Pairing: TokaSaku
Prompt: The very cliche "you had something in your hair."
Rating: T
Tobirama finds her half dead near the Hotsugami River and brings her to the Senju compound to be healed. Hashirama does so almost immediately. It causes an uproar for all of three hours before the woman wakes up and turns around and heals all the injured Senju in the healing house without saying much beyond requiring clean towels and water. For nearly an entire day, she and Hashirama stay in one single room and talk. What they talk about is unknown to everyone; even Tobirama.
After that, Hashirama declares her an ally and makes it abundantly clear that no one is to harm her or insult her without facing some sort of consequence. The threat sticks because Hashirama hardly ever does such a thing. In fact, hardly any time passes before this woman - Sakura, with no clan or settlement affiliation - is all but one with the Senju. She's kind to the children and speaks softly with the elderly. She trains the teens in hand-to-hand and teaches them basic healing techniques.
And it happens to be Toka's duty to watch after her until further notice. She volunteered. Something about this woman is appealing be it her uncanny ability to smile or shake the foundations of the Earth (literally).
"It isn't really fair to you, I suppose." Sakura is climbing the mountain without using her chakra - Toka is sure of it - and doesn't seem out of breath in the slightest. "Was it Hashirama-sama's idea or Tobirama-sama's idea?"
Toka is keeping pace despite finding the task a little tricky. Chakra would obviously help, but she sees this as a silent challenge from her new...companion. "I volunteered."
"Oh," Sakura pauses to look below her. "Still don't trust me, Toka-sama?"
"It's not a matter of trust. For all that people call Hashirama a fool, he's pretty good at reading people. My cousin can act like a child at times, but he would never jeopardize our clan if he thought you were a threat." Toka leaps for a piece of rock jutting out of the mountain. It brings her side-to-side with Sakura. "Besides, you've been good company so far."
"I'm ever so delighted that you find my company good so far, Lady Toka." Sakura laughs. "I'd bow but that's impossible right now."
Rolling her eyes, Toka studies the next jutted out rock. "Not a lady, Sakura-san."
"Tobirama-sama says I should call you that," comes the gleeful reply. "But I believe you're right. Not a lady," Sakura leaps for the rock Toka is aiming for. "Not a damsel." Another leap. "Just a deadly gorgeous warrior," she calls below her, "who also happens to be very slow."
Another challenge.
It becomes a race then. Both of them leaping for rocks that stick out or climbing as fast as they can without chakra. It's fun and exciting. Both have nearly lost their footing twice and they're laughing. At the top, they can oversee the Senju compound complete with its flags and clan members and training grounds. It's actually a spectacular sight.
"I win," Sakura sing-songs, "but you made a worthy opponent."
Toka rolls her eyes. "Why, thank you, Sakura-sama. I ever so hope that future challenges go just as delightfully."
Sakura looks at her, but their eyes don't meet. Instead, Sakura is eyeing something on her forehead or in her hair. Without so much as flinching, she watches as Sakura slowly raises her hand and tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Thank Sage neither of her cousins is here or they would be making comments on how red her face is surely becoming.
"Sorry, but one hair was out of place."
"Excuses," she hears herself saying. "You just wanted to touch me."
"I'm not very subtle," Sakura replies with a grin. "You're hair is as soft as it looks. I wonder what it looks like down."
"A mess," she states. "I don't take care of it in the same manner Hashirama does." Toka's eyes flicker to Sakura hair. "Your hair, on the other hand, seems very soft and it's a pretty shade as well."
Sakura smiles. "And a beacon of unfortunate luck." She laughs. "I have a method for keeping it the way it is. Perhaps, if you're able, you can join me in my room tonight." There's a subtle tilt in her head. She's peering up at her through her fair eyelashes.
The look invites more than just a hair care routine.
"Maybe I can learn a few tips and tricks?" She muses playfully. "And offer something in return?"
Green eyes flash with desire. "I'm sure we can work something out."
I have finally caught up with the ones I missed. I'll post today's soon. If you have the time, please review.
~i-just-really-love-sakura
Chapter 45: MitoSaku (the Author's Note was deleted), Chapter 46: AsumaSaku, Chapter 47: NagaSaku, This is Chapter 48, and Chapter 49 will be posted soon.
