Well, this probably won't happen again, but early update. Non stop writing for me these past few days. Don't expect another quick update though. I'm not that good.
This chapter is for CherryLove212. They reviewed and told me their birthday is coming soon. So Happy Early Birthday! I gift you with a chapter. Enjoy!
This hoping someone will do me the honor of making this story a cover. You'll be my best friend.
Chapter 12
The Weight of the Club
Sakura awoke slowly, the room still dark as it was obvious that it was extremely early. She should still be sleeping, like Sasuke was. He seemed to be sleeping peacefully, his arms tight around her, holding her. Their usual position had switched last night. Instead of her sleeping on him, he slept on her. His head was cushioned on her breast with an arm at her waist and the other holding her hand. Her free hand rested on his head, where she had fallen asleep stroking his messy hair. Idly she was amazed at how still he was in his sleep. Once he was out, he was out, completely dead to the world.
Without moving too much she was able to glance up at the clock to see it was a little past seven. She should be sleeping still. She wanted to be sleeping still, but she knew sleep would not come to her now. Instead she will lay with in her Sasuke's grasp, her mind still swirling with what happened last night.
She had been an anxious mess, worried and anxious for Sasuke's and the boys return. Hinata still refused to tell her what was happening and she was left to just sit and wonder, her mind coming up with many terrible, terrible things. She imaged the boys would burst through the door any moment, dragging their wounded. She imaged Sasuke shot or stabbed or something, coated in blood and leaving a bloody trail everywhere he went. She imagined trying to stop his bleeding without her first aid kit with all of her supplies and had even paced around the club for a half hour, eying different tools she could possibly use to stitch up wounds or stop massive hemorrhaging without the proper tools.
She had already decided that she would use the large table in the chapel as her worktable, located towels to act as gauze, located a very small first aid kit with practically nothing in it, and found a knife she had deemed worthy enough to be used as a makeshift scalpel when the doors swung open and the boys marched in. She was relieved to note that no one seemed to be injured but she noted that they seemed to be in a somber mood. Sasuke especially, she noticed when her eyes finally spotted him.
He was puffing intensely on a cigarette, the stub burnt down nearly to nothing. He immediately went to an ashtray and stubbed it out before reaching into his pocket and grabbing another. An old lady was sitting next to him now, quickly reached out with a lit flame before his could pull out his lighter. He bent forward, lighting the stick while keeping it between his lips and took a long puff. He nodded his head in thanks, and maybe even approval as the woman beamed as if she had sealed a pleasant future by getting on his good side, before he turned away from her and looked around the room. His eyes found her, his face carefully blank but she could somehow tell he wanted something. She went to him without hesitation.
He didn't give her a kiss like she expected, only grabbed her hand and led her over to a low table in the center of the room. He pulled out two chairs quickly, facing one another, and the plopped down in one wordlessly with his legs parted wide. Sakura quickly took the other while his long legs stretched out, one of his feet slipping into the gap between her ankles to rest under her chair. He took another long drag and released it into the air while the other boys sat down around them, quietly chatting about nothing of importance.
She looked to him for explanation but got nothing except a blank face and a tired posture. Their hands were still linked, tightly for her and almost lazily for him, but he didn't seem to be paying attention to much of anything even her. He was staring into space, a contemplative look on his face as he stared over his father's shoulder. She continued to wait, knowing that they were not alone and it was best to stay silent and wait for him to speak to her. She had a feeling he would speak only of what happened only when they were alone and he did not feel the pressure of being the VP.
Temari suddenly approached, hovering nearby them. "Did everything go well?"
Sasuke waved the hand holding the cigarette in the air dismissively while Gaara looked up from his quiet mutterings with Minato. He eyed his blonde sister and then dismissed her as well; something she didn't seem to like as her shoulder tensed and an angry look crossed her face.
"Don't worry about it," he muttered before returning to his conversation.
She huffed angrily. "Don't worry, you say. Of course I'm going to worry. It was my two brothers and the love of my life out there doing god knows what."
Sasuke's hand suddenly came alive, squeezing her hand tightly. Sakura looked at their clasped hand and then up to him. His shoulders were tense now, his eyes shut tight and his jaw clenched. Sakura rubbed circles on the back of his hand with her thumb, trying to sooth him. His hand twitched in her grasp but did not loosen.
