Sasuke walked through the forest at a fast pace. The trees around him let the sun's rays shine through, and the birds chirped cheerfully. It was muggy outside, but clouds arriving from the east predicted a cooler weather for the next few days.
Stepping gently on the grass, Sasuke looked out the gates of Konoha. Having finished his task earlier than expected, he decided not to delay any longer. Sasuke spent the last two years in solitude, putting together in a head all the feelings he needed to and he was finally ready to return to his home village.
Stomping on a stick, a breaking sound reached Sasuke's ears. He lifted his gaze upward and noticed what he longed for. A green gate stretched before his eyes for a few dozen meters.
Advancing two steps further, he thought of one person the whole time. Sakura was there in the village, working and helping others, and most of all - waiting for him. At least that was the message Sasuke received a week ago, when, along with a letter from Naruto, also came from her.
Smoothing his coat, Sasuke proudly walked through the gate. This village had once been a home to him, then a curse, and now it had become a place inhabited by the people he loves.
Sasuke stopped and looked around. Just as he had guessed, no one was waiting for him. This was, of course, to be expected. His arrival had happened overnight, and Sasuke decided not to inform anyone about it.
"Welcome." he heard a voice from behind. Two men were sitting behind the counter.
Turning to them, Sasuke nodded. He recognized them from his youthful years, however, he could not remember their names. They were not important.
"Oh, Uchiha." spoke up the other. Sasuke looked at him, waiting for further words. He couldn't figure out if the man said it because of a bad attitude toward him or a good "We thought you would be later."
"You could have informed about your earlier arrival. This one girl would surely like to see you before the gate. She used to ask about you. Quite often." the man smiled suspiciously.
Sasuke brushed off the guard's comment. He immediately realized who he was talking about. Sakura was well aware that he was telling Kakashi everything, so he would pass the news on to her. However, she always asked if he might have returned after all.
Sasuke smiled under his breath.
"Should we tell the Hokage?" the second guard asked after a while.
"I'll go to Kakashi myself." for the first time since his arrival, Sasuke spoke up.
Only now did he realize how long it had been since he had said anything out loud. He spent the last two weeks in silence and peace, reading and translating scrolls.
"Then have a good stay."
Nodding one last time, Sasuke moved toward the Hokage's tower.
He passed people loitering in the streets of Konoha. Everyone had smiles on their faces and were enjoying today's weather. Stores were besieged, not to mention bakeries. Even cafes had no seats for newcomers.
Turning left, Sasuke arrived at the door. A couple of people greeted him, casually showing their appreciation for the Uchiha. Previously, Sasuke had not even dreamed of being welcomed by people in the village again. Yet now people were greeting him with respect.
Stepping forward, without knocking, he went inside. Kakashi happened to be sitting behind a desk, poring over some document. Merely tearing his eyes away from the page, he glanced at the newcomer.
"Nice to see you again, Sasuke." he didn't even comment on the too early arrival.
"You too, Kakashi." Sasuke bowed gently in respect.
Kakashi, despite Sasuke's turbulent past, continued to be a role model and father to him, doing a better job at it than his biological one. Kakashi's forgiveness of all Sasuke's faults was his second priority.
"How was your trip?" he asked, already bored with the documents on his desk.
"Fine."
Sasuke stood upright, waiting for further development of the conversation from Kakashi's side.
"Ah, still as reticent as before." the Hokage stood up, thus approaching Sasuke "You see, I would have talked longer, but I have a lot of things on my mind. Next time we can catch up these few years." he patted Uchiha on the back.
"Aa." Sasuke, though, felt a little uncomfortable. No one had ever come this close to greet him before, except Sakura "Do I have an apartment, or do I have to look for a room?" he asked, thus changing the subject.
"Good thing you reminded me." Kakashi walked over to the desk and pulled the keys from the cabinet "I bought you an apartment. It's not big, but it should be enough. Not far from the hospital." He handed the item to Sasuke.
Looking at the keys, the Uchiha immediately thought of her. He'll have close to her.
"...Thank you."
Putting the item in his pocket, he sent a, rather crooked, smile to his sensei.
"Enjoy your stay, Sasuke." Kakashi dismissed him with a hand to the door.
Stepping slowly, he walked away from the Hokage tower and headed toward the hospital. Despite Kakashi's good intentions, the man didn't tell him exactly which block Sasuke's new apartment was in. Of course, the Uchiha was also guilty. He should ask about it.
