As the kimono dresser exited through the shoji, Sasuke slipped in.
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura smiled as she closed one eye and traced black along her lash line. He watched in silence. She twirled the wet brush against the tiny brick of makeup and lifted it back to her eye. His hand shot out to her forearm.
"Stop."
It was all he could manage to say. The gold and purple fabric beneath his iron grip was thick and padded—so many layers separating them. She stayed perfectly still as if not daring to move. His eyes caressed the painted skin revealed by the dip of her collar—like untouched snow.
Despair lent him speed and in one quick movement, he kneeled beside her, clutched her shoulder tightly, and pulled her close enough to whisper in her ear.
"Don't."
His lips burned as they trailed across her cheek. She turned imperceptibly to meet his mouth. When they touched, she responded with a sweep of her tongue, pushing her way inside him. He slid his hand to wrap around her neck. The brush of the dark, woolen wig against his fingers made him press her desperately closer. Panting, he smashed their lips together, twining their tongues, drinking her in.
He rubbed his face against hers, knowing he'd smudged the perfection of her paint—wanting to. His stomach lurched and he pulled away.
"Please."
Sakura sat up taller as she placed her hand on top of his. "Before we are anything else, we are shinobi." She gently removed his hand and finished painting her face. With a rustling sweep, she slipped on her geta and left.
Makeup smeared across his mouth and cheek, Sasuke watched, paralyzed, as the woman he loved—the woman he told too late, the woman who would not come back the same—departed for her mission. He fumbled in the folds of his shirt and pulled out a small, red box.
"Honmei," he said softly as he slipped a piece of the bitter chocolate between his lips.
Thank you, Paige, for reading this over for me. I never feel right posting without you!
For those who don't know, honmei means "true feelings" in Japanese. On Valentine's Day, a girl gives the boy she loves special chocolates to express her feelings-these are called honmei choco.
This angsty Valentine is dedicated to my very dear friend, Kaze and Kiba. On this date in 2011, she pushed me into the deep end of the fan fiction pool by writing a story with me called Stupid Cupid...and I can't thank her enough. You were right...fan fiction IS fun. Hee, hee...thanks for being a wonderful friend!
Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!