Standard disclaimers and warnings apply. (I'm just lazy to type it today.)

Responses to not-so-anonymous reviews:

Raven: Your review showed how much you like the fic. Thanks.

Tsuki: Wataru and Ayame were from his own class except that they enrolled a late while Akemi enrolled early.

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Pedestrian: A reason why most people I know dreaded parenthood.

Blue feather: I'll be dealing that other fic after I got this done. Thanks.

Uka Hinari: 9.9 out of 10, eh? That's already an accomplishment in and out of itself. I'm glad you still like it. cookies…

Chapter 41: Shards of Love

Sasuke rolled to the side where Naruto was lying as he seek out that familiar warmth but found nothing but air. He cracked one eye opened and realized he was alone in their bed. He looked outside through the window and saw it was still dark. He looked at the clock and realized it was still past 4 in the morning. Where was his dobe, anyway? He couldn't be in the CR because there wasn't a telltale sign that it was being occupied. Grumbling incoherent, he stretched his body and got out of bed.

He didn't understand why he was fully-awake at this time when his body had been sore after that S-class mission. Not giving too much damn about it, he mindlessly walked towards the kitchen and realized the lights were on.

Naruto was in the kitchen, preparing their breakfast earlier than usual. He knew that when the blonde would get up early to prepare breakfast that meant the latter would be leaving for the office around six for some important matters to be settled immediately.

Instead of announcing his presence, Sasuke leaned against the doorjamb, obsidian eyes intensely watching the blonde who was moving around in his little kingdom – the Uchiha mansion's kitchen. A smile touched his lips as he heard Naruto humming a gentle song.

Who would have thought years ago that the boisterous and impulsive Naruto would make a good spouse? Who would have thought that he would look sexy in an ordinary apron? Who would have thought that even now both of them were still deeply in love each other?

Yes, they had been married more or less twenty years ago and yet nothing between them had dwindled. It was as if they were just married months ago if their passion was any indication. Their kisses seemed always new to him, as if it was their first. Was it possible to love this much? Was this still love or something more powerful than that? Was there something more powerful than love? And if so, what was?

A clattering sound snapped him out from his thoughts just in time to see Naruto mumbled a curse before picking up the knife from the floor. As he did so, the blonde noticed his sole audience.

"Are you hurt?" Sasuke said before words could come out from those sweet lips.

"Just a cut. It's not something Kyuubi can't heal," he said and although the brunette knew it, he held out his injured finger and let him see the already healing wound.

"You're such a dobe," he uttered in an affectionate way making the blonde chuckle.

"Good morning too, bastard. Did I wake you up?" Naruto continued as he turned and grabbed two mugs to start making coffee.

"Your absence in our bed did," was Sasuke's smooth reply as he stood behind him. He could hear his wife's soft gasp when his hand covered his which was holding the instant coffee jar. He dipped his head forward, dropping a kiss on the other's shoulder. "I'll prepare them. Just resume preparing whatever our breakfast is."

Naruto's hand snaked around to settle on the brunette's nape and then he titled his head to give Sasuke a sweet kiss. He always loved their morning tender moments and was one of things he looked forward too when he woke up.

Few minutes later, Sasuke brought Naruto's mug of coffee to the other side of the kitchen. He leaned back against the counter and Naruto wordlessly leaned against him, half of his body covering Sasuke's.

The blonde stifled when he felt a hand sneaking under his apron.

"What's that reaction?" an amused Sasuke said,

"I'm wondering if you have plans to take off my clothes and leave the apron."

He 'hmm'ed and there was a soft clinking sound as he settled his cup on the counter to let his hand joined his other, making the blonde fidget more. "Lovely suggestion but it is much better if I would also take off your yukata and leave the obi too."

He didn't have to look at his spouse to know he was blushing. He could feel the hitching of his breath when he fingered the edges of his yukata. "What do you think, hm?"

"I think you're getting more perverted as you grow older." And whatever comeback Sasuke decided for that was smothered by a pair of provocative lips.

In between cooking and drinking coffee, they shared hot and gentle kisses and teasing and fleeting touches.

-SasuNaru is love-

Intense blue eyes trailed her form, looking at the way her body move gracefully, committing it to his memories that would give him strength to continue fighting in order to live, in order to see her welcoming smile every time he return to Konoha after mission.

He watched her because it was the only thing he could do because he knew she wasn't interested in him. Ironic wasn't it? That the girl he admired, had come to love was the one who showed no interest in him. She didn't say it aloud but her actions did.

He was aware that to her, he was just a friend and one of the great ANBU members. She was just a chuunin and she always gave him the respect that was due to him as someone who was above her. It frustrated him to no end that most of her smiles where polite except when he would be gone from the village longer than five days. It drove him mad to see her bowing every time they would meet. He wanted her to look at him with admiration, adoration and love that he always saw subtly shining in his parents' eyes when they were looking at each other. Why couldn't she see him past his status?

