Sparrow

*i'm sooooo sorry i took so long to update! please forgive me! i'm being just a lazy procrastinator recently, and i apologize a hundred million times! anyways, i know it took a while, but here's the next chapter. remember, i don't own naruto. unfortunately, it only belongs to masashi kishimoto. wish i had a lawyer to fight for joint custody, though...*

Chapter 49:

The sunlight filtered through the window, warming my face. My eyelids fluttered open, somewhat unwillingly. I had the best dream last night... I lifted my head slightly to see that Sasuke was laying next to me, a peaceful expression on his sleeping face. Heat tinted my cheeks. Maybe it wasn't a dream... My fingers drifted towards my neck, feeling the silver chain of the necklace. Nope. Not a dream. I smiled happily and snuggled closer to Sasuke, letting the warmth of his body envelope me. I sighed, contented.

"Are you awake?" a somewhat sleepy voice asked.

I blinked, and let out a yawn.

"I guess I am."

I looked up at him. His onyx orbs were focused on my green ones. He still looked tired.

"It's early," he said quietly as he looked over at the clock. It read 6:47. "You never wake up early."

I grinned at him. "This time I did. It is my birthday after all."

He smirked. "Hn."

Without warning, Sasuke cupped my face in his hands and gave me a gentle, loving kiss. My face flushed, and I kissed him back, taking in his taste. The kiss grew more passionate with each second our lips were locked. I was breathless by the time we broke away. Sasuke's smirk grew a few millimeters. He hugged me close and whispered in my ear, his breath tickling my skin. Excitement and longing settled in my stomach, sending butterlies dancing.

"Happy birthday, Suzume."

"Th-th-thanks," I stuttered, blushing profusely.

"So what do you want to do?" he asked, a glimmer in his eyes.

My eyes widened as an idea struck me, then more heat flushed my face. I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping desperately that the blush would go away. Unfortunately, it didn't. When I opened my eyes again, Sasuke was still looking at me, a smug expression on his features. I gulped. He knew what I wanted.

It was nearly 2:00 in the afternoon when we decided to leave. Why did we get out so late? Don't ask. I was still blushing, but thankfully, the blush died down a bit by the time we were on our way out the door to the inn. I heard giggles drifting from the back of the counter. I looked back as the girls over there were blushing and waving me goodbye with huge grins on their faces. It made me slightly uncomfortable. I forced an awkward smile, my small blush quickly deepening, and waved bye back. It was eery how perceptive girls can be.

We were walking through the forest, just taking our time. I wanted to just get out in the sunshine and be alone with Sasuke before we head back to Tori no Yama. For the past few months while we were there, it felt kind of awkward to kiss Sasuke while I knew Itachi was there. In the same house. I don't know why, but it felt really weird. It felt like he was watching us... But then again, it never stopped us. I suddenly gave an awkward laugh. Sasuke looked at me, a delicate eyebrow raised. He gave me a look like I was crazy. And I wouldn't blame him.

"What're you laughing at?" he asked, somewhat curious.

"Nothing," I told him, grinning. It was pretty much the truth. I had no idea why I laughed.

He tapped my head lightly, his eyes narrowed. "Did a screw get loose in there or something?" he asked.

I pouted and playfully punched his arm. "You should know, Uchiha," I told him.

He smirked. "Trust me, I already do. I've known since the first day we met."

My mouth dropped open in protest, and he chuckled. I laughed again, then hugged him.

"You're so mean," I teased.

We continued to walk together. I don't know how long it's been, but I could've walked with him forever. His fingers were laced together with mine and he didn't seem to think it was a big deal. He was so calm about it, too. I smiled. Suddenly, I heard a rustle in the bushes. We immediately separated, getting ready for a fight. My eyes widened as a shock of spiky yellow hair jumped out.

Naruto.

"I finally found you!" he cried, pointing his index finger at us.

I relaxed. "Naruto?"

Sasuke still didn't relax, though. His eyes narrowed at his former best friend, but his face was completely calm. Completely confident. Completely unmovable.

"What do you want, dobe?"

Naruto growled and turned to him. "I'm bringing you home, teme! What'd ya think I was gonna do? You and Suzu are coming back with us to Konoha!"

Suddenly, Kakashi, Sakura, and Karin appeared just behind Naruto. My eyes widened slightly. So Karin led them here? It makes sense why they would be able to find us so quickly. Sasuke's eyes flitted to her, and I could see her flinch. No doubt she's remembering the last time she's been with him. How he nearly killed her...

I stepped up between Sasuke and the four shinobi. I already knew by Sasuke's countenance that he wanted nothing to do with Konoha. I knew he missed Naruto, even if he didn't say it out loud. But if Naruto's gonna drag him to Konoha, I have a feeling he won't be too happy about it. I remembered the interrogation unit and shuddered slightly. I would never let that happen to Sasuke. And I didn't trust the leaders of the village either. For all I knew, they would kill him. I took a deep breath and put on a hopeful smile.

