"You're blooming." Tsunade commented one Thursday afternoon as she examined the pinkette across from her.
"Eh?!" Sakura knew her cheeks turned red at the sudden remark of her mentor. She averted her eyes as she tried to focus back on her paper works.
She sensed that her favorite student would not tell her anything, so she gave the pinkette a knowing look.
Tsunade hummed before blurting out, "You had sex. Probably multiple times this week." The Head Medic remarked as if she was just talking about the weather.
"Tsunade-sama!" Sakura exclaimed, not really expecting to hear that from her of all people. Sakura was lucky they were inside her office and not in the cafeteria wherein everybody could hear. "How can you just say that?" The pinkette whined after that. She set aside the files on her desk, now having her full attention towards her boss.
Tsunade put a hand under her chin and looked at the pinkette pointedly. "You have this aura I can't explain. You are glowing. Most of the nurses probably noticed." She said nonchalantly.
The conversation was then interrupted when Sakura's secretary knocked on the door and entered with a bouquet.
"Dr. Haruno, they are for you." The woman beamed, placing them carefully on her table.
The flowers are a combination of cherry blossoms, daffodils and cosmos, which are her favorite ones. There was a card attached to them, but nothing was written on it. The assistant suggested that it may have come from one of her patients, or perhaps another suitor, but judging from Sakura's reaction, Tsunade was sure it came from the rascal.
Sakura shyly accepted them and thanked the assistant before she left. Tsunade raised her eyebrows, causing for Sakura to blush harder.
"Hmmmm..seems the Uchiha brat got his head out of his ass."
"Tsunade-sama!"
Tsunade chuckled, obviously enjoying teasing the younger doctor. When she was done, she addressed her student once again. "It was about time. Nothing to be embarrassed about this. You two are in love. Had a kid, for God's sake. That's normal."
Sakura's expression turned sad instantly. Her shoulders slumped as she gazed on the flowers. "But we aren't a normal couple. We had to see in his car every time. We always watch our backs if someone is following us." She exhaled loudly before continuing. "We call each other every day, but I can't meet him for consecutive days because it's dangerous. I just..I just want us to be normal."
Before Tsunade can respond, but Sakura started to babble. "Oh, I'm sorry, Tsunade-sama. I did not intend to talk about my personal life. I know I should focus on my work."
The Head Medic waved her off. "Nonsense. I am glad you are able to tell me these things. You were quite stubborn and always seemed to avoid any confrontations about your feelings, but now, you are opening up. I'm relieved."
Sakura was beyond touched at her mentor's words. "Thank you, shisou. That means a lot to me."
"Yeah. You better be careful though, you don't want Sarada to give younger siblings right away."
With that, Tsunade stood up, smirking at her now flushed apprentice before exiting the office.
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Sarada started her lessons by the end of April. Her day begins at 10 am- she studies the history and traditions of Uchiha's with Auntie Izumi. In the afternoon, she learns the English language. And around 5 pm, she has piano and violin lessons.
It was going well at first. The instructors praise Sarada for being a quick learner. She is smart and eager to learn.
But Mikoto observed that her granddaughter barely smiles nowadays. She does not play her dolls anymore and studies all the time.
"Sara-chan, why don't we have a tea party today?" Mikoto smiles, encouraging her granddaughter that it is fine to take a rest for a while.
Sarada thought it over for a moment, but eventually shook her head no. "I have to do my homework, Grandma."
Mikoto's smile faded instantly. She felt that Sarada was becoming more and more like Sasuke and Itachi back in the days.
"Are you not tired?" She asked in concern.
"I'm okay, Grandma." The little Uchiha beamed, but Mikoto was not convinced enough.
More days passed, and Sarada's bright personality drastically changed. She was mostly quiet, more polite. She stopped asking for her parents and followed the Uchiha protocols like a robot.
It did not last long, however.
On that day, Sasuke went home earlier than usual. He wanted to surprise Sarada and maybe take her to dinner- he felt sorry that he could not spend time with her for the last few days. He thought that Sarada was rather feeling lonely now that he and Itachi were always gone.
So the shock he felt was an understatement as Sarada merely looked at him and bowed her head.
Sasuke turned to his mother as he frowned in confusion, trying to understand Sarada's out-of-ordinary behavior. Mikoto looked at him with a pained expression.
Nonetheless, she did her best to persuade her granddaughter, urging her that her Papa will finally spend time with her.
