Part 9

I don't really have the words to describe how I felt when Sasuke stepped through the doorway. It was the same when I saw him for the first time after all those years.

"Sakura, is it?"

He wasn't dressed so leisurely today. He was dressed in black from head to toe and in full ninja gear. He'd definitely come looking for a fight.

I had a shroud of hope when I lay eyes upon him. He came all the way out here—wherever he was—to save me from Itachi.

But that hope quickly died when I looked into his eyes. They were as unfeeling and cold as before.

Sasuke looked at me for a long moment in silence. I almost wanted to throttle him where he stood.

Then he spoke. "Are you in labor?"

I thought it was painfully obvious, but he seemed to want to hear it from me. I couldn't think of lying to him, so I just jerked my head in a nod.

His eyes narrowed. "Then why are you standing up? Hurry up and lie down!!"

He walked towards me and reached out to me. But I shied away from him, sliding against the wall to stay away. "…Why are you here?"

Abruptly, Sasuke dropped his hand. "Do I really need to answer that question?"

"Is it because of Itachi?"

His eyes darkened and he looked away momentarily. "I'm not ready to face him. But he's threatened my kid, so I can't just stand back."

"My kid." He said it so simply, like he did everything else. A cold knot grew in my chest. I didn't expect him to openly acknowledge what he did to me.

"How do you even know she's yours?" I said recklessly. "You know how popular I am, Sasuke-kun."

Sasuke glared at me. "I'm not an idiot, Sakura. True, you've always been popular, but I don't see you just sleeping with one of your admirers. That, and…" He moved closer. "It's been nine months since we…saw each other."

Another contraction hit me hard, knocking the wind out of me. If I hadn't been leaning against the wall I would've collapsed. But I forced myself up even before it passed and glared at him. "Why did you do it? No matter what my feelings are for you, you still drugged me. What you did was just so…random. Why did you do it?"

His frozen expression broke momentarily to show discomfort before it froze back into place. "I'm not going to tell you."

"WHAT?!?!" I screamed. "Why the hell not?!"

"Because it's not your business to know so."

"Why don't you ever tell me anything?!"

"Why should I tell you anything?"

"You fucking raped me!!! I have EVERY reason to know why!!!!"

Sasuke shrugged slightly. "You'll understand in time. It wasn't something that was my decision anyways—"

"Not your decision?!" I demanded. My anger was overcoming my fear and even the contractions. "What then?! Were you ordered to do it or something?!"

Sasuke said nothing, but his silence was condemning. I felt like the floor caved in underneath me. The hurt returned, blurring my eyes with tears. To think some morbid part of me wished Sasuke was my baby's father. And he was. But now it seemed like it was something he did at the bequest of somebody else. Just an order…that's all it was.

The impossible happened. My anger towards Sasuke overflowed and exploded. Screaming, I launched myself away from the wall, armed with nothing but my fists. Sure, I'd engage Sasuke in combat before, but not like this.

Unfortunately, being heavily pregnant and going through labor isn't exactly winning factors in a fight. I only had time to throw a few punches at him (all of which missed) when I was hit with another nasty contraction. As I reeled from the pain, Sasuke grabbed my wrists in one hand and used the other to scoop me up. I struggled nevertheless, but it did nothing to him as he carried me over to my thin futon and unceremoniously dropped me onto it. The sudden impact on the floor had my head spinning for a few moments, but it was enough time for Sasuke to pull my shorts off.

"Do you think you can sit up and cooperate, or will I have to chain you up?" he asked hotly. He looked about the room and spotted the pitcher, bowl, and towels. He retrieved them and brought them over.

"Why are you here?" I demanded again, tears spilling out of my eyes. "I don't need you!!! I'm perfectly capable of delivering a baby on my own!!"

"Sakura, just shut up and sit up!!!" he snapped, pushing my legs apart. "How long have you been having contractions?"

I glared at him, even as I managed to pull myself up. When I didn't answer him, Sasuke glared right back at me. "Seriously, don't give me this shit now. If you don't cooperate, our child could be in trouble."

"Like you care ANYTHING about her!!!" I snapped. Wow, this was a first. Even as official enemies I'd never talked to Sasuke like this.

"Sakura." The warning tone was subtle, but it was there.

I was in too much to really give a damn. "All right, fine. It's been going on this morning. How much am I dilated? If it's 8-10 cm, then I'm in transition."

"Why don't I whip out a ruler and find out?" said Sasuke sarcastically, reluctantly checking. "How many hours did you say?"

"I don't have a fucking watch!!!"

Sasuke sighed heavily. "Look, this is going to be a huge waste of time if you don't work with me here. I've never delivered a baby before and we aren't exactly in a safe environment to begin with. I know you don't want him to die, but he will if you keep being stubborn like this."

I saw his point, albeit unwillingly. I'm sure if all he wanted was my baby he could've cut me open and taken her that way. But he was going to help me deliver her.

I still didn't trust him, though.

"…Have you ever seen a birth?"

"…No. But Orochimaru made me read some books so I have some knowledge."

"Did you come here on orders, too?" I asked wearily.

"No," said Sasuke. "I would've come sooner, but Orochimaru felt it wasn't a good idea. Then he relented, but I left before he deployed other Sound ninja with me."

So he really was the only one there. That was a huge relief. It was hard enough delivering her with Sasuke here, but if other Sound were here, it would've been a nightmare.

