Sasuke looked first at his brother, and then at Sakura, his disbelief clear. It should not have been possible, yet the evidence was very obvious. Not that he thought Itachi was one to lie, but Sasuke checked to see for himself with crimson Sharingan. Sure enough, Sakura was pregnant. As ironic as it was, Itachi had found a way to continue their clan, even though he was dead.
He was not sure if he should be happy for them or not. Instead of replying to his brother's shocking announcement, Sasuke could only stare at the invisible child growing in her womb. It should not have been happening, but it was, and it was best he accepted it. Nothing he should or did was going to change much anyway.
Sakura's eyebrows scrunched up in concern, and her lips pulled down slightly. She had told Itachi that he would be the one in charge of telling Sasuke, but that had been well over a month ago. He had bid his time, wanting to wait until it was certain that Sasuke was over her, but if he waited any longer, the pregnancy would begin to show itself.
Smiling slightly at the thought of their child growing large enough to show, Sakura threaded her fingers with Itachi's. He had been rather blunt with his younger brother when telling him the news, and Sakura was sure that it would not have seemed so shocking if the man had eased into the subject. Then again, Itachi would not be him if it were not for his frankness.
Her lover seemed perfectly content in waiting for Sasuke to respond somehow, and so she resolved to be patient. After all, she was pretty certain that her being pregnant was a lot for Sasuke to process. He had once wanted to be in Itachi's position, and for all she knew, he felt no different. At least he never really showed how much he objected to their relationship publicly anymore.
Sakura was not sure if Sasuke would ever privately get over their relationship. He had only ever dreamed of killing Itachi, and then of rebuilding his clan. Sasuke may have completed the first part of his goals, but he was far from ever finishing the second half. Karin had moved on to Deidara, and she... had found something special with Itachi. Something that she would not give up for the world.
Sasuke continued to blink, and this lasted for quite some time. Eventually though, he knew that he had to say something. As much as he was green with jealousy, Itachi was his brother. He cared about him.
"How far along is she?"
Itachi was brought out of his silent revery at the sound of Sasuke's voice. He had been so deep in thought about his growing child, he had forgotten for a moment where he was. "It is nearly the end of her first trimester." He murmured.
Sasuke gaped at them both. "And you guys did not decide to tell me about this until now?" He asked, his voice on edge. Sakura blushed, rubbing her arm uncomfortably and looking off to the distance. Itachi, however, was not ashamed by the fact he had not said anything in the beginning.
"Sakura instructed me to enlighten you when I saw fit. That was not until now." He replied smoothly, keeping his expression as blank as always. Sasuke was, naturally, unpleased by how his older brother had decided to keep him in the dark for so long. He should have been one of the first to know. Yet, he would not be surprised if Karin had found out awhile back.
"I had every right to know about this from the beginning," Sasuke huffed, crossing his arms stubbornly.
While it was mellow then, Sakura could see how fragile the situation was then. Sasuke was upset about not knowing, which was understandable, but he was not the most stable of people when confronted with something he found unpleasant. The entire scene could go sour very fast, and though it was only beginning, she saw it best she intervened.
"I see where this is going, and I do not want to see either of you fighting." Sakura interjected. Itachi and Sasuke both looked at her, clearly surprised with her insight. She had known them both long enough to recognize when they were reaching their limits. Sasuke had a rather short fuse, and was quick to fire up, and though Itachi was more calm, he was fast to defend himself.
They were brothers, and though she had never had siblings, Sakura knew what that meant. It was rare when they did get along, even if it were not for lack of trying. Both brothers strived to comprehend each other's feelings, to predict what was wanted and not, but some things they had to face. It had been a decade since they had spent so much time together in close quarters.
It was not that they purposely got into their little arguments; it was as if by instinct. They had both changed in their years apart, and it was hard for them to get along because of it. Sakura saw this in every attempt either would make to get along, but admittedly, it was difficult.
"I had no intention in beginning a quarrel with Sasuke." Itachi stated blandly. She gave him a dubious look, but could not think of anything to say back. Of course he never had any intention in starting fights with Sasuke, but they just happened all the same.
"Good then. I am going to have some tea."
Sakura tiredly stood from the little table in Itachi's room, ignoring their curious glances. It was humorous how they both wanted to ask why she so suddenly had the urge make tea, yet never voiced their question. So, when they said nothing, Sakura closed the shoji door, smirking to herself.
She had to wait only a few moments before she heard them getting up from the table, undoubtedly to follow her.
Karin was not sure if she should be happy for her friend or not. Sakura was happy about the pregnancy, that much she could tell, but surely it was frustrating, the way the Uchiha brothers guarded over her constantly. Though she never did complain about it. For all she knew, Sakura enjoyed the attention they gave her.
