Prompt 21: rewind the time
Summary: Sakura desperately wishes they could just stay like this forever.
A/N: hi I edited chapter 20 a little (added more dialogue in the middle and removed a tiny scene to repurpose for later lol) go check it out if you want before reading this but if not that's fine. hope you guys enjoy this chapter.
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Sakura wakes up around high noon when she turned on her other side and felt something crinkling on her forehead.
"Mm. What the fuck."
She fights her way out of Sasuke's heavy comforters and reaches up to snatch the note—attached to her forehead.
'going out to meet itachi. be back later. – sasuke'
Sakura crumples the note and tosses it in the direction of the trash bin not bothering to see if it went in. She sits up to stretch and moans when she felt her shoulders and back crack. It's good that Sasuke is talking to his brother again she thinks. No matter how many times Sasuke says he "hates" him or say he's annoying, Sakura knew that he really likes his brother. He's just being a tsundere about it.
But, sheesh. Couldn't he just text her instead of sticking a note on her? And on her forehead too? He knows that's a sore spot for her. Rude ass.
Sasuke left some coffee on the Keurig but it's gone cold by the time Sakura wakes up. For a moment, she thought of making a new batch before deciding to just heat a mug on the microwave. It's too late to cook breakfast now so she scoured the fridge from some leftovers to heat before settling down on a half-eaten candy bar of Sasuke's. She perched herself on a bar stool overlooking the den and just stared into nothing as he sipped her coffee and munched on her candy bar.
This is nice, she thinks. Waking up in a nice apartment with nice stuff and someone she likes—even though that someone is already out and about before she wakes up sometimes. Despite her initial reservations of whether it's a good idea for them to be together, she really likes being with Sasuke. He makes just being and existing easy. On days like this, on the rare times when she's idle and isn't rushing to be somewhere or do anything, she thinks about his proposal of moving in and thinks it really is such a tempting offer.
Admittedly, it won't be too bad. She begrudgingly admits that Sasuke's place is nicer (damn rich kid—how did he afford to spruce up his place like this if he's not using Uchiha money? The boy has a 40-inch flat-screen TV mounted on the wall and the latest game consoles. She doubts his job at the garage is paying for everything. Whatever freelancing side jobs he's doing must be paying him really well then), he has better and stable heating and his bathroom has a functional water heater. Plus, all his clothes practically fit in his four-drawer dresser so she can have the big closet. His kitchen, despite not knowing how to cook until recently, is complete with very nice essential kitchen appliances. And he has a Keurig. She'd have to move her bookshelves but the den still has room beside the one with Sasuke's law books. Whatever furniture she has that wouldn't be moved she can just sell or put in storage. Sasuke is right about them splitting the chores and she would save up a lot of money from having halved the rent and bills.
And Sasuke. Being able to spend more time with Sasuke is what makes the offer very hard to refuse.
She mulls over it more in the bath. She thinks about how she doesn't have to cross to her apartment to take a bath now, not even to get clothes to change into. As silly as it sounds since she's still living literally on the other side of the hallways, she has her own drawer of her clothes in Sasuke's place. It has some shirts, some bottoms, some underwear, a spare set of pajamas, and even a pair of hospital scrubs. When she really thinks about it, it was kind of silly of her to ask why it's Sasuke's apartment they're keeping and not hers when they're both over at his place more.
Still, having their own apartments is a good contingency plan. One can never be too sure of the future, but then again, what if—
"Ugh," Sakura groans splashing the water in frustration. She throws her head back and lightly bumps the back of it on the wall behind her. "Why is this so hard? Why am I even thinking about this? We've already talked about it. Dammit, Sakura! Make up your mind, you idiot!"
She heaves a breath and promptly sinks herself in the water.
The paranoid side in her still can't help but show its ugly head every now and then. And the niggling voice at the back of her head telling her they're a train wreck waiting to happen is getting harder to ignore.
She wishes she can stop being afraid and stop thinking up of ways on why they should end things before they crash and burn. The truth of the matter is, Sakura really wants to fight for them, but it's hard when she knows deep down that it's a losing battle and she and Sasuke never stood a chance.
Just when she's about to get in over her head and drown in her negative thoughts and her bathwater, the front door opens and she hears Sasuke call out.
Sakura abruptly resurfaces and gasps for air composing herself quick to shout that she's in the bath.
Sasuke knocks on the door and peeks his head in.
"Hey, I'm back. Did you just get in the bath?"
"Around ten minutes ago," Sakura says folding her arms over the edge of the tub and perching her chin over them.
"Well, I got dumplings." Sasuke raises the paper bag he's holding. "You hungry?"
"For dumplings? Always. Are those from Mr. Chin's?"
"Of course, it's from Mr. Chin's. Where else do we get our dumplings?"
"Well I just got in and I really wanted a soak."
"I'm not gonna wait for you to finish soaking before I start eating and I won't promise there will be leftovers. You know how good this shit is."
