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Sakura was told many years ago that soulmates existed. That there is a person out there for everyone, someone who will love you just the way you are. That person will make you so happy, you’ll forget what you thought happiness was. It might have been from a manga or TV show, but the sentiment was always carried in her heart. The idea that someone will love her, just the way she is.
Years later, after a lifetime of chasing both strength and the one she thought was her soulmate, she wondered if soulmates were really just a myth. She survived a war and saw miracles on the battlefield, so she believed in the idea of magic and the unknown powers. But her belief in the concept of ‘soulmates’ had changed. Now, she thought it was just another way to describe puppy love or the sensation of finding someone you don’t forget, your first love that sends you an intense surge of heart pounding attraction that left your heart burnt.
It was late, she had to get up early for work. It was hard to fall asleep, laying on the couch while accompanied by a perpetual snore-fest in the next room. The source of the invading earache taking up her bed.
Sakura tossed and turned and tried to do what did what she normally did to sleep on nights like this. Nights when she needed the sleep, but no amount of effort let her.
In the twilight hour, she thought.
She reasoned.
She let her eyes drift close and allowed the voice in her head talk.
‘My boyfriend doesn’t hate me.
But on my birthday, he slept for 20 hours because he was playing games all night with a friend, or someone they found in the lobby, I can’t remember.
I think I asked for a birthday cake. I wanted someone else to get me one as every year I was either training, on a mission or had to buy my own small slice from the discount section. On one or two birthdays, it was just a tiny, cheap slab of sponge shared with Ino, chased with whatever cheap liquor we had.
You could say I got a cake, 2 days late. It was a children's birthday cake in the shape of a caterpillar, an insect I've never been fond of. I didn’t pay for it, but I also didn’t get to eat any it. I was at work when it was devoured before I could even ask for a slice.
I wanted to be loved, at least on my birthday. But I should be grateful, when he woke up at 1am the next day he apologised again before heading off and playing games again. Despite me having work 6 hours later and needing the sleep, he woke me up to mumble a small "Sorry." Then left to play games and yell in a lobby, keeping me up all night.
When I brought up that it would have been nice on my birthday to not wake up to the kitchen being a mess, they said they wanted to make it up to me.
Said ‘making it up to me’ was them deciding to sleep-deprive himself for 30 hours to ‘keep me company’ as I worked. Then when I went to bed, as I had work the next day, they joined me and snored into my ears, all night. He kept me up. All. Fucking. Night. And the first thing that came out of his mouth the next morning was, “Man, I slept like shit.” Luckily enough for them, they don’t work or have any obligations they needed to stay awake for, so they went right back to sleep.
I had to work. I had to get up, so tired and angry with a neck ache and blown out eardrums I had to distance myself before I did anything stupid. I wasn’t allowed to get rest, not even for my ‘make up’ birthday.
To his credit, no one messaged me on my birthday. So, I should just be grateful that he at least remembered. It wasn’t like I wanted my birthday to be a big thing. All I wanted was a cake. And thinking back, a good night’s sleep.
My boyfriend doesn’t hate me but has slept through every date I’ve ever planned, paid for or been excited for.
My boyfriend doesn’t hate me but will lead me on into thinking he wants to be intimate but will be too tired for any action. I’m not one to force anything but it gets confusing when he tells me he loves my body and loves to touch it but, never does.
My boyfriend doesn’t hate me.
He doesn’t hate me.
He just hates that I’m his girlfriend.
If we were friends, I wouldn’t expect him to keep the apartment tidy or be clean or remember dates nor would I have any expectations for him to let down.
If we were friends, there would be no reason to perform or lie about our wants and needs. We could meet whenever was convenient, without all the baggage of keeping the invisible line of ‘this not being enough’ from snapping.
If we were friends, he would truly be free to play and stay up and do everything and anything he wanted. No nagging girlfriend who had to ask if he remembered to flush the toilet, or soaked the dishes, or put the laundry on as the girlfriend had to work.
