dxkk1104

[dxkk1104]

First kiss

Hot tea was cooling by the open window. In the background could be heard the quiet murmuring of Sakura, who was most likely singing a song under her breath. She often did this, Sasuke noted, but he never asked her what the tune was. He concluded that he still had time.

The vanilla scent reached his nostrils. He glanced at the teacup, its perfect rim, well-formed handle and beautiful hand-painted flowers. Such looking porcelain would not want to be spoiled. Every time he picked it up and put it to his lips, it could end up falling. Sasuke was aware of this, and still enjoyed taking it in his hands and observing it from all sides, drinking warm drinks from it and marveling at its beauty. It was a selfish act that he was ashamed of after so many attempts to become a better person. 

"Do you like it?" the melodious voice he already knew so well, since he heard it almost every day, snapped him out of his reverie. 

He had been notoriously drifting his thoughts elsewhere lately. 

"Yes. Where did you get it?"

He took a sip from it, not taking his eyes off Sakura. The woman smiled softly, then took a seat across from him. With a mug of steaming tea, she looked out at the sky full of stars that reflected in her pupils. Sasuke couldn't stop falling in love with her more and more every day. 

"I did it myself. I was at a pottery workshop three months ago with Ino and Naruto." she squatted a cup in front of him "We should go there too, if you want."

Sasuke nodded, keeping his eyes too long on her hand, causing Sakura to get tense and quickly take it from there. Could it be that through his two-year absence, she had stopped having the same feelings for him as before? Had Sasuke begun to misinterpret her hospitality? The fact that she allowed him to stay with her until he decided what to do with himself could only have been an act of friendly service, nothing more. But then it would mean that he should get out of her apartment at the earliest opportunity. Sakura had her own life, and Sasuke could be in her way. And that's exactly how he felt, as if he were an intruder. 

He rose abruptly, accidentally tipping his teacup over in his haste. The tea spilled on the table, but fortunately the china did not disintegrate. Instead, a scratch formed on it. A bloody scratch.

"Sorry."

Putting it aside, he didn't look at Sakura once. It made him feel stupid; /him/. 

"What's wrong, Sasuke?" 

She approached him, but he dodged her, as if in an amok walking toward the exit. His feelings overwhelmed him. He felt too much at once. He was not used to this. He had spent the last few months alone, traveling and rearranging everything in his mind so that he could come back stronger and a newer man, not to hurt her again by not controlling his emotions.

"Nothing, it is not important." he said rather quietly, grabbing the coat hanging next to the door.

""It is important." sounded her voice firmly, "Sasuke, don't do it again. Don't cut yourself off from me. I'm here to understand."

He stopped and swallowed his saliva with difficulty. 

"I can't tell you what happened, Sakura, I'm not able to."

"Then show me."

His legs betrayed him; his body did what it wanted; his mind thought only of her as the woman he loved. Sasuke found himself next to her and kissed her, confidently and greedily, as if he hadn't fought with his head and his conflicting thoughts at all a moment ago. And Sakura returned the kiss, capturing his face in her gentle hands. The scratch on the cup can be repaired. 

[dxkk1104]

Hospital visits

Sunlight streaming in through the window fell on his face, illuminating it. Sasuke squinted his eyes, looking at the clear sky; there was not a single cloud on it. A beautiful blue color surrounded the entire village. 

The hospital bed was not as uncomfortable as it might seem. After so many years of sleeping on hard mattresses, in places where one might not wake up the next day, Sasuke considered the hospital a salvation. He was feeling good in his own room, which Sakura had arranged for him.

He twisted onto his back the moment Sakura walked in. He momentarily straightened up, as if he wanted to show his better side in front of her. Because, all in all, he wanted to. Since he had returned to the village, his thoughts had changed, and instead of trying to distance him from Sakura they wanted him to be closer and closer to her. And to be able to do that, he had to do everything he could to make her feel comfortable in his company. 

"How are you feeling today?" 

She set the tray of medicine and water on the cabinet next to his bed, and sat down in a chair. She took a thermometer and measured his temperature, as she always did for more than two weeks.

