One Day
pairing: Yahiko x fem!reader
summary: sunny day in the village hidden in the rain.
warnings: slight ooc (maybe?); established relationship; mentions of war; reader has hair; English is not my first language.
author’s note: Yahiko as himself is so underrated.
the sun filters through the trees, painting golden patches on the forest floor. the scent of damp earth and fresh leaves fills the air as birds chirp softly in the distance.
Yahiko stretches his arms behind his head, enjoying the warmth on his skin. “man, I almost forgot what the sun feels like.”
Konan hums in agreement. “wish there were more days like this.”
you all nod in unison.
it’s rare for Amegakure to have a clear day. being surrounded by mountains, the village gets very little direct sunlight; instead, most of the time, it's shrouded in rain.
Yahiko exhales, tilting his head back to soak in the warmth. “if Amegakure had days like this more often, maybe people wouldn’t look so miserable all the time.”
Konan tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, thoughtful. “it’s strange, how different everything feels just because the sky is clear.”
Nagato nods slowly. “it makes you wonder what the village could be like if it wasn’t always drowning.”
you glance between them. it’s not the first time this conversation has come up—Yahiko always talks about change, about a future where the people of Amegakure don’t have to suffer. but standing here, in this rare light, it feels closer.
“well,” Konan says, after a moment of silence, “I think I see some wild berries up ahead. Nagato, want to come with me?”
Nagato hesitates—only for a second—before sighing and nodding. “yeah, sure.”
Yahiko frowns. “wait, we should stick together—”
“relax, Yahiko,” Konan cuts in smoothly. “we won’t go far.”
before he can argue, they’re already walking off, leaving him alone with you. he sighs, shaking his head. “they’re not subtle at all, are they?”
you laugh, tucking your hands behind your back as you starts walking along the narrow forest path. “not even a little.”
Yahiko follows, watching as you steps over a fallen branch with ease, the sunlight catching in your hair. he isn’t even trying to focus on you—it just happens. and when it does the thought crosses his mind.
I want to marry her one day.
the thought isn’t new; he thinks it often. it slips into his mind when he least expects it—in quiet moments like this, when you're not doing anything remarkable, just existing. it settles into him like second nature, as familiar as breathing, as steady as his heartbeat when you're near. sometimes, it scares him—how certain he is. how easy it is to picture a future with you in it.
you turn slightly, glancing at him over your shoulder. “you okay back there?”
Yahiko blinks, realising he’s been staring. “yeah! just… thinking.”
you smile softly. “about what?”
you.
instead of saying that, he shrugs, stepping beside you. “how long do you think we have before they come back?”
you hum, pretending to think. “knowing them? long enough.”
Yahiko chuckles. “good.”
you tilt your head at him, curious. “why’s that?”
because he likes this—just the two of you, away from the war, away from responsibilities. away from the fear that tomorrow might take everything he loves.
“because it’s rare,” he says simply. “and I like rare things.”
you give him a knowing look but don't press. Instead, you reach for his hand, your fingers brushing his lightly before curling around them.
Yahiko’s heart does a stupid little flip.
for a few minutes, neither of you says anything. you just walk together, side by side, holding hands, breathing the same sunlit air.
Yahiko steals a glance at your intertwined fingers, at the way your thumb brushes his knuckle so absentmindedly. he wonders if you know how much this means to him—how simple moments like this feel like everything.
you exhale softly, pulling him out of his thoughts. your eyes drift to the sky. “when the war ends…” you hesitate, then let out a quiet laugh. “if we make it that far—”
Yahiko squeezes your hand, cutting you off. “we will.” his voice is firm, leaving no room for doubt. “I’ll make sure of it.”
you glance at him, a little surprised by the intensity in his eyes. but it’s Yahiko—of course, he would say that. he always carries the weight of everyone’s survival like it’s his responsibility alone.
you smile, shaking your head. “well, then.” your gaze drifts back to the sky. “when that day comes... I want to travel. see the world beyond Amegakure.” then your eyes widen, your smile growing even bigger as you look at Yahiko again. “maybe we could even visit Jiraiya-sensei in the Leaf Village!”
“sounds great.” Yahiko’s gaze remains on you, his smile softens as he speaks.
“what about you? what do you want to do?”
he hums thoughtfully, walking a few more steps before answering.
“I want to rebuild the village,” he says at last, voice steady. “make it stronger. kinder. a place where kids don’t have to grow up like we did.”
a breeze stirs the leaves, sunlight flickering through the canopy. for a moment, you let yourself imagine it. streets filled with laughter instead of fear. days where they don’t have to fight just to survive.
you smile, squeezing his hand in response. “that sounds nice.”
he looks at you, a soft breeze tousling his hair. he lets his mind wander, imagining the world you both talked about—a peaceful world, a future where Amegakure isn’t bound by war.
and when that future comes, he'll ask you the question he's been carrying in his heart all along.
yeah.
one day.