Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto. I have no claim on any of his characters, only the plot of this story.
Trust
by chickypeg
Chapter 12: Lesson
It was raining right now, several heavy drops that saturated his tattered clothing and leaked down his firm, masculine body. The material clung to his skin, just as his black hair did.
This sort of gloomy, forbidding weather suited Sasuke's expression; powerful and brooding as he towered over his wife's petite figure that was pressed against the trunk of the huge tree behind her.
She was on the ground, flat on her backside. Her own skin was was soaked with rainwater. There was a scratch on her cheek and her clothing was torn here and there.
Yet, those big green eyes stared up at her husband's quietly furious face.
Those emerald green orbs were a window to Sakura's feelings and he knew each and every single emotion she had coursing through her; a touch of defiance, a hint of fear and a whole lot of hurt.
"Why are you doing this?" she whispered.
Sasuke's mouth curled into a snarl as his hand tightened around the handle of his sword.
"Because you didn't listen to me."
-Earlier that day-
The dragon had said the rhyme only once.
However, he had warned them and said that it must be repeated exactly as he had said it: every word, every pause must be the same as the way he spoke it.
Sakura had a brilliant, efficient mind and therefore she had memorized it quickly. Everyone knew they could rely on her as they bid the dragon farewell and entered the newly lit tunnel that had opened up to them.
They walked for about five minutes in silence before Naruto spoke.
"You remember everything, don't you Sakura?" Naruto questioned.
The young woman who had been eying the walls around her with unease nodded.
"It's not like I'm doubting you, it's just that this place is known for its traps. I don't want anyone getting hurt, especially you."
Sakura glanced at him with her green eyes, and smiled.
"Thank you Naruto, but I will be fine. I promise."
"But Sakura-"
"Haven't we fought enough battles together, Naruto? You know I can take care of myself."
Naruto frowned and looked a little sad.
"I know, but I worry."
They all did.
That was the unspoken line from the short conversation that no one said aloud, but thought in their hearts.
It wasn't like they didn't trust Sakura.
It was just that well, she was a girl.
They were guys.
Shinobi.
Men.
They protected their women even when they didn't need to be protected.
Sakura placed a kind hand on Naruto's arm. He paused and looked at her in surprise.
She smiled.
"Thank you," she told him, and moved to the door that appeared as they got closer.
Naruto looked at her in surprise. He had expected her to yell at him for being overbearing, but she hadn't.
Maybe marriage was sort of mellowing her out?
"Good job, Sasuke," he whispered to his friend as the dark haired fellow moved past him. Sasuke cocked an eyebrow, wondering what in the world he was talking about.
Before he could ponder more, he noticed the door and narrowed his eyes.
It was simply a large, brown, wooden door.
But there was no handle or no knob to turn to get it to open.
Sakura pushed at it.
Nothing.
"Maybe you have to lift," Sai suggested.
She nodded and both of them stooped to get their hands under the barrier to entry.
However, it was pressed flat on the ground. Even with Sakura's inhuman strength, it wouldn't budge.
Breathless from their efforts, the pair stood up.
"What now?" Sakura asked aloud.
"Maybe there's something you have to pull-like a lever," Kakashi replied as he carefully removed a torch from the side of the wall.
He ducked quickly as he sensed a shift in the air.
Everyone was stunned to see a kunai sticking into the wall beside his head.
Kakashi's eyes were practically popping out of his face.
"Naruto wasn't joking about these traps!" Sakura exclaimed.
"Yeah, we better be extra-careful!" the blonde agreed.
Sakura pulled the kunai out and lifted it to her nose. She sniffed it.
"Poisoned," she stated.
"Whoa! Seriously! Man, Kakashi-sensei, it's a real good thing you dodged it!" Naruto said.
"Yeah," Kakashi agreed but became distracted as he placed the torch close to what looked like a stick. "Looks like we've found the lever."
Everyone leaned in for a closer look.
Sakura stiffened when she felt a familiar warmth behind her.
It was Sasuke.
He wasn't touching her, but he was so close to her, she could feel his heat, his breath on her ear. She almost closed her eyes pleasure for she wished that he would take her in his arms and hold her close.
However, before she could get properly lost in her fantasy, someone demanded, "Password!"
