The sun had just sat down. The sound of the birds flapping their wings was echoing in the distance. Low breeze were ruffling the leaves of the forest. The crickets had not appeared yet. Wildlife was quiet. Everything was quiet.
It wasn't new, this atmosphere. The man had experienced it almost every day in his long journeys. He was familiar with it, he had made peace with it, he had accepted it as a part of his life, but today, something was different. It hurt.
Something deep within him ached today. It was painful, too painful. He wanted to scream, scream out a name.
In all of his travels, one name had never left his lips. It had always brought a smile on his face and a relief on his features. The name was soothing, the name was healing, the name was all that he could utter in his longings, the name of his beloved.
'Sakura … '
Sitting on the high branch of a thick tree, Sasuke kept staring at the full moon that was shining its light on a distant, far away land, with a little elevation of his eyes. Today, he could make a face on its rough surface. The face resembled a light in his life, which was as bright as the harvest moon of September.
It had been an eventful day. After thorough examination of his findings, Sasuke realized that he had just scratched the surface of the mystery he had set out to solve, meaning that his current journey may stretch on for some time. Even if there wasn't much, after locating the site, Sasuke had some expectations that he might finally be able to return home soon. It had been too long since he had last seen her wife and little daughter. Now, it all seemed like a fool's hope.
Although he was free to return back anytime, Sasuke sent back a message via. the bird and pushed on with his travel.
This, gets to him sometimes. The feeling, the longing. It's not like he curses his fate or his decisions, but the urge, the want, the desire to abandon everything and just go back to live with his family is always there. The face of his wife, working hard to help the village flashes in front of his eyes from time to time, leaving him restless. He wants to be by Sakura's side. He wants to spend more time with his daughter. But, at the end of the day, all he does is remember the people dear to his heart and push on with his mission to work for the development of the people – something he had taken on himself.
But that longing, that ache is always there.
Nearby, a toddler bird sneaked its neck out of the nest and cried out in the direction of the figure on the tree, brooding. Unshaken, Sasuke remained still, peering at the moon, a small curve of smile appearing on his face after some time. He has come to term with himself….. again.
"See you later, Sakura."