Ch.23: My Everything
(Sasuke's POV)
"How much farther?" I asked Suigestu.
We had been moving for hours.
Sakura was in no condition to move this kind of distance.
"We should be coming up on it soon." He replied.
I started to move faster. I needed to get to her.
Suigestu stopped and dropped out of the trees.
I quickly followed him.
Suddenly snakes appeared and lunged at me.
I was not in the mood to deal with this bullshit.
I quickly used my Chidori and immobilized them.
"Stop with your games where is she?" I asked annoyed.
"Well, you seem to be in a foul mood Sasuke dear. It couldn't be because that girl's life is hanging by a thread right now is it?" Orochimaru said with a smirk.
"What are you talking about?" I said as I glared at him.
"Well she is in a critical condition the last time I checked, and it's not looking good. You really should learn how to care for people like her better." He said as he motioned me to follow him.
*Critical condition?!* I was stunned.
I walked over and grabbed him by his collar.
"What the hell did you do?" I said as I tightened my grip.
"Me? I have done nothing, but you... this is really all your fault isn't it? Now best to stop all this before you waste what little time you might have left." He said as he brushed my hand off of him.
* He has to be lying...* I thought as I followed him.
Once I entered the hideout I quickly searched for her.
"Sasuke this way." I turned to see Suigetsu pointing towards a door.
I opened it.
I stood shocked by what I saw.
Sakura was laying on a table covered with blood, she didn't seem to be moving.
*No...No.. this isn't happening..* I thought.
Karin suddenly appeared, she was covered in blood.
I could faintly hear what she said.
"I'm sorry but you need to get out right now, we aren't finished. Suigetsu come here I need your help." Karin said as she laid down what seemed like a cloth.
I didn't break my gaze from the table.
I could hear cries but they sounded like distant echos.
The room seemed to be spinning.
Suigetsu pushed passed me.
"Just wait out here for a second." He said as he closed the door.
The images of what I just saw were flashing in my brain.
I tried to walk from the door only to fall to my knees.
I felt sick, I then clenched my abdomen as I violently vomited.
*She... she's not...no..she's...fine... I just saw her earlier and she was fine.* I thought trying to hold on to whatever sanity I had left.
I then heard a loud electronic wail.
"Damn it! Sakura stay with me!" I heard Karin yell.
I couldn't move.
That little remaining sanity vanished.
My body was numb, it didn't even feel like I was in my body at that point.
("Me? I have done nothing, but you... this is really all your fault isn't it?") That bastard's words echoed in my head.
*He was right. This was all my fault.
I should have never come back to the village,
I should have never brought her on this journey,
I shouldn't have left her alone to be brutalized like she was,
I shouldn't have asked her to marry me,
I shouldn't have gotten her pregnant
...
I ...should have...never...loved her...
Everything was my fault. I should have left well enough alone...
Alone I should have stayed that way, that way I wouldn't be feeling this and she wouldn't be dying right now.
I felt helpless, when I wanted to feel strong the most.
No matter how strong I seemed to get I could never protect what I needed to most.
My parents,
My clan,
My brother...
I had lost everything once.
I never wanted to experience that again.
But then she became my new everything, I vowed I was going to protect it this time.
But here I am the same as last time powerless to do anything.
I was going to lose my everything all over again.
Is this just my fate?
Was I destined to just keep losing what mattered to me?* I was overcome with regret.
I felt like I stopped breathing.
My heart seemed to stop as well.
I felt like I was going to pass out.
I had felt like this before when I found out the truth about Itachi.
This pain in my chest... sadness, and regret...
I just sat there for what felt like eternity.
Time seemed to have stopped.
"Hey! Sasuke!" I heard someone call my name but I didn't move.
It didn't matter, if she was gone... nothing mattered anymore.
I could feel the familiar feeling of hate bubbling up inside me... but this time the target of this hatred was myself.
I deserved to feel this way after what I did to Sakura.
She deserved so much better than me.
But I was selfish and tried to keep her from that.
And this is what I get for doing so.
"Hey...Sasuke look at me." I felt them shake my shoulder.
I managed to look to see Suigetsu. Was he just here to tell me what I already knew deep down?
"She's ok they are both ok. Karin saved them... It's going to be alright now." Suigetsu said as he smiled and gave a thumbs up.
*What...ok...she's...ok...I haven't lost her?* I was trying to process his words.
I had to see her. Right, that moment to make sure he was telling me the truth.
I moved to open the door but was stopped by Suigestu.
"There will be plenty of time for that later. Right now she needs rest, and Karin gave me strict instructions that you were not allowed to see the baby before she did." He said as he gave me a serious look.
I just nodded. I was too mentally drained to fight him.
I just sat by the door with my back to the wall.
