It had been several years since the last time that Mei had been in Konoha. That had been back when the Third Hokage was still around, just about to pass on the mantle to Naruto's father, however brief that time had been. She had been trying to get away from all the violence and brutality present in her own village, and had found herself aimlessly wandering, not too dissimilar to Sasuke now. Though she was fairly confident that she didn't have death squads pursuing her with the enthusiasm of a toddler who just saw a dog with a puffy tail.
That was where she got her first proper look at the different clans and how they functioned together. She had seen the Byakugan from Ao previously and he had told her about his encounter with Shisui, but seeing this diverse a population, all coexisting within one village was intriguing to her. It almost made her long for the same thing in Kirigakure, variety was the spice of life after all. She wouldn't have minded less ninja leaving the village, and some handsome men like the ones in the Uchiha clan joining.
Speaking of Uchiha, the last one was finally up and about, after a few days of lazing about in bed. She was inclined to cut him slack however, as he had been running himself to the point of exhaustion, which, from knowing Sasuke's stamina levels personally, was quite concerning. Also, him being confined to rest allowed them to catch up on all their months apart. Sasuke being the conversationalist he was, had wrapped up everything going on with him in about three minutes flat.
He had almost literally jumped out of bed this morning after he had deemed himself to be fully recovered. Mei was now treating herself to a lovely breakfast and a front-row seat to see him work up a sweat as he checked that all his faculties were in order. He had not grown so much physically in their time apart, and for that she was thankful. When Naruto had told her about how many S Rank missions he had done, she almost expected him to be skin and bones when she next saw him. Thankfully, he had kept a healthy level of muscle and it seemed that Sakura had cleaned up any scars he had likely gotten in his adventures.
Finishing up with his exercises, Sasuke walked over to join her. Mei tossed him a towel and a bottle of water, which he took a large drink of. Using the towel to rid himself of sweat, he didn't miss how her predatory eyes trailed the length of his body.
"Enjoying the view?" He asked with a smile, sitting in a chair next to her and grabbing the apple which she had yet to touch.
"You do know how to put on quite the show. I must say, that was one of the most enjoyable breakfasts I've had for a while."
"I think anything would be better than hospital food." Sasuke said as he took a crunch out of the apple.
"How does it feel to be up and about again?" Mei asked.
"How did it look?" Sasuke smirked.
"Vigorous." She replied with an equally devious grin.
Sasuke chuckled before tossing the apple core onto the tray next to the remnants of Mei's meal. Standing up and stretching with a groan, Sasuke grabbed his shirt and pulled it over his head. Reaching over for his sword, which he had left lying against a wall, Sasuke clipped it onto his belt and nodded in satisfaction.
"You look quite the picture." Mei commented drily.
"Don't I always? Come on, let's get out of here." Sasuke gestured.
Sasuke held out his arm, to which Mei narrowed her eyes and stared at before walking on, laughing, he soon followed. He was in a jovial mood and even good-humoured enough to be open to some public displays of affection, the fact that Mei was the one to brush him off was no small amusement to him and just another thing that he now appreciated about her.
"It's quite the change to be walking around in your village instead of mine. Well it's yours too, you know you're always welcome there." Sasuke looked at her through the side of his eye with a bemused expression on his face. "You know what I mean." She muttered.
"You've been here before?" Sasuke asked.
"Once, I have to be honest, apart from a few extra heads on that rock of yours, not a lot has changed." Mei admitted.
"Heh, six heads on the rock spanning over a hundred years and I've met all of them."
"No intention on becoming number seven?"
"Out of all the things that Naruto probably should have killed me for, I have no doubt that he actually would end my life if I ever tried to take that from him." Sasuke snorted. "Plus, I'm fairly certain I'm ineligible to become Hokage, due to conflicts of interest and that."
"You always come up with the most poetic compliments for me. 'Conflicts of interest'. I do think that is my new favourite one." The sarcasm dripping from her voice was almost tangible.
"Speaking of Kages, how do you think your protégé is holding up?"
This had been on Mei's mind for the three days that she had spent here. She had sent Nise home along with several Konoha Anbu, compliments of Kakashi, which were to assist in carrying Shin's body, as well as to function as protection. She had also given her a letter to be delivered to Chojuro, letting him know that she intended to spend some time in Konoha with Sasuke. She had no doubts in Chojuro's abilities, just his confidence.
"I have total faith that Chojuro is keep Kirigakure whole." Mei said quickly.
"That's... reassuring."
Walking into the more populated areas of the village, the pair caught some odd looks and sideways glances. Sasuke was used to getting these stares without Mei accompanying him, so there wasn't anything for him to get worked up over. On the other hand, Mei practically basked in all the attention, enjoying the few jealous gazes directed at Sasuke from some envious ninja who had looked her up and down.
