The two of them were like night and day, dark and light, yin and yang. One would think neither Sasori nor Sakura would ever be able to put aside their differences long enough to even be in the same room without an argument breaking out, let alone to even think about dating. Yet here they were, sitting in the mall food court, doing just that.
Sasori's friends couldn't count on their fingers just how many times the red head had droned on and on about how much he loathed shopping more than anything else, that it was a pointless endeavor and a waste of his time. It didn't matter that he always went along with the cute pink haired medic whenever her heart desired, never once complaining about being dragged into more stores than he cared to keep track of, or that she would pile high clothes to try on and walk out with only a couple of items (if she ended up buying anything at all).
"We should go to Garage next," Sakura suggested with a sweet smile up at him, "It's a little more affordable than Guess so hopefully I'll be able to find a better outfit, though I heard a rumor that Konaha21 has the same clothes but cheaper! We'll have to see and compare."
"We will." He agreed monotonously, anyone else would think he was bored but she couldn't be fooled, especially not when he held such an endearing look in his brown eyes.
Although Sasori acted patient, he was not a patient man by any means, and would often get annoyed by anything he considered to be trivial. Sakura knew that if it were anyone else he wouldn't have made the effort, after all he had his art to get back to, he couldn't waste a perfectly good day of carving doing his least favorite activity (or any activity rather). For the longest time his friends couldn't understand how the quiet shut in of a man could put up with such a lively, talkative woman. They often gave him grief about his strange seeming relationship, especially since he wouldn't utter more than a few syllables on the subject, until they saw how soft his eyes seemed to get whenever she was around, the way they would linger on her and flit over to her if she was across the room. Somehow, in spite of his reclusive nature, he always spent as much time as possible with his extroverted, bubbly girlfriend.
Much like Sasori's friends, Sakura's friends also didn't quite understand how the two were dating. Ino could list at least five different times when the medic would burst into their shared apartment, annoyed at something a kid in her art class had done, only to find out that it was Sasori all along years later. Although the blonde was grateful to no longer have her messy best friend living with her, Ino couldn't help but worry about the other woman. Sasori was mean, cold, calculating, and incredibly cunning. The blue eyed woman was also convinced his morals were all out of whack, nothing Sakura could say would convince her otherwise. And though Ino was loathe to admit it, even she could tell (in spite of her own bias towards the sketchy man her best friend chose to pursue) that he made billboard brow much happier over the years than she herself had ever seen.
So in spite of some people's curious gazes, the two continued to enjoy themselves, laughing as they munched on mediocre mall food. Sakura would never admit it out loud, but she also couldn't believe how the both of them have been together so long. Most men she dated got intimidated by her thriving career, fiery temper, and the fact that 9 times out of ten she was stronger than them. Sasori never once gave that vibe off and always told her how proud he was when she reached a new fitness goal or got a promotion at work. It was almost shocking how supportive he was of her now that they were dating considering how much they used to compete with each other at college.
Still unwelcome thoughts would linger in her brain, wondering how he could stand her less desirable habits. Sakura was very messy, something Sasori absolutely couldn't tolerate. They used to get into loads of arguments when they first moved in together because he needed a clean space otherwise his headspace felt cluttered, which would make him overwhelmed, he'd often told her he couldn't think in a scattered space. Since then she's actually gotten better about not just leaving her clothes lying around and actually doing the dishes once in a while. It's actually a little funny how he pretends to be annoyed when she puts her laundry in with his, he tells her to knock it off but washes them together anyway.
Whenever she thinks about how little they have in common, she just has to laugh because there is so much more that they do have in common. Of course it was still funny to think about all of their superficial differences. For example: Sasori's such an art snob sometimes, and even though she took an art class for college, she just doesn't understand why he gets into arguments with Deidara. After all, art is art, right? Wrong, apparently, as Sakura found out rather harshly when they both started spouting nonsense at her, she was trying to calm them down, not rile them up more. And while she was literally the definition of a preppy jock, he was perpetually stuck in his angsty emo era (eyeliner and all that Sakura not-so-secretly thinks is hot). She can also hold her liquor better than him in spite of his height, and thanks to her two blond besties always getting her into shenanigans, no one would ever believe her.
For all their differences they still had more in common than people could see on the surface. They can both cook, even though his food always tasted better, no matter if he denied it. They are both interested in medicine (different areas mind you) and were often tied for top of their class. They both got jealous easily even though they trusted each other 100%, and they both enjoyed how possessive the other could be. She likes to work out and he likes watching her, definitely not because of how nicely the sweat shone on her skin or how cute pink strands of her hair fell loose from the ponytail holding it up. And Sasori absolutely loved it when she walked around their house wearing his shirts, as does she of course. Both of them also really enjoy cuddling with Sakura as the big spoon, holding Sasori while she played with his hair, giving his scalp a nice massage. He loves drawing her most of all and she loves that he thinks she's worthy of being drawn.
