Chapter 9: Explosions!

Karin woke up to the sound of cursing and yelling coming from the kitchen. Looking at her stand watch she furrowed her eyebrows. It was 7 o'clock why was Naruto awake this early and most importantly what was he doing in the kitchen? A feeling of uneasiness washed across her. She got up from bed as fast as she could and marched towards her robe which hung somewhere. She was about to put it on when she heard a loud BOOM that should have reverberated across the whole building.

"Naruto!" She screamed as she ran to the kitchen bare feet her heart racing like a drum.

But when she opened her door, an alarming scene great her; a black thick smoke was starting to engulf the whole place making her eyes teary and difficult for her to see whatsoever. She could hear Naruto coughing frantically but she could not locate where he was.

"Naruto!" She cried anguish clearly leaking from her voice. "Are you alright? Please answer me!"

The only reply she got was a more persistent fit of coughing. Panic was starting to have the better of her, for one moment she imagined Naruto in there asphyxiated by the smoke laid powerless on the kitchen floor. Without a second thought she entered into the dark heavy fumes and started shouting his name harder. Still all she could hear was the worrying fit of coughing. Very soon her own lungs started burning and she found it very difficult to catch her breath. Everything was a giant dark spiral swallowing her up. But she couldn't yield to the darkness not yet. She had to find Naruto and make sure he was okay. She tried to wake up but her body was beginning to feel numb. Tears started streaming on her cheeks as the feeling of powerlessness crushed her.

"Forgive me Naruto. I'm so weak", she whispered before the darkness engulfed her.

Karin woke up to the sound of beeping monitors. Her eyes fluttered and opened a harsh white light blinded her and she closed them back. She could hear many agitated voices spiraling over her head. She tried to speak but her throat felt dry and her lungs burned a little. Where was she? What was she doing here? Where was Naruto? Naruto! In a painful flash the previous events ran through her mind she had heard the explosion in the kitchen, the scary smoke everywhere, the frantic coughing of her husband the darkness that had engulfed her before she made it to the kitchen. Lord what had happened to him. She opened her eyes sat up straight despite the hands she felt forcing her down to bed. A hospital bed she realized as she saw the people all dressed in white that whirled around her and the scent of antiseptics that hit her in the nose.

"Leave me alone!" she squealed I have to find him. "I have to find my husband!"

She continued struggling to be free nearly ripping off the cables that were attached to her marked arms.

"Calm down madam, he's okay", a soft voice assured her but she didn't give a damn.

"I want to see him where is he!" She screamed her voice almost hysteric.

"He'd be here in a minute just…"

"Karin?" She heard a soft husky voice call her name.

She turned her head in the direction she had heard the voice coming from. Though her vision was blurry because she didn't have her glasses and her eyes still burnt a little, she knew he was the one.

"Naruto!" She whispered as silent sobs started escaping from her mouth. "I thought something dreadful had happened to you. I thought…" her voice trailed before she could finish her sentence as tears suffocated her.

At that moment she felt his strong hands circling her body as it shook all through. She put her arms around his waist and she held him as tight as she could as if she never wanted to let him go again.

"I was so scared when I saw all that smoke and I heard you cough", she choked, "I tried to save you but I couldn't I'm so sorry." She cried even louder.

"It's ok. I'm alright." Naruto, assured in an appeasing voice.

For what seemed like hours Karin cried both from shock and relief.

"You have to calm down now", Naruto said in his soft voice; "it's neither good for you nor the baby."

Automatically Karin pushed away as her hands went to her swollen abdomen.

"The baby!" She gasped as her eyes opened wide. A gnawing guilt tortured her mind. She hadn't thought of it since the moment she had heard the explosion. In her will to save Naruto she had put it into danger. What if…

As if he had sensed her fears, Naruto's hand rubbed her arm reassuringly and pushing her slowly into bed for her to rest and recover from her emotions:

"Don't worry it's alright. I was able to bring you here fast enough before anything could happen to it… I'm just sorry I caused all of this in the first place."

His expression became grim as he said that. Karin put a hand on his jaw:

"You don't have to say that…"

"But it's true!" He snapped. "If I had not handled the gas cooker so badly all of this wouldn't have happened."

