December

When Sasuke broke up with his girlfriend, Sakura wasn't that surprised. He'd been complaining about the relationship, the distance, her weird quirks in the last two weeks leading to the break up that it was expected. What came as a surprise was the amount of attention and time Sasuke now gave her. In fact, he'd been acting so overly friendly that it was starting to worry Sakura.

When she was younger, she would have loved to have had all of his attention. But she is older, more knowledgeable and the way he treats her is like how he treats other guys. Perhaps it is because Naruto is married and doesn't have much time to hang out, but for whatever reason, the relationship which Sasuke presses upon her is getting far too annoying. She doesn't enjoy sitting around in front of a tv drinking a beer every night saying nothing . It bothers her more that he called off the relationship and yet acts like the one with a broken heart.

More than that, she is upset that he has talked her into coming over and having dinner with his family, because according to him she practically was family. That she'd scoffed at, but Saskue rarely asked for much, and he'd ended up begging her with the real reason so she'd eventually ended up saying yes.

However, not only has she not made up with Mikoto, she is just plain tired, too tired to deal with drama. Today had been a hard day, she'd been called in as a witness to a custody case for one of her patients. The father of the child was pursuing full custody due to aggressive behavior by his ex-wife. Sakura'd been subpoenaed. She'd barely gotten a chance to see the teenage girl sobbing outside the lobby before she'd been ushered into the courtroom. And when she'd taken the stand she'd been attacked by both attorneys.

She'd made her case as middle field as she could. She explained the needs of the client rather than on if one parent was better than the other as her client had never spoken of any incident involving the woman. She would have reported any child abuse immediately as required by law. In the end though, the decision was ultimately with the judge.

With a sigh, she closes her mascara and looks in the mirror. She looks decent but if she'd wanted to impress she would have taken more care with her makeup and her selection of clothes. Instead she's gone with simple attire: a long sweater dress with tights. Sasuke had not mentioned the dress code, so part of her wanted to show up with sweats and a baggy t-shirt. Of course, her other side knew it would just end up embarrassing for her.

She gives another sigh, tries not to rub at her eyes and heads for the door.

Darkness has already claimed their quiet community and she quickens her steps as the chill begins to creep upon her. When she arrives, she notes the amount of cars in her friend's driveway and parked on the street. She knows she is going to stick out among the group of black haired family members and she wonders why in the world Sasuke felt the need to invite her.

She rolls her shoulders, trying to think of an excuse to leave early. It sucked living so close, she couldn't really play anything off. She makes her decision that she will play the 'feeling-ill' card and walks with a bit more determination. She'd let Sasuke feed her then she'd slip away. At least that way she wouldn't have to cook for the night.

She is about to knock when the door opens.

"Hey." Sasuke is before her; his cheeks flushed, belaying how much he has already had to drink. He grabs her hand and pulls her in.

Immediately she feels like she is on eggshells. Sasuke doesn't do much touching. She's affronted and concerned that he is dragging her through the house so awkwardly with only saying hello.

She pulls from his grip before they enter the dining room and he gives her a weird look for it. She returns the weird look and they both stare a moment before Sasuke turns and enters the room. She follows behind.

Everybody is already sitting, drinking wine. She gives a smile, knowing most of the faces. There is Sasuke's father, mother and brother, who has his wife and cousin beside him. Madara is in the corner seat speaking with another man and woman whom Sakura doesn't know.

"Uncle Izuna," Sasuke says. Madara and his conversation partners break apart. "Aunt Ai." The woman smiles. "This is Sakura Haruno."

Sakura greets them, feeling more awkward than before, she thought it'd just be Sasuke's brother and parents. She struggles to keep a smile on her face as she wants to slam her friend on the shoulder and call him an idiot. Instead she decides that it is best to use her excuse, but before she can speak she is handed a glass of wine.

She sips, although desires to drain it completely, and then sits in the only empty seat that does not have a glass already near it. Beside her is Mikoto, and meeting the stone gaze reminds her she does not belong here.

She continues siping as Sasuke sits beside her, a glass of wine for himself in his grasp. They talk about meaningless things it seems to her, but it is more conversation she'd had with Sasuke for the last several weeks so she is only happy to continue it. The awkward feeling does not leave though and when Sasuke and Fugaku get up to set up a card table, Mikoto's eyes return to stare at Sakura.

Finally she gathers enough bravery to look back and only to regret it. The woman took it as a cue to speak.

