Chapter 10 - Home
Sasuke had a hunch where his pink-haired ninja might be and hoped he was right.
He landed onto the gravel and touched the front gate with tender anticipation. As it opened, and the main road stretched out in front of him, he closed the gate and sighed. Home.
He followed further toward his home and when he was able to see the house he caught a smell in the air. He didn't stop but it caused him a moment of pause in his mind. It smelled like his mother's cooking. Her unique recipes and herbs of choice always made eating at home a preference.
He was on the planks of the porch when he heard female humming. The tune was unknown to him but he definitely liked it.
Sasuke slid the door open silently and leaned in the doorway. He couldn't help himself.
Sakura grabbed a thick cloth and pulled a dish from the oven and closed its door. She hummed as though there wasn't a care in the world. Her hair had gotten slightly longer since he had last seen her. It gracefully lay against her shoulders as she worked. Covered dishes of hot food were in rows along the counter. Sakura had not sensed him yet and he enjoyed the fact that she was oblivious to him. Watching her candidly made him able to read her without her walls. Even though she had been open with him for the most part, he still worried that she kept a few inner walls up for the chance that he didn't return to his former freedom.
He didn't know how long he watched her but she turned to throw something in the trash can and gasped in surprise. Her hand flew to her chest as though he gave her a heart-attack.
"You're home," she replied as she settled her breathing.
"You're cooking," he responded.
"How long have you been standing there?"
"How long have you been cooking?"
"Are we going to play this all day?"
He walked toward her without any response and grinned when she studied him for a sign as to what he was thinking.
"Why are you cooking my mother's recipes?" His voice couldn't have gotten any more tender and Sakura felt tingles go up her spine.
"Well…I wanted you to have a good homecoming so I did the first thing taught to me."
"Which is?"
"The best gift to give a male is food and I guessed that you'd prefer to have something from your mother's books rather than mine."
Sasuke thought back to a conversation he had with her a long time ago about her mother being a vegetarian. "You're correct."
Sakura smiled and motioned for him to sit, "Come, I'll dish you out whatever you want."
He watched silently as she went from bowl to bowl giving him the portions he nodded at and finally he had everything he could ever want on his plate. Memories flashed throughout the meal but he took them in strides and didn't dwell on them. Sakura was pleased that everything had turned out well and he congratulated her on a perfect meal. Her cheeks blushed as she picked up her empty plate and reached for his.
Sasuke scanned her arm and saw old bruises healing. She didn't see him notice them so she walked to the sink and started washing the plates. She was putting the leftovers in the ice-box when Sasuke walked up behind her and gently hugged her from behind. She stilled within his embrace and he could feel her calming sigh.
"Did your father give you those?"
She looked down at her wrist and shrugged, "It's nothing. He called it 'payment' for my disobedience."
"I don't want to be the reason you're cut off from your family."
"Don't worry, I understand that there are sacrifices to be made in life and if loving you causes me to be happy without them, then so be it."
"I don't want you to regret it."
"I already told you, I'd give anything to be by your side."
Sakura found herself being turned and grasped before she realized what had happened. His chest was under her cheek and her body couldn't have been closer to his. He was holding her so tightly, yet so sincerely, she could feel the seams of her shirt starting to give way.
"If it were up to me, you'd be by my side every moment of every day."
Her heart soared as he whispered into her hair and slowly started to let go of her. He pulled her face away but his expression changed as he noticed something.
"Are you shivering?"
Sakura smiled, "I can't tell if I'm cold or if I'm just so overwhelmed that you said that." He released her forearms and started to take off his long jacket.
Sakura noticed the fans for a second time and pride grew slightly in her chest.
Sasuke wrapped her in it and helped her get her arms in the sleeves.
She sensed the warmth envelope her skin as she felt the outer layer with her hands.
"Are you sure you won't need it?"
"Positive."
"Arigatou. It's so warm already…"
Sasuke's eyes caught the family emblem and he couldn't shake the feeling that he'd seen this moment before. Ignoring the thought, he clasped her upper arms and pulled her to him.
