Bloody Band-aids

by iamuljjang


"Sakura, put the band-aids down."

A pink-haired girl lifted her head from the box of bandages and inclined towards the raven-haired boy who was glaring-- no, seething at her. Her left hand clamped the small box while the other paused rummaging through the box's content for a slightly-bigger-than-average bright-colored bandage. Her eyebrows quirked, a frown settled on her lips, and confusion met her apple-green eyes.

The raven-haired boy growled in frustration.

She tilted her head and replied, "What's wrong? I'm hurt, Sasuke-kun. This cut calls for a band-aid." She raised her index finger, flaunting a miniscule scratch. A scratch so tiny a drop of blood can barely even ooze out for the skin at the area is still woven, cell to cell, skin fiber to skin fiber.

"Sakura, what blood? What cut? You can barely see it." Sasuke snorted.

Sasuke knew the reason behind every band-aid on every inch of her skin. Head to toe, she was practically covered in a variety of band-aids: obnoxious neons, Hello Kitty, polka-dot... Her appearance practically screams band-aid fixation!

This isn't the correct way to heal, he stated inwardly. Sakura, you...

"No!" Sakura protested, anxiety building up in her, influencing the tone and speed of her voice. Sasuke, with his sharp obsidian eye, noticed the flickering emotion clouding behind her eyes. "There is blood! Of course you can't see it, considering the distance between you and I, but it's there! Really! I see a very, very, very, very, VERY tiny blood streaming out! If I don't cover it up soon, more blood will stream out!"

Her right hand that now clutched a band-aid began shaking. The band-aid box fell.

"Then, a pool of blood will pour out! No, a flood of blood!" She gasped. Water threatened to trickle from the corners of her eyes. "T-Then I'll die because it's too late for you to save me! I'll die in my own blood! I won't li-- mmf!"

Sasuke's left hand was clamped over her mouth to prevent her to utter one single word and his right hand was on her left hand, ceasing its violent quivering. He was towering over her, their beings close in proximity now. His eyes laid on Sakura's where tears finally broke out from, rolling on either side of her face. He lifted their linked hands and gently wiped away the salty teardrops.

He removed his hand from her mouth and left it hanging by his side. His right hand was tight on her left wrist now. He continued looking at her deeply and said, "You're hurt."

Sakura nodded and began, "F-From t-this--"

"No. Not from that. From your heart. Your relationship with Sai... every band-aid on you represents the pain you're under from the break up. This isn't the correct way to heal a broken heart."

He stepped closer. The distance between them was closed now, their noses touching. The connection between their eyes still didn't waver.

"I'll help you." He spoked.

Her eyes widened.

"You don't need the band-aids anymore now."

The tips of Sakura's mouth curved upwards into a smile as she shed a new flight of tears.

Tears of happiness.

She enveloped him in a hug, her head on his chest as Sasuke's chin rested on the top of head, both hands on her back.

In the process, the band-aid that was inbetween her fingers slipped and fluttered to the ground.


fin.