#sasusaku 🔞
where Sakura and Sasuke are close friends who have been fooling around for the longest time
so nothing can explain the heartbreak when, after finally making things official, Sasuke moans someone else's name
where Sakura and Sasuke are close friends who have been fooling around for the longest time
so nothing can explain the heartbreak when, after finally making things official, Sasuke moans someone else's name
The word 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆, in Sakura’s mind, has always been equated with just one person—ever since she had first learnt the meaning of it.
There hasn't been anyone else quite able to cause a storm inside her heart; getting an entire swarm of butterflies to find shelter inside her stomach only for them to flutter their delicate wings whenever he looked at her with that soft smile gracing his lips.
𝑼𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒉𝒂 𝑺𝒂𝒔𝒖𝒌𝒆.
Sakura has spent so much time, so many lonely years, selfishly loving the man. Yet not once, had she stopped to ask herself whether he felt the same way.
Sakura has spent so much time, so many lonely years, selfishly loving the man. Yet not once, had she stopped to ask herself whether he felt the same way.
Looking at him now, it is obvious that he does not. Because she’s been desperately trying to find even a shred of guilt or regret in those dark irises; in vain.
Instead, Sasuke looks…mostly relieved. Scared, too—for reasons unbeknown to her—but relieved nonetheless.
Instead, Sasuke looks…mostly relieved. Scared, too—for reasons unbeknown to her—but relieved nonetheless.
The name echoes in her head, loud and mocking. The image of his face contorted in pleasure, with cheeks dusted pink and hair sticking to his sweaty forehead, permanently engraves itself in Sakura’s memory.
‘I am sorry’, Sasuke says, voice completely void of the usual colour—just a palette of monochrome grey.
Something in Sakura breaks, the last whole bit of her heart crumbling into pieces so tiny she doubts anyone will ever be able to collect them all.
Something in Sakura breaks, the last whole bit of her heart crumbling into pieces so tiny she doubts anyone will ever be able to collect them all.
She watches him get out of bed. Covers herself with the blanket as he puts on the clothes scattered all over the floor, taking his sweet time. Torturing her more—consciously or not, Sakura isn’t sure.
‘Are you?’ Sakura asks once he unlocks the door, feelings as her body shivers when Sasuke looks over his shoulder, with his eyebrow raised in question.
‘Be honest,’ she sends him a rueful smile, ‘even if all of this was a lie. Just this once, tell me... Are you sorry, Sasuke?’
He sighs, ruffles his hair in a way that tells Sakura she hit a nerve. ‘No, I am not,’ he admits, pushing the door open. ‘See you later, Sakura.’
He sighs, ruffles his hair in a way that tells Sakura she hit a nerve. ‘No, I am not,’ he admits, pushing the door open. ‘See you later, Sakura.’
➛ lovers to enemies to...
➛ infidelity
➛ heavy angst — I mean it
➛ mature themes 🔞
➛ (eventual) happy ending
Interactions always make me happy so likes and qrts would be appreciated ♡
➛ infidelity
➛ heavy angst — I mean it
➛ mature themes 🔞
➛ (eventual) happy ending
Interactions always make me happy so likes and qrts would be appreciated ♡
*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*
tw — domestic abuse
‘I taught you better than this! I thought’, his father yells, his deep voice bouncing off the kitchen walls, ‘you can do this one this right, at least.’
Sasuke watches him, the way his fingers tighten around the neck of the half empty bottle of sake.
He flinches when the bottom of it hits the table. Let’s out a mirthless laugh when his mother looks at him, once, before turning back towards the dishes.
He flinches when the bottom of it hits the table. Let’s out a mirthless laugh when his mother looks at him, once, before turning back towards the dishes.
‘You will go to her tomorrow’, Fugaku decides, the authority in his tone obvious and threatening. ‘You will go and you will apologise.’
Sasuke’s hands clench into fists underneath the table, blunt nails digging painfully in the delicate skin of his palms. ‘I will not.’
Sasuke’s hands clench into fists underneath the table, blunt nails digging painfully in the delicate skin of his palms. ‘I will not.’
He meets his father’s gaze, even though it kills him—causes that heavy weight to settle on top of his chest out of nowhere and deem him unworthy of oxygen.
‘I was not asking, Sasuke.’
‘I was not asking, Sasuke.’
A shiver claws its way up his spine. A fire burning in his lungs, hot enough to burn him alive.
Sasuke does not succumb. He straightens his spine, instead, swallows the bile that grows in his throat out of sudden.
Sasuke does not succumb. He straightens his spine, instead, swallows the bile that grows in his throat out of sudden.
‘She doesn’t want to see me.’ He breathes in slowly when Fugaku scoffs and his lips twist in an ugly frown. ‘I don’t want to– Please’, he tries, moving his eyes towards his mother as she takes a seat next to her husband.
Mikoto smiles softly, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes—those are blank, completely deprived of light. Much like his own.
She reaches out to hold his hand and Sasuke complies, let’s out a shaky breath when her thumb traces the crescent moon marks left on his skin.
She reaches out to hold his hand and Sasuke complies, let’s out a shaky breath when her thumb traces the crescent moon marks left on his skin.
‘You broke this girl’s heart,’ she says with a hint of something that Sasuke doesn’t want to acknowledge, afraid that it will cut him up into a million tiny slices, ‘she deserves an apology.’
‘I have nothing to apologise for.’
‘I have nothing to apologise for.’
Abruptly, Sasuke stands up. Ignores his mother’s wide eyes or the way they gloss over with tears. He doesn’t let himself wonder if it is because of what he said or because of what they both know is going to happen next.
Because as soon as Sasuke stands up, Fugaku does to. He walks around the table to stand only millimetres away, their faces so close Sasuke can almost taste the sake on his own tongue.
They are almost the same height and yet he still feels like a child. Hopeless.
They are almost the same height and yet he still feels like a child. Hopeless.
‘You are going to do what I say’, he hears as his back slams against the wall, strong fingers wrapping around his throat. Long enough for Sasuke give up; nod in compliance when his vision starts to blur.
And once he does, his father lets go. Sasuke’s knees give up at once and he finds himself falling onto the floor as he is desperately gasping for air.
He thinks it shouldn’t feel so normal, so...casual. He shouldn’t be so used to this.
He thinks it shouldn’t feel so normal, so...casual. He shouldn’t be so used to this.
He hurries out of the room as quickly as he can, refusing to shed a single tear in front of either of them.
An image plagues his mind—of him and Sakura, spread on the bed amongst the messy sheets.
An image plagues his mind—of him and Sakura, spread on the bed amongst the messy sheets.
𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔, Sasuke had told her then and she smiled. A beautiful gentle smile that reminds him of blooming flowers.
He wonders if she believed him back then. Whether she knew how much he meant those words...just not for her.
Never for her.
He wonders if she believed him back then. Whether she knew how much he meant those words...just not for her.
Never for her.
The bedroom door slams shut behind him and Sasuke leans on it, taking a few slow, deep breaths.
It all feels wrong. His throat burns and his chest feels heavy—a tinge of guilt tainting his insides, slowly sipping into the crevices of his heart.
It all feels wrong. His throat burns and his chest feels heavy—a tinge of guilt tainting his insides, slowly sipping into the crevices of his heart.
He refuses to let it win. Refuses to put a name on what he had done, afraid that the word will haunt him forever.
There is enough monsters under his bed already, enough demons to last him for a lifetime without adding yet another one.
There is enough monsters under his bed already, enough demons to last him for a lifetime without adding yet another one.
Sasuke lays on the bed, weighed down by a little black box tucked safely into his pocket. He takes it out. Throws it against the wall with a curse to watch how it opens; a gold band falling out of it, with a red ruby stone standing out against the pale wooden floor.
He groans in frustration, muffling the sound with his own arm thrown across his face. It takes a lot of effort to talk himself into not thinking about her—her soft pastel locks, the porcelain skin glowing in the sun as if it has been permanently sprinkled over with glitter.
He redirects his thoughts towards someone else. Lets his mind replace milky pink with pale yellow, her small frame with a taller one, her innocent smile with a playful grin.
He reaches underneath the pillow to take out a note—one that has been left for him over a month ago. It’s been so long and Sasuke misses not feeling lonely.
With a sigh, he presses the paper to his lips. Takes a whiff of leftover perfume before unfolding it; reading carefully.
With a sigh, he presses the paper to his lips. Takes a whiff of leftover perfume before unfolding it; reading carefully.
Sasuke laughs as he reads it again, fingers trailing over neatly written letters.
“𝑫𝒐 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒅𝒐 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒌𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔.”
That’s another person he is going to disappoint. Guess he really is good for nothing—worthless, just like his father likes to claim so often.
“𝑫𝒐 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒅𝒐 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒌𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔.”
That’s another person he is going to disappoint. Guess he really is good for nothing—worthless, just like his father likes to claim so often.
Soon, Sasuke will be able to feel human again. Will finally find solace in the arms of a person that loves him. A person he would be willing to sacrifice everything for.
He puts the note away, pushes it inside his pillowcase so that no one can find it.
He puts the note away, pushes it inside his pillowcase so that no one can find it.
Not bothering to take off his clothes, he turns to the side and closes his eyes; willing for sleep to claim him before his thoughts sway back towards the emptiness present in Sakura’s eyes when he left her flat earlier.
*.·:·.☽✧ ❀ ✧☾.·:·.*
Sakura watches her own reflection in the mirror. Her eyes are glossy, yet dull somehow, rimmed red and with prominent dark shadow underneath.
She looks like a ghost. A shell of a person she used to be, merely three days ago.
She looks like a ghost. A shell of a person she used to be, merely three days ago.
Sixty three hours since Sasuke took her heart and slammed it against the wall, before crushing the pieces between the floor and thick soles of his boots.
Fifty hours since he started blowing up her phone. Forty five since she blocked his number.
Fifty hours since he started blowing up her phone. Forty five since she blocked his number.
She has expected to feel more—the sort of agonising ache they often describe in books, the overwhelming pain not only affection the broken organ but the entire body.
Instead, she feels nothing.
She curses and cries, but it’s just that. Just tears falling out of her eyes and down her face, but without any sort of emotion accompanying the process.
She curses and cries, but it’s just that. Just tears falling out of her eyes and down her face, but without any sort of emotion accompanying the process.
She looks at the clock and then over her shoulder, at the man sprawled across her mattress. Her gaze slides over his muscular back, the dimples on his back barely covered by the white sheet.
She sighs, in equal ashamed and annoyed; she should have never let him stay here.
‘Get up, Naruto.’ Sakura says firmly, picking up his jacket from the floor by her feet, to throw it in his direction. ‘Come on. I have to get to work.’
‘Get up, Naruto.’ Sakura says firmly, picking up his jacket from the floor by her feet, to throw it in his direction. ‘Come on. I have to get to work.’
‘Let me sleep, ’m tired’ he mumbles against the pillow, shoving the jacket back on the floor. ‘Just leave the key, I’ll bring it to the office. I gotta meet Sa–’
Naruto sits up, clears his throat as one of his hands reaches to scratch the back off his neck; cheeks dusted pink.
Naruto sits up, clears his throat as one of his hands reaches to scratch the back off his neck; cheeks dusted pink.
‘Sorry,’ he says quietly, avoiding her gaze, ‘I wasn’t thinking.’
Sakura wants to laugh. At the irony of the situation above anything else because why would Naruto, out of all people, have to apologise to her for meeting with a friend he so dearly loved?
Sakura wants to laugh. At the irony of the situation above anything else because why would Naruto, out of all people, have to apologise to her for meeting with a friend he so dearly loved?
He has been in Sasuke’s life long before Sakura—and they both know that he will stay long after she’s gone, too.
‘Your judgment clearly isn’t the best, considering you are still in 𝒎𝒚 bed.’ She sighs, gets up to put on a tight, red skirt she bought specially for this occasion.
‘Your judgment clearly isn’t the best, considering you are still in 𝒎𝒚 bed.’ She sighs, gets up to put on a tight, red skirt she bought specially for this occasion.
She tucks the silky white blouse inside, smoothing the creases that appear on her hips. She watches herself until she manages to convince herself she looks presentable.
Beautiful, even.
Beautiful, even.
𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖... 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒖𝒍. 𝑬𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍.
Sakura closes her eyes, breathing in and out, until Sasuke’s voice fades back into nothing. She hates how it still affects her.
Sakura closes her eyes, breathing in and out, until Sasuke’s voice fades back into nothing. She hates how it still affects her.
His voice, the compliments, still give her butterflies, even though she knows now that is wasn’t her Sasuke was thinking of. Possibly ever.
Somehow, it it helps to consider it all a lie. It makes it slightly better when she doesn’t let herself think that she was not good enough.
Somehow, it it helps to consider it all a lie. It makes it slightly better when she doesn’t let herself think that she was not good enough.
‘You look stunning’, Naruto supplies, suddenly appearing right behind her.
His palms move up and down her arms, a smile smile tugging at his lips when he matches her eyes in the reflection. He kisses her temple and Sakura leans into the touch; feeling weirdly vulnerable.
His palms move up and down her arms, a smile smile tugging at his lips when he matches her eyes in the reflection. He kisses her temple and Sakura leans into the touch; feeling weirdly vulnerable.
‘You can stay as long as you want’ she whispers, moving away the second the moment passes and the memories of last night flash before her eyes. ‘Just... When are you going to see him?’
‘Um–’ Blond looks at the clock, as if had an answer written all over it. ‘Lunch, I think.’
‘Um–’ Blond looks at the clock, as if had an answer written all over it. ‘Lunch, I think.’
Sakura nods. Thinks back to her schedule, making a mental note to remind Naruto to actually take the keys with him. ‘Okay. I will see you then.’
She grabs her bag and hurries out of the flat, out of the building, to chase after a taste of fresh air.
She grabs her bag and hurries out of the flat, out of the building, to chase after a taste of fresh air.
—
The first few hours pass painstakingly slow.
Sakura chooses to ignore concerned looks and not-so-subtle questions, focusing instead on work. She, desperately, tries to forget that this entire building—along with half of Konoha—belongs to Sasuke’s family.
Sakura chooses to ignore concerned looks and not-so-subtle questions, focusing instead on work. She, desperately, tries to forget that this entire building—along with half of Konoha—belongs to Sasuke’s family.
Her entire livelihood, the future she is working so hard towards, lays in hands of a man who had betrayed her trust in the most disgusting way possible.
It’s surprising, really, that she even got to keep her job in the first place.
It’s surprising, really, that she even got to keep her job in the first place.
But, she supposes it had more to do with an obviously preference Uchihas displayed towards her over their own son.
She could– 𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 use it to her advantage.
She can already imagine Sasuke’s face, always so hopeful, eager to please them, when they take her side.
She could– 𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 use it to her advantage.
She can already imagine Sasuke’s face, always so hopeful, eager to please them, when they take her side.
She giggles to herself, spends the next hour and a half plotting elaborate plans meant to bring Uchiha Sasuke’s downfall.
It isn’t until almost midday, when she gathers documents needed for an upcoming meeting, that she sees him.
It isn’t until almost midday, when she gathers documents needed for an upcoming meeting, that she sees him.
His father walks first, his shoulders squared and hands clasp together behind him as he nods at whatever the person on his right is saying—a redheaded man with expression so cold, a shiver races down Sakura’s spine when their eyes meet for a split second.
Sakura bows towards them both. Tries to, at least—because her body freezes when she catches a sigh of 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎.
Her heart stops, or would have if she had one, everything around her slowing down as her mind tries to process the image displayed right before her eyes.
Her heart stops, or would have if she had one, everything around her slowing down as her mind tries to process the image displayed right before her eyes.
Sasuke’s hand is shoved inside the pocket of his dark trousers, messy curls framing his sharp features in a way Sakura used to always find alarmingly attractive.
He's wearing a simple black shirt with top three buttons undone, giving everyone a great view of his collarbones.
He's wearing a simple black shirt with top three buttons undone, giving everyone a great view of his collarbones.
He isn’t looking at her, at all. Doesn’t even seem to be aware of her presence. H eyes, his entire body, is turned towards a woman that has his arm wrapped around her waist.
And Sakura watches them.
And Sakura watches them.
Studies how Sasuke’s face lights up when she smiles at him. How relaxed he seems to be—even though Sakura has only ever seen him stressed in the presence of his father.
She watches how, perhaps for the first time since she had known him, Sasuke looks truly happy.
She watches how, perhaps for the first time since she had known him, Sasuke looks truly happy.
That is, until Fugaku’s voice booms from where he stands by the half-opened door to his office—the sheet volume of it effectively snapping Sakura out of her trans.
‘Sasuke’, he says coldly, more of a command of sorts rather than just a call for attention.
