Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.


Chapter 4: It was my son.

Sakura.

When I was afraid of fitting into my classes this morning, I had all intentions of being an outcast but now that I sit here in my English class with my sunglasses back on, bored out of my mind, dealing with Sasuke and his annoying fucking fan girls, I'd rather listen to Hidan ramble on about his religion and the god he believes in. Seriously, is this the only reason the girls from this school come; not for their education or the sole purpose for having a future ahead of themselves but for a boy? Are you fucking kidding me? I have never seen so many brainless female species in my life, in the same room at least.

I grunt because I know no one in this class except Sasuke and the other dickhead, the one that called me Ugly. I couldn't care less to remember his name. I'm infested with the smell of tobacco and nicotine. My teacher is laid back, probably way too laid back. He's leaning back into his chair with his legs propped up onto his desk, eating chips; which is his seventh bag judging by the empty packets next to his chair. The way he continues to keep his hands busy and his slightly black gums, I figured he was a chain smoker, itching to have a smoke right now. With how bored I am at the moment and the lack of work he's giving, teaching, us, it's obvious he cares about his addiction more than his job.

I uphold my arms over the desk and wait until the bell rings, clearly there is no work going to be done in this period. There's a loud shriek at the back of the class and all the students turn their attention to the noise. Apparently, Sasuke did something amazingly simple as in asking a girl what the time was because he couldn't see the clock from all of the bimbo's crowding him. He says something and the crowd disperses, I was still having an inner battle about how these girls are actually giving up their time for this cocky asshole, when I see him smirk in my direction. God that smirk, it does weird things to my insides. I didn't know what to label this foreign feeling when he had first shown me that smirk and I still don't know. I don't know if it's good or bad… if it's attractive or offensive, whether it's meant for me or this red headed bitch at the back of me.

The teacher opens another bag of chips with a light 'pop' sound. That snaps me out of my trance and I look at my watch, showing me that there's 4 minutes left until next period. I continue to repeat the mantra – 'not long to go, not long to go, not long to go' – in my head. The longer I stay around Sasuke's fan girls, the thought of my IQ dropping sounded accurate at the moment.

The bell finally rings and I'm absolutely thrilled that I get to leave this boring class and English was one of my favourite subjects. I was slinging my bag on my left shoulder when I hit someone and heard an 'oophm'. I turn around to see the red head that was sitting behind me, with her posse of girls behind her. Every single one of them wearing branded short skirts, crop tops and heels – what? Is this the national uniform for sluts? It's only school, geez. I'm frustrated yet amused that they deem themselves attractive. It's hilarious.

"Hey! Watch it bitch. Do you know how long I had to get this outfit ready for today?" The one in the front, who I presume is the 'leader', yells out at me and stomps her foot like a spoiled child.

The class must've heard her outburst because no one has left except for the lousy teacher. I see the faces of everyone, noting that some of their expressions were surprised, fearful – by some girls, angry – by some boys, but most was indifferent. Probably enjoying the fact that there's drama to watch on the first day of school, I was just about to walk away and ignore this friendly conversation but this girl and her posse just won't give up because the 'leader' steps in my way.

I blink a few times and bite back in a sweet tone. "I really don't care and I really don't want to know."

"Do you know who you're messing with? Get with the program new girl, this is the school queen," one of the girls stated. I wanted to laugh in her face.

"Oh really," I said as I sized up the 'school queen'.

Every nerve in my body was shouting at me to wipe that cocky smile on her face as she whips her hair over shoulder and looks at her nails with her palm facing me.

"Yeah really, check yourself before you step to us," another girl replied.

I looked at her and I could definitely see that she's one of those girls who wouldn't mock anyone without her friends being there. Just by glaring at her with fake intent of hurting her, she cowers behind the other girl who had spoken first. Way to back up your tough mouth, chicka.

These girls entertain me so I decided to mess with the leader. I slung the strap of my bag across my torso and untied my hoodie from my waist and stuff it in my bag, ignoring the pain shooting my back, and began.

"You've got a really nice top on. Where did you get it from?" I complimented even though I was dry reaching in my throat. The top was hideous!

She glanced down then back at me, "America." She stated simply then continued. "It's from one of the latest collections from the runway by a well-known designer, you wouldn't know her." She declared rather arrogantly.