If we were friends, I wouldn’t rely on him to make the days easier with the chores being done without being reminded or asking them to simply show a shred of affection or praise.
I would have to be self-sufficient anyway.
Equally, he wouldn’t have to live with me. He could fuck off to whatever hole he wanted to. He could sleep whenever and keep a shit pile if he wanted. I wouldn’t have to care.
Hate isn’t the word I want to use.
But it’s the only word that comes to mind when your person, the person you’ve spent so many years loving and caring unconditionally, let you down in the biggest and most mundane ways over and over again. No number of reminders, chore charts or reducing their household workload changed anything. Weeks would go by without them being done. Bigger trash bags and stronger chemicals were bought for the times I could be bothered to do it myself. You find that your mindset changes from ‘fuck, if I don’t do it, it won’t get done’ to ‘I would have to do it anyway, if they weren’t here.’
Then it snaps. The reality of what’s going on snaps into place. If they weren’t here, I’d have to do it anyway. There would be less to do as I would only be cleaning up after myself. Not another person and me.
They don’t work. They haven’t had to since being pardoned by Kakashi after the war. They don’t leave the apartment, they say there is no reason to. And somehow, someway they always make it a point that they can’t do any of the chores that need to be done. It’s either ‘Oh, sorry, I forgot.’ or doing it the second I get home, making it a whole performance so either I have to help by doing it myself, or leave them to do a bad job that takes forever.
I have been patient. For years. And I am always, always going to want them to be happy so I haven’t pushed any harder than necessary. But when time, therapy, patience and love fail and I’m hurt too. What more can I do? I am just one person, and I can’t save someone who doesn’t want to be saved, even if I love them.
What a fucking loser. I sound like a bitter wife who has been stuck with a deadbeat husband for years who only stayed for the kids.
Heh, maybe that’s why it just keeps going. With no kids involved there’s nothing stopping me from leaving, if- No. When, the moment comes, when I finally wake up and gain the courage to call it off. There is nothing else to worry about besides me.
What would I lose? I’m sure tomorrow when I calm down, I’ll think of a bunch of reasons.
But right now, on valentine’s day. When they snore away in the next room and I am left, yet again, to be alone past midnight and watch the date change to the 15th of February on my phone. I think I might be done.
A box of chocolates he ordered in on the day just isn’t enough. Not when I got him a box of chocolates, love hearts and all of his favourite things. Not when I, once again, booked a table for a romantic dinner just for him to put himself to bed an hour before the reservation. Even when I reminded him every day, for the last week.
Not when another special day is just treated as any other ordinary day.
But then again, we’ve been ‘together’ for years now. Maybe the magic is supposed to be dead. Maybe it is another day, and valentine’s day is for the single people who are courting.
That’s fine, but I’m the type of person who wants the specialness of everyday to be celebrated. I just won’t do it alone. But this is the main problem. The constant disregard of needs and wants. My wants and needs.
I am strong.
But strength does not mean I have to be hurt to be loved.
Again, my boyfriend doesn’t hate me. I might just hate him.’
Sakura sighed and opened her eyes. The pull of exhaustion wasn’t strong enough to take her consciousness under the waves of sleep. She stared at the ceiling, felt the walls shake from the construction levels of noise that would wake a deaf man. The dark gloom of the room started back at her, it asked her silently, “Why? Aren’t you strong enough to put yourself first?”
A stuttered snore in the next room tried to answer the gloom, but it wasn’t satisfied with the answer.
She thought about that question, more often than she cared to admit. Maybe it was because she had loved Sasuke for so long it was engrained into her bones at this point. Loving him with all his flaws and pain was just second nature now. She wanted to hold onto him. Right?
It was the nights like this where the snoring was too loud, she was too tired and the ache in her chest was too painful to ignore that she thought about Ino’s spare bed. It was a memory foam mattress with satin sheets and smelt divine, like Ino always did. Just the thought of it made her turn onto her side and remember every detail of it, hoping just the thought would be enough to help her sleep.
