Sakura Haruno was the silent type.
That was his first impression of her after he discovered the quivering shape, hiding behind their mansion's garbage unit in the middle of one of Konoha's rainstorms. He had just come back from training with Itachi, who had needed to stay longer when a Jonin from the Ninja Academy pulled him aside to talk.
Sasuke had been curious and tried hiding in a tree to listen but his brother had caught him immediately and made him go back, not speaking again until the boy's chakra had left out of his sensory range.
Four year old Sasuke had walked with his hands in his pockets, pouting as he kicked at small pebbles while he walked home. Halfway there, it started to pour. The rain pellets came down in sizes of candy and in seconds, Sasuke found himself soaked as he ran the rest of the way back.
Afraid of his parents yelling at him for playing in the rain, Sasuke had decided to take the back entrance. Stabbing his key into the door lock, the Uchiha's heightened senses picked up the sound of…teeth chattering.
He turned around, heading for the source of the sound.
It led him to behind his family's main garbage cans. Looking behind them, he found a small huddled pink mess. A little girl around the same age as him with candy colored locks, wearing tattered soaked clothing and hole riddled shoes. She hugged her knees deathly tight, a desperate attempt to stay warm.
When he drew close enough, the girl looked up.
Black onyx eyes met spring green ones.
Sasuke found himself mesmerized by the little girl. For some reason, he just couldn't take his eyes off her, letting himself getting ever soaked by the heavy downpour.
Eventually, the backdoor to the Uchiha mansion opened and one of the female housekeeper's rushed out.
"Master Uchiha! What are you doing out in the rain!" she shouted while carrying an umbrella, running up to him and intending on grabbing him by the shoulders to make him go inside, but stopped when she too laid eyes on the girl.
The kind housekeeper had taken the girl inside with Sasuke, immediately ushering the two of them into the grandiose, main bathroom the household used.
Because they were still kiddies, the housekeeper decided to take care of both of their wet clothes at once and told them to strip in the same room but Sasuke had refused, his face pluming a shade of red as he watched the silent pink haired girl already gripping her tattered dress by the hem, ready to take it off-
-four year old Sasuke had turned away, shouting indignantly that he "didn't need help changing!" before running into one of the several guest bathrooms on the ground floor, slamming the door in his flushed state.
The housekeeper, a young lady by the name of Aida, had just laughed as she took the now naked girl into her arms, grabbing the sloppy tattered dress and throwing it into the washer, before stepping into a different guest bathroom than Sasuke.
During the entire bath, Aida tried to get the pink haired girl to tell her where her family was, who her parents were and where she lived but the girl had stayed silent to all of them. The housekeeper even tried making conversation, to perhaps get the girl more comfortable around her, but even that had failed.
Eventually, Aida pegged the girl as a mute.
Hmmm, maybe she could get the girl to write down her home's address once she was warm and dry.
Because her clothes were still being washed, the Aida decided to give the girl the smallest t-shirt she had from her own personal wardrobe (she knew Mr and Mrs Uchiha were extremely stingy when it came to lending out clothes), but even the smallest was too big for her. The collar dragged off of the girl's shoulder while the hemline fell to just above her ankles. It might as well have been a dress.
But the pink haired girl didn't seem to mind. She never showed any sign of complaint or displeasure, staying almost frighteningly silent.
Aida, who loved children and loved being around them, knew the girl was probably just too shy, so she grabbed a pencil and writing pad and gently placed the two things into her tiny hands.
"Do you have a name? Could you write it down so I know what to call you?"
And to her surprise, the pink hair child simply parted her small mouth to intone: "Sakura."
The housekeeper was flabbergasted. "You can speak? Could you tell me where your parents are so I can tell them how to find you?"
And once more silence took place.
Aida bit her lip, angry at herself for being too eager, maybe Sasuke –being near age- could get the girl to open up more. The housekeeper took Sakura by her tiny hand and made her way out of the servant's quarters, heading back into the main living area where she planned to call out the youngest Uchiha's name.
Only to find that that very same boy (now dressed in fresh new dry clothes) was already sitting in the waiting room directly outside of the servant's quarters. He had in his hands a small magazine, clearly pretending to read it so that he wouldn't look too eager when they came back out.
When Aida got close enough, she realized the magazine was upside down and couldn't help smiling at the young master's antics to try and hide his crush on the pink haired girl. Getting his help wasn't going to be hard then.
"Sasuke, could you hang out with this girl while I go prepare some food for you guys?" Aida asked loudly, before slipping into the boy's little hand the note she'd secretly prepared, that said simply: Try to get her to tell you where she lives, or who her parents are.
