Disclaimer: I really really wish I was the creator of Naruto, but that wish will never come true.

Chapter 9: Questions

The sound of food sizzling and dishes clacking filled the Haruno apartment as Sakura and her mother prepared dinner.

"You know, you and Naruto are welcome to eat with us any time," her mother invited. "You might as well since you do all the cooking here anyway."

"I know, I just think Naruto feels a little uncomfortable about it. He's afraid you'll think he's rude," Sakura explained.

"Tell him I think he's ruder for declining the invitation!" her mother remarked with a smile. "Why don't you two come over tomorrow night? I'm sure you'll be able to convince him with a little subtle persuasion of your monstrous strength." This was followed by a wink and a nudge.

"Mom!" Sakura whined. She then thought of a retort. "Although I suppose that's what you'd suggest since bullying everyone in the house is what your best at."

"Oh, ha ha, Sakura," her mother replied sarcastically. They smiled affectionately at each other.

"I'll see you tomorrow then! Good night, Dad!" Sakura called as she left the apartment to return home. She softly hummed a light tune as she walked along the road, carrying a container of food in each hand. She almost didn't notice a quiet voice greeting her. Looking up, her eyes met a pair of white ones.

"Oh, hi, Hinata. Sorry about that, I was lost in thought that I almost didn't notice you. How are you?"

"I'm fine. Are you on your way home?" Hinata asked.

"Yeah, just bringing dinner home," Sakura replied as casually as she could. A few moments of silence transpired before Sakura added, "Um, would you like to join us for dinner? I have plenty of food for you, too."

"I better go home for dinner. We just got back from a mission this morning so I'm sure my father would want me to eat with them, I think," Hinata explained.

"Oh, how'd it go? And how's Shino and Kiba doing? I haven't talked to either of them since…" Sakura trailed off to think when the last time was before reluctantly finishing with, "…the wedding." She quickly glanced at the Hyuuga's face for any sign of pain, but all she observed was calm serenity in the girl's features. Maybe she doesn't have a crush on him anymore, Sakura thought. That makes me feel a little better at least.

"The mission went well. We traveled to the Water Country for it. Kiba and Shino are also fine. Getting stronger all the time."

"Hmm, I do kind of miss traveling, or even just doing missions a little more difficult than weeding someone's yard. It definitely broke up the monotony," Sakura reminisced.

"Oh yes, I don't think I ever congratulated you on your pregnancy. So, um…congratulations. I hope it's going well. How far along are you?"

"It's going fine. I'm just about 4 months now," Sakura replied quickly. Things were starting to feel awkward again. "Well, I should get going before the food gets cold. It was nice talking to you."

"Yes, and maybe I'll come over to dinner some time. I mean, if you still want me to come over."

"Yes, of course! Anytime is fine. Well, have a good night."

"Good night." Hinata made a small motion for a wave and continued on her way to the Hyuuga complex.

Sakura heaved a sigh before continuing toward Naruto's…no, her and Naruto's apartment. Reaching the top of the stairs, Sakura balanced both food containers in one arm while fumbling for the doorknob. Luckily, Naruto heard her struggles and opened the door for her.

"Oh, thanks, Naruto!" she spoke cheerfully as she put the containers down on the table and walked over to the stove to turn it on. "Dinner will be ready in just a few minutes," she announced to him.

"How was your day?" Naruto asked her.

"Just the usual boring mission that followed Tsunade's extra harsh training. She's been particularly strict with me ever since I told her I was pregnant. I think she might be disappointed in me," she confessed.

"I'm sure she's not," he reassured. "Probably just trying to keep you challenged since you can't participate in more exciting missions anymore."

"Yeah, maybe. How was your mission? Where'd you go again?"

"The Water Country."

"The Water Country? Did you go with team 8 then?" Sakura inquired.

"Yeah, didn't I tell you that?" he asked innocently.

