Sakura Haruno had lived through a lot in her 22 years of life, some of it being really bad and some of it good. Her childhood was normal up until her parents divorce when she was 10, after that things became rocky. She lived primarily with her mother Mebuki which was fine until she started bringing her new boyfriend around. The man never did anything bad to Sakura, but seeing her mother with another man was almost too much to bear.
She would go stay with her father Kizashi every weekend in the small apartment he started living in. Sakura enjoyed the time with her father since it had become so limited, though she could tell he was starting to drink more by all the empty bottles she always saw in the trash.
Before the divorce Sakura was very outgoing and had a lot of friends, but with all the issues with her parents she began to withdraw from everything. School work and studying became a coping mechanism for Sakura, she made it her priority and it was a great distraction from her situation.
And because of this Sakura graduated high school early as valedictorian of her class and earned a full ride scholarship to a medical school in Konoha. Once there Sakura excelled in all her classes but never really did anything else, she found herself alone in her dorm or the library more often than not.
Sakura didn't mind this as long as she had school work to do, but when all her work was completed is when she ran into problems. Bad thoughts would invade her mind about her parents, how she had no friends, how the men in her classes always flirted and made crude comments towards her. But Sakura never voiced any of these issues to anyone and she continued doing that all the way through medical school and now in her position at Hashirama Hospital.
Things got better in a sense whenever she became the head of Pediatrics, people respected her and the men on staff made less passes at her for the most part. The only man who never let up was Jiji, he was a doctor in Cardiology and always came down to Pediatrics to see Sakura no matter how many times she told him to stop.
Sakura also dealt with many of the construction workers asking her out as well, but she always turned them down too. Not because she thought she was better than them or that they weren't good enough for her. It was that none of them ever seemed genuine with what they were saying, it was like she was just a conquest to them and not a person.
But briefly meeting Sasuke Uchiha felt like a breath of fresh air, he was so much different than the men she usually interacted with. He had a lean muscular build, onyx eyes, thick raven hair, and intricate tattoos that ran up and down his arms. Sakura wanted to see them all and know what they all meant, and more so she wanted to get to know Sasuke better as a person. She could
tell he had a lot going on in his mind, that he was doing the best he could in his situation. Sakura respected him for that and she hoped to see him again soon so they could talk more.
A few days went by before she saw him again, and Sasuke was painting the walls of a room that had just been built. "Hey Sakura" he said, as he stepped off the ladder and approached her. "Hi Sasuke, how's work going today?" Sakura asked warmly, taking in his appearance for the second time. "It's fine, painting is the easiest thing I've done so far. How about you?" Sasuke asked, now focusing all his attention on her.
"I see, it looks nice so far though. But my day is going okay, just so much to do" Sakura said with a sigh, while leaning against the door frame.
"Ah I can only imagine, but you seem to handle it well" Sasuke pointed out. "Oh if you only knew, but anyway, what do you like to do for fun? Sakura asked him, wanting to change the subject. "Having fun hasn't been on the radar for me in a long time, so I can't answer that" Sasuke disclosed, truly not knowing what he considered fun. "Well that doesn't help Sasuke, how am I supposed to suggest something for us to do outside of work?" Sakura asked playfully, feeling her cheeks start to warm up.
Sasuke was taken back by her question, he was already content just to be talking to her again but now she wants to see him outside of work? It was almost too good to be true. "In that case we can do whatever you consider fun" Sasuke said with a smirk. "Be careful what you wish for, what if it's shopping or going to the nail salon?" Sakura suggested with a silly smile. "Then I'll do either of those things" Sasuke said back with no hesitation. "Should we exchange numbers then so we can set something up?" Sakura asked shyly. "I don't have a phone right now, but I'll have one after I save some money" Sasuke told her, feeling slightly embarrassed.
Sasuke had a phone whenever he left his parents house but it had broke about two years after he left. And since then he'd never had enough money to buy another, so he just learned to live without one.
Sakura was surprised that someone her age didn't have a phone, but she could tell that Sasuke's situation was unique so she didn't press him about it. "That's okay! Are you free on Sunday? That's the only full day off I have right now" Sakura explained, hoping he would be free too. "Ah that works for me, when and where do you want to meet?" Sasuke asked, enjoying the pretty blush on her cheeks.
