Haruno Sakura knows that her life is comparable to twenty-eight seasons of dry winter spells.
The soft flakes drifts like frozen tears trickling on the low soft cheeks of the wispy morning horizon. Her irises--like jaded mirrors--reflect their slow descent towards the dirt-strewn road. She sits alone under an empty bus shed, grasping the last of her hardly earned savings in her hands.
The amount of money was just enough for her one last journey to the Capital with a ten-hour return trip to this isolated community; a sanctuary where she could hide from the specters of guilt that haunted her for four years. It was foolish, to spend it all today, just for this selfish, pointless visit.
But it's their--her, his--anniversary.
Absentmindedly, she clutches the white gold band hanging in a simple chain on her neck.
"Sasuke."
The opulent ring is cold and piercing, despite her warm touch.
"Please..."
Then numb, callused, worn fingers enter in the pocket of her borrowed coat, feeling the soft edges of her old, black phone.
"Give me closure."
With a tired sigh, she thinks of nothing, as the pair of green eyes close.
Year Three
---letting loose---
JANUARY
--we cannot wait any longer! hurry up!—
(for crazy-silly-me)
"Entry!"
On every second day of the bitterly cold January, the Imperial Army of Nippon-koku was always required to execute the ceremonious entry of colors by early morning. The evening of January first, therefore, was the last minute inspection by the Overlord accompanied with the high-ranking military officials.
It was absolutely freezing outside the grounds and every individual of the battalion withstood the harsh wind that blew over the open grounds. Long columns of soldiers, thousands of them, in strict fatigues and stiff hats, were raising heavy rifles in the air yet they flawlessly twirled it like light batons with their expertise. There was an Uchiha insignia on their right armbands, its emblem in the center of the dark fabric; a certain symbol that changes in every reign. (Last time. it was a red and white swirl symbol stitched upon their battle uniforms.) Flags fluttered as they were carried by uniformed men of the armed forces, one with a white overcast with the red setting sun in its center, while the other one had the exact replica of the white palace, with crimson-white fan sewn behind the image. Behind these symbolic representations were also the banners of other colonies, the seven continents, under the rule of Nippon-koku.
The Lord and Lady Uchiha were standing on the large, well-furnished podium, along with their subordinate Chief General Hatake Kakashi on the edge of the platform to have the bird's eye view over the men, looking more grim than his usual cheerful countenance.
While Sasuke was wearing one of his simple formal coal-colored neck and tie uniform, Sakura wore her short polyester, double-breasted trench jacket, held in place with polished brass buttons. Though the hem of her black billowing skirt was slightly below her knees, the cold was enough for wearing woolen sling backs and three-inch, high-heeled leather boots.
It was impressive that her country could produce such astounding number of soldiers. A proof that Nippon-koku was truly worthy in earning its status as an Empire.
"Fo-rwa-rd..."
The sound of cadence reverberated through the whole expanse of the huge quadrangle.
"March!"
Then the blonde's voice was heard, dictating the rhythm of their footsteps.
"Left! Left! Left! Right! Left!"
Hatake Kakashi, the man who was one of Uchiha Sasuke's trusted mentors turned sharply, three fingers raised with the apex of his right hand in line with the brim of his low beret.
He only gave a silent salute as its response.
Lt. Gen Yamato commanded at last when he saw that the Lord finally approved of the battalion drills.
"Halt!"
As the last of the thick-coated, men in fatigues lowered their rifles; Gen. Hatake lowered his reserved tone and spoke congenially.
"Lord Uchiha."
The addressed noble was aloof as he glanced at Kakashi.
"We would like you to see the necessary addition for the executive program tomorrow."
A stoic eyebrow rose a few millimeters.
"Something to start your year right, Milord."
Sasuke glowered expectedly.
And Kakashi interpreted this as a 'you'd-better-be-not-wasting-my-time' glare.
(Was that a manly giggle? Sakura caught a small muffled noise from the fully decorated officer.)
The Overlord, not knowing the chaos that would ensue, gave a stately nod.
(Then the pandemonium started.)
"Sir! Permission to speak, sir!""
The commanding officer, Lt. Gen Yamato, who was stopping the urge to roll his wide owl-like eyes on the sky, turned to the battalion of men who were following the words of a recognizable blonde soldier
"Speak!"
The newly promoted Lieutenant Uzumaki , along with thousands of platoons, hollered from their positions as they raised their right hand in a pointed forty-five degree salute.
"Sir! Permission to perform the special routine for the Lord Uchiha, sir!"
("--for the Lord Uchiha-Bastard, sir!" The distinctive suffix was clearly resounded in the premises.)
The cheeky, revengeful grin from that blonde platoon leader underneath the shadows streaking on the grounds was not a good premonition.
"Proceed!"
Suddenly, the huge overhead speakers that were in the large crates upon the cemented posts boomed an obnoxious music.
(Goodness gracious.)
The notes, horrifyingly, coincided with the infamous song of Hokey Pokey.
(What kind of insanity is this?)
"Youuuu..."
The chorus of male, uneven bass voices was terrifying in the night, as they sang horrendously.
"put her right leg here,"
Then placed the rifle like a log, er, leg, its position perpendicular on the line of their right shoulder.
"You put her left leg here,"
And they placed the heavy long firearm over their on the left shoulder.
"Put your hands on her rear,"
After the groups of men dropped the long weapon, they placed their open palms in front of them as if they were holding something from behind.
"And thrust it like a spear!"
Then they clench their hands into a hard fist as they made quick hip thrust.
"Now, choose any style, and do it for a while,"
Then with their palms spread open again while --
"Cause the brats should be a pile!"
--they motioned them widely, as if they were indicating that it should be a large mountain with their hands.
"AAND!"
And there was a burst of trumpets, an abrupt clang of cymbals and a horn bursting to melody as the Official Marching Band of Nippon-koku came out from the sidelines. with that large colorful beating drum striding to the front.
"You do it right now here,"
They stomped their right foot forward then turned on the heel of their boots.
"You do it right down there,"
And the men emphasized their statement with their left index finger pointing to the earthy floor as they picked up the weapon from the ground with a rapid sweep of their right hand.
"You push her 'gainst the wall,"
They raised their rifles in front of them, like pushing it away from their fronts.
"And then tie her to the pole."
And now, these respected soldiers in strict fatigues, were suavely gyrating like well-paid man-whores with the use of their firearms as their pole substitute.
"You know that you should it, and we know you'll overdo it,"
The image of grinding testosterone-filled bodies was truly a traumatic sight to see.
"'Cause you're the great"
They now passed their baton-like firearms to their comrades on their left with a complicated twirl.
"OVER"
Then they turned like a top as the rifles were now elevated in the air.
"LOOORD!"
Finally, the(production) performance ended when all of the (idiots!) educated, well-trained enlisted officers waved their open hands in a flourish.
(And if Kakashi brought down his dark cashmere collar mask, a lecherous grin was surely implanted on his face.)
At the end of their soulful, suggestive song number, every person on the wooden dais was as silent as the oncoming death.
And finally, General Hatake ventured to approach Lord Uchiha.
"Did you like it? It's supposed to be a surprise for this current dry-run. But if you want, this pretty choreographed drill can also be included for the nationwide telecast tomorrow."
"..."
(A flustered Sakura was concealing her fidgeting fingers as she could just feel the radiating anger from the man beside her.)
"Though I've already prepared some reenactment scenes for the lyrics, the actors, Officer Rin and Council Member Obito just refused my orders. So we really had to take that beautiful scene out and just use the band instead."
"..."
(The face of Uchiha Sasuke was stiff like marble.)
"Ahaha, We can skip this part, you know, Milord?"
"..."
(The three guards avoided their gazes when Kakashi looked at them for some kind of salvation.)
Then Kakashi scratched the back of his head, his closed eyes slightly twitched in apprehension.
"...Really, Lord Uchiha, Ahahah!"
(The diaphanous, unblemished skin of Sasuke's temple showed a throbbing artery, like a pulsating aneurysm to burst.)
"It's not going to be on tomorrow's show."
"..."
(The absence of his indiscernible two consonant letter answer was already a warning of incoming apocalypse.)
"Please don't strip our ranks?"
"..."
(A glare that made Kakashi laugh again nervously.)
"Or the firing squad?"
"..."
(And for once, Sakura did not mind if her husband's vindictive streak went awry this evening.)
FEBRUARY
--and who is the very first fan of your life?—
(for sakuraxkisu)
"Um?"
Slam.
"Are you sure that--"
"Of course, my dear! Your husband knows you're with me!"
Slam.
"But these are--"
Slam.
"Yes, it's his baby albums."
Slam.
"And I think there was a huge 'Confidential' across the shelf."
Slam.
"Nonsense! He painted that horrible red, bold sign over it."
"..."
"Really."
A disbelieving sigh as the scuffle of the wooden plank that covered the shelf was returned.
"Doesn't my child know that these are my treasures? He's treating these things as if it were diseased."
Then Uchiha Mikoto, the respected matron of the Uchiha Council, descended from the long stepladder with a grace that belied her old age. The beautiful midnight strands that Sasuke had inherited lustrously flowed like dark waters behind her straight spine, complimenting along with the dark cerulean lacy spring dress that the older Lady Uchiha was wearing.
The ladies were inside an ancient room filled with antique cherry wood-made closets and aged books, marking it as the private storage area for the Uchiha Family. As Mikoto finally settled a stack of pretty, glossy binders to the table, Sakura wondered what would happen if Sasuke finds out.
(She shouldn't really think about it. It really gave her some uncontrollable shivers.)
Her wary viridian eyes darted glances to the door, waiting for an ambush from a certain young man who would be really, really angry.
"But, if Lord Uchiha sees that I'm here, he would be furi--"
"That is," Her older companion merely replied breezily as she inclined the pink-haired lady to sit beside her. "if my son can stop us."
Mikoto started to skim the book spines settled on their long waist-height table.
"Lady Mikoto?" Nervously, Sakura received the blue-colored, charming album with trembling hands.
"Oh dear, I told you just call me Mom!" And there was a smile, wrinkled with laugh lines and sunshine. "Now, let's get into business."
So the Mistress of the palace, assisted by the Lady of the Council, opened the album, with the dust motes flying off from the crevices.
A two year-old Sasuke, his lips and cheeks smeared with gooey ketchup, was looking so intently at a big, red, juicy tomato.
A crimson crayon-colored scrawl was written at the end of the photograph with the words 'My First Tomato' greeted her sight when she opened that first photo album.
"This"
As she flipped a page, a sepia-colored picture of a cute ruffled black-haired baby on Itachi's arms, suckling on a bottle, which two little beetle irises were crossed-eyed as he was concentrating on his task of feeding himself.
