Chapter 1
Her pink hair had grown longer over the years, and brushed lightly over her shoulder blades as she walked across the cobbled road, smiling as she saw a tall blond waving at her from behind a large bouquet of flowers.
"Hey Forehead"
"Hey Pig"
They chatted about the recent whatevers, and interesting happenings, but the topic never strayed too far from light and safe. Until Ino asked:
"Have you been to seen Sasuke lately?"
Sakura paused. It had been a year or so after the war had ended, and team 7 had grown back together slowly. They sometimes went on missions together, but with Sakura needed more and more at the hospital, those were far and in between. Sasuke and Naruto fell back into their familiar bickering pattern, and trained often together, with Sakura things were still slightly awkward. Or maybe it was all in her head. She still got a bit nervous around him, and she swore that he was also slightly tense at times when they got too physically close during sparring. She frowned, and chastised herself for having such a glimmer of hope when she knew Sasuke wasn't the type for romance or love. Sasuke was frequently away on missions, however an intense battle had recently brought him to the hospital, and forced bed rest for about a month. She knew he must feel agitated for being caged in and knowing that he still would be for so long, but she also still felt awkward around him.
"No, actually. I suppose I just forgot"
"You fucking liar, you are over thinking things again. Just go see him, I mean, it's clear you want to"
"..."
"How about you take some of my flowers to him? Say they're from everyone."
Reluctantly, Sakura grasped the bouquet of yellow roses Ino handed her, and headed towards the hospital.
As she stepped into the room, a mass of black hair stuck up and out in the back, rose up from the bed. His dark eyes met her bright ones, and he struggled to sit up.
"Don't over exert yourself! You only got out of surgery two days ago!" the flower bearer exclaimed.
"Aa" he replied, as he gently laid back down.
"How are you feeling? Do you want me to bring you something nicer to eat tomorrow?"
As much as she had tried to avoid coming, just seeing him all bandaged up and in pain brought out that motherly instinct to take care of him. She contemplated all the types of soups with tomato in it and which one he would like most. Before she could decide he grunted out:
"I'm fine. Don't worry about me."
"You aren't the boss of me, and I will worry as much as I'd like." She retorted. "How about some simple onigiri and tomato slices to not upset your stomach?" She almost giggled as his lips pursed slightly together like a young child giving in. "I'll take that as a yes. It's quite late, so I'll be heading off now. Rest well Sasuke-kun." She gave him one last bright smile, gently left the roses on his bedside table, and quietly closed the door behind her.
Sasuke-kun
He hadn't heard his name with the honorific for so long, as she was the only one to call him that. He also hadn't heard her voice in so long, his cheeks tinged with the lightest shade of pink as recalled her saying his name. He shook his head trying to get her voice to leave his mind and his gaze fell upon the flowers she had brought. Tch, he thought, what a useless gesture. Why bring such a useless thing? He would find much more use with a bouquet of kunai knives. Of course,, he was still grateful to have had a visitor, after the dobe and Kakashi came yesterday, no one else came to see him. Not that he was expecting anyone else, but perhaps he had been waiting for Sakura to come. He looked around the dreary room, with its grey curtains, sterile plastic, and grotesquely white lighting. He sighed and resigned himself to his next month trapped within these walls.