Tradition
by sjx382
A ray of sunlight shines in on them from an open window as she traces small circles on his back. She smiles slightly as he twitches in his sleep.
"Sasuke," A soft whisper. She leans forward to kiss his left shoulder blade. "Sasuke, wake up. I'm leaving, you know, and theres something I need to tell you."
He wonders if he should let her know that he is awake. If he should stop her, ask her to stay. She can't, and he knows she can't.
Her clan needs her, not for who she is, but for what she is. She is the woman who must give birth to a pure bred Hyuuga heir, a woman of nobility; and he, he is an orphan.
Honor, pride, responsibility. His clan is long gone, but its traditions have been engraved in him since childhood. He loves her, but he also understands.
"I've never said it before, but I'm sure you must know by now." She shifts her position and by the lack of warmth behind him, he guesses that she is on the other side of the bed, as far away from him as possible.
"I-" a pause "I think I might be in love with you." It's rushed and she's blushing now; he would have noticed, eyes open or not, if he had not forgotten to breathe. Now it's his turn to blush as he is filled with warmth and utter happiness.
And with that, she leaves, and he lets her.
Outside, the sun is still shining.
-owari-
