As the months passed by during Sasuke's pregnancy, Naruto was getting more and more antsy towards his lover. Mostly because Naruto wanted to marry Sasuke, but felt that he kept pushing Sasuke to do things he didn't want to do.
"Naruto-kun, are you okay?" Sasuke asked curiously. Naruto and Sasuke were currently on a walk through the park. Sasuke was in his seventh month of pregnancy, and was bigger than Iruka when he was in his seventh month. Mostly because Iruka wasn't carrying twins. Sasuke had to drink two cups a day of Sakura's special tea and as much as he hated putting in twice the amount of sugar into the tea, it did help with some of the pain he was having.
"Yeah!" Naruto said, trying to sound excited. Sasuke looked at him frustrated wondering what had been wrong with the blonde for the last two weeks.
"Naruto…" Sasuke said exasperatedly making Naruto stiffen visibly.
"I know you're lying, so just tell me what's wrong" Sasuke said seriously.
"I told you nothing is wrong, Teme" Naruto said quietly, stuffing his hands into his pockets.
"Did I do something?" Sasuke asked, slightly worried.
"No" Naruto said quickly making Sasuke suspicious.
"Did one of our friends do something?" Sasuke tried again.
"No!" Naruto said, his voice getting slightly angry making Sasuke all the more curious.
"Is something wrong in Anbu?" Sasuke asked quietly.
"NO!" Naruto said loudly, stopping in his tracks.
"You just won't stop will you!?" Naruto said angrily at Sasuke making Sasuke back up in surprise. He automatically put his hand on his stomach protectively.
"I know you are just pretending to be happy about this entire thing okay! So stop pretending! You don't think I see that look on your face sometimes when you look down at your stomach!?" Naruto asked angrily.
"I need to go okay!?" Naruto disappeared in a puff of smoke making Sasuke look down sadly. No matter what he did, he just couldn't convince Naruto that he really did want a family with him. That he was okay with everything. He loved Naruto and he didn't want him gone from his life.
Sasuke would look down worriedly or in anger sometimes at his stomach because their babies moved a lot making him wonder if everything was okay. He was angry because even though it was painful when they moved or kicked him, he was mad because he didn't want to have any more sugar for the day to make the pain go away; it really annoyed him.
"Naruto…" Sasuke said sadly. Sasuke continued his walk alone before deciding to see if Sakura was at the hospital. Sasuke knocked on the door frame to Sakura's office, seeing the girl writing feverishly on a piece of paper.
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura said happily, hugging him. It was kind of hard to hug each other considering their pregnant stomachs wouldn't allow for such a thing.
"What are you doing here?" Sakura asked curiously making Sasuke shrug.
"Why are you here? Didn't Shikamaru-san not want you working at the hospital?" Sasuke asked curiously.
"Yeah he doesn't like me expending so much chakra in the hospital but I told him I don't usually do that" Sakura said laughing softly, "he's kind of mad at me to be honest."
"Yeah I understand" Sasuke said quietly. Sakura offered him a seat in her office as both sat down carefully into their seats.
"What do you mean Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asked worriedly.
"No matter what I do, Naruto-kun won't believe me when I say that I wanted all of this from the very beginning. He's mad at me because he thinks I'm lying. I'm so lost" Sasuke said sadly. He felt like crying which was weird, but he did have an extra cup of tea that day considering their babies were kicking more than usual.
"Sasuke-kun" Sakura said gently hearing the man close to tears.
"How much tea are you drinking?" Sakura asked suspiciously seeing Sasuke stiffen obviously.
"Well I might have had an extra cup today" Sasuke whispered out embarrassed.
"Go back down to two cups and I mean it Uchiha" Sakura said frowning only getting a head nod from the man.
Both sat in Sakura's office for a while, Sakura just doing paper work while talking about different topics with Sasuke. Mostly about having twins. Sasuke wanted to go back home but was nervous to talk to an angered Naruto.
"Sasuke-kun, I know it's late, but you should really be going home. I'm sure Naruto-kun is worried about you" Sakura said softly, filing away some charts.
"I doubt that" Sasuke whispered back. Sakura sighed, staring at the man for a moment.
"Sasuke-kun" Sakura began curiously, getting the man's attention.
"Are you in a lot of pain? Is that why you drank an extra cup of tea?" Sakura asked, slightly worried. It had kind of been bugging her since Sasuke always followed important instructions. Sasuke would have hated to admit it but his sides were seriously killing him at the moment so he gave in and nodded his head.
Sakura went to him immediately, hands glowing green around his stomach. Sakura looked slightly frustrated before sighing.
"I'll see if I can't make something a little stronger to go into your tea okay?" Sakura said quietly. Sasuke nodded at the girl.
"Stay here as long as you like Sasuke-kun, okay?" Sakura said gently, giving him a quick hug good bye. Sasuke thanked her for everything, sitting back in the chair. Sakura left knowing that she was really late in coming back home to Shikamaru. She promised that she wouldn't spend more than ten hours at the hospital once she hit her fifth month of pregnancy. Of course she kept that promise most of the time. She was usually at the hospital by 5:30 AM, but she stayed until 7: 30 PM today; she would probably make it home by 8:00 PM. Today she was very busy and was so tired she kept seeing little bits of black in her vision.
Sasuke bit his lip, rubbing his stomach, hoping it would comfort him. He liked it more when Naruto rubbed his stomach rather than him though. It was already ten o'clock and Sasuke was starting to get more and more anxious. He was getting a headache and stomach ache from it but if he tried to get anything from the hospital cafeteria, they would probably quick him out since it was past visiting hours.
