BEHIND THE STREAM


If you ask him why he continues to do this when he doesn't even need it in the first place, he may not be able to answer you straight away. It has been 2 years since he started and it's been 2 years of rollercoasters he never knew he'd be on, experiencing the most mundane of daily life to the most extremes of feelings— all of them in front of his camera with millions of eyes trained on him.

Some people say he's doing it for attention; some for boosting his already bloated ego. Others assume it's to rebel against his wealthy family empire while the rest defend him by saying that it's just to play with his friends online, leave him alone! All of it makes him wonder.

Why am I still doing this?

It's the thought that runs through Sasuke's head as he turns off his stream for the day. He flexes his fingers, arms, and shoulders in circular motions after playing for 5 hours, arches his back to relieve the strain on the muscles for sitting too long, and finally cracks his neck with a satisfied groan.

Leaning back on his chair, his mind drifts again to the same question that's been plaguing his mind for the past couple of days. Because if he is not Sasuke, the most viewed streamer of the year and the most subscribed gamer on all social media platforms, he is still Sasuke Uchiha.

Sasuke Uchiha is the youngest son of Fugaku Uchiha of the Sharingan Industries which was founded by Madara Uchiha, the father of modern technology in the country. Sasuke Uchiha is the youngest son of the world-renowned artist Mikoto Uchiha with her incredible contributions to expressionism art in the last three decades. Sasuke Uchiha is the brother of the genius behind the latest development on environmental waste management, Itachi Uchiha, who is next in line as CEO of their family's multimillion-dollar company.

He is able to graduate top of his class in international business, start an independent company under a pseudonym that helps in protecting immigrants wherever they are, and is currently in talks with his childhood best friend to build schools in the rural areas of the world.

He knows the privilege he has. Opportunities literally come knocking at his door, waiting for him to say yes, and he is grateful for it. Sasuke is aware of the public eye, adoring and resenting him at the same time just because of his famous last name, yet he wants this.

For someone so reserved, you will not believe it at first. With only a handful of people knowing all the money he gets from streams and views go directly to those projects, you really won't understand. Hell, sometimes even he has to remember it. He's invested so much time and effort in this— so much of himself— and he has fallen in love with it.

Maybe that's his answer. Maybe that's the motivation he has in pursuing this no matter how attention-seeking this may look like to the public. Maybe that's why he is still doing this despite the strain in his eyes and the cracks in his bones after hours of being dissected like a lab rat in front of the camera.

Ah, he silently berates himself. I'm still doing it because I like it. End of story.

Taking his mind out of his chaotic musings, Sasuke spares a look at his clock and sees that it's around 1:30 in the morning. His weariness from his work, both the public and the private, gets even more felt, but there is only one thing on his mind that he knows will make it go away— his another reason for continuing all this.

Sakura.

He stands up from his gaming chair and drags himself out of the room. He's about to head towards their bedroom when he remembers that she has a demonstration in 2 weeks for a practical exam. She is definitely still up; if the smell of coffee and cinnamon isn't any indication. Sasuke can already feel his energy coming back and he smiles.

That's the thing about this girl, you know? She can destroy you in video games and kill you with just one look, but she can also revive you into a brand new person every time she graces you with her presence. A trueborn doctor, he must say— patching you up when you feel bruised and taking care of you until you are better than you were.

That's what Sasuke feels like every time he's within her orbit. How did I get so lucky?

Sasuke quietly pads their shared apartment, walking along the hallway towards the living room, until he reaches the end of it and peeks through the corner. Sakura hums as she scribbles down her notes, mumbles as she memorizes human body parts, and lights up when she sees him standing there.

"Hey there, handsome," Sakura smiles at him. City lights reflect through their glass windows into the verdant shade of her eyes and Sasuke knows he will never get tired of looking at this view. He gives her a smile, leans his head on the wall, and continues to look at her.

Sakura's face turns into a knowing one, "Tired?"

Yes, but never of this… never of you.

He simply nods, knowing that she will understand just like she always had. And when Sakura leans back on their couch and opens her arms, his heart soars.

She softly smiles at him and tenderly whispers, "Come here, then."