He wanted to take her to dinner or to walk her home or just spend time together with her but he was scared because she had turned down offers from the other guys – guys who were more confident than him.

He sighed and hung his head lost on what to do. He was so pathetic. He could think of counter attacks and plans in just a snap of his fingers regardless of what pressure he was in. He could come up with techniques that could kick ass. He was a genius when it came to his profession but when it came to love… he was as knowledgeable as a baby.

He could ask some suggestions from his subordinates but judging from their personality their help wasn't the one he was looking for. He could go to his uncle Sai but he was certain the Root commander would just talk to him about sex. How could he listen to such talk when he couldn't even make his crush notice him in a way he wanted to? Perhaps Jiraiya… he shook his head. He couldn't also go to Kakashi as both of them would just teach him how to give the girl a mind-blowing orgasm, something which he didn't want to know at that moment.

As embarrassing as he thought it was, he had no choice. He had to talk with his otousan.

-SasuNaru is love-

Yuuzuki fidgeted on his chair as he sat across his father in their study room. His head was slightly bowed and his hands were stiffly placed on his lap.

Sasuke didn't know what to make of this situation but considering that Yuuzuki had even made sure to secure the room for no eavesdropper, it must be something serious.

The boy opened his mouth to speak then closed it again. He took a deep breath and said, "Howcanimakethegirlilikenoticeandfallinlovewithme?"

Sasuke gaped at him, "What? You speak too fast."

The blushing younger boy inhaled again and repeated but this slowly and shyly, "I like this girl but she only sees me according to my status and accomplishment. I want her to notice and like me too."

The older man looked uncomfortable at the same time sheepish. He didn't know how to answer that question. As far as he could remember, the girls loved him despite his being a bastard, as Naruto always reminded him. Besides, he hadn't fallen in love with a girl and he didn't have to resort to make Naruto fall in love with him. They just click like pieces of puzzle fitting together immediately. He abandoned Konoha harboring feelings to his best friend and when he returned, he proposed. There was no courting unless their sparring and his calling him "dobe" and "usoratonkachi" could be counted as one. He was sure beating the girl black and blue during sparring and insulting her wouldn't be a good way for Yuuzuki. That only worked between him and Naruto and he was proud to admit that.

"I'm sorry but honestly, I don't know how you should do it," he said apologetically and Yuuzuki seemed to plunge deeper into despair. "But I think, you should spend more time with her while being yourself. You have to get her to know you."

The boy could see his otousan was having a hard time too. He seemed to lack confident while giving him advice.

"Whatever you do, just be yourself," Sasuke repeated.

Their meeting was interrupted by a knock on the door and Naruto's smiling face pop inside. "Sasuke, Yuu-chan, dinner," Naruto called out.

"Perhaps I should him," Yuuzuki mumbled.

Sasuke snorted, "Chichiue is clueless also."

"Clueless of what?" the blonde repeated his gaze shifting between his two of his most precious persons.

"I wanted some girl to notice and like me back," Yuuzuki said quickly but the blonde catch on.

"Okay…" he said and paused because he wasn't sure. Asking your crush for dates over and over again was a big no-no based on his experience with Sakura. He looked at Sasuke wondering how he made the bastard fall in love again and realized he didn't do anything but be himself. "Just be yourself," he finally managed to say.

"See, I told you. He's clueless," Sasuke said but his eyes were on his dobe who half-heartedly glare at him.

"As if you aren't," he retorted. "I didn't make you work to get me."

"If I recall, you almost beat me up before I managed to grab you long enough to make my proposal," he countered.

"That doesn't count as courting."

Sighing deeply and paying no attention to his parents' banter, he left the room. He should just be himself and wished he could find love as near as strong as his parents.

-SasuNaru is love-

"What's with that dejected look?" Shouhei, Neji and Tenten's second son and Yuuzuki's closest friend next to his cousin, Hisayuki, asked as he joined him in the Uchiha training ground. "Are you sure, you're up for a spar? Because man it would suck if I beat the great Yuuzuki so easily."

He looked at him and smiled, amused, "Girls."

Yuuzuki sighed, "What would you know about them? You had never loved nor had a crush on anyone. You're focus on improving the Hyuuga techniques."

"Of course," he agreed. But it was a lie but no one would know because he had been lying for almost a year now. If people would know, worse, if five people would know about his object of affection, he would be dead. And he didn't want to die… He wanted to grow old with her.

Yuuzuki stood up and dusted his pants. "Whatever. Show me what you got, Shou."

The other boy smiled and the Uchiha youngster watched as his brown eyes faded into silver-white as he activated his byakugan.

TBC

This chapter is more or less pointless but I wanted to write it. You have to excuse me for my silliness. 8 minutes to go before Blood+. Waiting is such a sorrow.