SasuSaku Month 2016
Day 25- Do You Believe in Magic
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Title: Wicked
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Summary: He’s waiting for her to finish her shift at the hospital, when a very intriguing patient of hers catches his attention. Kids are certainly weird creatures.
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A/N: AHH! Another theme I had to struggle to write! All the ideas were AUs and then I kept thinking about that quotation, and then there was Moana and then I cracked XD Just kidding, guys… I’ve tried something different with this one, and I wanted it to be shorter, too, but in the end I guess I couldn’t really write less than 2,5K words XD Still, I loved the way it turned out! Hope you enjoy it, and please, tell me your opinion!!
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The hospital cafeteria is by far the best place where those destined to wait can literally sit and relax. The chairs are comfortable, the disinfectant smell gives the feeling of a safe atmosphere and the large variety of food certainly helps those who must spend hours confined in those white walls. It’s the perfect place for those who want to take a break from all that stress caused by all kinds of illness and procedures; and certainly the one place where those who can’t allow themselves to sleep go to remain awake for the following hours. The demand for coffee is abnormal, but thanks to her, the Uchiha understands the importance behind that beverage.
For the Konoha Hospital is never quiet or empty not even during peaceful times, the medics aren’t allowed to be sleepy or tired at all. They have to be alert at all times whether they like it or not, and of course the pink haired woman- aka the head medic of the hospital, is one of those whose vital functions are fueled by caffeine. If she has coffee, he’s seen, then she can go on for days without anything else in her stomach. That woman is certainly neglecting when it comes to her own health, therefore his presence there is more than just necessary, as he waits for her shift to end so they can go grab something decent to eat.
What an annoying woman, he thinks. Making him wait like that almost every week after her night shifts. She should feel guilty for making him go through those silent, lonely hours just so that he could make sure she would take care of herself.
Annoying, indeed.
Luckily, waiting was never a problem for Sasuke. As long as there’s nothing bothering him, the raven haired man can be alone with his thoughts for hours. Time is precious, and thanks to his grumpy reputation, no one in the hospital dared bother him.
No one who actually knew him.
“ Hey, ojji-san… Do you believe in magic?”
The low, childish voice sounded too close for his own liking, and for there are only women standing in the cafeteria, he knew immediately that that annoying voice was talking to him. His eyes, which were previously closed, remain like that in one last attempt to shove away that unwanted brat, as he tries his best to convince himself that he’s just having a nightmare and that it will soon come to an end.
Sasuke doesn’t move and he's barely breathing right now in order to send that bad dream away.
But of course, he doesn’t succeed in waking up from that living nightmare that is a talkative child.
“Oi!” Tiny hands pull his armless sleeve, making dark orbs finally shoot open in pure annoyance. “ I’m talking to you! You’re not that old to be deaf, ojji-san.”
When he looks below, he’s not surprised to see a small girl, not older than 7, with two brown eyes that match perfectly with the pigtails hanging over her head and a demanding expression ruling her infant features. There is a tooth missing in the front row of her smile, and she’s wearing that typical, lime-green dress offered by the hospital to the patients.
People would definitely call her cute.
But not him, for sure.
“ Tch, go away.” He ignores her, looking away and through the glass widow where he can now see Sakura. Apparently, her shift is already over, which means that torture will end even before it starts.
“Eh!? But I need your help! You’re a shinobi, right?”
“ Aah.”
“Then will you help me?”
“No.”
“ B-But…” Tears start forming around her eyes, and the Uchiha isn’t moved by that at all. However, when the sobbing start, he realizes that he will be in big trouble if that brat starts crying out loud. The ladies enjoying their break will definitely think he was the one who made her cry, and his peaceful waiting will never be the same with all those future stares.
She will definitely ruin his moments, and never again will the people of the hospital allow him to wait for the pink haired medic in that more private area. The comfortable chairs will be gone along with the food and the hot coffee he has found himself to appreciate very dearly.
He certainly can let her destroy it all. And that’s when he realizes that he will actually have to talk to her in order to preserve his current condition.
Defeatedly, he sighs. Kids these days. “ Tch, what do you want?”
“ What happened to your arm?” She asks, her eyes now entirely dry after the tragic expression she had worn minutes before- such thing certainly annoying him more than it should.
“ None of your business.”
“ Does it hurt?”
“ No.”
“ Not even if I touch it?” She lifts her index finger, slowly moving it towards his missing member.
“ Kid… If that’s all you have to ask me, then leave me alone.”
A deadly glare finally appears to stop her, and she feels as if her entire body burning. Her brown eyes watch as the man in front of her closes his eyes, massaging his temples with his free hand. Apparently, he’s having a headache just like her mama every time she makes the same gesture.
Adults and their heads, she thinks, still looking at him without saying a single word. Her head is falling to the right, as confusion takes over her round, chubby face.
“ Oi!” His strong, imposing voice brings her back from her trance and it’s as if she snaps back to reality. “ Are you going to ask me what you have to ask or not?”
“… Ojji-san, is your head okay?”
“ Tch, I’m leaving.You’re just like that idiot.”
“ No!!” She moves her small hands in front of her face, as if telling him not to go. The little one, then, holds onto the hem of his shirt when he finally stands up from his sitting position. “ Please, ojji-san! Don’t go! I need your help.”
“ Let go off my shirt! I don’t want to hear another childish question.”
“ B-But it’s important!!!”
“ I doubt it!”
“ I promise it is!! Please, listen to me!! Please, please, please!!!”
What he didn’t want is finally happening right in front of his eyes. While the little one pulls his shirt down with all her childish strength, all the eyes of the cafeteria are set on him and there are two ladies already whispering something to one another.
That brat had really done it, after all.
The Uchiha bites his lower lip in pure annoyance as he tries to think of a way out of this situation. He knows he can’t cause a commotion in the hospital, for the pinkette will definitely kill him if he does so. It stresses out the patients, she says and he has been listening to these words for longer than he would’ve liked to. It’s true that he and Naruto were always the ones to be blamed for every time a wall was destroyed, but now these days are long gone. He’s a grown man now, who doesn’t pick a fight against his best friend in the hallways anymore and who certainly won’t create any problems in the girl's workspace.
Uchiha Sasuke is a mature man now, who certainly knows how to perform a silent kill without any of those people noticing.
He’s certainly a new, improved man.
“ Tch, spill it out already!”
After the tall man’s approval, the little girl quickly let go off his shirt, smiling from ear to ear and blinking rapidly those brown eyes of hers. “ Thank you, ojji-san!”
“ Hn.”
“ Back to my first question, then… Do you believe in magic?”
Sasuke lifts one eyebrow in response to her weird question, sighing once more. That girl was really abusing his good will. “ Kid, I’m not in the mood for these games. Go bug someone else, will you?”
“ It’s not a game, I promise!! Do you or not?”
The determination in her eyes certainly caught his attention as he continued looking at her. Her hands are turned into fists, there’s a pout decorating her lips, and for a moment, he swears he could see the pinkette’s own green eyes glaring at him.
Apparently, the toddler doesn’t seem to be joking this time, and so, he finally decides to take it seriously.
Magic, uh?
Of all the things he believes, magic is certainly not one of them. He believes in a goddess from the moon, reincarnation, life after death (in more ways than normal people would interpret this sentence), different dimensions, spirits and even in the possibility of Naruto being a good Hokage for the village. All of those things have something to do with chakra, so none of them actually seem that impossible, let alone for the last one.
There’s logic behind all of those things, and so it isn’t hard for him to actually accept them.
But magic? There’s no such thing as that, for sure.
“ No, I don’t.”
“ I didn’t either when I first came in here… But you see, ojji-san… It’s real.”
He rolls his eyes at the dramatic tone in her voice, not wanting to continue that talk anymore. Still, when he sees the evident yearning spread around her face, Sasuke changes his mind. That girl will definitely not leave him alone until he asks that question she’s dying to hear. That previous mystery in her voice is nowhere to be found anymore, and instead, an exciting feeling can be seen creeping behind every unsaid word.
What an annoying child.
And to make matters worse, he can see the pinkette looking at him from the corner of his eyes. There’s a silly smile on her lips, and he knows how funny that view probably is.
What an annoying woman, he thinks before sighing.
“…. Tch, and how do you know that, kid?”
“ You see… The doctors around here… They are witches!! A green light comes out of their hands and when they touch people with it, weird things happen… People touched by that change! Even the Hokage changed after it!”
As his dark eyes are still watching the drama queen of 7 years old, the Uchiha can’t help but feel little amused by what she considers to be magic. Her childish imagination certainly shows how naive and manipulable children can be at such age. She seems to be so excited and happy about the whole magic thing that it would really be a shame if anyone actually explained her that the green light is nothing more than chakra itself.
She would be devastated, for sure.
A smirk grows on his face as he imagines that little girl crying after learning the truth. She looks like the crybaby type, and if she were to release her tears far away from him, then that would be simply perfect.
She would definitely learn not to mess with him.
And that sounds simply amazing.
Unfortunately, he won’t be able to destroy the dreams of the new generation tonight.
“ Look, kid… Is this what you wanted to tell me?”
“ Yeh… Don’t you think it’s important? I mean, they can be planning to take over the village with an army of brainwashed ninjas!”
“ Tch You do have a weird imagination.”
“ What!?"
"That’s not magic. It’s simply one of the many ways to transform chakra. It’s possible to manipulate their natures and-“
“ Are you seriously going to explain a 7 year old girl about the change of chakra’s nature, Sasuke-kun?”
That soft, teasing voice came from behind and as soon as it entered his ears, the Uchiha knew his diabolical plan would go to waste. He tch-ed before lifting his head just to find his eyes aiming for the entrance of the cafeteria, where the pink haired doctor has her arms crossed over her chest. Her eyes are playfully judging him, as a smile can be found on her lips.
Sakura does look beautiful even after a night shift, he thinks, as he finally stands up and straightens himself. He places his hand inside his pocket, and offers the woman one of his calm, stoic expressions. His dark orbs are perfectly connected to her emerald ones, and in the silence of their gaze, both of them know it’s time for them to leave.
But there’s still one small problem for them to solve.
“ Witch!!!”
A small, sharp voice finally breaks the silence of the room, as the annoying pest is pointing her index at Sakura. It’s possible to see how her arm is shaking, and it’s not until the Uchiha connects the dots that he finally understands that accusation. He can see an annoyance wrinkle forming on the pinkette’s forehead, and he understands that if that little girl was a little older, she would be in huge trouble for calling the strongest woman in the world a witch.
Perhaps having her dreams crushed wouldn’t have been that bad.
Finally, a sigh escapes Sakura’s lips. It’s been a long day, for sure. “ Chie-chan, are you still going on about the whole witch thing?”
“You won’t fool me! I’ve seen it!”
“ Tch, what an imaginative kid- shannarou…” Sakura mutters to herself, causing the Uchiha to smirk in pure contentment. Now that he's not the one being targeted by Chie, things do seem funny. “Look, your mother is looking for you.”
“ Mama? D-Did you do something to her!?”
“What? No, of course not! Come on, you should be in your room, resting so you can go home tomorrow. Be a good girl and come with me, will you?”
“ Never! You’re not using your powers on me!”
By the look in her eyes, Sasuke can easily tell Sakura is about to explode. She’s tired and hungry; and she’s definitely not in the mood to deal with that kid. As she looks at him, he can see how she’s practically begging for his help so they can both get out of there at once.
Sakura needs his help. And as the caring husband he is, he will help his wife so they can finally go home. Sarada is probably tired of waiting already.
“ Chie.” He finally speaks, catching the attention of both girls. He looks at the child, offering her a serene expression. “ You should listen to her. Your mother is probably waiting.”
“ Eh!? You’re with her!? How could you, you traitor!?”
“ Hn.” His attention drifts towards his wife, and right now, he can list endless reasons why he would betray the entire village to stay by her side. A sly smile takes over his lips, as he watches the cheeks of his silly wife blushing a little. “ Let’s just say she bewitched me.”
“ Y-You two are… Tch, I give up. Take me to my mom, witch.”
