Day 14: Catharsis
"I'm sorry."
Sakura had heard the words so many times. And still, every time she listened.
Except for that first time, when she'd been confronted by his and Naruto's bloody stumps. She'd told him to shut up then, when he'd asked her to listen. She hadn't wanted to hear him thank her again.
But he'd apologized. And that time, she had cried.
He'd apologized again, when he'd come back from his journey for one of those peaceful interludes. He hadn't expected that she'd heard it, as they'd been lying in bed, drifting off to sleep. Instead, she'd turned into him and wrapped him up in forgiveness. And that night, he had cried.
He'd apologized again when she'd been focused on bringing their baby girl into this world. She'd told him to reinforce his body with chakra and give her his hand. He'd obliged, and she'd only known he'd had to see a medic afterwards because she'd overheard Karin complaining about restoring powdered bone to Suigetsu. Oops.
He'd apologized again when he'd chosen to leave to protect their daughter's future.
He'd apologized again when he'd returned a stranger.
He'd apologized again, with a thank you when she'd woken up at the kitchen table.
Again, again, and again.
She always forgave him. For his sake, not her own. She had chosen this man, as flawed and burdened as he was, with her eyes wide open. It was enough for her to know he held her and their child first in his heart now.
So she would forgive him. Again, again, and again.