Chapter 26- I'm Sorry I Can't, I've Got Plans

Sasuke's eyes snapped open, and he sat up with a start, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. The familiar darkness of the room enveloped him, but for a moment, he was back in his childhood home, reliving the horror of that fateful night. Itachi's face haunted his dreams, the sound of his clan's screams echoing through his mind.

As he sat there, frozen in terror, a soft voice cut through the darkness.

"Another bad dream?" Shanan asked, her tone gentle and concerned.

His gaze shifted towards her, and as he took in her calm, peaceful expression, he felt his tension ease slightly. He nodded slowly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah... Itachi."

Shanan's eyes filled with empathy, and she reached out to place a comforting hand on his arm. "I've noticed that happens a lot, Sasuke," she said softly. "Aren't you tired?"

He nodded again, his eyes dropping to the bed as he felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him. But then, a hint of sarcasm crept into his voice. "You have room to talk, though," he said, his gaze flicking back up to Shanan's face. "You're always only ever half asleep."

She chuckled softly, the sound a gentle contrast to the darkness that had filled Sasuke's eyes just moments before. "Well... I guess I just worry too much," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sasuke's gaze narrowed slightly, his eyes searching hers. "About what, exactly?" he asked.

Her expression turned introspective, her eyes drifting downward. "Well... I don't know," she said slowly. "That if I fall asleep too much, then... maybe the darkness will come back."

"The darkness?"

Shanan sighed, her shoulders sagging slightly. "Yeah... but... I don't wanna go into it," she said, her voice trailing off. She hesitated, collecting her thoughts before continuing. "What if I fall asleep and then everything goes away?" Her eyes locked onto Sasuke's, a deep-seated fear reflected in their depths.

Sasuke sat in silence for a moment, his eyes never leaving her face as he processed her words. Finally, he spoke up. "So you're just trying to make sure the darkness doesn't take everything away from you again?" His tone was gentle, understanding.

"I guess..." she said softly.

Sasuke's gaze drifted away, his thoughts consumed by her poignant confession. The silence between them stretched out, filled only by the sound of their quiet breathing. "You haven't slept in two years, have you?" he asked softly.

Shanan's brow furrowed, her voice laced with uncertainty. "I'm really not sure. I don't remember a lot until kinda recently."

He nodded gently, his eyes filled with a deep understanding. He looked at Shanan, his gaze searching hers. "But you're still worried about me being tired..." he said.

Her lips curved into a soft smile, but she didn't respond. Instead, she simply looked at him, her eyes locked onto his.

Sasuke lay down on his side, his eyes fixed intently on Shanan's face. He stared at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. And then, in a voice that was barely above a whisper, he said, "You know, whenever we held hands walking around the village to shut people up, it actually made me feel a lot better. I stopped caring about or even noticing their words."

Shanan's gaze warmed, her nod conveying her happiness that it had brought him comfort.

Sasuke's voice dropped to a whisper. "Maybe if we held hands now... I won't have any bad dreams..." He paused, his gaze searching hers. "You don't have to... but..."

Shanan's response was immediate, her smile warm. "Of course we can, Sasuke."

A soft smile spread across his face, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Are you sure?" he asked. "I don't want you to be uncomfortable all night."

"I don't think it'd be uncomfortable," she said. "And if it helps you, then I don't care."

Sasuke's smile faltered for a moment, his eyes filling with a deep gratitude. And then, slowly, he lifted his hand, his fingers extending towards hers. She smiled at him, her hand reaching out to meet his. Their fingers intertwined, a gentle warmth spreading through their touch.

"Get some sleep, Sasuke," she said.

As they held onto one another, the silence between them grew thicker, a comforting presence that wrapped around them like a blanket. Shanan's eyelids began to droop, her breathing slowing as she felt the weight of her exhaustion. Sasuke watched her, his eyes never leaving her face, as he felt his own eyelids growing heavy. But he fought to stay awake, savoring the moment, the feeling of her hand in his as she slipped into her usual half-wakeful state, her eyes flickering open periodically.

It wasn't until he felt her hand relax, her fingers going limp as she finally let go of her customary vigilance, that Sasuke realized she had fallen asleep. A soft smile spread across his face as he felt a sense of wonder, of awe, at the trust she had placed in him. She felt safe enough with him to finally fall asleep – a trust that he vowed to cherish and protect for the rest of his life.

As he lay there, watching her sleep, he knew without a doubt that he wanted to be the one to make her feel safe, to chase away the darkness that had haunted her for so long. He wanted to be her shelter, her refuge, her home. And in that moment, he knew that he would do anything to make that happen, to be the one who helped her heal and find peace.

Shanan's eyes fluttered open, and she found herself in the hospital once again. This time, she wasn't surprised. After all, she had never been cleared for discharge in the first place. She lay there, struggling to recall the events leading up to her hospitalization, but her memories were hazy.

Just as she was trying to piece together the fragments, the door swung open, and Sasuke walked in, carrying flowers and a small gift. His face lit up with a warm smile as he took in the sight of her awake and alert. The dark marks from their previous encounter were gone, and he seemed to have made a full recovery.

"Sasuke..." Shanan's voice trembled, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes as she gazed at him.

Sasuke's smile softened, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "You're awake," he said, his voice filled with gentle warmth. "How are you feeling?"

He set the flowers and box down on the counter, his eyes never leaving her face. But before he could even take a step closer, Shanan was already jumping out of bed, her eyes shining with a desperate intensity. She ran to him, meeting him halfway as she flung her arms around him, holding on tight.

