A/N: Hello! I am so thankful that many of you reached out to me to express your excitement for this piece of fiction. It truly warms my heart. It brought me so much joy to see ceejss on Twitter draw a scene from the Mozukai Inn and hear praise from so many of you. To those who've followed this story since its birth and those newly joining us, welcome!
I apologize for my leave of absence these last two months. Even though I had considerably more time because of this pandemic, my mental health declined, and I needed to engage in self-care that required less energy than writing. Thankfully, I am doing much better, especially after being so uplifted by your kindness. Also, this is one of the longer chapters, and I'm excited to share it with you!
I wish you and all your loved ones health and safety. Enjoy!
Oh, and happy SS Month!
Chapter 17
For two days, Naruto watched as Sakura kept a careful watch over Sasuke when she could while fighting the sleep in her eyes that lured her into slumber. The three of them would sit at the kotatsu for most of the first day. The Uchiha attempted, with a vein of irritation protruding from his temple, to tutor the blond about the Second Great Shinobi War while Sakura worked to write her mission reports for Kakashi. When her exhaustion was great, she folded her arms on the table's surface as a pillow to rest her head, her face turned in Sasuke's direction. And, to Naruto's surprise, Sasuke seemed to keep his own form of careful watch over the medic. Each time sleep succeeded in pulling her, the Uchiha draped a blanket over her form or gathered Naruto's help to help her lay down next to the kotatsu, never too far away. He spared glances at her when she stirred, took the liberty of waking her for meals, and was sure to be within her line of sight should her eyes open.
Naruto insisted that everyone needed to be among friends after what happened, echoing the words Kakashi had spoken immediately after the war, but something about the way these two hovered like two moons, well…it was different.
When she awoke, it was with the same alertness Naruto had seen out on missions: her eyes instantly searched for something her mind seemed to have already thought for hours. Naruto knew it was Sasuke that she needed to see to relax. It was a painfully familiar vigilance that couldn't be satisfied immediately after the war due to the Uchiha's absence.
She seemed to fight the sleep that overtook her as best as she could, agreeing to hearty meals that Naruto would order to the apartment and trying her best to contribute to conversations around the kotatsu. During the chats, Naruto tried to lighten the mood and keep the medic awake by discussing how Sasuke had decided to renew the lease to his apartment and pay for it himself (with the help of the hefty Uchiha inheritance), how they went on a smaller team dinner with Sai (at which Sasuke visibly grimaced), or how Naruto had finally gotten all of the details about the First Shinobi War mostly memorized (with only "minor" details he couldn't recall). She couldn't fight sleep for very long, though, regardless of how interesting Naruto personally found the topics, and Sakura eventually curled back up to sleep an arm's length away from Sasuke's seated form.
The second day was more bearable. Sakura was able to sleep for all the daylight hours in as a personal reward for finishing her mission reports. She awoke once to shower and take care of her morning routine before crawling back to the living room to sleep by the kotatsu, the sounds of Naruto and Sasuke bickering lulling her to sleep. She woke again for a late-night team dinner, one that Naruto found highly amusing, though he was still meticulous in keeping his lighthearted nature as carefully crafted as possible.
Naruto was careful not to speak or even joke about the events of the afternoon with Ken, but the atmosphere that was carefree weeks ago now had the unspoken rule of avoiding any reminders of the incident. While their reunion with Sakura after her mission was nowhere near ideal, the results of what happened were incredibly…curious.
"Sakura-chan is really sleeping in again," Naruto noticed aloud before shoveling a scoop of leftover pudding-like rice and meat into his mouth the third morning. She had fallen asleep at the kotatsu in the early hours of the morning in an attempt to keep up with her two teammates sleep schedules, and her other two teammates decided to carry her to the plush bed of Sasuke's bedroom instead of her usual spot by the kotatsu. "I thought she'd be all rested after yesterday."
Sasuke shrugged as he sipped at his tea, the ends of his freshly washed hair dampening his shoulders, trying to control a grimace forming on his face at the sight of Naruto's unruly table manners. He glanced out the window to relieve himself from the sight.
Despite his repulsion for Naruto's etiquette, Sasuke was silently grateful for the pair, grateful enough that he didn't make any attempt to protest their stay. While he didn't admit it aloud, they comforted him. And for Sasuke, their comfort was startling. He'd known what it was like to have friendships in the past, and they were always good company during his time in reintegration, but the way their bonds manifested now seemed deeper than he'd remembered them. This was especially so with Sakura, he noticed, as he caught himself mentally fussing over her comfort. He noticed the same in the medic, who didn't ease into a relaxed state until the second evening.
Sasuke let his mind peruse the memories of the previous night when he roused her awake as she lay next to the kotatsu to ensure she had something to eat before she drifted off to sleep again. When it appeared that she'd realized where she was and who was before her, she blinked blearily at him for a moment before her face broke out into a sleepy smile, conceding to their late-night team dinner. He half expected her to startle herself awake the way she did the day immediately after the altercation with Ken. He was relieved to see she had resumed her peaceful demeanor. They'd spent most of the time attempting to tutor Naruto who, to Sasuke's great frustration, couldn't grasp basic facts about the Second Great Shinobi War, but when insults flew from the mouths of the fiery Uchiha and Uzumaki, Sakura openly berated the two into grudging apologies.
Ah, nostalgia.
When they sat down to eat at the kotatsu a meal of soggy rice (thanks to the idiot blond who put too much water in the rice cooker) and sweet meat and vegetables, Sakura carefully took her seat next to Sasuke with little hesitation. They eased into conversation rather nicely, but it wasn't until Sakura regaled them with a recap of her mission that his interest was truly piqued.
