A/N: Another booooring chapter! Brace yourselves, nothing good is to a few complications, this is semi-betaed, but I think it's presentable enough? ;) Anyway… enjoy? Don't forget to read the endnotes!
From Which We'll Rise
Chapter Sixteen: Never as Planned
'Naruto,
How are you, dumbass? It's been a while, so I thought I'd drop you a note so you wouldn't freak out and start randomly sending frogs my way with demanding letters. Everything's fine, so don't worry about me.
I finished my most recent mission and have already sent my report to Kakashi. I managed to convince Orochimaru to provide me with all the information he has on Itachi and the Uchiha, the only catch is, I'll have to visit several hideouts to get a hold of the scrolls and run a few errands for him. Still, I'm getting closer to fulfilling my dream of cleansing Itachi's name and that fills me with hope. I try not to be too optimistic, though. It's Orochimaru we're talking about, so surely I'll find some trouble at some point.
My hands have been very busy lately. This being said, I won't be returning to Konoha for a long while.
I can tell you're pouting already. It's no use getting mad, or sad, idiot. You have more important things to concern yourself with.
Nevertheless, you can always contact me if you need anything.
Take care of yourself. You're going to be a father soon. Don't forget your priorities.
I'll see you soon,
Sasuke.'
Chewing on his lower lip, Naruto leaned his back against the wall of that deserted alley, blue eyes roaming a little slower this time over the piece of paper in his hands and re-reading the small letter. For the next couple of minutes, he did so several times as the lively sounds of the main street on his left surrounded him on that grey afternoon.
The more times he read those simple words, the more Naruto found himself shifting uncomfortably because of the growing heat in his body. He didn't know what it was that caused it - if it was the fact that he could clearly listen to Sasuke's voice, or the missing lines Naruto couldn't find written, but could perceive well enough.
Sasuke didn't write often. Maybe that was why Naruto longed for his letters so much. Dry and with carefully chosen words, they screamed of 'Sasuke', so Naruto couldn't help but savor the small moment of intimacy with his best friend, even if they were away from each other.
It was but a piece of paper with but a few words written on it. However, for Naruto, it carried Sasuke's essence, and he'd indulge in it by absorbing it as much as he could.
Sasuke had touched it. Maybe he had hesitated (like Naruto often did) before writing. Maybe he had kept it with himself for a few days before finally deciding to send it.
Had Sasuke felt that same inexplicable longing, that same need to reach out to Naruto in some way? Was he thinking about him? Missing him now that he was one step closer to reaching one of his goals?
Or maybe he just wanted to soothe Naruto's spirit?
'I can tell you're pouting already. It's no use getting mad, or sad, idiot.'
Naruto couldn't help but smile dejectedly.
He does know me better than I know myself.
This was why Naruto always read Sasuke's letters alone and never in the presence of others - he couldn't keep his emotions in check, and never before had this been an issue, but now it was. It wasn't as if the contents of those letters would ever have anything but simple news of Sasuke's whereabouts (when they did), so that wasn't a problem.
It was just that everything about Naruto got out of control, and he wasn't exactly a 'pro' at dealing with it yet. But he knew he would have to become one, at some point.
Naruto thought about Sasuke a lot. Whether he felt happy, lonely, or simply nostalgic, Sasuke was always in the back of his mind, several times a day in fact. He hoped Sasuke was thinking of him, too. He hoped Sasuke was thinking of him right now.
Just thinking about it made Naruto's cheeks flare up. He wondered if taking a whiff of the paper would turn him into a creep.
Of course it would. He was supposed to be a responsible adult; doing such a thing would be unfitting. He wasn't supposed to be this pathetic.
When have I become this sort of pitiful person for you, heh?
It was weird though - it didn't upset him as much as it probably should. Heaving a sigh, Naruto pressed the letter to his chest and closed his eyes.
He just… couldn't stop these feelings. He couldn't help desiring Sasuke's presence, his touch, and the simple and comforting reality of him, standing there, where Naruto could easily reach out and touch him.
Taking a deep breath for extra courage, Naruto forced himself to fold the letter neatly and shove it inside the pocket of his green vest so as to not give in to the temptation of staring at Sasuke's rough but clear calligraphy again, even though he had already memorized every line.
He did feel lighter, and somehow more relieved to know that Sasuke was alright and that he wasn't slipping away no matter how much time passed without them speaking to each other. But the feeling of impatience and lingering despair would never leave, and he didn't like the persistent sensation that there was something Sasuke had wanted to tell him in that letter that he hadn't. But Naruto was sure he would, eventually.
In times like these, Naruto's memories became frighteningly vivid and it burned him. His heart ached with happiness and a hunger for the close past he couldn't seem to let go of. And gods, did he try. Every single day. He tried so hard, and in a way, he was successful. He could live life as a married man with a woman he deeply cared for - the one who had given him a family. As Sasuke had told him, this was what he should think about, so he clung to these thoughts, finding comfort in them and reminding himself of how lucky he was. He worked hard every day just so he could mature, become more knowledgeable, and reach his goals faster - so he and Sasuke could finally find a way to work together on good terms.
But his goals weren't coming fast enough, and more often than not, it was devastatingly frustrating.
With a groan, he buried his face in one hand and rubbed at it viciously. It wasn't fair. Why had Sakura sneaked her way into a mission beside Sasuke without telling Naruto? Why? Why did she always take action by herself and not let him in? Why didn't she understand that team 7 should find their old balance back rather than the three them drifting apart like this?
Sakura had changed. First, it had been that manipulation to get him and Hinata together, then that weird 'relationship' with Sasuke, and now…
Now she barely even spoke to Naruto, and truth be told, he had a hard time speaking to her, too. There was a lot of hurt involved still, from her having belittled his feelings back then, and consequently, now in regards of Sasuke, as well. He didn't even know why it upset him so much that she was so adamantly trying to have him, but it did. It offended him on both his and Sasuke's behalf.
He loved Sasuke. For a long time he had thought she had understood it, even if, back then, Naruto himself hadn't understood the nature of those feelings. But it wasn't as if they had changed or lessened - they had simply mutated in some ways, but the essence was still the same.
Sasuke loved him. Sakura knew little about their past, but with everything they had gone through during the war, and with things as they were now… she was supposed to understand, but either she didn't, or she did but chose to ignore it.
Naruto didn't like to think that she was that much of a selfish person, so he prefered to think that her own love for Sasuke simply made her very naïve and blind.
