Author's Note:
One more chappie left readers! Don't forget to vote for my next installment! Thank you so much for supporting me and bearing with my uber slowness. . thank you!!
Chapter 28: Kistune Tactics
Itachi slowly gained consciousness to feel wet drops on his face. Rain? He opened his eyes to find his head on a lap and bright green orbs flowing with tears. His eyes widened as Sakura let out muffled sobs and looked forward. He slowly raised himself into a sitting position. Sakura noticed but didn't move, still sobbing. Itachi followed Sakura's gaze to where Hikari lied crying over a body.
"SASUKE!!" shouted the female blond. Itachi's eyes widened and his mouth parted. Sasuke? He… Lone quiet tears fell down his cheeks as the truth hit him. Sakura moved over and squeezed his hand. Itachi glanced over then both bowed their heads down.
Shikamaru quietly walked forward, not bothering to hid his tears. He patted Hikari's shoulder, "Hey, maybe we should go back to Konoha? I'll carry Sasuke." Hikari bit her lip but the trembling didn't stop. Shikamaru whispered, "Don't forget Sasuke died so both of your children and you will move forward. Do you want his sacrifice to be meaningless?" Hikari let out a weak sob and stood up. Shikamaru grabbed Sasuke and carried the shinobi on his back.
Alongside him, Hikari walked, slightly calmer and rubbing her stomach. Others began to follow in silence. Some carried the dead and other helping the injured on the journey back to Konoha. Kakashi caught up with the pair and he spoke, "Shikamaru we lost at least 70 of Konoha's ninja. It's just as bad as when we fought with Orochimaru years back." Hikari spoke up with her eyes down, "We will recover and move forward. We will create a greater strength with this loss. We shall become stronger to protect what's precious to us in this world. We must never lose hope, for there is always hope, in the next generation." Kakashi gave Hikari a sad smile, "You'll make a great hokage one day." Hikari nodded softly.
Tsunade and Arashi stood waiting at the entrance. Tsunade already knew there was death thus her indifferent face. Arashi stood waving, "Kaa-san! Tou-san! Let's play!" Hikari's eyes showed a broken soul as she forced a smile and laughed, "Hey Arashi-kun! Have you been a good boy with Tsunade-obaa-chan?" Arashi nodded, "Mhm!" Hikari smiled, "That's good. Well daddy got hurt playing hard and is now very sleepy, ok? Mommy is going to help daddy now and you should wait for me at home." Arashi pouted, "Teme-tousan! He promised to play with me and kaa-san! Come home soon!!" Arashi grinned and ran off. Kakashi frowned, "I'll go be with him."
Tsunade glanced at Hikari who broke down yet again. Hikari sobbed, "What kind of mother lies to her son about his dead father!? That teme didn't have to go and die like that!" Tsunade looked at Shikamaru and her eyes widened at Sasuke. He looked so at peace yet his skin was beyond his average pale. She motioned for all the injured and dead to follow her to the hospital.
In a room, Hikari sat watching Sasuke in a bed. Tsunade was examining him. She bit her lip, "Hikari… His pulse is completely gone." She sobbed, "I know." Tsunade turned to girl, "Shikamaru told me you are pregnant. I'm worried about the child. May I check it?" Hikari slowly got up onto the bed with Sasuke. She nodded.
Several minutes later, Tsunade smiled, "A healthy baby will grow there. I'm quite proud you managed to avoid hits to your stomach and your distress didn't cause a miscarriage. Good job." Hikari nodded slowly. Tsunade frowned, "I'll be here all night, just shout or ask if you need anything."
She turned to the dead man, "You teme…Am I still that weak little boy you need to protect in your mind? You promised to marry me, now look. What am I going to tell Arashi? It's not fair you got away without telling him goodbye." She touched her face, "Heh, I can't even cry. All my tears ran out on you." She watched the silent peaceful face and collapsed on him. She frowned, "You're so cold, not even the blankets or my body can heat you up. Of course, you're cold to begin with, but this is just like hugging ice." Hikari held on past the sunset.
Around midnight, Itachi entered the room. Hikari glanced up briefly, "What a surprise. Came to mock my fiancé?" Itachi shook his head, "I came to ask my brother for forgiveness. I came to ask for my family back. I… Sasuke had no right to die like this." Hikari glared at Itachi but her eyes softened after seeing his face. She sighed, "I don't know if Sasuke will ever forgive you, but maybe in time, he will. I will give you another chance. Be a good uncle to Arashi." Itachi's eyes widened and he gave a small smile, "Thank you." Hikari smiled, "Neh cheer up you grump." Itachi chuckled and stood up to leave, "I envy my little brother. Even in death, he forever holds a precious gem far out of reach from any man."
