You know what goes here and the next line.
Hey the horizontal bar works now. Yipee! Anyway, for those who were asking about Sasu and Naru's age. I've been computing as I had never focus too much of their age when writing each chapters. I mean all I consider is a rough estimation but now that a lot of reviewers asked for their ages... I think Sasu and Naru are 39 years old.
Chapter 55: Desperation
Tsunade looked at the 10-year-old Miki from her office window and she smiled. The girl was definitely becoming her legacy. She turned around when there was a knock on her door and a person strode in.
"You summoned me?"
The Godaime nodded and said, "There's something I need you to do."
-SasuNaru is love-
"Practice ends now," Mao said. There was no trace of exhaustion on her although she had joined her team in their six-hour training.
Even though, Team Two were relieved to hear it they didn't show it in their face. To do so would cause their sensei extending their training for another hour or so and right now they had enough. Their legs trembled with exhaustion but they stood firm waiting for her dismissal that always came to slow for them.
Mao looked at the sky first before shifting her gaze back to her students. "Kazuo and Shuu… you guys are dismissed. Miki, come with me." With that she started walking away.
Both of her teammates gave her a worried glance. This was the first time their sensei had asked her to stay. Miki shrugged her shoulders.
"Go on, you two," she said, dismissing them with a smile. "Enjoy your late date," she added with a wink.
"But Miki," Shuu started protesting but his blond friend just smiled.
"I'll see you guys tomorrow." With that she left to follow her teacher into the deeper part of the training grounds. She looked surprised when she saw her teacher sitting down and with her eyes closed. She looked almost normal.
"There's something I want to teach you," she said.
The blond genin waited for her teacher to continue but she didn't. She remained quiet. Miki gasped when she found herself falling backwards and grunted when her back hit on the ground. Hard.
She tried to move but realized that something was holding her tight.
"A thread made of woman's hair is a better rope, ne?" Mao commented calmly as she opened her eyes. And this time that sadistic glint in her eyes was back.
Oh God
Miki had to admit that it was true but she could break it with her chakra. At least that was what she believed and she tried but nothing happened.
"And that is chakra-resistant," her teacher added. "No matter how big the amount of chakra you feed, it won't break. It will only absorb them." Mao stood up and approached her student. "I suggest you stop moving or using your chakra. It would be a pity if this thread would start cutting your skin."
"What do you want?" Miki asked almost angrily. She wasn't exactly known for her calmness especially when she was caught off guard and she was exhausted.
The older kunoichi chuckled wickedly, "For you to realize something on your own. You have to break free from your prison while you're at it."
Miki looked away. Knowing her teacher, this wasn't the only trap she had prepared. Perhaps, there were exploding tags surrounding her. And she was right. Mao had carefully placed exploding tags around the place and Miki must destroy them simultaneously.
"You can take your time, Miki," the jounin continued as she went back to where she sat before. "You have all the time in the world. I'll accompany you her throughout the time of your captivity." She gave her a grin that freaked her out. As if it wasn't enough, her teacher pulled out a cloth, few threads and a needle. What the hell? Her teacher was cross-stitching!
Mao took a seed from her sleeve and applied a chakra. A few seconds later, nothing happened. Could it be that the string was dampening her chakra or was there a talisman with that power being posted near the place? She felt the thread tightening around her, slowly digging into her skin.
Would her teacher finally be able to break her?
Much to her frustration and annoyance her teacher started humming a song.
"You could start shouting for help," Mao suggested but she knew Miki was too proud to do that. Even if help would come, she would make sure no one would interfere her teaching. Even if the help came in the form of Sasuke or Naruto, she'd explain that she was doing under the orders of Tsunade. Yes, the former hokage had asked her to correct one of Miki's habits.
Miki had always believed in strength and power. She believed in them so much that she firmly thought that with them, she could get everything she wanted. All of her clashes against enemies and most of her missions were completed through brute power and strength. Tsunade and Mao thought it was wrong. It just went against the balance of strength, power and intelligence. Miki had these three but she never used the last one when it comes to battle. Now, both of them wanted to correct it before it would jeopardize the younger kunoichi.
Mao suspected that the reason why Miki was like this was because of Tsunade. Her student had met Tsunade when she had already made a title of herself as one of the legendary sannin. By then, her reputation as one of the strongest precede her so anything she wanted, she could get it with just a display of her power. There was no need to think or come up with plans because showing her strength was enough. It was more than enough, actually.
Trap. Completely trap. That was all she could think of. She couldn't get herself to go beyond that fact. She couldn't use all her techniques. They were rendered useless making her feel frustrated with herself. Her eyes burned as tears started forming in her eyes. The more she didn't want to cry, the more tears gathered until they slipped to the ground.
Pathetic, she told herself.
