This is part of a multi-chapter post that starts on Chapter 39. Please start there if you want to read everything that I posted today. Thank you.
THE WILL OF FIRE
PART THREE
Chapter 41 - I'm, what?
"I'm what?"
"You heard me, Kushina. I said that you're pregnant."
Kushina didn't know what to think. Pregnant? How is that possible? Her mind wandered back to date night four weeks ago. It had been years since they had been together and they might have been a bit forgetful. Minato may have forgotten his protection. Or was it that she forgot to buy it? She couldn't remember. Then again she really didn't think that she could get pregnant anymore. She had just turned forty a few months ago. And Minato had just come back from the dead. They figured that they were pretty safe even if they forgot. Clearly that wasn't the case. Now, she had a baby on the way at the worst possible time. War was about to break out and she was a prime target. Putting their child in the crosshairs too. The Masked Man would likely try and take advantage of her condition. He would try to rip the Nine Tails from her again. Which would kill her and her baby. This was the worst time to be pregnant.
"What am I going to do?" She asked in a small voice. "I can't be pregnant. Not now . . ."
Tsunade saw her dilemma but didn't know how to help her. It was true that this was a bad time for a baby and that it would be easier just to abort it. Neither would be easy choices to make. However, this was not her decision to make. She could help Kushina abort, but that had to be their choice. Not just hers. This child was their baby. Minato had to be an part in the decision. Kushina could not do this alone. Then and only then would Tsunade seriously consider terminating it. She had to understand that.
"Don't you dare abort." Tsunade interrupted.
That got Kushina's attention. "Wha?"
"I said that don't you dare abort. Not until you tell your husband at least. Minato deserves to know. He has a say. It is his child too, y'know."
"I know that! Of course Minato has a say! He's my husband and the father of this baby. He'll always have a say. That will never change. And I'm not saying that I don't want this baby. It's just . . . just . . ."
"You're terrified."
Kushina swallowed hard. "Yes." She swallowed. "I'm not just anyone. I'm a jinchuriki. It's dangerous for me to have a child. You know that as well as I do. The Ninetails could get out. That Masked Man could attack me again. We almost failed to protect stop him last time. What will happen if we fail again?"
Tsunade stood up. She really wasn't good at empathy or cuddling patients. Most would be excited to hear that they were having a baby. Kushina was not. It made sense why, but it made her that much more uncomfortable. She honestly didn't know what to tell her. She started to pace as she tried to comfort the fool. If you were that worried about this then you should have been more careful! She mentally chided. Oh well, there is no going back now kid. You're pregnant and that's that. Just talk to your husband already!
Tsunade sighed. Pacing wasn't helping. She had to tell the fool something! "I don't know. I really don't, Kushina. That child is a security risk. Then again so is any child. You and Minato created it: Now you have to decide what to do with it. I cannot help you. This is not my decision. Talk to your husband, Kushina."
"I can't."
Tsunade growled. "You can and you will. If you won't then I'll tell him myself!"
Kushina flew to her feet, knocking the chair down. "You can't!"
"I will if you force me to." Tsunade threatened. She didn't really want to be the one to tell him, but she would make good of her threat. She always did.
Kushina started to really panic. "You can't. This will kill him! How is he supposed to protect the village and a baby at the same time? Especially when this baby is a threat to the entire village! The Ninetails can't get out! It can't! How can I ask him to choose between his family and the village that he loves? How?"
"Kushina, sit down!" Tsunade ordered. Kushina reluctantly picked up the chair then sat down. After a moment she continued. "You know that he would choose the baby. Any Hokage would. It's their job to protect the children and give their lives if it must be. Your husband would never abandon your child. If you don't believe me, then ask him yourself."
Kushina was silent once again. Tsunade was right. Minato would choose the baby. He always would. He loved being a father and always wanted to be one again. He took the responsibility seriously. He would die for his children. She already knew that too well. Then again so would she. It seemed that the choice was already made. The pregnancy had to be allowed to continue. The consequences be damned. They had a new child on the way. Fate had given them a second chance. They had to take it.
"I will tell him."
That's it for this chapter, on to the next!