She, for one, did not ever want to have children of her own. Deidara was wonderful, and she liked him more than she should, but it could never be more than what it was then. Neither of them had a desire to produce offspring, and as great as Sakura made it out to be, pregnancy was not something Karin ever wanted to go through.
Though it had taken a week or two more after Sasuke finally was told about it, Sakura's pregnancy started to show. It was the beginning of the second trimester, and though Karin did not know much about it, Sakura was satisfied with the pace she was growing. She was the one with the medical background, so Karin had not bothered with second guessing.
Sakura stretched then yawned, quite pleased with the afternoon nap she had just woken up from. Itachi was at the table reading a book, and though it was out of her line of vision, Sakura already knew he had a pot of tea waiting to be shared set out for them. She smiled, then slowly sat up. Itachi set the book he was reading down, then turned in place to look at her. Though his facial expression did not change at all, there was a certain gleam she could see in his eyes, giving away his pleasure.
Putting his reading material down, he made his way across the room to her, sitting on the bed next to Sakura. She turned her gaze from him, to the small bump of her stomach. It was still the second trimester, and so there was a long ways to go, but it seemed so miraculous already. She could only imagine what it would be like once she gave birth.
"How was your nap?" Itachi broke the comfortable silence. They never had a problem with quiet; sometimes it was something they both preferred.
Sakura rested a dainty hand on her abdomen. "It was good. I always feel tired... too tired to do much of anything." She muttered, her fingers stroking over the material of a plain tee shirt. She always felt closer to their son whenever she did that.
Sakura honestly was not sure what gender the fetus was, but something told her that their child would be a son. Strong, brilliant and beautiful, just like his father. It was only based on instinct, but this was something she was certain of. She was under the impression that Itachi would enjoy the experiences of having a son, and it was something she hoped she could give him.
"You sleep a lot more often." Itachi noted, more to himself than to her. Sakura grumbled to herself, taking his comment as an insult rather than anything else.
"Well, I am the one who is making a baby in here." She said grumpily, her fingers stretching out over her abdomen. Itachi rolled his eyes, already used to her mood swings, and even have predicted it when he first knew of the pregnancy. He instead hummed in agreement, then placing his large, warm hand over hers, spreading his long fingers out.
"And you are doing a marvelous job of it, Koishii."
Sakura laughed softly, as if to approve of his statement, then looked up into his charcoal orbs. She froze then, seeing a familiar light in them, and knowing what he was going to do before he did.
He always loved how beautiful she looked, especially now that she was carrying his child. Itachi was tempted easily by her, and though it went against his self-taught control, he found himself longing for her often. Sakura simply seemed to glow with feminine glory, as if she were in her prime. In his opinion, she was. Itachi did not even bother to resist his urges, his gaze immediately falling from her green eyes to her lush, perfectly kissable lips. He knew then what he craved.
Before he could make the first move, Sakura snaked her arms around his neck, her fingers finding their way into his long hair. It was not a moment after that his lips possessed hers. She could not help the way he made her feel, now more than ever, with her hormones running ramped in her body.
Sakura reacted nearly instantly, mewling with the delight his kiss gave. Feeling the need to do so, he deepened the kiss, completely divulging into her mouth. Heady, contented moans escaped from her throat, and her blunt fingernails dug into his scalp. He purred with pleasure, and his hands scored her body with a certain expertise.
She was not sure what it was, but something about Itachi, and the way that he could make her feel; Sakura knew everything would work out for them. Itachi was not the sort of person that accepted failure, and he would be sure things went right, no matter what obstacle they faced. That was just the sort of person he was.
Itachi slowly lifted his lips from hers, listening to the joint sounds of their panting. He rested his forehead on hers, his eyes lazily peering into hers. She meet his gaze with piercing viridian, then softened at seeing the care he held in their endless depths. At that moment, Sakura knew she wanted her son to have smoldering black eyes, just as his father did.
With that thought, there was a small flutter to be felt from her womb. Sakura's eyes widened in shock, and instantly shot to her stomach. Though she was at first concerned, it was quickly replaced with gentleness. A small, shy smile broke out across her lips.
"Koishii, is there something the matter?" Itachi asked softly, his voice hinting strain. He had seen how her eyes had flown instantly to their child, and it was reason enough to worry. Then he saw that strange, nervous smile come out. He was not sure what it meant.
"Itachi, I... I felt the baby."
Understanding flowed through him. He watched in wonder as she guided his hand to the spot she had felt the fluttering, then stilled in shock upon feeling it himself. All he could think was that life was an amazing thing. He remembered when his mother was pregnant with Sasuke, and how he had found it astounding, but it was different now. This child was something he had made, and to feel it move left him in awe.