The pink haired Uchiha sighs in relief, looking at her husband in a thankful way. He has just saved their dinner, and he certainly deserves a nice reward after that. A chuckle escapes her lips, and as soon as she’s holding Chie’s small hand in hers, Sakura doesn’t waste a single minute before taking the little girl back to her worried mother.
She’s a pest, but she’s that mother’s precious pest.
And for having that curious daughter of hers waiting at home, Sakura knows exactly how that mother is feeling.
While the pinkette takes the little one down the hospital’s hallway, Sasuke watches with a certain pride in his eyes. Decorating the back of that red shirt of hers, there is nothing more than the beautiful Uchiha crest, and it’s at times like this that he realizes he could stare at that forever.
He, who is no longer the last survivor of his clan.
He, who is no longer alone.
He, who has a perfect family always waiting for him.
And it’s all thanks to that pink haired woman that is now coming towards him with a soft smile on her face. He doesn’t believe in magic, but he certainly feels something different every time he looks into those stunning eyes of his wife.
SasuSaku Month 2016
Day 24- Errands
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Title: Pen pals
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Summary: Sasuke receives a letter from his best friend and he’s left a little worried about a certain someone. How could that brat offer any kind of danger?
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A/N: okay... again, I just didn't get along with the theme XD it was supposed to be an action one, but I just couldn't think of anything that could be resumed in a single one-shot (even my long one-shots...). Anyway, I'm glad with the way it ended, and let's see if you can read the hints I left hidden behind the interpretation XD have fun, and please, leave me Reviews!
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If he could describe his current mood with one word at that exact moment, his word wouldn’t be any other than not annoyed. His body was sweating underneath that black tunic of his, his throat was incredibly dry, his heartbeat was faster than usual and the exaggerated humidity was making it almost impossible for his lungs to execute their vital function. Summer time is definitely not the best season to visit the Land of Waves, and Uchiha Sasuke ended up learning about that in the worst possible way, which was, of course, being there.
It had been a long time since he had last felt that troubled by that burning sensation taking over his body, and seeing all the others around him walking as if there was nothing wrong just helped create an even hotter sensation inside him. Even with that unbearable temperature, people were still moving on with their daily activities, selling their products in that crowded sea of heads, as if nothing at all was actually happening on that stupidly hot day.
A defeated sigh escaped his lips, as he once again had to remind himself of the reason why he was there, in the center of the village, under that torturous sun.
That idiot. That message better not be one of his stupid jokes or he swore the blonde won’t live enough to become Hokage.
Yes, as hard as it was to believe, the cause behind the Uchiha's current state of mind was the one and only Uzumaki Naruto. Earlier on that day, the raven haired boy had received a letter with a messy handwriting and tons of grammatical errors that certainly changed it all. From his route to his deepest thoughts, the words written in that paper had guided him to the nostalgic Land of Waves, and they were responsible for taking away his impeccable composure.
Screw the etiquette and the good manners. He didn’t care about any of that at that moment. All he wanted was to get out of there as soon as possible so he could continue his journey to atone for his sins. However, he couldn’t do it. Not while she was still there. Not while she was in great danger, according to the Uzumaki.
As it had been written by the blonde, the Land of Waves had become a quite dangerous place for their pink haired teammate to be alone. Ever since the carpenters had gone to Konoha to help after Pain’s attack, Naruto could sense the evil intentions hidden behind every smile offered by a boy who they once met during their first mission outside the village. The charming way he curled up his lips, the innocence spread around his youthful features, the hardworking image he held as a man and those sweaty, exposed muscles that- according to Naruto- certainly captured the pinkette's attention.
Inari, the bridge constructor’s grandson, had really grown into a fine, young man, and his eyes didn’t fail to notice how time had affected Haruno Sakura as well.
‘ It was written all over his face-ttebayo!’, the blonde wrote. ‘ The way he blushed and smiled whenever she looked at him, and the way he would sigh whenever she turned away. He loves her and he won’t hold back his hormones if they’re all alone, Teme!’
Apart from the evident exaggerations and the brother-ish feelings behind every invented expression, the Uchiha knew he could not simply ignore the core of the message. It was not like he was actually concerned about the girl or anything, for he knew she was more than capable of taking care of herself if anyone tried to force themselves on her.
Sakura was definitely not the problem there.
The brat was.
After spending a long time thinking, the image of that crying kid named Inari appeared in his head. Back then, he was just a normal boy and Sasuke doubted the years had managed to change him as much as Naruto had written in that letter. He was probably still that same brat, a little taller, for sure, but still that same child they once met.
There was definitely nothing to be worried about, he knew.
Still, since he was already close to the Land of Waves, accompanying the pinkette in her mission would cause no harm, right?
And based on that thought, there he was, casually waiting for her to buy some herbs from an old lady, after he had calmly explained to her that the Hokage had sent him to escort her during her mission simply because he was nearby.
He couldn’t simply tell her the truth, right?
“ Thank you for waiting, Sasuke-kun!” She finally exited the tent, a bag full of herbs in hands and a childish smile decorating her lips. Sakura seemed to be comfortable in her usual ninja clothes, and after finally getting used to his presence, the girl seemed to be more than simply content with their current situation. “ Now we can go deliver the message to Tazuna-san.”
“ Hn, I still don’t understand why Kakashi didn’t send the message through one of his birds. It would have been a lot easier.”
“ True… But then we wouldn’t have bumped into each other, right?” She looked at him with those forest eyes of hers, and he couldn’t help but look away. If only she knew how much those words meant to their teammates, maybe she wouldn’t have been so surprised by his presence earlier.
“ Tch, what kind of reason is that?”
A chuckle escaped her lips as a grumpy expression took over his face. Uchiha Sasuke was pouting in pure embarrassment, as he was now carrying her bag of herbs, and that was definitely a priceless scene to be seen by her.
How could anyone choose a pigeon over that?
Saying Sakura was simply happy with his presence would be underestimating her own level of amusement. It had been months since she had last seen him, and having a chance to spend a couple of hours by his side would be the perfect opportunity for the girl to simply enjoy the company of the man she loves.
Thank you, Kakashi-sensei, she thought.
As they walked towards the constructor’s residence, the pinkette just wouldn’t shut up for a single minute, as she told him the latest stories of the village. She would eventually laugh and pout depending on the memory that came to her mind, and even if he would barely reply anything, Sakura knew he enjoyed that whole catching up just by the calm expression that would take over his features. It brought them a nostalgic feeling from when they had to wait at the bridge for both of their late teammates, and for people like them, cherishing that kind of feeling was more than simply pleasurable.
Their memories are an important part of their lives, for the past is always present. They can’t and they don’t want to forget about their early days. They accept it, and eventually, seek for comfort in the innocence of the spring of their lives.
Oh, how good it was to be repeating the past.
The walk towards their destination didn’t last as much as they would both like it to. The house was still the same from when they were first introduced to the bridge constructor, and the Haruno girl didn’t hesitate before knocking on the door. He was standing next to her, towering over her petite form and simply watching as her expression remained as lovable as ever. She seemed calm and focused, and as his dark eyes carefully observed the powerful ninja that stood next to him, he could feel his chest getting enveloped by a warm sensation. Sasuke was really happy to be next to her, and at that moment, he even forgot the reason behind his journey to the Land of Waves.
But he would definitely remember it as soon as the door was opened.
“ Is it you, Sakura-neechan?”
A muffled voice came from inside, and the Uchiha's eyes widened at the same time. The way her name sounded, the rushed footsteps approaching the door and the way a simple smile tugged on her lips made his throat go dry at the same time. Sasuke was suddenly having a terrible feeling about what was about to happen, and there was something telling him that he should just take the girl away from there as fast as possible.
Something terrible was, indeed, about to happen.
Evil was just on the other side of that door.
“ Yes! We are here, Inari!” The girl answered, chuckling due to the loud sound of the boy’s rushing sound steps.
“ We? Do you mean you and Naru- “
Suddenly, the wooden door shot open, and the young carpenter’s brown eyes widened. His voice disappeared, and he just couldn’t take his eyes away from the intimidating tall, dark figure standing next to the pink haired girl.
It had been certainly a long time since they last met, for sure.
“ Sasuke-niichan…”
The sixteen-year-old boy held that shocked expression on his face as his eyes were still examining the Uchiha. He had imagined that the ninja would have grown up after so long, but not as much as he had actually grown. Inari could feel the intense glare coming from his dark orbs, and even if he knew he was not facing a criminal anymore, the boy couldn’t help but feel his body trembling in fear.
Why the hell was he afraid? He certainly didn’t know, and it was clear that the Uchiha was enjoying every single moment of it. Even if it was barely exposed, the corner of his lips was curled up in what could be a smirk, and the Haruno girl was more than just aware of that.
Sasuke should be ashamed of trying to scare a kid like that. Fortunately, for the victim, his heroine was there to save him.
“ It’s been a long time since you two saw each other, right?” She said, placing both of her hands on her back.
“ Y-Yes…” The boy continued trembling, not daring to look away from the Uchiha.
“ Don’t be so shy, Inari. It’s just Sasuke-kun, after all.”
The tender smile that decorated her face as she spared her teammate a glance was enough to shake the boy from the frozen state he was found in just moments before. Instantly, his expression changed and the one who was ruled by fear was now succumbing to the most tender expression of the prettiest girl with pink hair. Inari was now looking calm and serene, and his eyes just wouldn’t leave her for anything in the world.
He looked like a fool in love, and such thing definitely made the Uchiha’s blood boil in his veins.
By the way the young carpenter looked at Sakura, Sasuke knew that the blonde was not exaggerating at all in his words. That boy was really a potential threat, and that was something undeniable. Thanks to puberty, Inari no longer looked like a child who had his nose running all the time, and his body was no longer shaped in that childish form. The kid was tall now. Not taller than himself, but almost two hands taller than Sakura. There was a towel charmingly hanging around his neck, and his soaked, brown locks were giving him a fresh, young look. His cheeks were blushing faintly, and the muscles Naruto talked about were really there under his sleeveless shirt.
If that brat suddenly grew confident, then he would certainly have something to worry about.
“ Wow, Sakura-neechan… You look beautiful!”
Crap.
“ A-Ah… Thank you.” She looked down in embarrassment, as a blush took over her cheeks. Seeing her reaction left the Uchiha extremely mad, and if not for the fact he was still holding her bags, his hand would be around that kid’s neck already.
How dare he say such things about Sakura so easily? And in front of him?!
He was definitely not going to let that brat get any closer to the pinkette.
“ Sakura.” His strong voice called her from the current embarrassment, and her eyes widened in surprise. “ Don’t you have to deliver that message for his grandfather?”
“Oh! R-Right! Inari, is Tazuna-san home? I have a message from the Hokage. A request, to be exact.”
“ Ojisan isn’t here right now… He’s with my mom buying some things but they will be back later. You can wait here if you want.” The boy said, smiling brightly at the pinkette.
“ I see… I think this would be a good idea, then. What do you think, Sasuke-kun?”
“ Hn, absolutely not.”
“ I knew you would li- What?!”
Her eyes widened in surprise and the harsh tone of his words annoyed her more than they should. The ordering way his words sounded made her veins boil, and a pout immediately grew on her face.
Hauro Sakura was definitely not going to accept orders like that. Not without an explanation.
“ This is a mission, not a friend reunion. Get professional.”
“ Eh!?” She glared at him, placing both of her hands over her hips. “ I am very professional! I’ll wait to deliver the message in hand.”
“ Hey, guys… Are you really fight-“ Inari tried, but his voice was easily swallowed by the angry Uchiha.
“ Kakashi didn’t ask you to deliver it in hands. He told you to leave the message and return to the village. I’m sure the brat will deliver the message to his grandfather.”
“ Oi… Sakura-neechan… Sasuke-nii-” He tried again, failing once more.
“ It’s not like I’m in a rush or anything. I can wait here if I want to!”
“ Tch, you’re so annoying. That’s exactly why Kakashi told me to come. You’re not waiting here. You’re going home, Sakura, because they need you there to take care of the… Of the children’s clinic, of course.”
“ No, I’m not!”
“ Yes, you are!”
