notes: revised! (8/12/19)

rating: K

disclaimer: i don't own naruto.

.

.

32. rain

.

.

Cold.

That's the word Sasuke thinks of the moment his visage is greeted by rain droplets pelting the world, around his property—his home. Water drips downward, pelting and pelting away at his face; some even danced on his outstretched hand before morphing altogether into a little puddle in his palm. Nature cries aloud with these rain droplets and Sasuke wonders just how much suffering had this world been through for so, so long.

He likes the rain. It helps him find peace, a sense of solitude and isolation that is enhanced by the dreariness of the world. Sunny days are nice, but an argument frequently supplied by him includes lack of presences outside, a way of peace he so often seeks for, and that is how he would find atonement.

Uchiha Sasuke is a complex mind—others have stated so themselves, blatant and with an edge of snark, perhaps some scorn birthed from old jealousy. Why become so immersed with the dirty tears of the world when one could, instead, opt to seek for warm sunshine? The answer is strikingly simple, especially to a mind like Uchiha Sasuke.

He has a desire to be like the rain. Rain—it is often seen as gray: so dark and cold, and it virtually does nothing but strike from the skies. But, rain acts as salvation to drying plants and serves to rejuvenate the rest of the decaying soil. Even though rain is such a hindrance to people, others see it as a miracle disguised by a curse. He wishes he could be like that. He would like to be someone who can come through to the end. He wants to help, to make up for what his vindictiveness had made him done. It would take years, perhaps even longer than that, but he would see to it with his own determination.

Light footfalls could be heard from his side, but he makes no attempt eye at the person. He knows. "You should still be in bed."

A huff and tired chuckle, but her voice is still as recognizable as ever. "It's not a crime if I want to wake up early to see my husband leave for his who-knows-how-long journey." Ah, he never forgot how she would take a few jabs at him for that or the other various times he'd done so. Frankly, it still felt a little odd to hear husband come from her mouth to describe him. They really are man and wife, but that one word—husband—still feels strange to hear.

Sasuke quietly assesses the murkiness of the muddy dirt paths outside his property. "How's—"

An immediate interruption, almost instantaneous. "Sound asleep. Must've trained too hard again last night." Sakura's lips carry a heavy line crossed between a smile and with some bits of concern. It would seem that his inability to accept taking breaks was inheritable; subjecting to being patronized isn't his strong suit. Sasuke remains silent as the rain drizzles, but Sakura continues, "She had a long day. Said something about Boruto being stubborn and draining her energy." He hears her chuckling, more so weary than amused.

"A child of Naruto is always stubborn." He moves his hand, the motion allowing the remaining water to drizzle the soil and he casts a final glance outside before heeding his wife's silent pleading eyes to retreat inside. "Dealing with him practically everyday is commendable. I had no doubts she couldn't handle it."

Quietly assessing the empty spot her spouse stood at, Sakura's eyes slowly dart to his turned back after a glance spared to the graying scenery. "I'll prepare the tea—"

"—Rest," cuts in Sasuke, his voice a soft murmur. "You're tired." He'd noticed the frequent yawns and dark circles; he knew that she's aware of this and that he would take note of it.

"It's nothi—"

"—Sakura." The ending trails off, but his stance is the same. Please. It echoes in his head, but his Uchiha pride be damned if it were uttered, although he had a feeling she would get it anyway. He'll admit he'd taken the habit of speaking her name—he thinks of it ever so often, perhaps more as a reason to live, if anything. "...Go."

Keeping up with Sarada as she helped checked hospital documents yesterday surely drained her, as evident in her numbing arms and half-lidded eyes. She thinks about insisting it would be fine, for she only had several more signatures to sign, but the temptations for a bed and pillow (and a presence beside her later) felt too great to resist at this point.

Affectionately, her hands start to latch onto his with a squeeze. It'd taken some time for Sasuke to grow accustomed to her actions of physical touch, and it always made him feel welcomed. A smile, small and tired, appears on her lips. "Alright, you win." Sakura starts heading to the bedroom after relinquishing his hand, though she halts once her hand is placed upon the room's threshold. "Anata, could you stack my papers over there by the table? I need them ready by tomorrow, so I'd appreciate it!"

He misses the warmth on his palm already. More than compliant, he responds with a nod. He isn't, admittedly, the best at paperwork as he had many things calling for his attention, but the least he could do for her was stack them—even if he is an arm less than two.

When Sasuke sits himself at the couch and lightly grabs the first few papers (these signatures look shaky; he is aware of why they are like that) to look at, he pauses. His eyes unintentionally stray to a piece of sticky note messily slapped on a manila folder. There is a doodle of three heads underneath the words 'Medical Documents' that he easily recognizes with ease. Sarada's glasses was scribbled in red, Sakura's top half of her body and Sasuke's eye were also colored in red. Her red pen must be running low on ink as he notes the fading of ink near Sarada's headband.

In spite of himself, his eyes close briefly as he exhales softly, a little smile in place. Sasuke resumed shuffling through the papers as though nothing had transpired, if it weren't for the clue that is the faint uplifting of his lips as the clock ticks in the back. He didn't have to leave so soon anyways. Naruto could deal.