"is"
A disgruntled, pouting four-year old Sasuke was tearing off the very frilly pink lacy dress that he wore. The small lad was obviously in distress as the picture was followed with snapshots of him taking off the ribbons and throwing his pink shoes on the other side of the room while a scandalized-looking Fugaku was glaring at them directly (probably trying to admonish the photographer/his wife with a stare).
"adorable!"
And Sakura could no longer hold the burst of laughter at the (extremely cute!) shots.
"It is!" Mikoto added in glee as she turned a page. "I'm the very first fangirl of my son, after all."
(An oblivious kid! Sasuke, captured wearing his diapers while seriously glaring at his stuffed rooster in his crib.)
"But I don't see the urgency why--"
(A mischievous squirt! Sasuke, who was making braids out of the long strands of a murderous-looking Itachi studying his books.)
"--you need me to see all of these."
(A tiny Sasuke, grumpily waddling! in a white chicken costume on his very first Halloween.)
"You've been here far too long in the Palace, and you haven't seen them!"
"But Mila--er, Mom..." Sakura was trying to be reasonable with the situation but with all of these piles images that were enough to humiliate and blackmail the ever prideful autocrat, she could feel her bubbling hilarity overpowering her logic. "This is rather sudden."
"Oh, wait! You've got to see this." Then the elder woman took the thick binder and flipped it carefully as she held the edges with precision. "I have this picture where he bawled so loud, with these big leaking tears because his brother poked his--"
"Don't you understand what 'Confidential' means, Lady Uchiha?"
A restrained angry baritone resonated in the spacious room.
Both women turned their heads to see a furious young man who was gripping the door knob that was surely going to have some heavy finger-shaped dents later.
"Not you." He gritted to Sakura, who was still in the process of thinking an excuse to save her from the impending doom.
"Not me?" She nearly squeaked but fortunately managed a decent tone of incredulity.
Turning to his mother, Sasuke glowered.
"I told you that this is off-limits to my wife, Lady Uchiha."
"He looks so fetching when he glares." Mikoto, intent on disregarding the livid aura that floated around her son, continued to converse with her daughter. "Those eyes would be more intense if they were green, don't you think, Sakura?"
Sakura blinked unexpectedly and was more alarmed when Mikoto flipped another page.
"And there was a photo when he took his first bath by himself! Those cute little buttocks were really--"
He strode over in between his befuddled wife and his over enthusiastic mother--
("Sasuke!" Mikoto cried out in disdain. "Your manners!")
--then shut the album forcefully, startling Sakura from peeking over the page.
"Milady." Sasuke gripped the book spine tightly. "The Council is looking all over the place for you."
"Oh Sasuke! I told you to stop calling me with the formalities!"
"You are the Matron of the Great Clan, it is only proper that--"
"But still," Mikoto merely overlooked the scowl that he gave her. "I need to discuss with your wife about these significant matters!"
"Sakura."
He focused his attention to the woman whom he believed would be more level-headed in this moment.
"We have something to attend."
"Alright, alright." The very congenial matron finally conceded to her son, and then shooed the disgruntled young man outside.
"Do it. Milady." Then he added as an after thought as that familiar scowl graced his features. "Fast."
"Then," The mother grabbed the (priceless!) collection from her son's grasp, which made the scowl on his face more pronounced. "Don't call your orange-haired servant of yours to burn my collections later with a flame torch!"
Five minutes later, as the two females finished stuffing the albums back into the expensive closets, Mikoto leaned towards her daughter.
"Sakura?"
And then, the hushed, accepting older lady gingerly laid something on Sakura's hands.
"Can you keep this for me?"
(And a pair of verdant orbs gazed in amazement at that image.)
She remembered this moment.
It was before her performance of the violin concerto last year to calm her nervous butterflies at that time. She decided to take a walk on the hectares of gardens in the State Palace. And after which, she was then found by her husband dawdling in the flourishing cherry orchard.
The candid shot featured Sakura awkwardly standing on the gnarled roots of a sturdy cherry tree. The simple cream dress that she wore on that day was slightly billowing and grass-stained. The young pink-haired woman was tiptoeing to reach a certain branch filled with already ripened, opened blossoms; her fingers were almost brushing against the slim wood, barely reaching the stem.
It was clumsily captured in secret, judged by the topsy-turvy angle of the photo.
It was simple.
It was ordinary.
"Alright?"
But for her, it was special.
Because he was behind her.
(He always lurked beneath her shadows, and she didn't know why.)
Uchiha Sasuke stood, looking at her, as if he was waiting.
(Like a silent wraith who carried a burden that she could never fathom.)
She didn't know that he was already there for quite sometime.
(But for once, there was a laughing smile on his lips, with petal swirls of her namesake frozen in air.)
"Thank you." She managed a broken whisper, as she clutched it to her chest. "Thank you, Mo-"
"My dear, dear daughter, I'm the one who's grateful."
A soft pat on her cheek and that (gentle, trusting) smile on the elder Uchiha woman made her whole being filled with warmth.
"For taking good care of my son."
"I'm leaving." An impatient voice from the outside reminded her that he was waiting.
(Always, always waited for the other like a never ending circle.)
"Go." Mikoto sighed. "He really doesn't like to wait."
After a grateful nod, Sakura cried out as she quickly paced towards the doors. "I'm coming, Milord!"
When the pink-haired woman was already outside, Sasuke was standing with his stately back in front of her and his hands on his pockets, as if he was petulantly lingering on the spot.
When they started to pace in the corridors, they were suddenly halted by a quick "Wait!"
Sakura fully turned on a long heel, the flowing pink strands whipping around.
Sasuke merely stared behind the curtain of ebony tresses, a nonchalant eye over his shoulder.
"You two,"
And the steely glint on Mikoto's intense stare abruptly reminded her of the intimidating Overlord.
(Sakura then finally comprehended at that point--)
"I will see those cute green-eyed little tykes running around my arthritic knees, right?"
(--the true reason of this sudden visit from her mother.)
"Tch."
Then Uchiha Sasuke returned back to his path, walking past a baffled wife.
MARCH
--remember, daydreams do come true—
(for runwithskizzers)
The Grand Overlord Uchiha Sasuke of the Nippon-koku Empire
(the most unreachable man on earth!)
is her husband.
And the reason why she was singling that thought out was because it's always been an unbelievable twist of fate on her to marry such a pig-headed, hot-tempered, conceited--
("Just admit it, Sakura!" The long-missed alter ego resurfaced out of nowhere.)
--appealing, awe-inspiring creature.
It was not a secret that the youngest ruler in history was also the most sought-after male before his marriage. And the fact that he could just look good in anything was not lost to the cherry-haired woman, because even though she hated his cocksure arrogance, she was totally not resistant to the masculine effect that he had on every hot-blooded female.
Lord Uchiha was simply astounding in a tuxedo whenever representatives of some ecstatic member of his statesmen would conduct a ball.
Or that he simply looked so remarkable when he wore his full gala uniform at foreign visits.
Or even in hearings wherein bureaucrats would gather and he just captured the attention of every person would even when he was only wearing that neck and tie suit that really complimented his enigmatic personality,
It always caused every woman to be drawn in, like tempted ants to unwrapped candy, trying to get in line of his eyesight, in hopes that they may be even graced of his countenance.
And that was still, sadly, was the case when they were in such formal gatherings even when he's married.
Maybe it was a good thing that he seemed so immune with that kind of attention.
And it was also a fortunate stroke of luck, that being his wife,
(In these unguarded moments, the idea of being his was nice.)
had some other privileges that other females could ever dream off.
One of those benefits was that she could actually see him in his most down-to-earth wardrobes.
She particularly enjoyed the sight of her husband wearing something different than his usual elegant clothing. When he wore those simple button-up shirts when he was only doing some menial paperwork on Saturday evenings, or when he was donning a casual gray sweatshirts on chilly autumn walks in their flame-colored lawns.
(Whenever he looked so normal, it would cause an unstoppable ache inside. It reminded her of wishful thinking and alternate universes and inescapable 'what-if's.)
Another one was she could particularly have the free view of him in barest of clothing.
Especially at bedtimes.
Instead of sleeping in his pajamas or in a simple sleeveless shirt, he preferred to go to bed in his silk, midnight-colored boxers
(The outer Lady Uchiha would be mutilated first before she would confess to anyone that little tidbit.)
And that when he would emerge from the steamy bathroom, she sometimes had the lucky opportunity to see him wearing that fluffy white towel, drenched and adhering quite nicely to his well-curved as--
("Stop! I'm dying of blood loss!" cried the two-dimensional, grayscale, nose bleeding Inner Sakura)
--assets, er, and that being one of her most favorite things as the Lady of Nippon-koku . He was unaware of her lingering gaze that memorized those times he emerged from that warm, obscuring mist.
So in some lonely nights to when she had the free time to think of that particular scene, she developed the habit of following that small trickle of water that would slowly make its path down his body.
(She could hear a distant 'kyaa!' in her already crowded, delusion-infested mind)
It would always travel from the wayward peaks of his raven strands, to the curve of his cheek bones, descending slowly down his neck and that sharp clavicle, reaching towards that hard planes of his chest, continued to those deliciously muscled abdomen, dropping lower to his hips and lower and lower and lower...
Till that single drop of water was absorbed by those fine threads of that damp towel on his waist.
Then after that she would gaze back to his perfectly sculpted face and rewind the dream.
("We're so going to do that again!" gushed the now fanatic Inner Sakura.)
So she raised her glazed stare.
Her green eyes met a pair of calm charcoal irises under the layers of wet midnight strands.
And then it blinked.
("Wait, our fantasy Sasuke does not blink! The pair of black marble eyes is always half-hooded in our mind!" Inner ranted in puzzlement.)
Then a dark cocky eyebrow rose.
("The imaginary sexy husband will never raise that rude eyebrow at us! Why is he--")
Sakura gaped at that seemingly bemused stare that she was receiving from him.
(Inner shrieked in utter mortification.)
With the astonishing realization that
("OH!!")
the Uchiha Sasuke in a towel
("NO!")
was actually real,
("THINK!")
she took the most defensive, reflexive action.
("HIDE!")
Quickly forestalling her (panicked) gaze, and swiftly covered her cherry tomato-flushed face underneath the warm, protective duvet, she scooted to the farthest corner of her side of the bed and curled into a tight ball.
Minutes that felt like forever ticked by.
And the fool-proof plan was not working, because she felt the weight of the mattress dipping down.
She heard the click of the lamp being shut, and the shadows of the night finally filtered through the room.
Her skin was awfully sensitive when it became pimpled with bumps as the slight friction of his arm brushed the bare skin of her spine.
Ten agonizing seconds later, she peeked behind her back under the messy strands of her roseate tresses.
Only to see that single intense coal-slate eye was fixed on her.
("Shit!")
She hid again on the safety of her covers and tried to erase that single (molten, bone-thawing) look in her stupefied mind. Shifting her body to give more distance in between them, Sakura was near close to whimper out in defeat because of the humiliating predicament she had placed herself into.