"Oh, come on!"
Sasuke rolls his eyes again, but before Sakura could warn him about his eyes getting stuck rolled upwards if he keeps doing that, Sasuke replies, "Fine. Stay there. Let me just get some stuff from the kitchen. I'll eat by the tub with you." He returns shortly with the takeout box on hand, a bottle of wine, and two glasses. Sitting on the edge of the tub, he opens the box and shoves a dumpling in his mouth first.
"Hey, where's my chopsticks?"
"I'll feed you instead. You'll drop a dumpling in the bath with your soapy grip and we can't have that. Every dumpling is precious." Sasuke picks up a dumpling and dips it in chili, coating half of it because he knows Sakura likes her dumplings spicy. "Here, open up."
Sakura chews with a smile on her face and swallows before declaring, "God. You're like my dream guy, you know that?"
She hears Sasuke mumble a 'damn right I am' around a mouthful and couldn't help the laugh that escapes her because, well, he is.
They finish half the box before Sasuke puts it down on the side to open up the bottle he brought along.
"I also got a bottle of Riesling. The staff at Mr. Chin's said it goes well with it."
"Day drinking?" Sakura said faux surprised as she watches Sasuke open the bottle. "Sasuke, I'm already dating you. You don't have to try so hard anymore."
"Believe me, you'll know when I'm actually trying, Sakura." The cork pops and Sasuke pours each of them a glass. "This is nothing."
Sakura laughs at the smirk Sasuke sends her way as he hands her a glass. They clink their glasses once before taking sips. Sasuke sat on the floor by the tub when they finish the rest of the dumplings as they make their way through the bottle talking about anything and everything. Sakura asks how his meeting with his brother went and Sasuke regales her how his brother nearly bored him to death talking about the company and the takeover. She asks him what are his plans for his birthday and Sasuke just shrugs and says they could just lie around the apartment and do nothing. Sakura assures him that she'll think of something and the flash of apprehension in Sasuke's eyes brought her immense satisfaction.
For all of Sakura's trepidations about them and their relationship, it's the desire to fight for it is what wins out most of the time. The possibility of this—lazy Saturday mornings, eating dumplings and drinking wine in the tub, talking about anything and everything, making plans for the evening, and the next days together—makes it all seem worth it.
And Sasuke. Sasuke and the chance of being with him like this for a long time make it all seem worth it.
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On the morning of Sasuke's birthday, Sakura wakes up to find him already up and puttering about in the kitchen.
She set an alarm the previous night so she can wake up and make him a birthday breakfast but when it sounded off Sakura turns to Sasuke's side of the bed to find him gone. At first, she thought he must've gone for a jog but then she remembers Sasuke hates working-out and he's not about to start now at twenty-six.
The bedroom door is slightly ajar and she can hear the sound of the Keurig and Sasuke lightly cursing as he is wont to do when cooking. Sakura stretches her arms above her, wincing when she hears them pop and clicks her tongue in annoyance at Sasuke for ruining her surprise. She walks to the kitchen to find him in front of the stove making pancakes.
"What are you doing up at 8 AM on a Sunday? Is this a birthday resolution or something?" Sakura quips, yawning as she walks towards the Keurig.
"I was gonna make you breakfast in bed." Sasuke answers without missing a beat, not at all surprised that Sakura is up the moment she hears the coffee machine start.
"Wasn't aware it's my birthday today." Sakura answers leaning on the counter where the Keurig is at waiting for it to finish.
Sasuke flips a pancake and places it on top of the pile on one of the plates. "What are you talking about? I make you breakfast in bed all the time."
"Handing me a mug of coffee and a toast is not considered breakfast in bed, Sasuke." The Keurig goes off and she turns to fetch two mugs.
"It's coffee and food. In bed. In the morning. It totally counts." He places the last of the pancakes on a plate, turns to her pouring coffee on two mugs, and says, "The real question is what are you doing up at 8 AM on a Sunday."
"I was gonna make you breakfast in bed." She puts their mugs down on the table just as Sasuke is placing their plates of pancakes and bacon. "Happy birthday, Sasuke," she greets him placing a kiss on his cheek and another on his lips when Sasuke turns his head for one.
"Thanks. I figured you had the day planned out. The least I could do is make breakfast."
"Look at you all mature and considerate. Age really does some people good doesn't it?"
"Oh, shut up and eat your damn pancakes."
Sakura just sniggers before digging into her syrupy breakfast. "You're right though. I got the whole day mapped out." She forks another bite and points her knife at Sasuke's direction, "So, buckle up, birthday boy, 'cause you're in for a treat!"
"Oh, I'm shaking in anticipation."
It's always amusing to Sakura whenever Sasuke doesn't prod what she's got planned and just resigns to his faith.
Which, in her opinion, Sasuke is totally overreacting on his part. It's not like she planned anything crazy. They're mature adults who lead mature exhausting lives. She knows that sometimes a quiet day of staying in to rest is just as good a birthday celebration as any. Especially now with their current situation. She doubts Sasuke would want his birthday being chased by paparazzi around Konoha.
