Sasuke knelt in front of his brother's trunk that was laid neatly beside his father and his mother's in the corner of their bedroom, and gently lifted the lid. Sakura had seemed to sense his desire to be alone with the few material possessions left that belonged to his family and had left him alone as she busied herself with putting their house in order.
He ran his fingers over his brother's things. Shuriken, kunai, an old style thigh holster, piano wire; tools of his trade. Weapons used by the child prodigy of the Uchiha clan known by all for his deadly skill. His attention then shifted to the objects that most people didn't associate this his bother at all. A hand written recipe to make tri colored dango. An old blue stuffed dinosaur, almost identical to his own green one that was tucked away in one of the boxes he'd kept in the secret room under Naka shrine. A hand sewn blanket with the Uchiha crest, one that he was fairly certain his brother's lover had made for him based on the stitching that was a little different compared to his mother's work. A pair of white cat ears. A photo album filled with pictures of their childhood. As he looked through the pages, his hands trembled and his eyes watered. They'd had such happy times together. Playing, studying, learning, even getting into trouble from time to time. How he wished things could have been different. That those happy times had lasted just a bit longer, that he'd understood his brother earlier.
His eyes widened as a pair of warm arms wrapped around his shoulders from behind and a chin came to rest of his shoulder. Sakura must have heard him or simply sensed something was off and come to check on him. She said nothing as she knelt there behind him, holding him gently and he was thankful for that. He didn't need pity, or apologies, or sweet words of affirmation. All he needed was concrete evidence that he wasn't alone, that the Uchiha clan was still alive and well after their long history of sorrow and bloodshed. They knelt together for some time as he finished flipping through the pages, her warm presence taking the edge off of the sharp sting of regret and sadness that permeated his soul. When he finished the album, he laid it gently inside the trunk next to a pair grey arm guards and reached up to lay his hand on Sakura's forearm.
"Is there something you needed?" he asked softly.
She turned her head and kissed his cheek. "No, but I had the feeling that you needed me." She replied.
A small smile touched his lips as his grip on her arm tightened slightly. "You're right." He replied softly. "Thank you Tsuma."
"You're welcome, darling. It makes me happy that you feel that way." She confessed. "Tell me, do you want me to make something for dinner or should we go out?" she asked.
"Let's go out. There's no reason for you to cook on top of all of the work you've been doing." He said as she stood up and he quickly followed.
"What are you in the mood for?" she asked moving over to the closet.
"There's a seafood place that opened up while you were gone." He replied pulling a clean set of clothes from the chest of drawers he'd filled earlier. "I was waiting for you to return to try it."
"That sounds great." She replied pulling out a red dress he hadn't seen before from the closet. "There wasn't any seafood in The Hidden Stone. Because of their location they eat mostly red meat. I'm looking forward to it." She carried her selected clothing items to the bathroom and he shook his head.
"Why are you being shy?" he asked as he slipped off his dirty shirt and tossed it into the laundry basket.
"I'm not." She replied. "I just don't want you to seem me primp and prepare." She muttered so softly he could hardly catch it.
He smirked at her little insecurities and pulled on a fresh dark blue shirt. He slipped out of his dirty black pants and changed into a set of clean grey ones before walking over to the vanity and pulling a comb through his inky spikes. It was all surreal. He was in his own house, living with a wife who loved him. He never imagined he'd have such things, yet here he was. He was no longer a vagabond drifting through life with no place to call home. He'd found one in the arms of a beautiful woman with pink hair, green eyes, and a warm smile.
"I'm ready." Sakura said stepping out of the bathroom.
He looked her over and nodded in approval. The dress was formfitting, high collared, and reached just below her knees with a slit on each side for easy movement. Her hair was down with a red ribbon secured where she wore her leaf headband and the hair clip he'd given her slipped into her bangs. She was lovely.
"Let's go then." He said moving out the door.
She smiled and followed him out grabbing a light green sweater and her purse as she went. It was cold, but not quite cold enough for snow yet. He walked outside and was pleased by the view from their front entry. Other buildings were close by but not suffocating and the lawn was well manicured. He glanced back as Sakura turned the key locking their new home and froze his eyes widening. On the dress, between her shoulder blades was not the white circle he was accustomed to, but the Uchiha crest. Without a second thought he reached out and touched the symbol tracing the outline with his fingertip.
"Sakura," he murmured softly. "When did you…"
"I ordered some new clothes shortly after you left on that mission to track down the missing ANBU, but between you nearly dying on my operating table and being sent to The Hidden Stone, I hadn't had a chance to pick them up until today." She replied turning around her cheeks blazing. "Do you… like it?" she asked cautiously.
He reached out and embraced her hiding the tears stinging his eyes against her shoulder. He'd never imagined that seeing her wearing his clan's crest would make him so happy.
"It suits you perfectly." He replied softly nuzzling her neck below her ear affectionately before pulling away.
She smiled and followed them out the gate of their new home and down the street towards the main part of the village.
%&%&
"It's been so long since I've eaten like that." Sakura confessed with a groan. "It was so good and I ate way too much."
Sasuke chuckled and sat down on the couch in the living room. "It's fine isn't it? You enjoyed it."
Sakura glanced at him with narrowed eyes before walking over and sitting by him. "Thank you Sasuke. I had a wonderful time."
He smiled and laid his head on hers glancing around the room. They'd hung up wall scrolls of the Uchiha crest as well as a few photographs and paintings. Their house wasn't quite finished, there were still a few boxes hanging around that needed to be emptied, but it felt like a home. Sakura gripped his sleeve and he glanced down at her curiously.
"What is it?" he asked softly.
"Sasuke, we're married, we have a house, we have great friends and my parents are alive and well. I'm happy." She looked up at him with tears shimmering in her eyes. "I'm just so happy I feel like my heart is going to burst." She pressed her face to his shoulder. "Thank you. Thank you so much Sasuke."
His eyes widened before his expression softened and he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "So am I." he replied. "I'm really happy that you're with me Sakura."
She smiled and lifted her head capturing his lips in a soft kiss. He returned and deepened the contact slipping his tongue between her lips. When her arms started to creep up to lock around his neck he broke off the kiss, yanked her up and over his shoulder and started to carry her across the room.
"Sasuke!" she squeaked in surprise. "What are you doing?" she demanded.
"The bed is new. It's a bit bigger than our last one." He said as he mounted the stairs to the second floor. "I'd like to see how we can put the increased size to good use."
