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bunny-hoodlum · 3 years

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Asynchronous With You: Ch 5

ship: naruhina

rating: teen (maybe mature later)

tags: Modern Day AU, Foster Siblings, Family, Angst, Unrequited Love, Poor Communication/Noncommunication, Found Family

summary: An awkward journey full of self-denial and missed moments between two foster siblings. Perhaps their love will find the right timing someday.

Neji met them outside the dorm gates. As generous as his dorm-mate Lee was, he couldn't ask him to step out for their sake.

They followed Neji to a nearby linear park that segregated the school grounds from the business park on the other side. It felt like a glass-less greenhouse, with polished granite beneath their feet and a vine-carpeted roof overhead. The benches were slabs of granite, as were the other fixtures, like an orb fountain in the center, with flawless skin of water running over its surface. The full trees muffled the night, with its crickets and distant chugging cars. The gentle, steady trickle contrasted against their footsteps, like two off-tempo drums and hers a mournful castanet.

Now that they were finally here, she was beginning to lose her nerve, she was forgetting what she had to complain about.

All that mattered was that she was healthy, right? All that mattered was that they were actually taking good care of her.

But the last thing she said to her, telling her to go home, saying that at least one of them should be loved by their parents, it began to eat at Hinata.

Could it be that she doesn't have any love to come home to?

Like resonance, her soul trembled and her ribs ached. The heel of her palm pressed against the skin between her wet eyes.

"I've become like them. I messed up."

The bench caught her before she could sink down to the ground.

"What're you talking about?" came Naruto's voice, barely reaching her ears.

"You mean Aunt and Uncle?"

Hinata nodded.

"What??" Naruto smacked his forehead rather hard. "How were you supposed to act?! They knew where you were! Nothing was stopping them from taking you guys back--"

"We don't know that." Hinata argued.

"Bullshit!"

"We don't," Her shoulders lifted, turning rigid. "They could barely take care of the two of us. It would've been the same if they had to take care of two daughters--"

"What about visits? What's so hard about keeping in touch?!"

She stayed silent. It wasn't that she hadn't considered that, it was that it was too upsetting to ruminate on any deeper.

"Ten years, Hinata. They had to have lied to her, right? Raised her believing she was an only child? C'mon, why aren't you angrier about this?!"

She wasn't sure if it was defiance that lifted her chin, but the eyes she chose to meet were Neji's as she implored him join in.

His eyes closed as he released a pensive sigh. "What's she like?"

"Don't change the subject," Naruto snapped. "Hinata needs to vent."

She prodded Neji with her stare. He shook his head.

"Who are you talking about?" Neji punctuated his rhetoric with a sidelong glance, causing Naruto to bristle. "This Hinata?"

"Yeah, this Hinata. Our Hinata. What the fuck, we've shared the same home for ten years! Hinata! You vent! You vented the other month about your-your shirt!" His face reddened as he brought up, perhaps, the worst example he possibly could.

"I was in a weird mood," Hinata said quickly, giving Naruto whiplash.

"A--A 'weird' mood?! What, like you just felt like messing with me kind of 'weird'??"

Hinata lamely shrugged her shoulders before curling in on herself like an armadillo. She could only imagine how exponential his irritation was to increase. She should've answered Neji's question right away instead of trying to convey her complaints to Neji, because now they were getting way off topic. Which was ironic for Naruto, who thought Neji was the one diverting attention away from her pain.

Neji pinched the bridge of his nose. "I don't know what the story is, and I don't think I want to know."

"Good. 'Cuz I don't want to talk about it." Naruto huffed as he crossed his arms.

Silence lapsed around them. Somehow Hinata was rather surprised their arguing managed to fizzle out on its own and so quickly. The past was almost laughable in how different it was from the present.

'That's right. It's always going to be rocky at first, but it takes time to get used to one another.' This was proof that she and Hanabi could grow into sisters no matter how much time had been lost.

"Her name's Hanabi. Her favorite foods are bananas and milk, and she hates the herb mitsuba. She's cheerful, cheeky, and surprisingly athletic. And... I really want to get to know her better." The tears fell swifter and harder on her lap as she re-conjured the heartbroken betrayal she had put on Hanabi's face.

She really hoped it wasn't too late.

Neji joined her side and rubbed her back, while Naruto kept his distance.

Even though he had been given Neji's explicit blessing years before, somehow it didn't feel appropriate for him to console her too.

Looking at them now, it was like those two had never grown apart, not even a centimeter. And they had been communicating with their eyes, he was sure of it. Speaking around him, because he wasn't actually a part of this.

They're what real siblings look like.

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Taking the midnight train back home, Naruto spent the next thirty minutes absorbed in the things that amused him, from sexy two-minute shorts, to prank compilations and this one guy from Kaminari that totally bites at rapping. Absolutely no one, neither he nor his 745k followers know if he's a comedy channel where he's bad on purpose, or if he's just gotten popular for all the wrong reasons, but watching him never fails to inspire a deep gut-laugh from Naruto.

Because he wouldn't be laughing this hard if something was bothering him, especially not a whole host of somethings.

He ignored how arriving at their station didn't feel quite right, how following Hinata didn't feel normal.

He was surprised when she finally started talking to him, yet the weariness her voice instilled was not lost on him.

"Who was the first girl you liked?"

"Hm? Oh, guess that'd be Sakura-chan."

"I see. And how old were you when you knew?"

"Eight, I guess?"

"Eight," The number floated from her mouth in an amazed whisper, "Do you think somebody already likes Hanabi-chan?"

A blond brow perked up. "Is this that protective Onee-san instinct kicking in already?" When she giggled, his heart sank.

"I suppose it is."

And when the silence closed in on him again, he spoke up to keep it going. "Uh, what about you?"

Her steps faltered for a second, then picked up with an exaggerated bounce. "There's someone."

"Still? Like, ongoing?"

"Mmhm."

Naruto blinked rapidly, whiplash striking again. How? How did he not know his sister liked someone? "Since when?"

"Mmmm," She hummed that note a little too long that bordered on mocking him, and he was about to storm on ahead of her, until she said, "Third grade."

"What?!" Ineloquent as that was, he somehow expected her to answer him. He stood there as she traipsed away, waiting until he was finally fed up. "Well, who the fuck is it?!"

"Guess."

He jogged after her. "Kiba?" His mouth soured at the thought.

She crossed her forearms into an 'X', making the buzzer sound in game shows when the contestant got the answer wrong. "Bubuu."

"Shino?" He didn't know what to think about that if it were true. Guess they were both quiet and smart and a little weird. Is that what compatibility looks like?

"Bubuu," she went again.

What other guys was she in contact with?

Shikamaru was a good friend who came over to game sometimes, but he definitely didn't sense anything there. No, no way it could be him. And everyone was pretty sure Sai was asexual.

"Sasuke?" Why not? He was the school heartthrob nine years running. Didn't matter whether Naruto understood the taste of girls or not, they all wanted him. He kinda wishes he noticed sooner now, because he imagining a plain girl like her pining for someone unreachable and he really hates that for her. When she slows to a stop under the streetlamp, he thinks he's finally figured it out, though the truth ended up being really anticlimactic in the end.

She half-turns towards him, her face blank save for the edge of distaste clinging to the corners of her lips and eyes.

"Gross."

He reeled back. "Gross? Whaddya mean gross?" She continued on her way, forcing him to jog after her. "Hey, I can't believe you think he's gross! Are you just being a contrarian?" Her pace picked up faster. "Y'know, like what unpopular girls do when they can't fit in?"And faster. "You really think he's gross?" She was hurrying on ahead and he was trying to catch a glimpse of her face, just a little bit of veracity. "Hinata?!"

They arrived at the steps of their apartment.

"You have until graduation to guess!" She called over her shoulder as she ran ahead, her voice pitching high at the end.

She was upset.

Her footsteps resounded through the corridors like frantic clapping, but he wasn't being congratulated at all.

It was finally apparent to him that he hasn't paid attention to Hinata in a long, long time. That's why Neji was making fun of him.

He took the elevator to their apartment, and when he reached the hole between their bedrooms, he got down on both knees and crouched his spine. They haven't used this in years, he couldn't believe how small they used to be, this hole had to be over three feet from the floor. It was making his back hurt. "Hinata," He bit his tongue with a pause. "What happens if I can't guess by graduation?" Nothing. Just silence. "Hinata? Are you not going to talk to me anymore?"

"Yeah," If a ghost could croak, that's what it sounded like. "If you can't guess by graduation, I'm not going to talk to you anymore."

He palmed the wall as he drew to full height, then stepped away, neither urgency nor insult registering in his chest. He didn't know what was in there. Maybe nothing. He raised his voice a little, just enough so that she could hear.

"I'm going to take this another weird mood of yours, okay? There's no way you really mean that."

Hovering for half a second more, he didn't give her time to respond as he headed for his bed on the opposite side of the room.

Maybe Sakura had the right idea about family. Maybe it's better to just find your own.

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AN: Lel, I totally forgot to add the summary and ratings thing in the last chapter. 😜😅 Hope you liked this one!

#asynchronous with you fanfiction #naruhina #naruhina fanfiction #naruto x hinata #chapter 5 #modern au

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dimigex · 3 years

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I Won’t Lie - Kakasaku

It’s finally done!! I started this piece years ago but never finished it. It’s the follow on to my story Distraction, but you don’t have to read that to understand it at all.

Distraction, I Won’t Lie, Part One, Part Two, Epilogue

Here’s the first part, the rest is linked above and also available on FF.

"So, have you put the moves on the Hokage yet," Ino questioned, applying black eyeliner with a practiced flip of her hand. Her aqua blue eyes stood out in sharp contrast, seeming larger than they had any right to.

Sakura groaned from the bed, falling back to cover her face. "I never intended to put the moves on him," she mumbled, hoping that Ino wouldn't be able to see the crimson flush of her cheeks. "And, it didn't work anyway. Kakashi doesn't know that I exist."

Ino jerked the pillow away and leveled her best friend with a stare. "He definitely knows that you exist, but you need to remind him that you're a woman now, not a little girl." Her gaze swept over Sakura from head to toe. "Why don't you put on something a little more interesting tonight?"

"What's wrong with what I have on?" Sakura frowned at her outfit. Okay, the leggings that she wore were more comfortable than provocative, and her mother would have approved of her shirt, but that didn't mean there was anything wrong with it. She always dressed like this when they went out. It wasn't her fault that Ino had more outfits than any other girl that Sakura knew, and an uncanny way of making everything look sexy.

"Nothing," Ino answered, with a smile curving her cherry-red lips. "As long as you want to die old and alone."

Sakura threw the remaining pillow at Ino's face, narrowly missing. "Shut up, Ino-pig," she grumbled, reverting to the insult that had become a friendly nickname over the past few years. Sakura tugged at her shirt for a moment, chewing her lip "If I agree, can you make it look like I'm not trying too hard?"

A grin split Ino's face. "Of course. We have to find just the right outfit to show off that body you worked so hard for."

Before Sakura could protest, the blond pulled her off of the bed and toward the closet. Nearly an hour later, Sakura examined her expression in the mirror, shocked at the illusion that Ino had created. Long lashes framed her green eyes, making them stand out against her pale skin. The faint dusting of freckles that Sakura usually hated had taken on a soft glow from the highlighter Ino used. Glossy lips completed the expression, in a shade lighter than Sakura ever thought she could pull off. Ino hadn't stopped there. She'd transformed Sakura's hair as well. The pale tresses piled on top of her head, falling in artful curls around her face.

Ino pulled Sakura from musing about how she looked like an entirely different person by tugging on the dress. The blond dragged the black fabric to the side, baring one shoulder. It draped Sakura's body, accentuating enough to suggest that she had more curves than she really did. Chuckling, Sakura pulled the fabric toward her knees. Ino slapped her hands away. "Stop that, it's supposed to be short."

"I can't wear this," Sakura complained even as she turned to admire herself from the side. It hugged her body in a way that none of her other outfits had.

Shaking her head, Ino walked over to the closet and tossed a pair of heels to Sakura. "You can, and you will. No one will be able to keep their eyes off you, especially not Kakashi."

Color flamed in Sakura's cheek, hidden somewhat by the makeup. "What if he isn't there?"

Ino's devious grin made Sakura nervous. "Then you'll go home with someone else. You look too damn good to go home alone tonight"

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When Ino and Sakura swept into the pub nearly half an hour late, dozens of heads swiveled in their direction. Ino linked an arm through Sakura's and pulled her into the room before she could back away in a fit of self-consciousness. Her gaze swept over the people gathered for Naruto's birthday, trying to ignore the butterflies fluttering in her stomach. Kakashi wasn't there yet or not coming at all, everything they'd done had been a waste of time.

Forcing the hopelessness down, Sakura caught sight of an overbearing ball of sunshine cutting through the room. Naruto's grin probably had more to do with the atmosphere than alcohol, but she couldn't be sure. He threw an arm around Sakura's shoulder and pulled her into a side hug. "I was beginning to think nobody from my team was going to show up tonight."

When Naruto released Sakura, his blue eyes slipped lower than her neck. The blush on his whiskered cheeks was obvious even in the dim lighting. "You look nice tonight. I mean, not that you don't always look nice-" Sakura's laughter cut off the awkward exchange, and Naruto managed a nervous smile before rubbing the back of his neck. "I don't think Sasuke is going to make it tonight."

"Unfortunately, Sasuke's mission has him delayed outside the village." The proximity of Kakashi's voice made Sakura jump. When she turned, she realized that he stood just inside the doorway behind them. Their gazes locked, and Kakashi's eyes widened, perhaps only just now realizing that she'd been the one standing with Naruto. While pink hair was unusual in the village, a few girls had started imitating Sakura after the war. She hated it, but the element of surprise was nice.

Ino unwound her arm from Sakura's and moved away to speak to someone that Sakura didn't recognize. Completely oblivious of the tension of the moment, Naruto caught Kakashi with his other arm and pulled them both into a hug. Sakura felt the warmth of Kakashi's chest against her side. "I'm glad you two made it, at least."

Kakashi pulled away, chuckling in the back of his throat. "Of course I came, I have to keep an eye on you kids to make sure you don't get into any trouble."

"We aren't kids," Sakura grumbled, challenging Kakashi with a glare through her mascara lengthened lashes. "We're adults now."

"That's right, sensei. We don't have to listen to you anymore." Naruto laughed, giving Kakashi a cheeky grin.

Kakashi frowned, the barest movements of his mask. "I'm still Hokage, though."

"For now." Naruto's banter eased the conversation into playful jabs that allowed Sakura to stay silent. Kakashi hadn't even responded to her comment about being an adult now. Her heart sank lower in her chest.

As the men exchanged barbs, Ino reappeared from wherever she'd been. Grabbing Sakura's hand, she led them to the bar. "It's pointless," Sakura complained, leaning close so that the words would only be loud enough for Ino. "He'll always view me as a kid. I'd be better off chasing Sasuke."

"Absolutely not," Ino hissed, vehemence dripping from her voice as she raised a hand to order drinks. "Sasuke isn't even on the radar for you. Do not put yourself through that again."

Sakura nodded and toyed with the silver teardrop earring that Ino had loaned her. She knew that Sasuke was a bad idea. The boy had never acknowledged her, not really. And now, it was the same with Kakashi. At best Kakashi saw her as the child that he'd mentored years ago. At worst, the annoying girl that she'd been during those early days. She'd never change that.

"Let me tell you my secret, Forehead." Ino shoved a shot glass into Sakura's hand. "It just takes five seconds of insane courage to get whatever you want. That's it. Just five seconds of bravery, then the hard part is over. You either have the thing you want or you don't, but at least you'll know."

"Is that how you landed Sai?" Sakura asked, closing her grip around the glass of liquid courage without questioning what was inside it. The idea that Ino actually liked Sai and wanted to be with him when there were so many men that she could have had was something that Sakura had trouble wrapping her mind around.

Ino laughed and tucked a strand of hair behind one ear. "Yes, Sai. And, all the others."

Gossip suggested that Ino had worked her way through half of the eligible shinobi in the village. There was a great deal of truth to it. Ino had dated Shikamaru for a couple of weeks before the pair decided that friendship was less troublesome than a relationship. She and Kiba had been fireworks from the beginning, fighting almost constantly. Choji was too gentle, Lee too exhausting, Shino too quiet, and the list went on and on. Somehow, Ino landed on Sai and found that the man matched her surprisingly well. Sakura had already noticed the girl looking for him in the crowd.

"Drink," Ino commanded, nodding toward the alcohol. Sakura steeled her nerves and tipped the glass up. The liquid burned the entire way down, making her gasp for a breath. Ino clapped her on the back. "Good, now let's go and find someone to make him jealous over."

"Ino, no." Sakura pulled away from her best friend with a firm shake of her head. "It doesn't matter. It's just a silly crush."

The look on the blonde's face suggested that she didn't believe Sakura's excuse, but she didn't force it. Sakura let her gaze wander over the people brought together to celebrate Naruto's birthday. He had touched so many lives, and since the war, most people recognized that. Naruto had wanted to do something at Ichiraku, but the stand was too small for all their friends. They'd made arrangements for the celebration to be held here, but white bowls of ramen dotted most of the tables.

Kakashi drew Sakura's eyes like a beacon. He stood in the shadows beside Captain Yamato, heads close together as they spoke. It had surprised Sakura to learn that the men were old friends, especially since Kakashi held so many people at a distance. Sakura and Naruto had grown closer to him, of course, but there didn't seem to be many others. Tsunade and the other jonin perhaps, but the ease between Kakashi and Yamato spoke of actual friendship. Sakura felt a twinge of jealousy. Why couldn't it be that easy for her?

Ino leaned close, the scent of alcohol drifting from her lips. "You know, Yamato isn't bad looking either."

Sakura considered the words. While Yamato didn't hold the aura of mystery that Kakashi did, his easy smile and kind eyes made him attractive in his own way. Even so, no matter how much Sakura watched the pair, her eyes strayed to Kakashi. As she'd expected, he'd worn his uniform to the party. The sleeves of his black shirt were rolled up against the heat of the room, while his hands were tucked into the pockets of matching pants. Kakashi's mask remained in place, of course, but the headband that used to slant across half of his face was missing. Two charcoal eyes stared out at the room, silver hair falling into them.

"Oh, it's definitely just a little crush," Ino teased, pulling Sakura from her longing gaze. "Why don't you just go and talk to him? Ask him to dance or ask him back to your place. Just do something besides staring at him."

When Sakura started to protest, Ino rolled her eyes. "Come on, I've seen you kick ass so many times, but you're scared to talk to a boy? The worst thing he can do is turn you down. And, if that happens, it's his loss."

It isn't that easy, Sakura started to argue. Only, she knew that it was. She'd been pining after Kakashi for months, treasuring stupid, little moments that probably meant nothing: the way that his arms had curled around her on the training field, how his eyes lit up when he laughed at her joke about Tsunade trying to kill them both with reports, or the startle when her fingers had brushed his wrist. Those things made her wonder if there might be something more, but Kakashi was impossible to read. The sudden intake of breath when Sakura touched him could just have easily been discomfort as desire.

"I think I need another drink," Sakura declared, putting away the miserable thoughts for another day.

It didn't take long for the pleasant warmth of alcohol to loosen the tension that seemed permanently attached to Sakura's shoulders. She relaxed enough to dance a couple of turns with Naruto. He was far more awkward on the dance floor than any shinobi had the right to be. After two dances, Sakura begged off and pushed him toward Hinata. A few months ago, the girl had finally gotten brave enough to let Naruto know that she liked him. The pair was slowly turning into a couple, but the transition was painful to watch. They were both too shy for their own good.

Sakura stumbled back toward the bar, surprised to admit that she was having more fun than she'd thought she would, even if Kakashi ignored her. As she reached for her glass, Ino flashed a pleasant grin that warned Sakura that the girl was coming up with a plan that Sakura wasn't going to like. Without explaining anything, Ino linked their arms and dragged Sakura back into the crowd. Three steps into the walk, once she realized where they were going, Sakura tried to stop the inevitable. But, it was too late. Ino stopped beside Kakashi and Yamato.

The men looked up in surprise, their conversation stopping abruptly. Sakura felt Kakashi's gaze on her face for several heartbeats before it slid toward Ino's. With another signature grin, the blond moved into Yamato's personal space. "You sent my boyfriend on a mission just before the party, and now I have nobody to dance with. It seems only fair that you take his place." Ino held out a hand expectantly.

"Um-I-uh-it was unavoidable," Yamato stammered, a delicate pink blush tinting his cheeks. Sakura almost rolled her eyes. It was pathetic to watch how easily Ino turned him, or any man for that matter, into a stuttering mess simply by batting her eyelashes. She'd thought Yamato was better than that.

To Sakura's surprise, it was Kakashi who spoke next. "I think she has a solid case." Yamato gaped at the man, but Kakashi continued as if he hadn't seen it. "You deprived her of enjoying the evening; you should make up for it. Within reason, of course."

As the implication hit home, the pink on Yamato's cheeks deepened to crimson. Sakura struggled not to laugh at his expression. Ino cleared her throat, moving her hand closer. For a moment, Sakura wondered if Kakashi was going to have to push the man forward. Finally, Yamato dipped his head and took Ino's hand. Sakura couldn't stop her mirth as the pair disappeared onto the dance floor. "He's going to be furious with you later, you know that right?"

"It's good for him. Yamato is too shy." Kakashi leaned his shoulders against the wall, and for a moment Sakura couldn't take her eyes off of the smooth stretch of his body and the way his armor shifted with the movement. Half a second later, she realized that he'd said something. Deciding that it probably wasn't important, she nodded and he continued. "Of course, she doesn't mean anything by it, does she?"

Sakura shook her head, watching as Ino attempted to guide Yamato's hands toward her hips as she moved to the music. He kept moving them back to her waist, embarrassment obvious. Sakura chuckled under her breath. "No, she's quite taken with Sai actually."

"Our Sai?" Kakashi asked, eyebrows rising in surprise.

Sakura nodded, watching as Yamato finally relaxed into the dance and loosened up a bit. "She and Sai balance each other well, like Naruto and Hinata."

Kakashi followed Sakura's gaze toward the bar where Naruto and Hinata were talking. The blond leaned against the edge, telling some kind of story while the girl gazed up adoringly. Two years ago, she'd been too frightened and embarrassed to speak with him, and Naruto too stupid to realize why. With a little gentle prodding, they'd finally caught on.

Kakashi made a sound that might have been agreement in the back of his throat. "You're all pairing off these days, falling in love and getting married."

"Not all of us," Sakura grumbled. Frustration bled into her voice as she continued. "Some of us accepted the weight of duty instead."

A silver eyebrow arched skyward as Kakashi turned to face Sakura. A look of understanding crossed his features, but Sakura doubted that he realized she was talking about him as well. Undeniably handsome, Kakashi could have his pick of women in the village, but he remained alone. He had thrown himself into the role of hokage, even though he hated it. Sakura had done the same at the hospital, though she enjoyed her work for the most part. The two of them weren't as different as he seemed to think.

A stir went through the room. Naruto pushed away from the bar, his voice cutting through the din of music and conversation. "You made it!'

As much as Sakura wanted to continue admiring Kakashi, her attention drifted toward Naruto. He stood in the doorway, arms thrown around-Sakura's mind temporarily shorted out, taking several seconds to catch up with her eyes. Sasuke stood in the spill of light, Naruto's arms wrapped around his shoulders. Raven dark hair and equally black eyes swept through the crowd, taking in everyone and everything. His gaze slid over Sakura, then returned and lingered.

Despite everything, Sakura blushed under Sasuke's gaze. Beside her, Kakashi shifted away from the wall. A hand pressed almost imperceptibly against Sakura's lower back as Naruto approached, Sasuke trailing behind like a shadow. Sakura half turned toward Kakashi.

