this prompt gave me a bit of trouble, don't know why, maybe it was just a block, but I was able to finish it. Sadly, I'm only semi-satisfied with its outcome.
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02. waiting
summary: it'll take him a whole year, but she'll wait, she'll always wait.
It's July when he leaves.
He doesn't show her any signs of regretting his choice, he doesn't even look apologetic towards her. His hands are dug in to his pockets, watching her intently like he's always done, dark eyes boring into her own.
"It's a year."
"I know," she whispers.
And she does, they've talked about this plenty of times, they've argued over the subject ever since it was first brought up. A year in order to finally reach the goal he's always strived for, it's something she can't stand in between of.
A year-long tour in order for their rising fame to keep skyrocketing to the top. And she's proud of him, and of her friends, truly, but she'll miss him.
"You can call me," he offers.
She looks at him carefully, finally noticing the look in his eyes, the fact that there's no indifference there, his eyes are soft. She takes a deep breath, shutting her eyes tightly and summing all her strength in order to make this easier for them both.
"I know, Sasuke-kun," she finally says.
Her eyes snap open and she gives him a small smile, her hands coming up to rest on his chest. He gives her a lopsided grin, pressing his forehead against hers, and suddenly she feels like letting herself cry.
"I'll be back."
And she knows that, she knows that he'll come back to her no matter what, he has promised that to her several times. She believes in him endlessly, and she knows he won't break their promise.
"I'll be here...waiting," she smiles.
"Sasuke, we're leaving."
He looks back towards his band mate before giving a nod and turning back to her. His arms hesitantly circle around her small frame, pulling her close to him. She hears him inhale, and she smiles, tears gathering in her eyes as she circles her own arms around his torso, hugging him tightly, in fear that he'll disappear.
He pulls away, presses a small kiss and a promise to be back before she knows it. He boars his band's bus, and she watches as the door closes, waving goodbye the man she loves, and hoping that in a year she'll see him again.
The air has gotten colder, the colorful leaves have begun to fall off the trees, a constant reminder that time is still moving even when he's gone.
It's been three months, now October, since he left to go on his tour.
From what he's told her during their short video calls, and phone calls, they're doing better than expected. Apperantely their popularity as a band has actually managed to skyrocket to the very top, and she's happy for him, truly.
However, she misses him more, misses hearing his voice when he's right next to her. She misses running her hands through his hair, admiring the softness of it. She misses studying with him, having him there.
But for now she'll stand in the background, cheering him on every step of the way, he said he'll come home soon and she believes he will.
Her nose is red, a large scarf wrapped around her neck, a beanie on her head keeping her hair from blowing all over the place. She's wearing a large warm coat─she's positive it makes her look like a marshmallow. Her boats crunch as she steps on the snow, and she's happy to finally be heading home.
Once she's inside she kicks off her boots, hangs her beanie, scarf, and coat before going over to make some hot chocolate.
It's now January; six months since he left.
She misses him more than ever, and lately things haven't been going to well with them. Every time he calls she's busy with her internship at the hospital, or with class, or on her way to hang out with Ino and her friends. Then when she calls he's always about to go on stage, or about to do some photo shoot, a signing.
Things have been rough.
Once she finishes making her hot chocolate she pours it in a mug and sits in the living room. From the floor to ceiling windows she watches as the snow falls down, sipping on her hot chocolate every now and then. It's silent and she's thankful for a small moment like this, to be able to collect herself and her thoughts.
Then her phone rings.
She places her mug on the coffee table and presses the green button on her phone.
"Hello?"
"Sakura."
"Sasuke-kun."
"Are you busy today?"
"No," she frowns, "why?"
"We can finally talk then?"
She doesn't like his tone, but doesn't say anything about it, "Fine."
"How are your classes?"
"Good," she responds quickly, not missing a beat, "I'm surprised you aren't busy, Sasuke-kun."
"No, we're just here."
"Oh."
"Sasuke-kun, this isn't okay anymore."
She hears him take a deep breath, and she bites her lip in anticipation because she knows her words can only mean one thing, they only have one solution to their constant bickering.
"It's not," he finally says, "but we'll be fine."
"Will we?" she asks, her free hand balling into a tight fist, "Sasuke-kun, need I remind you that all we've done for the past two months is argue."
"Sakura, we're okay, we'r- Oh, hey, hello, nice to meet you."
"Sasuke-kun," she frowns, "are you busy?"
"Give me a second."
