Disclaimer: Everything goes to Kishimoto-sensei who created such amazing characters.
Warnings: Suggested adult themes, very implicit though. (We're talking about marriage here...it's kind of inevitable) Just wanna be safe (-_-)
Summary: Post-canon. Sasuke was ever cold and distant, occupied with endless missions. Was she asking too much from him? As his wife, Sakura didn't think so. What would it take to make the man understand that he wasn't ALONE anymore, that he had a family to return to and to share love with? (Set after #710)
Not Anymore
by Teru
1: Reunion
It was one of the long journeys which somehow managed to drain all of his physical and even mental strength. There was a dull throbbing pain just behind his eyes, reminding him how low his chkra storage had become during his last encounter with a couple of guerrilla ninja forces at the border of Land of Wind.
As he whirled through the dark forest, the scenery surrounding him a blur, Uchiha Sasuke languidly noted the slightly sluggish way his body moved atop the large branches. Of course, if any one had seen him, they'd marveled at the gracefulness, speed, and stealth of the ninja's movement. But Uchiha Sasuke knew that weariness had soaked through his body. After all, he was ever a keen and perceptive observer of his own mind and the world around him, except when he was too absorbed in negative emotions which would eventually end up clouding his judgement.
Well, he certainly had learned a lot from his past experiences.
When he finally reached the front gate of Konoha village, it was about sunset. Sasuke slowed down. In truth, He preferred a leisure pace. The familiar sight of his home town sent a strange feeling down his gut. No matter how many times he returned from his mission, he couldn't quite get rid of this queer little feeling. He guessed that it was a good feeling after all.
Sasuke smirked.
.:.
"I'm home."
Uchiha Sakura (née Haruno) repressed the impulse to run to the front door when she heard a familiar and much-and-ever-longed for deep tenor voice coming from said direction.
"Welcome back, papa!" Before Sakura could decide how to react, another voice replied in an exited manner. The voice belonged to her daughter Sarada. Sakura smiled slightly as Sarada ran pass her into the entrance hall, and she quickly followed.
A tall man dressed in black overcoat was standing before the front door, his eyes immediately on hers as she entered the hallway. Sakura couldn't help but feel a strong flow of warmth rising up from her stomach; it soon reached her throat and she found out that she couldn't say anything. It was as if she was suffocating due to the pure intensity of her feels.
Sasuke's dark eyes were on her for a long moment before she could voice a small 'Welcome home'. Like a whimper. Her husband and daughter both regarded her. Sarada's face was nothing but full of gladness. She knew that her mother was always pleased and eager to see her father.
Sasuke, on the other hand, had that signature distant look on his face. But, as soon as he heard her words, his features softened and his firm lips turned upwards for a ghostly smile.
"I was expecting you'd be more tanned," Sakura said, sheepishly cracking a joke since Sasuke was always pale in complexion. She knew that he had been on a mission in the desert of Land of Wind.
"Huh," Sasuke stifled a snicker as he walked pass her, their shoulders brushing with each other. Sakura turned and watched him walked up the stairs.
.:.
"We didn't know you were coming back," Sakura said as she set down the plates. "The rice probably isn't enough for the three of us—"
"It's alright," Sasuke said.
They were in the living room. Sasuke sat next to Sarada; the 12-year-old was blushing with the exuberance of having her father back (for god-knows-how-long, but the girl had gotten used to that). Sakura watched the two most-beloved persons of her life sitting together and exchanging small talks. The scene gave her so many contentment and happiness that she just might start crying ("Oh well Sakura, you shouldn't be such a softie!" The inner Sakura held up her fist but she was filled with joy as well).
"How was Land of Wind like, papa?"
"...Always hot and dry. A lot of scums roaming about."
"Was your mission difficult? Did you fight with many bad people?"
"...Yeah."
"But your mission went successful, right?"
"Yes."
"How many scoundrels have you defeated?"
"I lost count. Too many."
"Were they all fugitives?"
"...Well.."
Sakura sighed. "Sarada, dad is tired from his journey. Maybe you shouldn't bother him with so many questions..."
"It's alright, Sakura," Sasuke interrupted her, his tone gentle. He turned towards Sarada. "They were mostly fugitive, yes."
