#skating!au

Sakura hadn’t gotten this drunk in a long, long time. But Karin and Suigetsu’s wedding seemed like the most worthwhile excuse to down this many glasses of wine. 

Karin and Suigetsu had decided to throw have their wedding in Hokkaido. Which made a lot of sense. Karin didn’t really have anyone in Moscow. The Hozuki family, in contrast, was big and rowdy. Bringing the festivities to them was the best course of action.

Sakura hadn’t been surprised when Karin had asked her to be maid of honor. They had established this many years ago. Haku, however, had been shocked when Suigetsu had asked him to be a groomsman.

“Like... what am I supposed to do?” he asked on a video call. He leaned on the edge of his practice rink in Sendai. Sakura sat in her kitchen in her pajamas, nursing the remains of her coffee.

“Be happy for him?” she suggested.

Haku scoffed. “Impossible. I hate everyone.”

“.....Sooo... you’re not gonna do it?” Sakura asked.

“Of course I am. Don’t be crazy,” Haku chastised her. Sakura snickered, taking the last bite of her breakfast.

The reception had gone long into the night. Despite Karin’s claims that she despised everyone, between her, Suigetsu, and Mangetsu, they had many friends. And coming from skating backgrounds, most of them were divine dancers. It hadn’t taken much persuading on Haku’s end to get her on the dance floor. The DJ knew what he was doing, churning out infectious beats and raising the volume in all the right places.

But none of this would have been as much fun without Itachi. Even with her forever-partner-in-crime Haku there, it was somehow better that Itachi was beside her. She could turn and whisper to him. When they moved from place to place, he always hung back, offering his hand so they could walk together. And he didn’t resist when she returned to the table to pull him onto the dance floor with her. It didn’t matter that he wasn’t that good at dancing. 

What mattered was that he was there. And it made all the pinks pinker and all the lights brighter.

Karin and Suigetsu had rented out a bed and breakfast for their closest friends to stay in. Sakura’s shoes came off almost as soon as she walked into their room at the end of the night. Itachi closed the door behind him, still holding her bouquet. He placed it on top of the dresser.

“Do you think Shimizu-san will be alright?” Itachi wondered. He watched her contort as she began the arduous process of pulling every single bobby pin from her hair. Updos were always cute. In theory. Until it was 18 hours later and she had a migraine from all the hairspray and pins stabbing at her scalp.

“You turned him onto his side and I left a trash can by the bed in case he pukes. He’ll live,” she assured him. 

That made Itachi chuckle as he took off his shoes too. 

Itachi loosened his tie as he sat on the edge of the bed. 

“I always knew that you were social but... man...” Itachi trailed off with a sigh. Sakura’s reflection raised an eyebrow.

“What?” she prodded.

“....You’re popular. I mean, you’re the most famous person I’ll ever meet,” he concluded. The sounds sliding together a little.

He sat up straight when Sakura turned to face him. She crossed the room to sit on his knee, one arm wrapping around his shoulders.

The alcohol had softened the edges of everything. Made it easier to talk. Not that it was ever hard to say something to Itachi. With the way he always looked at her. Like he was always very aware of the fact that she was likely the most famous person he’d ever meet. 

“You’re the only Uchiha Itachi I’ll ever meet,” she replied.

That made him smile again. 

She bent her head to kiss him, giggling at the way her lipstick rubbed off onto his mouth. She rubbed it away with her thumb.

“Okay. Well. Being here with all my friends has got me thinking,” she told him. And even though he had been staring at her lips, he shifted his gaze up to her eyes when she said that. 

“Hm?”

She hesitated. Trying to find just the right words. She felt Itachi grasp her free hand as he waited for her. Like he always did.

“I’m... Well, I’m not done being the most famous person you know.... And I’m thinking that... that might mean that we don’t get to be coworkers anymore,” she slowly spelled out. Not because she thought he wouldn’t get it. It had more to do with the fact that she couldn’t really get her head around the idea yet.

She searched Itachi’s eyes. Waiting for some kind of reaction. She had been practicing reading his expressions. To guess what he might say. And to her dismay, she still sucked at it. She had no idea what he was thinking. So she asked, “What about you?”

“I like my job. I like Konoha,” he answered. And then his whole face softened as he added, “And I like you.”

“Me too... for all those things. But...” Sakura trailed off, sighing. “I... I like being on TV... and- This is going to sound weird.”

Itachi just watched her. Waiting. 

“I feel like being home has been.... almost like... a vacation. And now I’m ready to go back. To.... something. I just don’t know what,” she confessed. Her hand flexed, grasping the fabric of his sleeve before releasing it. Her fingers stroked over the little wrinkles she’d just made.

