once upon a time
095. apple

(au again.)

An apple a day kept the doctor away. Sakura firmly believed in this. Every day, she would go to the cafeteria in the university to buy one before going to class.

She might have to skip that routine today, though. She had been studying late the night before, and as a result, slept in this morning. Running into the cafeteria just five minutes before class, out of breath, she checked if there were still any apples left. There was one. Sighing in relief, she got in line and waited until it got to the fruits section.

Bouncing on the balls of her feet, she tried to reach around the person in front of her to reach for the apple. She was going to be late…

"Hey!"

The person in front of her looked back at her, a delicate eyebrow raised, apple in hand. "Yes?"

She glared at him. "You have my apple."

He glanced at the fruit currently in his possession. "Your apple?"

"Yeah. My apple."

"I don't see your name on it," he countered. She clenched her fists. Did he really want to deal with her when she was all frazzled and cranky? Bad choice on his part.

"Whatever," she snapped, snatching the apple from him. "It's mine, and that's final." She slipped past him in line to head straight to the cashier; they were the only ones left in line, and class would be starting soon. She'd be scolded if she was late.

"That's very rude of you, Miss," he said, coming up behind her. "I believe I took that apple first."

"Oh, don't be so immature," she retorted.

"Aren't you the one who's being immature?" She gripped the fruit so hard that she felt it give way a little under her fingertips. Damn bastard, who did he think he was?

The bell rang, and she jumped. Then, glaring as hard as she could at the guy, all but slammed the apple down onto the counter. "Fine," she snarled. "Have your stupid apple." And she stormed off.

—

The next day, when she entered the cafeteria, she saw him waiting in line again. Scowling, she was careful not to look at him—but it seemed that he was looking for her, because he slipped out of line to meet her.

"What do you want?" she asked bitterly, ready to kick him in the shin if she needed to.

He rummaged in his bag, and pulled out an apple—red and shiny and looking absolutely delicious. "Here," he said. "Your apple."

She stared at it suspiciously for a moment, thinking of Snow White, before accepting it cautiously. "Thank you."

"My name is Itachi." He held out his hand.

She wasn't sure whether to smile or not, so she just pursed her lips. "Sakura."

And he continued to give her an apple every day after that, without fail. (Needless to say, it greatly helped her budget.)

—

"And that's how I met your father," she finished, smiling at her entranced children.

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "No. You approached him at a bar, wasted, and told him not to worry, because you'd totally do him if you were a guy."

"Sasuke!"

A/N: Haha, so much for updating more frequently…I am slowly feeling my brain turn to goo as I write 30+ essays in preparation for my History V exam. (Oh Wagner, how I want to dig you from your grave and kill you ten times over so bad…)