A/N: Thank you all for the reviews! I know the clans can be such a drag, but I promise, it's with a purpose :)
I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it :)
"Inoooooooo! I need rooooooobes!" Sakura yelled as she entered from the upstairs window and started going through her friends closet
"Oka San!" Daisuke came running up the stairs, Ino did a jump and a flip and landed in front of him at the top of the stairs. There was a brief sparring match as Daisuke tried to get past his bossy aunt to get to his mother, but failed. "Uggghhh! I want to see her! I have questions!"
"Don't we all…" Ino mumbled "Go downstairs and wait like a human being instead of a running and screaming like a hooligan!"
"But!" Daisuke protested
"Now!" Ino snapped
Daisuke sulked down the stairs where he was met with an amused Inojin. "You know, my dad's Anbu and even he wouldn't try to piss off mom…"
"Oh shut up!" Daisuke said sulking then looked out the window hopefully
"I wouldn't… there are traps…" Inojin said calmly picking up the book he was reading
"Bullshit…" Daisuke said looking at the boy
Inojin threw a Shuriken out and set of spikes shot up and hit it… Daisuke's eye's went wide with shock. Inojin smiled dejectedly "welcome to my home… book?" He said offering another one
"I hate old people…" Daisuke said snatching the book and flopping down on a pouffe
—
"Oye Forehead! stop destroying my wardrobe!" Ino said pulling Sakura out of her cupboard.
"I don't have time! It's 12! I have to be at his house by 4pm! I have 4 hours to prepare myself and Daisuke… I'm freaking out!" Sakura said stressing
"Okay stop…" Ino said grabbing her and sitting her down "What happened?"
"He called me Haruno San! Not Sakura, not Doctor Haruno, Haruno San! SANNN! and he bowed and asked me to move in and have an affair…" Sakura said in one breath
"From the beginning please and try to make sense to us mere mortals…" Ino said
"It wasn't Sasuke, it was Uchiha Sama who came to my house… in full formal robes… and he has invited his heir and the heir's mother to tea at 4pm today… you think you can get Daisuke and me ready in time?" Sakura asked seriously. When Ino said nothing she shook her and said "Inooooo!"
Ino slapped her hands off and stood up saying "Hinata will be here in 20 minutes…" she walked to the door of the bedroom and screamed "Inojin! Daisuke! Get your ass up here this instant!"
—
Sasuke got back and ordered the new manservants that came highly recommended by Neji to prepare for tea by the Zen garden. He then got out of his dress robes and went to the Zen garden. As he raked the sand in slow circles he wondered how this evenings conversation was going to go. He also wondered if Daisuke would hate this or love it.
—
In the past 4 hours, Daisuke and Sakura had been respectively, exfoliated, moisturised, powdered and perfumed. Daisuke had come up angry hoping to get some answers instead he had been asked to use his Katon no Jutsu to heat up water for a full bath. By the time Hinata had wrapped him up in brand new silk robes and combed his hair down, he was not sure what was happening anymore. When he stepped out in his all black robes with red lining, Inojin looked bored and said "Tea with the clan I suppose…"
"Yes" Hinata had smiled and said while Diasuke just looked confused. "Daisuke sit with me please" Hinata said laying down the futon. "Inojin, you too… It would help Daisuke see someone else do it as well…"
Daisuke was going to sit crosslegged but then stopped as Inojin kneeled and sat straight. He imitated him "Today, I'm going to teach you how to have tea with a senior member from a clan… we'll use water for the moment since I don't want you to accidentally spoil your robes…"
"What about the wagashi?" Inojin asked hopefully
"Make believe will do for now…" Hinata said
"Aww man…" Inojin whined
For the next hour Daisuke was lectured by Hinata on how to address elders, how to sit, what he could ask or not. Inojin helped him with the little tricks he'd picked up over the years to not mess up. Daisuke was more confused and now even slightly worried about tea by evening.
—
In the next room, Ino fussed over Sakura "Suck it in! You need to have a tiny waist!"
"I can't suck it in anymore! My waist is already tiny!" Sakura bit back
They cribbed and fought and snapped at each other until Sakura looked nothing short of a princess in the simple but elegant silk kimono. It was soft peach with Sakura flowers to match her hair.