Everyone except Sai and Sasuke cried out, but everyone did jump back.
Sakura automatically grabbed onto Sasuke in terror.
"What the heck-?! It's a talking head!" Naruto screamed.
Indeed it was.
Or something like it.
The top of the lever was indeed a head.
A pretty ugly sort of thing.
It's eyes were hollow and its mouth was toothless, sort of like the shrunken head of a zombie.
"It's so creepy," Sakura whimpered and didn't realize that her hands fisted tightly into Sasuke's clothing.
She was startled when she felt his warm hand on her back. Glancing up in surprise, she met his unsmiling gaze.
She expected to see irritation in his expression, but there was none.
In fact, she couldn't tell what he was thinking, only that his hand was warm, and comforting as it rubbed gently, almost hesitantly on her back.
Sakura blinked up at him.
He wasn't pushing her away.
If anything...was he trying to soothe her?
She couldn't ask, because now wasn't the time.
Especially since he turned his sharingan on and placed his attention on the head.
"There's chakra in there, but it isn't alive," Sasuke informed them. He looked at Sakura now and his hand stilled, "You need to do your part now."
Sakura nodded and stepped back from him as his hand dropped away.
He wasn't pushing her away.
Instead, he was letting her go and encouraging her to do her job.
She wasn't afraid at all.
Sure, the head was creepy and gross.
But her friends were around her.
Her husband was with her.
It would be okay.
Sasuke followed behind her as she came to the lever.
"The chakra in the head is sensitive to sound. Every time someone speaks, it moves in line with their tone, and as it moves up, we can assume it pulls the door up."
"Is that why she has to match the dragon's tenor from when he spoke? So that the chakra in the head can move in sync and unlock the door?"
Sasuke nodded.
"There's a chance if something is said wrong, it all ends for us," Kakashi remarked.
Sakura swallowed hard.
"You're making her nervous!" Naruto snapped.
"I'm just pointing out the gravity of the situation. Sakura, we can turn back now," Kakashi said to her.
She shot him a defiant look.
"Do you think I will?"
Kakashi smiled under his mask.
"Not at all."
She nodded, despite her ire and turned to the lever. She put her hands together and closed her eyes. Concentrating, she focused her chakra on the head.
Sasuke, Sai and Kakashi crowded her while Naruto hung out to the side, waiting to see what would happen.
And thus, she began:
"A man of words and not of deeds,
Is like a garden full of weeds."
The door slowly began to lift on its own.
"And when the weeds begin to grow,
It's like a garden full of snow."
Everyone watched keenly as the door moved up. Naruto's eyes began to brighten with excitement.
"And when the snow begins to fall,
It's like a bird upon the wall.
And when the bird away does fly,
It's like an eagle in the sky.
And when the sky begins to roar,
It's like a lion at the door."
The door moved further and further upward. It was half way there already!
"And when the door begins to crack,
It's like a stick across your back.
And when your back begins to smart,
It's like a penknife in your heart.
And when your heart begins to bleed,
You're dead, and dead and dead indeed!'
Unfortunately, as Sakura ended, Naruto also spoke before anyone could stop him. He did not realize that if his voice picked up where hers left off, he could affect the chakra.
"Great job, Sakura-chan!" he cried out.
"No, Naruto!" Sakura cried out.
But it was too late.
The ground began to tremble and the door that had reached close to the top had paused.
"What's going on?!" Sakura cried out.
"The ceiling's collapsing!" Sasuke responded and grabbed her wrist and simultaneously used his foot to kick an unsuspecting Naruto on the backside so that he was shoved through the partially opened door.
"Bastard! What the hell?!" Naruto demanded when he fell through the doorway. However, the door began to descend before anyone else could get through, and the ceiling was crumbling away.
"Naruto!" Sakura cried out. She was about to reach for him, but Sasuke pulled her back. He grabbed her into his strong arms and sprinted out of the tunnel with Kakashi and Sai following behind.
It had been a split second decision on Sasuke's part to make sure Naruto got to the other side, but there wasn't enough time for the others to get through.
They were once more in the room where the dragon been-only the scaly creature had disappeared (maybe he changed into his human form and went to find a library or something).
The tunnel that led from this room to the door which required the password(s) was quickly filling up with heavy rocks and dirt.
