Love is War

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Chapter Fourteen

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DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO

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A few days passed by and Sasuke had proved to be nothing short of a lifesaver again and again. Kabuto had dropped by, bringing more supplies and medication, even examining my wounds. I was surprised though when he mentioned how impressed he was with how well I was caring for my injuries. Of course, I wasn't willing to admit to him that it was Sasuke tending to my wounds and not myself.

He had a knack for these things it seemed. Ever since that first night, he'd taken it upon himself to thoroughly and carefully clean the wounds on my shoulder and my thigh where when I bathed, I didn't have to bother with those areas and my pain had greatly decreased since his care had begun.

Every time, I was still amazed at how gentle he was, how skillful. Even Kabuto hadn't been able to keep my pain level so low during a cleaning. It was honestly a relieving experience and now, I looked forward to him helping me. I felt much closer to him and more appreciative than I would have before the incident.

I was trying to change after all.

After Kabuto's visit, I learned that the wounds were healing well and as long as we continued to care for them in the same way, I should be back to normal in another couple weeks at the most. I couldn't wait. In other good news, since my pain levels had dropped I didn't have to take as much pain meds and thanks to that, I could have more alcohol.

Surprisingly enough, it was now myself who was keeping my drinks at a minimum. Sasuke watched me closely, even as more days passed and I knew he worried about me- all my men did. Out of my respect for them, and the need to keep myself in good health, I only had a drink on occasion. Sometimes a few times a day, but nothing close to how I drank before.

Sasuke picked up on even the smallest things. He was always next to me unless I was bathing or sleeping, and even then, he was still nearby. He never stopped watching me. Those beautiful and seemingly endless dark pools followed my every move. I didn't even hate that I loved every minute of it anymore. I just looked for it, craved it, admired it.

Today, it had been an entire week since Sasuke and I had started staying at my place. Half the day was already gone and I was feeling pretty lazy so all I'd been doing for the past half hour was laying around on my stomach on the couch. It was really the only way I could lay to keep any weight off of my wounds and I was comfortable like this.

Every time I breathed in I was rapt in Sasuke's scent and it was so soothing, so calming that even though I was half asleep, my eyes kept fluttering open to look as his shoulders and his messy hair. He was sitting on the floor, his back resting against the couch right before my face. He was always so close and yet… I wanted him closer.

I couldn't remember the last time I'd been so calm and at peace. Sasuke was so easy to be around, unlike all my other men. Lately, I hadn't been worried about work at all, I was more stress-free than I had been in a long, long time. Sasuke constantly reminded me that everything was just fine and I needed to worry about myself and nothing more, until finally, I stopped worrying at all.

Absentmindedly, I reached over, my fingers tracing over his vest at his shoulder. Though my touch was light, I knew Sasuke was aware of it and yet he didn't flinch or stiffen. He didn't shy away. My hand found his hair next and my fingers combed through it. For as messy as it was, it was surprisingly soft and tangle-free. I'd wanted to feel it for quite a while now, but I'd never anticipated it feeling so nice.

Just as his head went to lean back against my touch, my alarm system made a sound that notified us someone was at the gate. Sasuke was on his feet in an instant, his gun already in his hand as he moved through the living room and kitchen before I could even say anything.

I rolled my eyes and sighed, finding him impossible. It was understandable, him being on high alert, but sometimes he was just ridiculous with it. It wasn't like anyone was breaking in. They were at the front gate and I was more than certain it was someone determined to steal away my little bit of peace.

Not bothering to move, I laid just as I had been, closing my eyes and remaining relaxed. I just waited, taking in every second of calm I had left before it was disrupted. All too soon it happened, the door that led to the garage opened and instantly a familiar loud voice reached my ears.

"Damn, Sasuke… no bruises, no broken bones… I'm impressed." Naruto laughed.

"It's just that the bastard knows to keep his hands to himself." Sai muttered indifferently.

And so it begins… I groaned as I overheard their words on their way in. I kept my eyes closed, wishing I could pretend to sleep but I knew when I saw them I'd have to question them thoroughly on how things were going at the club.

"Shit, is she sleeping?" Naruto asked in the loudest whisper I'd ever heard.

I opened my eyes to scowl at him. "As if anyone could sleep with your big mouth around."

"Oh, I missed you too." Naruto grinned as they finally all made it into the living room.

I sat up on the couch, looking from Naruto to Sai and then Neji who was with them as well. Sasuke came to sit next to me on the couch before the rest of the guys took a seat as well. A yawn escaped me as I waited for them to brief me on things.

"We wanted to come by and check in on you and I figured you'd want an update on things in person."

"That's right, so let me hear it." While I hadn't been worried up until this point, I had the sudden urge for a drink.

"Everything has been nice and clean. Me and Sai had no problems keeping shit together. Drops have been smoother than ever thanks to there being no more Akatsuki. Our first problem has been Gaara."

"Gaara?" I questioned immediately, my brows pulling together at his statement. There were never problems with Gaara.

"Well, you know how he's always overdoing it." Naruto sighed as he scratched the back of his head.

"The dumbass won't listen to reason." Neji grumbled.

Sai nodded his agreement. "Naruto and I assured him we had things under control, but when the last shipment came in he refused to let us handle the inventory."

"Bastard took over, and I don't know when he was ever sleeping because my bike fucked up and he had to work on it for two days, not counting all the other shit he was doing at the same time. When Lee and Choji got back from their drop last night, they found him collapsed in the garage."

"What the fuck?" I snapped, instantly pissed. I was going to beat him senseless for this- and just when I was trying to turn over a new leaf.

"Now, don't get all worked up. Kabuto has him in the infirmary and says that he's just exhausted. The fucker never sleeps so I knew it would catch up to him eventually."