"Then it's a shame that you've got a stain right here," I expressed with a concerned tone while I walked up to her and pointed to the spot under her chin where the collar of the top was.

"WHAT! WHERE?" She screeched and looked down, pulling the hem of her shirt out to get a better look.

"Right here," I replied haughty and flicked her nose.

I bolted out of the room and ran towards my History class. I laughed the whole way, not really caring who I ran into.

XXXX

Sasuke.

I just witnessed the banter between Karin and the new girl and I must say she has balls talking back to Karin and her girls – Ami and Fū.

I've seen girls suck it up and face her and the other two but they've never made it out like the new girl. I've got to say, I never expected her to do that. The face on Karin when she realized what just happened was priceless. I smirked and left to my next class; History.

When I came out of the door, I saw a flash of pink running to my right, the direction of History block. Everyone could hear Karin screaming profanities and cursing a 'pink haired mutt face bitch', in her words.

I'm not going to lie, the new girl is attractive. I don't think I'd be heading down that path though. She seemed… uncommon. Definitely different from most. She has the most exotic combination of pink hair with emerald eyes and a fit body; contoured arms, amazing legs that never seemed to stop, slim waist and a flat stomach with a nice rack and a beautiful plum shaped ass. Perfect yet in a completely different way than I'm used to. Most would try to impress me by what they wear and how they look rather than what they do and how they express themselves. I stop myself there because I just sounded like a hypocrite. Well, sorta.

She's confident but something occurred in her life for her to behave this way because in some aspects she's exactly like me. I was happy and lively then my parents died and it felt like everything me and my brother had built were shot down. Our family was taken from us, at the time I would curse the world for mine and my brother's misfortune but now that I look back on it, I feel as though it was life's way of telling me that I am the way I am because I've lived through it not because it's who I am. I blame myself every day that I was the reason my parents were wrongfully ripped out of our family portrait. Just before I had turned 16, I have not seen my brother. I thought he was disgusted of me – that's why he left me to defend myself as a newly appointed adult. Though I won't complain because most things I did felt like second nature to me. She puts on a mask to show other's that she doesn't need their pity because there is none, not at first anyways. Again, exactly like me. I don't need anyone's pity – I don't need them to sympathize with me. My mask, defines who I am. It makes itself known because there isn't anything to sympathize about, they don't know my past and I don't know theirs. The way it should be. It's easier to control bottled up emotions. The only person to ever rip me out of my emo state was Naruto and to this day, I'm forever grateful for someone so opposite because he's been my best friend since and if wasn't for him I'd still be walking down the dark path.

I make it to my history class and I stop dead in my tracks. I just contemplated about my parent's death, my brother, my mask, my misery and I just compared myself to her. We're different but why do I feel like we're exactly the same? How can someone that has never looked into my eyes or know my background, make me feel, think of, so much? Make me replay the events that led me to believe that I could never be what my parents or brother wants me to be? Make me recount the memories that I locked away years ago? My brother Itachi, he was the only one, besides Naruto, who could break me and shatter the act for the mask I put on when I interact with other people. How? Her simple presence smashes all the barriers that surround me. Not even the hardest person in my life could break through. Yet she does it with such ease but the only time I spoke to her was a taunt and she replied with the same force.

I take a deep breath and walk into class just as the bell rings. I don't give a shit about the teacher eyeing me; I was still having a hard time trying to process what just happened. Maybe I'm reading too much into it? I've lost my cool to a girl, nonetheless.

When I've finally taken my seat at the back to the class, I suddenly see pink in front of me.

XXXX

Sakura.

I pant a few breaths before I take my seat in the second row from the back of my History class. It took me longer than I had thought but I made it when the bell rung. When I shoved myself through the door, everyone stopped and looked at me for the third time today. Seriously, I'm going to attract the wrong crowd soon if I start unnecessary shit that I don't need.

Great, I'm in Sasuke's class again. He comes in dawdling like he's top shit and sits behind me, double great.

I pull out the equipment I needed for the class and my teacher, Ms. Mitarashi, began.

XXXX

Finally, it was morning tea. I could eat a horse, though that wouldn't be beneficial for my diet or workout plan. So I stop images of me eating a lot of meat. Which reminds me, I had Mc Donald's after my recent fight… I need to work that shit off and hope I make weight for my next fight.

