title: meadows of memory
prompt: thanks to kakashi, sakura has unexpected company on her mission.
disclaimer: naruto, not mine since 1999.

Sakura sighs and lets her heavy pack drop to the ground. Leaning against an old tree, she slides down to rest beside her bag. It's the only tree in the whole meadow, and after a whole day of gathering herb gathering, she's not about to pass up a chance at some shade.

Today wraps up her three week mission in Grass Country. Not too far from home, but far enough to give her some breathing room. The war has been over for a year, and the months have passed by in a chaotic whirl of rebuilding buildings and alliances.

Along with Shizune, Sakura has been placed in charge of overseeing the hospital. There are policies to reform, a mountain of paperwork to be done, and an endless, steady flow of patients in need of her expertise.

Kakashi, now Hokage, has been keeping an eye on her and watching with some concern as Sakura works herself to the bone. He only steps in when he finds that she's set up a cot and mini-fridge in her office.

So here she is in this small border-town in Grass Country. Its citizens are kind, but ill. Sakura soon determined the source of the problem: a dead and diseased cow rotting in the town's primary water supply. The last three weeks have been spent making herbal remedies to remove the toxins from the sick and caring for them as they wretch and shake in agony.

Today is her last day here, and it has been spent in the meadows on the outskirts of town, gathering vital plants that she's been sorely lacking back in Konoha.

Sakura reclines back against the ancient oak, watching as the sun dies in a firestorm of yellows and reds arcing in streaks across the sky. Even as she keeps her senses alert, she can feel her body becoming languid and comfortable.

Just as she's nearly dozing off, a presence pricks at the edges of her awareness. Tensing, she draws a kunai and scans the area for life. Suddenly, a large chakra flares to life in the branches above her head.

Sakura rolls to the side, rapidly rising to a battle stance. A figure drops from the tree to land gracefully in front of her. Her kunai is raised, other hand at the ready and clenched in a fist.

They are rendered unnecessary by the familiarity of the man. He looks different, his lean frame buried in a tent of a ragged poncho, and the normally wild spikes of his hair tamed by a length of cloth wound around his head.

Sakura doesn't move. She can't breathe.

He offers her a small, amused smile. "Sakura."

"Sasuke-kun." A radiant smile breaks over her face, crinkling her eyes and making her jaw ache. She doesn't care.

She takes a tentative step toward him, hands slightly raised. She wants to throw her arms around him, but is hyperaware of his discomfort with physical contact.

But he makes the first move, reaching her in two long strides. His arm reaches around and pulls him toward her, and he rests his chin atop her head. There are no words between them as he holds her, and he doesn't object as she wraps her arms around his torso. Sakura's face flames red as she rests her forehead against his shoulder.

As the sun sinks into the horizon, they find themselves seated side-by-side under the tree. They lace their fingers together as the first stars start to sparkle in the night sky. Sakura leans her head against Sasuke's shoulder, feeling truly content for the first time in a long time.

She turns her head to look at his face as a thought strikes her. "How did you know where to find me"

A smirk dances across Sasuke's lips as he presses them against her hair. "A scarecrow told me," he murmurs in her ear.

Sakura flushes. Kakashi. She should have guessed that he had a side motive for sending her out here. But all thoughts of her sensei and his antics fly out of her head as Sasuke untangles his fingers from hers to lightly brush her cheek. They gently trail down the side of her face until they rest beneath her chin, tilting her face up toward his.

His lips are soft on hers, moving slowly. Sakura can feel tears pricking at the corners of her eyes, moved by his gentleness. It's not a long kiss, they're both still new at this and unsure, but his face lingers close to hers as their lips part. He studies her features, as though trying to memorize her and discover every change.

Her lips tip into a smile and his follow. It doesn't matter that they're miles away from Konoha, wherever the other is, that is home.