I'm sorry for making you wait so long for another chapter! I've been really busy with my family and life lately and haven't been able to work on my writing as much as I would like to. I hope to not make you wait so long for the next chapter and yes, I plan on finishing this story so no worries there!
Thank you for all of the support you have given me on this story and I hope to go back at some point and maybe add more chapters or re-write some of it but for now I don't see it happening in the foreseeable future. Again, this is a fast pace story so a lot will happen between them in the next few chapters; we only have three left! I don't have an epilogue planned as of now but I may change my mind once I'm done with the story itself. Now that that's out of the way; onto chapter 7!
The long, cold winter days seemed to be passing by rather rapidly for Sakura and Sasuke. They were already on day four, but each one seemed to bring up a new emotion... a new feeling, that for a while, had been forgotten or pushed to the backs of their minds; untouched and unexplored for nearly five whole years. Sakura still had some mixed emotions when it came to Sasuke; though she found herself feeling thrilled but also a little bit frightened by the whole thing and she wasn't completely sure what to make of the situation itself, if she was being honest with herself. Yes, Sakura still loved the Uchiha; more than she would have ever thought to be possible and yes, Sasuke had made it very clear to her that he still felt the same for her, that he still loved her; not only by speaking the words themselves aloud for her to physically hear but also by showing her with his actions.
Sasuke wasn't forced to go out in the snow with her... but he did so because he wanted to be with her.
He didn't have to make Christmas cookies but he did it because he wanted to spend time with her.
He didn't have to make her favorite drink, hot chocolate, nor did he have to open doors for her or do any of those other small acts of kindness... but he did it all because he loved her.
It was pretty obvious to her now, after spending some time with him, that Sasuke still wanted to be with her; even she, as inexperienced with the opposite sex as she was, could see that. But she continued to ask herself the same question over and over (out of habit maybe, she wasn't sure) and that question was; is she truly and fully ready to be with him again... wholeheartedly?
Sakura still had that fear in the back of her mind that her heart would be broken yet again by this man, but she kept trying to remind herself that wouldn't it be worth the risk... to be with the one that you love again. The two of them HAD talked about the past; though it wasn't in great detail but she now could understand the reason behind why he left her in the first place...
...why Sasuke had done what he did and why he thought it was what was best for them both.
She found herself starting to forgive him...
...trying to forget that it ever happened wouldn't be possible but forgiving him would be. She could that, right?
It wasn't like he was a bad guy after all.
He was simply... a broken man.
He just needed a little TLC to turn things around for the better.
Sasuke just needed... her; and if she was being honest with herself... she needed him as well.
The fact that both of her parents had practically made themselves scarce the entire time that they had been there wasn't a coincidence either. Sakura could only assume that it was due to her mother's influence; maybe to try and give them some alone time together... to try and bring them closer. Either way, it seemed to be working; much to her delight and chagrin.
.
.
.
Sakura glance over at her decorating companion and smiled when she saw the deep frown that was etched into his handsome features. Sasuke was currently trying to detangle a strand of lights that they were planning on using for the family's Christmas tree while Sakura was unboxing some of the more delicate ornaments. Sakura placed a glass ball carefully back into the box that she was currently working on and moved to his side as she placed her hands on her hips. "I can help you with that Sasuke."
"I'm aware." His dark and focused gaze remade on his hands as he worked and the pink-haired female sighed as she let her own hands drop to her sides; she couldn't help the frustrated eye roll at his masculine pride and was thankful that he didn't catch it. 'Ugh, men... always thinking they can do everything by themselves. Of course, they don't need a woman's help.'
"Well then...," she pressed as she moved to help him, but Sasuke shook his head in the negative and pulled away from Sakura slightly; moving the lights out of her reach.
"I've got this Sakura." Sasuke sounded so sure of himself but it was looking like he was becoming more and more frustrated with his task at the same time. "Keep doing what you're doing." After she let a considerable amount of time pass and he hadn't seemed to make much progress she decided to intervene.
"Hey Sasuke." When the Uchiha merely grunted in response; she decided to continue. "Do you want to listen to some music while we work?" Sakura was hoping that it would help to sooth his irritation.
"Sure."
She let out a soft sigh as a small smile pulled her plump lips upwards. Sakura walked over to the small radio that sat on a table adjacent to them before turning to look at him once more. "Is it okay if we listen to some Christmas music? It was always a tradition in my family that we listened to Christmas music while decorating the tree."
