Akatsuki Baby is officially one year old!!! I can't believe it's been that long since Itachi found little Emiko in the grass. I would like to say thank you to all of my reviewers, both new and old. You guys are the reason I keep writing.

Ivvy-sama: We'll probably return to Emiko in about four or five more chapters. I'm still trying to figure out what the three of them are going to do.


"You ready, Haruki?"

Haruki looked up from her packing. "Almost, Kakashi." She pouted as she looked down at her Anbu mask. "I hate wearing this thing."

Kakashi walked into the room, already in his Anbu uniform. His mask was resting on top of his head. "You'll just have to deal with it for a few days."

Haruki pouted. "That doesn't change the fact that I hate it."

Kakashi walked over and hugged her from behind. "If you hate being an Anbu so much, why'd you join?"

Haruki shrugged. "My family said they couldn't be shown up by a bunch of Uchiha so they pushed me to take the test. It's fine though." She grinned over her shoulder. "I got to meet you because of it so I don't regret it."

Kakashi smiled and kissed her cheek. "Let's go."


The Anbu group sat up in the trees, silently watching their targets. A group of missing-nin from Konoha had gathered together. Their mission was to exterminate them.

Haruki shifted nervously on her tree branch. She hated killing with an undying passion. She hated the feeling of her kunai stabbing someone or her wind blades slicing into another person's flesh. She was in Anbu though, so she learned to bottle up all the deaths inside of her.

"Haru-chan, don't let your guard down." An Anbu beside her whispered.

Haruki smiled underneath her mask. "I know, Kijuu. I'll be careful."

Kakashi gave the signal and the group fell upon the missing-nin.

Haruki sliced her way through most of the group, making sure to make their deaths as quick and painless as possible. After a few moments, all the missing-nin had been slain. Haruki leaned against a tree, taking a deep breath. She felt sick to her stomach. She wanted to cry but she choked the tears back.

"We'll wait here until the retrieval team arrives." Kakashi said. He frowned when he saw Haruki's form shaking. The retrieval team arrived at that moment and he helped them gather all the bodies up. Once they were gone, he motioned for his team to follow him back to Konoha.

Haruki was silent the whole trip home. She didn't say a word as Kakashi gave his report to the Third Hokage. She idly remembered how a few years ago one of her best friends had sat at that chair. He was dead now. Lots of people were. Her parents had both been killed on a mission. Many of her friends had been killed or missing. She suddenly realized how alone she was.

Kakashi finished giving the report and grabbed Haruki's hand, leading her back to their now shared apartment. He didn't like how silent she was. As soon as they were in the apartment, he pulled both her mask and his own off. He wiped the tears that were already rolling down Haruki's cheeks. He led her over to the couch and sat down beside her, holding her close while she cried into his chest.

"Please don't cry, Haruki." Kakashi whispered.

"Everyone's gone, 'Kashi. I've only got you and Mikoto-chan left. If I lose either of you…"

"Don't be stupid. You're not going to lose either of us. Is it because of the mission?"

Haruki nodded. "I'm scared, 'Kashi. It feels like someone's watching me all the time. I've never felt so much anger and hatred directed at me from a person I can't even see."

Kakashi held her tighter. "I won't let anyone hurt you."

Haruki leaned up and kissed Kakashi. She clung to him as tightly as she could, afraid he would disappear. She didn't resist when Kakashi pulled her into his lap or even when he began kissing her roughly. She didn't protest when he stood up and led her to the bedroom.


"What do you mean you're late!?"

Haruki slapped a hand over Mikoto's mouth, smiling nervously at the patrons staring at them. She glared at the shocked Uchiha. "Keep it down! I don't want the whole village to know." She removed her hand and slurped up her ramen.

Mikoto took a gulp of her water. "So, are you…?"

Haruki shrugged helplessly. "I don't know."

Mikoto slapped some money down on the counter and began dragging Haruki through the village. "Well, let's go find out."

Haruki was nervous while Mikoto grabbed multiple pregnancy tests. "Do we really need that many?"

"It's just to ensure whether you really are or not." Mikoto paid for the tests and then dragged Haruki back to the Uchiha compound. "Where is Kakashi anyways?"

"Sandaime gave him a solo mission to complete. He's supposed to come back today." Haruki bowed nervously to all the Uchiha glaring at her.

Mikoto led Haruki to her bathroom. She shoved Haruki in and handed her the bag of pregnancy tests. "I'll get you some water."