He carried her down the hall to their freshly made bed with navy sheets and white and red pillows and laid her down gently. He slipped off his shirt and smirked at the blush that crept over her cheeks even as her eyes heated. He stepped forward and let his pants fall to the floor before advancing until he was face to face with his wife who knelt on the bed. He reached out and stroked a hand through her hair and then cupped her cheek before pressing his mouth to hers.
It was a sweet kiss filled with gratitude and love and his hands moved gently over her body his fingers unclasping the buttons at her neckline before pulling the zipper down slowly. When he finally laid his hands on her skin, she sighed and leaned into his touch her own hands roaming the expanse of his back and side. He unclasped her bra and tossed it to the floor before grabbing her by the waist and half shoved, half pulled her towards the head of the bed. He laid her back against the pillows and smiled at the sight she made. Flushed and alluring with a warmth in her gaze that penetrated his soul. He pressed his forehead to hers for a moment soaking in the warmth that banished all darkness from his heart before resuming his ministrations.
"Sasuke." She sighed as he kissed down her neck, over her collar bones to her breasts.
He nipped, sucked and squeezed the soft mounds following her mews and cries of pleasure as his hand unsnapped the button of her shorts and started to pull them down. Sakura gasped and then moaned, he left her breasts kissing a path down her abdomen towards her hot center. He pulled off her shorts and panties tossing them next to her other clothes on the floor and positioned himself between her legs. When his tongue touched her slick folds, she cried out her back arching before she gripped his shoulders tightly her fingers flexing and then relaxing as though she couldn't decide if she wanted to push him away or pull him closer.
"Relax Tsuma." He said softly gripping her thigh. "I won't hurt you. You enjoyed yourself so much last time."
"I know." She replied. "It's just embara-" her own words were cut off by a gasp of pleasure as he tongued her clit her fingernails digging into his shoulders.
He licked and sucked at her center listening to his wife gasp and whine with pleasure until she came undone with a high pitched cry that turned into a low moan as she tried to catch her breath. He wiped the excess from his mouth and rose up over her taking in her pink tinged features and pleasure clouded eyes before he sheathed himself in her.
She gasped and reached for him with trembling hands locking her arms around his neck as he set his rhythm. His eyes drifted closed as he focused on the sensation of her skin on his, her heat, her gasps, and the floral scent that clung to her hair. Even without his sharrinagan he could see her in perfect detail. She lifted her hips a little allowing him to penetrate deeper and he relished in the sensation moving with increased speed as his own peak drew closer. She rose to meet him one last time and he found it with a shout spilling himself inside her with a low groan. He collapsed on top of her and her fingers slid lazily up his back to thread through his hair as he caught his breath and their bodies cooled.
Sasuke turned his head and pressed a kiss to Sakura's cheek. "I like the bed."
She blinked in surprise before she burst out laughing the sound almost musical to his ears.
"Well that's good to hear. I like it too." She replied tracing nonsense patterns into the skin of his back. After a few moments of quiet, she spoke again. "I learned a little about Deidera while I was in The Hidden Stone." She said. "His explosive clay was certainly a pain to deal with."
"Particularly for someone who doesn't possess lightning chakra." Sasuke agreed as they shifted under the covers.
His wife nodded and reached out lightly tracing a faded scar on his shoulder. "Would you tell me a little about him?" she asked softly.
He cocked a brow at that. "What do you want to know?"
"I want to know about your battle against him before you tracked down Itachi." She said glancing away as though embarrassed though her hand reached for his. "I wasn't able to be by your side then. I just… I want to know a little about what you experienced while we were apart." She squeezed his hand. "I don't expect you to tell me everything." She assured him quickly. "It's just-"
He pressed his lips to her forehead. "It's alright. I understand." He said touching his forehead to hers. "I'll tell you though it might take a while."
Her eyes brightened and her lips turned up into a radiant smile as she wrapped her arms around him and held him tight. "Thank you!" she exclaimed.
He gasped at the intense pressure. "Sakura-" he gasped. "It's hard to breathe when you hold me that tightly."
"Oops! I'm sorry." She said releasing him quickly.
"It's alright." He assured her. "Now then, where to start. I suppose it all began when he appeared near the clearing where I was waiting for my team."
The next morning, Sasuke was awaken by the soft sound of the wind whistling through the trees instead of the glaring sunlight and a buzz of voices. He looked up the ceiling and then over at his wife who was still sound asleep her pink hair covering most of her face. With a small shake of his head and a tiny smile, he brushed the silky pink locks from her face. She'd been far more tired than he'd realized. Then again, she'd returned from a somewhat lengthy mission only to be faced with some strange woman trying to seduce her husband. Any woman would be exhausted after seeing such a thing. Now that they were living in a house a little further from the city center, he was hoping such incidents wouldn't happen nearly as frequently.
Deciding that it was best to just let her sleep, Sasuke slipped out of bed and walked to the bathroom. It was exactly what he'd wanted. Large enough for both a bath and shower. He wanted to take a bath, but had already decided to let Sakura do the honors of taking the first bath in their new home and instead opted for a quick shower. Once he was finished, he walked back into the bedroom to find his wife still sleeping but wrapped around his pillow, curled up into a ball near the place he'd just vacated. He smiled at her antics and quickly dressed before padding quickly down the stairs. He went to work preparing breakfast for them and turned when Sakura walked into the room forty five minutes later.
"Good morning Tsuma." He said setting her plate down at the table.
"Good morning darling." She replied with a sleepy smile. "How long have you been up?"
"A little more than an hour." He replied setting down his own plate.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sleep that long." She said sitting down at the table.
"You must have needed the extra sleep." He said handing her a cup of tea. "Don't worry about it. Kakashi told you to take some time off anyway."
Sakura sighed and lifted her bowl of miso soup and then stopped studying the contents. "Are there… tomatoes in this?" she asked.
Sasuke blinked in surprise and looked at his own bowl. He realized there weren't any of the red colored fruits in there and nearly blushed as he looked away.
"Sorry, I must have given you the wrong bowl." He said quickly. "Here I'll-"
"It's good." She said interrupting him. "Not exactly what I was expecting, but it's not bad." She smiled at him. "Is this the way you like it?"
He glanced at her and was reassured when he didn't find any mirth in her gaze and nodded. "I've liked it like this ever since I was young." He confessed. "Itachi was teasing me one summer, saying that I liked tomatoes so much I'd probably put them in miso soup if I could. So I did. I've liked it ever since."
Sakura smiled. "You should have told me sooner." She said. "I'll make sure to add them the next time I make it."
He studied her for a moment. "You don't think it's strange?"