The way those two glared and discussed showed exactly what Naruto had told him in his letter. Even if Inari didn’t know much about this new Uchiha Sasuke, it was possible to tell the former avenger’s real intentions with those words. He didn’t want to leave the girl alone with another guy and risk losing her love forever. Back then, when the carpenter was still an 8 years old kid, it was possible to tell how much she loved him, and now it was also possible to see that kind of feeling coming from him. Being a part of that prank with the Uzumaki had certainly been a nice experience for him to see how one can change thanks to love.
And seeing the almighty Sasuke jealous had certainly been quite funny, too.
“ You’re going home even if I have to drag you back, Sakura!”
“ Oh, I would love to see you try, Sasuke!"
A smile appeared on Inari’s lips as he finally decided to stop those two before his house ended up destroyed. He took a deep breath and screamed as loud as he could, making both of the ninjas stop arguing to look at him. They had a scared expression ruling their faces, and as soon as their eyes turned to face the teenager, he couldn’t help but release a sincere laughter.
Those two are way too funny for him.
“ W-What the-“ She started, still impressed by that kid’s vocal chords.
“ You see, Sakura-neechan…” Inari started. “ I’m afraid I won’t be able to stay here with you. I’ve just remembered I have to finish something in a house nearby. I’m terribly sorry.” He bowed his head down in apology, leaving the girl a little embarrassed due to the formal gesture.
“ A-Ah… It’s okay, Inari. I understand. I should be apologizing for trying to stay here.”
“ No need to worry.” He smiled. “ And I’ll gladly deliver the message to my grandfather. I’m sure he will love to accept working with Yamato-san again.”
“ Eh? H-How do you know Yamato-taichou is the one in need of help?”
“…” Inari’s eyes widened as he clearly realized he had just blown off his cover. Apparently, Naruto had given him a lot more information than he actually needed. “ I-I… I just figured since we worked together on the last time.”
“ Uhm… This is certainly weird, but… “ She took the envelope from her bag, smiling and handling it to Inari. “ I guess you don’t have time to tell me the whole thing right now, ne?”
“ Yeah… I don’t.” He smiled back, scratching the back of his neck with his free hand.
“ Well, then… I guess we will be going then, right, Sasuke-kun?”
“ Hn, It’s already time.” The Uchiha mumbled, looking away from the carpenter.
“ It was great to see you two! Tell Naruto-niichan I said hi.”
“ I’ll deliver your message! Bye bye, Inari!”
“ Have a safe trip, Sakura-neechan!” The boy suddenly gave her a hug, which immediately caused the Uchiha to send him a deadly glare. Smirking, the now brave carpenter looked at the Uchiha, not caring about the Rinnegan locked on him. " And take care of her, Sasuke-niichan. You never know when someone might try to steal her away.”
“ Tch… You brat!”
With both Sakura and Inari laughing at him, the Uchiha, then, did what he should have done a long time before. He threw the bags in her hands, and once his own right hand was free, Sasuke grabbed the girl by the arm and started to drag her away. He was tired of that whole conversation and he wanted to get out of the hot place already. His grip around her arm was strong enough not to let her go, and even if she protested, he was not going to release her until they were on a safe distance from the kid’s house.
One day, he would get his revenge against that girl.
But that day would certainly not arrive that soon. At least not until he acknowledged his own feelings.
Without looking back, the Uchiha continued to pull her around the village until they reached the end of the Great Naruto Bridge. After a while, the pinkette eventually gave up on her useless struggle, and accepted the fate of a potato bag. In the end, perhaps she deserved it after teasing him like that in front of Inari. For the Uchiha pride is something really delicate, chances were he was mad at her for all those unnecessary words.
A sigh escaped her lips. That boy was certainly impossible.
After letting go of her arm, the Uchiha didn’t say a single word. He was still holding that stoic expression of his, and even if she was now walking in front of him, he refused to make eye-contact.
Uchiha Sasuke was really mad.
But he was not mad at her. He could never be.
She was just doing her job, after all.
“ Sakura.”
She stopped at the sound of her name, and felt shivers running down her spine. He was going to scold her, she knew. He was going to trap her in another dimension and she would starve to death, for sure. The pinkette had brought the Uchiha’s anger upon herself, and now it was time for her to face the consequences.
Or that was what she thought.
“ You shouldn’t accept a man’s offer to stay with him alone in a house like that.”
What?
Her mind went blank, as she lifted an eyebrow in pure confusion. Sakura turned to face him, not bothering to hide her blank expression, as she was trying her best to understand his words.
“ What are you talking about, Sasuke-kun? It’s just Inari… We know him.”
“ Still… Didn’t you see the way he looked at you?”
“ Tch, don’t be silly… He would never do such thing. Besides, you know very well that I can destroy more than just his house with my pinky.”
“ Hn, don't underestimate men. He was waiting for you... He could have prepared a trap or something."
"... I doubt it. Besides, what could he do to me, anyway?"
"..." The Uchiha sighed in defeat. What a stubborn girl. She really is Naruto's friend. " You're annoying. I can't leave you alone, can I?"
As her emerald eyes captured the glimpse of a blush tinging his cheeks, a whole new world seemed to be revealed in front of her. Her heart was beating faster, her head was a mess and Sakura just couldn't stop looking at how embarrassed he was after listening to her words.
Apparently, he was not going to send her to the desert dimension.
Apparently, he was just worried about the fact that she would be alone with a 16-year old for a couple of hours while they waited for an old man.
Apparently, Uchiha Sasuke was going mad. Or could it be…
" Sasuke-kun...." He looked at her, trying to seem as calm as possible. Her eyes were connected to his, and suddenly, she took a step closer. " Could it be that you're... jealous?"
It took the raven haired boy some moments to finally interpret her words, and when he did, he could feel the back of his neck growing hotter. Sasuke knew he had to masquerade whatever uncomfortable expression he was probably wearing at that moment, for he simply could not let Haruno Sakura think about something so absurd like that.
He was definitely not jealous, he knew.
So why was he so troubled by her words?
" Tch, don't be silly... Uchihas don't get jealous." He looked away, trying to hide his altered expression.
The girl kept looking at him with her judging orbs, and after reaching to her own conclusion, Sakura simply smiled teasingly, taking a step away from him.
What a silly boy, she thought.
" Yeah... You're right. You would never be jealous.
"Hn."
" The almighty Uchiha Sasuke doesn't have such thing as feelings. " She chuckled, leaving him slightly annoyed.
" Oi, it's not like th-"
" Besides... It's not like you have any reasons to be, right?"
The way her eyes were teasingly looking at him felt like the girl was ending him with her powerful fist. Somehow, being watched by those stunning eyes left him extremely exposed, and that was certainly a sensation Sasuke did not enjoy.
The Uchiha was not used to that kind of weakness, especially when the pinkette was the one taking advantage of the situation. He was defenseless, and for sure, he was defeated by those emerald eyes of hers.
But he would never admit it, after all, he is Uchiha Sasuke.
And Uchiha Sasuke will never accept being defeated by Haruno Sakura.
" Tch, shouldn't you be heading home now, Sakura?"
" Eh!? Aren't you coming with me?"
" Why should I?"
" Because you were supposed to be escorting me. It's your mission, after all."
SasuSaku Month 2016
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Day 22- The Prince( Princess) and the Pauper
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Title: Endless Year.
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Summary: The war has ended just some months before, and a new year is about to start. They're finally back home, yet, they choose to spend the new years all alone. Will fate allow them to do so?
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A/N: AHH! I tried to make a really fluffy one this time, guys! I’ve decided to add the new year thing to this theme, and even if it turned out quite short (for my patterns XD) I’m happy with how it ended! I’ve also decided to make a more literal interpretation of the theme, because if I followed the original idea, it would be way too big or a one-shot! I wish you all an AMAZING year, and I hope I can help it somehow with my stories! I hope you like the story, and please, tell me what you think!
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Konohagakure was as bright as he’s always remembered it to be around that time of the year. Streets were crowded with people from all over the ninja nations, and most of them-if not all- were excitedly smiling as the beginning of a new year approached. A new year that already carried millions of hopeful wishes and peaceful thoughts from all of those who were deeply injured during the battle against the undead; and a new year that, for sure, would put all those changing promises to test. The political scenery would suffer a radical process of remodulation, and an economic crises was most likely to affect the nations due to the huge amount of money spent during the war.
Chaos would be inevitable, for a wave of side effects was about to hit all the ninja nations.
The world needed peace and luck more than ever at that moment, and even if it seemed to be just a silly preoccupation during such delicate times, the villagers still decided to get together in order to celebrate the New Year. Apart from the finances and the physical destruction, the emotional side of those who risked their lives for the sake of the world could not be ignored. They were the real heroes of the war, and even if things were bad at that moment, they could be even worse if the war had been lost. They deserved a chance to rest before facing new problems, and they deserved a chance to focus on trivial matters again, like with whom would they spend the last seconds of the year.
It seemed to be a waste of energy, but this time, turning all their efforts into happiness and hope would be necessary in order to heal.
For the traces of the war were still present inside everyone’s hearts, the Godaime decided to promote the celebrations as if nothing had happened months before. There would be food, music, decorations, and of course, fireworks to send that troublesome year away. Even if it was clear that it would be a much smaller celebration, no one seemed to care about that. Everyone around was going to help as much as they could, and by doing so, their minds would eventually be occupied by things that were not related to the war. That kind of therapy would replace the mourning feeling by a renovation one, and by working together, people would eventually support one another during such had times.
They would lean on each other so they could move on with their lives.
Together, they would heal.
And watching it all from afar certainly brought peace to his wounded heart.
Even if the whole thing seemed to be extremely welcoming, the raven haired boy knew he didn’t belong with all those happy people. A former criminal that had threatened all those lives not even a year before could never be accepted that easily, and more than anyone, the Uchiha understood that. He understood the glares, the insecurity, the whispers and even the bad words that were daily thrown at him whenever he walked around the village.
He deserved that, he thought. He deserved it all and until the day those people could finally forgive him, Sasuke would simply accept what his past brought upon him.
He would spend the last moments of the year alone, sitting on that stone bench that once watched him leave the village, and where he once left the only girl that could ever love him unconscious and with tears streaming down her rosy cheeks. On the last night of the year, Uchiha Sasuke would be alone with his regretful memories and that would be more than just fine for him.
Or that was what he thought until he felt that monstrous chakra approaching him.
Tch… They really wouldn’t leave him alone, right?
“ Shouldn’t you be with the others?”
His voice left his mouth, as his lips slightly curled up. His head was hanging down, making his dark hair fall over his closed eyes. There was no tension in his shoulders, as his unexpected company approached him, the clicking of heels getting louder until they stopped right next to him.
She really didn’t know how to be discreet, he thought. Not that she really wanted to.
“ I could ask you the same thing, don’t you think, Sasuke-kun?"
Touché, he thought, smirking.
Dark eyes finally shot open, as he finally turned to face her. As he had expected, her beautiful green eyes were set on him and a teasing smirk was taking over her rosy lips. Just like him, the pinkette wasn’t wearing anything special for the occasion, as her casual clothes could be found covering her body. Her regular combination of skirt and shirt was a little kneaded, and her short, pink hair was tied up in a messy ponytail, as many stubborn locks refused to remain trapped.
As always, Haruno Sakura was beautiful.
But it was not like he would admit it to her like that.
Finally, he sighed. “ What are you doing here, Sakura?”
“ The same as you, of course. Running away from all that mess and avoiding all my friends.”
“ Really funny… Did Naruto send you to get me or something like that?”
“ Nope. I don’t even know where he is, to be honest. Won’t you even invite me to sit?”
“ Tch…” He smirked, straightening his position and moving his head as if telling her to accommodate herself. Without thinking twice, the girl walked around and found herself a comfortable spot next to him. “ You should be there with everyone.”
“ And what makes you think you shouldn’t?”
At that moment, his eyes turned to face her, reflecting a certain empathy in them. He knew what she meant with that question, and he really appreciated that. However, both of them knew that there was no way the former avenger would join the celebrations. At least not yet. As always, he would observe it all from the shadows, because that's where he belongs.
But at least he wouldn’t be alone. Not anymore.