Sasuke decided he would rather go on a walk then just sit there once it was around eleven o'clock. Sasuke didn't know where exactly his feet were taking him, but rubbed his eye angrily. He felt like crying and he hated that; he hated how his emotions were suddenly going everywhere (of course what Sasuke thought was an emotional roller coaster, other people probably wouldn't call it one).
Just the scene that kept replaying in his head made him start to cry. He wanted so badly to be believed, and he hated how he wasn't being believed at all; especially by his lover! Of course he was reluctant to admit that the idea was proposed from the blonde, but it wasn't like Sasuke didn't have a choice. He had a choice, and using the excuse of worrying about what would become of their children (even thought that is one of the main things Sasuke is worried about) didn't make up for the fact that he was just unsure of himself as a human being. Naruto on the other hand never saw anything wrong with him except for being a person who was led astray in different ways; the ever kind man.
Sasuke suddenly stopped realizing that he was in front of the tree where both of them finally fully admitted that they were in love with each other. Sasuke didn't know what came over him, but he suddenly started to silently cry, touching the tree gently.
"Sasuke!" Sasuke heard his name being called behind him and already knew in that instant that, that voice belonged to Naruto. Sasuke's breathe shuttered as he tried to stop his tears from falling, but they refused to end anytime soon.
"Sasuke?" Naruto said quietly, stopping behind the man a few feet wondering why Sasuke didn't turn to him.
"Look" Naruto said exasperated, running his hand through his hair.
"I don't understand why you don't just tell me the truth okay! Do I not deserve to know it or something!? You can tell me that I'm forcing you! I get it! Just don't lie to me!" Naruto said yelling loudly at the man. He didn't want to yell but this whole situation was making him frustrated with himself.
Sasuke turned around quickly, but neither an angry or snide remark left him.
"Why are you yelling at me!?" Sasuke sobbed at the man before running (trying to run) blindly through the forest. Naruto was immediately taken aback before catching up to Sasuke in a few seconds.
Sasuke didn't even make it from his fast walk to a light jog when Naruto caught up to him.
"Sasuke!?" Naruto said, slightly alarmed, gripping the man's shoulder tightly, "What's wrong?"
"Would you even believe me!?" Sasuke said upset making Naruto look away frustrated.
"I don't know what to do anymore to make you believe me!" Sasuke said trying to rub away the continuous tears.
"I can't help but feel that way, when you look at your stomach with so much detest okay!" Naruto said angrily.
"W-What are you talking about!?" Sasuke tried saying out in anger but it only sounded frustrated.
"What does it mean when you look at your stomach with worry then!? Because it just looks like regret!" Naruto said loudly.
Sasuke had a slight tint to his cheeks but it was probably best just to tell Naruto how he was feeling; which was totally weird for him but he'd try.
"I-I just wonder if our babies are okay when they move around so much" Sasuke whispered out embarrassed. Naruto looked taken aback with a slight tint on his own cheeks.
"Well… what does it mean when you look at your stomach angrily!?" Naruto said loudly back at him. Sasuke blushed, gulping, before looking at the ground.
"Well I hate sweets so it annoys me that the sugar in my tea is the only thing that gets rid of my pain" Sasuke said quietly. Naruto just looked at him in disbelief for a moment.
"I guess you don't believe that either!" Sasuke yelled at him sadly turning to leave before Naruto caught him by the arm spinning him around quickly. Naruto kissed Sasuke passionately taking the man by surprise.
"Don't cry" Naruto whispered out, wiping away one of Sasuke's tears.
"Do you even care?" Sasuke said angrily making Naruto stiffen.
"Hell yes I do" Naruto said just as angrily.
"Sasuke I would never, ever, want to force you to do something you wouldn't want to do. For this situation, I felt like I didn't even give you a choice" Naruto began seriously.
"Naruto" Sasuke said loudly, getting the man's attention.
"I would never allow myself to be forced into a situation, even if that person is you, without thinking about the consequences. I was thinking a lot the moment you asked me if I wanted to have kids with you" Sasuke said seriously.
Naruto looked down at the ground worried for a moment.
"If Sasuke-kun says it, then I believe him" Naruto whispered out gently, realizing at how dumb he had been about this situation.
"You're such a Usuratonkachi" Sasuke sniffed out making Naruto chuckle before Naruto hugged Sasuke tightly.
"I know" Naruto said smiling into Sasuke's hair.
"Why were you crying anyway?" Naruto asked curiously, pulling away from the man to look at him.
"B-Because I had t-too many cups of tea" Sasuke whispered out sniffling. Naruto stiffened, raising his eyebrow at the man, almost looking annoyed; well…playfully annoyed.
"And how many cups are we talking about?" Naruto asked clicking his tongue.
"A-A number" Sasuke said vaguely looking at the ground shyly. Naruto immediately held him before transporting them back to their apartment.
Naruto immediately began kissing Sasuke feverishly, his hands wandering down past the man's stomach to his pants.
"Naruto-kun" Sasuke said suddenly lifting the man's hands away from his body.
"What is it?" Naruto asked curiously, kissing Sasuke on the neck.
"Not tonight okay?" Sasuke said quietly making Naruto look at him strangely. Sasuke really didn't want to tell Naruto that his sides and entire stomach were really painful and sensitive when he moved too much.
"You okay?" Naruto asked with slight worry.
"Yeah, I'm just tired I guess" Sasuke said quietly. Naruto nodded to him, still slightly worried, but both went to bed for the night.
Naruto woke up slowly to the morning sun feeling around for his pregnant lover before shooting up not feeling him anywhere near him. Naruto quickly walked out of the bedroom worried only to increase speed hearing Sakura in the kitchen. Naruto was completely alarmed when he walked into the kitchen.