I shook my head, annoyed by this turn of events. "What else?" I asked, having the bitter feeling that there was more.

"New vests have been spotted on Akatsuki turf. We've been looking out, but for now we can't be sure if they're an upcoming threat or not. Also, there's been talk of feds moving to the area because of some bigshot lawyer getting murdered by a possible mass-murderer. The local law ain't an issue, but the gang agrees that we should cease movement while their around just to be safe."

"Agreed." I nodded. "Move up as many drops as you can before they're set to arrive and then keep a low profile. It would be best to stay off the streets completely until they're gone. If something is needed, send the girls. Stock up good and keep your asses in the club. Out of sight, out of mind."

As long as we didn't give them reason to be suspicious of us we should have nothing to worry about, but the Tasogare weren't a foolish enough group to take unnecessary risks… except for when they'd banded up and came to save my life. There was nothing stopping them that night and I couldn't deny that they executed beautifully, wonderfully and skillfully.

"So, how are you though. Is Sasuke giving you a hard time? Neji is willing to stay if you want a change in… scenery." Sai's eyes were on Sasuke as he spoke.

"Sasuke is just fine. Peaceful and not annoying at all. He listens well and respects my personal space." Sometimes. "So, we're good here."

"Ooh." Naruto's brows started wiggling and since I was unarmed thanks to my overprotective bodyguard, I reached behind him and had his gun in my hand and aimed at Naruto's head before any one of us could even blink.

"Been a little too long since I got to fire a gun for you to try me, bitch."

"Shit, sorry." Naruto held his hands up, chuckling nervously until I handed Sasuke his gun back. "Always so temperamental."

"Just when you piss me off." I spat. "Which you tend to do a lot of."

I was definitely not looking forward to leaving my home and returning to the club when just Naruto needed nothing more than a couple minutes to have me being the bitch I was yet again.

"I need a fucking drink. Are we done here?"

Naruto sighed as he stood. Sai and Neji followed suit. "Yes, and don't worry… I'll let Gaara know you plan to kick his ass."

"Good." I was glad I didn't have to mention it aloud for Naruto to know the message needed to be relayed.

"He misses you, so I'm sure he'll be pleased to hear this information. Not that we all don't miss you, because we do."

"You should…" I smiled then. "And I miss you all too but get the hell out of here. You have a business to run."

"Don't we know it." Sai mumbled and Sasuke stood to show them out.

I sighed in relief once they were gone. I loved my men with every ounce of my being, but right now, there was nothing I craved more than peace and relaxation. I knew they understood and that they wanted the same for me, even if at the same time, they wanted to annoy the shit out of me.

While I was alone, my thoughts were centered on the guys and the club. It had been easy not to worry about things for a few days but now after that visit, I was definitely worrying. Damn Gaara for being such a pain in the ass and just who were these new vests riding around? I hoped they weren't stupid enough to try to cause problems, but if they were we would deal with them effectively. The feds being in town was a problem we didn't need.

Now the entire club would have to be on lock down, and who knew how long this investigation would go on. Business could get fucked up quick, we could even lose some clients, though that was the least of my worries. It wasn't all that likely that we'd lose any buyers and most of them understood the way things worked. Naruto and Sai would tell them things would be down for some time and they'd have the opportunity to buy bulk if they chose to do so.

It would be better for us honestly, if they did. The less shit we had on us with feds around, the better. We had regulations for this type of situation though. For everything I stressed over, I found reason not to stress it too much and yet my mind was whirling. I rolled my eyes to myself and groaned, trying to shake away all those annoying thoughts and then the sight of Sasuke walking towards me, a drink in each hand, made me forget about everything else instantaneously.

My lips pulled into a smile as I admired him on his way over to me. "How thoughtful." I murmured as I took the drink he offered me.

Sasuke chuckled as he sat next to me before having a taste of his drink. "Figured you deserved it."

"Needed it." I sighed as I sipped the drink, finding the bitterness all too refreshing.

"That too." Sasuke agreed with me and after that, we sat together in silence until both of our drinks were long gone.

"You don't need to worry about anything, Sakura." He told me once he'd had enough of the silence.

"You're the one worrying, Sasuke. I'm not even thinking about all that shit anymore."

"Oh, then what has you so pensive?" He asked curiously, leaning back on the couch and inclining his head in my direction.

You. "A lot." I whispered, unsure how to deal with the way my thoughts could so easily be taken over by Sasuke.

"Can't narrow it down more than that?" He teased almost knowingly.

"You don't want to be inside my head, Uchiha."

"You afraid to tell me?" He asked, leaning back up and over to me so that our arms were brushing against each other.

"I'm never afraid." I glared as harshly as I could at him. "I was thinking-"

"About me?" His lips were right at my ear, those two words and the way his voice turned so sultry had a shiver running over me.

"S-Sasuke…" I squeaked, a heat rushing over me, though I didn't dare to pull away from him.

He chuckled then and got up completely. "We should clean your wounds now, it's getting late."

I looked up, blinking at him as I sat, still baffled from how close he'd gotten to me and how he was able to set my heart aflutter so easily. "O-okay."

Damn it. I was still a stuttering mess and he was smirking like the devil himself. What was worse was the fact that I couldn't even be mad at him. I got up after a moment, following him down the hall towards my bedroom. He was way ahead of me being that he'd gotten a head start and I was also walking much slower than necessary as I tried to calm my still racing heart.

That guy was definitely going to be my undoing… I just wondered how much longer I could last.

A/N:

Thanks for reading!

I can't wait to get even deeper into the sasusaku connection here. Slowly but surely we are getting there. Lol.

All reviews are appreciated!