A/N: This story came about after delving wayyyy to deep into the UchiSaku tag on tumblr. Thus a new crackship obsession was born. Seriously y'all, I did not need to become a Sakura multishipper. I was just fine with SasuSaku. Oh well, I guess that's the way the cookie crumbles. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
That and there are way too few Shisui x Sakura fics out there and I figured, 'Why not contribute?'
I've always loved Shisui's character and figured this cinnamon roll deserved to be happy with my ultimate favorite cinnamon roll from Naruto. (Also I honestly just wanted an excuse to write these two together)
There'll be three, maybe four, parts to this story. I've got it about 70 percent done in its entirety, so bear with me as I update. I figured this pet-project of mine was the best way to get my feet back into writing.
I hope you guys enjoy!
xx LCF
(Chapter title from Fantasy by Mariah Carey. Go give it a listen if you're at all into that 90's R&B/Pop Vocal vibe)
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
running just as fast as we can
chapter one: baby, i'm so into you
Sakura smiled as the warm breeze ruffled her shoulder-length locks.
It was a beautiful summer evening, just a little after six, and the perfect time to be out and about as the intense heat from the day finally abated. The Sunset Market that popped up every Thursday at the park close to the hospital where she worked was a lively thing, and she'd been lucky that today happened to be her day off. It had been far too long since she'd been last, and since she was nearby anyway, Sakura figured why not indulge on the special occasion.
She walked through the park, green eyes bright as she took in the sights and sounds and smells before her.
Kids played in the large field surrounded by the trees that had been planted along its border. Beyond those trees were gravel paths that usually served as a jogging trail, but tonight had been transformed into a walkway lined with booths that local shops had set up for the evening. The gravel paths were also home to small patio tables that let people have a place to eat the food purchased from the food stands.
It was to said stands that Sakura currently made her way to.
When she'd learned that her favorite teahouse had opened a stand at her favorite pop-up market, Sakura made it a mission to stop by whenever her schedule allowed. The teahouse was about a forty-minute drive on the other side of Konoha, and almost impossible to get into without a reservation beforehand. Not to mention the price was a bit steep for tea and skewered dumplings; but it was where her parents have taken her for her birthday for as long as she could remember, and thus held a special place in her heart.
So it was with great pleasure and anticipation that she walked to the stand, enjoying the sound of gravel as it crunched beneath her cognac-colored chelsea boots.
The line took some time to get moving, but soon enough Sakura was at the front of the stall, putting her order in. As she waited for it to be prepared, she scoped out the jogging trail for a free table and was pleased to find one a little ways away. When her number was called, Sakura happily took her order and made a beeline to the eating area in hopes of getting to the small table while it was still free.
However, just as she was about to reach her destination, someone roughly bumped into her from the side, causing the twenty-four-year-old to drop her tea and dango onto the packed earth at her feet. The styrofoam container fell open upon impact, and out rolled her skewers. The syrup-covered confections picked up dirt as they rolled away, and her tea had been reduced to nothing more than a half-absorbed puddle.
Small fists instantly balled up in an attempt to rein in the outburst that threatened to escape her. Whoever had bumped her quickly came around to apologize.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't see you there..." The stranger trailed off, but Sakura didn't care.
She could only continue looking at the dirt-covered dango in dismay. She'd been so looking forward to it. Work had been a nightmare this past week and she figured that indulging in overpriced dango would help lift her spirits. It was a small luxury she allowed herself to have on occasion, and now it was ruined.
How dare this jerk rob her of her well-deserved treat!
"I can replace them for you, if you'd like?" the stranger offered, but Sakura had just about had enough of this guy.
Snapping her head up, pink brows pulled together angrily as green eyes flashed with indignation.
"Listen buddy, if you—"
Sakura inhaled sharply when she finally caught a look at her aggressor.
He was beautiful.
She felt her cheeks grow hot and Sakura was suddenly very thankful for the abysmally hot day, if only so it could help pass off her blush as heat flush.
"...if you really want to, then I'd appreciate that."
.
Fifteen minutes later, Sakura found herself waiting at the small table she'd initially set her sights on for the cute jerk (because her dango, dammit) to come back with the tea and dango he'd offered to replace.
Never in her life had Sakura ever been more thankful for actually putting an effort into her appearance despite her easy, no fuss demeanor. Never again would she give Ino a hard time for harping on about always needing to look her best, as her incessant nagging about Sakura's best attributes going to waste in jeans and shapeless t-shirts had saved her ass today.
Slim hands smoothed the short skirt of her floral print dress before fussing with the rolled-up cuffs of her jean jacket. Realizing she hadn't checked her hair either, Sakura pulled out the beautiful vintage compact Hinata had gifted her for her twenty-first birthday to make sure her blow-out from this morning hadn't somehow turn into a bird's nest from all her running around. Looking up to make sure Hottie the Dango Slayer hadn't made it back yet, Sakura pulled out her favorite rose-colored lipstick and swiped the tip of her finger over the bullet before dabbing it onto her lips for a natural wash of color. Movement from the corner of her eye had her quickly putting everything back into her purse.
Once everything was cleared away, Sakura looked over, and sure enough, he was making his way back with a few things in hand.
As the handsome stranger approached, Sakura allowed herself to subtly look him over. It would be rude to ignore his approach, right? Especially no that he'd noticed her noticing him. She was just trying to be polite.