It seemed to Mei that Konoha had much more of a social and carefree atmosphere than Kirigakure, idle conversation and laughing children added to the ambience. Business seemed to be prosperous and thriving, with a wide variety in the types of stores and restaurants. Though it wasn't as prevalent in Kirigakure as it was here, it seemed that in the peaceful times, civilian professions became even more widespread than ninja ones. Of course, it could be that the ratio of civilians to ninja hadn't recovered yet, but three years after the war, Mei expected to see at least some increase.
Eventually, the hordes of people following them thinned out, and soon they were left on their own again. The warm spring day had the perfect conditions for Sasuke to get back on his feet, and the soft breeze that glided through the air made sure that the heat wasn't too stifling.
Strolling to the outskirts of the village, Sasuke stopped dead in his tracks, his breath hitched and body became rigid. Mei was curious about his sudden stop, until her eyes tracked what Sasuke was looking at. Moving to a wall that had more cracks than Tsunade's genuine skin, Sasuke placed his hand on the faded remains of his clan's symbol and lowered his head.
Pain had left this place in devastation, and what was still in one piece, looked to be on the verge of collapsing under the most minor duress.
Sasuke had not been anywhere near his clan's district since that brief visit to Konoha during the war with his team, and Orochimaru. Even then, he had more pressing matters on his mind to place any real weight on the condition of his home, Naruto was pretty much waging a one-man war against Madara and Obito, and Sasuke had to get some answers from the men who had been immortalised in stone.
Seeing how unchanged it was now though, he couldn't help but feel a little disgusted and angry. On one hand, he supposed he should be glad that the villagers had enough respect to leave it untouched, so he could reform it as he saw fit. On the other more, pessimistic, side of things, he got the sense that the villagers left it as it was simply because they didn't give a damn. His outrage quickly turned into sullen acceptance, it's not like he couldn't understand why they would want to leave the ruins to decay, the Uchiha didn't have the best track record and his defection probably didn't raise opinions of them.
Mei stood silently and patiently as Sasuke paid his respects. She didn't want to interrupt and offer any shallow sympathies, what little Sasuke had shared about his family gave her an indication that he didn't want to talk about them, much less the massacre in which they were killed. If he wanted to talk about it, that was his decision, she knew better than to pester him over it.
Straightening up, Sasuke approached the ancient gate that guarded the entrance to the Uchiha Compound. With a grunt, Sasuke pushed the rusty behemoth back and took in the sight of the desecrated section of Konoha. A brief flashback to that night robbed him of air, however Mei was instantly there to snap him out of it by gently squeezing his hand. He gave her an appreciative look before moving forward at a slow pace, Mei followed from a few steps behind.
When a gust of wind kicked up a puff of dust, Mei couldn't help but think that Sasuke really did resemble the last of his clan, as he walked through it, unflustered. It was eerie, he was essentially a lone wanderer in a ghost town, wandering through the graveyard of his ancestors.
However, his unmatched swagger was missing from his stride, his movements were contemplative and gloomy. Knowing that his mind was probably engaging in some unpleasant thoughts that would weigh him down, Mei decided to take a look around the district.
The place was an absolute wreck, buildings reduced to rubble, rampant vegetation growing from the remains. Whatever happy homes existed here at one point were long gone, and that was well before Pain destroyed them. She didn't even want to think about how the Third Hokage had reacted when he heard the news, she didn't know how she would react if she was put in a situation that was even only half as bad.
The fact that Sasuke was as mentally stable as he was currently, was nothing short of a miracle in her opinion. While he had gone off the deep end on a few occasions, him being here now, was a testament to him as a resilient man. Mei couldn't stop the feeling of pride she felt for him even if she tried.
Up ahead, Sasuke was going down memory lane, except this lane was littered with the corpses of his friends and family. Itachi and Obito had worked efficiently and brutally to wipe the clan out in one night. They were like Santa in that way, except instead of delivering toys to children, they slit their throats.
Trying to piece together what had happened that night, in the past, was usually enough to bring him on the verge of tears all over again. However, despite currently being at the epicentre of his trauma, he didn't feel utterly desolate, more numb than anything else. Having all the answers and motivations about what took place was... liberating in a sense. Sasuke didn't have a goal or vengeance to seek out, he could simply grieve. Even then, he had already had his fair share of mourning for his fallen clan.
All that was happening now, was that a bitter wave of nostalgia that he could have done without, was drowning him. While Sasuke had a pretty good memory, the vivid pictures his mind was now painting of simpler and blissful times when he was a boy, were a little much. He could understand learning from the past, but seeing visions of his dead relatives during happier times did nothing but cause his heart to ache.
