Reign Of Gods (A SasuSaku AU)

Epilogue

As a child, I hadn't too many friends. Between my parents and Ino, I never needed many either. It was an ordinary, simplistic existence. Every week, my mother took us both to a shrine in our village. She never called herself spiritual though and insisted otherwise to those who did. Growing up, she practically stood in as Ino's mother and in many ways, I believe it helped foster our bond to go beyond friendship.

It is also the reason Ino feels very attached to mom and was the first to stand beside her - even before me - at my father's funeral.

I was not surprised she left for a spiritual retreat so soon after dad's passing though. She said she was ready to let go of her attachments now that her life's responsibilities - for the most part - were over. Appalled as I was, I'd endlessly questioned her, emotional and angry both.

"Of course, I am not dying, sweetheart!" she'd laughed. "You're stuck with me for a long time. Besides, I have got to see some grandchildren before I die!" she went on to exclaim, shooting a purposeful glance toward Sasuke.

"When I impregnate Sakura, you shall have the honor of delivering our child," he'd meaningfully nodded instead of the fit of coughs that would be considered normal since we weren't even married back then. How embarrassing that I be the one to choke then.

We returned from Olympus after his successful transition and settled at my apartment. Ino moved out a few months later, after she considered herself ready to fit in with the normal world again. It struck me then how much she really had to face on my account. She was returned here by Naruto when I began my first step toward Sasuke without her. She and Sai remain regular visitors here, even if the two men don't get along too well.

As for Sasuke, he remains the man he has always been but, I discovered so much more about him since his return. The subtle shift in his moods, the endless valley of wisdom, the kindness beneath the surface and his small but, meaningful demonstrations of love and respect. It speaks volumes about him that he would treat my mother with the same royal degree of respect that he does his brother.

Perhaps, one of the downsides to his transition is that he cannot return to meet Naruto or Lord Itachi. He says its fine but, I know he misses them. Last week Naruto and Hinata came to see him, two years after our wedding. And while I complained that he took so long to visit, the animal god was pretty sure we had met just a few weeks ago. Sasuke was the least surprised though. Naturally, Itachi had presided over our wedding but, we haven't seen him since. Dead people keep him busy, Sasuke shrugs. I don't know how strange I should find that sentence.

Within the past few years, I met a god, went on a crazy adventure to save him, fell in love, had my spirit removed from my body, was resurrected and now am happily housing the god's essence to whom I got married. And surreal as it is, he accepted human-hood to be with me - even if it wasn't the sole reason, it was one of his main. Needless to say, Sasuke is learning human ways and grows steadily less clueless.

I am working as a special intern for a doctor named Shizune. Basically, she is teaching me fine medicine that I will make use of in Sasuke and mine future plans. Itachi had a business set for Sasuke when we returned. Something about souls and go-betweens. He doesn't tell me the entire job description.

"Mother is visiting today. We have no materials to prepare her a lavish feast," he says, walking in.

"Its fine. She doesn't expect it either," I tell him, getting a disapproving look in return.

"I am going to the market," he announces, turning around. "Do you require more crap to eat?"

"Crap?"

"That is what it is - your meal."

"Its pizza."

"Exactly."