youngcubofkai
He hadn’t imagined that... had he? A glimpse of flaming crimson in a sea of moving bodies in the street ahead. Even if he hadn’t, it could have been anything; it was hardly the first time he could spot the color in a crowd. Yet... for once, Sasuke’s gaze lingered where he thought he had seen it, briefly swaying with the breeze.
A few moments more, and this time, the shinobi could clearly make out a pair of bright stripes, before they were again blotted out by the flow of moving bodies.
Even knowing he could still be wrong, that was enough to make him rise from his rooftop perch and follow along. It would only take a few moments to confirm one way or the other, more than likely. What was the harm?
When finally he was able to catch up, and even overtake his goal, he froze in place. One clear look at the young man below was more than enough. He’d know him anywhere.
“Master...”
The mumbled title died quickly on his lips; there was no sense in keeping himself a secret now. Not from Yukimura, of all people.
Had his mind been less muddled at the mere sight of him, the shinobi might have made his approach more casual. Might have painted on a smile and sing-song tone for him. As it was, though, all he could do was think back to when he had last seen him, over a year ago now, and under far from happy circumstances. The memory in the wake of his recent, if brief, transformation did nothing to help either.
On top of all the regret, guilt, and the like, he had missed him. Plain and simple.
That was why he didn’t stop himself before leaping from the rooftop, and only briefly catching one of the cables overhead to slow his descent. When all was said and done, he landed only a few feet in front of his young master--knelt so he might have a moment to collect himself before Yukimura could finally see his face.
“...” Even finding an opening line was harder than he had expected. Words caught in his throat before he could even try to form them. Eventually, though, he dared to look up.
“It’s... good to see you again, Master Sanada.”