"Dattebayo, a solo mission with Teme? That he requested?"
Sakura's face was beat red, and she had barely been able to stammer the words out herself.
"Ahhhh, I knew Teme would come to his senses," Naruto laughed, clutching his stomach. Sakura punched him ashamedly, and he laughed all the way to the floor.
"Perhaps he just wanted a medic capable of helping him if the illness returned," Sakura bit her lip.
"Yeah right. Teme has always had feelings for you, he's just too stubborn to admit it." Naruto stood up, dusting himself off.
Sakura shrugged, unconvinced.
...
Ino? No...too noisy. She'll spoil it all, that'd be no good...
Tsunade? She already fucking hates me.
Hinata...she'll have to do. She's quiet, but has experience.
That afternoon, Sasuke waited on the rooftops in the shadows for a familiar purple-haired Hyuuga to walk through the streets. I sure hope she's not with Naruto...I really don't want to be chided into eating ramen...
His eyes suddenly found her. She was indeed alone, definitely many months pregnant. He noted she was almost glowing with happiness, her white eyes lighter than usual as she stopped to speak with a neighbor. Now was his chance.
He leapt from the rooftops and landed near her, waiting for the conversation to end. She finally turned away from the elderly neighbor, and her eyes lit up in surprise at the sight of him.
"Sasuke-kun!" she smiled at him, "You're back in the village! Does Naruto-kun know?"
"I don't think so, not at the moment. And I would prefer it to stay that way."
She bit her lip, confused, "Oh-o-okay. What brings you here, then?"
In all my life, have I even talked to her for more than two minutes? Sasuke racked his brain but couldn't think of any time that it had occurred.
So why was he asking her, almost a complete stranger, for such important advice?
Fuck it, it was because he had nobody else. He sure as hell wasn't going to talk to Kakashi about it.
" I need your assistance."
"Mine?" she squeaked, now thoroughly lost.
"Yes."
"...How can I help? Is it about our clan's histories, or Naruto...?"
"No. It's about Sakura."
Hinata's white eyes searched him, for a moment. Something seemed to click in her mind, and her stance relaxed significantly, a knowing smile adorning her face.
"Ah yes, Sakura-chan," she patted his shoulder and he stiffened uncomfortably, "I would be happy to speak of such matters with you. But this is an awfully public place. I know of an excellent tea shop just down the road; it's new and especially quiet. Shall we discuss this there?"
Finally, somebody who at least partially understood the virtues of privacy and courtesy. He nodded thankfully, and let the Hyuuga lead the way.
He could never have anticipated in a million years as a child that he would be sitting in a teahouse, with Naruto's (pregnant) wife, speaking about his upcoming proposal to a woman that had actually cared enough to see through his revenge and into the core of his being. Life is incredibly forgiving.
"So, what is it you wish to speak about?" Hinata held the steaming cup of jasmine tea in her fragile hands. He was quite confident that she already knew, but she was too polite to speak of it. How in the world did she and Naruto end up together? They're as different as oil and water...Naruto would have already made a scene.
"I wish to propose to Sakura...I need your advice." Her expression had not changed since they began speaking, which told Sasuke she did indeed know what he would say long before he said it.
"Ah, I am so happy to hear this, Uchiha-san," Hinata sipped her tea politely, "Sakura-chan has loved you with all of her heart from the very beginning of this all."
"I know this."
"Then you have come to love her too?"
"...I have loved her all along, as well. I couldn't admit this to myself, you know...as I tried to avenge my family."
"Yes. I understand," Hinata's turned her gaze to the floor, thinking, "...So you wish to know how you should propose?"
"Precisely." She's a lot more intelligent than dobe, too. He definitely would not have understood what I was asking for without me telling him.
"...There really is not a right and wrong way," she finally replied. This was not the answer he was hoping for, but she continued.
"Naruto had fretted over his proposal so long, I thought he would never ask," she chuckled quietly to herself, "I'm not sure it must be this difficult. Of course I was going to say yes, just like of course Sakura-chan will happily agree to marry you as well."
Why did this statement bring him relief?
"Do you have a ring?"
"Of course."
"Then present this to her when you feel the moment is right. That moment is not the same for everyone, and there aren't any 'rules.' However..."
He gazed up at her as she thought quietly to herself.
"Knowing Sakura-chan," she smiled, "I think it would mean the most to her if you were to give it to her in private, somewhere special, during a romantic moment." Finally some helpful advice.
"Usually the man will get down on one knee, but I feel she cares not for these formalities. Just so long as you express how much she means to you, and that you would like to be with her until the day you die." Sasuke nodded, his mind wandering.
