I honestly have no excuse for my tardiness. :S
Its summer, and I got lazy.
How have your summers been so far? Good I hope?
I've just noticed that Koneko cries a lot.
Then again, she is preggo. And, she lost her husband.
Yeah, never mind. I would cry this much too.
Would you?
He couldn't find her.
Sasuke strode briskly down the corridors, searching for the impregnated brunette, yet there wasn't any sign of her anywhere.
True, he could have requested Madara's assistance, or even Hoshigaki Kisame's- but he wanted to handle this himself. She probably wasn't too far off anyway.
He had decided long ago that he would not remain bound to Madara. No, after capturing the eight-tails with Taka, their time with him had come to its end. But no, Sasuke had no intentions of only bringing his small gathering of shinobi.
He planned to rescue Koneko of Akatsuki's grasp. A makeshift home of criminals is no place for a newborn child, especially one of Uchiha blood; his brother would never forgive him if he left her alone with Madara.
Sasuke halted suddenly, and listened closely at the echoes in the hall.
Sobbing...? With an obvious feminine tone. He had found her,
He followed the source of the cries, and came to a old wood door and hastily forced it open.
There she was, seated on a chair with a delicate hand caressing her swollen abdomen. Streams of tears running heavily down her porcelain face, as her eyes were bloodshot.
Just how long had she been crying? He wondered.
"What are you doing here?" Sasuke asked slowly, stepping further into the room. A few hushed intakes of breath were heard from her while she eventually began to relax.
"This is Itachi's bedroom..."
At that, the shinobi's eyebrow rose somewhat. He took a quick glance around the room; it was rather plain. A dresser, a double bed, two night tables, and a desk.
Inwardly, he considered on taking a peek in the room later on out of curiosity for the various objects that his brother had hidden in the many drawers.
Sasuke came closer to her and crouched lowly to look her in the eye, though she only lowered her head further.
"You shouldn't be in here," He said with another glance at their surroundings. This room did indeed have an obvious air of Itachi, "if it upsets you.." He went on.
Koneko raised a hand to her face and wiped away tears with two fingers, "It doesn't upset me.. I must be around him. Any last remaining presence of him.."
He took a quick look at her stomach. It was so much larger than it last was. It had been three months already since Itachi's death.
"Six months, Sasuke.."
The Uchiha blinked, surprised, "What?"
She glanced at him; emerald orbs glistening with unshed tears, "I have six months before the baby is born.." She breathed deeply, attempting to catch her jagged breath.
He nodded and after a moment of silence between the two, she buried her face into her hands and collapsed into another wave of tears.
"Oh, Sasuke...!" She sobbed, quivering heavily, "What am I suppose to do..?"
His expression was solemn as he asked, "What do you mean?"
"My baby won't have a father… I need Itachi with me. " Koneko was broken. It would take much longer than what he predicted for her shattered heart, torn soul and troubled mind to heal.
Years, if not forever.
"I... I need my husband..." She continued to cry, too weak to stop the rush down her ivory face, "I need my Itachi..."
A twinge of guilt struck Sasuke. He had practically taken the life of her husband and his nephew's father away, unaware of the effects it would have on the future. If only Itachi had told him during their last fight...
Feeling rather useless, he pulled up a chair and sat beside her and fiddled with his hands which were currently rested in his lap.
"I'm sorry, Sasuke.." A gentle intake of air, "I shouldn't be troubling you with this.."
He scoffed somewhat; a usual 'Uchiha' response, "You aren't."
Koneko's shoulders drooped, exhausted, "I suppose I crumbled after attempting to teach myself that I can live steadily without Itachi. I know that he wanted all of the beautiful things that life had to offer."
"A wife, child and peaceful existence?" The shinobi enquired, raising a raven eyebrow.
A smile touched her lips, "Yes; and a loving, brotherly relationship with you.." Her forest green eyes pierced his very core as they met gazes, "A home in Konoha, located somewhere in the Uchiha district with you, living only houses away in the compound."
Sasuke's eyes widened, "A home in Konoha..?"
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