Naruto interrupted the pair before Sakura could get her thoughts in order. "Look guys, Sasuke made it back in time."

"So, he did," Kakashi answered for both of them, voice cool but not quite unfriendly. "Welcome back."

Sasuke turned, oozing arrogance as he inclined his head toward Kakashi. Dark eyes roved over Sakura a second time, an almost smile curling his lips. Even so, Sakura read the tension in his shoulders. Despite the years that had passed, Sasuke remained something of a pariah in the village. There were some groups who would never forgive or forget the time that he had spent trying to destroy the Leaf, despite Naruto's efforts to change their opinions. Sakura knew that Kakashi had helped save Sasuke from execution or life in prison, but the Hokage's intervention had ended there.

"Sasuke!" Ino appeared from nowhere, throwing her arms around Sasuke in a hug that the man shrunk away from. "Welcome back."

Sakura flashed her friend a thankful smile at the interruption. "You're looking well," Ino continued, pulling all of Sasuke's attention to herself by keeping her hands on his upper arms. "Can I get you something to drink?"

"Maybe later," Sasuke answered, voice sounding strained as he shrugged away from Ino's touch. When she released him, the man turned and smiled. "Hello, Sakura."

Sakura couldn't remember how to draw a breath. A thick strand of black fell across Sasuke's eye, adding an air of mystery to his already captivating appearance. Warmth suffused her face when he moved closer, near enough to reach out and brush her cheek if he'd wanted. "Hi," she answered, toying with a silver bracelet circling one wrist.

Sasuke slid between Sakura and Kakashi, angling his body to face hers. "How have you been?"

"I've been doing well." Sakura's answer barely scratched the surface of everything that had happened in her life since the last time she saw Sasuke. She couldn't seem to remember a single event that she wanted to talk about. Yamato approached the small group and squeezed in beside Kakashi while running an appraising eye over Sasuke. He didn't acknowledge the Uchiha's presence. Instead, he leaned closer to Kakashi and whispered something in his ear.

Pulling her attention away from the exchange, Sakura realized that she'd been asked something. It would be rude not to keep talking to Sasuke, so she smiled. "How about you? How have you been?"

"I stay busy following up on leads," Sasuke answered, revealing nothing about his time outside of the village. Maybe he thought that Sakura wouldn't accept his reasons for leaving her behind, or maybe, he didn't care if she did.

After all, how could Sakura expect Sasuke to understand the hours of work that she poured into the hospital, sometimes losing a patient despite her best efforts? Would he care that she pushed herself in training as hard as she's ever done in case they went back to war? Sakura imagined Sasuke teasing her efforts to create orphanages in Konoha. Would he understand Sakura's version of sacrifice when it didn't align with his?

Sakura's eyes drifted back to her group of friends. Naruto stood beside Ino with a silly grin on his face, undoubtedly because Sakura and Sasuke were talking together. He still believed the two of them could make it work somehow. Yamato and Kakashi watched them both without seeming to do so. Sakura couldn't help but wonder if they deemed Sasuke as a security risk, even after all this time. Her gaze settled on the tension in Kakashi's jaw, wondering why he seemed on edge.

Kakashi understood the passion that drove Sakura to fight for those causes. Or, if not, he humored her. Sakura and Kakashi had worked hand in hand to train additional medical shinobi, create orphanages, and work through various issues at the hospital. She'd assumed that Kakashi wanted to see the same outcome that she did. Would Sasuke want that? Did it matter? He wouldn't be in the village long enough for it to make any difference.

Despite the way that things between them had changed, Sasuke still reduced Sakura to a lovesick teenager. It wasn't that her feelings had stayed the same, but Sakura had spent half of her life chasing after Sasuke. She couldn't shake the memory of nipping at his heels, of being willing to throw everything away if he'd only acknowledge her. As Sasuke spoke, Sakura's mind responded on autopilot, answering with soft laughs and smiles.

After several minutes, Ino caught Sakura's attention and half nodded toward Kakashi. He and Yamato had fallen silent, allowing the conversation to flow around them without interruption. Sakura raised her shoulders in a helpless shrug, silently asking what she was supposed to do about the situation. Ino frowned, then leaned in to speak. "So, Sasuke, did you know that Naruto and Hinata are dating?"

The question cut off the conversation. Surprise flitted across Sasuke's face as he looked over at Naruto. The blond's cheeks flamed crimson and he sputtered over his words "Well, Ino is dating Sai," he managed, red from his hairline to his chin.

Ino grinned, tossing her long hair over one shoulder with an air of dismissal. "You say that like it's a bad thing. Sai happens to be far more interesting than you'd anticipate. Not to mention adventurous."

The suggestive nature of Ino's comment made Naruto choke on his breath. His eyes bulged and Sakura couldn't help but laugh; he was still so innocent. Naruto grabbed Sasuke's arm. "Come on, it's definitely time for a drink."

Without waiting for an answer, Naruto pulled the Uchiha toward the barkeeper and further away from Ino's insinuations. Laughing, the girl watched them go. Then, she turned back to Yamato. "I thought you were going to dance with me? And, you," Ino studied Kakashi, "should dance with Sakura so she isn't left alone over here."

For all the nudging that Kakashi had done when Ino asked Yamato to dance, the man seemed less than enthused about taking his own advice. "It isn't befitting of the Hokage to indulge in-"

"Oh no you don't, senpai," Yamato interrupted, already pulling Kakashi away from the wall. "I did my duty, and now it's time for you to do yours. Off you go."

Yamato's brown eyes shone with an inordinate amount of amusement, and Sakura didn't know whether to be thankful that he was pushing Kakashi toward the dance floor, or embarrassed at being some type of twisted payback. Either way, the indecision lasted only a moment. Ino grabbed Yamato's hand and guided him toward the dancers, leaving Sakura alone with Kakashi on the edge of the room.

Kakashi rubbed the back of his neck as he turned to face Sakura. Embarrassment raised the temperature of the room several degrees until it felt impossible to draw a breath. "You don't have to dance with me," she murmured, trying not to sound as disappointed as she felt.

"Ino and Yamato would never let me hear the end of it if we didn't." Kakashi held out one hand, and Sakura slid hers into it. Her pulse pounded in her ears when he leaned closer. "Besides, we only have to dance long enough to get them off our backs."

Sakura didn't trust her voice to speak without breaking, so she nodded and followed Kakashi onto the dance floor. Music blared over the speakers, bass line making her heart pound in tempo. She drew a deep breath and looked into the eyes that had been hidden for so long. Even now, months later, Sakura hadn't gotten used to seeing more of Kakashi's face. She remembered the intensity of his gaze on the training field and the way that she'd wanted to pull him close and lose themselves in the storm.

Just five seconds of insane courage, Ino's voice whispered in the back of Sakura's mind. She could press her body against Kakashi's under the guise of dancing and admit that she wanted more than that. Butterflies the size of elephants trampled over Sakura's chest. If Kakashi rejected her, it would hurt, but she could mask the pain long enough to make it home. Then, she'd be free to deal with fallout. She had done the same thing over Sasuke nearly a year ago. But, if Sakura never took a chance and told Kakashi, she'd never know if there could have been anything between them.

Kakashi spoke, interrupting Sakura's momentum. "You look different tonight."

"Ino begged me to let her try something special for Naruto's party." Sakura chewed her lip, wondering if the words were technically a lie. She wanted to look more enticing as well, more like Ino and less like herself, in hopes that she'd capture Kakashi's attention.

The tempo of the music increased; Sakura allowed her body to follow. She felt the hem of her dress riding up her thigh and tugged it down with one hand. Kakashi followed the movement then snapped his eyes back to her face. He asked something, but the words were lost in the din of the crowd. When Sakura scrunched up her face in confusion, he leaned closer. "For Sasuke?"

For you, Sakura thought, holding the words tight between her lips. The accusation in Kakashi's tone surprised her. "I didn't know he'd be here."

Kakashi inclined his head at the words, expression unreadable. He rested his hands at Sakura's waist without a hint of familiarity or desire. Kakashi moved to the music, half a foot between their bodies. Sakura flashed back to the way his arms had wrapped around her like a glove on the training field. He moved on protective instinct, not to get close to me. The realization left a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.

Sakura surrendered to the rhythm of the music, turning to present her back to Kakashi's chest so she wouldn't have to meet his gaze. She closed her eyes, willing the ache in her heart to stop. This entire situation was so stupid. Ino was right about everything; Sakura needed to tell Kakashi how she felt so that she could pick up the pieces and move on. She had done it before, and she could do it again.

Fingers curled against Sakura's hips, the thin fabric of her dress hardly masking the feel of Kakashi's touch. Sakura wasn't sure if he pulled her back, or if she moved of her own accord, but she felt the warmth of his breath against her neck. She focused on the sensation, electricity rushing through her body. His damn flak vest separated Sakura from the heat of his chest, but she imagined that she could feel it anyway.

The song ended and the weight of Kakashi's hands fell away as if it had never been. Light pulsed around them as another song started. Sakura turned back to face Kakashi, drawing a shaky breath. "Do you think that dance met their requirements, or should we do another, just to be sure?"

Sakura's name left Kakashi's lips in a strangled sound. Whatever he'd been planning to say was lost when someone bumped hard into his back. He stumbled through the almost nonexistent space between them. Sakura heard an apology, but she couldn't match the voice to a face before her arms were full of Kakashi. She stumbled backward under his weight, tripped over her heels, and then they were falling. Vaguely, some panicked part of Sakura's mind wondered if she was about to give everyone in the room a free peep show.

Kakashi twisted in the air so that Sakura wouldn't be crushed beneath him. His left shoulder absorbed most of the impact half a second before she hit his chest. The air whooshed out of Kakashi's lungs in a soft hiss as their bodies pressed together. Exposure forgotten, Sakura felt his hands grip her, one near her shoulder and the other dangerously low on her back. They were close enough for their noses to brush, Kakashi's eyes wide. The charcoal tone wasn't as dark as Sakura had anticipated, but shot with silver through the iris. She noticed the outline of Kakashi's lips beneath his mask. Kami, it would be so simple to—

"Hokage-sama?" Genma's familiar voice cut across Sakura's thoughts. The man pushed through the crowd to reach Kakashi's side, undoubtedly on guard duty for the night. Sakura raised her head to glare at his poorly conceived timing.

Kakashi released Sakura like he'd been burned, hands coming to the floor instead as he pushed into a sitting position. She half fell into his lap from the sudden change of position. "I'm fine," he answered the unasked question. "I'm hardly old enough to get injured from falling down."

"Especially beneath a beautiful woman," Genma quipped, flashing his senbon-studded grin. Then, his leer slid toward the woman in question and his expression changed to something contemplative as he offered a hand. "Oh, hey, Sakura."

Sakura had no choice but to accept Genma's offered hand. Cheeks flushed with embarrassment, she let the tokujo pull her away from Kakashi. Belatedly, she remembered to adjust the slinky dress lower on her thighs and higher over her chest. Hopefully everything had happened so quickly that she didn't have any reason to be embarrassed. A small crowd gathered around them. Kakashi pushed through them as the music started back up; Sakura followed him to the edge of the room.

"You aren't hurt are you, Hokage-sama," Ino gushed as she hurried to the pair's side. Her brow creased with worry when Kakashi tried to wave her off. Sakura barely resisted the urge to roll her eyes at her best friend. The ploy was obvious.

"I'm fine," Kakashi grumbled, looking distinctively embarrassed by the attention. "I'm not made of glass."

"Still," Ino pressed, reaching out like she might touch Kakashi's arm. "You hit your shoulder hard when you fell. I saw it."

Sakura could see the wheels turning in Ino's mind. No, please, Ino, don't do this. Sakura's silent plea fell on deaf ears. Kakashi raised his arm to prove that he could, but Ino didn't drop the subject. "You should let Sakura take a look at it, just to make sure. I'm sure she wouldn't mind."

And, there it is, Sakura grumbled internally. Annoyance bled through Kakashi's embarrassment as he tried to wave the blonde's concerns away. Sakura interrupted the exchange before it could get out of hand. "Doesn't anyone care about me? I fell too."

"I could take a look at you," Genma offered with a cheeky grin from his position at Kakashi's shoulder. "In fact, it'd be my pleasure."

"No," Sakura and Kakashi answered in the same breath, dragging a knowing laugh from Genma. Kakashi looked almost as surprised as Sakura felt. Cheeks warming at the insinuation, she continued. "I don't need anyone to look at me, I am fine. But, shouldn't you be more worried about me?"

Genma chuckled in the back of his throat. "Because you're such a delicate little flower? I saw the damage you did to the training grounds the other night. I think I'd rather take my chances with Kakashi, to be honest."

"Probably for the best; she's stronger than you think." Sakura's stomach clenched at the unexpected praise from Sasuke. She hadn't noticed that he and Naruto had rejoined them in the chaos.

"Damn right she is," Ino answered, fighting to keep the attention on anything but Sasuke. Her eyes met Sakura's with silent pleading. While Sakura knew what Ino wanted, some things were easier said than done. Sasuke watched them with a smug satisfaction on his face that Sakura couldn't begin to understand as Ino continued. "What will Tsunade say if you leave Hokage-sama injured until tomorrow?"

Kakashi shook his head as Sakura groaned under her breath. She loved Ino, but sometimes the woman went a little overboard with her matchmaking. "Tsunade would say that it's nothing, and no more than I deserve if I can't keep my feet under me. But, if it'll put your mind at ease, I'll get it checked out."

"It would," Ino breathed out, her concern almost palpable. Sakura wondered why the woman didn't become an actress; she certainly had a knack for it. Ino pulled her forward. "There's no time like the present."

Kakashi cast a withering glance at Ino, then faced Sakura. For a moment, the rest of the room disappeared. Even the overwhelming presence of Sasuke shrank to insignificance. The sheepishness that Sakura had noticed earlier had evaporated, replaced by something darker in Kakashi's gaze. Though Sakura couldn't put her finger on it, the expression made chill bumps erupt on her arms. "Would you mind?"

It wasn't the first time that Sakura had healed Kakashi, not by a long shot. But, it was the first time that he'd asked. Sakura's heart did somersaults in her chest. "I don't mind," she breathed, forcing strength into her words. "But, not here. I need somewhere quieter, with better light."

Kakashi inclined his head as if the words made perfect sense. Naruto groaned, his voice turning whiny. "You're going to miss my party? This is the first time we've all been together in years."

"We won't be gone long," Kakashi assured the boy. "Just long enough to satisfy Sakura."

Ino choked on her laugh, eyes shining. Sakura's cheeks flamed crimson at the insinuation. Kakashi either didn't notice or didn't want to draw attention to it. He nodded toward the door. "Come on, let's get this over with, shall we?"

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

As she and Kakashi emerged from the pub, Sakura drew a breath of the chilly air. Naruto had been the only one to raise an objection to them leaving the party together, but Sakura felt the heat from a dozen gazes as they crossed the room. When they stepped into the street, Sakura's hand slipped out of Kakashi's, and neither made a move to retake it. He stared at the darkness, the stars above, and the benches by the door as they stood under the hazy light of the neon sign.

"I'm sorry that this took you away from the party," Kakashi began with a sigh. When his gaze turned to Sakura, it swept over her body in a way that suggested that he hadn't missed the tiniest facet of Ino's hard work. "You clearly wanted to be there."

"I can always go back later," Sakura answered, knowing that she wouldn't. She didn't want to face Sasuke or Ino after leaving with Kakashi, regardless of what happened next. Kakashi's shoulders seemed to tense at the response, but Sakura wasn't sure if it was her imagination or not. Undeniable nervousness settled in her gut.

Kakashi rubbed the back of his neck with one hand. "You don't really need to look at my shoulder. It's fine, but I needed an excuse to get out of there."

"I know," Sakura agreed. She would have realized if Kakashi was hurt, probably before he did. "But, I gave my word, so we should at least check it."

"Do you want to go to the hospital?" Kakashi moved down the street as he asked the question, forcing Sakura to follow on his heels. He didn't turn back when he continued. "Or, would my apartment be okay? It's closer."

Sakura's breath caught in her throat. She knew where Kakashi's apartment was, of course, but she'd never set foot inside of it. That he'd allow her into his world, even for a moment, stunned her. He continued walking, shoulders tight and hands stuffed into his pockets as he waited for an answer. "Your apartment is fine."

The silence gave Sakura unwanted time to think back over the night's events. She had seen appreciation in more than a few eyes when they noticed the changes that Ino had made, but she couldn't be sure that any of it had registered with Kakashi. He'd said she looked different, not better, not beautiful, just different. That word could mean a million things, or nothing at all. Ino was right though, if Sakura couldn't have Kakashi, she could always go home with someone else. Hell, even Sasuke had noticed and appreciated the extra effort in her appearance. There was only one problem, Sakura didn't want to go home with anyone else.

Sakura nearly walked into Kakashi's back when he stopped in front of her and nodded toward the steps leading up to his apartment. Though she knew it was entirely platonic, Sakura's heart pounded in her throat as she followed him higher. Kakashi unlocked the door, flicked the lights on, and pushed it wider. Sakura slid under his arm and into the room, taking in a million details at once.

Kakashi closed the door behind them and bent to remove his sandals. Sakura admired the smooth stretch of his body for a heartbeat longer than she should have. Tearing her eyes away, she rested one hand on the wall and bent down to unbuckle her heels. It felt good to be out of them, if it was only going to be for a few minutes.

"Does your shoulder hurt at all? They're notoriously fragile as far as joints go." When Kakashi didn't speak, Sakura opened her mouth to repeat the question, then had another idea. Five seconds of insane courage. She took two steps forward and reached for Kakashi's arm, the healing glow surrounding her hands.

When Sakura touched his shoulder, Kakashi startled and jerked away. 'I'm fine," he ground out. "You don't have to—"

"Your heart is pounding," Sakura responded in awe, letting her fingers fall away from his arm. The touch had been brief, but the spike in Kakashi's pulse was obvious.

Kakashi forced a harsh breath through his nose. "You're supposed to be checking my shoulder, not my heart."

Five seconds of insane courage. "Your shoulder," Sakura repeated, trying to think over the blood roaring in her ears. Just five seconds. She reached for the straps of Kakashi's flak vest.

#My writing #Dimi Writes #Naruto #KakaSaku #Kakashi Hatake #Sakura Haruno #Mutual Pining #Don't read this at work #Smut #and fluff #There's a lot of fluff

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anerdinallherglory · 4 years

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Approaching Sun (30)

Author’s Note: Happy late Valentine’s Day! Fun note: I actually started A.S. on this very same holiday a couple years back. And I did not expect the length or plot this story has taken at allll. Again, I am sorry this is so late. I am hoping to update a LOT more this summer (only one summer class this time!) Unless I get the new job that I am hoping for (fingers crossed). But if I get this job, my free time to write will really open up for me. So it’s a win-win for this story either way.

Also, I want to especially thank these readers: adarkunicorn, softshelldefence, seafoamsands, hatakeliz, harza4925, peachop, cheese-and-biscuits, epitomeofprocrastination, tamnobela, and andreeastroe. These readers really encouraged me to keep writing this story after I was ready trash and take it off all of its publishing sites. You can thank them this story continues.

To all my reviewers, I seriously love you ALL. I am hoping I will get to a point where I can take a break from student emails and respond to each and every one of your reviews in the future. That will be my new year’s resolution this year! I am going to be better. You are all amazing and bring me so much joy and encouragement.

Pairing: SasuSaku

Previous Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

Chapter 30: A Very Dangerous Game

Sasuke hated Kaguya’s sand dimension even more than he disliked the desert that covered the vast majority of the Land of Wind. This dimension was forever hot despite that the dimension’s otherworldly moon hung low in the dark horizon, a massive orb of blinding white that mirrored the Earth’s moon in exact replica. Sasuke had always felt like the illusion was a reminder of the Otsusuki people, and that Kaguya had designed this dimension to display something that reminded her of home. To Sasuke, the dimension moons eerily reminded him of Kaguya’s pupil-less irises, always watching the spaces that existed between nothing.

Glaring at it in paranoid response, Sasuke, deprived of chakra now, walked toward it slowly and determinedly as a challenge. He would show her exactly how her dimensions were now his domains. The Uchiha decided he would walk freely here because he couldn’t do as he pleased his own world. He wanted to scream curses at that eye-like globe, demanding the Otsusuki show up and take him on now in his weakened state.

“Come on!” he screamed. “All of you! What are you waiting for? Let’s get this over with! I will find you all eventually!” He wanted it done. He wanted this over. He wanted to have a life despite his promise to be the worlds’ sacrifice for peace.

As if to taunt him, Sasuke’s shuffling feet snagged over something in the sand, and he glanced down at his feet in surprise. A ninja’s vest, half-burnt away from acid, displayed itself like a green bearing flag left behind by those who had explored a barren planet. Even though Sasuke had been the only human to ever walk here, Sakura’s old vest that Sasuke had used as a teleport connection between dimensions back when he had been trapped here, always served as a call to his more current jumps. In other words, every time Sasuke had come here over the past couple of years, no matter where he opened the portal, he would always land within a few feet of it.

In the past, he had thought of removing it because it was a painful reminder in many ways. But as he returned consistently to the same spot, Sasuke began to theorize that it had something to do with his ability to travel here. At first, Sasuke believed it was because during teleportation, his path crisscrossed into a connection that had already been created and used before—this was the most likely explanation; his chakra simply wasn’t strong enough to rip a new tear in the fabric of space and time. But as he looked at it now, Sasuke wondered if there was more to it than that. Did emotions tie him to this piece of fabric? And because Sasuke’s friends always existed somewhere in the back of his mind, did his chakra seek it out as something familiar to secure itself to before flinging him through the vacuum of nothingness?

Sasuke glared back at the moon in hatred, wondering too, if it could be just a sick part of Kaguya’s illusions, knowing that the vest had in the past and always, always would continue to stop the Uchiha in his tracks. A temptation reminding him of a different life, one that would cause him to ignore the Otsusuki. Kaguya would want that.

He sat down beside it despite how much he wanted to turn and walk away from it as he always had. This time, he let it be his beacon out of the void, drawing some sort of strength from it in his chakra-deprived state. The whole point of being this exhausted was to avoid thinking of her, but the tattered shinobi vest always pricked him with guilt, especially now when he had left her alone in Sunagakure despite his promises of partnership. It was as if the green material had a voice of its own, saying “See how far she would go for you?” And Sasuke, keeping his thoughts private from the ever-watching rock above, would think to himself “I am doing this for her, too. She will understand eventually. She will accept just how far I am willing to go for this peace we both envision. We have the same goal.”

As Sasuke thought these thoughts again, Sasuke accepted that if they couldn’t be united in love, then at the very least, they would be united in the same goal, the same vision of happiness. It comforted him ever so slightly.

He sighed as he fingered the chakra pills at his waist, guilt invading his chest and suffocating him. How could he tell her his true feelings and make her accept what he was willing to accept? How could he satisfy the both of them and do the least damage?

Sasuke exhaled and leaned back in the sand once more to sleep, sweat beading across his brow in the high temperature. He turned on his side and faced the vest in exhaustion, pretending it was her—pretending to be satisfied with this small piece of the woman he loved and would ever allow himself to dream this close to.

. . . . . . . . . . .

The blackness pervaded all of Sakura’s senses as soon as her feet hit the ground opposite the giant hole she had just created in the sand. She blinked hard, hearing the cursing and alarmed proclamations of those she had attacked. The darkness was like a leaden mist before her eyes and Sakura instinctively created the sign of “release” for genjutsu. And whether it was from her lack of chakra, or because this was a ninjutsu, Sakura’s attempts yielded zero results. The blackness remained and blinded her past several inches in front of her face. When she heard Isao’s shout for her, she had no choice but to dart forward blindly, determined to reach him before someone else did.

