Fleeting
She watched him as he walked past, arm in arm with her. The woman he was supposed to be with. Her heart broke, unseen, unheard, unknown by him as he laughed, his blue, blue eyes shining with mirth and love. But… not directed at her.
She smiled up at him, and he reciprocated. A warmth filled her as she listened to him speak, staring into the eyes that were a contrast of his natural blue, and the dark grey of the reanimation jutsu. His hand touched hers briefly as he spoke, his words fluent and soft, catching her attention and refusing to let go.
She worked hard for the village, worked hard for that better future, one where the war she'd left behind wouldn't happen. It was her mission, the reason she'd been sent back here. She'd been one of the few left who'd be able to do it, without bringing too much attention to herself. She knew what she was supposed to do, but it broke her heart when he whispered, "Kushina" with such a loving lilt, that he'd once held for her.
"Sakura…" His voice had been full of wonder, of growing admiration and feeling. Her heart had burst at his utterance, and she'd smiled brilliantly. "Minato." His hand had come up to cup her face, thumb caressing her cheekbone. He was a ray of light for her in the darkness her life had become, and she didn't care that he was technically dead. Didn't care that after all of this, he would be gone. She lived only in these moments, as stolen and fleeting as they were.
His gaze passed over her, not really seeing her as their eyes met ever so briefly. But she couldn't feel any connection between them. No tug on the red string of fate, or whatever it was that drew two people together. Yet in that second, she allowed herself to pretend, to imagine that they were back in the future, that any moment now… His gaze moved on and the moment was gone.
He held her gaze, staring into her eyes as he moved his head down ever so slightly, brushing his lips lightly against her forehead, before pulling back. A sad smile was upon his lips, and she sighed softly. "Next time," he told her. But there wasn't going to be a next time.
She watched them go, knowing that his heart belonged to another. Tears fell, and she vowed to give her life if she had to, to make sure that he had the life he deserved, even if it wasn't with her. She turned away, missing him look back, a frown upon his face as he watched her go.
As they stood around her, readying the jutsu, she met his eyes and he smiled. It would be alright. Everything would work out. Somehow, she just knew it.