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"I thought you said you have the whole day mapped out?" Sasuke says as they lay sprawled on the couch in front of the TV watching anime reruns.
"I did and I do."
After breakfast, Sakura drew Sasuke a bath and then offered to wash the dishes while he soaked. She told him to dress comfortably in indoor clothes and later when she's done showering, she parked them on the couch and opened up the TV.
"And to buckle up."
"That I did."
Sasuke shifts to tug the comforter tighter around them. Sakura quite likes her perch on top of Sasuke, the feeling of just coming out of a bath with the apartment's AC in full blast mode making it all perfect. If she didn't know Sasuke likes the same feeling of being clean and cool on a hot Konoha summer with her on top of him, she'd think it's her birthday instead.
Speaking of being on top of Sasuke, that's another thing she might gift him later too. It hasn't even been half a day and she's already nailing this best-girlfriend-throwing-the-best-birthday-for-her-boyfriend shit.
"I didn't think you mean we'd be staying in binge-watching series like we do every weekend."
"You don't like it?" Sakura asks, slightly propping herself up to look at Sasuke.
"Are you kidding?" Sasuke says as he tightens his hold around her and reaches up to give her a peck on the lips. "It's fucking perfect."
(Of course, they eventually got bored with watching TV and Sakura slid down between Sasuke's legs and gave him an early present.)
But Sasuke's got another thing coming if he really thinks that's all there is to the day. Of course, Sakura planned something more exciting for the other half of the day.
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Or in the evening. They took a nap and when they woke up it was already six in the evening.
Sakura is the first to wake because she felt hungry. Sasuke's arm on her waist and her back against his chest felt nice but her stomach is really telling her to get up now. Lunch was six hours ago and they only had mac and cheese.
In the dark of the living room, she felt around for her phone by the coffee table and squinted at the light that assaulted her eyes. Six-oh-nine it read.
"Shit." Sakura abruptly sits up prompting for Sasuke to wake up as well.
"What the f—Sakura, what the fuck?"
"Get up and get dressed, Sasuke. We're going out."
"What?" Sasuke asks more than a little disoriented. He tries to tug Sakura back to lie down but she already got up to open the dim living room lights. Sasuke squints regardless and puts his arm over his head to shield his eyes. "What time is it?"
"It's a little past six," Sakura yells from the hallways, opening the lights on her way to Sasuke's room. "Hurry up and get dressed. We're going out to dinner."
"Can't we just stay here?" Sasuke groans, turning on his side and burying his face on a couch cushion to hide his face from the apartment's lights. "I thought you said that was your plan?"
Sakura laughs, walking back to where Sasuke is still sprawled on the couch. "You seriously didn't think that's all there is, did you? Anime marathon, mac and cheese for lunch, a blow job, and a nap? What kind of birthday is that?"
"A perfect one if you ask me." Sasuke parries back, still not making a move to get up. "We can just order in. There's wine in the chiller. We can fool around after. I'll pay you back for earlier."
He looks quite cute in his faded Konoha U sweatshirt and grey pants pouting up at Sakura. The comforter is only up to his mid-thigh with his arms on his side petulantly not getting up. The whole thing he just described sounded so tempting even when it's something they usually do on a weekend. The glint in his eyes with the promise of something naughty later made it all the more tempting.
Still, Sakura thinks it would be nice to try something different for Sasuke's birthday, and either way they're still going to end up fucking before the night ends. She just thinks It'll be nice to spice up the preceding events before they get there.
"Tempting, but no. I planned this thing and I don't want it to go to waste."
"But it's already late. There's no use going out now."
"The day's not over yet though. There's plenty of things that could happen."
"I thought today was my birthday."
"It is and that's why I'm doing this," Sakura smirks as Sasuke makes a face at her. She abruptly bends down to lightly pinching his stomach. "Now, get up and get dressed. I don't have outdoor clothes in your dresser so I'm going back to my place to get ready. We've already wasted half an hour with your whining."
"I wasn't whining," Sasuke mumbles as he slowly got up and makes to follow her out. "I was arguing a case."
"This is not one of your court simulation exercises, doofus," Sakura yells from the hallway as she opens the door to her apartment. "You better be ready by the time I'm finished."
Sasuke pads across the hall and follows Sakura to her room. He watches her took off her sweater as soon as she got inside and is down in just her bra and shorts. She makes a show of stripping but Sasuke just rolls his eyes, unaffected, and grouches, "Yeah, if this was a court simulation I'd win and we'll be ordering pizza by now." Leaning on the threshold of her room, he watches as she stands in front of her closet, eyes searching and thinking about what to wear.
"But it's not and you lost so we're going out for dinner." Sakura taunts which earn her a light pinch to her side from Sasuke, making her laugh. "Ow! Get out and get dressed. I'll meet you in the hallway in fifteen minutes."
