Hey guys! It's been a while, sorry for not updating sooner. There were some personal problems but I'm all good. And my phone died down a few days ago and I couldn't open it, so it's my first time typing with my laptop to write this Chapter. Aside from that, my College Professor felt the need to torment us by conducting an online recitation. And author-senpai had been reading some webtoon (she's been hooked up by now).
Why am I ranting about excuses? Anyways, I just wanted to let you guys know! Enjoy the Chapter!
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Snow continued to fall since that night. The day after that, despite the cold morning, Sakura felt like she was being engulfed by something warm. Whether it's the man behind her emitting the warmth or the warmth she feels in her chest, Sakura has no idea.
Sakura stirred in her sleep and slowly turned around. The moment she did, her forehead came in contact with Sasuke's lips making the Uchiha stirred as well before opening his eyes and blinking away the sleep.
"Did I wake you, Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asked quietly and Sasuke just stare at her before shaking his head no.
Sakura decided to make some miso soup for breakfast in order to fill and warm their stomach. There was silence between them, comfortable enough to enjoy the warm broth. When they finished eating, Sakura noticed the window slightly covered in fog.
"It was snowing last night," she muttered, looking outside. Sasuke, who heard her, looked at the pinkette.
"Do you want to go outside?" he asked. Sakura looked at him, blinking before she nodded her head. "But it's cold."
"Then you shouldn't have asked, Sasuke-kun," Sakura said with a huffed, unconsciously puffing her cheek like a child would do. Sasuke found the expression oddly adorable. He didn't know where such thought came but somehow made Sasuke chuckle.
"What is it?" Sakura asked, sounding a bit annoyed.
"Your expression just now. It kind of reminded me of the time when I was a child."
That's right. Those times when Sasuke used to be easily annoyed by his brother who always ditched him to training with a poke on his forehead that Sasuke used to find irritating but grew to like the gesture and became his ultimate show of affection for Sakura.
"What expression?" Sakura asked, this time her annoyance was visible as she frown and puffed her cheek again. Sasuke couldn't help but poked her forehead.
"That expression."
Sakura felt her face heat up as blush invaded her face, averting her eyes on the floor like it's the most interesting thing in the world. Sasuke felt a small tug on the side of his lips and a ghost of a smile slowly crept. But when Sakura looked at him, Sasuke's face was as blank as a sheet of paper.
"I really want to go outside," Sakura muttered before standing up.
Sasuke watched the pinkette, he was comfortably sitting on the couch while Sakura was having a slightly hard time walking around with her swollen belly as the Uchiha would like to put it.
Sakura also felt the physical changes in her body as it adjusted to pregnancy. She was walking around the living room, she doesn't feel like sitting on a couch all day like Sasuke planned to do as he was sitting comfortably watching her. He was waiting until Sakura get tired of walking around in circles and just sit there beside him.
Today, Sasuke felt like doing absolutely nothing. He doesn't want to go outside, not just because of the cold but because he was afraid he would run into Naruto. He doesn't know if he's cursed or what but almost every single time he was outside, he would always run into Naruto. If he's lucky, Sasuke could ditch him. If he's unlucky, which happened most of the time, Naruto would drag him anywhere he wanted to.
Sakura was just walking, exercising her legs when she suddenly felt a slight pain in her stomach like something kicked inside. Well, something did kick inside and Sakura knew it was the baby's first kick but was too surprise to supress the loud gasp that escaped her mouth as she held her stomach.
Sasuke, despite sitting comfortably on the couch, still managed to appear beside Sakura in a blink. Sakura was almost convinced he used his visual prowess to appear by her side that fast. But Sasuke did not use any of his visual prowess, it was purely instinct when he heard her gasp.
"Are you alright? Should I call a Doctor?" Sasuke's concerned face was almost funny that Sakura almost chuckled.
"I am a Doctor," she said as she let the Uchiha led her back to the couch.
For some odd reason, Sasuke had to sit on the couch and made Sakura sit on the spot in front of him, between his legs which was completely unnecessary and Sakura felt bashful with their sitting position. But Sasuke had to sit her that way or else she would stand up again and walk around.
"Uhhh- Sasuke-kun, this is really getting uncomfortable," Sakura muttered as she felt his arm snaked around her, his hand resting on her belly.
"Stay still. What happened?" Sasuke's breath fanned her neck as Sakura gulped and supressed her blush.
"Nothing serious. It just kicked," Sakura explained with a smile as she put her hand on top of his hand.