He couldn't help but gaze at her, fascination barely restrained, at the way she spoke enthusiastically about her contributions to Hana Village while her eyes burned with fierce passion for her work. She seemed more alive. A good sign. It was the same level of passion that drew him like a moth to a flame. He found himself leaning closer to her form involuntarily as her entire being shone with excitement, nearly radiating an aura of light. Then, the discussion turned to something arguably more intriguing…as much as it was irksome.
When the fourth glazed look passed the blond's face, for no semblance of his vocabulary turned up in her explanation of medical work, he spoke up. "I see," Naruto hummed in feigned thoughtfulness. Then, with more light in his eyes, "Did you get to see Nao-san?"
"Yeah, I did," she replied, a smile forming on her pretty face. "We were able to talk about...," her voice trailed off into a murmur and Sasuke watched as her eyes grew far away. Then, when she appeared to reach a realization of her trail of thoughts, her gaze darted quickly to the Uchiha then back to Naruto in front of them, the unmistakable telltale signs of mild alarm crossing her face.
"About what?" Naruto prodded.
She blinked and looked between the two of them once more before focusing her eyes on the tea in front of her carefully. "Relationships," she replied nonchalantly, and Sasuke noted the way she was studying the hot liquid as though it beckoned for her utmost attention.
"Relationships?" Naruto asked puzzledly. "What kind, exactly?"
"Different kinds," Sakura responded, her voice clipped. "Just…teammate ones, you know, like very basic bonds with my medical unit." She finished her sentence hastily. Her eyes glanced up at Naruto as though she were sending a dangerous message, but Sasuke knew the blond was too dense to fully comprehend her warning. But why warn?
"Oh, I see," the blond nodded, satisfied with the combined response. A quick beat passed between the three of them, one that the medic used as an opportunity to sip from her tea as opposed to stare at it, when Naruto asked, "Like Goro?"
Goro? Sasuke tossed the unfamiliar name in his head, unable to picture a face to match it. Before he could give Sakura a questioning look, the medic sputtered into her tea and was thrown into a fit of coughs to clear her airways, her cheeks blooming with a blush he couldn't discern was from her misstep in drinking or upsetting emotion. It was then that he realized they'd stumbled into an uncomfortable area. Something had undeniably occurred between Sakura and this Goro person. Of course. He tried to ignore the niggling in the back of his head that spoke of irritation at this mystery medic, but his own curiosity got the better of him as he turned to Sakura to study her reactions.
"What—augh," she coughed, eyes watering. "What about Goro?"
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "He was on your team, wasn't he?"
"Yeah, so?" she snapped back.
"Geez, I was just wondering. Did something happen?"
She paused at that, her eyes darting to Sasuke before immediately glaring at Naruto when their gazes met. Did he want to know? It made her uncomfortable, and he didn't want to push about something that she had no desire to discuss…but her reaction permitted him to allow Naruto to continue his questioning and hold off on his own intervention. He couldn't explain with words the amount of masochistic curiosity that egged at him in the back of his mind.
"Sakura-chan?"
She fiddled with the hem of her borrowed shirt to burn her anxious energy. "Uh," she stammered, clearing her throat. She hesitated for a moment before admitting, "Yeah, something happened."
Sasuke felt himself tense. Did this Goro person hurt her? Did this Goro person patronize her in the way she hates so much? Did he call her ugly like that sheet-faced artist?
"It's not that big a deal, though," she assured them, but the heat on her cheeks betrayed her nonchalance. "Goro…just said he liked me is all," she muttered, bringing her cup of tea to her mouth to risk a harsh burn on her tongue, just to keep from speaking any further.
Oh.
Someone confessed to Sakura.
It all made sense. Sakura commanded endless units of medical personnel with grace, humility, and strength. She had grown considerably into a beauty matching her namesake. Her entire being was of spring sun and brilliant sky, able to make even the darkest parts of himself turn towards the light. It came as no surprise that she'd catch the attention of others around her. It all made sense. It only made sense. He tried to ignore the worm that grew a voice in his chest, rejecting its instruction that insisted he stand up from the kotatsu and leave before he heard anything else to protect him from an irritating emotion he couldn't put into words.
Perhaps our conversation is…unnecessary.
He tried his best to ignore the thought and continued to study her face that turned slightly away from him, the face that had pressed against his to give a chaste kiss on his lips despite his insistence that he brought misfortune to her life. It was a kiss that, while brief, took him no time in realizing that he wouldn't mind doing it again.
But what claims did he have to her? None. And what did she know of his epitome after she'd pressed her lips to his? None.
He was terrible with words, anyway.
Her kiss must have been one of friendship. Perhaps she saw its quick and innocent nature as petty. There was no need to discuss it any further. Surely, that's all it was. Their conversation would never occur because it didn't need to occur. He would save himself the trouble of a crushing blow to his pride. She could be free of him and seek happiness in this Goro person, someone who clearly wasn't hesitant in expressing his feelings towards Sakura, who hadn't taken too long in recognizing what he buried in his chest, and who had no tarnish on his reputation that would stain her clean slate.
Someone she deserves.
But it didn't make him feel any better to rationalize this, as the worm in his ribcage grew restless. It didn't relieve him of the embarrassment of how his heart nearly stopped when she pressed her lips to his own the other night. He wanted to roll his eyes at himself, silently embarrassed that he had half a mind to even attempt to articulate what he felt after she kissed him.
"He what?" Naruto squawked in disbelief.
"He just said he likes me and then told me to think about it before I answered him," she repeated, clearing her throat once more to soothe the discomfort from her earlier coughing fit.