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An hour later found them driving up to the pier in WeKo where a carnival has set up shop by the beach.
"The carnival?" Sasuke asks looking anything but thrilled. "Really?"
"Surprise!" Sakura exclaims complete with jazz hands. "Oh, c'mon, don't look at me like that! What better way to end your birthday celebration than going to the carnival?"
"I can think of a number of reasons."
"And I'm sure the carnival is up there in your top five. Now, hurry up and find a good parking space. Look! There's one right there beside the red Corolla."
Sasuke rolls his eyes but didn't protest. Sakura found that he rarely did so lately and even if he does it's mainly just a token effort. She doesn't know if she should be glad Sasuke has finally learned there's no winning with her or be worried that he has something up his sleeve. Either way, she's just happy that Sasuke is going along with her shenanigans.
"Okay, Sasuke, are you ready to have the best birthday you've ever had?!" Sakura is bouncing in her seat as she unbuckles her seatbelt. She knows Sasuke will probably make fun of her for it but right now she really doesn't care. "Alright! Let's go!" She was about to open her door and step out when she felt Sasuke put a hand on her shoulder and gently tug her back.
"Sakura, wait."
"Ugh, now what. Sasuke, c'mon, don't be such a—" she turns to bat away his hand and maybe bodily shove him out of the car but stops when he saw his expression. "Hey, Sasuke, what's wrong?" Did he really not want to go to the carnival that much?
"It's just—are you sure this is okay? I mean, aren't you worried about the press and all?"
"Oh." Sakura sighs slouching back on her seat. "Oh, that. Don't worry Sasuke. I got it all figured out. It's a Sunday night, the carnival is crowded, and I doubt anyone knows we're gonna be here. Now, c'mon! We can eat greasy carnival food and see who can hold their barf down as we ride the spinning teacups at max speed!
Sakura tells him to relax and that she's got it all figured out, but the truth is she doesn't. She just said that because she doesn't want Sasuke to think about hiding or running away from the press on his birthday—especially when it's mainly her who the press is after. She just wants Sasuke to experience and enjoy normal things normal people who are in a relationship do on their birthday and not think about the possibility of the press splashing a picture of them sharing a cotton candy stick as they line up for the rollercoaster all over the tabloids the next day.
Besides, as she said, it's a Sunday night—even the press are probably at home spending time with their family or recharging for tomorrow's workday—, the carnival is crowded and people are all having fun and minding their own business, and who would even think about Sasuke Uchiha and the daughter of a Sabaku politician are going on a carnival of all places together?
"Are you sure the surprise really is for me and not for you?" Sasuke asks, all smirky and in a whole lot better mood as Sakura practically tugs him to the ticket booth.
"Oh, shut up. You'll have fun. I promise." She turns to the ticket booth holding up two fingers. "Two please."
"I always have fun with you."
It was barely a mumble, but Sakura couldn't help the smile on her face as she collects their tickets and her change.
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
She hands him his ticket.
"No, I heard you. I just want to hear it again."
"If you heard me the first time then there's no point repeating myself."
"I promise we won't ride the love boat if you say it again."
"I said I always have fun with you." Sasuke snatches his ticket from her and tugs her towards the entrance. "Now, let's go get pumped full of disgustingly greasy carnival food. I want corn dogs and something else fried."
Of course, they ride the love boat. It didn't have a long line and it was the most logically easy ride to go in right after barfing their guts out (mostly Sasuke) from just getting off of the spinning teacups with their stomachs full of greasy carnival food.
"Well, that was awful."
"I told you that before we went on it."
"Of course, I knew it was gonna be awful. I just wanted to see how long you'll last before you demand to be let off the ride. Look there are the pictures." Sakura makes a beeline to where the photographs are, ignoring Sasuke's 'wait up. I still feel like barfing from the spinning tea cups.' "Oof. You look like you're having the time of your life." Sakura comments at Sasuke in the picture looking like he was a hairsbreadth away from jumping in the water and waddling his way out.
"And you really don't look like you're high off of cotton candy and about to bounce off the walls," Sasuke says of Sakura's picture, a manic glint in her eyes with a shit-eating grin as she held up a peace sign. "How did you even know where the cameras were?"
"I like this picture of us. Very romantic."
"Agreed."
"Better than the jungle log one." The one where they stepped off the ride both sopping messes and their picture looked like they were attacked by water cannons in the picket line. "I think this captured our essence better."
"As someone who dabbles in photography, in my totally non-professional opinion, I completely agree."
In a couple of hours before the carnival closed for the night, they managed to ride all the daring rides (they screamed their selves hoarse on the roller coaster even when it wasn't all that thrilling—they just did so for the hell of it) and some which Sasuke dubbed as 'baby rides' which Sakura doubt he'll be calling them that again after the scene he made in the merry-go-round. Suffice to say the carnival staff was pissed to high heavens with them (hell, even the kids on the ride with them were pissed) and now Sakura will probably burst into laughter whenever she hears 'It's A Small World After All.' Who knew Sasuke had such an aversion to rides that go around and around—even the slow ones.