The pink haired medic chuckled. "Have you ever eaten with Choji? He's the one with strange tastes around here." She said.
He smirked at that. "That's true. He was always pestering me to try the strangest snacks when we were at the academy."
Sakura nodded. "He still pesters me from time to time. I just pull the doctor card and tell him how unhealthy they are." She said taking a sip of her soup. "Sometimes he looks so depressed afterwards I almost feel guilty. Then I remember the time he made me try tripe flavored gum and all of that guilt goes right out the window."
Sasuke nearly gagged at the thought. "Please tell me you're joking."
"How I wish I was." She replied a little shudder running through her body.
He shook his head. "He was always a bit strange."
"We all were, in our own ways. I think that's how it was supposed to be though. If we were normal, we probably would have turned into normal ninjas." Sakura said taking a bite of rice.
"I never thought of it that way." Sasuke admitted.
Sakura smirked. "Well look at that. You learned something new today."
He smiled back as he picked up his own chop sticks. "I suppose I did."
"A house warming party?" Sasuke repeated as he stared at the small congregation gathered at his front door.
"Yup! Everyone is dying to see your new house so I figured we'd throw a party." Naruto said cheerfully.
"Aren't the home owners supposed to be the ones that throw a party like this?" Sasuke muttered the vein near his temple throbbing.
"Yeah, but you hate stuff like that and Sakura wouldn't make you do something you don't like, so I decided to do it." The blonde announced cheerfully. "I know you both have the day off so just be a good sport and let us in." he said pushing his way inside. "Pardon the intrusion."
"I swear I'm going to murder him one day." He snarled as he stomped inside and up the stairs to where Sakura was organizing the home office. "Sakura, we have company." He said.
"Oh?" she replied standing from where she was kneeling near one of the book shelves. "Who is it?" she asked brushing the dust off the Sakura patterned apron she wore.
"Naruto." Sasuke replied venom dripping from the word.
She cocked a brow at his tone. "Is there something wrong? I'm honestly surprised he waited this long to show up at our door."
"He took it upon himself to throw us a house warming party. He brought half the village with him." He grumbled.
She sighed and touched her temple. "I should have known something like this would happen." She said slipping the apron off and hanging it up near the door. "Come on then. We both know he won't leave until he's satisfied that we've had a decent party."
Sasuke glared at the ground. "I hate things like this." He muttered.
Sakura smiled at him and stretched up on her toes kissing his cheek. "I know, just bear with it for now. He's just happy for us."
The ink haired man sighed and leaned forward resting his head on her shoulder. "Fine, but they better be out of here by midnight."
"A very reasonable request." She replied patting his shoulder affectionately.
#%#%
The party was loud and crowded as expected but also tinged with the warmth that seemed to follow Naruto around wherever he went.
"Your house is awesome Sasuke!" Naruto exclaimed from where he sat at the table picking meat filled dumplings off a tray on the table at lightning speed.
The ink haired man merely nodded and picked at his own plate lifting a piece of sushi Sai and Ino had brought to his mouth.
"I want to see the garden out back." The blonde said walking over to him. "Will you show me? I'll carry your plate for you." He said swiping it from where it rested on the arm of the chair where the ink haired man was seated.
Sasuke shot his best friend an icy glare but reluctantly relented. He caught his wife's eye, who was seated across the room next to a tipsy Ino and a grinning Lee and jerked his head towards the back making his intentions known. She glanced at their friend standing next to him and then met his eyes again and nodded an encouraging smile touching her lips before her attention shifted back to the animated story Lee was telling.
"This way." Sasuke said leading Naruto through the kitchen to a side hallway until they reached a small meditation room.
He then led him through it to the next set of doors and motioned to the manicured garden complete with a small koi pond bathed in the moonlight.
"Wow!" Naruto exclaimed. "It's amazing!"
Sasuke nodded and grabbed two throw blankets from where they were neatly folded near the door. "It was modeled after the one my family used to have though it's a bit smaller since I wanted more room for the training space." He said motioning to a separate part of the garden that was clear of most vegetation with several wooden targets set up. He offered one blanket to Naruto and then slung the other over his own shoulders.
"Impressive." The blonde said appreciatively before sitting down on the porch. "Come sit down. You've been tense all night." He said motioning to the spot next to him.
"Of course I'm tense. A loser decided to invade my home with half the village." Sasuke muttered sitting down next to his friend.
"Lighten up." Naruto said setting their plates down between them. "It wasn't half the village. Just your friends and they're all just happy for you." He took a piece of Sasuke's sushi and put a dumpling in it's place. "Really, this is great. It's like you're finally home, for good this time."
"I guess so." Sasuke admitted shrugging as he took the dumpling. "I never thought I'd have anything like this again."
"Neither of us did." Naruto agreed. "The two of us were once all alone. Now look at us. We're married with houses of our own, re-building the families we lost." He said looking at the moon.
Sasuke nodded and looked at the moon as well. Neither of them said anything for some time, just enjoying the quiet and one another's company, after a while, Naruto spoke.
"Why are you hesitating?" he asked suddenly.
Sasuke glanced at him and cocked a brow. "What are you talking about?" He replied.
"I've seen the way Sakura looks at the kids in the hospital, especially the youngest ones. It's clear to me what she wants, so what's holding you back?" Naruto asked meeting his gaze. "Didn't you say you wanted to rebuild your clan?"
The ink haired man's eyes widened. It never ceased to amaze him how his best friend could be completely clueless most of the time yet eerily perceptive at other times. Even so, his temper flared.
"That's none of your business." He grumbled.
"It is, kinda." Naruto replied. "I told you before, I love Sakura, I want her to be happy." His blue eyes were unwavering. "So why?"
Sasuke's hand balled into a fist. "I don't owe you an explanation." He insisted.
Naruto's expression suddenly shifted, an almost audible click sounding in the air.
"You're afraid, aren't you?" The blonde said softly.
Sasuke's jaw clenched. The idiot had hit the nail on the head. He was afraid. He was absolutely terrified of having a child. How could he not be? He was hunted from the time he'd been orphaned by a psychopath that desperately wanted the power his bloodline possessed. There was little doubt in his mind that any offspring he and Sakura had would eventually be hunted as well.
