Chapter Text
It was not uncommon to see such parade during the three weeks between the end of one school year and the beginning of the next. Springtime was not inclement in Konoha, in fact the weather was mild. However, the students preferred to take advantage of those days off to seek out all kinds of entertainment. Precisely for this reason, the destination, which over the years had developed a certain reputation among university students, was Suna. The warm and sunny Suna, where during the day you could enjoy the white beaches and crystal clear waters, while at night the clubs offered the fun that students needed. Even those who were not very inclined to nightlife, between bars and discos, in those three weeks turned into a party animal, capable of swallowing gallons and gallons of alcohol, all to relieve the stress and pressure accumulated during the school year.
" I can't believe you asked her for her number. " Kiba, uncomfortably settled in one of the back seats, shook his head in disappointment.
" What's wrong with that? We befriended each other, I thought it was nice to maintain relations.... " The brown-haired boy snapped his tongue, in response to Choji's tepid defense, pressed into the middle of the back seats despite his size.
" Maintain relations? " Kiba was now outraged. " What happens in Suna stays in Suna, you idiot. You don't come here to make friends, you come here to fuck in a foreign land with girls you'll never see again in your life. That's why these vacations exist. "
" I'm pretty sure vacations exist to rest between sessions.... " Interjected the third and final occupant of the back seats. Shikamaru was pressed against the left door, his eyes looking out the window at the view. Certainly more interesting than that conversation. Not that there was much to look at now, considering they were stopped in traffic.
It had been Kiba's idea to rent a car for the duration of their stay in Suna, so they could explore areas not near their accommodation. The hotel was quite close to the nerve center of Suna's nightlife, but that was the last night for most of the outsider students and usually for that occasion one of the most exclusive clubs of the city organized a monumental party. Just for this reason now there was a transhumance of academics clogging the road, something the locals must have become sadly accustomed to.
" Wasn't it you who, on the first day, got it into your head to ask for every possible contact with one of the girls? " The blond boy asked, sitting on the passenger seat with his head partially out of the window. If he had also had his tongue hanging out he would have looked just like a dog.
" Did you burn your brain with all that weed you've been smoking? That's a special case. A SPOA: stunning piece of ass. " An irrefutable argument, at least according to Kiba.
" Too bad you then crapped yourself and didn't ask her anything at all. " Naruto mocked him, causing general giggles.
" I didn't crapped myself, asshole. I was waiting for the right moment. " The brown-haired young man's defense left his lips in a snarl, which to those who didn't know him well enough might have seemed even threatening. To those present, however, it was obvious that his tone was due to the still-burning wound in his pride.
" You should have expected someone else to move first, you idiot. " Now even Shikamaru seemed interested in the conversation, as his gaze was on his friend, seated at the opposite end of the vehicle.
" Look I'm the one who stepped aside. " Until that moment, the young man driving had kept silent, merely listening. At Kiba's last words, however, he couldn't hold back a mocking snort. That simple noise was enough to make the brown-haired boy lean over and grab the driver's seat in an intimidating way. Always according to him, of course. " I'm not a bastard who gets in the way of a friend. "
" I don't recall there being anything about that among those bullshit rules you made up. " In response to Sasuke's derisive and irreverent tone, the other shook the driver's seat with both hands, causing the vehicle, still stopped in traffic, to tremble.
" Why don't you just admit that you did it to keep what little bit of dignity you have left? " Naruto's intervention earned him a look with murderous undertones.
" Are you challenging me perhaps? " The rented car advanced a few meters before stopping again behind a white hatchback, also loaded with students, no doubt heading to the same party.
" Didn't you just say you didn't want to get in the way? " It was Choji who spoke this time, clearly confused by his friend's sudden change of mind.
" Sasuke is just a bastard anyway. " He repeated, hitting the driver's seat for the umpteenth time, this time with his closed fist.
" Kiba... In the name of the friendship that binds us, I advise you to let it go. " Among those present, Choji seemed to be the only one truly concerned that the brown-haired's pride would suffer a severe blow. And he was also the only one whose tone had no mocking undertone.
