Fanfic: There's Nothing Wrong with Being Alone Together [Gate 7]
Title: There's Nothing Wrong with Being Alone Together
Fandom: Gate 7
Pairing: Sakura/Tachibana
A/n: Rushed and a kid!fic and AU. Also, I know almost nothing about matsuri so haaah. :'DD Dedicated to maidensealbreaker :D
~~o~~
He bumps accidentally into people every now and then. He looks up into their faces, all unfamiliar and he excuses himself. It's his fault, really, not his parents' that he's lost. His mother told him to hang onto her, but he didn't listen. Instead, he had wandered off to look at the stalls and the next thing he knew, his parents weren't with him anymore.
It's a beautiful night, a million and one stars in the sky but he doesn't have time to admire them. He needs to find his parents fast. He feels something at the back of his eyes, and he breathes in, a deep inhale. It's no good to start panicking now. He pushes his way against the crowd and heads for the shrine entrance. He catches his breath, a hand to his chest.
He walks under a tree and waits. Tachibana looks on as people come and go, trying to catch sight if ever his parents were to pass by. He realizes, with a start, that he feels someone watching him. He turns his head and there stands another child and he's leaning against a tree as well. The child notices him notice, and so he smiles at Tachibana. Tachibana raises an eyebrow, unsure of what to make of the situation. The other approaches him then.
"What are you doing here?" And it's not meant to be rude, that Tachibana knows, but it's a little prying for him.
He steels himself. "You're here too." He points out, not knowing what to say.
The other boy seems to be considering him for a moment, his face completely blank. Tachibana wonders what he's thinking but then realizes he shouldn't really care. He smiles again, closed lip, there's this look of something, something akin to mischievousness in those eyes but there's another thing laced in as well. Tachibana tilts his head slightly in wonderment. It's kind of comforting, now that he thinks about it.
The other shrugs, "I think I'm lost," and he says this looking directly into Tachibana's eyes that he has to avert his gaze with the intensity of it.
Suddenly, not having anything to do with anything, he grabs Tachibana's hand and drags him away. Tachibana struggles, trying to pull his hand free. He feels his hands getting sweaty, but the other just kept pulling him along. "What...?"
"Sakura," the other boy says, "It's Sakura. That's my name." He finally slows down so that he's walking beside Tachibana still with that annoyingly cheerful smile on his face. He still holds Tachibana's hand in his. Tachibana just stares at him, stares and stares thinking him weird. But it seems like Sakura didn't mind at all. "This is the part where you're supposed to tell me your name."
He seems so sure of himself that Tachibana is left speechless. All he does is nod and say, "I'm Tachibana."
Sakura nods, content with that and pushes their way through the crowd. "Well, since I'm lost, you can help me go look for my parents."
And it's pleasant, Tachibana thinks. At first, he had that bit of apprehension. But now, dare he say it, he thinks he's actually having fun. Having fun, in a sense when two boys are lost and have nothing to do but look at the pretty stalls with the pretty little trinkets and food. They walk and walk, and Sakura constantly stops, greeting the ladies with a smile and a small nod and they always ask with a smile, "Who's your friend?" And Tachibana would feel shy all of a sudden with their attentions. But he nods, says a soft, "Good evening," and they're off to their exploring again.
It's weird, he thinks, because Sakura doesn't say anything. Doesn't deny it when people call him Sakura's friend. Just smiles and nods, nods and smiles and maybe holds Tachibana's hand tighter.
Passing by a stall, a child suddenly comes running towards them and hugs Sakura and, for some reason, Tachibana, too.
"Hana, how've you been?" Sakura places a hand on Hana's head.
Hana giggles, "Good," and turns to Tachibana then.
Sakura notices, "Ah, Tachibana, this is Hana." Here, Sakura motions his hand towards Hana. "And Hana, this is Tachibana."
Hana smiles widely at Tachibana and shakes his hand. Hana perks up, hearing a voice shouting, "Hana!" from a distance. With a wave from both Sakura and Hana at each other, Hana departs.
Tachibana tilts his head a bit in curiousity, a habit he's been meaning to shake off. Sakura notices this. "Hana is interesting, yes?" Tachibana nods absentmindedly, still looking after Hana.
~~~o~~~
It's getting late, that Tachibana knows and hopes that his parents hadn't actually left him. He doubts that, they're responsible he thinks. But somehow he feels concerned for Sakura. His hand in Sakura's is actually getting comfortable now. It's not sweaty anymore, and there's just the warmth radiating. It's a comfort, that he's not lost alone and the pressure behinds his eyes, it's like it was never even there in the first place.
They're at the lull of the festival. It's less crowded with the people just standing out of the way and chatting. The breeze is colder and there are stars and it's this. Tachibana's liking it and he doesn't feel that nervousness settle in the pit of his stomach with Sakura's thumb rubbing soothingly across his knuckles.
