~Bulletproof~ SasuSaku Mafia Story

Chapter 52 ~ All's Well That Ends Well

Sakura sat up in her bed waiting for Sasuke to return. The day had gone by excruciatingly slowly with Shisui and Izuna doing their best to keep her distracted. She even spoke with Itachi briefly, who seemed like he was on cloud nine. Apparently, his father had agreed to give him a chance at redemption, which was more than Itachi could ever ask for.

While that was great news, nothing fully felt joyous without Sasuke home safe and sound. No one else seemed too concerned, which annoyed Sakura even more. He said he'd be back by sunset, and it was almost 10 PM.

She lay awake thinking about what Itachi told her earlier that day. Indeed, being with Sasuke would inherently involve countless nights like this: waiting for him to return home safe, not knowing his status or whereabouts. Could she really live like this?

By now, she was certain about her feelings for him. No one else could make her heart beat so fast at the mere thought of him being in danger. Her anxious thoughts were periodically interrupted by drunken laughter coming from Shisui's room. How could he party so carelessly?

"Sasori is a Nobody, Sakura," said Shisui earlier that day, "Sasuke has dealt with much more, now Izuna, pour another one!" What an idiot. Stupid Shisui, what did he know?

In this solitary moment, Sakura fully understood the gravity of this situation. She was now fully reliant on the Uchiha, who were now her found family. She had no home in Konoha. Everything she had known was gone, and Sasuke could die at any moment. What if he actually died? Would the others still take care of her? Would it matter? Say, if he were to die, would she even want to stay with the Uchiha? Would she want to live?

Tears emerged from her eyes at the realization of how codependent she had become with Sasuke, both emotionally and situationally. In a way, Sasuke was the worst person to depend on this strongly considering how unpredictable and unstable his life was. No, this could not work for her.

She buried her head in her hands as she sat on her bed, allowing her anxiety to take over her thoughts and convince her of every worst-case scenario. In the midst of her spiraling, Sakura didn't notice her bedroom door open and shut. Sasuke stood in the corner and observed her for a bit until his curiosity took the best of her.

"Mourn me a bit longer and I might start to think you care about me."

His sultry voice caused Sakura to gasp and look up. He was leaning on the wall with his side, looking at her with a smug look. Her stress and panic immediately dissolved into an insatiable need to give him hell.

"You piece of shit! You're gone being a vigilante all day and this is how you show up in the middle of the night?!"

"It's 10 PM."

"Fuck you! That's not the - Are you okay?!" Sakura's eyes finally noticed the cuts on his face.

He chuckled and walked across the room to her bed. Sakura stared at him in concern as he sat down on the edge of her bed.

"I'm fine, can't say the same for our little friend."

"Wha-"

"It's over, Sakura." his hand reached over to her lap and rested on her knee. "You don't have to worry about a thing from now on."

"Sasuke, tell me what happened." Sakura covered his hand on her knee with hers, squeezing it.

"Do you need to know the bloody details?"

"So, Sasori is-"

"Yes. Most definitely so."

Sakura gulped at the sinister tone of his voice. Before she could express further concern, Sasuke interrupted her: