Chapter Three
Shikamaru's Acceptance
Sakura woke up the next morning silently watching Sasuke put on his clothes. She touched her fingers to her lips still bewildered that he had kissed her not once, but many times the previous night. It was wonderful, yet a small part of her wished he hadn't because his kisses paled in comparison to Naruto's.
She shook it off. At least now she knew that maybe Sasuke wasn't totally immune to her. He kissed her because he was jealous, right? Either that or he was possessive. She wasn't sure whether she liked either of those options.
Maybe he actually loved her.
Sakura shook her head and sighed at the ridiculous thought causing Sasuke to turn and look at her. A bright happy smile appeared on her face before she could stop it. "Good morning."
He grunted in reply causing Sakura's hope to dash to pieces. He opened the bedroom door soon thereafter, and strode out just like he did every single morning. Sakura felt tears sting her eyes as her door opened, then shut signaling to her the place she truly occupied in Sasuke's life. It was a place that she couldn't even admit to herself anymore because she was ashamed.
She could very well end up hating him as much as she loved him.
Later that day Sakura bumped into Shikamaru. "Hello stranger. It's been a while. Where are you off to?"
Shikamaru looked up and the clouds and slid his hands into his pockets. "Just planning on cloud watching a while before the day is gone."
"Want some company?"
Shikamaru looked at her startled. His whole facial expression looked as if he wanted to run and Sakura clamped down on the irritation she felt at the sight. She couldn't help but wonder what exactly Sasuke said in order to keep the men in this town away from her. The poor man looked as if he was scared for his life.
"Whatever Sasuke said to you it doesn't change the fact that you're my friend Shikamaru. Or does it?" She let her eyes well up with tears. Shikamaru took one look into the eyes that shimmered with liquid sorrow, sighed, and muttered a troublesome.
"Come on." He said, and Sakura joined him happily.
They lay out in a field on the grass watching the clouds roll by. They said very little to each other, but Sakura was comfortable with that. That is until thoughts of Sasuke started creeping into her mind. Would she ever escape that man? She had a feeling that the answer was no.
Sakura soon became restless and when she was restless she needed to do something that settled her mind, like talk.
"Shikamaru?"
"Yes, Sakura?" He said, with a long suffering sigh. Sakura bit her lip knowing that he probably was waiting with dread for the conversation that was almost certain to come since she badgered him into letting her tag along.
"Do you think that a child between Sasuke and I is a good idea?"
It was a loaded question that he didn't really want to answer. There were many ways that the conversation could go, but seeing the imploring look on her face he really couldn't hold back his opinion.
"You sure you want to hear what I have to say on the subject?" It was an opportunity to back down but he knew she wouldn't take it. Honestly, if he were in her place he probably wouldn't either.
"Shikamaru you're the smartest guy I know. Of course I want to hear what you have to say."
"What do you think about raising a kid with Sasuke?" He asked turning the tables momentarily. She didn't even hesitate about answering letting him know that this was a subject that was probably on the forefront of her mind most of the time.
"I think it's going to tear me apart. I think no man will want to go near the mother of the Uchiha kid. I think I'll be alone forever." Shikamaru didn't care for the defeat that he heard in her tone. It was troublesome.
Shikamaru looked back up at the clouds. "Sakura, I'd have to say that Sasuke's been a lot easier to deal with since you guys started this whole baby thing. It could be that his focus is just on you and not on revenge, but on the other hand I've never seen you as unhappy as you are now. It makes a lot of people here want to kill Sasuke for even putting you in this position. The fact remains that the kid would no doubt be loved by both parents, but it would suffer because in the end you'll just end up hating Sasuke more than you love him. Your child will see that because you're not good at hiding your emotions. So I'd have to say it's a pretty bad idea and you should get out of it while you haven't yet conceived."
"I gave my word."
"It's not just your life you're dealing with here. It's the life of a child. That should be put before everything else."
"I love him." The words came out softly, as if doubting whether or not her love was wise. It was a subject he wouldn't dare touch although a part of him wanted to.
"And he loves you-" Sakura looked at him sharply, "In his way. That's not enough though." he quickly finished.
Sakura looked up at the clouds once more while she pondered Shikamaru's words. She was certain she saw a cloud shaped as a heart breaking in half, or maybe that was just what she was feeling.
"Come here Sakura." Sakura scooted over closer to Shikamaru. He wrapped his arm around her pulling her close. "Just know that whatever you decide we'll all be here to support you. There's no reason to be afraid of Sasuke. He couldn't hurt you." Shikamaru thought for a second. "Physically that is. If you need any of us," Shikamaru sighed, "even me I'll be there. Okay?" Shikamaru looked down into Sakura's face and saw something on her face that he hadn't seen in a long time. It made his pulse speed up as it was a look that he hadn't seen in a while. She looked happy.
She looked happy in his arms.
