Authors Note: Hey, I'm gonna finish this story over the next few weeks. Just give me a chance to reread it, thanks.
When he began to fondle her, she knew it was a challenge. She stuck her hand down his pants, causing his eyes to shutter. She felt his breathing thicken, felt him harden in her grasp.
That's when someone released a strange squeaking noise.
Mirai Sasuke and Mirai Hinata quickly looked up.
"Fuck," said Mirai Hinata.
She and her husband stared at their staring counterparts, but mostly at Genzai Sasuke.
They hadn't known he could blush like that.
Mirai Hinata gasped as she was dumped unceremoniously to the ground as her husband hastily stood up. Belatedly, he offered his hand and helped her to her feet. Though briefly disconcerted, he quickly recovered his demeanor of cool composure.
Her husband reached down and zipped his pants against a conspicuous erection. "What. Are you doing here?" he asked the teens, subtly deflecting, or attempting to, at least.
Four teens— Shino, Sasuke, Kiba, and Hinata—wore matching looks of mortification. Genzai Naruto was mostly just clutching his nose.
Genzai Hinata swooned. "I was, um, w-we were—"
She fainted.
Mirai Sasuke sighed. He pointed his finger at Shino, before shifting it to Kiba, then back to Shino, before finally settling on Naruto. "You. Take her home."
Still clutching his face, Naruto nodded.
"The rest of you, get out of here." Mirai Sasuke glanced at Mirai Hinata, who was awkwardly holding her torn clothes against herself. "Now."
There was a brief hesitation, followed by three utterances of "Hai."
Naruto and Shino lifted Genzai Hinata by the shoulders and hauled her off. Kiba walked into a tree, and the Genzai Sasuke continued to gape. He abruptly looked away, began to walk off, and tripped over Kiba.
Mirai Sasuke offered Mirai Hinata a nod. "Let's go."
Genzai Sasuke was dazed.
All this time he had thought he'd wanted to know.
And now he knew.
He glanced at Genzai Naruto, who looked as though he might burst into song. "What are you so happy about?" said Sasuke dryly.
Naruto jerked his head slightly, indicating Sakura, who was still far enough away that she couldn't hear their conversation. The boys approached their team meeting spot with increased sluggishness.
"How do you feel?" said Naruto, still grinning maniacally.
Shocked. Embarrassed. Dazed. "Relieved."
Naruto's grin softened. "You really like her."
"Since when do we talk about girls?"
"Since Mirai-you and Mirai Hinata were banging in the middle of the—"
Sasuke shoved Naruto away where he crashed into some nearby cacti.
Naruto was right. The revelation was confirmation. And he did like her. Sasuke drew and exhaled.
He had been tired of all the uncertainty and dealing with feelings and other such nonsense. Suddenly frustration had been replaced with precious clarity, and he supposed he could take a pragmatic approach to his fate. He would be with Hinata. They would be companions, have a child, and possibly enjoy it all.
Of course there were the faint niggles of…apprehension that he couldn't tamp down. Which was a mildly infuriating concern, because he was supposed to be past this now. Clarity had been key. Beyond that was…well, everything else. Being with her. Accepting the concept of a future.
Naruto climbed out of the bushes and rejoined him, grin in full force. He was not just amused but genuinely happy. Relieved, specifically.
"Sasuke-kun, are you okay?" said Sakura, as the boys finally reached the bridge. "You look pale."
"Him and Hinata were doing it," Naruto jovially proclaimed.
Sasuke and Sakura turned sharply to him, the Uchiha wearing a dangerous expression.
"Sasuke, is this true?" said Kakashi, who seemed to have appeared out of no where, on time for reasons beyond their comprehension. Icha Icha lay on the ground, collecting dust.
Sasuke hesitated. "No," he said belatedly. He elected not to get into specifics, because he shouldn't have had to, and it was hardly their business.
Instead Naruto elaborated. "She was stroking his—"
"What?" said Sakura.
"And he was fluffing her—argh!" Naruto was cut off as Sasuke tackled him.
His wife was sitting on the edge of his bed holding the shirt he'd doffed to her chest. She was staring at the floor, at the wall—anywhere but at him. Mirai Sasuke eyed her, not knowing whether to be suspicious or confused. "You weren't so timid in the forest," he accused.
"A-Ano..."
She had completely reverted. Face flushed, she began to arbitrarily press her pointer fingers together.
His cheek twitched. "What's wrong with you?"
"I'm embarrassed." She glared.
There it was.
Her.
Sasuke remained skeptical. Turning away, he walked to his closet, grabbing some clothes and a towel. He had somewhere he was supposed to be. "We'll finish this later," he said.
He wasn't referring to their conversation.
Sasuke paused when he suddenly felt her behind him. Her body pressed his back, and her hands met with his bare torso, fingers strumming along his pectorals in such an evocative way. He inhaled, feeling her lips against nape. You're still good at this, he silently conceded.
"I'm me," she assured.
Sasuke glanced over his shoulder. He didn't mind the blush sometimes.
"Don't act as though you haven't changed as well," said Hinata.