"Sure...," she watched as the dark-haired male suddenly paused; hands frozen as they held the lights tightly before Sasuke's dark orbs grew sad. The moment only lasted for a split second but she was still able to feel his pain all the same. His final response came out as a low whisper. "...it was mine as well."
Sakura let the moment go; knowing it wasn't the time and place to discuss his sudden change in mood.
The pinkette busied herself with working on the radio for a minute until she found the station that she had been searching for and then turned the volume up slightly so that the soft melody would reach them where they worked; allowing the atmosphere to be filled with the soothing sounds of White Christmas. Sakura hummed and swayed her curvaceous hips to the music as she began to organize the ornaments once more and when she felt his dark gaze upon her, almost the entire time, she tried to ignore the way that it made her body heat, in favor of finishing her task without too much distraction. Once Sakura was done, she turned and noticed that Sasuke had managed to make some progress with the lights but was halted by a particularly nasty looking knot. She walked over to him again before taking a seat next to him on the plush sofa. Her small hands reached out to silently aid him; he didn't protest this time and soon they had finished untangling the long strands with relative ease considering what they had been working with. Sasuke turned slightly towards her; intent on thanking thank his partner but paused when their noses brushed.
Her bright, green eyes widened significantly as they locked onto his dark orbs...
...her pale cheeks heated and then darkened in color...
...her small hands clinched into tight fist where they rested in her lap...
...her poor heart was pounding erratically behind her ribcage.
He leaned in towards her...
...and when her plump, pink lips parted slightly...
...she felt the light brush of his own against hers.
Sakura was completely stunned at first; unable to react to his actions due to the shock running through her body. Soon though, Sakura found herself tentatively returning the kiss; allowing her eyelids to flutter closed slowly as she leaned into him gently; he did the same.
It was full of passion yet at the same time it was also tender.
It was firm yet somehow, at the same time, it was light and soft.
It was everything that she had hoped it would be; everything that she had remembered from past experience.
It was absolutely... perfect; for a second time, first kiss that is.
The warm, tight feeling in her lower region began to grow the longer that they remained joined at the lips and she felt herself reach up to grasp onto the front of his shirt with a fierce, firm grip as Sasuke moved one of his large hands to press lightly against her heated cheek. She heard him groan softly, the sound familiar, as he turned to face her fully; his thigh pressing against hers as his other hand came up to rest on the opposite side of her neck from where his other cupped her cheek.
Sakura felt ALIVE.
She felt hot; all over her entire body.
But most of all (and more importantly); Sakura Haruno felt... loved; cherished.
Sakura could feel the love; feel all of the pent-up passion coming from him where he continued to touch her.
Sakura could feel Sasuke's desperation for her to understand exactly how much he still loved her in that kiss; as strange as that might sound.
Maybe it was because they knew each other so well... even after being apart for so many years. The pinkette still wasn't sure, but she did know that she truly wanted to be with this man... for the rest of her life. But she kept going back to the same thing; was she willing to fully let go of the past just yet...
She couldn't fight it anymore. She couldn't keep bringing it up if she really wanted this. Sakura felt in her heart that she was ready to forgive and forget and start anew with him. Dredging up the past would only ever bring them both pain and they couldn't move on if she didn't simply let go.
His tongue distracted her by brushing her bottom lip tentatively; silently asking to deepen the kiss...
Sakura slowly opened her mouth wider; giving the Uchiha permission to enter her wet cavern...
... he gladly and eagerly accepted her invitation as he allowed their tongues to dance between the before entering her mouth to get a taste of her.
'Oh, gods yes, I'm definitely ready. I want him, I want this... if he'll have me. I feel so... alive when I'm with him. It feels so... right; just like the old days.'
The young couple was soon, and unexpectedly, interrupted when a small, bright flash of light followed by a low sounding click came from the opposite side of the room. Sakura quickly jerked away from Sasuke; putting a large amount of space between them as they both turned their heads, only to spot her mother standing in the doorway... camera in hand and a huge smile on her face. Her mom placed a hand over her heart and Sakura saw the beginning of tears forming in the corners of her eyes.
'Oh, dear lord. She's going to be so... dramatic.'
"You two are just so cute," she cooed as she held a small picture in front of her eyes; inspecting the photo closely. "This one is definitely going on the cover of your wedding album."