" Why? The bastard has been doing nothing but flirting with her for five days now, but does it seem like he's accomplished anything? She's probably not interested in arrogant assholes. " Four pairs of eyes were now all on the driver, who for his part kept his onyx irises turned on the road in front of him.
" If that were the case, you would have even less hope. " Sasuke merely said, his tone and expression neutral, impassive.
" Let's make a bet. The first one who fucks her will buy lunch for a month to the other. " The dark-haired boy wrinkled his nose at the total lack of elegance of the other, shaking his head in disapproval.
" Ah! Afraid of losing? " Kiba exclaimed, competitively, as if they were betting on the results of a horse race.
" See, that's why you haven't gotten anywhere in months. Even a girl in your league wouldn't fit in, and trust me, that's way beyond... " Although Shikamaru's tone was flat and bored, his statements only fueled Kiba's antagonism.
" Go ahead and try. " Sasuke granted him, stepping on the accelerator at the exact moment the queue of cars moved. " I don't need you to pay for my lunch. Your humiliation will be enough. "
Compared to the sweltering heat of Suna, the mild temperature of Konoha caused an unpleasant sensation on the skin, now accustomed to the scorching sun and torrid weather. Nevertheless, only two days after their return and three more to rest before the start of the new session, the group of boys had gathered as usual in the Uchiha mansion, crowded at the edge of the large pool.
Enjoying the warm rays of a spring sun, Sasuke was trying to ignore the cackling and insults surrounding him. He had already lost interest in the diatribe involving Kiba and Naruto for several minutes, preferring instead to close his eyes, hidden by his dark glasses, and fantasize about scenarios that did not involve the presence of noisy and intrusive friends.
He intended to enjoy those last hours of absolute peace. The start of the new school year was nothing compared to the commutation that awaited him and would bring a drastic decrease in his privacy.
He had had no complaints when a year and a half earlier Fugaku Uchiha had announced to him that he was in a new relationship. Sasuke was not a child, he realized that his father's life necessarily had to go on. After all, almost seven years had passed since his mother's sad departure.
Thinking about her still caused him melancholy, but he hadn't blamed the man of wanting to replace her or any such nonsense. He knew that this was not his father's wish, but he certainly could not spend the rest of his existence as a grieving widower. He had loved Mikoto deeply and no doubt that feeling was still burning and vivid, along with the memory of her. It would not be the intertwining of his own life with that of another woman that would change those feelings. It was something different, the human need for contact and affection, to belong to someone and to feel someone as his own.
Itachi had then pointed out to him that the man's mood had drastically improved since meeting his new partner, which meant he was also more well-disposed towards Sasuke himself. Well-disposed, certainly, but no less stern and demanding. As usual, he expected the best from both of his sons, but never granted even the semblance of appreciation, as if every effort was in vain and required, or at least this was the case when concerned to Sasuke. His older brother, the favorite son, did not have to deal with such worries. A pressure that was even more relieved by the simple fact that Itachi was now living on his own, without his father's constant hard, pretentious gaze following his every step.
An empty house was about to become suddenly crowded, however, as Fugaku and his partner's relationship had reached a new milestone. The two had decided that it was time for them to live together.
Sasuke didn't mind the woman. She was always nice to him, and even to his rowdy friends. He didn't consider her a total stranger and, in any case, he also knew that her job took up most of her day. So her moving wouldn't have changed things much if it was just her.
Sasuke knew that the woman had a daughter, considering that she talked about her frequently. He never got to know her, as the girl, apparently his age, lived with her father in Kumo. She was a top medical student and this did not allow her to travel much, even to visit her mother. She herself agreed, stating that it was much more important for the young girl to focus on her studies, on her future. It was just another way of saying that the girl had no life outside the university and her mother was fine with it, apparently, as if dedicating her entire existence to study and work was natural and not at all detrimental, especially for a young twenty-one year old.
He had always listened without too much interest to the woman's stories about her daughter, but the moment Fugaku had announced that there would be two new tenants in the Uchiha mansion, the dark-haired boy had had to focus his attention on the details.
Apparently the young woman's father was a diplomat, and therefore forced to constant conveyances. His next assignment would be in Kiri, and for his daughter to follow him would mean enrolling in a less prestigious university, lowering her chances of becoming a successful doctor, as the two parents hoped. It seemed that in terms of expectations they were not too different from Fugaku Uchiha.