For the first time in her life, Sakura didn’t even try to argue against the Uchiha’s decision. She simply smiled, biting her lower lip in amusement. That boy is really impossible and apparently it would still take her a long time to be able to change his mind.
Still, she wouldn’t give up on that.
After making up her mind, the girl simply stretched her arms in relief and moved her neck in order to get herself rid of the tension that had built up in her muscles. She, then, scratched the back of her neck, swirling some of her pink locks around her index finger, letting out a deep yawn that almost brought tear to her eyes. Apparently, the girl next to him was really worn out, and if he didn’t know her better, the Uchiha would’ve even thought it was because she had been partying up until that time with all the others.
But that’s not the Sakura he knows. It never was.
“ You look really tired.” He said, playing with the hem of his empty sleeve.
“ Are the dark circles that big?”
“ Hn, Have you been up working on the prosthetic arm again?”
She sent him a playful glare, confirming his words. “ Am I really that obvious?”
“A little. You should go to sleep then.”
“ Am I bothering you that much that you want me out of here?”
At that moment, her sweet eyes looked at him as if trying to trick him into something. Both of them already knew the answer to that question, because everyone already knew that her company was one of the few the Uchiha could actually call pleasurable. He didn’t look at her like he looked at the others and he certainly didn’t give her short answers like he gave everyone else. She’s special for him in the same way he’s special for her. And that was why having her around would never be a bother to him.
She would never be a bother to him.
“ Of course not.” He said, no hesitation in his voice. “ It’s just that you look tired and you shouldn’t be forcing yourself for useless things.”
“ What am I doing that is useless to you?”
“ Well… You’re here, a war heroine, and you’re away from everyone who wishes to thank you. You’re here with a former criminal instead of sleeping or just enjoying the last minutes of the year with your friends.”
When the word “heroine" escaped his lips, it was possible to see how drastically the expression on her face changed. If there was one thing she didn’t consider herself to be, it was a war heroine, for many were the lives she couldn’t save during those hard times. People shouldn’t thank her for anything, yet they insisted on doing so. They insisted, and that was when he could see her own war scars escaping her facade.
Yes, the war scars. Even Haruno Sakura, the princess of Konoha, has them buried deep inside her heart. She was no different from all the others who fought against the undead just because she was there to punch Kaguya in the face. She was no different, and her scars were no less significant either. They were as troublesome, if not more due to the fact she didn’t really bother to share them with the others. She faced them all by herself, and that was the main reason why he didn’t want her to be with him when all the others could make her happier during such difficult times.
He was aware that he could neither heal her wounds nor her broken heart, and that was why he wanted her to be by her friends’ side. He’s not Naruto, and he didn’t know what to do to make her feel better.
To make her feel less lonely.
Still, there was no way he could simply push her away, right? It was almost midnight, after all.
She would soon have to go, anyway.
“ You see… Even if I wanted to, I can’t go have fun with the others.”
“ Eh? Why not?”
“ I’m working tonight. I took the new year’s shift this year again, so up until now I was taking care of some drunk people who were already listening to imaginary fireworks.” She chuckled, looking up at the stars.
“ Working?” His eyes widened in surprise. Apparently, medical ninjas didn’t know the meaning of holidays. “ Then shouldn’t you be at the hospital?”
“ Yes… But Tsunade-sama saw me handling the paperwork and got super mad at me. She told me to go out at least until midnight so I could have some fun and kiss a guy or two.”
“ Tch… That old woman.” He said, clenching his fist due to the inappropriate advice from the Godaime. His cheeks grew a little red, but thanks to the dim light coming from the center of the village, his shades of embarrassment couldn’t be seen by the pinkette.
So that was why she was there, he thought. She was there to escape both her master and the crowd until the clock hit midnight.
What a smart girl, he thought.
“ She just wants me to have some fun, I guess… It’s not her fault if her apprentice already has the spirit of an old woman.”
“ Hn, she would be mad if she knew you were here.”
“ Well… At least I’m not alone, right?” She looked at him, smiling gently as soon as their eyes connected.
“ Did you… Did you know I would be here?”
“ To be honest… I thought you could be here since this is probably the furthest place from all those people… But then I thought it would be too much of a coincidence for us to meet here. Hn, guess I was wrong.”
“Hn, sorry for destroying your plans then.”
“ As if… I’m glad you’re here. I can’t stand crowds, but… This feels just fine.”
The way her eyes looked at his at that moment meant the world to him. Knowing she preferred his company over the loneliness was relieving, and taking their past in consideration, being able to sit on that bench and actually have a good time really made their hearts feel warmer. They enjoyed each other’s company. They always did, and now things wouldn’t be any different.
A comfortable silence set around them after her words. They could hear people’s laughter from afar, and every now and then they could swear they could hear Naruto’s famous “dattebayo” echoing all the way to reach their ears. It was a warming sensation that made them imagine what their blonde friend was probably doing to celebrate the last minutes of the year.
He really is an idiot, they thought.
An idiot who should probably be looking for them.
“ Naruto will kill us when he finds out we’ve spent the new year without him.” She said, chuckling.
“ Aah… That idiot will definitely feel left out if he finds out.”
“ Yeah… It would be the first time we would spend the new year together after everything, after all.”
“Hn, it’s not like this will be our last chance, right?”
“ I hope so…” She smiled tenderly to herself, not taking her eyes away from the stars. “ How did it feel to spend the new year with Orochimaru and Kabuto?”
“ Well… It was different, I guess. There were no parties and we barely remembered about it, to be honest. We only new that it was the beginning of a new year when we saw the fireworks exploding in the skies.”
“ Really? Didn’t you have like… A watch?”
“ It didn’t really matter for us back then… Time simply passed and we didn’t care. It was't that bad to forget about the clock.”
“ It doesn’t sound bad at all… “
Her nostalgic expression captured his eyes as she was probably reflecting about time itself. Their lives as ninjas have always been ruled by the ticking clock as every second mattered to determine life and death. The three years they’ve spent training and the endless months they’ve spent away from home and so close to destruction were more than enough to change everything they knew about themselves, and nothing they did would ever change them back to how they used to be.
During the war, time indeed stopped. And that certainly helped create the endless sensation of combat.
Eternity can certainly be a blessing, but when it’s turned into a curse, then the consequences will never fade.
Still, when they were less than 5 minutes away from the next year, creating an endless memory seemed to be a good idea for Uchiha Sasuke.
“ Do you wanna try it, Sakura?”
“ Eh?”
“ Hn, No counting this year, just the fireworks. What do you say?”
A wide smile crossed her lips and a warm pink took over her cheeks. The idea did seem to be a good one, especially because the girl didn’t feel like ending that year that soon. The idea of moving on still didn’t seem to please her, for she knew that after the war, she would have to face all the nightmares and terrible memories that would haunt her for the rest of her life. Sakura knew that there was no escaping anymore, and at the same time she wanted to say goodbye to that tragical year, she also didn’t want the last year of her sanity to vanish.
At that moment, Haruno Sakura was a mess, and forgetting absolutely everything, including time itself, seemed to be more than just a great idea.
“ Let’s do this.” She said, taking off her wrist watch and placing it upside down on the bench. She smiled at him once more, before finally turning to face the dark night above their heads.
And so, their silent waiting began. She was watching the sky while he was watching her, thinking of how hard it must have been for that lovely girl to turn into the strong woman standing in front of him. Time wasn’t the only thing that passed, for it was not only her appearance that had changed. He could see deep into her eyes that there was a lot more in her than the simple consequences of aging.
She’s a warrior now. A medical ninja who has mastered the supreme technique and a girl whose eyes have seen the world in ways no one should have. She’s seen death, but her hands have also given life, and that kind of contrast is probably what keeps her eyes shining so bright like in their youthful days.
Yes, her eyes are still shining as brightly as he remembered them. They still held that same innocence, showing the girly side of that impeccable warrior to anyone who looked at them.
Her eyes are the most precious jewels of the world. And through their stunning reflection, Uchiha Sasuke welcomed the new year in the most dazzling way.
Never before had fireworks exploded so beautifully than when seen through the emerald eyes of Haruno Sakura.
“ Happy new year, Sasuke-kun!” She was smiling brightly, looking at him with all the love in the world. Her voice brought him back from that trance, and without even noticing, they were still holding that intimate eye contact.
Yay another piece of SasuSaku art done! ^^ I’m proud with this one how it turned out. x) Also, thank you Kishimoto for teaching me how to draw a wave splash (found it in the manga). ^^
Man, this couple is one of a kind. ❤️
The only other couple reminding me of them (or the other way around) is LighTis (LOVE them btw - fave FF ship)
SasuSaku Month 2016
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Day 17- Entropy
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Title: From the Shadows
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Summary: It’s too late for him to be out, but the fire in her eyes just can’t let him go.
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A/N: Ahh! I was so excited to write this one!!! The whole suspense idea made my heart beat faster in anxiety, and now it’s finally done!! Not many dialogues My tests are about to start this week, so the next story will probably take a little longer to come… But as soon as they end, be sure I’ll be writing the next piece of the SasuSaku month (haha I’m so late XD)!! Anyway, I hope you enjoy it, and please, don’t forget to leave me a Review with your opinion!!
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Note 2: Morpheus: The god of dreams.
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Entropy- The degree of disorder or uncertainty in a system.
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Chaos had, at last, returned to Konoha.
In a night pleasantly warm provided by the Summer, the empty streets of Konoha were spreading the silent snores of the villagers around every corner and every dark alley of that place hidden in the leaves. It was already too late for anyone to be walking around; and too silent for anyone to be lost in their own thoughts.
Normal people should be sleeping, and indeed, they were. Those with such innocent, naive hearts were already in their beds, enjoying their precious 8 hours of sleep before the beginning of a new day in their ordinary lives.
The entire village was trapped in Morpheus’ embracing spell.
Oh, if only those mortals were aware of what was hiding behind their dreams…
Through a wide-opened window, chaos could be seen by those who refused to ignore the apparent serenity of the night. He, who had foreseen that storm some hours before, was watching that tragic beauty from the safe distance of a roof, hiding his presence as much as possible. His dark eyes followed as she walked aimlessly around her room, going right and left, with one hand clenched and the other running furiously through her hair locks. There were teared papers spread around the floor, and a kunai carved on a wooden table. The entire room was a mess, but not as much as the one in it.
On that night, the girl in front of him had personified a fury explosion. Her usual calm expression had long since disappeared from her face, and for hours she had been alternating from raging attacks to reflexive moments. There were times when she would just sit on the wooden floor of her room and just stare at nothing for a couple of minutes. In other times, usually some minutes after those moments, she would start hyperventilating, and soon, her fist would smash something new.
That girl was going to destroy her entire apartment if she didn’t calm down.
And for her, he knew, doing so would be a piece of cake.
Ever since that morning, when he saw her leaving the Hokage's office, Uchiha Sasuke knew that there was something wrong with his teammate, Haruno Sakura. Even if their encounter lasted less than five seconds, and even if they didn’t exchange a single word; the Uchiha noticed by the way she looked at him that something had happened.
That fury consuming her emerald eyes, and the way she looked away from him sent shivers down his spine, making him feel as if a knife had stabbed his chest. Receiving such unexpected coldness from her had certainly made him worried, and if not for the important meeting he had at that moment, Sasuke would have definitely followed her in order to get himself some answers. Sakura was mad, but not like she usually is whenever Naruto pisses her off. She was mad, furious, and there was something inside her he had never seen before.
In her eyes, he saw a burning flame she had never showed him before.
And that flame, for sure, made a mess in his heart.
During the whole meeting, and through the entire day, the former avenger couldn’t take the image of her eyes away from his thoughts. That mix of rage ad chaos was making his heart beat faster and his throat run dry; and no matter what, he just couldn’t help but catch himself looking for her and her eyes as he walked around the village. Sakura was ruling his entire system, creating a disorder he had never felt before and it didn’t take much for the Uchiha to succumb to her unconscious power.
He just waited for the sun to die for his eyes to see better in the darkness of the night. He went to her house, and for the last couple of hours, the raven haired boy simply watched as she destroyed her room trying to rebuild herself. He watched without moving a single muscle, for he knew she needed that time alone. She needed it, and watching her from the shadows was definitely wrong in so many ways he couldn’t even count. Sasuke should have respected her privacy, but no matter how he tried, he just couldn’t make his muscles move. He was hypnotized by her state of anger, and he figured that as long as she didn’t see him, then her feeling of loneliness wouldn’t be ruined.
