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Sakura, normally shy about exposing herself around her husband, carefully nudged her shirt up and over her head, uncaring as she approached the washroom. She grimaced at how gruesome she looked in the mirror, dried blood caked up her side, lip still dribbling blood, and the side of her jaw turning a deep shade of purple.
Mumbling obscenities, she ignored Sasuke's sudden intrusive presence at the door as she struggled to locate a wash cloth. Accidentally, her eyes glanced to his in the mirror, their coal depths burning with something she didn't recognize
"Go lie down." Sasuke ordered as he approached, pushing her away from the vanity. Sakura blinked as he began retrieving bandages and medicinal ointments that she normally only kept in the house for him.
"Uh, Sasuke? I can heal myself, remember? I just had t-"
"Lie. Down." The words were a threat this time, his movements halting as he shot her a glare.
Sakura, about fed up with him at this point, debated the consequences of disobeying him. Ultimately done fighting for the night, she sighed tiredly and breathed "Yeah, okay."
Her bed welcomed her like an old friend, warm and comforting as she lay on her side, presenting her side wound to open air. Sakura could handle pain, she had gotten her ass handed to her on a couple of missions, but she was not familiar with lingering injuries. The medic nin normally keeping herself healed or healing immediately after a confrontation.
She felt the bad dip beside her and heard items tumble onto the soft surface, reminding her that Sasuke's behavior was extremely uncommon. Forehead creasing, Sakura tried to remember a time where he took care of her, or even volunteered for it, and came up short.
Sakura opened her mouth but snapped it shut at the feel of a warm, damp wash cloth running down her flank. Her stomach curled in knots at the feel of Sasuke's individual fingers guiding the fabric, leaving tingles along in her skin. Flushed, Sakura buried her face in the pillow to hide her crimson blush.
Why does this have to happen now! Maybe he's… doing it on purpose?
"Am I hurting you?" Sasuke asked, the innocence in the question answering her musings.
Sakura, head still firmly planted in the pillow, shook her head. He was making it very difficult for her to stay upset with him while he had his hand on her.
"Sakura, breathe." He whispered directly next her head, his warm breath tickling her ear. She found that she enjoyed the sensation a little too much, until she realized that she was, in fact, holding her breath.
Eyes widening at his proximity, she let out her pent up breath with a gush and attempted to raise herself up on her arms. As soon as her pink head left the pillow, Sasukes hand was on her shoulder, holding her in place as he continued his methods.
Sakura huffed "I am capable of taking care of myself. I have been doing fine all this time."
"Obviously. If you make a routine out of drinking half a jug of sake and wandering around in the dead of night, than so far you have been doing a great job caring for yourself." Sasukes replied, tone hard, and Sakura caught the hint that he wasn't happy with her late night endeavors.
Disconcerted, she turned her head to the side to sneak a peek at her husband, though he wore a blank expression with eyes fixed on his task. Each individual pass of the cloth on her skin left her all the more sensitive and slightly dizzy.
"Are you going to tell me?"
Sakura stayed silent, discreetly healing her lip and jaw, relief from the constant throb on the side of her face soothing.
"Sakura."
"I… I took care of it." She murmured.
"Hold still."
As soon as she registered his words, it was too late. Fire ripped up her side, digging into the raw skin her exposed flesh.
Sakura cried out, voice cracking "What the hell are you doing!?" She tried to shimmy away, but Sasuke held her firm against the mattress.
He calmly responded "I told you to hold still. I'm disinfecting it."
"And I told you I can heal it myself! There's no need to torture me." Successfully dislodging his hand, Sakura slid to the other side of the bed, eyes pricking with tears she swore would not let fall.
Exasperated, Sasukes voice came behind her " Dear God woman, just let me take care of you!"
Sakura jumped up and spun in place, eyeing her husband in bewilderment. Her brain couldn't puzzle it out, unable comprehend Saskues words. His expression appeared troubled, dark eyes a turbulent storm as he remained seated on the edge of the bed, watching her.
H-he wants to t-take care of me?
Sakura repeated his outburst over and over in her head, each time causing her pulse to flutter. With a sudden realization, she was ashamed to admit that she had been taking out the day's events on him, when none of it was really his fault.
I may have overreacted, just a bit.
It didn't matter he had another mission or he wasn't home often, because to Sakura, that was more people he was helping, redeeming himself bit by bit to the village. When he was home, she never took that time for granted, spending precious seconds together as possible. Sakura was never one to delude herself, she knew when she married the aloof Sasuke that their days would not be spent conversing about their feelings. Her husband was a man of action, preferring to show her his affections through soft touches throughout the day, or lacing his fingers with hers when she was buried in a mountain of text.
