meme.

▐ ░ ✿; ; ; ▶

     to say the least, she was worried. the mission she had been sent on had definitely run over the time it was allotted. she was told two weeks — but it had quickly turned over to three, & then to four, & then to five. she wondered if her friends thought her to be dead by now. 

& god, did that thought kill her.

she is sitting quietly by her tent, tending to her tantou & various throwing weapons when the news is given.

          ’ mission’s over. th’ enemy nin surrendered — all medics can leave immediately upon notice. only one’s that gotta stay ’re .. whoever ain't a medic. ’

at the speed of light, it would seem, her weapons are tucked away safely & her group is headed back toward the village. the smile on her face is nothing short of ecstatic. 

the return takes three nights total. sakura refused to let them stop for anything unnecessary, & nobody seemed to be against it ( they wanted to get home just as badly as she did ).

she could feel the elation swelling inside her chest; so much so that it had easily become painful. they were headed toward the gates, & the jounin guarding them had been notified of their return so the heavy metal had already been opened & was shining brilliantly in the sunlight.

& she had never been so grateful to see trees in her entire life. villagers are standing by, watching with careful eyes to look for their husband, their wife, their child, their friend — anyone who had been embarked on this mission. after all, it was an s-rank; the most dangerous of them all.

immediately, the rosette is sorting through the faces of people in the crowd — the bag on her back weighs her down but it doesn’t stop her frantic movements. she sees a tuft of pink hair along the back ( & there was only one other person in the entire world who she knew with that hair color ).

hands push people out of her way, ‘ sorry! excuse me .. move please! i apologize — ‘ & when she finally reaches her destination, she freezes. he’d been waiting for her. she drops her bags, lips curling into the biggest grin she can manage as she runs toward him, pouncing like a tiger & throwing her arms around his neck. 

          ’ natsu! i — i know i told you two weeks & i’m sorry that it turned into five; i’m so sorry you know! i missed you so much! ‘

the words are quick & all jumbled together, just trying to say anything to prompt a reaction. & she immediately falls quiet when the stuttered words are spoken softly;

          ’ d-don’t go .. wh-where i can’t follow. ‘

just that is enough for tears to spill over. she buries her head into the crook of his neck, sniffling & hiccuping from the overwhelming sadness that washes over her.

          ’ i know, i know — ! i promise, i was so worried the entire time! i didn’t know what to do — i figured that you’d believe i’m dead .. i’m so sorry, please forgive me, ne .. !

                    ` i swear, i’m never leaving you again. ‘