Chains of Fate (Sequel to Silver Bells)
by Kaline Reine
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters/settings. They belong to Masashi Kishimoto. This is just a fanfiction story.
This story is written for RukarioHadou and Sakura Uchiha belongs to her. c;
***WARNINGS: This story contains graphic adult content, hints at past abuse of various kinds, incest, violence, and explicit sex scenes. If you can't handle my sick and twisted mind then you, my friend, are reading the wrong story. It also may contain slight spoilers if you aren't completely caught up.
*EXTRA WARNING* for some sensitive subject matter coming up in this chapter, involving talk of ab*rtions and other adult topics. Just letting you know so it's not a complete shock if that kind of thing offends you...
Chapter 14:
"I wish we could stay like this forever..."
No sooner had the words left her mouth, than a very worn-out looking Tsunade burst through the door. She was covered in dirt and a little bit of blood from their battle. One of her pigtails had come undone and her makeup was a mess.
"As do I." Orochimaru responded to what Sakura had said. He was very nonchalant about being walked in on, not even bothering to try to cover up.
"Sakura! I've been looking everywhere for y-" She stopped mid-sentence, taking in the sight before her. All three Shinobi were completely naked, and Sakura was tied to the bed. She was shocked. "Oh my god!"
The blonde immediately slammed the door and ran back down the hall, in the direction she'd come from. The others groaned at her intrusion. They knew she'd probably misinterpreted the whole situation. No doubt she was going to try and wake Jiraiya for backup...
"We've got to hurry and get dressed, before she comes back." Kabuto stated the obvious, while picking up his glasses from the table and putting them back on.
Sakura became nervous, a tight knot forming in her stomach. She knew this did not bode well for her. She hoped that Tsunade wouldn't say anything that would give away her situation. Orochimaru used his key to release her from the handcuffs, and all three of them began frantically scrambling for their clothes. There was no time to waste.
Meanwhile, in the other room, Tsunade could be heard shouting excitedly at the Toad Sage, who was just waking up. She was already in his face.
"Jiraiya! Come quick! I need your help. Sakura's in trouble!"
"Calm down for just one second," He insisted, holding her shoulders to steady her. "And tell me what's wrong. What's going on?"
Tsunade growled impatiently. "Hurry up! I woke up and couldn't find anyone, so I went to look for her. I found her in Orochimaru's room, with him and Kabuto holding her down. They had her chained to the bed! She can't get away. She must be so scared..."
He blinked, still groggy from being knocked out during the fight. "Look... I know you're worried, but... It sounds like someone just had some pretty kinky sex, to me."
"You would think that, you idiot!" The slug queen hit him over the head with her fist. She pulled her punch to make sure she didn't knock him out again, but it would still hurt. "That's not the impression I got. I think Kabuto has joined up with Orochimaru again. And they're holding her prisoner or something! We have to help her!"
"Alright, okay..." He mumbled, getting up and dusting the debris off of himself. "Let's go."
The Toad Sage followed the blonde woman down the twists and turns of the halls, until they came to the room that she claimed was Orochimaru's. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He had a bad feeling about this...
They'd just finished getting dressed when the other two Sannin warriors burst into the room unannounced.
"Alright! We're here for the girl!" Tsunade shouted angrily. "Now hand her over, or else there's gonna be one hell of a fight!"
"Um... Here you go."
Orochimaru gave Sakura a little push forward. She stumbled, before the blonde grabbed her, trying to steady her. Tsunade was still tired but she was also in shock from the sight she'd just witnessed and everything that happened. She'd been so worried, and for good reason... It was not every day that two of the three legendary Sannin got knocked out in a battle of that proportion and severity.
"Sakura, don't turn your back on him! Look out!"
"No, no, no! You've misunderstood the situation entirely!" The cat girl did her best to clarify, still standing between them. "I can explain... A lot of things have happened while you two were unconscious. I tried to heal you as much as I could, but you wouldn't wake up. I handled the situation myself, and I can assure you that Orochimaru is no longer a threat. And Kabuto never joined back up with him, so you can stop glaring at him like that."
"What do you mean? What happened?" Tsunade's brow furrowed in confusion. She began pressing her palms into the stunned girl's stomach. "And is the baby alright?"
"Wait..." Kabuto interrupted them. "Did I hear you correctly? Baby? What in the world are you talking about?"
'Oh... Crap!' Was all Sakura could think.
"I'msosorrypleasedon'tbemadatmeIjust-" She sputtered, unable to speak normally.
"Calm down, hon. Breathe..." The blonde woman sat on the bed with her, holding her hands. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to tell your secret. Explain to me what's happened while we were out."
"I..." She noticed the hurt look on her husband's face. Words could not express how sorry she was that he'd had to find out this way. She should have told him. A pang of pain shot through her heart. "Kabuto... We need to talk!"
