See the Light

The morning was wet from the night before in more ways than one. Sakura sat up in bed and looked over at Sasuke who was beginning to stir. She knelt over and kissed his forehead.

“Hey.” He said very softly as he felt her lips touch his skin.

“Did you sleep well?” Sakura wanted to know.

“The best night of sleep I’ve had in a long time.” Sasuke confessed.

“I’ll go put some tea on. You take your time.” Sakura kissed him again. Sakura got dressed and hurried downstairs. She no longer lived with her mother, they had become closer to one another because of it. Sasuke got out of bed but soon realized he didn’t have a thing to wear at Sakura’s house. He went into Sakura’s bathroom and wrapped a towel around him, tossed his now dry hair around and went downstairs. Sakura didn’t mind the fact that he had nothing to wear but that towel.

“Here you go.” She said sitting a cup of tea in front of Sasuke at her kitchen table. She poured herself a cup and joined him. Sasuke gazed at Sakura for a long time and said nothing, he then finally smiled.

“You look so different.” He said to her.

“How so?” she asked. “Good or bad?”

“Very good. You’re radiant, you’re very womanly.” Skaura blushed.

“Well, you’ve changed too. You used to be…you know…cute. Now, you’re just sexy. I couldn’t keep my hands off you then and I can’t now either.” Sakura said. Sasuke laughed. It nearly made Sakura cry to hear him laugh; it was something that was so rare that anytime it occurred it needed to be treasured. Sasuke took a sip of tea.

“Sasuke, did you find it? Did you reach your goal? Did you see the light for which you were searching?” Sakura was serious. Sasuke looked down at her table and seemed to sink in desolation.

“No. All that time away, fighting for a cause and I’m as hollow as I was when I left as I was upon my return.” Sakura reached for his hand, figuring he may tense up and shy away from her…he didn’t.

“You don’t have to be hollow anymore. I don’t know if I can fill your void, but I’ll certainly try.” Sakura said stroking the back of his hand with her thumb.

“I know. That’s why I came over last night. I knew you could…help me fight my demons. Listen, I know this is a little…direct of me. But, could I stay with you for a few days?” Sasuke asked, his black eyes warm for one of the first times in his life. Sakura’s heart nearly leapt into her throat.

“It doesn’t have to be a few days Sasuke. It can be as long as you like.” Sakura reassured him.

“Thank you…Sakura. “ Sasuke was genuinely grateful for Sakura’s hospitality and he most definitely hadn’t expected her to receive him so forgivingly. After all, it had been a rocky road for the two of them and their previously relationship was ridiculously one sided. Sasuke finished his tea and then did a most surprising thing. He got up from the table still clad only in Sakura’s bath towel and walked over to her. Sasuke took her head in his hands and tilted her head backwards. He kissed her sweetly. “Let’s go for a walk. I need to get some things from home anyway.” Sasuke said to her, letting his fingers trail across her face before taking his cup to her sink. Sakura watched him closely. She could see the dreaded seal that had been placed upon him so many years ago. She remembered that day as if it had happened only hours ago.

Saskue put on his dirty clothes from the day before since it was all he had at Sakura’s for the time being. They were still damp and didn’t smell exactly nice. They would walk to his apartment and get whatever it was he needed and bring it back to her place. Sakura hurried upstairs and got dressed in the coolest clothes she could find. She simply knew this day would be as hot as the previous. The two of them left her apartment and arrived at Sasuke’s shortly. Sakura had no idea he had been living here for the past two years. Everything was so neat; in fact it was too neat as if no one ever visited him. Ever called him, ever even spared him a passing glance. Sakura’s heart ached because of this. She only hoped that she could be the light at the end of his, lengthy tunnel of darkness.

“Do you need any help?” She asked.

“No, I won’t be long.” He said to her, kissing her again and going into the other room. Sakura was terrified to let him out of his sight at this point, she feared that if he disappeared form her view, she would lose him again and she just knew it would be forever. But after a few minutes, Sasuke returned with two large suitcases…it was obvious to her that he was staying for more than three days. This made Sakura feel that he really and truly wanted her in his life and that he needed her. They left his apartment and returned to hers only for a moment to drop off his suitcases and for him to change into something less soiled, and then it was time for their long walk.

“You lead, I’ll follow.” Sakura said. They began walking through the middle of town. It was crowded being the middle of the day at this point. Sasuke grabbed her hand so she would stay right by his side as they wove through the crowded streets. Once to the outskirts of the business district, Sasuke led Sakura to a dirt path.

“So, do you still do that inner Sakura thing? You know, that thing where your inner self yells ‘hell yeah’ and ‘love wins again’ and other shit like that?” Sasuke asked snaking his arm around Sakura’s waist. She was surprised by two things, number one that his arm was around her and number two, that he would actually kid her about something. Sakura laughed.

“Of course not.” At that moment inner Sakura threw up her fist in an energetic ‘hell yeah I do!’ Sakura put her arms around Sasuke’s waist as he had done to her.

“Do you still hare Naruto?” She asked him. Sasuke laughed. It was a joyful noise to Sakura’s ears.

“No, actually he and I recently had a great talk. A long talk and we went through a lot of sake.” Sasuke snickered. Sakura’s face broke out into a huge smile.

“Sasuke!” She half yelled, “You got drunk with Naruto!?” She laughed wildly at the thought. Sasuke was still all smiles.

“Sakura, drunk wasn’t even the word for it…it was more like trashed. No, shit faced.” Sasuke snickered again.

“Maybe you can drink with me sometime. I might get real loose and let you in my pants.” Sakura teased. Sasuke looked at her through squinted eyes. He had what Sakura thought was a very sexy grin on his face.

“You’ve already done that.” He said.

“Yeah, but I’ve never had sex drunk and you obviously haven’t either.” Sasuke thought about that for a moment.

“True, I’ll pencil that in on my ‘things to do’ list as soon as we get back to your place.” Sakura noticed they were walking through the woods. It was beautiful all around since the forest was in full bloom.

“By, the way; where are we going?” She asked.

“I always take this walk anytime I’ve needed to think. I’ve never shared this trail with anyone, though many know it exists. Since I’ve always been rather selfish, I thought I would share this with you. You would appreciate the solitude the most of anyone I know.” Sakura felt her heart turn to butterflies and flutter wildly in her chest. She hoped and prayed that Sasuke truly meant these words of which he was speaking to her. She couldn’t help but think that this time it was for real, this time he was hers.
They walked a while longer and Sasuke stopped Sakura and stood in front of her. He put his hands on her shoulders and smiled at her.

“Sakura, close your eyes and don’t open them until I tell you.”