The sleep was restless, she kept waking up to the louder, almost shout like, snores but she got through the night. Got up, made a coffee, washed her face and was out the door headed to work.
It was another day.
When she got to work Ino was in her office, her face broke out into a huge grin upon seeing her and melted Sakura’s headache almost instantly. Ino’s voice even soothed her ears. “You look like you could use a coffee.” Ino stated before heading to the break room. A coffee already on the go.
A grateful smile was on her lips before she even noticed, gaze following after Ino. “You know me so well.”
Ino came back into the office holding two mugs, placed them down on the desk and made herself comfortable on the patient’s seat. Sakura was already flipping through files, preparing for the day ahead.
“You look like you already need a nap.” Ino said between puffs, trying to cool down her coffee to a sipping temperature. The concern in her voice masked with her usual cool attitude but Sakura knew Ino’s voice too well, she practically heard it in her sleep. She brushed the concern away with a smirk.
“Don’t cha worry about me. I’ve got caffeine and you to smack me in the face as a backup.” Ino nearly spat out her coffee as she snorted. “Oh yeah, that’s always an option in front of you child patients.” The quip made Sakura chuckle. Ino was always able to make her feel better, every and any time she felt hopeless.
The morning blurred together.
Valentine’s day was long over, and work took over her waking thoughts. Distracting her from how close to the edge she was at home. Calling it off with Sasuke flipped between being something on her to do list and being dismissed as an overreaction.
Then the exhaustion took over. She fell asleep in the bathroom. It was only for a moment, but she woke up startled and disorientated, immediately thinking the worst. She quickly cleaned up and raced out of the bathroom to where she thought her patient was waiting for her. Relief washed over her face when she arrived to an empty room and spotted the clock face. Ino on the other hand, who had just watch Sakura sprint through the clinic like someone had died, panicked.
“What happened!?” Sakura spun around to face Ino, heart beating out of chest as her face flushed, she was caught. “N-nothing! I just lost track of time and thought someone was waiting for me…” She held up her hands and tried her best to put on a reassuring smile.
Ino didn’t look convinced at the clearly guilty expression. She sighed and brushed the hair out of her face. “Look.” Her piercing periwinkle eyes bored into Sakura’s. “I didn’t want to say anything before the end of the day but, you need to take a break.” She finished, breathlessly and crossed her arms.
Sakura blinked, then let the smile on her face fall, no longer having the energy to keep up the appearance. Her head bowed and shoulders sank. “Yeah, you’re right.” She agreed, the words came out like a confession, relief and shame rushed out of her in one sentence. “I’ll go on lunch and reset-“
“No.” Ino interrupted a little too fast and a little too loud. Frustration leaked out of every syllable and pore, a pained expression took over her features as she willed herself to talk some sense into Sakura without lashing out. “Take a week off. From Tomorrow.”
“Wha--? I don’t need to take a week off.” Sakura’s words sounded forced, even to herself.
Ino’s eyebrows knitted together, sucking a breath as she fought her voice to remain level. “Mm hum, so sleeping on the toilet isn’t enough of a warning sign that you need to take some time off? To actually take a minute to take care of yourself.”
Sakura gaped. “How did- “
“It’s been a while since you’ve slept over at my place and honestly since then, I don’t think I’ve seen you rested. I’m surprised it took this long before you fell asleep in the bathroom or under your desk.” Sakura would be lying if she said she never thought about taking a nap under her desk. She may have also bought an office pillow or two.
Sakura inhaled, felt the drag of a bone deep exhaustion behind her eyes mix with her desire to keep Ino from worrying. Her eyes softened as she whispered. “I’m fine, Ino.”
Ino’s eyes widened a fraction, she stuttered a word before recalibrating and continuing her sentence in a quieter, gentle voice. “At least take a day for yourself. I’ll check on you the day after and we can talk about anything or nothing.” She took a step closer to Sakura, who’s lifeless eyes had been haunting her for so long she didn’t know when it started anymore, before her gaze fell away and she recoiled. “I can’t anymore. Sakura, please. You’re hurting. And I won’t help you hurt yourself.”
