Caged: Chapter 9

Misery

A/N:

Apherion, my muse, thanx for your opinion on everything. We share so much more than ideas and we're so alike it's pretty awesome!

GinaCat, Infinite's girl & Silent Kunoichi: We've established the fact that Hinara is a evil person who deserves to die... but we'll just have to wait to see how the story bends! I think I'm the evil now, aren't I? ducking and running for cover Thanx to all of you for your reviews. Keep it up to help me roll the chaps out! Love and hugs to you all!

Also, Sakura has her reasons for keeping her attacker secret. Keep reading and you'll find it out. So many twists and bends, so little time... :)

Disclaimer: The crew of Naruto I do not own. This seed in your head I hope I have sown. This fic is mine and the dis gets on my nerves. This was written to be read by you normal people and perves. My poem, Heartbreak, I'm writing in here as well. Anyone who steals it will roast in hell!

Anyhow... just wanted to do a lil something that rhymed. It may sound stupid but I really don't care. Just wanted to get it out of my system, so consider it purged! On with the story... Yeah... Hear my party in the background? Cheering, clapping... music?

Standing at the door to his apartment, he took several deep breaths aiming for some calmness but it didn't seem to be helping. Gripping the doornob, turning it and going in, two heads looked up to see him enter.

"Kakashi, you're back, man. That took forever. Whatever it was, you must've really pissed off Granny Tsunade!" Laughing, Naruto couldn't help picking on the older jounin til he noticed the serious expression on his face. "Ok...well, Sakura, I gotta go. Ramen to eat, Hinata to go see, training to go do and Tsunande to go bug!" Haha..Naruto left out the door laughing. It'd be nice if there were more congenial people around like Naruto that's also a true friend.

"Kakashi...what's wrong?"

"Sakura, we've got to talk." He debated on the best way to break this to her. Damn it this was already killing him and he didn't even want to see her face when he told her.

"What's going on, Kakashi? You're scaring me." Uneasiness started in her stomach spreading out to every part of her body making her want to throw up. Afraid of what he was going to say, she knew it was going to be bad regardless, so might as well try to brace myself for the worst, she thought.

"We can't get married Sakura."

"What?" Unease went right towards panic.

"I've been ordered by Tsunade, herself, to break our engagement." Kakashi voice bordered depressed with that statement. If anything, he really wanted to cry for the hurt he was going to cause Sakura.

Sakura's face paled then turned bright red as she cursed, using every colorful metaphor and phrase she'd ever learned. Apparently, she'd spent way too much time around Naruto and Genma. Her voice rising to a scream and the longer she railed she started becoming hoarse. She only asked him one question, "Why?"

"Why, Kakashi?" Her eyes bloodshot from the tears and her hoarse voice... all of it was killing him to put her through this. None of this could be good for her or the baby.

"Hinara." His voice dead. No other emotional sound from it whatsoever.

"What about her?" Sakura was back to angry again.

"The morning you walked in on us... it's been told to Tsunade that we slept together and now she's... she's pregnant."

Sakura gasped."No." Shaking her head, "No,no...this can't be. Please Kakashi say it isn't so. Say it's just a dream. That it's just a lie. Please." Screw panic, her emotions flying straight to hysteria.

"I can't say the things you want Sakura. Hinara dragged her brother into it as well. If there's not a marriage then Suna withdraws all ties and there's the possibility of war. Stupid, I know." Bowing his head he couldn't think of anything else to say to comfort her, to help her.

Sobbing, she closed her eyes, "I can't believe this. What about me, Kakashi? What about our child ?", she raged. "What happens to us? Do we get dropped in the cracks to be forgotten?"

Kakashi's head shot up at this. "No, never forgotten. Never if I can help any of it. I'll always love you and our child, Sakura. Don't forget that. I don't care anything for this she-bitch."

Yelling, Sakura said, "Do you think any of that makes me feel any better? Hell, no! She's had her eyes on you all along and guess what, Kakashi, she got it! She got you!" Sakura cried harder, her knees weakening, she started to fall but Kakashi caught her. Together they fell to the living room floor, in tears, his lips gently finding hers.