And with that Aida stepped into the adjacent kitchen, leaving Sasuke to sit awkwardly on one end of the white sofa while Sakura sat on the other side.
"So…" he began after a long silent pause. "What's your name?"
"Sakura," the girl stated simply without looking at him, reiterating the same word back to him as she had to Aida.
"Where do you live?" Sasuke decided to be blunt about this, since he genuinely couldn't for the life him think of what else to talk about.
Sakura didn't answer. The same thing happened when Sasuke asked of her parents. Nothing.
Sasuke found himself irked at her ignoring him, not even turning to look at him and he was about to pick a fight with her (after all that's what little boys did at that age) when Itachi stepped into the living room.
Sasuke had never been more relieved to see his older brother.
"Ni-san!" Sasuke called while running up to hug Itachi's right leg. He opened his mouth to explain the older Uchiha about the stubborn pink haired girl but Itachi simply placed his index finger to his lips, shushing his little brother.
Itachi Uchiha had already been informed of their present guest and dilemma by Aida. His interest got piqued when he saw the emotionless look she had in her eyes.
As an ANBU op, he'd seen that gaze many times before, and never in people with pasts they wanted to talk about.
Which is why Itachi didn't bother with any talking. Instead, he leaned down and whispered into his little brother's ear, giving him specific instructions for Aida before the younger Uchiha ran into the kitchen to deliver them.
Itachi then waited.
Soon, the entirety of the East Wing in the Uchiha mansion was filled with the delicious aromas of Aida's expert cooking. The smells ranged from fried foods, to stir fried foods to cold-served foods. Soups, appetizers, main dishes and dessert. Itachi had told Aida to prepare it all, and to use her best ingredients, that he would pay for the expenses afterwards.
Once the food was done, Itachi sat down at the now completely filled table, looking like a buffet. Sasuke asked him what about Sakura but the older Uchiha had simply stated that all they had to do was sit down and wait.
And sure enough, just as Itachi had predicted, the sounds of light footsteps could be heard entering the servant's kitchen/dining area and the little pink haired girl was tugging lightly at Aida's servant skirt.
"Can I have some?"
Four year old Sasuke chewed his bread furiously as he watched Itachi conversing with the pink haired girl.
Oh sure, she was going to talk to him.
His older brother managed to get the girl to divulge that her parents were already dead and that she had run away from the orphanage after they started hitting her.
Together, they sat now in the main living room with Itachi sitting opposite of her on the ottoman, so he could maintain eye contact with her as she told her story.
The entire time she spoke, Itachi said nothing, his elbows resting on his knees and fingers laced together in front of his mouth as he listened.
Sasuke and Aida kept just their heads poked out from around the kitchen entrance as they spied on the one sided conversation.
She'd come from one of the small outlying villages that lied in between the Five Great Villages. Her home had been taken during the war, ransacked and then eventually burned down. She had nothing except the clothes on her person.
The girl didn't know it but Itachi had been casting a genjutsu on her during the entire time she was talking. It was light and non-detrimental, just enough to will her to tell the truth, in case any part of her decided to lie.
Sasuke felt the genjutsu easily, even at his young age. When Sakura's words didn't change during the mind control, both Uchiha's knew she was telling the truth.
That was when Itachi sat back, his hands unfolding in front of him while he stood up.
The stoic man gave simple instructions to Aida to take care of the girl until his parents got back.
Itachi had predicted his parent's refusal to take in the non-Uchiha blooded girl. They were well known, especially his father, in the community for his obstinate elitist views about his bloodline.
Which is why Sakura got taken in as a servant, the only way her "low blood" could earn her living here. Itachi had seen that Sasuke wanted to protest but the older boy had adeptly locked the boy into a small genjutsu, without their parent's noticing, stopping his words.
The reason Itachi did this was because, he knew Sakura would never be able to stay here if his father knew about his son's caring for the little girl. She would be seen as a distracting and would be effectively disposed of.
Which is why when she'd been deemed a servant, he hadn't argued and later instructed Sasuke, to do the same –to not show his compassion for the girl, ever, in front of his parents.
Sakura's life in the Uchiha compound began from that point on. It was mundane and uneventful considering she was never taught any jutsus and not even sent to the ninja academy. All she could do was watch as Sasuke and Itachi practiced and trained.
Or so Sasuke thought, because the never talked him more than "Good morning/afternoon/evening, Master Uchiha" or "Yes, Master Uchiha, I'll take care of it" (in regards to whatever small errand he asked her to run). And he did ask her to do things, always small menial things that he knew would be of no trouble to her when accomplishing.
