Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. If I did, then it's SaixSakura all the way. I'm still praying for it.

The Color Pink

Chapter 2- What now?

Ino didn't know what to do. Sakura had broken down in front of her before whenever she had a fight with Sasuke. They were fre-nemies but Ino was always there for her. She wouldn't admit it but Sakura was one of her dearest friends and she saw her as a sort of role model. She was a strong-willed kunoichi. But at the news that she was pregnant, Ino didn't know what she could do to make her pink-haired friend stop crying. All she could manage was rub her back in what she hoped was soothing.

"W-What do I do, Ino?" Sakura sobbed. "H-How could I let this happen?"

"Well… On the bright side… At least you and Sasuke are no longer together, so it's not like you cheated on him," Ino blurted out, without thinking.

This made Sakura cry even more. Ino, in alarm, tried to backtrack. "Um… Why don't you go to Tsunade-sama? You know, these things can be wrong sometimes. You never know. And even if you are pregnant, I'm sure she'll help you figure out what to do."

Sniffling, Sakura considered it. "I-I guess." She flashed the blonde a weak smile. "Will you go with me?"

Returning the smile, Ino nodded. "Of course, forehead."


Inside the Hokage tower, Shizune stood behind her superior, anxiously awaiting the results of her examination of Sakura. It should have been done at the hospital where it was much more appropriate, but the pink-haired kunoichi insisted that she be examined right there and then. The Hokage finished scribbling the results of the examination on the form and set her pen down.

"Well Sakura, it's confirmed." Tsunade linked her hands together and placed them under her chin. Her face held a look of seriousness as she watched her favorite apprentice. "You're six weeks pregnant."

With those words, Sakura broke down. Ino placed an around her shoulders and rubbed her back. The blonde gave the Hokage a helpless look. "So the test wasn't wrong? You're sure?"

"I'm positive. She's with child." Tsunade sighed. Sakura was a good kid and responsible as well. Getting pregnant was the most unexpected action from her. But then again, she was an eighteen-year old, young woman and mistakes happen. "Now, what are you going to do?"

"Well, she was hoping you would tell her," Ino answered.

Tsunade chuckled. "I'm not the one who's going to have the child. But if you want my advice, tell the father and discuss what to do with him. That reminds me, Sakura, honey." The Hokage stood up and went around her desk to kneel in front of the kunoichi. She took her hand and said in a gentle voice, "I'm not being nosy or anything but this is standard procedure. You have to tell me the name of the father."

Sakura nervously looked up to her mentor's face and bit her lip. "I-I… Can I please not tell you, shishou?"

Tsunade shook her head. "I'm sorry, Sakura but this has to go on file. Don't worry, it's strictly confidential. No on else will see it unless he has your consent."

Lips trembling, Sakura whispered a name.

"What was that, honey?"

"I-It's… It's Sai."

Shizune gasped as Tsunade jumped back in surprise. Then, she grinned and patted Sakura's hand. "I see." She went back to her desk and scribbled his name down. "Well, it's about time."

"Eh?" Sakura gave her teacher a curious look.

The Hokage simply waved a hand. "Nothing. Forget what I said. Now, are you going to tell him?"

"I-I… I don't know." Sakura sighed. "I don't think it will make much of a difference. It was an accident, a mistake."

"I highly doubt that," Tsunade muttered to herself. Shaking her head, she gave the pinkette a gentle smile. "Look, Sakura, it's either you tell Sai or not. I just want you to know that he has every right to the child as do you. However, it's your decision."

"She's right, forehead," Ino added. "Sai has the right to know that you're pregnant with his child."

"I know, but-" Sakura started to say, but was interrupted with the door slamming open.

Tsunade and Shizune looked up as Sakura and Ino turned around. Sakura wanted to crawl under a rock and die because at that very moment, Naruto and Sai were at the door way. Both sported shocked and thunderstruck looks. But Sai's face looked more shocked as he stared at Sakura. His eyes wandered from her face to her stomach. Suddenly feeling conscious, Sakura placed an arm over her belly.

