sasusaku month 2020
days 12 & 15 - gimme shelter / recovery
.
title: Her Dear Friend
.
summary: Set after their mission at Redaku – Sasuke and Sakura are finally going back home after their latest discovery when they're surprised by a storm. She's worried about her best friend, and he knows he has to do something before she puts herself at risk.
.
a/n: So, if you're tired of seeing Sasuke caring for Sakura, this story is definitely not for you. I had this idea a while ago and of course I used it as an excuse to re-read Sasuke Retsuden (everything can be an excuse for that XD). I had initially planned to post this earlier for the SasuSaku Month, but life happened and... Well, enough of me, I hope you enjoy this one, and if you want, I would love to hear your opinion on it!
(also, this is un-beta'd. Please, go easy on me)
.
.
.
Redaku continued to prove itself as a strange land even now that they were just a couple of miles away from the border with the Fire Country. Dark clouds had been announcing a storm ever since they left the Tataru Astronomy Research Institute— or at least what was left of it— and even if there were still a couple of hours left of sun-light, the forest where they were had been enveloped by a shady atmosphere. Birds were coiled up inside their nests and squirrels hid in tree-trunks as an ominous wind swept the leaves beneath their feet.
All the signs around them indicated that Mother nature was about to unleash her fury, and neither of them wanted to be out in the clear when that happened. Even if they were in a hurry to return home with the new info they had gathered regarding Naruto's condition, they knew better than to defy the natural forces.
For the storm was due to any moment now, they decided that it would be better to deviate from their original route so they could seek shelter in a safe place. It sure took them a while, especially because they didn't really know the area, but eventually, Sasuke managed to spot an empty cavern. It was damp, cold and filled with bats; but it would have to do for the time.
It was not like they had any better options.
As soon as they verified the cave to make sure it was safe, his wife was the one who used her fists to gather some dry wood, and by the time he had started the fire with his fire jutsu, the downpour began. It had been years since he had last seen a storm so destructive and powerful like that, and for the moment, he was just glad to have found a place where they could stay.
They had fire to keep them warm, enough food and water for the night, and—well— they also each other so they wouldn't feel lonely. All they had to do now was wait.
However, for his wife, waiting seemed to be a lot harder than facing the storm.
Once they had settled inside the cave, the male Uchiha couldn't help but notice how restless the pinkette was. While he was calmly sitting by the fire, she was standing up, pacing around and looking outside. Her arms were crossed across her chest, and he had already lost count of how many times she had already sighed or cursed the heavens for the rain outside.
Sakura was pissed, he could tell. Her shoulders looked tense and she had barely said a word ever since they were forced to stop. He knew she wanted to go home as fast as possible, and being stuck inside a cave had certainly not been part of their plans when setting the fastest route home earlier that day. More than anyone, he knows how much she hates the unforeseen, and at that moment, of all times, anything slightly different from their original plan was enough to give her a huge headache.
They needed her back in Konoha. Naruto was slowly getting worse, and even if they hadn't really found the cure in their mission, they had found new and relevant information that could lead to something— anything, really. Ever since the blond had fallen ill, she had been on the edge, reading countless medical books and ancient scrolls, looking for a cure or at least a way to slow down its progression. She might have found a thing or two during the many nights she has spent up, but it was still not enough.
Naruto was still sick at the end of each day, and the only difference now was the she wasn't by his side. And even if she knew that what they had done in Redaku was also very important, he knew better than to believe she wasn't bothered by the fact that she was miles away from Konoha.
In fact, the guilt of being away was slowly eating her alive, and if she continued to put herself under so much pressure, it would be just a matter of time before she had a mental breakdown.
He had to do something. Just like in the past, he would have to take care of her so she could take care of the others.
"Sakura." He started, his voice soft as her name rolled out of his tongue. "It's no use. You know the storm won't just stop because you're glaring at it. Come sit by the fire."
"Don't even try. You and I know I don't want to sit."
"So are you just gonna stand there all night?"
"Maybe I will, so what?" She turned to him, her hands balling into annoyed fists as her voice came out an octave louder. She forcefully closed her eyes for a second, then, sighing exasperatedly before her stiffened expression melted into a worried one. "I'm sorry, Sasuke-kun. I just…I just want to go home."
