"Zip me up," she stands with her back to me, hair brushed aside, leaving her long neck bare for my eyes. I run a finger lightly along the dip of her spine.
"Wha-?" she almost jumps, turning around, "I'm getting late, Sasuke. What will Mum and Dad think?"
"What's there to think? I'm sure they know what exactly you've been doing here with me."
I didn't mean to tease her, it was rather a normal statement on my part, no implied meanings. But the look on her face is priceless. I turn her around, zipping her up.
"Where did you get dressed up yesterday?"
"At my place. Why?"
"Did Sarada zip you up then?"
My comment hits the mark as intended. She stays silent for a while. And although I can only see her back, I can tell she's fumbling with the loose strands of her hair.
"I'm not trying to seduce you if that's what you're thinking. It's not easy, zipping myself up."
"Of course it's not," I grab her shoulders and turn her to face me once more, "That's why I'm very happy to lend you a hand with zips. Up or down. Feel free to request my services whenever you want."
She frowns at me. Then a mischievous smile plays on her lips. Letting me know she's up to something.
"Then," she puts her arms around my neck, her green eyes holding my gaze, "Would you zip me up for work tomorrow?"
What?
"Come to my place, Sasuke."
"Eh?"
"Come live with us."
"You're asking me to move in?"
"Yes. And no. It doesn't have to be so big, you know. Just pack the things you'll need for now and come. Like going on a trip. You don't have to hire a moving company and pack boxes."
It reminds me of the time I had moved in with her back then. Packed a bag and left home. Just like that.
"Guess I could do that," I tangle my fingers in her hair.
"Sarada will be so happy."
"And you?"
She pulls me into a kiss instead of answering with words. A long kiss, tangling her tongue with mine, discovering every corner of my mouth.
"What do you think?"
"I'm not sure. I think you're just trying to get into my pants."
"Really?" she pouts, although I know it's only an act, "Then don't come."
"I like you trying to get into my pants though."
Her face turns red. I LOVE this duality of her, flirty yet shy.
"Good thing I grabbed a handful of condoms this morning."
"But we have to be careful. Sarada will be there," she moves in front of the mirror, combing her hair, "We're parents after all."
"If you think about it," I sit upon the bed, "It's because we did those things that we became parents. It's almost like a paradox."
She rolls her eyes at me through the mirror.
"I'll give you my key."
"What if you get there first? I have to pack."
"It's fine. My neighbour has a spare key. For emergencies."
"Cool. Then, I'll do dinner shopping on my way."
She giggles.
"What?"
"Nothing," she shakes her head, casually putting on my perfume, "It's just... When you said it like that, you sounded so husband-like."
Well...
"Hurry. Why are you sitting there? Pack up."
"So wife-like of you."
She scowls.
.
.
.
I am the first one to arrive. It doesn't surprise me since I took a cab, to avoid unnecessary hassles. I get changed and decide to wash the vegetables till Sakura and Sarada returns.
It's not long before I hear the lock open and Sarada's chattering. We decided to surprise her. So, I made sure to hide my shoes and turn off the lights. I wait for them to get inside before peeking from the kitchen.
"PAPA!" with her eyes round as tennis balls, Sarada runs to me.
There's no feeling, no feeling in this world more satisfying than seeing your child happy at the mere sight of you.
"Papa!"
I pick her up.
"Mama, it's Papa!"
"Yes, Mama. It's Papa. He's going to stay here."
"Papa will stay?" she asks me. Voice dripping with excitement.
"Yes, Sarada. I'm staying."
She giggles and throws her arms around me. I wrap her little body tighter in my embrace.
Sarada's enthusiasm entertains both of us as she tries to drag my suitcase into her room. When it turns out a little too heavy for her, she takes my laptop bag instead. Keeping it carefully on her table. She reminds me of Sakura when I had moved in with her all those years ago.
Her excitement continues on the dinner table. She just can't stop talking, giving me a never ending list of all the things she's going to do with me.
"Sarada, don't talk with food in your mouth," Sakura has to remind her once again, "You'll choke."
Once I'm changed, Sarada runs to me.
"Papa, toothpaste."
"Thank you, Sarada," I pat her head. I've never seen her this excited before. It's like she cannot figure out what to do, how to act.
I watch us in the mirror, all dressed in our sleepwear, brushing our teeth. And it finally dawns upon me that I'm here. I'm here with them, not like a visitor, but as family. I've been here for dinner before but I never stayed the night. I was always leaving. But I won't be. Not anymore.
Sakura and I had our plans of course, but it turns out, Sarada did too. And when she turns up at our door, asking if she can sleep here with us, with those puppy eyes, we just can't refuse her. And honestly, I think it's fine, we've got enough action since yesterday. Well, maybe not enough, 'cause I'm not sure there's any enough when it comes to sex with Sakura. But anyway, tonight it feels perfect to have Sarada tucked between the two of us. The picture feels like it's complete.
.
.
.
"Good morning," Sakura greets me as I'm making coffee in the kitchen.
"Morning. Want coffee?"
