SasuSaku Festival 2017

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Days 8 and 14- Protective of Us/ Domestic Disagreement

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Title: It's Late

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Summary: She just found out that he's leaving again, and this time, she really is tired of being left behind. With their daughter asleep, the Uchiha couple will have to fix things one way or another.

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The atmosphere around them was heavy and the silence that was left ever since Sarada went to sleep was simply torturous. They had barely exchanged any words since the kage meeting earlier that day, and now, every time a plate made contact with the sink, they could feel as if they were being stabbed straight to their hearts.

Even if the cold water was running through her delicate fingers, she could feel his burning stare on her back, memorizing her curves, the length of her hair and how she wore the Uchiha crest on her back, as if that was the last time his eyes would be seeing his wife. He was waiting for her to turn so he could see her face and her eyes one last time that night, and most of all, he was waiting for her to say something. To say anything, so he could listen to her voice one, last time before he left.

As always, Sasuke was waiting for her to do something. However, Sakura was not going to do anything. Not this time.

Just as she had foreseen, doing the dishes was not helping her distract her mind from the bomb that had fallen over her head earlier that day. Ever since he had said those words during that official meeting, Sakura hasn't really been able to focus on anything else. He caught her and everyone else by surprise as soon as he announced his new plans, and even if he tried to sound as professional and as logical as he could, for her, his words only meant one thing:

He was leaving. Again.

Sasuke was leaving the village for the third time in his life, and this time, he was not leaving an empty room behind, no. He was leaving his friends. He was leaving his family. He was leaving his child to save the world and be the hero no one will ever acknowledge. Anger started boiling inside her veins and her muscles would contract at the thought of seeing him give up on everything again for the sake of the ninja world, and for one, damn time she just wanted to pass down that responsibility to someone else. Anyone would do, if she were to be honest.

Even if he was probably the only one who could do that, Sakura couldn't care less about that. She wanted him to stay, as selfishly as that could sound. She wanted him to enjoy his time around the home he neglected for so long and around the family he had longed for since he was child. Her husband had finally conquered everything he had aimed for, and now it was all been taken away from him again. How could people simply accept that without doing anything?

How could he accept that without doing anything to stay?

Sakura just couldn't understand. For the first time in her life, she just couldn't accept the fact that he was leaving for his own sake, too, as he had told her before. It didn't make sense. It was an absurdity! It was illogical and definitely the biggest bullshit she has ever heard from him.

It was not fucking fair.

And when she finally screamed in the depths of her soul, the Uchiha matriarch finally lost it.

Her teeth sunk into her lower lip, her fists tightened so hard her nails were digging into her palms, forming crescent-moon-shaped marks on her skin. It didn't take long for a plate to break in her hands, wounding her flesh and causing her own blood to stream down along with the water from the sink. She was losing blood, but judging by how hard she had closed her eyes, Sasuke could tell she had paid that no mind.

" Sakura… Your hand." He approached the sink, standing next to her. His eyes widened at the bloody view, and instinctively, he grabbed the cloth she was previously using to dry the plates and offered it to her. " Use it."

" Tch, I'm fine…" She took a step away from him, rejecting his offer. " I don't need this…"

" Stop being stubborn and stop the bleeding already."

" I said I'm fine, Sasuke. I can take care of this by myself."

" I know you can, but-"

" I don't need you to do this for me!" Her eyes finally clashed against his, and even if he already knew there was something troubling her, the male Uchiha found out exactly what just by the way her emerald orbs were intensely glaring at him.

His wife was an open book for him. She's always been.

And more than ever, he could tell how hurt she was at that moment.

The moment that preceded another departure.

Even if her eyes were burning in pure rage, he didn't need his sharingan to see that tinge of sadness that was building up inside her. Sakura, more than anyone, knew the consequences of his wanderings for she was the one who would always stay behind, waiting and worrying about him. Of course, Naruto and Kakashi would also wonder about his whereabouts, but they had their own lives to take care of.