As luck would have it, the medical school at Konoha University was just as renowned as Kumo's. So why not seize the opportunity and expand the family by acquiring unknown members from different parts of the world? Sasuke suspected that it was the girl's situation that had served as the input for that important new step, which perhaps his father would never have taken under different circumstances.
Moral of the story was that in a few days that house would fill up and it certainly wasn't something he was too happy about. By now he had his habits, his routine. He would have to change everything and adapt to the newcomers, although they would have to be the ones to do it, considering that he had been living there for much longer. A thought he hadn't voiced out loud though, especially not in the presence of his father.
" Oi, bastard. " He didn't flinch at Naruto's call, still deep in thought.
" Oiiiiiiiii!!!! I'm talking to you! " And there he could no longer ignore it, not after the jolt he received that almost threatened to knock him off the deckchair he was lying on.
" What the fuck do you want? " Having regained stability, the dark-haired lifted his sunglasses on his head, only to be able to do justice to the glare he was giving the other.
" We wanted to know when your new little sister is coming. " Sasuke rolled his eyes, inhaling deeply. Not that it helped increase his shaky patience.
" She's not my sister. You understand that, don't you? " He didn't have much faith in Naruto's intellect, but this was a simple enough concept within his grasp.
His so-called friends had not failed to tease him about it from the moment he had shared that news with them, which was the day before, shortly after he himself had been made aware of it. It was fortunate that his father had waited for him to return from Suna, otherwise Sasuke would have spent most of his restorative vacation sulking at the thought of what was to come. At least he had been able to enjoy those days of rest, before the start of his final year before graduation and before the arrival of his two new tenants. He could only imagine the stress he would accumulate over the next few months.
" So she’s not off-limits. " Naruto concluded thoughtfully, rubbing his chin with his hand. That was an unwritten rule, one that had obviously come from Kiba's genius. The only one among them to have a sister, therefore the only one to benefit from such an imposition. Not that he cared, of course. The girl was certainly not his type, but even so, the young Inuzuka had caught some suspicious glances from her to Sasuke. This had been enough to irritate and annoy him to the point of vetoing relationships with extremely close relatives.
" You don't even know what she looks like. " Shikamaru entered into the conversation, at the same time letting himself fall back wearily on one of the deckchairs, as if simply walking the few meters that separated the seat from the pool had required an immense effort.
"No... But I saw the mother. A nice piece of... person. " Naruto censured himself autonomously, but not before meeting the dark-haired's disapproval-laden gaze. It was disgusting that his friends would refer to his father's partner like that, who in his eyes appeared as a neutral entity that had nothing to do with women in general. Sure, he had noticed her good looks, but he had never allowed perverted thoughts, like those of his friends, to make their way into his mind. It just seemed too wrong to him.
" You might be disappointed. From what I know she's some kind of bookworm, always hunched over books. Certainly not your type. " And he wasn't simply alluding to Naruto's disarming stupidity, which would no doubt have nothing to share with a brilliant medical student, but also to the completely opposite lifestyle. The only times his brain seemed to work tirelessly was when he was looking for the most intense way to spend their evenings. "Beside she has a boyfriend. Her mother just keeps saying it. He's an Olympic athlete or something. " He shrugged his shoulders, before switching positions on the deckchair and lying comfortably prone so the sun could kiss his back as well.
" And why would that put us off? " It had seemed strange to him that Kiba had remained silent up until this point, considering the topic, which was one of his favorites. It seemed that the brown-haired boy had developed two obsessions: girls and revenge on Sasuke. The second matured in light of the events of the past few days and due only to his own arrogance. If there was anyone he should be angry with, it was himself, but it was known to all that Kiba was not able to see his faults and mistakes, let alone take responsibility for them. Far better to blame it on others.
" Suna didn't teach you anything, hmm? " Just hearing Shikamaru pronounce the destination of their last vacation, the young Inuzuka wrinkled his nose.
