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Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto characters, only the plot of the story.
The Revival of The Clan
Chapter 36
~Healing and Pain~
Pain...
They were right. Damn…they were absolutely right. The pain was killing me. It was killing my sense of logic, every single splinter I had left from my rationality, destroying my senses, and shook my whole world from its roots. I couldn't inhibit my loud screams of agony, but I tried to focus on Itachi nonetheless.
Tenten and the others tried to calm me down but honestly...this was torture. Excruciating pain that obscured every chance for me to think or react properly. It was all a mess I could not escape from. A hurricane even. A volcanic eruption.
In the midst of all this torment and craziness, a bizarre thought occurred to me. It was both encouraging and yet so damn disappointing…What will happen when I will actually give birth to my child?
Encouraging because it connotes that we will both live. That I will get to give proper birth to Sasuke's child. Disappointing, because there was a great chance that one of us -if not both- weren't going to make it. Disappointing, because even if we did survive I will have to go through this hell of ail. No. Not really. That last one was not really disappointing, because it also meant that my son was going to live and grow up...to be a wonderful shinobi someday.
A tear of hope was shed from my eye, but it was also a tear of pain.
I had to focus, to accumulate my energy for one greater goal. Everything else didn't matter. I had to protect….
"Well done, Aelia. Hold out a little more." Sakura tried to encourage me. I was panting hard and thickly. My lungs threatened me to collapse after all this impossible strain they endured from my screams and cries and unstable breathing.
"Tsunade-sama..."
"What is it, Aelia?" The woman jolted her head, helping her eyes lock on my now wan face.
"I have a question…" I managed to utter out trying to defy my aching body's requests for peace. I had to say something to keep me sane.
"What is it?" she gently asked catching up to my plan: 'Help-Aelia-Stay-Sane-and-Awake'.
"I wonder…" another scream erupted from within me. "...what was the substance you brought in the first place." I paused to inhale in tremble "In the syringe I mean…." I could hardly talk. My teeth were grinding loudly.
"Ha, it was one of my inventions. It should have done the trick and save the baby at least." she informed and attempted to send an encouraging wink.
"Thank…you..." I tried to mumble, still quivering intensely.
"Hey, just a little more tiger-chan!" Sakura smiled and wiped the perspiration off her forehead once more. "Focus on Itachi!" she reminded.
"I do." I muttered in between my grinding teeth.
Several moments of pain elapsed, and surprisingly I was still there. Conscious, and somehow still cognizant of my surroundings. My close surroundings. Anything else beside the kunoichi around me was a complete haze, covered and obscured by curtains of mist.
"What the hell are those screams?" a male voice appeared out of nowhere. Some hasty footsteps demanded my attention, since I was currently lying on the floor and any kind of vibration close to me was easily tangible; when my pain allowed me to focus on anything else of course.
"Just shut up and leave Kiba!" Ino hollered in annoyance.
"Is Aelia ok?" he asked again. I also heard a loud bark. That must have been Akamaru.
"Kiba?" I asked still a little incredulous. For all I knew, I could easily be trapped into a hallucination, devised by my very own mind. I had to check if he really was there. "I am ok…Kiba." I responded, after I confirmed his presence. "I-..." I tried to answer but my scream stropped me.
"Really? You don't seem so well to me." he mumbled and arched a worried eyebrow.
"Kiba hush! We are trying to save the baby! Go away!" Sakura reprehended this time, whiffing a strand of her pink hair away.
"Geez Sakura. Fine!" he pouted at the kunoichi's cold demeanor. "I just came to check and tell you that I will try and bring the Uchiha here, until we deactivate the seal. Rumor has it that he is being a total pain in the ass for Shikamaru there." he gave away a mischievous smirk in delight for pointing out Sasuke's insufferable obsession.
"That's a good idea." Tsunade-sama barked in between her concentration. "Inuzuka, bring the Uchiha here. Tell him his wife is in pain. That way he might remain sane too and restrain himself from destroying the door for a little while longer." she said, while continuing to remove the poison. Kiba was soon nowhere to be seen.
"We are almost done with the knotty part." Sakura informed me encouragingly.
"We need to stabilize the baby first." I heard Tsunade-sama state. "And then we will start healing again. Do not stop Sakura, Ino!"
"Hai!" they exclaimed in unison.
"Aelia…you are doing great…"Tenten murmured to me reassuringly. I attempted to smile at her in acknowledgment and appreciation.
"How is Hinata?" I finally asked. I was indeed worried about my friend, but in the midst of all this, it slipped my mind to ask.
Sakura was kind enough to offer me an answer. "She is perfectly fine. We asked her to remain in the village and help Shizune keep this operation a secret. It's a really hard job. She wanted to come and help but…"
"You- You did well not to let her get... into th- this…" I stuttered this time, heaving a sigh. At least one pregnant woman was safe.
