You Won't Remember Me - Part 2
For as long as she could remember Sarada had no memory of her mother, her Papa always talked about her with great pride and love.
She loved hearing stories about her, about them. Even when she found out that Mama was a human, Sarada asked and questioned Sasuke on how that was possible because everyone knew that humans and vampires were enemies. Her Papa chuckled and explained that he couldn’t help but fall for her, it probably also explained about Sarada herself.
Unlike her father, Sarada wasn’t satisfied after drinking blood. She needed solid food so she would eat like a human. She favoured a lot of her Mama’s food according to Papa. And it hurt knowing she could never meet her.
It was unfair, why did everyone else get to have one but her?
Papa blamed himself since humans and vampires were never meant for one another so this was his punishment but Sarada didn’t get it.
She couldn’t help but feel slightly envious as she would watch Boruto cry to his mother when he got hurt and how she would comfort him. Telling him he was such a brave boy and pampering him with kisses, even if he would pout saying he was ‘no baby’ and that she was embarrassing him. Or watching other human children being out with their Mama in the park, asking for ice cream, carrying them when they would get sleepy and watching as they would be picked up one by one to go home.
Sarada’s small hand would grip onto his trousers, and he could sense she was upset. He picked up his daughter, allowing her to bury her head into his neck, letting out silent tears until she got tired and fell asleep.
Even though her Papa had warned her to stay away from Mama, Sarada disobeyed and crept out during the day to look for her. Since she had been spying on her for a while, she had an idea of where to search first.
Her mother worked in a big lab (hospital) and would often head back home at funny times. Well for a human that is, it’s no wonder how Papa met her if she always left at night.
She waited and was surprised to see her leave the place early, along with a darker blonde woman next to her. “Mama!” Sarada sprang out grinning happily.
“Oh, you again? Where’s your father?” Sakura picked up the little girl who was more than happy to be held by her mother. “You know her dear?” The other woman gave a weary look, which she didn’t quite get. It was normal for a mother to hold her daughter and this was the first time Sarada had been held by her.
“I bumped into her a few weeks ago, she keeps calling me ‘Mama.’ I guess we look alike.” Again, with such strange words, Sarada didn’t understand. Why couldn’t she recognise her own daughter? She had tried to ask Sasuke, but he wouldn’t say anything.
“Do you know where your Papa is?” Sakura asks smiling at the little girl.
“Papa said I wasn’t allowed to see you.”
There was an awkward silence with neither knowing how to respond until Sakura gave an awkward laugh.
“Oh, is that so. I’m sure he’s only concerned about your safety.” Now the only difficulty would be how and where to find him. Surely, he couldn’t be too far, she was too young to be walking about by herself like this.
“I’ll take her.” The other woman responded.
“Eh?”
“I’ll take her home, he’s probably worried sick about her. And I can see the look on your face, you need to go home and rest.”
“But-”
“Besides, you shouldn’t be doing anything in your condition.” At that Sakura closed her mouth, it was true she couldn’t do anything too strenuous or stress herself out. Still, something about her seemed familiar.
Like a parental instinct, or maybe she was just worried for her.
“I want to stay with Mama.” Sarada’s small hand gripped her shirt, again why did everyone want to separate them. All she wanted was to have her own Mama.
“Ah, I’m sorry dear but she needs to rest. She’s very sick you see.”
“Mama’s sick?” Sarada turned her head to Sakura studying the woman. Was this why she didn’t remember her?
“Yes, don’t worry. She just needs some rest and besides I’m sure your father must be worried.”
“Okay…” If it can’t be helped then she’ll go back home with Papa. Sakura almost felt guilty having to let her go but knew it was best to let her mother take care of her. The little girl seemed upset and concerned but Sakura patted her head smiling reassuringly.
“Thank you Ma and I’m sorry, but she’ll take good care of you.” As Sakura walked away Mebuki let out a soft smile.
“You really are like your own Mama, aren’t you?”
Mebuki waited by the park at night, she had managed to track down Sasuke which wasn’t as difficult seeing as he was out looking for her but had requested to meet up privately so they could have a talk.
The street light flickered and Sasuke was beside her in a flash.
“Thank you for taking care of Sarada for me.”
“You don’t need to thank me, dear. She’s my granddaughter. Of course, I would take care of her.”
“How is she anyway?” Sasuke sighed, figuring he should be honest.
“Upset, confused. She got really excited knowing Sakura is alive but…she doesn’t understand why she can’t be with her.”
“I’m sure she is,” Mebuki felt horrible about taking her away from Sakura. Parents and children weren’t meant to be apart, but they didn’t have a choice. If they could both she and Kizashi would gladly help look after Sarada however that would have only made things more complicated.
“Have you met anyone?” The random question took him off guard.
“Anyone new I mean, a new lover?
“You know it’s not as simple as that.” Vampires don’t simply find someone else the way humans do. After meeting someone, that’s it. They were their one and only. Their soulmate, their other half.
There was no one else.
“Right, I’m sorry.”
“Sasuke… there’s something you should know. About Sakura.”
“What is it? Is she okay?” Always worried about her, even though they weren’t in each other’s life the two could tell Sasuke would still keep tabs on them. And that’s what made sharing the news even more difficult.
“She’s fine, more than fine but… she’s pregnant.” The words slowly sank in, and Sasuke felt himself heartbroken all over again.
“I see...”
“I’m sorry, we wanted to tell you sooner. But it’s not like you make it easy for us to find you and well with Sarada acting the way she does, I think it’ll break her heart witnessing Sakura be a mother to someone else.” She was too young to fully grasp what was going on, to find out the truth.
And this was only going to make things more difficult.
“That’s why I asked you about if you had anyone else, I mean it’s been so long now and well Sakura doesn’t even remember you. It’s just… you deserve to find happiness too. For you and Sarada.”
“No, I knew what I was getting myself into. I won’t find someone just because Sakura has. I can’t do that.”
“I understand please don’t shut that idea down. I know Sakura would want you to be happy too, to find someone else that could make you happy as she did.” He let out an uncharacteristic snort.
“That’s impossible… but if it makes you feel better. If I do find someone else… I’ll give it a shot.” Not that it’ll be easy. “And besides, I still…” The words were lumped in the back of his throat.
“You still love her?”
“Ah.” It wasn’t like they chose to break up, they didn’t have a choice. They were looking forward to being a family however Sasuke had to make a choice. Losing Sakura or her memories, memories of them, of Sarada.
As his family had warned him, the two were never meant to be and yet Sarada was here.
“Thank you for telling me, I appreciate it.” He bowed and was about to leave. Even if there was someone else, if she was happy then that’s all that mattered.
However, he couldn’t just let her go.
“Sasuke, I really am sorry.” He probably didn’t hear those words or maybe he did. She could only imagine what was to come now with Sarada.