"What did you tell him?" Sasuke asked against his better judgment to stay silent, causing her and Naruto to whip their heads around in his direction. He used the opportunity to take a long sip from his own cup of tea to demonstrate an unrattled demeanor.
She didn't spend too long observing him for a greater reaction before she looked to her own tea and circled the rim of her ceramic cup with an index finger. "I rejected him," she shrugged once more. "He and I collaborate well at work. I don't want that relationship to become strained. And…I really only like him as a friend."
A pregnant silence hung among the trio while they sipped at their tea, the quiet only saved by the soft rumbling of thunder and pattering of rain on the windows. It wasn't until Naruto's attention turned to Sasuke, his blond eyebrows raising in surprise, that the Uchiha realized a small smirk had formed on his own lips and the relentless worm finally silenced itself. Upon seeing Naruto's reaction, he quickly settled back into impassivity.
Now, it was minutes after eleven in the morning the day after their intriguing conversation, as well as Sakura's last day off, and Sasuke finally conceded to eating a late breakfast after Naruto's incessant wines of a cramping, hungry stomach. They'd showered and dressed for the day in the time Sakura had still been sleeping, and it provided him with a period to gather his nerves to brave the streets again, the thoughts of this Goro character now settled as an inconsequential matter.
He needed to meet with Hiroto about the incident with Ken that took place now two days ago as well as grudgingly thank Kakashi for his intervention. He wouldn't admit it with words a second time, as much of his frustrations were verbally expressed when he'd spoken to Sakura, but there was a tinge of dread in his heart that he would be targeted again despite his efforts to remain as low to the ground as possible. It stained his pride. Despite it, he knew that he couldn't stay in his too-big, too-fancy apartment forever.
And then there was the matter of deciding how in the world he would find the just the right moment as well as the words to articulate his thoughts to the medic without seeming like a shameful hypocrite, which arguably held its own anxious weight…
"Shomething happen bechween you 'n Shakura-chan again?" Naruto asked with a full mouth, breaking Sasuke out of his train of thoughts.
The Uchiha narrowed his eyes at Naruto, silently warning him to keep his thoughts appropriate.
Naruto's eyebrows danced as he said, "I think your weird eye-thing evolved. It's like watching the two of you play tag, now."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
The blond raised a suspicious brow at him before humming, "I see." They sat in quiet for a moment, but only a moment before Naruto antagonized, "So what do you think of Goro?"
Sasuke resisted the urge to scoff and kept his face neutral as he said, "I've never met him. No opinion."
"You sure seemed interested to know what she said to him after he confessed."
"I only asked because it seemed to be the next logical question."
"Ri-ight," Naruto poked, a teasing smile forming on his face. "And that grin you had after she said she rejected him was only because your tea tasted so good."
Sasuke scowled at the blond whose mischievous smile stretched across his face as he devoured the last of his meal, grains of sticky rice peppering his bottom lip like a child. "Hn," the Uchiha grunted before standing and walking his dishes to the sink. "Close your mouth when you eat."
"Just pointing out facts, teme," Naruto chortled, following suit. "Sakura-chan's popular. Goro's the third one to spring a confession on her since the war ended." He rested his chin thoughtfully on the heel of his hand before seriously asking, "You're not just dragging her along, are you?"
The Uchiha paused and turned his head slightly to look at his friend. With as much sincerity as he could put into a single word, he responded emphatically, "No."
The blond studied his reaction before nodding once in understanding, the seriousness of the moment passing. Then, "You know, despite what others might think, Sakura-chan never seemed like the type to take the goody-two-shoes type home to meet the folks. It should work out for you."
Sasuke wanted to roll his eyes at that when a question he'd wondered reared its head, one he hadn't pondered since the night of their cohort dinner. As he washed the dishes deftly with his single hand, he changed the direction of the conversation. "Sakura told me she hasn't spoken to her parents."
Naruto froze for a fraction of a second, nearly imperceptible had it not been for Sasuke's attentive nature. He then closed the drawer he was snooping and cleared his throat. "She told you about that?"
Sasuke nodded once, not looking up from his task.
"Uh, yeah, not in a while," Naruto admitted, his voice giving way to discomfort. "They had a disagreement."
Sasuke frowned at the realization that this was a similar answer that the medic had given him herself. He turned his head slightly towards the blond to indicate further interest, knowing Naruto would understand it as such. "She wouldn't tell me the topic of the disagreement."
Naruto's eyebrows rose in surprise. "You asked her about it?"
Sasuke placed another dish on the drying rack in silence, compelling his friend to continue by sheer force of his presence. But when Naruto's own face formed a thoughtful frown, his curiosity egged him to ask, "Why did she stop talking to her parents?"
"They'd been fighting for a while," Naruto replied slowly, his words clearly chosen with careful consideration. "It came to a head and she left. She doesn't want to talk to them because it got too much."
The same disappointment bubbled in Sasuke's chest; disappointment that made him want to scold the thought of leaving her family with little resolution. His own regrets swirled in his thoughts as he thought about how valuable time with family was, especially after years of no longer having his. And the way Naruto was intentionally skirting around a direct answer disturbed him. For Naruto to keep answers to himself was a rare sight. "You're avoiding my question."
"No, I'm not."
"What did they fight about?"
Naruto sighed exasperatedly as he ran a hand through his sunshine blond hair. "Look, Sasuke, I get where your concern's coming from," he began. "If I had my parents around, I wouldn't want to just up and leave them without a word, either." Naruto's eyes darted in the direction of the bedroom door before refocusing on the Uchiha and continuing in a quieter volume. "But Sakura-chan doesn't have that kind of relationship with her parents; it's more complicated than not wanting to leave behind regrets. When Sakura-chan wants to talk about it with you, she'll talk about it. I don't think I should be the one to explain it."