"Hinata's afraid too." Naruto said crossing his legs in front of him as he looked up at the moon. "As a child, she was nearly kidnapped twice and then again not too long ago. All for those beautiful eyes of hers." He looked down. "I understand why she feels that way. I mean, who wants to put a kid at risk like that ya know?" he popped another piece of sushi into his mouth, chewed and swallowed. "But in the end, we decided that our faith in one another is stronger than our fear of what might happen. We vowed to protect any children we have with everything we have and prepare them for the cruel outside world." He glanced over at his friend. "But that's something we decided after she talked to me about her fears. You need to talk to Sakura about this."
Sasuke sighed. "We've talked about it, twice." He replied.
Naruto nodded. "I won't try to tell you two how to live your lives but, you two are my precious family. I care about you. I want you to be happy. Don't miss out on the future because you're worried about the past. Isn't that why we fought that war?"
The ink haired man sighed and snatched the last piece of sushi off the plate before Naruto could steal it.
"If only things were that simple." He said before popping it into his mouth.
"Things are as complicated or as simple as you make them." Naruto replied. "Do you love her?" he asked.
"I told you not to ask me such a stupid question again." Sasuke replied.
"Then I guess the two of you will muddle through somehow, though I still want our kids to grow up together." He glanced over and grinned. "I bet my kid would totally kick your kid's butt."
Sasuke rolled his eyes at that. "Impossible. Mine would have yours on the ground dazed and confused before yours even realized what happened."
Naruto grinned. "Don't be so cocky."
Sasuke smiled back and then nearly growled as he realized that Naruto had achieved his objective. The idea of having a child was now firmly engraved in his mind.
"Come on." Naruto said standing up and collecting the empty plates. "We better go join the others before our wives send out a search party."
Sasuke nodded and stood up studying the garden for a few moments and Naruto paused at the door.
"Sasuke?" he called out tentatively.
"You know how the sharringan is activated right?" Sasuke said studying the koi pond.
"For the most part, yeah, I think." Naruto replied. "When a member of the Uchiha clan loses someone they love, it activates."
Sasuke nodded. "My brother's activated much sooner than mine. He was only seven at the time if memory serves. His teammates were killed on a mission by a masked man, who for some reason, allowed him to live. When my brother returned home, father's first reaction was to congratulate him for awakening it so soon and encouraged him to continue training hard." His eyes lowered. "That single moment was the catalyst that led to their division. My brother was shocked and upset that father showed no interest in what had triggered that power, just that it was there." He looked at his hand. "One conversation changed everything between them."
Naruto studied him for a moment before reaching out and touching his shoulder. "You're not your father. You know better." He said simply before pulling him towards the door. "Common. Let's go back inside."
Sasuke nodded. "Alright, you don't have to drag me Naruto. You're as bad as Sakura." He grumbled.
He walked back to the living room where the party was taking place and nearly smiled at the happy expression his wife as making. Her eyes squeezed shut, her hand partially covering her mouth as she laughed heartily at the scene in front of her. Ino had her hands fisted in Sai's shirt, her face bright red face inches from his, shrieking something he couldn't quite make out while Sai simply sat there his hands raised in quiet surrender with a nervous smile on his lips and a very light sheen of sweat on his forehead.
"Oh snap. I bet Sai said something brutally honest again." Naruto said studying the scene himself. "If Ino's drunk, he better just apologize and be done with it. It's not like she'll remember tomorrow anyway."
Sasuke shook his head and walked over to where the food table was organizing them based on who had brought what.
"The house is great." Kakashi said walking up to him with a cup of sake in his hands. "The location is nice too."
"Thanks." Sasuke replied.
"Sakura looks really happy." The dark haired man continued. "So do you."
The ink haired man merely nodded though the praise did please him.
"The three of you are growing up so fast. I'm beginning to feel old." The Hokage said glancing at a photograph of several of The Konoha Ten gathered blooming cheery trees.
Sasuke nearly snorted at that. "Is that so?"
The Hokage nodded and stood quiet for a moment before he spoke again.
"Sasuke, the two ANBU you captured asked me to apologize to you on their behalf." He said slowly.
The Uchiha's eyes widened at that. "What for?" he asked his voice a touce harsher than he'd intended.
"I don't know. Something you said must have really struck them." Kakashi said. "Do you mind if I ask what you said to them?"
Sasuke sighed and raked his hand through his hair. "I don't remember everything I said. That virus messed with a memory a little." He admitted. "The only things I can think of is that I reminded them that The Uchiha clan was a part of the Leaf and that I wasn't the youngest member of my clan when the massacre happened."
Kakashi's eyes darkened with understanding. "That must be it." He said touching his chin. "They said something about struggling with the fact that they followed a man who encouraged infanticide."
Sasuke snorted. "So genocide is fine, as long as they're all grownups, is that it?" he said clenching his hands into fists.
"Sorry, again for all of that." Kakashi said lowering his head. "I was so close and yet I had no idea…"
The ink haired man sighed. "No one did except for Danzo and Itachi."
The grey haired man nodded and then laid his hand on Sasuke's hand ruffling the ebony spikes affectionately. "I'm sure the Uchiha clan will make an epic come back. I'm not worried at all."
The ink haired man glared at his old teacher. "Easy for you to say." He said moving out of his reach.
Sasuke sighed as he collapsed in bed his inky locks damp from the shower he'd just taken. He was absolutely exhausted. Mentally anyway. Parties always had that effect on him. They were so loud and there were so many people he was supposed to interact with. The only large crowds he was comfortable with were hordes of enemies. Those he at least knew how to deal with. He glanced over at the bathroom door, a sliver of light spilling into the dark bedroom from it and listened to the sounds of water hitting tile and the faint sound of his wife humming a tune he didn't recognize. A little smile touched his lips, his wife was one of the few human beings in the world he knew how to deal with as well. She'd been surprisingly firm with their guests when eleven thirty had rolled around, shooing them out and even threatening their blonde haired friend to make sure their house was empty of guests by midnight, the time he'd requested.
His thoughts drifted back to the conversations he'd had with both Naruto and Kakashi. The pressure to have children was mounting. Though it was true they hadn't been married long, only a little more than half a year, it was customary for married shinobi couples to have children young. After all, their lives were unpredictable and generally shorter than their civilian peers. Having children young ensured the longevity and stability for the stronger, ninja clans. Even so, he was so conflicted.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the bathroom door sliding open. Sakura entered the room dressed in a pair of cream, lace trimmed shorts and a matching top. She tossed her pink colored locks and sighed before crossing the room to their bed.
"Are you alright darling?" she asked as she slipped into bed beside him.
"I'm fine Tsuma." He replied.
Her brow furrowed at that. "I get the feeling you're not being honest with me." She replied before grabbing him by the shoulder and turning him onto his back, quickly over taking him by straddling his hips. "You've been tense ever since you returned from showing Naruto the garden."