He didn't understand why she couldn't just… let Sasuke be and simply accept him as a friend - simply accept team 7 as a family. Naruto was sure she'd get more chances of getting close to Sasuke if only she'd realize this.
But as it was… they only met once in awhile and made small, forced talk. Sometimes, they'd get Sai and have dinner. Sometimes, Ino would join. Sometimes, Hinata was there, too. Sometimes, it felt like everything could be almost perfect as long as Sakura and Naruto weren't alone together. And knowing this was just sad. It saddened him so much.
He still loved her, even though these feelings were different now. She was a precious teammate and a precious friend. She was the first person he had loved. They had trusted and protected each other so many times. They had been family.
And yet, none of this seemed to matter when faced with her stubbornness, and Naruto could only wonder if there would come a day when they'd stop relating to each other at all. It sure seemed this way.
It was painful to think about. However…
There was still Sasuke. And, somehow, as long as there was Sasuke, everything else seemed bearable. Maybe someday things could get better if only…
If only Sasuke came home, to where Naruto was. If only Naruto could turn Konoha into a place Sasuke could call home…
Maybe… just maybe things could be a little bit like they were supposed to be. Now that he thought about it, wasn't this what Sakura was thinking, too?
Things would never be that way. Because Naruto was married and would become a father soon. Because Sasuke would never come to this 'home', because Naruto could no longer give it to him.
Because they had different mindsets.
Because they were in love with each other.
Because they'd always want to be together.
All the dreams Naruto once had for team 7… could they really ever come true now that this sort of love existed? Now that, in a way, it would always be them against the world, alone with their shared feelings?
Such a simple way of living no longer suited them and it never would.
Naruto's muscles tensed instinctively. He wanted to see Sasuke so badly he could barely breathe, and yet, all he had was a fucking letter. One would think that this sort of yearning would've subsided by now, but it was still as persistent as ever.
He groaned softly and checked his watch. He should be going home soon, Hinata was waiting for him. But…
Fanning himself with a hand, he swallowed hard.
He was still pining for all the things that letter had awakened within him. Life really wasn't fair sometimes, even though Naruto knew this train of thought was nothing but selfish when, really, he had everything a man could possibly want.
He just hoped Sasuke was doing as great as he said.
000
The thought of dropping Katsuo off at the small village he so cherished was harder than Sasuke had anticipated. It wasn't that he was hesitating, or even fearing that the villagers wouldn't take him in, but rather it was a feeling inside him that made an overly familiar and painful emotion sting - the longing and sadness that came with the simple act of parting ways. It was a feeling Sasuke hadn't expected to feel this early in his relationship with the boy.
While the village was a mere country away from Tea Country, with Katsuo as his companion, it had taken considerably longer when compared to when Sasuke had travelled alone. Not only was there no way he could use shinobi speed, carrying such a fragile being, but also they had to make several stops to rest, eat, and take care of other necessities. These far too many indulgences weren't something Sasuke would've wasted time on if Katsuo wasn't with him, but he understood the absolute need for them for the boy's sake.
Still, tiring and frankly frustrating as it was, those seemingly endless days had made for a challenging journey and a real trial for Sasuke's patience.
However, Sasuke soon realized that Katsuo's presence in his life was certainly meant to teach him many, many things and, once more, help him grown to a whole different level.
From feeding Katsuo to bathing him, to cleaning up after him. From knowing how to separate being kind from being demanding and authoritative. From helping him in his fragile state to encourage and teach him to do things by himself and strengthening his arms and legs.
From formerly thinking about himself first, to presently thinking about Katsuo's needs first and foremost.
Katsuo was only a child, but a child who needed to progress so he could be at the same level as other children his age; so he could learn how to walk, run, talk, and express himself like other children did. So he could eventually be healthy and try to lead a normal life.
Sasuke didn't know what it was about Katsuo, but all these things, tiresome as they were, were also things that made him feel excited to be in the child's presence and to watch over him.
Sasuke was quickly learning how to read the tiny indications of little Katsuo's flickering moods and emotions. He understood that Katsuo's vacant eyes watched his every move, taking everything in, so Sasuke was careful in everything he did. Sometimes (embarrassing as it was), he tried to explain to Katsuo the difference between facial expressions according to inner emotions - this had him feeling stupid because he had to make faces at the little guy as an example. Either way, it was hard for the child to associate the things Sasuke tried to show him, but Katsu did make the effort to try and imitate him with awkward ticks of his mouth, eyes, and cheeks that had Sasuke torn between feeling, horrified, amused, or simply sorry for him. But seeing him make genuine efforts to walk faster, to make faces and to communicate with Sasuke as he knew how to considering his young age and physical weakness, made Sasuke's heart swell with something very similar to happiness.
It was weird how, in such a short time, Katsu had become the center of his thoughts and a priority in his life. It was like his mere existence had come as a unwavering force to ground Sasuke like no other before. It was a sense of self-awareness and selflessness that the man wasn't used to at all. It was like… caring for Naruto but in a whole different way. He couldn't afford to be selfish with Katsuo because that small individual depended on him fully to live and develop.
It was unfortunate that Katsuo had to show up in his life at such a complicated moment, when he finally had emotional stability to pursue his goals the way he wanted to without regrets or second thoughts, and the chance to start getting things in motion. He had finally learned how to fully separate his previous life with Naruto from his life as an individual, and more than ever, since their paths had been divided so forcefully, now he had the clarity to move forward without shackles or hesitation. He did what he wanted to do, and moved towards where his heart led him to.
Right now, they had their own goals. Once Naruto became Hokage, things would change, Sasuke knew, but that would be something he'd deal with once the time came. He'd definitely work with his best friend as well as he could, yet, for sure, he had no intention of living a life different from the one he had now. He hoped Naruto was already preparing himself for that.
Sasuke didn't want Katsu to ever return to anything related to Orochimaru - he didn't want him to even step foot inside any of his hideouts unless he absolutely had to for health reasons that only Orochimaru might be able to solve. He certainly hoped it would never be necessary and that was why he would try to expand his medical knowledge as soon as he could.
Either way… Sasuke couldn't keep Katsu travelling with him at this particular stage. He needed to run his errands for Orochimaru and get those scrolls about the Uchiha and Itachi. This couldn't be helped.
The boy needed a steady home, people to interact with, healthy meals, and a comfortable bed. Misato's village wasn't exactly overflowing with richness, but right now, it was better than what Sasuke himself could provide (not to mention a million times better than being in a tube) and for sure, Katsuo would be welcomed and well taken care of in his absence.