His lips turned up slightly, just as Sakura's had, but then his mouth moved to a complete smile. It was crooked, and a little awkward, but it was his smile, and that was all that mattered to Sakura. When he started to chuckle quietly to himself, she could not help but to giggle alongside him.
She knew what this all meant to him; her pregnancy. In a way, he was showing how capable of love he really was, after being the murderer of his own family. It may have taken death for him to get at that point, but Sakura was certain having a child of his own would help Itachi come to terms with his mistake. He was entitled to that much, no matter how much he denied the fact. Whatever the case, him having a child that needed him as a parental figure for love and nurturing could only be a good thing, in her opinion.
Itachi had never thought, when plotting his own death, that he would ever be so blessed. Sakura had never been any more than a possible wife to Sasuke, which while this was important, he had no real feelings for her then. When she had died, he had been angry, furious even. Not so much at her, even if she had sought out her own death by confronting an unstable Sasuke, but at his younger brother. Sasuke had given up something that should have been his right.
It had felt selfish of him, but after a life of sacrifice, Itachi had wanted something of his own. Sakura had come along, and he knew what he wanted, as soon as he had cooled down. It was her. He was the sort of person who always knew what he wanted, and it was no different with Sakura. Physical desire had moved aside to emotional ties, and though he had never dreamed it possible, Itachi had found himself very much in love with her.
She had taken longer, because she had already been in love, even after Sasuke had killed her. When she had moved on from Sasuke, she still had been wary of him, and the chemistry that seemed to flow between them every time they touched. She had not wanted to be hurt again, which he had understood. Itachi was nothing if not patient. He had helped her comprehend how he felt, and gradually, she grew to see him less as Sasuke's older brother, and more as someone who loved her, and someone she could easily love back.
It had only been a matter of time, even from the beginning, before she gave in. When she had, Sakura had given him the most amazing gift anyone could bestow upon him, and even though she did not like him thinking it, he would never be able to repay her. This child, their child, was going to be the most beautiful creature that life had ever seen, because their child was a miracle.
Sakura was a medic, and so she saw her pregnancy more from the scientific side of things, and though Itachi was not a religious person, especially after having known someone like Hidan, he felt that the child she was carrying was supernatural. Of course, the physical reasons for why she was pregnant made more sense than anything else, after all they had done together, but something about the entire situation seemed phenomenal.
"You are the most amazing woman in existence, did you know that?" He murmured, resting his forehead against hers again. Her laughter jingled pleasantly in his ears, and though his eyes were directed towards her womb, he could easily picture her expression.
Sakura's eyes would be sparkling with her laughter, something he had noticed was becoming more frequent. He could only assume this meant that being with his child made her truly happy, even if she had told him as much several times. He was certain she was tired of him asking if it pleased her to carry his offspring, but he always loved to hear the answer she gave, because it was always the same.
"How about you tell me something I do not already know." She replied haughtily. He smirked, then reached his fingers out across her stomach, holding the growing fetus gently through its mother's body. Itachi felt another faint fluttering, and met her eyes.
Sakura felt herself sinking into his dark charcoal orbs to be utterly consumed. There was a light she saw in them, and she knew that he was unbelievably happy, almost unnaturally so. It did not concern her, and she instead encouraged it, because he really was healing.
Though he rarely spoke of it, Sakura knew Itachi still hurt over what had happened with the Uchiha clan. She never brought the subject up, not wanting to put him through more pain than he already was suffering from. Thoughts of creating something, after destroying so much, seemed to sooth him though. Perhaps some of the damage inflicted on his mentality was permanent, but not everything had to cause him misery.
He still felt some guilt for Sasuke on his conscience, but Sakura did not blame him for what had happened, nor did she want to regret it. It had always been Sasuke's dream to be the one to rebuild his clan, but honestly, he had blown his chance when killing her. Itachi could never have known that Sasuke would off himself, and that he would be there to see the clan continued with the woman he loved, and his older brother. Yet, there was nothing to do on the matter. Even if Karin was interested, which she was not, Sakura was well aware she never intended to have children of her own.
Sasuke may have been left to watch his older brother's children come into existence, but he still got what he wanted. The Uchiha line was not cut off completely. Even if there was no way to return back home to earth from wherever they were, there would be an Uchiha clan. Even if he would never have the joy of seeing his own son for the first time, to hold that child and have that feeling of never wanting to let go, Sasuke would be happy to see firsthand the continuation of his clan.
Itachi huffed amusedly, seeing her thoughtful, nearly blank expression. "You are also adorable when you go into a daze." He purred, nuzzling her neck. Sakura could not help but to laugh when he showed her so much affection. That was not to say Itachi was not a very loving person, he simply had issues with showing it.
