Hello Everyone, I'm so sorry for making you wait so long for this chapter but I had some family issues that needed to be taken care of, not to mention I had some weird stomach bug and it made me want to cut into my belly button and rip out my insides until my legs fall off. Seriously, it was that bad but I blame my mother for me being so sickly all the time. I'm happy yet sad to say this story is coming to its end. It has been a fun ride while it last but don't worry, the ride will begin again very soon. I am already starting on the sequel. Along with the sequel, I will start one of four stories I have been dying to start for a long time now. I hope you enjoy and please, even though the story is over, keep reviewing.
BIG HINT: THE MORE REVIEWS I GET AFTER THE STORY IS COMPLETE – THE QUICKER THE SEQUEL WILL BE COMING OUT, AND THE JUICIER IT WILL BECOME!!!
THAT MEANS THAT EVERYONE TO KEEP REVIEWING EVEN THOUGH THE STORY IS COMPLETED!!!
I'M NOT SAYING YOU HAVE TO REVIEW ON EVERY CHAPTER (BUT YOU CAN IF YOU LIKE) BUT AT LEAST REVIEW AFTER YOUR DONE READING!!
Anyway I just want to say thank you so much for all my faithful readers and reviews. I hope you will like my stories to come and stay my faithful readers. Anyway without any more delays, Chapter 20!!! Once again, thank you and please enjoy. Read and Review. ^_~
--Yuuki
Chapter 20
TSUNADE POV
As I sat there waiting for Ino and Hinata arrive, I sat and reread Sakura's letter.
My little baby girl was grown up. I couldn't believe how much I had missed in the year and three months she had been over there. Of course the mission wasn't suppose to last nearly that long but still I couldn't help but miss her. She was my baby. Ever since I took her on as my apprentice, then adopted her as my daughter after her parents died, she had always been like my baby. I had never had kids but I imagined they would turn out somewhat like Sakura. I missed her so much…
We wrote each other often but it was nothing like actually holding her in my arms. I started to feel the tears bubble in the corners of my eyes and sighed with a slight laugh. Only Sakura and things like this could bring out the true emotions up from underneath my 'tough' act. I quickly wiped my tears away and took a swig of sake when I heard a knock at the door. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. 'Time to go back to my old self,' I thought as I opened my eyes again and called for them to enter.
Ino, Hinata, and Shizune filed into the room. I looked them all over before closing my eyes again and nodded for Shizune to close the door as I let my emotions show.
"What I'm about to tell and read to you does not leave this room until Sakura has been safely retrieved and is back inside this village's walls and in the safety of my arms and care, do you all understand?" I asked in a stern voice but it ended up becoming nothing more than a harsh whisper.
"Sakura!? What's wrong and why did you tell us sooner!!" Ino yelled out, all playing aside. She had made fun of Sakura all her life but the two girls were best friends and whenever Ino needed Sakura, she was there and serious as a heart attack. Same went with Ino now.
"I-Is Sakura-chan alright? W-What can we do to help and s-shouldn't N-Naruto-kun be here?" Poor Hinata, she was such a worrier, even worse than Sakura, but even now I had never seen her act so bold unless out on the battle field. They had both lent over my desk eyes filled with worry, Hinata visibly shaking. Thank Kami my baby has such good friends to look after her. I cleared my throat and looked them both in the eye, never breaking the contact.
"I received a letter from Sakura two weeks ago, she needs our help. As you both know, Sakura was sent on a guard mission to Suna. It lasted a little bit longer than expected and as of now, the Kazekage and she have a secret relationship. Now I love her and of course I want her happy so as being her mother I would say best wishes but as Hokage of this village, I must look to see every angle and how this would affect everything else," I paused to see if they were following but by the looks of it, Ino was following but she was more happy that Sakura was finally happy and with someone good then the mission. And Hinata was completely focused on the mission and doing what she needed for Sakura but I could tell by the spark the danced in her eyes that she was also happy for her. I smiled then wiped it off quickly before continuing.
"Once again, what I'm about to say stays in this office until Sakura is safe behind this village's gates and into my arms do you both understand?" I glared at them hard to get my point across.
"Hai!" They both nodded and stood up straight and squared their shoulder.
"Sakura is pregnant. And it's the Kazekage's," I said calmly. I quickly covered my ears as Ino let out a piercing yell of joy that literally cracked the glass behind me. Great, another bill and more money spent. I looked at them both, Ino was jumping around hugging Hinata and Hinata was crying with joy, a smile dancing across her lips.
