#[ deeply i apologise!! i became engaged and things have been very busy as of late ;; ]

[imgonnabeyourbubblegumwitch]

I Love You, You Pay My Rent: Chapter Five

First Chapter (Prologue)

Previous Chapter (Chapter Four)

Nico had been living with Will for one month. Strangely living with Will as Will’s pretend boyfriend was no different from living with Will as random acquaintances thrown together because they both knew Percy. Will still spent most of the time out, Nico still got a dull ache in his chest whenever he saw him, and they still spent the rare times they were in the apartment together watching films, playing video games and occasionally engaging in a mythomagic duel.

Still despite the fact that not much had changed, Nico still began to think he was stupid to agree to the situation. He tried to dampen it down but knowing he was Will’s fake boyfriend gave him false hope, like fake boyfriend would translate into real boyfriend and they’d fall in love and live happily ever after. He felt light, his chest all a flutter whenever he thought about the possibility and he knew sooner or later he was going to get hurt.

But he couldn’t call off the pretending or fake break up without giving Will an explanation, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to do that either. There wasn’t anything he could conceivably say that would explain his sudden change of heart other than the truth. And he’d rather anything - walking over hot coals, seeing his dad again, hell even telling Percy the truth about how he had once felt - than admit he might have anything resembling feelings for Will.

He came home from a stupidly long shift and with the hollow feeling in the pit of his stomach he got whenever he thought of Percy and his engagement, or about how alone he was. Reyna had noticed and offered to come back with him but Nico had declined. It wasn't that he was the kind of person who liked to wallow in his own misery, but he did kind of want to wallow in his own misery for a bit.

There was a stack of books on the table. The orange post it stuck to the top of the stack blended in with the front cover but Nico eventually noticed and plucked it off.

Don't give up. I didn't.

He frowned, then realised that the stack were history textbooks. One very generic others more specific. He picked one up and flicked through it in a shocked daze. Each book was new. He shuddered to think how much they must have cost altogether.

When Will got back, Nico was curled up on the sofa with a cup of coffee, reading about the fall of the Roman Empire.

The more cynical side of Nico, the side that wasn't used to people presenting him with thoughtful gifts wanted to berate Will for spending all the money on him. The side that was crushing heavily on Will freaking Solace overruled.

"Thanks for the books," he said instead.

Will shrugged it off like it was nothing, but then Nico supposed the probably insane amount of money they had cost probably was insignificant to Will.

"I was in the store anyway and I saw them. They're on the reading list for one of the history classes Lou-Ellen takes. She likes History. She's weird like that."

"Will-" Nico began but whatever he was going to say died in his throat. To his horror his eyes felt hot.

"You go to college?" he said instead.

Will laughed at the obvious disbelief in Nico's voice.

"Obviously," Will said. "What did you think I do?"

"I don't know? Spent money? Invented new cocktails? Let your friends punch you in the face at parties?"

"That's how I know Percy? We go to the same place?" Will sounded incredibly confused.

"Oh shut up," Nico said, but he was smiling.

Since Nico spent most of his time at work, or trying deseperately not to fall too deeply in love with Will, the moments when he actually had time to relax all he wanted to do was watch whatever channel Will had left the tv on (since the remote had a habit of vanishing into thin air). What he didn't want to do was party-plan an engagement thing for his first love and his first love's fiance. Percy had been so excited Nico couldn't exactly say no to helping, but he had kind of hoped his complete lack of enthusiasm and interest would have cued Percy into realising that Nico really didn't want to take part. Percy was completely oblivious and  it only took three phone calls about fancy finger food, two different shades of aquamarine and whether it was skinny ties or fat ties that were in at the moment for Nico to want to throw his phone into the nearest body of water.

If it wasn't Percy calling then it was Jason who of course knew about Percy's engagement but also knew about Nico having a slight thing for Percy and so not only did Jason call with stag do questions, information and chat, but he also called to make sure Nico was okay. And Nico would insist he was okay, however untrue that was, because insisting he was okay was a better option than telling Jason that actually he had somehow agreed to  being the fake boyfriend of his sort-of land lord who was beautiful and funny and might make Nico's heart feel funny.

All in all Nico, was really beginning to dread the sound of a ringtone.

Will had spent more time out in the last week and Nico had deduced from Will's stress levels and the number of books that had suddenly appeared on many of the surfaces around the apartment, that Will was studying for some kind of test. The last he'd seen of Will he'd been sleep walking towards a textbook, mumbling about proteins. Nico had steered him back towards his bed and forced him to sleep. It was a strange divergence from Will's usual laid-back nature and apparent lack of interest in studying to the point where Nico had been unaware Will even attended college, and Nico kind of had to wonder what prompted the change.

He was surprised when Will came through the door looking more cheerful than he'd been in a little while, and surmised whatever Will had been prepping for must be over.

"I'm ordering food," Nico said. "You want?"

Will took a moment to process the question.

"Let's go out," he replied.

Nico stared at him, heart thudding, and wondered if too much studying had somehow made Will lose his mind.

"We are," he pointed out a little shakily. “Right?”

Will blinked at him.

"To eat. Let's go out to eat. There's this place I want to try."

That made more sense but it didn't stop the heavy feeling in his chest. Still maybe it would do him good to get out. And being on a legitimate fake-date/food-quest/dinner-with-the-guys thing with Will was a valid excuse to ignore his phone.

"Sure," Nico said, trying not to sigh too much.

Taking a taxi was a strange novelty, but Will didn't seem to think too much of it. He was oddly quiet and distant as they moved through the city, curiously detached from the crowds of people on the pavements. Nico was starting to worry in a general nonspecific way about the not-date and more specifically about the fact Will looked reasonably presentably in a dress shirt and Nico looked nothing of the sort in an old tshirt. What if Nico didn't like the food? He'd have to remember not to order spaghetti because although reasonably confident in his ability to twirl it round his fork in private, it was the very last thing he wanted to attempt doing in front of Will Solace. He'd have to -

He'd have to remember it wasn't actually a date. He wasn't entirely sure what it was: he was pretty sure Will hadn't thought about it at all and that he himself was now completely overthinking it but -

But Will was reasonably famous. He wasn't Kim Kardashian, or that singer guy or anyone of the other famous people that were very much in the public conscious, but he was recognisable enough that in a crowded restaurant at least one person was going to recognise him. And then they'd seen him with Nico and -

And the fact he was fake dating Will suddenly seemed real in a way it really hadn't seemed real when they'd only ever interacted in the apartment. He glanced over at Will but he was still distracted, lips moving soundlessly. He suddenly became away Nico was watching him and gave a self-deprecating smile.

"I think I messed up question six," he said by way of explanation and then sighed.

"Sorry. I'll stop thinking about it. I know I must have been pretty annoying this last week."

Nico shrugged.

"I didn't really see a difference between that and your usual level of annoyingness," he said.

Will smiled and it was a real smile this time and it made Nico's tummy do the thing, and his heart feel all funny, and his head scream at him that he was a moron who was in completely over his head.

"Do you mind if we walk the rest of the way?" Will asked. "I think I need some fresh air."

He did look pale and wan. Nico assumed it was all the late nights studying and/or partying (there had briefly been a bottle of Jack Daniels in the fridge which had then disappeared by the next day) that had taken their toll.

He nodded and vowed not to make Will's unhealthy habits his business because Will wasn't really his boyfriend and he didn't need to get involved.

Will yawned as he paid, apologising to Nico and the driver.

"We could have stayed in," Nico pointed out, as Will stifled a second yawn.