"You were staring."
He spoke quite plainly, as if he was commenting that the sky was pretty blue today.
"No."
Sakura meant it to be a strong, firm reply, but it came out with a weak croak.
So she tried again, while maintaining her quickly crumbling composure.
"No, I'm not."
The young woman then felt him turning from his position. And according to the rustling shift of covers, it told her that he was already facing her direction. Not to mention that she could particularly sense that smoldering gaze at her tight back.
And after that, she cursed vehemently, because she heard--
(yes, the way his facial muscles clench was audible in the tenous hush in the air!)
--the insufferable, egotistical nerve-wracking husband of hers smirk.
Damn, how can I get some sleep now?
And that she'll still have fantasies of him, disturbing her even in peaceful slumber...
She grounded her teeth and buried her face on the pillow in annoyance.
APRIL
--he who supports silently—
(for extra ren)
The most eligible bachelor in the whole Nippon-koku (if not the world) in the past, before his marriage, was Uchiha Sasuke.
But now that he's already tied tightly to the knot, someone has to take that premium spot.
Of course, Uzumaki Naruto would gladly (and loudly) claim the place with great honor but unfortunately, he was currently engaged to the Hyuuga mistress.
It could also be said that Uchiha Itachi or even Uchiha Sai could take the label of being the most sought after single male, with their genetics as a possible factor for the position. After all, they have some similarities with the previous holder of that prestigious honor. Both possessed that innate obsidian eyes, thin lips, aristocratic nose, exceptional genius minds and the surrounding enigma on their persona was certainly enough for the hopeful spinsters.
But with some kind of problem that was still kept, the two were left alone from the clutches of the irrational, rabid fan girls in assaulting and (publicly) worshiping these men.
So this left us to the nearest and rational candidate that Sasuke, even it was unspoken, would entrust the title (which he received unknowingly) with.
And, with no doubt, it was given to the elusive, inexplicable Hyuuga Neji.
Uchiha Sasuke and Hyuuga Neji were considered as the finest young prodigies that the Great Clans had ever produced. Both were raised from aristocracy, breed in the western and eastern cultures, highly skilled and even partly effeminate in their feature.
That's the reason why, because of those similar qualities, both have earned the silent, mutual respect of the other on an equal footing.
Why? These were the reasons that made him so important for the stability of the powerful Empire.
Role # 1: The Prodigy
"Neji, what are you doing?"
Hizashi, the identical brother of the current head of the Hyuuga family asked in interest when a five year old Neji was totally engrossed on his monochromatic screen of his bulky computer monitor.
"I don't know, Papa." The young, oblivious lad spoke in that high-pitched boys usually have. "But I like it."
"Neji."
The small head turned to his father with an inquiring gaze.
Hizashi tried to control the excitement from leaking out of his voice. "Are you doing this?"
"Yes, Papa."
"And you put those numbers?"
"Yes, it's like math the other day. "
"These are binary codes." There was amazement in his voice. "You are hacking into something."
"hackin'? Like a game?"
"If that's how you put it."
"Okay."
And that was the day when one of the most distinguished Clans in Nippon-koku discovered Neji was a prodigy.
Twenty five years old, still he was considered as the best genius that his large family ever produced despite being only a branch member of the Clan. It was generosity enough for Lord Hyuuga Hiashi to acknowledge the apparent talent that was dormant in the young man and voluntarily supported his educational finances abroad.
Trained to be a diplomat, a very sufficient communications expert and a well-learned in different types of close, hands on combat, Hyuuga Neji was almost considered as a worthy candidate to be the next Clan Head. But he refused this once in a lifetime privilege, believing that it was not worth to confine himself with the politics of his extravagant family.
And he believed Hinata was the rightful heir to the Hyuuga household; as well that thirst to demonstrate her potential--to those who did not approve of a female clan head—was more valuable to the Clan. It was Neji's duty to support her, as well as her (even though he was still slightly judgmental) nearing betrothal to Lt. Uzumaki, a man he held with much respect when he trained with the Uchiha.
So even though he was not to inherit the position as the future leader of the powerful Hyuuga family, he was still considered as its most respected member. Even Lady Hinata acknowledged this, and exalted him to the status of being the one that every white-eyed blood kin should emulate.
Role # 2: The Right-Hand Man
Of course, such reckoning prowess from the Hyuuga would not go unnoticed.
He was in a decoding competition, set in one of the highly esteemed schools in Francia, his opponent was an irksome bespectacled red-haired woman who boasted her capabilities. And Karin was deflated, along with her rambunctious proud declarations, as he easily defeated her in the tournament finals.
He supposed he could have taken the chance of joining the Snake, but Sasuke knew that the Hyuuga Clan would not allow anyone to endanger their most prized genius.
"Hyuuga."
But there was so much talent that he wasn't willing to waste on Neji.
"Lord Uchiha."
"I'm going to offer you something."
"And that is, Milord?"
"It's a respectable position in my office."
And that was how he acquired a well-esteemed spot, a more powerful title than being a Clan Head and carrying more weight than a personal body guard.
He was the second-in-command on Lord Uchiha's rule of the Nippon-koku Empire.
Role # 3: The Secretary
Morino Idate, an intern who was blessed with the providential chance to be in the current assembly and the Lord Uchiha as his audience.
"We are now having the recent increase of consumers, not only in our archipelago, but our survey rates tells us that it already spread out--"
Morino Idate was sweating the half of his liquids out of his dilated pores, despite that the air conditioning was in full-blast this afternoon. Because the entire time that he was discussing the first ever presentation, Uchiha Sasuke was sitting imperially on his cushioned black chair, his elbow was propped on the edge of the crystal conference table, with those pale hands somewhat covering his upper face, listening extremely well to his detailed report.
He was told that when Uchiha Sasuke was in this posture, he was entirely listening to your statements and that he would drill you with questions the next time you were summoned up to his office to discuss it personally.
"Lord Uchiha, what do you think of this current development? The economy has been stable for the past months, incurring the 2 increase in our local stock exchange at every other day, as well as the increasing value of yen. I would rather--"
"It is very accurate." Neji spoke for the quiet Overlord. "The Department of Finance is surely benefiting from your accounting abilities."
"Thank you, sir." Morino Idate knows that he'll pass. He got a recommendation from his brother, after all.
"We can safely assume that you will work for the government?"
"Yes. O-of course, sir." Idate managed to reply and tried to keep his exhilaration.
With that approval, the other members of the Cabinet were already agreeing to what the Hyuuga said.
"Lord Uchiha?" Idate then dared to ask. "Is everything alright?"
He merely nodded a fraction from his position, still in that grave concentrating bearing.
Taking this as a wordless assent, Neji solemnly spoke.
"This board conference is now dismissed."
Morino Idate felt that he could jump all over the country when that straining ordeal was finally over.
And as Idate, along with the twenty nine statesmen, bustled outside of the state office board room, the right-hand of the Overlord clicked the LCD projector shut and went beside the unmoving Lord Uchiha at the head of the meeting table.
"Milord," Neji tapped his shoulder. "It's finished."
Suddenly, a slight shake of his head and those drowsy onyx eyes opened.
"How long?"
Then the young ruler raised his mandible from his mounted hands.
"You slept for about three hours, Lord Uchiha."
"Give me the minutes of the meeting."
And Sasuke stood up effortlessly from his seat.
Neji gave him the summary of the whole meet, recording every word uttered by each delegate the whole time in a clean, straight-lined handwriting.
"You can leave now."
And that was an undisclosed secret of Uchiha Sasuke's clever methods on how he managed to look unperturbed even with no decent amount of sleep.
Role # 4: The Information Gatherer
"Milord."
"Hn."
"You don't need to watch how the machine broils the coffee beans. You can wait for it while you do things."
"You said to wait for thirty minutes."
"It has an alarm to tell you that it's already finished."
A creak of someone standing up from the reclining seat responded the silence.
"You also put three cubes of sugar and a small amount of cream."
"Three cubes?"
"That's how she likes her coffee, according to a reliable source."
The pliant sound of the boiling liquid was perceptible in the Uchiha office.
"Would a raise for you and Tenten be enough?"
"A day off would be better, Milord."
"Hn."
Role # 5: The Advisor
It was an overwrought afternoon, when the Overlord had recently apprehended the media press from the current dispute they had with the Lady of Nippon-koku. Even though the matter was already given with a proper action, there was still that prevailing unrest from the two stubborn Uchihas.
Hyuuga Neji knew that it was absurd to interfere in the dealings of these mule-headed individuals, but it seemed that--
(The document crumpled in Lord Uchiha's grasp.)
--the husband was already cracking.
(Liquid pearl eyes narrowed, because Uchiha Sasuke always tried his best not to let those papers crease even in concealed distress.)
So when the Hyuuga approached the young lord with a dark caffeine beverage to settle its electric warmer on his crystal work desk, he merely spoke flatly.
"Invite her ladyship for dinner."
The Overlord snapped his head towards the Neji's impassive façade.
"It's better to discuss peace negotiations in a neutral territory."
Then he properly bowed to Lord Uchiha.
He was about to leave the office when his name was called.
"Hyuuga."
A slight incline of Neji's chin told that he was listening.
"Pick up Sakura from the Women's Convention."
"Certainly, Milord."
Role # 6: The Personal Assistant
Hyuuga Neji sifted through the delivered mail addressed to Lord Uchiha Sasuke on his desk.
The Bill is already been in constant deliberation among the Council members. They are now waiting for more--
He placed the strictly typewritten document in the IMPORTANT! folder.
We cordially invite you to the Nuptial of Uzumaki-Hyuuga on December--
Then he put the elegantly scripted envelope on the LATER drawer.
My Darling Uchiha,
I love you very much! Please give me some of your love instead! Divorce that pink-haired bi--
The audacious, nauseatingly pink letters in that flowery stationary was then fed on the (overworking) shredder.
Then he pressed his intercom button.
"Send for another trash bin. It's already filled with scented rubbish."
"Right away, sir. And sir, Lt. Uzumaki is asking if Lord Uchiha--"
Neji could hear the demanding shouts on the other line
"Uchiha Sasuke is currently out of town. He will return by tomorrow."
He promptly lied like a professional.
That being said, Uchiha Sakura had known the fact that Hyuuga Neji and Uchiha Sasuke were almost the same in character. The brooding aura, intimidating stares, unquestionable logic and that dubious sexuality because of their feminine features.
(And Neji probably had to carry the brunt of these jeering more than her husband, because of his lustrous, elongated brunette locks, which she was slightly envious of.)
Yet the truth of this matter was revealed to her in an accident, when she was in the middle of a search for her missing secretary.
