Disclaimer: Naruto's not mine. He's Hinata's. Uh I mean Kishimoto sensei's.
Summary: My attempt at filling up the gap between Sakura Hiden and Naruto Gaiden(basing it on the ending of the Hiden that I read though)
I foresee myself making Sasuke and Sakura rather OOC.
Just felt like writing something about this period because I am so glad over the SasuSaku blessing from Kishimoto sensei in the recent Gaiden. My fangirl heart almost exploded. (Sorry, I am, by default, naggy and long-winded. Haha :P)
Chapter 1: The longing
"I'll see you soon" rang in her ears as she woke up from her slumber.
"Another dream about that day, eh" Sakura thought aloud to herself. Sasuke left the village on a travel for redemption after the war ended. It's been a good 3 years since he left. Sakura missed him since then. Missing Sasuke has become almost like breathing to Sakura. And it didn't help that she heard about him almost returning because of her little mishap a year ago. That only served to make her miss him even more.
Leaving her thoughts about Sasuke ebbing at the back of her mind, Sakura got up and went about preparing for her daily routine. Well, not exactly daily routine since it's 5AM in the morning, but it was her day off and since she probably wouldn't be able to fall back asleep, she might as well make the most out of the day by starting early.
When dawn came, Sakura was out and about in the village. Just walking around along the streets, greeting the shopkeepers from the stores, the ones who watched her grow up. As she passed by Ichiraku, saying hi to Teuchi, she suddenly remembered the time when they were still Team 7. Twelve-year-old Team 7 actually, and trying to trick Kakashi-sensei into showing his face. She smiled at the memory, at how Sasuke-kun actually willingly joined them in their rather absurd "mission" that unfortunately ended with "a mask under a mask".
Sakura halted in front of a red door at the residential area. It's been quite a while since she last dropped by her parents' home. She moved out to an apartment nearer to the hospital for convenience sake. Not that the village is all that huge, but she thought she really should learn how to take care of herself as a grown-up. Moreover, she wanted her parents to worry less about her and looking at her crazy shift work, she is sure as hell that her mum will worry and fuss over Sakura to no end.
"Tadaima~!" Sakura's voice rang throughout the cosy home. Her mother practically dropped the utensils she was trying to wash and rushed over to embrace Sakura in a death grip hug. "Too tight mum" Sakura chuckled while hugging her mother back. Her father chuckled at the sight "I'm afraid your mum's not gonna let you go once she get a hold of you. Welcome home Princess." Untangling herself from her mother, Sakura hugged her father snugly "I'm home Daddy dearest!"
The family moved and settled down in the living room, starting to chatter about their latest life. While talking to her parents, Sakura couldn't help but notice how both of them aged a bit more since she last saw them. She saw the few more strands of grey hair speckled across their heads. "Well, time really waits for no one. I'm almost twenty now, naturally they are aging day by day" Sakura thought to herself, making a mental note to visit them as much as her schedule allows.
"Ne, Princess Pie, any updates on when Mr Prince will sweep you off your feet? Daddy's certainly looking forward to having little princesses from my Princess" they were having breakfast together and her father's sudden question shocked Sakura for a bit. She hadn't expected her father to ask her about this. Well, in a way, her father has always been rather protective of her, sometimes to the extent of being over-protective. She didn't think he would be so eager about her love life to sound like he hopes to marry her off soon.
"Daddy, you know why, don't you? Well, I'd love to know when myself too. But hmmm, I'm quite certain it's him or never, Daddy" Sakura retorted in a playful tone. Though she had confidently said that, she was still concerned about how her father would take it. Both her parents know how adamant she is about waiting for Sasuke, especially after Sasuke actually did came back to try to save her a year ago. That reinforced her will and faith to wait for him, even though he showed no signs of coming home anytime soon.
"That's my girl! True love waits I guess. Well, since I don't get any little princesses, you, princess, better make sure to come around to visit good old Mummy and Daddy more often." Sakura's father chuckled at her determination, a gentle smile and twinkle in his eyes showed how he understood Sakura's feelings completely. Sakura blushed slightly and hugged her father tightly, showing him her appreciation for his understanding, support and love.
"Take care Mummy, Daddy, don't worry too much about me, I'll make sure to take care of myself while juggling my shifts. Will see you soon, I will come by more often, like what Daddy mentioned. And we could go on a vacation sometime maybe? When things in the hospital are on track." Sakura paused for a while before continuing "I love you, Mummy, Daddy" hugging her parents together, Sakura kissed each of their cheeks and left her parents' home and set off to her next destination under the hot mid-day sun.
Instead of jumping from tree to tree, he was walking on the dirt path. "Finally in the Land of Fire eh" he thought to himself. It's been a good year since he last saw the familiar landscapes.
Thinking about that fact reminded him of her. How he missed her but didn't, couldn't bring himself to appear before her. Despite the fact that it was because of her that he even came back last year. It was not the time yet back then, he would have upset her even more by seeing her and parting soon after. So he restrained himself then. "But it's different now" he thought as he quickened his pace. He's not rushing to go back to the village, because he knows that this time round, he has some time to stay. Not very much but he had at least several months before he would have to leave again.
And if, well, if things goes well, if he could carry across to her his feelings, maybe he wouldn't be alone the next time he leaves the gates of Konoha again.
A ghost of a smile graces his lips as he heads towards the village that is no longer just a place to return to, but someone to return to.