"You looked like you needed a break," Will answered with a shrug. "You kept staring at your phone like it was an unexploded weapon of mass destruction and I thought maybe you'd like the distraction."

"And the reason we've driven halfway across the city, instead of just ordering take out and watching one of those films like we always do?"

"Vitamin D?"

"It's dark."

"You can actually get vitamin D through streetlamps it's this new science thing, latest research-"

"You're an idiot Solace."

"You love me," Will said, obviously very automatically but it didn't stop Nico's heart stopping, restarting at tens times it's normal rate and then juddering to a stop again.

"I don't," he lied. "Not in the slightest."

"Well as your fake boyfriend I'm kind of offended," Will replied easily. "And as your friend I'm also kind of offended. As the person who is letting you stay in my house rent free, whatever I guess."

"We're friends?" Nico asked with some surprise, realising half a second too late that it was a potentially offensive and generally quite clueless thing to say.

"Aren't we?" Will asked, suddenly looking worried in that kicked puppy dog way he sometimes had.

"Yeah," Nico said hurriedly. "Yeah I guess we are."

Will still looked a little taken aback by Nico's response and Nico was too busy trying to play catch up with the conversation because the painful spot in his heart was still caught up on the careless use of the word love.

Luckily, they'd reached the restaurant which forced a change in subject. Will's good humour seemed to have returned, even if he still looked more like Nico's sun-deprived, sleep-deprived self, than his usual glowing model-like picture of health.

The waitress showed them to a table. There was a candle and a single rose in a vase. It brought back the nerves and when he took a menu he hand was shaking. He was sure the waitress noticed, though luckily Will was checking his phone and so was oblivious. The waitress gave Nico a smile and a secret thumbs up and then disappeared leaving the two of them alone.

"Cecil asked after you," Will commented.

"And you told him -"

"I told him it was none of his business, yeah. He's still angling to meet you again but I've been making excuses. You've had two family emergencies and a dental appointment this week alone."

"Wow my life sure does suck."

"My sincerest sympathies in this troubled time."

"Your support is truly appreciated, I don't know what I'd do without -"

"Wine menu?" the waitress asked, having magically appeared back at their table.

"Please," Will said.

"No that's alright," Nico said.

Their waitress looked between them, proffering the menu with an uncertain expression like she thought their date might be about to collapse. Will noticed and sent Nico a quick smirk. Nico had to try and stop himself giggling. He gestured that Will take the menu.

"You're not drinking?" Will asked as he flicked it open.

"I'm not drinking wine."

"Can I order for you?"

Nico thought that on balance getting drunk on a pretend date with someone who he was majorly crushing on might not be the best of ideas. He also wasn't sure he liked the way Will's eyes were shining. Well actually that was a lie, he really did like the way Will's eyes were shining and that was probably the reason he ended up saying yes.

He was pretty sure Will ordered him some kind of incredibly potent cocktail, but the name wasn't familiar which, since he worked in a bar, was kind of worrying.

"If you have to carry me home it will be entirely your fault," he warned.

"I won't carry you home," Will answered. "I'll leave you here."

"I don't think there's a universe that exists in which you'd be able to bring yourself to do that. You're too much of a mom."

"A mom?"

"Yeah. I bet you're the mom friend. You're totally the mom friend."

"I'm friends with Cecil. Anyone would end up the mom friend. It's a survival tactic."

"Sure thing Solace."

Will was a paragon of maturity and so absolutely didn't stick his tongue out over the top of the menu as their drinks arrived.  Nico's was, as he'd suspected, huge and brightly coloured and had several straws, a ridiculous paper umbrella, lots of fruit and a plastic pirate sword and pretend parrot.

"What is this?" Nico asked with some suspicion as it was handed to him. Will, who was on half a glass of wine like a civilised person completely cracked up and tried to steal a strawberry. Nico slapped his hand away.

"You don't eat fruit," Will protested.

"I do when it's imbued with alcohol."

"Remind me to address your eating habits."

"I will definitely not."

Will smirked but he suddenly seemed distracted. Nico followed his line of sight and saw a reasonably attractive guy with dark hair, and a pretty girl who was uncomfortably reminiscent of Annabeth sitting down at a table nearby. It was uncomfortable in a vague way as he was reminded of the fact Percy was engaged, but he couldn't quite work out what was bothering Will.

"An ex?" he asked.

Will laughed quietly. "No."

"Ex-one night stand."

"No, shut up."

"Well if you feel threatened we are a million times cuter than they are, and we're not even really a thing."

Will really did laugh then.

"The girl kind of reminded me of my sister. A blonde version. I guess she's not actually that similar but - never mind. You're right. We're cuter."

"Exactly. And the waitress is pretty into us. I bet we could score free desert."

Will finally looked away from the other couple with a grin.

"Alright," he said. "Honey."

Nico sometimes wondered why he didn't seem to have a working filter that could block ideas like trying to score free desert by taking his already stressful not-date to a whole new level. He blamed the cocktail.

"You really don't have to drink all that," Will said watching him with some amusement but also traces of concern. "You don't have anything to prove, I just wanted to see if it really would come with a parrot."

"It did," Nico said flicking at the plastic thing. "And besides this is surprisingly good. You want?"

Will raised an eyebrow but he leant forward to catch the spare straw. He was close enough for Nico to count every freckle, see distinctly every golden eyelash, see the flecks of darker blue in his irises. His breath caught.  

"You're right actually," Will said, grinning around the straw. Nico smiled back automatically. It made his cheek muscles hurt.

"If you ordered my drink, I get to order your meal."

Will shrugged, eyes dancing.

"Sure thing love."

"You're not allergic to anything are you?" Nico asked, as he picked up a menu.

"I'm allergic to you being a douche with my meal options."

"I'm not sure I believe you. You'll have to show me a doctor’s note."

"Surprisingly I don't carry one around with me."

"Pity," Nico said. "Guess I'll take my chances and hope I don't kill you.

"If I collapse you could try mouth to mouth," Will suggested with a way too mischievous grin. Nico nearly choked on his drink.

Nico ordered Will some kind of rice three with five little drawings of peppers by it in revenge, and himself a carbonara because he panicked and forgot the spaghetti rule. The waitress twinkled as Nico spoke both of them, and promised it wouldn't be long as though she was prepared to personally threaten the chef to make it happen.

"She's totally in love with us," Will said.

"We're acing it," Nico said. "Look at your not-sister and not-Percy. They're way behind."

Will's grin was like a thousand candles.

If Nico's heart hadn't been racing so hard he could almost have forgotten that they were faking a date. Being with Will was so easy. The conversation never faltered and even the silences were comfortable as long as Nico didn't forget himself and start getting lost in the cerulean colour of Will's eyes. Even then he could just pretend he thought they were losing sight of their free desert and that he was upping their game, so it wasn't as concerning as it could have been.

Will was doing surprisingly well with the spicy rice and insisted it wasn't hot at all. Nico was convinced that was just because he didn't want to give Nico the satisfaction, because his cheeks were beginning to redden. He looked impossibly beautiful in the flickering light and Nico found himself smiling more than he had in a long time.

"So," the waitress said as took Nico's plate.

"How long have you two been going out?"

"Oh, not long," Will said.

"This is our first official date," Nico confirmed.

"Aww," the waitress said. "That's so cute. You two are so brave."

"I don't need to be brave. Will gives me all the strength I need."

Will was out of the waitress’s line of sight which was lucky because he was trying not to crack up and was indicating with his eyebrows that Nico might be laying it on a bit thick.

"I'm so lucky to have met Nico," Will said smoothly as the waitress turned to collect his plate. He was impressively straight faced.

