Hello there blossoms! It's been awhile, yet again. I've had this insane writer's block for the longest time I couldn't seem to get out of but I did and rewrote this chapter and am very pleased with how it turned out so hopefully, you will too.

Some of you that have read my other fanfic may know that I've been really active for the past month now. I think I've updated about 7-8 times alone in the past 3 weeks but then again I haven't kept count, but I know it's a lot to the point where It's surpassed this book in the number of chapters. Now that my other children are well fed with content it's time for me to do the same here too. Originally I wasn't planning on uploading this chapter because I wanted to upload 3-4 chapters at once but I've concluded I've made you guys wait too long for a chapter so this is the least I could do while I get ready to upload multiple chapters soon. Thank you for waiting and being so patient with me! For as long as I am alive, I do not plan on discontinuing this fanfic. I WILL finish it no matter how long it takes me which I don't think will take me very long at all. I hope to finish this fanfic within this year along with my other one.

clestourgeon31: Sorry to make you wait so long :) I hope you enjoy ^_^

Guest that reviewed chap 1: Oh I know, the format is extremely annoying now that I've tried to read it myself and I will be changing it soon. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Arila93: If you hadn't said you weren't a native English speaker I would have thought English was your first language lol. It's okay, your English is exceptional and I appreciate your review. I'm glad you think the characters are well rounded and just the right fit because that was what I was going for. I am aware that my grammatical errors in previous chapters are disastrous, I've improved much more over these past few months and plan on re-editing soon. (Honestly, how could you guys read that? oh my goodness, I cringe.) So I understand why you'd rate it a 7/10. I will most definitely continue and this story will not be one of those fanfics that remain unfinished. I think I'd probably rip my own hair out xD

Disclaimer: Naruto and its characters are not mine, they belong to the great Kishimoto and his genius mind for blessing us with them and all that good stuff.

Happy reading! It's kind of long ;P ~Ren

~* Sakura, when I see it all hit the ground my heart gets weak

'Cause that dream that you and I had made it still so clear in me

and I wonder if that day will come where we can make it real..

Baby, will, I ever... see you?

Sakura, will I breathe again? *~ Sakura By Che'Nelle (English Version)

Chapter 16: Sakura Festival

SAKURA HAD NO IDEA WHERE Sasuke Uchiha was taking her, but she didn't question him when he told her to get ready and wear a kimono. It had been after the dinner she made them. He had done his dimension checks (which took him an hour or so) and while he had done that Sakura took it upon herself to make dinner. She also wondered how to break it to said Uchiha that majority of the INN heard them-her-last night and knew what they had been doing. She wanted to bring it up first lest he was confronted by someone else about it (No one would be so bold but Sakura wanted to take precautions) so, in a way, as this was her 'We're-married-now-and-I'd -like-for-you-to-taste-my-cooking' it was also her 'Don't-be-angry-about-others-knowing-of-our-sex-life-and-potentially-fatally-injure-them' type of dinner and it went a little something like this...

The sound of the front door of their INN room opening alerted the Pink Kunoichi of her husband's arrival. She hastily made sure all was in place, the pillows for them to sit on for the miniature table and the candles illuminating the soft and just right amount of light so it will be easy on Sasuke's eyes. They weren't in the danger of going blind if he used his special abilities too much but now if he used it excessively it'll put a strain on his eyes where it tended to be annoying so she wanted to make it easier for him. That and it set the mood. After last night...she..her body yearned for Sasuke yet again, it couldn't get enough of them being joined. Not only did it feel good pleasure wise but it also made her feel like as if their spirits were one as well and it was a feeling she couldn't ever get tired of. Maybe it was because they were newlyweds, maybe it was because they experienced sex and their bodies wanted that again and again until it had their fill either way...she just wanted to experience it again.

Did this make her a nympho? If she ever told Ino how she felt this very moment she'd never hear the end of it!

"What are you blushing about?.."

Sasuke's voice made Sakura jump a bit, she had gotten lost in the memories of last night and forgot about the reality where he had come in. She shakes her head of her unknowing blush and goes to kiss him on the cheek as a greeting. He was very much taking in the scene and there was almost a familiarity on his face she could make out. This was his first time coming home (well..it wasn't exactly their home home) to someone waiting for him, his wife, now his family and now a cooked meal. A meal that he hadn't had to cook himself and was already prepared for him. Sakura's eyes softened at the rare but small look of vulnerability on his face that was only lasted a few seconds and was then graced with the tiniest smile.

"I'm home.."

Sakura's eyes brightened at hearing that for the first time, it felt so refreshing. Her eyes glistened but didn't well with tears as she said: "Welcome home."