Hikari looked up at him. Itachi smiled widely, "People with a heart like Sasuke's are like frozen fires. Once melted by a rare heart of gold like yours, the heart becomes a blazing fire surrounding the very savior. Even in death, his will of fire lives in all of us. This is what my mother described as love to me. Both hearts giving their all for the other forever." Hikari gazed upon Sasuke and smiled, "Thank you." Itachi shook his head, "No thank you." He left.
From the shadows, Jiraiya approached. Hikari sighed, "What do you want perv?" Jiraiya smiled, "Seems Itachi turned a new leaf." Hikari smiled, still watching Sasuke. Jiraiya sighed, "When you gave your life force to destroy Madara's soul, you actually gave away your immortality with it?"
Hikari nodded, "Hai. Only an immortal soul can defeat another immortal soul by both fading away. I'm not demon anymore. Kyuubi is gone forever as his power. I'm all mortal and all human because Sasuke's life force was. I'm now living off this life. His life." Jiraiya frowned, "Don't think too much into it. Get some rest." Hikari nodded as Jiraiya left. Hikari laid over Sasuke and fell into slumber on his chest.
The moon gleamed brightly on the pair. Hikari awoke with insomnia. She sighed but then the moon shown bright. She squinted her eyes at the open window. The gentle breeze carried over to her and she smiled smelling the forest. She blinked feeling a light and airy sensation. The moonlight on the hospital floor sparkled. She blinked as there stood a floating common red-coated fox. She grew pale with her fear of ghosts and clung to her dead fiancé.
The fox hopped onto the bed with a flowing tail. Hikari's eye grew wide and she lost her voice, unable to scream for help. The fox glanced over at Hikari. Hikari shook and trembled yet it seemed as if the ghost (or is it really?) of the fox was laughing. It's eyes held a twinkle and a knowing look as it turned around and hopped right into Sasuke. A voice filled the air in a soft whisper, "Kit…"
Hikari stood pale and fearful. Ghost? Fox? Devil?! She sighed calming down as the moon dimmed down and she smiled and decided to sleep away her last night with Sasuke. Her arms stretched onto his chest and she put her ear to his heart. She snuggled in and closed her eyes.
Ba-dum.
Hikari's eyes shot open as she listened again.
Ba-dum. Ba-dum.
She checked his pulse and felt his warmth again. She screamed and dashed out into the hallway, "BA-CHAN!"
Seconds later, Tsunade, Sakura, Kakashi and Jiraiya came running. Hikari looked pale and ragged yet there was a huge smile on her red face. She was pointing to Sasuke. Sakura squinted at Sasuke and her eyes widened to half her head when she faintly noticed a chest rise. Tsunade and Sakura ran over to check his pulse and Tsunade gasped, "How-w?" Hikari blinked and smiled, "Neh a ghosty fox jumped into him and bam!"
Kakashi and Jiraiya chuckled. Hikari smiled and happily watched as Sasuke was at a normal heart rate again. Jiraiya poked Kakashi, "This ghost fox, could it of been Kyuubi-sama?" Kakashi smiled, "Hey foxes always have an extra tactic up their sleeve." Jiraiya laughed.
Sasuke's eyes opened gently to find bright blue orbs with tears in them. "Hi-" Bam! Hikari punched Sasuke in the head, "You teme! Do you have any idea what worry you caused us all!? I mean –" Sasuke's ears tuned out of Hikari's ranting as he gazed upon the female. A wave of relief washed over him. Hikari suddenly stopped ranting and pulled Sasuke into a deep hug and gentle kiss. She put her head on his shoulder and sighed, "I'm so glad you're alright." Sasuke blushed and crawled under the covers.
Sakura cracked her knuckles, "Be ready Uchiha, the second you're released from the hospital, a lot of people will be trying to kill you for scaring them." Sasuke smirked, "Alright." Kakashi grinned, "So Sasuke! I heard Hikari is pregnant again!" Hikari and Sasuke smiled brightly.
Kakashi smiled and continued, "You two are 16, unmarried, already have one kid with another on the way. If you can't avoid sex until you're 18. May I suggest a condom Sasuke? You DO know about those right? Well since you're stuck in the hospital for a while, I'm going to teach you anyways!" Hikari forced a smile, "Excuse me, I um have to check on Arashi." Sakura and Tsunade sped away shouting, "We have other patients!"
Jiraiya grinned, "I'll stay and help." Kakashi took in a breath of air. Sasuke suddenly felt sick and felt he was going to be scarred for life in the next few hours.
XD THANK YOU FOR READING!! I have one chappie left! Please stay tuned to read the epilogue! Thanks again! And don't forget to vote!
