Originally, this chapter was part of what used to be a chapter that was 50,000 words, until I split it into its own chapter in the original that was greatly expanded upon. I didn't change this chapter that much from the current version that exists in the original; I changed things here and there so it would stay consistent with the current version.

I think this chapter is better in this version overall because of context. When the Blue Raven prequel is completed, I believe it will be even better because of the context. Not to mention, already establishing Sasuke as being in love with Mercedes prior to this story makes it feel better than it was in the original, where it was only in the span of a few months.

I consider Sasuke and Mercedes to be the closest I'll ever get to writing SasHina, as I can see similarities between Mercedes and Hinata in terms of their temperament. However, there are enough differences that they feel unique. I've grown to really love this pairing, even if I'm the only one who loves it. I do enjoy writing it; it's my favorite ship in the story to write about, and I love it even more since I've done the rewrite. It's a shame there's no fanart with this pairing.


Chapter 17 May my angel smile

Mercedes age 10 1167

Mercedes was confused. Why were her mother and she leaving? Where was her little brother? Where was Emile? All this was confusing to the 10-year-old girl. It was her birthday today, yet she was forced to leave the one home that she knew. It was raining, yet her mother and she were out in the street, trying to escape her father's household, and her mother wouldn't tell her why.

"I want to go home," Mercedes said crying. Her mother didn't say anything, which worried the confused child. Her mother never did that. She hated being out here. She hated being away from her home. It was cold. She was soaked. Her feet hurt. It was supposed to be her birthday, a happy day, yet she was out in the rain, miserable.

"There are those who don't want us in their home, especially your father. I had to leave. I wish I could say more," the woman said, her voice breaking, barely able to keep her composure. Her inability to not cry showed that she wanted to, and the 10-year-old was able to pick up that her mother was crying and was trying to be strong for her.

"Why? What have we done wrong? Have I been bad? Why can't we go home? Why are we out here? Why, Mama?" asked Mercedes, a short-haired girl who couldn't understand for the life of her why things were so cruel in this world.

"You've done nothing wrong, dear," her mother said, but she didn't believe it. She couldn't understand why there had to be a reason why her mother married the man who was the father of her little brother. There had to be a reason, and it couldn't be just love. But if he loved her, why did he force them out like this?

"It's not fair," Mercedes said, crying. They were continuing to walk. There was a point where she wore the nicest clothes money could buy, but they were now dirty and soaked with the heavy rain. She looked around and saw children her own age in warm houses, even some celebrating their birthdays. They weren't nobles; they were just commoners. There was nothing special about them, and she wondered what it would be like just to be a normal child.

"I hate birthdays," Mercedes said. Her mother stopped and then looked at her with the saddest look she had ever seen from her mother, the blue-eyed woman whose hair was blonde. She embraced her, and Mercedes was confused. Why was she doing this in the rain?

"I'm so sorry, my angel. You should be in a home that's warm, and you should be surrounded by people who love you, not out like this. I'm so sorry, Mercie, my little angel, I am." The woman sobbed uncontrollably. Not only did this day cause Mercedes misery, but her own mother too. She hated the nobility it caused her family; nothing but pain. Her brother, what was he thinking now? Did he think his big sister abandoned him?

"I wish I had never been born with a crest," Mercedes said quietly. Her mother looked at her and understood only too well the burden that they both bore. What men coveted, they didn't care about them as people.

"Why can't Emile be with us? Why?" Mercedes asked, confused.

"I wish I could answer that," her mother said. This day was always hell for her. Nothing good ever happened on her birthday. She hated this day and being out in the rain with her mother, looking for a place where they could sleep for the night. She had never had a positive memory of birthdays. They were always associated with something bad, and this day was no exception.

"One day, someone will make you smile on your birthday, my dear child, and when they do, I hope this day becomes a distant memory." They didn't say anything else the rest of the day. The one thing she remembers was her mother's sad face.


Mercedes woke up. It was just a memory, she thought. Why was she thinking about that day? She didn't want to think about it, she didn't want to remember it. The day that she and her mother were forced to leave everything they knew behind, the day she was forced to leave her brother behind, the life that she knew. She never had pleasant memories on her birthdays. She always associated birthdays with something bad. On the day she was born, her father died. She may not remember her father's death because she was a newborn when it happened, but it doesn't change the fact that she was born the day her father died.

When she was four years old, she remembered her step-siblings tormenting her on her birthday. It was not a day she particularly loved at all. She hated it. Every other child was happy on their birthday but it was nothing like that for her. It was nothing but misery.

When she was 5, she remembers being gifted a toy by her brother Emile, who worked really hard to make it for her. Unfortunately, her step-siblings ruined it. She tried to hide her disappointment with a smile, but it didn't fool her brother or her mother; they both saw right through it. Underneath her smile was a crying and sad girl.

At the age of six, she had a fever and was miserable for the whole day. She wasn't able to do what she normally does. Her mother and brother kept her company so she wouldn't be alone.

