#ssm21d10

[queen-serena]

[kishillaa]

SSM21 Day 10: Distant

"You'll write for me. Promise me you will." She said between her sob as she started to feel unconsciousness overwhelming her.

-

Being in a secret relationship without give anything away to Kakashi and Naruto, or anyone else for that matter, was simply hard.

Now that she is so far away from him, making it even more difficult. Him being at Orochimaru's hideout, while his darling Sakura is all the way in Konoha. Without even mean to, he has created distance in between them. And at the moment like this, when it's dark and cold and pin-dropped silence, all he could think of is her heart shaped face, her emerald expressive green eyes, and of course her beautiful pink locks. He does like how she looks in her short hair, even though he did previously prefer the long one. She had said that it got in the way while they're in the wild as an excuse for Naruto and Sasuke personally agreed to that action, although he did know the real reason behind the chopped mane.

And then, there's part of him that miss her that he wouldn't dare to admit to anyone.

He missed her hugs; Sasuke definitely enjoy the warm and comforting embraces of Sakura.

"Sasuke-kun. Don't struggle too much, please. I just need to hug you right now." She had said, with her teary eyes. When Sasuke was sure Naruto and Tsunade had left the room, Sasuke snakes one of his arm around Sakura's waist and buried his face in the crook of her neck. It makes her cried even harder.

He missed how she desperately asked him for dates too, in spite of their usual secret night meeting.

Naruto was there with Kakashi and they had just finish one of their D-rank missions, "Sasuke-kun." She calls out, earning his attention to look over at her, "Let's get something to eat, j–just the two of us."

And then something like,

"Eh, Sasuke-kun, do you think you can help sharpen my weapons?" She bites her lips before letting it out as she continus, "There's this new restaurant open in town, we can try the new food while you're sharpening."

Really, it gets weird over time. While he usually makes rude remarks and bluntly reject her proposal, he genuinely impressed with her effort.

Thinking about that, Sasuke remembered her blushes. He missed that cream colored cheeks changed to the color of her hair–or brighter, when something excited or embarrassed her.

Sasuke touch her cheeks, "You're wrapped up." he had said, gesturing at her wounded shoulder he had cleaned and wrapped with bandage. She has gotten stabbed by Amegakure genins as she shield Idate from the attack. At their closs proximity, and his touch, Sakura went red as she blushed. She tucked few of her fallen strands of hair behind her ears before she place a soft peck of kiss on his cheek, "Thank you, Sasuke-kun."

He most definitely missed their innocent kiss too. Sakura usually the first to initiate that. Only until he's comfortable enough then he will be the one started it, which isn't bad because he likes kissing her, and if that's not enough, then Sakura's delight expression makes it worth even more.

Tucking Sakura's falling hair behind her ears–which he noticed she often do before kissing him–Sasuke leaned down cautiously and cover her waiting lips with his, softly kiss her before he pulls away. He stares at her deep green eyes as he examined how she takes it before Sakura yanked him closer by his neck and kiss him for real.

He especially missed her coconut smell shampooed hair she had started to use after the Chunin Exam.

"Your hair smells different." He commented when they sat on the dock at the Uchiha district, his hand acted as a comb as it makes it through her hair releasing the few knots here and there. The pink haired girl was leaning against him, her hands circling around his waist as they sat side by side, legs dangling at the edge of the dock.

It was always very silent in the Uchiha district, and no one dare to go into the district, somehow afraid of the ghost of Uchihas still lingering around. Sasuke likes it better that way, especially now that he needed all the silence in the world as he sits with Sakura, liking the secrecy of their relationship.

Sakura makes a face as she pulls her face away from his shoulder, "Pakkun used the same shampoo I previously used. So, I had to change to this one, coconut with vanilla scent." She bites her lips as she looks at him from under her lashes. "Do you like it?"

"The smell?"

Sakura nodded.

"It's fine." He replied nonchalantly as he looks straight ahead.

Smiling in content, Sakura change to embrace his arm instead, tighten it a little and rest her head on his shoulder again, "Are you okay?" She asked.

