A/N; not edited.. sorry for the long wait too. I'll try to update more regularly, but can't promise anything. I will finish the story though :)

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There was a silence that lasted a few seconds. Kaira saw him clench his jaw, which only confirmed her assumption even more. She started to feel sick. Her head spun. She put one hand on the mattress to support herself.

''I wanted to tell you.'' Sasuke spoke. ''But when I found out, Miyu begged me to keep it a secret. She knew you'd come for her if you knew, and she didn't want you to risk losing your life in Konoha if the authorities were to find out you were in contact with her.''

Kaira wasn't sure how she was supposed to feel. He deceived her, but not of his own will. She understood very well why her mother didn't want her to know she was alive, she knew that Sasuke wasn't lying about that, yet she still somehow felt betrayed. But then Sasuke wasn't the one to blame, but Miyu, but she didn't feel any anger toward any of them.

Sasuke firmly took her shoulder when he saw Kaira nearly fall over. The arm she had been leaning on was trembling. She didn't have any strength left after that training. He held her against his side, to keep her from losing balance. Kaira didn't give off any signals of disapproval.

It had been silent for a minute or two, when Kaira started shaking. Her soft sobs filled the room as she pressed her face into Sasuke's arm. Even if the two of them had a difficult relationship now, she greatly appreciated his presence, his warmth. 

And he stayed there, knowing that him being there soothed her.

~~~>~>~.~.>~

''Have you woken up?''

Kaira blinked, but shut her eyes for a few seconds when a pain shot through them. This time it wasn't caused by the Sharingan, but because of the tears she had shed. When she opened her dark eyes again, she saw Sasuke sitting on the edge of the bed, looking down at her.

There must have been a puzzled expression on her face that gave away her thoughts as Sasuke answered her question before she could even ask it. ''You passed out.'' He spoke. ''This whole situation has taken its toll on you.''

Kaira groaned and sat up. The dark cloak that had been serving as a blanket fell off of her. Kaira frowned as she took the fabric in her hands. She then realised she had been lying on top of the covers all along, so Sasuke must have put this on her to keep her warm.

''Thank you.'' She mumbled. ''How long have I been asleep?"

''For about 2 hours.''

Kaira's eyes widened as she moved her gaze from the cloak to its owner. ''Have you been here the whole time?''

Sasuke shook his head. ''I went to speak with Orochimaru, about your eyes.''

''My eyes?"

Sasuke nodded. ''Obito had a laboratory where he kept all the Sharingans of the victims of the Uchiha massacre. I destroyed the hideout before joining the war but apparently, the laboratory was still pretty intact. Orochimaru found it and took the eyes.''

Kaira's head began to spin again, and she squeezed the cloak. ''Wait.. you're saying that my eyes.. my vision, can be restored?''

She just assumed she'd have to live with her increasing blindness because the only people with the Sharingan she'd need were her siblings, and she couldn't possibly ask them to go blind so she could see again. They didn't even know about her overusing the Sharingan.

''Only if there are Mangekyou Sharingans among the ones.'' Sasuke answered. ''Orochimaru said he'd look.''

Kaira let out a shaky breath. She didn't want to be too optimistic, but the thought of being able to see the faces of her children again, in detail and not just some vague smudges... that thought made her the happiest woman on earth.

''There is something else you need to know.''

Kaira's smile slowly faded. The tone Sasuke spoke with already told her it wasn't good news.

''The knife that was used to stab Yuuji..'' Sasuke started. ''Your fingerprints were found on it.''

Kaira stiffened. The optimism she felt before, the happiness, it only took one second for those feelings to turn into the exact opposite. Even if she was able to regain her sight, how was she supposed to see her kids again if she was seen as the assaulter of Yuuji. She wouldn't be able to set foot in Konoha again.

''Why were your fingerprints on it, Kaira?'' Sasuke asked after a moment of silence.

''Vegetables..'' Kaira whispered, still in shock. ''I used the knife to cut vegetables when I prepared dinner.''

''The real attacker must have worn gloves then.'' Sasuke assumed. When Kaira didn't say anything to that in return, he looked at her. Her stiffness was easily noticeable. She was scared.

''When Yuuji wakes up, you'll be fine. He has probably seen who attacked him, and it was not you.''

''IF he wakes up..'' Kaira croaked. She wanted Yuuji to be healthy and alive, mostly for his own sake, and only partly to free her from the lies surrounding her. She simply wanted things to return to what they once were.

''With Sakura healing him, he'll surely make it. His hospital room is guarded, in case the attacker comes back for him too.''

''They think the attacker is me. They have no idea the real culprit is walking right among them.''

Sasuke sighed. ''Naruto believes you, at least wants to believe you. There are capable men protecting Yuuji because he's taken into account that the one who really stabbed him is probably still in Konoha.''

Kaira pressed her lips together. She wanted to help somehow, but she was powerless. As long as she didn't know the identity of the culprit, she could only wait and hope to be targeted again so she could put an end to this.

''Are you going back to Konoha soon?'' Kaira asked softly.

''Tomorrow.'' Sasuke spoke as he stood up. ''It's getting late now, so I'll leave in the morning.''

Kaira wanted to ask him to stay with her this night, but she couldn't get the question past her lips. She was too embarrassed, and also felt guilty. She had cheated on him, and now she wanted him to spend the night next to her. She was pathetic, truly. She was disgusted with herself, but still longed for his presence, his warmth. She wanted him to be with her.

''Have a good night.'' Sasuke said as he opened the door.

Kaira nodded, mumbling similar words, but did not look at him. It was only after she heard the door close that she let her face fall on the pillow. Her hands raked through her hair, pulling at it when she turned them into fists. 

How was she ever supposed to tell Sasuke?