Okay everyone. Here is the eleventh chapter of Two Hearts, One Soul. Thanks to all of those people that read, reviewed, and added me to their faves and story alert lists. I appreciate it.
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Two Hearts One Soul.
Chapter 11 – Lost and Found.
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Sasuke waited for the explosion to hit him. He heard the sounds of it and he felt himself pushed down onto the ground, and out of the way. He opened his eyes once he dared, and saw Naruto looking down at him. Naruto coughed some blood onto the floor and Sasuke's eyes widened. He heard the two boys screaming their heads off for their father. He saw the look on Naruto's face. It was sheer, agonising pain. Sasuke felt his heart tearing at the image of it. "Are you alright Teme?" Naruto asked shakily.
"Yeah Dobe. I'm fine. What were you thinking?" Sasuke asked. His voice trembled a little as he tried to move Naruto gently and see what damage there was.
"I wanted to save my best friend, so I probably wasn't thinking." Naruto whispered. That was when Naruto fell unconscious.
"How touching." Kakuzu stated coldly. Sasuke could still hear the boys calling out for Naruto. Then he felt Naruto's weight being pulled from him rapidly. Sasuke shakily got to his feet, and glared as Deidara threw the blonde boy at him. Sasuke made a quick catch, and the child was sobbing in his arms. He saw Kakuzu place the dark haired child on the floor. "Until next time." Kakuzu said. Then he and Deidara were gone in a puff of smoke. Sasuke gritted his teeth, as he held the blonde child in his arms, and hugged him. If only to provide some comfort. The dark haired child walked over to him slowly, he had silent tears running down his cheeks, and Sasuke was very unsure how to help either child. He walked forward and picked up the dark-haired boy.
"The blonde one's name is Hisoka, and the dark haired one is Hijiri." Sai said from the side. Sasuke nodded, and looked at the boys.
"We have to get back to the village. Even if we could follow Deidara and Kakuzu, we can't take these kids with us. They'd be in danger, and you're wounded Sasuke. We need to get them back to the village and get you seen to before we can make any other plan." Kakashi stated boldly. Sasuke glared at Kakashi.
"Naruto is injured, Kakashi. We can't waste time. You need to go and find Naruto, and I'll take the kids back to the village. I'll follow on after Tsunade-Sama patches me up." Sasuke stated. Kakashi sighed and made to speak but Sai beat him to it.
"Sasuke, Kyubi will heal Naruto. He'll survive. Akatsuki doesn't want him to die. At least not yet. They want to extract Kyubi. So we have time. They just extracted a tailed demon from a statue. They'll have to wait at least a month before they can perform their ritual. Until that time, Naruto will be kept perfectly safe. We have to do the clever thing Sasuke. We need a location, a plan and a team that can execute it properly, before we can go and take on Akatsuki. Right now, the priority is to get you seen to, and the twins back to the village. That is most definitely what Naruto would want." Sai stated plainly. Sasuke could do nothing but nod in agreement. He felt numb outside. He felt sick inside at the idea of Naruto being taken, because he was trying to protect Sasuke. Sasuke couldn't bear the thought. He just stayed silent as he followed Kakashi and Sai, carrying the two boys with him. Both children sobbed against his shoulders.
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Sakura had been waiting at the gates for an hour, since the group had returned without Naruto. She had wanted to see Naruto and the twins up close and she had a bad feeling that something had happened. Jiraiya had freaked out when he realised the two boys were gone, but of course, Yamato and Jiraiya had set back out as soon as they got the group there. Lee and Neji had gone with them, and Sakura waited at the gate. She had left the children with Ino and had hoped to catch sight of Akina whilst she was on her way to the gate. It was now, that Sakura saw a flash of cherry blossom pink, the same shade as her own hair colour, that she realised someone had been watching her. She assumed it was Akina, trying not to bother her. Sometimes, Sakura worried about the fact that Akina refused to put anyone to any trouble, even if it caused her more trouble in the long run. "Akina, come out from there. You don't need to be nervous of me." Sakura called. It wasn't Akina that came out however. The young pink haired girl that came out couldn't have been more than seven. Sakura smiled at her. "Hi there. I'm sorry, sweetie. I thought you were my cousin Akina. What's your name?" Sakura asked.
"I'm Kaede." She replied timidly.