‘Sasuke’, he says coldly, more of a command of sorts rather than just a call for attention.
And it does exactly what Fugaku must have wanted; Sasuke curls into himself as if to take as little space as possible. His finger’s clench on the woman’s waist for a second, only for his arm to fall limp by his side right after.
Sasuke looks both angry and absolutely terrified when he eventually dares to look in her direction. His jaw is taunt, tongue pressed against the inside of his cheeks as he lets his eyes roam about her figure.
Sakura feels her cheeks heat up in shame, everyone’s eyes on her. She feels stupid, suddenly, for thinking she could get her revenge by dressing up in those ridiculous clothes.
‘Sakura’, Fugaku speaks again; his voice softer this time, as if he turned into someone else entirely,
‘Sakura’, Fugaku speaks again; his voice softer this time, as if he turned into someone else entirely,
‘I want you to sit this meeting with us, is that okay? You and Sasuke can then discuss the strategy moving forward.’
Sakura freezes. Dares to shot a glance in Sasuke’s direction to find him with his eyes full of terror similar to the one she feels settling in her own chest.
Sakura freezes. Dares to shot a glance in Sasuke’s direction to find him with his eyes full of terror similar to the one she feels settling in her own chest.
She doesn’t want to do it. Doesn’t want to be stuck in Sasuke’s presence any more than necessary.
But... she cannot exactly afford to lose a job that pays her bills and tuition.
But... she cannot exactly afford to lose a job that pays her bills and tuition.
So, a forced smile, she decides to throw her dignity outside the window. Who knows, maybe this could be the perfect opportunity for Sakura to get her closure. To make sure Sasuke remembers how much he had hurt her.
It could also end up being the exact opposite, but this option is not something she wants to dwell on, too much. Not right now, at least.
‘Of course, Uchiha-sama.’
And as she goes to bow, a couple of things happen at once.
‘Of course, Uchiha-sama.’
And as she goes to bow, a couple of things happen at once.
First, Naruto appears out of nowhere, dangling Sakura’s keys in front of her face for a long moment it takes him to realise she is, kind of, in a middle of something.
Second, Sasuke’s lover takes a step towards Fugaku—both of them engage in some type of glaring match.
Second, Sasuke’s lover takes a step towards Fugaku—both of them engage in some type of glaring match.
The silence turns heavy; tension palpable in the air, even though it seems like only the three (four, if you count the Mayor of Suna watching the scene unfold with expression that couldn’t be closer to boredom) of them understand what is really going on.
‘I am sure you won't mind if I join you all, then?’ she asks, feigning courtesy.
Her voice is deeper than Sakura has expected, but also smooth—like poisoned honey that drips from her every word as her sharp eyes don’t move an inch from where they’re focused on Fugaku’s face.
Her voice is deeper than Sakura has expected, but also smooth—like poisoned honey that drips from her every word as her sharp eyes don’t move an inch from where they’re focused on Fugaku’s face.
‘I would very much like to hear Sakura’s ideas. Sasuke has told me a lot about her... Especially about how smart she is,’ she giggles, tucking a strand of sandy blonde hair behind her ear, ‘I am sure it won’t take her long to notice if something is out of the ordinary, hm?’
Her lips curl into a smirk, dark green irises filled with mirth when she looks in the other’s direction.
Sakura’s throat turns painfully dry, her lips parting unconsciously with the need to defend herself, 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒉𝒐𝒘.
‘Temari.’
Sakura’s throat turns painfully dry, her lips parting unconsciously with the need to defend herself, 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒉𝒐𝒘.
‘Temari.’
Sasuke’s voice catches everyone’s attention; darker than Sakura has ever heard it before. And if he looked annoyed a minute ago, he must be pissed now, because his eyes turn into black pools, standing out against his fair skin.
‘That is enough’, he says and Temari simply shrugs, grabbing the hem of his jacket to pull him closer.
He lets her—so easily.
Sakura feels sick, as if someone just punched her right in the stomach and, in turn, her squished insides threatened to spill outside.
He lets her—so easily.
Sakura feels sick, as if someone just punched her right in the stomach and, in turn, her squished insides threatened to spill outside.
She hears her name being whispered between the lovers, their lips so close, but not yet touching.
Naruto is the first to speak afterwards, clearly confused and uncomfortable with the entire situation. ‘Are you okay, Sakura-chan?’ he asks, expression full of worry.
Naruto is the first to speak afterwards, clearly confused and uncomfortable with the entire situation. ‘Are you okay, Sakura-chan?’ he asks, expression full of worry.
He touches her arms gently and Sakura leans into the gesture, nods once as she tries her best to curl her lips into a smile.
She feels Sasuke’s eyes on them, all too familiar with the possessive nature of the younger.
It infuriates her.
She feels Sasuke’s eyes on them, all too familiar with the possessive nature of the younger.
It infuriates her.
He has no right to look at her this way. Not anymore.
Not when he still has the audacity to slide his palm into Temari’s pocket while looking at her with that fiery expression that used to always make Sakura’s knees weak.
Not when he still has the audacity to slide his palm into Temari’s pocket while looking at her with that fiery expression that used to always make Sakura’s knees weak.
‘What are you doing here, Naruto? I told you I’m busy’, Sasuke spits through gritted teeth, eyeing his best friend which such childish suspicion, Sakura would it find rather amusing if it weren’t for the current circumstances.
‘I came to see Sakura-chan, you bastard.’
‘I came to see Sakura-chan, you bastard.’
‘Why the 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌 would you–’
Naruto chooses the moment to take Sakura’s keys out of his pocket, dropping them on top of her desk—a little cherry blossom keychain hanging off the edge.
It was the first gift Sasuke has given her, the day she signed a lease on her apartment.
Naruto chooses the moment to take Sakura’s keys out of his pocket, dropping them on top of her desk—a little cherry blossom keychain hanging off the edge.
It was the first gift Sasuke has given her, the day she signed a lease on her apartment.
They were still only friends back then. Friend who perhaps kissed sometimes; in dark corners at parties or in passing, in the cafeteria or Sasuke’s office after everyone else has left.
Funny how it seems like only yesterday, and yet things couldn’t possibly be more different.
Funny how it seems like only yesterday, and yet things couldn’t possibly be more different.
When Sakura finds the courage to move her gaze from the shiny, flower-shaped piece of metal, she finds Sasuke already staring at her. ‘Why does he have these?’
‘Oh, you didn’t seriously just ask her that after what you–’ Naruto laughs, before a loud bang interrupts him.
‘Oh, you didn’t seriously just ask her that after what you–’ Naruto laughs, before a loud bang interrupts him.
‘This is no place for your childish arguments. I do not have time for this,’ the other man—Temari’s father, if Sakura remembers correctly—speaks harshly as his open palm rests flat on the door.
‘You can leave now’, he waves a dismissive hand towards Naruto.
‘You can leave now’, he waves a dismissive hand towards Naruto.
The blond tries to argue, but eventually gives in to Sakura’s pleas—she’s already embarrassed enough.
Once Naruto does leave, the man’s gaze settles on Fugaku; a displeased scowl adorning his features. ‘You have fifteen minutes to sort your son out.’
Once Naruto does leave, the man’s gaze settles on Fugaku; a displeased scowl adorning his features. ‘You have fifteen minutes to sort your son out.’
It’s unnerving; the way both Temari and Sasuke inhale sharply at the words, their eyes meeting for a second in a silent conversation that leaves Sakura anxious for reasons she doesn't quite understand.
‘Father, I don’t think this is necessary, we cannot miss the meeting,’ Temari tries with a nervous chuckle spilling past her lips, only for her father to silence her by simply raising his index.
‘I am not interested in what you think. The two of them will—’ he scoffs, glancing towards Sasuke in a way that makes something ugly claw at Sakura’s skin, ‘—talk. And you will keep Sakura here company, while I ask the board to wait.’
‘I hope that is fine with you, dear?’ he then asks Sakura and all she can do is not, lightheaded with sudden nervousness that settled itself in the pit of her stomach. ‘Excellent.’
He whispers something to Fugaku, too quiet for her to hear, before he walks off towards the lift.
He whispers something to Fugaku, too quiet for her to hear, before he walks off towards the lift.
Afterwards, it’s quiet.
Sakura feels herself holding her breath until she physically cannot anymore—her lungs beginning for oxygen as she coughs, once, to fight the discomfort in her throat.
Sakura feels herself holding her breath until she physically cannot anymore—her lungs beginning for oxygen as she coughs, once, to fight the discomfort in her throat.
As on command, Fugaku pushes the door open further. He doesn’t have to say a word for Sasuke to simply go in, his eyes instantaneously just as empty as Sakura always remembered them to be.
When the sound of a lock clicking in place echoes across the reception, Sakura sighs tiredly, not particularly happy about the prospect of spending gods know long in the company of the woman who managed to plague every single one of her dreams for the past three days.
Slowly, she puts the keys inside her bag, rearranging a few other things just for a good measure. Then, she makes sure to double check all the documents are in the right order. Twice.
By the time she is finished, a few minutes passed—but when she looks up, Temari is still frozen in place. Staring at the door with her eyebrows drown together and teeth sunk into the plush of her bottom lip.
‘Umm... Is something wrong?’ she asks hesitantly, progressively more bemused by the entirety of the situation.
‘No.’ Temari turns towards her, eyes full of distress she tries to mask with a smile. ‘It’s nothing.’
‘No.’ Temari turns towards her, eyes full of distress she tries to mask with a smile. ‘It’s nothing.’
*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*
( A/N: I left the tw for domestic abuse open for a reason so please be aware that it will apply throughout the entire story. )
Sasuke stands in the middle of the room. His gaze follow Fugaku’s hands as he draws the blinds closed. He watches as, carefully, his father takes of his suit jacket and hangs it on a chair behind the large desk.
He watches as the elder unbuttons the sleeves of his white shirt, rolling them up to his elbows leisurely.
Sasuke knows it’s all part of the game, can feel his heavy eyes on himself, feeding on his fear. He knows exactly how much his father enjoys seeing him tremble in panic.
Sasuke knows it’s all part of the game, can feel his heavy eyes on himself, feeding on his fear. He knows exactly how much his father enjoys seeing him tremble in panic.
It had became a new routine.
Sasuke refusing to give his father any sort of satisfaction, burying all of those haunting feelings somewhere deep down, instead, to be forgotten forever.
Sasuke refusing to give his father any sort of satisfaction, burying all of those haunting feelings somewhere deep down, instead, to be forgotten forever.
What he didn’t predict, was how far Fugaku was willing to go to get as much as a glimpse of tears clinging to his eyelashes.
‘I thought I made myself clear the other day’, he speaks and Sasuke can’t fight the way his body jolts in place at the sound of his voice.
‘I thought I made myself clear the other day’, he speaks and Sasuke can’t fight the way his body jolts in place at the sound of his voice.
Sasuke thinks how he would rather have his father yell at him. Raise his voice and perhaps even hit him, if necessary.
He thinks how he would give anything to not have to deal with 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔. With this constant hypervigilance, the never-ending feeling of upcoming danger.
He thinks how he would give anything to not have to deal with 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔. With this constant hypervigilance, the never-ending feeling of upcoming danger.
‘Fucking–’ Fugaku walks towards him, his palm connecting with Sasuke’s cheek with enough force to make him lose footing for a second or two, ‘answer me, boy!’
‘She didn’t want to speak to me. I tried, I told you that–’ The next slap sends him to the floor.
‘She didn’t want to speak to me. I tried, I told you that–’ The next slap sends him to the floor.
‘I told you to try harder’, Fugaku seethes, the heel of his shoe landing on Sasuke’s fingers, pressing them into the floor.
A quiet whine slips past his lips before he is able to stop it, his body struggling against the pressure that keeps him pinned in one spot.
A quiet whine slips past his lips before he is able to stop it, his body struggling against the pressure that keeps him pinned in one spot.
‘I don’t fucking want to do this anymore!’ Sasuke screams, tears blurring his vision. He doesn’t know why, but this feels different. He feels particularly vulnerable for some reason and he tells himself it’s because nothing like this has ever happened outside of their home.
He convinces himself it is because here, he has nowhere to run to. Nowhere to hide.
Here, he is brutally reminded of just how alone he really is. With thousands of people behind the door and no one willing to save him.
Here, he is brutally reminded of just how alone he really is. With thousands of people behind the door and no one willing to save him.
‘I don't– I can’t...’ Sasuke blabbers through his tears, struggling to catch a breath, ‘I can’t do it. I won’t. Please don’t make me, please–’
He whimpers in relief when the pressure disappears suddenly, brings his hand close to his chest to cover it with the other.
He whimpers in relief when the pressure disappears suddenly, brings his hand close to his chest to cover it with the other.
Fugaku laughs—a low chuckle dripping with pure insanity—and every cell in his body scream for him to hide. But then, his father leans to grab his hair, pull his upwards in one harsh movement and push him on top of the leather sofa by the window.
‘Five.’
‘Five.’
‘No, no, 𝒏𝒐– Wait!’ Sasuke’s pulse picks up speed, ears filled with loud buzzing as adrenaline rushes into his bloodstream and spread throughout his entire system.
‘I am done waiting for you.’
‘I am done waiting for you.’
A box lands on his lap—the same one he had thrown on the floor a few days prior and couldn’t find later.
He doesn’t dare to touch, knows the ring is right there. Knows exactly what his father is going to say next.
He doesn’t dare to touch, knows the ring is right there. Knows exactly what his father is going to say next.
‘You are going to convince Sakura to marry you’, Fugaku whispers, so close Sasuke sees his own terrified expression in his eyes, ‘I do not care what it takes. Understand?’
‘She is never going to agree... She won’t, not after what I did.’
‘She is never going to agree... She won’t, not after what I did.’
Long fingers grip at his jaw painfully, squeezing until Sasuke can feel them digging into his gums, ‘find a way, then. Either you do, or I will make sure your mother suffers enough to never fucking look at you again.’
An image flashes in Sasuke’s mind, so vivid it almost feels like he’s back there. Back by the koi pond at the back of their house.
Sasuke watches, as if through the camera lense, as his younger self feeds the fish while his mother holds his hand.
Sasuke watches, as if through the camera lense, as his younger self feeds the fish while his mother holds his hand.
Sasuke watches the boy look up at his mum, tilt his head in confusion when the woman sways on her feet; face pale and eyes glassy.
Seconds later, she falls unconscious, right into the lake. Water splashes on the boy’s hair, his clothes—everywhere.
Seconds later, she falls unconscious, right into the lake. Water splashes on the boy’s hair, his clothes—everywhere.
Sasuke can still feel it on his face. He remembers himself screaming for help, until his throat was raw and lungs aches from the effort.
He remembers his brother’s longing gaze the day his mother finally came back from the hospital. And the next day.
He remembers his brother’s longing gaze the day his mother finally came back from the hospital. And the next day.
He remembers Itachi tucking him into bed, pressing his index and middle to his forehead as he smiled ruefully at the nine year old with his dinosaur plushie.
‘Promise me you will listen to whatever father says’, he whispered, hugging him tightly, ‘can you do that?’
‘Promise me you will listen to whatever father says’, he whispered, hugging him tightly, ‘can you do that?’
Sasuke remembers himself agree—because why wouldn’t he? He was just a child.
He did not expect he will not see Itachi after that night. He was not expecting for this silly promise to become the last memory he has if his older brother.
He did not expect he will not see Itachi after that night. He was not expecting for this silly promise to become the last memory he has if his older brother.
He had left, without as much as a goodbye, leaving Sasuke all alone. Forcing him to figure out, completely on his own, what happens when he misbehaves.
A slap if his grades aren’t high enough. Proper beating if he talked back or got into trouble.
A slap if his grades aren’t high enough. Proper beating if he talked back or got into trouble.
But when Sasuke truly got on his nerves; questioned his authority or blatantly refused to do something his father deemed as necessary, Fugaku would not touch him.
Instead, he would ignore him for a day or two, long enough for his mother’s eyes to turn glassy and bloodshot again, with dark shadows painted underneath.
‘𝑳𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒗𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒆. 𝑳𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒖𝒑𝒔𝒆𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓.’
‘𝑳𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒗𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒆. 𝑳𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒖𝒑𝒔𝒆𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓.’
‘𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔. 𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒔𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒑.’
It took him years, before he put the pieces together. Before he realised that this was just another game his father liked to play—using the only person Sasuke had left to get what he wanted.
It took him years, before he put the pieces together. Before he realised that this was just another game his father liked to play—using the only person Sasuke had left to get what he wanted.
Years before Sasuke realised it wasn’t his mother’s choice. It wasn’t his fault.
