#ssmonth20

It’s not Sakura’s fault, neither is Sasuke’s, if they were to put the blame on someone, they would blame Kakashi, for not realizing that Sasuke’s interactions with Sakura, were different than Naruto’s interactions with the pink-haired Omega.

It started after waves.

In Sakura’s defense, she never thought of her teammates as part of her pack before that mission, she’s only ever had her mom and her dad, an Alpha and a Beta to command her as the Omega of the house and they were both the only members of her pack as far as she was concerned.

It was different for the males apparently.

The three of them Alphas and also sadly, orphaned and left without a pack, they threw themselves into pack dynamics at the very moment Team 7 was assembled. With Kakashi as the leader of the pack and a father figure so to speak, Sasuke as the second in command, Naruto as the Beta, even though he was an Alpha, and Sakura as the Omega.

Sakura never thought much of it when they scented her or when Kakashi and Sasuke growled at her and Naruto for stepping out of line, she never thought much of it when the boy protected her or sheltered her while on missions. Her parents were exactly the same and for some time, even Ino did some of those things. She rarely interacted with people outside of her pack and she didn’t know that people outside of a pack would never dare to scent Omegas that didn’t belong to them.

No wonder her parents were always angry after she came back from training.

A few days after waves, just a few days left before they could finally come back to Konoha, Sakura started to feel the clear signs of a Nesting Frenzy.

It should be obvious that it was going to happen. The only times she’s ever fell into a Nesting Frenzy was both when she thought she was going to lose her parents.

Once when she was three and her father went on his first mission outside of the village since her birth and once when she was seven and her mother fell ill with a virus from Kiri and had to take residence at hospital for two entire weeks.

Both times when members of her little pack were threatened in her eyes.

Seeing Sasuke, one of her Alphas, at death’s doors, triggered the feral necessity of having her pack close and safe. It should be obvious, but she didn’t understand what her body was demanding because she honestly didn’t consider team seven as her pack.

It started with the need of being close to Kakashi. He was her oldest and strongest Alpha on her pack and even though she already had a father, her instincts told her that he was the safest person to be around for what was to come.

Then she started to take care of Naruto; to feed him if he whined about being hungry, to take his arm if he was about to trip like the clumsy idiot that he was, she also started to sleep near him just to be sure that nothing could happen to him while asleep.

The fact that Sasuke decided to sleep near them was just a bonus.

They only noticed when she started to take their things.

“Naruto,” She demanded a few days into their trip, “Give me your jacket.” She wasn’t prepared for the three Alphas to stare at her as if she was being irrational.

“Sakura-chan?” Asked Naruto squinting at her with a confused expression on his face. Sakura growled at him in response, only earning a growl aimed at her from Kakashi, who didn’t appreciate Sakura threatening the Beta of the pack for no good reason according to him.

“I’m cold,” she lied looking directly at Naruto, “Please give me your jacket.” Her scent was pitiful enough for Sasuke to growl at Kakashi and Naruto eventually yielded and lend her his jacket.

It was big on him but not on her, it was a little rough, not soft enough to make part of a nest like she used to make back home, but it smelled like Naruto and for her Omega, it was enough.

Then she asked for Kakashi’s gloves, “I’m cold, Kakashi-sensei” She lied again, “Please give me your gloves” she made sure to release a distressed omega scent right away. She was so close to make her nest, she just saw a big three near them for her to lie her sleeping bag, she had Naruto’s Jacket to cover her and she managed to steal everyone’s pillows. She only needed her pack’s Alpha gloves to actually feel safe on her makeshift nest.

Kakashi didn’t give her his gloves, instead he smiled under his mask and handed her his jacket, “Do you want to lie down, Sakura-chan?” He asked, holding her by her shoulders and nuzzling her hair with his shin.

“Yes,” she sighed, “there’s a big sugi over at the clearing we just passed, I want to stay there.” Stated the pink haired girl melting in his embrace.

Kakashi guided her kindly to the tree while the boys moved their things with confusion clear on their faces “Sakura-chan is nesting” explained Kakashi, allowing Sakura to lie down and arrange their things as she saw fit.

“Nesting?” Questioned the blond alpha, too young and sheltered to be aware of the Omega’s pack habits.

“It’s a thing Omegas do when they feel threatened or when they feel someone on their pack may be threatened,” explained Sasuke, “Sakura just needs to be surrounded by our scents and everything will be fine by tomorrow, probably.”

“Just like that?” Questioned the Jinchuriki unsurely as he saw Sakura hiding under her sleeping bag.