However…
There was no doubt in Sasuke's mind that he'd be in a state of anxiety when away from the child, without being able to see him and make sure he was alright. More than anything, Sasuke had the absurd thought that Katsuo might, at some point, evolve spectacularly, and he might not be there to see it happening. Because he wanted to be there for Katsu, wanted to be his strength and the hand behind his back.
Taking Katsu in had probably been one of the craziest things he had ever done. Every single day he asked himself what the actual fuck had he been thinking and - he hadn't - and how the hell he was supposed to pull this off successfully.
But… he didn't regret it at all. There was no bitterness to his thoughts, no frustration at himself. No matter what, whenever his eyes landed upon the small, quiet boy, only an odd sense of peace filled him, and a strong urge to move forward, fast. When Katsu's tiny arms trustingly wrapped around his neck, when he pulled at his sleeve for attention, when those blank eyes followed him unwaveringly…
Sasuke knew he had made the right choice.
He often wondered if these silly, completely plain wishes were things parents thought of and felt. They made him feel stupid and childish but…
In the end, it really wasn't so bad. Surely, this was how it was supposed to be.
000
It had been a while since Sasuke had felt as mortified as he did now - mortified and absolutely pissed off out of his mind.
Quickly, he grabbed for Katsuo's wrist and pulled him towards the nearest bush to hide before putting a knee to the ground and placing a hand over the boy's head so he'd duck. He didn't need to tell the child to be quiet since he barely made a sound anyway, but he still made a gesture for him to be still, to which the boy merely nodded.
Far, but not too far from them, Sasuke had seen two familiar figures calmly walking side by side - Karin and Sakura - and his brain had instantly reacted. He was sure they were headed for the village since they were clearly heading towards it and Karin already knew of it. The questions were, why would Karin go there without him, and why was Sakura with her? They were obviously travelling together, and there was no doubt that they were the least likely pair of travellers he'd ever picture.
Kakashi had sent him a message about Sakura's persistence about helping with the mission about Orochimaru, but Sasuke had already sent in his report and all the information the Hokage had requested, so why exactly was Sakura still there and not already back in Konoha?
And why was she with Karin? What was Karin doing, heading towards the village? Had they met by chance?
Why were they together?
He couldn't fucking believe it. What the hell was happening?
It wasn't like Sasuke had any sort of issues because those two were supposedly in love with him and were now being travelling partners for whatever reason. Sakura had nothing to do with Taka or with whatever Sasuke had done with them, and Karin wasn't the sort of person to tell anyone about a single thing. For all Sasuke knew, not even Suigetsu knew about those days Sasuke had spent with Karin and Juugo and never would. These things didn't worry him at all.
But he had Katsuo now, and while he wasn't embarrassed of him nor was he being exactly secretive about him, things were still too new and he didn't want the whole fucking world to know that Uchiha Sasuke had adopted a scientific experiment of Orochimaru's that might be seen as a threat.
Plus… he didn't want Sakura to know about that village. That place was his sanctuary, and if all went well, it would be Katsuo's steady home. That had been the place where he and Naruto had been the happiest during their journey, where they had experienced so many things together, and that had been the place where they had first been genuinely intimate. Sakura wouldn't understand. Sakura would ruin its meaning if she knew about that place.
In a way, Sasuke felt guilty for thinking about things this way but… he couldn't help but be possessive of that place. Taka had been one thing. But Sakura belonged to Konoha, and he wanted nothing to link that place to Konoha.
Except for Naruto, but the village had held the same meaning to him, and Sasuke knew that the blond could be as selfish and possessive as he himself was when it came to things that were theirs.
Now, Sasuke was just pissed, and mostly at Karin. Of course, he hadn't specifically told her to not take people there, but he figured she wouldn't. It seemed that he had been wrong. Either that or Karin really needed to find him for some reason he didn't particularly care for and Sakura had convinced her to tag along, somehow. All case scenarios that flashed through his mind seemed unlikely, though. Nothing made sense.
Regardless, he had to do something before Karin reached the village with Sakura.
"Damn it…" he hissed under his breath, while rummaging through his bag and taking out a scroll, from which he ripped a piece off. He then searched for his pencil, with Katsuo's eyes following his every movement, and quickly scribbled a few words in it, using his knee for support. He peeked out from under the bushes to see if the girls were at a safe distance before biting down hard on his thumb until it drew blood and slamming his hand on the ground. A young hawk appeared from a cloud of smoke. With quick fingers, Sasuke managed to fold the bit of scroll and gave it to the hawk, uttering a few words to it before seeing it fly away. It wouldn't go far, though.
'Don't take her there. Set camp now and I'll meet you shortly'. That's what he had written and sent to Karin, knowing that she'd understand the message and do as he said, unless Sakura posed some problems. But Sasuke trusted that Karin would be able to handle at least this.
Fuming, and filled with a strong sense of uneasiness, he waited until he was sure it was safe to grab his things and picked Katsuo up by the waist. The child automatically put his thin arms around his neck and held tight as he buried his face in the crook of Sasuke's neck, as if somehow having sensed Sasuke's distress and was trying to offer some kind of comfort. Either that or he was preparing himself for the uncomfortable travel he knew was coming.
Sasuke hated that he'd have to run to get to the village now. Katsu didn't deal well with quick paces yet, not even while being carried by Sasuke. Having Sasuke running and jumping would take its toll on the child, not only on his stomach but also on his fragile muscles - he'd be exhausted regardless of how quickly Sasuke managed to get them home. He only prayed that Katsu wouldn't throw up on him. But he had to get there as fast as possible so he could solve this mess quickly.
Placing a small kiss at the top of Katsu's head in silent reassurance, Sasuke took a deep breath and sprang off; his surprisingly agile feet barely making a sound.
He had a bad feeling about this.
000
Sasuke had been close, Sakura had known it. When Karin had received a message and suddenly decided to set camp without another explanation, Sakura understood that Sasuke had been around, seen them, but prevented them from heading to wherever it was that Karin had first been leading them to.
Sakura knew nothing of this foreign land, or the paths they were taking, even though it was right next to Fire Country. She had no idea if one of Orochimaru's hideouts was nearby or if they were just headed to someplace where Karin knew Sasuke used to stick around more often than not. Either way, she was upset for more than just these reasons.