"Just hold on a little more okay Sasuke-kun?" Sakura said quickly trying to multi task her green chakra against Sasuke's back while placing what appeared to be yellow sugar into a tea glass.
"Okay try this!" Sakura said pushing the glass towards the man who currently had his arms wrapped around his stomach. Sasuke immediately started drinking the tea, even though his tongue was practically burning from the heat. After a few minutes Sasuke slowly sighed, his posture relaxing. Sakura's hands remained on his back for a few minutes longer before nodding to herself that Sasuke's pain went away.
"Sasuke!" Naruto said worriedly, running up to the man. He didn't want to interrupt whatever Sakura was doing even though he was worried to death.
"Naruto…" Sasuke said quietly looking at him with a mixture of embarrassment which was trying to be covered with an emotionless mask.
"What's wrong!? Is he okay!? Are you okay!? Are the babies okay!?" Naruto kept shouting questions back and forth at Sasuke and Sakura before seeing Sakura with a black eye.
"Are you okay!? What happened!? Is your baby okay!?" Naruto was kind of having a panic attack which was kind of freaking Sasuke and Sakura out.
"Calm down Dobe" Sasuke said impatiently.
"Seriously" Sakura said sweat dropping.
"But… but… Sasuke-kun…and then Sakura-chan…" Naruto said quietly.
"Listen," Sakura began seriously making sure Naruto was paying attention (which he was since he was worried).
"Sasuke-kun sent me a raven this morning from the pain he has been having. Of course when he saw me yesterday I began understanding why so I made a more enhanced sugar for his tea which should ease the pain almost entirely" Sakura said nodding. Naruto looked back and forth between Sasuke and Sakura for a moment before scratching the back of his head.
"So Sasuke-kun is okay?" Naruto asked curiously only to get head nods from Sasuke and Sakura. After a few minutes of a pregnant silence between them Naruto completely remembered last night.
"Is that why you didn't want to have sex last night?" Naruto said loudly making both people blush insanely.
"Stop talking Dobe!"
"I don't want to hear anything!"
Naruto was having anime tears run down his cheeks just thinking that that was the reason.
"Thank you for coming Sakura-chan but why do you have a black eye?" Sasuke asked curiously.
"Yeah!" Naruto asked just as curiously. Sakura rolled her eyes thinking Naruto was an emotional roller coaster all on his own.
"I just fell down this morning. I didn't have time to heal it because I got Sasuke's raven which was much more urgent" Sakura said shrugging.
"Sakura-chan you could have at least healed yourself on your way here or something" Naruto said quietly.
"Wait… did you transport here!?" Naruto said hands on his hips.
"Well… maybe…" Sakura said nervously.
"At least take your own advise you give to pregnant people" Sasuke said seriously.
"Go have Baa-chan heal you up. I really appreciate you healing Sasuke, a lot! But you shouldn't waste any more chakra or Shikamaru will roast me alive" Naruto said scared.
Sakura sighed, leaving. She didn't want to bother Tsunade with such a remedial task so she was going to heal it herself when she got home.
"Oh crap! Shikamaru will wonder where I've gone! Especially after the conversation we had last night…" Sakura said worried.
"Sasuke-kun" Naruto said worriedly to the man becoming serious for a moment.
"Naruto I'm fine. Really I didn't want to bother you was all" Sasuke said looking away from the man.
"When our babies are born, and you're not angry at sugar" Naruto coughed trying not to laugh, "will you marry me?"
Sasuke froze, his glare from Naruto's previous comment gone.
"W-What?" Sasuke said as if mishearing what the blonde just said.
"Well it's just I never knew your worst enemy was sugar" Naruto said, awkwardly laughing. He was hoping to get the reaction Iruka-sensei did when Kakashi-sensei asked him. Have Sasuke jump in his arms and be overtaken by happiness.
"You want to get married?" Sasuke asked, a tint to his cheeks. Sasuke never really thought of it before considering he didn't really think of himself as marrying material.
"It was stupid" Naruto said rubbing his head looking at the ground sadly. Even though he had already picked out a silver ring for the man which Naruto saw as a much better color for him than gold.
"Naruto…" Sasuke said touched. He never actually thought he would get married to anyone who thought he was still a functional person.
"Anyway I should go take a shower so!" Naruto said turning away wishing he hadn't brought up such an awful topic.
"I'd really like to" Sasuke said quietly, touching Naruto's shoulder.
Naruto turned back to Sasuke shocked.
"To marry you, I mean" Sasuke said gently, smiling at the man (a small smile).
"No, I mean, I've pushed you again" Naruto said shaking his head wishing there was something he could do.
"Won't you trust me?" Sasuke said saddened. Naruto immediately looked taken aback before, sighing, then smiling.
"Yes" Naruto said before a beaming smile was on his face, "let's get married!"
"Of course my honey will look gorgeous and his fan girls will tear him apart" Naruto said making kissy sounds at the man before getting bopped on the head.
"Stop calling me that and don't be such an idiot!" Sasuke said from down the hall undressing in the bathroom which was an invitation for the blonde to join him.
Naruto was still rubbing the sore spot on his head, the stupidest of smiles on his face before happily bouncing to the bathroom.
"Sasuke-kun, are you really okay?" Naruto said quietly as his eyes roamed over Sasuke nude body.
"Yes Dobe" Sasuke said, rolling his eyes.
"Then I am going to take you right here!" Naruto said leaping at the man who squeaked. Although Sasuke would like to personally say that Uchiha's do not squeak; for the record.
"Don't be a bumbling idiot!" Sasuke said, the blush growing on his face.