He suddenly remembered why he avoided her studiously. A slow smile formed on her lips causing Shikamaru to suddenly break eye contact.
Don't do anything stupid Nara.
"Thank you Shikamaru. I needed to hear that." Sakura picked up his hand and kissed his palm. He closed his eyes as she gently lowered his hand. She stood to leave startled that it was already twilight. She needed to make dinner before Sasuke made his way to her apartment.
"Catch you later!"
Shikamaru didn't dare watch her leave. He knew that he was being watched. He just waited for his visitor to show himself which he wasted no time in doing.
"I thought I made it clear that none of you were to go near her till she had my child."
"Apparently you didn't make it clear to her that she isn't to come near us." Sasuke glared at him but Shikamaru was unimpressed. "You can't keep her separated from everyone Sasuke. She's miserable. She's not your personal property. She's our friend."
"What she is or is not to me is none of your business. It would do you well to remember that."
Shikamaru shrugged and ignored Sasuke as he followed behind Sakura.
He entered her apartment silently, watching as she straightened the kitchen humming softly. There was a bounce in her step that he hadn't seen since before he told her he wasn't going to marry her. Why was that? Could the Nara have made her this happy? What was with her lately?
She turned to see Sasuke watching her. There was a moment of silence where they simply watched each other before Sakura broke out of whatever it was the held her and immediately began removing her clothes and heading to the bedroom not caring where her clothing fell. She had not made it to the bedroom before he picked her up into his arm causing her to frown slightly. It was the first time he had ever held her in his arms like this. She was experiencing a lot of firsts with this man lately. Was something wrong? She immediately reached out and touched his forehead.
"Sasuke are you okay?"
"I will be shortly."
He laid her down on the bed and looked at her exquisite body hungrily. He lightly ran his fingers over her soft lips. Sakura took that finger in her mouth and sucked it gently. He pulled his finger out from between her lips.
"No. Lay there and let me love you." Sakura's eyes widened at the double entendre of his words.
Sasuke trailed his finger down her chin and to her throat. His finger circled the peaks of her breasts and she trembled, aching for him. Shortly after his finger continued its journey down her stomach through the soft patch our curls to check and see if she was ready for him. She was, but he wasn't. His lips softly touched her neck and continued their way down to her collarbone. He knew she was especially sensitive there so he paid more than the usual attention. The low moan in the back of her throat made him smile because his attention was appreciated.
Sasuke lowered himself between Sakura's legs. He had never done this before but the thought of making her squirm was too much to resist. His tongue lightly tasted her. He was pleased to find she tasted as sweet as the rest of her.
"Sasuke!" Sakura cried out raising her hips to give him better access.
"Tell me Sakura," He paused momentarily to continue his assault on her body. Sakura thrashed her head back and forth and the bittersweet torture. "Why were you with Shikamaru today?"
"Sasuke!" She cried out not really hearing him. Sasuke ran his tongue over her pleasure pearl. Sakura's hips rose violently almost throwing him off her. A chuckle escaped Sasuke's lips.
"Sakura" He asked, pulling away briefly. "Why were you with Shikamaru?"
Sakura looked at him dazed and unfulfilled wondering what Shikamaru had to do with anything at that moment. "Shikamaru?"
"Yes, Shikamaru."
Sasuke slipped a finger inside her slowly moving in and out. "Answer the question Sakura."
"We were talking." Sakura gasped out trying to increase the maddeningly slow rhythm he had set but he placed a hand on her stomach preventing her movement with ease.
"About?" To the casual observer he would seem uninterested, but Sasuke was hanging on every word she said.
"Life." She reached for him trying to pull him close, but he positioned himself so that he was just out of her reach. "Sasuke please."
Sasuke smiled and finished the job he had started, loving hearing her scream his name. Afterward he lay with his head on her breasts listening to her heartbeat while she absentmindedly stroked his hair.
"Sasuke?"
"Mm."
"Why all the questions about Shikamaru?"
"I'm curious as to what you want from him."
Sakura looked down at him realizing he truly didn't get it. It was amazing that for once the great Uchiha was confused.
"Sasuke while from Naruto I received someone who could show me passion to a degree that I never received from you, from Shikamaru I get the stimulating conversation. We women like to talk or rather this woman does. I can always talk to Shikamaru about anything and he listens. He offers feedback. He's like a girlfriend only really cute. Not only that, but he accepts me for who I am. If I make good decisions or bad he backs me up. He's dependable."
"You can't talk to me." Sakura didn't know if it was a statement or a question.
"I'm not here to talk to you Sasuke. I'm here to give you an heir." She gently reminded him. He was silent for a while.
"I accept you for who you are."
"Hmm." Sakura replied getting more comfortable in the bed. She had started to drift off to sleep when she heard him imperiously command.
"You will talk to me."
Sakura was too tired to do anything but give his normal reply of "Hn."
