"What Life Has To Offer"
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Chapter 5: New Beginning
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"I loved you once, love you still, always have, always will."
"Most of the time goodbye means 'It's the end' but sometimes goodbye gives the courage to say 'It's only just began'."
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AN: Before we start the story. I'm pretty sure that some of you guys may have read a meme that is very similar to the story. And yes, you're correct. This story is incorporated from that meme with some additional scenes created by my own. If you're curious, I've posted that meme on my account. And lastly, this would be the last chapter of this story.
And before you start. There's a hidden message from all the title. Hope you get it.
*****RECAP*****
...
"Sakura" His voice came hoarse as hope filled from her name
...
"Sasu..ke" Soft whisper she replied
...
Her visitors from outside didn't miss her thumping heart and her soft voice. They gave space as they watched behind the doors. To Sasuke, he didn't care. His onyx eyes solely locked at his wife.
...
He slowly knelt beside her as his hands sought to her hanging arms and kept it lightly squished with his... Emerald with Onyx.
...
He didn't know where to start. Where should he even begin?
...
"I... L-love... You..." She softly whispered
...
This is Sakura. His Sakura. She never had failed to amaze him for she would always know where to start.
...
Sasuke made butterfly kisses in her arms as his heart slowly tears from the moment. He gave a soft kiss from her lips as he looked back to her emerald orbs.
...
"As I always love you" he replied as his onyx orbs failed him as a tear fell from his eyes.
...
It was gut wrenching when she openly accept his words. She gave him a small smile at him.
...
He wanted to tell her what his mind was now banging at his head. He stared at her awaiting her smiling closed eyes to reopen again.
...
As soon as those emerald orbs revealed again, he took a deep breath but was closed as her fingers stopped him...
...
She knew the next words...
…
Silent recognition was passed them as they silently took time to stare. It was their moment. And he won't ruin it, nor would he let anyone to destroy it.
...
...
...
Then time became cruel for any of them, in that exact moment, it stopped with no warning.
•*•*•*•*•*•
...
...
...
No one knew how to respond the deafening silence.
The raven haired man in front of them, crumbled down as the silence confirmed their worst fear.
She was no longer there for them... for her friends... for her son, Itachi... for her husband, Sasuke...
•*•*•*•*•*•
Silence loomed over the original team 7. Her body was moved into a different room, as they prepare her for her burial ritual. Cerulean eyes looked over his friend, his brother. Trying to cut off the silence "You know, she would not like to see you sad at all"
There was no response from the raven haired as he hunched further from his seat.
"Also heard that Ino smacked you after she arrived" said by the blonde trying to get a response from his brother. "You know, I should have punched you as well..." the blonde trailed off as soon as he saw at the corner of his eye that the raven haired Uchiha looked up to him.
"This was all my fault..." Sasuke replied hoarsely
"...And she'll definitely smack you in the head, if she heard you blame yourself" as the blonde continued
"I should never have asked her to be my-"
And without a chance to defend himself, the blonde took a hit on his brothers face "Never! I tell you... Never continue that line. What's done is done. She was happy. She was finally happy when you gave her a chance to love you truly. She was happy during the last month. Sasuke, she forgave you, she always have." Naruto trailed as the tears he was holding off finally let itself drop in front of his brother.
"And you know what, we have tried to break off you marriage for her. I even tried to give her an order to divorce you during the second year you cheat on her. She fought Sasuke, she fought for you... Believing that you'll always go back in the end. And you did. You came back for her, and for your son. And she was right. She was always right"
Obsidian eyes stared widely to the blonde young man as he soothed out his clothes, and stood straight and face blank.
A hand was then put in front of him. The copy-nin helped him up as he pat him on the back. He knew that look. He knew the message of what the copy-nin would like to tell him..."Don't blame yourself..."
"I'm sorry"
Then a smile finally took over his blonde brother
•*•*•*•*•*•
He was fast like his father, calculative like his mother, combined with the two skills he was more like of the descendant of 'Yellow Flash'. He was proud as he carefully jumped from branch to branch with the proper chakra control, a skill he also had inherited with his mother. It had been a great asset for the 1-week chuunin exams.
