Disclaimer:
This fic has always been rated M. This chapter is especially mature, so please know that before reading.
The characters and world featured in this story belong to Masashi Kishimoto. This is for entertainment purposes only.
Everything smelled of flowers. As his eyes adjusted to the light, Sasuke noticed the roses first. They were everywhere, some more tangible seeming than others. For a moment, he worried that his rinnegan had activated and allowed some other realm to swallow him. Yet the ground was soft. Only it wasn't the ground; it was a large mattress. He gripped the sheets with his hand. Their soft texture returned him to reality. Beside him, curled towards him, was the source of the rosey smell.
Sasuke sighed and rolled on his side to get a better look at her. The curtains were closed, so the room was dim and otherworldly. Sakura looked like a pink-haired nymph in this floral landscape. Her sleep-rumpled hair splayed over her bare shoulders and breasts.
Her breasts…
His eyes lingered. The memory of last night returned to his foggy mind.
Following her question - her invitation - Sasuke pulled Sakura against him. She wrapped her legs around his waist, pressing their clothed loins together. It was brief, as he needed to make space for her hand as it slipped past the elastic of his boxers. She touched his erection tentatively at first. Sasuke hissed with pleasure. He followed the animalistic urge to nip at her neck as her touch grew more confident. Her fingers wrapped around him. Groaning only encouraged her.
"Sakura," he growled as he pushed his weight against her, pressing her into the mattress.
She looked up at him, her eyes hooded with desire. Though still encircling her middle, the robe had splayed open to reveal her breasts heaving with heavy breaths. Sasuke straddled her hips and looked down at her, proud and, for once, truly happy with a life decision.
"What are you thinking?" she asked shyly.
This made him pause. His mind felt overrun with images and adrenaline. How could he properly convey the river of thought that was Sakura's green eyes bursting with joy and want; her small, round breasts with their pink nipples; her kiss-red lips and inviting, wet tongue; her warm body against his and the feeling of finally belonging after years of hurt.
Sasuke lowered himself on her, finding a balance between the delicious friction and her need to breathe comfortably. He kissed her shoulder, up her neck, then stopped to nibble her earlobe. "Too much," he murmured.
Talking was Naruto's forte, but Sasuke tried. Putting words together was a difficult enough task for him under normal circumstances. To do so amidst the heat they were building between them was near impossible. He bucked against her, revelling in the pressure against his cock, fabric-coated as it was.
Sakura wrapped her arms and legs around him. Her fingers pressed into Sasuke's shoulder blades, and it seemed to Sasuke that she was trying to push them together into one being.
"Are you happy?" she asked breathlessly.
Annoying woman.
He stopped to stare at her with confusion.
Sakura bit her lip, clearly holding back. She averted her eyes, and he noticed the trembling. He didn't need his sharingan to understand, not when he remembered tears illuminated by moonlight. Images returned to haunt him. The broken, wide-eyed look she had given him on the bridge, her gasp as his genjutsu tore into her heart, and the disappointed, defeated slouch of her shoulders when he said she couldn't follow him on his redemption journey. To her, his happiness was a rare and fleeting thing. For it to have any permanence was an unknown to Sakura. Now, on the brink of smashing through the stubborn walls that had separated them, the woman faltered in a nervous act of self-preservation. If he were to second-guess himself and vanish after this night, it would shatter her heart. Yet the words she chose were always about his happiness.
He pushed the sense of alarm and irritation down. He had to show her more.
Sasuke drew close to her and pressed his lips to hers. When the kiss ended, he rested his forehead against Sakura's and stared into the hopeful field of her irises.
"I am happy, Sakura," he whispered. "You make me happy."
Joy and mirth returned to her features. "I want to make you happier," she said with a shy smile.
Sasuke hummed against her neck. "Why?" he asked playfully.
"Because you deserve it," she insisted.
He sucked in a breath. Sakura placed a hand on his cheek and stroked his face with her thumb.
"Anyone can see your arm has healed, and you've made progress with your rehabilitation… But I know you still have wounds in your heart. I know…" She averted her eyes for a moment but steeled herself. She whispered, "I know you're still scared. To love."