That stopped Sasuke from his train of thought. Cautiously, he lowered his gaze to look at Sakura. Her eyes closing as a small frown cover her face, albeit she looks like she's comfortable with her head on his definitely not comfortable shoulder, "Why should I not?"

"Something's coming." Her voice coming out soft, almost like she's going to cry. "I can feel it, Sasuke-kun. This bond we're having, it helps me understand you more. And right now, something isn't so right. I hope I don't loose you so soon."

He had put his face into her hair that night, lightly kissed her temple and sniff into her coconut and vanilla scented hair. A few days after that, he left the village, leaving everyone behind.

When Orochimaru first taught him summoning jutsu, and he finally mastered it, he has sent Sakura a letter through the snake summons. It's probably risky, but that is the extend he is willing to make just to get in touch with her.

Right now, he is staring at Sakura's third letter.

Sasuke-kun,

I went to clean up your apartment again yesterday, and stopped by at the dock to uproot the grass and and clear up the growing moss that had started to cover the dock.

To answer your questions, I've been well. And you heard that right, I'm doing apprenticeship with Tsunade-sama. Training with her was hard; she didn't just train me healthcare stuff, she helped me sharpen my combat skills too, but of course, I'm sure it isn't as brutal as your training.

Speaking about training, Sasuke-kun. How has you been doing? You know I can't tolerate with you overwork yourself, right? I'm not there to scold you about it, but I hope there's another me to take care of you over there. If there isn't someone else, please take care of yourself for me, Sasuke-kun.

I know you didn't ask this, but I'm sure you'd like to know as well. Naruto has return from his travel with Jiraiya-sama yesterday. Kakashi put us on the bell test again. This is where it got interesting though.

NARUTO FIGURED OUT HOW TO DEFEAT KAKASHI-SENSEI!

I'm pretty sure you're rolling your eyes right now and think how could Naruto–our Naruto—thought of something to fight Kakashi-sensei off and won. ~I'm actually laughing right now thinking of you saying it, gosh I missed you so much~

But he actually did it. It was stupid, really. Jiraiya-sama just published the latest book for Icha Icha series, so Naruto just recite the ending part of the book for spoiler–Mind you, he actually did read the book. Kakashi-sensei eventually let his guard down and we were able to snatch the bell from him.

Anyway, I know I said this in my previous two letters many months ago but I am so happy you wrote to me. Thank you, Sasuke-kun. And I missed you so damn much!

This has gotten too long, I hope I didn't trouble your summon. He seems like he loves those rats I caught for him, though he said the exact opposite. He and you are so alike. See you, Sasuke-kun.

Love you always,

Sakura.

He reread the letter again for the second time that day. Just like the first time he read it, his face soften at the first paragraph, feels grateful for what she had been doing. It was one of not so many things they did together when he was still in the village, and in their kind-of-dating relationship; clean up as much part of Uchiha compound as they could when they're free from mission and Kakashi's training. He felt somewhat blessed to have someone like Sakura by his side, who is terribly in love with him, to company his lonely days and do things he didn't ask her to.

He of course rolls his eyes at her over caring demeanour, and non logical uneasiness regarding his health. She has always put everyone else before herself, that's what he dislike the most about Sakura.

At the part where Sakura predicted Sasuke's reaction to Naruto's idea, he couldn't help but smirk. She knew him a little too well, despite the yesrs of his absence in her life.

Sasuke touched the cursive writing of her name. Huge part of him feels content that, even after years of separation, Sakura still loves him. And to that, he is genuinely grateful.

For this time, they had to be distant. But when everything else is done, he promised he will go back to her, to the girl that he knew will always wait for him, always love him.

After all, distance means so little when someone means so much.

[xlalalandx]

Day 10: Distant - ssskmonth

Source: Ep. 212 from Naruto Shippuden

IB: [x]

[kishillaa]

SSM21 Day 11: Safe and Sound

This promt is the continuation of my SSM21 Day 10 promt.

