Chapter 29 – I Will Always Love You
Numbly, Sakura followed Itachi down the stairs of their apartment building. It felt surreal. Her heart desperately wanted to believe that it was all a lie, like it wasn't truly happening to them, to Sasuke…
Just thinking of his name had tears filling her eyes and she came to a stop on the stairs, unable to move any further as she sunk to her knees, clutching the metal banister tightly once her arms had wrapped around it. It was impossible stopping the tears. Impossible to stop the sob that viciously clawed its way from her throat, echoing throughout the cold stairwell.
It had only been ten minutes since they'd watched the news. She wasn't even sure why they'd left the apartment, especially considering the fact Itachi seemed to be on autopilot. Like her heart, it was obvious he didn't want to believe it was true. There had to be some kind of explanation. But Sasuke's phone was no longer in service and that alone was enough to make the realisation sink deep into her heart and stomach, since the only times Sasuke ever switched his phone off was when he was sleeping or travelling. It was always fully charged as he had one of those battery boosters and the airport was full of available sockets.
He was gone.
Her best friend, the boy who'd always shared his lunch with her and sat by her side, was dead.
The force of her cries had her face flushing red, twisting into an undoubtedly ugly grimace, but she didn't care.
"Come, Sakura." His voice was hallow. Words clipped. Even if she wanted to, however, Sakura was unable to read his expression due to the burning tears making everything blurry.
Squeezing her eyes shut again, she shook her head, another cry ripping from deep within her chest. "I-I can't-"
"You must."
Why was he so cold? Why couldn't he open his heart and allow the pain out? Sakura couldn't even begin to imagine how he was feeling. His baby brother was dead. He was murdered. They weren't even related, weren't half as close as the two brothers were, and she felt like she would never be whole again. Sasuke was… Even if they weren't related, he was her brother. Her best friend. She'd still be stuck in that hell hole if it wasn't for him. He'd saved her.
A few floors above them, they heard a door swing open forcefully, followed by frantic footsteps before that same door slammed shut. She didn't focus on whoever it was – the elderly couple on the second floor always had the grandchildren over nowadays and they were forever playing around on the stairs and making a load of noise. Many in the building had complained, but Sakura couldn't see the problem as long as they were safe. Where else were they supposed to play? Out on the busy street?
"Sakura-"
"Sakura-chan."
The uneven new voice had her head snapping up, had green eyes opening widely to try and see the face at the side of her. All she could see was his shaking body as he tried to remain strong, however.
"S-Sakura-chan." Naruto was pale, face stained with tears. "Is he really…?"
For a moment, she wasn't entirely sure what to do with herself. Her arms moved to reach out to him, then to wrap around her middle, before settling on burying her face in her hands, trying and failing to stifle her sob. She needn't have worried. Noticing her struggle, Naruto fell to his knees in front of her, on the step below hers and embraced her tightly, returning her sob with his own. His entire body was shaking.
Gods, she felt sick. Her trembling hands gripped at Naruto's back, tightening impossibly. She felt sick. She could feel it in the pit of her stomach, could feel it in her throat and it made her cry even harder, because she'd promised Sasuke it wouldn't happen anymore. It was her last promise to him and she was already losing her resolve.
Like he could sense where her mind was going, Itachi suddenly spoke up, telling them both, "I am going to visit my parents. Sakura, I would like you to accompany me."
So that was where they were going. Sakura hadn't been too sure. She'd just assumed they were going to find Shisui.
"Are you sure?" asked Naruto with a frown, not fully releasing her even as he looked over to him. "It's not exactly friendly between you and your dad, right?"
There was no answer, only cold silence.
"I want to come too, then," he said seriously. His voice was hoarse, features still covered in a mixture of tears and snot, but not one of them cared. They couldn't. "Sasuke… He'd want me to keep the peace, if only for Mikoto's sake."
That was true. No matter how bad it got at home, Sasuke loved his mother dearly and would never want to see her upset. Nodding once, she thanked Naruto when he helped her stand, giving under her eyes a quick wipe.
"It will be unnecessary as I have no intentions of fighting with my father," he said simply.
Blue eyes narrowed, the grip on her hand intensifying in strength. "I'm coming."
Itachi turned his back on them, like he didn't have the energy to argue. "Very well."
There was screaming when they arrived. Loud, hysterical screaming followed by the sound of glass shattering. Then, silence. Sakura had expected to see some sort of reaction from Itachi – after all, it was his mother who was yelling at the top of her voice. What if Fugaku had reacted violently? Was it even Fugaku she was shouting at?
It was Naruto who barged into the home without permission, quickly rushing to the sounds of harsh whispering. Unfortunately, by the time she managed to waddle over to the kitchen, the worst of it seemed over and all she saw was a shattered vase on the ground, presumably having been thrown at the wall close to Fugaku. Mikoto was seated at the island in the kitchen with her head in her hands, no longer the strong woman she'd always presented herself as, but instead a weak, heartbroken mother who'd just lost her youngest child.