"Oh my Goodness, who would have thought Sakura would get married AND be the first of our class to start a family!" Ino yelled and kept on grinning and jumping. I felt the grim look form on my face as both girls calm down and looked back at me.
"What's wrong Hokage-sama? You should be happy? Is there something wrong with Sakura's baby, and that's why you need us?" Hinata asked seriously, all happiness gone from her tone.
"Hinata, Ino… Sakura is not married. She is having a baby that belongs to the Kazekage. Usually, in these situations, the mother would be forced to abort her child but being Sakura, she cares for everything, even the unborn child," I felt the tears I had tried to hold back start to fall down my cheeks as Hinata came around the desk and hugged me tight.
"They will not make her give up that baby! I will protect them both!" Ino yelled slamming her fist onto my desk, causing a small crack to form. I smiled up at her as her hardened eyes glared back.
"That is why I called you both. Ino your mission is to go to Suna, give them a scroll saying that Sakura is needed back here and protect both her and the baby along the way back. You must start her on the prenatal care she needs. As for you Hinata, I know you don't have any medical training but I need you to accompany Ino and protect them from any danger that you three might come upon. Even though the baby is unknown by the Kazekage, it is still his and we must do what we can to protect it. As for Sakura, I have sent her a letter and told her to lay low. She must be careful using too much chakra at once for it may endanger the baby. This is why we take all expecting mothers off the active mission list but in this case we can't or someone might suspect what's up. We must try to keep this a secret from everyone in Suna. Do you both understand?" I looked at them and they both stood and nodded.
"B-But Hokage-sama, if Sakura comes back… what will we tell her about Sasuke being back?" Hinata asked as both she and Ino's expression turned grim with concern. I knew this would come up but ever since he came back a few months ago, I hadn't gotten the strength to tell her. Now she would be on her way back in less than a few weeks and I still didn't know what to say.
"We will cross that bridge when we come to it, now for the other part of your mission," I said as they gave me a confused look. I grinned, thinking back at my daughter's genius. I knew it must have been killing her inside to think about all of this and not tell Gaara but, she knew what she had to do.
"Sakura has a plan…"
BACK IN SUNA
GAARA POV
It's been five days since Sakura last let me kiss her, two weeks since we first got our information that a band of rogue shinobi were headed our way, one week since we heard that they would try and attack us in a few days, and five minutes since I rolled my eyes at Kankuro's stupidity and Temari threw something at him.
"I'm just saying, if guys can't breast feed, then why the hell do we have nipples?!" Kankuro yelled out at Temari with his hands up. Once again I rolled my eyes as Kankuro yelped at the force of Temari's fist to his stomach. I rubbed my temples trying to ignore them as they left yelling at each other.
A few minutes later, a knock rang through my unusually quiet office. I called out to whoever it was behind my door to come in but what I saw shocked the hell out of me.
"What are you two doing here?" I asked as calm as I could but it wasn't working. I looked between the two kunoichi of the leaf and I couldn't think of any reason why they would be here besides Sakura.
"Kazekage-sama, I am Ino Yamanaka and this is my traveling companion as well as friend, Hinata Hyuuga. We are here on a mission from the Leaf," The blonde woman, Ino, informed me as she quickly plucked a scroll from her pack and handed it to me. I quickly read over it and almost dropped the scroll.
No. No. NO!!
This couldn't be right! I looked up at the Yamanaka woman and all she did was nod, but I saw the glint of something else hiding behind her eyes. I stood up and quickly called out to my secretary to send for Sakura.
"Why are you taking my chief medic and roommate away from me so suddenly?" I asked the two kunoichi as we waited for Sakura to arrive.
"T-There is an epidemic happening in Kohana sir. T-Tsunade, I-I mean Hokage-sama, she is u-unable to handle everything in the h-hospital a-along with her work with the village. She n-needs Sakura-chan back right away, sir!" The pure eyed woman, Hinata, stuttered to inform me. I would have believed it too if it weren't for my knowledge that Tsunade-sama had another medic apprentice, Shizune.
"And why is it so important that Sakura come back with you for this 'epidemic' when Tsunade-sama has another apprentice, Shizune?" I asked. It was Ino who finally answered after a long glance at Hinata.
