Author's Note:

Yesterday when I updated Chapter 2, I forgot to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving! Stay thankful. Today is the 23rd of Nov. 2012, and here I present you Chapter 3. The only reason I am updating so quickly is because I am on my Thanksgiving break (4 days hurrah)! On regular basis, I expect myself to update once every week. It really depends on my schoolwork.

Please leave a review! Feel free to follow this fanfic (make my day!). And share it with your friends if you find it likeable. (:

*This chapter is written in Yashamaru's POV* Enjoy!

THE ILLEGITIMATE CHILD

A Naruto Fan-fiction

Naruto-Rated: T-English-GAARA & SAKURA H.

Chapter 3-Save the Mother

12:45 AM-January 19, 1996-A Friday

The name's Yashamaru. Right now I'm in my car, making my way to *Chiharu Hospital. Never in my life have I ever driven so fast. 85 mph. Ah, another red light. Gods, forgive me but I'm passing through this one. Surprising how no police cars are in sight, patrolling. Surprising how I haven't hit someone yet. Perhaps today the gods are in my favor. I hope.

Finally, I've made it. I make my way out of the car and bang the door shut. I'm walking as quickly as my legs can manage. Wait, did I lock my car? Oh, forget it. My thoughts seem to escape me. Like a machine, I'm malfunctioning. I can feel the pounding of my heart behind my eyes. Never thought it could be possible.

"Sir, you're in a restricted area right now," comes a voice. I turn around to find a woman dressed in white. Oh yeah, she's someone you'd call a nurse. Right, she's a nurse.

I want to apologize and ask for help to find my sister, but words fail me. Nothing comes out. Sweat is making its way to the surface of my skin. I can feel it. Fuck, I don't even know how I end up in this room!

Seeing that I have no reply, the nurse says, "Are you trying to find a patient?"

Smart woman. "Y-yes, please," I manage.

"Okay, go down into this corridor and turn left and you'll find the main desk."

I know what she has just said but somehow I've forgotten the directions that she'd pointed to.

She sighs. "Well sir, follow me."

I follow and soon we arrive to the main desk. All we did was walk down the corridor and turn left. How can I fail to remember such a simple instruction? A surge of heat colors my cheeks. I probably look like a radish head. What a bad comparison.

"How may I help you, mister?" asks the lady behind the desk.

"Karura! She's my sister. What's her room?" I reply rapidly. I am sounding so rough right now.

Gods, why does it seem like this lady is typing too slow? Hurry up. How hard is it to type in Karura?

Seeing my agitated expression, the lady gives me a glare. "Young man, I understand your desire to see your sister right away, but would you please stop tapping your fingers?"

I'm tapping my fingers? I look to my right… yes indeed I am.

"Just give me the goddamn room number," I cannot help but say.

I expect a deadly comeback from the lady but instead, her eyes widen at the screen. Oh no, what is it now?

"I'm sorry, sir, but there is no Karura in our database."

What! What is this fucking nonsense? "What—"

"Wait a second," comes another voice. It turns out the nurse that has brought me here is still by my side. "Isn't she the patient that came in three hours ago?"

The lady behind the desk shrugs. "Possibly. She's still in the emergency room. It's probably her though. She has one stubborn husband who refuses to hand in the registration."

What, how could this woman say such insolent words?!

I scream, "How could you say that? My sister's baby is not supposed to be due today! You guys are handling a preterm birth right now. How do you expect the husband to have time to give in the goddamn registration? You should be fired up your fucking ass!"

The lady gasps. "And you expect me to know your sister's name and room number right off my head? This is a hospital, sir. And you are expected to watch your—"

The nurse next to me cuts in, "—forget it, Laura. I'll take this gentleman to the emergency waiting room."

"Please." I say.

Once we arrive to the emergency waiting room, I thank the nurse and she walks away. Here, I see Kaze—better known as my brother-in-law. He is sitting with his face buried into his hands. He doesn't seem to notice my presence. For some reason, this very sight makes me feel angry. I rush to him and take him by the collar.

"My sister is inside," I point to the emergency door a foot away from us. "Why aren't you in there to support her?"