"What just kicked?" Sasuke asked.
"The baby, it kicked." Sakura smiled when she felt Sasuke's hand move slightly, trying to feel her stomach. They stayed still for a few minutes but nothing happened.
"I don't feel anything," Sasuke finally said after a few minutes of silence. He was frowning and couldn't help the slight annoyance that he couldn't feel it. Sasuke can't believe himself when he thought that it was not fair. What is he? A child to even think in such way. It was just a baby's kick. Inside its mother's belly. Kicking for the first time.
Of course Sasuke would want to feel it.
But Sakura was starting to feel a bit uncomfortable and Sasuke doesn't want to annoy her so he decided to let her go.
But the moment Sakura stood up, it kicked again and she gasped. Not as loud as before but Sasuke still heard her. On instinct, he took her wrist and pulled her to him and put his palm on her belly again.
They sat like that for a few seconds but nothing happened again.
"Sasuke-kun, I don't think it will kick again."
Sasuke frowned and pulled her closer.
"Sasuke-kun, do you seriously plan to sit like this until it kicks again?"
Sakura told herself that she did not just hear Sasuke say a small yes. Because there's no way she'll be sitting like this for the rest of the day.
***
When Sasuke was convinced the baby would not kick again, he decided to let go of Sakura. He actually wanted to feel it. But then when he thought that soon he'll be able to hold it in his hand, not feeling it kick would be fine. Besides, he just needed to wait for three to four months at most.
By then, Sasuke hoped they'll be here at the Village. But he still couldn't be sure of it. Time was something one couldn't easily hope to comprehend. Even the most powerful shinobi could never get a hold of the future. Even Kaguya Otsutsuki herself couldn't control time at her disposal.
Later that afternoon, after lunch, Ino came by and pulled the pinkette out of her apartment. Of course Sasuke trailed behind. They ended up at Ino's flower shop.
"You opened a flower shop?" Sakura asked as Ino showed them the shop.
"Well yeah. I've always wanted to own a flower shop. Do you like it?" Ino was grinning as she leads the pinkette around the small shop.
Right after that meaningful afternoon and since it was almost evening when Ino decided to let go of Sakura, partly because Sai showed up, Sasuke and Sakura headed to eat dinner.
"I'm really craving ramen tonight," Sakura muttered as they walked around the market.
Sasuke, who heard the pinkette loud and clear, cough as he shook his head. The mere thought of ramen made his stomach churn. Not to mention, the dish reminded him of Naruto. Who knows if the yellow haired dobe might be there as well.
"Ramen taste better during winter." Sakura kept on muttering about ramen that Sasuke found himself standing outside Ichiraku ramen. His feet might have unconsciously walked itself towards the restaurant.
Once they entered, warmth instantly engulfed them. They were welcomed by the owner's daughter who was at the cashier. She smiled as she pointed towards the empty table after taking their orders. The ramen shop was already bustling with more people than usual. Probably because it's winter and people are craving to eat something that would warm their stomach. Of course among the people in the restaurant, two of them had to be someone Sasuke and Sakura knew, and of course one of them had to be-
"Naruto," Sasuke muttered as he turned around and hurriedly walk to their table that was unfortunately located one table away.
Fortunately, their dinner was not interrupted as Naruto and Hinata walked out of the restaurant a few minutes after Sasuke and Sakura finished their meal. Soon after that, they were on their way back to the apartment.
Once inside, Sakura went to the bedroom to change to a more comfortable clothes. Right after, Sasuke followed behind. He proceeded to sit on the chair near the balcony sliding door.
"Sasuke-kun, what are you thinking?" Sakura asked when she stepped from the bathroom and sat on the bed.
Sasuke seem to be deep in thoughts and answered right away. "It's annoying how I didn't get to feel it kick," he muttered.
Sakura, upon hearing him blurt out what's on his mind without much thought, laughed as Sasuke blinked and finally realized what he had just uttered. He had a look of surprise but was instantly masked with the blank expression he has like always.
"Ino's flower shop is beautiful," Sakura went on to change the subject. "That reminds me; I used to adore flowers when I was young. I even used to have a secret hideout in the forest."
"What's with the sudden reminiscing?" Sasuke asked.
"I had a dream, you know. When you were away, I had a dream about the time when I was young. You were there too, Sasuke-kun."
Sasuke stood up and sat on the bed beside her.
"Tell me all about it. I had dreams as well, I'll tell you mine."
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