"Shizune-sensei is pregnant with twins and for the safety of her babies Tsunade has ordered her on bed rest," Ino let out confidently. I nodded and looked between the two girls. Ino was holding herself together quiet well, even meeting my eyes, but she was slightly fidgeting. Hinata was much worse off. I knew the girl had problems with her confidences but I never knew it was this bad. Her face was beat red and she was shaking so much that she could not look into my eyes nor hold herself up properly.
They were hiding something and I was going to find out what.
A light, weak knock at the door made us all jump out of thoughts and look at the door. I knew the chakra behind the door well enough that I called out without thinking.
"Come in Sakura," I ordered, leaning back in my chair.
She opened the door and ran to hug her friends. She seemed very excited as the girls exchanged pleasantries but her smile was forced. She knew they were going to be coming. Something wasn't right about what was happening.
"Ino, Hinata! I'm so glad you guys came!" Sakura cried out as she hugged them both, a small tear running down her cheek as Ino and Hinata hugged back. That was something else I had noticed. Lately, Sakura had been very emotional and moody. What was I missing?
"Sakura! We're so glad you're ok! But Hokage-sama needs you. A virus as broken out and Tsunade-sama has sent us to get you. The virus is being contained in the hospital and the village is under quarantine except the few shinobi that have volunteered to help out, like Hinata and I and basically all of the rest of the rooky nine. The dead toll has already reach forty-five dead in the last three days. But anyway, Tsunade-sama and I can't handle everything and with Shizune out on bed rest, we really need you," Ino finally finished explaining. Sakura nodded with all seriousness but something sparkled behind her eyes and I knew something wasn't right. But I held my tongue.
"Well, if that is the case, you two may leave with Sakura but I cannot allow you all two leave anytime soon," I said smiling as I stood up and cross my arms over my chest, "There is a threat on the city. A band of rouge shinobi is headed this way and if I were to let you go, you might be caught in the cross fire or killed. So until the threat has passed you will stay with Sakura, my siblings, and I."
Victory was mine. With them staying with us, I would be able to crack them and see what this all really about. I smiled smugly at them, but my victory was very short lived.
They all grinned evilly at each other knowingly and nodded at me with a genuine smile. Even Hinata had a glint of mischief playing across her face. I gulped as realization came to mind. They planned this. They knew I was going to have them over and I played right into their manicured fingers. Those smart bitches! What was the shinobi world teaching them to make them so damn smart as to fool me!
If that's how they wanted to play it then fine!
"I-If there really is a threat Kazekage, then please, i-in exchange for us living with y-you for the t-time being, please a-allow us to work with the s-shinobi of Suna is the battle a-against these r-rouge shinobi. T-The three of us work v-very well as a t-team," Hinata managed to stutter out before taking a deep breath and turning her back to me to rest her head on Ino's shoulder. Ino smiled down at her and whispered something, trying not to move her lips.
"The three of you? What makes you think, if I do let you help us, that I would let Sakura join in? If she were to get hurt, then she would be no use to Tsunade-sama, am I right?" I questioned looking back between Ino and Sakura. Wait, why am I trying to keep Sakura away like this? If she got hurt, then she wouldn't have to leave! Hell yea! Cha bitches! Take that! Kami I've been hanging around Sakura way too much if I'm starting to talk like her.
"Please Kazekage-sama, I beg you to at least let us help you as much as possible," Ino pleaded with me as her eyes turned glassy with false tears. I really hated it when women, such as Sakura and Temari, did that but Ino I could handle… just not right now.
"Fine… go to Temari tomorrow so she can assign your post, but for now, Sakura will take you home and let you relax after your long travel," I ordered sitting back down and grabbing a random document, pretending to care what it said. I heard the door close behind the girls and I let the breath out I didn't realize I was holding in.
Something wasn't right and I was going to find out.
SPOV
As we stepped into the apartment, I put my finger to my lips and my friends nodded. I did a quick check around the house and only found Temari in the shower.
"I can't believe you guys are here!" I ran into the waiting arms of Hinata and Ino. I loved and needed them so much. It wasn't until I saw them that I actually realized how much I had truly missed them.
After about five minutes of silent hugging and tears, I lead them up to my old room, it was my old room now because I spend all my time in Gaara's and I have most of my clothes in there. I shut the door and we all crashed down onto the bed at the same time with a long sigh.
