A year passed and everything fell into place. The whole Sasuke fiasco was averted when the Uchiha saw Hinata's younger sister. It was actually a good match since Hanabi is the type of woman who won't let anyone trample on her. And when she finally showed him just what she can to do him with the help of her Byakugan, Sasuke mellowed down.
But just when Kakashi is lowering his guard, Sakura started to act differently.
She is always breathing down his neck. Every little thing he does is wrong. She doesn't seem happy to see him after a long day of work. She doesn't want to eat anything he cooks for her. There's a permanent scowl in her face. She doesn't even want to sleep next to him anymore. She often opted to sleep on the couch or the floor. Sometimes, when she thought he wasn't around, he sees her stares absent-mindedly into the horizon, her forehead is scrunched so tightly that a deep valley of skin can be seen in her face even if she's relaxed.
Kakashi couldn't help but feel a growing sense of unease and confusion as Sakura's behavior continued to change. Is she already second guessing their relationship? Is there someone else? But who is suicidal enough to try and mess with her when she is with him?
Is Sakura even cheating on him? He never smelled anyone on her, and he should know since his nose can rival the Inuzuka. She is just... cold and distant. He would prefer that she is shouting at him than brave the cold, dead stares that she often gives him nowadays.
Kakashi's mind was filled with a whirlwind of questions and concerns as he observed Sakura's changing behavior. The once harmonious and loving relationship now seemed to be shrouded in tension and uncertainty.
Kakashi couldn't ignore the growing distance between them, and one evening, after another tense encounter with Sakura, he decided it was time to confront her about it. He found her in the living room, sitting on the couch and staring blankly at the wall.
"Sakura," Kakashi started cautiously, taking a seat beside her. "We need to talk."
When Sakura just stared at him without a word and without any thought. He had enough. He clasped his hands on her shoulders and lightly shook her. When she stared at him again, he can see her confusion.
"Sakura, what's going on? You've been acting distant, and it's tearing me apart. I can't even touch you without you flinching. Did I do something wrong? Are you okay?" Kakashi asked, his visible eye filled with concern and a hint of hurt.
But Sakura didn't answer him. She just stared at him with her big green eyes full of hurt. And then she burst out crying.
Kakashi's concern deepened as he watched Sakura break down in tears. He released his grip on her shoulders and instinctively pulled her into a comforting embrace. She clung to him, her sobs muffled against his chest.
"Sakura, what's wrong? Please, talk to me," Kakashi urged gently, his voice a mixture of worry and empathy.
Sakura struggled to compose herself, hiccupping between sobs. After a few deep breaths, she finally spoke, her voice shaky but filled with a mix of frustration and sadness.
"I don't want you to hate me, Kakashi." she managed to let out before her tears started to fall silently.
Kakashi's heart sank at Sakura's words. He tightened his embrace, holding her even closer. "Sakura, I could never hate you. What's going on? You can tell me anything."
Sakura took a shaky breath before finally opening up. "I... I was on a mission... six months ago." she started, and Kakashi's brow furrowed. If he remembers correctly that was when she started to act out, right after she returned from that mission. "When I was running towards a community on the outskirts of Fire country. I... I felt searing pain on my abdomen. I... I thought it was appendicitis or something."
Kakashi's eyes widened in concern as he listened to Sakura's revelation. He could feel his worry for her escalating, and he gently lifted her face to meet his gaze.
"Sakura, why didn't you tell me about this? What happened?" Kakashi asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.
Sakura hesitated, her eyes avoiding Kakashi's for a moment before she finally spoke. "I promise, Kakashi. I have no idea. I didn't know." and she was hysterically crying again.
Kakashi's confusion deepened, and he gently wiped away Sakura's tears with his thumb. "Sakura, take a deep breath and tell me what happened. I'm here for you."
Sakura took a shaky breath, trying to compose herself. "I was nearing the community. So, I... I ignored it. I was telling myself that I can examine myself thoroughly if I am on a place safe." she looked at him in the eye, and his heart constricted at the pain reflected in her green orbs.
Kakashi listened attentively, his concern growing with each word Sakura spoke. He could sense that whatever happened during that mission had a profound impact on her, both physically and emotionally.
"As soon as I arrived at the community, I felt something running down my legs." Sakura's voice trembled as she continued, reliving the painful memory. "I... I looked down, and there was blood. So much blood." Her hands shook, and Kakashi held them gently, offering silent support. "I didn't know, Kakashi. I don't have any clue that... that..." and she stopped because she can't stop the agonized cry that tore through her.
Kakashi's heart clenched at Sakura's words, his own eyes reflecting the pain he felt for her. He continued to hold her hands, offering whatever comfort he could as she relived the traumatic experience.
"I lost the baby, Kakashi," Sakura finally confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't even know I was pregnant until it was too late. The pain, the blood... I thought I was dying. And I was alone, in a mission, far away from any help. I... I couldn't save our baby."
The weight of Sakura's revelation hung heavily in the air. Kakashi's mind raced, and as hard as he tried he cannot process what Sakura just said to him. He recognized the words, but it felt like the meaning were lost somewhere.
For a moment, Kakashi couldn't comprehend the gravity of Sakura's words. The revelation hit him like a tidal wave, and he felt an overwhelming mix of shock, sadness, and a sense of helplessness.
"Baby?" Kakashi repeated. He was at a lost. He closed his eyes tightly when the meaning finally registered in his brain. This is not what he had expected. He expected her to say that she's bored playing the housewife when she's not even his wife or being with an old man. Anything. Anything but this.
He looked at the woman in front of him, and she is still crying. It's as if a dam had broken inside her and now, she can't control her tears.
"Ka...Kakashi." she sniffed, trying to get his attention. But his mind is somewhere else.
He let go of her hand. "I'm sorry, Sakura. I... I can't." he stood up from the couch and leapt out of their window into the night sky.
As Kakashi leapt into the night sky, leaving Sakura sitting on the couch, the room felt emptier than ever. Sakura's tears continued to flow, her heart heavy with the weight of the painful revelation she had just shared with Kakashi.
Kakashi, on the other hand, soared through the village, the cool night air doing little to alleviate the turmoil in his mind. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. The news of Sakura's pregnancy and the loss of their child hit him like a tidal wave, leaving him disoriented and overwhelmed.
His initial reaction was to distance himself, to escape from the reality of the situation. The news blindsided him, it was like a curved ball that he didn't see until the last minute. And he wants to distance himself from that pain. He wanted to have time. He closed his eyes again.
'Sakura is strong. She can handle this herself. I… I need time to think.' He convinced himself as he run away from their home.