Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.

Epilogue

…You raise me up: To more than I can be.

Her eyes shut as the lyrics penetrated her ears. She tapped a foot to the slow, powerful rhythm of the song while re-opening the windows to her soul. It was a Saturday like any other, except this morning, Sakura was once again a woman with a job. If someone were to come up and ask her about the utopia in her mind, she would refer to the very moment she was enjoying in the cozy city – an oasis in the desert of urban life. There was soft sunlight that kept her feeling fuzzy inside, warm breezes that played with her neatly trimmed hair, green trees that cast the perfect amount of shade over her, and a gorgeous melody that traveled into her auditory canals – oh, why were clichés so wonderful? Miss Haruno had a job too, and it's only been a month since she got fired. She would be a nurse starting in one week. Her new boss, a woman resembling a great deal of Mac Inc's Lady Tsunade, had joked with her and claimed that the clinic's patient rate would go up as soon as news of a beautiful young nurse spread. On Wednesday, Ino and she would finally get done unpacking in their house. She never found out how Ino got the money for the place. From Shikamaru? Don't ask the obvious, Sakura, the 22-year-old smiled to herself.

She didn't want to admit something, though, and it was far more obvious than the little uh-huh between her best friend and Sir Pineapple Head: she was alone, all by herself in the sweetest park. It was just her and the wooden bench she was sitting on –

– Until he showed up.

"No tomato soup today?" she asked him as she took her earphones out.

Sasuke frowned a bit but his face soon dawned with comprehension. "Unfortunately."

"…So…you're out of jail already?"

"I never got in."

"You mean you weren't –?" Sakura stared at the man before her. He looked healthier.

"I made bail," Sasuke explained. "But my trial starts in a week."

"Hope they'll be nice to you."

"Hn," he said, stuffing his right hand in his pant pocket. "They'll have to."

Sakura scoffed. "Why is that?"

"They want me to testify against Herris."

"Will you?"

"Don't see any reason not to."

Sakura shifted to the right side of the bench and patted the space beside her. "You should sit down."

"Actually," Sasuke walked up. "I was thinking we could go for a walk."

She smiled and bounced right up. The man just confirmed that he was listening to her therapy session. "I have been sitting for too long," she said, stretching. "Let's go."

Their fingers intertwined moments after they began the stroll – one that would last from 10am to 4pm. Neither of them acknowledged this physical contact out loud; deep inside, they were conscious of it but didn't mind at all. It felt like something they'd been doing for a long, long time. Who knows how many more times they will walk down the same path? However big that number will be, each time will be just as delightful as the first one.

- -

"And that is how lasting relationships begin," God rubbed his chin with pride. He glanced up from the viewing board. "Are you learning from this, Cupid?"

"Of course, my Lord," said Cupid, bowing his head.

"How does it feel to witness a romance that you did not create?"

"Well, to be honest, it was going to happen. You, my Lord, simply made it appear sooner."

"Is that so?" God leaned forward, curious. "What did you originally plan for them?"

"It – um, so, Sakura would've just finished her lunch – onion rings – at The Leaf, and she's on her way back to the hotel," Cupid paused and adjusted his arrows. "Then, while waiting for the elevators, she stutters right in Sasuke's face. For once, it's not her hair that leaves the impression."

God sighed. "Next time you're about to aim, inform me."

His eyes went back to the viewing board. "Look at that eye contact…"

One day, the two would return to him, God knew. But he had to wait. Till the moment Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura came back, he would wait. Before that, however, God needed to start planning their future.

"Cupid, before you go…"

"Yes, my Lord?"

"…How many kids do you think they should have?"

FIN

Author's note: Wasn't that short? And the prologue wasn't useless after all! By the way, you all read the latest Naruto chapter right? Ahh, it really motivated me. It made me squeal and squeal...See, Kishimoto, a little SasuSaku-ness didn't hurt. :D Well, it's done. Hopefully you enjoyed it! I know I did. Hehe...leave a review if you can!

See you in my next fic?