Sasuke raised his eyebrows in surprise at his friend's sincerity and tried not to interpret his words as a reprimand. His cryptic words only spurred more curiosity. However, Sasuke turned back to the sink and nodded curtly once to signal the end of his attempt at gaining information.
As Sasuke came to the end of washing the dishes and Naruto dug through the pantries looking for more food to fill his belly, he snapped, "Name the major leaders involved in the Second Great Shinobi War."
"Uhh," Naruto stammered, leaning away from one of the open pantries in thought. "Old Man Third—"
"Proper names."
"Yeah, yeah, okay. So, there was, uh, our very own Sandaime Hokage. Uh…obviously his name was Sarutobi Hiruzen…," Naruto stalled before humming weakly in feigned thought. "There was probably a Ni…Nidaime somewhere…probably…"
Hopeless.
"Sandaime Kazekage, Sandaime Tsuchikage, and Hanzo of the Salamander from Amegakure." The two shinobi turned their heads to see Sakura shuffle out of the bedroom rubbing her right eye with the heel of her hand, a cheeky smirk on her face. She was dressed in Sasuke's borrowed shirt once more, though her toned, creamy legs were exposed as she opted to sleep in her own black shorts. Sasuke restrained himself from gazing too long at her bare skin. "You really need to learn basic fact, Naruto."
The blond bounded across the space, his arm outstretched as he signaled for a hug. "Morning, Sakura-chan!" he boomed, draping his arm around her shoulders and leaning on her with much of his weight. She pressed a hand to his chest to keep him held up as a musical laugh escaped her lips. Sasuke watched the scene unfold, shamefully admitting to himself that he was fascinated with the ease at which Naruto approached her. "The jerk is too hard on me. You should be my tutor instead."
Sakura rolled her eyes and pushed the blond away, causing him to dramatically pout as though he were rejected before she nudged him playfully with her elbow. Then, she straightened her form and announced, "I'm going to wash up and run some errands today." She turned to Sasuke, using the moment to scan him with her eyes as though gauging his wellbeing. Satisfied, she offered a smile. "Thanks for letting us stay over these last few days."
He nodded in return, leaning over the kitchen counter to absently examine a nonexistent water stain on its surface.
"Oh, Sasuke has to go run errands, too," Naruto piped up, causing the Uchiha to send him a withering glare. "You both should go together."
Sneaky shit, Sasuke thought venomously, catching the way the blonde's eyebrows danced mischievously out of the medic's line of sight.
"Wha…," Sakura gawped at Naruto for a moment before looking arbitrarily to her right. "Well, I don't want to get in Sasuke-kun's way. I'll just—"
"It's fine," Sasuke interjected, not realizing the words left his mouth until his teammates looked in his direction. Naruto's eyebrows arched in amusement while Sakura blinked blankly at him. He didn't know whether to scold himself or verbally change his mind. The pressure built in the space between them, causing him to turn his back to the pair and mutter, "Go ahead and get changed. We'll leave as soon as you're ready."
After days of nonstop rain, thunder, and lightning, the tempestuous mix finally gave birth to the warm sunshine of the present. The Konoha spring was reaching its end, and it was reflected in the way the midday sun was unhindered by the cotton clouds that usually dotted the sky. Sakura quickly changed into casual clothing she'd brought to Hana Village: a loose, pastel yellow shirt with a neckline that curved low to expose her clavicle tucked effortlessly into a pair of high-waisted maroon shorts. She let her damp hair flow freely to dry in the sunshine's warmth. She stuffed all her belongings into her already-swollen travel bag that was brimming with combat gear and mission notes. She was about to swing it across her back when Sasuke picked it up and hung it over his own shoulder wordlessly.
She smothered her surprise to convince herself it was merely an act of courtesy and took a moment to look at Sasuke as he locked the apartment door, trying not to linger too long on his appearance. He settled for a navy-blue shirt and a pair of black sweatpants. Her bright yellow bag that rested against his back was a stark contrast to the rest of his ensemble. His form seemed to fill his clothes out more, for his muscles seemed to appear more defined beneath his skin from training and gave him a leaner, stronger presence in his arm. Training seemed to bring him back into his original physique. Half a second longer of an inspection led her to notice the Uchiha crest's absence from any part of the fabric. A melancholy pang echoed in her heart at the realization that he might never choose to wear the crest again after what happened with Ken.
Naruto had sped off in the direction of the Academy to get his personalized tutoring lessons, leaving Sasuke and Sakura to carry on their errands themselves. As the pair walked down the gravel roads, Sakura noticed how her companion determinedly looked straight ahead, avoiding eye contact with villagers who crossed their path. As per usual, they all grinned brightly at the medic and offer her buoyant hellos, leaving Sasuke with fearful looks or ignoring him altogether.
The incident with Ken had clearly crumbled parts of their emotional structures. It reflected a memory that shocked the medic into fits of panic that would only be staved off by the distractions of work. Now was different, she reminded herself, as Sasuke was here. Sasuke was in front of her. Sasuke was, as far as she could tell, physically safe. Sakura couldn't help but hover over him in her wakeful states as her dreamless sleeps failed to provide her with reassurance of his wellbeing. But knowing he was in the next room was better than having him locked away where no one could reach him, and this helped her ease back into a less vigilant state.
They took off for the police station first, twisting and turning through the village streets through the sheer power of spatial and muscle memory, their steps unintentionally in sync. She'd glanced at him a few times, wondering if this was an appropriate time to apologize for her bold act a few nights ago, but anxiety held her tongue hostage as she opted to wait for him to initiate the conversation that would lead to her rejection.