Temari was looking at him now while he was making an effort to ignore her. She stepped closer but his eyes snapped open to glare at her before she could get much closer. She halted a few steps away, uncertain before she gained her nerve again.
"I wanna know what happened tonight," she stated to Sasuke, her hands firmly planted on her waist.
Another old lady came to the table carrying shot glasses and a bottle of whiskey. She passed out the glasses and then quickly filled them. Sasuke gladly took his offered one and knocked it back, slamming it down on the table when it was empty. He toyed with the glass, spinning it.
"Don't worry about it, club business," he muttered.
Her eyes narrowed and her face scrunched up. "And I'm sure you are going to tell her, right?" she said while pointing to Sakura. Sakura tensed, but otherwise made an effort to try to look unaffected by the conversation.
Sasuke sighed and before releasing Sakura's hand to rub it down his face. "Yeah, I am, but that's really not any of your business," he muttered.
She sneered. "Oh, that's just great. You're gonna tell your little pinky girlfriend but you won't tell me."
Sasuke sat up straighter, turning to glare at her. "Aye, knock it off. We aren't talking about this. You leave her alone, got it?"
Somehow his defensive response pleased Sakura, liking that he was coming to her aid even when it wasn't required. She could handle some name calling from some jealous girl but it was comforting to know that he had her back even now with the little things. She still didn't feel safe with her ex on the loose but she felt safer with Sasuke by her side. Somehow she felt that he could handle the big things as well as the little things.
Temari snarled and angrily took a step closer. Her face turned red as she was suddenly yelling. "I want to know what happened. Do not dismiss me, you prick!"
Sasuke reacted instantly. The shot glass he had been toying with was suddenly slammed onto the floor. Glass scattered and went flying across the floor but was ignored as Sasuke was suddenly on his feet. He took an angry step forward and Naruto and the Sand brothers were suddenly standing as well to restrain him if needed.
"Who the hell do you think you're talking to!?" he yelled.
Everything stopped, watching their VP now. Temari, who was moments before a brave and demanding woman, instantly turned into a shriveling mess. She took several steps back and her hands came up in surrender. Her eyes were wide, afraid, and she was mumbling something like, "Okay, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it," over and over again.
Sakura quickly reached out and snatched his hand tightly. Her grasp kept him rooted there, but still angry as he pointed an angry finger at Temari. His face was contorted with anger but there didn't seem to be any danger of him striking out against her. The boys still stood at attention though. They knew Sasuke well enough to know that he wouldn't hurt a girl, but they still worried when his anger got the best of him. Naruto eyed Sakura and their linked hands and somehow felt better. She had a calming effect on him, something he had never seen before but trusted.
"You mind your own fucking business, you hear me? I don't have the patience to deal with your big mouth so keep it shut. Club business is club business. You ain't a lady or an old lady so you have no right to know anything, or to be speaking to me as if you are someone important because you aren't," he yelled.
She looked away, staring at her feet for a long moment. Everything was tense, quiet as everyone waited for what would happen next. Temari backed up a few more steps until her back was pressed against the bar and she couldn't move any farther. Very quietly, without looking up, she spoke.
"And that girl, you're going to tell her because she's important?" Her voice was suddenly very small, a voice Sakura didn't even know this strong, annoying, jealous woman was capable of.
Sasuke squeezed her hand, his anger less intense now but still firm. "Yes, she is. And you best remember that next time you decide to open your mouth," he said and then directed his stare around the room to the other old ladies. "That goes to the rest of y'all, too. Mind your business and watch your mouth . . ." he trailed off.
Something suddenly moved in the tense room where everyone else was completely still. Minato leaned back in his chair, seeming completely at ease. He smiled joyfully, almost mischievously.
"You should be mindful of what you say to or about these two," he said to the room. His smile broadened. "I'd bet my retirement fund that you are looking at the future king and queen of this club. It would be in your best interest to remember to get on their good side before they take the throne." He laughed kindly with his smile so wide that little wrinkles formed by his eyes.
Sasuke chose not to comment on his father's remark, but he gave Sakura's hand a little squeeze. He stared at his father's laughing face for a moment before looking at Temari again, his anger almost gone and now just tired. He gestured to the glass on the floor.