He slowly pushed away from her and got up from the bed. Karin watched him walk to the window where he leaned one arm above his head the other in the pocket. The tension that radiated from his body was palpable. He seemed to be in intense mental torment and indeed he was. When he had slept at Karin's bedside after he'd rescued her that horrible night, he'd vowed to himself he was going to do whatsoever it took so that she never found herself in such a vulnerable situation. But here she was, nailed to a bed in a cold sterile hospital room; all because he was so thick he couldn't handle a gas cooker properly. Naruto had always thought he was a health hazard in the kitchen but he had not known his awkwardness could be this dreadful. If he had he known he won't have tried to fix breakfast this morning.

He had realized that for the past days Karin had been getting more and more tired. Come to think of it was just normal given her condition. The fact she got up early every day to prepare his breakfast before he woke up didn't help the situation. So he had decided from now on he was going to ease her from the burden of making breakfast when he was around. True enough his culinary prowess was not impressive but he could at least manage a decent breakfast. Or so had he thought, until the distinct odor of butane had risen in the air and minutes later an explosion had almost turned their apartment into ashes…

"Naruto?"

He heard her calling his name softly but he could not gather the courage to see her face. Not yet… He was feeling too emotional right now and he didn't want her to see him like that. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath to cool his throbbing nerves.

He couldn't tell if it were seconds or an eternity later when he felt two warm slim arms wrap around his waist and one soft cheek press against his shoulder blades. He stiffened for some seconds startled by this gesture which was as surprising as it were affectionate.

"Naruto", she repeated his name with a softness that made his insides melt. "You need to be less unforgiving towards yourself. It was just an accident…"

"An accident which could have cost your life!" He exclaimed furiously wanting to get out of her arms because her tenderness made him feel guiltier by the seconds. But she didn't let him go:

"It could have yes…But thank God it didn't."

"What if it had?" He said in a bitter tone.

"Then I would have been happy at least you were safe because if anything were to happen to you God knows I'd surely fall apart…"

Her confession made Naruto's eyes to grow wide. For a moment he thought what she had said was the fruit of his imagination. But her grip around his waist tightened and he could now feel the curve of her stomach carving in his back and the words that followed were enough to confirm his initial thoughts:

"Losing you will break my heart. I'm glad you're safe and sound."

Naruto couldn't find what to reply to that. True enough Karin's words were far from a declaration of eternal love and servitude but they were as sweet and touching as any tender words he'd ever heard. He couldn't find anything suitable to say before he could even open his mouth to say a word the door of the room suddenly opened and a busty blonde Hokage barged in. For a moment she stood by the door watching the two of them in astonishment. But her surprise was short lived.

"Though I'm happy you are recovered enough to stand on your feet I don't think it's safe to indulge into monkey business now", she said in a sly tone that had Karin blushing madly.

Naruto just exhaled and grunted something inaudible. He turned around forcing Karin to slowly slide her arms from around his waist. Naruto couldn't help but feel bereaved.

"Baa-Chan what do you want?" He muttered not happy at all by the fact she had interrupted a moment which could have led to one of the biggest events in his life.

"I only want to do my job", she said unfazed by his glaring eyes. "It's obvious your wife is fine but I just want to check to be sure given her condition it's safer. That is if you'll let me of course", she added in a feigned obsequious voice.

"Of course." He mumbled hating the woman for her shrewdness. Nevertheless he led Karin to her bed and helped her settle down.

"Thank you", she still said in the same mocking tone.

"You're welcome. I'll leave the both of you."

Once he was in the corridor Naruto let out a sigh and leaned against the wall still under the shock of what had happened in the room. For a moment Karin and he had shared something he found hard to put a name. He'd felt his heart drumming in his ears and a growing awe and anticipation almost numb his body. Indeed ever since his discussion with Kiba some days before many questions had been whirling in his head; the most important being; what were his feelings for Karin? He had thought about it again and again. Trying to seek his heart honestly and be true to himself. The feelings the redhead aroused in him were hard to describe. When she was around he felt happy and good that was true enough. But there was also this longing and sadness that nagged him and made him feel insecure. Insecure because he'd never felt he was losing himself so completely to anybody before. She was the fire that consumed his body and soul. She was the endless waters in which he longed to drown forever. More than lust and passion he felt he was actually in love with her.

He'd never thought he could ever feel that way one day but it had happened. He'd been trying to fight against the truth ever since she had lit that spark in his the place of his heart he'd thought will stay dark forever. True enough at the beginning he had been spurred by the need to protect her but now it was so much more than that. She had become the essence of his life.