“She probably won’t” Sighed Kakashi scratching the back of his head, “She doesn’t have her parent’s scents near so her nest won’t be complete with just our things,” he explained defeated. 

Obviously vexed by the fact that he had to admit that one of his precious packmates was also an estranger’s packmate and Omega.

“So, what do we do?” Asked Sasuke with a frown on his face.

“We can comfort her,” answered Kakashi with determination, “we may not be her original pack but she clearly recognizes us as pack or she wouldn’t be nesting right now,” he explained as if trying to convince himself, “she recognizes the dynamics of our pack and we can reinforce those dynamics so her Omega can be calmed by our presence near her.”

“Wouldn’t that mess up her dynamics with her parents, though?” Asked Naruto with clear concern.

Kakashi had the decency of looking just a little bit sheepish, Sasuke wasn’t as kind “She’s a Kunoichi,” he growled, “her dynamics were bound to change early, just like all of our dynamics changed.”

“But you can’t just decide that by yourself!” Screamed Naruto, in distress, “she’s vulnerable right now!”

“She couldn’t expect to be split up between packs for much longer!” Screamed Sasuke in response, “It doesn’t work like this! She’s ours or she’s theirs but she can’t belong with the both of us!”

“She doesn’t belong to anyone, you idiot!” Growled Naruto, “She’s her own person!”

Kakashi only intruded when they grabbed each other with the intention to physically fight, he couldn’t allow their little pissing contest to ruin Sakura’s nest, after all.

“As much as I hate this too, Naruto,” Intervened Kakashi, “If we leave her alone for much longer, she might go feral,” he warned them, “Sasuke is right anyway, shinobi do detach themselves from their family earlier than civil kids, Sakura will be fine, we will make sure of it.”

“What do we do then?” Asked the blond with a tired sigh.

“We have to scent her one by one,” explained the jounin, “it will be different for everyone but your instincts will tell you what are your dynamic with her in within the pack.”

“So, we just follow our instincts…” pondered Sasuke.

“Yes,” smiled Kakashi.

That was his mistake.

When It came to Kakashi it was easy to understand their dynamic; he was a father figure for Sakura and that was pretty much it. Same with Naruto; he was like a brother to her and after an affectionate round of hugs their dynamics where more than cemented.

It was different for Sasuke, it was obvious that they were not ready to acknowledge their dynamics at their age by the way Sakura wouldn’t even ask for Sasuke’s belongings for her nest and Sasuke would only feel the need to be near Sakura if she was in danger or if she happened to get too affectionate with Naruto.

They weren’t ready but Sasuke was following his instincts when he hugged Sakura close to his chest, they weren’t ready but Sakura was following her instincts when she presented her neck to the alpha she almost lost a few days ago.

They weren’t ready but Sasuke was following his instincts when he bit her mating gland, growling low from the back his throat as Sakura growled alongside him.

“Oh! Sasuke-kun! I didn’t see- wait why are you here? Shouldn’t you be at home?”

“Got bored.” 

“Ah...” There’s a moment of silence, only because Sakura’s contemplating on whether or not she should say this,

“Umm well... Do you wanna keep me company? I could use someone to keep me from being bored.” She gives him a smile. Sasuke doesn’t say a word but pushes the door open, allowing him to step inside and take a seat right next to her. She swears she can feel her cheeks getting redder, and prays Sasuke doesn’t see it. 

“What are these?” 

“Oh I’m just organizing some meeting notes from last week, and wrapping up some documents from last week’s photoshoot. I figured if I finish them earlier, then I won’t have to worry about them after I come back from my vacation.” Sakura answers as she flips pages of paper. 

“Hn.” She lets a few moments pass with just noises of paper rustling around filling up the room. 

“Well what about you? Aren’t you going to go see your family?” Am I being too nosy again? Sakura thinks to herself. But she dared herself to ask the question anyway.

“They’re busy.” 

“Oh I see. I guess the dorm can be a bit lonely when you’re there by yourself.” Sasuke doesn’t answer. Sakura ponders whether it was something okay for her to say. She quickly steers the conversation away.

“Hey can you help me pass that folder over there?” Sakura asks while pointing to a folder just in front of Sasuke, not too far from her but nonetheless she would have to scooch over in order to get it.

Sasuke grabs the folder and hands it to her, accidentally brushing over her hand in the process.

“Thanks.” A few moments pass more, and Sakura’s mind becomes more and more focused at finishing the task in front of her. Meanwhile, Sasuke stands up and walks out of the room. She watches his back as he exits and makes a turn towards the elevator. 