Ino and Hinata took my hands into theirs as they turned to face me but I couldn't look at them. I knew they wanted to know what happened and how it all started. So that's what I did, I told them everything with every little detail. By the time I was done, Hinata's head was nestled against my shoulder crying and Ino had sat up and taken my head to rest it in her lap as she stroked my hair. She always stroked my hair like this to calm me down, she did it when we were younger and the kids used to tease and beat me. She did it the day after Sasuke left me on the bench. She was doing it now because she knew that I really did love Gaara.
"Honey, why didn't you contact us sooner?" Ino questioned as she ran her fingers into my scalp and scratched gently.
"Yes Sakura-chan, why didn't you send for us sooner? You know well that if you are even in need that we would be here as soon as the word reached our ears," Hinata said calmly as Ino nodded in agreement. I looked between both of them as my vision blurred and took a shaky breath, not realizing that both my hands had found their way around my womb.
"Because, I thought I could handle it. I am always depending on others and its time I grew up and stood on my own two feet but now," I paused looking at my navel already starting to poke out, "Now, I have this child in my belly. Its growing and I already love it some much. I don't know what to do!"
I began to cry hard, shaking and hugging Ino's leg to my chest. Both my friends whispered comforting words but they fell on deaf ears. I could hear nothing but my sobs rack through my chest and my heart beat echoed, by what I thought was the baby's, ringing in my ears.
I don't know when or how but darkness consumed me.
~*~
I woke up in Hinata's arms as she rubbed my back gently and humming an unfamiliar tune. The room was dark but I knew Gaara was home because I felt his chakra down the hall, which meant I had been out of it for more than just a few hours considering we came home at lunch and Gaara didn't get off until eleven. I also realized Hinata had been with me the whole time because she was in the same position as before a closed my eyes.
Ino's chakra wasn't in the room or house at all. Knowing Ino, she either went to get 'comfort but healthy for the baby' food or out at the message tower writing a letter to mom so she knew they got here safe.
Mom.
My mom was going to be a grandma. I was going to be a mom. I was going to have a family. . .
No I wouldn't have a family. I would have myself and a beautiful baby that would become a bastard in the ruthless eyes of people who didn't understand. My baby would be punished for my mistakes.
"Gaara wanted to be here to lay with you but Ino scared him off telling him that we were going to do bikini waxes," Hinata giggled out as she kept stroking my back. I laughed at the mental image of Ino yelling at Gaara's wide eyed expression.
"Sakura… I know that you feel alone and that you might be worried about how this," Hinata gestured to her stomach, "may turn out but please know that the family you have back home is also your baby's as well. It will never be alone and will have nothing but the happiest life it could wish for and if all else fails… well then you could always come and live with me in the Hyuuga Compound and it will have a great sense of fashion and three crazy women in its life." Hinata continued to ramble on about all the different possibilities and all I could do was smile.
She was right. The baby wouldn't have the perfect life but it would have a damn good one. It would have crazy loud mouth uncles who are both smart and annoying at the same time. It would have strong and wild aunts that would teach it not to follow everything that the uncles did. They would all protect it and even though the situation was complicated, I knew everyone that cared for me would care for this baby just as much… maybe even more than they did themselves.
"I want to go see the hospital kids before we leave…at least one last time," I whispered low, Hinata probably didn't catch it.
"Alright hookers, it's time to fun up, dress down and set out!" Ino yelled barging through the door and turning on every light that could possibly be on. Hinata and I shielded our eyes from the sudden light and glanced at each other in fear. Ino was crazy and although her ideas usually ended in us having fun and releasing our stress, it also meant either us running from the ANBU or falling asleep in a tree… or something along those lines.
Temari came in and closed the door behind her just as Gaara and Kankuro start to come into view. She locked the door quickly and Gaara's roared out demands of opening his door before he started to kick it. He gave up after two minutes.
"Ok," Temari whispered as we all gathered around in a circle on the floor, "The rouge band of shinobi will be here tomorrow around midday. Now, everyone knows the plan right? Because once this starts we have to play it out perfectly or else this will either go horribly wrong as in not working or over working."
We all nodded our head and took deep breaths. I could tell they were all worryingly glancing at me as I stared at my hands but, this had to be done. It was for Gaara, for my unborn child, and for myself as well. I Looked up finally and saw that everyone's eyes, including mine, were misted with tears. I groaned a little pulled them all into a group hug. It might have been a corny movie move but it actually helped calm us all down.
