chapter 11
"Thank you", Sakura said smiling at Karin, she had gained enough chakra back from her to heal herself now.
Karin simply nodded, "Now we're even" she said looking to Sasuke who was fast asleep in a chair next to Sakura's bed. Karin thought back to the day Sasuke had almost killed her, Sakura had been the one to ultimately save her life. She remembered how the pink haired girl also almost died at the hands of Sasuke, then minutes later was healing her and crying over him.
"Yeah, I guess we are", Sakura said looking down at Sarada. "Karin...I know this must've been hard for you, I know how you feel about Sasuke-kun, and I know you must feel heartbroken right now, and thats why I appreciate you helping us even more", Sakura still smiling at Karin.
Tears spilled down Karin's face, she quickly wiped them away. Sakura face twisted with sorrow. "I'm so sorry you have to endure this pain, I know how it feels, I've been in love with Sasuke since I can remember, it's not easy to be in love with him".
"I fought like crazy, and trained hard for years to get him back. I stood against him many times, but still continued to believe in him, I've confessed my love for him on two separate occasions, and both times he said nothing he only left me with a warm smile, a poke to the forehead and a promise to see me again. Then one day he returned to me and something just clicked, we fell in love and got married.. and now we have Sarada"... Sakura trailed off.
Karin cried harder, " He was never mine, I see that now, you don't owe me an explanation", she sobbed. Sakura's eyes filled with tears, "Karin, I-
Karin shook her head, " You don't need to apologize, he loves you, it's not your fault". She walked over to Sakura. " Anyway, I need to wash Sarada-chan-- suddenly Sakura wrapped one arm around Karin and pulled her into a tight hug. Karin's eyes widened, her first instinct was to pull away but the warmth of the hug was inviting and Karin had to admit she needed a hug right now. She slowly started hugging her back.
Sakura released her, she smiled brightly. Karin couldn't help but smile back, she proceeded to take Sarada to the other room to bathe her.
Karin began washing Sarada, the infant cooed happily. She heard footsteps approach slowly behind her. "Sasuke, I knew your weren't asleep, how much did you hear", Karin asked. "Enough", he said.
Karin looked at him with a sad expression, "Oh".
" I'm grateful for your help today Karin".
"You know I see why your so in love with her, Hell she's married to the man I love and I can't help but like her". Sasuke flinched at the word "love" , he stood silent hair blacking out his eyes.
"She's precious to me, and it was not so long ago when I realized she had always been special to me", Sasuke said looking down.
Karin looked down also, "I see that now.. it was always her wasn't it"? Sasuke nodded, "Aah". He turned to walk away.
"Sasuke wait" he stopped and turned. She bit her lip nervously, "Take care of them. I can tell your really happy, and that's all I ever hoped for, for you".
Sasuke smirked at her, "I will, and Thanks Karin". Karin's eyes widened, the small smile, she remebered it well, the same smile he had given her the day they met. He walked out to go back to Sakura.
Karin finished up washing Sarada, she held the baby in her arms. The tiny infant looked up and smiled at her, tears welled up in her eyes again. She looked like Sasuke, but something in her smile made her look like Sakura as well. Karin felt her heart tug a little, it was strange she no longer felt sad, but contempt in a way. Karin laughed only Sasuke's child would be capable of making her feel this way.
They stayed for a week to make sure Sakura and Sarada were ok. Since Sarada had been born seven weeks early it was just a precaution.
"Thank you again for everything Karin", Sakura said hugging her. Karin smiled, she and Sakura had really hit it off this past week, she even dared to call her a friend. "Oh I almost forgot, here", Karin held a little box with a plastic see through top, it was Sakura and Sarada' s umbilical cord.
Sakura smiled and shook her head, "I want you to keep it". Karin's eyes widened, "But it's supposed to be kept by the mother".
"I know but, you also have a bond with Sasuke, even different from the one he has with me, you were on the same team after all and you two went through a lot together, and this is my way of keeping your bond alive, besides its also a way to say thank you for what you did for our family. By you keeping this, it says you are connected to us always", Sakura smiled brightly at the red head.
Karin couldn't help but smile, tears fell down her cheeks, "Thank you Sakura".
"Right, well we better get going, it's a long way back to Konoha" , Sasuke interjected.
With their young daughter in their arms they waved farewell to Karin, and turned to go back home.
Two weeks later they arrived at the gates of Konoha. "Anata, do you still feel like you don't belong here"? Sakura asked.
"Yeah", he replied. "But as long as I have you and Sarada, and even Naruto and Kakashi, anywhere will feel like home, and I'll always protect my home".
Sakura smiled brightly. With bright hopes for the future the Uchiha family walk into Konoha.