Oh my God, it's been two years!!! Two freaking years!!!! My deepest apologies, everyone! It was never my intention. I simply had a rough two years. In view of that, I hope the majority of us made it through the pandemic. News of it was saddening and I literally couldn't go on living on the internet. That was one of the reasons why it never crossed my mind to pick this up.

Not sure if this story is still on your list of favorites but I realized, with complete honesty, that I can't stifle the urge to continue this plot. Despite the long period of absence, I can still vividly remember the way I planned for the story to proceed. So I must deliver on my end, for your sakes and for mine.

That aside, a lot of updates on the sasusaku fandom had me gingered to the bones. I'd thought the love for the fandom had waned after the series ended but boy was I wrong! So I heard the Sasuke Retsuden light novel would be getting a manga adaptation next year yaaaaayyyyy!!!!!! (I just hope the drawing would not be a disappointment).

And what's more!? Apparently we got ourselves a Sasusaku kiss in the Naruto Retsuden novel, at last!! Gosh, these producers sure are keen on delivering enough Sasusaku content _

Anyhoo, these recent events are what piqued my interest for Naruto once more, made me watch the series from start to finish once again and reignited my love for this fandom.

So yeah! Enough of my unnecessary ramble. Bottom line is, I'm sorry for going MIA and I hope this makes up for it.

Oh and p.s, I've started revising previous chapters. Not that my writing skills are topnotch or anything but something about those previous chapters made me cringe and roll my eyes so behind my sockets, I almost snapped some nerves (_). It would take a while but I'll get it done eventually.

CHAPTER 15

About three days into her physical therapy, Sakura recovered part of herself, albeit at an extremely slow pace. She could interact a bit and was eagerly interested in regaining her full self. Sasuke was proud- he really was- but he constantly found himself not helping the feeling of forebodement that came with every step she took towards her full recovery.

Ever since that night she broke down on the phone, she had not let out a peep of the demon incident or of anything therein. Nothing, not even the bold step he'd taken that night, was enough push for her to open up to him. She'd silently distanced herself and applied overdue concentration on the spaghetti he bought for her dinner. As if he felt he'd seen enough of her uncanny behavior, Sakura surprised him yet again with irregular mood swings- frowning at the slightest thing she heard from her mother, Naruto, Ino and whoever else that bothered to force a conversation out of her, including the very doctor in charge of her; feeling an odd sense of gaiety of some sort whenever the discussion of her being discharged was brought to her ears; and for the cherry at the top, the one thing that scared Sasuke out of his wits was when his wife decided to clear the air about what happened that day.

"I fell." She'd said. "I tripped and fell. Pretty much the classic accident."

She'd lied with an eerie smile on her face.

In retrospect, Sasuke would've been quick to support her lease excuse, but now, he'd beg to differ.

As moments, hours and days went by, he caught a malicious glint of what he thought could be fiery determination in her deep emerald eyes whenever she stared off into space or listened to the doctor's instructions during rehabilitation. If the situation had been different, if she hadn't called that night, if she hadn't let known her convictions that she was indeed being haunted by a spirit, Sasuke would probably have offered thanksgiving to whatever deity he knew existed, believing that his wife was on the road to a healthy recovery. Instead, he felt a pang of fear wedged in his gut whenever he saw little traces of happiness on his wife's face at the mention of being discharged or going home.

Wouldn't it be more reasonable if she dreaded that mansion now more than ever?

At this point, he wanted nothing more than to get inside Uchiha Sakura's head. To understand what she was thinking and how she was grieving. It's no news that they lost a child and it would be common sense for any mother to bereave.

Presently, she wasn't up to snuff. She still limped with pain and relied on clutches or him when the pressure was too much. It seems the part of her body with the most pain were her legs. Her broken arm was slightly less painful and her upper torso felt better each passing day. Or so he thought. He got daily updates about her condition from the doctor and responses going along the lines, "I'm fine" and "I'm okay" from her.

Sarada saw her mother once in a while, plus their interactions improved over time. Well, that was also what he thought. Of course, Sarada, being her mother's daughter, did the chatting while Sakura did the listening. Recently, the Sakura on the bed was becoming stranger by the day and was awfully fond of drifting into space and living in her own thoughts. Whenever Sarada chatted around her, she'd reply with inaudible sentences, just like he did- something that was completely weird and scary in all forms.