I walk into the cafeteria and it's already packed. I look around and spot Naruto and my friends sitting on a picnic table near one of the sliding doors going out to the schools courtyard. Ino sees me and waves me over. I was walking to them when Karin and her gang cut off my path.

I sigh. "How can I help you ladies?"

"Cut the shit, you're going to pay for what you did earlier," Karin seethes. "Don't think you can get away with it."

"Oh, did you want me to point out the stains on your shirt again?" I cockily ask.

"Look, you don't know who you're messing with," she glares. "I can make your life a living hell."

I yawn and stretch even though my back is fucking killing me right now.

"Too bad I already live my own hell. Every. Damn. Day," I shoot back in a low, too sweet tone while walking to her face. I lean back and walk away; leaving Karin, her group and the others who were in hearing range with twisted faces.

Plopping down onto the picnic table with Kiba to my left and Hinata to my right, I leave my phone on the table and chuck my bag underneath where my legs are.

"I fucking hate those girls," I say harshly. "Yes I know I just met them but I don't need that shit right now."

"Calm down forehead. You didn't get shit from them," Ino specifies.

"My point exactly - that's why I'm angry. They're going to be all over me now," I moan and fist my hair.

"Woah, I don't think they swing that way forehead," she gibes.

"Fuck you," I laugh. I'm happy to be back in school. I have people that can immediately change a shitty situation into a fun one.

Naruto, Hinata, Kiba and surprisingly Shikamaru and Sasuke join in on the laugh as well. Actually, more like Naruto and Kiba laughed, Hinata giggled cutely while Shikamaru and Sasuke just smirked and shook their heads at our antics.

We were finishing up our laughing when someone hugged me really tight from behind and their cheek leaning on my shoulder. I cock my head to side just a bit and I'm greeted with two chestnut coloured hair buns.

"TENTEN!" I shout and turn around quickly while still in her embrace and hug her back tightly.

I'm surprised that I didn't sense her coming up behind me. I've been enjoying myself so much, I let my guard down. That's not good.

"I heard you were here but I didn't know if it was true or not," she started before the onslaught came. "Where the fuck have you been? Do you know how hard I was trying to track you down?" She finished with a huff.

"Not hard enough apparently," I muttered to myself.

She punched my arm, rather hard. "Shut it, you! I was so worried that you were killed or some ridiculous shit like that."

"Ow. Okay first, that fucking hurt. Still got that strength from way back, maybe we could spar sometime? Second, as you can see, I did not get 'killed or some ridiculous shit like that', as you put it. I was just… staying with a family member in Suna for a while." I coax.

At first, she didn't appear to believe me however she breathed out a sigh of relief. "I was just worried, is all? We all were actually. The girls and I were just more expressive," she chuckled.

I was just about to say a snarky reply but my ringtone went off alerting me that there was an incoming call through. I slide the bar at the bottom of the screen and answer it quickly. The voice of Aki rings into my ear.

"Hi mommy," Aki said happily.

"Hi baby, what are you doing ringing me on Zuki's phone?" I question as I walk away to have distance from the group's preying ears and Tenten sits next to Neji and holds his hand in her lap. I narrow my eyes, mentally noting that I'll be asking her about that later.

"Zuki picked me up to get ramen!"

"What the heck," I say exasperatedly, carefully trying not to cuss and shoot Naruto a glare who knew what I was glaring at him about. "Baby, can you put Zuki on the phone please?"

"Ok mommy!"

There's shuffling then my brother's voice greeted me.

"Zuki, why isn't he at school?"

"Uhh, ummm, onourwaytoschoolheblackmailedmetotakehimtogetramenformorningtea," he responded so fast that I had to replay it in my head before I could comprehend what he had said.

"What did he blackmail you about?" I inquire curiously.

"Nothing," the reply was instantaneous.

"Oh, really?" I quirk an eyebrow.

"Yes really. I'll have him at school on time, don't worry sis."

"Fine but this isn't over. Put him back on the phone." I scowl.

"Yes mommy?" Aki greets me so adorably.

"Baby, don't eat too much ramen please? And do not dirty your uniform. Remember what I said this morning?"

"Uh-huh mommy." His cute voice replies.

"Alright, I'll let this one slide because it's your first day back," I say as I walk back to the table. "I love you baby. See you tonight." With that, I end the call.

