Hello, guys! Here's the last chapter of my ff "Future without a past". The official story ends here. Probably later I'll write a short epilogue but I'm not still certain about this. Soooo, Enjoy!
"A drop in the ocean,
A change in the weather,
I was praying that you and me might end up together…"
"A drop in the ocean" by Ron Pope
Sakura slowly opened her eyes; the pain in her stomach was not as piercing as before. It was more like dull than stabbing. She tried to stand up, disturbed by the ruckus around her. The war hasn't ended. She saw that her clothes were removed; probably they were too dirty and torn to be kept. She looked at her surroundings and found out that she was lying in the nurse's rest room. The kunoichi stood up slowly but her head felt heavier than usual and she stumbled. Thank God, there was a chair near her so that she could support herself. The girl opened the wardrobe in the small room and pulled out a nurse uniform. There was no time for her to lay around while everybody else were giving their best.
She slowly walked in the hallway towards the waiting room where they were receiving patients. The moment she entered the hall, Shizune rushed to her with wide open eyes.
"What the hell…? Sakura lay down! You lost too much blood, you should rest!", the young woman sounded worried.
"I have to help you, you look like a zombie!", Sakura yelled at her.
"Your chakra is not stable enough for this! You'll put the patients at risk!", Shizune knew she was overreacting but there was no other way of keeping Sakura out of it.
"My chakra is just fine.", the pinkie shot her a bloody look, expressing her rage inside her, "Now...let me help you."
The brown-haired woman sighed defeated, "Sand shinobi came to help us! Obviously Naruto sent Gaara a message without the Hokage's permission… they arrived with a small squad to help us. Even the Kazekage himself is one of them."
Sakura awed, "I guess Naruto always gets what he wants… I doubt that someone could ever resist him…"
The other medic just laughed but suddenly a barely noticeably shadow passed through her face, "Sakura, did you know?"
"Know what?", the younger girl looked at her puzzled.
"You're pregnant…", Shizune whispered looking her straight to the eyes.
The girl in front of her put her hand in front of her mouth and gaped, "Did I lose it?"
"No, we managed to save you both but the haemorrhage was dangerous. So you did know..."
"No, no I didn't... I just… How is that even possible… it's been almost two months since I…", Sakura's pupils were moving chaotically.
"Two months... that means… Oh, God… Is it Kakashi's?", Shizune looked at her shocked.
Sakura only nodded with closed eyelids, "But last month I had my period…It was little weak and short compared to the usual but… Are you sure?"
"We made you a blood test."
"Oh, God…", her eyes snapped open, "Don't you dare to tell him!"
"But he deserves to know, Sakura…", Shizune tried to explain herself.
"That's my decision to make…Let's get to work…"
"Just, don't overdo yourself...OK?", the brunette looked at her compassionately.
Sakura nodded. She was afraid if she let her voice out, he'd betray her and the tears she was hiding so stubbornly were going to come out. Her hands glowed greenly as she started to heal the injured shinobi.
Kakashi heard the older woman saying "You're pregnant.", the Copy nin snapped his mouth open under his mask. He saw the girl's reaction; obviously this was a shock to her as well. "Did I lose it?", he heard her saying… The heart of the shinobi started to beat faster, the blood that was rushing through his veins was deafening his ear. Sakura was expecting a baby… the man ran away from the hospital. Standing in front of a almost destroyed building he was looking at the sky. Wondering if he heard right. It's been almost two months since they... it's true that they didn't use protection but Sakura should have known if her period was late or missing… she's a medic GOD DAMNIT!
Then something in him shattered. The night when he saw them with Sasuke in the lake… they were naked, drunk… oh God! The thoughts in his head were bumping at one another. He wanted to break, scream and cry. He just wanted to pour out his emotions; they were too violent to hide them inside him.
Kakashi jumped from the ground and ran directly towards the nearest battlefield. The Copy Nin didn't bother to put on his ANBU mask; he just stormed there without putting a single thought about his movements. He drew his sword and began slicing every enemy that was within his range. The Konoha shinobi stared at him but nobody dared to stop him. He wasn't trying to dodge their attacks. There was no point because sooner or later the enemy that threw the kunai or shuriken was dead anyway. Some of the attacks were successful and Kakashi's uniform was covered with red – mixture between enemy's blood and his own. He didn't care about dying. He was already dead from the inside. Every little piece of humanity that has been left in him was gone, shattered. He was just a shell, hard on the outside but empty…
The Copy Nin didn't stop until he fell on the ground unconscious. His fellow leaf shinobi took them to hospital and just shrugged their shoulders as they asked what happened. Sakura immediately rushed to the lifeless body and checked his pulse, it was weak and irregular. She noticed the multiply stab wounds. He suffered chakra exhaustion as well.
"What the hell…", something was not right, Sakura could feel it. He wasn't deadly injured but his condition was serious enough to make her worry. Shizune nodded at her in understanding when the pink-haired kunoichi started healing him, leaving his current patient.
Sakura's hand started glowing green, she closed his every single wound, slowly without rushing, fully erasing the scars. Her hands were touching gently his sore skin. When she finished with healing his wounds she stood little more with her hands on his body, slowly transferring her own chakra in his body, fastening the blood-recovery process.
The shinobi under her shivered a little and slowly opened his eyes. At first they were clouded but when he focused them and recognized Sakura, Kakashi slapped her hands away from his body.
"Don't touch me!", he shouted at her, "Don't even go near me!"
Sakura's eyes popped out in surprise, her mind couldn't comprehend the words he was saying.
"Kakashi...wait…", she reached her hand to grab his shoulder as he stood up from the table.
"I told you not to touch me with those dirty hands of yours!", his eyes were bloody and vicious, full of hate which was shot right at her. The Copy Nin left the hospital in a hurry without even putting his usual mask on.
Sakura's eyes filled with tears. No she shouldn't cry. Not now when so many people depended on her. It was meaningless. She brushed the salty drops with her sleeve and continued healing the injured shinobi. Concentrated over her work, she missed the worried and affectionate glance that Shizune sent her.
