cicadas' night-song
over the cherry blossom
sun hid behind moon
The sunny day came first.
Naruto's skin was smelling of the warm air of August afternoon, and of the lemon-tree. The sweet singing of long-tailed tits hidden in its branches was coming to the pavilion. Everything felt so natural when asters were bending their heads to the breeze, just behind the wall, and the birds were chirping merrily. Sakura heard them laughing. Or, perhaps, it was Naruto's laugh? You wouldn't hear any hesitation in this laughter, although it had been certainly reflected in his eyes just a moment ago. His timidity didn't annoy her a bit, it only amplified her feelings for him. His touch, so gentle, made her feel safe. His kisses, alternated with laughter of them both, made the atmosphere become almost magic - warm, calm, harmonious. His every gesture proved his affection and care. He wanted to be with her on equal terms.
Sakura could give him happiness, but not satisfaction.
Then came the moonlit night.
Cicadas were singing outside the pavilion, and nothing else disturbed the cool silence. From time to time, you could hear the murmur of the stream, its water glistening silverly. The droplets on Sasuke's skin were still glistening when he came back from his evening training, and his hair was still damp. When he was lying next to her, his gaze was more distant than moon. When he was touching her in a way that made her blaze, his eyes didn't meet the greenness of gooseberry over her burning cheeks. His movements were firm and fast, his hands strong, but he remained absolutely silent among the cicadas' song. It was Sakura who cried, louder and louder, when she managed to take a breath. When Sasuke was in her, she felt like a centre of universe. She could almost believe she saw a smile on his shut face. He was so far away. Her arms weren't strong enough to embrace him, and her passion consumed itself.
She could give him satisfaction, but not happiness.
And then an eclipse occurred.
Sakura could sit there for ever. They might know she was there. They couldn't care less, either. Perhaps, just this moment, they could be with each other more than ever - when they were together, complete, with no need and no acceptance for anything else.
Naruto was a liquid passion. He, who had once trembled under Sasuke's touch, now held him so firmly as if the whole world depended on it. All Sasuke could do was to give in to these hands, that without hesitation took possession of every piece of his skin. Naruto's kisses were the pure determination, as if he wanted to own even Sasuke's breath and not allow even the microscopic part of him to leave again. Naruto tasted with salt of tears that flew from behind his clenched eye-lids.
In the absolute silence of the moment when the world stopped, one would hear only accelerating and slowing breaths. Someone of an extraordinary hearing would hear also two hearts beating in the same rhythm. When Sasuke tossed his head back and looked right at her - never seeing her there - Sakura spotted the reflection of the sunlight in his eyes.
She stood up and left, noiselessly sliding the door behind her.
The universe kept playing its melody.