Sakura watched in horror as the door in the distance shut completely, sealing them from their friend before the rocks and dirt completely obliterated it from their sight.
"Naruto!" Sakura cried out.
Sasuke caught her arm and pulled her back before she lost her footing and fell into the crumbling tunnel.
Sakura collapsed against his warm, strong body.
She turned her head upward to his.
"Sasuke-kun, we have to get him," Sakura said.
However, to her shock, he shook his head.
"No."
"What?" she demanded, stunned.
He gave her a serious look.
"Naruto can take care of himself. He doesn't need us to babysit him."
"He's our friend and he asked us to come with him and complete this assignment as a team!" she argued.
"He can complete it on his own, or don't you believe in him?" Sasuke shot back as his grip tightened on his hold on her arm.
Sakura scowled, her eyes spitting green fire at him.
"Don't you dare imply that I don't!"
"Sasuke, Sakura, enough," Kakashi ordered with a heavy sigh.
Sakura yanked her arm from her husband's strong grasp and turned to their former sensei.
"Kakashi-sensei, we need to go after Naruto, don't we?"
Kakashi didn't like the idea of siding with anyone in a couple's argument, but this was more than simply a lovers' spat; it had to do with their team-mate.
"Sakura, while I agree with Sasuke that Naruto is capable of taking care of himself-"
Sakura promptly ignored her husband's smug, "Hn,"
"-Naruto took the lead on this assignment but he wanted us all on it for a specific reason, which was for us to all work together again. He is our friend, and I also agreed to this assignment for this specific reason."
Sasuke tsked.
"I know he did it because he's a sentimental idiot," Sasuke stated, "but that's no reason to start acting recklessly."
His gaze specifically fell onto his wife who was now standing by Kakashi's side.
"Then that means you understand that we're going after him, don't you?" Sakura questioned him.
"We will go," Kakashi cut in again, not wanting things to get out of hand because of a husband and wife who had a difference of opinion, and whose egos would be bruised if one admitted the other was right.
"But not yet-none of us got out of that unscathed."
It was true-they were all scratched and bruised, and it seemed that Sai was nursing a twisted ankle.
Kakashi had received a long gash on his leg, and the side of his head was bleeding. Sakura spent some time healing his wounds at the entrance of cave, behind the waterfall.
"I did my part, now you need to do yours and rest tonight," Sakura informed him.
"I will-just be sure that you get a good night's sleep as well."
Sakura smiled in response.
She moved onto Sai next.
His ankle was a ring of ugly black and purple.
"How can you keep a straight face? It must hurt like hell!"
Sai even smiled-but it was his fake one, a clear indication he really was in pain.
Sakura scowled in response, but put her hands together and emitted green chakra. She healed up the bruising, but the muscles themselves would need some time to adjust properly. She suggested he keep it propped up, and not move around too much until the next morning.
The final person she had to see to was the person she was dreading the most.
Her own husband.
Sasuke Uchiha.
She knew he was pissed with her, that beneath those dark eyes was a quietly burning anger. He didn't like it when anyone defied him, least of all her.
However, when it came to those she cared about, Sakura would argue with anyone, push back, fight back. She could be as stubborn as a donkey and vicious as a dog.
Gathering her courage, she stooped beside the handsome man who was sitting with his back against the wall.
"Where are you hurt?" she asked quietly.
He looked at her and frowned, then leaned back and heaved a sigh.
"I'm fine."
Sakura blinked. She didn't know what to make of his behaviour.
"Sasuke-kun," she began, as her own anger creeped upon her.
Without warning, he grabbed her chin between his thumb and his forefinger. His eyes bled red, finally revealing some of the ire he had so calmly hidden.
"I said I'm fine," he growled softly and released her.
He saw the hurt that flashed through her green depths, and just as quickly, her eyes shuttered, hiding her feelings.
Standing, he told her quietly, "When you repeated the words to the shrunken head on the door, it absorbed your chakra to push it open. You reserves are low."
"Sasuke-kun-"
"You're feeling it, aren't you? You're drained. You had to heal Kakashi and tend the other idiot," With eyes that seemed to soften slightly, he added, "You're fatigued. It isn't good for the team medic to let herself run low. Rest."
"I..." her voice trailed off. How could she deny what he had said was true? She could feel herself being tired. She did need to rest.