For a very long time he had thought himself in love with Sakura so when she had betrayed him he had felt his heart ripping apart. But now he thought about it he couldn't say with certainty if he had been in love with her or the thought of loving her. Or if he had felt true love in her arms or it had been the combination of passion and good sex that had bewitched him for the duration of their relationship. Any ways he realized what had hurt him most when they had broken up had not been the betrayal of the presumed love of his life but losing against Sasuke once more. To think he'd made a fuss over a wounded ego made him feel ashamed of himself but he had to be true and admit it. If he had once loved Sakura it was not the case anymore. Now she felt like a distant memory that itched in your mind from time to time but left you untouched when it left.

Meanwhile if he lost Karin he couldn't imagine how his life would be. Empty and useless didn't even describe the situation. It would be like burning in the blazing flames of hell! No amount of time would be enough to erase her from his mind no one would be able to rescue him. Perhaps was he a fool to fall in the treacherous nets of love again but he was ready to hurt even if it was just to have a glimpse of what it felt to be loved by Karin. Sure there was still the memory of her assault that hung in the air like the mythical sword as well as the memory of all the men she had encountered in her live. None of them had left her with a good impression. Perhaps she was going to think he was no different. But on the other hand deep in his heart he felt she might love him. Perhaps because of the shadows that filled her eyes when he went on missions and the look of longing she gave him when he came back. Or perhaps because of the way whenever there were together even if they said nothing he had the impression they were in intimate connection. Furthermore perhaps the words she had said earlier that made him believe again.

…Loosing you will break my heart…

The door of her room opened and Tsunade came out. She stared at him for a moment before speaking:

"You don't look fine." She stated when she saw his tortured look.

"But I do feel fine"; he grumbled not liking the sharp edge of her stare.

"Hnn… If you say so, she snorted. Anyway just wanted to let you know your wife and your baby were fine, just in case you were worried about that."

"Thank you. I'm relieved", he said in a monochord voice.

"Seeing your face no one would guess that."

"That would be because people see what they want to see."

"Or perhaps because they know you so well, they wouldn't be fooled by your outward toughness that disguises the torment underneath."

"I never knew you were this philosophical."

"I'm old enough to be though. You should know that."

If Naruto had not been so deeply tormented at the moment he would have certainly laughed and teased her at her own admission she was old. Indeed considering the pains Tsunade went through to conceal she was far from her youth days it was surprising for her to say it loud so bluntly. Too bad he was in no mood for pranks right now because such an occasion wasn't going to present itself for another while. The blonde woman sighed seeing his irresponsiveness. It was so not like Naruto to let an opportunity to taunt her about her age so easily. He was really tormented.

"Karin and you are the perfect couple. You both look like you've just been told the end of the world was in few seconds and you still hadn't achieved all the dreams you were aiming for. Except this is not the end of the world and there's still time for you to if not achieve try to achieve all what you've been aspiring for. The sooner you start working on it the better."

Once again Naruto was startled this time by the longing that transpired in her voice. Tsunade wasn't the type to let such vulnerable feelings easily surface for everyone to see. Yet she had just done in in his presence. He looked in her eyes and he saw a small gleam of sorrow in her amber eyes. Like that of someone haunted by the past but who had learned to conceal their regrets to the rest of the world. The moment passed rather fast because soon after she was her own gruff self.

"For the mean time", she snapped surly, "Start by removing that horrifying pathetic look from your face and get back to your wife. She needs you right now."

With that she gave him a tap on the shoulder and walked away from him without waiting for his reply .Naruto stayed in the corridor for moment trying to pull himself together. He leaned face against the wall and closed his eyes. He felt so tired so drained if only he could this whole situation was taking a toll on him sucking away his energy. If only he could open his eyes and realize this was just a dream. But he knew from experience no matter how he closed and opened his eyes or pinched himself the reality was not going to fade away. But Damn! A man could hope! If not what was the essence of life?

He was so caught up in his thoughts he didn't hear the rapid footsteps coming his way until he felt a solid hand give him a slight tap on the shoulder. He jumped startled by the sudden appearance. He turned around to see Iruka-sensei's brown eyes starring worryingly at him.

"I came as soon as I heard about the explosion. Are you alright?"

Still under the shock of seeing his foster father after such a long time Naruto was short of words for a moment. Indeed ever since his wedding with Karin he had only seen the dolphin ninja on rare occasions during which they had not had time to discuss properly. The older man didn't even visit as he used to before. Of course Naruto understood he had not yet gotten to terms with his rushed over wedding with the ex-rogue ninja and he didn't hold any grudge against him. Iruka was a very protective person by nature. He held those he cared for in a bubble and sent his claws out whenever he saw someone threatening come near it. Given Karin's past and the emotional situation in which Naruto had been when he had married her it was just normal all the defense mechanism erected by Iruka had surfaced. Though Naruto wanted his father to see the goodness he had seen in Karin he knew it was going to take time and he had let him get over it. In all cases he knew he could still count on his help and support if he needed it like at the moment. For that he was grateful.