The war ended in few more exhausting hours. The Leaf was victorious thanks to the Gaara's interference. The root has been officially disbanded and as they all noticed later, Danzo had fled the village. Tsunade had no idea of what to do with the alive Root agents. Finally after a long conversation with Shikaku Nara and the captains of the ANBU divisions they decided that it's best for them to be announced as missing nins. Probably the other villages would finish the job that Konoha didn't want to do.
Tsunade missed to scold Naruto for acting on his own about asking the Kazekage for help, but everyone was glad that he did. The sand back-up unit didn't stay for long in Konoha, because Gaara had responsibilities in his village. So they left after the leaf medics healed their wounded shinobi.
Naruto, Sasuke and Sai were sent to release the hostage. The girl has been held captive in Konoha as Sai suggested. It wasn't as hard as they thought it would be to find her. And when they reunited Karu with her older brother, Naruto shred few tears at the happy ending. He was always an emotional boy, as Sakura remarked later. Her parting with Ataeru was little more difficult than she expected. He was a nice guy and she hoped that she'd see him some day again. Of course Tsunade didn't miss to remind him that the territory of Konoha was off limits to him. Obviously the boy still remembered some of the kicks she gave him back then, so he just bowed down politely and hurried off.
Now, few days later, Sakura was sitting on a bench in the park. "Everything goes well if it ends well…", she thought but deep in her heart she knew that everything was a lie. The thoughts in her head, the feelings in her heart, all of it were one huge fat lie. Nothing went well, nothing ended well. But for the sake of her sanity she had to tell this to herself. It was said that if you repeat one lie enough number of times, it'd turn into a truth. Too bad that she didn't even believe herself anymore, in other time it would have worked perfectly.
The pink-haired girl sighed and shivered a little when the cold breath of the wind caressed her body. She could smell the winter. The air was somehow different in Konoha. Everyone had their own job to do. Restoring the village was a difficult task but thanks to the poor Tenzo, the progress was obvious. Immediately after all the turmoil from the riot, she had talked with Tsunade about her "condition"… her shishou was as surprised as Sakura was when Shizune told her. The Hokage gave her a thorough check up and after she was completely sure that everything was normal she had sent her home to rest.
Another sighed escaped her lips. She had no idea what to do. Obviously Naruto was wrong about Kakashi. And the more she remembered the way he reacted at the hospital, the more Sakura was sure that she won't tell him about the baby. She couldn't tell anyone about it. The kunoichi had only a few more weeks until her condition become noticeable. Until then Sakura had to make a decision, whether to stay in Konoha and lie about the father, or ask for permission from Tsunade to go somewhere else until the baby was born and then she'll return in Konoha with a perfect cover story. The thought of abortion didn't even cross her mind. That was her and Kakashi's baby, the only living proof that he loved her even just a little before.
Her hand slowly moved over her belly, "I'll protect you, no matter where we are…", she whispered bent down and her eyes filled with tears.
"Are you talking to your stomach?", a voice startled her. She looked quickly up with wide open eyes.
"Sai!"
"Hey..", the boy sounded confused and little uncomfortable.
"No! Don't be silly I'm not talking to my stomach.", she laughed sniffing. Her teammate looked at her with unbelieving expression but didn't push any further.
"Wanna come with us to Ichiraku's?"
"Us?", she asked little reserved.
"Me, Naruto and Sasuke. We are off duties till next week so we decided to spend some time together."
"Ah, ok, sure. Lets go!", Sakura stood up and walked with Sai silently.
Sai stole few glances of the girl next to him, she was supposed to be resting but with every passed day her dark circles around her eyes were getting deeper. He doubted that she was sleeping at all. Something was wrong but he wasn't the right kind of guy to ask her directly. Of course he shared his suspicions with Naruto and Sasuke and that's how they decided to go out, the four of them only, without inviting Kakashi or Tenzo who were usually accompanying them. To be honest, they didn't even know where Kakashi was. He just disappeared right after he gave his report to the Hokage.
When Sai and Sakura joined the boys in Ichiraku's, she noticed that Sasuke tensed. Her teammate didn't even look her at the eyes; he just murmured something like "hello". The petit kunoichi took the seat besides him on purpose. While sitting she touched him slightly on the shoulder as if she was supporting herself and whispered in his ear, "No need for the shy face… It's ok…" When the Uchiha raised his head he saw her smiling warmly. Sasuke nodded slightly.
"How are you boys? I didn't see you in the hospital for check up, except for Sai…", Sakura shot them a scolding glance.
"Sakura-chan, don't even dare to tell this to us! Have you looked at the mirror recently..? You look like a beaten mummy!", Naruto opened his eyes unbelievingly.
"You're walking on a thin ice…", Sasuke whispered to him. The blonde didn't make an account for it.
"You need rest, Sakura-chan! You almost died few days ago… if it hadn't been Kakashi-sensei, you wouldn't be here with us…", the boy continued.
With mentioning Kakashi's name, something in Sakura's eyes flinched. So he was the one who saved her… and still, his behavior in the hospital was colorful enough. The kunoichi just bowed her head over the bowl of ramen, missing the affectionate glances that the boys shared. Sasuke placed a hand on her shoulders, massaging them tenderly.
"Talk to us, Sakura, we are friends, we'll help you with everything we can.", Sasuke's voice was filled with sorrow, he knew about Kakashi's scene in the hospital, but he decided not to mention this to the boys. At least not now.
The girl just sobbed and sniffed, slowly beginning to cry. She was trembling and Sasuke pulled his chair as close as he could to hers and embraced her, whispering reassuring words.
"Kakashi-senpai! Tenzo-senpai!", Sai greeted the newcomers in loud voice so hat Sakura could hear him.
Sasuke turned around and saw their ex-teachers standing at the entrance, still hugging Sakura. Tenzo was smiling uncomfortably and Kakashi just stood there with an indifferent expression on his face. Suddenly the girl in Sasuke's hands jumped from the chair and ran off the Ramen shop, crashing at Kakashi's shoulder as she passed him by rushing with bowed head. He stumbled but didn't say anything.