Every step towards her is another step to his lifeline and when he finally reaches her, Sasuke sighs in comfort. He nuzzles his way to her neck where he can feel the steady pulse of her heartbeat and wraps his arms around her slender form to pull her even closer. She holds him just as tight, like she doesn't want to let go, and coos.

"My baby," she teases, her voice a soothing melody to his ears. "You're beat… do you need anything?"

Sasuke shakes his head and exhales, his hot breath hitting the skin of her neck, and he feels her shiver with the contact. He secretly smiles.

"Just stay here. I'm good," he mumbles before pressing a quick kiss on her collarbone. He slightly raises his head to look at her, "What about you? Aren't you done with your review?"

Sakura traces the bridge of his nose as her eyes roam around his face, "No. I just need to read one more lesson, then I'm done for tonight."

"It's late. Let's go to sleep," he suggests. The tip of his nose bumps with hers and she softly giggles, making him smile, "C'mon, love. You need to rest, too."

Her gaze turns back to the papers on their coffee table and Sasuke immediately removes one arm around her to cover her eyes with his hand. "No," he says. "That can wait."

She gently grabs his arm to pull his hand away from her face, "Sasuke-kun, I have t-"

"No, you don't."

"Yes, I do. If I fail this exam, I can't be a doctor."

He snorts and playfully flicks her forehead, "This head of yours is brighter than anyone I've ever met. Even if you don't review this shit, you will ace it."

Sakura blushes and Sasuke lights up inside. It's one of his favorite looks on her. They've been together for 7 years and she still can't accept a genuine compliment from him without being flustered.

She purses her lips as she looks at her notes before looking back at him, "You really think so? I always feel like I need to try harder."

Sasuke untangles himself on her and settles beside her. He delicately holds the side of her neck and thumbs her jaw. His eyes follow it before settling his eyes directly on hers, "You work harder than anyone I know. If there's one thing I know about you ever since I met you, it's that you never back down from a challenge."

He leans in to kiss the corner of her mouth before whispering against her lips, "And you know what's best? You always come out on top."

Her smile is blinding and that's the last thing he sees before she moves and kisses him. He closes his eyes and savors the quiet gratitude she says through the meeting of their lips. Her hands come up to run from his neck up to his hair where she lightly tugs it, making him groan to their innocent kiss. Sasuke feels her wicked smile against his mouth.

Minx, he thought fondly before kissing her harder.

Slowly, she lifts herself up on her knees with her lips still on his. With a practiced maneuver which they have done a hundred times before, Sasuke feels her weight on his lap after a few moments. Once they feel each other, they both let out exhales of pleasure, breathing it into each other's mouths.

His hands grip her hips and her hands find his shoulders as they take a break from their intimate kiss. Sasuke gazes at her, lips red and swollen from his passion, and he smirks. "You good, love?"

She cheekily nods, "Guess what?"

His eyes are amused as he answers, "What?"

"Seems like I have come up on top just like you said."

Sasuke looks down from her teasing smile to her luscious thighs, gripping his body between them as if reminding him he's at her mercy, before he trails his eyes back to her pretty face. Bubbles of affection come up inside him and he gives her a tiny smile reserved just for her.

"This reminds me of that time when Shisui accidentally rats us out to my parents," he murmurs. "This is the exact same position we were in."

Sakura giggles, "Oh my god... you're still not over the fact that Ino and I talked about Shisui and called him hot, huh?" He shakes his head no, just to get another laugh from her, and she did. Her laugh echoes in the quietness of their home, "If he didn't do that, then I wouldn't have given you the idea to stream and capitalize on this gorgeous face." She gently presses his cheeks with her palm and kisses his puckered out lips.

After his cheeks are freed, Sasuke replies with a straight face. "You know we would've been okay even if I don't lift any of my fingers for the rest of my life, right?"

"Stop flexing on me! I was worried that they'll banish you from the family and remove all your inheritance. I had to think of something that can support us both until I become a doctor! And please," she takes a pause before the glint in her eyes turns wicked.

She murmurs, "If you don't lift those magic fingers of yours, how can you turn me on?"