"It's okay honey I forgive you" Naruto said with a smirk, as he turned on the water, licking Sasuke slowly down his body until he got to Sasuke's man hood. Naruto slowly licked at Sasuke's head puffing on it to give a hot and cool sensation.
"For what!" Sasuke said as he bit his lip from the pleasure.
"For saying you don't like it when I call you honey, even though you love it" Naruto said winking before taking all of Sasuke's manhood into his mouth (which he was quiet good at doing). Sasuke bucked, panting from the pleasure.
"I beg to differ!" Sasuke said before he moaned loudly when Naruto pushed a slicked finger into his entrance.
"Oh I do like it when you beg" Naruto said before sucking skillfully on Sasuke's manhood before adding a second and third finger to his ministrations.
"S-Stop!" Sasuke said loudly. Of course he wasn't sure if he was telling Naruto to stop calling him honey or to stop what he was doing. Of course he did like both of the things Naruto was doing to him but refused to admit it.
"Oh I don't think I can" Naruto said with a smirk, "honey" Naruto said with emphasis before taking all of Sasuke's manhood into his mouth again.
"N-Naruto!" Sasuke cried loudly as he came hard into the blonde's mouth.
"I like Sasuke's honey the best" Naruto said winking at the panting man.
"Stop calling me that Dobe!" Sasuke yelled at him trying to hit him which didn't turn out successful at all once Naruto's lips were on his lips, or his body, or other certain parts of him. Of course Naruto just loved how feisty Sasuke was and so Sasuke started yelling for an entirely different reason for the rest of the day… and afternoon… and pretty much the rest of the night considering Sasuke's libido really wasn't finished for the day much to Sasuke's dismay (and chutzpah).
Sakura of course wasn't having all that great of a day when she was coming back home from the hospital. She was already walking quiet fast to their home knowing she was late and might have used too much chakra for the day.
It was a somewhat hard day today since a few Anbu came back from an S-class mission thinking they had been poisoned, but it was all a reuse to make the Anbu paranoid by the enemy. That took up most of her day as well as a few minor mishaps with some civilians in construction.
Sakura finally made it back to their home, closing the door quietly before sliding down the door until she was sitting on the floor. Sakura had to calm down a little considering her energy was very low, and she was so busy she didn't really have time to eat, and her vision was going in and out as it was.
I really hope Shikamaru-kun isn't mad… Sakura thought with slight worry.
No worries (Sakura's inner pops up every now and then) the guy is almost always passive at least 80-90 percent of the time! Sakura's inner tried reasoning with her which Sakura had to mentally agree with. Sakura suddenly peaked open her eyes to see a pair of feet standing in front of her. Sakura slowly followed the pair of feet up a pair of legs, a nice package, a lean torso, a nice neck and a very handsome face which all belonged to none other than Nara Shikamaru.
"What are you doing?" Shikamaru said drolly.
"Sitting" Sakura replied.
"Why?"
"Because"
"When did you get home?"
"A while ago" (Sakura lied)
"I'm sure" (Shikamaru doesn't believe her in the slightest since he was up and waiting for her; of course Sakura was thinking that he was sleeping).
"Sakura" Shikamaru said seriously, squatting down in front of her.
"I thought you promised me that you wouldn't work for more than twelve hours once you hit your fifth month" Shikamaru said seriously.
"Well I wasn't really doing much today" Sakura laughed awkwardly knowing she should have probably stopped lying to Shikamaru by now.
"I can see that" Shikamaru said sarcastically, "I really don't like you working."
"It's my job Shikamaru" Sakura said rolling her eyes.
"That doesn't mean you have to ignore your needs or the baby's needs. You do know your pregnant right?" Shikamaru said seriously.
"Yes. Thank you for reminding me" Sakura said huffing at him, "and I take care of both of our needs."
"Oh really? Than how come you are just as big as Iruka-sensei was in his pregnancy? I watch you and you don't eat much at all. Why is that?" Shikamaru asked curiously, of course he was beyond upset at the girl who wasn't taking good care of herself or the baby even though he kept trying and trying to get her to eat and do the exercises she has recommended to other pregnant people.
"Shikamaru-kun I'm tired and I don't feel like answering all your questions. Why are you asking so many questions anyway? It's troublesome" Sakura said smirking at him, loving how she teased him for using the word troublesome so much. Of course Sakura didn't miss the way Shikamaru's eyebrow twitched which wasn't a good sign at all. It only happened when Shikamaru was really troubled by something.
"I'm starting to think you don't care about this child you know" Shikamaru said slowly, trying to sound like he was still bored.
"Shikamaru…" Sakura said, taken aback. It wasn't like she wasn't fond of the child inside her that her and Shikamaru made together at all! She loved the baby dearly but she didn't always remember what was required of her to take care of the child. Especially eating. She'd forget breakfast, or lunch, and sometimes dinner because of her hospital work.
"You're expending too much chakra which puts you and the baby in danger" Shikamaru began.
"You don't eat enough which in turn causes the baby to take nutrients from you still putting you both in danger. You're too skinny, you don't eat enough, you work too much, you haven't seen Tsunade at all for checkups. The only time you saw her for a checkup was when you fainted in the hospital with Sasuke-san and Naruto-san. You keep lying to me and don't tell me anything anymore. Usually you talk to me about everything that is going on but you are vague and seem to be shutting me out. Do you really hate being pregnant so much?" Shikamaru said all of this in a soft voice before looking back at her.
Sakura was just stunned that Shikamaru said all of that.
I… I haven't really been doing that have I? Sakura thought shocked. She wasn't usually that careless but now that she thought about it, he was right (which was per usual).
"Shikamaru, I" Sakura began but didn't really know what to say.