A loud boom is heard, and up there in the sky is an explosion of different colours. Streaks of green litter the sky with red dots surrounding it. Whistling upwards, a shower of yellow and oranges and they fall endlessly to land but they don't look to be hitting ground soon.
Tachibana looks to his side, sees the explosion of colour light up Sakura's face while he's still staring at the myriad of colours in the sky. He's smiling, and Tachibana doesn't bother looking up anymore. Beautiful, he thinks and he reciprocates Sakura's tight hold on his hand with one of his own. Sakura looks at him, really looks at him, and okay. Yeah, they're friends. And Sakura's smiling still, but it's different like it's only meant for him. And maybe it is. It's special and this moment is theirs.
Tachibana grabs Sakura's hands with his own, and they're still both so little and so young. "I like you," Tachibana says so earnestly and he hasn't ever done this, not ever but he never backs down.
Sakura grins, not his special smile, and did he hear? Tachibana doubts it, so he holds on tighter, says a little louder over the fireworks, "I like you." And he feels Sakura's hands tighten too and he knows he's heard this time. "You're going to be my bestfriend forever?" And it's true. He thinks Sakura would make the best bestfriend. But he's never had any bestfriends before so Tachibana's not sure if this is how that goes. He'll just be honest with his feelings, he thinks.
Sakura smiles that smile again, and nods his head so hard and says, "Yes." And even though Tachibana can't hear it, he sees it and thinks that's that.
~~~o~~~
They walk back to the entrance, tired but a little happy. And their hands are not letting go of each other soon. They wait for their parents and all Tachibana thinks is bestfriend and this is nice. But Tachibana is suddenly pulled away from Sakura and into his mother and father's arms and they're holding him so tightly saying things like how they're happy to find him. He's happy too, but not that happy because what of Sakura? Where are his parents?
But when he looks back, Sakura's not there but is instead smiling up and talking to a woman that could very much pass for his mother. He hears a, "Did you have fun?" And it's with that that Tachibana realizes.
He remembers that woman's been standing there all along. He remembers Sakura standing beside her awhile ago, when he was leaning against the tree. Remembers Sakura's voice asking for permission if he could go talk to his friend over there. And Sakura's never been lost to begin with, has he?
His mother grabs his left hand, and his mother and father are looking down at him both relieved and happy. They start walking away but he looks back and sees Sakura just staring. And it's a different smile again and it somehow hurts Tachibana seeing that there. Sakura waves, and Tachibana knows it's not a goodbye wave, but a see you later wave.
He waves back, See you later, he thinks and walks away.
Fandom: Gate 7
Pairing: Sakura/Tachibana
A/n: Rushed and a kid!fic and AU. Also, I know almost nothing about matsuri so haaah. :'DD Dedicated to maidensealbreaker :D
~~o~~
He bumps accidentally into people every now and then. He looks up into their faces, all unfamiliar and he excuses himself. It's his fault, really, not his parents' that he's lost. His mother told him to hang onto her, but he didn't listen. Instead, he had wandered off to look at the stalls and the next thing he knew, his parents weren't with him anymore.
It's a beautiful night, a million and one stars in the sky but he doesn't have time to admire them. He needs to find his parents fast. He feels something at the back of his eyes, and he breathes in, a deep inhale. It's no good to start panicking now. He pushes his way against the crowd and heads for the shrine entrance. He catches his breath, a hand to his chest.
He walks under a tree and waits. Tachibana looks on as people come and go, trying to catch sight if ever his parents were to pass by. He realizes, with a start, that he feels someone watching him. He turns his head and there stands another child and he's leaning against a tree as well. The child notices him notice, and so he smiles at Tachibana. Tachibana raises an eyebrow, unsure of what to make of the situation. The other approaches him then.
"What are you doing here?" And it's not meant to be rude, that Tachibana knows, but it's a little prying for him.
He steels himself. "You're here too." He points out, not knowing what to say.
The other boy seems to be considering him for a moment, his face completely blank. Tachibana wonders what he's thinking but then realizes he shouldn't really care. He smiles again, closed lip, there's this look of something, something akin to mischievousness in those eyes but there's another thing laced in as well. Tachibana tilts his head slightly in wonderment. It's kind of comforting, now that he thinks about it.
The other shrugs, "I think I'm lost," and he says this looking directly into Tachibana's eyes that he has to avert his gaze with the intensity of it.
Suddenly, not having anything to do with anything, he grabs Tachibana's hand and drags him away. Tachibana struggles, trying to pull his hand free. He feels his hands getting sweaty, but the other just kept pulling him along. "What...?"
"Sakura," the other boy says, "It's Sakura. That's my name." He finally slows down so that he's walking beside Tachibana still with that annoyingly cheerful smile on his face. He still holds Tachibana's hand in his. Tachibana just stares at him, stares and stares thinking him weird. But it seems like Sakura didn't mind at all. "This is the part where you're supposed to tell me your name."