Heading deeper into the district, Sasuke finally paused right outside his destination. The plants covering the pathway were swiftly cut down; Sasuke felt some small satisfaction at having his sword back in his hands. His home had held up quite well all things considered, which was more than could be said for the majority of the other buildings. As he ambled his way to the front door, he made a mental note of all the things that would need to be fixed.
By the time Mei caught up to Sasuke, the sun had retreated behind some dark clouds that threatened to ruin any trace of a nice day. Seeing that Sasuke had gone inside his house, she decided to give him some space and wait for him on the porch.
The interior of his home was just how he left it, he had been eager to leave quickly and only taken the basic essentials. The Third Hokage had immediately provided him with a new apartment elsewhere in Konoha. Sasuke had appreciated that, though looking back, it might have been a move inspired by the guilt that Sarutobi felt, more than a promise to Itachi.
Sasuke let out a small smile, his pessimistic side seemed to creep in every thought he could conceive. That was just how he was, he'd said it before, he was the Yang to Naruto's Yin, he was never one for blind hope.
"Hey Sasuke, Obito, Madara and Kaguya are all defeated. Let's go home and be celebrated as heroes."
"No thanks, let me capture all the Tailed Beasts and start a revolution. I'll kill all the Kage while they're defenceless, including the one who will become the future mother of my children."
That was him. He had a habit of making a goal and sticking to it, whether it be kill Itachi or Danzo, or start a revolution, once he set his mind to it, he wouldn't stop until it was accomplished or he was taken down. Which left him in a confused state after the war, being a free man and having no particular mission to achieve was unheard of to him. Mei had been a great way for him to clear his head and revaluate his life, her succour made him immediately infatuated with her.
Seeing a picture frame turned down was pretty much a metaphor for his home in the weeks leading up to Itachi's actions. Frequent arguments between his father and brother; that he couldn't understand, while his mother tried to smile and keep the peace. Lifting up the frame revealed the family photo encased in some cracked glass. His father and brother borderline scowling were par for the course, as was his mother smiling. Meanwhile, a younger version of himself held a pretty neutral expression, it was like he was caught between the gentleness of his mother and severity of his father.
Going up the stairs, he first looked into Itachi's room which was still ransacked. Anbu members had torn it apart looking for any clues as to his motivations, or hints about where he had gone for refuge. It wouldn't be too long before he revealed himself, sporting a new black cloak with red clouds.
His own room was next, practically stripped bare, as he had moved his belongings to his new apartment. He distinctly remembered the ninja that the Third had sent with him being incredibly awkward, uneasy to say anything to him as he wordlessly and mechanically picked up what he would need. Sasuke had been adamant that he would go and gather his possessions, when the Third had offered to have someone bring them to him.
He couldn't remember what was going through his head, but he suspected that despite the horror that took place in the house, any familiarity would have been comforting to his young, twisted mind.
Finally, he came to the last room in the house, his parents bedroom. Sitting down on the bed, he placed his head in his hands. He felt emotionally drained, reminiscing about his past and confronting his demons had left his mind racing. Looking around the room, an item on the dresser caught his eye, standing up, he moved over to it.
It was a hairbrush that his mother had first used on Itachi, with Uchiha having such luscious hair, it was only natural for the den mother to look after them. When Sasuke was born, the brush was also used on him, somehow his mother had managed to style his hair into an image that got him mocked more than once. And he wouldn't have traded it for anything.
One of his earliest memories was after a bath, his mother had wrapped a towel around him and then delicately brushed his hair while she sat on the bed. His father and brother were out, so it was just the two of them, feeling tired and warm. Sasuke gave a sad smile at the flashback. Taking the old, wooden brush, Sasuke tucked it in his pocket and headed downstairs.
Mei had moved inside the house and sat elegantly on a very worn-out and rugged couch. Standing up to face him, she wrapped her arms around him when she saw how heavy-hearted he was. Sasuke returned the hug and then looked up to see a downpour going on outside. Parting from the hug, Mei planted a quick kiss on his cheek and gave him a soft smile.
"I think we'll have to wait here a bit longer unless you want to throw up a Susanoo to shield us from the rain." Mei said.
"No, let's... let's stay here tonight." Sasuke stated, causing Mei's eyes to widen.
"Are you sure?" She asked carefully.
"Yeah, I'm going to rebuild this place, stronger and wiser. I can't really do that if I'm afraid to stay in my own home."
"Okay, is there food?"
"No."
"A bed?"
Sasuke thought about this, he could use his parents but it seemed slightly... disrespectful to him. It would probably be best if he got a new mattress and bed. "No."
"A toilet?"
Pain would have knocked and bent all the sewage pipes in the Uchiha district, and the odds of them being magically repaired were unlikely. Mei watched Sasuke walk out to the porch and suddenly a purple structure formed around him. He turned back to her and extended his hand.