Mao looked at Miki who was angrily glaring at the sky and trying to hold back the tears. She smiled. It was high time for this girl to meet desperation. In order to free herself, she had to think just like what her brother did during the jounin exam. Her brother's performance had been very marvelous. To be able to think of a plan very quickly while being pressured was very remarkable. He was truly a genius.
"Strength and power is not everything, Miki," she said. "I thought it was being taught in the academy or you had known by now, after all you passed the genin exam."
Miki hated the disappointment in her teacher's voice. She hated her teacher for making her feel so damned helpless. She hated her. No question.
-SasuNaru is love-
"Where's Miki?" Sasuke asked as he stepped inside the dining room.
"A medic-nin was sent here saying that Tsunade had sent Miki to do some research for her," Kisho explained. "The medic-nin even brought a letter. I handed it to chichiue awhile ago."
"I see. So she's not coming home tonight?"
The youngest Uchiha shrugged his shoulders, "beats me. I didn't read the letter."
Just then Naruto walked in and sat on his chair. "Is Miki coming home tonight?"
The blonde shook his head, "Letter states that it depends if she would accomplish her task."
"She might be pushing Miki to her limits," Sasuke muttered.
Naruto shook his head, "She's not that type of a person. Whatever she asks of Miki it must be something good for her."
"Hn."
-SasuNaru is love-
Few hours had past and night had fallen silent on the training grounds and yet Miki was still bound. She looked more exhausted. She had been trying to get out from her confines by her chakra, refusing to believe that what she had gained through her efforts couldn't help her escape. But now close to giving up, she began to think that all her efforts and time in training was useless.
Mao sighed at Miki's stubbornness and pride. It was okay to be stubborn and proud because she too was those things as well. But unlike the girl, she knew when to stop being those when circumstances demand her to do so. Hell, she knew when to throw away what situations would label as baggage.
"Y'know I wouldn't mind if you give up," she taunted. She loved the girl's struggles.
Break.
She smelled blood before she saw it under the moonlight. The wire had broken her skin. A part of her was alarmed. What would Tsunade say if she learned about this? After all, the Godaime had specifically warned her not to be so harsh this time around or else she'd be punished severely.
Miki knew her teacher was enjoying immensely. But she told herself not to get more irritated than she already was. She forced herself to relax so she could think and ignore the biting pain caused by her confines.
She let the silence fill her being, blanketing the din within her. She listened to the voices of the wind. This time, thoughts flowed smoothly.
What did her sensei want her to learn? Teamwork? No, that couldn't be. Within Team Two, she was the one who knew the dynamics of teamwork best. Besides, if it was about teamwork, then wouldn't it be more effective if Shuu and Kazuo were with her? Could it be independence? But she also knew that. She wasn't called one of the dynamic kunoichi for nothing. What the hell was she lacking? Whatever it was, it was obvious Mao sensei wanted her to figure it out on her own. And the key to that has something to do with her state.
-SasuNaru is love-
Sasuke walked to the mahogany desk in their bedroom to grab a book when his eyes caught something gleaming from beneath the few folders inside the open drawer.
He took it out and frowned at the hitaiate. His scratched hitaeate. The symbol of his shame. The evidence of his crime. Didn't he tell Naruto to throw it away for numerous times?
"Sasu-"
"Naruto, how many times did I tell you to throw this away?" he asked in a clipped tone.
The blonde snatched it away and held it close to his chest. "So?"
"Naruto,-"
His wife glared at him, "This reminded me of your defection and your attempt of murder." At this Sasuke flinched. "But it also reminded of the moment when I realized I love you." It reminded him of how weak he was that he couldn't even save the bastard. It reminded him of a promise he made to never let such incident happen. Ever again.
Knowing that he couldn't win against Naruto's stubbornness, he decided to give up. "Do whatever you like," he said.
The blonde smiled. "More importantly, didn't you promise to help me look for the first book edition of Politics and Economy Integration?"
"I said if I'm not busy," the Uchiha leader replied.
Naruto looked at him before he plucked the book from his hands and tossed it back to the table. "You're just trying to look like you're busy," he shamelessly accused.
Sasuke let himself be dragged towards the library.
Naruto growled when his husband halted suddenly. He looked over his shoulder and saw obsidian eyes unfocused and darting sideward back and forth.
"Sasuke?" he called out worriedly and continued when his spouse looked at him. "Is there something wrong?"
"Of course not." His blonde looked doubtful, prompting Sasuke to say, "When did I lie to you?"
Naruto shrugged his shoulders and resumed dragging Sasuke who was frowning. Why did his sight turned foggy then white in an instant? He looked at the tanned hand on his wrist before he fell in step with his wife and took his hand in his.
Please let me stay longer.
