Work Text:
夜桜
"Good morning, Captain Yamato!" her voice came from somewhere behind a huge pile of scrolls and paper on her desk, cheerful as ever.
He couldn't help but smile, "Good morning [Y/N]! Anything I can help you with?"
There was some shuffling and a low bang before he helplessly watched the entire stack slowly fall to the floor, the rustling filling the entire room. Once the last piece of paper lay on the floor he had a good view on [Y/N]‘s impassive face indicating that this was not the first time it had happened that day. She must have felt his eyes on her, her head turning to look at him a genuine smile appearing.
"Kakashi will see you in a moment. He has something to work through first. Can I get you anything?" Deliberately ignoring the chaos around her, she asked the same question as every time he dropped by - which was fairly often in recent weeks. This time, he declined the offer, "Is it that book again?"
[Y/N] cocked her head, "The newest volume just came out. I was asked to give him an hour in between meetings."
Yamato sighed before he crouched down and began to pick up some pieces of paper and if only not to look at her all the time. The way the dimples on her cheeks appeared every time she smiled had taken in somewhat by surprise. He needed a moment to regroup. That moment was short-lived when he heard her curse lowly before her hands appeared in his field of vision, taking the items out of his hands.
"You don’t have to clean up for me. Not when I am the one making the mess in the first place!" A giggle followed, making him look at her against his better judgement. She was on her knees next to him, way closer than he anticipated, collecting every last piece, her delicate fingers brushing his hand at one point.
Out of instinct he withdrew it at once way harsher than he had intended. Thankfully she did not seem to notice and before he could dwell more on this he heard the door behind him being opened.
Without missing a beat he took this as his cue and got up at once, passing a snickering Kakashi on his way into the office.
The door behind him shut with a loud thud echoing in the dark hallway. He did not bother to turn on the lights when he got rid of his jacket and headband on his way to the bedroom, not caring where they fell for once. He slumped into a chair and leaned back to stare at the ceiling.
It‘s been a strange day. The measures to rebuild the village after the war were almost complete as were the housing projects. Only the diplomatic relationships remained to be mended which took mostly one thing: time.
When he had been summoned to Kakashi‘s office he had expected to be sent on yet another escort mission or to deliver a scroll. Maybe build another house but not-
A growl escaped him and he massaged his temples. He knew his friend could read him like an open book despite his years of training, his late introduction to real human interaction. Or maybe that was the exact reason. They had grown up side by side for a good portion of their adolescence. Like he was able to read Kakashi, the other seemed to know him well enough to provoke him like that. To coax him out of his shell. It wouldn't be so bad if it would be just between them. But it was clear that this was a more public setting.
With a grunt he got back up and headed into the bathroom. Maybe a shower would help him clear his mind and come up with a plan of action. The hot water felt nice and eased some of the lingering fatigue from weeks of building homes. Yet, for once it did not help with the circular thoughts running through his mind. He cursed himself for waking into this trap - almost willingly.
When he let himself fall into bed he knew that sleep would not come easy. Not when he had to find a way out of the bet his friend had dragged him into.
He entered the room at once, a gush of cold wind dancing through it, making the mountains of paper rustle, somehow reminding him of the forest. Stopping in his tracks he was taken aback by the sheer amount of scrolls and papers all across the tables, shelves and even part of the floor. There were binders and books too, scattered as if someone had been searching the office in a hurry.
"Good morning! Gimme a moment and I am with you!" The sudden voice made him jump and he quickly searched the room for the source. There was not a single person to be found, making him uneasy.
Coming here in the first place wasn't up his alley at all. Normally he would wait for the orders brought to him, but this time he had been summoned explicitly, giving him no other option than to come over.
There was a low bang and a mumbled curse on the far end of the room, right between two shelves. Another bang, louder this time, and he watched the contents of the table between them slowly fall to the ground, revealing a hunched figure behind it, scratching their head. When they lifted they looked up, their eyes met and he had to take a step back, the sheer intensity unexpected. A smile spread across her face as she gave him a small wave and walked around the shelf to reach him.
