The chirping of the birds and the sunlight passing through her window woke the pink-haired medic up. Before she could flutter her eyes open, she could instantly felt something was wrong. She could not exactly remember what happened the previous night. In addition to that, she could feel a constant throbbing pain in her head.
When she opened her eyes, she did not see the familiar pink-colored ceiling, however, she felt oddly comfortable wherever she was. She tried to sit up to familiarize herself more with her surroundings; she could not feel too comfortable. Before she could even try, her thoughts brought her back to her daughter. Sarada!
She abruptly sat up, panicking at how careless she was. At that moment, she saw her mentor, shaking her head. "Don't push yourself. You'll only feel worse." Tsunade remarked, standing beside the door.
Still, Sakura could not help but feel anxious at the situation she was in. Only then she realized she was in the hospital. What happened? Did she not come home last night? Her eyes widened then when she noticed that she was wearing a hospital gown, instead of her clothes. Moreover, she was sleeping inside a private room and not on the couch of her office.
"It's overwork, malnutrition, lack of sleep. Do I still have to mention these to you?" Tsunade said with a frown on her face, making her way to the stubborn patient. "You better lie down now." The head medic warned her apprentice.
"No. What happened? Did I pass out while tending to a patient? Sarada-"
"You did pass out. In your home. Sasuke brought you here." Tsunade quietly informed Sakura while checking her temperature.
"What?! I don't understand." Sakura replied, still refusing to lie down again.
Tsunade once again shook her head at the pinkette's stubbornness. "I can't tell you the details. But Sasuke carried you here. He only said that Sarada found you unconscious in the kitchen. He checked your temperature and observed that you were drenched in cold sweat. He was here until two in the morning."
"Wh- how did he-"
"Somehow your clever daughter called her father." Tsunade immediately noticed the worried expression on Sakura's face. "I will not lie to you. Sarada had been pretty shaken up. She kept on sobbing and asking Sasuke what happened to you. She did not even want to let go of your hand when we tried to check on you." Tsunade added, exhaling.
"I do not know what would happen if Sasuke had not brought you here immediately. You, as a doctor, know what overwork and sleep deprivation can do to one's body. When will you really learn?"
With that, Sakura had her head down as if being scolded like a child. With the amount of information she received, she could not help but feel guilty for worrying her daughter and even causing such a ruckus to the father of her child. Tsunade's voice had brought her out of her thoughts once again.
"You shall be in strict bed-rest for at least a week. Don't you dare to get up! I swear, Sakura. Don't worry about Sarada. Mikoto told me personally she would take care of your child. God knows, your daughter can cry. She passed out after crying for more than three hours non stop. Even Sasuke could not control her."
Sakura sighed as she heard her mentor's reminders. She could not imagine what a huge mess she did. Moreover, she would still get an earful from Ino after this.
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"Forehead girl!"
"I already know, Ino. I am such a pain in the ass."
It was eleven in the morning when Sakura found herself being attacked by Ino's scolding. She was even forced to eat a variety of vegetables. "You have to eat. Look at your skinny ass. Seriously, Forehead."
Sakura found herself sighing and covering her face with both of her hands. "Quit bitching and eat. You will have to explain yourself to me, Forehead girl."
"Do you really have to be this loud, Pig? I've already had enough of that with Tsunade-shisou. Not to mention, my mother would seriously nag me about this." Sakura exclaimed while eating her rice.
"Fine, I'll stop. In exchange, you have to tell me what's going on between you and Sasuke-kun." Ino said, wriggling her eyebrows suggestively.
With a brow raised, Sakura could not help but feel annoyed at the question. Seriously? "What are you talking about?"
"Oh please. The nurses had been talking about it. A handsome man carried Dr. Haruno in the hallways looking worried and anxious at the same time. Oh and well, when I found out what happened to you, guess who I bumped into at one in the morning? Yes, it's dear Sasuke-kun. So what? Did you two sort things out? Tell me." Ino said excitedly, her eyes widening in anticipation.
Sakura could not help but roll her eyes at that. "Sarada called him. It's not because he cared about me. He was concerned with Sarada."
"And how do you explain him staying here until you were transferred into the private room?" Ino replied mischievously, crossing her arms.
"He must have some questions to Tsunade-shisou, that's all. Don't put some more meaning behind it. He wanted to know what to tell our daughter once he gets home." Sakura remarked confidently.
Ino pouted slowly. "I really am disappointed. You have loved the man since what? Forever? And yet this is what happened to both of you. You guys even have a child together. And not to mention, a past that cannot be forgotten. Everyone in high school knew you guys will end up together."
"Ino…"
"I know, I know. I'll stop." The blonde raised her hands in surrender. "Anyway, I talked to him and said that he will visit you today with Sarada after her classes. I guess I'll go home after they got here."
