Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

An AU SasuSaku Fanficition

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Chapter 8

Sakura's POV

After what felt like hours, but were mere minutes, I felt completely exhausted. I felt drained and so tired. So tired of falling for hope and it being dashed away. I absentmindedly grasped for the necklace Itachi gave me to seek comfort, only to find empty space. I took in a deep breath and willed the tears gone. I felt my nose heating up and knew that I was on the verge of breaking once more. My one and only possession that meant so much to me. Gone. There was nothing left for me in this world to live for.

I shook away the thoughts that were clouding my mind. I could not succumb to dark thoughts.

I needed to get out of here.

The only way possible was by getting permission from the Alpha, but who knew how long he'd be gone? If I ran away now, I'd have a bounty over my head for breaking protocol. I let out a scoff. I was probably already in the bingo book. My former pack must be looking for me, and that was a greater incentive for me to get out of here.

I needed to rest up well and heal. With that resolution in mind, I wiped my face raw with my hands. I needed to close off any and all weakness if I wanted to survive.

I grasped for one of the fallen crutches and used that as a way to get up. I hobbled to the bathroom, and used it. After flushing the toilet, I made my way to the sink and washed my hands. With a deep breath, I steeled myself before looking up at the mirror. What I saw before me, absolutely infuriated me. My eyes were puffy and red, a huge indicator that I have been crying. There were tear tracks aligning my cheeks, and my lips were set in a deep frown. I hated how looked.

I looked like a coward.

How could I still look like the timid and abused Sakura? After all, I did run away from my pack, and that is something I could have never imagined my cowardly self to do. I promised myself that I would never live like this again. I was done with this. I needed to get stronger and close my heart off to Sasuke. If my mate did not want me, I too would not want him.

I turned the faucet on, and ran my palms though cold water. I cupped what I could, and brought it up to my face. I shivered at the coolness, and flinched when I heard a knock on the door.

"Y-yes?" I croaked out. I grabbed a towel and dried my face and hands.

"It's me, Ino. I finished up the food and left it on the table," she informed me.

I let out a sigh, my appetite long gone. I did not want her to see me like this, or even know that I was crying. "Do you think you can leave it in the microwave? I want to take a nap because I'm feeling dizzy," I called out, hoping she would take my bluff and just do as I asked. I did not want to come out of the bathroom until I knew she was gone so that I could no longer suffer humiliation in front of another person.

"Okay, but make sure you finish it. Hinata left, and so will I as I've got to go to work. It was really nice meeting you," she vocalized, before I heard her receding footsteps.

I felt like such an ass, but I just couldn't bring myself to come out of the bathroom.

Once I formulate a plan to keep myself busy until Alpha Sasuke comes back, I'll try to reciprocate their kindness as much as I could until I get out of here. With that in mind, I hobbled out of the bathroom.

…

Naruto's POV

I was in the middle of making my rounds around the main pack house, checking in on my pack and reassuring them by gracing them with my presence, when I saw a panic stricken Sasuke stalking towards me a few meters away. His disheveled appearance was one I was unfamiliar with, and as he grew closer, a faint scent penetrated my nostrils.

Uh oh, I thought, my mind jumping to all sorts of conclusions as to his appearance. I paused my current activities, and went to meet him halfway, jogging down the stairs and closing in at the doorway. I immediately glanced down at his pants, and winced as I saw his evident arousal straining through the material, my deduction confirmed. "Sasuke," I called out, feigning my usual cheerful attitude in order to trick the curious onlookers, slinging my right arm around his shoulder and steering him away from the pack house. I needed to take care of it before anyone could see his first ever "shameful" predicament, which then would probably lead to many injuries and most likely my next brush with death.

"Hey, bastard," I began nervously. I knew what I was about to do would get me in so much trouble. I glanced around to make sure we were a good distance away before I shoved him against a tree.

