#Sasuke doesn’t hear the rest of the count

[almightyshadowchan]

Happy New Year!

(If this were a fanfiction, this would be about the time Sasuke goes Oh.)

[detectivestucks]

Akatsuki Concubine V

18+ content, Minors do NOT interact

Pairing: Itachi x F!Reader x Sasuke

Summary: You rinse off after passing out from your breakfast adventures with Tobi. On your way back from the bathroom the Uchiha brothers spot you, anxious to finish what they started last night.

Warnings: NSFW, Bondage, DubCon, slight degradation, unprotected penetration, facial, choking, biting, oral female receiving

Word Count: 2.5k

Chapter 1 I Chapter 2 I Chapter 3 I Chapter 4

You wake up in Tobi’s room confused and alone. You notice that your body has been wiped off and your hair tied up. You pull off the covers to walk towards the bathroom, still sporting Tobi’s baggy tee and use the toilet. You feel excess deposit slip out of your slit as you do so and take a mental note to ask for some cranberry juice given how active you new role is. After washing up you walk back down the hall to your room where you bump into Itachi. 

“Hello little one” he says in a caging stance. 

You suddenly realize the way he stands blocks you off from the rest of the hallway. 

“Good morning sir” you greet with downcast eyes, trying to avoid conversation. 

“It’s afternoon, sweet girl. Did you just wake up?”

“Well I- um”

“I guess we did keep you up late last night, didn’t we?” He says as he grabs your hand and kisses your knuckles. A twisting sensation in your stomach tells you that this conversation needs to end immediately and you need to return to your master’s side. 

“It’s okay. It’s my job, sir. Now if you’ll excuse-“

“Yes, true. But you didn’t finish your job because there was some - interference. So technically we will need to remedy that.” 

Itachi steps closer to you. So close that you shared the same breath as he informed you of your debt to him. His eyes, similar to Tobi’s, blinked and reopened to reveal blood-red orbs. Terror winds through you. He was perfectly kind but something about how he presented the situation spooked you. 

“I see” you say hesitantly. 

“Itachi, let’s go!” You hear an impatient voice shout from down the hall. You twist your head, turning to see the source, when the younger Uchiha perked up upon seeing your face. 

“Well, well, if it isn’t our little Uchiha slut.”

A dry swallow signals your discomfort and he doesn’t miss it. 

“What? Not interested in serving us?”

“No, sir. Tobi has already told you that I am for his personal use. I don’t want to defy the master.”

“You can’t honestly say that you don’t want more. Or are you more afraid of him than us?”

You step backwards in retreat, but bump into itachi’s chest. Whirling around you see there is no escape past the two brothers. They close in on you, backing you against the wall. 

“Please gentlemen, I don’t want to get caught defying the master.” you plead

“We won’t get caught then” the younger one says as his mouth lunges for your’s. His lips lock you in a sealed kiss where his tongue explores the cavern of your mouth. His hands pull up the hem of Tobi’s shirt in search of your nipples only to pinch them and roll them between his fingers. A small moan of satisfaction slipped out in response and that was all the validation the brothers needed to keep going. 

You tried to pull back, to unlock your lips, to tell him no, but you are already shoved against the wall and your head had nowhere to go. 

“My turn, little brother”

Sasuke released your lips with a gaze drunk on desire before you felt Itachi’s strong fingers grip your jaw and turn your head to the side so he could get a taste. 

“Please, no-” but your plea was lost as he bit your lip and ravaged your mouth. 

Once Sasuke gave away your lips, his hands release your tender nubs and run down your stomach. He sinks to his knees and slides two fingers into your exposed center.

You clench around the digits, lifting your foot in protest but Sasuke sees it all as a reason to wrap his lips around your clit and suck on it till the pressure pulls the nub from your body. 

You squeal as Itachi kisses you, keeping you pinned against the wall. One hand gripping your face firmly, the other clenching around your tit. You try to close your legs and cut off Sasuke’s access but he firmly swats at your center just as Itachi slaps your breast. 

“Open up, whore.”

You nod and allow them to keep using you, hoping that Tobi would never know of this. That after this time it would be over and you would belong to him and only him. 

Sasuke continues to stroke two fingers inside you, enjoying the steady increase in arousal that forms around them. His mouth mimics your entrance and begins to drool. 

“Can’t wait anymore. Need a taste.” He mutters to himself as he leans in with an outstretched tongue.  It snakes in the hole his fingers occupy so he can lick the arousal puddling there. He then hooks his muscle on the top of your entrance before swiping up to your clit. His lips close around the nub and his pointed tongue lifts the hood of your clit to reveal the sensitive ball of nerves exposed and ready to be toyed with. 

You twist and moan but between sasuke’s grip on your legs and itachi’s grip on your face, you were helpless to escape. 

The men were beautiful. More gorgeous than any man who entered the pleasure house but they weren’t your Tobi. 

Itachi’s hand plays with the fat of your breast, enjoying how it squishes in his palm. “So beautiful and well behaved. Come to my room.”

You shake your head in resistance. Not wanting to put yourself in an even more compromising situation by heading off into a secluded room but one look into his eyes and you suddenly realize you’re already there. When did that happen? 

“I’ll let my brother have you first. He seems more excited.”

“Wait!”

But it was for not. You are shoved down on your stomach and you feel spit drop between your cheeks before a swollen head prods at your heat before slipping in. 

He wasn’t gentle. Not a bit. He thrust into you as if you were a toy, knocking the wind out of you. You try to crawl away but he grabs you by the hips and pistons in. 

He takes you from behind, pushing your waist down with his body weight with both hands as you slowly submit. You melt into the mattress with each pump. He reaches so deep and strokes along a spot that only Tobi had found, making you moan against your will. You couldn’t believe yourself and immediately shoved your face into the mattress out of sheer embarrassment. 

This isn’t right. You know your job is to pleasure men. That’s been the only occupation you’ve ever known. Your body has not belonged to you for years but you hate that these two think they’re above Tobi’s orders and you hate that your body is turned on , even a little, at this moment.

Your legs slowly spread apart as he pushes down into you. Your stomach kissing the bed with how arched he forced your back to be. Your face buries into the blanket, your hands clawing at the cloth, trying to brace yourself from how he pumps into you. He grunts in approval, your walls squeezing around him, pulling him into you while he smashes you down. 

After you’ve been fully flattened into a pancake, he spanks your cheeks, turning them red like his eyes. Once they reach the right shade, he grabs two fistfuls and slows his pace, mesmerized by how he disappears inside of you.

“Flip” he orders plainly.

You scramble back up to your knees and roll over to your back, facing him and finding it hard to look him in the eye. He grabs your legs, manhandling them and pinning them above your shoulders. You felt your flexibility tested as he shifts his weight to his hands, further pressing your knees into the skin just above your chest. 

His hips roll in and out of you fluidly, the fine tuned movements of a skilled ninja stroking exactly where you like it most. You watch where your bodies connect, imagining it was the oldest of the Uchiha men. You bite your lip, almost letting his name slip off your tongue. 

Sasuke’s hand releases the back of your leg and grasps your jaw. “Look at me.”

You let your lip slip through your teeth as your eyes gaze into his. He, like his clan, had eyes that turned red from the excitement, with a black pupil and three tomoe. You focus on his eyes, they are like Tobi’s. His skin is far too smooth and young to be him, but if you focus on his eyes, just focus… Suddenly you flutter around his member.

“That’s a good little slut. Cum around my dick.” 

He thrusts with mounting enthusiasm, banging into your hips for what feels like an eternity when suddenly he pulls out, pumping his fist till hot ropes spring out and coat your face. He collapses forward, panting above you. You look down, blinking away the drying cum and then gaze back up at him. His lips part into a smug smile as he lifts his right hand, dips his finger in his seed and spreads it over your lips, glossing them before standing up and closing his pants. 

Relieved it’s over you begin to sit up. However, a gentle hand pushes your shoulder back down. “Now me.”

The older brother rounds the bed and pushes your knees apart. “This time I want something more than just that cute mouth of yours.”

He stands before you, grasps the bottom of his shaft and slaps his head against your clit. You flinch from overstimulation, juices seeping out of your center. Itachi rubs his length along your lips, spreading fluid over the entirety of your sex. 

You moan, the action reminding you of who your body actually belongs to but when you look up, instead of your scar-faced dom, you see the flowing locks of his talented clan member. 

Itachi lines himself up and sinks his mushroom head into your entrance. The sexiest of groans reverberating from his throat as he pushes in further. 

He bottoms out and holds still, letting you feel the stretch. His hand traces up your stomach to your peaks and his fingers lightly trap one of your nipples between his finger pads, pulling it up. You squeeze, eyes shut, teeth grit, and walls clench around him. Yet, the pleased growl coming from this hunky man had your eyes reopen. There is a kindness behind the hunger and it sucks you in, allowing you to fall into his trap. 

His grip adjusted from your perky nubs to grabbing the entirety of each of your tits. He held them in his hands, squeezing them, feeling how they gave way to his grip. His hips mindlessly begin stroking as his focus lingers on your chest. 

His thumb brushes your peak, stiffening it more before he leans forward to trap it between his lips. You felt suction pull your skin further into his mouth at the same time that the power of his hips begin to rock you up and down on the mattress. 

You quietly moaned, the perfect amount of pressure making you tingle until Itachi switched things up and began to use his teeth, biting down on your tit and causing you to cry out. His pace between your legs picks up as the same time. It is almost as if some type of switch has been flipped. Your sounds become louder, volume increasing when a hand slaps down over your mouth and a deep voice scolds you. 

“Quiet whore, or else we’ll gag you.”

With teary eyes you look up to see Sasuke standing over you, his brother’s teeth still biting down on your flesh. He was going to leave a mark and Tobi would know that you were used by someone else; not by him. You struggle, trying to make it stop but Sasuke was quick with restraints. 

Your wrists are tied together over your head and your ankles are tied to your thighs, keeping your knees bent and leaving you unable to crawl away. You continue to struggle but Itachi is completely oblivious to it all. He’s consumed with lust, his entire focus still on your chest, nibbling and marking your breasts as if they belonged to him. 

Tired of listening to your yelping, Sasuke brings another piece of rope to your neck and connects it to the ties holding your wrists together. Your elbows are above your head, arms bent backwards and wrist tied behind your head, with each struggle to escape you choke yourself. 

“Make any more noise and this is going in your mouth.” he said, palming the bulge in his pants. Your eyes widen in understanding, your entire body shifting up and down from the pounding against your core. Restrained and vulnerable, you are completely at their mercy. The two brothers seemed to love being in control. Their eyes bright with lust, their gaze burning into you. Once more you try to focus on the eyes, so similar to Tobi’s. Forgive me Tobi.

Itachi’s teeth explore the expanse of your skin, nipping up to your collarbone but unable to sink into your neck from the rope blocking his access. You are certain that bruises and marks will be left on your skin as souvenirs once this is all over and the Akatsuki’s fearsome leader would be livid. Your mind races, thinking about the other girls and what they must be experiencing. Was this their reality too? Tied down and taken like nothing more than the whore the bandits purchased. 

The pressure of the rope choking your neck grew itchy and uncomfortable. Your face grew crimson from the blood caught by the fibers that dig into your skin. 

However, Itachi’s grunts and sounds of pleasure increase, his pace becoming more punctuated. His beating deep, thrusting all the way to the hilt with every entry. Your toes curl and your hips tilt, angling yourself to increase your pleasure. “Yes” he breathes, finally lifting his face, “right-there.” 

Just as you begin to shake from the way his tip pets your insides, he too pulls out to shove his seed all over your tits. Opulent liquid slides down the slope of your curves and onto the bed, leaving behind a sticky trail that matches the drying liquid on your face. 

Just like his brother, Itachi tucks himself away, closing his pants. “Your debt is paid.” he says softly before turning to walk out the door. Sasuke follows him, but not without first slapping your sex. You squirm from the impact but are stuck on your back. The assholes leave without untying you, perhaps because they find the idea kinky but not you; you are panic-stricken. For starters you can barely breathe, secondly, the door is open and anyone could find you, third, what if Tobi is the someone who finds you like this? 

Your fingers frantically feel for a knot or some kind of weakness in your bindings. You can’t see what you’re doing and you let out a squeal of frustration when you come up short. There is no way to free yourself. You have no idea how to get out of this mess. 

Just as you wiggle and pout at your own poor luck, a tall, hulking, blue man with small shark-like eyes comes walking by with one of your concubine sisters on a leash. He spots you struggling on the bed and stops in the doorway of Itachi’s bedroom, “Well, well, well, what do we have here?”

Fuck.

Masterlist

Chapter 1 I Chapter 2 I Chapter 3 I Chapter 4

[foulfirerebel]

I agree team RWBY haven’t made remnant worse but I question what they’ve done to make it better? There is ruby’s message which does “unite” them in a vague sense. But as far as actual institutional change they haven’t done much, the white fang has ghira in charge again so they’re more or less the same as before sienna, stopping Adam was the right thing to do but it doesn’t make life better for the Faunus, it just stops it from getting worse.

The status quo hasn’t really been changed except as a result of Salem’s actions.

This isn’t to say team RWBY aren’t still hero’s and deserve praise for what they’ve accomplished tho. They’re doing their absolute best to keep the world from burning lol.

First of all, I should note that our heroes had barely been given their licenses during the Atlas arc. This grants them at least some measure of legit authority to actually do anything about the status quo from a grander perspective. They are not politicians, they are not leaders, they are barely children as far as the rest of the world is concerned. The idea that it's all on them is a little ridiculous to me.

Secondly, I'd say the "status quo" has been shifting constantly since the days of Oz and Salem. Humanity 1.0 had magic, a full moon, and gods to hear their prayers. The gods then killed humanity, left the moon shattered, and a bitter and broken Salem behind.

Humanity 2.0 had aura, dust, semblances, Grimm everywhere until Oz and Salem came along as the "New Gods" as it were. Unfortunately, their period didn't last thanks to Oz and Salem's...disputes on what they wanted to do with the world.

So, you have a long period where Oz is stuck for what to do until The Great War. Following that, the monarchies are abandoned and the council systems with the Huntsmen Academies are born...as well as the Faunus War and Faunus Rights Revolution and Vytal Festival. None of THAT had Salem's hand in it.

Spoilers obviously for RWBY, and Naruto, under the cut.

As for what our heroes have accomplished, well, let's really look:

Stopping a master criminal that ran circles around other criminal organizations, the police, AND Ozpin and huntsmen he sent after them for years. Which then STOPPED crime, according to Qrow.

Safeguarding Vale, or at least aiding in its defense. They stopped the hack, Torchwick died (there goes any and all of Adam's new toys too thanks to them stopping the Breach), the Wyvern was frozen, and Neo turned on Cinder. Plus, Vale itself still stands thanks to them and isn't covered in Grimm (Beacon itself is, but last we saw? The teachers and others of Beacon were working to drive them out and keep them out of Vale).

The Nucklevee was storming up and down Mistral's countryside for DECADES before Team RNJR finally killed it in V4 (it's the same massive Grimm that attacked Ren's village and attacked other places in the modern day too).

Raven Branwen appears to have had a change of heart, if the V9 epilogue animatic is anything to go by. That's a HUGE change from Bandit Leader, Darwinist, "Survival of the fittest" Raven from V4 and V5.

Haven and Mistral as a whole were saved thanks to our heroes and attitudes toward Faunus IN MISTRAL have BEGUN to shift thanks to saving the ENTIRE KINGDOM from Adam. Because you can BET he wasn't ever going to stop with just blowing up the school. It's similar to Naruto and Sasuke saving the entire world at the end of Naruto. Sasuke still served a year's worth of jailtime that should've been a life sentence but was pardoned thanks to Naruto and Kakashi swaying the various Kages, considering his actions helped SAVE THE ENTIRE WORLD and Naruto vouched for him. Change like that isn't going to happen overnight, but saving an entire kingdom from being either blown up or swallowed by literally negative emotion demons SHOULD count for something! If it doesn't, then what? Just leave them to die? Hardly a heroic thing or moral thing to do! Leverage it for change in the country, though, and then you've got something.

According to the novels, Vacuoans attitudes towards outsiders are shifting thanks to Team CVFY, SSSN, and others helping to get through to them and teaming up to save everyone from The Crown and the Grimm that followed. It's a SLOW process, but still.

When Qrow and Ozpin, the supposed leaders and most experienced people, gave up when things got tough? Team RWBY, with help from Maria, helped them back into fighting shape. It's here where Ruby herself takes command (thus breaking one BIG status quo element of Ozpin being the one in charge).

Caroline Cordovin being reminded that she serves the people was another, after a huge fight, otherwise the city of Argus would've been wiped out.

Getting very close to uniting Mantle and Atlas counts, because that broke the status quo of "Atlas above all else". Ironwood going full fascist doesn't negate that accomplishment or their efforts in pushing him mainly.

Investigating into and arresting Jacques. Pity they had no real time to celebrate it, but unseating the patriarch of the Schnee family and head of the SDC, getting him shoved in jail, and immediately thereafter trying to use their ships to evacuate people in Mantle? Those aren't nothing.

Trapping Watts and Tyrian. Those two seemed...untouchable until that point.

I'd say getting the message out there at all and shattering Salem's aura of secrecy is another good thing. If the massive crowd of ships and the memorial was anything to go by from V9's epilogue animatic, there are a lot of people that saw and followed Ruby's message to meet in Vacuo and unite to face their common threat. As I said earlier, it'll take a long time to truly address everything but getting people to see eye to eye AT ALL after DECADES of tension is sure to bear some fruit.

Upsetting the Red Prince and beating him? Helping Little become Somewhat and having them and Juniper as the Ever After's protectors? SAVING and helping Neo realize a few things that she needs to change about herself? Hell, even helping Jaune through his problems and the Paper Pleasers ascending into the Gems, the Cat being trounced, and helping people survive the ARMY of Neo Jaberwockers is a good thing.

Heck, if you'd like me to get a little into Salem's status quo's that they've broken? They blew her up, turned at least three people that she had in her clutches against her, destroyed one of the largest Grimm she had in her possession, and have generally been a thorn in her side since the beginning. Salem's faction is down from an entire network of spies, turncoats, and villains...to just. four. people thanks to our heroes.

Basically, what I'm saying is this: The changes to the Status Quo in RWBY's entire story doesn't hinge on just Salem's actions by proxy. Everyone has a hand in changing the way things are going.

To truly expect everything to be on our heroes' shoulders is...well, to quote Chloe Bourgeois from Miraculous Ladybug? Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous.

Will they have a more active role to play in coming events? Absolutely. But it's worth pointing out their actions have had effects. From something as small as helping Penny have friends and getting Weiss and Blake to get along, to starting the uniting of the entire world, I truly believe our heroes have had major impacts.

It just requires a larger perspective.

[pinkhairedlily]

SS Blank Period 2023 | @sasusakublankperiodweek

Day 1: Attention

The immediate aftermath of a war is just as harrowing. There’s a hunger for normalcy, a sprint to return to the mundane, despite lost limbs and scarred skin.

Sasuke doesn’t know what normalcy is; he barely touched the edges of peace, only having it known through ichiraku ramen, a professor with a mask, and a pink-haired girl whose jade eyes never left him. Bits and moments he threw away, and now he wants to live it out fully — a foolish, wishful thinking.

Sakura sprinted right after they came back. 

With an arm almost eaten by acid, a chidori to the chest (even to him, it felt real), a hole on the side of her stomach, and other invisible wounds that came in the battlefield, she let go of whatever remained of his and Naruto’s arms and ran.

To many others with lost limbs and scarred skin.

Not to him. Not him, no. 

The chaos of the day dulls down, if only so slightly, by the ascent of the clear, full moon. He should sleep, but he counts the minutes by the thud of their feet until  he hears her padding across their tent. A soft parting of the curtain and her vivid color battles the darkness.

Sasuke shuts his eyes despite the overwhelming urge to imprint the sight. He feels her chakra, sees its pulsating green glow in his periphery, and thinks about its warmth. Then, it was gone.

“Sakura.”

She has her hair tied, and he wondered whether she let it grow back to that length in the Forest of Death. Dressed in fresh clothes–a jonin uniform–with a white coat hanging over her frame, Sakura seems like a different person to him. “Done pretending sleeping, Sasuke-kun?”

She takes his smirk as an invitation to sit on the edge of the bed, right where the moonbeam hits her features, and it comes to him in a realization that he has never looked at her this way, in this stillness, before.

Only once. On that bench. Where the moon bathed her tears, the ghost of his name on her lips, a goodbye.

“Hope you don’t mind me resting a bit.”

“You should sleep.” Monotonous and disjointed, that’s what Sasuke sounds like. She mimics him, shutting those jade eyes that no longer follow him, and pretends to dream. In that brief reprieve, he takes her in.

Sasuke tried to find a semblance of the Sakura he remembered. High pitch voice with a dash of bubbly innocence verging on annoyance. The smartass brat who would ace the tests but fail the practicals. Someone he’d like to be protected at all times. 

He only knew the girl but not the woman.

A question rises to Sakura’s eyes when she opens them. Sasuke’s hand is thrust out, in a half-formed shake. A question only for the two of them, “Can I get to know you better?”

Sakura ponders for a while. “You know, there’s plenty of time.”

[laniuchiha7]

Jump Then Fall

The savory smell of breakfast drifts from the kitchen through the living room where Sasuke slowly begins to stir awake on her couch. He gradually sits up, rubbing his eyes in a daze, to hear the melody of her soft humming turn into a light giggle. Sasuke turns to look at her curiously.

“Sorry Sasuke-kun, but you’ve got some serious bedhead.”

“Hn,” he runs his fingers through his ebony locks.

She puts the remaining dish on the table, telling him, “anyway, breakfast is ready!” and takes a seat.

Sakura tells the man sitting across from her plans for the day, a surgery on a chunin, a few routine check-ups, lunch with Ino, research for the project she’s been working on for a few months. 

He’s only half listening to her words, rather focusing on her smooth voice and counting the freckles scattered across her face, making his lips pull into a smile at the idea of sharing this sort of domesticity with her for the rest of their lives. Sasuke doesn’t necessarily care where they end up so long as Sakura continues to stay with him, that’s all he wants.

There seems to be some hesitance on her side since his return, compared to when they were in their early adolescence, where she keeps him at arm's length as if she’s holding back. Sasuke assumes it to respect his preference for personal space, but he misses when she would grab his hand and pull him down the road while they walked, and the times when she’d sit so close he could smell her apple scented shampoo. The times when she would watch him with such awe while he trained or won a match against a strong opponent, almost as if she was performing the fireball jutsu herself, jade eyes shining and exclaims at how cool he is.

He can’t blame her though. All of the times she tried to remind him that he could rely on her, Sakura was often met with harsh words, refusing her support and love, and left by herself. Perhaps that’s what she’s doing now, he ponders, guarding her heart and waiting for the inevitable moment where he packs up his belongings and walks out the village gates again.

Only he doesn’t plan to leave, not without her at least.

Now that Sasuke is finally ready to make the jump, Sakura is the one afraid to fall. And so it’s his turn. Sasuke may not be able to proclaim his feelings atop the Hokage tower for all of Konoha to witness, nor does he think she wants him to, but he’ll show her in every way he can. 

Encourage her to jump then fall, where he’ll be waiting to catch her.

“Sasuke-kun?” He snaps out of his thoughts to find Sakura looking at him with concern written in her eyes. “Are you feeling alright? You seem a little out of it.”

