Hi-ya! Here is the fourth chapter of Behind the Mask, please enjoy!
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"Can I pick out a treat, Sakura?" Hanan smiled up to her sister.
"Perhaps." Sakura winked.
"I don't recall this being such a long walk. It's barbaric that we must do this in the dead of winter." Karin stated.
"People do this every day, Karin. It's life." Sakura's monotone voice said.
All five sisters, along with their ninja escorts were traveling along the path that led to the town a few miles from their home. Their mother had asked them to retrieve a list of groceries, which under normal circumstances their hired help would be doing, but Sakura was grateful for the chance to venture out of the house.
She glanced at Sasuke, who was walking to the right of the sisters. They had not spoken since their kiss two nights ago. They had walked on eggshells around each other since. Sakura buried her feelings about the whole situation; she decided not to dwell on something that would never happen again.
"Do you think we'll meet any cute boys?" Akane giggled.
"We are going to the market; whom do you think we'll meet?" Karin hissed out, clearly annoyed at the twins.
"Sakura met a man that proposed to her once when we went to town." Akiko defended her twin.
"Yes, and clearly that worked out. Tell me Sakura, are you living happily ever after?" Karin's sneer was vicious.
"Tell me Karin, at age 20, you've had how many suitors ask for your hand in marriage?" Emerald eyes challenged her older sister, daring her to continue.
"Now." Sakura continued when Karin stayed silent, "Let's enjoy our trip." Her and Hanan led the way to town. Hanan babbled excitedly while Sakura smiled, ignoring the rest of the group.
They decided to split the shopping list. Karin and the twins flounced off with Neji and Shisui trailing them. Sasuke followed Sakura and Hanan towards the produce. They spent several minutes searching through the vegetables before they were interrupted.
"What are such lovely ladies doing shopping through that." The man who indicated to the produce was tall and well-groomed to the point of being pretty.
"Buying veggies, of course." Hanan eyed the man suspiciously.
"Hmm. Wouldn't you prefer to have someone else shop and cook for you? Preferably under candle light?" The man winked at Sakura.
"What a coincident, that is exactly my plan with my husband tonight." Sakura smiled sweetly.
"Your husband?" The man blanched.
"Mm." Sakura hummed as she reached for Sasuke who was behind her. Sasuke surprised them both when he stepped up and placed her arm possessively around Sakura's waist. The man was clearly flustered but he managed out an insult.
"Cool mask, man." His sneer was lopsided and made his nose look pointed.
Sakura felt Sasuke stiffen. "You don't want to see what is under it." Sakura stated.
The man seemed unconvinced until he looked at Sasuke again. He released a sharp gasp then mumbled something and quickly left.
"That's so neat that your eyes turn red!" Hanan couldn't contain her fascination.
"It's my families' trait." Sasuke explained. The rest of their shopping trip Sasuke answered all of Hanan's questions.
Sakura loved that Sasuke showed her overly excited sister one hundred percent patience. He never once became cross if Hanan asked a personal question or needed something explained.
Sakura smiled, she loved his voice and his tall, strong frame, his unruly black hair. Sakura stopped. She loved him. A man she'd only known a week, but knew almost everything about from their nightly talks. A man she'd never even fully seen, but was hyper aware of his voice, smell, the heat radiating from him.
She loved him.
Sakura swallowed back her tears, looked up and caught Sasuke staring at her. She longed to see his eyes at that moment. Her thoughts were interrupted when her other sisters noisily approached them.
Sakura was silent the rest of the way home. She spoke only when necessary during dinner, then took up her window seat in the library the remainder of the evening.
"Sakura, will you read to me tonight?" Hanan approached her sister.
"Is it your bedtime already?" Sakura smiled, she gracefully hopped from her seat and picked up the six-year-old. None of the other sisters looked up when they passed. Sakura saw Sasuke motion Shisui to stay in the library.
Sakura ignored Sasuke's tall figure walking behind her. When they reached Hanan's room, Sakura tossed the giggling girl onto the soft bed then moved to the book shelf.
"What shall it be tonight?" Sakura smiled, already knowing the answer.
"The story about Prince Charming!" Hanan laughed.
"I never would have guessed." Sakura winked as she carried the book to the bed.
The sisters curled up together while Sakura read animatedly. Sasuke leaned against the closed door watching every expression Sakura made. He found that he wanted to chuckle or smirk when the pink haired woman was extra animated.
She truly was beautiful, Sasuke decided as the story concluded with a kiss.
Sakura stood to tuck Hanan in, but paused when she saw the frown in her younger sister's face. She waited patiently for Hanan to talk.
"I don't think I like the prince story anymore."
"Why not?" Sakura sat on the edge of the bed.
"Because, I always pictured you being like the princess and you need to marry someone strong and handsome. And…and that guy that came to marry you before, he was horrible!" Hanan crossed her stubby arms. "I don't care if he was a prince. I'm so glad you didn't marry him, Saka."
Sakura laughed, "So am I."
"Do you think there is a handsome man out there who will marry you?" Hanan whispered, her red eyes glanced at Sasuke who was still leaning against her door.
"I honestly don't know. I hope I meet someone who'll love me. Because that's what is important, Hanan. A man who loves you for you." Sakura stood, finished tucking in her sister then turned to look directly at Sasuke.
"Never say yes to a man unless you are certain he is the One." Sakura glanced back to her sister, "Ok, Hanan?"
"Ok." The young girl replied sleepily.
After a quick kiss on Hanan's head, Sakura walked past Sasuke, straight to her room where she ran a hot bath.
The moon was full when she emerged from the bathroom. Sasuke was seated on the sofa, arms on his knees, fingers laced in front of his mouth. Sakura didn't look at him. She moved to her desk to read her latest medical book.
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Sasuke sighed. Sakura had fallen asleep at her desk. Silently, he walked up to her, watching her even in takes of breaths.
As gently as possible he picked Sakura up, she melted into his embrace almost perfectly. He stood with her before her bed for several minutes. Sasuke, who was usually against any type of physical contact, could not seem to put Sakura down.
He slowly lowered her down, tucked her slender legs under the comforter then pulled the quilt up. He froze when she mumbled his name. He studied her, making sure she was asleep then pulled his mask off.
His fingers ran along the side of her smooth face until they reached her perfect lips. Sasuke didn't know what he was doing, but he couldn't stop himself. He leaned down to kiss her full lips. She moaned in her sleep, and Sasuke groaned, pulling away.
'Damn it all.' Sasuke berated himself. He shouldn't be kissing this young girl for several different reasons; including the most important which was his job. But screw it, he wanted her. Sasuke wasn't stupid, he knew he was falling for her. He'd known since the moment he first saw her.
Pulling away quickly, he retreated to the sofa. He needed to get a grip on reality. And Sakura could not be a part of that.
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Thank you for reading, please review! The next chapter will be posted shortly, I promise.
-DarkBlossom