The sand was dirtying Sasuke's toes. The young Uchiha tried to stir it up a little, but the heavy traffic on the streets did not help at all. And so when he gets home he will have to wash properly. After all, he won't meet Sakura dirty and smelly after all the traveling.
Passing the hospital on the way, Sasuke proceeded further. Within his sight were two apartment blocks. One looked quite old, while the other must have found it recently built.
Sasuke looked carefully at other people's keys. After a while, he caught sight of a lady who was holding the same ones as him. He followed her to the block, then looked at the number. Orienting himself where he should go, Sasuke entered the third floor.
He quickly found his apartment. Entering, he put the coat back on the hanger and followed into the depths.
The apartment was small. The kitchen connected to the living room, and Sasuke's room contained only a bed along with a dresser. There was also a bathroom at the end of the hallway. Sasuke found that this much was enough for him. He'll have somewhere to hang out and sleep, and he still felt he wouldn't stay long.
Walking over to the dresser, he opened one of the shelves. From the bag he pulled out a pile of letters. They were all addressed to Sakura. And none of them had arrived to her.
Sasuke wanted to send them, but something was holding him back. Love, showing affection, relationship and everything else that went along with it was new and scary to him.
In theory, Sasuke knew what he wanted to have in the future, but he was afraid to start implementing it.
He was afraid of loving too much and losing again; he was afraid of rejection, and most of all, he was afraid that he would not be enough for Sakura. Sasuke wanted to give her his best, but wasn't sure if he would be able to.
Therefore, for now, loving her from the shadows was enough for him.
Leaving all the letters in the drawer, Sasuke shuffled to the bathroom. He had just washed some clothes three days ago, so he would have something clean to throw on.
He undressed and stepped into the shower, turning on the warm water. Slowly his muscles relaxed and the steam was pleasantly warming.
Sasuke didn't spend long washing himself. He got out, wrapping a towel around himself along the way, and walked over to the mirror. Once his hair used to stand up immediately after getting out of the bath. Now, only a few strands were arranged as before.
Would Sakura like his hair straighter? What if she preferred his earlier hairstyle?
Sasuke thought about it for a while, until he finally came to the conclusion that why did he bother. Sakura surely wouldn't pay any particular attention to it.
Leaving his hair as it is, he dressed quickly and brushed the teeth. By the way, he pulled out a certain item he had bought before returning - perfume.
It was silly, he knew, but one day he overheard two women gossiping outside a store and marveling at how good some men smelled. Sasuke then made a hasty decision. He went and purchased a small flacon of clear liquid himself.
The lady at the booth was very nice and advised him on the choice, but Sasuke wasn't too convinced until now. Because what if it doesn't really fit him and Sakura doesn't like it?
Even more so, Uchiha had never used perfume before. Should it be this strong?
Quickly making a final decision, Sasuke sprayed it on his neck twice, wrinkling the nose as he smelled the heavy scent of alcohol.
Now he would either make a fool of himself or show a different, new side.
Pulling himself together, Sasuke left the bathroom and, putting on everything he needed, started toward the hospital.
He had no idea how long he would have to wait for Sakura, but for the sake of meeting her, after all, he could stand outside for up to half a day.
Sakura had already said goodbye to the last patient of the day and was heading to the exit. Fatigue did not let her stand on her feet slowly.
Evening was approaching, so this still meant that she left work earlier than usual, but the enormity of the paperwork and patients was slowly overwhelming Sakura.
She loved her job, that much was obvious, but she wasn't a robot after all. Like any other human being, Sakura also needed rest.
But people in the village, and even outside the village, needed her.
Sighing heavily, Sakura continued along the corridors of the hospital, saying goodbye to her co-workers along the way. She tried to keep a smile on the face at all times, but she was slowly sagging.
She needed a change in her life.
Sakura wanted to change her routine, which so far consisted of going to and coming back from work. Not to mention the constantly empty apartment.
She felt lonely.
Relations with her parents had deteriorated to the point where Sakura simply no longer kept in touch with them. At times she felt a sense of longing, and the same was probably true for them, but neither could take the first step.
For that, the other person who could fill her emptiness was unaccountably far away.
Although theoretically Sasuke should be back in a week, Sakura wasn't at all sure what to do next. She dreamed, fantasized and wished for a future with the love of her life, but she also knew Sasuke very well and knew that it might be difficult, and certainly would be different from her imagination.