"No, you didn't, like usual," she replied curtly. Way to make me look stupid in front of Hinata by not knowing anything, baka! "So how is everyone then? I ran into Hinata on my way home, and she seemed to be doing well." Sakura sat down and started to eat.

"Did you forget something?" Naruto prodded, staring directly at her.

Sakura looked down at the table. "Oops. Sorry, I forgot." Sakura started to get up, but Naruto stood up first.

"Don't worry, I'll get it. Is it ready?"

"Yeah, it should be done," Sakura replied as she watched Naruto walk over to the stove and pour out the contents of the pot into a bowl.

"Mmmm, nothing like instant ramen for dinner," he mused to himself as he sat back down at the table with a bowl of steaming instant ramen – with extra vegetable added at Sakura's insistence.

"You know, Naruto, my mother really wants us to eat dinner with them sometime. She says she wouldn't mind that you don't eat her cooking. So do you want to go over there for dinner tomorrow?" she asked gently.

Slurping up some noodles into his mouth, "If that's what you want, and if I still get to eat my ramen, then it's fine with me," Naruto replied cheerfully.

"It would make my parents happy, I think." I wonder how they're going to take it when they find out the truth, she thought to herself.

They finished eating their meal in silence. As they were carrying the dishes over to the sink, Naruto spoke up, "I'm going to go do some more training, if you don't need me to stay here or anything."

Sakura turned to him and smiled, "No, please go. We're not really married, so you don't have to ask my permission."

"It's still the polite thing to do, isn't it?" he commented with a smile. "I'll see you later!" And out the door he went.

Sakura sighed as she started washing the dishes. When I finish up here, I should probably do some more training myself. I can't practice my combat, but I should still be just as disciplined in studying and learning new techniques. Putting away the last of the dishes, Sakura went up to their bedroom and pulled out some scrolls from her pack. Hmmm, there's still this one I can't seem to get. I guess I'll work on that one.

After a few hours with little progress, Sakura decided to quit for the night and take a shower. Feeling slightly more refreshed afterwards, she walked over to the mirror and started brushing out her wet hair. As the brush ran through her pink locks, her mind wandered back to the time when she announced her pregnancy to Tsunade:

"Good morning, Sakura," her teacher greeted. "Why don't we do some combat training today? We haven't done that for a while."

Sakura's eyes were trained on the floor. "Um, that might not be such a great idea."

"Why not?" Tsunade asked suspiciously.

"Because I'm pregnant."

"What! You just got married a month ago!"

"I know," she responded quietly. "What are the chances, right? I guess I just didn't have very good luck."

"I told you not to go through with this so soon."

"Yeah, I know. You were right, I was wrong. But what's done is done, right?"

"So what about Sasuke? Do you think you can still search for him in your condition? I guess you didn't think about either," Tsunade criticized harshly.

Against her will, tears began to well up in Sakura's eyes. "Do you think I don't realize how much this screwed everything up for me?" she shouted at her teacher. "Do you think I wanted this to happen? I don't know what I was thinking when I agreed to it, but it's too late to take back now. So are you going to continue to train me or not? Because I'll leave now if you're ending our training now because of this."

The two females just stared keenly at each other for a few minutes. Neither could tell what the other was thinking. But finally, Tsunade broke the silence. "Gather your things and I'll meet you outside in a few minutes."

"Thank you, Tsuande-sama," Sakura replied as she walked out the door and headed toward their usual training area, while Tsunade remained seated at her desk, deep in thought.

(Track 9)
Sasuke-kun, where are you? Have you even thought about me at all since you left?

Sakura set the brush back down on the dresser, but didn't move from her position in front of the mirror.

Why did I agree to marry him? What was my reasoning? Was it all just an attempt to convince him to come back? Did I honestly think it was worth this? she thought as she stared down at her stomach. She had already begun to gain a few kilograms. Why would I do this? Do I really think so little of myself that I was willing to let this happen to me? Is this really the kind of person I've become? Was I always like this, or was I different before? I can't even remember now. One tear silently glided down her cheek. She quickly jerked her head away so she was no longer facing the mirror. Slowly, though, she turned back to stare at her reflection.

