A Busy Life Chapter 31: A Night of Warnings, a naruto fanfic

Whew! Just a little shy of the previous wait but I got the chap up! :D

Sasuke: -rolls eyes- Congratulations.

I know when your being sarcastic. (-.- )'''

Sasuke: Then update faster.

I'm trying, I'm trying! This is a nice long chap for you guys! Please enjoy! ( ^.^ )

Sasuke: Hn. To the—

Indra: -swoops in- Chap.

Sasuke: -sharingan activates- You again?

Indra: As if you could ever be rid of me that easily Uchiha. -glares-

Sasuke: -already taking out sword-

Oh shit...errr...To the chap...I guess...

Knocks on the partition that separated the back of the limousine to the driver's seat, sounded, much to Sasuke's irritation. He grunted and opened his currently closed eyes, glaring towards said partition as Sakura gave a quiet hum from the disturbance and lifted her head from being on top of his, where it had laid since the moment he rested his head upon her chest.

After kissing each other for an indiscriminate amount of time before this moment, he ended up laying his head on her bosom as she remained sitting on his lap, holding him against her for the rest they both needed, after all the stressful events they had been through. His head was lovingly pressed and held in her hands and arms, against her chest.

He couldn't lay it on the crook of her neck, because of her makeup—which was his favorite spot since it gave him the most of her scent—but just resting his head on her chest, the feeling of her fingers comfortably and occasionally stroking his hair was enough to lull him into a small nap; however brief.

They were both still tired, and being in each other's arms, Sakura and he eventually succumbed to just holding each other, after getting in as many kisses as they could, despite the many they had between last night, waking up today and being in the bath together. He wasn't even sure how much time had passed between when they'd finally stopped kissing each other, to when they'd both ended up resting against each other like this.

All he knew was he closed his eyes, and rested his head. And Sakura held him there in silence, while resting her head against his and that's how they ended up the way they were.

And having her in his arms, listening to her heartbeat, was enough for him. Just her being in his arms and on his lap like this was enough, for right now. Everything about it soothed him of all the stress, anger and turmoil he had felt in the last few days. Once again, he realized he needed her, and that she brought a sort of relief to his life that he couldn't describe himself.

Others had to describe it for him and even then, as his own words and actions were, it would be inadequate to the truth. As had already been concluded; nothing he could ever and would ever do, and nothing he could or would ever say, would be adequate to how he fully felt about her. Not at all. There was nothing to describe it with justice.

But that all didn't matter. Because with the way he felt right now; he was more than, contently, on top of the world. He was absolutely the luckiest man alive. He officially had everything this world could give him, even more than he had before. Because he had her.

Naruto said he looked better. But right now, with her being in his arms like this, and with her loving him like this, he felt better. After all his distress, he simply felt so much better. Even when he wasn't kissing her as was his favorite pastime.

Just holding her like this was enough. His arm being around her waist and the other stroking her thigh, as he got some much needed shuteye, even if it was for nothing more than the better part of twenty minutes or so, was the best bit of rest he had ever had, even compared to all the times he held her in bed.

And he could only assume that feeling came from finally having all of her back, in full, without any doubt after having overcome a crisis. It was because Sakura believed him and loved him after a time of turmoil and doubt and it was oh so gratifying.

There was nothing to come between them now, especially with how they expressed themselves and their love to each other and he was relishing and reveling in that radiant fact.

And now, that was being interrupted, and as always, he hated any and all interruptions with her and it appeared he hated it even more so now.

Yet another thing he was just going to have to get used to.

"What?" He called out grudgingly and tiredly, closing his eyes again as he heard the partition open with his response.

"Young Master, we will be arriving shortly. You should put your gloves back on now." He heard Sebastian say, much to his contempt, making him open his eyes again to glare for confirmation. Sebastian met his gaze through the rear view mirror knowing what Sasuke was silently asking without saying anything at all.

"Ten minutes."

Ten minutes. Just ten minutes was all he had to have her to himself. In ten minutes, he'd have to deal with everything and everyone else he didn't want to deal with. In ten minutes, he'd be torn from her bosom and her arms, and he'd have to suffer the agony of not having her in his, the way he wished she could be.

And the only relief he had for that, was that she'd be by his side. For most of the time. For as long as she could be. If not, she'd be within reach or he'd know where she was.

Thinking about it that way overshadowed his concerns about bringing her. With the way he felt, he was glad he did, honestly; whether it was selfish of him or not. With how content he was to have her in his arms and to be held by her like this, he didn't care if it was selfish of him to bring her or not.

He'd never have this peace of mind, if he didn't give in to such selfishness. He'd probably be in a sullen and distracted mood if he left her behind after everything. He'd probably be checking his phone every two minutes for updates on her while he was away.

Having her with him right now, was the only thing that mattered.

"Alright." He sighed, closing his eyes again and shuffling his face to be buried into her chest again. Sebastian reclosed the partition for their privacy, and Sakura stroked her fingers through his dark hair again, soothing him even further.

He just wanted to stay like this, honestly. He still felt exhausted and all he wanted was to hold her in his arms and rest against her while she soothingly stroked his hair, like this.

"Sasuke-kun, aren't you going to put the gloves on, like Sebastian said?" She gently suggested lovingly and he only grunted, whilst shifting his face deeper into her chest.

Like the spoiled brat he was.

"It doesn't take ten minutes to put on gloves…and I won't be able to feel you with them on." He murmured against her, the hand on her thigh giving a meaningful stroke down her only bared leg. Sakura's eyes shimmered as his touch sent tingles from her leg and throughout her body.

Especially as his hand trailed back up her leg and to her thigh. His hand continued up her thigh and around her curves to hold her tighter.

"Don't put me through that hell…not yet." He mumbled pleadingly.

He'd already have to go through it several times. He'd be torn from her side several times, and it was going to be yet another hell he was going to be put through after the many he had faced.

Her hand cupped his face, lifting it to look at her. And the instant he was met with her adoring eyes, as always, he felt like the luckiest man alive. When she looked at him like that, he was the most blessed man alive.

And fuck yes, he loved it.

"Then spend nine minutes kissing and touching me as much as possible." She ordered him. His eyes smoldered into hers with her given command, and he kissed her red stained lips as requested, absolutely unable to deny her. It was more than his pleasure to do what she ordered.

His hands roamed on her mindlessly, one hand reversing its previous actions and going back down to her exposed thigh, the other gently rubbing up her back. Each touch was an electrifying pleasure. Each kiss, an absolute delight and euphoric ecstasy.

And he was mildly grateful to Sebastian for the ten minute warning. If he didn't and just announced they had arrived, he wouldn't have been ready to deal with the public. He wouldn't have this all too pleasing moment with her. He was beyond pleased with it and grateful for it.

He was grateful for this. For her.

"I love you." He huskily whispered with his gratitude, staring into her eyes as his lips brushed against hers. She caressed his face almost absentmindedly, and her smitten eyes stared back into his.

"I love you more, Anata." She murmured over his lips in that way that made him blank. The only reason he was present at all right now was that her thumb rubbed across his bottom lip and the fact that her body was still in his grasp.

He grabbed her hand, and began to slowly and almost ritualistically kiss it, starting with the thumb already on his lips and moving on to the next only after he was certain he had doused the entirety of the digit with his kisses, front and back, from its tip to the start of her wrist and back up for the next one, repeating his religious work and worship.

And he mentally argued as he did so; that claim she made just now wasn't true. It was false, and not in the way one would wrongly assume. She did love him. He knew she loved him. He knew her heart and everything about her was his. He didn't doubt that, one bit.

But with the way he loved her—with how much he loved her, with the fact that he very much would and could kill for her; there was just no way she could love him more than that. He knew she was saying it just as an expression, but even as an expression; it couldn't be more wrong. It wasn't possible. At least in his eyes.

He already loved her beyond the concept of infinity, which, that alone, was supposed to be impossible in itself. For her to love him beyond even that was definitely impossible. Or, at least it should be. But then again, he couldn't even be certain of that.

After all, he found the so-called impossible concept of something being beyond infinite. Maybe Sakura came up with the same conclusion and maybe, unbeknownst to him yet, something even further than said conclusion. To the point where she could claim she loved him more than he loved her, because he didn't even know the expanse she had discovered. It could be plausible, even with the supposed endlessness he concluded his love for her was.

He wouldn't and couldn't put it past her. The woman did the impossible time and time again for him, enough times to the point where he wouldn't be surprised if she somehow loved him even more than he loved her.

"How long until you're finished with everything you have to do tonight?" Sakura quietly asked him, making his brow furrow at just the mention of tonight. How, again, in less than ten minutes now, he couldn't hold and kiss her like this. The most he'd be able to do is have her arm wrapped around his, or holding her hand in his. He could hold her waist subtly.

But to keep the press from going into a frenzy, openly kissing her wasn't an option. At least not on the first night.

"Four hours." He grumbled against her hand, almost finished with her index finger and now moving on to her middle finger.

"Four hours I can't have you to myself. Four hours I can't touch and kiss you like this, one and a half of which, I won't be beside you…" He mumbled and informed with dismay, leading to the hand on her thigh raising to hold and caress her hip. His half lidded eyes continued staring at her hand, as he continued the sacred ritual of kissing every single centimeter of her hand in his—even her palm.

"Sebastian will be with you, so you won't be alone. But I have a meeting with some board members, right after Introductions...and unfortunately, you can't join me..." He trailed and his brow furrowed, as the one other concern he had about bringing her, and even about their relationship, came to mind.

Being torn from her. Constantly having to leave her side or leave her alone, just because he had to work; it was a concern of his for a long while. He had even vaguely brought it up to Sebastian that one night, when he proclaimed he couldn't spend everyday with her.

It was a very real and very true worry he had to be concerned over, with the way he loved her and it wasn't just for tonight. It'd be tonight, and a few other nights throughout the next three weeks. It'd be in the future, if he couldn't bring her with him to London, for however long he was going to be there, whenever he had to go over there.

It'd be several times in the future, when he had to pack up and leave without her—sometimes for months, all while expecting her to wait for him to come back and love him all the same.

And God knows how long it would take for her to get tired of that, if she ever did. God knows how long it would take for her to get tired of waiting for him or for her to feel alone and abandoned enough by him with such unchangeable circumstances, should she feel so.

He didn't want to make her feel alone. He didn't want her to feel like he was abandoning her, and he personally didn't want to feel like he was. The day she felt like that and decided she couldn't take it anymore, would break him, even more than she broke him through the mess they'd just gotten over. With how precious she was to him, he'd never want her to feel like that.

And for her to leave him for it, he knew it would break him all over again, a million times over.

It was always a worry for him, honestly; even now, when he knew he had her heart completely. Just the thought of her being unhappy with him about that—something he honestly couldn't control when the time came for it, no matter how much he may want to—it would just fill him with all the anxiety and the slight sense of guilt he already felt about it. It would just make him all the more impatient to get back to her as soon as he possibly could.

But impatience caused mistakes, and he couldn't really afford mistakes right now. After the entire ordeal they had just reconciled over, and how much he slacked off because of it, he couldn't make mistakes right now. It could lead to people taking advantage of said mistakes in their dealings and prospects with him.

And being as he had to be seen as the same ruthless, formidable, inescapable Uchiha everyone feared to provoke, for her sake no lesser, he couldn't allow that.

"If you don't feel like standing around and waiting for me, Sebastian will take you to the suite we're staying in and get you settled. Just say so." He murmured, finally reaching her ring finger with his continuative kisses, and indirectly alluded for her. It was all she had to do for anything. She only had to say what she wanted, and it would be done the instant it could be.

And, once again, he had to be grateful, as Sakura's free left hand gave a comforting squeeze and rub to his trapezius and as she ran her hand down his shoulder and bicep in a way that almost made him repress shivers, even with his blazer and shirt in the way of her touch.

And she spoke words that told him she had somehow read his mind. Words that both comforted him and made him love her all the same, especially as she kissed the parts of his forehead that she could, with the way his head was turned to continuously kiss her hand as he had been.

The words she gave him, was the one thing he had to ask of her...other than her eternal love.

"Either way...I'll be waiting for you to come back to me." She vowed in a gentle whisper and he was all the more grateful to her for it. Finally finished with covering her hand with his kisses, he reached up to kiss her lips with all the love he could muster for her.

She'd be waiting for him. As she said, she'd be waiting for him, and he couldn't feel anything but thankful for said claim and belief. Her words were true and he felt it. She'd always be waiting for him and it only made him love her more.

"I'll come back to you, as soon as I can. Always." He promised. He promised her through his kiss alone, he'd be back with her as soon as he could.

And, even as his kiss told her he loved her and promised her this, of course his kiss was not enough for how much he loved her.

"I can also introduce you to some medical professionals and officials who will be in attendance tonight if you want also; while you wait. Maybe you can garner support for the kids at the clinic." He quietly suggested, just thinking about it now and holding her palm against his cheek.

Thinking about it now; that would buy some time. It would give her something to do, rather than just await him in the suite. And it was a good suggestion on his part. At least he felt it was.

So caught up he had been in their relationship and his own life and worries with her, he only now just thought about hers. She had her own ambitions and her own desires outside of him. She unfortunately wasn't like him, in the respect that she still had goals to achieve, whereas he had everything he could ever want, including her.

He already had his successes, and on top of that, he had her. There was nothing else left for him to achieve really. He officially had everything this world had to offer, from wealth and success to having a beautiful woman he loved immensely and said woman loving him likewise.

But, as he was vaguely aware, she had things she wanted to do and things she wanted to achieve outside of him, and he was supportive of that. He also loved that about her, really. Not only did it prove she wasn't after his money, especially with her willing to work hard for her own, she was truly passionate about it, and he wanted to keep her passion alive. That gentle gleam she got in her eyes whenever she was around the kids…he wanted her to have that.

Especially with the way she obviously cared for the kids. Especially when he knew how important the kids were to her, just from the two occasions he spent in their presence with her. She had her goal of becoming a doctor, and he supposed she wanted to help kids the most.

Not to mention, if she was busy while he was away, that would certainly ease his worry about leaving her for so long. Just a smidge.

It's why he already intended to continue said funding for her, even if she got it back. Why not, when he had the finances for it, and it was for a cause as good as hers?

He didn't really care all that much about the kids, although he didn't have any hard feelings with them either. He didn't hate or even dislike them. In fact, thinking about it, maybe the Niko-kid kind of grew on him in a way and he knew from experience he could tolerate the rest of them as well. Still, to him, they were honestly nothing more than an obstacle to getting to her. An interruption for him, and his constant quest to have her to himself how he wanted.

But they were important to her and therefore, it was important to him that they were taken care of the way she wanted them to be. She cared a lot about them, and if she wanted the place to be funded, all she needed to do was say so, and he'd put forth all the money she needed. Hell, he'd buy and fund the place himself if she wished for it.

From what he briefly reviewed when he could, she wasn't even asking for much. That sixty-five percent Sebastian told him she lost, and after looking into it briefly the next morning, was only a hundred and fifty thousand. Most facilities would be asking for donation's quota to meet a million, or well over.

Meaning whoever cut funding with her, either wasn't as wealthy as he was, or they cut costs in places they deemed unprofitable. A hundred and fifty thousand dollars wasn't money to scoff over; but for people like him, it was pretty much chump change. In fact, he probably made five times that in a few hours. Making a donation like that, once a month was literally nothing to him. It wasn't even the equivalent of him having a hundred dollars in his pocket.

In fact, him having the equivalent of a hundred dollars, with his affluence, was him having well over fifty million if his math was even close. That was the equivalent of a hundred dollars to him. A hundred and fifty thousand didn't make a dent in his pockets.

So either the previous funder didn't have the money of his caliber, or they figured her practice was not profitable enough to continue funding.

Which he took personal offense to, all things considered; she being his woman and all.

"Oh? Is that so? We...we did lose funding recently...I was a little worried about it. I didn't tell you, because I didn't want you to be concerned and I didn't want to bother you, but don't worry. I already remade the budgets and the kids should be fine for this month—" She started speaking and he gave a slightly irritated look.

"You should've already received next month's funding." He proclaimed in a gruff, certain that he gave Sebastian the go ahead to give it to her.

"I will ensure some of the finances that you can spare goes to the clinic, sir. Shall I ensure it receives the entire sixty-five percent?"

"...Aa."

At least, he recalled he did, as short and distracted his approval was at the time.

Then again, that was only two days prior to when the Karin-Indra situation occurred. She probably didn't even know it was given, especially when he never addressed it. So maybe he was jumping the gun, telling her about it like this. He never even told her he knew about the lost funding, so she couldn't know it was there.

"H-Huh?" She sounded out in surprise, answering his theories. She didn't know. She didn't know the money for the clinic was sitting there and ready to be used however she saw fit. And he really should've figured, considering his name would have been on the donation receipt.

With the way Sakura always thanked him for smaller things, he was sure she would have thanked him even more gratuitously, knowing he did such a thing without her request. She probably would've even argued, as he predicted she was going to, about him giving the funds without her request.

"Sebastian told me you lost funding for the clinic the same day you got the news. Don't blame him; he was just looking after you like I told him to. He overheard your meeting with Zetsu and told me about it. Out of concern." He told her honestly. Her eyes widened and she blushed with embarrassment.

