An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Naruto
Rating: Explicit
Relationships: Haruno Sakura/Hatake Kakashi, Haruno Sakura/Uchiha Sasuke, Hyuuga Hinata/Uzumaki Naruto
Characters: Haruno Sakura, Hatake Kakashi, Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, Hyuuga Hinata
Additional Tags: Infidelity, Guilt, Depression, morally torn, Cheating, Unfaithfulness, Friendship, Oral Sex, emotional distress, Comfort, Hurt/Comfort, slight mention of infertility, but its just Sakura finding a scapegoat, clan pressure, Panic Attacks, having the hard talks, Fluff, Kakashi cares too much, Sasuke is hella damaged, body worship kink, Praise Kink, Porn With Plot
Series: Part 1 of The Spaces Between Us
Summary:
After four years, Sasuke still struggles to stay home. Sakura feels the aches of loneliness and longing for a dream she thought she achieved. There's only one person who, even in the slightest, makes her feel like she matters to someone. What could happen when she realizes there is more than a feeling of deep friendship between her and her main mission partner? And what is she to do about her unhappy marriage to Sasuke?
“Sakura, you’re zoning out.” Kakashi chided, but his tone sounded far too playful to really be reprimanding her.
“You read porn while we run home, I think endlessly about returning back to an empty space.” She started nonchalantly, her tone clipped. Her shoulders sagged just as she saw the gates of Konoha come into view. She suddenly realized what she just said, her face turning red from embarrassment. “I mean...uh. Sorry.”
She felt Kakashi’s eyes on her again, and she dared to look over at him. She locked eyes with him and she felt a shiver go down her spine. Was that concern in his knitted brow, concern for her? Why would he look that worried for her? She was just basically whining about something that was her own choice.
“Don’t be sorry for expressing how you feel, Sakura.” He offered an eye crinkle. “You could come have dinner. I could invite Naruto and Sai, if you like. Would that be better than going home?”
Her heart swelled at the idea. When was the last time they had met up like that? Ever since Naruto had become Hokage, he was always busy. She’d seen Hinata take him Ichiraku in little styrofoam bowls here and there, so it must have been bad. Sai had become Head over ANBU and been busy there, and trying to help other ROOT members recover from Danzo’s schemes. She worked long hours at the hospital when she wasn’t on missions with Kakashi, when Kakashi wasn’t on ANBU missions.
Really, she spent more time with Kakashi than anyone else. He was always there. He even brought her coffee at work from time to time, or lunch. He would wait for her after shifts and walk her home. He’d even carried her home once when she had been so exhausted she fell to her knees while having a dizzy spell.
She sighed softly, knowing Naruto and Sai would probably still be busy. There was no reason to interrupt them. They were doing important things for the village, just like she had her place in doing the very same. Even Sasuke had his. She shook her head.
“Don’t bother them at my expense. We all have roles to play for the village.” She averted her eyes, refusing to let him see how sad she actually felt, or how much she really wanted something as simple as to eat with people she was close with.
Kakashi hummed softly as they dropped onto the ground. “Mah, fine. You can come over for dinner after we report to Naruto then. No more sulking in the Uchiha complex while I’m around.” He gently bumped her shoulder.
Sakura shifted her gaze towards him, her eyes wide. “I-I don’t sulk!” She sputtered before she crossed her arms over her chest defensively.
“Mhmm, okay. Sure. What was it you said, again? Returning to an empty space?” He teased her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Sounded awfully bitter for not having been sulking before we were even home.”
And there it was again. A flutter down her spine, and some of the constant ache relieving in her chest. A sense of belonging spread through her, and a small quirk of the lips as she leaned her head against his shoulder.
“Okay, maybe I sulk a little bit.” She conceded with a small laugh. “Can you really blame me though?”
Kakashi shook his head lightly as they passed the gates, waving at Kotetsu and Izumo. She waved at them herself, and they just smiled.
“Glad you guys made it back, as always.” Kotetsu said as he adjusted the bandages along his cheekbones.
“Nice to see you smile, Haru- Uchiha.” Izumo said as a smile spread across his lips.
Sakura frowned slightly. “Is that to say I don’t smile often?” She asked tentatively, a little embarrassed.
“Not for real.” Kakashi spoke softly before steering her towards the Hokage tower.
They quickly reported the mission details to Naruto. It had been quick and clean, as per usual with the two of them. Naruto looked exhausted as he filed away their mission report after signing it. It saddened her to think, they both had gotten their dreams; she married Sasuke and he became Hokage. However, when you really looked at either of them, it seemed they were withering away inside. It hurt her to think Naruto wasn’t living his life happily, he deserved it more than any of them.
She watched as he seemed to perk up, and she sensed a calm and poised chakra coming their way before a light knock on the door sounded through the room.
“Hinata! Come in!” He called excitedly, getting up from his seat at the desk.
Hinata entered, holding two cups of ramen, and a heavenly smile pointed towards her husband. Naruto took one of the steamy bowls from his wife, and placed an affectionate kiss on her forehead.
“You’re the best, Hina. Thank you.”
There was an unmistakable warmth in his voice. It made her so happy for them, for Naruto. To watch him light up at the Hyuga’s presence, how much love they held for each other. She watched as she sat at the desk with him, and she noticed then there was a spot on the desk that was cleared right where she was sitting, despite all the clutter everywhere else on it.
It was in that moment she felt her heart twist again, and the slightest bit of envy creep into her thoughts. Naruto wasn’t suffering like she was, and that was such a good thing. However, she couldn’t help but to wish Sasuke would look at her with such warmth even just one time. For him to make space for her in his life, like Naruto had done for Hinata on that haphazard pile of paperwork he called a desk.
“We’ll leave you two to your lunch.” Sakura said cheerily, even as she gritted her teeth to stop the shaking her jaw threatened to do as the stab of longing and loneliness struck her once again.
“Oh, no Sakura, you don’t have to. I would have brought mo-” Hinata started.
“I need to change.” Sakura said steadily, forcing herself to hold her smile.
“See you next time, team!” Naruto called out as she hurriedly left, Kakashi on her heels.