"Sakura-chan…", Naruto shouted after her but she was too far to hear him. Even if she did hear him, it wouldn't make any difference.
The Uchiha put few bills on the table between his and Sakura's bowl and stood up facing the Copy Nin. If look could kill, Kakashi would be dead so many times till now.
"She deserves someone better, yeah, someone who doesn't just use her confused feelings so he can put his dick between her legs and then treat her like a whore in front of everyone's eyes, yeah… maybe according to you I'm a dick but at least I love her…", Sasuke brushed his shoulder as well, as he passed him by to follow Sakura.
Kakashi was still speechless. Naruto and Sai looked at him puzzled. But his explanation never came. He just disappeared in a white dispersing smoke.
"Ha-ha... That was weird…", Tenzo laughed nervously and scratched behind his neck, "Shall we eat..?", he asked the boys.
Naruto and Sai shared a look and then stood up from their chairs, leaving money for their bill, "Bye, Yamamoto-sensei…", Naruto waved at him as they took off.
"You sure about that?", the blonde behind the desk crossed her hands before her, looking uncertainly at the girl, sitting in front of her.
"Yes, Tsunade-shishou. That would be the best for us…", Sakura sounded determined which surprised the older woman. His feeling was rarely seen in her student last few days.
"And you don't think he should know about it…?"
"Definitely."
"Ok then, but I still think you should tell the boys. I know they are little indelicate in times but I'm sure they'll understand as long as it concerns you.", the Hokage smiled softly.
"I won't be able to look them in the eyes once I tell them the truth… I'm sure they'll understand and support me but…", the pinkette looked down at the floor.
"There's nothing to be ashamed of, Sakura, and you know it."
"I appreciate your support, Tsunade-sama.", the girl smiled sadly.
"You can leave as soon as you want. If you have any financial difficulties…"
"There won't be any problem, Tsunade-sama. I've been jonin for a year; I save up pretty much so I can live until I'm able to work again. But thank you anyway.", Sakura stood up from her chair and bowed politely at her ex-teacher, slowly walking out of the office.
Yesterday she finally made up her mind to leave Konoha until the baby was born and go back to the town where she's been living during the six-month-memory loss. It took her a while to decide it but she reminded herself that from now, everything she does will be for the sake of this fragile living thing inside her. Sakura smiled and caressed her belly and sighed.
The kunoichi sat on the floor before her wardrobe wondering what kind of clothes should she bring with herself, considering that she'll grow bigger with every past week. The town was near the ocean and the winter there could be very unpleasant. She pulled an old yellow bag from the bottom of the wardrobe and put a nostalgic smile on her face. She had only a few things left from her mother before she died years ago in a fire. She opened it and saw a wooden box with carved family's initials on the cover. The kunoichi moved it aside, she didn't intend to resurrect old memories now and she was looking for her mom's fur coat which her dad bought it few months before they died. Sakura thought that it may fit her in few months when her belly would be bigger.
There weren't many things she wanted to do before her leaving. So after her packing was done she walked outside to look for the boys. Passing near by the memorial stone she instinctively looked for Kakashi with her eyes. There was no one there. The weather was too cold for people to just stand outside. She drew near the stone and ran her fingers over the names of her comrades.
"Good bye, Ino…", Sakura whispered and smiled as she imagined what her friend would have told her about her condition. Something like "Don't run away, Forehead, make him marry you! Many girls would have killed for a chance like yours!"
Sakura continued towards Ichiraku's. In day like this her boys most likely would be eating or drinking in some warm place than training. She wasn't even close to it when she heard Naruto's laugh. Sakura sighed and hurried to the Ramen shop.
When she entered the kunoichi was welcomed by happy exclamations.
"Hey, Sakura-chan!", Naruto waved at her.
"What are you doing here in such weather?", Sasuke smiled softly at her, little blushed from the heat and the alcohol they've been drinking, as she noticed.
"S…s…saku…a...a", Sai tried to say her name but it came out more like an inarticulate sound.
"Oh my... how did you manage to make him drink sake!", Sakura asked with little smile carved on her face. She's never seen Sai drunk before.
"Sasuke caught him in genjutsu and fooled his smell and taste. Then we just simply told him it's water.", Naruto was chuckling.
Sakura laughed wholeheartedly, "I'm gonna miss you, guys..."
Naruto and Sasuke's laughter hitched at once and Sai tried to say something but the words just wouldn't leave his mouth. They frowned, "What do you mean?"
"Um, I'm leaving on a mission. A long one.", Sakura lied. She had talked about this to Tsunade and the Hokage had agreed.
"How long?", Sasuke tilted his head.
"I don't know, maybe about a year.", Sakura murmured.
"WHA…?", the blonde boy choked. And Sai popped his eyes out, still unable to say something.
"That's hell a lot of a time, Sakura.", the Uchiha knitted his brows, "What kind of a mission?"
"It's top secret. If you want more info ask the Hokage.", Sakura smiled knowing that it'll be quite some time before any of them dared to ask Tsunade about a top secret mission.
"When are you leaving?", Naruto ask quietly.
"Tomorrow at sunrise."
"But that's too soon!", the Jinchuuriki protested.
"I have no choice.", Sakura sighed and walked closer to the boys, "Come here…"
He petite kunoichi embraced her teammates all together as far as her small arms let her, "I'm gonna miss my stupid boys, you know that, right?" her eyes filled with tears, "Be sure to stay out of trouble while I'm not here to tend your injuries."
Naruto sniffed, Sasuke smiled softly and Sai just nodded miserably.