"You mean...you knew that day? And are you saying that—" He cut her off by tenderly burying his face further into her palm and his words.

"All of it should already be there. Whatever adjustments you made won't be necessary. You should be able to continue operating the clinic as you already have been, no changes needed." He confirmed for her, knowing what she was asking and making her eyes widen more as he stroked her face adoringly, and looking into her eyes just the same.

"I understand if you feel that's not my place. I'm sorry; and I won't interfere like that again, unless you directly ask me to. I just couldn't let that bastard cut off funding with you the way he did. Not with the way he did it. So I replaced it." He proclaimed.

If someone cut him off as abruptly as they did her—the way Zetsu apparently did it—he would have been on a warpath. No one had the audacity to pull such a thing on him like that, and while he was certain Sakura didn't have that kind of mindset, he still wasn't going to let it slide. Either way, it was something he had been meaning to look further into...if not for everything that'd occurred and distracted said intention.

He didn't mind giving her the donations at all, but he wanted to know who was the bastard to abruptly cut her funding the way they did, why, and whether they truly deserved his retaliation against such a transgression or not. And even if said party had a valid reason for cutting off the funding, he wasn't going to let such disrespect towards her, as his woman, slide without repercussion.

But that was another issue for another time considering, since that happened, he never had the time to fully investigate it. And for the cruise, and with everything else they had going on, he simply didn't have the time to fully confront it yet. There were more pressing matters.

It was still on his to-do list, despite all that.

"S-Sasuke-kun...you didn't have to do that. Loving you and being with you is enough for me. You loving me is all I need...not your money. I told Sebastian not to tell you so it wouldn't burden you. So you wouldn't be bothered or feel compelled to chip in like that." Sakura explained the synonymous words Sebastian told him that day.

She didn't want to burden him. She didn't want to take advantage of him, even with the fact that she, very well, could, if she actually wanted to. She could literally snatch his wallet from his offering hand and skip off to do whatever she wanted with it, as long as she came back to him. She could have anything she wanted from him, so long as she stayed by his side and loved him solely.

The most he needed from her, like she said, was her love, and she had already given that. Like he told her last night, she had given him everything already. Having her and her love was everything to him, and he didn't need anything else.

And whether she wanted it or not, he was willing and going to give her everything this world had to offer because of that exact reason. Because he loved her, she'd have whatever she wanted at his behest. Her wish was his command, and anyone who wanted to stand in the way of that could suffer the repercussions of doing so.

He didn't care what it was. If his woman wanted it, she'd have it.

Except another man. That; he couldn't allow her.

"I wanted to. I want to provide for you. I want to give you anything and everything you could ever want in this world. I want you to rely on me. I want to be the man you love and rely on, no matter the cost." He claimed lovingly, brushing his lips against her cheek and his nose against hers as well, and told her words she had given him at a time he didn't truly need them.

And they were words he had given her when he felt that she did.

"Sakura...I've already told you, I'm yours. All of me, is yours. My body, my mind, my heart, my very soul; it's all yours. My money is the very least of what you can take from me, when you've already taken all of me." He promised her, even as she gave a discomforted look in her eyes, and he stroked her face in a comforting gesture.

"It doesn't bother me, and you're not a burden to me. I know the kids are important to you and I don't mind helping at all." He proclaimed to her once again, as he had before. Their locked gazes further added onto his honesty as he continued to reassure her.

"You're the most important thing in this world to me and I want you to be happy. You're everything to me, and I will do anything and everything to make sure you're happy. And by that definition, anything that's important to you is important to me too. If you're worried or stressed about something, and I can do something about it, then just say so." He ended, only to watch a slight look of discomfort come to her eyes again.

"It's just that...I don't want you to feel obligated to provide your money for me, Sasuke-kun. I don't want..." She hesitantly revealed what was obviously her other concern about it. Taking his money, even if he was the one who offered it...and he bet her problem with that was one of those dastardly thoughts of hers that was probably still present, even if he did away with her ever leaving him for it ever again.

The difference in their status and wealth. That's what it was really about. She didn't want to seem or feel like a golddigger and he hated her thinking like that, even if, for now, it couldn't be helped. Even though she never asked him for a single dime she didn't work for. Not even once.

He'd have to ease Sakura into accepting his wealth and the fact that he was even willing to give it all to her, if she ever needed billions like that. He'd give her the world, even if she didn't want it. There was nothing on this planet he wouldn't and couldn't give her, other than being free of him.

She just had to know it and accept it.

"If there is anything you ever need, or want...you can rely on me for it. Just tell me, and I'll provide it. All you have to do is say you want it and I'll give you whatever you want, because I want to." He said, staring into her still shocked eyes. He read the almost blatant disbelief in her eyes and with that, he kissed her, and continued stroking her face.

"Sakura, listen to me. And please believe and trust me when I say this…I love you. I love you, and I'd give you the world if you just so much as ask for it. And I'd burn it all, if that's what you wanted to do with it." He whispered against her lips, gaining her complete attention, before he continued.

And his words were all too honest as he spoke them.

"I just love you that much. It has nothing to do with me feeling obligated. It's not out of obligation. It's my desire. I want to give you everything you want, even if it means the deaths of billions. You can ask almost anything of me, and it will be done." He said, shifting his face affectionately against her own just for the feeling of her.

"And all of it; it's out of loving you and you loving me, Again, my money is the very least of what you can take from me." He finalized. Because again, money was the minimum of what he wanted to give her. Helping her with funding was nowhere near giving her the world, as he claimed he would do at her request.

But it was a start, and would have to suffice for now. Giving her just that wouldn't be truly up to his standards; but if she was content with it, then, for the meantime, it'd be enough.

"You didn't force me to give the money. You're not forcing me to do anything. You've never forced me into anything. You never even asked for it. So just accept it; not as a favor, but a gift...like this necklace you gifted me. It's my gift to you and the kids. That's all." He rebutted tenderly and truthfully, and watched her eyes shift down to the accessory he wore everyday from the moment he got it on.

Her hand caressed the gleaming silver, wishing she could have gotten him something even more. She wished she could give him the world the way he just offered. She unfortunately didn't have such power.

All she could give him was herself.

"Thank you, Sasuke-kun." She suddenly said, and before he could even respond, she kissed him.

A reward for something he didn't even ask for a reward for. The woman he loved was kissing him with gracious gratitude and love, and it was the best reward he had ever gotten for doing something charitable. Especially when he wasn't truly expecting one. At most, he expected her 'thank you' because that's just how she was.

But to be rewarded like this by her for such an act—

"I love you." She moaned the second time as they kissed a bit more heatedly.

Hell yes, he was going to do it again, despite just claiming to her that he wouldn't interfere unless she told him so. If this was his reward for doing something she appreciated, he was going to do it as much as he could.

And damn, now, he wanted to make love to her. Right now.

"And for the record…you're my world." She suddenly whispered between their kisses and he blanked. Of course, her saying that whilst kissing him like this was enough to make him lose his mind and very thoughts and he was all too enraptured with being in love with her.

His kisses became more adamant. His tongue claimed hers and his hands were rubbing and gripping at her body and the dress he wanted to claw off her already.

"You're my everything. I love you too. I love you, Sakura—" He huskily whispered back, kissing her jawline.

And then there were knocks on the partition again.

KNOCK KNOCK

His eyes snapped open, filling with a different kind of rage than the one he felt last night.

This was different. Very different.

He forgot they were in the limo. He forgot they had a time limit. He forgot he had to be torn from her. And he fucking forgot about the entire evening he was going to endure. He was pleasurably enveloped in his world those knocks just ripped him away from.

And holy shit, it just pissed him off.

"You've gotta be fucking kidding me...that wasn't ten minutes." He grumbled against her only for Sakura to chuckle and look out at the almost neutral-chaotic scene at the window behind him.

"Unfortunately, I'm guessing it was." She lovingly and the gesturing shift of her head and eyes made him look where she was.

And horrifyingly enough, he had to glare at the window, seeing the paparazzi already flickering and flashing their cameras. They were already flashing their lights in the sunset setting of the pier and not just only at his car but at other people. Annoyingly, it was one of the things he was dreading, once again.

And he was already fucking annoyed as already started raving, without him having even stepping out of the car.

"THAT'S SASUKE UCHIHA'S CAR! GET THE PHOTO! OVER THERE! SASUKE UCHIHA!" He already heard their muffled and frantic yells as they continued with their photos of nothing. The windows were tinted and the car hadn't even stopped yet. It had only slowed. They couldn't even see inside and they were already being annoying.

Just because he was arriving.

What the hell were they going to do when Sakura stepped out of the car? He didn't see security to keep them at bay. Just steel barricades they were currently abiding by for now.

He couldn't promise to keep his composure if they rushed at her the way they did to him sometimes. He wasn't sure he could keep his civility if they tried getting in her face, with or without him beside her.

It was one thing to harass and annoy him. He was used to it already, having gone through it most of his life. But for them to harass and annoy her, he was not going to let that happen without retribution.

Not a chance in hell.

"Goddamnit. Goddamn annoying vultures." He snarled with scorn.

And just like that, once again, he wasn't ready for tonight. He wasn't ready at all for having to restrain himself tonight. He wasn't ready to be torn from her like this, and—

KNOCK KNOCK

The sound happening on the partition again and the fact that the car was now stopped almost made him want to scream. Because he knew what it meant. He knew he was about to start this dreadful evening that wouldn't end for the next four hours and the last one and a half of which he wouldn't have her. A dreadful evening he didn't even want to deal with. He was already groaning about it.

Only to be eased by Sakura's chuckle and to be even more aggravated at the same time as she eased off his lap and sat beside him instead.

"They do seem a bit excessive." She commented, watching the flickering flashes of their cameras. Sasuke scoffed and just mentally prepared himself. And he had to mentally prepare himself more than ever before.

Especially because they were going to probably be even more in a frenzy the moment she got out the car.

"Just stay by my side and do your best to ignore them. Try not to even look at them." He instructed with scorn and whilst also glaring at the window. He was starting to grudgingly put on his gloves.

KNOCK KNOCK

"I know, dammit! I already have the goddamn gloves on!" He couldn't help but yell, and Sakura noticed it. He was upset at an inconvenience he didn't want and only she could comfort him.

"Sasuke-kun…" She called him. His irritated gaze flashed to her...only for her to kiss him. It was a kiss so sweet and so tender, he forgot he was irritated. He was lost to her lips and already closing his eyes, only for it to end just as it began.

"I'm here. I'll be right beside you." She claimed and it somehow calmed him.

He never had someone tell him such words before. In all his years of having to face off against paparazzi and the press, he always had to handle it by himself and there wasn't that much comfort in it from even Kakashi, Sebastian or Mari. And to be honest, while he never complained about it, it was always nerve wracking to deal with the press. It's why he ignored and avoided them as much as possible. Especially as a young heir.

But now, with her at his side, he didn't have to care about any of that. In fact, he really should take his own advice and ignore them. Instead, he should focus on her. She'd be right beside him, and it was an appreciated relief. He gave one last kiss to her as the car stopped.

"Stay right next to me. Don't get out of the car without me." Sasuke instructed, getting a nod from her.

"Are my lips still alright? I have more in the clutch, Mari said...if I needed to reapply." Sakura said much to his slight irritation. Did the maid foresee he wouldn't be able to hold back and gave that to Sakura? Or was it just precaution? Either way, it felt like an added tease to Mari's earlier antics.

And to him, she was absolutely perfect, upon inspection. They weren't smeared or messy. The lipstick was still neat on her lips.

And she was so beautiful.

"You're perfect. In every way." He testified.

KNOCK KNOCK

The knock this time was from his window. When he turned to look, there Sebastian stood, waiting for the returned knocks he usually gave back to indicate he was ready to be brought out. He couldn't help but grimace at what was his reality.

'Let's get it over with.' He mentally grumbled before giving the two taps back on his window. With that cue, Sebastian was opening his car door and he was stepping out of the car to the expected flashing of cameras that were already flickering. His name was being called out and he was already glaring as he always did.

But Sebastian patted him on the shoulder and gestured silently with a tilt of his head towards his woman, who was waiting to exit the car. He looked down at her, seeing her await his cue to step out, with her clutch on her wrist. And if he was right, she was probably even wondering if she should just exit the other side and was awaiting his word.

Which she was right to do, with the request he gave her. He was thankful she waited, because there was no way he wanted her to exit without being right next to him. The paparazzi might've jumped the barricades and crowded her as she did and as he already predicted, he'd make a scene about it, if they did so.

With that he reached for her hand, and she took it. As gently as he could, he pulled her from the car. And as he did the camera flickers and yells went even more haywire.

As expected.

"SASUKE UCHIHA! SASUKE! OVER HERE! WHO IS THE WOMAN WITH YOU?! CAN YOU GIVE US A COMMENT?! MISS! MADAM! WOMAN WITH THE PINK HAIR; WHO ARE YOU?! WHAT RELATIONS DO YOU HAVE WITH THE UCHIHA!?" They were collectively screaming over and already shoving each other to get the perfect photo.

He sighed tiredly, thankful as Sakura just walked beside him and gave a comforting rub to his arm with her free hand.

"Young Master Sasuke will not be answering any questions at this time. Please understand and keep your distance." Sebastian said to the press, already aiding him from dealing with them.

"COMMENT FROM YOU THEN, SIR? IS HE ROMANTICALLY INVOLVED? IS THIS SOME KIND OF AFFAIR? THERE WAS SPECULATION OF HIM HAVING A RELATIONSHIP WITH MEI TERUMI! IS THAT ALLEGATION FALSE?!" The godforsaken and meaningless questions continued and Sasuke glared as he seriously started to pull on Sakura to walk faster as he led her down the pier and towards where they would be boarding.

He was even disregarding that she was in heels and only had the after thought of it as he listened to the click-clack of her heels increase to match his pace. And he only had more to be grateful to her for as she kept up with his suddenly increased pace without a single complaint.

She truly was meant for him.

And with that, he held her hand tighter. Especially because of what they just fucking screamed for her to hear. He honestly didn't even know that was a rumor until now, and he usually knew when his name was printed. On that note, it probably came off some online forum—some random source that had seen him and Terumi together and wanted to get famous, without knowing the facts.

The internet truly couldn't be stopped. Not even by him.

Still, Sakura having to hear something like that after what they just got over, was not okay. It was the worst possible thing that could happen after what they had been through not even a full twenty-four hours ago.

He just finished fixing Sakura just thinking he was going to be with another woman. He just got her back, and now thanks to their baseless rumors and assumptions, he wasn't stupid enough to think it wouldn't seep into her the way Indra's words did. They were asking questions they didn't even know the answer to, and he slowly looked to Sakura worriedly for her reaction to it all.

Only to feel her grip his arm a bit tighter and for her gaze to be on the ground. She even seemed to shift a bit closer so she could hold him tighter and now, he was giving a tight grip to their enwrapped fingers. Because he felt her.

He knew that fucking assumption they were still screaming about was on her mind just from her hold on him. She had even been face to face with the named woman before. And after what they just got over, he already knew it was bothering her. The same way just the thought that he was to be married to some other woman, or that he touched and kissed another woman, she was bothered and thinking about it.

And he had to stop it, right now.

He wasn't going to let something like that get between them again, especially when he had most certainly asserted she was his everything. He had just finished losing his mind over her and getting her back from the Otsutsuki bastard, and he'd be damned if the godforsaken paparazzi were going to be the reason he lost her again. He was not going to lose her again because of the fucking paparazzi, and their chaos.

He'd rather lose her to Indra. That would be more tolerable for him, than the goddamn paparazzi being the reason he lost her, despite that it would lead him to committing murder.

So, he had to address it now, before it festered and led to the blowback he got, just from Karin and Indra's lies.

"Don't listen to them. They're just prying and reaching for a story. Nothing has ever happened between me and Terumi…I swear—" He was already quietly explaining, squeezing her hand.

Only for her other hand to stroke the arm it was still holding, and to squeeze his hand back. She cut him off, finally looking him in the eyes whilst walking by his side.

"I know. I believe you. Don't worry." She said and then gave him that comforting smile that he was officially certain was made just for him. A smile that brought him a thousand reliefs. A smile that made him grateful and a smile that made him love her. That smile that gave him an actual meaning to his life.

A smile he wanted to protect and keep for the rest of his days.

And once again, he was more than grateful to her. Once again, he wished he could kiss her. Again, he wished they didn't have to be here tonight and for the next three weeks. He wished they could have stayed at her apartment, or his mansion, with nothing to do but to love her.

But life was too cruel for that. The only saving grace he had was that she was here, next to him, and that she was now giving him that gentle and comforting smile she always gave him when he felt stressed, angry or frustrated. Always; as if she sensed it.

And it was just another thing he loved her for.

"Do you have to go through this all the time?" She questioned with a chuckle. In response, he rolled his eyes and glared at the still raving paparazzi following them from behind the barricades, while Sebastian did his best to keep control of them.

