logs | (catch-all)

Well. Me n-neither. [Somehow this feels like a less than ideal outcome. Her mouth twists.] S-omeone else can have it then.

[She glances down as the position switches, flexing her fingers in kind. The point of the crystal shifts and stings her palm. Rather than complain, she tightens the grip. Presses it in. That sharp pressure helps quail her colicky nerves, much like biting her lip or her thumb.

Though it doesn't stop her doing either of those things. Her free hand has drifted to her mouth, and she lays into the bed of her nail as she watches the other girl. What's with this sudden coyness?]

Wh-what do you mean, you're still learning? Doesn't everyone here l-like you? [Sure seemed that way.] Or — were you b-banned from making close attachments? Because of your...

[She tilts her head meaningfully. This mysterious kung fu background is still murky territory, and she's not sure what's safe to pry at.]

What? No — no, nothing like that.

（ this is the story of how she's going to eventually break down and tell fukawa the truth just because she's tired of the wild conjecture. she sighs, and then: ）

You already know more about me than most of the others. For now... I guess people like that I'm useful. But I don't believe you can actually like someone — genuinely, I mean — until you know them at least a little bit. Nothing's real until then.

（ is this self-admonition? maybe a little.

(#longing look into the middle distance while thinking sadly of sasuke)

— but it's not like she's averse to getting to know the people here, after all, but... d, and felix and fukawa are really the only ones that have dug any more deeply than the surface. ）

You said yourself, right? I could be anyone. This could all be an act.

[That's how you get 'em: wear 'em down.

There's an empathetic twinge in her chest. Isn't that the most reliable way to curry favour? If you can't be beautiful, be useful. Sakura may not rely on it the same way Fukawa has to, but there's a wistful tone to her voice that tugs at her maiden heart.

Could this be about a boy?

There's little elaboration though, and Fukawa frowns as she chastizes herself for possibly maintaining a front.]

W-well...I don't believe that's true anymore! [She steps a touch closer, facing Sakura more head on.] Or at least whatever's secret d-doesn't change much about how you act. Th-those other bitches — they only got away with it b-because no one could have expected anything of them! They played dumb and everybody believed it. You're still you, you j-just have to keep some things quiet. That's a huge difference!

So. The parts of you that you can show, those still count. And people like them just fine, so they'll p-probably like the rest of you too.

（ she. was not expecting that?? it's obvious in the way she sort of freezes when fukawa swings around to face her directly, and while she doesn't actually step back there's a barely-noticeable shift of her weight to her back foot. a martial artist's response to the unexpected.

her brow wrinkles at what the other girl says. she wouldn't have thought that fukawa was one to offer that sort of validation and warmth. unpracticed, maybe, but she's trying. an odd warmth suffuses her, and she gives the other girl a playful little smile that crinkles the corners of her eyes. ）

Hah, （ it's more like an exhalation of breath than an outright laugh, drawn out a bit in the middle. ） you think so?

（ the question's rhetorical, fukawa has made it quite clear where she stands. ）

Well... thank you. That means a lot from you.

[There is, of course, some flustered spluttering. And naturally her ears and cheeks flush pink, any shift in blood flow shows at once when you've got the complexion of a corpse. She wasn't expecting Sakura to smile like that. How dare she, manipulating her with her winsome expressions. She doesn't even like girls that way!

Infuriating.]

I'm j-just speaking practically! Use your head. [Grumble grumble, glance away.] You're n-not faking your whole personality so you'll probably be fine. Unless you're an enormous pervert b-behind closed doors.

（ uhhhHHHHH yeah about that

quietly hides all her little fantasies about being in a sai/sasuke sandwich that is one hundred percent konohamaru's fault and maybe a little bit naruto's because of his stupid antics against kaguya???

hides them.

deep, deep down.

but it's also sort of sad that her idea of SECRET ENORMOUS PERVERT is literally just 'a threesome where men look after me and tell me i'm pretty'. what even is sex ed in konoha, don't know ha. ）

Haha! No, I like to think I'm pretty normal there...

[this is both valid and yet extremely sad, Sakura we need to get you some Ao3 bookmarks

Unfortunately the one area of human behaviour Fukawa can easily read is any degree of filth. Suddenly there's a curious glint in her eye, a smug quirk to the end of her mouth.]

Oh? What's normal? [That smile grows a teeeeeeensy but wider.] Is it l-like, a honeymoon by the sea, where you h-hold hands and watch the sunset?

Or is it th-thinking about several people at once, writhing in one mass? Chains and whips? Exploring each other's b-bodies in public, somewhere you might get caught? Or would you have an audience?

（ e-excuse her. sakura may have turned a completely horrific shade of red that clashes mightily with her hair, and she's maybe trying to make herself notably smaller by hunching her shoulders up. her free hand covers her face as she makes a noise not entirely unlike a squeaky toy. calm and competent medical professional whomst? ）

N-nothing like that! The first one! Honeymoons! （ and added in quiet horror: ） You make it sound like leeches...

[Heh heh heh

HEH]

Oh. So that's the k-kind of girl you are. I see. How very respectable of you. [Your fantasy game is weak. Though this is pretty funny. ~~and cute~~] Why are you thinking of leeches, though? B-because of the long and smooth shape? Or because they're wet and sticky?