He knew she didn't mean to sound rude. It was just the stress getting the best of her, and even if he hated to see her like that, Sasuke knew there was nothing he could do to solve her problem at that moment. For he was still feeling a bit drained after what had happened at the Astronomy Institute, he knew he didn't have enough power to use his Susano'o all the way back to the village, and anything other than that would be useless— irresponsible, even.
There was really no way out of that situation.
Still, it was not like their friend was facing an imminent threat at that moment. Even if he really was getting worse, all of his vital parameters were stable and the progression of the disease didn't seem to be so fast that his condition would suddenly become life-threatening. A day or two wouldn't make any difference, both Shizune and Shikamaru granted that in a letter they had sent on the previous day.
Naruto would still be okay by the time they got home. And however logical that sounded, it would never be enough to calm her poor heart.
"I know you do." He said, his voice offering her some sort of comfort. "But we both know we can't do anything right now. Not with this storm out there."
"But…but don't you think we should take the risk?" She spoke, her green eyes now looking at him with a serious expression. "We have experience in field missions, and if we are careful, we can escape the storm. It will save at least a day of journey."
His eyes widened at her statement, and it worried him to listen to her talking like that. She was actually serious about that— serious about walking aimlessly in search of a new way back home in the middle of the pouring rain. It was possible to see that her thoughts were now clouded by her sense of guilt, as she was clearly considering putting herself at risk out there just so they could try to arrive a day earlier or two.
Sakura was acting recklessly. And he had to stop her before she did something stupid.
"We're not going anywhere in the middle of the storm. It's not worth the risk."
"What? Why not?"
"What do you mean why not? Tch, you know very well how hard it is to move in such terrible conditions. It's dark, we don't know the area and the storm is too strong."
"I-I know it's dangerous, but this is an emergency, right?"
"It's not an emergency yet. They said his condition is stable and we still have time to get back to Konoha."
"They don't know for how long it will be stable, Sasuke-kun. It might get worse."
"You don't know that, Sakura. This is just speculation."
"Of course it is. We don't know anything about this stupid disease." She started, her voice now growing irritated. "He might as well be better by the time we arrive, but he also might drop dead before we get the chance to use what we've discovered in Redaku."
"Hn." He nodded in acceptance, closing his eyes. "I guess we will just have to wait and see, then."
"Wait and see?" She said, turning to face him. He watched as her green eyes were now glaring at him with vivid fire, and at that moment, he suddenly remembered how intimidating his wife could be. "Are you perhaps suggesting that we should just bet on his life? He is the Hokage."
As he watched the pinkette growing angry at his words, Sasuke realized that, apart from his efforts, she had finally lost it. She was now using their official positions at the village as an excuse to her behavior, and though she has always respected the shinobi hierarchy, that was probably the first time he ever heard her calling Naruto 'Hokage' when they were just the two of them in the room. His words had been completely misunderstood by her, and at that moment, even if she wasn't really using words to describe it, he knew exactly what was going through her head.
Sakura was angry. Truly and inexorably angry.
Guilt was taking over every fiber of her heart and even if she knew it wasn't her fault that Naruto was sick, she was blaming herself for not being there by his side. It was not like she didn't trust the people back in Konoha to take care of him, but she knew she was the only one really capable for a job that has always been hers.
Whenever one of them needs her, she's there. Whenever they're sick, she finds the cure. That has been the ultimate rule of her life as a medical ninja, and even if they're all grown ups now, it was still hard for her to let go of that motherly part of hers.
She has always been overprotective towards them. She has always tried her best to make sure they were both safe, and after marrying the Uchiha— much to her husband's surprise— she grew even more worried about the blond. Perhaps it was the fear of losing her bonds with him or even the fact that they were each other's closest fraternal connection, but whenever Naruto ended up at the hospital, she wouldn't sleep until he was feeling better.
They're too close. They have always been, especially after all of the time that were just the two of them. They've shared memories, promises and dreams; and it would be impossible for her to just ignore all that and not worry about him. It was stronger than her, and fighting against that would be useless.
He couldn't change that part of hers even if he tried to. All he could do was make sure it didn't hurt her like it was hurting at that moment.
