Chapter completely independent of the previous one

Seven Petals Till Sakura

II

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—So Sasuke, how did it go with sakura-chan? Did she accept to be your girlfriend? –asked Mikoto that afternoon when she sees her son return from school. Sasuke just looked at her before murmuring a greeting, ignoring his question and going to his room.

Little she knew that Sakura was more attempt to hate him than date him.

Mikoto has known Sakura for at least 10 years, since a five year old Sasuke came to her holding hands with a little girl.

—Her name is Sakura –was all he said, as if the most important question was her name and not the reason why he wasn't letting her go with her owns parents.

Even at that pure innocent childhood, Mikoto started to think that maybe Sakura was already chose from Sasuke as a new member of their family. And that think got harder when she noticed that Sakura blushed everytime that Sasuke was near.

How sweet it was to be around them at that age. Seeing his younger son completely adoring his friend at his own way was so funny that even Fugaku, serious as he always has been, asked her some news about that pair from time to time.

Sasuke never was found to be near girls, always admiring his older brother, Sasuke would prefer to play sports or physical activities where normally just boys would do. But since the moment he decided to stay beside Sakura, Sasuke would ignore part of his friends running around and just sit beside her to talk or watch her in silence.

That same rutine will go for some years until they were graduating from primary, even if the two of them still being inseparable, their sense of distance had changed and, unfortunately, Mikoto guessed that it was because of Sasuke.

—Why Sakura-chan hasn't come to play? –was what she asked, just curious for not seeing for almost two weeks that cute little girl that always was visiting their home.

—Why should she come? She's a girl –that ten years old Sasuke looked so angry, but desapointed at the same time that Mikoto couldn't comprehend how it was possible that the relationship between the two of them could just fall out. Thinking that it was just a quarrel between two friends, Mikoto huged him and reafirmed that he just have to invite her over again.

And even if some days later the Uchiha family received a visit from his little friend, the air between the two of them would never be the same.

—It just puberty –was what her husband said and, even if she herself kinda think that way, her worries remained for a longer time, but her younger son, so like his father, was starting to shut all his worries for himself. Eventually, puberty becomed her answer cause, what would be another reason for Sasuke avoid every little contact with Sakura-chan, but at the same time, stared at her that intensy?

She wasn't prepared to see her little boy fall in love that quickly, or maybe he already was but just didn't realized himself.

—That means that Sakura-chan would be my daughter in law? –what a joy would that be! After so many years she adored that little girl as her own daughter and, being around with two boys and his grumpy husband, imaginating being with a girl makes her house brighter. —But well, they're still kids, that would take a little time for them to just start dating.

When they entered middle school, Mikoto begin to prepare herself for the momento that his son would announce at dinner, akward as he was, that he was officially dating Sakura-chan. How wrong she was. Cause three years later she was still waiting for that annoucement.

—Maybe you were just imagining things, Sasuke is still young for being interested in dating girls… or in girls in general –spoked Fugaku as he flip another page of his book.

—But i was so sure about this –she responded laying beside him in the bed, preparing for sleep. —I know Sasuke has always being reserved, but he's so different with Sakura-chan. Dear, you had seen him.

—I know –he murmured desintered. —but the kid is still maturing, maybe he isn't ready. I mean, that kid couldn't even fried and egg on his own, are you sure you want a daughter in law that fast?

—Obviously i didn't mean that they would get married right now! But i'm just so confused. Everything looked so simple and cute when they were just childrens, but now that they grew up it's even akward to see them, it makes me nervous –she laughed at the memory of the both of them saying goodbye at his frontdoor. Eventually, Sakura stopped coming at all.

—I get it, but Mikoto –he called, for once closing his book. —Are you even sure that that girl is interested? –and at that momento Mikoto realized that, it was so long since the last time that she repaired in the look of Sakura's face. She remember that little girl blushing exagerately at the closeness of his son, but now? How was she now?

The response came a few days later when she returned from the market and find the two of them in her way back home. At first, she planned to turn around and take a detour to give them privacy, but while she think that, the hand that Sasuke tried to take was refused from Sakura. Sakura smiled bitterly and said a fast goodbye before going her own way. When Sasuke looked back and see her mother smiling ackwardly, he couldn't help the redness that comes to his face after being seen in that rejection.