"Alright, my apartment it is."
Mei woke up during the middle of the night and immediately noticed Sasuke's absence. She could hear that the rain had not let up and with the abrasive sounds of thunder in the distance, had only gotten worse. A cool breeze caused her to sit up and spot where her missing beau had gone, outside on the balcony he stood as still as a statue. Mei threw on a quick gown that Tsunade had provided for her and as she crept closer to him, her statue comparisons were only proved more accurate.
Sasuke leaned on the balcony railing in nothing but a baggy pair of trousers. The way the rain cascaded down his silk, marble-like skin and turned his smooth, ebony locks into a wet, tousled mess that almost came down to his shoulders, made him look nothing short of beautiful in her opinion. She was glad that he hadn't inherited the stress lines that seemed to adorn a lot of other members of his clan, his father and brother included.
"I'd rather you didn't stand out there, get saturated and possibly catch a cold. For one, I don't want to sleep on a soaking mattress with you. Second, if you do get a cold, you'd almost certainly pass it onto me." Mei called out to him. Sasuke turned around with a grin.
"First, we've slept on a wet mattress plenty of times and you rarely complain then, not to mention that this is my bed for a change. Next, we both know that if I caught a cold you would practically quarantine me in the hospital until I recovered." He replied, coming in from the balcony.
Mei smiled and after a few swift movements of her hands, produced some heated air that turned the rain droplets into steam. Sasuke smiled at the surprise and affectionate gesture she had given him, it had been a while since she had done that. Once the steam had dissipated out into the harsh night, Sasuke closed the balcony door and headed back to bed.
"What was that about?" She asked, lying back down and resting her head on his chest.
"Nightmare." He answered.
"Aren't you a little old for nightmares? Between that and almost wetting the bed, you're not exactly helping your case." She joked.
"Nightmares don't go away because you're a certain age, if anything they get worse. Growing older can help you understand them, understanding them only makes them all the more real. One thing I've learned is that my best dreams and worst nightmares, always have the same people in them." Sasuke explained, looking up at the ceiling.
"Your family?" Mei asked gently, placing a kiss on his chest.
"Yeah. I know we've been through this enough times and I don't want to start a fight again, but going back home today. I can't help but fear rebuilding my entire district from the ground up, only for it to remain empty, it feels like I'd be letting them down. You know this already though, and I'm sorry that I keep going on about it, I know it's not your fault in any way."
"Sasuke, if you truly feel that loving me is that selfish, I wouldn't... hold it against you, if you decided to leave. Seeing you in your house earlier, I know the weight that's on your shoulders."
Sasuke looked down at her with a raised eyebrow. While he appreciated her vulnerability and willingness to sacrifice her happiness for him, he wasn't used to seeing Mei in this kind of state. It was her natural confidence in herself that separated her from the practically every other woman he knew.
"If I was going to leave for good, I would have done it a long time ago. I already told you, I want to do this with you. I'm in this for the long haul now, Mei."
Mei reached up and caressed his cheek before entwining their lips. Sasuke closed his eyes and enjoyed the soft gasp she made as he moved his hands down her voluptuous body. The hospital definitely wasn't the ideal place for catching up physically, so he made sure that he took his time as soon as they got back to his apartment. As they parted to catch their breath, Mei placed a finger on Sasuke's chin to stop him from continuing.
"Before we go on, there are some things we have to discuss."
"Can't we talk about in the morning?" Sasuke groaned.
"I would, only you're generally more communicative in bed." She responded.
He couldn't exactly disagree with her. "Alright, what is it?"
"I have to return to Kirigakure soon."
"I'm not leaving Konoha until the Uchiha district is rebuilt, and up to a standard that I'm happy with."
"So, what's the plan?" She asked. Sasuke's face turned into one of thought as he mused on their situation. After, a few moments he sat back up.
"You go back to Kirigakure whenever you see fit, I'll stay here and work on repairing my home. Seeing as how I don't the first thing about building, it may take a while, though I'm sure with Naruto's support, I can get a few people to help me out. Once that's done, I'll come join and stay with you in Kirigakure until the time comes where we have to return to Konoha." He proposed.
"And what time would that be?"
"I don't care how good you think your doctors are in your village, I am having no one but Tsunade and either Shizune, or Sakura, deliver my child."
Mei was taken aback by the significance of his words, not to mention how well thought out his arrangement was. "You seem to be completely certain about your ability to resurrect your clan." Sasuke surprised her by twisting his hips, causing her to moan.
"I only know one tried and tested way to resurrect clans, and fortunately for you, I also happen to be an expert at it." He smirked, pulling her down and immediately tangling tongues, before soon intertwining their bodies.