Dreaming in Pink

By Chemicalisation

Summary: They were not supposed to meet, not really. He was an obnoxious businessman and Sakura, well Sakura hadn't quite figured herself out yet. In which Sakura is running away from tiresome responsibilities, persistent parents and an intrusive coworker and, for some odd reason, finds herself chasing matters of the heart.

Chapter 2

Next morning when I walked into Uchiha Enterprise, the first person that I saw was Madara. He was scowling (as per usual) and had dark circles under his eyes. His shirt was wrinkled and I doubted as to whether he had gotten even one minute of sleep last night.

"Hello," I said cautiously. "Is everything alright?"

He glowered at me. "Come to my office." Without waiting for my response, he turned and headed towards one of the elevators.

"Um," I said, cringing as soon as I said it. No Ums. "It would take me sometime to climb twenty floors so why don't we just talk here?"

He looked at me as if I was insane. "Then don't use the stairs. Use the elevator."

"The thing is," I said in a rush. "I can't use elevators."

"Why?"

So intrusive. "I feel claustrophobic being trapped in a container with so many people-."

Madara cut me off. "Would it help if there were no people?"

"Well, yes," I said looking up at him. "But because of the morning rush that is unlikely to be possible."

"Just who do you think I am?" He smirked.

I frowned at him. "You are not going to kick people out of the elevators now, are you?"

"Don't be ridiculous," Madara snapped. "This is an executive elevator. That means only important guests and the senior level management can use it. Including me."

"Oh,"

"Exactly." The elevator opened with a ping and for some reason, it was miraculously empty. Madara turned towards me. "You are probably still scared, right?" Before I could say anything, he grabbed hold of my right hand as we entered the small box. "I wouldn't want you to faint or anything."

"Ah. Trying to justify sexual harassment over a silly reason like that. Who do you think will believe it?" I smiled at him sweetly, interlinking my fingers with his.

He scowled at me. "Let go of my hand!" he demanded.

My grip on his hand tightened. "I didn't say I disliked it."

He turned his head away from me so I couldn't see his expression. I wondered if he was blushing as he had been last night. As the elevator began to rise, I clenched his hand been harder. The ascent was smooth and the space helped. But it was being in such close proximity to Madara that kept me truly distracted. I could smell his aftershave despite the fact that the top of my head only reached his shoulders. I wondered if he could smell my perfume.

"Ah. We're here," said Madara as the lift came to a standstill and the doors opened. He turned towards me. "See, you made-." He broke off, surprise flickering through his expression. "You're blushing," he said finally.

I clasped my left hand over my mouth. "It isn't like that. And you are blushing too!"

He moved in front of me, effectively hiding me from anyone who might be passing by. He gently eased my hand away from my mouth. "Don't hide yourself from me."

I looked up at him under my lashes, although the effect was probably ruined because of my huge nerd glasses. "If you are going to say grand things like that, then shouldn't you take responsibility?"

Madara leaned closer. I refused to shut my eyes. This was not a frequent occurrence for me to just go by instinct. Just as our lips were about to touch, he paused. "Come to the party with me." His voice hard and gruff.

"No," I said before I grabbed the front of his shirt, pulled him down, stood on my tiptoes and kissed him.

The kiss was slow and languorous, something I had never felt before. I dimly felt Madara let go of my hand and instead, warp his arms around my waist pulling me even more closer to him. I could feel his warmth and I was sure that he could hear my racing heart. It wasn't until the lift pinged and shut its doors again that we broke free.

"Damn," Madara swore. "The lift is descending." He turned and pressed the button for 20th Floor again but the lift continued to move towards the ground floor.

"Leave it," I breathed, reaching out my hand to hold his. As soon as I did, he stiffened. "Would you rather I didn't?" I asked, making a move to pull away.

"No, I don't mind." He tightened his grip, both of us resuming our position before the impromptu make-out session.

My heart was still racing. And I was sure that in such close quarters he could hear it. "What did you want to talk about?"

"The party," he said, his demeanor stiff. "Go with me."

Never did I want to say yes to anything so much. "I'm sorry but I can't."

Madara spun me towards him. "You kiss me like that and you won't even go on a date with me?" he asked, furious.

Even with his angry tone, I couldn't miss the hurt coming off from him. It was then I realized that it wasn't and hadn't ever been about the party, at least not since our second meeting. I had been so intent on avoiding a mess that I had forgotten about the real question being asked.

