A/N-Thanks to those who reviewed the last chapter Yargy the Pirate Queen, Duckichan87, Kyuubi92, ShadowPrincess-Shekailaia, Supershark1, -xoxo LoveMeForMe xoxo-, and Seyann. Anyways, Read and Review...enjoy this chappie!

Disclaimer-Is this really necessary each and every single time I do this? I don't own Naruto

Chapter 44

Mika struggled out of her husband's protective hold and stalked across the room to where Seyann stood, stunned at what had resulted from her actions. She waited until she was standing nose to nose with her friend before losing it.

"Why did you call him?" she hissed angrily. "Didn't you understand that something like that would happen? If I had wanted him here I would've summoned him when I had the chance."

Seyann lay a hand on her friend's shoulder and gave her a light shove to put some distance between them. "Not right away, no. I thought that you hadn't seen it and it wasn't until he got here that I thought about what he would do." Mika sighed and began to say "Ok well…" before Seyann interrupted her. "But I do not regret it. Even knowing that something like that would happen, I would've done it."

"What?" said Mika indignantly. She raised her hands and took hold of her friend's upper arms. "This you must explain to me." As her anger grew, she clenched her hands tighter around her friend's biceps. "You don't regret almost having my husband kill my son? I'm a little confused here Seyann."

The wife of the Hokage studied the floor for a moment before looking back at her friend, hazel eyes clashing with gold eyes (Seyann's-gold for courage and caring). "Because he was going to kill you 'Ka-Chan." She said in a consoling yet firm voice. "And he would've done it without feeling any remorse whatsoever."

Mika's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates as the truth finally sank in. She released her friend as though she had been burned and backed up a few steps. Looking down at her cut arms, her bruised body, the blood on the carpet from where she had thrown it up, the ache in her very bones from being thrown into the wall…

"Kenji…did this to me?" she said in a small voice, more to herself that to anyone else. Gaara stepped forward from where he had watched this from the other side of the room. Reaching out his arms he took her into a gentle, comforting embrace-something he had learned how to perfect over the years they had been together. But now, it didn't work and she was completely unresponsive. Gaara glanced over at Sey and 'Chelle. "What did he call himself?" "Luka." Said Michelle, concerned for her friend. Gaara nodded and held his wife close, whispering something that neither of them could hear.

"Mika-koi…" he whispered, his breath caressing her ear and bringing her back down to earth. "That wasn't Kenji…it was but his name is Luka. He can't remember us…" his grasp on her tightened. "I swear…I will get him back for you even if it kills me. But next time promise me you won't let him do this to you." She nodded into his chest as an acknowledgement. Slowly he released her, allowing her time to adjust to the lack of contact. He glanced over to Michelle and Seyann. "I'll leave her to you two…she should be fine now. Where's Keiko?" Michelle gestured randomly. "She's in the next room, locked up for protection."

"Gaara…." Said a voice softly. He turned back to her and rested a hand on her shoulder. "What is it?" "I want…please. Take Mom and Dad back to Suna with you…I don't want to know what Itachi will try if he knows that they are still in this world." "Take my Mom back too…" said Seyann.

Gaara dipped his head in a nod and lifted two fingers in front of his face. As he melted into the sand, Mika gave him a peck on the mouth, a silent 'thank you' in return for him coming. However, when he left a small pile of sand on the floor, she went from shell-shocked to ticked off.

Placing a hand firmly on the pile, she confused her friends…and began to yell to no one. When they heard her yell, however, "CLEAN THIS UP GAARA! I'M NOT!" they immediately comprehended that she was lecturing her husband. Conversely, they were surprised when the sand suddenly moved of it's on vocation and spiraled up her arm.

Where it settled onto and slowly eased into her very skin. Her hazel eyes narrowed in comprehension as she attempted to brush the sand off and failed to do so.

This was his idea of keeping an eye on her. "Baka." She growled to no one in particular yet knowing that her husband heard her…thanks to this particular jutsu.

Seyann and Michelle exchanged a Look. "Mika's back." They muttered to each other in unison.

Later, while the three were cleaning up the room, trying to restore it to the way it was before the attack, a thought occurred to Mika. "Michelle…how much time, exactly, have you spent with your husband since your wedding?"