Who am I? What kind of person am I? Why don't I know the answer to these questions? She thought long and hard back to her childhood. She remembered never thinking she was good at anything, that she never had the confidence to stand up for herself. And then Ino came along. And for a while, things seemed better. She had friends. And even though she still felt untalented next to Ino, the pain was still somehow lessened by being friends with her. But then the day came when she broke off that friendship. Why did I do that exactly? I tried to motivate myself to grow stronger, but was that the only reason? Did I always see myself in this manner, though? As worthless? I can't remember. I can't remember. I can't remember! Who was I? Why am I like this now? What kind of person am I that I'd let myself get used like this? What kind of person am I that then, in turn, I use someone else to cover it up? What kind of person am I? Why don't I know! The last thought screamed inside her head as she plunged her head straight toward the mirror, her forehead crashing into the glass, causing spider web-like cracks to run from the point of contact out to the edges. One streak of blood ran down the surface. Then another. And another. Mirroring the tears running down her cheeks. But Sakura didn't move. She only stared. Stared into the distorted reflection of her eyes in search of some answers. She was so enraptured that she didn't even notice the sound of the door opening and footsteps moving toward the bedroom.

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto exclaimed when he saw before him his teammate seemingly frozen in place, her forehead pressed against a cracked mirror, with blood running down it.

The sound of Naruto's voice broke into her thoughts and she looked up at her teammate with a confused expression. "Naruto. I, uh…"

Naruto quickly dashed over to her and grabbed the towel she had used to dry her hair to start wiping off the blood that was now running down her face. Sakura just smiled weakly at him as she pushed away his hand to heal her gash.

"See? No more cut. I'm fine now," she spoke. But she couldn't stand Naruto's gaze and shifted her own gaze off to the side.

Naruto furrowed his brow as he suggested, "Why don't we go out to the living room. I'll make you some tea and we can sit and talk."

Sakura just nodded silently and allowed Naruto to lead her out to the couch where she sat while he started some water boiling. Walking back over and sitting down next to her, he finally asked, "So what happened back there?"

Tucking her hair behind one ear, Sakura nervously responded, "It was nothing. I was just…well, my emotions are all crazy with all the hormones from being pregnant. I'm fine now, really," she attempted to reassure.

"You're not fine," he responded sternly. "And I may not know anything about being pregnant, but I know that wasn't a good thing. Come on, you can tell me. You know I'm always here for you, right?"

"Yeah, I know that. You're always here for me. You're someone I can always rely on," she murmured distractedly.

Naruto hesitatingly reached up and placed his hand on her cheek. She only flinched a little. "Hey," he spoke with concern, "are you ok?"

Sakura reached up with her own hand and pressed Naruto's hand harder against her cheek. She squeezed her eyes shut tightly as she soaked in the contact. When she opened her eyes, she found a pair of blue ones filled with sadness looking back at her. Such familiar eyes. Sakura quickly closed the gap between them as her lips found their way to his. She transferred her hand from on top of his hand to his cheek, and she placed her other hand on his shoulder.

Naruto left the hand that was on her cheek where it was, and wrapped his other arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him as he murmured, "Sakura-chan," right before he broke off the kiss and pulled away slightly. He just stared at her, trying to figure out how sincere she was in her advances.

Looking up at him, she whispered, "You can have me if you like. It's not like you'll have to worry about me getting pregnant from it." She was about to lean in and continue the kiss they had shared when she jumped back at the whistle of the teakettle. Naruto quickly stood up to finish making the tea, while Sakura just leaned back into the couch and stared down at her hands as she interlaced her fingers.