“What does this mean for us?” was what Itachi finally asked.

“Um. I mean... I kind of want to be with you forever and ever. That would be great,” she replied, a little startled. Breaking up had been the last thing on her mind. 

But a little part of her was even glad for that split second of misunderstanding. Because of the way that Itachi’s entire face lit up when she said that. 

He kissed her, despite her warnings that her lipstick would get everywhere. 

“I don’t care about that,” he whispered as he pulled her close.

What really moved Sakura to tears was dinner a few nights later. Drinks and food at Genma’s place, the TV playing quietly in the background. The usual talking and chaos that she had come to expect and to love.

And when she looked at Kiba to ask what he wanted for the next round of drinks, he was sitting there glaring at her. 

“What?” she demanded.

“You asshole. Just when we were getting used to you being home again,” he accused her. 

Next to him, Shikamaru held his menu suspiciously high to cover his face. She thought she heard him sniffling behind it.

“Stop it,” she ordered. As she felt the corners of her eyes begin to sting. 

“Quit it! You’re gonna make me cry,” Sakura warned them again. And then all that anger went to waste as she burst into big, ugly tears too. 

“I’m gonna miss you, you horrible lady!” Kiba howled, slapping her arm with the menu with every-other syllable.

“You idiot! I’m not going away forever! I’ll travel back and forth!” she snapped. 

“You better! Or I’ll- I’ll- I’ll break into your house and sell all your shit!” he threatened. 

Suddenly Shikamaru lowered his menu. “I’ll help him, I swear to god,” he hissed.

Itachi slowly scooted his chair back. He motioned with his hand until Genma looked his way. 

“... Can we get some more drinks here, Genma-san?”

“What’ll it be?” asked the bartender.

Itachi just pointed at the three human disasters. Shikamaru sat with his forehead on the table, shoulders silently shaking. Kiba and Sakura each had a fistful of each other’s shirt gripped in their hands as they shook each other.

“...The strong stuff,” decided Genma before he turned to the shelf behind him.

"Alright, staff. I want to keep this short," Tsunade called, clapping her hands together twice. People settled into their chairs. Some placing their folders on their desks. Others tucking their phones into their pockets.

"I know everyone has things to do. I just wanted to make one announcement."

"Alrighty," sighed Asuma, leaning against the wall, his clipboard tucked under his arm.

"And this will likely be a little upsetting, so why don’t you have a seat, Sarutobi-sensei," Tsunade added. Asuma declined with a wave of his hand. 

"It’s always a great joy to us when we see that our students have gone on to succeed in life. That makes it no less sad when they need to leave us.... maybe for a second time," Tsunade said.

Kurenai’s head swiveled around, scanning the room for Sakura. She stood in the doorway to the little staff kitchen, her arms crossed tightly across her chest. She met Kurenai’s eyes and gave a thin smile.

"At the end of the school year, Haruno Sakura will be leaving us. Chiyo-sensei has made a full recovery and will be serving as our librarian again."

“Did you know about this?” demanded Shizune, addressing Shikamaru. He rested his elbows on his desk, chin barely hovering above the surface. Sighing, he gave a deep nod.

An odd silence settled over the group. Thin and uncomfortable. Like the skin that formed over the surface of pudding that had been left out to cool.

Kakashi was the one to break it.

“What’s the plan, Haruno-kun?”

Sakura shifted her feet. This reminded her of when she had been in high school. Standing in the faculty room, explaining to the teachers why she had no plans to go to college. Only after a lot of persuasion had she decided to apply to some university. Something, as an adult, she was learning to be grateful for.

“FujiTV wants to hire me as a correspondent for figure skating. And I’ll be touring with Stars on Ice during the off-season,” Sakura explained, rubbing her hands together.

“.... How could you do this to me?” sighed Kurenai, shaking her head.

Sakura’s eyes widened. But when she finally looked Kurenai in the eyes, she found that the older woman was smiling.

“Asuma and I just cancelled our cable plan. Now we have to subscribe again so we can watch you,” Kurenai added. And then she was laughing as she got out of her chair to throw her arms around Sakura.

“What? Did you think we wouldn’t be happy? We’re always on your side, Haruno Sakura,” declared Kurenai as she rocked her back and forth.

The library had always been at the far end of the hallway, right next to the home economics room. Sakura remembered spending her free periods studying there, the smell of fresh cookies spilling over from the class next door.

She slid the white door open. It was empty, just as she had expected. It was too early for most students to even think about being in here. Sakura stood in the doorway, the neat shelves. There were rectangular wooden tables in the middle of the room. Matching chairs pushed in underneath them. Her plants sat on the window sill. 