It didn't get rid of my unease any. "And what are you going to do with her once she's born?"

Sasuke stilled. "…It's a girl?" it came out barely a whisper, I almost didn't hear it.

"No," I admitted. "I don't know yet. But I think it's a girl."

Sasuke sat there motionless for a few moments, not looking at me. Finally, he simply shrugged his shoulders. "It doesn't matter anyhow." He started rolling up his sleeves.

His utter detachment from the situation was incredibly hurtful. But I didn't have time to let it get to me; I had other things to worry about.

I won't waste too many words on what my experience was delivering my first child. Nothing I'd seen or heard even remotely compares to the event. God…and it was even worse out there in the middle of nowhere, without the reassurance of a sterile hospital room or doctors.

Sasuke wasn't helping matters. He assisted me in this without complaint or cruelty. I found out quickly what the purpose of the bowel, pitcher, and towels were; every so often he coated his arms with water and cleaned them. I was amazed Itachi even thought to keep this room prepared for this, even if he didn't intend to deliver my baby.

Despite this, he remained cold and relatively distant from me. He barely batted an eyelash whenever I screamed in pain and he prodded me to continue when I ready to pass out.

"I don't think I can do this," I sobbed, trying to properly lie back down.

"Yes, you can," said Sasuke matter-of-factly.

It felt worse than circumstances with strangers.

I don't know how much time passed; it didn't really matter to me at the time. But when I finally gathered some of my wits, the room was shrouded in darkness. Sasuke had produced a flame from somewhere and continued to coldly push me along.

It wasn't too long after this that I couldn't take it anymore. I ripped at my blankets and sobbed in frustration. "Sasuke-kun!! I don't want to do this anymore!!"

"Sakura—"

"No!!" I shook my head frantically. "I don't want to!! I can't deal with this, I don't want to!!!" I probably sounded like a big baby, but I didn't care. "I don't think I can do this!!! What am I doing?! I'm just a teenager!!!" my sobs became hysterical. "I'm not supposed to have a child yet!! I can't do this…"

I couldn't talk anymore and just collapsed in a heap, sobbing hysterically. I was wasting a lot of my strength, but I didn't feel like doing this anymore.

A cold, damp hand touched my forehead. "Sakura. Please stop this. You can do this. I've never known you to be a quitter. M—our child needs you now. Please pull through for him."

I was speechless. Compared to how he'd been talking to me throughout this, his tone was very soft. Almost…gentle.

My eyes shot open and I looked at him. To my dismay his dark eyes stared right back at me without the slightest hint of emotion.

But he didn't speak to me like that. I knew I heard some emotion there. That gave me a little hope.

Somehow, his scarce encouraging words were enough for me. I used the bar that my wrists had been chained to days before as leverage as I began to focus on pushing. It didn't think about giving up or on the pain; I just focused on her.

I can do this, I can do this, I CAN DO THIS!!!!

"I think I see a head," said Sasuke, looking reluctantly. "I can't tell." It seemed like his calm was gone, but maybe not.

"What?! Let me see!!"

Sasuke stared blankly at me. "How?"

"Never mind." It was almost over. I don't think I'd ever been so relieved.

It didn't make the remaining minutes any easier, though. If anything, it was even more painful. I thought it really wouldn't end.

I think I past out, because I was suddenly startled awake by a shrill cry. It scared me and at the same time filled with something…I can't really describe it.

My eyes snapped open and I sat up as best as I could. Sasuke was still sitting there, but in his arms…in his arms…

"She's all right," he said slowly, retrieving the last clean towel. "You were right…it's a girl."

His voice wasn't cold anymore, full of wonderment. Even his frozen mask had faded, now showing a stunned expression. But I wasn't focused on him. He turned her towards me and I saw her. My daughter.

I choked, and then started crying. "Give her to me."

I didn't think Sasuke could refuse me, and he didn't. Very carefully, he placed her into my arms. I was stunned by how warm and heavy she felt in my arms, but I snuggled her close. She was still wailing and I tried to hush her, still feeling overwhelmed.

She didn't cry for too long. She managed to calm down, her puffy little face relaxing. She was so tiny, so warm, so perfect…

I hugged her closer to me, fresh tears spilling out. "She…she's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen!!!"

Sasuke remained silent, and that immediately drew my attention. I calmed down enough to stare at him, but I didn't like the look on his face.

I knew then I wasn't safe. Neither of us were. Sasuke was my enemy and this whole…thing happened because of him.

"What are you going to do, Sasuke-kun?" I asked very quietly. "I don't have the strength to fight you. But I'll protect my daughter with my life."

Sasuke looked at me directly. My stomach twisted up in knots. I would've taken his earlier calm for this look. He looked remorseful…guilty.

I shook my head quickly. "You'd better not be planning to take us to Orochimaru. That bastard isn't coming anywhere near her!!"

Sasuke continued in his silence. But he started to move closer to me.

It was then that my exhaustion became apparent to me. My eyes fell shut because I no longer had the strength to keep them open. And if I lacked that, then I knew we were in danger.

"Sasuke-kun, please…" now I was pleading. But it was the only thing I could do. "Please don't…don't take her…don't take us to Orochimaru."

"Sakura." A pause. "I'm sorry."

Something soft brushed against my forehead. And then nothing at all.