Surely, she thought, it would end in a reiteration of our friendship agreement and a bruised, Sakura-flavored ego.
Her heart ached sadly at the innocent comfort his presence had always offered when it was just the two of them. It felt so simple to get close to him a mere few months ago. Did Sasuke think about those moments, too? When they inevitably speak about their second kiss, would these have to stop? Was she going to force herself to drift away? The last thing she wanted was for them to look back and forever view her brazen act as a terrible mistake.
The two walked without a spoken word, but she took notice of the way he closed the distance between them, enough for her hand to bend to touch the hem of his shirt if she wished. She wondered if a good time would be now to rip the bandage and preemptively apologize for the surprise kiss, to save him from the burden of rejecting her for her own mistake and own up to her fault, but anxiety made her relinquish the thought. Not now, not unless he initiates it.
Sakura ran a hand through her hair to shake out the damp strands, unconsciously bringing a small handful of the ends to her face to catch a whiff of Sasuke's shampoo that smelled of hinoki trees and spearmint. She then smoothed out her tresses and held her hands behind her back, glancing up at him to ensure he didn't notice her little efforts of burning anxious energy. When her eyes went back to the path in front of them, she failed to see the way Sasuke's had darted in her direction before following suit and staring ahead again, the phantom of a smirk forming on his lips.
When the station was a mere turn away, the Uchiha paused mid-step and turned to Sakura, causing her entire being to stiffen at the way his gaze held hers. His mismatched eyes seemed to suspend her in time. If she didn't know any better, she would have confused their moment as a genjutsu.
"Sakura." His voice caused her chest to tighten.
She blinked up at him, wishing she had her bag to fiddle between her fingers. Dread filled her stomach and threatened to reach up and twist her heart. He's bringing it up, she panicked, I just know he is. She resisted the urge to bite her lip, urging herself to look at him head-on and without fear despite her pulse beginning to hike up in her chest. "Uh," she uttered, "What is it, Sasuke-kun?"
He opened his mouth slightly before closing it, his lips forming a thin line. She could almost see thoughts flashing in his eyes as he opened his mouth once more. He exhaled and ran a hand through his hair in what some would see as a casual motion, but Sakura knew him better. Fine lines creased between his brow and a subtle frown formed on his lips while his sword-sharp jaw tightened.
Oh, shit, I'll rip it off myself.
She raised a hand to halt him, the motion causing him to pause and let his hand drop at his side. "Before you say anything," she began, trying with all her might to keep her voice from tremoring, "I just want to say I'm sorry." Preemptive, she reminded herself. "I didn't…I didn't mean to, uh…do that the other night. I just…," she opened her hands in front of her, gesturing emptily, "I was…I was happy. I shouldn't have taken advantage of you, and I shouldn't have, um…I mean, what we agreed was not…I just…" She could feel her face growing degrees warmer. Her cheeks could have evaporated all the lakes in Amegakure with the searing heat that radiated from them. She thumbed her palm like a worry stone and looked up at the Uchiha, wordlessly moving her mouth like a fish until her voice was able to make enough noise to murmur, "I'm sorry."
Sasuke's expression hadn't changed at her words, and she silently berated herself for the incoherent slew of nonsense that spilled from her mouth. The way he looked upon her silently, as though he were still processing the jumble of mess, only made her think she wouldn't mind combusting spontaneously into flames.
Oh, higher powers and entities of the universe, I won't be mad if you strike me down right now.
"Sakura," he began carefully, his voice soft, demure. A shiver ran down Sakura's spine at the sound, but his eyes kept her frozen in place. His brow relaxed until he gazed at her as though he were at peace, the fine lines of frustration disappearing without a trace as he looked upon her, the look she'd seen other men give her, the look that finally matched the source from which she yearned to see. She was caught in the crossfire of anxiety about her rejection and awe at how damned beautiful he looked.
Where was this coming from? Was he doing it on purpose? Was she twelve again? He opened his mouth and—
"Sasuke-hero?" a small voice called, catching the pair's attention.
When they turned their heads, Sakura saw young Sato round the corner, his pattering, sandal-clad feet slowing to a halt.
Saved! Sakura thought, welcoming the distraction to give herself a moment to steady her pulse. She and the Uchiha exchanged a glance, though his eyes clearly read that the conversation would have to continue at a different time.
Behind the young boy was an exhausted looking officer who Sakura recognized as the one who normally worked the front desk. The boy's eyes were wide as saucers before his face crumpled into tearful relief. He sprinted toward Sasuke, causing the officer behind him to heave a tired groan, and wrapped his little arms as tightly around the Uchiha's legs as best as he could. "Papa said you had trouble," Sato hiccupped, "and that he didn't know if you were coming back!"
Sasuke tensed and Sakura She tried her best not to giggle at his awkwardness, opting to give a simple smile. The Uchiha reached to pat the top of the boy's unruly head of hair. She wanted to snort at his stiff nature, committing to memory that it looked almost as though he was worried Sato would bite him if he was too consoling. She supposed it made sense, however, given his strict demeanor that didn't allow for such softness in the past.
"I'm fine," he reassured the boy, his voice bordering on dismissive. It seemed to be the right move regardless, as Sato pulled away and strained his neck to nod bravely at the Uchiha, his cheeks stained with tears. He blinked for a moment before turning to see the medic to Sasuke's right.
"Sa'ra-neechan!" he squealed. "You brought her!"
Sakura crouched down to match the boy's height and welcomed his hug around her neck, reciprocating in burying him a cocoon of her arms as the smell of soft baby shampoo wafted into her nose. "Good to see you, Sato-chan!" she laughed. The boy bounced a few times eagerly, and Sakura lifted him into her child wrapped his legs around her midsection and smiled a watery smile. She leaned her face away from him and wiped his tears away with her fingers gently. "I can tell you're so happy," she cooed, instinctively beaming when Sato's smile grew bigger before hugging her around her neck tightly once more.
