Title: everlasting
Summary: Sasuke shows up to her doorstep from his two-year journey. Sakura is overcome with an impulse at the sight of him.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Prompt: It Was Always You
Rating: K
A/N: Someone sent me an a headcanon in an ask once and I started writing for it years ago, but it kind of got lost in all my WIPs. I found it again, and decided it was perfect for this prompt!

I miss you.

That was what he'd written her last.

When Sakura had gotten his letter all but two weeks ago, she hadn't been able to believe her eyes. Sasuke, who was always all about retaining composure and simple fact-telling, slipping out of habit to send her this one simple piece of paper, containing nothing more than these three words? These three quiet, heart-exposing, wistful little words?

He was never one to admit such things.

(which is why it had hit her so hard.)

But, as she found him there, standing at her doorstep, shoulders hunched and gaze weighted with a mix of fatigue and something vulnerable—it made her breath catch. Because she could see it now; could see those three words written in every inch of his features, could see how lonely he had been. Could see the relief in seeing her as she was now, standing right there, in front of his very eyes again.

He really had missed her.

Somehow, knowing this, Sakura couldn't stop herself from taking those two steps dividing them, gentle fingers reaching out to twine themselves firmly into his hair as she pushed herself to the tip of her toes and brought her mouth to his, kissing him deeply. It was a bold move, she knew. Probably even stupid considering the fact she didn't even know with certainty where his heart stood with her—but then his lone arm slipped around her back, holding her tight as his lips started responding to her own with equal feeling, and Sakura sighed, melting against him in sweet contentment.

Neither of them made any move to pull away when they finally parted, breaths fanning warmly against each other's cheeks and hands wrapped tightly in each other's clothes. Too eager to stay close, not yet ready to part ways once more.

(not ready to put distance between them when in these past two years of redemption, that was all there had been.)

"Sakura," he murmured, at last, breaking the too-thick silence filled with nothing but their shared warmth and long-repressed yearning. His brows were furrowed, swept over with sweet, heavy emotion.

Sakura couldn't explain why it only made her smile, the softest little laugh tumbling from her mouth. Sasuke's mouth curved into a frown at that, brows creasing all the more in clear bemusement.

"Why are you laughing?" he mumbled, pushing his forehead to her own while his hand dragged her closer. He sounded puzzled, slightly annoyed—or maybe even embarrassed.

Sakura only smiled wider. "Sorry," she said, eyes crinkling. "I just—Well, this is our first kiss and it's so… different from what I'd imagined it could be through all these years." She laughed again, so lightly. "Better."

His features seemed to relax with this, something like relief curling faintly at his lips.

(relief… and satisfaction.)

And then, he said, "Second," and it was her brows who furrowed now, green, green eyes meeting his own in silent query.

His gaze softened in return. "That night, all those years ago," he went on, quiet, "I couldn't leave without taking something of you with me. Without being selfish one last time before severing all my bonds."

Her heart skipped a beat at this; breath catching in her throat.

"I kissed you on that bench, Sakura."

.

.

It was always her, she realized. Even since they were twelve, since he was bent on revenge and running away towards a dark, lonely path—it was always her.

(it was always sasuke-kun, too.)

Short, but that's okay. Maybe it'll allow me to submit one last story before ssmonth ends!

DeepPoeticGirl