"I'm going to bed" Shikamaru said suddenly standing up and walking to the bedroom.
That definitely wasn't a good sign. Sakura looked down at the ground in sadness wishing she hadn't been this way during over half of her pregnancy.
I'll send a letter to Tsunade tonight that I'll need to take maternity leave from the hospital until the baby is born Sakura thought quietly to herself.
And for her to do checkups on the baby! Her inner added making Sakura nod her head. Sakura stood up, a little dizzy, before writing a quick letter to Tsunade and doing a small jutsu to send her the letter. She probably shouldn't have done that. Sakura was having a really difficult time walking to the bedroom. She stopped when she saw Shikamaru facing the window, lying down with his arms crossed. Sakura would hate to admit it but she was kind of scared to sleep next to Shikamaru when he was mad.
Sakura rubbed her arms at how cold she was starting to feel. She decided to go to the couch instead and sleep there for the night. Sakura hated it. She hated how she behaved towards Shikamaru and to their baby. Starting tomorrow she was definitely going to set things straight. At least by then she hoped she could see better by then. The moment Sakura fell asleep on the couch she was out like a light.
Shikamaru was having a somewhat hard time sleeping however. He got up annoyed wondering where Sakura went. He stopped, seeing her on the couch. He leaned against the living room door frame seeing her shiver every now and then. He went up to her, touching her arm gently only making her unconsciously place her hand protectively on her stomach. Shikamaru smiled at that but sighed wishing her conscious behavior acted out when she was awake. Shikamaru went back to their room to grab a spare blanket before placing it on top of her. Shikamaru rubbed the back of his head, heading back to their bedroom.
Sakura peeked open her eyes slightly, smiling softly. She really did love him, so much, before falling asleep almost immediately again.
Sakura woke up the next morning realizing it was almost six. Sakura got up slowly, stretching, really not liking the idea of sleeping on the couch. Sakura headed towards the spare bathroom, brushing her teeth, washing her face, going to the bathroom and such. Sakura sighed knowing she needed to change a lot. Sakura nodded to herself deciding to see if Tsunade got her message.
Unfortunately, Sakura saw black for a moment and felt herself falling. Sakura caught herself part way, landing on her knees hard, but her head (specifically the area of her eye) hit the doorknob on the bathroom pretty hard, making Sakura gasp out from the pain. Sakura was on her hands and knees for a moment feeling as though the wind was knocked out of her. Sakura wobbly stood up seeing her eye was already bruising and winced as the feeling of helplessness came over her.
Her knees felt like they were beginning to bruise to. Sakura sort of limped to get some of her clothes on, being very careful and quiet so she didn't wake Shikamaru up. She was still kind of nervous to talk to him since he saw through her almost all the time.
Sakura was about to heal herself before a raven flew into the house and landed on her shoulder. Sakura quickly removed the letter reading it considering she knew it was from Sasuke.
Sakura,
It's really painful. Please help.
Sasuke
Sakura already had an idea on the way home last night as to what she should do to make Sasuke's pain lessen. She immediately transported herself to Sasuke and Naruto's home seeing Sasuke in the kitchen.
"Hold on Sasuke-kun I need to make your sugar" Sakura said quickly as Sasuke nodded, holding his abdomen from the pain.
Sakura quickly took half of the sugar used for his tea, placing it into a bowl before placing that bowl onto the oven to heat it up. She ran to Naruto and Sasuke's plants, taking four petals from Naruto's bright yellow flowers placing them into the sugar. She quickly stirred the sugar which was going to be ready once it started to burn. The sugar was quickly turning a bright yellow color. Sakura poured the sugar back into a bowl, which was almost brown by now, setting it next to Sasuke. She started bowling tea for the man before placing glowing green hands onto his back to try and ease his pain.
Sasuke started breathing heavily trying to concentrate on the pain leaving him.
"Just hold on a little more okay Sasuke-kun?" Sakura went to the kettle knowing it was at least hot by now and the sugar cooled down enough that it was back to being yellow, before placing the sugar into his cup.
"Okay try this!" Sakura said only to have Sasuke immediately drink it. That's when both noticed Naruto worriedly watching them from the entrance of the kitchen.
Sakura left them to their business seeing as how some of the worry still hadn't left Naruto's eyes, but she had a feeling they had made up somewhat on the topic of Sasuke being believed by Naruto.
Sakura was quickly walking back to Shikamaru, hoping he wasn't mad, and really needing to convince him. Of course a little slug popped on to her shoulder with a letter from Tsunade.
You have maternity leave from the hospital. Also, I wouldn't mind at all if I was in charge of your pregnancy.
-Tsunade
Sakura sighed at the letter knowing she had probably been annoying Tsunade since she hadn't gone to see her in a while.
I really have been shutting everyone out Sakura thought sadly to herself. Sakura quickly asked for a piece of paper from a shop she was passing by before writing back.
Of course you can be in charge of my pregnancy Shishou! Sorry I haven't come to see you in a while. Is there a time that's good for you?
-Sakura
Sakura quickly did a jutsu, sending the letter on its way before beginning her trek back to her home. Sakura was kind of wondering why people kept looking at her strangely. Sakura had momentarily forgotten that she pretty much had a black eye and bruised knees (which could be seen since she was wearing shorts and a sweatshirt that day). Her stomach wasn't really protruding under the sweatshirt though, just a slight protrusion.
Sakura made it back to their house realizing she had only been gone for about an hour. Sakura walked through the door quietly, headed for the kitchen since she actually had an appetite today. Sakura stopped immediately though, seeing Shikamaru's back to her.
