Secret

Part 19

It was the last day of Sakura's stay at Suna, it had been a very busy week, she had spent the early mornings joining Temari in her runs, breakfast would follow and then Gaara would show up demanding that she get ready for her martial arts lesson with him. She had learned enough defense maneuvers that Rasa had deemed it acceptable for her to return to Konoha and continue her studies.

The relationship between Sakura and her mom had also improved, rather than shutting each other out, they had spent time together talking about everything under the sun although her mom still didn't know about 'the masquerading as a boy to go to school.'

Sakura had tried telling her mom a couple of times but every time she started telling her about it, someone would interrupt her, and she would stop. The first time it was Kankuro walking into the room asking Sakura to his new work or t would be Rasa who would show up unexpectedly, saying something about spending time together with everyone before she goes back to Konoha.

Sakura's sat in the room designated as her and thinks about everything that happened, 'the vacation is over, tomorrow I go back to KPA, back to being Hikaru. Gosh, I haven't even gotten the chance to tell mom yet', sakura groans and flops on to the bed.
"This is so frustrating", she screams into the pillow. "I didn't even call the girls or the boys, its going to be such a drag explaining to them all.", she mimics a certain lazy boy.
Rolling on to her stomach, she checks her calendar and realizes that the girls would be preparing for there annual back to classes sleepover. 'Gah, I totally forget about that', she screams into the pillow again.

"You okay?" Temari questions popping her head through the door, looking at sakura weirdly.
"I am fine, nothing's wrong" Sakura states, peeking from under the pillow.
"If you say so, anyway I was coming in to tell you to get ready for dinner tonight, dad decided that we should all go out for dinner tonight." Temari states as she looks sakura over once, determining nothing wrongs and leaves. 'That girl is so weird sometimes, but I guess that's why we all get along so well. I'll miss her when she's gone' Temari thinks as she walks away smiling to herself

At Ino's place

Ino moves around, making sure everything was ready for tomorrow. The annual sleepover was a tradition started by her and Sakura when they both young, they would have sleepover at each other's house every time the holidays would end, and classes would start. At first, it was only the two of them but than they met Hinata, and after immense pleading and permissions from Hinata's father, they were able to get her to join as well. And soon Tenten came along and they all became a tight knit group.

Ino was excited but a small part of her was worried that sakura might bail out on them. It wasn't a happy thought and she kept trying to forget it. It was made harder because she hadn't ben able to call sakura either. Her call kept going to voice mail and forehead hadn't even tried to contact her or either of the other girls.

She kept worrying about sakura, she knew that the girl tended to be tight lipped about things that might be upsetting her, and she knew that something had unsettled the pinkette. She had been quiet on more than one occasion and had always seemed to be lost in her own thoughts.

"I hope she's okay, that girl worries me too much.", Ino thought as she went back to organizing everything.

Back in Suna

"Hey honey, can I come in?", Mebuki questioned as she showed up outside Sakura's room, the door was left open a crack after Temari had left and sakura hadn't bothered to close it.

"Sure, Mom come in", sakura answered getting up and making space for her mom.

Mebuki walks in and looks around the room, "It seems like you have finished packing already."

"Yeah, I just finished" Sakura answers and then adds, "Temari told me about the dinner plans."

"Yes, Rasa thought it would be nice if we all had dinner together, he seems to have taken a liking to you." Mebuki tells in a gentle manner looking at her.

"He seems nice mom, and he seems to care for you a lot too.", Sakura says looking at her mother.
"I know, I wanted to say that I am very glad that you gave him a chance. I was worried that you might not like them, even resent them", Mebuki says as she fiddles around with the pillow, "I know you haven't been happy with me, and I don't blame you, ever since your father died I have been absent. First, it was because I just couldn't stay, everything reminded me about Kizashi, so I went and worked hoping to provide you with everything and soon it just became a way of escaping and I didn't realize that I was distancing myself from you. So, by the time I realized it, you were all grown up and didn't need me there anymore.", Mebuki explains with tears in her eyes.

"Mom, its okay, don't cry please", sakura says as she wraps her arms around her mother.
"I thought you hated me and didn't want anything to do with me. You were always gone when I would come and we didn't talk either.", Mebuki cries as she holds her daughter
"I am sorry mom, I shouldn't have treated you like that, I knew you were hurting too and I just only cared about my pain and didn't thought about you. I wanted to spent time with you, but I got scared, you would leave, and I won't see you till who knows when and it scared me and I just stopped trying and Gosh, I am so stupid mom", sakura starts crying holding her mom tight.
"There, there sweetie. I am sorry that you felt like that, if you had said something, I would have stopped and the two of us wouldn't be crying like this." Mebuki states consoling sakura as she holds her tight.
"Yeas, you're right about that mom", sakura states with a slight laugh, "I bet if dad was here, he would be running around like a chicken with its head cut off.", she adds giggling.

"Right, your dad did seem to exaggerate a bit." Mebuki laughs as well.

It isn't long before the both are laughing together. Rasa and Gaara pass by Sakura's half open door, staring at the two laughing ladies inside with tears streaming down their faces, they quietly look in before Rasa nudges Gaara to follow him and leave the two alone.

"They were crying, why didn't you stop them?", Gaara asks with a questioning look directed at his father.
"Women are hard creatures to understand, it is better to let them deal with things on their own manner.", Rasa tells Gaara in a solemn manner, "And also, there was some underlying tension between those two, that needed to be addressed. What we saw, was them taking care of their issues. So, it was better not to bother them.", Rasa adds with small mile on his face.
Gaara understanding the meaning behind those words, just nods his head and follows him.

Back in the room

After having spent time together talking about everything and letting the past go, bot mother-daughter duo sits together, enjoying the quality time. Sakura having been quiet for the past few minutes, watches her mother as she smiles widely, looking at the album sakura showed her of her friends that she compiled.
Taking a deep breath and deciding that this is a better time than ever says, "Mom, there is something I want to tell you."

Mebuki looking up at her daughter and seeing the serious look on her face, closes the album and directs all her attention towards her daughter, and says, "What is it honey?"

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