"I thought I asked you to leave my family alone, my son included," Mikoto growls quietly, partially whispering as to not attract attention.

Really, the woman was going to go there again? Sakura is a grown adult as is Sasuke, the woman before her doesn't get to dictate anything about them like they are children. This was the woman who got Sakura involved in the first place, anyway. "Sasuke is my friend." And you don't get a say about it.

"No," Mikoto snarls, "he's an ex you can't seem to let go of."

Sakura's eyes narrow into slits and she can almost feel her lips moving upward to reveal teeth. The animosity and the accusation cut deep. "I can assure you, I've let go." She had a very long time ago.

"Why the hell are you here then?" Mikoto's black eyes look ready to burn a hole through her.

Sasuke had asked, over ten times, eventually relaying the true reason he wanted her to show. He wasn't sure his brother was going to and he didn't want to be the only younger generation in the house. His parents would pester him with questions about everything and give him advice he didn't want and then compare everything he did to Itachi. With Sakura there, they wouldn't do half of it, and Sakura figured with Mikoto somewhat angry; attention would be directed off Sasuke.

But she isn't going to tell Mikoto about any of Sasuke's insecurities and Mikoto does have a point. Itachi had shown up with his wife and brought Shisui along. As far as Sakura is concerned, she's no longer needed. The appeal of eating in front of her own t.v. alone is too good to pass up.

"That's a good question." Sakura stands, just in time for Sasuke to return to the room.

"Is everything alright?" Sasuke's eyes glance between her and his mother.

Sakura notices that all other conversation has stopped and tries to ignore the feeling of being watched. "I'm not feeling well; I think I've been coming down with something all week and I don't want to get you all sick. I'm going to head out."

He's concerned, she can see that. "Let me walk you-"

"No," she says immediately and waves her hand off.

He grabs her arm anyways and again almost drags her to the door. She pulls out and glares at him. He glares right back. "I need to speak with you, Sakura."

"Speak to me in the morning then, when I'm feeling better. Have a good night." She doesn't want to wait around here anymore. With the way Sasuke was acting, it wasn't that difficult to come to the conclusion Mikoto had. In fact, his entire family probably thought they were together. She can feel her face ignite with anger as she opens the door and leaves. The cool air feels like a relief and she makes her way to her house without looking back.

She unlocks her door and is about to step inside when she hears the creaking of the steps behind her. She turns then, about to tell Sasuke off, when she realizes that it's not Sasuke. The person before her is female and someone she had seen much earlier in the day. The woman is dressed in the same clothes, although they look ragged. Her makeup has tear stains.

Sakura's breath stops in the midst of her throat when the woman raises her hand. In it is a gun.

Sakura freezes in place. Her mind frantically tries to spin words, or talk the woman down or estimate how quickly she can get in and shut the door. She doesn't know if she can talk the woman out of it. She doesn't know if moving will save her or only edge the woman on.

They say nothing for several moments.

Then the woman's hand shakes. At first Sakura thinks it is from being scared and she is about to step out and help her, but then the woman huffs and takes a breath in anger.

"You bitch!"

Sakura ducks and runs into her house as a gunshot goes off. It is followed by another, and then another. She keeps running, and running. Her house becomes a labyrinth maze to her in the darkness, and as she hears footsteps behind her; she knows only to keep running. Another shot and this one brings pain.

She gasps, grabbing the nearest object, a vase, and throws it at her pursuer. She doesn't stop to see if it has done any good; she continues running, aiming for the back of the house. She slams into the back door, fumbles with the lock, and runs down the back steps and into the yard.

Her heels catch in the soft grass, throwing her face first into the ground. She pulls herself up, knowing she can't stop, she can't. She rips at her feet, and sends the shoes flying at the woman who is staring down at her from the porch.

The woman dodges and raises the gun to take aim again when Sakura runs directly through her neighbor's tall hedge. She is too scared to stop, and the branches break and scratch at her face and clothes. Another shot is fired.

She continues to run, barefoot through the neighborhood. She doesn't think of stopping, although she stumbles as her legs begin to go numb. She doesn't think of anything except to keep moving, to not get caught, to not get shot.

Something slams into her side and holds her, preventing her from moving forward. She pulls back, trying to scratch and claw, to do anything. But she is pulled forward into a tight embrace and the only thing she can reach is hair and skin of a neck. Her breath is coming in gasps from her full out sprint and she is so shaken she can barely get her fingernails into the bare skin.

When she does though, the person holding her gives a hiss. "Sakura, calm down."