“Yeah, I was just thinking about something,” he responds, feeling the tips of his ears begin to burn.

“Oh? Care to share?”

He leans forward, motioning for her to come closer, like he’s about to whisper the secret he’s been carrying in his heart, and in a way he is. Sasuke lifts his hand and pokes the purple rhombus in the middle of her forehead with his pointer and middle finger, unable to hide his smirk as Sakura blushes.

“I’ll tell you next time.”

[vermilionlavendereyes]

coffee confessions

Summary: college/university/café au Sasuke is a barista and Sakura is his most annoying, most beautiful customer. He leaves secret messages in her latte art. NrtCCWeek22 day 1, prompt: floriography/language of flowers

Pairing: SasuSaku

Word count: 4,975

Rated: K

            It is a usual day at the café where Sasuke has worked part-time since his second semester at college. He wouldn’t even need to work if it wasn’t for his idiot of a roommate, Naruto, who got them both kicked out of their dormitory building. Sasuke is sure his parents would happily pay for his share of the rent, maybe even Naruto’s, but he wants to prove to himself that he didn’t need his father’s money or influence to get through life. As humiliating and annoying as this job is most of the time, at least it’s something he managed to get on his own.

            He’s making an extremely annoying order – large, sugar-free, vanilla iced latte with extra vanilla and unsweetened soy milk – for an even more annoying and loud customer when he spots a flash of pink dashing through the door. Sakura. The girl he’s been crushing on since she first ordered a coffee from him. She always smiles at him with such familiarity that it baffles him how someone can be so kind to a stranger.

            Her cheeks are flushed from being in a rush and her eyes gleam prettily as she flashes him a smile. She steps next to his annoying customer and hugs her, telling her she’s sorry for being late but Shizune-sensei wanted to talk to her about her latest assignment after her lecture.

            “It’s alright, Forehead,” her blonde friend shrugs. “I got here not long ago.”

            Sasuke steps to the counter and hands the blonde her order then turns to Sakura. “Hey, what can I get you?”

            “Oh, just a regular latte is fine, Sasuke-kun,” she smiles at him. That familiarity again. Not many – if any – customers call him by his name despite it being displayed on a tag on his shirt. But Sakura always treats him with kindness and respect, like he is a human being like the rest of them, not just a servant. She never orders annoying, over-complicated drinks either. Sasuke rather likes her for that.

            “You can sit down, I’ll bring it around,” he says as he turns his back to her to start preparing her beverage.

            “Thanks,” he hears her say.

            Sasuke doesn’t know much about Sakura. He knows her name, that she’s the same age as him, she’s a med student, she bites the inside of her cheek when she’s concentrating on her assignments, she has the most dazzling green eyes he has ever seen, she always fidgets with a pack of sugar, her pen, or her fingers, and she always kind to everyone, even when she looks like she hasn’t slept in two days and the purplish circles under her eyes make the green of her eyes even brighter. She’s loud but never obnoxious, kind but never superficial, intelligent but never boasting.

            Sasuke wants to know more about her. He draws a carnation in the foam of her latte.

            “Thank you, Sasuke-kun,” she smiles at him as he hands her the cup. “Wow, that looks great!” She says as she looks at the cup. Sasuke just nods and turns away.

            “Huh, kinda looks like a carnation,” Sakura’s friend observes. He hears Sakura ask what carnations mean as he is walking away and he can feel the tips of his ears burning.

.

.

.

            The next time Sasuke sees her, it is pouring outside and she is positively drenched. She still grins at him as she sits down on one of the barstools and takes off her jacket. “Hey, Sasuke-kun.”

            “Hey,” he greets and walks closer to her on the other side of the bar. “Usual latte?” He asks as he grabs a cup.

            “Yes, and one of those blueberry muffins as well, please,” she smiles. She’s trying to put her excessively wet hair into a bun on top of her head, but it’s not cooperating. Sasuke’s gaze lingers for a moment as he observes the strands sticking to her forehead, her neck, her throat. She’s beautiful.

            “Celebrating anything?” Sasuke raises an eyebrow. He has learned that Sakura always orders a blueberry muffin when she’s happy about something. She always orders two triple chocolate chip cookies when she’s sad.

            “Well, I don’t mean to brag,” she starts, a proud smile stretching her lips. “But I got a perfect score on my anatomy exam, which is, like, super rare. My sensei is also really, really strict. I mean she failed about two-thirds of the class. So, to get a perfect score is basically impossible.”

            “Yeah, that really didn’t sound like bragging,” Sasuke puts a small plate in front of her and turns his back to finish up her order. Despite what he said, he’s really happy for her. He’s seen her slaving over assignments while sipping coffee and seen her around the campus library, surrounded by books that probably weighed more than her. He has no doubt that she worked really hard for her score. Sasuke draws an orchid in the foam.

            Sakura has her eyes slightly furrowed and lips in a pout when he hands her the latte.

            “I’m just messing with you,” Sasuke says. Because really, he didn’t mean what he said. “Congratulations on your perfect score.”

            Sakura smiles and breaks off a piece of her muffin. “Why, thank you very much, Sasuke-kun.”

            A customer motions for Sasuke that he’d like to pay and he shoots Sakura a look that says I’ll be right back, as if he needs her to excuse him. She happily munches on her muffin as she nods. Sasuke tells the customer that he hopes he enjoyed his drink and that he was satisfied with their services, though his flat voice and blank stare suggest otherwise. The customer leaves a small tip and says his thanks.

            Sasuke returns to his place behind the bar and starts washing the cups he collected on his way back.

            “And guess what the best part is,” Sakura continues as if he didn’t even leave.

            “What?”

            “I said guess! C’mon!” She radiates excitement, Sasuke is sure that if her eyes were any sharper, he could see small waves of energy floating around her.

            “I don’t know,” he says and she frowns. “Okay… you don’t have to retake the exam?”

            Sakura giggles, girlishly, beautifully. “Noooo, Sasuke-kun,” she cocks her head to the side. “My sensei also offered me an apprenticeship once I can start my residency after next year. That’s, like, the biggest compliment you can get. Ever. She’s a very respected and well-known doctor and doesn’t like people very much. I’m actually still not convinced I didn’t just dream up the whole thing, really.”

            “I can pinch you,” Sasuke shrugs. He doesn’t expect Sakura to hold out her arm though, and shake it slightly in front of him when he doesn’t do anything. As if to say: well, go on then. So Sasuke pinches her forearm and he’s surprised by how cold and soft her skin is. Still slightly damps from the downpour.

            “Looks like I’m not dreaming,” Sakura grins at him. “Turns out I really am a genius just like that,” she pops the last piece of muffin into her mouth and can’t seem to stop smiling even as she chews.

            She’s not only beautiful. She’s also smart as hell. Which, in Sasuke’s eyes, makes her even more stunning.

.

.

.

            Sasuke kicks the waste container again and sees he’s formed a dent. He turns around and punches the wall on the opposite side of the alley next to the café. He received a call from his mother earlier. His brother has been hospitalized again, and the doctors aren’t sure what’s wrong with him.

            Apparently, he’s been coughing up blood for weeks no, hiding it from the family. After contracting tuberculosis a few months ago, everyone has been worried about his health. He was sure he was okay, he didn’t want to worry anyone. Until he went to visit Mikoto for lunch but ended up bent over in the bathroom, coughing viciously, gasping for air.

            “Sasuke-kun?” He suddenly hears a familiar voice. He has his eyes closed, forehead leaning against the wall, fists trembling by his sides. He can feel his left hand pulsing as blood trickles down his knuckles and fingers slowly. “Are you okay?” Sakura asks quietly, her voice is now closer.

            Sasuke slowly takes a step away from the wall, eyes still closed. He wishes for the first time since he had met her that she wasn’t here. He didn’t want her to see him like this, or to pity him. He sighs heavily before opening his eyes and turning his gaze toward her.

            “Yeah,” is all he says.

            “Are you sure? You look like you got something troubling you. You want to talk about it?” She offers. There is a weak, uncertain smile on her face, almost tentative and Sasuke decides he prefers her toothy grins to this one.

            “No.”

            “Can I at least take a look at your hand?” She chews the inside of her cheek.

            Sasuke contemplates her for a second before glancing down at his fist. It doesn’t look good. And she is going to be a doctor.

            He shrugs. “Sure.”

            Her face eases up the slightest bit and she takes another step closer to him. “Do you have a first aid kit inside?”

            “Yeah,” Sasuke says and holds the door open for her. She pauses in her steps.

            “Am I allowed in the back?” She asks, surprised.

            “Probably not,” Sasuke admits. “I don’t really care though.” When Sakura doesn’t move, he motions with his head inside like some sort of encouragement. He really can’t offer her anything else right now. All the reassuring words he needs to save for his mother when he goes home to visit Itachi this weekend.

            He leads Sakura to the staff room and points at the couch. She sits down without a word and he rummages through a cabinet, trying to find the first aid kit. When he finds it, he drops it in Sakura’s expectant hands and sits in front of her on the worn-out coffee table. His legs are basically caging hers in as he takes his place.

            She has opened the small box and is searching through it, trying to find the tools she needs. She notices how close they are when she looks up though, and Sasuke notes the light blush gracing the tops of her cheeks. He looks down at his hands. He’s feeling a bit embarrassed about the whole situation. There’s this smart, beautiful, kind girl he likes and she sees him beating the shit out of a wall. Probably not the best impression to leave on someone.

            Sakura clears her throat and Sasuke looks up to see her fidgeting with a bottle of antiseptic. “Can I see your hand?” She asks in a low voice.

            Sasuke lifts his left hand as she dabs antiseptic on a cloth. She takes his hand in one of her palms and suddenly Sasuke can’t even feel the pain in his knuckles anymore. All he can concentrate on is how soft and warm her hand is. Sakura pauses for a moment, but recovers quickly and starts disinfecting the wound. She looks up briefly at Sasuke’s face, probably expecting him to flinch or hiss, but she finds his face completely blank instead.

            She doesn’t know about the turmoil of emotions raging underneath his calm façade.

            “There are some pieces of chipped off paint and rubble I need to pick out. It might hurt a bit,” Sakura says as she picks out a tweezer from the kit. She looks up at him again and he only just shrugs. She starts digging out the pieces, there aren’t really that many and the process only stings for that one second when the pieces disconnect from his wounded flesh. Afterward, Sakura cleans the wound again, then grabs the gauze and slowly and carefully wraps his hand. “Okay. All done, Sasuke-kun,” she smiles a small, uncertain smile at him.

            “Thanks,” Sasuke says and looks at his hand as he clenches and unclenches it. “I’m sorry,” he adds quietly.

            “About what?” She asks, confused.

            Sasuke shrugs. He’s already been feeling embarrassed, but stating the situation out loud… “That you had to see that,” he eventually replies.

            Sakura laughs a little and Sasuke is even more confused but also kind of comforted by the sound. “Sasuke-kun, everyone gets angry sometimes. I, myself, prefer pummeling and kicking the shit out of punching bags, but I guess a wall works too,” she smiles genuinely at him now. “You know, leaves less of a mess, easier to clean up.”

            “Aa,” is all Sasuke manages to stay. He can’t quite fathom the girl sitting in front of him. She is, for lack of a better word, annoying. Because Sasuke can’t figure her out, because she’s a mystery despite being an open book, she’s full of contradictions and it frustrates him beyond belief.

            “Alright, well…” she clasps her hands. “I should probably go,” she stands up and reaches for her bag. She’s still trapped between Sasuke’s legs and Sasuke doesn’t want her to go anyway.

            “Wait,” he says. He stands up and he realizes she’s kind of short, despite seeming bigger than life. “Would you like a coffee?” He asks. “It’s on me.”

            She smiles up at him and nods. Her cheeks are flushed again.

            Sasuke tells her to wait in the back, his shift is over anyway. When he’s back, he gives her a cup with her usual latte while he puts his own cup of green tea down on the table.

            “What flower is this?” Sakura asks.

            Sasuke pauses, considers bullshitting, but eventually admits, “sweet pea.”

            They talk – well, mostly Sakura talks and Sasuke listens – as they drink. She tells him about the gym she goes to, although it’s an all-female gym. She says she got kicked out of her old one after kicking some man’s butt who kept bothering her and trying to correct her form. Turns out Sakura’s form was just fine when she dealt him a right hook to the jaw. She blabbers on about her classes and just university in general, she mentions this and that about her family, her friends. Sasuke finds out that blonde friend of hers with the annoying orders is called Ino. Then, she suddenly stops.

            “Oh, my god! Sasuke-kun I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to talk so much about myself, I swear I’m not an egoist or anything,” she blushes. “Tell me about yourself. I know you only work her part-time, I assume you also go to uni here.”

            “Aa,” he says. When her eyes search his face expectantly, he adds, “I’m studying law.”

            “Wow! That must be difficult. Do you want to work for a fancy firm? I think I can imagine you in a suit with a bunch of hardasses and kicking butt in a courtroom,” Sakura taps her chin as she daydreams.

            “I wanna work for the DA, maybe together with the police,” Sasuke shrugs.

            “Putting away bad guys?”

            “Something like that, yeah.”

            In truth, Sasuke wanted to be a police officer when he was little, follow in his father’s footsteps. But along the way, he realized nothing he could do would please his father. He would always be second in everything, Itachi was always the best, naturally talented at anything and everything. But Sasuke still wanted to help people somehow, to rid the streets of bad guys. His father didn’t approve of him studying law, which made it all the more appealing to Sasuke.

.

.

.

            Sasuke is wiping down tables when Sakura walks in with a guy. He has short, red hair and light brown eyes. He is walking close to Sakura, leaning in as he tells her something that makes her laugh. Sasuke narrows his eyes and scrubs at the table a little harder.

            “Hey, Sasuke-kun,” Sakura greets as she walks by. Sasuke just nods, not really acknowledging her otherwise.

            The pair take a seat at a corner table, Sakura tucks her crossed feet under her chair, while Sasori spreads his out toward her. Sasuke can hear them talking about some chemistry formulas as he finishes cleaning the tables. Sakura is digging through her bag until she fishes out a small notebook.

            “Okay, so I talked to Chiyo-sensei, and apparently, if we do well on this exam, we might not have to take the next one at all,” Sakura says. So they go to the same class, Sasuke deducts. He still doesn’t like the way Sasori sizes her up.

            “That’s great and all, but do we know what’s going to be in the exam?”

            Before Sakura could answer, though, Sasuke stops beside their table. Sakura smiles at him brightly, like she always does.

            “Hey, what can I get you?” Sasuke asks in a tone that’s just a tad bit flatter than how he usually talks to Sakura.

            “I’ll just have my usual latte,” Sakura answers.

            “And I’ll have an espresso,” Sasori says, not even looking up.

            They resume talking as Sasuke walks away. He thinks about making a rose or perhaps a lily of the valley in Sakura’s latte, but for the first time since he’s met her, he doesn’t make any latte art for her. He can tell he’s surprised when he brings them their drinks.

            When she looks up to thank him, her gaze is unfamiliar to him, almost a little sad. She smiles anyway and says, “thank you, Sasuke-kun,” like she always does and Sasuke walks away feeling like an asshole.

.

.

.

            Itachi is diagnosed with lupus a few weeks after Sasuke’s run-in with the wall. Sasuke’s been going home each weekend since the diagnosis, but today he has to work a double shift because his stupid colleague called in sick, but Sasuke knows better. He heard there was a crazy party last night and that Suigetsu probably just got so wasted he couldn’t stand straight still.

            Sasuke puts down the chairs from the tables, places the menus, and opens the door. He puts out the sign with that day’s special offer and on his way back, he accidentally kicks into a concrete flower pot. He curses what he thought was silently, but he hears a giggle. He narrows his eyes and looks back to find Sakura staring back at him.

            “You alright, Sasuke-kun?”

            “Hn,” he shrugs and continues back inside. Sakura follows behind him. “You’re earlier than usual,” he notes. She never ever came in before ten in the morning. To see her when he’s barely just opened is weird.

            “Yeah, my roommate got home from some party not long ago and she woke me up on her way in. Then she passed out and started snoring so loud I couldn’t fall back asleep,” she shrugged as she set down at the bar. “What are you doing here? You haven’t worked a weekend shift in a while.”

            Sasuke raises an eyebrow at her. “Stalker much?” He tries to avert the conversation.

            Sakura blushed deeply. “No… I just come here often, you know? And I notice things,” she shrugs. Notice things… sure, except for the very obvious feelings I have for you, Sasuke thinks. Then a thought occurs to him that maybe he’s a coward and he should ask her out, instead of making her stupid latte art she probably doesn’t even understand. Besides, he’s seen her turn down people before, she’s always annoyingly kind about it and he doesn’t want her pity and that look in her eyes that makes her look like she’s just kicked a puppy. He’s content with being a coward.

            “I’ve been visiting my family on weekends,” he decides to say.

            “Oh,” Sakura says. “I hope they are okay.”

            “Why wouldn’t they be?” Sasuke furrows his brows.

            Sakura looks alarmed and Sasuke relaxes his features a bit. “Well, um… Sorry. I didn’t mean to pry or anything. It’s just… I don’t know, one doesn’t usually visit his family weekly when they are miles away at uni, right? Like, I only go during holidays and breaks, because it’s so damn far away.”

            Sasuke looks at her for a few seconds, she’s biting the inside of her cheek again and she keeps twirling her thumbs. “My brother is ill,” he blurts out. He doesn’t know why, but her big, beautiful green irises seemed to just compel him.

            Her eyes widen even more and she says, “I’m so sorry, Sasuke-kun.” And Sasuke believes her. “Do you… do you know what it is?”

            “Lupus.”

            “Oh, well. You know Sasuke-kun, although it’s not curable, most people with lupus actually live quite long lives. I’m sure they will find the right treatment for him,” she puts a hand on his that is resting on the bar. He feels warmth spread over his whole arm and he looks down at his hand.

            “Thank you,” he whispers.

            That day he paints a sunflower into the foam of her latte.

.

.

.

            “Hey, Sasuke-kun, Naruto,” Sakura smiles at them as she plops down on the barstool next to Naruto’s.

            Sasuke glances between them, confused, while Naruto greets enthusiastically, “hey Sakura-chan!”

            “You two know each other?” Sasuke asks as he wipes some cups dry.

            “Yeah, we had this stupid anatomy class together,” Naruto says. “I don’t even know why I needed it. Like obviously I know what a leg or a bicep is.”

            Sakura laughs. “I really don’t know how you passed that class.”

            “He’s distantly related to the professor,” Sasuke shrugs.

            “What!” Sakura exclaims. Sasuke shoots her a look that tells her she’s a bit too loud. “Sorry,” she mumbles and turns to Naruto. “You’re really related to Tsunade-shishou? How did I not know that?”

            “We’re not really related. Or, well, I guess not that closely? Like, she’s my mom’s great-great aunt’s something’s something? I don’t even know,” he scratches the back of his neck.

            “Yeah, you’re not closely related by you spend every Oumisoka together,” Sasuke points out.

            “Okay, now I can kinda see how you passed the test,” Sakura teases Naruto.

            “And how do you two know each other anyway?” Naruto asks. He, of course, knows of Sasuke’s little crush on Sakura, being his roommate and best friend and all.

            “Sakura comes here for coffee every day.”

            “I don’t come that often! Do I?”

            “Who could blame you, really? With such a handsome barista, I’d come here every day too if it wasn’t this bastard,” Naruto snickers and rubs the tip of his nose with his index finger.

            Sakura blushes deeply and Sasuke can’t seem to avert his gaze from her flushed face. She doesn’t deny nor confirm anything but her silence gives Sasuke some sort of hope that maybe his crush is not as hopeless as he thought it was. Sasuke turns his back to start preparing her usual order, even though she didn’t actually ask for anything yet. He draws an iris on the foam and turns back to give it to her.

            The redness to her face has slightly faded, but the highest points of her cheeks are still rosy. Sasuke hands her the cup. “Thanks, Sasuke-kun,” her fingers graze his and it takes a moment too long to take the cup from his hand.

            Naruto looks at them suspiciously, eyes narrowed. Then, he exclaims, “hey! How come I didn’t get some fancy art on my coffee!”

            “Stop screaming or I’m going to kick you out,” Sasuke hisses at him.

            Sakura sips her drink quietly as Naruto chats their ears off with one exaggerated story after the other. As Sasuke prepares drinks while they sit there, Sakura notes that he seems to be doing the same basic leafy design on all of them, instead of the intricate flowers he always seems to be drawing in her foam.

            Sakura leaves sometime later, telling them she’s meeting up with a friend to study. She thanks Sasuke for the coffee and says she’ll see them around. Sasuke has noticed the weird looks she keeps shooting at all the cups he’s been handling but doesn’t think much of it.

            “You should grow a pair and ask her out,” Naruto tells him as they are walking home.

            “Hn.”

            “Seriously, teme! I’m, like, totally sure she likes you too,” Naruto pushes.

            “Leave me alone,” Sasuke says and put in his earbuds. Naruto has other plans, though, and he yanks them right out.

            “Come on, man! Don’t be like that. What is your problem?”

            “I don’t have a problem. I just don’t have time for this right now,” Sasuke growls and takes his earphones back, ready to place them in his ears again.

            “Don’t have time for this conversation or don’t have time to ask out an amazing girl?” Naruto challenges. “I know you’re on this mission to prove to your father I-don’t-even-know what, but Mikoto-san worries about you. She called me the other week after you left home. She said you were gloomy, which is like your natural state anyway and she’s your mother so for her to say that, you really had to be in a sour mood.”

            “Itachi’s ill, how the hell am I supposed to feel?” Sasuke puts his earphones away and sighs frustratedly.

            “Yeah, he’s ill, I know. And I’m sorry about that. But he’s your brother, and he loves you and he doesn’t want you to slave away over law books and behind a bar serving people and at home taking care of him. And your mom doesn’t want that either. You’re young, they want you to have fun and live. They aren’t saying you should give up your ambitions, just that you should sometimes take a break. Take a cute, pink-haired girl on a date or something, I don’t know,” Naruto shrugs, pretending to be nonchalant.

            Sasuke has half the mind to punch him for meddling. He can’t admit out loud that he is making some sense, though. Eventually, he only says, “hn.”

            Naruto grins.

.

.

.

            The next day, Sasuke wipes down the tables at the end of his shift. He already took the sign with that day’s specials to the back and put up the closed sign, though the door remains unlocked.

            Suddenly he sees a flash of pink dashing down the street and toward the entrance. Sakura spots the closed sign but sees him moving about inside and pushes the door open. She seems kind of surprised that it’s actually open.  She shakes her head and steps inside.

            “Sakura?” Sasuke straightens from one of the tables and wipes his hands on his jeans. “What are you doing here?”

            “A carnation,” she starts but has to stop to take a couple of deep breaths. Sasuke is sure she has been running. “A carnation can symbolize fascination,” she starts again. “Orchids can mean deep admiration, sweet pea is a way of saying thanks, sunflowers mean adoration, intelligence, vitality, loyalty, and irises symbolize hope,” she takes another deep breath.

            Sasuke feels like a deer caught in headlights. He never thought she’d actually realize the little messages he’s been sending her. He’s not all that great with words and people aren’t usually all that great at reading him. This is why he mostly keeps to himself. It’s easier. But he didn’t expect this brilliant, annoying girl with hair as pink as her namesake and eyes as green as his favorite sour apples, to take the time to read him, to learn his language.

            She takes a few steps closer when he doesn’t reply. Her movement shakes her from his frozen state.

