Daffodil
by Diana-san

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

A strong flower that waits for the hope of spring. But all the flowers have been picked except for one. The one girl who is still waiting for Sasuke to come home.

01. Daffodil

Ever since Naruto and Hinata got married, all it has ever been since then was more weddings and happy couples. Shikamaru and Temari got married soon after as well as Chouji and Karui. What became a shocker to Sakura was when Sai and Ino announced their wedding completely out of nowhere. Sakura had noticed the two got friendly ever since a while back but as she sat in her bridesmaid dress as Ino's maid of honor, Sakura couldn't help but feeling as if she was soon going to be the only single bachelorette in town.

She glanced over at Tenten. Of course, Tenten still didn't get married yet. Sakura figured that Tenten's heart still belonged to Neji even after his death. Sakura's eyes wandered over to Lee, who caught her noticing, as he flashed a big smile at her. Likewise, after all these years, Lee was still pining after her. Sakura sighed but quickly sat up straight. She had to put on a big smile. It was Ino's big day after all.

Sakura made her way over to the Hokage tower with a stack of files in her hand. Ever since Tsunade stepped down as Hokage and Kakashi had taken over, Sakura had been busy with her new duties as the Hokage's assistant. Right-hand woman is what Sakura like to call it.

"Kakashi-sensei! Ah, Hokage-sama," Sakura corrected herself as she barged into the room.

Kakashi looked up from a scroll he was reading as his lazy eye gazed up at his former student.

"Sakura, you're here finally. These scrolls need to be delivered back," Kakashi said as he gestured over to a large pile on his desk.

Sakura sighed as she placed the stack in her hand on top of his desk. "And these need to be looked over immediately."

He nodded as he returned to his scroll but he knew that Sakura had more to say. He could sense it in the way she hesitated as she hovered slowly in front of the scrolls on his desk. He lowered his scroll again. He was her teacher far too long to not know when something is bothering her. It was another reason on why he chose Sakura to be his assistant-er, right hand woman. He trusted her intellect and instinct and also the fact that she knew him just as well as he knew her.

"What's wrong, Sakura?"

Sakura glanced up from the pile of scrolls. "Has…has Sasuke sent any letters?"

Kakashi's eyes twinkled slightly. Even after so long, Sakura was still patiently waiting for Sasuke to return. Sasuke had been diligently sending letters back to Kakashi each time he had found new information about nearby territories or enemies. Of course, as Hokage, Kakashi had forced Sasuke to write back regardless if there was information or not. Kakashi needed to keep tabs on him, and even more so since Sasuke was also his former student.

Sakura would always be curious of what Sasuke would write back. They were usually just the usual business protocol of the places he visited or the people he met with. Once in awhile, Sasuke would inquire if the village was doing well. Sakura had hoped that it meant that he was referring more about Team 7. But Sasuke was never one to state it explicitly.

Kakashi shook his head and Sakura gave a sad smile as she nodded and scooped up the rest of the scrolls from the desk. "I'll be back shortly for the rest," she said as she turned curtly and walked towards the door.

Kakashi sighed as he pulled out a drawer from underneath his desk and took out a few parchment of letters from inside. They were letters also sent by Sasuke but were separate from the usual long business letters. Kakashi opened the first one.

There might be more information to be found in the Land of Iron. I shall head there shortly as soon as you receive this message. –Sasuke

Kakashi had responded back quickly.

Sakura misses you greatly. As do the rest of us. Naruto whines somewhat less now about you now that he has Hinata. –Kakashi

Sasuke had returned a letter a few days later.

Naruto whines about everything.

Kakashi smiled as he continued to read the messages sent back and forth between him and Sasuke.

Three years has been long enough. Isn't it time you come home? –Kakashi

There still is so much more to see. –Sasuke

If you continue to wander for so long, Sakura might get snatched away from you. Lee is still very much fawning after her. Now that Sai and Ino have gotten married, it seems only natural that Sakura is next. Keep that in mind. –Kakashi

Land of Iron had no new information. I will leave now. Give word of my return. –Sasuke

Kakashi smiled. If Sakura only knew that Sasuke would be home in no later than three days. Kakashi wondered if he should tell her. Sasuke did say give word. But what would be the fun in that?

