Things I Do for Love
SasuSaku Month 2018
Day 10: Anywhere
***
Author’s Note: Wrote this while fighting off sleep 😂 I’ll probably h
opefullycatch up with the prompts by the weekend Ishould***
A lone figure walks on the streets of a small village in the middle of the night. Ebony strands of hair sway with the wind as its owner sighs when the cold air hits his face. He and his significant other left this community just this morning to continue with their travels, but due to certain circumstances, he’s back again. Going to a familiar direction towards the house where they stayed for a while, he’s hoping the person he seeks could help him with his mission.
Uchiha Sakura – his very pregnant wife – wanted candied tomatoes. At two in the morning.
He wanted to say no, but the renowned medic used her big doe-like eyes the color of fields in spring and then uttered the words ‘it’s not just for me, our baby wants it, anata’ that will forever make him go to the ends of the earth for. Thus he found himself sending a clone back to the village, for come hell or high water he would never leave his better half and their unborn child in the middle of a forest at night where threats may linger. He won’t let any danger harm his family. Never again.
Knocking on the door of an elderly couple who sells candies and sweets, he wondered if they were still fast asleep, but the sudden source of light inside and the sound of footsteps told otherwise.
“Sasuke-san? Is that you?”
He nodded. “Haruo-san, did I disturb you?”
The man shook his head and opened the door widely for him to enter. “It’s nothing, it’s nothing. Come in! Is something wrong?”
The clone took off his cloak and boots. He entered the warm home and Haruo quickly led him to the kitchen where his wife was waiting.
“Eri-san,” Sasuke stated with a slight bow in greeting.
“Sasuke-san! You’re back!” The old lady stood up from her seat to come nearer to him. “Did something happen? Where’s Sakura-san?”
The shinobi took their offer to sit down. The couple then took a seat in front of him, side by side. “With my original self. This is a clone.” He took a deep breath before he started with his request. “I’m sorry if I disturbed you this early –“
“You really didn’t, Sasuke-san,” Haruo cut him off. “Eri and I are sometimes awake this time to make our sweets.”
The young man nodded in understanding. “I hope that you could help me with something,” Sasuke began, urging himself to think that the faint heat on his cheeks was from the cold. “My wife… wanted candied tomatoes.”
The duo looked at each other for a moment before wide grins formed on their crinkled faces. They turned their attention to their guest who waited for their reply.
“Sakura-san’s pregnancy cravings, I assume?” Eri marvelled.
“Aa. I don’t know if I could find it anywhere or if it even exists, but I thought maybe you could help me make one?”
Haruo stood up to place a hand on his shoulder. “Of course, Sasuke-san! Anything for the saviours of our village!” His wife then rose from her own seat and started opening cabinets to start working.
The couple then moved in sync; Eri preparing the pots and pans while her love prepared the sugar and tomatoes. Sasuke positioned himself behind them, noticing that their teamwork is perfect.
The two elderly chuckled, and it was then that Sasuke realized that he said his words out loud. “It comes with years of being together, Sasuke-san,” the elderly man replied. “Slowly, your minds are hearts are so connected you don’t even need words to let the other know of your feelings and intentions.”
“But communication is still one of the best foundations of a strong marriage,” Eri added. “As well as trust, loyalty and love.”
They continued to give the young man advice, and Sasuke all took them to heart. The talk then focused on his current errand, to which the two commended him.
“I remember when Eri used to wake me up early in the morning too,” Haruo remarked. “I had to bake cakes and bread even when I was half asleep!” His wife laughed heartily at the memory.
“Sorry for making you suffer, Haru-kun.”
The man just bumped her shoulder with his. “Don’t be. I promised to you that I’ll treat you like a princess, right?”
Sasuke allowed a small smile on his features upon seeing their interactions. An image then formed on his mind – an older version of him and Sakura, still together with all their wrinkles and white hair. The thought then warmed his heart. He never thought he could care for another person like this, doing things his previous self wouldn’t even think of. He never thought he could have this chance of spending the rest of his life with the woman he loves who loves him back, and he is more than grateful for it.
When the work of covering the tomatoes with sugar and caramel was done, they allowed it to chill quickly inside the refrigerator. Not long after, they were already set, and Sasuke finally gave a smirk of satisfaction.
After placing the sweets carefully in a box, the couple led him to the door. Upon securing his cloak once again, he turned to the couple to express his gratitude once again. “Arigatou, Haruo-san, Eri-san.”
“You’re welcome, Sasuke-san. You and Sakura-san are welcome anytime here.” Eri then handed him a bento box. “This is a little something for you and your wife. Take care of yourself and your family, okay?”
Haruo also presented a canister to him, placing it in the bag where the bento was placed. “And this is hot herbal tea for you two. We’re wishing you a lifetime of happiness.”
With another grateful nod, he began his return journey, the owners of the house waving at him until he disappeared from his sight. The man wrapped a gentle arm around his wife’s shoulders. They shared a smile before going back inside the comfort of their house, preparing for the day’s work of making sweets.
On his way back to their camp, he found another of his clone coming towards him, carrying a box labeled with ‘umeboshi’ . They looked at each other’s packages, nodding in relief that they somehow found what they were looking for despite the unreasonable hours of the morning.
The two then quickly made their way back to the original who sat beside Sakura – now fast asleep again – waiting for them to arrive. The clones then laid the food near him and then disappeared with a poof, their missions fulfilled.
Sasuke slowly shook his wife’s shoulders to wake her up. Sleepy eyes looked at him and with all the love and care in the world, he helped her get up and sit upright. Emeralds sparkled upon seeing her newest cravings right in front of her.
“Anata, you really got candied tomatoes and umeboshi?” Sakura exclaimed in bewilderment. Upon seeing her radiant smile, the male Uchiha felt a surge of pride rush through him.
“Of course. Anything for you.”
She gave him a quick kiss. “Arigatou, Sasuke-kun. Aka-chan and I are very happy right now,” she proclaimed, rubbing her swelling tummy. He gave her one of his rare, genuine smiles in return, placing a hand on top of hers.
Sakura happily munched on her midnight cravings, Sasuke’s eyes softening while looking at his wife. Sleep is now far from his mind. He didn’t want to, for his reality is now finally better than his dreams.
Published
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