"Where are your parents, sweetie?" Sakura asked kindly.
"I don't have any parents. My sister Hanako and I were sent to live with our Uncle Yoshiro and Aunt Hanasuki. You're Sakura, Auntie Hanasuki's daughter, right?" The little girl asked.
"That's right. So that makes you my little cousin. I didn't know you were here." Sakura said quietly.
"Uncle told us we weren't to talk to you. Watashi makes sure we don't talk to anyone." The child said sadly.
"Don't you go to the ninja academy?" Sakura asked. Kaede shook her head.
"Auntie is sick, and Uncle won't get a doctor. He's gone with Watashi to trade some things. I found Akina, and she told me I could find you here. She said you're the best medic-nin in the whole of Konoha except for Hokage-Sama, and that you'd be able to help Auntie." Sakura nodded and gestured for Kaede to follow her.
"At least I can be useful until the others come back." Sakura thought to herself.
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Sasuke saw Jiraiya, Yamato, Lee and Neji arrive. "You're too late. Akatsuki took Naruto." Sasuke hissed. The group looked disturbed. The twins, who had been clinging to Sasuke at this point, looked at Jiraiya.
"Why did they want Daddy, Ero-Jii-Chan?" Hisoka asked.
"Don't call me Ero-Jii-Chan, kid. Damn he's too much like his father." Jiraiya muttered.
"Come on Ero-Jii-Chan, tell us!" Hijiri stated. His voice laced with annoyance. Jiraiya sighed.
"Two five-year olds call me Ero-Jii-Chan and I have to take it." Jiraiya hissed.
"They're five?" Sasuke asked.
"Yeah, they're five Sasuke." Jiraiya stated. The twins looked at Sasuke questioningly.
"So, where's your Mum?" Sasuke asked the children.
"We never had a Mum." Hijiri replied.
"Yeah Daddy took us to the Land of Waves and we lived with him always." Hisoka added.
"Sai do you know anything about their mother? Someone had to give birth to them?" Sasuke asked the other stoic male. Hijiri looked annoyed.
"Look, we told you we don't have a Mum. Daddy gave birth to us." Hijiri stated boldly. Sasuke's eyes widened like dinner plates.
"That's totally impossible." Sasuke stated. "How could that possibly happen?" Sasuke asked generally.
"Well Ice Bastard when two people who have a mutual attraction meet, there are certain biochemical elements, like pheromones, that make human beings and animals alike wish to enter into a certain adult act that children have no clue about. That act sometimes produces offspring." Sai stated happily.
"But Uncle Sai, Daddy said it was the stork that gave us to him!" Hisoka exclaimed. Hijiri nodded in agreement with his twin and Sasuke felt the beginnings of a migraine coming on.
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Sakura entered the Haruno family sweet shop warily. Kaede was right behind her. She saw another child with pink hair sitting on a chair looking worried. She was about twelve. "Hanako, this is Sakura Nee-chan." Kaede chirped. Hanako smiled, her violet eyes flashed happily. Kaede's green eyes also gleamed with joy. Sakura patted the two children on the head.
"Come on, show me to my Mum's room so I can help her okay?" Sakura said quietly. Both girls nodded and started up the stairs. Sakura followed them, wondering what kind of state her mother would be in when she got there.
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Sasuke couldn't stop thinking about what the twins had told him. They had said that Naruto had brought them to the Land of Waves, which meant that Naruto would've 'given birth' before he left the village. "But how on earth did he get pregnant and how would I not notice that?" Sasuke thought to himself. "Wait! He did act really strangely. Eating banana's fried in peanut butter and soy sauce. He was really moody. He kept wearing baggy clothes. Or maybe I just thought they were baggy…" Sasuke added to his own thoughts. "So, you two only have your Daddy?" Sasuke asked the twins, as they carried on. He hadn't let go of them and they were still holding on to him.
"Yeah we have Daddy. But there's another father that Daddy said he'd introduce us to one day." Hisoka replied. Sai and Jiraiya looked nervous at where the conversation was leading.
"Did he tell you what your other Dad's name was?" Sasuke asked. At least he knew Naruto was gay, but he wondered who on earth had managed to steal Naruto's heart first.
"No. Daddy didn't tell us that." Hijiri answered. Sasuke looked at the twins carefully, trying to look for characteristics.
