Hey! This chapter came a lot easier than the last! Also, wanted to let you know that I've released the first chapter for Hearts After Dark. It's the M rated companion story for this. Any M rated chapters will have a partner chapter here. Smokerings, the partner chapter for Cigarettes, is up now. Please read and review!
Enjoy!
Ally
There's someone in her garden when she arrives. She intended to come straight here but found herself distracted at the clinic on the way. Now, Matsuri is tracing her fingers around the still pond water, causing ripples to span out across the surface.
Sakura is not sure whether or not to say anything, and wonders how much time the girl spent in the garden before it was given to her as a wedding present. Before she can decide to leave, Matsuri looks up at her. She gives a soft smile, and Sakura takes it as an invitation to join the girl.
"I'm sorry." Sakura says, and finds herself not quite sure why she is apologising.
"What for? It's not like it's your fault..." Matsuri trails off, distracted by a disgruntled from croaking at her from a lily pad. "I doubt you had much choice in the matter either, I just wanted..." She takes a deep breath. "He's like a father to me, you know?"
Sakura nods her head in understanding, she had lost her parents at a young age, and knew the feeling of loving someone like a father. Matsuri continues, removing her hand from the water, much to the frog's delight. "I just wanted him to fall in love and get married and be happy and all that gross stuff, you know?"
"Yeah, I know. Maybe he would have... but a war happened." Sakura manages a smile at the brunette girl.
Matsuri's voice becomes caught in her throat. She hadn't thought about Sakura's side of things. She became infamous during the war, rivaling the reputation of medics before her. And she could fight, too. Holding her own against her teammates Naruto and Sasuke. Matsuri had spent countless nights around campfires hearing tales of their battles.
Now, she was here. In a foreign land filled with people she doesn't know. Married to a man that she doesn't love. Matsuri couldn't think of anything worse. So she does something that neither of them expect.
She leans forward and wraps her arms around Sakura, bringing her in for a friendly embrace. "I'd like to be friends."
Sakura is momentarily surprised, before she softens and returns the hug. "Me too." She smiles, honestly, feeling like she's finally made an ally in the desert.