Walking along the dizzying corridors of the palace, she opened a certain door in one of the provided offices for the employees
There she saw a woman who usually had neat dark chocolate-hued dumpling hair buns cascading messily down her slim shoulders and entangled to nimble fingers of the said male subject. The normally clean-cut business suit on the lady's blouse was unbuttoned, and her skilled companion was now descending towards the confounded hazelnut-haired woman's lips.
And that was when Hyuuga Neji proved that he was indeed a man, when Sakura saw him kissing--
(but isn't he devouring her mouth like a sex-starved glutton!?)
--Tenten.
A lone surprised jade eye couldn't look away from the unfolding amorous event.
She was still deciding if she should close the door or gape when a hand, strong and pulling, diverted her from the attention-stealing sight.
"Didn't Neji just--! Tenten!?"
Sakura was still trying to make her mind to function again--
"You nosy woman."
--when Uchiha Sasuke steered his prying, inquisitive wife away from the scandalous scene.
MAY
--never judge a book by its cover, remember?—
(for paperwings 28)
The very disturbing news was circulating around the Palace Halls.
Lord Uchiha, the stronghold of the entire country, was not in his office.
And he's a well-known workaholic.
And there was a scheduled meeting for the foreign ambassadors in thirty minutes.
This made one of the prominent women in the high household, Lady Tsunade of Francia, to join the hastily made search party for the young lord.
(She knew what was really going on.)
As her simple dark chartreuse gown flowed when her heels clacked against the floor, she rounded the corner to search inside the usually empty Uchiha Library.
And she saw Uchiha Sasuke sitting on the white, huge ledge of one of its grandiose windows. He was clutching some (unread) report on one hand while his right elbow leaned on the metal frame of the glass pane, with the other one on a bent knee.
"Don't disturb me."
The usual glare was staring at something--
or someone, Tsunade mentally cackled.)
--outside.
"Fine." Tsunade merely replied exasperatedly. "But you know, it disturbs me--"
(And Uchiha Sasuke hissed a curse, knowing that he was not allowed to just fire off relatives.)
"--when our mighty Lord Uchiha gets jealous."
The (elderly!) blonde woman grinned.
"Leave."
Tsunade, who was really intent on incurring his ire, paced towards the brooding man.
"This is not a healthy habit to develop, Milord."
Then she supported herself on the wall near the edge of the window he was occupied as her arms crossed over her abundant chest.
"Following her around like a phantom, glaring at every male that even glimpsed at her, threatening those—"
"Stop talking nonsense."
Bronze eyes merely glanced towards the scene below, letting the insult pass. It was more entertaining to exasperate the hell out of him than to heighten the number of creases on her beautiful face.
"Lady Uchiha seems to be enjoying herself, don't you think?"
She really was. Seated on the intricately-made patio chairs was his wife, who was concentrating on the old crystal-made chessboard and was speaking with bubbling mirth to the man across her table.
It was the known tactician, head of intelligence and technical consultant, Nara Shikamaru. He was notorious to the palace as a creature of procrastination. But his usually sleepy eyes were attuned to whatever (the hell) Sakura was saying.
And she was laughing.
"Milord?" Tsunade prodded. "That's already what we call stalking."
It was fun to push and shove the one who normally does.
"Tch."
His only response to his grand aunt was to storm off and shut the door in a flash.
x
Sakura was really in a jolly good mood today.
So it was only fitting that her husband would be the one to dampen her spirits.
Lady Uchiha was lounging in the muted, gray rooms of the Uchiha Grand Suite comfortably, expecting herself to read quietly her long ignored medical notes at their private annex and drink over some hot cup of heavenly caffeine.
But she was constantly distracted by an Uchiha Sasuke who wouldn't stop glaring over her head, even though he inconspicuously hid this by pretending to read the newspaper.
Finally not taking this insanity any longer, she placed her hands on her hips and bristled.
"What's wrong with you?"
He didn't even respond with the use of his satirical wit as he changed the page swiftly, slightly rattling in his grasp.
Which meant he was bothered by something, but he considered it unworthy to disclose that to her.
And she was not going to let him to be silent over it any longer.
"We're going somewhere."
He grimaced.
Her hand snatched the irritating broadsheet away.
"Come on."
Then Sakura threw his soft cotton robe at him.
"At this time of night?" He inquired curiously with a derisive tilt of his lips.
"Stop being a prick already."
"No."
"Yes." She persisted and pulled him up. "You will come with me!"
"Feh."
x
Suigetsu was yawning as he secured his post when the loud creak of the door and a Sakura who was pulling a disgruntled Uchiha by his arm made him suddenly wide awake.
"Milord?"
"We're going back after a few minutes." The mistress assured them when she quickly ran across the halls with their scowling master in tow.
Karin was more reactive to this development.
"Hey! Where are you two go—"
"Leave them alone." Juugo shook his head as he nudged for the female who was nearly going to follow them off.
The Suigetsu whistled with a giddy smirk pasted on his expression.
"Sweet!" He whooped out with a chuckle.
"Shut up, fish-head."
And with that half-hearted insult, Karin returned to stand beside Juugo and sigh dejectedly.
x
"Shh." She placed a finger over her lips. "We need to be quiet."
And then Sakura motioned him to hide behind finely shaped bushes of in front the nearby fountain in the huge lawns of the palace. The sparkling waterworks was beautiful in midnight, with the rippling waters refracting different gushes of water that burbled out from the assorted cream-colored clay spout of assorted statues in the middle, creating a covering fog that nearly reached the circumference of the round structure.
"Let go of me." Sasuke tugged the hand out of her surprisingly firm grasp.
"Grandma told me," Sakura then grinned when she addressed that gambling-lover mentor of hers with that affectionate nickname. "that when you are being a reclusive hermit and being a prissy in my humble presence, I should bring you here becau--"
The calming voice was suddenly cut off with two screeching vocals reached their ears.
Shikamaru was standing, trying his best not to flinch at his pitiful situation where he stood between two angry flaxen haired females.
"I was the first one you see?"
"No, I was the one who had a relationship with him!"
"Don't you ever listen--!?"
"How can you say that you deserve him when—"
The scene in front of them was turning ugly.
If Shikamaru would not interfere with this dilemma any sooner, these women would surely start a bruising and terrifying catfight in his territory.
"You know Shikamaru right?" Her soothing voice was gentle as she tried to keep herself from giggling out loud. "He asked me earlier if there was a way to avoid the Arabia's Governess Temari from confronting Ino." Then she sighed disappointedly, "He asked if there was a place where he can talk to them peacefully, but it seems it didn't work out quite nicely."
Then Sakura winced, when another shrill argument erupted.
"Honestly, Temari's anger is like a desert and Ino is like a raging storm. And I don't know if these stupid similes of their rage from their hometowns are appropriate for the situation but—"
"And why are you explaining this to me?" Sasuke cut her off, knowing that if they were caught snooping around here during midnight by her nervous chatter, it would be a humiliation to the Clan.
"I don't know." Her shrugged response was genuine. "Tsunade told me to explain."
"I'm not interested with the affairs of my officials."
(Sasuke was giving the impression that if he wasn't so used to scowling, he would pout.)
"Sorry bastard, I don't believe you."
A noisy rustle came from behind and Uzumaki Naruto's bright head popped out from the thickets.
The couple nearly jumped out from their hiding place.
Then the idiot's neck turned to the male Uchiha.
"I heard that you were sulking in the office because of your jelly fits about your--"
("Shut your trap up, moron.")
"Anyway, "Then the blonde plopped himself beside the two, alternately gazing at them with lecherous eyes. "Am I interrupting a lover's tryst?"
"NARU—" Sakura snapped and was going to break that chin with an uppercut when double female screams made the three of them--
("WHO'S HIDING THERE!?")
--instantaneously froze.
Deciding that to save their skin was more important than the friendship of a stupid dead-last, Sasuke grabbed the scruff of Naruto's collar out from the thorny plants,
("HEY! WHAT THE FRICKING—".)
pushed the screaming blonde male with an astounding force, letting the moron fall on his face between the infuriated females,
("YOU WERE THERE, YOU IDIOT?!" Two homicidal blondes were hovering over a trembling Naruto, who couldn't even form words to scream out for help.)
then pulled a wide-eyed Sakura, still aghast, to escape in less than two seconds.
("Sasuke!?"
"Be quiet, woman.")
JUNE
--contabesco—
(for melpomene melancholica)
"That was a pleasant evening, don't you think?"
Sakura smiled as she descended from the long winded stairs from the large convention centers of the Capital. Her hand trailed on the elegantly sculpted cream ceramic-made banisters. Her husband was walking two steps behind her, as he silently followed her with that serene expression on his face.
"Looks like almost the whole family celebrated the evening with us."
Her embellished, gold sequined, shimmering chiffon-silk party dress was cut into tiered ruffles while the curtain of silver white cloth. It was then wrapped in chiffon empire-cut waistline barely reaching three inches of her knees as the fabric swayed delicately on her mid-thighs.
Fortunately it complimented with her long, criss-crossing cream ties of her stilettos, making a more sophisticated impression for the recently Clan gathering they hosted this night.
"Itachi's been going out of the palace these recent months. He's been so tense lately, but I'm glad that he's around and eased up a bit."
The elegantly dressed Sasuke, dressed in a thin black turtleneck and a charcoal-shaded coat, was half-listening to the lively monologue from his wife as they arrived at the last stone step. He scanned the road for a while, his powerful atmosphere comforting under the lamp-lit night.
"It was really too bad that your uncle left early for some field work, but at least your professor made it. Orochimaru, that was his name, I think? He was very entertaining and told me you were his favorite student."
The young mistress continued to talk as they waited for their car to be driven the valet any second.
"And your impersonation of a mute was perfect for tonight, Milord. Can you speak even a bit?"
The ebony-painted State Bentley smoothly rounded to a stop.
"Hn."
She was now being led by her husband, who always declined any help from chauffeurs in opening car doors, towards the exquisite limousine.
Karin, dressed in her sleek dark leather suit, mounted her motorcycle with the dark red hard helmet on her head. Adjusting the dark specs over her eyes, she snapped at Suigetsu, who was longing leisurely beside his two-wheeled bike.
"Get moving, you moron!"
"Sheesh, what crawled up beneath--" The turquoise haired guard who finally straightened up from leaning over his cobalt motorcycle when a doublethwip sound, a recognizable noise of a silencer, disturbed their scathing conversation.
Two personnel men on the right flank from the rear side of the Bentley dropped dead, their torsos already seeping with blood on the pavement.
And suddenly, a dark, heavily tinted armory van stopped two meters away, and its doors skidded open to reveal about ten masked men moving briskly towards them.
"Damn it!"
Suigetsu, chucking his helmet to a man with a large gun, shouted to the couple them to get in the car interior.
"Go, go, go!"
"Get in." Sasuke's voice was controlled as he opened the silver door latch, grabbing his wife by her arm.
The pink-haired lady was about to step inside, a pointed heel already placed on the granite foot board when she heard a very distinctive gunshot.