The one that really brought them together though is the fact that they're both only children. They understood what it's like to grow up wanting for siblings and finding them in your obnoxious blond friends instead. Sure they could focus on the differences that shouldn't make their relationship work like so many others did, but why would they? Yeah, they could break up right now, or even tomorrow over it, but if they only focused on the negatives that's exactly what would happen. After all, regardless of whether or not their relationship lasted, Sakura is still going to continue mooching off of her boyfriend for his heavenly back massages.
"You about finished with your smoothie?" Sasori questioned, breaking the girl out of her thoughts.
She took an extra large sip from her strawberry banana smoothie, a slurping sound coming from the straw letting them both know it was empty, while she raised one manicured eyebrow up at him in response.
"Wow, pinky, could've said 'no'." He teased in a sarcastic tone, "You don't have to be so dramatic."
"Oh please, as if I'm the dramatic one in this relationship," A scoff followed the end of her sentence as she stood up to throw away their trash.
"Nobody would be surprised." He retorted, grabbing her bags and following her lead.
"Just cause you've got them all fooled Red."
"Psh, whatever, you're the one who has everybody wrapped around her little finger."
"Jealous?"
"Hah! Of you? Never."
"I can see right through you sweetie, you're so jealous that Konan loves me more than you even though you've been friends longer."
"As if Haruno. I can't hold it against Konan, or you for that matter, since everyone who comes within a five mile radius of you is immediately struck by cupid's bow."
The woman merely scoffs in response and shakes her head at the absurd notion, a light blush dusting her cheeks. Sasori knew just the right thing to say to make her feel like a schoolgirl again. Giving her a light, happy feeling in her chest as her heart beat a little too fast for her liking. The man in question simply placed his free arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer to him as they continue walking past stores out to the parking lot.
"We done for the day?" Sasori inquired, remembering the other shops she'd mentioned earlier they'd yet to visit.
"Yeah," Sakura replied thoughtfully, "I'm pretty sure we've got the prefect gifts for everybody, as well as some cute outfits for me, of course."
"Of course." He joked back, looking down at her with nothing short of adoration in his eyes.
Sasori was not an overly affectionate man and he certainly did not like PDA. In general he was not even considered a loving man, in fact Sakura was the first real girlfriend he'd ever had. Of course he'd dated girls before and slept around, but none of them ever made him feel anything. That was naturally before Sakura came running head first into his life, literally. She came barreling through the door of his art class on the first day of school and fell over herself trying to slow down so she wouldn't run into him, ultimately failing as they collided and their collective stuff fell with them to the ground. He was naturally annoyed with her, so he told her off, shocked when she decided to tell him off back. From then on he was intrigued by the energetic pink haired girl who's name he failed to catch.
Growing up in a small town, Sasori was used to all the woman being polite and meek, and obviously Sakura was anything but. She was wild and loud and snorts when she laughed too hard. Sakura Haruno is a spitfire and if the red haired man was being honest with himself, he quite enjoyed teasing her and watching as her cheeks turned red from anger, although he wasn't sure why at the time. After all, he'd never felt anything for anybody before, so why on earth would him having feelings for her even make the 'top 20 reasons why he could do this list' in his head? He actually told his grandmother about the strange woman in his class during winter break and could not for the life of him realize why the old lady was suddenly on the floor laughing her pants off at him.
"How did I raise such an oblivious child?" She asked him once she finally stopped chortling, "How is it you are so observant when it comes to other people, yet so obtuse when it comes to yourself and your own emotions?"
"What on earth are you talking about old lady?" He was getting tired of this.
"Honestly kid," She wiped a tear from her eye and chuckled in disbelief, "I never thought I'd see the day you'd actually get a crush on someone."
"I don't have a crush on her. She's annoying and obnoxious and her sense of justice is so overpowering it makes me sick."
"Whatever you say dear." His Grandma Chiyo was starting to walk away.
"She can't even draw!" Laughs could be heard from the kitchen as he called after her, " She didn't even know what oil paints were until last week!"
Of course his grandmother was right, but Sasori wouldn't let the woman know that, despite the fact that the man introduced the two most important women in his life just after three short months of dating. Now here they were, going on six years, and he had never been more content in his entire life. At first Sasori was afraid of how much he cared about Sakura and actually started to push the poor woman away. Could you blame him though? Here this seemingly perfect woman comes into his life, pulling his walls down brick by brick, and you expect him to not freak out? Especially one who wears her heart on her sleeve and seems to be everything he's she was much smarter than she let on and refused to let Sasori shut her out. She actually came knocking on his door after the third day of silence and demanded to be let in. That was their first real fight and their combined tempers made it explosive. Somehow Sakura managed to calm down, which calmed him down, and they were able to have an actual progressive conversation as opposed to a screaming match, without trying to force their beliefs on one another.
