There is a subtle change in the air. His skin erupts in goosebumps and he slowly turns his head towards his closed door— she's here.

Sasuke doesn't know how or why, but he is certain that behind that door is Sakura. He looks at the clock hanging by the bed and sees that it's approximately ten minutes before he turns 22. There's a sudden urge to smile because of course, she would want to see him, and he composes himself.

Little bursts of anticipation thrums inside his veins and he's quick to dampen it down.

Then he hears her faint knock, "Sasuke-kun?"

He slowly approaches the door, heart in his chest thumping hard, and opens it gently. Gritting his teeth by the sight, Sasuke swears she's doing it on purpose.

She is wearing the robe given to her earlier when they visited the onsen. They're currently in Snow and it's been a while since both of them have been here. That's why Sakura wanted to bathe in the hot springs and Sasuke agreed. How can he deny her that when she's been the most accommodating traveling companion for the past half a year?

Her hair is still damp and it cascades down her shoulders and frames her face prettily. The lights outside his room are dimly lit, but it makes her green eyes shine. Her skin looks healthy and pink and soft, and Sasuke stops his eyes from traveling further down. Their eyes meet.

"Sakura," he answers softly.

Her hands are behind her back and she's looking up at him abashedly, "I-is it okay to give y-you your present now?"

This is more than enough, he has the temptation to say. You are enough. He thinks that may be too much. It's only been six months anyway.

Six months of getting to know each other better, that's for sure. Sasuke is aware that their relationship is already at the brink of something even more, but he's afraid that he's being too fast. Ever since that night on her birthday, every little thing becomes something grand.

Sasuke opens his door further, silently telling her to come in, and she blushes first before carefully stepping foot inside. As she passes him by, he takes in a fresh scent of apples and his grip on the knob goes tighter.

This is only one of those small things that seem to turn into a monumental shift in his feelings for her. A mere humming from her as they walk leisurely side by side makes him want to take her hand. She once picked a camellia flower along the way and it made him want to bring her to a whole field of them. There is that one time where she was given those cold desserts on a stick and it nearly made his skin prick with the sight of her licking and sucking it happily.

His brain doesn't function as it normally does when it comes to her. In hindsight, he should've anticipated it. His teenage years were purely focused on getting revenge and fighting his enemies and friends and hating everyone and himself. These past few years after the war and now traveling the world with Sakura finally give him the chance to experience what he didn't back then.

Sasuke hasn't anticipated it would be this hard, though— suppressing your desire for someone.

He stays near the door and watches her take in the simplicity of his room. The village leader of Yukigakure learns that Haruno Sakura is in their country. That's why they give her the largest and most expensive room in their most famous inn, leaving him with this standard room for tourists, not for infamous students of Godaime Hokage.

Sasuke is used to this. He knows the world is still recovering from war as much as he is, so he doesn't take it personally. Sakura doesn't think so, though.

"They only gave you this room?" her head goes left and right to check her surroundings. "Isn't it cramped here? And isn't this bed too stiff?" She's sitting down now, bouncing gently to check the mattress, and he looks away.

He faintly clears his throat, "It's fine. We'll only be here for a few days, anyway."

A small frown still adorns her face when she stands up and turns around to face him, "But it's your birthday… you should be more comfortable than this."

Sasuke feels so light, touched with her thoughtfulness, and he gives her a small smile. "I'm okay," he assures her. "Don't worry about me, Sakura."

Few seconds pass and only the soft crinkle of wrapping paper can be heard inside his room. And then, she drops her question, looking directly at him.

"Do you want to stay in mine?"

There is no sense of timidity in those eyes of hers, and Sasuke's hand twitches with the impulse to pull her closer. What are you doing to me?

"I mean…" she continues, eyes still boring into his. "I won't mind… besides, I couldn't sleep last night. Maybe I got used to having you near…" She lets out a small laugh before finally looking away.

To be honest, Sasuke wasn't able to sleep as well. It's not because of the limited space in his room nor the uncomfortable mattress he was on. He can sleep anywhere— on a tree branch, sitting against concrete, inside a dark cave as it storms, and any place he's been in. He is trained to sleep when he wants to and wake up when he needs to.