But, the voice in his head stayed, loud and clear, and terrifying. And with the voice stayed the overwhelming guilt he was still not able to rid himself of.
‘𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖.’
But, the voice in his head stayed, loud and clear, and terrifying. And with the voice stayed the overwhelming guilt he was still not able to rid himself of.
‘𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖.’
Sasuke licks his lips. Nods slowly as his brain races, trying to find a solution to an impossible problem. ‘Okay’, he whispers, throat dry and voice coming out strangled, ‘I will find a way.’
Fugaku hums in satisfaction, stepping away. He fixes his clothes, checks his appearance in the reflection on one of the windows.
‘Fix your hair and get some ice,’ he point with his chin at Sasuke’s hand—skin there visibly red, ‘I don’t want to see any bruises on you.’
‘Fix your hair and get some ice,’ he point with his chin at Sasuke’s hand—skin there visibly red, ‘I don’t want to see any bruises on you.’
*.·:·.☽✧ ❀ ✧☾.·:·.*
The meeting lasts almost two hours. Two hours of a blurred haze where her hand moves automatically along the paper, leaving scribbled lines all over the paper.
‘Right’, Fugaku says as he stands up; everyone except the five of them having already left the room.
‘Right’, Fugaku says as he stands up; everyone except the five of them having already left the room.
‘The project is yours.’ He looks towards the end of the table and Sakura knows he shouldn’t be talking to 𝒉𝒆𝒓—yet it seems like he is. ‘Discuss everything and leave your notes on my desk.’
Sakura nods, struggling to force a smile, ‘of course, Uchiha-sama.’
Sakura nods, struggling to force a smile, ‘of course, Uchiha-sama.’
The Mayor stands up, as well, snapping his fingers towards Temari who’s tracing irregular patterns on Sasuke’s thigh. She shakes her head.
‘I think perspective of someone from Suna might be helpful’, Sakura blurts out, surprising even herself when the words leave her mouth.
‘I think perspective of someone from Suna might be helpful’, Sakura blurts out, surprising even herself when the words leave her mouth.
But there is this nagging feeling deep inside her gut, ever since Sasuke joined the meeting—a whole twenty minutes after his father and with his eyes all puffy and red.
He stayed unmoving, so strangely quiet it made Sakura’s senses scream in attention.
Something was off.
He stayed unmoving, so strangely quiet it made Sakura’s senses scream in attention.
Something was off.
Temari’s presence helped, even if a little, because Sakura witnessed as, throughout the meeting, he became more and more relaxed. Calmer with every gentle touch and every word whispered against his ear.
So, as much as Sakura despises the prospect... Sasuke, for one reason or another, needed consolation and who was she to deny him the support of seemingly the only person he felt comfortable with?
‘Are you sure, Sakura?’ Fugaku asks, eyeing her with suspicious that feels entirely unwarranted.
She nods, not trusting her voice to not crack, as the consequences of her words settle in. ‘Fine’, Fugaku sighs and Sakura exhales shakily.
She did a good thing.
She nods, not trusting her voice to not crack, as the consequences of her words settle in. ‘Fine’, Fugaku sighs and Sakura exhales shakily.
She did a good thing.
They two men leave and silence settles in the room. Both Temari and Sasuke are looking at her, their curious eyes like sharp blades digging into her chest.
‘Look at that... Your little girlfriend is playing a saint’, Temari mocks, a smirk on her face and fingers moving to bury themselves in his dark hair.
Sakura takes a deep breath, slowly.
She did a good thing. Perhaps she will have to find time to hate herself for it later.
Sakura takes a deep breath, slowly.
She did a good thing. Perhaps she will have to find time to hate herself for it later.
‘She’s been watching you this entire time.’ Temari pins Sakura down with her gaze, throws her legs over Sasuke’s lap as her lips ghost over his neck, peppering soft kisses all over his skin. ‘I think she must be missing you.’
Sakura feels dizzy, on the verge of throwing up.
Sakura feels dizzy, on the verge of throwing up.
She can’t help but wonder how long he’s been letting Temari kiss him this way. Can’t help but think back to all those times he left Konoha... How many of those where just so they could see each other?
‘He is a good kisser, isn’t he?’ Temari teases, her palm gliding up and down his arm as her eyes stay focused on Sakura. She tilts her head, a glint of something odd appearing in those dark green irises. ‘Great in bed, too.’
‘Shut up.’
‘Shut up.’
Sakura’s eyes snap to Sasuke, breath hitching in her chest at the sight of his grimace.
‘Shut the fuck up’, he repeats, seething, pushing his chair away to escape the unwanted touch, ‘don’t say things like this.’
‘Sasuke–’
‘Shut the fuck up’, he repeats, seething, pushing his chair away to escape the unwanted touch, ‘don’t say things like this.’
‘Sasuke–’
Temari reaches out, manages to brush her fingers against his cheek before he stands up, increases the distance between them. ‘Get off me.’
Sakura watches them, her lips parted in shock. She sees the same concerned look from earlier settle back on the blonde’s face.
Sakura watches them, her lips parted in shock. She sees the same concerned look from earlier settle back on the blonde’s face.
She watches, confused, how Temari’s eyes fill with tears, teeth sinking into the bottom lip.
‘Sasuke, don’t–’ she whispers, shaking her head when Sasuke glances towards the door, ‘no.’
‘Sasuke, don’t–’ she whispers, shaking her head when Sasuke glances towards the door, ‘no.’
His black eyes find Sakura’s face from across the room and his expression hardens. He runs his fingers through the messed up hair, muscle in his jaw working as it clenches and unclenches visibly.
Sakura wants to look away, tries—only to fail miserably.
Sakura wants to look away, tries—only to fail miserably.
‘Come on’, he says finally, his voice deeper than usually and filled with something that causes goosebumps to spread across Sakura’s skin, ‘I will take you home.’
Sakura blinks. ‘Bu– work?’ she says dumbly, her brain trying its best to make sense out of the situation.
Sakura blinks. ‘Bu– work?’ she says dumbly, her brain trying its best to make sense out of the situation.
‘Work can wait.’
‘I don’t think– your father said he needs the notes’, Sakura says, words full of hesitation. She wants to refuse, but some invisible string pulls her towards Sasuke and she is unable to fight it.
Sasuke groans, gritting his teeth, ‘he will get them tomorrow.’
‘I don’t think– your father said he needs the notes’, Sakura says, words full of hesitation. She wants to refuse, but some invisible string pulls her towards Sasuke and she is unable to fight it.
Sasuke groans, gritting his teeth, ‘he will get them tomorrow.’
Sakura looks at Temari. Recognises the challenge in her expression, the way her arms are crossed over her chest and eyebrow raised when she’s looking back at the younger.
She blames her. Hates her for taking the most precious thing Sakura has ever had and turning it into lies.
She blames her. Hates her for taking the most precious thing Sakura has ever had and turning it into lies.
She hates how the older carries herself. How inferior she makes Sakura feel with her confidence, how small and ugly.
She hates the way Temari acts like she is better than Sakura, more deserving of Sasuke. As if no one would ever be able to compete with her for his attention.
She hates the way Temari acts like she is better than Sakura, more deserving of Sasuke. As if no one would ever be able to compete with her for his attention.
Sakura wants to prove just how wrong she is.
‘Let’s go’, she says, lips curving into a small, sweet smile specifically crafted to wipe that smug smirk off Temari’s face. And it works.
She winks—just because—and then follows Sasuke out of the room, to the underground car park.
‘Let’s go’, she says, lips curving into a small, sweet smile specifically crafted to wipe that smug smirk off Temari’s face. And it works.
She winks—just because—and then follows Sasuke out of the room, to the underground car park.
—
The engine stops, right in front of a tall building Sakura calls home.
It’s been forty minutes in which neither of them said anything. Sakura doesn’t understand why Sasuke offered to drive her back, in the opposite direction of his usual one, if he was going to stay silent.
The engine stops, right in front of a tall building Sakura calls home.
It’s been forty minutes in which neither of them said anything. Sakura doesn’t understand why Sasuke offered to drive her back, in the opposite direction of his usual one, if he was going to stay silent.
She unbuckles the seatbelt, reaches for the door. It clicks before she’s able to pull the handle, locking them both in.
‘I am sorry’, Sasuke whispers, vulnerability clearly present in his voice. Sakura looks at him and he looks away, playing with the button of his shirt.
‘I am sorry’, Sasuke whispers, vulnerability clearly present in his voice. Sakura looks at him and he looks away, playing with the button of his shirt.
‘I hurt you, I know. I am sorry.’
Sakura arches a brow, notices a faint red mark above his collarbone. She isn’t sure if she had left it there, but the mere possibility of it being someone else’s makes her scoff.
Sakura arches a brow, notices a faint red mark above his collarbone. She isn’t sure if she had left it there, but the mere possibility of it being someone else’s makes her scoff.
She laughs before she is able to contain it; mirthless giggles slipping past her lips so easily it becomes impossible to stop them.
Sasuke watches her, says nothing.
‘Do you love her?’ Sakura asks seriously once she is done, a sudden emptiness falling on her chest.
Sasuke watches her, says nothing.
‘Do you love her?’ Sakura asks seriously once she is done, a sudden emptiness falling on her chest.
His eyes widen momentarily, tip of his tongue poking out to wet his lips nervously. ‘Sakura...’
‘Tell me. Do you love her? Because if you do, I can live with that’, she insists, not entirely sure she believes her own words, ‘if you love her, I can forgive you. Eventually.’
‘Tell me. Do you love her? Because if you do, I can live with that’, she insists, not entirely sure she believes her own words, ‘if you love her, I can forgive you. Eventually.’
‘For my own peace. But I swear—’ she takes a deep breath, turning her entire body towards him, ‘—if you broke my heart just to fuck someone else, when you could’ve easily broken up with me first–’
A pair of lips against her own stops her from finishing the sentence.
A pair of lips against her own stops her from finishing the sentence.
A slap resonates in the small space, Sakura’s palm burning from impact.
Sasuke’s cheek reddens slightly. ‘I deserved that’, he whispers after a while, his voice void of emotion. He stares at Sakura with this empty look in his eyes and it makes her furious.
Sasuke’s cheek reddens slightly. ‘I deserved that’, he whispers after a while, his voice void of emotion. He stares at Sakura with this empty look in his eyes and it makes her furious.
The fucking audacity of kissing her only a few hours after flaunting his brand new relationship. After smiling at Temari the way he had never once smiled at her; carefree and relaxed.
‘Is this some sort of sick fetish you two have?’
‘Is this some sort of sick fetish you two have?’
‘She can’t get off unless you go and fuck someone else first?’ she slaps him again, moves to slam her fists against his chest in an outburst of emotion she has been holding in for the past three days. ‘I hate you! I hate you, god– I really fucking hate you, Sasuke!’
‘I know. I am sorry, I shouldn’t have...’ Sasuke licks his lips, taking each punch as if it was nothing. ‘You deserve better.’
Sakura closes her fist around the white fabric, pulling him in. The mark is still there, staring right at her. She hates it.
Sakura closes her fist around the white fabric, pulling him in. The mark is still there, staring right at her. She hates it.
She hates herself a little bit more when this time it’s her initiating the kiss.
She feels Sasuke freeze for just a second, before relaxing and leaning into the kiss. Reciprocating with such fervour it makes Sakura’s heart flutter; the petty voice from earlier growing louder.
She feels Sasuke freeze for just a second, before relaxing and leaning into the kiss. Reciprocating with such fervour it makes Sakura’s heart flutter; the petty voice from earlier growing louder.
They kiss messily, with urgency that, at one point, almost scares her. When Sasuke bites her lip, Sakura moans into the kiss and lets herself be pulled onto his lap.
She feels his erection on the curve of her ass, pulls her skirt up to press herself against him.
She feels his erection on the curve of her ass, pulls her skirt up to press herself against him.
It fills her with a weird sense of satisfaction when Sasuke takes a shaky breath, closing his eyes as his palm moves to rest on her hip.
She kisses down his neck, undoes a few more buttons to gain access to his chest, bite into the flesh there, mark him for Temari to see later.
She kisses down his neck, undoes a few more buttons to gain access to his chest, bite into the flesh there, mark him for Temari to see later.
She lets him rut against her clothed core, pull her hair the way he knows she enjoys the most. ‘So good...’ she whispers into his ear, biting the sensitive skin beneath it until another bruise blooms on his pale skin.
Sasuke moans in response, his fingers digging into her hips.
Sasuke moans in response, his fingers digging into her hips.
It doesn’t take long at all, before his breathing becomes heavy and he buries his face in the curve between Sakura’s neck and her shoulder. His muffled whines grow more high pitched with every passing second, his movements becoming desperate.
Once Sakura feels his cock twitch inside his trousers with the threat of impending orgasm, she unlocks the door.
She gets out and fixes her clothes, smiling sweetly at utterly confused Sasuke. ‘Make sure not to mix up our names this time, yeah? I don’t think she’d like that.’
She gets out and fixes her clothes, smiling sweetly at utterly confused Sasuke. ‘Make sure not to mix up our names this time, yeah? I don’t think she’d like that.’
*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*
( A/N: Please read very carefully ) 
He finds Temari on his bed; curled up under a blanket, with arms wrapped around a pillow pressed to her chest.
His heart is still racing, mind reeling. His skin burns where Sakura has touched it, her lips having left marks more permanent than those pink bruises.
His heart is still racing, mind reeling. His skin burns where Sakura has touched it, her lips having left marks more permanent than those pink bruises.
‘It’s late’, comes a quiet voice, words muffled slightly. Sasuke sighs.
She curls into herself once he sits on the bed, when he tucks her sandy blonde hair behind her ear to then leave a soft kiss on her cheek. ‘I know.’
‘What took you so long? Did you— did you sleep with her?’
She curls into herself once he sits on the bed, when he tucks her sandy blonde hair behind her ear to then leave a soft kiss on her cheek. ‘I know.’
‘What took you so long? Did you— did you sleep with her?’
‘I didn’t’, he replies, stupidly taking advantage of the wording she chose to use for as long as she will let him.
Carefully, he lies down, circling her waist with his arm to pull her in so that her back is pressed against his chest. He closes his eyes.
Carefully, he lies down, circling her waist with his arm to pull her in so that her back is pressed against his chest. He closes his eyes.
He lets the slumber slowly settle in, take over his senses until they are pleasantly dulled.
He thinks he must’ve fallen asleep at some point, because when he opens his eyes next it’s to the orange hues filling the room and Temari’s gaze wandering around his exposed chest.
He thinks he must’ve fallen asleep at some point, because when he opens his eyes next it’s to the orange hues filling the room and Temari’s gaze wandering around his exposed chest.
‘Did you lie to me?’ she asks once she realises he’s awake, his throat bobbing as he swallows a bile grown there.
‘No.’ Sasuke sits up to cup her cheek with his palm, thumb brushing the soft skin with all the affection he can possibly give her, ‘I never lied to you. Not once.’
‘No.’ Sasuke sits up to cup her cheek with his palm, thumb brushing the soft skin with all the affection he can possibly give her, ‘I never lied to you. Not once.’
The corners of her mouth twitch as she fights a smile. Sasuke kisses her; a featherlight press of lips, so gentle it’s barely even there.
He lets her deepen the kiss, only just, before pulling away, a familiar ugly feeling clawing at his lungs and cutting off his access to air.
He lets her deepen the kiss, only just, before pulling away, a familiar ugly feeling clawing at his lungs and cutting off his access to air.
Temari shakes her head as a rueful chuckle escapes her, her eyes glassy when she looks into his, ‘why is she allowed to have you and I am not?’
‘You know why’, Sasuke whispers, his voice cracking as the ache in his chest intensifies.
‘You know why’, Sasuke whispers, his voice cracking as the ache in his chest intensifies.
Silence settles between them, interrupted only by distant voices of their fathers somewhere in the house.
Sasuke blinks away tears, reaches out to wipe Temari’s when they spill from her eyes. It still hurts to see her cry.
Sasuke blinks away tears, reaches out to wipe Temari’s when they spill from her eyes. It still hurts to see her cry.
His head throbs, as if someone wrapped an elastic band around his skull, slowly adding more to see how much it can take before it explodes.
There is a bitter taste on his tongue, spreading to coat the inner walls of his throat, making him want to throw up.
There is a bitter taste on his tongue, spreading to coat the inner walls of his throat, making him want to throw up.
‘It’s not like that anymore’, Temari assures; only ever this gentle when it’s just two of them alone.
He looks at ger through a haze, the image overlaid with memory of her younger, staring back at him with those wide trusting eyes.
He looks at ger through a haze, the image overlaid with memory of her younger, staring back at him with those wide trusting eyes.
