Sasuke's eyes fluttered open and he was greeted by the sight of pink hair and the sensation of a warm arm across his waist, a hand resting lightly between his shoulder blades. A smile touched his lips and he reached over brushing the hair out of his wife's face.
Her eyes fluttered open and his smile broadened.
"Good morning Tsuma." He said softly.
"Good morning darling." She replied before she blushed scarlet and looked away.
He grinned and lifted his hand trailing his hand down her neck, over her shoulder, down her waist to her hip where he squeezed it gently as he pulled himself closer to her. "Why so red?" He asked softly his eyes boring into hers as he pressed himself along her torso reveling in the feeling of her nakedness against his own. "Are you thinking about last night? Perhaps I shouldn't ask. Your voice was rather hoarse when we finished."
She blushed darker and moved to cover her face with her hands but he didn't allow her trapping them between their bodies instead.
"Don't be so shy." He murmured softly.
"How can I not be?" she squeaked her eyes shimmering with just a tinge of lust. "Last night was… amazing."
"Yes it was." He agreed rolling her to her back his memories from that night rushing to the forefront of his mind.
"Sakura." He whispered as he hovered over her naked form her eyes closed as he shifted a little creating delicious friction between their bodies. "Look at me."
Her eyes opened obediently and widened when she saw that his sharringan was activated.
"What are you doing Sasuke?" She asked softly her blush darkening. "You've already seen me naked."
"Trust me Sakura." He whispered brushing her cheek with his fingertips. "Relax and trust me."
"I do." She replied. "I trust you more than anyone."
He nodded and smiled pleased by her answer and then focused his chakra the tomoes in his eyes rotating as he pulled them both into the stage he'd set his mind.
A high pitched gasp left Sakura's lips as she glanced around.
"Sasuke! It's amazing!" she breathed as she glanced around.
They were standing on several blankets in a grassy clearing surrounded by walls of stone. A waterfall tumbled down into a large open pool that feed and underground spring. Several camellia trees were in full bloom with scarlet and white flowers falling to float in the pool below and the sky above them was clear blue with only a few wisps of clouds drifting by. The temperature was perfect, warm but not scorching hot with a slight breeze that ruffled the grass around them.
"Where are we?" She asked.
"This is one of the places I used to train." He replied motioning to the waterfall. "Behind the waterfall about halfway up the face of that cliff is a fairly decent sized cave. I lived there for a few months while I worked on perfecting several lightning based jutsu."
Her jade eyes brightened with intelligence. "Of course. Water is an excellent conductor."
Sasuke nodded. "I enjoyed my time here." He admitted. "Once my head was finally clear, I thought that this sort of place would please you. I wanted to show it to you."
"It's lovely Sasuke." She said with a smile. "Thank you for showing me."
He smiled at her and reached out trailing his fingers over her shoulders. "No need to thank me. I told you that I wanted to show you." He wrapped both of his arms around her waist and she gasped in shock.
"Sasuke! You!" She exclaimed gripping tightly onto both of his hands.
He smiled and nodded turning her to face him as her fingers ran over the length of his right arm. "This is my genjutsu. I am whole here."
She lifted his hand to her face nuzzling his palm before kissing it gently. "Oh Sasuke." She breathed moisture pricking at her eyes. "You don't have to do this for me. I love you just the way you are."
"I know." He replied. "I want this. To be able to love you in a way I can't normally."
He cupped her face with both hands and slid them back into her hair before he leaned down and kissed her. His lips started out gentle but quickly turned demanding as he slipped his tongue inside her mouth. His hands roamed over her body and he rejoiced in the sensation. To be able to grip her waist with one hand while stroking over the perfect roundness of her behind with the other was something he'd only ever dreamed of. He carefully took her to the ground and took his time worshiping her with both of his hands watching how she arched and whimpered when he squeezed her breast with one hand while simultaneously stroking the sweet spot between her legs with the others.
"Sasuke!" She exclaimed when he knelt between her legs. "Wait! Not there!"
He ignored her protests and focused on the lovely pink petals of her center. Lapping, licking, stroking and teasing her while she keened and wailed. He reached up to squeeze her breast as he worked, his finger tip flicking over the sensitive bud and she bucked into his mouth. He glanced up at her and smirked at the sight of her head thrown back, one hand fisted in her hair while the other clawed at the blankets below them, her eyes closed in pleasure. He moved his second hand to her apex and gently inserted a finger and she gasped before crying out her back arching. He moved the finger faster, and added a second as he tongued her clit and plucked at her nipple. She came undone with a high pitched wail unlike any he'd heard from her before that lowered and quieted into a trembling moan and she curled up into a ball her skin gleaming with sweat, her chest heaving as she gasped for air.
He rose over her a smug, satisfied grin on his lips at the sighed before he rolled her to her back kneeling between her legs.
"Sasuke." Sakura panted her jade eyes hazy with pleasure. "That was… I've never felt anything like it."
"I can take you higher." He promised his voice low. "Let me prove it to you."