At the age of seven and eight, it was the same. The tormentors of her childhood, her step-siblings, constantly rubbed it in that she wasn't part of their family, and they spent extra time torturing her on her birthday. She shrugged it off with a smile, despite the fact that she was crying when all was said and done, and she was alone. She doesn't remember her ninth birthday, nor does she want to. Nothing notable happened, but she was still not happy. The memory that she recalled just now was the worst of them when her stepfather revealed that he no longer needed Mercedes or her mother. He already had a child; he no longer had any use for them and cast them to the streets.

Every birthday after that, she hid her sadness and her depression. It was always birthdays that made her the saddest of any day because of what she associated them with. She didn't tell anyone about her birthday because she didn't want to be reminded of an awful day that she constantly remembered since the age of 10. She had not had one birthday that she could remember where she was truly happy. Her birthday would be tomorrow, and she wished she could just get it over with.

When she left her room, she couldn't show what she was feeling on the inside. Her friends couldn't see her sadness; she didn't want to ruin their mood. She wore a fake smile, a smile that only the people who know her best would know it's fake. The only people who could see right through it were her mother, her brother, and a few others.

She her right hand where her heart was, yes, Sasuke would be able to see right through her. Sasuke knew about the sadness she feels on her birthdays especially the first time he spent his whole day with her back in konoha. She hopes he doesn't go through the trouble for her again. Mercedes doesn't believe she is not worth the trouble. She's nowhere near worth the trouble. She'll smile for everyone else's sake, while deep down, she is dejected.

She got ready for the day and will act like nothing is wrong because who was going to see through her, other than the people that know her best?


Sasuke was working overtime to get the earrings done. He had to take a break; he was frustrated with the earrings not turning out the way he wanted them to he had been working on them for 5 years and he was unable to get the ingredients to complete it. He wanted to make them perfect, to show Mercedes the love he put into them. He heard a knock on the door and hoped it wasn't someone trying to ask him for something. When he opened the door, he saw it was Annette, Mercedes' friend. They rarely got a chance to talk one on one, so he knew she wouldn't be at his quarters unless it was something serious.

"Sasuke, are you free for a moment?" asked Annette. Sasuke figured he could use the break from his lack of progress on the earrings.

"Yes, I could use a break right now, Annette-san," Sasuke said as he sat across from her on his chair while she sat on his bed. He wondered why she was in his room.

"It's about Mercie, Sasuke. I know you're going all out for her on her birthday, and I want you to know that because I've known her for a long time, I appreciate what you've done for her. I've never seen her smile like she has until she met you again 4 months ago." Annette said with appreciation. Sasuke didn't know why she was telling him this alone when she could have told him when they were alone with her boyfriend.

"She may think she has me fooled, but I never pushed her because I never wanted to. She's always sad when her birthday is near; I can't explain it. I don't ask about why because I don't want to see her cry, and you don't either. I've made many attempts over the years to try to get her to smile on her birthday, but I failed." Annette confessed, surprising Sasuke. He had no idea things were so bad. He knew she was sad when her birthday was ever brought up, but never like this.

When she spend the year in konoha when it was her birthday he remembered for the first time in their friendship that she was sad to the point where she cried Sasuke felt hopeless that day he knows did as well it was the first time Sasuke felt completely powerless to do anything for the people he cared about.

"That's exactly the reason why I'm determined to finish these earrings. For five years, I have been working on these. I want to see her smile for once on her birthday," Sasuke said. Annette was able to see through him. Sasuke knew Mercedes and Annette were close, like Hinata; Mercedes is Annette's best friend.

"Sasuke, I could tell by your actions and everything you have done in the past four months that your feelings for Mercie are more than friendship. I see the look you give her, the longing you have. I don't see that many people do what you do. Your actions tell me more than words that you love her and have for five years." Annette was on point. He could not lie to her, even if he wanted to, because she was correct. It took him everything he had when he first arrived not to give in to his greatest desires. His fear, though, was shattering her like glass. He felt unworthy of her, and he still feels this way even after that night they had together in that cave.

Annette walked towards where the earrings were and looked at them with her eyes, inspecting them.

"I could tell you put a lot of love into making these. She'll love them because you made them with your own hands and your own heart and soul. It's through this, Sasuke is why I give you my blessing to be together. Because any man that doesn't go as far as you are isn't worthy in my opinion. I'm rooting for both of you," Annette said with a smile. Sasuke couldn't believe she know it she probably doesn't know that they have gotten together two weeks ago.

"You know you're not very good at hiding that you two are a couple, but don't worry, I'll keep it between us because it's no one's business what you two do alone together. But…" Annette then stopped, and her tone turned serious.

"If you do anything to hurt her, Sasuke, I do warn you, the retribution will be swift. She's been through enough hell; do not break her heart." She says with seriousness. Sasuke would never do that, but he understood everyone's protectiveness of her, considering the hell that she had been through. He doesn't know if he deserves her and doesn't believe he does. Someone pure like her doesn't deserve a tainted and pathetic coward like Sasuke Uchiha. He would never admit that out loud, as to do so would reaffirm what those who doubt his relationship with her feel.

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone that you two are together, though you aren't really doing a good job hiding it." Annette said with her outgoing smile, which was a contrast to her serious expression from earlier.

