Here we go, last chapter of the story <3
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You're so near that you seem like dawn and dusk

You seem like the effect of love on the branches of my heart

You seem like the fruit of seen and many unseen springs

And I am scared of losing this happiness

-Aatish (Fire)
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Sasuke stared at the sleeping form of his wife, next to him. Her thick lashes on her soft cheeks as she sunlight bathed them both was the epitome of beauty to him.

A year ago's Sasuke would call him a fucking sap for thinking this, but that Sasuke had been living a shitty life- so hah!

As creepy as it sounded, he liked to watch her sleep. He liked to do it because she seemed so carefree. His arm around her waist tightened at the thought of the day's activities. Today was the end of his month's break.

The past month-wow. It really had been a while since his nightmare and that fateful kiss. The past month had not been easy.

Hinata had demanded to know what he was doing. And why he was pulling away. He'd told her about his feelings regarding her. But he hadn't told her about the leaving part. What was the use? After the time they'd spent together...he hoped she would understand now.

Opening up to her, since he never had anyone to open up to, was tough. And frustrating. And they'd fought. A lot.

But Hinata had always been so supportive and he'd fallen so hard for her in the past month. He just hoped she felt some of the intensity of what he felt for her. Of course he hadn't told her yet. He hadn't said those fated words yet.

I love you.

He craved her touch and wanted to claim her as his, even though he knew he shouldn't give in to his feelings. But not now. Not until he knew she loved him too. 

If we sleep together, ever, it will be because we want to…not because of obligation.

He still remembered his words. He wanted to make love to her...nothing less was acceptable to him now. And he would only do that when she loved him.

He was trying. To be a man she could love. So that he could be hers for however long he had.

They did share a room now. And to wake up with her in his arms was one of the best experiences of his life. To kiss her, sometimes took his breath away. To feel her next to him...it was ecstasy. He smiled and cringed at the same time remembering his words, which seemed like a lifetime ago.

Because misery loves a companion, Hyuga.

Well, at least Crazy Sasuke had made at least one good decision. Marrying her. 

He was trying. Really.
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For every one step forward, they took at least a hundred steps backwards. He'd been looking for a book from the archives of the Uchiha while Hinata cooked, when Hinata had burst in, the mission scroll, no doubt sent by the Hokage, in her hand.

"You don't understand-"

"You don't understand!" she yelled back. "Why are you taking this Mission?"

"You don't control my life." He said, trying to calm down. "I said I'd let you in, not let you take over."

"I'm not taking over! You're not considering how dangerous this is for you and how painful this 6 year mission is going to be for me!"

"It's my life."

"I'm your wife."

"I'm taking the mission."

"You said you wouldn't leave. That you'd try." She said, tears pooling in her eyes and she hated the tears and the pain that came with loving-loving-this man.

He didn't say anything but his eyes were resolute. 

"That's why you were pulling away. You had decided to leave even then." Hinata realized, an unbearable pain radiating in her chest at the thought.

"Hinata, it's for the best. I swear to you. I can't take you down with me." Sasuke tried. He was feeling desperate at the sight of her tears.

"Please don't leave." She begged. "Or if you do...take me with you, Sasuke."

Her words made him flinch. Memories of another night like this one, where another girl begged him not to go or to take her with him. Memories of when he'd broken her heart too. Because he was always hurting people who cared for him. She had to get away from him. She had to-

"Hinata GET AWAY FROM ME!"

"Why don't you make me!" she screamed, tired of this. They did this every time. Every time they were anywhere close to making progress, Sasuke pulled this and tried to pull away from her.

"Hinata...get away."

"Or what? You'll cast a Genjutsu on me and leave anyway?" she breathed out, tears slipping onto her cheeks from her eyes.

Sasuke's gaze turned murderous and hurtful. He stepped back from her and it felt like a physical blow to her gut. She took a shaky breath. "Are you going to leave me?"

"Yes." He said with such a finality that her heart shattered. Completely shattered. She just looked at him.

"I'm leaving. For good. And you're going to live your life comfortably without me holding you back. And I'm finally going to be free of Konoha."

"T-these months of our marriage, this last month... did they mean nothing to you?" her shoulders shook with the effort of not sobbing. Sasuke looked pained. 