She took off his black cloak and wrapped it around herself, it smelled like Sasuke and there was something about that still made this whole thing feel like a dream. Sasuke raised a brow in amusement but didn't comment, if anything..he liked it on her. She gestured towards the table "I've made dinner...I've only started cooking recently but I wanted to do this for you."

"Sakura...you didn't have to-"

"But I do! I mean..I want to." She met Sasuke's slightly widened eyes with her determined ones. "It's another way of showing you I care and love you. So..let me do this..for you" Sasuke looked at her for a long time before his features softened and he bent down, cupped her cheek with one of his hands and pressed a tender, chaste kiss to her lips. "Arigatou.." Sakura's blush was back and her eyes were twinkling with happiness.

A few moments later...

"...Sakura..."

The sanin student perked up and she was sure if she was a dog her ears would be pointed inattention and her tail wagging with anticipation. She had been silently awaiting his feedback on her cooking when he took a bite out of his riceball wrapped in seaweed and dipped it in soy sauce. She had kept her attention on her plate and while their silence wasn't exactly uncomfortable it was charged with the weight of Sasuke's judgment and Sakura's curiosity. When he said her name she looked up to see his plate wiped of food and it's only been about 5 minutes give or take.

"This meal was..."

Incredible? Satisfying? Delicious? Exquisite?

"Decent"

Sakura nearly lost her balance from standing up on her knees and fell over. Her cheeks puffed as she pouted, it wasn't exactly the response she was looking for but at least it wasn't terrible and he was being honest. Sasuke silently chuckled to himself at seeing her pout and displeased face and beckoned her near with his finger. She glanced at him, did a double take, her pout disappeared as she leaned over the table to brace herself for his lips. Instead, she felt two fingers against the mark on her forehead and she blinked at the soft face of her beloved. "Practice more. I'll help you." Sakura grinned. She liked the idea of them doing something together "Hai! o-oh.. and um..." her face turned a slight shade of pink as she peered at her husband sheepishly. "I've found out that...the whole INN heard me last night and now they all know of what we were doing..." she had expected Sasuke to glare and his eye to twitch but instead he 'hmm'd', closed his eyes and a small smirk settled on his face. She shrieked at the triumph, smug look on his face. "Sasuke!"

"Get dressed. We're leaving soon" was all he said before taking their dishes to the sink.

And here she was going through her bag until she realized the only kimono she owned was that of her traditional bridal kimono. She certainly couldn't wear that one. She'll have to go to the clothing shop downstairs to see if they had any. "Sasuke! I'll be back, I'm going downstairs to see if they have any kimonos!"

"No need," he said from the kitchen. "Huh?" she cocked her head and he went to the closet and pulled out an elegant black kimono adorned with pink cherry blossoms.

"O-oh" Sakura gasps in awe, words escaping her. She's never expected Sasuke to buy her anything much less a dress. Another pleasant surprise. A soft smile made way to her face as she took the smooth silk-like fabric in her hands and held it close to her, "It's lovely, thank you"

Sasuke couldn't keep his eyes on her cute grateful face without feeling the need to blush so he (almost bashfully if Sakura didn't know any better) looked away and cleared his throat, "Yeah..."

While she went to go get ready, Sasuke put on the proper clothing for the festival but an attire particularly simple. He didn't care much for his wear, he wanted Sakura to stand out. The festival 'is' named after her. And not because her name translated into 'Cherry Blossom' in Japanese, but also because the festival was dedicated in her honor.

"To the legendary woman who cured my daughter's disease she's been burdened to deal with for years, Sakura Haruno, this festival is named after and goes to her. May she come and visit again soon one day." rejoiced a happy father-who seemed to be the leader of this small village-addressing the crowd huddled around him as he announced the first 'Sakura Festival ever' with a little girl clinging to his side who no doubt must be the cured little girl. Sasuke had come to town to replenish his tools and look for specific weapons while Sakura had been back at the INN bathing (unbeknownst to him until he returned) and Sasuke made it his personal mission to fulfill these peoples' wishes and knew a festival was something Sakura would thoroughly enjoy. He'd like to see the smile he'd know she'd have on her face.

"Okay, done!" announced Sakura as she exited the bathroom. Sasuke peeked at her and was about to look away when his eyes didn't move, they stayed glued on her, he couldn't look away. Sakura's hair was curled in soft waves and a side of her hair was being held back by a cherry blossom clip. She wore light make up that he wouldn't have noticed was there had he not been examining her closely. Her lips were colored a light pink to match her hair and the blossoms on her dress and she did something to her eyes to make them look bigger and her eyelashes fuller. Lastly, she held onto a small black hand purse and that was it. She didn't do much or take very long at all but...still..she looked...

