Sacrificed To The Banished Prince

Chapter 13

MATURE/POTENTIALLY TRIGGERING CONTENT WARNING!

"Daddy, please!" Haruka begged Kizashi Haruno with her big blue eyes watering dramatically.

Sakura watched from the bed, unable to escape the room in her exhausted state. Her sister, who'd been wholly and completely against marrying the prince, was now enamored by him and desperate to take Sakura's place at his side. 'She thinks there's no danger since I'm not dead yet,' the pinkette mused while avoiding her younger brother's unyielding stare.

Kizashi sighed, turning his gaze onto his eldest offspring and lowering his voice so no one in the hallway would be able to eavesdrop, "Tell the prince you'd like to break off the engagement so your sister can have him."

For the first time in a long time, anger boiled in Sakura's chest. She sputtered, "What?!"

"Has living with the prince dulled your mind, Trash? Daddy said it, so you have to listen, or else!" Haruka bit, crossing her arms stubbornly.

Hihara continued to stare at his older sister, who was becoming increasingly uncomfortable, "Does he know of your illegitimacy?"

Sakura closed her eyes and tried to keep herself from trembling in fear, "Thank you for visiting me, but I'd like to be alone now."

"Who do you think you are!" Haruka shrieked, stomping toward the bed.

Kizashi shushed her, "Quiet!" He looked down at the pinkette in poorly masked disgust but surprised her by nodding toward the door, "Let's allow her to rest. Perhaps Sakura will have a clearer head in the morning."

Both of Sakura's siblings hesitated to leave, though they eventually obeyed their father's orders. Once alone, Sakura stumbled out of bed to take a bath, shooing Konan and telling her she'd like to be alone for the evening. When she was done, she stared at her reflection with a frown. Her pale skin was even more devoid of color than usual. On the side of her neck and on her ribcage lay fresh scars from her most recent injuries, but they were healed.

'I'm lucky to be alive. Those healing potions must've been potent.' If the Uchihas knew of her relationship with her family, she'd likely be dead now because they never would've wasted such precious supplies on her.

Sakura pulled on a comfortable nightgown and trudged back out into the bedroom to crawl under the freshly changed covers. 'I'm still so tired.... I suppose almost bleeding out really takes a toll on somoeone.'

As she lay on her side and waited for sleep to come, she stared at the empty side of the bed and wondered when Akuma would come. It was well past sunset, and the others had left, so it was only a matter of time before he'd show up and half-heartedly mock her weak disposition.

A tiny smile tugged at her lips as she lost consciousness. Her dying wish had come true. She'd gotten to see Sasuke again.

Since Sakura had grown accustomed to Akuma's nocturnal behavior, she stirred when the door to her bedroom opened and closed in the middle of the night. Her eyes crept open to see a male figure approaching, and she waited for him to say something. When a familiar voice, though hushed, met her ears, the woman's eyes widened, and the sleep left her system instantly, "You've changed."

"Brother...." She breathed, sitting up as he approached and sat on the edge of the bed, dark green eyes studying her carefully.

He frowned, "Don't call me that."

'I forgot. He sees me as too disgusting to be a part of his family,' she lowered her head submissively, an apology soft on her lips because she was in no condition to argue.