"Baby? Who was that?" Tenten asks, a glint of curiosity in all of their eyes.

I glance at Naruto and he bows his head a little, gesturing to me that it's my decision. I look at Shikamaru and he shrugs one of his shoulders, saying the same thing as Naruto.

"Are you going to tell us what you three are communicating about in your language?" Ino looks between me, Shika and Naruto. This brings me back to reality.

"Uh well…" I hesitate.

"Well," Ino, Tenten and surprisingly, Hinata say all at once.

I groan in defeat. "It was my son."

XXXX

Baby Daddy.

After Sai rang and told me that cherry was doing good – I got hungry and the two minute noodles in the cupboard of the apartment wasn't going to satisfy the growl coming from stomach. I decided to head to Ichiraku's from brunch so I put on a beanie, hoodie and loose track pants and lock the door.

Not many people are at Ichiraku's when I arrive but I still grab a free newspaper from the front and find a booth and a waiter serves me when I get seated. She takes my menu and hands my order in. She comes back with an empty cup and a jug of iced water. I poured myself a drink and take a sip when the same waiter that served me, served familiar names from the booth behind me.

"Hey Aki, what's it this time?"

"Uhhhhhh, I'll have a medium, half chicken, and half beef with the thick noodles please."

That voice. The voice of my son. I want to take him right then and there but I don't. Not yet anyway. I'm going to get him but when he's with his mother, I want them both. I want all of them. To make cherry love me like she used to, make her trust me like she used to. I was so stupid to leave her when he told me too. I can't believe all the shit he told me wasn't true, I left her to defend herself when I told her I'd be there for her through thick and thin. I'm glad my grandmother was still there to take care of them though.

I let those thoughts drift away as a steaming hot bowl of ramen with extra broth is placed in front of me. I thank the waiter and begin eating. While I'm eating I take a read at the newspaper and one of the headlines almost make me spit all of the ramen noodles out. 'Uchiha Death Case Files Stolen. Police Are Currently Investigating.'

I know three men who would be interested in them and they're all supposedly dead. All three of them have a past with cherry but only two of them have had direct contact with her. I killed one of them, so why do I have this hunch that I didn't finish the job?

I need more on this so I call an old friend. "Deidara. I need your help."

XXXX

Sakura.

Economics is boring.

My teacher is talking so much that it disturbs me how he keeps glancing my way every 5 seconds. I might be reading too much into it but I'm sitting in the back row… with no one behind me. Every now and then he'd mention some kid named Konohamaru that he babysits in the weekdays, not that the class cares anyways. He wears a blue bandana on his head the same way as Ibiki, the guy that umpires some of my fights. One of the rules in school states that you're not allowed to wear bandanas of any colour so why is the teacher allowed? He also wears these big black bug eyed looking glasses. They're so dark. You can't see his eyes, even when the sun beam hits it.

This is going to be a very long 20 minutes for the last part of this class.

XXXX

The teacher is fucking funny. I could laugh at his dry jokes 24/7 because his humour is hard to find in stuck up teenagers.

I literally have tears in my eyes. I've been dreading this subject all day because I absolutely hate it and it's my worst subject. What surprised me though is that Sasuke is in all of my classes with the bitch queen and her crew. Fuck my life.

But I appreciate that Genma, who hates being called Mr. Shiranui, is here to take my mind off them. I don't know why I want to stay away from Sasuke but there's something pulling me back to him and he looks so familiar. Something about him is so identical to me but what? I glance at him to my right, near the back of class. His face is stoic as ever, not even a wrinkle is seen.

I leave those thoughts be and continue to laugh and get some work in… hopefully.

XXXX

Roll class just finished and Kakashi, who I found out, hates being called Mr. Hatake, didn't show up at all. I could've gone and had a smoke but I stopped that shit when I found out I was pregnant. It also doesn't help that Mr. Sarutobi was reeking of it this morning. I just contradicted myself.

I'm so fucking hungry, again but this time I choose the option of a green salad with marinated chicken, bought from the cafeteria. It was surprisingly good, especially coming from a school cafeteria. I ate then decided to leave to warm up and stretch. A run around the track sounds good too.