They took a break from rides and went around to try on the games. Sasuke won her a small slug plushie from a shooting game and Sakura won him a big snake plushie off of the high striker. There was a weird moment after Sakura won the high striker where Sasuke looked at her and mouthed 'that was so hot' that led them to a secluded part of the carnival at the back of the vacant stalls. Sasuke's back was pressed against the back of the stalls with Sakura keeping him in place. She was just about to lean up for a kiss when she remembered they both have barf breaths and what could have been a hot and cliché dark-alley high school-esque make-out session turned to a round of laughter.
When their laughter died down and they've caught their breaths, they decided it was time for a sit-down which led them to the tables in front of the food stalls. Sakura insisted on getting a big glass of milkshake to share like they're in some kind of 50's movie diner. Sasuke didn't protest. He just bought the biggest serving of nachos they had and said "I hope you're having a blast on your birthday" which Sakura made a face at and said "I know you are" before laughing.
"So, Sasuke. Anything else you want for your birthday?"
"Hm?" Sasuke moves to thumb off the cheese on the corner of Sakura's mouth. Sakura automatically tilted her head to the side so he can wipe it off better, still feeling giddy whenever Sasuke does something unconsciously sweet and considerate. "You really don't need to get me anything more, you know," he says as he pulls back, wiping his fingers on a napkin and smiling that boyish half-smile Sakura likes so much.
"Still, there must be something? I don't know. New camera lens? A new game? Some books you need for school?"
"Sakura, seriously. Today is more than any birthday gift I've ever received in my entire existence. No material gift will top this day."
And Sakura thinks, well, yeah, of course. What do you even get a guy who can practically have anything?
"We could be lounging in our pajamas at home doing our usual weekend routine and it'll still be the best birthday I've had." Sasuke moves to lightly flick her in the forehead and in the fondest tone he says, "You're so annoying."
Sakura doesn't expect Sasuke to understand. Sasuke is the type of person to settle and make do with what he has. For all there is about the Uchiha and the privilege the name entails, it seems Sasuke grew up to be someone who isn't use to asking for what he is due. And all Sakura knows is she wants to give Sasuke everything and then some because he deserves it and she really, really likes him.
"Hey. I can practically hear you thinking. What's going on in that big head of yours?"
And above all, she just wants Sasuke to be happy. All the time.
But she can't find the guts to say all those things right now. So, instead, she says:
"How I'm the best damn girlfriend in the world right now."
There is a pause upon which Sakura watches Sasuke's features soften. His eyes lost the teasing glint, its sharpness dissolved. His head tilts as it rests on a fist, cheeks squished and a boyish half-smile slowly spreading to a full one—still small and very Sasuke-like in its sincerity. He lifts his hand once more and with two fingers lightly and gently taps Sakura's forehead and says,
"That you are."
In the warm light of the carnival lights, Sasuke looked so devastatingly beautiful and Sakura swears she felt her heartache and skip a beat all at once.
Which, she knows is scientifically impossible unless she has an existing heart condition. She's a doctor for fuck's sake, she knows this. If she didn't know any better she'd say she's having palpitations, but as it is, she's always been fully aware of Sasuke's effect on her.
"Oh my god." She whispers, mortified as she buries her face in her hands. "Oh my fucking god."
"What."
"Nothing! Let's go. I wanna ride and do cliché couple stuff on the Ferris wheel."
"What, like all the way up there? Isn't that a little too daring even for you?"
"I meant to hold hands and kiss, pervert."
For the record, they both think ending the day with a Ferris wheel ride is corny and very overrated ("This is so cliché." "Tell me about it."), but they still did it anyway because why the hell not. Besides, if Sakura timed it right, their car would be the one on the topmost when the fireworks go off and they can have the best view.
They got there before the line was long and managed to snag the last car for the current ride. Sakura jokes about whether Sasuke is feeling alright and that if he feels sick make sure to puke in the opposite direction of her. Sasuke just pokes his tongue out at her which made Sakura laugh from the sheer childish display.
The ride is slow and the air is surprisingly cool for a Konoha summer. The air smells heavily of seawater and the mixed smells of carnival food. They're sitting close to each other and Sasuke opens his arm to tuck Sakura under his shoulder. God forbid the Ferris wheel stops working while they're on it but like this, Sakura doesn't mind being stuck like this just for a little bit longer.
"You sure you weren't planning on spending time with your family or anything today? You could have visited your mom or something," Sakura asks, late in the realization that Sasuke might have wanted to hang out with his friends or drop by to see his mom on his birthday. "And what about your friends? Naruto and the rest? Sorry if I ruined any of your plans today. If you did have any."
"Stupid," Sasuke mutters fondly (always so fondly) turning to her a little to plant a soft kiss on her hair. "There's nowhere and no one I'd rather spend my birthday than right here with your annoying ass."
