Close to heart.. far from arms...| Sasusaku

11. I will be your comfort

Sakura walked on the pavement leading to the bridge where team 7 usually met up. The sun dawned upon her, making her face shimmer like a goddess. The warmth crept upon her, making her smile in ecstacy. It had not been much time since team 7 formed but she loved their company, especially since it had her crush.

Naruto might have once been the most annoying thing she had faced, he still was, but she had started growing used to his presence.

Her eyes caught sight of a little commotion, a flock of academy students encircling someone. Understanding the situation, she ran over to them, scaring them away and tending to the little boy, hurt from their bullying. Tears stained his cheek, along with several scratches lining up on his hands and feet.

"Are you alright?" She asked, concerned as she lifted the boy up. He nodded in response and she offered him a short smile.

"Why were they hurting you?" She asked, gently brushing dust off his clothes. It was then, she took in his appearance. Dirty blonde hair and brown eyes, the boy was pale and meek. He was almost like Naruto, except the lack of his sunny disposition.

"Because I don't have parents. They say that they left me because I was weak," a tear escaped his eyes and Sakura wrapped her arms around him, as he sobbed on her neck. This was such a common situation for shinobi children. Aftermath of battles and war only left orphans with tragic memories. She had two on her team, and she had once been one of those bullies, though her assault was never direct. 

"Big sister," the boy pulled away, rubbing his eyes clean, "why did you comfort me?"

Sakura smiled, making the boy relax his shoulders, "Because I had once been one of those people who didn't."

"What changed you?" He asked, genuine curiosity reflected on his face.

"Someone important to me. He taught me how wrong I was, though not too softly." She stuck her tongue out and the boy giggled, "he was like you and he made me understand how it must feel to be lonely. Since then, that has been my goal, to comfort him as much as I can. To cease the loneliness in his heart." Her eyes gleamed, as she smiled.

"Big sis, you like him, don't you?" He sneered and she mentally sighed. 

Kids these days.

"Yeah... I mean not just because of that. I meant it for everyone who feels lonely. I just want to comfort two people most important to me. You are like one of them, but he is more stubborn. He never gives up and never goes down. If you want to be strong, be like him. Alright?" She ruffled his hair, and he giggled under her care as he nodded.

...

Reaching the bridge, she noticed she was alone. She leaned on the side of the bridge and started humming a tune, before she saw Sasuke approaching the place. Her eyes lit up and she scooted closer to him as she chatted. She was sure he was ignoring her as usual until he said, "You don't have to pretend."

She was confused as she gazed at the raven haired boy.

"Pretend what?"

"Pretend like you understand everything." He stated plainly. Understanding washed upon her. He was there, and he heard everything.

"I was not pretending, Sasuke. And... why were you there?" She asked, lowering her voice, as she usually did before the boy.

"Hn." He grunted, "It's not like you understand anything. You just try to selfishly get what you want."

That pissed her off. What did he know? She had tried her best to be empathetic to her teammates.

"If that's what you think, then so be it. Even if it's selfish, I know that's what I want to do. I don't want you two to be lonely, not even Naruto. And yes, I don't understand anything because you don't tell me anything. But it doesn't matter for I will never stop running after you."

His expressions darkened and he remained silent for a moment, before speaking up again.

"You can't do anything about me. You don't need to, because I don't need your comfort."

Sakura smiled, causing the Uchiha to raise an eyebrow at her.

"You will. It will be soon, Sasuke. But you will definitely reach out to me for comfort. I promise you."

He stared at her, eyes widening and she could swear she almost saw a blush, before he reverted back to his stoic facade and Naruto joined them.

And she fulfilled her promise. Sasuke grew used to her antics. He leaned on her for support when he exhausted his chakra or when he was too hurt to stand up on his own. He reached out to her, when the pain from the curse mark almost killed him. He entwined their fingers, even when she pulled away to lift him, he reached again, lacing their hands together. He fell in her arms of his own wish, for he found them suitable to comfort his pain. He got used to her warmth. Ad so did Naruto. Even in her chatter, she did chase away his loneliness. She didn't miss it, that she had once fulfilled her promise to Sasuke. 

And she was going to do it again. Chasing after him as she constantly felt his presence lurking around her, she was convinced to complete her mission. She was tired of chasing him from behind, so she might as well have tried to reach the place where he might end up. 

As she jumped from tree to tree with team 7, team 8, Kakashi and the ninja hounds, she was determined to get Sasuke back, even if it's by catching Itachi.