Ino was the first to pull away, her usually confident bright blue eyes now brimmed with red and tear stained cheeks a little puffy.
"Alright! Back to what I was saying," she yelled bringing out a brown bag I didn't notice she had when she first came in.
"Since little missy over here can't have alcohol anymore and Hinata refuses to drink either way, I went out and bought the next best things for an all girls night reunion," Ino said with a grin as she pulled out the items that would make any girl go crazy. First thing to come out was double chocolate chip ice cream, followed by vanilla cookies, four giant bags of chips, five romantic comedies, and a bag full of brand new kunais and shurikens with targets, with it also had a separate pouch with pictures of people for everyone to throw at - Kankuro for Temari, Neji for Hinata, Ino's mom for Ino, and Sasuke for Me.
All of us ginned, even Hinata, when we looked at all the treasures. It was time to get this party started.
We went to the private practice range and set up everything so that if someone was using the targets then the others could eat and pig out in the corner were the portable TV and DVD were but, by the time we got everything set up, we were all too tired to do anything but watch movies and eat the ice cream.
The last thing I remember was lying down on Ino's lap as Temari talked to Hinata about seducing a guy to get what we wanted. I smiled and blacked out.
~*~
I rolled over on the comfy bed a little bit until I realized that this wasn't where I fell asleep. I shot up out the bed and instantly regretted it as four hands grabbed and steadied me.
I blinked the sleep from my eyes and saw Ino and Gaara glaring at each other as one of their hands held me and the other hit each other. I sighed and shrugged their hands off me to get to the bathroom. Today was the day… my last day…
The stupid morning sickness started to kick in and before I knew it my head was buried in the toilet while Ino held my hair and yelled at Gaara to get to work. Of course he yelled back about how he was needed here.
Eventually, Temari stepped in and reminded him that he was needed in the office right away because of the threat that was supposed to happen. That only made him madder and me throw up more.
"Sakura, please calm down. Now that G-Gaara-sama and Kankuro-kun is gone, we need to start getting prepared and we need to get to our post before ten twenty five or else they might suspect something," Hinata spoke softly as she came into the bathroom with Ino's and my medical bags and started to pull out stuff. I nodded and took a deep breath before waving them off and starting the shower.
I quickly stripped and stepped into the warm water spraying onto my back. I held my stomach and before I knew it tears started to form in my eyes and blend in with the water. This would be my last moments with my unborn child. I was about to be two months in. (A/N: remember that it's a hint for you to the sequel!!!) Why did this have to be? Oh yeah, because Gaara and this village and because I loved them both. I had to think about them before myself.
I quickly stepped out of the shower and looked at the new uniform mama-sama had sent me with Hinata. She attached a note to it saying that it would help with the plan and with comfort. I picked it up and it kind of looked like her outfit but instead of her top it was loose fitting red tank top with the Haruno crest on the back and black obi to hold up my new and growing breasts. She also gave me a pair of snug capri pants with pair of my old high heel shinobi sandals. Last but not least, my favorite jacket of mama's, her old medic loose jacket that she use to wear as a chunin. (A/N: Basically Tsunade's outfit but instead of the jacket and top she has the tank top with wrap and a jacket like Tsunade's but its grey with 'medic' on the back. Hope that's not weird or confusing)
I took another deep breath before stepping out of the bathroom. Hinata and Ino were already dressed. Ino wore her usual purple outfit while Hinata wore a fishnet and off the shoulder's top with her leaf headband attached to the front. It was way too hot for her to be wearing a huge, thick jacket anyway.
Ino was already preparing the medical supplies for the treatment. They looked at me and back at the shot, silently asking if I still wanted to go through with this. I nodded and walked back to the bed, sitting down. I silently said good bye to my baby and let one more tear escape my eyes as Ino lifted and filled the needle.
GAARA POV
The bandits were supposed to attack any minute now. All the villagers were safe in the underground tunnels right under my feet. I stood on the roof of the Kazekage tower and looked out at all of the shinobi standing at their post around the perimeter of the whole village.
Over all I was very pleased with my sister's planning. She had positioned everyone so that there were three rings. The first one consists of the jounin and ANBU so that they could deal with any major threat immediately. If anyone got past them then it would be up to our chunin and genin to deal with them. From there it would be Temari, Kanuro, Baki, and I to defend the inner walls. I had the north, Temari to the south, Kanuro for the East and Baki to the west.