As long as he kept himself hidden, Haruno Sakura would be able to deal with her own demons.
Oh, and how beautiful they were.
No matter how he looked at the scene in front of him, the Uchiha couldn’t help but feel excited. At that moment, she was showing a side of her no one has ever seen, and seeing such pure, dark mess in such an innocent girl, certainly drove him mad. His hands were shaking, his blood pressure was high and his lungs were in desperate need of air. That girl was driving him insane, and for a moment, he regretted all the time he’s spent away in his own journey. It is true that he was already aware of his feelings for the pinkette, and it's true that by that time they've even shared a kiss or two; but in no way could he have imagined the magnitude of her power over him.
That whole thing was just too new for him, and if he were to be honest, he was clearly enjoying every second of it.
All their story, all their feelings and all their dramas were finally being tied together, and looking at her in that state just made things even more interesting for him. The anxiety of looking into her eyes and the fear of being discovered by them made his entire body tremble; and for a moment, he even felt his guard dropping. His control over himself was slipping from his fingertips, and it was as if he was being dragged to her window- as if he was being dragged to her. Never would he let anyone hurt such precious girl.
His love for her is his major strength against the enemies.
But it is also his major weakness against the kunoichi that lives inside her.
At the same moment his chakra levels escaped from his control, a kunai came flying towards him. The Uchiha only had time to dodge and blink before the girl he was watching inside that room was now standing right in front of him. Her body was dangerously close to his, as she was holding another knife against his throat, and a murderous glare was decorating her face.
Her burning eyes were now mere inches away from him, and he could see her demons with his own eyes.
Oh, what an amazing view.
“ Who sent you here, Sasuke?”
Her voice was low and her eyes were as sharp as the kunai in her hand. There was no kindness in them, just an unexplainable search for blood.
She could kill him right there for all he knew.
Still, he couldn’t help but find that fascinating.
“ Come on, Sasuke. I’m not in the mood for your silence! Answer my bloody question!”
She leaned even closer, and for the first time in his life, Uchiha Sasuke was left speechless.
Speechless by a girl trying to kill him.
“ Damn it, Sasuke! Answer or I will-“
“ Will you kill me?”
At the sound of his words, the Uchiha watched as her eyes widened. He could feel as her hot breathing had stopped brushing his skin for a couple of seconds, and slowly, he saw the kunai twitching backwards.
Apparently, the frigid murderer was slowly dying in self-awareness, and his beloved teammate was finally returning to reality. Her eyes were no longer bloodthirsty and he knew that she was no longer capable of putting an end to his life.
Haruno Sakura was back.
But she was still possessed by anger.
Even if she had taken a step back from her threatening position, Sasuke could still see how lost she was in her own thoughts. At that very moment, it was possible to say she was fighting a battle against herself, and either way, she was losing what was left of her sanity. She was losing her answers and her reasons to fight, but she was definitely not losing her feelings.
Those were destined to be forever engraved in her heart, taking care of her every decision.
It’s always been like this, and in that time, things wouldn’t be any different.
" Kill you...?" She looked away, as her hand turned into a fist. " As if I could do that..."
Those strong feelings of hers were once again causing her problems, and the pink haired kunoichi was once again feeling like an unstable girl, who doesn’t know how to act like the adult she was supposed to be. In the end, she knows, she's still that same girl who cried and begged for the love of her life not to abandon her. When it was about him, her heart knew no limits and she was capable of anything to keep him safe. She was capable of killing, lying and stealing for the boy.
And to be honest, that was the one problem troubling her ever since she left the Hokage’s office earlier that day.
If she could do all those things for a former criminal, how on earth could she be trusted in a diplomatic trip to Suna? How could the elders trust such an emotional girl who could sacrifice her entire village for a single man?
There was no way they could simply let her do as she pleased, and not even the Hokage’s words could change her destiny.
In the end, it was all about the Uchiha. It was all because of him.
As he looked at her, he could see the tips of her fingers getting paler as her fist grew tighter. Her jaw was clenched, and it was possible to tell that her raging attacks were about to start again. The girl, Sasuke could see, was still unstable and she didn’t show any sign indicating her temper would settle down anytime soon. She was pissed, confused and incredibly furious all together, and it was all because she couldn’t take the life of a single man.
His life.
Even if he doubted her real objective was to make his heart stop beating, the Uchiha knew that not being able to do something was simply unacceptable for the pinkette. It hurt her pride as a ninja, destroyed her confidence and made her feel ashamed of herself for not being able to surpass another obstacle blocking her path.
She felt so useless for not being able to shut those feelings down.
It was all his fault, she knew.
And as the man he is, Sasuke was about to take responsibility for his actions.
When she finally turned her back to him, the Uchiha didn’t hesitate before pulling her back and smashing her back against the water container next to them. He had pinned her body against the metal structure, and almost immediately, leaned his body forward to prevent her from escaping. His cold eyes were set on her hot ones, and no matter how dangerous it was to try to calm her down at that moment, Sasuke did not retreat.
He was going to help her. He was going to tame her demons.
“ What the hell are you doi-“
“ You can kill me, Sakura.”
“ What?” Her eyes widened, as her lips parted in awe. She couldn’t understand the meaning behind his words, but somehow, her heart responded to his voice.
“ If you feel like it, and if your heart tells you to, then you can kill me with your bare hands.”
The low tone of his voice entering her ears made her body stop trembling. Her head lowered for a moment as if to let his words sink in. The silent that was spread around them was filled with tension and not even the warm summer breeze that danced around their locks was able to create a lighter atmosphere. Things were not solved yet, he knew. And as soon as a sarcastic laughter escaped her lips, the raven haired boy knew things were about to get worse.
Oh, and how exciting that was.
“ If my heart tells me to…?” She giggled, looking up to meet his dark pearls. “ What if instead of my heart, the one telling me to kill you was the council of Konoha? What if my mission was to kill you? Would I be able to do it?”
“No. Not without a good reason, at least.”
“ Uhm… Then, what if I told you Kakashi-sensei was kidnapped and the bandits want your head for his life. Do you think I could do it? Do you think I could kill a former criminal, who betrayed the village, tried to kill me and… And who broke my heart?”
She glared at him, with a smirk on her face as she exhaled her intensity from every pore of her body. Her body language was calling him, and without the Uchiha even noticing, the distance between them got shorter. His eyes were looking deep into hers, and she could feel his hot breath tickling her lips. His throat went dry, and before he could do something stupid, Sasuke bit his tongue as if to snap out of her trance.
No matter how he tried to stay focused and keep his composure, the pinkette was just too much for him. Sakura, even without trying, was able to make him feel confused and excited at the same time. He didn’t know what to think, he didn’t know what to feel, but he knew what to do.
He knew what to say.
But he didn’t know what she would do. Not even Sakura knew, to be honest.
“ If you follow your instincts, Sakura…” He offered her a serious face, not being intimidated by her glare. “ You’ll make the right decision.”
Her face grew red in anger and she held tightly onto the collar of his black shirt. “ What kind of answer is that, Sasuke!?"
“ It’s the answer you need.“
“ I don’t need an answer! I need a reason!”
“ A reason?! Do you need a reason to kil-“
The former avenger never had the chance to explain the meaning behind his words.
In one, strong pull, the pinkette brought his lips to hers in a heated and impulsive action. From such intimate touch, Sasuke could feel how mad she really was, and he could easily tell how dangerous it was to be in his position at that very moment.
Sakura could, indeed, kill him if he made a fake move or something similar.
She could really kill him.
But there was no other place in the world where he would rather be.
Unfortunately, before he could deepen their kiss, the girl pushed his lips away. Her hands were still clenched around the material of his shirt, and her eyes were aiming at their feet. He could feel her heart beating as fast as his own, and suddenly, their lungs started to demand more air. Sasuke didn’t know what was going on anymore, and before he could ask, her voice broke that heated silence that had taken over them.
“ Hey, Sasuke-kun…” She started, lifting her face so her emerald eyes could face him. They were now brighter than before and he could feel his cheeks getting warmer. “ If I told you I’m going to kill you, would you let me stay so close?”
Her inebriating scent invaded his nostrils and the Uchiha fully succumbed to her chaos. The demons that were inside her were now staring at his own soul and the Rinnegan holder decided to face them with his own sins.
In a single move, Sasuke used his freezing calm to nullify her burning anger. A suspicious silence was once again spread around the village and not a single person in Konoha knows how the former avenger managed to control all that disorder that had taken over the pink haired medic.
He froze her demons, and allowed her to melt his nightmares.
He calmed her soul, and she gave a meaning to his untamed heart.
They saved each other.
They stopped a murder.
And for all of those things, Haruno Sakura and Uchiha Sasuke deserved to sleep through the remaining hours of that peaceful night.
SasuSaku Month 2016
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Day 10- I Am the Law
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Title: Handcuffs
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Summary: Cop Au- Officer Uchiha Sasuke is chasing down a suspect. He’s an experienced cop, but his handcuffs end up wrapped around the wrong wrist. Now where is that stupid key?
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A/N: Okay, this is the theme I came up with to replace “Fuck the Police”… I know it’s a terrible way to name it, and I know I could have come up with something better, but… That’s what we have for today XD Anyway, I already had a story for the original theme, and I decided to keep it like that. There were some minor changes, but it’s still the original concept. I hope you guys enjoy it, and as I always say, don’t forget to tell me your opinion!
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It was around 3am when the dark alleys witnessed the daily battle of a single officer against the crime of his city. His black boots were creating a rapid sound against the concrete ground, and every now and then, the peaceful puddles would have its calmness ruined by his ambitious run.
“ Stop right now! You’re under arrest!” With an increasing heart beat, and fire in his eyes, officer Uchiha Sasuke was determined not to let that man escape. A few moments before, he had robbed a store, and now he was running full speed, as the grumpiest cop of the city was hot on his heels.
The bandit tried tossing some wooden boxes behind in order to outwit the cop, but nothing was capable to slow that cop down. He was not going to let that man escape from his punishment, and he was determined to show the other cops the power behind his family name. He would honor all of the previous generations of cops from his family, and he would make sure that law prevailed once more.
Sasuke was going to catch that bastard, even if it took him an entire night of chasing.
That man was not going to escape from his dark eyes.
“Surrender now! You’re not escaping from me!” Sasuke screamed, dodging from a trash can that had been thrown at him.
"Screw you, officer!"
The Uchiha’s patience was running low, and he was almost taking his gun in hands to put an end to that chasing. Thanks to his impeccable aiming skills, Sasuke knew he could have shot that man’s leg already, but his pride just didn’t let him follow the easy way, no. That stubborn cop was going to catch that bandit with his own hands, for there was just no way the Uchiha would let a man like that escape from his sight.
How could a man wearing a pink wig simply disappear, right?
Sasuke is a highly trained officer, who, since his days at the police academy, has shown impeccable results on both physical and theoretical exams. He has graduated as the first of his class, winning medals and decorations from all of his superiors until he reached his current position on the police department of Konoha. There was just no way that freak could win that battle against him, and it was just a matter of time until he captured that robber. It was just a matter of time- he knew- for the chasing to reach its end.
And indeed, he was right.
It all happened too fast even for his mind to comprehend. In a moment, his eyes were set on the man running in front of him; and in another, thanks to a naive reflex, the Uchiha had his eyes on the bag full of money that had been thrown away by the robber. It was clear that the bandit had given up on his illegal prize and that he just wanted to go home; but just because he didn’t take the money with him, it didn’t mean Sasuke would let him go. He was still a criminal, after all. Unfortunately, thanks to that fraction of seconds the Konoha cop wasted on the flying bag, the man wearing a pink wig escaped from his sight.
He escaped from Uchiha Sasuke.
“ Oh no…. No, No No, NO!”
Sasuke continued running, not wanting to believe he had made such stupid mistake. His eye kept searching all over the place for that man, as he randomly turned right and left around the maze created by the hidden routes of the city. Curses were escaping his lips, and when the dark alleys turned into a bright, peaceful street; the cop just couldn’t help but want to punch himself.
