There was a reason I left the previous chapter ending as it was, and it was purposefully intentional. So here is more.

I also wanted to thank sahi . sony . 1 (spaces since this website treats such things as other webpages rather than a username) for the loving reviews, though I doubt I see Sakura with Madara in here.

Warning: character death in here, so be prepared to get tissue boxes and/or strong drinks for those who are legal age.

Chapter Eight

Transience of Life

His wife had screamed that the pain of the exorcism was too great, and while he knew it would hurt, he was certain that there was no way the victim like herself would die from it...

...and that was when he looked into her eyes and saw it. He heard himself gasp in shock when he looked at golden eyes rather than midnight ones - and woodland locks were replaced with twilight blue. The irises were glazed with tears of happiness and relief, no trace of any kind of pain.

The woman who wasn't his wife further shocked - no, mortified him - by taking his hand and putting it to her exposed breast on the left, fondling it and telling him silently that she desperately needed his touch. But the feel of her skin repulsed him enough to jerk his hand away. Who the...who the devil ARE you to...?!

Itachi was certain he had seen Konan based on those features, and squeezed his eyes shut, praying he was only imagining it...and when he did reopen them again, there was Izumi laying there and smiling through her pain, with her white robe in place. So, he had imagined his former mistress, after all.

In the end, the child was born safely.

It was a baby boy.

"Oh, Izumi!" Itachi couldn't resist taking his wife into his arms because of this blessing at both having an heir at last as well as making a greater bond. She leaned back into him, at the same time their son was cared for by his wet nurse - who happened to be Ino, the blonde woman who was Sakura's friend - and everyone was in awe of the loving moment between husband and wife. It felt more like a dream.

My fears have been unfounded. My wife looks like she is getting well.

In the days that passed, she was still resting, but only to regain her strength. Outside, the birds took flight and called out in a celebration of their own. On the fourth day, Itachi held his newborn son while the mother sat upright, looking at them with tired content. He was a lovely boy, bearing the dark hair and eyes of the family. "Thank you...for being by my side the entire time," Izumi breathed, looking upon their child with pride.

Itachi smiled at her, cradling the baby and then holding him out to give to her. "Sakura was right when she said we had to hold onto each other and pray. Thanks to her wisdom, you and this child are well."

She nodded, but then she winced and raised both hands to her chest, gingerly rubbing at her breasts, which stunned Itachi before she explained why. "Forgive me. My breasts are still...well, let's say the milk I can't give to my own son." She was disappointed that their boy had a wet nurse, but the law said loud and clear that the firstborn son should never be breastfed by his own mother - at least, that was what he heard.

When Izumi took their son in one arm, Itachi had to reach out and lay his hand above one of her breasts. Not to entice, but to console and to sympathize with her plight. Her free hand rested atop his.

"I have to return to the court to handle some affairs with the emperor. Get well soon...my love."

There, he finally called her his love without fear. He felt the tear leave the corner of his eye, and she noticed with the sparkle in her irises. She reached up and wiped that tear with the back of her finger before leaning up to kiss him there. Which was why it pained him to leave her even if his grandfather needed him to discuss the upcoming late season festival to honor the Oosutsuki clan and its joining with the Uchiha clan - but actually becoming its leader.

He was leaving the room, and that was when he came across Sakura kneeling to his right. Looking down at her, he smiled. "Sakura, thank you once more. Though, even if it's not my place to say...it should be you as my son's wet nurse." Simply because you are my wife's cherished friend, thus mine. The closest person deserves the honor.

Her eyes widened, and her cheeks darkened to match her hair. "Y-Your - Itachi!" she exclaimed. "I wish I could, but I have my boundaries. I adore that child -" She beamed now before it was gone. "- though I have to let someone else have the luxury as I can't do everything myself."

Itachi had to nod, ashamed he had to even bring up such an intimate thing, and left her be, but not before apologizing to her for his straightforward suggestion. She accepted with a bow of the head.

In the past several months, he truly began to see the rosette as a confidante and chose to name her his son's guardian if anything were to happen to Izumi, and his wife heartily stated she had been thinking the same thing. But they had to keep it with each other as well as Ino the wet nurse instead of everyone else; even Madara agreed to take it to his grave.

Speaking of which, his grandfather announced that he wasted no time letting the news be broadcasted throughout the capital, and it was nothing short of a celebration. Which meant there was a parade in the street; there were spring flowers in bloom - such as pink moss splashing across the earth, the wisteria dripping with majestic blue-purple, and roses in every color - as well as the best wine of the season. Especially an archery contest which was normally reserved for the start of the new year.

