Although they had shared several nights like this one, Sasuke couldn't help but find his obsidian eyes completely fixated on his pink-haired travel companion. It was starting to grow cold as the glowing moon reached its apex in the sky, and yet, the last remaining Uchiha could not find that reason enough to disrupt the scene splayed before him–in all truth, he was unnervingly mesmerized by it.
His throat was tight as his Adam's apple bobbed consequent of his nervous swallow, his anxious perspiration painting a mist across his forehead. All that could be heard was the sizzle and popping of the campfire which, in truth, were beginning to be drowned out by the thumping of his heartbeat in his ears. He closed his dark eyes with a quiet hum and thought of the day their journey began. At one point in his life, he truly believed that he was incapable of forming such an intimate bond. To pine for another person was a concept that he truly could not wrap his head around and he had fooled himself into believing that the beginning of their travels further established this for him.
Ever since he was a young boy, he had always heard enchanting tales of gentle looks between lovers, the feeling of yearning between two hearts–but, up until this point he had always been skeptical. Despite this, when Sakura had first accompanied him, he genuinely wondered if he would feel something new, if his heart would 'leap' the way that those old stories described. However, as the few days they spent together continued on, he was somewhat disheartened to find that his feelings for her felt relatively unchanged. This was Sakura, his childhood friend and comrade–she was incredibly smart, kind, and talented. He knew that he respected and acknowledged her, but he couldn't say that he felt the same level of fervor or passion that she had clearly held for him for many years. He had begun to feel incredibly guilty that he could not offer her the same desire and adoration that she, not only willingly put forward to him, but patiently waited for from him as well.
Although, as they sat by the glowing flame under the dark starry sky, something stirred within him that he had never felt before. He scoffed at himself, it alarmed him that he could not name such an intense, impactful sensation. Tonight had been like every other night. They had spent most of the day traveling through a seemingly endless forest biome only to find themselves setting up camp for the night to rest so that they may continue their arduous trudge the next day. As the colourful leaves began to fall and drift from their trees, so too did the temperatures in the evening, prompting the pair to start a fire to keep warm. As they sat by the fire side by side on the dirt floor, propped up by a nearby oak tree, they stared at the dancing flames in silence. Both of them were exhausted from the endeavours of the day and easily entranced by the glowing blaze. With black eyes focused on the languid flickering of the flames, Sasuke was beginning to feel like he was about ready to retire to his tent for the night. That is, until he felt a gentle press on his shoulder. Surprised, his head quickly flitted to observe the same breathtaking sight that he was still captivated upon now.
In all his years, he thought to himself, he had never once taken the time to admire just how beautiful Sakura was. She had fallen asleep, and her head had found its resting place on the dark-haired man's broad, slightly muscled shoulder. Her soft girlish features were accentuated by the warm, delicate glow of the fire and, for the first time ever, Sasuke felt his breath catch in his throat. His eyes widened as he found himself bearing witness to just how gorgeous she truly was. Her soft pink tresses effortlessly fell to perfectly shape her sculpted face, her long fluffy eyelashes obscured the breathtaking emeralds that he already knew were hiding under her eyelids. He had never once had the opportunity to examine her so closely like this and, what's more, he had never found himself so afflicted in this way by anyone else in his life. He felt his ears starting to burn, a rosy shade creeping up on his face as he felt his heart begin to thump forcefully.
As he gazed upon her stunning, elegant visage, he knew it wasn't simply physical attraction alone that was affecting him so drastically. He couldn't explain it, but seeing her like this–so vulnerable as she slept soundly whilst closely pressed into his shoulder–created an overwhelming feeling within him to always be there for her, to always protect her. As she subconsciously nuzzled her head closer into him, it dawned upon him in that moment that he could never ever lose her and that he always wanted to be side-by-side with her in this way. She was precious to him. Although his pride wouldn't allow him to say it aloud, he realized that he treasured having this physical intimacy with Sakura, that her touch and the feeling of her warm exhale against his neck brought him an inexplicable sense of peace and comfort.
A small smile crept onto his face as he continued to study her sleeping face. "Tch, annoying", he quietly grinned to himself, he realized how much of a naïve fool he was to think even for a second that he would never be able to succumb to this feeling, that he was too broken to experience what it meant to form a bond founded in such a pure, innocent affection.
The warm radiance of the flames continued to flicker vibrantly, fighting the chill of the cool autumn breeze. He reached his hand out and tucked her fallen rose strands behind her ear which were loosened by the gentle wind. And as he did so, his rough, calloused hand ever so slightly brushed over the soft unblemished skin of her forehead causing him to pause. Instinctively, without giving it a second thought, he pulled her in closer and hugged her petite form against him.
"Sakura, thank you", he muttered quietly and gently rested his own head atop her own as he embraced her close to him. The heavy lids of his dark eyes began to droop closed, with the warmth of his companion and the crackles of the fire before them seemingly lulling him into sleep. He was unable to say for sure what his future would hold, but he knew for certain that whatever happens, Sakura needed to be a part of it.