Mebuki, Ino and Naruto visited once in a while but it turned out that their presence was not enough to rouse any form of proper animation from his wife. She seemed content with having all her discussions in her mind.

There was a day Sasuke stumbled upon her, murmuring to herself and nodding in satisfaction at whatever plan she and her inner self had cooked up. It was for this reason he sat by her bedside, waiting patiently for her to wake up from her slumber.

Sarada was at Naruto's place. He had all the time in the world to speak to his wife, something he could not do few nights before.

It was just 9pm when he peeped a crack of hazy emerald eyes. His back straightened up before his mind knew it and he adjusted his seat closer to her side as full consciousness dawned on her.

"Sakura." He called her attention, drawing her still disoriented jade eyes to him in the bright room.

Quite alright, she looked dazed before squinting a bit too much for comfort. "Switch off the light, please." She croaked while managing to sit up.

Sakura had never been a morning person. Taking this fact into account, she never liked opening her eyes to a bright environment, which is why most of the lighting in the house is on a neutral scale. He did as requested and switched the lights while putting on the lamp beside her bed. He needed to see her face during this discussion.

"How do you feel?" He knew she should be anything and everything but good at the moment since she wasn't completely out of the woods yet. Still, as a loving husband and soon-to-be inquisitor, he had to pry.

She rubbed her eyes, blinked to adjust them to the dimly-lit room and massaged her legs. "Never better." Her voice lacked energy but dripped with sarcasm. "Water, please."

Once again, he did as pleaded and handed her a glass of water. It felt as if he was calculating the volume of water she gulped. It was laughable and he caught himself before he stared more than was necessary.

She noticed his countenance and could tell the urgency of the situation through the hawk-like scrutiny he held her gaze with. Desperately, she tried to avoid his gaze. At least, the dimlight served as a better hiding place than the former bright room. Placing the now empty glass in his waiting hand, she sat for a few seconds in silence, bracing herself for what's to come.

After securing the glass cup on the bedside table, Sasuke heaved a long exasperated sigh he never knew he was holding. How should he start? He was already walking a tightrope and would not want to raise any issue with the woman before him. He readied his lips for whatever words his brain would work out but Sakura beat him to speaking.

"Where's Sarada?" Her eyes peeked his before roving her bedspread.

Okay, not what he was going for but still a starting point he was willing to take. He knew she knew what this was about and was trying to avoid it. How cute of her to try to dodge his bullet. He thought in the depth of his mind, fighting back the smirk that threatened to break on his face and winning with ease.

Onyx eyes softened a bit. "At Naruto's." He relayed, examining her with curious intensity. She simply nodded while ignoring his gaze. There really must be something fascinating about the bedspread, he thought. Finally, his insides could not help how cute he found her and the situation. He smirked, relaxing his shoulders. "I'm not gonna bite you or anything."

He saw the sudden jump of her shoulders and how it completely receded and relaxed in her pillow. Though her eyes were still trained on her covers. She was so stubborn.

"You've been doing great with your rehabilitation. At this rate, you'll be back on your feet and home in no time." He said with a stretch of enthusiasm that almost shocked him. Almost.

Right on cue, her face lit up a bit, a tiny bit, though inconspicuous at first sight but not too invisible for someone like Uchiha Sasuke to catch. "You don't seem too happy about that..." He bluffed, opting for the use of reverse psychology, trying to weigh out her emotions.

At long last, she held his gaze. "I-" She started, but looked as if she caught herself from sinning and bit her lips. "Who wouldn't be happy?" She worded with less enthusiasm, hiding her gaze once more. "I'll finally leave this room."

In Sasuke's note to self: Sakura tended to be evasive whenever she felt she had something to hide. Plus, she always dodged questions with sarcasm or other questions whenever she was invasive. Like the brilliant man he knew he was, he decided to play along, provided- he prayed- that this mind game would lead him to a better understanding of his wife's recent behavior.

"Are you eager to leave so you can go back to work?"

Her eyes perked up, calculating into the space ahead of her. Sasuke watched her like a hawk, commiting her every reaction to memory. He had to know what piqued her interest, what her motivation was. He suspected she had a hidden agenda. With determination for the unknown sparkling in her eyes every now and then and her occasional avoidance of everyone, he wasn't crazy to believe so. Whatever it was, he sure as hell would get to the bottom of it.

