Chapter 53

A day passed. 

Ino's getting upset all over again because she can hear Hidan's thoughts about how he thinks Sakura's alive. I sat between Madara and my mother at the dinner table, with no one speaking and only a few people even bothering to eat. I don't know why I come downstairs at this point. Sai, Ino, Itachi, Temari, and Izumi sat across from us. 

Both babies were upstairs sleeping, for once. Sarada is quiet and mild-mannered for the most part, but she doesn't sleep well. Inojin hasn't either since our return. Normal vampire children don't need to rest daily, but neither of them is normal. 

I don't know what to do. I don't know how to raise a child at all, but especially one that's special like Sarada. Ino's too distressed to help, and she already has her hands full with her own kid. Nothing my daughter does irritates me. The changing diapers, feeding, and occasional crying are nothing. In fact, I'm happy to do it. She's all I have left. She-!

A sharp, sudden bolt of fear flooded my chest, making my spine straighten. 

Before I could comprehend it, Madara reacted similarly, and then Ino's tired blue eyes darted up to us, wide with disbelief. That sensation was precisely how it felt after Sakura ran away from Sunagakure. I shook my head, tears welling in my eyes. 

"It's just a hallucination. She's gone. Don't say anything, or everyone will get upset," I thought, hoping Ino would listen. 

This isn't the first time it's happened to us. It never stopped, even though we both know she's dead. I think it's an after-effect. It's also probably why Hidan thinks we somehow revived her. No one in the castle has ever lost a fledgling before, so there's no one to ask advice from. Izumi lost her masters, but that's different.

"What if it's not? What if Hidan's right?" Ino's voice rang through my head, her gaze locked firmly on mine. 

I glared, gritting my teeth. She frowned, adding, "Go to the crypt and verify she's still there." 

"...I can't, Ino," I responded. I barely made it through the funeral. There's no way I can go to that empty, concrete place again. 

All vampire royalty, no matter what city, village, or country they hail from, are buried in one massive crypt in Ishigakure. That specific village is famous for the stone in its mines, called Muteki Diamonds, which stand the test of time better than any other known geode and are the hardest rock ever discovered. It took hundreds of years to process enough to build the large crypt.

The fact that someone who'd been so warm will forever rest beneath such cold, lifeless stone makes me sick. 

"Please, Sasuke!" 

"There's no way she's alive." 

Ino suddenly spoke aloud, tears rolling down her cheeks as she stood angrily, "How can you just accept it? Did you even love her at all?" 

"Because it's what she would've wanted," I rose to stand as well, thoroughly pissed off at the blonde. Everyone stared at us confusedly except for Madara, who kept his blank gaze on the table as though in deep thought and not hearing us at all. 

Mother stood, placing a calming hand on my back, "Let's take a deep breath and calm down, you two. Nothing good will come from arguing like this." After holding Ino's glare for another moment, I left. No one stopped me. 

Upstairs, I fell lifelessly onto the bed, sparing Sarada a glance to ensure she was still asleep before closing my eyes with a sigh. I thought things would be a little easier since I finally cried. 

I looked over when the door to my room opened and closed to see Madara enter. He didn't bother looking my way as he sat in the rocking chair beside the crib and watched Sarada guardedly. Frowning, I rolled onto my stomach and buried my face in the pillow. 

It's too similar to how we felt in Sunagakure while trying to track Sakura. Before that, we were enemies. The only reason we didn't kill one another was because the woman would've been angry and hurt. 

Even when we were attacked by slavers, I felt that way. That's why I took a hit for him when one tried to shoot him. The asshole took one look at me bleeding out and ran. I thought I was done for, and he'd left me to die so he could have Sakura all for himself. To both of our surprise, he apparently had a change of heart and quickly returned to take out the attackers with a look on his face that said he was just as confused as me. 

"Don't misunderstand. I did this for her, not you." That's what he said. 

Now, he's here, and the "her" in question has become Sarada. 

Both then and now, we've wordlessly understood that much about one another. Even if we don't always like one another, there's a respect that wasn't there before. 

Later that night, that god-awful terror came through me again, and I found myself wandering down into the dungeon, Sarada with me, since I didn't want anyone to know by asking them to watch over her. Controlling Hidan is easy for me, so I don't have to worry he'll try anything. 

When the silver-haired vampire came into view, he didn't offer cocky remarks or curses like always. He just stared with a glare. Matching his hateful expression, I slid down to sit silently against the wall. 

For a few moments, neither of us said or did anything. I don't know why the hell I came down here. Something just made my body move. Now that I'm here, I'm not sure what to do. Hidan's eyes softened as they dropped to the silent baby. My arms tightened around her, but he didn't take the hint. 

"Sakura's?" 

I nodded, "And mine. ...Sarada." 

Why did I tell him her name? I think I really am losing my mind. 

"Is that how she died?" 

My eyes narrowed on his suddenly sad expression, trying to determine whether it was genuine. Hidan knows that Sakura's gone because he felt it happen, just like Madara and I did. As far as I'm aware, no one has told him anything else. I'm a little surprised he's not more stunned. 

The man must've taken my silence as confirmation because he grimaced, eyes not leaving Sarada, "Bet you're beating the fuck outta yourself, huh? I would, too." 

"You don't get to act like you understand what this is like after what you did to her." 

