Chapter Text
The petite four year old girl sat over her tiny legs in a sea of beautiful flowers, each vibrantly tinted and blossomed by spring. Her messy pink bangs hovered over her forehead and dangled above her eyes as they danced with the soft warm breeze that embraced all of Konohagakure in a beautiful day where sun rays shined their way through puffy clouds, illuminating young Sakura in an ethereal way.
Sakura carefully collected all the fallen cherry blossom flowers that laid on the floor, she spent nearly the whole afternoon retrieving and molding the cherry blossoms into two look-alike keychains. The little girl was tired, hungry, but overly excited to present the small ornaments as soon as she returned home to her parents. The sun was beginning to set, filling the skye with warm hues, the sky's color was a major indicator that Sakura should return home, and so she did, however not before tying her new cherry blossom keychain to her bag. After making sure the ornament was tightly secured to the handle of the bag she quickly placed the remaining one inside her skirt's pocket.
Glancing upwards once again, she let out a faint gasp at the realisation that the sun was setting way faster than her slow pace to carry out actions. The Haruno's humble residence was located right by the park in a very residencial area — Sakura lived amongst the commoners of the Shinobi world, unlike prestigious clans of Konohagakure, those were segregated into specific adapt areas of the village to facilitate all clan's necessites.
Running out of the park as fast as her short legs could withstand she worried that Mebuki (Haruno) would apprehend her out of concern for being out so late, regardless of how safe the village was known to be under the vigillance of the Uchiha's — who made up the majority of Konoha's police department.
Dusk slowly embraced the sky leaving only a few rays of sunshine left to peak from behind the village's walls, the warm breeze morphed into a shivering wind that cooed in Sakura's ears as she ran towards home. The cool feeling against her skin along hurry made it so that the pink haired girl remained oblivious to the clincking sound emitted as her precious keychain slipped right out her pocket that was rather shallow.
The cherry blossom keychain was left alone in the darkness of the night exactly under a light pole. Several seconds, minutes passed by, Sakura was far from sight from the spot where the item had been 'abandoned'.
Walking along the sidewalk on their way back home after a long day of training — more like playing — came the two Uchiha brothers, four year old Sasuke amused himself with his older brother Itachi as he piggy backed the younger one back to the Uchiha's district. Sasuke playfully poked Itachi's face but his older brother's abrupt stop caused him to freeze his malicious acts immediately.
"Look Sasuke..." Itachi leaned foward pointing at the little pink flowers neatly arranged on what seemed to be a bracelet or keychain. "Someone must have lost it," The oldest continued, looking around in hope of seeing a possible owner, to his disappointment however the street was completely desert. "these are your favorite right Sasuke?" Itachi carefully removed his brother from his back, allowing him to closely analyse the flower ornament.
Sasuke picked it up, amusement filling his onyx eyes. "Sakuras!" He smiled and adverted his eyes reluctantly towards Itachi, Sasuke's gaze searching for approval and Itachi knew exactly what he wanted — allowance for him to keep the little flower thing that did not belong to him.
The older Uchiha sighed tiredly, ready to tell and scold Sasuke to let the thing go as it is not his to keep. However, on second thought 'what harm could it be' he reflected, afterall what were the chances of the person even returning after something that would sooner or later cease to exist anyway... the cherry blossoms were bound to the cruel fate of dying at most by the end of spring, if not before even, given that they were already detached from the tree. Sasuke's love for the cherry blossom flowers only added more weight into Itachi's not so adequate will to grant permission, it would pain him to see his little brother's smile fade.
"Keep it Sasuke."
In a blink, Sasuke had already grown fond of his new belonging, he would admire the delicate flowers every single day until they eventually died and left him only with the metal chain keeping them together. He and Itachi continued their way home, the two talking aimlessly about anything and everything, Sasuke listened with great admiration to what his brother spoke of. Even so, not once after their little theft did Sasuke glance away from the pink flowers in his hand — which occasionally even led the boy to stumble over a rock falling to his knees — Itachi cackled at the sight but quickly realized Sasuke had scratched his knees, "You're strong don't cry over it, mom can treat you once we're home alright?" He helped his little brother up.
Sasuke, as dedicated as he was to show his strength to his brother did not allow a single drop of tear to form around his eyes. "I'm okay, doesn't even hurt." He reassured. It was stinging a lot actually.
