[Itachi's Point of View]

Even though it had happened months ago, I still can't believe it. Miko had really been here. When I first saw her, I thought it was some sort of hallucination. It was very possible, given the condition I was in. My illness had rapidly progressed to the point that Kisame had to carry me back to the base. None of the medical-nin Pein employed could give me anything to alleviate the terrible pain I experienced. They had never seen a case like mine.

"It's almost as though your very life force is being expelled from your body," one surmised.

So I was left to myself, waiting to see if I would live or die. Life is such a fragile thing. Vibrant one second and withering away the next. And yet death is just as natural as life. People like Orochimaru who try to cheat death also miss out on life. You cannot have one without the other. Miko was on my mind most of the time and I wondered what would become of her once I passed on. Would she ever know what became of me?

I was so engrossed in my pain, both emotion and physical that I had no idea she was even in the room. To see her standing there was like seeing an angel of mercy. The pounding in my head made her words sound jumbled, but I drank what she gave me without question. I trusted her with my entire being.

To my surprise, it all started to slip away. All the pain and torment was gone. I rested a hand against my once aching chest. I felt much better, but still a little weak. Its toll on my body had not been forgotten. As she explained what had happened, it was a lot to take in. But I pushed back my own feelings because I knew she needed my reassurance. She had to know that this didn't change how I felt about her. I can only hope that she understood that. I hated the idea of her blaming herself for something she didn't know would happen. This disease did not change things; I knew I would not live long anyway. I was preparing to die by Sasuke's hand.

And what did that all matter anyway when I had her in my arms again to hold and to kiss? As I held her close, I once again marveled at how weak she made me feel, how human she made me. I don't know if it's because of her divine nature or the fact that she accepted me for who I am. But the bond between us strengthened over the years and through the personal trials we shared. How could she say that she ruined my destined path? Nothing could be further than the truth. The only destiny I believed in was her.

And then she disappeared as quickly as she came, promising that she'd save me in the end. I remained on the floor for some time, staring into the space she disappeared from. My hand rested on my necklace, her gift to me, and I fingered it thoughtfully as I remembered her words. I now have the chance to be with you again, with no worries about breaking the rules. I'm not about to lose you now.

I pushed myself up to stand and looked out the window. She was right. While I regretted causing her banishment, there was nothing to keep us from being together now. Surely I had a few years left before Sasuke challenged me. I had to find a way to see her again, as soon as possible.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to leave for some time. So in the meantime I focused on training, learning how far I could push myself. This sickness did hold me back a bit, so I had to reassess my abilities and strengths. I had to learn to work around this disease since it was here to stay. But it was hard to keep my focus when my thoughts often turned to Miko. I still didn't know if she was pregnant or not. I had forgotten to ask, though it was most likely too soon for her to know either.

My concern for her was difficult to keep in the back of my mind and I felt it carrying over into my daily routine. I started to lose weight and was becoming prone to emotional outbursts. I snapped at little things, like when Deidara finished the milk but left the empty carton in the fridge. I nearly killed him over that one. Then there was the time when I used Amaterasu on one of Sasori's puppets that he left lying around. It was in my way and since he didn't care to move it, I destroyed it. Hidan saw what happened and muttered, "Geez Itachi-san, you're moodier than a [censored] on her period."

I stabbed him through the chest for that, before remembering that he was immortal. He just laughed at me and I was too embarrassed to push the matter further. He was right, in a way. I wasn't myself, and I needed to regain composure before I completely lost face in Akatsuki. For a few weeks I hid in my room, trying to get a grip on myself. I nearly drove myself crazy being alone.

Finally Kisame convinced me to come out and spar with him. I was determined to keep my cool. I was successful until he managed to hit me with Samehada. It was a glancing blow that struck my left side, but it still dropped me and I fell hard. I pressed a hand against the wound, and was horrified to find blood on my hand when I pulled it away.

Kisame blinked in surprise. "Aren't you being a little melodramatic?" His jaw dropped. "Are you actually crying?"

"Well it really hurts," I mumbled as I turned away.

He frowned down at me, processing this for a moment. Then he turned pale and his eyes widened in understanding. "You got her pregnant after all."

"Don't say that so lightly," I growled. "You don't know that anymore more than I do."

He looked around to make sure we wouldn't be overhead. "Itachi-san, you have to trust me on this." He whispered. "You're acting like…like I did when Ritsuko was pregnant. Don't ask me how, but sometimes the guy…uh…shares the symptoms." He was clearly embarrassed at the memory.