“Let go of me!” the child screamed, his pursuer unfortunately catching up with him. Sakura navigated through the pillars of sand-dripping earth that now projected themselves in the air around her. With hands outstretched, she cursed herself. The blow had meant to disorient her opponents and it had, but this damn thickening darkness made it difficult to move forward through the landscape of her own destruction. Thankfully, the waterfalling crumble of sand masked her rushed footfalls.

The kunoichi drew upon her chakra once more, but it came as slowly as before, the medicine still lingering in her system with its toxic chakra clotting effects. Sakura moved hurriedly ahead, hoping that she wasn’t the only one choked with darkness.

Isao’s curses came and Sakura finally rounded a huge boulder to find herself facing the back of the thug’s head. He had his massive hands around the child’s throat, weapon tossed aside in favor of a crueler death to the victim that had caused him so much trouble. Despite his struggle for his life, Isao made eye contact with her the moment they were close enough to see each other. His attacker saw recognition register in the boy’s eyes and spun to face her. But it was too late. Sakura’s kunai was slicing the gray flesh of his throat before he even had time to see her, a final blow that had been delayed from earlier, but determined by fate to be his cause of death. The brutish ninja dropped to the ground instantly and Sakura justified the blood that pooled freely at her feet by remembering his cruel actions to the child that struggled to catch his breath before her.

Sakura picked up the abandoned weapon, the weight unfamiliar in her hands. The sound of the man’s death had betrayed her position, and the footsteps of his companions crunched closer to her location. Terrified, Sakura clutched the child, pushing him behind the jagged column of rock behind her.

“Isao,” she pleaded in a whisper. “You have to make a run for it.”

“I won’t leave you,” he declared, determined to fight to his death for her.

“The only thing you can do for me now is to go get help,” she said honestly. It was a half-truth. There were only a few realities before them, and Isao making it back to the village and bringing help was not likely due to how much time it would take. But Sakura was desperate to remove the brave child from the scenario. She cared too much to let him sacrifice himself for her.

“Miss—” he protested, but Sakura propelled him forward in the blinding darkness, an enemy’s footsteps rounding the earth that cloaked him. It was too late to argue, and Sakura turned to face the phantom-man who stepped toward her in visibility, shadows curling around him as he cleared a path through the inky mist.

Sakura faced him squarely, taking a defensive stance and raising the wicked katana with her sharper green eyes, sending a stare to him along the metal’s surface. The shadow-wielding ninja smirked and the rest of his crew appeared beside him.

“Go!” she screamed in final command at the child whose feet took off into the black at her back.

Sakura brandished the sword in confident threat at her attackers, herself serving as the shield between herself and Isao; they wouldn’t move an inch in pursuit of his direction if she had anything to do with it. Sakura had never wielded a sword before, but in the absence of chakra, she would become a master at it in this moment. Sakura was a kunoichi, a medic, a chakra control master, the pupil of a legendary Sanin, a rising legend herself, and today, she would add something else to her list. Scratch that. She would two things tonight: she would eradicate this new movement of anti-peace revolutionaries, and she would do it at disadvantage with the weapon of her enemy.

. . . . . . . .

As Isao ran, he clutched his side in pain, a sharp stab in his waist. The man who Sakura had killed moments before must have broken one of his ribs as he crushed Isao to the ground. At first, the young ninja pitched forward in blackness, half-debating to turn back to help the pink-haired ninja. But Isao knew the truth. He had been foolish to pursue her and her kidnappers alone and he cursed himself for his rash decisions in his fear of losing sight of them; he should have told someone else even if he lost their trail. Any of them, anyone at allwould have been better help to Miss Haruno than he had been.

Isao’s bravery amounted to nothing and it was evident in every piercing word from the medic kunoichi: The only thing you can do for me now is to go get help … Isao let the command fuel him forward despite the pain, until the night faded into morning hours later and the mighty walls of the Sand Village came into view.

He didn’t know how much time had passed and he didn’t wait to scream for help. The Kazekage was not in the village—he had overheard that much. Neither was the teammate that traveled with Miss Haruno. He yelled the only name he could think of, the name his heart still cried out to despite how much he hated him. The roaring sand shrouded his cries, and the prison walls would buffer it completely, but Isao begged to the air, shouting over and over, “FATHER! HELP ME!”

. . . . . . . .

The taste of the chakra pill was bitter, smoky and acrid. The Uchiha almost gagged trying to swallow it down, and he silently confirmed that Sai had been right—although Sasuke hated to agree with anything his entitled replacement said. What had he called them? Mudballs? Despite the accurate term, Sasuke feared his kunoichi companion more than he hated the taste, so he would keep the complaint to himself.

The pill pooled in his stomach and Sasuke took a breath, focusing on the ignition starting in his core. The rush of power was exhilarating as it topped off his chakra supply, overflowing visibly in a blue-purple halo around him. It sizzled along his skin and Sasuke grinned wickedly as a spiraling vortex appeared before him, much larger than any he had been able to create on his own before.

This was it! It was working! He pushed beyond the core dimension easily, his ready supply of chakra speedily fueling the tunnel between the void, but it ate and ate away at his energy and the color disappeared from his skin. Running off his own meager supply now, Sasuke exhaled and grinded his teeth in concentration. Finally, the connection was made and Sasuke threw himself through it.

He landed roughly, skidding to a halt, and he was ironically thankful for once for the Land of Wind’s high volume of sand. Sasuke found himself smirking up at the lightening sky as he recovered, because this was his first victory in a long struggle of jumping dimensions. To the Uchiha, it was proof that he was doing exactly what he was meant to do: beat Kaguya and the Otsusuki clan at their own game in their own territory. Giddy in his success, Sasuke used the last of his dwindling energy to rise to his feet, his thoughts immediately turning to the woman who had helped make this all possible—he hadn’t achieved this on his own; Sakura deserved the credit. And it was the first time that Sasuke could admit that he needed someone else’s help in his goal.

The dark walls of Sunagakure cut the bright morning horizon in half and Sasuke’s gut twisted in a combination of emptiness and guilt at the thought of returning to Sunagakure to face his friend after their… kiss. Sasuke was torn between finding her immediately to tell her that their plan had worked, pretending the kiss never happened in typical Uchiha fashion. But the time he had stolen away from her “to think” brought him to only one conclusion: he needed to apologize—again—and at least explain why. He had made her a promise to be a partner that depended on each other, and here Sakura was continuing to keep that promise, while Sasuke stole moments of happiness and bailed when he had to face the consequences. Suddenly remembering their sunset conversation the last time he had returned after leaving, Sasuke felt a fresh stab to his consciousness as he recalled her statement: “a part of partnership is communication.”

Sasuke slowly made his way toward the village gates. When he passed through the canyon-like entrance, people greeted him with “good mornings” while others stared openly at him. Their gazes were a little different, warmer, and Sasuke wondered if his teammate’s influence in the hospital had something to do with his newreception in Sunagakure now.

Feeling even more ashamed, Sasuke resolved himself for his female companion’s wrath and made a straight line for the hospital.

When he entered the hospital’s double doors, Sasuke came upon a scene that made his stomach drop into his feet. Kankuro, who was haggard from exhaustion, and had apparently returned sometime in the night, was fisting the collar of a hospital staff member.

“What do you mean they’re not here?” he bristled. “If she’s not in her rooms, then she should be here. Where’s Mako? Where’s the kid?”

“I don’t know sir,” came the panicked response from the employee, terrified to be facing the Kazekage’s right-hand man. “I’m sure they’re in the village somewhere.”

Hearing those words had Sasuke acting before thinking and the Uchiha rushed forward to fist the shirt of the same medic. “Are you talking about Sakura?” His eyes darted between the both of them and Kankuro’s grip released from the startled staff’s shirt in the same moment he shoved Sasuke’s own hand away.

“Where the hell have you been?” Kankuro accused icily, and a fire Sasuke didn’t even know he had left in him, surged from his throat in anger.

“What the hell is happening?” he demanded, taking another step toward the puppet wielder.

Kankuro pinched his nose in frustration, then beheld him in shock. “You mean Sakura isn’t with you?”

Sasuke eyes widened in immediate response, an answer refusing to form on his lips. Instead, he shouted, “You don’t know where she is?!”

Kankuro frowned deeper at his sudden animosity. “She hasn’t been seen since yesterday morning,” he explained quickly. “The innkeeper said she never came back to the inn. Mako, another medic, and Sakura’s young patient are missing too.”

Sasuke didn’t wait for any further explanation before he began sprinting up the stairs to the second floor of the hospital, the filter for his behavior now completely removed. Let everyone think what they want! That bastard! When Sasuke got ahold of Mako, he wasn’t sure what he would do. Sasuke’s feet were unusually heavy and his breath labored as he continued climbing to the third floor toward the medicine preparation room they had occupied together only recently.

“Sakura?!” He kicked open the door and furiously searched the vacant room with his eyes. After seeing no one, Sasuke stared at the empty couch where they had sat so close to one another the night before last. As if his memory of her there could recall her, Sasuke gazed openly at it, breathing hard.

Having followed the Uchiha, Kankuro appeared in the door behind him. “We’ve already checked the hospital. She isn’t here. We need to check the rest of the village, quickly!”

She couldn’t be missing. Was she really with that assistant of hers or that child? Were they off somewhere else doing something medical, or were they truly missing? Shit. Shit. Shit.

He turned on Kankuro in his unnerved rage. Sasuke wanted to demand where they had been, he and the Kazekage, but Sasuke remembered that Sakura had told him that they were investigating trouble near the border. He cursed himself again for being selfish and leaving her here alone.

As if reading his thoughts, Kankuro explained, “I was sent back by the Kazekage in the night. He is handling a situation regarding the ninja Sakura said ambushed you both in Tanigakure. The incidents were apparently related.”

“What do you mean?” Sasuke suddenly asked, a deep and cutting sensation coming over Sasuke that he hadn’t felt in a very, very long time: fear.

Kankuro looked down and away from him, debating on how much to reveal. “With some unmentionable methods, we were finally able to find out who their target was,” he finally informed with a sigh. His eyes rose to meet Sasuke’s and the Uchiha saw the same raw fear mirrored in Kankuro’s eyes. “It’s Sakura.”

At the very moment that Sasuke’s knees felt like collapsing beneath his weight, the same staff member that the two ninja had threatened seconds before, came running into the room, panting heavily from having hiked the floors.

“Come quickly,” he urged between breaths, turning immediately to run back down the steps. “Isao has returned.”

Kankuro made eye contact with the Uchiha before they both bolted back down the stairs, taking two and three steps at time. Sasuke cursed his lack of chakra that kept him from just teleporting downstairs.

Sitting in a chair, the child clutched his side. Sasuke noticed that he kept trying to rise, but the staff held him down as they tried to bandage a wound on his arm. Deep purple finger marks circled around the child’s neck like a collar.

“Not me! Her! Go find her, please!” he shouted as he struggled against them.

“Calm down boy,” a woman medic urged. “We have to staunch the flow of blood from your arm.” The child looked at his wound as if he didn’t even know it had been there.

When Isao caught sight of Sasuke and Kankuro, he started to cry. “HELP! Please help!” he shouted, and they quickly moved to hover over the child. Kankuro suddenly kneeled before him, taking the gauze from the medic and wrapped the child’s arm himself as he questioned.

“Speak kid,” Kankuro urged, “What is going on?”

“Miss Haruno,” he choked between tears. “She’s still out there! Please, we have to go!”

Before Kankuro could ask the child why, Sasuke did something appalling, an act that Sakura would be disappointed in him for. His sharingan flashed bright, soaking up the last of his chakra like a sponge, and he caught the panicked child’s stare in his own crimson and purple one.

Just as he had to Isao’s father, Sasuke stepped into the child’s memories. Isao’s recollections were almost too overwhelming for Sasuke to handle at the moment, each image dripping with the fear in which young ones saw the ninja world. There was also bravery in them and familial concern for the pink-haired kunoichi. Sasuke skipped through the memories like speeding up a film, an act that made his head throb in pain. He didn’t care about his own state at the moment though, seeking the green-eyed face of the woman he had come to love.

There. Isao’s most recent memory Sakura was of her telling him “to go get help.” Sasuke didn’t have time to go back further and he let the memories play out from that point, mapping the child’s nighttime desert sprint, hours long, from the empty desert back to the gates of the village.

Not needing to explore the child’s mind further, he released Isao and they both gasped. Sasuke clutched his eye, ignoring the angry glare on Kankuro’s face. He didn’t care about Kankuro’s morals or even the child’s shocked state at that moment. There was only one thing he cared about. He would let the child explain the details to Kankuro; Sasuke didn’t have the time to explain things to Kankuro. Instead, the Uchiha did the unthinkable, playing the very dangerous game of popping another chakra pill into his mouth as he sprinted out the hospital doors.

#approaching sun #approachingsun #sasusaku #Happy Valentine's Day #Sakura Haruno #sasuke and sakura #ssfanfiction #sasusakufanfiction #Sasuke Uchiha #sasukeshinden #sasuke shinden #sakura hiden #naruto fanfiction #narutolightnovels

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catflorist · 4 years

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The Time Being (ao3 / ffn) catflorist Summary: Time-slipping is a side effect of wielding the Rinnegan. When Sasuke slips through time, he always goes to Sakura, whether he wants to or not. 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8

pt 4: choice

Sasuke’s teammates followed him into the ranks of the Akatsuki and into the Land of Lightning.

Halfway to their destination, Sasuke woke up in the middle of the night with a jolt. Karin, keeping guard, asked, “Who’s Sakura?” Sasuke was very awake. Karin continued in a quiet whisper, “You were saying her name in your sleep.”

Sakura was everywhere, infiltrating his thoughts and dreams, disrupting his movement through time. Sasuke exhaled. He did not trust himself to lie. “She was my old teammate.” “I see,” Karin said. She sprang, “Are you sure this all is what you want? Don’t you want to rest now?” “I would if you stopped talking,” he said, scowling. He rolled over. Karin chuckled. Sasuke’s irritability no longer bothered her. He didn’t sleep. He thought about the Sakura he had met in a pink dress, letting him glimpse a rebuilt Konoha outside her window. Sasuke searched within his deep pocket, fingers closing around the pebble from Sakura’s beach. He pressed its gentle weight against the center of his palm.

For the first time, he wanted to slip. He wanted to see her. To ask why, if he was the one destroying the village, she did not hate him. Why instead, she healed him, showed him her child, and offered him a blanket.

He stayed put. . . “Sasuke!” Karin cried. “Are you okay?” The battle with the eight-tails was not going well. Jugo had plugged the gaping cavity in his chest, but Sasuke still could not breathe. Karin rolled up her sleeve. Sasuke bit down on her forearm, adding his mark to the collection of teeth-shaped scars on her skin. Karin’s chakra burned through him like electricity, shocking his limbs awake. Sasuke’s lungs jumped back into commission. He gulped oxygen with ragged breaths. After the battle, they trekked to a sheltered spot and collapsed on the ground without bothering to unfurl their bedrolls. Sasuke woke up in the middle of the night with one hand clutching his ribs, confirming his body was still whole. His teammates breathed softly next to him in a tangle of dark robes, travel packs, and weapons. Sasuke blinked hard. For a moment, he thought he had slipped again, back to his genin days, to one of the countless nights spent sleeping within arm’s reach of Naruto and Sakura.

His head rushed with vertigo. Sasuke stood up in a small living room smelling faintly of lavender. There was the couch where Sakura had healed him. There was the bookshelf, the shelves more packed than Sasuke’s last visit. Outside Sakura’s window, the new Konoha was peaceful in the moonlight. The village would go on, no matter who destroyed it and why. Wooden floorboards creaked. “Was it me?” he asked. “Was I the one destroying Konoha?” Sakura was bare-legged, with sleep-mussed hair, securing the tie of a thin robe around her waist.

“Which Sasuke are you?” she murmured. Sasuke drew his cloak around his shoulders, revealing the Akatsuki clouds. Voice hoarse, he said, “I learned the Konoha council was behind my clan’s massacre.”

It was his first time uttering the words aloud. Whenever he tried to share the truth with Taka, his throat closed. He wondered how his teammates still followed him when he could not explain the reason why they were risking their lives. Sakura hugged her torso. In the dark, her eyes shone. “It’s true, then,” Sasuke reasoned. Sakura wouldn’t be looking at him that way if it wasn’t true. “It’s true,” she echoed, in a whisper. “You’re certain?” “I broke into the council’s files to be sure. But you told me yourself, years ago.” A part of Sasuke had suspected, even hoped, that Madara had lied. But Sakura would not lie to him. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “Tell me what will happen.” Sakura remained silent. Sasuke broke. He pleaded, “Please, Sakura. I need to know. What should I do now?”

“You have a choice to make,” she said, joining him by the windowsill. “What’s important to you? What do you want to fight for?”

Sasuke gazed out at Sakura’s street. Did anything change when the village rebuilt? Or beneath the colorful paint, maybe it the same ugly place, where councilmembers discussed genocide behind closed doors. “Do you want some tea?” Sakura asked. “You always ask me that,” he muttered. She smiled. “Do I?” Sasuke didn’t protest as she vanished into the kitchen and set the kettle to boil. They sipped their tea on Sakura’s couch. She sat on his left like she used to.

Holding an empty cup, Sasuke’s thoughts flowed freely. “Itachi gave his life for Konoha. I don’t want his sacrifice to be for nothing,” he said. “But the village doesn’t deserve him.” “Do you think Konoha could be a place worth Itachi’s sacrifice?” “I don’t know,” Sasuke said honestly. “What do you think?” Sakura’s hand was hovering over his shoulder. Sasuke leaned into her touch, because he needed it. Because it was her. It was no use putting up a front. She had accompanied him through more vulnerable moments than this. When Orochimaru bit the cursed mark into his skin. That night on the only road leaving the village. On the beach after his nightmare. After Itachi’s death. Somehow it was always her.

“I don’t know,” she said. “Maybe we can find out together.” She stroked his back. At some point, Sasuke’s head dropped back to rest against the cushion. Her hand settled over his, fingers brushing the bone of his wrist. Time slowed, and his eyes fell shut. When Sasuke opened his eyes again, early morning dew quivered upon his hair and clothing. His head was clear, his body well-rested. Karin, Suigetsu, and Jugo were clustered around a small fire. Steam rose from cups of tea in their hands. “Hey,” Karin said. The flames lit her face in red glow. “Feel better?” Sasuke sat beside the fire and pulled his cloak up to his chin. It was time they knew.

“Madara told me something,” he began.

Staring into the fire, he told his teammates everything. He did not look up to see their faces. Their silence told it all. When he was done, Jugo removed his own cloak and draped it over Sasuke’s shoulders. Karin poured him tea.

“So,” Suigetsu said, pushing over his portion of breakfast. “This is why you want to tear down your village.” Sasuke closed his eyes. “That’s not what I want anymore.” “What do you want?” Karin asked.

In the distance, waves crashed. This land was colder and harsher than Sakura’s beach. Yet feeling the warmth of the cup, smelling the sea in the air, Sasuke thought she might appear around the bend, carrying a bucket of mussels or a blanket.

“I want to honor Itachi,” Sasuke said. “I’ll protect the village. But it needs to change, first.”

They discussed how to tear down and rebuild a village without touching its physical form. They made a new plan. It was straightforward: destabilize the council, the source of corruption in Konoha, by threatening, expelling, or killing its members. It was criminal, but they were already criminals.

When it was all decided, Sasuke said, “Let’s go.” “Eat something first,” Karin insisted. “And finish your tea.” He ate something. He finished his tea. . . When they felt the shockwaves of Pain’s attack on the village, the hairs prickled on the back of Sasuke’s neck. Somewhere out there, he was meeting Sakura, and she was destroying a piece of Konoha herself to keep him from harm’s way. Jugo tilted his head in sympathy. “Someone stole your old idea.” “it will rebuild,” Sasuke said. “Our plan doesn’t change. Now’s the perfect time.” Through the Akatsuki network, they heard word of the Five Kage Summit. Danzo, the mastermind of the Konoha council, and acting Hokage of Konoha, would attend. Taking out Danzo was the perfect way to set their plan in action. They traveled across the land towards Snow. One night, Sasuke said to Karin, “I want to teach you something.” He had a certain technique in mind. After feeling the current of Karin’s chakra when she healed him, Sasuke knew she would take well to it. . . They were on a bridge and Danzo held Karin’s body as a shield between himself and Sasuke. Danzo tightened his grip around Karin’s neck, testing how hard he would have to press for it to snap. “You will yield. Unless you want your teammate to die.” A whimper escaped her. Sasuke bared his teeth. “Karin,” he urged.

Karin stretched back and pressed her hand to the side of Danzo’s neck. A thin blue arc of electricity erupted from her palm. His hold on her slackened. Karin knocked his arms away and blasted another strike of the chidori into his stomach. Danzo fell, his body twitching. The chirp of the chidori faded. “He’s yours,” Karin gasped, dropping to her knees. Sasuke plunged his blade through Danzo’s heart, pinning him to the dust and stone beneath. He supposed this was vengeance, but there was no thrill. His clan was still gone. Less straightforward and more difficult work lay ahead. Karin shifted to avoid the slick path of Danzo’s blood. She rubbed her neck, old tears leaking from the corners of her eyes. “Are you all right?” Sasuke asked, kneeling beside her. “I’m fine,” she said. “Thanks for teaching me your trick.” A quiet, wet cough escaped Danzo. Their gazes snapped up. “Take the sword out,” Karin advised. “He’ll die faster.” . . The war broke out soon after Danzo’s death. Kabuto’s reanimation jutsu raised the dead. Sasuke and Itachi met and fought together again. Deep within a dark cave, they defeated Kabuto, ensnaring him within Itachi’s looping genjutsu. Outside in the daylight, Sasuke faced his brother. “I know the truth.” An unearthly shaft of light illuminated Itachi’s form. It emanated from a different sun than the one warming Sasuke’s face. Itachi blinked his Sharingan away. His dark eyes were soft, waiting for Sasuke’s verdict. “I will never forgive Konoha the way it currently exists.” Sasuke breathed in. “So I’m going to change everything.” Shadows teased the angles and grooves of his brother’s face. “You don’t need to do anything at all,” Itachi said. “It’s alright if you want to rest.” A lump grew in Sasuke’s throat. Itachi held the back of Sasuke’s head and pressed their foreheads together. His spectral flesh trembled with energy, like the beating of a bird’s wings, like a thought fluttering from Sasuke’s mind. “Whatever you do, I will love you always.” His brother dissolved into the still blue sky. . . Taka was a day’s journey to the battlefield, the site of the Third Great Shinobi War. They set up camp and Sasuke settled into his bedroll. When he slipped, it was gentle, like falling asleep.

He was in a dark bedroom. A Sakura of his own age rolled over in her bed, and sat up. “Which Sasuke are you?” she asked. He sat on the edge of her bed. “I met Itachi again. The war is starting.” “Ah,” Sakura said. Her bare leg pressed against his as she settled next to him. “Which Sakura are you?” “The war is over for me,” she said. “About a year now.” “I’m going to fight with you,” Sasuke said. What better way to protect the village? Sakura smiled. “I know.”

Sasuke stretched out a hand and paused a hair’s breadth apart from her cheek. Sakura turned her head so his fingertips brushed her skin. Now that they were touching, Sasuke couldn’t stop himself. He touched the mark on her forehead, the one he still didn’t know about, and traced down her jaw, her collarbone. “Why is it always you?” he wondered, though he was starting to understand. She covered his hand with hers. “Your hand is cold,” she murmured, lips parting.