Itachi smiled warmly at Sasuke, he knew it hurt. "You're becoming strong little brother." He laughed, poking Sasuke's forehead with his index and middle finger. Sasuke forgot about the stinging for a moment appreciating the gesture.
;
In contrast to the youngest Uchiha, inside her home, Sakura bawled her green eyes out on her knees, she turned the pockets of her skirt inside out helplessly hoping that the second keychain would fall out of it eventually if she just kept trying, it never did.
Mebuki stood in front of her daughter trying to comfort her. "Sakura dear, it is not a problem that you have lost it." She ran her fingers through the pink hair gently caressing it. "The one in your bag is still there and I can see just how beautiful it is!"
Sakura tried to mumble the dissapointment out of her mouth but her running nose and nonstop tears made it almost impossible for Sakura to express herself. "I...m-made...it-" She was interrupted by something similar to a hiccup from her own body. "For some...one I lo-love" Her words came out as syllables in between uneven breaths. "And now, I c-can't give it to somone I-I love, because I lost i-it."
Mebuki read through her daughter's pained crying quite easily — Sakura had always been a crybaby after all — to her mom that was not a weakness like most might see it, it just meant Sakura had a loving and caring heart. Way too loving.
Eventually, Sakura stopped crying. After eating dinner and taking a shower she was finally tucked in bed, anxiously trying to fall asleep affraid of what her first day in the academy would be like on the following day. She glanced sideways capturing the image of her bag resting on the counter, her little keychain making it unique, Sakura found comfort in it until she drifted into sleep wondering where its other half was.
;
Sasuke's first day was flowing simply, he didn't particularly make contact with any of his classmates — except for a blonde boy who eagerly tried to interract with him — Sasuke didn't give him the time, in fact, he did not give anyone the time.
There was however a someone that had drifted accross his stubborn mind a few many times, he didn't like it, but Sasuke couldn't help recalling a pink haired girl that stood tightly tugging her bag's handle in front of the academy, reluctant to enter the building.
She seemed afraid, weak, dared he think. 'How can a girl afraid to come to the academy ever become a shinobi?' Sasuke thought at that moment.
Regardless of his disdain for the girl's fragile figure, her hair, it was the color of his favorite flower. He couldn't help but rerun that scene in his head, and much to his dismay he never got to see the girl's face — she had her back to him the entire time — that didn't bother Sasuke, but it certainly invoked curiosty.
To his surprise, she sat right infront of him in class but never once did she look back, not that he tried to catch her attention either. Sasuke spared her a few glances as it was hard to ignore the pink mess, they were just glances, but deep down Sasuke wished that whenever his eyes unwillingly moved towards her she would be facing him.
As soon as they were all dismissed, his little entertainment ran out of the classroom, no one else noticed as they were all stading up slowly while chatting with one another. The young Uchiha took his time to leave the classroom and find his way over to the exit of the academy, there he sat waiting for Itachi.
He began fidgeting his fingers inside his bag, there sat nicely the little cherry blossom keychain. Sasuke couldn't help but pull it into his own hands, admiring the pretty flowers that resembled the mysterious pink haired girl.
"Hey!" An angry, high pitched shaky voice announced behind Sasuke.
He despised being sneaked up on, his expression shifted from his neutrality into annoyance. Sasuke was prepared to rudely dismiss whatever girl spoke to him in such manner, only, as soon as he turned around his annoyance instantly faded away, replenished by a subtle parting in his lips.
"That keychain, it belongs to me." The pink little girl squeaked stomping her feet on the ground — it barely made a sound — she tried to pose herself as threatening as she could possibly be, which wasn't much.
Sasuke took less than a moment to absorb the girl's face, the one he was hoping to see all day but didn't linger for a second longer than he should admiring it before bluntly furrowing his dark brows.
The pale skin on her cheeks were suddenly flushed with crismond red.
Sasuke was aware of it and so was Sakura clearly, her palms instinctively planted against the side of her small face as an act to somehow stop the heat spreading across her face.
That moment, the second Sasuke locked eyes with Sakura, that was the moment a little girl's heart learned what was — and how it felt to like a boy. She couldn't understand it of course, at such a young age there is no way to tell what sensations such as these even mean or how they affect not only your mind, but also your body.
The tears Sakura shed yesterday however, they overruled whatever that new strange feeling which sent butterflies to her stomach was, she was painfully devastated that the chance to gift someone she loved was stolen from her. Sakura's newly discovered sentiment towards this unknown boy might have been enough to fit him into the category of someone worth receiving her present, but she wasn't the one to hand it to Sasuke, instead, he took it without her consent.