"Yes," she whispered her agreement with great reluctance.
Sasuke gave her a long hard look. Her pink head was bowed, so he couldn't make out her expression.
"I mean it, Sakura and I'm telling you this as Team Captain."
She fought hard to not flinch at the cold, hard edge on his tone. It was true that he was Team Captain-Naruto had assigned them that way. Kakashi stood above them as he was Hokage, but it seemed that he preferred that Naruto lead, and Sasuke take over in case anything happened. He would intervene to mediate any disputes, as he had done earlier.
Had everyone not been so familiar with each other, it would have been gross disrespect on Sakura's part to have defied Sasuke and tried to turn Kakashi against him.
However, situations like these were quite common among Team 7, except it was usually between Sasuke and Naruto where Sasuke always defied Naruto although he was Team leader, and Naruto would seek Kakashi and Sakura's favor over his decisions.
In other words, their poor former sensei was always caught in the middle and normally had to mediate the situation. And most of the time it had to be done in his office because the trio were often put together in ANBU missions.
He had once remarked that he ought to be a diplomat after all the experiences he had as a part of Team 7. Perhaps that was why he had been called "Kakashi the Mediator Hokage" by all the Hidden Villages. In fact, he was called upon specifically by the other Kage to handle disputes under special agreements because he always found the quickest and easiest solution so that he could go back home and do his paperwork (meaning he wanted to read Icha Icha Paradise again).
"I understand, Sasuke-kun."
"Good."
She didn't have the chakra reserves to bust through the filled up tunnel and get to the door.
Sakura realized this as she leaned against the wall in the cave. Yes, she had ignored Sasuke and come here.
But she was really concerned about Naruto!
She froze suddenly when she felt a shift in the air.
"You're a liar, Sakura," her husband's familiar voice stated.
"W-What are you talking about Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asked with a feigned air of innocence.
It was dark, but she could feel his presence behind her. He couldn't be too far for she could feel his warmth, even though he didn't touch her.
She caught his musky male scent and felt the air shift again behind her.
He had moved, and she realized that he had pressed his arm on the wall over her head as he leaned in closer to her.
She felt her cheeks flush red from his nearness, his closeness, all the while her heart also trembled for she could feel his silent rage for defying him.
"You said you would rest."
"I didn't say that," she denied.
She felt his other hand grip her upper-arm firmly, not tight enough to hurt her, but enough to for her to feel the anger burning inside of him now.
"When you said that you understood, it indicated compliance to me that you would go take a damned nap," he growled.
Sakura tried hard not to flinch at his tone. But Sasuke was never one to mince words. He didn't play around, and always got straight to the point.
"I'm sorry Sasuke-kun," she apologized and moved away from him.
However, he gripped her arm tighter, making her stay put.
She looked at him from over her shoulder in the dark.
Outside, there was a crack of thunder. There were caves all over the cliff and Sai and Kakashi were sheltering in one as they rested.
Lightning flashed and briefly revealed her husband's expression-something she wished she hadn't seen.
The anger was blazing on his face, similar to the way it had the other night when they had argued. But this time it was different. His ire didn't stem from him as a husband, it stemmed from his role as Team Captain, which suggested authority and punishment.
"I'm just worried about Naruto," she admitted, hoping he would understand.
Sasuke remained silent and unmoving for a long moment.
He didn't speak.
He didn't blink.
Then, without warning, Sasuke tugged her arm and threw her on the ground. She cried out in shock and whimpered upon impact to the hard floor. She wasn't hurt, but she was very surprised.
Outside began to drizzle as she pressed her arms to prop herself up and look up at her husband with stunned green eyes.
Lightning flashed once more and she saw grim determination on that cold, hard face of his.
He stooped in front of her, and cold, pale fingers cupped the side of her face. Had she not seen the ire in his expression, she might have thought his gesture was almost tender.
"What can you do?" he asked her.
"Sasuke-kun?" she whispered.
His hand slid slowly down to her long, slender neck and his head lowered to hers so that she could feel the warmth of his breath.
"What can this weak body do?" he pressed in a dark voice.
The air became thicker, and Sakura found that it was difficult to breathe. Was it because of his close proximity?
"I want to search for my friend," she forced herself to admit.