"I don't believe in love at first sight but he just kind of captured me you know?"

"We met on the street, just kind of bumped into each other. Will was a moron in face paint. But he was an endearing moron."

"Aww babe, you're too kind."

"You two are just the sweetest. Tell you what, since it's a special occasion how about desert? On the house."

Will gushed his thanks and made eyes at Nico. Nico didn't have to act like he was a) thrilled about free desert or b) melting under Will's gaze and the waitress, obviously believing their lie that the attraction was two sided wandered off to fetch a desert menu.

Nico chose a chocolate gateau and Will opted for some fancy tart thing. Nico insisted his free desert was way better and Will told him he was incredibly wrong so they ended up sharing in an attempt to try and find an ultimate winner. Nico was half convinced their accidental cuteness during desert would be enough to get their whole meal for free, but Will insisted on paying anyway.

Out in the cold air, Nico found he couldn’t walk in a straight line, and kept bumping into Will. Eventually Will looped his arm through Nico’s. Nico turned to him in surprise.

“I’m slightly concerned you’re going to wander into traffic,” Will said in explanation.

Nico thought about protesting that he was just fine and not drunk at all, thank you very much, he only had one and if he was drunk (which he wasn’t) it would be Will’s fault for ordering such a huge cocktail. But he didn’t, because he liked being close to Will.

“Let’s go dancing,” Nico said.

Will burst out laughing.

“You really are drunk!” he said.

“And you really are the mom friend,” Nico told him accusingly.

“I thought you’d hate dancing,” Will said musingly.

“Oh I absolutely do,” Nico said, managing to suppress but I don’t really want this fake night to end which just proved he wasn’t too drunk after all.

Will was still laughing.

“Then maybe we should go home,” he said.

“You’re boring.”

“We can try and figure out how to make that cocktail that’s got you feeling like you want groove.”

“Less boring.”

“I bet you have fancy drink making skills you can show off.”

“I don’t work at some five star restaurant, Will,” he said. But cocktails sounded nice so he allowed Will to take them home.

As he was stumbling walking through the front door, he saw a blue envelope thing on the matt under his feet. He picked it up, squinting at the writing but the words were blurring so he shoved it in Will’s direction.

“That cocktail must have been really lethal,” Will commented but he took the proffered note.

“It’s from Percy. He says he wanted to give it to you in person but guesses you weren’t in or were avoiding him in revenge for all the calls. I think it’s an invitation to the engagement party.”

Nico’s mouth suddenly turned sour and the pleasant, floaty, tipsy feeling vanished leaving behind the feeling he was being pulled down by the weight of the world. Suddenly he was unreasonably angry, at Percy for ruining his perfect not-date, at Percy for getting engaged, at himself for not being able to just move on. Will was looking at him with concern in his eyes and Nico felt a rush of affection nearly choking him.

“If I’m your fake boyfriend then you have to be mine.”

“I mean yeah – I think that’s how it works?”

“No, I mean you have to be mine. Come to Percy’s engagement with me.”

Will raised an eyebrow. He still looked concerned but he nodded.

“Yeah,” he said. "Okay, sure.”

Next Chapter

[sagara-megumi]

SasuSaku Month - Day 15: The Slug and the Snake || [Fanfic] Till Death Do Us Part

Title: Till Death Do Us Part

Rating: T/PG-13

Notes: Sorry to keep you waiting, but at last, the final chapter is here ^^ It’s sad but at the same time accomplishing because it’s the first time that I finish a multi-chaptered story and that I write so much in such amount of time.

The notes are a bit long this time, but I’d like you to read them, since they can be useful.

This time, the prompt is symbolic. Looking for information for my next story (that hopefully will use some of the prompts I still haven’t done) I found on a book about Japanese Mythology that the snake, among other things, symbolises lust. Imagine the possibilities that opened in my mind at that moment *grin* Regarding the slug, the only thing I could find was the healing power, so Sakura gets stuck in the medical field once again.

I decided that both their names are written in kanji, since both of them belong to old families (I haven’t seen any examples of this written in hiragana/katakana, like in the manga). For those who feel curious…  団扇 佐助 // 春野桜 (I know that in Sasuke’s case those are the kanji for “uchiwa“, but… ^^U)

The events described in the fanfic are my impressions after watching several videos and reading about the topic. There will be mistakes, of course, so I apologise in advance.

Be aware that the rating has gone up. There’s nothing really explicit but you’ll know what’s happening. If I labelled it incorrectly, please don’t hesitate to tell me. Since a few years, the rating system has been a mess. I’ve found really strong things under the M/R and even the T/PG-13 tags and really innocent ones under T/PG-13 so, I’m more or less following my instinct.

Thanks to the lovely @isa-chi who put up with my ramblings and my frustration, and advised me on a couple of topics especially related to OOC. And also to all the people who read it, sent messages, liked, reblogged and followed me, waiting patiently for updates. You don’t know how happy each of those single things made me. And thank you to @sasusakumonths for organising it. It’s been really fun ♡

As always, if there’s something wrong (spaces, brackets…), please, tell me. I hope you enjoy this final instalment :)

Glossary: I’ve tried to keep the Japanese terms to a minimum, though some things are not accurately translated

-uchikake: the bridal kimono. It can be white (the most common used for the ceremony) or with colours (normally used for the celebration). it’s much more heavier than a normal kimono, and it’s tied differently too. -onigiri: riceball -nori: the seaweed that is wrapped around the onigiri

Words: 7339

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TILL DEATH DO US PART

Drinking a sip of her coffee, Sakura observed as Sasuke started to complete their marriage form, the pen in his right hand tracing the kanji of his full name slowly, as if he feared to make a mistake. They had decided to fill it and take it to the Ward Office together so, early in the morning, Sakura had gone to his apartment carrying the documents she would need.

Finally, the day had come. After their engagement, as soon as Sasuke had recovered, they had visited each family to announce that they were getting married. She still remembered the satisfaction in her grandmother’s eyes as Sasuke bowed to ask permission to her and her parents to marry her. At the beginning, she had felt a bit offended. It was as if Chiyo was telling her that she had caught the prized candidate when that had been the last thing on her mind practically from the beginning. However, later that night as she made her way to the kitchen for a snack before going to bed, she found her kneeling in front of the altar dedicated to her late grandfather, talking lovingly to him about the happiness she felt because her granddaughter had found a wonderful man, that she had seen in his eyes how much he loved her; reminiscing the time when they had met and how love had grown between them in the same way as in the young couple; that now she understood why they had taken their time to made their decision. And her heart had gone to the old lady who still mourned the death of his dear husband.

In the Uchiha clan’s house, things had not been very different. As Sasuke did, she had tried to ignore the whispers she heard about how pleased the elders were that the second son of the main branch had attained to such a wonderful heiress. Though, she had to say that his closest family had been truly happy for him as they wished them happiness.

“Sakura,” Sasuke’s voice, a bit disgruntled, reached her. “Are you listening to me?”

With a jolt, she looked at her fiancée, who was watching her with a delicate crease in his brows. He sighed.

“Obviously, not.”

“Sorry, Sasuke-kun… I had something on my mind…”

“I saw…” he smirked lightly. “Last minute jitters?”

She pouted, her eyes flashing defiantly.

“Of course not!”

He moved his head to the sides, a gesture that Sakura interpreted as mocking resignation, and then, he handed her the ball point.

“I’m finished.”

For a moment, she seemed to find fascination even in the action of him giving her that pen and she exhaled, exasperated at herself. She was too absent-minded that morning. She took it and with precise strokes, she wrote the information needed and took her family stamp to seal the document.