#
The night was long, too long for Sakura. She was supposed to get some real good rest because tomorrow she was supposed to cover almost half of the distance if she wanted to avoid the freezing temperatures that were expected in three days. Thanks God that she didn't have to carry her luggage, one of the good things she had leant after graduating to jonin. Sakura was always curious how come Kakashi never carried a backpack with himself on long missions and how come he always had everything he needed. After her graduation she gained access to Jonin's HQ and one day she spied on her ex-sensei while he was preparing himself for a mission. She still remembered how her mouth gaped as she saw him placing his provisions and clothes over a scroll and in the next moment they were gone. After his returning from the mission, Sakura forced him to teach her that. He wasn't too exited but still obeyed after she threatened him to burn his Icha Icha collection.
Sakura's thoughts traveled to the silver-haired man. What was he doing now? Probably he has fallen asleep with his book covering his face. Sakura smiled lightly and turned her head to the window. The moon was full and it was shining with illuminating while light right through her window. That was the only thing that she liked about winter. The cold transformed the moon into a magic glittering orb. And now Sakura was staring at this while crystal sphere with emerald eyes. The moon was a reflection of her. The kunoichi was as alone in this world as was the moon in the dark sky without stars. The girl sighed tiredly. She hasn't slept for days, thanks God that she didn't suffer from morning nausea as most of the pregnant women.
A sudden chill ran on her spine as if someone was watching her. Sakura immediately sat in her bed and looked through the window but the street was empty. Only a lonely piece of paper was rolling in the dirt. The girl threw a glance at the clock – 3:25am – and eased her back again. There was still time before her departing. Sakura closed her eyes and sent a wordless farewell to a silver-haired man before the sleep took her away.
Sakura took off her shoes and dropped her coat as she entered her new home, looking around her. Her new house wasn't that big. It was one-storeyed with a bedroom, small kitchen and relatively big living room. When Tsunade appeared at the Konoha's gates early in the morning, Sakura was highly surprised. Her shishou only smiled and said that she couldn't let her daughter, even if not a real one, to leave her without making sure that she had a place to live. Then her mentor handed her over a small picture of a house and keys to it.
Now Sakura was actually glad that the Hokage did this. The night had fallen few hours ago and the temperatures outside had dropped below zero. She had been running without stopping for two days. It was good to know that she had a "home" to go to. The kunoichi opened her scrolls and retrieved her luggage, hoping that she didn't forget to bring anything essential. Her eyes stopped on the fireplace built in the wall before her. A grin appeared on her lips and Sakura rushed outside to get some woods.
In few minutes a small cozy fire was burning and was sending warmth in the living room. Sakura has put her things on their respective places until the heat spread in the entire house. Thanks god that there were stove pipes running in every room.
She was sitting on the sofa holding a big violet cup of hot chocolate staring at the fire. The flames' reflection was making her hair look orange and her skin looked even paler than usual. The kunoichi didn't bother to turn on the lights. "I'm all alone in this.". The girl wondered if she could still look after herself even when her pregnancy progresses. In one month her belly would be big enough to interfere with her daily duties as chopping wood, carrying heavy things and such. Being ninja required a healthy body, enduring a lot of strain on it. She wouldn't be able to train anymore and that would make her out of shape. Who would protect the baby then? Sakura shook her head. There was no room for thoughts like that. What's done is done. There was no turning back.
Tomorrow she'll go to the center of the town and buy few things she still needed. She has brought her provisions but considering the weather, it was possible that it would start snowing any minute now and she didn't want to expose herself to the cold. The only thing she needed now was risking her baby's health. The kunoichi stood up and washed her empty cup. It was quiet around her. The house was near the ocean, built on a cliff. There were no neighbors to interrogate her curiously or stick around her too much. Just as she wanted. Sakura wondered how come Tsunade knew her so well. The pinkette smiled sadly, threw some wood in the fire to keep it burning during the night and went to the bathroom to prepare herself for sleep.
Surprisingly, her eyelids closed as soon as she put her head on the pillow. She didn't dream. Inside her mind there was only emptiness, just a black curtain. The hours were passing quickly and the morning light has just started to fight its way through the window when a sudden image appeared in Sakura's conscious. Kakashi was looking at her with blank expression and after that he just dispersed as if a wind blew the grains of sand away. The pink-haired girl stirred under her blanket and a lonely tear escaped from her eyelashes…
About two months later..
A dull sound of falling object on the floor echoed in the dark quiet house. One dark figure bent down to pick it up.
"Be careful, dumbass!", another man appeared next to the first, followed by another silhouette.
"It's dark and I don't know her furniture position…", the first one excused himself with husky voice and made a step forward, followed by a dull moan in pain. When the boy looked on the floor he noticed the fallen two knitting needles and a clew, "Sakura is knitting?", his voice was filled by dread.
"I don't think it's a good idea to break into her house like that without informing her…" , the third one whispered, ignoring his friend's comment.
"We can't just stay out in the snow during the night... We'll freeze to death!", the clumsy one protested, rubbing his foot which stepped on the sharp needle.
"There are no disturbances in her chakra.", the second man announced looking around with his crimson eyes.
"She should have heard us…", the third figure whispered through his teeth.
"Maybe she's sick or something bad happened..?", the clumsy boy growled quietly.
"Don't be ridiculous! She's just sleeping…", the shinobi with red eyes said.
The three men walked carefully through her living room and slowly entered the bedroom, encircling the small body cuddled under the blanket.
"She seems peaceful.", the clumsy boy whispered.
"Do you think she looks bigger now?", the third man asked with curiosity in his voice.
"For God's sake! She's in the fourth month! I don't think her belly should be too big…", the ninja with bloody eyes answered annoyed.
The clumsy boy looked around the room and saw a thermometer on her night table. He picked it up, staring at it carefully, obviously thinking…
"Guys, she's sick.", the boy turned around with the apparatus but he didn't calculate the space between his hand and the wall, so the thermometer crashed into hundred little pieces when he hit it against the side.
The girl in the bed jumped startled and immediately threw the kunai from under her pillow at the intruder.
"A-a-ah that was too close!", the boy shouted as the weapon stuck inch away from his head.
The kunoichi reached out and turned the light on.