But what about her? What about their daughter? Sasuke was a much more relevant part of her life now than when he left all those years before. Their lives were now connected not only by love but also by the physical proof of this feeling.

They have a young daughter together, damn it! How could she simply put his safety in the second place and focus on her life without him?

In a blink of an eye, Sakura found herself holding back stubborn, angry tears that would destroy all her arguments. She bit her lower lip until it lost its coloration, shutting her eyes close and gripping the edge of the sink. Her head was turned away from him, and the only thing he could see was how heavy her breathing was at that moment. Her hand was still bleeding, and her shoulders were tenser than ever.

Once again, he was the one leaving and she was the one who got hurt. She was literally bleeding for him, and she was just tired of that.

That was it, she thought. Sakura couldn't take it anymore.

" This…" Her voice started, coming out as a whisper that was, at the same time, relieved and filled with pain. She took one, deep breath and finally turned her emeralds to face him. " This is not fair, Sasuke."

At the scene of his wife completely broken, the male Uchiha felt his chest being stabbed by her piercing agony. He knew the reason behind her misery, and yet, there was nothing he could do about that. Nothing but take on all her feelings and bear anything she could throw at him. He would take the blame upon himself, even if they both knew he hated that situation just as much as she did.

" This is not a matter of being fair or not, Sakura. It's our duty as shinobi."

" Duty? Is this all you can say, Sasuke?"

" Aah."

" You bastard… How dare you?" Her chest grew heavier, but still, her tears were nowhere to be seen. " Can't you see what's happening?! You're going away again, Sasuke! And who knows for how long! You're going away from your daughter, your home and your friends! How-"

" And do you think I want to leave you?" His voice rose unexpectedly, causing her emeralds to widen, and before he knew it, he could feel her words and her feelings reaching out for him. Sasuke was feeling unsettled all of sudden, and for a reason he did not know, he was not liking that. " I… I don't want to go, Sakura."

" Then stay!" She finally approached him, standing mere inches away from him. He could feel the heat coming from her body, and looking at her eyes from such short distance only hurt more. " Do something selfish for once in your life and let someone else do this."

" You know I'm the only one who can track that down. No one else can do this."

" … Not even me?"

" What are you talking about?"

" Can't I go instead? You could tell me what you know and I'll go search for these bastards. And then… You can stay. You can stay, Sasuke…"

At that moment, her heart shattered into millions of pieces, and tears started to stream down her cheeks. Her hands were now resting over his chest, and by the look in her eyes, Sasuke could tell she understood very well what she was proposing to him.

She was offering him a chance to stay with Sarada at home. She was giving up her own chance to stay with her little girl so she could keep father and daughter together.

Sakura was sacrificing herself for him, once again, as she begged him to be selfish and accept her offer.

And even if his love for her only got stronger, he simply couldn't accept that offer.

"Hn." He placed his hand on her cheek, caressing her skin with his thumb. He offered her a soft expression, and at that moment, Sakura already knew what he was going to say. " Thank you, Sakura… But I can't do this to you."

" But you can do this to yourself, right?"

" You have to understand."

His words hit her hard, and suddenly, the pinkette started to feel a bitter taste in her tongue. She couldn't really believe he was asking her such thing. After all those years of understanding, he couldn't really be asking her such thing so bluntly, as if she had never understood his reasons for doing everything he did.

Sakura has always seen through his actions and more than anyone— more than even Naruto— she understood him.

But not anymore. Not after his request.

" Understand…?" She bit her tongue, looking away from him. Her hands slid from his chest, and instinctively, she slapped his hand away from her face. The expression on her face was filled with anger now, and at that moment, Sasuke knew he would have to choose his next words carefully if he wanted to help her. If he wanted to save them. " I'm so tired of understanding, Sasuke… Just do what you have to do."

" Sakura… You know what I meant."