Hintata stepped into the room after leaving Daisuke with Inojin to practice his etiquette. "You look perfect" She said and Sakura smiled slightly
"I'm worried…" Sakura sighed
"Don't be… now which side did he indicate you sit at when he visited?" Hinata asked gently
"His right…" Sakura said
"Oooooh…" Ino teased and Hinata's eyebrows shot up impressed
"What?" Sakura asked worried
"It means he's acknowledging you as the head matriarch of the Clan and giving you the right to have an opinion and even make smaller decisions without him…" Hinata said giving Ino a look that could only mean shut up
"Oh… Well… that's.." Sakura began but Ino who smiling widely just burst out
"It means you're basically his wife! If there was an Uchiha clan, he'd be asking everyone to call you princess or Queen!" Ino squealed and then burst into laughter
"WHAT!" Sakura said
"Calm down Sakura… It's a good thing…" Hinata said smiling lightly
"How is that a good thing?!" Sakura asked
"Because it gives you power over Daisuke… equal power over Daisuke… he's not taking your child from you or calling you a concubine, he's giving you respect… in fact considering that you are not married, it might not be looked upon too kindly by other clans, especially since…" and Hinata stopped herself mid sentence
"Especially since what?!" Ino asked "Hinata! Do you have clan gossip that you haven't shared! Spill now!"
"It's nothing… it means nothing… the clans always interfere in each other's business and Sasuke came to all the clans for support and guidance and so that he could be recognised as the head as well… and so.. anyway, the meetings have all kinds of things… it was just… it's not important…" Hinata rambled as she tidied up the room around her
"Hinata…" Sakura said taking her hand "Please… I really have no idea what I'm getting myself into… please if there is anything I need to know…" she asked
Hinata sighed and sat down…"It's about the Yotsuki clan… Yotsuki Samui is the Raikage's sister… It has been recommended that once Naruto is instated as Hokage, Sasuke marry her to strengthen the relationship between the villages… "
"Shut up! Really!" Ino said surprised
"Oh… and what would that mean for Daisuke…" Sakura asked
"Nothing… Daisuke is his first born so nothing…. But if Sasuke chooses to marry her and then he does not to lower your status, it could upset the Yotsuki clan…" Hinata said
"Basically, Hinata is saying you need to marry the Sperm Donor or you loose all rights to your child…" Ino said
Sakura was just sitting there as her thoughts ran away with her "this is… this is too much… what am I supposed to do… is it something I'm even supposed to talk to him about… is that what he meant by personal liaisons…"
"Get out of your head forehead…" Ino said gently "It's not something you have to worry about today… just take one day at a time…"
"I agree…" Hinata said "Naruto's ceremony is not until Spring… that gives you a couple of months to decide…"
"Okay! Time to go!" Ino said "He's sent the carriage as I asked…"
"Carriage?!" Sakura said suddenly focussing on the problem at hand
"Duh! You aren't going to walk across town in this your highness…" Ino said smiling
"I am so not getting used to this… any of this…" Sakura said
"Don't worry… We're here to help… or just to talk…" Hinata said with a smile
When they stepped out Daisuke looked at his mother with his eyes wide. "Oka San? Why are you dressed up?"
"We are going to visit Uchiha Sama….Sasuke Sama… Sasuke San" she corrected herself "He and I will explain everything there…" Sakura said
—
Daisuke was so psyched about the carriage he almost forgot everything else that was happening around him until they arrived at the Uchiha Mansion. A ladies maid was waiting for them at the door with a man servant. They bowed deeply to Sakura and Daisuke who both bowed back
"They were not there the last time I was here…" Daisuke whispered giving the two new faces a wry look
"Shh…" Sakura said
As they were led to the back, Daisuke pointed and whispered "That side, he has a private massive dojo… it's very cool Oka san"
Sakura meanwhile just looked at how empty the house still looked. There was nothing in any of the main rooms on the ground floor just like before… As they entered the passage, she remembered the door that led to his bedroom. She looked at it for a moment and then they stepped out into backyard porch they saw Sasuke was standing at the far west end by a tea setup.
Sasuke was staring at the Sakura tree that overlooked the Zen garden. The tree was completely bare. It looked ominous silhouetted against the deep blue sky. He sighed and turned as he sensed them coming. His breath was caught in his throat. He half expected her to show up in her medic uniform with Daisuke in something comfortable. Yet here she was, perfectly put together. If she was nervous she didn't show it. He smiled at Daisuke who looked so handsome. He recognised Hinata's handiwork in the way his son was dressed. He'd seen the knot on Boruto numbers times before. Mentally Sasuke thanked his best friend for marrying Hinata, he was sure Naruto would be totally lost without her.
Sakura bowed and so did Daisuke. Sasuke bowed back and they sat down. Daisuke sat in front of Sasuke as Sakura sat on his right. Daisuke kneeled properly and looked at Sasuke who gave him a gentle smile. Basking in the glow of the approval he opened his mouth to ask something when Sakura gave him stern look and he shut it back and sulked. Sasuke smiled a little at Sakura. Who just looked embarrassed.