"Fine." he replied, waiting for further instructions.

Sasuke would be lying if he said he didn't like Sakura's visits. In fact, he only looked forward to them during the day, and when they were over he was quite /upset/. He! What had it come to in his life. 

"Mhm, open your mouth." he complied with her request, although he felt himself starting to turn red on his chest; he wasn't too fond of this examination. Sakura looked at his throat, "Everything is all right."

Then she gave him medicine, checked his heartbeat and his left arm, making sure no infection had set in. Sasuke followed all her movements closely, admiring her work. How Sakura had matured and how much she had accomplished amazed him. He was so proud of her, and he hoped she knew it, and if not, he intended to tell her someday, at the best time, when they were both confident in each other and their feelings.

When she finished, she stood up and put the tray in order.

"Sakura..." she looked at him with those big eyes of hers that he cherished so much "Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me every day, Sasuke-kun." she laughed happily.

"You deserve it." he said softly, watching her changing reaction - from shock to gratitude and happiness.

Small steps, he repeated to himself, and everything will work out. 

[dxkk1104]

From me to you

Wax dripped onto the table, decorating it with more and more patterns. Sasuke sat in the room he had rented for two nights, embraced by an inner silence and serenity. Outside the window, the wind blew, moving the wooden ornaments, which made pleasant sounds that reminded him of the melody of one of the lullabies his mother used to sing to him when he was young. 

His face was illuminated by the flame from the candle, creating shadows on the wall. His hair was still wet from his earlier bath. He had been wandering around the Land of Fire for a few days, visiting places he had been before. His trip had taken on a nostalgic tone, which he liked. To come to terms with himself, he also had to come to terms with the places where he was fighting a battle with his head and thoughts. 

He took another envelope out of his bag. He had been reading letters from Sakura for over an hour. He had been collecting them all for six months, but he was not yet convinced enough whether he should answer them. He was afraid...

His fear might have been unfounded, after all, Sakura had assured him so many times that he was important to her, even more important than others, but he had this overwhelming fear inside him for some time that everything was changing and her feelings might as well. The only thing that kept him believing that when he returned she would fall into his arms was her signature at the bottom of the letters. It always was - Your Sakura.

But for that to happen he had to start writing her back. 

Without thinking about it any further, because he finally didn't need to hide his feelings inside himself, he took out his notebook and tore a sheet of paper from it. He leaned over the table and began his letter, pouring onto it all the thoughts that were now coming to his mind.

'From me,

I'm glad to hear that you're doing well. I'm also glad to hear about the changes in Konoha. 

It's been a while since I started my trip. I apologize for not writing earlier, but I've been busy. Through seeing beautiful places, one loses track of time.

Now I'm on the border of the Land of Fire in a village where we once had a mission. You probably don't remember it well, but it was memorable to me. Everything here reminds me of all of you. And especially about you, Sakura. I wish you could see it through my eyes. 

I have a tree outside my window with cherry blossoms growing on it. I like to look at them.

You don't have to worry so much about me, I eat well and sleep well. I feel better than ever.

Next time I'll send you something better along with a letter, but for now I hope you'll be satisfied with this dried flower. I carried it with me for some time, until I found another cherry tree. Tomorrow I'll pick another flower and carry it until I find another one.

Take care and don't overwork yourself. Write as much as you want. I enjoy reading your letters in the evenings before bed.

Give Naruto and Kakashi my greetings. 

To you,

Sasuke'

[dxkk1104]

Start of everything

The forest was humming, the birds were waking up, the moon was driving away the darkness with its last strength, and the quiet breaths of his friends were keeping him company. Sasuke sat leaning against a tree, listening to all these sounds around him. The night was slowly drawing to a close. Another day would come, bringing him closer to his goal. 

Again, he could not sleep. His thoughts, the scary ones and the ones overflowing his mind, would not let him sleep a wink. They plagued him most on missions, such as today's, where nothing special was happening. Sasuke couldn't focus on anything other than tormenting himself about wasting time. 

