Secret Gift For Him

July 206:00 p.m.

———Since the sun was starting to set, Sasuke and Sakura decided to stay in a nearby village for the night. When the two found a hotel to stay at, Sasuke was about to check in for them before Sakura gently pushed him away from the front desk and addressing the receptionist. "Excuse me, miss? Can we get a room for four nights please?" Sakura asked politely.

Sasuke stared at Sakura with a confused expression. He'd already told her that they'd be leaving in the morning. But before he could contest this, Sakura paid for the room and received the key for it before taking his hand and leading him to the room.

Once they were in the room, Sakura put her stuff down before turning to Sasuke. "So...I know what you're thinking..." she started as she took his hand in hers, "but your birthday is coming soon so I was thinking that we could stay here and celebrate it!"

In all honesty, Sasuke would rather not make a big deal out of his birthday. It was a regular day just like any other. "But Sakura..." he sighed.

"But what? You feel bad for forgetting about my birthday? I already told you that it was a fine." Sakura chuckled.

Sasuke's body tensed up and his jaw tightened. He'd completely forgotten that he forgot about Sakura's birthday. This made him feel awful. Sasuke looked to the side, visibly shameful of himself.

Sakura sighed as her happy expression softened. "I couldn't care less about my birthday. I've already spent years celebrating it with family and friends. But you didn't get to have that and that's not fair. So let me have the chance to give that to you...please..." she said sweetly.

After a moment of silence, Sasuke shyly faced Sakura again with a look of guilt in his eyes. "Why do you have to be so caring towards me..?" he asked, "Even after I've given you no reason to care for me..."

"That's easy. It's because I love you." she said with a warm smile before hugging him. "And nothing will ever change that, ok?"

Sasuke hugged her back, tighter than she'd hugged him. He didn't say anything, knowing that whatever he could possibly say would amount to nothing compared to what Sakura had told him. The two stayed like this for a while, enjoying the feeling of their bodies pressed against each other.

Sakura was the first to pull away from the hug. "I'll be right back. I'm going to go buy some things." she said.

"I'll go with-" Sasuke started before being cut off by Sakura.

"No no no! You stay here." she said nervously. "Or go find something else to do...I want to go alone. I'll be back in like...an hour." Sakura then walked over to the front door. "And don't follow me. I'm serious." she said in a more serious tone before leaving.

Confused, Sasuke stood there and stared at the door after she left. Normally, Sakura would insist on being him with her whenever she went shopping in a new village. But why is it different this time. This left Sasuke feeling lost. Not knowing what to do with himself, Sasuke didn't move from that spot.

—July 209:12 p.m.—

When Sakura returned, she was surprised to find Sasuke standing in the same spot that she'd left him. Worried, Sakura put down the bags she was holding and ran up to him. "Sasuke, are you ok? Why are you still here?"

"You were gone for two hours, fifty-one minutes, and twenty-nine seconds." he said somewhat sadly.

Sakura frowned a little. Was he upset that she was gone for so long? "Tell me that you did something other than wait for me..." she asked, concerned for him.

"What did you buy?" Sasuke asked, trying to avoid answering her question.

Knowing that he wouldn't answer her, Sakura sighed. "I got us some food, medical supplies, and some other things." she said as she went to get the bags.

"What are those 'other things'?" Sasuke asked as he followed her and tried to look in the bags.

Sakura held the bags behind her so that he wouldn't see what was in them. "I said 'other things' for a reason, Sasuke. Don't worry about what it is. Let's just eat, ok?" she said with a sweet smile.

"Hn..." Sasuke was curious as to what she'd gotten but she seemed to be really protective about it. Maybe she's embarrassed of what she got? Or maybe it was something for his birthday. Sasuke spent the next few days wondering if she'd tell him what it was.

The two went on with their night mostly in silence. This wasn't unusual so they didn't mind it. However, they both had their mind on one thing that was causing a bit of tension in the air: the thing, or things, that Sakura had bought.

—July 225:10 p.m.—

As much as Sakura wanted to explore the village with Sasuke, she knew he wasn't a 'people person' so they hadn't left their room since they'd arrived. But she tried to make the best of restricting herself to this room with him.

Sasuke was staring out of a window alone before Sakura walked next to him , seemingly excited about something. He faced her and waited for her to speak.

"Are you excited for tomorrow?" Sakura asked happily. "I'm pretty excited so I think you should be too."

"Are you throwing a party for me or something?" he asked nervously, cringing at the thought of a party.

Sakura rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Now why would I do that to you on your own birthday?" she laughed softly. "I'll give you a hint: it has something to do with what I bought."

This caught his attention as he thought that she was finally going to tell him what she got. "How so?" he asked.

"Hey, I said I was giving you a hint and that's all. You'll see tomorrow! I promise." she said.

"Ok...sure." he said before going back to looking out the window. Sasuke wasn't sure what she possibly could've gotten him for his birthday this time so he began to think of the different possibilities of gifts she could've gotten.

While Sasuke was lost in his thoughts, Sakura took this opportunity to stare at him. He always looked so cool whenever he'd contemplate on things. And the fact that Sasuke's ok with her staring at him always melts her heart...in fact, Sasuke's very existence was enough to make her melt. There was nothing Sakura wouldn't do for him. The longer she stared at him, the more excited she got to give him his birthday gift...———

This is the end of the chapter! I hope you enjoyed!

{A/N: Sorry for the short chapter. I've been busy today and I'm super tired from staying up late the past few nights lol.}