Chapter Twenty-nine- Familial Affection
True to their word, the Raikage and Tsunade finished their business two days later. The Raikage still had healing burns from the lightning incident, and forever would have the scars, but he was up and about and recovering just fine. As soon as Tsunade entered the room and proclaimed that it was finally time to return to the Leaf Village, bags were packed and everyone was set to go by midday.
Now the trio stood at the gate to the Hidden Cloud Village, standing with the Raikage and Killer Bee.
"I hope that this trip hasn't been too taxing on you and your escorts, Lady Hokage." The Raikage proclaimed as they prepared to part company.
"I don't think it's been too bad. We're just really looking forward to getting back home and getting back to work." Tsunade declared.
"Well, it's been good that you all had the time to come here." The Raikage responded.
"And I thank you for your hospitality." Tsunade replied. "Hopefully our new plans will prove useful and will aid in our alliance together."
"That they should."
"We must be getting going now." Tsunade concluded, tilting her head to the Raikage.
"Have a safe trip home." The Raikage also tilted his head.
Naruto nudged Sasuke on the side. "Hey, you should say something."
"There's nothing to say." He retorted.
"I'm sure there is."
"Nope."
"Come on."
"What did you expect me to say?"
"Uh…glad you didn't kill me?"
"Try again."
"Say something."
"It's not necessary."
"But it's considerate."
"Like you know what being considerate means."
"I do, too! And you're one to talk you—"
"Sasuke," the Raikage's voice suddenly cut in.
Both men straightened at the sound of the Raikage's call. Sasuke responded. "Yes, Lord Raikage?"
He smirked at him. "Good luck with your family. I owe my life to you. From now on, we're brothers!" He held out a fist.
Sasuke stared at it for a moment, slightly unsure of what to say in response. Finally he lifted his fist and touched it with the Raikage's. "Thanks."
"Hey, my buddy Killer Bee!" Naruto exclaimed. "Let's end this awesome mission with a little jubilee!"
"I hear ya mister nine-tailed fox!" Killer Bee replied. "Let's do this right, and make sure it rocks!"
"Oh yeah octopus man! We're gonna rock it up and—gak!" He gagged as Sasuke grabbed the blond by the back of his collar and began to drag him away.
"We don't need your crappy rhymes ruining this." Sasuke huffed.
"Hey now, don't be a hater! Killer Bee! I'll have to rap with ya later!" Naruto called.
"Absolutely!" Killer Bee called back, holding out his fist.
Naruto punched a fist back at him with a grin as he finally twisted out of Sasuke's grasp. The three began to walk away from the main gate.
"His level's gone up two or three, but that boy still can't compare to mister Killer Bee!" Killer Bee rapped as he and the Raikage watched the trio disappear down the trail.
The Raikage sighed. "It was certainly an experience having those three over. I think we learned something very important from them."
"I hear you bro." He yawned. "And after all this fun I need a nap, ya know!"
The Raikage smirked. "Sure. Let's head back." He turned and walked back into the village. As he walked, he looked up to the mountain where he and Sasuke had spent their time training over the past month. He looked down at his hand, which was still bandaged up to protect his healing burn scars. They would last forever as a reminder to him not of the power of nature, but of the power of people. He was glad to have come to terms with Sasuke, and humbled to learn that people really could change for the better.
He sent out a little blessing for Sasuke and his coming family. He hoped his children would get to learn the virtues of giving people second chances and benefit positively from them as they had.
'"'"'"'"
The trio traveled through the rest of the day after parting with the Raikage and Bee, and as the sun dipped below the horizon, they set up camp.
"I still think you could have said something a little better to the Raikage." Naruto declared, bringing up their earlier conversation with his teammate.
"Hn, well, it's too late now, and everything went just fine. So get off my case, Dobe." He felt better to finally be able to call the blond boy his typical insulting nickname again.
"I'm just saying, Teme, partings are important. What if you never see whoever you just left ever again? It's gonna always haunt you, the last thing you ever got to say to them."
"Idiot, I've been there before." And then he looked away.
Naruto said nothing for a moment, understanding the memories he'd just made Sasuke conjure back up. He turned away. "Anyway, if we don't start getting some wood for a fire, Granny's gonna have our heads."
"Hn, yeah." He agreed, and then followed after his friend in search of firewood.
After the two of them gathered wood, made a fire, and finished the last preparations for camp, all three of the ninja sat around a campfire as the sun fell below the horizon.
Naruto reached his arms into the air in a long stretch and yawned. "Man, it's going to be so good to get back home. Those beds the Raikage gave us were so narrow. I nearly fell out of bed like…ten times while we were there."
"And woke me up for every one of them crying like a banshee." Sasuke murmured.
"Not true!" Naruto retorted. "You're just a light sleeper! Or maybe you're so in tune to me that you could sense I was in distress, and woke ready to help me!"
"What delusions are you under?"
"Don't deny our brotherly bond!"
"I deny it."
