ranked Mission – and this seemed to be the result of it.
“Idiot!” Sakura hissed, “Why didn’t you go to the hospital?” She moved to stand, only to blush profusely when she realized that she was dressed only in her bra and panties.
“Tch.” Another flinch shook his body and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
“And you’re bleeding all over my carpet,” the kunoichi whispered in agony as she wrapped her sheets around her body while rummaging through her nightstand to produce a vial of soldier pills – tired and chakra-depleted as she was, she couldn’t turn Sasuke away now. “What happened?”
“Ran out of chakra,” Sasuke muttered as she swung his arm around her petite shoulders and led him to her bathroom, sitting him as comfortably as she could on the toilet, “Used it all to get here.”
“Injuries?” Sakura questioned as she swallowed a soldier pill and tied her sheets around her body into a make-shift dress. She would keep her modesty because she was going to be professional when healing an injured shinobi – no matter who it was.
“Kunai and shuriken wounds, blunt-force trauma to the head, impaled through the stomach with a broadsword,” the Uchiha murmured listlessly as she began to remove his clothing and throw the bloodied articles into the tub, “Ambush.”
“Did you complete your mission?” Sakura focused on his abdomen first, calling her chakra with a little difficulty before meticulously knitting the skin back together.
Sasuke nodded, “Aa.”
Silence ensued and Sakura could feel drowsiness kick in as she finished with Sasuke’s stomach, making sure the skin wasn't scarred or infected. Her limbs were a little sluggish and as much as she wanted to take another soldier pill, she didn’t want to risk any side-effects – especially when she had taken more than ten during her week-long assignment.
She stood up, walked towards the high cabinets, and reached for a small towel to help clean off the blood. In the process, the sheet protecting her modesty, untied and fell to a heap on the floor. She glanced down at the pile around her ankles and decided it wasn’t worth the exertion of effort – she was damn tired.
So, dressed in only her cotton grey bra and pastel pink bikini cut, Sakura returned to Sasuke’s side, reached over to the sink to dampen the cloth, and proceeded to wipe away the crimson staining his toned abs.
“You’re cleaning my carpet,” Sakura muttered as she stood up, spreading his knees apart so she could stand closer and inspect his bruised temple. She smoothed back his hair to get a better look, combing her fingers through the soft locks, and scrutinizing the injury with a little more intensity – because her focus was waning with fatigue – making sure he didn’t have a concussion. In her peripherals, she could see him staring at her just as penetratingly.
“You’re tired.” His observation was low and the rumble of his voice traveled up his chest and through his skin onto hers. She shivered and she could see his hands twitch against his thighs.
“Bordering on delirious,” Sakura chuckled as she pressed a green-glowing hand to lower his bruise’s swelling – no concussion, thank Kami. She finally locked gazes with him, staring into his half-lidded, just-as-tired obsidian eyes as a small smile tilted her lips, “But I’m glad you’re okay.”
When the bruise was only a small bump, Sakura ran her fingers through his hair again before trailing down his left jaw; then her thumb brushed against his cut lip, healing the red scratch instantaneously.
“…I missed you, Sasuke-kun.”
His gaze softened and his lips lifted a fraction. As the effects of the solider pill faded, Sakura leaned her forehead against his. Sasuke gently maneuvered her so she could sit on his right thigh, right arm wrapped around her bare waist while her left arm curled across his back. The two closed their eyes, tired enough to fall asleep exactly as they were.
But Sakura’s opened bedroom window caused a draft and the woman shivered in her bared state, prompting her to snuggle deeper against Sasuke’s chest and almost causing the Uchiha to jolt off the toilet seat.
Groaning with tire, Sasuke cradled Sakura in his arms and stood up, the kunoichi automatically wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. He sighed, carefully holding the woman by her bottom as he walked towards her bedroom.
“You can stay the night, Sasuke,” She whispered into his neck, “But you still have to clean my carpet.”
He snorted and gently deposited her onto her bed, before sluggishly approaching the window and closing it with a quiet click. When he turned back to Sakura she was watching him, green eyes half-lidded but bright against the dimness of her lamp. Her pink hair was splayed around her, falling across her bare shoulder and over her eyes, her petite figure dressed in only a bra and pink panties. Lying on her side, tracing the curves of her body with his gaze, Sasuke couldn’t help but smirk as he observed her.
She blushed, self-conscious as she blindly reached for her thick comforter, “What?”
Sasuke shook his head, shrugging half-heartedly as he sat down and halted her wrist, effectively stopping her from searching for a cover-up, “Four weeks is a long time.”
Sakura blinked, tilting her head to the side with curiosity, a knowing smile on her lips, “It is.”