" Just how shitty some girls taste can be. " With his eyelids lowered and his head resting against his crossed arms, Sasuke let out a satisfied and mocking snort, a provocation that seemed to hit the spot, striking the other's pride like a blow. Kiba's small and dark eyes honed in on his friend's figure with contempt and anger, lingering especially on his back, more precisely on the marks on it, still in the process of healing. Souvenir from Suna, along with some lovebites scattered all over his body. All stains that were taking days to heal, testifying to the eagerness and intensity with which they had been left. Although he was simply lying down, at that moment the young brown-haired man had the impression that Sasuke was intentionally flaunting them, like a trophy. And this caused him further irritation, now impossible to contain.
" You'll laugh less when your little sister will do nothing but ask you about me. " The dark-haired sighed, propping himself up on his elbows slowly, not at all interested in taking up that umpteenth challenge. It seemed that Kiba deliberately sought out the humiliation and mocking of his own companions.
" To beg me to keep you away, probably. Just like the girl from Suna. " Unable to resist those taunts any longer, the young Inuzuka pounced on the other, flipping the deckchair he was lying on so that he fell backwards onto the cement surrounding the pool. Sasuke was quick to get back on his feet and slingshot on his friend, whom he hit on the chin with his closed fist. It was certainly not the first time that a fight broke out between the five of them, and as usual, the remaining members of the group quickly intervened to divide and placate them. Between gasps, the two continued to exchange insults and offenses, which normally they would forget and forgive in a few hours.
He had known those boys since middle school. In Naruto's case since kindergarten. He didn't know when exactly they had started orbiting each other, either. It had simply happened. They didn't get along often, hardly ever really, but eventually they continued to tolerate each other. Despite the taunts and arguments, each of them had the confidence that the other four would never back down if they needed to. Sasuke himself was aware of this, as he had experienced it firsthand, following the untimely death of his mother. He could therefore put up with Naruto's stupidity, Shkamaru's laziness, Choji's naivety, and even Kiba's insolence.
" Sasuke! " It was his father's third call. He had already heard the other two, so now he was in the process of leaving his room and going down to the ground floor, where Fugaku's voice was coming from.
He was not an early riser, Sasuke. When he was a kid, he used to love waking up at dawn to give himself time to do all the activities he wanted to do, but after his mother's death, that habit had gradually waned. It was no longer pleasant to wake up hours earlier than necessary without being able to meet her loving gaze or hear her voice humming in the kitchen. Then, of course, with age, his habits changed as well. It was hard to wake up to the sound of larks after a good night out with his friends. Besides, those were the last days of total freedom he had left. That's what they told themselves as justification, even though they knew that the beginning of the semester wouldn't prevent them from being late at night, even if less frequently.
" I told you we'd be back by lunch. You could have at least made yourself presentable. " Fugaku reserved a look for him that the dark-haired was now used to. Disapproval and disappointment. No matter what he did or said, it was never enough for the man, as he always seemed to expect more from the younger one, almost as if it was a given that Sasuke should read his mind and understand exactly what the he wanted from him, without him having to express it.
He hadn't really just woken up. He had at least had time to take a shower. Proof of that was his still damp hair. How should he have dressed? In a suit? He was in his own house, or rather in what from now on would also be the house of the young girl he had to introduce himself to. Wasn't it more advisable to behave naturally, so as to put her immediately at ease?
" Here we are! " His father's partner peeped out of the doorway, cheerful and smiling, dragging with her a baggage that reached her waist. " Fugaku, dear, there are still three suitcases in the car. "
" Mom, there's no need. I'll take care of it. " The figure that appeared behind the woman instantly froze him. Sasuke's eyes widened, his lips were parted, giving his face an expression of pure dismay. Though his mind seemed to have shut down, his obsidian irises swiftly traced the figure of the young woman before him.
He started at the bottom, at the white sneakers, without the shadow of a single stain, almost as if they had just been taken out of the box. He thought it was inhuman to have the ability to maintain that whiteness, that it was mathematical this kind of shoes would smudge the exact moment they were worn for the first time.
He continued along her legs, wrapped up to the knee by stockings just as white, just as unblemished, without even the slightest stretch mark.
He swallowed at the sight of her exposed skin, slightly darkened by her recent tan, but still maintaining pearly hues.
The pleated skirt was a bright green, with white and pale pink floral patterns. A garment that would normally have connected to a little girl more than an academic, because of the innocence it gave off.
