Note: Since last year we started to hold a bi-weekly Writing Challenge in Ice&Spice (the SasuKarin FC at NarutoForums), and it just occurred to me that I never cross-posted any of my submissions to this account. So, I'll start doing that now; most of them (last years' entries, as well as anything I may submit to the Challenge this year) will be posted here as part of this Oneshot Series, while the others I may post as stand-alones.

For now, this one was originally written and posted on the FC on October, 2012, for that week's writing prompt: fate.

.

.

.

Red Strings;

by Kanae

—

1. Red string of fate ; prompt: fate

It was a sunny Sunday in Konoha, which found the village's street crowded with people. Among them was a young couple, their solemn expressions a stark contrast to their cheerful surroundings.

"To think Kushina-nee passed away two years ago, and they did not tell us a word about it…."

"Not like they could have… only she and aniki knew where to find us," the man shakes his head, sadly. "We… really should have known better the moment we heard the Yellow Flash was no longer Hokage."

His wife frowns. "Even so… they should've at least let us see the child!"

"Maa… it was a miracle they even told us about him."

"Tch, we're his family! We had the right to know!"

The man hurriedly puts a finger to his lip and gives a wary look-around. "Shh, don't be so loud, Uzume! We can't afford to attract any attention to us."

"I know," the woman—Uzume—stubbornly remarks, making a little dissatisfied sound deep in her throat. But she pulls down on her coat's hood despite her complaint, making sure her hair and face were fully concealed from onlookers.

"Plus," her husband whispers, giving a pointed glance at the bundle held in her arms. "You know how sensitive she is… she doesn't like it when you get mad."

"…you're right," Uzume forlornly agrees after a moment of silent contemplation, giving the little girl in her arms an apologetic smile. "…I'm sorry, Karin."

Karin's only reply is a curious stare and a thoughtful bite on her thumb; her big eyes were wide and observing, attentively following the every change in her parent's demeanors. Ever since they had gone to the office of the old man with the funny hat, her parents seemed to be sad about something, but she could not tell what the reason behind it was. They had breakfast and it wasn't rainy nor hot; what was there to be sad about?

Noticing her inquisitive stare, her father gives her a warm smile that comes out a little tight at the seams. Far from making her feel at ease it fills her petite body with discomfort and the toddler sinks herself further into her mother's arms, wanting to escape the unpleasant sight.

So focused is she on putting some distance between herself and her father's fake smile, that she does not notice the pair passing by them and walking into the opposite direction.

But the boy does notice her—and his gray eyes widen with amazement, one of his dainty hands letting go of the dress-strap he had been playing with and reaching forward to grasp something else entirely.

A lock of hair as red as a—

"Tomato!"

Startled by the pull, Karin looks back only to meet the eyes of a black-haired boy who was perched on his mother's shoulder; distinctive strands of red hair dangling from his fingertips, an unmistakable tie to her.

Yet, the boy seemed unashamed of his action.

"To~ma~to!" he merrily intones, much to her bewilderment.

Karin's eyes water. While only slightly painful, the hair-pull had been unexpected and uncalled-for. She puffs out her cheeks, indignant—but any semblance of annoyance promptly abandons her as the boy's cheeky beam enlarged into a grin.

A grin so bright, so warm, that it made something in her little chest tighten and then speed up—ba-thump ba-thump—like it would when she was playing in the backyard, chasing butterflies and dreams of tomorrow and running as far as her petite limbs could carry her. So warm that it was like sunrays dancing across her cheeks, the sensation making her toes curl.

Oblivious to it all, Uchiha Mikoto is giving Uzumaki Uzume an apologetic smile over her shoulder. "Ara ara, Sasuke~! That wasn't very gallant of you."

She whispers to her child, but Sasuke pays little attention to her, his eyes still fixated on the redheaded girl—who was currently crawling over her mother's shoulder in an attempt to keep looking at him despite the increasing distance between them.

"See ya~!" he yells with a wave, and watches as a pretty beam curves up her pink lips, lighting up her face.

"Mou, what's the matter, Karin?"

Her mother inquires, trying in vain to keep the toddler still; but Karin pays her no heed. She didn't know who he was or what he was called—just like she did not know the reason for their visit to his village, or for her parent's sadness.

But she did know one thing.

Just like she had wanted to get away from her dad's smile, she wanted to get as close as possible to this boy's—she liked that smile.

She wanted to keep looking at it forever.

But forever are not meant to be at the reach of a two year old like her; not yet. And so Uzumaki Karin helplessly watches as he gets further and further away, their parents taking them into opposite directions.

10 years later, their paths cross again.

Their minds do not recall that chance encounter—but their hearts do.

And so Uchiha Sasuke finds his lips stretching out on their own at the sight of her red hair and bewildered face, and Uzumaki Karin finds her cheeks heating up—her heart skipping a beat and wanting to make a run out of her chest, as if to meet an old friend.

And as fate would have it, maybe their forever started then.

—

end.

Ahh young!SasuKarin are my Achilles heel, I can't deny it. The setting and timeline were kept vague on purpose, but I was just playing with the thought of Karin's parents knowing Kushina and Minato, and being on good terms with them until the moment of their deaths.

Thanks a lot for reading (or re-reading, if you frequent Ice&Spice), and if you've got some time, please do let me know your thoughts~!

- Kanae