"Sakura, I love you more than life itself. I make this promise that I'll carry out , if I can, that when time comes for our baby to be born, I'll be here. I wouldn't miss it for nothing, not even her." He kissed her eyes, nose, cheeks and down her neck.

Moaning, she replied back, "I love you too, Kakashi! If all we have is tonight, then let's make good use of what we have." She removed his mask, kissing a trail from his lips down his neck.

"Sakura.. I think we should finish this where it's more comfortable."

"I agree."

He picked her up carrying her down the hall bridal style to the bedroom. Gently sitting her down so they could get back down to business. Sakura unzipped his vest and pulled off his black shirt, admiring his well built, taut chest and arm muscles. He kissed her gently again quickly gaining passionate ground and pulling off her medic vest and shirt off as well, leaving her bindings. Pulling out a kunai, they were quickly shredded, pooling around her on the bed.

Standing up, they both finished ditching clothes such as pants and underwear, then falling back together onto the bed kissing heavily, hands roaming. Not a patch of skin remainged untouched or not kissed. Kakashi made sure to pay special attention to Sakura's stomach, no longer flat, just a small bulge, but she's like four months pregnant. He loved the fact their child was nested there. This child was proof of their love and he or she would be there to keep Sakura company because he couldn't.

Kakashi moved everywhere at once, getting Sakura to give in to his Sharingan, fully increasing her pleasure one hundred fold or more. Who was keeping up with it? God the pleasure of it was driving her crazy!

"Kakashi... please... I ... I need you!" Her cried were becoming frenzied."Please, I can't keep going.. please... Kakashi...!"

Then suddenly, Kakashi was there giving her what she wanted, what she needed. He would be the only one who ever could and no one would ever be able to match his abilities with or without the sharingan. Drawing a deep breath, feeling everything wash over her, giving in to the feelings she let Kakashi take her where no one would ever take her again. Shadows playing against the walls and on the ceilings two voices spoke out in unison and then all was quiet again.

"I love you!", they said in unison, to each other, fading into the dark clutches of sleep.

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Knock,knock, knock.

A female blonde moaned turning over in the arms of her brunette headed lover. "Shika..what time is it", she sleepily asked.

"6am. Why?"

6am! It'd better be better than good for somebody to wake me up this freaking early in the morning! Sighing, she rose from the bed, putting on her pajama top and bottoms.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Yeah, yeah,"grumbling noisily, "I'm coming" she called even louder. Considering we are talking about Ino here... mouthwise.. she's just as loud and lacks as much manners as Naruto sometimes. She calls it taking nothing off noone.

Flinging open the door there stood Sakura in tears looking as if hell had swallowed her then spitting her back out again! Ino's look must've said it all. She looked horribleand was wondering what had happened to cause this.

"Come in, Sakura." Stepping back, allowing her to step over the threshold, entering Shikamaru's house. "Go ahead, have a seat."

Automatically going to find a seat, she sat down on the old brown plushy couch.

"I keep telling him to ditch it but he won't. Must be a man thing."

"I'm sorry.. what?" Sakura was so distracted she wasn't even trying to concentrate on the smallest or easiest of conversations.

Ino's face grew stern. "Out with it Sakura. I've known you since we were little girls and I know you're hiding something."

Blinking away her tears she nodded her head. Quickly she launched into her tale not wanting to get caught up in the emotional downfall again.

"Ino, Tsunade's forcing Kakashi to break our engagement!" Sakura bit her lip, trying to mainstain a stiff resolve.

"What happened?" There had to be more than what was on the surface. Sakura usually wasn't this emotional.

"I told you about that morning when I walked into Kakashi's bedroom finding him and Hinara in bed together right? Well, she's come forward and she's pregnant!" All of this was so hard for Sakura's breaking point and she was quickly losing it. "Making matters worse, Kakashi's being forced to marry her or Suna withdraws their ties and there's talk of war!"

"And your point is..." Ino never let anyone interfere with her life.. she wouldn't have cared if it caused four wars. If she trully love someone.. they were never escaping her, poor Shikamaru!