"Right here when we're like a thousand feet up in the air with the possibility of the Ferris wheel having a malfunction while we're on it?"
"Sure."
"You're just saying that to get in my pants," Sakura says pulling away from Sasuke's embrace to tease.
"I don't need to say anything. You already got in my pants earlier," Sasuke teases back, smirk in place. "Something you'll probably try again later."
"I'm not going to blow you while we're on a Ferris wheel, Sasuke, have some decency."
"That's not what I'm saying at all."
"Nice idea though. Maybe we can do that on our anniversary. Spice things up."
They laugh and had a brief scare when the ride choked while they were way up. Sasuke exclaims it's her fault for speaking it into existence which Sakura thought was stupid because things just don't happen because it is said out loud. The Ferris wheel choking up was a real probability to which Sasuke screamed at her to stop saying. The sheer ridiculousness of their exchange caused them to erupt in laughter again.
Sakura notices Sasuke staring at her when she was catching her breath.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Sakura huffs, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. "Is there something on my face?"
"Hm? Nothing. I just really like you and your laugh."
"Did the roller coaster shook your brain that much?"
"Maybe. Just a little."
And there it is. That damning boyish smile again. Sakura is internally screaming in her head what the fuck is happening because Sasuke has always been sparing of his compliments and whatever she could weasel out of him is often thinly veiled with an accompanying teasing remark. Sakura is used to his casual praises, the 'you look nice today' or the 'you smell nice' or 'you look pretty in that dress' remarks, but his words now somehow hit a little bit differently.
Sakura doesn't know why she's so flustered. It's Sasuke. She's liked him before they were a couple. Then again, Sasuke had always had a different effect on her. She's so flustered she can't even manage to come up with her usual good-natured comebacks.
"You think we'll make it to a year?"
"What?"
"Earlier. You mentioned something about an anniversary."
"Well, I mean—"
The Ferris wheel stops and the fireworks went off.
Sakura is right in her calculations. They really are the topmost part. Pity they couldn't enjoy the show because Sasuke is expecting a response and Sakura is scrambling her brain for the right words to articulate her jumbled thoughts.
The remark must have been a surprised coming from her—she who's always been the doubtful one, the one convinced they're a train wreck waiting to happen, the one who's always running scenarios in her head about how all this is going to blow over, and the one always waiting for the other shoe to drop.
But when Sakura thinks about it—when she thinks about being with Sasuke, when she thinks about doing it for a long time, she thinks she'll never get tired of waking up with him even if all they'll ever do for the rest of their lives is hang around his apartment and order take out. She thinks she'll never get tired of talking with him about anything and everything, about intellectual matters and the dumbest things, she thinks about doing all the boring domestic things together like splitting chores in the apartment or buying groceries or paying the bills. She thinks about the petty fights and the not so petty ones and having to sit down and talk things through. She thinks about morning routines and sending each other off to work and then coming home to have dinner together. She thinks about night outs on the town and night ins in their pajamas. She thinks about all the good things and the bad things rolled in one and think she wants it all.
When she thinks about Sasuke, she thinks about being in on this for the long haul.
The lights and the music of the carnival fade away and all she can see is Sasuke, illuminated by the lights of the Ferris wheel car, and looking at her like she's the best things that have ever happened to him and like he's so, so in love with her.
Sakura hopes he knows just how much as far gone she is with him.
"If we play our cards right," Sakura swallows, a little choked up. "I think—I think we could be in on this for much longer than that."
"Okay." Sasuke takes her hand in his, moving in closer. "Sounds easy enough."
It is Sasuke who closes the gap between them. It's a quick and short kiss which Sakura punctuated with a soft kiss to Sasuke's cheek.
"Happy birthday, Sasuke. I look forward to spending more of your birthdays with you."
.
.
September comes and autumn finds Sakura in her second year of residency in Konoha General Hospital.
Exhausted isn't enough to describe just how tired she is. If there is a more superlative term for exhaustion that would be her current state. One would think with KGH being one of the best hospitals in all the nations they would have enough staff to go around. Yet she just got off her third surgery in a 36-hour shift because they were understaffed for the third time in the past month. As it is, she has half a mind to call it a day, crash in the on-call room, and just go home the next day. It's been known to happen and even if someone slips in for a quickie, Sakura knows for sure she won't budge no matter how much racket they cause.
Collapsing on the nearest bunk bed, she drops her bag to the floor and is a second away from blissful unconsciousness when she suddenly remembers that maybe she should probably text Sasuke and tell him not to wait up. She debates all of five seconds before begrudgingly reaching inside her bag, blindly rummaging for her phone and grumbling about 'damn labels' and 'dumb fucking relationship duties.' If Sakura didn't think Sasuke's paranoia will eat him alive if she doesn't shoot him a text telling him she's fine she'd honestly never bother. See how much of a caring girlfriend she is? Truly the best girlfriend ever.