Hidan scoffed, meeting my glare with his own again. He unexpectedly said, "Just kill me already. I know you want to." 

Looking down at the baby, who stared back up with curious dark eyes, I hesitantly brushed my thumb over her cheek. I couldn't respond because I didn't know what to say. A tiny smile tugged at Sarada's lips, making my chest tighten and my eyes close painfully. 

"You're not torturing or interrogating me. There's no reason to keep me down here like this." 

Feeling exhausted, I let my head fall back to rest against the wall, "Letting you die would be too easy." 

Hidan's voice raised as he climbed from the cot to sit cross-legged across from me, "If I am wrong, and Sakura's dead, then you should be down here in chains, too." 

My eyes shot open to burn into his. 

He bared his teeth threateningly, hissing, "Sure, I killed her, but I also made sure she came back. You killed her knowing she'd never wake up." 

Brow furrowing, I nodded, which seemed to take him by surprise, "You're right." 

The angry, disgusted look on Hidan's face disappeared as we stared at one another in silence. Eventually, he said, "I know she's alive. She's out there somewhere." Is he trying to comfort or hurt me by forcing false hope onto me? Usually, I can read this idiot like a book, but not right now. I can barely think straight these days. 

"You feel it, too, don't you? That's why you're down here right now." Hidan's eyes fell to Sarada again, and he shook his head sadly as he spoke in a quiet, unconfident voice, "I need to know for sure. Take me with you to her grave." 

Rage flooded my veins, and I sat straighter, "Why would I do that? Even if I go check, I'd never bring you along." The audacity of this degenerate. 

"I'll make a vow to serve the Uchihas."

I scoffed, "What makes you think we want your servitude? I want you to rot in chains just like this." 

"Because you and that long-haired one are obviously too messed up to feel what I'm feeling." Hidan grasped the tattered shirt over his chest as though in pain, his voice choking up, "I think she's reaching out. She's trying to tell me something, but I can't fucking hear." 

For some ungodly reason, I believed him. He's not good enough of an actor to pull off emotions like these. Shaking my head, I lowered my tone and leaned against the wall again, "So, what? You think you can lead me to where she is or something?" 

"I do." 

"I know where she is. She's surrounded by Muteki." 

Hidan's eyes widened, "You took her to Ishi?" 

Glaring again, I spat, "Where else would we take her?" 

"You idiots. What's going to happen when others find out she's mix-blooded, not to mention you guys weren't fucking married?" 

…What? 

He bit angrily, "Let's go." 

After searching his face for a moment, I nodded. Coming to a stand, the two of us looked toward the hallway entrance when footsteps could be heard approaching. Madara appeared, a scowl on his lips as he looked between us. I thought he'd go off on me for attempting to humor this notorious liar's requests, but instead, he nodded, "I'll pack a bag for Sarada." 

That's how the three of us and a baby got on the road to Ishigakure. I drove with Hidan in the passenger seat and the other two in the back seat. 

"Ino knows what we're doing. She'll keep everyone else from following us," my uncle assured. 

"What we're doing is stupid," I mumbled, though I didn't fully believe my own words. 

What's the point of going all the way back to Ishigakure? We're just going to find her grave sealed, just like how we left it less than a week ago. Somehow, I can't shake this anxiety until I see it with my own eyes. It's just like Hidan said. I have to know, even if it's impossible. 

"What's stupid is you two thinking Sakura'd stay dead. Have you met the damn woman?" 

I glanced at Hidan with a warning look, "Just because you're out of those chains doesn't mean I won't kill you." 

He rolled his eyes, "I expect a fuckin'  apology when we get there, and she's alive." 

"Your insignificance in all this can't be any clearer. If you keep pissing us off, I might just order you to return to the castle," Madara insulted from the back. In the rearview mirror, I saw he was feeding Sarada with a tired expression. None of the anger in his voice was on his face. 

For almost two days, we drove until we arrived in Ishigakure. After parking, the three of us got out. Immediately, we froze because there were three other vehicles. It was rare for anyone to be here unless there was a funeral in session. No notices had arrived, so that couldn't be the case. 

Handing Sarada to Madara, I walked forward in the direction of Sakura's tomb. A knot formed in my stomach, tightening with each step. I could hear his and Hidan's steps behind me but didn't look back. Swallowing anxiously, I paused before turning down the last hall and freezing in disbelief. 

Six or seven groundsmen were in the process of cleaning the massive hall of broken Maneki Diamond and blood. 

My feet moved on my own as I hurried forward, my mouth moving with words I didn't actively try to say, "...What's going on here?" 

The workers all turned to see me approach, two glancing at one another before coming forward with raised hands. The taller one said, "Please stay back. There's been an incident. We're not sure if it's dangerous yet." 

I shoved past them, eyes darting around to see deep red blood splattered everywhere as though someone's body had been drained and the liquid had been somehow formed into a bomb that'd gone off. Rubble surrounded a massive hole in the wall. 

When they tried to stop me, I shoved them away, probably too hard but couldn't help it. With trembling hands, I knelt when something shiny beneath the dust and shattered diamond caught my eye. 

Hidan kept the other workers back while Madara stood back with the baby so she wouldn't get caught in any crossfire, but all I could focus on was the gold nameplate I was holding. There, etched neatly into it, was her name. 

Sakura's not in the crypt anymore.