Sakura was a bit concerned, her husband looked..traumatized? entranced? hypnotized? Hard to tell, she's never seen this look on his face before. What she could tell was that she caught him off guard by her appearance, she just didn't know whether it was a good or bad reaction.

Maybe her look was too bland.

Maybe she should have applied more make-up, done something more with her hair perhaps.

Sasuke could tell his wife was beginning to overthink her appearance and he 'hmphed' and lightly brushed his lips against her forehead. They lingered there for a few moments before he pulled away and tipped her chin up si her emerald irises could meet his obsidian ones.

"You're beautiful...now let's go"

Sakura's eyes gleamed with a few unshed unnecessary happy tears she rapidly blinked away and her smile widened, "Hai! let's go"

"This looks familiar...I'm sure I've been in this village before" commented Sakura as her feet just touched the ground and she unwound herself from Sasuke's grip around her waist. Instead of walking there they teleported via Sasuke's eyes. It'd be hard to jump from tree to tree by foot in a kimono and this village was a little farther than a decent walking distance.

"Have you?.." Sasuke states more than asks.

"Yeah.." her eyes turned inward as she relived being here a few months ago. "I hope Hatori is alright now.." she says more to herself than anyone else. Sasuke glanced at her, she was very much worried about the girl and wanted to see her again. "If she lives here, she'll turn up soon."

Sakura smiled a little, "I suppose you're right. Let's enjoy ourselves."

They had to admit, this place was breathtaking. 'Still' thought Sakura. On her way home from a mission, she passed this small village and was drawn to it by the many cherry blossoms around it so she settled in for the night in hopes to tour around it the next day since reporting back to Kakashi (the Hokage at the time) wasn't much important and she could do so via a scroll and a bird. So tour she did but she soon realized that many of the civilians stayed indoors. Some people with shops explained to her that the cherry blossoms caused allergic reactions but only for people in this village and no one knew why. They were adamant about leaving their serenity and thus endured it by wearing masks and staying inside. It occurred to Sakura that a strong genjutsu was placed on the cherry blossom petals so when they fell they caused the civilians to get sick. The kunoichi simply released the genjustu from each tree, she doesn't know how long it's been there or why but it was easy enough to get rid of and didn't go asking questions.

All she told them was that she was a specialized medical ninja and has handled the situation so they could go outside. When they heard of her name they instantly knew of her reputation and pleaded they look at their lord's daughter. Sakura couldn't pass up helping so she did and as usual, all turned out well and the girl had a disease that they had recently developed a cure for. She set out again and promised the admiring little girl she'd come again one day to see how she was doing.

And now she was back and at the...

"Ne..Sasuke-kun? What is the name of this festival?"

"The Sakura Festival" he answers as he puts a hand on her lower back to guide her around the many people that did double takes and stared. They definitely recognized Sakura, soon the whole village will know of her return.

'Oh, that makes sense. Cherry blossoms and all' Sakura thinks to herself. It was that time of year for them too, it was the perfect bloom where they also lost a lot of their petals but seemed to keep regenerating until the fall.

They wandered around to each booth and like Sasuke suspected, almost every person recognized her and praised her and asked how she was doing. She and the person would chat animatedly for a bit and then Sakura would introduce Sasuke. If it was a girl they'd certainly size him up and give him admirable if not longing looks (to which he give them blank stares back) until Sakura said that he was her husband and some would fall back completely and some continued to give him subtle looks. Looks that he ignored and kept his eyes on his wife. It wasn't only the women that have done this, men perked up at seeing her-while cautiously sparing him a glance- and were 'extra' friendly. It wasn't soo much the friendliness that bothered Sasuke but the sugary almost seductive like tone in their voice. Sasuke would give them death glares (glares that Sakura never noticed) and they would cease and then also back up when Sakura introduced them and Sakura smirked at their crestfallen faces. They spent time playing the various games, all the games they won due to Sakura's strength or Sasuke's precise accuracy in hitting targets. It paid in their favor that they were also ninjas.

Sakura enthusiastically dragged them both from booth to booth, oblivious to the attention and curiosity their presence and them being together was drawing. He was content to watching her have fun and seeing her eyes light up at things she found amusing like cherry blossom shaped rice balls and cherry blossom shaped marshmallows covered in a strawberry syrup. Many things were cherry blossom inspire including lanterns with cherry blossoms on them, a fan with blossoms on it that Sasuke won for her at one of the booths, and jewelry and accessories. Soon, the pulled away from the festivities and headed towards the bunch of cherry blossom trees placed in an artistic way.