Anything to get her to talk to him.
Because she was quiet any other time. He'd tried conversing with her on many occasions but each time Sakura had stated she was either tired from her work or that she had more work to get done.
And it wasn't like Sasuke could tell on her to his parents because, being older now, he knew fully well the consequences his father could rain down upon Sakura should he discover that his youngest son was showing interest in her.
And Sasuke didn't want to cause her trouble.
But….he just couldn't stay away. Her large spring green eyes were incredibly deep and lurid, almost frighteningly so whenever he made contact with them. They both intimidated and drew him in closer, threatening his sanity unless he saw them. Then there were her lips, small soft cherry ones that were just perfectly plump and flawless whenever he saw them. Then there was her body; he'd only ever seen just the outline of it through her servant issued white yukata, but he could still see that she was skinny framed. Too skinny framed. It was obvious she had hardly any breasts…but he honestly liked that best about her.
Or maybe he just liked whatever was on her to begin with.
Because after he hit puberty and he started taking interest in the opposite gender (who had always thrown themselves at him anyways), Sasuke realized that he wanted her.
It started out superficial and carnal to begin with. He craved her sweaty and gasping beneath him, legs wrapped tightly around his waist while he gasped, bringing her to the edge of euphoria….
He tried wooing her on many occasions but Sakura always turned him down, not even sparing him an excuse just that she had work to do and that she was "unworthy of his affections." Sasuke of course grew infuriated at her continued cold shoulder.
He worked out his frustrations through the women that threw themselves at him endlessly. Blondes. Brunettes. Redheads. Everyone. They all seemed unable to resist his beautiful features and renowned prowess in the ninja academy, second only to his brother's old records.
He fucked them.
It was always about sex and nothing else. And he always imagined Sakura's face on them as he penetrated deep into their bodies. When they screamed his name, he heard Sakura's delicate voice screaming instead. When they hugged him, he imagined those were her small porcelain hands around his naked torso.
When they professed their love for him, he imagined it was Sakura saying it to him.
But it was never enough. Never enough to rid himself of the annoying images of the pinkette when he slept, when he trained, when he ate. Everything about her consumed him to possess her.
Finally, on the eve of his eighteenth birthday, Sasuke couldn't stand her apathy anymore.
After the birthday dinner his parent's had thrown for him, with Itachi being absent due to a top secret ANBU mission, Sasuke had quickly excused himself, saying he wanted to train some more.
But really he travelled with shinobi stealth, hiding in the shadows of the night until he found Sakura, who was busy (as always) -this time scrubbing the kitchen's floor inside the West corridor.
Sakura had tried to scream when a foreign hand came up from behind her to clamp down over her lips, sticking a sticky parchment paper over her mouth that completely silenced her. She managed to catch a glimpse of her abductor a second before he placed the black blindfold over her head: Sasuke.
And with that Sasuke took off with her into the night, out of the Uchiha mansion, his hands underneath her small frame as he travelled through the air.
Sasuke had already planned this out beforehand: he set her down on the mountaintop right above the Hokage carvings that overlooked the entirety of Konoha. People were prohibited from staying up here so Sasuke knew this place would be secluded, especially at this time of night.
He took off Sakura's gag and blindfold.
She looked up at him fearfully from her position lying on the ground, scrambling to get up onto her feet. Her wooden sandals scraping against the stone summit as her green eyes trembled in overt panic towards him.
"Sasuke-sama," she uttered while cradling her hands demurely in front of her heart.
Sasuke pursed his lips. He knew this night was his only chance.
"Why don't you like me?"
Sakura blinked confusedly. Her green eyes looking all the more alluring as she met his eyes. "I…don't know what you're talking about."
Sasuke inhaled, keeping himself calm. "Why do you always avoid me? When I try to talk to you, you never reciprocate. When I ask you…"
The man hesitated, first time in his life feeling this kind of anxiety. This kind of…unsureness.
He exhaled heavily, sighing into the night while dropping his gaze to the ground.
"Sakura, I…" Sasuke bit his lip. Dammit. A sudden rage flitted into his stomach, tightening across his heart. In a second, he had pulled her face to his, kissing her passionately. Endearingly.
Sakura didn't fight, didn't resist, too shocked and bewildered in the act. Her green eyes widened to their max.
Eventually, the Uchiha separated but kept her close with his palms on the back of her neck. Sakura was blushing profusely in his hold, trembling lightly too. She met his eyes for one second, only to look away from embarrassment.