-SasuNaru is love-
C'mon, Miki think. Medical stuffs aren't the only thing in your head.
Miki let her eyes wander around. Knowing Mao, she knew her prison might be complicated than it looked. Her teacher liked the sounds of explosion so her trap must have that. She also liked seeing the beauty of blood so anything that could be considered as weapon should be around. Her binds were chakra-resistant and tightened every time she used large amount of chakra. She cocked an eyebrow as something dawned on her.
What would happen if...?
It was worth the risk. Besides, her body would heal very soon anyway. With that thought, she let her chakra trickle to the ground little by little. With concentration, she guided the flow of her chakra towards the trees almost three meters away from them.
She smiled when the thread didn't tighten around her. She increased the amount up to the limit where the thread started digging into her flesh.
-SasuNaru is love-
Naruto akimbo in front of Sasuke who was sitting on a chair.
"What's bothering you?" he inquired with his voice lace in irritation.
Sasuke smirked before asking, "Is there anyone else aside from you who bothers me in a good way?" His smirk deepened when red dusted whiskered cheeks. He slowly guided Naruto to straddle him. He chuckled before he pressed feather-like kisses on the blonde's neck with his fingers caressing the patch of his chest unhidden by the kimono.
Naruto gulped as he felt his kimono being parted. "Bastard, we really need to find that book tonight," he said. His mind wanted to move away but his body was too stubborn to follow its order. He threw his head back, giving more room for that wicked mouth to ravish while his hands slipped under Sasuke's kimono, running on familiar ground… his territory.
"I promise we'll find it before midnight. But before that let me savor this moment."
Because 'goodbye' is drawing nearer than I thought.
-SasuNaru is love-
Miki smiled as she learned that she could control the trees. She let her chakra spread around the plants surrounding her. It was the only way to search for the explosion tags and whatever weapons her sensei had hidden. Luckily there were just explosion tags. Few seconds later twigs as sharp as knife poised above the papers before they slashed the tags into two simultaneously.
Because each sheet had her chakra, Mao knew they were destroyed but she didn't show it on her face. What now, Miki? She thought. Even though the girl destroyed the tags, she couldn't break free using the trees. She could only manipulate the trees as long as they were half meter away from the wires.
Miki was aware of that so she made another plan. She started moving her hands towards her weapon pouch ignoring the pain as the skin on her arms and wrist were being peeled in her every movement. After a lot of endurance and effort on her part, she finally grabbed one of her kunai. She clumsily slid the binds on her hands against it and in doing so the weapon cut her left arm. She had slit a vein but she continued on her task.
A rush of sensation gripped her as she finally freed herself. She was halfway to standing up when she dropped to the ground. All the struggles and the concentration had consumed what energy was left from the group's daily training.
Mao kneeled beside her and started tending to her wounds. "Did you learn something from this, Miki?" she inquired.
"You're more cold-hearted and sadistic than I thought."
"I see," the older kunoichi said while thinking of another method to use. The blonde probably notice it because she added immediately, "strength, power and intelligence should go hand in hand. When one is missing, it is fatal."
Her sensei nodded, "good work."
Miki's smile faltered as she collapsed in Mao's arms.
Mao looked at her and rubbed the dirt from her face, "you still have a lot of ways to go."
-SasuNaru is love-
Sasuke bit back a moan as his hips met Naruto's for another rough thrust.
I never want to part from you.
"Y'know this afternoon, I fell asleep while reading those boring reports and dream of us having almost two dozens of grandchildren," Naruto narrated as he moved up and down. Talking was so difficult when Sasuke's hard shaft was slipping in and out from him slickly and wonderfully. "They were playing and we were laughing with them. It was so beautiful that I was disappointed that it was only a dream." He cupped Sasuke's face, "let's work hard to make it a reality, okay?"
Sasuke knew Naruto was asking for another promise. But this time, he didn't want to indulge the blonde. Promises were just temporary assurance of their fear. Someday, their promises would be broken leaving them with tears, pain and loneliness. They had to stop fooling themselves that there was forever for them.
Why is even the thought of goodbye so heartbreaking? Why must there be a goodbye?
"Right, Sasuke?" Smoky eyes were still waiting and expecting his words. He caressed a damp left cheek, "Naruto..."
"Ne, Sasuke?" the blonde's voice was desperate and forceful.
Please, please tell me we will. Please let me hear what I wanted. Even if they are just lies, I find comfort in them.
Sasuke pulled him down for a quick kiss. "Of course, I will."
Even if it's a lie, I want to believe. I want you to see our future even if it's painted with deception.
Naruto wrapped his arms around him. "I love being with you. I love it when you're inside me. I love 'us'." I even love the lies we created for one another.
Even if the hope they were holding was fake, they held it close because it gave them strength to move forward closer to the future they painfully wanted.