"Sorry for the wait. I was looking for the scrolls you may need for your upcoming mission," her voice was warm, gentle and when she stopped in front of him, perking up he couldn't shake the feeling that she looked behind the mask, right into his soul.
It was unnerving yet somehow pleasant.
"You are the one who requested me?" His throat felt dry.
The woman shook her head, "I am afraid not. I just carry out the Hokage's orders in terms of paperwork."
"I see…" they fell silent and he felt stupid for not being able to carry a normal conversation.
To his relief she didn't seem to mind when she turned and walked back to a seemingly arbitrary workstation, picking up a stack of papers she brought over to him, "It may be a moment or two before you will be summoned, Here are a few documents for now, so you can ease into it."
"Thank you…" he just took the entire stack, unable to look away. Her smile was welcoming, the way her eyes shone making it hard for him to concentrate.
He would come by almost every day for a few weeks, always masked, his status still unclear. The mission in front of him was asking a lot of him but he was determined to rise to the challenge and prove his worth to the village. Every day he thought he had read everything there was on Team 7: Their missions, the Ninetails and the connection to the missing Uchiha boy. And every day the woman in charge of the mountains of papers greeted him with yet another stack, beating him to it.
Every day she welcomed him in her unique way, always buried in her work.
Literally.
She was the first person to stop even for a moment to acknowledge him and his presence, fully dedicating her attention to him. It irked him to ask questions, to converse with her but his tight schedule and fear of making a fool of himself would not allow it. That was until one day she would tell him that the previous meeting was still not finished.
"May I get you something? I have tea if you'd like," she inclined her head and waited, her eyes on his mask.
"Thank you. I am fine."
Her eyes grew big for a moment, "Apologies… I assume you're not allowed to take off the mask while on duty. I forgot…"
"That's not…" he stopped himself, fists clenched. "I just don't want to be causing you more work." He gestured vaguely at the room, bursting at the seams.
She followed his hand with her eyes before she giggled, "Despite the looks of it, it has been worse before I started to organize things. And believe me, making you some tea is neither work nor inconvenient."
He rolled her words over in his head, unable to believe them. Yet, against his better judgments and probably against protocol, he finally replied, "A cup of tea would be nice. Thank you."
The smile she flashed him enlightened the entire room, piercing his dark heart, which gave a promising thud.
She beckoned him to follow her to the back of the room where a small kitchen was hidden, complete with stove and fridge.
"Do you live here?" The question was out before he could stop himself. Cursing silently he knew he was too comfortable which wasn't great to say the least.
She paused in her movements, muffled laughter shaking her. The sound made his skin prickle and relief flooded his mind. He liked that sound. A lot.
Grateful for the mask he felt his face warm up as she turned a bit to smirk at him, "I like my work but I prefer to sleep in a bed and not between scrolls. Hurts my back." With a nonchalant shrug she returned her focus to the tea in front of her, almost missing his laughter, barely covered by an attempt to cough. She did not turn but the momentary pause in her actions did not pass him by.
Easy.
It was wonderfully easy with her. So for the first time since he was a child he let himself relax a little. When he took the cup of fresh tea from her - the smell reminding him of a sunny afternoon - he somewhat felt compelled to just get rid of the mask. To his surprise the woman took her own cup and turned to walk away.
"Behind here no one can see you so I assume you can drink in peace. I am up front if you need me," with another smile she turned a corner and left him there.
Touching the material that covered his face he began to wish to be someone else.
The next day she was nowhere to be seen, no one greeted him upon his arrival. He did not know what to do so he walked over to the window and waited. The office overlooked the village, busting with life, just like the forest around it.
It didn't take long for the door to be thrown open and a slender frame to enter the room in a rush. He turned to look at her, her cheeks flushed from the run, her gentle eyes sparkling with something like mischief. When she saw him standing there, she straightened herself and inclined her head, "I am sorry I wasn't here to welcome you. I had to run some errands and got lost on the way when I noticed the first cherry blossoms…"
"Cherry blossoms?" He looked at her in wonder yet the mask made it sound like he was chiding her.