"Naruto are you alright?" Iruka repeated greatly worried by the persistent silence of the blonde boy.

"Yes Iruka-sensei I am", he answered in a husky voice.

"Thank heavens!" The dolphin ninja murmured lifting his eyes to the sky… "What about Karin and the baby? Are they alright?"

"Yes they are…"

"I was scared the worst had happened", Iruka-sensei said relief clearly seeping from his voice.

"We were not far from it thanks to me", Naruto said spitefully.

"What happened?" Iruka asked cautiously sensing the hurt and guilt in Naruto's voice.

Naruto took a deep breath and recounted the accident to the teacher although the memories still hurt. By the time he finished they were seating on a bench nearby. Iruka placed a hand on his shoulder his keen eyes boring into his.

"The gas system in your building is an antiquity a fire was bound to happen sooner or later."

"Perhaps but I was the one who triggered it", replied in a bitter voice.

"That is fate."

"I almost killed both of them!" Naruto cried.

"Thank God it didn't happen. It serves no purpose nurturing regrets and living in the past. It prevents you from seeing what lies ahead."

"Perhaps but how would I have seen ahead if Karin and the baby had not been anymore?"

For a moment they stayed silent for a while, both reflecting on the words, Naruto was the first surprised to realize he had pronounced. He could no more contain his feelings they were suffocating him each minute. Karin had said losing him would break her heart but did she know loving her in silence sent him to hell? Iruka was the first to speak:

"Can I see her?" He asked in a cautious voice.

"Y-Yes I'm sure she'd be happy to", Naruto said clearing his throat to clear away the huskiness.

"In that case you may lead the way."

Naruto got up like an automat and bought him to Karin's room. She was leaning against the pillows eyes closed when they entered the room. But when she sensed their presence she sat up and her puzzled eyes went from Naruto to Iruka. An awkward silence filled the room.

"Good afternoon Iruka-san"; Karin said in a shy voice not knowing what attitude to adopt.

"Good afternoon Karin, It's a pleasure to see you safe and sound." Iruka-sensei said.

"Thank you… It's a pity we didn't get to meet under normal circumstances…"

Iruka understood what she was referring to. It seemed as if they only time they got to meet each other she was both pale and queasy cladded in shapeless clothes like the day of her wedding or stranded to a hospital bed like now.

"We'll have time for proper meetings in the future. Right now my sole purpose is to verify my daughter-in-law and my future grand-child are alright."

He couldn't have said better words to please Karin a small smile split her lips.

"We are both fine", she reiterated placing a hand over her swollen tummy, in a voice that hid her emotion very little.

"That's all that matters."

"No…It also matters Naruto is not harmed too", Karin added looking at her husband who was standing in a corner of the room.

"Yes that too", Iruka agreed with a smile sending a quick glance in the direction of his foster son. "He told me you tried to save him."

"Yes, but he is the one who ended saving me again", Karin admitted her cheeks red with embarrassment.

"That's because it's the husband's duty to do so."

"And he does it perfectly", she said looking straight into the blonde's eyes.

"I'm happy… "

Iruka-sensei then stood up from the chair at her bedside:

"I just wanted to check on you three. I'm going to leave you to rest? Take care of yourselves."

"Thank you", Karin simply said.

"See you."

"I'll escort you to the door", Naruto said coolly. "I'd be right back", he said to Karin who just nodded. "I…" the words stayed caught in his throat he just squeeze her hand and turned around.

Once more he was in the corridor this time with Iruka at his side piercing him with those shrewd eyes that had seen through him so many times. This time again was no exception.

"You love her." It was more an affirmation than a question.

"Yes", Naruto simply replied knowing there was no need to lie: the raw emotions in his eyes spoke for him.

"Does she know?"

"No."

"Then I think the wrong explosion took place at the right time. It's about time you remedy to that situation."

"I…"

"You don't need to tell me tell her. You have to do this for yourself…For the both of you."

Iruka gave him one more tap on the shoulder before taking his leave. Once more Naruto was left in the corridor with the brooding load of a sense of incompleteness and untold words weighing on his shoulders, crush him down at any moment.