"Kakashi couldn't live with himself, neither could I , if war was caused because of this! I'm so angry I could break her.. forget killing her. I want to break her as she's doing to me. Her eyes were so sad. Those jade green eyes hadn't been that depressive since they were little girls. "What about the baby?"

"He plans to be here for the birth and that's all he can do... that's all Tsunade will allow. What's further destroying my heart, is that in three weeks, they'll be standing in front of all Konoha pledging theirselves to one another and I'll be nothing but a distant memory!"

Sobbing, she cried, "Ino, what can I do? I can't live without him yet this it tearing me apart! After noon today we can no longer be together thanks to that sand whore!"

Smiling then laughing, Ino told her, "Sakura my girl, you're making progress."

Sakura glared at Ino like she'd lost possession of all her faculties."What are you talking about?"

"I've never heard you speak so negatively about another female in all my life!" Ino was completely astounded to say the least but it was understandable.

"But, Ino, what am I going to do?", she wailed.

Ino pulled her closer so Sakura could lean on one shoulder. "We'll figure this out. She'll rue the day she screwed with my best friend and her man!" If looks could kill, Hinara would've been blown up from a mile away! All this stress couldn't be good for Sakura or the baby. The fact that Tsunade was allowing this meant there was a smaller picture being hidden away in a bird's eye view.

"Sakura, can you tell me who hurt you that day in the hospital?" Ino had to know. If Sakura's unknown attacker came once, she was afraid they'd come again. They all needed to be around to protect her and the unborn babe.

"I can't Ino. Not yet... it's still too painful for me to discuss. I will say this much; I'm afraid to be alone with any Sand nin besides Gaara or Temari! Please don't mention, to Kakashi, that I told you this much. He'd go into one of cold, hard-assed rages." Sakura gently cradled her belly with her hands, as if promising her baby something precious. Little one, I'll do what I can to keep your father safe, so one day when you're a little older, you can see him with your own eyes and hopefully make up for the time you're going to lose for the first years." Her smile was sadness mixed with sweet knowing at least she had their baby if she couldn't have him.

These gestures, these words were tearing Ino up inside. Tears falling down her cheeks she said,"Sakura, I think you need to go back to him before the time's up. It's already eight am and you only have until noon." Hugging her friend swiftly, "We'll all be here for you regardless. And one other thing... if Hinara messes with you.. she's MINE!

Sakura gratefully acknowledged the ferocity in Ino's voice with a smile. She was a true friend that couldn't be denied. Standing up, she stretched and yawned. "I got to go. Kakashi was still asleep when I left and I didn't want to wake him. That and I really needed a woman's point of view on these things. Thank you so much Ino. Good bye" Sakura walked out the door, gone in a flash.

Ino sat staring after caught in heavy thought. Desperately hoping everything would work out because she was tired of life's screw ups! Shaking her head and smiling,"How much did you hear , Shika?" She'd had an inkling that he'd been there for alot of the conversation. She just wasn't aware of how much.

"All of it." A simple answer for a simple man. Crossing over to where Ino sat, he sat beside her, gathering her in his strong arms. "I can't imagine what we'd do if put in that position." Eyes narrowing, Shikamaru wondered how much of the Sand woman's story was true.

"I know one thing you'd SAY..."

"What would that be?", he teased her.

"You'd say it'd be troublesome!" Ino laughed at the look on Shika's face because it was pure truth.

Picking her up, he toted her back to the bedroom to pick up where they left off last night.

Walking in the door of Kakashi's apartment, she was quickly grabbed by a pair of masculine arms.

"Let me go!", She screamed. "LET ME GO RIGHT NOW!" Struggling, she tried to aim every punch and kick wherever she could get to.

A voice distracted her, "Sakura... Sakura, it's me. It's Kakashi. It's ok... no one will hurt you. I'm here, i'm here."

Her struggles calmed only for tears and sobs to take their place. She'd been so frightened, believing she was going to be attacked again, by someone different this time.

Kakashi held her for seemed like forever. Long enough for her to calm down for him to question her. "Where have you been Sakura? I've been so worried! I woke up and you were gone!"