"What are you doing Sakura?" Sasuke asked dryly though he was secretly pleased she'd noticed something was wrong.
"I want to know what's bothering you." She replied leaning down until their foreheads touched. "We're partners right? You can tell me anything."
He sighed, unwilling to reveal what was on his mind and instead lifted head to capture her lips with his own his hand sliding up her creamy thigh that he noted had clearly just been shaved. Not that he was the type of man to worry about such things, but he appreciated her effort all the same.
"Sasuke!" Sakura gasped when he grabbed her perfectly rounded behind and squeezed. "You're doing this on purpose." She accused even as she shuddered when his teeth nipped her collar bone.
"You noticed that I'm stressed and offered to help. I know you know full well that intercourse is an excellent stress reliever." He purred pulling the strap of her top down with his teeth.
"You're dodging the issue." She insisted even as her hands slipped under his shirt and began to slide over his muscled form.
He ignored her comment and rolled, pinning his wife beneath him as he nibbled on the sensitive swell of her partially exposed breast.
"Sasuke!" she gasped when he ground his hips against hers rubbing his hardening member against her thigh. "Please!"
"Please what, Tsuma?" he replied softly his fingers tracing the jut of her hip bone teasingly.
"Love me." She whimpered.
He smirked against her skin. His mission to distract her was thoroughly accomplished, though having sex with his wife was certainly more than just a consolation prize.
"As you wish." He murmured before pulling them both into a world of heat and pleasure.
"Sasuke, would it be alright if we went out tonight?" Sakura asked her hands clasped together in front of her nervously.
Sasuke studied his wife curiously. It had been a month since the house warming party and their 'time off' was about to come to an end. He'd honestly enjoyed the break. He'd been able to finish nearly all of his research into the events that had transpired after he'd left the village with The Sound Four. There had also been several occasions to catch up on training.
Sparing with his wife had been an enlightening experience. Her hand to hand combat skills were incredible and he'd learned, the painful way, that he was lacking in that department. Their training sessions were some of the best he'd experienced in recent years and he could feel the distance between them shortening significantly. There had been a time, when they were genin, when he'd relied on, trusted, and knew her and her movements as well as he knew his own. After several years apart from her, though he trusted her and her abilities, there was a distinct disconnect between them. He didn't know or understand her movements or jutsu well enough to truly feel that he was her partner. After several weeks of grueling, daily sparing sessions, he felt that connection again. It wasn't perfect by any means, but he felt that he could better fight with her now and it felt better than he'd ever anticipated. He'd even seen her confidence in him and their relationship grow. She was more honest with him and he appreciated it.
Now, her confidence seemed to be lacking and he was curious as to the reason for it. After all, she'd just returned from meeting up with several of her female friends. She was normally much brighter after such a thing. Deciding it was something he could ask her when they went out, he nodded.
"That's fine." He replied standing from where he'd been seated reading a scroll. "Should I change?"
"No. What you're wearing is fine." She replied quickly.
"Alright then. Let's go." He said.
She nodded and led him to a small restaurant part way up a hill with a view of Hokage mountain. It was a rather romantic spot but the menu and décor gave off a comfortable, homey feeling. It wasn't very crowded either, for which Sasuke was thankful. After the waiter delivered their food, Sasuke studied his wife who took a few bites and then put her chopsticks down. Her fingers trembled a little and she took a deep breath before raising her eyes a little to meet his gaze.
"Sasuke, are you happy?" she asked quietly.
His hand stopped from where he was picking up a bit of rice and his brow furrowed a little. "Happy?" he repeated. When she nodded he nearly sighed. "Yes, I'm happy." He replied honestly before taking the bite of rice like he'd intended. "Have I done anything to make you think otherwise?" he asked turning his attention to the sliced beef on his plate.
Sakura shook her head. "No, not really. Then again I don't think you'd tell me if you weren't so I wanted to check."
He couldn't deny what she said so he simply nodded before looking at her again noticing how her fingers were lacing and unlacing together nervously. "Are you? Happy I mean." He asked.
The pink haired woman nodded. "Yes, of course I am." She said a small smile touching her lips. "I'm married to the man of my dreams, how could I not be?"
"Then why are you so anxious?" He asked.
She blinked and then chuckled nervously touching the back of her head. "You noticed? Then again, I didn't really think I could fool you." she took a deep breath. "I'll tell you later." She promised.
He raised a brow at that but didn't pry. After all, Sakura had always kept her promises.
After dinner, the pair walked through the moonlit night to the top of Hokage mountain overlooking the village.
"It's changed a bit." Sasuke admitted as he looked over the lights. "It seems bigger, yet smaller than it used to when we climbed up here as kids."
Sakura nodded. "Yeah, we did that a lot since Naruto loved to hide up here to try to get out of missions he didn't want to do."
"That's true." Sasuke agreed. "He always liked to sit there." He said gesturing to the top of the fourth Hokage's head. "I wonder if part of him knew, even then that Lord Fourth was his father."
"It's possible. After all, Lord Fourth sealed part of himself within Naruto." Sakura said.
Sasuke nodded and then looked at his wife whose hands were shaking again. "Sakura, what's wrong? You've been nervous all night. Did something happen?" he moved closer grabbing her shoulder. "Did Lord Sakamoto or one his cronies contact you?" he demanded.
Her eyes widened and she shook her head. "No, it's nothing like that, I promise." She assured him, before looking away again. "I guess there's no point in putting it off anymore." She said taking his hand off of her shoulder and taking a step away from him.
Sasuke watched as his wife knelt on the ground and lowered her head, her hands flat against the grass as she bowed in a similar fashion to the way she did on their wedding night. It surprised him and for some reason, his heart began to pound in his chest. Something serious was going on here and he had no idea what. He wasn't sure if it was her posture, or the unknown that was making him so edgy but he didn't like it at all.
"Sakura, what are you doing?" he demanded, his voice a bit sharp as he extended his hand towards her. "Get off the ground."
"Sasuke, my dearest, my love, my husband." she murmured softly stopping his advance. "Please… Please allow me to remove my fertility seal."
Sasuke's mismatched eyes widened and he froze in place. He wanted to say no, to reject her request outright, but somehow couldn't. This was different from all the times before. She was on her knees, begging him in the most reverent, respectful way she knew how. Even so, he didn't want children now, not while things were still so unstable and he was so hated and hunted.
"Sakura, we've talked about this." He said softly. "Please, get off the ground."