Michelle stiffened over the vacuum and turned it off, looking out the window away from her friends. "It's…" she sighed. "Almost none…we left almost right after the wedding and I haven't seen him since." "'Chelle!" exclaimed Seyann. "How can you be so blasé about it? That was almost three weeks ago!"

Michelle waved her friend's concern off. "That's okay…we both understand. We have to put off having our life together until…until…"

Michelle's shoulders started to shake and, not wanting her friends to see her cry, ran from the room.

Neji sat all alone at a table made for two in the house that, in which, he should've been living with his wife. He had just gotten of guard duty but hadn't been able to sleep which often resulted in him just sitting there.

He hadn't seen her since their wedding day.

He understood that she…that they had to keep the baby safe…

And because Hokage-Sama had given him so many missions, he hadn't had time to go see her. Whenever he tried, she'd be asleep and whenever she came to see him, he'd either be away or at home, sleeping himself.

Like two ships.

Michelle raced out of the house and collapsed onto the stoop, laying a hand on her flat stomach. He hadn't come to see her…at least that anyone had told her. She couldn't go further than the mirror in the basement to try and see him; she was under orders from Kakashi to stay in this realm.

She really wanted to disobey. But she was the only one of the three who was subject to do what the Hokage told her too…and it sucked. She leaned back against the brick wall of the house and began to cry softly.

The black-haired Kunoichi looked over to her friend and arched her eyebrows. "Should we…" Her friend exhaled. "Yes. We should. This has 'friend intervention' written all over it."

The bushes rustling caught her off guard. She roughly pushed the tears off of her face and yanked her katana out of the sheath, pointing it at the dogwood bush. "Get out here Itachi…. you've got a similar chakra pattern to me…I know who you are." The black-haired missing ninja stepped out of the jungle like garden and took a step towards his cousin. "What do you want Itachi?"

A knock sounded at the door. He stood raggedly and walked through the house, opening the door to an ANBU from the Hokage Tower. "Yes, what is it?" "Hyuuga-San, Lady Mika is requesting your presence at the house, could you please come with me?" Confused but game nonetheless, the Hyuuga grabbed his coat and followed the ANBU to the tower. "Do you know what this is about?" he asked, on the off chance. "Apparently your wife misses you."

"Now now is that any way to greet a family member? Especially one who is higher in the clan than you?" "My only families are Sasuke, my cousin in law Sakura, their son Itachi…Jr…and my husband, Neji. As far as I'm concerned, you're nothing but the latest in a string of classic bad guys." Itachi's lazy gaze turned sour.

He tentatively stepped through the mirror and felt the liquid flow over his body. Once he made it to the other side, he saw Mika standing there, lighting a candle at a table set for two. "You…" she said jabbing her forefinger at the Hyuuga and said "need to spend time with your wife. She's on the porch. Why don't you go get her…"

It was, in no way, a suggestion.

"I'm sorry you feel that way Michelle. I, however, still have a preposition for you. Mika wants Kenji back, correct?" Michelle nodded warily and the black-haired missing ninja continued. "I want a good fighter as my right hand person"

He wandered up the stairs that he had been on once before-the ones he had charged up in his pursuit to get Sienna back the year previous. Rounding the corner, he walked towards the slightly ajar front door from where he heard voices…Michelle and…

Rage coiled in his stomach. "Itachi…" he breathed.

He heard every word spoken to his wife.

"If you agree to come and fight with me, Kenji will go back." Michelle's eyes widened. "I want someone I trust as my right hand person…family, you know?"

It was clear that 'Chelle was wavering in this decision…she wanted to help her friend…but what price would she pay? "For better or for worse…" he whispered, toying with his wedding bad. "I'll love you regardless."

"I…" she lowered her gaze, focusing on the cement of the porch, slipping a hand into her pocket. "If you want family…" She looked up at him, Sharingan blazing as she whipped out 4 shuriken and threw them at Itachi's body. "GET MARRIED!" she shrieked, just before her shuriken destroyed her clone.

Neji was there to catch her as she fell to the porch. She wasn't aware of the strong arms holding her until she looked into his face. "Neji…" she breathed. Before she could say any more, he shushed her and merely held her tight.

The implications of what she had just turned down cowed her.

"Forgive me Mika." She whispered.

A/N-There you go for a bit of drama…enjoy! Read and review!