"I would like to go on a date with you." My face felt warm. "I just don't like parties."

Madara's grip on my wrist slackened. "You're blushing again," he murmured. But even he could not hide his smile. "Tonight."

It sounded more like an order than an invitation. "I'll have to check my schedule," I said, haughtily.

"Tonight," he said, his voice firm.

"I don't know."

"Just say yes."

"Yes."

But Madara never showed up. I waited and waited and waited, ignoring the pitying glances from the passersby. My calls went unanswered. I must have spent two hours in the lobby of Uchiha Enterprise trying to ignore Lee's advances before I decided to give up. I went home and had a quiet dinner with Mother and Father. They didn't talk much either. I should have asked but I was just glad that they didn't question me about Madara. Even as I went to bed, I didn't cry. Grandmother always said that the man who makes you cry is almost never worth crying for. But when I woke up the next morning, my throat was scratchy and my eyes puffy. Not to mention, I had a horrendous headache. I had half a mind to call in sick. But ultimately, I got out of bed. At breakfast, if Mother and Father noticed my red eyes then they didn't remark upon it.

As I walked into the lobby of Uchiha Enterprise, I practically had to restrain myself from craning my neck trying to find a mass of black hair and a scowling face. But he wasn't there by the elevators as he had been yesterday. I walked past the executive elevator, my steps faltered as I did so. I hoped that the doors would open up any minute and he would step out. But he didn't.

In the office, only Tenten had arrived. She sat on her desk and was sucking a lollipop while catching up on the dismal turn in people's lives in Outrageous!. I remember that I had once brought a similar magazine at the age of twelve and once it had been discovered, I had received a momentous lecture from Father and a ten page assignment from Mother on the right of privacy in law and in ethics. Grandmother had merely told me if I continued to pursue such a distasteful habit, I would sooner or later come across topless photos of Mother on the beach from her 'wilder days'. Needless to say, I never touched a gossip magazine after that.

"Hey," exclaimed Tenten. "Ready to start the day?"

"Hello," I relied, feeling rather sorry for myself. "And not particularly."

Tenten chuckled. "Not a morning person, huh?" She paused. "Oi! Something unusual happened yesterday."

"What?" I asked without interest as I settled down on my desk and started up my laptop.

"Some guy came here yesterday evening just after you left. He grumbled about some dinner date you had with him?" Tenten laughed. "Well, I put him in his place. I told him you were going out with Lee and that he must have confused you with someone else."

So that's how it was.

Ino had been right. While I was running away from difficult situations, ducking my head under the sand, trying to pretend I was above conflict, this sort of thing was going on. I had thought just by ignoring the problem it would go away but in the end it hurt the feelings of someone that I liked, possibly liked a great deal more than I was willing to accept.

"Tenten," I said slowly. "Why did you do that?"

She blinked. "Did I do something wrong?" she said, her tone uncertain.

"That person is important to me," I said, trying desperately to remain calm. "Next time, can you please check with me first before drawing such conclusions?"

Tenten frowned. "I thought you were going out with Lee."

I shook my head. "No, I never was. He is a nice person but I am not interested in him that way. I have told this to him several times. So from on, please don't encourage him."

"He really likes you," said Tenten, quietly. "I think you should give him a chance."

"But I don't like him," I said, looking Tenten squarely into her eyes. "Its not fair to him or to me for us to continue like this."

"Ah, you're saying that but isn't it really cold of you to dump Lee the moment your bagged someone from the upper management?" said Tenten, stiffly.

"Tenten," I said patiently. "Isn't it pretty cold that you keep pushing your best friend upon someone who you know isn't interested?"

She opened her mouth and shut it again. Finally, she nodded. "Okay, I'll shut up to keep the peace in the workplace."

"Thank you." I got up from my seat. "I'm going to get some coffee. Would you like a cup?"

"No, thanks." Tenten shook her head.

As I walked out of the room and shut the door behind me, I heard her hiss. "Bitch."

I didn't find the time to visit Madara until lunch time. Even through I had a lot of work, the minutes barely ticked by before I could run up to the 20th Floor. But finally it did and I was out of my seat so fast that Ino looked up in alarm.

"Excuse me," I asked the Secretary, who sat like an absolute guard outside Madara's office. "I would like to see Uchiha san."

