Chapter 5

Winter had befallen Konoha and with it a surge of wild weather. One day could be a little too warm for the season and the next snowing and freezing. Naturally, Sakura was battling a cold during this time, thankful that it could wait until she was on break before kicking her while she was down. Now that she was back at home, she was curled up in her normal bed, huddled under a blanket, scrolling through her phone to pass the time. It was then that a text came through from the one person that could brighten her day, and this was no exception. They exchanged a few texts, Sakura smiling from ear to ear with each one. She had become disappointed that with it being his first year away from home, he had been asked to see family, which meant that they were unable to meet up. Between work, school, and obligations, they had been unable to find a solid weekend to meet up for the first time. With the holidays around the corner, the large break they would have, they were still unable to do so. Sakura still felt a slight sense of disappointment but did her best to not showcase that.

"Talking to your boyfriend, again?"

Sakura was sitting up on her bed, a soft, pink blanket wrapped around her shoulders to keep her warm. Steam from the humidifier on her left slightly billowed in her view of her brother who had come in to check on her. His brown hair looked slightly disheveled as though he had just gotten up from a nap, brown eyes boring into her green ones. Sakura gave him a lopsided smile before reaching for a tissue, a rather annoying sneeze erupting out. With a sigh of exhaustion, she looked back at her younger brother. "I suppose, but more like I'm battling this cold."

"Did mom at least give you medicine?" Sho asked, choosing to stand at the foot of her bed.

"Oh, yes. She did. I feel nicely medicated at the moment, even if my body wants to rebel." Sakura teased. "I should be fine in a few days, though!"

Sho left and Sakura was back to mindless television. Many had asked why she and Sasuke never did video chat and a lot of it came down to feeling nervous on her end. Neither had really ever brought it up, but Sakura felt that she would feel too awkward and perhaps run him off, though she told herself he would have already if he was going to. Heaving a sigh, she hopped off her bed and went to her desk, the website having been ignored for a few days, she logged in and saw that her new friend, Hinata, had sent a message. Hinata had become a friend of hers fairly quickly, Sakura learning that while her new friend was attending college for graphic design, she already had an amazing talent going into it. It was her work that was being showcased on the site, everything about it giving off the vibe that felt like Hinata the more Sakura looked at it. The two could spend hours talking about their hobbies and the artistry that went into each one. While Hinata could make a forum header look flawless with just a simple program, Sakura was able to go from glam to something from a horror movie with relative ease.

So, seeing that her friend was not online, Sakura began to lurk around the website and came across a username that somehow got her interest rather quickly: Kurama_Fox. Something about the name intrigued Sakura, but she put it away for another day as they seemed to be a moderator on the site. He seemed to be chatting with a lot of people in a more public setting and she decided against it, opting to crawl back in bed and perhaps take a nap. Once she did, she responded to Sasuke and let him know of her plans before closing her eyes and soon falling asleep.

Sasuke sat in the living room of his parent's home, an annoyed expression on his face as he listened to his parents discuss his schooling. He knew what was coming and could feel a fight starting the moment his dad would turn to him and argue. It wasn't unlike his father to question every little step of his life to make Sasuke feel small and useless. His mother, though he assumed she fought him behind closed doors, would say nothing and allow her husband to berate and belittle Sasuke. Itachi never received such treatment, always the star child and the person he was told to be just like. So, with Itachi attending school near them so he could continue to live at home until graduation, they had expected Sasuke to do the very same. When their youngest son didn't, it had been a fight then and just as his father turned, dark gaze cold as the two looked at each other, he prepared for one now.

"Sasuke, we are only looking after your best interest. There are plenty of women here you can see. Living at home would do you good while you are attending school." His father started in, arms crossed over his chest as he did so.

"No. I've already established my classes and have been attending for half a year in Konoha." Sasuke responded, trying to mask his annoyance by looking bored.

"You can come home and attend the school here next year." His mother offered, her eyes glossy with unshed tears. He knew she missed him as they had always been close, but Sasuke could sense that his father would soon use his mother against him to keep him home.

