Notes: For the Sasusaku month day four: City lights.

It's been three torturous months after his diagnosis. He's been spending his days throwing up flowers every morning (or every time he saw her, every time he even thought of her).

Chugging up tablets and water every few hours like hard candy.

He's been following Tsunade's every instruction, accepting fewer and fewer missions alongside team seven. Avoiding the hospital at Sakura's working hours. Exaggerating his cool demeanour every time either Naruto or Sakura stopped by his house to invite him to Ichiraku or any other of those inane social gathering they enjoyed so much.

They didn't need to know about the disease. Sakura didn't need to know.

She didn't need to know that her smile made it difficult to breath. Didn't need to know that every time she called him Sasuke, without the kun, the back of his neck hurt before a wave of nausea attacked him without mercy. That the taste of cherries made him gag. That he couldn't taste anything but sweetened blood for an entire week the last month.

She didn't need to know that he was slowly dying. That after so many years of her following him around and offering her heart, he was finally able to reciprocate. Even if it was too late.

Sakura didn't need to know and so, he decided to avoid her.

And it was working. He wasn't living, just surviving. But it was the healthier option for everyone involved.

Until eventually, he failed.

It was a dark night, only illuminated by the new lights Kakashi had installed at the start of the year as if they were a blooming new city and not the small, proud, ninja village he grew up in.

He had been feeling particularly horrible since he woke up late in the morning. Coughing up sakura flowers still attached to their branches, as if an entire tree was growing inside of him.

The medicine wasn't working in the way it should. Nowadays he could only feel pain and heartbreak.

He just wanted a little comfort. So he walked to the park near the village's entrance doors. To the exact replica of the bench that shared so many memories for Sakura and him.

"Sasuke?" He heard the voice he's been trying to avoid.

Sasuke stood up immediately at the sound. Sakura's face was worried, sad. Her green eyes brightened by the yellow lights of the village.

"What are you doing here?" he asked rudely, his voice hoarse. Sakura took some steps to approach him. Sasuke couldn't stop himself from doing just the same.

Attracted to her like a magnet, a negative pole seeking out her positive energy.

"I sensed your chakra, it felt." She hesitated. "It felt different. Are you okay, Sasuke?"

"Stop!" screamed Sasuke before doubling over in a fit of violent coughs. "Stop. Calling me Sasuke!"

"What?" She asked confused. "but that's your name, Sasuke. Here, let me help you." Her voice was kind, her hands soft as she took his own hand.

"You used to call me Sasuke-kun." Murmured the black haired Shinobi, two bloodied Sakura buds spilling from his lips. "You used to love me."

"What? There's something wrong with you, Sasuke. Please let me take you to the hospital." She pleaded.

Sasuke didn't have much time to answer her, maybe berate her for using his name like that again. Because without notice his vision went dark around the edges and then nothing. Just darkness.

He regained conciseness the morning after in what stemmed to be the hospital. If the waking sun outside of the white curtains said anything about his current location.

By his side, sitting on those uncomfortable chairs everyone hated so much, was Sakura. Sporting a worried expression on her face.

"Master Tsunade told me everything." She confessed. "Hanahaki it's a deadly disease. You should talk with that person who's making you suffer, Sasuke-kun."

"You're making me suffer." He stated.

"I just worry, Sasuke-kun. I don't mean to annoy you. I just want you to be happy."

"You're the one who's making me suffer, Sakura." Insisted Sasuke. Staring pointedly at her until he saw clear understanding passing her pretty green eyes.

"B-but. But I…" Stuttered the Kunoichi. "But I love you, Sasuke-kun." She said as if it were the easiest thing to say. "you know I love you."

The reaction was explosive, ragging, coughing fits born from the depth of his throat striked him as dozens of little Sakura flowers spilled from his mouth.

In an instant Sakura's small hand found the back of his neck. "It's okay, Sasuke-kun." She comforted him, holding him against her front. "this is just the disturbed chakra leaving your body. Everything will be alright." She instructed kindly "I love you. Everything will be alright."

Of course everything was going to be alright. Even as his lungs burnt, even as the whole structure of the little Sakura tree that had been growing inside him was now, violently leaving his body.

Sakura still loved him, and so, everything was allright with the world once again.

End notes: Finished and happy!

I hope you liked it and reviews are always welcome! 🌸