"We can't stay long, Sato," Sasuke said, stirring the young boy from his flurry of affection. He turned his head towards the Uchiha, the side of his face still buried in Sakura's pink locks.
"You won't stay to play this time?" Sato asked, his face falling into a heartbreaking pout.
"Play?" Sakura echoed in surprise, raising an amused eyebrow. Sasuke never really had a knack for kids. Had she misheard? The young boy pushed away to look at her, his eyes shining brightly.
"Sasuke-hero shows me games," Sato beamed, "like string art and thumb war! Last week we played for three mornings!"
"String art and thumb war, huh?" Sakura grinned, glancing up at Sasuke again to see him shake his head slightly in a no towards the child, though she couldn't tell if it was in a bid to quiet him or refuse playtime. It seemed that between training and entertaining their blond friend, Sasuke was also taking time to bond with Sato. Surprising, she thought. Looks like he's loosening up after all. She wanted to laugh at his reaction, but instead gently raked her fingers through Sato's hair to fix the strays. "Maybe next time you're here, I'll come with Sasuke-kun and we can all play. I have games I can teach you, too."
Sato nodded sadly before rubbing the sleeve of Sakura's shirt between his fingers. "Please," he pouted, earning him a firm nod from the medic that made him smile again. All the while, she could feel Sasuke's eyes boring into her. She felt the beginnings of a blush bloom across her cheeks when the officer wheezed a cough.
"Captain's in his office," the front desk officer interjected tiredly, motioning with his thumb in the direction of the police station. "He doesn't have a meeting right now."
Sasuke nodded and took the lead in leading the others to station while Sakura, who still had Sato wrapped in her arms, listened to the animated boy explain how they came on a good day because his mother and auntie were busy once again. She made brief conversation with the front desk officer who explained as reasonably as he could to the child that just because his mom and auntie couldn't take him grocery shopping had not meant that he could.
They arrived at the building, the officer returning to his post while Sakura and Sato followed Sasuke who entered the office without knocking. Before he could get a word out, Sato blurted, "Papa, they're here!"
Hiroto looked up from his hands where he was examining a new pack of cigarettes before tossing it into one of his drawers and hastily closing it with a sharp push. "Yes, they are," he grinned at his son. "It's good to see you safe and sound, Sasuke." Then to the medic he sighed, "Sorry if he's a handful for you, Sakura."
"Not at all," she assured him, lowering Sato back onto firm ground. "Though you might want to check on your officer out there after our meeting." While she'd only met Sato once before, it was amusing how comfortable he was around her. Perhaps Hiroto and his wife encouraged friendliness, which wouldn't be a surprise considering how welcoming the officer was to her despite meeting her only a few times. Or maybe Sato really grew excited to see anyone who resembled a friend of his mother's.
Hiroto looked back at his son and prompted him to return to the front desk so his uncle could play more games with him. The young boy bounded away, allowing Sasuke to shut the door behind them and take their seats on the uncomfortable chairs in front of Hiroto's desk. Sasuke placed Sakura's bag between them, the pack landing with a muffled thump.
"I'm glad to see you were able to come in so soon," Hiroto huffed, pulling a stack of papers out from one of the drawers. "I thought you would want more days to recuperate, but so long as you feel safe in the village streets, I don't suppose it's much of an issue."
Sasuke nodded. "Ibiki explained that your office would determine whether I need to have more frequent visits here."
"That's correct," Hiroto huffed. "My officers and I were deliberating what would be reasonable action in this situation." He flipped through what appeared to be meeting minutes on his desk. "Some suggested twenty-four-seven surveillance via ANBU units, but I firmly disagreed. Your track record since your initial detainment and so far during parole has been clean. And with the nature of the incident, I determined no further action be required in this case, including more frequent visits. You may continue to report your activities once a week, as usual."
Hiroto went on to explain what both Sasuke and Sakura had heard from their respective sources regarding the pardon's singular nature, and Sakura sighed with relief. Sasuke nodded once, his face impassive. "I understand." He lowered his head in gratitude.
Hiroto continued, "We know how Ken can be. You shouldn't be bothered by him again unless he actively seeks you out, but it may be in your best interest to continue keeping on your toes. From what I hear, what happened the other day has spurred some toxic gossip around the village."
Sakura's stomach clenched with anxiety. She was well aware that despite no legal documents staining his record, there was no way Sasuke would have gotten out of the incident unscathed. Damn village gossip, she despaired, thinking about how the news surely reached her parents and only served to add more kindling to her mother's resentment and her father's uncertainty. Sakura involuntarily frowned into her hands that rested atop her lap. She then clenched her fingers and looked up at the chief of police, determination flaring in her chest.
"Thank you for taking care of Sasuke-kun." She bowed her own head in gratitude before raising her it once more. "My team and I will do what we can to help him, too."
The rest of the meeting consisted of the three of them discussing Sasuke's activities—or lack thereof—in the days since the incident with Ken. Hiroto even made some attempt to ask Sakura about her mission to Hana Village, to which she enthusiastically responded. The whole time, however, she could sense when Sasuke's eyes would fall on her in curiosity or with simple regard. She made it a point not to return his gaze, anxious about how he would read her eyes. The emotions that stirred in her chest were ones that she could hardly identify herself.
