Promises
"Sasuke?" She looked up, golden eyes wide with adoration and love.
He turned to look at her, noticing the way her eyes sparkled in the last rays of sunlight, "Yes?" He asked, hugging her tightly.
She nuzzled her way into his chest, breathing in the fresh scent of his clothing, "I…. I love you…" She whispered, squeezing her eyes shut in embarrassment.
Sasuke looked down, smiling and tipping her chin so she was looking into his eyes, "I love you too, Tsukiko."
Tsukiko's eyes flew open, her lips curved into a perfect 'o'. "Really?" She gasped, staring at her heart's only love.
Sasuke nodded and laughed "Of course! I'll always love you Tsukiko!" He grinned, leaning over to pick a buttercup that swayed lightly in the autumn breeze. "I swear on this flower, that I'll love you and protect you forever! And together we'll become the greatest ninjas the world has ever seen!" He cried, holding the buttercup proudly in front of him.
Tsukiko smiled and reached for Sasuke's hand, intertwining her fingers with his, "I think we can do it, Sasuke!" She chimed, leaning over and kissing him sweetly on the cheek.
His cheeks flushed, his hand instinctively reached up to rub his cheek where her lips had touched. "Here, you should have this… You're better at keeping things than I am." He smiled, tucking the yellow flower behind her ear.
"Tsukiko, sweetie! Time to come home!"
A frown crossed the young girl's face as she gazed down the hill they sat upon, hearing her Mother call for her. "Awhh…" She muttered, her sensitive ears caught the sound of Sasuke's mom calling as well.
"Don't frown... we'll see each other tomorrow!" Sasuke reminded, pulling Tsukiko to her feet
She nodded and smiled, "Yeah, at academy!" She giggled turning and walking away, "Bye, Sasuke!" She called over her shoulder.
He paused, reaching out and catching her hand "Wait," He breathed, pulling her close.
Tsukiko looked up at him in confusion "What is it Sasuke?" She asked, smiling at him.
He bent forward and his lips pressed against hers for just a moment. Tsukiko's eyes fluttered closed, and then he was gone, running down the hill, cheeks burning with embarrassment. Tsukiko watched him run, her own cheeks burned pink as she ran back to her house.
:::
"Welcome home honey, how was your afternoon?" Her mother asked. The familiar aroma of steaming vegetables and roasting meat tickled Tsukiko's senses as she rounded the corner.
"Look Mama! Sasuke he, he promised me his love! And that we'll become great ninjas together!" Tsukiko sang, twirling circles around the kitchen.
Rin smiled happily, gazing down at her young daughter "That's nice to hear sweetie! Sasuke is a good boy."
Tsukiko nodded in agreement, pulling the flower from behind her ear to make sure it wasn't injured or lost.
"Why don't you go and press the flower? It'll save the flower so you can keep it forever." Rin offered, looking over at Tsukiko.
Tsukiko ran upstairs, grabbed the picture off of her nightstand and began carefully taking it apart. She placed the flower between the glass and the picture, before placing the backing in again. She lay back and looked at the picture, giggling as she hugged it tightly to her chest. She was in love with this boy, and there was nothing that was going to change that.
:::
Tsukiko and Sasuke had been childhood sweethearts since anyone could remember; wherever one went, the other always followed. Always together, and so in love nothing could separate them.
:::
After Academy Sasuke and Tsukiko both stayed after to sharpen their shuriken-throwing technique. They ran home together, only to trip over the disturbing silence. Tsukiko instinctively reached for Sasuke's arm, whimpering in fear as she stepped behind him.
"What's going on, Sasuke?" She asked, looking up in confusion.
Sasuke led her down the main-street, flinching backwards when he spotted the dead bodies. Tsukiko let out a whimper of anxiety, and he pulled her into his body, burying her head into his chest.
"Go home." He quietly ordered, slowly letting her go.
Tsukiko continued to cling, shaking her head, "I don't want to leave you Sasuke!" She cried.
He pushed her away, putting on his strongest face, "You'll be fine Tsukiko. Go home and wait for me… I promise I'll come back and get you."
Tsukiko slowly nodded, unlocking her grip on his body as she stepped over the dead bodies that littered the ground. He watched her run back towards her house before he ventured to his own.
:::
Tsukiko tore off her sandals, tripping while she scrambled inside. "MAMA? PAPA? WHERE ARE YOU?" She screamed, running through the house, desperately searching for her parents. An eerie silence fell over the house as she listened, straining to hear any sound of life. *THUD* She looked up, running to the back doors and throwing them open. She scrambled out onto her back deck, a scream of horror rising from her lips.
"MAMA! PAPA!" She wailed, running over to the limp bodies of her parents.
The moonlight danced on the crimson puddle their bodies were immersed in, giving it a silvery tint.
"T-Tsukiko…" Her mother's eyes slowly opened.
"MAMA!" She screamed, hugging her tightly, Rin winced in pain pushing her daughter off of her. "Mama! MAMA! W-What happened?" Tsukiko sobbed, her legs and jacket were covered in blood that didn't belong to her.
"Run… you must get away! Before he comes back!" Rin hissed, trying to push her little one away.
Tsukiko clung tightly "Who mama? Who! I don't want to leave!"
Rin let out an exasperated laugh "Please, do it for me… I-I'm so sorry… I couldn't protect you…" Her words were muted, and her chest stopped moving.
"Mama? Mama? MAMA!" Tsukiko's wail shook the air, it rang with agony and pain, the loss of her parents tore her soul to pieces. Her tears mixed with the crimson stain of the porch as she sobbed over the stilled bodies of her parents.
Footsteps sounded behind her, and she jumped up, "SASUKE!" She cried, ignorant to how wrong she was.