Hey Guys!
Thank you SO MUCH for all of the amazing reviews and wonderful feedback on TO LOVE A LIFE! I am so excited to say that the ball is finally rolling for some juicy drama involving our faves! I can't wait to get it all written out and published!
Please review and I am always up for constructive criticism!
I don't own anything!
The raven haired man slammed the door and stomped down the stairs and out of the apartment. Venomous anger spewing from every pore.
He needed to calm down and find his bearings. He was used to being on his own and fending for himself. But this night, he was lost. His wife had just kicked him out of their small apartment.
'How could she do this to me? Why would she do this to me? I'm back. I'm staying. So why is it like this with her? She's not smiling anymore.'
He put his hand to his clothed chest where she had left her mark. His eyes were illuminated by the light of moon on the clear night. He leapt into a large tree near the apartment building. He would stay there for as long as needed.
THREE DAYS LATER
"We need to talk," The baritone of the Uchiha could be heard from the frame of the door.
"Hey!" The blonde Hokage spoke, the exhaustion clear in his usually obnoxious voice, "Come on in! You look like hell!"
Sasuke ignored the jab and instead just sat quietly in the chair in front of Naruto's desk.
"What's up? I heard you were home, but," He motioned to the piles of paper on his desk, "I couldn't step away long enough to come see you."
"Don't worry about it, I've only been home for a few days." He hesitated.
"Rough few days I take it?" He motioned to Sasuke's body, "Sasuke… What is it?"
"It's been rough, I haven't slept at home the last couple of nights. What do you know about the relationship between my wife and Kakashi?" He eyed Naruto darkly.
"W-what do you mean?" He stammered a bit, "If you need, buddy, you can stay with us."
"Have you noticed anything going on between them?" He looked at his friend darkly, ignoring the invitation.
Naruto gulped hard.
"Nothing out of the ordinary."
"And what is 'ordinary'?" He asked, spite fueling his deep voice.
"Well, I see them everywhere together. I know he was really there for her and Sarada a lot! Ever since you…" His eyes widened as he stopped himself from speaking the words that were about to escape his lips.
"When I was what? On a mission?"
"Away… Sasuke. When you were away."
"Naruto…" He looked at the ground, "I think she's cheating on me."
Naruto stopped and glared at his best friend.
"Sakura would never betray you Sasuke! Never… Even if she was unhappy, she has always been loyal to you and only you. She proved that the day that she married you. And the day that you left her alone with your child."
Sasuke's dark eyes widened.
"You know?" He whispered, "No one, not even you, was supposed to ever find out! Now I find out that she's told Kakashi and you! Who else has she told!?"
He stood up, black cloak flying in the breeze that he created.
"Sasuke, stop!" Naruto stood as well, matching his eyes.
"No! I have to figure this out before the whole village finds out!"
He turned on his heel and began walking towards the closed door.
"Sasuke! Sakura didn't tell me! Kakashi did! And, it was very recently. Up until then, I had no idea that Sarada was not Sakura's!" He called.
Sasuke stopped in his tracks, hand still on the handle of the large door. He turned his head to view Naruto with only one eye.
"What did you say?" He asked, voice icy, "Kakashi told you?"
"Yes, he did." Naruto spoke, "He only told me because I deemed it necessary to know all of the information. Sarada had left in such a hurry to find you that day and Sakura left just as fast to find her. I have not told anyone. Nor will I. It is your secret. But, do not be mad at Sakura, she has kept your honor in tact."
"No, she hasn't." He spat out, "I told her not a single soul could know Sarada's true parentage. And, what is the first thing she does? Tells Kakashi, who was the Hokage at the time."
Sasuke made his way back towards the middle of the room. Meeting his best friend and rivals eyes, he found the most stern and serious look greeting him.
"Sasuke, I think that you are being really harsh and unfair to your wife. You don't know the full story or the burden that you placed on her by leaving. She was alone. Sure, she had me, her parents, and Ino. I was married and was starting a family of my own, Ino was getting married and starting her family as well, and her parents were around but they also had their lives."
