"Sas-Sasuke-kun? What are you doing here? Did anything happen?"
Of all the people who could visit her today, he is the last person on her list. His facial expression is definitely not saying there's an emergency and he doesn't need her medical assistance at all, either. He looks perfectly fine, aside from the fact that he's glaring at her, which is quite odd and terrifying at the same time.
"Are you seeing Madara? Of all people?" He asks.
Sasuke is really not one to visit her in the hospital over a nonsensical conversation. He usually has a purpose. She could even count on her single hand how many times he went to the hospital just because of her.
So him, asking her about such thing, is the last thing she would have expected from him, if it even made the list at all.
"Did you really just come over here and almost break my door just to ask that?" She asks back, irritatingly. She was never irritated with Sasuke before despite his rude personality at times, but something has definitely shifted it right now.
"Answer me, Sakura." He says calmly, this time.
"No, we're not! How many times do I have to tell people we're not dating! Can you please close the door?"
"Hn."
He faces the opposite wall and closes the door behind him carefully as if he just got scolded by his own mother, which Sakura finds amusing, for some reason.
After closing the door, Sasuke walks to her desk, facing her eye to eye.
"He's just my mentor. You know, after Tsunade-shishou retired, I decided to seek for a different sensei to extend my knowledge and help me widen my combat skills as a kunoichi."
"And you chose Madara. He's not even a healer."
He folds his arms over his chest, obviously still not convinced with her words and also very much annoyed for learning about this four months later.
"I know! But we became friends when we always attend the same conference meetings for Hokage-sama. Your uncle is very friendly and approachable, actually. I don't need extensive knowledge on medical ninjutsu, so Madara-sama is helping me a lot on other aspects of my skills as a shinobi that I could grow from. I feel like I'm very behind between you and Naruto. So what better way than ask some help from the Great Uchiha Madara?"
Surely she has surpassed Tsunade-shishou, everyone knows that, but still she didn't feel that was enough when her former teammates were Naruto and Sasuke. She wants to be seen as equal with them.
So, it was not a complete lie that she has asked advice from Madara about how to improve her taijutsu skills and speed level. He even offered to teach her some of his kenjutsu skills which she cheerfully accepted, but they haven't really found more time for her training. They've only sparred together twice since getting to know each other.
They just have more time to share in his bed, but she doesn't want to think about that right now.
"Kakashi is there."
"You know damn well Kakashi-sensei isn't really willing to teach his favorite student, right? He'd rather teach boys who are already overpowered. Plus, why are you so against me seeking help from Madara-sama, anyway? You looked so highly of him before."
"He's just going to take advantage of you."
"At what exactly?"
"That old geezer takes different women in his bed possibly everyday and you want to be one of those people?" He glares at her again.
His words irritated her. She doesn't need to be reminded that Madara might have been seeing other women too.
Whenever he's in the village, she makes sure to come visit him almost every night and so far, she hasn't stumbled upon another woman in his house. He told her before that she can just come any day when he's not out for a mission, and never really mentioned a specific time she could come over. Sometimes she's early, and sometimes she's not.
But still, the thought of Madara making love to other women before she comes over hurt her feelings. It shouldn't, she keeps reminding herself, but she can't deny it hurts just thinking about it.
"His sex life is none of my business. He's not interested with me that way. If he is, we would have done it a long time ago, don't you think?"
She doesn't know how much longer she can keep this lie. She has gotten creative about it over the months but she's usually not a liar so she's still finding it really difficult to keep lying to her friends to this extent, but she really, really, really doesn't want any of them to know about this type of relationship she has with Madara. Especially not the man in front of her right now.
"Tch. I'd rather not think of that. Why are you avoiding me then?"
"I'm the new head of the medic department. I'm busier now."
"But not busy enough for Madara?"
"Why do you sound like Ino right now?"
"Just tell me why you're avoiding me."
"I'm not avoiding you!"
"Go on a date with me then, tonight."
Her mouth opens wide from shock, suddenly feeling her heart racing so quickly in her chest.
Did she just hear him right? He's asking her out, right now? After accusing her of having sex with his uncle? I mean, he's right, but he can't know that, but still!
"Eh? What if I say no?"
Old Sakura would never reject Sasuke-kun, but Sasuke-kun right now is annoying her, for the very first time in her life. How the tables have turned, as one would think.
"This is not a request."
"Excuse me? You think you can just order me around?"
"Just go on a date with me. Stop being so damn annoying."
"No."
"Sakura."
"No! After accusing me of having sex with Ma-"
"I never accused you of anything. Don't even bother finishing that sentence."
"But you literally-,"
And right then and there, he launches himself towards her, pinning her against the wall and then pressing his lips on hers. She is shocked by his sudden action that she couldn't do anything but to stay still on her feet. She has plenty of experience kissing over the past months, thanks to her mentor, Madara, but Sasuke's lack of experience made her not move at all. Though, after a while, she warms up to him and kisses him back. He cups her face with his hand as he deepens the kiss while she wraps her arms around his neck. She could still taste the coffee from his mouth.
