When Sakura pulled into the entrance of the Konoha Cemetery the next morning, Sasuke felt his stomach turn over. He looked over at her just as Sakura stopped the car, idling in the driveway. "We can turn around if you want," she said, looking ahead of her. Then she glanced at him. "I don't want to force anything."
"No," Sasuke said, facing front again. "Let's go." Under other circumstances, her doing this might've infuriated him, but he knew it was time.
Sakura nodded and started the car again.
His parents were buried in a secluded section of the cemetery; it was the family plot. As they approached, Sasuke saw that the graves were in good condition. Clearly their upkeep was frequent and meticulous, and there were fresh flowers in front of the headstones. Itachi, Sasuke thought. His brother must have come by before going back to Ame.
The overcast sky had cleared as they were walking in, and even though Sasuke hated interpreting that kind of thing as a sign…Seeing the sun come out definitely felt like one. The guilt was still there, it wasn't going anywhere, but standing here felt healing in a way. He'd let the numbness get to him for so long, overpowering the good memories and feelings associated with his parents.
The last time he had visited had been years ago, a forced visit with Madara and Itachi on the tenth anniversary of their death. There had been a commemorative ceremony, and Sasuke had barely been able to stomach it while various people had stepped up to talk about them. Now, standing in front of the graves in silence, it was more bearable. Sasuke looked around at the rest of the plot. Obito's grave was next to his brother, though his gravestone was much smaller. Madara had probably been the one to make those decisions, Sasuke thought. It made his resolve stronger. He looked around at the older stones, stretching back to previous generations of the Uchiha family.
Sasuke looked back at his parents' names again, staring up at him from the light stone surface. For the first time, the carved letters didn't unnerve him; he felt the slightest sense of comfort, like he could feel their presence somehow.
He felt Sakura standing next to him, but she didn't make any attempt to touch him, obviously knowing that this was personal. Sasuke, however, stepped closer so their arms were touching. He found her hand, and Sakura laced her fingers in his. They stood like that for a few minutes, not speaking.
Sasuke was the first one to say something. "Where are your parents?"
"On the other side," Sakura said, indicating the hill next to them.
"Do you mind if we…" Sasuke wanted to pay his respects.
"No. This way," Sakura said. She kept his hand and hers and led the way down the nearest row. Even among the gravestones, the financial divide of Konoha was clear. Elaborate pillars with carved statues stood next to small, rounded stones.
Sakura's parents were buried on the opposite side of the cemetery, on the slope at the edge of the grounds. There were flowers planted around their gravestone, blooms of all different colors, and Sasuke knew that was Sakura's doing. She knelt to brush some dirt from top of the stone, and sat there for a minute before getting up and coming back to stand next to him.
"It feels weird. This is the closest we'll ever get to meeting each other's parents," Sakura said.
Sasuke nodded.
"I'm really glad you came with me," Sakura said.
"Glad you brought me," Sasuke muttered. Somehow Sakura had a sixth sense about what was best, and coming here had been the right choice. He felt better now, after avoiding this place for so long. And there was no one he would've rather come with than Sakura.
"Do you want to go now?" Sakura asked.
"If you're ready," he said, wanting to give her as much time here as she needed.
Sakura nodded. "Yeah. I'll be back soon, anyway." She glanced at him. "You're welcome to come with me any time you want, you know." The unspoken knowledge that it was easier with someone else passed between them.
"Thanks," Sasuke said.
They drove back to the garage in silence and Sakura parked the car. Neither of them made a move to get out. "Do you want to just hang out here for a while?" Sakura asked him.
"Sure," Sasuke said.
"I'll find you something to do, if you want," Sakura said with a grin. "There's always plenty of work. And you're not wearing your preppy clothes today, so I won't feel bad about grease."
Sasuke rolled his eyes and followed her into the garage. Asuma was the only other person working, and for once the music wasn't blasting.
"Are you honestly feeling okay?" Sakura asked. "Now that it's all over, I mean. With your uncle."
"It's not over yet," he muttered.
Sakura rolled her eyes. "The big part is. What, do you think he'll change your mind?" Her tone was calm, and Sasuke frowned.
"Of course not," he said, and surprised himself by how forceful it sounded. "Not going back."
"There," Sakura said, looking up at him. "Sounds like it's all over to me."
Sasuke shook his head and almost smiled. She was right, in a way. The decision had been made.
"Never asked you about the other night," Sasuke said suddenly. "What did you think of…"
"Itachi?" Sasuke nodded and Sakura frowned, thinking. "I think I liked him. Two hours isn't long enough to really know someone. But I could tell he was a lawyer. Just the way he talked to me." She looked like she was on the verge of a smile. "Not in the way I expected, either, so that was a pleasant surprise."
Sasuke smirked.
"I also think you guys are more similar than you think," Sakura said. Before he could ask her what she meant, she tossed him a rag. "Now get scrubbing." She indicated the Toyota in front of them.
Sasuke rolled his eyes but obeyed. Sakura tied on a smock and joined him.
"What are you doing?" Sasuke asked her when he saw her getting out a bottle of what looked like paint, along with a brush.
