When Mothers Meddle

Chapter 14- I Can't

Sakura

Sakura brushed the tears off her cheeks and gripped the knob of the broom closet, just two doors down from her office. She glanced furtively up and down the hallway.

Empty.

She thanked the gods and slipped inside, pulling the door shut just as voices came around the corner.

Shoes brushed quietly against the floor. They must be ninja. Had they come to see her? She concentrated on the sounds as a muffled knock sounded through the walls. Then silence. She held her breath, unsure how skilled they might be and not wanting to be discovered hiding in a broom closet with tears streaking her face.

A muffled, "She must be on a mission," followed by the higher pitch of her medic assistant.

"Oh no, Sakura-sensei is in today. Check the labs." The younger girls high pitched voice bouncing off the walls of the hallway was joined by the clicking of her heels as she hurried on to her destination.

"The lab?" A deeper voice she didn't recognize spoke up.

And the soft brush of their shoes faded down the hallway as they went in search of the lab.

Sakura let out the breath she'd been holding in a soft sigh of relief.

Was it cowardly to be hiding in a broom closet so she could cry? She was better than this. Wasn't she?

Tsunade had taught Sakura many things, but she'd never taught her how to protect herself from a broken heart.

This morning had been the final straw. Hibiki had come in with one of his cronies and while his friend leaned on the door and prevented interruption Hibiki had roughed her up.

Oh, he hadn't laid a hand on her. He'd drawn her into a genjutsu, showing her beautiful little Uchiha children with pink hair and green eyes being slaughtered, one after another. He'd shown her Uchiha children teasing and bullying her children, parents spitting on the ground behind her and her children. When he'd finally released her she'd sat, tears soaking her face while he quietly left the office.

And here she was, hiding while she got a hold of herself and made the decision that was going to break her heart.

She'd never love again. Not like she loved Itachi. She didn't even try to fool herself into thinking she'd get over him. There was no getting over the man who'd stolen her heart with a well-planned lunch, a soft hand behind her when she was feeling unsure, a smile or laugh when she was celebrating, and of course the loving. Sex with Itachi was incredible.

She comforted herself with the knowledge that Tsunade had survived her own heartbreak and seemed fine. Sort of. Okay, not at all, but Tsunade had much more heartbreak than a single broken relationship. Sakura might catch up to her, but that was a worry for another day.

For now, she had to gather herself together and end it now, before she lost her nerve.

Itachi

Itachi sat at the dango shop watching Sasuke fiddle with the last dango on his plate. Perhaps he was practicing some new skill that didn't involve actually eating it?

He was waiting for his brother to answer his question. A request that meant everything to Itachi. It was a sacrifice, Itachi had acknowledged that, but he himself had given so much for Sasuke to have the life he wanted. Surely Sasuke could give in this one area?

He sipped his cold tea and considered ordering more dango, or eating the one Sasuke seemed intent on murdering. But his stomach ached with the decision he needed to make.

It had to be made today. Two days from now was the annual Clan meeting, at which all important business would be brought to the floor and voted upon. If he was to change the clan laws before he had to make a decision about Sakura, and unfortunately Hoshi, it had to be then.