She just hummed and got rid of her coat, "I know it's boring… I still wish to go to the festival once…"
Something made her retreat into herself, the way she began to work through some stacks of paper, obviously trying to distract herself. He did not know why yet but he did not wish to see her like that. The short glimpse at her innermost self, however brief, made him swallow hard. He should keep quiet. Keep his distance. But he didn’t. Couldn’t.
"I don't… I don't think it's boring… I like… plants," he tried to save what little he could.
She looked up, surprise clear on her face, quickly replaced by her usual soft expression, "You don't have to say this to be nice. It's alright. I know I am not… exciting."
Only the door to the office being opened at that exact moment saved him from telling her that he thought her indeed exciting.
This would be the last time he would come into her office with his mask on. To her it must've been like he had vanished. Or so he thought.
When he came in the next time roughly a week later, wearing usual shinobi clothes and no mask he felt like he could start anew, fresh in a way. He felt his heart beat faster when he walked into the room, a mess as usual. There was a low thud from the corner, followed by a creek, a loud curse and the rustling of what sounded like a big pile of paper, followed by a bang. He quickly moved over at once, rounding a corner to find the woman buried beneath documents of all kinds, a chair in pieces next to her.
She sighed loudly before she looked at him, an apologetic grin on her face, "Forgive me for not meeting you up front… Good morning, the Hokage will see you in a bit. May I get you anything to pass the time?"
Instead of answering he got to his knees and began to collect the papers and scrolls around her to try and help - or to only distract himself. Yet, it was futile when he heard her laugh in that wonderful way of hers and he felt her hands on his, gently taking the documents from him. The softness of her skin made his hands tingle in the most beautiful way, his heart skipping a beat.
"Thank you. I appreciate your kindness. But you don't have to clean up my mess," he must have imagined her tone to have a rough edge, her fingers lingering a moment longer than necessary.
"You have always been kind to me… it's the least I could do," and just like that he blew his fresh start. Her eyes grew round from underneath the scroll when she recognized his tone, yet she remained silent.
He stretched and lifted the parchment from her head, placing it next to him on the floor, only then questioning himself. What was he doing? He shouldn’t be so close. Not his physical body, not his mind. Yet, it felt so natural to him in a way.
They were looking at each other, unable to say anything for a few moments. His thoughts were racing, while he felt himself slowly drown in her gaze, subconsciously leaning forward. She seemed to mirror his motions, her lips slightly parted.
When he heard the door to the office being opened he was simultaneously relieved and annoyed. The moment passed, but he was unable to move until he heard a familiar voice call for him, "If you have so much time to sneak away with my assistant, you have time to get into my office, Captain."
He mumbled an apology before he got back up and entered the office, not daring to look back.
It's been a long day. The mission was a success, the kids back home and still he felt restless. The long shadows of his apartment seemed too much right now which made him wander the almost empty streets. It has been raining for most of the day, the street muddy, his clothes drenched. Deep in thought his feet carried him to one of the only places he frequented and when he saw light through the window he entered without hesitation. Walking down the hallway he heard the shuffling of paper and some dance music. He did not mean to, but when he saw the woman dancing around her office, glee on her face as she moved from one end of the room to the other, putting scrolls and papers away, he couldn't help but watch. Her movements looked practiced, the joy radiating from her, making his throat tight. Mesmerizing. Enchanting.
The music changed and he knew he should leave, the intrusion too much already. Yet he couldn't bring himself to walk away, captivated by the force she was, he didn't pay attention when he leaned forward to have a better view, losing his balance and falling into a nearby stack of boxes, sending countless documents flying. Before he could even register what had happened, he heard footsteps approaching and a hand was stretched out for him to take.
"I knew I should've put the boxes away first… Are you alright, Captain?" He flinched at the title and looked at her concerned expression.
"I am alright. Sorry for disturbing you," letting go of her hand he took a step back, unable to meet her gaze, shame tugging at his heart.
"I was about to make myself some tea. Do you want to join me? I can also offer you a towel to dry your hair?"
Without waiting for his reply she walked away towards the kitchen, making him follow her at once. He watched her get the kettle on and rummage through the cupboards for something else, mumbling to herself.
She didn't turn when she threw him a towel he barely caught, "I can only offer you cookies I don't know are still good or some apples that have seen better days…"
"I am already disturbing you as is. Tea is fine. Thank you," he felt his heart sink at the thought.