            “Aa,” he says.

            “Sasuke-kun, do you…,” she bites the inside of her cheek. Her courage only wavers for a moment, though. She takes another step, she’s almost right in front of him. “Do you like me?”

            Sasuke gazes into her big, bright eyes and before he realizes it, he says, “aa.”

            Sakura’s lips curl into a smile so big, so beautiful, that it mesmerizes Sasuke. She put her hands on his neck, pulling his face towards hers. She is still smiling as she kisses him, and when he puts his arms around her waist, she giggles happily into the kiss. When they pull apart the smile is still etched onto her lips.

            “Good. I like you too,” she says.

.

.

.

            “Good morning, anata,” Sakura almost sings as she steps into the kitchen where Sasuke is preparing breakfast. “Hmmm, that smells wonderful,” she says and stands behind Sasuke. She wraps her arms around his waist and kisses his left shoulder blade, then rests her cheek against it.

            “Are you hungry?” Sasuke asks. He’s made some miso soup, tamagoyaki, and cut-up fruit for dessert.

            “Sasuke-kun, you really didn’t have to do all this,” she smiles at him as he faces her.

            “You don’t graduate med school every day,” he points out. With the highest scores ever, even surpassing your master,” he pokes her in the forehead and her smile widens.

            “Thank you,” she kisses the corner of her mouth.

            “Sit down, I’ll make you some coffee.”

            Sakura sits and does as she’s told. She keeps complimenting the food because really, Sasuke-kun is such a great cook and she loves breakfast now and she doesn’t know how she managed to live off of cereal or no breakfast at all before meeting him. She talks about the graduation ceremony and how nervous she is that she’s going to trip on the podium, and that she’s nervous about lunch afterward because both of their parents are coming to lunch and their fathers are so different and she can feel a disaster just waiting to happen.          

            Sasuke places a cup in front of her. She looks down and traces the cup with a delicate finger. “A tulip?” She asks, not looking up.

            “Aa,” Sasuke never stopped making her latte art, even after they moved in together, or after he stopped working at the café and took up an apprenticeship at a firm.

            She looks up at him, features soft, eyes glistening. “I love you too, anata.”

[neraawritesxx]

"You keep having strange dreams that turn out to be us in a past life and you’re determined to fine me again but in this life I’m already dead" Sasusaku or Kakasaku or whatever you'd like! Your writing is always spectacular ❤️

title: âme sœur pairing: kakashi x sakura; sasuke x sakura word count: 6,409 a/n: so you asked for either pairing and i figured why not give you a little bit of both. you reallllllyyyy hit the angst train on this one, anon. i hope you enjoy!

It starts as colors.

A warped picture of gray, black, and green.

Then it progresses; becomes more vivid. Those colors blend and bleed together, forming a silhouette of a man she knows is her soulmate. His face eludes her in her dreams, but she is sure that it is him. He visits her every night with vague memories of touches and a soliloquy of soft words that wrap her up like a blanket.

Sakura wakes every morning with a flutter in her chest, and idle praises still whispered along the edges of her consciousness. It stirs a deep longing that cannot be eased, as though half of her heart is still missing.

So, she dates. It’s what people do before meeting the one they’re destined for; it’s common practice. Some people never meet their soulmates, or others meet them late in life. Some have platonic or familial soulmates, but she knows hers is romantic. The emotions stirred within her could be from nothing but. It takes time, and Sakura is anything but patient, but she throws herself out there and hopes for the best.

It’s a struggle at first, as she does not imagine herself with anyone else, but after a while, she meets Sasuke Uchiha, and it’s perfect.

Everything seems perfect.

Sasuke is the epitome of what a soulmate should be. He’s polite, confident, and excitable, but he doesn’t seem as eager as Sakura to start dating. She is the one who asks him out first, and Sasuke gives her a slightly distressed and confused look, but then it suddenly vanishes, and he smiles, and then the rest of the world falls into place.

Except, it doesn’t.

Disquiet settles into Sakura’s bones despite everything working out as it should. Sasuke is everything someone would want in a partner; he gets along with her friends, he cooks most nights, and given her hectic schedule, he spends what free time he can making sure their plants are watered, and the apartment is clean. He’s doting and caring, and his reserved personality compliments Sakura’s outspokenness.

But, the dreams don’t stop.

Sakura dreams of more gray and green and black. Of sweet, succulent words kissed into her skin, and a feeling of love so resounding that it almost makes her want to cry. So why, if Sasuke is here, is she still having soulmate dreams? Why dream of the person you are meant to be with when they are right in front of you? Sasuke fits the mold, the description; he should be the one.

She wakes one night in a cold sweat, a scream caught in her throat. Sasuke lays next to her, softly snoring, ignorant to her distress. Her dreams have become more resound, sharp. She can make out the face of the figure in her dreams with striking clarity.

Sasuke is not her soulmate.

-o-

They’re in a war zone, fighting for their lives.

Blood and sweat are coating her skin, but all she can focus on is him.

Her hands glow green as she presses them to his chest, and she can hear the screams from those around her, but she can’t help them right now. She huddles closer to his wounds, calling his name like a prayer – the only prayer she knows.

His eyes flutter, and she cries with relief. “Stay with me, Kakashi!”

He groans in response, and Sakura helps him up, one arm thrown around his back, the other placed in the middle of his chest, continuing to heal the two intersecting gashes that reside there. She tucks herself close to him, enamored by the sight of him, alive and well.

“How do you feel,” she asks softly.

At first, he grunts a non-committal response and steadies himself on his own two feet.  “Better now, thanks to you.” He takes a long breath, then another, before pulling himself away from her. Sakura tries not to frown at the loss of his warmth.

“Come on,” he says, beginning to walk towards the fray of bodies. “We have to go help the others.”

“Right behind you, sensei,” she confirms before following him into the battle.

-o-

That morning she’s a little more than excited; she’s jubilant and joyful, dancing around their kitchen with her favorite coffee mug in hand while Sasuke is cooking breakfast.

He notices the change from her traditional morning mood but doesn’t immediately comment. It’s only when she starts to hum off-key while digging into her scrambled eggs that he mentions anything.

“You seem happy this morning. Good night’s sleep?” Sasuke questions.

Sakura smiles until her eyes crinkle. “You could say that,” she replies coyly.

She finally got his name.

-o-

Sasuke is in one of the dreams. It’s odd to see him there. A deep sense of sadness washes over her as she stares at him, but it’s like a piece of the puzzle that has been missing for so long has finally clicked into place.

He looks the same, yet different, hair wild and about, a dark cloak around his form. There’s something wrong with his eyes; they look like something out of a nightmare, one purple with rings around the iris, but the other is its ordinary charcoal, and he doesn’t look like he is in pain, so she doesn’t question it. He is calm and talking to her, thanking her for believing in him all this time. Dejection crosses her features when she tells her that she has to stay, and he needs to go, to find himself out in the world.

Her soulmate is there, standing ever the silent guard, watching their interaction.

It’s not long after that Sasuke takes his leave, but before he goes, he pokes her forehead with two fingers, a gesture of goodwill, then sees himself off.

When he is nothing but a blur on the horizon, her soulmate – no Kakashi – turns to her and says, “Are you okay?”

“Yes,” she replies, and honestly, she is. She is better than okay; she is complete. She has the closure she needs to move forward from this chapter in her life.

Kakashi looks at her with doubt clouding his expression, but she does not let it weigh on her. Instead, she grabs his hand, squeezing it tight, and starts to drag him back towards the entrance to the village.

“Come on. Naruto wants to meet us for lunch!”

-o-

“Do you still have dreams?” Sakura suddenly asks.

The conversation between Ino and TenTen slowly dies away. All three of them rarely have an afternoon off, and it’s even rarer that their schedules line up to allow them to try the new sandwich shop that opened up downtown. Tenten looks at her curiously, while Ino, meal now long forgotten, seems perturbed.

“Like in general?” TenTen asks. “Or are you talking about something specific?”

Sakura’s cheeks flush under their twin scrutiny. “Like soulmate dreams. Do you still have them now that you found yours?”

Ino and TenTen share a look that has Sakura answering her question before they can. Of course, they don’t have soulmate dreams. They found their soulmates around the same time Sakura insisted she found hers. Everything recorded about soulmates states that dreams should stop after you meet them.

“Did you ever see past lives?” Sakura follows up her question quickly.

Ino places her fork down and cocks her head to the side. “Forehead, what is this all about?” She looks concerned, and Sakura’s stomach twists uncomfortably. She grabs the napkin next to her tray and starts picking at the frayed edges, distracting herself.

There’s a prolonged silence, and only when it’s clear that Sakura is not going to answer does Ino break it with a sigh. “No, I don’t dream anymore, and yes, I did see past lives. In one of them, I owned a greenhouse.”

Sakura snorts, nerves temporarily forgotten. “Why do I find that very hard to believe.”

Ino could barely keep a goldfish alive, let alone a room full of plants. The blonde flips her ponytail over her shoulder, “Believe it, Forehead. You’re talking to the bona fide ancestor of a florist.”

TenTen rolls her eyes. “I’m pretty sure I was a martial artist in one of my past lives. I remember seeing a dojo and a strange man who I think was my teacher. He had the worst eyebrows imaginable.”

All three laugh at that, their mirth trailing into a companionable silence. TenTen starts to dig back into her sandwich, but Ino stares at Sakura, questions lingering in her gaze.

“Is there something you want to tell us, Sakura?” The blonde asks, and it doesn’t go unnoticed by Sakura that Ino has foregone her favorite nickname.

“It’s just,” Sakura starts and then suddenly stops, exhales, and backtracks. “No, it’s just something Tsundae said on shift yesterday. Got me thinking about a couple of things, and I just wanted your opinions.”

Neither looks like they believe her lie, but no one presses her on it, and for that, Sakura is grateful.

“How’s Neji? How’s Sai?” Sakura inquires, and TenTen takes the bait, prattling on about her and Neji’s most recent bout of apartment shopping. Ino is slower to join the fray, blue eyes pinning Sakura with a look that states this is not over.

-o-

They’re fighting. Fighting over something that she cannot understand in this lifetime.

Something called Anbu.

“Is it because you don’t think I’m strong enough?” She yells, the hurt evident in her voice.

“No,” he croaks. “No. Not at all. I just…I can’t –”

“Can’t what, Kakashi? Can’t what? Can’t believe that I made Anbu? Can’t believe I’ve made something of myself after all these years?” She’s on the defensive, anger boiling beneath her skin. She must have struggled to prove herself in this life, making her defensive, hardened, and bitter.

There’s mention of Sasuke, of that man named Naruto again, and then the dam breaks, “I can’t lose you too!”

Sakura deflates, if only slightly. There’s something about the pitch of his voice, that broken tone, that pulls at her heart strings. “You and Naruto can’t keep me hidden away forever. Sasuke is out there getting stronger, and Naruto is on the verge of becoming Hokage. I need to try this. I need to see what I can do. What I’m capable of. I cannot live in your shadows anymore.”

She finishes packing her bag and walks over to his prone form, standing in the corner of her bedroom. She presses onto her toes – he’s always been so damn tall – and brushes a kiss along his cloth-covered cheek. She doesn’t know why he tries to keep up the facade; she’s seen his face before. But she doesn’t push, and he doesn’t change – and that seems to be the crux of their issue, doesn’t it.

“I’ll see you when I get back, Kakashi,” she says in the way of parting.

He doesn’t let her make it far before pulling her back with one hand, crushing her in his embrace. Sakura is stock still, tense as this is the most contact he has initiated between them. But the warmth of his hug unfurls her, and she melts into him after only a moment’s hesitance.

“You will come back,” he states with conviction, his lips pressed to the crown of her hair.

Sakura smiles into the skin of his neck. “I will come back,” she repeats, assurance evident in her tone.

-o-

Their first kiss is innocent.

A fleeting touch of his lips against hers, but it’s real; it happens.

She returns from her mission, the one they are fighting about, and he’s waiting for her at the gates. She doesn’t even have a moment to greet him before he’s pulling her into his arms, witnesses be damned, and his lips are on hers. She doesn’t see him pull down the cloth that covers his face, but it’s gone, and his lips are a little chapped, but they’re warm and welcoming, and they fight away the weariness in her bones.

He pulls back just enough to look at her, his eyes raking across her face. There’s a beat, then two, before he lowers his mouth to hers again. 

It feels like her every nerve is straining towards him so that even this whisper-light touch burns. The kiss is slow, a build-up of what they’ve created. Kakashi is trying to feel her out, trying to gauge what she likes and doesn’t like. She can’t tell him that she wants all of it – at least not right now. Not with the way his hand cups just beneath her jaw, the musky scent of his utility vest filling her nostrils. The heat of his mouth against hers. It’s all achingly gentle.

Sakura can feel her toes curl from the innocence of it.

When they part again, Sakura has to catch her breath. “Kakashi,” she whispers.

Genma releases a wolf-whistle behind them, a low, drawn-out note that has the others in her unit chuckling.

“What?” He questions, dark eyes filled with delight. “No kisses for the rest of us, Kakashi?”

“Fuck off, Genma,” Sakura snarks before pulling Kakashi down by the collar of his vest and sealing her lips against his.

-o-

When she wakes up, she has no idea what time it is. It’s still dark outside, and her blinds let in the full moonlight. Sakura is tangled in someone, his heavy arm pressing her against his chest so tight it feels like she can’t breathe. She can’t tell which world she is in, her reality or the one in her dreams, but it sparks something within her, and she must flee.

No one should be here. No – this man should not be here. Only her one is supposed to be here. Some dormant instinct kicks in, and Sakura furiously pushes at the body around hers, scrambling out of bed and falling on the floor. It’s panic—a feeling. A raw emotion vibrating under her skin and attempting to claw its way out. She’s sprawled on the floor, her head ringing and her breath coming out in little gasps as she scrambles away.

His voice is groggy, but he seems to understand what’s happening immediately.

“Sakura, baby girl, it’s me. It’s just me.”

She listens to the voice, her name falling from his mouth, and remembers who he is. She’s safe. It’s Sasuke. Sasuke, her boyfriend. The man who never hurt her, the man who has stuck by her side. Sasuke, her ­would-be soulmate. The relief she feels could drown her, but instead, she chokes on it because this is not real; this is a façade. A façade she has buried her life into, a twisted lie of happiness she is selling herself to. This is not real.

“Sakura, come back to bed,” he says, looking at her from over the edge of the mattress. In the dim light, his skin is pale, and his eyes are inky black.

But they’re not the eyes she wants.

She can’t move; she just stares at him. He’s not a mix of the right colors. His hair isn’t gray, and there’s no scar dissecting one eye. It’s not him. He must become impatient with her inability to formulate coherent words because he reaches his arm out and grabs her by the hand, half pulling her back onto the bed, but she squeals in protest and digs her heels into the carpet.

“You’re safe, come to bed,” he says, commanding. In control.

She nods slowly, realizing that she has been acting erratically. This is her home, her bed, and her lover. She is safe, the safest that she can be.

She says nothing even as he pulls her to the edge of the bed and tugs her back onto the mattress. He nestles her back into the cave of his body and puts his arm over her as she rests her head against her pillow. His other arm wiggles underneath her neck, reaching out to clasp her hand, intertwining their fingers. They resume their spooning, no other words shared between them, and for a while, all Sakura can hear is the jumping beat of her heart. His body is hot, and she lets the warmth seep through her. The panic recedes, replaced by that honey-warm yet empty feeling she always has when it comes to him.

She falls back asleep almost instantly, chasing the dreams that bring her true peace.

-o-

Of all the ways Sakura thought their first time might happen—being in the middle of nowhere, cramped in the confines of a tent, with nothing more than a pallet and a cup of tea between the two of them, never entered her mind.

He keeps touching her. It’s small things—brushes of his fingers, his shoulder warm and hard against hers. He strokes the inside of her forearm, and she sighs. In turn, she touches him, slowly prying that mask from his face, and brushes off his utility vest. She tucks the fingers of one of her hands under the hem of his black shirt, splaying them against his skin. She’s the one to turn into him, to kiss him.

It’s just a brush of her mouth against his, so soft it might have been accidental. But it isn’t.

“Sakura,” he breathes, and his hand is on her cheek, thumb against her chin. She tilts her head a little, and their lips meet again.

She doesn't try to cover herself when he pulls her shirt over her head. They know one another; they’ve been together for so many years, but not like this. She doesn’t have time to feel anxiety or the pull of her nerves.

“I love you,” she says softly when she pulls back.

He looks at her like he’s staring at the sun, like it hurts, but he doesn’t want to look away. His hand comes up and caresses her cheek, and then he’s tugging her closer, and he slants his mouth over hers.

It’s enough of an answer for her.

-o-

When the rest of their clothes disappear, and they come together for the first time, Sakura wakes up and cries.

-o-

Ino is the first person, including Sakura, to notice that she is unhappy. They’re out at a dive bar, getting drinks after a shift, when Ino looks her up and down, frowning slightly. Sakura likes to think that she keeps her innermost secrets hidden from those around her, but Ino stares at Sakra like she already knows.

“How are things with Sasuke going?” She asks, hitting the nail right on the head. Sakura flinches slightly, hands tightening on her cocktail. She’s sure Ino catches the movement.

Sakura has kept Sasuke hidden away throughout the last few weeks. It’s not that she’s embarrassed by him; on the contrary, he has been nothing but patient with what she has been going through, but the dreams don’t stop, and she is not happy, and this whole endeavor is consuming her from the inside out.

“Break up with him,” Ino states without so much of a preamble. “You’re not happy. It’s written all over your face.”

And that right there is the real problem because she has thought about it. Not about the breaking up part, but about the two of them together. Things have been a bit strained since her dreams have become more vivid – no, not dreams, memories. Sakura spends a lot of time contemplating the inner workings of her and Sasuke’s relationship – has spent a lot of time denying the possibility he might feel something real for her and she him, but they are trapped by the binds that she created. If she hadn’t rushed into things, they might have been different.

“Better off as friends,” Sakura mutters, agreeing. Ino takes another sip of her beer, waiting for Sakura to continue, but she doesn’t, and the two of them get lost within the beat of the bass playing from the speaker.

She certainly didn’t want how this turned out, to be trapped in some tiny metropolitan apartment with Sasuke living out some pale imitation of life that could not compare to what a genuine relationship could be like with a soulmate. But, from what she knew, he didn’t dream or at least hasn’t had one since they’ve been together – not that he’s ever told her. So she must be his soulmate, right?

Could you possibly belong to two separate people? Was the universe that fucked up?

She just hopes he isn’t going to use this against her, not that she thinks that he would. Not that it would work because she will likely hold onto this relationship for as long as she can. He is the foundation, the start of all of this that she is experiencing; without Sasuke, Sakura feels like she has amounted to nothing.

It's genuinely disheartening, like trying to catch sand between her fingers. Things just started getting back to normal between them – well, as normal as they ever could be. And she needs him fully committed to this if they’re ever going to make it through this hump.

“You’re not going to do a damn thing about what I just suggested, are you?” Ino questions.

Sakura’s reply is immediate, “No.”

And that is the real question, isn’t it? Why is she clinging to this relationship with Sasuke if she could be spending her time looking for her soulmate and working on their happy ending?

“I’m comfortable,” she says, taking a long sip of her drink. Ino snorts, and Sakura chooses to ignore it before continuing. “I’m comfortable and safe, and I’m with someone who is taking care of me. And most of all…I’m…I’m scared. Something is holding me back. Something is telling me that it’s not going to work, to stay. Stay comfortable; stay where I am. I’m secure here.”

Ino releases a breath from her nostrils and slugs back the remainder of her beer. Her best friend knows that it is all empty words, that Sakura is hiding from herself and what could be.

“I don’t know what’s going on with you fully,” she says, sliding off her chair. “But you’re going to tell me eventually.”

Sakura has to remind herself that she hasn’t told Ino about the dreams, about Kakashi, but it doesn’t seem like this seedy bar is the appropriate place, and luckily Ino continues not to press the issue. Her best friend might be a brat, but she is a godsend when it matters.

“Come on,” Ino states, grabbing Sakura’s drink and polishing off the rest of that as well, slamming the empty glass on the bar top. “I want to dance.”

She grabs both of Sakura’s hands and drags her to the dancefloor, and for a moment, Sakura forgets her issues, her inner dilemma, and laughter bubbles to the surface, spilling out of her with glee. She feels like a teenager again, dancing soppily along, feet sticking to the floor of this dive bar playing old rock music, something they clearly should not be dancing to. But, Ino is here, and they are giggling like school girls, singing off-key and at a volume far too loud for the lack of people decorating this place, but she can’t bring herself to care and gets lost in the feel of her and her best friend enjoying themselves.

-o-

The dreams of their lovemaking are the worst.

She dreams of calloused hands inching up her thighs, hushed whispers in her ear, teeth nibbling at her skin – of cries praising her name. She can feel his touch, feel him,around her, inside her, and it brings tears to her eyes. 

She reaches for Sasuke during those nights, waking him up with wicked words and heated promises, with kisses to his most sensitive areas, and she gets lost in the feel of him against her.

When they’re finished, with sweat-stained brows and panting filling the silence of their room, after she calls out what she knows is the wrong name during her release, Sakura feels sated.

But it doesn’t last. It’s not long before the regret fills her gut, and it becomes an ugly knot of self-loathing and doubt that drags her into the dark recesses of her mind. She withdraws in on herself, curling on her side, pulling away from Sasuke’s embrace. He, again, bless him, never comments on how she self-isolates after they’re together. He grants her the space she needs, eventually losing himself to his own thoughts.

This is not enough – the dreams are not enough, but it is all she has, so it will have to do for now.

She chases that feeling of when she was dancing in the bar with Ino, where for a moment she was happy, contented with her life. She wants to go back to forgetting, to not having dreams that make her desire something coveted by others, something she has punished herself into thinking will never be hers.

She welcomes the abyss of sleep like an old friend.

-o-

By some cruel twist of fate, Sasuke leaves her in the fall of that same year.

He cites irresolvable differences, but she’s not an idiot. He can see the distance, the bags under her eyes. They fight more recently about little things – anything and everything. Sakura starts to think that he finally started having soulmate dreams, that they’ve become more vivid. That he finally knows who he belongs to. It’s not her; it has never been her. It was never their time – not then and not now. He chooses to pack up his stuff and leave without much fanfare. For the first time in their relationship, Sakura’s thankful for his stoic demeanor.

He walks towards the door, the last box of his belongings in his grasp. He suddenly stops and turns, staring at her for a long moment.

“I hope you find him,” Sasuke states simply, offering no further explanation.

Sakura finches. “What?”

He places the box down and crowds into her personal space, leaning down. At first, Sakura thinks he is going to kiss her, and she closes her eyes. She’s not strong enough to witness their end, their goodbye. Especially not if his version of ending their relationship is a goodbye kiss. It will break her. So she waits a long second, expecting the contact of his lips on hers, but it never comes.

She starts when she feels two fingers poke her in the middle of her forehead and opens her eyes. Sasuke smiles, that small, demure smile that he offers only to her. “I hope you find the man you keep dreaming about.”

He leaves without saying another word, picking up the discarded box. The door closes softly, echoing throughout their previously shared space. And then she is left alone in a half-empty apartment, and it feels like the walls are closing in on her.

Sakura breaks down into tears.

