Burying herself in her work was effective in giving her the numbing sensation she was eager to have since that day. Since she's the head of the hospital, she has access to all the departments inside; hence, she could take over whichever task she wants, which was what she did as if her plate was not yet full with her regular work. If the only thing that would save her from sulking all day and crying all night was getting involved in her least favorite departments in the hospital, then she's fine with that.

For weeks, she had been ridiculously out of reach even to Naruto, Kakashi, and Shizune. And she hadn't heard about Sasuke ever since.

But there were some days, at those exact rare hours that she allowed herself to breathe, wherein she unexpectedly caught a glimpse of a raven-haired man with a redhead clinging unto him at the market. Whenever that happened, she immediately stopped on her tracks, bags of groceries almost falling from her grip, then opted to go home without even completing her shopping list.

She thought those few instances were already enough. However, there was one moment that she was left with no other choice but to face the man that makes her heart beat faster yet cripple it at the same time. She found him at Ichiraku, of all places, and she mentally scolded herself for listening to her unusual craving for the meal that their jinchuriki teammate loves. It was right after he paid for two to-go bowls of freshly cooked ramen that he turned and saw her, charcoal eyes widening at the sight of the pink-haired medic in her white coat.

For a second, she felt self-conscious. She hoped that he wouldn't notice the dark circles under her emerald eyes. She hoped that he wouldn't notice how those orbs weren't as bright as the way they used to shine for him. She hoped that he wouldn't notice that she was fresh from crying, partly due to a patient losing his battle with cancer just recently, but mostly due to her heart losing its battle in moving on from loving him since they were kids.

It was too late to even retreat from the small stall so they stiffly stood there, face to face, flabbergasted with the sudden encounter after a month of absence in each other's lives even though they were just in the same village for once.

Sakura tried to smile. "For Karin?"

There was a momentary pause as the wandering ninja threw a glance at the plastic in his hand. "Yeah."

"I see."

Sasuke just stared back at her, his lips parted as if he was about to say something.

And then her phone rang. Saved by the bell, alright. When she turned to answer the direct call from the hospital phone, she somehow considered believing that she saw from her peripheral vision how his shoulders slumped at the sudden interruption. But who was she kidding? She has lived a life wherein Sasuke finds him annoying. If anything, he'd be glad that she's going to be out of sight immediately.

She then tipped her head over her shoulder after ending the call. "It's time for another surgery. Bye, Sasuke-kun...Take care of her well."

Then she headed back to work. She wasn't even able to order her own meal but it was better than spending another second with Sasuke who had been so expressive on his concern for the redhead medic nin. A new set of tears rolled down her cheeks, but this time, it hurt more because she couldn't deny that she missed seeing his face. But she also knew that she won't be able to move on if she'll keep on seeing him.

Maybe she'll just keep on healing others, then eventually her heart would heal as well.

Sakura exhaled in relief after taking a step back and glancing at the carefully stacked medicines in the pharmacy. The pharmacists would surely be glad at the accomplished work that Sakura had taken off their shoulders. It wasn't the first time that she bothered to lend them a hand, but she figured it was better to use her break there than go out and risk the happenstance of seeing Sasuke again.

"Sakura! Sakura!" She was welcomed by a rattled Shizune once she reached the hallway to her office from the pharmacy.

"What's the matter, Shizune-san?"

"I know you've just finished your break but we need you in the operating room right now." She panted.

Sakura gaped at her colleague. "Another surgery?"

"No. Emergency labor. It's been a dangerous pregnancy for her so we'd rather have you deliver the baby for you are one of the bests that we have." Shizune handed her a white folder. "I trust you, now go."

Startled, she pivoted due to the force of Shizune's push as she opened the file of her new patient.

Ho—

"You have to hurry, Sakura! She's been having intense contractions for hours now. You know what's at stake!"

A glimpse of the very few patients she'd unfortunately lost since the war flashed in her mind and it made her shudder. She didn't want her new patient to be one of them. "Right! Shannaro!" Sakura shut the folder and headed to the stairs.

Turning from the last flight of stairs, her jaw dropped at the sight of no other than Sasuke who was leaning his back on the wall in front of the operating room with his hand brushing through his hair.

What in the world?

Her heart clenched at the realization that her patient must've been Karin.

Why me? Why is it always me?

Sasuke tilted his head towards her when he heard the shuffling of her feet. "Sakura," he acknowledged, shifting his gaze to the operating room and then back to her with a tinge of panic drawn on his face. "Karin."

Her hands trembled, but she rushed inside the room and true enough, Karin was there, hands gripping tightly on the metal rail of the hospital bed as she winced from a recent contraction. "S-sakura! Thank Kami! It's—Ugh!—time!"

Baffled, she grabbed a pair of medical gloves and went back outside the room. "Sasuke-kun. Go inside, or you'll miss the whole thing," she stated professionally, eyes not meeting his as her hand pulled her gloves in place.

Sasuke looked at her with a puzzled expression. "Why should I be there?"

This time, she faced him, fighting the urge to punch the last Uchiha and eradicate him before he even multiplies. "What?! She needs you there! C'mon! Your baby's about to come out anytime soon!" And then she rushed inside again, leaving the dumbfounded Uchiha by the door.

It was, by far, the most dreadful six hours she has ever had as a medical ninja. Shizune wasn't kidding when she mentioned that her patient's pregnancy was dangerous. For hours now, she had been transferring chakra to Karin so she could exert more effort to push the baby out of her womb without her own heartbeat stopping in the process. If another two hours would pass without the baby coming out yet, she knew she would have no choice but to use the Byakugou. It was that fatal.

And it scared her to the core. She didn't know why Sasuke chose to stay outside, but in all honesty, she was glad. If he was here, watching how she mediated between life and death for his...for his wife and child, she was sure she would be more pressured to the point of making a mistake in just a snap.

What would Sasuke think...if...if when all else fails, he'd lose a family again, but this time, it would be because of me? She felt her heart constrict, for her own pain and for his.

She knew she'd rather live a life wherein Sasuke is happy with somebody else than a life wherein he'll loathe her forever. As she once again put pressure on Karin's belly, tears began rushing down her face at the thought of finally letting go of the man she has always loved. It was the right thing to do. Maybe, it has always been the right thing to do even before he returned.

But then, before she even fully lose her focus on the job, Karin released another earsplitting scream. And moments later, Sakura came to smile amidst the tears as she saw the product of her hours of perseverance in helping to bring out a new life into the world. It wasn't even her own child, but somehow, all the heaviness inside her moments ago was abruptly replaced with the joy of successfully giving a baby the chance to live.

For in her own arms was a tiny red-haired baby girl.

With vibrant purple eyes.

o - o - o

January 2019 AriannJS

o - o - o

And the baby's out! What do you think would happen to Sasuke and Sakura now? Would appreciate your comments and reviews!

– A