She low key kind of thinks it's sweet though, Sasuke worrying about her. She's thought of teasing him about it multiple times but thinks it's highly likely Sasuke will turn the tables on her and leave her speechless by spouting some Casanova Romeo comeback. Lately, he's been doing a lot of that and Sakura keeps finding herself absurdly speechless and a bumbling blushing mess like a fucking school girl with a crush.
Sakura winces when the light from her phone illuminated her face amidst the darkness of the room.
She expected a couple of missed calls and a text or two from Sasuke, some from Ino, but then there's also one missed call and another message from an unknown number. A number that has Suna's area code in it.
With shaky fingers, Sakura unlocks her phone and taps on the message. It's brief and concise and Sakura has memorized the words by the sixth time she's read it.
Unknown number:
'Hello, Sakura. This is mom. I think it's time you and I have a long-overdue mother-daughter chat.'
Sakura exits the conversation, hurriedly turning off her phone, removing her sim card, and almost dropping her phone in the process with how much her hands are shaking. She breaks the sim in half and stuffs her phone back in her bag with the thought of throwing it away or destroying it crossing her mind. The adrenaline rush of the whole ordeal is making her heart beat fast and her brain goes haywire of all the worst-case scenarios she could think up.
'Ah. They really did it,' Sakura thinks. 'They're finally doing it.'
Shaky hands aside, she's oddly calm for someone who basically has just been cornered by the very people she's trying to run away from. Sakura lies down. There's no use getting worked up over it now after all. Swallowing through the heavy lump on her throat she tries to organize her hay wiring thoughts. She's still evidently exhausted and is no way fit to navigate herself home. If she goes out now, she'll make an even bigger risk of being chanced upon by people sent by the Sabaku. Calling Sasuke to pick her up is most definitely not an option. The most rational decision at the moment is to rest, sleep it off for now, and decide her next course of action when she's not a hairsbreadth away from completely clocking out. Her sim is gone, her phone is off, and no one who doesn't need to know knows where she is right now.
The first thought that comes to Sakura's mind when she wakes up ten hours later is her mother's message. She disassembles her old phone, picks apart the parts one by one, and throws each part in different trash bins on her way home. She changes into her casual clothes, picks up her bag, and heads to the nearest mall to buy a new phone and sim. Destroying her phone and scattering its pieces might be her biting into her paranoia but it's better to be safe rather than give the Sabaku a chance to track her every move. They already know where she works and where she lives. The last thing she needs is for them to have access to her daily life. It's only a matter of time until they do but until then Sakura plans to hold out for as long as she can.
Later, when she gets home and is bombarded by a worried Sasuke asking why she hasn't answered her phone the whole day, she tells him it got run over by a gurney when they rushed to respond to the paramedics. She takes his phone to enter her new number and directs Sasuke back to the dinner he's cooking when he asked why she needed to change her number too.
.
.
Try as she might, Sakura couldn't help but think of her mother and shake off the feeling that no matter what she does, no matter how many times she changes her phone and her number, one way or another, her family is going to get to her. Some days she thinks that maybe this is payback from how things are going so well and happy with Sasuke recently like this is the catch somehow. And she knows that's probably stupid but Sakura has lived all her life on guard, constantly waiting for the next thing to go wrong, and knowing that every good thing comes with a price.
Sasuke must've caught on with the way she's been so stressed lately because one night he says, "Let's go out on a date."
Sakura, in the middle of finishing a crossword, stops gnawing at her pencil and looks up at Sasuke in confusion.
"Like, right now?"
"Yeah, let's go out to dinner."
Sakura's confusion melts into one of this belief and then a look that's basically asking Sasuke, 'are you crazy?'
"What? We used to go out all the time." Sasuke reasons out. "We used to have to practically crawl our asses back home after a night of drinking."
"Yeah, when we were nobodies," Sakura argues back. "Well, I mean, when I was a nobody. You always have been somebody." She paused closing and putting down her crossword on her lap. "Which, you know what? Now that I think about it, how have you never ended up on the front page of the tabloids? Remember when we went drinking in that bar on the outskirts of WeKo near the red-light district? When you were dry heaving on the sidewalk and almost got into a fistfight with the bouncer? How did that not end up in the papers?"
Sasuke scoffs, offended. "Alright. First of all, you were the one who almost got in a fistfight. Second, I was dry heaving because I took a punch in the gut for you. My insides felt like it shrunk. You're very fucking welcome by the way."
"I could have taken him on you know."
"Right. Yes. Of course, you could've, tiger."
"Still doesn't explain why you've never been in the headlines despite literally doing stupid tabloid-worthy shit all the time."
"Uchiha money probably." Sasuke casually shrugs, like talking about his family's humongous fortune is no big deal. It probably isn't for him. "The Uchiha probably paid the media to never release any incriminating news about anyone in the family. Same with the Hyuuga and Namikaze. It's why every stunt we pulled during Naruto's bachelor party was never in anything. Although I wish some of it was though. I'd literally pay off the ban if it meant I get to see a picture of Neji dancing half-naked against a street light pole all over the front pages of every Konoha tabloid."