-o-

Ino comes over later that night, bringing over two bottles of cheap wine and some romantic comedies from the last 2000s that are guaranteed to make her laugh.  They don’t really pay much attention to the films playing in the background because Sakura spends most of that time spilling her secrets, baring her soul to her closest friend. They have polished off both bottles of wine and have moved to the leftover beer in Sakura’s fridge when Ino suggests it.

“We could look for him,” she slurs.

Sakura is lying on the floor next to the couch, sprawled out like a starfish with her can of alcohol balancing on her chest. She removes it, discarding it to the side before sitting up, swaying slightly as the world rights itself.

“Look for who, Pig?” She murmurs, losing her fight with gravity and unceremoniously falling back to the floor.

Ino chuckles at her antics from the sofa, then hiccups. “Your soulmate, duh.”

-o-

It’s their wedding day; she can tell from the way that she’s wrapped in white and he in all black, and they are kneeling in the front of a room of people Sakura has begun to recognize from other dreams.

She slides her eyes over to her soon-to-be husband; the wide sleeves of his ceremonial garb falls over his hands, hiding the anxious fidgeting underneath. She can tell he is nervous as he never liked to be the center of attention, and the gathering guests have him wound tight like a bowstring. His eyes are on the tatami, seeing yet unseeing, and Sakura subtly crawls her hand over to his, slipping it under the cloth to intertwine their fingers together. She realizes then that hers are slightly shaking as well, but they find strength together, and he squeezes her hand to the point where she is sure that both of their knuckles have turned white.

Tsunade stands close by, smiling beneath her wide-brimmed Hokage hat, ready and happy to officiate their wedding. Ino flitted about the room with TenTen’s help, adjusting the flowers and tapestries one final time.

In a bid to keep cold feet at bay, Sakura counts each of the guests off in her head, not just once but twice. It’s not that she does not want to marry the man of her dreams, but it’s a little hard to believe that they’ve gotten to this point with the type of life they have led. It’s far too soon that Tsunade calls for everyone to be seated as the final preparations have been completed.

“You ready?” He asks.

Sakura rolls her eyes skyward like she is asking for help from God and teases, “To be hitched to you? Forever? I’m not so sure.”

Kakashi offers her a blinding smile that steals her breath away before they are both ushered to face forward.

The ceremony blurs into a euphony of blessings and vows. The traditional sake is poured, and Kakashi takes a sip from the tiny glass before passing it to her. They share the medium and the large glass rather quickly, both of them a barely contained bundle of nerves. They continue to kneel before the small shrine and light candles in prayer, then receive the blessings of the guests and their precious people.

By the time it comes to exchanging rings, Kakashi has mellowed considerably compared to her. He smiles so brightly, and again Sakura has to remember how to breathe. She almost drops his wedding band with how bad her hands are shaking. Here she is, on the day she never thought she would get to see, green eyes awash with tears, happy tears, with a man who completes her body and mind.

Who completes her soul.

Sakura finally finds her inner strength and secures the gold band on his ring finger. There are a few more blessings, ceremonial words exchanged, and then they’re kissing, the room erupting in cheers.

Sakura doesn’t think she has ever been this happy in her entire life.

-o-

It seems silly, them playing detective in her small apartment, like something out of an internet meme.

But they scour as many social media and general search engines as possible and compile a list of fifty Kakashi’s within the tri-state area. Sakura offers Ino the best physical description of the man within her dreams. The two split the list down the middle and take off, noses buried in their laptops, looking for anything that could lead Sakura to her soulmate.

She knows that it’s a long shot because who is to say that her soulmate lives close by. But there is something in Sakura’s gut that tells her to pursue forward, to forget the fears that bound her for so long, that she will get the answers she needs.

Ultimately it doesn’t take long, only a matter of two days, and Sakura supposes this is the universe playing a sick joke on her because it’s easy, too easy.

“Sakura,” Ino calls in a tone that has Sakura lifting her head from her computer screen. The blonde is sitting on a stool at the island in Sakura’s kitchen, but the pitch of Ino’s voice has Sakura concerned. She looks pale, two shades whiter than is traditional for her already porcelain skin. She turns her computer slowly towards Sakura, and immediately emerald eyes are drawn to the screen.

In the top right corner is a picture of the man who has been haunting her dreams, decorating her past life with love-filled memories. Even from the distance across the room, Sakura can tell it is him. The same man who she married, the same man she had children with, the same man she grew old with. It may not have been in this lifetime, but it felt real enough, he felt real enough, and there he is staring back at her.

He is older than she expected. There are crows’ feet around his eyes and age lines around his mouth, but age doesn’t matter – she’s almost thirty-one, and this is her soulmate she is talking about. It’s him, it’s him, and she suppresses the squeal that bubbles up her throat.

He must be some big shot if an article is written about him, and Sakura finds herself scrambling to her feet so that she can get a better look and learn more about him. She should have realized something was wrong when she noticed that Ino was not sharing in her delight. Her best friend sits stock still, staring at Sakura with tears welling up in her too-blue eyes. Goosebumps break out across Sakura’s arm, the hair on the back of her neck standing on edge as her shoulders hike up to her ears. Something is wrong; something is terribly, terribly wrong.

Only when she gets closer to the laptop does she understand why her friend is so upset.

It’s not an article.

It’s an obituary.

-o-

Kakashi Hatake:

Born: September 15th, 1978 Died: July 3rd, 2022

Kakashi Hatake, 44, master sergeant, USAF (Ret.), passed away on Sunday, July 3rd, after a training drill at the local airbase went awry. Stg. Hatake was called into the base to train recruits and implement new safety procedures for the flight program. Kakashi, a beloved son and friend, leaves behind no living dependents. Services will be held at Saint Catherine’s Church on West 15th Street on July 6th at 2:00 PM.

-o-

Initially, she cries. She screams and cries and rants and raves—all for what she lost, all for what could have been. A part of her dies when she reads that obituary. It was from this year, and the moments that she spent with another man could have been memories made with her soulmate.

Ino sobs with her, holding her friend desperately, as they both release earth-shattering cries, huddled together on her couch. And when the tears are gone, and there is nothing left but aching emptiness, a loneliness that she does not believe she could face, Sakura comes to a semblance of a conclusion.

Every time you lose someone, it becomes a scar.

She doesn’t want any loss to outweigh or outshine another, but she doesn’t want this feeling to be something that just passes. She got her first scar when she lost her grandparents, second when she lost her father, and now a third when she lost Kakashi before she could even have him. Her scars are a testament to the love and the relationship that she had with these people. And even though the scars are deep, so was the love.

And it will continue as it should be.

Scars are a testament to life. Scars are a testament that she can love deeply and live deeply and be cut, or even gouged, and that she can heal and continue to live and continue to love.

It takes a bit more research, and Ino holds her hand through the entire procedure, but she finds out where he is buried.

Ino offers to take her there, but Sakura decides against it. She has to do it alone to find that closure she so coveted in her previous life. She arrives with a small bouquet of white chrysanthemums that contrast brightly with the brown parchment paper they are wrapped in.

She wanders through the cemetery, down the path she is sure she will familiarize herself with over the next few weeks.

There is another person at the gravesite. He’s tall, with a close-cut head of black hair. The side of his face that is visible to her is covered with an eye patch, skin mottled with a twisting, ugly scar. It looks like the skin was torn apart and hastily put back together, leaving a grotesque aftermath.  He can’t see her approach, but he must hear the crunching of dead leaves underneath her feet because he suddenly turns to her and blanches at the sight of her. It gives her time to take him in more thoroughly, and Sakura thinks that in another life, without his scar, he would be extremely handsome.

He seems to collect himself with a slight shake and offers her a small smile. “Names Obito,” he states in greeting. “I take it you must be Sakura.”

Sakura hides her surprise, eyes awash with fresh tears. “How’d you know?”

Obito doesn’t verbally respond; he instead pulls at a lock of his onyx hair and then points toward her own. She approaches him slowly and settles herself next to him, placing the flowers on top of the grave. They lapse into silence for only a moment, both staring at the carved stone in front of them. It’s beautiful, the marble headstone. Decorated with angels and swirls, topped with the words “Here Lies.”

“He would talk about you, you know,” Obitos says after another moment. “Talk about how your hair was so bright, and your temper left something to be desired.” Sakura releases a laugh, wet and thick with emotion. She sniffles, and Obito reaches into his pocket and produces a tissue which she takes gratefully. “He was sure that you two were going to meet one day. All he could talk about was the dreams. Sometimes I was so jealous of the two of you, but I couldn’t get him to shut up about it.”

Sakura snorts, taking the tissue and blotting it in the corner of her eyes. She misses a tear or two but doesn’t bother to try and wipe them away.

There’s another bout of silence, and then, “Do you want me to tell you about him?” Obito asks.

“Yeah,” Sakura says. “Yeah, I do.”

[sakucherry]

It has been a few weeks since the announcement of Sakura’s pregnancy. Itachi wished it had been as peaceful and delightful as the first day, but he was seriously fatigued. Sakura’s hormones had her every sort of emotion he could not fathom.

One moment she is fine. Then they speak and all of a sudden she is crying into his arms. Then he says something that normally would not elicit a reaction only for her to angrily shove him away and demand a massage.

He wondered how Sasuke handled things when Sakura was pregnant with Sarada.

The first two weeks, Itachi became ever so doting and urgently responsive to Sakura’s needs. He brewed his tea when she was not in the room. He would then air the room or sip his tea outside so it would not disturb her. Her morning sickness had taken a toll on her, and her confidence would ebb and flow with her moods.

He felt an indescribable urge to tend to her every need and to worry more about the types of food she was eating even though she was the doctor. He would only select fresh edibles, not that he didn’t do that much already, but even more so now. He also inspected them more meticulously.

Nothing but the best.

Right now, however, Itachi is not feeling the best. There has not been a restful night. Sakura’s been waking up at random hours needing something. She’s too warm, or too cold. She wants a cup of coffee. She wants this and that and it’s the middle of the night, but he indulges her anyway.

It’s three in the morning as Itachi squints at the alarm clock when Sakura taps on his shoulder. Three. In. The. Morning. She’s gently nudging him now. Easy, as if there is no urgency.

He counts to three before turning to meet her eyes, tired, but he tries his best to hide the groan. Itachi Uchiha spent much of his life without a good night’s sleep. Granted, it made him a grumpy wretch, but he could tough it out for nine months…

Especially when she looks at him with those pretty eyes and the way she’s also sleepy. She’s growing a beautiful life inside her, and that is enough to probably wear anyone out.

“Sweetheart,” he whispers, “What is it?”

Sakura hears “sweetheart” and reminds herself that it’s Itachi right next to her.

She looks at him with such tired eyes it makes any sort of irritation at being woken disappear.

“I think it’s a boy,” she whispers to him, as if she’s sharing a grave secret. A soft smile is on her face. “I just dreamt of him.”

A kiss is pressed onto her forehead, followed by Itachi’s quiet murmur. “Sweetheart, it’s just a dream. We can’t know for sure right now.”

“Don’t tell Sarada,” she says, ignoring his comment. Their daughter has been hoping for a sister.

“And if you dream of a daughter next?”

Sakura frowns. She hadn’t thought of that. “Well, then, maybe they’re twins,” she scoffs.

Itachi’s chuckling fills the darkened room. And then he’s asking her, astute as ever, “What did you really wake me up for?”

She rolls over to face him. He probably can’t see it, but she has on an almost sad smile. “I, uhm…”

“Sakura,” he says, voice serious. “Anything you want to eat is okay.” If I can give it to you, I will.

“I feel full already,” she says. He had satisfied her craving of warm corn with butter just a mere two hours ago.

She feels odd.

When she was pregnant with Sarada, her late husband would wake up any time for anything she wanted. It wasn’t so different from his brother. He was patient too and was only ever irritated once or twice, when she would ask for something impossible, such as a treat from another nation. But he was always quick to turn it all around and be understanding. He would tell her that their daughter wanted to experience the world, wanted to prepare before she came out, and it would make her laugh.

She doesn’t know how to admit it without making things possibly… awkward?

Right now, I miss your brother? Can she say that and will it be okay?

Her only experience with pregnancy prior to this is with Sasuke when she was carrying Sarada. In moments like this, late into the quiet, darkened night, she had Sasuke by her side. When she awoke a mere few minutes ago, she nearly thought she was in his arms again.

She wants to tell him that she feels sad. That pregnancy reminds her of Sasuke and that she misses him right now, more than ever. But how can she say so without possibly hurting his feelings? Without him misunderstanding?

Itachi has been wonderful to her and her daughter. There is no doubt he will be even more so when their little one arrives. She loves him and wants nothing more than to create a future with him. So much she almost feels guilty for waking up and thinking she’s right next to someone else.

He is not Sasuke’s replacement; they are two different people of two different temperaments and personality. She feels it isn’t fair to compare and it isn’t right for her to wake up in the middle of the night and mistake her lover for his brother. So she says, “Nothing at all,” and hopes it would suffice.

[nejibaby]

Memories

Pairing: Neji x Fem!Uchiha Reader

Summary: There are a lot of terrible things that have happened to you as an Uchiha that you wanted to forget. But with Neji’s help, you’re able to move on and move along. Things have started getting better for you, however, once the Fourth Shinobi War was declared, time seemed to start running out.

Word Count: 2.1k

Memories - Part 1 | Deja Vu - Part 2

A/N: I didn’t exactly follow the plot and somehow it turned so angsty 🙈 Please let me know your thoughts~

There are memories you hold so dear that you refuse to have them tainted no matter what. Most of those memories are of the times you spent playing or training with your brother Shishui, his best friend Itachi, and Itachi’s brother Sasuke. Those times were the golden days for you; the best of the best, if you may.

Conversely, there are also memories that you just wish would disappear. They’re the memories of incidents you wish didn’t happen at all. They’re the type of memories that you push at the back of your mind, because you believe that if you think about it or even spare a single second for it, then it’ll be more real. Because you’re in denial. You’re in denial not only about the death of Shisui, but also of the Uchiha clan.

But then there’s a single memory you have that always stands out. It’s a memory that you both want to forget and remember.

The tragedy of the Uchiha clan had changed the only survivors — you and Sasuke. You had already started changing a little because you had to deal with your brother’s death, but seeing the horrible scene in the clan’s district had been the icing on top.

Your drastic change had been evident on the day you came back to the Academy after you were discharged at the hospital. What once was a girl full of life had become an empty shell.

The moment you sat down entered the room, people had started talking. Mostly it’s just about asking someone else if you were an Uchiha or if they know about the clan’s misfortune. They were meaningless chatters so you easily drowned them out.

But there was a comment that had reached your ears. “Why is it such a big deal? People die anyway, it just so happened her clan died on the same day.”

The comment kept ringing inside your head but then someone beside you spoke up, “Don’t you have anything else better to do than talk about someone else’s life?”

He was met with silence so he continued saying, “People die everyday, it’s a fact. Some die because of illnesses, some because of old age, some because of poverty, accidents, or murder. As shinobi, we can die in the line of duty. But that doesn’t make death any less painful to the one left behind.

“If your family is alive, then good, but maybe use that brain of yours because logic says not everyone gets to be as lucky as you.”

Naturally, you want to forget about the unsolicited comment of your classmate, but you want to remember that among the students inside the room, one boy had stood up for you. Quite frankly, you needed his saving that day. Otherwise, you would’ve beaten yourself up for mourning too long.

And when you realized who that boy was, his words weighed even more. Because Hyuga Neji was a boy notoriously known for thinking that everyone’s fate is predetermined from birth and that luck plays absolutely no part in it.

“Not everyone gets to be as lucky as you.”

And for a hot minute he had abandoned his belief as he stood up for you.

It sounds hypocritical if you think about it.

But maybe just as he had saved you, you had opened his eyes just a little bit and helped him see that his beliefs were skewed too. In a way, you had helped each other, at least you hoped.

It’s because of that day, that memory, that you find yourself gravitating towards Neji.

It isn’t attraction at all at first, more like genuine curiosity about him and his life. But you didn’t get to know him further until the Chunin exams where he had disclosed the way of their clan. It’s at that time where you understood why he acts the way he acts.

You can’t help but wonder about how two clans with almost similar circumstances— both with kekkei genkai, both living in Konoha, both considered to be one of the strongest clans in the shinobi world— could have completely different ways of living. One clan is almost completely annihilated, while the other has slaves of their own blood. And if you’re being completely honest, you aren’t exactly sure which is better.

You have gotten the urge to talk to him after hearing his story, although you really didn’t know what to say. But then the chance never came up because of the chaos orchestrated by Orochimaru.

After the Chunin exams and the attack of Orochimaru, you hadn’t heard of Neji for a while since you’ve been tasked to help with the repairs of the village. And when you did hear about him, it was terrible, terrible news.

Sasuke left the village to seek power from the very person who just wrecked havoc in Konoha. His leaving alone left you in despair. What Itachi was to Shisui is exactly what Sasuke means to you, and him doing such a thing without even letting you know makes you feel like a failure both as a friend and as a family.

The news didn’t end there, however. Apparently the squad that Shikamaru had led to retrieve Sasuke had been severely injured and were on the brink of death — one of them being Neji.

You remember feeling guilt and regret burning your skin. You remember the shame of not being able to save Sasuke from the darkness and not being able to help the retrieval squad in any way. You blame yourself for the horrible things that happened.

Since then, you have made it a point to visit the squad in the hospital every day, making sure you apologize and thank them for their service. But admittedly, it’s Neji that you always stay with longer.

It’s not that you aren’t comfortable with the others, they’re really nice and easy to get along with. But they always have other visitors with them, mostly their team members and relatives. Neji, on the other hand, didn’t get as many visits since his other teammate, Rock Lee, was also injured because of his fight with Gaara. So Tenten and Guy sensei would switch visits between the two every other day.

Besides that, his clan members rarely ever visited. And you didn’t want him to be alone in such trying moments, especially when you didn’t get to do anything to prevent this from happening.

As closed off as Neji is, because of your constant visits, you have found a way to worm yourself into the walls he put up. And by the time he’s discharged from the hospital, you somehow became close friends.

From that moment on, you find yourself coming to Neji on times that you’re in despair and in doubt. You trust him enough to tell him your stories, worries, and fears because he doesn’t judge you. And he does the same with you.

Neji listens when you want him to listen, and talks when you need him to talk. He’s quite level headed and very much rational, and because of that he gives the best advice.

With him, you find yourself healing and growing. With you, he finds himself learning to forgive.

Neji easily makes you see things in a different way; a different light; a different perspective, and helps you become a better shinobi and a better person in general.

For you, Neji has such a comforting aura. While he’s sometimes cold and stoic around others, with you, he softens up. With you, he’s gentle; careful even. And it’s because of this that you find yourself admiring him more and more.

But before anything could happen — before you could even confess — the Fourth Shinobi War was declared.

Just like that, time seemed to start running out. And you have lost all hopes of being together with Neji as a lover rather than a friend.

The war is awful. Quite frankly, it overwhelmed you too much, too easily. The bodies lying on the floor with dried out blood reminded you of the massacre of the Uchiha clan. But the only person who’s able to calm you down and help you move along is Neji.

The both of you fight side by side, always nearby Hinata in case she would need help. When the night comes and the enemies cease their attack, it’s your turn to talk Neji into relaxing a bit because he’s started straining his eyes from too much use. And because it’s you who asked and it’s you who’s there with him, he knows he and the rest of the Allied Forces are safe, so he rests.

But somehow chaos ensues and in the middle of it, you both get separated. You’re worried deeply, but you trust his skills and his strength, and you know you’ll be reuniting with him again.

And reunited with him you did. But when you have found him once again, he’s blocking out the Ten Tails’ attack with... his body.

With desperation, you transported to his side as quickly as you can. Summoning your last bits of chakra, you use Susanoo to protect him, Hinata, and Naruto. The last thing you remember is the look of relief on Neji’s face, but before it could morph into worry, you have already blacked out.

By the time you have woken up, you’re in Konoha’s hospital. The first thing you see is Neji resting his head on the side of your bed, peacefully sleeping, looking as angelic as ever.

Your body aches with every breath you take, even more so with little movement. But you didn’t let that deter you from weaving your fingers along the Hyuga’s hair. He stirs almost immediately and then he opens his pretty eyes. He sits up upon seeing you.

“I’m sorry, did I wake you up?” You softly ask.

He doesn’t respond to your question. “You’re awake,” he sighs in relief. “You’re finally awake. Let me go call Lady Tsunade and Sakura.” He stands up.

But before he can even take a step, you grab his wrist. “Stay,” you mumble.

Neji looks at you, reading your face. But then he nods and sits.

“Is it over?” You ask.

“Yes, the war’s over.”

“What happened after?”

“It’s a long story… but tell me, how are you feeling?”

“I’m feeling fine. My body aches, but it’s not a big deal.”

“What do you mean it’s not a big deal?!” Neji looks upset that it takes you by surprise. “Do you remember what happened? Didn’t you know you almost died?! You almost used up all your chakra to use Susanoo! That’s so stupid and reckless!”

His aggressive tone effectively gets you angry. “I did it for you!” You snap. “Of course I remember what happened! Even if I want to forget, the memory is branded in my mind! You fucking wanted to use your body to shield Naruto from that attack, didn’t you? How is that not stupid and reckless? Huh?”

Neji’s chakra flares up as he clenches his jaw. Yet, he doesn’t speak.

You breathe out, trying to calm down. You rarely ever fought with Neji and he’s never really raised his voice to you. With your body still tired and aching from the war, you didn’t want this conversation to escalate further so you try to diffuse the situation before it blows even more out of proportion.

In a low voice, you speak, “I was so scared, Neji. I didn’t want to lose you. I’ve lost everyone I’ve ever loved.”

A tear falls down from your eye and Neji’s heart breaks at your forlorn state. “I don’t want to lose you too. I can’t…” you squeak. “I love you so much, I can’t lose you.”

Neji’s breath hitches at your declaration. He could hear his heart drumming against his chest.

You love him?

He doesn’t know if he heard you right or if his mind is just playing tricks on him. It happened before. He’s loved you for so long… and there have been plenty of days he dreamt of hearing you say you love him too. And right now he isn’t sure if this is the reality or just another one of his dreams.

As if you’ve read his mind — like you always seem to be able to do — you repeat your words. “I love you, Neji.”

It’s the confirmation that he needs. And hearing your words knocked the wind out of him. “I… I…” he starts saying.

But you’ve taken his stuttering and his pale, panic-stricken face as a sign of an incoming rejection, so you look down instantly and say, “It’s fine if you don’t like me the same way. I just hope we can still be friends after—”

“No, I… I love you too,” he breathlessly confesses before you even finish your rambling.

Your head whips up after the words left his lips. You stare at him, unbelieving.

And just as you did a while ago, he repeats his words with conviction, “I love you too.”

A smile makes its way to your face, and when he smiles back, you immediately know this is a memory you won’t ever forget.

[ikeromantic]

Friends and Frenemies

A Mitsuhide Akechi fanfic - approx. 2800 words. This scene takes place after the events of the romantic epilogue. Mostly fluff, slightly spicy.

First: Mitsuhide and the Maiden

Previous: Kitsune's Day Out

Mitsuhide sat on the floor with his little mouse in his lap. His fingers stroked the nape of her neck as he listened intently to Sarutobi.

Sasuke and Miyake sat across from them on the edge of the bed. Miyake’s expression was somewhere between awe and exhaustion. He wasn’t saying much, just staring into empty space with a confused grin.

The ninja looked mildly pleased as he talked. “My professor took a little convincing. We had to call in the history department chair to talk to Miyake.”