"Let's meet in front of the hospital at 11 and we'll go from there" Sakura said happily. "Sounds good, I'll be looking forward to it" Sasuke said sincerely, surprised at how forward he was being. "Me too! I have to get back to my patients but I'll see you Sunday" Sakura exclaimed before waving bye and heading out the door.
"I can't believe she really wants to spend time with me" Sasuke thought to himself, still having trouble wrapping his head around it. Sasuke was looking forward to it nonetheless, but he couldn't help but be curious as to what they would be doing.
On Sunday, Sakura arrived at the meeting spot thirty minutes early, she was dressed in denim jeans with a long sleeve red shirt with white flowers and a pair of white heels and a black purse. She had spent a lot of time deciding on what to wear, not wanting to over or under dress for the occasion.
Sasuke arrived about ten minutes after her, dressed simply in black jeans and a dark grey hoodie with black sneakers. He hadn't gotten paid yet so he wasn't able to buy nicer clothes, but Sasuke had a feeling Sakura wouldn't mind.
"Hi Sasuke! You're early too" Sakura pointed out, happy to see him. "Ah I don't like being late, so what do you have planned?" Sasuke asked with a raised eyebrow. "Just follow me and you'll see" Sakura beamed, while gesturing for him to follow her.
They walked through the streets of Konoha, Sakura making small talk and pointing out all the different shops to him. "We're here" Sakura said, as they stopped in front of a large building that said Konoha Coffee and Books.
Sakura led them inside to the coffee shop portion, "Do you like coffee Sasuke? I probably should've asked you before" Sakura fretted, knowing how many people don't enjoy the taste. "As I do" Sasuke reassured her, as they stepped up to the person at the register and placed their orders.
Sasuke got a black coffee while Sakura got an iced latte with vanilla, then they sat down at a table by the window. "Thank you for coming here with me, I've never done this with anyone else" Sakura revealed, feeling comfortable enough with him to be somewhat vulnerable. "Really? You seem so… sociable though" Sasuke said back, surprised at her confession.
"Yeah I've never really had any friends since I was a little girl, so I like to come here and people watch on my days off" Sakura told him, while taking a drink of her iced latte. "I never would have guessed that about you, I thought you were friends with the hospital staff" Sasuke marveled, realizing his assumptions were wrong. "No we're nothing but coworkers, what about the guys you work with? Are you friends with any of them?" Sakura asked, wanting to know more about his work. "I've only known them for a week but I don't dislike them" Sasuke said with a shrug, taking a sip of his coffee.
Sakura giggled at his comment and it was one of the sweetest sounds Sasuke had ever heard. He could feel himself getting more comfortable with her, the feeling of wanting to protect her smile growing stronger. But he didn't want to make things awkward between them by trying to move too fast, and he was happy to just be her friend for now.
"Well that's good you don't dislike them, I know how hard it can be to work around people you don't like" Sakura affirmed, thinking of Jiji in particular. "Ah it is difficult, you seem to have specific in mind though" Sasuke said, easily reading the look on her face. "Is it that obvious? Well there's this man named Jiji who works at the hospital in Cardiology, I've turned him down so many times but he never stops asking" Sakura confided, skin crawling just thinking about him.
Trying not to lose his cool, Sasuke calmly asked, "Have you reported him or anything like that?" in a subdued tone. "No, I don't want him to lose his job or have to relocate to another hospital. I just want him to leave me alone" Sakura said, noticing Sasuke's fist clench on the table. "Maybe he should if he's harassing you, but if it gets worse you tell me and I'll take care of him" Sasuke promised, even though he's not supposed to be fighting anymore. "I appreciate it Sasuke, but I don't think it will come to that," Sakura said in a hopeful tone.
They sat in silence for a few minutes before Sasuke spoke first, "I should have said this from the start but I'm with Leaf Rehab Center and live there" he said, putting all his cards on the table. "I honestly had kind of assumed that since you work construction and I know how Leaf Rehab collaborates with them. But I have no problem with it, what you're doing is more admirable than anything. Asking for help can be one of the hardest things to do" Sakura said with a warm smile.
Sasuke was once again shocked at her answer, how could an accomplished woman like her be okay with a man like him? He couldn't believe how understanding she was, but Sasuke was beginning to understand that's just who she truly is.
"Thank you Sakura" was all Sasuke could say back, as his onyx eyes looked into her emerald ones. Sakura smiled back and lightly squeezed his hand, before continuing on with their conversation.