"Naruto! Sasuke! Sai! What the hell are you doing here?", her mouth was wide open in surprise.
The Uchiha grabbed her from the bed and carried her into the living room.
"Sai, bring the covers! Naruto clean the mess! You know that the quicksilver is dangerous!", the dark-haired boy deactivated his sharingan and put Sakura on the sofa, covering her with her blanket which Sai brought with him.
Their female teammate was staring at the intruders speechless. She had no idea what were they doing here, at this time of the night. She shook her head, trying to put her thoughts in order and her face frowned in furious expression. She clenched her fist and punched Sasuke in the gut, sending him flying few meters back, hitting the wall.
"What was that for?", the boy massaged his lower back as he stood up.
"For waking me up!", Sakura growled at them.
"I guess her emotions are stronger now that she's pregnant.", Sai noted, "I guess we should be careful what we are saying.."
Sakura's mouth snapped open. They knew. They knew. They knew…
"How..?", she whispered.
"Tsunade told us a week ago.", the Uchiha successor smiled sadly.
"Baa-chan thought that your teammates should know about your condition, Sakura-chan…", Naruto walked out of her bedroom obviously finished with his cleaning.
"I didn't think we deserve to be lied by you…", Sai murmured uncertainly.
"What did she tell you?", her voice was weak, her face blushed, feeling how the embarrassment invaded her.
"Everything.", they answered in unison.
"Oh my...", that was all she could say before looking at the floor.
"Sakura-chan…there's nothing to be ashamed of…", Naruto sat beside her on the sofa and put his arm around her shoulders.
"Yeah, we're your teammates and we love you…", Sai kneeled before her and grabbed her knees, swaying them reassuringly.
Sakura lifted her gaze to meet Sasuke's. The boy's eyes were sad but she could see the genuine smile on his lips, "Kakashi's one lucky bastard…"
"You didn't…", Sakura popped her eyes out.
"No, no, only we know about this.", Sai murmured quickly.
Naruto scratched behind his neck and bushed a little before asking his teammate, "Um, Sakura-chan…, can I ask you something…"
Sakura looked at him puzzled but nodded.
"Can you stand up to show us…um...how big your belly is…", the blond stuck his eyes on the floor with flush spreading on his face. Sasuke only blushed a little as well and looked at the fireplace. Sai's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
The kunoichi looked at them uncomprehending for a second and then she burst out laughing. The boy looked at her confused. Sakura hasn't laughed like that for weeks. Just now she realized how lonely she was. The pinkette stood up and put aside the blanket, still grinning. Her teammates were staring at her with excited look. She lifted her huge T-shirt which she's been using for night-wear along with loose trousers.
"It's not as big as I imagined it would be…", Naruto blurted out, staring at her belly. Sai nodded in agreement.
"I told you already, idiots, she's in the fourth month. Don't expect from her to look as if she had swallowed a globe… OUCH!", Sasuke moaned in pain as Sakura's fist hit him in the shoulder, "Why do I always get punched?", the boy exclaimed.
"Because she loves you the most among the three of us…", Naruto chuckled and Sai smirked. Sasuke shot them a bloody look.
"Anyway…I'm going to bed. Feel yourself at home. There's one spare bedroom next to mine which I'm not using and one of you can use the sofa. Rest well and try not to wake me again if you still want to return to Konoha in one piece.", Sakura turned around, dragging her blanket with her, as she entered her room and crashed the door closed.
"I'm on the sofa…", Sai lied down immediately before the other two boys had a chance to oppose that decision.
Naruto and Sasuke shared an unpleasant look and walked to the other bedroom, knowing that if they started a quarrel now, Sakura would beat them to a pulp until they stop...
#
The smell of coffee and toasts reached Sakura's sleepy mind. She stirred under the blanket and slowly opened her eyes.
"Morning, Sakura."
The kunoichi turned to the other side to see Sasuke entering her bedroom with table in his hands. the pinkette rubbed her eyes and murmured, "Mornin'…", she sat in the bed and pulled her blanket higher on her legs.
"I made you a "sorry-about-last-night" breakfast.", the Uchiha grinned, sitting on her bed, placing the table in her lap.
Sakura stared at it – orange juice, toasts and fried eggs, "Thank you… But I smelled coffee…Why don't I have coffee?", the girl frowned.
"It's bad for the baby.", Sasuke answered strictly.
"I can handle my health pretty well, don't you think?", she protested.
"It doesn't matter. No coffee for you.", the Uchiha successor growled.
She ate in silence; Sasuke was only staring at her quietly. When Sakura finished, she smiled, "Where are Naruto and Sai?"
"I sent them to the store to fill up your supplies. The weather outside is pretty damn cold for you to come out."
"Why are you doing this, Sasuke?", Sakura's eyes fell sadly.
"Because you're my team…"
"You know what I'm talking about...", she interrupted him.
"Because I promised you that no matter of your decision, I'd still be your friend…", the boy smiled and caressed her cheek with his warm hand.
She sniffed, "Don't do this to yourself… it'd be a lot easier for me if you just hated me… but now when I look at you.. I only see my stupidity and my ungratefulness.", Sakura sniffed again.
Sasuke's eyes were wide open in surprise, "How can I hate you, Sakura…? You did this because you chose to be honest with yourself, and I secretly admire you for that. It requires a hell lot of strength to stand your ground, especially in you condition…", the boy drew closer to her and put aside the breakfast table, he embraced her tightly. Sakura sobbed and buried her face in his chest.
"I missed you…", she cried out quietly.
"I missed you too...", he patted her head. The shinobi pulled back little so he can look her in her eyes, "I thought a lot and I wanted to offer you something…"
She looked at him puzzled.
"If you want I can help you take care of the baby, I'll accept it as my own. This little thing doesn't deserve to grow up without a father. I know what it is like not to have your parents around you when you need them the most."
"I'm not sure…", Sakura looked at the bed covers little blushed.