Itachi had been the one to bring his newborn son with him, whom he and Izumi decided to name after his brother - Sasuke - and hold him in his arms while holding the reins of his horse in the streets. There was not one face that wasn't awed. He heard all the congratulations even if all were jumbled together, and Shisui had to tell him that his younger brother would have been honored, and despite the fact it was impossible to determine how Sasuke would have been as an adult, it was better to assume he would have loved being an uncle despite their estrangement. If only I could have restored it to the way it used to be.

But the present was much brighter than the past, and that meant he would be able to think about the future with a better perspective now with this great accomplishment in his arms. Dark eyes blinked and looked up at him, not yet smiling but was content to be here, which warmed him to his core.

Except when the celebrating was over, tragedy struck once again when he was sitting in the company of several of the emperor's trusted on his right, and he thought it was a nightmare that came when all wonderful things were brought to an end.

Shisui had rushed to them to pant it out, having been shrieked for by Izumi's maids, though the only relief was that Sasuke was fine, except...

His world came crashing down when his friend and guard told him and the other men what happened.

~o~

Princess Izumi had died soon after the celebration of her son came to an end. There was no understanding why, when she'd begun to recover; it was as if an invisible force had come to torment them...or perhaps it was what Sakura thought it was. But either way, her mistress and dearest friend had been taken too soon.

For her to be a vessel for such a malign spirit...damn you, Lady Konan. And damn myself for not saying a word, even if it was pure speculation.

There she was now, face peaceful in sleep which would forever be so, and she was robed in white which was for the dead, surrounded with white roses, daisies and fresh leaves. But the rosette, through her tears as she cradled the little boy, named Sasuke in honor of his uncle, wished that the woman would open her eyes to her own child she painfully gave birth to, to her loyal servants who were with her to the end - and to the husband who was disconsolate now.

The sun was shining, but the white clouds were darkened eventually with the smoke from the funeral pyre which burned. The smoke which fills the heart with feelings too...deep for words.

The chanting of the prayers was nothing but a mockery to everyone's ears, no matter helping the dead into the afterlife. These prayers had been lowered after Izumi gave birth, which the emperor himself felt guilty for. Madara wished that he hadn't so that the malicious spirit wouldn't have come for his granddaughter-in-law after she bore a healthy baby boy.

Prince Itachi showed signs of tight anger, as if loathing himself for not seeing this coming. He blames himself. Part of her agreed because of being with a woman like Konan who had great pride and...secret sensitivity. Sakura wouldn't be surprised that he didn't bother telling the woman anything, ignoring calling on her, which must have made her so desperate...

...but it did NOT excuse what she did to his wife and mother of his child - my FRIEND.

Spring would end after Princess Izumi's passing, which once more reminded all of the transience of life.

She was in black like everyone else, and now the pyre was finishing, which left people dispersing and the ashes to be taken to the Miyazaki grounds which was Izumi's family home - where her parents, great-aunt and other relatives were. She still had the sleeping baby in her arms, looking down at him and smiling when she saw his father in him, and for a moment, he really did look like his late uncle.

Sakura was honored that his father made her his guardian, and that was what she was going to do: she was going to protect this little boy of her...secret love and her best friend with her life.

She should be guilty about finally admitting it to herself, especially now that her mistress was gone. And she thought she had gotten rid of the feeling after suppressing it for so long. She thought they could be just friends, but now that Izumi was dead, the longing had come back on its own. It made Sakura feel ashamed, but she knew what she could do and pretend it wasn't there. And that was going up to him with his son in her embrace, only to flinch when she saw the tears visibly streaking his cheeks as he held his hands up in prayer, gazing up at the sky which was smoking a little with what was left of the funeral pyre.

"I wonder which one is Izumi's..."

His voice was strangled. And the sounds he made were suppressed and threatening to escape into blubbering sobs which was unlike him. So, Sakura acted on impulse and rushed to his side, keeping the baby in one arm and placing the other hand on his back, rubbing gently and slowing down the sobs a little. The breaths he took were proof that he was pleased she was here. That she wasn't abandoning him as he must have feared.

I'm all too happy to do this now. You don't have any other close woman left - but I also have my reputation to look after besides you and your son.

~o~

You were the one who killed her. You begrudged her. You cursed her.

No, I did NOT curse the Princess Izumi!

That voice and that face haunted her ever since she learned of her former lover's wife's death days after birthing a healthy son, but the horror was evident instead of rejoice since it would mean she could have him again, but not like...

Something inside her had left her body without her knowledge, and it was here that she was taunted with the voice and the phantom face of her inner spirit which reflected the jealousy and desperation she had harbored: I only helped you exact your vengeance.

I don't recall seeking your help. Konan sneered and so drew her dagger from her late husband, which was etched with butterflies and bronze in the handle. If she could, she would cut down the monster in herself, even kill herself in penance for this.

Well, what karma you have: "I want to touch him. I want to hold him." While such thoughts existed in your mind, while your body longed for his touch, a sea of flames was blazing in the dark depths of your heart! How terrifying a scorned woman can be. How dismal her fate is...