("Milord!" came the uncharacteristically terrified shout from Juugo, who just emerged from the front seat then was suddenly choked on his windpipe from behind.)
The body behind her froze.
(And, slowly, like seconds dripping away from her life, the world stopped.)
Her long cascading rose strands whip lashed as she swiveled to him, her nose nearly caressing his and she didn't meet his (that entrancing) gaze, for they were closed shut.
"Milord?"
He only staggered to lean towards her small frame, yet her feet was unwilling to support them, as they both fell on the asphalt-embedded ground.
(She couldn't distinguish if that painful, painful twinge that shot through her spine came from the impact of their fall--)
"Lord Uchiha?"
(--or from the metaphorical snap of strings somewhere in the cavity of her chest.)
Sakura should have moved.
Should have defended herself.
Should have assessed the situation clinically.
But she was cradling his heavy body on her shaking arms, carrying their weight with her bare knees as he slumped over her, an unexplainable paralysis seized her body when she realized what was happening.
"Are you all right?" Her voice, urgent and alarmed, sounded so far-away. "Answer me!"
(She was supposed to listen at the way that Karin screamed to get out.)
"Answer me!"
The only thing that she seemed to feel was her heart beat, deafening to her pounding ears.
(Or shielded herself from the gunfire that surrounded them.)
"Milord!"
(Or grabbed some holster from a nearby fallen body for protection.)
As the balmy scent of spice (him, him) lingered on her senses, like a faint, dissipating comfort, she hesitantly reached out to his pale face.
Inhale.
"Lord Uchiha?"
Exhale.
"Open your eyes!"
She wanted to scream the words out till it tore her throat,
(to wake him! to shake him out of that deadly stupor!)
yet only managed a shaky, watery whisper as she buried her trembling head on his shoulder.
"Stay with me."
( pleading, praying, hoping, beseeching)
"Please, Sasuke."
(And she did not even attempt to look behind her, when she heard the small click of a handgun.)
"He's dead, Lady Uchiha." A sneering bass voice, filled with malicious intent, spoke.
(For she felt the cold metal nozzle was a welcoming release from this prison that she made herself.)
"And you're next."
(Because all she could think, all she could hear and all she could breathe was him. Being dead. Being gone. For she was the one who should end everything, yet now, now that he was--)
A disquieting shot.
Then the touch of the pistol tip vanished.
Her appalled thoughts went into a complete halt when a warm large hand grasped her head tightly against a roughly (breathing, breathing!) solid chest (so firmly that she was almost suffocating from the sudden loss of air.), with its opposite right hand tightly gripping on a dark gun hilt.
Then Juugo suddenly tackled the struggling mercenary to the hard road.
"Sakura."
Then it was followed with a harsh, bitter command that broke through her shocked reverie.
(Infuriated words, they were, but directed to whom?)
"Don't cry."
(Was she--? Female, candle-like, tentative fingers traced a wet path on her cheeks.)
Sasuke was accurately firing off enemy limbs as he carried themselves behind the opened car door and leaning his side against the rear of the polished automobile. His perfect aim proficiently disabled lower appendages and upper extremities of the approaching armed men as he pulled the trigger in rapid successions, his grasp not even trembling from the rebounding force of his shots.
(And her mind panicked when she saw the damp glint on her hands, for why did those traitorous saline drops escape her stinging eyes without noticing it? She was not supposed to be--)
As the turmoil slowly subsided and the bustling police was replacing the remains of the scuffle that night, his dark, black orbs darted from left to right then glanced at the nearby buildings for any signs of a sniper.
Afterwards, he grabbed her elbows to carry them up to their feet.
"Are you alright, Lord Uchiha?"
Suigetsu, panting and bruised, ran up to them.
"We managed to scout the area thoroughly; no glinting scopes were present in the perimeter."
Sasuke did not turn his attention to them for the night, even though it was a warm summer, still blew a cold draft.
"We captured some of the mercenaries." Karin managed to reach behind them. "However, others managed to escape."
That prompted the young lord to take off his charcoal coat and place it over her bare, almost shivering shoulders.
"We didn't manage to gather some further information but there can be--"
Sakura was trying to dissipate the ache that formed in her head (chest), his tense arms wrapped around her waist to support her.
It was then she recognized the black thinly padded turtleneck he wore under his coat.
"A half-body, Kevlar-made suit."
She spoke quietly, furious.
"A bulletproofvest."
She forgot that he always wore them! She even failed--
(which was very humiliating because she's a medical student)
--to check his damn vital signs!
She met his unreadable gaze squarely.
"And you made me believe," Her clenched fists were raised in indignation, as she started to maim his (protected!) chest. "That you were dead?"
The raven-haired young man was quiet, still holding his aggravated wife calmly on her waist.
"You bastard!" She raged. "You pretentious, selfish jerk!"
Her unrelenting pounding against his sturdy frame was endless, as she gradually inclined her sweaty forehead over his lean shoulder in vexed frustration.
(Yet the feeling of resentment was concealing her relief, like a fresh drizzle for a thirsty drought, as the diminishing despair that wallowed her evaporated into a thin haze.)
Her continuous attempt in beating her stoic husband was put into a stop when he suddenly clamped his hands over her wrist.
"Medic."
His voice barely raised a notch but it was enough to make the panting Karin to scamper towards the ambulance.
"We need Dr. Yakushi from the fifth branch, right now!" The red-head's call was fading along with the sounds of police sirens and wails, leaving Juugo alone with the two targeted figures.
Sakura, who could not understand the need of a doctor, gazed up to look for any injuries on her husband and found that he was glaring at something, obsidian orbs mixed with a gradually building fury.
"Sasuke? Are you hurt?"
Sasuke, sternly poker-faced, replied to her questioning gaze. "Sit."
She merely replied weakly as he settled her gently on the wool-covered car seat.
"What's wrong? Are you--"
It was then, in Sakura's bewilderment, realized an absolute pain that run through her body.
"You're bleeding."
Finally, she realized what he meant.
Her uncovered knees were badly scratched, with some of the flesh was slightly scrapped from the appendage. There was a pungent copper-like odor that permeated her nostrils as she realized that the sticky sensation that coated the border of her clothes was actually her blood.
Sakura winced.
"I-I didn't--"
Then Sasuke pulled the hem of her cocktail dress to hide her thighs and brought her legs together when Karin arrived with a serious looking white-haired young man, introducing himself as Dr. Yakushi Kabuto.
He grimaced as he spoke beneath his breath. "Why does it have to be so short?"
"It's what I'm supposed to wear!" She retorted back, as this bickering became a comforting familiarity to her current state of distress.
x
And the phone slid shut.
A towering building, a man with duct-taped binoculars glinted, quietly observing the scene fifty feet below. Swirls of cheap tar and nicotine floated languidly, surrounding him in a dense fog.
His low chuckle filled the air, a humid summer breeze blowing through the shadows.
"Looks like everything is going according to plan."
He grinned like a satiated cat as he glanced at the bright flashes of neon triumphantly.
The Uchiha brat has fallen completely into my trap.
JULY
--and fool, do not provoke him!---
(for laura-chan)
Lady Uchiha, who just arrived from a discussion with Tsunade, decided to visit her husband in a late summer night.
As of recently, the martial law that Lord Uchiha had imposed on the Capital, along with its three neighboring cities, was lifted three days ago. Thus, it made the whole country anxious in what other kinds of exploit would the authoritative Overlord took in finding out on who instigated the assassination last month.
That's why it was odd when the usual stationed guards were not at the doors of his office.
With her curiosity piqued again, she was about to go inside her husband's office to ask where the trio were.
It seemed that inquiring for their whereabouts was no longer needed.
"--the cost of your incompetence is unacceptable." And there was that tranquil voice, laced with such barely restrained contempt that made Sakura's hackles rise. "My wife was nearly killed by that simple lax in security."
Sasuke?
She turned on the knob and glanced inside the room.
Lord Uchiha sat on his rotating cushioned seat, looking intently on his wide spherical liquor glass with feigned interest.
He was blatantly ignoring the way the three uncomfortable personnel tensed at the tenacious wrath that was waiting to be unleashed.
Gently sipping the rim of his cup, he tasted the blood-colored alcohol with a grim satisfaction.
"If that happens again,"
The base of the thin glass settled on his immaculate desk as he stood up smoothly from his seat.
"you shall pay it with your lives."
Onyx eyes glittered with a dangerous promise that his words were not to be taken lightly.
"Am I making myself clear?"
And as the potent silence filled the atmosphere, his distance-devouring pace finally led him out of his office.
Outside, the aristocratic man met a pair of obstinate green eyes.
"Sasuke, what are you doing?"
He merely brushed off the reproving tone that she used as he refused to meet her gaze.
Sakura was going to rant out a detailed explanation of why he was being irrational again when she heard distinct screeches from a certain female inside.
"We'll talk about this, later."
Her lips grimaced and she raised a sharp finger in warning.
"Tch."
He then strode off towards the direction of their rest chambers, nonplussed with the useless threat.
When Sakura arrived inside the office, she found the hot-tempered female personal security of Lord Uchiha raging all of her fiery stinging offensive words at the unusually quiet Suigetsu.
"It was all your bloody fault, you moronic, foul, insensitive cad! If you just used your--"
Karin continued her tirade and followed Suigetsu to where he sat on the nearby sole couch, leaning his forehead to an open palm.
"--head then we could have got it under control. But you were--"
His pallid fingers combed through the pale cerulean locks, freeing the elongated strands out of the confines of his low ponytail.
"--only standing there like a dumb-witted idiot when the first shot started! What--"
And a rumbling growl, which almost raised Sakura's hair with fright, emitted from the enraged man as he stood up to his full height against Karin's spitting form.
"Shut your damn mouth up."
But the equivocally furious female was not to be intimidated.
"What the freaking bullshit did you say to me? I have the right to yell to you that it was all your bloody fault--"
Suigetsu grabbed her crimson head with his hands.
"I said--"
(Sakura moved to stop him, trying to prevent the first of act of violence from Suigetsu that was going to commence in front of her.)
"--shut up,"
The frustrated pale, glinting gold eyes turned into angry slits as his fingers entangled themselves on the unruly burgundy strands.
(However, Juugo held Lady Uchiha by her shoulder and halted her from going any further.)
Then, it all happened in a confusing blink of an eye--
"you bitch!"
--as he slammed his hungry mouth into Karin's vulgar one.
(Then Sakura reminded herself that Juugo knew them more than she did.)
Astonished green eyes were transfixed to the sight of the two of them so ferociously intimate with each other. But what was more surprising was that Juugo was unaffected by the current development. His dark maroon gaze was even bored with the way the two were harshly responding physically.
After a few disbelieving minutes, both of them broke away to breath.
"Serves you right."