A bird sat on a branch, watching him fiercely. Its black eyes practically drilled a hole in his head. Did he know what the boy was thinking about now? Did he understand his pain, disappointment, suffering? Was he even able to comprehend it, when even people couldn't?

"Sasuke-kun?" a quiet, girlish voice sounded in his head. Sasuke turned his head, crossing his eyes with Sakura, "Why are you awake?"

Instead of answering her right away, he stood up and walked over to her, crouching down. Barely awake, the girl blushed, lifting herself up and leaning on her elbows. Sasuke squinted his eyes.

"Go to sleep, it's still early."

He thought Sakura was so unaware of everything yet that she would listen to him without any problems, but he was mistaken.

"You didn't answer my question." she did not take her eyes off his face.

Her tenacious nature made it difficult for him to play down the inaccessible and mysterious man. Sasuke really tried to avoid explaining his behavior, but Sakura wouldn't let him.

"I'm just not tired anymore." he replied nonchalantly. 

"You look like you haven't slept a wink all night." he didn't answer her, hiding his restrained expression under his hair; how she was able to figure him out so easily "Oh..." 

"Can we not pursue this topic any further?"

He rose and returned to his previous seat, deeming the conversation over. Sakura, however, had other plans. She approached him and leaned against a tree, as if entering his private space was the usual thing to do.

"I'll stay here. It will be easier for you to sleep this way. For me, at least, it is when I know I have a person next to me who watches over me and cares about me." she pulled her knees up to her chin.

He didn't like that she cared for him so much and that she worried so much. It made him feel emotions. Emotions that he didn't want to feel because they were sneaky and treacherous; they made you make radical decisions, delayed you from your plans and changed your future to make room for another person. And Sasuke couldn't do that. 

"I don't need..." he paused when he heard her steady breathing again.

Sakura fell asleep momentarily, having rested her head against the trunk. Her hand fell inert along her body, and her palm touched his hand. Sasuke stared at it, then, as if guided by instinct rather than rational thought, grabbed her two fingers and squeezed them lightly, making sure she was still next to him. 

This is where it all started. She planted a small seed in his heart that would grow and grow over time, and Sasuke would not know how to get rid of it. Not that he wants to.

[dxkk1104]

Happy Father's Day! 💕

[dxkk1104]

New Chapter!!!

[dxkk1104]

new chapter!!

[dxkk1104]

Chapter Eight „Red Tears"

ao3 - https://archiveofourown.org/works/46567417/chapters/140632624#workskin

[dxkk1104]

,,Red Tears"

Act four - endless silence

Taking her first step into her home village, she felt nervously excited.

"I missed, not missing this place at all." She turned to Sasuke "Is that strange? Normal?"

"Absolutely." He grabbed her wrist, finally interrupting their distance "You have conflicting memories with your home, so it's natural that your emotions won't be straightforward either. If something happens then..." he stammered, as if gathering his thoughts "I'm always here for you."

Sakura smiled, squeezing his little finger with her other hand. This was what Sasuke wanted, this was what she adored, this was what she aspired to in their relationship - mutual support and trust.

[...]

She turned around, escaping Sasuke's grasp and started walking towards the place where all her memories, experiences, traumas and good moments were deeply buried. The house that was her foundation in life. It was where she grew up and matured. To these four crumbling walls that she returned in dreams and nightmares.

[dxkk1104]

Black hair cascaded down over Sasuke's face, blocking Sakura's view of him. She wanted to get a closer look at him, but could only follow the movements of his hand, watching as more and more bandages wrapped around her arm.

Sasuke performed his task with concentration, careful not to injure Sakura further. The wound inflicted by the kunai was burning her, but she made no effort not to show it. She was already struggling with her reddened cheeks anyway, which deepened in color with each successive touch from the boy.

‘How strange,’ she thought, tapping her nails against the tree trunk.

The sun was slowly hiding from behind the clouds, illuminating them with its orange light. Sasuke gently grasped Sakura's wrist, lifting her hand and watching it closely all around, before carefully placing it on his knee to tie the knot.

