Author's Note: ๐ญ๐ด, M/M, Mpreg, Mates, Limes & Lemons later on, so be forewarned
๐ผ๐ก๐จ๐ค, ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐จ๐ฉ๐ค๐ง๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ค๐ช๐๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ช๐ ๐'๐จ ๐๐๐
As I reached the waterfall, I spotted Sakura's familiar chin-length pink waves. Her hair as well as her orchid-print kimono stood out against the lush green backdrop.
She stood solemnly near a patch of grass and earth that had been ironed and compressed during my sparring match with Naruto. I watched as she bent down to let both her fingers touch the patch.
She seemed to be completely absorbed in observing this disturbed section of earth where the land meets the water. She was so engrossed that she didn't even notice my arrival.
"What are you doing here?" I said, startling her from her thoughts.
She turned to face me, her eyes wide as if she had seen a ghost. I wonder if she had been here looking for me.
She blurted out, "You've been gone for two days," her tone had a hint of shock and worry. She asked, "Where have you been, and were you attacked?"
Subconsciously, she glanced back at the impression and then my attire. I had put my stealth uniform back on. The thought of the sparring match flashed through my mind, of me putting the blonde in a reverse chokehold.
That was the first time something more than just a fight had been coaxed out of me. I imagined his back pressed against me. I could feel every slow steady breath and the smell of his hair. I could still feel his tail slipping between my legs suggestively.
With a cold and abrupt tone, I told her, "It was nothing." I then walked past her, knowing that if I avoided her questions, it would only increase her suspicions. However, I needed her to leave this place because it was sacred to me, and it felt strange to see another person intruding on it.
She sighed, following behind me. We walked in silence, with Sakura trailing me like a miserable shadow, as I glanced back. Her head was down, and her lips were pressed in a thin line. Sakura found this place because I was lazy. I would need to finish concealing my trail later.
I could hear myself groan internally as I asked, "Does anybody else know about this place?"
Silence was what greeted me.
I shouted. "Well, do they?" It was a simple yes or no answer. I hated it when she acted this way, it was like a child would, appearing sheepish under my gaze.
"I was worriedโฆ So, I came looking for you. Alone," she said. Her voice was barely above a whisper. She had seen the spot where the spar took place and might've thought I had been injured or worse. This was also a good sign she had yet to bring attention to other shinobi or the Hokage for that matter.
Then, she added, "I told Tsunade-dono that you weren't feeling well."
As a result, my steps faltered. She had lied to our Hokage for me. She did not have to. In any case, Tsunade would not need an explanation for my absence it was good to know that I had more time. Gratitude filled my body. "There was no need for you to do that," was my cold response.
"Figured whatever you had to do was important." She said with a frown.
It made me feel awful... I respected Sakura. Despite our complicated relationship, I considered her a close friend. She was a former teammate of mine. We had been through a lot together the death of friends, as well as the destruction of our home.
I stopped walking to lock eyes were her. She deserved the truth.
Once she had my full attention, she spoke but her tone was demanding. "You need to tell me what happened Sasuke, please." As I thought about how she might react, I realized that Sakura wouldn't be as understanding as I had hoped. Telling her the truth, which was that I got engaged to a demon, wouldn't make sense to her.
She would more than likely think that I had lost my mind or that someone was controlling me. I also knew that she would want to help me and would think that telling the Hokage would be the only way to help. I knew Sakura too well.
"All that matters is that I took care of it," abruptly I turned away from her and continued heading back to Konoha.
She stood still, probably trying to make sense of my strange behavior, as my mistake was not trying to be as convincing as I thought.
"Are you coming?" I called out while looking back.
I watched her body jostle at the sound of my voice, and her feet quickly started shuffling behind me. She moved as fast as her kimono would allow.
Upon our return to Konoha, I slowed down my pace and allowed her to walk alongside me. She raised her eyebrows but remained calm walking beside me. It was apparent that we had caught the attention of a few onlookers.
Perhaps a couple of weeks ago, it would have seemed like two friends strolling together, but since the repopulation program was announced, any young man and woman walking side-by-side was considered a sign of engagement or courtship.
Though subtle I felt her arm brush mine, each touch like a splinter. I moved away creating as much distance as I could. My mind wasn't into it. I could feel the tension between us growing, as she continued to try and close the gap between us. But I was determined to keep my distance, to avoid any further physical contact. My mind was preoccupied with thoughts of escape and avoiding any potential consequences. I knew I needed to find a way to leave without causing a stir or inciting a search for my whereabouts. The forest seemed like my only refuge and I longed to disappear into its depths once again.
Faking my death was an option.