With a final pleading look, Ino walked out of room and disappeared down the winding corridors of the clinic. Something in Sakura’s chest twisted. It made her reach out her hand, but her mouth wouldn’t let any noise escape. She could only watch her go.
She didn’t see Ino for the rest of the day.
She called her remaining patients for a phone consultation instead of an in person one, explained she had a family emergency and wasn’t going to be available for a week, apologised and ended the day earlier than usual.
She packed her bag and found herself looking through every corridor and door, searching for her. No luck. She told the receptionist to clear her diary and appointments for the next week. She’d put any patients who’d miss their appointment as priority for her return. Guilt bubbled up and signed her forehead. She hated letting her patients down. The receptionist could read the signature and gave her a knowing look.
“I’ll rebook some of these patients for your return but---” The receptionist’s eyes scanned her computer screen with the eyes of a hawk. “I will also let our other physicians take some. They have some space, so don’t worry about it too much.” The receptionist lowered her glasses and gave a sincere smile. “Have a good rest Dr Haruno, you need it.”
The comment made her heart a little lighter.
“Thank you so much, have a lovely night.” The walk home just that little bit easier, knowing someone was able to look after her.
When she got home, disgustingly exhausted and ready to face plant the mattress, she was greeted with a wailing shriek.
“These MOTHERFUCKER’S ‘re cheating!!” The screech slammed into Sakura’s ears like daggers, despite a door shut between them. Sasuke acting like this wasn’t something new but this time, a flood of revulsion surged through her and before her mind could catch up, her footsteps stomped down the hallway. Her blood sang in her veins as she saw red.
She slammed the door open and Sasuke jolted from the impact. The room was foul. It used to be Sakura’s office, a space for her to relax in and keep her shelves of books and collectables clean and organised. But she gave it freely to Sasuke, let him use it as he wished. She avoided it, thinking she was respecting privacy and wanting him to appreciate her act of love. Every surface was covered in crap, a repugnant sheen of rot had spread to every corner of the room. Including the person sat on the chair in front of her.
A monstrous emotion welled up and burst so intensely it made her hands shake and grit her teeth. In a moment of pure strength, she held back on killing the man that stared at her with a bored expression.
Sakura had been ignoring this for so long, hoped it would heal, it would change, lied to herself thinking it just needed time. The reality was that this had been dead for so, so long.
Sasuke sat there, unmoved as he watched Sakura’s eyes run over every surface, her nose wrinkled and eyes watered. He shrugged and turned back to the game when he she dropped the words he knew were coming but never expected to land in an emotionless voice.
“Get out Sasuke. It’s over.”
That made him put down the console and look at her. He really looked at the woman who took him in and asked for nothing in return. He had nothing to say.
Sakura took a moment to stop shaking. Her hands held each other behind her back as she stared into Sasuke’s soul. In a one-sided conversation that left no room for argument and was as lifeless as she’d been feeling, she told him to find another place to live in the next two weeks or he’d be leaving in a body bag.
After another drawn-out series of awkward agreements Sasuke agreed he’d leave and would stay on the couch until he found somewhere to go. Sakura then went to bed and locked the door.
As she tried to sleep, finally having ownership over her own bed again, she held her knees to her chest and silently let the tears streak down her face. Courage and strength had many faces, and this one was one of them. It took a while but eventually the tears eased and she found that she could breathe again. Though that didn’t make sleeping any easier. She tossed and turned, head filled with second guesses, questioning if she just made the biggest mistake of her life. Her mind supplied the rare days when it seemed like he was trying to put the effort in. Cleaning the dishes and wiping down some bathroom surfaces, but she knew those instances weren’t enough to fix what was broken between them.