Sasuke couldn’t wait any longer to kiss her. He touched his lips to hers. It occurred to him that maybe he should have waited for the Sakura that occupied the same time and space as him. But this Sakura sighed, and opened her mouth against his, and his mind emptied. The soft movement of their lips made his stomach lurch, like he was falling. Afraid he would slip away, he clutched Sakura tighter, urging time to still and keep him here a little longer.

Sakura pulled away, a silent stream of tears wetting her cheeks. “What’s wrong?” Sasuke whispered. “I miss you,” she said.

“Don’t.” Sasuke brushed the tears away. His hand lingered, cradling her face. “I’ll be with you soon.”

He felt a pang of irritation considering his future self. Why wasn’t he here, comforting her? Where else would he be?

Sakura pulled him into a tight embrace. Her body was still warm from sleep. Sasuke’s lips grazed the skin of her throat.

Sasuke jolted upright in his bedroll. In the dark, he touched his fingers to his mouth, and breathed.

It was not long before he saw Sakura again in his own time. . . When Sasuke received the Rinnegan, he slipped. For the first time, he did not see Sakura. He met someone else.

“You’re not Sakura,” he observed.

“No,” the young woman said, “I’m not.”

He was in Konoha, but not the Konoha he knew. . . . .

Up next: We'll see what Sakura has been up to this whole time.

Notes: The next (and remaining) four chapters will be from Sakura's perspective. Thank you so much for reading and following this fic! Every bit of feedback means so much to me. I read your comments aloud to my partner...

#sasusaku #sasusaku fanfiction #sasusaku fanfic #ss fic #ss #my ss #my fic #the time being

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saki-chan16 · 3 years

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Empty Bottles - Chapter 1 (the rest)

Here's the rest of chapter 1 of Empty Bottles! I hope you enjoy ~

CW: Self-harm implications, parental abuse, anxiety

Pale green eyes stare at a form she doesn’t recognize.

Papa was angrier than usual.

The night prior, Sakura had been subjected to a punishment because of her low physical exam scores. When she had gotten the sheet from Iruka-sensei and saw the number, her face paled. Sakura knew what her parents were going to say. She knew they wouldn’t be happy. She knew she would be punished.

It didn’t stop her from going home.

Sakura had been correct; she had been treated to a vicious punishment. Her Papa made sure to cover her stomach and back in crimson, plum, and coal. The cuts were deep enough to need bandages, but not stitches. Last night, her Papa drew lightning into her. He made sure to stomp, punch, and wale first though – a ‘prep for what’s to come’ as he would say.

Her thin fingers trail the marks on her stomach. A faint apple glow coating her fingers as she went. They closed the wounds while leaving raised pink in their wake, a twisted sort of road map. Sakura looks up and catches her pale eyes once more, unsure of who is looking back at her.

The dull pink strands cling to her person like a second skin. Her parents won’t buy her real shampoo and conditioner, they give her a strawberry scented dog two-in-one because it’s “cheaper” and they don’t want to spend the extra cash.

Her once hopeful and lively eyes are the equivalent of a corpse now. From a bright apple to a dull emerald, they don’t shine anymore.

Her pale skin is a reminder that she doesn’t get to be outside like other kids her age. When other students leave for the day and run around the park or their homes, Sakura is sequestered into her home and held captive. The place she should want to return to is her own hell.

Sakura can almost forgive the stranger in the mirror. She can tell the stranger is surviving, and she was proud of that survival until today. Besides her usual badges of honor, Sakura looks at her betrayal. They are leaking slowly, drops of scarlet falling to the tile below. Her lines are precise, careful. One for each year of her captivity.

“Happy 12th Birthday to me.”

. . & . .

By the time Sakura graduates the academy, she and Iruka are aggravated.

Iruka has spent the last two years trying to figure out his student to the best of his ability. It became much harder to do so once his adoption of Naruto went through. He couldn’t focus on the seemingly abused girl when he had an abused orphan who needed his attention.

Sakura spent the last two years avoiding her sensei. It didn’t take her long to realize Iruka was paying too close attention to her. The attention had caused a panic attack or five and she worries he’s getting close to the truth. Sakura isn’t sure what he would do if he found out the truth; she’s more worried about what will happen to her though. If Mama and Papa found out their secret was out…shudders wrack Sakura’s small frame.

That’s why she’s slightly relieved when the man shifts his focus from her to the loud mouthed blonde in the class. She had felt his indecision, his want to keep up with his routine, but Naruto proved to need more work.

It’s alright; Mama always says no one would believe me anyway. And if they did, they’d be ‘dealt with’ quickly.

Things look up.

Until:

“Team 7,” Iruka calls out, “Uzumaki, Naruto. Uchiha, Sasuke. Haruno, Sakura.”

Sakura POV

What did I do to deserve this?

I clench my fists as tightly as possible. Small pools gather between my fingers before I let go. My heart is hammering against my ribs. It feels as though Papa is giving me one of his punishments, but there isn’t anyone in front of me. Swiveling my neck, I notice that Iruka has called all the teams.

The Uchiha run the police force – Mama and Papa aren’t going to like this.

“You guys take lunch. After, you’ll be meeting your Jounin sensei. Dismissed!”

As usual, everyone leaves the classroom. Some stick with their normal cliques and others who are braver approach their new teammates, asking to eat together.

I know better than to try that. Sasuke, like every good clan kid, only associates with other clan kids. It isn’t too hard to do in our class – most of them are clan kids with a few exceptions like myself. But even so, Sasuke only has eyes for his older brother and cousin when it comes to really spending time with other people. The only exception for our age group is Naruto. I don’t doubt that he went outside to eat, hopeful that his brother would be out there waiting to eat with him. Naruto has Iruka. They go to the teachers’ lounge together and eat lunch every day. Once Iruka adopted Naruto, he took it upon himself to tutor Naruto during lunch.

It’s hard for me to admit, but with Iruka’s extra lessons and tutelage, Naruto grew leaps and bounds. He still pulls pranks and acts a bit immature, but he stopped failing and improved as the years went by. His smiles are more genuine and he started making friends. He even stars as half of the most well-known rivalry in the Leaf – him and Sasuke.

My teammates have people who support them. They know each other well and are leaps and bounds ahead of me. I don’t understand how I ended up on this team besides to become the spare wheel. A clan heir (the spare) and a boy who houses an almost endless red chakra stuck with a pathetic civilian.

How fitting.

. ~ . ~ . ~ .

Our Jounin sensei seems…interesting.

His name is Hatake, Kakashi. I’ve seen his face in Mama and Papa’s bingo book. With gravity defying silver hair and a mysterious persona, I’m not quite sure what to make of him. He keeps smiling at us, but I can tell it isn’t genuine. They’re smiles like the ones I give Iruka-sensei when he asks if I’m doing okay.

Kakashi-sensei must be hurting.

“Why don’t you introduce yourselves to me?” he suggests.

“Why don’t you introduce yourself first sensei,” Naruto says, “so we can see how it’s done!”

The Jounin seems to think over Naruto’s request for a moment before he concedes.

“Alright,” he starts, “my name is Hatake, Kakashi. I like many things, and dislike about twice that amount. I don’t have any dreams, and hobbies…well, you wouldn’t be interested.” He ends with an eye crinkle smile, even though he’s obviously smug about his answers. “You go first, blondie.”

Naruto and Sasuke both huff for a moment before Naruto goes.

“My name is Uzumaki, Naruto! I love ramen and my adopted dad. I dislike waiting for instant ramen to warm and mean people. My dream is to become Hokage like Jiji!”

That’s a nice dream.

Kakashi-sensei nods at Naruto before turning to Sasuke next.

Oh no, that means I’ll be next.

“My name is Uchiha, Sasuke. I like training and learning my clans’ techniques. I dislike wasting time that could be spent training. My dream is to be strong.”

Kakashi takes his answer in stride, something like ‘expected’ radiating from his person; he must know something Sasuke hasn’t explicitly said out loud. Then he turns his single eye my way.

I slide my eyes down to his chin, keeping away from that eye that seems to see through people. I don’t have to look at Sasuke and Naruto to know they’re looking at me – I can feel their eyes. I’m sure they’re curious as to what I’ll say seeing as I rarely spoke in class. I wouldn’t be surprised if Sasuke doesn’t even know what my voice sounds like.

My heartbeat picks up again as I feel their eyes on me.

They shouldn’t be looking at me, I’m nothing.

They don’t stop.

“M-My name is Haruno, Sakura,” I manage to say. My voice is horse even to my own ears, so I try to clear my throat before I continue, “I don’t have many likes.”

Suspicious.

“I dislike…people.”

You’re fucking blowing it.

“And my dream…my dream is….”

To survive

To make it all stop.

To make it to my next birthday.

Not to die.

Make Mama and Papa happy.

Get out of my home.

To live.

“My dream is to make my parents proud.”

I can feel a piece of me shrivel and die with that lie.

#fanfiction #naruto fanfiction #fanfic #sakura centric #CW self harm #CW abuse #now we're getting into it #it'll get better #but first #let me hurt your feelings #sakura haruno

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kumeko · 4 years

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A/N: For the @fewriterszine! I have so many things I want to write for post canon, ahhhh. My partner cebrys_ @ twitter/instagram drew an amazing piece to go with it!

…

Victories weren’t supposed to feel hollow. They were supposed to fill Corrin with pride, like when she landed a strike on Xander during training, or the rare times she beat Leo in chess. They were supposed to fill her with joy, like when she won one of Elise’s parlor games or snuck up on Camilla. There were many feelings that came with victory, but none of them were supposed to be negative.

Yet, as Corrin stood in front of the Nohr throne, her sword hilt deep in the man she’d once called father, all she could feel was emptiness. His wrinkled hand gripped the blade, the metal cutting into his hand until blood slowly dripped down the edge. Garon looked at the blade, then at her.

“You,” he breathed.

Corrin didn’t say anything. She stared at him, though she knew he couldn’t see her back. His sight was gone now, his hearing too most likely. Blood dripped down his lips as he gurgled his last breath.

“We did it!” Hinoka yelled from the center of the throne room, her voice echoing through the vast hall.

So focused had she been on Garon, Corrin had almost forgotten that she wasn’t alone. Around her, various soldiers cheered, victory finally at hand. Despite her booming voice, Hinoka leaned against her lance tiredly, no doubt done with all the fighting.

Armour clanked as Ryoma climbed the steps to the throne. Corrin watched as her brother slowly approached her, as his heavy hand rested on her shoulder. The touch burned. Xander used to squeeze her like that.

“Good job,” Ryoma praised, his stern expression softening as he smiled. “We couldn’t have done this without you.”

Still, she said nothing. Behind her, her kidnapper dissolved into water, his life finally gone. Xander would have inherited the throne next. This hall would have been decorated with the fanciest flowers Elise could convince their older brother to buy. Camilla would have picked their outfits for the coronation and Leo would have rolled his eyes at the spectacle of it all.

None of that could happen anymore. Corrin looked around, at where Sakura was healing the wounded, where Takumi was helping Azura stand, where the Hoshido soldiers were clapping each other on the back. Camilla and Leo were nowhere in sight.

She didn’t know if she should be relieved or cry about that.

-x-

Corrin stared at the Nohr Royal Castle. In the night, she couldn’t see it all that well, the torches barely outlining its shape, but she’d observed it long enough to memorize the half-mast flags. The interior was no doubt covered in black. Xander’s and Elise’s bodies had to have been moved by now, their clothes prepared for a public viewing before the state funeral.

“Couldn’t sleep?” Ryoma asked, sitting down next to her. The log next to the firepit was barely wide enough to fit them both, especially with his imposing frame.

Corrin tore her eyes away from the castle and back down to the tent city around them. The Hoshidan army was still camped outside the castle gates, gathering provisions slowly before the long march home. She still hadn’t figured out if she would join them. She still didn’t know if she could stay here.

“No, I…” Corrin trailed off before rubbing her arm. “Azura…I should have stopped her from singing.”

Even now, she could feel Azura’s hand in hers, hear her weak voice. They had barely celebrated Garon’s death before Azura had collapsed, her body disappearing like dew in the morning. Corrin curled her hand and closed her eyes. “We should have found a way to win without her powers.”

“Maybe. Azura is—was very stubborn about helping others. Even over herself.” Ryoma gave her a weak smile. His voice cracked slightly, but somehow stayed strong. He reached out, squeezing her shoulder. “She would have sung either way, if only to save us from getting hurt.”

“This hurts more than a cut would,” Corrin mumbled, resting a hand on his as she soaked in his comfort.

The fire flickered, shadows dancing across Ryoma’s face. Without his armour, he didn’t look as imposing as he normally did. He looked like a man, not a king, not a warrior. “It does.”

Xander had looked like that too, when he had tea with her, and Corrin swallowed the lump in her throat. “I should have tried.” She was proud how her voice didn’t crack. “She should be here with us.”

Instead, she had disappeared like the rain, not even leaving her pendant behind for Corrin to remember her by. All that was left was a memory to mourn and Corrin wasn’t sure if it was easier that way, if having no body was better than having one. As it was, her siblings were taking it hard. Hinoka looked small, frail, and Takumi radiated regret with every step. Corrin had watched as they’d comfort one another, their hugs barely keeping the tears at bay.

It took all four of them to handle Azura’s death. Corrin looked up at the castle again. Just what hope did Camilla and Leo have with two?

-x-

Corrin stood in the grand hall, an anxious ball of nerves. This room had always been imposing, all dark corners and large swathes of shadows. The pillars are a cold grey, the décor menacing. It had been less than a week since the war ended and if she looked, she could see the blood stains on the ground, barely scrubbed away.

When they’d snuck into the palace, they hadn’t gone through this room. For that, Corrin was glad, it was hard enough to breathe in here as it was. She could still see Iago and Garon at the top of the stairs, all cruel words and cold eyes as they told her to kill the prisoners. Corrin’s heart constricted, a helpless and trapped sensation flooding through her.

After all that happened, it could be Camilla and Leo standing there next, accusing her of war crimes. Around her, she heard the guards’ whispers and felt their angry stares. She was the traitor princess, after all. After killing Xander and Elise, she shouldn’t be here at all.

“It’s okay, milady.” A warm hand slipped into hers, jerking her out of her thoughts. Corrin looked to her right. Jakob offered her a reassuring smile as his fingers interlaced with hers. His grip was firm.

“Jakob.” Corrin tried to smile back. Her chest still felt tight.

“They’ll meet you.” Jakob lowered his eyes slightly. “They adore you.”

Corrin almost laughed. “After all I’ve done? I rejected their hands so many times, waged war against their country, killed Xander and Elise—”

“You didn’t kill them,” Jakob interrupted in a rare burst of anger. His jaw clenched, the way it would whenever he’d reprimanded her for being too reckless. “Pride and stubbornness killed Xander. Ideals without the strength to uphold them killed Elise.”

“Jakob!” Corrin hissed, yanking her hand out his. “They—”

“I mean no disrespect with that,” Jakob replied, cutting her off once more. “Just the truth. It is a tragedy what happened, but it is no more your fault than theirs.”

Corrin glared at him. “And if I hadn’t attacked Nohr?”

“Then Garon would have conquered Hoshido and the world would have been worse off for it,” Jakob replied quietly, his anger dissipating. Now he only looked sad. “Xander and Elise would have been no safer in that world than they were in this one.”

Corrin opened her mouth, ready to argue, but what could she say in response to that? He was right. It was a harsh truth, but he was right. Garon hadn’t seen them as more than pawns, and he would have disposed of Xander and Elise the second they weren’t needed. Camilla and Leo would have died too. At least they were alive here. She pursed her lips, her hand curling into a fist.

“I…”

Before she could apologize, doors on the second floor opened. A man walked to the rail and announced, “Her Majesty Camilla and His Highness Leo have arrived.”

His voice echoed through the room. Corrin looked up to find Camilla and Leo at the top of the stairs, looking down at her. For a long moment, they stared at each other. Corrin wasn’t sure she remembered how to breathe. How long had it been since they’d seen each other? Only days, only weeks, and yet it felt like years. There was a before Xander’s and Elise’s deaths, and an after.

The room was oddly silent. Not even the guards made a noise, no murmuring or the clank of their armour. Corrin swallowed, waiting for judgement to fall on her, when Camilla hurried down the stairs. “Corrin!”

That was all the warning she got before her elder sister rammed into her, her arms wrapping around her tighter than rope. Camilla squeezed her tightly, resting her head on Corrin’s shoulders. Her long purple hair tickled Corrin’s neck.

“Camilla,” Corrin managed, slowly hugging back. Her sister felt thinner, bonier. Resting her hand on Camilla’s back, she couldn’t feel the muscles she was used to, the strength that allowed her to pick up her favourite axe.

“I’m so glad you’re back,” Camilla murmured softly, as though she’d crack at anything louder than a whisper. “I…I’m just…so glad.”

“Me too.” Corrin’s eyes watered and she clutched her sister tightly. It had been too long since they’d last hugged, since they hadn’t faced each other across the battlefield. She wanted to drag Leo into the hug, to hold both them as close as possible, but he still stood at the top of the stairs.

Corrin looked up at him, their eyes meeting. He wore an unreadable expression, his lips a straight line. His jaw tightened and he whirled around, leaving them.

-x-

“It’s getting late,” Camilla muttered, staring out the windows that lined her bedroom. The sun had just set, the last vestiges of light barely bright enough to outline the city sprawling around the castle. Servants had already lit the candles, small pools of lights in every corner of the room. Seated on the bed, Corrin could just make out the city.

She hadn’t seen the capital like this. Before, she hadn’t been allowed to, and after, they’d been at war. Unlike Hoshido, Nohr was a darker place, one of moonlight and not sunlight. There was a desolate beauty to it that she knew her Hoshidian siblings couldn’t see.

“Yeah,” Corrin agreed, her eyes moving to their faint reflection in the window. Camilla hadn’t left her side throughout the day, her hand often neatly tucked into Corrin’s arms to keep them glued together. Even now, Camilla was braiding her hair, allowing them no more than a foot’s space between them. She hadn’t had the heart to pull away, and to be honest she wasn’t sure if she wanted to.

She felt like the castle was holding its breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop, and she didn’t want to face the storm alone. Corrin stared at Camilla’s reflection. “I guess it’s time for bed.”

“Bed…” Camilla trailed off, her hands freezing. She stared at the door, as though she expected someone to burst in.

When she didn’t continue, Corrin leaned back, resting her head on her sister’s chest. From this close, her sister looked worn and she frowned as she looked up. “Is something wrong?”

“No, I…” Camilla tore her eyes away from the door. Smiling down at Corrin, she gently pushed her back up into a seated position. “Darling, you’re messing up the braid. You can’t sleep until we’re done. How about…” Her voice cracked. “How about a sleepover? For your first night here.”

“A sleepover?” Corrin could almost hear Elise’s voice there, hear the exact lit as she pleaded her case.

“Y-yeah.” Head bowed, Camilla busied herself with unbraiding Corrin’s hair. “We must have one—your room hasn’t been prepared yet! Why, in the morning you could choose one yourself, there’s so many here.”

“I…” Corrin didn’t know if she was going to stay. She didn’t know how to, after all the misery she’d caused. Yet, hearing the crack in Camilla’s voice, the way her hands trembled, she didn’t know how to leave either. “A sleepover sounds fun.”

“The maids are making tea and…” Camilla tugged Corrin’s hair into a tight braid. “We were supposed to have a ball when you arrived, darling.”

“A party?” Corrin turned around but Camilla firmly pushed her jaw back.

“You’ll ruin the braid,” she fussed, weaving Corrin’s long locks into a single braid. “And yes, a party for you. Elise…” Her voice cracked again but she pushed forward. “planned all of it. The food, the music, the decorations. Xander rejected all of it.” Camilla laughed, a bittersweet sound. “It was too expensive, so Elise kept cutting down things and trying again. He couldn’t get her to stop all together.”

Corrin felt a bump on her back. Turning her head slightly, she could see Camilla’s head resting against her back, her hands tight on Corrin’s shoulders.

“Despite his words, he was just as excited as she was. He even got a room cleaned up for you.”

Corrin could just picture it. She closed her eyes. “He always hid his kindness.”

“He is—was adorable like that. Though not as adorable as Leo.” Camilla laughed wetly. “He helped Elise change her plans, even though he kept calling it a waste of time.”

It was strange. The room was empty, save for the two of them, but Corrin could feel her siblings around her. Elise sitting on the bed, Camilla braiding her hair as she rattled off her latest frustrations. Xander and Leo arguing over budgets. Camilla and Xander would exchange a knowing look, the two eldest working together behind the scenes.

Nowhere in that picture was her and Corrin felt a lump in her throat.

-x-

For the past two days, Corrin hadn’t seen hide nor hair of Leo. To be fully honest, she hadn’t seen his or anyone else’s retainers either, and she didn’t know if that was because they were avoiding her or if they’d been ordered away. Either way, she was glad—she didn’t know how she could look at Effie or Arthur after what’d happened.

And she could never look at Laslow or Peri again.

Yet today he stood in the hallway, staring out the windows to the private gardens. Her heart constricted at the sight of him, her body stock still as she figured out her next move. He hadn’t noticed her yet. From his profile, his gaze was locked firmly on something outside. Steeling herself, she marched to him.

He still didn’t move, not even when she came to a stop right next to him. Corrin looked at him, then out the window. There was a dirt patch outside, one that showed signs of digging, but there were no obvious hints as to what had been dug up or buried there. The rest of the garden was filled with thorny roses and sharply-trimmed bushes.

“What’s there?” she asked, unable to stop herself.

“It’s…” Leo caught himself before he finished the sentence. Tearing his eyes from the dirt, he turned to her. “What’re you doing here?”

Leo had never been a cold person. Despite his attitude, he’d always been warm, giving. Corrin couldn’t help the shiver that ran up her spine at his stare, at his eyes that looked like they could pierce through her. Even when they’d been at war, he hadn’t looked so icy.

“I…” Corrin swallowed, forcing herself to smile. “I wanted to talk to you.”

He didn’t say anything. She wasn’t sure if that was a good sign or not.

Clasping her hands, she continued, “I…I know that it’s hard…that I did something unforgivable…but…”

Camilla hadn’t wanted or allowed an apology, no matter how many times Corrin wanted to give one. Now that she had the chance to say it, she didn’t know where to start, what words to use. Xander had died by her hand, whether he wanted it or not. Elise had sacrificed herself. A kingdom had been invaded, and she had led the charge.

“I’m sorry. For everything. I—”

Leo’s jaw tightened. “Don’t.”

Corrin looked at him owlishly. “What?”

“Don’t,” he repeated before turning on his heel and leaving.

Corrin didn’t chase. She didn’t have the right to.

-x-

Castle Krakenburg had never been Corrin’s home. No, hers had been the Northern Fortress. She knew the ins and outs of her fort, the rooms her siblings lived, the places they liked to play. The castle was a blank canvas to her, the history of it invisible to her alone.

It was easy, though, to guess which spaces belonged to Xander and Elise. There were rooms Camilla’s eyes would just slide past, areas where she’d step around as though she could see Xander’s ghost. Leo could be found in only certain sections of the library and the study and some items were left with a layer of dust on them as though even the maids weren’t ready to face them.

Corrin had no such compunctions. She snuck around in the middle of the night, when Camilla wasn’t watching, when Leo didn’t have to be avoided. A candle in hand, she mapped out a castle that had once been as foreign as Hoshido.

Xander’s room was sparsely furnished. She sat down gingerly on his hard bed, on the ever so practical grey blankets. The pillowcase was bright blue, flowers embroidered on the edges, and that had to be a gift from Elise or Camilla. Maybe both, Elise had never been patient enough for sewing. There was a stack of papers on his side table and Corrin hesitated before reading the top one. It was a report on the country’s food supply, and of course he’d read that before he slept. He’d ever been the work-a-holic.