Sakura nervously fidgeted considering she was pretty sure Shikamaru knew she was in the room with him. Of course it was still a week day so he thought she was at the hospital again when he woke up and didn't see her on the couch that morning.
"Ano… sumimasen*…" Sakura said quietly, "Sasuke-kun needed my assistance so…" Sakura said knowing Shikamaru was listening to her, "I just left for a moment to help."
"I… I'm sorry for the way I've behaved. I… it wasn't my intention to shut everyone out or to ignore things. I wish I saw it sooner" Sakura said quietly. Shikamaru didn't respond or acknowledge she was there. He continued eating his breakfast.
This is what he must have felt like when I was shutting him out Sakura thought hurt before tears started to quietly leave her.
Sakura wiped her eye before flinching remembering her eye was still bruised.
"Ano…" Sakura tried again. She didn't really know what to say and felt so hurt by how she had been acting. Sakura left the kitchen door way, quietly crying, no longer hungry.
"I'm so stupid" Sakura said to herself headed to the guest bathroom to cry by herself and not use the bathroom in their bedroom since Shikamaru might want to sleep some time during the day again.
Shikamaru slowly looked behind him, seeing she wasn't there anymore. He sighed to himself not liking being cold to Sakura at all. He wanted to show her what it felt like, but wished he hadn't the moment she started talking.
Sakura was too emotionally drained to heal herself and her chakra level was slowly rising but wasn't full yet to her normal chakra level. Sakura just let her tears fall as she sat in the bathroom (giving up on putting her knees up so she could rest her head on them since it made her stomach uncomfortable).
"I'm so sorry Akachan. I hope you can forgive me" Sakura sad sadly to her stomach. She rubbed her stomach in apology, wishing she took a little better care of herself. Sakura didn't know how long she was in the bathroom for but she would stop crying for a moment, then the situation would come over her again, and then her tears wouldn't subside for a long while.
She didn't sob, or cry loudly to make Shikamaru aware of what she was doing. She had bothered him enough and annoyed him enough for a lifetime.
Sakura opened the bathroom mirror which held a few shelves behind it. She really just wanted to read something for a second to get her mind off of the situation. There wasn't really anything back there besides toothpaste, floss, and soap. Sakura clenched her fist in anger as more tears left her. What was she supposed to do to convince Shikamaru?
Sakura slammed the mirror closed except a bit too hard, making it shatter all over the bathroom. Sakura gasped covering her mouth with her hands.
I destroy everything! Sakura thought upset.
"Sakura!?" Shikamaru said loudly through the door. Sakura froze.
How long has he been out there for? Sakura thought worriedly. What she didn't know was that a few minutes after she left the kitchen, Shikamaru went to the guest bedroom, waiting on the bed for her to come out. He'd clench his fist in frustration considering he could hear her crying the entire time. She already knew she had been in there for quite some time and hoped it was only the afternoon. Sakura also knew she had been crying for a good long while and hoped Shikamaru didn't know that; she already felt like she annoyed him more than enough during the five months of her pregnancy.
"Sakura! Are you okay?" Shikamaru asked through the door.
"Y-Yes?" Sakura said just a little bit loud not wanting to sound like she had been crying, but it didn't really work. She sounded more like she was confused than anything. Sakura had a cut on her arm and glass had shattered all over the sink and around the floor. Shikamaru practically slammed the door open before becoming alarmed. Glass was everywhere and Sakura was looking around her worried not wanting to step on any glass. What alarmed him the most was that Sakura had a black eye and her knees were bruised and had a cut on her arm.
"Sakura!" Shikamaru said shocked walking into the bathroom, lifting Sakura up bridal style (making her squeak) before setting her on the bed.
"Stay!" Shikamaru said from down the hall before writing a letter to Tsunade that had three words on it.
Come immediately
-Shikamaru
Shikamaru walked quickly back to the bedroom standing next to Sakura. Sakura nervously looked up at him before looking quickly back down.
"Shikamaru…" Sakura whispered out quietly hoping her eyes weren't red.
"Sakura…" Shikamaru said quietly, his forefinger gently rubbed her arm.
"Shikamaru I…" Sakura started before they both heard a poof.
"Shikamaru? Sakura? Is everything okay?" Tsunade yelled through the house before sensing them in the guest bedroom.
"Sakura dear! What happened?" Tsunade said shocked at the girl. She came over immediately, healing the girl of her wounds and checking the baby to make sure it was still okay. Tsunade was going to ask what happened but the mood was sensitive as it was; at least that's what she could tell between Shikamaru and Sakura.
"Your health isn't very good so you'll definitely need to work on gaining your nutrients" Tsunade said gently not wanting to unbalance the sensitive mood as it was, "the baby seems fine though and you should come in in a few days to see what gender it is."
Sakura nodded along with Shikamaru at the information.
"You should also come visit me at least once a month from here on okay? Plus I haven't even given you a due date yet so we'll have to do that next time okay?" Tsunade said standing up fully.
"Yes Shishou, thank you" Sakura said quietly. Tsunade nodded at them leaving quickly hoping things worked out for them.
"Shikamaru-kun I…" Sakura began again before being lifted up bridal style by Shikamaru and carried to the kitchen. Shikamaru sat her down in a chair before making her a quick breakfast.
"You really don't have to…" Sakura tried again before a plate of eggs and toast was placed in front of her. Shikamaru crossed his arms lifting his eye brow up at the girl. Sakura looked away from him slowly eating the breakfast he made for her. Shikamaru was watching her all the while with Sakura making awkward eye contact every now and then with him. Sakura finished her plate which was taken away by Shikamaru who sat down again right next to her.