"Thank you for coming here, Annette-san. Now, I'm determined more than ever to finish this." Sasuke said as he went back to resume his work. Annette quietly left the room. Sasuke was determined to finish this, even if he got little to no sleep. He wanted Mercedes to have a smile that would break the curse of her birthdays, which she hates so much.


Mercedes had barely slept. She looked at the time, and it was almost time for her to get up. Another memory, another reminder of how awful this day is. She looked at herself in the mirror; there were shadows in her eyes due to her lack of sleep. She went to her drawer and opened it, and used the makeup that her friend Annette gave her in order to cover up the little sleep she had. When she was done, she left the room. The last thing she wanted was for her boyfriend Sasuke to see her in this pathetic state.

She didn't want her friends to know what she was feeling, either. She couldn't ruin their day because of what this day was: the day of her birth, the day that always is associated with something bad. She walked out of the room and didn't pay attention to what she was hearing anyone say. Her goal was to just get through the day without anything bad happening. Was it really too much to ask? Could the goddess really give her at least one birthday that isn't like the others, especially like the one when she was five.


1162 Mercedes age 5

"Oh, look at that ugly bear," said one of her step-siblings, a girl who, at the time of the memory, was five years older than Mercedes. She had long brown hair and wore a long blue dress, while Mercedes, in contrast, had a simple yellow dress, and her hair was shoulder-length, tied with a ribbon that was her brother's favorite color, pink.

The bear, in particular, was nothing spectacular, but to Mercedes, it was a precious gift given to her by her brother, which her siblings were mocking because of how ugly they thought it looked. She didn't care.

"Please give it back." Mercedes bagged her older stepsister laughed.

"Why would you like this ugly thing? We can simply buy one from the market. It's ugly and not suitable for a noble girl like yourself." Her step sister said as she ripped off the Bear's head, she screamed, her siblings laughed, her older brothers. It wasn't just an object to her; it was a gift from her brother who had worked hard to make it for her. Why did they have to be so cruel? Why can't she have one day free from this family's cruelty? That five-year-old girl did not understand why children can be so cruel to others.

Her brother Emile went to her side, he was resisting the urge to cry himself. All the effort that he had put into making her gift, and their siblings laughed after her eldest sister destroyed it.

"I'm sorry, big sister. I wish I could protect you." Her little brother said this as she looked at him. She had to be strong and couldn't cry in front of him.

"It's not your fault, Emile," Mercedes said as she hugged him.

"I should be able to protect you. I'm too weak. I wish I could grow up and be big, so father and those children wouldn't hurt you again. I hate them." Her brother said this darkly. She wanted to cry even more, but she couldn't let him see her darker emotions, even though she also hated them. She had to protect his innocence, as she was his big sister.


Sasuke was beyond nervous; he had just stayed up all night trying to finish the earrings that he had worked hard to make. Annette and Felix helped him get the materials needed, with some additional assistance from Hilda who Sasuke reluctantly accepted help for the materials whatever required. They went along their way, and Sasuke spent the remaining the days doing the final adjustments to the earrings that he wanted to make.

For five years, he had been making these earrings. He treated the earrings that he was working on with care; he did not want a failure. He did not want five years of labor to go to waste. But it wasn't about that—he had spent five years longing for Mercedes. Even if she may not return her feelings to him, he at least wanted to show her through his actions that he cared. When she left, it left a gaping hole in his heart, and his biggest failure was not being able to protect her when Itachi kidnapped her.

He disregarded that memory, the anxiety he felt when she was taken, and how the village did not care. The Hokage didn't even try to search for her. Sasuke had risked everything, including becoming a missing-nin, in order to find her. It was on that desperate search he realized he was in love with her. After that experience, he was determined to express that love in whatever way he could, even if she never returned it, even if she didn't understand it.

He had worked on the earrings right after she was saved, but not thanks to him, of course; it was because of Jiraiya and Guy. Every single time he worked on these earrings represented blood and tears and a longing for something he didn't believe he deserved: peace and love. He didn't feel like he deserved these things. The only thing that mattered was seeing Itachi dead. That's what he thought before he met her.

It would hurt her in the end, he knew it would. Itachi had to die, even if he had to die with him. These earrings were made so that Mercedes would remember him and know that someone loved her. He didn't want her to forget him. The necklace he made put a lot of heart into it, but it was nothing compared to the earrings. The earrings were, in his own way, expressing his love.

When he finally finished the earrings, he looked at them. They were not exactly what he wanted, but there was no way to make them better than they were; he ran out of time. The next time he faced his brother, he may die. He may not get another chance; he had a strong feeling he would face him soon.

He was a worthless wretch; he truly was. But he couldn't control how he felt about her, and the night he finally gave in to his greatest desire, it would hurt her in the end. Yet still, even then, he couldn't deny her. He would like to indulge in the fantasy of a future with her, even though it was nothing more than a fantasy.

He went to sleep, even though it wouldn't be that much sleep. He was proud; even if it wasn't exactly how he wanted them to be, at least he had finally finished the earrings that he had worked through blood and tears to complete. At least he would have one thing that would be worth remembering him by when his time came—when he and Itachi would have their duel to the death.