“Alright” Sasuke said standing up and putting the form inside the folder with his documents. “Let’s go. Today we have a very busy day ahead.”

Sakura looked at his retreating form for a moment before rising from her seat. It was the first time since they had met that she saw him in such informal clothes. It was summer, so he was wearing a dark blue polo shirt and white jeans. She could not help swoon a little. That man, who she had seen attract the attention of women without doing anything special wherever he went, was going to be hers from that day on.

“What’s with you today?” he was already in the hall, with his deck shoes on and one hand on his waist, looking at her with a mixture of concern and confusion. “Are you feeling well?”

“Yes!” she walked quickly to his side and put her cream-coloured sandals on, “I’m just a bit distracted.”

“Why?” he asked, checking that he had the keys for the house and the car in his pockets.

“Well” she put her hands behind her back and looked at the flat somewhat wistfully. “Today is a very important day… And, this will be my house from now on…” he looked at her with slightly widened eyes. “I suppose I’m feeling a bit melancholic apart from the usual nervousness…”

Sasuke’s features became warmer and he put a hand on her head, stroking it affectionally.

“Come on…”

.

They arrived at the Ward Office a few minutes after it had opened and finished with the last procedures quickly.

“The certificate will be available in two days” the friendly clerk at the desk told them. “Congratulations on your marriage.”

They thanked him and went back, Sasuke looking at his watch. Fortunately, it had taken less time than they had thought, so there would not be any delays in the tight schedule that they had that day. After his collapse, they had become very busy with their works and the wedding arrangements, but he had been careful not to cross the line again, especially with Sakura, Ino, Itachi and Naruto checking on him every day. The last few weeks, however, he had tried to do as much as possible to be able to clear those three days, from that one to the end of the week, for the wedding and an extremely short honeymoon that they had decided to spend mainly at home after the stressful preparations. They would have time for a proper wedding trip later on.

As they came out, they stopped and looked at each other, smiling. Even if they called off the shrine ceremony and all the events that were taking place in a few hours, they were now officially husband and wife.

Sasuke grabbed her hand with a satisfied expression on his face and started walking toward the car, she following him swiftly. But she could not help looking over her shoulder towards the entrance of the Office, swallowing hard and feeling a sudden rush of emotion. She had entered there being Haruno Sakura, and though nothing special had happened, a different person had come out. From that moment on, she was Uchiha Sakura.

.

“… Going forward, we’ll love each other, trust one another, share the good times and the bad and swear that this will stay unchanged throughout our lifetime.”

Sakura’s hands trembled slightly listening to Sasuke take their wedding vow before the gods in the shrine that his clan belonged to, as they held the paper where it was written. His voice, clear and steady was a reflection of his resolution to honour that promise.

“Husband, Uchiha Sasuke”

Despite her agitation, she breathed deeply, wanting to answer with the same conviction as him.

“Wife: Sakura”

Sasuke folded the paper again and left it carefully on the reclining set before them, stealing a glance at his bride. She had her head tilted down and he could only see her lips, painted in a rich shade of red, under the cotton hat she wore for the ceremony. To say that she was beautiful in her wedding kimono was not enough compliment. He had literally stopped breathing when he had seen her clad in the beautiful white uchikake embroidered with cranes and flowers that, as she had told him before while planning the wedding, had belonged to her family for years as her grandmother and her mother had worn it before her.

The Shinto priest, then, brought a tray with a box and offered it to Sasuke. He took the wedding ring with great care and offered her his other hand. She lifted hers, her heart beating wildly in her chest, and he took it as he put the ring on her finger. Sakura realised that he was trembling a bit and she lifted her face to him. What she saw stole her breath away. Maybe it was not the most beautiful smile of the world, but the one that graced Sasuke’s lips at that moment was radiant with content and tenderness. Sakura’s eyes filled with tears and she would have ended up crying if the priest had not put the tray in front of her. Swallowing hard and clenching her teeth to control herself, feeling relieved that with the hat she wore no one could notice her moment of weakness, she picked up the other ring. He extended his hand and slowly, feeling as if her heart could burst from all the happiness she was feeling, she put it on his finger.

.

“Ready?” one of the women dressed formally who were at the door of the reception hall looked at Sasuke and Sakura, and they nodded.

The double door opened and they entered the room, their guests clapping enthusiastically. Sakura had changed some of her clothes. She had taken off the hat and now wore her hair in a modest bun adorned with traditional hairpins, and had changed her white uchikake for another colourful one which belonged to Sasuke’s family.

They arrived at their table and bowed to the guests. Just then, the waiters and waitresses came out of a door and started filling their glasses while the host told the people they were going to toast to the groom and the bride.

Soon after, the food was served and the speeches began. One by one, their kindergarten teacher, Kakashi, their professors at university, Tsunade, as her mentor, and Itachi, as Sasuke’s superior, told anecdotes about the years spent with them.

Then, Naruto went up the platform and Sasuke felt himself cringe. They had gone through a lot together, good things and bad ones and their bond was practically unbreakable, but also, his best friend was aware of all his failures and most embarrassing moments, and though he was completely sure that he could trust him with his life, he also knew that sometimes, he talked too much. He could not help having a bad feeling about it.

.

“They make a fine couple, don’t you think, Madara-san?”

The man, with his arm crossed on his chest, nodded as he watched Sasuke and Sakura listen to his best friend, Naruto, give a speech which made people laugh and clap, as he talked about some of the moments they had lived together.

“I have to confess that, at the beginning, I was quite sceptical about your suggestion of arranging for them to meet, Chiyo-san” he said with a small smile, very similar to Sasuke’s. “I thought that you desired someone in the medical field for the future heiress of your legacy. Someone who doesn’t have any knowledge, like my grandson, is not going to be of great help.”

“I understood soon enough that my granddaughter didn’t need a husband like that. She’s extraordinarily intelligent and a brilliant doctor; after all, she’s trained under the famous physician Senju Tsunade” she said sparing a fleeting glance towards the renowned doctor, sitting at a table not far from theirs. “Any man in the same field of expertise would feel intimidated by her, even resentful. And, despite being burdened by responsibility and tradition, I love my granddaughter and I was not going to get her into a marriage where she would end up suffering. However, Sasuke-san can lend his support in other ways. Financially, of course, but also he can offer her advice based on his experience. A hospital chairman is a doctor and a business person at the same time.”

“You had your plans well laid” he smirked. “I’m impressed.”

“Well, not all of them” she folded her hands on her lap. “I hoped that, being young, they would grow some affection for each other with time. However, my wish became true much earlier. It is obvious that Sasuke-san cares deeply for my granddaughter, and sincerely, I could not ask for more.”

.

“Honestly I even thought once that he would never marry” Naruto continued his speech. “He’s got a weird personality and he sometimes doesn’t talk, probably thinking he’s so cool. Also, he can be really arrogant and a bit twisted, but he’s the best man I’ve ever met in my life. Sakura-chan, I know he’s a hassle and a pig head, as you probably noticed a few months ago when he fell ill, but, please, take care of him. I’m sure you two are going to be the happiest couple in the world” he made a victory sign. “After Hinata-chan and me, of course.”

People laughed as they clapped and Naruto went back to his seat. Then, as the host announced the next speech, Sasuke took a sip of his drink, relieved. Apart from some comments, like the last ones, about his character, and that he had talked about the first time he had got drunk, things had not gone so bad.

The hall became darker as Ino took her place behind the microphone.