"Clean this shit up," he told her and then looked back at his father. "I'm going to bed. Wake me a couple hours before we leave tomorrow," he told his father who only laughed and waved a hand as if to say he was free to go. Sasuke nodded once at Gaara and Kankuro before he gently tugged Sakura to her feet and together they walked hand in hand up the stairs.
Sasuke stripped himself of his clothes as soon as they reached the bedroom and the door closed. He paused when he was in his underwear, glanced at her quickly before he pulled that off as well, muttering an "I sleep better naked," as way of explanation. He crawled under the sheets sluggishly, covering himself and then looking to her with tired eyes expectantly.
Slowly, she stripped her own clothes. She removed her jeans and tank top before grabbing one of Sasuke's shirts out of his bag and tugging that over her head and removing her bra afterwards. Tying her hair into a quick bun, she crawled into bed with him, extremely aware that he was naked beside her. She sat beside him while he turned to stare at the ceiling, quiet and contemplative.
She went to reach out to him but froze when he spoke. "We tortured a man today," he muttered before glanced down at her hand that was frozen in mid-air. He waited a long moment before continuing.
"He deserted the club, left one of our brothers in the lurch. When you do something like that, like what Fugaku did so many years ago, you have to get rid of your club tattoos. It's a sort of pride for us, a right that has to be earned by at least a year of being a prospect to be able to wear our ink. When you desert, you abandon that right to wear the ink so you have to cover it. If you don't, and the club finds out, we will remove it for you."
Sakura was quiet, but slowly retracting her arm. She clasped her hands together in her lap. Instantly she was reminded of Hinata telling her it wasn't pretty. She swallowed thickly, her mind slowly coming to grips that Sasuke indeed did something very ugly today.
"We gave him a choice of cutting the tattoo off with one of our knives or burning it off," Sasuke quietly muttered but then said nothing more. Honestly, she was glad because she didn't want to know which one they used against the man.
Instantly she was afraid and she felt sick. She was a healer, she saved lives every day. And then here was Sasuke, putting people in the hospital in tortuous ways. He wrecked lives, dealt with blood and guns and violence every day. While she worked her tiny fingers inside the tiny chest cavities of newborn babies and young children, he was on the streets brawling and promoting more violence by selling guns. What was she doing here with him? They were complete opposites, living counterproductive lifestyles.
But then Sasuke turned away from her, rolled onto his side facing the wall with his back to her. A hand came up to cover his eyes and he was completely silent, tense with a weight hanging over him. She studied his form, his body language and the fact that he wouldn't look at her as she processed the information. She remembered when he first relieved a little part of his life to her, back in his bedroom the night of the brawl, and how he watched her and looked for signs of fear and rejection. Now, he wouldn't look at her.
Before, he wasn't exactly proud of his life when he revealed it, but he showed no regret. He looked her in the eyes even though he was nervous, but he did it bravely because that was his life. That was what he did and it was something he wasn't going to hide. Now, he wouldn't look at her. He didn't look to see how she reacted, didn't hope for acceptance. He regretted this, he wasn't proud of it. It was weighing heavily on him, hurting him.
Slowly, she laid down behind him and wrapped an arm around him. He tensed and then turned slowly to stare at her over his shoulder in disbelief. His questioning gaze stared back at her, obviously wondering why and how she wasn't turning away from him. He expected her to run away from him screaming, not to hold him in her arms and comfort him.
She tried to express everything she felt in her gaze. She didn't want him to think she thought badly of him. Yes, he did bad things and ran on the other side of the carefully drawn line of socially acceptable good and bad. He lived in a gray area, where he did things that was considered bad but for a good reason. It was different from what she was used to, but she could see that he was a good guy. He lived a complicated life but he was essentially good to his core. She saw this, was charmed by him, and knew that he would protect her and care for her like no other ever would. She would not run from him when she felt this deep connection to him. Her heart did not lie. Whether he lived on the straight and narrow or danced for the devil, she wouldn't, and couldn't, deny that she could someday say she loves him.
Her hand rested on his chest and then his came up to grip her wrist gently. She bent forward to press her lips to his shoulder as he stared at her. "I'm still not going anywhere," she whispered almost inaudibly against his skin.
"Why?" he whispered.
She smiled, refusing to look him in the eyes as she spoke. "Because you're strong and ruthless in that cut. But behind that cut, behind the front, you are a good man. I'm not going to run because you have to wear your cut, I know you have responsibilities and it won't always be pretty. But I'm going to stand by you because I know that goodness in you will keep you afloat."
