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Twisting in front of the mirror. So that her back was facing the mirror. Pale white skin flashing in the mirror. Skin that looked silky and smooth. Large black ink spiraling down her spine in the shape of a sword and vines that wrapped around it like wire. It was …new. Something inside of her pushed her to go and get it. She had always wanted a tattoo. I liked the way they looked. But was far too scared to get one herself. Then one day she just decided to do it.
It only stung slightly now. Skin healing perfectly. Hand brushing against her back just barely not touching the healed skin. Her red dress drooped down at the end of her back. Safeguarding, exposing anything else. Her eyes were wandering down her body assessing it like a specimen. Her lips twisted from a frown to biting her lip. Emotions flashing across her face in the matter of seconds.
Sakura had always been emotional. Ever since she was a little girl. She couldn't hide the way she felt. She had always been an open book. Couldn’t hide the excitement or anger or sadness flashing in her eyes. Or the way her lips turned up when she was excited. That hadn’t changed with age. Well she was slightly better about containing her anger.
Turning again so she was facing the mirror. The front of her body reflected back so she could get a look. Head leaning in a little. Black eyeshadow heavy and eye liner perfectly winged out. It tied together so well with her dress. Sakura huffed as she touched her pink hair. Large curls framing her face so neatly. Almost like a specialist did it. It took over an hour but it was worth it. And it was all of her own work. Each strand neatly placed like an artist with a paint brush.
So why was she going insane?
Well that was a good question. The answer was easy. Sakura was a crazy person. Seriously she had to be crazy. It was just a small get together. All of her friends were going to be there. It wasn't like she was going to be around strangers. No, she grew up with these people. The dress slit down from her right hip down her thigh. Showing off the black tall stilettos. Gold chain wrapping around her ankle keeping it strapped safely to her foot.
A fancy dress and nice heels. She even did her makeup and hair. She hadn’t dressed up this nicely. Not since Ino’s wedding. The woman wasn’t going to let anyone, especially her maid of honor, look like a mess. A Lilac color dress of course. That touched the floor and dragged behind her feet. She felt like a princess in that dress.But right now she felt a queen. Maybe that being cocky or overconfident. But that's just how she felt.
Gazing down Sakura’s hand slid downwards from her waist to her thigh. Flashing the dress away from her hip. She stuck her leg out a little like she was posing in the mirror. If she could only save this moment. Keep it as a memento. Like a piece of evidence to tell everyone she does know how to look good. She knows how to doll herself up. She didn’t only wear her white coat and stethoscope.
Sakura’s body tensed when a hand wrapped around her waist pulling her body backwards against something hard and steady. Almost like a brick wall. Instantly relaxing when she realized who it was. The comfort he provided her. She tilted her head up to catch a glance of his eyes. “Looking any harder won’t change anything we need to leave in five minutes” He joked. Making her shake her head a little at it. White pearls around her neck shaking with the nod.
“You look gorgeous” A deep and heavy voice whispered into her ear. His lips were so close she could almost feel them on her ear.
Making the hairs stand on the back of her neck. Then he moved and the wet sensation of a pair of lips pressed against her neck. A small peck that still made her stomach churn even after all of these years. Heat that pooled in her belly like a pit. And her legs shuffle against each other. Still moving backwards against him. She hadn’t thought she was going to end up with Shikamaru of all people. As a girl she thought he was lazy and wasting his potential. Didn’t even give him a second thought. Not when…
He moved his hand around her waist, squeezing her waist. Until his hand moved to her belly. The leftover fat from being pregnant. She had lost some of it. But it wasn’t an easy task to lose weight you were gaining for nine months. Only to be pregnant two times. Not as though Shikamaru minded his hands, always went straight to her belly. Even when she wasn’t pregnant.
Sure it used to make her feel self conscious when she was younger. But it was just another reason she loved her husband. He didn’t love her only for her body. He loved her mind, her personality and her heart. Sakura’s lips turned up as she watched him in the mirror standing behind her. Eyes gazing down her body like he was in a trance. Until he had to go and say something stupid.
“Sasuke is gonna go crazy,” Shikamaru joked.
“Shika” Sakura scolded.
Crossing her arms across her chest. Sakura’s red lips pursed together. She pulled away from him and away from his hands. Stepping away so that her back was to the mirror. She had turned to look at him in annoyance and slight hurt at the assumption. Like he was saying she was dressing up for him. For another man. “Don’t say that” She murmured.
