Mornings
Chapter 7. Enjoy. Onyx
The following morning Sakura was making breakfast for everyone when Kouji emerged from his room. It was early morning so no one was up except for Sakura, Sasuke and Kouji.
'Hey Kou.'
'Morning mum. Dad gone out training?'
'No. How is Kiyo?'
'She cried herself to sleep. Mum, how did you deal with being pregnant with me?'
'I didn't handle it very well if that's what you want to know. I told your grandparents and your grandfather threw me out. I lived with the Hyuga's for 3 years and then your dad came back and we started our life together.'
'So when did dad find out you were pregnant with me?'
Sakura stopped cooking and placed the pancake she had just finished into the oven to stay warm. She sat in the chair opposite Kouji and took his hands in hers.
'Kouji, I never told your dad I was pregnant. He found out about you just weeks before you met him.'
'What?'
'I was 12 and so scared that everytime I built up the courage to tell your dad I lost it as soon as I saw him. How do you tell a guy that doesn't even remember sleeping with you that you're pregnant with his child?'
'Is this a curse seal thing?'
'Yeah.'
'Right. So dad didn't even know about me until I was 2 and a half?'
'Yeah.'
'So why did you wait until I was 6 before you had another kid?'
'Both your dad and I decided that even though you had been born when we were very young, we would wait until we were both 18 before we even thought about adding another kid to the family. Plus we were happy with you.'
'But now…'
'Now I'm birthing out kids fast than your dad moves yes. I will probably still be having kids in a few years as well.'
'Why?'
'Kou, I'm 28 and a medic in top physical form. I still have a few years ahead of me. And I promised your dad 10 pregnancies. Kidding. But knowing your dad he will get me that far.'
'But won't my kid feel weird that they have aunts and uncles younger than them?'
'I would like to point out Kou that there have been some examples of that all over the world and it hasn't caused a fuss.'
'But still.'
'And I have an aunt who is younger than me, by 3 months, but it still counts. I don't speak to her anymore because she's on my dad's side of the family.'
'So where is dad?'
'He's cleaning out one of the other Uchiha homes for you and Kiyo. I believe it will be the one his grandparents had. You don't have to move into it right away as I don't mind you and Kiyo just living in your room for the pregnancy but there isn't enough room for another baby room. Your dad is already planning an extension for this house which worries me at the same time as makes me happy. Don't worry, if I keep repopulating the Uchiha clan, everyone will get their own house at 16. Actually everyone is getting their own house at 16 regardless.'
Sakura got back up to continue making breakfast as Kiyo walked into the kitchen.
'Sakura, do you have anything for morning sickness?'
Sakura turned round from the stove.
'No I'm sorry Kiyo, though I can suggest only eating what you crave. That tends to be the best thing and less likely to make your morning sickness worse. Like I can only eat apple sauce when I'm pregnant. Or at least, that's how it's been the past 6 pregnancies.'
'Apple sauce?'
'I know it sounds weird. I could keep down pasta and tomatoes too which is probably why I have to grow my own tomatoes so we don't buy the shop out of tomatoes. You may have to do that. I'm assuming you know of Kouji's tomato obsession.'
'It's not an obsession mum!'
'It's the same as your dad's, Kou. In fact when you were little he had to stop eating them because you ate so many. So anyway Kiyo, what are your cravings telling you?'
'I don't know.'
Sakura smiled.
'We'll just have to try everything then.'
The backdoor opened ending the conversation as Sasuke walked in and put away the cleaning supplies he had carried in.
'Done.'
Sasuke pecked Sakura on the cheek before going to the fridge and pulling out a tomato. Kiyo watched her soon-to-be-in-laws go about their morning routine. Though she'd stayed over before she'd never seen Sasuke and Sakura without at least one of the other kids around. Kiyo took this time to compare her own relationship with Kouji to that of Sasuke and Sakura's. Sasuke noticed what Kiyo was doing.
'Don't.'
Kiyo blinked as Sasuke sat opposite her and Kouji at the small kitchen table.
'Don't what?'
'Don't compare yours and Kouji's relationship to mine and Sakura's. You will never find a similarity beyond the surname.'
Kouji chuckled and got up to help his mum. Sasuke turned back to Kiyo after watching his son walk over to the stove.
'The relationship me and Sakura have is way more complex than what you and Kouji have. For one, I met Sakura when I was 7 and we got put on the same genin team when we were 12. Just before my 13th birthday we had a chunin exam that brought us closer as a team to our other teammate but also resulted in Kouji, not that I knew until Kouji was 2 and a half.'
'You didn't know Sakura was pregnant?'
'If I had known, our lives would have been very different. Have you ever heard of the traitor of Konoha?'
'Yes, he left the village when he was 13 and joined Orochimaru.'
Sasuke rolled his eyes.