He quietly stood there and allowed the Nanadaime to rip into him.
"She needed help! You didn't see her, Sasuke! She was a mess! She hid it pretty well, but, I saw it. She was so alone after you left her with an infant to raise. Now I know that the infant wasn't even her own! But, nonetheless, she carried on! She had to provide for Sarada, care for her, and raise her! Without any inkling as to when you were going to be back. She worked more than I have ever seen before. She often brought Sarada along with her to work because she couldn't find a sitter. She provided for her as much as she could."
'Did she really suffer that much?' he thought as Naruto continued his scolding.
"But, then, Kakashi saw her struggling. He was alone as well. He stepped in because no one else could. He cared for them. He helped her with your child, Sasuke! He was there everyday for them. He raised that little girl to be the strong young woman she is today. When Sakura lost the baby, Kakashi was there to help her pick up the pieces when you wouldn't come home." Naruto's voice was getting louder, "They are close, Sasuke! But she would never betray you. Ever."
Sasuke took a few moments to regain his dwindling composure.
"Then why isn't she happy that I am home? Why doesn't she smile? Why doesn't she laugh? Why does she act like the world is falling apart?" He yelled.
"Maybe it is for her!" Naruto matched Sasuke's level, "Maybe you've broken her heart one too many times!"
The Uchiha collapsed in his chair. His hand clutched his dark head.
"I think I've lost her, Naruto." He whispered.
"Maybe you have, man, but she would never outright betray you. She has her own honor to consider in this too, not just yours."
"When did this happen? How could it have happened?" He looked up slightly to meet the blonde haired Hokage's eyes.
"You took her for granted," He spoke somberly, "You left and expected her to wait for you. Seems like you've ruined a great thing, man. I love you, but you're an idiot and that says a lot coming from the village idiot." He smirked at the memories that came flooding back from childhood.
Sasuke just sat, stunned.
'He's right, I took her for granted. I am still taking her for granted… I expected too much from my wife. I expected her to burden my present sins while I tried to atone for my past ones. I was just looking back and not looking at what was in front of my own eyes. I wanted an heir so bad that I cheated… I wanted to atone that betrayal and I abandoned my family in the process without realizing it. I wasn't even there for the birth of my own son… I wasn't there when my wife suffered his death. Kakashi was…'
Sasuke stood and without a word, left. He walked slowly down the street toward his home.
'How can I win her back… I didn't want to see it, but, she isn't in love with me anymore… She's in love with him. Kakashi.' He snarled at the thought as his eye turned red.
"No!" He spoke to the night air, "She is with me. She will always be with me. She is my damn wife! Not his! I shouldn't have fight this!"
He leapt off of the ground and into a lush tree just outside his home with Sakura. He would rest there for the evening and speak with her in the morning about this. He knew that going back would be a death sentence for him and he knew he was not welcome back just yet.
Sasuke didn't mind sleeping outside, he had done it for years.
A few hours had passed and his eyes shot open as he heard the crunch of leaves beneath him. He didn't even sense another chakra around him. As he looked down from the branch, he was met with a mop of silver under his feet. The man was seemingly unaware of his presence as his walked, book in his face, as usual. The dim light of the street lamp flickered above their heads.
The Uchiha hopped off of the branch.
"Sasuke." The silver haired man acknowledged without even turning around.
"Kakashi." He spat venomously.
Kakashi turned to face him at this point and he found no emotion in the charcoal eyes.
"To what do I owe the honor on this fine evening?" He crinkled his eye into that fake smile he hated so much.
"You bastard!" Sasuke yelled, his fist connecting with the older man's face before he realized what he had done.
Kakashi moved only slightly, taking a half a step back from the impact as he rubbed his chin where Sasuke had punched him.
'Either he's getting old, or he let me punch him… Damn, bastard!'
Both men stood silent, glaring into each other's dark eyes.
"What is this about, Sasuke?"