Sakura kind of wanted to go sit in the bathroom again. She was about to get up to go clean the mess in the bathroom so she could go do that but Shikamaru placed his hand on top of hers as if reading her mind entirely.
"I'd really like it if you stopped working for a while" Shikamaru said quietly to her.
"I did" Sakura said quietly back, looking away from him with a slight blush. Shikamaru looked slightly surprised but continued.
"How did you get those bruises?" Shikamaru asked curiously with a twinge of worry.
"W-Well I sort of fell down in the bathroom. I tried catching myself and I hit my eye on the door knob and hurt my knees" Sakura said quietly, fiddling with her fingers.
"Why did you fall? You shouldn't have lost your balance yet…" Shikamaru asked confused.
"Well it might have been because of yesterday…" Sakura whispered out.
"I knew you were tired yesterday but what exactly did you do at the hospital?" Shikamaru said trying not to sound angry.
Sakura looked startled at him becoming saddened that she had made Shikamaru upset again. Sakura looked away from him not wanting to talk anymore; it'd probably make Shikamaru mad.
Shikamaru sighed not leaving until Sakura answered him.
"An enemy of Anbu supposedly poisoned them. I checked them and it seemed to be a reuse. Either way I asked Tsunade-sama to check them as well" Sakura said quietly.
"Did she say it was a reuse too?" Shikamaru asked quietly even though he was seriously worried that if it wasn't a reuse, Sakura could have had a possible chance of getting poisoned as well.
"She said it was a reuse too" Sakura said nodding. Shikamaru sighed in relief making Sakura blush.
"I should really clean up the bathroom" Sakura said getting up, grabbing a broom and dust pan only to be followed by Shikamaru to the spare bedroom. Shikamaru grabbed the broom from her hand sweeping up before grabbing the dust pan from her to scoop of the remaining glass and to carefully pick up the glass from the sink. Shikamaru handed her the dustpan to throw away considering he didn't want to do it and leave Sakura to hide in the bathroom again. Sakura tossed away the glass, placing the broom and dustpan back, only to be trapped by Shikamaru against the wall.
"I-I should, um…" Sakura began not sure what she should say before Shikamaru kissed her gently.
"Sh-Shika" Sakura whispered looking startled up at him.
"Can't we start over?" Shikamaru said seriously.
"But I've messed up everything" Sakura said sadly looking down at the floor. Shikamaru gently lifted her chin up kissing her softly; Sakura sadly kissed him back.
"You always worry about everyone else and you always think about yourself last. It's who you are. But I really want you to think about our baby too" Shikamaru said softly, reaching his hand towards Sakura's stomach only to stall his hand and end up placing it at his side again. He had been hesitant to touch Sakura at all considering the way she had been behaving.
Sakura looked surprised at Shikamaru's reactions before frowning.
It's all my fault Sakura thought sadly to herself before boldly grabbing his hand and placing it on her stomach. She was blushing madly at this point but slowly got the courage to look up at Shikamaru.
She saw his face was covered in shock before a very happy smile crossed his face. He slowly started moving his hand all around her stomach, Sakura watching him all the while feeling her heart flutter, before looking away from him when Shikamaru's head moved up to look at her.
"Don't cry anymore" Shikamaru said gently, caressing her cheek, "it doesn't suit you."
"But…" Sakura started softly only to be kissed again by Shikamaru, thoroughly. Both broke away gasping for air, looking at each other with so much love, their hearts beat sporadically.
"What was wrong with Sasuke-san?" Shikamaru asked suddenly, his arms holding Sakura by the waist; Sakura's own arms wresting on Shikamaru's shoulders.
"He was in a lot of pain from carrying twins so I needed to make a sugar that was a bit stronger for him" Sakura said quietly. Sakura was really sleepy…really sleepy. She kept seeing black spots and she was starting to feel like she was going to pass out in a second.
Shikamaru nodded at the information, kissing Sakura on the forehead.
"I kind of have a surprise for you Shika-kun" Sakura said, trying to keep the smile off of her face.
"Oh?" Shikamaru asked surprised, "I have something for you too."
Sakura cocked her head in question wondering why Shikamaru would have gotten anything for her anyway.
"I have a clue for you if you want to find it" Sakura said bashfully making Shikamaru all the more curious.
"It lies in wait in a place where the sun never reaches. It can not be opened or closed, but a place you can hide. Be careful, for monsters are known to live here" Sakura said smiling at him.
Shikamaru lifted his eyebrow up at her, willing himself not to laugh.
"Made that up just now" Sakura said smiling.
"Really?" Shikamaru coughed, "I couldn't tell."
Sakura just huffed at him but Shikamaru walked out of the kitchen beckoning Sakura to follow him. Sakura giggled at him loving her favorite pass time; watching Shikamaru think something through. Sakura took a whole three steps before staggering as the room suddenly went dark. The last thing she heard was Shikamaru yelling her name.
Sakura woke up to realize it was now night and heard Shikamaru and Tsunade talking quietly in the hallway. She could overhear their conversation easily.
"You keep avoiding as to what is wrong with her!" Shikamaru said under his breathe.
"I told you! She is just mal nutritious!" Tsunade said again although she really wasn't telling the entire story.
"Do not take me for a fool" Shikamaru said seriously making Tsunade gulp.
"Okay, okay. Her chakra is seriously drained at the moment from working on Anbu the other day" Tsunade said frustrated, rubbing her temple.
"Will she be okay?" Shikamaru asked trying to sound bored.
"Yes but she must stay in bed for at least three days and I mean it Nara" Tsunade huffed out at him.
"And the baby?" Shikamaru asked again getting a head nod from the woman that the baby was indeed okay before she disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Shikamaru sighed. Sakura was very difficult to keep in one place for too long considering she got antsy when she didn't do something for someone.