*Sakura...* Was my last thought.
I soon drifted off.
Into an empty dream of nothingness, which I welcomed over a nightmare fuel by images of Sakura.
(Karin's POV)
I woke up, I was still exhausted but I needed to check on Sakura and the baby.
The labor was over but they weren't out of the woods yet. Sakura could still get an infection, or die from exhaustion.
The baby wasn't much better off, with it being born early it could have loads of problems, and it was so small and helpless.
I got up and walked over to see that Sakura's bandages had been recently changed.
"You're up?" I turned to see Suigetsu.
"Hey everyone still seems stable for now. They are all asleep." He said as he laid down a chart he had made.
"How long was I out?" I asked.
"It's been a few hours." He replied.
"Where is Sasuke?" I asked as I looked around the room.
"Here." He said as he quietly opened the door.
I looked out to see Sasuke sleeping against the wall.
"What is he doing out there?" I whispered.
He shut the door.
"You said he can't see the baby till she does so he can't come in here." He said clueless as always.
I sighed.
"Idiot." I said as went over and retrieved a spare sheet.
"Hang this up." I said as I handed it to him.
"What's this for?" He asked.
"Idiot, it's so Sasuke can be in here. We can't just leave him out in the hall like that. And he won't want to go far from Sakura, so this is our best option." I said as I carefully moved the baby behind the sheet.
I'm sure he was worried sick, and would like to be left alone with his 'family'.
After everything was set I walked out to get him.
He was sound asleep, but the look on his face was nothing but sorrowful.
I carefully nudged him awake.
He looked at me with that same sad look.
It pained my heart.
"Sakura?" Was all he said.
I knew he was worried about her.
I sighed.
I just couldn't be upset with him.
"Come on, I set up a place for you." I said as I motioned for him to follow.
"Now you can not go past this curtain until she wakes up, but this way you can at least stay by her side." I said.
I felt him grab my arm.
I looked at him.
"Karin...thank you." He said as he walked past me to her side.
I stood there in shock by his words.
*He...thanked me?* I couldn't believe it.
I closed the door and left them to be alone.
I couldn't help the smile I had as I walked back to my room.
(Sasuke's POV)
I stood there for a minute remembering what I had seen the last time I was in here.
But now the blood was gone and she seemed to be laying peacefully.
I slowly walked up to her, she looked so pale.
I brought my hand to her face.
She seemed cold, I brought her blanket higher on her.
I sat in the seat by her bed.
As I took in her condition I felt my guilt weigh down on me.
She seemed to be having an unpleasant dream by the look on her face.
I took her hand into mine and rested my head on it.
"I'm so sorry I can't ask for your forgiveness, this is all my fault." I whispered.
"Please just come back that's all I'm asking for." I said as I held her hand tighter.
She seemed to relax once I took her hand into mine.
I laid my head next to her and fell asleep beside her.
Finally giving into to the sleep I had been fighting, knowing she was safe beside me.
When I woke next Karin was there checking her vitals.
"How is she?" I asked.
"She is hanging in there. But it was a close call so she will need time to recover." She said as she looked at a chart.
I nodded as I stared at her sleeping face.
I then felt my hand being squeezed, I looked down to see her hand grabbing mine.
"Sakura?!" I said as I looked to see her open her eyes.
"Sasuke you're here?" She said groggily.
"Yes, I'm here." I said as I leaned towards her.
"Stop with the face already." She said as she flicked my forehead.
"What?" I said as I looked at her puzzled.
She half-heartedly giggled.
"So serious." She said as she settled back down onto the bed.
"Well, I will be taking my leave then." Karin said as she began to leave.
"Karin thank you, I am in your debt." Sakura said with a tired smile.
Karin just nodded before closing the door.
She then looked at me grabbing my hand again.
"Sasuke...we have a baby." She said with a smile.
I nodded.
I saw as tears formed in your eyes.
I couldn't hold it back anymore.
I brought my lips to hers.
Taking in her warmth making sure it was etched into my memory.
We parted to catch our breath, I leaned my head on hers.
"Sasuke... your face." She said with a surprised look.
"What is it?" I asked confused.
She brought her finger to my face.
*I'm crying?* I thought as I looked at her finger.
"I...I'm just so glad you're alright." I said as I held her.
Our quite moment was interrupted by the sounds crying behind the curtain.
"Have you looked?" She asked.
I just smiled at her.
*I didn't because I will have plenty of time to look at the both of you... My everything.* I thought as I looked at her pouting like a child.
*You will always be my everything.* I mentally told her.
(Author's Note:)
Ok, I straight up cried writing this, I found it heartbreaking, heartwarming, and romantic all at the same time.
Let me know if you liked the way I handled Sarada's birth.