'Typical. Civilian rumours always leave half of it out. But that traitor what me. I left the village at 13 to gain power from Orochimaru to kill my brother who killed the original Uchiha clan. That's why I didn't ever find out Sakura was pregnant with Kouji and why I met Kouji when he was 2 and a half.'
'Why are you telling me all this?'
'Because, mine and Sakura's 12th anniversary is in a few weeks and all of our close friends are going to be here along with their kids and Sakura thought it would be better if you were aware of everything so you weren't shocked by anything that will be said.'
'What about the evil chakra?'
'Gone. I caught up with my brother eventually and he was already dying of a fatal illness so his last act was to get rid of all the evil chakra in my system. I still have the mark but it's a tattoo I got put there after the original disappeared.'
'Oh.'
'Sasuke go wake up the eldest kids please. Izuna up.'
Sasuke nodded and left the table. Kiyo sat looking confused. Kouji sat back down next to her.
'We normally do breakfast in shifts so Satoru and Kiko can get going to chunin training and Izuna can get to genin training. Then we get Gin up for the academy and the other four get fed when they get up. On days when we're all at home like today, we still do breakfast in shifts so we don't have to use the big table.'
'That reminds me, Kou, your grandmother is coming over to meet you guys today so don't run off.'
'Yes mum. Where am I going to go?'
'I know your uncle Naruto wants to hold and ANBU meeting today.'
'What did you tell him?'
'I threatened to hit him off the side of the mountain again. You excused from meetings for the next month. I however don't have enough punch power to stop the missions. I don't even have enough punch power to get your dad off missions for my pregnancies.'
'Mum, I think that's because dad gets you pregnant practically straight after you've given birth.'
'Watch what you say Kouji. I can always get the dobe to make your work load much heavier.'
Sasuke walked back into the room.
'Satoru, Kiko and Izuna are fighting over the shower. They'll be down in a minute.'
'Cool. Here Kou. And Kiyo.'
Two plates of pancakes were put down in front of the teenagers. While Kouji dug straight into his, Kiyo gagged and ran to the bathroom. Sakura pulled out a book.
'No pancakes.'
Kouji raised an eyebrow but said nothing about it as he'd seen a similar book before. Sasuke chuckled.
'Making a book of what Kiyo can and can't eat?'
'Yep. One it helps me remember, two, Kou gets it for when he gets her pregnant again.'
Kouji choked on his pancakes.
'Again? Who says I'm going to again?'
Sakura smiled.
'I think that's a conversation between you and your dad. He can finally explain why he loves me pregnant. I already know the answer but he can tell you. Later.'
Satoru, Kiko and Izuna ran into the room at that moment. Sakura handed out the plates, getting a kiss on the cheek from Satoru and Kiko and a hug from Izuna. Kiyo returned from the bathroom as Sakura placed down a bowl of fresh fruit. Kiyo picked up a mango and began eating. Sakura quickly wrote it in the book before putting the book away. Kouji finished his pancakes and went to wash up his plate.
An hour later all the Uchiha kids were sat in the lounge waiting for the arrival of their grandmother. Kiyo had been throwing up all morning at regular intervals after smelling pancakes on all the kids. Because of this all the kids had been forced to take another shower and brush their teeth. The doorbell went and Sakura told Sasuke to answer it. As soon as he opened it he met the disapproving face of his mother-in-law.
'Good morning Mrs Haruno.'
'Sasuke. Still a ninja are you?'
'I'm a jounin instructor so I spend enough time with my growing family.'
'Yes I heard. 9 children and one on the way. Speaking of which, where is my daughter?'
'In the lounge. You haven't had pancakes today have you?'
'No.'
'Good. This way.'
Sasuke led Hoena into the lounge. Sakura smiled and hugged her mother.
'Hi mum. Ready to meet your grandchildren?'
'I guess.'
'Thank you for at least trying. Okay, first we have Kouji. He's in the ANBU and very good at it. Satoru and Kiko are 10 and both chunin. Izuna is 8 and a genin. Gin is 6 and in the academy. Then we have Obito and Kagami who are 3, Fumie and Miyoko who are two and the one on the way. Also this is Kiyo, Kouji's girlfriend.'
The Uchiha kids studied their maternal grandmother, not understanding why she had black hair instead of pink like their own mother.
'Mum.'
'Yes Satoru.'
'Why doesn't nan have pink hair like you?'
'Because I got my pink hair from my dad.'
'That's weird.'
Sakura laughed.
'I know.'
For the rest of the morning the Uchiha kids got to know their nan. Sakura had to pull out the big table for lunch.
'So, mum, you glad you met your grandkids?'
Hoena smiled at Sakura.
'Yes I am. Even though I didn't approve of what happened when you were 12 I see it caused a chain reaction.'