"Not all the time...just sometimes. Keeping up appearances and all that nonsense. They usually no better than to follow me around or pester me." He explained irritatedly. They had finally reached where they would be boarding, and the process was just about to start from what he could tell. They got here on time enough to just start boarding like he hoped.

The less time spent in the eyes of the press, the better, as he was always taught.

"Is it really that bad being in the limelight?" Sakura asked him and he sighed as a start to his answer.

"It's more than annoying. And the paparazzi for the tabloids are the worst. You heard them. They're ruthless. They're always fishing for a story, whether it's true or not. Once those hounds get a whiff of something, they go after it like it's the biggest deal, even when it's nothing." He grumbled, caressing her hand with his thumb, as his eyes lowered with a bit of guilt.

He told her all this...and was selfishly expecting her to endure it. If they bothered her, and it got to a point where it was enough for her to deal with before he could make it a law to ban them from coming within even a hundred yards of her, he'd only have to ask her to endure it until he could fix it.

And he thought it was selfish of him, shoving her into a life like his. Her privacy at their constant attention, especially if he wasn't with her, was not something she was accustomed to and he was sure of that. Sakura was a normal person.

"So, again, please don't listen to them. None of what they say is true. They just want to know about you. I honestly knew they'd go nuts over showing up with you. This really is a first for me and I had a feeling they'd rave like this, just because it's me showing up with you." He sighed and continued walking with her, his eyes closing to collect himself. Especially with what he was about to say to her.

"I'm hoping they won't bother you after this. But just in case security will already be prepared for you regardless, so it shouldn't be much of a problem. The only thing is, I should make preparations for the clinic as well. If they're already like this, I have no doubt they'll try to follow or bother you, and maybe even the kids." He informed bluntly, so she could be prepared.

He wasn't going to keep anything from her anymore. She was going to know anything and everything he was doing to ensure that she always could rely on his word. At least, he would tell her anything he had to answer for.

He wasn't going to tell her about what he did to Danzo and how that's why he was desperately working to ensure her protection. Not yet anyway. Not unless it somehow came up. She knew Danzo was free and that the man was the reason for her injury, but she still didn't tell her that he gave the man more of a reason to go after him than ever before.

He didn't want to tell her that he was afraid the man would do worse to her than what he and Itachi did to him. He didn't even know what her reaction would be to that. He only had the argument that, for himself, it was all justified.

The bastard hurt her, and he deserved to be hurt back. If he could've killed him, he would've. He obviously had the potential to kill for her over far lesser reasons, and after hearing her scream in pain from the injury Danzo caused, after the bastard said the things he said about her to his face, he honestly wished he did.

Even if his threat worked, and Danzo came after him alone, he just didn't want her to be a target. He didn't care about anything else.

But he knew Sakura wouldn't take it well. She'd be worried, and not for herself but for him, and he knew it. That's just the woman she was. It's why he didn't want her involved as much as possible. It's why he kept her in the dark. It's why he didn't want her to know she was going to be followed and protected at all times.

Because the woman he loved wasn't a damsel in distress. She was a goddamn warrior who'd fight for those she loved and he knew that. And for him, he was certain she'd go above and beyond what she had ever done before. If she knew just how much of a threat Danzo truly was to him, she'd get involved and it was the last thing he wanted.

At least the paparazzi were finally good for something. They gave him an excuse to tell her about the security that'd be around her when they returned. Now, she'd know she was being watched and guarded, rather than it just being a vague promise of his protection that he never readdressed with her.

It wasn't going to be all about Danzo now, and therefore, it would keep her safe. All preparations Itachi had to make had already been made, even during her disappearance. Because he was always going to get her back and he was always going to keep her safe.

...Not to mention, said prepared security was also looking for her during her disappearance. When they got back, she'd be protected at all times, even without his presence. Just as he wanted.

"I really don't think that's necessary, Sasuke-kun." She sweetly dismissed, giving an assuring squeeze to his hand. And he only gave her a painfully loving gaze, before he lowered his lips against her ear, despite the paparazzi still flickering their cameras right now.

And if they got the perfect picture, he might allow it to be published. Depending on the content of the story they wanted to write along with it, and the source it would be published to.

The Ino-woman would certainly be pleased.

"Trust me. It will be." He murmured, lowering her hand, lingering his lips affectionately on her ear for a brief moment.

"Especially since you're mine." He whispered into her ear, causing her to blush, flush and suddenly shift her forehead and cheek affectionately against his neck.

"You always worry so much, Anata." She gently whispered against him. He squeezed her hand, giving a small stroke of his fingers through her hair with his free one.

"I have no choice but to, my love." He mumbled back.

'With how much I love you…no choice at all.' He kept to himself.

"This is absolutely absurd! Donald has my entire agenda for tonight!" A man dressed expensively complained, passing Sasuke and Sakura by with a woman dressed in gold on his arm.

"Don't worry dear. I'm sure Donald and Marianne will be with us shortly." She responded and Sasuke grimaced and took a stressed drink of his champagne.

Again, he was dreading tonight. He was officially on edge right now, even with Sakura at his side and with a glass of champagne in his hand.

The boarding went smoothly and people were starting to gather in the large grand hall to mingle and unwind first, except for one hiccup. One that made him as tense as he was right now and it was a shared irking by fellow elites as heard, although not for his same worries and concerns.

For whatever reason, where personal servants like Sebastian were to board and accompany their employers typically, tonight there was apparently "a change in policy". For whatever reason, Sebastian was to board with the other servants for a meet and greet. To "get on the same page" was security's excuse.

And he didn't like it one bit, just as much as other elites complained about it for him. Of course, outwardly, he nodded Sebastian off for leave. Inwardly, he was flipping tables.

But it wasn't for the same reason as the others. They were upset about being left unchaperoned.

He was worried about Sebastian not being around Sakura if he got pulled away for a private talk all of a sudden. He was worried she'd be left alone and he was worried about what that would entail.

What if Indra got to her while he was away? What if he or someone else touched his most precious treasure, without Sebastian here?

And now that he thought about it, was the bastard the reason for the change in policy? Was it that bastard's doing to get her alone? He made all the servants board and gather in one place, so he could seize a chance to get to her? Is that why only Otsutsuki servants were currently here, serving drinks? Was he waiting for the moment he stepped away from her?

Knowing the conniving bastard Indra was, he probably did. He must have figured he was going to bring Sakura, and ordered for such a situation. He got Sebastian out of the picture first, knowing they'd be separated at some point. He probably had his eye on her the moment she boarded with him, and was going to take his chance to approach her the moment he could, for whatever godforsaken reason the bastard would have for doing so.

Sasuke wondered if Hagoromo knew such an inconvenience had occurred to him and other elites, over the bastard being a conniving, opportunistic prick. If it really was his doing.

He was just theorizing out of anxiety, truly.

'Stop it, Sasuke.' He told himself harshly. He was probably getting ahead of himself. He was most likely making a big deal over nothing. Would Hagoromo even allow Indra to do something like that? Probably not…right?

For all he knew, this was truly Hagoromo's doing for a three week long event like this, even if it never happened before. Maybe the old man wanted to make sure things were organized and that personal servants acted accordingly. Whatever the case, Sebastian would tell him everything.

But could it be Indra find some way around Hagoromo? What if this really was the bastard's doing and his father was none the wiser to even the reason why?

He couldn't put it past the Otsutsuki.

Damn it, it was way too soon for him to already start losing his shit right now. He would have been alright if Sebastian could be beside her. But like the other affluent people in the room, he had no idea when the butler would be able to join her side and he didn't want to be pulled away from her before then. He kept on checking his watch and was searching the crowd for Sebastian with acute observation.

Not a single personal servant in the aggravated crowd. Just the Otsutsuki servers.

Only for Sakura to, of course, get his attention.

"Sasuke-kun, calm down." She whispered to him, obviously sensing his distress. He gave her a turmoiled glare before looking away to the floor. This was not how he wanted tonight to go, as much as he was dreading it. He would have felt better if Sebastian was with her as he expected him to be. He wouldn't be like this if Sebastian or someone he trusted could be beside her.

"Sebastian was supposed to be with you at all times tonight. Even for my meeting. He doesn't have to accompany me. He's supposed to be with you. This is the first time this has ever happened and..." He growled his honest frustration to her.

"And if I get pulled away—" He was about to continue only for her free hand to cup his face and pull it towards hers, whilst the other held her own glass of champagne.

"Then everything will be just fine and I'll wait for you to come to me. Stop worrying. You're already dealing with enough tonight to be worrying about me." She ended his worries and his eyes gave that smoldering look. The one that told her he loved her without having to say it at all. A grateful, smitten gaze that valued her as the world itself.

Sebastian better get to them soon. The man better be by her side when he came for her or he was going to have words with Hagoromo for making him leave her unattended.

Fuck. Weren't Neji and Gaara supposed to be here? Were they running late or were they busy with something else on board first? Had he just not encountered them yet? He'd even feel better with them beside her if Sebastian wasn't. At least she knew them and he knew the two would not allow for Indra to swoop in on her in front of them. Especially if they were with her and she expressed distaste in just his approach. He actually believed either one of them would have told Indra to fuck off.

Neji would, with the fact that she was a good friend to a woman he apparently fancied. And Gaara would because of their apparent friendship that lasted for years, even with distance.

"Alright…" He murmured, before his eyes started scanning the room again.

And his eyes caught sight of a woman he recognized. A woman he had spoken with before and most importantly, she was a medical professional. And he saw an opportunity.

He had to do this now. If he could get Sakura to make fast friends with a few people she wouldn't be alone, or available for Indra to get to, if that's what this was. He needed to hurry up and surround her with people with the same mind as her.

He probably shouldn't even just stop with people solely into medicine. Maybe he should introduce her to a couple of philanthropists as well. They damn near threw their money at causes like hers. It would be worthwhile to introduce her. He wasn't sure if he knew anyone who had anything to do with childcare but if he found them, he'd send them her way, even if they were men.

He could tolerate it. Somewhat. At least, he hoped he could tolerate it, if he just thought about it as another day at work with her. Her conversing with another man wasn't avoidable, especially with how beautiful she looked tonight.

He'd be able to tolerate it more, if Sebastian was beside her. And hell, if he could even just notify Gaara and Neji that she was here with him, maybe they'd look after her or even join those conversations with her. That would further put him at ease. To think his partnered rivals would be a saving grace.

He was never going to admit it to them. Not even on his deathbed.

Thank goodness Unohana noticed him and started to approach first.

"Uchiha-san, it's a pleasure to see you." She greeted him with a light bow. She was wearing a black turtleneck dress, covering her chest and it ran smooth and elegant down her legs, being sleeveless as well. Her black hair was long and straight, parted at the middle and flowing down to her hips.

The woman's deepsea and kind blue eyes came back up to greet him gently and cordially. Her face was that of a beautiful twenty-something year old, although Sasuke was certain she was older than that. She had been in practice for nearly twenty years. Or more in fact, if he remembered right. Was it in fact thirty? He couldn't truly recall.

"It's been a while, Unohana. I hope you've been well." He greeted her with cordial respect. The woman smiled.

"Likewise. I have been meaning to thank you about some investments you've made lately. It did not go unnoticed. I was hoping to speak to you about it, if you have the time later." She said, only to notice Sakura.

Unohana gave a noticeably warm smile.

"Forgive me. Where are my manners? I see you are with company Uchiha-san. Greetings. I'm Dr. Yachiru Unohana. And you are?" She said, looking at Sakura who was currently looking at the woman with absolute awe. She gave a shy smile back.

"M-My name is Sakura. U-Uh, Sakura Haruno. It's nice to meet you, Doctor. I-I—" She started stuttering, in a way Sasuke could recognize and was used to. Sakura was starstruck. She knew who Unohana was and could only dream of meeting the woman face to face as she was now.

That was honestly the best thing he could've learned for tonight. Maybe she'd stick to Unohana, if the woman wasn't busy herself. Or maybe he'd introduce her to other pillars she obviously admired and she could spend the evening that way, when he was away.

Sakura appearingly already forgot about him, despite being right next to her. Maybe he found his solution about having to leave her, even without Sebastian at her side.

That, or this proved he was really worrying too much like Sakura said he always did. He was making a big deal over nothing, just like the paparrazzi, when he knew fairly well that she could handle herself. She was a grown adult woman, who was beautiful beyond compare, and she could interact with other people without him, just as he had to do constantly.

And he knew the "beautiful beyond compare" part was what bothered him most. What man wouldn't want to approach and gaze at such a beautiful diamond? Who wouldn't be tempted to steal such a jewel right from underneath him? Even if that diamond was his, he was certain the temptation was too egregious. She was too beautiful of a jewel to resist. He certainly couldn't resist her allure. Neither could Indra apparently.

He'd be a fool believe lesser men could even fight the desire she gave to elites like him and Indra.

"I'm sorry. I'm a bit nervous. I've read a few articles of yours, and I just am a little speechless at the moment. Just—I was such a big fan of your article for emergency wound care and post-surgery prognosis. 'Op-Post-Op' I believe it was called. I've read it just about…ten times. It was so detailed and full, and it always eases my anxiety about performing on future patients. I'm sorry. You must get this all the time." Sakura explained her nervousness, and Unohana gave a gentle chuckle.

"No need to apologize. An aspiring doctor, are you? Usually, it's always the rookies who are drawn to that article. It's truly nothing special to veteran doctors. In fact, I wrote it specifically for beginners like yourself." Unohana caught on and Sakura blushed.

"I-I finish my Doctorate this year, Ma'am. Then I was going to start my residency a bit after." She informed, shifting her eyes timidly. Unohana chuckled again.

"Well, it pleases me that a young aspiring doctor such as yourself has read my article as many times as you say. We need such caring doctors in our world. Especially one willing to read a fifteen page article for wound care ten times." Unohana said kindly and placed a reassuring hand on her bicep.

"And you aren't alone or the only to have first surgery jitters. So did I. I was terrified like you wouldn't believe. A person's life is in your hands and you have to keep a clear head for it, which almost seems impossible to do for your first time." Unohana started advising and comforting, looking Sakura in her awed eyes.

"But just meeting you here and now, I'm absolutely certain you'll do just fine. A doctor who cares and has the passion in your eyes and heart always does splendidly. Try not to worry so much. Have faith in your skills and knowledge." The woman ended and Sakura gave a grand smile that was only given when she was overjoyed.

"I promise to do my best, Unohana-sensei!" She claimed with that smile and the woman gave her a reassuring and proud squeeze.

"I know you will." The woman said, making Sakura glow even more. Sasuke's brow furrowed.

Damn. Not even he got her to smile like that.

Sure, she glowed. Sure, she'd smile at him and it'd feel like everything was sunshine and rainbows. Sure, she felt like life itself whenever she smiled at him as adoringly as she always did. Especially when she was against him.

But that smile on her face right now, the absolute joyous relief and reassurance she had, was honestly a first. Or technically, maybe it was a second, because he did receive this look before. It just wasn't to the extent she was showing now.

And was he seriously jealous of that? Certainly; he had no reason to be jealous of that. Especially because it was another woman she was giving that smile to.

But what was he so currently irked about then? That she wasn't paying attention to him and possibly even forgot about him? That Sakura seemingly admired the woman more than she could admire him, with that smile he didn't remember her ever giving him? He felt his eyebrow twitch, as he didn't find the answer. Just irritation.

Good fucking Lord, could Sakura please stop finding ways to annoy him, without doing anything to intentionally do so? He couldn't even fully blam her for it, Or could he stop being annoyed by anything and everything around her? It was annoying as hell to feel like this for no reason.

So, whichever one was doable. Whatever God there was above, he was begging them to just do whatever to make having her a bit more bearable.

'I'd really appreciate it.' He blandly ended to his mental and silent pleas, to whatever God above. All whille he was almost certain said divinity wouldn't grant him that luxury.

"Uchiha-sama. You're here." He heard, his attention being grabbed as Sakura continued her conversation with Unohana that went into the article and Sakura asking questions about it.

Oh no. Was he already about to be pulled away? None of the personal servants still had yet to return to their prospects, let alone Sebastian. And he still didn't know when Sebastian would be free and by her side.

Could he leave her here with Unohana? What if Unohana got pulled away as well, before he could end whatever conversation he was about to have?

"And you are?" Sasuke inquired the man.

"Hiro Takata, of Takata Realties." The man answered and Sasuke nodded his head.

Much to his lament.

He really was about to be pulled away from Sakura. He had to talk with this man, privately. They had to converse about some potential properties for him to own and the new expenses of his Headquarters, with the shooting having happened and that he truly wanted to remodel his entire floor after that terrifying moment.

"Aa. I was expecting to talk with you." Sasuke acknowledged, taking a sip of his champagne.

"Is it possible to talk in private? Are you busy at the moment?" Takata asked, and Sasuke wished he could say yes. He wished he could tell him he was busy here and that he couldn't leave.

But he obviously wasn't and giving a glance to Sakura, and seeing her continue to converse with Unohana avidly, he mentally sighed and prepared himself, as he had been doing for the last half hour they've been aboard.

It couldn't be helped.

"Sure. Just a moment." He said and turned to the woman he loved, still in conversation with the woman she admired.

"Please, excuse me, Sakura." He cut into their conversation, which he vaguely made out to be about suturing, before they stopped to look at him for his interruption.