"Damn." Sakura low whistles. "When they said the Uchiha is loaded, you guys are loaded-loaded, huh."
"Founding family old money and all that shit."
"And using it to buy off honest journalism." She nods as she makes a disgusted face at Sasuke, looking him up and down as if he was the one who bought off the papers. "So that's what they mean by filthy rich, huh. Disgusting."
"Fucking revolting, truly."
"What were we talking about again?"
"You were turning me down for a date."
Sakura sighs and moves to occupy the whole couch. She props her chin up on a fist and smiles wryly at Sasuke. He knows the look long enough for it to warrant an uncertain, "What?"
"Is that why you're asking me out tonight? Because you know you won't be in trouble anyway? And what about me, huh? I'm no Uchiha and the Sabaku will have my head if I so much as step a toe out of line. Will your Uchiha immunity extend to me if we're caught together?"
A loud exasperated sigh escapes Sasuke. Sakura chuckles as she watches him throw his head back in frustration. It's not like she's deliberately being difficult. Just teasing. And a little because she just thinks it's funny to see Sasuke like this.
"I don't know. I've never tried to do shit outside of Naruto and the others." Sasuke slumps further down his armchair. "Honestly, I just really wanted to eat tacos right now and it's unli margarita night at Chili's, but yeah sure why not. Fuck it. Let's see if the Uchiha media ban extends to their acquaintances."
"Acquaintances." Sakura huffs a laugh at the term before sobering up. "Sasuke, I'm serious."
"And I am seriously asking you out to dinner tonight." Sasuke straightens out when Sakura cocks an eyebrow. He stares at her, dark and focused as he grips at the armrests. His forehead creases and Sakura has the urge to lean over and smoothen it out. "It's just—I've been thinking—"
"Careful now. Don't hurt yourself."
"I thought we were being serious."
"Right. Sorry. I couldn't help myself."
Sasuke rolls his eyes at Sakura running a hand through his hair. He looks thoroughly done with the conversation while Sakura is half enjoying seeing him struggle with his words.
"I've been thinking that we shouldn't let our clusterfuck of families get to us." He props his head on his palm while his other hand vaguely gestures. "I mean, we've had to live with all the bullshit that comes with our names all our lives. And we've been running and hiding away from them for some time so why stop now and stop living just because they're catching up?"
There is a sudden lump in her throat and Sakura forces herself to swallow it down. The implication of Sasuke's words is exciting and it's overriding whatever worries and doubts she's had of how this evening will turn out.
She licks her lips.
"So, what are you saying?"
"I'm saying we should just run faster."
Sasuke smirks, dark eyes flashing with mischief like he has a plan to get in trouble and—oh, it's damning. Sakura knew her answer before she could even think about it. Trouble sounds about good tonight.
"Why run when you've got a fast car."
"Now, you're getting it."
Sometimes Sakura wishes she could just turn back time and start all over again when she first met Sasuke. She won't do anything differently. She just wants to continue living like they are and reliving it until they reach the day before everything went to shit and then time rewinds back again. She doubts she'll ever get bored of it anyway. Sakura desperately wishes they could just stay like this forever.
But they can't and things won't stay the way they are for long no matter how much she wishes it so instead she says—
"It's a Friday though. All the Chili's joints downtown will be packed, but there's a food park just by the border of Konoha and Kusa I've heard about that has great tacos. We can share a big fishbowl mystery cocktail and see where that takes us."
"Sounds like a perfect date night."
Sakura sighs as she extends her arms up silently telling him to help her up. Sasuke is grinning that boyish smile she loves so much and she couldn't help but kiss him. She feels him still smiling against the kiss and it makes Sakura wish harder that they could stay like this always for a long, long time so much it hurts.
She kisses Sasuke one last time before she lets him guide her to the door to shove on their shoes. Sakura protests about letting her put on some make-up first but Sasuke just scoffs, links their arms, and drags her to the stairs muttering something about 'you look perfect anyway' to which she replies with 'I'm not paying for your tacos no matter how much you flatter me, dumbass.'
Sakura's doubts and worries about her mother and her family continue to niggle at the back of her mind. It carves itself a space there and makes a permanent home in the deepest, darkest parts of her, but Sasuke is a great distraction and Sakura is so, so in love with him and is just all too willing to be distracted. Tomorrow, maybe she'll think about telling Sasuke all about her mother's message and what it could mean. And maybe they could figure everything out from there.
For now, they're going out for tacos.
.
A/N: as always, a huge thank you for everyone still reading this story and apologies for the really late updates. the draft for the next chapter is finished. i'm just trying to find the strength and the will to fully write it out. thank you for your patience.
you can come talk to me about everything at twitter (proserandom).
stay inside, wear your masks, and keep safe.