After a few hours and a dozen pregnancy tests, Haruki felt like crying. Every single one of them said she was pregnant. "What am I gonna do, Mikoto-chan?"

"Tell him." Mikoto said plainly.

Haruki's brown eyes widened. "I can't do that! He'll hate me!"

Mikoto raised an eyebrow. "What makes you think he would hate you?"

Haruki shrugged helplessly. "I don't think he's ready for children yet. We've only been together for seven months."

"Stop being so dramatic. If you don't tell him, I will." Mikoto skipped out of the room. "Tell him tonight. If he leaves you then he's a moron and he doesn't deserve you."

Haruki pouted. "You're so mean, Mikoto-chan." She followed after the Uchiha. "Will you help me going shopping? I need to pick up groceries for dinner tonight."

Mikoto and Haruki made their way to the grocery store. Both were silent. As Haruki inspected an orange, she felt a weight on her shoulder. She smiled down at her friend.

"So, is he any good?" Mikoto grinned.

"I'm going to shove this orange in your mouth if you don't shut up." Haruki blushed.

"You need to have a girl."

Haruki raised an eyebrow. "Why is that?"

Mikoto rolled her eyes as though it were the most obvious reason in the world. "Since I don't have a daughter, you need to have one so I can play dress up with her."

Haruki giggled. "What if it's a boy? He could be friends with Sasuke."

"Sasuke does need more friends…" Mikoto thought idly.

"What are you two talking about?"

Haruki nearly dropped the orange in her hand. She turned around and smiled, tackling the unsuspecting Anbu captain to the ground. "Welcome home, 'Kashi!"

Kakashi smiled and stood up, hugging Haruki. "What were you two talking about?"

Haruki looked down, suddenly nervous. "Well…um…Kakashi…you see…um…"

"Oh for the love of…" Mikoto rolled her eyes. "She's pregnant with your baby."

Kakashi's visible eye widened. He looked down at his blushing and clearly nervous girlfriend. "Really? How long?"

Haruki shifted from one foot to another. "I just found out today. It's not even definite since I only used pregnancy tests. I haven't gone to the doctor."

"Yes, because 50 different pregnancy test are all going to lie to you. She's probably about one month in." Mikoto informed. She narrowed her eyes at Kakashi. "What do you think?"

Haruki squeaked as she felt strong arms wrap around her and spin her around.

Kakashi chuckled and put Haruki back on the ground, still holding her close to him. "That's awesome. Do you know whether it's a boy or a girl yet?"

"We won't know whether it's a boy or girl until her second trimester." Mikoto said. "She just finished her first month of her first trimester."

Haruki peeked up at Kakashi. "You're not mad?"

"Of course not." Kakashi smiled. "I would've liked us to have our first child when we were a little older but now is fine."

Mikoto grinned at the couple. "Well, good luck, Kakashi. You get to deal with her mood swings."

Kakashi laughed at Mikoto. "It's Haruki. How difficult can it be?"


"'Kashi, I want pickles." Haruki muttered.

Kakashi groaned and looked over at the clock. "We don't have anymore pickles. You ate them all."

"Then go to the store and get me some."

"Haruki, it's 2 in the morning. The store is closed." Kakashi yawned. "Just go back to sleep."

Haruki sat up in the bed and began crying. She was now in her second trimester and her stomach had grown quite a bit. "You hate me! It's because I'm fat now, isn't it? That's why you won't get me pickles. I bet if Anko asked you to you would."

Kakashi sighed and rolled out of the bed. "I'll be right back."

He dragged himself to the small corner store that was right by their apartment. He felt around the top of the door for the key the store owner left Kakashi for occasions such as these. He found the pickles and left the money on the counter, like he had been doing the past two months. He put the key back in its hiding place and went back to the apartment.

Haruki was curled up on the couch, waiting for him. She squealed and yanked the pickle jar from his hand. She kissed his cheek. "Thank you, 'Kashi."

Kakashi yawned. "I'm going back to bed."

"Before you do, can you get me some ramen?" Haruki grinned sheepishly.

Kakashi would've cried if he was anyone else. "But I just got you the pickles."

"I want some ramen too though." Haruki pouted. "The baby is really hungry."

Kakashi sighed and left the apartment again. He walked all the way to Ichiraku ramen and made his way to the kitchen area. There was a pot of ramen simmering on the stove top and a note beside it.

Kakashi,

The ramen is already heated up and ready for Haruki. Just bring the bowl back later.