Overall, pretty well thought out –
Except for where she places Sakura and her friends.
They were directly to my left, facing north-east – where the enemies many forces were suppose to be coming from.
Not only was it just the three of them right there but the chunin and genin placed as their second ring where the worst in last season's graduating class. What was Temari thinking?
I had no time to think of that – the enemy was here. It was nothing like the reports. The band of rouge shinobi was not a simple band. No they were more like three armies of rouge shinobi. I took a shaky breath as I looked to see the largest of the armies were coming from what direction, north-west – the same direction as which my Sakura and her friends were supposed to defend practically by themselves. I couldn't help at all and it was too late to send extra back up – everyone here was already in their positions.
Before I could call out an order of help, a loud cracking sound echoed through my ears. It had begun.
I turned to the East to see the whole eastern wall had begun to crumble right before our eyes. I kneeled down and sent as much sand as I could control over to the wall and began to rebuild it as everyone else around me entered a heated battle.
For what seemed like years, four hours past and we were at the climax of this long and tiring battle – the eye of the storm – it would soon end.
I had almost used up all my chakra trying to keep the Eastern wall from collapsing when the Western began to fall. I managed to hold it up but I knew as soon as the battle was over it would have to be rebuilt all over again.
I took a quick peek at Sakura and her group. They were holding their own amazingly. It looked that hardly anyone got past them.
Ino had the left and was not only was she making those who came into her line of vision turn against each other but she was also doing this while still fighting on her own. She no longer had to completely leave her body to control others.
Hinata was covering the right and moving her arms rapidly, hitting any enemy with a long whip like chakra that came from her hands. Her Byakugan was activated and whenever Sakura or Ino couldn't defend themselves in time, she had their backs as they did for her.
Sakura was front and center. At the beginning of the battle she had cracked the sand and ridged the ground beneath it into huge hills, making it easy for the girls to have the element. Her chakra enhanced punches and kicks were taking out five or more men at a time. It looked like she had her chakra shapes around her nails to make long knives. She cut down anyone that got to close. I could see the she was probably using a little bit too much chakra considering her gloves were starting to rip. But Sakura had never once looked so strong and determined, all for my village.
I was so proud that my Sakura had become so strong and had such strong friends. They were really holding it out and had pretty much sent the army back to where ever they came or dead.
I turned my back to face Temari and check on here when a piercing scream shook the battle field and caused everything to go deathly silent. I turned back to my Sakura and everything moved in slow motion.
Sakura was bent over backwards with a katana ripping through her from behind her. Blood drenched her top and began to drip onto her pants to the ground. Her beautiful forest green eyes were dulled and widened with her pupils nowhere to be found. Those sweet, soft lips of hers where cracked and swollen as blood slowly began to come from the corner. The shinobi that struck her from behind was still there holding her up by her hair so that she was standing up on the tips of her toes.
Suddenly things began to move so fast that if I had blinked I would have missed it all.
Sakura eyes, still missing her pupils, fastened a glare on the male behind her and with the katana still in her; she used it to flip in over her so that he released her. He went flying into the air above her but before he could come even close to the ground, she was above him and fist connected with his abdomen, slamming him into the sand below. Her strike was so powerful; it went right through him and into the sand, causing everything to shake a little.
Her range did not stop there. The only reason why I was still standing on this roof watching was because if I intervened now I would leave every north weakened.
Sakura ran towards a hill directly in front of her punched it with all her might. She called out something and Ino and Hinata nodded, jumping back behind here as the sand began to shake and engulf the rest of the men in front of them. She did and number of hand signs I could not see before the sand began to soak with blood and the bodies resurfaced. That was when she collapsed into Ino's waiting arms.
Ino's hands began to glow green as Hinata put Sakura down to lay in her lap.
Before I knew what I was doing, I was standing in front of them and holding Sakura in my arms. Her outfit was stained with her blood as well as her enemies. She did great, they all did. I looked at Hinata and Ino and nodded as I put Sakura back in Hinata's arms and turned my back to them.
"Take her to the hospital and do everything you can to patch her up. Ino… If she dies… you will be held responsible." Ino said nothing but I heard them both get up. They whispered something I could not understand before rushing past me and into the village.
It was time for all this to end.