"Please!" she begged her fingers digging into the soft, grass covered dirt. "I know that things are complicated, but still…" she raised eyes filled with tears to meet his gaze. "I don't want any regrets!" she reached for his legs fisting her hands in the black fabric. "Please Sasuke. Please try to understand my feelings. I want to be the mother of your children. I know that we're young but the perfect time doesn't exist."
Sasuke knelt in front of her and pulled her hands from his legs and took them in his own. "What's gotten into you? What's this all about?" he demanded completely confused by her behavior.
"I talked to Kurani sensei today. She told me that she and Azuma had been together since our chunin exams but kept putting off having children because the time wasn't right. They were too busy, their lives were too dangerous. Excuses piled up until finally they decided the time was right." Her hand gripped his. "But Azuma sensei didn't even get to see his daughter's face!" she lifted her face to his. "I don't want that to happen to you. Please Sasuke."
"My answer is no." He replied. "Come on, let's go home."
"Why?!" she snapped refusing to back down. "Tell me why? Do you think I'll be a terrible mother? Is that it? Or do you think I'm not capable of protecting my own child?"
His jaw clenched. "Let's go. You're too worked up to talk about this rationally." He said pulling her to her feet.
"How can I not be worked up when you won't talk to me about it? When you won't take my feelings seriously!?" she demanded.
"Sakura!" he hissed gripping her wrist tightly. "Calm down! We'll talk about this later." He said pulling her with him towards the stairs his patience hanging on by a thread.
"I want to talk about it now." She persisted. "Sasuke, please! Even if I remove it now it's not like we'll be parents tomorrow. I just-"
Before he even registered what was happening, Sasuke's hand whipped forward. Sakura's eyes widened as his hand connected with her cheek. She took a shaky step back staring at her husband with a mixture of shock and sadness that immediately threw cold water on his temper.
"Sakura…" Sasuke said softly looking from his hand to the pink mark on her face his eyes widening in horror. "I'm so sorry… I just…"
Tears cascaded from her eyelashes as she lifted a trembling hand to the place where he'd struck her. He watched in pained horror as the light faded from her eyes and the jade pools went blank.
"Sasuke," She said, her voice completely devoid of any emotion. "I apologize for making such an unreasonable request."
The ink haired man felt his heart stutter in his chest. He had messed up. Big time. Undoing the mess was going to be a total nightmare. He took a cautious step forward his hand extended towards her and felt a sense of unease build in his chest when she neither flinched nor leaned into his touch as he brushed her face lightly, caressing the line of her cheekbone with his thumb.
"Let's go home." He said again.
"Go on ahead without me." She replied in the same lifeless tone.
"Sakura-"
"Please. I want to be alone for a little while." Sakura said turning away from him her hands clenching in the fabric of her light green sweater.
"Alright." He conceded. "Don't stay out too late."
She nodded and turned her gaze to the village lights and said no more.
He lowered his head and made his way to the steps moving with purposeful steps until he reached the midway landing and glanced back up at where his wife stood. Though he couldn't see her, he could sense that she hadn't moved. He closed his eyes and focused his hearing and nearly flinched when he managed to pick up the subtle, but unmistakable sound of his wife's sobbing on the air.
"Damn!" he hissed before stalking off.
She'd come home, he knew she would. Even so, he was so frustrated. Why was she insisting on children now? What could possibly make her so desperate for such a thing?
"Please! Try to understand my feelings!"
He hadn't. How could he when he didn't even know what they were? He stepped inside the house and kicked off his shoes before sweeping upstairs with angry steps. Why was marriage so hard!
He laid down on the bed and looked up at the ceiling. Perhaps what she'd said had merit. Azuma had been killed suddenly in action by the Akatsuki before his daughter was born. What would have changed if he and Kurani had decided to have children sooner? Perhaps the Saratobi clan would be in better shape. There was no way of knowing really.
"What are you so afraid of?"
Sasuke opened his eyes at the sound of a voice he knew well but belonged to someone who was no longer in this world.
"What are you talking about Itachi?" Sasuke said turning his head to the side.
His brother was seated next to him on soft grass under a warm sun smiling down at him. It was a welcomed change of pace compared to the cool days and even cooler nights that he was experiencing back home.
"I was going to ask you that." The legendary ninja replied. "Your soul was in quite a bit of turmoil so I decided to stop by and check on my foolish younger brother." He said with a smile.
Saskue sighed and sat up so that he could sit shoulder to shoulder with the man he admired and missed more than any other. After a few moments of companionable silence Sasuke bent his knee and laid his arm across it before laying his head on his forearm.
"I got into a fight with my wife." He confessed.
"Ah. I figured that was part of it." Itachi said with a slight nod of his head. "Still, it's not like this is the first time you two have fought. I'm sure she'll get over it."
Sasuke's hand twitched. "I hit her…"
He yelped when he felt his brother's hand connect solidly with the back of his head. "Like I said, you are quite foolish little brother." His hand moved to ruffle Sasuke's spikes. "Now, what did she do to rile you up so much?"
Sasuke raised his head to look over the grassy field. "She wants to remove her fertility seal." He said softly.
Itachi nodded. "I see. Are you afraid of our clan's curse or are you afraid because of our more recent history?" he asked.
"Both I think." Sasuke replied. "I know that as long as Sakura is around, that curse will never take hold of me again. I think she'd protect our child the same way. Even so; brother, both of us were hunted by powerful people because of the power in our eyes. Just recently, Sakura was kidnapped by a madman to lure me to him so he could murder her in front of me to 'strengthen' my eyes and then kill me and take them from me." His hand balled into a fist. "How can I willingly bring a child into the world knowing people like that will be after them from the day they're born?" he demanded.
Itachi glanced up at the sky. "That's a difficult question to answer." He admitted. "Even so, Sakura knew about our history before your married, did she not?"
Sasuke nodded. "She did. I showed her."
"Sakura is an intelligent, courageous, battle tested, young woman. Don't you think she took our history into account when she made her request to you?" Itachi said gently. Sasuke glanced at him his eyes wide. "I'm sure she's already taken our clan's history into consideration as well. It's clear she wants to have your children because she loves you and understands all of the risks involved."
Sasuke sighed. "I don't want to lose her." He confessed.
"Your wife is not that weak. You know that better than anyone." Itachi countered. "Are you going to avoid having children forever, let our clan die out?"
Sasuke's eyes widened. "I didn't mean… I just…"
"Isn't Sakura The Leaf's top ranked medical ninja?" Itachi said quickly.