It had nothing to do with the wild mess of dark hair and equally dark eyes that were framed by the longest lashes known to man (and really, how unfair was that?), or the broad shoulders and sculpted forearms that his charcoal grey henley set off nicely. And it most definitely had nothing to do with the slim trim of his hips or the dark wash jeans that hung off them just right, nor the perfectly toned ass she'd caught a glimpse of (okay, stared at) when he'd walked off to go procure her treat.
Seriously, his ass was up there with Kit Harington's and she hadn't even seen it naked.
Yet, Came a gleeful voice in the back of her mind that sounded suspiciously like Ino.
"Here we are," He announced once he was within earshot. "Some replacement dango with a steaming cup of tea for the pretty lady as my way of apologizing for running into her, and a black coffee for me."
The man set down the dango and drinks before taking the seat across from her. The gorgeous stranger then pushed the takeout container and paper coffee cup towards her, urging her to help herself.
"Thank you," Sakura murmured softly, hyper-aware of the interest that sparked in his dark eyes. Ignoring the butterflies that suddenly filled her stomach, she stuck her hand out to shake his. "I'm Sakura, by the way."
His hand met hers halfway, substantially warm and sturdy in her own. His eyes grew intrigued as they shook hands, most likely due to the lack of flimsy-wrist syndrome some girls tended to give. The sight sent an unexpected shiver of delight down her spine.
"Shisui," he replied with a grin before slowly releasing her hand. "And it was the least I could do given that adorable pout you had going on."
Unsure how to respond while simultaneously embarrassed by her quick temper, Sakura remained quiet. They sat in awkward silence for a bit and she took the opportunity to take a deep breath to calm her jumbled nerves. The sounds of the market filled the air as more and more people gathered. With dusk fast-approaching, the string lights overhead suddenly turned on, bathing everything in their warm light.
Somewhere in the park beyond them, a band started playing a brassy jazz number.
When Sakura finally gathered enough courage to look at Shisui again, she was surprised to find him already watching her. Shisui, having been caught staring, promptly looked away before he took a long sip of his coffee. Sakura did the same with her tea, hoping it would give her blush a chance to die down.
After a few more painfully quiet moments, Shisui cleared his throat. "So, was there any reason you were particularly put out about your dango, save for the obvious? I mean, what kind of jerk would bump into you like that? Had he no sense of awareness?"
Sakura couldn't help but laugh at his self-depreciating jab. She appreciated his attempt to break the ice.
"If you absolutely must know, this dango is kind of a special treat for me. It's not something I can have just whenever. I have to justify it."
"College student?" He guessed before taking another drink from his coffee.
"No," Sakura shook her head with a smile as she looked at the tea in her hands. She watched as the vapors from her drink lazily wafted out of the small opening. "Second year resident, actually."
She didn't see the dark brows that shot up, but she definitely heard the surprise. "You're a doctor?! You look so young!"
Yet another blush tinged her cheeks before Sakura nodded as she played with the paper sleeve of her tea. "I'm kind of a special case, but I went through the same trials as my peers all the same. I just…moved through the program a little faster than others. I work at Konoha General, emergency medicine."
Shisui let out a low, appreciative whistle as he leaned back in his chair. "Beauty and brains, huh?"
Sakura quickly waved off the sentiment as her blush darkened. She opened the styrofoam container and smiled as the sweet scent of syrup permeated the air.
"What about you? What do you do?" She asked before offering him a stick of her dango. She wasn't going to finish all three in one sitting and he had been kind enough to replace them for her.
"Nothing as exciting as emergency medicine, that's for sure." He chuckled before accepting it at her insistence. "I run the financial department for the family business."
Green eyes narrowed playfully. "I knew you were corporate scum."
A bright laugh escaped Shisui then, the sound enrapturing Sakura. Just as she was going to reach for her own skewer, she felt the phone in her bag vibrate three consecutive times. The words she had been about to say died on her tongue.
Her phone vibrated again only a half-second later.
"Sounds like duty calls." Shisui smiled good-naturedly before she apologized for the interruption and fished out the phone from her purse. Her lips twisted in a disappointed frown as she read the contents of the text message.
"You have no idea," she murmured before shooting him an apologetic look. "I'm so sorry Shisui-san, but I have to go."
He waved her off with another kind smile. "Just Shisui, please. And don't worry about it! If anything, I'm glad I knocked your dango to the ground, otherwise I wouldn't have met you."
Sakura smiled at his words as she shouldered the strap of her purse. He stood when she did before handing her her leftovers.
Hanging back just a moment, and before she could think better of it, Sakura quickly pulled out a pen and wrote her number on the sleeve of her paper cup before removing it and offering it to him.
His fingers brushed against hers as he slipped it from her grasp, small calluses scraping against her skin as dark eyes took on a more intense look that made her throat suddenly run dry. When she spoke again, her voice came out as barely more than a whisper.
"I'm glad I got to meet you too, Shisui. Text me sometime."
Sakura turned and walked away then, not trusting her bravado to hold up under the unabashed interest in his eyes.
She was halfway to her car, when she heard her phone's text alert go off. Taking it out of her pocket, Sakura opened the message from the unknown number with hope swelling in her chest.
How soon is now?
The smile that pulled at her lips didn't leave her face for the rest of the night.
A/N: Oh Sak. Still such a sucker for pretty faces lol. Also, not everything is as it seems with these two...
The Sunset Market is based off a real market that takes place every Thursday in Oceanside, California though the location is different. It was one of the highlights of living on a military base, and I miss it every day. That and the fantastic ocean view that came with it.
Please feel free to leave me your thoughts! Thanks for reading.
xx LCF