In the early hours she gave up tyring to sleep and got up get some water. He was also in there. Face in his hands and a bottle of spirits on the table. It was in that quiet moment in the dark he tried to initiate intimacy. But it was short lived and ended before anything began, tears were shed and words were exchanged. Despite everything Sasuke did love her. Just, not in the way she needed, it broke her heart to accept it, but what they had would never be enough. And she was done fighting for this.
Sasuke apologised and went to leave the kitchen. He stopped halfway and turned to her, “I’ll start looking for somewhere to move in the morning.” She nodded but knew he didn’t have any income and would probably try to put off leaving as much as possible. That’s when she got the idea to ask Naruto if she could cash in one of her favours.
She didn’t sleep. She couldn't stop the tears from falling. Her eyes felt burnt and though she tried to hide the pain from her face, no amount of makeup could do the job.
In the morning, she sent a message to Naruto, they met up at Ichiraku Ramen that afternoon. Sakura hoped the familiar setting would make this conversation a little less uncomfortable. But, when they sat down with their food she didn’t have an appetite, she played with the noodles and lightly sipped the broth between awkward silences.
“So, you guys are-- uh?” Naruto scratched the back of his neck, trying his best to not say anything insensitive as he danced around the words ‘broken up’. But Sakura’s puffy eyes and worn-out exterior was enough of a confirmation.
“It’s over.” She admitted. “It’s been over for a long, long time.” Naruto’s face fell. He places a warm hand on her shoulder and squeezed. He couldn’t think of any words to say. He wanted to tell Sakura that she should scream, cry, fight, whatever she needed to. He’d be there for her, he always was. But he didn’t need words to tell her that. She knew.
Sakura swallowed back her emotions and straightened her posture. “I need to ask a favour.” Her voice wavered but she cleared her throat and continued, “Could you let Sasuke stay with you? Please.”
Naruto stiffened at the request. Sakura couldn’t meet his gaze, but he could see her glassy eyes and the bags under them, it made his heart ache. He hated seeing his friend like this. He knew how much Sakura loved Sasuke, how long she had yearned for him. He thought that they were finally able to have their happily ever after. He didn’t think this could happen.
He nodded and stood, bringing her into his arms for a tight hug that opened the flood gates. Sakura wept, not caring for the customers and chefs who threw sympathetic glances. It took a few moments to get her breathing under control and reached for a napkin. Naruto let Sakura take as much time as she needed, offering words of support.
Naruto noticed Sakura hadn’t touched her meal, so he paid for both of them and insisted on walking her home.
The walk itself was silent. Sakura’s head filled with every thought she had held back on for years. The thoughts screamed and berated her for being so weak.
“When do you need me to move him out?” The question brought Sakura back to reality, realising they were already outside her apartment.
“As soon as possible.” She replied without thinking, staring at her front door, an old painful heat snaking up her neck.
“Okay.” His footsteps stopped. “Shadow clone jutsu.” Naruto summoned about twenty shadow clones, each one giving a sullen expression in Sakura’s direction before getting to work. They filed into the apartment and systematically took what was obviously Sasuke’s possessions, checking with Sakura to make sure they didn’t accidentally steal any of her items.
Sasuke seemed surprised at the sudden intrusion of Narutos but didn’t fight them when two shadow clones escorted him out and away from the building, headed in the direction towards Naruto’s place.
The real Naruto stood by Sakura’s side the whole time, being there to catch her if she needed him. Sakura was grateful, having Naruto by her side, a warm presence who could make the impossible possible.
“Thank you.” Sakura said, disbelief laced her words.
Naruto shrugged. “Don’t mention it, how many favours do I still owe you?” Sakura chuckled, she didn’t bother counting, they would always have each other’s back so there was no scorekeeping.
“Oh, so many!” She joked, Naruto smiling back at her.
As the sun set, the apartment was now empty of Narutos and Sasuke’s possessions and Sakura walked in. The office was cleared of trash, the shadow clones did their best to clean it. Doing a better job than Sasuke ever did. It was truly the nicest gesture she had received in a while.
