All of my stories are set in the same world before or during Sasuke and Sakura's relationship. This is set while they're dating.

Backstory: Sasuke returned to the village after getting his revenge. It didn't take long for him and Sakura to begin dating and their 6-month anniversary is coming soon.

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Sasuke and Sakura's Secret

7:27 pm

Sasuke and Sakura were walking hand in hand towards a dining hall. The couple was wearing their "black tie" best for the fancy gala they were attending. It was a ceremony for Sakura's dad who was receiving a medal for his military service.

"Fuck I hate these uncomfortable outfits," Sasuke complained as he tugged on his collar above the tie.

"Well I think you look very handsome," his girlfriend encouraged.

Sasuke hated these banquets; there were too many people, the music was too loud and there weren't nearly enough tomatoes. They got to the front door and Sasuke could see inside that all of his fears were true.

"Thanks for coming Sasuke-kun," Sakura blurted out, knowing his feeling about these places.

"Hn, don't leave me alone in there," was all he'd say.

She giggled and asked, "Are you scared?"

He scoffed and opened the door for her. She walked in, and he reluctantly followed. Almost immediately they were bombarded by friends of the Harunos greeting them. Sasuke didn't recognize most of them, but they all acted like Sakura was family, and by proxy, Sasuke as well. He hated it so he grabbed his girlfriend's wrist and dragged her away from the crowds with quick and fake "Thank you's" and "Nice to see you's."

He sighed, "How can you possibly know so many people?"

"I don't. Those are all my parent's friends."

"Hn."

They couldn't have more than 2 minutes of peace before the man of the hour, Sakura's father, approached them.

"Hi dad," Sakura said with a large smile before hugging him.

"Oh I'm so glad you could make it," Mr. Haruno warmly greeted. He broke the hug and looked at Sasuke, "And you too, of course."

Sasuke extended his hand and shook Mr. Haruno's hand firmly. Sasuke replied, "Thank you."

"Ah! Sasuke, the man of few words. Enjoy yourself! It's a party," Mr. Haruno encouraged.

"Yeah I'll try," the Uchiha replied.

"Ha! You're funny sometimes," Sakura's father told him, leaving Sasuke with a confused face, "Sakura dear come see your mother."

And with that, Sakura and her father disappeared in a crowd of people and Sasuke was left alone. God he hated these places. He never would have come if he didn't love Sakura so much. Silently he pushed past more crowds of posh people to get to a drink dispenser. He poured himself a cold glass of…something, he didn't care.

A few older women, one of whom he met once before, approached him despite trying to blend into a corner. The one he recognized said, "Sasuke! I thought I saw you."

"Hn?"

"It's me, Akira. Sakura's aunt," she explained.

"Oh, nice to see you again," Sasuke said disingenuously as he had already done several times tonight.

The two women he didn't know whispered to each other quiet enough for Sasuke not to hear. They stared at him and giggled with flush cheeks.

Sasuke got a bad feeling, "Is something funny?"

One of them sheepishly stuttered out, "Um, w-we were just wondering how close you and Sakura have become."

One of Sasuke's eyebrows shot up, "Pretty close…"

All three of them laughed. Akira rolled her eyes and said, "Would you say intimately close?"

Sasuke realized what they were getting at and he got a worse, more uncomfortable feeling. For the record, he and Sakura have had sex. A lot. But he wasn't about to tell them that. "I don't know what—"

"Oh Sasuke I hope these ladies aren't torturing you too much," comforted a familiar voice.

Sasuke cocked his head to the side to see none other than Sakura's dad again.

"Hello Mr. Haruno."

"Sister could you and your friends go pester someone else. Sasuke and I need to talk."

The two men were left alone.

"What did you want to talk about?" Sasuke asked.

"Are you and my daughter…growing close?"

Oh fuck. Same conversation different family member, "Yes, yes we have." Sasuke wasn't used to being embarrassed.

"Is your relationship serious?"

"Yes. Very."

Sakura's father looked up at a banner with his name on it, "Sasuke, do you know why I'm being honored tonight?"

"I'm receiving an award for military strategy. I successfully killed our enemies. You're a ninja too; you must know what I'm talking about."

"Yes I do."

"Then you know it's not easy on your mind. It also hasn't been easy on my family. I've been distant from my family for too long, both mentally and physically" Mr. Haruno paused and Sasuke was left thinking about what all of this meant, "I want better for my only child."

"You don't want me to be a ninja?"

"No that's not what I'm getting at. The scars of war must have reached you by now….Look, Sasuke I like you. Sakura's so happy with you but the happiness won't last when you become distant like I have."

"What are you getting at?"