“Good afternoon. I’m Yamanaka Ino and I have the fortune of knowing this two people for years. But today, I’m not going to talk as Uchiha Sasuke’s secretary, but as Sakura’s friend” she paused for a moment to look at her notes. “Sakura and I met in the first year of elementary school, when we ended up in the same classroom, sitting one behind the other. As you see, we have a long story together…”

A soft music started playing and they all turned to a screen located over the main door, where a video started to show. It displayed photographs of the two girls since their childhood: school events, festivals, graduations, parties… Ino had a memory for each of those moments, which people laughed about or had to dab at their eyes with handkerchiefs. Finally, the video ended with the two of them laughing at the entrance of the Todai University, the day of Sakura’s graduation.

“When she told me that her omiai partner was the President I work for, I was a bit wary because I discovered then that I was linked to both, and it was going to be uncomfortable if one of them felt hurt in case that there was a rejection. But when she said they were getting married, I was really glad.” she turned to the couple. “President, the only thing I’m going to ask of you in this life is to make her happy. Despite our arguments and differences in many things, she’s one of the people I love the most and, forgive me for my impertinence, I’d hate you if you made her suffer her. Congratulations…” she inhaled, trying to hold back her tears. “And stop crying, Forehead!

She bowed and Sakura felt the strong urge to run to her best friend and hug her. However, she had to repress it, since it was not the moment and with her clothes she would probably make a fool of herself, so she restricted herself to watch Ino coming down the platform and going straight to her seat, trying to hold her tears. She had to remember to hold her tight the next time she saw her.

“Are you fine?” Sai whispered putting an arm around Ino’s shoulders so she could lean her head on his shoulder, not caring about maintaining the appearances or the curious looks they were receiving.

She nodded and he dropped a soft kiss on her head.

“Good…” he paused for a moment. “Did you finally graduate from him?”

She nodded again and he could not help the smile that drew across his lips, relief washing over him. His heart filled with content at knowing that Ino was now completely and truly his, as he realised that a very small part of him that had been well hidden deep inside, had been really unhappy and jealous. Maybe, it was time for them to start thinking about tying the knot too.

Sasuke stood up, after a few moments. It was time for the groom speech. However, he did not move, he just looked at Sakura that smiled, carefully rising from her chair too. They were going to break the rules a bit. There was a soft surprised humming as the guests saw that both of them moved to the microphone, the expectation hanging in the air heavily.

He took a small slip of paper from the folds of his kimono and opened it, drawing in a soft breath. He was used to speaking in public, to weave his way and opinions without any doubts to business partners, directors and associates. However, he had never been good at expressing his emotions, at telling the people he cared for his feelings. His heart had been closed for many years after he had understood his position in his family and what they expected of him. His life no longer belonged to him, but to the clan. But that did not mean that he had become cold or had stopped loving them. That speech had taken him a lot of time to write, carefully choosing his words, rewriting once and again what he wanted to say. He only hoped he had been able to convey his thoughts in his words.

“Thank you to all of you for coming today and share with us this joyous event despite your busy schedules…” after the standard greeting, he breathed again. “When I was five, my life changed completely. From being a carefree child, I became someone who would have an important role in the future of his clan, and though, as a boy, could not see farther than my own selfishness, getting angry because things were not the same anymore, my family’s guidance and affection helped me to take the correct choices in life. I am what I am thanks to my father, who taught me the value of working hard, having perseverance and taking pride in my origins, my mother, warm and caring, but also stern when she had to be, and my brother who protected and comforted me as a child, and is someone I look up to every day” he glanced at Sakura. “Today, my wife and I are starting a new life. We are inexperienced in many things and we will probably stumble from time to time. I hope that you can continue watching over us the same as you have done for me up to now” he turned to Sakura. “Our beginning was difficult and we were unsure and full of doubts, and we have been through difficult moments. However, despite not being married, not even engaged, you were beside me during that time, strong and steadfast. Thank you, Sakura-san. I hope that in the years to come, I can be your support as you have been, and are, mine.”

He bowed, and Sakura had to bite her lower lip hard to contain her tears. When he lifted his head and saw her efforts, he took his handkerchief from his kimono and gave it to her with a tender smile that made those who saw it stare in awe. Sakura took a deep breath and straightened. Turning to their guests, she nodded.

“I’m sorry…”

Then, Sasuke took a step back to let her take his place. She took a paper from her obi and unfolded it. Breathing once more, she started reading.

“Thank you for being with us on such an important day in our lives” she inhaled again, calming herself, her voice becoming more confident. “I have always been aware of my role in life, and I embraced it enthusiastically since I was a little girl. I come from a family of doctors and I saw like a natural thing that I would become one in the future. I am one now. However, it’s not my merit alone. I had, along the way up to now, three wonderful people, my grandmother, my father and my mother, who were an example and my inspiration for all I wanted to achieve and I have been fortunate to count on their support and their advice in the steps I have taken along the way.” she paused for a moment. “Even though an omiai can be a very difficult event nowadays, when life offers us so many possibilities and ideas, I’m very glad to have followed my grandmother’s counsel and gone through it, because I met someone who has become very important for me” she tilted her head and looked at him. “Sasuke-san, let’s walk together this path that we have started today and build a household of our own following the example of the people who had surrounded and cherished us until this moment. I am sure that they will continue offering us their encouragement and love. As for us, as in all journeys, we will probably have good times and also encounter difficulties in our marriage. I want to be able to enjoy the first ones and solve little by little the second ones together with you, till death do us part.”

She gave a step backwards and together with her husband, she bowed to the guests, who were clapping and some of them crying openly. They could even hear one or two cheers from their louder friends. Then, two assistants gave them bouquets of flowers, and they made their way to the back, where their families were awaiting them. They bowed respectfully and then, gave the flowers to their mothers. Mikoto had a hard time controlling her tears, deeply moved because her younger child had never said what he truly felt since he was small and Fugaku put his hand on his back, smiling proudly at the respectable man that his son had become.

“Thank you…”

A tear fell down Sakura’s mother as she took the flowers from her daughter, who held her hand affectionately.

When they stepped aside instead of posing for a photograph, all the people in the hall held their breath again, expectant. Both of them approached the table nearest the place where their parents were, and the assistant gave her a second bouquet that she gave to her grandmother.

“Grandmother…” the old lady took it a bit disconcerted. “I know that you’re not in favour of breaking traditions and protocol, but it’s thanks to you that we’re here today. Sasuke-kun and I wanted to give you this.”

Chiyo blushed a bit.

“But it was Madara-san’s idea too…”

“But we can’t give him flowers, can we?” she said with a smile.

Then, she straightened and turned to his grandfather, bowing again.

“Thank you.”

.

Sasuke sighed as he adjusted his grey tie watching his reflection in the full-length mirror before letting one of the assistants help him with the frock coat. Despite liking kimonos quite a lot, he was definitely much more comfortable with those clothes, so similar to his everyday ones. He took the gloves and, nodding to the assistants, came out of the changing room. He walked along the corridor to where Sakura’s door was, ready to wait.

After the photographs with their family, they had gone out of the hall for a change of clothes. As they were planning the wedding, he had asked Sakura if she did not want to wear one of those big white Western wedding dresses that Japanese women dreamt of. Though her answer had been somewhat vague saying that it had been a little girl’s fantasy, he had realised that she still (tenía la ilusión). And he had finally managed to convince her to do it. Though they belonged to old families and they were going to follow tradition to the end, the wedding was theirs, and they could allow themselves a whim. Like the one with their grandparents. He had been surprised when he had learnt that his grandfather had played an important role in their omiai, despite being all Sakura’s grandmother idea. And when she had asked him if he minded that she paid a little homage to her, he had thought it would be nice to thank the patriarch of the clan too.