Was she eager to go back to work? The thought never crossed her mind. One thing formed a priority- getting proof of Suki's existence. By the heavens, she was uncertain of how she would pull it off. But that was by the way. She planned on exploring every option left to her to catch Suki. Whatever it might be.

The talisman Konan gave her must've worn off and she realized, to her horror, that she'd not asked Sarada about her godforsaken friend. Did it ever work in the first place? The demon, despite the restrictions, managed to pull this recent stunt. Which cost her the lone sane bond which held her relationship with Sasuke and... her unborn child which she knew nothing about.

A rough squeeze and itchiness brought her attention to her constricting throat.

She tried hard not to dwell on it but how could she not?! Never had it crossed her mind to have another child. Not with the madness that preoccupied her head since Sarada's birth. Heck! She never discussed it with Sasuke. Sure they might've enjoyed their lonely nights one too many times for an extended period of time since Sarada's birth, it still never was a priority.

Yet the thought that she'd indeed conceived in one of those night escapades. To think she had him growing in her belly unbeknown to either of them. To think that vile creature hatched plans of its own to wreak further havoc on her family.

God this is so frustrating!

Each time she thought of her baby, she remembered Suki and each time she thought of the two, she remembered Sasuke. He didn't believe her. Could not bring himself to accommodate her reasoning. Few nights prior, he'd claimed he would listen. That he was prepared to be open to her. But he cowardly evaded the whole thing when she sucked it up, deciding against having the discussion if he didn't make the first move. Now here he was, still trying to gauge her reaction, trying to confirm whether the effect of whatever high she was on during their last confrontation had worn off. Sakura was no fool. She knew that interrogative stance when she saw it.

Masking her brief moment of trance, she let her eyes drop to the white sheets. She would not give him the satisfaction of reading her. Not so easily. Not when he didn't earn it.

Perfect pool of onyx pinned her down. Even in the dim room, Sakura could feel its intensity. Easing her tense body to relax on the slightly reclined bed, she stilled herself to prepare for whatever words they would throw at each other.

"Sakura...?"

At the cautious mention of her name, she realized his question still hung in the air.

Was she eager to resume work?

"Aunt Tsunade will take care of everything in my stead."

A ghost of a frown dusted his face. He was making progress. She was talking more than she'd done in the past few days... since their last outburst. From what he saw and as far as their very short start went, she gave him the impression that her replies would be laced with honesty. Or at least that was what he hoped.

"What about you? When will you get back to work?"

Her eyes were stubbornly trained on the sheets at her feet. Not once did she look his way. Maybe she was still mad at him, he thought.

He hoped not.

"Kakashi told me he'd handle it. I can check in a few times but most of the work would be done remotely."

"Till when?"

Okay at this point, Sasuke became perturbed by the turn their discussion was taking. He was the one seeking answers but by some sick twisted coincidence, he perceived she had something planned up her sleeve. Not making a big deal about it, he used the situation to his advantage, black eyes drilling calculating slits at her half-hidden profile. "Why? Is having me around uncomfortable?"

Her eyes widened a fraction before returning to their previous uninterested state. Now they roamed around the sheets as if decoding her reply and then slowly, they drifted to his lap, floating precariously between that area and his shoulder, but never his face.

Sasuke frowned, hating the way she avoided him.

"Just answer the question." That was the only thing she that fell off her mouth before she returned dull, angry eyes to the sheets. It sounded annoyed, strained, low with malice.

That struck a nerve. With shoulders tensed and up for confrontation, Sasuke's mouth stood agape, about to make known his displeasure with her attitude. But on second thought, he simmered down. They'd had enough angst for the year, he wasn't about to start another bout of it over something less reasonable than the previous ones. "I'll resume when you're better." As if it were not blatantly obvious.

His eyes, dangerous slits, remained on her unyielding face.

She snorted under her breath. He prayed it was a fluke. But he was ready for her. "What's wrong with now?"

He didn't say anything, only glared lightly at her as she avoided him profusely.

"Aren't I better now? You don't need to stick around for my rehabilitation." She gestured with her shoulders, cast side glances at his shoulder, then neck. But not his face.

