#ssm17d16

   "I couldn't book you for any surgeries for the past week," Sakura said as she hovered over the patient's body, working meticulously. From his seat, Sasuke could see her brows furrowing in concentration (and maybe disgruntlement).

   "You're not the only doctor who needs my expertise," Sasuke replied as he glanced at the vital signs. They were all good, so he went back to finishing his report.

   "Still, everyone should know by now that you're my go-to anaesthetist!" Sakura whined. Receiving no response from Sasuke, she continued her tirade. "Do you know how frustrating it is when you arrive to the OT on time to find that everything hasn't been set up and the anaesthetist himself is late? I'm trying to reduce turnover time here and no one is cooperating with me!" A pause, then in a sweeter tone, "Sasuke-kun, you are the best person to work with, being the only efficient person on this floor."

   That was undoubtedly true. Dr Uchiha's nickname 'Evil Overlord of the OT' could not be taken lightly. His strict attention to punctuality, efficiency and his harsh methods sent many nurses (and some doctors) fleeing. However, that meant that Dr Uchiha had the best team to work with, which meant that he was a hot commodity within the hospital.

   Sasuke only looked at Sakura evenly. "Dr. Haruno, I think you should pay more attention to what you're doing. Are you sure that's where it's supposed to go?"

   "Shut up, Dr. Uchiha," The doctor grumbled, her mask puffing up with a forceful exhale. "Don't tell me what to do."

   Sasuke watched Sakura work quietly for a few minutes.

   "You know, this can be remedied."

   "Hm?" Sakura murmured absentmindedly, too preoccupied with cauterising the bleeding vessel.

    Sasuke swallowed. He twirled his pen, looked down at his report, then back up again.

   "I could be your permanent anaesthetist."

    Sakura frowned, then looked up from the surgical table.

    "Is this a business proposal?" She raised an eyebrow.

    "Well, if you consider marriage a business transaction, then yes." After all, who would dare separate the husband and wife duo after Sakura took his surname? They would be known as the Uchihas, a lean, mean surgical machine any patient would want for their operation.

    Sakura's eyes were now comically wide as she turned to properly look at him. Sasuke was sure that her jaw had dropped underneath the mask. Next to her, the nurses gasped and tittered excitedly. Oops, he had forgotten that there were others in the operating theatre too.

   "But Sasuke, we haven't even been dating for long!" Met with a pointed stare, Sakura brightened up as if she realised something, before collapsing into a groan. "Sasuke, those pieces of toasts, our so-called lunch that we grab in the surgery break room are not 'dates'. Nor do they include every surgery we work on together."

   "Hn." And with that, Sasuke swiveled around his chair to face his report again. To an untrained eye, it would seem that Sasuke had decided to return to his work. But Sakura could see hear how the Hn had faded into silence too quietly, and she could see that his eyes were trained to the table while his shoulders were slumped.

    Oh no, so those toasts had meant something to Sasuke.

    To be honest, Sakura could not deny that although they hadn't dated for long officially, their feelings had existed for a much longer time. The occasional glances, study sessions, casual touches slowly evolved into a heated and heady sense of longing as the two progressed from medical students to doctors. It was only last year that Sasuke confessed after they were forced to share an on-call bed together. The thought of that caused Sakura's face to flush.

    Taking a deep breath, Sakura set her eyes back onto the surgical table.

    "Sasuke-kun, I'm sorry. You surprised me, that's all. You know how I feel about you, so don't worry, I'll talk to you after this surgery, okay?"

    From the corner of her eye, Sakura could see Sasuke sit up straighter.

    "Also, it wouldn't hurt to have a more romantic proposal, would it?" She was answered with a muted groan from Sasuke's direction.

    "Ladies, if any of this gets out of this theatre, there will be serious consequences." Sakura turned to smile at the nurses, who immediately stopped their giggling. Satisfied at their cowered expression, Sakura picked up the laparoscopic device and resumed the operation.

