Summary: Sakura wakes up in the middle of the night, deep in thought. Sasuke wonders what his wife is thinking of.
For SasuSaku Month 2019
Day 7: One of These Nights
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Sasuke feels the mattress rise and he wakes to find his wife sitting at the edge of their bed, her back turned to him. The silk of her robe has fallen to one side, exposing a delicate shoulder and a portion of her back. He remains still and watches as she stands, not bothering to fix her robe, and walks to the open shoji door overlooking the garden. She pauses there, head tilting up, her long hair falling along her back. He continues to observe her as she wraps her arms around herself, seemingly content just looking at the night sky.
He waits for her to move, either to sit on the engawa, or preferably, to go back to bed and be by his side so he could wrap his lone arm around her and sleep while drowning in her scent. But Sakura remains motionless, so without a word, Sasuke pushes the bed covers to his side, stands up, and walks over to her. His wife doesn’t even turn around when she hears his footsteps approaching, nor does her eyes leave the moonless night when Sasuke reaches her side. He turns his head to look at her face, trying to discern her thoughts, his eyes travelling from the seal on her forehead, to her nose, her cheeks, her slightly parted mouth, and finally resting on her bright green eyes so enraptured by the night.
What are you thinking of?
He plants a kiss on her exposed shoulder, and only then does she acknowledge his presence, her head leaning towards his, but her eyes still glued to the heavens. He tries to win her attention by burying his face on the nape on her neck, pressing his lips there, and she releases a contented hum. Then he plants another kiss on her forehead, his lips glossing over her skin and pressing at a spot below her eye then at the corner of her mouth. He hears her sigh through her nose. When he takes a step back, his wife was still looking up at the stars, as if they were words from a book she were reading, her lips tilted into a soft smile.
He looks at her again, silently pleading for her to face him. Seconds pass and she doesn’t, so Sasuke finally glances up at the night sky wanting to figure out what had captured his wife so deeply that she won’t pay him mind. He blinks at the ordinary heavens. The stars are beautiful, he thinks, but they have always been that way. Every night, they make themselves known, and at dawn they start disappearing, only to reappear again at dusk. Still, he can’t help but close his eyes and breathe deeply, taking in the cool, post-midnight air.
“Sakura…” He turns to her.
“Hmm?” She doesn’t.
Sasuke draws her towards him, pressing her back to his chest, gently pulling her down to sit on the engawa. Her legs hang over the grass, and his on either side of her, his large frame hovering over his wife protectively, his palm resting on her thigh, his chin on her shoulder. “Sakura…” he calls again whispering to her ear.
Finally, she turns her head, her nose touching his cheek. She gives him a soft peck before returning to watch the stars, the weight of her body resting on him. He brushes her hair to one side, exposing her neck, and he breathes in her scent. His arm moves to wrap around her, his hand squeezing her biceps, and he pulls her even closer. His wife once again leans her head to his and some of her pink locks fall onto his face. Sasuke notes that her attention was still at the sky above them.
For the third time, Sasuke calls her name again. This time, his tone slightly sounding more urgent. His breath blowing into her ear.
“What is it, Sasuke-kun?”
Her voice breaks the silence of the night and the garden, and it sounded so good to his hears. Subconsciously, he tightens his hold on her.
“What are you thinking of?”
At this, Sakura lets out a light giggle, and she buries herself further into him. Why was her husband being so clingy tonight? “You, of course.”
“But I’m right here.” And to prove his point, he leaves a trail of kisses on her neck. Sakura sighs contentedly. A few moments pass before she speaks again.
“Well… It’s just…” She pauses and Sasuke tilts his head to take a curious peek at her. She was smiling, her cheeks slightly flushed, and her eyes finally peer into his own.
“Just what?” he presses.
Eyes never leaving his, her expression impossibly turns even softer. “I look at you and–”
Sasuke waits for her to continue, raising a brow.
Then Sakura laughs, abruptly turning away from his gaze to admire the stars yet again. Sasuke sighs, amused. In a flash, he is in front of her standing, his figure blocking his wife’s view of the heavens.
If she’s surprised, it doesn’t show. She looks at him with her eyes so full of love and wonder, and he feels his mouth tilting into a smile. He can’t believe this beautiful woman sitting before him is now his wife, and shall forever remain his wife for as long as he breathes and lives. For her happiness, he would do anything.
Sakura rises and puts her arms around his neck. But it was Sasuke who takes a step forward to close their distance. He cups her face with his hand, a thumb brushing her cheek.
“The moon is beautiful tonight, isn’t it, anata?” Their noses are touching now.
And though he knows there is only the light of stars, he answers, “Aa,” before finally capturing her lips in his. He moves his hand to the back of her neck, deepening the kiss. She pulls him closer, the heat on his back rises, and he swears he feels her heart knocking at his chest. She moans into his mouth, the tremors of her body filling him with want and unbearable yearning. And when she whispers his name in between kisses, Sasuke’s body surrenders. Lips over hers, he takes a heavy breath, eyes closed, forehead touching forehead. Unmoving, they remained. The dewy garden air surrounds them like a blanket. It is so quiet that they hear the soft thump of the shishi-odoshi, and the water running through its long narrow tube of bamboo.
After a long while, Sasuke then tilts his head back to get a long look at her face still angled towards him. Her lips are swollen, and her eyes shut. He feels her arms fall onto his waist, her chest rising and falling against his own. He brushes a few strands away from her face, his fingers softly grazing her skin, tucking them behind her ear. His hand dips onto the still exposed skin of her shoulder. He squeezes it lightly, and Sakura opens her eyes.
Sasuke’s breath hitches when green fills his vision which, he is sure, is brighter and far more arresting than what is above them both. What a blessing it is, he feels, that its gaze are fixated on him. Her attention on him. Her love on him. Do the stars know what an honor it is that she looks up and blesses them with her thoughts?
His heart swells and it rises up, reaching his mouth and his own eyes, washing them with gratitude, acknowledgement and of course–he knows–love. Sasuke smiles, and because of her, he finally lets himself be overcome with affection. There is only one thing he could tell her then, so he releases the truth of his devotion:
summary: It’s another night at Konoha hospital when Haruno Sakura is asked to check on the troublesome patient from room 412. She’s tired and busy, but she knows she’s the only one who can check on him.
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She was taking care of her daily piles of paperwork when the silence of the room was suddenly disturbed by the rushed sound of steps coming from the hallway. The rhythmicity, the loud thumps, and the clicking of the heels against the concrete floor told Sakura that at least three people were approaching her. She looked at the clock hanging in the wall across the room, which was striking 3:30am, and she figured they weren’t bringing any good news.
They never do. Especially when she’s enjoying some free time before her shift officially starts.
A sigh escaped her lips, and by the time she dropped her pen, the door of her office flew open. As expected, three nurses stood there, their faces showing concern as they all gasped for air. The pinkette straightened up at the sight, as she was already preparing herself for the worst case scenario. A brutal accident, multiple injured, chaos taking over the hospital… That or—
“Haruno-sensei! We have a problem!” The one in the middle spoke up, her glasses sliding down her nose and her caramel hair falling forward. “We need you right now!"
“Okay, slow down, slow down.” Sakura started, standing up and walking towards them. “What happened? Is anyone hurt?”
“N-No, I mean, I don’t know. Maybe someone is, but I”— She continued, her caramel eyes now averting from Sakura’s green ones.
“Stop blabbering, Chika-chan!” The one on the right said, raising her voice to her friend. “You’re just scaring her!”
“Both of you are!” The other one finally said, adding her pitched voice to that mess. “You should just—"
“Girls!” Sakura finally said, stopping them before her ears exploded. All the three nurses looked at the young medic now, and after taking a deep breath, the pinkette straightened up her face as a clear sign for them to stop that nonsense. “What happened?”
The three nurses were looking a bit apprehensive now— not scared or desperate, as to be expected in a serious situation, but those were certainly not the expressions Sakura would expect from normal emergencies. There was something more there, she knew. Something different than ordinary situations, but just as bad as a lot of people bleeding on the hospital entrance.
They were afraid. And more than anything, Sakura wanted to know why.
“It’s the prisoner, Haruno-sensei… Uchiha Sasuke. He’s escaped.”
At the sole mention of his name, her emerald eyes widened in surprise before softly relaxing. Of all the reasons why, someone could come after her with that face in the middle of the night, the Uchiha never really crossed her mind. After the end of the war, he has been admitted to the hospital— much to Sakura’s insistence— in order to take care of his injuries and run a battery of exams; and if anything, he has been a good patient ever since.
He hasn’t burned anything, he has been nice to the doctors, and for the first time in his life, Sasuke has been following orders. Her orders, to be more exact. Since it was her idea and since he used to be her teammate, Sakura took it upon herself to lead the medical team responsible for him. She signed the papers, prescribed the medications, analyzed the exams, examined him, and of course, she was the one people come to whenever there’s a problem involving the last Uchiha.