"Do you have an appointment?" she asked. She was wonderfully made up and for a moment I wondered whether she was the reason he hadn't shown up. He had, after all, asked her to the party first. A stab of jealousy went through me, a feeling so bewildering as well as painful that I actually winced.

"Are you alright?" she asked, concerned.

"Um, yes I am," I said, pinching myself discretely over the use of Um. "Well, I don't have an appointment. But I would like to see him."

The Secretary blinked. "I'm sorry but I don't think it will be possible. He told me specifically to make sure that nobody disturbed him."

"I see," I nodded. It couldn't be helped. "Then can you give him a message for me?"

"Sure," said the Secretary, tapping her pen against her notepad.

"Tell him," I paused. "If he doesn't stop scowling like a petulant child, then I will be kissing someone else tonight. Without my atrocious glasses."

The Secretary blinked. "There is a girl chasing after him?" she gaped. "Willingly?"

"Stranger things have happened." With a toss of my head, I was gone.

It wasn't until I was on the staircase of the 16th Floor that he caught up with me.

"You witch," Madara growled, taking hold of my wrist and spinning me around to face him. He had to stop doing that. "Who the hell are you kissing tonight?"

"Well," I said carefully. "I would like it to be you but if you are going to be unreasonable about it…"

"You got some nerve," he snapped. "Choosing some pitiful guy over someone like me."

"I didn't choose anyone over you," I pointed out. "You stood me up."

"Because that girl said you had a boyfriend," Madara snarled. "And when I went down to the lobby to see if you were there, I saw you talking to him. Don't try to deny it."

"Then I won't try to deny it then," I said, wringing my hand free from his grasp. "I was talking to him only to tell him to that I wasn't interested in him romantically. And the girl, who told you that Lee was my boyfriend, knew he wasn't so. She has been trying to get us together for half a year now!"

Madara stilled. "You weren't with him?"

"No." I shook my head.

"So you mean to say I canceled the reservations at Ginza Kojyu over a misunderstanding?"

"Serves you right."

"Have dinner with me tonight. I can get reservations at Nakajima."

"No, absolutely not."

"Why the hell not?"

"It gives a bad impression. Being available every time a man asks you out. Especially since he has stood you up once."

"..."

"..."

"Fine. Tomorrow night."

"I can't."

"What now?"

"I have a family dinner."

"Fine. Then Saturday."

"Don't you have a party to attend on Saturday?"

He growled. "I am not waiting till Sunday."

"I'm afraid you will have to."

"Tonight." His voice firm.

"No."

"Just say yes, dammit!"

"I'll think about it."

"Sakura," His voice soft. "Say yes."

"..."

"What?"

"That's the first time you said my name."

"Are you blushing?"

"Are you blushing?"

"Just say yes." His voice gruff.

"Yes."

True to his word, Madara brought me to Nakajima, one of the most exclusive restaurants in Konohagakure. Their chef had once been invited to the Imperial Palace to cook for foreign dignitaries from Suna but even then his waiting period had been for two whole months. The food had been worth it though, as Father had told me.

"Tell me about your family," said Madara as he refilled my glass with champagne.

I smiled. "Are you trying to get me drunk?"

"Possibly," he said, his expression giving nothing away. "You still live with your parents, right?"

I nodded. "Its just us. No siblings."

"What do they do?"

I paused. "Well, mother works in the government and father runs the household."

"Ah," Madara took a sip of his drink. "Is your mother high up in the government? Would I have heard of her?"

"Oh. I don't know," I said carefully. "I don't think so." Desperate to change the topic, I put on my most winning smile. "What about your family?"

He raised his eyebrows. "My family? Well, my parents passed away when I was quite young."

"I'm sorry," I said, not knowing what quite to say.

Madara shrugged. "Since then its been just me and my younger brother, Izuna. We get along well enough. We do have extended family but we don't see them often."

"They are in the police, right?" I asked, stirring the spoon in my soup. "And in the military?"

Madara looked at me with surprise. "How did you know that?"

"Well, my parents are rather politically inclined." I shrugged. "They are always telling me about me about the history of the clans and which field each clan prefers to dominate."

"That must have made for some interesting bedtime stories," Madara commented, leaning back into his chair.

"It did. I found it bewildering and complicated." I smiled, thinking back to the simpler times. Back then, I had no idea of my responsibilities and now I would do anything to go back to that. "But they were the stories of the world which my parents belonged to so I wanted to hear all about it."

"You have a great deal of respect for them," said Madara with a wry expression on his face.

