IKIGAI
The reason for being;
The thing that gets you up in the morning
Sakura blinked at the older Uchiha's statement and it took her a whole three seconds for his words to sink in her mind. She blamed her lack of sleep and hunger got in her mind before her cheeks blushed. She gave a small laugh and replied,
"Sorry. I didn't catch that fast." She continued as the raven-haired soldier nodded, "I'd love to but I – we still have so much to do."
It was Itachi's turn to give a small laugh. "Some other time, then."
They spent their whole late lunchbreak speaking about the disease, other cities and prefectures that survived and had fallen due to the disease spread out in Japan. Itachi told her that the disease spread out to the continent – the whole world probably and how they tried to contact the armies of the other close countries. Sakura gave out her opinion from time to time, until
"Can I be honest with you?" She asked, her green eyes pleaded. In instant, the soldier became serious and gave her a nod for her to continue what she had to say, "I don't think we are going to find a cure."
She finished with a half-smile and tuck a piece of her hair behind her ear. She did not wait for Itachi's reply as she continued. "I mean, most of the zombies' limbs are you know soft, detaching sometimes and some of them are, like, literal skin and bones."
"So, you're thinking of making a vaccine instead?" Itachi asked as he pondered what she said. It was true, out there the infected people walked aimlessly – corpses that went for the innards of the living ones. It was horrible and scarier than the horror movies he watched when everything was normal back then.
"Yes. Immunity. Prevention over cure." Sakura explained using her chopsticks to emphasize her point word-per-word in the air. She slumped back against her seat, "I won't stop until I get it, Itachi-san."
Said soldier gave a smile of his own, and patted the hair of the petite woman in front of him.
"Good luck. Please do so."
It was around five o'clock when the younger Uchiha went to the medical building and this time no guards had blocked him from entering the facility. He wore his black combat boots and black pants. His top was a navy blue hooded unzipped jacket over a white shirt. He walked inside after he saluted the men at the gates. He did what he remembered, went to the elevator and pressed the desired floor. There was no elevator music or anything. Just plain silence. He waited for a minute or two until the elevator door opened.
The medical team's members were so engrossed in whatever they were doing and the younger Uchiha thought they may be something new about the disease spreading. He saw the pink-haired doctor from the corner of the room made her way to her booth with stack of thick books that she carried. Deciding not to greet her, he turned to his brother's make-shift office. The white door greeted him; he knocked twice before twisting the silver doorknob open.
"You seem so late," Itachi greeted him, did not bother to look over from the reports he was reading that moment,
"Hn. We didn't agree on the time." Sasuke replied and took the seat adjacent to his brother's table. He took a file from the envelope he bought and handed the gray folder to his older brother,
"This is for Kobe mission." The younger of the two stated, "We'll be called in two months, Aniki."
With this, Itachi sighed and did not meet his brother's eyes. It clearly hinted that something was troubling the older Uchiha. Sasuke observed his brother, anticipating his reply.
"Well, I have to tell Sakura to be faster then." Sasuke raised at a fine eyebrow at this, Faster at what?
As if Itachi read his mind he replied to him, "Her team is trying for a vaccine. More specifically her." Sasuke felt hope then, a chance for immunity from the cruel and unfathomable world outside.
"Is she a wonder doctor?" He can't help but ask. Itachi gave a chuckle at this.
"Would she have gotten this far?" Then he handed the folder back to his brother before he stood up and took a few steps to the cabinets to take another folder for reviewing. Sasuke wondered what the pinkette did to have gotten this far in the medical field. He certainly didn't see her face in the newspaper for ground-breaking research or discovery.
"If you'd like to know her, ask her on lunch or dinner tomorrow." Itachi teased and laughed when his younger brother glared at him like no tomorrow, "I mean she hardly eats and I'm sure she hasn't slept."
"What that gotta do with me?" Sasuke scoffed and stood up, taking the envelope with him. He asked with an irritated voice, "Are we gonna get coffee or not?"
She stared at her white wristwatch for the third time of the night. Her bright green eyes became duller and duller every hour that passed by. She looked at her notes as she almost consumed the university notebook of information, chemical formula, and some post-it sticky notes. She read books after books while she wrote in her notebook.
"Slow down," She heard the voice behind her and gave a small sigh. I don't have time for this. Then she noticed the cup of coffee settled on her desk; suddenly she felt grateful. She swiveled her chair, turned to the person who gave the coffee. Then she saw him, looking attractive as ever as he ran down a hand through his gravity-defying hair.
"Itachi told me to give it to you." It was his voice that broke her out of reverie. She half realized that she had been staring. Oh gods, do I even look like a human being right now? She blinked for a moment before she replied with a small smile,
"Tell him my thanks, then." She watched him took the not-so-empty seat, where her other books sat beside her. She bashfully took the books and settled them down on a space of her desk. Sakura wondered why he was there, sitting beside him and most of all, she wondered why she stopped doing her work.
"The operation for Kobe is in two months." He simply stated and crossed his arms against his lean chest. 'I have two months' Sakura's inner voice echoed. She closed her eyes and inhaled through her nose deeply. The raven-haired man waited or the woman's reply after he asked,
"Are you sure you're going to come?"
Sakura's tongue clicked, "I'm sure. I need to." She let out a smile.
"Well, we'll see more of each other then."
Sakura fought the heat that threaten to rise in her face. She sipped some coffee, though it burned her tongue, she didn't mind. I think I'm looking too much to that statement. She fought for a moment in her head while she drank her coffee,
"Is that a bad thing?" She tried to keep herself from being awkward.
"Not at all, doctor." He gave a small chuckle and taught the girl was amusing. He never met a lady who didn't fawn over him like a piece of jewelry or meat - whatever the thing that shines their eyes. He could see through her though, she was debating in her mind. It was too obvious for him,
"It's actually a good thing." He smirked.
"Um… that's good to hear." She replied unsure. Don't be fucking awkward, Sakura. She nodded and let out a small confident smile, "Likewise, Uchiha."
"Uchiha Sasuke, get your ass over here." The older Uchiha's voice rang from Sasuke's radio. He took it out from the attachment on his belt and sighed,
"Yes. You fu-"
"Not nice to cuss in front of the Lady," Itachi laughed embarrassing both his brother and the doctor.
"Well, seems like duty calls." Sakura stated and watched Sasuke stood up from the swiveling chair. She waved her hand, "See you around, Uchiha."
"See you at lunch tomorrow, Haruno." He flashed her a smirk, the one that almost – almost took her breath away because it almost looked like a smile. His pearly whites shown off from his pale thin lips, before he turned to make his way to his brother's office.
Wait, what lunch? Her eyes widened at his statement and before she could reply, he was gone. She blushed when he was far away from her. She shook her head from her imposing and assuming thoughts. She sighed and decided to take all of her stuffs to her room below. She wouldn't get anything done if he's bound to tease her again for the night.
I don't even know lunch time anymore. She huffed.
Took me a while to upload, FF kept on rejecting.
Hope you enjoyed. :)
P.S. I don't even know why I'm updating, this fic barely has followers hahaha jk