Sasuke found her so annoying. Here he was, throwing away all his pride and dignity and she was still silent towards him!
He suddenly grabbed her by her face and forced her back looking at him. His expression brave and indignant until he saw those eyes again.
Damn. Those eyes.
"Sakura, I…"
Sasuke hated this. All of this.
Why was it so hard to say?
He obviously liked her. So why couldn't he say it? And yet, the word like felt so…unfitting. Almost insulting towards the feeling that pulsed through his veins right now towards the infuriating girl that stood in front of him presently.
Gah. He…knew the word already. Love.
But he felt so stupid. He had never even spent a day with her outside of her job, never even had really a fully functioning conversation with her. He barely knew her…right?
But Sasuke knew this wasn't true: growing up he had always found himself inexplicably watching the girl, as much as it shamed himself to admit this.
He'd seen her resourcefulness in getting any task assigned to her done; watched her silent eyes take in surroundings around, knowing when his father was not in a good mood and therefore to avoid him that day; seen the way her adolescent eyes would stay strong and adamant when she was being scolded or punished (as much as it pained him to see this), and then crying when she thought no one could see her anymore.
He had wanted to protect her each time his parent's found small faults in the tasks she finished; they were never really bad defects but always an excuse so that they could yell at her. Because they hated the fact that she had no Uchiha blood, at all running through her veins. She was the only servant that had no relation whatsoever to their clan.
His parent's being residents of Konoha could not outright abuse her but that didn't mean Sakura hadn't suffered growing up. Disparaging words, accidental trips, and a multitude of other subtle bullying had occurred on her, infuriating Sasuke but Itachi had stopped him each time from confronting his parents about it. Stating that Sakura's suffering would only get worse if they knew he cared about her.
Maybe that's why she was so aloof to him.
She thought he didn't care.
That he was the same as all the other Uchiha: racist and prejudicial.
And that was when it occurred to him: him kidnapping her tonight had probably looked like he had wanted to assault her! God. That's why she was still trembling right now in his hold.
"Sakura…I…I'm sorry," he stated before licking his lips, trying to calm himself. "I had no right to do that."
He let go of her. Sakura took two hesitant step back from him, but kept her innocent gaze still trained on him.
Sasuke swallowed the rock that had suddenly formed within his throat. Without looking at her, he intoned: "I like you. I always have. You remember that day we met? When it was raining? You looked at me with those green eyes of yours and I swear, ever since then, I have never been able to get you out of my mind."
If silence could kill Sasuke would have been so happy then, because after his confession a painful nothing occurred between them. She hadn't gasped or shown any sign that she was surprised, which signaled to him that she had known all along about his feelings.
God. She really was infuriating, and yet there was nothing he could do to stop his heart from leaping to her.
His hand had formed into a tight fist at his sides, as he waited in the night's air, looking down upon the lights of Konoha. His simple black t-shirt and loose pants flickered in the wind as it blew from the west.
After a while, Sasuke dared a sideways glance towards Sakura.
She was already looking at him.
"Sasuke-sama…" Sakura bit her lip adorably. "I…"
It was her turn to hesitate now, gaze wandering to the ground. "Your parents would disapprove."
Sasuke was ready for this. "I don't care."
He suddenly jerked her into his hold, causing her to gasp this time while his hands wrapped around her waist. "I know you've suffered a lot, Sakura and for that I am truly sorry."
His eyes cast downwards, guilt ridden. "I wanted to protect you. Really, but my parents would only have been more motivated to hurt you if they knew I cared."
Sakura's wide green eyes stared into his onyx black ones, trembling in fear once again. "Then isn't this dangerous? Maybe…"
She tried explaining but Sasuke knew what she was doing already: she was rejecting him. In an instant, he had withdrawn from her. He had tried to let go of her gently but it still came out half rough. "Stop with the excuses, Sakura. If you don't like me just say it."
Sakura inhaled sharply, suddenly on the spot and not used to this sort of attention. Her hands twiddled with the string tie over her obi nervously as she stared at the man's backside, since he was refusing to look at her right now.
It felt like eternity until Sasuke heard her soft timid voice again. "Sasuke…"
It felt so good to have her drop the honorific from his name.
Small trembling hands took his own into their grip. Sasuke for the first time realized how calloused her hands were. It made his heart twitch in anger.
Encouraged by her grip, Sasuke turned back around facing her. His expression was still fixed in slight agitation but it had softened significantly since just a few seconds ago.