Sasuke released her, and moved calmly to his feet. He kept watching her with dark, cold eyes.
"If you want to brave going after Naruto, then go. But you have to get away from me first."
With that, his eyes slowly bled red, and she sensed his chakra spike. His hand remained on his sword handle.
Sakura felt her world going black. Her heart began to pound so loud, she heard it in her ears. This was like her nightmare come through-Sasuke poised above her, ready to kill.
She couldn't think then.
She had faced danger and death before.
But nothing was like this. Nothing was like her own husband, who she was so familiar with, standing above her, reading to commit a horrible crime, the ultimate marriage betrayal.
She didn't know how, but suddenly she was out in the rain, terrified. The waterdrops came heavier and soaked her skin as she scurried through the trees, away from her husband.
And at some point, she stopped.
Was this what she was reduced to?
A simpering female?
No, she was stronger than this!
She would face him.
And indeed she did.
She stopped in the middle of a thatch of massive trees and she gripped one. With a massive heave, she uprooted it with her superhuman strength and swung it at her husband as he came at her. He easily dodged, and Sakura felt herself go out of breath.
Her chakra was really low and lifting the tree had further depleted her.
Dropping the huge log before she collapsed with it under her, she took a few steps back and leaned against the large tree behind her.
Out of breath, she watched as Sasuke appeared before her, like some dark lord, ready to take her life with his sword in his hand.
Ah, he made quite a picture didn't he? Fully clothed in black, blood red eyes and a sharp sword displayed what an extraordinary person he was.
Sakura's strength was gone as she slid down to the ground and watched her husband as she took deep heaving breaths.
"Why are you doing this?" she demanded.
Sword at his side, he responded, "Because you didn't listen. You need to be taught a lesson."
-Presently-
Sakura waited for the sword to come at her, to cut through her skin. She would bleed to death before him, and perhaps this what he had wanted. Had everything been a lie? Had both their efforts to work on their marriage been so short-lived, so in vain?
She shut her eyes when he lifted his sword.
She was so exhausted now. Chakra drained, emotionally drained...was Sasuke truly going to kill her?
The reply came when she felt the air cut above her head and she felt something warm splash on her face as something dropped to her side. Startled, she saw a huge snake at her side. Well, half of it anyway. The other half was on her other side.
Pale, she turned shocked eyes to her husband who looked ever so casual, even with rain soaking him to the bone.
He flicked his sword in the air to get rid off the extra blood, before whipping out a white cloth and cleaning it.
"You really ought to stop thinking I'm going to kill you."
"W-What? Y-Y-You're not?" she whispered, still astonished.
He sheathed his sword behind his back as he replied, "No,"
Then, he stooped in front of her so that they were both eye level.
"There was nothing you could do for Naruto, Sakura. Not in your condition. You can't even use your strength now."
She blinked away the rainwater that came into her eyes.
It slowly dawned on her that his harsh treatment, the terror he had just brought up in her, had been done deliberately.
Because he wanted her to remember who she was-Sakura Uchiha (nee Haruno).
The most sought after medic in the shinobi world.
One of the most intelligent females to be born in the current era.
A power kunoichi.
A resilient, brave woman.
He had done this to help her realize that the person she was did not disappear when she was with him, and that she shouldn't feel fear of him; she should gather her wits and realize that he wasn't going to hurt her.
It was cruel what he had done.
But sometimes the hardest lessons were the ones most well learned.
Sasuke lifted his hand, the prosthetic arm that he normally kept bandaged up. Gently, he tapped her forehead with it.
"Every shinobi has limitations."
Even he did.
Not recognizing his limitations had made him pay dearly in the past.
Sakura was stunned that he had silently admitted this, and suddenly she felt ashamed of herself. Looking at him now, she realized that for a while now, her own emotions had been clouding some of her judgement of her husband.
He seemed to be more mature compared to in the past, but inside of him there was still a lot of guilt. A part of himself was still trying to redeem himself. That night when they had argued, she recalled how upset he had become when he realized her fear of him.
In her own way, she had kicked him while he was trying to recover on his road of redemption. Now, she was starting to realize that she might have actually hurt Sasuke.
As she thought more on it, she thought that perhaps she had been clinging to the past too much. She had come into the marriage with certain expectations, and when those hadn't been met, she was disappointed and had become depressed.