—So… sweetheart, do you want something special for dinner? –asked to his son, trying to cheer him up even if was a just with food, but his little boy, not that little anymore, wasn't going to get better just with his favourite dish. —Come on, Sasuke. At least look at me –she said grabbing his hand. —I know that you don't like to talk about certain things, but don't you think that maybe i can help you?

—Mom, please stop –he murmured looking everywhere less his own mother. He was embarrassed enough for walking with his mother while she holds his hand, now if they start talking about feelings he preferes to just dig a hole and buried himself. —I'm fine. I can handle it.

—Right, cause that was the face of someone who "can handle it" –Mikoto said hurting even more the poor pride of his son. —Dear, i'm a woman. And i know that you don't like when i talk like this, but do you know how to treat a woman? Cause if you're going to be treating a girl the same you do with your brother, then i guess you'll never get married.

It wasn't her intention to nag at her son when he was already down, but his continous pride maked her mad. Why can't he just accept that he needed help? It was clear that, whatever it was his relationship with Sakura, it wasn't in a good stage.

The rest of the road Sasuke remained silence and Mikoto decided to stop insisting. If he doesn't want to talk, then there's nothing she can do about it. But for her surprise, maybe cause they were the only one in the house, Sasuke came to talk to her while she was cooking.

—What is a good way to apologize? –was what he asked. Mikoto looked at her son who evad her eyes. He wasn't being totally honest.

—Depends, what did you do? –but her son keeped silence. —Sasuke, i can't help if you don't tell me more detaills.

Maybe it was because Mikoto pretended to be busy with her own things or cause Sasuke was really desseperated, but he told her the truth. He told her how his friendship with Sakura had change with the ages in a way that he didn't like it, but couldn't do more to prevent cause they were different.

—She is a girl, it was weird to keep hanging out… or well, that's what they said.

That afternoon Mikoto understood that the reason why Sasuke stop inviting Sakura-chan was for prevent the rumors that could appeared. But Sasuke, being the kind of guy who doesn't speak much, never really tried to explain that to Sakura-chan until it was too late and she was already angry at him. Mikoto couldn't even imagine how dumb it was his son in the art of speaking for achieve messing everything that much.

He clearly didn't heredit that from her.

Sasuke was never someone who cares about how other people see him. But Sakura-chan was different, she was more emotional and her own self steem wasn't that good as his son. Maybe Sasuke was just trying to protect her from rumors that would affect her at school but with his separation, Sasuke was the one who hurt her most.

And now, even after all this time, he wasn't capable of come to a solution himself. He just want thing go back to how they always be, to how it always had to be even if they were now teenagers. But his tryes to talk to her just didn't work and he end up getting nervous and telling things that just upseted her even more.

—Dear, i know that the question maybe sound dumb. But did you tell Sakura-chan that you missed her? –she just wanted to conffirm that he had already clear that stage. If Sakura was hurted for Sasuke distancing himself from her with no explanation, then maybe with an apologize and being sincere she would actually forgive him. But when Mikoto looked the face of his son and his pale expression she understood, again, that his son was clearly not the brightest child when it comes to emotions.

—Well, I… –he looked very conflicted while trying to come with an excuse, but his cheeks that start turning pink just maked Mikoto more tired. His son can be really difficult to deal with and, even if she admits to herself that she was entertained to seeing him that flustered, she knows that the only person that it's making everything more complicated for him, it's himself.

—Sasuke, can you go to the market for me? I forgot to buy some groceries that i will need for dinner –she wrote some random vegetables in a note before giving to him. —And while you're out, can you pass by Sakura-chan home? There's some crockery that i lend to her mother some months ago but she hadn't returning it yet –when Sasuke was about to refuse, she added —Sasuke, i know that i don't have to say this twice, but i need that you bring everything that i just asked, if not, then we can't have dinner.

Sasuke knew the truth behind her words. If he didn't obey, he will be the one without dinner.

—Say hello to Sakura-chan for me and please tell her to come visit us soon.

After all, even with all the mistakes that Sasuke and his low social habilities, Mikoto still had hope of had that adorable girl as part of her family.

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