Sasuke's eyebrows rose up. Slowly, he lifts his hands away from her hips and leans back on the couch. His arms extend at the back of it while his eyes stare at her lazily. He feels her slender legs twitch above him and his heart beats louder.

Easy now, he reminds himself. Don't get too excited.

"Please," he whispers, eyes still trained on hers, with his best attempt to appear nonchalant about the needy look on her face right now. Sasuke drags his gaze leisurely from her eyes down to her lips, down to her heaving chest and her quivering thighs, then back to her wide-blown pupils. She looks gorgeous and utterly delectable like this.

The corner of his mouth goes up slightly and he goes in for the kill, "We both know I can do that without doing anything at all, love."

Sasuke feels her fingers gripping the front of his shirt first before she wantonly breathes against his mouth, "Goddamnit, Uchiha. Why are you so sexy?" And then she kisses him deeply, her groans vibrating on his tongue, and he kisses back with the same intensity.

She only calls him by his last name either when she's angry or horny. She looks hot, either way. He tells her this fact as he removes her baggy sweater from her body and the look in her eyes makes him forget the exhaustion he feels and thinks that this day is not yet over...

… not when she mounts him on the couch they bought together and christen many times over, and rides him until he can't think anymore.


If he can remember correctly, the concept of streaming was introduced to him two days after his cousin Shisui accidentally blurted out during their family dinner that he was secretly dating Sakura for almost 3 years.

Just like Sakura has shared during Ino's stream last time, his obnoxious cousin caught them making out inside Sasuke's car a few blocks away from their house during their second year of college. He made him swear that he won't tell anyone… until Shisui got drunk out of his ass and ratted them out unconsciously before passing out.

Shisui sported a black eye for a week after that.

Sakura, the ever worrier, was panicking when she and Sasuke went to the Uchiha estate and told them the truth. Mikoto was beaming like a proud mother. Sasuke always knew his mother had a soft spot for Sakura. Fugaku, however, was harder to read. He didn't say or ask anything at all during that meeting.

Two days after their meeting, they haven't heard anything from his parents at all, which made Sakura paranoid and almost broke up with him then and there. That was the first time Sasuke felt real fear— losing her because of his last name that has given him everything and would continue to give him anything he ever wanted.

But then Sakura composed herself and said that this is not a cliche plot for a romance movie, this is real life and we have to stay together no matter what your parents will say! The determination in her eyes made his eyes well up with tears of relief and she swore to him that she will never take that easy way out ever again.

After that talk and before they parted ways that evening, she jokingly mentioned that Naruto was doing great with a new hobby he found— eating his favorite ramen in front of people and reviewing it for them. He calls his channel TheRamenLover, she shared. Maybe you should also stream so you can earn money for us when your father disinherits you.

By the end of the week, they received a call asking them to meet again. But when they got there, Mikoto told them that Fugaku was waiting for Sasuke. She then led Sakura away, and he remembered her wide green eyes on him as they turned in the corner.

Fugaku was waiting inside the room, sipping his favorite black tea, and spared him a glance when he sat down. A few tensed moments passed— minutes, hours, mere seconds— he didn't know. All he could remember was the voice of his father piercing the silence.

"Why hide it?"

Sasuke frowned at that, confused because it was the first thing he explained the last time they were here, and he opened his mouth to ask what Fugaku meant when his father spoke again. "Why hide it when you love her?"

This time, the Uchiha patriarch's voice was laced with tenderness and understanding as he looked at him. "You love her, don't you?"

He was 20 years old then and it was the first time for him to hear his father speak in this tone— one with silent knowing and wisdom; one that he wished he would have one day. He answered softly but confidently, "I do."

Fugaku sat still, his dark eyes looking through Sasuke's similar ones, until he nodded infinitesimally. If Sasuke didn't spend his time observing his father all his life, he wouldn't notice. Not even the proud shift in the corners of Fugaku's eyes, the slope of his shoulders, and the slight lift of the side of his mouth that Sasuke and Itachi got from him.

He approves, Sasuke thought incredulously. He approves of us.

Sasuke was dismissed with a swift wave of his hand and he prepared to leave the room until he turned around and bowed to his father respectfully, "Thank you, father."

