Chapter 3: Embracing The Breath of Life
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"Mommy…?"
With his lips slightly agape, the boy continued to stare at me in silence. His eyes, like emeralds, like mine were simply beautiful.
As much as how he called me.
With all those features intact: Sasuke's dark hair and face, Sakura's fair skin and green iconic eyes. There were no chances for an excuse to not acknowledge this boy as my son.
My second son, Sosuke.
"MOMMY!"
Not a second did he hesitated, the young Uchiha ran over and fell to me, embraced me. He buried his face in my stomach, his arms encircled my body as much as he could, as tight as he could, as long as he could; with everything he's got.
To make up for the time he had spent empty and missing his mother.
Itachi was closely watching our reunion. I didn't pay him my attention. All I wanted now, was to hold my baby closer.
He has grown...so much.
I smiled at heart at the fact that I knew from those past memories I was imbedded with. This crybaby boy, will always be my crybaby boy. It's just that he held it in. I heard him sniffed a little while he snuggled in my belly, doing his best to hide that he had shed tears.
Tears that were for me.
For his mother. For Sakura.
Gently, I rested my hand on his head. Lightly ruffling my child's hair like 'I' used to while I silently indulged in thought;
He has grown up.
Taller, smarter perhaps? Handsomer, definitely. Kinder...my Sosuke has always been kind and gentle. That's how I came to allow him to keep small pets in the house.
"Sosuke," I called quietly. He held his head up with his reddened eyes.
See. He is my crybaby.
"Yes, mommy...sniff…?"
"Did you take good care of Toti while I was away?" I asked about his pet tortoise that I knew he loved dearly since the day I got it for him.
Speaking about it, Sosuke should be eleven this year. Three years that passed was such a breeze yet it has driven so much of change...in many people. People that I love.
Itachi. Sosuke. Sasuke.
And many more to come when I meet them soon.
"It left."
"It left?" An answer which I didn't expect.
"Toti went missing when mommy went missing too. I tried searching everywhere. Beneath the fridge, the sofa, the piano, in the toilet, everywhere!" He was referred to places that the tortoise usually hide when it managed a great escape,
"So it guess it left. It didn't want to be with me because I pulled its tail."
He spoke innocently,
"Mommy, if I'm naughty, will you leave again?"
I didn't know why I just glanced over to Itachi who was silent all this while, I just don't know how to answer the boy. And Sosuke didn't know Sakura died?
Itachi frowned sadly.
"Of course I won't," I must lie.
I wanted to make things better for Sakura's son; my son. To give him better days. Rid him from rotten memories of a missing mother. Even if one day he would come to realise that in actual fact I am just a man-made machine in service to replace, that would be later.
Sosuke smiled.
That smile; it has been a while.
"Sosuke," Itachi finally decided to break his silence. "You have piano lessons, remember? You're going to be late."
The boy perked realising, he quickly picked up his books and stuffed them into his backpack. Then headed for the door with a smile,
"Mommy!" Loudly, "Will you still be around later after class?"
I nodded.
"Don't worry, I'll be waiting here. I'm not going anywhere," I assured.
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Satisfied, my little sunshine happily disappeared behind the door. I was returned to silence with Itachi. I looked at him and he to me. He carefully cradled the bouquet of flowers in his arms and walked out from the counter.
"Let's go," he said but by my clueless expression, "Grave visiting. Let's pay some respects to Sakura."
I nodded.
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.
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Itachi and I travelled on public transport; the monorail.
The afternoon sunlight shone through the windows were bright. It wasn't hot enough to feel scorched but tender warmth.
Blue sky, frothed clouds, free birds.
This is the world which humans lived.
Filled with buzzing life. Cherished by peace.
Would it accept me as part of their race? This human of steel. I chuckled to myself. Of course no one would notice what I truly am under this perfectly crafted synthetic skin.
I guess my mind has become fuzzy from the comfort of this bumpy ride. With Itachi quiet and all; the both of us just weren't cut out for many words...maybe he just didn't expect riding with the living dead today. Ha!
From my records, Sakura was not as close with the Uchiha family, Itachi as an exception. And judging how Itachi took the effort to grave visit her, they must be on good terms when she was still alive. Guess he really didn't expect his little brother to make a copy of his sister-in-law.
White daffodils.
How cliche, right?
Of rebirth.
Of new beginnings.
Scary, wasn't it…
I bet Itachi felt the same; what was it like to be seeing someone again whom you thought who was long dead. I chuckled inside again.
Soon enough, we arrived at a stop. I wasn't quite sure where we were headed, I just kept the Uchiha's back in sight as a guide.
Buildings were massive and tall with this 'fierce' air about them as they stood closely one after another. People walked passed me like a swift breeze, they didn't once stopped to notice what I was really made of.
Or maybe I was too self-conscious about my own existence...
"This way," Itachi suddenly spoke up.
