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Title: Scribbled in Gratitude
Prompt: Thank You (Rinne Matsuri Edition)

She's rushing as she's grabbing her red coat from her chair and hurrying from the hospital. She's stayed longer to care for a child's broken arm after they fell upon the ice that lingered deep within the snow.

There's the check of her pocket as she slides her first sleeve on and her praises that she hasn't forgotten the gift she's bought just for him. She's sure as she makes her way through the village giving her waves and happy holiday greets that he's bound to be over the festivities. She wants to believe he doesn't hate Rinne Matsuri—she chooses to believe he's just uncomfortable with it. She wants to believe that as a child he would wake up just excited as she does now—she chooses to believe that he holds fond memories deep within him of this time of year.

She's turning the corner and she's running far to fast. Those she passes step from her way they're scolding her within their eyes at such haste but they're not harsh with her. There's excitement and there's joy at what his face with paint for her when she hands him his gift.

Picking such a gift had taken great care. She cannot remember how many times she ventured out in search of what to present for him this year. He was not Naruto who was so simple to find the right gift, and he was not Kakashi who would accept just about everything. There's the giggle that falls from her at such a thought. He's such a simple man and yet he was by far more difficult than that of their other two teammates. She had pondered, and she had wondered. She had regretted and then she had been filled with self praise at what she had picked.

It's here in the now though that matters as she makes her way through the gate of his home deep within what used to be the Uchiha district. She stops at the door. Sucking in a deep inhale to calm her nerves she dares to press her knuckles to the door with a knock. She waits a moment expecting him to open the door. Moments pass and there's no answer. She shifts her weight from one leg to the next and then daringly after a few more moments pass she knocks once more. Her nerves are getting to her with each moment of wait. She's wondering if he hadn't heard her the first time—but she smart enough to know he probably felt her chakra running towards his home.

Another moment—she stands still as she hopes it will ease those nerves that dare make her heart flutter. Still his door doesn't answer and there's no stopping the corners of her mouth the dip down. She's lifting her hand and she keeps it raised—was there a point in knocking a third time? If he hadn't opened now why would he on the third? The retraction of her hand homes and there's the curl of her hands within the hem of her jacket. Another deep breath and the puff of white brought by her breathing fills the air. Fingers dig themselves within her pocket and she's setting it down upon his step.

She speaks just an octave louder than normal, "I hope you've had a wonderful holiday, Sasuke-kun. Have a goodnight."

She wanted to believe he doesn't hate Rinne Matsuri—she's questioning that belief. She wanted to believe that as a child he would wake up just excited as she does now—she's wondering if he remembers those times as a child. It's bittersweet, but she's happy nonetheless. She's given him what she's picked out for him and him alone. The rubbing of her hands comes as she blows within them hope to heat them within her walk home. She had meant every word she had said. She does hope his holiday has been wonderful. She does hope he has a goodnight.

He's not one for crowded places, and he's not one for mingling with the locals. That's something she had learned well before now. He was like this as a genin. Outside of team seven did he ever celebrate it after his family had been ripped from him? There's a snort at the idea of Orochimaru celebrating such a holiday. There's the hope that at some point down the line he'll learn to celebrate it with team seven once again.

Those bittersweet feelings she had felt at his door wash away as she comes within the festive downtown. She's questioning food, and she's buying it moments later. She'll eat it deep within her home—her family would be long since passed out by now. She'll visit them within the morning before she heads off to her evening shift to see how much of a hassle her father has been to her mother.

Her steps are even and she feels the sudden urge to not go home. It's the smallest of weights upon her heart, and it doesn't stop her eyes from daring to look behind her as she comes upon the almost clear streets. She's not sure what she was looking for and she's not sure what she thought she would find when she dared to look back from where she's come. There's a feeling similar to loneliness at having not found whatever it was she was looking for.

She wont allow this to dampen her mood further. The hum she lets out is low and meant to comfort her alone. It's just a simple holiday tune one that everyone knows. The swing of the bag of food comes as she walks to the beat. The glow of the lanterns are what light this dark night, and it's just another thing that helps to bring her mood up. Her fingers may be cold but she'll be home within the warmth of her home soon enough.

A few of her neighbors are being loud even at this hour but she cannot find it in her to blame them. This time of of year was meant for joy, love, and mutual support. This time of year was meant to raise ones spirits, and look forward to the good in those around them. Fingers curl upon the hand rail as she makes her way up the steps to the second floor of her apartment building. She's not missed a beat and it's as she comes upon her door her eyes take note of what sits before her door. Her heart sinks in seeing the box she had left for him at her door step, and it's as her feet slowly carry her forward that she feels her eyes sting with fresh tears ready to fall.

He hadn't liked it—he had rejected her gift.

Kneeling upon the ground her fingers trail over the box lacking the small little bow that had once been wrapped around it. That bittersweet feeling has come crashing down upon her and it takes biting her lip to silence any cry that might dare to fall from her. She's grabbing it and taking it with her—there's always next year she tells herself, and there's always another chance to try and bring him some joy within the year after that.

The flick of the light switch that floods her viridian of her home. She's decorated her home within the festivities—it's not much as she's not home enough to enjoy them. Placing the bag upon the counter she keeps the box within her hand choosing to lean against the counter top. As she debates what to do with the small little item she had chosen solely for him—there's the urge to throw it in the garbage but she wont do that. She rubs her nose with the back of her hand and then she dares to open this box so rejected.

Her heart stills for a moment and her viridian grow wide.

She dared to believe he doesn't hate Rinne Matsuri—she wants to believe he's just uncomfortable with it. She dared to believe that as a child he would wake up just excited as she does now—she wants to believe that he holds fond memories deep within him of this time of year.

There's the tears that fall within the box that finally shed themselves. She had allowed her heart to sink within this holiday believing he hadn't liked her gift—thinking he had rejected it. She had allowed herself to feel such frustration when the lanterns lit her path home, and she had fallen into something close to loneliness.

He had liked her gift—he had accepted it happily.

The small piece of paper locked within the box is enough to make these tears shed in joy far more than that of sadness. The gratitude he's scribbled across the small paper is the only gift she needed from him. She did not need him to go out of his way—she just need to know he had gotten some form of happiness in something now that he was back with them.

Gently taking the paper from the box she's given another still of her heart at the necklace that had hid underneath it. It's small with its silver chain, and diamond-shaped pendant of pale lavender. A smile wide and glowing is across her face. She dares to take a chance at glancing upon the back of this small paper that holds those two little words of gratitude in that penmanship that's definitely his.

Thank you.
Have a wonderful holiday.
Have a goodnight.