Even more so, she didn't even get any confession.
Sasuke left her with hope, which she clung tightly to, but nothing more.
First, the bonds of friendship must be tightened, she repeated in her head, moving closer to the exit.
But why does it all have to be so difficult?
What Sakura wanted most, in the past, was to experience that teenage love - holding hands in awkward silence, tender and tentative kisses, overly cloying confessions of love.
It will not be given to her now. She had recently turned twenty, leaving her youthful years behind.
However, she believed in spirit that she would get something better in the future.
For example...
Sasuke in front of her?
Sakura rubbed her eyes with a hand. She thought that after so many hours, her brain was playing tricks, but Sasuke had not disappeared at all. He stood and stared at her with his wonderful eyes. Sakura even noticed the shadow of a smile on his lips.
"Sakura, I'm home."
How she longed for his voice.
Without wasting any time, with tears in her eyes, Sakura crossed the distance separating them and fell into his arms. She wasn't interested in Uchiha's private space now. She needed to feel his warmth under her fingers.
In response to her embrace, Sasuke tentatively massaged her back lengthwise twice.
"I'm so happy to see you, Sasuke-kun." she mouthed through a clenched throat.
"Aa."
Feeling Sasuke's muscles tense, Sakura pulled away embarrassed. Maybe she shouldn't react that way after all.
"...Why did you come back today?" she finally asked, having no idea what to do next. Sasuke was still reticent, and Sakura herself felt strange about this situation.
So much time had passed since they last saw each other. Neither of them was sure what the other wanted from their relationship.
And just a moment ago she was just thinking about him. She was surprised at how interesting the coincidence was.
"I finished earlier."
"Ah, that's... cool." she began playing with the fingers. They stood in silence until finally Sakura spoke up again, "Nice of you to come say hello, Sasuke-kun. I wish I could stay a while longer, but I'm too tired."
"I'll walk you home." he said in one breath.
Sakura looked at Uchiha. He seemed as if he was about to pass out. Why did he react that way?
"Oh, okay." she smiled affectionately. Sakura didn't even want to pursue the subject of his gently red ears at the ends.
Sakura steered Sasuke to the left. When she moved, she specifically chose a place close to the hospital. That way, she was always as quick as possible to a patient in need of immediate care.
Walking on in silence, Sakura began to relax. Being around Sasuke was sometimes difficult - she was afraid to say the wrong thing because she didn't want to make a fool of herself. But now she realized how hopeless that thinking was. Sasuke wouldn't laugh at her, after all.
She drew in the air heavily and at that moment a pleasant scent entered her nostrils. She loved men's perfume. Once again inhaling the scent, Sakura turned the head toward where it was wafting from and caught Sasuke's eyes with surprise.
Since when did the Uchiha use perfume? Is it definitely his?
Sakura went so far as to sniff her clothes. Some of the same scent remained on her blouse.
She turned the head again to look at Sasuke. The Uchiha was still looking at her.
"Nice perfume." she commented with a smile.
Sasuke straightened up more, as if proud that she had noticed at all. He did not, however, respond to Sakura.
They finally arrived at their destination. Sakura took out her keys and opened the door, standing in it. She knew it would be nice to invite Sasuke inside, but she felt she would fall asleep standing up sooner than keep company.
"Would you like to meet tomorrow night?" asked Sasuke unexpectedly.
Sakura felt her own ears and cheeks blush now.
"I'd love to."
Sasuke tapped her forehead and started to walk away. He did the same thing again.
"See you tomorrow, then." he chuckled as he walked away.
Sakura stood with her hand on the forehead.
"What does that mean?" she finally asked.
She wanted to ask him this question for the past two years. He had left her like this earlier at the Konoha gate and walked away without explanation. Sakura considered the gesture as something intimate and important to Sasuke, but she couldn't be sure of anything. And she would so much like to.
"Someday you'll find out." Sasuke looked over his shoulder at her with a smirk on the face.
Sakura thought she couldn't be any more red. That facial expression brought her to the knees.
She would like to see Sasuke like that more.
blank period sasusaku I LOVE IT!
despite a slightly large amount of other things to write, I needed something lighter, so this time you will get a typical romance from me! I've never written one, so I hope I'll manage and the plot will be interesting and enjoyable to read.
first chapter is rather introductory, but from the next more awkwardness and love :x
love you guys 3