Karin was tight-lipped and barely spoke of things that could be considered relevant. She didn't offer Sakura any sort of important details during their travel, neither did she answer Sakura's questions. It was frustrating beyond belief, but it wasn't as though she could simply make demands considering Karin was doing her a favor.
Still, as formal and stiff as their small journey together was, there were things Sakura understood about Karin that, no matter how much the young woman tried to hide, were impossible to let go. She understood why Karin herself was on her way to meet Sasuke, and that was essentially the one thing she needed to know, and probably the one thing she could've done without knowing.
"Karin-san, you're pregnant, aren't you?"
It wasn't as though Sakura wanted to approach the subject. As a medic, she was about 100% sure that she was pregnant, since Karin's symptoms were the most obvious of her condition (even though she tried to hide them), but somehow, while she wanted to believe that maybe the child was someone else's, a gut feeling told her that it was just futile and selfish wishful thinking. She had known Karin to be in love with Sasuke, had known that they had been a team for a while, but had no idea to the extent of their bond or what sort of relationship they had right now.
Still… she could be wrong... right? Not everything was lost. Sakura was there with a purpose and she'd fulfill it. Maybe she was wrong and being pessimistic.
It was nighttime and the two girls were sitting on thick logs in front of a lively bonfire across from each other. Sakura was having a hard time dealing with the constant silence and seeing Karin looking pale and struggling to eat the simple broth in her metallic mug was making her very angry.
Supposedly they were waiting for Sasuke to come, that much Karin had let slip. But once he did, what was going to happen? Was this Karin's business with him?
Sakura didn't know what she was supposed to do if that was the case. She feared what kind of relationship those two might have. Which was why she wanted to get it out there before it even had time to slap her in the face with Sasuke present.
At Sakura's firm question, though, Karin didn't flinch, merely looking up from across the fire at her with dead serious eyes. "I should've known you'd notice," she said blandly. "You're a medic after all."
"Is it…" Sakura swallowed hard, finding it difficult to voice the words, but forced herself to straighten up her back and remain steady. "Is the baby Sasuke-kun's?"
Karin didn't seem surprised by the assumption either, and for some reason, this only made Sakura feel even more upset.
"It's not what you think," Karin, said. Her not denying it gave Sakura the answer. "It's not like Sasuke and I have that kind of relationship. After all, aren't you his 'girlfriend'? He can't possibly have two, right?"
Sakura didn't let the sarcastic comment get to her. "Then what kind of relationship is it?" She pressed on, knowing she sounded childish and a little rude, but unable to help it after the confirmation. "Because you're pregnant. Two people need to have sex for that, so something must've happened."
Karin actually had the nerve to sigh and look annoyed. "Listen here, pinky," she snapped, pushing her glasses more up the ridge of her nose. "What, exactly, does this have to do with you? You claim that you're Sasuke's girlfriend so easily, but really, are you that self-centered not to understand the type of person he is? Does this bruise your ego in any way? Do you feel cheated on?"
A hand coming to her chest, Sakura let out a small gasp at the straightforwardness being thrown her way. The words actually made her blush in self-anger. She knew she had no right to feel cheated on when Sasuke had told her things as they were, but she had insisted on waiting. She wasn't stupid, she understood that Sasuke didn't want a commitment to her because he had already stupidly devoted himself to other… causes. And to another certain someone else. Either way, she didn't know if Sasuke was even capable of easily falling into that sort of relationship with other people. After all, he had 'tried' with her, but they never got very far.
But… had he been able to go that far with others who weren't that person? Was Karin just an exception, or did Sasuke find it easy to find occasional lovers?
She had no right to feel this way, but she did and that was it. Because she couldn't stand it. She couldn't stand the thought that everyone else seemed to be able to reach Sasuke but her. She couldn't stand that he would let them in but not her.
Why? Why were they the exception? Why was she different? What was she doing wrong?
She knew it was easy for people to feel enraptured by Sasuke. Falling in love with him, being fascinated by him was easy. Loving him was something she was sure wasn't exclusive to her, nor Naruto. For some reason, Sasuke had been able to have people faithful to him.
Being loved by him, though, that was hard.
She loved him. Others loved him, too. She expressed it. Others did, too, didn't they? Hadn't Naruto's expression of love for him been so completely over the top, so mindless and desperate all the time, so persistent?
So… why was she any different? How was she different from Naruto, or these people that surrounded Sasuke and that she knew nothing about?
Sakura felt jealous, so jealous she could barely contain herself. She wanted to cry all of a sudden, out of frustration and devastation and fury, but the feelings were thankfully too overwhelming for her to express the weakness.
"Sasuke is not the kind of person you think he is," Karin proceeded, irritably and mercilessly, as if reading Sakura's mind. "He's no-one's 'boyfriend' and he doesn't judge you by normal standards; he doesn't think like people usually do. You're an idiot in believing that you'll ever be a girlfriend to him, or that someone will ever be that to him. He already has his own goals and certain people whom he prioritizes above everyone else. Can you really tell me that you don't know this already?"
Ah… so Karin knew about Naruto, too? How hilarious.
Sakura's lack of response didn't stop Karin from pressing on. "Whatever he does with other people, whatever detours he takes… those are just bumps in the road for him." She hesitated for a moment. "This pregnancy is no different. I am aware of that. I was aware back then when stuff happened between us, too. It wasn't about me and Sasuke at all, it wasn't just us; it was about him. There is no 'Sasuke and me'."
It made no sense. Sakura couldn't understand what Karin was telling her at all, yet she didn't want to. It seemed preposterous. Regardless of what had happened, why or how, truth was, it had. And now Karin was pregnant. It didn't matter Sasuke's feelings, or Karin's apparently cold and sort of dismissive evaluation of the situation she was in - facts didn't change.
"I don't understand your way of thinking at all," Sakura hissed, clenching her fists over her lap and lowering her head. "How can you simply dismiss such a thing? How can you feel like something like this is just… acceptable? That you'd do those sorts of things with him and not be with him as a lover? Aren't you in love with him? Why don't you just… try?"
Karin didn't say anything, so Sakura was positive that she'd get no more answers. However, after a while, her companion heaved a tired sigh.
"I haven't known Sasuke for as long as you have," she said, causing Sakura to raise her head to look up at her to see her staring at the fire, the flickering flames reflecting on her glasses. "But we, along with the rest of our team, have shared many experiences that forced us to trust each other with our lives. It's not like I, or anyone from Taka, has a family, or something to look up to, really. We live one day at the time and hope we can survive in the jungle for another day."