Usually, she isn't a fan of bitter beverages, but tasting it from him is actually quite enjoyable.
Kissing Sasuke is also one of the many things that didn't make to her list of things that will happen today, and she wonders if she actually just fell asleep in her office and is having a dream right now.
When he breaks away, Sakura just stares at him with utter disbelief. She sees the desperation and embarrassment in his eyes. There's a faint blush growing on his cheeks too.
His ears though, are glowing red.
She has never seen him like this before.
"I'll see you later. After your shift. I'll be outside the hospital." He says shyly, stepping slightly away from her, realizing his impulse behavior.
"Guess I have no other choice." She replies, smiling shyly back at him while feeling her cheeks reddening from this occurrence.
Sasuke left her office awkwardly as soon as possible, leaving Sakura perplexed and amused at the same time.
Many hours have passed and Sakura still keeps thinking about what just happened that morning throughout the day. She couldn't concentrate on her work. Did Sasuke really just ask him out?
And did he really just kiss her? And pinned her against the wall? Or was she just imagining it?
Did the idea of her and Madara dating just provoked him to finally take action on her?
She's been daydreaming this for years.
She couldn't help but feel so giddy with what just happened. She thought she finally got over him, yet here she was, feeling as if she just won a jackpot and been given the title of Hokage, as if she was Naruto at the moment finally fulfilling his lifelong dream.
Sasuke-kun kissed me! Eep!!
She never thought this day would ever come, she has waited for him for so many years that she just gave up on him eventually, thinking he would never return her feelings.
So Naruto was right about his best friend. She shouldn't have doubted him when she was truly losing hope on him.
She feels like the main female character of a romantic novel full of pining and waiting.
And her happy ending is finally about to start.
But Madara-
It doesn't matter, didn't they agree that they can see other people? They're just casually having sex, why does she have to keep reminding herself that?
But if all things go well with Sasuke tonight, that would mean she has to stop meeting with Madara for sexual intercourse.
And that's okay. They're not meant to do this forever, anyway.
She has to be in an actual relationship with someone one way or another. She's not getting younger, and learning about Naruto planning to propose to Hinata soon didn't help her feel better about her romantic life either.
She wants to get married and have children someday as well, of course. And Madara doesn't seem to be that type of person to be with. He obviously just wants to play around with women for as long as he could. If he wanted family, he would have a couple of children by now. Not only does he have a huge reputation in the village, but he's also extremely attractive that no woman would ever reject him.
That made her feel somewhat melancholic. Is he really not the family type?
Wait, why does that matter? She doesn't have romantic feelings for Madara, at all! He's just a sex dream of hers, nothing more. She never entertained the idea of being his wife and the mother of his children.
She definitely hasn't and definitely will not be imagining it right now.
It's just sexual gratification, purely. She keeps reminding herself.
They will be nothing more than that. Indeed, she enjoys his company and she likes many things about him besides his body and sex skills, but she cannot fall for him.
It would only break her heart again.
Just because Madara makes her feel as if she's the most beautiful person on this planet and always has food cooked for her each night she visits, and kisses her so passionately and so hungrily that she feels so wanted and so needed, and makes love to her as if they're going to make five babies...
Doesn't mean he has romantic feelings for her.
Nor does she. Their relationship is purely sexual and will remain like that until he's tired of her and she finds another man to fall in love with.
But she doesn't need to find another man anymore, when her first love basically confessed to her earlier.
She should focus herself on Sasuke-kun. No man should ever matter to her now, in romantic sense at least.
She wished she had brought her makeup kit to work so she could look better and more presentable on her first date with Sasuke, but maybe a bit of perfume will do.
--
Sasuke brings Sakura to one of her favorite restaurants which really surprised and delighted her, she never mentioned this place to him before. She had only eaten at this restaurant three times with her female friends, and she can confidently say they just serve the best desserts in the entire Konoha. She would have loved to eat more often here but it can get expensive.
The place is just very huge and very romantic, and somewhat fancy just like how Sakura remembered it. It was a very long time ago since she visited this place.
She is actually shocked about the fact that Sasuke knew this restaurant in the first place when all her life he knew the man in front of her has a great dislike towards sweets, remembering those days when she had tried giving him her handmade chocolate bars for Valentine's day, only to be rejected each year.
"So, you actually pay attention to what I like?" She giggles.
"Hn."
"How did you know this is my favorite restaurant?"
"I didn't, just guessed you'd love a place like this."
"Ino helped you, didn't she?"
He hesitated, but she knows she is right, what with all the accusation he had on her earlier. She didn't bother trying to get through him though, she could just ask Ino when they see each other soon.
When the waitress comes over to their table, Sakura ordered her favorite sushi roll variants with a side of miso soup, and a medium sized anmitsu for dessert. Sasuke just ordered a pork belly onigiri and grilled fish. She wishes he ordered something sweet for himself, for a change. It would be amusing to see him eat something sweet for the first time, but maybe she could force him to take some of her dessert later just to tease him.
While eating, Sakura couldn't help but steal glances at the man in front of her. She must admit, she really misses him. He's definitely gotten more handsome compared to the last time she saw him, and his hair grew slightly longer. She wonders why she wanted to get over him at all.
