Naruto: Blind

"We haven't been on our daily walk," he told her evenly and she raised her eyebrows slightly in surprise. She had always gotten the impression that Sasuke had never liked going on the walks because he never really considered it training to begin with; apparently she was wrong.

"Oh, well, we can do that instead if you like," she knew she had failed at masking the surprise in her voice, "Where would you like to go?"

"Has the sun set?"

Her confusion deepened, "…No, not yet, but—"

"I want to go somewhere where you can see the sunset," he told her, giving the small impatient tug on her arm, signifying that he wanted her to move.

She mentally winced at his words. She could never tell which was worse: when he metaphorically said that he saw things, or said that he wanted her to see things for him. Either way painfully reminded her of his condition and how terrible it must not be able to see.

"I think I know just the place," she told him after a moment's consideration, then pulled him along.

The sun was sinking slowly in the western horizon and she knew that if they wanted to get to that place in time to see the setting sun, they would have to hurry. They left the outdoor training grounds within fifteen minutes, and Sakura took Sasuke to the rooftops in order to avoid crowds on the streets when getting through town, a feat which Sasuke had a little difficulty with, but got the hang of it after about ten houses down the way. She expertly made her way across town a location where she knew they both had strong memories of. She notified Sasuke that she was going to jump down from the top of a building as they reached the location, Sakura pulling Sasuke over to a red wooden bridge. It was the bridge where they waited long periods of time—sometimes hours—for Kakashi to show up and oversee an upcoming mission.

"Where are we?" he asked, sounding utterly disoriented as she took both his hands and laid them on the railing of the bridge, facing towards the sunset.

"We're at the bridge where we would wait for Kakashi-sensei during our genin days," she remarked warmly, "The sunset should look nice from here."

She took a position next to him, looking over the small river that ran beneath them as the sun began to dip down below the canopy of the trees on the right bank. Making herself comfortable, she looked out over the peaceful scene; most people were at home eating dinner and as a result there was nobody around.

"Describe it to me," he told her after a brief moment, "Describe the sunset."

She cleared her throat and swept her gaze over the sky before beginning, "The sun is slowly sinking down in the sky on the western horizon, like a large orb of molten glass, glowing white. The sky is painted with a myriad of reds, yellows and oranges, wreathing the sun in a warm-hued rainbow, while the sky above us is fading into the indigo hues of twilight. A couple strands of cirrus clouds are drifting lazily ahead, glowing pink as they pass a patch of sky that is glowing a shade of vermilion.

"The sun is now dipping down behind the trees, and the broad leaves that have fully unfurled are silhouetted against the light, the edges rimmed in a golden glow—the sight seems almost supernatural. As they rustle in the wind, the light is scattered on the river's turbulent surface, and an array of shining ripples reflect the scattered light back up at us. As I look at you now, the light patterns shift over your face and dispel the shadows, seeming to fade into them and eradicate them.

"The sun has now disappeared behind the trees completely, and all that's left is the trace of gold which lines the arch of twilight that is setting in from behind. The cirrus clouds have faded to a lilac shade of purple and are slowly shifting to a midnight blue. The first star has appeared in the southwestern sky, shining like a shard of the purest crystal; the moon is nowhere to be seen."

She finished off her description, while gazing out at the river, watching the lone star tumble over the waves of the ultramarine surface, disappearing and reappearing from view. A cool breeze rippled through the air, and the heat that came from exercise had long worn off; she shivered.

"You should wear something warmer," he told her after a moment, standing perfectly still.

"After giving you a description like that, that's all you have to say to me?" she stated with mock irritation, a smile on her face.

He said nothing to this, falling into a thoughtful silence. She looked up at his serious face and she wondered what was on his mind; he was so unreadable, almost to the point that his world was intangible, untouchable. Even after living a month with him, he still was very reluctant to open up to her; while he told her things that she knew he would not tell anyone else, those occasions were rare, and often she had to prod him into telling her what he was thinking. He still was a tad wary around her, despite what he said to her in the hospital about trusting her, and even though she knew that she shouldn't be surprised, it hurt her a little.

"It was a good description," his voice was quiet, almost like he was saying it to himself rather than her.

Perhaps it was the tone in his voice, or maybe it was a wave of sympathy that suddenly washed over her as he uttered those words, but whatever the reason, she found herself compelled to do something to reassure him—reassure him of what, she did not know. Tentatively she slipped her arms around him, embracing him gently, as she looked out over the small river, the inconsistent flashes of light illuminating the both of them. He stiffened slightly under her touch but after a few seconds he accepted the gesture, and slowly, almost cautiously, he put an arm around her shoulders, holding her closer to him.

Surprise caused her breath to catch in her throat; she glanced up at him, and saw that his face was masked in complete seriousness. He was turned out towards the landscape, his expression completely devoid of emotion, his sightless eyes staring forward but focused on nothing. But even with a deceptive mask, or a cold demeanor, actions speak louder than words—and appearances.

"Sakura…" he murmured quietly, his words almost lost on the wind, "…Thank you."

Tears sprung up in her eyes at his words—the exact words he had imparted to her before he left the village, intent on never returning. The words prodded something deep within her soul, provoking memories that had been some of the saddest moments she had experienced. Never again—she promised herself, as they stood together on the bridge where their genin group used to meet—never again would she let him leave like that. She would not let him take that road again—the road that had caused him so much pain.

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