Slipped into it at waist level was a simple, monochrome blouse, completely pastel pink except for the white collar, perfectly folded back on itself. She looked like cotton candy and he had not even looked at her face yet.
It was a face he knew. He followed the curve of her cheeks, which had now acquired an exquisite pinkish hue, to her small, straight, slightly upturned nose. Her lips were full, soft-looking, lacquered with a thin layer of pink. It seemed to be the dominant color.
Her head was topped with shiny pink locks that fell neatly down her shoulders and back. Adorning them was only a pastel green ribbon.
He had purposely saved her eyes for last. They stood out on her beautiful face, illuminating it like two precious gems set in an already breathtaking view. Bright and shining, the two jades reciprocated his dark and incredulous gaze.
"Oh Sasuke dear, you're here. Let me introduce you to my daughter Sakura. " Sakura. He knew her name, of course. His father's companion had often spoken of the girl. Yet, it hadn't flashed through his mind recently. He had only thought of her as Mebuki's daughter. In any case, even if he had remembered it, under no circumstances would he have been able to make that connection. It was only a name. He would have dismissed it as a mere coincidence, since would have been impossible to him associate that young woman with the Sakura he had already met. The girl of Suna.
" Sakura, this is Sasuke, my youngest son. " It had only been a matter of moments, yet it seemed that the dark-haired boy had been lost in contemplation of her figure for hours.
She had seemed just as bewildered as Sasuke, but unlike him she had granted him a much more cursory and less invasive glance, before she began to look around nervously as long as she didn't cross his onyx eyes. Sakura tortured her soft lower lip with her teeth, while her hands had left their grip on the luggage she was carrying, joining behind her back instead.
" It's a... um... " She took the briefest of pauses, imperceptible to those present, but which for the dark-haired was charged with embarrassment. Then again, the others could not know. " It is a pleasure to meet you. " In the current situation, Sasuke could only nod his head in agreement.
It was hard to think straight, now that far too many explicit images were running through his mind, starring the very young woman in front of him. Nor was he simply fantasizing as if he were a depraved. It probably would have been better, compared to the reality of the situation.
The possibility of that scenario occurring was infinitesimal. Yet there she was, Sakura, the girl who with her friends had brightened their stay in Suna. They had met on the beach, the day of their arrival. It was not uncommon for groups of outsider students to interact and intertwine, even though they were aware that they would probably never see each other again.
Needless to say, it was Kiba who noticed them immediately, as he had scanned the beach for possible targets even before he could get into his swimsuit. Sakura was his exception, the kind of girl that not even after a student vacation would anyone want to lose sight of. And she was undoubtedly out of young Inuzuka's reach, as Shikamaru had pointed out.
Sasuke wasn't as obsessed as his friend on the subject, but it was normal that he had indulged in his own affairs when he had the desire to do so. With Sakura it had happened immediately, even before they could talk. So she had been his exception as well.
Interacting with her had only fueled his desire to get to know her better. His experience had led him to believe that it was extremely difficult for such a beautiful girl to also have an interesting personality or a lovable character, but of course he had to change his mind. In five days Sakura had been able to spark his interest in every way and it had all culminated on the last evening.
He had an extremely vivid memory of that night and not just because it had happened three days before, but also because of the marks still branded on his body. It was very likely that one or two at the level of his neck were visible even at that moment. That simple realization led him to frown and at the same time look for the same bruises he knew he had left on her.
That Sakura was extremely different from Suna's girl. Overcoming his initial shock, Sasuke had been able to see this. She exuded an innocence he didn't remember seeing in her, an uncertainty he hadn't encountered in her gaze, and a bashfulness that, had it been present that time, wouldn't have led them to have sex repeatedly on one of Suna's beaches.
Even the way she moved, the way she showed herself was different. At that moment, Sakura was exactly Mebuki's daughter, the one she had told him about full of pride, the top medical student, so focused on her studies that she had no time or interest in anything else. She matched that description, in her candor and orderly composure. If only the woman had known that this same innocent girl only three days before had clawed at his back, leaving marks that he could feel the slight burn even now.