"I love them," I said simply. "I would do anything for them."

He titled his head up, as if to study the ceiling, and scowled. "That makes things difficult."

I looked at him with surprise. "What does?"

Madara looked at me and studied my face. "Courting you."

I was struck speechless. I then shook my head and let out an uneasy chuckle. "Courting is for marriage."

"Sakura," His voice was firm. "When the time comes I will let nothing stand in our way. Not even the approval of your parents."

"That sounds ominous," I said, trying to lighten the mood. But deep down I knew, I just knew, he wasn't joking. And I won't lie. It excited me.

After dinner, Madara didn't drop me off at home. Or at the anonymous series of flats where I had made him drop me off the last time. Instead, he took me to his home. It was grand, old and crumbling, just like all the important houses. I remembered that it had previously been the property of the Sartoubi clan. They had sold it off quite recently as their fortunes had taken a downturn due to increased taxation upon imports of agricultural products. But the policy had decreased competition for the local producers such as the Akimichi and Aburame clan. The jury was still out on the success of the economic plan but Grandmother seemed confident that it would stability to the agricultural sector.

As I wandered around the house and out in the garden, I came across a swimming pool. I took off my shoes and walked barefoot in the wet grass. Madara was inside, probably getting us something to drink. Recklessness flooded through me and with more foolishness than bravery, I took off my clothes (even my atrocious glasses) and stepped into the pool until the cool water reached my shoulders. As I swam, I dimly wondered whether Izuna lived with Madara.

"Sakura," I heard Madara call out from the patio door. "Where are you?"

I grabbed the ledge of the pool and pulled myself up, not caring as I did so the silver light of the moon shone on me. "Here."

Madara froze, two cups of tea in his hands. He watched me, daring not to move. As if as soon as he did, I would disappear.

"Madara," I whispered.

A muscle in his cheek twitched. He walked to the patio table and put down the two cups of tea before turning and going back to the patio door, closing the curtains behind it carefully and then firmly shutting the door. He walked towards the pool, his strides firm and sure. His hair covered his eyes, leaving me unable to read his expression. My heart thudded, jumped and quaked. But I could not move.

Instead of standing in front of me or joining me in the pool, he sat down in the grass near the ledge of the pool where I was. "Sakura." His voice guttural and raw, his gaze not leaving me for a second. "What am I going to do with you?"

I climbed out of the pool, ignoring the droplets of water tickling down my body. "Whatever you want."

He sighed and pulled me to him and kissed me until I was clinging to him.

"Your clothes are getting wet," I whispered despite unwilling to let him go.

"Do you care?" he murmured as he wrapped his arm around my waist while his other hand pulled my face up for another kiss which left me trembling.

I didn't reply, instead preferring to hide my face in the crook of his neck as he dropped kisses on my hair and shoulder.

"Madara," I whispered pleadingly.

"You're drunk, Sakura," He whispered. "I won't take advantage of you like this."

"I don't feel drunk," I grumbled. "And even if I am, it was you who got me drunk," I said, accusingly.

"I know. I'm sorry." He let out a deep shaky breath. "I rather you hate me now than hate me for the rest of your life."

"You think highly of yourself," I grumbled.

"I'm sorry." Madara smiled but there was no amusement in his expression. His dark gaze loomed down at me and for a second I couldn't look away. "I don't want to give you a reason to run away from me."

Those words came crashing down on me. I looked at him, the shock must have been clearly written on my face as Madara cupped my cheek and asked with concern belying his words, "What's wrong?"

"You said you didn't want to give me any reasons to run away from you." My voice wavered. "But what about the reasons that I will give you?"

He kissed me. "You probably don't believe me," he said unsteadily. "But holding you in my arms right now, I don't think I will ever not want to be here with you."

I allowed him to kiss me and I kissed him back more ardently than ever before. But a coiling feeling in my gut told me that my time was running short and sooner or later, Madara would no longer be by my side.

When Madara dropped me off in front of what I shall forever call an anonymous series of flats, I made a beeline to Itachi's apartment. He was the heir to the mantle of the Uchiha clan and probably Madara's second cousin in some way or the other. He was boorishly silly in all the things that mattered and astoundingly clever in all the things that didn't. Basically, it meant that my mother loved him. And his father loved power. Clearly, we were meant to be. It won't do to suggest to Itachi that I was even minutely interested in him by showing up to his doorstep after midnight. But I was desperate and I couldn't take a taxi at this time of the night. Mother and Father were already worried about something. A diplomatic crises, I bet. It won't do for me to contribute to their stress.