'No. I gained dads stubbornness and went missing nin for about 3 weeks when I was 15 searching for Sasuke and bringing him back to Konoha. And I didn't have Satoru and Kiko until I was 18 and that was pure coincidence.'
'You know, you keep yourself in great shape Sakura.'
'I know. I train a lot after I've been pregnant to get myself back in shape.'
'I'm surprised you don't spar with Sasuke.'
'Normally I would but I haven't for a while due to missions and stuff.'
'Well why don't you try now?'
'Sasuke?'
Sasuke turned from feeding Fumie.
'Yeah?'
'Spar after lunch?'
'Sure. We haven't sparred since Gin was a few months old.'
'Seriously?'
'Seriously.'
'Wow, I guess I never noticed before. Getting pregnant too many times.'
Sasuke chuckled at his wife before stopping at the glare of his mother-in-law and turning back to continue feeding Fumie. Sakura raised her eyebrow at Hoena.
'You still don't like him?'
'I still don't like him. Why him, honey? Why did you have to be married with the one guy who wants a huge family, and by the looks of things, is getting one.'
'I know it seems odd mum but I love Sasuke, have done for years. About 17.'
'So before he…'
'Yes before that. And anyway that was dark chakra.'
'Then is he still safe?'
'Yeah. His brother removed the curse mark. Why?'
'He still has the mark.'
'That's a tattoo mum. Sasuke got it there to represent his past. It also scares off loads of people. Especially the more persistent fan boys who still want me even though I am a mother to 9. Apparently they wish to save me from my no good husband and help raise my kids. Then Sasuke appears and they run away like chickens.'
'So, does he have any other tattoos?'
'In fact he does. As do I.'
'You have a tattoo?'
'3.'
'3?'
'I have one that I got when I was 13 not long after Kouji was born of the meaning of Kouji's name which is a lot of small numbers 2's. Then I have the traditional Uchiha fan that I got when I married Sasuke. It's not a practice which all Uchiha brides follow but I decided to. I also have my team 7 tattoo which is of a cherry blossom branch.'
'And Sasuke?'
'5, well, one is on-going. Obviously there is his curse mark tattoo. He also has a summoning tattoo on his wrist from his Orochimaru days. On his back is his on-going tattoo in UV-sensitive ink. He has all the kids names on there but it can only be seen under UV light. He also has his team 7 tattoo of a tomato on his ankle and the Haruno symbol on his right hip.'
'And where are your tattoos?'
'Uchiha fan, left hip. Cherry blossom branch, lower back. The twos, left shoulder to mid back.'
'So you can cover them up.'
'Most definitely.'
Not long after lunch Hoena left, before Suuno got home, and the kids went off to play and stuff. It was now that Sakura forced Sasuke to talk to Kouji while she took Kiyo out shopping.
'Are you sure it's safe to leave all the kids alone with just Sasuke there Sakura?'
'Of course. He may not act it but Sasuke is a very responsible father. Plus Kouji is there if there's any serious problem.'
Kiyo nodded and looked back at the house to see Kouji closing the door.
'Alright dad. Mum told me something this morning about asking you why you love getting her pregnant.'
Sasuke raised an eyebrow but understood.
'Your mum says it's a habit I developed from having no family left. I just love seeing her pregnant. She's worried I'll pass that down to all the boys. You'll understand what I mean when Kiyo gets a bit more pregnant.'
'Dad, how many more times do you intend to get mum pregnant?'
'As many more times as possible before she either gets a hysterectomy or forces me into a vasectomy.'
'Dad! Seriously!'
'You asked. Though I am going to suggest something. I was part of the ANBU for 6 months and found it took me away from you guys too much. You may want to think about becoming a specialised jounin or a jounin instructor like me.'
'But dad, I get paid more as an ANBU and me and Kiyo will need all the money we can get.'
'I understand that Kouji but you've got to think about your own safety and the high death risk of being in the ANBU. I ended up in a critical condition on the last ANBU mission I went on. Your mum was pregnant with Izuna at the time and me being brought back on Shikamaru Nara's back, at the brink of death, pushed your mum into labour. That was the last mission both me and Shikamaru did. Shikamaru realised that life was too precious and he was supposed to be getting married to Ino a month later. They postponed the wedding when the maid of honour was too busy taking care of her husband, 2 two year olds, an 8 year old and a new-born to do her part in the ceremony.'
'So is that why when Izuna was born we all stayed with Gramps? Because you were in the hospital?'
'Yes. We kept it from you that I was stuck in hospital so when I returned home 3 weeks later with minimal damage but enough that your mum had to take care of me, it didn't seem so bad.'
'So were you there during Izuna's birth?'
'No. I was in surgery. Which is why I am suggesting that you stop with the ANBU. Sure it gets you better pay but is the better pay worth your life.'
At that moment the doors burst open.
Dun Dun Dun!