"I won't force you to love me, Sakura. I just wanted to help you…"
"But Sasuke, you already are helping me. And I'm sure that my baby won't miss its father figure because it'll have three very strong and tender uncles. You, Naruto, Sai… all of you… I'm sure that you'll make it the happiest baby in the world, just as you make me the happiest woman because you're here with me.", Sakura smiled softly and place a kiss on Sasuke's cheek. The boy blushed, "Come on. Help me cut some wood for the fireplace."
"Oh, no, no… We have prepared for you another job for today and I'll be sure to watch over you not to hurt yourself, while doing it…", Sasuke smirked at Sakura's uncomprehending expression, "I'll go cut the wood.", the Uchiha stood up and walked out of the room still smirking.
The pink-haired girl sighed and eased her back on the bed again, closing her eyes. She remembered her moments with Kakashi. They were still vivid in her mind despite the passed time since then. She doubted that she'll ever forget them, and to be honest she didn't want to. Sakura wanted to remember every single detail because when the time comes, her child deserved to know about its father.
Thinking about the past events, the petite kunoichi realized that Kakashi has never even once cleared his intentions towards her. She was the one who made the first step, she invited him for lunch on the beach, she seduced him in the lake and she started making love with him that morning. He was never first in anything that concerned their relationship. Why did she see it now of all times? It was already too late. Back then she was lost and lonely and he was her bond with her real past. That blinded her judgments and feelings. Sakura opened herself in front of him without expecting the same from him. Something deep inside her made her trust him unconditionally. A mistake that she'll never do again with somebody else.
Sakura felt that she was about to cry but the tears didn't come out of her eyes. Back then in Konoha she had cried enough for the rest of her life. Now she wanted to be happy, to smile again and to give her child all the love she couldn't give to Kakashi. The kunoichi smiled with still closed eyes. A sudden ruckus made her jump from the bed. The boys have returned.
Sakura took a deep breath hoping that they didn't break something and placed her hand on the door handle. She was just about to open it when Sasuke rushed inside, pushing her back in the room.
"Can you wait here a little bit longer?", he was panting.
"What's going on there?", she was afraid that the boys did something stupid again.
"We are preparing your surprise… Please don't be mad…Naruto just didn't let us until we agreed to this…", Sasuke shot her a begging glance.
"Fine... I hope that it has nothing to do with ruining my house."
"I honestly hope too…"
Sasuke's answer didn't make her feel more at ease but she sighed and sat on the edge of the bed.
In few minutes the Uchiha glanced through the door and then grinned at Sakura, "You can now enter…"
The girl immediately stood up. She couldn't deny that she was excited. Sakura walked out of the room and gaped.
"This is…"
"Tonight is Christmas Eve, Sakura-chan. We can't leave you without a Christmas tree!", Naruto laughed at her surprised face.
"It's 24th today?", Sakura was staring at the enormous tree that was standing in the corner of her living room next to the fireplace. Its top reached almost the ceilings. It was perfect.
"I told you, she had forgotten…", Naruto poked Sasuke in the ribs. The last one just grinned.
"But what are you doing here on Christmas, guys?", Sakura yelled at them, "You should be in Konoha, that's where all of your friends are!"
"Christmas is a family holiday, Sakura. That's why we're here…", Naruto send her a warm smile.
"But, Naruto, Hinata….", she tried to protest.
"She fully supports me. Well, I did promised her that on New Year I'll be with her…but now she understands how I feel and she even sent you a Christmas present.", Naruto scratched behind his neck. His cheeks blushed a little. That was his first time that he openly talked about his relationship with Hinata.
"Thank you…You've no idea how lonely I've been feeling the past two months.", Sakura murmured the last sentence under her breath and flushed.
"We know, Sakura. That's why we're here…", Sai smiled at her.
"Naruto, Sai! I leave the rest to you. I'll help her decorate the Christmas tree…", Sasuke waved to the boys who were heading to the backyard and lifted two big cardboard boxes, "Shall we?", the Uchiha giggled.
Sakura was looking for a bit at him with wide open eyes. The boy couldn't tell what she was thinking but when she smiled brightly and nodded, Sasuke knew that they did the right thing to come here. Because that smile on her lips was genuine and happy. It was making her shine just like a pink angel hanging on the branch of a Christmas tree. And that was the thing that all of them were hoping to see.
The day passed quickly with all the adorning they made in the house. Sasuke and Sakura were stringing popcorns which Sai was making in the kitchen and Naruto and his kage bunshins were almost done with decorating the windows with twinkling little colorful bulbs. The Christmas spirit has invaded everybody's mind.
Sakura was humming and bustling around the tree, wondering where to put the last finished popcorn-festoon. Sasuke was grinning like a little kid and Naruto was even more energetic than usual. Sai brought another bowl of popcorns.
"By the way, Sai…I had no idea that you can cook…", Sakura teased him.
"I can't…but I've read a book that tells you everything about it.", he answered seriously and turned around to go back to the kitchen.
The other three in the room burst out laughing. So no matter how much their teammate changed he was still relying on books. Sakura threw popcorn at him playfully. It hit him right in the nape. Sai quickly turned around to pick it up from the floor and threw it back at Sakura. She shouted laughing and tried to dodge it but Sasuke caught her ankle and she couldn't move, so the popcorn hit her in the forehead.
"Mmmm. The big target is always easier…", Sai teased her as well. Sasuke giggled.
Sakura growled and grabbed a handful of popcorns and stuffed them in the Uchiha's mouth. He started coughing and the girl burst out laughing until her breath hitched as two of Naruto's kage bunshins lift her up for her legs and shoulders and paced her on the sofa.
"I got you now!", Sasuke growled playfully and drew closer to her.
"No…. No!", Sakura managed to shout between her attempts to catch her breath while Sasuke was tickling her sides and feet. She was laughing with tears now, "OK! I give up!"
"What will you give me in order to stop?", the Uchiha bent down to her; Sakura felt chills going on her spine from the look the Sasuke gave her. No matter of her love for Kakashi, the boy that was standing on top of her was hell damn good-looking and she just couldn't deny it.