[Okay she'll stop it's just one for the road.]

（ quiet internal screech. sakura just groans, and then deliberately nudges into fukawa's space with a shoulder-check that's only mostly gentle. in a faintly creaky voice, ）

I'm going to find a river to throw you in if you keep on like that.

（ please. have mercy. she needs an adult. ）

[Alas they are forever unchaperoned. Not that it matters because she's successfully knocked Fukawa off her high horse.]

What?! N-no don't do that! I'll get wet! [Brilliant deduction there. She deflates to her usual grumbling self, muttering complaints to the wind.] I can b-barely swim anyway. I'll definitely drown.

Oh, don't worry, I wouldn't let you drown.

（ ninjas can stand on water, clearly this is superior to lifeguarding. plus, her resuscitation game is on point. ）

Just not a fan of swimming?

[y'all are op as hell, damn]

N-not a fan of water, generally... [For reasons canon will only imply and never confirm, except that they are Not Good.] I'd rather stay on the beach and read, thanks.

Not even hotsprings?

（ don't do this to her. don't reject only the best experience you can have with your clothes off!!!

wow, the bar is on the floor, huh? ）

[my god, sakura.

Not that furious virgin Fukawa can talk. For all her foul words she has a pathetically limited oeuvre when it comes to intimacy. For example:]

No. Are you k-kidding? [Just look at her. look at her. Does anything about Fukawa scream fun spa day?] Even m-my parents wouldn't take me there.

[They also wouldn't take her anywhere, but no one really needs to hear that.]

Well, I don't see your parents anywhere, do you?

（ with a mischievous little smile, she reaches up and pokes fukawa's forehead. ）

Come on. After we finish this gig for Esmeralda, why don't we go? Nothing like a hotspring on a cold day!

[Her eyes cross as that finger approaches. At the poke she bobs her head back in mild distress, mouth open to scold her for these pesky antics.

Instead, she squawks.]

What? Seriously? B-but, then we'd have to be...exposed to each other...

[Oh my god oh my goodness oh my gosh]

Is that weird where you're from?

（ it's asked with a curious little lift of her eyebrows. she's never actually thought about it like that before, it's just... you know. that's the normal way to be in a hotspring for her! ）

N-no, people do — it's just —

[haha wow is it getting hot in here? Fukawa wipes the first dusting of sweat from her brow.]

I-I-I've never revealed myself before...too risky...

[the mom from Carrie's voice: THEY'RE ALL GONNA LAUGH AT YOU!]

Well, if it makes you uncomfortable you don't have to. Or we could get you a bathing suit? I'm sure they sell them somewhere in Mirth...

（ a little weird to wear one in an onsen, but she's not going to complain about it. breaking tradition to be comfortable is more important than conforming, anyway. ）

No! Th-that's even worse!

[She'd stick out like a sore thumb. Moreover, it would be a mark of her cowardice. Or draw further curiosity, unwanted curiosity.]

I'll do it! [It's blurted out before the conclusion even settles in her mind.] I w-will — I will conquer the hot springs!

[Her free hand clenches into a fist and her jaw sets with determination. Though there is still sweat sprouting along her hairline.]

I r-refuse to f-fail another ch-ch-challenge...

（ wow, she is so cute. sakura just beams at her, and — ）

Oh! The crystal. Did you feel that? I think it's charged up.

（ where it sits between them, it's now softly emanating heat. surely that's proof enough, right? ）

[Her greatest weakness, a direct beam of dere energy...free her from its forces.]

Oh! [She flexes her fingers. It's about what the woman had said it would feel like. She waves Esmeralda over and the woman takes a quick peek at their hard work.

"That does look well handled, ladies! Good show." She smiles brightly at them both. "It'll fetch a fair price for sure. Here you are, your earnings. Make sure to spoil yourselves rotten. Two gorgeous things like you, ain't nothing worse than tucking your coins away for when you're too old and pickled to enjoy them. Off you go, now!"

Fukawa doesn't even get to protest the compliments. She's much too flustered by the incoming trial. Her hand curls over her share of coins and she thrusts them into her pocket.]

It's n-not far, I don't think? The springs?

Nope! It's just a few blocks away. It's a nice spot, I've gone a few times after my shift at the clinic.

（ self-care is important. sometimes, you just need to relax. ）

So you've already left your sc-scent all over the place. [Fukawa purses her lips.] Okay, well. L-let's go then. At least it won't be two strangers appearing suddenly. Th-that's way too suspicious.

[How, she will not clarify. Her only goal is to never be perceived, so a jaunt to the Hot Springs poses a vital threat.

Nevertheless, they arrive shortly. Towel rentals are cheap, and the place is dead quiet. They'll have it to themselves at this time of day, thankfully enough. Fukawa's eyes dart around nervously, though they purposefully miss Sakura each time. Each mounting second before they shuck clothes and descend into the water is another tick on a time bomb.]

Y-you go in first. I need to...prepare myself.

[Mentally.]

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shoots the word "sasuke" off this tag annie oakley style

somewhere in the distance sasuke stubs his toe mysteriously

he should stub his stupid face (love u julia)

but then he wouldn't be hot and that would be ANARCHY IN THE STREETS

ugh fine he can keep his face intact I GUESS (also cw: pervert talk)

just girls bein' gross

As they should be!!

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