Date: 6/16/13
Rating: T
Genre:
Drama, Romance
Prompt:
Karin watches Sasuke and Sakura meeting on the battlefield and senses that Sasuke is returning Sakura's feelings. She notices that Sasuke is making more of an effort around Sakura. He keeps an eye on her and goes out of his way to protect her. She advises Sasuke that he should tell Sakura how he feels before it's too late since they're in war and death could happen at anytime.


Karin wanted to hate her. She really did. She saw the way Sakura looked at him. And as much as it pained her, she saw the way Sasuke looked at her, too. But Karin wasn't heartless. What they had, she soon came to realize, was something that ran deeper than their stolen glances and secret worries. But it was something that neither understood and that Karin could only witness.

"Sasuke-kun!" Karin called out when she finally found him. His back was facing her, his arms crossed, but he didn't move. Whether he heard her or not, she couldn't tell. Cautiously, she walked up to him. "Sasuke-kun?"

"Hn."

But he wasn't looking at her; rather, Sasuke was concentrating on something else in the distance. Karin's eyes slowly followed his line of vision, stopping when she saw the familiar shade of pink. She rolled her eyes; she should have known. Had things turned out differently, maybe Karin would have taken this time to cling on Sasuke—anything to take his attention off of Sakura for once. But Sasuke was looking at Sakura with that expression that was only reserved for her, and Karin couldn't bring herself to do it. Enough was enough. "You," she said slowly, "You really care about her, don't you?"

He made a face, eyebrows furrowing. "I don't know what—"

"Don't play dumb. I mean Sakura," said said bluntly, not standing for his feigned obliviousness. She knew Sasuke was smarter than that. "Who is she to you?"

Sasuke bit the inside of his cheek, his eyes never leaving Sakura as his expression turned into one of dismay. "She's just my teammate."

Karin rolled her eyes. "I think it's more than that, Sasuke-kun."

"Tch. You're wrong."

"Oh, really," she said, placing her hands on her hips, "Then why don't you tell me what you're looking at? We've been talking for five minutes, and your eyes haven't left her once." Sasuke's jaw clenched, wanting to retort, but he knew Karin was right. He couldn't bring himself to tear his gaze away from Sakura. "Well, whatever it is you feel towards her," Karin continued, "She deserves to know. Now especially. And I don't care how much you think you can protect her, that's still no guarantee. Anything could happen."

However, Sasuke didn't respond. Karin sighed. "Look, if you're worried about what she'll say—"

"I'm not—"

"—just know that she loves you."

"What?" Sasuke's eyes widened as he finally turned to her, uncertain if what she claimed was true. But he knew Karin, and he was fully aware of her affections towards him, something he couldn't reciprocate. There was no reason to doubt her; it had to be true.

"So will you tell her?"

Sasuke looked back at Sakura, busy healing yet another ninja. He nodded. "I'll try."