#I have enough both chronic and temporary mouth ailments okay

[e77y]

Picked up a canker sore prescription 🙏 Goodnight :3 Hopefully I will wake up magically healed

[greatideas-badwriter]

Sacrificed To The Banished Prince Ch. 30

Sakura didn’t want to wake up. In fact, she refused. Mentally, she was aware she was asleep, but did everything she could not to move a muscle or think too hard. If she did, her temporary bliss would be ruined. The princess was dreaming of her husband. She was imagining with all her might that she was warm and comfortable. The delusion was strong enough that she could feel Sasuke’s arms around her and smell his comforting scent. 

‘I’ve missed this more than anything. Please, let me cherish it for just a while longer….’ 

She never thought being separated from another person would physically hurt, but it did. Each minute spent apart from the prince felt torturous. It was like he was the perfect dose of pain medication to manage a chronic ailment. Without him, it was hard to exist. 

Recalling how the last month or so had felt in Sasuke’s absence, the woman couldn’t help but melt into the dream. She buried her face in his shirt, clutching its fabric with trembling hands while tears fell heavily down her face. Even if it was only an illusion, a wonderful dream, Sakura felt safer than she had in a long time. 

The lump in her throat grew to unbearable levels when the prince’s chest moved slower as he took in a deep breath while waking. His arms tightened around her before one of them traveled up to tangle in her hair and hold her closer. She nuzzled in, internally pleading for the affection to never end. It was just as she suspected all those days spent with nothing to do while being held captive. The prince made everything okay with just a simple embrace. It was as though all her problems melted away. All was right within his arms.

“Sakura….” The man’s sweet, raspy voice whispered into her hair. Her tears fell more heavily as she broke into sobs. The good feelings were going away as she began coming to terms with the fact that this wasn’t real. Anytime, she’d be waking up on the cold barn floor, hungry and terrified. 

“I’m sorry,” Sasuke whispered, soothing her hair with slow movements, “I’m so sorry. I’ll never leave you alone like that again.” 

‘...Wait….’ 

The princess slowly opened her eyes. Her breath hitched when she was able to see for the first time in weeks. It was dark, but she could make out the tear stains on her husband’s white shirt. She couldn’t contain her disbelief and struggled to breathe, pushing away so she could properly see. 

Sasuke sat up as well, his dark eyes watery as he searched her face. Sakura wiped fervently at her wet cheeks before cupping his face with shaking hands. There was a dark bruise tarnishing his jaw on the right side, and his left bicep and hand were bandaged, but this was the prince. This was her husband in real life, not a dream. At the moment, it was too much for her. She couldn’t control herself and fumbled to hug him tightly, clinging to him like her life depended on it. 

‘It’s really him. He really came for me.’ 

It took a long time for the woman to calm down enough to release the man and lay back down. When she did, he followed suit while staring as though afraid she’d disappear if he looked away for even a moment. By the glint in his eye, Sakura could tell Sasuke had many things he’d like to say, but words simply weren’t coming. She opened her mouth to attempt speaking for the first time in weeks, only to freeze when she realized it wasn’t Akuma before her. 

It was definitely nighttime, so how…? 

“The demon…. He broke his promise in order to protect you,” Sasuke quietly informed his wife. 

Her mouth closed in surprise, ‘He tried to kill on my behalf? Does that mean Akuma is gone? …I didn’t get to say goodbye….’ A strong sense of sadness washed over Sakura. 

Sasuke seemed able to read her mind because he assured her quickly, “He is still here. I now have control over when he’s able to arise.” 

A moment of silence passed before he spoke again, changing the subject now that they both had better control over their emotions, “Are you alright?” There was a softness to his voice that hinted he was afraid to hear the answer. 

Sakura studied his face for a moment before nodding, leaning into his gentle touch when he slid his hand between the pillow and her cheek. Warmth met his dark eyes before they fell to her neck, his hand following. Goosebumps rose to her skin at the sensation. 

“You haven’t been able to speak?” 

She shook her head, glad he was able to infer that without an explanation. 

He slid his hand beneath her cheek again, his thumb brushing the corner of her lips as his gaze darkened, “I want to know everything you had to endure.” 

It was then that a certain insinuated question made the atmosphere heavy. Sakura’s heartbeat quickened, tears brimming her eyes once more while she shook her head, ‘He’s worried I was harmed by someone like Hihara again.’ 

An unsteady deep breath came and left the prince. He closed his eyes to calm for a moment before nodding reassuringly at Sakura, his expression less hesitant, “I’m relieved. If such a thing had occurred, I’d-" "Sasuke….” Sakura’s voice was hoarse and quiet. It was a little painful to speak after being silent for so long, not to mention the sheer amount of cold air she’d been breathing. 

She hadn’t meant to rudely interrupt his heartfelt communication, but the topic had brought something very important to mind. 

He closed his mouth, searching her face more attentively. 