    There was no doubt the Evil Overlord had found someone to rule the OT with.

    (In the end, Sasuke proposed a second time after another operation by arranging all the surgical equipment to spell out MARRY ME. He then made the nurses clean everything up while he went to celebrate his engagement with Sakura - eating lunch at the hospital canteen. However, Sasuke's fantasy was not fully realised when Sakura insisted on keeping the Haruno surname in her professional work life.)

Anesthetist – the doctor who gives the patient anesthesia before an operation and reduces the dose afterwards to wake the patient up. They can also be responsible for the management of the operating theatre,

OT – short for ‘operating theatre’, the room where operations are held

Turnover time – the time it takes for an operating theatre to change from one operation to another

Cauterising – a method of burning to stop bleeding

On-call - when the doctors are available for work late at night 

“How beautiful” one of the girls in the group of medical training commented, looking at it amazed.

“Thank you” Sakura said with a wide smile, closing the box where she had put it before starting her shift and gathering her things from the locker. “It was a birthday present.”

“You're so lucky to have someone to give you such a splendid thing...” the girl's eyes twinkled mischievously. “Was it your boyfriend?”

Sakura paused for a moment. Even though nothing else had been said or done that night a month before, or on her birthday, when Sasuke had finally fulfilled his promise of taking her to have lunch in the restaurant where they were going to eat in their first date, as he was able to clear two hours between appointments, there had been a confession and an answer in the classroom of their former kindergarten, so she supposed that she could consider Sasuke that...

“Yes.”

Feeling a small shiver of delight, she remembered his satisfied expression when she had opened the box and had held her breath upon seeing it, a bouquet of cherry blossom flowers and leaves curling elegantly in the ends.

“Oh, I think Sakura-san is remembering something really nice” another girl giggled seeing her pink cheeks.

She did not try to suppress her smile as she picked up her smartphone, and her mates swooned and talked excitedly. However, upon seeing the screen, she frowned a little. Ino had called her five times and had left her three messages. She pressed the button of the answering machine and brought the device to her ear. As she heard, her expression became more and more anxious.

'Sasuke-kun...'

Even her group mates realised that something was wrong because their squealing subsided and one by one started looking at her, disconcerted.

She hung up and grabbed her bag, already filled with her notes, her notebook laptop and personal belongings, putting her white coat inside in a hurry.

“Sakura-san...?”

“Sorry... Something came up and I can't go to have a drink with you” she closed the locker and put her bag on her shoulder, making her way hastily to the door, leaving them dumbfounded. “See you on Monday!”

.

Sitting on the sofa of his brother's living room, Itachi put his elbows on his knees, crossed his fingers and rested his mouth on them, knitting his brows in deep concern.

“How could we let him come to this?”

Ino set the tray with two cups of coffee on the low table and gave one to him, before taking her own.

“I told him several times that he had to take care of his health” she blew softly and took a small sip. “But you know how the President is once he sets on doing something, sir.”

Itachi nodded, contemplating the black beverage for a few seconds before drinking it.

He should have realised that his brother was not feeling well days before, when he had seen the unnatural paleness of his skin under the light of the meeting room. However, Sasuke had just said that he had not slept well that night and he had believed it. But that day, in front of his eyes, he had started to feel bad in the car when they were returning to the company after a business lunch, suddenly turning pale and taking a hand to his stomach. At the beginning, he had dismissed their concern, saying that the food had probably made him sick, but when they had stopped by his flat at his request, to change his shirt, since he was a bit sweaty, he had stumbled, gasping and flinching at a pain in his chest, and Itachi had instructed Ino to call their physician as he took his brother to bed.

They heard footsteps in the corridor and turned in time to see the Uchiha family doctor, Orochimaru, appear in the living room. Then, Ino excused herself to bring him a cup of tea.