He sheathed himself inside her, the slick, tight space still trembling from the effects of her orgasm and she cried out desperately clutching at his back as he thrust into her. He ran his hands over her sweat slicked, trembling body as he moved within her. Having two hands was better than he'd imagined. He could squeeze her breast and her ass at the same time. He could pull her hair back with one hand while still supporting himself with the other and kiss her deeply. With two hands, he had more control and power than he'd ever dreamed.
When her walls fluttered around him he finally let go and spilled himself inside her with a groan.
"Sasuke!" She gasped wrapping her arms around his neck. "I love you. I love you so much."
"I know." He replied touching his forehead to hers. "I love you too."
He took her over and over again inside his genjutsu until she fainted from the orgasms he'd given her and when she woke, he took her in the real world. Though it had been exhausting, seeing her limp from the pleasure he'd given her, barely able to even kiss him back properly had done things to his ego that not even defeating Orochimaru single handedly had in his youth.
"Sakura." He whispered nuzzling her neck. "Let me have you one more time before we leave." He whispered.
She smiled at him her eyes twinkling with happiness and lust. "I thought you'd never ask." She said pulling him flush against her body.
8!8
Sasuke and Sakura returned to the hideout hand in hand. Though their romantic interlude had been shorter than each of them had hoped for, it had been a welcomed reprieve from the grind of their taxing mission. Shortly after, Sakura received the medical breakthrough she was hoping for in the form of a viable antiviral, now all she needed was an effective dispersal method, and Sasuke had hunted down all but the top two tiers of the anti-shinobi organization.
There was tension in the air of the hideout of Orochimaru as well as in the higher ranked individuals within the hidden villages. Everyone knew that the mission was rapidly coming to a close but few knew what that actually meant or what the cost could be.
3*3
Sasuke hissed at the cold, slippery sensation of a snake slipping up the sleeve of his sleeping shirt and he bolted upright in bed seizing the slender creature by the head.
"What do you think you're doing Chiryuu?" He snarled at the murky grey snake. "I don't care how cold you are, you stay out of my clothes and out of my bed. Got it?!" he hissed as quietly as he could mindful of his wife sleeping beside him.
"My apologies Lord Sasuke." The snake rasped. "I was in a hurry."
"Why?" Sasuke replied.
"I have found him." Chiryuu hissed softly.
"Found who?" Sasuke asked his blood running cold as his heart picked up it's tempo.
"The man you are seeking. The man who is doing the majority of the financing for that organization." The snake's eyes narrowed slightly. "The man who seeks to claim your wife as his own."
"Lord Sakamoto." Sasuke hissed electricity crackling around him in response to his rage.
"My Lord." The snake rasped twitching as the electricity singed his scales. "He is near. Just two towns over."
Sasuke quickly stood from the bed and strode over to the chest of drawers pulling a clean set of clothes as well as several extra and stuffed some into his bag while he pulled on the others.
"Did you leave me a trail to follow?" He asked Chiryuu.
"Yes My Lord. He will not escape you this time." The serpent replied.
"Damn right." Sasuke growled.
There was no way in Hell he was going to let the bastard get away, not when he was one of the keys to bringing down the anti-shinobi faction once and for all, not when he was the reason Sakura still had nightmares, not while he still pursued her with the singlemindedness and obsession of a psychopath. No, Lord Sakamoto was going to die very soon by his own hand.
"You're leaving again?" Sakura asked as she sat up in bed her bleary eyes focusing on the form of her husband.
"Yes. I received an urgent tip from one of my scouting summons." He said the serpent that had delivered the message vanishing in a puff of smoke.
"You need proper rest." Sakura protested sitting up in bed. "You barely went to bed three hours ago and you were up for more than twenty four hours before that." She said reaching for him.
Sasuke reached out and grabbed her hand. "Sakura. I have to go." He said firmly his eyes pleading with hers to understand.
"Give me a minute. I'll come with you. I needed to go into town and pick up-"
He cut off her words with a searing kiss.
"Stay here." He said firmly pressing his hand against her cheek. "Don't leave the hideout for any reason. If you need something send Jugo or Karin to fetch it for you."
Her eyes narrowed at that. "Sasuke, I'm not some damn damsel in distress-"
"Sakura!" He snapped his eyes fierce, his voice sharp. She froze her eyes widened and he nearly sighed but resisted instead staying firm. "I am the mission leader here. Don't make me pull rank and make this an order."
She reached up with trembling fingers to lightly touch his face. "Sasuke, what's wrong?" she asked. "Tell me what's going on. I'm here to help you. Whatever it is, we can figure it out together."
He couldn't. He knew her too well. If she knew that he was going after Lord Sakamoto, she would follow him even if he forbade it. She wanted to face the creep herself and though he loved that part of her that never backed down and fought until the end, he refused to put her in that kind of danger.
"Stay here Sakura Uchiha. That is an order." He said before he reached out and tapped her in the middle of the forehead blocking out the pain that throbbed in his chest at the hurt in her jade eyes. "I'll see you when I return." He said grabbing his bag and slinging it across his body.
He swept out of their bedroom closing the door firmly behind him. He stalked down the hallway and rapped on Orochimaru's door.