"I'm sorry for intruding. I have to go for a bit. I just wanted to tell you if I'm not back in fifteen minutes, wait for me out on the front deck, and I'll come find you. I'll figure things out with Sebastian. Just wait for me there." He told her, and gave a conservative and even secretive stroke to her free hand with his own.

And he mentally glowered at the gloves being in the way. Just as he thought, it wasn't enough to touch her with them on. They were in the goddamn way for true satisfaction and comfort.

"I'll be back as soon as I can." He promised her meaningfully.

And the look he received then, made him feel foolish for being even slightly jealous at the one she gave Unohana. It made him feel foolish for feeling jealous over anyone being around her.

Because she only gave him an assuring smile of her own, full of adorance, and stroked his hand with promise with enough love he felt it within himself.

"Alright. I'll be there. Text me if anything." She reminded him that was an option and he was grateful for said reminder. He could text her. He could call her. He could contact her and know if she was okay or not.

But he forgot he could. Considering he spent these last few days not being able to.

And their hands slid from each other, while he left with the man to go somewhere a bit more private for their confidential talk.

And although he had his reassurances, even though Sebastian should be by her side at any moment, even though he could contact her, walking away from her was as torturous as he expected it to be. He didn't want to leave her side at all.

And he didn't dare turn around for another glance at her, as much as he wanted one.

Sakura was on the front deck, waiting, as Sasuke told her to, earlier. He didn't come back in fifteen minutes and Unohana had someone else to talk to, after a while. She looked down at her phone in hand, checking if he messaged her back yet, only to see he hadn't.

"I'm out on the deck. Right by the railing all the way in front." Her text to him read. It was delivered and the smartphone let her know he had seen it. He probably couldn't respond yet.

And as she stared out at the beautiful dark sea, she couldn't help but remember what Unohana told her as he left them.

"So, you're his lover. How long has it been?" The dark haired woman correctly pointed out and inquired, making Sakura flinch and blush all in the same moment. She had to take a sip of her drink.

"A-Ah…well…" She didn't deny it and only blushed away from the woman she admired. Unohana chuckled warmly.

"No need to be flustered. It's quite obvious just with him showing up with you alone." Unohana said, similarly to what Sasuke claimed earlier. He said he knew her presence with him would cause the paparrazzi to go wild. It probably wasn't ignorant to think her presence with him would bring note to the prestigious others. And while Sakura was sure they'd want to know, she wasn't sure if she should truly answer and confirm it.

Something Unohana appeared to catch on to.

"I'm honestly surprised he has come to find someone. I've felt he's been lonely for a while and I wouldn't want to ruin that. Unless Uchiha-san gives me expressed permission, I won't tell a soul." Unohana promised, with just her gaze.

"I know the Uchiha. They're always quite private." She acknowledged and Sakura blankly swirled her glass.

"H-How well do you know Sasuke-kun?" She couldn't help but ask.

The sinking of her gut as the woman claimed to know him and with how absolutely beautiful and successful she was, didn't allow her to hold the question back as she wanted to.

"We've had a few meetings here and there, both directly and indirectly. People like us aren't always available. For instance, a medical chairman I'm in partnership with met with him a few months ago to speak about insurance plans. Did he tell you about it?" Unohana asked and Sakura's eyebrows raised with obvious unknowing.

"N-No. An insurance plan? Through what?" Sakura inquired.

"Through him, of course. He apparently intends to provide it and it will be most exclusive to the poor. Almost free. It's even scheduled to be in full effect by the next effective date." Unohana informed and Sakura's eyes widened with that.

Had Sasuke really done something like that? Had he started an insurance that would do well to those who couldn't even afford it, or didn't have assistance? He went out of his way, and spent his money to do something she considered beyond amazing?

She couldn't help but love him more for it if he did. Maybe she could use it for the kids. It would cut many costs, if it was truly affordable the way Unohana was describing.

Hell, knowing him he'd probably just provide said insurance for the kids if she asked him to.

"Really?!" Sakura questioned excitedly and Unohana gave an amused and delighted smile at her glee.

"Indeed. It was in a respected article written by Anko Mitarashi for Konoha's Daily Tribune." She said and Sakura's face sparkled.

"He didn't tell me! I must look into it further! What's the name of it?" She asked excitedly and the woman giggled, and gave Sakura an amused gaze with her free hand lightly over her lips.

"Strangely enough, Sakura Care."

And ever since the respectable woman had to go, she had been rereading Anko's article to pass the time, and she was beyond pleased with what she learned. She was so happy Sasuke was doing something like this with his money, when she was certain plenty of other billionaires wouldn't even have the thought of it.

And to name it after her…it was the sweetest thing he could do.

She sighed, placing her phone in her clutch and took her champagne from the high table she was standing next to, before she turned from the sea and looked around. There were some people out, but it wasn't as crowded as it was starting to become inside the grandhall they were in. Sasuke was right to tell her to wait out here.

She honestly didn't like the crowd. She got a bad feeling about everyone she greeted. Even Unohana, and that was strange to her.

There shouldn't have been a reason for her to feel off about one of the people she absolutely admired. Especially when it was a perfect meeting too. The veteran doctor was friendly, humble and kind as they conversed. She answered all questions and inquiry with the patience and grace of a proficient teacher, to the point Sakura felt assured she had all the knowledge in the world. It was a blessing to meet the woman in person.

But...Unohana said something odd before that topic came up.

"Your beauty is almost exotic. Is your hair real? Did you dye it or is this some rare form of genetics?" The experienced doctor asked. Sakura blushed.

"Thank you. You're even more beautiful in person. And yes. My hair pigment is real. I honestly don't know if it was genetic, as I never met my parents, but my hair grows out this way so I can only assume so." Sakura explained away as Unohana showed direct interest.

"If it doesn't bother you, please allow me to test your genetics. For such an abnormal pigment, even if you don't know your parents' medical history, it could lead to some kind of breakthrough in medicine. If you would let me try, I'd simply like to see if there's some kind of abnormality in your genes, and see how they might be applied." The woman promptly requested. Sakura blinked in bafflement.

She never imagined meeting Dr. Unohana. And now the woman was offering a full genetic testing?

Why? Because of her hair?

"I don't mind at all. But why would you want to do this Unohana-senpai?" Sakura questioned and the woman only smiled tenderly at her.

"Research, dear."

And something about that answer brought her pause. There was something with the way Unohana said it, as kind and harmless as she said it, that bothered her. Something in her gut. But that was probably just from meeting someone she admired. Maybe she was just as starstruck as anyone would have been, meeting their heroes.

"Sakura." She heard her name called, and the voice made her flinch and tense entirely. The hairs on the back of her neck rose and her skin suddenly felt like it suddenly became icy cold, despite that the sea air wasn't too chilly. There was a cool breeze as the ship sailed, but not enough to make her feel like she just walked out into the artic tundra with nothing but what she was wearing right now.

That wasn't Sasuke. That was…

She slowly turned, only to see the one man she didn't want to see. Her eyes landed on Indra. He was dressed in a dark blue suit, with a black button down on.

And she was already turning to walk away.

"Sakura—" Indra called to her and she instantly shook her head.

"Go away." She instantly rejected, already starting getting away from him, showing she clearly didn't want anything to do with him.

Never again. She never wanted anything to do with him ever again.

And he followed her, much to her anxious ire that'd just make it all worse.

God, why was he even approaching her? He already made her enough of a fool once, by getting into her head and messing with her emotions. She wasn't going to give him a second chance to do so.

Most importantly, she didn't want Sasuke seeing her with him. God knows what he'd do or what he'd think. He could be looking for her in this area any minute, and she didn't even know how she was going to explain moving to a different part of the deck than where he told her to wait. She especially didn't want Sasuke to think that she was conversing with Indra for any reason.

She'd tell him the truth, of course. But she didn't want to upset Sasuke. Not so soon. Not after they had just worked things out and gotten to the way they were before.

"Sakura, wait—" He called and this time she stopped. She snapped to him with a turn and glared angrily at him.

He had asked her once, what would she do if Sasuke broke her heart...and then he was the reason she had ever experienced said turmoil in the first place. She separated herself from Sasuke, because she fell for his lies with the fear of losing the man she already told him she loved.

For fuck's sake, he kissed her. They kissed, because she believed his lie. She was disgusted with both him and herself for that, alone. The fact that she willingly let him kiss and hold her, while he was lying to her was damn near enraging. He shamelessly stroked her hair as she cried, because of his lie. Her lips were supposed to belong to no one other than Sasuke, and she let Indra take them.

She officially understood why Sasuke became angrier when she told him they kissed. Because Indra got to kiss her and touch her over lies.

And she wasn't going to hear anything he had to say ever again.

"Leave me alone, Indra." She scowled resentfully.

"I know you resent me—hate me even, and I deserve it. I know it's an affront for me to even face you right now. But I need to talk to you, please—" He urged, almost desperately, but Sakura wasn't having it. She didn't want to hear anything he had to say.

"There's nothing for you to say to me." She seethed, turning again.

Should she just go back inside where it was a bit more crowded? Should she try to find Sasuke or Sebastian herself? She just wanted to get away from Indra.

"You need to know something about the Uchiha!" He spatted, and she stilled. An anger welled inside her chest and she had to take a deep breath to calm herself. At least, she tried to.

She glared furiously at him. The last time she even considered something he said about Sasuke, it almost led to her losing him. She almost completely abandoned and lost the love of her life, if it wasn't for him loving her the same. If it wasn't for Sasuke having the shared, inexplicable love they had for each other, if it wasn't for the fact that he never gave up on her, she could have lost the best thing to ever happen to her in her life.

And as much as she blamed herself for all of that, as much as she blamed herself for almost ruining everything between her and Sasuke, she blamed Indra a hell of a lot more. For whatever reason, she allowed his word to be trusted, even when she knew it shouldn't have been.

She shouldn't have to let him get into her head, like she initially thought, but he didn't have to feed her a lie to get into her head. She let her emotions for him from the past lapse her judgment, but he played on those emotions and the past. He even played on and manipulated her emotions for Sasuke, to lapse her judgment of him.

And she didn't forget what she learned earlier. She didn't forget that Indra played a part in that dastardly plot, with the bitch she really didn't want to even think about right now, before she got unreasonably angry. He implanted a lie in her, to make her doubt and distrust Sasuke, so much so, she believed in that disgusting scene she was never going to forget, and those vile words she could still hear.

"I can't wait for the wedding, Sasuke-kun! How many kids are we going to have, Anata?"

She pressed her lips to reel herself back from the wrath burning in her chest as much as possible as she remembered what the woman said while clinging to her man. And it all happened because of Indra.

The man in front of her.

"You've got some nerve. To even say his name, before me, you really have some nerve." She snarled and Indra grimaced with a knowing look in his eyes.

"Sakura, please—"

"No! I don't even want to hear it." She seethed acidicly, and he froze, unable to even speak with the furious glare in her gaze.

And with how beautiful she looked tonight, even though she was angry, he could only stare at her painfully. Such beauty, and it could've been his. Before this. She could have been in his arms, dressed so lavishly and adorned with diamonds with him, had it not been for the past.

And it made him unreasonably angry. He knew he didn't have the right to be angry. He knew, again, he had no right to ever be angry with Sakura and he didn't even have a right to be angry with the Uchiha. The most he could be angry for was the Uchiha's actions.

He had no right, and with that regard, he swallowed his pain as much as he could.

"You've done enough. You've told me and taught me all I have ever needed to know about him. I don't have to hear anything you have to say to me!" She quietly and assertively growled at him.

"There are things about him you don't know about him, Sakura. Things that—"

"I know he's not expected to marry for your continued support." She shot at him. Indra flinched and looked away from her.

"It...was wrong of me...to feed you a terrible lie like that. Envy and my feelings for you overcame my judgment and reasoning. And that's no excuse, but—" He spoke remorsefully, and Sakura scoffed.

"But you love me? You love me, so you lied to me? You love me, so you tried to sabotage what I have with Sasuke—"

"Don't—!" And he stopped himself, realizing he seethed at her angrily and almost uncontrollably, the moment he heard the man's name crossed her lips. And he knew why. He knew he couldn't hear her say his name and the fury he felt the moment she said his name gave him enough of an indication for why.

"Yours, Sasuke-kun! Hah! I'm yours! YOURS!"

He had to bite his bottom lip, acknowledging that he would never forget the sounds she made last night and how she made them for that bastard. And the envious wrath he felt for it grew exponentially, with how beautiful she looked tonight.

Especially as the Uchiha's words came back to haunt him. The man's all too satisfied smirk, his sneering vindictive voice, even his smug eyes flashbacked at his brain, as if their confrontation last night was being redone at this very moment.

How was it; hearing her scream my name?

He answered the question with his fists, because it was enraging. It was vile. He never hated someone so much beforehand and for him, the Uchiha was more than a villain. He was an evil, vicious bastard, who just so happened to capture the heart of the woman he loved, before he could claim it for himself.

His teeth clenched, before his eyes lowered stressfully from hers with a sigh.

"...Don't...be fooled, Sakura. Don't...Don't think he's any different from me. Don't think he won't lie to you. There's more to him than you believe and think. There's more to him than you know and more than you may even want to know." He seethed and Sakura scoffed again.

"So, what are you trying to tell me about him now? More lies? More lies to distrust him? More lies to leave him—"

"I'm not saying this for my benefit or for you to leave him! If I thought there was a way I could make you leave Uchiha for me, I would do anything for it, but we're long past that point and I know that! I'm telling you this, for you! Because despite that you don't love me, I care about your wellbeing! Nothing else!" He determinedly proclaimed and Sakura stared back suspiciously. And she watched as Indra's eyes cringe distressfully at the ground in the momentary silence they had after.

"I...I can't even have you. I know I can't have you and after some things I've learned, I know having you is nothing but an impossible dream I wish could be a reality. It will never happen. It can't happen. It wouldn't be fair or safe for you. And what I've learned, it's a truth the Uchiha shares with me, and I'd rather..." Indra spoke sincerely, looking down at her feet. Feet he had rubbed days ago, and listened to her moan as he did. The soft skin of her exposed leg was a tempting and all too wanted desire he longed to feel again and never would be able to.

With the life he was supposed to lead, he couldn't do that to her. It wasn't the life he wanted to give her. It wasn't what he imagined. So he wouldn't. He'd give up on her. He'd never stop loving her, but he'd let her go, for this kind of sacrifice.

However, that still left her in the arms of the Uchiha, and his worry for it was enough for him to stand before her like this, with all the audacity he could have after wronging her the way he did.

"I'd rather be certain you know and make a decision for yourself...I don't believe the Uchiha would be able to give you the truth. I don't know if he could be honest and let you go, for the same reason I am. In fact, I doubt it." He spoke, taking her aback even more than she already was. He could tell from the angrily confused look on her face, she didn't understand what he was talking about and it was the reason he wanted to address the situation to her himself.

With the way the Uchiha described his love for her last night—with the way he knew the man loved her, he imagined that if the Uchiha did know the truth of his own House and even had dealings in those deeds, the man probably wouldn't tell Sakura. He'd do everything he could to keep her from knowing such a secret, and he had the means to do so.

From what he learned, if the Uchiha was careful enough, he could spend a lifetime without Sakura knowing the truth about him. A truth that would cut her lifetime short, if the man's enemies went on a full assault after him.

"Do you know what you're getting yourself into with him? What he is?" He asked her, as if there was something wrong with Sasuke. Her brow furrowed and she gave a defiant stare back.

Meaning she didn't know.

"He's the man I love. And he's the man who loves me." She answered.

"He's dangerous...He's dangerous for you. And if you don't know it, Sakura; that's worse. If you're by his side, and he is either knowingly or unknowingly putting you into danger by keeping you there—"

"Knowing or unknowingly? That almost sounds like you don't even know if it's true or not. Like you're lying again. And for him to let go of me? He'd never!" Sakura accused angrily and Indra still gritted his teeth.

"That's my point! He'd never let you go and I'm not lying when I say he's dangerous! I learned lives can and will be taken in his name, Sakura! He's dangerous and I just…" He paused and stared at her distrusting face. He stared at a face of disbelief and skepticism and he lost his voice just for the moment.

It obviously didn't matter what he said. It didn't matter what he did. He had long since screwed any validity, integrity and legitimacy he could ever have with her.

But he couldn't stop trying. He couldn't let her go without at least trying.

"I just need to know you're safe with the Uchiha. I need to know that he can truly protect you...even from himself, or at least that you know the truth before you decide to continue being with him. Especially if he knows what I'm trying to tell you and is keeping you in the dark about it all. He's dangerous, and if he doesn't even know it, that's worse." Indra said sternly, staring into her eyes with conviction and brute honesty.

"I'm more than safe with him. I'm absolutely splendid with him." She vindictively proclaimed, much to his pained heart.

"Not...Not the way you think—"

"In exactly the way I think, Indra!" She hushly yelled and she glared directly into his eyes.

"You want to tell me some truth about him, after telling me lies? You think, you could make it all go away from what? Because you love me—?!"

