Kairos | SasuSaku

0 5

The harsh winds ripped and pulled callously at their cloaks. It screamed in their ears and blurred their vision. Sakura peered through narrowed eyes, gritty from the sand swirling in a cacophony around them. All was sand. Miles and miles of it. The heat of the sun burned her head, neck, and back even through her cloak covering her from head to foot, which she secured more protectively over her mouth and nose (not for the first time).

Sakura startled a bit as Sasuke, as heavily wrapped in cloaks next to her, nudged her arm with a water canteen, beckoning her to take a sip. She did so gratefully, the cool water feeling like a healing balm on her parched throat. Passing the canteen back, she saw Sasuke take a swig as well before putting it away, saving what was left of their meager water (and food) supply for the rest of their trek across the stretching desert ahead of them. He then reached over again as she was tugging up the protective cloth, his nimble fingers making quick work of the knots and securing it firmly over the lower half of her face. She nodded her head in thanks.

Sakura once again cursed Kakashi-sensei in her head (something she had done one time too often since they had begun the trek). She thought back to the beautiful waterfalls and cool nights they had been spending their time passing by, each day finding them exploring new, foreign lands she had always dreamt of walking through. It had been three months since they had started their journey, and the only communication they had with the village was through letters sent through Taka.

Which was why they both had thought nothing when Taka had returned with a scroll attached to his leg, back from delivering one of the many letters Sakura sent to her parents back home. Sasuke had knelt to unroll it, and Sakura had peered over his shoulder at the official missive asking them to return not to the Land of Fire, but to the Land of Wind, to the Village of sand. There was no other explanation other than that the details would be explained upon returning, and to treat it as an official mission.

And so, that was what they did, after all, Kakashi-sensei was still their Hokage. They retraced their steps, stopping for breaks and supplies as sparsely as they could. The fact that they got a mission was not at all surprising. Even though they were out of the village, they weren't exempt from it. What worried her was the fact that he had called on them both, when there were many exceptional ninjas already in the village who would be able to make it faster than them to their neighboring village (if this really was an emergency situation).

She had shared her worries with Sasuke, and he had also agreed. But not exactly as Sakura was hoping he would.

"This is Kakashi we're talking about. He probably did it just because he could. As for asking us specifically, maybe that's because it's only something we can deal with." And he had leveled Sakura with a significant look, reminding her of her high status as a medic. That did make sense, since Tsunade-sama was retired, to call on her, in a medical emergency. Maybe Naruto and the others were already out on missions and couldn't be available, which made Sasuke need to return as well, since they were officially not really on a mission.

With that, Sakura had been comforted. Until they had to trek through the infamous desert surrounding the Land of Sand during a sandstorm.

Sakura sighed under her cloak, cursing Kakashi-sensei for what would definitely not be the last time.

***

Two days later found them at the main gates of The Village of Sand. Sweaty, exhausted, and covered in sand, all Sakura longed for was a long, hot bath. But alas, that had to wait, as at the sight of them, the gatekeepers had asked them to head to the Hokage tower, where someone would be waiting for them.

Sakura walked on sluggish feet, Sasuke next to her like a silent sentinel. She looked around the familiar streets, noting faces she knew, and while at it, the hostile looks and hushed whispers that were being directed toward them. She risked a sideways glance, taking in Sasuke's rigid shoulders. His expression showed none of his thoughts, although anyone but her might have missed his slightly clenched jaws, the frown that barely showed.