The low voice is familiar, Madara. She stops clawing.

"Mikoto is calling the cops and the others, well... We lost them a ways back." He then hisses, "The bunch of drunkards."

She takes a look at her surroundings for the first time; they'd run far, almost all the way out of the giant development.

He doesn't ask her what has happened. He doesn't try to get her to talk. He runs his hand through her hair, trying to calm her. Eventually he slowly releases his embrace and she takes a step back, still breathing irregularly.

"Thank-" she begins but her voice cuts off. She raises a hand to the man's chest, her fingers touch the red liquid on his clothes. "She shot you?"

Immediately he takes a step back, away from her, so that the light from the street lamp above them can hit her. He scans her face and body. "No, not me..."

The headlights of a car hit them and they both turn to look. It's Shisui's jeep. Itachi jumps out of the passenger side and she is hustled into the vehicle. Madara has removed his jacket and is applying pressure to both a gash on her forehead and the wound on her chest.

"She's bleeding on the back too," she hears Itachi murmur behind her.

"I realize that," Madara retorts sarcastically and then he changes positions. He picks her up and sets her on his lap. His forearm presses against her chest, his chest against her back and Itachi has taken over covering her head wound.

She wants to protest, but with the wind ripping at her, it is unlikely that they would hear her voice anyways. She is shaking, she knows, trembling terribly. She feels like she should be ashamed, for not being able to save herself, from having just insulted the family now trying to help her. But all she can do is shake, her head not even forming a proper argument or identifying with reality.

They come to a sudden stop outside of Sasuke's house, which is far too close to her home and the woman who may still be inside of it. She struggles, trying to claw and bite at what holds her. Her hands are pulled off and she can hear the low voice beside her calling out in the night, the words are lost on her as everything seems to move faster than it really is.

She can hear Sasuke and Mikoto trying to talk to her. Her limbs feel frozen and she shakes, continually. A thin weight is tossed upon her, a blanket or large jacket. But her legs don't still, her hands don't unclench and her heart continues to race.

When she finally seems to be able to take a breath, her body rejects the idea of the oxygen and her head spins. She slams the current person holding her backwards and lurches forward, throwing up in the process. She stumbles, and if hands had not grabbed her she surely would have landed in her own bile.

She is wrapped once more in material and strong arms hold her steady. Lights of multiple colors flash, more people try talking to her and this time the faces and the voices are unfamiliar.

She is taken away.

When she awakens several hours after surgery, she is surprised at the clarity of her mind. Her body feels sluggish, but she turns her head enough to see beside her. Sasuke is curled in a chair, face propped on his knees. Madara is beside him and his black eyes are focused directly on her.

He gets up, not disturbing Sasuke and sits on the bed to be beside her. "How are you feeling?"

Her lips twitch slightly, "Like I got shot. How about you?"

He pulls up his sleeve to reveal bandages, and then turns his head and pulls back his head so that she can see it too has gauze. "Like I got in a fight with a mad woman."

"I'm sorry," she apologizes.

His head tilts to the side and he gives a smile. "Don't worry about it," he says and then leans forward, his smile dropping. "I'm the one who needs to apologize. I am truly sorry."

She shakes her head, realizing exactly what he is referring too. The gun in her bread drawer. "You already apologized, and I have already forgiven you."

"No, you don't understand what I'm apologizing fo-"

She hardens her stare and cuts him off, "You've been forgiven."

His black eyes seem to pierce her gaze, as if to demand that she be angry, but then they drop. "Your empathy is going to end up killing you. I am not a good person nor is the majority of the human population."

"You saved my life, right now you're in the green," she gives a weak smile and tries to be funny. She does agree with him, although she doesn't voice her opinion. She's well aware that the vast majority of the human population are not good people; but kindness isn't something earned, and it makes the world a much better place - one she'd prefer to live in.

The humor doesn't reach him, and his eyes narrow. "You're a naive fool."

She rolls her eyes, but that only increases his glare. His nostrils flare, but then he closes eyes, physically trying to calm himself down. When he succeeds, he opens his eyes. The stare is hard, but it lacks the previous anger.

Movement catches both of their attentions and their gaze turns to Sasuke who has awoken.

"I need to call Mikoto," Madara says, getting up. He leaves the room and the two of them are left alone.

