Gravity Chapter 14 Revelations, a naruto fanfic

Thank you, Sakura's Unicorn, for editing for me. You're a peach!

Here's an early update for you of Gravity. It's one of my favorite chapters so far.

Enjoy the chapter,

K&K

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DNON

Gravity

Chapter 14-Revelations

0o0o0

Karin was strolling through the Uchiha district on her way to get another box of her stuff she had collected while living in Konoha—even though most of that stuff had been 'borrowed' from Sasuke.

As she neared Sasuke's house, she noticed a man standing on the main road, scratching his head.

"What are you doing here? she asked rudely. "This area is restricted, you know."

"Oh, gomen nasai, ojoosan. I am here on business, though. I have a delivery for Uchiha-san, or rather for his friend, Haruno-san."

"What?" Karin's red eye's narrowed suspiciously.

"Oh, you wouldn't happen to be the lucky, young lady, would you?"

"Maybe…why?" She put her hands on her hips.

"Haruno-san! It's truly a pleasure to meet you." He bowed deeply. "Your wonderful reputation as a doctor and humanitarian precedes you."

"Uh…thanks."

"Forgive me for staring, Haruno-san, but I was told you possessed pink hair." He laughed loudly. "Someone must have been pulling my leg."

'Quiet, you hippo!' Karin thought angrily. 'You'll alert Sasuke-kun.'

"What is it you want, uh…"

"Saihoushi Tsuyoi. I am the family tailor for the Uchiha clan."

"You're not very busy then, are you, Saihoushi-san?" Karin grumbled sarcastically.

A momentary look of surprise from the jibe crossed his face at her harsh criticism before his calm reserve returned. "Ah, sadly not so much these last few years. I am hoping that will change soon, though, seeing as Uchiha-san has taken a fancy to you, Haruno-san." He handed Karin the brown-paper wrapped package.

"Sasuke-kun doesn't like that little cu—" Karin started to rant and stopped seeing the man's shocked look. "Uh, yes. Sasuke-kun and I will be starting a family soon, no doubt." Karin hugged the parcel close to her chest.

He beamed. "That's wonderful news, Haruno-san!"

"Haruno-san?" A cool-toned tenor broke into their conversation, causing them to turn toward the house.

"Ah, Uchiha-san! I'm so glad that I caught you." the tailor bowed deeply to Sasuke. "I was just talking to your fiancé, Haruno-san, here."

The aura around Sasuke turned icy. "She is not Sakura."

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry. Then you are?" he asked Karin. Karin opened her mouth and Sasuke answered.

"She is leaving. Saihoushi-san, do you have my delivery?"

"Ah, yes." He awkwardly took the package back from a stunned Karin and handed it to Sasuke. "I was just telling the young lady here how nice it was to see that you've found someone to share all this with." He waved his hand to indicate the district.

"Sasuke-kun doesn't-"

"Yes," Sasuke cut her off. "I appreciate you staying on the Uchiha retainer even though I haven't kept you busy for so many years."

"You've been very generous to us, Uchiha-san. We owe you a debt of gratitude. Anything you need, just say the word and we will make it happen."

"My house guest will be needing a few things—new bedding, drapes, linens… Whatever color or style she likes. Her house was burned down recently by some low-life." Sasuke glanced at Karin for a split second. "She lost everything, so she is staying with me—indefinitely."

"What?!" Karin shouted, but the men ignored her.

"Uchiha-san," he smiled conspiratorially, "perhaps you should take advantage of the fact that a prominent and beautiful, young doctor is staying in your home and make the situation more…permanent." The man smiled encouragingly.

Karin covered her mouth in shock.

"Hn." The corner of Sasuke's mouth lifted slightly. "Would you like to join me for some tea, Saihoushi-san? Sakura should be back soon. I would like you to meet her."

"Yes, that would be nice, Uchiha-san." The man followed Sasuke back into his house, leaving Karin out in the street, frozen in disbelief.

0o0o0

Sakura came in the back door with two sacks of groceries, determined to make amends for her screw up the day before when she forgot to bring home something for their dinner. That stupid insurance man had her so flustered and upset that she had completely forgotten her promise to cook something.

Sakura was surprised to see another pair of sandals lying by the door. She almost turned around because, if Sasuke had a guest, she didn't want to intrude. While she stood by the door contemplating her options, Sasuke called out to her to join them.

She poked her head into the kitchen and bowed to the two men sitting at the table enjoying some tea.

"Sumimasen, I didn't know Sasuke-kun had company. I'll just put these away and leave you."

"Join us," Sasuke ordered, taking her bags and pulling out a chair.

"Ah, I don't want to intrude."

"You are not intruding, Haruno-san. We were waiting for you. I am Saihoushi Tsuyoi. I am the family tailor for the Uchiha clan."

"Yoroshiku onegai shimasu, Saihoushi-san. I don't believe we've met before."

"No. Uchiha-san was just telling me about the unfortunate incident with your home. I am so sorry to hear about it."