XXXX

I arrived to the changing rooms and got changed right away. I took off my white top and denim shorts, leaving me in my black spaghetti strapped sports bra and black sports underwear and put on my grey gym fitted shirt and long black compression skins that stopped just before my ankles and white ankle socks that stopped midway from my Achilles and then tied the laces to my runners.

I bought out my iPod, the arm strap holder and earphones. I decided to leave the ankle weights for now. The walk from the cafeteria to gym was longer that I had initially thought but that's okay, it gave me time to digest the marinated chicken I had. It sounds stupid however I was feeling self-conscious about how good it tasted that I had a second (larger) portion.

I locked my things in one of the lockers and set my combination. I went to the track and wasn't surprised to see a group of girls squealing where most of the guys were, which also doesn't surprise me that they were playing basketball on the court near the tracks and field. I scoffed and walked to where the rails were and tied my hair into a high messy bun. I put my earphones in and let the fast beat song playing take me through my stretches.

XXXX

Sasuke.

Playing basketball with these knobs is actually thrilling yet depressing. The boys we're playing against are the 'other' popular boys; Suigetsu, Jugo and some other fucking idiots, who were stating that they were the 'best motherfuckers playing basketball in school.' I don't have many fucks to give right now because a female figure bending over stretching gave me and the boys, who stopped to look at her as well, an amazing view of her ass.

Just when she got up, I saw pink hair. Oh fuck. There's no way that's Sakura. Oh fuck 2x, I just said her name instead of 'the new girl'. She must really be into her fitness because she's starting her stretches the proper way. She starts from the bottom of her feet working her way up. I'd like to work my way down on that body, the way she rolls her ankles – giving her plum shaped ass a nice lift – to the way she flexes her carve muscles then her groins, then her abdominals – fucking sexy. She starts extending her arms above her head, giving the spectators a nice view of her tight, flat stomach. I immediately stop those thoughts from escalating because my shorts are starting to get tight and from what I remember, they were loose basketball shorts. Fuck me. One by one the boys start taking off their shirts and fan themselves. This of course earns themselves high pitched squeals and many shouts of dating, babies and marriage. Tch, pathetic.

I cross my arms and observe her when she glances at her wrist watch then starts running around the track; heading straight towards us. Now that she's closer I realise that she has her glasses back on and she's listening to her iPod. Woah, serious pants. I also notice she has long strides that fit her long legs well and her posture is perfect; straight back, elbows bent, wrist never going below her hips – only her wrist brushing against it and the arches of her foot are always straight never bent inwards or outwards. When I finished my analysis, I concluded that I just became a master at 'how to run' from watching her. When the fuck did I learn all that shit? Oh right, Itachi. He was crazy about his fitness and eating healthy. He always tried to get me to eat other fruits and vegetables besides tomatoes. He also tried to put me on a workout and diet plan. I did give in however. I still continue my workout to this day but I (still) only eat tomatoes with anything.

She finally ran around the curve part of the track at the boys start whistling and lifting their arms and placing it above their heads while gripping onto the fence; the only boundary separates the court from the track and field. What she does next simply makes all of the boys have a hard on because I've certainly got one.

XXXX

Sakura.

While I was running closer to the courts and the cheerleaders, I noticed Queen Bitch – her new nickname – glaring the sharpest daggers at me. I'm internally holding up a shield but then I notice why she was. It's because I have the attention of the boys, they're all sweaty and shirtless (Naruto who has the ball under his foot, was the only sane man with his shirt still on). Oh my fucking goodness, I would've climaxed right then and there but I don't so I decided to start chaos. Welcome to my world bitch.

I stop running in front of the boys and bend down, pretending to tie my loose shoe lace. I stick my ass high in the air and when I get back up, I stretch my arms above my head again, letting my shirt to ride up just enough for them to want more. I stop and look to my right and pretend to act shock that they saw me. In reality, I was happy that they didn't seem to react at my mortified face because they weren't even blinking just licking their lips. I see four boys at the back, one of them being Sasuke and another being Naruto. I stare at Sasuke for a bit then I give him a sultry smirk. I know that's going to get me into some more shit but looking over to the "cheerleaders", it was definitely worth it. Just watching how Queen Bitch is trying to escape the hold that her posse had on her was satisfying enough, my inner wanted to flip her off. Mission accomplished.

I continue to run knowing I'll at least have 15 minutes left of running before last period starts.