Kakashi put the ramen into a bowl and carried it back to his moody girlfriend. He found her still on the couch, the jar of pickles already finished off. He handed her the ramen and a pair of chopsticks. "Do you need anything else?"

Haruki smiled and shook her head. "No, I'm fine now. Sorry about that."

Kakashi shrugged and collapsed on the couch, resting his head against Haruki's swollen belly. "It's fine." He kissed her stomach. "So, we're going to find out whether it's a boy or a girl today, right?"

Haruki nodded as she slurped up her ramen. "I wish Tsunade-neechan was still here. I would've liked to have her be my doctor."

"I got a letter from Jiraiya." Kakashi muttered, already falling back asleep. "He says we should name it after him if it's a boy."

Haruki laughed. "No way!" She put the empty bowl down and ran her fingers through Kakashi's hair. "I'm going shopping with Mikoto tomorrow. Do you want to come?"

"Nah. I'll go shopping and stockpile the fridge with more pickles." Kakashi yawned and fell back asleep, soothed by Haruki's laughter.


"Congratulations." the doctor beamed at the nervous couple. "You two are going to have a baby girl."

Kakashi grinned and rubbed Haruki's stomach. Secretly, he had been hoping it would be a girl. He didn't like the idea of having a son and then a daughter. He'd be sad if he had to kill his son's friends for flirting with his daughter. Luckily, that would not be the case.

The couple walked into the waiting room where Mikoto and her sons were waiting. Haruki grinned at her friend. "It's a girl."

Mikoto squealed and began dancing around the room, ignoring the scandalized looks on the nurses and other patrons faces. "I can't wait to dress her up! What are you going to name here?"

Haruki looked at Kakashi. "We haven't really though up any names yet." She blinked when she felt tiny hands on her stomach. She smiled down at Sasuke.

Sasuke stared hard at Haruki's stomach. He began poking it. He placed his ear to Haruki's stomach to see if he could hear anything. He screamed and ran behind Itachi. "It kicked me!"

Itachi patted his head. "It's a she, Sasuke, not an it. She probably didn't like you poking her."

Sasuke stuck his tongue out at Haruki's stomach. "She's evil."

Fugaku stood up and patted Sasuke's head. "Most women are."

"So, is it a boy or a girl?" Sarutobi walked into the hospital. He smiled at the group.

Haruki smiled, placing her hand over her stomach. "It's going to be a girl."

Sarutobi nodded approvingly. "In that case, I would like to make a proposition to both the Senju and Uchiha family. If you could kindly follow me to my office, I'll explain everything."

The group followed the Sandaime to the Hokage tower and into his office. Mikoto and Haruki each sat in a chair while Fugaku and Kakashi stood beside them. Itachi stood on the other side of his mother and Sasuke situated himself in Mikoto's lap.

Sarutobi sat down behind his desk, fixing the group with a serious look. "I've already discussed the idea with the Senju elders and they think it's worth a try." He smiled at Sasuke. "How old are you, Sasuke?"

"I'm seven." Sasuke replied.

Sarutobi nodded his head. "The age difference won't be that bad then."

Mikoto and Haruki both looked curiously at Sarutobi. Mikoto spoke up first. "What is your idea, Sandaime-sama?"

Sarutobi smiled at the group. "Things between the Senju and Uchiha have always been tense. Even now, in this time of peace, there is much hatred between the two clans. I have proposed that, should Senju Haruki, great-granddaughter of the Nidaime, have a daughter, the girl and Uchiha Sasuke should marry, thus uniting the two clans."

The group was silent for a moment. Fugaku's face was hard. "You want my son to be engaged to a Senju?"

"Your wife is already best friends with a Senju. Why not have one for a daughter-in-law?" Sarutobi replied.

Mikoto squealed and turned sparkling eyes to Haruki. "We could be in-laws! Oh, that would be so adorable! My little Sasuke with your baby girl! It'll be so cute!"

Fugaku looked incredulously down at his wife. "You can't be serious."

Mikoto pouted up at her husband. "Oh, please, Fugaku! I think it would be adorable. Besides, maybe it will help restore the Uchiha's former glory."

Fugaku could feel a migraine coming on. He cut his eyes over to Kakashi. "What do you think?"

Kakashi was quiet for a moment. "I'm not too thrilled with the idea of my baby girl being engaged before she's even born. What do you think, Haruki?" He gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze.