Sakura frowned wishing she had been more careful.
At least I know your Tou-san will love you Sakura thought, rubbing her stomach happily. Shikamaru walked into the room before stopping, seeing Sakura awake and looking unhappy at him.
Will he ever forgive me, Akachan? Will you ever forgive me? Sakura thought looking down at her stomach before feeling a dip in the bed next to her.
"You want to prove to me you care about this child, you will not leave this house for three days" Shikamaru said seriously. Sakura looked at him for a moment before nodding. She was willing to do anything to prove to Shikamaru that she did in fact care; she just wished that he knew that Sakura would do anything and he didn't have to come up with deals for Sakura to accept.
"Shikamaru-kun, really, I'm so sorry I-" Sakura began before Shikamaru kissed her softly.
"Hush. You are too hard on yourself sometimes. I've already forgiven you" Shikamaru said softly against her lips. Sakura oh so badly wanted to believe him, and somewhere in the back of her head, she had a little voice telling her that he couldn't forgive such a thing so easily. Sakura was going to try and keep that thought out of her head, for now.
"Sakura-chan, I found your gift and I think it's seriously too much" Shikamaru said with a slight blush making Sakura hold back a giggle at how cute he was. She had bought him a very expensive shogi set. Whether he wanted to play on that or not it didn't matter to her, she just loved how beautiful it was. Every piece had gold inside of it, and the general and king had jewels on themselves. Each one was made from black marble along with the board that had white marble that marked out the lines.
Sakura had a really good payday at the hospital, and a check had been delayed to her from her last A class mission. She really just wanted to buy Shikamaru something and spoil him for a bit.
"You don't like it?" Sakura said hurt only to get Shikamaru panicked.
"I love it! I mean it's amazing! I was so surprised! But I mean, you didn't have to! It's not like I needed it or anything and, and…" Shikamaru said never speaking so rushed before, before Sakura started laughing at him, gently kissing him.
"I like it when you're flustered. It's funny!" Sakura said happily making Shikamaru blush and roll his eyes at her.
"Anyway here is your surprise" Shikamaru said, rubbing the back of his head as he handed Sakura a square flat object.
Sakura took off the brown paper seeing that it was a children's book. But not just any children's book. A book her mother had read to her a very long time ago and which she thought no longer existed.
"How?" Sakura asked stunned.
"It took me a few weeks to find that actually. But I had to go get it from the land of snow" Shikamaru said nodding. Sakura hugged him suddenly, kissing him everywhere.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Sakura said happily, holding the book close to her.
"Shikamaru-kun" Sakura said suddenly, the blush growing on her face. Shikamaru cocked his head in question wondering what the pink headed girl was thinking about.
"Would…would you like to read this to the baby with me? So it knows our voices…" Sakura said bashfully, looking up at him through her eyelashes. Shikamaru blushed evidently before nodding. He hadn't gotten the chance to read the book himself, since he wasn't much into books, but his heart swelled at the question Sakura asked him.
Both sat on the bed, reading the children's book to their unborn child, excited for the months to come before their child was actually born.
Kakashi, Iruka, and Akeno were sitting at the dinner table eating chicken, rice, and broccoli. That is until Akeno asked a very curious question to his parents.
"O-Okaa-san?" Akeno asked cutely up at Iruka making Iruka immediately soften his eyes and heart at the boy.
"Yes sweetie?" Iruka said gently to the boy. Kakashi was in the middle of eating his chicken watching the adorable scene in front of him.
"Can I have a sibling!?" Akeno said rather loudly, blushing, but reaching his hands out as if to receive said sibling.
Iruka's face immediately turned crimson, his blush reaching down to his neck. He covered his face with his hands in embarrassment. Of course that wasn't any kind of sight compared to Kakashi's reaction who choked on his chicken the moment Akeno finished his question.
Akeno sat there in complete confusion wondering if his parents were okay. Akeno wasn't sure if their reactions were a yes or no response so he tried again.
"Please Okaa-san! Tou-san! I promise to be a good nii-san!" Akeno said cutely, sniffling at his parents with puppy eyes. That just increased Iruka's blush and Kakashi's choking. Akeno huffed just confused by his parents before excusing himself to go play in his room.
Iruka peeked at Kakashi through his fingers to see Kakashi looking just as red faced as he was. Kakashi looked at Iruka, a light blush on his face, his throat killing him from coughing so much.
Iruka saw that look in Kakashi's eye that said he'd love more children, he wouldn't stop convincing Iruka that they should have more children, and if Iruka himself wanted to have more children.
Kakashi looked in Iruka's eyes and saw worry in them as well as hope perhaps that Kakashi wouldn't mind having more children. There was only one way to go about this, but if they told Sakura, there was definitely going to be more than one way. The moment it came out of their mouths and Sakura heard it, there was a 99% chance of it actually happening. Not that they minded those odds in the least.
They could only hope that the meddling that has happened so far in their lives, still led to great outcomes.
*Sumimasen- Sorry
Sorry about the bee jokes for the Naruto x Sasuke pairing… I couldn't help it, beelieve me! .
Oh what would we do without drama!... probably a lot of stuff. Anyway sorry it took so long to get this chapter out! I had an exam this week so I couldn't concentrate on anything else. I was going to make another chapter about all the births and stuff between Naruto and Sasuke, Sakura and Shikamaru, and see what happens between Kakashi and Iruka. Also that next chapter will have Kotetsu and Izumo, as well as a short chapter of Genma and Raidou. Hope you all enjoyed this chapter, REVIEW, and let's move on to the next!