He was on his way to class when he ran into the professor of the Black Eagles. He didn't have time to do anything but get to his class, but before he did anything, he heard Byleth call him.

"Sasuke, I found these." Byleth said. Sasuke turned around and found the earrings that he had worked so hard to make, which were in a leather case, he felt stupid and foolish. Had it not been for the professor, his half a decade of efforts would have been wasted.

"Thank you, Byleth San. I'm sorry; I didn't get enough sleep last night." He said embarrassed.

"Where did you spend all night doing anything?" he asked Sasuke curiously.

"Finishing a present I've been working on for 5 years for a someone important to me, that's all." He said, hoping that he would ask no more questions.

"You should be more careful whatever effort you put into these she must be important for you to spend an all-nighter to finish." Byleth said seeing through Sasuke he couldn't lie to the professor.

"I appreciate you picking those up I would have been."he couldn't finish he was trying to keep their relationship under wraps.

"It's a shame you're not in my class, Sasuke. You would have been an excellent student. If you ever want to transfer, the offer is open." Byleth was offering him a chance, but then he thought about it. Learning under Byleth Eisner would give him the benefit of becoming even stronger, but that would mean leaving the Blue Lions. He had started to see them as his friends, and he didn't want to leave them.

"I don't know if I can accept an offer like that without considering the consequences," Sasuke said, not outright turning him down but not accepting either.

"There are other ways I could teach you without you permanently being part of my class. When your detention ends and when we're not on missions, I could help train you one-on-one. Though this will take up whatever free time you may have, my offer stands, Sasuke. I'm willing to train you for at least one hour after class. I can see in your eyes that you desire to be stronger, and I can help with that. Just think about it. When detention is over for you, come to my class after school, and we could begin our lessons if you're interested."

Byleth was still insisting on teaching him, even if it was unofficially. Sasuke would be a fool to turn this down. Learning under the legendary Byleth Eisner would be a chance to help him get stronger. If he was ever going to fight Itachi and win, he would do anything necessary.

"You should get to your class before you're late, just consider what I offered." Byleth headed to the Black Eagle's class while Sasuke headed to his, hoping he wasn't late. He made sure the earrings were safely in his pocket. He had a special plan today and he wasn't going to let anything ruin it. It did not matter that they had to detention even that wouldn't ruin this day he was determined to see her smile even once.


Dimitri was eating lunch with Sasuke and Naruto. This wasn't the first time he ate with them alone, but this was the first time it was something serious. Sasuke looked nervous, beyond nervous, in fact. Naruto was able to sense it as well.

"Sasuke, you're a little tense. For me, man, what's going on?" Naruto asked, worried. Dimitri couldn't help but feel the same way.

"Naruto, can I ask you a question and answer me honestly?" Sasuke asked nervously as he took out a leather case. Naruto opened it gently, not wanting to ruin Sasuke's hard work, and was blown away by the way the earrings looked. Dimitri had seen these before, and he thought they were fine, but to see them finished was something else entirely. He was more than amazed; he thought nobody could match the amount of craftsmanship that Sasuke had put in. Five years—this is what five years of labor does to someone determined to make someone they love smile. He was speechless.

"I don't see anything wrong with this, Sasuke. Why are you nervous?" Naruto asked, mirroring what Dimitri was thinking.

"I just want to see her smile." Sasuke answered, not blushing like he normally does, with a serious look.

"You worry too much, seriously, just give her the damn earrings; she'll love them, just like the necklace you made for her I know it." Naruto said, which caused Sasuke to almost fall over.

"Wow, you should give a warning next time." Dimitri said, seriously considering the work that Sasuke put into the earrings.

"If she's not in love with you now, she definitely will be when she sees those. Believe it." Naruto said with full confidence. He wasn't faking it; he actually meant it. Sasuke was trying to save face by making him look confident due to his culture, which required showing confidence in the gift that they make. Otherwise, it wasn't a good gift if the person that made it didn't have faith in it.

"You really do worry too much." Dimitri said, playing dumb.

"I have to make it perfect. I'm going to ask her if she's free today. I'll be back." Sasuke said as he left the table. After a few moments, Naruto spoke.

"He couldn't make it more obvious if he tried," Naruto said with a smile.

"How's things going with you and Hinata?" Dimitri asked. He didn't really ask about their relationship much because he wanted to give his friend space. He wanted to know more for Hinata's sake, as a big brother looking after his little sister.

"Things are great; unfortunately, we have not been able to do much because of detention for the past two weeks. But other than that, we're fine," Naruto said. Dimitri knew there was more; he noticed something about Hinata—how she had been acting ever since that incident, ever since she went to Professor Hanneman office. She had been distant. Dimitri wanted to give her space, but something was off. The way she trained was as if she was suppressing a rage that she was feeling.

Dimitri knew Hinata possessed a rage that barely anyone knew about. He had seen glimpses of it, even in Konoha when he met her that summer. It was only for an instant, but he saw it—a rage of an animal trapped in a cage. She was trying to suppress it, but Dimitri knew better: if you can't control your malevolence, it would consume you.