Faster than he expected, she turned, placed her hands on her hips and glared at him, "You're not disturbing me. Never have. And I would not offer you anything if I didn't want to, Captain."
"Call me… Yamato… please," a shy smile appeared on his lips at her forceful nature.
She blinked and her posture fell at once glimmer in her eyes, "What a beautiful name… You chose well." At that point he wasn't even surprised that she knew about the ways of the ANBU. But she was the first to appreciate his choice. "I am [Y/N]. A pleasure to meet you."
He took her outstretched hand in his, noticing how perfect it fit.
This was the first evening of many they spent together over tea, talking about everything.
With her Yamato felt at ease. As if he could be himself and not be scrutinised over it. She looked at him in a way only she could, seeing him as he was. Listening to stories no one would, asking questions he never thought of before. And she shared the same pieces of herself with him.
Treasures for him to keep.
Two years. He had waited two years until he couldn't take it anymore.
Watching his friend orbit [Y/N], always second guessing himself. Always keeping the distance he thought he needed to keep because he wasn't able to see himself for the unique person he was. Always sticking to protocol because that's how he was brought up.
Never asking for anything for himself because he thought he did not deserve it.
When they went out for a drink and the alcohol loosened his tongue, his friend would talk about her more openly. And it was clear as day that he had it bad.
Yet, there was nothing he could do to help Yamato. Not until after the war. Not until he was elected the next Hokage. Not until he had seen [Y/N] in tears when she learned that he had been kidnapped.
Not when she hid herself behind a scroll the moment she heard that he had returned safely.
So when he was certain the repairs were well underway and the notice about the annual Yozakura festival arrived at his desk, he knew that he would do anything to help these two idiots to get a real chance.
Even if he had to use some unorthodox techniques.
"It's been a week and you still haven't asked? You know the clock is ticking, right? You want to read Make out Paradise so bad?" Kakashi's mocking tone haunted him for hours. Even the kids noticed how his mind wandered more than usual. Especially Sakura seemed to have caught on. She had a way to gain information he trusted in combat but feared in these situations. With Sai picking up even the smallest cues and Naruto‘s loud persona he needed to be extremely careful. Thankfully they were not able to get him to spill anything which was honestly more exhausting than he anticipated.
He wanted nothing more than to get home and enjoy the silence.
When he passed the bookstore he paused for a moment, lifting an eyebrow. Walking up to the window he was surprised to see his favourite author's next instalment in the recently published section. Had he really been so caught up at work that he forgot?
The bell above the door chimed upon entering, the smell of paper and ink enveloping him. He felt himself relax as he passed the shelfs on his way to the back, only a few customers keeping to themselves. The relative silence was a relief. He found the correct section and took a copy from the shelf when he noticed a familiar face close by.
She noticed him the exact same moment, a stack of books in her hands, "A wonderful evening, Captain Yamato. It's nice to see you."
He swallowed hard, "The pleasure is mine, [Y/N]. Are these for you or for our Hokage?"
The genuine glee on her face told him everything, stealing his breath, "I got a few days off so I decided to spoil myself for once."
A few days. Could it be…?
Before he could talk himself out of it again he went with his gut, "So? You're off for the festival then?"
[Y/N] nodded, "Yes! For the first time since I was a kid! I can't wait to go!" He flinched slightly. Of course. All his hope evaporated just like that, a stale taste left in his mouth. He almost didn’t hear her when she asked, "Are you coming, Captain?"
He clenched the book in his hand, his throat dry. The way her eyes shone up to him made him aware of his own shortcomings, "Probably not…"
At that she suddenly grew still. Dropping her gaze she mumbled something under her breath he wasn't able to catch before she turned and walked away, leaving him there, his heart racing, the book in his hand forgotten.
"I won't accept it. No," a hand slammed on the table, the carefully stacked papers falling to the floor, coffee spilling on the wood.
"Kakashi, there is no sense in continuing. I know I fail. I accept my defeat," voice strained, he just wanted to get out of the office.