Naruto wasn't too far from her, though he hesitated in reaching out to her, knowing there was nothing he could say or do that would lessen the woman's pain.
Glancing around herself, Sakura found that the kitchen had once more been redecorated – something Sasuke had once told her happened often. It was a horrifically overly large kitchen and had it been any other occasion, Sakura wouldn't have felt comfortable due to how pristine and white it all was. It would've felt as though she was dirtying it with her presence alone.
"Itachi," came his father's disapproving words.
"The door was unlocked," was all he replied with.
Much to her astonishment, he had no eyes for his father, who was standing in a way that made it obvious he was prepared for confrontation. That didn't matter to Itachi, not when he caught sight of the broken woman leaning over the counter, her once flawless features a mess of ruined makeup, tears and utter heartbreak.
"Mother."
She turned quickly, bloodshot eyes filling with more tears at the sight of him. "I-Itachi…"
It warmed her heart how Itachi forgot all problems between them, how he held his mother tightly as she cried, wailed, at the loss of her youngest son.
"Forgive me," he whispered, hand coming to the back of her head, eyes shutting tightly. His words only brought on more tears, but he didn't seem to be finished regardless. Instead, Itachi murmured, "Forgive me for not saving him."
"He's gone," she cried into his chest, hands gripping at his shirt so tightly Sakura thought it was going to tear. "He's gone. Sasuke's gone!"
Stopping the return of her tears or her wheezing was impossible and she was grateful for the counter being so close to her, for she was quick to grab it, quick to lean against it and use it for strength when her legs buckled.
Sasuke was gone.
"C'mon, Sakura-chan," Naruto mumbled gruffly, his eyes filling with more tears. "You're going to work yourself up into an attack."
But she couldn't stop any of it. Couldn't stop the tears. Couldn't stop the panting for breath. Couldn't control the aching in her chest. The shaking of her limbs was only stopped when Naruto held onto to her, guiding her into a chair and a moment later, Fugaku was placing a glass of water beside her before returning to his place by the wall.
"C'mon, breathe with me," he said weakly and held onto her hands. His impossibly blue eyes were all she could see, never once breaking connection. They were tearing up as badly as hers, the tears streaming down his cheeks, but for her, he was trying to be strong. Just like she had to be strong for the babies. For Itachi. "Copy me."
Nodding determinedly, Sakura forced herself to focus on him entirely. When it proved to be too difficult, somehow, Mikoto found the strength to detach herself from Itachi and search around a drawer, digging out a paper bag and handing it to her worriedly. She still looked a mess. Just barely holding it together. Having something else to focus on was helping, though. It was obvious.
"C-Can I?" she asked hesitantly.
At the raising of one of her hands, Sakura stole a glance towards Itachi, but he wasn't looking at her. Wasn't looking at any of them. She had no idea how to respond. However, she couldn't help but remind herself repeatedly that Mikoto was the children's grandmother. Even if she and Itachi didn't get along, she had every right to see them and vice versa. But was that okay for her to make that decision alone?
Once she'd caught her breath and was more comfortable, lowering the paper bag, she nodded once, warily.
It felt odd having Mikoto feeling her stomach, but the shaky smile on her features eased her discomfort somewhat and Sakura tried her best to return the smile when their eyes met. There was movement on one side, but instead of increasing the happiness, it brought on a new wave of pain for the older woman and she was quick to pull away, once more erupting with another cry.
"Perhaps it would be best for you all to leave," stated Fugaku rather coldly, folding his arms over his chest. "My wife does not need the added stress."
Added stress?
"I am not leaving Mother in this state," Itachi argued.
The argument riled him up and Fugaku stepped forward, eyes narrowing. "Do not disobey me. Leave-"
"Oi-" Naruto began, hand on her shoulder to keep her seated, but she interrupted him.
"Now is not the time," Sakura snarled at Fugaku once she'd found her inner strength, her glare vicious and serious. "Itachi has every right to be here. Sasuke-kun is-"
The sound of the front door opening had them all frowning and pausing. Mikoto stood from her seat, wiping under her eyes. "Shisui-kun?"
But it wasn't Shisui who entered the living area, it was a dirty, roughed up boy.
"Sasuke," Itachi breathed a moment before he stepped forward, all but yanking his younger brother to him.
He frowned in response, trying to look over Itachi's shoulder. "What's going on?"
"You haven't heard?" Fugaku demanded, but the anger had left his voice – no, his entire demeanour had changed. He was no longer hostile and confrontational. He was surprised. Breathless, even. She could have been imagining it, but was that relief in his eyes? Possibly even tears? "The flight you were supposed to be on exploded."
If it was even possible for a boy with his complexion, Sasuke paled. "W-What?"
Itachi wasn't ready to release him yet, it was clear in the way his shoulders shook, the way the hold on his brother was increasing in strength.
"I thought you were dead," Sakura just about heard his pained whisper. "I…"
"I'm sorry," came Sasuke's numb response. She couldn't help but wonder how he felt. Finding out that he was so close to dying in possibly one of the most terrifying ways possible. "There was a problem," he said with a frown. "My car was stolen."