And Suigetsu, with the unusual confidence that must have rubbed off from his master, walked with that exaggerated swagger towards the open door. He slid a hand inside dark pockets of his well-pressed slacks, leaving behind a flabbergasted, quiet Karin
Sakura finally made her windless larynx work.
"Hey!"
"Yeah?" and his pale eyes turned over his shoulder, imitating one of Uchiha's signature pose.
"That was the first time someone shut her up."
A stunned Karin, with her back to the open entrance, was unresponsively rooted to the spot while she gingerly touched her bite-swollen lips.
Juugo, with a deadpan expression, raised a thumbs-up approval.
"I know."
Then Suigetsu gave a victorious, satisfied grin and he bowed promptly in front of the impressed Lady of Nippon-koku, before his graceful exit.
AUGUST
--defy then deny—
(for white epitome, happy birthday! and schwainze)
The clash of steel echoed distinctly in the air.
At the center of the huge opened glass conservatory of the Uchiha gardens were two fully garbed, masked men. Their rapiers closely hitting each other as they collided, a striking contrast as the shorter, hostile fighter was garbed in white breeches while the taller one, more limited and careful in his fast movements, wore a dark apparel, the distinction of a blade master.
The white warrior lunged, the tip of his blade nearly grazing the neck of his supposed-to-be victim.
The taller one sidestepped to avoid the running attack. He was not yet cleared of an assault when the assertive man raised and beat his weapon down against the calm opponent. However, the receiver of this aggressiveness did not waver from his position because he controlled the half of his challenger's blade with a swift bind.
Frustrated, the insistent attacker then stepped back to launch a jumping attack from above.
An opening.
Then the taller figure thrust his blade on the oncoming advance with a rapid sweep on the midline of the persistent adversary.
The long, thin blade flipped out of someone's grasp from the force of the impact.
"GAH!"
And the metal-screened mask was taken off and revealed a very frustrated Uzumaki Naruto, sweaty and panting.
"I won't do this anymore!"
Light cobalt eyes then glared in annoyance.
"It's too hot!"
Then he pointed his gloved index finger to the opponent who stood in an imposing manner and lowered his sword tip to the ground.
"Besides, you're too fast! And you've been doing this for years! And I would've wiped your ass on this stinking place if it the blade wasn't too light--"
"You suggested fencing, dead-last."
Then the mysterious enemy slowly took off his own mask, and revealed a dark-haired young man who looked unaffected to the whining of the blonde blade wielder. Perspiration dotted his hairline, but other than that, he was barely worn out.
"I didn't lose yet, you bastard. You just swerved the blade out of the way!"
"Idiot." He merely responded when he walked towards the stone benches, firm foot falls scraped against the smoothly man-made granite floors.
"Oi! Oi! Why are you turning your back? I'm still talking!"
He ignored the comically seething blonde, taking a water bottle and wiping the light layer of sweat of his brow as his companion did the same actions, though less gracefully.
"When did I ever lose to bastards like you? That rifle-shooting was a fluke in the academy, you freaking cheated in the last snowball fight, and I got engaged first!"
"Hn."
"And that was a formal engagement! I courted her perfectly without your help!"
"For two years."
"And we're going to get married this December too! And I'm going to make sure that I will top off that 'Wedding of the Century' you had with Lady Uchiha! I'll make it more spontaneous! And many people will know that the Lord Uchiha couldn't even manage to--"
Naruto stopped rambling because he didn't feel that usual glare that burned his back.
Sasuke was supposed to listen to that mind numbing chatter that the idiot was currently spouting out, but he was suddenly preoccupied when his sharp eyes caught her sprinting on the small, smooth pavements of the gardens.
Uchiha Sakura was stopping over the cooling shade of a willow tree a good twenty meters away from them and was drinking a tumbler of water with a very exhausted expression on her face.
So he was nearly startled when he felt the stupid blonde's arm over his shoulder and spoke suddenly.
"I'll give her a ten."
(What the hell?)
"Compared to Hinata, her chest might be small in comparison,"
(Sasuke contemplated if he could get away with murder.)
"But for because it's unfair if I compared her to Hinata, I think her body is absolutely proportional, even with an average bust size."
(Of course, he could. Because he's the ruler of this country and he can just say that this idiot deserved to die.)
"And because she's pretty, I'll give her a ten!"
(He has the sword, so what's stopping him to cleave that airhead from his neck?)
The patented Uchiha Glare™ was rising in varying high degrees in temperature as he glowered, yet was still deeply attuned to the woman who was now patting the cold container on her forehead and wiped that trickle of water from her lips.
"Stop it."
"Okay then, from the scale of one to ten, ten is the highest and one as the lowest, rate your wife!"
"You moron."
"It's very rare to see her jogging in those tight cycling shorts of hers outside."
"Shut up."
"Just a number, you stiff prude, what do you think?"
But Uchiha Sasuke was not listening anymore; because he was still busy staring.
(At the way that she smiled in delight when the cooling warm breeze stroked her flushed face.)
"Oi, oi! Stop undressing her with all of that ogling. It scares me!"
He paid no heed to that incoherent blabbering.
(Because she was rolling her sleeves and showing those supple yet delicate arms of hers.)
"It's no use talking to you."
Sasuke was still immersed at the way Sakura cricked her neck sideways.
"Fine, I'll leave you alone. Have fun stalking."
And to the raven-haired man's relief, the noisy blonde finally left him and the silence that settled was comforting.
(Sakura was now bending over to return her water jug back to the ground and started to inhale deeply, her eyes closed to the world as she started entwining her fingers and stretched them over her head, lifting her tight, damp shirt to show a bit of the soft skin of her back.)
Then a wry grin marred his aristocratic features.
Perhaps a Nine...
(Then she then took off the red tie that held her rose tresses on the crown of her head, letting them drift freely against the refreshing air of a diminishing summer. Her pleased green eyes, even from a distance, glimmered like the first sun rays that gushed through rainstorms.)
"...point nine."
Because she's still--
"--annoying." He spoke quietly, not realizing that he just said his thoughts out loud.
"SO IT'S ONLY A POINT ONE DIFFERENCE!"
(Damn it.)
Then the tip of the earlier discarded sharp weapon poked his back.
"You just have to find something wrong with her, don't you?"
(Must behead the idiot.)
Naruto jibbed in glee.
"And yes, you bastard, I heard ALL of it. Annoying? What kind of a stupid reason is that?"
(Now.)
And the Lord Uchiha whipped his flexible steel on the smirking blonde, cutting a few golden locks as the lieutenant lowered his head a few inches and parried his blade quickly to block the oncoming assault.
But for Naruto, the decapitation of the few strands of his elevated hair was worth it.
I win, Sasuke.
SEPTEMBER
--he wants? he gets--
(for strings of a puppet)
"Let's,"
Thin, glossy colorful papers arched into the air as glimmering confetti showered on every female head.
"PARTY!"
The area, decorated with colorful streamers and alighted with impromptu primary colored disco lights, was utilized for the slumber party-slash-bridal shower informally held for the bride-to-be Hyuuga Hinata.
Soon enough, after all the giggling and the humble gift-giving was done, a minus-one karaoke tune of Whitney's famous love ballad resounded all through out the entertainment room.
("AND I" sang a rambunctious Ino as she waved a finger at herself, emoting along with the song.)
"Tell me why we're stuck with uncoordinated singing females?" Sakura sighed helplessly to Hinata as she picked up the scattered snack on the soft, furry carpet they were all sitting on.
("WILL ALWAYS" Karin swooned as she followed the trombone's melody, clear spectacles gleaming.)
"Deviating from the usual formal parties can be relieving, most especially to you, Milady." Lady Hyuuga, who was rather bashful when she first met her, was now a bit confident now they got to know each other. "Besides, Lord Uchiha was invited to Naruto's bachelor's party. It is only right that I also invited you."
("LOOOVE" Tenten jumped up to steal Ino's microphone, belting out forcefully.)
"But with this? We need to open your presents."
("YOUUUH WOOH!" The chorus of an unharmonious voices rang unpleasantly on everyone's ears.)
"We both know what those gifts would be, Milady." Hinata replied with a slight flush across her face.
(And mashed notes of altos and sopranos warbled through the air, as the song finally ended.)
"Hah," Then the mistress of the Palace grinned. "But we'll still open them later."
"I don't want to sing anymore." Tenten finally had enough and plopped beside the two women.
"My vocal cords will snap any moment if I sing another Whitney." Karin flounced towards the slightly growing group.
"As if we wanted to hear it," Sakura grumbled beneath her breath as she bit off a strawberry pocky.
"Hey, let's hire some male strippers!" Ino then flounced on the girls with a predatory smile.
(Unfortunately, the confectionary lodged on Sakura's throat.)
"This is a bridal shower of Lady Hinata!" Tenten, who finally returned back to her senses, protested adamantly. "A respected heiress of the Hyuuga Clan. Besides she's too much innocent for such--"
"The guys probably hired some hookers." Karin grumpily added as she grabbed a piece of pocky from a Sakura who was trying to keep herself alive. "That's unfair to us."
"We're living in the twenty-first century!" Ino whooped. "Come on! Let's try to--"
"No." Hinata's pallid eyes were being reminiscent to the unsettling glare that Neji sometimes were given to everyone.
"They will not even dare to hire a menopausal old hag to striptease for them." Sakura quipped, red-faced and finally with respirations returned to normal.
"And why not?"
"Let's say I had a little talk," Lady Uchiha beamed innocently. "with Naruto."
"C'mon, you spoilsport!" The blonde's eyebrows waggled with mischief. "What they don't know wouldn't hurt them."
"But bridal showers are supposed to be only giving gifts to the brides." Sakura rebutted heatedly as she tried to reason out that this was not a good idea. "Not another stupid violation in tradition just to fulfill your perverted tendencies, Ino."
"A stupid violation in tradition, Milady?"
And then her cornflower-bright eyes met her mistress's challenging viridian gaze.
"Has anyone of you experienced a bridal shower?"
Then the girls fidgeted uncomfortably with the question.
"All of us are single. For example, you," she pointed to Karin. "are pining over a married man!"
(An infuriated gasp.)
"While you," she then turned to Sakura. "didn't even experience such a tradition, Milady."
(A scowl that would make any Uchiha proud.)
"While me," Ino huffed a breath. "I have conducted a fairly amount of--"
"Me." Someone spoke amusedly. "I had a bridal shower once."
Everyone turned their heads to the quiet busty blonde who sat cross-legged on the floor, swirling the clay cup filled with sweet sake. Her bronze eyes glittered with amused knowledge.
"And I've enjoyed it too."
"You?"
The females, except Shizune (who shook her head in anxiety), were in disbelief.
"You're married?"
"Were you really married?"
"You were youngonce?!"
"Of course, don't be ridiculous, girls. I was engaged, not married." Tsunade replied flippantly. "But he's already dead. Anyway," the (elderly) woman steered the subject away from herself to discuss the most serious topic at hand.
