Sakura stared at Sasuke as his presence filled her living room. She thought of the boy he was, the man he had become, and the journey that led him from point A to point B. She looked at his constantly brooding face as she remembered their sordid history from day one to present.
Her heart twisted when her gaze fell to his left arm, or lack thereof. She remembered when she found the two men she loved most in the world, one romantically and one platonically, almost dead from blood loss. She had been tormented time and time again by the knowledge that she almost lost them both that day. And, without them, they never could have woken everyone up.
He looked at her then and, Gods be praised, he actually smiled. She could still see the darkness lurking in his eyes but there was also genuine happiness present. The sight took her breath away. It had been so long since she'd seen him smile.
"Why are you smiling?" The question left her lips before she could help it. She didn't mean to risk ruining the tender moment. Much to her surprise, his smile broadened.
"Why wouldn't I be smiling?" Was all he asked in response.
"A forced marriage and a missing best friend generally leave little to smile about." And he shrugged. He ACTUALLY shrugged. It made her want to hit him. Until he responded.
"The engagement hasn't been announced yet and, knowing Naruto, he'll return. He loves the village too much not to. And, until my engagement is officially annonced, I'm a free man. Also currently in the company of the only woman I can tolerate for extended periods of time." She thought about the indirect compliment and smiled at him.
Even though he wasn't a very affectionate man and he wasn't very open about his feelings, he was the only man she wanted. She knew he loved her and he regularly made that known in his own special ways. Even if she could never get him to say it outright, she knew just about everything he felt.
"Well, aren't you just a charmer." She leaned her head on his shoulder and, when he didn't pull back, lovingly caressed his right arm.
He turned his head and she could feel his gaze on her. He cupped her chin in his hand and tilted her head to look into her eyes. His gaze was intense, all humor gone, and filled her body with an unfamiliar warmth. Instinctively, she closed her eyes and leaned closer to him. She felt his face inching closer to hers and her breath caught in her throat.
His kiss was deep and warm, captivating her every sense. She was completely absorbed in the kiss with the man she loved. She thought of all the times in her short life that she'd yearned for this moment. And it was perfect.
When Sasuke pulled back, she was breathless. She could feel the heat in her cheeks and folded her hands in her lap, refusing to look at him. She didn't want the moment to end. Now that it had, she remembered he wasn't hers. He was an engaged man, even if the engagement was forced. He forced her to look in his eyes then. They were full of a tenderness she had never seen there.
"Right now, in this moment, I am yours." He spoke as if he could see right into her mind and she was trying hard to believe what he said.
"Yes. Right now you are. But soon you'll be Hinata's." His expression changed to one of hurt determination.
"Sakura, I have travelled the world since the war ended seeking my redemption in whatever form it may come. I have met many women. Always, whenever a woman made advances toward me, I compared them to you. And not a single one of them even came close. I know that soon I'll be married but I will always be yours." His words hurt her to the very core of her being.
"Don't tell me that. Why would you do this to me Sasuke?" She stood then, clenching her fists at her sides. Her emotions were tumbling over one another in no discernable order, throwing her mind into chaos.
"What do you want me to do then, Sakura? Lie to you? Tell you that you're no more important to me than those irritating women that throw themselves at me?" She could tell he was angry, his emotions more than likely mimicking her own.
"You never admitted what you felt to me before. Why start now? After you're engaged. To one of my best friend's." She was keeping her voice level but she could hear the venom in it.
"You started this Sakura. You backed me into a corner this morning. Or have you forgotten?" He was making no effort to keep from shouting.
"I just wanted...I just wanted to know you cared." She could feel the tears in her eyes and tried to hold them in.
Sasuke surprised her by turning her around to face him and pushing her into the wall behind her. His eyes were hard. Layers of anger and bitterness clouding the hurt there. If it were anyone else, they probably wouldn't have seen it.
"You wanted to know I cared? I have spent my entire life hating the world for what it has done to me. I spent years running from you and Naruto, in particular. Because I thought the bonds I had with you were a weakness. After the war, I left. With you on my mind every step of the way. I am here, in your living room, with you, rather than checking on my rather distraught fiancee. I do care about the Hyuuga. How could I not? The only brother I have left loves her. But, instead of being with her, where I should be, I'm with you. And you have to question if I care." She could tell by the tenseness of his muscles that he was forcing himself to stay where he was. She looked up into his eyes, her tears spilling freely. And she slapped him.
The look of absolute surprise on his face made her want to laugh. If he hadn't kissed her then, she would have. Something about this kiss was different. Her lips molded effortlessly to his as the urgency engulfed her. There was a need in this kiss that she wasn't familiar with. She groaned when he licked her bottom lip and he slid his tongue into her mouth. She felt his swollen manhood press against her abdomen and knew then that she couldn't deny him. She would never deny him.
KawaiiKitsune13, I'm sorry about that. Just bear with me and I appreciate your continued interest.
NaruHina4890, I'm trying to take my time. I just kind of write when the need hits me. I have been proofreading more than when I first started this.
amj338, Thank you. I will contniue to share and hope you continue to read and enjoy.
angstyteenmuffin, put yourself in Hinata's shoes. Wouldn't you be just a little whinier than normal?
NH SHIPPER, sure it's just for them. Lol. Glad it's touching your feels.
anne12fink I update as often I can. Got a new job and am grabbing up all the hours I can lol. But I will post as frequently as my strange hours allow.
Lycnatora out