Happy Accidents

Chapter 32: Growth

Sakura got herself settled on the couch in the living room, grabbing the remote as she flipped through the selection of movies that were there. She couldn't decide what kind of movie he'd prefer; she wasn't feeling action movies, and she had a feeling he wouldn't enjoy something with romantic undertones either. The only option was simple: something that was more fantastical with hints of comedy.

The time it took for him to get firewood gave Sakura time to go over the evening's events. Him setting up a date like this had been entirely unexpected; he'd caught her by surprise and left her stunned. It explained why he'd been so cagey and avoided her most of the day. She would have quickly figured it out if he hadn't.

Her hand reached up to absently touch the pendant, twisting it gently between her fingers as she thought about him. Now that he was attempting, she realized he was charming. Awkward, but sweet. She heard him come in the back door, and she shot up, remembering that there was still the cake they'd yet to eat. She made her way back to the living room with the plate just as he was getting the kindling in the fireplace and getting the fire going.

"I can start it if you'd like," she said gently, kneeling beside him and setting a hand on his shoulder. She could tell he was almost hesitant to light the match by the faintest tremble in his hands.

While Sasuke always had the fireplace, he seldom used it. He was trying to make strides with her, but perhaps he was moving too quickly. Maybe this was too much for him. His mind got lost, going somewhere else entirely. It was hot. Burning. Scalding. He was screaming in agony, falling unconscious and waking up in a place he didn't know, in pain that he didn't want to remember.

He heard a far-off voice calling his name, but he couldn't respond to it. He just knelt there, hands shaking, face pale and covered in a cold sweat.

Sakura was there, watching as he seemed to disappear mentally. Worry gripped at her as she reached a hand forward to steady his shaky ones. "Sasuke?" She asked softly, feeling fear seize her. She'd known he was pushing himself too hard. This wasn't what she'd intended at all! She knew what kind of state he was in now; she'd been there herself, on more than one occasion. Moving in front of him, she reached a palm up to his cheek gently. "Sasuke, answer me, please." Her voice sounded desperate, filled with worry.

Sasuke could hear her voice, but he couldn't respond. It wasn't until he felt something warm against him that he was drawn back; Sakura, in her worry and fear, had wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling herself in close to him. He looked down to see her agonized face, crease with worry as there were tears in her eyes. His arms slowly wrapped around her, instinctively pulling her close.

"...Sorry," he said softly. "I didn't mean to scare you."

"Don't push yourself to make things up to me, please," she begged softly. "It's okay. I don't... I don't need you to push yourself, not if it's going to make you feel like this." She was in tears, feeling nothing but worry for him. She didn't like to see him in this state. It scared her because she cared so deeply about him.

He was silent as he listened to her pleas, glancing down at the discarded matches on the floor and the kindling in the fireplace. What was he thinking? He'd never been able to light a fire in the fireplace since he'd lived here. Not once. Maybe in the future, he'd be able to, but today? Not going to happen.

"I thought maybe... No, never mind. I'm sorry," he repeated. "You... you can try lighting it." Maybe if he let her light it, things would be okay. He could handle smothering it before they went to bed. That would be easy enough for him.

Sakura warily released him from her grip, her expression filled with worry. He took that moment to stand and move to the couch, letting her take care of lighting the fire. Even as he heard the matches, he closed his eyes, taking deep breaths to stay calm. Once it had caught, he was relaxed a bit more. He had good firewood at least; it didn't pop or spark loudly but simmered gently with tiny crackles from the flames. He watched as she got a couple of logs going, placing the protective screen over the fire before coming to sit with him.