But last night was a series of tossing and turning, and ended up getting up even before the sun had the idea to peek in the horizon. He then realized that he has been sleeping well, great even, ever since he and Sakura became even closer as they traveled. And one night without her was all it took for him to realize that yes, he needs her. He wants her.

He lo-

"It's okay if you don't want to!" she blurts out, bringing him back to now. He might've been silent for a long time, that's why she looks embarrassed. "Really, I don-"

"Sakura."

Her name rolls out of his lips naturally. After probably a thousand times of uttering those three syllables, it feels as natural as breathing for Sasuke already. It's always at the tip of his tongue, ready to be spoken with reverence and now, with desire.

With love.

She's quiet as well as he. The only sound he can hear is her breathing, as well as his thumping heart. This is it, his mind supplies. This is where you tell her.

He opens his mouth before the clock strikes midnight. The bell of the city clangs, reminding him that he is here in the land of Snow inside this tiny room, 22 and in love with Haruno Sakura.


Sasuke doesn't remember how it started, but he has an idea of how this night ends. If the clamping of her walls isn't any indication, then he doesn't know what it is.

There was a split second of realization after that 15-second ringing of the city bell a few distances away from them, and she utters her sweet happy birthday, sasuke-kun before he crosses the room and pulls her in for a kiss.

It's not as if that was their first kiss. No, it isn't. Their first kiss was under the roof of that restaurant where they sell anko dumplings. He wasn't able to get her favorite food during her birthday but they passed by that building 2 weeks after while they were in Rain.

He was only gonna kiss her cheek since it looked so soft and full. When he bent down to press his lips on her skin, she turned around to face him and his mouth slots on hers instead. Under the heavy rain, his eyes went wide as well as hers did.

None of them pulled away.

He has no idea how they managed to untangle their lips from one another that day, but it doesn't matter now. Sasuke knows it will be impossible as of the moment, since his mouth is currently nibbling on her neck as he moves languidly against her.

She whines her pleasure, her fingers digging into his back, and he groans back in answer. He never knew this kind of warmth; this kind of consuming feeling in his chest. There is so much— of what, he's not sure yet, but it sounds a lot like love.

He is full of love— for her, for them, for this.

"Sakura," he whispers against her skin. He kisses her jaw, her chin, up to her swollen lips. "Are you alright?"

She nods in earnest, her eyes heavily lidded with absolute trust in him, and he is filled with deep elation. "Ha… Sasuke-kun… Sas-.. 'ke-kun…"

Her legs wrap tighter around him, making him enter her deeper, and he lets out a small moan against her mouth. He's not going to last long.

His lone hand grips her hip, "I- I'm close…" He places his forehead against hers and he opens her eyes to find her already looking up at him, a gorgeous smile soft on her lips. Her pink hair is spilled out across his pillow and on this barely tolerable bed, she is his haven.

Sakura cups her face in both her hands and kisses him softly on the lips. "I love you so much, Sasuke-kun…"

Sasuke closes his eyes again and feels the corners of his eyes forming tears. After all this time, she still does. It will never fail to make him falter and fall onto his knees if she asks him to.

His movements become faster and he sees her hand reaching down to touch herself as he moves in and out. Her voice echoes within his room and the melody of her climax resonates in him, as profound as his love for her and her for him.

I love you, too.

Sasuke is not sure if he said it aloud, but one look at her smile afterward and he knew.


"Oh, I almost forgot your birthday gift! Here!"

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

"Open it!"

"..."

"..."

"Sakura… I-"

"When I saw the color of this yukata, I immediately knew it would look good on you. The uchiwa patchwork I did could've been better though! I'm sorry…"

"No… it's perfect… thank you, Sakura."

"Of course! I'm glad you like it."

"I'll teach you soon."

"...huh?"

"I'll teach you how to make our family symbol."

"Wh-"

"The matriarch usually does it. You need to learn it for the future."

"..."

"..."

"M-mou! Sasuke-kun! You can't say that with a straight face!"

"Heh… annoying…"

"No I'm no-mmmmph!"


The night continues, and Sasuke and Sakura begin in this love that will never end.


a/n: HAPPY BIRTHDAY SASUKE-KUN! our interest check for the Uchiha Zine is finally open! please let us know what you think!