"What happens?" He asked softly, "When the other side comes out? Are you still aware? Do you go away.."
She looked up at him, her tired eyes peeking from beneath her eyelashes, "I'm still there, it just feels as though I go on autopilot. Like the part of me that I restrain and have restrained throughout my life has finally been allowed to come out. It makes me… feel lighter. I mean, yes I do feel tired, but I feel as though I've let something off my chest, like after a good spar or something."
The Nara hummed in understanding, well, as much as an outsider could possibly understand. The lie together on her bed, his arms wrapped around her as her head lie on his bare chest and his chin resting on her head. She listened to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat and she felt her own beat along with it. She wished this could last, the calm and tranquil space that blanketed them, but she knew deep inside that there was a storm brewing and she didn't know what would happen after it hit. "Stop thinking so much. Just be here, with me. Tomorrow can wait, today is what I want to enjoy." He murmured against her hair, kissing her head, then her forehead (right above her seal), and then finally her full, pink lips. "I love you. I love you more than I thought would be possible. I will not let the fear of the unknown take you from me." His words made her heart swell, after everything with Sasuke, she did not think she'd be able to love again.
When they were younger, she had loved Sasuke so much - to the point of it could have probably been considered obsessive. Then things started happening. He and Naruto left her behind and didn't look back for a couple of years, leaving her to pick up the pieces of her life alone. Her parents did the best they could to console her, but she chose to let her training consume her. It did not take long for her to become the second best medic, behind her shishou, of course. She became strong and swift, a medic and kunoichi in all the ways that made her outrank those around her, yet she was loving with a big heart and soft soul. There was a festering wound inside her and so the more it hurt, the more she trained and the more she gave to others. Anything to fill in the whole inside her soul. When her team came back, she had been on a preliminary ANBU team with Shikamaru and Neji - occasionally being coupled with Shisui and or Itachi as well. She got close to the Nara and Hyuuga as well as Shisui, Ino of course was her best friend and only became closer during her team's two year absence. She had met Sai during a meeting with the elders, as she and Shizune were the heads of the hospital she had to sit on meetings from time to time to give reports on finances and such. She felt bad for the young man and his upbringing that she made it her mission to become his friend. Although he was a bit of a dick, she cared for him deeply. Obviously, with being on a team with many Uchiha, she was used to rude behavior (save for Shisui).
It got to the point that she hadn't even met the three men at the gates when they'd arrived home. Of course she knew they were coming back, Tsunade had told her as soon as she'd gotten word, but Sakura simply hummed in response and continued on with her duties. On that particular day, she worked a 16 hour shift and then trained with Shisui the rest of the time, before collapsing from exhaustion, causing the Uchiha to bring her home and watch after her until the Nara came to check on her. When they finally went to seek her out, they were only able to find her several days later when they saw her having lunch with Ino and Hinata at some new sushi bar that opened up near the middle of the village. She gave them a sheepish smile and stood by awkwardly as the boys (namely Naruto) told the three girls about their training and such. Of course, Naruto suggested them doing a sparr at some point or doing something as a team, Sakura gave a noncommittal "I'll have to see, I'm rarely ever off nowadays.." and left it at that. What had they expected? They didn't bother to outreach to her at any point during their two years away, was she supposed to just drop everything and come running at the notice of them coming home? That's not how it worked.
She didn't bother seeking them out as she filled her time with work and training, until finally Tsunade basically had to force Sakura to take a few days off to see her team. Soon, months went by and Sakura realized that she barely added the 'kun' suffix at the end of Sasuke's name. She didn't bother giving the boys much attention and ignored their constant bickering. After a few missions together, her annoyance was finally getting to her. All she could think was how her team never showed her much appreciation, barely acknowledged her strength, and still treated her as if she were someone to be protected. Although they'd seen her fight and conquer each person she came in contact with and patched up her team even if she herself was exhausted and battered, she didn't get one "thank you", not a damned acknowledgment, nothing.
Finally, she snapped. The voices came full force and for the first time, took over. She was angry that her "teammates" didn't bother to talk to her at any point of their time away, how her "teammates" treated her as a third wheel and liability, how they took it easy during training and how her "teammates" abandoned her and came back and expected her to be the same old weak and useless Sakura she had been when they left. She was tired of it and made it clear exactly what she felt. She knew what a real team was like, she knew how they were supposed to build each other up and compliment each other's strengths and backing up each other's weaknesses. She knew what it was like to laugh around a fire after a particularly grueling beating and to eat dinner with her team or go for a drink after a long and exhausting week.
She knew what these things felt like and she refused to accept anything less any longer. As it stood, she was only going on missions when her expertise was needed as Sai took her place and Sakura only went on ANBU missions, finally being inducted permanently. She kept her distance with team 7 as they slowly got into each other's lives again, as she slowly began to trust them again. She had no choice, under the circumstances. It bothered her wholly that she would need them when she didn't even want to be around them just yet - but she was no fool and knew when to ask for help. Danzo needed to be taken care of and her pride needed to take the backseat for now.
She pulled herself closer to the man beside her, kissing him back deeply with her body pressed against his, "I love you too, and I refuse to lose you to the unknown." She whispered against his lips. Pulling her body on top of his own, he looked up at the beautiful woman he now called his. The moonlight filtered through the window, painting her hair a pale pink, almost white, and her emerald eyes gleaming brightly - she was ethereal, a goddess amongst mere mortals that could only hope to have a share of her heart and love. His fingers traced slow circles on her thigh and lower back, "Marry me." He said softly, "I know it's sudden, but please, marry me."
Sakura's heart went into her throat and tears pooled in her eyes, "Why? Why would you want to spend the rest of your life with someone as broken as me?... When there's a chance I may not.."
"Because I do not want to live in a world in which you do not. I love you with every fiber of my being and I will follow you to the ends of the earth and back. If you go, I'll go. I love you, marry me." His voice held no doubts, just pure unadulterated love and compassion, reflecting every drop of what showed in his eyes.
"Yes." She whispered, "Yes." Her voice was louder and more sure. "Of course I will."
A breathtaking smile spread across the Nara's lips and he reached up, crashing his lips against hers while pulling her body tightly to his own. From the side table, he reached over and took out a small box and opened it towards the rosette, inside sat a small band, small diamonds encrusted into it - it was nothing outrageous, just simple and something that could withstand the power Sakura put behind her fists - he'd made sure the ring would be able to do that. He hadn't been planning to propose so soon, but with the impending shit show, he figured why the hell not? He loved her and he knew she loved him too. There was nothing more he wanted than to see her happy and to be by her side through it all.
The night turned to day with their panting of ecstasy and cries of pleasure. He pulled her into the world of love and lust and she gave every bit that she had left to him. In the morning, she woke and was delighted to know that it had not been a dream and that the ring that sat on her finger was real and their promise to each other was not just a night of heat. "I'm going to marry you, and we're going to live the rest of our lives happy, regardless of everything else." He stated softly, bringing her body closer to his own.
This was something she could get used to.
*.*.*.*
"She's been awakened." Came a dark voice from inside a dreary chamber, "I can feel her, I've been calling out to her, and she to me."
"She has not come to us." Responded another, both figures hooded - their bodies flooded in darkness beneath the dimly lit chamber.
"She will, she won't be able to fight it much longer."
"You better hope this is the truth. I will have what I created and she will see the goddess she is - and all those who tossed us aside will pay and beg for redemption." The voice cackled, eyes gleaming treacherously.
*.*.*.*
Author's note: I apologize that this one was a bit slow moving and short, but I figured some background and a glimpse of what's to come would be a good teaser. Hope you enjoy!
Much love.