"Don't worry when I argue with you, worry when I stop; because it means there is nothing left to fight for."
|Sakura|"Mama!" Sarada yelled from the door, "I'm going to school!"
"See ya!" I called from the living room.
The door slammed shut and once again, I was left to an empty home.
'Seven hours to myself, maybe more if Sarada hangs out after school.' I bent down to pick up some magazines on the floor, 'Maybe I should go shopping. Treat myself to something nice for once.'
"Yeah, that's what I'll do." I said aloud, heading towards the door, "It's about time I did something fun."
Just as I was reaching the front, the door suddenly swung open and a ghostly pale Sasuke stumbled inside. His bloodshot eyes had dark circles under them, indicating he was worn out.
If I hadn't known better, I would have said he was a zombie.
"Sasuke-kun? Daijōbu?" I asked as I hooked an arm under him and helped him inside.
Kicking the door shut behind us, I led him to the living and helped him ease into the sofa.
He gave me no answer me, instead placing his hands on his head and exhaling heavily.
I bit my tongue, 'I don't know why I bother; he always does this.'
Looking over him again, I forced myself to persevere. How could he come in here looking half-dead and expect me to keep quiet?
"Sasuke-kun, are you okay?" I touched his shoulder lightly, trying to be as gentle as possible.
"I don't want to talk about it." He turned his back to me.
Annoyed, I nodded my head and got up, heading towards the front closet, "Of course."
"What's that supposed to mean?" He questioned; his voice slightly muffled.
"It means what you think it means." I told him as I grabbed a sweater, "Of course you'd never tell me anything. You think I'm too weak to handle it, don't you?"
"...What?" He sat up, giving me his full attention.
"After all, I'm just a housewife. All I need to do is sit on a pedestal, look good, and take care of Sarada, ne?" I pulled the sweater over my head.
"Sakura, that's not..." Sasuke shook his head, sliding his hand down his face, "I don't think you're weak, I just don't want you to—"
"Worry? Why? Do you think I'll collapse from shock or something?" I pressed him, the fierce nature in me flaring up.
He pursed his lips, "Look, I'm not in the mood for this. I had a lot to deal with last night and I would appreciate it if you would—"
"If you would talk to me, then maybe I could—"
"You don't have the power to do anything, Sakura!" He yelled, a vein in his forehead popping out, "Is this your way of helping me?! Interrogating me until my head explodes and I find myself wishing I was back at work?!"
"Sasuke-kun, I'm only trying to—"
"Stop trying!" He cut me off, "Kami, when you act like this, you're so annoying!"
I flinched as he sharpened his voice at the last insult.
'Annoying…' I thought to myself as I glanced up at him.
He hung his head and began to whisper, "All I want is to come back from a long night of work and relax in my home. Is that too much to ask for? Am I wrong for wanting that?"
"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…" I trailed off, my voice barely audible.
"Forget it." He stood up, heading up the stairs, "I'm going to bed. Wake me up for lunch."
All I did was silently nod, swallowing hard in an attempt to dispel the lump that had formed in my throat.
This was the way most of our arguments played out. He would ignore me, I would call him out for it, and then we would go back and forth until he said something hurtful that forced me to be silent.
It should've been like any other quarrel, something I would forget and move on. But She whispered to me, 'You can't go on like this.'
Shaking my head, I slowly pulled the sweater over my head and hung it back up, no longer having the energy to go out. I should have realized that her whisper would be the catalyst for the fall of everything.