"I don't have an issue being at home, but I need to learn to stand on my own two feet. I can't do that living at home." Sasuke said, heaving a sigh. "I would like to think you both would be proud of me for doing just that."

"We are proud of you, son. I just have to ask what you can do out there that you can't do here."

"I don't have you right there to rely on. I have to rely on myself for anything I need or want immediately." Sasuke responded.

"What if something happened that you needed to be right there for?"

"You have to understand that you won't always be here and I may not always live right where you want me to. I have to learn to do things on my own just like you and mom did. How is it any different?" Sasuke asked.

"Because we had to grow up a lot faster than you have to." Fugaku said, giving his son a stern look. "You know the situation your mom was in and why we had to make the choice we did. You are not in that same situation. Your girlfriend is a long ways away and to my knowledge you've never even met her. I worked with your mom and had met her long before we began dating."

"You're right." Sasuke started slowly, seeing his father relax for just a moment. "Yet, I've not told you anything about Sakura. Her past or what she deals with now. How do you know she isn't battling a similar situation? You barely ask me about her because you both assume long distance means it isn't an actual relationship. The only difference is that I've not laid my eyes on her nor have I physically touched her. I hear her voice every day, I read her texts every day. Communication is the only thing we have and that's how we learn about each other. My feelings for her are toward her as a person, her mind and heart. I've seen enough pictures of her to establish I'm physically attracted to her."

"What if you meet her and see she's a different person?" Mikoto asked, looking unsure of her own son at this moment.

"Isn't that with any relationship? You can be there with someone in every aspect for days, weeks, or hell, even months and fall out of love with them. To suddenly realize you didn't like them like you thought you had. What do you do? You end things with them and move on. How is this any different?" Sasuke asked, brows coming together in annoyance. "You act like I'm just wasting my time on something that won't ever work out. Can you not trust me to make the best decision for myself?"

"Son, we just want what is best for you." His father began, causing Sasuke to feel even more annoyed.

"Then let me tell you this…" Sasuke stated flatly, deciding to use Sakura's words at this very moment. "What is best for you isn't best for me or anyone else. My life isn't your life and you stated that very clearly a moment ago. Just because you feel you know what is best doesn't mean that it is. It's best for your peace of mind, not mine. I'm happy with my choices and always have been. It's you who has questioned me every chance you could. I'm tired of being treated like the dumbass you want me to be!"

"Go to your room!" His father roared, standing tall just as Sasuke did, both of them glaring at each other.

"Gladly. I'm not coming back home next Christmas. I'll spend it with Sakura." Sasuke snapped, turning to head to his room, slamming the door behind him.

Gritting his teeth, he felt bitter about being home and knew he would. Sasuke knew he should have realized his father would have the audacity to do this to him. To try to belittle him into moving back home permanently. Grabbing his phone he had left on his bed, he scrolled down to her number, immediately hitting the call button. He needed to hear her voice, needed to be reminded of why he felt happy when she was around. The phone continued to ring longer than usual and he felt his stomach drop, realizing that she was probably asleep. He knew she had been sick, would listen to her raspy voice and coughing fits often. Sasuke, feeling like an ass, was about to hang up when the call was finally answered. Her drowsy voice confirmed his suspicions, but knowing that she still answered his call relaxed every muscle he had. He flopped himself on his bed, waiting for her current coughing fit to subside so he could apologize.

"Sakura, I'm sorry to call you." Sasuke mumbled, feeling like a complete ass at that very moment.

"It's okay! Not like I can't go back to sleep later." Her soft laugh brought butterflies to his stomach. "Are you okay?"

"My parents are hounding me about moving back home."

"Oh. Is that something you want to do? I'd support anything you decide, you know." Sakura's response caused his eyes to widen. Never before had he been outright told that his decision would be supported, at least without being questioned about it. Her statement was plain, no hidden meaning behind it. He sat up in bed, letting her words sink in as he gripped his phone a little tighter than necessary.