"I want you to end things with my daughter. It's not personal but—"

"I can't do that!" Sasuke snapped through a clenched jaw.

"It's not personal! I'm thinking about her long-term happiness. I've found a few men not burdened by the ninja life; either one would make for a good husband."

"I think we should let Sakura decide," Sasuke originated. He turned around and tried walking away but Mr. Haruno grabbed his shoulder and held him back.

"Of course my daughter would pick you right now! I would have prevented your relationship sooner if I knew you two were going to get so serious."

"What if I refuse? Or I tell Sakura what you just told me?" Sasuke asked, then turned back to face him.

"You don't get the award I'm getting without making some powerful friends. I could seize your money, your inheritance, your job, your house, everything. By the time I'm done with you you'll be lucky to work as a janitor. As for telling Sakura all of this, would you really want to make her so upset? Your choice."

"I don't even know how to break up with her."

"Then have her break up with you! Cheat on her and tell her, or have one of her friends tell her or, fuck it, have her catch you red handed!"

"I would never do anything like that!" Sasuke retorted.

"Think it over. Sleep on it. You'll come to realize I'm right," Mr. Haruno suggested then disappeared into a crowd of people.

Sasuke finally got his wish: he was alone. He was all alone in the corner 10 feet from the party and he wanted now nothing more than to see Sakura again. Sasuke was alone for almost 10 minutes thinking over what was asked of him before he got his second wish: Sakura broke away from idle conversations and joined him.

"Hi Sasuke-kun," she greeted, "I've barely seen you this whole party."

"Hn…"

"Well come on the award ceremony is starting," Sakura implored with a smile.

"Uh, wait a second," Sasuke flatly said.

"What's up?" she asked.

"You know I love you, right?"

"Of course. I love you too."

He smirked and said, "Good."

"Now come on, my dad's getting the award."

"I'll be right there I just have to run to the bathroom."

"Ok but hurry," Sakura cheered as she ran back to the party.

It wasn't the bathroom he sulked to, it was the back door. He returned back to the cold night air. He turned towards his apartment and walked away silently and alone.

2:15 am

Sakura ran to his front door and beat her fist against the thick wood door. No response. She pounded again and called his name out in duress. She twisted the door knob to no avail. She tried peering into the window but she couldn't see in. Sakura was wearing a baggy hoodie and sweat pants with disheveled hair; she rushed out of her apartment when as soon as she heard the news.

"Sasuke! Sasuke-kun open the door!"

Faintly, she could hear some rustling inside his apartment. She practically bounced up and down waiting outside in the cool night air. The knob turned and slowly, the door opened. Sakura could see Sasuke wearing pajama pants and a plain t-shirt.

He was rubbing the gunk out of his eyes and was mid-yawn when he asked, "Hey, what's going on?"

"I know."

"What?"

"I know what my dad asked you to do." Sakura got on her tip toes and wrapped her arms around his neck. He hugged back.

"How'd you hear?" he asked.

"My aunt Akira told me, I don't know how she knew."

"Oh," was all he could say.

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"Are you going to do it?"

He grabbed her shoulders and broke the hug, "Break up with you?" he asked still holding her shoulders.

Tears began filling her eyes and she just nodded.

Sasuke broke the silence, "No. I never even thought of it."

Sakura gave him a bitter sweet smile and buried her face in his chest, "Then what are we going to do?"

He wrapped an arm across her shoulders and led her inside his apartment. He closed the door and turned off the lights. They silently went back to his bedroom.

She asked again, "What are we going to do?"

"Don't worry about it."

"But—"

"Don't," he commanded, "We're going to be fine."

The couple got to his bed and crawled under the covers.

8:26 am

They were lying in Sasuke's bed. Neither of them slept well. Their legs were intertwined and they were embracing each other. Sasuke in typical Sasuke fashion woke up first. He stared at the white ceiling thinking silently to himself. Sakura woke up soon after him.

"Good morning Sasuke-kun," she lazily said.

He kissed the top of her head, "Hn."

"So do you know what we should do?"

"I'm not going to lose you," Sasuke began, "But he won't let this go."

"Well, we could break up, but keep seeing each other…in secret."

Sasuke was silent for a minute, "Could you really lie to your father like that?"

"It's his fault," Sakura solemnly resolved.

"He said he knows a few other guys that he wants you to date."

"And I will, but, just for appearances. My dad will be happy and he'll forget about you."

"I don't like the idea of you being with anyone else," he explained.

"It's just to look like I'm over you, but I'll always love you. Only you."

"Hn, fine. We'll fake it."

Sakura laughed and cuddled against her boyfriend.

They had no idea how hard this was going to be…
To Be Continued