Sakura curled up against him like a contented house cat, perfectly prepared to laze with him for the remainder of the day. She knew Karin was desperate for help with dinner again though, and so it was best she got up, sooner rather than later. She was still revitalized from her nap at that point, but the energy would not last long.
He had planned and schemed for long enough, and finally, he was getting some results. It had been disheartening when he had arrived, but now that the young kunoichi and the Uchiha who had pursued her had gone far enough to create on offspring, he could move forward.
Orochimaru had been the first one sent to the afterlife, because he had been the first one Sasuke had ever killed. Though he had always criticized him for never killing any of his... targets in training, he was glad for it later. It had given him some time to be alone, and to plan.
At first, he had been uncertain of how he was going to prepare his escape at all, without any materials to research from. Then, somehow, he had found everything he needed in his chambers. However unpractical it was, Orochimaru was confident that the information he had collected was accurate. All the same though, for a time, he could not do anything, being alone.
Deidara showed up, much to his aggravation, not too long after he had. Still, this did him no good, because what he needed was a woman. As feminine as the terrorist looked, he would not suffice. So, he had waited for it to come. Eventually, he knew, Sasuke would have to face a female, and then he would have to kill them. Only then could it work out in his favor.
When Itachi had suddenly shown up, Orochimaru had been stunned. Sasuke may have been strong enough to kill him, but Itachi was on a whole other level, as much as he hated to admit as much. He was certain that somehow, it had not been an even fight, and that the elder Uchiha had lost purposefully. Still, this did not pertain to his plans, and so he had not put too much thought into Itachi's death.
Finally though, a woman had been sent into the afterlife by Sasuke. Karin had been perfect for what he had planned up his sleeve, and not long after her arrival with Danzo, Orochimaru had gone into action. It was well known that Karin had a certain obsession with Sasuke, and this point made his job all the more easy. Sure, he had to play the part of an old, gay pervert, but it would have been worth it.
Karin's feelings for Sasuke had transfered over to Itachi, as soon as he played a video tape of the Uchiha in the shower. It amused him to no end how everyone seemed to play right into his hand, because she instantly started to attempted seducing the great Uchiha Itachi. He did not have to say much of anything on the matter to her.
Try as she might though, Karin made no effect on the emotionless Itachi. Orochimaru's only hope was that after months of no sexual interaction with anyone, he would have to release somehow, and he would use Karin for just that. He had not even begun to imagine that he had never had any sexual contact with anyone before his death.
So, Karin had failed. It would have been easier if she had succeeded, but it no longer mattered. Sakura had shown up not too long after, and though it had upset him a little, Itachi had quickly shown interest in her. Orochimaru had wanted Karin to be the girl to get impregnated, seeing she still had a fearful loyalty to him. Sakura would be difficult, but not impossible. She merely made his job a little more hard.
When Itachi had shown his interest in Sakura, he had only to make it easier by telling Karin to back off. She could not refuse him, not that Itachi had ever shown her any preference to begin with. As he had predicted, Sakura had been more complicated, and had taken longer to warm up to Itachi. It had taken longer than he would have liked, but now she was with child. That was all that mattered to him.
It was simple enough really; his plan. When a child was born, it brought a new, fresh soul into the afterlife, one that had never seen earth. This soul is more prone to go to the living earth, and so, he could use this as a connection out of purgatory. It was a complicated, and forbidden jutsu, but he would have to seal the infant's life force from its body when they came to join in childbirth, then use it as a link.
It was a devious, inhumane plan, but he was not known for any better. Itachi would be furious that his innocent little child had been used for his evil scheme, but once Orochimaru was gone, there was nothing he could do.
As for the child, it would not be able to survive without its life force. Orochimaru may have wanted to have a fresh pair of Sharingan, ripe for the taking, but it was not worth risking his escape. That new life was going to refill his old one, making it possible for him to return. Besides, Madara had to be out there somewhere, and he had to be medically insane, with his age. It would not be long until the old fart cracked, and then he could acquire his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.
Orochimaru cackled to himself as he passed the kitchen. Sakura was inside, peacefully making dinner, and unaware of the plot surrounding the life of her child. All he had to wait was a few more months, and he could be alive again, scourging the shinobi world for every ninjutsu ever created.
The only one with any inkling of suspicion was Karin, and Orochimaru doubted the kunoichi could do anything to stop him, not when his jutsu was already prepared for the moment Sakura went into labor.
AN: I am amazing. I updated two fics in the same day. I would like to apologize for taking so long to update this fic. I feel so bad about that... it's been almost a month, hasn't it? I know you are angry at me for taking forever, but I beg of you, do not give up on me! I have every intention in finishing this fic!
Orochimaru is so evil! And I finally let you guys in on his little plot. I wonder, is this enough to convince you guys to continue reading this story? I sure as hell hope so.