#ssm15d6

うちはサスケ x 春野サクラ

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Moments of Change, The Second Exam...

Day 5-6-10: Test, Skin deep, Haircut

[The moments when Sakura blossomed and Sasuke began his fall toward darkness... Sakura’s sacrifice of her hair to saved her loved ones and the birth of Sasuke’s curse mark... Ah such powerful moments, right? Please enjoy and take care, okay?]

The first thing he noticed was the unusual path she was taking the go home after their missions. It wasn’t the same as always. In fact, it was on the complete opposite direction. Those streets would never take her home and, unless she had a compromise in such late hours after a full day of acting as a ninja; then that 12 year old girl was hiding something important from them. Something that was visibly affecting her for he was sure she had lost some weight lately and that she hadn’t slept properly either. The dark circles around her eyes had dark circles around them. Her nails were dirty and her hair- that oh so deliciously perfumed hair- was smelling just like shampoo. That was not the Sakura everyone knew. That was not his Sakura.

Before doing anything that could cause any misunderstanding later, the raven haired boy decided to ask her friends if they knew anything he didn’t. He asked Naruto but the blonde, as expected, didn’t even noticed she had stopped going to Ichiraku with them. He asked Kakashi, but the sensei didn’t really seem worried about that. He even asked Ino, but that girl ended up talking exclusively about herself and how the “billboard brown was just a crybaby”. None of those people were of any help in the end. They just slowed him down and annoyed him with stupid questions such as “ why do you care?”. That was certainly the most stupid question he had heard during his whole investigation. Honestly, how could he not care? It was Sakura that they were talking about. She wasn’t just anyone. Not anymore.

If the pinkette had gotten herself in trouble some years before, Sasuke wouldn’t have moved a finger to understand anything. He was never the kind of boy like Naruto that would butt in whenever he felt like. The Uchiha would, for sure, ignore the whole thing and keep walking on his merry way home. But that was before he met them. Before he really met them and became one of them. It was not like he would show his teammates anything but it was clear that he cared about them all. And of course it included Sakura. The girl who liked him and the girl who would always make him company in the mornings. The girl that was so attentions and that made everything to make his days go by with a certain joy he never thought he would ever feel again. That was the Sakura he knew. That was the Sakura that had become an important person for him. So how could he not do anything when she needed help? No, not doing anything would be unacceptable.

After uselessly trying to take some conclusions on his own, Sasuke decided to do something that, for sure, would give him some clues about what was going on. During the night after they had finished their daily practice and they all had followed their separate ways, the Uchiha decided to go to her house. For he believed her parents wouldn’t be of much help in discovering that secret of hers, Sasuke, as the good ninja he has always been, made his way in through her balcony window. As any gentleman would, he made sure to check if she was in the bathroom or anything before, effectively, entering the most private and personal of the places in the girl’s life. It was only when he made sure she wasn’t around that his hands, finally, started to wander around her stuff. And, as expected, he found some good evidences that Haruno Sakura hadn’t been there for some time already.

Her bed was made, her clothes were untouched and his sharingan was able to see that there was no chakra trace in the room. He heard no sound coming from the rest of the house and, if not for the girly decoration that was spread around Sakura’s room, the whole atmosphere would be really similar to a graveyard’s. The house seemed to be dead and ready to be buried. The Haruno family that lived there seemed to be showing no more traces of existence. Such kind of though brought shivers to his spine but, once he looked over her drawers, Sasuke saw the proof of her existence. And, for sure, it made things a lot better for the Uchiha. Standing there and proudly exposed in her room, the team 7 picture frame. More than any of the integrants of such clumsy team, Sasuke knew the pinkette was the one who cherished that photo the most. If something really irreversible had really happened, then that pic wouldn’t have been left behind for sure. Even if there were three other copies of that thing, Sakura’s own copy was hers and no one else’s. She would never let anything happen to that picture. She would never let anything happen to their memories. And that, for sure, made the Uchiha feel a little better and, indeed, more relaxed while searching for more possible clues around her room. Unfortunately, this whole relaxed state he was found made him forget that, the room where he was at, belonged to a girl. And, as any girl, Sakura has some private things…