The heat of midday had many villagers retreating to their homes for the solace of air conditioning as the pair strolled the dirt paths. As the two made their way to their second errand, Sakura felt herself grow more at ease than when they first departed from Sasuke's apartment. And despite Sasuke's curt leave from Hiroto's office, the Uchiha seemed more relaxed, as well. She could see it in the way his eyes were more thoughtful than severe, in the way his lips were more curved than taut, the way the sharp planes of his face and jaw weren't tense. She couldn't keep herself from studying the sharp, aristocratic features of his face. Uchiha had regal attractiveness
As if sensing her ogling, Sasuke glanced down at her and lifted a questioning brow. Their eyes met for not even a second before she quickly looked up at the telephone poles that lined the streets to deny her staring. With her turned away, she failed to notice the subtle smirk that played on the Uchiha's lips.
Sakura's eyes drifted back to his profile and noticed the slight upturn of his mouth. She couldn't keep herself from nudging him playfully with her elbow. It seemed to startle the Uchiha, but only briefly. He returned by leaning some of his weight on her while they walked, causing her to chime a laugh as she pushed back with her shoulder. He let more of his weight playfully fall upon her until she was nearly holding him up while they walked, her laugh ringing out around them.
"You're heavy," she snorted, pushing him so he walked upright.
"You say that, but it took both me and the idiot to carry you."
She gasped in mock horror before narrowing her eyes. "That is so rude! It's only because you both have one arm."
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "That is rude."
Sakura burst into a fit of giggles, the weights of the last few days—and even the last few hours—lifting from her shoulders. They turned the corner to reach the base of the Hokage tower as Sakura began listing off animals whose tails grew back after they fell off, working to get another playful rise out of the Uchiha, who would give her slivers of bored reactions to return the favor.
He opened his mouth to retort at one of her comments only for him to freeze and turn his head in the direction of the top of the steps. His entire body grew rigid as stone.
She halted next to him and blinked at his stern expression. "Sasuke-kun?" She followed his gaze and saw the village elders, Koharu and Homura, shuffling out of the building. The two elders locked their eyes on Sasuke and made their way down the steps, their robes pooling slightly at their feet as they walked unhurried. So unhurried, in fact, that their expressions seemed…apathetic.
Sakura had never interacted with the elders much in the past, and only ever saw them whenever they were bustling in an out of the Hokage's office when Tsunade was the primary contact. Her shishou had mostly scathing words to say about them, especially after Pain's attack, and it seemed Sasuke felt the same. She couldn't blame him, she supposed, as they were two of the three to preside over his trial.
Sakura straightened herself, preparing for the unknown outcome of the interaction that not only seemed inevitable but aversive to Sasuke.
"Uchiha," Homura greeted coldly, his rasping voice devoid of genuine welcome. "I take it you're here to see Godaime's successor?"
"Yes," Sasuke responded flatly. "I take it your presence means that he's in the office."
"That's right," Koharu said, rounding behind Homura and standing next to the medic. She placed her hand gently on Sakura's shoulder. "And I believe that also means that you've accompanied this young heir. Is that right, Haruno-san?"
The medic nodded blankly at Koharu, surprised that she knew her by name. She also supposed it wouldn't be too far-fetched, but they never paid much attention to her, even as Tsunade's apprentice.
"Yes, well," Homura spoke up, walking through the space between Sasuke and Sakura to enter the street, "You're very lucky to have young Haruno-san as an ally, Sasuke. I'm sure the obligations of your old comrades will yield great rewards for you."
"What do you mean by that?" Sakura bristled before she could stop herself, earning her a slight turn of the head from Homura. Koharu sighed and released her hand from the medic's shoulder to join the other elder as he shuffled away.
"Oh, pardon me," Homura apologized blandly. "Of course, you're reaping your own repercussions as a result."
The image of her parents flashed through Sakura's mind as well as Hiroto's warning of toxic gossip. What do they know about my life? "Excuse me?"
Realizing they had little interest in entertaining her with an answer, Sakura turned more in their direction and prepared to stomp after them, temper flaring. "I am not, nor is anyone else who stands by Sasuke-kun, with him under obligation," she seethed, trying and failing to keep irritation out of her voice. "The audacity to suggest—"
Sasuke's hand gripped her wrist before she could follow the elders with her words, halting her in place. She whipped her head in his direction only to meet his eyes that shot her a careful warning to stop her advancement. Sakura sighed exasperatedly, turned to the elders who continued meandering down the road without a second glance in her direction, then brought her attention back to the Uchiha in concession. He released her wrist and nodded in the direction of the building, gesturing her wordlessly to follow. She obliged, though reluctantly.
All good feelings in the air were gone and dissipated into the ether. When she was sure the elders were out of earshot, Sakura tugged on Sasuke's empty sleeve. She didn't wait for him to turn in acknowledgement before she spoke. "What Homura said was out of line," she grumbled. "Tsunade-sama was never happy around those two, and I think I have a better understanding why."
Sasuke didn't respond and simply guided them through the building.
"I mean, who do they think they are? Village elders, obviously, but what gives them the right to be so…so callous?"
"They've always been that way."
Sakura looked to Sasuke in surprise. "You've interacted with them before?"
The Uchiha shrugged in admission, his face still hardened. As they meandered through the halls and stairways to Kakashi's office, Sasuke gave Sakura space to seethe.
"Well, you'd think that being in a position of power would make them at least try to seem amicable," she griped. "And did you hear how presumptuous they were? 'Reaping your own repercussions,' he said. I was reaping something, and by 'something' I mean I was absolutely disgusted. I mean, really, how—"
"Thank you."
Sakura blinked herself out of her tirade to look up at the Uchiha. They'd made it in front of Kakashi's office without her hardly noticing. Lavender and midnight met her grass-green with quiet sincerity. She waved at him dismissively, trying to keep heat from blooming across her cheeks. "You know I'll say something when someone's being unfair, Sasuke-kun," she assured him, lifting her hand and knocking on Kakashi's office door. Anytime, she wanted to say.