SSM21 Day 10: Distant "You'll write for me. Promise me you will." She said between her sob as she started to feel unconsciousness overwhelmi

***

"He was killed?"

"Yeah."

"Who did?"

"Some Konoha girl."

Snorted, "Didn't think Sasori would be defeated by a female."

"I wouldn't look past that. She is the Fifth Hokage's apprentice. Sakura Haruno if I'm not mistaken."

"I haven't heard about her."

"Meh, she's young. Anyway, I heard Sasori's henchmen is after her. She was able to create antidote for his famous poison. They went rage and wanted to kill her."

"Of course they will be. His poison is what kept them strong all this while."

"True. But I don't think they know though. The Konoha people."

"Sasori do works in secret. No one exactly knew he has a group of his own. If you weren't one of 'em before, we wouldn't have known either."

"Sneaky one, I must say."

-

The conversation Sasuke had accidentally heard during one of his mission for Orochimaru played in his mind.

There is only one female with pink hair in the village he left behind.

Sakura.

Sasuke was panting rather heavily, as he looks over the mess before him. A few of older men laying on the forest floor, at the brink of their death after the ever so furious Sasuke Uchiha, knocked them out of their breath, killing each and everyone of them.

It's been 2 years, and knowing the pink haired ex teammate of his were in danger, that she isn't aware of, knicked him off making he went reckless and find the pursuer at the boarder of the Konoha village. He was lucky he found them first, or else he might be the one laying on the ground, waiting for death calling for him.

He was furious, more to himself than anyone else. He had severed the bond, he was sure of it. But why, just at the mention of the pink hair konoha kunoichi made him do things he doesn't want to, things he should not necessarily do. Sure, they have started exchange letters by his summon, but he still doesn't want to have anything to do with her for now, until his goal is fulfilled.

Sasuke let out a defeated sigh, before he move away from Sasori's henchmen.

As if has the mind of their own, his legs and body makes it way through the forest towards Konoha hidden village. He quickly move to the top of the building when he reached the village at midnight.

From where he is locating, he can see that Sakura's window is widely open as if inviting him in.

Without further ado, he move using the roof and hop onto an electrical post to have a better view into Sakura's room.

He can clearly saw Sakura's sleeping figure as she sleeps with only her head peaking out of the blanket while the other part of the body was covered under it.

She looks distress, rather than calm in her sleep made Sasuke couldn't help but go closer and got into her room.

As if sensing Sasuke's presence, Sakura's head tilted to his direction.

Sasuke hold his breath and wait to see her reaction. When she didn't make any move after that, Sasuke let out a relief sigh.

He moves closer, standing beside her bed looking down at her trouble looking sleeping figure. Slowly, Sasuke sit himself on her tiled floor and stare at her sleeping face.

And then, "S–Sasuke - k-kun."

It was so faint, he almost couldn't hear it but of course he knew she was saying his name.

"P-please dont go." She mumurs again.

-

Sakura blinks, and when she did it for third time, she sees Sasuke. It isn't really Sasuke she knew though. Sasuke she remembered from her dream doesn't look as matured as this, and he usually wear a dark blue shirt that he often wore during their genin days. Sakura quickly dismiss the widen eyes Sasuke, thinking that its another dream.

Sakura groans, as she stretched out a little.

"You're up."

That voice makes her stop mid stretching, as her head snap to her side. "Sasuke-kun!"

She sat up so quick that her head went buzzed with dizziness. She hold it and wince, "Oww."

"Slow down." He said, somehow amused.

At that voice, she look at him. Biting her lips as tears of happiness and longing pooled in her eyes, she lunged herself at the Uchiha, bringing him into her embrace.

She was crying, that was obvious, "I missed you so much." She said in between her sobs, tightening her hold on him, afraid that he's going to leave her too soon.

"I should go back now." Sasuke said.

"I know. Ju–just let me hug you a second." She heard him sigh before he complies and circle his own hands around her. One of his hand is lowering her head to under his chin as he sniffs her hair.