Sasuke stood up, then, his heart beating as calmly as before. He knew better than to be mad at her for letting her feelings rule her thoughts, especially when his own emotions almost made him destroy Konoha. Just like all the times when she has showed him compassion during his times of pure rage, he owed her the same kind of reciprocity.
His wife deserved to be heard, and for she has always been more technical than him, he knew she would eventually give in to reasoning if he presented it to her in a way she could understand.
His feet slowly took him closer to her until his body was towering over hers. For she has never been the kind to be intimidated by anyone, Sakura kept glaring at him with the same intensity as before. He was holding a serious expression, and his voice didn't change when he started his speech. "Stop pretending you care about the Hokage."
His mismatched eyes watched as her expression changed. Her eyes widened, her lips parted, and slowly, she grew even angrier at him. "What did you say?" He could tell she was really mad at him, and if he didn't choose his words correctly, chances were she would end up beating him to dust.
"I told you to stop pretending you care about the Hokage, Sakura. If you really want to go out there in the storm, at least be a little more honest about your reasons."
"How dare you say something like that to my face? After everything I did and after leaving my daughter alone so I could help you gather new information, are you really saying I don't care?"
"Aah." He confirmed, his voice still as calm as before.
"Screw you, Sasuke." She said, finally looking away from him. "I'm going. With or without you." At that moment, he realized he had driven her to the edge, and that was the right time to act on their problem.
That was the only way he could ever talk some sense into his wife. And even if he could end up with a broken rib or two, he figured it would be better than letting her get hurt.
She was fast to take her backpack from the ground, and as she was making her way towards the exit of the cave, Sasuke took a deep breath before giving her a decent answer. "At least admit why you're leaving." At his words, she stopped in her tracks, turning one more time to glare at him. Sakura opened her mouth to talk, but before she had the chance, he continued. "At least admit that you're doing this for your best friend. Admit that him being the Hokage has nothing to do with this."
Her eyes widened once more, and he watched as she bit her lower lip before balling her hands into fists. "Stop with your silly games. You know it makes absolutely no difference right now."
"Of course it does."
"Oh, and do you care to explain how?" She crossed her arms across her chest, her legs now slightly parted as a sign that she was standing her ground.
"You wouldn't be acting like that if Kakashi was the one sick."
"Bullshit. You know I would–"
"You wouldn't." He said, firmly, and he realized she was taken aback because of his words. At that moment, he used that opportunity to get closer to her. "If the one sick wasn't that idiot, we both know you would be a lot calmer right now. It has nothing to do with his position as the Hokage. It never had."
"Tch, and so what, Sasuke-kun?! Am I that wrong for caring?" She started, her eyes now tearing up. At last, his wife was admitting the truth to herself and it was relieving to see the walls she had built around herself crumbling down. If he wanted to help her— and he certainly did— he needed to be able to reach her first. "What if I really am worried about my best friend? He's sick, okay!? He's sick and I have no fucking idea of what's happening with him! I'm scared that something bad might happen and I won't even be there by his side. And though I know there are very capable people back home, I don't know if any of them would go far enough to keep him alive like I would!"
Her arms were now embracing her own body, making her seem smaller than she really is. She was bitting her lower lip, and even if it hurt him to see his wife like that, unfortunately, it was the only way he knew to calm her down. Thanks to that depraved shinobi system they grew up in, it was only natural for her to keep it all to herself. According to that system, her fears, her thoughts and her emotions meant nothing in times of crises, and there was no reason to prioritize them over their mission or their Hokage. She's a medical ninja, trained to heal and not alarm those around her, even if it meant she would be haunted by her own secrets for the rest of her life.
No wonder why the previous generations of shinobi suffered so much. More than anyone, he knew how destructive emotions can be when they're kept inside for too long, and he was not going to let her go through that kind of suffering.
Sakura had to let it all out. That was what Naruto would tell her if he was there. That was what he has always fought to protect.
And now that she did, it was time for her to pull herself together. He has seen her doing it before, and for she is this brave woman, he knew she could do it again. She just needed to be reminded of that.
"Sakura, look at me."
"Leave me alone, Sasuke-kun."
"I'm serious." He said, placing his hand on her shoulder. "Look at me."