Bloody floors. Bloody walls. Bloody streets. They waited for him in the lonely darkness of his mind. He'd had plenty of nightmares over the years, and Sakura eventually joined them - not as a phantom of the past, but a possibility. Sasuke sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the mattress. He leaned forward and rested his face in his palm, wondering why she had to speak that aloud.
Her hands reached. Sakura sat beside him, rubbed his back, and nuzzled her face against his short arm. "I've heard that the Uchiha love fiercely… that it's the source of your power. I've read that loss can trigger the sharingan."
His heart and lungs now throttled for a different reason.
Why is she saying all of this? Does she think I'll lose my mind if…?
He knew he would. He looked up at her with panicked eyes, but he didn't know what he feared more - the possibility, or her knowledge of it.
"Gosh, look at us," Sakura muttered, once more rubbing his back with one arm while she squeezed his only hand. "You're scared of love, and I'm scared I'll never make you happy enough." She made a noise somewhere between a cry and a laugh.
Sasuke looked at her sharply. "Sakura…"
She bit back the tears that formed. Her lip trembled with the struggle. Eventually, the tears won, and she sucked in breath. Lungs pacified, she dabbed at her eyes with the white robe.
"Sasuke-kun… what is happening between us? We weren't too tired for… all that we were doing… so please. Can we talk about it?"
He sighed. "Ah. Sakura."
Silence gripped them for seconds that felt like hours as he sought the right thing to say to her. "I am scared," he admitted at last. Once more, his voice sounded unnatural to his ears, like a strangled sob. This evening and the woman beside him were arousing the strangest reactions in him. A tremor rattled his spine. "You're precious to me. More than ever."
With a small gasp, she smiled at him, and her moist eyes grew happy once more.
He recalled his words to her parents the night before.
"I hurt you in the past. I promised your family I would make up for that. It's because, despite that fear, I'm well past the point of returning. I'm in that state I so desperately tried to avoid. Most of the time it's the most pleasant sensation I've ever known, but also… " He inhaled sharply. His throat felt tight, and his eyes stung. Sasuke glared at Sakura, not out of anger, but pain. "These cursed eyes… I fear what others will do to you to get to me! I fear disappointing you when I have to use them to work away from Konoha." His heart clenched. "I fear for our children that don't even exist yet!"
He sank lower into a tired slouch. Sakura positioned herself behind him and began stroking his back through his shirt. He relaxed into her touch with a sigh. Sasuke considered the possibility that despite their hormonally driven bodies, the pair really were too tired. All of this late night angst would seem irrational in the morning.
Sakura's movement changed. She dropped a hand, and Sasuke felt her tracing the fan symbol stitched into the back of his shirt.
She hummed with satisfaction. "You said 'yet.'"
"What?"
"You said that you fear for our children even though they don't exist yet. You want to have children with me."
Sasuke could hear her dazzling smile. Although he wasn't facing her, he imagined the blush across her cheeks. It surely matched his own. He hummed to confirm. There was nobody else in the world he would choose.
Sakura rested her face on the fan insignia. "You know, Sasuke, I may never have sharingan, but I already have more than enough heart to be an Uchiha. My love for you made me stronger, despite the many obstacles. No matter what, I'll always love you. No matter where you go, our feelings will be connected." She leaned so that he could see her in his periphery. She flexed the muscles in her slender arm. "And if anyone messes with our babies, I'll be a mama bear!"
Sasuke actually laughed out loud. The sound widened Sakura's grin. He looked at her fully. Swallowing his pride, he turned to embrace her.
"Thank you," he sighed. Her steadfast declaration reminded Sasuke of his brother. Itachi would have liked her. Sasuke's fingers brushed her upper back. The soft fabric of the robe was smooth, begging for a fan emblem. He wanted to say something more about it, but she pulled from his arm just enough to kiss him.