"No, Sakura! No! Again, if it meant you'd leave him, for me, I'd give anything! I'd give it all, but Uchiha is not willing to let you go and I know you love him! I know that! And I fear he'd be unwilling to let you go or unable to protect you, despite being a danger to your safety!"

She shook her head at him.

"You're unbelievable." She scowled and decided she was officially going to walk away. She had entertained this for long enough and Indra watched with despair as she turned without saying another word.

His teeth gritted behind his frown and his eyes cringed. He figured Sakura wasn't going to hear anything he had to say. Just the few words they had already shared with each other now was more than gracious of her, despite her giving him the cold shoulder. He had done enough to her to deserve it.

But he needed to tell her. She had to know what he had learned about the Uchiha and even himself.

For her safety.

With that, he reached to grab her wrist desperately, and boldly pulled her back towards him, much to her wide eyed shock.

"Sakura, please, he's part of—" He tried, but Sakura's wide eyes could only stare anxiously at his hand on her. Her body shot with adrenaline, and her heart dropped into her stomach. She instantly thought of Sasuke and what he said not longer than almost two hours ago.

I hate just the thought of someone else touching you.

And she panicked. Not just because the man grabbed her, but because she didn't want Sasuke to see the man grab her like this. There should've been no conversation between her and Indra at all, and yet, here they were. Here he was, grabbing her.

And she reacted all too instinctively.

"DON'T—" She started yelling and she ripped her hand away from him like his touch burned her, but she stopped herself from continuing. She thought about Sasuke and how making a scene with Indra Otsutsuki might affect his image. This was probably already too much of a scene. Especially if she was to be seen by his side for the next three weeks and this was just the first night.

She glared at him sternly and was holding the wrist he grabbed. Indra's eyes pained at her glare.

And he fully deserved it.

"Don't touch me, ever again." She growled, as she turned away from him and she bumped into a solid frame.

And Indra's eyes glared at who she bumped into.

She stumbled back in surprise, only for a man's hand to grab her at the very wrist Indra had. Another hand on her waist pulled her against the solid frame and held her steady so she wouldn't fall. The wrist in their grasp was held both gently and tightly.

And she looked up to see the one person she hoped didn't catch her like this. Even though she was innocent and she wasn't doing anything, she didn't want him to catch her being around Indra like this. How long was he there for? What did he hear or see?

Then again, whatever he saw probably didn't even matter. Indra being around her was enough and she sensed it off him the moment she looked into his eyes.

"S-Sasuke-kun." She exclaimed only to watch him stare at the wrist he had in his grasp. The same wrist Indra touched and rather than instantly be lost to his fury, he only brought his lips to stroke the area. The blank look in his eyes could have been unreadable, if it wasn't for the fact that Sakura felt him.

Despite that he was holding her wrist and nudging against it affectionately, she felt nothing but a murderous aura coming from him. Pure, undeniable rage. It was obvious, with the way Sasuke was holding the very same wrist that Indra grabbed and how even though his grip was gentle, she could feel his hand shaking from restraining itself, he already saw Indra grab her and he must have heard her yell as well.

"Sasuke-kun—" She was about to try and calm him down. She was about to tell him nothing happened and that Indra didn't hurt her. The hand he was holding was already in the perfect position to try and soothe him with a caress.

Only for his voice to cut her off and come out frighteningly calm before she could do anything. Even with the malice surrounding him, his tone was calm and collected. So calm it completely stunned her. With how angry he was just with her saying Indra's name earlier, she was expecting him to lose his temper just from being in his presence.

"I'm sorry I couldn't get to you sooner. The last conversation I had to have was longer than I expected it to be. Are you alright?" He asked her, still brushing his lips on her wrist, and his still blank eyes flickered to hers. Now there was that love in his eyes. That look that always silently told her that she was the world to him and she instantly forgot why they were here.

There was just him, holding her like this and the night air blowing between them gently with the smell of the ocean.

Her hand on his chest shifted unconsciously upwards towards the side of his neck.

"I'm fine. There's no need to apologize." She answered almost in a daze, as if that truthful answer was voluntarily extracted from her with just his gaze. He seemed to tenderly take careful inspection of her just to be sure, despite her saying so, before brushing his nose against hers and holding her wrist against his chest.

As if he realized he had her spellbounded.

"Sebastian has finally joined us. He'll take you to where we'll be seated now. The formal introduction is about to start in a few minutes." He informed her quietly and Sakura flinched in notation.

"E-Eh? Now?" She asked, baffled and surprised before she looked behind him to see Sebastian standing just a few feet away. He was standing with his hands behind his back, the usual smile on his older face that Sakura was used to. He gave her a curt bow.

"Hn…" Sasuke grunted shortly for his answer.

And when she looked back at him and he stared into her eyes as he always did for just a moment, he didn't stop himself from kissing her lips, even though he should have.

Fuck. He wasn't supposed to do this. He wasn't supposed to outright expose that she was precious to him. Not here and not now. Not with what just happened and not like this. The subtle hints of holding her waist or her hand and her being by his side was supposed to be all anyone saw outside of their suite. The coming out of his love for her, was supposed to be nothing but a subtle and almost ambiguous secret that wasn't really a secret. An obvious, but untold truth.

But, the bastard just had to go and touch her. That bastard touched her, and he couldn't stop himself.

And now, was putting his staple on her in front of the bastard and everyone who was a witness, while trying to restrain himself. And as he watched her close her eyes to instinctively kiss him back, he didn't care about the few witnesses out on the deck. All that mattered was everyone on this goddamn boat knew who she belonged to, so much so, the hand around her waist only pulled her against him more tightly.

As he twisted his head to give another deeper, and longer kiss to her lips, his hand moved from her wrist to join the other around her waist. Her hands sweetly touched the sides of his neck, and as he stared lovingly into her closed eyes, all that mattered to him was that everyone knew she was his. And he hated that he was doing this while he was infuriated with the bastard right now.

This wasn't a moment of love. He wasn't kissing her out of love.

This was a moment of rage. This was nothing but him wrathfully marking his territory. Of course, the bastard had the ability to go ahead and taint even his kiss, for him. Of all the things he had already tainted, kissing Sakura, his favorite thing to do, should not have been one of them ever.

And he hated the asshole for it, further spiraling him into even more rage, like a neverending whirlpool he was caught right in the middle of.

And Indra watched Sasuke's open half lidded eyes staring down into Sakura's first. He eyed the loving look in the one eye he could see with envious resentment as his hands clenched into fists.

Especially when Sasuke's gaze shifted up to glare at him, whilst still kissing her; as if the moment taken to love Sakura had now been overtaken by his fury. The onyx orbs of the Uchiha were maliciously filled with all the hatred he could possibly give, all while killing him a thousand ways.

Even with the woman in his arms and with his lips against hers. Even as he made Sakura give a light and short moan she couldn't hold back, the man was only thinking of how to kill him. Indra could practically hear Sasuke's voice in his mind.

'Remember who she belongs to, asshole.' He heard the Uchiha warn with a snarl.

This was his all out public, nonverbal proclamation that she was his and off limits. Especially to the Otsutsuki.

And there was nothing he could do about it, and it was just as painful and infuriating to watch her be in the Uchiha's arms like this and to watch her gently place her hands on his cheek and around his neck, as it was to watch her tell the man she loved him the way he did last night.

Out loud, different words were snarled from the man's lips; directed towards Sakura as the Uchiha kept his glaring eyes on Indra, even as he separated from her.

"Go with Sebastian. Now." He commanded, his voice growling murderously, and while he was talking to her, his tone of voice only said he was beyond malevolent towards who he was looking at. Her heart thumped against her chest and she moved, grabbing his face in her hands. It was almost instinct for her as she did so, and his glaring eyes looked back down to her.

And she watched as the look seemed to flare even more intensely in his eyes, in the sense that his love for her was further fueling his fury. Staring into his gaze, she knew why.

He was thinking of her staying with Indra. She was sensing his fury and she was worried. She didn't want him to be angry and she especially didn't want him to be angry with her. She didn't want him to think about that, even if it wasn't going to be possible to forget for either of them with the way they loved each other.

They had just reconciled everything. Last night, today and in the car on the way over, they had just laid everything that happened to rest, and she just wanted to put it all behind them. She just wanted to be with him as they were before. She didn't want anything to do with Indra and she just wanted to get away from him before things escalated.

"You…aren't coming?" She asked hesitantly, and more so quietly suggesting he did so through said question. She was asking him to come with her. To just let this go. She pleaded with him to, just this once, ignore it, and just be with her. Especially after this. Her eyes pleaded for him to stay by her side. His still glaring eyes remained on her, reading her as they always did for a long moment.

And he silently apologized with a gentle caress of her waist.

She was trying to stop him from making a scene. She was trying to stop him from assaulting and/or killing the bastard, and trying to appease him, all at once. She was trying to stop him from doing something he might regret. Something that would tear him from her in a different way than what he promised.

He promised the only way he would be torn from her was through work or to protect her and she was trying to stop him from being separated from her for another reason. Like, murder.

But he couldn't let this go. He couldn't let it go, the way she was silently pleading him to. He just couldn't. Not after everything the bastard did. Not after he knew the bastard had kissed and touched her and still had the audacity to even look at her after their supposed "understanding" from last night. Not after he touched her again.

For fuck's sake; it had not been even more than twenty-four hours since their fight, and already the bastard was trying something again. Whatever that something was, he wasn't going to let the bastard get away with even trying it.

And on a night where she looked so divine he'd kill anyone just for staring at her longer than he liked. It didn't even have to be Indra. It could have been some other man pining for her attention or grabbing her, and he'd still be on a warpath, honestly.

However, this wasn't just some other stranger trying to get her attention and acknowledgement. This wasn't some irrelevant businessman he could swoop in on, glare at for their transgressions and effectively put in their place for even the thought of courting her.

If that were the case, he'd have more restraint. He could let it go, after a warning of a glare. He could ignore it, to some degree. He'd still be peeved, but that would go away with Sakura being by his side.

Instead, this was Indra. This was Indra, grabbing and talking to her.

It was Indra, and therefore, he couldn't ignore it. There was no ignoring this for him.

And he gratefully watched Sakura understand that. Her eyes shifted uncomfortably from his, but she said nothing else in protest to the silent answer she received from his displaced glare and the stroke of her waist. And the discomfort he read from her was enough to reel him back a bit. Just for her.

He couldn't have his beloved believing he was upset with her. She had done nothing wrong. On the contrary, she did everything right; from pulling herself away from the bastard, to trying to ease him from the dispute she obviously knew was about to occur. Just her standing in his arms as she was now, was the perfect and right response.

With that, a gloved hand lifted from her waist to reassuringly stroke her face with the back of his fingers like she was a precious treasure. His eyes gentled a bit, just for her as she raised her gaze back up to him with his affection. He brushed his nose against hers, and it made her swoon. Again, she was lost in his eyes, and a prisoner to his touch. Her eyes lowered, half lidded into adoring orbs and he seemed to notice as he hovered his lips just an inch from hers.

"I'll be right behind you, my love. Don't worry. Go with Sebastian." He mumbled, promised and gently commanded all at once, as his fingers stroked her hair behind her ear, as if to show off her earring.

He said it so lovingly Sakura was certain the command was given to her by an angel or even God himself. As if he had breathed his order into her body and it had to follow said divine command. In plenty of religions, those humans who were usually spoken to by the voice of the Heavens, simply accepted the command given by their believed deity or divine being.

And it appeared she was no different, all too compelled by the divine command he breathed into her.

"Okay…" She whispered, thinking he'd kiss her again as a reward for accepting his will. Her eyelids were already closing, only for him to kiss her cheek in gratitude instead, much to her selfish disappointment. She accepted the reward all the same, but she truly would have preferred his lips on hers.

And as he lingered his lips against her cheek, he glared maliciously at Indra again.

"I promise; this won't take long." He muttered, gently maneuvering her towards Sebastian in a way that she couldn't even glance back at Indra without actively doing so. Her body left his hand, and she took only one step from it as the butler held his arm out to her, giving another curt bow.

"My Lady, my apologies for having to leave you unattended. It shall not happen again." He greeted, as Sakura simply interlocked her arm with Sebastian's offered one. And for some reason, while Sebastian was indeed apologizing to her, she felt those words were actually a quiet warning. He was letting whoever heard his words know that she would not be left alone again.

And she felt that warning was towards Indra.

"It's okay, Sebastian. It's not your fault." She excused, walking away with him. Her eyes lowered and something told her not to turn around at all as Sebastian led her away.

Sasuke was silent for a while, waiting until Sakura was taken out of earshot with Sebastian beside her. Once satisfied with the distance he slowly turned to glare at the man he hated with a heated passion. The man who almost took everything from him.

Indra glared back just the same—at the man who did take everything from him.

It should've been him holding and caressing Sakura the way the Uchiha did. It should've been him kissing her on the deck of his own boat, for everyone to see. Everything the Uchiha had, it all should've been his.

"Did you have to do that, Uchiha?" Indra begrudgingly growled, breaking the tense silence. Sasuke's glaring eyes narrowed, knowing the Otsutsuki was referencing kissing her in front of him and other witnesses.

He would have scoffed, if it wasn't that Indra was as predictable as he called him to be, and if he wasn't more pissed off that his prediction came to knowingly acknowledged fruition.

And now, he was going to have to deal with more than he wanted to; on and after the cruise. The press was going to be all over him after this, as he predicted they would, with him just showing up with Sakura alone.

Now it was going to be ten-times worse.

With how he claimed her lips in front of the fellow elite, and for others to witness and the fact that's what had them facing off like this; the rumors and stories were going to spread like wildfire. Some of which; would be spot on, if they guessed right and it wasn't like there wasn't a lot to go off of for speculations.

Two big shot elites, face-to-face, with a tension so thick it could be felt even in the open sea air like this. And apparently over a woman, with how she snatched herself from one said elite and instantly submitted to the arms and lips of the other, the scandal was blood in shark infested waters.

Unless you were deaf, blind and stupid, it was damn near obvious what was going on between them just from afar. It was going to be the juiciest gossip for the next three weeks, annoyingly.

The few bits of press who were allowed on the cruise to cover the event, who either witnessed or caught wind of this moment between him and Indra, were going to go crazy trying to find out more. They were going to be more annoying than usual during their time here.

Besides him finally indulging in some kind of romance they'd most definitely want to exploit and publicize—without regard to any enemies he had and only with regard to how it would advance their careers; him having an apparent feud with Indra was going to, undoubtedly, be a craze. A story they were going to hunt down relentlessly, even if he and the Otsutsuki both denied all comments. Even if they both denied any quarrel between them together, it wasn't going to be believed with the way they were now.

Uchiha versus Otsutsuki. The tabloids were going to have a riot.

And that could have been avoided had Indra just given half the restraint Sasuke was giving right now. It was all Indra's fucking fault he did what he just did and made such a scene. If he had just stayed the fuck away from her, they wouldn't be here like this right now.

"I thought you could use a friendly reminder, Otsutsuki." Sasuke vindictively growled, shoving his hands into his pockets attempting to hold on to the restraint he diligently tried to hold as he turned to face the man fully.

His hands being in his pockets was a reminder to keep his restraint. That and his words to Sakura. He promised her this wouldn't take long and of all the things the bastard falsely manipulated Sakura into believing about him; Indra was not going to make him a liar.

…Unless the bastard infuriated him enough into assaulting him, despite said reins. Then he'd just have to hope Sakura would forgive him for breaking his given word. He'd have to hope the woman he loved would forgive him for lashing out, and being unable to return for her as soon as he promised.

"And you've sure as hell made a scene in doing so, Uchiha." Indra begrudgingly pointed out the same exact thing he was thinking about. He could already hear the whispers, despite that they were indeed inaudible and he could already feel the eyes of others on him and Indra. Damn vultures were probably already making up rumors right this minute.

And not only did he not care, hell yes; despite his actions being his own, despite that what he did was from his slight loss of control and restraint and it was technically unwarranted; he blamed Indra for it. The man was officially to blame for anything he did in regards to their happenings with each other.

Especially with the fact that the man—who tried to steal her from him, very recently—grabbed her. He grabbed her and she had to snatch herself away from him. He saying God knows what to her for God knows how long, and he already learned the Otsutsuki was a hissing snake. He could only wonder what he said to Sakura this time and he was going to ask her about it later when they were alone.

And with the way Sakura quietly pleaded with him to drop it all, and to just come away with her, he knew she wasn't going to be comfortable talking about it. After everything that happened between them, he didn't want Indra to be a wedge between them.

And with the damage the Otsutsuki already caused, and the wounds they were still healing from, that was infuriatingly plausible. Especially if he and Sakura ended up fighting about it, which he hoped it wouldn't come to. He'd have to be delicate in his approach.

Anything and everything about Indra, himself, and her was now an all too sensitive subject and as much as he wanted to, no; he wasn't going to just let it go. He was going to squash it all immediately before anything festered and blew up in his face.

Doing that almost led to him losing his entire world. Being lenient and tolerant almost led to him losing his everything, and he already promised he was done with being either one of those things. His civility was only going to be kept, to the point where he could keep it, and he wasn't going to hold back anymore if it was pushed past its limits.