"Sakura." Itachi blinked owlishly at me after finally opening the door after five minutes of incessant knocking. "I mean," his voice cracked. "Your Royal Highness, how may I be of service?"

"My apologizes if you were sleeping." I drummed up a polite smile. Anything more would have implied flirting. And one does not flirt with Itachi. He takes the whole damn thing too seriously and starts planning a wedding. "If it is alright with you then can you drop me off at the Imperial Palace? I would go alone but it is outrageously late."

"Of course, Your Royal Highness." Itachi straightened. "Would you like to wait inside while I fetch my coat?"

"No, I'll wait out here." I paused. "And, Itachi?"

"Yes, Your Highness?"

"Bring Shisui with you as well."

Arriving alone with Itachi would have been too troublesome. It isn't likely that the paparazzi would be loitering around at this time of night but it happens at times. Of course, they haven't caught sight of me for years since I stopped attending public royal functions. And every time I did travel outside the Imperial Residence, it was with great care.

As we got into Itachi's car, Shisui sent a cheeky smile towards my way. "Fabulous glasses, Your Highness." His eyes twinkled.

I tried to glower at him but erupted into fits of laughter myself. "It's my Clark Kent disguise."

Shisui chuckled. "I shouldn't be surprised."

"Haruno sama," Itachi said stiffly from his position in the driver's seat. "The season is about to begin. Will you be attending this time around?"

"Oh," I said, pretending not to notice the sudden heavy atmosphere in the car. "I haven't given it much thought. Perhaps. I don't really know." I knew perfectly well that I was not going to be attending but one does not tell a Uchiha that.

"Haruno sama, you should come," said Shisui, turning from his passenger seat to look at me. "There is fabulous bash being thrown this weekend by the Hyuga clan. And the weekend after that, the Nara clan will be going all out. Not to mention, the Uzumaki clan after that!" He settled back into his seat with a sigh. "What a time to be alive!"

I smiled, thinking of Madara. "Don't I know it."

The next day at Uchiha Enterprise, Madara met me at the lobby. He escorted me to the 7th floor, opting to take the stairs this time around. He gave me a kiss for every staircase we climbed as if he couldn't keep his hands off me. By the time I reached the office, I was flushed and my lipstick had all but disappeared. Ino looked at me suspiciously and Tenten glowered. But I ignored them. It felt as if nothing could bring me down. In the afternoon, Madara insisted on taking me to lunch. I agreed happily.

"Do you have trouble sleeping?" I asked him, as we sat down for lunch.

Madara blinked. "Ah."

"You look as if you haven't slept in ages," I pointed out.

A little smile appeared on his face. "Are you worried about me? Perhaps, your feel that you ought to take care of me like a good little housewife." His smile became a smirk. "I don't mind, you know. Feel free to fuss over me."

"I don't think I am the housewife type," I said, taking a sip of my glass of water.

He glowered at me. "I just haven't been able to have such sleep these days," he said abruptly.

"Do you have trouble sleeping?"

His gaze flickered to my lips. "Something like that."

"You only just met me," I said softly. I thought back to the first day I met him. He had looked so worn out. "What about before then?"

Madara took a sip of water. "It's work," he said tiredly. "Not enough hours in the day."

I had never thought much about his work life. For some reason, I had equated my work hours as to being the same as his. "I'm sorry." My voice sounded small even to my ears. "Taking me to lunches and dinners must be taking up a lot of your time."

"Don't be silly," he grumbled. "If I didn't want to, then I wouldn't be here."

"I like you."

The words slipped out. I hadn't meant to say it but on the other hand, I had no idea as to what else I could have said in that moment. To know that he was overworking himself, flooded something inside of me. The way he made me feel wanted, I wanted him to feel it too. He made me feel as I was floating in air, as if I could do no wrong and I desperately wanted him to feel the same way about me. I was falling in love, I realized with a rush. Was it possible? I wondered. But I was falling. It was like standing on the edge of a cliff. Would I jump? Should I jump? I closed my eyes. It would be so easy and safe to stay back. But…

I wanted to jump.

"If you say things like that so easily, I'll make you regret it." I heard Madara's hard gruff voice, tinged with something else that I couldn't decipher.

I jumped.