"Regardless of-" he started when she cut him off, tears blurring her eyes now. 

"No. You-No. Not r-regardless of them...answer me." She pleaded. He should answer already. That they did mean something to him. But he averted his gaze.

Hinata felt her heart break.

Why didn't he understand? Why did he think he could leave without turning her life upside down? Why did he think he was so easily replaceable? Why didn't he know-

A sob escaped her mouth and Sasuke looked at her, torn. "I-" her body shuddered with the sobs. 

"I love you!" she yelled, her eyes screwed shut. "I love you so much I can't stand it. I can't stand it when you so easily belittle yourself, when you think you deserve  pain and when you think my affections can't possibly be genuine. When you disregard the time we've spent with each other!"

He stood there looking at her. And she opened her eyes, tears flowing freely.

"I love you, Sasuke." She said, walking to him, tears shining in her eyes as more streamed down her cheeks. "You changed my life and I hated you for it. But...if I had a chance, I'd choose this-this life with you again. I wouldn't change any second. It hurts me...whenever you think you leaving makes me better off."

Sasuke felt his breathing stop. This was-

"So leave if you still want...but don't you dare think, even for a minute, that it wouldn't scar me for life."

And at that moment, Sasuke thought, he'd never seen a woman so beautiful in his life. He'd never seen such a beautiful creature in his damned life. Someone so pure who'd actually loved him.

And yes, he'd always be broken. He'd try to pull away again and again and again because everytime she looked at him, his life seemed too good to be true. But she loved him. She loved him.

So he didn't care if his voice broke as he spoke. "I love you, Hinata."

He didn't know if he moved or she did, the only thing that mattered was their bodies molded together in a bone crushing hug. He buried his nose in the crook of her neck, smelling her flowery scent.

Hinata's look was simultaneously murderous and exasperated and confused. Sasuke stifled a maddening urge to laugh.

"I love you. And it scares the hell out of me. Because even though I keep trying...I keep thinking I'm taking you down with me. And I keep thinking of leaving is better for you...even though I don't know what the fuck I'd do with myself after I leave."

"Sasuke, love is all about risks. And who knows what happens...but don't you think it's worth taking a chance?" she asked, looking up at him. And Sasuke knew this was the moment he stayed forever or left forever.

Stay with her...or leave her to live a significantly better life without him in it. "I can't stay."

"Then take me with you."

"You'll hate me eventually, for taking you away." Sasuke told her, feeling his eyes burn with feeling. "You'll hate leaving, Hinata."

"I could never hate you." Hinata told him. "I'd always choose you." Her words made him want to cry. Because when was the last time-

He forced himself to stop the emotion building up, threatening to spill over.

"Last out, Hyuga." He told her, leaning towards her, his voice low and heated as he dared to glance at her lips.

"It's Uchiha." Hinata whispered before he kissed her. Slowly, languidly. Taking his time. Hinata wrapped her arms around his neck and Sasuke found himself sweeping her off her feet without breaking the kiss, one of his hands supporting her neck.

"I'm not good with words. I’m not good. With love. But I can show you. Please let me. Let me show you just how much I love you." He whispered, breaking away from their kiss, breathing heavily in between the words.

"Will you try to leave without me?" she asked, a certain vulnerability in her tone. 

Sasuke huffed out a disbelieving laugh. "Are you crazy? If I'm getting kisses like that..." He trailed off, when Hinata narrowed her eyes playfully.

"Let me love you." He asked again, his voice tentative again. And Hinata laughed.

"Finally." Hinata mumbled, pulling his face down to hers again.

Sasuke started walking towards their room, without breaking the kiss. He had a promise to fulfill.
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Author notes: So, that was it. I hope you guys had as much fun reading this story as I had writing it. Writing the initial first chapter as a one-shot, I had no idea I'd get so into Sasuke's head and write this whole story.

Thank you to all the reader's who stuck with me throughout the story and I hope you'll keep up with my new works (whenever those are).

I was really nervous uploading this because I initially didn't intend to end the story on a happy note (I still have the original draft). And another reason for my nervousness was that, Sasuke was still not completely okay with staying. But I just went with it.

Do let me know what you think of this chapter and I'm eagerly awaiting any and all responses. Once again, thank you!

Until next time.
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