A big thank you to the readers who have brought to my attention that this chapter needs some revision! I must've had a huge brain fart! I believe I've fixed the issues and hope you'll continue reading! (spoiler alert for those having doubts a bout finishing this story: not all is as it seems!)
Sakura glares pathetically at herself in the convenience store bathroom mirror while brushing her teeth. Whether it be from her illness or fried nerves, she had to pull over to be sick. Honestly, she has no idea what town she's in or how long exactly it's been since she all but fled Konoha. All she can think about is Sasuke, her family, and friends.
She feels like the biggest coward on Earth for leaving. When CEO Uchiha stated he's supportive of her relationship with his youngest son, it's like all the bravery in her being evaporated. In that moment, she couldn't help but to picture it all, the future they could've had together.
The Haruno woman is still so young. That doesn't mean she doesn't have adult dreams. Someday, she wants the fairytale wedding. She wants to be a mother. She wants to be a world-renowned surgeon. Tears well in her eyes as she rinses her mouth. Sakura has always wanted to make enough money that she can take care of her parents for the remainder of their days so they can finally relax and be comfortable. She wants her dad to walk her down the aisle, crying like the giant teddy bear that he is while her mom watches from one of the front pews with nothing but pride.
It's a tragedy, how things have ended up.
After purchasing some snacks and water for the road, Sakura leaves the store and begins to drive again. Does she have a destination in mind? No. Does she have even an iota of a plan? Also no. All she knows is that she panicked. Obviously, she regrets leaving without a word to anyone, but not enough to go back or even find a payphone to call home.
As someone who's recently learned how fragile a human life can be firsthand, Sakura's not thinking entirely straight. Tsunade gave her an estimate of two to three years, but she isn't going to make it that long if she doesn't immediately begin treatment. Maybe that's another reason why she left Konoha, so she won't have to spend her numbered days in a hospital, suffering through blood transfusions and chemotherapy.
"Like living out of motels, eating junk food, and avoiding everything is any better…" She mumbles to herself.
Sakura's not a monster or an idiot. She knows how worried her family and friends must be, but damn it! She's spent most of her life serving others and focusing solely on the future. For once, while she still has the chance, she wants to be selfish. She wants to be a child and pout and cry and drown in her own self-pity because if there's a time to do those things, it's now.
Her vision blurs as tears flow down her cheeks for what feels like the thousandth time in two weeks. That's how long it's been since she left Konoha, and that's how long it's been since she's seen a familiar face.
That night, in some large city that she doesn't care enough to identify, Sakura lays in bed at the cheapest motel she could find. The television is on, but she's not really seeing or hearing it. It's her own fault she's alone. She knows that, but she's still ever-so-aware of the emptiness on the other side of the bed.
If things were different, would she and Sasuke have ended up moving in together somewhere down the road? Would he have slept on the right or the left side? Would the time have ever come where they'd be able to relax entirely around one another? God knows it's what she wanted when the idea of being together first crossed her mind.
Sakura wanted to be there for the reserved man through thick and then. She wanted to prove to him that she could be trustworthy and that he wasn't alone. The woman's brow furrows as she tries to remember what the last thing she said to him is. More than anything, Sakura wanted to see a genuine smile on Sasuke's handsome face, one that he doesn't even try to hide.
And then there's Ino.
The Yamanaka woman is destined for success, and Sakura wanted to support her through it all. She wanted to be her maid of honor when she eventually got married, and she hoped to someday be the godmother of the blonde's children. Ino has been like a sister to her for years. Having to leave her alone on this planet breaks the woman's heart.
Her chest tightens as she imagines what Ino's face will look like when she discovers her death sometime in the future.
The last thing Sakura wants is to hurt anyone. She's convinced herself it's better this way. One swift bout of sadness upon discovering the truth when its already too late will be easier to overcome than witnessing the pinkette become a sickly shell only to die anyway. Suffer one big day of trauma rather than multiple miniature ones. Sort of like ripping off a bandaid.
In the back of her mind, Sakura knows there's no course of action where no one gets hurt. This is just the one that is easier to palate since she doesn't have to look anyone in the eye and see them pretend to be hopeful for her sake.
Sakura has never been more depressed. She keeps telling herself she should be proud of taking what's left of her life into her own hands, but she's not. There's really nothing that can make the situation better. It's as hopeless as hopeless can get.
Days pass, each duller than the last.
Before the Haruno woman knows it, a month has come and gone. She's lost some weight, her skin and hair have lost their shine, and she's feeling more strung out by the day. The routine of waking up, driving, going to sleep, and repeating has become so ingrained that time passes in a blur.
Her muscles are weak and sore from it all, too. She can't tell if it's solely from the lack of exercise or if her illness is also affecting her body. Regardless, she feels awful both mentally and physically.
It's the first week of February when there's a break in her routine. Sakura is passing through one of the busiest cities she's ever visited. She stops to refuel her car, the cold air whipping her hair around her face and stinging her skin. While shivering, she hurries inside to pay. As she goes to the end of the lengthy line at the register, she notices a few people glance her way but ignores it. It's likely they think she's some kind of drug addict by her appearance. She doesn't care enough to say something or correct them. Instead, she keeps her eyes averted to the ground.
Usually, this tactic works fine and those staring lose interest, but not this time. No, this time she hears someone whisper from nearby, "That's her, isn't it?"
Her attention is piqued. She still doesn't look up, though. There are other women in the store. They can't be talking about her.