Admiring the pic with his eyes was the one thing that broke down his guard. With both of his hands, the boy, using a bit of his brute force, opened one of her drawers. At first he didn’t really notice anything strange but, when his eyes started to look inside for any possible note, something inside of his head finally connected the object to its meaning. His cheeks blushed immediately and his body started to shake and he closed the drawer with more than necessary strength to push a big rock aside, making the whole thing shake and drop a small box on the wooden floor. What he saw inside that drawer would never leave his mind. No matter how much he tried or how long passed, Uchiha Sasuke would never be able to look at Sakura again without remembering about bunny stamps. Cute, little and white bunny stamps. The raven haired boy would never forgive himself for that. Fortunately, for him, a new problem was about to come and occupy his mind. It would, certainly, bring his ninja side back to his personal mission.

“ Sakura!? Sakura, is that you?”

The sound of steps were quickly getting louder. Apparently, the Haruno family was at home. He gulped and, for an instance, running away crossed his mind. Unfortunately, Sasuke found no time for that.

“ Sakura! Are you there!? Sakura a-”

The door abruptly opened, revealing a blonde mother and a star shaped hair father. Both with stunning green eyes as beautiful as Sakura’s. But, in their case, those eyes were reflecting a huge disappointment.

“ oh… Sasuke… It’s you.”

“ yes. I’m sorry for invading your daughter’s room, Mr. Haruno… I-”

“Did she send you here? Have you seen her lately? Is she okay?” Mebuki said, approaching the boy and holding his hands. Apparently, none of them really cared about the whole invasion thing. Those two were certainly worried about their little girl.

“ s-she didn’t send me here… I came because I was worried.”

“ didn’t she show up at the morning practice?”

“ she did. But she’s just…” He sighed. If there were people who would understand what he was about to say, those people would be her parents. “ she’s just not herself lately… She is… Different. Then I thought I could find out something in her room. I’m sorry for entering through the window.”

“ it’s okay, son… You’re family too so… You can enter through the door as well.” Kizashi said, giving Sasuke a weak smile. No silly jokes and nothing unusual was said. Something was definitely wrong.

“ … What happened to her?”

“ well… I think you more than anyone have the right to know… Okay… It happened last week. We had a huge fight because of her manners and because of how unorganized she is and, I don’t know how she acts around you but, here at home, Sakura is certainly a tomboy. Her room is always a mess and” she sighed. “ she’s not feminine at all… I feel like I’ve raised a boy sometimes…”

A hand went to massage her temples and, without that worried mother noticing, there was a soft smile playing in the Uchiha’s lips. It was not like he was happy that those two had had a fight or anything but, somehow, it reminded him of his family and of the times when he and his own mother had those discussions. Most of the times he was the wrong one but he knew how sad his mother would be whenever such things happened. Mikoto was certainly a headstrong mother just like Mebuki and, just like the Uchiha matriarch, Sakura’s mother was also desolated about that fight. A fight that was caused by such stupid reason but a fight with her daughter, nonetheless. A fight that was probably a routine for what he could notice in her way of talking. But, at that time, a fight that made her daughter leave her house. And that was why it hurt that much.

“ Sakura then said she could do well alone and then she left home… I knew I shouldn’t have yelled at her or being so rude… It’s just clothes, after all… And now I don’t even know how or where my baby is…”

Tears finally started to roll down her cheeks and the resemblance to the way Sakura cried was impressive. Mother and daughter sharing the same feelings and certainly the same tears. Those two were really alike and seeing Mebuki like that was also breaking Sasuke’s heart. She was a mother like his mother too. She was worried about her daughter like Mikoto was worried about her sons. Not remembering about his own family in that case was impossible. Even if he hadn’t really left home, Sasuke could see the suffering of the Haruno mother. And, as the boy he is, he could not let that go on. He could not let that mother crying anymore. He was going to do something. You bet he was.

