Chapter Nine

Toorima had cried so hard that she was actually getting some pretty good sleep. The events of the day had been so stressful and overwhelming that her body was just too exhausted to really dream or be sleepless. When she woke in the morning she was well rested and very hungry. She wanted an omelet, a cheese omelet with bacon bits. But even more than that, she wanted to stay trapped under the large blueish arm over her chest.

With much difficulty Toorima turned to face Kisame. She looked up at him and smiled at his peaceful face. If he hadn't come in when he had last night she didn't know what she would have done. All the memories from the previous night flooded into her mind and she was angry. She had gotten comfortable in her life here with Kisame and was enjoying her pregnancy for the most part, except the occasional pain. Why did he have to find her and ruin everything?

Toorima tried to come up with as many different plans as she could to keep Sasuke away from her and her unborn child. She was so deep in thought she didn't even notice that Kisame had woken up and was staring at her. He moved his hand to caress her long hair and she finally noticed him.

"Oh! Good morning." She said surprised. He chuckled and leaned forward placing a gentle kiss on her lips. Toorima pulled back so quick she fell off the bed. "OW!" She screamed and Kisame leapt out of bed to her side and Chaos broke down the door in worry. Toorima giggled. "I'm ok I think." She got up and rubbed her butt which took the brunt of the fall. "Are you sure?" Kisames hand went to her small bump. "Yes I'm sure." She assured him and placed her hand over his.

"Why did you pull back anyway?" Kisame asked a few minutes later after Toorima had walked into the bathroom and he sat down on the bed. "I didn't want you to kiss me when I had morning breathe. That would be so embarrassing." Toorima said sheepishly. Kisame shook his head. He should have expected it to be something so trivial.

Toorima came back into the bedroom and her hair was a straight line down her back, no longer tangled and matted. She was smiling widely to show her sparkling white teeth with her elongated canine teeth that he loved to rub with his tongue whenever they frenched. "All better?" He asked her. Her smile grew and she sauntered over to her sitting in his lap and kissing him deeply. Kisame was astounded. Even pregnant this girl couldn't weigh more than 120lbs.

Finally done kissing Kisame looked down at his precious person. "What were you thinking about so hard this morning?" He asked, his voice didn't hide the concern he felt. "I don't want to ever go back to Sasuke, not now, not ever. And more than that, I…I don't want him to take my child." Toorima lowered her head and wrapped her arms around her stomach protectively. "I won't let that happen. Your mine now whether you like it or not." Kisame said and wrapped his arms around her small frame.

The next few days were full of oohs and aws over the new leopard. It was still very small and had no fur yet but the spots were clearly marked on its pink flesh. It was trying to walk by now and was constantly crying for food. Toorima often wondered if her baby would be at all similar. Just watching Serenity care for her baby made her all the more excited and soon she was thinking of names for the one inside her womb. The fact she didn't know if it was a boy or a girl was killing her but at the same time it made it all the more exciting.

Kisame had spent most of his time fortifying the defenses around their little house and was making arrangements to get Toorima in a small private hospital to deliver the baby and then run away somewhere. Toorima hated that plan only because she didn't feel she should have to run away. Surely Jashin was angry with her and this was her punishment. Every night she had prayed harder, promising to soon offer the soul of Uchiha Sasuke. She knew if she didn't keep her promise that it would result in her own soul as a substitute.

Toorima wandered about the house cleaning, checking Serenity, more cleaning, and eventually laid on the coach for a nice nap. Her silly dream was interrupted by a cold nose on her forehead. 'Wake up already!' She heard Chaos' voice loud in her head. 'I'm up. I'm up!' She replied groggily sitting up. 'Finally! Kisame said he needed to talk to you and that it was important.' Chaos explained and left to go back to his mates side.

Running to the bathroom to freshen up a little Toorima then grabbed a small blanket from the bed and headed outside into the chilly morning air. Kisame was standing on an uprooted tree that had fallen over. "What is it?" Toorima asked worried when she came close enough to see the look on his face. "Two of his lackeys are keeping tabs on us." He answered her, clearly frustrated. "That isn't a problem, there are a lot of ways past that." She told him smiling up at him trying to relieve his stress. It wasn't working.