"No Byakugan so it can't be Neji… What the hell am I thinking? Of course it's not Neji. He was engaged to Ten Ten before I even got back to the village. They have kids for crying out loud. Well one of the boys has black hair. That rules out a lot of people. There's Yamato? No, his hair's more of a dark brown… Maybe Kotetsu or Izumo? No Naruto hardly knows them. Or it could be Sai…" Sasuke stared a little at the black-haired male. "Maybe it was Sai. It would explain why Naruto went on the mission with him. That and why the kids have dark eyes. That would mean he's leading Akina on… I'll kill him if it's him." Sasuke thought to himself petulantly. Sai noticed the death glare on his back and looked at Sasuke.
"What's wrong Ice Bastard?" Sai asked. Sasuke just death-glared even more, if it were possible, and ignored him. Then he went back to his own thoughts.
"It couldn't be Sai. Or Naruto would've introduced him to the kids as a dad, not as Uncle Sai. So it had to be someone in the village that Naruto didn't want to know about the twins. Who could it be?" Sasuke thought to himself furiously. This mystery was really bugging him and he'd be glad when he could ask Naruto himself.
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Sakura walked into her mother's bedroom and immediately saw Akina knelt on one side next to her futon. Sakura saw that her mother's, once lovely complexion, had paled drastically. So much so that Sakura could compare it to paper. Sakura knelt down next to her mother and gently took her hand. Hanasuki looked up at Sakura with bleary eyes. "Sakura? Are you well?" She asked weakly. Sakura nodded.
"I'm fine mother. But you don't seem too good at all." Sakura said sadly. Hanasuki smiled weakly.
"I'll be fine. Your father isn't the man I thought he was so long ago." Hanasuki said sadly. Sakura felt confusion well up in her. "I found out a few things when he disowned you. After that day in the market, he was terrible to me. But not as much as he was to Akina that night." Hanasuki said softly. Sakura blinked back tears and urged her mother on.
"What's wrong Mum? What did you find out?" Sakura asked.
"Watashi is your father's son and not his nephew. Your father betrayed his own brother, and me. I want you to know the truth. He disowned you because he had a son. He decided he didn't care to have a daughter anymore. Especially one who has her own opinion." Hanasuki whispered. Sakura felt anger bubble up inside her.
"All that talk about family and loyalty was a complete lie. He's nothing but a hypocrite." Sakura thought to herself bitterly.
"I need to go to a hospital Sakura. If I don't, I don't think I will survive much longer. Your father was pleased by the idea of his secrets going with me. I wanted to tell you the truth. He intends to leave everything to Watashi. I refused to sign the paper. He won't let me speak alone with the lawyer. I wanted to leave things to you and Akina. I wanted to request that you or Akina be the ones to take care of Hanako and Kaede after I'm gone. Please take me to Konoha's hospital. I can write out my will there and at least get treatment. If I die, at least I won't suffer as I will here, and my daughter will be with me." Hanasuki begged. Sakura looked at Akina and then at her mother. She jotted a quick note then handed it to Akina.
"Give this to Hanako and tell her to take it to the hospital and give it to Shizune. Tell Kaede to wait near the gate for Lee. He is distinctive after all." Sakura said. A soft smile spread across her face. "Tell her to tell him I'm at the hospital with my mother, and you can help me get Mum ready. We need to take her to the hospital." Sakura said quickly. She was glad that she'd left the children with Ino, when she came to the gate. She felt guilty leaving them with her longer, but Sakura was sure that Ino would understand. Akina nodded and ran downstairs. Sakura gathered a clean robe and nightgown, and various other things, and threw them into a bag. She then grabbed another robe, and removed the quilt from her mother's bed. Hanasuki looked at her fondly.
"You were always willing to do the right thing. I'll always be proud of you." She said softly.
"Don't worry Mum. I'll do the best I can for you. You'll live to be proud of your grandchildren too if I can help it." Sakura replied. Sakura heard the gentle hum of Akina's voice downstairs.
"Is she still scarred?" Hanasuki asked tentatively.
"Yes." Sakura replied.
"I'll never forgive myself for that. I wanted to help her. I could barely move myself after…" Hanasuki trailed off. Sakura knew her mother had to have taken a beating herself.