"Well you're just mean!"
"And you're just an idiot."
"Boys," Tsunade proclaimed, "just because we are out of the Land of Lightning does not mean that I will tolerate the two of you constantly bickering. Give it a rest."
Naruto sighed. "It's like Sakura's still here breaking us up."
"Only not as good." Sasuke muttered.
"Did you just say Granny's not good company?" Naruto questioned.
"I didn't imply anything, Dobe."
Tsunade abruptly stood up, making both the boys look up at her. "I'm going to sleep." She declared. "Sasuke, you have the first watch. If I hear anything from you two, I'll kill you both." And then she turned away and entered her tent.
Naruto leaned closer to Sasuke. "I think that's Granny-speak for 'you're in trouble.'"
Sasuke looked at the entrance to Tsunade's tent for a moment before saying, "Probably." And then he stood. "I'll start up watch."
Naruto sighed. "Fine. Guess I better get to sleep then. Wake me up in a few hours I guess." And then he stood up and went into his own tent.
Sasuke looked down at the fire for a moment, and then turned around and saw a large rock just outside the area of their camp. He walked over to it and turned to camp. It seemed like a good vantage point to keep watch from. He jumped up onto it. He could see everything nearby from his point. He sat down and stared at the camp for a few minutes. He highly doubted that anyone was going to come. No normal person would dare attack a camp with the Hokage and two guards.
He laid down on the rock, staring up through the trees at the stars scattered above him. Nights like these, he couldn't help but reminisce about the nights he would take Sakura out stargazing or when the two of them would do it while laying awake on a mission. It made him smile to think of how she'd lay partially on him, like a blanket half thrown on, and they would talk as they pointed out constellations and recounted old stories about the stars they'd remember.
Randomly, his mind wandered to the thought that the stars shone like the diamonds on their wedding rings. From there, he found himself recounting a conversation he had. A conversation with himself, debating about whether he should ask Sakura to marry him.
His eyes drooped halfway shut as the memory came to him. He could still remember how he had ranted on and on to himself before coming to his decision. It had taken him what felt like forever to finally decide that he wanted Sakura to be by his side by law forever.
He could still remember pacing the length of their apartment a hundred times as he thought. Sakura had been away on a mission, giving him plenty of time to think. He'd mulled over every aspect of his situation. Did he love her? Certainly. Did he want to spend the rest of his life with her? Most definitely. Would she say yes? He wasn't sure. And that's what always caught him. Did she love him? She always said so. Did he doubt her any time she said she loved him? Not in the least. Did she want to get married yet? He didn't know. He'd already been living with her for three years, dating her for longer than that. Certainly she had to feel some sort of strong attachment to him if she had stayed with him for so long.
He dropped down onto his couch with a long sigh. He'd been running around in circles for hours. He'd already determined a few things for certain: he loved her more than anything, he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, and he did want to marry her. He wanted her to be with him forever, and it seemed ridiculous to stay boyfriend and girlfriend that whole time. He wanted to have an official, lawful tie to her. He wanted her to introduce herself to people not as Sakura Haruno, but as Sakura Uchiha. He wanted grow old with her. He wanted to have a family with her. He wanted to watch their children grow up and live their own lives. He wanted so much, and he wanted to do it all with Sakura.
It was in that time that he'd finally decided: He wanted to marry Sakura, and he was going to ask her. If she loved him as much as he loved her, then he knew she'd say yes. He was almost entirely confident that she loved him as much as he loved her. All he had to do was ask.
The next day he'd acted on his decision, and had gone to a jewelry store to find a ring. However, he hadn't quite taken into consideration how much a ring costs, and he was forced to return home without an engagement ring. Sakura returned later that day, giving him no other opportunity. But he did start up a little savings jar. He'd put part of the money he received from missions into it, and always made sure Sakura couldn't find it. When the day finally came that he'd saved enough money, he bought the rings. After that, all that was left was timing. That timing came on the day of their fifth anniversary. Now there they were, happily married and with a child on the way.
He smiled at his memories. It had made him happier than he'd ever been when Sakura had agreed to marry him. And now he looked up at the stars reminiscently and looked forward to continuing spending the rest of his life with the woman he loved.
'"'"'"'"
It wasn't long after the day they left the Land of Lightning that the trio found themselves back in the Leaf Village. Naruto and Sasuke finished their job by escorting Tsunade back to the Hokage's building, where they were greeted warmly by fellow ninjas for a job well done.
However, Sasuke only had one place in mind that he wanted to be at. And he was grateful when Tsunade let the two of them go so he could go there.
Sasuke reached the front door of his house a while after being dismissed by Tsunade with a huge sigh of relief. He ran a hand through his hair as he reached the front porch and looked at his reflection in a window for a moment, making sure that he appeared presentable after his hard day of traveling home. He fixed a few strands of hair and then, satisfied, turned back to the door.