"Listen to me!" Tsunade warned, her voice now tainted with malice. "I need you to tell me what happened. Then you can talk to him, assuming he's not planning to attack us."
"Of course I'm not!" Kabuto argued, crossing his arms and going to stand on the far side of the room.
He only wanted to talk to Sakura alone. This was all getting on his nerves now. He didn't know what to think... He'd just heard Tsunade ask her about a baby. What baby? This didn't make any sense.
Jiraiya was watching all of this from the doorway, leaning against the frame with an amused smirk on his face.
"Told you it was probably just some weird sex thing..." He chuckled. Apparently no one else thought it was funny...
"Actually," Sakura blushed. "That's not too far from the truth, really. After you were both knocked out, I was able to perform a jutsu which pulled the demon's energy from Orochimaru's body. I separated the demonic side from him and disposed of it. He's back to his former self now... The old Orochimaru is back. He freed Kabuto from the basement and we... Well, we sort of... Ahh, it's like this..."
She stumbled over her words, unable to explain exactly what they'd just done. The poor girl's face was bright red. It wasn't easy for her to explain this kind of thing, especially not to her elders and those she saw as being almost like family.
"The three of us had a very good time together while you were passed out," Orochimaru decided to finish for her. "That's about all you need to know. I apologize for my previous actions, everything I did before, it wasn't really me... It was the demon. I could see what was happening, but I had no control."
Everyone fell into a shocked silence for several minutes... Kabuto was still brooding in the corner and Jiraiya was blockng everyone's only way out of the room. They knew they didn't stand a chance against him and Tsunade, now that they were both on their feet again. There was nowhere for anyone to go. And nothing they could say.
"This is... just so much to take in!" Tsunade slumped to the floor in defeat. "I'm sorry that I misread the situation."
Jiraiya walked over and helped her up. "So now what?" The Toad Sage inquired. "Truth be told, I'm eager to leave. All's well that ends well and all that."
"I guess so." Tsunade nodded. "I'm still stunned about all of this. I'm not sure how you managed to pull it off, but the fact that he's not still trying to kill all of us says a lot for your case."
"I guess we should all head back to the Leaf Village soon..." Jiraiya said, forever the voice of reason. He turned to face Orochimaru. "Assuming you'll cooperate?"
"Of courssse I will! I've given her my word." He gestured to the cat girl who stood in front of him.
"I have a request," Sakura bowed her head to the others, knowing that despite her prowess, she was still below them in rank. They both inclined their heads, showing they were listening. "I really need to speak with Kabuto alone. Could you keep Orochimaru company while we talk? It shouldn't take long, but we-"
"I agree," Tsunade interrupted her before she could finish. "I think you two need some privacy for a few minutes before we head out. And Orochimaru and I have quite a bit of catching up to do as well..."
Jiraiya also nodded his consent. "Yeah. Go on and find another room to talk in. We'll wait here. Come find us when you're done, okay?"
"We will. Thank you." Kabuto thanked them, and left with his wife following close behind him.
'This is bound to be an awkward talk...' He sighed, already dreading it.
"I feel so confused right now. What was Tsunade talking about when she mentioned a baby?"
That sickening knot was back. Sakura's heart sank. She knew there was no way he could still love her... Not after finding out all of this. And in such awful ways, too. No... She couldn't possibly expect him to forgive her now.
"Before I explain, I just want you to know... That I really love you." The tears were already threatening to spill from her eyes at any moment... "And I'm sorry."
"You have nothing to be s-"
She pressed her finger lightly to his lips, effectively stifling him. "Yes. I do. I'm the one who cheated on you, and with my own brother! And I'm the one who was too scared to tell you the truth. I always planned on telling you first, but I just didn't have the courage to, and it never seemed like the right time..."
"We really haven't been spending enough time together," The medic sighed, taking her in his arms and holding her close.
"Let me explain first, okay? I didn't want or expect this happen. But, like Tsunade said... I'm pregnant. And not only that..." The tears fell freely now. She hesitated, not wanting to voice the awful truth. "...It's Itachi's. Now you know."
Her heart sank even deeper at the prospect of already losing him again, so soon after being reunited with her beloved husband... But she couldn't change facts. She could not undo what had already been done. No amount of wishing or hoping would change that. Things had been done, sins had been committed, many times over... There was no going back.
She expected him to shove her away, keeping her at a distance forever. But he did just the opposite. Kabuto hugged her even closer, holding his wife impossibly tight.
"I always wanted to shelter you from the evils of this world, to protect you properly... I failed at that." He smoother her hair out of her beautiful face. "I love you. And I'm always gonna be here for you. Nothing can ever change that. Thank you for telling me the truth. It means a lot that you were able to own up to your mistakes. The last thing I want is for to feel so bad about it, and to keep suffering. You've done more than enough of that, Sakura... I love you."
