Our story: The blank period

"Welcome Home"

Sakura

November

*beepbeep beepbeep beepbeep beepbeep*

"Whatstheproblem, I'm up!!" confusion and a rush of adrenaline spiked through the rose-haired medic as she shot up from her desk, eyes wide, sending files and papers flying and falling all around her. The glazed and exhausted state of her sea-foam green eyes adjusted to the darkness around her, the light sounds of paper hitting the floor filling her ears once she quickly grabbed the alarm clock at turned it off. Crap. She'd fallen asleep for much longer than she'd meant to. Looking at the clock, It was almost midnight now, and she wanted to be at the gate by then. She'd have to run to make it, not that it mattered if she were a few minutes late. He was never there to greet her, anyways. "Stop that." she said to herself. "Don't go getting all negative nancy on me now, Haruno. Keep positive." she had a sad smile on her face, but she quickly shook it off and replaced it with a much brighter one as she stared down at the ticking clock. "Just got to clean up this mess, and we can be off."

  It was almost winter now. The chilly evening breeze danced around the quiet village in a whisper as the young kunoichi stepped off the stairway that led up, and into the hospital. Work had been running Sakura ragged since she and Ino opened up the Children's Clinic a year and a half ago. Of course, she loved her work, and if she was being honest, some days those children were the only thing keeping her going. But she knew she did much more than necessary on a daily basis, and everyone was kind enough not to question it. It was no secret that Sakura was keeping herself busy for many reasons, but only one in particular, the most prominent reason, that everyone was aware of. As she walked alone along the dimly-lit streets of Konoha towards the entrance of the village, she zipped up her red coat and pulled the fur-lined hood over her head. It wasn't super cold yet, but for some reason the confines of the hood made her feel safe. Not that there was anything to worry about. The village hadn't heard so much as a peep since the war ended a little over two years ago. It felt like peace had finally blanketed their small corner of the world, and she should be so grateful and happy about it. And she was. But she couldn't help but be a little selfish. She wanted to share this peace and happiness with him. To her, there was nothing that would make her happier. Ever. And she knew that was wrong, but she hadn't learned how to be happy without him. Not yet.

Sakura reached the small, stone bench that sat right outside the village gate and stopped walking, bringing her wrist up to look at her watch. Damn. Eight minutes late. "And so we meet again. Sorry I'm late, I must've pushed myself a little harder than normal today." she sighed as she took her usual seat on the cool stone, and ran her pale, small, delicate-looking hands over it. Who would've guessed these hands had saved thousands of lives, and punched holes in mountains? Sakura had made it a personal goal, a habit, a part of her nightly routine, to be seated on this bench, that held so much meaning, by midnight every evening. And this was the first night she'd been late in the last two years. She came here to decompress before going home every single night. Sometimes she would just sit in silence and stare up at the sky, sometimes she would cry, but most nights she would talk. Just talk. To the..bench. She knew she looked crazy, but in her mind, this bench was the closest thing to him she had, and when she spoke, she felt like she was speaking to him, and for some reason, like he was listening.

"I spoke to a little boy today. He lost his parents in the war and just recently relocated to Konoha from Suna. Gaara was close to him and told him about me and what we do here, and for some reason he agreed to meet with me. He reminds me of you. His name is Ruuka, and he's only 8 years old, but it's strange. He's got these eyes." she paused " They're wise eyes, just like you had. When you look into them, you can almost see the wisdom and maturity there. Like he's lived well beyond his age. I suppose that's what a tragedy will do, hm? Make you grow up before you're ready." she trailed off for a moment, leaning her head back against the cool stone, staring up at the stars. "Anyways, I heard him laugh for the first time today. Thanks to Naruto, of course! Bursting in and tripping over a chair in the most dramatic way possible." Sakura couldn't help the loving, fond smile that was playing at her lips "it made me think back to the first time I heard you laugh, Sasuke. And then I realized, I don't think I ever have...isn't that sad?"a heartbeat later,  tears streamed down and into her hair as she continued scanning the stars. "This ache in my chest won't go away. Since you left this time, it's been a different sort of ache. The longing is there tenfold, knowing..knowing maybe you feel it too.." She broke off and stopped talking out loud. She had to stop doing this to herself, especially right now when she was already so drained emotionally and physically. At least right now. There was always tomorrow.  Sitting silently, Sakura decided not to speak anymore and just lived in her memories for the moment, letting her tears fall freely, and silently.