Suddenly, he didn't care anymore. Time for playing around the bush was over, now he had to voice out his number one problem.

"Is there something on my face that's so unbearable to look at?"

What the- ? Was he really angry over something so trivial? When he had not even taken the liberty of answering her last question? When he had not even bothered to clear all doubts that he believed she was well enough and out of the woods? Obviously she knew "when you're better" meant when he'd made sure she had given up on Suki's case and spoke of things that bothered heavily on sanity.

"Don't tell me you're actually angry." Feeling her own rage birthing to reality, she finally directed tired and angry jade eyes to glaring onyx. "Of all things to be upset over, you choose this, Sasuke?"

At long last, he had her attention, even if they were seething with pent up rage and frustration. Recoiling, he pinched the bridge of his nose, smoothening all creases on his forehead. He was in no mood for another fight. Rearranging his thoughts, he prayed those green eyes were still on him. When he felt all rage rescinding, he chanced exhausted eyes her way.

She was still boring accusatory eyes through him. Great.

"Look, I don't want to fight." He offered, voice soaked with defeat and exhaustion. "It's just... We haven't talked in a long while and when we finally have privacy, you avoid me."

"I don't pick fights, Sasuke." Then out of the blue, she shifted, grunted as she moved to sit up, getting her battle stance ready. "If you think hard and back, you'd see most of our 'fights' were started by you."

Sasuke got on the defensive. "I told you I would hear your side of the story." His velvety voice was dangerously calm, as if threading on thin ice. "I told you I would listen but you brushed it off-"

"If you were curious in the least, you would've asked." She hissed. "What were you really after huh? Trying to indulge me so I'd think you were on my side? Then what? Get me a shrink? You don't eve-"

But he cut her off, saying what she never believed would be an issue to him. "Why didn't you tell them?"

Taken aback, Sakura blinked. "Wha- ?"

"Why didn't you tell them what you told me?" His expression was unreadable, so much so that Sakura had no idea where this was going or what his main goal was. Was he trying to be on her side? Or was he trying to prove a point? That she knew how unbelievable her tale was and she knew she would be at a disadvantage if she shared it. Her eyes narrowed to maddening slits. Knowing Sasuke, it was the latter.

Reverse psychology was out the window, at this point. He needed to get into her head, to know what she was plotting. And the overly-emotional Sakura he knew would surely let him in soon. It tore him to see her so out of sorts, to know he was the reason behind her frequent breakdowns but what could he do when all the info he got from her were through their moments of angst?

"Are you being serious right now?" Her voice was cold and menacing. So were her eyes.

Unflinching, Sasuke pressed on, still maintaining his calm tone. "Sakura, I can't help but think you're plotting something."

She sneered. God! It was the most hateful expression he'd ever gotten from her since they met. "You practically begged me not to say anything. I do that and now it's a bigger issue?"

Sasuke sighed, agitated and aware his wife my blow her fuse soon. "Sak-"

"God you're so annoying!!"

Okay that stung. In every bit of the word, it stung. Sasuke felt his heart drop to his stomach. What more would this woman do to inflict more emotional trauma on him? She was the one person he couldn't stand an insult from but here he was, on the receiving end of her backlash.

"I've told you, time and time again. I'm not making this up! Given how serious the situation is, I wouldn't lie about it. Sasuke, our child died!" Sasuke, hurt at the sight of her spilling fresh tears, heaving as she spoke watched on with abject guilt. With her outburst, he hoped she wasn't disturbing other patients, not that he cared if she did. All he wanted was for her to unleash those pent up emotions. "I am not crazy. The only things driving me crazy are my friends and family. I can understand the rest but you... you, Sasuke, were the only one I wished to have on my side. But instead you begged me not to say anything. That you cannot protect me anymore. What gave you the fucking right to say that to me?!"

She broke down in a sobbing mess. The weight of her emotional turmoil slowly decreasing, though only a portion of it. There's plenty more where that outburst came from. Sasuke was sure grief from their recent loss played a more greater part in her meltdown. And he was right. With her face buried in her palms- he could see the strain it put on her barely healed arm- he listened as she uttered incoherent words, all along the lines of how she wasn't lying and how hurt she was by everything.