His friend dragged his hand across his face as he leaned back in his chair, visibly annoyed, "The festival is in two days. You still have two days to ask someone. Anyone ."
"Joke's on me because I said yes in the first place. There is no one I want to ask and no one to accompany me. So you win. This won't change within two days." A lie to cover the pain. Cover his hopes and feelings.
How he wished to be wrong. He had thought about countless possibilities before entering the bookshop, now all down the drain. He should've known that [Y/N] would have someone already. The wonder in her eyes carried him to sleep that night, an aching heart upon his wake. He needed to give up on that front.
Maybe entirely.
Maybe for the better.
Kakashi cleared his throat, making him come back into the present, "I am not convinced. It rather feels like you didn't try at all. Unusual for you, Yamato."
There was a faint breeze coming into the room, the window opened just a bit. Carrying the sound of the village so alive made him think about the hours upon hours of repairs and building homes.
He had been beyond exhausted after a mere hour, being pushed relentlessly. Yet, the only one to see how he was doing was [Y/N].
"Hokage's orders," she would smile when sitting down on the ground next to him, handing him something to eat or drink.
Every day. Without fail she would find him every single day. Given her position as the Hokage's secretary she must've been overworked herself and still she spent some time with him, the both of them talking about anything and everything without trouble. The only person he felt at ease with.
Looking at his friend in his white robe he realized that not even with Kakashi he had felt like that.
"There is nothing to try when I am not interested," he tried but he only made the other man shake his head.
"Maybe try again with a different lie. You have two days."
Stepping out of the building he let out the heavy sigh he had been holding. Why did he let Kakashi always walk over him like that?
He thought he would end their stupid game right then and there, the thought of his punishment making him wince but he would not waste two more days trying to find a solution. He knew the entire game was nothing but pretence. Even if he lost, the feelings wouldn't vanish just like that.
Letting himself fall against the pillar he watched the busy street in front of him. All he wanted was to be a part of life yet there he was…
"Captain?" He jumped and turned sharply just to be met with these beautiful eyes on him, concern painting her face.
"[Y/N]..." He breathed, remembering their last encounter, making his belly drop. Trying to ignore it he continued, "I thought you had some time off. Don't tell me Kakashi made you come here in your free time!"
She just shook her head and looked away, biting her lower lip, unsure, "No need to worry. I am here on my own accord."
They stood there in silence for a while, not knowing what to say or do. He knew he should try and pull away the first chance he got but instead he just stood there and watched her. The commotion was so loud he was sure no one would hear his beating heart so he let himself marvel a bit.
But only until she next spoke, "I came here to apologize for my behaviour last time we met… I was… tired . It was… I had a few busy weeks. And now I realized I have to apologize for eavesdropping too…"
The words did not register at first. When they finally did he felt his blood turn to ice in his veins. His eyes darted up the building to confirm his fears.
Did Kakashi leave the window open on purpose?
"I came here when I saw you pass by the bookshop earlier and I decided to wait for you," her calm voice carried him back to the present. He teared his eyes away and looked at her, a faint trace of blush on her cheeks. "I promise, I never intended to listen to your discussions while doing so…"
He relaxed his shoulders, trying to not panic, "Don't worry. I know. You have nothing to be sorry for."
There was a brief moment he thought he caught something in her eyes but it passed and she just shook her head, "I just left you standing in the bookstore without even saying goodbye. And I assume, without making sense."
He felt his pulse quicken as a thought came up he had tried to ignore for a while. Before he could decide against it, he muttered, "How about we talk about this over a cup of tea? There is a nice new place around…"
[Y/N] blinked once. Twice. Making him a bit nervous and he started to think about how to downplay the situation when her lips curled up in the most beautiful way.
"I would love that… yes!"
He managed to get them a table in a rather quiet corner of the small cafe, watching as her eyes darted around the nice decor. Light paint on the walls, big windows and an abundance of plants. A serene space he felt himself relax the tiniest bit. Despite his proposal they talked about anything but the issues at hand. He tried to push everything away, the moment too good to be true. When the waiter brought them their order he had a hard time concentrating on not losing his train of thought, her amazement over the cake intoxicating to say the least.