"Arigato, Saihoushi-san. Sasuke-kun has been kind enough to let me stay in his home…temporarily."

"Yes. How fortunate. Perhaps you can do me a favor, Haruno-san. I am going to be doing some renovating for Uchiha-san and he says you might help with picking out fabrics, styles and colors for the home."

She looked peculiarly at the two men. "But I don't-"

"You have known the young master for many years, have you not? I think you would be the perfect choice to help make his home feel more comfortable."

Sakura looked sideways at Sasuke, who was calmly making her a cup of tea. "Wouldn't it be better if Sasuke picked out his own furnishings and linens?"

"I don't have much time or knowledge about that stuff, Sakura. I figured since you're off-duty for a while, you could help out. The only other person that knows me well enough is Naruto and if I came home to blinding, orange walls, I would probably kill him."

Sakura giggled at Sasuke's dry candor. "I guess I can try, but Saihoushi-san, you must run all final decisions past Sasuke."

"Of course, Haruno-san. You are very kind to assist me. I am sure you will be a great asset to me as well as Uchiha-san.

"I don't know about that, but I'll try." She accepted her cup of tea from Sasuke with a smile before looking back to Saihoushi. "It was very kind of Sasuke to let me stay here."

"This house suits you, Haruno-san." the tailor nodded approvingly. "I can tell you are very comfortable with Uchiha-san. How long have you known each other?"

"Years," Sasuke answered. "Since we were children."

"Then you've been with the young master through his hardships. That speaks well for your character with that kind of friendship and loyalty, Haruno-san."

Sakura blushed bright red. "Ah…"

"Forgive me for saying so, Uchiha-san, but you should not let a girl like this get away. It isn't easy to find such a companion in life. I was also lucky enough to find my soul mate. I would be lost without her." He turned back to Sakura eagerly. "You will meet her the next time I visit, Haruno-san. I know she will just adore you."

"Uh…ok." Sakura was at a loss for words at such a bold statement.

"I'm sorry, I must go now." The tailor stood up. "I will be back later this week with some samples and my wife will help you decide what you would like to do." Sakura started to rise and he stopped her. "Please, stay and relax, you do not need to see me to the gate. I have been coming to the Uchiha district since before you two were even born. I know my way out. Thank you for your continued business, Uchiha-san. So nice meeting you, Haruno-san." He bowed and left quickly.

Sakura sat in silence, listening for the door to close and the soft slap of sandals leaving the porch.

"What the hell was that?" she finally asked.

"What?" Sasuke feigned ignorance.

"That! What was that!"

"I don't know what you mean." Sasuke sipped his tea.

"You know," Sakura stood and picked up the guest's and her empty teacups and headed for the sink. "I didn't want to be rude to Saihoushi-san, but that sounded a lot like a few of the marriage interviews my mother made me go on when I was sixteen." She looked back at Sasuke suspiciously. "Is he trying to play matchmaker?"

"Your mother made you go on marriage interviews?" Sasuke was completely taken aback. He had been gone at the time. He couldn't imagine Sakura being forced into marriage at the age of sixteen. "Weren't you a little young?"

"Yes." She shrugged. "But my mother wanted to make sure I was cared for before she died. She knew she was dying, but didn't tell me until much later because she didn't want to burden me. She didn't want me to be alone. If Tsunade and Kakashi hadn't assured her they would watch out for me no matter what, I would have been married off to either an older man who owned a grocery in Manabí or the son of a prominent travelling trader that comes through Konoha once a year."

"Really?" he growled. With her back to him as she cleaned the cups, Sakura didn't see Sasuke's eyebrow twitch in irritation.

"Oh, yeah. My mother was adamant and getting a little desperate, I think." She winced mentally at the thought of the old man she had almost been forced into marrying. "I loved her, but I was tempted to go missing nin for a while," she joked with a wry smile as she turned toward him. "Even Naruto's offers for dates were starting to look tempting."

"You would date the Dobe?"

"At least I knew Naruto's first name," she laughed, drying her hands on a kitchen towel while she sat back at the table. "And he lived in Konoha. I didn't want to leave my home."

"Hn." He gave her a dark look.

"You know I'm kidding, but what else was I supposed to do, Sasuke-kun?" She crossed her arms under her chest. "Women under nineteen are required to do whatever their family says. It's the law and to openly disobey would bring dishonor to them and myself." She leaned back in her chair. "You guys are lucky that you never have to worry about propriety or destroying your social status."

"What happened?"

"Tsunade offered to become my legal guardian. I think the only reason my mother agreed was because she was the Hokage. She didn't trust Kakashi to do it because she heard about his…uh, hobbies."

"Hn."

"My mother was just trying to take care of me," she said, sitting up straight, suddenly very self-conscious. "Look at your own situation. I think Saihoushi-san was just trying to look out for you, too."

"He's an eccentric old man, but his family has been working for my family since his grandfather's time." Sasuke shrugged. "He meant no disrespect to you."

She laughed. "I know. He's harmless. Besides, it's funny. I'm sure if Karin had met him, he would be doing the same to her."