Sarada bit her lower lip, looking at her Papa and Grandma back and forth. She looked uncomfortable, even guilty.
"Sarada, it's me. It's Papa." Sasuke moved forward before crouching down to her level. He was so confused and uneasy as he tried to understand his daughter's behavior. He knew something was wrong.
With a last push, Sarada threw her arms around her Papa. And she began crying.
Alarmed, Sasuke automatically lifted her up, patting her small back softly to comfort her. "What's wrong?" He asked gently, and Sarada only cried harder. "I am here now. Papa is here."
Sarada just held on to him even tighter, burying her face into the nook of his neck.
Once she had calmed down, he carried her to the living room. They sat together on the sofa, and Sasuke instantly tucked her hair behind her ears. He carefully wiped her tears away.
Meanwhile, Mikoto sat across them quietly, worriedly looking at her granddaughter.
"Do you not feel well?" Sasuke asked. "You can tell Papa everything." His brows are knitted together, assessing his daughter from head to toe.
But his questions were answered shortly as he put a hand on his daughter's cheeks and forehead. She had a slight fever.
He clicked his tongue in disapproval. "You have fever, Sarada. Why didn't you tell Grandma?"
Sarada shook her head. "Kagami-san t-told me I-I must stop calling her Grandma. A-and that I should address you as Tou-san and not P-Papa." She hiccupped before continuing. "I-I don't want t-to bother you, Papa." And then she cried again.
Mikoto was beside them in a heartbeat. "My dear, you are not a bother to any of us. We love you."
Sasuke, however, felt his temper rising. "Sarada, Kagami-san..the teacher assigned to teach you history of Uchihas."
"Yes. He told me I'm an Uchiha and should act like one."
Without a second thought, Sasuke pulled his daughter into his arms, trying to control his fury. That Kagami will never step foot in this house again, he silently vowed. He will make sure of it. And that old Madara could do nothing.
"It's okay. Do not cry anymore. Just promise me, if you do not feel okay, you will tell Grandma. You can even call Mama and Papa, okay?"
"But you're working."
"No matter what happens. No matter how busy we are. Even if we are at work. You should tell us, or you'll feel worse and we'll worry." Sasuke stroked her short hair softly.
Sarada nodded, fisting her hand into her Papa's suit. "I'm sorry, Papa."
"It's fine. You don't have to say sorry."
"I really really missed y-you and I-I want to go to d-dinner. But I'm sick." At this moment, Sarada's cries subsided and turned into quiet sniffles.
"There will be next time. Now, rest. No homework. No reading." Sasuke scooped the little girl in his arms and carried her to bed.
Mikoto followed them soon after, bringing up some medicine and water. What she found was an already sleeping Sarada, a wet towel on her forehead and thick blankets wrapped around her. Sasuke, on the other hand, was seated on the edge of the bed, eyeing his only daughter.
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Madara frowned when he heard that Sasuke canceled the meeting with the investors. And worse, he did not even show up to work and not consulted his secretary. The first thing he did was call his favored heir, but he was not answering. He also was not replying to his messages.
A little concerned, he went to the Uchiha mansion to look for him.
What he found when he arrived was not what he expected.
The maids were carrying suitcases to Sasuke's car. More so, it didn't look like it was for a brief trip as other maids brought out boxes of books. Clearly puzzled by this, Madara strode in the mansion. There, he saw dolls and other toys on the floor.
"What is this?" Madara glared at the innocent maids.
No one dared to answer him. They all politely bowed their heads in fear. Out of the corner of the elder's eyes, he saw Fugaku and Mikoto emerge from the living room.
"What is this, Fugaku?"
Fugaku did not seem to be afraid, however, as he confirmed Madara's earlier suspicions. "Sarada will stay with her mother for a few days."
"Why?"
But it was Sasuke who answered him, descending the stairs. "I see no reason my daughter has to put up with this nonsense."
At that moment, Itachi, Izumi and Hazuki entered the mansion after seemed like a walk in the garden. They all looked shocked as they witnessed Sasuke glaring at the elder. They automatically stopped deadly in their tracks as they carefully observe the situation.
There was quiet and heavy tension in the air. Just the two men scowling at each other. And no one moved.
"Watch your words, Sasuke." Madara told him after seemed like an eternity. His voice was low and dangerous. "A few days, Fugaku says? It didn't look like just a few days."