With that, Sasuke honestly didn't care how it was seen in the public's eyes. He only cared about giving Indra his final warning. He wasn't going to warn him again. If Indra got anywhere near Sakura again, he was just going to go straight for his throat. Security was going to have to intervene.

Especially because the bastard knew better.

Uchiha...I understand if you never want me around her ever again—

He fucking knew better and yet, here he was, grabbing Sakura, like nothing happened last night. Like it wasn't going to set him off the moment he witnessed it or even heard about it. Like the man had forgotten that he almost killed him last night and the reason he almost did.

"As if you didn't cause said scene yourself? You want to blame me, for what you started?" Sasuke seethed accusingly. Indra's teeth clenched, glaring at the rival just as accusingly.

What was Indra trying to pull now? Was the manipulative bastard trying to get into her head again? What did he tell her? What did he say to her? How long had they'd been talking before he came upon the scene of Sakura shouting and snatching herself from Indra's grasp?

And on that note; it wasn't entirely Indra's fault.

This was also partially his fault. This was his fault for being selfish and greedy, and for being unable to leave Sakura behind like he should have, considering he knew the bastard was going to be here. This was all his fault for bringing her, knowing the bastard was going to be around and knowing he'd try to get near her. He had to take some blame for it, especially when Sakura never asked to come with him at all.

He just told her she was coming with him and that everything would be ready for her to come with him, and that was that. They were still in the bathtub at that point, and she was straddled on top of him, whilst kissing his lips. They didn't even go for another round of making love. They were just holding and caressing each other, relishing in each other after her claim of wanting everything with him.

There was nothing else said about it, other than her gently asking when they had to leave. Other than after the fact, there was very little thought about taking her with him at that moment, and apparently for Sakura that was no different, with the way she just accepted without question.

"Okay…" Was all she said against his lips then, before kissing him again as her wet hands stroked his face, neck, shoulders and chest, while his stroked into her hair and up her spine. They just kissed each other needfully; having been apart for too long and completely under the influence of their love for each other.

He brought her on his own needful whim, and she accepted it, in what he could only rationalize was her own need to be with him, as much as he needed her to be. It was the only reason that made sense to her accepting coming with him as acceptingly as she had the moment he told her so, even though, as proven by her hesitance in the car on the way, she was unsure if she should've come with him in the first place.

The only thing was, her uncertainty was for the wrong reasons. Her uncertainty in coming with him stemmed from doubt in her place by his side because of everything that happened, when really, it should've been about Indra being here as well.

And again, that was his fault. She most likely wasn't expecting to encounter Indra. Or maybe she had her own goal to stay away from the man as much as he hoped and intended to keep him away from her, despite bringing her along. With the way he watched her react to the man, she had no intention of having any kind of encounter with him whatsoever.

But he called it. He knew the bastard was going to try and get to her, despite their comprehended understanding with each other. He knew Indra would try something, the moment the rival learned she was on board. He knew it, and he brought her anyway. All because he couldn't stomach a couple of weeks without her.

Just because he didn't want to be without her, after he just got her back. So, yes; he took partial blame.

If he had just shoved away and withheld his selfish needs and desires, if he wasn't so greedy, she wouldn't be anywhere near Indra right now. She'd be miles away, in Konoha, doing whatever for the next three weeks, while she waited for him to get back. She'd be with her friends, who came to see her off or with the kids at the clinic.

Naruto or Suigetsu—despite the man's injuries—would keep tabs on her while he was away. Itachi's already prepared men would protect her when they couldn't. They'd make sure she was safe until he got back and of course, he'd want constant updates on what she was doing, whenever and at the moment he asked them for it.

Sakura wouldn't have had to deal with whatever emotions she was going through right now. She wouldn't have to worry about him. She wouldn't have to worry about this. She could've just been doing whatever she wanted back in the city, without worrying about this. Much less, having to tear herself from the bastard like she just had to.

But goddamnit; couldn't Indra have proven him wrong? With all their common thoughts and feelings for Sakura that supposedly made them understand each other, Indra couldn't have the slightest decency to stay away from her? After the hell he had put them through, the bastard couldn't even last a night?

"You didn't have to do that." Indra snarled in response and Sasuke couldn't help but scoff this time for real.

You'd think after all that martyrized-bravado schpiel Indra had last night, how he loved her and couldn't watch her suffer anymore, he'd act the part of all that talk. You'd think he'd keep away from Sakura as much as possible, especially with the acknowledgement that he fucked up his quest to obtain Sakura's heart. You'd think that with said consideration of him having a helping hand in her agonized pain and suffering in mind, he'd be ashamed to even show his face to her.

Unless Indra didn't take it into consideration at all; in which case, the bastard was even a more stupid, shortsighted, naive, conniving asshole, than he ever thought him to be before. That, or just desperate.

"I didn't have to? Really?" The Uchiha scowled between his gritten teeth and Indra responded before he could continue.

"Yes, really. It wasn't necessary—" Indra started scowling back and was cut off when Sasuke gave an amused smirk and chuckle, all while glaring at him with some humor in his still malicious eyes. Once again, as he learned last night, the line between amused and livid were quite vague.

He was pissed off for sure. He was definitely enraged, and he oddly couldn't help but feel absolutely amused at how and why he was. And now, he couldn't help but think he figured it out. He just figured out why the line between humor and rage was so thin.

It was because it was ludicrous. It was insane. Someone being driven to the point of fury he had been pushed to, as a human, was absolute madness and why their rage was supposed to have a limit no matter how far gone. Because it caused this very lapse between the line of anger and humor and as he had unfortunately learned, he had no limits to his fury over Sakura—despite being human.

That's what it was. The man truly pushed him into a madness one could only laugh at.

And he was almost certain, between him and Indra, he was never going to be rid of it. That line was all too visible for him now, and that couldn't be undone. The man had triggered a madness within him, because of what he tried to take from him. A madness that would now always blur that line the moment it was given enough of a reason to dissipate.

"Wasn't necessary, Otsutsuki? Or just unwanted? Be honest." Sasuke scoldingly taunted, and watched Indra's jaw tighten in reaction.

"However you want to gloat, Uchiha." Indra still accused him, making Sasuke give a vindictive glare of vengeance that his smirk widened with. He was damn near grinning.

'How adorable.' He thought with just as much maliciousness. He really wondered what Indra was feeling right now, with a response like that.

Was he angry? Was he sad? Did it hurt? Was he irritated? Frustrated? Enraged? Was it infuriating? Was it maddening?

'Shit fucking luck.' He ended up answering with.

Not that it was a contest, but the bastard lost Sakura, and he won her. He had her heart and everything about her. The woman was his and whatever theorized feeling of wrath Indra had at this moment was nothing compared to what the last few days had put him through. It was nothing compared to the fury he felt last night, and nothing compared to the rage he felt right now.

The momentary insanity the man had triggered in him right now was enough for him to go through, and he was certain Indra's wrath was nowhere near. Even with how things occurred last night, even if Indra claimed it was, he'd promise and swear his wrath was nothing to what he felt last night and even right now.

With that regard, Sasuke decided the bastard could take his undeserving fury and shove it. Indra could go to hell.

"Don't be like that. After all, it wouldn't have happened if you had just stayed in your fucking lane." Sasuke retorted, his anger spewing from him and a frown now reaching his lips as he remembered Indra grabbing Sakura's wrist.

As he told the bastard last night; them, coming to an agreement and understanding with each other didn't change anything between them. Whether he was in debt to the Otsutsuki or not, whether they sympathized with and understood each other or not in regards to their respective love for her, it didn't change that they'd forever be at each other's throats. Nothing was going to change their feud.

Nothing changed.

If the bastard wanted to try and take Sakura from him again, his promises and conditions for doing so hadn't changed. His promise to kill the Otsutsuki, for even trying, was still very much applicable and qualified to happen, no matter what debt or understanding he had. His condition of any other bastard wanting to take her from him, having to kill him and pry her out of his cold dead arms first was an absolute requirement.

That went a thousand times over for the asshole in front of him.

He gave a relaxing inhale and exhale—in through the nose, out through the mouth—that did nothing for him as Indra stayed silent and glared at him like he was some kind of villain. The man was glaring at him like he was the bad guy, after everything he'd done.

"You knew better. You knew better than to even look her way in my presence, and you really couldn't even last a night, Otsutsuki? Really?" Sasuke hissed.

"So what if I couldn't? Could you? Would you?" Indra spat and Sasuke scoffed at what he felt to be a rather childish response.

The bastard wasn't wrong in asking that, and the already known answer was the same as Indra's…but that was beside the current point. What he would've done, had no relevance, especially with how things were.

No. The point was the man grabbing his womanand miraculously, still breathing after the fact. And the only excuse, explanation, reason and downright rationale for keeping it that way was nothing more than that pleading look in Sakura's eyes, flashing in his mind again and again, and forcing him to restrain himself.

He had to get back to her. He had to control and restrain himself from attacking the bastard for what he just did, so that he could get back to her side as soon as he could.

No matter how hard it was.

"I really was too generous in that bet I made with myself. I figured you'd wait at least another hour or two before trying something. Again, I even kind of hoped you'd have the decency to wait a night." Sasuke growled. His glaring eyes remained glued to Indra, burning holes into the man he despised almost more than any other man on this planet.

Who he hated more, between Indra and Danzo, was still up for debate.

"Should've known to bet on you trying something the first moment you could, being the opportunistic bastard you are." He seethed. Indra scoffed shamelessly and glared back.

"Seems we're really not that much unalike, Uchiha. I betted that you'd explode just seeing her near me. Instead, here you are; calm and collected even after witnessing me touch her." The rival retorted bitterly, noticing Sasuke flinch and glare more at the mention of touching Sakura. Sasuke almost bit his tongue.

And be it the Uchiha blood within him held his restraint, or his promise to Sakura that he'd be next to her soon did, he miraculously didn't lunge for Indra's throat at that.

But, the bastard wasn't in the clear of that happening, still. Not by a longshot.

"Awfully bold of you to assume I'm calm, Indra. Trust and believe; I'm barely holding back from throwing you overboard and trust and believe; I've added you grabbing her to the long and permanent list of your transgressions. You just keep giving me more and more reasons to kill you." Sasuke seethed with wrathful honesty.

"Tch. Why don't you? Too many witnesses?" Indra taunted, expecting Sasuke to keep quiet since those words had been said around others. There weren't many people, and they were at a distance, but a sharp eared person could probably hear exactly what they were saying. Word was going to spread and he figured the Uchiha was not keen on letting it spread further, even though the man kissed Sakura in front of them.

And it was the second instance he misunderstood the man Sasuke Uchiha was.

Because Sasuke spoke without care of who heard anything he said. He tried to keep it as low as he could but his voice, as restrained as it was, made sure he was heard by Indra.

"That, and I just don't want to waste my energy with you right now after last night. At least, I'm trying not to. You've pushed me past my limits enough, and trust me; you are already fucking pushing it again now. And not even after more than a fucking hour of us boarding. The only reason I still haven't thrown you into the sea is for Sakura's sake." He answered between his gritted teeth.

Sasuke honestly felt he deserved a medal for his restraint right now. The test he put upon himself tonight was indeed hard, but so far he was succeeding, even if it was by the slimmest of margins.

When he saw the bastard grab her, he wanted nothing more than to instantly toss the Otsutsuki into the dark blue sea. He almost did, had it not been for Sakura bumping and stumbling into him first. Of course his mind and body chose her first, no matter how enraged he was and how badly he wanted to go for the man's throat. Sakura came first, above all else.

Indra basically got lucky the first thing he had to do was grab Sakura, instead of tossing him over the railing. The asshole was lucky Sakura looked like she was going to fall and he had to grab her, just in case.

And he wondered if that's the only reason he didn't lose it instantly. Because he watched her rip herself from Indra's grasp and because she remained in his arms. Because she kissed him back and tried to ease his wrath the moment she noticed it; she somehow pushed back his murderous urge, however slightly. She had overridden his wrath, to the point where he was able to yield for her…at least for a moment, before his love for her simply returned to his fury again.

But it was a fury that, this time, was manageable. It was a wrath he could control because of her being in his arms and because of her love trying to ease him as it always did.

Was that what Sebastian meant earlier? That with her in his sights, he could behave? Was it a slight hint he didn't catch on to until now? Did she push back the murderous intent he had because he watched her deny and reject Indra with his very eyes and because he had her in his sights and within his reach?

She was always able to ease him of any and all frustrations after a bothersome day at work just by being in his arms; was this proof she could ease him in any situation as well? Was that what Sebastian was suggesting?

"We have to be on this boat for three weeks, and unfortunately, despite what I told you last night, I have to act civil, as much as you're really making me not want to be. I have to, for her. Such is the life of the upper class, right, Otsutsuki?" Sasuke snarled, still glowering at the official rival with all the hatred he had for him.

On top of that, he gave her his word that he'd be right behind her. She was waiting for him. As she said she would be. As she always would be.

And with the uncomfortable look in her eyes he couldn't help but think she was waiting for him all too anxiously.

He saw it in her eyes; that gentle plea for him to go with her, and he wished he could have heeded her. He wished he could've walked away with her and Sebastian the way she wanted him to. He could tell she didn't want him to even bother with Indra—actually; to him, it felt more like she wanted nothing to do with Indra. The bit he saw when he came upon them, was proof of that.

And considering that she was a part of him and he was a part of her, him getting involved with the bastard in any kind of way was the same as her getting involved. That's why she gave him that pleadful look in her eyes to go with her. Because she didn't want to know he was dealing with Indra when she wanted nothing to do with him at all.

He mentally noted that, adding it to one of the many reasons Indra didn't need to stay alive anymore. He also made a stronger notation to fully apologize to Sakura for being unable to comply with her wishes this one time, later.

But, as he wordlessly and apologetically explained to Sakura through his gaze alone, he couldn't let this go. Not after last night. The bastard wasn't just going to get away with—once again—touching what was his. He wasn't going to just let it slide. He couldn't.

Therefore, he and the Otsutsuki had to have this confrontation yet again, and there was no choice in that. Especially after everything that happened before them standing here, thanks to the very bastard. And he'd have to keep it conversation only, if he wanted to keep his word to Sakura and return to her as soon as possible.

He just wanted to put the bastard in his place, tell him to fuck off, and then get back to her as soon as possible. Hopefully. If he could keep it at that. But the Otsutsuki had a track record of enraging him beyond his control.

So, he'd just have to hope he could keep it together.

For Sakura's sake.

"Can't even lift a finger without someone noticing and raving about it. After all…" Sasuke sighed out, taking an indifferent glance to the left hand side of the deck, where he knew Hagoromo was standing.

And sure enough, the man was definitely trying to act like he didn't see anything. Or he was trying to act like it wasn't a big deal to the person he was talking to currently. Probably trying to explain and deflect the conflict they were obviously having away from their curiosity.

It was his son, facing off against an Uchiha after all. And over a woman at that. A woman who was obviously grabbed by the Otsutsuki Prince, against her wishes.

And for the woman to be shown as his just moments after, he bet Hagoromo was going to go the distance for damage control. Maybe he wouldn't have to worry about the press raving about what happened between them just now with Sakura present. Hagoromo might just suppress it all himself.

Either way, it was already not a good look for the Otsutsuki, even if everything was currently civil and cordial.

He wondered who Hagoromo was going to side with. His conniving bastard son, or his rightfully infuriated self? Who was the man going to appease in this?

And if he sided with Indra, how was he going to retaliate for it?

"That's why you haven't moved a muscle. Right?" Sasuke said, observantly and knowingly, glancing at the Otsutsuki's fists as they had permanently remained ever since he kissed Sakura in front of him. He bet it was paining the Otsutsuki not to take a swing at him alone.

And the feeling was mutual.

Again, Sasuke honestly felt he deserved a trophy for his control, all things considered. He wanted nothing more than to swing a fist at the asshole. Especially because he was giving him such a daring glare. Indra glared at him with challenge and rebellion. As if the man was seriously going to fight him out here on the deck for the few others probably still watching their face off to see.

And the bastard wasn't even the one who had the right to be angry.

He was part of the reason he and Sakura had been through hell. The bastard himself had acknowledged how his own actions had made Sakura suffer and how he realized Sakura wanted and needed him. And yet, he still had all the audacity to approach her tonight. Even after they obviously came to a consensus last night that Sakura was his and Indra was never going to have her again.

The bastard even acknowledged he didn't want him near her, so why even fucking try?

"Tch! Why did you bring her? You're the one who said you didn't want me within a thousand miles of her and yet, you bring her on the same boat we'll all be staying on for three weeks. Knowing I'd be here, you still brought her. Why?" Indra grudgingly questioned beneath his breath and Sasuke's glare hardened into the murderous death glare he would forever give the man.

"Why do you think, asshole? Take a wild guess." He snarled, hoping the bastard hadn't already forgotten what he did. He better not have forgotten everything he told him last night and how they almost killed each other if his maid hadn't stepped in. He better not have forgotten how he made Sakura suffer.

He'd beat it into him again if he did. To hell with all witnesses and the press. They could fight again, right here, about it.

Again, hopefully Sakura would forgive him even if he did.

