Sorrow

The morning broke with the rising of a pale sun, barely heating the ground at all. Sasuke twitched himself awake in the stiff armchair next to his wife's bed, letting out a strangled cry. He clutched at his throat, breathing deeply and then pressing his fingertips to his eyelids. The dreams would never go away, that much he knew. A quick glance at Sumi showed she was deeply asleep still, and he took the opportunity to have a shower. As the warm water cascaded down his weary body, he let the tears come again, racking his body with earth shattering sobs. He never let anyone see him this way, so vulnerable, so weak. Sometimes he wished that Sumi would just pass on, and leave this world where she suffered so. But she struggled on, and this he could not understand. Not only she endured this illness, it affected her entire family. Her mother had died 2 years before, and the doctor had blamed the stress caused by her daughter's illness. Her sons had then taken on the task of caring for her, while Sasuke himself ran their small shop. Without the help of his mother-in-law and his wife, the shop soon went under. They managed for a year longer, until Sumi took a turn for the worse and could no longer move, or talk. It was then he had made the decision to return to Konoha, where the elite medical ninjas could treat Sumi. He hated himself for leaving in the first place. At the time, it had seemed the right decision. Things had changed while he had been gone with Orochimaru. Sakura had no longer needed him. Naruto was so much stronger. There seemed no room for him in the village anymore.
Sasuke stepped from the shower, a towel around his waist. Catching a glimpse of himself in the mirror, he almost smiled. At least his body had not aged so badly. He had noticed Naruto's portly belly, and Choji's grey hair. His friends had certainly aged worse then him. But some of them seemed barely a day older. Even after having children. Her eyes were the same, her hair…
He shook his head, and returned to Sumi's room, after having swiftly changed his clothes. As soon as he entered the bedroom, he knew something was wrong. It was quiet, much too quiet. Then it struck him.
The room was no longer full of the sound of Sumi's laboured breathing.
He ran towards her bed, already knowing it would be too late.
He had only been gone 10 minutes.
If that.

She lay rigid on the bed; her eyes closed tight, her mouth hanging slightly open. Her lips were tinged with blue, and her skin was so pale. Her hair framed her face beautifully. Sasuke felt the tears begin to roll down his cheeks as he reached out to touch her. She'd been alone. How could he have left her? She was icy cold.

Had she been breathing when he awoke?

Why hadn't he checked?

He collapsed onto the floor, the room spinning. Slumped at the side of the bed, this was where they found him hours later.

*

Ichiru, Kin and Sasuke stood for a long time by Sumi's grave. Long after all the guests had left, and had gone to the wake held at the Hyuuga household. Kin stood as still as a statue, staring down at the freshly turned earth that now covered his mother. He had not shed a tear: he felt he could not. He felt her suffering was over. He just wished he had gotten more time with her, while she had been well. But he had been so young then. She had been ill most of his life, and he remembered little of her being able to play with him.
Sasuke held his hands to his face as he openly cried. Ichiru stood next to him awkwardly, not knowing what to do. A week ago, when his mother had passed away, he cried all night. But now, he knew she was at rest.
He watched his father weep, and edged away a little. Yes, Uchiha Sumi was gone, but this meant they were free. He knew how awful this sounded. But he also knew that every time he looked into his mother's eyes, he had seen the pain. The pain of knowing what she put her family through. The pain of her unknown illness, and the pain of being unable to hold her own children.
Eventually, Kin took his father's arm and led him away from the graveside, back towards the village.
Ichiru followed his small family. The last of the Uchihas.

*

Neji sat at his daughter's bedside, her hand clasped within his own. Yesterday had been Sumi's funeral. He closed his eyes, not wanting to think about the woman who now lay beneath the ground. It was his daughter's future, unless something could be done. This was so unfair. After everything he had been through. His own daughter, his pride and joy, was going to die.

*

Tsunade sat opposite Naruto, in the office that was once her own. She smiled, noticing a bottle of sake in the half open drawer. Coughing, Naruto swiftly closed the door, rapping his fingers on the table.
"So, baa-chan, what conclusion have you reached?"
Tsunade sighed and leant back in her chair.
"It's difficult to determine what is wrong with the young Hyuuga. She ails quickly. The process seems to be faster than before. It seems that this… serum… has been improved, so to speak. Naruto… where was Hoshi's team? Where were they when attacked?"
Naruto sighed now, turning to look out of the window.
"As you know, shortly before you chose me as the next Hokage, and after Sasuke had left the village, word got out that Orochimaru was on the move. Of course, I was straight out there. We thought we defeated everyone, Tsunade-sama! But we were wrong. Someone escaped the net.
I sent Hoshi-chan's team to what was formerly known as the hidden village of sound."

Tsunade breathed in sharply.

"Kabuto."

And with that, she left the room, leaving Naruto to his thoughts.

*

Akane knocked lightly on Ichiru's door.
"Come in." he called from inside.
She entered the room, a tray in her hands, and Akako at her feet. Ichiru smiled at her, patting the bed. She laid the tray on the bedside table and sat next to him on the bed, smiling back uncertainly.
"I wasn't sure if you wanted to see anyone." She said, looking at the floor.
"It's okay, Akane-chan. It's nice to see a friendly face actually. Will you stay and have a drink with me?" he asked, noticing she had bought a pot of tea in with her.
She smiled, nodding, and left the room briefly to fetch another cup.
The Inuzuka girl curled her feet underneath her as she settled on the bed next to the Uchiha. He poured the tea for them, and they sat back onto the cushions. Ichiru flicked through the channels on the TV, unable to choose what to watch. Akane cried out for him to stay on a channel that was playing a movie she loved, and they both settled to watch it.
It was dark by the time the credits rolled, and Ichiru turned to look at Akane, who had had her head on his shoulder for the past hour. Her eyes were closed, and she was snoring ever so slightly. He smiled, moving her gently onto the pillows. Then he got up and drew the curtains. Akane stirred on the bed, waking suddenly.
"Oh, I'm sorry Ichiru-kun! I didn't mean to fall asleep, it's just I've been training today and it was really tiring!" As if to prove a point, the girl yawned widely.
Ichiru grinned at her, "It's fine. I enjoyed the company. I'm not sure I enjoyed the drool you got on my shirt though…" he teased, provoking her enough for her to throw a pillow at him.
He dodged it well, and picked it up to throw it back, but she was too quick, and hit him straight in the face with another.
He laughed loudly, and swiped at her with the cushion, as she rose to her feet and jumped to the far side of the bed. Ichiru climbed up onto the bed, swiping again, and dodging her attacks. She giggled, losing her footing on the uneven bed, and finally slumping back to sit down. Ichiru followed suit, out of breath.
"I'm sorry Ichiru. I'm so very sorry." Akane said after a few moments of silence.
The boy nodded.
"She was ill for years. She is in a better place now." He said.
Akane nodded back, noticing suddenly how close they were. Her face reddened slightly, and she was glad that the only light in the room was from the flickering TV.
Ichiru sighed deeply, snuggling a little closer to her, without really realising it.
"Do…do you think Hoshi-sama will be okay?" Akane said, lying back a little.
"I hope so." Ichiru stifled a yawn, lying back too.
The two lay on the bed, close but not too close. Ichiru closed his eyes, his breathing regulating.
His eyes snapped open again as he felt fingers entwine with his own. Akane squeezed his hand lightly. He squeezed back, and they lay like that until sleep took them.