"Can you give a description on the person?"
He sighed and shook his head. "They were all hooded. I couldn't make out a thing."
Finally giving Mikoto a chance to express her relief and hold her son, Itachi stepped back, his hand lingering on Sasuke's shoulder for a moment before he pulled away completely, leaning beside Sakura on the counter. Smiling faintly, she wrapped an arm around his waist, trying her best to offer her silent comfort, pretending not to notice the redness of his eyes.
"There was a baby's car seat in the middle of the road," he started with a sigh, though paused when his mother embraced him. Slowly, with a softening expression, Sasuke returned the hold, frowning at the sound of her cries. "With my windows open, I could hear the sound of a baby crying and I panicked. I made a rookie mistake of getting out the car," he muttered with obvious annoyance, eyebrows knitting together. "They took everything."
"They?" questioned his father, already in his investigating mode. "How many?"
"Two got into the car once I was far enough from it. Another three demanded that I gave them whatever I had on me. Recognised that I was an Uchiha." Rolling his eyes, he said, "Obviously, I refused, so they…" Again, Sasuke sighed, clearly upset with having to admit, "I got mugged. The bastards took everything, including my backpack with my clothes."
Mikoto gasped in shock, hands cupping his dirty cheeks delicately. "Are you okay? Did they hurt you?"
Sasuke shook his head. "I'm fine. Just angry and tired. I had to walk all the way from the airport because I took the back roads, wanting to avoid the traffic."
That was over a three hour drive (one and a half, maybe two, if Naruto was the one driving), so she couldn't imagine how tired her best friend was. Sakura just couldn't get her head around the past few hours and she smiled in thanks when Itachi handed her the glass of water.
"There weren't any phones you could use?" Mikoto demanded. "You should have tried to call us, Sasuke. I would have picked you up." Shaking her head, she directed her son towards the island, making a move for the kettle. "You must be exhausted. I will make us all some tea."
Before she could even reach it, the blond was on him.
"Fucking shit, teme," Naruto growled, voice filled with raw emotion as he pulled Sasuke to him tightly, his arms almost crushing the Uchiha against him. "We all thought… We thought you were dead!"
He seemed numb again, dark eyes dropping to the ground behind Naruto. "…Sorry."
It took hours for them all to get over their shock, each of them unable to deny they were shaken up by the day's events. Mikoto switched the house phone off at some point, unable to withstand the constant calls of condolences, to which Sasuke responded that they should simply put his voice on the voicemail, explaining he was still alive. Itachi called Shisui and Kakashi to inform them of the good news, though didn't stay on the line long as he wanted to return to his brother.
"Maybe you should transfer," Mikoto suggested worriedly, fiddling with her necklace while their seventh cups of tea brewed. "Go to the university here in Konoha."
Sasuke scowled at that and stood from his seat. At some point, he'd showered and returned to them in clean clothes. Now that there was no dirt on him, they could see the beginnings of a few bruises to his face. He'd clearly put up a fight to keep his belongings. "No. I'm not allowing a terrorist to control my life. I'm going back to Suna first thing tomorrow. If it makes you feel any better, I'll drive there in one of the older cars, but you can't change my decision of returning."
"The term is over," his father argued. "Anything you have left in your student accommodation I can have shipped to us."
Sakura frowned tiredly between them all. She wasn't entirely sure how she felt in that moment. The numbness took over everything else. All she could do was stare at her friend, wondering if she'd actually gone insane and was imagining it all. But when she reached out for his hand, she was met with his warm, calloused hand, followed by his frown of confusion.
He was still there with her.
He truly was alive.
"If…" Gods, it was so difficult telling him what he wanted to hear, especially when her heart was begging her not to let him go. "If going back is what you want, then I support that," Sakura told him shakily, grateful when he returned the hold with a squeeze. "But please do drive back."
"We'll drive back with you," Itachi offered – no, demanded. There was no refusing him.
Sasuke hesitated in his reply, the words getting caught in his throat and when he met Sakura's gaze, she understood instantly why he was secretly against the road trip.
It meant the inevitable meeting of Itachi and Gaara.
"Investigations have already concluded that it was an act of terrorism," said the reporter, her pretty frown only conveying half the emotion the rest of them were currently experiencing. "And while the investigators don't have any specific leads as of yet, many have expressed their beliefs that this was the work of none other than Deidara-"
"Man, she's had way too much work done," Naruto mumbled and squinted at the screen, features scrunching up in disgust. "Look." It surprised Sakura that there was no laughter – he usually would have been rolling around on the floor by that point. "She can't even move her eyebrows or top lip."
She supposed Naruto was too down to laugh at stuff like that, although saying that, he'd definitely cheered up after finding out Sasuke was alive. It brought him out of his bad mood (though not completely, for he was still unnervingly quiet).
"Yes, she can," Sakura argued half-heartedly, not really paying attention to the news reporter. She was too busy packing for her weekend in Suna.