"You all right, Dimitri? You're kind of spacing out." Naruto asked him concerned.

"I'm fine, Naruto. We should enjoy our lunch." Dimitri said, trying not to think about the one thing that had been on his mind for the past 5 years: unanswered questions about the woman his father loved and the woman who was never crowned. Who was she? What was her relation to him? Why did he feel like there was a reason why Rodrigue, in particular, wanted Hinata in the Blue Lions? There had to be a reason. He would find out the answers in the future. For now, he would just focus on lunch.


Mercedes couldn't believe it the food was better than normal which was good for her she never particularly liked her birthday because of what it reminded her of. The collapse of her father's house running away from her stepfather at the age of Ten all these things happened on her birthday she doesn't have a pleasant memory when it comes to birthdays at all. Despite her outer appearance of her smiling and being happy today she was anything but happy but she couldn't ruin her friend's day especially Hinata who was with her friends laughing at a story Annette told them about what happened at the school of sorcery.

"Wow, I wouldn't want to be that person" said Dorothea, laughing at a story Annette told her about how a girl used a spell in the wrong way, causing her hair to look like it was completely smoked.

"I kind of feel bad for the girl," said Hinata.

"Well I don't I think she got what she deserved, so I don't know if I would really feel bad for her." said Mercedes darkly remembering how she was treated by that girl.

"It's not like you to be so negative. What's wrong?" asked Ingrid, not knowing what to expect today. When she thought about this day, it always brought something negative. Even in Konoha, which was far away, it still didn't hurt any less. It reminded her that her brother was somewhere alone, with no one to look after him.

"It's just not a good day for me, I'm sorry," Mercedes said. Hinata picked up on this immediately, along with Annette; they both knew this was always the day she was sad and didn't feel like herself.

"Well, if it's a bad day and I've done anything to make it worse, I'm sorry," Ingrid said. Mercedes shook her head.

"You've done nothing wrong; it's just I hate this day," she said quietly. She was trying not to cry; it took everything for her not to cry. All she had to do was get through the rest of the day, go to her quarters, and cry herself to sleep. She could survive that long.

"I know how that feels. I get this way the day my mother died. I understand only too well," Dorothea said sympathetically.

Before she can respond she saw Sasuke approached them. She wondered what he was going there for."Mercie, are you busy after detention?"Sasuke asked nervously. She didn't know why he was nervous?

"I'm not busy why do you ask?"Mercedes asked him.

"I just want to know there isn't anything getting in the way."Sasuke answered.

"Well, I am available after detention. I'm not doing anything, but what are we doing?" she asked him.

"Can't tell you it's a surprise."Sasuke said with a smile.

She wondered what it was.

"See you after detention, Sasuke-kun," Mercedes said to him affectionately. He went with his friends Dimitri, Sylvain, and Felix. Her affection wasn't unnoticed, along with Sasuke.

"Wow! I didn't think Sasuke could be romantic." Said Ino who didn't really say much in their conversation.

"What do you mean?" she asked, wanting to know more and to keep her mind off her feelings about her birthday.

"Sasuke back home was a loner. He lived alone with no one to greet him home, no mother, no father, no sibling. He lost his entire family at the age of 7; most of the fangirls back at home don't even look at that part of Sasuke; they just see a good-looking guy and nothing else. You broke the ice with him; when you met him 6 years ago.you're one in a million. You're like his sun." Ino informed her that she didn't think about herself like that, she never did. She didn't consider how much Sasuke had changed since they met that day at the shrine 6 years ago; she never thought about it.

"I pray for the goddess to give him peace, to protect him from those nightmare-filled nights."Mercedes confessed to everyone.

"You're one in a million. All the fangirls back in Konoha are nothing more than a bunch of shallow good for nothing's the things that only see what's on the surface. I may at one point then one of them, but I knew when to keep my distance; when you arrived in Konoha just to give Sasuke lunch, they all wanted to Lynch you because God forbid you befriend a boy they themselves refuse to. They didn't give him the time of day. They only cared about one thing about him. You're something else. I've always liked you, Mercedes San. Even back then, if there was anyone that I believed would be a good fit for Sasuke, it would be you." Ino said with honesty that she had always liked her. She was one of the few people who treated her with kindness and not with suspicion or hostility. She wasn't particularly close with Ino because she never had that many opportunities to speak to her, but the few interactions they did have were always positive. Even though in the few months that she's had a chance to befriend her, she hasn't changed that way.

"I despise them; I always have. They don't consider his feelings. They never have. They only see him as a piece of meat. They don't care about him." Mercedes said with sadness and anger about how nobody back in Konoha truly cares about Sasuke at all if he lives or dies only if they could have his seed; it was no different than how her would be courters who only want her because of her crest not because of her only what's in her blood just like Sasuke she clenched her heart barely anyone understands him or how others feel him like she does because that's how she's believes how men look at her like Sasuke, she's looked at as a piece of meat and nothing else.

"I like you, Mercedes. I really do, even though I once liked Sasuke. I think you are better for him than any of those fangirls back home." Ino said with a smile.