Her arms were folded between them and she tugged the sleeves around her hands as the coat fit snug across her shoulders.
They left the kitchen to sit on the couch so they'd be comfortable and cuddled together. They talked about many things, and even though it was mostly Sakura talking, both were enjoying themselves.
When the sun set and they had to light the lanterns, Sakura smiled regretfully.
"It's getting late." She got up and walked to the window. The night crickets were chirping and the stars were peeking through the sparse clouds.
"The jacket looks good on you," was his only reply.
Sakura turned to read his face and blushed when there was more in his eyes than she had expected.
"The emblem…looks good on you, too," Sasuke got up and walked toward her. He ignored the way her feminine hand dropped from the sill and the sweet curve of her jaw so he wouldn't take her there and then.
The glow of the candles couldn't have been any more intoxicating and the closeness of him was enough to make her dizzy. She wasn't scared, she wasn't frightened…she was just unsure of what he was thinking. Did his eyes really mean what they were telling her or was she reading into them too much?
"Sasuke…" she murmured before he covered her mouth with his index finger.
"I want you to keep it."
She searched his face, "Nande? The jacket?"
"Hai," he said and his face relaxed into a small grin, "you need it more than I do if you're going to always run around in that too-revealing, sleeveless shirt."
She whacked him on the arm and smiled back, "Be nice, it's what Tsunade recommended I wear because we'd ruin sleeves with our jutsus."
"Then maybe I shouldn't let you have it—"
"No!" she exclaimed before she stopped herself. Turning a dark shade of red, she smiled again, "I promise I won't hurt the jacket."
Sasuke let his full smirk peek out and nodded, "Good."
Just then a knock sounded at the door.
"Sakura?" the voice outside called.
"It's Ten-Ten looking for me."
Sasuke knew it was and so didn't say anything. He watched Sakura answer the door and told her friend that she'd be there in a minute. She came back in and grabbed her sack from the end table.
Sakura paused in thought and looked up at him. "Will I see you tomorrow?"
"Of course."
--
Sasuke knew as he watched the two women walk away from his house that he was ready to love. He was ready to give up his restrictions to one woman and that woman had climbed her way into his heart way before he even realized that she had.
As kids, he had been protective and yet he stood his distance. He knew of the fan girls that assured him of their undying affection but none had appealed to him. Even when Sakura had admitted her feelings, he wasn't sure why she had loved him and so he didn't quite believe her. Her words had intensified his need to get away and sort it out without hurting her or himself.
Now he was sure that she had been telling the truth, that all she was loved all that he was.
Sighing in the cool night air gave him a distinct resolve…even if she deserved better than him.
--
Ten-Ten smiled from beside Sakura.
"Have you been there all day?"
"Hai…" she answered kind of dreamily.
"What happened?"
Sakura explained their day from cooking the meal, his startling appearance, and having a long conversation with him while wearing his jacket.
"He gave that to you?"
"Weird, huh?"
"He's definitely changed for the better," Ten-Ten agreed with an encouraging smile.
"I'm just glad that he's free and his house is back to its proper state…"
"I think there's more you're glad about," Ten-Ten replied with meaning in her voice.
"Sakura."
The girls looked up and were both shocked to see Sasuke there in the road a few paces away.
"Is something the matter?" she asked coming up to him.
"No, but I need to say something…"
"I'll wait for you at the apartment," Ten-Ten said and then sped off.
She waited but a moment before Sasuke ran his thumb over her cheek and smiled, "I want you."
Sakura searched his face in silence.
"I want you as my eternal spouse. Tell me you'll be mine."
"I'm yours until I breathe my last."
"Tomorrow?"
"Hai."
Epilogue
The two got married the next day with just their close friends as the witnesses and her mother came to support her daughter's decision. The party they had afterwards was held at Ten-Ten's apartment with refreshments and food.
Not surprisingly, the couple left their friends early to start their lives together in the comfort of their new bed-partner's arms.