Day four: slice of life

A/N: one of the few (per the 'rules') featuring Sarada. I didn't know really how else to write this…

Sarada kneeled at the graves placing flowers on the freshly tilled earth. They were gone, both of them now. She was older now… in her late 20's married with her own family but it didn't make the actions any easier, the feelings any less.

They were gone, her mother and her father… one and then another shortly after. She couldn't help but wonder if Sasuke had passed first… would she still have one parent? Sakura had died ambushed on a mission with her husband. It had been days before anyone knew they were in trouble… several more before the rescue group found them. Several more before her injuries proved far too much.

Sarada had never once seen her father so angry, Naruto either. Both were in a rage their demons controlling their emotions and they went on a rampage that no one could stop… because the only person that could had passed. Her body cold, unbreathing, unmoving, being prepared for a funeral.

It wasn't more than a month before she knew he was slipping after her. He talked even less… saw little joy from his grandchildren, his other children. He barley ate, his eyes once a deep black, seemed almost grey. Sarada didn't know if he could even see at all by the end of it… knowing how their clan's key note ability had once caused him to go blind before.

She remembered screaming at him in pain and rage asking him to at least look at her. When he finally did every breath failed to fuel more words. His eyes were overflowing with pain, she was gone. His wife, his lover, the mother of his children. Gone.

She ran and hugged him and for the first time in her life, he cried, it wasn't loud the way Naruto's had been. It was silent and that broke her heart more than if he had made any sound at all.

"Papa…" she whimpered feeling how broken he was. "I'm sorry…" she repeated over and over like it was the only life line she had.

"I miss her… more than anything." He whispered brokenly, voice hoarse.

"I miss her too…" she took in a shaken breath "But she wouldn't want you to do this to yourself…" she wiped the tears from both their faces "You know she wouldn't…"

"I know… but I can't…" he didn't finish. "I'm here because of her. I had you because of her, she didn't give up on me… because I'd given up on myself." He told her and she shook her head.

"She was the strongest person I knew… but you're just as strong…" Sarada replied and slowly they went inside

It was another few months before she rushed him to the hospital, he wasn't responding any more… the doctors said nothing could be done… he was already too far gone as they stabilized him again. She sat vigil by his bed, wondering if her mother had done the same, probably.

"Sarada…" the voice like a ghost and she looked at him. Clutching his hand, too cold, in her own. "I love you, we love you." He whispered and that was it… his eyes slipped closed the heartbeat that had weakly been there was gone, flat lining. Her bottom lip quivered as they tried to resuscitate but it was too little too late. Her father was gone. Another funeral prepared. This time Naruto didn't break out into a rage, he seemed far too broken to do anything but cry.

So again… she listened to the words of condolences offered to her and her family. She stood tall un-breaking as they spoke.

This brought her back to the present. Placing flowers on the headstone her fingers tracing over both their names etched across its surface. Finally she cried, softly she cried… brokenly she cried. They were gone; she'd not follow for a long time. Yet she was almost comforted by the fact. Her father was no longer in pain… in any pain… his demons couldn't haunt him any longer. He could see his family, he could be with Mama. The thought that nothing could keep her parents apart was a comfort. No more long missions with little contact, no more unknowns. They'd be together…

"I love you…" she whispered wrapping her arms around herself feeling them behind her… as though they were hugging her too. Letting her know they had her… they loved her.

A/N: I'm sorry… it was an angst prompt.