He ensured that I followed as he took a turn heading into an alley. The wetness and darkness made this pathway eerie and cold despite I could still hear the bustling noise of the city from where we entered. This sensation didn't last long when the light at the exit caught my eye.
I realised that we've taken a shortcut the moment we came to a clearing; a vast area of green grass surrounded by thick trees and building.
I wasn't sure how this was but...here was just so quiet and peaceful with nothing at sight except a large place with neatly cropped grass. But looking closer, there were pieces of monumental plates neatly embedded on the ground. This place was nothing that looked like those creepy graveyards but a garden.
"We're here."
That's my cue that this was the place; the cemetery.
Only Itachi knew the way and when he came to a stop, he slowly placed down the flowers he had cared for so long. They were still in perfect condition.
UCHIHA SAKURA
So here she is.
'I finally got to meet you, Sakura,' said my inner voice and it was all quiet.
As the winds came by, my hair fluttered in its gentle caresses. Itachi combed his bangs away with his hands; the both of us just continued to stare at the metal headstone at our feet.
For that moment, I felt guilty of robbing someone else's place for my own. Despite it wasn't my fault from the beginning but I… had no means to give up being her.
Because…
I've found my reason.
The chance to live. To understand. To love. Be loved. Where other robots couldn't. I am special. No doubt.
Because.
I was allowed to feel these coursing emotions in my system. Miraculously.
Then,
"Sosuke knows," without making eye contact, the ponytail-tied raven broke my thoughts when he suddenly spoke.
"Knows…?"
I wasn't sure on the matter he was referring to. He startled me a bit when he suddenly turned to look at me in the eye. His deep iries were intense that I became careful. But it didn't last; Itachi was always as gentle as my data recorded. His eyes softened,
"Sosuke knows that you're not his mother but he doesn't know what you are a robot. He just...didn't care…"
His voice trembled. For an uncle who truly loved his nephew, he would cry for the child's silent pain.
Sosuke… His longing to see his mother was far too much. He accepted me because I looked like Sakura, he smiled at me because I felt like Sakura, my voice, my every structure...was a replica of Sakura in order to fill the boy's dying heart.
Now I understood.
"That idiot of a brother. He spent days and years to build something that looked like their mother instead of going home…," Itachi added "The moment when those two boys needed their parent, he wasn't there. He rather ran into hiding into that stupid laboratory!"
Thank you, Itachi.
On behalf of Sakura, I thank you. For all you've done for Sakura's children. It must have been hard…
"But." Itachi paused,
"Sasuke couldn't be blamed. He's also a victim of Sakura's loss... Without Sakura, the family were in shambles. Her passing was unexpected. It wasn't an accident but self-sacrifice."
I remained silent.
This information, something rather new, not in my history records?
Searching information. Please wait…
Access denied. Authorised personnel only.
The memories about Haruno Sakura besides her basic information and mission, further information were not accessible. To be accurate: restricted.
What was it that Sasuke kept me from?
"But to me...to Sasuke...she was murdered. Before our eyes, they slit her throat!" I watched him clench his teeth.
That moment; must have deeply burned in the back of his memory to remember clearly to this day.
I held out a hand and rested it on his shoulder to console him. It was my appearance that had him relive this unpleasantness. I apologised,
"I'm sorry…"
He glanced over to me. He snorted,
"Why do you apologise? Don't you hate them? Those heartless people?"
I smiled a little.
"I'm sorry Itachi...I'm not sure who they are and what they have done to Sakura."
Itachi seemed a little surprised before he smirked,
"You're so dishonest, little brother…," he murmured before speaking up again. "I guess Sasuke has his reasons to keep your Sakur—I mean, your memories restri—."
"No, please tell me."
Desperately, I had to uncover more information about Haruno Sakura; who she really was, what she was. I had a sense that she wasn't as simple of a woman, wife and mother.
The person laid beneath the ground of Uchiha Sakura was far more complicated. If I had to be her, then I must at least know something more…
The elder Uchiha sighed deeply, hesitating to what he should say to me.
"Sakura is a soldier...and spy of Bu'Lan."
I didn't know how to react for all my mind could recall was one thing:
Bu'Lan is the enemy.
Here comes BlueApple27:
Hi guys, wanna express my thanks; to the likes, follows & reviews. Most importantly I really hope you guys enjoy the chapter (and every chapter to come). I'll do my best to make it so. If there are any suggestions or ideas or comments (whether it's positive or negative). Please do put them in the review/pm box.
I've been saying this since chap one? And I guess I'll continue to say it. Teehee.
With thanks and loves!
Review reply:-
Guess: Hi hi. Thanks you for leaving such a wonderful idea in the review box. So far I just have Saku's POV in mind. Your suggestion was indeed a refreshment & I might consider so if things fit well for it. I love listening to your views and I don't mind the gross because I think I might go gross-er :D
Love to hear from you again. Hope you enjoy the coming chapters. Thanks for reviewing!