Chapter 4
When Sakura booked the room, she didn't have time to look at the bathroom. Now she could see it was a big square room, with a single round window above. The moonlight passed through it, projecting a circle on its center of the room, above the tub.
It was a strange night, she thought. At least it's over.
She felt her own body. The pill had been effective; she wasn't in pain anymore.
I have to go back to Konoha, enough with this.
The room was silent. A distant sound from birds on the trees was all that could be heard.
I wonder what Sasuke is doing. No, no more thinking on him.
Sakura lowered her head and felt a familiar smell. Although she tried hard to forget him, his odor was still all over the ambiance.
That damn kimono, she thought.
Sakura walked toward the tub, opened the water tap, checked the temperature and let the warm water run from it.
I need a bath. I want to get any vestige of him off me.
When the tub was full, she entered it. The warm water embraced her, and very relaxed, she started to tap her fingers on it.
I've liked him for so many years, it won't be easy to forget him, she thought. Well, at least I'll have his help in this matter. He won't come back to Konoha.
Two knocks on the door interrupted her thoughts.
"Sakura, I want to speak to you." She recognized the low voice.
"No, thank you, you've said it all."
He insisted, knocking once more.
"I haven't said it all."
"If you're going to insult me once more, you'd better keep your mouth shut."
He didn't answer, but Sakura could hear him breathing behind the door. Given his silence, she stopped to think. She had nothing else to lose. Besides, if she could tease him a little more, she could gain a little.
"Come in."
The door opened and Sasuke entered the bathroom. His eyes didn't look so empty nor so distant anymore.
"Will you dress up?" He said, turning his face away from Sakura's naked body.
"Why? If you dressed me in your kimono a while ago, you've seen me naked. If you're disturbed, you can get out."
Sasuke didn't answer, only approached the tub, pulled a stool next to it and seated facing Sakura. From his position, he could see all her body below the transparent water. Despite this, his eyes met hers and didn't leave them even for a second.
"When I said that words, I knew the effect they'd have on you. I wanted to push you away."
"And you did."
He bit his inferior lip, as if wanting to keep the words he was about to speak inside his mouth.
"When I saw what I'd done, I realized that pushing you away wasn't what I wanted."
Sakura widened her eyes, soaking every word.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean—I like not to care about things. I like following my own path and not having to care about anyone. But the truth is, no matter how much I try, that are some people I can't leave behind. You are one of them. Every time I realized you were getting closer to me, that I saw you could take me away from my path, I had to push you away." He breathed slowly. "I want you to know that I never meant to cause you any harm. On the contrary, I wanted to push you away because I was afraid that—"A tear formed in his eye, making his iris glow, and meandered across his beautiful face. "Sakura, I destroyed everything I touched—my brother—my only family—I couldn't risk to lose you too." He hesitated for a while. "I just want you to know—"He turned his face to the side, wiping it with the back of his hand.
Sakura gaped. She never thought she would hear these words from his mouth. She remained motionless. Inside, tough, she was exhilarated. Now they could have the future she'd always dreamed for them. Now they could be happy together.
With his eyes lowered, Sasuke moved his hand close to Sakura's, which was hanging from the tub, and intertwined his fingers on hers. Then he faced her.
"My decision of staying away from the village, away from you and from the other people that care about me, it' doesn't protect only me, but you too, and I want it to remain this way."
Sakura snorted and let go of his hand.
"Just when I thought you would change, you come back with this talk. Time's passed, we're not who we were, the danger we're facing have changed."
"But I can't come back to the village before I put an end to all these dangers."
"But you can't. Nobody can." Sakura said in a graceful tone. Sasuke had been so sincere; he really wanted to protect everyone. All she could feel for him was tenderness. With his discourse, he was making her desire him more, not less. She looked at him with affection, then took his hand and kissed it.
Sasuke smiled. It was the first time she saw him smiling like that. A frank smile, albeit timid. He then pulled her hand and kissed it too, looking at her desirously. A chill ran all over her body.
"I came back to you with a completely different intention in mind, but when I saw you—you are beautiful, your body is beautiful, everything in you attracts me."
Sakura stood up, got out of the tub, walked to Sasuke and kissed him. He kissed her back, a wet and profound kiss.
"I will always want you," she said, "always."
He stared at her, his eyes burning with desire. Slowly, he reached for her face and ran his fingers through her hair, slightly pulling it. He kissed her once more, his hand going down from her neck to the small of her back, sending a thrill down her spine. With an impulse, Sakura placed her legs around his waist, and he pressed her even harder against his own body.
He pushed the door with his back, took her to the bedroom and laid her carefully on the bed. Then he took off his pants. The vision of his completely naked body aroused every inch of Sakura. She needed to touch him, to feel him. He seemed to be aware of her thoughts, for he reached for her legs and grabbed her buttocks. His warm touch made her sigh with desire. Then he opened her legs, rubbed his teeth on the inside of her thighs, and finally bit one. She wanted to scream out of desire. Desperate for his hands, she cried his name and looked at him. That's when she saw the passion in his eyes. He had finally uncovered it.
Sakura opened her eyes. The light that passed through the window indicated the dawn. She remembered the night before, how she had given herself to Sasuke, and smiled. Then, half asleep, she called his name and, still lying on the bed, turned her body to look for him. He was nowhere to be seen. Maybe he had left to eat something.
She got up and dressed herself. Sasuke seemed to have packed his things, so she decided to do the same. Then a knock on the door interrupted her. Why would Sasuke knock? She opened it, and a man greeted her.
"You seem very well!"
"Naruto, what are you doing here."
"I was downstairs waiting you to wake up. Kakashi sent me for you. He actually sent Sai, but I discovered his secret mission and asked to be sent in his place. I met Sasuke earlier." He hesitated for a while. "He was leaving. But he said that you too talked last night, and that you'd understand. It seems he still has some issues to deal with. He left this." He handed her a folded piece of paper. She didn't reach for it; Naruto had to put it on her hands.
Sakura lowered her watery eyes and let herself fall sit on the bed. A tear dropped on her lap.
"I'm sorry you didn't convince him to come back to Konoha, but I know you've tried," said Naruto. "Cheer up, Sakura-chan. There's not much we can do for him."
"But yesterday we—I thought—" she said sobbing.
Naruto widened his eyes in surprise and put a hand on Sakura's shoulder.
"I am sure he loves you," Sakura looked at her friend, that, as always, had a sincere countenance, "but he has strange ways of showing his feelings. In the past, I tried to change the way he thinks, but now I see that being his friend is accepting him the way he is. Maybe loving him is the same."
Sakura smiled.
"Who would say that you'd become such a wise guy, Naruto."
They shared a knowing smile.
"Whatever happened between you too, I know Sasuke was sincere. He cares about you."
Sakura turned the paper on her hands. It was so small; the message couldn't be that long.
"Do you think he will come back to Konoha someday?"
"I believe so. Until them, he knows he can count on us."
Sakura turned her attention to the piece of paper on her hands. She opened it and found two lines written in a hurried calligraphy: "I'll find you. Soon." She smiled, her eyes still wet. The memory of that night would always stay with her. The day Sasuke had finally accepted her love. After so many time desiring him, their bodies and hearts have found each other. Now she could come back to Konoha, for she had joined her love of youth, and a bond between them had been forged.