Even now, Corrin remembered his profile in the night, his sword glinting in the moonlight as he practiced his swings. Her brother had cared deeply for his country. Too deeply. Tears pricked her eyes and she left his room before she could cry.

On another night, she explored Elise’s room, all pinks and yellows. There was only a musty scent now, but Corrin liked to imagine it smelled floral at one point. Despite how flowers were hard to get here, it was hard to picture Elise without them. Her closet was filled with dresses, the fanciest of which looked hardly touched. Instead it was the simpler ones that looked thoroughly worn, with small patches hidden here and there to keep clothing together.

Elise had always been wiser than she’d acted, though Corrin hadn’t realized just how much. It was disquieting to realize she didn’t know her siblings as well as she’d thought. That she might never know, her sister taking her secrets to the grave.

Night after night, Corrin explored the castle, sitting in Xander’s spot in the study, reading from Elise’s alcove in a tower. Despite how strong their presence was for Camilla and Leo, Corrin couldn’t feel them. A chair was just a chair, a book a book, and all of these little pieces didn’t make up a person as much as she pushed them together.

-x-

The Hoshidians were gone, her family with them, and Corrin wasn’t sure if she shouldn’t have left as well. Just as much as Camilla needed her, Leo didn’t. Even their meals were separate, Camilla eating with her. If she’d gone, maybe they could have grieved together.

“Maybe you should eat with Leo?” Corrin suggested finally, turning to her right. The Nohr dining table was overly long—even with all of her siblings, they could never have filled in all of the chairs.

Camilla raised a brow. “What do you mean, darling? I always eat with him.”

“Huh?” Corrin blinked, thrown off kilter.

“I eat with you, and then with him.” Camilla reached over, squeezing her arm tenderly. “You are both precious to me and I would never leave either of you alone.”

“Oh.” Corrin looked down at her plate, not sure what to say. She hadn’t thought of that possibility at all.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure we’ll eat together soon.” Camilla smiled sadly. “He just needs some time.”

“Does he? I think he hates me,” Corrin admitted, her shoulders sinking at the memory. Even now, she could feel his icy stare. All of their encounters lasted three seconds.

Camilla wrapped an arm around her. “No, he doesn’t—”

“It’d be stranger if he didn’t.” Corrin leaned against Camilla, soaking in her warmth. “Why don’t you? After I…” She couldn’t say the word killed, it stuck in her throat. “After all I did.”

Camilla fell silent. For a moment, Corrin wondered if she’d finally succeeded in driving off her last sibling, if she’d have to pack her bags and head to Hoshido sooner than she’d thought.

“We weren’t great either,” Camilla finally uttered, resting her cheek on Corrin’s head. “And more importantly, I’m tired of hating. It hurts too much. Elise…Elise wouldn’t have liked it. Leo, he’ll come around. He just needs time.”

Nestled like this, Corrin could believe anything. She closed her eyes and listened to Camilla breathe. “I hope so.”

“He will.” Camilla sighed. “Hopefully by the coronation. I need both of you there with me.”

“The coronation…are you ready?” she asked.

“Not at all.” Camilla laughed dryly. “Xander had always been the leader, the strong one. He always had a plan.” Her voice grew pained. “I…I don’t know how to do that. I’m not a leader. I never have been.”

“I’m not one either.” Corrin pulled away, looking Camilla in the eye. She smiled encouragingly. “But I think we could do it together.”

Camilla’s eyes grew wide before she hugged Corrin. “Yes, we can.”

-x-

The clock struck twelve, large metal gongs ringing through the night. Corrin stood next to a window, listening to the chimes. Yawning, she had to admit that it was late. She’d done enough exploration for the day.

Heading back to her room, she paused as a small light to her right caught her eye. Someone was out in the garden. Quietly, she approached the window, peering out to make out who it was. They weren’t moving, the lamp in their hand, and she could just make out a familiar cape.

Leo.

Now that she was looking, she realized this was the same window as before, that he was standing in front of that dirt patch. Quickly, she opened the window and hopped outside. Just like the last time, he didn’t hear her, his gaze fixed firmly on the dirt. It was dark, so she couldn’t see much, but the plot looked as empty as it had before.

Before she could voice her question, Leo murmured, “Elise wanted to grow sunflowers here.”

Corrin snapped her attention at Leo, but he didn’t look at her. She held her breath, afraid of breaking the moment. He might run away again like a scared rabbit.

“They never grew. No matter how many times she planted them. Elise never studied for anything, but she read every book on flowers and gardening she could find.”

Corrin reached down, grabbing his hand tightly.

He didn’t react. “The soil was dead the entire time.”

It was scary, how monotone his voice was, but his hand was warm and she intertwined their fingers.

Finally, he turned to her. “Sometimes I wonder if all of Nohr is as dead as this lot.”

“It isn’t,” she replied firmly.

“What do you know?” he snapped back, but he didn’t pull away from her touch. For once, his argument was feeble, his sharp words deserting him. “You were always trapped in that fortress.”

“I saw a lot on my way here,” Corrin replied, her eyes locked on his. It was strange, the words just came as she thought of the underground city, of Elise guiding them there. “Nohr is alive, its people are alive, despite everything Garon did to them. They just need a little help, a little kindness, and they’ll flourish.”

“Elise was kind.” A tear slid down his cheek. “Xander had a vision. Camilla and I…we have neither.”

“You have each other.” She reached up, wiping his cheek. “You have me.”

“I…” More tears fell, like a dam bursting open. “I could have saved them.”

Corrin didn’t bother to ask who. “You didn’t do anything.”

“That’s just it!” he shouted, grabbing her hand, sobbing silently. His voice broke. “I didn’t do anything. I didn’t help them. I didn’t help you. I just walked away from it all and Elise…I could have saved her. Maybe not Xander, but at least her.”

He fell to his knees, weak, his hand still wrapped tightly around her wrist.

“Instead, I did nothing.”

“You didn’t do anything wrong.” It was too much and Corrin collapsed to the ground now. Wrapping her arms around Leo, she hugged him tightly. “I killed them. My sword cut through them. Their blood’s on my hands, not yours.”

“But you weren’t wrong,” Leo mumbled, hugging her back, his hands clenching her shirt like a lifeline. “Garon had to go and you weren’t wrong. And if I…if I’d joined you, maybe Xander would have stepped down. Maybe none of this had to happen.”

“And if I’d asked or tried harder or—”

It was too much, thinking about all of the what-ifs, the lost possibilities. She wailed, like she hadn’t since she was a child. Leo crumpled, sobbing, his hand still in hers.

-x-

Unlike Ryoma’s coronation, Camilla’s was not one of pomp and celebration. It was a solemn event. The halls were draped in black and gold, with the occasional red highlight. This was both a goodbye and a greeting, an ending and a beginning.

Xander and Elise rested under marble tombs, joining their ancestors. Camilla stood on the balcony overlooking the crowds of watchful citizens, their words a dull murmur compared to Hoshido’s energetic cheers. The fur-trimmed purple cloak she wore swallowed her entirely, and the hand that held her scepter trembled. She looked small. Lost.

Standing behind glass doors, Corrin watched as her sister slowly stepped toward the railing. Leo was already standing there, announcing Camilla’s presence. Corrin couldn’t hear them properly, the glass muffling the sound, and suddenly she was in the Northern Fortress, watching as her siblings left for the castle. Most of her childhood had been spent like that, watching, waiting, always apart and never with.

“Corrin.”

Corrin blinked, hearing her name, and looked out the window. Camilla and Leo were turned toward her, their hands outstretched. Confused, she poked her head out the door. “What?”

“Didn’t you say we’d rule together?” Camilla smiled, beckoning her to come closer.

“But—”

“You’re our sister, you have to suffer through these functions with us,” Leo added impatiently, but he was smiling too.

Corrin stared at their hands, at them. At the ghosts of Xander and Elise that stood behind them. That was right, her time in the fortress had never been lonely. Her family, her friends, they’d always opened the door, calling her out.

It was the same now, even if now there were only two hands reaching for her instead of four. Corrin pushed open the door and stepped outside.

Whatever the future held now, they’d handle it together.

#fire emblem fates #corrin #camilla #leo #nohr #ryoma #elise #xander #fanfic #fire emblem

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blackbriarsparrow · 4 years

Text

Born from Winter Ash (Chapter 14 excerpt.)

“Here,” she said, “sit.” Kakashi obeyed and lowered himself to the ground beside her, propped on his bedroll. “What hurts?”

He drew in a deep breath before sighing through his nose and then pulled his tunic over his head.

Sakura’s own breath caught when he turned, and she saw the bruises coloring his ribs. She made a face, grimacing because she understood how much pain he was in. “You should have told me earlier when I was fixing your side.” She should have seen it. She scooted closer, laying her palm over the warm flesh of his ribs on his opposite side. She closed her eyes and concentrated on finding his pain; she pushed her healing energy into his ribs and began mending the fractures. Firelight flickered on his skin, playing over the impressions of muscle that made up his entire form. Sakura felt small beside him, and in truth, she liked that.

Kakashi shifted beneath her palm, titling his face towards the sky.

“Does it hurt?” she asked him. “The healing, I mean.”

He gave a small nod in reply. “It is like a burning cold; ice and fire at once.”

“I’m sorry,” she said softly.

“Nothing to apologize for,” he told her.

When Sakura finished healing him, the bruises had faded from his skin. Absently, Sakura traced her fingertips over the smooth lines of his ribs, marveling her handiwork. She noticed an old scar below his ribs, smooth but raised. Curiosity had her following its path. Her fingers trailed too close to his stomach, and Kakashi seized her small hand in his, but he did not let go.

“Sorry,” Sakura said again, guessing she had inadvertently touched a ticklish spot.

Kakashi held her gaze, his thumb sweeping over the back of her knuckles.

Heat like liquid fire bloomed in Sakura’s core. She was too close to him. She could feel his body heat radiating beyond the campfire. His scent was in her nose, his intense gaze locking her in place. Sakura licked her lower lip, and Kakashi’s eye followed the movement.

“Why did you ask me to come?” Sakura managed, near breathlessly.

“So I could protect you,” Kakashi told her.

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13781683/1/Born-from-Winter-Ash

#kakasaku #kakasaku fanfiction #kakasaku au #viking theme

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yatorihell · 4 years

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In The Darkness Chapter 67 - Felix Felicis

Noragami x Harry Potter AU

Words: 2,054

Summary: A burning question is answered, and a potion is taken

Also available on Yatorihell A03

Christmas break passed with no incident. The vision repeated itself in Yato’s head and the burning question: why did Professor Tenjin have Sakura’s necklace?

By the time it was time to board the Hogwarts Express and go back to school, Yato was exhausted. The visions never changed no matter how much he tried over the weeks. The thought of a horcrux being hidden under his nose had him distrustful of what Professor Tenjin was doing with it.

The trip back to Hogwarts was quiet. Staring out at snow-capped hills and icy lakes of the highlands, Yato could only hope Madame Kofuku had some answers for him.

No sooner had he, Yukine, and Hiyori had entered Hogwarts did Madame Kofuku appear, a bob of pink hair in a sea of black, searching for Yato. Her eyes lit on him, and in a second, she was dragging him by the sleeve up away from Yukine and Hiyori and up the winding staircase to the headmaster’s tower.

“Miss,” Yato said for the fourth time, his arm still captured as he was pulled along, “what happened? Did Professor Tenjin say something?”

Madame Kofuku looked behind and, seeing that they had left any remnants of eavesdropping students far behind them, she released his arm. “I spoke to the headmaster as soon as you told me what you saw. He asked to speak with you as soon as you come back to Hogwarts.”

Yato felt an unfamiliar chill up his spine. He had never feared Professor Tenjin when he was brought up to his office for insolence, flying in the corridors, or even truancy. But this… this was something he dreaded with every step.

All too soon they were at the headmaster’s door. Madame Kofuku didn’t bother knocking, instead leading Yato into the spacious office he’d been seeing every night for two weeks. Professor Tenjin was stood at the window, hands behind his back and his side profile showing that he was gazing out at the expanse of the lake beneath him.

They both remained silent, waiting for the headmaster to address them. Yato felt small as Professor Tenjin’s eyes fell on him across the room, and the smile did nothing to ease his jitters.

“Madame Kofuku, thank you for bringing him to me,” Professor Tenjin said. He made no bid to dismiss Madame Kofuku which was a small relief.

Yato’s eyes followed as the headmaster crossed the floor in a sweep of black robes, his pipe barely visible in the folds of his sleeve as he came to stand behind his desk chair.

“I understand you had a vision.”

Yato’s gaze shifted to Madame Kofuku who gave him an imperceptible nod. “Yes, headmaster.”

“Of a horcrux?”

Again, a glance. Again, a nod.

“Yes.”

Professor Tenjin’s expression hadn’t changed as he set down his pipe and slid open the drawer on his desk. Its contents jostled at the movement and after brief rummaging Professor Tenjin found what he was looking for: a necklace on a silver chain. The same one Yato had seen in Grimmauld Place.

Yato frowned, wondering what this was meant to prove. If anything, it proved that he had broken into his home, stolen Sakura’s necklace, and knew that it was a horcrux.

“This,” Professor Tenjin said, “is a necklace from Hogsmeade.”

When the notable silence stretched on, he continued. “I imagine there are many necklaces like this one – trinkets that students buy throughout their years at Hogwarts –, which would make it all the more easier for the Sorcerer to conceal a horcrux. Like hiding a coin in a treasure chest.

Professor Tenjin waved his free hand in the air at the example, but seeing Yato’s uncertainty, he held out the necklace. “But I can assure you, this isn’t a horcrux.”

Yato’s fingers flinched before they closed around the cold stone, but this time no voice called out to him. Nothing begged him to open the clasp.

“How can that be possible?” Yato asked. He looked at Madame Kofuku, but she was just as lost as he was.

Professor Tenjin’s chair scraped back and when Yato turned the headmaster was sitting, hands folded in his lap, eyes closed in a usual frown. After a beat, his eyes opened but did not meet Yato.

“The Sorcerer knows how to manipulate you. There is a chance he is aware of what we’re doing and trying to lead you down the wrong path.”

The wrong path, Yato glanced at the necklace in his hand before placing it back on the desk with a gentle thud. So, the necklace isn’t a horcrux?

“Headmaster, if that is the case, is it of any use that Yato continues searching?” Madame Kofuku’s voice broke the silence that had settled around them.

A flicker of hope and panic fluttered in Yato’s chest, but it was quickly quashed by a simple word.

“No.”

Professor Tenjin's eyes finally met Yato’s, weighed with decision. These weren’t the eyes of a madman, nor a Deatheater. These were the eyes of a guardian.

“You are the best chance we have at finding and defeating the Sorcerer. Before the war comes that will end us all.”

With their shaken faith in Professor Tenjin resolved, Yato, Yukine, and Hiyori could breathe a sigh of relief now that they knew the truth. Whilst it was a bittersweet victory that the necklace wasn’t a horcrux – nor that Professor Tenjin was a Deatheater – there was a new, imminent threat:

Mock exams.

The first few weeks of January always brought sixth and seventh years alike to the library, desperately trying to cram information for forgotten subjects that would, to no avail, sink in.

“It’s only a mock exam,” Yato said. “I didn’t do well in mine and I turned it around. I have a real exam later and I’m not stressed.”

“Didn’t you fail two subjects?” Yukine pointed out.

“That’s beside the point.”

“Could you be quiet?” Hiyori asked.

The boys looked at the top of Hiyori’s head which was bent over a book thicker than the plate of cold toast in front of her. Gryffindor's table had become a makeshift study area before Hiyori would have her History of Magic exam. Mock exam, Yato kept pointing out, but she batted him away every time he tried to tug the book away.

Yato mimicked her, moving his mouth to match her phrase. Yukine bit back a smile lest Hiyori see them mocking her and break down altogether.

“You know, there are other ways to be sure you’ll win,” Yato nudged her in the side and, finally, Hiyori sighed and looked up. The book slammed shut harder than she intended as she swivelled to face Yato on the bench.

“And what,” Hiyori asked, “would that be?”

Yato grinned, one that Hiyori had come to know as his trouble-making grin, and reached into the pocket of his robe. A second later, pinched in between two fingers, was a vial.

“Luck would be a lady to- er, this morning, if you drank this.”

Hiyori looked horrified. Not only from the potion, but from what he was telling her to do.

“Yato!” Hiyori hissed. She looked behind her and at the other tables where, thankfully, no one had heard his proposition. “I can’t cheat!”

“Is it cheating if the exam doesn’t count?” Yato countered. He waggled the vial in between his fingers, watching Hiyori chew her lip and her eyes follow the potion vial.

“I mean, I was saving it for my potions exam today…” Yato pondered as if he were regretting the offer.

“Apparently you don’t need help with potions now you can make anything,” Yukine said, bitter from a term of being shown up at his own specialty.

Whilst that was true, Yato’s success only came from Madame Kofuku’s annotated book; something that he couldn’t bring into the exam.

“Well, a bit more luck couldn’t hurt.”

Yato began to retract the vial, but before he could slip the vial away Hiyori had taken it from his hands, uncorked the lid, and swallowed the entire potion before her better judgment could stop her.

Hiyori coughed and looked at Yato’s stunned face, mournful but unregretful. Silence wrapped around them as Yukine balanced his chin on his hand – waiting, watching, for what the potion would do.

Slowly, a smirk worked its way onto Hiyori’s face.

Faster than Yato could react, Hiyori had a hold on his tie, tugging him down sharply so they were practically face to face. Yato would’ve choked on his cereal if he could, but the fact that Hiyori’s lips were millimeters from his, and her eyes were boring into his very soul with an insatiable appetite. She leaned in even closer. Her mouth parted gently, breath ghosting his jaw and making the hair on the back of his neck stand on end as she tilted her head to nibble – no, whisper – into his ear.

“You know I don’t need a potion to pass my exams,” Hiyori said in a low voice. A smile played at her lips as she pulled away and Yato swallowed hard. “But thank you.”

Hiyori swung her legs over the bench and without taking her bag or book left the Great Hall.

Yato and Yukine stared after her, open-mouthed. They exchanged a glance before Yukine burst out in hysterical laughter that drew the attention of a few neighbouring yet annoyed sixth-years.

“I wish you’d offered me some of that if it makes you that confident,” Yukine jibed. He decided it would be better not to tease Yato for the blush on his cheeks as he shook his head free of Hiyori’s spell.

Yato found the strength to close his mouth, but a moment later his lips were working back into a smile that threatened to split into a silly grin. He looked at Yukine, eyes bright with mischief.

“You wanna know a secret? You can’t tell Hiyori.”

Yukine looked at Yato doubtfully; they didn’t keep secrets. “What?”

“That wasn’t a potion.”

Yukine listed his head to the side with a frown. Yato’s grin grew giddier.

“I already took the potion and replaced it with pumpkin juice.”

Yukine’s mouth fell open, speechless. He’d tricked Hiyori into thinking she’d taken a potion… and she did that. “Why?!”

Yato shrugged and bit into a piece of toast. “She needed confidence, and she got it.”

Before Yukine could form a coherent sentence, Yato was scooping up his and Hiyori’s bags to take to his first lesson. Yato leaned over the table and pat Yukine on the cheek with the same giddy grin that would stay there for a week.

“Good luck with your exam.”

Hiyori felt that her mock exam went well; she easily remembered the dates and notable events of the first uses of magic and witch trials, and the buzz of the potion kept her on a high until dinner time.

Yet by the time the ‘potion’ had worn off, Hiyori was trying to forget the entire day.

She would’ve died of embarrassment if she could see herself that morning – or if anyone else had paid her attention besides Yato and Yukine. She had to force her mind to think of something else to stop herself from wilting with embarrassment every time the memory intruded, but there was no avoiding Yato.

After dinner, Yato and Yukine approached her at Gryffindor table, which she noted was the same spot she had sat that morning. She felt a hole would swallow her if she didn’t stand quickly and follow them from that embarrassing moment, but it seemed that what she did that morning couldn’t have been so embarrassing.

Yato greeted her just the same; no awkwardness, no shyness, though Hiyori felt a twinge in her chest whenever he looked at her. She felt herself searching for anything different about him as they made their way to the library, but nothing told her that he’d been thinking about that morning.

Yukine, on the other hand, watched the two interact, painfully aware of how they stepped around the elephant in the room and wishing that they would stop being so damn shy about expressing how they felt.

Still, he couldn’t force them to. They would have to work it out themselves.

Little did he know that a gift was already waiting in Yato’s room, heart-shaped and addressed from Hiyori.

#noragami #noragami aragoto #yato #hiyori #yukine #kofuku #tenjin #yatori #hp au #harry potter au #in the darkness #my writing

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teaplease1717 · 4 years

Text

Fireworks

Title: Fireworks

Relationship: Todoroki Shouto x Yaoyorozu Momo

Chapters: 4 of 4

Rating: G+

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26685007/chapters/68183174

AHHH!!! I did it! I finished my work project and my manager gave me good feedback. *Doing a happy dance* Now to celebrate…here’s the last and final chapter of Fireworks!!!

Shout out to all my betas for this work: FlourChildWrites, Emberstork, Crazyelf2018 and C’s Melody.

Also, thank you so much Haru for the gorgeous art included at the end of the chapter!

XXXXX

Yaoyorozu’s head jerked up. “To-Todoroki-san!” she gasped. Her eyes were wide and glassy as she stared up at him.

It looked like she had been about to cry.

Shouto’s heart stuttered at the thought. It was because he hadn’t been fast enough to get to her on time. This was his fault.

Instinctively, his hand reached out to touch her, before he caught himself. There was time to comfort her later. He had to make things right first. “If you want to see the fireworks, the ones in Odaiba will be going off soon. We can still make it if we hurry.”

Yaoyorozu stared at him in confusion. “Todoroki-san…”

“You want to see the fireworks, don’t you?” He stepped forward and held out his hand. Her gaze darted to it then back up to meet his eyes. “Then I’ll take you.”

Yaoyorozu drew in a sharp breath as she stared at him for a moment. Then she licked her lips and reached up and rubbed at her eyes with the back of her hand. When she looked back at him her face had settled into the familiar expression of determination that always made Shouto’s stomach flutter strangely.

She reached out and slid her smaller hand into his. The top of her cheeks turned red as his hand closed over her own, but Shouto didn’t let himself think about it as he turned and pulled Yaoyorozu back out onto the crowded street.

Their geta sandals clicked against the pavement as they ran back towards the main road. People had dispersed after the fireworks show, but the festival was still ongoing. The sound of Taiko drums beating could be heard in the distance as they dodged through groups of multi-colored yukatas.

“How did you find me?” Yaoyorozu asked as they ran hand-in-hand.

“Shoji,” Shouto said. They came to the main road, and he looked up and down the street for an empty taxi. “Everyone was looking for you. He thought he heard your footsteps over this way and Jirou texted me.”

From the corner of his eye, Shouto could see Yaoyorozu’s expression flicker in confusion. “But–How? How did you know I’d be here? And where’s everyone else?”

“They’re still over by the original meeting place - on the other side of the bridge. I texted Jirou after I went to your place and met your parents–”

“What?” Yaoyorozu gasped, skidding to a halt to gape at him. “You went to my apartment?”

Shouto hummed in acknowledgement, turning to look at her. He hadn’t had a chance to take in her appearance before, but now that they had stopped Shouto took a moment to look her over.

Yaoyorozu was in the crimson yukata from the shopping trip. Her hair was up, but out of its usual spiky ponytail. Instead, it was wavy and more refined as it curled loosely down her back. And a pink sakura ornament entwined with strings of pearls was nestled in her hair.

Shouto’s heart skipped a beat as he stared at her. She looked cute. But that wasn’t what she had asked. He cleared his throat. “Yeah, I was going to get you. But when I arrived your parents said you’d already left, so I texted Jirou on my way back that you were on your way.”