It was as if the spoken flames were surrounding her at this very moment. They were getting hotter and hotter to the point of consuming her and taking her down to hell...

...before it was over.

Konan opened her eyes and found she was in her own study, the paper before her untouched, and she tasted blood which meant she'd bitten her own lip in her sleep. Hissing, she wiped it with the back of her hand.

That voice was her inner demon, and because of that, she secretly agreed that she "killed" her lover's wife and therefore deprived that baby of his mother. SHE was a mother herself, so why did all of it lead to this?!

That voice is right: the longer I stay here, the worse. I remember the way he looked at me as I made him touch my breast in the form of his pregnant wife; he saw me looking so repulsive.

I have to leave now before he comes here and confronts me, if he finds out. Before anyone else learns it was MY spirit.

She would not see Prince Itachi, but she would give him the letter and not wait up on his answer. She was leaving tonight if it was the last thing she'd do.

~o~

The season would pass on into the next, and every night, he would dream of HER: they would make love and just talk about this and that, with no rush to end anything...

...but then she would stand with a smile of content, pulling the white sheet over her beautiful body and get away from him without running. She was pulled from his arms against his pleas for her to stay so that their future together would begin.

After the burning of her body, the memorial rites lasted well into the start of summer. All went well with the services, but it did nothing to heal his shattered heart. It was the same feeling as when his mother died, then his brother later on.

Now he had a son, named after his brother, to care for. He was all he had left of Izumi, and so was Sakura who was now there for them both. Hence he wanted them both to remain at court rather than living far away from him, and his grandfather agreed with him wholeheartedly.

But after that, all Itachi was aware of was being in his rooms when he wasn't performing his duties that he miraculously managed while mourning his wife. What he did was what he would when he was grieving: wine and sweets in the day, then a whole meal at night. It made him ill if he had something sumptuous as part of his own every day life.

What added as well was what Shisui told him one day when he visited his prince: Lady Konan of Nagato's resolve to leave the capital so that she could be with her daughter who would become the new high priestess of Ame - but first, they would head to a town on the outskirts to purify herself for a year.

She left when she heard about my wife. But she is leaving...why? Because of me?

Itachi felt worse than ever before; he did this to her, but why would she leave him on basis of the letter which eventually arrived soon after Shisui left only to return and present it?

He read it aloud to Shisui alone: "If I stay here any longer, not only will I suffer more than I have, I will eventually cause you more pain than you have now. I send my condolences about your wife, and being a mother myself, it pains me to know your son will grow up never knowing his mother, so I pray for the health and well-being of you both. I hope you one day find the happiness you were seeking while I try to stop loving you for both our sakes. My daughter needs me more than ever."

Shisui clicked his tongue, shaking his head from his kneeling position. "Spurned woman wised up and decided what was in everyone's best interests, though at first, I'd been considering -" He halted himself there, looking his master in the eyes. "Actually, it's not my place to suggest such things."

Itachi knew what he was implying, since they knew each other well, and he already made his decision without this letter's influence. "Yes, I know, Shisui, and this is my answer: I refuse to indulge with another woman in the event of my wife's death. That was what led to certain problems."

Laying before him was the closed up fan Izumi gave him so long ago on the day he came of age, when his grandfather and her great-aunt arranged their betrothal. That reminder he would never get rid of, as it would change nothing. Not even ease his pain.

~o~

It was said that Prince Itachi was inconsolable after his wife's death, not that she didn't know that already, and there were whispers he didn't feel like living.

It was Sakura's job to keep him healthy, though after the funeral services were done and she was tired of him drinking wine and sweets, which was the unhealthiest thing you could do to your own body. That meant the palace doctor agreed with her.

Ino was with her that day, cradling the baby in her arm and pulling the front of her kimono back over her breast, when Sakura got certain items that had been left to her in her mistress' will. Izumi didn't even want to think about death when it came to expecting her child, though it was best to be prepared since death in childbirth was common for many women.

First was the comb from Izumi's mother - the inlay of precious pearl within carvings of butterflies and flora. And there was also the dagger which had been presented to her from her husband: mahogany wood also inlaid with pearl, and the blade straight. Something beautiful but deadly.

However, the damned weapon hadn't helped matters when its purpose of driving away the evil spirit failed. Which was exactly why she intended to return it to the one who gave it to her cherished mistress and friend. No one deserved it if it didn't get to be used.

But...the comb she would keep. And for that, as well as looking at the little boy who grunted and looked up at both his wet nurse and his caregiver, Sakura let herself shed a few tears in front of her only remaining real friend who joined her in.

I get the feeling a few chapters are less, making this story ten or eleven chapters at least, but let's find out. Meanwhile, reviews appreciated as always. :'(