Healing

Intentional Marks

Sakura woke to the warmth of the sun against her skin, and attempted to will herself back to sleep to enjoy it longer. Like a nightmare, her night came flooding back to her. Oh no, god no. She did not. She groaned and held her head in her hands.

She wasn't some stupid kid anymore, fainting at the mere sight of a man was unacceptable. Tsunade would actually have her head if she knew that she fainted. Sakura turned to look at the clock and her muscles seemed to kick into autopilot, she didn't have time for a pity party, she started work in four minutes. Good thing she worked ten minutes away.

She walked quickly to the clinic, she knew she had several reports to file before even thinking checking in with patients today. The air was crisp today, which was unusual in the land of fire, but welcome. It caused goosebumps to form and she crossed her arms, attempting to warm herself.

As she approached her office she admired the door: 'Haruno Sakura – Director'. It was even gold plated. Few things in this world made her happier than her work. Every day she was able to mold children for the better, she was able to heal them. There would be fewer adults on the path for revenge with her work. She opened the door and immediately noticed something out of place. A sack on her desk. Upon further inspection, it was a lunch. A lunch of all her favorites nonetheless.

Sakura placed the lunch to side, considering it was still morning and put herself to work. Yet, she definitely felt her lips quirking upward and it certainly was not because of the paperwork.

Before Sakura knew it, a few hours had passed. She stretched up and felt her body crack. That was better. Her brief moment of peace was interrupted by a rapping at the door.

"Come in!"

The door opened and in walked Sasuke, with a lunch container which resembled the one on her desk. Sakura raised an eyebrow, "Did we have a lunch planned?"

Sasuke sat down at the chair on the other side of her desk. "Well, you blew me off last night." He hadn't even looked at her yet as he began to unwrap and unpack his lunch.

Sakura's face went warm, "Welcome home, Sasuke. I never got to say it." He glanced up at her, smirking. That damn smirk.

"So, what brought you back?"

Sasuke frowned. That answer to that question was far more complicated than he wished to explain. "It was time," He sufficed.

Sakura pursed her lips and rolled her eyes. He was as mysterious as ever. The silence between them was both the most comfortable and the most awkward silence. One thing Sakura was sure of, was that she loved Sasuke. Whether she should love him, whether he should love her, or if he cared about her at all was all up in the air.

She hadn't truly interacted with him in years, but somehow, she knew him. He was familiar and warm to her. Considering his stoic and unfriendly demeanor, Sakura couldn't exactly figure out why she felt so comforted in his presence.

"So what do you do here? In the clinic."

Oh, so Sasuke makes small talk now. Interesting. Sakura attempted to stifle a small giggle.

"Well, we heal children, but not just physical wounds. The mental ones you often can't see. After the war, there was such an influx is traumatic disorders, especially in children. While we were united, the war wasn't pretty. It was gory and brutal. We, well initially I, wanted to prevent bitterness and rage toward the shinobi world and villages. If we healed the wounds early we'd prevent traumatized children from becoming people like...like..."

"People like me," Sasuke stated. It wasn't accusatory, but nonetheless the words hurt.

"I-I didn't mean it like that. You're different. You changed. You're- I'm sorry," Sakura sighed. She wasn't going to stick her foot in her mouth. She sat up a little straighter. "I do mean like you. And Naruto. And any other child who is forced to grow up to soon."