Four Seasons
Summary: Sasuke Uchiha finds that his wife disappeared, and she will not return to him unless he shows the ability to be a true father, kindness, and a gold heart. She leaves their child with him, the dead line is four seasons (a year); if he doesn't show those 3 things she vowed never to return to him and take their child with her. Can't be too hard right?
The Strange Deal
The streets of Konoha were empty and cold, it was winter time anyway so it didn't come as a big shock to the former missing ninja at all. He simply sighed and took the bitter wind and the icy fluff like a man. His mind was however racing, it was as if some drug caused his head to become overbearingly hot, and his mind disoriented. He staggered haphazardly on the walk home, begging God to cure his mind and allow him to walk home in peace.
Sasuke began to run, unfortunately it only made the situation worse, he gripped his head and began to pant harder and faster until he was on his knees in pain. He felt a hand come against his shoulder, he swiftly slapped it away.
"Sasuke, it's me honey." A soft voice called, he didn't care (as if he would even if he weren't in pain) it was too overbearing to deal with.
"Sasuke, are you alright?" The voice persisted, working delicate nerves on Sasuke's temper. He tried to mutter a "fine", but a sharp pain struck him causing him to kneel over in pain.
"Do you want me to call someone for help?" The voice asked frantically, her hand was on him again, anger rose in the version of red chakra. A gasp escaped from the voice's mouth. A thud followed it, Sasuke turned around to see his wife and child on the ground. Ino Uchiha had her baby on her chest and was dressed in a fancy parka.
"You went shopping again?" He asked harshly, not even bothering with greetings. His brutish behavior was common these days, and all Ino did was sigh at it. The baby cooed through the silence.
"I bought you a few things. Underwear, pajamas, medications, um, some ninja equipment." His blonde wife said, touching her lip and looking to the sky to try and remember.
"Medication?" He breathed, he dashed for the bag like an animal tearing through the bags and sent them flying in the air against his wife's shouts. In a desperate act to make sure he didn't take too much she grabbed the pill bottle. She stood up trying to pry open the bottle.
"Give them to me." He seethed, his eyes remarkably still oily black. She quickly opened the bottle and produced two pills. He knocked them away, and grabbed her hand; forcing her to fall back to her knees. He didn't repeat himself, he just took the bottles popping as many as he could in his mouth.
"Sasuke stop it!" His wife pleaded trying to take the bottle from his mouth, he pushed her back unpleasantly, the baby began to wail. When Sasuke had successfully swallowed 3 pills he tossed the bottle to her with apathy. Random pills lay on the ground.
"Go home, I'll meet you there." He ordered, standing up straight. Ino didn't reply, she just turned around.
"Where are you going?" She asked picking up the discarded objects.
"That," He said slowly turning around, "Is none of your concern." he finished coldly. Ino pondered for a moment on whether she should fire back a snide comment, or a cutely smart rebuttal but he walked away before she had the chance.
"Sasuke, come here..." She began her voice firm, he didn't stop, she repeated her words almost pleadingly.
"Sasuke, honey don't do this..." She said, fearing that he would do something distasteful again, there were already rumors of him having solicit affairs and multiple mistresses. Ino knew one of them, but trusted that she was the only one. It had been a big blow out with a huge disclosure following it.
"I promise you, you won't see me at home if you don't turn around." She warned confidently, he stopped for a moment as if in thought.
"Go ahead." He said throwing caution to the wind. She stood there shocked, he continued to walk. She hung her head down, her baby began to fuss.
"Aahhh..." Sasuke said sinking into a hot bath when he came home, The sound of wailing popped his bubble thoughts and relaxation.
"Ino take care of that." He cried loudly, he returned his thoughts to relaxation. However it kept on going on, the sobs grew louder and louder.
"Ino! Ino--" Sasuke said getting up and out of the bath to find his wife no where in sight but his baby in the crib.
"Your not being funny, ha ha April Fools I get it, now---Ino? H-Honey?" He cried softly, he went to the crib and saw that a note was attached to the side of it.
Sasuke I don't believe you, how could you just leave me by myself to walk home? Until you can show that you can be kind, a good father, and a heart of gold by the time the four seasons end only then will I return. However, if you do not, don't expect me to allow our child to stay with you, or me.
-Ino.
Sasuke stared at the note for at least 3 minutes, he was in shock. He fixed his child's diaper without saying a word, he made the milk bottle quick and easy and he cleaned the house and had dinner prepared for three.
"See? Ino you win." He said to the walls and furniture. No one responded but the noises of his child. He narrowed his eyes down at the floor, "You win alright? Just, just come back..." He begged, tears formed in his eyes.
"I can't do this without you okay?! Is that what you want to hear from me? I'm not the world's best dad and I should help--will help around the house more! Ino you can't leave me like this. I don't know a thing about being a father! I-I-I ....need you...." Sasuke said softly, he set the baby down gently and looked around the house for Ino.
"She's really gone, she's really, really gone..." Sasuke whispered nearly in tears.
The loud buzz of the alarm clock woke the tired Uchiha, he laid on his stomach, trying to fish around for the silver object that held the time "8:30 am" in big blue letters. He snapped it in half when the radio began to play, he pushed it off of the night stand, but it still buzzed. He glared at it after he arose, vowing revenge.