"You know it's really nice all of us here; it's been 4 months since we came here, and I feel like I'm not the same person that I was when it first started. I feel like I'm the best version of myself that I've ever wanted to be; it's all thanks to everyone here. You Marianne Chan, Benedetta Chan, Dorothea Chan, Ingrid Chan, Edelgard Ann Chan, Dimitri, Byleth, and Naruto Kun. I became stronger in the past 4 months because of all of you. Thank you." Hinata said to everyone at the table.

Mercedes had no idea that she played a role in Hinata's confidence boost, but she was happy to play any part to help her friend.

"I'm happy to help my friends Hina." Mercedes said with her warm smile, which everyone had grown to love. Though she was disappointed when she heard the bell.

Mercedes and Annette said goodbye to their friends and attended their last classes of the day. she was eager to get this day over with as much as she hated this day she was looking forward to Sasuke's company and wondered what surprise he had for her.


Sasuke was anxious. He was at the bench where he normally meets Mercedes. He truly wanted to make this perfect, wanted to make her happy. He had to make this right; he wouldn't let anyone ruin this day. He wanted to make her the happiest that he could make anyone. He had worked on the earrings for five years. He wanted, for once, to see her smile instead of crying and sadness like she did the last time. He wanted to be the one to make her smile on her birthday to break the curse. He didn't need to ask her; he already knew that every birthday, before they met and after, had been met with sadness. It's one of the reasons he worked hard making the earrings. He didn't care; he spent many days barely eating anything in order to get the materials needed to make them. Some of it, he had to find himself. He wanted her to have a gift to remember him by, even if it was the last one he would ever give her.

Before he could indulge in his thoughts, Mercedes showed up. She looked exhausted; she barely slept and she was depressed.

"I'm sorry, Sasuke Kun. I'm tired." She said apologetically.

"I just want this day to be over with." She said with a tone of sadness.

"Are you alright?" He asked worriedly.

"I just don't like birthdays because they remind me of bad times." Mercedes confessed.

He didn't ask. He decided to listen. Last time, she said nothing back then. Their bond was nowhere near as strong as it was now. She was more open to sharing what this day represents for her. He wouldn't say anything. He would be patient and listen.

"On the day I was born, my father died. I never knew him, but what my mother told me, she was sad; she truly loved him, but out of necessity, she was forced to marry another man." then he thought about it immediately, and it clicked: she talked about her younger brother Emile which was The stepfather he had heard about when she cried in his arms when she thought about her brother and how she was unable to do anything for him.

"A year later, my mother gave birth to my little brother Emile. For a time, we were a happy family, but then one day we both found out that what my stepfather truly wanted was a child with a crest he saw us as expendable." This made Sasuke fume with anger; he saw Mercedes tears fall thinking of the memory.

"My mother and I were forced to flee. We had nowhere to go; we lost everything. Everything that I knew, friends that I had, I had to leave behind. I wasn't a devout follower of the goddess then, like I am now. I didn't know many things when I was a girl, but I do need one thing. I hated Crest. I hated the very thing that I was born with."

He stopped, patiently waiting for her to continue.

"I was an angry child. I wanted my little brother back. I wanted to go home, but we could never go back because of that man my mother married. We went from church to church to find a place to live. I had nowhere to go; I had no permanent residence in Konaha. When I was there for a year, I had to hide my true feelings. The places I went to never felt like home. I was so angry; I questioned my beliefs in the goddess that day when we first met. I was on the verge of giving up on my faith altogether because what was the point?"

Tears were dropping. Sasuke wrapped his arms around her. She buried her face in his chest and continued to cry, unable to speak.

"Just a simple conversation was all that it took to save my faith. You have no idea how much you talking to me that day has meant to me. Everyone else treated me like I was a witch; I was met with scorn. That small act saved me from a very dark place. I hated the world; I wanted to see it burn. I'm a terrible person for having these thoughts; part of me still does. I'm not an angel; you must think lowly of me knowing this now."

Sasuke could never. She was perfect to him; even her imperfections made her perfect in his eyes. He never stopped loving her and never would because who else cared about him beyond superficial things? He didn't say anything; he decided to listen, doing what he should be doing as her boyfriend. When she was finished, he would respond, and only then.

"My sweet little brother Emile, I haven't seen him for over 10 years. I sent him letters, but I never received anything back. I feel like a terrible sister. I feel like I abandoned him."He continued to listen as she grabbed tighter.

"All this on my birthday. Every single birthday I've had, I can think of. I go back to that day. I hate this day. All I can think of is what I've lost."He continued to listen; he didn't say anything.

"There's something I want to give you, my angel." Sasuke said with love and tenderness. He took out a case that held the earrings he had made for her.

She realized what this was: "Sasuke-kun". She was speechless as she opened it. The earrings he made from what he could see in her eyes she thought they were perfect. He thought they were not what he would have wanted but he couldn't show that her smile was all he needed to see. He didn't get a chance to finish as Mercedes kissed him fiercely. She pulled away and then smiled despite the tears that were falling.