“ forgive my wife, Sasuke… She’s just-”

“ I got it… I know she’s worried and all and… I’ll go talk to Sakura.”

“ are you going to bring her back, dear?”

“ Hn… I’ll try. But, better than me, you know how stubborn she can be.”

“ yes… That girl won’t ever admit she’s wrong.”

“ …. I’ll do my best, Mrs. Haruno. I promise.”

With a wide smile on her lips, Mebuki threw her arms around Sasuke’s shoulders and hugged him tightly. He could feel how thankful and guilty she was feeling and how much hope she was putting in his words. He could feel she was counting on him to bring her daughter back. And, with such huge responsibility in his hands, Sasuke knew he could not fail. He had to bring Sakura back home. No matter what, he had to make her and her mother apologize to each other.

Once the tears and the hugs ended, the boy was ready to go. He was going to start his search for the pink haired girl immediately and he could not waste any more time. Mebuki prepared a small bento box and some clothes for Sakura just in case their plan failed. He left the Haruno’s- through the door, of course- and started his search. The first thing he did was following the path she would take after their missions ended. He asked some people who were closing their shops and going home after a long day of work but none of them had seen her. He tried his sharingan but it was of no use. It took him hours of searching and a lot of failed ideas until his memory finally remembered about a silent place around that area. It was a place that, during the spring, a beautiful cherry blossom tree would bloom. Sasuke knew it was just a guess but, somehow, there was something telling him she would be there. And, indeed, she was. In the middle of that autumn night, a single cherry blossom could be found on that park. It was time to take her home.

When he arrived there, Sakura was frustratedly trying to make some fire out of the friction between her kunai and a rock. It was certainly a good initiative and the fire would surely come after some good hour of trying. He noticed the stained tears in her cheeks and he saw the few things she had brought with her for that camping experience. A sleeping bag, some ninja tools, personal hygiene products and a bit of food, all organized in between the tree roots. At least she could say she had learned one thing or another about behaving more like a girl in that whole thing. The only thing left to be learned was using that experience at home. When the Haruno girl was almost giving up due to her impatience, a mysterious fire came from the sky and started to burn the stakes she had prepared for it. The girl, after recovering herself from such unexpected thing, knew she hadn’t been the one who had lit that up. And, for the first time in her life, having her beloved Sasuke-kun standing right in front of her didn’t feel that good. She already knew what was awaiting for her.

“ Sasuke-kun…” She faked a smile and he realized it at the same time. “ what are you doing here?”

“ shouldn’t I be asking you the same question?” He looked coldly at her, crossing his arms.

“ I-I… I’ve decided to go camp-”

“Knock it off, Sakura. I already know what happened.”

“ you do?” She looked ashamed at him. If there was one thing she didn’t want to happen was getting him involved in that problem.

“ Hn. Your mother is worried about you. Go back home.”

“ no… I can’t go back…”

“ of course you can. Just because you had a stupid fight with your mother, it doesn’t mean you can simply run away and live in the trees right now.”

“ … When you say it like that, the whole thing seems to be really stupid, right?”

“ Hn, it’s because it is. Stop being so proud and go back home… They are waiting for you.”

When she heard those words coming from his mouth, Sakura couldn’t help but feeling a sharp pain in her heart. She knew she was probably looking like a spoiled girl in front of him. A kind of girl who doesn’t appreciate the luck she has for having two parents who worry and care about her that much. For having people waiting for her at home. The girl was really embarrassed of herself at that moment for looking so selfish in front of him when she knew about all the suffering he has gone through. She knew it was too painful for him to be there and remember about his own mother when he knew she wouldn’t be at his home when the whole thing ended. It was not fair with him. But it was also not right for her.