There was a bridge Sakura had been eyeing, a shallow clear blue river that sparkled in the moonlight flowed beneath it with koi fish. The cherry blossom trees lined together on both sides of the edge of the river, their trunks curving over the bridge so the branches covered with cherry blossoms overshadowed the bridge. The bridge floor was coated with blossoms, all they saw was pink but it was so beautiful. More of the blossoms continued to fall from its branches and Sakura twirled in the middle.

"Sasuke look! It's so pretty, I wish we had a camera"

What Sakura didn't know was that Sasuke did have a camera. He's been taking a few pictures of her when she wasn't paying attention and he had his sharingan all night also so he can visualize this experience again just in case he has to leave her for awhile. His mission wouldn't ever be over until he was sure any threats to the life have been vanquished and who knows how long that could be but Sakura couldn't stay with him on this journey forever. So he'll cherish the time they did have together and make sure each memory was memorable.

A tiny voice from behind him gasped and Sasuke glanced at the little girl he's noticed cling to her father the last time he was here. She wasn't looking at him but the person beyond him. "Sakura-san! you came back! I'm all better now, see?" the girl runs up to the pink haired kunoichi.

"Hatori!" she picked up the small girl, most likely the age of 6 and twirled her around, Hatori letting out gleeful giggles until she was put down. "It's so nice to see you again. You look much better now I see. Have you been a good little girl?"

While the two chatted, Sasuke was aware of the creepy intuitive old lady with the knowing glint in her eyes beside him. He grunted uncomfortably. "You're everywhere." for an old lady he doesn't know how she could be at so many places in her frail condition and he was always slower than usual when detecting her presence.

"Lovely wife you've got there," she says with a secretive smile.

"Yes.." let it be known he's never told her he's had a wife. She just always...knew things. It reminded him of his grandmother and how she got weird sometimes and seemed to know everything she shouldn't have been able to know. The same applied to this woman and the similarity was so uncanny it made him uncomfortable. He's tried to rationalize her know-it-all behavior on how she might be part of the Yamanaka Clan with the ability to invade people's minds and she might have a special technique but she was not a ninja. Not an ounce of chakra in her.

"May I?" she asks. Sasuke pursed his lips as she referred to Sakura who was now speaking with the lord and then gesturing to him. He simply nods and as the lord and little girl bid their farewells Sakura came back up to him. "The lord gave me a cherry blossom necklace and an assurance that everything is free for us when we come to visit" She sweat drops and then looks around him. "I saw an old lady with you..where did she go? Did you know her?"

Sasuke grunts and narrows his eyes behind her. Sakura followed his eyes and nearly lept out of her of her skin when she saw the piercing blue eyes of the old lady. How'd she? Sakura didn't even feel her- it was like she was a ghost popping up out of nowhere. The old lady took Sakura's hand in both of hers and after awhile smiled. "You'll be a great mother one day," she stepped back and bowed to both of them. "I wish you both well" and then she left.

This left them in a funny silence. Sakura blinked once, twice, thrice. "T-that was..."

"Creepy" Sasuke deadpans.

Sakura shook off the weird encounter and took Sasuke's hands in hers. She knew he wasn't one for showing public affection, he's barely touched her all night but no one was around now and she figured he wouldn't mind. He didn't. She sat them down on a nearby bench still on the bridge and leaned her head on his shoulder. Sasuke relaxed into her closeness and touch.

"I don't think I've had this much fun in a long time," She smiled with her eyes closed. "Tonight was perfect. Specifically, because I was with you"

"Hmm..." Sasuke leaned his head against hers.

"You know...there was a time that felt like this, except it was in the daytime, where I wanted you to kiss me. Naruto had cloned himself to look like you so I didn't notice but at the time I didn't think anything it could be more romantic...I was wrong." Taking his face in her hands she whispers " You'll never know how much you mean to me. I love you more than words can describe..let's stay together forever, okay?"

Sasuke put his hand over one of hers, his expression tender and affectionate. His heart warmed and fluttered. "Even when we're no longer on this earth" he promises and meets his lips with hers. She sighs in content and leans into him, moving her lips against his in a love filled kiss.

She used the fan he won for her and opened it to shield their kiss from any onlookers that might be passing by. And they continued to kiss, under stars, under the moonlight, under the cherry blossoms with the sound of others enjoying the Sakura Festival all around them.

This..was certainly a night to remember.

A/N: Please review and let me know what you guys think so far! I appreciate every single one of them and they brighten my day ^.^

After this fanfic is done I kind of want to do a SasuSaku if there was no Uchiha massacre, that seems like it would be an interesting storyline but I dunno...we'll see.

Next up is a three month time jump! ;) what do you think is going to happen next? See you!v~Ren