Sasuke gestured the help to step away once they had placed the necessary items and lit the fire. Sasuke prepared the tea in silence. Daisuke was quite mesmerised at the movements and the way Sasuke just wrapped up his sleeves with the flick of a wrist. Sakura kept her eyes low and mostly on Daisuke as she waited. Once the tea had been severed and they had all taken a sip Daisuke went "Well, this is disgusting as ever…" and promptly popped a wagashi into his mouth
Sasuke looked at his son shocked and then burst out laughing. He laughed till he had tears in his eyes. Sakura also laughed a little releasing a little bit of the tension she was holding in. Daisuke joined in the laughter with a "whaaat? It is…"
When he had stopped Sasuke looked at Daisuke and said "You must have a lot of questions for me?"
"I do…"
"Can they wait until I tell you what I have to say first?" Sasuke asked gently
"But you have to answer all of them after…" Daisuke said
"I promise…" Sasuke said
Daiksue nodded. Sasuke looked at Sakura for permission to begin, she nodded slightly and so the story began
"Your mother and I met at the academy… She was the smartest girl in class but the weakest in the field" Sasuke said
Sakura clenched her wrist "oooh… I'll show him weak… that pompous little shitbag"
Sasuke noticed Sakura, smirked a little and continued "Over the years, your mother became a formidable Ninja. She was always smart but she became strong too. Without her help, Naruto and I would be dead. When we were young, I cared for your mother a lot. She was my teammate and she saved my life quite a few times. As we got older we parted ways and I left the village. I was young and I made a lot of wrong decisions because I believed what was told to me without wanting to discover the truth. Sakura and Naruto tried to help me multiple times but I never took their help, however after the great ninja war I finally came home. I was sentenced for 2 years and during those two years Sakura and Naruto were my only friends. Despite the fact that I had hurt them and fought against them, they were the only ones who truly stood by me. Your mother… always stood by me… even when I hurt her the most…"
Sakura finally looked up at Sasuke and saw sincerity in his eyes. Sasuke kept his eyes firmly on his son. Sakura couldn't look away.
"Since the time I was young, your mother was the only reason I ever thought of returning to Konoha. She was the only reason I came back. I loved her then and I love her now. However, I never thought myself to be worthy of her. Back then, I was hated by everyone in the village and everywhere I went, that hate followed me. But when I was with your mother, she was kind and caring and I never asked her but I hoped that she loved me. Then one day she showed me that she loved me far more than I could ever love her. It was amazing and terrifying at the same time. I didn't think I was worthy of it and I didn't want her to be hated by the village for taking my side… so I left."
Sasuke looked down ashamed. Sakura's eyes were wide and her heart was hammering in her chest. Sasuke took a deep breath and looked at his son and continued.
"I didn't know then, that you were going to be part of our life. If I had known about you Daisuke, I would have never left. I grew up without any parents and no matter how afraid I was or how unworthy I felt of Sakura, I would have never let you grow up without a father… I love you very much Daisuke and I know I missed 5 years of your life… and we never told you the truth for this last year but I hope you can forgive your mother and me for it… The truth is, I hurt your mother a lot and she had every right to keep you a secret from me, so please don't be mad at her… I hope you can give me a chance to be the Otu San to you that I always wanted… "
Sasuke then stood up and bowed to Daisuke and said "Mōshiwakearimasen Daisuke, Sakura San, Watashi o yurushitekudasai…"
Daisuke's eyes went wide. He may not have known anything about Clans but he knew what a big deal it was for an adult to bow and apologise. He just looked at his mother who looked just as Shocked.
Sakura's heart was hammering away in her chest. She didn't know what to do. Sasuke Uchiha was bowing to her asking her to forgive him. Sasuke Uchiha just told her son that the only woman he ever loved had been her.
Daisuke looked from his mother to his father. He got up. Clan rules be damned. He walked around the table and threw his hand's around a bowing Sasuke's neck "It's okay Otu San… I forgive you… Just promise me you won't go anywhere again…"
Sasuke eye's teared up and he held his son and lifted him off the ground. He hugged him tightly and breathed him in. It was like a massive hole in his heart was slowly filling up. Daisuke chuckled as he was lifted off the ground. Sasuke put him on one arm as he looked at his son "I'm never going anywhere… I'll always be there for you Daisuke… I promise…"
Daisuke smiled and said "Now! I have a lot of questions about the Sharingan…"
Sasuke chuckled and said "Of course… What did you want to know?"
"Maybe another time…" Sakura said standing up and finding her voice.