“You don't have to worry so much about him. As I told you before on the phone, he's just overworked and stressed...” he put his hand on his waist as Ino sighed relieved and Itachi leant back on the sofa, closing his eyes, thankful. “However,” he paused to get their attention and make his point clear. “That was a serious warning. He's lost weight since the last time I saw him and it's obvious his body is under a strenuous pressure. I've taken a sample of his blood just in case he has a severe lack of vitamins or minerals and has to begin a treatment” he huffed and moved his head to the side in an abrupt but elegant movement, making his long dark hair sway softly. “I know about the difficulties you had these past months, but he's too young to be suffering these types of health problems.

“I know...” Itachi exhaled slowly. “I should have paid more attention to him...”

As Ino came back with the tray, Orochimaru shrugged, letting a brief ironic look set on his face as he looked at the older brother, and took the drink the secretary offered him, giving it a small sip and smiling approvingly.

“Anyway,” he continued, sitting down on the sofa. “He must rest for at least two or three days” he regarded both of them. “No appointments, no calls, not consulting him anything” both nodded firmly. “And he must eat healthy and nourishing food. His body needs to recover completely or he could have another breakdown soon” he gave his drink a longer sip. “I'll come to see him on Monday morning. If I consider he's well enough, he can go back to work on Tuesday.”

“Understood” Itachi said, serious, though immediately, the expression on his face and his voice changed to a soft one. “Can we see him?”

The doctor shrugged.

“If you want to, but he's asleep now. He was making a fuss saying he was fine, but he was still dizzy and his heart beat was irregular and fast, so I gave him a sleeping pill.”

Itachi nodded and then stood up, looking at Ino.

“Sir, you go...” Ino said with a smile. “I have to call Shikamaru to inform him of the situation and call HM Industries about a meeting the President had with them in less than an hour.”

“Don't cancel it. Tell Shikamaru that I'll go in his place. Could you let me see the information, Yamanaka?”

Ino smiled confidently.

“Of course. I'll tell Matsushita to go to the company and if he retrieves it from Shikamaru at the door, he can be here in less than fifteen minutes.”

“Great, do it, please.”

Itachi went to his brother's bedroom and Ino picked up her smartphone as Orochimaru drank his tea calmly. However, his thoughts came back to Sasuke irremediably. He had been taking care of him since he was a child and had grown fond of the kid. When they had called him and told him what had happened, he had been afraid that it could be a heart attack, but immediately, hearing the other symptoms, he had rested easier. However, seeing him had worried him. He did not want to imagine what type of obstacles he had found in the last months to be in that condition. He would talk severely with Madara and Fugaku to try to lessen the boy's burden a bit. He understood that they had had problems, and that he was too perfectionist, especially having a prodigious older brother like Itachi, but they weren't worth to the point of risking his own health.

He studied Ino as she hung up with a relieved smile and then, dial another number.

“Finally! I don't have much time, but listen, the President-”

Itachi came back, hanging up his phone, and stopped next to him, putting his hands in the pockets of his trousers.

“He's sleeping soundly.”

Orochimaru smirked, leaning forward and leaving the cup on the low glass table.

“Of course. My medicines always work” he looked at his watch. “Well, I have to return to my clinic” he walked to the door and Ino, still on the phone, bowed to him; by the conversation, he wondered who was on the other side. “If something turns up, call me.”

“Yes” he nodded his head respectfully. “Thank you. And also, my father sends his regards.”

The doctor smiled and started to make his way down the corridor towards the lifts. Itachi closed the door of the flat and sighed tiredly, pinching the bridge of his nose for a moment. Then, he entered the living room to see that Ino had finished her call. There was so much to organise...