"Ino's suggestion is very entertaining--"
("Hah!")
"--but it's also very impractical."
("What!?")
"No one can enter the palace easily, with the way Lord Uchiha tightened the security, especially with this time of the night."
The blonde woman grimly gave a logical explanation, then added with a smirk.
"And besides, when your hen-pecked, alpha males find this out, I'll be hunted down to the ends of the earth because I'm the one who's responsible for you girls."
"So what are we supposed to do, Lady Tsunade?" Ino rolled her eyes in sarcasm. "Tea parties?"
"We don't bring men to dance for us." A maniacal gleam brightened the liquid amber orbs. "We watch them in action."
And, grabbing something from behind, she brought out a large box filled with expensive X-rated DVDs.
"So that Lady Hyuuga can give the Uzumaki Naruto some advice on the night itself."
"L-La-Lady Tsunade!" gasped Hinata, who swiftly lost that self-assured streak at this proposal.
"Perfect!" Ino then proceeded to set the DVD player on the provided widescreen.
Sakura groaned, glaring at the woman who always had fun bossing the younger females around her.
Tsunade cackled in response.
"You wouldn't need the visual guidance I provided, Milady."
"What?"
"Lord Uchiha is avery educated man, if you know what I mean."
And Sakura could not retort back as her blood filled pallid cheeks, because the background sound of a sultry saxophone cut her off when the lights dimmed.
Besides, there's no point in denying the truth.
x
"Why aren't you inside the chambers? It's already very late, Milady."
"It's better to wait for Lord Uchiha with some company." Sakura, still donned in her flowing crimson negligee and only covered with her light strawberry colored organza coat. "Besides, would you rather guard here alone in the halls?"
Both of the crimson-hued women, one with the lighter shade and the other one with a darker tone, were sitting on the couch demurely beside the open doors of the Uchiha Suite, chatting animatedly outside as they sipped over hot canned lemon teas.
"I wonder how they're doing. We had such a great time." Sakura laughed, relishing the warmth that radiated off from the aluminum.
"Knowing that shark teeth, he's probably drowning in alcohol for good riddance sake." Karin rolled her eyes as she took a long gulp from the container. "French men drink wine like water, after all."
"What?" Sakura did not bother to hide her concern. "But almost everyone lived in Francia."
"The worst thing that could happen?" Karin snorted as she responded with a glare at the unsuspecting can. "Dead-last forgetting that promise and every male are now piss-drunk after the bachelor's bash."
"I will really eradicate Uzumaki if he did--"
Then Sakura halted her banter when she heard a soft foot fall.
"They're here." The pink-haired mistress smiled as she stood up swiftly, much to the red-head's surprise, who did not even sense their presence.
Uchiha Sasuke was currently rolling his shoulders in exhaustion when he saw his wife with her thin organza robe loosened with her abrupt movement, revealing the thin wine-colored nightwear that she usually wore in her sleep.
(Casting a quick suspicious glance over his shoulder, it was good thing his two male companions didn't notice it yet.)
Before Sakura even had the second to trot towards him, Sasuke was already in front of her and seized the two swinging robe ties.
In a swift dexterity, he securely wound them around her waist.
Sakura seemed not to notice this act, as she merely planted a swift gentle peck on his cheek.
"How was it? Did Naruto do something stupid again?"
Sasuke did not consider responding amicably as he was still preoccupied with his present task.
Then the cute-button nose caught something unusual.
"Perfume."
(Was her robe becoming tighter?)
Her eyes then caught, on the pale collar of her husband, some smudged marks of a bright crimson--
"Lipstick."
Her emerald orbs hardened.
"There's lipstick all over you."
(Suigetsu stiffened in alarm.)
"What's this?"
The question was saccharine as a glutinous poisoned honey.
(Juugo was skillfully trying to keep his gaze away from his ladyship's inquiring stare.)
And because it's his duty to shield the Overlord in all possible calamities, Suigetsu(unwillingly) took the liability to be the victim of her interrogation.
"Milady! It wasn't our fault!"
The murderous young woman focused her rapt attention on him. "Go on."
"The dead-last really kept his promise! It's just he invited Lord Jiraiya! We didn't expect the women he brought with him! The next thing we know, they already draped themselves over us. It was a total accident, we swear--"
("There were hookers?!" Karin's glasses flintily sparked as she got whiff of what he was saying.)
"--it on our graves! We asked for Sir Hatake's help but he said it was a needed test of fidelity! And you know, Lord Uchiha was very praiseworthy for he glared at them and Lord Jiraiya even said that it was amazing, because there was no man in existence who could ever resist such huge, huge boo--"
"I don't need you to explain for him."
Suigetsu shut his mouth so hastily that it hurt.
The homicidal forest-hued glare turned to its full blast towards the young man who was still (really not) busy in tying the robe firmly on her waist. Even with her short height, she made the much taller guards flinch when she spoke in the most icy voice.
"Well, Milord,"
Sasuke finally stopped what he was doing and met her fearsome gaze coolly.
"Are they better than me?"
Using 'awkward silence' was an understated description for the anxiety-inducing moment.
("Give the right answer, Lord Uchiha.")
Suigetsu crossed his fingers in frightened anticipation as he muttered statements rapidly like a chant.
("We can't protect you, if you can't save yourself.")
"Hn."
("Just say that the bizarre word means, NO!")
The autocrat stoically replied with an almost contemplative frown on his face.
"You don't give lap dances."
("MILORD! Are YOU trying to kill yourseeelf?!")
"Oh."
("That's it, he's dead.")
The guard tried to rescue the young Uchiha from the grave that he dug himself into by trying to explain further.
"Milady, he was nearly gang-raped! Have mercy, Lady--"
But Suigetsu was stopped of his apprehensive rambling when Uchiha Sasuke raised an open hand to stop him from talking--
(And he could not speak even if he wanted to, along with his two baffled companions)
--because Uchiha Sakura fiercely pulled her husband's rumpled collar and overlapped her soft, tea-flavored lips to ravage their master's mouth.
When the woman paused to take a large quantity of air, she huskily breathed against his face.
"Lap dances?"
"With tomatoes." Sasuke added, looking dignified as ever, as if he wasn't even fazed with such an assault. "Dangling from their mouths."
("Hey!" Suigetsu protested. "There were no tomato--")
"Is that so?"
And Sakura, with an unanticipated prowess, grabbed him by his shirt inside the Uchiha Grand Suite.
(The three caught, before the door closed with a bang, that small triumphant, scary smirk that curved the cunning aristocrat's lips.)
"Did Lord Uchiha just tricked his wife," Suigetsu, who found it hard to glue back his unhinged jaw back to its joint, quietly said. "to give him a lap dance?"
"With tomatoes." Juugo managed to return to his post with his casual indifference.
"Yeah." Karin replied, broad-eyed and gaping.
OCTOBER
--the call of seduction beckons thee!—
(for allurement)
Sakura was busy in brushing her teeth, looking very relaxed indeed as she hummed in front of the mirror.
Then Sasuke arrived beside her, stood in front of the elongated porcelain sink and the mirror.
Jade and obsidian orbs met before they resumed to their own actions.
The man then grabbed his navy toothbrush and started to apply some cinnamon toothpaste over the white fine bristles, then grabbed a crystal glass to pour some rinsing water in it.
(This routine was unusual, because it was very rare for the couple to retire from their duties at the same time for the night. And now that Sakura was silently doing her nightly rituals with Sasuke in something ordinary was really--)
He started to gargle some water in his mouth without any unnecessary noise, very, very quietly and dignified.
(--really weird.)
She shook off the distracting thoughts in her head, as she returned to her current hygienic task by returning her gaze to the reflecting mirror.
But because her husband was a distraction, she glanced at him for a swift observation.
Then she noticed his boxers.
His new (because she never had seen this before) cotton royal blue, printed boxers.
Boxers that had tomatoes designed as its patterns.
The patterned tomatoes had stately crowns over them.
"What in the world are you wearing?"
The brush was still inside her gaping, foaming mouth.
Her husband merely raised his eyebrow, and looked nonplussed at her quaint reaction
Then he reciprocated her scrutinizing gaze by also staring at her nightgown.
And that was a mistake because the outfit could even hardly be called a garment.
It was a lingerie.
A dark burgundy two-piece lingerie only covered by that black, lace-striped, transparent, flimsy coat that barely stretched to her exposed flawless stomach and milky thighs.
"And you?" His voice was hinted with a tone of accusation.
"I feel like it!" She heatedly responded, with a blush that swiftly colored her pale skin. "You got a problem with this?"
Sakura was glaring while Sasuke was contemplative.
Then he spoke seriously.
"Are you seducing me?"
"No!"
They returned back to the tranquil stillness that wa s only broken by the silent brushing of polyester bristles. After wards, both grabbed their glasses at the same time, rinsed (the female was noisily gargling the cleansing liquid over her gums while the male was silently passing the water over his mouth.) and then they settled the crystal containers on the sink.
Then, because curiosity would never be satisfied till satiated, she asked.
"Were you seduced?"
Sakura placed the brush on the glass, trying her best not to look at him as she fixed her eyes at that pink tube of paste.
Then his mocking voice, impassive, spoke.
"Should I be?"
With her rising heart rate suddenly plummeting down along with her insides to the bottom pit of her stomach, she felt him leaving her side and going towards the exit of their luxurious bathroom. Disappointed olive eyes then gazed at her downcast expression on her reflection, then sighed as lithe shoulders sagged.
"I hoped so."
Turning her heel to leave the area, she was stunned to see him leaning with his firm, solid back on that smooth mahogany door frame.
He heard me?!
Her insides then clogged up towards her ribs in the sudden jolt of astonishment.
This is a disaster, a careless disaster. Try to minimize the damage, quick!
"Sasu—"
Her voice was caught, when Sasuke turned an eye on her, gazing at her silently.
"What if I am?"
And she couldn't help but let that tremulous smile to gently curve her lips as she walked towards him. Halting a few inches from his daunting figure, she let her fingers hover on his delicate, delicate face. His indecipherable steel eyes became half-lidded, as he gradually turned to her and grasped those dainty, lingering fingers with his coarse, callous hand and laid them on his flat-edged crevices of his chest.
"You don't seem like it." Her faint whispered words were soft, low enough to let this silence thrive.
The fluorescent light that spilled out towards their bed chambers was not sufficient to unveil his hooded (impassioned) stare.
"You think?" His skilled fingers were idly playing on that ebony velveteen ribbon that hung in the middle of the valleys of her brassiere, which held the onyx-colored derringer that clung reverently over her curves.
But both could not already think, for they were already too much preoccupied as their lips hovered, nearly brushing, nearly closing that dangerous proximity.