He stared at her in wonder to a long moment before he turned, rolling gently onto his back. He reached up and delicately, so light she barely felt it, ran his fingertips over her cheek and treaded through her hair. She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his, familiar jolts coursing through her body. It was a simple kiss but the sentiment behind it was anything but. They had reached a new point in their relationship and that kiss sealed the deal. They could live comfortably with one another, no fear of fleeing when things got ugly. Sakura could deal with the life he led, could give him support when he needed it just like he would support her. They had trust.
They stayed awake for awhile longer. Sakura held Sasuke, who was still troubled by his day, until he fell asleep and then fell asleep once she was sure he was out. Now they lay, thinking over the night and her decision to stay. She didn't regret it, she felt strongly for Sasuke, but that didn't stop her from worrying about where this new life would take her. It was a serious decision she had made to stay with him last night. She has officially involved herself with the club, and Minato's comment last night was ringing in her head.
He saw the connection they had and saw a future for them. He saw Sasuke as President and she as his old lady, the future king and queen.
She wasn't ready for that but now that she made her decision, it was more important than ever for her to learn the ropes. She was going to need Tsunade on her side if she was going to be able to live this life. Minato has been grooming Sasuke for years to step into his shoes. Now Sakura was faced with someday stepping into Tsunade's shoes and without the queen's help now, she is going to be completely lost when it came time for Minato to retire.
She sighed heavily, taking a hand and rubbing at her temple to relieve a headache she felt forming. Sasuke stirred in his sleep, rolling away from her so that he was pressed to her side rather than on top of her. He yawned and then blinked a few times as he stared at her, his face a few inches from hers.
"Morning, sweetheart," he muttered.
She smiled softly and pressed her lips to his quickly and chastely. "Good morning."
Her stared at her intensely, her gaze seeking. The events of last night seemed to slowly come back to him and gave her an imploring look, silently asking her if she had changed her mind. She shook her head slowly, closing the small gap to kiss him once more. He responded immediately, his tongue forcing its way into her mouth without much resistance. Their tongues tangled seductively and shiver ran down Sakura's spine as she felt his hands grip her waist possessively.
He pulled away suddenly and gave her a measured look, waiting. She stared back at her, wondering what he was waiting for her to do when she felt his hands slip from her waist to grope her ass. He cupped her, still watching for a reaction. She relaxed, feeling that this was okay. He continued to stare at her when began to pull her flush against him. His hardened core pressed against her panty clad core and she was reminded that he had slept naked now. He watched for any signs of resistance or rejection. She knew instantly as she looked into his eyes that if he saw even the slightest hint that she wasn't ready he would stop and that comforted her. She wasn't ready to go all the way, but this, this she could do. She reached out and cupped his ass through the sheet before moving it up his back, tracing the tattoo she knew that was there very lightly.
He smiled briefly before he kissed her gently as his hips began to move. He started slow, a sensual grind of their heated lower regions. It was surprisingly intimate. His kisses were heated, but gentle and spoke of promises of the future by the simple touches. There was a slow, but mounting friction as they rubbed against one another and it didn't take long for either to get extremely aroused. His hand pulled gently at her hair and her nails scraped the skin of his back as the coil in her lower stomach tightened. They panted hotly between kisses and Sakura moaned as she felt her release slowly climbing.
"Sasuke," she pleaded, digging her nails into his back.
"I know, darlin'," he muttered against her lips, rocking a little faster. "I know," he repeated.
And then there was a knocking on the door and her concentration was instantly shattered. Sakura groaned, her arousal fading fast by the knowledge that someone was on the other side of that door. The brain is the largest female sex organ, after all, and little distractions can make it nearly impossible for a blissful release. As soon as that knock registered in her head, the released that was building was out of the question for her.
Sasuke groaned too, his hips stilling as his head settled on her collarbone. He could probably ignore it and keep going but he would stop because it was no fun if it was only him getting off. After a long moment and a deep breath, he shifted. He came to hover over her momentarily, careful not to rest his weight on her. She was now directly on her back, looking up as he looked down at her. He clutched her face between both hands, bending down to press his lips to hers in an apologetic and caring kiss as the person on the other side of the door knocked again. For a slight moment, just as the kiss was ending, he pressed himself against her again to show her he was still painfully hard before he was gone.