For the first time in a long time, it felt like home again.
Naruto hugged her one last time and made her promise to contact him if she needed anything.
“I promise! And thank you, again. I owe you.” Naruto waved over his shoulder and walked away as the sky darkened.
The first thing Sakura did was wash the bed sheets, took a shower and sat in front of the TV waiting for the sheets to dry. Once they were and the sheets were back on the bed. She fell into deepest dreamless sleep she had in years.
When she woke up, Ino messaged her, her heart skipped a beat.
Ino invited Sakura over to her place ‘whenever she was ready to talk about everything and anything.’ It was a long time coming, she’d kept the reality of her home life private for so long, it was going to be difficult to explain everything that had happened over the last few years.
But when Sakura arrived to Ino’s, she found that couldn’t stop talking. At times she felt breathless as she explained everything in as much detail as she could. The elation of finally being able to get everything off her chest removed a weight so heavy she thought she could float if she jumped.
Ino was patient and let Sakura talk and talk and talk. Her heart swelled in pride when she learnt Sakura had finally kicked him out and was taking control of her life again. They on her sofa, it wasn’t small by any means but as the conversation progressed the distance between them closed. Unconsciously they were drawn to one another.
According to Sakura, Ino’s home was the definition of cozy. There were baby pink flower fairy lights strung up, candles lit and lava lamps decorated every bookshelf she owned. Even her coffee table was cozy, it opened up to reveal fluffy blankets and cushions that had the same delicious scent as her guest bed. It was divine.
Ino tucked her legs under her as she leaned into Sakura’s space, both sharing a pink blanket that was softer than a cloud. “I’m so proud of you. I hated seeing you so miserable. I missed-” The sentence fell off her lips in a stutter, blinking as if coming to a realisation and catching herself in it. She looked at Sakura smiling as her eyes crinkled. “You.”
Sakura blushed as she scoffed. “You missed me?” Ino reached out and brushed a strand hair from Sakura’s face, brushing it behind her ear.
“Yeah, the way you’re normally so headstrong.” Ino giggled, inching forward and nearly bumping their foreheads together. Their faces inches apart. Normally the inclination of their long-standing big forehead joke would set Sakura off in a rage but, there was something in the way Ino’s eyes glimmered. Reflecting the fairy lights and feeling her heat, she couldn’t bring herself to feel any anger. There was a different feeling bubbling up within her.
“I didn’t think I’d ever be strong enough to stand up and do things for myself anymore.” Sakura’s voice dipped at the confessed, her eyes flickered away from Ino’s gaze as nerves prickled her.
Ino grinned and rested her elbow on the back of the couch, leaning her head against her hand. “But you did.”
“Heh, yeah. I did.” Ino’s smile was infectious, Sakura felt her cheeks start to strain with how much she smiled back. It felt so good to smile again. “Do I get a reward?”
Ino looked into Sakura’s eyes and let the moment sit between them. With a gasp Sakura felt Ino close the gap between their lips and a spark ran through her.
Ino’s lips were soft against hers. Ino didn’t press, just let her lips rest against Sakura’s, waiting. Sakura’s stomach dropped and her heart did something that hadn’t happened to her for years now, it started to pound. Her face heated up and she found her hand coming up to cup Ino’s face, leaning in and deepening the kiss. Ino made a sound between relief and a breathless laugh. She adjusted her hips to face Sakura and let her hand reach out to cradle her face. She felt hands ghost over her waist before finding purchase and pulling her closer.
Between the kisses Sakura couldn’t help but steal glances of the face that came to mind when she thought of the word ‘soulmate’. Even if she never admitted it to herself before now.
Sakura lightly pinched Ino’s waist to make her gasp and she used this to taste more. She explored the other’s mouth, it tasted sweet, the other’s tongue was timid but happily led as their mouths slotted together again and again. The kissed stole Sakura’s breath away as they turned fervent and learnt what made Ino sigh into her mouth. She let her hands stray from the other’s waist, reaching and mapping unknown patterns. Ino moaned when Sakura’s hands met her chest, the sound made Sakura’s face match her hair.