“Yamanaka,” he called her, and she straightened her shoulders, linking her hands on the front of her body. “I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to ask a huge favour from you...” she nodded. “We'll need you to re-schedule all my brother's agenda for the rest of the day and tomorrow, and check if he had something planned for Sunday” Ino gave him a strange look. “My father just called to tell me that it seems that my dear little brother has been going to work on some Sundays; apparently, he told the security guards that he had to gather some information, but sometimes, he even stayed for lunch...” Ino moved her head incredulously. “Oh, and that if it's necessary, our grandfather can fill for him at one or two appointments, so take that into account.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And also... would you mind staying with my brother for the rest of the day and... probably the night?” she tilted her face, a bit disconcerted. “Knowing him, if we leave him alone, as soon as he gets up, he will start managing things from here, or go to the company to make up for today's work...” he nodded his head lightly. “I suppose that you had plans for today, but if you could cancel them...”

Ino tried to maintain her composure and repress an exasperated sigh. That day was her second anniversary of her relationship with Sai and the previous days, he had been letting slip that he was preparing a surprise for her. A delicate frown marred her pretty features. He was going to be really disappointed, and hurt. So was she. But he knew that for her, sometimes, work was the priority.

“Of course, these hours will be paid as overtime from this afternoon on.”

Swallowing hard, she moved her head affirmatively.

“Alrigh-” in that moment, the entry phone rang and she felt her body relax. “But I think it won't be necessary for me to stay” Itachi looked at her confused and, as she turned and started walking towards the kitchen, she smiled mysteriously. “We're getting a reinforcement, one that will probably do it happily.”

A few minutes later, the bell rang twice and when she opened the door, Sakura was there. She was panting softly and her eyes were wide with concern and anxiety.

“Finally” her best friend asked as she stepped to the side, letting her in.

“As I told you on the phone, my shift finished four o'clock” she replied taking off her shoes.

“Oh, yes, I didn't remember that you're working now...” both of them entered the living room and Sakura's eyes fell on the man there, so alike to Sasuke and at the same time, she could see in his sharp features and his eyes, so different. “This is Uchiha Itachi, the President's older brother and CEO of Uchiha Corporation” she composed a friendly expression and bowed to him. “Sir, this is-”

“Haruno Sakura” he said smiling softly and nodding to her. “I'm very glad that we finally met.”

“How do you do?”

He smiled lightly.

“No need to be so formal, Sakura-san.”

She returned the gesture and then, she looked at them, worried.

“So, how's he?”

“It was overwork” Itachi said with a solemn countenance. “Our family doctor has been here until a few minutes ago and that was the diagnosis.”

“He didn't seem well when I saw him last time, but he only said he was busy and that he hadn't slept well that night.”

The CEO laughed humourlessly.

“It seems that's what he told everyone.”

“He has had some headaches lately” Ino intervened in the conversation, “and seemed tired, but despite I told him to take a break, he kept his usual pace, and even went to the company out of working hours without anyone knowing.”

Sakura looked at them alternatively, incredulous.

“What is he, a workaholic?”

“It's rather... that once he sets his mind towards a goal, nothing can stop him to achieve it. He worked a lot when our uncle...” he gazed at them meaningfully. “But when everything calmed down a bit, he finally relaxed. However, since New Year, he's been in a frenzy again, attending meetings, finding ways of investing our stock and preparing new projects.”

“Since... New Year?”

“Yes” Itachi watched her intently. “Do you know something?”

“No...”

Coincidence or not, it had been the time when things had started to change for them. Sakura frowned for a moment, promising herself to give the matter some thought and when he was better, ask Sasuke about it.

In that moment, Itachi's phone rang and, apologising, he picked it up.

“Hello Shisui... Yes, but he's fine...”

Both women looked at each other.

“I was hoping you could stay with him...” Ino whispered. “The CEO asked me-”

“But you have special plans for tonight, right?” she smiled playfully. “Don't worry.”

Ino looked at her bewildered. How did she know...?

“I was going to say that I have to go back to work... How-?”

Sakura widened her smile.

“Well, I lent Sai a hand in a couple of things-”

Then, Itachi's voice resounded in the living room, cutting her in the middle of her sentence.