How could he let that happen!?
How could he be such an irresponsible idiot!?
His eyes were still open wide, as his lungs were rapidly going up and down in an attempt to recover his breath. He ran a furious hand through his dark locks, wiping the sweat of his forehead and cursing whatever had made him look at that stupid bag. There was simply no sign of that guy or that stupid wig, and he could feel as if the entire world was spinning around him. Sasuke was ashamed of himself, with anger boiling inside his veins and with a growing anxiety taking over his senses.
That could not be happening. Not with him.
That guy had to be somewhere near.
Those pink locks couldn’t have simply disappeared from his life. And indeed, they hadn’t.
But those were definitely not the same as the ones he had been looking for.
The sight of a pink hair dancing around the shy wind of the dawn captured his attention, and without thinking twice, the Uchiha restarted his run. His teeth were gritted and his hands had turned into fists, as he approached the bandit who thought that could outsmart the best cop of Konoha. With that brown cloak covering his body and a suspiciously slow march, Sasuke was sure that he had found his bandit.
But he didn’t remember that bandit had such beautiful legs.
“I got you!” He said, grabbing that person by the arm, and quickly handcuffing their wrists together. A triumphant smirk decorated his lips, as his eyes closed for a moment so he could enjoy another successful mission.
Another well done job.
Or that was what he thought.
“ What the hell is this!?”
The Uchiha felt a strong pull on his wrist, and as the sound of a female voice entered his ears, all that feeling of superiority vanished, making him open his eyes to the reality in front of him.
And how green that reality was.
It didn’t take long for him to realize that the one person he had captured was far from being the man he had been chasing before. The person in front of him was, instead, a young woman, shorter than him and with delicate features that were being ruined by two dark circles under her eyes. She has the most stunning emerald orbs he has ever seen, and without noticing, Sasuke took some time to escape from that beautiful trap he had just fallen into.
That girl is just… wow.
And even that short, pink hair on her head helped her look even prettier.
Never again will he say anything bad about people with colorful hair, for sure.
But that was definitely not the time for him to understand all those crazy teenagers, right? He still had a criminal to catch, after all. And in order to do so, he would have to set that woman free.
“ W-What’s going on here? I didn’t do anything, I- I’ve paid all my bills and I-“ She started, with confusion spread all over her face.
“ Miss, calm down. This was just a mistake.” His voice was serene, as he placed his free hand inside his front pocket, clearly looking for the keys. " I’ll take off th-“
“ Oh my god! Am I being kidnapped?! Please, sir, I’ve just gotten out from a long, night shift at the hospital, and I just want to go home!”
Her eyes were widened in horror, and apparently, the young medic wasn’t really buying neither his words nor his clothes. She was scared, and such thing was quite understandable in a situation like that. The girl just wanted to go home, and he just wanted to catch that bastard, but as long as those handcuffs were tying them together, none of them would be able to follow their own path, right?
Well... Not really.
“ Kidnap you!? No! What are you-“
His mouth went agape and he found himself speechless as soon as he identified the person that had just showed up on his peripheral vision. From the corner of his eyes, the policeman saw the man wearing a pink wig, and unlike before, Sasuke had no doubts that he had found the suspect, for the man started to run desperately after recognizing the Uchiha.
Their chasing had, once again, began. And there was no way Sasuke was going to let him escape again. No matter what, Uchiha Sasuke would make sure to punish that bandit.
But his new partner had no idea of what was about to happen.
“ You’re not? Then what are yo- AHH!”
Without thinking twice, the ambitious cop started to run as fast as he could, dragging the pink haired woman along. Even if he was taller and physically stronger than her, it didn’t take him long to notice that the pinkette was slowing him down, and such thing would, eventually, cause that man to escape. He had to make her run faster, he knew.
But running in those low-heeled shoes wasn’t really that easy.
Women, he thought.
Still, making her go through all of that was just not right. It was already late and she was probably too tired to even walk. Demanding her to run along with a cop was not fair, and depending on how things evolved with that criminal, Sasuke could also be putting the life of a civilian in danger. He could not let that happen. He had to protect her from those bandits, and not take her to them. He was just one cop, and at that moment, even if it hurt, the Uchiha realized that not even him would be able to complete both of those tasks. It was time for him to use his radio. It was time for him to call for backup.
Slowing his pace, the Uchiha reached for his radio with his free hand, as his eyes were expertly paying attention to his surroundings. He saw the name of the streets, and it didn’t take long for him to think of a way to ambush that criminal.
“ Hey, Naruto! Do you copy, over?”
“ I’m here-ttebayo! Do you want some donuts? Over.”
“ Tch, knock it off! I have an emergency in my hands, and I need you to go after that guy. Tall, wearing a black cloak with some red clouds, and a pink wig. He’s going to the docks. Over.”
“ Roger that! We’re catching this guy, don’t worry, Sasuke! Take care of your emergency. Over.”
“ I’m counting on you. Over and out.”
One problem solved.
Even if he hated to ask for help, and even if his partner could be an idiot sometimes; Sasuke knew that there were things he just couldn’t do by himself. He would have to trust that Naruto wouldn’t mess things up with that bandit, for he knew it would take some time for him to solve things with that girl. Not only he would have to take off those handcuffs, but he would also have to walk her home and make sure everything was okay. As a cop, and as a gentleman, he couldn’t simply let a beautiful and defenseless girl walking alone at the early hours of dawn.
What if she got attacked or something?
Well, if that happened, the attacker would regret choosing her as a victim.
When they finally stopped running and the Uchiha put his radio back on his belt, he knew he would have to give her an acceptable explanation. By that time, he was sure the medic was exhausted and scared, so Sasuke would have to be careful with his choice of words. He took a deep breath, then, and calmly turned to face her green eyes once more.
He expected to see them shocked or even in tears.
He expected to see her afraid.
But when he found himself staring at a pepper spray can, the officer knew things were about to get stingy.
Never again would he judge a person with pink hair.
“No, you got it wrong, yo-“
“ Shannarou!”
Her small finger pushed the spray button, and soon, his vision was as red as a tomato. Quickly, he placed his free hand over his eyes, trying his best to wipe that burning thing away, but failing miserably as the burning liquid continued to fall over his face. Sasuke was certainly not expecting such thing from that girl, and at that moment, he no longer thought she was scared or anything. That girl proved to him that under that cute face of hers, a potential psychopath was residing. The pinkette was a dangerous woman, but it was not like he could blame her, right?
After what he did to her, she had all the right to think she was being kidnapped.
But damn it, couldn’t she tell by his clothes that he was a cop?
“ AHH!” He screamed in pain, as tears started to pool around his eyes.
“ Don’t even try to do anything! You’re not taking me anywhere!”
“ I-I’m not taking you anywhere, pinky! I’m a cop! Damn it, that hurts!”
“ A cop? As if… Just because you have the clothes, don’t think I’ll fall for that!”
“ It’s true!”
“ Then why did you handcuff me and started to drag me around?!”
“ Tch, I’ve mistaken you with that criminal I was chasing just now, but right after I handcuffed you, I saw him trying to escape again!”
“ Oh, come on! A real cop wouldn’t make such an idiot mistake!”
“ Its true! He also had pink hair.”
“ I still don’t believe you!”
“ Tch!” He grunted, using his hand to take his badge from his pocket. He lifted it so she could see he was not lying, and if not for his eyes were still closed, the Uchiha would have seen how shocked that girl was as soon as she saw that golden identification. He would have seen how her expression said all the words that were too afraid to leave her body.
Oh, crap.
For he felt his tied hand being pulled away, Sasuke only concluded that she had taken her hands to cover her lips. Her green eyes widened, and at that moment, the girl was one hundred percent sure she was going to the jail for attacking a real cop. She was definitely screwed, and at that moment, she couldn’t even run away from him.
Thanks to those handcuffs, they were tied together.
A defeated sigh, then, escaped her lips. The least she could do, she thought, was help him get rid of that pain.
“Oh my… I’m so so sorry, officer.” She said, taking a pack of baby wipes from her purse.
“ Tch, don’t worry… I understand you.”
“ Let me help you with your eyes…” She tried to approach him with the wipes, but proudly, he pushed her away.
“ It’s fine. It will pass soon.”
“ I insist!”
A frown formed on her face, and suddenly, the girl pulled him closer by their metal connection. Her soft hands cupped his cheeks, and slowly, Sasuke felt a comfortable coldness spreading over his face. A lavender smell started to take over his nostrils, and for a moment, all the pain and the burning disappeared. Even if he had told her not to do anything, the Uchiha just couldn’t deny that the effects of the pepper spray had lowered a lot, and he now felt like opening his eyes wouldn’t make them sting anymore. Whatever it was that that girl had just done, had made him feel a lot better.
Whatever it was that she had done, Sasuke knew he was ready to open his eyes to the world again.
And when he did, he knew he was completely healed by that green ocean of her eyes.
For their faces were mere inches apart, both of them could take a close look at the worlds that had suddenly appeared in front of them. From her emerald eyes, the pinkette saw the deepest, dark eyes she had ever seen in her entire life, and if she said his orbs didn’t have a single effect on her then she would be lying. His dark eyes, even if still a little red due to the pepper spray, were simply stunning at that moment. They were deep, and she felt like she could forever be trapped in that endless darkness. She felt her heart skipping a beat, and before she could even notice, her mouth went agape in pure shock.
Oh, what a beautiful pair of eyes that handsome man has.
But hers aren’t any less impressive, for sure.
And by the way he was completely hypnotized by those emerald orbs, the Uchiha could easily tell how special those orbs are.
Even if Sasuke had already seen them before, her green eyes, at that exact moment, were shining brighter than any star he has ever seen. There was a hint of concern mixed with a warm kindness, and just looking at them made him feel at peace. That pure, forest green took his breath away, and his lips slightly parted in awe.
Those eyes are just too beautiful for anyone to resist, he thought. They are beautiful, and so is she. With those rosy lips and blushing cheeks, Uchiha Sasuke felt something he had never felt before. It was a weird sensation growing inside his chest, and for a moment, he felt his face growing hotter than before.
What the hell was wrong with him? Was he sick?
Not really… But that was not the time for him to figure that out yet.
“ Are you feeling better?”
Her soft voice suddenly brought him back from his thoughts, and when he realized she had made the distance between their faces even shorter, Sasuke couldn’t help but take a step back. His eyes were widened now, and his mind was working normally again. Everything was back to normal. Everything but that strange feeling in his chest.
“ I-I… I’m better, thank you.”
“ It’s the least I could do after using that on you… I’m really really sorry, officer Uchiha.” She said, bowing her head down in an apologetical sign. He raised an eyebrow in confusion, and waited for her to lift back her head.
“ Hn, you don’t have to apologize… But how do you know my name?”
“ Ah… It’s right there on your uniform.” She said, pointing at the name tag on his chest.
“ Oh, right… The tag…”
“ I’m Haruno Sakura, by the way… I work as a doctor in the hospital nearby.”
“ I see… Thank you for your help, Sakura.”
“ It was nothing, officer Uchiha.” She gave him a nervous chuckle, feeling her cheeks grow hotter after his words. It was not like she deserved them, right?
“ You can call me Sasuke.”
“ Oh, okay… Nice to meet you, Sasuke.”
As a smile crossed her face, the police officer couldn’t help but allow his own lips to twitch upward. Her name certainly matched her appearance, and after mentally repeating it a couple of times, Sasuke realized he really liked the way it sounded as it rolled out of his tongue. That girl was really something special, and if he could, he would spend an entire day looking at her, discovering something new every time he lowered his eyes. He could stay with her all day, but they had something else to do. They had a problem to solve, and as soon as they did it, it was likely that they never saw each other again.
They had to open those handcuffs. They had to go home.
“ I think I should get the keys…” He said, breaking the eye contact he hadn’t even realized they had created.
“ Yeah… It sounds like a good idea.”
“ Hn.”
Still distracted by that girl, his trapped hand reached out for his back pocket in order to look for the keys. Once he realized they weren’t there, Sasuke felt an unexpected touch on his butt. At first, he was confused, but it just took him one look at an embarrassed Sakura to realize what had just happened.