He was looking out of one of the windows on the wall opposite her room when he heard the door behind him open, and he turned. The sight left him breathless. Sakura was at the door, being helped by her assistants, and she was looking at him with a mixture of excitement and hope. She was wearing a beautiful empire style wedding dress with sleeves that only covered her shoulders, a bodice decorated with small pearls and a flowing skirt with two layers embroidered with lace. Her hair was tied in a side bun on the left side of her head framed by some organza lotus flowers.

“Oh, the groom” one of the assistants said with a smile. “We hope you are pleased with the bride’s look.”

He felt a knot in his throat. He wanted to say something and make her happy, it was obvious that she was expecting him to do it, but he just could not do it; not with those strangers listening and the people near the reception hall door waiting. If one day he complimented her, he wanted it to be for her alone.

Sakura smiled softly, as if she could sense his inner conflict and, turning to her helpers, she thanked them. Then, she approached her handsome husband, who was still looking at her with admiration, and took him by the arm. He did not need words to say what she wanted to know.

“Come on, Sasuke-kun” Sakura started walking towards the hall, changing the topic. “We still have a cake to cut and many greetings to give” he groaned a bit and she smiled widely. “And the after-party, let’s not forget about that!”

He chuckled lightly, letting her drag him away from the women who had put him in a predicament, calming down with her chatting. And he decided to follow her cue teasing her a bit.

“So, your intention from the beginning was to kill your groom of exhaustion and become a widow on your first day of marriage…?”

.

“What a day, um?” Sakura said with a sigh as she looked at Sasuke’s back, who was busy in the kitchen.

They had arrived at their flat a few minutes before, completely spent after the after-party with their friends and younger members of their families, where they had been drinking and playing games. However, neither in the reception nor that gathering they had been able to eat much so they had just been finishing taking off their shoes when Sasuke’s stomach had made a rumbling sound that had made her start laughing. He had shown her an irritated expression and had called her annoying but it was difficult to take his soreness seriously seeing the blush that adorned his cheeks.

After he had taken revenge tapping her on the head lightly and she had calmed down, he had suggested an early dinner and they had entered the kitchen. However, as she was asking him for an apron, he had taken her by the shoulders and sat her down on a stool, alleging that she had to be more tired than him, since her efforts during the wedding had been greater.

He made a sound of assertion as his hands took another scoop of rice and moulded it like an onigiri that he put on a plate.

“Are you going to wear that for the rest of the day?” he asked looking over his shoulder, clearly referring to her wedding dress.

“Of course!” she said with a childish smile, lifting her legs and wriggling her toes. “I really love it and it was very expensive, so the least I can do is enjoy it as much as possible” he chuckled lightly as he bent, opening a cabinet on his right and picking up a wooden board to cut the nori for the onigiri. “I’m thinking I could have it altered and have a new dress for any event that we have to attend.”

“It’s a good idea” he spared a brief glance at his grey frock coat, neatly folded on a chair near her. “Maybe I could do the s- Ouch!”

Instinctively, Sakura stood and rushed to his slightly crouched figure. He had his finger in his mouth, a mixture of pain and annoyance marring his face.

“Let me see” she commanded him with a professional tone, taking his hand and inspecting the cut.

Fortunately, it was not very deep but some thick drops of blood were running down his finger.

“Where’s the first-aid kit?”

“In that cupboard”

She put his finger under water from the sink tap and went to retrieve it. Looking for some bandages, she took his finger and inspected it again before pressing firmly to cut the bleeding. She guided him to the stool where she had been sitting and smiled softly to him as she lifted the gauze to take a better look at the little wound. After a few more minutes of pressure, she picked up another piece of cloth and dabbed at the cut delicately with some antibiotics cream she had found. Finally, she put a plaster on it.

“There, almost healed. Keep it covered for two day-” she brought her hand to her mouth. “Sorry… It’s the habit…”

“Thank you” he shook his head once, not really minding her doctor side showing.

She smiled as she put everything back in the kit and put it in the same cupboard.

“And now, let me finish dinner, okay? It’s better if you don’t get that cut dirty” she looked at the drawers on her left pensively. “And, it’s better if I get used to things here soon.”

He smiled, feeling inwardly happy.

“Second drawer.”

.

An hour later, Sakura heard Sasuke’s footsteps behind her and she turned in time for him to offer her a cup of tea. She smiled thankfully and he sat down next to her, giving a sip to his drink. They were sitting on the sofa in the living room watching the landscape, after enjoying dinner. As that night many months ago, they had turned it so it faced the large window, hearing the muffled sounds that came from the street and watching the sun sink slowly behind the buildings in a comfortable silence. Little by little the living room became darker.

“Give me your cup” Sasuke said standing up and going to the kitchen to leave them on the sink.

When he came back, he sat beside her again, looking at the rays of the sun reflected on the glass of the buildings near theirs and the light of the cars that went up the street opposite them, travelling in precise order. Absentmindedly, he took her hand in his, caressing the back with his thumb for a few minutes, and she answered to his touch squeezing it lightly. When he felt the roughness of the stones, he looked down and watched for a moment the two rings on her finger, playing with them lightly with his index. Then, he brought it to his lips and kissed it reverently, closing his eyes briefly.

When he opened his lids, slowly, he found her gaze on him, full of tenderness, and a soft smile on her lips. He leant forward and she met him halfway. It was a simple, lingering brushing of their mouths but it made them giddy with emotion and filled their hearts with happiness.

The first kiss of their married life.

They parted after a few moments and looked at each other, smiling softly. Then, Sasuke touched her forehead with his, and she laughed a bit.

“Are you happy?”

“Yes…” his smile widened a bit and she looked at him. “And you…?”

As a reply, he cupped her cheek with one hand, brushing her skin with his thumb. Sometimes, he felt so useless for not being able to express what was truly in his heart openly, to tell her all she wanted and needed to hear. She deserved so much to listen to them… However, his reserved character, his stern upbringing had made him like that. Maybe, someday, he would be able to tell her all the things he kept inside. As he looked into her eyes, shining with delight he found himself fortunate for having found a woman who understood him.

He kissed her again, this time deeper, wishing to express what he could not put into words, giving his all each time their mouths separated for a brief intake of breath just to join again more passionately. The soft moan that escaped her throat filled his veins with desire, and this time, he did not bother to tame it. She did not have to go back home, she was not a partner, she was not his fiancée… He did not have to contain himself anymore.

He left her lips and hid his head in her neck, leaving a trail of open mouthed kisses. She sighed his name and he went back to her lips, satisfied at her equally intense response.

When they parted, completely out of breath and quivering, Sasuke stood up and put an arm around her waist and another under her knees, lifting her from the sofa, her arms circling his shoulders, and he crossed the living room and entered the corridor, towards the bedroom.

“It’s still daylight…” she murmured, hiding her face in his shoulder.

“And, do you have any complaints? Do you want me to stop…?”

Her only reply was to move her head negatively, a deep blush covering her pretty face.

The room was still bathed in a soft orange glow. Closing the door after them with his foot, he advanced a few steps, kissing her again, before letting her stand again. He did not let her go, though. After releasing her lips, he brushed his mouth on her neck, just below her jaw.

“Do you want me to help you with that” he murmured softly, touching the flowers that decorated her hair.

“Do you mind…?”