Quietly, Sasuke stood from the chair, not bearing the sight any longer. The mattress sunk a bit more under his weight beside his wife, as he sat very close to her, bringing her shaking form towards him in a half-embrace. He leaned into the bed, encircling her in his arms while running cool fingers into her tresses which were devoid of those ill bandages. Her face nestled between his shoulder and neck. After about three minutes, her heart-wrenching sobs simmered into infrequent hiccups before ultimately disappearing.

They stayed like that for a long time. Sasuke didn't dare to count. Neither did she. They only enjoyed the comfort they could offer each other with Sasuke calming his wife down through light pats and caresses and Sakura taking in the scent of her husband in their tight embrace. His cologne, although dampened, was on him like second skin. She missed this. She missed him so close. It was comforting.

After Sasuke had ensured his woman had calmed down, he broke the hush quiet. "When I told you I was going to listen, I meant it."

His silky voice reverbated in her ears from the base of his neck. It was deep, manly. Comforting.

"I'd exhausted every other options. Except this one." He seemed to be picking his words, thinking before he spoke because he was sure a minor slip up could trigger another outburst. "So Sakura," his grip on her back tightened, "tell me. I didn't push for it the last time because I thought you didn't want to talk about it again. You were in a fragile state then. I didn't want to risk provoking you further."

Sakura listened intently. Her eyes stung, she could even see her lids as they drooped dangerously. And she was wide awake! She didn't need anyone to tell her she was a mess. Frankly, she bought his reason and she felt bad for him. He was also a victim but he never played the part, only trying hard to be strong for the two of them.

"Sakura?" She felt his chin bend on her forehead. He must've taken her stilled state the wrong way. In response, she hummed a guttural reply, adjusting properly on his side.

No one said anything. She took it that Sasuke had said all that he wanted for the night. Now the ball was in her court. He told her he was ready to listen. She understood that fairly well. But what she did not get was whether or not he was ready to believe. After all, he had listened enough in the past to know her words were pure insanity.

Regardless, she left that aspect to him. She couldn't control his belief but she could make him listen like he wanted to.

"You want the full story?" She croaked, hating her voice more than her suspected disheveled state.

A grunt reverberated in her ears, resembling Sasuke's signature inaudible affirmation.

Then she cleared her throat, going for a pitch she felt was humanely enough.

"Remember the night of my baby shower...?"

Bedtime in the Uzumaki household was a bit earlier than usual tonight. Boruto recovered fully a few days prior but had gotten used to sleeping early due to his medication. It was now half past nine on the clock. The house was eerily quiet as everyone was tucked in their beds, each enjoying the company of sleep.

Well, that is, except for one Uzumaki who had just gotten off a conference call in his study and was on his way to the kitchen for a glass of water. He'd had a stressful day and would kill to hit the bed.

Hinata was sound asleep in their room and so were the kids. So he was the only one up and about in their entire house. Or so he thought.

He nearly choked on the water in his mouth when he noticed a static figure in his sitting room. The kitchen was the only lit portion of the house, everything beyond the door frame was blazing dark. Dropping the cup of water gently on the kitchen island, he squinted, trying to get a clear view. The figure was stout... definitely not his wife. "Boruto?"

But the more he squinted while advancing, the more the dark features of the figure became more visible. Trying again at the door frame, he called out, "Sarada?"

The figure hummed a response, then slouched a bit before raising what he believed was an arm upwards. Throwing all alarm for caution behind him, he walked towards the figure. It was Sarada. In her dazed, otherworldly state. She was rubbing her eye, force of habit.

Was she sleepwalking?

"Hey kiddo," He bent to her level. "Why are you up?"

She stifled a yawn, releasing her eyes to look at him in the dark. "Where's my papa?"

Naruto held her hand, leading her to the kitchen before lifting her on top the counter. Now he got a full view of the little Uchiha. Her hair stuck on her face due to the mild sweat on her body and if the lined indention on her face or large dazed onyx eyes meant anything, she'd just woken up from sleep.

"Your papa's at the hospital, remember?"

Recollection dawned on her later on as her whole body slumped and lips pressed to form a pout. The sight was discouraging. Cerulean eyes softened with worry. The little girl had not had her parents for nearly two weeks now, it's no wonder she felt so dejected. The urge to do something about it enveloped him and he made it his mission that night to be the cool Uncle Naruto she'd always known him to be.