"Akina doesn't blame you Mum. I don't either. I blame father. Not that he deserves that title from me." Sakura said sadly.
"How are the children? Your father cursed so, every time you had a child. So I knew about the other two." Hanasuki asked gently.
"Kohana is the same little girl she always was. She misses her grandma." Sakura replied. "Kasumi is a loud kid. She loves to play with Kohana. Riku is a strong and healthy baby. He's always smiling and happy." Sakura added happily. Hanasuki smiled gratefully.
"I'm glad." Hanasuki stated softly.
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A few hours later, Sasuke, Sai, Kakashi, Yamato, Lee, Neji and Jiraiya arrived back in the village. Sasuke was still holding onto the two boys who were sleeping soundly. Both had tired themselves out with endless questions and tears for their father. The group caught sight of a small pink haired child standing near the gate. "Hello?" The little girl asked tentatively. They looked at her curiously. "Are you Rock Lee?" The little girl asked Lee. Lee nodded. The child's eyes lit up happily. "My cousin, Sakura, asked me to tell you all, she's at the hospital with her Mum." The child said loudly.
"What's your name youthful one?" Lee asked happily.
"I'm Kaede." She replied enthusiastically.
"Come Youthful Kaede, we shall go and see my beautiful Sakura-Chan!" Lee said happily. Kaede jumped up and down excitedly.
"Yosh Lee-San!" Kaede yelled back, just as happily. Lee picked up the girl and ran off towards the hospital with Kaede sitting on his shoulders. The group looked at the speeding pair blinking several times. That was when Gai appeared.
"Ah, Lee and that youthful child have the springtime of youth." Gai said happily, with waterfall tears flowing down his cheeks. Then Gai ran off in the direction that Lee had headed towards.
"There's a girl who acts like Lee?" Neji asked. He looked at the sky as if he expected a sign from God. Nothing happened.
"We'd better head to the hospital ourselves." Kakashi said, ending the silence. The group started on their journey towards the hospital, hoping that Lee and little Kaede had not caused too much trouble before they got there.
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Sakura was watching over her mother when the door to the hospital room burst open. In stormed Sakura's 'brother' Watashi. He looked a mess and not like his usual arrogant self. She glared at him fiercely. "What is it that you would like Watashi?" Sakura asked venomously.
"I came to tell Hanasuki-San that her husband is dead. We were attacked by bandits, and he was trampled to death by the caravan horses when he tried to stop the thieves. What is she doing here? What are you doing here with her?" Watashi hissed in reply.
"She's ill, which is why my mother is here. As to why I'm here, not only do I work here, but I'm her daughter, so why wouldn't I be here Watashi?" Sakura asked hatefully. He glared at her.
"You're lucky your father is dead, because if he were alive he'd kill you himself." Watashi spat out. Sakura blinked at him.
"My father is the one who's lucky. I'm a shinobi. A kunoichi of Konoha, trained by our Hokage. The fact that he's dead, means that he is beyond retribution for his disgusting behaviour. He is not my concern. He made sure of that himself, years ago." Sakura replied.
"How were you planning to explain where his wife was when he got back? I came to tell her the news, and she had disappeared. I was worried about what had happened to her. Especially after the new shop worker told me she left with you!" Watashi hissed.
"If you were concerned about my Mother's feelings, then you would have taken her to a hospital for treatment in the first place." Sakura hissed back.
"Your father left everything to me." Watashi hissed.
"My mother's share is hers to do with as she wishes. If I remember correctly, she has a larger share than my father, because it was her parents that bought the shop for her and them who helped my dear father to start his trading business. She isn't dead, the trade and shop fall under her control. The shop, as a matter of fact, is under her complete control upon the death of my father." Sakura said angrily.
"She has no will. When she dies it'll revert to me as the only listed heir in your father's will." Watashi spat out. At that moment, Hanasuki woke up for a few moments.
"You'd be wrong Watashi. I left my controlling shares to Sakura. I left my shop to Sakura. In fact I've left everything to Sakura, on the condition that she looks after Akina, Hanako and Kaede. I asked Tsunade-Sama to witness my last will and testament, and had it all signed and arranged by our family lawyer. If I were to die this minute, my will would be valid. Your father may have left his trade shares to you Watashi, but I chose to leave everything I have, to my daughter. If I get better, I will be looking after things. If not Sakura will. Either way I expect you to not be at the house when I get back. It's attached to my shop, and belongs to me." Hanasuki stated coldly.