Itachi had been the only one to be promoted as a chuunin in their team. Minato had been grudgingly bit his lips, aching to tell his mind off, but knew it was not a good idea at the moment. Itachi had been stiff and then would fidget with worry. He was confident that there had been off, where his best friend had been pondering on, but always seemed to fail to put a finger on it. He also seemed to agree, he also had noticed the way his Aunt Sakura's bright eyes to be fading, and that the chuunin exams as soon as he turned around and went back to his village. His head had sirened the moment he started his journey, his heart had hammered when they were about to get near the border, and his sixth sense with the looming dark skies finally told him to go back. This kind of believing with unnatural things, he was starting to become his uncle Neji.
He was kind of glad that his team had also turned around. They had respected his wishes, and also support his decision. If the situation was different, he was sure of Minato would make a huge fuss, like his father who wasn't able to eat ramen in Ichiraku. He was glad that he had confide with his friend and also agreed that there was something off today, and that Itachi's mother Sakura seemed to be more off than before.
An hour more, they were sure they would reach Konoha, before they have bumped with Itachi's and Minato's Uncle Konohamaru. The man was a second kind of the current Hokage - bash, truthful, and loyal to his village who also have a dream yet to be fulfilled, to become the next Kage of their village. And today, it had become more off as they heard the grave news Konohamaru holds.
Itachi never looked back as his name was slowly fading from the distance. He only wanted to go back. His mother was precious, all in his life it was his mother who he had looked up to, the one who dearly took take care of him. He was not blind or void, he knew from the bottom of his heart and mind, it was his mother who truthfully raised and cared for him. Who loved him unconditionally.
His vision blurred as tears was shed. If only he followed his gut, he would have been able to reach her, be by her side before any of this had happened. He should have stayed... But her smile and proud words backed him up to continue on the plan, him going to Suna and become a chuunin, to prove he was a prodigy like the name he has inherited.
"I love you Chi-kun... I know you'll make us proud"
•*•*•*•*•*•
The skies above them cried as they bid their last farewell for a colleague, for a friend, for a family.
Two raven haired could be seen in front. The child looking lost as he knew that everything would no longer be the same. He would no longer hear his mother's voice welcoming him back home after training. No one would congratulate him once he received another accomplishment from the academy, and after a completed mission. No one to surprise him, as he usually forgot it was his birthday, or there is a special occasion. He would deeply miss his bubbly mother, who would always be there for him. She always know when he was feeling down. There's no words needed, as she always approach him as he needed support. And lastly, he would deeply miss her voice when he lets her call him 'Chi-kun', all knew she is the only one person allowed to call him by that nickname.
He looked at his father as he silently wept. It was the first time he saw his father looking forlorn. He was one of the formidable men all over the land. He stood tall after the war. He was a hero. Yet as he look right now, his father was only a man as well. Who felt lost having his wife died in his arms that day. He now knew what happened. His mother hid her sickness to both of them. Knowing both of them would worry of her. She wanted to stay strong in their eyes. A woman who would fight. A woman who would stand tall beside them.
As the last visitor threw gently the roses at her grave... The young child walked over before his dad and whispered silently...
"Mom... I love you, and I know, dad also loves you..."
•*•*•*•*•*•
Sasuke looked over his son as the child gently placed the white rose at his mother's grave.
"Mom... I love you, and I know, dad also loves you..."
He felt sick. He knew that his son was kept in the dark by Sakura, as well as the other rookie 9, especially Naruto who put gag order for no one to speak anything that relates to his adultery. Even the citizens have toned down as a respect to the lost medic.
He didn't know if he should feel grateful or should be ashamed of what had happened. He had strayed from the past, as well from his very own family, from Sakura and his son Itachi.
Maybe one day, their son would know what may have caused his mother's diminishing smiles. He knew that the child is very observant from his surroundings. And once he knew, the child would lash out and throw everything that he needed to hear.
As his son went back to where they stood a moment ago, he finally walked towards her tomb. A picture stood beside it. He knew perfectly well when it was taken. She had proudly told him that it was taken by their blonde teammate after she was pronounced as medic after training for 3 years under the late hokage. How he wished he could go back in time. To stop himself as he strayed away from his family. Even before the time she had received the news form her surrogate mother that she received an incurable disease. Yet, reality was cruel to them. They took her from them... Even the combined efforts and knowledge from the three great medics of their nation, they could not produce a cure for her sickness.