He didn't even really pay attention when she finished her dessert, looking at him over her steaming cup, "So… you have a bet to lose, is that right?"
He let out a grave sigh, knowing his time was up. Her ability to cut right to the case amusing him despite the dread he felt, "If you will. Yes."
"And you wanted to give up? Are the stakes that low?"
"Not really… I just don't feel… like I could-"
She cut him off with a small gesture of her hand, "Let me help you win this one… if I can."
He gaped at her, unable to make sense for a moment, "Why?"
[Y/N] did not reply right away. For a second he even thought there was some form of insecurity washing over her. The moment passed and she grinned broadly, "Because I think it could be fun to see whatever the Hokage has to do if you win!"
"It's not that… exciting," trying to play it cool he took a sip of his tea, almost choking at the proposal.
"Tell me, Yamato. What can I do to help?"
The way she said his name made his breath hitch, "It's very kind of you but I-I don't think I can take up on that offer."
How he wanted to say yes. Scream to the heavens that this was all he ever really wished for. But he couldn't. Wouldn't. No way she would actually enjoy it. Besides, she had someone to attend with already.
Now it was her turn to sigh in frustration, "I cannot force you. But I want to make myself clear. Helping you is no nuisance and nothing unpleasant. In fact, I would love to-" she cut herself off, biting her lower lip before she took a sip of her tea. He tried to be patient, his fingers holding the fork a bit too tight. Eventually she continued. "Forget I said anything. I sometimes speak before I think…"
"And I think too much," trying to lighten the mood again he leaned forward, hiding the frustration behind a change of topic, "Have you read Bloodied Frequencies yet?"
[Y/N]'s eyes grew big, taking the bait, "Have you ?! Can we talk about chapter 8?! Please tell me you thought the same thing when he went and got-"
It was dark when they finally left the cafe and walked up to the corner of the street.
"Thank you for taking me here. It was… nice," she shot him a genuine smile, making his heart flutter.
"The pleasure is mine. Even if we don't agree on the final chapter…" he winked at her at which she playfully rolled her eyes.
"I had a wonderful time. Really, thank you Yamato," her voice was quiet and she turned her head to look at the pink blossoms lining the riverbed. "I hope they will still be there for the festival…"
At that she shot him another smile, waved and turned to walk away.
Something about the way her expression had shifted for the shortest moment gave him pause. There were two forces fighting within his chest while [Y/N] took one step after another away from him. It appeared so final . As if he had blown another chance at something beautiful, something great. His head told him a dozen things against it. His heart almost leaped out of his chest, urging him to follow her.
Maybe. Just maybe he could pretend it would be alright for one evening. Let himself see what it would be like.
[Y/N] was almost at the crossroads to her apartment, when he broke into a run.
He did not think about the stupid bet or the smirk on Kakashi's face or the possibility to make a fool out of himself when he touched her on the shoulder, making her turn, surprise on her face. It took more effort than he'd expected not to kiss her - the way her mouth curled up when she realized it was him, how her eyes danced. It was magic.
Swallowing hard he did something he had never done before. He asked for something for himself.
"Would you… would you go to the festival with me?"
The air was still a bit chilly once the sun had gone down. Yet, it wouldn't be too long until the heat would embrace the village and hold it firmly for months to come. The wind ruffled his hair, free from his headband for once. The scent of sweet rice and grilled fish carries over to him as he closed in on the agreed meeting point. He knew he was early which was why he was especially astonished to find his friend already there, reading one of his R-rated books as usual. And not just him, just a short distance away the entire group had been assembled already, each arrived in a pair. Did he remember the meeting time wrong?
Finally, Kakashi noticed him. He looked up from his lecture, an eyebrow raised in question.
No, he was certain the time was correct. That meant that the others were early for a single reason. He grimaced at the thought that everyone knew about their game, one way or the other.
"Forgot something?" Unhidden amusement in the Kakashi's voice.
He sighed deeply but remained silent. The others had noticed his arrival, moving over to the two men still staring at each other in a silent stand-off. At first everyone seemed to gloss over the obvious but soon they were asking him the exact same question, over and over again.
Where is she?
Trying to remain calm he just shrugged and replied that she would be there soon. Inside he was getting nervous. Would she come?