"Don't you care about the passing of your husband and what he might have wanted?" Watashi hissed angrily.
"No I don't. It's my husband's fault I'm in this hospital bed. It's his fault I haven't been able to speak to my daughter for four years. I cannot mourn a man I have already mourned, many long years ago." Hanasuki stated. Watashi glared and left the room. Sakura smiled.
"Would you like anything Mum?" Sakura asked.
"Just a little peace and quiet. Take the girls to your home. Bring them back tomorrow. In fact, bring my grandchildren here too. I would like to see them all." Hanasuki said happily. She still looked weak, but her complexion was returning to her, and along with that bit of colour, was her fiery demeanour. "Now go and see how Naruto is doing. You can tell me all about it tomorrow Sakura." Hanasuki added. Sakura nodded happily and left the room with a goodbye to her mother and a promise to see her tomorrow.
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Sasuke was being checked over by Tsunade, as the two boys were sat watching. Tsunade smiled at them, as they watched the events of the room unfold. "You're Tsunade Baa-Chan right?" Hisoka asked happily.
"Your father taught you that I suppose?" Tsunade countered.
"Yeap Baa-Chan!" Hisoka answered happily. Hijiri remained relatively quiet.
"Who's going to look after us until Daddy comes back?" Hijiri asked quietly. Sakura came into the room, and looked at the two boys kindly.
"Where's Naruto, Shishou?" Sakura asked. The two boys looked at her.
"Auntie Sakura-Chan!" Hisoka yelled happily. He flung himself at the pink-haired female.
"This is Hisoka and the other one is Hijiri." Tsunade said. Sakura hugged the blonde child. Hijiri was much more tentative about flinging himself into Sakura's arms. Eventually he did hug her. She hugged both boys warmly.
"I'll look after them until Naruto is back." Sasuke stated. Tsunade stared at him thoughtfully.
"When there is a mission to retrieve Naruto, what will you do with them then?" Tsunade asked.
"I'll think about that when it comes to it. Right now, I know Naruto would want someone to look after his children. It's my fault he got injured, therefore my fault he got captured. I want to look after the twins if only to repay that debt to my best friend, Tsunade-Sama." Sasuke stated boldly.
"Is that your only reason Sasuke?" Tsunade asked softly. The twins stared at him with wide eyes.
"No. Even if the situation wasn't as it was, I would still wish to look after them, with Naruto not here. Naruto is my best friend. Looking after his children would be an honour." Sasuke said stoically.
"There's still the matter of what will happen when there's a retrieval mission. You'll want to go." Tsunade stated. Sakura stepped forward then.
"Once there's a retrieval mission I'll take care of them. I'll also make sure to visit and see if there's anything I can do to help in the meantime." Sakura said softly. Sasuke smiled at her gratefully. Tsunade nodded.
"Alright. If that's the way it is. I'll agree." Tsunade said. She had a soft smile on her lips. Usually she wouldn't give up so easily, but she felt it was a good chance to let the twins know their other father. Once she had finished patching Sasuke up, she got the twins to hop up onto the examination table. Sasuke and Sakura left the room and watched over the two boys, through the large window that made up one of the walls.
"Sakura, you knew about them all along, didn't you? Before Naruto left." Sasuke asked. Sakura nodded.
"I found out because I helped with the delivery. Otherwise I wouldn't have known either." Sakura stated quietly.
"Do you know who the father is?" Sasuke asked. Sakura stared at Sasuke for a moment. She made to open her mouth but Sasuke stopped her. "It's alright Sakura. I'll ask Naruto when he gets back. I'll look after them until he does. I care about him too much to let this come between us. I don't care who the father is, so long as I can be around Naruto." Sasuke said sadly.
"Do you love Naruto?" Sakura asked tentatively. Sasuke nodded softly.
"I should've thought that was obvious." Sasuke added in reply.
"Sasuke they're yours. The twins are yours." Sakura said. So softly that Sasuke almost didn't catch it.
"What did you say Sakura?" Sasuke asked. His eyes wide with shock. "Repeat that again?" He added. The two stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. Neither one could move. Time had frozen in that heart stopping, air-sucking, moment.