Most of the problems, as she’s learned, are not really problems, but since it’s him, well, it becomes a problem.
People were afraid of him. They were afraid he was going to burn the entire hospital down and that he was, in fact, planning to destroy the village as a part of his secret plan. To almost everyone, Uchiha Sasuke was still the criminal that has tried to kill the future Hokage of Konoha, and having an entire medical team that thought like that was quite troublesome. She was probably the only one who was not afraid of him, and that was probably why she had barely gone home in the past few weeks.
Sakura was exhausted, but that didn't mean she could just rest. Not when those three girls were probably thinking Sasuke was about to set the village on fire just because he wasn’t in his room.
A sigh escaped her lips, and after massaging the bridge of her nose, the pinkette decided to speak up. “Are you sure he wasn’t just using the bathroom or anything? Last time he was taking a shower and I walked in on him barely naked.”
“We are sure this time! He’s not there! We’ve checked.”
“Okay… I’ll go look for him then.”
“Should we inform the Hokage that Uchiha Sasuke has escaped.”
“What? No! I-I… I can handle this.”
“But can you handle him?” The one on the left said, her judging, blue eyes never leaving the pinkette. More than the other two, this girl held an arrogant aura towards Sakura and her decisions regarding the Uchiha. The young nurse hated him and whoever stood by his side; and that hatred transcended every professional barrier.
And that was not something Sakura needed in her team.
For the first time since the girls had arrived, the young doctor stood straight, eyeing her subordinate with a serious face. The atmosphere got heavier, and from the corner of her eyes, Sakura could see the other two girls flinching. “I’m responsible for our patient. There’s no reason for any of us to bother the Godaime because of that… But of course, if you want to go out there, then make sure you’re not wasting her precious time.”
After those words and the meaning behind them, the girl shrank right there in the middle of the room. The pinkette, then, took a step forward and towards the door, grabbing her lab coat that was hanging on the back of one of the chairs. She put it on, fixing the collar, and finally turning to the now silent girls with a soft smile on her face. “You girls go get some coffee. I’ll take over now. Thank you for letting me know.”
“Thank you, Haruno-sensei!” One of them said, as they bowed down politely before exiting her office.
Another defeated sigh escaped her lungs, and after taking in a couple of seconds to decide what to do next, Sakura left the room in order to look for her runaway teammate. Even if the girls told her they had already looked for him around the hospital, the pinkette knew better than to simply accept their words and not to double-check all the possible places where he could be. She knew he was still around the hospital— or at least nearby— for she could feel his chakra still looming around. It was faint, since the ANBU had placed chakra-restraining seals on his ankles, but it was still that same essence she’s so used to.
He was still there, she knew. And not only because she could feel his chakra.
She trusted him. As odd as that might sound, Sakura trusted Sasuke just like she trusted him back when they were younger. He might have made a lot of mistakes in the past, but he’s changed a lot after his battle against Naruto. He has opened his eyes to what really matters, and she knows he’s made peace with all his past demons.
Sakura likes to think she still knows him well enough to know when he’s telling the truth. And if he said he was going to stick to her medical recommendations, then she was going to believe him.
As she walked through the hallways of the Konoha Hospital, her emerald eyes were carefully looking for him. She couldn’t really ask around for the whereabouts of a patient like Uchiha Sasuke, so she was trying her best not to look suspicious while doing so.
Her feet dragged her around all the common areas of the hospital, smiling and waving at everyone who approached her to say hello. Her acting skills were on point, for no one seemed to suspect her real intentions. She checked the physiotherapy rooms, the guest room, the cafeteria and even the waiting room; but there was no sign of his spiked hair. It was already 4am and she was looking for him like a mother who looks for her lost child in the middle of the crowd, though, instead of panicking, Sakura was just growing annoyed at him.
He was going to pay for doing this. He was going to pay for running around the hospital like a child, and she was going to make sure he learned his lesson.
Why couldn’t he just stay in his room? It couldn’t be worse than Orochimaru’s hideouts, for crying out loud.
The pinkette grunted, closing her right hand in a tight fist. “Shannarou, Sasuke-kun…" She muttered. She had no idea of where on earth he could be anymore, for she had tried all the places where his presence wouldn’t cause a ruckus. It was like he had disappeared, vanished, like ninjas normally do. Sakura wanted to give up and just get ready for her shift, but she knew she couldn’t, no.
She couldn’t give up.
Not before scolding him for messing her schedule.
The young medic took a deep breath, then, boosting up her energies so she could continue to look for him. For she had already spent a considerable amount of time walking around the hospital like a fool, Sakura figured there was a chance he had already returned to his room. She made her way up to the 4th floor, as her heeled boots clicked their way across the hallway until she reached his room. Room 412, the last of the hallway and quite near the emergency stairs of the Hospital. It was still empty, as expected, with a soft breeze coming in through the opened window. The curtains were dancing to the chilly, autumn serenade; the moonlight painted the ceramic floor and—
Oh…
And so… it clicked.
The window. Of course, the girls forgot to mention that.
“Tch… Shannrou, how could I not think of that?” She cursed herself, shaking her head, as a soft smile graced her tired lips. For such a good ninja, Sasuke had left behind a trail that any genin could follow, and if anything, Sakura believed that was his intention from the start.
He wanted people to know where he was.
He wanted people to know his location within the hospital grounds.
And now that she did, Sakura could only hope for him not to be cold.
A warm feeling took over her chest as she slowly closed the door behind her. The room was once more enveloped by a comfortable penumbra, and as she rested her back against the door, the pinkette felt like a naive teenager about to do something irresponsible again. Even if she was, indeed, going after him because of her job, Sakura couldn’t help but feel excited about meeting him in a secretive place at 4am. She could tell the nurses where he was and she could even ask someone to deliver him a note, but where would be the fun in that?
It was silly of her, for sure, and she could just take the stairs as any other, normal human-being of the hospital, but for once, she wanted to do something different.
For once, she wanted to use the window.
Her teeth trapped her lower lip once more before moving away from the door, and on her way towards her newest exit, Sakura decided to take the spare blanket from inside the closet. She stood in front of the window, then, allowing the cool breeze to play with her pink locks, and in a blink of an eye, the young doctor was already making her way to the rooftop.
Using the structure of the building to get some impulse, she jumped her way upwards, and before she knew it, her emerald eyes were already looking at him as she landed on the rail a couple of meters away from him. His eyes had seen her, she knew, but her presence didn’t affect his calm and serene demeanour. The wind was also playing with his dark locks, and after looking at his clothes, Sakura was happy to have brought the blanket along.
After stepping down from her landing spot, the pinkette started to make her way towards her teammate. A soft smile still decorated her lips, and she took a deep breath before leaning against the rail next to him. “You know…” She started, slowly, as the wind brushed against her cheeks. “Whenever you leave your room without telling anyone, all the nurses of my team come to me saying you’re finally ready to destroy the village. Can you just make up your mind and tell them you’re actually trying to behave?”
“Oh…” He shook his head, ever so slowly, still not taking his eyes away from the lights of the village beneath them. “And do you think they would believe me?”
“Probably not… I guess the only solution is for you to stay in your room, or at least, leave a note with your precise coordination.”
“Aah… I’ll keep that in mind for the next time, then.”
“Tch… You’re impossible, shannarou."
Her emerald eyes were now watching him, and she couldn’t help but be captured by the soft movement of his dark locks as they brushed against his skin. Lately, he seemed to be calmer than ever before, and even if she knew it wasn’t normal for him to be up there, it was good to see the Uchiha dealing with his emotions in a more mature way.
“So…” She started again, her voice lower now. “Wanna tell me why you’re up here at 4:30 am?”
“Couldn’t sleep.”
“Is that all?”
“Is it ever all?"
She simply nodded, noticing he didn’t want to get into the details of what had woken him up in the middle of the night. Sakura would never want to pressure him, especially since he knew he could come to her whenever he felt like it. It was important to give him time to process his emotions, and she was ready to give him all the time he needed to do so.
“Hum…” She continued, then, her voice now a bit softer. "You know, people with insomnia don’t just go to rooftops. They try reading books first, then they go out for a walk. Have you already finished all the books I’ve brought you?”
“Aah.” He nodded. “I’ll return them later.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that…Most importantly, did you like them?”
“They were fine. I didn’t know you were into mystery books.” He sparred her a glance, as to say he was truly interested in her literally tastes.
“Do I really look like a girl who only reads romance books?”
“Hn.” He smirked. “Definitely not.”
“I’ll bring you more tomorrow. Any preferences?”
“Whatever you choose is fine, I guess.”
“Good…”
As her voice seemed to dissolve in the wind, a comfortable silence was set between them. Their eyes were still lingering over the lights below them, and for the first time, Sakura understood why he chose the rooftop, even if so many things happened there a couple of years back.
Even if that was the place that marked the ruin of the team 7, she understood his reasons.