"Sakura..." he whispered, as he gently placed his rose beside his son's rose
•*•*•*•*•*•
1 week after...
"Uncle Naruto"
He looked at the child beside him, the same onyx eyes of the person they were watching from the great gates of Konoha. The same man who had requested for a week long mission after the burial of a loving wife, who was the mother of the child beside him, a godmother to his own son, and most of all his best 'girl' friend.
"Uncle Naruto?" Itachi called again "Are you worried about dad?"
Cerulean eyes could only look at the innocent child. Sakura had raised the child with all the needed attention and love. Right now, it was time for Sasuke to act for both of their great loss. But first, he needed Sasuke to straighten things and give all the time he needed, though it was only a week at best. The child needed a father, not a fallen man.
"You know that dad is strong" the child continued, ignoring the furrowing face as Naruto looked at the child beside him.
Even in the great distance, some may have seen Sasuke's posture of a proud and strong man, but he knew it was all a facade. There is a storm brewing inside his friend and the one week mission he gave was all the time he could ever give. He trust his friend to be strong enough and patch it all up.
"Nah, I already know that Teme is strong, but not that strong like your uncle. He'll be okay" Naruto flashed his smile "Let's go to Aunt Hinata, she said she'll be making us some ramen" Naruto grinned when the child laughed from his love for ramen. Sasuke be damned, he'll be spoiling the spawn with his ramen related antics, after all he already had an approval from Sakura.
•*•*•*•*•*•
He ran through the forest, breathing hard, sweating furiously and chakra drained. He had barely escaped from death, as he continued to run. He cursed himself as he had lost concentration right at the moment when the he had ambushed the enemy. He was supposed to be the one to attack them first, but no... He had been careless of going to an easy death.
It had been 5 days after Naruto had given him the mission. 5 days to contemplate and bring his life to normalcy. And 5 days to accept that his wife, Sakura had died. He learned that the reason of the contract she provided him before was to leave him like a good husband and father to their child. She knew that her days where numbered. She always knew. She knew what was best for any of them. And that was the reason as to why she had shield Itachi from all the gossips and hurt from his mistakes and actions. She was always being selfless.
"It should have been me" Sasuke had blamed hismelf all over again as he whisphered and chanted the phrase.
He then reside to a nearby cave and took shelter, to patch himself again. Right now he was beyond pathetic. He then tried to contemplate on everything, as what was expected of him by his friend. The mission was just a cover-up, he was given all the week to just think through this class C mission.
"Sakura I'm sorry"
He was drained. The moment he lost her, he had remembered it as clear as a day. Their eyes had locked at that moment. Emerald going through the depth of his onyx, while his onyx piereced through her emerald. It was a moment where the other was looking at each other souls, grabbing for something to hold on.
"It was my entire fault, I'm sorry"
He had blamed himself all over again. If he hadn't looked at her, if hadn't made that move that day he asked her out, maybe her eyes at that moment had not dulled to its color. She would still be smiling with her bright emerald orbs. She would had a life of happiness, free from cheat and pain.
He was irresponsible, who only see and feel things for granted. He sighed. Blaming himself would result not the way his certain friend expects.
"What should I do?"
The past years, the reason why he wanted to change, to have a new life, he wanted to forgive himself. Wanted to give himself another chance, and it was what he saw of her. Sakura had become his savior, his shelter, his warmth, and his beginning. She was the independent woman that he seeks off. The woman who was capable to bring him back on the right track. And she did. Yet, why was he so stupid to try and let go...
She was already struggling, yet she was still there. Her hands, her arms, her body, her heart, she still hand it to him, to bring him back. At her last breath her emerald eyes lit the same when she first held her hands to him. She was his reason.
Now that she was gone, was it the end of him? It was his foolishness that resulted with all of this. He had wasted a lot of time on becoming a true bastard he was. He deserved loneliness, to suffer, to feel all the possible pain. He sighed. It always brought him to another question that he knew he can't ignore.
Sakura gave him another reason. A reason who breathes. A reason which should not be tainted with his damness. A son.