She watched from the bed, sitting up slowly and regretfully as he stood naked in front of the door and slowly unlocked it. With a quick glance back at her, probably to be sure that she wasn't exposed somehow, before he opened the door enough for his head to poke out while he stood behind the door.
"Hey, old man, good morning," he greeted casually as if he hadn't interrupted anything.
"Morning, son. We are going to roll out in about two hours. That should give you two time to get ready and then say your time to the boys. And you know, talk to Gaara and Kankuro. After last night and everything to said to their sister, you should make sure to smooth things over." Sakura heard Minato say from on the other side of the door.
Sasuke nodded, leaning out more so that his naked hip was visible. "Were they upset last night? I didn't stop to check."
Sakura couldn't see him but she imagined the older man shrugging. It just seemed sort of like a Minato-like gesture. "They didn't seem like it, but I'd do it just to be sure. They like you; you are almost an honorary member of their family, more than any of us. But that is their blood sister you were yelling at. Men are known for being very protective of their sisters."
Sasuke nodded and ran a hand over his face. "Yeah, I'll smooth it out. I don't wanna damage our relationship over Temari. I'll make sure everything is hunky-dorey by the time we leave."
"Alright son . . .," Minato said while trailing off after a moment. "Did I interrupt anything?" he asked after a moment.
Sasuke looked down and then stepped back behind the door. Minato must have noticed his naked hip. Sasuke shook his head, a hand coming up to scratch the back of his head. "Nope," he answered simply though it was a lie.
Minato laughed loudly and Sakura could hear his heavy boots on the hardwood floor as he began to retreat. "Sure, son, sure. Have fun but don't take too long," he said before laughing again.
Sasuke pushed his arm through the open gap to flick his father off before he closed the door. He turned then to face her, unashamed of his naked form. He had softened while he spoke to his father. He stepped close to her so he stood directly in front of her and her head about level with his stomach. He ran a hand over her hair, his fingers coming to rest under her chin so that he could direct it up towards his face. Her heart thumped unevenly, her mind slowly coming to terms with everything that had happened that morning and the fact that she was now sitting directly in front of a naked Sasuke.
He bent down slowly and pressed his lips to hers ever so gently and she could practically feel all coherent thought falling out of her head. She kissed him back deeply, trying to express every muddled feeling he stirred within her. Never before had a person rocked her to the core like he did. The simplest of touches could send her into a tailspin. She had always imaged what love would feel like and it was nothing like this but she knew this was the closest her had ever gotten to love. She felt out of control, free falling into him. Sure, she wasn't quite at love yet, or if she was she wasn't at the point in which she could admit it, but he definitely stirred something in her. She had never realized she hadn't felt whole until she met him, until his lips danced with hers. She had never felt as alive as she did when she was with him.
She could love him. They could live in a sick happily ever after as king and queen of the Akatsuki Motorcycle Club.
She suddenly didn't care that it was all happening so fast or that she still wasn't ready to give herself to him. She knew then that when she was finally able to admit that she loved him, when she truly felt it and was absolutely sure that he was the one for her, she would give in and give herself. Whether it was in a few weeks or a few months, she would give herself to him completely, in every sense of the word. She would face her proudly saw that she was Sasuke Uchiha's old lady, the woman who he chose to live the rest of his life with. She wouldn't worry about it, she decided as his lips meshed with hers. She was already too far in, her heart already too far compromised, to care or worry about where they were going, or why, or how he had squirmed his way into her heart so quickly. It had happened and now she was faced with simply going with the flow of things.
He broke the kiss with a groan, hanging his head with regret. "You are just too beautiful. You're driving me nuts here, sweetheart. If you continue to kiss me then we are never going to leave this bedroom."
She laughed cheekily, giving him her best dazzling smile. "Well that wouldn't be good. I'm sure the Suna boys will eventually want their room back." She snuck in a quick chaste kiss before she stood and stepped away from him before he drew her back in. "I'm going to take a shower."
He groaned and then nodded, flopping back onto the bed while she grabbed clothes and her toiletry bag. "Yeah, but be quick. I have to jump in too before we leave."