"Well, yeah. But not properly." Lifting his hand, he paused the television and then squinted again, now totally fascinated by the woman's overuse of Botox. "Sakura-chan?"
Humming distractedly, as she was focusing too hard on what to pack (seriously, all Sakura really needed was two outfits – three at most – so she couldn't understand why it was so difficult packing). "Mm-hm?"
"Please don't ever have plastic surgery."
Green eyes rolled. "I'm happy with the way I look."
"Are you?"
She slowly lowered the denim shorts in her hands, narrowing her gaze on him. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing," he quickly shot back, eyes going wide as he realised what he'd said. "I just meant you've always been self-conscious about going out without any makeup on and… stuff."
Oh. That. Again, she rolled her eyes, deciding on packing both the skirt and the shorts. She could wear the dress down there. "That's only when I'm going outside. I don't mind any other time." Pursing her lips in deep thought, Sakura grabbed a pair of sandals. They would go with most of the outfits she'd packed. "Even if I wasn't, I wouldn't have plastic surgery. It seems too… extreme. For me, anyway."
It was silent for a few moments, but just as he opened his mouth to speak, Sakura jumped at the sudden pounding on her front door, the loudness of it setting off Akako and Ken. It didn't matter how much training they'd had. The banging was frantic and undeniably angry, putting them all on edge. Akako remained by her side while Ken darted off to the door, followed closely by Naruto who narrowed his eyes before peeking through the peephole, only to pale considerably and step back slowly, like the person on the other side of the door could sense sudden movements.
"Who is it?" she demanded, her grip on the sandals tightening.
Blue eyes were hesitant to meet hers and she was stunned by the tears filling his eyes. "…Neji."
Shit.
Swallowing hard, Sakura glanced around the apartment, wishing more than anything that Itachi was home. He'd gone to pick Sasuke up since he'd spent the night with his parents, but they were visiting Shisui on the way back. They'd all been so worried about him, all wanted to see him for themselves before he left for Suna again. Ino demanded to see him too before they set off for their road trip.
He'd been gone around an hour already. How much longer would he be? Ino was upstairs with Sai, did she call them down? Would Sai be able to help or would his involvement with ANBU force him to remain as a bystander?
"Text Itachi then go and sit in the bedroom," she ordered as calmly as possible. Holding a hand out to her side, she was grateful when Akako instantly responded, coming to stand by her protectively. "Ken." The seriousness of her voice had him backing down from the door, ears flattening against his head, teeth bared and growls ripping from deep within his throat. It was only when they were by her side that she murmured, "Good."
Gods, how did she handle the situation? Neji was still banging on the door, only now he was shouting for Naruto to get out. Why did he come to her apartment, though? Why not Kakashi's? Maybe he'd already caused a commotion up there and a neighbour had shooed him away, telling Neji that Naruto wasn't in?
"Get out here, Uzumaki!"
Shit, she'd never heard him so angry before. And there was no Tenten to defuse the tension. No Hinata to intervene. Neji was going to beat the shit out of Naruto if he got his hands on him and she would be powerless to stop him.
"Sakura-chan, you can't-"
"Get in the room, Naruto."
She just had to hope for the best.
He couldn't harm her brother.
"Sakura-"
"Now."
Reluctantly, he slipped into the room that was soon to become a nursery, leaving the door open a crack so that he could hear better. It didn't give away his position considering the fact it was around the corner from the hallway, not in view of the door in anyway (though they had a mirror in the living room, it wasn't angled in a way that would help Neji see should he somehow get a glimpse into the apartment and it was too light to see any reflections on the balcony doors).
Once certain he wouldn't get in the way, Sakura ordered the dogs to stay behind her and remain in the opening to the living room. They would block the way should Neji manage to barge through her – though she supposed the Hyuuga wouldn't even make it that far if he made an offensive move towards her. Not only was Ken growling, but so was Akako. Never before had Sakura ever seen her so vicious and it was as though she was seeing Akako from a whole new light as she snarled at the door, hackles raised.
"I'm going to open the door now," she warned him with a steady voice. How it was so steady, she wasn't even sure. "Know that I just about have control of the dogs, Neji-san. Don't provoke them in any way."
There was no answer other than the banging coming to a stop.
Taking a deep breath, she slowly unlocked the door and opened it, trying to ignore the growls behind her raising in volume. It became impossible when the door was shoved from her grip, just barely missing her bump as it slammed against the wall, leaving a horrible dent in the plaster.
That was nice freaking wallpaper, bastard!
As if that wasn't bad enough. At the sound of things getting physical and the dogs becoming manic, Naruto left the nursery, expression a mixture of shock, worry and rage.
"Don't fucking touch her," he snarled at Neji, already rushing forward until she yelled at him to stay back.
It was like the sight alone enraged him further because suddenly, the Hyuuga lunged, his usually composed features a twisted mess of pure anger.
