Chapter 42
Ino hummed to herself as she walked with Temari through the village, she had flowers for Sakura today, and Temari had Inojin and Shikadai to play with Sarada for a bit.
"How's Sakura been holding up?" Temari asked her as they walked.
"She hurts, a lot, physically. As to how her emotions are… she hurts a great deal, she's trying to hide it but she's hurting. It'll take time, I think, for her to feel good again," Ino admitted. She had only seen Sakura hurt like this where Sasuke had been concerned; and because Ino knew that pain Sakura would try to hide because of Sasuke, she'd be destroying the Uchiha if he hurt Sakura anymore. Sakura was her best friend, and her best friend had fought and clawed for her happiness, she had earned it more than anyone else in this village.
"Oh, do you think she wants company if she's hurting so bad?" Temari asked her.
"It doesn't matter, I am visiting my best friend, and I'll be destroying her all powerful husband one way or another if he is the reason she's hurting for more than a miscarriage." Ino was not a woman to be trifled with. And Sasuke hadn't been here for those years that Sakura had been heartbroken and holding herself together by sheer will power and Naruto's spirit.
"She's a strong woman I doubt she'd let Sasuke hurt her," Temari stated.
"Well… about that… Sasuke the only one who happens to be able to hurt her repeatedly. He's been the only to ever break her heart and break her down on will, so if he's hurt her again I'm killing him!" Ino snarled. Her best friend would not be hurt by that asshole anymore if she had it her way! Sakura deserved happiness for a change; even Ino would admit there'd have been no way in any hell she'd have endured what Sakura had endured for a man who didn't love her in return.
"Well, I don't think he's wrong with her, they seem… together," Temari shrugged.
"I don't know, they are private about their relationship. Also, we aren't to tell her what Kakashi, Sasuke and the guys are up to," Ino promptly reminded Temari. It's a surprise for Sakura, or at least that's what Naruto said," Ino chuckled. The knucklehead was really sweet on Sakura, acting like she was his sister or something, looking out for her, spoiling her, surprising her. Why couldn't she have married someone like Naruto instead of an asshole like Sasuke?
Ugh, no matter, she would be happy for her friend, so her friend would know she wasn't alone. Kami knew Sasuke wouldn't even know how to make her feel un-alone at a time like this. Sasuke just wouldn't understand that she needed someone in her life, needed support. He had never supported her, he had only ever torn her apart and ripped her up.
Ino wasn't going to let that continue.
Sakura was reading over Hinata's medical file that morning, checking over the young heiress' pregnancy so far and found herself aching internally at what she had lost, and happy for her friend for being so healthy. Still, she couldn't deny the fact that she was hurting though as she closed her eyes for a moment, her own fingers rested on her tender stomach and gingerly rubbed the same patterns her husband had been rubbing on her a moment ago.
"Hey forehead!" a voice announced as she entered the room. Instantly Sakura looked up to see her two blonde friends and their toddlers with them.
"Pig! Temari! What are you doing here?" Sakura asked, she hid her pain then as quickly as she could before Ino got the wrong impression and went to try to beat up Sasuke. Sakura wondered if he was getting just as tired as she, of people, assuming about how their relationship was. Just because he didn't love her didn't mean that he abused her, and she wouldn't let him break her heart anymore. And he had worked really hard not to break her heart as he so easily could; again.
"Well, we hear you were on bed rest and thought you'd like some company," Ino explained promptly as she switched out the flowers. Sakura just blinked in shock at seeing Temari, Ino, Inojin, and Shikadai here. "Where's Sarada?"
"Tsunade, they went shopping with Shizune," Sakura admitted weakly as she closed the file she was reading.
"Ah, well, girls need stuff!" Ino grinned.
"How are you feeling, Sakura?" Temari as the boys settled to play on the floor.
"Fine, a little tender, but I'm healing up fine," Sakura smiled then and decided to change the subject as quickly as she could before Ino started prying. The best thing about her was Ino couldn't really use her mind jutsus on her, however, Ino could be a skilled interogater even without the jutsu.
"So, what have you two been up too since I left?" she asked and settled for listening as the girls began filling her in on the past years since she left. Sakura listened intently but eventually she felt herself getting tired. It wasn't intentional, it wasn't the drugs; it was her own body was still working to replenish her chakra and blood and healing naturally; even with the aid of her healing abilities; it was slow. Before she knew it she had nodded off.
"Over there Naruto," Kakashi ordered of Naruto and Sai who were carrying in the couch. Sasuke was building up the master bed up what had become their room, and Shikamaru was assembling the bed for Sarada. Everyone in the Rookie 9 who weren't on missions or heavily pregnant or female was here; which gave him: Sasuke (with a fierce glare at being dragged out of the hospital), Naruto (who had had this idea), Shikamaru (with much complaint), Sai (who was happy to help), and Kiba (who was working in the gardens because he was filthy). Kakashi wasn't certain about this but he felt it was important that this be done.
