The following weeks that came for the Uchiha family were rough to say the least. Sasuke had recovered from his concussion, but he couldn't get back to his old self on the court. His shooting percent had gone down, and he was committing more turnovers in his games than he ever had before. And it seemed like every sports news network couldn't stop talking about Sasuke and the slump he had fallen into.
This caused Sasuke to be in a very bad mood whenever he came home, which normally led to him lashing out at Sakura when she tried to talk to him about it. He hadn't even held Sakiko in the last two weeks, so consumed with his game that he didn't even think about her. He also hadn't attended Sakiko's six month appointment, when he had been so excited to go before.
Sakura was also hurting, watching her husband beat himself up so badly day after day. She knew his feelings of inferiority came from being constantly compared to Itachi by his father. But she just couldn't let him go on like this, because he was going to break down soon, she just knew it.
Sakura found him in their room, sitting at a desk with his laptop and notebook out, taking notes on his game film. "Sasuke-kun we need to talk, this can't go on" she said, in a slightly pleading tone. "What can't go on Sakura? You living pretty and doing nothing all day, while I go make a fool of myself everyday" he snarled at her with a glare. "You have to be joking, I don't do nothing all day and you know it. I take care of our daughter 24/7, who you haven't even glanced at recently. And I keep this whole house clean, cook for you, wash your clothes, everything. So don't try that with me" Sakura shouted, without even meaning to.
"Well I don't need you for any of that, I can take care of myself" Sasuke snapped back, as he turned back around in his chair and pressed play on his laptop. "If that's what you want then fine, I'll leave if I'm so useless to you" Sakura said in a resigned tone, not wanting to fight with him anymore. "Go ahead, it doesn't make a difference to me" Sasuke said under his breath.
Those words finally caused the tears that had been welling up in Sakura's eyes to spill over. So she went into her closet and grabbed a few sets of clothes and threw them into a backpack. She then went and packed Sakiko's diaper bag, and headed out the door with her baby.
Sakura slammed the front door, hoping to gain her husband's attention, but her attempt was in vain. "He's really just going to let us leave" Sakura thought hopelessly, causing her to cry harder. So she got Sakiko into her car seat and then when she got into the driver's seat, she let herself break down and cry till there was nothing left.
After she calmed down some, Sakura thought about where she and Sakiko could go. She didn't want to cause Naruto and Ino anymore trouble, and her parents were too far away, so that left only one option.
So she got out her phone and dialed one of her few contacts, who picked up
immediately and said, "Hello Sakura" in a calm tone. "Hi Itachi, is it okay if Sakiko and I come stay for a few days?" Sakura asked shyly, hoping it didn't sound like she had been crying. "Of course, is Sasuke not coming?" Itachi asked, wondering about his little brother. "No he's not, I'll explain when we get there" Sakura told him, trying not to cry again.
So Sakura made the hour-long drive to the house that Itachi lived in with his wife Izumi. And when she arrived, he was waiting on the porch and helped her bring their bags in. "Did something happen Sakura?" Itachi asked, worried now that he saw her bloodshot eyes and tear stained cheeks. But his words just caused her to start crying once more, so he guided her into the house while she held Sakiko, and had them sit down on the couch.
Once Sakura's tears subsided, she explained to Itachi everything that had been happening since Sasuke's concussion. "Stupid little brother" Itachi said in an exasperated tone, frustrated with Sasuke's actions. "I apologize on his behalf, he never thinks about how hurtful his words can be in the moment," Itachi told her. "I know but maybe I should have just left him alone, and none of this would have happened" Sakura said, as she ran a shaky hand through her hair.
"Not at all Sakura, you did the right thing. He shouldn't take his anger out on you and you both will stay here until he figures that out" Itachi said sternly. "I don't want to impose on you like that though" Sakura tried to say, before he cut her off, "Nonsense, we're family and Izumi will love having you two here for a while" he reassured her. "Thank you Itachi" Sakura said, voice barely above a whisper, suddenly feeling very tired.
"You need to sleep, I'll watch her while you do" Itachi said, as he picked Sakiko up from her and motioned for Sakura to follow him. She was led to a large guest room with a queen bed, which she gladly made herself comfortable in. But before Sakura fell asleep, she told Itachi what Sakiko would need soon and where everything was in the diaper bag. "I got it Sakura, you just get some rest now" Itachi said, as he switched off the light and left with Sakiko.
Back home Sasuke was still brooding over what had happened with his wife. It wasn't like her to threaten leaving him, no matter how bad they fought. "Maybe I should go apologize to her," Sasuke thought to himself, as he closed his laptop and left the bedroom. But when he entered the living room, she wasn't there, nor was she in the nursery, or anywhere in the house. And he couldn't hear any of Sakiko's usual gurgles and giggles, and her diaper bag was gone. "I really screwed up this time" Sasuke mentally scolded himself, as he ran a hand across his jaw and gritted his teeth.
He knew there were only two places Sakura could have gone, so he got out his phone and dialed the first loud option. "What's up Sasuke, not like you to call" Naruto said skeptically. "Tch, are Sakura and Sakiko at your house?" Sasuke asked, not liking the way it sounded. "No, why would
they be? Did you two fight or something?" Naruto asked, now concerned about his two friends. "Nothing we can't fix, I have to go" Sasuke said quickly, as he hung up before Naruto could respond and dialed the next number.
As soon as it picked up, Sasuke spoke "Itachi, are they with you?" knowing he would understand the question. "It depends, are you referring to the wife you've hurt deeply? Or the daughter you haven't paid any attention to in weeks?" Itachi inquired, wanting him to understand what he had done. "Stop it Itachi, I know I'm a crappy husband and father. Just watch them until I get there" Sasuke said, as he went to grab his car keys.
"You will not do anything of the sort, you need to think about what you've done before you come here." Itachi said adamantly. "I know already, I just want them back home" Sasuke exclaimed, frustrated with the whole situation he had caused. "I want that too, but you need to get it together first. Do you have any idea how much Sakura cried when she got here? Little brother, fix yourself and then you can come get them" Itachi told him, before hanging up the phone.
After the call ended, Sasuke suddenly felt the gravity of what he had done. And the house that was normally filled with Sakura's bright personality and motherly aura, was now dull and gloomy. And he now realized that he couldn't remember the last time he held Sakiko. It was one of the best feelings in the world, and he had pushed it away because he couldn't see past his own problems.
"Time to fix this" Sasuke said to himself, determined to make things right, even though he wasn't sure where to start.