After another hour and half of fighting, it was finally over and I was running through the whole entire hospital looking for Sakura with Temari and Kankuro trying to keep up with me.
"Gaara, why don't you stop and actually ask someone where the hell her room is instead of checking every room!?" Kankuro complained. I had considered that but it would waste too much time but then again running into every room was wasting a lot of time too. But at the same time, the nurses had their hands full with all the injured shinobi that had come in and needed help. I didn't want them to get distracted with my needs when I could do it myself.
I didn't realize that I had stopped running until a cry that was all too familiar made all three of us look down that hall at the only open door. It was the very last door in the hall, right next to an emergency exit.
I walked slowly towards the door and rounded the edge of the door. I felt my eyes begin to water at the sight in front of me. It was like a soap opera drama that no one ever wanted to truly happen.
Ino was at the head of the head whispering into Sakura's ear as Hinata sat at the end rubbing her bandaged foot. Temari and Kankuro passed me, touching my shoulder lightly, as I stayed glue to the door frame. I had never seen Sakura look the way she did right now. She looked so…
Broken.
Sakura was in the bed, attached to three machines and an IV pole. Her eyes were still dull and puffy with tears still running down her cheeks. Her lips were cracked and so dried out that the color in them had faded out into a dusty tan. Her usually beautiful, pale, creamy skin was now ashy and grey. Sakura's usually silky shine bubble pink her was now straw like and the color had drained. She had been bandaged and stitched up everywhere, so much so that there was hardly any skin showing except for her face which only held one bandage on her cheek.
Before I could stop them, the tears I had been fighting to hold back spilled over and ran slowly down my cheeks to drip off my chin. Sakura's eyes finally met mine and all she could do was cry more before turning over slowly onto her other side.
"Kazekage-sama," a small voice said as someone touched my shoulder. I grabbed the hand and began to twist it as I looked over my shoulder. It was Sakura's assistant. I couldn't remember her name but I really didn't care. I slowly turned to face her, still leaning on the door in fear I might break down and fall, and released her wrist.
"Kazekage-sama, my name is Miszuki. I'm Sakura's personal assistant and for now her doctor. It seems she has suffered a lot of injures. The most serious of them being three broken ribs, a twisted ankle, bruised hip and knee, a ruptured kidney, and several of her organs were scratched but her womb was run through causing her bag to break early. She was only two weeks in and so the baby did not survive…" Miszuki kept on talking but I didn't hear any of that. Baby? She lost…the BABY?! MY BABY!?
Before I could think, I reacted on the first emotion I felt – rage.
I stormed into Sakura's room and slammed my fist against the door causing everyone but Sakura too jump.
"Everyone…out," I whispered. Everyone began to slowly leave but I kept my eyes on Sakura as she turned back over slowly to face me, her eyes dead. As the last person left, I closed the door with a little more force then I intended to and leaned against it.
"How could you go into battle knowing you were pregnant?" I began in a low voice. We locked eyes and her eyes began to glass over with tears but I didn't care. She lied to me and now because that, our baby is dead. Gone.
"I didn't know I was pregnant," she began but I didn't let her finish.
"How could you not Sakura!! You're a fucking doctor! You were trained by the best fucking medic in the country! How the fuck don't you know when your how body is changing WHEN YOUR JOB IS TO TELL WHEN YOUR BODY IS CHANGING AND WHY!?!?" I screamed at her taking a few steps closer to her.
"I DIDN'T KNOW!!" She shouted back at me trying to sit up.
"Sakura!" I yelled back taking her arms in my hands roughly as I shook her, "You endangered our unborn child! Our baby is dead because of you! Do you not understand that!? How could you not know Sakura! How?" I threw her back down to the bed roughly and wrapped my hands around her bruised neck. As mad as I was… I could never hurt her like this. I love you Sakura…but I could never forgive this. I stomped back to the door, ignoring her sobs. I opened the door and looked back at her trembling form, not giving a damn anymore.
"As soon as you are out of the hospital, I want you out of my house and out of my village. If I see you again, I don't care what the consequences are, I'll kill you just like you killed our unborn child," I growled before walking out and slamming the door so hard the whole wall began to shake. I didn't mean it but at the same time, I couldn't help but feel the little ting of truth. I glared out at the four people in front of me.
Hinata was in tears with her head against Ino's shoulder. Ino was trying to be strong but I knew the tears were coming. My sister and brother just looked at me disappointed. No one said anything and they were smart not too. Whoever spoke first would be the first I choked to death.