He released her wrist and trailed his fingers up her arm, jumping off the crook of her elbow to caress her hip and waist, traveling further up her body until reaching her chin, up her jaw, and tucking a strand of pink behind her ear. The gesture caused Sakura’s cheeks to color the same shade as her hair, green irises tracking his expressions interestedly.
“This is different…” Sakura whispered. His thumb traced her ear and she blushed deeper, “I’m used to you coming here after a mission. I’d heal you and you’d stay over…and I’ll be in sweatpants and it was all no big deal. But now…” Her voice was getting softer and Sasuke was leaning in to hear her better, right hand still in her hair and left elbow leaning against the mattress. “…This is different.”
“I can go,” Sasuke offered seriously, though he made no move to pull away.
“No!” Her reply was quick and she flushed when he smirked, “I like this.” She smiled, reached up and stroked his cheek, “Happy one month anniversary?”
“Aa.” And, despite his fatigue, Sasuke couldn't resist leaning forward and pressing his lips to hers.
Prompt: Excite
Date: May 22, 2014
Fandom: Naruto
Pairing: Uchiha Sasuke x Haruno Sakura
Note: Post-War
Excite
“…She’s pissed at you.”
Sasuke grunted, ignoring Naruto in favor of unsheathing his chokutō and determining the sharpness of its blade. The blonde sighed in response, unzipping his jacket and dropping it unceremoniously to the grassy floor, blue gaze directed warily across the training fields.
“…She’s really fucking pissed at you.”
The ground trembled beneath their feet and Naruto sucked in a sharp breath.
“Seriously, what did you do this time, bastard?” Naruto’s inquiry was hissed, the shaky undertones of fear laced with his raspy words.
Sasuke remained silent as another tremor shook the earth, calmly checking the lapels of his flak jacket and inventorying the number of kunai and shuriken in his side pouch.
“How are you so calm?” Blue eyes darted towards the nonchalant Uchiha before narrowing into accusing slits, “Did you do something? You did, didn’t you?” He pointed a finger at him, brows furrowed, “What’s wrong with you?? You know, other people have to train with her too! I don’t want to die today, thank you very much!”
“Tch.”
Naruto blinked, glaring at Sasuke critically, observing the smooth planes of apathy on the Uchiha’s expression, even when a rougher quake shook the fields, “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
Finally, onyx irises flickered to meet reproachful blue, coolly blinking twice, “You’re being stupid.”
“Am I?” Naruto was quick to retort, brows furrowed suspiciously, “Because I’m not purposefully looking for a death sentence – from Sakura-chan – of all people!”
Sasuke scoffed, “Idiot.”
“Says the one who’s going to get pounded into dust…” Naruto muttered as the Uchiha turned away to prepare for their sparring sessions.
“Alright!” Kakashi stood in the center of the training grounds, one hand raised in the air while the other held his Icha Icha Tactics novel. The older Jounin stood impressively steady despite the shuddering vibrations that pulsed the area, “Let’s begin today’s training.”
Naruto fidgeted where he stood, blue eyes flashing across the clearing. Sasuke’s stare shifted to his arm guards, casually adjusting the straps. Sai stood several yards away, leaning against a wide tree trunk, arms crossed over his chest, and curiously observing the varying behaviors of his comrades.
“One-on-One spars,” Kakashi announced, lone eye flickering to each individual of the area, “Sai versus Sasuke. And Naruto versus Sakura.”
“Shit…” Naruto whispered in agony.
“No.”
The firm refusal paused Naruto from trudging towards his doom and stopped Sai from pushing away from his tree post. The tremors also halted and Sasuke could feel the angry glower being directed at him, instantly causing his veins to heat with excited adrenaline.
Lifting his stare from his arm bands, dark onyx met with burning, narrowed emerald, pink brows creased steeply, and irritation displayed evidently on her sharpened features. Her red vest had been removed, revealing a form-fitting fishnet top and her gloves creaked as she clenched her hands into tightened fists. When their gazes connected, Haruno Sakura’s angry pacing resumed, each step causing the earth to quake beneath her, yet her eyes remained transfixed on smoldering black.
“No.” Sakura repeated sternly, tightening her gloves around her hands, “Sasuke is mine.”
“Oh thank Kami,” Naruto breathed in relief.
Sasuke allowed his arms to drop, right hand curling around the hilt of his chokutō, and staring unabashedly as Sakura stopped her pacing to face him head-on. Her pink hair shifted slightly against the gentle wind currents, her body was firmly positioned to attack, her aura was pulsing with resilient energy, and her eyes were bright with absolute fury.
Blue chakra began to border Sakura’s fist before slithering up her arms with obvious purpose, the quaking beneath their feet intensifying, “You’re mine, Uchiha.”