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It took a lot of time to convince his daughter to come to school that day. Right after his daughter opened her eyes, his mother, Mikoto, was there in an instant, comforting the child. However, Sarada had kept on asking for her father. She was crying when Sasuke found her in her room.
He did not waste a second before crouching down to her level, explaining the situation to her. Mikoto worriedly left the room, afraid that her granddaughter would even cry harder.
"Sarada, Mama is fine now. She is still sleeping and we cannot disturb her." Sasuke explained, trying to calm his child. And yet, the tears kept flowing down from Sarada's eyes.
"Why did you leave Mama?! Mama needs us."
"Grandma Tsunade and Aunt Ino are there to take care of Mama." He carefully explained once again. But to no avail, Sarada shook her head.
"Mama needs me there. Aren't you worried, Papa? Mama is sick."
Sasuke exhaled heavily before wiping the tears on his daughter's face. "Mama wants you to go to school. She does not want you to worry about her. How about this.." He paused as he studied Sarada's expression. "I will accompany you to school today, and I will also pick you up after your class. And then, we will visit Mama."
With that, Sarada had seemed to think over what her Papa said. She stopped crying and looked up to Sasuke as if gaging whether he was telling the truth. Sasuke must have noticed this immediately. "I promise." He quickly added.
"Okay. That's a promise, Papa." Sarada said after contemplating. She also threw her arms around her father, expecting him to pick her up.
They descended the stairs afterwards, with Sasuke holding his daughter close to him and Sarada trying to hide her face in her father's neck. The maids were quick to assist the father and daughter for breakfast.
Both Mikoto and Itachi had given reassuring smiles to the Uchiha heiress while Fugaku insisted for his granddaughter to eat up. Out of the corner of Fugaku's eyes, he quietly observed his youngest son and Sarada. Sasuke immediately averted his eyes as if already knowing the questioning stare of his father.
Of course, this would be the first time he would be accompanying Sarada to school. It would only mean one thing: Sarada's existence could be revealed. Everyone who would see him with a little girl with almost the same features as him, they would speculate for sure. It would not be long before someone could dig up this information.
But that was the last thing on Sasuke's mind.
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The stares were unavoidable. After all, Itachi did not even dare to get off the car every time he would drop Sarada off. However, Sarada was still feeling bad leaving her Mama alone in the hospital. Only Sasuke could handle her in this kind of circumstance. Once he parked right in front of the school gates, he helped his daughter unfastened her seatbelt and accompanied her until the school entrance.
Sarada clutched her father's right hand; the five-year-old kid seemed to know what was going on for she asked Sasuke why people kept on staring at him. However, before Sasuke could open his mouth. Sarada giggled and said that her father is quite popular with his good looks. He smirked in return.
Before Sasuke left, he made sure to remind Sarada of her things and their earlier agreement. "Now, Sarada. I will be here at 2 pm sharp. Wait for me, understand? Don't talk to strangers. Be good to your classmates and teachers."
Sarada nodded before giving her father a hug. Sasuke crouched down to his daughter's level so he could properly return the gesture. But she seemed to be not contented and pecked her father's left cheek.
"Bye Papa! Take care." She waved her right hand before going inside.
Sasuke still tried to cover his face, but to no avail, people had started whispering around him. He was just grateful Sarada calmed down and that she was still oblivious about what was going to happen soon.
The drive to his office had been uneventful. However, as soon as he stepped into his office, a certain Hyuuga had already been waiting for him with a questioning look. Neji had been sitting in one of the couches while looking expectantly at Sasuke.
But Sasuke paid him no heed, he just asked Neji to fill him into the details of the meeting last night and proceeded to work as usual. "I will be leaving early today. You take over the meeting with Mr. Akamichi tonight."
And as usual, Neji had been right about his presumption that the president would not dare to explain his actions. He indeed is a very private person.
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Sakura had been bored. No, bored was an understatement of what she was currently feeling at the moment. With Ino leaving to take care of their flower shop so suddenly, the pink-haired medic was left alone in the confines of her room with nothing to do but watch the people outside the window.
Her thoughts drifted to her daughter. She was worried that what transpired last night could affect her daughter in the long run. She knew that these kinds of experiences could lead to trauma and such for Sarada's young age.
It was already past three in the afternoon and she could have guessed that Sarada might be throwing tantrum now, insisting to go to the hospital soon. Sakura was also worried that Sasuke might have been having a hard time controlling their daughter. Sarada could be really behaved and intelligent, but she had also been emotional. She could only guess she got it from both her and Sasuke.
The knock on the door brought her back to her senses. Sakura quickly slipped into her bed once again, afraid that it might be Tsunade checking on her once again. When Ino left an hour ago, Sakura stood up and made herself comfortable sitting at the edge of the window.
