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HOME (A SasuSaku one-shot)

Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto. *sigh* If I owned it, the gaiden chapters would release on a daily basis.

Summary: She was his home, she was his everything, and those were his secrets. Her promise to stay loyal for eternity was her secret. (set after the hiden/ between the hiden and gaiden/gaiden chapter 1 and after gaiden chapter 1. i.e. Sasuke leaving, Sakura dealing with life as a single mother and Sasuke’s return)

Rating: T (kinda M.)

A/N: There’s a lot of angst and tears (mine included) down below.

Age 19

   “I’m home, Sakura.” The words slipped so easily from his mouth, it surprised him.

   “Sa-Sasuke-kun?!” Sakura exclaimed as she turned slowly. Clearly the shock she was in, made her stutter. “Sasuke-kun! You’re back!” She got up from her seated position and ran towards him. She didn’t think the Uchiha would enjoy the idea of receiving a bone-crushing hug.

   “I’m back.” He looked into her viridian eyes. The eyes that had been flashing in his mind for the past two years, along with a pair of blue ones occasionally. He couldn’t deny it. No matter how much he tried to tell himself that he didn’t care about his teammates as much as he did before, his mind seemed to be denying it. Naruto and Sakura were everything to him, but that would remain his own little secret. “I’m back.” He repeated softly.

   She moved forward as slow as possible, still not knowing how to react. Her cautious steps made him loathe himself. Was she scared of him? He would never know, because Uchiha Sasuke was not brave enough to question his female teammate about something so personal.

   And this was because he feared the answer. It would either be a Why worry about me suddenly? Which would leave him speechless or a yes which would leave him broken.

   “You’re back.” She repeated his words and gently wrapped her arms around him. He wondered if it really was the same girl who held that immense strength that he had witnessed during the war hugging him this gently now. He loved her warmth, but one thing troubled him. He didn’t know if he could return the hug, for he was too confused.

Age 19 ½

   A tired Sakura limped her way back home. Naruto’s wedding was as exhausting as him. Sakura wondered what Naruto and Hinata would be doing at that moment. A smirk crossed her face and she giggled. Patting her head, she whispered “Kakashi’s becoming too much of an influence.” And then, her mind drifted off. What about her wedding? Would she end up with Sasuke? Would she even have a wedding in that case?

   “Marry me.” The soothing voice she hadn’t heard in four months spoke from behind her.

She turned around as fast as light. “Sasuke-kun! What?! I mean, you’re back!” She hugged him, without hesitation this time. She tried her best to ignore his words. Surely, she must have heard them wrong.

   “Marry me Sakura.” He said again, hoping she would reply. Her breathing stopped for a moment. Actually, everything stopped for a moment.

   “No Sasuke-kun.” She replied. His expression changed in the mildest ways. He looked, betrayed.

   When he didn’t bother asking her why, Sakura took the liberty to give her reasons. “You’re never here Sasuke-kun. You don’t even know me properly. Sure, I love you. But this whole thing seems one-sided.”

   As Sasuke parted his lips to reply, Sakura shushed him and continued. “You haven’t asked me out once, you don’t talk much. I haven’t really spoken to you.” Tears formed in her eyes. “Six and a half years Sasuke-kun. You always left and came back for the smallest amount of time. Even when you are here, you’d rather spend your time with Naruto than with me. It has always been like that hasn’t it? I’m not a baby-making machine Sasuke-kun. You’d have to find another girl for that.” Her words came out harsh.