"Would you?" He asked, feeling breathless as he waited for her answer.

"Of course! You have to do what makes you happy. It's not like we have had the chance to meet up even with us being a lot closer than we are currently. We would figure it out." Sakura responded, her voice soft and holding sincerity in her words.

"I love you." Sasuke blurted out, hearing her light giggle.

"I love you, too. Want to talk to me about what's going on?" The concern in her voice was apparent.

"My parents are demanding I come back home. And they don't like that I'm dating someone long distance."

"I can relate to the last part. Though, based on the fact you are calling me, you feel the same way I do." Sakura sighed.

"And what is that?" He inquired, smirking as he knew exactly what she would say.

"Fuck them."

"How did I know that something that vulgar would come out of your mouth?" He teased, hearing her groan before laughing.

"Because I'm that vulgar?" Sakura groaned.

"So lady-like."

"Oh, bite me asshole." Sakura grumbled out, causing Sasuke to laugh.

"You better not say that when I'm around. I'll be more than happy to wrap my mouth around any part of you." Sasuke's smirk widened into a full blown grin when Sakura squeaked.

"And you say I'm vulgar?"

"We both knew I was the moment we became friends, Sakura." He sighed. "It's a shame you're sick or else I'd be doing something more."

"What? Is my phlegm-y voice not doing it for you, Mr. Uchiha?" Sakura teased back. "I thought a snotty woman with a nasty cough was up your alley."

"You are what is up my alley, Ms. Haruno. You could be here right now, coughing on me, and I'd still want you."

"You're such a romantic." Sakura giggled. "I'm inclined to believe you."

"I wouldn't lie." Sasuke said with a chuckle. He then felt his phone vibrate in his hand and pulled it away from his ear to see that she had sent a photo. Raising a brow, he opened the text and saw the photo of her. Her pink hair was disheveled, nose and cheeks red. He could tell that her nose and lips were chapped along with darkness under her eyes. She was covered in a blanket, but he could see a sliver of a black shirt she was wearing peeking out from underneath it. He could see it clear as day that she was unwell, yet he saw the most beautiful woman in the world. He wasn't lying to her when he said that she was it for him and he felt his own mind and heart confirming that. She looked like the most beautiful person in the world to him at that very moment. All he wanted to do was be right there and nurse her back to health.

"Did I run you off already?" Sakura giggled the moment he put the phone back to his ear.

"No, I was just admiring the most beautiful woman in the world on my phone." He said with a smile. "You really are, Sakura."

"I'm glad you think so, Sasuke." Her quiet response brought a bigger smile to his face.

"Spring break is coming up! Means hot women in bikinis!" Suigetsu said with a grin on his face. "What are we doing?"

Jugo stayed quiet, looking across the courtyard to a few squirrels who were chasing each other. Karin was rolling her eyes and grumbling, the two of them still not admitting their feelings. Sasuke snorted, arms crossed as he found himself eyeing the same squirrels to pass the time. Suigetsu groaned at the lack of enthusiasm and leaned back against the brick of their college building, giving a shrug.

"Fine, be that way you boring assholes."

"No one cares about your desire to stare at women in bikinis all day." Karin grumbled out.

"I guess you're going to see your girlfriend?" Suigetsu looked over at Sasuke.

"No, she's starting a new job that week. Our plan is to meet next winter break." Sasuke responded, opting to put his hands in his pockets.

"You'll have been together over a year before you actually meet? What kind of fucked up shit is that?" Suigetsu asked, looking appalled.

"Don't worry about it." Sasuke snapped.

"They haven't even had a video chat." Karin grinned.

"I know what she looks like. I'm not going to push for it and she's never asked, so I'm not worried about it." Sasuke shrugged.

"Well, maybe one day you'll realize you missed out on something better." Karin said with a smirk.

"You? As if. Sakura is way better and prettier than you." Suigetsu snorted.

"Fuck you!" Karin growled out, brows furrowed in frustration. "No one asked your ugly ass."