Karin placed her metallic mug on the ground. "Sasuke gave us all a purpose when he chose us to follow him on his quest to find Itachi," she explained, the revelation sort of surprising Sakura. "That was the first time in a long time, for all of us, that we could feel what it felt like to have comrades and family. That's the kind of thing you don't forget."
She pressed her lips together. "I've been in love with Sasuke for a long time, but I always knew that he didn't feel the same way about me. I tried seducing him a few times, hoping that age and hormones would eventually make him notice me, but he's never been interested in such things, so it was useless. In a way, I suppose becoming the best and most trustworthy comrade to him I could possibly be was the only way I could connect with him somehow. And… at some point I realized that when it came to a man like him, maybe that would be better than simply becoming a lover. More significant for him, if you will. I thought to myself, 'if I can become someone important in his life, isn't that a hundred times better than fucking him and being forgotten?'"
Sakura watched her for a while, unsure of how to interpret the sudden outburst of information. However, Karin's bluntness made her blush gently. "Being comrades… you say that, but is it enough? For someone who loves him, is it enough? Because I just..."
She trailed off, feeling like she wanted to say more, to voice her own dilemma, her own frustration, but unsure of whether she should or not. She doubted Karin would understand anyway - she'd had Sasuke already. Even if the way Karin saw things was hard for Sakura to understand… Karin didn't understand what it meant to not be able to reach him at all - to give it your all to have just a little something more than mere acknowledgement only to see your attempts promptly ignored.
Because Sakura knew she was important to Sasuke to some extent, but…
Sasuke only cared enough to not look like complete neglect.
Sakura wasn't relevant to him. If she died, he would only be sad for a second. She wasn't in his mind at all. She was just another person that had entered his life and to stubbornly around without his consent.
But not Karin.
What would Sasuke do once he knew she was pregnant? Would he want to have the child, to be with her, to share a life together? Or would he tell Karin that he had no life for such things and tell her to get rid of it?
Or… maybe...
Karin frowned, looking mildly annoyed once more. "Sasuke doesn't need a lover, Sakura," she said, shaking her head from side to side. "I've seen many sides of him already and he's… his heart… no matter what happens or what he decides to do… he already belongs to someone. What would be the purpose of ignoring that and pursuing something that's vain to him compared to those feelings he has for that person?"
Sakura knew this. She was no match for that person, no-one was. But… Naruto was out of the picture, and that was reality. Without him, there were a million choices Sasuke could make, and a million paths he could take.
"Even if you say such things, what, exactly, are you expecting from him?" Sakura blurted out, her voice a bit shaky from all the conflicting emotions inside of her. "If you being pregnant isn't that much of a big deal in your mind, why did you find the need to talk to him? If it's not important to you, why didn't you just take care of things on your own and left him in the dark?"
It seemed like a horrible thing to say and to ask, and yet, Karin kept her gaze focused on the fire. "Because it's still my child, and his, Sakura," she said, her voice lowering so much it was hard to hear her. "Because I love Sasuke. Because this baby will have Uchiha blood and it's not up to me alone to decide whether this bloodline will die or not. No matter what kind of life we both lead, he has the right to choose what he wants to do."
This left Sakura speechless. She didn't understand people like Karin at all, but then again, she had never been able to fully understand Naruto's way of thinking either.
Selfless people; people who thought of others before themselves, who sacrificed their own happiness so others could be happy. People who lived to see others smile and were completely devoid of selfish interests.
It struck Sakura that Karin and Naruto were very different people, but also very similar, especially when it came to Sasuke. No wonder he was drawn to them both. They both loved him but respected what he wanted and gave him exactly what he needed. Because of this, he hadn't pushed them away but had pulled them in, giving them an opening, a piece of himself. They had both been lovers and friends - neither of which Sakura could genuinely claim to have ever been. That was how they had loved Sasuke and shown it to him. That was how he had accepted it.
Was this what it meant to love Uchiha Sasuke? To just… let yourself be used by his whims and let him be free? To think of him first and give him what he actually wanted? To just… be there for him, unconditionally, even though it hurt that he wouldn't always be beside them?
To be completely selfless when it came to him?
How… did they manage to live like this? Was it okay, easy to accept simply because they knew that he loved them? Was this simple knowledge enough to help them get through his absence, his way of living and thinking?
Was that… what she'd been doing wrong all along?
I am a horrible person in his eyes…
"Karin."
A familiar, deep voice startled both women out of their bitter moods and they both stood up quickly. With her heart hammering inside her chest, Sakura saw Sasuke's figure emerging from the the dark foliage around them, tall and frighteningly stoic as usual, dressed up in simple black loose trousers and a worn out linen cream shirt with one sleeve hanging empty. His sword was attached to his back, and a small leather pouch could seen strapped around his waist, but apart from these simple details, he wasn't carrying anything else. So, there was a place around here where he was staying, Sakura concluded quickly.
Sasuke's eyes landed upon Sakura, who barely suppressed a shiver. His expression didn't change, but she could feel the irritation coming from him. "What is the meaning of this?" he asked, his voice sounding almost as if it belonged to a stranger.
"I met her on my way here, and she said she wanted to speak to you, so I brought her along," Karin explained firmly, not at all disturbed by the heavy tension that had settled between the three of them. "She is your girlfriend after all."
The taunt was obvious. Sasuke's eyes narrowed at Sakura, who could only gulp. She couldn't falter now. eEen if things hadn't gotten the way she had planned, she couldn't...
"Sasuke-kun, I…"
"You brought her here?" Sasuke cut her off coolly, turning away from Sakura and glaring at Karin now. "You know how important this place is; I told you how dangerous it is to have a people from Konoha…"
"I won't say a word about this, Sasuke-kun!" Sakura intervened loudly. "I figured you'd have a special place around here somewhere, but I don't care about that, I really just wanted to see you…"
"She saved my life once, this was the least I could do for her," Karin replied shortly, unfazed, as Sasuke still kept his fuming attention on her and promptly ignored Sakura. "It doesn't matter, I came here because I needed to talk to you, too. I'm pregnant."
Sakura felt mortified at Karin's nerve. Sasuke was clearly mad and yet she had given him no space to act upon it for long, straightforwardly getting down to business. Sakura had no idea if she felt impressed, jealous or just angry.