"Does this help?" Hinata asked, setting down her empty teacup.
"Yes, very much," Sasuke replied, nodding, "I appreciate your advice." He paid for their tea, then walked her out the door.
"When are you leaving?" she asked as they walked the same direction together.
"Tonight. With Sakura."
"Oh! A mission?"
"Yes."
"And the third member of your team?"
"It's a two-man squad."
"Oh, wonderful!" Hinata lit up, "Then you will have ample time to be alone together."
He fought the heat that was spreading on his face, "Indeed."
"Well...I will return to Naruto now," Hinata finally began to walk the other direction, "But the best of luck to you both. I am very happy to hear this news, Uchiha-san, and will keep this to myself until you reveal this to the village yourself."
Relieved, Sasuke smiled softly, "Thank you for your discretion."
"It's a private matter, absolutely. Take care, alright?"
"Hn."
...
"Naruto," Hinata spoke to him softly that night. She was sitting at the dinner table, knitting some infant socks while he and his shadow clones finished cleaning the dishes.
"Hm?" he gazed over at her from the sink, his shadow clone popping next to him.
"I think we ought to have Tsunade deliver our baby."
"Eh? And not Sakura-chan? Why not?"
"I have a feeling she will not be back in the village for a while," she tried her best to hide the smile that was forming on her face. She was so delighted for her friend.
"Why do you say that? She and Teme are only on a class A mission, not even S. Sure it's far away, but they should be done long before the next few months are up, right?"
"...I'm not entirely sure that's what this mission is about at all."
"Whaddya mean?"
"Nothing, nothing," she waved the air playfully.
"Anata, there's something you're not telling me!" he leapt over to her, tickling her feet.
"Ah, stop it!" she cried, "If I tell you, you must swear on your ramen shop not to speak of it."
"...That serious? Ichiraku is no laughing matter."
"I swore I wouldn't say anything, that's why."
"...Alright. I swear on...," gulp, "...Ichiraku ramen."
"Your dear friend Uchiha-san is planning on proposing to Haruno Sakura."
He fainted.
...
That night, Sakura finished gathering her things, and walked out the door planning to meet Sasuke at the north gate of Konoha, only to find him waiting impatiently at her front door.
"Ah, Sasuke-kun!" she was surprised, "...Did you wait long?"
"No," he replied, "...Are you ready?"
"Hai!"
"Let's go, then." He turned abruptly, and she followed him out the gate and into the treetops. As they sped away from Konoha, Sakura had a strange feeling. It was similar to the one she had when she had initially been placed into Team 7. The feeling that her life was rolling, like the tide, toward some unseen future. The feeling of anticipation, that her life would soon be altered.
She learned from Sasuke on their journey toward the Hidden Rain Village that the place had been under Nagato's control for a while, the terrifying deity that had once nearly destroyed every citizen of Konoha. After his death, the place had undergone much political turmoil, and was now trying to get back on its feet under a just ruler that had come from the people. Naruto had ensured his leadership, however, there were a few that did not trust his kindness and thought it merely an act. The band was raising up swords to the citizens and officials of the village, yet no one had yet found them. It seemed every victim had died on the spot, without scuffle, and the citizens were now fearing to leave their homes. Thus, the mission for Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura.
The traveling took them many days, and Sakura couldn't help but notice the way he had begun to let his guard down before her. When their hands brushed, he did not flinch and remove them like he had in the past. When she stood from the ground after sitting, he offered a chivalrous hand. And when their eyes met, there seemed something pooling in his deep charcoal eyes that she had not yet observed.
These days were so blissful. As if time stopped, and they had returned to simpler times, before the war and everything that had happened between them.
She filled him in on most of what had occurred since he left, and although he said little, he did offer up stories of his life she had not heard before. About his life after leaving Konoha, and about his childhood...
When had he become so open with her? Each day they traveled until nightfall, which was usually tedious and exhausting, yet each day before traveling she woke happiness filled her heart. Each night they set up camp in the wilderness, their sleeping bags set neatly in shinobi protocol at other ends of the fire to protect each other's vulnerability, she regretted having to sleep, hoping instead to spend time together and continue chatting until dawn.
After around a week, the two finally arrived in the Hidden Rain Village. Instead of separately restocking on supplies as they had as genin, she found Sasuke follow her into the herbalist's storeroom. And likewise, she followed Sasuke to purchase the explosive tags he often tied neatly around his kunai.