"It has to be, with that hair. Should we say something or just call the number?"
That makes Sakura's gaze lift. It locks onto one short young man and one tall one standing in a nearby aisle with their phones in their hands and wide eyes. Teenagers. He and his friend look surprised that she heard them. The taller of the two smiles awkwardly and approaches with his phone facing her direction, "Is this you?"
Sakura wordlessly looks at the device's screen, not wanting to make any sort of scene in the busy store. There, on the most popular news channel of the area, are multiple photos of her with a number to call if she's spotted. Shock floods the woman's veins. Who registered her as a missing person?! The caption says she's potentially a danger to herself, too!
She shoves the phone away and shakes her head, "You've got the wrong person!"
The teenagers glance at one another, obviously not believing her. Panicking, Sakura rushes past the long line of customers and slams cash onto the counter, barking what pump she's paying for, apologizing, and rushing out of the place. By the time she's in her car, she's nearly hyperventilating. She wrestles her seatbelt on and tears out of the lot as though she's being chased by a pack of wild dogs.
She drives and drives, even into the night because she wants to put as much space between her and that convenience store as possible. Her eyes droop, but she keeps on. They can't find her now, not after so much time has passed and she's in this sorry state.
One moment, she's speeding down the freeway in the early hours of the morning, and in the next, a high-pitched squealing sound is ringing her ears. The steering wheel yanks roughly out of her hands, and then the car is hit with an overwhelming force. It flips once. It flips twice. Then, Sakura loses consciousness.
…..
Sasuke and Ino share a glance before awkwardly looking away. Then, the blonde woman knocks on the door before them. The unlikely duo would usually not be alone together, but right now they share a common interest: Sakura. It's been a month since the pinkette was last spotted. It's difficult to guess if she's just that good at covering her tracks or if she's managed to go unnoticed by sheer luck. Either way, all who're worried about her are at their wit's end, Sasuke included.
The door opens to reveal a busty blonde woman with a frown, "Ino, you know I can't give out Sakura's health records to-" "We have this this time!" Ino cuts off the doctor by holding up a signed and notarized document of authority from Mr. and Mrs. Haruno, the missing woman's parents, and their attorney.
Tsunade looks between the two young adults on her doorstep before sighing defeatedly and motioning for them to follow her inside.
It takes everything in the Uchiha man to not get his hopes up that the following conversation will lead to a clue regarding Sakura's whereabouts. He and Ino have been trying for weeks to verify Fugaku's claim that the woman had just received some medical news that she's dying.
The Haruno woman's parents became distraught upon hearing their daughter was missing, leading to Mr. Haruno collapsing again. Sasuke and Ino vowed to them both to do everything in their power to find Sakura so the two elders won't have to. Well, Ino made that vow and Sasuke tersely, yet wordlessly agreed.
"Would you like something to drink?" The doctor asks, obviously as a formality. She seems to have known what response she'll receive before the two younger persons decline. Sighing, she closes the door to her at-home office, which she's led them to, "Right. Let's get right to it, then."
Sasuke watches her walk around her desk to ultimately sit down and begin rummaging through one of the file cabinets beneath it.
Still, even after so much time has passed, he can't stop thinking about Sakura Haruno. For the most part, he's able to maintain a stoic facade in front of others. It's not easy. Oh, how he wishes his concerns and fears would dull, but they aren't. They can't because it's uncertain whether she's safe. There's no guarantee he'll ever see her again.
His thoughts are interrupted when Tsunade finds the file she's searching for and sits facing them with a frown. Her topaz eyes narrow, but even Sasuke can tell her heart's not in it. Clearing her throat, the woman wastes no time opening the file and reading off the paper with as little emotion as possible, "Following a blood test requested by the patient, it's been discovered that the patient has developed Acute Myeloid Leukemia."
The woman closes her mouth with a huff as though she can't bring herself to continue reading. Her gaze lifts to the two staring at her with wide, stunned eyes.
Sasuke feels like he can't breathe. He doesn't know many medical terms as that's not his area of expertise, but he's heard of Leukemia and knows it's not a good thing by any means. His father had been telling the truth.
Ino bursts into tears. Somehow, she manages to speak through the sobs, "What does that even mean?"
The doctor then tears up, too, which is something that can't hint to positive news. Sasuke's mind is a jumble of useless thoughts as she sets the file down and wipes at her eyes. There's a pause of silence before she clasps her hands together, regains her composure, and confirms the worst part of the truth, "With aggressive treatment, there's a possibility Sakura will live two to three years. Without it…."
Just like that, it felt like the Uchiha man's lungs had been ripped from his chest. His throat seems scratchy and swollen, which makes him cough. With a hand over his mouth, he stumbles to his feet and walks toward the door.
"Sasuke…?" Ino breathes through her own panic attack.
He presses his forehead to the closed door, waving dismissively at her with his free hand so the two women can't see his face.
She's really, truly dying.
Sasuke feels nauseous as his vision becomes blurry with tears that don't fall.
The room becomes silent except for Ino's sniffling. Minutes pass before the Uchiha man is able to gather his thoughts even a small bit. He takes a deep, slow breath. He straightens his spine and looks up while blinking to clear his vision before returning to his seat and fixing Tsunade with as firm a glare as he can muster, "Prepare the best treatment possible. I don't care what it costs. I have money."
The doctor's brows narrow, "You don't even know where she is, young man. How-" "I'll find her."
With that, Sasuke spared the weeping Yamanaka woman a glance that said it's time to go because there's work to be done.