Disclaimer: Naruto and its characters belong to Masashi Kishimoto.
Warning: Contains Chapter 8 and Chapter 10 Spoilers from Naruto Gaiden. Ending dialogue is taken directly from the manga and is the property of Masashi Kishimoto.
Note: This was written because I needed an explanation to Chapter 10. I know you're wondering how this can be a Hurt/Comfort and Humor piece but read on to find out why I listed it this way.
"So," he begins, "Sarada's gotten brave and started asking questions again."
She raises an eyebrow. "And?"
"She asked me about our first kiss."
That catches Sakura by surprise.
"Well," she pauses clearly interested in what he has to say next, "what did you tell her?"
"That's not important."
She looks back at him in disbelief.
"What? Sure it is."
"No," he insists.
"Are you kidding?" she asks, flabbergasted. Sarada had been curious about this for years, even pressing her on the issue. Obviously since she has asked Sasuke about it, it is very important to her.
"No," he states with finality.
"Sasuke," she bites back in warning. Their house cannot withstand an attack of her perilous temper but he doesn't back down.
"It's not," he states again, but before she can retort he continues. "It's what you told her that's important."
Sasuke is generally not one to be outwardly affectionate. He has never openly kissed her in front of Sarada, even though he is quite the opposite in private. Many more glorious moments have passed since then, so at the time of her inquiry, Sakura wasn't sure what to say. Instead she skirted the issue and said there were more important things than first kisses, following it up with a loving tap on Sarada's forehead and an explanation of what Sasuke alluded the gesture meant to him when his older brother Itachi used it.
"What?" she complains. "I didn't tell her anything."
"Exactly," he points out.
"What does that have to do with anything?" she grumbles.
He dares to lean in just a breaths width from her ear, whispering in that low, velvety voice of his. "Not memorable enough or did you forget?"
"Of course I didn't forget," she shoots back, as she nudges him playfully, a smile on her face with the memory.
"Then why hide it?"
"Really?" she retorts, and then changes her tune. Teasing him is too tempting. He can be a big baby sometimes.
"And what exactly is more memorable than our first kiss?" he asks, curious, while gazing at her forehead, then roaming her body with his eyes.
Apparently Sarada has shared the entirety of their conversation with him and he's in the mood to tease her. Since he's not sharing though, she won't either.
"Oh nothing," she says, brushing him off, confidently knowing it will irritate him. She looks mischievous and quite happy while clearly driving him crazy.
"Nothing?" he says trying to keep the irritation at bay.
"Nope," she says self-satisfied. If he won't elaborate, her lips are sealed. Being childish can work both ways.
"Tell me," he nearly demands.
She looks away on purpose.
"Sakura," he says with a growl. "I'd like to know what you said to her. You know I leave on my mission tomorrow."
"Exactly," she says. "You leave tomorrow so I'd like to know what you said first."
"I won't play your games," he states plainly.
"It's not a game," she says with a warning.
She narrows her eyes and he glares back at her. It's a standoff that no one looks like they will win.
"Fine," he replies and a smile blooms across her face. She's won. She knows it.
"I'll drop it," he remarks. Confusion swims in her eyes before she realizes she hasn't won. No one has. He wears a smug look.
"What?" she retorts, infuriated. "No!"
He smirks, but the frown on her face sobers him and he stops his teasing. He watches her as she takes a deep breath in, closes her eyes, and presses her fingertips to her forehead in that same area he has traditionally given her a poke. It is then that the entirety of what they have together comes flooding back to him.
"Sakura," he says sidling up to her. "I won't see you for awhile. Let's not fight," he suggests, trying to appease her. He removes her fingertips from her whence they were and lightly taps her forehead lovingly. She smiles when he gently kisses her there and draws her in with his arm, nuzzling her closer to him.
She's still irritated but his words sink in and she knows he's right. "Fine, for now," she concedes, words uttered with a bit of bite to them, but when he steps away and tilts her chin up so she can gaze into the depths of his orbs, she softens. Slowly in the privacy of their bedroom, tender touches eventually become needy and breathless, and soon the prior argument gets lost between the sheets.
Morning comes before either of them want. He leans in for a kiss just before he readies himself for his journey. She chuckles lightly with a tease. "You never do that in front of Sarada," she mentions. He shrugs and continues to gather his things.
She leaves their room to wake up Sarada so she can see him off. In the kitchen she works to make him his favorites in a bento lunch.
Memories of the night linger but when young Sarada appears, her sadness looms above them, changing the mood. Sarada doesn't speak much and moves slowly as if to keep him around just a while longer. They walk to the Gate in silence and concern flashes before them as they notice she is working hard to hold back the tears.
"When will you be back next...?" she asks.
The break in her voice, pierces his heart. Nothing can really console her so he reaches out and embraces her in a hug. The physical contact is a reminder of the warmth they have for each other now.
"Dad..." He will never tire of that name and tugs her in closer to assure her.
"Don't make that face..." he requests as he draws away and senses her somber mood.
"See you next time..." he says as he taps Sarada's forehead, gazing deep into her eyes. She suddenly brightens since she has an understanding of its meaning. I love you. I will always be there for you. You are everything I live for. She blushes and barely holds the happy tears at bay. She loves her Dad and now revels in the special gesture.
A smile illuminates her face as she places her hand over her forehead. Joyfully she smiles back at her mother while her father observes. Sakura is touched and now has that hopeful look in her eyes. Clearly it is her turn next. Sarada suddenly blushes in understanding that she may finally be able to observe a special moment between her parents. Sasuke can see it in Sakura's eyes too. In that instant though, he remembers, they really never did resolve their argument.
Sakura continues to nervously shift from side to side before the first public kiss in front of Sarada.
"Right..." she begins, still emotional about what just transpired and what will soon happen. "Here's your lunch," she says, handing over the carefully prepared bento with all of his favorites.
"All right," he acknowledges.
She lovingly looks up to him in anticipation of a kiss. To feel his soft lips just one more time will be enough for now until he comes home again. Her heart flutters and she gazes up to meet his.
With all the strength he can muster, he pauses and holds a blank face. Sarada suddenly becomes confused.
"...?" Her father turns just before her Mom leans in for a kiss.
"See you..." he says to Sakura without a hug, a kiss, or a forehead poke. "I'll be back," he assures. To hide her surprise and to keep the moment precious for Sarada she drops her head and winces inwardly. Of all times to pick up where we left off...
"You're gonna keep me waiting?" she asks. Would he really do this? He continues walking away without turning back and she knows he has the last jab this time. He's probably wearing that infamous smirk and planning to devour her special bento in victory. Sarada enthusiastically encourages her to wave good-bye and only at her request does she produce a lackluster wave. She keeps her head down to hide her irritation but her mind is ticking. She should have known. "Argghhh," says inner Sakura and berates her.
Once he is just out of sight, Sakura raises her head with a mischievous glint in her eye he will not see. All right Sasuke, she warns him inwardly. You may get the last word in this time but next time...
Sakura has to wait a few weeks to a month but it's okay. Payback will be sweet.
*Subscripts were not able to be used for publishing on this site. As a reminder, nearly all latter quotes, from scenes after they walk to the Gate, were directly taken from the Naruto Gaiden manga, Chapter 10, by Masashi Kishimoto. The story around those quotes are my own embellishments.
Author's Note:
With that said, I know this is probably not what the manga was intending, but after waiting YEARS and after all that's transpired, don't you think he could provide a simple kiss? Perhaps it's just me but I felt Sasuke deserved a little payback or at least implied payback for this. Apologies if you think I'm wrong.
Please read and review and tell me what you think!