“What did he want to know?” The chatelaine’s eyes were heavy with sleep. They’d spent the day walking around Kyoto, looking at historical sites - things Mitsuhide should recognize.

Of course, everything was so changed from his time that the places they visited may as well have been new. Even if they were the same structures, what lay around them had changed so much as to render the buildings and monuments unrecognizable.

Sasuke shrugged. “Details. It was like watching a verbal exam in a master class. And then he made Miyake pick out his own sword from a room of Sengoku period weapons. It was impressive watching him look each one over.”

At this, the warrior chuckled. “I almost didn’t. It was strange to see Kichihiroe looking so old and worn.”

Mitsuhide smiled. “But you did. So all is well.” He turned his attention back to Sasuke. “What is the benefit of bringing these men in on our secret?”

“Well, first off, this.” He handed Miyake and Mitsuhide campus ID cards. “You are both now officially visiting professors, with a stipend and everything. There was a small . . . additional favor they requested from you.”

“Which is?” Mitsuhide raised one eyebrow.

Miyake answered. “They want you to come in and answer questions. A lot of questions.” He wiped his brow. “They started in on me today and there is just no end!”

Sarutobi nodded a confirmation.

“So . . . they want to pay you to answer questions about the Sengoku era? And that’s it? That doesn’t sound so bad.” The chatelaine grinned.

Mitsuhide shook his head. “I am not sure it’s so simple. This interaction - couldn’t it cause -” he thought for a moment, trying to find the words. “A complication? If I let slip something they don’t know, or they tell me something that will happen?”

“A paradox.” Sasuke’s mouth curled up in the slightest smile. “I considered that. But we are already living in a parallel timeline. One in which you and Nobunaga live, as well as some other changes.”

“So the things they tell us, those aren’t things that will happen?” Miyake sounded a little tense as he asked the question.

“Right,” Sarutobi replied. “Or, mostly right. We can’t be sure how far apart our timeline is from the original, so I encourage you to forget anything you may hear.”

Mitsuhide snorted. “Once a truth is heard, it cannot be so easily forgotten.”

“True enough. Can’t unring the bell, as they say. But are you willing to take that chance and talk with the history professor anyway?”

“I will.” Mitsuhide stroked his little one’s neck with gentle fingertips. “It will be interesting, regardless. And you have gone to a lot of trouble to arrange things. It’s the least I can do to play along.”

“I appreciate that.” Sasuke gave a little bow. “So what did you two do today?”

Miyake elbowed him and gave the two lovers a knowing wink.

Mitsuhide’s little one blushed and covered her face. “No! Nothing like that! Miyake! We just went shopping. Oh - and there were these men -”

“Who kindly helped me pick up our bags when I dropped them. We were very appreciative.” Mitsuhide interrupted her before she could give away any more information about their run in with the modern day bandits. Not that he didn’t trust Sasuke and Miyake. He did - as much as he trusted anyone. But it was always wise to keep information to yourself until there was a reason to share.

Sasuke blinked. “Ok. Well. Tomorrow, I’d like to take you up to the university, Mitsuhide. If that’s alright. You can both come if you want to.”

“Oh! But I needed to run by the office for my job tomorrow! I wanted to give them my apologies for disappearing so suddenly, just when they offered me a position.” She bit her lip. “I guess it can wait though.”

“I can go with her to do that, if you want me to,” Miyake put in.

Mitsuhide nodded. “Yes, I think that’s a good idea. You two can run errands tomorrow while I satisfy the curiosity of some modern scholars.”

“Are you sure?” The chatelaine looked uneasy.

“I am.” Mitsuhide kissed her cheek. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder, does it not?”

After they made arrangements for the coming day, Mitsuhide and his little mouse trekked back to her flat, leaving Miyake and Sasuke to themselves. It wasn’t that he minded the company, but he wanted to have her to himself tonight.

They stopped at a ‘small’ grocery on the way home to pick up something for breakfast. While Mitsuhide had noticed the number of foodstalls, he had not considered an entire store with shelves full of food. He wanted to ask if this was normal, but one look at his little one’s face gave him the answer.

She was not surprised at all. With barely a glance at the stacks of fresh vegetables and fruits, she led him further into the store.

There were at least five types of vinegar, he noted. An assemblage of noodles that defied sense. Several types of rice. Beans. And a variety of things with names he couldn’t identify as food, all wrapped in bright packages. “Masamune would love this place,” Mitsuhide murmured.

“You think? Maybe we should bring him something back.” She smiled. “I’m surprised you thought of him just now.”

“He’s a -” Mitsuhide paused at the realization he was about to say friend. Not ally. Not colleague. Friend. He bit back the word and finished with, “man who loves his food.”

His little mouse didn’t appear to pick up on the omission. “He really is. And he wants everyone around him to enjoy it too.” She picked up a package of rice, then added, “I wish I was such a good cook.”

“I think you’re amazing.” Mitsuhide settled his palm lightly on her low back, reassuring.

She smiled wryly. “Says the man who doesn’t taste his food.”

“Kyubei thinks so too. And his taste buds work fine.”

“Mhmm. Kyubei would eat a pile of rocks and tell me it was delicious if he thought he was supposed to. But I appreciate the compliment.” She leaned against Mitsuhide and sighed. “I wonder how he’s doing right now.”

Mitsuhide considered. There were a number of things he wished he’d had time to tell Kyubei. And of course, he hadn’t counted on Azuchi being attacked but, “I’m sure he is well. Kyubei is resourceful, talented, and I’ve left him the tools he will need. You should worry less about him, and more about yourself.”

“What should I be worried about?”

He grinned and leaned down to place a kiss on her cheek. With his lips almost touching her ear, he murmured, “You should worry about what I will do if I don’t get you alone soon.”

His little one inhaled sharply, cheeks heating. Her eyes were bright and full of desire as she replied. “Then we’d better hurry.”

They got back to her flat soon after, and unpacked the groceries. With the last items put away, she sat in a kitchen chair and looked up at Mitsuhide shyly.

It never failed to amuse him how innocent she could be in moments like these. As if she couldn’t admit what she wanted no matter how badly she wanted it. Of course, he’d take full advantage.

“How should I use your bath, little mouse? Can you show me how it works?” Mitsuhide already had an idea, but what fun was that?

“Oh! Yes. Sure. It would be good to clean up.” She led him to her small bathing room. “This handle is hot. This one cold. And if you press this, it will activate the shower. Just be careful where you point the nozzle.”

Mitsuhide leaned over her, pressing close. “So this one is hot?” He turned the handle.

“Umm . . . yes but, I should probably . . . get out of the way . . . the bathroom isn’t big enough-”

“And this one is cold?” He turned the other handle.

She nodded. “Yes. So. Ah, first rinse off with . . . with the shower. And . . . and th-then fill . . .”

Her distraction was deeply amusing. Possibly caused by his breath on the back of her neck and the way her hips met his. Not that he was unaffected. The press of her hips against him was maddening. The slight friction of cloth, the denial of skin to skin touch he ached for. But this was his game, and he knew what came next. Delay only made victory all the sweeter. Mitsuhide pressed the shower, and water fell like warm rain over them.

“Mitsuhide!” She gave a little shriek as he pulled her to standing under the flow. Her clothes clung to her skin, revealing as much as they hid. He could not wait to peel them off her.

“Oh dear. What have I done? Now you’re all wet!” He smiled widely and slid his hand under her shirt, popping the buttons open one after another.

She playfully swatted his other hand as he reached for her skirt. “You totally did that on purpose! I know you did!”

He shrugged. “Perhaps.” Mitsuhide slid her shirt off and enjoyed the sight of water pearling over the rise of her breast. Her soaked bra looked a deeper blue than it had when dry. A good color for her. His hands slipped around behind her, reaching for the clasp.

“You know, if you wanted to bathe together, you could have just said so.”

“Mmm, but this was more fun.” His fingers fumbled with the odd hook-and-eye catches, finally releasing them. Her bra fell away. Mitsuhide relished the sight. “You should probably help me get the rest of these clothes off. I’m fairly certain you don’t bathe wearing them in this age.”

She laughed softly and reached up to cup his cheek. “My wicked kitsune. No. We don’t.” And then she kissed him.

***

Kyubei frowned at the short, dark-haired man in front of him. “You can cut the act, Ranmaru. I’d recognize you anywhere. Besides, your work on that scar is atrocious. Who taught you disguises? Were they blind?”

The page - spy and ninja as well - sighed and set down the basket he was carrying. “I thought the scar was pretty good. It really changes my face. What gave it away?”

“Your fingers are still stained with beetjuice, for one. And you didn’t blend the edges well enough. I can see bits of raw paste at your hairline.”

“Well damn. Alright. You caught me. Are you here to kill me?” Ranmaru’s tone was light, joking, but there was nothing funny about the way his fingers curled around the hilt of the short blade he wore at his hip.

Kyubei rolled his eyes. “If I was going to kill you, you’d already be dead. I came to find out what you know - and how you know it. Are you willing to have a conversation with me?” He left out the alternative, which was knocking the page senseless, dragging him back to Azuchi, and putting him in the dungeon. He wanted to avoid that outcome. It wouldn’t do anyone any good.

Ranmaru shrugged. “Alright. Fine. But you’re buying us something to eat. I’m starving!”

“I can do that.” He led the page out of the alley they were in - a spot chosen in case things got ugly - and back into a market street. Kyoto was full of people selling things. He had his pick of at least a dozen stalls and shops for food, but made a beeline for one in particular. The proprietor was one of Mitsuhide’s informants, someone Kyubei could trust if this chat went sideways.

The two men sat down at a back table and ordered sake and food. Ranamru’s preference for sweet things had not changed in his absence. They were getting stewed peaches, peaches with rice, and peach-jelly stuffed mochi. Not to Kyubei’s taste at all, but then, he hadn’t come here for the food.

“What do you know about the attack on Azuchi?” Kyubei wasted no time getting to the point.

Ranmaru shrugged. “Would you believe I didn’t know it was going to happen?”

“No.”

The page giggled. It was a high, false sound with no real mirth. “Well, I don’t blame you. I wouldn’t believe me either. But I really didn’t know that was coming. I knew something was . . . my - my Master was working with some people. And they were coming to Azuchi so I knew they had something in mind. I thought . . .”

Ranmaru’s throat bobbed, stuck on the words. He looked away and wiped at his face.

Kyubei sighed. “So you weren’t sure what was planned. What did you think might happen? Is that what made you run?”

“Yes.” His voice was strained and he hadn’t looked up. “I thought . . . maybe they would try to kill him. Nobunaga. A direct attack. Or, poison? I - I didn’t want . . . but I was . . .”

“You were afraid they might ask for your help. Or participation.” Kyubei’s voice was pitched low, for Ranmaru’s ears only. This was not a subject to be discussed lightly.

The page nodded.

“So you ran.”

He nodded again.

Kyubei rubbed the short growth of hair on the top of his head. It was coming in, full and dark, but it itched some days. Especially after spending time on the road, with no rest. Touching it had become a habit for him when he was anxious or unhappy. This conversation was not making him happy.

“I didn’t want to be the one to - you know. Nobunaga has - he’s always been good to- to me. I thought, let them do their own dirty work. I would g-go back to Kennyo. Offer to be, to do a-anything else.” Ranmaru finally looked up. His expression was one of abject misery.

“I don’t blame you. It can be hard to serve two masters. Even when their goals usually align . . . often the methods do not.”

Ranmaru smiled bleakly. “I guess you understand a little.”

The tea and sweets came, and for a brief few minutes, the two men ate and drank in silence.

Finally, Kyubei asked, “So why aren’t you with Kennyo now?”

“I can’t find him. I know he’s working with . . .” Ranmaru’s jaw clenched. “I can’t say. But, I don’t know where they went. Or what they are planning next.”

“I need you to tell me the names, Ranmaru. Assume that I already know them, and from you, I only need confirmation.”

“Fine. Then you say them. I’ll nod if you’re right.”

Kyubei smiled. “Kicho.”

Nod.

“Motonari.”

Nod.

“The ‘shogun’ in exile.”

Nod.

“I was hoping the last one was a no. We worked so hard to set that boy up, but I suppose Yoshiaki’s allies got to him.” Kyubei took a deep breath. “And you really have no idea what they will do next?” He watched Ranmaru for tell-tale signs of a lie.

“I wish I did. I’d find Kennyo and get him away from those stray dogs.” The page almost spat.

“So what will you do now?”

Ranmaru tugged at his darkened locks, twisting them around his finger. “I don’t know. I am afraid to return to Nobunaga’s side. Afraid they will ask me to betray him. But that makes me a traitor to my Master. I am damned either way.” His voice was flat, empty of self-pity or any other emotion.

“You could work for me.”

The page raised an eyebrow. “You know I turned on both my masters. That I am a coward. What would you trust me with?”

“Well, not disguises, clearly.” Kyubei caught the curl of a slight smile on Ranmaru’s lips. “I’d want you to gather information from the daimyo loyal to the shogun. Nothing to do with either of your masters directly. No need to dig yourself a deeper grave.”

“I’d report everything to the Ikko Ikki too.”

Kyubei shrugged. “I’m fine with that? If Kenny’s monks act on the information, I doubt it will be to prop Ashikaga up further.”

Ranmaru chewed at his lip, thoughtful. Finally, he nodded. “I guess I can do that. Just until I find where Kennyo has gone and what he needs of me.”

“Then we have a deal. But I do have one more question before I leave you.”

“What?” The page eyed him, suspicious again.

Kyubei tapped his finger on the table, almost afraid of his own question. Asking it would be giving information away, but he needed to know. “Have you seen or heard from Akechi since the night of the attack on Azuchi?”

Next: Uncomfortable Questions

[airashisakura]

My first entry for @ssskmonth | Prompts used Glances and Years Past

Evolution

Summary: In the journey of life, they lost and found something along the path.

_

Fixing her red ribbon, Sakura glances at the dark-haired boy. Sakura looks around before looking at him again. The classroom is lively as ever — Naruto and Kiba are fighting, Ino is bickering with Choji while Shikamaru yawns and mutters something, Hinata fidgets uncomfortably in her seat while Shino observes everyone. Sasuke’s elbows are resting on the desk, his chin supported by his interlaced fingers. Sakura’s green eyes wander on his face, and a shade of red stains her cheeks. Lucky for her, his eyes are closed. She wonders what he’s thinking.

The classroom is too noisy for his liking. Sasuke wants for Iruka-sensei to start class as soon as possible, because his 5 year old brain thinks the sooner the class starts, the sooner it will end. Today, he wants time to fly fast because his nii-san has promised to pick him up after school.

_

Everytime Sakura glances towards Sasuke while Iruka-sensei lectures about five basic nature of chakra, she finds him gazing out of the window. Strange, she thinks, because Sasuke-kun is always attentive to lessons. She hears Naruto get scolded for not paying attention, and he grumbles that he doesn’t understand a single word. However, this is not the case with Sasuke. She is confident of that. She nods and tells herself Sasuke-kun is a genius. He already knows what sensei is teaching.

Sasuke doesn’t want the class to end today, because he has been tired of being greeted by an empty house and crying himself to sleep. It’s only been a week, and he misses his mother's lap, his father’s voice, and his older brother’s presence. But he shouldn’t miss his older brother, should he? It’s too hard of a question for an 8 year old to figure that out. He bites hard on his lower lip; he doesn't want to cry in front of his classmates.

_

Sakura glances lazily at the campfire in front of her. Still in slumber, she hears Kakashi-sensei waking Sasuke-kun up for the watch. She recalls they were returning from an escort mission, and they were all tired, especially Naruto, to return back to the village immediately. So they settled to sleep under the open sky accompanied by a summer breeze. Sakura smiles in her sleep, thanking her sensei and teammate for giving her some more time to spend with Sasuke-kun.

Sasuke looks toward the sky. The darkness of the night is fading slowly, and in the distance, he could hear the birds chirping, ready to start their day. Kakashi said he needed an hour of rest before they start again for the village. Sasuke doesn't like that. He frowns, mulling over the fact that he isn't making any progress in his plan of revenge with a lazy sensei and two unskilled teammates. However, the 12 year old genin hums in gratitude because these people protect him from lonely nights.

_

It's been a year since Tsunade-sama took Sakura under her tutelage. Sakura tries to slip into a dream where Sasuke hasn't left the village and Team 7 isn't disbanded. But the pain that washes over her body doesn't let her. Grunting, Sakura glances over the picture of Team 7 kept on her bedside table before she shuts her eyelids again. Her 14 year self doesn't know which was more painful — broken bones or a bruised heart.

_

Sakura glances at her reflection before she punches the mirror. Her knuckles bleed, but her punching doesn't stop. Her short breaths change into sobs while her body shakes violently. While tears overflow from her green eyes, she thinks it's better now because broken shreds can't reflect the dark marks of Sasuke's fingers on her pale neck. She cries harder, realizing that the mark would disappear after some days, but the pain that her love for Sasuke brings won't. Her 16 year self was now wise enough to know that bruised hearts hurt more than broken bones.

_

Sakura wonders whether the examination rooms of the hospital are too small? She presses her fingers gently on Sasuke's left stump, examining it. She applies more pressure and glances at Sasuke's face to determine whether his arm still hurts. Sasuke doesn't flinch, though his expressions are unreadable as ever. The 17 year old Sakura isn't naive to deduce a silly conclusion. Although she can't read his thoughts, she feels a pain stirring behind his mismatched orbs.

Sasuke suppresses a gasp when Sakura touches his arm. It hurts a little when she prods him with her fingers, but he doesn't complain. However, it hurts more to accept that Sakura has forgiven him. He wants to jerk away from her touch and tell her not to treat him so gently. He doesn't do that and diverts his mind to search for answers that trouble him — the definition of home, his loyalty to Konoha, and his bonds with Team 7. His wandering mind is dragged to the present moment when Sakura applies more pressure. It hurts more than before, but he doesn't flinch. Instead, he notes that he should thank Sakura before he leaves for his redemption journey tomorrow.

_

After taking a shower, Sakura settles with a cup of tea beside the window. She sips the jasmine tea and hears the sound of falling rain along with metallic sound coming from the room. Sasuke, on the other side of the room, is busy taking care of his chokuto. It has been months they've been married, but Sakura still blushes on the thought that they share a room together. Perhaps she won't ever stop feeling giddy around him, but the 19 years old Sakura knows Sasuke better than before. She knows some of his past, can tell when he is bothered although she doesn't always know the reason, and has seen the little upward tilt of his lips when he is happy. She steals a glance at Sasuke before closing her eyes, and a satisfied smile creeps on her face.

The summer rain had drenched them badly, and out of habit Sasuke settled on the floor after a shower to wipe off the water from his and Sakura's weapons. He almost smiles when Sakura fumbles with the tea pot and watches her as she settles beside the window. He sighs and wipes his chokuto. He is still amazed by how comfortable he is around Sakura. It's the same feeling he had when he was around oka-san, otou-san, and Itachi; he realizes. His fingers abruptly stop on the blade when he remembers something oka-san had said years before. He looks towards Sakura — eyes closed, smiling — and realizes a rented room to take shelter from rain can turn into home because Sakura is there with him.

_

Sakura is tired. The exhaustion from the hours of labor has seeped deep in her bones. She glances at the dark ceiling of the hideout and clutches the sheet closer to her body. She cranes her neck to see the little human she had given birth to, and she smiles softly. Sasuke is curled on the other side of bed, watching their newborn daughter with awe. She catches something in his eyes that she has never seen before, and she feels tears pooling in her eyes. Sakura has once accepted that she couldn’t give Sasuke what he had once lost, but little Sarada has proved her wrong.

Sasuke watches as Sarada scrunches her eyes and wiggles. Sasuke places his index finger on her little palm and starts counting her fingers. Although he stops when she hears Sakura giggling softly. “She is so small,” he tells her, and Sakura says, “She is only a day old.” He hums and though he doesn’t say it out loud, he thanks her as he stares into her green eyes. Sarada’s little adorable fingers wrap around his index finger, and he realizes that at 20 he has found what he lost at a tender age of 8.

_

Sasuke glances at the clock before he slips under the sheet beside Sakura. It's late, and he almost groans on the thought that he has to leave early in the morning for a mission without seeing his daughter. At the age of 33, he wonders sometimes if he has taken the right decision to spend his life out of the village, working from the shadows, protecting the village. He turns around to face Sakura's back and snuggle closer to her body. Sakura stirs in her sleep and sleepily murmurs, “Okaeri.”

“Aah, Tadaima.” He realizes this way he can always come back to Sakura — and come back to his home.

_

FFN | AO3

[sheep33hallow]

Peek a Boo 3/3 NaruSasu

Part 2

Part 1

AO3

Tags: Ex-lovers to friends to Lovers, co-parenting, ABO, stalking, Alpha!Naruto, Omega!Sasuke, modern day, everyone is alive

_____

 Sasuke laid on his side in his bed, his hand in Menma’s lap, his son examining it like it was a specimen. Soft chubby fingers were grazing the lines on his palm, flipping it over, and squeezing his fingers so the blood rushed to the tip. It was a comforting touch by his inquisitive son.

 “What do these lines mean?” Menma asked. He was gliding his finger along the plump part of his palm, near the thumb.

 “My grandma told me it is called a life line.” His grandmother was an immigrant who made her money by giving palm, and tarot readings. His father’s mother. Quiet like the rest of them, who showed her love by feeding. She was able to see his first runway show, before passing away two months later. He doesn’t remember all of her teachings, mostly how she made him feel.

 “Grandma Mikoto?” He asked.

 He pressed his face into his son’s side, inhaling his smell. “No.” A muffled reply. “My grandma, she passed away when I was five. Her name was Fuku, which means good fortune.”

 “Oh.”

 He continued to touch. “What about this line?” He touched the one going across the upper half of his palm.

 “That is my heart line.”

 Menma touched the middle of his chest. “Right here?”

 “Yes.”

 “I remember getting a paper cut there. Does that mean I’ll die?”

 Eventually.

 “No.” He held in a laugh at his son’s very valid question.  He pulled his face from his son’s side. There was a blanket over them that belonged in Naruto’s room. He snatched it the other day after they did some cleaning. Naruto hasn’t asked for it back, even after it being blatantly out in Sasuke’s room.

 “Okay.” Turning his hand to its side. “What does this mean?” He was touching the mound under his pinky.

 “My child lines.” He said. Menma’s touch was making him feel sleepy again. It was early, they hadn't had breakfast yet, when Menma crawled into his bed, turning the TV on. Effectively waking Sasuke up. He knows the Uzumaki men are up and out, feeding the animals, and preparing for any lessons they are going to give.

 He’s surprised by how much he likes farm living. The acres are vast, making it quiet, but the Uzumaki family make up for the noises of the city. They also haven’t made Sasuke work in the field, which was one of the reasons for not wanting to stay on the farm too long. He doesn’t mind feeding an animal every now and again, but having that as a part of his daily routine and land upkeep sounds like a headache.

 His main focus is modeling and mothering.

 Naruto hasn’t asked anymore of that.

 “Child, like me?” Menma pointed to himself.

 “Yes.”

 Menma looked at the line, using his fingers to tap the lines back and forth. Sasuke could hear the ‘number song’ they sang together being said under his breath.

 “Four.”

 Sasuke rolled his eyes. He remembers Naruto always saying he wanted four kids, but Sasuke was adamant about Menma being his one and only. The thought of Naruto having children outside of their union sounded horrible. Date, sure, but a whole child besides Menma? Fuck no.