XXXX

I should've wished for those last 15 minutes of my run to go by as slow as possible because my teacher is literally the most… distasteful looking man on earth. What makes it even worst is that he a miniature version of him and he's my age. For fuck sakes. He has the exact same bushy eyebrows, same tight green jumpsuit, same orange leg warmers and the exact same bowl haircut. This… cannot be unseen. I think I'm scarred for life.

These are one of the time's I curse my pink hair and my fitting name because now the miniature version of my gym teacher is sitting next to me, shouting about his eternal youthful love for me. The fuck? I don't believe in love at first sight but now that this knob is preaching his shit about the topic, I really wish I could walk out of his life to get away from him. I have never met someone so… passionate about everything being so 'youthful'. I grab his wrist when he tries to touch my 'silky youthful hair' and his eyes widen.

"You have such fast reflexes my flower petal," he exclaims so proudly.

"When the fuck did I become your flower petal? Who even calls someone else that?" I grunt, hearing some of the guys in my class agree in the background.

"Such an unyouthful mouth you have, my flower petal. We must do something about that," he boosts. "If I cannot help you with your problem then I will do 150 laps around the track, if I cannot accomplish that then I will do 300 pull ups, if I cannot do that either then I will do 600 push ups with one finger," he shouted so loud that I punched him when I was convinced that my ear drums had blown up.

"Don't ever fucking shout again and I don't have a fucking problem," I breathed still trying to test my ears if they're working.

"I have failed! You have used such unyouthful words, my flower petal." He cried anime tears while clutching his hair.

Evidently, no one noticed this until I had punched him. Now for the fifth time today, I have gotten everyone's attention for the wrong reasons. The way he's kneeling on the ground looks as though he's begging for something until he knocks me over a bit and snatches my legs into a very strong embrace. His hold on me causes the blood circulation to my legs to become blocked and I can only imagine how ghostly pale they look. I try to shove him off but to no avail, it's not until the fucking teacher comes and pries his 'son' off of me. My step falters a bit then I feel an arm behind my back and hold onto my right arm pulling me against their body. I instantly whimper because the pressure generates pain into my back, up until then, I had forgotten about the pain from the fight. I hope there's no bruise. Opening my eyes I am met by deep midnight coloured eyes, if I had known better I would've jumped out of their grasp but I'm entranced by how deep yet light looking their eyes are at the moment. We're so close that I can feel my breath bounce off their cheek and return back to me. Someone clears their throat and that steals our attention.

"Now, if you've finished your eye sex… Sasuke, Sakura. We'd like to carry on with our lesson," Naruto's voice rings out and he coughs awkwardly into his closed hand.

The fact that Naruto was the one that brought me back to earth wasn't my problem, no; it was the person he mentioned. Sasuke, the same person who still had an arm around me – only this time it dropped a few centimetres lower, which is now around my waist.

Jumping away from his arm, I scrap off the non-existent dust particles on my t-shirt. Fully aware that most of the boys were watching the way my breasts' bounce each time I wipe my shirt.

'Really?' I grumble mentally.

The girls save me by dragging me into their team. I wasn't listening to the teacher so I was grateful they were there for me.

"Spill," Ino demands.

"Thanks for saving me girls," ignoring Ino and looking towards Tenten and Hinata.

"Sakura, do not ignore me. You know how grumpy I get."

"Definitely; you turn into she-hulk. Attention seeker," I murmur.

"I HEARD THAT FOREHEAD!"

Again we have the attracted the attention of the class. I'm thankful that Queen Bitch and none of her posse are in the same gym class as me. I don't know if I can deal with see her caked face for another second.

"You were suppose too,"

"Fine, we'll get it out of you eventually. I agree with Naruto however. You and Sasuke just completely had eye sex in front of the whole class," she squeals. I rub my temples, how did I become her friend again?

"Can we leave it please and just start serving the volley ball to each other," I mumble, clearly done with the topic.

"God you're annoying!" she shouts out loud while throwing the ball at me, trying to aim for my face – keyword: trying. Damn that girl has a poor arm on her.