They've been going strong ever since and Sakura has proved over and over again that his insecurities about their relationship are unfounded, and she will always prove just how willing she is to work on their relationship together. She eases his anxieties and vise versa. Who cares if he's a morning person and she's not, or if he enjoys quiet nights in while she wants to go out? Those are trivial things that don't matter when one looks at the big picture. Sasori can feel the familiar weight in his right inside pocket, the small box bringing a comforting feeling to the otherwise apprehensive man.
"When are you going to get hitched?" His grandmother's voice rang in the back of his head as the memory of her words played over and over in his mind. She always asked that whenever they would visit, always making sure to pull the man aside.
Sasori always shrugged off the question, acting nonchalant about it. To be fair the ring has been sitting in his pocket for a little over two years now, but he never managed to find the right time. Sakura was constantly busy with her career and finishing off her last year of school, not to mention how she always had her friend dates every Thursday. Honestly the man took what he got when it came to what little free time the pink medic had, he was selfish like that. Was it wrong to want her all to himself though? He didn't think so, and Sakura didn't seem to mind either.
He coveted the nights when she was able to get off early and he could actually make her dinner, or eat their lunches together in his studio. He enjoyed being able to draw her sleeping form as the sun began to peek above the horizon, creating a halo effect on the woman. As an artist, his girlfriend was quite possibly the most exquisite thing he'd ever had the honor of bestowing his eyes upon, especially when she was resting, the tension leaving her shoulders and pink strands falling around and onto her face, strands catching on her slightly parted lips.
Who cares if she makes him go hiking with her when he just wants to read a book? Her excuse is that she wants a workout buddy, but he knows she already has one. That just means she wants to spend time with him, and who is he to object? Really, everybody knows Sakura's the boss in their relationship anyway and he couldn't tell her no if he tried. Yeah, he'll pretend to make a show of it whenever she asks him to go on a new trail with her, but that doesn't mean he doesn't already have his shoes on before the words even left her mouth. Plus, if she makes him go hiking then that means he gets to drag her to every boring art show he has to go to and show her off. The other people are superficial at those events anyway and somehow his girlfriend is the master of small talk, and he really thinks she's an angel at least fifty times a day.
The red haired man probably couldn't have fallen harder for anybody else if he tried. Sasori was looking forward to having her yell at him for using all the hot water cause his showers took too long again, or how they can simultaneously sit in comfortable silence for hours on end and talk non-stop. Their conversations are enlightening and she forces him to look at things from a new perspective, her optimism rubbing off on him. Sakura Haruno is a storm and he is looking forward to each new day alongside her forever.
"What do you think of Akasuna no Sakura?" Sasori asked to woman beside him as they finally made it to their car, the sun beginning to set.
The question seemed to catch her off guard for a second as she simply looked at him before replying, "That's okay, but what about Sasori Haruno?"
He shrugged, placing her bags in the trunk before getting into the car with her. As he started it he peeked at the love of his life from the corner of his eye.
"I don't mind it." The red haired man told her casually and started to drive them towards home.
"Oh really now?" She inquired.
"Yeah." The radio played quietly as he waited somewhat anxiously for Sakura's reply.
"Did you just propose to me?"
"I suppose I did."
This caused a laugh to rip through the woman's throat as Sasori looked at her quizzically, trying to pay attention to the cars driving around them, a slight annoyance flowing through him. Was the thought of marrying him really that funny? He was about to tell her off but then she started speaking.
"About time."
"What? What does that mean?"
"You know what it means Red."
"How long have you been waiting for me to propose?"
"How long have you had that ring in your pocket?"
They were almost home now, but that made Sasori do a double take. She knew? "You knew?"
"Of course I did, you started acting a little weird when I wore your jackets and always insisted on checking the pockets first."
After pulling into the garage and parking, he just looks at her for a full minute. Really looks at her. Takes in her short pink hair that's no longer chin length, having now grown just enough to touch her shoulders, her emerald eyes that always had a mischievous twinkle in them, her straight nose that was just a little crooked from being broken, although you couldn't tell unless she told you. She gives him her sweet smile that he knows never reached her eyes in the beginning of their rocky friendship, but is delighted at the fact that it almost always does now. Sakura was a firecracker and now she'd be his firecracker forever.
Slowly he takes the ring box out of his pocket and her eyes follow the movement. Sasori opens it and takes her hand in his as she waits for him to speak those life changing words, both still in the car as one of them holds her breath. Meanwhile he takes a deep breath to steel his nerves, all the words he wanted to say, all the things she means to him, have suddenly vanished from his brain. It doesn't matter though, he can always tell her in his vows and every single day for the rest of his life if she wanted him to.
"Will you, Sakura Haruno, do me the pleasure and honor of becoming my wife?"
"Of course," She replies with a sigh, letting him put the ring on her finger before pulling him into a deep kiss.
I do not own Naruto or any of the character mentioned in this fic, any store names that are recognizable are purely coincidental and I make no profit from writing this. I only take credit for the plot. If you enjoyed this please leave a review! Thanks for reading!