"Oi," Sakura growled, pushing Neji back. He didn't fight against her but she knew it was only because she was pregnant. "You'd better have a good reason for barging into my home like this!"
"Uzumaki Naruto," Neji snapped, glaring over her shoulder viciously. "Do you know what you have done to her? Hinata is devastated."
Blue eyes dropped to the ground, his rage vanishing and head tilting in another direction. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry?" he scoffed in return. "You're 'sorry'. I suppose that makes it so much better, does it?" Sakura frowned at the narrowing of his eyes, her hands coming to rest on the doorjambs to try and block his entry. If he wanted, however, they all knew Neji could put her on her ass in less than a second, especially in her condition. "I suppose it changes the fact that Hinata spent all of last night crying into her father's chest, when she usually struggles to hold a conversation with him. Does it change that she can't even speak right now from all her crying? That she cannot even get out of bed because she's so weak?"
"He said he's sorry," she muttered to him. "What more do you want from him?"
"I want an explanation," he snarled, all but shaking as he barely held himself back from lunging a second time.
Damn it, she needed her hands to signal the dogs to stay back, but if she moved them from their current places on the doorjambs, Neji would use that to his advantage and move her aside without a struggle, meaning less of a threat to her babies. What was she supposed to do? If the dogs attacked him, they would be taken from her in an instant. If Neji attacked Naruto, she wouldn't be able to stop him until either Itachi arrived, or Naruto–
As much as Sakura didn't want to think it, the look in Neji's eyes alone told her that yes, yes he would go as far as killing her best friend.
"Back off, Ken, Akako," she said with as much authority in her voice as she could muster.
It was all for nought, however, when Naruto mumbled, "I don't love her anymore."
The second his hand touched her to push her out of the way, it was gone again and all Sakura could hear was a loud crash followed by the dogs frantically barking as Neji was slammed into the wall head first.
And she could only stare up at her boyfriend's back with wide eyes as he came to stand in front of her.
"Do you want to try that again, Hyuuga-san?" Itachi asked coldly.
Neji slowly pulled himself to his feet, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. Good. His lip was busted. "My business is with Naruto."
"Your business is with me now," he retorted, shifting in his stance when the Hyuuga did. "I don't care about how angry it makes you to see your cousin upset, Hyuuga-san. What I care about is you putting your hands on my pregnant girlfriend."
He held his hands up at that, agreeing, "It should not have happened. I agree. However, the fact of the matter is-"
"There is no fact of the matter. If you lay another hand on either of them, you will not be walking away. Is that understood?"
"Don't get in my way, Uchiha."
She honestly stopped breathing.
"I already am in your way, Hyuuga and trust me, you will not get by me."
Neji's eyes narrowed. "Is that so?"
"Naruto-kun, put Akako and Ken away."
Her heart stopped and desperately, Sakura grabbed Itachi's arm, tugging on it. "Come on, Itachi. It's not worth it."
"Go inside, Sakura."
"Only if you come inside, too," she snapped in response, eyes wide with fear. "Please, Itachi. Please don't do this."
A hand on her side carefully pulled Sakura away from him and her fear doubled when her idiot best friend and brother somehow managed to put himself between the two seething men.
"Stop all the drama," Naruto pleaded quietly. "You guys don't have to fight, so quit it already!"
Neji lunged at him.
And then Sasuke seemed to appear out of nowhere, throwing his things to the ground and throwing himself into Neji.
Without warning, his fist came down on him. "I don't give a fuck what he's done," Sasuke snarled, visibly shaking with his anger as his other fist slammed into him. "Go for him again and I can guarantee you won't live long enough to go crying to your uncle."
"Sasuke-kun!" she yelled.
He body instinctively moved to try and separate the pair, but Itachi was already involved, easily yanking his brother off the Hyuuga and shoving him aside, not looking when he lost his balance and fell against the wall. Gripping her stomach, she watched with wide eyes, thankful that Naruto remained in his place, too stunned to get involved again.
Gods, that boy would be the death of her – of them all.
It was only when Neji managed to pull himself into a seated position that Itachi murmured coldly, "Walk away while you still can, Hyuuga. I will not hold back like my brother did."
Sasuke had been holding back? But Neji's face was already–
Holding a hand to his clearly broken nose, the Hyuuga reached out for the wall, using it to help him regain his balance. Then, with only a single warning glare sent in Naruto's direction, Neji left.
It still didn't feel like she could breathe.
Turning, Itachi regarded his brother and Naruto, taking in their appearances with a minute shake of his head before returning to her side, hands coming to her face and then slipping into her hair, their foreheads pressing together gently.
"Forgive me for not being here," he said quietly, eyes shutting.
"Y-You…"
"You're okay now." His hand vanished momentarily but once it had, she heard the dogs quieten down. Funny how she'd forgotten they were even there because she'd been so stressed. When the hand returned, it was on her stomach, rubbing softly, soothingly. "That will not happen again, Sakura. I promise you all."
On top of her already dramatic day, the journey was awful. No, it was horrific.