" No, I don't, Sasuke… I don't understand anything anymore. Maybe you should ask me that, too." Her voice carried a sarcastic tone now, and seeing her so hurt and broken allowed him to feel his own anger boiling inside his veins. " I have an even better idea, actually. Why don't you ask me to wait for you? That would be one hell of an advice!"

" I never wanted you to wait for me and you know that."

" Oh, come on. That is not the point here!"

" Then what is, Sakura?!"

" The point is that this stupid cycle just won't break! This come and go thing in which both of us are trapped just don't seem to have an end and I'm tired of this!"

" And what do you expect me to do? Say no to the Hokage? Let others handle my job? Damn it, you're a ninja, too!"

" Yes, I am, but that's not the only thing, Sasuke! I'm also a woman! I'm a wife, and I'm a mother! And I'm tired of always being left behind! Tired of adjusting my life to periods when you're here and when you're not!" She roughly wiped her tears, leaving a bloody mark on her cheek. " I-I'm tired, Sasuke…"

"… And what do you want to do, then, Sakura? Do you want to leave?"

" What?"

" You don't need me. You never did, actually, and maybe this is the perfect opportunity for you to leave me and break this cursed cycle, don't you think? "

" Are you seriously saying you want me to leave you, Sasuke?"

" If that will make you happier."

The pinkette was left completely shocked by his words, indignant that he was even suggesting such stupid thing. He was taking a shortcut, and more than ever, she wanted to hit him for that. She wanted to grab him by the collar, tackled him to the ground and say that they were going to make it through, like they always do.

She wanted to tell him that their love was enough.

But it was late and Uchiha Sakura was tired. Really tired.

" Fine. You're right… I don't need you around. I can take care of Sarada alone until you get back, and then we can think of what to do about her." She wiped one last tear from her eyes, nodding and looking away from him. " Yes. T-That's exactly what I'm gonna do."

" …"

" And don't worry. I'll leave the key with Naruto while you're gone. I'll start packing tomorrow."

" Sakura." He reached out to touch her, already regretting everything he had said. Of course he didn't want her to leave. That was their house and their family, and for the first time, he was actually being selfish. Sasuke, more than anyone, knew she'd be much better off without him. Still, he couldn't afford losing her. Not her. " you don't have to be so-"

" Don't touch me!"

Her scream was unexpected, surprising both of them. Emerald eyes were stinging thanks to the tears that were coming back, and they both kept staring at each other, waiting for someone to fix them before it was already too late.

They looked at each other, completely broken and shocked, not really understanding what was going on or how they had suddenly reached what seemed to be the end of everything. Her lips were trembling, his hand was balled in a fist and nothing seemed to make sense anymore.

They're Uchiha Sasuke and Uchiha Sakura. They've gone through a lot worse situations than that, and their history is the proof that they can face anything as long as they're together.

They love each other, so that couldn't be the end of everything, right?

Not really.

But it was already past bed time, and even if they didn't know it, they needed to rest as much as she did.

" Mama? Papa?"

A small, innocent and sleepy voice broke that silence, and immediately, both parents turned to see a cute, little girl, with short, black hair and hugging a stuffed bear. She tried to scratch the sleepiness away from her small, black eyes, as she stood still, leaning against her bedroom's doorframe. Sarada was tired, and all that screaming had probably woken her up.

Great parents, they thought.

" Sarada. What are you doing up so late?" Sasuke asked, trying to recompose himself in front of the girl.

" I heard you two screaming and I woke up."

" Oh, sweetie…" Sakura started, getting rid of the tears that were falling from her eyes and kneeling down so she could match her daughter's level. " Come here."

The little one, even with her small steps, abandoned her stuffed friend and made it to her mother's embrace, throwing her short arms around Sakura's neck. At first, there was a small smile on Sarada's face, but it didn't take long before her sleepy face turned into a sad, chubby one.

" We're sorry, honey."

" Were you two fighting?"

"What? No, we were just…" She looked back at Sasuke, looking for any kind of help. He offered her a comforting shrug, approaching both of the girls. " Papa and I were just discussing an important thing."