He tries to blink it away, lock it away where it belongs—in the pitch black corner at the very back of his mind. In vain.
‘I hurt you enough. I can’t–’ he wets his lips, rubbing his knuckles over the wet eye, ‘I can’t do it. I’m sorry, I love you, but I don’t... I can’t.’
‘I hurt you enough. I can’t–’ he wets his lips, rubbing his knuckles over the wet eye, ‘I can’t do it. I’m sorry, I love you, but I don’t... I can’t.’
He hears a sigh, a defeated quiet sound that does nothing to alleviate the raging guilt that consumes his entire being.
Temari pulls him in, pressed his head into her chest as she buries hair fingers into his hair and starts massaging his scalp, ‘it wasn’t your fault.’
Temari pulls him in, pressed his head into her chest as she buries hair fingers into his hair and starts massaging his scalp, ‘it wasn’t your fault.’
A sob rips out from the back of his throat, hoarse and broken.
‘It wasn’t’, Temari says firmly, her hold on his hair tightening slightly. ‘You know that, right?’ She takes his face in her hands when he shakes his head.
‘It wasn’t’, Temari says firmly, her hold on his hair tightening slightly. ‘You know that, right?’ She takes his face in her hands when he shakes his head.
He feels her tremble as she tries to keep herself calm for at least long enough to put the broken pieces of him back together.
Sasuke holds her wrists, helpless. They don’t talk about it. There isn’t much to say, nothing that would fix the years of abuse they shared.
Sasuke holds her wrists, helpless. They don’t talk about it. There isn’t much to say, nothing that would fix the years of abuse they shared.
No words would ever be able to describe the sheer panic that washes over him whenever he gets randomly reminded of all the disgusting things they were both forced into.
All the money and power his father secured for himself by simply looking away.
All the money and power his father secured for himself by simply looking away.
The tapes and pictures that are still on the bookshelf in Mayor’s home office. Hidden in plain sight.
The raspy voice that plays on repeat, booming louder when he kisses her for too long. Gets too comfortable.
‘𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒑 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔.’
The raspy voice that plays on repeat, booming louder when he kisses her for too long. Gets too comfortable.
‘𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒑 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔.’
He takes a deep breath, inhales slowly in hopes of easing his heartbeat. He presses his forehead against Temari’s, looks into her eyes as if to convince her of his honestly. His voice cracks when he speaks, throat desert dry, ‘I hurt you enough already... I can’t do it again.’
‘Why is it different–’ she bites her lip, letting her hands fall on top of her thighs to clench them into tight fists. ‘Why is it different with her? Why is it not the same, is it–’ her gaze drops, voice small and vulnerable, ‘is it me? Is there something wrong with me?’
‘No! No, no, no–’ Sasuke grabs her jaw, a little too harshly, and forces her to look at him again. ‘You are perfect. 𝑴𝒚 𝑺𝒖𝒏...’ He kisses her, trying to put all of the feeling he cannot describe in words, into this single kiss.
It feels wrong, somehow.
It feels wrong, somehow.
Now he had found something—someone—that doesn’t make him spiral. Someone who calms his mind instead of sending it into overdrive, who makes the beast inside him settle down instead of angering it.
‘I love you. Only you’, he says; for the first time not entirely believing it.
‘I love you. Only you’, he says; for the first time not entirely believing it.
Everything with Sakura was so easy. Too easy. And Sasuke convinced himself it was because he never cared about her the way he cared about Temari.
Loving Temari was like love described in books—difficult and consuming. The intensity of it painting his entire world a deep red.
Loving Temari was like love described in books—difficult and consuming. The intensity of it painting his entire world a deep red.
His first everything. First friend, first kiss, first lover—all of those ruined by a set of sharp eyes lurking in the corner. Always watching. Instructing.
‘𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒓𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓, 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑶𝒓 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖.’
‘𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒓𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓, 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑶𝒓 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖.’
Sakura was like the clouds on the evening sky in the midst of spring.
Hued with pastels, making everything look so beautifully...soft. As if life was nothing more than absorbing existing colours and transforming them into new ones. Mixing together shades until you find your own.
Hued with pastels, making everything look so beautifully...soft. As if life was nothing more than absorbing existing colours and transforming them into new ones. Mixing together shades until you find your own.
It was unfamiliar. The peace and quiet that came with being loved by her set all of the alarm bells in Sasuke’s head, his own broken mind begging him to run before it’s too late.
It was easier hurting others before they have a chance to do so first.
It was easier hurting others before they have a chance to do so first.
It was easier to guard his heart when he thought Sakura was only something temporary. A friend he had never intended on keeping.
‘𝑪𝒂𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒆’𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒍𝒚? 𝑰𝒏𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒓’, his father would order, giving him an illusion of a choice.
‘𝑪𝒂𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒆’𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒍𝒚? 𝑰𝒏𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒓’, his father would order, giving him an illusion of a choice.
Always did. Always eased him into his schemes slowly; wrapping the invisible strings around his body so gently Sasuke never noticed until it was too late. Until he was nothing more than a puppet in hands of a man who was willing to sacrifice everything in exchange for more power.
The ring box feels heavy in his pocket, than more than ever before. He places a palm above it, looks at Temari. Lets his gaze drop to a white gold pendant hung around her neck.
A crescent moon, with about a dozen little diamonds reflecting the light falling through the window.
A crescent moon, with about a dozen little diamonds reflecting the light falling through the window.
He reaches to take it in his hand, feels the polished edges with the pad of his thumb. ‘We will be fine’, he whispers, unconvinced, ‘We are always fine.’
‘We will be fine.’ Temari repeats, her eyes fleeting towards her phone on the bedside table for just a second. ‘I promise.’
‘We will be fine.’ Temari repeats, her eyes fleeting towards her phone on the bedside table for just a second. ‘I promise.’
‘This is enough...’ Sasuke asks, biting the inside of his cheek, ‘right? It’s okay if we don’t–’
‘It is fine.’ She smiles at him, yet the smile doesn't quite reach her eyes the way it normally would. ‘It’s enough for me just to have you close.’
‘It is fine.’ She smiles at him, yet the smile doesn't quite reach her eyes the way it normally would. ‘It’s enough for me just to have you close.’
It’s a lie, he knows. Feels the uneasiness plant itself right in the crevices of his mind.
He nods, pecking her lips once again before pulling away. He watches her lay back down on the bed once he starts to take off his clothes. Grab the phone and slide it underneath the pillow.
He nods, pecking her lips once again before pulling away. He watches her lay back down on the bed once he starts to take off his clothes. Grab the phone and slide it underneath the pillow.
He then looks at his own reflection in the window, red marks decorating his skin all over, some more prominent than others.
Whatever it is, he has no right to be upset. None.
He tries to remind himself of that, almost succeeds, when a loud 𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 breaks the silence.
Whatever it is, he has no right to be upset. None.
He tries to remind himself of that, almost succeeds, when a loud 𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 breaks the silence.
‘Who is it?’ he asks, even himself surprised by the coldness in his tone. He spins around, measuring her with a suspicious gaze.
Temari stumbles on her words, swipes the notification away in a way that would be almost unnoticeable if Sasuke weren’t constantly so vigilant.
Temari stumbles on her words, swipes the notification away in a way that would be almost unnoticeable if Sasuke weren’t constantly so vigilant.
‘It’s no one’, she settles on finally, ‘just Gaara. Asking about the trip.’
Another 𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈—Sasuke snatches the phone out of her hand. He unlocks it easily, searches through the latest messages. There is only one.
Another 𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈—Sasuke snatches the phone out of her hand. He unlocks it easily, searches through the latest messages. There is only one.
Gaara’s name stares at him, timestamp from only a few seconds ago.
Sasuke scrunches his eyebrows, squints his eyes as he stares at the bright screen. ‘Where is the other one?’
‘Huh?’ Temari asks, kneels on the mattress to take a peek, too. ‘What are you talking about?’
Sasuke scrunches his eyebrows, squints his eyes as he stares at the bright screen. ‘Where is the other one?’
‘Huh?’ Temari asks, kneels on the mattress to take a peek, too. ‘What are you talking about?’
‘The other fucking message, Temari. There were two!’
He throws the phone on the pillow, a wave of nausea hitting him out of nowhere when he meets her eyes; wide and innocent. ‘What did you do?’
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about, Sasuke. You must have imagined it.’
He throws the phone on the pillow, a wave of nausea hitting him out of nowhere when he meets her eyes; wide and innocent. ‘What did you do?’
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about, Sasuke. You must have imagined it.’
*.·:·.☽✧ ❀ ✧☾.·:·.*
Everything feels like too much.
Sakura closes her eyes, back arching of the bed, as tears spill past the rims and run down her cheeks. Her mind is still the same mess it has been for the past weeks—she needs it to quiet down, even if just for a few short minutes.
Sakura closes her eyes, back arching of the bed, as tears spill past the rims and run down her cheeks. Her mind is still the same mess it has been for the past weeks—she needs it to quiet down, even if just for a few short minutes.
She has not caught even a glimpse of Sasuke ever since that evening. She felt bad, for a while, before she realised that Sasuke made it his life mission to avoid her at all costs.
And somehow, his indifference hurt much more than Sakura expected.
And somehow, his indifference hurt much more than Sakura expected.
At this point, she isn’t even sure what she wants. Isn’t convinced whether she would prefer for him to leave her alone and never come back or act like an absolute jerk; illogically posessive over the silliest little things.
Maybe not seeing his face is the better solution—she’s still seeing it plenty, etched underneath her eyelids, in moments like this one.
‘Ah, shit–’ moans the man above her, pulling at her locks as he thrusts into her fast and hard, ‘so close.’
‘Ah, shit–’ moans the man above her, pulling at her locks as he thrusts into her fast and hard, ‘so close.’
Sakura can only moan when he stuffs her mouth with his fingers, reaching right into her throat. She grips the edge of the table when a particularly powerful thrust send her sliding up the laminated wood.
‘Naruto’, she mumbles around the digits, breathless.
‘Naruto’, she mumbles around the digits, breathless.
Naruto smirks, wipes the saliva-coated fingers on her cheek before wrapping them around her throat.
The pressure pushes her over the edge and Sakura wishes, for a second, that she had called anyone other than Sasuke’s best friend. Anyone who wouldn’t make her feel so... dirty.
The pressure pushes her over the edge and Sakura wishes, for a second, that she had called anyone other than Sasuke’s best friend. Anyone who wouldn’t make her feel so... dirty.
She whimpers once Naruto sucks yet another mark on the side of her throat, groaning loudly as he spills inside the condom.
They stay like this for a while. Long enough for Sakura’s high to completely fade, replaced with a familiar burn in her chest. Guilt.
‘Get off–’
They stay like this for a while. Long enough for Sakura’s high to completely fade, replaced with a familiar burn in her chest. Guilt.
‘Get off–’
He cuts her off with a kiss. His arms wrap around her waist when he leans in, pulling her up with him once he straightens back up.
‘You are really beautiful, you know?’ he says gently, wiping her face with the hem of his t-shirt before pulling out carefully.
‘You are really beautiful, you know?’ he says gently, wiping her face with the hem of his t-shirt before pulling out carefully.
Sakura silently watches as he toes the condom and throws it into the bin.
The compliment makes her eyes water once again, her mind kindly translating the words until she believes it is Sasuke saying them all over again.
The compliment makes her eyes water once again, her mind kindly translating the words until she believes it is Sasuke saying them all over again.
It’s nice.
Only there is no butterflies, no urge to just stay right by his side for however long it takes for their souls to merge into one.
‘We should get ready...’ she whispers awkwardly when no other words come to mind, ‘we are going to be late otherwise.’
Only there is no butterflies, no urge to just stay right by his side for however long it takes for their souls to merge into one.
‘We should get ready...’ she whispers awkwardly when no other words come to mind, ‘we are going to be late otherwise.’
Naruto sighs and Sakura doesn’t miss the way his eyes roll when he hands her the concealer. ‘He is going to be there... Is that okay?’
She nods, unable to trust her voice not to betray how she really feels about seeing him, with 𝒉𝒆𝒓, again.
‘All right. We leave in five.’
She nods, unable to trust her voice not to betray how she really feels about seeing him, with 𝒉𝒆𝒓, again.
‘All right. We leave in five.’
—
By the time Sasuke makes an appearance, Sakura down enough champagne for her senses to be conveniently dulled.
Yet it still manages to sting, the sight of his palm resting on the curve of Temari’s waist as she whispers something straight into his ear.
By the time Sasuke makes an appearance, Sakura down enough champagne for her senses to be conveniently dulled.
Yet it still manages to sting, the sight of his palm resting on the curve of Temari’s waist as she whispers something straight into his ear.
She feels Naruto’s heavy gaze when she watches as Sasuke’s features harden for a second. He shakes his head, visibly upset at something.
Something holds her in place when she takes a step forward. Sakura scrunches her eyebrows, confused. ‘You are not fucking serious, are you?’
Something holds her in place when she takes a step forward. Sakura scrunches her eyebrows, confused. ‘You are not fucking serious, are you?’
‘I’m just–’ she glances towards the couple, again, to find them very obviously arguing about something only a few feet away from the door.
Naruto sighs, for what seems like a hundredth time this evening and Sakura immediately feels stupid. Like a child being scolded by a parent.
Naruto sighs, for what seems like a hundredth time this evening and Sakura immediately feels stupid. Like a child being scolded by a parent.
She feels as he intertwines their fingers together, pulling her until her back just barely touches her chest. He leaves a quick peck on her temple, ‘he can take of himself. You are here with me, can we please focus on that? They will be perfectly fine without a babysitter.’
She dares to take a one last look. Noticing the way Sasuke’s fingers tremble before he stuffs his entire fist into his pocket.
Sakura knows how much he hates events like this, with people trying to close to him just for the sake of getting a chance of meeting his father.
Sakura knows how much he hates events like this, with people trying to close to him just for the sake of getting a chance of meeting his father.
She knows how much it tires him out, how much he relied on her support on those nights his anxiety was particularly strong. It pains her to see him like this.
But there is another part, the petty side of her, giggling at the irony of the situation.
But there is another part, the petty side of her, giggling at the irony of the situation.
Because he had her, the entirety of her, right within reach, ready to help him through anything. And if he chose to exchange that for some spoiled brat then, well... Sakura couldn’t exactly call it her problem. Not anymore.
‘Of course.’ She gives Naruto a small smile, leans into when his hand craddles her cheek. She kisses back when his lips press against her own, ignoring the way it makes her feel like a traitor.
‘Yo, is this your new date?’
‘Yo, is this your new date?’
They separate as if burnt, both turning their heads towards a mean leaning against the wall with a bored expression on his face. He looks at Sakura intendly, his brown eyes roaming all over her body long enough for it to turn uncomfortable, ‘weren’t you Uchiha’s before?’
‘Do I know you?’ Sakura asks, in equal measure confused and irritated at his words.
She hears the sound of Naruto’s nervous chuckle just behind her. He squeezes her palm a little, tracing little patterns on the top of her hand with his thumb. He introduces the briefly.
‘So...’
She hears the sound of Naruto’s nervous chuckle just behind her. He squeezes her palm a little, tracing little patterns on the top of her hand with his thumb. He introduces the briefly.
‘So...’
Shikamaru chuckles in amusement and Sakura follows his gaze. Sasuke is now with Temari’s father, his head hung low as he stares at the floor.
‘Poor guy’, he says with feigned sympathy, ‘so many things happening right under his nose.’
‘Poor guy’, he says with feigned sympathy, ‘so many things happening right under his nose.’
Sakura tilts her head, ignoring the way Naruto seems to get her as close to himself as humanly possible. ‘What are you–’
‘Sakura, darling!’
‘Sakura, darling!’
The voice makes her freeze, the familiar softness of it pulling at her heartstrings until they are all broken and useless.
‘Mikoto-san...’ she whispers, trying her best to put on a fake smile, even though she suddenly wants nothing more than to cry.
‘Mikoto-san...’ she whispers, trying her best to put on a fake smile, even though she suddenly wants nothing more than to cry.
Mikoto brings her in for a hug, ripping away the comfort that came with Naruto’s touch.
‘I haven’t seen you in so long, dear...’ she says ruefully, her eyes a shade darker than Sakura remembers, ‘Did you and Sasuke manage to sort out your silly little argument yet?’
‘I haven’t seen you in so long, dear...’ she says ruefully, her eyes a shade darker than Sakura remembers, ‘Did you and Sasuke manage to sort out your silly little argument yet?’
Shikamaru snorts at the same time Sakura feels herself being stabbed by an invisible knife in the older woman’s hand.
‘He cheated on me’, she forces the words out, for the very first time voicing out loud what has been killing her slowly ever since that damned night.