 He knew logically people did it all the time, and kudos for them. He couldn’t do it. Dealing with more than one parent sounds like a headache and disrespectful.

 Neji called him crazy one day when he wanted to give Naruto a cupcake filled with radiation so he couldn’t produce another child. He said it casually over coffee one morning at his home when Naruto and he had first broken up. Neji asked if he wanted more kids.

     “No.    ”

     “What about Naruto?”    Neji asked a valid question.

     “I will poison his sperm count, if he ever thought of using another womb beside mine.”     Then explained his plan.

 Neji looked at him with disgust, saying to stop explaining. He didn’t need the cops to question him when Sasuke went to the mental institute.

 “Good job. Four is correct.” He said, kissing son’s exposed belly.

 Menma giggled, it turning into a laughing fit when Sasuke rolled him onto his back giving him raspberries.

 Soon after, Kushina called them down for breakfast.

 _________

 Sasuke is at a kid’s pizzeria for Shikadai’s birthday. Neji invited him and Naruto because he needed backup for being in a child-filled space. Naruto is up front by the stage with the kids dancing to the animatronic songs, while Neji is held close to Shikamaru at the table. His ex-wife is sitting across from them with her new man, and from what Sasuke can see from his side of the long table, the conversation looks civil.

 Shikamaru was up front with Neji about knowing that they were moving fast, but he wanted Neji to show up as eye candy to prance around the person his wife cheated on him with. Neji was game after that. His friend always looks forward for an opportunity to show he was superior to someone. Neji was a ex-neurological doctor who quit his residency to open a pressure point massage studio. He takes care of his body with Tai-chi, and he has weekly hair and skin treatments.

 He’s wearing one of Sasuke’s more casual runway outfits from Versace and a birthday party hat on his head. Seeing Shikamaru and Neji today for the first time today has been an eye opener. For such an unconventional situation, Shikamaru is very attentive with Neji without neglecting his son. He can’t see Neji’s face from his position, but Shikamaru looks at Neji with genuine interest, like he’s all in in a short amount of time.

 He’s never seen Neji’s other exes like that with him. Always wanting him to tone down his success.

 Not Shikamaru. It’s like he has already calculated Neji and is being what he needs.

 He hopes Neji doesn’t get scared off.

 “Yo!” Sasuke turns his head from his friend, surprise on his face at seeing Kakashi. The older man sits down across from him.

 “Hi.” Sasuke squints his eyes, confused at seeing Kakashi here.

 He jerks his hand toward a man with an unlit cigarette in his mouth talking to Shikamaru. “My husband, Asuma, is Shikamaru's mentor.”

 “A lawyer?”

 “Judge actually.”

 He was about to let it go until he remembered something. “That wasn’t the husband I met last time.”

 He shrugs. “Omegas with more than one Alpha aren't always taken well, unlike the opposite.”Kakashi picks up a slice of pizza. “I know it’s better nowadays for people like me, but I’m from a different generation where it was taboo.” He pulls down his mask. Sasuke is amazed at the beautiful jawline Kakashi was hiding.

 Letting Kakashi eat, he looks over at the other table, seeing Shukaku, Gaara and Lee with their kids. They always talked about having a sister married to a lawyer, but their communication with their nephew was limited at times since they were twin Alphas sharing an omega. The invitation was extended by Shikamaru today.

 Swallowing his slice. “It’s good, I’ve seen you today.” He begins. “We caught your stalker.” He places his half-eaten slice on the paper plate. Wiping his hands on a napkin, he brings his phone out.

 “How?” The relief to go back home.

 Scratching the inside of his ear. “Yeah. When I went to your house to get the items he gave you, I talked to Asuma. His fingerprints were matched and apparently this guy is a cameraman. Works for the local news.” Turning his phone around to show Sasuke.

 It was the guy.

 Kakashi lays it on the table. “He’s mute, but highly technological. He has no criminal record, and when we talked to him, with an interpreter, he said he meant you no harm. Just wanted a chance with you since you seemed neglected.”

 “How would he know that?” He said with exacerbation. He glances off to the side for a moment, checking on Menma, who had stopped dancing. Naruto was holding him up in front of a whack a mole machine.

 “I don’t know, I’m just the messenger. I can say he has a true disdain for Naruto. Guess he posted some videos of Naruto talking with Emma, that anchor woman, that was taken way out of context.”

 Sasuke remembers seeing Naruto’s interview with Emma. He doesn’t know how that could have been taken any other way, but people talking about horses.

 Sasuke didn’t know how to feel. He closed his eyes and sighed, cupping the bottom half of his face with both hands. “What now?” Was his muffled response.

 “You can press charges. He’s lost his job, and he has a broken hand.”

 Sasuke dropped one hand to the table, using the other to pinch the bridge of his nose. “How did he break his hand?”

 “We’ll say family.”

     Family.     He silently mouths to himself.

 Rolling his eyes, he slides the phone back to Kakashi. “Words cannot express how thankful I am to you and.” He exhales. “      Family.    ”

 He’s grateful that Kakashi can read through his irritation to know he’s really grateful. All of this was a lot.

 The gray haired man gave him a thumbs up. “I said, I’d take care of it and I did.” He picks his slice back up. “Oh, tomorrow, we're going to France. There is a television show that wants you to make a cameo.”

 “Ah, I was hoping to go home and clean.” Though it has been a while since he’s been to France.

 “I see life on the farm has made you domestic.” Observes Kakashi.

 He shakes his head. “No, I’ve always been a clean freak. That’s why I’ve always avoided the farm.” He scrunches his nose in thought. “Well one of the reasons.”

 “And now?”

 “Now what?”

 “How’s farm living, cowboy?” He finishes his slice.

 He decides to be honest. “More than what I ever could have imagined.” The three weeks there, he had gotten closer to Kushina. His mother visited, and the three of them cooked and rode four wheeler.

 He got to know a few of the workers, and understood it wasn’t just the two of the Uzumaki men doing all of the heavy lifting. That Naruto was just a workaholic. Sasuke was too, but it was nice to pull Naruto from the barn and make him relax with him and Menma.

 They were cozy.

 The last couple of days, Naruto has been whispering on the phone to someone, which has been making him concerned. He was opening himself up more to the possibility of living on the farm, but he doesn’t know if Naruto has liked him there, throwing his routine off.

 They haven’t spent a day apart since he’s lived there.

 France would be good.

 A reprieve to get back into the mindset of co-parenting.

 “Mama.” Turning in his seat, he sees Menma and Naruto standing next to him. He helps Menma on the dining bench, with Naruto sitting on the other side of him.

 Naruto had his legs on either side of the bench, with Sasuke sitting the proper way. Naruto drags Sasuke by his hips, closer to him. “We’ve missed you.” Naruto says into his ear with Menma hugging Sasuke stomach. Looking up at him with pleading eyes.  

 “It’s been an hour.” Sasuke hoped he sounded annoyed, but knew his affection was shown through when Naruto grinned at him.

 “Menma, Mama doesn’t love us.” Poking his lip out with false bravo.

 “Mama.” His son whimpered, making his hold tighter on Sasuke’s shirt.

 Kami…..and the universe thought he should have three more people like this.

 So needy.

 Menma laid a sloppy kiss on Sasuke's arm. “I love you, Mama.”

 Fuck.

 “Okay, okay.” He hissed.

 Naruto beamed. He stood up, taking Sasuke along with him, the Alpha guides his small family to another germ filled machine.

 If asked, Kakashi would say Sasuke is most photogenic when joyful.

 _________

 Naruto knocks on Sasuke’s door frame. The omega looks up from his suitcase with a tilt of his head, allowing the Alpha inside. He sat on the floor folding.

 Snapping his fingers. “What’s going on?” He asked.

 Menma was asleep in his room. The party wore the young boy out, among the new friends he made. At the party, Naruto took Shikamaru’s phone number, feeling good about their sons being friends together.

 He hoped things worked out between him and Neji. They complimented each other.

 “My stalker is gone.” Sasuke folded up a pair of sleep pants. Placing them in the corner of the suitcase.

 “Oh.” He stopped snapping. “You’re just going to leave?”

 “Oh this. No, no.” He trailed off. “I –uh, I have to leave tomorrow for France. I can’t think about going home right now. Maybe…maybe when I come back.”

 Naruto’s shoulders sagged. “Yeah, maybe.” He was biting the inside of his lip.

 “Naruto.”

 His eyes widened. Perking up at his name. “Yes?”

 Sasuke paused his action. He pursued his lips. “Thank you.” He said. “Thank you for everything.” He closes his eyes, as if he was saying a prayer. “I truly want the best for you because you are a remarkable person.”

 Naruto sat down on the floor with Sasuke, pushing the suitcase out of the omega’s reach. “Sas.” He cupped Sasuke’s face. “You’re the remarkable one.” Sasuke placed his hand on top of Naruto’s.

 Their eyes met.

 Then their lips.

 A sweet dance of buildup that’s been daring to break. Exploding outward, into each other’s senses. Sasuke’s soft lips aligned with Naruto’s, creating sweet friction. It was magical. A dream.

 A home.

 Choking a sob, Sasuke pulled back.

 “So you can cry?” Said Naruto, keeping his hand on Sasuke’s face.

 A laugh punched out of Sasuke, along with more tears. “Shut up.”

 “No.” He said. He was frowning. “I can’t do that anymore.”

 Sasuke was facing the floor, holding himself. The warmth of Naruto’s hand was becoming too much.

 “Sasuke, we can’t keep doing this.”

 Sasuke slapped his hand away. He stood up, shaking his hand as he walked to the window. Using the palm of his hand, he wiped the tears from one eye. “Okay.” He croaked out.

 Naruto stayed on the floor looking up at him. “Okay.”

 Sasuke couldn’t stand the sight of him, but he was to blame for this as well. Naruto has tried countless times to get back together. It was all on him for this failing. He took too fucking long to get some damn confidence about himself to be with the man.

 Never taking a chance on farm life.

 He wouldn’t take Menma away from Naruto. Never. But he needed space.

 “Can you please leave?”

 Naruto was shocked by those words. “What?”

 “Leave.” More force that time.

 “No!” He reached into his pocket, taking the item that has been heavily criticized out. “I said we’re not doing this anymore, and I mean it.”

 A ring box.

 Sasuke gasped, a hand coming to cover his mouth.

 He knew that ring box.

 It was his Grandmother’s. She lost her wedding ring when she and his grandfather first immigrated. The ring box was safe in his Father’s diaper bag at the time.

 His family knew all this time?

 “You’re going to marry me, Sasuke Uchiha.”

 Sasuke let out a wet laugh, clasping his hands together in front of him. “Who proposes like that?” A snort came out of him.

 “I can’t keep asking you. I’ve been rejected too much. I am telling you.” Naruto opened the box. A beautiful ruby stone with diamonds and a silver band met his eyes. It was more than what he could imagine.

 Naruto was breathing hard, Sasuke was silently staring at the ring. “Your family helped a lot. My uh.” He gathered the saliva in his mouth. “My mom and your mom hate the first ring I got, It took a long time for all of us to settle on this.”

 “Naruto.” He said breathlessly.

 “I um–shit, I was going to have us go to the court house tomorrow, but that’s delayed. I see.” His eyes shifted to the suitcase.

 “I’m sorry.” He said. His eyes, watering again.

 Naruto was smiling now. “It’s okay.” He got up to his knees scooting closer to Sasuke. Taking his hand into his own. He slid the ring onto Sasuke’s finger, giving it a kiss. “We will get married, the day you get back.”

 Naruto stood up, holding Sasuke as he cried. Sasuke held his newly ringed hand close to his heart while in Naruto’s embrace. “I’ll be nasty from the plane.”

 “Doesn’t matter.”

 “Don’t trust me?”

 “Nope.”

 Fair.

 Tilting his head up, Sasuke cupped Naruto’s face. “I do want to be with you.” He gave a chaste kiss. “Thank you for asking me.” He whispered.

 “Technically, I didn’t.”

 He playfully pushed at Naruto’s face with an eye roll. His fiance’s foolish antics. “Well I’ll tell people you did.”

 “That’s fine.” Naruto kissed Sasuke’s nose. “As long as I have you.”

 “Forever, otherwise, I’d poison you.” Sasuke said happily. Amused by Naruto’s frown.

 “Sas.” He questioned, but the thought was lost when he was pushed to the bed.

 He watched Sasuke begin to strip. “I want to feel you the whole time I’m in France.” With one more tugged of his sock, he was completely naked. “Don’t disappoint me.” He purred.

 ____________________

 Naruto and Menma were there waiting for Sasuke at the airport. Another man was standing with Naruto, Kakashi’s other husband. They said they just started chatting at the airport before realizing they were waiting for the same flight and then technically the same people.

 Sasuke brought up the idea of eating first, but Naruto had tunnel vision on getting to the court house.

 Parking was free.

 They spent an hour waiting, watching other couples get married. Clapping along when appropriate. Menma wondered why he was the only child there?

 He debates telling Menma in the future that he was the product of a booty call.

 It’s their turn.

 He’s holding Naruto’s hands, with Menma holding onto his Daddy’s back like a monkey.

 Before the officiant can speak. “Yes, yes, yes. Speed it up.” Naruto says. Giddy as can be.

 The officiant side eyes him. “Okay. Mr, Sasuke Uchiha.” She clears her throat. “Do you take this man, and this boy?” Pointing to a smiling Menma. “Forever in your days until the breath is taken from your Godly souls?”

 He can’t think of any other answer.

 “I do.”

 ____

 At their actual wedding six months later, Neji proudly boasted about getting them together, during the speaking portion. Shikamaru is there with him, covertly telling the bartender to water down his partner’s drinks.

 Sakura tells stories how she knows the both of them, crying when she thinks of losing her best friend to Naruto, which causes an outrage Ino to stand up in the crowd. Sai kept them from fighting, but they’re normal again when their favorite song comes on. Dancing sensually, and drunkenly.

 Shukaku talks about Naruto being hung like a horse for the reason Naruto knows horses so well. The clip went viral, which increases business at their clinic.

 God bless Lee, for being the normal one, and saying something nice.

 Gaara refuses to dance until his daughters ask him.

 Jiraya was drunk when he told Naruto and Sasuke at their table that Mikoto had a threesome with Naruto’s parents.

 Sasuke was more shocked that Naruto knew.

 When Itachi got the mic, he mostly talked about Sasuke, and how great he is. Fugaku had to take the mic from him. His Father gave them a short congratulations.

 Kakashi gets the mic. “Hello, everyone.” He has black suit and mask. “I am Kakashi, Sasuke’s manager.” The crowd greets him back. “So, I haven’t known Sasuke long, and Naruto even less, but they have true love.” The crowd coos. “There was an incident a while back, and I’ve never seen an Alpha more ready to protect his Omega. I remember talking to Itachi about it, and was shocked when I was told Sasuke would be safer and happier at Naruto’s while we dealt with it.” He clears his throat. “LIke we’ve all seen the Uchiha estate, shit’s huge man.” The crowd agrees. “So when I saw the ranch, I didn’t get it. Then.” He looks at Naruto and Sasuke holding hands at their wedding table.

 “I get it.” Then back to the crowd. “They love each other desperately. Wholly. Truly. I uh— I uh have two Alphas, you see. And it was hard to get there, but we were desperate to make it work, and we have for 20 years.” The crowd cheers. “Thank you, and that’s how I know they’ll be okay. They understand the work of marriage, and raising kids. I only have dogs, so human kids are outside my zone.”

 The crowd laughs. “But I’m happy to know the both of you. Thank you for allowing me to witness your love, and I pray to be there even after retirement.” The room exploded into cheer.

 Sasuke and Naruto mouth      thank you     to Kakashi, who bows back.

 Sasuke’s parents take Menma for the night after the wedding ends. Naruto and he head to their hotel room, excited off the high of getting married, and to get out of those traditional wedding attire.

 Once he's in his nightshirt, Sasuke falls face first into the lush bed. He gathers the comforter into a makeshift pillow under him, resting his head with a sigh. “Naruto.” He groans.

 Naruto turns the lights off, letting a random movie play on the television. “Baby.” Naruto lies on top of him. He presses his nose to Sasuke’s temple, directing his head to the side, so he can have access to his neck. He licks over the mate mark.

 “Naruto.” He says with a sigh of pleasure this time.

 Naruto gathers his husband in his arms. “I want to fuck you so bad, but if I move wrong I might throw up.” He continues to lick.

 “Then you lay on me while saying this.”

 “In sickness and in health, baby.”

 Sasuke turns his head to the side, blocking Naruto from his neck. His Alpha rests his cheek on top of his. “We’re married, Nar.”

 Naruto rocks them. “Yeah. Have been for six months.”

 “But that was a secret. Now, it’s public.”

 Naruto stops his motion. “What are you worried about?”

 “I just want you to be safe. I don’t want you to ever get hurt because of me.” He yelps when Naruto bites his cheek. “Nar.”

 “Sas.” Naruto licks it in apology. “Sas, we’re married. If I get hurt, I go to the hospital. If I’m stalked, I call up Jiraiya, if I die, you better not have another man’s kid because I will haunt you, but besides that, you have so much support.”

 “Why are you telling me this?”

 “Because sometimes it's good to think about the worst thing, and how you might react to it. The scenarios in your brain won't ever match reality.”

 Sasuke turns over on his back, wrapping his arms around Naruto’s neck. “So you won’t make me the happiest Omega in the world?”

 Naruto kisses him. “Fuck no.” He whispers against his lips. Sasuke doesn’t know if he should laugh or push Naruto off of him.

 “I’m here to make you the happiest person in our home. In this hotel room, on the walks in the park, at the parent-teacher conferences with Menma.” He nuzzles their noses together. “You’re my world.”

 A sob escapes him. “You’re my world too.”

 Naruto was a mess during their vow ceremony. A single tear runs down his Alpha’s face onto Sasuke’s cheek. “I love you.” Said Naruto.

 Even if he lost a leg, lost his model looks, or couldn’t speak, he knew Naruto would be there.

 “I love you too.”

 Every day would be a new beginning, the sands of time wouldn’t get them.

 Their love had no expiration date.

ShikamaruxNeji Spin OFF: Who’s There

Who’s There AO3

[tarithenurse]

In the eyes

Fandom: Naruto Pairing: Uchiha Itachi x fem!reader Content: Feels. Angst. Loss. Love. Reference to killing (war and murder). Captivity. Sorrow. Hope. Anger. You name it, it’s there. A/N: I just want to say in my defence that this story isn’t my fault. Blame @maladaptive-ninja-returns​...it’s her birthday present (yes, I’m late)!

In the eyes

The steam is long gone together with your interest in the drink when you drain the cup of tea as the black-haired man gets up to leave. The cape hides what he’s missing – if only it was his leg instead – that way you wouldn’t have to keep the distance to the bare minimum, constantly risking him discovering that you’re following him. It doesn’t help to complain, though: he’s alive and mobile...and you have to watch your every move.

Volunteering for the assignment has probably been one of the more masochistic choices you’ve made, but you just couldn’t let the last Uchiha go yet.

For years, watching the kid grow older had kept a wound alive that no one knew about. It festered, saturating you with a sickening, rotten, sadness that never washed off but wasn’t detected by your peers. You should have let it heal. Should have moved on. But there had always been something keeping you from accepting what everyone else had decided must be true.

You weren’t the only one dealing with grief, of course. The life of a Leaf ninja was to say goodbye too soon and then to live with the numbing ache, renewed each time memories stirred.

Before the fourth war, the newfangled gossip of the dead returning was treated as ghost stories by most people until the climax of it all, when too many stood face to face with loved ones. Lost ones. And you were too weak to prevent the hope from being rekindled, so once peace was a reality and all the shinobis prepared to celebrate in the chaotic haze of the aftermath, you made a decision.

That is why, three seconds after the door closes behind Uchiha Sasuke, you get up...

...and sit right down again to avoid pressing against the sharp blade of the person suddenly appearing beside you.

The newcomer’s face is hidden partially under the wide-rimmed hat and the rest behind a dark and tattered cloak. Glancing down, a hand with purple-painted nails slips the kunai into the darkness of the cloak, leaving you with the knowledge that it’s there.

There’s no doubt in your mind that this is a shinobi. Where did you come from? Admittedly, there are others frequenting the little tea house because it’s a popular stop at a major crossroads...even if it mainly services those without national affiliations. None of the rest of the clientele reacts to the scene unfolding discreetly and you have no wish to catch their attention before you know what and who you’re dealing with.

“What do you want?”

It takes a second before you realize the question isn’t asked by you. Another one to recover from the smooth dusk that is the stranger’s voice. A voice with a hint of familiarity in the timbre which you decide must be your mind playing games.

“Nothing. I’m no enemy of yours,” you try to placate them, silently counting the seconds worth of head start separating you from Sasuke, “and I hold nothing of value...you should let me go.”

The tickle of a laugh surprises you. “If I’d wanted your possessions, they’d already be mine. I want answers, Konoha-girl.”

The headband you carry is hidden under your clothes, well out of sight from any prying eyes. Finally giving up on stalking your initial target, you turn your undivided attention to the person who has seated them-self before you.

The little skin you can see is pale, and a few black strands have escaped the slack ponytail and fallen in front of the face where only chin and jawline is visible. As if knowing your annoyance, the head is tipped slightly, allowing you to glimpse soft, gently smiling lips. Kissable. The thought jars you.

“I recommend you give up that wish.” No one should be able to hear the nervousness in your voice...but the stranger smirks. “My business is my own.”

“Not when it involves him,” they says, inclining the hat towards the door where Uchiha left.

You’re out to get him? You almost feel sorry for this fool who clearly doesn’t have a clue about the one-armed ninja’s identity.

“Don’t be mistaken,” the person smiles as if reading your thoughts, “I know who he is and what he’s capable of, after all...he’s my brother.”

Calmly meeting your gaze, the eyes meeting you flash red.

...

“Don’t look an Uchiha in the eyes”. It was the warning that was whispered into your ears as soon as you were big enough to run errands on your own. Naturally, you had to do it, and what met you was not as demonic as the warning stories had made you think – rather, they were kind, and wiser than the smooth face hinted at – although you never looked another Uchiha in the eyes just to be on the safe side.

It was impossible to discern the colour. Some days, they seemed leaden as if the rain clouds were gathered inside the boy too. A few times, in the morning when he watched where his fists struck the wood, the sparks from the cozy fire of the evening before still lingered in the warmest of black. What you loved the most, though, was when the gaze was locked onto infinity and they were soft like liquid.

...

Everything is different: the stuffy tea room with its noisy patrons has been replaced by somewhere deserted that seems to be carved out of grey stone.

How did I get here? Careful to move as little as possible, you take in the new surroundings only to find the place empty and with only one way in and out. A dull cold has already seeped into your feet as you stand there, lost as your bearings have nothing to latch on to – the only light is a torch in a wall sconce to your left.

Feet. They are bare, and a quick pat-down reveals that all of your weapons, your belt, and your headband have been stripped from you too. The sensation is uncanny, akin to nakedness. The logic behind it is obvious as it reduces the chances of a successful escape even if you were to make it out and establish a route.

On the other hand: you’re unharmed and unbound.

Turning, you have no doubt that the wooden door is locked but of course you go over to try, heart frozen near your throat when you push against it with your shoulder. Surprisingly, it does open and the screaming hinges sets the tiniest hairs on your body on end.

“Not wasting any time, Konoha-girl.”