To be fair, Sasuke hadn't tried very much either, and they had both wound up wounding each other.
Sakura reached out and took his hand that was drawing back from her.
Sasuke didn't resist. She placed it against her cheek and looked at him with warm eyes.
Not pitying eyes, but loving green eyes.
Understanding eyes.
Maybe now, she was looking at Sasuke Uchiha for the man he currently was. Perhaps she was no longer expecting to see in him the boy he once was.
And honestly, she liked the man before her.
It was still pouring outside when Sakura followed Sasuke into one of the caves located on the wall of the cliff, close to the waterfall.
There were some dried branches that the wind must have taken up from the trees below, and strewn inside.
"Take off your clothes," Sasuke ordered as he gathered up some.
"Eh?"
She was stunned at his command, and was blushing furiously. He had developed a habit of ordering to get rid off what she was wearing.
But here?
Now?
Did he want to...?
"You're soaked," he explained as he piled the twigs and branches in the middle of the cave.
"Oh," she murmured, embarrassed, and began with her green Leaf vest.
Meanwhile, Sasuke did a quick fire jutsu to light the branches. Immediately, the cave brightened up and provided welcoming warmth.
Sasuke straightened up and pulled off his black cloak, followed by his green vest and shirt.
"Sasuke-kun," Sakura voiced his name.
He glanced at her from over his shoulder, and frowned.
She was struggling with the zipper on her red top. She scowled and shook at the little metal clip before giving up and looking at her husband with bashful green eyes.
"Help?"
He released a heavy sigh and walked over to her. He used his good hand to tug at the zipper. Slowly, he drew it down her soft body, revealing the black inner piece that most kunoichi wore. It was like a bra, but it gave better support and was made of a special material that could protect from certain attacks. The color was solid over the breasts, but was netted over the wearer's stomach.
Sasuke didn't realize it, but he had unzipped her veeeery slowly, and had now shifted his hands to the lapels of her top.
Without a sense of hurry, he carefully drew them down her smooth, damp shoulders. All the while, Sakura stared up at him, aware of the rising heat between them.
Against the firelight, his skin was glowed. It was dark, but she could make out all his battle scars. She knew if she touched her hands to his back, she would feel several - every bit of roughened and healed skin that only served to make him all the more dangerously attractive.
Sakura's shirt fell to the ground, forgotten.
She was starting to feel weak, dizzy even as her breath came in short pants.
Was it normal to feel like this?
From the many times they had made love, she had never once felt this way.
Ah, she just wanted his mouth on hers. She just wanted his tongue stroking against hers, with his lips moving harshly over her own.
"Sasuke-kun," she almost whimpered his name, hazy emerald green eyes looking up at his own.
Through her daze, she noted that the familiar desire that had been drawing up in her husband's eyes disappeared and was replaced with what might be concern.
His eyebrows had furrowed, and suddenly, his hand was on her forehead.
"Sakura, I think you have a fever."
Sasuke had thankfully brought his backpack, so they had a lot of useable gear-like a rope and a blanket.
Sasuke strung the rope up in the cave and was now hanging their clothes up to dry near the fire.
Meanwhile, Sakura was leaning up against the wall, wearing nothing but her underwear and a blanket.
After noting she had a slight fever, Sasuke had unromantically stripped her of her shorts, wrapped her like in the blanket like seaweed around onigiri, and unceremoniously dumped her near the fire and told her to rest.
"I'm sorry you have to hang my clothes," Sakura apologized as he hung out her top. The one good thing was that she at least got to see him strip-he unbuttoned his black pants and pulled the damp material from his body while responding, "You do it for me all the time."
Oh, and he did have a set of manly, muscled legs. Especially those thighs...
Somehow, Sakura had expected that he might have been more traditional in wanting his wife to handle anything household related, especially to him.
But it seemed he didn't mind, as he made dinner for them when she worked late, and even washed up if he had to.
She was starting to acknowledge that there was a lot she didn't know about this Sasuke. There was a lot to learn and she was quite sure that she was going to like what she learned.
Sasuke wore on a pair of black shorts under his pants. In the dimly lit room, he looked like some sort of warrior-god for his body was so firm, so lithe with scars from battles that one couldn't help but want to drool.