Sasuke's arms wrapped around her, holding her close as he felt her tremble against him. He buried his face in her hair, inhaling the sweet scent as he tried to comfort her. "Hey, it's okay," he whispered softly, his voice a gentle rumble against her ear. He pulled back slightly, his eyes scanning her face as he searched for any signs of lingering pain or discomfort. "You seem to be recovering faster," he observed, his voice tinged with a mix of surprise and relief. "It hasn't even been a whole day."

But instead of responding to his comment, her face crumpled, and she burst into tears. Sasuke's eyes widened in alarm as he pulled her back into his arms, holding her close as she sobbed uncontrollably. "Sasuke, I'm not mad at you, I promise," she cried, her voice muffled against his chest. "Please tell me that it was the curse mark, I know it was."

His hand stroked her hair, his touch gentle and soothing. "It was," he assured her. He held her close, letting her tears soak into his shirt. As she wept, his arms tightened around her, a gentle vice that conveyed his regret and longing. "I'm sorry, Shanan. I'm so sorry," he whispered, his heart aching with every sob that racked her body.

As the moments ticked by, her tears slowly began to subside, her body calming as she exhausted herself. He held her steady, his grip unwavering, until her breathing slowed and her trembling ceased.

He leaned back, his eyes locked onto hers as he gently brushed her hair out of her face. His fingers grazed her skin as he wiped away her tears, his touch gentle as he studied her face. "Please don't ever hate me," he pleaded, his forehead touching hers in a tender gesture.

Shanan's gaze met his, confusion etched on her face. She shook her head, her voice filled with conviction. "I could never hate you, Sasuke."

His face lit up with a radiant smile, his eyes shining with adoration. "Shanan, I love you so much," he whispered. "And I meant it when I told you I'd love you forever."

Her smile deepened, her eyes sparkling with tears. "I love you so much too."

Sasuke's eyes locked onto hers, his smile still radiant with happiness. He gently brushed her cheek with his hand, his touch sending shivers down her spine. Then, he leaned in, his lips brushing against hers in a soft, tender kiss.

As their lips met, Shanan felt herself dissolving into his embrace, swept away by a tidal wave of love. Her first kiss was nothing like she had imagined - it was a profound surrender, a tender merging of souls that left her breathless. In this moment, she knew with unwavering certainty how he felt about her. The depth of his love, the sincerity of his affection, and his unbridled intensity were all palpable, enveloping her in a sense of security and devotion. Never in her life could she question his motivations. Ever. Not after this.

For Sasuke, this is exactly how he'd always planned to kiss her. This was the only kind of kiss that she would ever deserve. He wanted to make sure that she never, ever forgot how much he loved and adored her and how much he always would. And he wanted to remind her, every single day for the rest of their lives.

Time itself seemed to dissolve as they held each other, lost in the depths of their kiss. Sasuke's arms wrapped around her, pulling her impossibly close, yet holding her with tender care. Shanan, on the other hand, held him with a fierce intensity, her arms squeezing him tightly as if she never wanted to let him go.

As their lips moved in perfect sync, their chakras began to swirl and dance, flowing through their kiss like a symphony. The energy cycled between them in a way she'd never experienced- it was as if she were pouring every last ounce of her chakra into him, and he was reciprocating in kind. It was as if their very essences were merging.

If she had been able to open her eyes, she might have seen the aura surrounding them, a visible manifestation of their love and connection. But her lids remained shut, her senses overwhelmed by the intimacy of the moment. She was lost in the sensation of his lips on hers, the gentle pressure, the softness of his breath.

Sasuke pulled away, his lips brushing against the tip of her nose in a gentle kiss. A soft smile played on his lips as he whispered, "I've been waiting so long to do that." He leaned his forehead against hers once more, his eyes locking onto hers with tender intensity. "Will you still marry me?"

Shanan nodded gently, her emotions still swirling as words eluded her.

He enveloped her in another tight hug, holding her close for a long, comforting moment. "I should go," he whispered finally, his voice soft and reluctant.

Shanan's heart protested, not ready for their time together to end.

"I'll be back," he said, his eyes locking onto hers. "I promise." He kissed her lips once more, his touch sending shivers down her spine.

She nodded again, her smile trembling. "Okay," she whispered.

"Open your present and read your card tomorrow morning, alright?" he said, his eyes sparkling with love.

"I will," she promised.

They shared one last, lingering hug and a soft, gentle kiss before Sasuke reluctantly opened the door. "I love you, Shanan," he whispered.

"I love you, too."

Despite her desire to keep him close, her body betrayed her, weakened by the intense chakra exchange. She realized too late that their passionate embrace had drained her, leaving her on the verge of collapse.

With a Herculean effort, she stumbled back to her bed, her legs buckling beneath her. She fell onto the pillow, her head spinning, and succumbed to her exhaustion, passing out instantly.

As soon as the door closed behind him, Sasuke's composure shattered. He stood there, his hand clenched around the door handle as if it was the only thing holding him upright. His body shook with silent sobs, his chest heaving with the effort of containing his anguish. For a few agonizing minutes, he remained frozen, torn between the overwhelming urge to return to Shanan, to hold her close and never let her go, and the cold, hard reality that drove him away.

He knew that if he stayed, he would never be able to protect her from the dangers that lurked in the shadows.

His own darkness, his own weaknesses, would only put her in greater peril. The weight of his inadequacy crushed him, and his silent sobs grew more intense, his body wracked with the force of his emotions.

But even as he wept, a steely resolve began to form within him. He would leave, he would train, and he would become strong enough to protect her, no matter the cost.

With a deep breath, he steeled himself, wiping away the remnants of his tears. His eyes felt dry and gritty, his heart heavy with the weight of goodbye. He grabbed his bag, which he'd left conveniently outside her door, and stepped into the shadows, bound for the meeting point where the Sound Four Ninja waited. Their sinister presence beckoned…

A grim reminder of the sacrifices he'd make for Shanan's safety.