I can't wait until this is over. Sasuke's temple thumped from the noise of the festival—the call of vendors hawking food and souvenirs, the squeals of happy children winning games, the din of crowds of people talking and laughing.

Sasuke liked festivals…once. He'd tugged on his mother's sleeve for another coin to play a game or buy a treat just like the kids did today. That was a very long time ago. It felt like a lifetime ago.

"There you are! I thought you ran out on me." Sakura shuffled toward him, balancing a plate of takoyaki and a carafe of sake.

"Like I could run from you."

"You've tried." She smiled wickedly.

"Papa?" Sarada's voice cut through the noisy crowd.

"Hi, baby girl. Enjoying the festival?" Sakura asked, brushing the hair out of their daughter's eyes and tucking it behind her ear.

"Mom! Don't call me that!" She batted her mother's hands away and shook her bangs back into place. "Can I get some money, Papa?"

"For what?"

Sarada shifted her feet uncomfortably. "For stuff."

"What stuff?"

"You know…" Her eyes darted to a boy in a violet yukata. "Stuff."

For a second, Sasuke saw a glimpse into a different life. It was a life where he said no to revenge and yes to the pretty, pink-haired girl who'd asked him to the festival. It was a life where his brother lived and hatred died. It was a life where happiness reigned and years of suffering and pain were avoided.

For a second, he saw the ripples a single yes could've made.

"Okay." He handed Sarada a few bills, watching as his daughter approached the boy, elbowed him a little too roughly, and walked to the next booth, grinning wildly when he followed. Sasuke leaned over and kissed Sakura's cheek.

"What's that for?" she said, looking at him from the corner of her eye, face flushed.

He slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer. "It's for never taking no for an answer."


Hi all! Hope you liked this location's story. Makes me wonder what life for Sasuke would've been like if he'd just decided not to kill his brother and live his own life. Hmm...

Anyhoo, any idea who that boy with Sarada could be? I have a few thoughts of my own, but I'd love to hear yours.

Next week's location: Another Village

Yeah, Another Village sounds like a pretty vague prompt, right? Well, that's what I was given...so I decided it would be Suna. But you'll have to wait until next Friday to see what goes on there. One hint: it will force me to raise the rating of this collection from T to...something more. See you next week!