"Your hair smell different, again." He mumbles.

"No, not really. I'm still using the same shampoo, but I just got back from the hospital few hours ago so the smell must've mixed with antiseptic or something." And then she cries harder, "I'm sorry, I didn't know you're coming, if I do I would've shower and wash my hair with that shampoo you like so much, but I just went out of a 24-hour shift and I was just so god damn tired, and one of my patients just died, and I could've save him, but I couldn't." And now she is crying with a whole different reason.

When finally, finally, her cries subsided, Sasuke spoke, "I don't mind. And I don't like them so much. It was just pleasant than this one." She likes how he purposefully left the dead patient out as he runs his fingers through her unruly hair. It always soothe and calmed her when he did, and he knew that.

She whines again, saying something she thought as I could've smell way better than this. Liking the way his hand combing her hair. A wave of nostalgia hit her like a tsunami as their secret moment as genin plays in her mind, if possible, she tighten her hands around him even more. She was just so glad Sasuke isn't one to complain simple stuff like that.

When they were in their kind-of-dating relationship, Sasuke has always sniff on her hair, he once revealed that he likes her smell, it was floral green shampoo which smell minty rain forest. She unfortunately had to change her shampoo to a coconut with vanilla scented shampoo when Pakkun said he use the same one. It traumatised her to use the same shampoo as a dog.

"It's still your smell." He heard him say as he breaths in her scent again causing the heat move up to her face. She pulls away gently to look him in the eye.

Before she utters a single word, Sasuke spoke, "You were hunt by Sasori's henchmen."

Sakura's eyes widen at the news, "What? How do you know?"

Sakura watch as his shoulder moves up and down slowly, "I have my source."

"From Orochimaru?"

Sasuke shakes his head, "No. They didn't even know Sasori was dead."

She nodded, feeling relieved, if Orochimaru knew, their chances went lower to zero to put up to their idea in finding his hideout, "Good. I have to be careful, then."

"There's no need. I killed them all."

This time, Sakura's eyes widen again in surprised, "What?"

"You heard me."

"I know, but why?"

He rolls his eyes and scoff, "Because who else is going to clean the Uchiha compound if you're dead." he deadpan.

The sarcasm lacing through the sentence was so loud that Sakura has to laugh, "You're such a dork, Sasuke-kun."

"Hn." Was his smart boring response.

"Do you have any injuries? I can heal you."

"Just small cuts hear and there. I'll be fine." But Sakura insist.

"Please, let me show off my improved skills while you're away."

And show off she did.

"You're good."

Sakura beamed, with small blush covering her cheeks, "I've learnt from the best."

"That's good, then. I can't seems to regret leaving you now that you're able to heal and kill at the same time."

"Sasuke-kun, don't say that. I will always wanted you stay. It feels so lonely when I sat at the dock few weeks after your departure, that I had to stop going."

Sasuke didn't voice out anything after that as they sit in silence.

"Thank you for coming tonight,"

Sasuke shrugs, "Just want to make sure you're safe and sound."

Sakura's teeth sunk into her lower lips as a sob makes it way out of her throat, he's saying goodbye. Without very much of a warning, Sakura cup Sasuke's cheeks, angle her head and capture his lips with hers.

Her tears cascade down her cheeks at the nostalgic way Sasuke went rigid at her sudden attack before he kiss her with just the same intensity. His lips is still as soft as she remembered, he's still a little bit stiff at the beginning of their kiss, and still so furiously good as they went by.

When they pull apart, both were breathing so hard as their forehead attached, "I love you, Sasuke-kun. I still do. Always do."

"I know," He said, and then, "Thank you, Sakura." All she can feels is a soft peck on her forehead while her eyes focus on the whirling of tomoe of Sasuke's sharingan, bringing her to a deep slumber.

[pinkhairedlily]

Freedom

Prompts: Crossover, Distant, Safe and Sound | A03 link here | Connect with me on Twitter. Happy SS Month everyone! 🌸🍅🥗 @ssskmonth

Some confused drabble on Gundam Seed crossover with SS, referencing the scene where Lacus Clyne saved Kira Yamato from his fight with Athrun Zala. Technical notes at the end of the post!