It was calm up there. It felt free, the air felt lighter and the lights illuminating the streets brought them a steady sense of happiness. For someone who was filled with all kinds of problems and responsibilities, just a couple minutes there were already reinvigorating. Seeing the village sleeping so peacefully after months of constant uncertainty brought ease to her heart, and at that moment, she hoped it did the same with his.
She hoped the lights below them were enough to brighten up his darkest nightmares.
The dim lights that reached his face illuminated his mismatched eyes, and she felt her heart skipping a beat. Over the years, she could see, Sasuke has turned into a beautiful man. His face has become more angular, his traces more mature and his eyes— Itachi’s eyes, as he had said during his interrogation— now held no sign of hatred towards the village. The pinkette would be lying if she said his appearance had no effect on her, and the fact that she still had feelings for him didn’t make things any easier for her.
Sakura still loves him, for sure. And her love for him was making her happy to see him growing.
Perhaps, she should just leave him to his thoughts. Perhaps, she should just—
“You’re awfully quiet tonight, Sakura.”
Her eyes widened as her name rolled out of his tongue, and soon, she was brought back to their reality. Perhaps she could stay a little longer. “Sorry… I spaced out. I don’t want to interrupt your time alone.”
“You’re not interrupting anything.”
“Oh, I see…” She smiled, then, as her teeth bit her lower lip. At that moment, she could feel her cheeks warming up.
“Hn, everything is different around here.”
“Well… It’s been a long time since you were home, right? It’s normal for things to have changed.”
“I guess you’re right… It’s still impressing, though. All these lights, the new buildings, the people… Life went on despite of everything that has happened to us.”
“Yeah… Sometimes I feel like those 3 years weren’t just 3 years, you know? Looking back now, it feels a lot longer than that. A lot of things have happened after you two left. We even went to war, Sasuke-kun… Did you miss anything in particular? From the village, I mean.”
“Aah… Believe it or not, but I’ve missed my apartment a lot. I don’t think I’ll ever spend another night in a dark cave ever in my life.”
A wave of laughter took over her, and she saw as his eyes were confusedly looking at her. One of his eyebrows was arched, a pout took over his lips and it was only after she went back to normal that the young medic was able to explain the reason behind her reaction. “I’m sorry, but… Of all things you could’ve missed, I was not expecting you to talk about your apartment so longingly like that.”
“Eh? Why not?”
“I guess it’s just too simple for you, you know? To think Uchiha Sasuke would miss his bed out of so many other things.”
“What else could I have missed?”
“Well, I don’t know… Maybe your favorite food, the hot springs… Basically seeing the sun, in your case… But your bed? Really?”
“Tch… It’s not my fault if you don’t sleep anymore because of your job.”
“Hey, I do sleep, okay? Maybe not as much as normal people do, but that’s because my job makes me stay awake at night.”
“Yeah, right…” He scoffed, clearly not buying her excuse. “When was the last time you went home to sleep in your bed, by the way?”
“… Well… I went home yesterday and rested a bit.”
“How many hours did you sleep, Sakura?”
“… Around 2 hours?”
He shook his head defeatedly at her confession, as his eyes glanced at her. Sasuke was silently judging her at that moment, and even if she was trying to find herself a good argument, she knew he wouldn’t accept it. Ever since he became her patient, the Uchiha has been monitoring her working schedule like a hawk. He didn’t know much about this new Sakura, but if anything, he knew she had turned into a reckless workaholic, who barely went home and who clearly didn’t know when to stop.
So much for the greatest medical ninja of their generation.
“That’s barely a nap.”
“It’s enough.” She said, a soft smile decorating her lips. “Besides, I do get some sleep in my office when I’m not working.”
“You mean on that old couch of yours? That doesn’t count.”
“Of course it does.”
“Tch, you’re still so stubborn.”
“Me? Look who’s talking! You’re just as headstrong as Naruto!”
“Hn. It’s different.”
“How so?”
“It just is. I’m not an idiot.”
“…” She shook her head at his statement, smiling softly at such a mature argument. At that moment, her emerald eyes captured a couple of new lights popping up, a new family probably about to start a new day. People were about to get ready for a new day in Konoha, and she used that moment to check her wrist watch. It was 4:55am. She had five more minutes before her shift started, and unfortunately, that meant it was time for them to end their night.
“Yeah…” She said, sounding a lot sadder than she had initially planned. “I have to. Want me to walk you back to your room?”
“No, it’s fine. I’m not going back just yet.”
“Eh? Aren’t you sleepy?”
“Just a bit.” He nodded, looking at the horizon one more time. “But I still want to see one more thing.”
“Really? What is it?”
“Hn.” He blinked, taking a little longer to open his eyes. “Let’s see if you were right about the sun.”
One, last warm smile graced her lips, as she took a step away from the rail. Even if she didn’t want to go— even if she wanted to stay with him so they could see the sunrise— Sakura knew better than to neglect her responsibilities. People were waiting for her. They needed her down there and she couldn’t simply ignore everything else for that one moment alone with him.
There will be other opportunities, she knew. Once he got out of that hospital, perhaps, she could take a night off and invite him to spend some time with her.
Their time would come, she told herself. And with a nod, the pinkette finally made up her mind.
“Well… Just go back to your room as soon as the sun rises, okay?”
“Aah.”
“And take this.” She started, and before he could turn to face her, Sakura was already covering his back with the brown blanket. She saw as his eyes widened, and at that, she simply smiled. “Stay warm, okay? I’ll go check on you later for more exams.”
“Hn. I will. And thank you.” He said, pulling the blanket closer. Even if he didn’t seem to be cold, he appreciated her gesture more than she could ever tell.
Sakura, then, started walking away from him, towards the stairs. Her heels were clicking against the floor, and her hands were now hidden inside the pockets of her white lab coat. Her mind was already set on the many things waiting for her downstairs, and even if she didn’t want to go, she couldn’t help but feel more motivated.
It is her job, after all.
“Sakura.”
“Eh?” She stopped on her heels, emerald eyes widening as she turned to face him one more time. “What is it, Sasuke-kun?”
“Try getting some rest.”
“Maybe later.” She smirked, biting her lower lip in a childish way.
“Why not now? Isn’t your shift over?”
“Over? Oh, no…” She giggled, turning once more towards her way out. “It’s just about to start.”
“What?!” He snapped, surprised, and at that, the pinkette only laughed.
“Good Night, Sasuke-kun!”
Sakura, then, opened the door, and before it closed behind her, she could only hear him muttering the word ‘irresponsible’. She felt her heart beating a little faster after that, and she couldn’t wait to hear about his experience after he woke up.
A new day was about to begin. She was tired, sure, and she knew she could’ve spent that time getting some proper rest, but at that moment, Haruno Sakura was happy to be awake. She was smiling brightly, saying hello to all of those she met around the hallways, and as she went to grab the files of the patients, she could only hope he could see a beautiful sunrise.
fin.
a/n: After something more serious, I give you fluff XD I really loved writing this one and imagining the whole scenario! Lately, I've been really excited about doctor Sakura fics, so don't be surprised if she shows up in more fics from now on. Also, I'm 100% sure Sasuke would terrorize the nurses XD Enough of me! What did you think of the fic? Please, tell me your opinion! Hope you've enjoyed it!
It was on one of these nights of autumn that she ran away from home and was found keeping shelter at a small village hidden in the leaves.
Running away from the demons that had destroyed her previous home, it was she who managed to get saved by finding shelter thanks to the high priestess of said village.
Even so, not even with all the amount of protection surrounding the home of the high priestess did she come to ease the anxiety she experienced.
She repeated herself that everything would be fine. She would survive on her own while she worked under Tsunade in that small botany. She would gain the knowledge and abilities to heal and treat wounds, and then she would go on her way. There was no need to rush.
They wouldn’t go after her if she kept a low profile.
But maybe one of these nights, she would have to look for a way to repel those creatures that waylaid the darkness.
She was only human after all, and the world she lived in was one filled with more than one species of beings with strengths greater than just physical strength.
In that small hidden village, only a few humans were protected of the dangerous territories that surrounded them with mystical creatures that their immortal eyes did not manage to understand.
Sakura had arrived to said small village on one of those nights where demons chased her away of what once was her home, only to find shelter in the only place where they accepted her to keep her safe: The small botany of the high priestess Tsunade Senju.
Thankful with her act of kindness, Sakura volunteered to be her apprentice and devote completely to the maintenance of the small botany while its owner was in charge of her duties as high priestess to the community of the village.
Her duties went from looking after the herbs, prepare some tonics and solutions, tidy the place, labelling the spices that were grown at the store and order the books of recipes that the owner herself had created with the passing of the years —which, were a lot for someone of the age the high priestess resembled.
Soon the learning became a routine. Quickly absorbing all the knowledge that small but generous place could offer, Sakura had turned into the right hand of the high priestess inside the village, acknowledged by the other villagers to treat any of their needs, she was now ready to face bigger dangers.
She did not count, however, with that danger arriving without previous notice.