Sasuke's expression did change then, as his eyebrows quirked up in disbelief. "What?" Even his voice had lowered slightly. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure," Karin affirmed with a grimace, crossing her arms over her chest. "I went to see a proper doctor close to Taka's hideout, I couldn't risk Orochimaru finding out about this. I'm about seven weeks long."
"How do you know it's mine and not Juugo's?" Sasuke's question came quick and unforgiving, and it made Karin jump in offense.
"Excuse me?" She snapped angrily, walking around the fire so she could stand face to face with Sasuke (which was a rather hard feat since he was much taller than her, so she had to look up). "You know how things happened, Sasuke! Even though I was on the pill, the only time we didn't wear protection you were the one who…" She trailed off and swallowed hard, probably realizing she was saying too much in front of a stranger. "Anyway, you know what happened."
Sasuke's gaze softened to one of slight discomfort as he and Karin stared at each other. Sakura almost felt like she was standing in a crowded room where she didn't belong, and she hated it but suddenly felt too out of place to intervene.
"I didn't mean to be insensitive, Karin," Sasuke muttered - a surprising apology.
"Nevermind." Karin huffed and punched him slightly in the chest before rubbing her forehead anxiously. "When you left back then Juugo went to meet Suigetsu at one of Orochimaru's hideouts and I went back to our home to check up on things, so I haven't been with anyone since that morning when you left. I've been running errands back there and checking out the hideouts, but that's it."
Sasuke bit on his lower lip. Sakura was confused and felt like these were details of Karin's life she definitely shouldn't be listening to. She tried to identify Sasuke's expression, to figure out his possible feelings, but she couldn't. He didn't seem angry anymore, and there was an odd restlessness in his eyes, but other than that, nothing gave away his thoughts.
"What if it's not mine, Karin?" He insisted, keeping his voice cool and steady. "If this happened while you were on the pill, maybe even with protection, with Juugo…"
"It is yours, dammit!" Karin yelled, punching his chest again, more forcefully this time. "Don't be a fucking prick when I'm telling you things as they are, damn it!"
"Alright, calm down," he hissed, with a frown. He grabbed for her arm in a way that could be considered gentle and that made Sakura's stomach feel like it was being squeezed. "What do you want to do about it? You know the kind of life I lead. I'm not going to marry you just because."
"I know that, Sasuke!" Karin grunted up at him. "Fuck! I didn't do on purpose, I didn't want it either! I never wanted to have kids, which was exactly why I was on the pill and always wore protection. I like travelling and working for Orochimaru and being a free shinobi, I don't want to be stuck with kids, and neither will I ever demand that you take responsibility for what we did, because I knew what I was getting myself into."
Sasuke took a breath. "Then…"
"I… I can't have this child and raise it, it's too dangerous," Karin whispered, forcing herself to calm down, probably a bit soothed by Sasuke's own infuriatingly calm demeanor. "Our bloodlines, mine and yours... If Orochimaru finds out about this… If anyone…"
Sakura wondered what could Karin's clan be for her to think that it would make that much of an impact when joined with Sasuke's. She wanted to ask but she it wasn't the time.
"Then what do you want to do, Karin?" Sasuke asked.
"I don't know…" she admitted, a hand coming up to touch Sasuke's on her arm. Sakura felt revulsion at seeing it and wanted to look away, but refused to. "I… I don't want to have it, but at the same time…"
Karin seemed sad and genuinely conflicted as she looked up at Sasuke with visible anguish. "Sasuke, it's yours. It's ours. Regardless of the events that conceived it and why we did what we did, this baby has meaning, for me, at least. I really don't know what I should do… I wanted you to decide, too. It's your family, your clan. Would it really be alright to kill it?"
A flash of something made an appearance in Sasuke's eyes but was quickly concealed.
Sakura wanted to know what he was thinking. She felt short of breath and tense just wanting to know. Was he shocked but still longed for the child? Was he angry and didn't want the child? Was he simply feeling helpless because he wanted it but didn't want to give up on his dreams and doing what he wanted? Because neither he nor Karin had the means to take care of it, together nor apart?
What was Sasuke thinking? Why wasn't he saying anything - being angry, happy, vocal, honest? Why was he just…
Sakura found herself shocked by a fleeting thought she had just then.
"You don't want to get rid of it, I get it," Sasuke said, as if his own feelings didn't matter at all. "It if it's mine, it will be an Uchiha, of course. We'll think of something, Karin, don't worry about it."
"But, what about…"
"We can't tell anyone about this, for now."
"I haven't," Karin assured, eyeing him strangely. "Only the three of us here know. Sakura noticed it..."
"We'll figure something out, Karin," Sasuke repeated firmly, not leaving room for anymore idle talk. "If you want to keep it, we'll think of something, alright? It'll be fine. We just need to think this through and revise our resources."
"But…"
"Sasuke-kun!"
Sakura's shout echoed throughout the forest and seemed to cause a gush of wind to pass by them, causing branches and leaves to shake around them.
Both Karin and Sasuke finally seemed to acknowledge her presence as they looked at her at the same time. Her throat felt dry.
Maybe this was the craziest thing she would ever do in her life but… for some reason she knew that it was all she could do.
She had come to see Sasuke with a purpose, and she wouldn't let it go to waste. She had to show Sasuke that she knew how to love him the way he needed to be loved, too.
Selflessness… Will I be able to reach you like this, Sasuke-kun?
Mustering up all her courage, she swallowed down the lump in her throat . "I have an idea," she said, keeping her voice steady and as imposing as she could. "It's crazy but… let me be of use, and please hear me out."
000
Sakura's world had been turned upside down, and still, the nature around them was silent and, now unburdened, Karin was fast asleep by the bonfire that Sasuke was busy poking absently with a stick while sitting on Karin's log. Somehow, everything felt surreal. Things didn't seem different in any way but Sakura felt… lighter, and yet, there was a heaviness in her heart that didn't seem to go away.
Minty eyes were glued to Sasuke's features - he looked beautiful and handsome as always, and it made her feel slightly flustered and out of breath. The line of his elegant neck, the perfect angles of his jaw, the way spiky hair fell over his eye, that well built form…
Even without an arm he was dazzling. It was as though everything that was beautiful about him refused to wither away.
What was it like, she wondered, to be taken by such a man? How would it feel to be an object of his desire, to be target of his intensity?
Even dressed in rags, Sasuke was simply…
Sakura felt her cheeks catch fire. Sometimes she was disgusted at herself for thinking such things, but she couldn't help it when she loved him so much. Wanting him even now was just part of that love. But she had to respect him. The boundaries between them didn't need to be agreed on - Sakura understood his body language well.