She nodded and quickly went into the attached bathroom. For a moment she thought about inviting him into the shower with her but thought it better not to. She may have been able to stop it the other night, but after how this morning was going and recent revelations, she didn't know if she would be able to resist. Even her will power was not that great. Still, didn't stop her from undressing in front of the open door, feeling brave and more confident that she had ever felt before, where she could feel him watching her. She was feeling brave now, and she knew the feeling wasn't going to last when they exited this bedroom and their own little bubble, so she took advantage of it.
She showered quickly to avoid giving herself time to think and then wrapped herself in a clean towel. She was standing at the sink, combing out her hair when Sasuke entered and went straight to the shower. It was a similar scene to when she spent the night, she realized. She was finishing up drying her hair when he stepped out of the shower and quickly dried himself. With a quick kiss, he exited the bathroom to go get dressed and she smiled to herself as she realized they were building a routine.
With a dusting of makeup and dressed in a pair of tight jeans and a shirt with a jacket overtop while Sasuke dressed in a baggy sweat shirt and jeans with his cut overtop, they made their way down the stairs. There was activity everywhere, when they entered. The Konoha boys were milling around, their bags in a collection on the large table in the center of the room. Some of the Suna boys were already drinking even though it wasn't even past eight thirty in the morning. Naruto and Minato were standing with Gaara and Kankuro and Minato smiled cheekily as soon as he saw them.
"Finally dragged yourselves out of bed?" he laughed.
"You're going to be trouble, aren't you?" Sakura joked to the older man.
He shrugged innocently. "It's a father's job to tease his children. You're family now; I have to make up for lost time with you while also getting to tease Sasuke as well. Two birds with one stone sort of thing," he explained as if it justified his behavior. Sakura shook her head with a smile while trying to ignore the warm feeling in her stomach at being called family.
Sasuke looked to one of the prospects hanging around. "We left our bags in the room. Bring it down for us, will ya?" he asked without really asking. As a member of the club, he could tell them to bend over and they would without question. They really had no choice in the tasks they are given to them.
"Do you mind getting me a cup of coffee? I want to talk to Gaara and Kankuro and I don't know how well it will go over having you stand beside me while I talk about their sister," he was suddenly whispering into her ear.
She nodded. "Yeah, and I'll find Hinata while I wait for you," she replied before giving him a kiss and departing into the kitchen. Some of the old ladies were standing around the kitchen when she entered and Sasuke watched just long enough to see that they weren't going to mess with her after last night. He walked away when one woman approached Sakura at the coffee machine and introduced herself.
He approached the Sand brothers and quickly asked for a private moment with them. Minato nodded and clasped a hand on Naruto's shoulder, who looked confused, before dragging the young blonde away. Sasuke waited until they were out of ear shot before he turned to his sort of surrogate brothers. They were staring back at him, obviously intrigued by whatever he needed to say.
He sighed and began. "Look, I don't want things to be weird between us. I know things got out of hand last night and there was a lot of yelling. That's your sister and I understand if you guys are angry at me for how I treated her."
The boys sighed. "It's a difficult situation," Gaara muttered.
Kankuro nodded and continued. "We want to be Switzerland because we see it from both sides. Temari really does like you, but we know that that relationship would never last even if she can't see it. Its better that you ended it before it got more complicated."
"She shouldn't have acted the way she did last night, but you shouldn't have torn her down that way either," Gaara commented.
Sasuke nodded regretfully and ran a hand over his face, a gesture he did when he was stress or displeased about something. "Yeah, if I see her before we leave, I'll apologize."
"She owes you and your girl an apology too so don't let her get away without giving you one. She's been messing with your lady" Kankuro stated.
Gaara looked at him seriously. "We can tell that girl is special, which in a way helps us not feel too bad about the whole business with Temari. That relationship was doomed from the start and we can obviously see where you were meant to be when your girl is next to you. We've never seen you so happy with another person beside your son. We can get behind you and her, so hold on to her tightly."
Sasuke smiled. "I intend to."
Kankuro clasped him on the shoulder and drew him into a hug. "We're good, brother. Whatever between argument and disagreements between you and our sister is your business, we are staying out of it. As long as it doesn't come to blows, whether it's you hitting her or more likely her hitting you, we are staying out of it."
Sasuke nodded and hugging him briefly before they pulled away and Gaara stepped into his grasp. "She's hiding stockroom, organizing," he whispered.
