Sakura can hardly hide her trembling as she sits under Shisui's arm, facing Itachi while her husband sits across from Mikoto.
She's battled it out with Shisui for the last few days over the forms on the table before them. Going toe to toe with the Uchiha powerhouse just for a little bit of breathing room in regards to their daughter had been a gut wrenching experience.
Now, the time has come for him to barter on Sakura's behalf.
"I looked at the contract and I wanted to negotiate with you."
Delicate brows furrow. "I'm listening."
Sakura swallows thickly, looking to Shisui and hoping that he won't steamroll her after their intense verbal sparring.
"Ten is a little bit young for marriage and deflowering." Shisui says, picking his words with care. It's bad enough that the Uchiha have a term for one of the many new rituals and ceremonies that their family adopted in response to the ravages of the virus over the last several years. "I was thinking that we could, perhaps, push it to eighteen or twenty. She'll be in her best bearing years and will be better equipped to show her prowess."
Mikoto's eyes become half-lidded with displeasure. "I'm sure you're so willing to overlook this, given that you're in a similar circumstance. But once a man reaches his thirties, his sperm quality becomes rather questionable. I'm willing to postpone for two years."
"Six," Shisui pushes. "She won't be able to bear him a second child if she's dead or rendered infertile from our hastiness."
"Four," Mikoto reluctantly hedges. "We're on a terrible time crunch and I wouldn't have even chosen your bootlicker line if I could have avoided it."
Sakura makes a mental note to ask him about this particular insult. Only Mikoto has ever called him abootlicker,but no one else has made such references.
"There are other suitors," He says.
"Yes." She agrees. "But none of them carry the prestige and power that you do. Are we increasing her age to fourteen?"
Sakura digs her nails into the meat of his thigh but he gives no indication that he feels it other than, "Fifteen. I won't go any lower than that."
The stare she directs upon him feels like misfortune to come, but then her son gently picks up the pen that lies between them. "I think it's a good idea. These are merely emergency measures until we've regained our numbers and we don't want to encourage early defloration more than necessary."
they talk so casually about taking the virginity of someone who isn't even born yet churns Sakura's stomach. Worse still, it started as a private affair just before Sakura was born. Then, around the time Sakura was twelve, it became a tradition where the bride's male family members would watch.
Now it's an event where the closest family and friends are invited.
Shisui's recently received an invitation from one of his friends and Sakura doesn't even know how to begin to broach it because every hour as an Honorary Uchiha is more fucked up than the last.
And she doesn't want to think about everyone who will be invited to her daughter's event, seeing that Sasuke is the second son of the Main House. It'll probably be plastered all over the television like Hanabi's coronation.
Sakura shudders and tries to swallow the lump in her throat. She feels like crying but there's no space for weakness here.
"I noticed you've moved marriage and defloration to a single event," Says the Matriarch. "Why?"
"It makes no sense for them to be separate." Shisui replies, cheek resting on his palm that's propped up on the table by his elbow. "And it ensures he won't change his mind afterwards, leaving her with no contract and no one who will contract with her again."
She steeples her fingers. "I want him to be able to take her with him on outings."
"I didn't object to that. Only that her defloration and marriage be the same event. If he wants her company during outings or other occasions, we're happy to oblige."
"You understand that he has no other suitors?" She asks him. "That this contract is an indication that she has been bred specifically to recieve him?"
"We do," He says, rubbing Sakura's shoulder with his thumb. It's a paltry comfort. "And we are exceedingly honoured to serve the Main House."
"Good. Now that this is out of the way, when is your next child?"
"Excuse me?!" Sakura hisses.
Mikoto's expression becomes ominous and Shisui is quick to butt in. "Soon. Sakura will be released from service after she gives birth and then I will-"
"Youhavea second concubine, you fucking idiot." Mikoto's tone is sharp, peevish. Sakura doesn't think her ire is actually directed at Shisui.
But she isn't going to take her anger out on Itachi. Yet. "And you've allowed her infidelity."