In his peripherals, Sasuke absently noticed Naruto scurry to a safe distance with Sai, and Kakashi disappear in a puff of white smoke.
This fight would be different compared to the many brawls Sasuke had with Naruto. With Naruto, his excitement was felt towards a fight based on rivalry - simple competitiveness.
But with Sakura - fighting her - his excitement was more...primal. More stimulating; more...arousing - the way her body moved, the way her eyes flashed, the way she challenged him with unyielding strength, both figuratively and literally - he was attracted to it - to her.
She was beautiful in her wild and unrestrained display of emotions and skill.
Widening his stance, Sasuke crouched with preparation, unsheathed his chokutō, and allowed a self-satisfied smirk to grace his lips, “Gladly.”
With onyx eyes hooded with barely-concealed anticipation, Sasuke lunged towards her with incredible speed, just as one of her dangerous arms gracefully cranked back to gain momentum.
As re-awakened adrenaline and heated emotion ignited their veins, Sasuke and Sakura collided with a bang.
Note: I hope this makes sense. And I envision Part 2 with a little (or a lot of, maybe?) smut, because I need to practice…meep!
Title: A Thousand Years.
Rating: K
Warning: Sakura!Pregnant.
Prompt: She finally tells him.
Sorry for my no inspiration xS Final exams are coming TvT
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She had been planning to tell him. She swore. She had. But not like this. Not now. She wasn’t prepared for such huge step. But it kind of just…happened.
Sakura had found out about the baby three weeks ago, and she had been preparing herself for the time when she’d tell him. She had woken up this morning, and thought about it profusely. She was going to tell him. At night when he returned from the mission.
So now, laying on a bed at the hospital –while Tsunade inspected her stomach with her healing technique– was not a good moment.
But Sasuke entered through the door anyway. Sasuke looked at them, thinking, anyway. And she didn’t know what to say.
"Uchiha," Tsunade took off her gloves and eyed him, "has no one ever told you to knock on doors?"
He looked somewhat embarrassed, but didn’t show it. “I just came from my mission.” He cleared his throat, “My teammate is really injured, they said I had to look for you immediately.”
Sakura had her mouth hanged open, as if thinking of what was happening. Sasuke didn’t even pay attention to her.
Tsunade looked at her apologising mentally, and left the room in a hurry.
Sasuke was left looking at her with a strange expression. Then it hit her. She was exposing her stomach.
She reached for the shirt and pulled it down, hiding her belly. “Hey.” He helped her get up.
"What were you doing?"
"She was checking my stomach."
He frowned. “Why? Are you sick?” He was crossing his arms.
She looked at the floor. “No…I just…”
He raised an eyebrow, waiting, serious. But wasn’t he always? The tension was so dense and so noticeable she was sure she could touch it, if it wasn’t invisible.
Now, she said to herself. But it was too hard. Too of a sudden. She didn’t know how to tell him. How would he take it? And, right here? In the middle of a hospital room?
She couldn’t talk, so she didn’t. She took his hand hesitantly and led it to her lower stomach, placing it there gently.
He stared at it for a few seconds, before looking confused. But that shock-kind-of-expression didn’t take long to appear.
She slightly smiled at him, nervous, just when she saw the realisation plastered on his face. “I’m pregnant.”
She had been waiting for this moment. Since she was little. Since she was a genin. Since she started dating him one year ago. She had been waiting.
She remembers how many times she dreamt about little Uchiha children running around her future dream-house when she was merely twelve, on his team.
She remembers how many times he had said he wanted to have babies. Well, not ‘said’, but ‘implied’. He never said it. But the way he looked at children at the park made it obvious. He hadn’t asked for one, he never did.
She remembers. And she had been waiting to make him happy. To give him what he had wished for since the beginning.
She knew she was a little too young. But she was sure of this.
A long silence followed.
"…Sasuke?", maybe now, she was doubting about him. His face had darkened a little bit, his brows furrowed.
Was he hesitating? Was it too much? Did he not want the baby?
She gulped. He spoke.
"You don’t need to have it, if you don’t want it."
He was serious, she could see it in his eyes, but that was it? He thought she didn’t want it?
She hadn’t seen her baby yet, and she already loved it. She placed a hand on his cheek, caressing it.
"I want the baby, you are the father, and we are going to raise it."
'It'. Because she didn't know the gender yet. “Together.”
He stayed like that for seconds. Hours. Minutes. What day was it, again?
But then he smiled, and it lasted a lifetime for her, and two seconds for the world. She would never forget it.
She warped her arms around his neck, bringing him closer, hands placed on her waist not too long after that. “Thank you.”