"Coming." He heard the old sannin grumbled before the door opened. "Sasuke. You retired to bed just a few short hours ago. Why are you leaving again so soon?"
"I received a message from one of my scouting snakes." Sasuke replied. "They found Lord Sakamoto. He's only two towns again."
Orochimaru's intelligent eyes widened and then narrowed in understanding. "I see. You're taking Suigetsu with you I presume?"
Sasuke shook his head. "No. I'm going alone. I need Suigetsu to stay back with Karin and Jugo to protect the hideout."
The snake sannin's lips turned up into a smirk at that. "You mean protect her am I right?"
The ink haired man's hand clenched once before he relaxed it again. "Yes. If he catches wind of where she is, he will come for her. If she's captured, they could use her to undo all of the progress we've made towards creating an anti-viral as well as force her to create a more deadly biological weapon. She must stay safe."
Orochimaru chuckled. "There's no reason to try to put on airs with me Sasuke." He drawled. "I'm well aware that Lord Sakamoto has an… obsession with that wife of yours. I will do what I can do ensure her safety in your absence."
Sasuke nodded once and then continued down the hall to the secret door that led out of the hideout. He intended to protect Sakura with his own hand but he felt a small measure of comfort at knowing there were other hands that were ready and willing to protect her as well.
8$8
Sasuke drummed his fingers lightly against the glass of his cup the hood of his cloak pulled up over his head. He'd heard that a man flaunting his money matching Lord Sakamoto's description had been frequenting the high class bar that he was sitting at currently but he'd yet to see him. He was growing impatient. Even with a direct order binding her, he knew damn well Sakura wouldn't wait around for very long before coming after him to confront him about his strange behavior. She was a proactive, proud woman that never took anything lying down. It had been nearly forty eight hours since he'd left and he knew he only had about seventy two before she could start trying to follow him in earnest.
"So what kind of woman are you looking for My Lord?" A sultry voice asked from near the door.
"There's only one woman that interests me." Another voice replied.
Sasuke's blood ignited at the sound of it the air around him crackling with electricity. He knew exactly who that voice belonged to.
"A fair maiden with eyes the color of the finest jade, hair the color of the most beautiful cherry petals, and skin as soft as satin." He crooned. "My beloved, God chosen bride."
Sasuke turned his head and his sharringan activated immediately as he laid eyes on Lord Sakamoto for the second time. He looked the same as he remembered in flamboyant robes with his pale hair and weak build. It took every ounce of restraint he possessed to not launch across the room and shove his lightning charged fist through his heart. End the threat to his wife and their village in one blow, once and for all. However, he had to be patient. Learn as much as he could from the slightly pudgy bastard, then he would be able to kill him slowly.
"Alas, she was stolen from me from a demon in human form." Lord Sakamoto lamented. "He kidnapped her, snatched her right out of my arms. She was crying out for me and I couldn't help her." He lowered his head. "It's already been a year. I must save her, I need to take her home where she belongs."
Sasuke snorted at that. He kidnapped Sakura? Ridiculous. Lord Sakamoto was the one that tried to force himself on her. His delusions had certainly increased in intensity over the past year.
"What is her name?" The pretty girl pouring his drink asked. "Perhaps myself or one of the others know where you can find her? Or maybe we can find the man that took her."
"My wife's name is Sakura. Sakura Haruno." Lord Sakamoto replied.
The glass in Sasuke's fist cracked. It was Sakura Uchiha! She was his wife and he was so going to make the slime ball pay for suggesting otherwise.
"She was abducted by the demon called Sasuke Uchiha." Lord Sakamoto snarled.
Sasuke glanced at him nothing how the entire bar went silent.
"That doesn't make sense." One of the waitresses whispered to the bartender. "I've heard rumors about Sasuke and Sakura traveling around this region. Everyone who's seen them has said that they seem perfectly happy together."
"Lies!" Lord Sakamoto roared. "You're all being deceived!" He stood up and stormed towards the door. "I'll find her. Just you wait."
Sasuke waited a few seconds before slipping out the door after him. He tailed the slightly drunken noble down the street until he passed by an alleyway that led to a dead end. The Uchiha made his move and struck from the shadows grabbing the tipsy noble by the collar and threw him into the ground at the end of the ally.
"Ow! What is the meaning of this?!" Lord Sakamoto whined rubbing his head. "Do you have any idea who I am?!" He demanded.
"I know exactly who you are." Sasuke snarled removing the hood from his head. "You're the disgusting piece of trash that's obsessed with my wife."
Lord Sakamoto's eyes widened in fear as she crab crawled towards the wall. "S- Sasuke Uchiha." He breathed. "The demon in human form."
"You're going to believe that nonsense you spew when I'm finished with you." Sasuke snarled walking closer his hand crackling with electricity. "You've financed the mass murder of innocents, stalked and harassed my wife, spread lies to stir up unrest in an era of peace that thousands of shinobi fought and died to earn for you." He took a foreboding step forward his eyes blazing. "You are going to come with me and tell me everything you know."
He hissed as a sudden pain sliced across his shoulder and leapt back glaring at the body guards standing above him.