Madara tried to convince me to skip the family dinner. The idea was tempting. But nobody skipped the family dinner. At least, nobody who wished to survive Grandmother. The only excuse that was even remotely acceptable was if there was a state duty to be performed. Madara, despite being a force on to himself, didn't quite qualify.

For the longest time it had been Grandfather, Grandmother, Mother, Father and me. For all the holidays and every Friday. Then, Grandfather passed away in the Fourth Shinobi War and Grandmother started drinking. She retreated from the public eye while Mother took the reins. But even then no matter how tough it got, the family dinners happened.

"Sakura," said Grandmother, her voice thin and cold as we all sat down to dinner. "Your mother tells me that you are seeing a young man."

"Not so young, I dare say," murmured Father.

"Sakura," Grandmother adopted the no nonsense voice that was reserved for errant ministers. "Is it serious?"

I twirled my spaghetti with my fork. "On my part, yes. I don't know how he feels about it."

Grandmother scowled. Her long blonde hair was tied back in an elegant chignon while a small pink diamond tattoo on her forehead almost twinkled under the light. On Mother's coronation day, she will also get the tattoo. So will I for that matter on the day that I will be crowned. It all seemed so much in the future that I couldn't even be bothered to think about it.

"What is his name?" Grandmother poured herself another cup of sake. Mother followed the movement and sent her pointed glance. Grandmother ignored her.

"Uchiha Madara."

Grandmother set down the cup on the table. "Should I know him?"

"He is up and coming, mother," said Mother as she spooned some of the rice on to her plate. "And often considered too crude and crass to run in any social circle."

"He is wealthy," Father noted. "Of course, he does not come anywhere near the realm of the Nara clan or the Aburame clan but he is new. If there was anyone capable of catching up to the wealth accumulated over centuries by the Nara clan then it would be him."

"He's smart," I said softly. "And he works hard."

"Don't be so easily impressed, Sakura," snapped Grandmother. "You don't sound nearly as loyal as you sound silly."

"Sorry," I said as my ears turned red. "I'll articulate better next time."

"It would be better if you found someone more capable."

"No."

Grandmother looked up from her drink. "What do you mean no?"

"I shall continue to see him," I said with a calmness which I did not feel. People did not go against Grandmother. And here I was fighting for someone to whom for every truth that I told, I told as twice as many lies.

"Sakura," Mother interjected. "I will have to agree with Grandmother on this. He does not appear to be suitable enough to be a consort to the Second in Line."

"Even so," I said, refusing to back down. "I want to see this relationship to its end, whenever it may be."

"What if he himself is unable to bear it, the burden of being a consort?" asked Father, setting down his chopsticks. "What if he realizes it years from now? What if he breaks your heart? What if he exploits your power for his own self-interest?"

"What will you do, Sakura?" asked Mother softly.

Tears blinded my eyes. They were cruel questions. But also at the same time necessary ones. "I will deal with it." My voice cracked. "I will take responsibility."

"Good," Grandmother stared. "Next time you will say it like you mean it. If anyone outside of this family says those things you will stare them down and rip them to pieces as benefiting your upbringing. Is that understood?"

"Yes."

"Well, now if can leave this matter behind," said Father as he looked at Mother with a weary expression. "Mebuki has something very important to say."

"Oh." Grandmother raised an eyebrow. "Do tell. Has Kirigakure been playing hot and cold again?"

"No," said Mother, tiredly. "It's much more personal."

"Yes?" Grandmother poured herself another drink.

"Recently, I have had trouble concentrating. And I keep forgetting the smallest of things." Mother took a deep breath. "I mentioned this to Dr. Kajima and he had some suspicions. He carried out some tests last week."

I didn't like where this was going. And by the looks of it, Grandmother didn't either. Father looked grim.

"The results came back two days ago," said Mother, her expression impersonal and white. "It wasn't good."

"What do you mean?" Grandmother sounded hoarse but I couldn't bring myself to look away from Mother.

A strange noise choked out of me. "Please, don't…"

Mother stared off in to the distance as if she wasn't prepared to descend to the world just yet. "It appears that I have Alzheimer's disease."

A/N: MadaSaku weekend is still going on! So much fun. I literally spent the entire day on this but had the time of my life while doing it as well. I guess some of it is inspired from Cheese in the Trap as well. I should have worked on my other fic The Disappearance of Haruno Sakura but I kept coming back to this one.

Please let me know what you think about it. Any feedback is appreciated.