It was a long, deep kiss. Her tongue sought entrance, and he obliged. Sasuke enjoyed the soft texture and iron taste. Feeling her touch and pulse reassured him. The pressure in his pelvis returned. Sakura must have felt a similar stirring, because she climbed into his lap and wound her legs around his hips. Their breaths became quicker, shallower, as she rocked her pelvis and rubbed her clothed sex against him. Sasuke continued to kiss her while his hand explored her body beneath the robe. He was just about to tug at the hem of her panties when she playfully pushed him into the mattress.
"Can I do something for you?" she whispered, her face red as a juicy tomato.
Sasuke hoped she'd take off her clothes. "Ah," he rasped.
Her eyes darted down to the tent of his boxers poking into her leg. She bit her lip, then looked back into Sasuke's eyes. "Can I take those off?"
His heart rate increased exponentially. His Adam's apple bobbed. "Yes."
It was a bit embarrassing as she tugged the boxers from his waist. His erection sprang out like a cobra as she freed it from its cloth prison. Underwear now on the floor, he sat up to help her undress, but she surprised him by sitting between his legs. Her warm breath fluttered against his skin, then her lips enveloped him, tasting him.
"Sakura!" he rasped and grabbed at one of her shoulders. This wasn't what he expected.
She looked up into his eyes with a pleading look. "I want to make you happy," she explained. "I want to help you feel good."
Sasuke could barely think, but he knew he had enjoyed the first tantalizing sensation of her offer. He thought they had been on the verge of a different sexual act, one that could potentially be more enjoyable to her as well, but since she was so insistent…
"Okay," he softly agreed.
"Relax," she cooed, stroking his thigh.
It tickled, but he decided not to complain. He briefly recalled the tantalizing sensation of her fingers brushing his abdomen in the prison shower over two years ago. How that had comforted him through some lonely nights. He rested his head on the mattress and soon felt her hot mouth on him again. She slowly took him all into her lips. A pleasured groan tore out of his chest. One of her hands returned to fold around his length as her lips rolled back to his tip. She increased the speed of her pleasuring. His mind turned entirely to the sensation of her mouth on his cock, to Sakura's efforts to make him happy, to the love he felt coiling and uncoiling in his heart and loins. It was sultry, wet, and electric. The fire that had been building inside him since moving in with her finally burst forward in release, and his mind flashed with white ecstasy. For a brief time, the guilt of the past, and worries about the future, didn't exist.
There was only Sasuke and Sakura loving each other.
Sasuke's face was hot as he recalled how their evening ended, yet it perplexed him that he didn't know what happened after that. A horrible sense of guilt gripped him as he thought of the many times he'd fallen into a mostly restful sleep after masturbating.
Shit, he thought. She must hate me.
He studied her and noticed that Sakura's whole body curved toward him. Sasuke realized he was under a blanket, so she must have tucked him in. He admired her sleeping form a moment more before slipping out from the blanket. He found some fresh clothes and, after completing his morning toilette, crept out the door to visit the front desk.
A rotund man with a graying head of hair bowed to him.
"Good morning, Uchiha-san! I pray you and your wife slept well."
They were in too deep, and Sasuke decided that it didn't bother him at all. In fact, he was growing fond of the idea. "Ah. Thank you."
The man's smile was genuine, and Sasuke saw he took great pleasure in his guests' comfort. "That is a relief! We are all so grateful to you both. I only regret that your special trip was interrupted!"
The familiar sensation of shame began to creep its way into Sasuke's heart. He wondered if he should correct the man after all.
"You met my beautiful wife last night," the host continued, interrupting Sasuke's thoughts. "She is in the kitchen preparing breakfast. Would you like it delivered to your room?"
"Yes, thank you."
When Sasuke returned to the suite, he found Sakura away. She had replaced the revealing robe with her usual shinobi attire. Sasuke's lips wrinkled with disappointment at the loss of the robe, and he suddenly realized that everything between them would be forever different.
"Morning," Sakura said tenderly as she examined the contents of her medical bag. Sasuke had seen her fill it prior to their journey, so he knew she had used many of her materials during the emergency. No doubt she was making a mental shopping list. Her eyes met his briefly. She blushed and asked, "Did you sleep well?"