"I love them, Sasuke-kun, thank you," Mercedes said with a smile. Sasuke felt like he could die right now and be happy he had succeeded, and that was enough.

" I will treasure these as my most precious possessions; I will always treasure these."Mercedes was crying happily the power of this gift Sasuke had no idea how he managed to accomplish it but he succeeded and to him that was enough.

" This is my way of thinking you for all you have done for me, Mercie -even if it's a small way-I want to show how important you are to me." Sasuke replied he didn't realize that tears were falling himself their faces were inches he had no words to say he was speechless.

"Can you make love to me tonight?" she asked him.

"Of course, anything for you, my angel." Sasuke said lovingly. He loves Mercedes deeply he would do anything to protect her smile. he lifted her up bridal style he made sure to support her as he went quickly to his room. he locked the door and made sure to do a sound seal jitsu in order to prevent anyone from over hearing them. before they can do anything Mercedes took the earrings that Sasuke made for her and put them on her ears when he looked at her with those earrings on she looked beautiful to him.

To him, the earrings that he had made with his blood and tears for 5 years of logging—she looked difficult for him to put into words. Beautiful, yes, but that was not exactly how he could describe her. It was beyond beautiful to him; she looked like a goddess, an angel sent from heaven. For so long, he had hoped she would return the strong feelings he had for her.

"I love them, Sasuke-kun, because you made them." Mercedes said as she kissed him. He did not hold back as he kissed her back. They have made love multiple times since they got together, but this was nothing like the first time in the cave over two weeks ago.This was different. He was going to tend to her needs, both physical and emotional. He would do exactly what Mercedes wanted. He would not focus on his own sexual pleasure; he would focus on his Angel because that's what mattered to him—her happiness and her smile. He kissed her on her collar, unlike previous times, wanting to savor this moment. He slowly removed her upper dress, then went down lower and lower to remove the lower dress next. He was gentle, considering they would have to go to class tomorrow. Little by little, he stripped her of her clothing until all that was left was her bra and her undergarments.

He lifted her head up by her chin, and she had a look of affection in her eyes. Sasuke waited for her request of what she wanted.

"Whatever pain you have gone through for every birthday before this one, I want to wash that away and make it into nothing more than a distant memory. Focus on me, even if it's for one day, my angel. I want you to only be in bliss. I will make you forget all those days, at least for tonight." Sasuke said with a loving tone. He kissed her lower collar, and she shivered. He made sure to be extremely gentle with her, knowing she doesn't mind him being rougher, but this was her day, not his.


He went lower to her chest and lifted her bra before he could do anything, his girlfriend assisted him. She sat up and removed her bra and tossed it to the floor.

"I don't care, Sasuke, be as rough as you want to be." Mercedes said with a smile; it was difficult for him to resist her request. She wanted him to be rough. He groped her breast and rubbed them both against each other; their faces were inches from each other. She groaned, not holding back.

"Aa" Just hearing her moaning was enough for Sasuke to lose himself. He was trying hard to focus strictly on her pleasure and not his own. He was rough but not too rough, and she told him to be even rougher. She requested it due to it being her birthday and it being her time, not his.

"Oh God," Mercedes screamed as liquids came out. Sasuke, not wanting to waste any of her breast milk, drank it. He didn't care how it tasted to him; it was amazing. Anything from her was amazing.

"Hearing your moans is like music to my ears, my angel. What else do you want me to do?" Sasuke asked. He used his right index finger to go under her underwear and fingered her vagina. The sudden surge of pleasure caused her to lose control, she almost fell on her back. Sasuke caught her with his left hand.

"You're really good with your hands," Mercedes said, caught off guard by how good Sasuke was at pleasuring her in that area. Sasuke smiled despite the situation. As much as he would like to become one with her, he wanted to tend to her needs first before his own. He went in and out of her pussy, just hearing her moaning his name was enough for him to continue. He was doing it instinctively, he was being neither gentle nor was he being too rough, just at the right pace that he was inserting his fingers in and out. The sexual stimulation caused his girlfriend to scream his name. It was a simple touch, she was much more sensitive than he thought.

He felt a tug at his crotch; he truly did want to become one with her and make her feel even better than she does now. It was driving him crazy; he was holding back up until this point. He had desperately just wanted to insert his rod inside of her, but he was focusing on her, not himself. Mercedes looked at him pleading, as if she could read his mind, that she desired the same thing.

She desperately wanted him to insert his rod into her. He removed her last piece of clothing and threw it to the floor, fully exposing herself. Before he could take anything further, she placed her index finger on his nose.

"Before we go further," she couldn't say anything. Sasuke, now aware of him being fully clothed, still removed his clothing until he was as naked as she was. She wanted to say something.

"I want to be on top." Mercedes said, almost in a commanding tone. Sasuke lay down on his back. She had never taken control before when they made love. It was exciting, but she was nervous. She wanted to be the one to please him, she wanted to show him how much she appreciated what he had been doing for her.