"To flaunt her in front of me like the vindictive, egotistical bastard you are." Indra accused. Sasuke couldn't help but snort in amusement at that. A humored smirk plastered onto his face and he chuckled again at Indra's resentful accusation.

Was the Otsutsuki that hurt about him having Sakura in his arms right before his very eyes? Especially with how beautiful she looked tonight? Was it painful seeing her unable to resist him and to watch her submit to him just with his gaze alone? Was the small moan she gave when he snuck in some of his tongue that damaging?

Good. Every ounce of pain and suffering Sakura being with him caused Indra was everything the bastard deserved.

"No. But I'll admit; now that you mention it, that sure is a bonus. Especially the look on your face when she snatched herself away and told you not to touch her." Sasuke snickered and Indra could only glare back at him.

"As angry as I am, part of me did enjoy that. She did and said the exact same thing to me that day. It was beautiful karmic justice, but, I bet it stung you more than me, with how divine she looks tonight. I didn't exactly pick the dress, but it sure as hell was money well spent, whatever the cost was." He taunted, much to Indra's displeasure.

Especially when he couldn't disagree with the Uchiha's statement. It was money well spent, with how she looked tonight. She was so beautiful, it hurt. The elegance and grace of the dress, combined with the jewelry that adorned her, was only amplified by her own beauty itself and it was painful for him. It was torturous to see her look the way she did tonight...in the Uchiha's arms.

"The diamonds on her neck, wrist and earrings have been passed down to each Uchiha Matriarch. The necklace itself was last worn by my late mother." Sasuke continued to taunt with a smug smirk on his lips and equally smug gaze in his eyes.

And it made Indra's teeth clench behind his closed lips. Especially with that one certain word the Uchiha used that, when spoken among them and people of their status, was huge in meaning. And he could see in Sasuke's eyes, he meant the exact meaning Indra was thinking he was using.

To call someone the Matriarch or Patriarch of a House, to even imply it, was more than just declaring them as part of said House. If such a title was proclaimed and declared by a primary member of said House, as Sasuke was claiming for Sakura, it was more than just the man claiming that she belonged to him.

Sasuke Uchiha was effectively saying all his powers were now also hers. Anything that had to do with the Uchiha name, from its riches to all of its influences were just as much as hers as they had always been his with that proclamation.

She was, just by his proclamation, part of the Uchiha House. The same respect and esteem he garnered was now hers, as an Uchiha, and Indra was certain that Sasuke expected that respect and high esteem should be a thousand fold over his own for her.

He couldn't imagine the man tolerating anything otherwise.

"I can't wait to take it all off her. Or maybe, I'll leave it on. Then again, I won't get to feel as much of her skin if I do. However...it would be a waste not to enjoy her with it on." Sasuke contemplated with merciless vendetta, knowingly and intently pushing Indra's buttons more.

Because he wanted the bastard to swing. He was almost begging him to. He wanted to give him a reason to break his word, frustratingly enough. He was losing his patience with Indra, and he wanted a reason to attack the man, without being the one to lose his restraint first.

Sakura should be able to forgive him a bit more if he acted in self defense, right?

"You bought her more ravishing clothes like that just for me to enjoy? You shouldn't have, Otsutsuki." The man said, whimsically and vindictively, last night, and he couldn't help but assume the Uchiha had commissioned more to be bought for the rest of the cruise. Did he even bring what Indra had bought for her? With the Uchiha's vendetta against him, he could only assume so.

And Indra's eyes glared even more as he thought of Sasuke taking the dress off her. He imagined the moans he himself heard Sakura make for the Uchiha and how the Uchiha declared ripping apart the nightgown she wore. If the Uchiha wanted him to imagine Sakura moaning the rival's name in that dress, he succeeded and it filled him with even more envious rage than he already had.

Especially as the smug look in Sasuke's dark eyes gave that smoldering hint in them they had last night. It was that look that he gave whenever thinking of Sakura. That heat he saw in his eyes last night, came to the Uchiha's charcoals and he watched him imagine Sakura right at this very moment.

Indra trembled but still he didn't move. He only glared resentfully at the Uchiha just as the man was back at him, and he dropped his smirk with dissatisfaction and disappointment.

The Otsutsuki obviously wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of a fight like he wanted. At least from what he could tell. Too bad.

"But, that's besides the point. I'll come to a decision on that, later. The answer is no, I didn't bring her to taunt you, or to flaunt her before you. As ill as you'd love to think of me, Otsutsuki, and as much as I truly did relish that look on your face when I had her in my arms; bringing her had nothing to do with you. Don't flatter yourself." Sasuke said.

"The only reason you have even a smudge of my attention right now, is because I know the conniving bastard you really are and I want to get this over with. I knew we were going to come to this sooner or later, so I'd rather just get it over with." Sasuke snarled, making sure his demonically glaring eyes stared straight into Indra's.

"Then, why? Why bring her, especially knowing I'd be near. You're too territorial over her for that." Indra observantly analyzed and Sasuke scoffed again. For all his talk about understanding him and the way he felt for Sakura, the Otsutsuki was pretty dense when it came down to comprehending any of his actions surrounding her.

From thinking he'd just take Sakura and go last night, to this moment, the Otsutsuki obviously didn't understand jackshit about the man he truly was—the man Sakura made him to be. It was the second time he was taken aback whilst "understanding" his feelings for the woman they both loved and he was tired of his naivety. He was fed up with Indra's ignorant stupidity, and that said stupidity had to be entertained by him in the slightest.

Especially when he practically spelled it out for him last night.

"Because leaving her after last night wasn't an option, asshole. Was I really supposed to just leave her after everything that happened last night? Have you already forgotten all about it?" He growled, his eyes glinting with hatred as he remembered all of it in a flash. Indra stared back coldly, remembering it just the same.

"As if I'll ever forget it, Uchiha." The rival seethed back and the Uchiha knew exactly why he wouldn't. Sasuke would've smirked at the acknowledgement of it, if he wasn't so royally pissed.

Especially because he could read it on Indra's face; the bastard wasn't ever going to be able to forget that night. He'd never forget Sakura moaning she was his. He'd never forget her arms tiredly wrapping around him, unaware of any other presence in the room besides the Uchiha, and how she tiredly and dreamily proclaimed she loved him, when he subverted the crisis of her waking up to their ferocious brawl.

He'd never be able to forget any of it for as long as he lived. Just as Sasuke hoped for, but couldn't even truly relish in it with his existent anger.

Because it still begged the question;

"Then do pray tell, why would you dare to even approach her? Why, once again, after claiming we were at an understanding, would you dare to even look at her? Knowing I have my eyes on her and she's with me…Knowing I'd be on your ass for it, why in the fuck did you touch her?" Sasuke angrily interrogated, his voice shaking with a targeted fury that would never die or burn out.

He wished, at the very least, that Indra didn't touch her. That would've made this slightly more bearable. Hell, he probably would've walked off with Sakura like she wanted him to, if the asshole hadn't touched her and he just found her walking away from Indra.

"I have my reasons, Uchiha. And if you love her and want to protect her as much as I think you do, you'd understand those reasons." Indra snapped back and Sasuke's eyes flared with fury. Especially at Indra's unsaid insult.

Those words; they were making it sound like he didn't hold Sakura to the utmost importance Indra knew he had for her. The man was damn near claiming that whatever reason he had for getting within even twenty feet of her had to do with him not loving her or wanting to protect her enough himself and it pushed the ever-loving-fuck of his current restraint to the edge of the cliff it was already near.

And he had remember Sakura again, and her worried emerald eyes flashing through his mind again to stop himself from committing assault. But that was becoming hard. Not even thinking of her was helping right now. It was barely working. His wrath with the man, without her present to keep it staved, just wasn't controllable.

He was officially deciding Indra needed to be wiped off the face of the Earth. If the man wasn't going to take a blatant hint, if he wasn't going to listen to his and Sakura's words, if he was just going to continue pushing buttons he already knew not to press, then he officially decided it would just be easier and better not to allow the man to exist anymore.

Date and time of death; to be determined.

"And those reasons of yours would be?" He asked, because he wanted to know and it better be good. Whatever the bastard was trying to say, and whatever reasons he was trying to give for even walking towards Sakura, it better be damn good.

"What? Is it true you really don't know about your own House? Or you love her so much you don't care enough to acknowledge it, like I thought? You're that confident you can protect her?" Indra asked him vaguely and Sasuke's brow furrowed in telling, aggravated inquiry. As if the Uchiha didn't know what the hell he was talking about or referencing.

'Know what?' Sasuke Uchiha's angry facial features showed and Indra's glare, notably, grew far more frustrated in regard. Sasuke watched him run a hand down his face with said frustration, before their eyes met again.

The Uchiha didn't know. He didn't know the truth, just as his Father thought.

'Goddamnit!' Indra thought as he remembered his talk with his Father.

Indra's eyes were wide with what he had just learned. The truth bomb his Father had just dropped on him was enough to make him sit down; flopping himself to sit on the bed in a hunched over and turmoiled position as he stared at the floor; flabbergasted and in shock.

"I've held off your preparation for that world as much as possible, while simultaneously readying you for it. It's why I've been so strict and hard. It's also why I'm always distant." Hagoromo spoke somberly and Indra grimaced with turmoil even more. His teeth shakily gritted and he didn't dare look his Father in the eyes yet.

"Then…when…When were you going to tell me?!" Indra questioned in a growl and his Father was silent. Indra stood abruptly at the lack of response, glaring at Hagoromo with wide eyed panic, confusion and turmoil.

"What about Asura?! Does he know about this—?!" Indra yelled and his Father cut him off, without looking him in the eye.

"Asura does not know. The only reason you are learning of this now, is because you've left me no choice but to reveal the truth to you. Because you must understand the weight and gravity of what provoking the Uchiha means." Hagoromo confessed to Indra's bewilderment. The elder Otsutsuki finally met his son's baffled eyes somberly, and he continued.

"As for when I was going to tell you...it would have been after my announcement on the cruise, which I will make some time during the last week of it. I'm retiring, both in public and the other side of our profit, and I've already decided your full preparation cannot be put off much longer." Hagoromo admitted, much to Indra's horror.

Because he just realized what the secret announcement his Father was going to make on the cruise was. No wonder when it appeared the Uchiha had seen through what the announcement would be, that one mentioning in that one meeting they had, the Uchiha held back any and all reaction as much as possible.

Especially with the two sons before him and their father. His father's impressed acknowledgement of the Uchiha's father "teaching him well" should have been a slight give away, with his suddenly even more reserved composure than before. Especially at the mention of some announcement. The Uchiha figured it out back then; Hagoromo was going to name his next Head of House on the cruise, and of course, he knew it was between Asura and Indra.

The Uchiha obviously just wasn't aware, nor sure, which one, and didn't want to start a quarrel. Hence, the held back reaction to said announcement.

And with his next statement, his Father confirmed said theory.

"I...am going to announce you as the next Head of House. And with that, you will inherit the duties of Head of House." Hagoromo said and Indra felt his heart sink at what he had already figured. The day he dreaded…the day he never wanted since leaving and meeting Sakura in the slums, since leaving her and Yota that day—it was here. He was to be officially shackled to a life he didn't want.

A life he wanted even less now, after hearing this supposed truth.

"Asura is too reckless and too rash to take on such a world. Which is why I have decided on you." Hagoromo explained, as Indra trembled in angst and anger.

Once again, his father was deciding his life, whether he wanted it or not. Once again, Sakura was out of his reach, because of who he was and who he was apparently meant to be.

"You can't be serious! Why would you want me to continue this?! How can you expect me to?! What the hell are you thinking—" Indra objected only for his so-called father to cut him off.

"Because the survival of our family stands on those pillars! It has nothing to do with what you want, Indra! It never has, the same as it was for me and anyone else born into their unfortunate circumstances. This is your inheritance as much as you don't want it! Unless you want us and yourself to burn, you'll claim your birth-given right and do what you must!" Hagoromo yelled and Indra only stared at his father in disbelief and anguish.

Once again, he was bound to his life. He was bound by blood as his father had claimed and he never had a choice in the matter. And once again, he was resigned to it despite his true desires and wants. Once again, he was left between what he actually wanted, and what was expected of him. His father was that selfish.

"That…is your unfortunate destiny. Whether you like it or not, that's the truth of our family, along with the others. Wealth like ours does not come from nothing. No matter what we give back to society and no matter how we appear." Hagoromo said with a sullen tone and seemingly unable to look Indra in the eye now. He placed a hand on Indra's shoulder, and hung his head low.

"So…Sakura would have never been safe…even with me." Indra quietly confirmed and Hagoromo looked at him with inquiry.

"Sakura? The Uchiha's secretary? So you do have history with her." He inquired. Indra's eyes cringed.

No. No, he thought he left Sakura in the arms of a man who could protect and provide a life for her. A good life. A life without worry and strife. A life that would make her happy. And now he just learned, not only was she in danger, but being with him would have been a just as equal risk as well. Sakura being with the Uchiha would have been no different than her being with him if what his Father was saying was true in all aspects.

The only thing was, her being with the Uchiha was a thousand times worse, than her being with him.

"I figured as much, but I didn't expect that Uchiha was romantically involved with her as well with how reclusive he is. And to keep her that close—" Hagoromo almost naively contemplated and Indra stopped him.

"Is she safe with him?" Indra questioned. Hagoromo froze and Indra was all out of patience to wait for an answer.

"Indra—"

"Is she safe with him, OR NOT?! Even if he loves her…even if she's precious to him, is she SAFE or NOT?!" Indra screamed, looking the man in his eyes.

"I need to know. She…she's just one of the things I've lost for this godforsaken family and I need to know! Tell me she's safe with him! Tell me that even if he doesn't know the truth, she is safe by his side!" Indra pleaded and Hagoromo's face grimaced. His hand squeezed Indra's shoulder, and he gave an all too apologetic look.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, my son. I can only say she is safe for now. As safe as she can be, standing at Sasuke Uchiha's side, and while all other forces remain docile against him. As for otherwise, the truth is, I can't give you my word with confidence. Should the Uchiha ever come into contact with such powers, her safety is not and cannot ever be assured." Hagoromo answered honestly much to Indra's obvious disdain and dismay.

It couldn't be. It can't be. He thought leaving Sakura in Sasuke's arms was what was for the best. He thought Sakura would be just fine with him.

And that wasn't the case. This new information proved she wasn't safe and he didn't know what to do right now. He was almost certain he would never be able to talk to Sakura regularly again, but he just learned he left the woman he loved in the arms of probably the most dangerous man in Konoha.

"So…you're telling me it's just a coin-toss. You can't guarantee me if she's safe at his side or not?!" Indra seethed. Hagoromo's eyes lowered.

"I told you, she is as safe as the Uchiha can be. As far as his current protection goes, so does hers. If Sasuke Uchiha is safe, then she will be too. His House has enough power to ensure that. No one, unless courageous and somehow having the upperhand on them, would dare to move against the Uchiha."

"But if Sasuke Uchiha were to decide to move against you, and if he intends to destroy you and even the rest of our House with you, he has more than enough means to do it...and get away with it." Hagoromo informed, much to Indra's slight relief.

If that was the truth, maybe he didn't have to worry. If Sasuke was as protected as his father was claiming, and with the way the Uchiha loved her, Sakura was just as safe, if not even more than the Uchiha himself…but...

But what if she wasn't? He still knew too little about everything to be certain that she was truly safe. What if someone was courageous and powerful enough to step up to the Uchiha? What if someone found the means to do so, and acted on it? Could the Uchiha truly protect her?

"The most comfort I can give you son, is that I don't think Sasuke knows the truth of his House and he's not involved either. He doesn't know what he's capable of, the proof being that we still remain above him, publicly. There'd be far more enemies for his attention to allow for his rather public appearance." Hagoromo explained, crossing his arms, leaning his back against the adjacent wall with his contemplation and Indra's eyes widened in terror.

His father said those words, as if that was supposed to soothe his worries. Like he gave a single fuck about that.

Sasuke not knowing about this wasn't a good thing in his eyes. It meant he didn't even know the true danger he posed to Sakura. The Uchiha didn't know the extent of his power or even that of his enemies, and that wasn't good at all, if the Uchiha was powerful enough and had the resources to protect her as his father was implying.

And if the Uchiha ever discovered his true inheritance—if the man ever truly found out where his power came from or how and why their generational wealth persisted, he wasn't sure how he would act in regards to Sakura. With the way the man described his feelings for her, Indra wasn't sure the Uchiha would both understand his position in this, as well as keep Sakura safe.

Would he do the right thing and let Sakura go? Would he still keep her at his side with the thought that he was untouchable? Hell, was it possible the Uchiha actually did know and already decided he would keep her, despite the danger it posed to her? Was he playing some kind of long game by pretending he didn't know?

"The incident with Danzo seemed to be a more isolated and personal matter. Moreover, I believe if he knew the truth he'd be much more ruthless and an even greater force to be reckoned with than he is now. If he had any part in that side of the family, I'm sure the Uchiha wouldn't be as docile, especially with your transgression." The elder Otsutsuki continued and analyzed.

