Colorful Bandages

"Welcome!" the humble inn attendant chimed, bowing politely at the man who entered her lobby. When she raised her head, she was immediately taken aback by his sheer presence.

He was like a shadow: all of him was dressed in black. Black shoes, black pants, a black cloak that draped over his broad shoulders and drifted just below his knees. He approached with a steady, relaxed gait, almost as though he had strolled into the inn a hundred times before.

But she would have remembered his face.

The man had lightly tanned skin, smooth and sun kissed, like the handsome Apollo himself had graced her inn. He looked stern, though, like a sharp, hardened obsidian in human form. His jaw could slice stone, the planes of his face could reflect sultry moonlight, and his austere lips could reduce a woman to a puddle of want.

But the most striking of his features were his eyes.

Framed by straight, midnight locks, his eyes bore into hers with a level of cool detachment. Despite it, though, she felt drawn. His right was an onyx gem and the left a swirl of violet. It was then that she realized who the man was.

"Uchiha," the attendant squeaked. "Uchiha Sasuke, what...what an honor!"

Sasuke took little notice of her fawning as he approached the counter. "How much for three nights?" he asked without preamble.

"For one or for two?" she asked hopefully.

"Two."

Darn...maybe he's just traveling with a friend?

As the attendant ran through the prices, struggling not to stumble upon her words, Sasuke appeared to move his arm beneath his cloak. The fabric separated to reveal a handful of bills held between...between...

The attendant blinked dumbly for a moment as he placed the money on the counter. Sasuke's fingers were wrapped at the knuckles and joints. It wouldn't have been an odd sight had it not been for the vibrant rainbow colors and patterns of puppies, flowers, and ducklings that danced across the adhesive strips.

"Uh," the attendant croaked before scrambling to take the money he'd placed on the counter. She counted the bills and handed him the room key. "Those are...very interesting bandages," she commented, earning her a single raised brow in response. "I guess I just...I mean, you seem so..."

"They're from my wife."

Wife?

"Sasuke-kun!" a chiming voice came just before the doors to the inn opened once more. In came the personification of spring: silken, petal pink hair and vibrant emerald gems for eyes. She was beautiful, like a pixie come to life. Although, on her forehead was the signature Strength of a Hundred seal, the mark of a renowned healer but just as deadly weapon.

She was striking, like a spring storm that brought blooms in every corner.

"Did you get the room already?" the pinkette asked as she approached Sasuke buoyantly.

The attendant's jaw dropped. "Ha...Haruno Sakura," she spluttered, unable to help herself but point at the second legend to walk into her humble lobby. "You are...you—"

"Uchiha Sakura," Sasuke corrected, picking up the key and turning to his wife. "I got the room."

Sakura clapped her hands together, allowing them to peek out from her sand-colored cloak. "Oh, good!" she beamed before looking towards the attendant. "Thank you so much."

"I...y-yes, of course!" she stammered back, her jaw nearly slack at the sight of Sakura weaving her arm beneath Sasuke's cloak to interlock their elbows affectionately.

Just as the couple began to walk away, Sakura gave a little, "Oh!" and turned back to the attendant. She fished for something beneath her cloak and pulled out a box of more colorful bandages decorated with cutesy prints. "If anyone ever needs a bandage, you can give them these. First aid is important for your guests."

"Oh, uh, of course." The attendant took the little box of bandages and eyed its packaging, noting the familiar duckling pattern on the sample that was wrapped around Sasuke's own knuckle.

With that and a smile, Sakura pivoted on her heel to hurry back to her awaiting husband. The severity in his eyes had dissipated as he returned Sakura's smile with a soft grin. As much as Uchiha Sasuke could melt a woman, Uchiha Sakura seemed to melt him.

Sunshine, puppy, duckling bandages and all.