title: breathe slow
pairing: eventual SasuSaku.
dedication: To: crazymel2008, Itoe-chan, Just Lovely., seleneswan, Pinkish-Bluish, anticollision, ForeverPink27, PockyPaint, Shikaaras girl, love-is-forever-15, A Girl Named Blessed, why just the other day, and especially to Omolara. Thank you guys so much. :)
notes: Can I get a little Goose with my OJ?
breatheslow
Some time passed, Sasuke figured.
When you're out at war, time is the least of your worries, he decided. But, he figured some time passed; a week, maybe. The west camp was back to its gritty glory; shinobi were saved. Others were buried and acknowledged as strong, courageous men and women.
Sasuke stood in the back as Ino and Sai bid Sakura goodbye.
With everything back up and running, Sakura was to migrate to the next camp to help those that were in need; her escorts were already waiting for her by the entrance of the camp. Ino had been outraged at Kankuro for not allowing her and Sai ("And Sasuke!") to escort her away; but Kankuro had been dead set in telling her it was for the best.
Sasuke figured he was sending them to another scouting round, in the forests.
"Be safe, okay," Ino said, sniffling. And then she whispered something else, to Sakura, that Sasuke wasn't able to catch from his location.
Sai patted her shoulder and said, "Be sure to give my regards to Naruto. Let him know I still think he has a small penis."
"Not to mention," Ino said grinning sloppily, "That we've been out here for two weeks now and those Zetsus are still out there. So Like him to preach and not do shit."
Sakura threw her head back and laughed, smacking them both in the arm, rather playfully. "Leave him alone, he's probably cleansing the northern camp and making his way down." She rolled her eyes and flapped a hand in the air. "You know how he likes to show up at the last minute. Anyway... I'm leaving, now. See you guys, soon, okay?"
"Forehead!"
Sakura paused from walking away from them and looked at Ino over her shoulder, green eyes wary.
"Remember what I said." But, given how Ino's back was facing Sasuke, he wasn't able to see her expression.
What he did see, though, was Sakura turn to look at him, eyes still ever wary. Their eyes locked for a brief moment and it was like an electrical current of tension and anger and deceit and hurt going off from one end to the other. They hadn't talked since the last explosion of rage that happened between them; hadn't even looked at each other when in the same location. Having her leave was like Sasuke being able to breathe again, and able to admit it.
He stared right back at her and raised an eyebrow, for show. Sakura pressed her lips together tightly and looked away, then, and left.
Sasuke simply swallowed thickly and turned away just as Sai and Ino made to walk towards him. Soon, they were to head for the forests and continue on with their task.
(And you're going to prove her wrong, right?
You're going to show her you're not what she thinks you are, right? Remember what she thinks of you.
She's wrong - prove it to her, Sasuke.)