That alone was enough to bring her lovestruck mind back to reality. "Please give me back." She stated, voice softer than before.
Sasuke seemed unbothered, but the longing in his eyes while he admired the cherry blossoms in his hand gave away that he did not wish nor intend to return it.
Sakura grew increasingly impatient by his silence, 'is he ignoring me?'
"Give it back!" She yelled.
Sasuke's attention was once more caught on the little girl before him, his countenance expressionless. "Were you crying?" He asked, his tone didn't give it away but this only added to his disdain towards her evident weak nature.
Sakura seemed shocked, "Huh?" she questioned.
Her eyes were a bit puffy and her sclera (the white part in her eyes) was uncommonly red.
"You look like you were crying." Sasuke stated.
Sakura did in fact cry earlier that day as well but she believed there were no traces left in her face to expose her. "I was, but that has nothing to do with you." She crossed her arms. "Now give me back!" Sakura insisted.
Sasuke ignored her attempt to retrieve the cherry blossom keychain. "Why were you crying?"
Sakura immediately stiffened, her green irises tilted upwards — little hands covering her forehead. She could already feel the water droplets form around her eyes once again recalling today's earlier events.
Sasuke became annoyed, he did not want to deal with someone crying. "Nevermind." He glanced at the object in his hands, unsure of what to do regarding it now. "I want to keep it." Sasuke said honestly.
Sakura began to speak up once again, "But-" an older male voice interrupted her.
"Sasuke," It was Itachi, he eyed both children trying to understand what was unravelling between the two of them. He was quick to understand the whole situation, the cherry blossoms in Sasuke's hands, the pink haired girl who had the same keychain on her bag.
Itachi lowered himself to meet Sakura face to face. "Is that yours?" He asked kindly.
"It is." Sakura nodded shyly, the older Uchiha's presence was scary to deal with. "I made it yesterday and lost it on my way home." She added reluctantly.
Itachi looked at Sasuke, his little brother seemed apprehensive as if he already knew what would come out of Itachi's mouth in the next few seconds. "Return it to her Sasuke..."
The younger Uchiha wouldn't be stubborn, he looked disappointed but reached out to Sakura's hand to give back her keychain.
An emotion Sakura was particularly accustomed to was sadness, she had always been empathetic towards others, sometimes even more than she is to her own self. Seeing Sasuke become affected by losing the little object, Sakura rethinked her decision to take it back. "He can keep it." She looked down, fidgeting with her fingers.
The two boys seemed confused, especially Sasuke. He couldn't understand why she would surrender so easily after winning. Unlike Sakura, he did not quite grasp the concept of thinking of others — to him, you should always seek the best outcome for yourself.
Itachi broke the silence while his brother still tried to understand the girl's actions. "Are you sure?"
Sakura nodded once again. "Yes I am." She answered, hoping that this would make the young Uchiha's sadness leave his eyes.
Sasuke retrieved his arm, the keychain securely held in his hand. He glanced at Sakura, her pretty green eyes searching for something from Sasuke, he remained quiet blankly staring at her. The hope in Sakura's eyes faded away eventually, she slowly began leaving turning on her step.
Itachi mumbled something into Sasuke's ear.
Sasuke shot his brother a look of disapproval, Itachi simply elbowed Sasuke in response.
Unsure of what the little girl's name was, Sasuke tried anything that would catch her attention. "Pink girl!" He said, not a scream, just loud enough for Sakura to hear him.
She turned around to meet Sasuke's eyes once again, something within her heart felt warm, not only because she was grateful he no longer looked sad, but also because Sasuke made her feel something she didn't understand — the need to protect, to maintain contact, to understand — that was love growing in her, but Sakura didn't know love beyond the love a daughter could have towards her parents.
She attentively waited for his words, words that Sasuke seemed to be having a hard time to process.
"...Thank you." He finally spoke, for the first time Sasuke spoke in a tone he despised, he sounded embarrassed.
Sakura blushed at the sudden gratitude. Sasuke's eyes widened at the sight before he looked away, tugging on Itachi's clothes hurriedly to leave. Itachi placed his hand on his brother's back, gently pushing him indicating they would make their way back home as Sasuke wished. The older Uchiha waved Sakura goodbye as he walked away, to which Sakura responded simply by shyly raising her hand.