Black hair crashed against rosy pink and their lips found each other. His breath hitched and a smile formed on her face as she looked into his eyes. Hope sat in those onyx eyes, not hate. And nothing in her screamed so loudly as the pride that came from knowing she had a hand in it. His own heart beat louder, thumping in his throat. Would it be like this every time they kissed?
The memory ended as Sasuke heard his new wife call out his name again in exasperation. "Sasuke-kun," she pouted, her bottom lip hanging out.
"Sorry," he replied as his wife led him through the hotel room they were staying in.
"Are we going to the festival tonight?" she called, glancing back at him bright-eyed.
"Aa." Itachi had told Sasuke that the pinkette would probably like the fireworks festival this small town put on in late July and Sasuke jumped at the opportunity to make his wife smile on their honeymoon. A frown snaked its way onto his face. Itachi knew all too well what Sakura would like, though Sasuke for the life of him struggled to even guess well some days.
"What is it?" she asked, her bright eyes looking confusedly up at him. Tentatively, she stepped closer until he felt her pressing up against him.
Sasuke scratched his head and looked away, feeling suddenly nervous. He couldn't let on that he was jealous of his brother, especially not on his honeymoon. He had to focus on what was obvious- Sakura chose him. She loved him. She-
Was kissing him. He kissed her back, pushing all feelings of jealousy aside. "When did you realize you liked me?" she asked him for the umpteenth time.
Emotions roiled up in him as he replied, "When I left the village."
"Then why did you leave?" Sakura's eyes dimmed in brightness and her familiar pout took up residence on her face again.
He was silent. There was no doubting now that his teammates had grown inside Konoha's borders, that they had become strong, and that they hadn't had to sell their souls to do so. But it all seemed too impossible when he was young. He supposed the situation was manipulated to seem that way, but there was no changing the past.
"Sorry," the pinkette's shoulders sank. "I know you-"
Sasuke grabbed her sad shoulders and kissed the top of her head. One day, he would put all of those impossible feelings into words. Only for her. Always only for her.
The lanterns hung at every booth corner lit up the rocky road in reds and oranges. Drums beat in the distance to music only those closer would recognize. Cicadas chirped in competition with each other, each note louder than the one prior. Children scampered around in traditional dress and their parents smiled at the prospect of having some time to just talk. All sorts of smells bombarded the festival goer into forking out money to buy the enticing treats.
Sasuke wasn't overly interested in the sights, though- he had his set on his wife. She had grinned up at him with pleading eyes and he acquiesced, as usual. Her right arm tightly held the hammer she was to hit the ground with in hopes of ringing the bell. He knew her trick.
She had three tries, and the booth owner underestimated her. They always did, just like he had in battle once. Never again, he cringed and shook himself inwardly. Sakura's small arms flung the hammer down once, as light as a feather. A child could've hit harder. The second time, she swung with rising power, but not intensely so. A genin's strength. The third time, however, she threw half of her might into it without chakra's support and the ball leapt up to the bell, ringing it loudly for the booth owner to hear.
Sasuke could tell the man's ears burned red from being tricked, but obligation bade him to hand the pink haired woman an overstuffed bear.
Said woman had a skip in her step as she clung to the bear with one arm and her husband with another.
Happy hours passed by as the couple made their way around the town, visiting nearly every booth. Sasuke had only intimidated one shopkeeper with Sharingan so far, much to Sakura's delight. And Sasuke's face crept into a smirk to see her flash her wedding ring proudly in response to the stranger's advances. A slight blush burned the back of his neck every time he saw the medic with his mother's wedding ring. It burned even more furiously when she squeezed his arm particularly tightly in response to something he "just had to see."
He then felt that familiar squeeze on his arm and turned to see whatever his wife was pointing at. The crowd had emptied the square, leaving them and a few booth tenders busily closing up shop as the only ones occupying the area.
"I think the fireworks are starting." Sakura grinned like a child as she pulled him in the direction of the noise only to hear the evidence of her claim.
Simultaneously, their heads turned upwards to see the bright flashes in the sky. Sasuke grabbed her hand and was about to lead her towards the site when someone tapped on his shoulder.
"You can see the display even better from the rooftops," an old woman smiled. "The villagers don't mind much- trust me."
Sakura thanked the woman and Sasuke took the opportunity to surprise his wife when he scooped her into his arms and leapt onto a nearby house. The red-faced Sakura nearly protested when her attention was caught up again in the firework display going on in the nighttime sky. Vibrant reds, royal purples, and verdant greens splayed into circles and occasionally flower shapes as booms ands hisses cried into the air.
A great flurry of activity played out for several minutes in what Sasuke guessed was the finale. The end of the festival was the display, and that also marked then end of the couple's time away from the village. He nearly sighed until he realized Sakura had curled into him, placing her hand on his chest. He pulled her closer. A real smile softened his features and he closed his eyes, hoping the moment would last just a little longer for the both of them.
That is, until an angry voice screamed up at them. "Get off my roof! What do you think you're doing?"
"I guess the old lady lied," Sakura frowned, instantly sitting up and glowering. Her cherry blossom decked kimono wrinkled as she took to her feet with Sasuke's help.
"Hn." In one swift motion, he wrapped his arm around his wife and teleported them into their hotel room.
Sakura frowned a rare frown, her forehead crinkling. The yin seal seemed to call to Sasuke, so he leaned in to kiss it. A small giggle escaped his wife's lips.
"What?" he asked, genuinely curious.
"Thank you for this week." Her eyes glimmered tiredly, and it seemed as if the fireworks were still playing over and over in her head.
"Thank you for being my wife," Sasuke shrugged, changing from his festival attire into his nightclothes.
Sakura followed suit and continued, "No, really, Sasuke-kun, it's been all too fun. How'd you come up with all of this?"
His frown returned, but he wouldn't face his wife and rain on her parade. Without a word, he climbed into bed.
She turned around to see him pull the cord on his lamp, effectively telling her good night. Sakura sighed. "I love you," she whispered. Most everything was wonderful with Sasuke. Some things, however, she couldn't figure out. He had always been moody, but she chalked that up to the horrible atrocities that had occurred in his childhood. No one ever should have gone through that.
At times she still couldn't believe how Itachi and Sasuke had made up after all that happened, but nothing could really surprise her anymore. One of her best friends was in line to become Hokage. She was married to her first love. Sometimes, questioning what felt like a dream just seemed like pinching yourself. If this was a dream, she never wanted to wake up.
In the weeks leading up to her wedding, she had sought out her soon to be brother-in-law's company. Sasuke had been on so many missions in those days that she was worried he was going to miss their own wedding day, but his older brother soothed all of her nerves on that subject. Always the optimist, the former missing-nin had ruffled her hair like Kakashi had when she was a genin.
Sighing, she realized a lot of her old fears had come back when Sasuke was busy with those missions. Worries that he had left her always hung in the back of her head.
She had no idea, however, that her husband's head swam with paralyzing thoughts of inadequacy and jealousy due to her visits with his beloved older brother.
No, the couple had a lot of work to do.