"I wondered when you two would show up." Sasuke said with a smirk. "The loyal dogs come to protect their rabid master."
"Sasuke! Move!" Exclaimed a voice that wasn't supposed to be there.
He grunted as a petite body slammed into his knocking him out of the way of a flurry of throwing needles. A pair of pale hands immediately went to the wound in his shoulder and he hissed when a liquid was poured over the healing skin.
"Why are you here!?" he demanded grabbing his wife by the shoulder. "I gave you and order!"
"I couldn't stay away. I knew something was wrong." She replied touching his wound. "The medication I poured over it turned blue. That means they were using the biological weapon." She leaned forward until her lips her touching his ear. "You would have died." She whispered.
"Sakura! My cherry blossom princess, you have finally returned to me!" Lord Sakamoto exclaimed staggering to his feet his eyes raking over her form. "And you remain free of demon spawn. See it is meant to be! Even with your seal removed you have not conceived that demon's child."
Sakura's eyes widened at that. "If he knows about my seal that means-"
"They had informants in The Leaf, they still might." Sasuke hissed. "We'll have to contact Kakashi."
"After we take these guys down." Sakura said deflecting a kunai thrown at her by the ninja with black and white hair.
"My thoughts exactly." He replied.
The pair of ninja quickly took to the rooftops leading the pair of ninja away from the town to an open field.
"Typical village ninja. Always looking out for other people, how pathetic." The younger of the two ninja said with a grin.
"Now is not the time for that." His partner replied. "Lady Sakura, come with us. Our Lord demands it." He said extending a hand to her.
"Never." She snarled pulling her gloves on. "I'd rather die than leave my husband's side."
"Then we have no choice than to take you by force." He replied his fist igniting with bright yellow flames.
"Sakura, get out of here!" Sasuke hissed. "I'll be fine, just go!"
"No! I'm not leaving you!" She protested blue light gathering around her fist as she focused her chakra. "I will not run. We are partners. I will fight with you."
He sighed and shook his head. "Somehow I knew you'd say something like that." He muttered. "The older one's primary nature is fire with earth as a secondary. Can you handle him?"
"Did you need to ask?" She replied a smirk touching her lips. "I can handle this hot head just fine."
He nodded and turned to face the second opponent. He was a lightening user like himself. He was confident in his abilities but knew to keep his guard up. Lord Sakamoto had the money to pay top dollar for protection. His body guards would not go down easy.
He and Sakura sprung into battle and for the first time, he was able to witness her water nature in action.
"Water style, water snake jutsu!" She exclaimed her chakra forming into thin ribbon like snakes of water and wrapping around her opponents flaming limbs putting them out.
"Eyes here pretty boy!" His opponent cackled. "Lightning style, white flash jutsu!"
Sasuke turned and closed his eyes against the blinding light the ribcage of his Susanoo forming around him just in time to deflect the series of kunai and throwing needles that rained down on him from above.
"Ooh! You are good." The man said with a grin. "I guess I'll have to get serious now."
Sasuke hissed in frustrating as his opponent managed to keep him at bay keeping his eyes away from his so that he couldn't end it quickly with genjutsu. He heard Sakura cry out and felt his heard clench at the sight of a large burn that wrapped around her torso and went partway up her back.
She didn't let it keep her down though and she attacked again knocking the man trough several trees with a chakra charged punch to the chest. She continued after him slamming her foot into the ground and followed up with another punch that barely missed her target as he rolled away cracking the earth beneath her fist.
"Sasuke!" She called out as her opponent engulfed his entire body in flames. "Let's end this!"
He nodded knowing she had some sort of plan in mind and leapt to her side.
"What's the plan?" He asked.
"You'll know as soon as I finish my jutsu." She replied. "Just get ready."
He nodded and leapt away facing his opponent once more.
"Some secret plan. Are you sure she'd not bluffing?" The man demanded.
"You're a fool. I've been fighting by her side since we were children. She doesn't bluff." He replied.
"Water style! Ripping torrent!" She exclaimed her chakra exploding into a massive wave of water that doused the man and then covered the ground.
Sasuke smirked as Sakura took to the trees settling into a perch high above the ground.
"Lightning style." He said his voice low and full of purpose as he took aim at both his opponent and the half conscious opponent his wife had been fighting. "Chidori stream!" He shouted commanding the electricity within him to strike down his opponents using the water as a conductor to increase the speed and power of his attacks. The man he was fighting fell to the ground and he smirked. "See? She doesn't bluff."
He turned back to his wife a proud smile touching his face. "Excellent plan!" He called out. 'That's my girl' he added mentally as he gazed at her form, watching her hair flutter in the breeze.
She smiled and nodded standing to her feet and bent her knees ready to leap to the ground but then swayed and suddenly fell backwards plummeting towards the ground at break neck speed her body limp.
"Sakura!" Sasuke exclaimed his eyes widening in horror. For a moment he was thirteen years old again, exhausted, in excruciating pain watching her fall from the place that Garra had pinned her to, knowing he needed to do something, anything to save her but unsure of if his battered body would be able to make it in time.