If he hadn't been stunned by the turn of events, he probably would have laughed out loud, because the situation was so damn tragicomic.
" Sasuke. " His father's rough voice abruptly brought him back to reality, reminding him that while a sea of thoughts filled his mind, time was still ticking away and the others had continued to talk.
" Hmm? " He realized that he hadn't taken his eyes off Sakura for even a moment. Maybe that had been noticed. Maybe they had realized something was wrong, of the awkwardness that hovered over the two of them.
" The luggage. " But no, thankfully. " Take her luggage upstairs. " It was Fugaku's simple, concise order that allowed him to become completely aware of where he was and how necessary was to act with clearness. He would have time to consider the gravity of the situation once he was on his own.
" Oh, no! I mean... no, there's no need, really. I can handle it on my own. " Sakura smiled, immediately tightening her fingers around the handle of her trolley, almost as if she feared that someone, in this case him, might snatch it out of her hand. In that way she risked simply to arouse suspicion, even if it could only seem that the girl felt obviously bewildered by the commutation, by finding herself in what from then on would be her new home.
The dark-haired let out an imperceptible sigh, deciding that the best choice was to act naturally. Not that it was easy. He felt tense and numb at the same time, but somehow he managed to find the courage to go down the last step and approach the girl. Bad decision.
It was a detail he had noticed before, but it had slipped his mind at that moment. Sakura didn't seem to be able to hold back some of her body's unbidden reactions, such as the redness of her cheeks. It had been an extremely pleasant discovery and, during the five days in Suna, Sasuke had done nothing but research that phenomenon on purpose, gaining a not inconsiderable satisfaction by the knowledge that he was the one causing it. In this case, instead, he would have preferred that the girl was able to control herself and not only because someone could have found that sudden embarrassment equivocal, but also because that simple but dangerous expression was able to evoke in him memories that certainly were not the case to bring to the surface in that instant.
He cleared his throat and, as if it had been a signal, the two looked away from each other simultaneously. Perhaps a little too abruptly he took the trolley out of her hands, walking towards the upper floor without another glance over his shoulder.
" What the fuck are you talking about? " Kiba was the first to assimilate his words, while the others simply stared at him in dismay. He himself in recounting how he had found on his doorstep the stranger he had had sex with on vacation, had realized how surreal it was. " Is that Sakura... your new little sister? " Sasuke winced, wrinkling both his nose and his mouth.
" God, don't call her that. " It made him feel extremely disgusting, though at the same time he was also innocent. How could he know that this very girl was Mebuki's daughter?
"Are you sure about that? " Naruto seemed to be the most shocked one. In fact, his tone of voice made him seem almost lost.
" I still have my sight. "He commented, irritated and exasperated at the same time. A part of him would have wanted to stay in the house that night, so he could brood over the situation. The other, the one that had then had the upper hand, had forced him to get out of that mansion and away from Sakura, who was fortunately doing her best to avoid any contact. Of course, he knew they couldn't continue like that forever, and he himself didn't want to. However, he was still too upset, especially by the violent and seemingly uncontrollable way his thoughts had intruded into his mind. Thoughts that were undoubtedly inappropriate.
" You are one lucky fucking bastard. " Anything would have been expected but those words. He was certain that Kiba of all people would not miss the opportunity to mock him. The reason why he was rather reluctant to share that story with his friends. Then the sad knowledge that in any case they would have found out everything had led him to resignation. Instead, the young Inuzuka had surprised him but not too pleasantly. He could not see the good fortune the other seemed to glimpse.
" Kiba...she's his sister. " He transfixed again, feeling the visceral desire to violently shut the mouth of the next person who would use that word.
" Step-sister. Not even, really. It's not like your parents are married, right? Technically, it's like you're roommates. " Sasuke frowned, but added nothing, as did the others. Maybe they were all thinking the same thing, which was that Kiba was a damn depraved man, but also that he actually had a point. There was nothing to be disgusted about. Until that morning, he didn't even know who Sakura was, or rather he didn't know what kind of relationship was about to be forced on them. They didn't have a blood relation, fortunately, but neither did they have a legal one. " And your roommate is one hot piece of ass. Lucky bastard. " Repeated the other, this time failing to conceal the hint of envy present in his tone.