The aloe plant had grown and then had offsets of its own that she had separated into different pots. One of them, she knew, sat in the art room. On the corner of Itachi’s desk. The other teachers always smirked at it when they popped in to talk to him.

Sakura reached over and flicked on all the lights. And then she jolted as several people popped up from behind the tables, bookshelves, and even the counter. There were teachers, of course. But there were also many students. Even some former ones that had graduated last spring.

“Surprise!” they all exclaimed.

Naruto held a huge banner above his head that read ‘We’ll miss you. Thank you for everything, Haruno-sensei!’ Someone had even tried (and failed miserably) to draw a skating boot. Orochimaru held the other end of it, smiling maybe even harder than the students were.

“This is the best day ever!” declared Naruto.

Sakura’s eyes returned to him. “Why’s that?”

“I get to call you Nee-chan again!” he crowded, doing a double fist-pump into the air. His half of the banner flopped to the ground as the room burst into laughter. 

Sakura stretched her arms over her head, letting a yawn erupt from her mouth. She had been holding it in for the better part of an hour. Someone slapped her on the back. She turned. It was Utakata.

“Nice job today, Haruno-san,” he greeted her.

He still had on the thick layer of makeup they had caked onto his face for the camera. On TV, it looked nice. In person, it looked a little like a noh mask. The first time she’d told him, Utakata had cackled so hard that he’d smudged his eyeliner.

“Man, filming took forever today. Are you headed to the train station? We could split a taxi. I don’t have that much stuff,” Utakata asked. 

Sakura glanced down at her watch. “I.... uh... already have a ride.”

Utakata nodded, waggling his finger in her face.

“Oh, boyfriend taxi instead. I see. I see,” he teased her. And he only stopped when she swatted his arm a few times. 

They parted ways outside the stadium. It was so late after all their meetings and final wrap-ups that not even the most hardcore fans were still around.  Some of them had taken to lingering around the TV station to ask for autographs or selfies. But there were none tonight.

Sakura pulled her hand out of her pocket to check her watch. She rose on her tiptoes to glance around. Just as she went to grab her phone, her car pulled up further up the road. She could see Akamaru’s wet nose sticking out through the cracked window as she walked up. She poked the tip of it and he licked her finger in retaliation. Giggling, Sakura opened the passenger side door. 

Itachi leaned his forearm on the steering wheel. And in the passenger seat stood a grey cat with green eyes. She chirped as she spotted Sakura.

“I missed you,” Sakura cooed as she scooped Mint into her arms. Giggling when Mint nuzzled against her cheek and throat. Sakura got into the seat and closed the door behind her. 

“Are you talking to Mint or me?” Itachi asked, sounding a little offended. Which she knew was an act. She had caught him speaking to Mint in baby voices on multiple occasions. But she still leaned across the seat to kiss him. 

“Both,” she placated him. As she pulled away, Itachi grasped her chin to kiss her again. 

When she finally leaned back, she turned around to wave at Kiba, Akamaru, and Shikamaru sitting in the back seat. Only Akamaru seemed happy to see her.

“Hey guys,” she greeted them.

“Ugh.”

“Let me out, I’m gonna puke.”

(the friendship was based on both of them wanting to [redacted] each other but unfortunately neither of them was brave enough to admit it for a while)

Ava vaguely knew who Sarah was the first time they met, bc she’d seen a bit of one of the Olympics that Sarah had competed in, but she had to look her up afterwards to make sure it was her

Sarah doesn’t know anything about ice hockey though, so she had No idea who Ava was lmao

they both compete, but ofc not in the same competitions bc yknow. figure skating and hockey.

Ava qualified for the Olympic team for 2018, and considered dropping out bc she felt bad about Sarah and her injury, but Sarah insisted that she go, because at least one half of the power couple should be there :)

her first major competition was the 2005 US figure skating championships, where she placed second in her category

the year after that, when she was 16, she was in the winter Olympics in Italy !! she got bronze, and this was definitely a defining moment for her, where she decided that this was what she wanted to do (but she still went to med school like her mom wanted)

she was then in the 2010 and 2014 winter Olympics, but suffered a career-ending injury in 2017 (and had to go back to medicine)

she also sometimes competes as part of a pair, with one Mr Crockett Marcel <3

Ava’s a professional ice hockey player for the nwhl (we’re going to pretend Chicago has a team lmao)

she played hockey when she lived in SA bc her parents wanted her to do a sport, but she wasn’t Like Other Girls, so ofc chose something that hardly anyone played

she took up ice hockey when she moved to Chicago bc it was more of a thing than regular hockey, and it offered her a chance to go pro, which was something she’d wanted for a while

she’s the goalie for her team and she’s Good <3