His gaze fixated on a log at beneath the tree and he quickly teleported and caught her just before she hit the ground.
"Sakura. Sakura!" He exclaimed shaking her roughly. "Open your eyes!"
"Tough little bitch you got there." The black and white haired ninja rasped. "She fought long and hard even with the effects of that drug in her system. Looks like we'll have to work harder to snatch her up for our Lord."
"Bastard." Sasuke hissed. "What did you do to her!?"
"Nothing much. We just gave her a little something to make delivering her a little easier. Luckily for us, she'll be out of it for a little while, and you'll be too busy protecting her to fight off our allies easily." The man replied.
Sasuke glanced around noting several chakra signatures in the trees. They were right. He couldn't effectively protect his wife and fight them at the same time. There was only one course of action, one that he never would have taken in his younger days.
"Susanoo!" Sasuke growled his purple winged giant forming around him in all its glory, wings and all.
He cast one last glare at the ninja around him memorizing their faces and chakra signatures with his sharriggan, before taking off into the sky carrying his wife's unconscious form with him. Going to the hideout wouldn't be wise, there was a chance they had someone tailing them. Camping exposed in the forest wasn't a good option either. He changed courses heading for one of the largest port towns in the vicinity. He released his giant on the outskirts of town and rushed through the crowded streets with his wife cradled in his arms. He'd been here before just before his personal journey to The Land of Lightning. He knew an inn that would keep them safe without breathing a word to anyone.
He ducked down an older street went three doors down on the left hand side stopping in front of a door with only one lamp burning in the window. He tapped the door lightly four times and waited until an older man opened the door a pair of cats streaking out from the open door to rub at his legs affectionately.
"Lord Uchiha." The man said with surprise on his face. "I wasn't expecting to see you again for a while, certainly not without prior contact. Is something wrong?"
"It's my wife." He said motioning to the woman cradled in his arm against his chest. "Please, can you hide us here?"
The man's dark eyes narrowed slightly before he moved aside. "Please come in." He said ushering them inside. "I'll strengthen the wards right away. No one will find you here." He said firmly closing the door behind the cats firmly activating several sealing tags with a wave of his fingers. "Tsuma!" He called out. "Lord Uchiha is here. His wife appears to be injured."
An older woman with silver streaked black hair quickly flitted down the stairs. "Oh my. Sasuke, that beautiful young thing is your wife?" She asked guiding him down a set of stairs hidden behind a wall. "How did you convince such a lovely looking creature to marry your sour self?"
"I ask myself the same question daily." He replied thankful to the old woman for taking the edge off of his worry.
Sei chuckled and pulled a curtain at the bottom of the stairs revealing a well-furnished room with several lamps hanging overhead. The Uchiha crest hung proudly in the middle of the far wall surrounded by a Hidden Leaf Symbol as well as the symbol for the Allied Shinobi forces.
The older woman quickly strode into the wall and laid out two futons peeling the blankets back so that Sasuke could lay his wife down. She groaned and whimpered as her singed back hit the blankets.
"That's quite a burn." Sei said. "You're rather beat up yourself too." She said noting the sing marks as well as several cuts and bruises scattered over his body. "I'll bring medical supplies."
"What do you know about medical ninjutsu?" He asked her.
"I know some." The woman replied. "I'm no medical ninja, but I can heal some injuries."
"Can you do something about that burn?" He asked. "Just enough so that she can lay comfortably while she sleeps off whatever drug she was administered?"
The older woman nodded. "Of course, let me fetch the med kit first though. That way you can tend to your own injuries as well." She replied.
Sasuke nodded and turned his attention to Sakura. His reckless, impulsive, incredible wife who had saved his life at least once in the past twelve hours alone. Carefully he cut away her burned uniform and bindings before digging through her bag for the jar of burn salve she always carried. Over the past year, he'd learned quite a bit about medicine just from observing her. He was thankful he'd paid attention now.
Sei came downstairs carrying rolls of bandages and warm water and her eyes widened. "Oh my! She's well stocked." She commented.
"My wife is a world class medical ninja." Sasuke replied. "She's always well prepared."
The older woman nodded and then knelt beside Sakura cringing a little as she examined the burn. "I can see why you wanted someone to use medical ninjutsu on her. This will scar terribly if left untreated."
"I could care less about scaring." Sasuke replied his eyes flickering to Sakura's face as she winced when Sei's finger's probed her. "I just don't want her to be in pain."
The old woman smiled and patted his head gently. "You're a good husband." She said. "Don't worry. I'll help her."
She closed her eyes and formed seals a green glow flickering to life around her hands. She gently passed them over the burns slowly healing the skin from the inside out and easing the pain. Sasuke stayed by Sakura's side taking her hand in his and rubbing the pad of his thumb over her knuckles gently, soothing her the best way he knew how as Sei worked. After nearly an hour, she was finished leaving fresh pink skin as the only evidence of Sakura's ordeal.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "You know a little medical ninjutsu huh?" He remarked.