On one of those nights of October, when the skies were covered with a mantle of dense clouds and the wind started to blow with fresh temperatures, the bell of the main door from that store ringed while it opened letting in not only the fresh breeze, but rather a presence far more imposing.
“I’m here to see the high priestess” the figure in the shadows spoke demanding.
From the other side of the counter, Sakura accentuated the frown on her brows.
“She is not here at the moment, what is it that you need?” she responded while she turned to face him, previously occupied saving the herbs in their respective shelves behind the counter.
She had noticed how the wind had stopped waving the bell of the store and the branches of herbs hanging above the large window stopped making noise.
Flooded in silence, save from the confident strides of the figure approaching her.
Her hands planted themselves on the counter, searching to anchor themselves in order to avoid falling upon the presence now in front of her.
He was tall, wearing a large coat that covered his dark but fancy attire. His hair was also dark and grown beneath his chin, some strands of hair hiding his face and the faint light guarding a little his factions.
“I need a high priestess, are you one?”
However, it was his voice, that warned her that today was one of these nights, when her skin bristled before the depth of his tone. An augury to something uncertain, something she dangerously wished to discover.
Title: Sasuke and Sakura’s Night Out! // Rating: M (drugs, language) // Summary: Sakura and Sakura don’t get out much, but just one night is enough to make up for a lifetime of staying in. Very much inspired by my love for both the movie booksmart and those memes where it’s like aren’t you tired of being nice? Don’t you want to just go absolutely fucking feral? Yeah, nerd SasuSaku going feral basically // ao3 link
A/N: something to make up for yesterday’s angst, this was a ton of fun to write!! Also why do i keep writing things i dont know about?? Idk anything about the good old mary jane or drugs in general lol but just go with it this isn’t really supposed to make sense
Disclaimer: I don’t own Naruto, Booksmart, or anything mentioned in this story. I’m just a wee speck of dust in the universe
----
“One of these nights we should do something actually fun.”
“Since when did watching movies with me stop being fun? Did you want a snack or something? I saw that post you tagged me in this morning, I guess we can build a blanket fort on the trampoline, but you can’t complain about it being cold.”
Sakura sat up from where she was lounging on Sasuke’s bed, staring at the wall. “Now that you mention it, I could go for some boba. Or an edible.”
Sasuke, sitting in his bean bag, stared at Sakura in disbelief, “do you even know what’s in those?”
Sakura straightened up even more and looked down haughtily, “of course I do. Naruto told me a long time ago. And doesn’t a brownie sound so good right now?”
“Sakura, you got drunk off a few sips of your Aunt Tsunade’s rice wine and you’re telling me you want to get high? We’re about to go to college and you want to fry your brain?”
“We’re about to go to college and we’ve never done anything. Do you know how lame that is?”
Sasuke seemed to contemplate Sakura’s words for a moment before giving her a wolfish grin, sounding every bit the teenage boy he was, “that’s not true. We’ve done stuff. We’ve had sex. Lots of it.”
One of Sasuke’s pillows sailed across the room towards his face, accompanied by a screech, “I knew it, I knew you’d say something dumb! What does it matter when you’re already a stupid boy with no brain. Those ads are totally false, by the way. What’s the harm in trying weed, Sasuke? I wanna try, so you should do it with me.”
Despite being the captain of the speech and debate team, he couldn’t find anything to argue about. He texted Naruto; at least he could trust their “plug” or whatever he’s called by half the school.
Except, they actually couldn’t because he was somehow all out and directed them to Kiba instead.
“Seriously? We’ve known Naruto, like, forever? And he lets us down now? Kiba is smelly and weird. His weed probably...smells like weed.”
Sakura doesn’t let up, “just text Kiba, he’s not that bad. Don’t be lame.”
“What should I even say? Leaf emoji? Side eye emoji? Plug emoji? Is he going to give us a friends and family discount?”
“Sasuke, I know you love using color coordinated spreadsheets to organize your life, but now is not the time. Mention my name. Maybe he’ll give us a hot girl discount.”
“I just sent him ‘weed’ with a question mark. Oh, he already responded. He said come over right now and he’ll ‘give us the hook up.’ Sakura, does that mean he wants us to have a threesome with us?” Sasuke asked with false, exaggerated concern.
That earned Sasuke another pillow thrown at his face (this time it’s his favorite dinosaur plushie) before Sakura gets to her feet and announces with a rather dramatic clenched fist, “get in the car, we’re going to Kiba’s.”
----
“Yooo, Sasuke! Woah! And Sakura? The Kiba Hut is going to have a blessed night if these two legends are here! Come on in guys, we’re having a kickback.”
As Kiba opened the door wider to let them in, a haze of smoke wafted out and the smell hit them like a wall. They had definitely come to the right place.
They saw Kiba’s usual crew, Hinata and Shino, sitting on the couch looking very blissed out already, along with a number of other kids from their school. Sakura checked her phone, isn’t it like 9 pm? Is this late or early for this kind of stuff?
“My guy Naruto told me you’re here for some famous Kiba Hut edibles, and like, welcome to the bake sale, but I’m telling you man, you gotta try the newest from Shino. Shit’s dank, bro.”
The couple turned away from Kiba to look at Shino sitting there with his sunglasses still on despite being indoors. He raised a single hand in greeting, then gestured to a plate of brownies plus something less familiar in front of him. “The new goods or pot?”
Sasuke looked disturbed by the sight and was about to say “neither” before Sakura elbowed him sharply in the side, “we’ll take both!” she cut in with a big smile.
“Adventurous! I fucking love it! Man, you kids are too cute, I’ll give it to you real cheap. You got Venmo?” Kiba pulled his phone out to start the transaction.
Sakura glanced around, they had never been to Kiba’s house before, so this was a new experience all around. She spotted a bowl of water by the kitchen, “uh, can dogs get high?”
Kiba laughed, “you’re probably wondering where Akamaru is! He’s chillin’ in the backyard. He’s cool with it though, he’s a total bro. He’s got hella treats out there, we’ve got hella treats in here. Equality, you feel?”
“For sure, for sure. I’ll just approve the charge now and we’ll be on our way!”
“Not so fast you two! Here at the Kiba Hut, we support tripping out in a safe environment, so you should take Shino’s new-new here.”
Sasuke and Sakura exchange glances. What did they have to lose?
----
Well, for starters, their grasp on reality.
They sat at Kiba’s kitchen table to take what Shino gave them and saved the edibles for later. And it was like nothing they had ever experienced.
“Sasuke. Your eyes are really red. Like not just the whites but your uh, pupil or whatever is the colored part.”
Sasuke rubbed at his eyes, “no they’re not. I can see them. So I know they’re not red.”
“Uhh, okay? They totally are though. And..did your head get bigger?”
“No but yours did. Ha, if only Ino was here. Hey, forehead. Wait—what the fuck, when did we get so small?”
“Oh my god, you’re so cute. You’re so short, Sasuke, you’re so small!”
*A/N: please imagine them as the SD versions of themselves*
Sakura started scooting forward on her chair. “What do we do now? How do we get down? We’re so small. We can’t stay here. What the fuck is going on? What did they give us?”
“It’s so hot in here. What did Kiba say about getting ready to hot box? What does that mean, like sweaty boxing? Where’s our water?” Sasuke looked up to their glasses of water on the table, which seemed miles away in their shrunken state.
“There’s no way we can reach up there. My head feels too heavy for my body, I’ll fall over if we try to jump.”
“Shit. Shit, okay, take your jacket off, first of all, am I the only one melting? Are the walls melting? Just throw it on the ground and to make a cushion. I’ll throw mine down on top and we can jump down.”
“Are you insane? What if we die?”
Sasuke gave Sakura a judgemental look, “we might as well be, I’m so fucking high! Just jump, I’m sure it won’t be that bad. Plus, I’ll go first and I’ll catch you,” he finished with a wink. He threw his jacket down on the floor with a pointed expression. A burgundy cardigan soon followed. And Sasuke jumped.
A voice sounded from below, “it worked! I made it! Jump now!”
Somehow Sasuke’s now doll proportion arms caught Sakura despite her now huge head. He set her down and started looking for the exit. There was no way they could push the kitchen door open, and he didn’t even want to see Kiba at the moment. It was so hot in the kitchen, he just wanted to get out of there.
“Sasuke! There!” Sakura pointed across the kitchen to the backyard. The doggy door.
“Fucking score! Let’s go.”
He grabbed her hand and they scurried across the tile as fast as their little legs could take them. But they needed to climb up a small threshold to get through the door, and the run combined with the heat of the kitchen had really drained them. They exchanged a look. Desperate times called for desperate measures. Akamaru’s dog bowl was full of water.
“Give me a boost!” Sakura told Sasuke as they faced the metal bowl. The way the metal warped their reflection made her feel even more tripped out, if that was possible. She just needed water now.
Sakura climbed up onto Sasuke’s clasped hands, grabbing onto the edge of the bowl. She held herself up on the edge and dipped her head to take a cool, refreshing drink.