He knelt in front of her and the supplies. "I did, thank you," he said gently. Sasuke's eyes settled on her pleasure-giving lips. His face warmed and he lowered his gaze. "Sakura… I apologize for falling asleep."
She shook her head. "Don't worry about it. Honestly, I was pretty tired myself after everything… I'm glad… I'm glad I made you happy."
Sasuke clenched his jaws for a few minutes as she counted bandages. He scooted closer, then leaned over the contents of her bag so that his face was close to hers. "Sakura. I want to make you happy tonight."
She paused to glance at him coyly. "Sasuke-kun…" Her eyes flitted to his open lips.
Everything was different, and there was no going back. He hadn't felt this safe in years, and he'd never felt this close to anyone. Sasuke decided to throw himself in wholy. For once, he felt near completion. Sakura was his home, his family.
He kissed her, softly at first, then deeper. She returned the affection. He could taste the minty toothpaste on her tongue. Sakura shifted her body away from the medical supplies so she could press Sasuke to the floor. He moved with her, enjoying the pleasurable touches. His veins surged with newfound joy, and he showed her with a tender caress down her back, ending with the curve of her tight black shorts beneath her red dress. Sasuke regretted not opening himself to this affection sooner.
Sakura giggled as he squeezed her behind. Her pink hair hung into his face, filling his world with her floral magic. At last, Naruto's dumb expression around Hinata made complete sense.
A knock on the door caused the couple to jump.
"Hm. That's our breakfast," Sasuke muttered regretfully.
Sakura rolled from him with a sigh. "I suppose it's for the best. I promised to help at the clinic in an hour."
Sasuke nodded with understanding. He had been enlisted to assist at the police department, after all. He stood to answer the door, patting out the wrinkles in his clothes from his flirtatious tussle.
Breakfast was a savory meal of rice, grilled fish, tamago rolls, and some pickled vegetables. It was lighter than the takeout they had eaten the previous night. Sasuke decided it felt a lot better in his stomach. Sakura sipped on a cup of green tea.
"This was just what I needed to energize me for the day!" she sighed with satisfaction.
Sasuke hummed in agreement and glanced at the digital clock by their bed. "I should get to the police station."
Sakura looked down into her tea and frowned slightly.
"Sakura," he prodded gently.
"It's just… are you comfortable doing an interrogation after all you experienced following the war? Do you think it will upset you? I'm just worried about…"
He scoffed. "I've been dealing with post-traumatic stress since I was a child. I'll be fine."
This answer didn't satisfy Sakura. She averted her eyes and crinkled her lips suspiciously. The air tensed around them as they sat in silence. Sasuke inhaled slowly, working to calm the irritation he felt gnawing at him. He was a proud man, and a proud Uchiha on top of that. He didn't want Sakura to doubt him.
He started gently. "I know you mean well. You understand the brain and healing more than I do, as much as it pains me to admit that."
The woman smirked at him. "Well thank you for the compliment, Sasuke," she said with a shake of her head.
"But," he continued, raising an eyebrow at her, "I know what sets me off. I've learned how to cope with it. And I know, if I have… a…"
"A flashback? An episode?" she suggested.
"Tch. Sure. If I have something like that, I'll see you later, and everything will be better."
"Oh really?" she teased.
He nodded and offered her a smile. It flashed with his unique brand of smugness and genuine gratitude that he reserved just for Sakura. "Ah. I'm especially fond of the technique you used last night. That would be very effective, I think."
Sakura lobbed one of the throw pillows at him. He dodged it easily and his grin widened. He decided he liked teasing her.
Two of the prisoners were hooked up to tubes, bags of fluids, and beeping machines. Wrapped in bandages that were in need of changing, the unconscious men were strapped to gurneys and locked in a large cell together. Sasuke stared through the bars distractedly as guards retrieved the third man. The reformed avenger thought how awful it would have been for him to have been placed in Konoha's dingy prison while his arm healed. He probably would have died from sepsis, though he doubted Sakura would have allowed that. Indeed, she must have been a major reason he was in Konoha's hospital in the first place. Sasuke wondered if Sakura was aware of this situation. They were criminals, but he couldn't help wondering at their motivation. What caused them to hate enough to cause harm? Was there any hope for them? Did someone, somewhere, pray for their redemption?