And when he turned to her and watched her with those dark eyes, her heart skipped a beat.
She blushed a little and he walked over to her.
"Did your fever get worse?" he asked her as he stooped in front of her. He had seen her flushed cheeks and was concerned.
Sakura shook her head.
"I'm fine," she assured him, "just a little chilly," she added as it was cold outside and she did have a fever.
He remained silent and gently unwrapped some of the blanket from her so that he could join her underneath it.
He pulled it around his body before shifting her gently so that she was between his legs. Sakura was pleasantly surprised as he wrapped the blanket around the both of them and took her in his arms, so that she was snuggled warmly against his hard body.
She felt cozy here with him, under the blanket. Her head was against chest and she could hear the steady beat of his heart.
"I don't know why I got this fever," she whispered.
She heard his heard rate speed up slightly, and felt his chest rise as he took in a deep breath.
"It's because you've been working those extra hours at the hospital, and not getting enough rest at night. Your immunity went down and you were vulnerable when you went out in that rain with low chakra."
Sakura was shocked.
Lifting her head, she gazed up at him with her pretty eyes and raised pink eyebrows.
"You noticed that I worked late?" she asked, shocked.
He glared down at her.
"Of course I noticed. We live together," he reminded her. Then, he continued, "and you should have known better-you're a medic."
Sakura found herself smiling despite his light scolding.
So Sasuke took note of her, like he actually knew stuff about her!
She didn't live anonymity with him.
In his own way, he had observed things about her.
"When I get back, there'll be things waiting for me at my desk," she remarked.
"When you get back, you're going to bed," Sasuke corrected her.
Sasuke, meanwhile, wanted to plant a few slaps on her pretty backside. While he did acknowledge that she probably worked late to get out of the house, and away from him and his insensitive behaviour, and that he had been reason for her to run out in the rain today, it didn't mean he wasn't displeased with her.
Suddenly, he felt a pair of warm lips on his cheek.
Feeling his cheeks go a little red, he looked down at his wife's pretty face that beamed up at him.
"Sasuke-kun, thank you."
He lifted an eyebrow.
"For what?"
"For being a good husband."
Then she tucked her head under his chin and breathed in deeply.
Huh?
What was that supposed to mean?
Wasn't he a bad husband?
Unintentionally, he placed his hand on the back of her head, and lightly rubbed it, enjoying the feel of the soft pink strands.
Women were such unfathomable creatures.
Hinata stood behind the window of her room. She touched a long fingered hand to the pane and watched as water droplets splashed against it.
She wished Naruto hadn't gone on that assignment.
He didn't have to.
He didn't need to.
But she understood that Naruto was simply the sort of man who wouldn't back down from a challenge. It was his strength, and his weakness.
Today would have been wonderful for him to come over and cuddle with her in his arms. His body was so strong, and so fit. She loved when he leaned her against him and playfully kissed her ear.
He was still a goofball - a lovable goofball.
"Naruto-kun, you're hurt," Hinata remarked when she saw the scar on her husband's face that crossed over all the whiskers on his right cheek.
Naruto shrugged.
"Aww...it's nothing Hinata," he assured her and turned away with his hands in his pockets. Before Hinata could say anything, he suddenly turned to her with a bright blue eyes and a big bashful grin.
She watched him with curious lavender eyes.
"Naruto-kun?"
"Hinata."
"Yes?"
He made an uncomfortable chuckle as he lifted his hand and scratched his cheek idly.
"Can you...kiss it better?"
Then, his cheeks went red and he turned away hurriedly. Hinata herself was looking like a ripe tomato now.
"Ah, nevermind!" he exclaimed.
But Hinata was suddenly in front of him, kissing his cheek.
Both of them became more embarrassed as she drew back.
"Ah...um..." she couldn't say anything, and couldn't quite meet his eye. Naruto was the same as for once, he was speechless.
However, she was suddenly in his arms, feeling his warmth and strength around her.
"Naruto-kun?"
She felt him grin as he pressed his mouth against her temple.
"I love you, Hinata-chan."
Naruto was also more serious with her than anyone else, more than even Sasuke, Sakura and Kakashi. That was because he let her alone see certain aspects of himself.
"Next time you see me, I'll be carrying the moonstone in my hand!" Naruto had exclaimed to her.
