43Summary: You will never know how Uchiha Sasuke would have felt as he knelt on one knee; an arm outstretched holding a ring to Sakura's shocked and suddenly stiff form.
AN: here it is! The second installment of Paradox. I'm sorry if it's very late but now is the only time I really thought of a concept for the second part. Consider this an epilogue or something. Please review!
Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine. I wish Sasuke is but…oh well.
Paradox
(part 2)
Love is a constant confusion.
You will never know how Uchiha Sasuke would have felt as he knelt on one knee; an arm outstretched holding a ring to Sakura's shocked and suddenly stiff form.
"What did you say Sasuke-kun?"
A low growl.
"Do I have to repeat myself," he asked as he still refused to look at her.
"Tell me Sasuke-kun, are you doing this to fulfill your second goal?"
He looks away.
"Why don't you just answer my question Sakura?"
"Why don't you answer mine?"
"Because it is a senseless question."
"Then I won't answer yours too Sasuke-kun."
She stomped away, creating craters with every step.
He sighs.
He stands up and snaps the small box shut.
"Fine," he calls after her.
"Fine," she replies with rage.
Nothing else could be funny yet sad at the same time.
It creates rival best friends.
"And then," she continues, sobbing to her blonde bestfriend, "he doesn't answer when I ask him if he's just trying to achieve his goal."
Ino could just pat her friend's back.
"Why did you ask that anyway?"
"I want to know about his feelings!"
"I thought you would know Uchiha above everybody else?"
"I'm not a mind reader though," she replied defensively.
"What happened next?"
"The bastard told me, 'fine!' so I replied with the same thing. He didn't even run after me," she said indignantly.
Ino sighed.
"Why would you think he'll just use you anyway?"
"Because it's Sasuke-kun and Sasuke is…."
Ino nodded in understanding.
"I wanted to know if finally…," she trailed off.
Ino smiled at her pink-haired friend gently.
"I know Sakura. But why don't you try trusting him?"
It brings forth clueless prodigies.
"And then what teme?"
Naruto was jumping up and down at the sound of the word 'proposed'.
"She asked me to say it again."
"And?"
"I said that I didn't want to repeat myself."
"Teme!"
Naruto hit Sasuke's head, earning him a glare from the Uchiha.
"Why'd you do that?"
"She heard me," he said through gritted teeth, "then she asked me if I was doing it or my other goal."
Naruto's eyes widened.
"What did you answer?"
"I didn't."
"You really are a bastard."
"She was asking stupid questions."
Naruto looked at him like he was Orochimaru back from the dead.
"I had no idea you're that clueless teme."
Sasuke glared at his bestfriend although he knew what he said was true.
It draws out the weakness of the invincible.
"Sakura."
She looks at him, confused to see him in front of her office at this time of day.
"Sasuke-kun," she greets with civility then turns away.
"Sakura," he repeated and she wouldn't have looked back if she hadn't heard the silent pleading in his voice.
"What do you need Sasuke?"
"Will you marry me?"
"Why would I do that Sasuke-kun?"
There it was- the honorary suffix.
"Because, Sakura, I can provide for you."
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
"I have money and a big house."
"Sasuke…"
"I am powerful, I will protect you."
"You don't…"
"I can promise my fidelity," he continued, not allowing her to speak.
"You don't understand!"
The other medics passing through her office backed away.
"You don't understand a thing Uchiha Sasuke!"
She walks away in a huff.
"I love you," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Her green eyes widened in shock and she slowly turned her head towards him. He was looking at her with such intensity.
"I love you," he repeated, voice louder but still soft.
It curbs rage to calm.
"Do you really?"
Her eyes were now quite blurry in both happiness and hope.
"Are you sure?"
Sasuke wanted to wipe her tears away but really, how can someone like him do that? So he had to tell her, he had to remind her.
"I am sure. I have always been sure."
It creates gentleness out of bloodlust.
Flashback
"Who did this to you Sakura?"
The curse seal was threatening to envelope his whole body.
His eyes spoke of a ruthless thirst for violence.
"Tell me! Is it him?"
He broke the enemy's arms. Her eyes were blurred with tears.
"Sasuke," she whispered.
The enemy screamed in agony.
"Sasuke," she repeated, her voice louder.
He was walking towards the other ninja.
"Sasuke-kun, " she yelled as she ran towards him and put her arms around him.
"Please stop," she whispered.
The curse seal receded.
End Flashback.
It weaves certainty out of doubt.
She looked at him with longing.
He took a small step towards her and when he was just a breath away, he asked again.
"Will you marry me Sakura?"
"Of course I will," she said, sobs racking her body, "Of course I will," she repeated.
It renders the mighty defenseless.
She has been respected and feared for her monstrous strength. Her unbelievably flawless chakra control has made waves all throughout the ninja world.
She was never helpless in anybody's eyes. She has always been deemed in high esteem.
Now, as she hears him say that he'll have her 'till death do them part, she wanted to tell the world that her fists could destroy towns and knock out many an enemy but in his arms, she was helpless, she was weak.
Because he was Uchiha Sasuke, the man she has loved all her life and he is her husband.
And if it was him, she was powerless, she is vulnerable. But she is happy.
It humbles the infamous.
He has always been called many things. He was the avenger, the survivor, the Uchiha prodigy. He was also the traitor, the nukenin, the S-class criminal.
Now, as he looks as his wife, he never in any moment wanted to shout out his new title to the world as he did right now.
Because now, he was not the avenger, not the Uchiha prodigy.
Now, he was just Uchiha Sakura's husband.
And she, she was his wife. And he is contented.
Because it is love. It is logic without reason. It is mystery without secrecy. It is hope without anticipation. It is definite but without limit.
AN: please review!