" And why are you crying, mama? And… And there's blood on your hands!"

" Shh Shh… It's nothing, sweetheart." The pinkette forced a smile, holding back more tears that were threatening to fall at the sight of their worried daughter. If Sarada started to cry, Sakura was sure she was going to lose it. " I was… I was just doing the dishes and I broke my favorite plate, that's all. It's no big deal."

" Does it hurt?"

"…" Her emeralds turned to her husband, depleted from any strength left in her soul. " Yes… It hurts a lot."

" But mama will be okay, Sarada." Sasuke said, kneeling next to them.

" Am I?"

" Yeah…" He placed his arm around Sakura's shoulder, bringing her closer and offering her all the support he could. " We'll all be okay."

At that moment, neither of them had it within themselves to push each other away or continue that fight any longer. They were both too tired to do anything, but as their little girl was there, looking for comfort, they knew — as parents— that they had to do something to help her. They had to do something to make her smile again.

" You see, Sarada." Sakura started, with a soft smile on her lips. " Papa here was the one who made me break that plate. He was bugging me and I ended up making a mess… But it's all good now."

" Papa! You're mean!"

" I know… But I'll take care of your mother until she gets better."

"No! I will take care of mama!" She hugged Sakura closer, hiding her small head in her mother's chest. Sakura could feel her breathing against her clothes, and somehow, her daughter's feelings managed to calm down her heart. It showed her that even if things were going to get tough again, she could not allow herself to be defeated.

Unlike all the other times, she's a mother now. She has to take care of her family, just like she had to take care of her boys back when they were still kids.

It was going to be hard and it was probably going to be a lot worse than before.

But as she looked down at her little girl and as she looked at the man next to her, she knew it would all be worth it.

For her family. For the love of her life, it would all be worth it.

" We will take care of each other, honey…" Sakura smiled, hugging her daughter closer. " Right, darling?"

" Aah. We will make it through."

And in that indirect and incomplete conciliation, the atmosphere around got a lot lighter. Soon, they heard the sleepy sound of an asleep Sarada, and they knew that the storm had gone away. Their little girl had just saved their family, and more than ever, they could see that they were not trapped in any kind of cursed cycle, no.

They have Sarada now. They have a physical proof of their love, and unlike all the other times, he will leave knowing there's a family waiting for him at home, and they will wait knowing he's doing it to protect them.

They will be separated once more, but this time, their love and their family will connect their hearts.

" We better take her to bed, right, Sasuke?"

" Yeah…"

" Can you do this?"

" Sure." He said, holding Sarada as they stood up. Sakura took one, deep breath, and even if she wasn't really fine, he knew that, eventually, she would be. His wife is a strong woman, and for that, he's thankful.

" Good night, Sarada…" She kissed her daughter good night, watching as a small smile appeared on her small lips. Her cheek was pressed against Sasuke's shoulder, and she could see as the girl's chubby hands were holding onto her papa as he took her to bed. Their girl really is perfect.

Their family is.

" Sakura…"

" What?" She looked at him, finally deciding to heal her wound.

" Thank you…"

" For what?"

" For letting me be selfish… with you."

She looked deep into his dark eyes, understanding the meaning behind his words. It made a sad smile crop onto her lips, as she walked up to him to place a chaste kiss on his lips. He let out a relieved sigh, turning away so he could finally take Sarada to bed. Just by that kiss, he could tell things were still not over. There was still a lot for them to talk about, and at that moment, he couldn't ask for anything other than that.

Things were not over between them, and they will never be.

And for the moment, that was the only thing they needed before they all could, finally, rest.

A/N: Prepare yourself for some angst, everyone! You know, this one showed itself to be quite a challenge because I couldn't really convince myself of a good reason for him to leave again… I personally hate the fact that he had to leave again, so don't expect any logical explanation for it in this story XD Still, hope you all enjoy it, and please, Reviews?