Half listening to the others chat about some minor inconveniences, he looked over the area, not even the lights being able to reach him.
Maybe it had been a mistake to ask her. Maybe she just accepted out of pity because she overheard the discussion and wanted to help him evade his punishment. She would do that for him, he was certain. Her friendly behaviour knew no bounds it seemed.
Maybe he misunderstood after all.
Moving his hand through his hair he let out a silent breath.
Would serve him right for her to not show up. When he turned to tell Kakashi that he had lost he noticed his friend go still for a moment before he inclined his head, making him follow his gaze.
His breath hitched when he watched [Y/N] walk towards their little group, dressed in traditional clothes, the colours setting off her beautiful eyes, looking over the crowd before they found him, followed by a small wave. Her hair was put in an artistic way, a single strand of hair loose.
Without reacting to the faces of his colleagues, [Y/N] walked up to him and stopped, standing so close he could've pulled her in.
"Good evening, Captain Yamato," her voice was as warm as ever, as if the situation was perfectly normal.
He noticed all eyes on them but he concentrated on her and felt everything become calm, "Good evening, [Y/N]."
Tilting her head she held out her hand for him to take, her delicate fingers warm and tender. He wanted to whisk her away, be his alone. A small nod before she turned to the rest of the group, "Let's join the fray, shall we?"
The first indications of the festival were visible right around the corner, the bridge leading to the older part of the village decorated with beautiful lanterns, lighting up the way to the main street. There, rows and rows of stalls had been put up, offering different kinds of food and drink, lucky charms, fortune telling and games. He felt [Y/N] squeeze his hand, jumping up and down as they walked. When she spotted a stall offering different mochi she let go and was off, a big grin on her face.
He just stared, his heart racing.
"Someone has it bad," the sudden voice so close to his ear made him jump. "Looks like I have to uphold my end of the bet. Can't wait to read your plant bible…"
"You don't sound surprised," lifting an eyebrow he followed Kakashi's gaze, still on [Y/N] who had advanced to the next stall selling some trinkets, a mochi slowly disappearing into her mouth.
"I'm not. I knew you could do it, Yamato."
He flinched, "She's only here because she overheard us the other day. Did you leave the window open on purpose?"
His friend finally looked at him, brows knitted, "Maybe try again."
"What do you mean?" Not only did he refuse to answer the question, he also made no sense. Yet, there was no more time to discuss their stupid game when [Y/N] returned, holding up yet another mochi up for him to take. "Sakura mochi! I thought you may want to try it too."
He heard Kakashi next to him scoff before he shuffled away, joining the others, leaving the two of them alone.
They quickly lost the rest of the group which was more welcome than he would openly admit. His sole focus was on the magic and energy that was [Y/N] who seemed to find wonder in every little thing. Be it a moth dancing around a lantern, a single drop of tea making its way down the cup or the music that floated around them. When they passed a small group of musicians she stopped and watched them dreamily. He remembered her dancing in her room all those months ago. How she moved through the music as if it was a part of her. They never talked about his intrusion that day but he somehow had the feeling that she knew.
There were a few couples dancing to the tune, enjoying the night. Enough for him to try.
"Do you…" she shook her head to cut him off.
"I won't drag you out there. Listening to it is enough for me," she smiled but he could feel that she was not completely honest with him. Yet, before he could ask any more, [Y/N] started to continue down the street.
Without thinking twice he took her hand and pulled her into the opposite direction, towards the dance floor, her eyes big in astonishment, "Cap-"
"Please… drop the…title. It's just us."
She did not reply instantly. When she did, he felt his throat tighten, "You don't have to force yourself… Yamato."
The name he had chosen seemingly at random sounded so real when she said it. As if it meant something. As if he was his own person.
Putting one of his hands on her shoulder and the other on her hip he softly replied, "I am not. I would love to dance with you. If you're able to look past my lacking skills that is."
Her laughter was ten times more beautiful than the tune that moved them across the dance floor.
They danced for a few more songs before they decided to stray from the busy road and walk along the riverbed, away from the buzzing. It was only when they came up to a smaller bridge, illuminated by lanterns as well, that he noticed [Y/N] was still holding his hand.