She stared at him for a moment in disbelief, then suddenly, he saw something shift and her expression darkened; she dropped her gaze back to the ground.

“You missed the fireworks.” It wasn’t a question. Her voice had grown small. “Because of me…I—I ruined it. I wanted to make sure you of all people had a good time, but I was selfish once again and you missed them because of me.” Her voice cracked.

Before he could think about it, Shouto took a step closer and reached up to tuck her loose bangs behind her ear. “Yaoyorozu, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, avoiding her gaze. “But you were looking forward to tonight more than anyone. It wouldn’t be fair if you didn’t get to enjoy the fireworks and festival too. Besides—”

Shouto swallowed, his throat felt tight. Hawks’ question from earlier in the evening tugged at his heart and somehow, being with Yaoyorozu made the answer clear.

She was important to him.

It was easy to see that now. He wanted to be with her. He wanted to see Yaoyorozu smile and, even if it was selfish, he wanted to see the fireworks with her.

Shouto squared his shoulders and looked back at her. “You’re supposed to see fireworks with people you care about — the people that matter most to you. So I didn’t want to see them without you.”

Yaoyorozu’s eyes widened. Then she squeaked and her face turned bright red as she stumbled back, cupping her cheeks. “To-Todoroki-san!” she gasped as if he had said something improper.

Shouto’s own neck was feeling hot, and he activated his right side. He didn’t know why speaking the truth was making him overheated—he usually had better control of his internal body temperature. He cleared his throat and opened his mouth to say they should continue looking for a taxi when suddenly a ringtone sounded from inside his sleeve.

Shouto stepped back and shifted to pull his phone out of his yukata, unexpectedly grateful for the distraction.

Yaoyorozu blinked. She was still cupping her cheeks but seemed to have calmed down slightly. "Is that…?

Shouto stared down at his phone and scowled.

Why was his old man calling him?

“It's the villain’s theme from Star Wars,” Shouto said absently. “Uraraka and Ashido taught me how to set it.” He clicked the reject button. His old man could wait.

“Didn’t you have to answer it?” Yaoyorozu asked as she watched him tuck the phone back into his yukata. “Was it our classmates?”

“No.” He adjusted his clothes. “It's no one important. And, Jirou said she will handle our classmates, so you don’t need to worry,” he said, turning. “Come on, let’s look for a taxi.”

“Todoroki-san.”

Shouto stopped as a delicate hand suddenly clutched at his sleeve. He turned back and stared at Yaoyorozu. Her eyes shifted away nervously. The pink on her cheeks from a moment before had deepened to a red that almost matched the color of her yukata.

“Thank you for coming for me,” she said softly. She looked back up at him and managed a small smile. “It means a lot.”

Shouto swallowed and then nodded. “That’s what heroes do.”

Yaoyorozu made a small sound that sounded like a giggle. “You sound like Midoriya-san now.”

Shouto smiled and shrugged. “I do spend a lot of time with him. Sometimes his rambling sticks—”

“SHOUTOOOOOO!”

Shouto started at the booming voice, and his head jerked around. A few meters back, a cab had stopped along the curb.

Shouto’s stomach hardened and he watched in horror as his father and Hawks climbed out of the back seat. Abruptly, a red feather that Shouto hadn’t noticed unattached itself from the back of his yukata and flew through the air, returning to the auburn wings now re-grown on Hawks’ back.

They had tracked him, Shouto realized with a wave of anger. His hands shook and he curled them into fists at his side. “What are you two doing here?”

“Looking for you,” Hawks answered, a sly smile curved on his lips as he leaned on the taxi door. “You need a ride, right?”

“Take the taxi,” his father added. His voice held its usual demanding tone as he studied them.

Shouto narrowed his eyes. What were they up to? There was no way he was going to take a cab with his old man.

Hawks seemed to read his mind and winked. “Not us, we still got to patrol, but you two need a cab, right?”

Shouto opened his mouth to tell them off, but Yaoyorozu looked up at him and smiled brightly. Her eyes were shining with hope and excitement, and they made his toes curl.

It wasn’t like he was riding with his dad, just using a cab his old man had used, Shouto reminded himself.

He still didn’t fully trust Hawks or his father now that he knew they had tracked him, but he couldn’t let Yaoyorozu down.

He reluctantly nodded, and they hurried over to the taxi.

His father stepped aside as Shouto held the door open for Yaoyorozu to slide in. Shouto was about to follow her when his father spoke again.

“Shouto, one moment...”

Shouto paused, his hand on the door handle. His stomach hardened as he watched Endeavor reach back and rummage in the back pocket of his hero uniform. He was half tempted to ignore his father and just get in the cab when Endeavor pulled something out.

“Here.” His old man held out a rectangular plastic card. Shouto’s eyes widened marginally and he looked up. His father pushed the card towards him. “You’ll need something to pay for the ride. And dinner…”

Shouto’s breath caught in his lungs and his fingers on the door handle twitched as he hesitated. Was this a trap? Was this really his old man?

His father had been making an effort to change, but this? Giving him his credit card and cab, it was so different. It went against everything Endeavor, the hero, had beat into him for fifteen years. It almost was like his old man was not only helping him hang out with Yaoyorozu, but actually supporting him.

Shouto’s mouth felt dry as a notion he had been resistant to even allow himself to think flitted in the back of his mind.

Maybe… Maybe people really could change. And maybe that meant someday he could forgive his father.

He swallowed thickly as he reached out and took the card. “Thanks,” Shouto said gruffly, avoiding his dad's gaze. The word felt heavy, like it carried more than a simple meaning of gratitude.

Shouto turned and ducked into the cab. His fingers tightened around the card.

“Todoroki-san.”

Yaoyorozu was watching him and Shouto bit the inside of his cheek. He hadn’t explained his strained relationship with his old man to her yet, and now didn’t feel like the right time for that conversation.

He met Yaoyorozu’s eyes and gave her a faint smile before he set his jaw and turned towards the driver. “Let’s go,” he said. “To the Odaiba festival.”

The car’s wheels screeched as the cab started and turned sharply to get on the road.

Shouto leaned back in his seat and turned to glance out of the cab window and paused. His eyes widened. His old man’s face was slightly contorted as if he were about to cry. Hawks stood next to him, patting his back. Shouto swallowed thickly, but then the car turned around a corner and he couldn’t see them anymore. He looked back up front. The credit card felt heavy in his hand.

XXXXXX

The taxi sped down the highway and into a tunnel.

“Todoroki-san, is everything alright?” Momo asked.

“Yeah, sorry.” Todoroki straightened in his seat. “Didn’t mean to make you worry.”

Suddenly, the Star Wars theme from earlier echoed from inside Todoroki’s yukata. Todoroki shifted and pulled his phone out. He looked down at the screen. “Sorry, it’s my old man again.”

Momo nodded as she watched Todoroki click ‘accept’ and bring the phone up to his ear. He turned away from her. “What do you want?”

Momo thought she heard Hawks on the other end, but looked away. It wasn’t ladylike to eavesdrop.

Her fingers picked at the edge of her yukata as she waited. Now that there wasn’t anything to distract her, the anxiety began seeping back into her thoughts.

Biting her lip, Momo glanced at the clock on the dashboard. Nine-twenty. Her stomach dropped. Ten minutes until the fireworks. There was no way they were going to make it.

She looked at Todoroki. His temple was creased in concentration as he listened to the person on the other end. Momo drew in a deep breath and her fingers fidgeted together as she watched him. She couldn’t lose hope. Todoroki was doing his best for her.

He had gone all the way to her house and even talked to her parents to try and get her here tonight. She needed to have faith in him. Knights were supposed to trust their princes. She blushed at the image.

Momo was drawn out of her thoughts as she heard Todoroki mumble, under his breath, ‘meddling bird’ before he hung up and leaned forward in his seat. “Take the next exit!” he ordered the cab driver.

“Todoroki…”

He glanced back at her and his heterochromatic eyes shone in the dark. “Do you trust me?”

Momo’s breath caught in her throat. That wasn’t even a question. Of course she did.

More than anyone.

He was her prince.

Momo set her jaw and met his gaze. “I do.”

A faint smile pulled on his lips. “Then don’t worry. I promised I’d show you the fireworks.”

The taxi driver veered off the road and towards the exit. The tunnel ended and a vast expanse of black sky stretched above them. The taxi pulled up along the curb of the road and Momo’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.

The area seemed residential. Street lights flickered, illuminating tall multi-unit apartment buildings. The only thing that stood out was that on their right side was an open park with flowering dogwood and pagoda trees.

She swallowed and clasped her hands together. Momo didn’t know how they’d view the fireworks from here, but she needed to believe in Todoroki.

The car stopped and Todoroki paid the cab driver before they climbed out onto the sidewalk. Todoroki checked his phone, then looked back at her and cleared his throat. “Almost there. This way,” he said, leading her towards the park.

Momo bit her lip as she followed after him. She wasn’t familiar with this area of Tokyo but knew they were at least a ten to fifteen-minute drive from where the fireworks would be going off.

Her heart pounded as they entered the dark park.

A few street lamps illuminated a gravely path, but Todoroki didn’t follow it. He cut across the grass and into the shadows of the trees. Momo kept pace close behind him. The sound of cicadas and crickets followed after them.

It was too dark to tell where they were going. Momo licked her lips and tried to focus on only Todoroki as he led them through the trees. Her neck and hands were feeling hot.

Suddenly, the grass and trees ended and Momo’s eyes widened and she gasped.

The site before them was ethereal. The dark waves of Tokyo harbor lapped gently against a white shoreline of a man-made beach. And across the harbor, the lights of downtown Tokyo sparkled in the distance like fairies, under a spray of stars.

There was no one else on the beach but them.

Momo took a step out onto the sand and made her way down to the water’s edge. The sound of the ocean drowned out the cicadas. She closed her eyes and breathed in the salty air.

She hadn’t known this place existed. And being here alone, with Todoroki, felt like a fantasy. She had only imagined going to the beach with him in her deepest dreams. He’d get down on one knee and…

Momo opened her eyes and cupped her cheeks as heat ran across her face. They weren’t even dating and she was jumping to marriage?! She didn’t even know if Todoroki liked her that much. His earlier words were kind of a confession, but he could have just as easily meant them as friends? She shouldn’t get ahead of herself. He couldn’t possibly...

“Hawks said we should be able to watch the fireworks from here.”

Momo patted down her cheeks and thanked how dark it was as the sand rustled behind her and Todoroki stepped up beside her.

She drew in a shaky breath, pushing her indecent thoughts away. “It’s beautiful,” she said, looking up at him. “We’ll have to thank him and your father.”

Todoroki’s lips pulled down as if that were the last thing he wanted to do. “They’re just meddling.”

“Well–” Momo giggled then gave him a small smile. “I’m glad for their meddling. It’s going to allow us to see the fireworks.”

Todoroki stared at her, then his expression suddenly darkened. “I’m sorry, Yaoyorozu,” he said after a moment. “I know this isn’t what you were expecting the night to be like.”

“No,” Momo said quickly. She shook her head. “This is perfect. Thank you so much, Todoroki-san.”

Todoroki smiled faintly, but he didn't have time to respond as a high pitched wail rang above their heads, cutting through the night.

Momo looked up as bright blue and green lights burst across the sky.

"The fireworks," she whispered. “We made it.”

Todoroki hummed in acknowledgement.

They were beautiful. Sparkling reds, blues and green lights crackling high above the ocean to fall like stardust from the night sky. Momo’s heart rose in her chest at the sight.

Fingers suddenly skimmed against the back of her hand, tentative, half-hesitating before sliding into her own. Momo looked down. Todoroki’s hand was warm as his fingers entwined with her own and it sent electricity down her spine.

Her stomach flipped. She raised her eyes and found Todoroki watching her intently. Momo’s breath caught in her chest. His gray and blue eyes, which shone silver and turquoise in the dark, searched her face. Then his fingers tightened around hers and he turned to stare back up at the sky.

Her heart was beating almost painfully against her ribcage, but Momo didn’t think of letting go.

She hesitated for a moment then followed his gaze back up to the sky. The fireworks were exploding high above their heads, decorating the night in multicolored starlight, but Momo couldn’t hear them over her pounding heartbeat.

The night hadn’t been what she expected, but that was okay because Momo couldn’t deny that this ending might have been what her heart had wanted all along.

Her fingers tightened in Todoroki’s hand.

Fluff is definitely not my forte, but I’m so incredibly proud of this story and hope you all enjoyed the ride. For those of you who didn’t know, this was my version of the Fireworks episode of Kaguya-sama Love is War. An amazing show, that if you haven’t seen please go look up.

Hope you all enjoyed. Comments and kudos are very much appreciated!

#todomomo #todoroki x yaoyorozu #todoroki shouto #Yaoyorozu Momo #My writing #My Story #Fireworks

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darquedeath4444 · 4 years

Text

Naruto Fantasy Week - Day 1 - Soul Bonds

For @naruto-fantasy-week

Day 1: Soul Bonds

Pairing: SasuSaku (ish)

Sasuke sells his soul to a spirit as a kid and grows up to regret it (he says he does, but Sakura claims otherwise)

----

Magic was a blessing from the spirits. He who was blessed by a creature of the spirit realm could tap into their own magic cores, something that was usually inaccessible.

Those who could use magic were simply superior to those who could not, and in the world of nobility, not being a recipient of a spirit blessing brought shame to the family name.

That was the first thing Sasuke ever learnt.

His brother, Itachi, received his blessing when he was still a child. Their father had been so proud, and any attention he might have spared Sasuke in between praising his already prodigal older son, simply vanished. His mother noticed how upset that made him and showered him with affection, but it simply wasn't enough.

Itachi was perfect. He was smart and good looking, skilled with both the sword and with words.

In comparison, Sasuke felt like nothing, was nothing.

The books Itachi read made absolutely no sense to him, and he was told the training his brother underwent was too difficult for him. He often found himself alone in their garden, scared. His mother reassured him otherwise, but Sasuke could feel his family moving away from him because he was useless useless useless-

“Why’re you crying?”

Sasuke looked up. A girl stood a little away from him, eyes wide and curious.

He had never seen her before.

“How did you get in here?” He asked. “Are you a servant?”

“Ser-what?” The girl huffed. “No, how rude. And besides, I asked you a question first.”

Sasuke was taken back by the strong rebuttal. “So-sorry.”

The girl smiled. “So, why are you crying?”

“I-I just-” He swallowed. “My brother’s amazing. He was seven when he was blessed by the spirits. My father’s always telling me how good he is. I’m never good enough. I can’t do anything the way he can.”

“How...fascinating.”

Sasuke glared up at the girl, already feeling tears welling up again. His vision was blurry, but he could make out the bright pink of the girl’s hair. “Did you come here to laugh at me?” That was all everyone did. He was old enough to know that

The girl crouched down in front of him. She reached out and gently wiped at his tears with her fingers. “No, silly, I came here because you were crying. Humans cry because they are upset, no?”

Sasuke hiccuped. He watched the girl slowly raise her hand to her mouth and lick his tears off her fingertips. “Do you want people to look at you?”

“Huh?”

The girl cupped his cheeks with her heads. “There is a certain fear in your eyes, boy, fear that threatens to consume your soul. What are you so scared of? Do you fear abandonment? Do you want them to turn your way? Do you want your father to acknowledge you? Your mother to love you, not out of pity, but because she really does? Your brother to accept you as an equal?”

Young Sasuke knew not of the truths behind the luring words. All he heard was a promise of everything he had ever wanted.

“Yes,” he murmured.

The girl smiled. “Then accept the exchange, boy,” she said. “Half of my soul, for half of yours.”

“My soul?”

“A promise, a binding, an oath, a soul bond. Accept it, and I will give you the sword with which you can cut down everything that holds you back. You will never be left behind, never be cast aside. You will never be alone again.”

Because the boy was desperate-

Because the girl was fascinated-

they made an oath, and thus, their souls were bound for life

----

“If you’d told me I’d literally be stuck with you for life, even young, foolish me would have had enough sense to decline your offer.”

“Young, foolish you were told it was a soul bond,” Sakura said. “If anything, that made you even more eager.” The girl floated over him, just out of his swipe range, and peered at him. “If you’d told me how utterly uncute you’d become, I might have reconsidered myself.”

“Regardless, you sure made your promises much more grandiose than they turned out to be.” Sasuke scoffed and walked right past. Sakura let out a sound of complaint and landed behind him before hurrying after him.

“Hey! Rude! Sas-”

The spirit abruptly cut herself off and Sasuke turned towards her in worry, just in time to see her dematerialize in a puff of smoke. He felt for their link and noted that she was still around, most probably just right there, just now out of human sight.

“Sasuke!”

The Uchiha froze, then cursed himself for acknowledging his own name. With a sigh, he waited for the splattering of footsteps to catch up to him, willing himself to not show his annoyance on his face as some unknown girl hurried to catch up to him.

“Can I help you?”

A girl he did not recognize skidded to a halt beside him. “Hi!”

Even in the prestigious Academy for the Magically Blessed, Sasuke’s looks and his family name drew a lot of attention. Sakura found his annoyance amusing, if anything, and he cursed the spirit in his head for leaving him to face her alone.

The girl did not seem to notice his discomfort as she latched onto his arm. “Sorry, I was wondering if you’d like to-”

“Hands off, human.”

A chill ran up his spine and he felt a cold finger land on the back of his neck. It slowly made its way up, and the hand buried itself in his hair seconds later. Sakura leaned over his head, green eyes glowing. Cherry blossom petals flew around them, floating out of her sleeves and from beneath the hem of her clothes. He could feel her nails, now claws, sink shallowly into his shoulder as she looped her arms around him. “This one belongs to me, girl. You should beware where you place those grabby hands of yours, lest something much more merciless than I rip them off.”

Sakura completed her threat with a sneer, all killing intent and sharp teeth. Karin let out a gasp and quickly retreated a few steps. Sasuke did not bother telling her that if Sakura was serious, three steps would not be enough to put her outside of the pinkette's reach.

“I am in a hurry,” Sasuke said, unapologetically. “Excuse me.”

Sakura’s display had caught the attention of all those in the courtyard. No one else bothered him as he swiftly made his way through the corridor and back to his dorm room.

Once out of sight, Sakura let go of him. “So, where are you going?” “What?”

“You told Karin you were in a hurry.”

“I lied.”

Sakura laughed. Sasuke stifled a smirk and allowed her to loop her arm through his. He made his way back towards his dorm room, dragging her with him. Hopefully, no one would be bothering him there.

Once they arrived, he made sure to lock his door. His friends had the tendency to try and make themselves at home in his room, and he was honestly not in the mood to entertain. Sakura let go of his arm to float over to his bed and Sasuke rolled his eyes, then moved to his desk.

Sakura did a slow spin as she rearranged his pillows to her liking. "So...a thank you would be appreciated." She hissed when one of the pillows toppled from its place on her fort.

Sasuke wordlessly leaned over to pick it up as he pretended to consider this. "...Thank you."

Sakura smiled and took the pillow back from him. She planted it back in place, then plopped down onto it with a satisfied sigh. She closed her eyes. "Any time," she said softly.

Sasuke stayed focused on his textbook until Sakura’s breathing had slowed and he was sure she was asleep before he dared a peek in her direction.

He didn’t know what Sakura had seen in him that day, back when he had been a powerless child who could do nothing but cry.

Perhaps she had pitied him; despite how she enjoyed annoying him, she was a gentle, kind girl. Maybe she had seen him crying and had been too young, just as he had been, to know another way to stop his tears.

Regardless, she was his just as he was hers. The magic that now flowed within him, the flames that flared to life at his fingertips, was proof of their bound souls, and he would have it no other way.

Naruto Fantasy Week Master List

#SasuSaku #Sasuke x Sakura #narutofantasyweek #Soul Bonds #kid sasuke was cute #grown up sasuke not as much #sakura is all 'boy' at sasuke but in truth she was probably not much older #i hate that they got rid of the line break thing #i honestly have no idea i pulled this out of a random flower pot on the street or something

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warrioroflondonbelow · 4 years

Text

survivics asked: [ kiss ] for your muse to come up to mine and kiss them without warning

word prompts compilation: ACCEPTING

II @survivics

Another minute ticked by. Richard had been laying completely awake on his bed for about an hour and a half now. No matter how hard he tried to sleep, no matter how many times he tossed and turned, he couldn’t pull himself to do it. He had been a hitman for years now, and acquainted in the criminal world for all his life. Ever since he had been so careful to not let this exact thing happen. Sure, he had slept around, but this? This was completely different. Richard’s heart drummed against his ribs. He couldn’t bear it any longer. He had to tell her. He had to tell Sakura the truth.

As Richard exited his room, every step he drew diluted the courage to tell the brunette that he once had. Perhaps this wasn’t such a good idea. After all, to tell her would mean to seal the deal. Richard couldn’t subject Sakura to his world. He just couldn’t. It’d be cruel. The Scotsman was just about to slink back into his room, when a familiar voice caught him off guard. Turning on his heel, his eyes widened at the sight of Sakura standing at the other end of the living room. Maybe she had heard him?-- “S-... Sakura. I-... Umm... Sorry, did I wake ye’?” he frowned. “I was just thirsty. I’m fine now, though. Go ahead back to sleep. See ye’ in the mornin’.” There aren’t many things or many people that managed to catch Richard Mayhew off guard. Sakura was at the top of that list.-- Richard was about to conjure up another make-shift lie before he watched the brunette drew closer. He felt her palm cup his cheek before her soft lips pressed against his own. It wasn’t a short kiss nor a second-long peck. No. This was the sort of kiss that lingered. It was the sort of kiss that every ounce of your body drank in, wanting more. Craving more. Richard completely submitted to her touch. To her lips. Her familiar scent. To her everything. Their lips parted a finger’s touch away. Richard’s blue gaze glanced at her honeyed eyes, this time without a hint of doubt on either of them. All Richard wanted to do now was melt into her. Drink her in. He was tired of thinking. Without a word, the hitman trapped her lips in a breathless kiss. Richard, nor Sakura, got any sleep the rest of that night.

#mafia;au #survivics #//ghjskdhgjsg im so sorry for the late reply!!//#//but i hope this is oki :>//#//ty sm for sending this to me btw <3//

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persona-5-for-want-of-a-nail · 4 years

Text

Chapter 1 - New Horizons

4/9

Megumi adjusted her glasses as the train continued to clatter along. She held her bag closer to herself, trying to get any semblance of something homey from it, though it was to no avail.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for riding with us today,” As the voice on the speaker began, Megumi glanced up to catch sight of the nearest one. “We’ll be arriving in Shibuya shortly. This is the last stop for this line. Please transfer here for all subway lines. The doors to your left will open.”

Quietly, she stood up and grabbed onto one of the dangling handles above. Grimacing as a pit formed in her stomach, almost as a bitter reminder of why she was in Shibuya to begin with.

The glare of the overhead streetlight, the innocent woman’s cries for help, the stench of a hopelessly drunk man, the thud on the pavement, the shouting, and above all else, the harsh grip of the very police officers she had called for help.

Without thinking, she ran her fingers across her bicep, practically feeling the strong fingertips that had dug into her flesh that short time ago.

“What? Are you for real? A mental shutdown?” The chatter of two nearby girls dragged Megumi out of her trance, glancing over in curiosity.

“It’s the truth!” The other retorted, a certain conviction in her words.

“To a person though?” Her friend asked, skepticism in her voice. “That’s gotta be a joke.” Still, she giggled, pointing to the phone in the formers hand. “You really love that occult stuff, don’t you?”

Mental Shutdowns…?

Odd.