The clanging of metals, the smell of burning wires, the endless beeping of the monitor, and the sickening slash of Justice’s sword through his cockpit. He remembered being exposed to the open air, hearing the waves of a nearby ocean, and seeing Naruto’s face in a Zaft uniform – his face constricted in extreme anger and hatred. He thought this was what he deserved for killing Hyuuga Neji, but he was caught in a crossfire and war was a matter of survival.

Then there was the explosion.

No matter which way one saw it, he should have been dead. Naruto’s Justice detonated after the blonde ejected out of safety. His stomach was bleeding out from a debris when they clashed into one of the PLANT’s areas. He should have been dead, but instead, he woke up to the gentle singing of a familiar voice.

Sakura Haruno, the famed icon and face of PLANT and the only child of the leader of Haruno Faction which was the primary peacekeeping force and bridge between the Zaft Forces and Earth Alliance. Long pink, wavy hair framed the sides of his face and tickled the bandages on his skin while striking green eyes try to follow the movement of his pupils. Some months ago, he rescued her while she drifted in space inside an escape pod, her escort having been mistakenly struck by Earth Alliance as an offensive party. Some months ago, he amicably returned her safely to her fiancé, Naruto, in a covert operation. Some months ago, he met her and got to know her kindness. And now, he was bound to receive it again.

“Sasuke? Can you hear me?” Her hands gently brushed the fringes away from his face. How long has he been out? Somewhere, he heard the waves go up against the same shore. “You can sleep, if you want. Sleep for as long as you want. I’ll be here.”

-------------------------------

What was this place? It seemed devoid of war – pristine shores, blue sea, the quiet rustling of palm leaves, the warm sunshine. So far off from the neutral colony he grew up in – of the sudden attack and open fire from the skies, so far off from the open space where galaxy belts have been littered with gundam debris and frozen bodies.

She found him on the edge of the ocean, the waves lapping his wrinkled bare toes. He has been here for hours. She made her way to his side, followed by a small pink circular shape hopping across the sand.

“Haro! Haro! Haro!” The robot cried out after its owner; Sakura spun around and caught Naruto’s creation between her hands, nuzzling it as if it was her pet.

Sasuke hesitated for a while – she was a Coordinator after all, conceived with the most superior genes, and he was too, he was but he hated their kind all the same. The same kind who saw themselves far above the Naturals to the extent that they would wage war and kill.

“How tiring, isn’t it?” Sakura suddenly asked out of the blue, her green eyes arresting him in all their sincerity. “The senseless fighting when there is good in everyone.”

“That’s not true,” he rebutted…which was stupid because he hadn’t thanked her yet for saving him.

“Naruto is a good person even when you were kids, isn’t that right?” The circular robot was wriggling in her hands and she let it go, only for it to almost fall to the water and to its electrifying death if not for Sasuke’s quick hands.

“You also have some good in you,” she said with a smile. She took the fussy robot from his hands and went back to their family mansion.

-------------------------------

Sasuke found himself drifting in and out of his own consciousness; he would always fall into a daydream, the collage of the civilian ship ejecting from their mother ship and getting struck by a missile keep replaying in front of him. Screams would often escape him, even during daylight, but the touch of her hands steadied him, and her green eyes would reel him back to safe ground.

He would allow himself to lean further into her skin, liking the warmth a little too much, but torn all the same. She was his childhood friend’s fiancé, and he stole too many precious people away from him already.

It was effective, the way she led him in walks along the shore, her hand in his, and haro following closely behind, filling in the gaps of silences with his automated voice. When the robot finally stopped chirping to recharge, she would let go of his hand and hum a random song. He might have heard it before, in a far away moment and now unfamiliar moment of peace, when he was still a student and led a normal life.

“I killed Neji,” he blurted out, unaware of the consequences, but possibly to rile her up, to make her angry at him, to make it easier to go away.