To my surprise, the great Kaze does not yank off my hands away from his collar. His dark eyes are red, but there isn't a single tear in sight.

"Well? Reply me!" Normally I have a lot of respect for this man. He's a brilliant business man, and I have served him in the past. But right now, I cannot force myself to be gentle with him. I don't like the sight of him like this… he doesn't seem to… care about Karura… as much as before.

"The doctor and nurses can handle it," comes his reply.

This rotten bastard. "And you call yourself a man?"

He smirks and breaks into a sardonic laugh, finally yanking my clenched fists off his collar.

"What is your problem?" I demand. Why is he acting like—wait… could it be he had heard the rumor?... that goddamn rumor?

As if being able to read my mind, he says, "Yes, I've heard that rumor. More than once, actually."

"And you believe it?!"

"Uncertain, that's all. Rumors just don't come out of the blue."

"And so you're saying there's truth to it?"

"Exactly."

"Are you out of your mind? I swear to gods—Karura is faithful! You know her as much as I do."

"Who knows what she's capable of when I'm away?"

What is this man thinking? Before I can reply, the door swings open and out comes the doctor. He turns to me.

"Ah," he says, "you must be the brother. What resemblances!"

"Yes, I am," I say, "Would you please tell me how's my sister's doing?"

His face turns stern. "Even with all the advanced equipments we have, it all comes down to whether we save the baby or the mother—"

"Save the mother," Kaze cuts in without even a slight hesitation.

The doctor gulps. "Well, that is how I have planned it too, but when I asked the mother, she demanded me to save her son. So—congratulations, mister. You have now a baby son! We just need to keep him under—"

"—how about my wife?"

The doctor shakes his head. "I'm afraid she will be in the hands of the gods soon. We've tried—"

"I should have waited a little bit longer for the private jet and take my wife to the best hospital in this country! You are one worthless doctor."

The doctor doesn't seem to be offended though. "Well, step in while your wife is still breathing."

With that, Kaze and I rush into the room. Karura lies in the bed… with the baby in her arms. My nephew is so tiny, and it breaks my heart. But seeing Karura's paleness hammers my heart even more.

Her focus is all on the baby in her arms. She whispers, "What a small, feeble child… but no matter what happens, I'll always protect you, Gaara." So this dear nephew of mine is to be named Gaara. Welcome to the world, kiddo.

Tears start slipping down Karura's face. My eyes begin to moisten too.

"…Karura," says Kaze finally.

Karura looks up and finally notices us. For the first time, she doesn't try to hide her sobbing. "Th-this is ou-our Gaara, Ka-ka-kaze."

Please Kaze, do not bring up the subject of that darn rumor.

Kaze inches closer to Karura and sits on the edge of the bed, wiping away Karura's tears. Thank gods he still has his common sense. But that's when I notice the way he looks at Gaara… he looks at him with—hatred. Intense hatred.

Karura probably notices it too, for she says, "He is our son."

Kaze closes his eyelids in response. He leans down and kisses Karura on the forehead. "I know. Don't worry, Temari and Kankuro are safe. I have hired a caretaker."

Why the hell is he avoiding the subject? But Karura only gives a small nod in return. "Yashamaru…?"

"I am here," I respond immediately, rushing to her side. I hold her hand. "At your service, sister."

She finally smiles. "Doubtless. Promise me to take care of Gaara when Kaze's no-n-not available." She is heaving rapidly to make out the words.

Blobs of tears begin falling onto my hands that held hers. These blobs are a mixture of mine and hers, where the promise is wordlessly agreed to.

Kaze is silent. He takes Karura's other hand and holds. But just then, Karura releases both of our hands. She moves her hands and caresses tiny Gaara.

"I'll always protect you," she mumbles once more. "Gaara."

And very gradually like that, I watch her eyelids droop and make their final shut.

Author's End Note:

*Chiharu is not a real hospital.

I know Yashamaru is out of character with the short-temper depicted in this fanfic. Sorry! But I did it for the sake of the emotions in this chapter. And I did extract one of Karura's quotes from the manga!