"Well… This is awkward," Tsunade stated. "Well Sai? I guess you've heard the good news? You're going to be a father."

Sai continued to stare at Sakura's stomach. Without another word, he marched in, grabbed the pink-haired girl's arm and, ignoring her protests, dragged her out of the office. Tsunade, Shizune, and Ino watched them disappear

Meanwhile, Naruto simply stood there, speechless. Finally, he fainted.


Outside the Hokage tower, Sai was pulling the struggling pink-haired kunoichi. Good thing there were not bystanders nearby, that would be embarrassing.

"Sai," Sakura grunted, trying to pry her arm free from his hold. "Let me go! What the hell is wrong with you?"

When he suddenly released her, she fell back but caught herself on time. He was silent, his back to her, refusing to meet her gaze. Sakura placed a hand over her stomach again, feeling anxious.

Gulping, she tried to say, "S-Sai-"

"I'm going to be a father," he suddenly said, turning to her. His face held a look of utter confusion. "How did this happen?"

Sakura blushed. "T-That night… You know… When we…"

"When we made love, yes, I remember." He said it straight out, no hint of embarrassment. Sakura cursed him for his ability to maintain a calm demeanor during a crisis such as this. "I know how babies are made, hag. I'm not that ignorant. What I mean is, how did this happen to us?"

The pink-haired kunoichi narrowed her eyes at him. She not only cursed him now. She was irritated. "Not to us, Sai! To me! I'm the one who's pregnant here! With your child!"

He tilted his head to the side. "I recall Ino saying that there was such a pill that could prevent unwanted pregnancies."

Sakura groaned. Now he was comparing her to Ino? What the hell? "Ino uses birth control pills, but I don't!"

He gave her a blank look. "I see. Well, this could all have been avoided if you used them as well."

"Oh, so you're blaming for this? You could have refused me that night!"

"I could have but as I've told you, you were persistent."

"I was drunk! I didn't know any better!"

"Exactly."

"All right you two, break it up!" Tsunade walked over to them, a nervous-looking Shizune and an amused Ino following behind her. "I will not have a spectacle in front of my tower, understood?"

Avoiding each other's eyes. Sai and Sakura nodded.

"Gomen, shishou."

"Gomenasai, Hokage-sama."

Massaging her temples, Tsunade looked at the ground and sighed. "Although this isn't my business, and trust me, I'd rather stay out of it. However, since neither of you are handling the situation in a mature way, I have to interfere. Now, I want you two to go somewhere and talk, reasonably. I don't care where as long as it doesn't result in anyone getting thrown at a tree or a building or anything at all. Discuss what you want to do with the baby and report back to me in three hours. Sai, I'll brief you and Naruto on your mission then. Besides, he's in no condition to hear it anyway, the poor boy fainted at the news." She stared them both down. "Now, go."

With her head held high, she turned on her heels and returned to her office, Shizune faithfully following her. Meanwhile, Ino turned to the two. "Uh… You guys can use my place, if you want."

Sai shook his head. "It's all right, Ino-san. We'll go to my apartment."

Ino flashed Sakura a smirk. "Have fun. But not too much fun, 'kay?"

"PIG!"

The blonde giggled as she walked away. "Kidding!"

Reluctantly, Sakura turned to Sai. "Um… Your place then?"

Without a word, Sai nodded and led the way.


Entering the apartment, Sai gestured to the sofa. "Have a seat."

Sakura sat down while he went to the kitchen and busied himself with making tea. She looked around. She had been here a few times before but never long enough to fully observe. It usually was go to Sai's, inform him of a mission, then leave.

Sai's apartment was definitely an artist's studio; filled with easels and scrolls of many sizes. A few sketchpads with unfinished sketches lay open on top of the coffee and kitchen tables. Brushes of different sizes were neatly arranged next to bottles of black ink. On the walls were paintings and sketches; some had titles but others didn't. One of the sketches was of the new Team Kakashi minus Sasuke. Sai must have drawn it while the Uchiha was still a Konoha traitor.

"Here."

