#ssmonth

At this moment there was nothing more than she would like to smash his very attractive stupid smug face in. But that would be un-lady like and unprofessional in her case. Besides, she was the one who had suggested to do a joined signing (even though, they were the ones who crashed it)

They were just trying to get under their skin.

Or rather, he more specifically was trying to get under her skin, she was sure.

And he was sitting close… too close for her liking.

“They don’t know, do they?” Sakura arched a brow turning to her friends. Neither were please to be seated between two demons, even she could feel the deadly aura from here, and yet they smiled politely for their fans.

“Ah, so I was right.” His voice broke her train of thought as she smiled thanking a fan as she finished signing their poster. Could he not focus on the task at hand?

“Shall I tell them?”

“I will tell them… eventually.”

Maybe… because who knew what kind of reaction they’ll have.

They would hater her, and she wouldn’t blame them.

“Before or after you ‘defeat us’.”

Sakura paid no mind, politely smiling and thanking another fan.

“This is none of your concern.”

Why was he up in her business all the sudden anyway?

“It kind of is.”

“No, it isn’t. I’m a hunter, and I hate demons.” She seethed that last part, sending him a glare. A warning to back off.

“You think hating us will solve all your problems?” He looked off rather distant, as he if was thinking about something. She was confused at that, didn’t all demon like them thrive off it?

“What are the two of you whispering about?” One of the fans asked excitedly, Sakura and Sasuke froze upon realising they were very much still close together.

The two were quick to try and sign for the poster but ended up bumping heads on doing so.

Sakura cursed him in her head ten times, figuring out different ways for his death.

“That’s okay, I understand.” The fan winked before pointing to her shirt.

SasuSaku?

Over her dead body!

~~~

Every time his snake and hawk appear inside her room with the letter she rolls her eyes. She doesn’t blame them, but couldn’t he take the hint that she was NOT interested in meeting up or hearing about whatever conspiracy theory he has to say.

Yet, he was determined. She’ll give him that, because why was he outside her balcony knocking on her window. 

“What in the world are you doing here?” Sakura whispered harshly. How would it look from an outside perspective if someone saw him?

“You’re the one refusing to meet up.” She gave him a look as if saying ‘are you out of your mind?’

“One, why would I do that? And two explain why I shouldn’t just kill you now?”

“Uh, because that will cause a commotion that you don’t want your friends to hear?”

Well… he got her there. Sakura gave him a glare chancing a glance back at her room. She quickly shut the curtains walking out the door. If there is a chance one of her friends will come in, at least they’ll have enough time to hide… hopefully.

It would be his fault if anything looked suspicious.

“Your very persistent. I’ll give you that.”

“You’ve got five minutes, why are you so insistent on bothering me?”

“I’m not trying to bother you, I’m trying to help.”

“You need someone to talk to, I’m here to lend an ear. I’d say that’s pretty nice, don’t you think?”

“Yeah, too nice for a demon.”

“You are one too.” She was quiet at that; she couldn’t figure him out. Why he kept coming back, wanting her to talk to him.

Sasuke sighed, leaning on the wall.

“I’m not here to argue, I told you before, I’m only doing this for myself. To erase my memories, call me selfish all you want but it’s the truth.”

“We’re not as bad as you think, some of us don’t have a choice.” She looked down feeling rather defeated. At first, she was sure he was lying.

That’s what they do? Lie right?

But the fact he helped her by covering her patterns, and could easily snitch on her at any moment… did the members in his band know? No, she doubts it. They could easily take advantage of her but… he wasn’t.

The snake suddenly went up to her, as if feeling the tension and wanted to lighten the mood.

“He likes you.”

“Is that surprising?” She asked giving the snake a pet on the head.

“Aoda tends to not like a lot of people or demons.”

“Well, I like him too. A lot better than you.”

“Clearly.” He chuckled, “just think about my offer. I won’t push but if anyone can understand about the patterns, I can.”

“Who knows? You might find it helpful.”

“You haven’t told anyone in your band?”

It went quiet for a moment before he finally spoke.

“They won’t get it either.”

Perhaps he wasn’t lying, maybe… just maybe.

‘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.

It was cold, with nothing but darkness. Sasuke wasn’t sure if he had his eyes opened or not, they felt heavy but no matter how hard he tried he couldn’t’ open them.

He felt like he was suffocating, the mark on his neck glowed and he felt a stinging sensation of pain from all around his body. Collapsing on the floor, he could barely breathe.

The darkness from around felt as though as if it was trying to drag him into it and consume him.

‘It’s all your fault.’

‘They died because you were too weak.’

‘Cling to your pathetic life.’

He couldn’t fight it off though, his energy was drained.

And the voices… the voices were right. Everything was his fault.

Then the next moment Sasuke felt a weight from behind. This one wasn’t heavy though, more comforting and familiar.

He recognised the scent from behind all too well.

“Please… stop.”

And her voice… why was she crying?

Did someone hurt her?

Was she in danger?

He vaguely recalled collapsing in her arms from the pain before, and Naruto was out too.

That meant she was all by herself.

He had to snap out of it, to protect her at least.

Sakura wouldn’t be able to survive by herself.

He won’t let someone else precious to him die, if he couldn’t protect his parents at least he could protect her.

Suddenly however the voices stopped, and the darkness turned to light, and then he found himself staring into her green eyes filled with tears.

He had no idea what happened, no recollection of anything other than the darkness from before but he could feel the curse mark receding. As if looking at her alone was enough.

“Sasuke!” She was okay, bruised and battered but at least.

She’s alive and that was all that mattered.

~~~

Yet up until now, Sasuke had no idea how she managed to snap him out of it.

“Papa, you’re spacing out again.” Sarada commented noticing him zoning out.

“Ah, sorry. Just thinking about something.”

“About what?” She prodded curious, Sasuke wasn’t sure whether he should say considering Sarada was going to go through the chunin exams herself. Still, they wouldn’t be as bad as back then, something he was grateful of.

“About your moth-” Sasuke knew he immediately piqued her interest as she turned to him. Eyes big and curious. He huffed amused, but perhaps she could give a different perspective.

“It happened when we were your age, she… snapped me out of this trance. I can’t really explain but one minute I felt I was consumed with darkness and the next she was there.”

‘Who harmed you?’

‘It was me!’ He was cocky, arrogant. Even if it was vague memory, he seemed so proud of what he did.

“Mama always does have this comforting aura, like being near her makes me feel safe. I know it’s because you’re my parents but maybe Mama has that hold on you?”

“Ah.” Perhaps she was right, it didn’t seem realistic but still… what else did he have to go on?

Her hug, her scent, everything familiar to him was what snapped him out of it.

“Does Mama know you’ve felt this way -” Sasuke poked her forehead.

“Let’s keep this between us.” But with the way his daughter was looking at him, she knew.