Sakura glanced out her window. Another hawk had landed on her window sill with a daffodil in his beak. The hawk gazed at her before setting down the flower and flying off. Sakura opened the window as she reached out to pick up the daffodil. It was the fifth one this week.

Her thoughts immediately flashed to Sasuke. She had given him daffodils before when he was checked into the hospital. She twirled the stem in her hand as she absentmindedly stared off into space. Without a second thought, she placed it into her vase by the window. She had to get back to the Hokage tower. Kakashi had said something important was going to happen today.

As she walked to the Hokage tower, she wondered why it seemed less busy in the streets today. Usually there would be a crowd bustling about the marketplace. Today, it was quieter than usual as a few passerby went by her.

She ran up the steps leading up to the Hokage room and was surprised to see that it was empty. She walked over to the desk where there was a single note stuck on top.

Meet me by the Konoha Gates.

It was a vague message. Why would Kakashi want to meet at the gates?

A small chill went up her spine as her feet turned quickly to leave the Hokage room. It was the same feeling she got when she knew that Sasuke was leaving. Only this time, it was slightly different. Sasuke was coming home.

Like the wind, she flew down the steps two at a time as she ran all the way to the gates, never once stopping to catch her breath. She ignored the curious gazes of the village people as she hopped across the buildings in the fastest shortcut she knew to the gates.

'Please, please be home.'

She slowed down as she came to a stop near the gates. She walked past the bench that she once slept on the night Sasuke left. She held her breath as she saw a figure standing by the gates with his back to her.

There was no denying it. She recognized his back, his hair, his chakra, and everything that pertained to him. Even though his hairstyle was slightly different, she could tell it was him. He was taller and she could tell that he grew a lot as she walked closer.

She was scared to inch any closer as she stopped a few feet away from him. Surely, he would have noticed her presence by now. He probably sensed her from a mile away.

"Sasuke-kun?" she asked hesitantly as if unsure how he would respond.

He turned ever so slightly and soon he was facing her.

She blinked back tears when she saw his face. It looked like he had lost some weight, understandable since he had been away from home for so long. But he still looked the same. He still was the same Sasuke-kun she had loved all these years.

She covered her mouth with one hand as she tried to contain her hiccups which were slowly turning to loud sobs. She was embarrassed to be seen crying like this on his first day back in Konoha but she couldn't help it. She was just so happy to see him.

He walked closer to her with a slight hesitation in his steps as if unsure how to comfort the crying girl before him. Slowly, he reached out with his one good arm as he pulled Sakura in for a hug.

He said nothing but Sakura could feel his beating heart as she cried into his chest. He was back. Back for good. Even though he said nothing, she could tell by the way his arm held her tightly against his body.

"I'll see you when I'm back."

Those words echoed in the back of Sakura's mind. The same words that Sasuke had told her right before he left Konoha three years back in search of whatever it was he was looking for.

Sakura quieted down her sobs as her hiccups came to a slow stop. She stepped back to wipe away her tears and Sasuke watched her intently as she dried her eyes.

He waited patiently for Sakura to collect her thoughts and calm herself down. Finally, Sakura glanced up at him with a shy smile as she apologized for crying so suddenly.

Sasuke looked at her. "I'm sorry for making you cry for me."

Sakura shook her head. "No, it's not your fault."

He sighed. Of course it was. But Sakura wasn't going to see it that way ever. He opened his cloak as he pulled out something from one of his inside pockets before handing it to her.

Sakura's eyes widened as she took it from him.

"A daffodil?" she questioned.

"This would mark the 1000th," he responded.

She smiled. "You've been keeping count?"

"You have a lot of time to keep count when you're by yourself."

She brought the flower close to her nose as she inhaled the fresh scent. "A strong flower that waits for the hope of spring," she murmured.

"Thank you for waiting for me," Sasuke said, his eyes sincere with each word he said.

"Why 1000?"

"They're not paper cranes but after giving you 1000 daffodils, I hope that I would be granted a wish in return."

"What wish is that?" Sakura asked.

Sasuke cleared his throat as he slowly got down on one knee and unveiled a box underneath his sleeve. "Will you marry me?" he asked as he opened the box to reveal an engagement ring.

A wide smile broke out across Sakura's face as she threw her arms around Sasuke and hugged him tightly. She didn't have to say anything for him to know that it was a resounding yes. But just in case he didn't know, Sakura shouted out "yes!" a few times as he picked her up with his one arm.