She chuckled. "Come now, I'm the wife of a man whose family has served the Uchiha for generations. Your people are fire wielders that are miserable failures when it comes to medical ninjutsu. Knowing how to use it and treat burns particularly was an invaluable asset."
The ink haired man smiled and studied his wife relieved to see that all of the wrinkles in her brow were gone, a serene expression on her face.
"Thank you very much for what you did for my wife. She will be able to rest peacefully thanks to your efforts." He said lowering his head to her.
"Oh what a great man you've become!" She said beaming at him. "Go ahead and get yourself cleaned up. I'll stay here and get her dressed. Go on now!" She said waving him towards the bathroom door of the hidden room.
He nodded and brushed a hand over Sakura's cheek affectionately before walking out of the room carrying his bag with him.
When he re-entered the room thirty minutes later, he found Sakura curled up in a ball wearing a navy blue shirt with the Uchiha crest just poking out from underneath the blankets she was covered in. He breathed a little sigh of relief at seeing her still resting though he was curious as to where and when she'd been drugged. Crouched down beside her and activated his sharringgan checking her chakra network for any blockages. Though her levels were a little lower than usual, they were replenishing at a normal rate and her network was unblemished. Feeling even more calm, he reached out and tucked a section of hair behind her ear. To his surprise, her eyelashes fluttered open and her bleary jade eyes focused on him.
"Sasuke?" She murmured softly before a soft smile touched her lips her hand lifting to his face. "Are you alright? Are you in any pain? Do you feel weak at all?"
He blinked as he stared at her for a moment before he tackled her, rolling her onto her back, straddling her hips as he held her hands down above her head in his own.
"You stupid, thick headed, annoying girl!" He growled. "I could have you court martialed for defying a direct order like that! What in the Hell did you think you were doing!?"
Her jaded eyes widened in surprise before they sparked with anger. "I could ask you the same question you stupid jerk!" She shot back. "If you hadn't taken off alone, I wouldn't have had to follow you!"
The glared at one another for several moments before the fires of anger burned out in both of them and he slumped on top of her. "Sakura, you fell out of that tree and I just-" He buried his nose in her neck breathing her soft floral scent. "My heart stopped and I remembered-. And that burn. It was so big."
"I know. I'm sorry." She replied. "He got me with a throwing needle early in the battle and wouldn't leave me enough time to get into my bag to find an antidote. I didn't want to tell you because there was nothing you could do." She wrapped her arms around him. "I was afraid too. When I saw that cut starting to change color just like the last one you had when you were dying on my operating table." She squeezed him tighter. "I knew your orders but I just couldn't stay away. I had this horrible feeling that something bad was going to happen to you."
He sighed and lifted his head pressing a light kiss to her temple. "It's alright. We're both healthy and safe, that's the important part, but Sakura, Lord Sakamoto is going to become more persistent in his attempts to capture you now that he knows you're somewhere close by." He lifted off of her kneeling on the futon and pulled her upright touching his forehead to hers as he cupped her cheek. "Please Sakura, don't be reckless about this. Don't go anywhere alone, only leave the hideout if it's absolutely necessary until I take him out."
"Sasuke-" Sakura said softly moving away from him.
He yanked her close his arm encircling her waist. "Why don't you understand?" He hissed his fingers digging into the soft skin near her ribs. "I can't lose you Sakura!" He pressed his face to her shoulder. "Please… Listen to me. Just this once, I'm begging you. Please Sakura. Stay out of sight. Stay where that mad man can't lay eye or hands on you."
She chuckled lightly and he leaned away his eyes wide with confusion. "Why are you laughing?" he demanded.
She smiled at him tears twinkling in the corners of her eyes. "I'm sorry. It's just, I thought the same thing too once. After Orochimaru had put that mark on you, I had that thought so many times but I never said it aloud. It isn't like you would have listened to me anyway." She reached up and cupped his cheeks with her palms her hands sliding back into his hair as she studied him. "Sasuke, I love you. It's because I love you that I want to protect you too." She sighed and leaned forward until she could touch her lips to his. "If staying hidden for the time being will truly put your heart at ease, then I'll do as you say. I'll stay in the hideout and finish up my work, however, I want something from you in return."
Sasuke lifted his hand and clutched her shoulder. "Yes. Anything you ask." He promised.
She smirked at that. "You know that's a very dangerous promise to make." She teased. "If I was a lesser woman I could totally take advantage of you." She said with a chuckle before her eyes and expression became serious. "Please don't go anywhere alone unless it's absolutely necessary. Take Suigetsu, Orochimaru, Jugo, even Karin if you want to. Just don't go alone."
"Alright." He agreed. "That's fair enough I suppose."
She smiled and slid her hands down his neck coming to rest on his shoulders. "Darling," she whispered softly her eyes dimming a little. "I'm ashamed of how afraid I still am of that man. When I saw him in that alleyway where you were confronting him, I couldn't make my feet move forward." She lowered her head and dropped her hands to her lap. "It wasn't until I realized you'd been injured that I was able to force myself to move. I'm so sorry."
Sasuke sighed. He didn't blame her for her fear or even her reaction to it. Even the best warriors had things that froze them in their tracks from time to time. She was no exception.