A minute later, Naruto sat back down on the couch after setting two cups of tea down on the coffee table. Before he had a chance to say anything, Sakura blurted out, "You probably think I'm like this now, don't you? Someone who goes around sleeping with a bunch of guys?"

"Of course I don't. Sakura-"

"I've only slept with one guy," Sakura interrupted. She continued a little more softly but she still didn't look up, "I just wanted you to know that it was only one person."

Naruto mulled over what questions he should dare to ask; this wasn't exactly his area of expertise. "So what happened to him? Where is he now?" When Sakura didn't respond right away, he quickly added, "I mean, only if you want to talk about it. I don't want to push you to talk or anything." He explained while waving his arms in front of him, "It just seemed like you might want to talk to someone about it…"

"I don't know where he is," she answered bluntly.

"Oh, ok. I-"

"But I don't want to talk about it anymore. In fact, right now, I'd rather forget about it." She lifted her head and turned to face him finally. "But I can't, because of this baby growing in my stomach!" Sakura paused to let out a sigh, "Hm, I'm starting to not feel well. It's probably from when I was training earlier, and being pregnant I tire out more easily. So I'm going to go to bed now, if you don't mind." After taking a sip of tea, Sakura stood up. "I'm sorry about earlier. I shouldn't have…" she trailed off as she plopped back down on the couch.

"What's wrong?" Naruto asked, alarmed.

"Nothing, I'm just a little dizzy." When the concerned look didn't leave his face, she explained, "It's a normal part of pregnancy. I get dizzy more easily, and I just stood up too quickly, that's all." She started to stand back up, but before she could take one step, Naruto stood up as well and quickly scooped her up in his arms.

"The least I can do then is carry you to bed," he remarked in his usual cheerful voice.

Sakura thought, The way he can pull out that positive attitude never ceases to amaze me. "Thank you, Naruto," she said with a smile, a little of her depression from earlier starting to slip away.

Naruto carried her back to the bedroom and laying her down on the bed, he threw covers over her. Well, at least she's smiling again. I hate to see her so upset. He glanced over toward the broken mirror.

Sakura, following his line of sight quickly spoke up, "I'll go out a buy a new mirror tomorrow. I'm really sorry-"

"Stop apologizing to me. I'm more concerned about you right now!" he spoke forcefully. Softening his expression, Naruto kneeled down next to the bed. "Do you regret that you…that you and I…" he trailed off.

"I don't know," she answered quietly. "I do know I regret ever getting myself into this situation. But I just don't know what to think anymore." She looked up and gazed at the face of someone she could always rely on. "I'm sorry I can't give you a clearer answer than that."

Naruto just stood up and turned away from her. But before exiting the room, he turned his head back toward her and kindly suggested, "Just get some rest. And please talk to me before you feel like breaking any more mirrors, ok?"

Sakura just looked up at him and said, "I'll do my best."

Naruto nodded and walked out of the room. Before he did that, though, a dark figure who had been watching from the shadows across from their living room window abandoned his hiding place and made his way along the rooftops of Konoha.

A few days prior.

Sasuke walked through the Sound village and made his way to a shop he frequented to pick up some vegetables. He greeted the owner as usual, but the owner had nothing unusual to say to him.

Carrying the bag of groceries home, he couldn't shake the sense of foreboding that had descended upon him since Orochimaru confronted him about Sakura. The sense had only been heightened by his dream the night before.

His dream had started where he was lying in his bed in his room at Orochimaru's quarters. However, when he rolled over, there was Sakura next to him. She smiled as she spoke the words, 'I've missed you,' and proceeded to kiss him gently.

Not realizing it was a dream, he quickly pushed her away and questioned why she'd risk coming to this place. At that point, her friendly smile took on a devious appearance as she said, 'But I'd do anything for you.' She climbed out of bed, and that's when he noticed her stomach was very swollen and that she was very obviously pregnant.

Sitting up, he quickly asked, 'Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant?'