When a muffled, "Enter," sounded through the barrier, they pushed through the door to find Kakashi resting his chin upon the heel of his hand tiredly. He blearily looked at the pair and sighed, though Sakura couldn't tell if it was in relief or exasperation. Surrounding him were piles of paperwork with neon tabs haphazardly straying from their uniformed stacks. The only uncovered spot on his desk was directly in front of a small picture frame that both Sasuke and Sakura knew held their Team Seven portrait.
It was only a few days since she'd stormed his office. How in the world did it get so chaotic so fast?
"Oh, Kakashi-sensei," Sakura gasped, rounding his desk and placing a hand on his shoulder to showcase her empathy. "You are so swamped."
"I take it you've brought paperwork to swamp me further," he sighed wearily. Sakura motioned Sasuke to retrieve her bag, and she dug into its contents to pull out a pristine folder with a single sticky tab for his signature. He smiled weakly under his mask, pulling the strings to garner more of her empathy, Sakura knew. "You make my job marginally easier."
"And it's a job I know you're capable of completing." The medic patted her sensei's shoulder affectionately before making her way back to Sasuke's side, using the moment to shrug her bag over her shoulders. The Uchiha looked a bit standoffish as he stood in the middle of the office, even with the medic back at his side. Kakashi's eyes settled on the raven-haired shinobi and he cocked his head to the side questioningly.
"How may I help you, Sasuke?"
A man of very few words, Sakura could see her teammate's lips form a thin line as he prepared the thoughts he wanted to say aloud. Sasuke let out a slow breath before bowing his head slightly in gratitude. "Thank you," he muttered, "for your intervention the other day."
The silver-haired man regarded his student silently. Sakura watched as wrinkles formed between his brows before he relaxed. "Lift your head, Sasuke." When the Uchiha obliged, Kakashi went on. "I did what I believed was reasonable. The elders may think that I stepped over the line in my power of persuasion, but it was no trouble on my end. We're just happy to see you safe. Although, it's always nice to hear some gratitude from our most constipated member," he added teasingly, earning him a scowl from Sasuke. Kakashi then let his eyes trail over to the medic. She swallowed hard, hoping that he wouldn't reveal any more about the show of emotion she had in his office not long ago. "I take it you were with company these last few days?" he asked carefully.
"Yes."
"Friends?"
"Yes." She clenched her fists, knowing the next word would sting.
"Family?"
Sakura trained her gaze on Kakashi as she shook her head no. In the corner of her eye, however, she saw Sasuke's eyes look to the profile of her face briefly, but she refused to meet it out of shame.
"Well," Kakashi folded his hands under his chin, "so long as you were recharging yourself around people you trust. If you need more time off, let me know. You've worked up enough of a sweat over at the hospital, and I could always use Tsunade's help back here to clear this explosion of paperwork." He gestured lamely to his desk.
Sakura rolled her eyes. "I'll be back bright and early. You can let shishou know."
The three of them—or more so Kakashi and Sakura, as Sasuke stood and listened—had a discussion of Sakura's accomplishments in Hana Village and the strides the village made in finding a team who was willing to begin the construction of the children's mental health clinic in Konoha. Buzz terms flew in the air until Sakura turned to the Uchiha's blank gaze, his expression not even bothering to hide the degree he'd spaced out. She smiled at him before turning her grin to their sensei in farewell, citing that she needed to unpack and tend to her house chores.
Kakashi dismissed them, a knowing twinkle in his eye as his gaze shifted between his two students.
The pair trekked back through the halls and stairways to the tower lobby. Sakura had hoped that the topic of her family wouldn't come up again, though she supposed it was inevitable for her sensei to be concerned about that part of her life. He'd seen the way she deteriorated after the war and after she'd moved out from her family home. She knew he hoped she'd reconcile with her parents, but everything seemed more and more precarious with them, particularly her mother, despite not having contacted them in months. Gossip about the incident with Ken would never slip by Mebuki, Sakura realized with dread. I just need to breathe, she reminded herself. I just need to breathe and then maybe I'll be in the headspace to talk about—"
"About what happened the other day."
Sakura blinked dumbly for a moment, wondering if she'd spoken her thoughts aloud by mistake. She turned to Sasuke bewilderedly. "Wha…?"
"We need to talk about it. And your apology."
"Um…yes, we do. You're right, we do." For a moment, Sakura didn't know what she was agreeing to until she took a second longer to study Sasuke's eyes. Oh, she gasped internally, He means…he means about the…
Sakura couldn't even recite the word "kiss" in her head.
Oh gods, strike me down, just do it.
She thumbed her palm anxiously behind her back. "Uh…right now?"
Sasuke seemed to ponder her question for a moment as they walked back out into the heat. "When's your next day off?"
The medic counted the days on her fingers and mentally flipped through her scheduled meetings. Even with the head starts she had made weeks ago, there was still much to do with the children's mental health clinic. And with Tsunade assuming her position as Kakashi's preceptor once more, it was her responsibility to assume the daily tasks of running the hospital again. She'd hoped for shorter shifts, but with it, something had to give. "Next weekend," she sighed unenthusiastically.
They stopped in front of the tower steps, preparing to part ways.
"Hm," Sasuke hummed in thought. "I'll pick you up."
The medic stared at him, not fully registering his words. "Pick me up?" she echoed.
He nodded once, stuffing his hand into his pocket leisurely. "It's a date."
With that, he pivoted effortlessly on his heel and started for his apartment, leaving Sakura to bathe in her swirling hodgepodge of emotions.