Sasuke sits beside her and for a moment both are quiet. Finally Sasuke breaks the silence, "I'm glad you're alright." He turns his face away and inspects the wall. He then shivers, as if a disgusting taste has entered his mouth. "I was terrified," he admits. "I thought you were going to die. You weren't responding and..." He looks back at her. "I'm glad you are alright," he repeats.

"What happened to her ?" Sakura asks, knowing Sasuke is more comfortable talking about facts than his own emotions.

"Uncle Izuna and my dad caught her and held her till the police arrived. She's in custody."

"Were any of them hurt?"

"No, just you... and Madara. You messed him up pretty bad, he was almost bleeding as much as you; you cracked a rib too, when you forced him away with your elbow," Sasuke smirks then, almost lightening the mood, "I always thought my uncle was hardcore, but he got beat up by a girl."

Sakura lets loose a growl, upset at the derogatory statement, but Sasuke continues on.

"What is going on between the two of you anyways? What were you talking about?" Sasuke's eyes narrow slightly, "You seemed a bit close."

Sasuke is not the most informed person in general and that the subject of his uncle wasn't a topic his parents were likely to divulge in. Sasuke also thinks highly of his uncle; it isn't a good idea to break such admiration.

"His falcons," she says, thinking up a decent lie. She then continues on with the truth as she knows she is a bad liar. "He offered for me to come see them when he helped me out before Naruto's coming home party."

Sasuke blinks, "Really?"

How bad of a liar is she? "What do you mean 'really' ?"

"It's just that no one goes up to his house in the mountains. My mom and Uncle Izuna have been there once or maybe twice. None of his wives have even been up there. I just find it surprising that he invited you."

She finds it surprising too. Why exactly had he invited her? "Maybe it's because I took interest in his birds," even coming from her mouth, it sounds like it is a question. She is just as perplexed as Sasuke.

After a moment of silence, Sasuke finally asks the question she'd been dreading, "What was it you and my mom were arguing about?"

She looks up, right into Sasuke's black eyes. So he knew that something was up between her and Mikoto. Her eyes flick to the wall to think for a moment. It was no use denying it, since he obviously knew something was up. How much should she tell?

She sighs and meets his gaze, not liking the fact that she has no escape since she can't get up and walk out. "I think your mom might blame me for part of your uncle's divorce."

"You think ; why don't you know?" Sasuke didn't like opinions, only facts mattered.

Sakura huffs, "Well, your family has a hard time saying what they mean."

His lips press together in thought, before he finally speaks, "I'm sorry I got you involved and reminded my mom you were a therapist… Are you and my uncle getting along alright?"

"We are on good terms." She then sighs before fixing him with a glare. "What's done is done. Stop worrying about it. I'm sure your mom and I will be on good terms again, life goes on." Whatever strange grudge his mother had just needed more time. Sakura had done her best, helped as much as she could.

His eyes go to the side, "It's just that... you wouldn't have left early..." and wouldn't have been shot.

She laughs then, even though it hurts. She can't seem to stop and she is laughing so hard that she can't hear the door open and then close; nor does she notice the people. She wipes at her eyes and continues laughing, slamming the closest body part of Sasuke she can reach, his arm.

Sasuke has not noticed either and he is scowling down at her. "It's not a laughing matter; you've had surgery. You got shot!" He is furious.

Perhaps she is still drugged, but seeing his face makes her laugh even harder. She coughs then and pain truly rattles her body enough to stop her laughing fit. Part of her feels cruel for doing it, but she says the words anyways,"Why is it you always focus on what isn't important?"

She'd asked him the same question the day they had broken up.

"Why don't you give a damn about your own life?" he snarls back. He bolts from his chair and leaves the room, rushing by his family members in the process.

She's aware of them then. And she nods to hide her blush, dipping her head in gratitude at their help, ashamed at how angry she'd made Sasuke.

Mikoto looks just as grim, but she asks how Sakura is feeling and relays the information she had gathered from the doctors and nurses. The bullet had passed through, hitting no vital organs. She'd gotten stitches on her face and the hole taken care of.

"I'm fine," she answers when they repeatedly ask her how she is feeling. It is the same words she repeats to her family when they arrive as well. It is what she tells the doctors, the nurses, and the police when they come to take her statement. It is what she tells Sasuke, Naruto, and Hinata when they come a day later to visit bringing flowers. She also takes time to apologize for laughing off Sasuke's concern, blaming the drugs for her outburst.

But overall, she doesn't feel fine. Her confidence is broken and there is dull throbbing in her stomach. It is an overwhelming fear that she cannot save herself.

Last Edit: 7/28/22