"It's alright. I understand. The important thing is that you saved me." He said reaching for her.
Her eyes lifted to him but were still dimmed with sorrow. He could almost feel her pain as though her soul was reaching out to his. Her shame for not being able to confront Lord Sakamoto, her fear of losing him, her frustration at her own weakness, her desire to be a better partner for him. It made his heart ache. Sparked to life a desire to chase out the cold settling into her heart and replace it with warmth the way she so often did for him.
"Tsuma." He said softly trailing his hand over her neck and up into her hair, tipping her head back so that she couldn't avoid his gaze. "Let me love you." He whispered grabbing the hem of her sleeping shirt and pulled it over her head before gently laying her down on the futon.
He pulled off his own shirt and then settled over the top of her caressing her skin with his lips, stroking over her sensitive places with his fingertips.
"Sasuke." Sakura breathed stroking her fingertips up his back before she rolled them both straddling his waist. "Let me love you too."
Something sparked between them then. A desperation, a violent need to come together, to please one another, to become one.
Sasuke hissed at the sensation and rose up over her pitching her onto her back and then sliding down her body to her center attacking the rose colored petals there with tongue and teeth. In less time than ever before she came undone with a cry and he reveled in the sensation as it stroked his arousal higher than before. He started to slide up back up her body, intent on sheathing himself in her, when she suddenly reared up and shoved him back onto his back with her incredible strength knocking a little air from his lungs. Her eyes were almost alight with passion and love and he watched completely captivated as she stretched out over him slowly leaning forward until she could kiss him. Her lips were passionate but languid giving him long searing kisses that left him aching for more. Then she lifted her body her eyes half lidded sparkling with mischief as she slid down the length of his torso as she sat up, her hands trailing over his skin as her fingertips dipped into the ridges of his chest and abdomen. It was as though she was leaving trails of fire in her wake and his hand reached out to grab her hip ready to pitch her back again, but she was faster lifting them and then positioning his hardened length at her entrance.
"Oh Sakura." he moaned as she lowered onto his length at a pace that took his breath away. "Please don't tease me." He begged as she wiggled her hips a little, making him move inside her.
She granted his request and began to move above him her hands stroking over her torso, squeezing her breasts and then moving up into her hair as she rode him. She was so beautiful, so alluring, so sexy as she moaned and mewed out her pleasure above him. He watched her face, his sharp eyes ever patient until he saw it, that little furrow in her brow, her lips moving to let out a cry of pleasure and he reared up pitching her back onto the futon and pounded into her. Green light exploded around them as her chakra reacted to her intense orgasm and the sensation of her power caressing him was too much. He poured himself into her with a strangled cry and his own purple aura flashed to life sparks of purple and green snapping and entangling together as they both rode out their pleasure. His eyes opened and met hers, their faces bathed in the flickering lights of their combined power and it was as though the universe itself was holding its breath before their eyes closed again and he collapsed on top of her gasping for air.
When he'd regained some of his strength, he lifted himself, pressed a small kiss to her cheek and then rolled to the side opening his arm to her so she could snuggle up to his chest. He laid his arm over her and pressed a kiss to her forehead basking in the warmth that both her body and aura were bursting with.
"Sasuke. That was…"
"I know." He replied. "I've never felt anything like that before."
She smiled and nuzzled his chest. "Well I certainly hope not." She teased pressing a kiss to the place over his heart.
He chuckled and ran his fingers through her hair. "Sleep Tsuma. We have to get up early tomorrow."
"I know. Even though that darn drug knocked me out, I'm still tired." She grumbled before yawning. "I love you darling. Sweet dreams."
"I know. You too." He replied holding her close.
She shifted and he heard a metallic clink. He glanced down and smiled at the sight of the gift he'd given her on her wrists. He was in too much of a hurry to notice them before. He ran his finger along one smiling as his own energy reacted to the touch. There was a part of him with her always, and the thought made his heart swell within him, even so he was beginning to develop a longing to leave a more permanent trace of himself behind. Perhaps when this mission was over he'd be able to figure out exactly what exactly it was that he wanted.
8&8
Sasuke stalked back into the hideout and swept through the halls irritation flowing off him little sparks of electricity. It had been a month, an entire bloody month and he hadn't been able to find a single trace of the scum back Lord and his flaming, sparking, lackeys! He was so damn frustrated and Sakura was getting tired of being cooped up inside the hideout constantly. She'd been so moody lately too. Screaming one minute and then sobbing the next. It was like she was losing her mind. Maybe they both were.
He entered the kitchen and frowned at the scene in front of him. Sakura was standing over the sink tears dripping from her eyes while Jugo hovered nervously and Karin glared at the woman as though she was about to explode.
"It's alright Sakura. It can be washed again." Jugo said gently.
"But they were clean." Sakura sniffled. "Now they're all dirty again."
"Good Lord woman! Get a grip already!" Karin snarled yanking the chop stick from Sakura's hands. "Crying over dropped dining ware is the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen in my life. Go to bed."