As soon as Shikamaru saw her face. His stomach dropped realizing just how badly he had upset her. The joking expression disappeared and a more serious one replaced it. Steady eyes and his lips flat in a straight line. He reached for her hand pulling it away from her chest. So that he could pull her into a hug against his chest. Shikamaru pet the top of her head. Careful to not ruin the work she had put in. “I’m just messing with you baby” He explained in a whisper.
“Still” Sakura murmured, head pulling away from his chest to look up at him.
Shikamaru let go of her with one hand to brush her cheeks with one hand. Fingers warm against her skin. Careful almost like she was breakfable. Even though the roles were reversed she could break him with one finger. And they both knew it. But he never made her feel like a monster that could break him. He was her safe place. Her person to go to with every thought and big or small feeling. She didn’t have to pretend to be strong around him.
“I’m sorry” He said sincerely. Looking into her eyes.
“I never meant to hurt you Sakura”
Nodding a little. Her eyes closed at the warmth he provided. Like she was trying to calm herself down. She knew he meant it. Shikamaru wasn't a liar. He didn’t say what he didn’t mean. It might have taken her a while to learn that. But it was true. Shikamaru was an honest and loyal man.
Tapping her head against his shoulder like he was head-butting it. “I don’t know why I feel like this. I'm thirty but I'm anxious like I'm a teenager again” She said, groaning a little. It was so stupid. She shouldn't feel so worked up about a simple get-together. Hell she should be happy to finally have a break away from the hospital and to be able to get out and enjoy some time with her husband and best friends.
She shouldn’t let anyone ruin that for her. Especially her ex
“What do you mean?” He curiously questioned an eyebrow raising up in the air. So he could help comfort her better. So he could understand her a little better.
Biting her lip and messing up her lipstick even further. Until he tapped her chin with his thumb making her let go. A small reminder he had done more than once when she got like that in the past. When her thoughts got too loud. Anxious and overthinking. “Just the idea of seeing him again scares me,” Sakura admitted. Feeling scared and small all over again. She wasn’t even sure why he was coming. Why show up so many years later. What was he planning?
It’s not like she had feelings for him any more. Those were squashed years and years ago. If anything the only thing he made her feel was anger and hurt. Shikamaru brushed his hand down her side then teased her wrist. Rubbing his thumb over it. Like he was trying to comfort her and calm her down. “It’s normal he hurt you Sakura” Shikamaru said sincerely.
Shifting on her feet she sighed a little. “But it’s been years”
Shaking his head. Shikamaru knew that. Hell they had been together for six years now and married for four. But he still felt that same kind of hurt when he thought of temari. The way things had ended wasn’t what he had expected. But those things happened and they couldn't change it now. “I know but that kind of hurt and betrayal doesn’t just disappear”
Pressing a small kiss to her forehead. He whispered into her ears. “It might become easier to live with. But it never disappears” Then when she didn’t answer he tapped her arm. His face lit up as he thought of a way to put it in simpler terms for her. A way he could get it through her head. “What do you tell patients that complain about an old injury?”
Sakura’s lips turned up when she realized what he was doing. And she began to smile a little. “Some times it takes a while for the pain to fully go away and some time’s it never does” She murmured under her breath. She knew what he was doing.
Leaning forward. Sakura wrapped her arms that were barely able to reach him around her neck. Her green eyes looking into his dark eyes. Nothing but love staring back at her. unconditional love. Small wrinkles under his eyes. That she just loved to look at and admire. She wasn’t sure if it was the idea of watching him grow old or the idea of growing old with him. “I love you,” Sakura whispered.
Shikamaru’s hands went up and cupped underneath her back. Right where the red dress dipped down. He pulled her a little closer to his body. Arms still wrapped around his neck. She let out a laugh when he wrapped his arms around her pulling her closer and smothering her in a hug. “I love you Sakura,” He whispered happily.
Right when she looked back up at him. The sadness in her eyes was gone for a moment. Sakura leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his lips. It wasn’t long but it wasn’t short. Soft lips that she recognized instantly. And a hand on her back that she knew without even looking at him. The callouses that rubbed against her back and showed off all his hard work.
When she pulled away from the kiss. Sakura’s hand dropped from around his neck and slid down to his chest. Fingers grasping at his tie a little. “We better get going,” Sakura whispered in a small groan.
Shikamaru just chuckled at her. As she fixed his tie. “I won't leave your side okay” He promised.
“You better not," Sakura said, giving him a look that showed she meant business. Before she began walking away from him, hands dropping from his suit and body. There shikamaru stood in their bedroom watching his wife walk away. And he could only think how he got so lucky to end up with such a gorgeous and intelligent and strong woman.