Sasuke saw his mother gulped nervously from the corner of his eyes, but he was so tired of all these. He already did everything they asked, even to the point wherein he had to be separated with his little family for a long time. He could not even pursue his own dreams, could not make his own decisions, could not be with the woman he loves.
And yet, he still followed them all. But for them to do the same to his daughter?
He would not allow it. He would not just stand by and do nothing.
"I will not let my daughter grow up like this." Sasuke started, his tone equally deep and menacing. "That Kagami was fired and all the lessons will stop. Sarada will live with Sakura from now on."
Madara squinted his eyes at that. "You're too arrogant, boy. Try it and you shall see." The elder warned.
"Then go ahead. Exile me." Sasuke challenged. "I don't care."
No one dared to interfere. Not even Fugaku. For all he knew, what Sasuke was doing right now was the exact same thing he should have done for his sons a long time ago. Mikoto, on the other hand, was already crying beside him. He felt her hand squeezed his, most likely in an attempt not to run in defense of their son.
At the same time, Hazuki looked like she was reliving her past. The same confrontation with Madara. The same conversation of being disowned. But she could not further dwell into her thoughts as Sasuke turned around and went to Sarada's room.
When he came back, Sarada was already in his arms, fully dressed. She looked weak and tired and clung to her father fiercely.
Madara glared at him. "Don't you dare."
But Sasuke paid him no mind as he walked past by everyone and eventually made it into his car. He peered into the side mirror only to see all his family members watching him drive away.
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Sakura could instantly tell something was not right, judging by the expressions of both father and daughter.
She noticed the sad expression of Sarada. "Sarada, honey, are you okay?" Sarada just hugged her mother, saying nothing. The pink-haired medic then turned to Sasuke for an answer, only for him to let out a long sigh.
"Mama, I'm sick. And Papa told me I'll stay with you again because he can't take care of me."
Sakura worriedly gazed at the back of her daughter's head. As soon as Sarada let go, Sakura worked auto-pilot and check the little girl's temperature and prepared her medicine. She also arranged Sarada's bedroom immediately so she could rest properly.
Sarada hugged her stuffed toys as Sasuke and Sakura carefully tucked her in. Sasuke kissed her forehead. "Feel better, okay? Call Papa if you need anything."
Sarada nodded before drifting off to sleep.
As soon as they exited the room, Sakura turned to Sasuke. "Hey...tell me. What's going on?"
Sasuke shifted uncomfortably as he hesitated. Sakura stepped forward and put both of her hands on each side of his cheek. He finally looked at her as her thumbs caress his face. "Tell me. Is there anything I can do to help?" She asked once more.
Sasuke covered her hands with his before leading her to the sofa. Sakura patiently waited as he tried to organize his thoughts.
"Had an argument with the old crone. Sarada was clearly exhausted from all the stupid lessons. That's why she got sick." Thinking about it had him wishing he did not just fire that Kagami. It was truly unsettling how Sarada changed drastically in just a few weeks.
"Hey.." Sakura whispered, putting a hand on his shoulder. "She'll be fine. Sarada's our daughter, after all." She paused as she thought over what could happen now that Sarada would stay with her. "But is this fine? Won't Madara go to see me here and force Sarada back?"
Sasuke shook his head. "I will make sure that won't happen. Don't worry."
"Okay, I trust you." Sakura smiled reassuringly as she stood up to go to the kitchen. "Have you eaten yet? I'm sure you watched over Sarada all night."
Sasuke merely stared at her back as she opened the refrigerator to look for ingredients. She brought out a pan and started cooking. Before Sasuke knew what he was doing, he was hugging her from behind. He kissed her left shoulder and leaned into her neck.
"Hey..." She exclaimed, clearly surprised. "I'm cooking, Sasuke-kun!"
"Just one minute." Sasuke mumbled. His arms were around her waist and his breath tingling her neck, causing goosebumps all over her skin.
His hold on her tightened as he inhaled her scent. She smelled so good, and he suddenly felt better than ever.
A minute passed, but Sasuke still didn't let her go.
"It's okay." Sakura muttered soon after. "I'm here, Sasuke-kun. And I'm not going anywhere."
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A/N: Probably around two to three chapters left on this one. Hopefully, I can finish it this year or early next month since I'll pretty much get busy in January. Also, if you're interested, follow me on twitter (uchisass)! I created a socmed au in there!
Anyway, hope you enjoyed this chapter! Tell me what you think by leaving reviews!
Wishing you Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! (just in case I won't be able to update in the next few weeks)