She was awestruck. The cat girl literally did not know what to say. Her ears perked hesitantly forward, one was cocked to the side, indicative of her profound confusion...
"So... You're not leaving?"
"Of course not."
"Well..." She wanted very much to let it go, to just drop the subject, but unfortunately she still couldn't. "I've been thinking a lot lately, and... I'm considering just terminating the pregnancy."
Kabuto looked shocked. "I'm not sure what to say. I thought you always wanted children?"
"I did, but not... Not like this..."
She was staring at the ground sadly, unable to meet his gaze. He was fairly certain she wouldn't have been able to stand, if not for him holding her up. She needed someone to help her right now and to be there for her. She had no one. All she had was him. And he couldn't just let things go like this. Kabuto knew there was a time to continue on, and a time to let go. Right now it was time for him to step up and be a man.
"I don't want to tell you what to do. It's your body and technically it's not even my child, but... I don't know. It seems like such a waste. And besides, the Uchiha clan, your clan, would finally be revived."
"I never thought about that. You're right." Sakura's eyes widened, as she considered all of the possibilities. The baby, being both hers and Itachi's, would have pure Uchiha blood. Something that was never expected to happen. "It never really occurred to me to keep the baby. I did try to protect it during the fight and all, but it was mostly maternal instinct that caused me to do so. I just don't know what to do! I'm so confused, and I... I feel like just giving up. I've made such a mess of things..."
Kabuto still hadn't let go of her, not even for an instant... Not when she began sobbing helplessly, collapsing against his upper body, throwing herself upon his mercy. Not when her legs had given out and she was unable to stand on her own anymore. Not even when she began screaming and shaking with the raw emotions that surged through her now.
After several minutes of crying, she finally gathered the nerve to look him in the eye... And what she saw there scared her to death.
Her husband looked vulnerable; he looked so lost... And he looked as if he were about to cry too. Sakura's cat-like eyes followed the movement of one transparent pearl of tears, as it slowly rolled down his cheek, gaining momentum before falling to the floor.
"I'm sorry," She told him, honestly. "An incestual pregnancy is already taboo enough as it is... I would face so much backlash and hatred from everyone. Once it's born, the child would face a lot of drama and ridicule. Not to mention the people who would come after my little one for evil purposes, since they're an Uchiha. I don't know if I'm strong enough to face all of that. Especially not alone..."
"There's just one problem with that," He waited a moment before explaining, to be sure he had her full attention. "You assume you'll be alone."
In her greatest moment of weakness, he was there for her. Even through his own tears Kabuto gave her a comforting kiss on the cheek. It melted her heart. She didn't understand how one person could be so kind to her. Especially after all she'd done. She didn't feel that she deserved it.
"I don't... I really don't deserve any of this. I don't deserve to be with you! Not after all the horrible things I've done."
"I understand." He put a gentle hand on her chin, lifting her face so their eyes met. "But I have to let you know... I love you. And I will always be here for you. I don't think you should terminate the pregnancy, but if that's your choice then I will stick by you. If you choose to have the baby, no one except those closest to us would ever have to know. I'd raise it like my very own. Out of pure love. If you'll let me, I'd like to be there for this baby, right along side Itachi. I'm sure he will be proud."
Those words made her the happiest she'd ever been. She didn't understand how he could take even the worst situations she'd ever been in, and somehow make everything okay again. It was like magic...
"I'm just so relieved..." Sakura slumped against him, needing something solid to hold onto.
"Does... Does Itachi know yet?"
"No," She shook her head. "You're my husband, and I wanted to tell you first. I was going to tell you soon anyway, before you ran away."
He could tell by her face that she wasn't lying. Kabuto had always been very good at reading people, especially those he was closest to. For some reason, it made him feel a lot better to hear that. He felt guilty for leaving the way he had.
"That's sweet of you..." He held her hands in his, lightly rubbing them. "But we need to let Itachi know as soon as possible. For that matter, why didn't he come with you?"
"He's still forbidden to leave the village. I'm scared to tell him, but I know I'll have to eventually. Might as well get it over with. I'm scared of how he'll react. He's normally so reserved... He isn't like that with me most of the time, but I still feel like he'll be upset about this. The thought of settling down with anyone freaks him out."
"I know," He gave her another hug, careful not to squeeze her too tight. "And... Just know that I'll always stick by your side, Sakura. Count on it. I might get mad or upset sometimes, but that doesn't mean I suddenly don't love you anymore. I'll be right there with you the whole time. We can clear this whole thing up when we get back."
"What will we do if he freaks out and leaves?"
"I hate to say it, but that's a possibility. We'll just tell everyone it's our child. No one will question it. After all, we have been married for a while now. If Itachi gets mad and leaves, then I'll raise the child as my own."
He felt her soften immediately, her arms going around his neck. The Uchiha survivor gave him a big hug. "Thank you, Kabuto... I love you."
"I love you too... So much."