"I can't"
Itachi was the fruit of their love. He knew Sakura well that even at her last breath, she would still take care of her son. Their son was precious, and bringing him in despair was unfair. He needed to act together. This time, this last chance, he'll make it right. He'll make it right, not just for him, nor for Itachi. But he'll make this right for her. Always for her.
The enemy nin had surrounded the cave where he was at. A small smile grazed his lips that a gentle breeze warned him. "A reason to live" he muttered as he went out of his hiding.
•*•*•*•*•*•
He was barely breathing, but fine. He is not a genius compared to his wife would heal, but the times when he would always watch her hands glow to warm green he would simply learn without the help of his bloodline. She was ordinary, yet exquisite to his eyes. He can't take off his onyx eyes whenever she use this jutsu, a jutsu he never tapped on for it was for the weak. A jutsu which that could not be used as a weapon, to kill, to give him what he used to seek... revenge. It was a jutsu that preserves life. Light. Time.
As his onys eyes landed to the village he knew, he closed his eyes, as he chanted himself his new resolve. Sakura's reason. His reason. Their reason.
Itachi.
•*•*•*•*•*•
After 1 year...
He knew it would be the best day to see her in a much clearer sky. As he took his first step outside their home, what he had thought was affirmed by the same blue sky that witnessed both of their joyous moments. How he had wished to go back in time and wave off the dull sky that loomed their life. But this was not she wished for, and he knew. She was always there. Yet he would always turn his back on her.
Sighing. He slouched a little and slowly his hands creep in the warmth of his pockets. He glanced back at the sky that made him remember the days she would make his heart beat in a rapid phase that even anyone else haven't done yet. Why haven't he realized it before. It was always her. His heart beats for her. Only for her.
He didn't realized that his sight blurred as he let one tear to fall.
Then another.
And another.
Tears flowed from his onyx eyes. Tears whom he knew that are accompanied by a familiar emotion he knew.
Grief. The same emotion he thought he would never feel again after the massacre, but it had. He had lost another person who had rebuilt his broken self, someone who made a place inside his heart, someone he had loved, and would always be.
It was a bitter-sweet punch as he remembered as clear as the sky when he had seen her fully under the cherry blossom years ago, the day when he had asked her in his own cryptic way to be his date in one of the special festival in Konoha. The day when she finally said 'yes' after he 'had' knelt down and pop the most awaited question for two lovers who are seriously and ready for the next stage of their love life. After some months of preparations, the most awaited day had been successful as all had witnessed and celebrated for their happiness as they become one. With a passing year, he had become proud and happy as she had pounced him to the floor and giving him the greatest news for their expecting child.
He sighed. He stepped back a little making a small bump to his small companion.
"Dad!" The child whined as he rubbed his head from the bump.
Twitching. He made an effort to form a smile from his face, as he instantly wiped the tears away. Sure of his sight was back, he made a mess of the same raven hair his child had inherited from him.
•*•*•*•*•*•
15 years had passed…
His eyes roamed at his late wife tomb stone.
Beautiful bouquets decorated her tomb, he recognized that all belong from the rookie 9 who have told that they would be visiting her grave a day before.
There was a simple twig of cherry blossoms who he fully knew well that Itachi have visited earlier that day with his new family.
Itachi...
He learned the truth 7 years as his Aunt Ino slipped. True to his expectation, his child lashed out. Trying to stop the tears as he relayed everything that he knew that her mother had sacrificed for him. How Sakura never gave up. How Sakura tries to get back in her feet after a breakdown. Yet in the end, his son inherited his mother's gentle heart. He forgave him.
"Mom would ask me to forgive you anyway..." his son told at the end, feeling deflated with all the pent up emotions that was released. "You made her happy at her last moment... And I'm still thankful for accepting the contract. And yes, I saw the contract after Aunt Ino slipped. Mom somehow hid it, somewhere where I could find it on my own time"
There was silence between them... "Dad, from the past year, you made it all up. and Thanks for that" and then Itachi left.
He knelt down as he let his hands trace the tomb stone.
He softly whispered "Wait for me Sakura. I'll be coming. I love you."
•*•*•*•*•*•
"Love isn't about finding someone that you can live with, it is about finding someone that you can't live without."
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Fin