"Yes." Sasuke replied. "What about it?"
"That means she has both the knowledge and the clearance to remove her own fertility seal." Itachi said. "She could easily remove if without telling you anything."
"What are you getting at?" Sasuke demanded.
"Your wife is being incredibly considerate of your feelings. It's clear she desperately wants to have a child with you, and she has the ability to make it happen, however, instead she's begging you to give her permission because she respects your feelings. She doesn't want to go behind your back to get what she wants." Itachi smiled at him. "You choose a remarkable woman little brother."
"I know." Sasuke replied a little smile touching his lips when a breeze swept through the clearing blowing a few cherry petals across the grass. He caught one and lifted it to his lips. "I don't understand why she's in such a hurry."
His older brother shrugged. "There could be a number of reasons. For starters, your lifestyle is dangerous and you have many enemies. The chances of you dying young are unfortunately quite high. I suspect that she desperately wants a part of you to remain with her even in your absence." He said lifting his hand to catch a cherry petal as well. "Mother once told me that children of shinobi are blessed because they are almost always conceived between two people whose hearts are connected." He turned and smiled at his little brother. "It's a lovely thought, don't you think?"
Sasuke's eyes widened and then softened as he thought of his wife. "Yes, yes it is." He replied his thoughts once again drifting to his wife. "I've been selfish haven't it?"
Itachi laughed. "Yes indeed little brother."
"Uncle! Uncle where are you!?" called out high pitched, childish voice.
Itachi turned his head towards the noise a small smile touching his lips. "Ah, it appears our time is up." He said rising to his feet and extending a hand to Sasuke. "Go back home little brother. Your wife is waiting for you. Not in the place you expect mind you, but she is waiting. Someone else is waiting for you as well and they're not the most patient of creatures." He said with a little chuckle.
"Uncle!" the voice called out again. "Grandma said dinner is ready and Uncle Shisui came over. He's going to eat it all if you don't hurry!"
"I'm coming little princess!" Itachi called out turning towards the sound. "I'll see you later Sasuke." He said before sweeping away with the effortless grace that Sasuke wasn't sure he'd ever be able to achieve.
As he watched his brother's retreating back he noticed a small figure with black hair and dark eyes dressed in a red and pink kimono appear at the crest of the hill.
"Uncle Itachi!" the child squealed leaping into his brother's arms.
"Little Princess." His brother replied catching her with ease. "Your kimono is lovely."
The child giggled and then looked over at Sasuke. "Uncle, who is that?" she asked.
"You'll meet him soon." Itachi assured her.
Sasuke's eyes widened and he took a step forward just as the world began to fade. "Damn!" he hissed, irritation flaring in his blood as the little girl's appearance became more and more blurred even in his mind's eye.
&%&
When he awoke, gasping and fully clothed, he could remember everything, except for what the in Itachi's arms had looked like.He glanced to the side and was disappointed to find that he was the only occupant of the bed. Even so, he wasn't surprised. His wife had a stubborn streak that could rival his own. He sat up, and activated his rinnigan searching his house for her chakra signature and felt his heart drop when he couldn't detect it.
Without wasting another moment, he stood up walked to the front door, pulled on his shoes and left his house stepping into the cool morning air.
"Where could she be?" he muttered to himself.
His first stop was her parents' house. A quick sweep of their town home told him she wasn't nearby. Next he stopped at the Yamanacha flower shop and was informed by Ino that she hadn't seen Sakura since their little gathering the day before. With his anxiety rising, he walked to Naruto's house and was informed that neither he, nor Hinata had seen her last night.
"What happened? Did you guys fight or something?" Naruto asked.
Sasuke merely glared at his friend before continuing his search. Kakashi, Shikamaru, Lee, TenTen, Shino, and Temari all had the same thing to say. They hadn't seen her or heard anything about where she might be.
"Damn it." He hissed his heart starting to pick up its pace.
Sakamoto was still out there. What was he thinking leaving her alone! The creep could have taken advantage of the situation and captured her while he was busy wallowing in his self-pity! How could he have been so stupid!? Just when he was about to return to The Hokage's office to tell Kakashi about his suspicion, he saw it. A flash of green tinged chakra on the outskirts of town.
Without a moment to lose, he took off across roof tops moving quickly towards the gate. He flew past the sleepy looking sentries and leapt to the trees following the green tinged light in his amplified vision as it drew slowly closer. He caught a glimpse of pink out of the corner of his eye and landed in front of his startled looking wife who had a bag slung across her body.
"Sa- Sasuke?" she exclaimed nervously.
"Where have you been?" he demanded his voice calm and tinged with a hint of anger.
"I was summoned by one of the Feudal Lords to help with a sudden medical emergency last night." She replied gripping the bag tightly in both hands. "It came to me directly and was marked as urgent so I didn't even have time to tell Kakashi before I left."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Sasuke asked.
"I didn't think you'd care." She replied looking down.
His temper flared and he reached out grabbing her roughly by the shoulder. "You thought I wouldn't care?" he repeated his voice low and a touch deadly. "Have you forgotten that there's a mad man after you?" he asked his hand moving up her neck and then back to clench in her hair forcing her head back to meet his gaze. "Do you have any idea how worried I was when I woke up this morning alone and found that not a single soul knew where you were?"
"I- I didn't think. I'm sorry Sasuke." She replied softly.
He sighed and released her hair only to wrap his arm around her shoulders pulling her against him. "I'm so relieved you're safe."
Her arms hesitantly lifted to touch his back and he felt a little surge of relief trickle through him. It wasn't forgiveness, he could sense that much from her, but it was a step in the right direction. With the word's from Itachi driving him forward, he took a step back and touched the corner of her eye noting the darkness settling beneath it, evidence of her long night.
"I know you're tired, but will you come with me for a bit? I want to talk to you." He said stroking her cheekbone gently.
"Alright." She replied.
He led her back to the village, past their home, and into the forest until they reached the clearing where they'd married months before. He guided her until they were in front of the rock where they'd both made their vows and helped her sit in front of it before sitting down next to her.
"I apologize for my reaction last night." He said lowering his head to her. "I was being selfish, focusing on my own feelings and refused to acknowledge yours." She nodded and then fiddled nervously with the strap of her bag. He took a deep breath and reached over taking her hand in his. "Please listen to my feelings, and then I promise I will listen to yours."
"Alright." She replied giving his hand a gentle squeeze.