"Tsunade wants to see the both of us whenever you are feeling better." As she spoke her green eyes glanced at my face likely to see my reaction, and then back at the road ahead of us.
I felt my knuckles turn white at the thought of facing the Hokage. I knew that she was the last person I wanted to see right now, especially now. The Hokage would press about our engagement. In her eye the sooner I was married off the better.
So, here we were back in the Hokage office sitting across from her, it was only at Sakura's request that I was here. I was planning on avoiding the Hokage as long as I could. I had enough time to change into my regular clothes.
"I heard about the good news," the blonde said.
Just then, a much smaller hand attempted to hold mine. As soon as I saw Sakura's hand, I withdrew mine from her grasp as if it were hot.
Subconsciously, I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at Tsunade-dono's desk, my eyes fixed on a particular spot. I couldn't hide my true feelings, not even from them.
I could see both sets of eyes burning into me.
"Sakura told me you weren't feeling well."
I said nothing, the less I said the better. Her honey-colored gaze bore into my own. She stared me down and I figured to some degree she did not believe Sakura.
Just then, Sakura made a noise as if she was about to say something. Gaining both of our attention. "Um, that was a lie," her voice was meek, and she refused to make eye contact with either of us.
"Wait, what?" Tsunade was caught off guard. The same was true for me.
"I lied!" She cried. My answer was all that she wanted. In her face, I could see it plainly, her eyes were pleading with me. All she wanted was the truth.
"Ever since your proposal, you've been behaving strangely." Her face was flushed. Her eyes brimming with unshed tears.
I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins as I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I pulled out all my training and experience, and so leaning over my seat, and taking hold of her hands.
I spoke to her calmly and steadily, reassuring her and guiding her through her emotions with my words. "This is all new to me. Just a couple of weeks ago, I was an assassin. That was all I knew. Now everybody expects me to marry and start a family. This is going to take some time. All I ask is for your patience." I watched as her eyes switched between my dark gaze as she scanned my face.
"Hi," I said softly gracing her with a smile.
Her face began to heat up. She got what she wanted my undivided attention and an answer.
"So where have you been." I heard Tsunade inquire.
"I went to clear my head." There was some truth to it. I had gone to clear my head, but I didn't expect things to take the drastic turn that they did. I deliberately left out the wrestling, engaging, and having sex with a demon part. If only my peers knew, they wouldn't think I was boring now.
Tsunade made a "hm" sound, sitting back in her seat. All I saw was those sad blue pools flash through my mind when I abruptly released Sakura's hands and slumped back in my chair. I knew this was going to take longer than I originally thought. "Well, now that you've both settled that, are you going to choose a date?" I hear Tsunade's voice cut through my frustrations.
The both of us exchanged looks. I just shrugged. Giving Sakura a chance to take charge of the situation.
"I want us to sit and have dinner with my parents first before we set a date," she said. I let out a sigh and forced a smile, "Okay." That was the last thing I wanted to do. She and Tsunade began to discuss possible dates, as I zoned out. I started thinking about faking my death, I just needed to make it convincing enough.
On that particular night, Sakura was very persistent in her request that I have dinner with her parents. Despite my many refusals, she was not going to take no for an answer.
So, I found myself in my room dressed in the same suit she had bought for me after my pursuit of Naruto.
I can remember looking at myself in the mirror and endlessly adjusting my tie before giving up and sitting on the edge of my bed. The tie was becoming suffocating, like a noose. Why did I have to conform to Konoha's standards and wear this uncomfortable piece of cloth around my neck? I thought about the other obligations and expectations I had to meet tonight and suddenly, removing the tie felt like a small act of rebellion against the pressures of Konoha. I smirked to myself and left the room, feeling more confident and free without that suffocating tie.
I wondered what Naruto was doing, was he mad, or had he already moved on?
I had to cover my tracks. I decided to slip out that night and continue what I started. It was still early, so people were walking around on the village streets. But I knew how to go unnoticed. I remained in the shadows as I slipped away and went back to the forest.
I was extremely aware of each step I took. I don't know what I was hoping to see, but that night it was just me. I stood at the spot and brushed my hand over the grass impression, taking one last moment. Then I began to disturb the spot, covering up the evidence.
I carefully removed any traces of my presence, erasing any sign that I was ever there. I didn't want anyone else to know about this spot, this special place that I had discovered. It was my secret, my escape from this world.
As I left, I couldn't help but feel a sense of loss, knowing that I may never return to this tranquil spot again.
I wanted nothing more than to leave and go back to Naruto.
Now it was the time to plan my death on my way to The Haruno's home.