He shook his head and turned her, facing the full-length mirror on the corner nearer the bed and they looked at their reflection for a moment before she lifted her arms and started taking pins from the headdress. He did the same with her bun, feeling it with his fingertips and removing them carefully not to pull her hair. Occasionally he gazed at the mirror. She was trying really hard not to look at it and he could not help a little smile at his wife’s sudden shyness.When he had gathered a bunch of them in his hand, he looked around and finally decided to leave them on the bedside table. He switched on the lamp to see better.

“You should think about what you want to change or buy for the flat…” he commented as he touched one inside her bun. “I suppose it’s not very comfortable for a woman…”

“Your house is fine, Sasuke-kun!” she said turning, and with the sudden movement, the pin he had just discovered and picked escaped from between his fingertips. “Just two or three things will be enough, and we can bring them from my former bedroom.”

“Our house” he said, and she looked at him a bit confused. “It’s not just mine, it’s ours.”

“Ah” her fingers flew to her mouth, realising her mistake. “Sorry…”

“You’ll get used to it…” he replied, touching her head lightly to give her the clue of where to tilt it, looking at the place where the pin he had missed was and retrieving it, his breath falling on her nape, making her blush again.

They continued their task for a few more minutes until all her hair was free from the hairstyle, and Sasuke started combing the tresses down her back, but it was really difficult with all the spray the assistants who had helped her with her change of look had applied. Then, he bent a little and he kissed the curve between her neck and shoulder.

“Sasuke-kun…” she said gasping softly when he grazed the tender skin just above her collarbone. “Ca-Can you cover the mirror…?”

He smirked against her neck and, leaving her, he grabbed the bedspread and threw it over the mirror.

“Is that better?”

She nodded and he extended his hand, touching her red cheeks. With her dishevelled hair falling on her shoulders and back, her darkened green eyes that shone like emeralds in the dim light and her red lips, swollen from being kissed, she offered the most tempting and lovely sight he had ever had in front of him.

“Sakura…”

As if falling under a spell, it was her who approached him this time, kissing him as her hands cupped his face, and he held her close, tangling his fingers in her hair. The others went to his shirt, suddenly bothered by it. They parted and she looked at him, one of her hands brushing his, as if asking if she could continue. He dropped it to his side, his gaze not leaving her for a second as she took the button with trembling fingers.

As each one came undone, his skin was exposed to her sight and she felt the temptation to kiss it, Sasuke noticed the change in her breath and the indecisive spark of her eyes.

“You can do as you wish” he murmured in her ear, his voice lowering down an octave, and she shivered. “I’m your husband…”

She let out a quivering exhale and crossed the step that still separated them, hiding her head and kissing him in the curve between his shoulder and neck. He took a sharp intake of breath as her arms made their way around his waist, pressing her body to his. And Sasuke’s fingers flew to her hips. As her mouth left timid kisses along his collarbone, his hands made their way upwards slowly until they found the zipper of her dress. It was then that she noticed the slight trembling of his fingertips.

The wedding dress fell on the floor in a pool of chiffon and embroidered organza, leaving her dressed in only her tights, undergarments and a short satin and lace white slip which covered her body.

“You’re so beautiful…” he whispered, and her heart missed a beat, thundering loudly just a moment later, as she felt her eyes damp.

He smiled tenderly as he cleaned her unshed tears with his sleeve and brushed her lips softly, his hands taking off his shirt, dropping it near her dress. Then, he held her tight by the waist, lifting her up and laying her on the bed delicately, kissing her and burying one of his hands in her hair as he joined her, and the other started a path filled with soft curves and the movement of her agitated breath. For what seemed hours, he worshipped her body with kisses and caresses as her hands slid across his shoulders and back as far as she could reach, whimpering when he found a sensitive spot. Slowly, the last clothes that still separated them fell on the floor and she could not help a shiver feeling each centimetre of her skin covered by his, their bodies getting warmer and warmer as passion slowly erased from their mind any thoughts that were not related to the other, or what they were feeling.

She called his name, gasping at the honorific, and he kissed it from her lips, not wanting to hear something that put a barrier between them. There, in the privacy of the bedroom that now belonged to the two of them, they were simply two human beings that loved each other in body, soul and mind: Sasuke and Sakura.

Fingers lacing and breaths mingling in their kisses, the tension between them increased with each passing moment until it suddenly broke. Her heart overflowed with feelings for him, and his followed a few moments later with only one certainty: She belonged to him as he to her.

.

Still regaining their breaths, Sasuke embraced Sakura protectively and rolled over on the bed, resting on his back. He was tired, the traces of passion slowly dissolving in his blood replaced by a feeling of completion that he had never experienced before. He closed his eyes, savouring it, smiling as she nuzzled his chest softly. He brushed her hair from her damp body.

“Maybe I should have it cut…” she said in a slightly raspy voice, lifting a hand and removing some strands that gone unnoticed to his fingers.

“I like your hair…” he stated in a gentle voice. “Maybe we should have left it in that hairstyle if you felt uncomfortable…”

She mused his words for a moment.

“I’d probably had all the pins piercing my scalp” she paused and hid her face a little in his chest. “Maybe next time I can tie it up before…”

Sasuke chuckled and kissed the top of her head. His hand brushed the space between her shoulder blades and she shivered a bit.

“Are you cold?”

She shook her head briefly, but stayed quiet, not moving except for her slow breathing. He would have thought she was falling asleep if it was not for the barely noticeable agitation of her fingers on his skin

“Are you alright?” he whispered, deeply concerned about having done something to upset her.

Did I pay attention to your needs? Was I too brusque, too anxious? Did you feel the same pleasure? That simple question was filled with so many others, with insecurity and a hint of regret, that Sakura felt guilty, and moved. She was just feeling overwhelmed by the powerful sensations that still coursed through her body and mind, She had never thought she could feel something like that. But how to tell him? How to make him understand the strength of her emotions at that moment? She only knew one way. She lifted her head and smiled tenderly, making him relax. She took his hand in hers and brushed a kiss on his palm, and then on his ring finger, the thin band of gold warm to her lips.

“Yes…” .

It was already well entered the morning when Sasuke opened his eyes with a soft intake of breath, and immediately, his features softened when the first thing he saw was Sakura’s face, still deeply asleep. Her expression was completely relaxed and content, her cheeks still slightly flushed and her lips a bit swollen from his kisses. They had loved each other once and again between short slumbers and sweet moments of titillation until just a few hours ago, and though he felt exhausted and tempted to curl up with her and go back to his dreams, a part of him fought back, wanting nothing more than to watch her until the moment when she woke up. Blinking a few times, he propped up on one elbow, resting his head on his hand, lifting his free arm to brush back a loose strand which had slid down across her cheek delicately, revelling in each single detail and engraving them all in his mind.

An hour later, Sakura opened her eyes, slowly, and her clouded gaze fell on his face. He was watching her with a tender smile.

“Good morning…” he whispered, cupping her neck and kissing her forehead softly.

“Good morning…”

THE END

Extra notes:

-Japanese people don’t kiss in traditional weddings (sometimes, they do in Western-style ones, like the ones we see in manga), neither do they in the reception.

-For Sasuke and Sakura’s wedding, I wrote the same vow as in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeJQMvydpzQ All the credit goes to its maker.

-There’s a change in the honorifics, I know ^^ I did it on purpose, since reading examples of speeches, I realised that the language is very formal, so I decided to make them talk formally too. That is why there aren’t contractions in it either

[naijanewspapersme-blog]

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For Mrs. Maria Odeh, a 2004 Theatre Arts graduate of Benue State University, her joy overflowed when she got married to her 37-year-old heartthrob, Joseph Odeh in April, 2007, shortly after completion of the mandatory national youth service scheme.