He seems so sure of himself that Tachibana is left speechless. All he does is nod and say, "I'm Tachibana."
Sakura nods, content with that and pushes their way through the crowd. "Well, since I'm lost, you can help me go look for my parents."
And it's pleasant, Tachibana thinks. At first, he had that bit of apprehension. But now, dare he say it, he thinks he's actually having fun. Having fun, in a sense when two boys are lost and have nothing to do but look at the pretty stalls with the pretty little trinkets and food. They walk and walk, and Sakura constantly stops, greeting the ladies with a smile and a small nod and they always ask with a smile, "Who's your friend?" And Tachibana would feel shy all of a sudden with their attentions. But he nods, says a soft, "Good evening," and they're off to their exploring again.
It's weird, he thinks, because Sakura doesn't say anything. Doesn't deny it when people call him Sakura's friend. Just smiles and nods, nods and smiles and maybe holds Tachibana's hand tighter.
Passing by a stall, a child suddenly comes running towards them and hugs Sakura and, for some reason, Tachibana, too.
"Hana, how've you been?" Sakura places a hand on Hana's head.
Hana giggles, "Good," and turns to Tachibana then.
Sakura notices, "Ah, Tachibana, this is Hana." Here, Sakura motions his hand towards Hana. "And Hana, this is Tachibana."
Hana smiles widely at Tachibana and shakes his hand. Hana perks up, hearing a voice shouting, "Hana!" from a distance. With a wave from both Sakura and Hana at each other, Hana departs.
Tachibana tilts his head a bit in curiousity, a habit he's been meaning to shake off. Sakura notices this. "Hana is interesting, yes?" Tachibana nods absentmindedly, still looking after Hana.
~~~o~~~
It's getting late, that Tachibana knows and hopes that his parents hadn't actually left him. He doubts that, they're responsible he thinks. But somehow he feels concerned for Sakura. His hand in Sakura's is actually getting comfortable now. It's not sweaty anymore, and there's just the warmth radiating. It's a comfort, that he's not lost alone and the pressure behinds his eyes, it's like it was never even there in the first place.
They're at the lull of the festival. It's less crowded with the people just standing out of the way and chatting. The breeze is colder and there are stars and it's this. Tachibana's liking it and he doesn't feel that nervousness settle in the pit of his stomach with Sakura's thumb rubbing soothingly across his knuckles.
A loud boom is heard, and up there in the sky is an explosion of different colours. Streaks of green litter the sky with red dots surrounding it. Whistling upwards, a shower of yellow and oranges and they fall endlessly to land but they don't look to be hitting ground soon.
Tachibana looks to his side, sees the explosion of colour light up Sakura's face while he's still staring at the myriad of colours in the sky. He's smiling, and Tachibana doesn't bother looking up anymore. Beautiful, he thinks and he reciprocates Sakura's tight hold on his hand with one of his own. Sakura looks at him, really looks at him, and okay. Yeah, they're friends. And Sakura's smiling still, but it's different like it's only meant for him. And maybe it is. It's special and this moment is theirs.
Tachibana grabs Sakura's hands with his own, and they're still both so little and so young. "I like you," Tachibana says so earnestly and he hasn't ever done this, not ever but he never backs down.
Sakura grins, not his special smile, and did he hear? Tachibana doubts it, so he holds on tighter, says a little louder over the fireworks, "I like you." And he feels Sakura's hands tighten too and he knows he's heard this time. "You're going to be my bestfriend forever?" And it's true. He thinks Sakura would make the best bestfriend. But he's never had any bestfriends before so Tachibana's not sure if this is how that goes. He'll just be honest with his feelings, he thinks.
Sakura smiles that smile again, and nods his head so hard and says, "Yes." And even though Tachibana can't hear it, he sees it and thinks that's that.
~~~o~~~
They walk back to the entrance, tired but a little happy. And their hands are not letting go of each other soon. They wait for their parents and all Tachibana thinks is bestfriend and this is nice. But Tachibana is suddenly pulled away from Sakura and into his mother and father's arms and they're holding him so tightly saying things like how they're happy to find him. He's happy too, but not that happy because what of Sakura? Where are his parents?
But when he looks back, Sakura's not there but is instead smiling up and talking to a woman that could very much pass for his mother. He hears a, "Did you have fun?" And it's with that that Tachibana realizes.
He remembers that woman's been standing there all along. He remembers Sakura standing beside her awhile ago, when he was leaning against the tree. Remembers Sakura's voice asking for permission if he could go talk to his friend over there. And Sakura's never been lost to begin with, has he?
His mother grabs his left hand, and his mother and father are looking down at him both relieved and happy. They start walking away but he looks back and sees Sakura just staring. And it's a different smile again and it somehow hurts Tachibana seeing that there. Sakura waves, and Tachibana knows it's not a goodbye wave, but a see you later wave.
He waves back, See you later, he thinks and walks away.