He reached down and grasped the door handle. As he opened the door a little spark of excitement coursed through him at the thought that after being away for a month he would finally get to see his wife again. And, he thought, he'd get to see how their unborn child was doing as well.
He entered the house and was greeted by silence. He wasn't fooled, though; he could sense his wife's presence since before he reached home. She was there; he just needed to find her.
He made his way silently through the house. Obviously Sakura had yet to sense his arriving home. She might even be asleep, he mused offhandedly.
He dropped his bag on the couch and turned his gaze towards a door. The door to Sakura's study. He could sense that she was in there. He crept over to it and opened it. He poked his head inside and couldn't help but smile lightly at the sight. Sakura sat in her desk chair, leaned back relaxingly, and softly snored as she napped.
Sasuke fully entered the room. His gaze flickered downward, and he noted almost surprisingly how large her stomach had become. He knew that now she was eight months pregnant, and carried their almost fully developed child. Being away for a month made him really notice that she had gotten much bigger than her usual ninja fitness made her.
Contemplating for a moment between waking her up and continuing to let her sleep, he decided that he'd prefer to have their happy reunion now. He made his way around her desk to stand beside her. He gazed down at her peaceful, sleeping face for a moment, and then reached over and cupped her cheek. He let his thumb rub under her eye, and watched as her eyes slowly began to flutter open.
"No, Ino, no more ice cream." She mumbled.
Sasuke chuckled. "Having a nice dream?"
Sakura looked up at him through glazed over eyes for a moment, blinked, and then seemed to realize it was him. A moment later a huge grin reached her face and her eyes lit up. "Sasuke!" She struggled for a moment to pull herself up with her extra weight. Sasuke grasped her hand and helped her up. She threw her arms around him and gave him an awkward hug with her bulging stomach between them. "You're home!"
Sasuke chuckled again, and shifted to her side so he could put an arm around her waist. "Yeah, I just got back."
Sakura smiled happily up at him, and tiptoed up for a long awaited kiss. Sasuke leaned into the kiss hungrily. Recollection of the comfortable feel of her lips on his got him through his time in the Land of Lightning, but that was nothing compared to actually kissing her. It gave his body the much awaited signal that, indeed, he was finally back home, and he could finally hold her again. When they parted she looked up at him and asked, "So how did the mission go?"
"Hn, you know. Working with important people. Keeping them safe. Working things out between me and the Raikage."
She gasped lightly. "That's right. How did that go? Did he remember? Is he still mad? He didn't do anything to you, did he? Are you alright?"
"Hold on, hold on, before I forget your questions. Hm…it went fine. Yes, he remembered. He wasn't too happy to see me, but Tsunade convinced him not to pile drive me into the ground. He didn't do anything to me, and I'm fine. In fact, he kinda owes me now for saving his life."
"What happened?"
"We were training up in a mountain, I'll explain more of that later, and there was an accident. I had to get him down the mountain all by myself. They said if it weren't for me, he could have died. And also earlier like I mentioned we were attacked, and I noticed the first strike coming at us. So technically I saved his life twice. Now he's good with me."
Sakura smiled. "Wow, that's great!" She hugged him. "I'm just glad you're back."
Sasuke hugged her back. "Me, too." He put a hand over her stomach. "And how's our little baby coming along?"
"Heavier than ever." Sakura shifted towards her chair. "It's not so comfortable to stand for really long before my legs get tired."
Sasuke made no response for a moment, and then he surprised his wife as he swooped down and picked her up bridal style.
"Ah! Sasuke!" She gasped as she threw her arms around his neck to steady herself. "What are you doing?"
"Getting you off your feet." Sasuke answered, starting to move towards the door. He worked it open and made his way through the house until he reached the door to their room. He opened that as well, went to their bed, and deposited her onto it. He quickly crawled over her legs to join her lying in bed.
"Tired?" Sakura asked.
"No." He answered, reaching over and cupping her cheek to keep her looking towards him. "Just in love and looking for some quality time with my wife after a long time of being separated."
Sakura giggled and leaned in to him. "I think I can help you with that."
Sasuke smirked, leaned in, and gave her a slow, sweet kiss. When he pulled away he said. "Yes. I think you can."
…I have no excuse for the long time that this chapter took to come out. Well, one. I've been home for two days now after a two week vacation, and that ripped me away from my laptop. But I think the vacation did something very good for me. I almost totally forgot about fanfiction while I was there, and it gave my mind a lot of time to rest. Today I woke up for the first time in what feels like forever thinking about fanfiction and stories. It seems what I really needed was a good break from everything so that I could regain my fanfiction writing spirit. Of course, I wouldn't say it's totally back, but I finished this, didn't I? And it was shockingly easy to do! I'm gonna move on to, drum roll…the last chapter. Yes. The next chapter is the final chapter of "After the Rain." And at this point, I think anyone can predict what's going to happen. So for now, Okami-chan out! Information about my future as a fanfiction writer will be included in the last author's note. So look out for that! Till then readers!