"Ouch, idiot. What do you think you're doing?" He growled, bringing his hand to the back of his head. I noticed that he wore nothing but a flimsy shirt during this cold weather, and knew that my brother felt rattled by Sakura's presence enough to compromise his health right before a mission. I took off my black bomber jacket and placed it on his shoulders. I was plenty dressed with my orange hoodie and sweatshirt, whereas he was dressed to catch hypothermia. I watched as he put it on, catching the grateful look he threw at me but I did not respond to it. I knew it would make him feel uncomfortable.

I examined his face and kept myself from laughing. It wasn't the first time I saw Sasuke's face flushed like a tomato, however it was a first for him to look like this because of a girl. But Sakura wasn't just a girl, and Sasuke needed to understand that.

"I know the perfect way to take care of that for you," I announced sheepishly, flinching when he threw daggers at me with his eyes. I had other ideas that coincided with pulling at his waistband and shoving a handful of snow down his pants but vetoed it immediately despite the joy it would bring me. Instead, I quickly grabbed a fistful of snow and before he could react by dodging it, I rubbed it against his throat, knowing that it was a sensitive spot on his body. I saw him shiver, before he flicked it off and threw a punch at me. I let it hit me in order to placate him, and when he calmed down, I asked him about his predicament.

I watched him grapple with his words, knowing that he did not want to reveal it to me because it would embarrass him. Sasuke was never forthcoming about his issues and I was used to reading the situation well enough to form a correct and desirable response. "Besides the obvious, of course," I stated, watching as relief washed away his worry.

"I made a mistake," was all he said before he went quiet. I raised my brows at him, opening my mouth to shoot a sarcastic comment his way for stating the obvious, but shut my mouth. This wasn't a good time to ruffle his feathers. This was a genuine problem he was going through, and I needed to support him.

I beckoned him forward and in the direction of my house. "Come on. Let's get you warmed up at my house. Don't worry Sasuke, m-kay? It's just instinct to feel the way you do when you're in her presence. Your animalistic side is brimming with desire, so there's a certain scent you give off that'll tip you into becoming horny. And until you lay claim to her, it won't stop. Believe me, I had to deal with it myself when I first met Hinata. Let's just hope you don't become a bumbling fool like me. You saw how I was," I joked with him, hoping to keep a light atmosphere after revealing parts that might be a it too hard to swallow for Sasuke. He didn't respond to me, but I could practically hear the gears shifting in his head.

"This mission will give ample time to be away from her, and I can get you a pill from Hinata that'll keep you completely focused on your goal while you're away at your mission. There's nothing that I won't help you with, brother," I reassured him, opening the front door of my house. "Go take a quick shower while I assemble your team for you. You've got two hours before you go, so I'll ask Hinata to whip you up something good before you leave." He glanced at me before nodding and turning towards the stairs.

"Thanks," I heard him mumbled, before he was up there in a flash. I let out a hoot of laughter before replying that he owed me. I quickly texted Lee's team to give them a heads up and a pdf of the entailing mission they would go on. Sasuke would brief them in some more when they met later on tonight.

"Hime," I called through Hinata and I's telepathic mind link. I felt her presence when I felt the familiar push against the side of my brain.

"Yes, Naruto-kun?"

"Can you come make Sasuke some food? He's about to go on a mission, and I'm worried that he won't eat unless I pressure him. That, and I want to discuss Sakura with you."

"Alright, I'll be right there soon." She responded before she cut off.

I walked towards the kitchen and opened up the fridge. I brought out the ripest tomatoes I could find, being two, and washed them in the sink. I diced them up and placed it in a bowl, before adding water to the kettle and boiling it.

Sasuke was about to go on an important mission, but so was I. Even if it meant that I'll become the fairy godmother he never asked for. He needed Sakura in his life just as much as he needed his brother, but in a completely different way. If it turned out that Itachi wasn't even alive, god forbid, then Sasuke needed as much support as possible to be able to move on. Soul mates were put in place so that no one would ever be alone in their life, and denying that was like denying happiness.

