Notes:

I'm warning you. My computer shut down for the last time, never to return to life again. Taking three chapters with it. It felt like hard punch to the tit. So now I'm trying to rewrite on my fiances kindle... kindles weren't meant for writing. So if it comes out horribly, horribly, horrible. I'm so, so sorry.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Sasuke stared from the gates of the village to the sky in mild surprise. His hawk had returned rather quickly, and it appeared to have a note tied to its ankle. He was pretty certain that it wasn't the note he'd written since it was rolled up and tied with... pink hair? Weird.

Sakura hadn't replied to a single note that he'd sent, as a matter of fact he was certain she hadn't even read the majority of them. And he didn't write often. Every time his hawk came back with an unopened note he felt a small pang of rejection, but pushed it away. He could understand. If she ever decided to open herself to him again... He didn't know. But he could understand her shutting him out. It was something he chose to live with when he made his choice years ago.

He held his arm out, not quite sure what to expect. Undoing the pink strands. Staring blankly at the note in his hands. Tapping the hawk in thank you.

Did he really want to know what the note said?

Of course he did.

Was he ready for rejection?

...Of course he was.

Unraveling the note he read, momentarily perplexed.

`Speak to Tsunade or Kakashi`

The sound of energetic footsteps coming his way distracted him from the paper in his hands.

Sasuke closed his fist around the note as Naruto ran up to him, discreetly putting it away in his pocket.

Naruto looked at him with knowing eyes and held out his fist, a small smile creeping onto his face.

Sasuke smirked and bumped the back of his fist with Narutos.

"It's good to see you back Sasuke."

"Hn." He hummed thoughtfully, the note quickly fading from his mind.

"You got a minute?" Naruto asked mischeviously, darting off before he could respond.

Sasuke lightly raised an eyebrow, and grinned (or as close to a grin as you could call a damn near straight line). Hesitating once before taking off after Naruto, he decided he'd get back to the note later.

But didn't notice it slip from his pocket and get blown away by the sheer force of his take off. He also hadn't noticed the smaller words scrawled on the back.

`Welcome home

Sasuke kun`

Notes:

I'm sure there's poops all over the place, when my new laptop makes its way through the mail I'll revise everything. Until then, bare with me.
*I just edited that and am embarrassed. Deeply embarrassed.