I felt lightheaded. This was harder to take than the news of my disease. "But you might be wrong."

"I doubt it," he grumbled.

I pushed myself up to stand and straightened my cloak. "But regardless I have to find out for sure. Only then will my mind be at peace concerning this."

"And what will you do if I'm right?" He challenged. "You might as well stay here. It's better to forget the whole thing."

"I can't do that!" I glared. "She is everything to me!"

Kisame grabbed me by the collar and pulled me close, glaring right back. "You don't think I feel the same way about my girl? But our situations are not the same. Akatsuki has their eye on my family. They may yet be pawns if the opportunity ever presents itself. Yours will only remain in the shadows if you keep your distance. Would you really risk their safety just because you're homesick? And what do you think Akatsuki will do when they learn there is a new Uchiha? How will you protect them then? You will be just as powerless as I am to stop them if they make their move. If you really care about your family, you'll stay as far away as you can."

I shoved him back and turned away. "I'm not going to abandon her, especially if I'm the one responsible for her pregnancy."

"This is not the time to be chivalrous!" Kisame snapped. "You're a fool if you go back."

"Then I will be a fool," I said firmly as I walked away. "Make my excuses to Pein-sama. I won't be gone for more than a week."

Gathering just a few things, I made my way back to Konoha. I made sure to get proper rest and to not push myself. It was during times like that when my disease flared up, making me cough up blood again. As I traveled, I realized that it was nearly a year since I saw her last. If she had been pregnant, the baby would only be a few months old. What would it look like? I hope it looks just like her. Yes, a little girl would be perfect.

Dressed in simple travel clothes I slipped into Konoha, avoiding security. The moon was high in the sky as I melted into the shadows of the back ally. I sent my genjutsu crow out to track Miko down. Surprisingly she was no longer in her old apartment, but in Kakashi's. That was certainly strange. What could she be doing there at this hour? I made my way there and slipped silently through the window.

Just then I heard an agonizing scream just down the hall. It was Miko.

I flung the door open to see her curled up on the floor. She was gasping in pain with sweat beaded on her forehead. As yet she didn't realize I was there and it didn't appear that anyone else was either. I stepped forward to help her up, but stopped short when I realized that her stomach was enlarged.

She was in labor.

My heart stopped. This couldn't be happening. I was expecting to either see her childless or holding a baby. I certainly didn't expect to see her pregnant. That meant…I swallowed hard…that this child wasn't mine. So she had moved on, and rather quickly too. How could she? I leaned against the door frame, feeling overwhelmed. How could she betray me like this?

She looked up at me, just as shocked to see me as I was to see her. Then with another cry, she doubled up in pain. The contractions were coming faster. As hurt as I was, I had to help her. I couldn't just abandon her at a time like this. I gathered her in my arms and carried her back into the room.

I lay her on the bed and she grabbed my hand. "Is it really you?" She asked through gritted teeth.

"Of course, why would you ask such a silly question?"

She threw her head back against the pillows and arched her back, groaning under the pain. Then she relaxed and started to cry. "T-this hurts so much," she whimpered. "I don't think…I can do this."

My heart went out to her and without thinking I kissed her forehead. "It's going to be ok. I'm right here."

She wrapped her arms around my neck and held me close, crying into my shoulder. "I've missed you so much!" She tensed again, nearly squeezing the day lights out of me. As the contraction passed, she nuzzled my neck and giggled. "You smell incredible."

I chuckled as I felt myself relaxing slightly. Only she would say something like that at a time like this. "I'll send for a doctor."

She shook her head quickly, holding onto me tightly. "No please! Please stay with me!"

I looked exasperated. "But I'd be useless."

"You're all I need," she insisted, looking at me completely serious. "Say that you won't leave me!"

I watched helplessly as she suffered through another contraction. They were coming too close. This baby would be born any minute now. Any outside help would be too late. Her eyes pleaded with me, breaking down any further resistance. I nodded. "Alright, but I need a few things. I'll be right back."

As I busied myself finding supplies, I racked my mind to remember how my mother had done this before. As the clan leader's wife, it was her responsibility to keep track of all new Uchiha. One way she did this was through her work as a midwife. Sometimes she took me along whenever her assistant couldn't come. Father had discouraged this, considering the whole experience unmanly. So whenever I went, it was in secret. I remember being scared the first few times, especially when the occasional few died due to complications.

"Why do women go through this if it hurts so much?" I asked Mother once.