Except her mouth encountered strands of white dog hair floating all around the water. She nearly toppled backwards as she tried to spit it all out, “ew, ew! Disgusting!”
Sasuke lowered her and asked as if it wasn’t already apparent, “so I’m guessing I shouldn’t drink the dog water?” She shook her head, “let’s just go outside.”
They walked to Kiba’s lawn and collapsed. It seemed like the sprinklers had just finished their cycle, so the cool, wet grass was a welcome change from the stuffy kitchen. “Sorry for dragging you here. I didn’t think it would be like this,” Sakura spoke quietly. Sasuke was a bit of a homebody to say the least, so when he didn’t have a good time during their outings, she always felt guilty for pushing him too far for comfort.
But he didn’t care as much as she always thought he did, he just enjoyed spending time with his girlfriend. They would both cherish these memories in the future since they were attending separate colleges. “It wasn’t that bad. Makes for a good story, I guess.”
Except the night wasn’t over, because a deep growl sounded from the shadowy corner of the yard.
Sakura bolted up, “Akamaru?!” before Sasuke dragged her back down, “are you trying to get us eaten? Keep quiet and just run!” Sasuke pointed to the side gate and without another word, they made a break for it. They didn’t bother locking the gate up again, too intent on getting the fuck out of there.
Sasuke took one look at his car and said, “nope. I’m not getting in that thing. We’re still coming down and it’s not safe. What if I get a DUI? What if we die? My dad would kill me either way.” Sakura nodded along as they started walking down the street, not another soul in sight.
Konoha wasn’t a huge town, despite never visiting Kiba’s house before, they could easily make their way back. “Hey, the park isn’t that far away. We could go sober up there then come back for your car?”
----
It seemed like whatever Shino gave them had mostly worn off during their walk and their stone bench looked more inviting than ever. They had shared countless moments there, from their first kiss, to their first “I love you”. They even opened their college acceptance letters there. Sakura swung her legs back and forth on the bench, “You know, I still have the edible in my bag. Should we?”
Sasuke ran a hand through his midnight hair, “Jesus fuck, alright. We’ve gotten this far and I know you wanted to try it. We can split it.”
They had been sitting and talking for quite some time when Sakura started giggling more and feeling some type of way. “Woah. Is this why half our classmates came to school high everyday? What have we been missing?”
Sasuke’s eyes were half lidded as he slouched on the bench, “maybe Naruto is actually onto something. We should call him. Haha. Naruto. What a loser.”
Sakura started patting around her pockets to call their friend, “Sasuke. I think I left my phone in my cardigan pocket, which we left on the kitchen floor. Fuck, I’m so stupid,” but she was still laughing a little and Sasuke just shrugged. “It be like that. I left mine too. We can get them later and we can call Naruto later. Life is so chill.”
Sakura smiled, “exactly, it really do be like that. And life is so chill. Like woah. Are you hungry by the way?” Sasuke perked up a bit and nodded, “starving. Ichirauku is just around the corner.”
----
Sitting in the vinyl Ichiraku booth waiting for their cheeseburgers, Sakura was relieved to be somewhere she’s familiar with. But then she spotted a face she’s very familiar with after years of sleepovers and flower shop visits: Ino’s dad. She ducked down started tapping her palm the table, “Sasuke, don’t look, don’t look, it’s Ino’s dad. This is terrible, he’s like a fucking mind reader or something he’s totally gonna know we’re high.”
“Can you stop, he’ll look this way if you keep making noise. Just be chill or something.” He couldn’t help but steal a glance over his shoulder to confirm if it really was Inoichi. “Holy shit, wait. Is that Shikamaru’s dad?”
Sakura craned her neck to see over Sasuke’s head, “it totally is! And they’re with Chouji’s dad too! This is crazy. If they see us they’re gonna tell my mom. And then I’ll be on permanent house arrest.” She sank lower into her chair until her pink head rested on the table.
Sasuke placed his chin on his folded hands. He had endured enough shenanigans for one night, it was time to just wait this one out. Once he got his cheeseburger with extra tomatoes he was ready to go home and knock out.
Except Chouza’s laugh carried across the diner, and so did his booming voice, “just like the old days, right guys? We still get the munchies!”
Sakura perked back up when she heard this, “did he just say the munchies? Oh my god, Sasuke they’re high. They probably smoked weed and now they’re here because they have the munchies. Just like you and me. This night is too fucking weird.”
Thankfully as the trio of dads was about to walk out with their food to-go, the waitress arrived with their order and blocked them from view. The pair ate in relative silence, glad for a moment of calm. But it didn’t last because not long after the dads left, another familiar figure walked in.
“Sakura, you’ll never fucking believe it. Actually just look, it’s Kakashi.”
She whipped around to see that it really was none other than their favorite literature teacher. She waved him over without thinking twice and Sasuke kicked her under the table. “What are you thinking,” he grits out. Kakashi was cool, hell, cool enough to let everyone call him by his first name, but he was still their teacher. An adult who worked for their school. Someone who could totally get them in trouble. Like, worse than detention, and they’d never even had detention.
“If it isn’t my favorite students,” Kakashi smiled as if seeing them outside of school was a perfectly normal occurrence. “What are you doing here?” Sakura questioned innocently, as if it wasn’t well into the night and she didn’t reek of weed.
“Picking up some food,” he answered matter-of-factly. “I could ask the same of you two, you’re normally home studying at this time of night, am I wrong?” Nope, he was 100% correct.
Sasuke chose his words carefully, “tonight has been an anomaly. But I am ready for bed now.” Kakashi nodded, “I see. You look like you’re done eating, so it won’t be long now. Drive carefully.”
The students exchanged a look before Sasuke swallowed his pride and started to beg as best as he knew how, “please, can you drive us home, we walked here from somewhere else and I don’t feel comfortable operating a motor vehicle in my currention condition, if you know what I mean.” Kakashi considered the two of them. They were certainly acting strange. Was Sakura trying to wink at him or was that a nervous twitch?
His eyes crinkled, “one ride won’t hurt, it’s late and what kind of teacher would I be if I left my students out to fend for themselves? I’ll just pick up my order and we can leave.”
----
They got situated in the car, just to find their former elementary school teacher Iruka sitting in the passenger seat. Sakura’s jaw dropped as she looks between Kakashi and Iruka. “You,” she points to the gray haired man, “and you?” she points to the ponytailed man. “Huh,” added Sasuke, “I thought Iruka hated tardiness, but Kakashi is late to class everyday.”
“Honey,” Iruka laughed nervously, “did you not tell your students about us? You always call them your precious students, I mean, I thought you’d tell at least these kids and Naruto.”
“Yeah,” jeered Sakura from the back seat, “what other secrets are you hiding Kakashi?”
“Sakura, shut up, shut up, Naruto texted me to come over now. He has something really cool to show us—or so he says. I wanna see, plus he owes us for sending us to Kiba’s. Kakashi take us to Naruto’s instead.”
Kakashi sighed, “I’ve seen some shit being a teacher, but I never thought I’d become a chauffeur for my students. But alright.” He made a U-turn and headed to Naruto’s. He had been there plenty of times, seeing as Minato was the school principal and something of a mentor to Kakashi.
----
After a car ride filled with the Mamma Mia soundtrack (Iruka claimed it was neutral territory, everyone loves it), they finally got dropped off at Naruto’s. They knocked on the door, ready for whatever surprise Naruto had to show them. When he flung the door open, they had never seen their friend so excited. His blue eyes were sparkling, “hurry! My room!” and he scurried into the house before they could even take their shoes off.
Naruto’s room was already quite a sight to behold considering the orange color scheme and ramen cups littering his desk, but his new orange quilt wasn’t what had Sakura screaming. “Why the fuck do you have a fox? Is that legal? Where did you get that thing?”
The blonde sniffed, “excuse me, ‘that thing’ has a name. Say hi to Kurama. Isn’t he a cutie?” Sasuke crossed his arms. Yup, their best friend had lost his mind. Even the fox’s collar and ID tag were orange. “And just what do you plan on doing with a fox, idiot?”
Naruto considered this for a moment, “I dunno. Didn’t think that far. I got it from this guy I know. Do you think Suna State allows pets in the freshman dorms?” Sasuke pinched the bridge of his nose. Hopeless, he was really hopeless. And then he remembered how Naruto had let them down earlier, but he didn’t think it was because he had acquired a new pet. “What was that all about earlier? How do you not have weed?”
“Oh yeah! I have something else to show you! It’ll explain everything. Come into the basement. Say bye to Kurama first.” Sakura half-heartedly waved at the rather grumpy looking fox in his cage before they followed Naruto down below.
----
There was no way the universe wasn’t fucking with them. “Sai? Why the hell are you in Naruto’s basement?”
“So rude, Saucey-k! He’s my guest, you’re a pest! And he’s painting, duh.” Their very strange and very pale friend was sitting in front of a giant canvas that nearly stretched the entire span of the wall. He was adding details to what looked like a picture of Naruto in a loincloth. He was lounging on his side, eating grapes with one hand, and petting a fox with the other.