It was too much too fast. Ino’s scent, her lips, her moan. Sakura broke the kiss, leaving both panting and wanting more but Sakura leant back and out of Ino’s space. “I’m sorry.” She apologized breathlessly.
Ino started to back up, fear and guilt swirled in her eyes as she started apologising. “Ah no, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean t- “
Sakura kissed Ino, stopping the sentence in its tracks. “No, no. I like this, I really like this. But I’m not- I’m not ready for… this.” A moment went by where Sakura stared down at her lap. The silence was broken by Ino’s giggles, soon turning into laughter. Sakura’s embarrassment turned her cheeks scarlet.
“Hey, don’t make fun of me!” Ino shook her head as she continued to chuckle. “No, no. I’m not, I’m not.” Ino pulled Sakura into a hug, signing in relief. “There’s no rush. We have all the time in the world, okay.” Ino released Sakura so she could look at her face and held one her hands gently. “We’ll go at your pace.”
Sakura smiled, content and bubbles full joy fizzled into her heart.
Time passed and before she knew it, it was March 28th. Her birthday once again. Another year she would have to buy her own birthday cake or whatever was on sale. There was no point in buying a huge custom cake that would go bad or be put in the freezer to remind herself of how much of a loser she was. So, she made her way to the grocery store to look for some good deals.
Since Sasuke moved in with Naruto she hadn’t heard from him, though Naruto made it a point to give updates whenever they crossed paths. The last update was that Sasuke was apparently training again and may start to do missions to at least earn some income again.
Sakura wanted Sasuke to be happy, whatever that looked like and it seemed living with Naruto might just do that. She was happy for them.
In other news she was still living alone, though most nights were spent at Ino’s. It felt more like home than her apartment, but she wasn’t ready to make that next step yet, and Ino was incredibly patient and understanding. Part of what was holding her back was the fear, in the back of her mind, that everything could fall apart again and when it came to Ino, she couldn’t risk it. She wouldn’t risk it.
After purchasing some snacks and cupcakes she headed toward Ino’s home. Whether or not she had birthday cake this year the suffocating sadness that consumed the last year has vanished. She was genuinely content to see what happened next.
Which is why she was completely blindsided when Ino surprising her with a custom birthday cake. It was covered in strawberries and sparklers with a piped ‘Happy birthday, my love’ inscribed. Ino blushed when she presented it and she had never looked more like a goddess.
Sakura’s heart melted and any fear that stopped her from wanting to get closer to Ino evaporated.
Time flies when you’re having fun. And before you know it, you’re in the back of a taxi heading for the airport.
Before setting off on their honeymoon, Sakura had to make a pit stop at home first. She cradled two slices of wedding cake in her hands as she jumped out the taxi, promise-yelling over her shoulder she’d be back in a second.
She was wearing her silk laced white dress with a love drunk expression as she hurriedly opened their front door and ran to the refrigerator. She opened the freezer door and placed the slices inside, right next to the birthday cake slice from the first birthday they shared together. The sight of the three slices next to each other made Sakura’s eyes water, she had been crying all day at her wedding and had never felt so euphoric in her life.
‘This is what having a soulmate feels like.’ She thought.
Sakura gathered herself before closing the freezer and locked the front door before bolting back into the taxi. As she climbed back into the vehicle, Sakura took in the sight of her stunning wife. Her blonde hair framed her face in a halo with smudged lipstick, and it made her stomach flip.
The taxi started up again and drove towards the airport when Sakura pulled Ino in again to mess up her lipstick even more. Time outside of each other stopped, it felt like the world was only full of them as the sky dimmed to dusk.
Ino pulled back slightly and placed their foreheads together. Staring lovingly into her wife’s eyes.
“I love you.”
“I love you too, my wife.”
And the sentence sounded so perfect.