Due to her quick actions, Sakura regretted it immediately once she felt the wave of dizziness overcame her senses. "Come in!"
But in contrary to who she was expecting, Sakura had seen a flash of black before being cuddled tightly. "Mama! Mama! You're okay!" Apparently, Sarada was quick to climb up the bed of her mother without reservations.
With her mouth agape, Sakura stared at the back of her daughter. In that instant, Sasuke quietly made his presence known by slipping inside the room as well.
And before Sakura knew it, both she and Sarada were crying. "I am so sorry baby, I did not mean to worry you. Mama is fine now, see?" Sakura tried to soothe Sarada by gently rubbing her back.
"I was so scared, Mama. If Papa did not come, I do not know what will happen to you. Promise me, Mama. You'll be okay forever." Sarada insisted childishly in between her hiccups.
Meanwhile, Sasuke could not help but feel awkward at the sight. He could not explain exactly what he was feeling, but he was certain, he did not want to see them again in that situation. Since he did not want to be of any disturbance to them, he tried to excuse himself by saying he would buy some food.
But Sarada was quick to dismiss the suggestion. "Papa! We already did. We've brought you some dango, Mama." She turned to her mother this time.
Instantly, Sasuke cursed himself for being such an idiot. He could have just said something else..he did not even realize that he was still clutching a plastic bag on his hand containing Sakura's favorite foods.
"Thank you, sweetheart. It's so nice of you." Sakura smiled in which Sarada responded with a kiss on the cheek. "Mama always kisses me when I'm sick." The little girl explained quickly.
The sound of Sakura's laugh echoed throughout the room. "Now, I am all better." The doctor turned patient humored her daughter. However, it seemed that the little girl was not contented. She made a gesture for Sasuke to sit beside them. "Come here, Papa! You must also kiss Mama so that she can be back to a super Mama again!"
Sarada had let go of her mother's embrace and hopped off from the bed as soon as she noticed that her Papa would just stand there awkwardly. She clutched his hand to pull her Papa with her. She had even forced him to sit on the edge of the bed. "Papa, kiss Mama."
Oblivious to the fact that she had created some tension and awkward situation for her parents, Sarada quietly observed both her Mama and Papa. She could not help her excitement as she continued to urge her Papa to get closer to her Mama.
Sakura, however, had felt the panic building inside her chest. She had discreetly looked at Sasuke, asking for some help to explain the situation to their daughter.
"Sarada..you see.." Sakura started, but was immediately cut off by the pressure she felt on her forehead. Eh? Wha- what happened? It had not even lasted for more than a second, but it did not fail to make her heart race.
Sakura's eyes had widened fractionally while Sasuke averted his eyes quickly. The sound of Sarada's giggles had Sasuke wishing he just let Sakura explained everything to her. But it did not last long for Sarada had pouted and whined that her Papa should kiss her Mama in the lips.
Thankfully, the awkward situation was dissipated when Tsunade came to look into her favorite patient.
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It did not surprise Sasuke to find their daughter already sleeping on the nearby couch after he went to buy some coffee for himself. Sakura, on the other hand, was browsing through some magazines while sipping an orange juice.
She looked up and instantly averted her eyes as soon as she realized who came in. With their daughter already passed out, the tension and heavy atmosphere had settled once again. Sasuke could not remember when was the last time they had really talked. He could not even recall when did they last see each other.
He had purposely avoided any contact with her. It had even resulted in Itachi being some sort of a messenger between them. And when his brother asked him about it, the answer was simple: he did not want to have another fight with her. He quietly took a seat on the chair near her bed. He quietly sipped his coffee as if to relieve his stress.
"Thank you."
As soon as her words registered, he had frozen in his spot and discreetly looked into her. She had clearly changed over the past months. She was skinnier; her skin turned paler. And judging by the time he carried her last night, he could only guess how stress and her lifestyle had affected her.
"You haven't changed a bit." Sasuke's eyes had focused on their daughter this time, who was tossing and turning on the couch.
His eyes did not miss the sad smile that had found its way into her lips. He swallowed before continuing. "You never really take care of yourself. How can I trust you to take care of my daughter?"
He did not even bother to look into her to see her reaction. He stood up from his seat and went to Sarada. He easily carried the little girl and adjusted her position so that she would lean into his neck. "Itachi might be the one to bring Sarada to you in succeeding days."
Sakura did not even bother to acknowledge his words. But as soon as she heard the sound of the door closing, she turned her eyes on the dango left at the table.
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A/N: I apologize if there are grammatical errors and such. I am actually thinking of getting a beta..but Idk how seriously.
Please leave me a review.