Their family was built on tradition passed from one generation onto the next. It was the heart of the clan— the culture simmering through the cracks of their home to the grandiose of their success all over the world. There were rules and there were principles they needed to abide by, and there were consequences to anyone who disrespects them.

And Fugaku Uchiha, the current patriarch of this powerful clan founded by deep roots of tradition, uprooted them all away to let his youngest son love and be loved in return— free.

"She is a good child," his father said. "She would make a great wife one day."

And now here he is on their bedroom floor, holding the box that contains the engagement ring he bought after that day with his father, and Sasuke asks himself— is it time?

Is it time for him to finally ask Sakura to be his wife?
To spend the rest of her life with him— in sickness and in health, for better or for worse?
Till death do they part?

Tracing his steps back to where it all started made him realize how much time has passed in blurs of pinks and greens. It's been 7 years of holding her hand, kissing her cheek, and saying I love you yet he has no plans of stopping anytime soon. The longer they stay together, the more he wants to be there forever.

Might as well ask her already.

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura calls from outside their room and he immediately puts the box back beneath the secret compartment on their floor. After putting the soft carpet back to conceal it, he stands up and gets out of the room.

He sees her in their living room with several huge boxes littering the space, "What are these?"

"They're from your dad," she answers him, smiling as she goes through them. "I can't believe he sent these after we spoke last week about me learning how to bake."

Sasuke peeks inside one of the boxes and he sees cookbooks for cakes and other pastries. From Sakura's light squeal, he watches as she lifts an air fryer from another box. "Are these all kitchen wares and appliances?" he asks, amused with the relationship of his strict father and his carefree girlfriend. "He knows we have a nice kitchen already, right."

"Ah, shush! Let me enjoy these," she looks at her gifts with sparkling eyes. "I'll bake some cookies for him once I learn!" Sasuke softly chuckles. Even Fugaku Uchiha can't resist her charms and it makes him think about the memory he had earlier.

"She would make a great wife one day."

Then he remembers what Sakura answered him the last time Itachi visited— "Then I guess you should ask her already."

Sasuke has decided— he will do it. He will ask her to marry him. He will offer his heart, body and soul, in the hopes that they would be enough for her to say that sweet yes. But before all that, he has to prepare. Sakura deserves nothing less than the best.


The opportunity comes in the form of an exclusive interview. He receives an email a month later from a famous entertainment magazine, asking him for a guest appearance on their monthly segment on their official video channel online.

They are proposing a stream-like concept for the interview, paying homage to his own signature social media presence, where his fans send their questions to him. If he's the Sasuke of 2 years ago when he barely started streaming, he might've told them to fuck off.

But the Sasuke of 2 years later is more open; friendly, even. The too-cold Sasuke of then is an easygoing one now, letting people interact with him and ask about his life. He's still private, of course, but definitely less uptight.

That's why he agreed to the interview, but only on one condition— and they accepted.

Sasuke didn't inform Sakura about the interview. Telling her that he's doing a collaboration with some of his friends for another project, his girl didn't question him at all and told him good luck. Yeah, he thought. I would need all the luck I can get to pull this off.

Instead, he tells her parents who are both ecstatic about his plan. And after that, he shares it with his family right after which earns him a proud smile from his brother, a tearful hug from his mother, and a proud pat on the shoulder from his father. Even Itachi's twins, Ichigo and Ichika, are excited to have a cousin to play around with soon.

He secretly hopes for it, too. Building a family with Sakura sounds like pure bliss.

With his hands feeling clammy all of a sudden, he knows for a fact that he is getting nervous. The weight of the box inside his pocket is definitely telling him to get his shit together. In a few minutes, the interview will premiere on their channel and Sasuke has planned to have Sakura watch it with him during his stream for tonight.

Sasuke starts the stream like he always does. He usually sets up his game for the first few minutes before going at it for hours and that's what he did. After around 2 hours of playing, he hears their front door opening and Sakura's I'm home faintly with it.

It's showtime.

"Here," he calls out. A few moments later, the familiar sound of his door opening is heard. He smiles softly when he sees her smiling face peeking through, "Welcome home."