The city was cold, not necessarily in temperature but in attitude, with people generally keeping to themselves under their umbrellas. The land had not stopped raining, and Sasuke informed her it has always been so. She found herself gently holding to Sasuke's arms to keep secure as they walked down the streets; she held on lightly enough that if he were uncomfortable he could easily brush her off. Yet he did not. And together they walked to the inn that Kakashi had booked for them at the start of their mission.
...
OST: Shingeki No Kyojin Hearing the Heartbeat or Eye Water
Almost as if she were watching herself, not truly in her own body, she walked up the stairs with him and entered their single room. The door clicked shut, bringing her back to her senses. And with it, a rush of adrenaline.
The room was small, darkly colored, and simply adorned with only a large bed and desk with a lamp in the corner as furniture. There was a closet, and a door that presumably led to the bathroom. It smelled of flowers, most likely coming from those placed as decoration on the desk.
He had removed his shoes, placing them neatly beside the threshold of the door in such a Sasuke sort of way. She clumsily did the same, and the two simply stood and stared at each other for a moment.
"Sakura," Sasuke took a step forward, but she quickly interrupted him.
"D-did the hotel clerk state there was a b-bath?" she stammered, grinning sheepishly. She felt the blush hot on her face as she asked.
"...Yeah. Why?" Sasuke's tone was patient, and she wondered if he knew why. Of course he does, damn it! Sasuke always seems to know everything!
"Ah-hahaha, do you mind if I take a bath? I haven't had a nice hot one since we left a week ago, and the river was so cold, you see, so - "
"Go ahead," he waved to her nonchalantly, then walked over to the simple desk where he laid out the mission scroll and began reading. She quickly ran into the bathroom, completely forgetting her bag with her change of clothes.
She turned the water on completely hot, and shakily she stripped as the water filled. She stepped in the steaming hot water, and her skin grew pink with the heat. As she submerged, she began to listen to her own heartbeat, and was dismayed at just how fast it was racing.
She laid in the bath, her heart racing in her chest. She was alone with this man, the man she had loved all of her life. And as much as she'd dreamt of this moment all of her life, now she was terrified. She had expressed her love for him over and over, and being so close to him without any mutual feelings between them was beginning to hurt. But she had no idea how wrong this idea truly was.
After her panic had subsided, she took a deep breath and felt calm again. Until she realized she only had a towel in the bathroom, and no spare clothes.
Shit! What do I do? I can't go out naked with Uchiha Sasuke studying his notes out there! Damn it...
"Sasuke-kun?" she called, hearing the shame in her voice.
"Yes?" his voice called, muffled between the bathroom and main room.
"...I forgot my clothes."
Silence.
She heard him stand, then pause. "Where are they?"
"In my bag. It should be by the door."
Within a moment, the door opened and she covered herself with her towel. But she found he was not looking at her, and had turned the other way with only his hand entering the room holding her bag.
"...Thank you so much," she murmured, taking it.
"Hn."
And with that, the door closed again.
Sweat ran down her forehead, and she cursed herself for being so jumpy. It's just...I care for him so much...
She quickly redressed, draining the bath water and hanging up her towel. When she exited the bath, she found he was still hunched over his notes. I should probably go discuss the details of our plan with him...what sort of a teammate have I been this trip?!
Yet as she walked over to him, she found that she was painfully aware of his presence, of the air that seemed charged with static electricity. She could hear his quiet, deep breathing, smell his masculine scent...she wondered if he might be feeling the same way.
The creak of the floorboards under her weight alerted him that he was approaching her, yet he didn't look up at her.
"...What's the plan for tomorrow?" she finally asked, hearing her voice hoarse. Damn it, why is my throat so dry?
Yet he did not answer her. Instead, he gazed at the floor beside her, and the light of the lamp cast a beautiful glow on his ivory skin.
"...Sakura," his voice seemed deeper than usual, "Did you mean what you said, back in your home when you woke up?"
She paused, trying to recall exactly what he was speaking of. They had spoken much, and she had said many things. "...What are you referring to, exactly?" She couldn't mess this up due to misunderstanding. Not this time.
He finally looked up to gaze intensely into her eyes, and his next statement, uttered very quietly, changed the feeling of the conversation entirely:
"When you said that you cared for me?"
She froze. She had confessed to him so many times, why was he asking her this now?
"...Of course I did," she blushed, unable to continue meeting his gaze, "I've always loved you, Sasuke-kun...never once have I stopped." Her thoughts were raging now, and she was so distracted by them that she could not notice that he had stood from the desk. She only noticed when his cold, calloused hand gently touched her chin and tipped her face up to meet his own.
"...Thank you," he murmured and then pressed his lips against her own.