"OI! What's going on?" a male voice echoed through my ears and inside my mind. This one voice...shook my world as devastatingly as the pain itself. I knew that voice. I was tuned to that masculine voice. I loved and craved to hear it. My eyes closed for a second, only to focus my full attention on the upcoming presence of the shinobi.
"Uchiha! You never listen to anyone, do you?" Tsunade chided wryly. Sasuke didn't even bother to answer to the Hokage. He immediately bolted towards me like lightning.
"Aelia..." He mumbled while reaching for my hand and gently kissing my forehead.
"Sasuke…" I tried to smile but the next blast was huge…and my scream stopped me midway. I clenched my fists and bit my lips from the pressure and ail. "Damn it!" I yelled while still panting. I was...I was rendered utterly weak.
"What's wrong?" Sasuke asked, a worried expression registering on his perpetually blank mask. "Is the baby-?"
"Shut up and calm down Sasuke!" Eh? My eyes widened for a second. No Sasuke-kun? Only Sasuke? That was new...and rude, given that it came from a certain pinkette. "For the love of God, why men always have to come in and panic everyone?" Sakura huffed in indignation.
"Thank Kami Naruto didn't come as well." Ino added and grimaced for a second.
"Ts." he clicked his tongue in annoyance. "The dobe and the others are keeping watch on the damn door. Tell me what is happening here. Why Aelia is in so much pain? Is the baby ok?" The angsty tone of his voice and his impatience were tangible even on my own bones.
"Calm down Uchiha" Tsunade spat out. "They are both alive for now. We are trying to remove the poison from your baby and from your wife simultaneously. The Council did a really sloppy job. And it's rather obvious that we can't have the little one endure much of the pain, so Aelia is taking both of it. Moreover, your wife has to keep her almost completely gone chakra around the baby for protection. The pain is fairly strong and she has to be extremely focused."
"You do all that Sasuke." Ino teased. "Men cannot handle all that complexity."
Sasuke opted to entirely disregard Ino's comment. He caressed my cheeks and kissed me gently on the forehead again, wiping away my perspiration with his hand.
"Aelia, here comes the last big one…" Sakura warned while nobbling her lower lip. "One more and we save little Itachi, ok?"
"I still don't understand why you named him Itachi. Wasn't he an S-Rank criminal who slaughtered your people? "Ino murmured with evident puzzlement. None of us bothered to answer though. Sasuke only glowered grimly for a second.
"Ok Sakura." I took a deep breath. "Damn! Let's finish this." I said between my gritted teeth again.
"Hold on." Tsunade heartened me.
And that was the biggest eruption of all.
Healing...
I really really really really had to keep my sanity in its confines and grab any kind of anchor to reality I could possibly find, because that one was the worst. My scream could easily break windows and probably nearby eardrums. So much for proving my endurance and strength.
"Oh my ears are gone." Ino teased to defuse the tension, but I knew that was partially true. I actually felt sorry for the girl in the midst of my overwhelming agony.
"So…sorry." I tried to apologize but, as a result, I coughed blood. Sasuke eyes were now gleaming with panic.
"WHAT NOW?"
"It's ok. That is a normal reaction because of the strain she endured. The baby is safe. Well done Aelia." Tsunade beamed gently at me. I closed my eyes for a second and nodded.
"Now we have to stabilize your mother Itachi." Sakura said perkily while moving her hands from my belly to my lungs.
"Is he really safe?" Sasuke asked abruptly tentatively placing his palm and mine where our baby was resting.
"Yes. We have the best medical specialists here. Not to mention one hell of a mother he has." she glanced at me and winked. "She protected him." Sakura informed. "I don't know about the father though." she mumbled only for me to hear. I really wished to chuckle, but it would be probably proved painful.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Sasuke snapped in worry. I tightened my grip on his hand reassuringly.
"Hm, I would love to see what happens when it turns out to be a girl eventually." Ino joked and resumed the healing again; no one bothered to give more answers to Sasuke.
"Ino! That is the least of their worries." Tenten chided.
"It will be a boy." Sakura stated confidently.
"Are you sure, Sakura?" Sasuke and I asked in unison. She nodded avidly.
"We checked every fiber of him. His hormones say he will be a fine young man. This is certain." Tsunade added trying to heal me in the process.
"And one hell of a healthy one." Sakura continued with a smile.
"From what we saw and checked thoroughly he will be a very healthy baby. He was under our care after all; be sure of it." Tsunade smirked slightly.
"Yokatta(=Thank God!)" I mumbled and swallowed my saliva.
"We will monitor him. I will personally. But the way things look he will be absolutely fine. The after-effects of this adventure of yours will have no actual side-effects on him, I will bet my medical expertise for it. I will give you some pills anyway, Aelia, just to be cautious." I nodded affirmatively to our Hokage.
"You are done." Sakura told me proudly whilst she removed her hands from my exhausted body.
"How are you feeling?" Sasuke gently asked me. I turned to lock my gaze at his charcoal eyes.
"Tired." I answered in all honesty. "But other than that I am alright, I think." I slightly smiled and Sasuke gave me a chaste kiss on the lips.