"You've seen my ass?"

Sasuke walked away as the two of them continued to bicker. The trees held cherry blossoms, which reminded him of his girlfriend. Some of the bright, pink petals fell around him, as if she herself was reaching out to him. He found himself smiling at the thought, yet he frowned knowing that it was odd that they had never had the opportunity to video chat. He knew she would be out of class now, so with a gulp he decided to test something out. He used the video chat button to call her, his face visible to himself as he waited, breath held. Sasuke could picture Sakura's initial reaction to be fear and uncertainty, so when she did answer and looked uncertain, he knew he was right. Yet, he took her in. She looked to be sitting on her bed, a poster behind her that he recognized as a show she enjoyed. Her pink hair was straight, reaching her collarbones. Green eyes looked surprised and nervous, cheeks slightly pink with embarrassment. Seeing her real time reaction and real time emotions playing across her features stole his breath. She really was the most breathtaking person he'd ever set eyes on.

"Oh, I wasn't expecting this sort of call or else I would have actually put makeup on." Sakura said, shifting slightly in her spot.

"Why? You look beautiful as you are now." Sasuke asked, feeling uncertain.

He watched her gasp, eyes widened even more as she shifted slightly. The color on her cheeks deepened into the color of his favorite food, tomatoes. She looked down towards her lap, her pearly white teeth surfacing to take hold of her bottom lip. He then realized how full and kissable her lips really were, even if he had studied them in her photos many times. To see this be a habit of hers when nervous, he found it cute when she looked up and could still see a few teeth holding onto her bottom lip. They finally disappeared, her lip slightly pink and he wished she was right there so he could feel them under his. How could this woman think that she needed makeup to be better when right at that moment she was more than he could have ever asked for.

"I guess I should just spend the rest of my life making sure you know you don't need makeup to be beautiful when you already are." Sasuke said, giving her a warm smile. He watched her hands move and heard a click sound, which caused him to blink a few times in surprise.

"I could say the same about you. Sorry, I took a screenshot. With the cherry blossom tree behind you, I couldn't resist." Sakura said, her entire face now red with embarrassment.

"Send me the photo after we talk." Sasuke said, watching her nod and when she looked up, he did the same, her eyes widening afterwards. "I can do the same, you know."

"Who are you talking to?" A very masculine voice came from an area that he couldn't see. While he trusted her entirely, he felt a weird sensation spread throughout his body.

"Oh! I'm talking to Sasuke!" Sakura said, looking past the phone. "He decided to surprise me with a video chat! Want to come say hi?"

"Oh, sure." The male voice said.

"This is Keiko's boyfriend, Akira. He's impatiently waiting on her to get out of the shower." Sakura said, giving a giggle. "Mostly because I talk about you every time he has to wait."

The phone switched positions slightly and the man to Sakura's left waved, Sasuke waving back. He had brown hair and eyes, which Sasuke would associate him with being someone who wasn't unappealing, but wasn't someone he thought many would turn for a second look at either. "Yeah, your girlfriend here talks about you a lot. Nice to meet you, man!"

"Same to you." Sasuke said, watching Akira move from his line of sight and the camera now fully on Sakura. "You talk about me, huh?"

"As if you have to ask. Of course, I do." Sakura giggled, her perfectly straight teeth visible fully now. "I guess we should have done this a lot sooner."

"We should have." Sasuke grinned, watching her face still red. "Also, it's cute that you blush a lot."

Sakura gasped and tried to cover her face with one hand, the red peeking out from underneath anyways. Sasuke laughed at her reaction and seeing her move, talk, and be herself confirmed what he felt. He loved this woman and while they would not be able to meet until the end of this year, he would meet her. He wanted to spend his life with her and so he decided to take this summer to do something bold and probably crazy. With a smile, he looked right into her eyes, watching her own widen slightly before relaxing with a content expression on her face.

"I think we should talk like this more often." Sasuke said, watching her smile.

"I couldn't agree more." Sakura responded, looking down for a short moment before looking back up at him.