She frowns, frustration getting the best of her as she hears him speak to another person. She rolls her eyes before ending the call, throwing the phone somewhere to her left and getting up, heading over to her room.
She ignores his calls for the rest of the night, and ignores the dull ache in her heart.
The weather has gotten warmer, and she's thankful for it.
It's finally March, eight months since he left and somehow they've come this far even in his absence. After so much fighting, so much tension they finally came to an agreement, not wanting to continue with this unhealthy habit they had developed.
They talked this morning and he had told her of his busy week and how his calls wouldn't be as frequent because of it.
She's learning not to mind it, trying desperately to be okay with this because she wants to be there for him. She doesn't want him to think that she doesn't support him, because she does, with everything she has.
"Sakura!"
She whirls around to watch as Inuzuka Kiba runs up to her, she had met him in her Chem. class this semester, he's nice, funny, she doesn't appreciate his constant advances however.
"Kiba," she smiles, "how are you?"
"I'm good," he gives her that boyish grin, "and you?"
"Great, actually," she smiles.
"Have you talked to that boyfriend of yours?"
Sakura doesn't like how he talks about Sasuke, disdain obvious in his features. Apperantely, they know each other, Kiba says that Sasuke and him went to school all the way up to middle school together.
"He's good, he has a busy week, however," she says.
Kiba looks pensive for a small moment before he snorts, "I'm surprised you've put up with everything."
"I do-"
"I mean that guy's had his face all over the magazines these past months, rumors about girlfriends and this and that, and yet, you're still by his side," Kiba frowns, "I just don't get it."
"Sasuke-kun, wouldn't cheat on me," she frowns, before giving him a glare, "and I wouldn't cheat on him."
"You should consider your options, Sakura," Kiba merely shrugs, "things change, who's to say he won't fall in love with some high-class model?"
"Excuse me," she frowns, walking away from him.
She doesn't like to hear things like that, because it's been eight months and they're so close to their goal. Hearing things like that only makes her nervous, it makes her heart drop all the way down to her feet, it makes her feel like all his words were empty.
But they're not, she believes they're not, and he said they weren't, and that's good enough for her.
She circles the first square and grins.
"That's ten," she giggles.
Ino smiles, "I'm glad."
"Me too."
"You miss him, don't you?"
"More than he'll ever know, actually."
"He'll be home soon."
"I know," she smiles.
This time she's sure of it.
It's hot again, and she doesn't like it, it annoys her to be sweaty all the time.
Today she doesn't have much to do, but she refuses to let the stuff be done at any other time besides the morning. She wants to be done with everything so she can home and study a bit, catch up on what she's neglected.
She combs her hair and sighs softly.
It's already been a year and he's not home, yet, and she's not sure how she feels about it. They spoke of it, the minute it became a year she asked why he hadn't return and he told her that things were changing, their plans were changing. He told her that he might not even be home for another two months.
She hates it.
However, she knows she can do nothing about it, because even if she does hate it, hate missing him and being away from him like this, she'd never be able to stand in between him and his dream. She's proud of what he's accomplished this year, proud of how amazing things have been for him.
Even if she has to sacrifice his time with him for it.
She applies minimal make-up before grabbing her bag and heading towards the door. Once outside she squints at the offending sunlight as she locks her door. She hurries down the stairs and checks the watch on her wrist.
Once she's out of the building she begins to head left, towards the market, because she's out of a lot of things and she refuses to be without them for the rest of the week.
She's busy making a mental note to add something else to her list when a hand lands on her arm, pulling her back. At first panic fills her system and she tries to call forth all those self─defense lessons she got.
However, before she can give the assaulter a piece of her mind, warm lips are pressing against her own. Her eyes snap open and they widen at the sight, he pulls away, giving her a smirk.
"S-Sasuke-kun," she breathes out, looking at him incredulously, "you're...home."
"I'm home," he says confidently, a smirk still on his lips.
Her heart beats at a mile per hour as she wraps her arms around his neck. He picks her up and she laughs, wrapping her legs around his waist. She buries her face into his neck, breathing in his cologne and wondering how she lasted a whole year without him. He does the same, holding her close to him, refusing to loosen his grip.
Sakura doesn't mind, it's been a year since she's last been able to hold him this close. A whole year since she's been able to touch him, and have him right there next to her.
A whole year and she's missed him.
"I love you," she whispers, "so much, I love you."
He pulls her closer and she knows that's her answer; I love you, too.