Uchiha House
Sarada was just 3 years old when she was old enough to understand that a particular predominant figure was missing from her life. Her father.
Uchiha Sasuke was notoriously known for being one of the strongest shinobi Konoha had ever seen. Sarada found it weird how he was her father and yet she was always surprised that it seemed others knew more about him than she did.
She was now 12 years old and every day she would think about her papa. Wondering what he was doing. Wondering where he might be.
She recalled the time when she had felt so saddened about her papa not being around, she had asked her mama if he even remembers them. Sakura had brushed her off saying that she was silly to think that way and that of course he remembers them...
So why aren't you here? Sarada wondered looking up at the clouds.
Sarada sat outside of their house seated on an outdoor bench. Lately she had been more alone then ever... her mother would have to stay in late recently and Sarada found herself longing for both of her parents now. She wondered if papa had ever felt lonely having grown up alone.
Sarada sighed heading back inside. She crossed through the hallway where she stopped to look at the picture frame of herself with Sasuke and Sakura... she wondered if they still loved each other...
Every day it would cross her mind that maybe papa had found another family and that was the real reason he wasn't around and maybe mama was lying to her... she wasn't allowed to know anything about the "important missions" he had to go on that was apparently the reason for them being separated.
Sarada looked at the clock and saw that it was heading onto 6:00pm. Usually her mama would be home by now... she looked towards the phone thinking about calling her and asking whether or not she would be home for dinner. Deciding not to bother her, Sarada entered the kitchen to make a start anyway feeling her stomach rumble.
Sarada had learned to cook food by watching her mother. Her cooking was not as good as her mamas, but she still enjoyed cooking anyway.
She had made sure that there was enough for two knowing that her mama would be hungry when she got home late of which time Sarada would usually be asleep.
Sarada finished cooking and put a plate away for Sakura. When she had finished eating she as always cleaned up after herself. Afterwards, she decided to read a book but soon found herself extremely bored. When she looked up at the time it was now heading onto 8:00pm. She felt her eyes getting heavy as she yawned. Sarada wanted to wait for her mother until she had arrived home but eventually ended up falling asleep on the couch.
Sarada woke up in the night much later. She recalled dreaming about papa being home and noticed that the sky was now pitch black and that she was still on the couch and the lights were still on. Looking at the clock again she saw that it was now 1:00am in the morning.
Sarada stood up tiptoeing to her mother's bedroom, the littlest creaks of the floorboards beginning to creep her out.
"Mama?" She whispered before opening the door slightly. To Sarada's horror the bed was empty. She began to panic as her mama still wasn't home from work.
Sprinting to the telephone and stubbing her toe along the way, Sarada wrenched it from the hook and immediately dialled the number for the hospital reception line.
"C'mon pick up, pick up, pick up!" Sarada said with tears welling in her eyes. As the phone continued to ring she jumped as the front door opened revealing a very exhausted and drowsy Sakura.
"Mama!" Sarada said as she quickly hung up the phone.
"Sarada? What are you still doing awake?" Sakura asked her young daughter as she took off her shoes before entering the house.
Sarada felt the tears spill from her eyes as she ran over to embrace her mother.
"Oh," Sakura said as her daughter wrapped her arms around her waist tightly.
"Daijoubu? Sarada?" Sakura asked worried for her daughter. She knelt down and caressed her cheek looking into her eyes with worry.
"I'm okay mama... I was just scared because you weren't home yet..." Sarada said through sobs.
Now feeling extremely guilty, Sakura wrapped her arms around her daughter and wiped away her tears.
"Oh Sarada I'm so sorry. I got held up extra late today at the hospital and was meant to call but I figured you would be sleeping..." Sakura explained. Sarada looked up at her mother and managed to give her a small smile to say that everything was okay. Sakura smiled back at her.
"Now, bedtime?" Sakura said to her daughter poking her on the forehead.
"I made you some dinner. Are you hungry?" Sarada asked now feeling very awake. Sakura smiled in gratitude. She was so proud to have ended up with such a lovely daughter.
"Hai, very, arigato... but Sarada you need to get some rest." Sakura said to her as she hung up her coat while gesturing to how late it was.
"Hai, mama. I'll head straight to bed, but make sure you eat!" Sarada said looking at her mother's thin figure and dark bags under her eyes. She worried for her mother having noticed that she had been loosing weight from working constantly and having no time to eat and hardly sleep.
Sakura smiled and told her not to worry as she was super hungry after a long day at work. She kissed her daughter's forehead before sending her off to brush her teeth before she went to bed.
Sakura walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge to grab the plate of food Sarada had made for her. She was surprised at how great the food was... Sarada had become so independent now she had to acknowledge.
Once she had finished eating and cleaned away her plate, she headed for the shower.
Sakura let the hot water sprinkle her skin in a soothing manner. She sighed in content as she scrubbed herself with a bar of soap and washed and conditioned her hair.
This was the fifth night in a row that Sakura had come home late. She worried about how it was beginning to effect Sarada. She wouldn't be doing that again tonight. Sakura felt she was literally going to pass out from lack of sleep and meals.
After finishing up with showering, she headed straight to bed to which she realised was oddly misshaped.
"Sarada..." Sakura whispered as she saw her daughter bundled up in the bed. She smiled at her sleeping daughter and after turning off the house lights, snuggled into bed with her.
