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Sasuke is furious. Brows furrowed in anger, eyes wide with rage, face flushed bright red. He doesn't think he's ever been so offended in his life. The audacity. How dare she. How dare-
Sakura giggles, lifting Sasuke's arm and making a soft hum. She nuzzles softly into his arm protectors and he makes a sound of pure rage. (A squeak. He lets out an angry squeak.)
A soft floral scent rises on the wind and he feels like he's about to combust from embarrassment.
She scented him. She scented him!! He hasn't been scented since- since-
He shudders, even though there's cloth covering the glands of his wrists. There may be a layer between them but it's the most intimate he's been with somebody in years.
She looks up at him with soft green eyes and he takes a step back, yanking his arm out of reach. Both hands retreat to his chest before he jerks the one that she scented away. His other hand grabs tightly onto the front of his shirt. He's careful to make sure his shirt is still a barrier between her and his neck. If she tries to- if she-
…he doesn't know what he'll do.
She smiles happily at him, long pink hair flowing in the wind. The strands almost seem to glitter in the sunlight and he feels his chakra thrum under his skin as his eyes automatically track the movement, flickering around her face. It would be so easy to just-
They're interrupted by the sharp smell of ozone and Sasuke jerks his gaze away, heart pounding.
What was that?
"Hmm? And what do we have here~" Their sensei languidly walks into the training ground, hands in both pockets. He eyes them in amusement before cocking his head to the side. His head slowly turns to take in both of them and his eye narrows. "Sakura... have you been doing things you weren't supposed to?"
The joy falls off her face in favour of confusion.
"Huh?"
Kakashi tilts his chin towards Sasuke.
"Did you ask?"
She blinks, startled. Kakashi tugs at the base of his gloves, subtly adjusting them, before he brushes his hand against the back of his head in a sheepish gesture. It would be normal, apart from the fact that nothing Kakashi does is normal. If he actually wanted to be subtle then Sasuke wouldn't have even seen him move. Everything he does has a purpose and his spontaneous arrival is already suspicious.
Look underneath the underneath, he always says. And Sasuke tenses, wondering if this is a prelude to an attack brushed off as "reflex training". It wouldn't be the first time Kakashi has thrown kunai at them while they're trying to figure out what the hell he's talking about.
There is a slight coldness to Kakashi's eye as his wrist lightly knocks against the neck guard attached to his Jounin vest before his hand descends back to his side. To his weapon pouch? Sasuke slides his foot back slightly, readjusting his weight so he can jump away if need be, but instead of the glinting of metal they're met with an eye searing orange. Oh no. This isn't training. It's worse. Because with both of their full attention drawn where he wants it, the implication is immediately obvious. Kakashi is talking about the scenting.
The sweet smell of flowers turns a little rancid and Sasuke grimaces, even as his stance relaxes from something combat ready.
Sakura's affectionate. Sasuke knows this. It's not like she's trying to hide it. He's seen her easy affection with their classmates and how she has no problem snuggling closer to Team 10 when she sees them. Most of his year group are the same. Sasuke used to be too. He remembers being a child who couldn't bear to separate from his family.
He was clingy. Soft. Weak.
It's why he covers up with scent blockers and then bandages and then adds a layer of clothing on top. It's to deter others from coming near him. Sasuke's not approachable. He's not meant to be.
So why didn't he push her away?
He scowls to himself.
"I- I'm sorry, Sasuke-kun. I didn't mean to- I won't do it again!"
She looks so fretful and guilty and he glares harder.
"It's fine," he grits out.
His sensei lets out a sigh. "Sasuke, it's alright to- "
If Kakashi tries to talk feelings with him he'll scream.
"I said it's fine," he growls. Kakashi's eyebrow rises but Sakura still seems morose. Sasuke's nose twitches at the scent. "Stop smelling like that."
She peeks up at him and he sneers.
"It's annoying."
Something about those words make her face fall and she cringes into herself. Her scent spikes with rot and decay and he sees Kakashi visibly cringe before he hides it. The nauseating scent quickly fades when she notices, even though she's clearly not alright. Sakura's always been good at skills that require fine detail and control. If Sasuke had even half of her control he wouldn't have to walk around with these stupid patches on his scent glands. He'd be able to simply make his scent disappear.
The envy lies bitter in his stomach, but it's nothing compared to the sour twist he experiences when she whimpers.
"I'm really sorry, Sasuke-kun. It won't happen again."
Her voice is a whisper and there's an awkward silence where he doesn't respond to her apology. Normally it wouldn't affect him, he has better things to be concerned about than other people's feelings. So why does he feel so guilty? His instincts itch and he glares fiercely at the ground.
Fix it, something in his head whispers harshly. Fix it.
Fine!!
He growls, stomping his way over. Their sensei seems remarkably unconcerned, fixated on that stupid book of his, but Sasuke hasn't thought about him since Sakura looked at him with woeful green eyes. She seems terrified.
"Sasuke-"
"Shut up."
Her jaw snaps shut and he stops just a step away from her. He gives her a condescending look and sneers again.
"I told you to stop smelling like that."
She opens her mouth but he snaps his teeth at her. He has no need for pointless apologies.
"Stop it. I said it was fine."
She clearly has no idea what's happening and he growls again, this time frustrated at himself. Words aren't working, and with a lack of anything better to do he sticks his arm out. The one she hadn't touched.
She stares at it warily and he doesn't let his panic show. Just what is he doing!?
"Don't make me repeat myself. I don't want to smell disgusting."
He can see the thoughts racing behind her eyes. At first she seems devastated at the insult to her scent (he internally winces at that one, he didn't mean it like that) but Sakura's not a genius for nothing. Slowly light comes back to her eyes and she gasps.
His face feels like it's on fire and he glares harder before turning his head to the side with a huff. He only relaxes when the air smells sweet again and there's a tentative touch to his arm.
He peeks a look at her and she seems almost reverent as she brings his wrist to her neck. Much more intimate than the first scenting where she used her cheek. He lets out a strangled sound.
He can feel the silk of her qipao, just as soft as the hair brushing his fingertips. The hair that's starting to match her face as her cheeks turn a pretty pink. He's never thought of pink as pretty before, yet now the thought can't seem to leave his mind.
Time seems to slow as she comes into an almost harsh sort of clarity, every detail of her being clearly imprinted in his mind. Her hair, her eyes, her skin, her breath. Nothing exists except her. Her and the essence of spring that trails in her footsteps.
He is intoxicated.
There's a loud clap and both of them jump away, flustered.
"Aww! My puppies are so cute!!"
Sasuke's stare is murderous as he glares death at Kakashi. He instantly notices the slight creasing of skin underneath Kakashi's eye which he knows indicates genuine amusement and his mood sours furthur.
"I'll kill you," he says darkly.
From the way Kakashi reacts Sasuke might as well have said he's his favourite teacher and Sasuke feels something snap. He's breathing fire before he even realizes he's made the handsigns.