Author's Note: It began with MsKeller's Tears in Rain, and so I would suggest that you read that oneshot beforehand. However, there is not problem with this story as a standalone. Just thought that you should know, because it is all thanks to MsKeller that I managed to accomplish this. Her permission for me to take off from the ending of her oneshot, as well as her encouragements are of much value. Thank you in advance.
To all readers, thank you too, for your time.
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Tear: I
Kin had been working for Uchiha Sasuke of the Uchiha Corporation for close to five years already, and yet not once had she ever seen the usually quiet man smile so serenely and peacefully before – almost too wide for an Uchiha. She was surprised, to say the least, but not overwhelmed. That would be an overstatement.
As she went about preparing the files required for the first business meeting that Sasuke was to attend for the day, she wondered a little about the possibilities that could have made her employer so contented and at ease. Unfortunately, nothing came to mind. Snapping close the final document into the related file, she smiled in defeat. Sasuke had always been, in some ways, an enigma to her. The man kept such good distinctions between his personal life and work that every time she sees him in the office, it was only the serious, calm and calculative side of him.
Getting up to her feet, Kin slowly made her way to Sasuke's room with the thin green file in one arm. She gave a quiet knock, knowing that the man on the other side of the room would be able to hear her. Sure enough, an equally quiet and polite reply greeted her.
"Come in."
Kin opened the door and stepped in, smiling the smile that she had always greeted the Uchiha with. Sasuke looked up from the computer screen, his fingers paused above the keyboard. He smiled back at the woman who had just entered his office.
"Uchiha-sama, these are the documents that you will be needing for the upcoming meeting at nine thirty with Hatake-san. I have prepared the contracts that are needed as well, just in case if the agreement can be achieved by today itself."
Sasuke nodded, the smile still adorning his lips. He pulled back and leaned against his chair, putting his arms over the arm rests of his seat as Kin stepped forward to place the files on his desk. As she took a few paces back, the raven-haired man nodded again.
"Thank you, Kin."
"You're welcome, Uchiha-sama."
Kin was ready to leave when suddenly her employer called out again.
"Kin."
Kin turned around, and she noted how this time Sasuke's coal eyes held a faraway look in them instead of his usually focused gaze. Once again, for the slightest moment, the man projected a strange kind of tranquillity that Kin had never associated him with. Not really looking at his assistant, Sasuke smiled another small smile to himself, and his arm automatically reached out to play with the computer mouse. Swirling it about on the mouse pad, Sasuke spoke quietly.
"Could you please cancel all appointments after four thirty?"
Kin blinked, unsure for a moment, then quickly regained her composure. It was a first. Sasuke had never asked to cancel his appointments before. But then again, she was not a nosy person. As far as she was concerned, everyone should be entitled to the liberty of keeping secrets. Uchiha Sasuke was not above that.
"Well, there's not much engagements after four thirty – there are only a couple, and even those few are only little tea parties. Would you want to cancel all of them?" Kin asked again for confirmation, her fingers linked in front of her as was her habit.
Sasuke nodded.
"Yes, sir. If there is nothing else, then I'll be excusing myself?" Kin smiled politely, asking for permission.
'Yes. Thank you."
Kin turned and left the room. Sasuke's distant look flashed again before her mind's eye. Never before had she seen him like that.
[.]
"Naruto, open the door!"
Sasuke arrived to a very chaotic scene in the hospital. He found both Sakura and Shizune banging hard on the door of Naruto's room, calling out to him to open the door. Passer-bys were giving the two exasperated nurses curious looks, and already Sasuke could hear little whispers growing until it almost sounded like the buzzing of a whole hive of bees. He nearly snorted when he heard a kid ask his mother if the two nurses were trying to break the door so that they can retrieve a prize – like how his father did when the older man brought him to the amusement park.
From where Sasuke stood at the walkway, he could see Sakura rolling her eyes and giving another bang to the door. He had to wince when Sakura's fist hit the wooden door – the sound it produced made him wonder just how strong exactly Sakura was. He swore that there would definitely be a dent on the door after this.
"Naruto, you are going to open the door at this very instant!" Shizune bellowed from the sides, trying the doorknob again. She jiggled it to make herself sound more threatening.
"No! Go away! I'm not letting the both of you in if you're coming in with that stupid needle!"
Sasuke nearly missed his blond's muffled reply from the other side of the door with all the whispers going on, but he had had a feeling that this was the reason. From a very young age itself, Naruto had had an…unexplainable fear towards needles. Deciding that he should make his arrival known before Dr Tsunade came barging out from her office, Sasuke cleared his throat and began edging his way as politely as he could between a couple of old couple ["Ah, I bet the nurses were trying to force the poor patient eat something nasty. They did the same thing to me. Evil beings, really"] and a few other visitors who had stopped by out of curiosity.
"Sakura, Shizune," he murmured quietly, standing a little taller behind them and catching their attention with only that silent call. Charisma had always been his to command, and that was how he was able to gain the respects of other older corporate partners despite his young age.
