Date: 4/21/13
Rating: T
Genre: Drama, Time Travel
Prompt: Sakura finds herself warped back in time to the day of the Uchiha clan massacre where she meets young Sasuke.

Sakura rubbed her head and checked her surroundings. She was annoyed, but she had to admit, it could have been worse. For all she knew, she could have landed in the ocean or over jagged rocks instead of the forest. Sakura cursed under her breath. She swore the minute she got back from wherever she was, Sakura was going to kill the bastard that sent her here.

But for now, all Sakura could do was figure a way to find out where she was. However, she didn't move more than three steps when she suddenly felt she wasn't alone. Gritting her teeth, Sakura listened carefully and clapped her hands in front of her face just in time to stop a kunai. What the hell?

"I know where you are!" Sakura exclaimed, now looking at the spot where the kunai came from. "Show yourself!"

There was a rustle of leaves and the sound of cursing. Sakura raised a brow. The voice sounded like it came from someone who couldn't be older than ten years old. And as soon as her attacker revealed himself from behind the bushes, Sakura found that she had been correct. It really was a child.

However, it wasn't just any ordinary child.

It was Sasuke Uchiha.

Sakura's eyes widened. It was impossible. She rubbed her eyes a few times just to make sure she wasn't seeing things. But there he was standing right in front of her.

"Huh, I didn't think you'd be able to block that," young Sasuke remarked. "You're more skilled than you look."

Sakura twitched. Yeah, that was definitely Sasuke all right. She resisted the urge to say a comeback—she was not about to get in an argument with Sasuke, even if he was younger than her at the time. Instead, she opted for a simple question, "Excuse me, but what's the date?"

Young Sasuke gave her a look and rolled his eyes; but nevertheless told her the date: month, day, and year. However, when he said it, Sakura felt her blood run cold. No, it couldn't be.

"Are you positive that's today's date?" she asked one more time.

"Of course, I'm positive," young Sasuke snapped back.

It couldn't be, but it was. Somehow Sakura was sent back to the day of the Uchiha Massacre. She bit her lip and observed the child in front of her; she didn't know why she hadn't noticed it before. Yes, this was the younger version of Sasuke—same eyes, same skin, same chicken-butt hair. But this was not the younger version of the Sasuke she knew. This Sasuke was so full of life, with hope in his eyes and determination in his smile, unaware of the horrors that would befall on him only a few hours later.

If this day never happened, Sakura couldn't help but wonder, would this life still be in Sasuke? The thought almost made her want to cry.

"What are you doing here all alone?" she asked lightly.

Young Sasuke hesitated, but shrugged his shoulders. She seemed friendly enough. "My nii-san told me to train harder, so I decided to come here after school to practice. One day I'll be just as strong as him. No! I'll be stronger! And—hey! What are you doing?! I don't even know you!"

Sakura ignored his struggles and pulled him into an embrace. "Sasuke-k—" she corrected herself, "chan."

Hearing his name caused young Sasuke to finally relax in her arms. He pulled away a little bit to look at Sakura. "How do you know my name?" Her eyes. They're so bright. Like the grass after it rains.

"That doesn't matter right now," Sakura told him gently. "I just want you to remember that you're never alone, okay? People care about you. They," she paused, "love you. Even when it seems like things won't get better, they will. Don't forget that."

Young Sasuke looked up at her, confused, but nodded. "Okay. I'll try, but—wait! What's happening?!"

Sakura looked down at her arm and saw herself beginning to fade. It seemed like she was finally being sent back to the present. She looked at young Sasuke and gave him a smile.

"Don't forget."