After saying a tearful goodbye to Naruto and Ino, who'd been reluctant to let any of them go (but just as reluctant to join them), they set off to Suna in Itachi's car. For the first few hours, Sakura had tried to sleep, grateful when they'd stopped off at a store to purchase a specially designed pillow for pregnant women. It made sleeping in the car so much easier, even if it was a little uncomfortable leaning the seat back and opening her eyes to meet Sasuke's. It wasn't like he'd been staring at her, he snapped when she demanded to know what his problem was. He was simply bored (he had no phone now, after all) and decided to count the spots on her face.
Jerk.
She would've slept in the back, but it was far more comfortable for her in the front and probably realising that, Sasuke hadn't argued, though she supposed he was so quiet due to the nerves of having Itachi inevitably meeting Gaara.
Sakura couldn't help but wonder how that was going to play out. Would Sasuke try to keep them separated? She doubted it. He hadn't been on any forms of social media since the news of the terrorist attack, saying it was too annoying having his notifications going haywire from the 'R.I.P' messages posted to his wall, along with all the confessions people were sending to his private messages. He was tempted to block them all or deactivate the account altogether, but then it really would look like he had died. For the time being, he'd told them, he was laying low. She was guessing the shock was finally catching up with him about how close he'd come to dying the day before. When asked, he'd quietly informed her that no, Gaara didn't know the news, either.
How the hell could he not tell him? Surely the other man was going out of his mind with worry? If Itachi ever pulled that stunt with her… Well, there would be several new holes in his body, that was for sure.
"Would you like to stop for food?" she heard Itachi ask quietly, his hand coming to her knee.
Oh? So he knew she wasn't really sleeping? Opening her eyes, she blearily looked upwards at Sasuke, who was too busy looking out the window to notice her stare. He seemed lost in his thoughts, chin and mouth in hand and eyes squinting against the wind as he had his window open to let a breeze into the otherwise stuffy car.
The mentioning of food had her stomach growling demandingly and weakly, Itachi smirked, sparing a single glance down at her. He hadn't been able to sleep much the night before, too anxious and keyed up by the terrorist attack to relax fully. Fortunately, he'd had enough sleep to be able to drive safely, though Sakura knew they would have to stop at some point as a precaution. The heat would worsen his exhaustion.
"Yeah," she said and stretched, purposely reaching out far enough to ruffle Sasuke's bangs. In response, he gently batted her hand away, making her smile up at him. "What about you, Sasuke-kun? Hungry?" All she got in response was the shaking of his head. She frowned. "Did you eat anything this morning?"
"No."
Well, at least he was honest about it. The shock of what happened had probably stolen his appetite, so she decided not to push the matter too hard. "Will you try and eat something later?"
Sighing, he nodded once.
"It doesn't have to be anywhere fancy," Sakura told Itachi and faced forward, slowly sitting up and adjusting her seat so that it was upright again. "It can be a fast-"
"You must eat real food, Sakura," he argued calmly. It felt like they'd been driving straight for days, even though it'd only been hours. When was the last time he made a turn? Or arrived at a roundabout? "Think of your health."
"Fine, but can we try something different this time?"
"We will see what there is to offer."
In the end, it wasn't anything special and they ate in the car. Despite craving fish, the pregnancy books and leaflets told her not to eat it, so she stuck with a chicken salad, trying her best not to show how much she longed for something more unhealthy, something fattening and greasy. Perhaps while they were in Suna, Sasuke could point her in the direction of the nearest fast food restaurant and she could pig out.
The rest of the drive was long, tiring and near silent, with Itachi and Sasuke alternating between drivers to give one another a break. She hadn't realised just how long the drive would be until it grew dark and she was told they were just barely halfway there. Fourteen hours. That was how long they'd been driving for. Gods, her muscles cramped at just the thought of being stuck in the car for another fourteen. If it weren't for the fact they were on highways most of the way, she would've stretched out on the backseat, but she knew she needed her seat belt on lest she wanted a lecture from her overprotective boyfriend.
At some point, she must've fallen asleep, but even in her dreams she was unsettled. She kept dreaming of the plane explosion. Unlike real life, however, Sasuke didn't return to them. He was one of the many lives lost in the explosion and when Sakura awoke, it was with a jolt and a cry of his name, tears streaming down her cheeks. She tried to play it off, clearing her throat and turning her head away from the two worried men, but it wasn't until Sasuke reached out and held the hand resting near her face, silently telling her he was still there with her, that she felt some of her anxiety slowly easing itself from its knots.
Eventually, after what felt like a lifetime of driving and napping (with the occasional stop for gas and to stretch their legs), they arrived in Suna. A few hours back they'd had to present their passports, roll up their windows and slow their speed considerably due to the sand and uneven roads, the bumps and potholes causing Sakura's stomach to flip horribly.
"Turn right here," Sasuke suddenly mumbled, eyes glued to the buildings.