With an apology he let go, making her furrow her brows, still looking at her hand "I don't mind. Quite the contrary…"
They paused and he leaned over the rail, trying to calm himself.
The entire riverbank was illuminated by hidden lamps and lanterns, the stray light following the soft descent of the cherry blossoms into the water. Reflecting the moon, the countless petals travelled all the way back into the sea. It was beautiful. But when he turned to look at [Y/N], leaning herself a bit over the bridge, her eyes big, darting across the scenery before them, mouth slightly agape, he felt sharp pain in his heart from the sheer beauty of the image of her.
Knowing she was out of his league while standing next to him, close enough to touch.
Someone has it bad.
Yes. A million times yes. But what should he do?
His thoughts were put on hold when he heard her speak ever so softly, still looking at the trees, "Ever since I was a kid I wanted to come here. But no one ever asked me and I was too scared to go alone. This year I vowed to still go, no matter what," she turned to face him, a slight blush on her cheeks. He was taken aback. It was hard to believe no one had ever asked her. Before he could say anything, she continued, "When we met at the bookstore I thought… well, I thought you'd ask me to go."
Had he been that transparent? A shiver ran down his spine, fear gripping his heart. What else did he reveal without meaning to? Had she maybe guessed his predicament and only agreed to help him out?
Again his overthinking was drowned out by her voice.
"You know… Since the day you first came into my office I would think about… you. Who you are. What you look like. When eventually I learned I would think about…" she bit her lower lip, stopping herself.
He felt a bit light-headed, his heart beating fast. Waiting for [Y/N] to continue was one of the hardest things he had to endure. Yet, she remained quiet, seemingly unsure. Minutes passed until he slowly turned to her, tilting his head. "What would you think about?" His voice was low despite his best efforts.
Now he was certain about the blush on her cheeks, "I would think about… us. Doing fun things together. Talk about books. When we went to the cafe the other day it was… perfect."
Us.
Implications hung in the air, screaming at him to take the leap. His skin began to prickle and he felt something inside of him shift.
Hope .
There was the spark of hope, growing by the minute as scenes from the past years replayed in his mind.
The music from the festival became louder, a wonderful slow tune carrying the petals down into the river. They both looked at the spectacle for a moment before he held out his hand, "Would you do me the honour to dance with me, [Y/N]?"
She immediately took his hand as gentle as ever, letting him pull her in. For a moment he just held her, taking in everything she was. Holding her close they began to move. He was certain she could hear his beating heart but for once he did not mind.
"I meant to ask you to go with me. But I thought you had someone already," he silently confessed, making her look up at him in surprise.
"Why?"
"Because you surely have someone special…"
At that she hummed, "I do."
The words stung, even if he knew it from the start. He'd always told himself it would be enough.
Enough if she only talked to him.
Enough if they only drank some warm tea together, laughing.
Enough to learn more about her, sharing bits and pieces of himself.
Enough if she smiled at him.
Still, no matter how many times he repeated it to himself, a part of him was craving more.
The little spark seemed to dim as the music slowly faded out and he expected [Y/N] to let go of him. Instead she held onto his clothes, deep in thought. Trying to burn the image of her into his mind, he breathed deeply. He knew their evening was coming to a close. It would most likely be the last time they shared some time together. He knew he would now be able to shake his feelings for the foreseeable future, the pain a reminder of the shared memories. Yet, he would do it all over again if it meant he could be with her. Swallowing hard he looked at [Y/N], still holding onto him.
"I should've thought about that… I am sorry I dragged-" he was cut off by her getting on her toes at once and placing the most gentle kiss on his lips, burning away every last spec of doubt.
"I am glad you did…" her voice was unusually shy. "I have been dreaming about…"
This time he was not able to wait patiently, thoughts racing, anticipation bubbling in his belly "About what?"
His heart skipped a beat at her soft gaze, cheering before she even uttered a sound.[
Y/N] inclined her head, a sheepish grin playing on her lips, " Us."
Throwing away every last bit of restraint he cupped her face, hands shaking, before kissing her, cherry blossoms all around them.