‘He cheated on me’, she forces the words out, for the very first time voicing out loud what has been killing her slowly ever since that damned night.
Mikoto gasps, hand swaying at her shoulder gently as if to reprimand her for saying something highly offensive.
‘My Sasuke would never do something so terrible. Where did you even get this ridiculous idea?’
‘I–’
‘My Sasuke would never do something so terrible. Where did you even get this ridiculous idea?’
‘I–’
‘Auntie,’ Naruto pulls Sakura back with a palm pressed flat on her stomach. He grins, shows off his teeth in one of those smiles so bright they could probably compete with the sun itself, ‘my mum was hoping to catch you before they leave.’
‘Oh, are they leaving already? It's so...’ her eyes dart in the direction of Sasuke and Sakura sees the exact moment a switch flips somewhere inside her head. Her lips curve slightly, the smile on her face so forced it’s painful to look at. ‘I would love to speak to her.’
Naruto and Shikamaru exchange a look Sakura can’t quite decipher and doesn’t particularly want to—too busy trying to figure out why all the Uchihas started to act so odd out the sudden.
‘Come on’, Shikamaru says, not bothering to cover a yawn that stretches open his jaw as he walks towards the bar. Sakura follows him without hesitation, not quite why—whether it is simply a need to get out of an awkward situation or curiosity.
Because there is something very strange about the way Shikamaru seems to know things he should not be aware of and Sakura would’ve lied if she claimed not to be interested.
‘Who are you?’ she asks once they have taken a seat on the bar stools, a glass of wine in her hand.
‘Who are you?’ she asks once they have taken a seat on the bar stools, a glass of wine in her hand.
‘Naruto already told you’, he replies with tinge of amusement in his voice, perching his cheek up with his palm, ‘I’m his friend.’
‘And how exactly–’
Shikamaru waves a hand in her direction, sighs quietly as he down his drink in one go. ‘Fuck, this is going to be such a drag.’
‘And how exactly–’
Shikamaru waves a hand in her direction, sighs quietly as he down his drink in one go. ‘Fuck, this is going to be such a drag.’
‘Why is it always you?’
Sakura turns her head around just as Temari passes her, to collapse on an empty stool right next to Shikamaru. She points a finger at Sakura, he lips jutted out in a pout and eyes glossed over with what she can only assume is alcohol.
Sakura turns her head around just as Temari passes her, to collapse on an empty stool right next to Shikamaru. She points a finger at Sakura, he lips jutted out in a pout and eyes glossed over with what she can only assume is alcohol.
Shikamaru clears his throat, gently touching her elbow, but his hand gets slapped away quickly, ‘Tema–’
‘Shut up’, she slurs and if Sakura didn’t have her so much, she would probably sympathise with how defeated she looks, ‘you are going to leave me for her just like he did.’
‘Shut up’, she slurs and if Sakura didn’t have her so much, she would probably sympathise with how defeated she looks, ‘you are going to leave me for her just like he did.’
Sakura’s eyebrows shot upwards, her lips parting when she sees the tip of Shikamaru’s ears turn bright red. Colour spreads quickly and eventually, his entire face is hued pink.
Only when it reaches the collar of his shirt, disappearing underneath it, Sakura realises Temari’s hand is resting on his inner thigh. Inappropriately close to his crotch.
A laugh leaves her, breathless and disbelieving; because when exactly did her life turn into a tv drama?
A laugh leaves her, breathless and disbelieving; because when exactly did her life turn into a tv drama?
‘Right.’ Shikamaru coughs, grabbing the other’s wrist to move her hand back onto her own lap, ‘this is a very bad idea, Temari. How much did you drink?’
Sakura shakes her head, heart beating so fast it might as well jump out of her chest.
Sakura shakes her head, heart beating so fast it might as well jump out of her chest.
There is a concoction of anxiety and anger swimming in her belly, a strong sense of unserved justice making itself known.
‘You two must know each other very well, hm? You seem so worried’, she smiles at Shikamaru, hoping he can recognise the disgust in her tone.
‘You two must know each other very well, hm? You seem so worried’, she smiles at Shikamaru, hoping he can recognise the disgust in her tone.
‘Look, it’s not exactly what you’re thinking’, he says with sigh, scratching the back of his head with an annoyed frown on his face.
Sakura drops her gaze down, once again, to where Temari hooked her legs over his knee. ‘Oh, isn’t it?’
Sakura drops her gaze down, once again, to where Temari hooked her legs over his knee. ‘Oh, isn’t it?’
‘Because it seems to me like you are fucking behind Sasuke’s back. Or well, not exactly behind his back since he’s right–’
When she turns her head, Sakura finds him beside her stool. He glares at the blonde with so much silent rage it sends a shiver down her spine,
When she turns her head, Sakura finds him beside her stool. He glares at the blonde with so much silent rage it sends a shiver down her spine,
a strange wave of restlessness spreading across her body.
‘Sasuke’, both her and Shikamaru say at the same time and the latter quickly gets up to move away from, now obviously very drunk, Temari.
‘Fucking liar.’
‘Sasuke’, both her and Shikamaru say at the same time and the latter quickly gets up to move away from, now obviously very drunk, Temari.
‘Fucking liar.’
Sakura bites into her bottom lip to stop herself from letting out a surprised sound at the sheer coldness of his voice.
Temari, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to be fazed in the slightest. ‘Thought you didn’t want to talk to me. Or did you come to see your girlfriend again?’
Temari, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to be fazed in the slightest. ‘Thought you didn’t want to talk to me. Or did you come to see your girlfriend again?’
‘I told you to stop bringing her into this!’ Sasuke steps forward, each of his hands on either side of Temari as he cages her against the bar.
She scoffs, grabs as his tie to pull him closer, until their lips are almost touching, ‘or what?’
She scoffs, grabs as his tie to pull him closer, until their lips are almost touching, ‘or what?’
Sasuke inhales deeply, clenches his fist a few times before eventually wrapping his fingers around her arm. ‘I am not having this conversation here.’
Temari lets herself be dragged to her feet easily, a mocking smirk on her lips, ‘why not? Scared you gonna turn into your dad?’
Temari lets herself be dragged to her feet easily, a mocking smirk on her lips, ‘why not? Scared you gonna turn into your dad?’
Sasuke freezes and for a second Sakura thinks he might just snap. She watched the way he presses his tongue against the inside of his cheek as his grip tightens momentarily.
Then, a dark shadow falls on his face, causing his features to look much more defined. ‘Let’s go.’
Then, a dark shadow falls on his face, causing his features to look much more defined. ‘Let’s go.’
*.·:·.☽✧ ◯ ✧☾.·:·.*
She wakes up with a scream when she feels fingers brush against her forehead as someone attempts to remove messy strands of hair out of her face. She sits up, scrambling into the corner of a bed with a blanket held high up to her chin.
She breathes heavily, while her eyes try to adjust to a sudden influx of bright light, her body on autopilot.
‘Shit, sorry’, says a voice—one she knows well, but can’t quite place in the midst of chaos that is currently happening inside her head.
‘Shit, sorry’, says a voice—one she knows well, but can’t quite place in the midst of chaos that is currently happening inside her head.
Her head throbs, her throat bone dry and lips chapped so badly she thinks even the smallest stretch might make them crack and bleed. ‘Leave me alone. Please, please, I don’t–’
‘Hey, it’s okay. It’s just me.’
‘Hey, it’s okay. It’s just me.’
tw — flashback / panic attack
‘𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒆, 𝒃𝒂𝒃𝒚. 𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒈𝒐 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒑?’
‘No, no, no–’ she shakes her head, hands flying to cover her ears as if that would make the haunting voice any less clear. Quiet whimpers leave her mouth, breathing becoming shallow.
‘No, no, no–’ she shakes her head, hands flying to cover her ears as if that would make the haunting voice any less clear. Quiet whimpers leave her mouth, breathing becoming shallow.
No matter how hard she tries, he is still right there. A vivid memory of her worst nightmares shaped as a man she still loves so dearly despite his constant attempts to ruin her badly enough so she would never be able to recover.
‘Temari’, a pair of strong hands grabs her shoulders, squeezing painfully as she struggles for air, ‘you are fine. He is not here, you need to breathe.’
Her chest hurts, filled with thousands of tiny needles that dig into her lungs every time she tries to inhale.
Her chest hurts, filled with thousands of tiny needles that dig into her lungs every time she tries to inhale.
‘I can’t–’ she cries out, her whimpers quickly turning into uncontrollable sobs. Her hands are shaking, face twisting painfully. Her head gets filled with cotton candy, light and empty, with all the noises muffled as if she was drowning somewhere in the middle of an ocean.
The pressure on her shoulders disappears suddenly and she sobs harder, only for it to come back suddenly—but instead it’s everywhere, catching her body in a tight cocoon that does not allow her to move.
There are words being whispered next to her ear, in this soft, monotonous voice that feels oddly soothing. Safe. Like someone wrapping her in the warmest blanket while singing a lullaby; one that doesn’t end in monsters crawling underneath her covers.
She feels herself being pulled on top of someone’s lap. Her anxiety spikes, lips parting in a silent protest she is too afraid to translate into words.
She doesn’t even have to, it seems, because those arms only hold her tighter. Forcing her head to fall against a hard chest.
She doesn’t even have to, it seems, because those arms only hold her tighter. Forcing her head to fall against a hard chest.
‘Slowly’, the voice whispers, echoes through the bubble surrounding her as it’s pressing her ear right where she can hear a steady rhythm of a heartbeat, ‘Just breathe slowly, okay? Can you do that for me?’
She isn’t sure, but finds herself nodding regardless.
She isn’t sure, but finds herself nodding regardless.
She doesn’t know how long it takes. How long for the tears to dry out, for the little sounds of distress to stop falling out of her mouth. She tries to focus solely on the calm tempo in her head, drowning out the ever-present intrusive thoughts enough to be easily ignored.
tw — end
Her eyelids grow heavy from the constant steady rocking, back and forth, same way her mother used to soothe her when she was just a toddler. Absent-mindedly, she reaches out to cup the cheek of a man comforting her, a small smile tugging the corners of her lips upwards.
Her eyelids grow heavy from the constant steady rocking, back and forth, same way her mother used to soothe her when she was just a toddler. Absent-mindedly, she reaches out to cup the cheek of a man comforting her, a small smile tugging the corners of her lips upwards.
She knows this warmth, recognises the safety that comes with his presence ever since they have been pushed into a quicksand together—not quite sinking, but unable to escape.
‘Sa-’ the name dies at the tip of her tongue when she finally looks up; a deep brown staring back at her.
‘Sa-’ the name dies at the tip of her tongue when she finally looks up; a deep brown staring back at her.
Shikamaru chuckles awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. ‘Yeah, about that… I would call him, but I don’t think he would be very eager to see you right now.’
She ignores a sharp pain in her gut, choosing instead to look around the room. She doesn’t recognise it, at all.
She ignores a sharp pain in her gut, choosing instead to look around the room. She doesn’t recognise it, at all.
‘What the fuck is going on?’ Temari asks once she deems herself able to stand up, ignoring the wave of nausea that hits her when she does so.
The man sighs, reaching for a pack of cigarettes. ‘This’d be much less annoying if I didn’t have to sum up the entire evening for you.’
The man sighs, reaching for a pack of cigarettes. ‘This’d be much less annoying if I didn’t have to sum up the entire evening for you.’
He takes his time rolling one of the cigarettes between his fingers, spreading the crushed tobacco evenly across its entire length as she had watched him do a hundred times before. ‘Well’, he starts, swiping a match on the side of a small box to light the smoke.
‘You got drunk as fuck, accused me of cheating on you in front of Sakura’ he hums, stretching one arm behind himself to rest his weight on it, ‘and Sasuke, apparently. Then you two argued.’
‘Argued about what?’
He laughs, shrugs his shoulders, ‘something serious, I presume.’
‘Argued about what?’
He laughs, shrugs his shoulders, ‘something serious, I presume.’
She groans in frustration watching him blow little circles made out of smoke up towards the ceiling, nonchalant as ever even in the least appropriate moments. She stomps her foot, and slaps his shoulder only hard enough to get his attention. ‘Shikamaru!’
He rolls his eyes, taking another drag, ‘look, I don’t know, okay? I assume it was serious because he dragged you somewhere and half an hour later you stormed out crying.’
She inhales sharply, feeling the rims of her eyes prickle with newfound tears. ‘Why am I here? Did we–’
She inhales sharply, feeling the rims of her eyes prickle with newfound tears. ‘Why am I here? Did we–’
‘No. I just saw your father go after you and well,’ he sighs, heavy and tired, as his gaze wanders about her figure, ‘thought you’d prefer to wake up in my bed.’
She feels her heart stop at the words, eyes growing wide once they meet his knowing ones. ‘How…’
She feels her heart stop at the words, eyes growing wide once they meet his knowing ones. ‘How…’
‘I have seen you around him a lot’, he says calmly, ‘after a while it becomes obvious.’
Temari looks at him. Takes in the way his chest expands when he inhales the smoke, the way his fingers flick the end of the cigarette to get rid of excess ash.
Temari looks at him. Takes in the way his chest expands when he inhales the smoke, the way his fingers flick the end of the cigarette to get rid of excess ash.
‘You never mentioned it’, she whispers, kneeling on the floor right between his parted legs, with her palms on each of his knees, gliding up and down his thighs.
Shikamaru shrugs again, raising a questioning eyebrow. ‘Assumed you don’t like talking about it much.’
Shikamaru shrugs again, raising a questioning eyebrow. ‘Assumed you don’t like talking about it much.’
He is barely able to finish a sentence before Temari grabs his t-shirt between her fingers to pull him in for a kiss.
Her skin burns, her body craving the intimacy it has been denied for so long. Even though, deep down, she thinks it should repulse her the way it does Sasuke.
Her skin burns, her body craving the intimacy it has been denied for so long. Even though, deep down, she thinks it should repulse her the way it does Sasuke.
Maybe she is simply too broken not to associate touch with affection, no matter how rough or innaproriate. Perhaps she desperately needs someone to want her—not because they are forced to, but because they consider her beautiful.
Whole.
Whole.
A quiet whine slips last her lips when he pulls away. He curses under his breath when Temari tilts her head in question, wipes his mouth with the back of his hand in hurried urgency.
Gently, he swipes his thumb across her cheek, drying them off tears, ‘don’t kiss me like this.’
Gently, he swipes his thumb across her cheek, drying them off tears, ‘don’t kiss me like this.’
Something in her dies at that.
She physically feels the second her face falls, smile turning into a frown and pleasant flutter in her stomach replaced by a dull ache slowly spreading throughout her entire body.
‘Why not...?’ she asks, afraid to hear his answer.
She physically feels the second her face falls, smile turning into a frown and pleasant flutter in her stomach replaced by a dull ache slowly spreading throughout her entire body.
‘Why not...?’ she asks, afraid to hear his answer.
Shikamaru chuckles, turning to the side to let out the smoke sitting on his lungs. He rest the half-smoked cigarette on the rim of an ashtray whilst looking out of a window with a thoughtful expression.
‘Because I don’t feel like getting involved in this mess.’
‘Because I don’t feel like getting involved in this mess.’
A mess. Because that’s all she will ever be—a fucking mess for someone to deal with.
‘Right.’ She sits down on her legs, arms falling by her sides awkwardly as she finds herself suddenly fascinated by the joint lines between different pieces of wood that make up the floor.
‘Right.’ She sits down on her legs, arms falling by her sides awkwardly as she finds herself suddenly fascinated by the joint lines between different pieces of wood that make up the floor.
‘Temari’, he calls out, poking the side of her calf with his toe, ‘will you at least let me explain or a are you going to pout there like a baby?’
‘There is nothing to explain, you made yourself very clear.’
‘There is nothing to explain, you made yourself very clear.’
She gets up suddenly, not able to bear his eyes in her any longer. It hurts, how safe she feels under his gaze. How comfortable and relaxed she is able to get in his presence, more so than she has been in a very long time.
‘Come on’, Shikamaru says, arm sneaking around her waist to stop her from leaving, ‘I like you. A lot. You know that.’
He spins her around so they are face to face, so close they are forced to breathe the same air. It stinks of smoke, strong and suffocating, and yet comforting.
He spins her around so they are face to face, so close they are forced to breathe the same air. It stinks of smoke, strong and suffocating, and yet comforting.
‘If you did, you wouldn’t push me away.’ Her whisper is so soft, it almost gets lost in between their pounding hearts.
Shikamaru’s knuckles swipe across her cheek, his eyes searching hers for a moment, before they drop to her lips. She bites down on the bottom one, waiting.