It all looked so foreign to her. The buildings (some of them, anyway) were just as large as their own, but they were… She couldn't find the word. Less conspicuous, perhaps? It all blended in and there was hardly, if any, greenery to be seen other than the odd desert flowers or bushes. And do not get her started on the heat. How pregnant women survived out in the desert was a mystery to Sakura.
"You're not living in student accommodation?" Itachi questioned with a frown.
After a long pause, he reluctantly responded with, "I moved into my own place halfway through the year. Apartments are cheaper here than in Konoha."
Fortunately for her, she was gazing out of her window when her eyes widened in surprise, meaning Itachi didn't see her expression. Was Sasuke already living with Gaara? Was it serious? Her heart skipped a beat and she couldn't tell whether it was out of nervousness for him or excitement.
The apartment building wasn't anything extravagant, they came to realise as they pulled into the car park, Sasuke's eyes instantly going to a jeep sitting only a few spaces beside them. By then, however, Sakura was too busy melting into a puddle to notice, frantically fanning herself with a newspaper Itachi handed her.
"Lead the way, Sasuke," Itachi stated quietly, his hand coming to rest on her lower back. "Sakura will need to come out of the sun."
She'd made the mistake of guzzling all the water she'd bought at the last gas station, so not only was she gasping for another drink, but she was also crossing her legs to desperately hold back her need to go to the bathroom.
"Perhaps we should have rented a Renegade Desert Hawk," said Itachi conversationally, eyeing the jeep appreciatively. "It would have made for an easier drive."
Probably why there were so many car rental places at the border. It would be where they got the most business. "We'll keep that in mind for next time," Sakura replied and held onto her stomach, hoping and praying she didn't actually wet herself like those medical textbooks said could happen. "Right now I need the bathroom too much to really care about what car we're using."
He smirked and nodded once, locking the car instead of removing their bags. "We will collect our things after, then." Glancing over his shoulder, Itachi then frowned, calling out, "Sasuke?"
Shit.
Biting her lip, she held out her hand to him. The anxiety of his brother finding out had to be eating away at him, although she couldn't really understand why. It didn't matter who Sasuke loved – Itachi would always love him. Why couldn't he see that? Why did he think his sexuality would change that? Had Itachi ever given any inclination of being against homosexuality? Sakura couldn't see him acting like that. He was such an accepting person.
He nodded once, waiting until Itachi had turned away before breathing out a heavy sigh and Sakura frowned, her hand slowly lowering. What could she do for him? Nothing. All she could do was stand aside and let what was about to happen, happen. All she could do was hope for the best.
Fortunately for them, Sasuke's building had a working elevator and despite how ridiculous she would no doubt feel later for it, she couldn't help but feel giddy as she pushed the button for his floor, hands cradling her stomach while she bounced from one foot to the other. She would be fine as long as neither baby pressed on her bladder. Gods, she hoped they stayed the hell away from her bladder. Or was that hoping for too much?
While it wasn't entirely impossible to forget about her need for the bathroom, it was impossible hiding her excitement at the sight of a redhead sitting in front of what she presumed was Sasuke's door, leaning back against it. They were headed in that direction once leaving the elevator and when he looked up, icy blue eyes widening a fraction at the sight of them all, she stole a glance at Sasuke, to which he gave a faint nod.
So he was Gaara.
It looked like he'd been there a while, ruling out her suspicions of the two living together.
"You're alive," the redhead muttered as he stood, sounding breathless.
The presence of his older brother seemed to keep Sasuke from replying immediately, his dark eyes stealing a glance at Itachi, then to her and it made her excitement fade. While she was still happy to meet Sasuke's boyfriend, she knew it meant coming out to his brother, the man he'd always admired and respected. His fear of being rejected by him would be immobilising to Sasuke, no matter how many times she told him he loved him unconditionally.
"Gaara," Sasuke said at length.
Gaara was nothing like how she'd pictured him being – well, not pictured, as Sasuke had shown her a picture of the pair and she'd seen Temari's photograph with him many times. He didn't sound the way she'd imagined, or held himself the way she thought he would. No, she wasn't on about the stereotypical gay guy. She just hadn't expected him to… It felt wrong saying it, but he seemed almost intimidating. He held himself like Rock Lee – like a true fighter, like an experienced martial artist. Someone who shouldn't be messed with.
And, in that moment, Sakura suddenly understood why Sasuke found her threats of breaking his boyfriend in half so amusing.
"Are you going to show us inside or not?" Sakura pushed, inwardly worried about making a scene out in the hallway.
Was Sasuke out to the rest of the world (or just Suna, at least)? What were their laws or beliefs on homosexuality? Since it was a pretty rough place, she worried endlessly about her best friend's safety. Even in Konoha there were homophobic attacks and it was much, much safer than Suna. Suna's crime rate was terrifying and they were so traditional in some places.
Faintly, Sasuke nodded, stepping beside Gaara to unlock his apartment door. Once it was open, they all entered with the redhead pausing to allow them to follow Sasuke first. She smiled up at him, offering a quick wink while her face was out of Itachi's view. It stunned him momentarily until it clicked in his mind, expression relaxing. There was even a ghost of a smirk on his lips.