“Can't they just leave him alone? First the marriage, then, the company and now again with the engag-”

He seemed to realise that he was talking in a loud, angry voice because he looked at them over his shoulder and then lowered it to barely a murmur. She did not dare to say anything else, and after a few more sentences, Itachi hung up and looked at his watch.

“Sakura-san, Yamanaka, I apologise for startling you...” he nodded briefly. “I'm sorry but I have to go now or I'll be late for the meeting... Then, Sakura-san are you staying with my brother?”

She nodded and Ino hurried, brushing her hand as she passed her by to take their coats and briefcases from the seat of the sofa nearest the window.

“I'll send you an email with all the things the doctor said, okay?”

Sakura smiled and went to the door with them when they were ready to go.

“Have a safe trip.”

“Nice to meet you, Sakura-san. It was a pity that it had to be in such circumstances...”

“The pleasure was mine” she replied bowing.

He seemed to doubt for a moment, before looking at her in the eye and bowing formally.

“I entrust my dear little brother to you... Sakura-san...”

He turned quickly and walked at a fast pace towards the lifts, followed by Ino, who bowed to her too with a soft smile.

Once she closed the door, she paused for a moment in the hall to organise her ideas, before she turned into the corridor to see him. With great care, she opened the door of the bedroom a crack and looked inside. It was dark and she could barely outline his figure in the bed in the little light that she let inside. However, her sharp ears caught the soft sound of his deep breathing and she smiled relieved.

Going back to the living room, she sat on the sofa and sighed, looking around. She did not remember the house to be so quiet, even though Sasuke was not a noisy person. But his silent company had been comforting and warm. She smiled softly as she ran her hand over the seat, remembering the moment she had woken up in his arms and the feelings that had overflowed inside her, her heart screaming how much she loved him. And when he had kissed her...

She moved her head quickly. It was not the moment to indulge in such memories and fantasies. She had to focus to take a proper care of him and to work on her reports.

After passing her National License Examination, she had started her trainee period in the departments of surgery, mental health and emergency service in her family's hospital. At the beginning, she had been considering other options, especially because she did not want people to think that she was abusing her advantaging position as the heiress, but then, she had reflected about the convenience of starting to get familiar with the praxis and intricacies of the place that one day would be hers. When she had asked Sasuke for advice, he had agreed to it.

She took her laptop from her bag and started with the first one. She had to give her best once again.

.

It was almost seven o'clock when Sakura sighed and lifted her head from her work, straightening her shoulders. She moaned softly as her neck creaked and she decided to take a break and check on him, to see if he was still calm. She opened the door of the bedroom very carefully. The first thing she saw was that there was some rustle on the bed and suddenly, the lamp lit. He propped himself on an elbow and his eyes fell on her.

“Sakura...?”

“Hello” she said smiling and entering the room.

“What are you doing here...?”

“Well,” she stopped next to the bed and he let himself fall again on the mattress. “Ino called me and told me that you had got really dizzy while going back to the company from a lunch appointment, so I came to see you when I finished my shift at the hospital.”

In the soft light of the lamp, his eyes seemed a bit clouded and unfocused.

“How are you feeling?”

“I'm fine...”

His words were a bit slurred and she frowned slightly. She knelt and put her hand on his forehead, feeling the slightly damp skin and combing to the side the locks of hair that were sticking to his forehead.

“No, you're not. The doctor said you've been overworking.”

“He's just exaggerating” he mumbled. “The food made me a bit sick... and I didn't sleep well last night...”

“Sasuke-kun,” she sighed exasperatedly. “That is the excuse you're giving everybody, every day...”

However, he was not really paying attention to her words. He was staring at her hair and then, he lifted a hand to touch it.

“You're wearing it...”

In that moment, she understood that it was impossible for him to maintain a proper conversation, as he was still drowsy because of the tranquillizer he had been given. She smiled softly, looking at him warmly.