Biting her lower lip and gripping the hem of her traditional red dress, the pinkette couldn’t keep looking at his eyes any longer. She drifted her eyes towards the fire and imagined all of the reasons she once had for running away burning in that bright fire made by Uchiha Sasuke. The girl remained in silence as she hoped he would simply leave her be. She didn’t want him around. She didn’t want to have to lie to him. She didn’t want him to think she was a poor little girl who would do something as stupid as running away just because of a fight. She didn’t want any of that to happen and, indeed, it wasn’t. But that silence of hers had nothing to do with it. Too bad she couldn’t see it. Fortunately he would show her. He would show her he understood.

The raven haired boy broke the silence with a loud and defeated sigh that escaped his lips as he sat by her side. He placed the box prepared by Mebuki in front of her and, acting as if he had a lot of time to waste, Sasuke finally started to talk.

“ look… My mom and I used to fight too… She would always tell me to stop bothering my brother and I hated whenever she said that… I mean, I wanted to play with Itachi… He… He was my best friend.” He looked at the fire, feeling the memories of his happy days burning in the red color of those eyes. Sasuke clenched his fists but, still, he kept going. “ my mom would always tell me to do my homework and to study but… The only thing I would tell her was that I wanted to play… And that I didn’t want to play alone.”

“ Sasuke-kun…” She looked at him, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. It was all her fault.

“ she wanted the best for me and now I know that… I graduated as the best in our class because of that… But we are not talking about me, right?”

“….”

“ Sakura… It’s normal for us to fight with our parents… I know that. But we can’t let these fights break us apart. I never did it and I won’t let you do it. I won’t let you regret losing your mom while she’s still alive.”

“ I-I’m sorry….” She cried. Ashamed tears rolling down her cheeks. “ I have no right to complain, right? I have no right to do this in front of you, or Naruto or Kakashi-sensei. I’m sorry for being so insensible.”

“ Sakura. Yo-”

“ I had a fight with my mom because she told me I couldn’t live alone and then I wanted to prove her wrong…. I knew I couldn’t tell you about this because I knew it was something stupid. I wasn’t thinking about you, I wasn’t thinking about her or about my dad… All I was thinking about was my pride… I’m sorry… I’m really sorry for being so annoying and for not understanding the meaning of being alone… I do miss her… I’m so pathetic.”

Feeling her own heart breaking into two pieces, Sakura hugged her knees and buried her face in her legs. Never before she had been so ashamed as at that time. She knew she didn’t deserve to be understood at that moment. She knew she shouldn’t complain about that. She knew she had no right to show him such weak feelings. But she couldn’t hold them back anymore. Sakura couldn’t help but missing her mommy and daddy and they were just some blocks away from them. She had no right to be that sad in front of him and she was sure he hated her at that moment. But she was wrong. She was deadly wrong.

“ Sakura…” He said, softly placing a hand over her head. “ it’s okay… You know, just because I’ve lost my parents, it doesn’t mean I hate everyone who has them… It’s not your fault they’re not here anymore… You don’t have to understand this pain I have. Don’t be ashamed for having a father and a mother.”

“ but, Sasuke-kun…” She looked at him. Her hair falling in front of her eyes. “ You probably think I’m a terrible person now…”

“ no I don’t…” He said, tugging her locks behind her ear. “ you’re just a girl who had a fight with her mother… You have the right to do this just like all the other girls with mothers… Neither Naruto nor I nor Kakashi will be mad at you for that.”

“ but… but…”

“ no buts… It’s okay.”

“ I-I’m so sorry…”

“ Hn, why are you saying that to me? Your mom will love to hear that when you go back home.”

“ you think so?”

“ I know so…”

At that moment, Sasuke gave her the warmest of the smiles he has ever given anyone. He understood how she was feeling and he could never blame her for that. As her friend, it was his duty to worry about her. It was his duty to take care of her no matter what. He would listen to her if she needed to talk about her family. He would take her home if she needed company while her parents were busy. He would do anything for her even if it would remind him of his family. Of course it would hurt him a little but it would also be good to remember about his good times. It would be good seeing her being happy with what he lost. He would be happy for her. He would be happy for her to have the family he lost. And he could only do that because that girl was Sakura Haruno. An annoying girl who was important in his life and whose smile was powerful enough to make him happy. He could not let that smile become as deep as the skin.