"Up you go." He said to his child with care, he had protectively placed the child near him on the bed; though careful not to roll on him, he placed ninja string that triggered a miniature bomb when touched from anything but the baby. He picked the child up safely, and stared at him in wonder. Slowly, but surely the baby woke up with his teal blue eyes searching around the room and cooed an incomprehensible word.
"I'll take that as good morning. Good morning to you too, champ." Sasuke smiled, mimicking how Naruto speaks to his child. "You know, you get those big great blue eyes from your mother. Don't tell her I told you this, but I think you stole her voice too. But, be glad because you can woo the ladies with that smile, boy. Just look at that hair, your like a mini-me. Can't say much about your potty training though, don't know when your suppose to catch on..." Sasuke said as pee tinkled onto the bed, forming small puddles.
"Okay, time for day care." Sasuke said setting his son down so that he can find clothes for him to wear. The baby crawled to the bathroom, opening and closing the drawers. Sasuke's ears perked up.
"Hey you, come here." Sasuke said trying to catch his son. "Akira, Akira come to daddy, see its papa." Sasuke smiled or at least tried to. The baby began to cry, looking around for Ino.
"She always goes to the bathroom first, huh? To wash her hands..." Sasuke remembered nostalgically. "Look buddy boy, I'm not your mother, nor anything like her so don't expect that patient stuff with me." Sasuke warned grabbing the boy up.
"Is he hungry?" The woman on the phone asked tiredly.
"No, I'm almost positive he's not." Sasuke said trying to stuff mashed carrots in his mouth.
"And now we are headed towards being late...." Sasuke moaned, trying to put on his shoes.
"Um, sir the police is for emergencies only and not knowing how to take care of your child isn't one." The lady said before hanging up.
Sasuke rolled his eyes, "What do I pay them for?" he said bitterly, he owned the Konoha Police Force and the ANBU and could very much well make any of them do this. His eyes twinkled in brilliance.
"Why didn't I think of that bef--" He began, but Ino's note reminded him "why".
"Its you and I against the clock." Sasuke said stuffing his son into the back seat. Sasuke drove to the day care as fast as he could.
"S-sir, your late and parked in the handicap space." The owner said pointing to the lopsided parking that Sasuke had done.
"I can't take him to work." Sasuke said blinking.
"Aw, is that little Akira? Normally, I'd say of course he can come in, but its pigs like you that I'd want to keep out!" The lady said shutting the door in Sasuke's face. Sasuke knocked again, she opened it, Sasuke handed her the baby.
"I can not be late to work, nor take my child with me. Either you watch him or--" Sasuke began, the lady didn't look like she was going to budge, Sasuke took his son to work with a puffed up face.
At Work:
Snickering filled the room as Sasuke entered the door with a stroller. Naruto was the first to comment, or at least tried to be before Sasuke pushed him away.
"Sakura, you are to look after---" Sasuke began sharply, she automatically declined.
"Ino-chan gave me strict orders to report to her every single thing you do, and to make sure you do all parental activities on you own. At noon he is to be fed, burped and fed again, nap is at one, and at 4 he has a play date to attend at the Uzumaki residence, 7 is when he is to be picked up. Ino might contact you if you do a good job." Sakura said with a tough face. Sasuke looked shocked, "Just who's side are you on?" he whispered in anger.
"Ino-chan's after all the affairs---" Sakura began, Sasuke brought her very close with a deadly look on his face.
"I never once cheated on my wife, you better get that one straight. If I hear a word uttered about it further, you can forget ever working here again." Sasuke said harshly.
"Threatened me at 9:28 am." Sakura recorded, Sasuke said some unsightly things under his breath but moved the stroller along.
"So...how are we going to do this?" Sasuke asked settling in his desk.
"All you need is an apron, dye your hair blonde, and put melons in a bra strapped to your chest. He'd mistake you for a woman." Shikamaru said high five-ing Naruto. Sasuke blankly laughed, it was the type of laugh no one was to hear, so dry and unfeeling Shikamaru stopped laughing.
"Where's Ino-chan, why isn't she with---" Shikamaru started.
"Don't you have a report due to me by 3?" Sasuke cut in, Naruto grimaced at his harsh behavior.
"Look Neji-san, Sasuke got into a fight with his wife, you can see how badly he misses her." Teased Naruto, who poked Sasuke's forehead daringly. Sasuke caught the young boy's finger and bent it the other way. Naruto was on the ground nursing his finger in seconds.
"See, that's why Hinata and I never fight, we never hurt each other purposefully to be mean!" Naruto said pouting. Sasuke slowly cranked his head to Naruto like a robot; Naruto's face lost color in it.
"Sorry to bother you." Naruto said quietly, "But, is it really that bad?" he asked even lower. Sasuke narrowed his eyes at him.
"Don't you have work to do? Or would you like me to make some for you?" Sasuke said meanly. Naruto ran away. No one was left in his office but Neji, who was Sasuke's partner anyway.
Sasuke sighed, "See, that's why Hinata and I never fight, we never hurt each other purposefully to be mean!" echoed in his head no matter how hard he shook it. His baby clapped with joy and laughter. Sasuke smiled softly, his baby grinned back.
"It's politically none of my business, but is it really that bad?" Neji asked anyway. Sasuke nodded, but he smiled.
"She'll be back, I know her." He said happily, Neji smiled, "It's good you have faith in her." he said returning to work.
"Faith, huh?" Sasuke repeated.
A/N: Thanks for reading! God Bless.
Revieeeewwwww!!!
SnowyWolfe.