"I've been at Ino's, Kakashi. I needed to talk to someone. I needed to talk to a woman... get her thoughts on the matter. If anything, I just needed to affirm I have her support and to tell her what's going on before someone else does and they make a mess of it. I'm scared, Kakashi. I'm so scared!" Here come the tears again just when she didn't need them.

"I know you are Sakura. I am too. Do you know what I'm feeling about this? Knowing I won't be around to see my child grow up? Hell, I never even thought I'd have a child! This tears me apart thinking about the upcoming months.. you're stomach growing heavier with our child, feeling his or her kicks and movements. I won't get to be there for that. I want so much to experience that with you! This child, growing here, in your belly is living, breathing and irrefutable proof of our love for one another."

Tenderly, he reached out to caress her face, letting his hand slowly slide down her neck, past her chest and coming to rest where their child lay. "As far as I'm concerned, I was married to you long before that Sand whore. So marriage, to her, won't count."

"God, Kakashi. Could you make it a little bit harder on me please!" Her body was worn out from the tears, from the parting with Kakashi; she wished right now, they could run away together and live happily ever after but there was no honor in that. And how long would it take before they were hunted down by hunter-nin due to the fact that they'd thrown everything away; to risk everything for love.

They kissed as though it were their last moment on earth together, it sure felt like it anyway.

Finally, they heard the clock strike noon. The sound was so hollow. Both lovers reluctant to part... this was tearing them all the way down to their souls. Stripping them down to the emotional nothing they might become; if they let it take them over.

Sakura standing at the door staring at her silver haired jounin one last time. Memorizing every last line on his face, the way his hair fell and even better; remembering the way he'd used his sharingan on her. That's one thing she'd always have up on Hinara! The very idea made her want to laugh, childishly pointing it out to her while sticking out her tongue. Boy she'd really been hanging around Naruto too much!

As she was memorizing facial features, Kakashi was doing the same. Neither one could bear to do this but it had to! She had to go before he said to hell with it all; taking her and running.

"Kakashi, I love you." Her soft teary voice came close to breaking him then and there. Forcing herselft to look at him she waited for his reply.

"I love you too, Sakura." Kakashi's voice equally soft.

With that, he heard the door close behind her effectively closing the door to his heart as well.

No matter who I'm with or to who I turn

It's for you I long, for you I burn.

Wishing to be with you no matter how long it takes

Wondering with every breath, do you feel it?

Days went by, the lovers passed in the streets, longing evident in their eyes. Making matters worse, Hinara was hanging on Kakashi's arm, annoying him and everyone else around them. Hinara, every chance she got, made snide remarks to Sakura, especially when no one else was present. She kept on until one day Sakura's temper snapped.

I want to be with you no matter how long it takes

It'll be worth it regardless of the wait

Just a little patience

There's so much at stake.

Kakashi/Hinara, Naruto/Hinata, Sakura, Neji, Genma, Asuma/Kurenai and Ino/Shikamaru were all at a local club, having a pre-wedding party. The guys and girls each had rooms to theirselves to throw the appropriate bachelor/bachelorette parties. The only Sakura went was for Kakashi. That's pretty much the only reason anyone showed up, sad to say, but oh so true.

Sakura excuse herself to go to the bathroom with Hinara and Ino following.

She was freshening up in the mirror when she heard Hinara's cold voice." After Kakashi and I are married you are never to see him again. He will not even be allowed to see the birth of his child. He won't even be able to see you bleeding, dying in childbirth. The arrangements are already made. Poor Sakura... isn't it frightening knowing that when it's time to bring forth your child into this world, that with it's first crying breath, it will mark your dying one." Hinara's laugh made Sakura's blood run cold. It angered her, that this woman was planning on killing her to take her baby to raise, thinking Kakashi would never be the wiser.

"You stupid sand cow!" Kakashi's not ignorant. No matter what you think. When he discovers your little charade, he'll personally hand deliver your ass to Tsunade! For some reason, Sakura felt cocky enough to smirk even though this woman was the one that came close to ending her life a few weeks ago. Remembering that thought, made her tremble somewhat for she still didn't know what Hinara was capable of.

Hinara tood several steps til she was right up on Sakura. She reared back, punching her across the left face. She would've kept going if she hadn't gotten interrupted.