"No, he wouldn't. He met her earlier. He said she's rude and dresses inappropriately."

She laughed again. "Maybe he is a good judge of character."

Sakura got up to prepare the food she brought home. Sasuke sipped his tea at the table and simply watched her work—neat and efficient, just like she was in surgery. He enjoyed watching her work, not wasting anything unnecessarily and cleaning up after herself as she went along. In what seemed no time at all, she had the table full of delicious smelling foods. He had gotten up to set the table while she was in the midst of creating and she smiled appreciatively that he had saved her the trouble. When she put the last dish on the table, he opened the bottle of wine he had retrieved from the cellar.

"We should have invited Naruto and Kakashi," she mused.

"Why?"

"Well, this is a lot of food for two people and, uh…I…uh…" at a loss for words she folded her hands and slightly bowed her head. "Itadakimusu."

"Do I make you nervous?" he took a sip of wine, watching her over the rim of the glass.

"Hardly," she scoffed softly.

"Then, you're scared of me?"

"Tch, right." Sakura put down her chopsticks and picked up her wineglass. "I could take you down anytime, anyplace, Uchiha."

"Really?" he asked with a smirk. "Is that a challenge?"

Sakura choked a little on her drink and quickly set the glass down and picked up her eating utensils. "Uh, no. Do you like the food? This wine is lovely."

"Yes," he said slowly, studying her scarlet cheeks as she tried to change the subject. "I like the food very much. What is it?"

"Just something my mother used to make. She loved to cook. She taught me a lot," Sakura's easy smile turned into a slight frown. "But she was disappointed when I didn't jump at the chance to give her grandchildren before she died."

"She wanted you to have children at sixteen?"

Sakura set down her chopsticks again and played with the napkin in her lap. "Fifteen, actually." She picked at a loose thread in the dark, blue fabric. "Tsunade and Kakashi stalled her from making any rash decisions until I was sixteen. They really saved me." Out of the corner of her eye she saw his raised eyebrows and became somewhat irritated. "Don't look at me like that! There are girls who get married at fifteen all the time."

"They don't usually start having children right away."

"I never said I was happy about it," she snapped.

"Hn."

Sakura took a deep breath. "Thankfully, Tsunade kept sending us out on missions—mostly to look for you." Her face suddenly seemed softer and a faraway look entered her eyes. "It was heartbreaking being away from my mother, but I also couldn't stand to be with her while denying her heart's desire for grandchildren." She sighed into her wineglass, "I almost went through with it."

"What stopped you?"

She blushed and gulped the last of her wine. "I should clean up." She rose and started to pick up plates.

'She's still uneasy telling me stuff?' Sasuke thought.

"Tell you what," he offered. "I'll do the dishes while you put the food away. Then, we'll get the Shogi board out. If I beat you, you have to tell me what stopped you and if I lose, then I'll tell you something you don't know about me yet."

"You're on!" she giggled without thinking. 'Was that the wine talking?' she wondered. "I warn you, Sasuke-kun. I learned how to play from Shikamaru."

Side by side, in companionable silence they cleaned up the kitchen. Then Sasuke brought the wine glasses and bottle out to the living room and set up the board.

The battle lasted longer than the wine and, by the end, neither was doing well. They both had many 'dropped' men on the board. Finally, Sasuke checkmated her king and she was forced to admit defeat.

"I won, Sakura," he smirked triumphantly. "You have to tell me why you didn't go through with your arranged marriage."

She picked up the pieces and slowly put them away, trying to think of the right words. She was doing her best to avoid looking at him. He watched her with a quiet intensity, curious as to what she might say.

"I…I couldn't get over you." she looked down at the last shogi piece in her hand, slowly turning it over in contemplation before putting it in its place. "And I was afraid of being miserable for the rest of my life with someone I didn't care about."

Sasuke was speechless.

"Stupid, wasn't it?" She smiled brightly to hide her pain, but would not look at him. She shook her head. "Anyway, I'm glad I never went through with that awful abomination." She still refused to look at him. "I'm tired. I'm going to bed now. Oyasumi nasai, Sasuke-kun." She rose and swiftly left the room—just before she went through the doorway, Sasuke spoke.

"I think that was a good reason."

She fled to her room as if she didn't hear him.

The sudden warmth Sasuke felt wasn't just from the wine.

0o0o0

Early the next morning, the package from Saihoushi-san was sitting on the floor outside her door with a note from Sasuke.

I forgot to give this to you last night. It's to replace the one I ruined.

Sakura carefully opened the wrapping and revealed an absolutely beautiful silk robe. The fabric quality was even better then the lovely robe she had purchased in Waterfall. She smiled and pulled it fully out of the wrapping. Luxurious, red silk pooled over her hands, draping gracefully to the floor, she turned it around and gasped.

"Oh, no!"

0o0o0

Things you probably already know:

Ojoosan-young lady-miss

Yoroshiku onegai shimasu-Pleased to meet you

Oyasumi nasai-Good night

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