Ino and Hinata probably knew Sakura was pregnant and hid it from me. They were supposed to be her friends and instead they let her into battle and had a hand in killing my child.
Biting my lip, I closed my eyes and turned, kicking off the emergency door and lets myself disappear in a swirl of sand.
How could the woman that I loved do this me?
Simple. She just did.
I had a chance at a family and I thought that Sakura would be the one to help me start it. I wanted her to be the mother of my kids. Instead she was the one to kill them.
As I arrived somewhere in the middle of the desert, the sky darkened with the setting sun, I finally let myself break down. I had to be at least a good three hours away from the village, even with sand transportation. I fell to my knees and cried as hard as I had ever done. I hadn't cried like this since before I was ten. Why! Why did she do this to me!?
I curled up in the sand and let my mind think of what my child would have been like.
The baby would have had creamy yellow skin as soft as the warm sand beneath me. His huge, wide eyes would be as green as a brand new plant. He would have beautiful pink or red shaggy hair wrapped around its beautiful head. His cute chubby little fingers and toes would curl up around everything that touched them. His belly would swell up with milk as Sakura's breast milk flowed into his mouth.
But all that wouldn't happen anymore. I could have been but not now. If I had not tried to keep myself in control, I probably would have killed her.
"Do you honestly think you would have killed the woman we loved so easily?" Shukaku finally spoke up.
"I don't know! Do you honestly THINK Sakura killed our baby!? Oh yea! She really did?!" I shouted back.
"No but you don't have sense like mine. I could smell the new scent mixed in with hers. She's still pregnant. And the doctor's were probably wrong because the baby was so weak, and so was she. And she probably really didn't know. I can't tell by just smell but just looking at her, if she had been more than a few weeks Gaara, don't you think that she would have had some sort of stomach by now?"
I thought about it for a minute and slowly got up. I just made the biggest mistake of my life.
Why did I react like that! I wasn't the only one who lost the baby…she did too… well she thought she did… I should have held her instead of yelling…I had to make things right.
I ran all the way back to the village but I didn't get there until a little after sunrise. I ran all the way to the hospital, to the second floor and into Sakura's room. But she wasn't there. Only Temari sitting on the now empty bed.
"Where is Sakura," I asked quietly
"Gaara… Sakura, Ino, and Hinata left this morning around sun rise. I'm sorry but they're probably half way to the boarder by now," Temari quietly answered, standing to come and rub my shoulder.
"Does she know she's still pregnant?" I asked again and by the unsurprised look in Temari's eyes, I knew my answer.
I also knew then that I probably would never see my Sakura again.
To Be Continued…
Ok, well that's it for this story, I hoped you liked it and now I have given you hints to what the sequel will be about. I hoped you enjoyed this chapter! Please review! By the way, I will be starting to write two new stories, one of which is the sequel and the other is one of the following, but I don't know which ones to start so I want you guys to vote if that's alright please?
Something Unexpected
Cherry Sand
The Lord Death Himself
You Can Just Call Me The Space Cowboy
You can look on my profile to see the summaries! I love you all and I'm almost done with this story so hope you enjoy. The sequel will be coming out shortly. I don't know what I'm going to call it so can someone help me coming up with one? Also I will be writing a Kakashi and Hinata for my friend Hinata_Shadows but I don't know what plot I'm going to use for it so I'll add it to the list when I can.
AND FOR YOU – HERE IS A FEW THINGS TO HAPPEN IN THE SEQUEL:
"Did you think after Nekio was gone, the threat on your life would just go away?"
"What do you mean you're pregnant!?"
"Sasuke? Is that really you?"
"Did you not remember our little deal? I own you for a full 24 hours and if I remember correctly I still have 21 hours and 15 minutes."
"If you need me to be, I'll be the father or at least pretend."
"What the fuck happened to your bed?"
"I can't seem to find the baby's heart beat, but I can see it. It looks like there is some sort of layer or hardened material protecting it from the inside."
"Stay with me Sakura! Don't you dare die on me and leave my grandbaby alone!"
"You will be mine but not with the fucking thing growing in you!"
"Such a slut… running off and getting pregnant without a husband. What kind of woman is that?"
"Don't you dare talk about my baby like that or I will kill you."
"She's gone…. I'm so sorry"
Remember to leave me a review!
-Yuuki