Date: 6/8/13
Rating: T
Genre: Angst, Drama, Time Travel
Prompt: Genin Sasuke is brought to the future somehow.
Sasuke didn't know where he was or how he got there. And it was dark, moonlight serving as the only source of illumination. But he wasn't alone; someone else was there with him. Sasuke took a kunai from his weapons pouch, but it didn't seem like the other person noticed his presence. Sasuke squinted his eyes, his grip tightening around his kunai, suspicious. Quietly, he moved closer to the stranger, all the while remaining hidden in the shadows.
However, just when he was about to strike, Sasuke saw the familiar white circle of the Haruno family and relaxed. It was Sakura. But at the same time, it wasn't. No, the girl in front of him looked older, looked exhausted, looked defeated, an unnerving contrast from the vibrant teammate he knew.
"Hey," Sasuke finally said, coming out of the shadows, "Why are you crying?"
She jumped, her grip causing the glass of the picture frame to crack. She knew that voice. "Sa-Sasuke-kun?" But when Sakura looked up her eyes widened, darting back and forth between the Sasuke standing in her room and the Sasuke glaring in the photo taken almost four years prior. She rubbed her eyes. I'm going crazy.
"Why are you crying?" he asked again, walking closer to her. However, she ignored his question and continued to stare at him, her expression blank, her eyes dull, vacant. Sasuke swallowed. For once, he couldn't read her, and it troubled him. "Sakura—Hey! What are you doing?"
Sasuke felt himself lose his balance as Sakura grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him into her arms. At first, he struggled to free himself, but it was useless. This Sakura was strong—incredibly strong. "Sakura—"
"Please," she whispered, her voice shaking, her whole self shaking, "Don't say anything." Sakura pulled away slightly and held Sasuke's face in her hands, her thumb tracing the leaf symbol on his forehead protector. "Let me just look at you."
Whether she was actually going insane or not, Sasuke was there. She was holding him in her arms; she could feel him; she could feel the good in him, something no one else seemed to believe he had anymore. And his eyes—so confused, so worried, so ignorant of what was to come. Sakura looked away, praying she wouldn't have to look at his eyes when it finally happened. She stared to cry again. "Forgive me, Sasuke-kun. Forgive me."
Sasuke felt a knot form in his stomach. "For what?"
But Sakura shook her head, pulling him once more into an embrace, and this time, Sasuke relaxed into her touch, wondering what it could be that was causing her so much pain. "Sasuke-kun," she said, her tears seeping into his shirt, tears that burned his skin, "I hope you know, everything I do, it's because I love you. Do you understand?"
"I—"
Sasuke opened his eyes. Everything was blurry. Everything was white, and bright, and smelled of disinfectant. He sat up. Everything hurt.
"Sasuke-kun!" Her felt arms wrap around his neck. "You're awake!"
He blinked. Awake? It was—just a dream? But it felt so real. Sasuke glanced at the girl crying into his shoulder, feeling her tears seep into his shirt just like the tears of the other and older Sakura. But this Sakura cried tears that radiated happiness and relief.
I hope you know, everything I do, it's because I love you.
But hers, that Sakura he knew and didn't, hers were tears that burned.