“Yeah no shit, I can see that,” Sasuke quipped, “but why?” Naruto huffed at him again, like it was obvious, “he needs money for his college tuition, so I commissioned him to paint me and Kurama. I’m looking pretty sexy, right?” Sakura didn’t bother answering him, “how does this ‘explain everything’, though?”
Naruto snapped two finger guns at them, “oh, right! Sai is an artist. And he does his best work when he’s high. He obviously needed a lot of weed to complete this masterpiece, so I gave him all my weed. It’s like, paying it forward or something.” If at all possible, Sasuke was even more irritated than before. He couldn’t spare a gram for his lifelong best friends, but he could give it all to this guy? Traitor.
“Well, now that you’ve seen it, we should leave Sai to work in peace. Looks amazing, cutie! Kurama, we’re coming back up, did you miss me already?”
---
“Wanna pet him? He’s only bit me six times in the last hour, I think he really likes my vibe or something.” Before either of them could protest, Naruto started opening the cage. “Kurama, come here, come here. Who’s a good boy? Who wants to get pet?” His arms made a circle for Kurama to settle into when the fox started stalking towards the cage door. He pounced through the gap in Naruto’s arms and hit the ground running.
“Kurama, wait! We were just becoming such good friends! Come back here!” The trio immediately chased after the animal, but he was too fast and he escaped out of their doggy door and into the night. They rushed into the backyard just in time to see Kurama leap over the fence and out of the Uzumaki property.
They all plopped down onto the grass and Naruto started wailing, “he’s gone! What did I do wrong? Please, you guys we have to find him!” They definitely weren’t high anymore, they were too tired for this, but they weren’t shitty friends, so they agreed to go look for him.
----
They had even enlisted Sai to help them out. As they walked around Naruto’s neighborhood calling for Kurama, Naruto’s phone started ringing, “do you think Kurama is calling? He wants to come home!” He started excitedly fishing his phone out of his front pocket, “Kiba? Why would he be calling now?” Sasuke and Sakura settled on the sidewalk, expecting some weird conversation between dealers.
“You found him? Holy shit man! Yeah, yeah, I’ll be there soon! Thanks bro!” he hung up the phone and faced his friends, “Kiba found Kurama! Let’s go, we have to go now before Kurama starts missing me too much!”
And they were headed back to the place where the night had begun.
----
Thankfully Kiba only lived a few blocks away because Sakura’s feet were dragging with exhaustion. They were standing in Kiba’s backyard and she leaned against Sasuke’s shoulder as they listened to the explanation. The back gate was mysteriously left open, and Akamaru wandered out into the front yard. He was having a relaxing evening chewing a bone on the front lawn when a fox appeared. It seemed that the fox smelled Akamaru’s treat bank in the back and wanted a taste for himself. When Akamaru started barking like mad, very peeved that some other animal was trying to get at his precious treats, Kiba went outside to see what was going on. He just thought he was hallucinating since he was super high, but it was really a fox.
“And then I saw he had a tag and it had your name and number!” Kiba finished. Naruto had tears in his eyes, “that’s amazing. Kurama probably smelled Akamaru and just wanted a friend. Friendship is so powerful!” He was hand feeding Kurama treats, who looked much more complacent now that he was being fed.
They all made their way back into the house just as Kiba’s kickback was winding down. Sai disappeared into the kitchen for a while, returning with a cardigan and a jacket. “Ugly, this is a terrible color I’ve only ever seen you wear. And your boyfriend is basically attached to you, so I’m assuming this is his.” Sakura reached out to grab them from his hands before settling back on the couch.
“Thanks again, Kiba. I’m gonna take Kurama home now,” Naruto turned to face Sasuke and Sakura. “You two live in the opposite direction. Are you gonna walk?”
“I can drive.” The whole group looked to the front of the room where the voice came from. “Shino?” asked Sakura, “I didn’t even realize you were still here. And aren’t you high?”
“I’m the supplier and the designated driver.” When he offer any further explanation, Sasuke and Sakura shrugged and got up from the couch. Sasuke could get his car tomorrow. A free ride back to his comfy bed sounded wonderful.
----
Sakura had fallen asleep almost immediately when she got back to her own room, not even bothering to change her outfit. It had to be well into the afternoon when she finally woke up. Her head felt fuzzy and her mouth was dry. Was last night even real?
She grabbed her phone out of her cardigan pocket just to find that it was dead. But her pocket also held a napkin, “what is this? I don’t remember putting this in here?”
She unfolded the white napkin to see one of Sai’s signature ink drawings. It depicted Sakura, drawn in red pen, leaning against Sasuke, drawn in blue pen. He even added a bit of background—it looked like the grass and fence of Kiba’s backyard. He must’ve drawn it when he went into the kitchen. Sakura plugged her phone in and flopped back down onto her bed. She stared at the little drawing, wishing she was with Sasuke right now.
So last night was real.
----
A/N: this isnt meant to make nerds feel bad about staying at home. im writing fanfic so i am the nerd at home
SasuSaku Month 2019 - Day 7: One of These Nights || [Fanfic] Family Ties - Chapter 3
Sorry for the really long delay this time. Beside some real-life circumstances, I was hit by a so much dreaded writer’s block. I had the images clear in my mind but at the moment to put them into words, I was incapable, and the little I wrote didn’t seem to make any sense. I hope that from now on, it’ll go smoothly.
As I said before, the SasuSaku Month ended but I’ll continue writing till I finish the story, since I have already written a good part of it. So, I hope you stick with me on this journey ^^
Title: Family Ties: Chapter 3
Rating: T/PG-13
Words: 4909
Notes: There’s a rollercoaster of feelings in this chapter, as well as a few scenes and different points of view. I hope it’s not confusing and everything fits together.
English isn’t my first language so if you spot any mistakes, please tell me. I hope that you enjoy it, and thank you for the notes and follows :)
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CHAPTER 3
Akihiko sat down on the bed of the hotel room he had booked and looked through the enormous window in front of him that overlooked the city, lit with thousands of lights more than usual with the fast approach of Christmas. Almost three weeks had passed since that fateful night when Mikoto and he had decided to give themselves some time apart from each other so he could sort out his feelings, and finally, he had managed to make a decision.
It had been hard to assimilate everything she had told him, to think about what the best solution for all of them was because it was not just a matter of them as a couple any more, but also, of their children. Her youngest son was also a vampire and he would be living with them, and he had a daughter he had to protect at all costs. He needed to know that she would not be in danger, that she would have a normal life until the moment she decided to spread her wings and become independent. Also, he had many questions about her and her circumstances. He had tried to research about them but all he had found were legends and wild assumptions, overblown facts that made them monsters, and she was anything but that. Her face appeared in his mind, her sweet smiles, her words advising him when he was lost regarding his daughter, telling him the truth about her condition... He could not deny that he still loved her, maybe even more than before. He was just unable to imagine his life without her in it.
A knock took him out of his reverie and, after breathing deeply, he stood up and walked to the door. Upon seeing him, Mikoto smiled lightly, but he could see that behind that gesture, she was as apprehensive as he. She was wearing a thick anorak with a hood, trousers and low heel shoes. Her black hair was up in a neat bun, though some wisps of hair had scaped it, framing her slightly pale face. She had told him on the phone that she would meet him after the closing of the department store and seeing the time, it was clear that she had hurried to get there.
“I apologise for making you wait.”
He shook his head and stepped aside, and she entered the room, looking around as she unzipped her coat.
“How are you? he asked, clenching and relaxing his hands, trying to calm himself.
“I'm fine” she put the garment on a chair and turned, smiling softly at him. “And you?”
“I'm well, busy in the office, as always, especially with the New Year approaching.”
She nodded and laced her fingers in front of her.
“I hope you don't mind we're meeting here” he approached the table in the centre of the room. “At the beginning, I thought we could have dinner at a restaurant but...” he paused for a moment. “... I think what we have to talk about is not a topic to discuss in a public place.”
“I agree.”
He combed his hair with his fingers and looked at her, a wavering smile playing on his lips.
“I-I... There's so much I need to know that-”
Mikoto sat down on the bed, resting her hands on her lap and looked at him in the eyes.
“Ask me everything you must know or you're concerned about.”
He nodded and sat down on a chair.
“Maybe it'll take long...”
“Don't worry” her smile was soft. “We have time.”
.
“Sakura?” Akihiko knocked on the door the following morning, calling his daughter's name. “Can I come in?”