She had blushed.
Oh, it was so difficult for her to cut out that habit! But she couldn't help it! Being around Naruto made her blush so easily!
Even now, her cheeks were red as she recalled the way he had gently brushed her lips with his own and had hurried away before her father got a heart attack over their brief intimacy.
Really, the Hyuga clan's leader may have been a bit of a deadbeat in the past, but seeing his eldest daughter with her boyfriend did arouse overprotective feelings in him.
At times like these, Hinata fantasized that he might have ordered Neji to stalk them on dates.
Unfortunately, her cousin was dead.
But she loved him a lot and she always felt that he was her big brother in heaven, watching down on them.
Hinata smiled softly now as she thought about the man she was going to marry. He was a huge ball of enigmatic energy. There were so many different sides to him, but deep down, there was nothing but love and purity.
She was a lucky, blessed woman.
She wasn't well, but she felt so good in his arms. Her naked skin was so smooth, and creamy...and so easily bruised. A little nip, and it would turn red.
Experimentally, he touched his mouth to her sweet flesh, wanting to mar her skin with his touches and leave imprints of himself on her.
Sakura shivered when she felt Sasuke's breath on her naked shoulder. His lips softly trailed to the base of her neck and his teeth began to nibble there.
She shut her eyes and bit her lip, gasping but he began to suck insistently, moving upward and leaving a trail of red marks until he turned her head so that he could access her mouth.
His tongue plundered the depths of hers and she welcomed him.
Underneath the blanket, his hand worked on her black garment which he quickly disposed off so that his hands could now caress her soft curves.
His other hand trailed down to that special place of hers, and teased her through her black, lacy panties.
His devouring kiss absorbed all her sighs, moans and soft little cries.
Abruptly, he broke off.
He shouldn't.
She was sick.
But her body was so soft and supple.
The face that was staring up at him was flushed with desire. That soft swollen mouth beckoned his. Those acid green eyes begged for him.
"Please," she whispered.
And he complied.
Her hands gripped his dark head as he kissed her deeply again.
His hands were rough, but not cruel on her. She could feel insistency in his touch, a deep wanting, a deep need for her that triggered her own desire.
And suddenly, the blanket was under her. She was on her back and Sasuke was gripping her hips tightly as he thrust into her.
Her heavy panting matched his own.
"No," he hissed through gritted teeth and paused. "I'm being too rough."
Before he could withdraw, Sakura's hands covered his hands and shook his head.
"Don't stop...please," she begged.
Seeing her spread before as she was, drunk with desire and wanting even more, encouraged Sasuke to continue.
He wanted to hear her calling his name, pleading and begging for more.
And she did.
Sakura lay sated and naked beside Sasuke. He drew her against his body and pulled the blanket around them again when he noted that she had started to shiver.
Leaning on a strong arm, he watched her relaxed features. Her face had a special sort of glow to it. He wondered if she looked like this in the past when they had sex. For the first time, he started to regret turning away from her and not taking her into his arms.
She was so beautiful.
And her face, he could see love in her eyes.
Not the crazy, fangirl sort of look-no, it was a special, warm love. The kind he had only ever received from members of his family.
Without thinking, he lifted his hand and used the finger he would tap her forehead with to trail down her cheek in a slow manner.
Sakura couldn't tell what her husband was thinking, but lying next to him like this, naked and at ease in the aftermath of their lovemaking, and feeling a light, affectionate touch from him was pure bliss to her.
"Are you okay?" he asked softly.
Her cheeks reddened a little, and she nodded.
Suddenly, they both stiffened when they sensed a presence.
Before they could even get up their guard, something appeared at the mouth of the cave.
Lightning flashed outside and their eyes widened in shock and the sight that was revealed.
"No! My precious eyes!" Naruto Uzumaki cried out in horror and blocked his vision.
A/N: So now that I've reposted everything, and added the new chapter, I can squeal about the end of the Naruto manga! I'm so happy SasuSaku became canon! The fandom is rather extreme though, from what I've come across on tumblr.
Anyway, thanks again for reading, and I do appreciate all the reviews, and the support! I made this chapter a little longer, so there might be some errors here and there. My apologies.
PS: The password(s) Sakura repeated are actually a nursery rhyme. You might have heard it before.