After dismounting the train, Megumi made her way up into the station square. Her grip tightened on the strap of her bag as she slowly weaved through the crowds. This certainly was different from home…

A beep from her phone drew her attention back to the device in her hands. Her brow creased as she looked at the screen.

“What on Earth…?”

Casting on the screen was an app she was unfamiliar with. She knew she didn’t download it, so what was it? She stopped in her tracks and tapped on it, though it didn’t seem to open properly. Megumi sighed prepared to reboot her phone, but then she noticed something. Everything seemed to have stopped in its tracks.

Even the birds overhead.

The most striking thing of all, however, was nestled right in the center of the scramble.

Raging azure flames danced and licked away at the skies, though they soon formed together, making a coherent figure, standing tall and proud. Just as soon as it formed, it dissolved, and for the briefest of moments, Megumi could have sworn she saw herself in it.

And just like that, the world was once again turning.

Megumi looked back and forth. Was she just seeing things, or…?

Whatever, it didn’t matter. She was probably just tired from the train ride. That was what she told herself, anyway. She looked back at her phone screen, gently setting a finger on the offending app and dragging it to the trash.

She still kept a tight grip on the straps of her bag as she dismounted yet another train. Yongen-Jaya, this was the place all right. Her steps were slow as she left the station, not wanting to miss the place she was staying- it probably didn’t help that her sense of direction wasn’t perfect to begin with but that on top of how out of touch she’d felt that day, it simply wasn’t a good mix.

Still, she didn’t know a lot about Yongen, but from what she could see, it felt rather homely from the get-go. She gave everyone who paid her any mind a gentle wave as she weaved her way through the area’s backstreets. Sojiro Sakura was the one she was in the care of, if she recalled correctly, but where on earth was…?

Let’s see… A second hand shop… What looked to be a theater, that could be fun… Takemi Medical Clinic? At least something like that was local, same for the supermarket.

Emerging from the short alley where the clinic was nestled, Megumi sighed, holding her head in her hands. Was she really not even going a day without directional issues?

“Excuse me, Miss.” A gruff sounding voice had asked- no, not asked,- told her, and in response her head shot up, meeting the eyes of a rather menacing officer. Unconsciously, her grip tightened around the cuff of her sleeve.

“Ah, yes, sir?” She had asked, voice just a touch shaky. The last thing she wanted right now was to cause trouble.

“Are you alright? You’ve been wandering around this area for a while now, you aren’t up to anything suspicious, are you?” Without thinking, her back straightened as she shook her head.

“No sir, I was just wondering where the residential area was.”

The officer shook his head with a sigh, pointing over to the girl’s left.

“Just down that way, take the first left and you’ll be there.”

Offering a quick thanks, she continued on her way.

Don’t make waves.

In a way, it was almost fortuitous. The first house on the left had a small brass nameplate, the surname ‘Sakura’ embossed on its surface. She shuffled from heel to heel as she gently pressed on the doorbell, but received nothing in return. She chewed on her lip. Was he out, or perhaps was there another ‘Sakura’ living in the area…? What to do…

“Ah, looks like no one’s home…”

Megumi glanced over her shoulder, noticing a delivery man with a parcel under his arm. It was clear he hadn’t noticed her, attention on other things.

“I suppose it makes sense, Sakura’s usually at his cafe around this time. Although, LeBlanc’s in the back alley, I’d probably be best off working on my other deliveries first…”

Megumi had hesitated for a moment, though she supposed this wild goose chase would have to bring her something at some point. She was thankful, though. It wasn’t nearly as tricky to find LeBlanc.

Slowly, she pushed open the door, the lingering scents of coffee and curry spices that danced out into the cold air calming her down considerably. It felt… homely.

“A public transit bus was driven down an opposing lane with its customers still in it! The citizens can’t live in peace if this keeps up.”

...Oh Heavens.

Megumi craned her neck over to catch sight of the TV mounted on the wall at the far back of the small cafe. Sure enough, a news report of an incident from just a day prior. Maybe it wasn’t in her best interest to stay here after all…? Though it wasn’t like she had much choice in the matter.

“How frightening.”

Soon, she found her attention on an elderly couple in one of the establishment’s booth seats.

“What could be going on?” The man’s wife had asked, a clear concern on her face. “Didn’t something similar happen just the other day?” Her words made Megumi’s stomach twist.

“Vertical is… the name of a shellfish used for farming pearls…”

The manager of the place however, seemed to have minimal concern, simply focusing on a crossword, pen between his index and middle fingers flicking back and forth. Soon enough though, he caught sight of Megumi. His brow creased as he put the crossword on the countertop behind him.

“Right, they did say that was today, didn’t they?”

She nodded, not even sure if she was supposed to reply.

“We’ll be going now. The payment’s on the table.” The older man had said, both him and his wife getting up from their table, a small amount of coins left behind on the smooth surface.

“Thanks for coming.” The manager had said, only glancing at the couple for a moment before he looked back to the teenager in the doorway. Still, the couple continued to ‘joke’ on their way out of the shop.

“At least this place is in the back alley, there’s no worries of a car crashing in here.” The man had said, mostly to his wife but the manager picked up on it.

“A what?”

“Oh? Haven’t you heard? There’s been an entire string of those rampage accidents. I just hope that none happen around here…”

The manager shook his head, looking as unimpressed as ever.

“It’s none of my concern.” He had said curtly. The elderly man had laughed before bidding his farewell and leaving with his wife. Once the bell had chimed, signalling the door had shut, the manager sighed. “...Four hours for just a single cup of joe.” He looked away from the table that had been occupied for so long, back to the only other person in the shop. “So, you’re Megumi?”

She nodded, straightening her posture without thinking about it.

“That’s right. Is Sakura-san here?” She had asked, shifting her weight from foot to foot. He had smiled at that- not a friendly one, but an entertained one.

“Yeah. I’m Sojiro Sakura. You’ll be in my custody over the next year.” His gaze flicked up and down over Megumi’s form. “I was wondering what kind of unruly kid would show up, but… You’re the one, huh?” She didn’t blame him for being confused, she would be too. She was, to a degree. “Have you been told? A customer of mine and your parents are good friends and-” She nodded along with his explanation, which he seemed to notice after long enough. “Well, not that it matters. Follow me.” He turned around and motioned for her to follow, bringing her up a rickety staircase to a large attic at the very top.

The attic was big, if cluttered, one on shelf large bags of coffee beans sat, while miscellaneous junk covered the entire left of the room, a desk in the back covered in old and worn magazines and folders. There was also a small worn bed in the corner opposite the desk, just as dusty as the rest of the room. In the center of it all was a large cardboard box- that she had recognized.

“This is your room.” Sojiro had said curtly, sweeping over the place with his gaze. “Oh, I’ll at least give you sheets for the bed.” Again, she nodded, an action she was getting used to very quickly, as she stared into the distance. “You look like you want to say something.” He had told her, as if he was testing her.

“It’s just a lot bigger than I thought it would have been.” Megumi had told him, staying as polite as possible. She set her bag down on a table next to the stairs, resting her hands on her hips as she looked the room over again and again. “..Could be cozy though…” She mumbled, more to herself, though it’s not like Sojiro hearing would hurt her.

“It’s up to you to clean up the rest.” He had said, hand lingering on the back of his neck. “I’ll be leaving after I lock up each day.” Sojiro looked back toward Megumi as he spoke “You’ll be alone, but don’t do anything stupid; I’ll throw you out if you cause any trouble.”

“Okay.” She had replied, quickly and quietly.

Don’t make waves.

“Now then, I got the gist of your situation.” He had begun. Megumi still hadn’t moved from the top of the stairs, standing straight and tall like a tin soldier. “You protected some woman from a man forcing himself on her, he got injured, then sued you. Right?”

“Mmhmm.”

“That’s what you get for sticking your nose in a matter between two adults.” His expression was sour, not like he was scolding his own child for doing something wrong, more like scolding a puppy. “You did injure him, yeah?”

“We-”

Before she could even begin, Sojiro cut her off.

“And now that you’ve got a criminal record, you were expelled from your old high school.” She didn’t particularly mind that part. She didn’t have much attachment to her old school, much less friends she would miss. “The courts ordered you to transfer and move out here, which your parents also approved. In other words, they got rid of you for being a pain in the ass.”

He looked so smug at those final words. She knew it wasn’t like that, her parents just didn’t have many other options…

“It’s best you not talk about anything unnecessary. I am in the restaurant business, you know. Behave yourself for the year. If nothing happens, your probation will be lifted.”

“Yes sir.” As much as she wanted to say that that was her plan, she didn’t want to seem smug, especially after only being in the attic for two minutes. She knew her sentence would last until next spring, but she figured it’d be best to at least try and make the most of it.

“Just remember, cause any problems, and you’ll be going straight to juvie. We’ll be going to Shujin tomorrow.”

“...Shujin…?” Megumi had mumbled, moreso to herself, but Sojiro still heard it.

“Shujin Academy. The school you’ll be attending.” He had said so matter-of-factly, an underlying tone of exhaustion in his voice.. “We’ll introduce ourselves properly to the staff there. You’re lucky there’s a place that’ll accept someone like you, you know.” He sighed to himself, pinching the bridge of his nose. “What a waste of my Sunday.”

Megumi stayed quiet. She wanted to apologize, but was sure she’d only get snark in return.

“Your ‘luggage’ arrived a little while ago. I brought it up here for you.” Sojiro gestured to the large cardboard box in the middle of the room. Without another word, he went back downstairs to the cafe.

A few moments after he left, Megumi finally broke out of her soldier stance, stretching out and looking at the box from home. She knew a lot of what she needed was in that box, clothes, three spare pairs of glasses and a few other odds and ends.

She ended up opening the box with a mechanical pencil in her bag. She didn’t want to bother Sojiro by asking for a knife or scissors. No matter the impracticality, it got the job done. Taking the opportunity, she changed into some more comfortable clothes- a grey turtleneck sweater which happened to be her favourite shirt she owned, and a simple pair of black pants.

Megumi looked around. Cleaning this place would probably be a good start…

It was nothing too complicated, just a bit of dusting here, a bit of mopping there, putting fresh sheets on the bed, piling a couple trash bags on the table with her school bag and tucking away all the loose magazines underneath the table. She didn’t throw them out in case they held any importance to Sojiro.

It was just as she was pushing the cardboard box with her belongings into a low shelf when Sojiro had come back upstairs.

“What the heck? I heard you making all sorts of noise up here, but I didn’t think you’d be cleaning.” He had said almost as soon as he came up the stairs, looking around the room. Megumi had opened her mouth to apologize- what for, she didn’t actually know, but Sojiro had interrupted her before she could even speak. “Actually, the place doesn’t look too bad. Though it’s only natural you’d want to keep your room tidy.”

That was the first time she even tried to smile in days. Even if it was rather backhanded, she would take the praise regardless. She stood up straight, but before she said anything in reply, she yawned. What time was it, anyway…?

“Why don’t you go to bed for tonight?” He had suggested. “You don’t have anything better to be doing, right?” Sleepily, Megumi nodded, getting a nod from Sojiro in reply. “I’m going to close up shop and get out of here myself. Just remember that I’m not the one who’ll be taking care of you if you get sick from staying up too long, got that?”

“Mhmm…”

Megumi had changed into her soft, creamsicle-coloured pajamas, and looked around the attic once more. She debated doing more work with the cleaning, but she really didn’t feel up to it, practically ready to pass out as soon as she hit the sheets.

As tired as she was though, she couldn’t sleep. She kept thinking about everything that led up to now. Arrest, then trial, and now a criminal record and probation. What else was she supposed to do though?

One thing had led to another and she ended up getting home late, she remembered worrying as she checked her watch. She knew her mother would be worried sick about her, but here she was, lightly jogging through the neighbourhood, but slowly her steps became uncertain.

“Just get in the car!”

She stopped in her tracks completely. Gently, she chewed on her thumbnail. The yelling was coming from her left, but that was the opposite way of home. She was late enough already… Maybe it would just be a second? Megumi found herself trying to rationalize things as her steps guided her toward the voice. Maybe it was just someone trying to coax their pet into their car. At… 8pm. Though she soon found it was hopeless to be optimistic, as she soon picked up on a younger woman’s voice alongside it.

“N-no! Let go!”

“You dare cross me?!”

Again, Megumi stopped. She could see what was happening now. She could see under the glare of the streetlight the silhouette of a man forcing himself on a younger woman, and she could see her struggling rather noticeably. Could she even do something about that? Quietly, she took out her phone and dialed for the police, voice barely above a whisper. She was a bit relieved to hear that the police were on their way- what a mistake that would turn out to be.

“No…!”

“Don’t give me that shit.”

“Ow! P-Please, stop…!”

Letting out a sharp breath, she moved forward, her legs carrying her without a second thought. It didn’t matter if she could or couldn’t stop it, she just needed to try. As Megumi approached, she began catching the heavy scent of alcohol looming in the air. If anything, it made her stomach twist more.

“Tch… What a waste of my time. You think you’re worth causing me trouble? Huh?” The drunken man continued, not letting up.

“I’ll call the police!” The woman had squeaked out. Her nails gripped onto his arm as she desperately tried to pry him off.

“The police are my bitches.” He had growled out. “They’re not gonna take you seriously.” The look of fear on her face only increased at his words. Only moments later the sound of police sirens pierced through the tense atmosphere. The man’s eyebrows furrowed in frustration and anger. “Someone called the cops, huh?” Both his scowl and his grip on the woman tightened. “Get in the car!” He had yelled. “Incompetent fools like you just need to shut your mouths and follow where I steer this country!”

Megumi felt her blood freeze as the man finally noticed she was there, his gaze staring daggers at her from behind his orange tinted sunglasses.

“...What’re you looking at?” He snapped out. “Get outta my face!” She took one step back, gripping onto the strap of her bag. “This ain’t a show. Get lost, kid.” His hand slid off the woman’s body as he began fronting on the high-schooler. Before he got closer, he sneered at the woman again. “See? This is all because you’re so damn slow! Get in the car!” He ordered.

Megumi sighed and shook her head. There was no use even thinking about it now. It was far too late to think about anymore. Just as she felt herself begin to drift, her phone had played it’s little note, trying to grab her attention, which it had. She nabbed it from the floor, and whatever it had tried to notify her on had been pushed to the wayside as she noticed the strange app from just that morning. Her index finger loomed over it, puzzled. Did she not delete it? She thought she did, but she supposed it was entirely possible she didn’t. She was quite frazzled after all. Without another thought, she dragged it off to the recycling bin and placed her phone back on the floor.

Her eyelids were getting heavy and her consciousness began to drift. She’d be scoping out her new school tomorrow, so maybe this would be her lucky break in disguise. Potential friends, potential experiences… She was optimistic, but she’d have to see the hand fate felt like giving her.

Megumi wasn’t sure when she had awoke, but nothing about it felt right. Sure her bed wouldn’t be called luxurious, but it wasn’t this uncomfortable…

The rattling of a chain made her shoot up to sitting, though that only made her notice the chain on herself, going from one wrist to the other with a little bit of give, cuffs linking them to one another. She swung her legs over the side of her ‘bed’ and clutched her head. Sure she could excuse it as a dream, but her wrists certainly did hurt. A chuckle dragged her attention to just outside her new cell.

Just outside she could see two girls, awfully young looking ones at that. They weren’t identical- she didn’t think so anyway, but they shuffled closer together in sync, as if they were moving in a mirror. As Megumi approached, she only found herself stuck at a point, only to look down and pin the cause as a ball and chain. Now what in the world was this…? Megumi only stared at the two girls, hands resting and gaining a loose grip on the bars in front of her, loose striped sleeves sliding down her forearms.

The girls stared back, their uncovered eyes unmoving, though the both turned away, no longer blocking Megumi’s view of the long nosed man in the center of the room. He had offered a hand that she could never grab, and announced in a low, booming voice.

“Trickster… Welcome to my Velvet Room.”

“So, you’ve come to, Inmate?” One of the girls had asked, glancing at Megumi from the corner of her eye.

“The you in reality is currently fast asleep.” The other had continued, her voice just a bit softer than her cohort. “You are only experiencing this as a dream.” She clarified.

“You’re in the presence of our master. Stand up straight!” Without hesitation, she did. She could swear she saw the tiniest grin pop up on the younger girl’s face, but said nothing.

“Welcome.” The man in the center had started, the two girls at either side of you falling quiet. “I am delighted to make your acquaintance. This place exists between dream and reality, mind and matter.” He continued. Megumi’s grip only tightened on the bars. “It is a room that only those who are bound by a ‘contract’ may enter. I am Igor, the master of this place. Remember it well.” Igor continued to drum his fingers, which were just a touch too long on his desk. Megumi told herself that she probably wouldn’t forget this even if she tried. “I summoned you to speak of important matters. It involves your life as well.” She furrowed her brow, not wanting to make waves.

“Important matters?” She asked. It was just a dream, that's what she told herself anyway. Just a strange, strange dream. It probably wasn’t that important overall, but there was no reason not to play along. Igor only nodded along at her words.

“Still, it is strange…” He looked around, as if searching for something. She glanced around too, unsure of what the problem was, besides the obvious. “The state of this room reflects the state of your own heart. To think a prison would appear as such…” His gaze returned to her. “You truly are a ‘prisoner’ of fate.” Igor pointed at her, index finger only drifting around; lingering. “In the near future, there is no mistake that ruin awaits you.”

“Ruin…?” She repeated, concern growing on her face. Igor simply chuckled.

“Worry not. There is a means to oppose such a fate. You must be ‘rehabilitated’. Rehabilitated toward freedom… That is your only means to avoid ruin.” He stared at her again, eyes boring deep into her. “Do you have the resolve to challenge the distortion of the world?”

Megumi stayed silent, though considering Igor’s inclination of doing the same, she realized he was looking for a reply.

“Well, I’d like to avoid ruin…” To this, he grinned even wider than he already was.

“Then allow me to observe the path of your rehabilitation.” As he finished his words, the two girls turned on their heels to face her once more. “Ah, pardon me for not introducing the others. To your right is Caroline; to your left, Justine.” Her gaze travelled as he said each direction. “They serve as wardens here.”

“Hmph,” Caroline huffed out. “Try and struggle as hard as you like.”

“The duty of wardens is to protect inmates. We are also your collaborators.” She couldn’t tell if Justine was trying to calm her. The words seemed sincere but her tone and demeanor was of ice. “...That is, if you remain obedient.” Megumi decided her uncertainty was best left where it was.

“I shall explain the roles of these two at another occasion.” Again, as Igor finished speaking, the wardens turned on their heels in perfect sync to face their master. “Now then, it seems the night is waning… It is almost time.” Almost time for…? “Take your time to slowly come to understand this place. Surely, we will meet again, eventually…” At the flick of his wrist, sirens began blaring in the small prison. Caroline snapped her attention to Megumi.

“Now hurry up and go back to sleep.”

Megumi was confused, but soon enough found her consciousness fading yet again.

#Persona 5 #Persona 5 Royal #Persona 5: For Want of a Nail #persona 5 oc #megumi kurosawa #sojiro sakura #igor persona #caroline and justine

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dragonrajafanfiction · 4 years

Text

Dragon Dancer III: Chapter 1: Stolen Brother

Chisei did not like surprises.

They were never pleasant, they were always an emergency, and any precious time he may have bought out for himself was always sacrificed for them.

His phone rang just as he was on his way back home. It was Yasha.

“You might wanna take a look at this.” The brash, loud-talking retainer sounded all too pleased with himself, heedless of how much he was ruining Chisei’s evening right now.

He did take a look. A construction site had unearthed what appeared to be an ancient carved relief, clearly draconic in origin.

“Have we secured the site?” He asked.

“As best we could. We’re still doing a little… contact tracing.” Yasha gave an unpleasant laugh.

“We need to get it secured before Cassell descends on it.”

Master List

Sakura Yabuki was already making phone calls of her own, turning away from him so as not to disturb his conversation.

“‘As best we could’ is not enough. Secure the site.”

“Yes, High patriarch!”

Chisei hung up, rubbing his chin and sighing before picking up the phone again and sending a text. “Something came up. I’m going to be late.”

The return message. “It’s okay. I’ll package the sushi up for you.”

As painful as it was to once again push Akira aside, the young man was the best kept secret of the Hydra underworld, and the less Cassell had reason to be in Japan, the better. It was an extra burden for him, but one he was happy to bear. The first time he’d met Akira - going by another name, Lu Mingfei - he’d written him off as a rank beginner. He had no idea he was a Light King descendent until that fateful night when he’d just appeared on his doorstep, soaking wet and alone.

That night, his eyes were like a glowing fire, burning with anger.

The driver suddenly slammed on the brakes and Chisei was thrown forward. Instinctively, Sakura reached for her gun.

“YOU IDIOT! LIGHTS ARE RED FOR A REASON!” The driver shouted out the window. He looked into the rearview and flinched. “My apologies sir!”

Chisei shook his head. “It was better than a collision.” He ran his hands through his dark hair. “Could this day get any worse?”

Hydra members had swarmed the construction site, taking pictures and covering the artifact with a blue tarp.

Sakura was on her tablet. “The origin appears to be of second generation make. But the age is still under investigation.”

Chisei crouched and lifted a corner of the tarp. “Any inscriptions?”

“A few, still under analysis. Most of the writing is of poor quality.”

His eyes roamed about what he could see under the tarp. The depiction of a feather caught his eye. He nodded once and stood up. He leaned over to whisper into Sakura’s ear. “Make sure that anyone who has seen this pretends that they haven’t.”

“Understood.” Sakura replied.

“I’ll call another car… just in case they are onto us already.”

Chisei made sure that the second driver took a roundabout route, circling blocks and cutting through parking lots, just to make sure he wasn’t followed. Finally, he felt comfortable enough and directed his driver to his Hydra estate, an expansive plot of land set apart from the city by a tightly controlled and monitored bridge leading to a small man-made isle.

He never tired of the view of the city across the water. The road was so narrow it was as if he were speeding across the waves. He closed his eyes and imagined a beach in France, the one he always dreamed of. That dream never seemed to get any closer.

He stepped out of the car into the fading light of dusk. The lights were still on in the house. He went inside, removing his shoes, a houseworker removing his coat and disappearing.

“Akira?” He called. He heard the sound Akira’s Kendo practice coming from the backyard.

He pulled back the sliding door. Akira’s sword swing was flawless, a result of his tireless dedication to the art.

His younger shatei made his name in other ways however. His soft brown eyes and long flowing brown hair earned him many a look from young women. They would kill to see him now, bare chested in nothing but a dark grey hakama, sweaty from what was probably about an hour of drills.

He stopped as soon as he spotted him. “You didn’t say Tadaima!” He said, breathless. “I would have shouted Okaeri!”

“I didn’t want to interrupt.” Chisei couldn’t help but smile fondly, even as his mind reminded him of the truth about Akira’s presence here.

“Aniki, you’re too polite. I was just messing around.” He looked for and found his assistant to take the sword from him and hand him a towel. “Everything okay?”

He shook his head. “Business as usual.”

“But the retainers couldn’t handle it?” He wiped his face with the towel.

Chisei’s smile faded. “Okay… maybe not quite that usual.”

“Gotcha…” He didn’t pry further. “I thought of a new tattoo design!” He tossed the towel over his shoulder.

“Ah…” This again.

“This time Myōken-Bosatsu standing atop a dragon in a furious storm! In one hand a sword over his head! And in the other!” He demonstrated, standing on one foot in a pose. “He’s grappling an Ultralisk!”

“A what?”

“An Ultralisk! It’s the strongest late game Zerg option!”

Chisei’s expression turned blank. “To think you almost had me convinced you were ready…”

“Come on, Aniki! It’s a great idea!” Akira pleaded, clasping his hands in front of him.