"Hi. Did you eat already?" Sasuke shakes his head no. "You want me to make you something?"

He gives her a tender look, "Yes, please."

Sakura salutes at him, "Roger that!" She gives him a flying kiss before closing the door again.

He lets out a deep breath right after and goes back to face his monitor where he sees his chatbox full of her name and messages about wanting to see her. It brings a warm feeling to him because his supporters have fallen in love with her, too.

Sakura comes back 20 minutes later with his favorite onigiri on a plate. She's about to leave after putting it on his table, assuming that he's busy playing, when Sasuke grabs her hand.

"Stay here," he tells her. "They wanna see you."

She ducks her head to look at his chatbox and beams after seeing all the messages for her, "I might steal your spotlight soon, love. Look at that!" She giggles, "Hi everyone!"

Sasuke tugs her towards him and she falls instantly on his lap, making his fans happier, and he says to her ear. "I have something to show you as well."

Sakura looks at him, "What is it? Don't tell me it's a horror video, Naruto already did that to me once!"

He just shakes his head, "Remember when I told you about that project I worked on a few weeks ago?" Sakura nods her head and he continues, "It's an interview for K-Mag."

Her eyes go wide, "What?! Oh my god, that's awesome!" She hugs him tight and he returns it just as much. She untangles her arms around his shoulders to pat his chest with her one hand, "What a nice surprise! It's gonna be everyone's first time seeing you in one. Where is it? Will there be a video?"

He nods, "They'll be posting it at midnight. Wanna watch it with me?"

Of course, she agrees. He can see his viewers being ecstatic as well. They're all anticipating the first-ever interview of the elusive Sasuke they all know because they are aware that it might be his last, too.

As they wait for it, Sakura interviews him as well after pulling out another chair beside him. "What made you do it? And why didn't you share it with me?" she pouts.

He pokes her nose and watches as she scrunches it up, "You'll know when you watch it."

She dramatically gasps, "Did you spill my secrets to them?"

"And have you strangle me in my sleep? No way."

Sakura playfully squints her eyes, "You better be telling the truth, mister."

His heart skips a beat. That word— mister. He prays to all the gods out there that it will be official soon after she says yes tonight.

"When have I ever lied to you?"

He only has truths for her because he knows for a fact that she has always been truthful to him as well. From their secret relationship back in high school to the one they have right now have always been supported by their fierce loyalty to each other. They're not a perfect couple— they fight just like any other lovers out there, but they also make up like no other.

Sasuke knows that Sakura knows this, too. Her shy smile after that question tells it all.

"Never," Sakura whispers and leans towards him to cup his cheek. "I'm so lucky."

Not as lucky as I am… and hopefully, I get even luckier.

The countdown notification on the channel has started and they only have one minute left. Excitement is pouring out of Sakura beside him and Sasuke puts his hand inside his pocket to hold the box that contains the ring he bought for her all those years ago.

"Hey," he softly calls out for her. When she turns her head to face him he says, "I love you."

The blush on her cheeks becomes apparent and she glances towards his camera before looking at him again, "Wha-... y-you're still streaming."

"I know."

Sasuke can't blame her. This is the first time he said it out loud during his stream. He knows for sure that her reaction is the same with most of his viewers watching them right now. His heart pounds inside his chest but he knows he has to continue.

There are only thirty seconds left on the countdown and Sasuke speaks again, "I just want you to know that before we watch this."

She takes a few moments to process that, "Now you're making me nervous… why?"

He gently picks up her hand and laces their fingers together before pulling it up to his lips. He kisses the back of her hand, "It's the main reason for tonight."

Sakura can only open her mouth to answer until the video starts to load. Sasuke squeezes her hand as his other one grips the tiny box in his pocket.

The video starts with Sasuke in his usual set up in front of his stream and they hear his deep velvety voice, "Hey everyone. This is Sasuke and today, I'll be answering your questions that you've unofficially sent for me." He shows his signature smirk, "This is Konoha Undercover."

In the current stream, Sakura smiles so wide after seeing Sasuke recite the famous line for this channel's segment. "You look so handsome, love!"

Beside her, Sasuke just kisses her hand again.

