Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN NARUTO!

Chapter Nine: Community Spirit Pt 2

Characters Introduced:

Rated T for now

Naru/Hina

Sasu/Karin

Saku/?

The ritual got underway as soon as the moon came up fully. "Alright we're ready. Let's get started." Gaara announced. The Witches all gathered around the red head and Itachi who was calmly waiting for the magick he desperately needed. Sakura silently told herself she'd put in a little extra because Itachi had always been her friend even before she dated Sasuke.

The clearing glowed a bright green as an entire group of Witches gave their energy to heal one of their own, Sakura giving just a little more. Itachi's face relaxed as the healing took and cured him completely. Sakura ignored her phone as it vibrated in her pocket, resolving to call whomever it was back.

Sakura looked down at her phone and her eyes narrowed. Against her better judgment, Sakura returned the call. "What?" She asked. "I need a favor." Karin said nervously. "Why should I do you any favors? You destroyed my relationship." Sakura retorted coolly. "Please? I know you hate me right now but I wouldn't ask if I wasn't desperate." Karin begged. Sakura sighed. "Tell me what you need and I'll think about it." She said finally. "I think I'm pregnant. I also think I caught something and if I'm pregnant I'm afraid it'll hurt or kill my baby. Could you give me a few tests?" Karin asked hesitantly. Sakura took a moment to calm herself because if Karin was pregnant that should have been her baby. Not Karin's. "Sure. If you go in, talk to my head nurse Hinata. She'll get you squared away. And she'll be discreet." She replied calmly. "Thanks Sakura. You're the best friend a girl could want." Karin said. Sakura hung up without saying goodbye and forced her tears away. She was done crying over the wreck her relationship had become because of Karin and Sasuke's cheating ways. "Was that Sasuke?" Itachi asked mildly. "No. His whore." Sakura replied. "My condolences." Itachi said. "Thanks." Sakura smiled.

Sakura groaned angrily when her phone rang at a quarter after two in the morning. "You had better be the hospital stating that the world has ended and I'm the only one that can restart it again or you can go die in a fucking fire." She snarled. "Sakura what am I supposed to do? Karin's pregnancy test came back positive." Sasuke choked. Shinobi meowed sleepily and Sakura rubbed his head absently. "You made the choice to sleep with her so you can take responsibility for your actions. Marrying her would be a good start. And staying faithful to her would be another. Don't fuck up with her like you did with me. You have a family now. They are your first priority. They come before anything else including yourself. So get your shit together and grow up Sasuke. The time for playing around and having fun with anyone that will open their legs is over. Man up." Sakura replied. Sasuke sighed. "I know I deserve this. But thanks for the advice. And you're right. Goodnight." He said. Sakura hung up and went back to sleep.

Sakura groaned again as her phone screamed at her at the unholy hour of eight am. "What?" She snapped. "I'm pregnant!" Karin's voice made her cringe. "Congratulations." Sakura replied simply. She couldn't say more or she might cry. "I can't wait to tell Sasuke-kun! Thank you for your help!" Karin gushed. Sakura hung up and buried her face in her pillow so she could cry for her loss for a moment. She herself had miscarried twice already but she never told anyone about it. Perhaps it was a sign and she had ignored it until now. Sakura would never know. She rolled over for a few more hours of sleep but never got them as her doorbell rang.

"You look like shit." Naruto pronounced as he came in with steaming tea and breakfast. Sakura forgave him instantly since he brought food with him. "Sasuke called me at two am. Karin just called me. They're both going to have a long road ahead of them. Karin's ecstatic and Sasuke is terrified." Sakura replied as she wiped at the lingering tears that remained. "It's cruel what they're doing to you. I don't know why you're letting them do it." Naruto commented. Sakura shrugged helplessly. "Sasuke is still my friend and unfortunately so is Karin. I don't have the heart to cut them out of my life." She replied. "But?" Naruto prodded her. "I wish I was in Karin's place. Gushing about my pregnancy but it wasn't meant to be I guess. The only two times Sasuke got me pregnant I miscarried. I never told anyone else so you better not either. I'm only telling you because you deserve to know why I'm so bitter about Karin being pregnant." Sakura replied softly. Naruto hugged her and stroked her hair. "I'm so sorry. But you're right. You were never meant to have children with Sasuke. There is a man out there just for you and when you meet him you'll get the family you always wanted. I know you want him now but you have to be patient for this one Saki." He said quietly. "I know. And...I think he's closer than we both thought he'd be." Sakura blushed as she said it. "If you know who he might be, tell him that you like him. Before you lose out on him too. The worst he can do is not return your feelings. If he doesn't then he wasn't the right man. The right man will return your feelings. Maybe not immediately but he will. Trust me." Naruto replied. Sakura nodded. "You're right. I'll tell him. Soon." She said. "That's my girl. When you do, be sure to bring him around and introduce him to us. We'll welcome him with open arms." Naruto replied. Sakura grinned. "I definitely will." She said as her phone rang. Naruto watched as she read the id and blushed again. "Hi." She said. A male voice sounded from the phone but Naruto couldn't hear the words. "Yeah I'd love to. I'm having breakfast but I'll be over as soon as I'm finished." Sakura said. The voice replied with something and Sakura laughed. "Ok. I'll be sure to wear something sort of nice. Ok. You too. Bye." She hung up and smiled brilliantly. "I've got to go by the café after this." She said brightly. "Well eat up and get ready. I'll clean up and see myself out." Naruto replied with a grin.

Sakura obeyed and Naruto chuckled. 'Yeah Teme. She's definitely getting over you.' He thought.

Gotta love Witches. We are a community-oriented bunch. ^_^