"Why you stupid, igorant, Sand whore-bitch! You lay one more finger on her and I'll beat you back to the cosmic soup of life!" Ino's eyes flashed furiously. Ino was in all words PISSED! Not many people male or female had balls big enough to mess with her when she's like this. Ino walked forward and Hinara took off out of the bathroom.

"Damn coward." Ino shouted after her. "Freaking pathetic. She can hit a pregnant woman but won't fight with me! Screwed up is what I call it."

Taking a deep, soothing breath, Ino asked Sakura if she was ok.

"I'm fine. I'm glad you're here though. I'm ready to go home."

"Sakura, you need to talk to Kakashi about this. He can't marry her. Tsunade wouldn't force this if she knew!"

"Please, Ino. Don't say a word. Please. Promise me." Sakura knew she was being silly but she wanted to handle this her way and in her own time.

"Ok. Let's go say our good byes and split. Sakura, if this gets any worse you better tell someone or I break the promise. I've never broken a promise to you and I don't want to start now. Got it?"

"Yeah. Got it." She sounded so tired and if anything she better get Tsunade to check her out; make sure the baby's allright and everything.

The two girls went to the bachelorette party spreading around the hugs and good wishes to everyone but the bride-to-be who wasn't even in the room. Not that is was a major loss or anything. They'd be alot better off without seeing her. Ino was afraid she'd jump her and about kill her, that is, if she followed her killer instincts!

Next, Ino and Sakura went to the bachelor room to make their excuses and give their goodbyes. Unfortunatly, that's where the damned bride-to-be was.

Kakashi and the rest of the guys looked at Sakura rather concerned. "Sakura, Hinara said you feel and hurt your face in the bathroom. Are you alright?", he asked

"I'm fi-", she started til Ino jumped in.

"Hell no she's not fine. You just keep that bitch away from both of us and we'll be fine." These words were fueled by pure fury. Ino looked at Hinara, "The next time you come near us... I'm going to stomp your ass clear over to the next country. Got that? Or do I have to repeat it? Screw it.. we're out." Ino quickly turned on her heel dragging Sakura with her.

The quietness in the room was deafening. Kakashi narrowed his eye. Something had happed and nobody would talk. Everything was grating on his nerves but he didn't know what to do or how to approach the whole messed up situation. This misery between Sakura and him was so tangible that he could feel it everytime he looked at her. He missed her in his home, his arms and his bed. Somehow, though, he would have to get to the bottom of things like he'd been procrastinating on forever, but if he didn't do it, all this might mean the lives of Sakura and their baby!

An arm wrapping around his waist brought him back to reality, which it was Hinara's reality. He didn't care to be there at all! He just imagined that beside him was a pink haired kunoichi with tremendous strength, a wicked sense of humor and who loved him for the man he is inside and out.

Outside the building, Ino and Sakura stopped long enough to see Hinara's shadow wrap herself around Kakashi. Ino glanced over at Sakura knowing this was killing her and breaking her heart.

The longing in Sakura's eyes as she wished she was the one to do that to him. To hold on to him as she had days previous. The pain cut so deep that it felt like an actual kunai wound and if she looked hard enough, she'd see the torn, jagged skin and the fresh blood pouring onto the ground.

Just a little patience, there's so much at stake

And seeing you with her has caused... my heart to break.

Ino gently hugged Sakura walking her home. She'd offered her the opportunity to stay with her and Shikamaru but Sakur declined. She'd rather be alone right now.

The two girls walked off into the night sadness bogging them down as no other weariness ever could.

Let the rain wash away

Tears flowing from yesterday.

Here I am, Here I'll stay.

Nothing you can do

Will chase me away.

Though you'd like to hide

Hide away from the pain

Even stranger yet.. you're drawn

Like a moth to the flame.

A/N: Another chap done... whoo-hoo! The above poem is one of my originals too called Drawn to the Flame. I hope this was plenty angsty for ya! There is resolution in sight, I promise! This if for my faithful readers who read and review... it's all for you! Lemme know what you like and don't like. That way I know what to give you more of:) You guys rock! Much love! Later.

Next chap...Resolution