NOVEMBER
---and they demand nourishment!---
(for epiff annie)
It was seven o' clock in the evening on November thirty when Uchiha Sasuke was suddenly disturbed by the hyperactive loud-mouthed lieutenant who barged inside his office uninvited.
"Let's eat something exotic tonight, bastard!"
The Overlord continued to ignore the existence of that irritating dead-last and looked at his monitor in concentration.
"Come on!"
The rhythmical clacking of the keyboard answered the exuberant idiot.
"Sakura's in the kitchens!"
The blurring hands on the typewriting instrument stopped.
A clever foxy grin made its way to Naruto Uzumaki's face.
x
Uchiha Sakura was currently in the midst of an important decision-making chore to what type of broth to use as she again flitted around the stock of meats in the large freezer. She already decided to cook some light soup and crackers for tonight when Naruto, who was followed by a surly, scowling Uchiha behind, demanded with a shout at the kitchen's entrance.
"Lady Uchiha, can you cook something for dinner?"
Startled, she merely replied. "Huh?"
"It's for a special occasion! Tomorrow's the official start of winter!"
"What do you want then?"
"The idiot said something about exotic," A sarcastic quip from Sasuke. "if he knows what it means."
"You bastard! Of course, I know that!" He bellowed, creating ear-splitting shouts echoing in the thick walls of the mess room. "I want a very famous delicacy!"
"And that is?"
"It's--"
He whispered dramatically.
"the miso ramen!"
Both of his companions stared at him as if he mutated into a gross, booger-eating imbecile.
Then knowing that to force feed Naruto with something that involved green veggies and fruits would be unfeasible, Sakura accepted the task.
"I guess I have no choice."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"You'll make THE ramen?"
"With the best that I can."
"You mean it?"
"Stop it, Naruto, before I shove all of the raw meat into your big mouth."
"...okay."
And Naruto, who witnessed that an infuriated Sakura could be quite scary, sat on a hard, round stool and patiently waited for the Lady of the Palace to finish gathering ingredients for ramen.
"I can't believe it's already December!" The excited groom was now talking to the disgruntled Sasuke, who took a seat across his blonde, stupid friend and was trying to hold in his patience in tethers. "I'm going to be a husband in a few days!"
"Everyone will be calling her an Uzumaki sooner or later. But Hyuuga isn't bad, though."
(Sakura waited for the explosion.)
"And then we'll be having babies."
(Because surely, this was the foreboding calm before the freaking storm.)
"And my kids will be able to beat the crap out of you, bastard!"
It was too fast for the naked eye, but Sakura saw that minute muscle in his thumb twitch
(So, she intervened.)
"Sasuke, what would you like? I can cook something el--"
"It's fine." He responded, the anger diffusing unexpectedly.
"Yeah, Sasuke loves ra--"
"I can only tolerate them, you moron."
(But just in case, Sakura already picked up some fresh tomatoes from the baskets.)
x
The blond soldier was patiently sitting on the hard stool chair as Sakura started on creating the broth by placing some fresh chicken stock, as well some thick miso paste, to boil in a huge silver pot.
There was only the happy simmering of the aromatic soup that accompanied the silence.
And because the Uchihas knew Naruto very well, they expected him to break it.
"I was thinking about something."
"That's a nice surprise, Naruto."
"Oh, c'mon, you're becoming like that bastard here!" Naruto glared at the cause of the evil transformation of the sweet Lady Uchiha, who merely smirked at the taunt. "I'm being serious!"
"What is it, then?" She hummed as she was sliced some scallops into equal thick sheets.
"I've been thinking of baby names for my kids and because I'm going to be the godfather--"
The rhythmical thudding of the knife on the chop board came to a halt.
"--for the next generation of the Uchiha Clan, I already prepared the list of their names too!"
("But I will not agree to bear you an heir! Do I make myself perfectly clear?")
A pair of dark eyes stared at the way her spine became rigid with tension.
(It was her most brutal sentence in their wedding night.)
Her voice was lifting, though, when she responded airily with a beaming smile.
"Twenty four is still quite a young age to conceive, Naruto."
"Nah, it's enough!" Naruto answered. "Besides, you'll make a great mother, Milady."
"We'll see." A finger tapped the steel table, green eyes alight with consideration.
"No." An immediate answer came from Sasuke.
"Eh?" Sakura glanced at her husband in surprise.
"He'll name them after some stupid ramen ingredient."
"What's wrong with Shiitake? It's pretty nice!"
"On second thought," Sakura, who was earlier going to approve with Naruto's request, saw the wisdom in Sasuke's decision if she refused the gracious offer. "I think Lord Uchiha is right."
"How about Shiyo? Shouyu? I'm considerate enough to choose something near to your characters!"
"You stupid dead-last." Sasuke sardonically retorted.
"No, Naruto." Sakura giggled as she shaped the crab meat into cubes. "It isn't close enough."
"Sapporo?"
"That's a place, dumbass."
"It's the birth place of miso ramen, bastard! Do not disrespect it!"
"Really, don't try too hard." The pink-haired woman then offered some mahogany chopsticks to the ravenous males who were surely were overworked for the day. "You'll be the godfather. I'm sure, someday—
(Nobody noticed the glacier obsidian eyes widened for a fraction in surprise, because she unconsciously lit something in him, making his murky gaze glint like a sliver of sunlight behind grey rain clouds.)
"--even without the name-giving."
"And I'm going to be a lovable godfather!" And then the blonde exclaimed with his fist in the air, emphasizing his promise with a laugh. "I'll definitely spoil them, because the bastard is a control freak."
"I won't even trust you to hold a chi-"
Uchiha Sasuke was scathingly going to remark something about the idiotic blonde when he suddenly stood up, much to the astonishment of the two.
"Phone call." The man merely responded to their inquiring faces and then walked a certain distance away from the entrance to answer his vibrating compact phone.
But it was impertinent to provide himself with some privacy, because Naruto and Sakura were both curious, trying to eavesdrop on the conversation as they leaned their ears against the door frame with the noodle making set aside for the meanwhile.
"Speak." The dark-haired man greeted.
"Tsunade." He then acknowledged the other person in the line, staring at the ebony expanse of the horizon beyond the glass panel windows. "Yes. I noticed."
A pair of slate-shaded eyes glazed.
(in astonishment?)
He then glanced sharply at Sakura, who only raised her pink brows incredulously.
(in trepidation?)
"I understand. I'll come tomorrow with her."
(and was that a glimmer of happiness?)
But she didn't understand why Sasuke was staring at her with such fervor(tenderness) while he slid the gadget shut.
He fluidly paced towards her, past a surprised wide blue-eyed blonde and grasped her wet hand.
"You are going to bed." Despite the demanding order, it was softly spoken. "Now."
"But bastard, it's only eight thirty on the clock! And she's making some ra--"
"Naruto."
And both were slightly alarmed that he didn't insult the young, golden-haired soldier with the usual barb.
"Excuse us."
And they left the perplexed dead-last, as Sasuke (carefully) led his wife to their bedroom.
DECEMBER
--what is in a name?--
(for sorceressmyr)
It was quiet and bitterly cold, as the first day of the month summoned upon the start of the freezing southern gales to gently caress their naked, alabaster-white skin. A rare, stray sheen illuminated them, creating ink ghost-silhouettes of the barren canopies outside.
(He would not dare to close his eyes, because the contentment that was filling him--)
He stared at her half-asleep countenance, a soft, soft smile on those lips adorning her.
(--might vanish instantly, be gone in his slipping grasp, like the meaning of her fragile, fleeting name.)
"Sakura."
(No.)
"Hmm?"
(For her to be taken away from him was not a possibility.)
She moved over the circle of his warm limbs and faced him, with eyes still closed and her arms splayed on the covers.
(His name would never accept such failures.)
"Suizei."
(Because he's anUchiha. An ancient title that would never bend against powerful winds.)
"Suizei?" She repeated in surprise, with her eyebrows furrowed together, confused for a moment.
(Because beingSasuke meant that he was burdened with the responsibility to protect.)
But when a casual arm, warm and freezing at the same time, wrapped her slowly growing waist--
(He would never let anyone to squander this small, precious thing--)
--a heartbeat, a second, an iota of eternity later, she breathed in understanding.
(--that he grew so accustomed of, that it bordered to the point of need.)
"Oh."
(For he believed in the very start, that he only had to earn her trust to avoid her suspicions)
A hand gently took the coral strands that hung on her sun-kissed cheeks and relished their softness in his fingers as he idly stared them with a soft smirk on his face.
(that he could get out of this deceit easily even when he lowered his defenses
"It's suitable for him."
(But when everything became so natural, that it was so much easy letting loose--)
She moved across the silken dark covers and smiled slowly as her spring green morning eyes lit up.
(--that's when he began to desire a future filled of blissful smiles and luminescent eyes.)
"How can you be so sure, Sasuke?"
(A dream that was preposterous from the very beginning.)
"That it's a boy?"
(So he took a determined, stubborn vow over his infallible name that he will do everything)
"I know."
(anything)
Her lips curled in mirth, trying to hold that burst of giggles.
"You're impossible."
(to make their illusion into a reality.)
And in response, as the well-built game of pretenses finally crumbled upon her sweet laughter, his wind burnt lips softly brushed over her forehead.
Author's notes (that I hope someone will read, because it's important):
1) Year Three is the most whimsical, light-hearted of all the three year-part of the second volume. It relates Sakura's important relationships, not only with her family, but to the people inside that majestic household. It reaffirms that she was not only considered as Lady Uchiha, but as Sasuke's wife.
It is also shows to the readers that Sasuke and Sakura are now more comfortable open in showing their affections, even in the presence of individuals, unlike the last two years where they were wary of the other half. (Letting loose, indeed.) The year was also (intentionally) filled with the non-stop clamor for an Uchiha baby. (And yes, that request and their pestering finally came into fruition!)
2) Again, some of the information and used pictures are already posted in my profile. (Withthe Latin words/Japanese names translated.)
The prologue is related with the italicized story in Volume One. (It's actually the main story.)
And so no one will be confused, the next Volume (Volume Three) will start where we left off on December/Year Three and the format of Volume One will now return.
3) And lastly, I want to say thank you to everyone who read this fanfic, despite of the babbles and the texts and eyestrains I forced upon you. I hope I did not kill you with this length, again. Uhm, I apologize with the lack of smut. (Do not murder and disembowel me, please? X3) There are just too many sexual innuendos in this chapter, but I could not find the guts to continue them further.
The names under the months are those individuals who inspired me to write for Sasusaku. I'm eternally grateful for your support and for your incredible talents touching me. (hugs) divine sunshine, I dedicate the prologue of Year Three/Volume Two to you.
I hope these three years have succeeded in its attempt to make everyone smile, even for a bit, to make you feel what the Uchiha couple is now happily experiencing. (Did I? 3) As always, criticisms and speculations are welcome.
--And I hide under the rock again.—