"I think you know damn well what this is about Ka-ka-shi!" He mocked, unable to control his rage as it boiled over.
"I'm afraid that I don't." He deadpanned.
"My wife! My family!" He spat.
"What about them?" Kakashi closed his book finally and slipped it into his pouch.
"How could you steal her away from me? How could you weasel your way into my family and take over?" He bit out.
"She needed help. And, in case you were wondering, your daughter is safe. She is currently at Ichiraku with Boruto and Mitsuki. Or were you unaware that I was her captain and that we just got back into the village? Did you even know she was on a mission for the last almost week to begin with?"
'He is mocking me.'
"I-I," Sasuke stammered, "That is not the point of this conversation."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. His eyes flickered with something that Sasuke couldn't exactly pinpoint. Was it anger? Irritation? Spitefulness? Smugness? Whatever it was, it only pissed him off more.
"Oh, but it is. You are so consumed with yourself and your anger that you didn't even think about Sarada. You are so selfish that you didn't even consider Sakura. Why did you marry her Sasuke? Why?"
"I needed an heir."
"An heir? Not out of love?"
"I do love her…"
"Are you sure? You have a funny way of showing it." Kakashi snapped back, "You left her. For years. Years Sasuke! So, I am sorry if you feel that I overstepped some boundary. But, your wife needed help. Help that her own, selfish husband couldn't provide. Wasn't willing to provide it seemed."
Kakashi shifted as he stood there. Sasuke watched as the older man stiffened up as he grew more serious with every word he spoke.
"She begged you to come home and you stayed away. By choice, may I add. Sakura is the most selfless and kind person that I have ever met. And, you, you Sasuke, are scum. You are undeserving of that woman's love. But, she still gives it to you even when she knows she shouldn't anymore. She knows she deserves better, but she puts this imaginary duty to you before her own happiness. Because that is just who she is. She will love you even if it breaks her and it has broken her! She has been broken by you more than you know. But, she picks herself up and continues on anyways. She is a beautiful gem in a sea of scum. You have no idea the treasure that you have taken advantage of. The treasure that loves you in spite of your stupidity."
"She doesn't love me, Kakashi, and you know that." He roared.
The silver haired man turned away from him and spoke quietly in reply.
"She will learn to love you again, as she always has."
"You love my wife!" Sasuke pointed out as the former Hokage started to walk away.
Kakashi stopped and turned to face him again.
"It's too late for that. Thirteen years too late. She is yours Sasuke and I respect that."
Sasuke felt he was about to blow up. Thirteen years? He had loved her for thirteen years!? That was longer than Sarada had been alive! Something in him snapped in that moment.
"Kakashi, thank you for taking care of my family. But, you are done. You are so done. Do not talk to us. Do not look at us. Do not come near us. Don't even think about us. Ever. Again." he started commanding, "I will be putting in a request that Sarada will never have you for her captain. I am her father. Not you. Sakura is my wife. Not yours. You will never interfere with my family again. And, if you do. I will take this as far as I need to. And if I get word that you are anywhere near my family again, I will not hesitate to end you and your tiny, miserable existence. I do not care if you are our Rokudaime or not. I will be the one to put you down. I will be Sarada's 'Baba' from here on out. Is that understood?"
Kakashi was gone in a poof of smoke before the Uchiha could finish his sentence.
Little did he know, around the corner of the building, stood a girl with raven black hair and glasses. She had seen the whole thing with large tears in her eyes.
"Baba…" She whispered.
Sarada saw the whole thing! What will she do with what she saw? I don't thing she will want to stay quiet!
Stay tuned for Chapter 22!
A VERY VERY special thank you to my wonderful friend and BETA, generaltay. She is amazing and keeps up with all of my weirdness with this story and all of my ideas and helps me with ideas and is just all around great!
GO right now and check out her awesome KakaSaku stories, "As If Fate Would Have It" (which, get updated every week) and "Happy anniversary, Sakura." You do not wanna miss out on what she brings to this site!
Thank you all so much! 3