Sasuke nodded, pulling away and patting his shoulder before he moved away from them. He went straight to the stockroom, wanting to talk to Temari before Sakura found him again. The stockroom was nothing more than a small room down a small hallway between the kitchen and the chapel. As soon as he neared the door he could hear things being moved around. The door was cracked when he approached so he lightly tapped his knuckles against the wood and pushed the door open.
He leans against the doorframe as she turned and looks at him. A box sits in her arms, forgotten as she stares at him. Her face is blank though her eyes are almost calculating. She won't give him an inch, he realizes, too hurt to even consider doing it. He won't get an apology today, no matter what Kankuro said. She won't forgive him either, no matter what he says.
Still, he speaks. "You royally pissed me off last night and I said shit that was just plain hurtful. I apologize," he deadpans.
She seems to finally remember the box and sets it down before leaning against the steel shelf unit. Her arms cross under her bust. "That's great but I don't forgive you."
He sighs and run a hand over his face before straightening up to his full height. "Then that's your own problem. I extended an olive branch but if you want to hold onto a stupid grudge, go ahead. You'll just waste your time being angry all the time. When you can be civil call me."
He shrugged and then turned away from her. He paused however when he heard her small voice from behind him. "Do you love her?"
He stared at the floor ahead of him, listening to the loud chatter of the club a little distance from him. He took a deep breath, stalling the inevitable. "Not yet," he whispered back.
"But you could, someday?" she questioned.
He nodded, still not facing her. "It could."
When she spoke next after a long beat of silence, he could hear the lump in her throat and the sniffles as the tears came. "So there really is no hope for us?" He turned now to see her hugging herself, tears streaking down her face and her shoulders shaking. She choked on a sob and he went to her side without hesitation, hating that he was hurting her. He didn't love her or even have strong feelings for her. He never did and never would, but he respected her and he didn't want to see her hurting over some asshole. Even if that asshole is him.
He hugged her tight, pressing his face into her hair and rocking her gently. She clutched at him, sobbing into his sweatshirt. He muttered quiet apologies to her over and over until she calmed. A quiet knock interrupted them and they looked up to see a solemn faced Kankuro staning in the doorway.
"You're dad is looking for you. He wants to roll out soon."
Sasuke nodded and released her. "You okay?" he asked and she nodded slowly.
Kankuro stepped up. "I'll take over. You're girl looks overwhelmed too. All the old ladies are trying to get on her good side."
Sasuke sighed and nodded, exiting the small room to give the siblings a moment and go save Sakura. He spotted her immediately. Her arm was hooked with Hinata's, a cup of coffee in her hand, while two old ladies were standing close, speaking to her but she didn't seem to be paying much attention to them. Hinata was muttering something to her as well, almost idly tracing the tattoo on her wrist but he could tell that they were speaking of it. It wasn't the only Akatsuki tattoo Hinata had, she also had a crow tattoo on her lower back that she got when Naruto when she turned eighteen.
Suddenly Sasuke pictured him and Sakura with some sort of matching tattoo like Naruto and Hinata. He didn't know if Sakura would even go for the idea, as she was a doctor and sort of straight edge comparatively. But he liked the idea of a crow on her, another symbol for the club. It would make mingling easier if MCs could see that she was marked. When they say a Akatsuki tattoo on a girl, they backed up because they knew she was someone important within the club and wasn't some sweetbutt or croweater. She wasn't free territory.
He quickly made his way over to her and Hinata, making some excuse to the oblivious old ladies to drag the girls away. Sakura sighed in relief while Hinata gave a brief nod and made her way over to Naruto. Sakura passed him the now cold coffee in her hands. "You were gone long," she muttered. "You left me alone with all of them. I don't know which I prefer, when they hated my guts and ignored me or when they are sucking up to me as if I have some sway."
He smirked. "You'll have some sway someday and they know it's best to get on your good side. You'll be in my ear so to be on your good side will mean to be on my good side."
Sakura only smiled. "Well then they should leave me alone. I liked them better when they weren't in my face."
Sasuke laughed as he guided them over to where the Konoha boys were all standing. The prospects had already loaded the bags into the van and they were about ready to go. All that was left to do was mount their bikes and roll out.
"You ready?" Minato asked Sasuke.
He nodded. "Yeah, I wanna get home and see my son."
Hope you enjoyed. Hope it wasn't rushed. Hope you review.