Sai brushed aside some of the sketchpads before placing a tray of tea on the coffee table. He poured some in a cup and gave it to her before pouring himself a cup. Sitting on the armchair next to the sofa, he sipped the tea quietly. Sakura did the same. At first, they stayed in silence, unsure of what to say. They didn't speak to each other the whole way to the apartment so neither had a clue as how to start the conversation about their future child.

Finally, Sakura gathered her guts. After placing the cup of tea on the table, she cleared her throat loudly before saying, "What do we do now?"

Mimicking her actions, Sai placed his tea next to hers. He leaned back on the sofa and stared at the floor. "I don't know. What does one usually do in a situation like this?"

Sakura bit her lip. "Usually, the two involved would tell their parents. But seeing that you have none and neither do I, that's not an option."

Sai started. Of the two years that he had known her, he never once bothered to ask about her family. She never talked about them so he never knew. Did Sakura grow up alone and on her own, like he did?

"What happened to your parents?" he asked, quietly.

"Eh? That's hardly the subject here!"

He didn't reply. Sakura sighed, picked up her cup again and took a sip. Smacking her lips, she placed it back down before saying, "They died while on a mission, shortly after I entered the Academy. I was raised by a family friend and when Tsunade-shishou took me in as an apprentice, I began living with her and Shizune until they got me my own apartment when I passed the Chuunin exams."

"Oh," was all he said.

Silence overpowered the room once more. Sakura didn't know what else to tell him. Though she grew up tending to herself, she had no experience in this area. She didn't know anyone who got pregnant and heck, she didn't even know that she was going to get pregnant before she got married!

She placed a hand on her belly and rubbed it gently. She needed a solution. "There's also… Terminating the pregnancy," she whispered.

For a second, Sakura considered it. She had a whole life ahead of her! She had huge plans! She was going to be the greatest medical nin in all of Konoha, possibly the world. Having a baby and raising a family were part of her plans but not until the near future when she had accomplished most of her goal. But not now! Not now when she was still working on it!

"No, what am I thinking?" she said aloud. "What's wrong with me?"

Abortion was not a solution! Besides, this wasn't about her! This was about the child, her child. She was no longer tending to herself. Now, she had to tend to two. There was another human being growing inside of her who needed her. And Sakura would do anything for this child.

"What did you mean by terminating the pregnancy?" Sai asked, innocently. "I am not yet familiar with that term."

Sakura shook her head. "Nothing. Forget I ever said it. We're not getting rid of the baby."

Sai furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "Get rid of the baby? What…" Then, his eyes widened in realization. He gave her a look of dismay. "You were going to-?"

"I was considering it for five seconds!" Sakura said, quickly. "I'm not going to do it. We're not going to do it. Okay? Look." She sighed deeply. "We need to figure out how to take care of this. 'Cause I don't know okay? I really don't. It's not like we can get married or something."

The artist gave her a questioning look. "Why not?"

Sakura blushed a scarlet red. "Because! This baby wasn't a love-child or anything. He was an accident. He wasn't created out of love! He was created because I decided to get drunk to forget the jerk that was my ex-boyfriend!"

Despite her outburst, Sai suddenly grinned. "How are you certain that it's a 'he'?"

She groaned. "That's not what we're talking about here! Don't change the subject, baka!" Shaking her head, she stood up. "You know what, tell shishou that we can't decide on a solution right now. Tell her we need time. I… I just can't handle this right now, Sai." She walked to the door and waved a hand. "I'll see you around."

And with that, she left his apartment.


A few days later…

"You know, if you keep staring at the ground, it will swallow you up," Yamato commented.

Sai looked up from his staring contest with the forest floor and blinked. "Oh. Gomenasai, taichou. I was just… thinking."

The Anbu nodded. "About Sakura, eh?"

"What about Sakura-chan?" Naruto came out of the trees, bearing the pot of water he was commanded to get. He placed it over the fire to be boiled and sat next to his dark-haired teammate. "You're not still thinking of what to do with the baby, are you?" The blonde sounded annoyed.