"I heard you were here," a man said. His nasally voice was etched in Sasuke's mind, and the fact that the Uchiha was already in a prison sent a shiver of contempt through him.
Sasuke turned to the newcomer and narrowed his eyes. "Sho."
The man pursed his lips but kept his head low. "Sasuke."
A much larger man wearing the Akimichi crest followed him into the room.
"We're here to transport the uninjured offenders to prison," the Akimichi said.
A Land of Waves guard lead a skinny man wearing a dark blue jumpsuit into a second cell. He forced the criminal to sit in a chair, then looked at Sasuke. "Here's one of the guys who tampered with the boat. He reports that you knocked him into the water, causing him to avoid your more damaging attacks." The officer gestured toward the bandaged men nearby.
The skinny man jerked backwards. He regarded Sasuked with the wide-eyed panic of a deer before a wolf. "I don't know anything!" he whimpered.
"We'll see about that," Sasuke said flatly.
He glanced briefly at Sho. The former tormentor studied him warily. The man had let his brown hair grow out some, and his green eyes seemed less acidic. The fact that he had not said anything degrading was curious, but Sasuke had more important matters to attend.
The first interrogation was straightforward yet of little help. The skinny prisoner was a low-level lacky who drew the short stick - literally - prior to their mission of destruction. The two most useful pieces of evidence were the female prisoner's identity, and the name of the organization behind the violent incident. Out of sympathy and gratitude, Sasuke sent the prisoner into a blissful sleep.
Dusk, Sasuke recalled as he stood outside for some fresh air. Unlike the name of the terrorist organization, the sky in the city was sunny and full of promise. Like many important buildings in the Land of Waves, the police station had at least one good view of the sea. He gripped the railing and remembered the moment after he learned of his brother's true mission. Sasuke had stood facing the setting sun, hell-bent on bringing Konoha to its knees. He could understand the prisoner's anger. The man had lost employment following the war. He felt abandoned by his state. Sasuke exhaled drearily, and he wondered how Naruto would translate it all with his idealism.
The sound of footsteps announced the presence of someone coming to share Sasuke's solitude. Sho joined him at the railing a few feet away. He sucked in the sea air before releasing it with a tired groan.
"I wish they were all too injured for us to take back to the prison," Sho muttered. "I'd loiter around here for a bit if I could. I can't remember the last time I saw the ocean…"
The casual smalltalk caught Sasuke off-guard. He turned his head toward Sho slightly, but he was very practiced at keeping his emotions in check. Whatever Sho wanted, Sasuke would not give him an in.
After an awkward lull, Sho tried a different approach. His voice was somehow less nasal seeming when he was attempting to be friendly. "You've become quite a controversial figure among criminals. You're either the ultimate traitor, never to be trusted by any side, or you're some sort of model anti-hero. A lot of the people behind bars… Shit, they just eat up stories about you. Granted, there's still plenty who think it would be a different situation entirely without your connections, but hey. You're a goddamn folk hero. Even the guards talk about you like you're a legend. They never saw the real you though, did they?"
"What do you want?" Sasuke asked, cutting to the heart of the matter. He faced the man fully now.
Sho shrank back slightly. He kept his eyes low, well aware of Sasuke's power, no doubt through all the stories, however embellished, that had reached the prison. The man held up his hands in peace.
"Nothing!" he insisted. "I just didn't expect to run into you."
"Ah," was all Sasuke said.
"I hear you married Sakura," Sho said after a while. Sasuke allowed the silence to pile. Sho eventually crumbled under the weight of it. "She always had a thing for you. Heh. I hope you treat her good."
Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "Why do you care?"