“Yes.”

He sighed.

“I'm glad...”

He let his hand drop, flexing his arm against his body and snuggling under the covers. Delicately, she brushed his hair again in a soothing rhythm.

“You should go back to sleep” she whispered.

One of his hands sneaked out of the blankets and took hers, squeezing it without strength. After a while, he caressed her left ring finger with his thumb, and she could not help a small blush.

“Sakura...” he called her in a low voice, blinking slowly. “Would you consider marriage now?”

That question was what she expected the least, and she could not react for a few seconds, just stare at him in confusion and bewilderment.

“What... did you just say?”

He buried his face in the pillow, nuzzling it.

“Marriage... would you...?”

She pressed her lips into a thin line.

“Sasuke-kun, ¿are you asking me because they're pressuring you?”

But he did not answer. Instead, a soft breathing reached her and she sighed in defeat. He had fallen asleep again. With great care, she disentangled her hand from his and rose from the floor, threading lovingly her fingers through his hair once more. Turning off the lamp, she made her way to the door, leaving just a crack. Then, she went to the living room and picked up her phone.

“Mum? Hello” she paused for a moment, listening and then, she continued speaking. “He's better now. However, I'd... like to stay the night here.”

She had called her family as soon as she had got out of the hospital and got into a taxi, not knowing really what she could find when she arrived at his home. Her mother had sounded sincerely concerned and had told her to do what she thought she had to.

“I know that I promised grandmother that I wouldn't-”

She heard her mother telling her the same thing again: to do what her conscience dictated her and leave her mother-in-law to her. She smiled. She admired her mother deeply for her accomplishments in life and her bravery when facing adverse circumstances. She might not have been a Haruno by birth, but she was one by right. And despite Sakura's grandmother not agreeing with her in certain things, the young woman knew that she held a deep respect for her daughter-in-law. And she would make the matriarch of the clan to understand that Sakura had a duty with her oath as a doctor and as a human being.

And, listening to her sweet, warm voice as she advised her, she suspected that she knew that her own heart was involved too. She promised herself, as she bid good bye to her and hung up, that when she came back home, she would tell her everything about the recent development of her relationship with Sasuke, that she had decided to keep secret until they could talk calmly about what they were going to do about the omiai outcome expected by the families.

.

Sakura heard Sasuke open the door of his bedroom a few hours later, as she stood in the kitchen, but before she could go to him, she heard another door being closed, probably the bathroom or the toilet. She stirred the soup once more and took a tomato from the fruit bowl. It was well past eleven o'clock, so she was not sure if he would feel hungry, but he had to try and eat something.

A few moments later, she heard the door again and his steps in the corridor. She turned in time to see him stop in the threshold and their eyes met.

“Sakura?” he furrowed his brows, “What are you doing here?”

She laughed softly as she turned off the ceramic hob.

“You asked me the same thing some time ago.”

His expression turned into one of confusion.

“I don't remember...”

“You were probably half asleep because of the medicine your family doctor gave you” she felt a bit disappointed, remembering the tenderness in his eyes as he touched her hair. “Go back to bed, I'll bring you your dinner in a moment.”

He threaded his fingers through his hair.

“It's really late, you shouldn't be here...” he half turned. “Give me a few minutes, I'll drive you home.”

“No” her words came out with more force than she had intended and he stopped, looking at her, surprised. “If I go, you'll probably start worrying about work again, and even going to your company to make up for today.”

“But your family-”

She put her hands on her waist.

“They know where I am. And I'm not a child anymore, I can spend the night wherever I feel like” he frowned, clearly upset and opened his mouth to argue back when she continued. “I'm the doctor here, Sasuke-kun, and I'm staying and making sure you follow your physician's instructions” she sighed frustrated. “Do you know how worried your brother was? Or Ino...?” she paused and her expression crumbled a little. “I came as fast as I could thinking that you were really ill...”