Her shoulders deflate, thinking, Did he feel uncomfortable being around me? 

A part of her feels relieved now that Sasuke is gone, she can actually focus on her task, but a part of her wishes he would still be here. After spending so much time with him at work, she’s gotten used to his presence and even though he doesn’t say much, it’s not half as bad. 

“Oh well..” She continues to put papers in separate folders and tucking them away in that corner she’s dedicated.

A few minutes later, Sasuke comes back to the room, this time with two bottles of coffee in his hand. He places one in front of her and holds the other one for himself. 

“Thank you.” Sakura can’t help but form a smile. She grabs the bottle. It’s so warm. She takes a few sips and relishes in the warmth spreading through her. Part of it is probably from the beverage, but she would agree that most of it is from his thoughtful gesture. 

Sasuke settles back into his previous spot and scrolls through his phone. 

She continues to do her work, while Sasuke just sits there, minding her own space but still close enough so that she can feel his presence. To her, it feels.. calming. Hours pass by and she doesn’t even know when she laid her head on her arms, thinking that she would only take a five minute break when she would actually pass out from the drowsiness. 

The next time she opens her eyes, the office is brightly lit by the morning sun.

“What time is it?” She glances at the clock. “WHAT?! IT’S 8AM?! How long was I out?” She straightens her back and feels a piece of cloth drop from her shoulders. Confused, she grabs onto it. I don’t remember ever having a blanket with me... 

Unbeknownst to her, Sasuke had draped a blanket on top of her. And boy he had to go to other rooms to find a blanket warm enough. 

She glances the room and finds that all the papers have been stacked together in front of her. One stack of paper filled with costume ideas, one stack of folders, and another stack of other documents to file. 

Did I do this? 

On the side, she sees a bottle of coffee, this time still full, with a sticky note on it that says,

Happy new year, Sakura.

She smiles as bright as the morning sun, what a good way to start the year.

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to be continued.

The boys are all settled in a chair, in front of a mirror, already changed into the appointed attires. Make up kits, hairbrushes, and all other equipments sit on the large table in front of them.

“Good morning.” Sakura greets Sasuke as she approaches him. They don’t usually talk much, but he will always have the courtesy to greet her with a nod whenever they meet or part.

“Morning.” Sasuke chimes back. She gives a warm smile as she picks up the hair brush and begins to tidy up his hair while putting on some hairspray.

The summer heat can be quite a bother and since this is a drink’s commercial, shooting it in summer time seems to be the perfect time.

It only takes thirty minutes for Sakura to fix his hair, and put some make up on him. He even lets her fix his collar.

“Thank you.” He would always give thanks to her whenever she’s done her work. She can’t help but fluster a bit.

“You’re welcome.”

Camera flashes rain through the spacious garden as the group poses in front of the camera., each holding a bottle of the advertised beverage. 

Sakura can’t help but think how gorgeous those boys look. But all the while they are being photographed, her eyes keep lingering on Sasuke. His attire a loose grey cotton shirt with sleeves that run to his elbows with the first three buttons unbuttoned, making it easy to see that toned chest of his, not to mention how the loose khaki pants seem to adorn his features even more. His dark raven hair has been styled–by her–in such a way so the ends stand up just a bit while the bangs covered the side of his face.

Sakura wonders how a person can be so attractive.

Twenty minutes into the photoshoot, the boys take a break to recover from the warm summer atmosphere. Sakura holds up a cloth to wipe Sasuke’s sweat away. She dabs the cloth on his nose, cheeks, forehead, and neck. She pays attention at how his sweat makes him glisten underneath the fluorescent light, how his eyes pick up everything that’s happening around them, so calculated, so perceptive.

“Thank you.” He says it again, every time.  

“Don’t mention it.” She returns with a smile before he returns to the set.

The human heart is a strange organ. It seems to be running on its own power, a rebel of the brain’s commands because she doesn’t know how or why–or maybe she does know why–but her heart’s beating at 120 beats per minute–which in fact is fast for a normal person.

What is this feeling? She asks herself. She has no idea what her own heart is telling her.

Little does she know, she might’ve developed a crush for this famous singer.

Why? He’s handsome, caring, kind, gentle.

She lists off the reasons in her head, all the way her eyes never leaving his form as the camera flashes several times. But will this end well? After all they’re working under the same company, and you know what people say about office romance.

“I’m f*cked”

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to be continued.