"I really don't want to fight. It's my birthday, remember? Can't you just let us go our merry way, and you can look for us another time?"

Naruto looked at me, a grin on his face.

"Happy birthday Suzu!" he cried. Then he was all seriousness again. "But no. I'm not gonna just let you leave! You need to come back to the village, or they'll send people out to find you! They'll kill you!"

"And what makes you think they won't try to kill us if we go to the village?" I asked, suddenly feeling tired. I felt a headache coming on.

"I know they won't! Even if they do try, I'll make them see reason!" Naruto cried vehemently. "I'll pound it into them if I have to!"

Sasuke scoffed, his eyes closed and his face completely calm. "Just as loud and cocky as ever, I see. Eh, Naruto?"

Naruto turned to him, frowning. Sasuke opened his eyes, his Sharingan activated. He pulled out his sword from its sheath. I sighed, knowing full well what was going to happen. I didn't feel like being a part of it. Sasuke suddenly appeared in front of Naruto, so close their bodies were nearly touching. Sasuke's sword was at Naruto's neck, but Naruto had a kunai at Sasuke's. Sasuke's lips lifted in a smirk.

My stomach suddenly cramped up. I felt nauseous and weak. The world spun around and I fell to my hands and knees, trying to resist the urge to vomit. A cold sweat began forming on my forehead. Sasuke suddenly looked back at me, and disappeared from in front of Naruto. He reappeared, kneeling at my side, his hand on my back.

"Suzume?" his voice was laced with worry. "Are you alright? What's wrong?"

"I...I feel...sick," I panted.

With that, I threw up. Sasuke's eyes widened, but he didn't move from my side. I could feel the worry from where Naruto, Kakashi, Sakura, and Karin stood. When I was finished, I was panting slightly. I hated the taste in my mouth. I didn't know what the hell was wrong with me, and it scared me. It scared me a lot.

"S-Sasuke..." I moaned.

Sasuke didn't say anything, but he began rubbing circles on my back. I focused on his touch. It was soothing. Comforting. But I could also tell he was just as scared as I was. I felt sick again.

"Sakura," I heard Kakashi mutter.

"Right."

From my peripheral vision, I could see Sakura walking towards us. Sasuke looked up at her and glared a warning. She hesitated slightly, but continued.

"I'm not going to hurt her, Sasuke. I'm just going to see what's wrong with her," she told him in a calm, soothing voice.

He reluctantly nodded, watching her carefully as she moved to my side. She laid a hand on my shoulder. Her touch was gentle.

"Suzume, I need you to lie on your back."

I nodded and did as I was told. I may have not liked Sakura very much, but I knew she knew what she was doing. I'll trust her. For now. Plus, I wanted to know what was wrong with me. Did someone slip some poison in at the hotel? Hmm... It doesn't seem likely. And besides, I can't get poisoned. Well...maybe someone was sick there? But I've never gotten sick in my life! I was beginning to feel slightly frustrated.

Sakura's hands glowed a faint green as she moved her hand over my body. The warmth that her chakra radiated did make me feel a little better. When she was done, her eyebrows furrowed. I looked at her quizically. By the look in her eyes, she couldn't tell what was wrong with me. And I didn't like that.

"She's not poisoned... There's no internal damage..." she muttered. She then looked up at Sasuke. He looked back, his eyes unreadable. "Sasuke. We need to take her to the hospital. It would be easier to determine what's wrong with her there."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed, but he nodded. I rolled my eyes. Great. I absolutely hate hospitals.

Sasuke carried me back to the city that we just came from, the Konoha shinobi and Karin following him. Naruto ran up to him and gave him a sidelong glare. Sasuke was unfazed. Naruto growled in frustration.

"Damn it, Sasuke, what did you do to her?" he asked.

His voice hurt my ears. I cuddled into Sasuke's chest, wanting to get away from the sound. Why of all times do I have to get sick now?

"Do you really want to know?" Sasuke replied in that silky-smooth voice of his. I blushed.

"Sasuke," I murmured. "Don't you dare..."

"Tell me, you jerk!" Naruto cried, ignoring me.

Sasuke smirked. "Never mind, dobe."

We finally arrived at the hospital. The place of doom. Bad memories made me want to puke again, but thankfully I held out. Inside, the nurse wheeled me into a room and helped me into bed. She gave me an empty container in case I needed to throw up. I was thankful for it, because I did. I hated the taste in my mouth. Before I could get up and rinse out my mouth, however, Sakura walked in, followed by two nurses. I instantly became suspicious. I tensed up and cast them a wary look. Sakura put her hands on her hips.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked, an eyebrow raised. "You look like I'm about to kill you and feed you to the dogs."