"Sasuke-kun! Good timing!" Sasuke could almost hear the desperate plea in Sakura's voice when the pink haired nurse turned to him in surprise and relief. Shizune was as thankful as her partner was when she twisted her head around to see him.
"Ask him to open the door. He listens only to you."
Sasuke nodded and proceeded to balance the little gift that he had brought in the nook of his left arm. Then he stepped between both the nurses and rapped hard at the door. Absent-mindedly, he noted that there was indeed a dent on the spot where Sakura had hit upon a moment back. He reminded himself not to make the lady in question angry.
"Go away!"
"Naruto, it's me. Open the door."
There was a pause. Sasuke could picture the blond clenching his jaws and setting his brows into a frown as he always used to do when moments of indecision presented itself. He had to smile at that. The blond would always bite his lips and avert his eyes to the side after that.
"Sa – Sasuke?"
Sasuke snapped himself out from his daydream.
"Make Sakura-chan and Shizune-san go away."
Sasuke pondered for a moment, then turned to beckon the two ladies standing on either side of him to come closer. In an undertone, he told them to leave Naruto alone for a while. Sakura looked ready to burst in anger, and Shizune was disturbed. Sasuke knew that he was making things slightly difficult for them – they were, after all, charged with the duty of making sure that their patients receive their treatment at an exact specified time. When Sakura opened her mouth to argue, Sasuke held his hand up. The torrent that Sakura was ready to pour on him was miraculously halted.
"Look, he's not going to listen. He's not called the ultimate knucklehead by his colleagues for nothing. I'll make sure that he gets his treatment. Just give me some time, and wait until I call for you," Sasuke's tone was final. No arguments would be entertained, and both the nurses knew from their previous encounters with the Uchiha that it was pointless to press on the matter. They both nodded and proceeded to disperse the crowd. Sasuke prudently waited until everyone had left before he turned back to the door and knocked loudly.
"Open the door, dobe."
"Are they gone yet?" the reply was immediate, and there was, very obviously, an undertone of doubt and uncertainty in Naruto's still rough voice. Sasuke could tell that Naruto suspected something and was being wary. Determined not to let anything out, he masked his slight guilt with a hint of annoyance in his voice.
"Yes. Now open the door, or am I supposed to talk to you like this for the rest of the day?"
The Uchiha's sharp ears picked up a slight shuffling of feet, followed by the loud click of the lock. Cautious blue eyes peered out from the tiny gap of space that appeared and Sasuke peered back, allowing the blond to take his time to monitor the coast. When Naruto saw no one suspicious around, he quickly opened the door wide and latched onto Sasuke.
Sasuke allowed himself a hidden grin that went buried amongst bright blond strands as he clutched at the person in his arms, supporting the thin frame. His other hand, still holding the wrapped package, came up to hold Naruto as well.
"Took you long enough, dobe," Sasuke said, manoeuvring the both of them into the room and closing the door with a kick of his long legs. Naruto reluctantly looked up from his face-burying session and stared at the black haired man with a pout so similar to the ones he used to wear.
"They had needles, Sasuke, needles!" Naruto emphasised, causing Sasuke to chuckle as he tore himself from Naruto's anxious grasp and led the way to the bed. Naruto followed, his hand in Sasuke's.
"I know. I understand. You had always been afraid of needles, even when we were young."
The Uchiha had been spending time with Naruto, telling the blond about their previous relationship and such. He was pleasantly surprised that Naruto accepted everything without questioning, and even took it a step further by pestering him to bring pictures.
Well…Naruto would be getting his wish today.
"Here, this is a little something for you," Sasuke mumbled a little, handing the small package wrapped in blue to the blond as he climbed onto the bed to sit beside him. He noted how Naruto's eyes lighted up in curiosity when he picked the small thing up. After another curious glance at Sasuke, and an encouraging nod from the corporate leader, Naruto removed the wrappings with zest. Again, Sasuke noted how Naruto's eyes lighted up in amazement and happiness.
"Thank you, Sasuke!" Naruto squealed as he held up the small photo album in front of his face. The yellow of it rivalled that of the sunshine filtering into the room. Sasuke nodded silently, glad that his lover liked it. That photo album contained pictures of him and Naruto together, and all the frozen memories of them doing things together. He had never been enthusiastic during those times when he was forced by Naruto to take those pictures, but now he was glad that he had obliged with the blond's wish.
Naruto was already flipping through the pages, pointing and poking at photographs that caught his attention. He never failed to bring Sasuke's attention to those where the raven looked particularly surly.
It was an hour and a half later when Naruto finally leaned against Sasuke and fell asleep with the album in his lap. Sasuke slowly shifted the blond into a more comfortable position on the bed, stopping every now and again when Naruto stirred. After replacing the album onto the night desk beside the bedside, Sasuke played for a while with the blond strands splayed all over the pillow. Then he got up and exited the room, calling for Sakura to complete her task.
It was just like old times…when he was always needed to help Naruto take his jabs by first lulling him to sleep before allowing the others to do their job. The funny thing was…Naruto never found out about it. Sasuke was happy to let it rest just as it was.
[.]