The girl smirked, "I've prepared few things to give you when I come back in Konoha but you surprised me and I'll give them to you now. Only if you let me go to the bedroom…", the last one was directed to the dark-haired boy who was looking at her with half-open mouth and thirsty eyes. He stood up and smiled.
"Sit on the couch, boys. I'll be right back", she yelled and disappeared in the bedroom. Few seconds later she emerged with a huge grin on her face, holding a packet behind her back, "Close your eyes.", she ordered and the three boys obeyed.
Sakura kneeled on the floor before Naruto and pulled from the packet an orange stole and put it around his neck. Then she moved to Sai and pulled out another but this time it was a claret one and winded it up around her teammate's neck. Finally she moved in front of Sasuke and wrapped around his neck a dark blue stole with the Uchiha crest on it.
"You can now open your eyes…", she said excited.
The boys stared at their gifts and for a moment they stood speechless.
"You knitted them, Sakura?", Sai asked amazed. Obviously he didn't think that his female teammate was capable of such feminine act. The girl nodded quickly with dazzling emerald eyes, "You're actually pretty good at it, I can say…"
Sakura laughed, "I had to train very hard to master it."
"And I wondered why there were knitting needles on the floor last night!", Naruto stroke the soft thread happily, "I love the color, Sakura-chan! Thank you!"
"There's even my family's crest on mine! I absolutely adore it, Sakura!", Sasuke embraced her tightly and kissed her on the cheek.
"I'm glad you liked them, guys.", Sakura's eyes filled with tears and soon they started pouring out on her cheeks.
"Hey, hey! We're here.", Naruto patted her on the head. Sai put his hand on her shoulder, sitting on the floor next to her and Sasuke just smiled at her.
"Don't worry. Cry as long as you feel like it. It will take a great weight off your mind.", the Uchiha boy whispered and sat on the floor as well.
Suddenly they heard the sound of falling snow from the roof. Team seven tensed.
"Somebody's on the roof!", Sasuke whispered.
"I know it's familiar chakra but I can't sense it that well. He's hiding it.", Naruto answered and looked conspirationally at Sasuke and Sai.
Before any of the boys could react, Sakura rushed outside.
Kakashi saw her laughing. She was on the floor, giving her Christmas presents to her friends. They all seemed to have liked the stoles. Kakashi could read the conversation on their lips. She had knitted them. A small smile appeared under his mask as he imagined Sakura knitting. Then he saw that bastard embracing her and kissing her. They all looked happy, too happy. And there he was, staring through her window like a stalker. Despite all his efforts to stay away from her, eventually he ended up here again. Wishing to be inside this house, wishing to be in Sasuke's place.
Kakashi shook his head and jump on the roof of the house. He should be heading back to Konoha; there was no place for him here. The roof was slippery from the ice and snow on it and the Copy nin stumbled falling on his hands and knees. He heard that a heap of snow fell on the ground. "Shit!", they might have heard him. He stood up and tried to resume his escaping when a woman's voice made him freeze in place.
"What are you doing here, Kakashi?", her voice was as cold as the weather outside. When he slowly turned around to face her, his eyes popped out. She was standing there on the slippery roof, wearing only a loose T-shirt and trousers.
"Go down and put something on…", he said.
"Don't order me what to do! I asked something. Answer me. Now!", she yelled at him with furious expression on her face.
"I just happened to be here… now go dress yourself cuz you'll catch a cold.", he felt how he was losing his composure.
"I'm perfectly fine just like that.", a steam came out of her mouth as she let her breath out, "Now tell me what are you doing here, because I'm so not believing what you just said."
"I don't think Sasuke's gonna be pleased if you and the baby caught a cold because of me…", he smirked, "I guess he's finally happy that he'll be able to restore his clan."
Sakura's eyes popped out, "What are you talking about?", her voice fell.
"Don't pretend that you're not pregnant, Sakura!", he was clearly shouting at her.
"Go to hell Kakashi! Believe what you want!", tears fell on her cheeks and she turned round to jump from the roof and go back in the house but Kakashi's hand stopped her. The man caught her and made her look at him.
"What do you mean "Believe what you want!"?", his voice was shaky but still she could feel the anger in it.
"I thought you want me to go inside so I won't catch a cold?", she asked him bluntly.
"I don't want you to risk your and the baby's life because of someone like me who's just passing by...but obviously you have something to tell me…"
"Go fuck yourself, Kakashi! I had tons of things to tell you but you brushed me off, you embarrassed me in front of everyone and you didn't even apologize… you really are a dick. You don't even deserve to talk to you right now!", she was yelling and the kunoichi pushed him back angrily, "I'm tired of everything, Kakashi. I'm just sick and tired of trying to sew things up. I just don't want to listen to your bullshit anymore. I've seen your best, I've seen your worst and I loved you in both ways but now seeing you to pretend to care for me or for our baby, it's just killing me…", Sakura hitched her yelling when she realized the mistake that she had made. The girl tried to free herself from his grip but Kakashi was holding her tightly.
"Our baby?", he whispered. The thoughts in his mind were rewinding the past conversations and events. How could he be so blind?
"No, it was just a slip of the tongue…", Sakura tried to run again.
"Don't you dare to lie me anymore Sakura!", his body was shaking, "Is it mine?"
Sakura looked at the roof trembling from the cold, "Answer me !", Kakashi shook her, gripping her shoulders.
"Yes…"
"Are you sure?"
"For God's sake, Kakashi!", she was staring at him with hurt teary eyes, "Of course it's yours!"
"But you and Sasuke…"
"There's nothing going on between me and Sasuke, Kakashi…", hey eyes softened as she noticed the sparks in his dark eye, "We were drunk and I was mad at you because of that bitchy brunette at my party… nothing really happened. He confessed to me but my answer was that I love another man."
Kakashi's eye narrowed, "Who?"
"You probably don't know him.", Sakura put a dreamy expression on her face, noticing the rising tension in Kakashi's body, "He's well-mannered, strong but gentle. He's capable of loving deeply but I don't think he knows how to show it. He's thinking too much and sometimes that makes him do stupid things but still he's just perfect for me."