She couldn’t speak, then. The lump in her throat, this time from nerves, was too big to swallow. Concern quickly met the man’s features. In hopes of quickly reassuring him that nothing was terribly wrong, Sakura panicked. Unsure what else she could do, she grabbed his uninjured hand and guided it down under the covers, between their bodies. Their gazes remained locked as she hesitantly manipulated his hand so that it pressed flat to her stomach, fingers pointing down. Then, she held it there, pressing her own palm to the back of his hand and attempting to wordlessly communicate with him since her ability to speak had failed. 

It took a few seconds for the confused expression to melt into realization. Then, the cautious feel of his touch became firmer. The prince’s eyes lit up with surprise, “You are…!” 

Sakura nodded, a smile meeting her lips as it was clear the man wasn’t unhappy with the news. 

Sasuke’s brow furrowed, his head shaking a few times. He fumbled to slip his hand beneath her nightgown, pressing his palm flat to her stomach with excitement quickening his breath. He kissed her once, pulling back to try asking for unneeded clarification, “I…We…?” He swallowed hard and retried, his nose brushing against hers, “A child?” 

Sakura nodded, kissing him softly. The prince accepted the affection, moving to wrap his arms around her. When she pulled away from the kiss to smile bashfully at him, he closed his eyes and pressed his forehead to hers. Brimming with relief, the princess did the same. Then, they were silent. 

They were content. 

They were reunited, at last. 

The following sleep was the best rest she’d had since their honeymoon. When she stirred, her entire body was sore, especially her feet. It wasn’t nearly as bad as she expected, though. The doctors explained immediately upon her waking that they’d used the strongest healing potion they could find. It wasn’t enough to completely heal a person, but it ensured no infections would meet her wounds and would hasten the recuperation process. 

As soon as the doctor was finished checking her over, Sasuke rose from the chair he’d been sitting in nearby. He refused to let her out of his sight. In the past, Sakura might’ve found it uncomfortable, but that was before spending over a month as a prisoner. His pretty, dark eyes flickered to the entrance of the large room before he sat on the edge of the bed, taking one of his wife’s hands into his own. 

The heightened emotions from last night had, thankfully, simmered, so his composure was intact. His voice was stable in its usual, soft yet strong way. His face was mostly stoic with just the tiniest glimmer of relief and exhaustion shining through. “Until we discover who ordered your kidnapping, do not tell anyone about the pregnancy.” 

Sakura nodded with a warming face. It was foreign, hearing the man speak on their situation so calmly. In her eyes, it seemed as though the prince was happier than he cared to admit, even to her, about becoming a father. She’d been terrified he’d be distraught, so it was a weight off her shoulders. 

The door to the room burst open to reveal King Madara followed by the first prince and a line of palace staff carrying trays of foods and drinks. “Niece! I’m so relieved to see you safe once more!” The king approached as though he wished to take Sasuke’s spot sitting on the bed’s edge, but the second prince didn’t move a muscle and instead fixed his uncle with a firm stare. 

Sakura bowed her head, “Y-Your-” “Don’t try to speak yet. You’re still healing,” Sasuke cut off her hoarse attempt. 

Itachi chimed in after a moment of awkward silence met the room, “Please, Sister, eat and rest well so your body can heal itself more quickly. We can all talk while you do.” 

Blush heated the woman’s face at his calling her his sister, burning even hotter when a maid politely handed Sasuke a tray full of easy to digest breakfast foods. He glanced at his wife, who shook her head to indicate she didn’t want him to feed her. Wordlessly he handed over the tray before turning his gaze back on his family members, “Is there any news from the interrogators?” 

Sakura slowly ate some oatmeal, not wanting to upset her stomach. ‘Did they manage to capture Hidan and Kakuzu, then? Or is it the farmer and his family?’ She wanted to ask but couldn’t for obvious reasons. 

“Since Kisame is still recovering, we haven’t been able to view his memories. He’s not responding to torture, either,” Madara said, his eyes turning onto the princess every so often as though ensuring she remained present and stable. 

Sasuke asked, “How is Kisame? He mentioned sending us here was costly.” 

Itachi frowned, nodding, “He’s comatose. It’s expected he won’t wake for several days.” 

Sakura vaguely recalled meeting someone with that name. Their appearance escaped her, though. 

Her husband’s brow furrowed, but his older brother cut him off before he could speak, “He knew the consequences of using so much energy. It was his choice, so do not blame yourself.” 

The Uchiha trio’s discussion carried on for a while. Once Sakura had eaten her fill, she turned onto her side and curled up under the blankets. It was difficult to understand how she was still so tired after sleeping for so long. Her eyes drooped as the royal family’s voices floated around the room. A soft hum vibrated her chest when she felt Sasuke slide a hand in between hers so she could hold it. Feeling safe enough to even lay there with her eyes willingly closed was something that’d be considered a luxury little more than a day ago. Sakura lulled in and out of consciousness, only picking up pieces of the words said. 

Home was Sasuke, and she was happy to be home.