'Hmmm?' she mused. At that moment, though, she was interrupted from answering as Orochimaru strolled into the room. Sasuke quickly jumped in front of Sakura. But Sakura only walked out from behind him and next to Orochimaru, who immediately placed his arm around her. 'I guess I didn't tell you because it's not your child,' she finally answered. The last thing he saw of her face was that devious smile before it was covered with a kiss from Orochimaru.

Sasuke shuddered at the remembrance of the dream. If she was pregnant, she would have contacted me by sending a blank letter to the grocer. The instructions I left for her at the inn were very clear on that. But even though no blank letter had come, Sasuke just couldn't shake that feeling. Then again, if Orochimaru knew that I went to Konoha, he might also know about the letters I had left for her at the there. He paused to think the possible scenarios through. No, it's unlikely he knows about that. I didn't stop at the inn until after I visited her, and since he didn't know her identity, more than likely the person hadn't followed me into the village and so probably not after Sakura and I… He didn't want to finish that thought.

Well, maybe I'll try sneaking out to Konoha and checking just in case. He took a few more steps. But if everything is fine, then I'm only putting her in more danger if Orochimaru notices that I've gone back there again. He angrily kicked a stone in his path as he continued to walk. I never should have gone there in the first place. Well, what's done is done. Even if everything is all right, maybe I should visit her anyway. Tell her that I'm sorry, that I regret ever asking her to marry me in the first place. I shouldn't have done that to her. But if I'm noticed and draw attention to her…

Sasuke looked up and noticed he had reached Orochimaru's lair. Sighing, he pushed open the entrance and walked into the dark interior.

After Naruto left the room, Sakura rolled onto her side and pulled the covers up to her chin as memories from the last 5 months flooded her mind.

She thought back to how she had trained so hard under Tsuande. How her mother had realized how serious her feelings for Sasuke were. How Naruto looked when he first returned. The bell test with Kakashi. Her talk with Ino and her suggestion for cutting her hair. Her sparring match with Sasuke. Her fight with Chiyo-baa against Sasori. Their meeting with Itachi's clone, and then with Kabuto and Orochimaru. Her marriage to Sasuke. Her marriage to Naruto. Hinata sitting at the table at the reception. Her picnic with Ino. Disappointing Tsunade by getting pregnant. Having to deceive even her parents. Going out for dinner with Ino and Chouji. The day Sasuke spent with her at her apartment. The way he seemed to start to open up. How he left without a word. Her feelings when she realized she was pregnant. How Naruto was so reliable. The time they've spent living together. 4 months now. Running into Hinata on the way home. Kissing Naruto. Sleeping with Sasuke. The baby growing inside of her. The fear of not knowing whether she'll see Sasuke again. Not knowing what to do. How they only have a month left to find him.

Only a month left, and in all this time he never came to check on me again. I really hoped he would stop by again. I thought he would have come back to make sure I was ok. But 4 months and nothing, and only one month left…it doesn't look like he's coming back. So what should I do? What can I do? There's no leads, no clues, no idea where to start looking.

Meanwhile, Naruto sat on the couch in the living room. He didn't want to leave Sakura alone in the room, but he didn't trust himself near her right now. His heart still pounded from when she kissed him. But she still loves Sasuke, right? She's still trying to find him. We both are. Only one month left. But she still loves him right? She probably only kissed me because she was upset. Naruto paused in his thought for a moment. Is this how she got pregnant? She was upset, and someone took advantage of that? He balled his hand into a tight fist. How dare anyone even think of using her. If I ever find out who did it…

Naruto turned at stared at the closed bedroom door, and behind that door Sakura turned her thoughts from finding Sasuke back to what just happened that night. I kissed Naruto. I kissed him. I was just upset, right? Well, I think it's clear I was upset judging from my performance with the mirror. But was that all it was? Sakura bit her lip in frustration. I don't know what to think or feel anymore, but right now, we've got a month left and I've got to think of something!

