Chapter 2~

Sorry it took so long, got busy with being an adult now _ ANYWAYS! here you go my lovelies!

**START**

I met up with Sasuke outside of the cave and swayed a bit because my legs still feel like jelly. Sasuke glances at me and grins. *Proud of himself, I see.* I smile as he reaches out to take me in his arms and lean into him. "I wish we could stay like this forever...", He sighs sadly. I instinctively reach up and hold the scarf he put on me. "So do I...I hope Hanzo doesn't get too upset with us. Especially after what happened at the shrine." I shake my head. *He could now say he was right all along and no one could say otherwise...* I look across the landscape as I contemplate the situation. Sasuke sighs and holds me tighter. "We can keep it to ourselves until the war is over." Gasp. I look at him in shock. *He would do that for me...?* I look at the sad look on his face. *of course he would, even if it made him unhappy...he really cares so much...* I smile and wrap my arms around him. "Oh! Je t'aime mon ami, but...I could never ask that of you. I don't think I could last without you holding me..." I trail off and he grins. "I'm glad you said that! but..." His face falls," I won't let anyone think any less of you..." I take his large strong hand in my own small soft ones and kiss his scarred knuckles and calloused palm. "Only I can truly let anyone think less of me...I won't let him keep us apart, even at a time like this." I look him in the eyes and smile "Besides, no one ever said he needed to know EVERYTHING about the journey to Iga, Oui? We could simply say that we have decided to get married when all of this is done and he can't dictate that can he?" Sasuke's face brightened up and he leaned down, capturing my lips passionately and pulling me closer. My feet then left the ground as he spun me in the air.

We came apart for air, but he still held me against his strong body and my feet still couldn't touch the ground. "I love how smart you are!" I giggle and run my fingers through his hair. "I just don't want to be away from you mon ami...I love you with all my heart, I'm sure it would break if we couldn't be together." He smiled and nuzzled his face into my hair. "I feel the same. I will do whatever I can to make you the happiest woman alive!" I smile and just as he leans in for another kiss growl *Oh my...!* I giggle as his stomach makes itself well known and understood. "We should get you something to eat before it decides to make more verbal complaints, hm?" I kiss him chastely on the lips as he sets me down. "Yeah, I guess so." He sighed and then brightened up," How about I get some fish?" I nodded and followed him to the river.

He immediately started stripping down as we found a good spot along the river. I couldn't help but stare, *Oh Mon Dieu, how did I get so lucky?! Il est tres mignon, intelligante, juste, et il est beaucoup forte!* I stood dazed for a moment before he looks over and smiles. "Enjoying the view?" I blush and grin, "If I was?" He blushed and gripped me around the waste. "I wouldn't mind one bit, though...I might have to have a little more contact with you if you look at me that way all time." I felt his member through my clothes and blush," Ah!" I start as he lifts me up and wrap my legs around his waste as he assaults my neck. I feel his teeth nip at the soft vulnerable skin before he bites it and soothes the pain with his smooth hot tongue. His hands grip my ass as my hips instinctively grind into his and they slide up to my lower back. "Ah..w-we should probably-" I was cut off by his lips claiming mine in a deeply passionate kiss.

We break apart and he rests his forehead on mine. "I know" He unhooks my legs and lowers my feet to the ground, still holding me tight to his hot and rock hard body. "I don't want to let you go...but we should get something to eat before we have to leave for Iga." *Merci mon Dieu! Any more and I don't think I would be able to stop...* I feel the heat of our bodies as I rest my cheek on his damp chest and give it feathered kisses. "I understand, I can get firewood to cook the fish while you catch them?" His large hands move to my face and run through my hair, holding it out of my face. "Promise me you won't go too far?" A smile made its way to my face and I gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek. "Mon ami, Je promets...I will not go trop loin as long as I don't have to." He gave me a look and I returned it with a cheeky grin. "I will be careful mon ami, but I am not a child. I assure you Sasuke, I can take care of myself." He chuckles and runs his fingers along the beads and feathers in my hair. "When I am around you won't have to. I want to take care of you..." Amused I look him in the eyes, "What happens when I have to take care of you? Don't you want me to be capable of that?" He laughs and spins me around," Why are you so stubborn?" I laugh with him and hold onto him.

"I suppose it's in my blood. Papa has always been stubborn and strong, I guess with his influence I ended up the same." I smiled and let go of him. "I promise I will be careful mon ami. Please have a little faith in my ability to at least gather a few pieces of wood to cook with." Sasuke chuckles and rests his hand on my head. "Its not you I have no faith in, I just don't trust any lonely travelers to not think they can try anything with you. You are my beautiful woman now and when this war is over...we can marry. I will make you the happiest woman in the world, Silvera. I will make you want for nothing or anyone else but me." A blush creeps up my neck as I think about being married to this wonderful man. *Oh...! I have a feeling I won't have to worry about gaining weight...until I am with child at least ^/^ He sure does have a lot of energy! And that strength! Oh la la! I hope I can handle it!* I look at the love and determination in his eyes as he gazes back at me. *I would hate to be a disappointment to him...he is so much, so amazing! I just hope that I can be enough for him...* I give him a half smile and kiss his cheek before turning toward the forest edge. "I won't be long mon ami!*

The time I spent away from Sasuke was quiet and relaxing...but it was of course lacking. *He has become such a large part of my life in such a short time!* I lean down and grab another thick stick from the forest floor. *It just doesn't seem real...* I closed my eyes and listened to the wind rustle the foliage around me. *Oh...les arbes c'est tres beau...J'aimerais pouvoir vivre dans un endroit comme ici.* I giggle and turn to head back to the river. *I believe that they call something like that a 'dream come true'...* Ducking under tree branches and avoiding bushes with thorns I begin humming to myself a lullaby my father would sing to me. *I wonder...am I ready to be wed to a man? What would Papa say?* I stop dead and gape at my own ignorance. "Zut alors! Papa! How could I be so reckless? Papa...would you be upset with me?* I feel tears sting my eyes, threatening release. My knees are now weak and my throat is bone dry. *Papa...would you be ashamed of what I have done? What I plan to do?* I blink away the salty hot tears and shake my head to clear my head. "I will just have to fix this before it gets any worse...but how? I can only think of one way...but will it work? Would he actually go through with it?" I smile to myself. *He loves me dearly...I'm sure he would.* I clear my thoughts and head back to the river to start the fire.

As I step out of the trees I see Sasuke by the bank but...*Is that-?* "Monsieur Musashi?" They both turn there heads toward me as I get closer. "Ah! Miss...I don't think I ever got your name..." I blushed embarrassed at my own poor manners. *Zut! How could I be so rude?* I let the branches and sticks fall into a pile and bow slightly," J'ai beaucoup desole! Sil vous plait, forgive my bad manners. You can call me Gray." I glance at Sasuke. *tense...* I gave him a small smile and started making a fire. "What brings you to this part of the river Musashi?" I gave him a wry smirk before continuing," You aren't following us are you?" He tensed and gave a nervous laugh as he scratched the back of his head. "Maybe..." I stopped focusing on the fire and looked over at him while blinking incredulously *...really? How strange...* I laugh awkwardly," That's a little strange, you know?" I glanced at Sasuke's unconvinced form. I look directly at him and grin. "Ah! Mon ami, would you bring those over hear sil vous plait?"

Thank you for reading and, again, I apologize sincerely for taking so long .