"Why did they leave their village?" Sarada asked curiously. "Isn't it dangerous without their village's shelter and protection? Not to mention that they are wanted and chased after all the time."
Sasuke stared, seeming lost in his thought. "Hn..."
"Well, Sarada, dear, I really think your dad needs a break now," Sakura said with a slight warning tone. And this time Sasuke didn't stop her.
"I'm going to take a bath," he said, standing up disappearing into the dark hallway.
Sakura watched her husband leave. Sasuke didn't say anything, but she could tell that he was extremely tired.
There was a moment of silence, and then, "Did I upset papa?" Sarada asked.
Sakura was surprised by her daughter's utterance. Sasuke did hesitate to give an answer, but he didn't show any signs of gloom. The question probably struck a sensitive nerve, but she didn't think that Sasuke would be perturbed.
"It's alright, honey," she said softly.
.:.
Uchiha Sasuke thought about his youth.
Honestly, they weren't the best memories. The old times often reminded him of how shallow his sight had been, and they forced him into thinking and regretting about the sins he had committed.
"Sasuke? Are you alright? Did you fall asleep in there?"
A voice woke him up from his trance. A voice sounded not faraway but was somehow faint, as if it came from a dream instead of reality.
He suddenly noticed how tense his body had become; his fist was clenching too tight, his knuckles all white with exertion. He looked around him and found out that he was actually in a bathroom, the bathroom of the master-bedroom in his own house to be exact. He was shivering from cold since his hair and body were dripping water.
He was supposed to be taking a bath, not dozing off with unpleasant memories stuck in his head.
"Sasuke?" Sakura was calling again.
"I'm fine," he muttered. "Be out in a minute."
.:.
Sakura was wearing a silkish tank top and a pair of dark panties for her sleepwear. The tank top was specially selected. She had been rummaging through her wardrobe during Sasuke's bath. Well, she knew that her husband was worn out, but it wouldn't hurt to have some hopes, right?
She watched as Sasuke got out of the bathroom, finally, and walked towards their shared bed in silence. Her husband sat down on his side of bed and slowly lay down, facing away from her.
Sakura couldn't help but feel a little bit disappointed. Sighing, she turned off the light and lay down as well. She looked into the darkness in the direction of Sasuke's back. Sakura failed to suppress the urge to reach out, to make sure that he was even there at all. When her fingertips brushed his shoulder, she could feel him shudder under her touch. His skin was hot from the bath he just took.
"What," he uttered; it wasn't exactly a question.
"...Nothing," she mumbled. "I can't see you in the dark. Just want to make sure that you're here."
"Wait before your eyes adjust to the darkness and then you can see," was his reply.
Sakura smiled bitterly. Here she was, hoping to get some attention from her own husband, but all she could get was his blunt, humorless answer. But she guessed that she couldn't blame Sasuke; the man had always been like that.
Was she asking too much? As a wife, she didn't think that she was asking too much from him.
However, when she felt Sasuke turning away to avoid her touch, she closed her eyes. She still noticed the heat radiating from his body. He was so near, yet so distant. So cold, but burning at the same time.
How long will you stay?
Neither she nor Sarada had the courage to ask.
(tbc)
A/N: I attempted to write this with a humorous approach, but still it ended up like this. My curse of making everything I touch become angsty that is... (sigh) This chapter is rather short but it seemed like a good place to end it.
I was curious about their marriage. It certainly isn't the happiest one, I suppose, lol. Sasuke lives like he's still single! Haha, well that's why I decided to write this story in the first place.
Reviews are LOVED and flames are not welcomed! I'm sorry but I'm kind of sensitive (*_*).
-Teru
.:.
It's a little bit weird to have Sakura call Sasuke by his name. But I think it's a bit silly if she still calls him 'Sasuke-kun'. I considered having her call him 'Anata' (it's like a respectful term to call your husband, I heard Hinata calling Naruto that), but I wanted to be sure (if Sakura really calls Sasuke that in canon-verse) and I just didn't like disturbing the mood with random Japanese word. In the end I settled for her calling his name. I hope that it'd be natural.