Though she refused to do as he said at first, her worried eyes eventually gave in to her husband's words. Her cheeks were puffed in anger, her eyes were turning red due to the unshed tears and he could see that her teeth had already left their mark on her rosy lips. His wife was sad, but it was inevitable for him to think about how beautiful she was, as her true colors oozed from her every pore.
"Let me go to him." She said, her voice low, almost as if she was begging him.
"I can't do this. I can't let you risk yourself out there."
"Why not?"
"Because you're his only hope, Sakura."
"What?" Her eyes widened in surprise, and her lips went agape. She was certainly not expecting those words, and he knew he had to take advantage of her state of bewilderment to tell her the one thing she needed to hear.
"Just think about it. You are the only one who can actually save Naruto. Shikamaru, Kakashi and I can search for things that are related to his condition, but you are the only one who can actually do something about it. You will put all the pieces together and you will find a cure, I'm sure of it."
"What if you're wrong? What if I can't do anything and he dies before we get the chance to get to him?"
"I'm not wrong." He said, his voice powerful and with no hint of doubt. "I know you can do it. We all know it, and that includes that idiot. He understands why you had to leave, and right now, he's also doing his best to make sure you have all the time you need. He's not going to die, Sakura."
"How can you be so sure?"
"I'm not." He said, his voice soft and delicate as he spoke to her. "But I trust him. He's strong and he's too stubborn to lose before using his best weapon." His hand moved, then, slowly climbing up to her neck until he was cupping her left cheek. He brushed his thumb against her soft skin, and he offered her a tender smile before continuing. "And right now, his best weapon is you, Sakura."
At his words, a delicate silence took over them as he simply watched as she made peace with her mind. Knowing his wife like he did, Sasuke knew she was probably thinking about a million ways to refute his arguments, but thankfully, she didn't seem to be finding any. He felt as she allowed her head to rest against his palm, and she carefully placed her own hands over his as if to indicate she was welcoming the comfort he was offering her. She closed her eyes after that, letting go of all the tension that was taking over her shoulders, and he sighed in relief after that.
"You're right." She nodded, slowly, as she opened her green eyes to face him. "He's strong and…he's gonna make it."
"I'm sure he will."
"It's gonna be hard, but I have to trust Naruto on this." She giggled, finally moving her head away from his hand so she could wipe a tear that had dared to fall. "Shannarou, when did he become such a dependable adult?"
"Hn, he didn't. Don't forget that Kurama is the one doing it all for him."
"Yeah, that's the only possible explanation." She blinked, tugging a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Thank you for helping me see things through."
"No need to thank me. You already knew everything I said." He reassured her, their eyes still connected. "You were just a bit confused because of your maternal instincts towards that Dobe."
A chuckled escaped her lips at his words, and slowly, a smile was decorating her face. It was good to see her like that again. "I guess you're right. " She said, scratching the back of her head. "I should probably start worrying more about my husband, don't you think?"
"I wouldn't mind that." He started, turning away so he could walk back to where they had placed their belongings. The night was getting colder because of the storm, he was tired, and after all of that commotion, he just wanted to sit by the fire with his wife. "Now come. It's been a long day and we need to rest for tomorrow."
"You're right." She agreed, instinctively following his steps. "Help me heat the water, then. I'll make us some tea to keep us warm."
"Aah."
And so, after the raging thunder in her heart dissipated, the Uchiha couple could finally settle down by the fire. The water she had collected from the rain was now boiling inside an old kettle with some herbs, and while they waited for their tea to be ready, both Sasuke and Sakura sat next to each other, finally sharing a moment of peace. Her back was pressed against his chest, her head lingered near his chin and he could feel the way her muscles were relaxed against him. The sound of the rain outside felt like a serene symphony, invading his ears and allowing his heart to beat slower.
In a couple of hours, he knew they would both be up and back on their way back home, and perhaps, they would have to face some challenges. The near future seemed to have a lot of uncertainties that they would have to deal with, but for the moment, he figured he could let himself rest while enjoying his wife company.
He really had missed her, after all.
With that in mind, Sasuke closed his eyes and took a deep, calming breath. Her sweet scent invaded his nostrils, and slowly, he could feel his thoughts disappearing one by one, until it was just them, the fire and the rain.
the end.