XXXX

Fuck, when I told the gang that I had a son I was definitely nervous and anxious at how it was going to go but since Ino, Tenten and Hinata are really social and seem to be getting along well with Aki. Zuki is standing with the boys, reminiscing with Naruto and Shikamaru while getting to know Kiba, Sai and Neji. Sasuke left before we came, saying he something came up. This is bullshit because it was an obvious lie. Naruto, Shikamaru, Neji and Zuki were the only ones who noticed it besides me. Underneath his right eye, it twitched a little when he said he had to go and when he explained his reason why, he kept his left hand busy with his key chain. As if he was conducting a story in his head and the movement of his left hand was like a mental notary of it.

Neither the boys nor I call him out on it so we let him go. I don't know what had gotten into him though? He was fine before Aki and Zuki arrived but there wouldn't be a reasonable excuse for why Aki and Zuki's presence was enough for him to go. I just visualized a long intent as to why he left and spaced out, sneaking a glance at the boys, I am blessed with a questioning eyebrow raise from Zuki and Naruto while I got an intense stare from Shika and Neji so I decide to give a brief look to Ino, Tenten, Hinata and Aki as they sit on the other table of Aki's ice cream parlour.

As I'm watching Aki talk animatedly about this his favourite ice cream flavour with the girls, I have a flashback from earlier on in the day; when I had announced I was a mother.

-Flashback-

"It was my son."

Tenten has a death grip on Neji's hand but he doesn't seem to mind because he seems as if he's got a death grip on hers as well. Ino is just staring at me with her mouth parted a bit but I feel sorry for Shika because Ino literally knocked him out. She must've given him a silent sucker punch and now he's knocked out on the table. First time ever that he's not sleeping on his own account, this shit is comical. Naruto and Hinata are just chuckling at everyone else's reactions because they already knew. Sai seems indifferent but has this creepy as fuck "smile" on his pale face, what is he smiling about? He just met me – isn't he going to judge me? Kiba has the most expressive response; his eyes are wide as saucers, his mouth is open so far apart that you can fit a mountain in there. The one that surprises me the most is Sasuke, with his usual stoic face I could read a few expressions with just the crease of his eyebrows and the shifting movement of his nostrils. I saw surprise, disbelief, curiosity, cautious and confusion. I thought I had seen anger but the downfall of the left side of his lips made me rethink that into confusion.

It scares me that I could read all of that about a new face. Whenever I met someone new from the Akatsuki base, I would be useless at reading them yet this average – good looking – man in front of me lets me read him like an open book on a specific page.

"Who's the father?" Ino's question breaks the ice and it devastates me that he is not here by my side. His simple existence would not have Ino asking a question that would seem so obvious.

I don't answer right away but Tenten's question snaps my head her way. "It's Sasori, isn't it?"

I tilt my head and stutter, "h-how'd you know?"

"You were dating before you left," she started. "And when you did leave, we hardly ever saw him too. We tried so hard to force some information of your whereabouts out of him but he would never budge. Then one day, he just… left too. He didn't even graduate, he left a few months after you did. We were curious as to why he left as well but now we know why," she stops to peek to the rest of the group and grabs Ino's hand, who was sitting next to her. "Because you were pregnant."

I blink the tears threatening to escape. I don't want to cry after being "courageous" during the day. Nah, fuck that. These are my friends, so I cry anyways and let the girls comfort me. Why did I leave them in the dark about this? When I bring my head up to look at them with my tear streaked face.

"I'm sorry," I whisper.

"Shut up please. Do not apologize, we're here aren't we?" Tenten speaks as she looks at the group.

"I agree, you had your reasons for your leaving and though I don't understand why you didn't tell us but again, you had your reasons," Ino manages to say.

I don't reply, I just smile and grab all three of the girls into a ginormous hug that speaks all that I have to say. I eventually let go and let Hinata quietly ask one of the questions that I've been dreading if this topic of choice was to come up with them.

"So when are we going to meet him?"

-Flashback end-

Which brings us to now, I'm happy that they didn't shun him or Zuki. I don't know why I was worried about it because now I have a family that can help me through this life that I live.


A/N: HEEEEY! I'm back. Sorry for being M.I.A for a while, I've been training for a sports event coming up and I do seasonal sport modules so it'll be hard. Updates will be irregular from now on but I WILL UPDATE! I refuse to leave you guys hanging for a few weeks/months or not update at all. Also, the baby daddy has been revealed! Who honestly saw that coming? Lol. Thanks for the reviews, follows and favourites though! It's definitely much appreciated.

Love y'all,

Kays x