Upon hearing her answer, he opened the door and looked at her, smiling. She was sitting at her desk, studying, bathed in the dim light of the early morning sun, dressed with comfortable dark grey cotton trousers and a thick beige turtleneck jumper, and he could not help a smile. She was so responsible and mature that sometimes, it seemed that she was the parent in the family instead of him. She should be the one falling in love, having a wonderful partner and enjoying going on dates. He did not even know if there was someone she fancied. In the beginning, he had thought that she would end up with Naruto, being so close and knowing each other so well, but she had closed that door the day she had returned home worried and in tears after he had confessed to her, fearing that she had lost her best friend forever. And except in that case, Sakura had never been too open with him regarding love, and he supposed it was the normal thing. After all, those were things that a girl shared with her mother. She had talked about singers, actors, gushing about them and even taking control of the television when one of them was on it, and even about one or two boys of her school but it had been clear to him that it had not been anything serious. He had never known if there had been someone she had fancied seriously at one point.
“Is something the matter, dad?”
She was looking at him with curiosity and he shook his head, scolding himself for spacing out so easily.
“Sorry...” he approached her and looked over her head. “So, how are you doing?”
“Well” she smiled and swung a bit in her swivel chair. “I finished studying the content of each subject a while ago and I've started reviewing the most difficult parts...” she paused for a moment and put a strand of hair, loose from her short ponytail, behind her ear. “To tell you the truth, I'm a bit restless since the exam date is approaching but I think I'll be fine...”
He nodded, putting his hands in the pockets of his trousers. She had talked about a few universities that she wanted to attend to, but none in particular, but that did not worry him too much. Opposite to other parents whose only aim was for their children to go to a prestigious college, he only wanted her to be happy studying to be a doctor, her wish since she was a child, and he had left the choice of place to her. As her homeroom teacher had assured him in their last meeting, with her academic record, she could aim for any of them.
“Anything else?” she tilted her head as a slow smile started to play on her lips. “Because I think your interest in my studies isn't the only thing that brought you here.”
He lowered his head briefly and tried to suppress a small smile. Nothing scaped his daughter’s intuition. He sat down on the bed and cleared his throat before starting.
“That's true...” he gazed at her. “Mikoto-san and I are going to get married...”
Feeling a slight oppression on the chest as a fleeting image of her mother crossed her mind, Sakura stared at her father for a moment. She swallowed. Finally, it was happening, and though she had been the one to encourage him and had had time to assimilate the idea, it still felt like a blow.
“Both of us had our big ceremonies so we've decided that the wedding will be very simple” he was saying when she recovered a bit. “We'll register our names and give a small party for our closest relatives and acquaintances.”
He was wringing his hands nervously and, as he looked at her, she could see hope and eagerness, and at the same time, a faint glint of insecurity, of fear, and she smiled, knowing that it was for her, because deep down he knew that she had hoped that his devotion for her mother would have lasted forever. And for that, and for putting her above everything else in his life, her affection for him could not be greater.
“I'm really glad for you, dad.”
He extended his hand to her and, looking a bit puzzled, she put hers in his palm.
“I want to assure you that I still love your mother, deeply, like the first day I met her” Sakura felt a knot in her throat and her eyes filled with tears. “Mikoto-san is not going to replace her in my heart or in this house...” he tightened his hold. “I know I'm being selfish, it's a bad time for changes with your exams so near-”
“Dad” she interrupted him softly, rubbing her eyes with her other hand. “Are you happy?
Akihiko gazed at her for a few seconds. She resembled her mother so much, and not only physically, and she was looking at him with so much love that in his mind he felt as if his first wife was paying him one last visit to give him her blessing. He brushed a lone tear which had fallen on his cheek and then, he smiled shyly.
“Yes, I am.”
She squeezed his hand and smiled sincerely.
“Then, that's all that matters.”
“Thank you, Sakura.”
They stayed like that for a while and then, breathing deeply, Akihiko spoke again.
“There's one more thing... We... don't want to wait too much and since Mikoto-san's apartment contract expires at the end of the year...” her heart raced in her chest. “She and her son will move in during the New Year holidays.”
Her mind tried to argue that it was too soon. She had barely had time to assume the situation and now, in two weeks, her tiny family would welcome two more members. However, her heart full of emotions shut its whispering voice. His happiness was above all. Her jaw trembled a bit and she clenched it instinctively, so her father would not realise.
“Th-That's fine” she chuckled briefly. “Though we have lots of things to do before that...”
Akihiko nodded and stood up, a relaxed expression softening his features. Sakura closed her eyes and exhaled, repeating to herself that it was for the best, repressing the urge to cry. There would be time for that later when she was alone. He was about to turn to leave the bedroom when he seemed to remember something. “By the way, do you have plans for the twenty-fourth? I know it's a special date...”
She laughed and shook her head.
“My friends were talking about having a party, but it'll probably be another day so the couples can spend their time together. I'll probably have a very nice rendezvous with my textbooks.”
“Well, then, I think I have a small surprise for you. We decided that it would be a good idea for the two families to have dinner together that day... I convinced Mikoto-san to have it here, at home.”
Sakura opened her eyes widely and turned her head, looking anxiously at the calendar on her wall, next to her desk.
“But that's next Saturday!” confused, he saw her take out a small notebook from one of the drawers. “And, there's so much to organise...”
“Sakura?”
She muttered something as she scribbled furiously on one of the pages and then, she looked at him, her eyes glinting determined.
“I'm sorry, dad, I know tomorrow is your day-off, but we need to clean the house.”
.
Mikoto examined her sons' faces and, deep inside, she sighed tiredly. She had not expected them to be exultant with the news she had just announced to them but at least, they could be tolerant with her decision. Itachi, the oldest, was regarding her calmly, none of his thoughts reflected in his sharp features. He was the one who looked the most like her ex-husband with his facial expression lines and his stern expression. Sasuke, however, resembled her. He had her big eyes and slightly round cheekbones, and his character was similar to hers too. At least, before. During his childhood, he had been cheerful, affectionate and sociable but at that moment, his furrowed brows, his lips pressed in a thin line and his disapproving pupils were the same as Uchiha Fugaku's every time they argued in the last years of their marriage.
“I'm not asking for your consent, just your understanding...” she breathed deeply and tightened her joined hands on her lap. “I know it's something difficult to accept, but...”
“I'm fine with it.”
Mikoto looked at her eldest son a bit perplexed, not really expecting that reply.
“But Itachi!” Sasuke intervened, breaking his silence. “He's a human! Humans are food, we don't marry them. The clan-”
“Sasuke” Mikoto replied calmly. “I don't belong to the clan anymore” her son frowned and looked aside. “I understand your position but you know that this has happened before, and not to outcasted members like me.
She saw him clench his jaw, as even he, being so young, knew that it was true. Despite all of them being brought up to feel superior and prideful of who they were and it was taboo to speak about the topic, there was a considerable number of them who had fallen in love with humans, leaving the clan voluntarily, and rumors about important members who still belonged to it and led a secret life with human partners. She knew that her wedding would cause an uproar, especially because Sasuke was the clan's head youngest son and he still lived with her.
“He's a good man, educated and kind” she smiled lightly. “He made sure I was the one making the decision, he wanted me to talk to you before answering. And he assured me that nothing would change if I refused his proposal” he still had his head low and she sighed. “I'm not asking you to love him or pretend to do it. I'm just asking you not to ignore or look down on him, to get on with him. I know that once you'll turn eighteen, you'll go back to live with your father but until then...”
Sasuke stayed silent a bit more. He was sincerely trying to feel even a bit happy for his mother. It had been a long time since he had seen her eyes spark like that, even though she had become serious the moment he had reacted to the news. However, he could not find it in himself and he was not one to feign his feelings. Since his parents had divorced when he was fourteen, deep inside he had hoped that someday, they could be together again and they both would return to the clan. It was their home, their family, their place. And, even though he had continued bound to it, being the youngest son of its leader, his mother had immersed herself in the human world with her work and her friends. And now, she was taking one more step into it by marrying a common man.
He looked at her. She was gazing at him, serious, determined. He had only seen that expression on her face a few times, the last one when she had decided to leave her old life behind and, as before, it would not matter what he said or complained about, he knew that she was going to do it.
“I understand” he mumbled.
Itachi had watched his brother's struggle with concern and for a moment, he had dreaded that he would say he wanted to live with their father. Since Sasuke had been a child, he had sought his recognition, being always in his older brother's shadow, and he had witnessed how he had strived to meet all expectations and overcome difficulties. He had tried to make his days more bearable spending as much time as possible with him, helping him or playing with him. However, after the divorce, and despite Sasuke still attending the same prestigious school and spending three days a week in the main house, things had become strained, being watched for the slightest mistake on his part. And now, their father was more demanding, sterner, probably for Sasuke's own good. However, he was still a child, his character was more sensitive, and he feared that one day, he would break. He needed to stay with their mother, at least until he finished school. And maybe the experience of living close to a human could do him good.
“Does he know?” he asked, crossing his arms. “I mean, about... us.”
“He does” both brothers looked at each other, disconcerted.
“And he still wants to marry you?” Itachi lifted his brows in a sceptical gesture. “He truly must be amazing. Not many humans are able to accept us so easily.”
“It hasn't been easy for him” Mikoto half-closed her eyes for a moment. “He had many questions and was a bit insecure, but he decided after we talked about it at long length. The only condition he has is to keep it a secret from his daughter.”