Negotiations with the council had been grueling but Kakashi had one when Tsunade appeared ready to pummel them for trying to oust the Uchiha before his wife was fully healed to deal with an energetic toddler. So Sasuke would be here until the birth of Hinata's baby, which gave the Uchiha about four to three months to get Sakura set up and Sarada safe.
The only trump card Kakashi and Sasuke both held was outside him, Tsunade, Sakura, and Sasuke, no one knew about Sarada's Sharingan.
Sasike was working on a solution for that though. It wasn't something Kakashi was in on, however, Sasuke said that until he had what he needed (which he had apparently sent a missive for), they were to play keep away with Sarada from the council. Kakashi didn't know what was up the Uchiha's sleeve but it appeared the Uchiah was preparing for something no one had thought possible.
"Where's Sasuke anyway? This is his house why isn't he here to help with setting it up!" Naruto whined.
"He's in the master bedroom setting up the master bed with one hand Naruto, do not bother him." Kakashi ordered; mostly because he wanted Sakura's surprise to remain in one piece and if anyone bothered Sasuke there was likely to be a human hole through his house. That was the last thing he needed for Sakura to deal with, she'd clobber both Naruto and Sasuke for it if she found out; not that she even knew about the house at this moment.
"Fine! Oh we should get Sakura something special for here; like their wedding portrait! I'll go ask teme for it!" Naruto declared and he streaked away.
"Naruto!" Kakashi sighed as he went after the knuckle head. His heart was in the right place, his head… not so much.
"Teme! Where's your family photos!?" Naruto exclaimed as he threw the door open. Kakashi saw Sasuke with his feet holding a leg up, a knee balancing a board for the bed, screws in his mouth and a screwdriver in hand as he was also using Susanoo's hand to hold a screw still.
"Hn," he shook his head.
"No you don't have them or no you don't know where they are?" Naruto clarified. Sasuke rolled his eyes, then he dropped the screws from his mouth.
"We do not have any photos from our wedding left, they were burned," Sasuke answered coldly.
"WHAT!? HOW!?" Naruto screamed.
"Our first house was burnt to ashes, everything but a few baby pictures I have is gone," Sasuke snarled as he then resumed his task. Naruto was gaping then.
"No photos left!?" he squeaked.
"Aa," Sasuke nodded and then he finished as he stood. "Sakura was more concerned with keeping Sarada save than she was about mementos we had."
"Oh…" Naruto frowned and walked off. Then he darted off. Kakashi looked at the Uchiha again, and again he felt like there was so much that the Uchiha was not sharing with them.
Sasuke walked to the hospital after finishing the work for the day as he picked up Sakura's favorite for dinner. Sarada had gone off with Sasuke again, she had gone shopping a lot with Tsunade today, and he hadn't seen Sakura since Naruto and Kakashi had dragged him out of the hospital from her. He had been agitated until it was told to him what they were doing and what they wanted to do for Sakura. Sasuke was alright with this day being spent here instead of with Sakura, it really was a day for her more than anyone else.
"Sakura," he greeted when he walked into her hospital room, she was hugging a pillow and crying again. He set the dinner aside as he walked over to her and sat beside her as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. She curled into him then as she clung to his chest and sobbed. He didn't say anything as he rested his chin atop her head and let her cry. He was not a comforter but he felt that this was the right course of action.
"It going to be alright," he murmured. He didn't have the right words for her, but he could state what he believed to be a truth in the future.
"I know," she mumbled in his now wet shirt.
"Good," he murmured as he rubbed her upper arm. She gingerly moved to pull herself into his lap, he just let her do what she wanted, despite his dislike of his personal space being invaded. "Dinner," he informed her, motioning to the bag he had brought with him.
"Thank you," she mumbled, but she didn't let him go as she sat there.
"Eat now," he ordered. She moved about, he endured her hesitant movements as she got her dinner. He watched as she ate every bite he had brought her as he held her. His hand as he slid his arm around to her stomach and he resumed his rubbing of it. She seemed to like the action, and Kami knew he'd do anything to alieve her discomfort however he could.
"Feeling better?" he asked her softly when she finally finished eating, his fingers never ceasing in their movements on her stomach.
"A little," she mumbled. He frowned at her lie but he didn't counter it as he just held her. She began resting against him, her chakra settled, he closed his eyes as he leaned back, bringing her with him as he did so. Sakura settled against him, her body was lax against his.
"Did you mean it?" she whispered.
"Mean what?" he asked tiredly, he didn't have any idea what she was even thinking about at this moment as his fingers continued trailing over her stomach.
"We can have other children later," she explained.
"Yes," he agreed, he didn't like it but he wouldn't deny her whatever she wanted.
"Thank you," she mumbled.
"Hn," he sighed.
"I love you," she whispered as she slipped off to sleep. His heart skipped several beats then as he pulled her closer and held her tighter as he closed his eyes. He wanted to say something back to her, but she was sound asleep, clutching his chest tightly.