Shikamaru’s knuckles swipe across her cheek, his eyes searching hers for a moment, before they drop to her lips. She bites down on the bottom one, waiting.
He takes her jaw in his hand, pulling to free the plush fold and then press his thumb on it, so hard it almost forces Temari to part her lips and let it slip inside.
‘Whatever it is, with you and Sasuke—’ Her breath hitches when he rest his forehead against hers. ‘—sort it out first. Then, I will kiss you as much as you want.’
‘As much as I want?’ she repeats, holding onto the promise like a drowning person would onto a lifeline.
‘As much as I want?’ she repeats, holding onto the promise like a drowning person would onto a lifeline.
‘Mhm’, he assures with a press of lips to the tip of her nose. It makes her giddy.
This stupid fit of giggles bubbles in her chest, her lips curving around a smile she is unable to suppress. ‘I miss you, you know? It’s been so long, we could...’
This stupid fit of giggles bubbles in her chest, her lips curving around a smile she is unable to suppress. ‘I miss you, you know? It’s been so long, we could...’
Shikamaru shakes his head, gathering some of her clothes thrown around the floor before reaching for a pair of car keys. ‘I only slept with you then cause you conveniently forgot to mention yo have a boyfriend.’
‘I didn’t. Not then’, she grabs his wrist, pouting, ‘I didn’t.’
‘I didn’t. Not then’, she grabs his wrist, pouting, ‘I didn’t.’
Temari sighs. Blushes when he picks up her shoes and kneels down on the floor to carefully slip them both on her feet.
‘It’s fine, I get it.’ She feels his mouth to her cheek, a fleeting kiss that sets her heart on fire in the best way possible, ‘lets take you home, yeah?’
‘It’s fine, I get it.’ She feels his mouth to her cheek, a fleeting kiss that sets her heart on fire in the best way possible, ‘lets take you home, yeah?’
*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*
Sasuke watches her, the curve of her waist draped over with a white sheet.
She looks angelic, with her porcelain skin covered in a sheen layer of sweat and hair splayed all over the pillow as a beautiful pastel pink aureole.
On her left hand, a ruby ring.
She looks angelic, with her porcelain skin covered in a sheen layer of sweat and hair splayed all over the pillow as a beautiful pastel pink aureole.
On her left hand, a ruby ring.
He smiles softly, brushing his knuckles against her cheek—careful to not wake her up from peaceful slumber. He watches her eyelids flutter, little bubbles of saliva forming and popping in the corners of her half-opened mouth.
She looks so...domestic.
She looks so...domestic.
It is something he had never experienced, never thought he would have a chance to experience as his entire life so far has been filled with nothing, but the absolute worst examples of what a relationship is supposed to look like.
He craved it, of course. Imagined it on the painful nights he and Temari spent hidden underneath the covers, listening out for steps in the hallway as if the knowledge of the incoming monster could in any way minimise the pain that came with it.
He thought of it, more, staying awake in Sakura’s bed. Spent and satisfied, with her head resting peacefully on his bare chest while he played with her hair until early hours of the morning when sleep would finally claim him, too.
But with Sakura he could not afford to dream for long, always haunted by the web of lies crafted by his father as much as himself. Terrible secrets that would take away that last sparkle left in her eyes after he had already stolen the rest of them away.
It was better like this.
It was better like this.
Even if she didn’t understand. Even if Sasuke never contested the story she so carefully created in her own head, much rather preferring to be the cause of her heartbreak rather than just one off.
He had fixed it, after all. Hasn’t he?
He had fixed it, after all. Hasn’t he?
Sakura was right here, by his side, with his marks adorning her neck and the ring he spent months designing shining on her finger as a promise of their upcoming happy ever after.
She was there.
She was there.
She was there and she still loved him. She forgave him. She understood, without him having to say it, she knew how much he didn’t mean to hurt her, she—
Someone shakes his shoulder and Sasuke opens his eyes to be met with Sakura’s green ones. She sends him a rueful smile, eyes dimmed and tired, her face much thinner than it has been just a second ago.
Sasuke blinks, confused.
Sasuke blinks, confused.
He searches her entire figure for even a hint of a ruby red, anything that would tell him it was really there. He finds nothing.
‘The ring’, Sasuke whispers slowly, throat painfully dry when he speaks, ‘where is it?’
‘The ring’, Sasuke whispers slowly, throat painfully dry when he speaks, ‘where is it?’
‘A ring?’ A laugh escapes her mouth before she can stop it. She sits up to look at him, her head tilting to the side as she scrunches her nose.
Then, she speaks, stern, yet gentle somehow, as if to soften the blow of the words; ‘I would never accept a ring from you.’
Then, she speaks, stern, yet gentle somehow, as if to soften the blow of the words; ‘I would never accept a ring from you.’
She gets off the bed, her slim figure hidden underneath one of his old t-shirts as she hurries to pick up the clothes scatter all over the floor.
It hits him out of nowhere. A tsunami, dragging him under the water with ease and leaving him there to drown.
It was just a dream.
It hits him out of nowhere. A tsunami, dragging him under the water with ease and leaving him there to drown.
It was just a dream.
*.·:·.☽✧ ❀ ✧☾.·:·.*
𝟷𝟶 𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜 𝚊𝚐𝚘...
—
Everyone around her disappears, and so does the alcohol in her glass—turned inside her stomach into a pleasant numbness, a fuzzy blanket that settles over Sakura’s mind to calm her racing thoughts.
—
Everyone around her disappears, and so does the alcohol in her glass—turned inside her stomach into a pleasant numbness, a fuzzy blanket that settles over Sakura’s mind to calm her racing thoughts.
Her gaze wanders around, from one unfamiliar face to another. She sees Naruto in the corner, his father’s arm around his shoulder as they laugh at something the older has said.
Mikoto and Kushina stand a bit further; the Uchiha matriarch staring blankly at the crowd whilst the red haired woman tries to explain something, gesturing with such passion a few heads turn in their direction.
In the centre of the room, Sakura notices Fugaku, as always accompanied by Rasa. They are talking to a beautiful blonde woman, nodding along as fiddles with an olive perched on the rim of her Martini glass.
Shikamaru is with them, too, and a man Sakura suspects to be his father—with the same bored expression and untrusting gaze scanning the two men in front of him.
Sakura sighs, gathering her things so that she can walk over and beg Naruto to take her home, before sight of a visibly distressed Temari catched her eye.
She is clearly crying, her tears and smeared make up visible even from the other end of the room.
She is clearly crying, her tears and smeared make up visible even from the other end of the room.
She trips over her own feet as she stumbles, bumping into Shikamaru’s assumed father. Her eyes widen, travelling from the tall man to her father, settling on Shikamaru for a few seconds right before she makes a run for the exit.
Sakura watches as heads turn behind her, quiet whispers filling the large space once the sound of Temari’s heels hitting against the marble floor stops.
She turns back, to see the Rasa—with his jaw taunt and eyes full of something sinister—take a few steps in the same direction.
She turns back, to see the Rasa—with his jaw taunt and eyes full of something sinister—take a few steps in the same direction.
Shikamaru stops him. His hand lands on the Mayor’s arm, a forced but polite smile stretching his lips when he blocks the older man’s way.
He says something, leaning in so that only the two of them can hear and then bows, just about, before he hurries outside after Temari.
He says something, leaning in so that only the two of them can hear and then bows, just about, before he hurries outside after Temari.
Sakura stares at the corridor where her and Sasuke disappeared over half an hour ago, anxiety bubbling somewhere deep inside her stomach.
She bites her lip, smiles at Naruto when he comes over, ready to leave. ‘Okay, just–’ she says, nodding, ‘I’ll be right back, okay?’
She bites her lip, smiles at Naruto when he comes over, ready to leave. ‘Okay, just–’ she says, nodding, ‘I’ll be right back, okay?’
She leaves a peck on his cheek and, without waiting for an answer, walks off.
She follows the directionals guiding her towards the toilets, down the corridor and up the stairs—the distance slowly drowning out the sound of chatter and music.
She follows the directionals guiding her towards the toilets, down the corridor and up the stairs—the distance slowly drowning out the sound of chatter and music.
The space is empty, quiet save for the sigh Sakura lets out when it downs on her how unreasonable she is being, chasing after a man that never showed any care for her or her feelings.
‘Have to stop being so naive, Sak’, she tells herself, spinning on her heel to leave.
‘Have to stop being so naive, Sak’, she tells herself, spinning on her heel to leave.
A series of loud bangs makes her freeze, head snapping towards the source of the noise.
‘Sasuke?’ she calls out, carefully pushing open the door leading to men’s toilets. She looks in first, before stepping inside, heart pounding in her chest.
‘Sasuke?’ she calls out, carefully pushing open the door leading to men’s toilets. She looks in first, before stepping inside, heart pounding in her chest.
Sasuke is hunched over the sink, his hands red and bruised, clenched into fists. He stares at his own reflection, lost in thought, it seems, until Sakura steps fully inside and the door shuts heavily behind her.
He then looks at her, his eyes bloodshot and wet, tears swimming right at the rim as his irises move about her face. He is searching for something and Sakura isn’t sure what it is.
What she does know is that Sasuke looks so heartbroken, so utterly devastated—as if his heart was ripped out of his chest and turned into mush, destroyed and unrepairable, in a way that makes her own heartbreak seem like nothing but a scratch.
Her first instinct, as always, is to walk up to him and wrap her arms around his neck, pressing his face close to her chest to shield him from the memories of whatever had just taken place.
She doesn't ask, doesn’t need to know; although there is an itch already at the back of her mind. Suspicion, growing stronger when she sees red marks peeking from underneath his shirt—fresh and raw, some glistening with blood that hasn’t quite dried yet.
‘Sasuke’, she whispers, the name cracking around the edges as her throat clogs with a suppressed sob. The realisation falls on her out of nowhere, an unbearable sense of guilt washing over her.
She tries to pull away, to look at him properly, finally see what he’s been hiding.
She tries to pull away, to look at him properly, finally see what he’s been hiding.
He doesn't let her, wraps his hands around her middle tighter as soon as she takes a step back. ‘Please…don’t.’
Sakura inhales deeply, a shaky breath doing little to calm her nerves. She presses a kiss to his hair to muffle the protest already formed on her lips.
Sakura inhales deeply, a shaky breath doing little to calm her nerves. She presses a kiss to his hair to muffle the protest already formed on her lips.
It hurts, the feeling of his body trembling against hers, only little huffs of air escaping his mouth—as if he was all too used to suffering in silence.
Sakura wonders how many signs she missed. Tries to recall how many lies it took before she believed when he said there was nothing she should worry about, before she stopped questioning that ugly feeling that often appeared around his father.
‘Are you–?’
‘Don’t say it.’ Sasuke’s voice is hoarse, rough with frustration Sakura feels isn’t at all aimed in her direction.
Their eyes meet when he raises his head, shoulders weighted down with betrayal, from the very person he seemed to have trusted the most in this world.
‘Don’t say it.’ Sasuke’s voice is hoarse, rough with frustration Sakura feels isn’t at all aimed in her direction.
Their eyes meet when he raises his head, shoulders weighted down with betrayal, from the very person he seemed to have trusted the most in this world.
‘Don’t ask if I’m okay, I–’, he swallows, his throat bobbing as more tears pool in his eyes, ‘I don’t want to lie to you again.’
The last few words are just above a whisper, hushed and strung together, poised with shame and something else—something Sakura cannot decipher.
The last few words are just above a whisper, hushed and strung together, poised with shame and something else—something Sakura cannot decipher.
Sasuke falls onto his knees, a broken cry tearing through the quiet room and bouncing off the tiled walls. He breathes heavily, entire body shaking as his fingers repeatedly run through the dark locks. His mouth barely moves when he speaks next;
‘Please don’t make me.’
‘Please don’t make me.’
It isn’t fair.
Isn’t right for Sasuke to shift the responsibly onto her, after lying for so long about things far more important.
It isn’t right that Sakura’s heart has to shatter, all over again, as she tries to push her feelings aside to put his pieces back together first.
Isn’t right for Sasuke to shift the responsibly onto her, after lying for so long about things far more important.
It isn’t right that Sakura’s heart has to shatter, all over again, as she tries to push her feelings aside to put his pieces back together first.
It isn’t fair—but she does it anyway. Guided by this stubborn love she harbours towards the other, a red string tying her soul to Sasuke still, no matter how much she pulls and fights for it to snap.
She kneels in front of him, placing her palms on both of his cheeks. ‘I’m sorry’, Sasuke breathes out before she has a chance to look for the right words, his fingers locking around her wrists as he shifts closer, ‘I know you don’t believe me…but I am sorry.’
With a quiet sigh, she slots her lips over his as the air around them turns unbearably warm. They move in unison, slowly, exploring the darkest crevices of each other’s mouth all over again.
Sasuke tastes like ash, cigarettes Sakura wasn’t aware he smoked, and it only adds to the emotional turmoil she feels in his presence.
She doesn’t know him, not at all. Maybe she never did, too busy falling in love to notice that all of him was just a perfectly crafted mask.
She doesn’t know him, not at all. Maybe she never did, too busy falling in love to notice that all of him was just a perfectly crafted mask.
She never got to know the real Sasuke and it hurts, because she has given him nothing but honesty. Bared her entire soul for him to see.
‘Your apology means nothing now’, she replies after pulling away, surprised by the steadiness of her own voice, ‘it doesn’t change anything.’
‘Your apology means nothing now’, she replies after pulling away, surprised by the steadiness of her own voice, ‘it doesn’t change anything.’
Sasuke nods, head hanging heavily in her hold as he drops his gaze to the floor. He doesn’t try to argue—never did, now Sakura thinks about it—even though his throat bobs as he swallows words that sit at the tip of his tongue.
‘Fucking fight for me.’
Sakura pushes gently at his chest, her eyes filling with tears that soon blurr her vision. She lets out a groan of frustration when Sasuke simply stares back with those wide eyes, black abyss of them pulling her in and refusing to let go.
Sakura pushes gently at his chest, her eyes filling with tears that soon blurr her vision. She lets out a groan of frustration when Sasuke simply stares back with those wide eyes, black abyss of them pulling her in and refusing to let go.
‘I don’t under–’
‘You never do!’ she yells, scrambling back to her feet as a laugh full of irony bubbles in her chest.
She lets it out, allows it to fill in the silence. They had always talked so much, but without ever 𝒔𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 anything and Sakura is tired of it.
‘You never do!’ she yells, scrambling back to her feet as a laugh full of irony bubbles in her chest.
She lets it out, allows it to fill in the silence. They had always talked so much, but without ever 𝒔𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 anything and Sakura is tired of it.
Tired of letting all of those unanswered questions and unvoiced insecurities eat away at her mind until they escalate into a mess that cannot be fixed.
She shakes her head when Sasuke stands before her, reaching out to touch her arm—it falls, immediately, when Sakura steps back.
She shakes her head when Sasuke stands before her, reaching out to touch her arm—it falls, immediately, when Sakura steps back.
‘Is it so easy for you to leave, Sasuke?’ she asks, almost missing how his lips stretch in a thin line and then transform into a frown the more distance she chooses to put between them.
Her mouth is filled with acid she cannot stomach, can’t hold any longer onto all those words Sasuke should have heard right after he moaned Temari’s name while Sakura’s lips were wrapped around his cock.
Those words burn and Sakura isn’t the one deserving the anguish.
Those words burn and Sakura isn’t the one deserving the anguish.
‘Am I so unimportant to you?’ she continues, not wanting to give him a chance to protest, even though she is sure he would not; that he would simply listen and accept all the insults thrown in his direction. ‘Do I mean so little to you that you won’t even give me an explanation?’
Sasuke looks towards the door, his cheek sucked in as he chews on the inside of it nervously.
‘I do not have one’, he whispers eventually, his voice too calm for it to be true. ‘I don’t know what you wants to hear.’
‘I want to hear the truth, Sasuke.’
‘I do not have one’, he whispers eventually, his voice too calm for it to be true. ‘I don’t know what you wants to hear.’
‘I want to hear the truth, Sasuke.’
She takes a deep breath, daring to walk up to him. He flinches when she puts a hand on his chest and it’s the last thing Sakura needs for tears to spill out if her eyes. ‘You promised me’, she says carefully, ‘promised you’ll be honest with me. Just once.’
‘You said you are sorry’, Sakura desperately tries to keep her voice calm as her fingers trail towards the buttons of his shirt, ‘that means you lied then. So, now, tell me the truth.’
‘Sakura, I don’t–’
She pops the first button open, smiles weakly as she looks up at him.
‘Sakura, I don’t–’
She pops the first button open, smiles weakly as she looks up at him.