Kisame jumped from the branch and landed right in front of her. "You are going to run. I will hold them off and you are going to get as far away from here as you can. They already know I'm planning something and this is your only chance." He said looking her straight in the eye. He didn't even blink. Toorima took a deep breath to steady herself. What a bad time for him to decide to tell her all this. "Like hell I'm going to run away!" She barked. "I am sick and tired of running from that egotistical dick head!" Toorima was now just starting to let off some steam. "And you promised! You promised that we wouldn't be apart anymore! I'm your woman right? Don't tell me to fucking run away. Pregnant or not I'm not a coward and I'm sick of that asshole messing up my life!" Her rant continued. After the anger had come out next came tears.

This baby was really starting to mess her up emotionally. "I'm sorry I yelled. I just don't want to be without you again." Toorima bowed her head and pushed into the broad chest in front of her. Her hands weakly grabbed her sleeves. Kisame held back the laughter but couldn't stop the chuckles that came. "Toorima, your being silly. Get inside then, before you catch cold." He said kissing the top of her head in between her leopard ears. "You can help warm me up." She said her mood switching again.

Several hours later Toorima woke up in Kisames arms who had a very satisfied smirk on his face while he slept. A throb in her stomach made her realize she didn't randomly just wake up, the pain forced her out of sleep. She covered her mouth with her hand and scrambled out of bed just barely making it to the toilet in time. Thank Jashin her hair was in a braid. It seemed to last forever that food found its way back up and into the porcelain goddess. Spitting the last of the upchuck from her mouth she stood shakily and rinsed her mouth in the sink. Her face was pale and very sallow looking. Her stomach cramped and the baby was moving around a lot, that was what was causing her so much pain.

^.^

The next three months passed in a daze. The pain had intensified and Toorima found herself sleeping much more than usual. Serenities baby, Kasumi, was maturing at an incredible rate. It could already communicate over thought and was learning very quickly to other things like chakra, duty, loyalty, mathematics, strategy, and battle skills. She just didn't seem to be getting any bigger physically.

Toorima was lying on the coach groaning in pain when all three of the leopards came over to comfort her. They all purred and nuzzled her saying nice things and encouragements. Kasumi was excited about Toorimas' pregnancy almost more than she was. The little leopard wanted so badly to see the one she would spend her life serving. "I'm ok." Toorima said to a worried Serenity.

Kisame came through the door covered in blood and smiling. "I'm glad you're happy!" Toorima snapped. Realizing what she had done she took a deep breath and calmed herself. When she was sure she had control over her emotions she looked up to see Kisame smiling over her. He was used to her wonky emotions and outbursts. "I'm sorry." She said. He kissed the top of her head and stepped back. He gave her another smile and headed to the bathroom.

Toorima really wanted to join him in the shower but her tiny baby bump had gotten a little bigger and it was hard for the two of them to be in the bathroom at the same time let alone the shower. She sighed aloud and pulled her hair over her left shoulder. Serenity sat down on the floor and gave Kasumi another bath that sat there and complained the entire time. Kasumi was so adorable. She was becoming more and more like her father in personality and more like her mother in looks.

A great pain in her stomach caused Toorima to lurch forward and scream. "K-KISAME!" She screamed her voice ringing out in a growl. "AHHHHH!!!!" Her stomach had never hurt this bad. The pain couldn't be compared with anything. The shark-nin fumbled out of the bathroom half naked and covered in bubbles. It was easy to tell that he had pulled his sweat pants on quickly seeing as they were backwards and inside out.

Serenity seemed to know what was happening and ran over to Kisame with a meaningful look. He saw what the snow leopard was trying to say and picked Toorima up quickly. He wrenched the door open and ran as fast as he could for the nearest town and the small private clinic he had made arrangements with.

"It's two…two weeks early!" Toorima panted through the pain. "I'm more worried about you at the moment." Kisame said angrily and ran with all his might sending a lot of his chakra to his legs. Her head was starting to feel light and she fought to keep herself here. Even though it was painful she couldn't afford to leave reality right now.

"Hold on Toorima!" Kisame yelled. His voice sounded so distant to her. She swallowed and her throat felt so dry it ached. Her head was spinning and she could vaguely feel her lovers' movement and the wind against her hot face. The wind felt nice and was almost lulling her to sleep. Her hair whipped by the wildly as Kisame ran faster. Her stomach quaked again and she screamed again the pain was unreal. Kisame gripped her tighter and tried his hardest not to look at her. Every scream, every cry tore at his heart.