He became silent and tilted his head to the side, looking at the floor, his teeth clenching and his fists tightening at his sides, frustrated and at the same time feeling guilty. He had never intended to worry anyone or to make her feel sad. He just had wanted... he moved his head, relaxing his jaw when the tension made his head throb. Damned body... It had betrayed him when he least expected it, when he needed to be at his best. He glanced at Sakura out of the corner of his eye. She was looking at him with a serious, stubborn expression but he could read in her clear pupils the deep concern she was feeling. He exhaled without barely making a noise. She won again. Lifting his head with a defeated expression, he put a hand on her head.

“Sorry...”

She breathed deeply, her posture relaxing and her features softening, and looked at him.

“Then, please, listen to me and go back to your bedroom...”

Sighing again, he nodded and turned, his footsteps sounding heavier than before in the wooden floor.

A few moments later, Sakura found him already sitting on the bed and covered by the blankets, his back leaning on a pillow against the headboard. His face seemed pensive, but when he heard her, he composed a neutral expression. She entered the room, carrying a tray with a steaming bowl of miso soup with tofu and vegetables, a small rectangular plate with a seasoned tomato on it and a small dish with pieces of apple.

“I'm sorry it's not a feast... I made the soup because, since I didn't know if you were going to wake up, it's easy to store. Also, you should go back to sleep as soon as you finish, so I decided to make a light meal.”

“Thank you” he replied taking the food from her and putting it on his lap.

After taking his chopsticks and giving thanks, he picked up the bowl and gave it a careful sip. It immediately warmed his body, giving him a comforting sensation.

“It's sweet...”

“It's white miso. You shouldn't eat things with too much salt now, so that's why I chose it.”

He lifted his gaze to her over the brim of the dish.

“You went shopping?”

“Yes” she looked at him with a small smile, putting her hands behind her. “Your fridge was quite empty.”

“I'll pay you back-”

“No need” her smile widened. “But if you want to, the price will be getting well.”

He seemed to think over her offering.

“Seems fair...” he took another sip of soup and picked up some of the solid ingredients with his chopsticks.

“Aren't you going to have dinner?” he asked after swallowing his bite, seeing that she did not move from her position by his bed.

“I did when I came back from shopping. I ate a vegetable sandwich and just a few moments ago, when I finished the soup, as I was preparing the apple, I served myself a bowl.”

“Then, sit down” he said looking meaningfully at a space on the bed near him, and she blushed prettily before nodding and taking her seat.

They stayed in a comfortable silence for a few minutes before Sasuke put down his finished bowl of soup, taking a rest. She looked at him slightly concerned, but he shook his head lightly to ease her apprehension. Then, he spoke.

“Did... Did I say something weird before?”

“Um?” she gazed at him, questioning.

“Well, for a moment you seemed disappointed before, so I thought that maybe I had said something to you...” he fidgeted with a toothpick she had put on the plate with the apples. “Something embarrassing...”

She smiled mischievously.

“Don't worry, you didn't end up confessing your undying love for me if that's what you meant” a faint colour covered his cheeks and ears. “Though it would have been nice to hear it...”

He took a big bite from the fruit and looked away, and Sakura could not help a small giggle. She did not know he could have a cute and bashful side.

Sasuke finished the piece and looked at her askew with his lids a bit lowered.

“Then, what did I said?”

“Well, you complimented my hairpin” he smiled lightly, laying his eyes briefly on it, but not failing to see that she became serious and shuffled her feet, and he braced himself for the impact. “And you spoke about marriage.”

Sasuke's expression changed to a serious one and he pressed his lips in a thin line, and for a few moments, a tense stillness was the only thing that filled the room. Finally, he sighed.

“Sorry...” he said picking up another piece of apple and looking at it. “Forget about it, alright?”

“Why?” she sounded hurt and he furrowed his brows.

“Because you don't want to get married yet.”