And a fury filled him with the information his father gave to him so indifferently. It was obvious he didn't care about Sakura. His father had no concern for anything or anyone involved except the Uchiha and staying on his good side. He would have treated the situation with the Uchiha being with a woman like her, the same way as he was now. Indra's hands clenched even tighter.

His father didn't care about anything, so long as the Uchiha stayed docile towards him and their House. So long as he stayed on top of his pillar. He didn't care if an innocent like her was in danger, just that his status remained.

Like the bastard he knew his father to be.

"However, it is Itachi Uchiha who holds that role...and we have an agreement with him, for now. So again, I don't believe he holds that kind of power." Hagoromo proclaimed and Indra's fists tightened even more. His eyes finally lifted to meet Indra's.

"Which is why I never want to take any chances with the Uchiha and why I never have. That's why neither will you. You will appease and cooperate with the Uchiha—"

"And, what?!" Indra yelled, cutting him off, and Hagoromo glowered at his son.

"You just want me to leave it be because of your fears?! Because you'reafraid of the boogeyman you never told me about?! You said you don't think he even knows the truth of his power, so why are you telling me to be a coward like you against him—" Indra continued yelling, until Hagoromo

"For your SAFETY, DAMN IT!" Hagoromo screamed and silencing Indra entirely.

"Don't you understand?! Do you not understand what I'm telling you? I've just finished telling you it's best to avoid provoking a docile lion, and you want to argue fighting against said beast despite that it's an unwinnable battle?! That lion, Indra, will devour you! The moment it decides to bare its fangs!" Hagoromo continued to yell and Indra stared wide eyed and silent.

Because he almost couldn't believe what he was hearing. He almost didn't believe his father was as scared as he was acting, and yet he was. He was obviously terrified of the Uchiha and to know this himself was beyond comprehension.

"And not just you. We will all be devoured, Indra and it won't just be off his own accord if it's found out by the rest of his Family! Not just me. Not just your grandmother or your brother! Our entire House, INDRA OTSUTSUKI! You and Asura, everything we havewill be reducedtonothingness, the moment he gives the order!" Hagoromo finished, and Indra stared; wide eyed and full of hatred.

Because he wished he was never born into this world. He wished he wasn't born to Hagoromo Otsutsuki and that this world wasn't as cruel as it was. He wished the man wasn't his father and he wished he didn't have this life. He wished life wasn't so cruel.

It would be better, if anyone and everyone in existence, simply lived in a blissful dream of their own; with all their desires and all their wishes. Life would have been so sweet, if it allowed everyone to live out their dreams as they wanted; for everything and everyone.

But alas, that wasn't the case, and it never would be.

"Whether you believe it or not, son, everything I have ever done—all I have ever done was for the sake of your's and your brother's safety. You said I had no idea what you lost for this family; well you don't know half of the sacrifices I've made for the exact same reason! For you and your brother! Every action I took, it was to keep you from the true horrors of this world, the way I promised your mother I would!" Hagoromo anguishedly yelled, silencing his son.

"And I will not have you waste that, because youcan't let go of a woman! I will not have your blood spilt or our House destroyed by the Uchiha over a woman, who has already been claimed by one of them!" His father vented with frustration and anguish.

And then, he gave Indra a remorseful look. A look of regret, remorse and turmoil that apologized before the words came from his mouth.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry what I've done isn't up to par with what you wanted. I'm sorry, that despite having the world at your grasp, the one thing you truly want, you cannot have without inciting a literal losing war with the Uchiha. I'm sorry the woman you love landed in the arms of the most dangerous ticking time bomb there could be and that I could not give her to you beforehand." Hagoromo apologized, much to Indra's horror and agony.

"But, if you want her safe, leave the Uchiha be, as he is now. Appease him. Let him be distracted by her. As is already agreed, leave all of the Uchiha's affairs to the Uchiha. If he can remain appeased and content, there's still a chance we don't have to worry about the Uchihas acting in retaliation." Hagoromo advised.

It's for the best…staying on Sasuke Uchiha's good side, and continuing to allow him to think we are the ones with more power; it is what's best for our House and for the woman you love." Hagoromo ended.

And Indra unceremoniously said fuck that. He was silent back then, distraught with what he had learned to be his fate and that his father only left him with those few last words before leaving him with that. But honestly, he wanted to scream, bullshit.

It wasn't what was best for Sakura. It was what was solely best for the House. It was so his father could keep his power through retirement. It was so all his troubles would be past on to him, while he retired like nothing was wrong.

And his father's decision to let Sasuke be distracted by her, he wasn't going to allow. He didn't care what quarrel it caused, he wasn't going to let his father's innate and appalling selfish desires to go over Sakura's wellbeing, be that she was at his side, or the Uchiha's.

"Do you not know or do you not care about the danger you pose to her?" Indra started, seething between his gritted teeth and he continued staring back sternly into Sasuke's glaring eyes.

Even if the Uchiha was unaware…even if he didn't know—Indra felt he should. At least for Sakura's sake. For her future. If no one had yet to give the man the truth—the man currently in possession of the woman he loved—he'd give it, to ensure her safety.

And if the Uchiha did know the truth, and considered it benign, then, that meant he could confidently protect her, right? Indra could have confidence in that.

Except if that was the case, the Uchiha wouldn't have bothered to hear his proposal to him last night. In fact, he would've killed him last night, despite Migi's interference. He probably would have killed Migi too for the interference. He could truly only assume that the Uchiha only stopped himself from committing his murder, only because of Sakura and that he thought couldn't get away with killing him thanks to Migi being a witness.

Which led him to believe Sasuke didn't know. But he couldn't be sure.

With that, he expressly went against his father's advice, because he couldn't allow Sakura to stay in the arms of an unknowing ticking time bomb. Because she wasn't supposed to be in the arms of someone dangerous for her. She was supposed to be in the arms of a man who loved her and could protect her and so far, he knew only one of those things were true.

And as it turned out, he wouldn't have been any better. Neither of them could have Sakura without risk to her, and the Uchiha might not even know how much truer that went for him than any Otsutsuki. He might not know that just his very presence around Sakura was a risk and it was because of a truth the Uchiha didn't even know.

He couldn't let that happen. He couldn't let Sakura stand by the Uchiha's side, whilst unknowingly being in danger. Worse, when the man she was standing beside didn't know of said danger. He couldn't possibly protect her like that. If the Uchiha wanted to protect her as he claimed, it was better if he knew of the truth they had obviously both been kept in the dark about.

But before he gave the truth to the Uchiha himself, he wanted to tell Sakura first. He wanted her to know and make the decision herself. He couldn't trust the Uchiha to learn the truth and make the smart decision to let her go because of it. For all he knew, even if the man knew the truth, he might not even tell her about it.

As he had learned last night, the man was all too in love with her for that to be a true possibility, even if Sasuke learned just how much danger she was in, being with him. So he wanted to tell her directly, whether she believed him or not.

He wouldn't even ask her to be with him instead either. Instead, he'd ask and beg that she'd stay away from him and the Uchiha as much as possible. That she'd find a life without either one of them in it.

One that she could be happy and safe in.

"I found out you're dangerous. You're dangerous for her, and I have reason to believe even more than you think and even know. And if you're as ignorant as I think, I'd rather you know the truth, for her sake, Uchiha." Indra spoke, watching for Sasuke's reaction, in which he got a look of infuriated inquiry.

Dangerous for her? He was dangerous for Sakura? Was that what the Otsutsuki was about to tell her? Or did he already tell her that?

He really must have driven the Otsutsuki mad. Losing Sakura, hearing her moan and scream his name last night; all of it must have dangerously deluded the Otsutsuki who understood how much he loved her and shared those feelings. He posed no threat to Sakura at all and the Otsutsuki knew it, considering he acknowledged last night that he worshiped her. So the man was obviously just out of his mind at this point.

Then again, he couldn't blame the adversary. Going through that himself would have driven him even more mad than he was last night. Hell, his madness stemmed from just learning they kissed—that the bastard had been on top of her and just that was more than enough to drive him to murderous insanity. Hearing Sakura moan and cry out his name over and over for a couple of hours would have straight up broken him.

He was certain he would have kicked down the door and straight up started murdering him, right in front of her.

In that regard, the Otsutsuki was half right; he supposed.

For Sakura, he was dangerous. He was dangerous to anyone and everyone who hurt her. He was dangerous to anyone and everyone that wanted to even try and take her from him in any way. He was dangerous to the very bastard before him, right now, for whatever stunt he was trying to pull with this.

"Tch. Is that what you've deluded yourself into believing? You've convinced yourself I'm dangerous for her? On what grounds? Our talk last night? You know what. You're right." Sasuke snarled daringly and Indra only glowered into his eyes further, as the Uchiha stepped a bit closer to him.

Because he wasn't foolish enough to say what he was about to say for other ears to hear. No matter how enraged he was.

"Because if that's the case, and you think I'm dangerous because of what happened between you and me last night, I promise you; last night was nothing compared to what I wanted to do to you. If I did what I wanted—if your maid hadn't interfered and brought Sakura into the mix to stop me, you wouldn't be standing here. If I had the ability to do so last night, you wouldn't be breathing." The Uchiha seethed, beneath his breath and only for Indra to hear, with their proximity.

The Otsutsuki tensed at that last claim. His father's fears and knowledge had been confirmed. Sasuke didn't know the truth of his power. Had the Uchiha had known it was possible to do what he just claimed to wish to, he would've. If the Uchiha knew how true his ability to do so was, with the promise in his gaze and his voice, he would have already done what he claimed; without consequence, as his father said.

The Uchiha really didn't know the extent of his hand. He didn't know the powers he held, and if he had...as his father had warned, the Uchiha would have used said power without regard. The man would have been more relentless in his search for Sakura. The man would have been more relentless against him than he was last night.

And Indra knew; if Sasuke did know the truth—if the man knew just how much power he actually had…Sakura would be better protected.

Indra decided the man knowing about it was the most sure fire way Sakura would be protected whilst being by the Uchiha's side. He didn't care if it caused him destruction. He didn't care for his House. He didn't care if Sasuke knowing his power brought them to ruin. After what he learned, he felt his entire bloodline deserved to be brought to ruin. He officially didn't give a damn, with Sakura unknowingly being in the crossfire whilst she was in Sasuke's just as unknowing grasp.

If the man was as unknowingly powerful as his father had claimed, Sasuke Uchiha knowing the truth of it all...was the only way the man could protect Sakura.

Other than letting her go. Other than breaking things off with Sakura entirely and separating himself from her altogether—which he doubted Sasuke would—only the Uchiha knowing of his true power could the rival protect her.

As much of a burden as it was to know the truth.

"It's the truth, Uchiha. Ask your brother for the details, since you won't believe me and will only think that anything I have to say is a plot to take her from you. It's obviously futile to even try to convince you that's not what I'm doing." Indra stubbornly reaffirmed and Sasuke rolled his eyes. Now he also wanted to drag Itachi into this? He didn't even know him, as far as he knew.

He shook his head with a scoff and was already starting to turn away.

He was done with this asshole. He was absolutely done. He was sick and tired of this bastard being a nuisance and nothing would please him more at the moment, than throwing him over the railings of the ship, or simply strangling the man with his bare hands.

But he had a beautiful woman to get to.

"Ask your brother, Uchiha! For Sakura's sake—!"

In the instant the man dared to say Sakura's name, he stopped, turning and giving one last look into Indra's eyes and cutting him off with words seethed between gritted teeth.

"This is the last fucking time I'm going to warn you, Otsutsuki. This is the last fucking time I'm going to give you my last shreds of civility, leniency, and tolerance. This is my last fucking warning to you." Sasuke growled, his voice promising his very claim, in this moment. With his dark eyes glaring into Indra's he said the last thing he was going to say to the man at all, before returning to Sakura.

And hopefully, it would be the last thing he'd have to say to the man for a long while. At least until they were in each other's presence for a meeting.

"Stay the fuck away from her, or else. Do not test my fucking patience. It'll be the last thing you do, ever again." He warned, glaring at the man with said advisory of caution.

And he turned to where he had to go. That should be enough. That scene he made and his words to Indra should be more than enough to make the bastard back off, although, his boldness made Sasuke believe this really wasn't the end of it. There was more to come and the bastard himself wasn't going to just leave it at this, despite his just given and absolutely final warning.

Damn it. He was just going to have to deal with as much as he could without Sebastian as possible. If the Otsutsuki was acting like this just on the first night, then he couldn't have the peace of mind to leave Sakura alone or with Otsutsuki company. Sebastian had to be with her at all times, or as much as possible.

And with that, Indra was staring at the Uchiha's back as he turned to leave. Off he went to his destination, which he knew was next to Sakura and Indra trembled with anger and frustration.

He couldn't just leave it like this. He couldn't. Not for Sakura.

"Uchiha—!" Indra suddenly yelled, and Sasuke turned at the violent call, starting to take his hands out his pockets instantly, getting ready for a fight.

But whatever Indra was about to say—whatever was about to happen between them in that moment, was stopped when a hand slapped onto Indra's shoulder and Sasuke noted who grabbed said shoulder. The two looked over to see Hagoromo and Sasuke had no choice but to pause.

"Indra, my son. There you are. And Uchiha-san. I'm glad and honored to see you've made it." Hagoromo cut in, definitely urging the two to stop without outwardly saying so. Sasuke continued glaring. He would have scoffed at the disguised and yet blatant intervention, if it wasn't for the fact that he was grateful to Hagoromo for it.

He was already having enough of Indra's bullshit and he almost lost his control. He almost broke his given word to Sakura, if it wasn't for him.

He almost swung at Indra. So he was grateful.

"Hagoromo." He civilly acknowledged, and also damn near snarled to the man, as he motioned for a server with a gesture of his fingers.

"Fancy a drink? I see you're without a glass. Have the servants not been attentive?" He more suggested than offered, as a server came with a tray of champagne glasses in hand, filled with the liquid. Sasuke gave a glare to Indra before taking one of the glasses just for Hagoromo's appeasement.

This was enough of a scene already. No need to make it more of one by getting an attitude with the man who owned this cruise ship. Especially in front of the press.

"It's not the servants fault. I had just finished a glass not too long ago, during a talk with Takata." He excused, not intent on his wrath with Indra causing trouble for someone who didn't deserve it. Even if he couldn't trust their servants around Sakura, they hadn't done anything wrong. Not yet. So best to keep them out of this.

"I see. Please, enjoy all comforts and amenities to your content. If you need anything, simply let me know. I will personally ensure all your needs are met." Hagoromo said, indirectly sending Sasuke on his way. Sasuke grunted, again, grateful to Hagoromo for the interference.

"Hn." Sasuke grunted, finally able to walk away. The moment he was gone, Hagoromo shot a glare at his son.

"I told you to leave him alone! Why do you insist on antagonizing him?!" He seethed quietly. Indra glowered at the deck floor.

"You want to be on the Uchiha's good side so badly? Imagine how he'll feel if you were the one to protect his most precious treasure." Indra proposed and his father stiffened. He stared attentively and Indra glared at the fact and watched his father's eyes grow in realization.

"You don't even know how to handle him." Indra scoffed at him, shaking his head.

"To handle him—"

"Doesn't mean to coddle to his every whim. First of all, he needs to know the truth and imagine if you were the one to give it to him. He's being lied to and has been lied to all his life, you don't think he'll be grateful to the person to reveal the truth to him?" Indra began to advise, with his understanding of the man he came to somewhat know last night.

"Second, make it personal. If you want to be in his good graces, or to just get over him, just take care of that which is most important to him." Indra growled at his currently attentive father.

The man held Sakura above all things. She was the most important thing in this world to the Uchiha and Indra knew from experience the Uchiha would do anything for her.

"Trust me. I experienced it last night. He'll be indebted to you. Give him the power to protect her—protect her, and he'll be absolutely indebted to you. He may even reward you." Indra said with promise.

And Hagoromo was stopped from saying anything else as a servant walked up and whispered something into his ear with urgency.

And Indra watched as his father grew slightly, and yet, considerably pale and hid said reaction with a feigned clearing of his throat.

"Is that so? Please inform him we will converse later on tonight." Hagoromo said, earning a curt bow and watching the servant scurry off with urgency. Indra glared.

"What was that about?" Indra questioned. Hagoromo turned away from him.

"Unfortunately you'll see soon enough. We are requested to meet with Uchiha Itachi later tonight…he's here." Hagoromo quietly mumbled, a troubled look coming to his face. Indra's brows furrowed.

"And what does that mean?"

"It means, your initiation is beginning sooner than wanted…and that you'll see why the Uchiha are better kept docile and appeased, rather than pissed off." Hagoromo drank his glass with a large, stressed chug, and glared at Indra.

"You better hope he doesn't hear about what you just did." He scowled and walked away from his son.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

-running for dear life- Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope.

Naruto: -running- WHY ARE THEY FIGHTING AGAIN?!

Pretty sure for the same reason. Where's Sakura?

Naruto: I HAVE NO IDEA!

KABOOM!

-gets blasted by the shockwave- HOLY—WWWWAAAAHHHH! SEE YOU NEXT CHAP! SEE YOU NEXT CHAP! DEAR GOD I PRAY WE SEE YOU ALL NEXT CHAP! ( T-T )