Haruki looked down at her stomach and placed a hand over it. She smiled when she felt her little baby kicking. "Why don't we let her and Sasuke decide?"

Mikoto looked down at her son. "Would you like to marry Haruki's baby girl?"

Sasuke frowned in confusion. "What does 'marry' mean?"

"It means that you'll spend your life with her. You'll have to love her, take care of her, and protect her."

Sasuke thought for a moment. "If I marry her, will it make the other girls leave me alone?"

Mikoto chuckled. "I'm sure it will."

Sasuke grinned. "Okay. I'll marry Haruki-san's baby girl."

Sarutobi raised an eyebrow. "How are we going to find out her answer?"

Haruki smiled down at her stomach. "Baby, I have a question for you. Kick once for no, twice for yes. Do you remember the little boy that poked you." She smiled when she felt two kicks. Haruki motioned for Sasuke to come over. She took Sasuke's tiny hand in hers and placed it over her stomach. "Sasuke, talk to her."

Sasuke looked determinedly at Haruki's stomach. "Baby, the grown-ups want us to get married. If we get married, I'll protect you forever. I won't let anyone hurt you and if anyone makes you cry, I'll beat them up. So, do you wanna get married?" He frowned when he didn't feel the baby give a response. He beamed though when he felt two kicks. "She said yes!"

Sarutobi chuckled. "It's settled then."


Haruki pouted as she looked at herself in the mirror. "I'm fat."

Kakashi rolled his eyes and got off the bed. He wrapped his arms around Haruki's shoulders and kissed her head. "You are not fat. You are seven months pregnant with our baby girl."

Haruki smiled and leaned up to kiss him. "Mikoto-chan and the others will be here soon."

Kakashi groaned. "Why do you women insist on having baby showers?"

"So we don't have to buy so much stuff on our own. Do you know how expensive a crib is?"

"Somebody is buying us a crib?" Kakashi's eyes lit up. The couple had gone price checking and even the cheapest ones cost quite a bit.

Haruki brushed her hair and braided it. "Mikoto is."

A few hours later found Kakashi and Fugaku huddled in the kitchen while the women squealed over little outfits and socks. Both ran in when they heard Haruki's scream and Mikoto's laugh.

Haruki looked incredulously down at her stomach where in black sharpie marker it said, 'Property of Sasuke'.

Sasuke beamed proudly at Kakashi. "See? She's mine."

Kakashi sighed and walked over with a wet paper towel. He helped Haruki scrub the marker off. He plucked the marker out of Sasuke's hand and scribbled 'Property of Kakashi' on Haruki's stomach. "Much better."

Sasuke glared at the grown man. "Baby belongs to me!"

Kakashi glared back at the small child. "Well, she's currently inside Haruki who belongs to me!"

Haruki blinked and looked down when she felt someone stroking her stomach. She smiled nervously. "What are you doing, Itachi-kun?"

"I'm calming Baby-chan down."

Kakashi and Sasuke looked up from their glaring contest. Kakashi was the first to recover from the awkward sight. "I think you can stop now, Itachi."

Sasuke smiled and rested his head on Haruki's stomach. "Hurry up and come out so I can meet you." He screamed and ran behind Mikoto. "She kicked me again!"


Kakashi was awoken by Haruki shaking him violently. "What's wrong, Haruki?"

"My water just broke!" She almost screamed when Kakashi scooped her up and ran to the Uchiha compound.

He banged furiously at Fugaku and Mikoto's door. "Mikoto, where's her bag!?"

Mikoto bolted out of the house, a large bag over her shoulder. "Fugaku, I'm leaving! Be back later!"

A few hours later, Kakashi was pacing nervously out in the waiting room. He looked up when Mikoto skipped happily over to him. He followed her into Haruki's room.

Haruki smiled wearily up at him, a small bundle in her arms. "'Kashi…"

Kakashi sat on the edge of the bed, smoothing Haruki's hair down. He looked down at the small baby in Haruki's arms. He gently took the small baby girl from Haruki, smiling down at the baby's curious onyx eyes. "Hello, my beautiful baby."

Haruki nuzzled her head into Kakashi's shoulder. "What are we going to name her?"

Kakashi smiled as his baby girl held onto his finger. "Seika."


And thus, Emiko was born. If any of you are wondering why what just happened in this chapter doesn't coincide with what Emiko's flashbacks have been, that will be explained later. Next weeks chapter will be Sasuke and Emiko (Seika)'s first meeting. Review and let me know what you thought!