"But I-"
"NOW! Or so help me I will drag you there by the hair! You're absolutely exhausted, now GET!" The redhead snarled shoving the pinkette towards the hall.
"Alright." Sakura replied dejectedly touching a hand to her forehead. "You're right, I don't feel like myself lately."
Karin's expression softened a little and she sighed. "Are you sure you don't want me to run some tests? You might be coming down with something."
"It's alright." Sakura replied. "I'll stop by the lab and check on that last batch and then go to sleep like you said. Wake me if Sasuke returns please?"
"Yeah. No problem." Jugo replied. "Go get some rest Lady Sakura."
She smiled weakly at him before walking down the hall. Once she was out of earshot the pair began talking.
"I'm really worried about her." Jugo said. "She hasn't been herself lately at all."
"Not being able to see the sun for a month can sometimes do that to a person." Karin countered putting away a stack of plates before she sighed. "I think it might be something biological but she won't let me run any tests."
"Given the history of some of your experiments, I'm not terribly surprised she's hesitant." The gentle giant replied.
Karin glared at her. "I wouldn't run those kinds of tests on her!" She snarled.
"So you've noticed too." Sasuke said walking into the room and making his presence known.
"Sasuke, welcome back." Jugo said with a smile.
"Welcome back." Karin echoed.
He nodded and walked forward grabbing a rice ball from a plate on the counter. "Has her strange behavior been escalating?" he asked.
Karin scoffed. "I'll say. I've never seen anyone cry so hard over a stupid broken beaker before. It's not like we don't have thousands more in this place. And it was empty!" she said throwing up her hands. "It doesn't make sense. She seems tired all the time too. Maybe it's a lack of vitamin D."
"Her appetite has changed too. She's becoming fixated on some foods and completely avoiding others that she used to eat." Jugo commented. "She doesn't like to linger in the kitchen while I'm cooking either. She used to offer help but now she just hurries along." He scratched the back of his neck. "I'm not sure what to make of it."
Sasuke nodded and sat down at the table as he ate trying to solve the mystery that was his wife. What could have happened to her? Was it a side effect from the drug she'd been dosed with on her last outing? He had no idea. All he knew was that something was wrong with his wife and he needed to figure it out along with the mountain of other things he had on his plate.
He nearly jumped out of his seat when he heard his wife cry out. Without a second thought he sprinted towards the sound knocking over a chair in his haste and threw open the door to their bedroom. His eyes widened at the sight of his wife curled up on the bed, her head bowed, her hands clutching at her stomach.
"Sakura!" He exclaimed kneeling in front of her Karin and Jugo hovering near the door. "What's wrong?" He demanded reaching out to grip her chin and tip it up so he could see her eyes. The fresh tears rolling down her cheeks alarmed him and he moved closer. "Tell me what happened Tsuma."
"Sasuke." She breathed a smile touching her lips. "Sasuke." She whispered again reaching out to take his hand.
"I'm here." He assured her confused my her mood swing. "What is it Sakura?"
"Look at me." She said softly. "With your sharringgan." She clarified. "Look at me."
His brow furrowed at the strange request but he did as she asked activating his advanced sight. He studied her for a moment and didn't find any details out of place and decided to look deeper at her chakra network. His lips immediately turned down into a frown. Something was off about her chakra. It wasn't flowing evenly between the chakra points the way it was supposed to. Instead it was flowing towards her sacral point, centering there instead of at her heart. Concerned he looked deeper and then gasped as he saw a second chakra signature, tiny, but still distinguishable from his wife's.
"You see it?" She whispered gripping his hand. "What lies here." She said pressing it to her midsection.
"Sakura, are you-?" He asked his voice barely above a whisper his body trembling as he stared at that tiny flicker of chakra.
She let out a watery laugh and nodded. "Yes Sasuke." She took a deep breath and beamed at him. "Darling, I'm pregnant."
His vision suddenly became blurry as he leaned forward and rested his forehead against the spot where he could sense his child. "Sakura." He breathed his voice trembling.
Sakura laid her hand on his head. "You're not alone in the world anymore." She said softly. "Our family is growing. Our clan will be restored."
He felt a few tears slip down his nose before he closed his eyes and pressed a soft kiss above the spot where his child rested. He then rose to his feet and kissed Sakura's forehead. "Thank you." He whispered his voice barely audible before he stooped down and kissed her lips tasting the salt of both of their tears. "Thank you Sakura." He whispered again. "You have given me the greatest gift." He lowered to his knees before her again. "Thank you." She laid her head on top of his and stroked his back as his arm encircled her hips pulling her to the edge of the bed so that he could rest his cheek against her abdomen. "I love you Tsuma."
"I know." She replied stroking his hair. "I love you too."
Author's Notes: Tada! One of the moments you've all been anxiously waiting for! Little Sarada is on her way! I apologize if it didn't meet everyone's expectations or if the timing seems a little rushed. I'm just trying to get the flow back to where it needs to be after the funk I've been in lately. Never the less, I hope you enjoyed. Thank you for your follows, favorites, and reviews, they keep me going. I hope you had a spectacular Christmas and have a wonderful New Year. Until next time!