"Ah. Yes. Thank you."
After that, we get busy. Our weekday mornings are enslaved by the clock.
"Sasuke, can you wake Sarada up? Breakfast is almost ready."
"Ok-"
"No wait! You check the rice instead. It's Monday."
"What's wrong with Monday?"
"Ah. You see, I'm home for two days and then on Monday I'm going to work again. So, she acts extra clingy."
With that, she rushes to the bedroom.
When she appears again, Sarada is in her arms, still half asleep, face tucked in Sakura's shoulder, hands wrapped around her neck.
"Look, Sarada, what is this?" Sakura takes her in front of the stove, to give her a view of the frying pan. "Who wants fried rice?"
"Mayonnaise," Sarada watches the food and then demands in a sleepy voice.
"I already added mayonnaise."
"More."
"More?"
Sarada nods.
"Oh," Sakura turns to me, "Sasuke, can you give me the mayonnaise from the fridge?"
Hearing my name, Sarada turns her face to me, blinking as if confused.
"Papa?"
"Good morning Sarada," I push the unruly bedhair from her face and kiss her forehead.
Did she forget I was here?
She extends her arms towards me. I take her from Sakura.
"Sarada, how about you go brush your teeth with Papa? Then you can eat your fired rice."
Sarada nods.
Today, she eats her food pretty fast, not talking much. Leaving the table before Sakura and me and going to her room to get dressed. Sakura already had her outfit ready.
"That was fast."
"Maybe she was hungry."
"Yeah. Maybe," Sakura just nods and continues eating.
We get ready to leave. Sakura's workplace is close by, unlike mine. But she has to make a stop at her parents' to drop Sarada. It's on her way.
Coming out to the entranceway, I don't see my shoes. I look around, check the shoe cabinet, but they're nowhere in sight.
"Sakura, did you put my shoes away?"
"What?" she turns up while buttoning her yellow floral printed shirt. Too bad I didn't get to zip her up today. But anyway, it's unzipping her that I enjoy more.
"My shoes. Can't find them."
"Where did you put them?"
"Here?"
"Then it should be here," she looks around.
Both of us search, but by some miracle, my shoes that I clearly remember putting here, are gone.
"Wait a minute!" Sakura runs back inside.
Confused, I follow after.
She walks to the couch, where Sarada is playing with her plushie and sits on the floor in front of her.
"Sarada," she speaks very gently, holding her little hands, "Did you hide Papa's shoes?"
Sarada stares at her for a while, then slowly nods.
What?
Why?
"Papa is going. Sarada does not want Papa to go," a sad look on her face.
My heart squeezes in pain. It's because she isn't accustomed to having me in her daily life. To her I'm like those special sales that only come during the weekends. Therefore, she's afraid I'll leave and won't come back again. That's why in her four year old childish mind, she came up with the idea of hiding my shoes in order to make me stay.
"Sarada," Sakura pulls her into a hug, rubbing her back gently, "Papa is only going to work. Like me. He'll come back in the evening. So, please give Papa's shoes back. He's getting late."
Sarada pulls out my shoes from under the couch. Handing them over to Sakura with a guilty look on her face.
"Is Sarada a bad girl, Mama?"
"What? No Mama. You're a very good girl," Sakura cups her little face in her hands.
I walk to her.
"Sarada," I know it might leave creases on my shirt, but I pick her up in my arms anyway, and wipe away the tears from her face, "You're not a bad girl."
She watches me like she's about to cry again.
"And like Sakura said, I'll come back. From now on, I'll always come back here. I'll be together with you and Mama."
"Papa promise?"
"Promise."
She finally looks relieved, like she believes me.
"Do you want me to pick you up on my way home?"
"But Sasuke-"
"It's fine, Sakura. I can manage. Do you want me to pick you up Sarada?"
"Yes!"
"Okay then, I'll pick you up from Grandma and Grandpa's place and we'll return home together. Happy?"
"Yesss!" she smiles brightly, putting all her tiny teeth on show.
We walk to the main road together, very much like the old days. Just this time, Sarada is with us.
"Bye bye Papa," Sarada bids me goodbye with a wave of her hand and a happy smile on her face. She looks unbearably cute in her baby pink dungarees and matching hairband. I always feel like someone might try to kidnap her someday.
"Bye Sarada. See you, Sakura."
"See you, Sasuke."
They wait at the bus stop as I head towards the train station.
I made a promise to Sarada. The promise I didn't make to Sakura yet. At least verbally. The promise to stay together from now on. And I'll gladly spend the rest of my life keeping it.
I had never wanted to part from them in the first place.
Note: Hi, I turn twenty five today. As someone with severe death anxiety, I don't know if I'm supposed to freak out about getting older but I truly don't. I don't associate death with old age, I've seen many young people, much younger than me lose their lives and I always wonder why it was them and not me. So, I think getting old is a privilege and I'm rather happy about turning twenty five.
So, anyway, hope y'all are alright. This fic will be over in I guess two more chapters.
Lots of love,
June ❤️
[29.06.2020]