"But..." the Sasuke in the video continues. "...the official video will premiere tomorrow."

Confusion becomes clear on her face as her eyebrows meet. Sasuke's pulse spikes.

"And it won't be in my hands if it will be posted or not…"

At this point, Sasuke doesn't look at the video where he, from a month ago, is currently speaking directly into the camera. He focuses all of his senses on her— his eyes on her pretty face, her scent calming his erratic heartbeat, his fingers slowly loosening up from hers. He hears her small gasp when 'he' utters her name.

"... it's gonna be in Sakura's hands."

He carefully removes his hands from hers as she is occupied with his video.

"Tonight, the current Sasuke who is streaming right now will ask her a question he's been ready to ask her for the past 4 years."

Sakura takes both of her hands on her mouth, eyes wide and glistening with tears, as realization finally kicks in. Sasuke watches in awe because fucking finally— it's happening.

"If she answers the way I don't want her to, then this might be the last you'll see of me."

That earns him a surprised laugh from Sakura as she tears up simultaneously. Her eyes are still trained on the screen while Sasuke prepares to carve out his heart in front of the whole world to offer it to her. He doesn't take his eyes away from her crying form.

"But if I'm lucky enough to get the answer I've been hoping for…" his voice turns into a loving whisper. "...then know that I am the luckiest man alive, and no amount of views can ever compare to the number of interviews I am willing to make just to tell the world how much I love her."

Sasuke feels like there's a clog in his throat, threatening to suffocate him from too much emotion. He had no idea that it could be this intense; this beautiful.

"Meanwhile, all of you will be able to watch the video you're waiting for."

He forgets the ongoing stream, the tons of messages flooding his chatbox, the video of him speaking. Right now, he only needs to do one thing.

"So what are you waiting for, man?" video-Sasuke asks him.

The video finally stops and there's only a black screen afterward. Sakura still has her eyes glued to the screen, crying because this is it. She turns her head towards Sasuke and cries even harder.

Sasuke is on one knee, presenting her a ring full of diamonds and rubies, looking up at her in utmost devotion. His hands are shaking a little and his eyes are misty, but his voice is strong and gentle as ever when he finally speaks.

"I've wanted this for years and wondered when is the right time for me to ask you," he whispers. Tears are forming in his eyes as he looks at her, wondering if life can ever get any better than this. "Then you said I can finally do it once I found the one."

He takes her hand and holds it tight, "You are it for me, my love. You're the one I want to spend the rest of my life with."

Sakura is sobbing harder now but with a beautiful smile still etched on her face, "Sasuke-kun…"

"So please," he achingly asks. "If you won't mind… spend the rest of your life with me… build a family with me… please… marry me."

It's not technically a question but he is asking nevertheless. He is asking for her to finally give him a chance to call her his wife and the pleasure of being called her husband.

He's waiting patiently, the box still opened in his hands, until Sakura kneels down with him. At this point, the camera's point of view only allows his viewers to see the top of their heads on the floor.

Sakura gently takes his face in her hands and pulls him to her, kissing his lips softly. Sasuke kisses her as tenderly as he can, wanting her to feel his love through their kiss, and sighs against her mouth after she pulls away.

When he opens his eyes, glittering green eyes look at him that screams love and he is left in awe. She beams at him and his heart stops for a moment…

"...thought you'd never ask… yes, Sasuke-kun... I'll marry you…"

...and it beats again right after her sweet yes.

Sasuke will never see the thousands of messages, tweets, and comments; not even the number of viewers and hearts they received. All he can see from his blurry vision is her beautiful face admiring the ring that is now sitting on her finger and he is content.

He registers the strong arms around his neck and the warm body against his as they tumble to the floor. Sasuke whispers to her ear, love in every letter and syllable.

"Thank you… thank you so much…"

Their names trended that night and the next day with the tag #CongratsSasuSaku, and the fans are anticipating the next stream knowing that his mysterious girlfriend is now his future wife.


~fin~


a/n: I TURN 24 TODAY! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE SUPPORT ALL THESE YEARS AND FOR READING MY STUFF. THIS IS MY GIFT TO YOU ALL. I HOPE YOU LIKE IT ❤️