He deftly dealt with everything.

"Done."

He announced, raising his head at last. His black irises came into contact with her green ones. Sakura opened her mouth, but no sound came out. They stared at each other, and a strange tension grew. Her breath caught in her throat.

Finally, she forced herself to lift her lips, showing her pearly teeth.

"Thank you, Sasuke-kun!"

The boy looked away quickly, once again hiding under the locks of hair. He felt warmth on his neck and ears.

"Aa," he muttered, tucking the rest of the bandages into his pocket, "Be more careful next time. If I hadn't been there, this could have ended worse."

"But you were here." she replied, gently punching him in the arm.

Sasuke stood up, standing backwards and putting one hand in his trouser pocket. He started to walk away, just waiting for the girl to wrap her arm around his elbow. He sighed.

"I will always be."

[dxkk1104]

She lay dead on the cold pavement.

In her blood mixed with his.

With a hole in her chest.

With a buried future taken from her by a former friend.

Sasuke stared at his hands covered in red, not understanding what was happening; what he had done; why he had done it. His mind was foggy; too much information for one day, too many experiences, the enormity of it all.

He just wanted to disappear, to forget the previous events. And this had led to a tragedy.

"Sakura?" he asked in a hollow voice.

He waited and waited for an answer, but never received one.

Sasuke had no idea how to react. Inside, he felt nothing. Perhaps that was what he was looking for - emptiness; infinite nothingness. Cutting another string, a bond that kept him tethered.

Or maybe it wasn't the goal he wanted to achieve. Somewhere in the distance something was squeezing him, like a heart. As if he still possessed it after all this time.

Because it may not have gone away, it may not have been torn to shreds.

Until today.

Scarlet liquid trickled down his cheeks and the world went black.

[dxkk1104]

hiii

Hiii!

[dxkk1104]

new!!!

[dxkk1104]

six!!

[dxkk1104]

A cold wind chilled her face as she ran through the dark forest with only one goal in mind. His chakra was getting closer, Sakura could feel it. Sasuke's presence was everywhere.

She bounced off the branch, accelerating. She couldn't afford to lose him, not this time. Sakura had spent two years preparing for this meeting. Two years and three months, learning of the terrible wrongs done by the village she'd been able to give her life for not so long ago.

A raven flew over her head. She jumped down, landing gently on the grass. Sasuke stood still, breathing steadily. She knew he was aware of who she was. She purposely did not hide her chakra.

"What are you doing here, Sakura? Won't Naruto and Kakashi be looking for you?"

"I came alone." She took a step forward; Sasuke still didn't turn around "I left Konoha."

At these words he looked at her. Red eyes shone in the darkness, sending shivers through her body.

"You left Konoha?" he laughed mockingly "Don't lie to me, Sakura. You love this shitty village too much."

Gritting teeth, she gripped the kunai tighter as her former friend began to move towards her with a hostile expression. The clenching and loosening of his hand indicated his annoyance at the situation.

"I'm not lying, Sasuke." she didn't add the ending to his name, showing the seriousness of the moment.

He leaned over her, smearing his breath over her cheek.

"How am I supposed to believe you? Why were you looking specifically for me?"

"I know what they did to your family and more. I also know that you joined the Akatsuki and that you could so easily introduce me to them. We are fighting on the same side from now on." she explained.

Sasuke's lips twisted into a smirk.

"So you'd betray Konoha for me?"

"I'm not doing it for you."

Silence.

True? Not true?

They measured each other with eyes, the atmosphere thickened. They both tried to steady their breathing, without success. Invisible sparks were forming between their bodies.

"One suspicious behavior and I’ll kill you." he threatened.

Sakura pressed the sharp tip of the kunai to Sasuke's chest, pushing him away.

"You try that, and I won't stop myself from killing you either. I'm not the same girl you left on the bench back then. One try and you'll be dead before you know it."

Sasuke stepped back, running his tongue over his lips. His expression changed; he became more pleased.

"And that's the attitude I like."