You recognize the voice and the decorated nails on the hand that appears to pull open the door completely, and not just from the rest stop but from years of aching recollections that have been warped by watching Sasuke grow up with this man’s shadow lingering over his life. Over your life.

No. There’s no way. He died. Now your heart jackhammers a frenzied rhythm.

It’s a fool’s hope that powers the jab towards his neck. An idiot’s dream urging you to sprint past him. At least I tried, a bitter thought comments the moment both attempts are thwarted as a rib-crushing kick sends your tumbling backwards and you land sprawled in the middle of the room.

The ceiling is still spinning, it seems, when you sense the man’s presence loom over you. The fingers are cool (and surprisingly gentle) as the curl around the back of your skull, fingers digging into your hair to grant a tight grip to pull you closer by. Very close. A hand’s length separates the tips of your noses and you want to be oblivious to the way his mouth curves softly.

“You’re not leaving,” he whispers, “until I say so.”

Feeling and strength are beginning to return to your arms, including a sharp ache in your chest that grows with every shallow breath which you try to ignore. Should have restrained me, fool...and the thought dies there as everything shifts and the ground swallows your limbs.

“N-no...how...? No!”

He watches your struggles lazily before releasing his grip and sitting down next to you on the hard floor. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

But you did. Wait...no! You haven’t...it wasn’t you...it can’t have been...

“You lie about your identity,” you scoff, regretting the outburst immediately as pain stabs coldly into your side, “so excuse me for not trusting you on this either.” There is a little smile there on his lips, full of sadness and regret that makes your insides cringe momentarily until you have the breath to explain to him (or yourself) why it can’t be true: “Uchiha Itachi has been killed!”

“Yes...and then I was brought back.” He’s impossibly calm as though he’s simply discussing the weather. “Twice.”

Double reanimated? As if! The war had been a horror to live through and would have been without people facing their deceased comrades and family members on the battlefield. However, once destroyed or sealed, none of the animated dead had walked again and all of them had been dealt with properly in the end.

Looking at the ninja, none of the signs of reanimation are prominent. On the other hand...even if they had been, you might not even notice it now that you meet the man’s gaze and the liquid infinity there.

“I could show you...but I’m afraid your mind can’t take the strain in your current state,” the so-called Itachi explains.

Mind, your aching heart still reels from fear of being broken once more, this is all in my mind.

Zoning out everything else, you focus on the flow of chakra within. Calming it, soothing it, until abruptly forcing the flow to revert. It feels as if your very soul drops for a second but the moment it returns to its place, the world is no longer made up of lies and imaginary sensations...and you’re still lying on the ground in a room made of stone, your ribs feeling as if they’re speared by frost. The only improvement is that at least your limbs are free.

And Itachi? Yes, you have to call him that because deep within you can’t deny it any longer.

The official reports hadn’t been released by the time you left Konoha and you’re not high enough up in the ranks as a shinobi to get the juicy information unless it’s necessary for a mission – and since your missions tend to be B or simpler A rank...well, I guess my current mission’s a bust but this is an important discovery!

A silky chuckle refocuses your attention. “Very good...I suppose I must strengthen my genjutsu against you.”

He’s so close, you could touch him. Shifting to lean against the wall, he rests his arms casually on the knees and begins to pick at the chapping nail polish.

“No need to,” you bite back a groan as you roll over to sit up, “I take it that’s how you got me here?” Pretty eyes are watching your every move as he nods in agreement. “Hm. It’ll probably be useless to ask where we are, so...why? Why show yourself now?”

Sitting cross legged, you find the pain lessens if you pull your clothes and arms tightly around your torso, restricting the depth of your breathing. Broken or bent ribs? Not that it really matters. First of all, he would be able to beat you in a fight anyways; secondly, even if you got out of here you wouldn’t know where “here” is; and third (but not least), you don’t really want to run from him.

Rather than answer, Itachi stands up and holds out his left hand for you. Puzzled, you take it. Soft fingers curl around yours and he pulls you to your feet, studying your movements and the twisting facial expressions.

He doesn’t let go.

Not when he guides you out the door and into a hallway shaped of the same kind of stone as the room was made of. Carved from.

Not when he slows down at the sound of the squeaky breathing the pace forces from you.

There doesn’t seem to be many rooms along the winding path. Here and there a door bars the way or you catch a glimpse of a dead-end that looks as though the excavation was abandoned or even disrupted by cave-ins.

You do your best to memorize the path, but frankly, your mind is getting fuzzy from pain and exhaustion. You have no sense of time, just hunger and tiredness weighing you down to indicate the loss of many hours.

“Just a bit longer, [Y/N],” Itachi soothes.

When did I tell him my name? You want to ask or at least protest, but it would be a choice between talking or getting to wherever he’s leading you...and you doubt he’ll let you pause.

A few dozen steps later and a short flight of stairs up, he ushers you through a door into a room that looks like a mix between a kitchen and work station. A fire is the only light and heat source (the smoke venting up through a chimney too narrow to be an escape route), casting a warm glow over the solid wooden table and chairs. Everything else is hewn from whatever mountain you’re inside.

“Sit,” your captor finally releases the grip and points at a chair near the fire and you obediently do as you’re told.

There are shelves and niches almost hidden in the dancing shadows at first holding with boxes, bundles, and various utensils. He knows where everything is, grabbing a few items before returning and laying it out in the light. Bandages. His movements are fluid and elegant, just like you remembered.

He motions towards your upper body, then turns to tend to the fire. “Strip.”

“That’s really not -”

“Some of your ribs are broken. Restraining them will minimize the pain.”

He’s right. Of course he is.

With clipped movements, you pull off the layers until you hesitate at the poor excuse of a bra. Despite the now roaring fire, the cold from the stone still seeps into your body and raises waves of goosebumps and tightens your nipples. It would be easier to apply the bandages correctly without the last bit of clothing in the way, but right now it feels like the only shield left at your disposal as Itachi turns back to you.

“We’ll work around that,” the man offers softly.

He works quietly at first. Hands winding the linen bandages around you adeptly, pausing each time the ministration intensifies the pain and causes the discomfort to escape as stubborn hisses. The purple nail polish is mesmerizing – simultaneously a contrast to the horrific stories of a killer and perfectly fitting the pretty, nearly feminine, traits you see. Especially the eyes. Sure, they’re filled with a bottomless sadness that you don’t feel comfortable acknowledging, but they’re beautiful. Haunting.

“You’re staring,” he hums without looking up.

Shit. “No. I just -...let’s say you’re who you claim to be,” you try to recover, “why’re you back?”

“To be his watcher.”

“Says who?”

This time, he stops and looks you dead in the eyes. “Otsutsuki Hagoromo, the Sage of Six Paths.” There are very few proper comebacks to that, so your captor continues without giving you a chance to think of something, “Otsutsuki told me about the bonds of families and that it can transcend blood. He knows hatred can cause – and has caused – too much harm...but something rekindled his hope that it can be overcome.“

I don’t have an eye on Uchiha constantly, but... “Does Sasuke know?” Returning to his work, Itachi avoids your gaze. “He doesn’t...”

“He’s finally found peace and is on the right path...I can’t risk undoing it.”

Bullshit! “Or you’re a coward who doesn’t have the guts to fa-” the rest is cut off as soft fingers tighten around your throat.

Blood-red eyes pierce your mind, numbing you for an eternity or a millisecond.

...

They were a means to reach the goal but their words still hurt as you followed meekly in their footsteps. Snobbery. Disdain. Considering how proud your two team members clearly felt, they had very little to show for their reputation as Uchihas and frankly, it was your skills rather than theirs that ensured successful missions and still, you never once looked them in their face. Instead, you kept an eye out for two other of the clan.

Where one was, so would the other be. Thick as thieves, the boys had found a companionship that complemented their differences in the same manner as the sun and the moon. But as opposed to your teammates who swooned at the brightness of the sun, you were drawn to the night and the calmness it brought whenever that boy was near – each time he met your eyes, time became meaningless.

...

The two of you sit in silence as the steam from the soup caresses your face. Your mind is blank, slowly starting to pick up on the absence of stone walls – wood has replaced the cold surfaces, making it almost unbearably warm with the bandages underneath your layers of clothes – and a plethora of questions begin to press against your conscious only to be held back as most of your thoughts get derailed whenever you look at the man before you.

Without the hat and cloak to conceal him, it’s impossible to ignore all the details you’ve nurtured in your memory for ages, such as the slight pull of his lips as he thinks or the elegance of his movements now that he gets up and refills his bowl from the pot hanging over the fire.

“Why are you following Sasuke?”

You should be diplomatic. “I could ask you the same.” You’re not.

“I already told you,” Itachi shrugs.

“Well I...I don’t believe you.”

But you do. There’s no denying anymore that this man is who he claims to be and so, why would he lie about his purpose? The sad smile. The quiet mannerisms. The idea that Itachi would somehow transcend death to watch over his little brother? That’s a mysterious intricacy that fits with your memories of him from before that night.

“You do...but something else is bothering you.” It’s a statement, not a question. “Am I not what you expected?”

No, you’re not. However, he’s what you remember with a layer of sorrow added on top. He doesn’t get to be sad. The little spark of anger is what you need. You nurse it, feed it until it flares up hot and bright and consumes your regrets and self-pity.

“Expected? I don’t know what I expected from someone like you!” Your voice is rising, shaking with years of frustration. “Clan killer. Murderer. I never told anyone but I was in love with an Uchiha! That night, I’d gone to bed, finally sure that I was gonna tell him but when I woke up...” Something inside you had broken that day and it still hurts now. “They told me how you’d left Sasuke alive...but the boy I loved was gone and no one knew I was mourning. Each time I saw him -” you can’t hold back a strangled sound and you realize, you’re crying -”I saw the ghost of...” The bowl of floating vegetables looks blurry until you blink angrily. “Ugh! But what does a teenager know of love, right? They’ll grow up. Get over it. Except I knew you were out there still and that you had all the answers. Why? The Itachi I remember wasn’t a mindless monster! I was told a story, but it doesn’t make any sense. If all the monster wanted was power then why spare Sasuke? Why did everyone else have to die?”

The inhalations are shallow and rapid, making you dizzy as you cling to the table and the spoon. It burns in your lungs and cheeks.

“I am sorry for the pain, I’ve caused you.”

Your gaze snaps to his face and you know he’s speaking the truth but it doesn’t matter right now.

“Sorry? Sorry?! You don’t get to be sorry! I missed y-...the boy, I loved was gone and it took ages before I could let go and stop mourning, finally accepting the truth had died with you and now...now you’re here? And it’s all back and I don’t understand! How could you?” Itachi doesn’t flinch as you launch the bowl towards him – he doesn’t have to because your aim is off and it clatters to the floor in a shower of shards and wasted food after hitting the wall behind him. “How? The boy I loved was not a monster! He wouldn’t do what they s-”

The echoes of your wheezing shouts ring through the room after the abrupt stop. Holding your breath, you wait for the ground to swallow you whole or for the man at the other end of the table to react and the fear is colder than the burning in your chest.

“Things aren’t always what they seem,” Itachi eventually whispers, “they were just people who had been wronged and misguided until their arrogance made them blind.”

What? That’s not exactly what you had expected. Without explaining further, your captor gets up, handing you his bowl of food before beginning to clean the mess you’ve made.

“Don’t...I’ll get tha-” you begin.

He only has to look at you.

...

The dew had soaked your toes, cooling and soothing them after each kick that you landed on the wood stump. Pine. The new splinters refreshed the scent as they fell to the ground and you knew that birds would rummage through them in the hope of finding a morning snack once the training grounds were free of people again – they were already gathering at the edge of the clearing except for where Itachi stood.

The realization made you stop mid-kick, gaze locked with his and heart fluttering in your chest. How long had he stood there?

“They’re wrong.” You could barely believe he was talking to you. “Your teammates...don’t listen to what they say.”

Before you could ask what he meant, Itachi was gone and maybe it had all been your imagination running free.

...

Sitting up abruptly, it takes a few seconds for your eyes to get used to the low light of the dying embers. Where am I?

Salt and drying seaweed is heavy in the air, somehow worming its way into what appears to be yet another room of stone. No...it’s a cave. You’re sitting on a bedroll splayed out onto the sand filling the place and you have no memory of arriving.

The dark form on the other side of the fire pit makes no move as you slip a hand underneath your shirt to confirm what you already know: the bandages are gone and there’s only a muted tenderness as you prod at the ribs. How long has it been?

“You’re safe,” Itachi’s gentle voice assures, and you feel your pulse slow despite the ominous situation, “go back to sleep.”

Yes. Sleep...hang on! Shaking your head, you fight the urge to succumb to the fuzziness that weighs your thoughts. “Why’re you doing this?” you mumble.

It doesn’t make sense why the man wouldn’t simply get the answers he want and then dispose of you or at the very least leave you locked up somewhere while he keeps following Sasuke from the shadows. Instead, your captor has put an effort into keeping you comfortable. Feeding you.

“I remember you.” His eyes reflect the red coals as they burn into your soul all over again. “Memories don’t do your justice, though.”

...

There is no world beyond the walls of the garden but a red sheet of sky dotted with storm clouds. The sliding doors have been pushed aside, opening the hallway to the view, and you know the wood beneath your bare feet should be silky from decades of use. You can’t feel it. There are no scents either, no breeze to toy with the soft fabric of your yukata, nor insects clicking from the rhododendron.

“This isn’t real.”

“No,” Itachi confirms from behind you, “but here I can create what you need. Who you need.”

Turning at last, there’s no reason to shy away from meeting his gaze even if it matches the fake sky. He looks real – as opposed to the familiarity of the home of your childhood that surrounds the two of you – and the ghost of a smile kindly tries to hide the sadness.

“...need. For what?”

The black strands falling into his face are strangely dull in the nightmarish light. “Closure.”

“That’s not possible.”

Wanting to leave, to run away and avoid what Itachi intends, you find yourself rooted in place by an invisible force. Even turning your face away is impossible and you pray that he doesn’t understand the well of emotions he must be able to see in your eyes.

“This is a chance for you to say goodbye to the one I killed. The one you...love,” he pauses to scrutinize your expression and you try to remain neutral, “because you do. You still love him.”

“You have no right...” swallowing hard, you fight to keep the words back, “no right t-to claim to know what I need!” Finally, you manage to close your eyes but they snap open again at the touch of his fingertips on your forehead. “This isn’t something you get to fix like -”

...

The world has shifted again and you’re back in the ocean side cave. You can feel how uneven the sand is under your knees and shins even with the bedroll to soften the press and some some the grains have found their way in between your toes...but none of that matters because Itachi is still right before you, his fingers gently resting on your brow.

A pop-and-crackle from the fire pit is the only sound other than your shallow breathing. You know, he knows. Eyes widened in nigh-comedic understanding, it’s as if he sees you for the first time.

“I’m sorry, [Y/N].”

You barely manage to whisper, “for what?”

His fingertips send shivers along your spine as they trace a path, allowing him to cradle the back of your neck in his palm.

“Everything” Itachi’s lips brush your cheek, “for breaking your heart in so many ways and for making you think your love was unrequited.”

[crystaltrinket]

you put a move on me - Naruto - Uchiha Sasuke/Hyuuga Hinata - drabble series for SasuHina Month 2021

Summary: Rogue-nin Sasuke holds Hinata captive after an act of robbery goes awry.

[Rating: G-T? | Prompt: A Tribute To Your Favorite Fanart/Fic | Word Count: too many to count at this hour | Warnings: None]

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7

Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14

Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21

Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28

Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31

Author's Note: Whew! Honestly, I had half of this done yesterday and worked on the rest today. Please forgive any mistakes. I relied on Google docs to correct my grammar.

I don't have a specific favorite SasuHina art or fic, so I just put together my favorite elements in SasuHina fic. Hope that works. This part is a little bit longer since I included 10 Omake pieces from Hinata's POV. Part 31 is wayyyy at the bottom but follows directly after Omake 29.5.

I hope you enjoy! And I hope to see you again next year ;) @sasuhinamonth

Omake Part 1.5 - 100 words

Hinata could feel herself moving. She willed her eyes to open but her body didn't obey. 'Am I dying? Is this death?'

She heard a low voice curse. Hinata tried to remember what happened before her vision went black. She remembered dressing in her finest kimono, getting into the palanquin and heading toward the country's borders to meet her new civilian husband. And then...

'Ah, yes,' she thought. 'The bandit murdered my clansmen in charge of handing me over to my new prison.' Red eyes came into her mind. Red eyes that could only belong to one clan.

'Uchiha Sasuke.'

Omake Part 7.5 - 100 words

Hinata steeled herself against her captor. She's no fool. She heard the rumors of his strength. Hinata figured the only way to deal with him was to pretend she was talking to another elder. Her clan head voice was something she perfected before she was cast away.

--

They rarely talked during their travels. But when he asked why she continued to follow him, she wished he kept silent. She was sure he could hear her heart beating loud in her chest.

Remembering her clan voice, she lifted her chin and answered.

Her shoulders almost slumped in relief, hearing his laughter.

Omake 10.5 - 100 words

Hinata could tell he was lying.

She can't imagine he accepted his clan's massacre so easily. To live without hearing their voice, seeing their smile, feeling their touch. Hinata's heart clenched.

She knew herself how the loss of a loved one can affect a person's psyche.

Unfortunately, O-bon festivities don't allow a grieving person the impact of acceptance.

Still, she doesn't pry and lets him rest. Her eyes wandered to him laying beside her on the hillside. Without his perpetual frown, he looked peaceful.

Hinata closed her eyes and exhaled.

She wished she could feel as peaceful as Sasuke looked.

Omake Part 12.5 - 100 words

She repeated those words to herself after Sasuke's team found out she was a missing-nin. Hinata shut her eyes, unwilling to cry. She couldn't give up her freedom now.

'I don't want to go back.'

Hinata felt a light tap on her shoulder. Sasuke was ready to go.

--

He said nothing to her on their journey. He didn't mention where they were headed to his teammates either.

She half expected him to desert her. The other half hoped that he wouldn't leave her.

At night, she repeated those same words to him. His eyes were understanding and she felt relief.

Omake 17.5 - 100 words

Hinata softly cursed. Of course her plan to lure the ANBU team away didn't work. Nothing ever worked in her favor.

She bit her lip, trying to figure out the best course of action to save Sasuke. Hinata grinned, seeing the telltale sway of long brown hair.

She deactivated her bloodline and made herself comfortable in her position. She waited.

--

Hinata was ready to confront them and rescue Sasuke at sunrise. But a commotion entirely not her own, brought them out ready to strike. Seeing her opportunity, Hinata revealed herself. Chakra blazed at her hands.

"I'll fight you for him."

Omake 22.5 - 100 words

Sasuke's breathing steadily became regular as she talked about their former village. She continued a little more even though he was already in deep sleep. Hinata glanced over her shoulder to peek at him. Carefully, she turned to fully face him.

Hinata studied him. Memorizing every line from his travels, the eyebags from lack of sleep, the face that she grew accustomed to seeing everyday.

She felt tears drip from her eyes. 'I can't believe I was so foolish.' Hinata hid her face in her hands. Her shoulders gently shook as she tried to maintain composure in Sasuke's sleeping embrace.

Omake 25.5 - 180 words

Frustration bubbled inside her. Karin and Suigetsu, sitting across from each other, continued to argue despite their shared goal. Hinata sat adjacent to them, anger simmering underneath her calm façade.

"Hinata-sama," Juugo came up behind her, carrying a tray of tea. He placed the tray beside her and took his place, sitting behind her.

"Thank you, Juugo-san," Hinata took the lone cup. "Had I known it would be like this, I would've left myself."

"Sometimes, they need a little help." His voice lowered. "If you know what I mean, Hinata-sama."

She hummed thoughtfully and sipped from her cup, testing the temperature.

"This is very good tea, Juugo-san," Hinata placed it back on the tray.

The large man bowed his head, smiling. "Thank you, Hinata-sama."

The other two continued to argue, their thumping rattling the tray.

Hinata moved swiftly, her fingers deftly touching their chakra points.

Stunned, the two bickering teammates fell on the ground.

"What gives?!" Karin yelled. Suigetsu sneered at her from his position.

Hinata calmly retrieved her tea. "Now, I have your attention. Let's talk about rescuing Sasuke."

Omake 27.5 - 100 words

Juugo's birds flew up in a tree, ending their journey.

"Tell Juugo-san, thank you," she whispered.

Hinata felt her blood coursing through her veins. Her fingertips tingled in trepidation.

They couldn't afford to risk Sasuke's strength. She knew who he was up against.

She snuck around the prison, evading the guards surrounding the perimeter. Hinata scaled the prison wall to reach the roof. She quickly found the ventilation shaft.

Taking a deep breath, she concentrated her thoughts on locating Sasuke's chakra signature.

'There!' It was weak, but it was his. Gritting her teeth, she made her way down the shaft.

Omake 29.5 - 172 words

Hinata knew Sasuke felt the same. The village was too quiet, too accepting of their vagrant ways. It seemed all too convenient a vacant house was available. With the previous owner having died alone, it was an opportune moment for them to move in with the village's blessing.

--

Months soon turned to a year. Sasuke's teammates came and went as they pleased, leaving Hinata with Sasuke.

She found him in the cold, practicing his kata. He moved fluidly going through the motions ingrained in his body.

She didn't want to bother him, but she knew better than to leave without notice.

"I'll be at the market," she called out. He paused mid-form to walk over to her. Seeing him in front of her, Hinata noticed his breaths were visible from the biting cold. "Is your kata keeping you warm?”

He smirked. "Aa." His eyes studied her as he tucked stray hair behind her ear. "Don't take too long."

Hinata felt her face warm up as she looked up to his face. "Aa."

Part 31 - 632 words

She went through the market, politely greeting everyone who knew her. Here, she was Hana and he was Makoto, two people not quite married but living together.

The market was a little busier during this time of year. The village was preparing for their annual snow festival. Hefting her groceries in her arms, Hinata left to return to her home.

"H-Hana-san!"

Hinata turned at the sound of her alias. A young man came up to her out of breathe. "Oh, Shigure-kun! H-How can I help you?"

The young man blushed. "I-I wanted to help you with your groceries. To carry them for you, I mean."

"That's kind of you to do, Shigure-kun," Hinata smiled. "But I'll be alright." She took a step towards the pathway to her home.

"Please, allow me," he reached for one of the bags. "I'm not surprised Makoto-ji-san isn't here to help." The young man scoffed. "He never seems to help you."

Hinata slightly turned from the boy so her groceries were out of reach. "I don't mind. Makoto-san doesn't need to help me."

"Hana-san, I -- " the young man stopped, his eyes frozen in fear.

Hinata looked at him confusedly, before feeling familiar chakra behind her.

"She said beat it, kid," Sasuke growled.

Shigure regained his composure and looked straight at Hinata. He took a deep breath and bowed. "Hana-san, I want to say that I like you and I hope to see you at the winter festival!" He straightened and turned his eyes to Sasuke. "Makoto-ji-san," he said through clenched teeth and bowed his head. "Good day to you."

Hinata looked between the two males, caught in a gridlock.

"I'm not going to repeat myself," Sasuke said menacingly. Shigure nodded again and stiffly turned on his heel to leave.

--

A few days later, Hinata found herself at the winter festival, admiring the fresh snow on the plum blossoms and the ice sculptures carved by the village's artisans. Beside her, Sasuke walked with a hand on the small of her back, eyes roving around for the troublesome boy.