Sakura brought her loose strands to the side of her shoulder, braiding the length of it while averting her gaze from him. “When I was fifteen, the Zaft Forces struck the civilian plane my mom was in. She accompanied my father to a diplomatic meeting with the Orb Union while I was here in PLANT. But I caught a fever and I asked for her despite being surrounded by nurses. I really missed her that time, you see. So she went on board the earliest civilian plane in Panama. Unfortunately, it was also the day the Earth Forces skirmished with Zaft and a stray missile hit their engine. That put a metaphorical dent as well in the diplomatic discussions.” She returned her attention to him, her pink hair unfinished and already coming undone. “We all suffered deaths, one way or the other, and each loss only breeds hatred if the cycle isn’t broken.”

“And how do you propose to do that?”

“Kindness,” Sakura extended her hand to him, and he subconsciously reached out to accept it.

-------------------------------

“Sakura-chan!”

Sasuke avoided the throng of kids that suddenly surrounded Sakura. He found himself standing beside Sai, the reverend who pulled him from the wreckage some weeks ago.

“They’re Naturals, if you’re wondering,” Sai said. “Rescued and fostered here under a neutrality agreement.”

“Savior’s complex?” Sasuke asked, still defensive about the matter.

“Just common moral decency.” The reverend had this mysterious smile etched forever on his face, and while Sasuke learned to read people, he could never read him accurately.

When the orphanage visit calmed down, and they were left alone with biscuits and tea on the gazebo overlooking the ocean, Sakura received the video message transmitted through Haro. She instinctively angled her body so whoever was on the other side won’t see him.

“Ms. Haruno,” a voice started. “We caught wind of some news.”

Sakura nodded, a cue to continue.

“It’s Operation Spitbreak. The real target is the Alaska HQ.”

Sasuke hitched a breath – if he recalled correctly, his mother ship Archangel intended to refuel there and stock on supplies. All the big guns were in Panama, strategizing for the penultimate and inevitable battle. So why Alaska?

Ah, they were the remaining big ship with the firepower that could match them.

Sakura noticed the change in his countenance, and she immediately ended the call after a quick word of thanks. Arms engulfed him in a gentle hug. “I guess it’s time.”

His arms wrapped around her waist tentatively. “I want to stay a little bit longer in this place where everything is safe and sound.”

“Not for long.” She tightened her hold on him. “Not for long, Sasuke.”

He did the same, trying to savor her fleeting presence in his embrace.

-------------------------------

That night, she and Sai led him to a facility under the Haruno family mansion. The steel doors opened after the usual biometrics – iris scan, hand print, and voice recognition. The sight astounded him when the lights started to come on. The gundam was bigger than his previous, Strike, and visually had more missiles and armaments.

Sai handed him a paper bag containing his new mobile suit. “It’s X10A Freedom Gundam, one of the two newest developments of Zaft. You’ll find that it’s much more lighter compared to previous models with faster mobility stats, and more devastating firepower. But you’ll be all right, you have the seed of the coordinator after all. What a dream it would be to see it used for coexistence.” He didn’t wait for Sasuke’s reply and quietly moved away to give the two privacy.

“Isn’t this too much?” Sasuke asked her. She hasn’t even asked him whether his views of the world have changed.

“I believe you’ll do the right thing.” Sakura leaned in and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Come back to me safely?”

Sasuke held her gaze, sincere in the uttering of his next words. “I will.”

TECHNICAL NOTES

GUNDAM – General Purpose Utility Non-Discontinuity Augmentation Maneuvering Weapon System

Coordinators – genetically enhanced human beings; improved traits e.g. faster learning, stronger bodies, more honed talents

Naturals – naturally born human being which did not undergo genetic modifications

Earth Forces/Earth Alliance – predominantly Natural

ZAFT – Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty; PLANT’s national army, members comprised fully of coordinators

PLANT – space colonies

Orb Union – nation composed of neutral territories located east of New Guinea

Music used for this writing: Mizu no Akashi | Fields of Hope