"At least now we're sure she's not off-limits. If we apply that rule it would mean that Sasuke fucked his sister... Oi, bastard! Where are you going?" The dark-haired boy was already on his feet, heading towards the exit of the club. He wasn't in the mood at all to suffer and endure the taunts of his friends, much less to hear them talk that way about the girl who wasn't his sister, but was now part of his family anyway. Unfortunately.
He had already been in the car for ten minutes, his gaze focused on the window of one of the rooms in the Uchiha mansion. It’s two in the morning, why is she still awake? When he had returned, abandoning his friends without even giving them a ride home, he had thoughtfully checked that the light coming from Sakura's room was off. They'd managed to avoid each other all day, but the risk of colliding in the hallway had been high. He wanted to be careful, so he had turned off the engine, lit a cigarette and waited. Only Sasuke was not a patient person, so ten minutes had been enough to irritate him. Could she have fallen asleep with the light on? In that case it would have been a big problem, because he would have waited in vain, risking to stay in his car for the whole night.
Sasuke sighed loudly, running a hand through his raven locks and then over his face. He was an idiot. He certainly couldn't go on like that. Sooner or later he would have to face the issue head on and accept that Sakura was now living in his house. He couldn't ignore and avoid her forever.
For one crazy moment he had even wondered what could have happened if he confessed the incident to his father and he had laughed like a madman. He highly doubted that in that case Fugaku would have limited himself to a disapproving look. The idea of disappointing the man no longer caused him the same anger he had when he was a boy. Now mixed with it was resignation, the awareness that in any case he would never be able to make him proud, to satisfy his unattainable expectations. Maybe a part of him was unconsciously looking for ways to disappoint him, because at least in that case he would not have reserved him only cold detachment. Telling him about Sakura, however, went far beyond that threshold. It would have affected his life, his new relationship. Sasuke did not despise his father to that extent.
He decided he had waited too long, so got out of the car without even bothering to put it in the garage. Another failure that would have caused Fugaku's disappointment.
The house was obviously shrouded in silence, broken only by the tinkle of his keys, by the sound of his footsteps as he reached the upper floor. He looked around circumspectly, almost as if he feared that a wild animal might emerge from some corner. He relaxed only when he could see the door of his room from a distance; a few steps separated him from his destination, from his salvation. That's why he couldn't help mentally cursing when another door opened, revealing the tiny figure of Sakura. It was obvious that luck could not be on his side. It would have been too easy if the girl had decided to leave her room just two minutes later, giving him time to lock himself in his own.
They stared at each other in the semi-darkness of the corridor for several moments, both obviously undecided about what to do. The best choice would have been to ignore each other, but Sasuke's gaze had acted spontaneously as it traveled from bottom to top of her figure, wrapped only in a thin nightgown of a soft blue. It was as if the universe had it in for him and was punishing him, using that girl's body to do so.
Obviously, Sakura noticed his glance, which was too invasive and targeted to appear casual and disinterested, and shifted her weight from one foot to the other, in discomfort. After moments that seemed like days, she lowered her gaze, bringing her fingers to the hem of her garment, as if to cover as much as possible the strips of exposed skin. A completely useless gesture, since it was the fabric that was missing. It at least managed to rouse Sasuke, mentally cursing himself for his total lack of self-control. It wasn't like him, but it was also true that he had been caught unprepared and that he still had to assimilate the situation, before deciding how it was better to behave. She certainly wasn't helping him clear his head.
“ I was… " Clearly the girl was struggling to find the right words to express herself, so she continued to twist the hem of her nightgown, until she decided to retrace and step back into the room. " Good night. " She murmured almost imperceptibly. If the house hadn't been completely shrouded in silence he wouldn't have even been able to hear her. He didn't say anything, inhaling deeply the instant the door closed and blocked his view of Sakura.
" Fuck... " Yet she was still there, in his mind, starring in a decidedly different scenario. How could he act natural and pretend nothing had happened, when those same images were doing everything they could to reemerge?
He had to straighten things out. He had to forget about Suna. He had to consider Sakura as Mebuki's daughter and not the girl whose moans kept ringing in his ears. And above all, he had to urgently take a cold shower.