"Want some ice cream?"

Kids loved that, right? Well normal ones did, not ones with Sasuke's genes, Naruto discovered regrettably as Sarada turned down his bright offer. Determined, he pressed on.

"Cake?" She shook her head.

"Cookies?"

Same reply.

He needed a new approach. From what he knew about Sasuke, he didn't like sweets but Sakura did. And from what he just witnessed, Sarada did not take after her mother in that aspect. So that meant she might like the one thing Sasuke ate the most...

"Tomatoes?"

Her brows furrowed in a questioning look that felt more like a mixture of "did I hear that right?" and "what's wrong with you, old man?".

Okay, so she didn't like tomatoes.

Defeated, he begged to know. "What exactly do you like to eat?"

She pouted, melting Naruto's heart in the process- she reminded him so much of his two friends- before stating, shyly. "Butter coconut and ice tea."

Naruto chuckled, ruffling her hair. "Well I can get you your butter coconut but there's no ice tea. How bout fruit juice?" Her eyes lit at the gesture. "Pineapple, apple or citrus?"

"Apple please." She flashed him a cheeky grin, dangling her feet from her place up the counter.

He got her order as requested and leaned on the tiled counter beside her. It wasn't everyday they had this sort of bonding but he always tried to make the most out of it.

Hitting the bed for a quick shut-eye suddenly seemed like a distant memory.

"Uncle Naruto?"

"Hmm?" She placed her juicebox beside her.

"Will mama stay in the hospital forever?"

Taken aback, Naruto turned his body towards her, leaning his right arm on the counter while pressing his right side against it. "No Sarada. She'd be out before you know it."

Her eyes dropped to the floor as she spoke, still considering the lie in his statement. "One of my classmates told me that's what happened to his aunt. She was always at the hospital. Just like mama."

Her lips quavered.

"I miss mama."

But the tears brimming at her eyes were heavy but before they rolled down her cheeks, Naruto caught her in an embrace. "Your mama will go home very soon, Sarada. Her body's just taking a long time to heal."

She nodded against his neck, hiccuping as tears rolled freely. She calmed down pretty soon, tired and lax in his arms. Naruto took it that she was out for the day. "Let's get you to bed." Lifting her from the counter, he headed for the door.

Sarada tensed for some reason, drawing Naruto's attention to her half-concealed face at his neck. "Can I sleep with you?" She murmured, half-asleep. Naruto stopped in his tracks, considering it, but Himawari was already in his and Hinata's bed and -

"I don't want to be alone, Uncle Naruto." She gripped his neck, unyielding. "I'm scared... Don'twannaseeher..."

Naruto couldn't make out the last sentence. She whispered, drawled it in sleep.

Sighing, he opted for the easy way out. He went into the living room, laid on the long settee, securing Sarada by his side, still in his arms. They both laid there in the dark, falling under the cool blanket of sleep.

Two minutes, then three, then a whole five minutes elapsed and Sasuke remained frozen like a mannequin. He sat at a comfortable angle, able to see her face as she relayed her story to him.

Did he believe her?

Cold pricked her fingers. It was then she took note of her sweaty palms. Her heart sank to her belly when, without saying a word, he moved back to his former position on the chair. Apprehensive of what his silence might mean, Sakura inched a little closer to him, almost slipping her arm off the bed in the process. Sadly, the room appeared dimmer than before, now that she found it difficult to read him. His eyes were out of view from her seeking ones, glued to his knees... or the floor below, she couldn't tell. He absorbed the info far longer than was necessary, heightening her panic by the second. She swallowed spit into her parched throat.

What now?

"So the shaman you saw gave you some creepy tablet to hide in the mansion?"

Shocked, she did a double take, inching back to her pillow. Was that his primary concern? She caught a hint of frustration... or anger in his voice. But he controlled it diligently, avoiding her eyes. She had completely left out the one detail that would've derailed their topic of conversation- the identity of the shaman. Her name obviously would spark more heat from Sasuke and really, what she was going for tonight was persuading him to understand her point.

"Y-yeah." Sakura stammered, understanding why it might be a bother to him. She literally carried a substance into their house.

Sasuke released a shaky breath, pinching the bridge of his nose to control the emotion bubbling within him.