I grimaced at the images that filtered in my head. I shook my head, forcing the images out.

"Don't take it personally. I just hate doctors, nurses, and hospitals," I muttered. Then I smirked. "Besides, it'll be the day when you actually can kill me."

She frowned and narrowed her eyes. "I wouldn't be so cocky, Suzume. You're sick right now, you know. I could easily overpower you."

I grinned and waggled a finger at her. "Tsk. Tsk. Nurses are hired to heal people, right? You're not allowed to kill me. You'll get fired!"

"I don't work here."

My eyes bulged. "Shit."

I took a deep breath, ready to scream for help, but Sakura was at my side in an instant. She clamped a hand over my mouth, shaking her head slightly.

"Geez, I'm only joking with you. I'm not going to hurt you. Just calm down and let me find out what's wrong, okay?"

I nodded, my eyes still wide. Sakura giggled and let her hand fall back down to her side. And then she began the mini interrogation. Questions flowed from her lips like water flowed from a stream, trickling down and making my head spin. I answered every one, and she seemed to be just as befuddled as before. Not to mention my brain was beginning to hurt. All the while, the nurses were doing tests of some sort or other, trying to solve the mystery of the mystery illness. The questions gradually began to thin out, the stream getting smaller and smaller. Right when I thought that I was free from the seemingly endless flow of words, Sakura came up with the single question she hadn't asked. The single question that threw me into a panic.

"When was your last period?"


Sasuke, Naruto, Kakashi, and Karin waited out in the...well...waiting area. Sasuke, on the outside, appeared calm, collected, and utterly nonchalant about the whole thing. On the inside, however, he was anything but calm. He felt confuzed, worried, and annoyed that Naruto and the others had to show up. But he was thankful that Sakura was a medic ninja. Maybe, if she was any good, she would be able to help Suzume. Sasuke looked down at the floor of the hospital, letting his secret worry creep up with him in the deathly silence.

"So...Sasuke..." Naruto's voice drifted through the quiet like a slap in the face. But it was a soft slap, which surprised Sasuke the most. "What's going on with you and Suzume?"

"Mind your own business, idiot," Sasuke replied coldly.

Naruto jerked and, Sasuke thought, was about to go on one of his yelling sprees. But surprisingly, he didn't. Instead, he took a deep breath and began again.

"Suzume...was the first friend that I've ever had. Even though she's a girl and all...she's the best friend I could've wished for..."

Sasuke didn't say anything, but continued listening.

"She always listened. Always was there for me." He suddenly scoffed and let a sad smile grace his face. "Even when I was nothing but a nuisance, she would help me get out of trouble, ya know? She would defend me when I was picked on... She was like a sister, really."

Sasuke looked at the blonde, letting his eyes soften slightly.

"I just...don't want you to hurt her. I mean, she's had enough pain to deal with. That's all, I guess."

Silence. A few moments passed by in an awkward silence, until Sasuke finally broke it.

"I won't hurt her again, Naruto," he said. He looked at the blonde ninja, his face impassive, but his eyes swirling with emotion. "I swear, I'll never hurt her again."

Naruto grinned and leaned back against the wall. "Yeah. I know... Ya know, Sasuke? We've never really talked like this. It feels great, doesn't it? A heart to heart?" With that, he nudged Sasuke with his elbow playfully. Sasuke glowered at him.

"Shut up, idiot."

But he did feel the same, no matter how much he denied it.


I was finally able to get out of the room. Sakura and the two nurses stood behind me as I walked to the exit of my room. I touched the door gingerly.

"Are you going to tell him?" Sakura asked quietly.

I let out a sigh. "I guess I have to."

I pulled open the door and walked out of the room and into the waiting area. Sakura and the nurses stayed a few paces behind, giving me room. I stopped in front of Sasuke, who was sitting down on a bench, looking at the floor. Naruto was beside him, suddenly quiet. I guessed that Sasuke was trying to ignore Naruto. I smirked inwardly, wondering how he fared. Probably not well, considering Naruto is loud. At least most of the time. I took a deep breath, wondering how exactly I was going to say what I needed to. Sasuke looked up at me and I looked at him, suddenly nervous. I looked down and started twiddling my fingers.

"Umm...Sasuke? Remember that time...when we were talking about our dreams...when we first became Team 7?" I asked hesitantly.

"Hn..." was all he said.

"A-and you told Kakashi-sensei...that you were going to kill your brother...and revive your clan?" I was secretly surprised that I actually remembered what he said, considering I wasn't paying much attention at the time. Maybe I was in my day-sleep?

I looked up at him and gave an awkward, but warm smile. His eyes widened slightly.

"Well, you achieved your goal. I'm pregnant."