The artist simply smiled and said, "As a matter of fact, I am."

After Sai told Tsunade what Sakura said about not being able to come up with a solution, the Hokage gave them three days until after Sai came back to Konoha to decide what to do, or Tsunade would make the decision for them. Meanwhile, Naruto almost pummeled Sai into a pulp and released his Rasengan on him, if Tsunade had not stopped him from doing so. Even though he was now calm about it, he was still furious that the artist had gotten his surrogate sister pregnant, and right after Sasuke-teme dumped her too! Though the blonde and Sasuke were still on speaking terms, Naruto had not yet forgiven him for hurting Sakura. And apparently, he had not forgiven Sai for getting her pregnant yet either. But at least he seemed more gentle than he had been with Sasuke.

Speaking of Sasuke, Sai still wasn't sure whether he knew about Sakura and the baby. The last thing he heard, Sasuke refused to marry the woman he got pregnant, but instead, offered child support. However, if Sasuke did find out about the baby while Sai was away, the artist just hoped that the Uchiha wouldn't do anything to Sakura. Sai wasn't in Konoha to protect her and their child.

For the past couple of days since they left the village, Sai found himself worrying more and more about Sakura and the baby than the mission. He thought about them every single minute and dreamt of them every night. For once, Sai wanted to back out of this mission and return home. Before he left, he went to the library and checked out a book on pregnancy. He hoped that Sakura was eating well; Konoha had plenty of supplies of fruits and vegetables and Sai prayed that she was eating them so that baby would become strong and healthy. He also hoped that she was sleeping well; Sakura worked majority of nights at the hospital and hopefully, she was taking extra caution to make sure she could squeeze in some rest.

"So, what are you gonna do?" Naruto casually asked.

Sai shrugged. "I'm not certain yet." He looked up at the blonde. "Naruto, what do people normally do in such situations?"

Naruto pursed his lips to the side. "Hmm… Well, usually they would tell their parents."

Sai tilted his head. "Yes, Sakura mentioned that. She also mentioned marriage." He gave Naruto a confused look. "But she didn't want to marry me."

"Of course she doesn't want to marry you," the blonde answered, nonchalantly. "It's not like you love her and she loves you. Then you could marry her."

"But sometimes, they don't have to be in love," Yamato added. Both boys looked at him. He shrugged. "I'm just saying that some married couples never married for love. They either married because they were supposed to or," he looked at Sai. "The woman got pregnant and the only way to secure the baby's future is to marry."

Sai scrunched up his face, even more puzzled. "I'm not sure I comprehend, Yamato-taichou."

Yamato grinned, slightly. "It's simple." He positioned his arms as if he was holding a baby. "Baby plus mommy plus daddy equals a good upbringing. Not that being raised by someone else is a bad thing," he added quickly at the glares they were giving him. He dropped his hands to his knees. "What I mean to say is that the child will be happier and will have a much better chance at having a bright future ahead of him-"

"Or her," Sai interrupted.

"Or her," the Anbu agreed. "If he or she have both parents raising him or her, he or she will have guidance and won't fall into the wrong hands and become evil. And not just that, two shinobi parents will definitely result in a future strong shinobi. But," he raised both hands. "It's up to you and Sakura to decide, the rest of us are just here to guide you."

"Yeah, now that I think about it," Naruto added, a thoughtful look on his face. "Since you and Sakura-chan are probably the last of your clan, you'll be able to rebuild a new clan of Harunos and… whatever your last name is."

"Or you can just marry for the love of your child," Yamato said.

"Yeah, what he said."

"Oh. I see." Sai took in this information and refrained from speaking the rest of the night. Marry for the love of their child? Does he love the child? From a few of his readings, he knew that a father loved his child no matter what. Rebuild his clan? Aside from his adopted brother, he never knew any other family. He grew up and was raised in Root, but they weren't his family. They didn't even give him a last name. He was aware that in marriage, the woman takes the man's last name as her own. So if he and Sakura marry, what last name would he give her?

That night, as Sai tossed and turned in his sleeping bag, he made his decision.