Kakashi coughed and buried his foot in the snow, scratching behind his neck.
"Did I mention how good is he in the bed?", Sakura awed, "Uh, and his body…", she put a pleased expression on her face.
"Enough.", Kakashi whispered.
"I love to burry my hands in his hair, it's so soft…"
"Stop it…", the Copy nin raised his voice a little but Sakura didn't listen to him.
"Or when he's sleeping… his face is so peaceful that it just invites you to rape him…", Sakura couldn't finish her line because Kakashi was already next to her and pressed his lips at hers without removing his mask. The tiny fabric was in a way. Sakura pulled back a little so she can look him in the eye, "But he has this annoying habit of covering his face with whatever he finds…as if hiding his eye isn't enough…", the girl smirked and reached to remove Kakashi's mask.
The man before her was standing speechless. He didn't stop her. She had the same eyes as when she was about to see his face for the first time. The dazzling emeralds were captivating him, her sensual pink lips were inviting him… there was nothing in this woman that didn't attracted him to her.
"Will you forgive me?", the man asked quietly.
"Depends on your excuse…", she smiled at him, still holding the edge of his mask.
"I was behaving like a teenage idiot who was in love with a girl, when I should have been a man loving a woman.", Kakashi pulled his mask by himself and she could see that his lips were trembling. Sakura rose on her tiptoes.
"Be sure to make it up to me…", her voice was husky and she licked her cold lips.
"As long as you want me to…"
Kakashi grabbed her and covered her mouth with his. He's been longing for this feeling for so long. Immediately his body reacted to hers. And he felt that Sakura smirked a little without breaking the kiss. Suddenly she pulled away and turned around. Before Kakashi had the time to ask what happened he heard her sneezing. The man laughed and got closer to her.
"Let's get you somewhere warmer…", the Copy nin lifted her and jumped from the roof in her backyard, "Is this your bedroom?", he asked pointing the window before them with his nose.
"Yea...", Sakura placed a hand on it and send a little chakra. The window snapped open, "I'm kunoichi after all… I have to protect myself from intruders.", she grinned at Kakashi's surprised look.
The couple entered through the window and Kakashi locked it again. When he turned around he was welcomed by a hot wet kiss. Sakura stuck her body to his and her hands were caressing his crotch.
"M-m-m, don't you, m-m-m, rush, m-m-m, a little?", Kakashi managed to murmured between the kisses.
"I'm pregnant and I have my needs which haven't been satisfied for four months. I'll be dictating the pace and the quantity. The quality I leave to you…", she smirked and resumed her kisses.
But obviously Kakashi wasn't on the same opinion. He grabbed her and put her quickly on the bed, pulling the sheets above her. The man moved aside, removing his clothes and then sneaked under the blanket. Sakura giggled when her T-shirt, followed by her trousers and panties flew out from under the covers. Soon her laugh turned into moans and groans. She bit her lower lip and placed her hands on Kakashi's head which was between her legs. She buried her fingers in his hair as she felt his tongue licking her inner tights, drawing circles higher and higher. Soon his mouth reached her center and Sakura let a dull husky moan to escape her lips. The girl felt that his hands lifted a little her legs so he can adjust himself better to her. The Copy nin's tongue licked her clit and the kunoichi screamed as his finger entered her.
Suddenly with a loud bang the three boys broke into Sakura's bedroom, yelling, "What happened?"
The kunoichi startled and leaned beck on her elbows, staring at the intruders. Slowly from under the blanked Kakashi showed up, sending a burning lookss at the boys. His lips were damp and he purposely licked them. Sakura flushed as well as the boys.
"Why are you here?", the man growled through his teeth. Sakura was too blushed to talk.
"We felt disturbance in Sakura's chakra… we thought you two were fighting…", Naruto excuse himself.
"I told you we shouldn't have worried.", Sai turned around and walked out of the room.
"By all means, continue…", Naruto left the room as well.
Only Sasuke was standing at the door, staring at the couple. Then a smile appeared on his face, "It was about time for you to figure it out, Sensei. And they call you a genius… shame on you.", then the Uchiha successor turned his back to the couple in the bed, "Don't exhaust her too much. She needs plenty of rest now."
"Yeah, I know…", Kakashi grinned, caressing Sakura's cheek.
"Oh, and one more thing… she has developed the weird habit of hitting people who sit closest to her, no matter if they deserved it or not..", the boy grinned before closing the door.
Kakashi looked at Sakura puzzled. She only shrugged her shoulders.
"Anyway…where were we?", Kakashi bent down but Sakura pushed him away.
"I have some questions for you…"
"I'm listening…", Kakashi knitted his brows.
"What did you do with the brunette?", she growled under her breath, doing a mental note to return her into the hospital but this time as patient...
"You really won't let this slip away, will you?", he awed, "Nothing. I told her I was going to the restroom and then I teleported from the party."
Sakura thought for a second but the shook her head and pulled closer to Kakashi. It was his turn to go back a little, "My turn to ask questions…why you slept with Sasuke on your graduation party?"
"Because I was upset.", Sakura blushed.
"Why?"
"Because I saw you leaving with another woman.", the flush got heavier.
"But that means…", Kakashi was genuinely surprised.
"Yeah…"
"Oh God! I've been so stupid…", She's been loving him for that much time. Just as long as he's been drooling over her and dreaming about her noticing him. That was ridiculous. They've wasted so many chances, so many moments that they could have shared together. He won't hold back anymore, now when his heart knew the pain of losing her. He'll use his every single breath to wrap her in his feelings. The man kissed her passionately, "I love you, Sakura."
"I love you too, Kakashi…"
It's been like forever since they both wanted to hear those simple three words. Words that changed their lives and their souls... Words that didn't care for the past, the present or the future. Promises of love that would endure the time flow endlessly and that would continue to live in their hearts whether or not their memories existed.
The End