‘Just one question, that’s all I ask.’
She feels him shiver under her touch, his breathing heavy and uneven. She can sense the slight vibration on his chest when she presses a palm right where his heart should be; his shirt now half opened.
She feels him shiver under her touch, his breathing heavy and uneven. She can sense the slight vibration on his chest when she presses a palm right where his heart should be; his shirt now half opened.
Sakura doesn’t look. She keeps her eyes on Sasuke’s face despite the sick curiosity to see what he’s been hiding for so long, the broken skin obvious under her fingertips. ‘Please’, she whispers, pressing another kiss to his lips to distract him, ‘you owe me this.’
Sasuke lips his lips, slowly tracing the plush folds with his tongue as if to buy time to decide. He then nods, unsure and full of hesitation, ‘okay.’
She smiles softly in hopes it will provide him with enough reassurance not to completely fall apart in her arms.
She smiles softly in hopes it will provide him with enough reassurance not to completely fall apart in her arms.
And he is close, Sakura can tell—barely holding on to those last few pieces if the facade that had crumbled right in front of her eyes.
‘Are you going to be okay?’ she asks, watching how Sasuke’s eyes widen in surprise.
It’s not a question either of them expected.
‘Are you going to be okay?’ she asks, watching how Sasuke’s eyes widen in surprise.
It’s not a question either of them expected.
But out of all the things Sakura needed to know, none was more important than this. Knowing that, no matter what happens and where they end up, Sasuke is going to be fine.
The silence that settles in the room is ominous. More telling than words could ever be.
‘I don’t know.’
The silence that settles in the room is ominous. More telling than words could ever be.
‘I don’t know.’
Sasuke covers her palm with his own, pressing it closer to his bare skin. His eyes fall shut and Sakura isn’t sure what it is, but she senses that the scars decorating his chest are just the beginning; a scratch on the surface of something much bigger.
‘I don’t know’, he repeats quietly, breathless—as if he had never been asked that question before.
Sakura sees the exact moment the last of his made-up persona breaks, his chest heaving when he tugs her closer.
Sakura sees the exact moment the last of his made-up persona breaks, his chest heaving when he tugs her closer.
She lets him kiss her again, unsure anymore if it is for his benefit or to fulfill her own selfish desires.
Because she still wants him, despite everything; cannot control her heart if it chooses to stubbornly hold onto the man that offers nothing but suffering in return.
Because she still wants him, despite everything; cannot control her heart if it chooses to stubbornly hold onto the man that offers nothing but suffering in return.
She wants him close, wants to put him back together, gently touch all the parts of him that broke somewhere along the lines.
It’s stupid and naive. Even more so is allowing him to lift her on top of the sink, grabbing her hips so hard she can already feel the blooming bruises.
It’s stupid and naive. Even more so is allowing him to lift her on top of the sink, grabbing her hips so hard she can already feel the blooming bruises.
He slots easily between her legs, trailing wet kisses along her jaw and down her neck as his hands find their way underneath her dress, massaging the sore skin.
‘I think I am only ever okay with you...’ Sasuke whispers against her collarbone, ‘you are the reason I’m still here.’
‘I think I am only ever okay with you...’ Sasuke whispers against her collarbone, ‘you are the reason I’m still here.’
Sakura says nothing as meaning of those words sinks in, permanently engraving itself in her mind. She simply wraps her legs around his hips to pull his body flush with her own.
Physical pleasure—that is all she can offer him.
She hopes it’s enough, for tonight.
Physical pleasure—that is all she can offer him.
She hopes it’s enough, for tonight.
She doesn’t remember whose idea it is to drive to his house. She isn’t sure whether Naruto was still waiting for her when they left, not even bothering to sneak out through the backdoor as to not make it too obvious.
All she knows is that Sasuke’s hand never leaves her own.
All she knows is that Sasuke’s hand never leaves her own.
She focuses on the warmth of his skin, clings onto this burning sensation that spreads throughout her entire system. It grows when Sasuke guides her towards the bed, sits down on the mattress to pull her right on top of his lap.
She lets the muscle memory take over, straddling him comfortably as her thumb traces patterns all over his bruised knuckles.
‘We could have gone to my place’, Sakura murmurs against his lips, faves so close they are forced to breathe the same air. ‘Your parents–’
‘We could have gone to my place’, Sakura murmurs against his lips, faves so close they are forced to breathe the same air. ‘Your parents–’
‘I don’t think I would be able to kiss you there’, he kisses her shoulder. Moves the thin strap out of the way, letting it fall down before he bites into the skin there, sucking until blood floats towards the surface to create a bruise. ‘Knowing he had you in that bed...’
Sakura lets out a laugh, half turning into a moan as Sasuke continues to colour her body with little red marks. ‘That is incredibly hypocritical of you, I hope you realise.’
He merely hums, uncovering her chest—her small breasts on display when her dress slides down.
He merely hums, uncovering her chest—her small breasts on display when her dress slides down.
He leans in to take one of her nipples between his teeth, tugging at it gently as her slender fingers bury in his long hair. Sakura closes her eyes, relishing in the sensation of his wet tongue teasing the sensitive bud while his palm massages the other breast.
‘Sasuke...’
‘Sasuke...’
Her back arches when he sucks on the nipple before letting it fall out of his mouth with a quiet 𝒑𝒐𝒑.
He rests his forehead on her sternum, kissing her there a couple of times, ‘I can’t bear the thought of him with you. I don’t want him touching you, I–’
He rests his forehead on her sternum, kissing her there a couple of times, ‘I can’t bear the thought of him with you. I don’t want him touching you, I–’
‘I am not yours.’ Sakura pulls at the dark locks, forcing him to look up. His eyes are glassy with tears, jaw clenched and eyebrows drawn together, ‘you have no right to say those things to me. Not after what you did.’
‘I didn’t–’, he seethes, teeth rubbing against each other as his hands clench into fists for just a few seconds. ‘I know that.’
If there is more he wants to say, Sakura doesn’t pay enough attention to notice. Instead, she slides the shirt off his shoulders, exposing his chest.
If there is more he wants to say, Sakura doesn’t pay enough attention to notice. Instead, she slides the shirt off his shoulders, exposing his chest.
She does’t want to listen to his excuses. Doesn’t want a reminder of that night, nor the guilt that will surely wash over her entire being once he realises that what she is doing isn’t any better.
Sasuke’s in love with someone else.
Sasuke’s in love with someone else.
He chose Temari and yet still brought Sakura here. And she let him—just like that.
She lets out a whimper when Sasuke puts a hand on the back of her neck to pull her in for another kiss. His touches are so different from Naruto’s; careful and gentle. Loving.
She lets out a whimper when Sasuke puts a hand on the back of her neck to pull her in for another kiss. His touches are so different from Naruto’s; careful and gentle. Loving.
He puts so much thought in every single second, every move of a muscle and Sakura never realised how much more intimate that makes it. How much more she can make her feel when he glides his hands so expertly all over her body.
Sakura used to believe when he said she was the only one, but now she thinks it was obvious from the start. She was just too naive to accept the cruel reality, until it wasn’t possible to deny it any longer.
‘Stop thinking’, Sasuke whispers into her mouth, ‘I promise it’s okay.’
‘Stop thinking’, Sasuke whispers into her mouth, ‘I promise it’s okay.’
His promises mean nothing.
Sakura takes it anyway.
She raises her arms when his hands grip at the heavy fabric of her gown and, once it’s down on the floor, starts to undo his trousers.
Her hand freezes once she tugs down the zip, her gaze turning downwards on its own.
Sakura takes it anyway.
She raises her arms when his hands grip at the heavy fabric of her gown and, once it’s down on the floor, starts to undo his trousers.
Her hand freezes once she tugs down the zip, her gaze turning downwards on its own.
Her eyes wander all over his skin, taking the marks spread across like splatters of paint on a canvas. Some of the scars are fresh, angry red and raw, and some are barely noticeable, faded into white that almost matches his complexion.
A large purple bruise covers his side; an obvious imprint of a sole adoring the edges.
A sob tears through her chest, falling out of her mouth as her body starts trembling on top of his. Sasuke holds her as if she was the one in pain, whispering sweet nothings in her ear.
A sob tears through her chest, falling out of her mouth as her body starts trembling on top of his. Sasuke holds her as if she was the one in pain, whispering sweet nothings in her ear.
He kisses each tear that falls down her cheek, fingers tracing patterns on her lower back.
‘Don’t’, he says firmly once Sakura tries to apologise—for not being there for him, for not noticing earlier, for taking advantage of his vulnerable state. ‘Do not apologise to me.’
‘Don’t’, he says firmly once Sakura tries to apologise—for not being there for him, for not noticing earlier, for taking advantage of his vulnerable state. ‘Do not apologise to me.’
He moves his palms to rest on the curve of her waist, squeezing slightly when he positions her above his crotch.
‘I just... I prefer if you hate me rather than feel sorry’, he mutters, each word dripping with shame, ‘I can’t take you looking at me like I’m broken. Please.’
‘I just... I prefer if you hate me rather than feel sorry’, he mutters, each word dripping with shame, ‘I can’t take you looking at me like I’m broken. Please.’
Sakura nods, not allowing herself to say the words that form on her tongue—needing to keep at least this last little piece of self-respect she has been left with intact.
She rids them both of the rest of the clothing, arms circling around Sasuke’s neck once she sits back down.
She rids them both of the rest of the clothing, arms circling around Sasuke’s neck once she sits back down.
They search each other’s eyes, words still waiting to be said fill the air around them; heavy and suffocating.
Sakura breaks first. Cups his cheek gently as she leans in to explore his mouth once again, tongue sliding inside the wet cavern as soon as Sasuke allows her to do so.
Sakura breaks first. Cups his cheek gently as she leans in to explore his mouth once again, tongue sliding inside the wet cavern as soon as Sasuke allows her to do so.
She doesn’t touch him—not any more than necessary. She doesn’t insist at prolonging the built up as she normally would, doesn’t tease Sasuke.
Their kiss is deep, unhurried in a way that would indicate they have their entire lives left to do exactly this, every single day.
Their kiss is deep, unhurried in a way that would indicate they have their entire lives left to do exactly this, every single day.
Sakura’s skin tingles when Sasuke touches it, an electric current shooting up her nerves to be turned into pleasure.
Her teeth sink into his bottom lip, hand reaching between them. ‘Are you sure?’
‘Yeah’, Sasuke replies, a quiet moan slipping last his lips. ‘I’m sure.’
Her teeth sink into his bottom lip, hand reaching between them. ‘Are you sure?’
‘Yeah’, Sasuke replies, a quiet moan slipping last his lips. ‘I’m sure.’
🔞🔞🔞
He inhales sharply when Sakura’s fingers wrap around his length, hand moving up and down slowly to bring him to full hardness. She feels him shiver, litters his chest with soft kisses when he raises her hips, enough to be able to press the head of his cock between her folds.
She drags it along, from the clit toward her awaiting entrance. Wetness of her arousal mixes with Sasuke’s pre-cum, coating his shaft as they both breathe heavily.
‘Please’, he whimpers and Sakura complies, bringing her hips down, just a tiny bit.
‘Please’, he whimpers and Sakura complies, bringing her hips down, just a tiny bit.
Her walls stretch around Sasuke, insides shifting to accommodate the sudden intrusion. She moans, louder as she takes in more of his length, pressure on the inside of her lower belly intensifying with every inch.
His arms embrace her tightly once the curve of her ass sits flush against his pelvis. They both stay unmoving, just basking in the closeness that comes with being so intimately connected.
Sakura missed this, even though she would never admit it out loud—she had missed him.
Sakura missed this, even though she would never admit it out loud—she had missed him.
There is a certain shame accompanying the thought, a reminder that, for Sasuke, none of this was real.
None of those touches—the lazy kisses they shared—while so precious to her, meant nothing to him. Just as they do not mean anything now.
And they shouldn’t for her, either.
None of those touches—the lazy kisses they shared—while so precious to her, meant nothing to him. Just as they do not mean anything now.
And they shouldn’t for her, either.
Sakura clings onto that reminder, tries to focus solely on the sensation of Sasuke’s cock brushing against her inner walls every time her hips come up to then fall back down. Heat pools inside her stomach as she moans, her arousal dripping down her thighs and onto his lap.
It doesn’t take long for Sasuke to start thrusting up while she rides him with abandon, the sound of their moans and skin slapping against skin filling their room.
‘Ah–’ Sakura moans when he shifts her slightly, manhandling her legs so her ankles cross behind his back.
‘Ah–’ Sakura moans when he shifts her slightly, manhandling her legs so her ankles cross behind his back.
The new angle has her mewl, lips parting as she lets him take over, her mind hazy with a threat of fast approaching release.
Sasuke grabs her butt cheeks, fingers digging into the soft curves. He moves her hips up and down, teases her nipples with the tip of his tongue.
Sasuke grabs her butt cheeks, fingers digging into the soft curves. He moves her hips up and down, teases her nipples with the tip of his tongue.
And soon his tongue is all over her chest, teeth nipping at the skin every once in a while as he tries to suppress the moans.
Sakura, on the other hand, cries out his name; loud and desperate, underlined with a confusing mixture of lust and longing.
Sakura, on the other hand, cries out his name; loud and desperate, underlined with a confusing mixture of lust and longing.
Her fingernails dig into his skin, mind blank with the exception of Sasuke—his cock tearing her body in half, his kisses soothing the burns his touches had left before.
‘So close, ah–’ she moans, scratching at his back like an frenzied animal. ‘Please, Sasuke... Puh– please.’
‘So close, ah–’ she moans, scratching at his back like an frenzied animal. ‘Please, Sasuke... Puh– please.’
Sasuke groans, pulling her closer. ‘I missed you so much.’
Sakura wants to say it back, catches herself whispering the first syllable before biting into his shoulder instead. She sucks on the sensitive skin there, tracing the mark with her tongue once she is done.
Sakura wants to say it back, catches herself whispering the first syllable before biting into his shoulder instead. She sucks on the sensitive skin there, tracing the mark with her tongue once she is done.
Her hips start to move in a circular, raising and falling in rapid succession as she tries to bring them both to release as quickly as possible. Because the longer they are like this, their naked bodies joined, wrapped around each other—the more hope blooms in Sakura’s chest.
She wants to ignore it, but it isn’t easy. Not when they reach their release together, Sakura’s walls fluttering around Sasuke as hot spurts of his cum fill her to the brim, both of them trembling from overstimulation.
They stay like this afterwards. Sasuke holds her in his arms, lets her rest her head on his torso as exhaustion washes over her.
‘I love you’, he whispers against her forehead, once Sakura is already half-asleep; his tears soaking her skin and falling to mix with her own.
‘I love you’, he whispers against her forehead, once Sakura is already half-asleep; his tears soaking her skin and falling to mix with her own.
*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*
‘I will take you home,’ Sasuke whispers, feeling the familiar sense of dread settle inside his chest.
Sakura nods briefly, covering her body with the thin sheet. She looks around, lost in thought, before her eyes finally settle of the gown crumpled on the floor. ‘Can I...’
Sakura nods briefly, covering her body with the thin sheet. She looks around, lost in thought, before her eyes finally settle of the gown crumpled on the floor. ‘Can I...’
With a sigh, he walks towards the dresser and opens the top drawer. Sakura’s eyes widen at the sight of its contents—a few pairs of her underwear, clothes she left behind whenever she spent the night and some books she liked to carried everywhere.
‘I was going to return it all,’ he explains, surprised by the steadiness in his own voice, the lack of emotion despite the storm happening inside his heart, ‘but then you started to avoid me and I never got a chance.’
‘You can’t blame me for not wanting to see you.’
‘You can’t blame me for not wanting to see you.’
Sasuke watches her drop the sheet on the floor, his eyes glazing over marks decorating her skin—some his and some older, almost completely gone. He feels the nausea crawl its way up his throat, the realisation of how badly he fucked up only now settling in.
‘Sakura.’
‘Sakura.’
Sakura hums in acknowledgement, pushing her arms through the sleeveless of an oversized t-shirt, one that used to belong to him. She looks at him with her eyebrow raised as her fingers run through the messy locks, trying to smooth them down.
She looks beautiful. Even with the sleep lines stretching across her cheek and her makeup smudged around her eyes.
She is so stunning, Sasuke thinks he would happily spend the rest of life just looking at her—but for that to happen, he has to apologise, first.
She is so stunning, Sasuke thinks he would happily spend the rest of life just looking at her—but for that to happen, he has to apologise, first.
‘I–’
Sasuke jumps when a loud knock suddenly echoes through the room; an unmistakable announcement of his father’s presence on the other side of the door.