"Yes but don't forget why I did it." She more like pleaded. "Suki was already in the house."

"Sakura." He intoned, the way one did when they were about to reprimand a child.

"I trust the shaman."

At that, he shot incredulous eyes at Sakura. "You put an amulet on our daughter."

Maybe she should have left that part entirely out. She found herself regretting. But she exposed herself in the high of the moment and the only thought that came to mind at the time was avoiding Konan's name.

"I did what I thought was right! For our daughter!" Sakura defended, watching hopelessly as all form of composure fizzled out of his face.

He shook his head, disbelief retched across his features. "I honestly can't believe you dragged Sarada into this. Did you stop to think what you might've put on her?"

His voice was slicing, accusatory. It sent painful spikes down her chest. Treacherous liquid pooled at the corner of her eyes. Anger clouded his sense of judgement. How could she reason with him this way?

"Sarada has been involved since the beginning." Her voice quaked, sadness brewing anew in her depths. "You're not listening, Sasuke. I wouldn't do anything to endanger our daughter. I trust the woman I got them fro-"

"You trust her?" He looked livid, yet his voice was a dangerous calm, rivalling his current feeling. "How long have you been patronizing her, Sakura?"

Her tears were free-falling before she knew it. She picked the best time to blow their whole progress over by letting this one detail spill. How could she have been so unreasonable?!

"Sasuke, you're missing the whole point." Those words tumbled out in a near-whimper.

"Well can you blame me?!" He was on his feet, with his back turned to her. Sakura tried to block out the look of disappointment she saw in those eyes before his back came into view. The tears spilled faster. "You tell me you meet some strange woman who gives you some voodoo shit and you want me to what? Let it slide? I really can't understand what goes on in your head!"

"Sasuke..." She cried his name. He was pacing. His back still visible to her.

"For how long have you been bringing these things to our house?"

He whirled around, daring her to face his question in her weeping state, daring her to bear the guilt of her actions.

"I-" she croaked, but before she could finish, Sasuke threw her off balance with another upsetting question.

"Did you- did you take Sarada to those shady places?" The gravity of the question and potential answer he might get from it scared him. So much that his eyes widened a fraction with pensive agitation. "Did you do that 'cause I swear to God, Sakura-"

A choked sob left Sakura's lips as she shook her head vehemently. He saw that she had been on this emotional rollercoaster enough for tonight but now was as good a time as any to get to the bottom of the issue they faced. Her tears stung him but it wasn't enough to match the rage he felt at the moment.

"No! No, don't do this to me." She buried her face in her hands. "Please, Sasuke."

Sasuke let out a low grunt of exasperation, running frustrated fingers into thick black curls, making it all the more unruly. He fought hard, hard to maintain his composure but the annoying woman was so...

... so... impossible!

After a few inhales and exhales, he finally mustered enough courage to look her way.

Dejected emeralds stared back at him. Christ! She looked a mess and he dreaded the sight before him, hated it to the point that he found himself wondering what he'd been so angry about seconds ago. How could he stay angry with her looking like that?

He covered the distance between them with two long strides, standing at the bed rail at her feet, clamping on them with a bit of pressure that made his knuckles crack. Her keen eyes stuck on him like gum, pleading for some kind of reaction that would soothe her.

"This whole thing is..."

They both knew he was out of words. They both were. They had exhausted everything in their heated conversation and had burned out. Having nothing left to say, he made a beeline for the door.

"You should rest. I need some air."

He didn't miss the way her shoulders slumped or the sharp, crooked intake of air at the message. He didn't wait to listen or see more.

He left. Guilt-ridden and angry.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

I discovered a little something while writing this part after reading the previous chapters...

I. am. a. sucker. for. angst!!! If there's no heated moment, I'm not satisfied. The plot is coming out good. There would be a lot of spotlight on Sasuke for a while. I mean, he really has to take Sakura's words into consideration! It isn't fair!!

Well, I know I took two years to write this but please don't be like me. Ten to sixty seconds is enough time to write a review. I'd appreciate.

See you next-

Hold on!

Yeah you thought I'd forget, didn't you?

I don't know what planet you're on but it's almost Christmas here! So this is me wishing you the best of the season. We have many more years ahead of us, hopefully life wouldn't be too hard on us.

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays!! You have my best wishes.

See you next chapter!