"MOTHER!" Sakura was completely mortified at this point; her cheeks turning a bright shade of red. She placed her small hands over her face in an attempt try and hide her embarrassment. Sakura's mom only waved her hand dismissively as she continued to look at them with a wide, knowing grin.
"Now, now dear. No need to be embarrassed by young love. It's only natural for young people to engage in such conduct when passion takes over them. Though, I do request that if you plan on having sex, please do so in the privacy of one of your rooms. We don't want to soil the couch."
"Oh, dear god, mother! Just stop talking!" Sakura sunk into the cushion further and wished that the floor would open up and swallow her whole. She somehow got the nerve to peak at Sasuke; only to find him staring at her with a wide smirk.
'Oh no... he better not do what I think he's going to do. He's not going to...'
"We will be sure to do that, Mrs. Haruno. I want to apologize for our current behavior. We simply got caught up in the moment and didn't pay attention to our surroundings." Which she had to admit was the honest to god's truth; but still...
She huffed and folded her arms over her chest in irritation before her lips pulled down into a small pout. "Not you too Sasuke. Ugh, the two of you are absolutely horrible."
"But you still love us anyway," Sasuke teased her as he elbowed her gently in the side of her ribs. She rolled her eyes at him but decided to play along; elbowing him back as she glared 'angrily' at him.
"Maybe I do... but then again... maybe I don't."
"Anyway," her mother spoke up, interrupting their light banter; they both returned their attention to the older woman and gave her a sheepish look. "I just came in here to tell you both that supper will be ready in about an hour. If you can get done with the tree before then, that would be great but if not, you can just finish it up when we are done eating. I'll just be going now you two but remember what I said. The bedroom is just down the hall."
'Ugh! Why is she like this!?'
"We got it Mother. Thank you." Luckily for Sakura her mom left soon after; but the awkwardness for her still remained and she refused to meet the man's dark eyes as he turned to look at her once again. "Why in the world did you go along with her ridiculousness, Sasuke?"
"Would you rather I have been rude?" Sasuke's thin lips twitched as he desperately tried to hold back his laughter. He loved to tease her and this time was no exception; Sakura's discomfort at her mother's suggestion was entertaining to him.
"...well, I guess not...," she stuttered as her cheeks darkened once again. "...but I just..."
Sasuke sighed and closed his eyes briefly before deciding to interrupt her. "Look, Sakura. I'm not going to sugar coat anything for you; not now. You know that I love you. I want us to be together again... if you will have me that is. You know that I am truly and deeply sorry for the hurt and pain that I caused you but... like I've said before, it will only ever be you for me. I can't see myself being with anyone else. I don't want to live without you, not anymore. If you feel the same way... then...," Sasuke paused; unable to continue as his throat tightened.
"Just... give me a little bit of time Sasuke," she said with a soft smile. "Yes, I love you too. But I want to take things slowly this time around. I want us to do things the right way. I don't want to rush this." Sakura tucked a loose strand of pink hair behind her ears as she finally met his eyes.
"I understand," Sasuke said as he reached out to grasp her small hand before giving it a gentle and reassuring squeeze.
"...I mean I want to be with you...," she confirmed as she gave his own larger hand a small squeeze before giggling nervously. "Hell, to be completely honest with you, I think that I want to marry you and have kids with you someday before we grow old together and then..."
He grasped her free hand to cut off her rambling and she watched as he slowly brought it up to press a gentle kiss to each of her knuckles; his dark eyes staring intensely into hers the entire time.
She felt herself swallow; hard.
Sakura knew then that he understood; she didn't have to finish her wayward thoughts.
Without her continuing to explain herself, Sasuke understood; just like he had been able to do so in the past.
The connection between them was still there... and as strong as ever it seemed.
She was grateful for this fact and smiled shyly up at him while meeting his gaze through her thick, dark lashes. "Let's finish with the tree so that we can go eat. I'm starving." His lips pulled up into a gentle smile as he looked back at her.
"Hai."
Author's Notes:
(Sasusaku au. Sakura is a very, very forgiving person in this fanfic just a heads up and it is a little fast pace. I hope you still like it anyway. I will most likely go back and improve this short story in the future but for now I hope you enjoy it as is.)
Note: Sakura is very influenced by her love for Sasuke. She is also a very forgiving person so I feel it effects most of her decisions to so readily forgive him; especially since it's not like he cheated on her or anything! That would be unforgivable in my books!
.
.
.
If any of these sound like your own writing or another you have read I apologize but I didn't copy anyone's work. This is entirely my own writing.