"But oka san!" Daisuke whined
"Daisuke get down… We have a lot of work to do…" She said firmly
Sasuke's smiled disappeared as he put his son down
"But Oka San! I want to talk to Otu san for some more time…"
Sasuke activated his Sharingan for moment when Daisuke call him Otu San. He wanted to burn this moment into his memory forever.
"You can talk to him all you want over the weekend and after that, as you will be moving here to live with him…" She bowed to Sasuke "Sasuke San… thank you for your hospitality…"
Sasuke didn't bow and asked coldly " He will be moving? Not you?"
"Yes…" Sakura said
"Haruno San, we had an agreement…" Sasuke said
"In light of recent facts, I don't think it is the best option…" Sakura retorted
"I'm sorry, but that would be unacceptable to me, and to the other clans as well…" Sasuke said carefully as if trying to get a message across to her…
"Oh really?! Other clans? You know from what I've heard, I don't think the other clans will mind…" Sakura snapped crossing her arms
Sasuke closed his eyes and cursed either Ino or Hinata had told her about Samui. Daisuke was looking from his mother to his father and back and wondered "Why is Oka San so upset? Didn't Otu San say he loves her? Isn't that what all girls want? What is happening?"
Sasuke turned and called out "baasama!"
A slightly older looking lady came out and bowed to them
"Please take Daisuke for walk in the garden… Haruno san and I need to have a grown up conversation…" Sasuke said glaring at Sakura who glared right back at him
The older lady bowed and said "Come my young prince, let me take you to the dock we're building by the river" and they left. Daisuke sensing a dismissal just followed the kind looking old lady
Once they were earshot Sasuke said angrily "Do you love me? Do you want to marry me? Because I do, I really do. I love you Sakura. You are the only woman I've loved and the only woman I've ever been with… There has been no other. Ever."
Sakura opened her mouth to retort but he held his hand up to stop her
"However, the clans and the life in a clan is nothing like you've ever seen before. It is complicated and stressful and political. To be recognised as the head I need to take a wife. I don't have anyone else in mind however the other Clans do. I cannot say no outright. I would like to, believe me I would but I cannot. We're not children anymore, we are the future of Konoha and I for one do not want to repeat the mistakes of the past that my clan made. I am sick and tired of war Sakura. I never want to see another and if that means that I have to crush my heart and listen to the clans asking me to marry someone else because you hate me, then I will!"
"So marry her then! It's probably for the best! You can have more kids too and maybe leave me and Dai alone!" Sakura bit back
"I don't want anymore kids! I made an oath to myself, there would be no one but you woman! If you know anything about me, it's how seriously I take my oaths! So no, there will be no other children, you will not be moved from the position of the matriarch I am putting you in! For the sake of our son, if you must suffer in the luxury that I will provide, then please Sakura, just live with me in this gilded cage and keep the damn peace! I already told you, I will not stop you from being with whomever you want! So just don't fight me on this anymore… just live here… please…" even though he had started enraged, by the time he finished Sasuke just sounded defeated and tired
Sakura was still glaring at him but Sasuke looked at her pleading and then closed his eyes and turned away. Looking into the zen garden he said "Please Sakura, if you don't agree to this now, the other Clans will get involved and I don't want that for you… I'm sorry, this is the last time I'm asking you for something, I promise to never do anything to hurt you, ever again… just please, for Daisuke's sake, be the matriarch… live here…"
Sakura took a deep breath and asked "What do you mean the clans will get involved?"
"If only Daisuke moves in here, the clans will call on you in a formal setting to give up your rights as a mother and until I get married, Daisuke will be expected to be cared for by a surrogate matriarch who can train him properly, which will most likely be Hyuga Hanabi…" Sasuke said still looking away
"So it's either I move in with you or I lose my son…" Sakura said coming to stand next to him
Sasuke turned to look at her and said "I meant it when I said I don't want anyone to take Daisuke from you. If you agree to my conditions, I can make that happen…"
"And what about everything you just said to Daisuke about… me…" Sakura said looking away
"My feelings, are my problem… I thought it would be nice for Daisuke to know that I cared about his mother. However, If my feelings make you so uncomfortable, I promise not to bring them up in front of you ever again…" Sasuke said looking away from her as well
They were silent for a moment. The sun was beginning to set, Daisuke was running back towards them with something in his hand. Sakura looked at the east wing of the house that was completely bare and sighed
"I'll take a week off from the hospital, your house is uninhabitable at the moment…" Sakura said and stepped off the porch into the garden path
"Thank you…" Sasuke said softly but she heard it
She scooped Daisuke into her arms as he came running and listened to his latest discovery by the riverside. Sasuke watched them from the porch. "It's a start…" He thought
Please review!
See you day after!