Sho exhaled through his lips. "Shit, I'm just saying what anyone would! She's a special woman, you know? I had eyes for her when we were in the academy, but that's history." He turned back toward the sea, but he wasn't really looking at it. His mind was far away. "I have a girl in Konoha. We were friends for a long time. When I was ...moved… she kept writing to me. She never gave up on me. Actually, in one of her last letters, she was talking about seeing you and Sakura walking together. Said you both looked happy, and that if you can make amends, I can, too. Then poof, you're here." He shook his head at the cosmic humor of it all.
"Is this your way of apologizing to me?" Sasuke grumbled, struggling to push his disdain aside.
The other man shrugged. "I guess. Yeah. I'm sorry for being a dick back then. You've always been a cocky asshole yourself, but…" He screwed up his face, clearly uncomfortable with the topic. "I guess what I'm saying is that I had nothing to do but think in that hellhole I work in. I'm working to be a better man. They only just started to let me work transport missions. They trust me again. I hope they'll transfer me back to Konoha soon…" He grinned sheepishly. "I want to marry my girl. I hope she'll take me, but if a jerk like you can make it with a woman, then I guess you deserve the whole folk hero status, huh?"
The title of folk hero sat wrong with Sasuke, but he momentarily buried his recently acquired humility to admit to himself that, perhaps, his redemption journey really was helping him to restore honor to his clan. Sasuke worried that Naruto's obnoxious optimism was starting to rub off on him.
The female prisoner was more cantankerous and tight-minded than her underling. She attempted to resist Sasuke's eyes, but that only brought her a pain Sasuke was all too practiced at delivering. Interrogating the woman brought him no joy. Sakura's hurt expression briefly flashed in his brain. He worried that doing this could create a slippery path back into a dark mentality, but he reminded himself that he was doing this to assist The Land of Waves and, ultimately, Konoha. Perhaps he would learn more that would protect other innocents. Perhaps this moment would be a turning point for the woman, and she would reevaluate her life prior to her own journey of redemption. Sasuke knew most people would not adopt the austere lifestyle he had, but sacrifices were always necessary for change. Sho, for example, was forced to give up the comforts of the village and proximity to the woman he loved, but it seemed to make a difference. Time away, Sasuke decided, was good for the soul. The silence and space to think could shed light on already existing but previously neglected paths.
Sasuke walked through the market district on his way to the clinic. His mind veered from the mentally taxing work of interrogation to the more pleasant memories of the previous night. Head full of Sakura's many sensations, and the image of her pink hair between his legs, Sasuke found himself pause in front of a jewelry store. The existence of this shop was a testament to how conditions had improved on the island nation since Sasuke fought Haku.
"Can I help you?" a woman asked from behind the counter.
He stiffened. Sasuke had only stopped a moment, and he had no intention of conversing. He frowned at the many sparkling rings below the glass. Different colors, cuts, and compositions... It overwhelmed Sasuke.
"Hm. No, thank you. I don't know her size."
"Well, we can always adjust it for you," the lady urged.
"Maybe later," he sputtered before veering away.
It wasn't until he reached the clinic that it struck him he had browsed, however briefly, engagement rings. He inhaled and let out a long sigh as he took his post by the door. Leaning against the brick wall, Sasuke's lips curved with subtle contentment. The great neo Snake Sannin would never admit to it, but he felt a swarm of butterflies in his stomach and chest.
He imagined Itachi waiting with him.
You're in love, little brother. He would give him a fraternal smile.
I know…
When Sakura appeared, Sasuke noted the tired droop of her eyelids. He worried for her own health. She gave and gave, and couldn't even enjoy a proper rest on what was supposed to be their first romantic getaway.
"Hi Sasuke-kun!" she sang. The energy in her voice contrasted with her appearance. She stretched her arms behind her back and to the sides. "Well, it was a busy day, but such an improvement to last night! Most patients are recovering at home. Only twenty of the worst cases remain here, and they're all inside now. Isn't that great?" She beamed, and the accomplished light in her eyes scattered the sleepy shadows.
Sasuke inclined his head in agreement. Straightening, he left the stone wall to lead her down the steps and back to their room. On their way, Sakura prompted him to share about his own workday.
"I'll send Kakashi another report when we get back," he concluded. "There's a cell of angry people near Mist. It seems peace won't be easily maintained."