"Because it's worth the sacrifice. It creates a bond between mother and child unlike any other." She smiled as she ruffled my hair. "It is then that a woman's true strength is born."

But that felt so long ago, I could barely remember any of what she did. I had handed her things and looked away out of modesty. But even my mediocre skills were better than nothing. I couldn't help but wonder where Kakashi was. Then I stopped short before I entered her room. Was he the father? If he was then he seriously abused the trust I placed in him. Miko screamed my name and I hurried to her side. She was starting to push. A natural instinct and signal that it was nearly time.

I pulled her pants and under clothes off, trying very hard to not remember the last time I did this. Then I propped her up with extra pillows into a sitting position, guiding her hands to grip behind her knees. I took position down at the end, looking her in the eye because I wasn't ready to look down just yet.

"Do you…do you know what…y-you're doing?" She asked skeptically.

Did I really look that nervous? I was trying to hold back my panic because I knew it would only make things worse. "I haven't a clue," I admitted sheepishly.

"Is this what you'd…call the blind leading the b-blind?" She asked, with a trace of a smile on her lips.

I nodded, trying not to laugh. "Absolutely. Now you just focus on pushing and…uh…I'll catch it."

"Catch it? Why? W-will it...run away or something?" She asked worriedly.

I burst out laughing. "No! But we can't have it sliding off the bed either."

She smiled fondly. "I've r-really missed…your laugh Itachi."

I sobered quickly. I never laughed when I wasn't around her. I had almost forgotten what it sounded like. I could also feel my temper flaring again. How dare she act like nothing had changed between us? She's carrying another man's child and yet she has the nerve to act so familiar with me? I swallowed my anger as she started to push. We would talk about this later.

Pushing was a difficult thing for Miko to do. I encouraged her to rest between pushes so she wouldn't wear herself out too fast. It felt like this went on for hours; pushing and resting, pushing and resting. I desperately hoped that nothing was wrong. If that were the case, both of them would die. I swallowed my panic down, though I was on the edge of hysterics. She needed a strong foundation, someone to rely on. And if she thought that was me, I wouldn't fail to be one.

Even though I knew it was going to happen, I couldn't help but freak out when she successfully pushed it out. Thankfully my outburst was drowned out by her cry of relief as she sank back against the pillows. The baby was covered in blood and other fluids and it smelled foul. I nearly threw up in my mouth as I forced myself to clip the cord. Turning away to clean it up, she asked what gender it was.

"It's a boy. It appears to be healthy, though I'm certainly no medical-nin" I said as I started to wash him. "Though he's got your ears and tail, that's for sure."

I couldn't help but smile. It made him look so cute, almost like a kitten. As I gently scrubbed his face, I realized that it wasn't crying as most babies do. It looked up at me, so calm and trustingly. And those eyes…the lines on its face. I nearly dropped it in the water.

"He looks just like me!" I cried out in surprise.

"Of course he does," she giggled, slightly out of breath. "He's your son after all."

I whirled around, my eyes wide. "But t-that's impossible!"

"Why? Because I was pregnant for so long?" She asked matter-of-factly. "Apparently the average pregnancy for Kitsune is a year long. Don't ask me why, that's just the way it is."

I stared at her. I couldn't believe it. Several emotions ran over me. Horror at imagining a twelve month pregnancy, surprise as well as joy to learn that I was a Father after all, and shame at doubting her faithfulness.

"Come now Itachi," she chided softly. "Pull yourself together. I want to hold him too."

Snapping to attention I quickly wrapped him in a towel and brought him over. She held him close and I sat beside them, watching tenderly as she kissed his tiny hand. "Hello Yusei. I'm your mommy, did you know that?"

He snuggled against her and fell fast asleep. He was absolutely adorable and I never felt such pride. This little one would carry on the Uchiha name and bring honor back to the clan, just like Sasuke would.

Miko grabbed my sweat-drenched shirt with her free hand and pulled me down for a long kiss. "I love you so much."

I kissed her back, relishing the experience. "Oh Miko," I murmured under my breath. "You are incredible, you know that?"

She giggled. "That is high praise from someone as incredible as you. And here I thought opposites attract."

"No," I said as I shook my head. "You have always been my superior."

"Mmm, I like the sound of that," she said flirtatiously. "So that means you'll do whatever I say?"

I grinned back as I kissed the top of her hand. "Of course. And what is my lady's first command?" I asked teasingly.

"I want you to stay here," she said, becoming more serious. "With Yusei and I. He needs a father, and I need you." Her bottom lip trembled. "More than anything. Please say that you'll stay."