#ssmonth25

It was cold, with nothing but darkness. Sasuke wasn’t sure if he had his eyes opened or not, they felt heavy but no matter how hard he tried he couldn’t’ open them.

He felt like he was suffocating, the mark on his neck glowed and he felt a stinging sensation of pain from all around his body. Collapsing on the floor, he could barely breathe.

The darkness from around felt as though as if it was trying to drag him into it and consume him.

‘It’s all your fault.’

‘They died because you were too weak.’

‘Cling to your pathetic life.’

He couldn’t fight it off though, his energy was drained.

And the voices… the voices were right. Everything was his fault.

Then the next moment Sasuke felt a weight from behind. This one wasn’t heavy though, more comforting and familiar.

He recognised the scent from behind all too well.

“Please… stop.”

And her voice… why was she crying?

Did someone hurt her?

Was she in danger?

He vaguely recalled collapsing in her arms from the pain before, and Naruto was out too.

That meant she was all by herself.

He had to snap out of it, to protect her at least.

Sakura wouldn’t be able to survive by herself.

He won’t let someone else precious to him die, if he couldn’t protect his parents at least he could protect her.

Suddenly however the voices stopped, and the darkness turned to light, and then he found himself staring into her green eyes filled with tears.

He had no idea what happened, no recollection of anything other than the darkness from before but he could feel the curse mark receding. As if looking at her alone was enough.

“Sasuke!” She was okay, bruised and battered but at least.

She’s alive and that was all that mattered.

~~~

Yet up until now, Sasuke had no idea how she managed to snap him out of it.

“Papa, you’re spacing out again.” Sarada commented noticing him zoning out.

“Ah, sorry. Just thinking about something.”

“About what?” She prodded curious, Sasuke wasn’t sure whether he should say considering Sarada was going to go through the chunin exams herself. Still, they wouldn’t be as bad as back then, something he was grateful of.

“About your moth-” Sasuke knew he immediately piqued her interest as she turned to him. Eyes big and curious. He huffed amused, but perhaps she could give a different perspective.

“It happened when we were your age, she… snapped me out of this trance. I can’t really explain but one minute I felt I was consumed with darkness and the next she was there.”

‘Who harmed you?’

‘It was me!’ He was cocky, arrogant. Even if it was vague memory, he seemed so proud of what he did.

“Mama always does have this comforting aura, like being near her makes me feel safe. I know it’s because you’re my parents but maybe Mama has that hold on you?”

“Ah.” Perhaps she was right, it didn’t seem realistic but still… what else did he have to go on?

Her hug, her scent, everything familiar to him was what snapped him out of it.

“Does Mama know you’ve felt this way -” Sasuke poked her forehead.

“Let’s keep this between us.” But with the way his daughter was looking at him, she knew.