Not that he had been under any illusion that Kaguya would be their last conflict.
The inn gardens were even more striking in the daylight. Sasuke waited patiently as Sakura paused to admire each statue and manicured plant. They weren't in any rush to get to the Sea Dragon. Both had eaten lunch only a few hours ago, and they wanted to take advantage of the private spring in their room after all the work they'd done.
They greeted the innkeeper and his wife as they walked briskly to their suite. Sasuke's heartbeat increased as they neared the door. He wanted more of what started last night in their bed. Their hands brushed as they reached for the knob at the same time. Chuckling nervously, Sakura stepped back and tucked hair behind an ear. He could sense her erratic chakra.
They were hardly inside when Sasuke pressed against her, folding her into a hungry embrace. Their lips met, and they remained there for several moments of heated kissing. Sasuke eventually pulled himself from her and turned to maintain his self-control.
"If you want to relax in the tub, you should shower first." His mother raised him to be cleanly, and he wouldn't rush through decorum. He would see her soon enough.
Sakura giggled at him, but there was a subtle shake in her voice. "If you say so. I'll be out in a moment."
While she cleaned herself, Sasuke sat outside on a bench by the small, private bath. Their little sanctuary was surrounded by high wooden fences and finely trimmed conifers, mossy rocks, and bamboo. He wouldn't admit it aloud, but he couldn't wait to get into the warm water. His imagination wondered at Sakura's shape entering the small pool. His eyes fluttered shut dreamily.
A hand on his shoulder woke him from the brief fantasy. Sakura stood before him, her wet hair wrapped in a towel. "You let your guard down," she said. The silk robe clung to her body. She handed him a black robe, then wrapped her arms in front of her. "Your turn," she murmured.
He wordlessly accepted the garment and headed inside. The temptation to turn around and watch her disrobe was strong, but his respect for her was greater. He could sense she was on edge. It was amusing and adorable after yesterday, but the promise of tonight hung heavy in the air.
The scrubs she'd been wearing lay in a heap on the floor. Sasuke stepped over them and rolled his eyes. Her compassion and light were influencing him. With a chuckle, he wondered if he could improve her tidiness.
Following his shower, Sasuke found Sakura emersed up to her chin. Without activating his sharingan, Sasuke could only make out the shimmering reflection of sunlight and clouds over the surface of the water. He noticed her white silk robe and towel hastily thrown over the bench. She watched him nervously.
Sasuke didn't know what to do. He walked over to the bench, but turned to look at her. She continued to peer at him.
"Are you going to watch me disrobe?" he asked bluntly.
"Sorry!" she squeaked, and turned away. She sunk lower into the water.
Smirking, Sasuke removed the slippery fabric from his body and gracefully lowered himself into the warm water. "I'm kidding, Sakura. You've seen me..." he said, shutting his eyes and hoping he sounded confident.
"Mmhmm."
Sasuke opened his eyes again. She was shielding her chest with her arms and sinking even lower into the bath. "And I've already seen some of you. Why are you so shy today?"
She frowned. "I know I'm not very… endowed. Does that bother you?"
He waded to sit beside her and sighed. Eventually, Sakura relaxed a bit. Sasuke wondered if moving next to her helped since now he wasn't directly staring, however she remained submerged to just below her shoulders. He frowned, unused to these sensitive conversations.
"Sakura," he started.
She was fresh and dewey skinned from the bath. You're beautiful, he wanted to say, but the words caught in his throat. He leaned and kissed her cheek. Lingering, he whispered, "You have nothing to worry about."
"Most guys I know seem to have a thing for big-"
"I'm not most guys," he interrupted. He gently pulled her to sit between his legs. She squeaked as his one arm snaked around to her chest. He enjoyed their softness, and he tentatively gave each a gentle squeeze. "I only have this hand. You're the perfect size for me."
"Sasuke-kun…" She leaned into his chest. "Thank you. I've always felt… inadequate in that area."
He kissed her cheek again, then moved down to her neck and shoulder. Sakura sat up to give him better access, and he squeezed her breasts a little more vigorously this time. She moaned and reached behind her to touch him, but he blocked her way with his stump.