"Giving it a patch job," Sakura said, indicating a strip of peeling paint. "This stuff works like magic. But I need you to work on the black mark by the driver's side door. Scrub it hard, the paint's not going anywhere."
"Yes, ma'am," Sasuke muttered, and Sakura snorted.
Two hours later, Sakura had moved on to fixing the driver's side door. Sasuke was still cleaning, not minding the repetitive process. It was calming, somehow (though he doubted he'd enjoy doing it every day). Sakura was crouched below the door, working on the hinge with a frown. They hadn't spoken in a while, but the quiet worked for both of them.
Then Sakura's phone started buzzing from the bench. "Your phone's ringing," Sasuke said to Sakura.
"Shit. Can you answer it?"
"Uh, yeah." Sasuke glanced at the caller ID and saw Ino's name, then picked up the phone. "Hello?" He felt incredibly awkward.
"…Is that Sasuke?" Ino's voice was incredulous.
"Aa. Sakura's working."
"Sure she is," Ino said.
Sasuke frowned. "You think I'm lying?"
"God, is that Ino?" Sakura asked. Sasuke nodded. "Put her on speaker."
"Yeah, for sure you're lying," Ino said. "Anyway, tell Sakura when she gets back from the bathroom for your next—"
"For fuck's sake, I'm right here, Ino. We're in the garage," Sakura said loudly.
"Oops," Ino said with a laugh, clearly not embarrassed. "Did you make Sasuke your errand boy?"
"No, he's helping me out here today," Sakura said coolly. "So what's up?"
"Oh, yeah. I just got tickets to see Akatsuki. You in? You too, Sasuke, obviously."
"Seriously?" Sakura asked, raising her eyebrows.
"Yes, seriously."
"When is it?" Sakura asked.
"Tonight."
"Ino."
"I know, I know, but Sasori was going with some people who canceled last minute, so he gave me the extras. It only happened last night, and then I overslept…"
"Okay, okay." Sakura cocked her head at Sasuke. "Want to go? Akatsuki's really good, if you're into hard rock."
Sasuke shrugged. "Why not." It wasn't like he had anything to do, anyway. Sitting around waiting for Madara's retribution wasn't exactly a good way to pass the time.
"Awesome," Ino jumped in. "Can we meet at the garage and drive over from there?"
"Yeah, sure," Sakura said, shaking her head. "See you later, Pig."
Ino showed up later that afternoon with Shikamaru, Choji, and Shino in tow. She was wearing a crop top with the word 'Akatsuki' emblazoned across her chest, and she threw Sakura another one. Sakura pulled it over her tank top with a slight smile. Then they all piled into Kiba's truck, with Sakura at the wheel. Sasuke grabbed the passenger seat before anyone else got there, and Choji grumbled about having to sit next to Ino and Shikamaru.
"It's a car ride, Choji, do you really think we'd do anything with you sitting right there?" Ino asked. Shikamaru snorted and Choji sighed.
"Come on," Sakura said, drumming her fingers on the steering wheel. "Close your doors, kids."
"Yes, mom," Ino said in a singsong voice. Sasuke smirked and Sakura rolled her eyes before pulling out of the parking lot.
The concert was in a huge outdoor venue half an hour outside of Konoha. Sasuke had heard of Akatsuki, but had never listened to their stuff (he wasn't a big music person). Judging from the clothing and punk style of the people around them, they were a pretty hardcore band. The six of them joined the crowd streaming into the arena.
"Just warning you now, it might get a little rowdy," Sakura said to Sasuke.
"I figured," he muttered, and she grinned.
They found their seats on the packed floor and Sakura craned her neck to see what was happening onstage. They were still setting up, blasting rock through the huge speakers. People were pouring in and already there was an electricity filling the stadium.
"Do you know who's opening?" Sakura yelled to Ino.
"Nope!" Ino was pestering Shikamaru to pick her up on his shoulders. Sakura shared an amused glance with Sasuke.
A few minutes later, the first opening band came onstage to huge applause. Strobelights flashed and Sasuke felt himself pushed forward by the force of the crowd. Typically he would hate an experience like this, but in a way it was exhilarating.
Tonight was an unexpected end to a week that hadn't felt fully real. If Sasuke had been told at the beginning of the summer that in late August he'd be at a heavy metal concert with a girl he was in love with, the same day he'd gone to visit his parents for the first time in years (not to mention the day after he had said no to the family occupation), he knew he would've thought it was insane. And yet here he was.
Sasuke absorbed the pulse of the beat and the throng of people around him. Sakura was banging her head, holding on to Ino and laughing. He hadn't seen her look this free in a while, and the energy was contagious. For the first time, he let himself get caught up in it.
A/N: This is probably obvious considering I haven't updated this in two months, but I'm sort of losing steam with fanfiction. I think it's a combination of a busy school schedule and also just not being motivated to write? I don't know if I'm over writing sasusaku, but I just haven't been very inspired lately. I'm definitely going to finish this one, but maybe don't expect any new stories in the future? If anything changes over winter break (which will actually give me time to write/think), you'll know.