Lights were forming in the distance and Kisame sighed in relief. Chaos came up close behind Kisame. He was told to follow by Serenity after she had assured him she would be fine. Toorima was happy he was here but thought it almost unnecessary. He would not be able to help in any way and it would only be uncomfortable for him.

Toorima focused harder and realized they had stopped moving. They were already inside the small private hospital. Nurses and Doctors hovered around her and hooked her up to all sorts of hoses and tubes. Monitors were placed all around her bed and Kisame was standing right next to her gripping her hand tightly with a horrified look on his face.

The head doctor stepped forward with a syringe. "This will help with the pain." He said inching the needle closer to her skin. She wanted it, but something told her not to. "No drugs." She whimpered and Kisame immedietly grabbed the doctors wrist halting his advance. "O-ok." He replied rubbing his wrist when Kisame released it. Toorima squeezed his hand harder and he stroked her hair.

Almost fourteen hours later Toorima laid in the hospital bed with a sleeping bundle of blankets in her hands. Kisame had to step out for a moment to catch some fresh air and clear his head. The baby boy inside the bundle stirred and blinked his beautiful blue eyes awake. He had a tiny whisp of raven hair but thankfully he resembled his mother. "You shall be Takehiko, because you are my soldier prince." She whispered and hugged her son gently to her chest. She was so tired with the harsh labor and all the expended energy, but she didn't want to sleep yet.

"I think that's a good name." Kisame said coming back into the room. He walked over and placed a placed a sweet kiss atop her disheveled hair. "You have to stay here a few more days, but everything will be okay." He assured her and looked down at the boy he had committed to raise. "It's ugly." He said wrinkling his nose and inspecting the face of the infant. If Toorima had the strength to punch him she would have but at the same time it made her giggle.

Toorima drifted into sleep while Takehiko was taken by a nurse to the nursery and Kisame headed to their tiny house to get things moved to another location to evade Sasukes grasp. Kisame swore to act as the father for this child and his first priority was their security. He loved Toorima more than there was chakra in his body. It was almost to the point of obsession but he hasn't been able to really express his love due to her pregnancy.

He reached the house and packed what they would need and gathered all the money they still had. Serenity was ready to go with the scruff of Kasumis' neck in her jaw. She gave Kisame a nod when he was ready and they left. Kisame had managed to find a small house of sorts in a small remote village that was cheap. It was in a village full of outcasts so they would fit right in and people wouldn't shy away from them.

Serenity was tired from running by the time they had arrived and Kasumi was fussing over being hungry and being carried by her fur for so long. Kisame opened the door for them and got things ready before he took off in the direction of the hospital again.

Toorima rolled over and her leopard ears twitched. She heard something and it wasn't something she wanted to here. There were some people bickering out in the hall and then it was silent again. She rolled over the other way and tried to go back to sleep. Her eyes were closed and her other senses shut down for the most part. She was still completely exhausted from the long labor.

Chaos growled then and Toorima whipped around. "I told you I would find you." Said the voice she hated more than nails on a chalkboard. Now not having to worry about the baby that was no longer in her stomach she lunged at Sasuke and managed to get her hands around his neck. Sasuke was only smirking devilishly. "Finally I get you to respond to me." He said and grabbed her hair pulling her head back. He licked up her neck to her ear and whispered, "Where is my son."

Toorima growled and leaned forward biting into his shoulder. Her mouth full of his blood she regretfully swallowed. "He is my son." She told him and tightened her hands around his neck. He easily pulled her hands away and pushed her back sending her into the far wall. Chaos got in front of her and she stopped him from attacking. 'Go get Kisame as fast as you can.' She commanded him in thought. The black leopard didn't protest and shot through the door like a bullet.

Now they were alone and that was what she wanted. This would end now, here. One of them was going to die and she refused to let it be her. Every fiber of her being was focused on the reasons she had to stay alive and why she had to kill Sasuke. Kisame, Chaos, Serenity, Kasumi, and now more importantly, Takehiko, Toorima prepared to attack with them in the forefront of her mind.

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The next chapter will be the last. I can't drag this out any longer and I just am not motivated in it like I was. There are many reasons for that so please understand and continue to support me. I may do an epilogue if the final chapter gets a good enough response.

Thank you to everyone who has stuck with me this far.

~Lady Toorima