“ thank you, Sasuke-kun… You’re the best!”

“ Hn. Now come on… I’m taking you home.”

“ I-I can’t go home like that… My mom will think I haven’t done a good job on my own.”

“ tch… So stubborn…” He sighed. “ come to my house then… You can sleep there.”

“ really?”

“ yes… I’m not letting you sleep on the streets.”

“ thank you again, Sasuke-kun!”

“ Hn… Let’s go home…”

“ yes… I’m glad my mom sent me some clothes… Pajamas, socks… Even some underwear…”

“ Hn.”

Also Available on https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11352624/1/What-Love-Is

Summary: Sasuke always believed that girls had nothing but cooties. His mother changes his opinion on that. So when Sakura asks to use his crayon, he gratefully gives it to her.

Rating: K

Disclaimer: I dont own Naruto

Sasuke never saw what others did in women. As a child, he thought of them as cootie carrying, drooling creatures, who adored the color pink, a color he despised greatly with a burning passion. When a girl even touched him, he would raise his hand to ask the teacher if he could go to the bathroom, just to have an excuse to wash his hands clean from the disease they were passing on. It was like the apocalypse, only worse with all the girls swarming around him, grabbing his clothes and pulling him towards their different directions. It was horrible. When he had told his mother one day after attending school at the academy, his mother had let out an amused laugh and pinched his cheeks affectionately.

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For him, their childhood was a patchwork quilt of memories—some dark, some light, some happy, most sad. He remembered hating everything so much that just the act of living, was revenge on existence itself. Come and get me, he would think grimly, I’d like to see you try.

And in the midst of it all; Naruto and Sakura. A weak, watery ray of sunshine in an otherwise bleak life. They were a tether—his tether—to a world that no longer made sense. So when Sakura one day said, “That night…when you left. Did you think my love for you was just skin deep?”

He was truly surprised. If Sakura was his tether to this world, then that night was a tether to his humanity. “Why would you say that?”

She shrugged. “You—I…”

A sigh.

A pause.

“I just want you to know that—even then, stupid as I was, I loved you,” she said finally, steel in her voice. “And I always will. Always.”

His eyes, usually glittering with remorse, now shined with something soft, a ghost of a memory, a smile. He put his hand on her’s. “Thank you, Sakura.”

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SasuSaku - Skin Deep, by Aurora Lynne

~ She’d do anything to take the pain away. “Please, come back to me...”

SasuSaku Month 2015

Week 2: Beginnings Day 6: Skin Deep

She watches him writhe in pain, the contorted features on his face telling her that he’s burning and all she can do is sit there and watch. She’s helpless to help him, for the fifth time she replaces the damp towel on his forehead with another and pretends it actually makes a difference.

She still feels his grip, strong on her hand as he held on to her. She still hears his screams resonating through the forest when all she could do was stay close and hold on to him while tears stream down her cheeks.

Her eyes are red and she’s not sure she could manage to shed another tear.

She sits, hands on her lap she fumbles with her dress as she watches him closely hoping for him to awaken.

The chakra that surrounds him is suffocating and heavy and the mark on his neck stands there as a curse.

She can’t forget the voice of that terrifying person in the forest, his threat that bordered on a prediction. “He will seek me out.” He said a sinister smile spreading across the lips. “He will seek out my power.” And she was afraid, terrified of him being right.

Her eyes stare at Sasuke’s form, a worried expression on her face. All walls are down then and she’s never seen him look so vulnerable before. Like an angel fallen from heaven, he looked lost and his perfection only skin deep.

A grunt of pain escaped his lips and she rushed to his side, biting her lips to keep from sobbing. “Shhh.” She shushed placing a hand on his cheek. “I’m here, I’m here.” She repeats again and again, although she’s sure he can’t hear her.

She’d do anything to take the pain away and the realization she can’t is almost enough to break her. “Please Sasuke-kun…” She pleads her voice breaking as sobs escape her lips.