Her reaction was a step in the right direction and helped encourage him to continue. "Sakura, you know that from the time I was young I was targeted for my visual prowess. Orochimaru may have been the first one to make a move, but there have always been others like him that were either too weak, or too slow that were also stalking me from the shadows. My brother threatened Danzo for that exact reason." Sakura nodded in acceptance and encouraging him to continue. "Now, I have a tainted reputation and powerful enemies in addition to that power. I'm…" he gripped her hand tighter.
"You're afraid that any child of yours would be targeted from birth, from people who want your clan's legendary powers, and those who hold a grudge against you." Sakura finished for him.
Sasuke's eyes widened as he met his wife's gaze. Her green eyes were full of warmth and a small smile brightened her expression.
"I knew all of that already." She told him.
"Then why?" he asked softly. "Why would you want to bring a child into this world with a target all but branded on their forehead?"
"Let me tell you my feelings." Sakura replied scooting until she was nestled in his lap. "Sasuke, to me, you mean everything. I love you more than anything. I married you knowing your family history and that by becoming a member of the Uchiha clan, even just by marriage, would put a target on my back. Even so, I took that risk." She laced their fingers together. "You are without a doubt one of the most powerful shinobi this world has ever known with powers no one else possesses. Because of that, I know deep in my heart that you're going to leave my side one day, for a long time, maybe even until I leave this world myself." She squeezed his hand. "Not by choice, but out of duty. I knew that when I married you. I may be strong, but I'm not made of stone." She pressed her face to his chest. "I want to have your children, so that even when you leave me, I'll still have a part of you with me. I don't want to live my life the way I did when you left the village last time, with only memories and a single photograph to remember you by. I want you to live on, even if it's through the life of our child." She wrapped her arms around his neck. "I just want carry of part of you with me. I promise I will protect our child and our clan's legacy with my life."
Sasuke looked down at his wife. The precious woman he'd decided to spend his life with. There was no denying her words. They were truth, all of them. She understood his position in the world and what the future likely had in store for them. He looked down at her cherry blossom colored hair and realized that he didn't want her to be alone if something happened to her clinging to only fragments of him for the rest of her life. In reality he wanted to protect her heart even if he was unable to protect her body. She was so strong, so brave and so selfless. He wanted a family, he wanted a family with her. He'd known if since before he married her. There really wasn't a reason for them to hesitate anymore.
"Alright." He said softly laying his head on hers. "Remove the seal."
She gasped and slipped her head out from under his grabbing his face to she could meet his gaze. "Are you sure about this? I don't want to force you to do something you don't want to."
"Sakura, no one can make me do anything I really don't want to." He reminded her. "Not even you." He touched his forehead to hers. "I want this, I always have, I was just afraid of what the future might hold for us. However, I feel that we can weather those storms together. I promise you that I will I will protect you and our family with my life."
Her eyes filled with tears and she let out a water giggle before she leaned forward and kissed him soundly. She laid her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his neck as she wept.
"Thank you. Thank you Sasuke." She whispered between sobs.
"Thank you." He replied stroking her hair.
A crow fluttered down and landed on the rock capturing Sasuke's attention and he smiled when it landed on his shoulder giving his bangs and affectionate tug before brushing its beak gently over Sakura's hair before fluttering off to watch them from a nearby tree.
"I really need to ask him how he manages to do that." He muttered quietly.
"How who does what?" Sakura asked lifting her head.
"It's nothing." He relplied. "Don't worry about it."
"Alright." She replied leaning against him a yawn escaping her lips. "I'm so tired." She confessed.
"Sleep then, Tsuma. No one will disturb us here." He replied adjusting his cloak so that it draped over them both.
"What about you?" She replied.
"Stop worrying about me and sleep." He told her firmly.
She sighed and conceded defeat drifting off to sleep against his chest. Sasuke simply sat there stroking her hair as the sunlight enveloped the small clearing. They'd made the right choice and they'd made it together. He could feel it, somewhere deep in his soul, a deeper, stronger connection being forged with his wife. Though he knew the path ahead would not be easy, he felt confident knowing that he had someone he could trust at his side.
"My Lord." a low voice called out.
The Lord in hiding looked up from where he was seated in front of a table laden with food. "I'm busy at the moment." He said studying the black and white haired shinobi in front of him. "What is Subaru?"
"I have received disturbing news from The Village Hidden in the Leaves." The shinobi replied.
"I'm well aware that Sasuke, that bastard, caught our ANBU informants but we already have the formula for the virus in hand so it's no big loss." The slightly overweight man said with a wave of his hand.
"No My Lord, this concerns Lady Sakura." Subaru replied.
The Lord's eyes immediately darkened. "What happened to her?" he demanded.
"My Lord, I regret to inform you, that her fertility seal has been removed." Subaru said bowing his head.
"Fertility seal? What is that again?" Lord Sakamoto asked touching his chin. "Why does it matter, as long as she's safe?"
Subaru cringed knowing that the words he was about to speak would enrage the Lord but knew it would also increase the pace of their plans which worked to his advantage.
"It means that Sakura is able to conceive children. The fact that she's had it removed, along with other intel I've received all point to one conclusion. She plans to carry and give birth to Sasuke Uchiha's child in the near future."
The room went completely silent for a full moment before Lord Sakamoto spoke.
"She plans to carry the spawn of a demon? He's corrupted her that much?" he snarled gripping the knife in his hand with a shaking fist.
"I'm afraid so My Lord." Subaru replied.
Lord Sakamoto let out an animalistic sound that was a strange cross between a shriek, a howl, and a roar and flipped the table he was seated at sending food, cutlery, and dishes flying and shattering everywhere. He shrieked and ripped off one of the legs and threw it across the room shattering a vase filled with flowers.
"I'LL KILL HIM!" He roared. "HOW DARE HE!?"
His wild, murderous eyes turned on Subaru. "Go tell everyone to double, no TRIPPLE their pace! I'm done being patient!"
"Yes My Lord." Subaru said with a bow. "Shall I also get 'that' ready?"
"Yes." Lord Sakamoto replied his hands balling into fists. "The faster the better. Our top priority is to kill that cursed man with the demon's eyes. Then I can bring my angel back where she belongs." He picked up a knife and then stabbed it through a branch of Sakura that had been placed on the table for decoration. "The only child Sakura is going to bare, is mine." He snarled.
Author's Notes: Hello again! Thank you for all the follows, favorites, and comments. You guys keep me going! I'm hoping to get these updates out sooner now that I'm feeling much better but life, kids, and such still present a challenge. Feel free to PM me if you have questions or concerns. Thank you again for stopping by!