music
Day 1: Music
To say that Sakura was upset this Christmas Eve wouldn’t be too far off the mark entirely.
Disappointment had welled within her, and as a means to distract herself from such, she’d taken the holiday shift off of another medical ninja’s hands at the last minute, fully determined to drown herself in her work.
Her sulking had begun several days prior.
In their frequent exchange of letters, the one person that she wanted to spend Christmas with had promised her he’d come home for the holidays. For weeks she had decorated her small apartment, procured the best ingredients for a Christmas dinner, and scoured the whole village to find a present that he would most likely enjoy.
All of these turned for naught, the moment a hawk visited her windowsill armed with a piece of parchment informing her that ill weather had gotten in the way of their plans.
Now as she finished her hospital shift and trudged home clutching her coat for warmth as she braved the cold, she thought not just of how her plans were ruined but that, yet again, for another holiday, Sasuke Uchiha would be alone.
Sakura knew that her boyfriend wasn’t one for celebrating the holidays. The yearly festivities that had a long-standing tradition involving family had long since lost its splendor for him ever since tragedy became imbibed with his past.
Yet Sakura hoped, and hoped dearly, that she would’ve been able to at least make it a little bit more bearable for him.
She hadn’t prepared anything too over the top really, just a small dinner with candlelight, then afterwards they’d near her fireplace and enjoy a hot cup of cocoa which she would make sure was not too sweet to his liking. She’d give him a new travel cloak to keep him warm in his travels as a gift and she’d listen to his adventures on the road as the night progressed.
It was simple, wholesome, perfect
—and sadly officially canceled.
Now she’d have to settle with turning an early night in and succumbing to the tub of strawberry ice cream that she had stashed for emergency situations of heartbreak.
Perhaps she could try again next year. Surely the weather wouldn’t be as cruel to cross her twice?
Upon arriving home, Sakura slid open her apartment door and realized two things in particular.
One being that her door wasn’t locked.
And two, that meant that someone had entered her home uninvited.
Cautiously she stepped inside, weary of any wayward assailants. The inside of her home was dim— it seemed that someone had lit up her fireplace with a steady warmth. Nearing her living room, she saw that a small feast for two had been placed at the middle of her coffee table as well.
The sight itself incessantly confused her and she was just about to check the rest of her apartment in panic until she turned around and saw a familiar figure standing behind her. A figure that in fact seemed to be holding two steaming cups of what looked to be hot cocoa.
Sakura blinked—once, twice— convinced that what she was seeing was a delusion.
Sasuke approached her then, handing her one of the cups and kissing her forehead in greeting. “It took you long enough to get home.”
Sakura inspected the cup’s contents and took a tentative sip. She was pleased to find that he had added the small marshmallows that she loved.
She cast him an accusatory glance. “I thought you weren’t coming?”
He gave a shrug. “I wanted to surprise you.”
Sakura frowned. “I was very upset.”
Sasuke scratched the back of his head awkwardly. “I figured as much when you didn’t reply to my last letter,” he then took her half-empty cup and settled it down the coffee table with his, “how may I make it up to you then?”
Sakura raised a brow as if to ask if he was serious.
Sasuke merely raised a brow back only awaiting her answer.
She paused for a moment then, hesitant in voicing her wants. She recalled the nights her parents spent Christmas together and wondered if Sasuke would entertain a desire of hers that was so mundane and childish.
“It’s going to be a ridiculous request.” She said reluctantly.
Sasuke remained stoic, unphased. “Just tell me.”
Sakura bit on her lower lip. If he’d decline, she’d understand. She’d just deal with the embarrassment afterwards.
With one deep breath, she gave him her answer. “Dance with me.”
The boy looked at her, his brows raised. “Right now?”
She nodded. “Right now.”
Sasuke wasted no time. He grabbed her hands to encircle them upon his neck and pressed his body towards hers. He let her head nestle upon his chest and secured his arm upon her waist. They moved in slow gentle sways upon her living room floor, Sasuke leading them with tender grace.
He couldn’t help but chuckle. “This is all you need?”
Being so near him made Sakura feel the soft vibrations of his laugh and made her think of how she’d probably never tire of the sound.
She lifted her head and met his eyes to give him a warm smile.“All I need is you.”
“Do you think we need music?” He asked. Despite the ambient light, Sakura could’ve sworn a tinge of red colored his cheeks.
Sakura shook her head. “No, I don’t think we do.”
The crackle of firewood and the warmth of his beating heart as she leaned upon his chest was all that she needed to listen to. And to her, this music, this sound, this was enough.
“Merry Christmas, Sakura.”
“Merry Christmas, Sasuke-kun.”