She met her hubby in Kano, where she was deployed for the programme, and was consumed by a sizzling love affair which transformed to marriage in no distant time. As she signed the dotted lines on the altar, thoughts of an uninterrupted and lively union overwhelmed her, as she danced to the glory of God for giving her a man of her dreams.

That was the situation for several years as the couple settled down at Akwanga, Nasarawa State, and Maria professed her husband’s true love to friends and relations at any opportunity. Her only worry was that she is unable to bear a child, years after their marriage. The couple had sought medical help at the General Hospital, Akwanga, where Joseph was said to have been diagnosed of low sperm count which was treated and normalized in three months.

Maria said though doctors certified her reproductive organs okay after conducting series of tests, she was unable to conceive thereafter. Her consolation, however, was that her spouse did not betray signs of desperation and frustration as the search for the fruit of the womb continued.

However, indications that her luck had been stretched to the limits manifested seven years into the marriage, but she least expected the events that unfolded. “About three years back, precisely towards the end of 2013, my husband suddenly lost interest in me. Whenever I touched him at night, he gave me one complaint or another. It is either he is tired or not in the mood”, she recalled in an interview with Saturday Sun.

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Unknown to her, Joseph was engaged in a secret romance with Joy Agbo, her 24-year-old younger sister who she relocated earlier in the year from her village in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State to live with them at Akwanga. In her determination to ensure she played her expected role after the demise of their mother, Maria secured admission for her sibling at the College of Education, Akwanga, to study Business Education.

Unfortunately, rather than concentrate on her studies, Joy indulged in illicit sexual affair with her sisters’ hubby. She was away from home daily from dawn to dusk, having secured a job with Patriotic Health Organization, a non-governmental outfit. She had been unemployed for several years, during which she sold second-hand clothes.

Last month, Maria was jolted to the realisation that her beloved husband had betrayed the love and trust she invested in him by not only having an affair with Joy, but also impregnating her. To worsen matters, her husband is resolute on marrying her younger sister, and has shown her a red card if she is unwilling to accept his weird idea.

“In August 2016, I got a job with an NGO as secretary and most times, had to leave home very early in the morning for either Keffi or Lafia, as the job demanded, and closed late by 7.pm. I didn’t know how it happened, but in June this year, I noticed that my younger sister’s breasts increased in size and she looked very heavy. On a close examination, I discovered she was four months pregnant and when I probed further, she told me Joe was responsible for it. I asked her which Joe? She said your own Joe, my husband, but I did not believe it. When I confronted my husband at night, he confirmed it and went ahead to tell me he would marry her; he said if I can’t tolerate it, I should pack my belongings and go. I screamed and cried, and almost died of shock; I immediately called my people on phone and told them what has happened”, she said, sobbing.

Confused

Maria says the situation threw her into confusion on her inability to conceive for her husband, more so, as doctors had certified her fertile, and she had no cause to discreetly seek proof through an extra marital affair. “Even my people are as confused as I am; they keep calling me to ask what I wanted to do. After wide consultations with my friends, I am considering divorce. But I will re-marry if I find a genuine person, I can’t stay alone; I need a gentle man to settle down. I will soon file a divorce suit so that I can start a new life; I will definitely remarry if an honest man comes my way, though I won’t be in a hurry,” she said.

It’s divine, says hubby

While Maria is traumatized, her husband has no qualms even as he pointed at the devil for committing the act, which in another breathe, he described as divine. Last week, Joseph affirmed his resolve to marry his sister-in-law in a chat with our correspondent. “I have told my wife that I am responsible for the pregnancy of her sister, and now that she is pregnant for me, she cannot abort it, though it was the devil’s work; if she is not comfortable with it, she can go. We have been married for 10 years, no child; if her people want me to pay the pride price for Joy, I will do it. It is unfortunate, but that is the reality. I’m not a womanizer; I don’t drink beer, ask my friends. I don’t keep girlfriends outside; I don’t know how it happened, but my affair with Joy is divine intervention”, he emphasized.

But his father-in-law, Clement Agbo, has declared his unwillingness to dine with the devil, not even with a long spoon. “We are not in support of what happened, and cannot collect bride price again, from him. I lack words to express my feelings, but I have asked Maria to file a divorce suit; she can’t stay in that house again. For me, I have disowned Joy; she is no longer my daughter. If their mother was alive, she would have supported my position. What Joy and Joseph did is an abomination in our tradition; let them stay together. It is only God that will resolve this shameful matter”, he told Saturday Sun on telephone.

How it happened – Joy

Like Joseph, Joy is also unperturbed over the incident, and is prepared for the worst. “I deeply sympathise with my sister, but Joe told me not to worry about anything, that the issue will be resolved. Since my sister is ready to divorce him, I will keep the pregnancy”, she said, as she gave a blow-by-blow account of how it all happened. Hear her:

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“It started precisely on February 17, this year. That afternoon, when my sister had gone to work and her husband came home from his shop to pick up some items. I was sleeping in the sitting room, and because I was not expecting any of them to return home soon, I didn’t put on pants and my chest was open; in fact I was naked because I was feeling hot. I suddenly slept off, but forgot to lock the entrance door and Joe came in unexpectedly.

Though I was asleep I guess when he saw me naked, he must have been moved to a point that he couldn’t control his libido. Before I realised it, he was already on me with his lip on my breast; my efforts to push him off me failed, and he had sex with me. Before then, he used to take me out to supermarkets, and fast food spots; we became very close, but he never approached me and I didn’t expect such from him, though he kept telling me he was desperate to talk with me.

After that afternoon sex, he knelt down and begged me not to tell anybody; he said it was the devil’s work, but I cried and vowed to tell my sister when she returned; he begged me and promise not to do it again. That day, he gave me N20, 000 for my shopping, and I promised him I wouldn’t tell anybody about what happened.

I don’t know what came over me, as if it was a dream. A few days after, he invited me for an outing and somehow, convinced me and we started making love regularly, as if it was a charm. We were madly in love, and he bought a mobile phone worth N40, 000 for me. At night when he is in his room with his wife, I will be chatting with him from my room; somehow, I became pregnant for him.

I do not intend to abort the pregnancy because the harm has already been done; I apologised to my sister, but she doesn’t talk to with me any longer. I don’t know what is on her mind, but for me, I will deliver the baby and further my education to the university. I deeply sympathise with my sister, but Joe told me not to worry about anything, that the issue will be resolved. Since my sister is ready to divorce him, I will keep the pregnancy; my people are not in support of what I’m doing but they have no choice. It is not my wish, but that is the reality. For me, I love Joseph because he is caring and lovely”.

To be sure, these are trying times for Maria as darkness and despondency set into her once blissful marriage. Things are no longer at ease with her, Joe and her younger sister, Joy. Enveloped in a cloud of uncertainty, she spoke of her moments of joy with Joseph, who also hails from Benue, her home state. Both are of Idoma extraction.

“After my four year programme in the university, I was posted to Kano State for my NYSC, where Joseph who had earlier completed his service and was working as farm manager at Wodi Farms where he served and was retained. I fell in love with him, because he has a charming personality; he exuded an air of confidence, and his poise was breathtaking. He swept me off my feet right from the first day I met him at a market in Kano. We became lovers and our days of beautiful romance were the happiest moments of my life; I was on top of the world and really acted like a girl in love. I married him and was the happiest woman on earth; I love him and he loved me too, but suddenly, all that crashed in one irrational moment”, she lamented. Sad!

The Sun News

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