"You haven't really changed much a bit, still the quiet and introverted man that you are. I was actually hoping you going on so many missions with Naruto alone will finally influence you to be more loud and talkative like him."
"Tch. That loser always gets on my nerves."
She giggles at his response.
"But he's still your closest friend ever, and you guys work so well together, weirdly enough. I kind of miss going on missions with you guys, really. I enjoy my job at the hospital but I don't get sent outside the village for dangerous missions anymore."
"You are a more important asset in the hospital anyway. If it weren't for you, many people would have died."
"You talk as if I'm the only medic-nin here." She says, but still flattered with his words.
"But you are the best in the world. Your job as a medic is just as important as us fighting the enemies."
"That's really nice of you to say, Sasuke-kun. I'm truly flattered right now." She says, smiling at him.
After their dinner date, Sasuke walks Sakura to her apartment with a comfortable silence. It's only around 9pm and the village is still as lively as it was during daytime. Sakura just looks around admiring her surrounding as if it's her first time walking here. Maybe it's the man beside her that's making her appreciate what she never really cared much about before.
When they finally reach outside of her door, she asks him whether he wants to come in for a while before heading home.
He accepts her offer, which surprised her again. He never really bothered wasting time at his friend's house late at night unless he's forced to. The two headed straight to her living room, with Sakura offering Sasuke to sit on the couch.
"You should stay there while I go make some green tea."
Before she could rush to the kitchen, Sasuke grips her wrist which makes her look into his direction as he pulls her closer to him.
They stare into each other's eyes for a while, she would think he's trying to read her mind or put her under a genjutsu, but his eyes are as dark as his hair.
He looks so much like him, is all she could think about.
He leans over to her face and presses his lips on hers. She opens her mouth, allowing his tongue to wrestle with hers right away.
His kiss is slow and sweet, not really rushing into anything, just feeling each other better now than their first kiss, but her thoughts linger towards another man.
Madara. Why is she suddenly thinking about him right now?
She pulls away and stares at him with full of guilt, but Sasuke, being too focused on kissing her, didn't seem to realize so he kisses her again. She lets him in but she couldn't kiss him back now.
Tears start to pour from her eyes, emotions overwhelming her. She doesn't know why either, but she's definitely not as excited kissing Sasuke right now as she was on their first kiss earlier.
When Sasuke felt the wetness from her cheeks, he pulls away and wipes her tears with his thumb.
"What's wrong?" He whispers gently, with such a soft expression that Sakura rarely sees on him. She looks away from him.
"Nothing, I'm sorry I-,"
"Do you not want me anymore?"
Like being stabbed by a kunai through her chest, this one seems to hurt more.
"I-I don't know. Let's find out?"
"What do you mean, "find out"?" He raises his voice at her which gave her goosebumps, she looks at him straight into his eyes. She expected him to look angry, but there's more hurt in his eyes.
"I just- Sasuke-kun. I've waited for you in so long. You never showed interest in me so in the past year I've tried getting over you, so I'm just conflicted." She says, clearly sobbing now as her breathing starts to grow deeper.
"What are you conflicted about? I'm already here returning your feelings and showing you how much I've loved you."
"Y-you loved me?" Her eyes widen.
"Of course I did. And I still do."
He kisses her again, but this time more aggressively and more hungrily, desperately wanting all her attention to him, and him only, ignoring how much tears are falling all over her cheeks.
She tastes so sweet, she smells so good, and she feels so soft against his skin. He just wants to touch her everywhere, feel every part of her skin and claim her as his. He resents himself for making her wait this long, and he resents himself for not showing this affection with her sooner. She wanted him so badly before, yet he just kept rejecting her, ignoring her, disappointing her to no end, so why now that when he's finally giving her what she wants, she's suddenly resisting him?
He feels that there's really someone else occupying her thoughts, maybe Madara, but he wouldn't give her time to think about him. He wants him to be the only one in her mind right now. He should be the only one.
She forcefully pulls him away, Sasuke still seeing the tears rapidly rolling down her cheeks.
"I'm really sorry. Let me think this through, please give me time. You've made me wait for so long, maybe this time you should be the one waiting?"
"Sakura..."
"Please, Sasuke-kun?"
Fun fact: I originally just wanted to make a smut-centric fic about Madara and Sakura, with a hint of romance at the end (this story should have ended in 5 chapters), but a couple of you really want this to have some conflict, so I will add that a bit as I've gotten some inspiration, though it's not really going to be too dramatic, I think I'm too fragile for my favorite pairing to go through too much in my head lol but in the future I will definitely write something more dark (that would be another MadaSaku fanfic)
Apologies if this chapter took a while to be posted, I was struggling on how to write Sasuke, he is surprisingly more complex than Madara in my opinion. Or maybe it was the love triangle part that made it more difficult for me lol. I'm still a novice writer after all.
I really appreciate every review I got by the way! It's very encouraging and I'm glad some of you are enjoying my story, it's very heartwarming to see your thoughts and reaction!