"No," he chided and nipped her ear.
Sakura gasped and fell back against him "Why?"
His hand moved lower, first stroking her right thigh, then up into her pink mound. Sakura chirped, and her limbs stiffened. Sasuke gave her a reassuring shush as he explored her delicate folds. Sakura murmured his name like a mantra, causing him to grin triumphantly into her hair. For awhile, they stayed that way. Sasuke reclined his head and enjoyed the warm water and the heat of Sakura in his hand and pressed against his body. When she bucked slightly, he opened his eyes and asked if she was okay.
"You can… you can do it a little… rougher, Sasuke...kun…"
The way she panted his name made his face hot with desire. He sped his motion and pressed harder. Licking his lips, he explored her within and imagined what it would feel like to be inside her. His own want was thick between them, and the friction of her rear pressing against it was delicious. She urged his fingers back to the sensitive nub between her folds, and in a short time, Sakura was crying his name at a higher pitch. She gripped his legs and arched her back. A moment later, she exhaled deeply and seemed to flop against him, her pulse drumming. Sasuke hummed with pride and kissed her temple. They sat for a long time, enjoying the warmth and intimacy.
"Are you hungry?" she asked suddenly.
"Ah."
Sakura stood up. Rivulets of warm water rolled down her skin. He took it all in - her shinobi-honed muscles, her perky breasts, and the way her strong legs curved up into a sculpted behind. She waded to the stairs and retrieved her robe. His eyes stayed on her, roaming up and down her bare form before she vanished into their room.
Shit, he thought as he felt his groin respond again.
She reappeared with a cup of water just as he stood. They stared at each other for a moment before Sakura smiled giddily and moved to sit on the bench by his robe. She took a gulp of water and set the cup on the stony path.
"You came from such a conservative clan… Do you think your family would have approved of me?" she asked as she played with the hem of her robe.
Taking a deep breath, he pulled himself out of the spring. She watched him approach, her green eyes studying his body.
Donning the dark robe, he joined her on the bench. He once imagined reaching toward her with his ghostly limb, but now he confidently touched her with all he had left. He made contact with the soft curve of her cheek. Rumors and rings tumbled about his brain. He shifted his digits to lightly tap her forehead. Sakura smiled knowingly.
"Come here," he purred and pulled her into his lap.
Sakura blushed as she sat. Her bare bottom pressed into his thigh. She wrapped her arms around his neck to steady herself. Sasuke stroked down her back and held her close.
"Sakura," he started. The intent look in her eyes, the way her irises seemed to swallow him whole, warming his heart. He gulpped. Imagining his family still alive was a painful mental exercise. "They would have loved you. And now, I'm all that's left. The old ways… they don't apply anymore."
She smirked. "Knowing you, you'd find a way to break the rules anyway."
"Hm. Maybe."
Sakura massaged pleasant circles into his residual limb. "I guess there's no use playing what-if."
Sasuke pressed his forehead to hers. "Right. I spent too much time wallowing in the past. I'm … I'm ready for the future."
Sakura beamed at him, and probably would have kissed him had there not been a knock at the door. She stood up curiously.
"Sorry to intrude," said a familiar voice through the door, "But I've brought you some tea."
The pair looked at each other.
"What's he doing here?" Sakura asked.
Author's Note:
Thank you for being so patient as I put the final touches on ch 21. I had hoped to give you a Halloween treat, but my family is always my first priority. Sewing my daughter's costume took a little more effort than I originally thought, and then there have been several get togethers with friends. Such is life. Still, I hope the wait was worth it for you. :) Who could be on the other side of that door?
I recently started to reread Touch from the beginning. I found a couple typos in earlier chapters which is so annoying since I reread so many times before posting! That's always so embarrassing. That said, I really do enjoy the story I've written. I'm glad the way I wrote Sasuke and Sakura has resonated with so many of you.
There will be another update very soon! If all goes according to plan, it will probably be the last chapter. Thanks again for all your support and love! It means so much!