The weight of those words hung between them and they stayed in silence for several minutes, the only sound that of their breaths and the occasional clattering of the plates.

“Can I ask you something?” she finally said, not standing anymore the tension in the air.

He looked at her after swallowing the last piece of fruit.

“Why are you so desperate?” he stiffened at her question. “Your brother told me that since New Year you've been working non-stop and ignoring everyone's advice to take care of yourself.”

He frowned and averted his gaze, taking the tray from his lap and putting it on the bedside table on his right, facing away and clearly ignoring her.

“Sasuke-kun!”

He went still, as if he was struggling to give her an answer.

“Because I want to be the prospective husband your family wanted for you” he finally murmured, glancing sideways at her, and she was left speechless. “I don't want them to frown at me when I ask for your hand in marriage.”

Her heart skipped, not one, but several beats as her eyes widened in disbelief and all strength left her body. Suddenly, she had even forgotten how to breathe. Something run down her cheek, fast, wet.

“Wha-” he had grabbed his napkin and was pressing it against her face, making her regain her senses.

“Damn, that's not how I wanted it to be” he muttered, frowning. “You shouldn't be crying.”

She took the cloth from him and dabbed at her eyes.

“What do you mean?” she sniffled. “How did you want it then?”

He huffed, clearly uncomfortable.

“More to your taste... You probably dreamt of a romantic place and me on my knee...” he blushed a bit. “Not... this...” he did a sweep with his hand.

He seemed frustrated, but Sakura understood that now that the topic had been brought up, it was her opportunity to ask him about what she had heard his brother say on the phone.

“Sasuke-kun” she swallowed softly, thinking carefully her words. “Your brother has mentioned that your family is pressuring you again.”

“Itachi talks too much” he eyed her. “You met my brother? When?”

“When I arrived... I mentioned him before...” she put the napkin on her lap, still grabbing it with her hands. “Later, he talked on the phone with one of your relatives... I just overheard...”

“Then, you're too curious.”

“I couldn't help it! I was in the same room, speaking with Ino” she breathed deeply, trying not to stray from the subject with a silly argument just because he did not want to address it. “It's just... I don't want you to propose because it's your duty.”

He sighed, now clearly annoyed.

“I think we got over this the other day in the kindergarten. It's not an obligation anymore.”

She leaned forward and put her head on his chest. His heart beat was a bit shallow, fast and irregular, and she felt guilty because she was doing exactly the opposite of what she should not, making him upset. He looked down at the back of her head, startled at her bold action.

“I love you, Sasuke-kun...” she said softly. “I can wait until you feel that you really want to-”

“Idiot...” he interrupted her with a low, affectionate voice, sliding his fingers on her hair softly and caressing the skin of her neck, barely brushing his lips across her braided hairstyle. “Be sure that I wouldn't do it if I didn't want to.”

He, then, cupped her chin and lifted her face, kissing her gently. She answered immediately, one of her hands flying to his waist, and they enjoyed each other's warmth and caresses for a few moments. Then, they separated and he chuckled quietly.

“Well, I suppose that now that I let it slip, it doesn't make sense to wait...”

He bent to the side and opened the drawer of the left bedside table, taking a box and opening it. Sakura gasped softly. Inside, there was a thin platinum half eternity ring with a single oval emerald in the middle. She lifted her head to him in awe.

They did not need words. Sasuke took the ring from the box and, taking her left hand, hovered it by her fingertip for a moment just enough to look at her beautiful green eyes, clear and shining with resolution in the light of the lamp. Then, with a satisfied smile, he put it on her finger.

With a sweet, content expression, Sakura leant forward again as Sasuke's arm went across his shoulders to bring her closer to him. She relaxed in his arms, listening to his heartbeat, now strong, slow, as if that little ritual had given him his much needed peace.

“I'm very happy.”

He smiled softly and kissed the top of her head before resting his chin on her hair. After hearing those words, he could not ask for more.