Chisei stood firm, crossing his arms. “No. Getting your first tattoo should be more meaningful than silly online games. It’s an honored tradition!”

“But it’s supposed to be meaningful for me too! And I am following tradition! I wanted a carp last time, remember?”

“That was a Magikarp!” Chisei could not believe they were back on the subject of a Pokemon Yakuza tattoo

“It evolves into Gyarados!” Even though Chisei groaned and turned away he continued to make his point. “Which is just like the carp that goes over the dragon’s gate! It’s a direct comparison!”

Chisei massaged the bridge of his nose.

“And don’t forget that I almost got one of Orochimaru depicted as a Buddha. You liked that one!”

“I thought you meant the real legend, not the Naruto character.” He grumbled.

“What’s the difference, really?” Akira pulled his shirt over his head, and then flipped his hair out from under the collar. “Pop culture is culture.”

Chisei glared. “It will be a permanent part of you. Don’t get something you’ll regret in ten years.”

Akira’s expression turned despondent. “If permanence is the issue here, then I might as well get a tattoo of you telling me I can’t have one. Every time I go to the onsen, it’s humiliating. I look like a little girl.” Akira frowned, genuinely hurt. Those soulful brown eyes turned to him. “Aniki, your tattoo is so beautiful. I want one like it.”

Chisei could feel himself giving in. That pleading look got to him every time. “Then come up with a proper design. And be serious about it.”

He led Akira back inside. “Speaking of girls, have you gotten a present for Erii’s birthday yet?”

Chisei watched as Akira’s expression immediately brightened. “Yes, I know exactly what I’m going to get her! She’s going to be so thrilled! But it’s a surprise so I can’t tell you yet.” He rubbed his hands together.

Akira was very fond of Erii. Just mentioning her name was enough to lift his spirits. His sad-faced younger sister rarely smiled for anyone, but Akira drew it out of her. As much as he enjoyed watching those two, he couldn’t help but realize that they were getting too close however.

Akira didn’t belong to Japan and it was only a matter of time before he would realize that too. The last thing he wanted was to break his sister’s heart.

“I’ll look forward to it.”

#Chisei Gen #Lu Mingfei #Dragon Raja #Fanfiction #Writing

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saradamnnnn · 5 years

Text

Headcanon: “Sasuke Uchiha Jealous? No way.”

A/N: Wherein dinner between friends end up with a game of Truth or Dare, aided by a bottle of Sake.

—

Sakura let out a sigh of relief as she finally reached her office. Three surgeries within the day, plus hospital rounds! She was beat.

She reported for hospital duty at 5 AM and now, if the sky were any indication, she guessed it would be sundown soon.

As she closed her door, she realized there was someone in her office. She recognized him right away.

“Anata,” she said softly. Just seeing him made her feel a whole lot better. Sasuke stood up to greet her, it took no more than three strides for him to get to her.

Almost instinctually, Sakura wrapped her arms around his torso. With his one hand, Sasuke returns his wife’s embrace, pulling her close to his chest.

“When did you arrive? It’s a shame, you just missed Sarada, she was assigned on a mission.”

“Ah. I heard. I’ll still be here when she gets back,” Sasuke said, leading his wife to the couch she had in her office.

He had noticed how depleted of energy she was the moment she entered the office. He knew his wife would just give him an earful if he told her to stop working too hard, so he did the next best thing: subtly get her to rest.

“Oh? How long can you stay?” Sakura asked. She was leaning on his shoulder as she drew circles on the palm of his hand.

“4 days. 5 at most,” he said. He leaned his head on hers. She smelled like strawberries and isopropyl alcohol, a smell Sasuke has come to love because well, it was Sakura.

They sat there in silence, just being with each other was enough. They felt at ease, content.

“Sakura, the dobe told me something about a dinner tonight,” Sasuke said. His wife was about to drift into sleep but he didn’t want her to skip her meals, tired as she was.

Sakura’s eyes suddenly popped open and she jumped in panic. “WAIT— isn’t the dinner on the 13th?”

“It is the 13th today,” Sasuke said, his eyebrows furrowed.

“No, that can’t be? I’m certain today still has to be the 12th,” Sakura goes over to her table, which was cluttered with paperwork.

She still had to tackle a tower’s worth. She grabbed the file, the most recent, on top and read the date on it.

13th.

“Shannaro...!” Sakura exclaimed weakly. She thought it was an extra long day at the hospital, turns out she’d been here for two days.

Sakura plopped back onto the couch, not even bothering to prop herself up properly. She felt disoriented.

“Sakura, don’t tell me you’ve been here for days and didn’t even know it,” Sasuke said in an icy voice.

Sakura gulped and scratched her head sheepishly. “Want me to make you your favorite tomato soup later?” Sakura said with a grin, attempting to deflect her husband’s reprimanding glare.

Sasuke shook his head at his wife’s attempt. “You’re annoying,” he said, but a small smile escapes.

Sakura couldn’t help but giggle. “Shall we, Anata?” Sakura said, standing up and holding her hand out.

Sasuke takes her hand. “Ah.”

—

“No.” Sasuke was watching his wife make bad decisions.

Sakura groaned in annoyance. She and Sasuke stopped over at the supermarket to buy something for the dinner, which was going to be at Sai and Ino’s home.

Sakura thought it would be a good idea to bring sake.

“Aw, c’mon, Anata. I bet the rest already bought meat and whatever else for the potluck. We’ll need drinks.”

“Last time there was Sake, you and Naruto took turns puking on me,” Sasuke said with no fondness of the memory.

“That Baka Naruto thought he could beat me in a drinking contest! I had to fight for my honor, Anata!” Sakura said, but slightly blushing because she didn’t realize Sasuke remembered — but of course he did.

Naruto thought it would be a good idea to have a Team 7 reunion. It ended up with Kakashi bailing when Naruto was puking into a water fountain and Sakura passed out on the ground, on the small crater she accidentally made when she tried to save herself mid-fall. Sasuke was left to babysit the usuratonkachi and his darling, drunk wife — who told him “I can hold a drink, I’m not weak!”

“No.” Sasuke said with finality. Sakura pouted but Sasuke didn’t let her have her way. When her back was turned, Sasuke let out a little smile.

They ended up buying meat.

—

Sasuke and Sakura got to their home around 6:40 PM, the dinner was not for another 50 minutes or so; they still had time to bathe and get changed. Sakura showered first.

Sasuke thought his wife would be ready by the time he got out of the shower but when he does, he’s greeted by the sight of his wife, sitting on the foot of their bed, snoring.

She was clutching onto two dresses, still on their hangers: the first was white with cherry print, and the second a plain navy blue.

Sasuke couldn’t help but snort. His wife always insisted that “I don’t snore, Sasuke-kun. Shut up!” Sasuke used to have a hard time sleeping because of her snoring but now he’s quite fond of it, it made him feel easy, it was a way to know she was there. He still teased her for it though.

“Sakura,” Sasuke gently prodded, poking her forehead. Sakura opened her eyes slowly and immediately turned red in the face.

“Why are you so close!” She jumped back in shock. Sasuke’s face was only an inch away from hers. She knew it was so stupid for her to shy away from her husband but she still very much had a crush on him.

Sasuke rolled his eyes, quite amused. He gently pats her head and says, “navy blue,” as he walks out of their bedroom.

“Shannaro! You’re so annoying!” Sakura throws her shower slipper at his retreating back. Sasuke smiles to himself. Sakura was so fun to tease.

Sakura was left in their room, her face heating up to what seemed to be a thousand degrees.

—

Sakura walks out their bedroom and Sasuke’s eyes are immediately drawn to her. The dress fell gracefully on her curves, the dress stopping just a little above her knees. She was also wearing the necklace Sasuke got her; a dainty little thing, an Uchiha fan pendant.

His wife looked gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous. Sasuke looked away, feeling a little embarrassed that he was staring a little too intently.

Sakura couldn’t help contain her smile. Her husband looked so handsome in his black button down. He could make such simple clothing look magnificent. She went over to him and gently combed her fingers through his hair to fix it. It was sticking out a little, reminding her of his porcupine hairstyle back in the day. Her heart swelled with nostalgia.

“Ready now?” She asked. “I wasn’t the one snoring,” Sasuke said with a smirk. Sakura’s smile turned into a pokerface. She knew it wasn’t something Sasuke would lie about be she swears, she doesn’t snore!

While Sakura went over the checklist in her head, Sasuke was already by their doorway, wearing his footwear.

“All appliances turned off, stove is turned off, all faucets closed properly, the meat, house keys, wait where are the house keys?” She thought out loud.

She went back into the bedroom and found them on their dresser. This is when Sasuke noticed something about her dress. His eyes widened a fraction. He didn’t realize the dress had been backless.

“Got them!” Sakura exclaimed, ready to go. “What about your coat?” Sasuke asked. He felt himself grow a little overprotective and this annoyed him. But outwardly, he looked like his normal expressionless face.

“It’s a short travel. It’s fine,” Sakura said, not noticing what Sasuke actually meant.

“Ah,” was all Sasuke could say. It was logical, he pushed his overbearing thoughts aside. He did choose the dress after all.

—

The walk to Ino and Sai’s, even if it was only 20 minutes away, felt long to Sasuke. They had taken a shortcut, through the town square. So naturally, there were lots of people.

A lot of them recognized the pair, Sakura would greet them back and Sasuke would just nod in recognition. Sakura noticed the slight shift in her husband’s mood — she guessed it was because he wasn’t a fan of crowded place. She didn’t think much of it.

Sasuke noticed men were gawking at his wife. Sakura, enveloped in conversation, didn’t notice this.

Sasuke didn’t know if these men were openly doing it or they were just doing a poor job at hiding it.

Suffice to say, this put Sasuke in an off-putting mood. Sasuke moved from walking beside his wife to walking in front of her. Without realizing it, Sasuke had begun glaring at the men, who immediately avertered their sights in fear of the Uchiha patriarch.

Sakura noticed that Sasuke was walking ahead of her now. He always did walk too damn fast for her, much to her annoyance. He was 6 foot 2 and she was a mere 5 foot 4. Sakura took this as Sasuke getting impatient with their pace.

“Anata,” she whined in a small voice, he caught this. One look at her and Sasuke knew. She’s always complained about him walking too fast, “little legs here!” It was one of their squabbles back when they were traveling together.

Sasuke wordlessly went back to his place, by her side. What was the point of backless clothing anyway? It serves no purpose. Stupid, he complained in his head.

—

“Sakura-chan! Sasuke!” Naruto drawled as he watched his two best friends enter the house.

Naruto went in to hug them but only Sakura returned it, Sasuke stepped out of the hug in his lightning speed fashion. Sakura couldn’t help but laugh.

“Hi, Hinata! How’s Hima?” Hinata had brought Himawari to Sakura a few days ago because she had a fever.

Sasuke took the available seat which was next to Naruto, who already began to talk his ear off. Sasuke sighed.

“She’s doing better now. I think Naruto and Boruto annoyed her into feeling better!” Hinata chuckles.

“Forehead! I haven’t seen you in forever. I thought you wouldn’t ever leave your hospital cave!” Ino went in for a hug, with Sai tailing behind her.

“Wow, you don’t look ugly today, ugly,” Sai says, this earns him a punch from Sakura.

Sasuke used to be displeased whenever Sai called Sakura ugly. But he’s come to realize it was just banter between two friends now. If he didn’t know about Sakura and Sai’s friendship dynamic, Sasuke would have been livid over anyone disrespecting his wife.

“Sasuke-kun! When did you get back?” Ino asked in excitement. It was always a treat to have Sasuke over at one of their gatherings since it was quite rare.

“Hey, what about me!” Naruto complained, pointing at himself. Ino waved him off.

“Nevermind you, I’m so sick of your face!” Everyone, except Sasuke who just gave an amused smirk, at the table bursts into laughter. Because he was Hokage, Naruto’s face was everywhere.

Temari and Shikamaru enter the home.

“Sorry, we’re late. Some people are such a drag,” Temari says sarcastically. Giving her husband a dirty look.

Shikamaru smiles sheepishly. He got carried away with a game of Shogi with Shikadai. Mendokusē, he thinks. “Hi, everyone,” he greets.

(They began catching up and chattering about. This is when Kiba arrives with Shino.)

“We got the goods!” Kiba yells, raising up a case-full of bottles of sake.

“I tried my best to stop this. My apologies,” Shino says.

Naruto, Sakura, Temari, and Ino clap animatedly. The rest, not that excited for what was to come.

—

They still had a bit of food left, which no one was surprised of. Choji couldn’t come so they were bound to have extra food.

“I apologize, I have to head out first. I have an early class to teach tomorrow,” Shino said.

“Stay for a little while, Shino! We rarely get together like this,” Naruto said, but also aware he had a ton of work to do at the Hokage’s office.

Shikamaru chuckles because he’s just read Naruto’s mind. There was more paper in Naruto’s office than actual furniture. The adult life was really something.

“Honestly, when it’s past 9, I already get sleepy,” Shino shyly admitted.

“Oh boy, we’re getting old,” Temari says, amused. She could relate.

“Not me! I’m still so youthful!” Naruto exclaimed, still the only one chowing down on the food. Hinata stared at him adoringly, Sasuke and Sakura shook their head. He was still such a messy eater.

“Can’t believe this idiot is the Hokage,” Sakura and Sasuke thought in unison, they look at each other as if to see if they were thinking the same, and one look from each other and they knew. Sakura giggles and Sasuke hides his smile as he drinks water from his cup. Ino notices this exchange.

“You guys are so cute!” Ino expresses in glee. Sakura blushes and Sasuke pretends not to hear.

“Don’t leave, Shino! I’ll be outnumbered by the couples!”

Shino looked at Kiba blankly. “You already are. They came in pairs, you are single. Akamaru doesn’t count.”

“Hey!”

“That’s because you don’t get sleep, Naruto,” Shikamaru chimes in.

“That’s because I don’t need it. Sleep is for the weak ‘ttebayo!” Naruto shouts with pride. He flings his chopsticks in the air as he does this, this causes grains of rice to fly.

“Naruto-kun!” Hinata scolds, Naruto realizes the mess he’s made and sheepishly apologizes. “Sorry, dear! Hehe.”

“Why are you apologizing to her? I’m the one who’s gonna have to clean up,” Sai deadpanned. This earns a collective laughter.

“You’ve trained him well, Ino!” Temari howled in laughter.

“Hey, I help around the house, too,” Shikamaru piped in. Temari rolled her eyes at her husband playfully.

“What can I say? He’s helpful and cute,” Ino said, patting Sai on the cheek affectionately. This makes Sai smile.

The rest of them made puking noises. “Should we leave?” Kiba asked jokingly.

—

“Let’s play a game!” Kiba says, hauling the case of sake onto the table.

The lot of them beamed in excitement, except Hinata, Sasuke, and Shikamaru.

Temari rolls her sleeves up her elbows and Shikamaru visibly gulps. “Mendokusē. I already foresee the disaster,” Shikamaru said, scratching his head. Sasuke and Hinata shared Shikamaru’s sentiments. They didn’t need their kekkei genkai to see this was indeed going to be disastrous.

“Let’s get this party started dattebayo!” Naruto claps excitedly. He produced shadow clones to help set the dishes aside.

“If you puke on the floors, I will personally use you as a mop to clean it up,” Sai told Naruto with a smile. Ino bursts into laughter, she knew well enough that Sai was serious — they just had their floors done and Sai was borderline obsessed with keeping them spotless.

“Me? Puke? As if. I can take my drink, unlike some people,” Naruto said the last bit in a whisper.

“Excuse me, what was that?” Sakura piped in, feeling her competitive side pique.

“Don’t provoke her, idiot,” Sasuke said. He still remembered the shock he felt when he found out Sakura accidentally reduced their home into rubble.

“You’re so biased, Sasuke!” Naruto exclaimed, childishly.

“It’s just facts, Naruto-kun. I can take a drink better than you,” Sakura said with a confident smile.

“It’s true. Women can take alcohol better,” Ino piped in and the rest of the kunoichi agreed.

“Ohoy! Is that a challenge?” Naruto exclaimed. “That’s just not concrete fact,” Shikamaru added.

“So I suppose we have to see. You ladies vs us men?” Sai said

“Let’s go!” Naruto cheered.

“This’ll be easy,” Sakura said, cracking her knuckles. She went over to the other side of the table, along with Hinata. They switched places with Shikamaru and Sai.

Naruto noticed Sasuke didn’t show any indication that he was up for the game — which by all honesty, wasn’t out of character.

“Hey, Sasuke. C’mon!” Sasuke looked at him and shrugged, “my wife’s not weak.”

Sure, Sakura could get into such a drunken state but Sasuke knew she was much tolerant to alcohol than Naruto.

Sasuke’s comment earned hollers from the men and gushing from the women, Sakura looked down at the table, blushing at her husband’s compliment.

“So whipped -ttebayo!”

(28 bottles of sake later...)

Only Sasuke, Shikamaru, and Hinata were sober. Sakura was walking the fine line of being drunk & being tipsy. The rest were outright drunk.

Naruto found his way over to Hinata, plopping himself beside her. He then began poking her cheek. “Hinata-chaaaan,” he drawled.

“What?” She asked her clearly drunk husband. “Hi!” At first Hinata found it cute, but at the 11th time he did it, she smacked him off the bench they were sitting on.

Shino and Kiba somehow thought it would be a good idea to play Tag. They ran to the Yamanakas’ backyard with loud chuckles. The both of them couldn’t agree on who would be ‘it’. In the end, they decided they’d let there shadows chase them. It made no sense but in a drunken thinkinf, it was the best idea ever.

Sai decided to play some music on “Karaoke!” He yelled, he was now standing on top of the table. Sai, Ino, and Temari began singing their lungs out and swaying to the music.

“You sound so good!” Temari told Ino, who then replied, “You do, too!” the kunoichis then high fived.

But in reality: Temari was out of tune and Ino was out of sync. Sai, dancing on the table didn’t match the song’s rhythm one bit.

Sakura was the only one who was still drinking. She chugged two whole bottles all by herself and then some. She was currently finishing up the 29th bottle they had.

“Shannaro! How can you guys be such weakshits!” She giggled, raising the bottle in the air like it was a trophy. Sasuke decided it was nearly her drinking limit — if her pink cheeks were any indication.

Swiftly and quietly as he could, he took the last bottle of sake and hid it. At this point, he’s moved seats and is now sitting next to his wife.

He was holding her head up because it would lull back and forth, ever so slightly, every now and then. Her exhaustion plus alcohol intake taking its toll.

“A-anata. Where’s the last bottle? I’m going to win this!” Sakura hiccuped, now resting her head on her husband’s shoulder.

“It’s gone,” Sasuke said, he technically wasn’t lying. Sasuke was a little relieved that Sakura still had some of bearings, she was still aware of her surroundings.

“Oy! You kids come back here,” Shikamaru yelled at Shino and Kiba. Who to his surprise, listened, he guessed following orders was basically a reflex action for ninjas.

The rest of the drunk people followed suit. When Kiba reached the table, he eyed the bottle that was in Sakura’s hand, thinking it still had some contents in it.

“Awww,” Kiba whined when he realized Sakura had emptied it.

Sakura sees Kiba’s sad expression. “Don’f be sad!” She stands up, and gets dizzy by the suddeness. Both Sasuke and Kiba hold her to keep her from falling. Sasuke gets a tad annoyed. He can take care of his own wife.

“Don’t be sad! C’mon let’s dance!” Sakura told Kiba. Sakura was naturally compassionate person and it heightened whenever she had alcohol in her. She could see a dog in the rain and she’d cry for a straight hour.

Sakura takes hold of Kiba’s hand and they join Sai. Kiba forgets about the sake and gets lost in the frenzy of the music.

Sasuke notices all of this, his annoyance growing. He watched as Kiba and Sai put their arms around Sakura as the three of them jumped in glee to the music.

He was pleased that Sakura was enjoying himself but Kiba and Sai could enjoy themselves, at least a feet away from Sakura, too, he thought to himself.

“You lot settle down, come back to the table,” Hinata said gently, the three of them obediently followed.

When Sakura came back to sit next to him, he tugs at her hand from under the table, inconspicuosly pulling her closer to him.

“Truth or dare! We have empty bottles to spin now!” Kiba exclaimed, taking one from the pile that’s accumulated from the floor.

“Yes, twenty-nine to be exact,” Shino said, counting the bottles, swaying at his step.

“Sasuke-kun! See? Missing one!” Sakura whined.

“Shh, that’s enough,” Sasuke whispered in her ear. Sakura pouted and rested her head back on her husband’s shoulder.

Kiba spun the bottle and it landed on Temari.

“Okay, Truth or da-“

“Dare!” Temari slams the table and stands up as she yells this.

“I dare you to tell us the most embarrassing memory you have with Shikamaru!” Kiba chuckles

“Oy!” Shikamaru complained, his wife was incredibly blunt when intoxicated. He tugs at her sleeve to get her to sit back down. She ends up sitting on his lap, she was too drunk to feel embarrassed about it.

“This idiot brought me to a hotel for what I thought was our first date! I thought he was some kinda pimp! Turns out he was asking me to help choose a gift for your wedding!” Temari says with a laugh, pointing at Naruto and Hinata.

Naruto was half passed out cold, resting his head on Hinata’s shoulder, his mouth wide open, drooling. Hinata laughs, mainly because Shikamaru has turned three shades of red.

“Mendokusē,” he groans. “Pimp!” Temari teases him.

Temari spins the bottle with such force that it teeters off the table. Shino retrieves another bottle. “Good thing we have a lot of spare.”

This time the bottle lands on Sakura. “Dare!” She says with energy but her heavy eyes say otherwise

“Was there a time you got horribly jealous?” Ino asked, her arm around Sai, who was still animatedly dancing in his seat.

Sakura chuckles and hides her face in Sasuke’s shoulder.

He smells so nice, Sakura thought. Sasuke didn’t show it but he wanted to hear her answer.

“Well, when we were traveling, there was this inn keeper who openly flirted with Sasuke,” Sakura said, wearing a bitter smile on her lips.

Sasuke didn’t recall any inn keeper. He looks down at his wife with raised eyebrows.

“She asked you out for dinner while I was right beside you, Sasuke-kun!” Sakura exclaimed.

“You can be so dense sometimes, Anata. Good thing you’re so cute,” Sakura giggles, pinching Sasuke’s cheeks.

“Woah!” The group was so shocked at the scene before them.

Sasuke Uchiha, one of the deadliest ninjas in the world was just called... cute and had his cheeks pinched... and he let it happen.

Even Naruto sobered up a little due to shock.

Sasuke was paralyzed, his face heating up. To make matters worse, Sakura gives him a smack right on the lips.

“Cutie Sasuke-kuuuuun!” Drunk Sakura drawled. Very unaware of the fact that her husband’s turned into the very shade of a tomato.

“I really am drunk, did that actually happen dattebayo?” Naruto asked, looking around if anything he was seeing was actually real.

Luckily for Sasuke, Kiba pukes at that moment — diverting the attention.

“NO!” Sai leaps to his feet.

From there, the dinner took an official close. “Don’t worry, they’re all too drunk to remember this,” Shikamaru told Sasuke who was looking at his smiling albeit drunk wife with a facepalm.

Hinata made a zipping motion across her lips, indicating, what happened would be kept secret. Sasuke nodded in thanks.

“What about you, Sasuke-kun? Do you ever get jealous?” Ino asks, face on the table, clearly dizzy.

Before Sasuke could formulate an answer, Sakura beats him to it. “Sasuke Uchiha jealous? No way!”

Sasuke scoffs.

List of my SasuSakuSara headcanons

#sasukeuchiha #sakurauchiha #saradauchiha #sssfamily #uchiha #boruto #naruto #ino #sai #headcanon #romance #fluff #sasusaku #sasusakusara

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