"I don't think Shigure-kun will come around, don't you think?" Hinata giggled behind the thick sleeve of her kimono.

Sasuke grumbled. "He won't if he knows what's good for him."

Hinata grabbed a hold of his sleeve. "Come, let's enjoy the festival."

Hinata pulled him around the village, visiting artisan stalls and eating sweets to her heart's delight. Sasuke showed no interest but indulged her whims.

Hinata's teeth started to chatter as they continued with the festivities. She felt Sasuke wrap his arm around her shoulders.

"Come, maybe the weeping plum blossom tree will provide some insulation." He guided her towards the pink flowered tree covered in snow.

"Isn't it beautiful, Sasuke?" she said in awe. She gingerly touched a low hanging branch causing some snow to fall.

"Aa," he answered. "Absolutely beautiful."

Hinata turned to see him gazing intently at her. "Sasuke? Is something wrong?"

Sasuke blinked and turned his head away. He shoved his hands into his kimono sleeves.

Hinata stepped closer to him, using him as a way to shield her eyes from the passing villagers. She activated her Byakugan.

"Sasuke, I don't see anyone tracking us..." Hinata blinked away her bloodline. "I--"

Hinata's arms folded against Sasuke's chest as he wrapped his arms around her.

"I was going to wait a little while longer," he whispered in her ear. Hinata felt her heart pound at the warmth of breath on her ear.

"Wait for what?"

Sasuke gently pushed her away to place something in her hand. Hinata gasped, tears welling up in her eyes. His fingers came up to wipe them away.

"Marry me, Hinata."

Hinata looked up, seeing a small smile on Sasuke's face.

"Yes," she gently smiled, bringing his face closer to hers. "Yes."

[vermilionlavendereyes]

share my name... forever

SasuSaku Month 22 Day 1: Passports Word count: 1,595 Rated: T a/n: there literally is no plot it is pure nauseating fluff bc i just want to see my babies happy always and forever u have been warned ok thank u so much for reading <3

            They don’t have a big wedding. Or any at all, really. It’s just them and Naruto and Ino and an officiant in an office after work on a sunny September afternoon. Sasuke is wearing the same suit he wore to work that day and Sakura is in a flowy dress she changed into from her scrubs. Her hair is in a messy bun on top of her head and she slightly smells of antiseptic – along with Ino.

            It is a spur-of-the-moment decision. Sakura calls Sasuke during her lunch break and tells him that she doesn’t want to wait anymore. That she doesn’t care about distant cousins and aunts that Sasuke’s never even met before. She doesn’t care about flower arrangements and multiple-tier cakes, about flower girls and first dances. She just wants to put the ring on his finger and for him to put the matching one on hers, the one that will accompany the small diamond set in a white gold band, wrapped around her finger.

            He says he’ll call her right back and Sakura is worried for all of fifteen minutes when Sasuke calls her back and tells her he’s secured an appointment for them at the courthouse at 4:30 that afternoon. He can hear her beaming through the phone as she mutters an “okay,” sounding breathless. He says he’ll get her and Ino at four and hangs up.

            Sakura scrambles to her feet and sprints out of the cafeteria to find Ino. She doesn’t care if doctors and nurses and patients alike stare at her with wide eyes. She finds Ino at reception and grabs her by the hand to her office. The blonde is confused but doesn’t protest and when they are in the privacy of Sakura’s office walls, she asks her best friend to be her maid of honor. Ino squeals and cries and hugs Sakura so tight as she says yes.

            They wait outside the hospital’s entrance for Sasuke to pick them up. When he arrives, he gets out of the car, a beautiful bouquet in hand. Sakura has the urge to just tackle him right then and there but knows how much he hates public displays of affection. So she refrains herself and takes the flowers from his hand, giving him the brightest smile he’s ever seen. Ino rolls her eyes and tells them to get a grip and get going or they will be late.

            Naruto is waiting for them in the courthouse’s parking lot, his mouth stretched in a wide grin. “It’s about damn time, teme,” he says, clapping Sasuke on the back.

            “Shut up, dobe,” Sasuke mutters but his voice is too soft, too happy, to really affect Naruto so he just snickers in response and turns to Sakura.

            “You ready to spend the rest of your life with this gloomy bastard?” Naruto hugs her.

            Sakura laughs. “I’ve been ready.”

            “Well, let’s go on then,” Ino says.

            Afterward, they have ice cream – except for Sasuke, who sips on his coffee with a content uptilt of his lips. Sakura exchanged glances with him every so often and despite being married now, she blushes at the tenderness in his gaze. When Naruto asks them about their honeymoon plans for the third time and neither of them notices – too busy looking at each other, at the identical rings around their fingers –, Naruto stands up and motions for Ino to get going as well. Sakura snaps her head toward them at the sound of the chair scraping against the floor.

            “Where are you guys going?” she asks.

            “I think we’ve stolen enough of the happy newly-weds’ time. We’ll leave you two alone to enjoy each other.” Ino winks.

            Sakura blushes but doesn’t avert her eyes. She says goodbye and hugs her two best friends.

            “We should get going, I suppose,” Sasuke says, standing beside her. He fishes for some money in his pocket and leaves it on the table before pushing Sakura by the small of her back to the exit.

            They barely make it into the living room before Sakura’s dress is discarded and she’s accidentally ripped Sasuke’s shirt. He kicks the coffee table but Sakura swallows his curses with a searing kiss. She hits her thigh on a dresser but Sasuke kisses it all better for her. They fall into bed all hot and entangled in each other and in love. She is drunk on his kisses and he is high on the gentle caress of her fingers.

            I love you, I love you, I love you, she keeps declaring whenever their eyes lock. I love you so much, he murmurs against the goosebumps covering her neck. So, so much, he tenderly kisses the slight curve of her stomach.

            They don’t leave the bed until she has to get ready for her shift the following afternoon. Even then, it is hard to say goodbye to those beautiful, dark eyes and slight curve of lips. Nothing really changed and yet, everything seems so much better, so much brighter.

.

.

.

            “Sasuke-kun?” Sakura calls from the living room. He’s making her a snack in the kitchen. Cutting up refrigerated apples, tomatoes, and some pickles on the side. Her latest cravings.

            “Yes?” He handed her the plate.

            “Ah, thank you.” Her eyes light up with a hunger he’s never seen before and she starts shoveling the contents of the plate into her mouth. “Just what I needed!” she exclaims. Sasuke takes her feet into his lap and starts massaging them. A satisfied smirk tugs his lips when he hears her moan slightly.

            “What did you want?” Sasuke asks when the plate is almost empty.

            “I was wondering when we were going to go on our honeymoon?” she looks up from the now-empty plate, munching slowly on the last piece of apple. “We won’t have long before this little lady arrives,” she says, pointing to her slowly, but surely showing bump.

            “We’ve only been married a week,” Sasuke responds as if that is an actual answer to her question. “And you’re not even four months along, she’s not coming any time soon.”

            “Well,” – she flails her arms, reminding him of a frustrated child – “still! I might not be able to fly later on in my pregnancy. We haven’t even decided where to go!” she whines.

            “Fine,” he sighs. “Where do you want to go?”

            “Belgium,” Sakura answers instantly.

            Sasuke frowns. “Belgium? How the hell did you come up with Belgium?”

            Sakura looks down sheepishly at her hands and they caress her stomach. “I’ve… I’ve been craving authentic Belgian waffles.” She looks up at him with guilty eyes, head still hanging lowly, biting her lip the way she knows he loves. And Sasuke can’t help the incredulous laughter that bubbles in his chest and escapes his lips. Sakura lifts her head fully at the sound of his rare, melodious laugh and beams at him as he gives her feet a squeeze before dropping them.

            Sasuke grabs the sides of her neck and pulls her in for a kiss before getting off the couch. Sakura looks after him, dazed by the kiss and confused by his sudden departure. He returns a moment later with his laptop in hand and when he plops down next to her, an airline’s website is already open in his browser. Sasuke is about to book their tickets when they realize that Sakura’s passport has expired.

            He can see the panic in her eyes and assures her that they’ll go to get it renewed first thing in the morning. When she reminds him that they have a doctor’s appointment in the morning, he says that they’ll go and get it renewed second thing in the morning. She smiles and leans her head on his shoulder. He presses a kiss to the crown of her head and starts searching for the best waffle places in Brussels.

.

.

.

            Her new passport arrives the next week and she squeals when she holds the large envelope in her hands. She sits at the kitchen table and tears it open, carelessly flinging the ripped pieces of paper on the table. She opens her new passport and looks at her picture first and decides that it could be a lot worse. She looks over her personal information next and that’s when she spots it. UCHIHA SAKURA, written bold letter, black ink on pale-colored paper.

            Sasuke finds her crying and instantly panics. They were leaving in three days, if there was anything wrong with her passport, they wouldn’t be able to get it fixed in time. He kneels down beside her and takes her hand in his. She looks at him and smiles. This puzzles him. If there’s nothing wrong with the passport then why is she crying… and why is she smiling? This annoying woman… even after all these years, he can’t seem to figure out the hurricane of emotions that is Sakura.

            “Sakura…” he says softly, patiently.

            She wipes her face. Smile brightening as she speaks. “I’m okay, Sasuke-kun. It’s just…” She shows him the passport. His eyes scan the document, softening as he reads her name, as he looks at the beautiful smile she sports in the picture.

            “Yes?” he asks, looking back at her eyes.

            “It’s stupid.” She waves her hand. “It’s just that this is the first time I’ve seen it written down like this…”

            Sasuke knows instantly what she’s referring to. Her new name. The name she now shares with him. The name their child – growing under her strong, beautiful, tender heart – will share with them.

[behindheremeraldeyes]

title: the next step is love

summary: Modern AU - It’s Sakura’s birthday, and after the party, she’s left to take care of the mess of dirty plates and glasses. Luckily, she’s not alone, but he can’t really stay forever, right?

a/n: Okay, this story was supposed to have come out way earlier, but I changed the plot so many times that I just couldn’t finish it for her birthday... The original idea was so different, and perhaps, I end up writing it another time when the inspiration strikes again (seriously, it was a nice one). Anyway, I hope you can still enjoy this one! As always, my fluff side took over me and I just had to make something simple and domestic for the Queen’s bday! Hope you enjoy it, and please, let me know what you think! (also, this is un-betta’d. I wanted to post this asap because I’m working on a different project, so... bear with me)

.

“Thank you for coming! ‘Careful on your way home!”

The sound of the door clicking shut reverberates across her entire apartment, and it only takes one second for that smiley expression to fade from her face. Her right hand is still placed over the door-knob, and for a brief moment, she closes her eyes, letting out a deep sigh in pure contentment. The last guests are finally on their merry way home now, and at last, she can stop worrying about things such as making sure no one’s feeling left out or re-filling toilet paper. Even if they’re all good friends, her perfectionist mind can’t simply allow her to enjoy the night without worrying about those details.

After turning the key, her hand moves to massage the back of her neck, and finally, she sets her toes free from her black heels. A mix of relief and calmness spreads all over her body, as a soft smile takes over her cherry-colored lips. This, perhaps, might be her favorite part of her birthday parties— or any party, for the matter— because, right now, she can finally savor all the things she's prepared for the night. The food, the decoration, the soothing music...

Oh, what a dream, she thinks, at first, before looking around with her lazy eyes and frowning at the scene. If only all of that mess could magically disappear by the time she wakes up tomorrow morning.

A sigh escapes her lungs as she makes her way back to the center of the hurricane that is her living room. Just like last year, she starts wondering why on earth she let Ino convince her to host her own birthday party instead of going out for a couple of drinks like most people do. Though the pinkette really enjoys having her friends over for a couple of hours, she can’t deny that the day after March 28th is probably the most tiring of the year. Sakura knows she's barely gonna get any sleep tonight, and by the time her alarm goes off around 5:30, she will certainly need at least 1 liter of coffee in order to go through her shift without falling asleep.

In theory, she could leave all that mess for tomorrow, sure, but thanks to her cleaning compulsion, that’s not really an option for her.

If only she could be a little more like Naruto...

Still, as she shakes her pink head, Sakura decides there’s no use in thinking about it tonight. That’s a problem for her future-self, and even if she’s probably going to regret that decision in the morning, right now, this is her moment. She can drink a full glass of champagne while eating another piece of her strawberry cake, and the best part is that she can do it all while enjoying the company of the only one whose presence will never be a bother to her.

Once she finally reaches her kitchen, the pinkette is fast to register the dirty dishes laying around the counter. There are way more glasses than the number of people she invited for the party, but for a brief moment, she forgets that she’s the owner of that mess. Her emerald eyes automatically drift towards the sink, and her heart skips a beat at the scene playing in front of her.

Not even in her wildest, teenage-ish dreams would she have ever pictured Uchiha Sasuke doing her dishes after her birthday party. Though she knows she’s the one who’s technically responsible for all of that, it’s inevitable for her to be entertained by how focused he seems to be while attempting to remove that lipstick stain from the cup.

How lovely, she ponders, bitting her lower lip in order to suppress a chuckle.

Too bad she can’t just keep watching him for the rest of the night.

“You know, even if I appreciate both your help and the view, you don’t have to do this, Sasuke-kun.” Sakura says, picking up some of the plates laying around and walking towards the sink. She’s standing by his side now, his tall body towering over hers, almost a head taller. The expression decorating his features remains unaltered, and she notices how he slowly moves to give her some space next to him. “You can go rest, if you want.”

“Do you want me to go leave?” He asks, unaltered, while scrubbing another knife.

“That’s not what I meant and you know it.” She answers, grabbing a piece of cloth to dry the cutlery he has already washed. “I just don’t want you to do something you don’t want just because it’s my birthday or anything like that. It’s fine, really. I can do it alone.”

“Hn, It’s faster if we do it together.” He stops, a sly smirk taking over the corner of his lips as he closes the tap. His eyes are on hers, now, and she can feel her chest warming up in response. “Unless you wanna do it all by yourself.”

“Nope.” She says, promptly, handing him another dirty spoon and he’s quick to resume what he was doing. Her eyes watch the way the water runs through his fingers, and oddly, she can’t help but find that amusing. “If you’re willing to help, who am I to say no, right?”

A giggle escapes her lips when she hears the ‘tch’ that escaped from his lips, and eventually, they fall in a comfortable silence that is only disturbed by the clanking of the dishes touching each other. Every now and then, their fingers brush when he hands her the plates, and though she can still feel the sparks, those simple touches are no longer enough to make her blush in embarrassment as they used to.

His touch is no longer a stranger to her skin. His presence and his warmth have long been registered by her subconscious, marking every cell of her body with his constant presence. It’s been over 5 springs since their childish love finally bloomed into a serious relationship, and by now, both Sasuke and Sakura have grown used to one another. It goes beyond carnal desires or any poor excuse for a casual company, for their hearts share a connection deeper than words could ever describe.

Blame it on the fact that they used to be good friends before or even fate itself, but it’s impossible to deny the fact that they’ve reached the apex of their young love-life, to the point where doing the dishes together feels wholesome in ways neither of them can explain. There’s a sense of domesticity and mutual understanding shared in between unspoken words, and perhaps, that’s why it works so well for them as a couple. Even if they’re very different people, with different routines and personalities, they make it work.

They have enough trust, love and companionship to last for a life-time.

And though that should be enough—hell, that should be more than enough— Sakura can’t help but feel that there’s still something missing.

Something she can’t quite pin-point, but something that makes perfect moments lose their magic, for she knows they just won’t last. Even now, as they’re doing the dishes and making small conversation about how the party went, deep inside, her heart is heavy because she knows that once those dishes are clean, it will all be over and she will be left alone in her apartment before midnight strikes.

No matter how hard she tries, their moments together have their life-spawn shortened by the common laws of the universe, for every time there’s that stupid parting moment in which they both have to go separate ways. It’s painful for her to watch him disappear in the distance, and even if he doesn’t really express it with words, she can see the light in his eyes fading whenever they have to say goodbye. It’s always a new ‘good night’ and never a constant ‘good morning’ for them, and after so long, she’s sick and tired of this.

Perhaps, it’s just her tired-self speaking too loud in her head or even the few drinks she had during the party, but tonight, she doesn’t want the world to stand between them. Tonight, Sakura will break the natural laws, not caring about the consequences of finally taking the next step.

It’s still her birthday, after all. That has to count for something.

Her heart is beating faster now that she has made up her mind, and she realizes that she’s shaking when she picks another fork from his hands. She’s swallowing dry, and if not for the make up in her face, she knows he would be able to see a crimson blush decorating her cheeks. It’s now or never, she thinks. And before she has the chance to talk herself out of it, Haruno Sakura decides to act.

“Uhm... Sasuke-kun.” She starts, her voice shaky as his name slips from her tongue. Clearly, she forgot to think about the proper way of actually saying what she wanted, choosing instead to improvise— something she’s never really been good at. “I was thinking... Why don’t you spend the night here? You don’t have to go home after this.”

“Don’t even think about going to sleep, Sakura. You’re not leaving all of this mess to me.”

“Oi, that’s not what I meant!” She scolded him, a pout taking over her expression. “Shannarou, I just don’t want you to go home all alone at such late hours. Besides, is it wrong for a girl to want to stay with her boyfriend for the night?”

“You pervert.” He smirks, earning an elbow to his ribs in response. For someone so small, it’s undeniable that his girlfriend has some sort of abnormal strength people like her shouldn’t possess.

“Shut up. That’s not what I meant either! I just... I just don’t want you to leave, that’s all.”

Her words come out a little too low, but high enough so that he can hear them. Her voice sounded an octave too-melancholic, and perhaps, that was what made him actually take her offer seriously. “Hn, I guess I could. I don’t have to work tomorrow, so I can go home once when you leave for the hospital.”

“Really?” Sakura starts, a smile now threatening to take over her features. Though she still had to convey her real plan, that was already a win. A small one, but a win, nonetheless. “Well, you don’t have to leave that early if you don’t want to. You can just...stay. Maybe even wait for me to get home from the hospital and then we could eat dinner together.”

“What?” His eyes widen at her idea, and right now, she can’t really tell if his surprised expression is good or bad. “Aren’t you going to stay there until late tomorrow?”

“Well, probably, but you can stay here... is that a problem?”

”It’s not really a problem, but... I just don’t want to abuse your hospitality. It’s still your apartment, Sakura.” He scratches the back of his neck, and she could see that he was truly concerned about his manners. His mother has taught him how to be a gentleman, and even if she loves that about him, right now, she wishes he could let loose and just take her offer.

She bites her lower lip at his words, a puff of annoyance inflating her cheeks at his answer. Her boyfriend’s has never been good at reading her signs, and now, when not even she’s understanding them, the pinkette is starting to freak out.

Things are not going as planned— not that she actually planned anything to begin with. Her head is spiraling as she watches the snow-ball being created by her messy words, and slowly, she can feel her chance slipping through her fingers. If she doesn’t say it now, Sakura’s going to miss her opportunity, and who knows what’s going to happen to them. Will they break up? Will he think she’s not interested in a long-term commitment? Will they never do the dishes again?

No, she’s overthinking again. They have a solid relationship that has been built over the years and she’s not going to ruin it all in one night because she’s acting like a coward. She’s a modern, independent woman. A doctor, damn it. She has done a lot of things that were harder than asking her boyfriend to move in with her.

She can do it. She will do it.

“Sasuke-kun!” Her voice is determined now, her eyes filled with a different fire in them. This is it. No backing out now. “I need to ask you something important. It’s about our future together.”

“Okay... I’m listening.” He states, a little taken aback by her sudden burst. He stops what he’s doing, his dark irises now looking into her emerald ones. They’re holding a certain hope in them, and if anything, she was not expecting him to be paying that much attention to her. She’s feeling pressured by them, intimidated even. Her knees are shaking, her lips are trembling and her mind is suddenly blank.

She can’t do it. Nope. Not with those eyes staring into her soul.

“I-I... I...” Her heart is beating faster, and she feels like it will burst out of her chest any minute now. She’s going to faint, she can tell it.

“What is it, Sakura?”

“I-I...” She swallows, then, sighing as courage escapes her body. The pinkette has chickened out, finally opting for her ever-reliable plan B. “Naruto is an idiot, right?”

“... Yes.” He starts, his brows furrowing in confusion. “But what does that have to do with our future?”

“E-Everything! I mean, did you see how drunk he was tonight? Thank god Sai offered himself to take him home tonight, but we can rely on that forever. As his best friends, we have to do something about it. He lives far from both of us and we need a plan whenever we have a drinking night together.”

A moment of palpable tension grows between them, and right now, she’s sure he can hear her heart beating like crazy inside her chest. I’m an idiot, she thinks, holding back the urge to lower her head and cry. Sakura has just ruined everything, and right now, she’s going to have to pretend to actually care about where Naruto crashes when he’s drunk just so her boyfriend doesn’t think she’s completely crazy.

Ugh, those damn eyes of his. Why do they have to be so *freaking beautiful?

Thankfully, they can also read her like an open book.

“Hn, you’re right.” He says, finally breaking the silence that surrounded them. His voice is calm and understanding, as always, and she can feel her heart settling down at that. If anything, at least, his reaction isn’t bad or anything. “I guess we will have to have a spare room for him when we move in together.”

“Yeah, sure. A spare room when we—“ Her mind stops. Her hands freeze while holding the cloth and her green eyes widen. Her lips part slightly, but no word dares coming out of them.

Did he... Did he just say what she thinks he said?

She doesn’t know what kind of face she’s making right now, but if anything, she’s completely dumbfounded by his words. Sure, it’s not like he’s making a move tonight or anything, but he did say the words, right? Move in together. The three words she was trying so hard to get out of her chest, simply rolled out of his tongue as if it is the most logical thing in the world— and perhaps, it is. He says them in a way as if that decision won’t change their lives forever. As if it won’t affect their routine and the amount of food they have to buy at the grocery store.

It’s a decision that goes beyond a drawer filled with socks or an extra tooth-brush. And even if he sounds as calm as ever, she knows he’s aware of all that, because, if anything, Uchiha Sasuke doesn’t do anything based on impulse. He’s the kind of man who thinks things through and studies every possibility before making a decision.

So that means...

“Sasuke-kun... Are you suggesting that we move in together?”

“Aa.” He nods, no hesitation in his voice. “Weren’t you trying to say the same?”

“I-I... I was?” She says, sounding more like a question, to which he simply quirks an eyebrow in inquiry. If anything, that was not the moment for doubts anymore. “I mean, yes! That was exactly what I was trying to say.”

“Good. Then it’s settled.”

“Is it? Really?” She asks, hope now running through her veins and lighting up her entire system.

“Yes. It’s only natural for people like us, right?”

“Yeah...” He cheeks grow warmer, and her chest suddenly feels lighter. At last, he took the words out of her. “It’s settled, then.”

At last, their days of saying goodbye are counted and now they can enjoy each other from dawn to dusk.

A smile slowly makes its way to her eyes, and she can’t help but switch her attention to him. Sasuke is now looking at her, a soft expression taking over his face. She’s bewildered right now as she looks at the man who will be living with her. Totally and completely marveled, and more in love with him than she has ever been before in her life.

He understands her unsaid words and they share similar ideas regarding their past, present and future.

They are in love, and now, they’re ready to share the same roof above their pretty, little heads.

“You’re still staying with me tonight, right?”

“Tch.You really are a pervert, Sakura.”

He splashes her face with some water from the sink and her giggles fill her kitchen with joy. They’re young and in love, and for now, that’s all they need to take the next step towards their future together.

the end