Oh, he should have used the other hand.
“ I-I'm sorry! I forgot, I-“ He started, with nervousness spread all around his body.
“ It’s okay, really! Just get the keys already!”
His face also turned red after a couple of seconds, and as he looked for the keys with his free hand, the Uchiha couldn’t help but keep his head lowered. He just couldn’t bring himself to look at her at that moment, and no matter how he tried, her soft touch on his lower cheeks just wouldn’t leave his thoughts.
How could he do that to her?
Damn it, she was probably thinking he was a pervert at that moment. If she wanted, she could denounce him to the police, and he would be in a terrible situation. Sakura would never want to see him again, and chances were that he was going to lose his job.
That single touch could become a huge problem in the future, he thought.
But at that moment, they were about to discover a new problem in their present.
A problem that would keep them together for a little longer.
“ Uh…Sasuke… Have you found the key?”
“ It should be here…” He said, checking the same pocket for the second time.
“ What do you mean by that?” Her eyebrow was lifted in concern, as her heart was starting to beat faster. That could not be happening, right?
“ I’m sure I saw it this morning.”
“ Sasuke… Please, tell me you haven’t-“
“ Tch, I think I lost the key. “
It took her exactly six seconds for the information to sink in. Slowly, her calm expression changed into a nervous one, as she took both of her hands- plus his trapped one- to her head.
Oh, could that night get even better?
Even if she knew it was not his fault for her to be in that situation, Sakura couldn’t deny that there was something inside of her that wanted to kill that cop. It was true that she was at the wrong place, at the wrong time and with the wrong hair color, but losing that key had certainly been the last drop. After a tiresome 48h shift at the hospital, the Haruno girl just wanted to go home and sleep for the next few hours. She wanted to relax before she had to face a new day at work, and being handcuffed with a police officer would definitely ruin her plans.
Even if the police officer was one hell of a hot guy, at that moment, Sakura could only think of her bed. She needed to sleep. And at that moment, she decided to do it, with or without him by her side.
Even if she had to cut off his hand, Haruno Sakura was going to sleep.
“ Hn, the only one with the spare key of these handcuffs will arrive in 4 hours at the police station. Until then, I guess there is nothing we can do.”
“You have got to be kidding me!”
“ I’m sorry… I wish I were.”
“ Okay…” She sighed. “I guess we will have to be together until morning, right?”
“ Aah.”
“ And do you have any emergency to solve right now?”
“ Not really. My shift is already over."
“ Good! Then lets get going, shall we?”
“ Uh? And where exactly are we going?”
“ To my place, of course. We’re sleeping together, Sasuke.”
“ What!? Are you insane!? We’ve just met and you want to sleep with me already?”
“ Officer Uchiha…” Her face was finally taken over by a murderous glare, and suddenly, he felt shivers running down his spine. “ I am going to sleep tonight, whether you like it or not… Now it’s up to you to decide if I’ll be sleeping in my bed or in jail.”
As he saw that terrifying smile forming on her lips, the Uchiha knew exactly which crime she would commit if she were to sleep in the prison. He swallowed dry for an instance, and after gladly agreeing with that hidden criminal, Sasuke started to follow her towards her home, not daring to try convincing her otherwise. At that moment, the prodigious cop was being kidnapped by a pink haired girl, and for an entire night, he would be sleeping by her side.
For an entire night, Uchiha Sasuke would be sharing a bed with a beautiful and dangerous girl.
How bad could that be, right?
And so, both of them followed their way towards her home. It’s true that he was a little apprehensive at first, but after the pinkette started talking about trivial things on the empty streets of the city of Konoha, Sasuke had to admit that the entire idea didn’t seem that weird anymore. It was true that he would still be sharing the bed with a beautiful stranger, but he figured they would both survive such unusual experience.
After all of the things they went through during the past few hours, both of them could say they weren’t just strangers anymore. They’ve shared a story and created memories that none of them will ever forget.
They were handcuffed together, for god’s sake!
Something had definitely started between them.
But what exactly was that? They didn’t know. Still, until the end of their sentence, both of them would be condemned for such beautiful crime.
SasuSaku Month 2016
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Day 16- Cards Against Humanity
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Title: The Best Prize
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Summary: There is a beneficent festival happening in Konoha, and team 7 is helping as they can. Who would have thought that they would be able to earn that much money with a single event?!
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A/N: At first, I really had no idea of what to write for this theme… I’ve spent weeks trying to figure it out, and now I think I’ve finally found something interesting to do with it! I’ll try my best to make you laugh with this one, so… I hope you enjoy it, and don’t forget to tell me your opinion!
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Happiness had, at last, taken over Konoha.
People were laughing, kids were playing and the entire atmosphere surrounding the village was lighter than a feather. With the scars of the war slowly fading from people’s hearts, it was possible to say that peace was ruling the ninja world and changing, for once and for all, that corrupt and selfish system that had caused so much trouble and so many deaths over the centuries. Nations were now united in favor of humanity and people now celebrated life. The life they still had ahead of them, and the life that had been lost during the war. Neither what they did nor their names would ever get lost in time, and in order to make sure that happened, the ninjas all over the great nations were working together, preserving the legacy of those whose lives were lost.
They were protecting the future they fought to save.
They were protecting the children who would inherit their present.
That celebration was for them. For the ones whose futures were affected by the mistakes of a distant past.
It was no secret to anyone that the war had destroyed more than just that empty field where the final battle had taken place. When the divine tree spread its roots all over the world, many houses and institutions were destroyed, leaving many people in terrible conditions. Financial crises affected minor traders, families were left on the streets and children- oh those poor, little human beings… Those were the ones who suffered the most from the consequences of that unnatural disaster. And it was because of them that ninjas from all over the world are once again united to save their lives.
All over the nations, the war heroes were combining their brains in order to raise money to help those affected by the battles. From donations to working campaigns, everyone was trying their best to help those in need, and Konoha’s ninjas were no different. Together and led by the blonde Uzumaki, all of them got together to prepare a huge fair, full of all kinds of events and filled with entertaining activities for everyone who wanted to join. Food, dances and games were bringing a lot of people together, and with each, new smile in Konoha, another one was born in a near future.
Happiness had, indeed, taken over Konoha.
With people from all the nations walking around the village, and with everyone united as a single village, the world was, finally, celebrating the victory of humanity. It was celebrating life.
It was celebrating Love.
And at the end of that wonderful day, it was possible to see an exhausted satisfaction spread on the faces of all of those involved in that beautiful initiative.
More than anyone who had helped organizing that event, Haruno Sakura, for being a medic and the now responsible for the pediatric section of the hospital, was the one who was most involved with those kids. She could see how damaged they were and how fragile were their mental conditions. She knew most of them had lost their dreams and their innocence because of the war, and bringing those things back was her top priority at that moment, for she knew what happened to those who lost their way into the darkness.
Oh, she knew it too well, and because of that, she knew they needed help. Any help from anyone.
And that was exactly what she was doing. Getting help.
Even if it was not much, the pinkette knew that what she was doing was, at least, a good way to start. Setting an arm wrestling tent in the middle of the fair ended up being more lucrative than she could have ever imagined. Ninjas from all classes and men from all shapes tried to win against that cute, little girl, but as expected, none of them were able to defeat her. None of them were able to win against the strongest ninja in the world, and they were actually okay after repeating such thing to themselves a few times. She had a monstrous strength, after all. However, just because she had it, it didn’t mean she used it against those people.
Where would the fun be if she used her chakra, right?
The only time of that day Sakura actually infused her chakra was when her master showed up and accepted her challenge. It was a hard battle against those strong women, and their arms kept wrestling for some good thirty minutes, until the Haruno girl allowed her famous ‘SHANNAROU’ out, taking down her master and destroying the rock she was using as an arena. Those two really have no limits. And because of that, and because of their irreparable damage on the tent, there she was now, picking everything up and getting ready to go home. It was not like she would have time to go after another rock, right? It was time to reunite with her friends, and one of them was already there, waiting for her.
But Sasuke was not just a friend, was he?
With those dark pearls and that characteristic, stoic face of his, the Uchiha was slowly approaching her. His bandaged hand was holding a bottle of water, as the long sleeve of his shirt hid his missing part. After almost 3 months after the war, she was happy to see her teammate finally getting used to the village he used to call home. Even if it was still hard for him to accept some things, Sakura could tell that his soul was in peace. And as long as he's happy, she will be fine.
As long as she can see him every day, she will be more than simply fine.
“ Having fun around, stranger?” She smiled at him, lifting a teasing eyebrow as she finished packing some of her stuff.
“ Hn. I wouldn’t call it fun.” He stopped in front of her, showing off his calm and cool personality. His dark hair was covering half of his face now, for the vision of the Rinnegan still didn’t please him. A mysterious aura was still around him, but the pinkette knew that was also a part of his irresistible charm.
Oh, that Uchiha.
“ Did you try any of the attractions?”
“ It’s still not easy to play games with only one arm.”
“ Do you feel any pain or something like that?”
“ No. It’s just different, I guess.”
“ I can imagine it is…” She placed a box full of things over the small table of her tent, releasing a relieved sigh. There was a satisfied smile on her lips, and she didn’t hide the gleam in those green eyes of hers as she looked at him. “ Well, did you at least find anything good around?”
“ Hn.” He handled her the bottle of water, as the right corner of his lips twitched upwards. His eyes were set on her, and for a moment, it was possible to see a certain happiness on his face. “ You can say I did.”
As she responded to his smile with a similar one, and as she accepted his refreshing offer, the Haruno girl couldn’t help but feel her chest getting warmer. After all they went through, and after all their scars, knowing they could both share simple moments like that certainly made the pinkette happy.
Knowing they were finally able to be feel comfortable around each other made her feel that all those years of chasing had been worth it in the end, for at last, she had her Sasuke-kun back. He was there, they were talking normally and that felt just like she's always dreamed it would be. She was not an annoying fangirl anymore, and he was not the almighty Uchiha Sasuke every girl fawned over anymore. They were war heroes, and most of all, they were an essential part of each other’s lives. And if that wasn’t enough for them to at least treat one another a bottle of water, then all that time and all their sacrifices had been wasted for nothing.
But judging by the way they looked at each other, oh, their time had certainly meant something.
“ Thank you, Sasuke-kun… I really needed this.”
“ It’s okay… Did anyone win in the end?”
“ Nope… There is no one around this village that can beat me- shannarou!”
“Tch.” He sighed. “ Are you sure you’re doing it for the kids?”
“ Of course I am! I’m helping them, while having some fun… Is there anything wrong with it?”
“Not really, but… Hn, you’re as competitive as Naruto. I think you two have spent too much time together.”
“ Well, and whose fault was that?” She smirked, teasing him with those green eyes of hers.
“ You have a point. Maybe next time I’ll take you with me instead.”
After hearing his words, Sakura couldn’t just ignore the meaning behind them. Her eyes widened for a moment, and her cheeks grew redder as the silent seconds went on. She could see how his words had also made him uncomfortable, for the tips of his ears were also growing pink. That was certainly a rare scene to be seen, and at that moment, even if she was as embarrassed as he was, the pinkette couldn’t hold back the sincere chuckle that came from inside.
That silly boy… Who did he think he was to steal the idea of a twelve-years old girl? The love of her life?
Yeah, pretty much.
But that was not the time for them to worry about that, right? It was time for them to have fun, and that was exactly what they were going to do. Their plans could wait a little longer.
“ I’ll remember your words, Sasuke-kun… But right now, we have some other things to do, and for that, we will have to go after Naruto.” She held the box, smiling at him, as she took the first step towards a new path. “ Next time, you can save me from Naruto.”
He watched that beautiful smile of hers walking forward, and not even the almighty Uchiha could hold back the satisfaction in his expression as he started to follow her.
That girl really is something...
“ Hn. Lets go after him then.”