I heard Sasuke's footsteps coming down the stairs, and so I grabbed his favorite snack and green tea that I prepared for him. "Meet me in my office," I called out, walking towards my study. I placed what I held on my desk, and pulled over a loveseat. I needed to have Sasuke stress free and relaxed before I sent him off. I watched as he walked in, and beckoned him forward, pointing towards the comfortable chair.

"Sit and eat," I ordered, grabbing the throw blanket that fell on the floor and flung it at him. I was already taking too much liberties, and if I had wrapped it around him like a loving mama, I would've received a nasty punch in the gut. I winced at the withering glare that he sent me, and in return I stuck my tongue at him.

"Idiot," he grumbled, drawing the blanket over himself with a faint blush dusting his cheeks.

"Aww, so adorable," I cooed with a snigger, not caring for the consequences anymore.

After a few minutes of silence, with Sasuke partaking in his favorite snack, I tried to gauge his reaction. But there was none forthcoming. I thought maybe I would be able to have a sneak peak of longing for a certain green eyed girl to be revealed, but sadly no. "Are you really not going to try to at least get to know her?" I inquired, staring intently at Sasuke. I watched as his fists clenched tighter on the fork and I held in a sigh. So much for hoping.

"Mate or not, I'm not claiming her until I get my revenge," Sasuke declared, not looking up at me. "When I get back, I'll have her stand trial before us and judge her like any other rogue. I'll grant her permission to get her out of my hair, and keep my focus solely on finding Itachi and avenging our families. That's my most important goal, and nothing you say will change that. So, drop it," he growled, a scowl so fierce marking his face. I let out a sigh and dropped the subject. I understood a hundred percent where he was coming from, but would it be my fault to try and reclaim my brothers happiness. Finding Itachi and avenging our families could be done while having a sustainable partner who could comfort you at trying times. But I knew Sasuke didn't want a weakness that could be used against him by his enemies. I guess-, no, I'm sure that that was what fueled him.

I heard the front door open, and the smell of Hinata wafted into my nostrils. I could feel my heart beat increase and my hands clam up in nervousness at her arrival. Even after five years of being together, these emotions seemed to have increased rather than die down. The love of my life, and one of the three most important people in my life that I would readily stand in the line of fire for. I wanted Sasuke to feel this with his mate, and I wouldn't give up until he did. I won't talk about it to him anymore, but I will orchestrate ways to keep them in each others companies when he gets back.

"Let's go back to the kitchen and help out Hinata with dinner," I proposed, getting up from my seat.

Sasuke shook his head. "I won't be much help. I'll just stay in here until it's finished. Give Hinata my thanks," he replied, idly playing about with the tomatoes in his bowl.

As I walked passed him, I patted his shoulder and gave it a small squeeze. "Do that yourself when you're done eating and ready to leave, eh?" I could feel him roll his eyes, and laughed as I headed out the room.

I closed the door behind me, and stalked over to the kitchen in order to dish to my lovely wife knowing that the study was soundproof.

Her presence drenched the room with the scent of lilacs and something that was just purely Hinata. I stopped in my tracks the moment I entered the kitchen. I watched as her dark blue hair swayed with every movement that she made as she chopped up vegetables. My gaze was riveted to her figure and the lithe movements her body made in such a domestic setting. I let out a huge breath, knowing that I was going to have some minor discomfort in a sensitive area of my body. I shook my head, reminding myself that we had a guest over before continuing on my way. I wrapped my arms around her waist and placed my head on her shoulder.

I laid a kiss against the side of her neck, "How's my beautiful Hime doing?" I asked, my voice husky and deep. I watched the blush rise from the base of her neck until her who face was covered with a deep and lovely shade of red. I could feel her heart beating against my chest and loved her reaction to me.

"I-I'm doing much better now that you're here, Naruto-kun," she let out breathlessly. I grinned at her answer, and placed another kiss on her cheek this time. I let my hands drop and moved away from her despite my bodies cry to once again connect our bodies.

"How can I help?" I asked, rolling up the sleeves of my orange hoodie.

…