Even now he was far from her reach.
But things would change for them from then on. She was going to be what he needed her to be, and she'd be closer to him than Karin or even Naruto. She would...
"I wanted to see you," she breathed out, unable to stop herself. "Naruto got married and you weren't there. People talked. I… I heard you entered Konoha a while ago but you never visited me. I missed you. I just…"
"I already told you how I feel Sakura, and nothing is going to change after this," Sasuke interrupted, not looking up at her. "Konoha is not my home. Nothing will change that. You should understand it by now. You made a bold offer that I am grateful for, but you should realize things as they are."
She took a breath, feeling her muscles tensing and her eyes stinging. Why was she always so damn impatient? Why couldn't she ever say the right words to not make him mad? Hadn't she made progress just a few minutes earlier?
"Have you no feelings for me at all?" She found herself blurting out.
Why couldn't she just stop doing this?
"Talking to you is extenuating, did you know that?" Sasuke said, before heaving a tired sigh. She was being a nuisance again.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled, wrapping the blanket over her shoulder more around herself since the night had gotten considerably chilly. "I wish I could understand, Sasuke-kun, why am I so different from the people you love. Karin, team Taka, Naruto… They're all people I can't possibly compare to, right?" "She released an ironic, sad laugh. "I don't know why. I've tried so hard to become strong, to be seen by you, respected by you. All I want is to be there for you, and yet you never rely on me. I'm never on their level, even though we've known each other for so many years, even though I want to be selfless for you. Why?"
Sasuke eyed her from across the fire. "I do like you," he admitted, and while it was said with an almost boring tone, it was definitely honest. "You're a precious friend, an important member of the family I have in team 7. But the people you and I are don't match, Sakura. I can't love you a certain way just because you want me to. I can't be with you how I am with them because the things I experienced with them cannot compare to what I experienced with you, and there are many things they know about me that you don't…"
"Then tell me!" She pleaded emphatically, lowly so as to not wake Karin up. "I'm going to be a mother to your child! Please, I just want to be by your side in any way I can! I just want to be what they are to you, I..."
"That's enough, Sakura, I'm tired of this conversation already!" Sasuke grunted through clenched teeth, causing her to flinch. He heaved an impatient sigh. "I appreciate your feelings, but you knowing certain things would make no difference for the both of us."
"How can you say that when I've told you a million times that I love you!" she snapped, feeling the tears burning her eyes and stubbornly not letting them fall. "I want to help you no matter how! I want to be part of your life! The people important to you… you love them and they all love you, too, don't they? Then why is it that they can give you shelter while I can't? Why am I so different, Sasuke-kun? Why can't we live something important together? Why not take advantage of this..."
"Sakura." Sasuke's voice was steady and cutting, but he hadn't raised it at all. "What is it that you want me to say, huh? I'm not the person you think I am, and I don't love you the way you want me to. I never will. There are only two people I love unconditionally, and one of them is dead while the other is lost to me, but that doesn't mean I want to be in a relationship with someone else just to not be alone. If I feel lonely, I'll fuck someone, and that someone either realizes it's just that, or no deal. Is that what you want from me, Sakura? Will that make you feel better?"
"And if it does?"
"You can't just force our paths and feelings to meet Sakura!" Sasuke actually released an annoyed grunt. "Some things are meant to happen, and some people are meant to go through things together; but our paths were never supposed to cross like that. It's you who keeps sidetracking what's obviously not meant to happen!"
"Because I cannot accept to be cast aside even when you give me a chance to do something for you! You say there's only two people you love, and yet you were able to sleep with Karin, but why I'm just that different from her?"
"I don't want to do that to you," Sasuke retorted. "You're not… you don't work the same way Taka works. You don't deserve to be used, you'll just suffer."
"You don't know how I'll feel…"
"No means no." Sasuke was openly glaring at her now. "You and I are going to get married. I appreciate your offer to take care of mine and Karin's kid, and I already said that I'd accept to give you my name and pretend that we are married for your sake and the child's. But that's it, Sakura, and it's already more than I ever expected I'd give to another person, ever. What more do you want?"
Sasuke's words hurt.
He threw the stick to the fire with a vicious gesture. "You are you, and you can't be at the same level as other people because you're not like them. I don't want you to be. They live the way they want to, but that kind of life isn't fit for you at all. You deserve better. You should be more, aim for more. Do you understand? I'm already fucking upset enough that I have to do this to you and rely on you because of this child. You just keep on wasting your life with me."
"Because I chose to," Sakura sniffed, her tears falling down freely now because she simply could hold them in anymore.
"Naruto once loved you," Sasuke retorted unexpectedly, speaking as if this genuinely upset him on Sakura's behalf. "You threw that away because of me. It's me who doesn't understand you. I don't understand how you'd rather lose real love for someone like me. I've never given you anything worth fighting for; I've never given you a reason to love me."
"If I had chosen Naruto instead of you, then maybe you two would never have had the chance to understand each other the way you were supposed to!" Sakura replied bitterly, suddenly angry that he had to reject her feelings so adamantly and at the same time feeling sorry for her happiness. "So what would be better, Sasuke-kun? For me to have Naruto's love, or for him to acknowledge that you're the one he loves? Would you ever be okay with him never knowing he was in love with you? You couldn't stand that he got together with Hinata! You've been suffering the whole time because of his stupidity! Because you wanted him to know! If it was me instead of Hinata you would've done the same thing anyway, so what would be the point of me accepting his love?"
Through her watery eyes, Sakura saw Sasuke's expression changing. He was looking at her as though he had never seen her before, and this allowed her to straighten her back proudly and wipe at her tears with the blanket, even if it was a wasted effort.
"Naruto loved me, b-but he never loved me like that… he just liked the... thought of being in love with someone like me," she hiccuped, furious at herself that she was in such a state but not being able to stop herself now that her feelings were exposed. "I'm not stupid; I know what you're telling me. I know what you did on your journey with him; I've known for a long time that, if you two had the chance, you'd be together right now. That was why I was... selfish and scared that I'd lose the both of you. T-that was why I wanted for Naruto to be with Hinata. I was scared that I'd be left behind if the two of you… but I guess that, as you say, some things are meant to happen and some things aren't."