"Thank you..." he whispered in my ear and my eyes widened in puzzlement.
"What for?" I whispered back.
"For being alive. Thank you for protecting our son." He mumbled while hugging me tightly.
"So sweet…" Ino and Tenten cooed simultaneously. Sasuke didn't pay attention. I pulled him into an embrace in return and rubbed his back affectionately.
"Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for saving me from blackness. Thank you for protecting our child. I love you Sasuke."
"Aa." was the only thing he said, but deep down I knew that it meant 'Me too.'. It was a form of reassurance. He leaned closer, kissing me again. In a moment I turned to face the kunoichi around me.
"Thank you from the bottoms of my heart. Thank you for saving us." I said while touching my belly tenderly.
"Stop it, you!" Ino teased again.
"Our pleasure, Aelia." Sakura said while leaning closer to hug me as well.
"This village owes it to you Aelia, Sasuke." Tsunade gently said.
"Hey, I don't want to ruin the moment." the brunette kunoichi cut in. "But we need to relocate."
"Yeah. We have to take Aelia to the Hospital now." Sakura added and got up, while dusting off her clothes.
"Didn't you say she was fine?" Sasuke asked threateningly, getting up as well in a quite menacing manner.
"That's beside the point. She has to get as much medical care as she can." the pink-haired retorted.
"Before that I have only one request…" I said and they all looked at me. "I want..." I paused for a second. "I want to see them dead." I stated hesitantly and stared at Tsunade. She sighed in defeat.
"I understand." Tsunade eventually muttered.
That exact moment, I heard the sound of crackling knuckles and clenching fists.
"I will make them suffer as they did to my Clan. I will destroy them as they destroyed the Uchihas. I will make them hurt as they did to my wife and son!" To say that Sasuke was furious was an understatement. I held his hand. I also decided to ignore my friends' questioning glances.
"I can see where that comes from, Sasuke. But they still were the Council of-"
"I DON'T GIVE A SHIT!" he yelled stopping a deadpan Tsunade. "I don't give a shit about who they are or what they did for the village! I will kill them, be sure of it!" The female Hokage sighed deeply again.
"After what the latest information I received, I don't have the heart to stop you anymore. Do as you wish and prepare to face the consequences." she stated formally and crossed her hands over her large chest.
"Consequences?" I gulped. "What do you mean Tsunade-sama? What consequences? You are not going to get him in prison, right?" I asked with utter worry, eyes widened in anguish.
"That is not up to me." Tsunade only replied. I almost felt a single tear running down my face. Then, a gentle finger wiped it away.
"Worry not." Sasuke reassured me and after kissing me once again left in a rash, to achieve what has been his long for so long now. It was my turn to sigh now.
"I will go as well." I declared decisively, my hands balled in fists, while I was getting up properly and straightening my clothes as much as I could.
"You what?"
"I will go too, Sakura. I wish to witness that with my very own eyes."
"But you need to rest…" Ino added and came to stand next to me.
"I will. After all this is over. Besides I will never be able to rest, thinking that Sasuke and all of my friends are risking their lives because of me."
"But the baby?" Ino put her hands on her head in indignation.
"I have already focused my chakra on him. I am not going to fight Ino. I just want to be there." I told her and stared intensely.
"But what if they try to kill you?" Tenten noted in worry.
"They won't." I casually and abruptly answer.
"It's ok. Let her go."
"But, Tsunade-sama…"
"Hush! We are all going there." Tsunade declared.
Author's note: I am terribly sorry for the long wait! Exams are coming, you see, and my schedule is so busy, I hardly have time for my stories anymore. T.T I will finish everything though. Depending on my time, I might publish the next chapters sooner than normal. I will try to! I am planning to finish this story before the exams officially start.
Anyway, Sasuke finally came! I chose not to have him appear immediately at Aelia's side for a certain reason. Sasuke is always obsessed with revenge, we all know that. It would make better sense for him to rush to spill his enemies' blood, rather than running to check anyone's condition really, not only Aelia's. So after making sure that one of his trusted teammates went to Aelia's aid, Sakura in this case, and that she will be taken care of, he had nothing else in mind than taking revenge. Something had to shake him, to calm himself down a notch and be rational enough to check on his family at last. Tsunade also told Kiba, that if he informs Sasuke about Aelia's state, that's what will help him remain sane and not lash out at the door to kill the Council. (^.~)
About the medical stuff. As you probably realize, I am no expert to medicine and whatnot, so Sakura's statement about the baby's hormones and all that are just a product of my imagination with hints of real life elements (hormones do exist :P). So I am not sure if this is accurate (can a young baby as Itachi have all the hormones necessary to indicate his gender?) but I feel relieved by the fact, that people do NOT heal with their hands and chakra, so I am claiming my "Writer's rights" and declare: Please do not stick to this particularities! This is, after all, a work of fiction! (^.^')
Please do not forget to review!