Sakura's voice was small and weak as she spoke, just barely loud enough for him to hear over the night's wind. "I…care about you too."
And just like that he was hugging her again, all the stress and weight he'd accumulated inside him these past years finally dissipating. His hands held her tightly, refusing to let go in case this was all a dream. For he'd had dreams like this before. After a moment, Sakura shyly returned the embrace.
This was the best birthday present he'd ever gotten.
The days seemed to blend together after that night. Sasuke stole secret smiles from Sakura whenever their paths crossed in the hallway, whenever he walked in on her cleaning or watering plants, even secretly helping her with nightly chores after his parents fell asleep and morning ones before his parents awoke.
Whenever Sakura got harassed, Sasuke would bide in his anger and wait until they were next alone before consoling her. Not that she really ever needed that much consoling nowadays. Being older, and stronger, Sakura had gotten so used to the insults that they barely even phased her anymore. Another thing, Sasuke admired in her.
Tonight, he was helping her with the pickling of vegetables. They had to be salted and then sealed in airtight, sterilized containers before being buried underground.
Sasuke was boiling the containers, to disinfect them, while Sakura chopped the veggies: daikon, cabbage and carrots. It was during the silent atmosphere that Sasuke suddenly intoned: "I'm going to take you away from this place soon, Sakura."
The pinkette looked up from her squatting position on the ground, two translucent gloves over her hands that were completely covered in gritty salt as she'd just finished mixing a fifth batch of veggies.
The Uchiha took his eyes off the fire for one second: "I mean it, Sakura. You won't have to do any of this anymore."
Sakura smiled sincerely at him. "Don't make promises you can't necessarily keep."
Sasuke turned to look at her fully now. "You think I'm lying to you?"
Sakura shook her head and smiled again. "I'm sure you're speaking from your heart…but life has a way of forcing paths down on people."
Sasuke pursed his lips. Why was she so pessimistic?
But he didn't say anything else as he turned back to facing the boiling pot. A few moments later he intoned: "The only person that controls my life is me."
Their relationship continued for two more years before they slept together for the first time.
It was Sakura's first time and Sasuke did his best to be gentle.
Truth be told, he hadn't wanted to do this. Not because he wasn't wildly attracted to her, for he was, but because he hadn't wanted to sully her. He saw her as being immaculate and perfect, unmarred, even inside her tough life. He enjoyed their relationship as it was: him baring her soul to her and vice versa. That was all he needed.
Which is why he hadn't been expecting to see her standing inside his bedroom one chilly autumn night right when he stepped in. His parents were away right now and wouldn't be back for another two days. With Itachi gone, Sasuke had been left in charge of the house.
As soon as she saw him, Sakura ran up kissing him, drawing him into a tight fervid kiss. Usually he was the one to make these kisses but tonight was different. Sakura wanted to be different tonight.
They were together long enough by now that she no longer felt shy while touching him, though this was the first time she'd ever been this forward.
Sasuke was far from complaining and eagerly returned the kiss, his tongue sweeping into her mouth like she'd done to him. It was when Sakura started guiding him to his bed that he broke things off.
"Wait," he said, despite the growing coil of desire within him. He kept Sakura at bay with his palms around her shoulders while he looked into her eyes. "Maybe we should stop."
Sakura frowned, and moved to wrap her arms around his neck. She stood on her tip toes so she could speak right against his lips: "I don't want to."
Her voice was thick and laced with desire. She undid the tie that kept her obi in place, letting the obi loosen slightly. She separated from Sasuke so she could have room to let her yukata fall down from her shoulders and then pool at her elbows, revealing her chest.
She wasn't wearing a bra.
Sasuke couldn't believe himself: he was blushing! He'd seen how many naked women before?
Sakura laughed at his flushed state, moving in again, this time to press her mouth against his neckline, sucking at it fervently. Sasuke felt his desire increase tenfold now, his mouth parting to utter a quiet moan.
Sakura pulled him now, back in the direction of the western style bed that lied in the back of his room. When they got to just the near edge, Sakura felt Sasuke stopping her once more: "Are you sure about this? Do you really…want this?"
Sakura nodded quickly before pushing him sitting down over the edge.
"I want you, Sasuke," she stated with a sincere smile. "I love you."
And with that she let the rest of her kimono fall onto the ground, pooling around her feet.
She was beautiful.
There were no more protests after that. Sasuke took her gently, letting her adjust to him before starting, careful not to hurt her first time more than what was inevitable. Soon, the sounds of their passion rose into the night as fire erupted across their skin.