Her lower lip trembled violently. "I-I… knew that you wouldn't end up together. I knew Naruto would go back to Hinata. B-because you two are idiots and you are selfish for each other but also love each other more than either of you can bear. I know. And it sucks, but… in the end, he's with her and you're…"
She couldn't believe she was admitting such things. Maybe Sasuke wouldn't even understand what she was saying, but still, if he was listening, wasn't this the time to speak her mind and tell him everything?
She was sick of lying, sick of hiding her feelings and her knowledge of things. She was sick of being left behind, of being the presumably stupid one in everything. She wasn't. She knew. And if knowing would bring Sasuke closer, so be it.
"I do love you, be it for selfish, idealistic reasons or not…" she said, feeling more courageous than she had in awhile."You don't understand the effect you have on people. You don't understand how much you make us love you, long for you, how much you make us want you to just look our way. You just don't realize how bewitching you are, how beautiful. It's impossible to meet you and not be affected on some level, just like Naruto. You two are..."
The only sound that followed came from the crackling bonfire and Sakura's incessant sobs. She was horrified that she had revealed this much, and she understood that this would either push Sasuke away from her or bring him closer. Maybe he'd hate her, or maybe he'd learn to respect her. She didn't know if he was angry or just taken aback, but it seemed like a long time went by before he finally spoke.
"I'm sorry Sakura," Sasuke whispered, this time, for some reason, sounding genuinely regretful. There was a hint of frustration in his voice, too, but he seemed to be trying to drown it. It was surprising. "I'm sorry that you have to feel this way and still see how things are between me and Naruto. I don't think you're stupid at all, and I already knew your play with Hinata."
Sakura made a small, strangled sound of surprise because he didn't seem angry even though she had expected him to be.
"I don't blame you," he proceeded, eyeing her with distinctive awareness. "Things between Naruto and me have always been complicated, and we are in this situation because, in the end, we still don't see eye to eye in many things." He ran a hand through his hair tiredly. "I know you're smart, and I understand why you do the things you do.I just don't know how to deal with you. It's not fair to you that you're aware of these things and yet you're still at this, claiming that you love me and still wanting to do things for me. It's not fair to you. I can't do anything to repay it."
She knew that, but her heart alone moved her.
"I… I just want you to let me help you," she retorted, sniffing but feeling a lot more confident after Sasuke's words. "If it means something to you, then I want to do what I can, even if it's another woman's baby. It's still your child and a precious Uchiha existence. I don't want you to give up on your dreams because of something like this, so of course I want to be of use to you."
Her eyes stared into his, hard and unfaltering in spite of the sobs making her chest tremble. "But don't dismiss it, Sasuke-kun. Don't refuse this bond we can create. Naruto didn't stop himself from bonding with Hinata. You know it's my face that's going to be out there, there's a lot at stake for me. I chose to help you in spite of knowing your feelings for Naruto, so I'll give it my all and support you, but please try to cooperate with me and help me create a life where this child can grow happy and unburdened."
It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the truth either. She did know of Sasuke's feelings but she didn't think she could ever be honestly supportive. But that was what Sasuke needed from her, wasn't it? That was what he needed from an esteemed friend, and a precious teammate.
For a while Sasuke didn't reply. Sakura watched him close his eyes and take a few slow, steadying breaths. She kept on sniffing and the tears didn't seem to want to stop. She knew she had taken on a huge responsibility upon herself, that her life would change and that shit would hit the fan for her. Her path would be hard from here on and she'd postpone a lot of things for herself because of this child that wasn't even hers yet.
Yet. But it would be. Karin had said so. From the moment the baby fell upon her arms, Sakura herself would be the official mother of Uchiha Sasuke's child. They would become a family. Not the kind of family she had envisioned, and not the kind she wanted, but…
In spite of everything, even if, right now, this child seemed nothing but a nuisance to him…
Truth was, Sasuke had agreed to keep it, and he had accepted Sakura to be the mother Karin couldn't be. Right now, things were like this, but eventually, just like Naruto, maybe Sasuke would change his mind about having a family and settling down, regardless of where. After all, he was trusting her this wholeheartedly. Not everything was lost. She had managed to breach that wall even if by force.
Naruto had been able to live a life away from Sasuke and to return to Hinata. Sasuke, too, had found other lovers. Maybe, at some point… even if he didn't want to return to Konoha, maybe he would…
She was being selfless for him, wasn't she? All she had right now was hope. If she could be as lucky as Hinata, even if on a different way, then everything would be worth it.
"I understand, Sakura, you're right," Sasuke ended up saying, snapping her out of her dazed-like thoughts. "I'm sorry for being rude when you're the one risking everything because of me. I will make sure you're protected and lack for nothing. If this is your choice then we'll work together to make sure things are the way they're supposed to be."
She didn't know what he meant by those words, but they made her brighten up and made her heart fill with joy. She could barely believe that Sasuke had listened to her and was actively wanting to work alongside her.
"We're a team now," Sasuke reinforced, making Sakura's heart race. "We need to figure things out, together. We need a plan if you're supposedly pregnant at this point. We need to think this through and act fast before it gets suspicious. We need to get news out there to those who matter."
Perking up, Sakura furiously wiped at her face with both hands and offered Sasuke a large smile. "Right!"
Yeah, for sure, things would change for them from now on.
TBC…
Okay so… from next chapter onwards, things will be happening rather fast. I know things are a bit weird in this chapter, and even a bit vague, but I guess I needed it to be this way when it comes to Sarada's birth, considering what little knowledge we have about it. Either way, we'll have more info about how things were processed on the next chapter. Also, can you tell how much I struggled with Sakura/Sasuke dynamics? Because I did- I do. I hate writing these two in these terms, it really would be so much easier if Sakura wasn't interested in Sasuke romantically. And Sakura is so hard to deal with, and Sasuke in my mind is constantly trying to fight Sakura and being exasperated towards her. He likes her, though, he just doesn't like her feelings for him. I suppose now they are convenient, but I guess depending on her pisses him off.
This is why I wrote that whole part from Sakura's POV because it would've probably turned out a lot more aggressive if Sasuke's own feelings and thoughts were involved in this chapter.
Either way, I hope you enjoyed the chapter as much as you possibly could, considering the situation. Sorry that there isn't much happening. I promise next chapter will be a lot more interesting! It was interesting for me to write, that's for sure! Expect an update soon, yes?
Thank you so much for reading guys, you are all awesome and I love you all!
Don't forget to REVIEW! I love talking to you guys and knowing your thoughts and feelings about the fic! Don't hesitate to offer tips and I accept headcanons, too ;)
See ya next time!
