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‘You’re in your thirties, don’t you think it’s time to move on.’
‘She’ll never be the type of woman you want her to be.’
‘I know a few candidates that would be a perfect match!’
‘Even Menma is married with a son.’
Sasuke ignores all the comments made about Sakura, about them.
He doesn’t care of what his clan thinks, of what any nobody thinks.
They don’t know her like he does. They don’t know about their constant hook-ups, that Sasuke will sneak into her office when she’s working or that he has to fix himself before every meeting he attends with his father.
There is one thing they do have right about her and that she’s not a ‘relationship person.’
She’s open and admitted that herself, and he doesn’t fault her. Not when her parents died early on in her life protecting the village. Leaving a little girl to grow up with no one to guide her.
The villagers love to brag and compliment her parents but do any of them stop to ask how she’s doing? If she needed help, that she could turn to them if need be?
No, they were all too busy getting on with their own lives like nothing happened.
Aside from a few neighbours who were always gifting her their food because they ‘cooked too much.’
She’s been closed off since, always being wary, distant. Never fully allowing anyone in right away.
Even now.
Especially now, because whilst everyone they know is settling down with kids, she doesn’t see herself having this life. Thinking she can’t be a doting mother like her friends, or what if history repeats. It doesn’t matter how many will try to comfort or reassure, it’s not as simple as that.
It goes deeper.
He understands and accepts what they have with no question.
Because even though she isn’t a ‘relationship person’ she still has needs, and Sasuke is more than willing to give her what she needs. He knows she doesn’t do this with other men; he doesn’t do this with other women either, as hard as that is to believe.
They are open and honest with one another and that’s why a part of her feels guilty. Sakura always assumed that with the way he openly flirts about then surely, he’s had plenty of hook-ups and one-night stands in the past. That he was a safe person who she trusts who won’t get attached and yet now she wonders… if perhaps he was being serious when he confessed all those years ago.
She’s tried to end things, be considerate of his feelings because it didn’t seem fair to ‘lead him on.’ In the end, it never works. He’s always reassuring, affectionate, tells her where he’ll be if she needs him.
It makes her knees weak.
And yet, she still can’t understand that’s how he feels too.
Because now that he’s had a taste of her, why would he want to let her go?
They were putting him in a sour mood again Mikoto watched as her youngest son sat there listening to all the berating. As if he wasn’t an adult man who could make his own decisions.
No Mikoto knew he was aware of what he was getting himself in for with this ‘relationship.’
Even if he was risking his heart being broken.
“There are many women more fitting for you. If you would allow it, I’m sure we can find you a suitable wife-”
“Don’t act like you know what’s best for me. Don’t act like you know her at all!” Sasuke sat up abruptly. It was rare to see him act out as he was usually carefree, but the clan members tended to push his buttons. Especially when it came to her.
“My relationship with Sakura isn’t of your concern. If I want your advice, I’ll ask!”
“Sasuke!” Mikoto called out to him, but the door slammed shut.
“Now you done it.”
“Your just as bad as he is.” One of the clan members pointed out.
“And what’s that supposed to mean?”
“You treat the girl as if she’s your own daughter, are you sure you’re not biased Uchiha-San?”
“She has no family of her own, what am I to do? Treat my son like he’s five like the rest of you? Sasuke is a grown man, whatever relationship they have, I’m sure they know what they’re doing.”
When he left the Uchiha district the first place he went to was hers. This wasn’t how things went; she was always the one who called the shots and he’ll be there when she needed him.
This time, however, he reckons he could be selfish.
That he could go to her, knock on her door and she’ll welcome him with open arms.
Make him forget about tonight and his spat with his fellow clan members.
What do they know about her?
She did let him in but before he could speak, he noticed a change in her apartment. That even though the place was still full it seemed… empty.
“Your leaving?” There was a small bag packed on the couch, and he doubted it was for a mission.
“I…I wasn’t expecting you.”
“Were you just going to leave? Without telling anyone?” He turned to her arms crossed and hurt.
Without telling me? Were the unspoken words, was it really that easy for her?
“There’s nothing here for me. Everyone here is moving on, starting their own family. It’s too hard so I thought…”
“You thought leaving would be easier?” He finished for her and she nodded her head. It was selfish, she knew that but staying in the village. She felt numb, having to fake a smile every day, listening to her friends and anyone else saying it’ll get better/easier. That she will find happiness like them; it was as if they never listened to her own insecurities and doubt and that she hadn’t been trying for years to move on.
“I talked this over with Tsunade, so it’s not like I’m just up and abandoning the village but this could be good for me. I could do good elsewhere. I’m a medical ninja; I can be of use.”
Maybe find somewhere else she could call home and perhaps when she was ready, she could come back.
He understood why she wanted to do this, he did.
So that was why…
“Then, take me with you.”
A beat.
“What?”
“You heard.”
“Are you insane? You can’t go with me, you have-”
“I have what?”
“You have your own life here. Your part of the police force.”
“Me doing my job isn’t living and truth be told, I’m tired of everyone telling me what I can and can’t do. I’m in my thirties; I can make my own decisions.”
“And that’s to leave with me?” She was caught off guard when he took her hand in his placing a gentle kiss on her knuckles.
“If you’ll have me.” A light blush crept on her cheeks. She should turn him down, she knows she should, perhaps he can finally move on from her and find someone else.
Someone who will love him freely as he does but he came here for a reason. Maybe he needed this just as much as she did.
“Okay.” And perhaps a part of her was selfish on wanting to keep him for herself.