"Have you ever thought about how our lives would have turned out if you had stayed?" Sakura asked.

They lay down on the futon, covered with a thin blanket. It was hot outside, even at night. Sakura had to expose her bare arms more to keep from sweating

"I tried."

"You tried?" she looked at Sasuke. Her husband was lying on his back and staring at the ceiling. Only when he felt Sakura's burning gaze on him did he look at her.

"Yes, I tried."

"And what did you come up with?" she loved Sasuke dearly, but if he said more words than two, then it would be even more wonderful. Sometimes she was just impatient.

"Nothing. I couldn't."

"Why? I thought about it a lot."

"Because there would be too many possibilities, as if it could all end. And while it's not the best, that's what I like best." she finally heard the full sentence from Sasuke. And it was beautiful. She loved his expression.

Sakura propped herself up on her elbows and kissed his cheek, then his nose, and finally his lips.

It was true, this beginning of the end was the best.