And so, while chatting and chuckling, both of them crossed the entire fair. It didn’t take long for him to get the box from her hands, and it took even less for her to get it back before he dropped it on the floor. That stupid arm, he thought. Still, just because he couldn’t hold a simple box, it didn’t mean Uchiha Sasuke was no longer a gentleman. His eyes were on her the whole time, and even if he didn’t talk as much as she did, it was possible to say he was paying attention to every single word she said. He was certainly enjoying their talk, and those moments alone had made the entire festival something fun for him.
Her presence around, he noticed, made everything better.
Perhaps, one day, he will really have to save her from that village.
But on that day, he would definitely have to save her from Naruto.
After some good minutes walking, the duo finally arrived at the tent where the Uzumaki was coordinating his activity. For he had to live up for his title of the loudmouth ninja of Konoha, the blonde was organizing a raffle in order to gain some money. At first, he had been using Sai’s drawings as prizes, and many people were interested in them. From animals to caricatures, the artist was putting all of himself in his work, but just took the blonde Yamanaka to show up and erase his motivation. Ino was definitely his inspiring muse, and he did’t think twice before leaving Naruto behind. He had helped a lot already, and since the fair was at its end, it was acceptable to think that the future Hokage could handle things alone.
Turned out he couldn’t.
When Sasuke and Sakura entered the tent from behind, they saw as their best friend was almost being eaten alive by the villagers. Tons of people were complaining because, for what the ninjas could hear, Naruto had sold the tickets promising a huge prize for the last winner of the night, but without Sai, he really had no huge prize at all to offer. It was almost time for the game, and soon, both Sasuke and Sakura knew the idiot would be using his own clothes as prizes.
Naruto is really hopeless.
And as his friends allowed a defeated sigh to escape their mouthes, they knew they would have to help the blonde somehow. They would have to find a good prize to calm all those people down. They had to find something. And without knowing, they had just brought the best prize of the entire village to the tent.
Oh, the pinkette would definitely kill him after that.
“ Naruto! What the hell did you promise these people?” The girl said, pulling her friend from the claws of an old lady.
“ Sakura-chan!” His blue eyes widened, and it was as if he could see an angelical light around the girl.
“ You can’t do anything right, can you, Dobe?” The Uchiha said, trying to calm down the people with his own, harsh words and cold eyes.
“ Shut up, Teme!”
“ Naruto!” She smacked his head, making sure his attention was on her.
“ Ouch!” He caressed the hurt area, not knowing exactly why she had hit him at that moment. “ Why did you hit me!?”
“ Tch, just tell us what we can do to help you get out of this mess.”
“ You wanna help, Sakura-chan?”
“ I wouldn’t be saying this if I didn’t, you idiot!”
“ Uhm.. Since you’re offering.”
“ Yeah, I- Wait, what are you going to-?!”
“ Ladies and Gentlemen! I finally have your prize-ttebayo!”
The blonde returned to the front line, using a microphone to make his already loud voice louder. There was a grin playing on his lips, and when he looked at his pink haired friend one last time, the girl knew she should have let that old lady kill him.
Sakura should have definitely punched him harder.
“ Wait, Naruto. What will you-“
“ The winner of the game will win a free, romantic dinner at Ichiraku with the one and only Haruno Sakura-chan!"
“ What!?” Both the Haruno and the Uchiha widened their eyes in indignation as soon as her name left the blonde’s mouth.
What on earth was he thinking!?
"Buy your tickets while you still can-ttebayo!”
“ Naruto, you idiot! I’m going to kill you!” She pulled him closer by the collar, glaring at him.
It was possible to tell that Sakura was about to kill him, for her eyes were bloodthirsty. Naruto could feel her murdering wishes, and if the girl's anger wasn't enough, standing right behind her, was no one other than Uchiha Sasuke. His eyes were sending him an even more dangerous glare, for his sharingan was activated, and even if they had agreed not to try to kill one another again, the Uzumaki could easily say his best friend didn’t care about those words anymore.
It was Haruno Sakura they were talking about, and the blonde knew how overprotective Sasuke is over her. Ever since they were kids, the Uchiha has treated her with that kind of care, and now that they were a little older, things were no different. More than anyone, Naruto knows how affectionally the raven haired boy looks at her, and even if he’s a little distracted sometimes, it’s impossible not to notice how much Sasuke likes her.
Yes, Naruto knows his best friend feels something for the pinkette, and now that he has moved on from his childish crush, the blonde truly wants them to be happy together. They both deserve it, and he can’t wait to see them going on dates around the village.
He can’t wait for the day when he will see that Teme admitting his feelings.
But that day will have to wait a little longer. He needed his prize, after all.
“ Wait, Sakura-chan! You have to understand-ttebayo!”
“ Understand what? I’m not going out on a date with a random person, Naruto!”
“ But what about the kids!?”
“ You know very well this won’t help the kids at all! People won’t buy a single ticket and I’ll become the village’s laughing stock!”
“ This isn’t true, Sakura-chan! People will come! You have to do it-ttebayo! I-” Naruto started, but he was quickly cut by the Uchiha snatching him from her hands.
“ No, she doesn’t! You can’t simply offer people for money, you moron! She’s a free person, and you won't sell her like that!”
“ I-Im not selling her, you bastard! It's just a rent-ttebayo!” Naruto glared at his friend, ready to raise his fist.
“ You idiot! I should sell you instead!” Sasuke glared back, clearly accepting his friend’s fighting invitation.
“ Eh… Boys, can you give me a hand here?” Sakura started, with an apprehensive tone ruling her voice.
“ Maybe I should sell you, Teme! Though I doubt someone will want you and your grumpy face!”
“ Hn, I would get a lot more money than you, Dobe!”
“ As if, Teme!”
“ Naruto… Sasuke-kun….” She continued, as the volume on the background only rose.
“ Do you wanna bet, Naruto?!”
“ Bring it on, Sasuke!”
“ Boys!” She finally screamed, making both of the armless ninjas look at her. And when they did, their eyes couldn’t believe what they were seeing.
Not even all Sai’s drawing together had gathered so many bills like that.
Standing behind the pinkette, a horde of people could be seen with tons of bills being held over their heads. Men, women and children were pushing each other in order to reach the front of the tent and buy the precious chance to go out with the most popular ninja of the Leaf. It was true that Sakura was one of the most desired girls of Konoha before the war, but once she came home as a heroine, her popularity reached unimaginable levels. Women admire her, kids want to be like her, and all the men around would kill to have her.
Yes, Haruno Sakura has certainly become Konoha’s sweetheart.
Telling all those people the blonde’s words were just a joke would be incredibly troublesome. However, she couldn’t fool them with that lie, right?
But… What if that wasn’t a lie?
“ Please! I want a ticket!!”
“ Me too! Sakura-san! I want to go out with you!”
“ Oh my god! Can I hold your hand!”
“ Stay away from her, you freak!” The Uchiha finally said, standing in between the girl and the guy who was trying to touch her.
“ Sakura-chan! Look at all the money we’re gonna get for the kids!”
“ Naruto… T-This is impossible…“
“ You’re a war hero! People love you!”
“ But, Naruto, I-”
“ No buts-ttebayo! Think of how the kids will be happy! Besides, you said you would help!”
“ I know I said that…”
“ So don’t ruin everything, Sakura-chan! It’s just a dinner and nothing more!”
“Oi, Naruto!” The Uchiha finally returned, incredibly mad at his best friend. “ Don’t you dare use the kids against her! You don’t have to do it, Sakura. Let’s leave this idiot and get out of here.”
“ Shut up, Teme! Let her decide.”
“Hn, fine! So, what will it be, Sakura?”
“ Yeah! Will you help the kids, Sakura-chan?”
“ Dobe, you-“
“ Sasuke-kun!”
“ Eh?”
It just took the Uchiha one look at the girl to know what she had decided. Her trembling hands, her rapid breathing and the way she was nervously biting her lower lip gave in what was inside her mind.
That bastard had really made it.
Anyone who saw her at that moment could easily tell she had fallen for that guilty feeling the blonde had brought on her. It was obvious that she didn’t want to be a part of that game, but if that was really a good way to help the children, how could she say no, right? All money they could raise would be accepted, and even if that whole thing was something she would normally not accept, she could not say no to the kids.
She could not say no to Naruto.
Unfortunately, she would have to say no to the Uchiha. And he knew there was nothing he could do to change her mind.
“ Sakura, you don’t have to do this… You have raised enough money already.”
“ Sasuke-kun… I can’t- I… I have to do this. They need all the help they can get. They’re just kids.”
“ Tch, but you shouldn’t have to pay for this alone. It’s not fair.”
“ I know… I know, but… It will be just ramen, right? It can’t be that bad.” She smiled weakly, trying to convince herself that it would be okay.
“ … Are you sure?”
“ Yeah… It will be okay… Besides, the winner can’t be that much of a terrible person, right?”
“ Hn, if you say so…”
“ Trust me… It’ll be okay…. Go on, Naruto… Give them the tickets already.”
“ Okay-ttebayo!”
And so, as the blonde recoiled the money with his shadow clones and gave people their tickets, the Uchiha watched as the girl got even more nervous as the time went by. She paid attention to every single person who bought the tickets, and to everyone who sent her a weird look. Some of them certainly sent some chills down her spine, and even if she tried to smile at them, Sasuke could see how bothered she was by that. The pinkette was feeling like a piece of meat at that exact moment, and even if she was doing it for a good cause, he knew she wasn’t happy at all while doing that.
She was anxious and uncomfortable, and he just couldn’t keep watching her suffering without doing anything. He would have to help her. Somehow, he would have to do something to protect that war hero.
The time came when all the tickets were bought and the raffle was about to begin. Sakura couldn’t stop playing with her fingers, as the idiot blonde was cheerfully mixing the papers. His hand was swimming around that sea of numbers, and she knew that as soon as it returned to the surface, her fate would be sealed.
Once his hand felt the need for air, she would no longer be able to go back.
And after some painful minutes, his fingers finally chose the winner.
Oh, and what a winner.
“ And the winner is… Number 2307!”
A depressing wave filled the entire plaza where they were, as the voices were expressing deep sadness. Her green eyes were looking for the one person who had been selected, but no matter how well she looked, Sakura just couldn’t see anyone expressing any victorious feeling.
No one was screaming or smiling at that moment, and the idea of no one winning made a smile appear on her lips. Would she really escape from that trap with no bruises? Would she really escape as a free woman?
No, but it was not like being won by him would make her sad.
“ Hn, that’s my number.”
The voice that came from behind her made her eyes widen and her heart skip a beat. Her cheeks were growing redder, and she didn’t waste a single second before turning to face the winner of the night.
And what a beautiful winner that was.
Standing right there, with a stoic face and a paper in hands, Uchiha Sasuke was looking at her with those beautiful eyes of his. Those dark pearls were calming her down and she could feel all her worries drifting away. With those eyes looking at her, she knew she would be safe.
With those eyes looking at her, she knew she would be happy.
“ No way-ttebayo! You won, Teme?!”
“ Hn, I think so.”
“ You’re cheating, are’t you, you bastard!?”
“ Tch, how could I be cheating, Dobe?”
“ Uhm… Yeah, I guess you’re right-ttebayo. So I guess you won a romantic date with Sakura-chan! I wish you all a good night and thank you all for helping the kids!" The blonde said, walking towards the crowd in front of him and sending all of them home. It was clear that he was happy for his friends, even if he was still not convinced of the veracity of that raffle.
He could expect anything from the Uchiha when the matter was Haruno Sakura.
But that was none of his business, right?
The biggest prize of the night had already been delivered.
“ How is that possible!? When did you buy a ticket!?”
“ Hn, I bought it earlier today. Now you don’t have to worry about anything. You don’t have to go or anything.”
“ Eh? What are you talking about?”
“ Uh?”
“ I-I mean….” She started to play with her pink locks, blushing and looking away from him. “ You bought the ticket and… You won, right?Y-You should enjoy your prize, don’t you think?”
As he looked at her, the Uchiha had to admit that it took him some good seconds to understand what she really meant with her words.
Oh, so they would be going on a date, right?
Right.
And after that idea finally sunk in, Sasuke had to admit that he enjoyed it very much.
“ Hn, then I’ll pick you up at 8pm, okay?”
“… Okay.”
Apparently, luck was on his side.
But Uchihas can't count on luck to win such a special prize, right?