Sasuke's apartment wasn't luxurious. It didn't look grossly expensive like his parents' home did. But it was far better than the student accommodations she'd heard of and seen. At least in his own apartment he would be comfortable and able to rest after long, difficult days. Somewhere he could be himself and relax. His own little safe haven. For that, she was glad. He had a place to remind him of home while in a strange country.
They came to a stop in the middle of the living room, her need for the bathroom disappearing as the tension mounted. Everything felt incredibly suffocating. Like one wrong move would mean disaster. Of course, she knew (one hundred and fifty percent) that Itachi would be nothing less than accepting of Sasuke's coming out. It hurt that her best friend would doubt his brother like that, when all Itachi had ever done was put him first. Hell, he lived on the bare minimum, always saving his pay from soul destroying missions to make sure Sasuke had a way out. That he could study whatever he wanted, wherever he wanted and to become whoever he wanted. How could he doubt Itachi so massively? Didn't he know his brother at all?
Saying that, she had never been in Sasuke's position before. He'd seen his brother be disowned for something as simple as wanting to study literature. He'd witnessed the strain it caused on his parents' marriage along with all the other aftereffects. He was bound to have his reservations and fears.
"Just do it, Sasuke-kun," Sakura encouraged softly. "Introduce them."
She took Sasuke's hand when his hesitancy continued, pretending not to notice Itachi's questioning gaze. Her boyfriend no doubt already knew where it was going. He was too smart not to. But for his brother, he remained silent, patiently waiting for him to open up just as he always had.
"Gaara, this is my brother, Itachi," he said eventually and she could feel the tension in his body, could feel his hand twitch like he wanted to clench it into a fist. Even Gaara seemed unsure as he glanced between them all. Hadn't he expected to meet Sasuke's family? Probably not, now that she was thinking about it. He hadn't even known if his boyfriend was alive or not until moments ago. "Itachi, this is Gaara. He's my…"
When he trailed off, it was obvious Itachi was biting back a smile. "Your partner?"
Sasuke looked down at her in shock, in betrayal, but she was quick to defend herself, snapping, "I didn't tell him anything, I swear."
"I had my suspicions after first moving in with Sakura," he informed his brother. "I was simply waiting for you to confirm it when you were ready."
"Y-You…"
"Told you so," Sakura felt no shame in saying. Knowing her boys the way she did, she knew they would rather have that conversation in privacy. Even she wouldn't know what was said, just that they were talking things through.
Releasing his hand, she stepped closer to Itachi, smiling up at him brightly. Gods, he was such a wonderful man. Flawed and broken, definitely, but he was wonderful nonetheless. She wasn't sure if she had ever loved him more than in that moment.
"You knew," he accused gently.
A large emotion was bubbling away in her chest and she swallowed the lump in her throat. Stupid hormones. "And I made sure he knew he could talk to me about his relationship with Gaara-kun whenever he needed to." There was a slight hiccup and she felt her cheeks burning. "Just like he does for me."
"What's wrong with her?" Gaara muttered to Sasuke, who simply rolled his eyes.
"Sorry." She waved her hand dismissively. There was no stopping her happy tears. "I'm just so glad that he has someone like you, Gaara-kun. I never thought he'd open up his heart to anyone." He looked taken aback, icy blue eyes surprised as he watched her. Smiling, she added, "Please take care of Sasuke-kun."
Itachi sighed, his arm coming around her waist so that he could tuck her into his side. "You will need to rest soon."
"Are you both staying the night?" Sasuke asked, like his brother probably trying to change the subject to lighten the tension. "The sofa pulls out, but my bed's more comfortable if you'd rather stay in there."
Always thinking of her. She smiled softly. "We should be fine on the sofa, right, Itachi?"
He nodded, but asked Gaara, "How low do the temperatures drop at night?"
"Fairly low. You'll probably need an extra blanket."
Sakura couldn't get over his accent. It was almost mesmerising. "You're nothing like your sister," she told him with a grin. "Well, you're both pretty scary, but other than that, I'd say you're really different."
"Scary?" Gaara repeated, then smirked. "Have you taken back the threat of beating the shit out of me?"
Itachi looked down at her in shock and confusion, but she held her hands up, admitting, "Maybe a little. But, in my defence, you were being an asshole."
He laughed at that.
"Gaara-kun is Temari's brother," she told Itachi. There was so much to tell him, yet so little at the same time.
"I see."
"The stores should still be open," Sasuke interfered and made his way over to a table with a single drawer, checking its contents before pulling out some money. It stunned her that he was so careless about where to keep it. Itachi kept any money they were saving in a safe in their home. Even she didn't know its whereabouts. According to her boyfriend, she was too easy to get information out of. "There isn't much food and we'll need extra blankets."
"Okay, but first I-" She was already rushing to the bathroom a stunned Sasuke quickly pointed out, shouting over her shoulder, "I really need to go."