-SasuNaru is love-
Miki woke up to the smell of breakfast. She felt like she hadn't slept because her body was still too sore to move and her chakra was still so slow. She stumbled to the bathroom where a new towel was prepared for her.
She groped her way towards the kitchen and on the table was a breakfast good for one. She looked around and realized it was already seven in the morning meaning her sadistic teacher had already left the place.
While eating her breakfast, she checked on her wounds and realized they were half-healed. But it was reasonable because her chakra was still low. After consuming the food, she washed the dishes. Out of good manners and respect, she left a note for Mao thanking her for her hospitality before she left.
Miki leaned against a wall of some establishment. She wished she hadn't left Mao's place yet if she was still too weak to continue walking. But she wasn't exactly comfortable in that place, a fact proven with the shallowness of her sleep last night.
Fighting oblivion, she made her way towards the inclined grass-covered lakeshore and in there she let herself be taken to nowhere.
-SasuNaru is love-
She didn't know how long she been out but it must had been for quite a time now because the sun was already high and the temperature was hot. Just then a warm breeze blew by causing a scent of grass and something like a faint perfume to reach to her nostrils. At that unfamiliar scent, she tensed and sat up, only to find something falling from her shoulders to her knees.
She looked at the flak jacket and realized belatedly that she was no longer alone. She turned to her left and saw Shouhei sitting an arm's length away.
The Hyuuga smiled, "Good morning, Miki." Then he frowned as he reprimanded her gently, "You shouldn't sleep in an open space. It's dangerous." Shouhei had just came home from an A-class mission and was on his way home after a short debriefing with the Rokudaime when he had spotted his secret love out cold unguarded. Despite his exhaustion, he had stayed to watch over her.
"I couldn't help it," she muttered sleepily.
"What happened to you?" he asked worriedly as he noticed that bandages around her arms and legs.
"Training," she smiled and continued, "but I'm fine." Confusion dawned on her face when Shouhei placed a small packet between them.
The lad tilted his head to the side just to hide the soft blush he was sure was on his face as he explained. "We had a mission in the Land Waterfall and there was a festival there. One stall was selling some beautiful scarves I bet you'd like to add to your collection." It was no secret that the only girl in the Uchiha had a fixation on silk scarves with beautiful drawings and that she had one big drawer reserved for her collection. He watched as her fingers gently open the packet and drew four silk scarves.
Miki gasped as she spread out the gift. Each of the scarves depicted each season at its peak. It was like the pieces of cloth had sucked the essence of one particular scene.
Shouhei smiled at the exquisite expression on the girl's face.
The kunoichi smiled, "I love them. Thank you."
The lad just shrugged as if her smile and her words were nothing. He countered the smile back, "Now that you're up. I'll walk you home. It would be better if you continue sleeping there."
She laughed softly – a sound that was music to her secret admirer's ears before she nodded in agreement.
-SasuNaru is love-
When Miki came home around eleven, her disheveled and tired state made Sasuke arched an eyebrow.
"I'm home," Miki murmured.
Sasuke sighed and without warning, he swept his little girl in his arms, carrying her bridal-style.
"Otousan?"
"We seriously need to treat those wounds," he said, never bothering to ask what she had been doing to get her in that state. Such question was reserved when Miki was already in a better state. He carried her to the master's bedroom and placed her on their clean bed.
"Would you like to take a shower?"
"I already had one at Mao-sensei's place. She also took care of my wounds."
Sasuke frowned. He had no idea, other than sleep, for chakra recovery. And perhaps food? Naruto always made him eat his favorite food when his chakra was always low. Being someone who has the smallest chakra reserve in their family, his chakra reaching a low point happened a lot.
"Lunch?"
She smiled weakly, "Lunch would be good. Can I have cheesecake for dessert?"
"Of course, princess," Sasuke answered with a mocking bow, eliciting a chuckle from the only girl in his life. With that, he left to prepare lunch.
Miki settled deeper in her parents' big bed. She smiled contently as she smelled their scent. The mixed scent of her fathers always never failed to comfort her when she ached within and without because it was as if they were embracing her at the same time. In no time, she fell in a deep peaceful slumber where she dreamt of four arms protectively and strongly holding her little form.
When Sasuke who was carrying his daughter's lunch went inside, he found Miki deeply asleep and there was a small and soft smile on her lips. He placed the tray on the table and approached her sleeping form. He brushed few strands from her forehead before he dropped a light kiss on that area.
"Dream a wonderful dream, Mi-chan," he whispered softly before he left taking the tray with him.
Oh, sweet child, be at peace for I will watch over you throughout your lifetime.
I will hold you close to comfort you
And with my eternal love, I will vanquish what haunts you.
Be at peace, little one.
TBC
...