She let her mind wander back to every moment she had spent with Sasuke since he first surprised her on her balcony. And what was even more surprising now was recalling those events, despite everything, actually brought out a small smile. He did seem really nervous that night, she mused to herself. But then she recalled their first time together, and how he had left her so suddenly. There was no warmth in his demeanor, but there was still gentleness. And his words, 'I'm not trying to hurt you'. He had avoided kissing her that night, and 4 more times after that. But then the next time…her face grew warm just thinking once again of that time. The way he had kissed her. The way it seemed he almost needed her. I didn't just imagine that, did I? she questioned herself. She turned and looked at the closed door knowing that Naruto was on the other side of it. It's very different with Sasuke-kun than with Naruto…somehow. I feel like I should like Naruto. But when I think of Sasuke-kun, I can't help but to think of how much I feel for him. But then Naruto is so good to me, too. The night I was about to leave Konoha, without any hesitation he was willing to go to great lengths for me. I couldn't help but be moved by that. And if it weren't for him, I don't know what would have happened. Who knows what would have come of me if I went to the inn and found nothing…oh my gosh!

Sakura immediately jumped out of bed. "NARUTO!" she called breathlessly. She heard his quick footsteps and a second later the door flung open.

"What is it?" he asked right away with a concerned expression on his face.

"It might not be much, but I might know of a clue to Sasuke-kun's whereabouts," she explained excitedly. "I'm an idiot for not checking this before."

"Sakura-chan, what are you talking about?" The look of concern had changed to one of puzzlement.

Ok, I've got to tell the truth. It's now or never. "Well, I…just came up with a dumb idea. Forget it. Why don't we just go to bed now, or do you want to stay up longer?" she said instead.

"Well, I guess I'm kind of tired myself, so let's just go to sleep."

Sakura nodded and she climbed back into bed but waited to fall asleep until Naruto had showered and joined her.

"So what was your idea anyway?" he asked as he lay on his back next to her.

"I'll tell you in the morning," she stalled. Turning her head and staring at his face, she rolled over to face him. And moving his arm she slid in next to him and let his arm fall back down to hold her. "Do you mind?" she asked quietly.

"Not at all. Whatever you need, Sakura-chan," he replied seriously.

She shut her eyes and tried not to recall a time when he spoke with that same serious tone. It was their second night of pretending to be married, and she had asked him one final time if he was ok with the fake marriage. This time, though, she had added the question of whether there was someone else he might have feelings for that this could ruin his chances with. And with that same tone of voice and his blue eyes trained on her, he replied, 'The only person like that, I'm already looking at her.' The intensity of his gaze coupled with the words he spoke had made her heart flutter a little.

A dark figure jumped from roof to roof, leaving behind the vicinity of the Uzumaki residence and making his way to the hokage building. Entering through a window of the hokage's office, an anbu walked around to the front of Tsunade's desk to make a report.

"Why did you leave your post?" Tsunade questioned flatly.

"I thought you'd like to know that despite your suspicions the marriage seems to be real," the anbu informed.

"You left your post because of that?" she replied, annoyance clearing entering her voice.

"Well, they were going to spend some 'alone time' together, so I doubt she's going to before I return," he started to explain.

"May I remind you that there are two things you are watching for – that Sakura doesn't sneak out and that someone doesn't sneak in. The latter is still a possibility, so I highly recommend you return to your watch immediately. This information you provided could have waited until morning, don't make such a mistake again," she spoke harshly.

"Yes, Hokage-sama," the anbu responded quickly with a bow and hurriedly exited the office.

Really, to abandon his post like that. Sometimes ninjas really do lack common sense. Hmph. But still, I'm surprised to hear that Sakura and Naruto really are…

When the anbu had traveled a safe enough distance away, Sasuke gingerly stood up from his crouched position. He had had his own vantage point across from Naruto's apartment.