Grinning sheepishly, she walked around the bed and stood directly in front of him, reaching over to grab a jar of salve and placing it next to his one hand as a sign of truce. Never once taking his eyes from hers, Sasuke reached out, hooked his finger at the top of her pants and pulled her to stand between his spread knees. The top of his dark head was even with her collar, bringing her attention back to her state of dress.
Needing a distraction, Sakura rambled as he scooped a healthy amount of cream from the jar "Uh, so, you got back in earlier from usual this time. I guess I should be happy you didn't get stuck in that terrible storm. Though, getting back out of the village with all that snow on the ground is going to make traveling a nightmare. Make sure you take your thicker scarfs so your face doesn't get frostbit."
"Hmm." Sasuke breathed, cautiously applying the chilled balm to her wound, drawing a groan of content from her as the throbbing in her side lessened.
"For someone who hasn't received any medical training, you are pretty good at this." Sakura didn't intend for her voice to sound so breathy.
"I watch you do it all the time. It was easy to pick up on." He said casually, solely concentrated on his task, rubbing the lotion in maddening circles.
That was news to Sakura, thinking back to the times she dragged him to the clinic where, most of the time, he reclined against the nearest wall and stared out the window.
He was watching me the entire time?
Objective accomplished, Sasuke cleaned his hand and reached for the bandage next. Holding up the edge of the white cloth to her, Sakura acted as his other arm as he wrapped it around her abdomen, helping him when it was needed.
He's really serious about this.
Sakura had been so upset with him earlier, only considering her own feelings and struggles. She felt so selfish now in front of this man, whom had worked so hard not display weakness in front of others, as he struggled to patch up his perfectly capable wife. He only asked her for an explanation once, not out of lack of concern, but out of consideration for her, choosing to trust that she took care of the problem alone. Earlier, she had questioned the depth of his feelings for her, but failed to remember the very reason why she married him.
There couldn't possibly be another living soul that loves another as much as I do you.
Sakura flinched when she felt his Sasukes hand, rough and calloused from battle, cup her cheek, his thumb wiping away the tears she didn't even know she produced. Placing her slight hand over his, she held him there, silent tears streaming down her face.
They stayed like that for a while, until Sakura whispered brokenly "I missed you. I drank sake and watched the snow fall as I thought of how the storm reminded me of your eyes."
Sasuke, expression unguarded the likes of which she had never seen, took his hand from hers and wrapped his arm around her freshly bandaged waist, pulling her flush against him. He rested his head in the junction of her neck and shoulder, warm breath fanning over the sensitive skin there and sending goosebumps skittering over her flesh.
I wonder if he can hear how fast my heart is beating right now?
With a sigh, Sakura tentatively wrapped her arms around his neck, fingers lightly brushing the ends of his hair. Her pulse beating madly, she asked softly "When do you have to leave? I'm sure your team is waiting for you…"
Sakura gasped as she felt his lips graze up her neck, pressing light kisses along the way, stopping at her ear "I'm not going anywhere."
Ah, God, I can't… I… did he just bite my ear?
The sharp nip at her ear lobe summoned an inappropriate sound from her, Saskues deep chuckle rumbling in her ear. She felt her body heat up as he moved his lips once more, this time coming to rest a hairbreadth away from hers. She felt drunk again, his intoxicating scent of fresh fallen snow making her head spin, the overwhelming heat of his body reminded Sakura of standing too close to a fire.
Dangerous, scared of getting burned, but the heat like a drug that pulled her in closer to touch the flames.
Sakuras lips grazed his as she whispered "S-sauke…"
"Kiss me." Sasukes commend set her body to shivers, his eyes a midnight blizzard as he stared into hers.
Eyelids dropping, she fell into him.
Oh, what do we have here? A little one-on-one time between husband and wife! Now kids, next chappie is gonna be graphic, fair warning. If you are already not informed of the birds and the bee's, then you might just want to stop here. If you are, well, you should be pleased.
Work. Has been. Killing. Me. I have been trying to write fanfiction between sleep and work, but it has been more difficult then I originally surmised. I apologize for lagging behind on this chappie, but I did it, and that is all that counts!
Thank you for reading and please review! It gives me life!
-Pepper
I don't own Naruto. All original characters named belong to the original works of Masashi Kishimoto, and are not my intellectual property. There is no financial gain made from this nor will any be sought. This is for entertainment purposes only. So yeah, please don't sue. Thanks.
