Day 60


The electric element on the stove top was bright orange. Hinata was cold. She placed the small teapot on the stove and pulled the sleeves of her sweater over her fingers. The sun was still up, and the air conditioning had been turned off, but she could barely feel her toes. She swallowed. The tin of loose tea lay open. Maybe she could eat some rice, some vegetables, anything at all today.

It was funny. She had discovered it purely by accident, in a routine chakra scan after another taijutsu spar with Sasuke. It wasn't atypical to occasionally miss here and there, considering how physically demanding training and missions often were. Nothing had seemed out of the ordinary otherwise.

It was supposed to be a good thing. It was a good thing, for everyone.

The water was boiling. Little pockets of water vapor propelled themselves up and burst into mist. It was too hot for green tea, herbal tea. Even if she cut the heat right now. She hadn't checked the label before she grabbed the tin. She didn't care. Tea was tea.

The refrigerator opened. She jumped. When she whirled around, the only thing there was Itachi reaching into it. He raised an eyebrow.

"Wh-when did you get here?" she said, barely above a whisper.

"I just got back. You alright?" He stepped over.

"I...Yeah. I just. It's."

Breathing did not come easy. She held back the hot ache in her throat, until, cracking into falsetto, the words pushed out.

"I'm pregnant."

"Oh." It was short, pinched, and flat.

She pinched the inside of her lower lip with her teeth. She tasted blood. Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry.

He leaned heavily against the wall, sagging almost. His eyes were vacant for a moment. They snapped into focus upon her.

The tin was for spiced chai; it finally registered. She tossed a pinch into her ceramic cup and poured the water over it.

"Do you…Um." He crossed his arms. "Would you like to. Talk."

She wanted to do anything else. She didnt know what to say, if yes or no was the right answer. She was tired. She wanted to wrap herself in her blankets and sleep the day out. She picked the cup up with both hands.

"Hinata." There was a brittle edge to it, a plea.

One of her shoulders twitched in a half-shrug. It didn't feel real. There was just a new addition to her chakra network. It felt like nothing was there. The ceramic cup was so hot it might burn her. She gripped it like a weapon. She straightened out her spine.

"I'm going up to my room," she said, too loudly. She lifted her chin. "We-we'll talk tomorrow."

As she passed by, Itachi's fingers caught her shoulder. She flinched away.


long overdue! sorry. i've had it drafted but this one was heavy to edit. as usual thanks for reading, thanks for being the most patient reader base alive. having a rough time irl atm see profile as to why. i might be moving when our apt lease is up in march but who knows!