Sasuke grunted in greeting before shifting awkwardly on his feet. All week long he had made sure not to be left alone with Sakura and the minute the other men of Team 7 got wind of his avoidance they made sure to leave the two alone, a lot.

"Hey Sasuke-kun!"

His annoyance, like always simmered at the affectionate suffix, and the tree he was glaring at could finally relax from his intensity.

"What happened to your hand?" With a tug, she grabbed it from him, his wince was barely noticeable to a stranger, but to Sakura it spoke volumes. "Sasuke-kun, I warned you about this during the war!"

She held it in her own while her other hand started to glow green with chakra. The calming sensation from her medical nin-jutsu was something he had already grown familiar with, despite being apart for three years.

When she finished, he flexed his hand, or at least, he went to when he noticed she hadn't let go yet. Looking up, he saw the pink of her cheeks, and the look of shyness he hadn't seen in years.

She's cute.

"Uhm, Sasuke-kun?"

"..?"

"I was wondering, that is, if you're not busy, if you wanted to get some Ichiraku ramen with me?"

His passive face changed into a smirk, and he moved their hands so their fingers intertwined.

"Aa."

Her blush deepened but she still smiled up at him nonetheless. When she turned around to start walking, she missed the small smile that replaced the smirk.

Prompt: Holding Hands

July 1st, 2013