He gulps, licking his lips nervously as Sakura’s palm lands on his shoulder, squeezing gently. ‘Open it. It’s okay.’
Sasuke jumps when a loud knock suddenly echoes through the room; an unmistakable announcement of his father’s presence on the other side of the door.
He gulps, licking his lips nervously as Sakura’s palm lands on his shoulder, squeezing gently. ‘Open it. It’s okay.’
Another knock.
Sasuke’s hands are shaking, heartbeat fast and loud inside his own ears. He looks towards Sakura and she bites her lip, getting rid of the few tears that started to form in the corners of her eyes.
She grabs the handle and pulls the door open.
Sasuke’s hands are shaking, heartbeat fast and loud inside his own ears. He looks towards Sakura and she bites her lip, getting rid of the few tears that started to form in the corners of her eyes.
She grabs the handle and pulls the door open.
Fugaku’s hands are crossed on his chest and hidden inside the opposing sleeves, his mouth pulled into a frown that makes him seem older.
He ignores Sakura and looks directly over he shoulder, studying his son’s shirtless form with a silent rage Sasuke recognises too well.
He ignores Sakura and looks directly over he shoulder, studying his son’s shirtless form with a silent rage Sasuke recognises too well.
It takes him a while to understand. It isn’t until he follows his father’s gaze—as it moves down to fall on a large splatter of purple and blue colouring his side—that it dawn on him.
Sakura knows.
She has seen him, all of him.
Sakura knows.
She has seen him, all of him.
She knows and yet her smile never dims, overly sweet grin stretching her lips and showing off pearly white teeth.
‘Is there something wrong?’ she asks the exact same way she would have before; only now the question is laces with something akin to a threat.
‘Is there something wrong?’ she asks the exact same way she would have before; only now the question is laces with something akin to a threat.
Sasuke throat is painfully dry when he watches how his eyes snap towards Sakura’s face, cold and void of the usual kindness he saves for the 𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅. As if there was no point pretending anymore.
‘Join us for breakfast. Sasuke has guests waiting downstairs.’
‘Join us for breakfast. Sasuke has guests waiting downstairs.’
‘We will be right there,’ Sakura says, keeping up the pretence of being the same oblivious girl Sasuke brought home years ago, for the first time.
She moves out of the way to push the door closed, but Fugaku stops her; his large palm pressing against the dark wood.
She moves out of the way to push the door closed, but Fugaku stops her; his large palm pressing against the dark wood.
Sasuke sees how her fingers tighten around the handle, her smile faltering the tiniest bit.
‘No. You will come with me, right now,’ his father orders simply with authority in his tone that doesn’t leave any room for arguments.
‘No. You will come with me, right now,’ his father orders simply with authority in his tone that doesn’t leave any room for arguments.
Fugaku’s gaze falls back on Sasuke and he almost whimpers, biting his lips at the very last second to keep the noise in. The elder’s nostrils flare up when his eyes scan the bruises for the second time. ‘Put some fucking clothes on. I won’t have your mother see you like this.’
Without a word, Sasuke obliges. He reaches out for a clean sweatshirt, with long sleeves covering entire arms right up to his knuckles. All the while he feels Sakura’s stare on his back, judgemental in a way that tells him she is not happy about how easily he obeys.
Sasuke gets it. Perfectly understands the frustration that comes with watching those close to you mistreated.
But Sakura does not understand in his world, bravery brings you nothing good. She has no idea how exhausted he is, too tired to put up a fight that will lead nowhere.
But Sakura does not understand in his world, bravery brings you nothing good. She has no idea how exhausted he is, too tired to put up a fight that will lead nowhere.
‘Sasuke, you don’t have to–’
‘Let’s go,’ he interrupts quickly, not wanting to anger his father any further—not when there’s nothing left to stop him from showing his true colours in front of her.
Selfishly, he does not want to be an outlet for Fugaku’s bitterness towards her.
‘Let’s go,’ he interrupts quickly, not wanting to anger his father any further—not when there’s nothing left to stop him from showing his true colours in front of her.
Selfishly, he does not want to be an outlet for Fugaku’s bitterness towards her.
An odd warmth wakes in his lung when Sakura takes a few moments to look at him, search his face with the same worry he has a faint recollection of seeing last night.
With a nod, she allows him to put a hand on the small of her back as they both follow Fugaku down the stairs.
With a nod, she allows him to put a hand on the small of her back as they both follow Fugaku down the stairs.
His heart almost stops when he steps inside the kitchen. Sakura freezes beside him, the tiniest of gasps leaving her mouth.
It’s so predictable. So obvious for those two to show up just when Sasuke started to put together a plan of trying to make things right.
It’s so predictable. So obvious for those two to show up just when Sasuke started to put together a plan of trying to make things right.
Temari sits hunched over a cup of stimming liquid, refusing to look up at either of them. But her body shifts slightly, telling Sasuke she is trying to stop herself from letting out a sob.
He should feel bad.
He should feel bad.
Normally, he would be already by her side, embracing her tightly and whispering sweet words of comfort.
He doesn’t.
Sasuke pulls Sakura closer to himself, instead. In his peripheral, he sees Naruto’s lips stretching into an ugly frown.
He doesn’t.
Sasuke pulls Sakura closer to himself, instead. In his peripheral, he sees Naruto’s lips stretching into an ugly frown.
He opens his mouth, but before he can say anything, a palm lands on Sasuke’s cheek. The slap rings in his ears. Loud and unavoidable, haunting in a way his father’s punches cannot compare.
His mother stands before him; disappointment clear on her and 𝒐𝒉 𝒔𝒐 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒖𝒍.
His mother stands before him; disappointment clear on her and 𝒐𝒉 𝒔𝒐 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒖𝒍.
All eyes are on him.
Sasuke swears he hears a quiet snort coming from his supposed best friend’s direction. Or maybe it’s just all in his head; his worst nightmare slowly unfolding in front of his eyes.
‘You,’ Mikoto says, her voice soft but firm, ‘are not my son anymore.’
Sasuke swears he hears a quiet snort coming from his supposed best friend’s direction. Or maybe it’s just all in his head; his worst nightmare slowly unfolding in front of his eyes.
‘You,’ Mikoto says, her voice soft but firm, ‘are not my son anymore.’
He licks his lips, staring into the abyss of her charcoal irises, empty and cold; just like the shiver that crawls up his spine. ‘Mother–’
‘I hoped what Sakura said wasn’t true’, she continues, sadness laced into each of her words, ‘but now... Now I know. And I want you gone. ’
‘I hoped what Sakura said wasn’t true’, she continues, sadness laced into each of her words, ‘but now... Now I know. And I want you gone. ’
Sasuke’s heart shatters, the last few pieces falling apart and lodging into the walls of his delicate organs, killing his slowly from the inside.
He shifts his gaze to the left, to find a pair of blue eyes already waiting.
He shifts his gaze to the left, to find a pair of blue eyes already waiting.
There is something dark in there—a mixture of misplaced satisfaction and posessiveness that seems just about dangerous.
Naruto’s lips are curved around a small smile, moving as he silently mouths a message only for Sasuke to see;
‘𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖.’
Naruto’s lips are curved around a small smile, moving as he silently mouths a message only for Sasuke to see;
‘𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖.’
He leaves.
Turning on his heel, he runs out of the house, bumping into his father’s shoulder on the way out. Sakura calls after him, but soon enough her voice fades to blend into a background noise.
When his childhood home disappears behind thick trees, Sasuke finally breaks.
Turning on his heel, he runs out of the house, bumping into his father’s shoulder on the way out. Sakura calls after him, but soon enough her voice fades to blend into a background noise.
When his childhood home disappears behind thick trees, Sasuke finally breaks.
*.·:·.☽✧ ❀ ✧☾.·:·.*
‘I will go,’ Naruto says softly as his hand falls on Sakura’s shoulder. She stares at the door, trying to make sense of everything that just happened.
Naruto’s touch offers some reassurance, but there is this odd tingling underneath her skin when he presses a kiss to her temple.
Naruto’s touch offers some reassurance, but there is this odd tingling underneath her skin when he presses a kiss to her temple.
It doesn’t seem right, for reasons she isn’t entirely sure of. It is just a feeling, a peculiar hunch that refuses to leave her alone.
She swallows. ‘I can–’
‘It’s fine, Sakura,’ he interrupts and it’s hard to argue when he smiles so brightly, ‘I know how to calm him down.’
She swallows. ‘I can–’
‘It’s fine, Sakura,’ he interrupts and it’s hard to argue when he smiles so brightly, ‘I know how to calm him down.’
Naruto walks around her before she is able to protest, the nagging at the back of her mind growing stronger the further he gets.
She watches him take a few things; Sasuke’s shoes, a wallet and a pair of keys she doesn’t recognise. Then, he shuts the door behind him.
She watches him take a few things; Sasuke’s shoes, a wallet and a pair of keys she doesn’t recognise. Then, he shuts the door behind him.
Sakura feels an overpowering need to follow.
But next thing she knows, Mikoto is helping Temari stand up, with her arm wrapped around younger’s waist for support. They disappear into the garden, leaving her alone with the Uchiha patriarch.
But next thing she knows, Mikoto is helping Temari stand up, with her arm wrapped around younger’s waist for support. They disappear into the garden, leaving her alone with the Uchiha patriarch.
‘Sit down,’ Fugaku says calmly; making it sound like a polite request when in reality it’s an order.
Sakura finds herself take a seat at the table before she even has a chance to think about it, her body choosing to move on her own accord in light of the looming threat.
Sakura finds herself take a seat at the table before she even has a chance to think about it, her body choosing to move on her own accord in light of the looming threat.
The door slides closed and room gets filled with silence, save for Fugaku’s feet tapping against the floor.
‘I have a proposition for you.’ He throws an envelope on the table, studying her face thoroughly. ‘If you care enough for my son to be willing to help him, of course.’
‘I have a proposition for you.’ He throws an envelope on the table, studying her face thoroughly. ‘If you care enough for my son to be willing to help him, of course.’
‘You don’t,’ she murmurs, tracing the creased edges as she at last finds the courage to look into his eyes.
Fugaku raises an eyebrow, questioning.
‘You do not care about him,’ Sakura states simply, ‘so, whatever your proposition, it is meant to help 𝒚𝒐𝒖. Isn’t that right?’
Fugaku raises an eyebrow, questioning.
‘You do not care about him,’ Sakura states simply, ‘so, whatever your proposition, it is meant to help 𝒚𝒐𝒖. Isn’t that right?’
The man laughs and it is possibly the most vile sound Sakura has ever heard in her life.
‘It shouldn’t really surprise me you do not know when to stay quiet,’ he hums with a smirk on his face. ‘Let me word this differently... You accept my offer or he loses everything.
‘It shouldn’t really surprise me you do not know when to stay quiet,’ he hums with a smirk on his face. ‘Let me word this differently... You accept my offer or he loses everything.
‘I take away his position at the company. I will cancel all of his cards and deplete his trust fund. I will make sure his share if the inheritance will go to some pathetic excuse of a charity, instead.’
Fugaku sits in front if her, taking the papers out of the envelope.
Fugaku sits in front if her, taking the papers out of the envelope.
He places them neatly on top of the lacquered wood, with a fountain pen right on top of the stack.
‘You know what it’s like.’ Sakura shivers when he down a small glass of sake before slamming it against the table. ‘Sasuke doesn’t. He is spoiled way beyond what you can imagine.’
‘You know what it’s like.’ Sakura shivers when he down a small glass of sake before slamming it against the table. ‘Sasuke doesn’t. He is spoiled way beyond what you can imagine.’
‘You worked hard and he had everything given to him. He has no idea how to take care of himself.’ He reaches out to push a few strands of Sakura’s hair out of her face.
‘And yet... You still love him,’ Fugaku says, mocking, ‘so, be a good girl and do as I say. Sign the papers.’
‘And yet... You still love him,’ Fugaku says, mocking, ‘so, be a good girl and do as I say. Sign the papers.’
Sakura looks at the stack in front of her and all she sees are words blurred by tears that managed to gather in her eyes.
She wipes the away, with a back of her shaking hand. ‘I can send you to prison. Sasuke could–’
‘But he won’t. Try and sue me, but Sasuke will say nothing.’
She wipes the away, with a back of her shaking hand. ‘I can send you to prison. Sasuke could–’
‘But he won’t. Try and sue me, but Sasuke will say nothing.’
Her teeth grind against each other, heart beating loud and fast inside her ribcage.
It infuriates her how casually Fugaku talks about it all, as if Sasuke was a mere toy for him to play with. What infuriates her even more is how she cannot do anything to stop him.
Helpless.
It infuriates her how casually Fugaku talks about it all, as if Sasuke was a mere toy for him to play with. What infuriates her even more is how she cannot do anything to stop him.
Helpless.
He leans back in his chair with a groan before crossing his arms over the broad chest. ‘Go and tell the police whatever silly stories you believe are true and I assure you that he will deny every single one of them.’
Sakura looks down. Reads the bold writing once. Twice.
Sakura looks down. Reads the bold writing once. Twice.
After the fifth time, she is starting to wish she wasn’t stupid enough to beg her parents to leave their small village so she can attend school in Konoha.
She would would’ve probably have a husband by now. A child or two. And a simple, peaceful life far away from this mess.
She would would’ve probably have a husband by now. A child or two. And a simple, peaceful life far away from this mess.
𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒖𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑨𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕
Those words stare at her and Sakura cannot breathe, cannot fill her lungs with enough oxygen to stop her from felling lightheaded. As if she was floating through the clouds, watching another Sakura live her life while she tries to escape.
Those words stare at her and Sakura cannot breathe, cannot fill her lungs with enough oxygen to stop her from felling lightheaded. As if she was floating through the clouds, watching another Sakura live her life while she tries to escape.
‘I can’t–’ Her eyes snap close while million thoughts invade her head.
She wants to—should say 𝒏𝒐 and yet she cannot seem to be able to refuse. Sakura knows she would never forgive herself if she left Sasuke without help.
Because Fugaku is right; she loves him.
She wants to—should say 𝒏𝒐 and yet she cannot seem to be able to refuse. Sakura knows she would never forgive herself if she left Sasuke without help.
Because Fugaku is right; she loves him.
As much as she wishes it wasn’t true, she still feels her heart flutter whenever Sasuke is nearby. She still find herself missing him, looking for pieces of him in others in hopes to fill the hole he left behind.
Sakura runs a hand over her face, sighing heavily.
Sakura runs a hand over her face, sighing heavily.
She thinks, then thinks so more, reading the page until those long sentences mean nothing anymore.
‘He can’t sign those alone’ she realises after taking a pen, seeing an empty line above the highlighted space for her signature. ‘Sasuke will never agree to this.’
‘He can’t sign those alone’ she realises after taking a pen, seeing an empty line above the highlighted space for her signature. ‘Sasuke will never agree to this.’
With a hum, Fugaku stands up and rounds the table to see ten crouch right next to her.
He takes the pen out of her hold, scribbling a signature in each of the necessary spaces—it looks exactly like like Sasuke’s.
Sakura’s senses scream in protest, begging for her to run away.
He takes the pen out of her hold, scribbling a signature in each of the necessary spaces—it looks exactly like like Sasuke’s.
Sakura’s senses scream in protest, begging for her to run away.
It is wrong, she knows. Bit the itching from earlier is back and it gives Sakura the last push she needed to press the tip of a pen to the paper. She couldn't help Sasuke before, but she can help him now.
Once she is done, she throws the pen onto the table. ‘Here. Satisfied?’
Once she is done, she throws the pen onto the table. ‘Here. Satisfied?’
The man chuckles in amusement, carefully double-checking every signature. He slides it back inside the paper envelope before sealing it.
‘Welcome to the family,’ he hands Sakura a check; the amount has been left blank.
‘I will organise the wedding as soon as possible.’
‘Welcome to the family,’ he hands Sakura a check; the amount has been left blank.
‘I will organise the wedding as soon as possible.’
*.·:·.☽✧ ✦❀ ✧☾.·:·.*
— Chapter 1 is now complete! I will take a few weeks to sort the Ao3 version before starting the next one.
In the meantime, you can ask questions and share you theories. I always love to read them 🫰🏻
In the meantime, you can ask questions and share you theories. I always love to read them 🫰🏻
— Since @SakurasChidori asked so nicely, I will write an extra scene (based on today’s update) from Naruto’s POV.
It will be available on Patreon.
If you’d like to have a read, and also have a chance to request specific scenes, you can join below:
patreon.com/ephemeredoll/m…
It will be available on Patreon.
If you’d like to have a read, and also have a chance to request specific scenes, you can join below:
patreon.com/ephemeredoll/m…
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