Days since the war had been won and over were nothing short of problematic. Konoha was being rebuilt from the ground up, it was more than fitting to say that the Leaf villagers were in desperate need of good times.
Deep within the leaves of the forest, Konoha's teens let loose. A burning bon fire and the sound of drunken laughter filled the air. Sakura listened humorously as Naruto, a little boozy but not hopelessly drunk, tried as best as he could to charm his latest interest- Hyuuga Hinata. With a chuckle, Sakura lent a hand to her blonde friend by taking away his cup of spiked punch. Hinata was already quite smitten, if he were to drink any more, it would be all down hill from there.
"At least someone knows the meaning of sober fun," Nara Shikamaru commented to his rosette comrade, Neji nodding in agreement to his right.
Sakura gave a pleasant smile, "As a medic, I can't simply ignore the effects that alcohol has on the body."
Although it was quite apparent that Uchiha Sasuke could, as he downed a bottle of sake. Sakura frowned at her newly returned friend. It was evident that he had things he was desperate to forget, but this was not the way to do it. Yamanaka Ino and Uzumaki Karin listened intently as he slurred humorously about nothing at all. From across the fire, Sakura couldn't help but smile at how nonchalant and almost happy he seemed to be. The rosy tint in his tipsy cheeks, it was cute.
"I think your other friend could use a bit of guidance, as well," Neji said to Sakura with a single gesture to the inebriated Uchiha.
"So I've noticed," she replied, getting up from her seat.
Sakura approached the raven haired teen, gently taking the bottle from his hands as he tilted his head back for another swig. Oddly enough, this didn't seem to bother him in the slightest.
"Saaakura!" he chuckled drunkenly, taking the pinkette into his arms. Her eyes widened. The majority of the time they typically spent together was tense, if not hostile. What was this odd, drunk trait of his?
"Dance with me!" he slurred, twirling her about and snatching her back to his warm torso.
"You," she said, wiping the alcoholic residue from his lip, "are very drunk."
"And you," he touched her hair, "are very pretty." He giggled at her furrowed brow.
"I think it's time to go home," she said, going to gather his things from the ground.
"Wait! I have one more move," and before she knew it, Sakura was once again being snatched back into his embrace. In a single move, Sakura's nose met Sasuke's forehead with a single crack. Blood poured out from the heavy pressure and Sakura cursed the pain in the middle of her face. "Ow," Sasuke obliviously rubbed his forehead with a pout.
"S-Sakura!" Naruto rang, pouncing up from his seat and over to the Uchiha. "What the hell did you do, teme?!" He pushed Sasuke, who simply stared with a regretful expression at his pink haired dancing partner.
"SAKURA-SAN!" Rock Lee darted past the pink-haired medic's teammates, trying to observe her injured nose, "Are you okay, Sakura-san? Shall I give Sasuke-kun the old one-two?" he asked, raising his fists. She rolled her eyes, lowering his clenched fists with a single gesture.
Sakura held a healing hand to her fractured bridge, she would have to take care of this fully the next day. Much to her surprise, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning her gaze forward, she met warm, onyx orbs. She hadn't noticed him push past both Lee and Naruto.
"Sakura," Sasuke muttered with sad eyes, a childlike tone, "I didn't mean to." Carefully, he dabbed at the blood with the sleeve of his shirt. "I'm sorry."
Sakura couldn't resist a smile despite the pain and obvious annoyance. She cleared the hair from his face, he continued to look on with concerned eyes. Even drunk, he was beautiful. "It's okay," she said warmly, "accidents happen."
Apologetically, Sasuke wrapped his arms around her small form; she laid a hand on his head as she continued to heal her nose. The gathering continued on, filled with drunken songs and a boozy waltz courtesy of the fine dancing team of Rock Lee and Uzumaki Naruto.
Sakura walked home in the sunrise, a recovering Sasuke sprawled over her back. "I don't like being manhandled," he groaned with a boozy burp.
She giggled, "I know."
Sakura had figured he was going back to his old, cold, sober self by now. As she pondered this silently, she heard, "I really am sorry." She smiled to herself.
This lovely boy would be the death of her.