Their eyes widened, surprised.
“A daughter?” Sasuke blurted. “He has a daughter?”
“Yes. She's still in high school.”
“So” Itachi smiled to himself as he leant back in his seat. “We're having a sister...”
.
Three times a week, Sakura met her friends at lunchtime on the school rooftop and the coldest months, on the stairs which led to the highest floor. Otherwise, it was difficult that they could see each other during the morning, as she, Tenten and Neji were in a different year, and even more in the afternoon, between their club activities and the entrance exams.
As they all sat on the steps, talking excitedly about Christmas and other events, Sakura was glancing at her food pensively. She had decided that it was time to tell them about her father's wedding. It was just a matter of time that they heard about it and she preferred to be her the one to announce it.
“Sakura-chan, are you listening to me?”
Naruto brought her back to reality and Ino laughed lightly, her eyebrows lifted as if telling her that she was guessing what had her so distracted that day.
“Sorry, I have a lot in my mind today...” she picked up a piece of broccoli from her lunch box. “What were you saying?”
“It was about the football match this Saturday, we play against Morigaoka and we're so going to beat them. Sai promised that if I score seven times, he'll forget that I overslept this morning and missed the meeting we had...”
He laughed sheepishly and some of them sighed loudly. Only Hinata showed him some support by patting his hand softly, her cheeks red as apples.
“So, are you coming to cheer us?”
She swallowed and put her chopsticks down.
“I'm sorry, I can't.”
“Oh, come on!” he pouted. “Studying so much is going to melt your brain.”
“It's not that” she breathed deeply and lifted her head, regarding all her friends. “I have to tell you something.”
The seriousness in her voice made all of them become silent and turn their attention to her.
“I've waited to tell you because... well, it wasn't sure but now, it is... My father is remarrying.”
.
The day had been exhausting, but she had managed to finish organising and cooking before the time. Sakura looked at her reflection on the mirror once again, smoothing out her light blue dress carefully, making sure that the dark ribbon which fastened it at the back just below her chest was well tied. Then, she took a headband with a bow and tried it but she took it off immediately. One thing was to make a good impression and a very different one to look like a doll. She gathered her hair at the nape of her neck with one hand and turned, seeing it from different angles, but that did not convince her either.
“Sakura?” a knock on the door startled her. “It's almost eight. Are you ready?”
“Give me one more minute.”
She brushed her hair quickly and grabbed another headband with three navy blue roses whose seed was a small pearl. She applied some gloss on her lips and put a thin chain with a silver cross pendant around her neck, her father's present for her fifteenth birthday. After a last glance to the mirror, she went out of the room and ran down the stairs.
Before she had gone upstairs, she had set the table and in the middle, she had put a centrepiece she had made with poinsettia and holly and two golden coloured candles. It was Christmas Eve, after all.
As she checked once more that everything was in place and that the meal was almost ready, she found Akihiko fidgeting nervously with his tie as he looked at the clock on the kitchen wall.
“Here, let me” she said with a light laugh, straightening the knot and the neck of his shirt. “Everything will be fine” she said looking at him lovingly, letting her hands rest briefly on the lapels of his jacket.
The moment was broken by the chiming of the bell, and he breathed deeply, giving her daughter a last smile before going to the door. Sakura closed her eyes for a moment, pressing her lips, and then, followed him.
She was even more elegant and refined than she had imagined. Mikoto was wearing a dark grey coat under which Sakura could glimpse a dark red suit. Her features were delicate, enhanced by a light make-up, and her black hair was tied at the back of her nape with a beautiful hairclip.
“It's a pleasure to meet you, Uchiha-san” she bowed formally, hoping her smile did not falter her at that moment, when her father introduced her.
“The pleasure is mine, and please, call me Mikoto” she answered her gesture with one of her own. “These are my sons, Itachi and Sasuke.”
As she was ready to bow again to the two men that would become her brothers, her gaze falling on them as Mikoto stepped aside, she felt her smile freeze on her lips.
In front her, next to a tall man with his long hair tied in a low ponytail, who smiled pleasantly at her, it was the person she had least expected to see in her house that night. As the boy of the train glanced at her, a knot suddenly closed her throat and her heart thundered in her chest. However, he showed no signs to recognise her.
“Sakura...?” her father murmured worriedly.
Her eyes widened and she swallowed, bowing a bit hastily.
“Nice to meet you.”
Her voice had trembled slightly and she berated herself for it. While she felt a hot blush burn her cheeks as the only word he uttered reached her ears in a low mumble, she breathed deeply, trying to calm herself. Even though her mind was racing confused, it was not the moment to feel giddy like a little girl but one to show she was a capable hostess and accompany her father in one of the most important moments of his life
'Remember what he thinks about fangirls... Remember how you usually behave on the train...'
Clenching her jaw, and with that thought in mind, Sakura straightened herself and, even though she still could feel flustered, she mustered the courage to smile politely and take Mikoto's coat, as Akihiko did the same with both men.
Her father invited them to step inside and, as Sasuke passed by her, she smelled his perfume, a soft scent which reminded her of the forest. He was very handsome dressed with a while shirt fastened with a zipper up to just below his collarbones and black jeans, a belt with a silver buckle tied around his waist.
“It should be forbidden to look so good in such simple clothes...”
.
“The food is delicious, Sakura-chan.”
“Thank you, Mikoto-san” she smiled over her glass of apple juice. “I'm really glad you're enjoying it.”
The dinner was going well. As they had taken their seats, Mikoto admiring the decoration of the table and the living room, where she had set some lanterns with candles inside on the sill of the big window in front of them, a Christmas tree near the sofa and fairy lights that highlighted certain spots of the room. As she started serving some light appetizers before the main course, the slightly tense atmosphere had started to relax gradually as Itachi broke the ice and asked some questions to Akihiko about his job, and she had admired the engagement ring that the woman wore on her left ring finger. A bit later, once the main course, roasted pork, had been served, their attention had gravitated to her and her school.
“Sakura-chan, Akihiko-san told me that you are taking your entrance exams in a few weeks... I'm sorry that our wedding is going to interfere with your studies.”
“Please, don't worry, Mikoto-san” she smiled. “I'm doing fine and it won't be a problem.”
“Then,” Itachi spoke and Sakura turned her attention to him. “She's older than Sasuke?”
“Really?”
“Yes, he's in second year of high school.”
The four of them looked at the young man briefly, and he moved uncomfortably, eating some vegetables. He had not said much during the meal, only answering when asked or agreeing. Sakura had not been very surprised by his attitude. During their brief encounters in the train, she had deduced he was not a very sociable person, always travelling alone and in his own world, cautious and keeping his distance when someone stood near here. And she supposed that being thrown in the maelstrom of their parents' engagement and marriage was being difficult for him too.
“Sasuke-kun” she called him, trying to hide her nervousness, and he glanced at her, leaving his glass on the table, his eyelids dropping a bit upon hearing the suffix attached to his name. “When were you born?”
He took a moment to reply and she swallowed hard, having the impression that in a way, she had offended him.
“July.”
She chuckled tensely and he turned his attention to his food without looking at anyone else or saying another word.
“I was born in March, so that makes me at least three months older than you.”
There was an awkward pause that Itachi filled immediately.
“It's a really short time but enough to be a year ahead at school” he picked up a small piece of meat with his fork. “A pity, Sasuke, you'll be the youngest child again.”
Sakura noticed him tighten his hold around the knife but no other reaction came from his brother's teasing.
“You'll have to be patient with him, Sakura-chan” Mikoto whispered as a small wistful smile appeared on her lips. “He's a good boy but...” she interrupted herself, doubtful about the words she should use, and then, shook her head. “Just give him a little time.”
She nodded and then, focused her attention on him again. He was talking to his brother about something, and her father was listening to them, a relaxed expression on his face. She supposed that, after so many years having only a daughter to talk to, having men in the house was refreshing for him. And, though Sakura felt a small pang of melancholy and jealousy, she also felt glad for her father. If Sasuke managed to open up to him, maybe he could become something akin to a son to him.
And, if she could forget the feelings that she had which made her heart skip a beat every time their eyes met and butterflies flutter in her stomach when his quiet words reached her ears, he could also become a brother to her.
Here’s me trying a simple poetry once again. What do you think about this one?
Ah, it’s been a while. I was first exposed to writing through poetry back in fourth grade, then I got to explore writing fictions around sixth grade and then sooner or later, writing songs as well. But I’ve been on such a loooong hiatus because I thought I couldn’t get back to writing anymore (my first passion is really Music, hehe).
Thank God, however, for SasuSaku! They inspired me to return to writing fics since the latter part of 2018, and the support of the SasuSaku fandom really gives me the motivation I never thought I would receive! So thanks guys! :)
You could check my other fics here and on FF or AO3 with the username AriannJS.
It you like what I do, kindly consider supporting me on ko-fi or patreon. I’m also saving up for a special post-birthday trip this November so your support would mean a lot to me!♥️