"Therefore," He says patiently, "I would need another concubine to ensure that her child has a sufficient partner."
She stares at him, pursing her lips, before glancing down at the paperwork once more. "Do you already have someone lined up?"
"I do."
This knowledge stings, but Sakura knows it isn't personal.
"Good." Mikoto turns to her. "I'll make it known in the contract that you will be invited to all milestone events."
The world comes to a screeching halt, Shisui's frame beside her stiffens and the pink haired woman realizes he never intended to let their child go free with her.
She knew the plan was for Izumi to raise his children, but had hoped he loved her enough to change his mind.
But here, in the cold fluorescent lights, she's able to see her circumstances clear as day.
No one is fighting her because they're getting what they want: Her baby.
And Sakura will be tossed aside like trash once they've gotten their hands on her.
"No," She shakes her head. "She's coming with me when I leave."
"I'm sorry but that isn't what your family agreed to," Mikoto informs her. "You should count yourself lucky that Shisui is releasing you three years early instead of forcing you to keep your end of the contract."
Sakura can't bear to look at the man beside her, content to let her believe his lie by omission right up until she would be too weak to stop him.
"He was supposed to deflower you much earlier, too. Shisui was everything a woman like you could ever ask for and you think you get to rip up the contract and leave?"
"Mother..." Itachi tries but his attempt to wrangle her is cut short with a brutal slap that Sakura thinks stuns more than hurts.
"Do not interfere. You've already usurped me enough."
His lashes lower and he wets his lips, not quite cowering but more biding his time. "Hinoko?" He asks quietly.
Shisui nods. "Excellent chakra control. Scouted into ANBU young."
"I'll get in touch."
"No need," Shisui replies. "I've already asked Izumi to."
Mikoto's hand comes up again, but this time it's to cup the side of Itachi's head and bring his face against her breast. "I'm sorry. I was a little too excited, wasn't I?"
His arms wrap around her waist. "I understand your frustration."
She lets go just enough that he can move upwards for a kiss and Sakura looks away. It's her least favorite thing about making Itachi's acquaintance, watching him pander to his mom with too much tongue and not enough reticence.
It's hard to imagine being in his shoes and she's glad she'll never be. Shisui has long grown used to it, so it doesn't bother him in the slightest. Sometimes, they'll even have full blown conversations from Itachi's marriage bed where neither he or Mikoto are wearing clothes.
Ick.
They part and the pink haired woman peers their general direction to see if it's over, finding Mikoto's forehead pressed against his, her hands cupping his face. "Gods, I've taught you so well."
"Anyway," Says Sakura because she physically can't take anymore of this horrible, incestuous cringefest, "I think our business is done here. Thank you for negotiating with us."
xXx
As she sets up her futon for a good sunning, she detects the faint notes of Shisui's chakra just as his body gently pushes against her. His big, firm hands come into her vision and he lifts her baby bump, taking the heavy weight off the muscles of her back.
She leans against him with a contented sigh and he kisses her temple, standing with her in the early morning sunlight.
His scent is minimal due to his careful choosing of soaps that would keep him from even the slightest detections, but his natural smell is pleasant.
"I decided to turn down the invitation," He tells her and her heart skips a beat. "There will be other social events to attend."
"Thank you," She whispers, tilting her head to make space for his gentle lips on her neck.
"Mm," He replies, stringing kisses over smooth skin. Their daughter stirs, kicking at one of his hands and she detects the faintest of smiles playing at his lips.
Sakura's had a few days of silence to process the blistering knowledge that, should she leave, she and their baby will be separated.
And she's considering staying.
This will require her to bear him another child once she's in full health, and force her to watch them groom their little ones into the roles that come with their father's last name.
To watchShisuigroom their little ones into the roles that he'd been saddled with himself.
But at least she'll be there to help mitigate the damage.
Her children will know that they don't have to accept the weight of the blood that has dripped through countless generations.