The pink-haired woman places the red-rimmed glasses on the table, noting how scratched the lenses were. She knew Sarada did not need them, but judging by the urgency every time she mentions, she knew that her daughter was attached to it just as much as when she was attached to her Aunt Karin when she was alive. Kissing Sarada's forehead softly, she whispers a silencing jutsu around the room.

Closing the door softly behind her, she glances anxiously at the clock. Like a bomb with a timer, her heart starts pounding erratically as she climbs down the stairs.

And right on time, the front door is knocked upon softly.

Brushing off non-existent dust on the red dress that he loved so much, she reaches in for the lock slowly, even though all she wanted was to wrench it open.

Her fingers cold, she fumbles to open it.

And he tumbles in, smelling of the wind and the earth, and the warmth of the closure reeling her in.

He wastes no time as he grabs her, and suddenly she is falling into him and him into her and it feels like they are in another world where no one can ever hurt them again.

"I miss you," he whispers in an urgent tone, trailing whispers of kisses on her neck and ears, and ending with her lips. "Is she -"

"She's asleep," she interrupts, the evident feeling of guilt overriding her.

"I - I love you. So, so much," he whispers harshly against her ear, feeling that if he lets go, she might drift further away from him.

"Stupid," she whispers back, tears wet and salty against her cheeks. She lets him back her up against the wall, as hot hands and kisses flutter across her body. When he reaches up her shirt, she clasps his hand in hers and places her forehead on his, breathing hard. "Why, Naruto?"

He looks deeply in her eyes, the pain clearly reflecting. He pushes her up against the wall, his hands lifting her thighs and letting them wrap around his waist. They whimper at the proximity, breathing hard. Sakura has never felt this way with anyone, not even her own 'husband'. He kisses her exposed shoulder - the touch light and gentle. Breathing in shakily, he whispered. "I love you," he repeats, with closed eyes as if by saying them, everything would be alright again.

That it was okay for them to love each other.

That it was okay for them to break all over again.

"I love you too."

The two lovers ensue the desperate-laden night, dreading the breaking dawn that will bring them back to reality.

The reality where they never belonged to each other.