She grabbed his member and nervously inserted it inside of her. She groaned, feeling pleasure and ecstasy. She experienced it multiple times, but it was different this time, especially since she was on top. She felt Sasuke's hands on her hips. She looked at him with love and affection, wanting to help tend to his needs while also tending to her own. She moved her hips slowly, not wanting the lovemaking they were sharing to end too soon. She wanted it to be a memorable experience for both of them.

She felt Sasuke's rod move inside of her; she heard him moan. She smiled, knowing this wasn't like the other times, even if it was her birthday. She wanted to show the man she loves how much she appreciates him. Hearing her lover moaning her name made her go faster; she bounced on him quicker than she thought she was capable of. She felt her chest bouncing, and her hair was already messy and was getting in her face. This was nothing like she imagined her birthday turning out to be. Sasuke helped her move faster; they were both moaning each other's names. Sasuke thrust faster as she continued to ride him, and she begged him to go even faster. They were both sweating, and the taller woman continued to beg for him to increase his speed. She felt his hands on her back, and she continued to move faster, wanting to forget everything.

"Oh God, Mercie," Sasuke said in his native language.

"Sasuke Kun oh God."Mercedes mound she didn't want this to stop she wanted him to continue going she wanted not caring about the consequences. she didn't care if there was a class tomorrow she didn't care if she barely slept to her this was worth it she begged him to go even faster he did as she commanded she felt tears but not tears of sadness but happiness Sasuke looked at her in the eye and she saw tears falling from his eyes as well.

Every cruelty that she had suffered from on her birthday prior to this day didn't matter at the moment. The only thing that mattered was the person in front of her. She felt herself reaching her limit; Sasuke was about to as well. She didn't care about the dangers. She would let the goddess decide if she would be with child. After today, she would gladly bear Sasuke's child. As irrational and irresponsible as it was, she did not care.

She wrapped her legs around Sasuke, grabbed onto his back, and didn't want him to pull out. She wanted to feel everything. She looked into his eyes, and Sasuke looked into hers. They were about to climax, and Mercedes kissed Sasuke, who returned the kiss with the same passion. This was not lust; this was love. Even if it wasn't, it would hardly matter to Mercedes. They both screamed each other's names as they reached climax, slowly stopping and breathing heavily.

"I don't want this to end right now," Mercedes confessed. Sasuke smiled. They changed positions. This time, Sasuke was on top.

There was nothing said for a moment until Sasuke moved his hips. He was rougher than he was normally. Their faces were close. She grabbed onto Sasuke's back, her face on his shoulder, her head up against the ceiling, screaming his name. She was grateful for the soundproof jutsu that Sasuke cast. They wouldn't be able to be as loud as they were otherwise. This kind of lovemaking, she didn't want anyone to know about.

She didn't pay attention to the time; she didn't even care if it was midnight. She didn't even care if there were classes in a few moments. All that mattered was this small moment she was having with the man that she has grown to love. She felt his rod push further into her insides, where her womb was. Her mother would not approve of what she was doing—sex before marriage. She pushed those thoughts aside. Her mother wasn't here, and her mother couldn't possibly understand the kind of love that she has experienced.

The bed was shaking hard. She didn't even realize how rough Sasuke's asking was. Their bodies were mashing against each other, not clumsily like the first two times they made love, but elegantly. Nothing else matters at that moment. She wouldn't even care that her boyfriend was 5 years younger than she was. All that mattered was the happiness that she was feeling. She felt herself climax again. She screamed Sasuke's name.

She knew he was getting close to his second climax for the night. Like the first time, he didn't pull out. Whatever force compelled them, he couldn't pull out. He didn't want to, nor did she want him to pull out. She didn't care about anything: social norms, the one thing that mattered at the moment was enjoying the moment of happiness that she didn't know she'd ever get again on her birthday.

Happiness on her birthday was something that had never happened, and this was the first time she wanted to experience this moment and think about it. Even now, she didn't think about it; she couldn't even consider it. Sasuke moaned as he thrust deep into her womb; she felt his seed inside of her. He pulled out.

They were both tired from their lack of sleep. They were in each other's arms, with Mercedes' face close to Sasuke's. Their hair was messy, and they were both covered in sweat. She knew they would both need to bathe in the morning. Their hands were wrapped firmly around each other, and it didn't seem real to Mercedes. It was like she was living in a fairy tale.

"That was amazing, thank you, Sasuke-kun. I..." She felt tears dropping. Sasuke wiped them from her face with his index finger.

"I don't want to see you cry unless it's in happiness. I don't ever want to see you sad; it was your smile that drove me to you. It's your smile that's beautiful. No other woman has ever looked beneath the surface like you have. You are precious to me happy birthday my angel." Sasuke said with affection. Their faces were close, really close.

She felt her heart beating just hearing him call her that and him wishing her a happy birthday. Looking at his sleeping form, he looked so peaceful. She would do anything to never see him cry or sad again.

"Thank you, Sasuke-kun, I love you now and always" Mercedes said in Sasuke's native language. She fell asleep with a smile, unlike her previous birthdays, this one was peaceful. She wants to do the same thing for Sasuke when it's his birthday, she'll make him smile and forget the tragedy that took away his entire family. She fell asleep thinking about the future.