The two stayed at the table until they finished their coffee and then walked around the bookstore, browsing through all the sections. Once they were done there, Sakura showed Sasuke around Konoha more after he told her that he was originally from Oto. Without saying it, they had both decided not to pry into each other's past or personal life too much because they realized it was a sore subject for them both.
But before they knew it the sun was beginning to set and they were back in front of the hospital, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to keep you out this long" Sakura said, mentally scolding herself for losing track of time. "No, I enjoyed it, I've never really done anything like that before" Sasuke said warmly, enjoying the way the sun covered her in it's golden light. "I'm glad we did it then, so see you tomorrow?" Sakura asked meekly, not wanting to come off too clingy. "Ah you'll see me, there's still a lot to do on the hospital" Sasuke assured her. "I'm happy to hear it" Sakura said and then Sasuke watched her hesitate for a moment before she wrapped her arms around his waist.
Sasuke stood there frozen for a couple of seconds before he tentvently placed his arms around her shoulders. Sasuke couldn't remember the last time he had a hug or any human contact for that matter and he had no idea how touch starved he was until now.
After a few beats Sakura slowly let go and peered up at him, hoping she hadn't just ruined everything. But Sasuke looked at peace as they met eyes, "Be careful on your way home" he said softly, as she began to reluctantly walk away in the other direction.
On Monday Sasuke and Sakura were only able to briefly see each other, both too busy for a whole conversation. And then Sasuke had to hurry back to the center to change and get ready for his first individual therapy session that started at 4. Sasuke then got on the elevator and went up to the seventh floor where all the therapist offices were, he then knocked on the door that matched the name Kurenai told him and then went inside when he heard an answer.
"Come on in, I'm happy to finally meet you Uchiha-san. I'm Dr. Iruka Umino but just call me Iruka, please take a seat." he told him, so Sasuke sat down on the large couch in the office. "Now I know you don't want to be here and that's okay, we'll go at your pace on this. Just start with whatever you feel comfortable with" Iruka advised, as he took a seat on a wooden chair and placed his pen and spiral in his lap.
"I don't know what to say" Sasuke said truthfully, really not wanting to say anything at all. "How about your parents or any siblings?" Iruka offered simply.
"No" Sasuke shot back darkly.
So then Sasuke and Iruka began a back and forth of trying to find something Sasuke would talk about. In the end all Sasuke told Iruka about was the incident that led him to join Leaf Rehab and nothing more. But that was a success in Iruka's eyes, he knew how hard it was to open up about things you don't want to remember. So he was willing to wait as long as he needed to for Sasuke to become more comfortable in therapy.
Once they were done Iruka reminded him to come back at the same time on Wednesday. But Sasuke said nothing as he hurried out of the office and went back to his room, slamming the door when he got inside. Sasuke was doing everything he could not to put his fist through the wall, he knew therapy was going to be hard but he didn't think it was going to be like that.
Sasuke spent the rest of the night in turmoil which carried over into the next day. Naruto, Shikamaru, and Choji were able to sense his bad mood and gave him the space he needed while they worked. During their lunch break, Sasuke had no appetite and decided to sit on a street bench outside the hospital and watch the cars go by. "What are you doing out here alone?" a delicate voice asked, and then he felt a small hand on his shoulder. Sasuke looked up and met eyes with none other than Sakura, who he was both relieved and worried to see.
His mood was so volatile and he didn't want to snap at her and mess things up between them. "I just needed to be alone" Sasuke murmured, as he ran a hand over his face. "Oh I understand" Sakura said back and slowly began to leave, until a strong hand grabbed onto her own. "That doesn't apply to you" Sasuke muttered, as he pulled her to sit next to him.
Sakura couldn't help but blush even though seeing him like this hurt her heart, "Whatever it is Sasuke, I know it will get better" Sakura whispered, as she slowly intertwined their fingers. The contact made Sasuke's chest clench, "I don't deserve her" he thought pensively.
Sakura could see that Sasuke was still lost in his mind and that words weren't what he needed, so she pulled him into a tight hug, wrapping her arms around his broad shoulders. Sasuke tensed up at first before slowly relaxing in her embrace and resting his head in the crook of her neck.
Little did they know that as they shared this vulnerable moment with each other, Jiji was watching from his office in the hospital. "She's mine" he bit out angrily, while slamming his fist on his desk and then storming out.