Here's chapter 7. It's not a very nice chapter, there's angst and a very unexpected turn of events but I hate the number seven so it's what this chapter deserves. SEVEN MUST DIE! Oh and I apologize for taking so long. .; I was pissed about missing MAC and then I was traveling to my grandmothers. Yeah pathetic excuses but please don't yell at me.
Disclaimer: I'm out of 'creative' ideas so here it is plain and simple. AHAHAH! SIMPLE AND CLEAN IS THE WAY THAT YOU'RE...okay sorry random reference. I DO NOT OWN NARUTO OR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS THEREIN AS DEMONSTRATED BY THEIR OOCNESS!
Sakura POV
I woke up in a familiar setting; the hospital. Instead of looking after patients however, I was a patient. After a few quiet minutes when I tried to discern why I was there, Tsunade walked in. Clearly she didn't expect me to be awake for when she saw I was her face blanched and then grew angry. Now, if you have ever met Tsunade-shishou you will know just how scary her face is when she is enraged. I shrank back from her fury and watched in fear as she stepped out of the room. Barely any time had passed before she re-entered with my parents trailing her. They too had angry looks on their faces which I contributed to me being missing for the last couple of days. A moment passed in which I sensed they were gathering their fury together and then the tidal wave of anger broke over me.
"How could you be so stupid?" That was Tsunade. I flinched back from the power she put into her voice and tried to fathom what she could mean.
"Stupid, stupid. I thought you were more responsible than that Sakura. I have to say I'm extremely disappointed." My parents were just watching with withering looks as Tsunade continued to lecture me on my disappearance. I wet my lips and tried to defend myself but Tsunade cut in before I could speak.
"Were you even thinking? Do you have any idea as to how your parents are feeling? How I feel? What about your honor? Did you just decide to toss that aside too? I hope you know you've tarnished the name kunoichis. I'm so disgusted." Her condemnation saddened me, but I felt it was very unjust. Why should it matter if I had been missing for a few days? It wasn't like Madara had attacked because the hospital and what I could see of Konoha outside my window was still there. But as with all her lectures, Tsunade refused to give me any time to respond.
"This will reflect back on me because you're my student. Sakura...how could you?" She humphed and stomped out of the room, giving the stage to my parents. Their anger wasn't as bad as hers but it still hurt.
"I thought we raised you to be responsible and have values. I was against your being a kunoichi because I was afraid this would happen but your father managed to convince me otherwise. I hope you're happy you've proved him wrong and ruined our faith in you." My mother turned her face away as if the very sight of me pained her. I met my father's eyes and saw that what she had said was true. They had no trust whatsoever left in me.
"Mother...I know I was missing from home for a few days but aren't you overreacting? I used to be gone all day on missions so why is this a big deal?" They exchanged a look after hearing my reasoning and I saw their features soften. I still how no idea why they were so mad but if they were calming down I could roll with it. A tentative smile inched across my face but faded as my mother approached me with something akin to pity in her eyes. After sitting on the side of my bed, she took one of my hands and starting stroking it to sooth me. My father left the room and as he did I saw a tiny bit of fear on his face.
"Sakura...you really don't know?" Her voice was soft and gentle with a slight tinge of worry. I shook my head, confused beyond words. She sighed at that and pulled me into a hug and just as quickly pulled back and uttered the two words that would change my life forever.
"You're pregnant." I stared at her in complete horror. I could not be pregnant. No way. It had been my first time! You aren't supposed to get pregnant when you lose your virginity. Tears spurted out of my eyes and I let her pull me into another hug as sobs racked my body.
Pregnancy. I had gotten the talk some years ago but it had seemed so unreal back then. Like it didn't apply to me. And...everything that came with the pregnancy. Morning sickness, the actual giving birth. I was in for a lot of pain it seemed. Just thinking about it made me cringe even though I should be used to pain; if you're going to be a ninja you have to be prepared to get hurt. But I had always had people surrounding me, protecting me so that I had grown lenient and let myself forget the sharp stabs that would send screams ripping up your throat.
I'd have to tell Naruto too...oh. I wondered how he would feel about that, being a father. I wondered if he would give up the stupid idea that he had to be the one to fight Sasuke if he knew he had a son. I wondered many things there in my mother's arms and at long last I came to terms with this new development. There was nothing I could do anyway, what's done is done.
Slowly I pulled back from the hug and looked into her green eyes, so similar to mine. She must have seen something in mine for she stood and straightened her dress before walking out with a slight goodbye wave of her hand. I knew she would be back to go over every detail of her pregnancy with me and I sighed at the thought of getting more information. Truth be told, I hated going into the unknown. It scares me to know that you have no idea what's going to happen; that anything is possible. But I would know what was going to come next, I would be prepared and armed with the knowledge that not everything was in fate's hands. Sinking back into my pillow I let my eyes drift shut and my maternal instincts to take over.
The thought of a child thrilled me. I suppose maternal instincts had something to do with that but seeing his eyes in a child, or his hair...well it'd just give me something to hold onto in case the worst happened. And playing every day with that child, watching it grow and mature and follow in it's father's footsteps. I shuddered in delight and kept up my fantasizing until the door banged open and disturbed my tranquility. As I shot up from an adrenaline rush, I saw Tsunade standing framed in the doorway. A weak smile crossed my face, but her glare banished that and she slammed the door just as loudly as she stepped in. I had no idea what to expect so I just watched her pace back and forth, taking a swig from a bottle every now and then. Just as suddenly as she had entered, she sat down and began interrogating me.
"So who's the father? I assume Naruto, but I guess you can't really be trusted to just lay with one guy." Insinuating that I was a slut pushed me over the edge and I snapped back at her.
"Are you so out of it that you see yourself in me? The father IS Naruto and we only did it once. I'm glad you have so much faith in me, maybe I should sleep with everyone in Konoha just to prove you right." She leapt up at my first sentence and her anger grew with each succeeding one. It was truly frightening to look into eyes that held the knowledge of your death but you had to be obstinate with her to get your point across.
"Sakura, I'm sorry. It's just a really stressful time for me and with all that's happened...well I overreacted. I guess it's okay that he's the father but did you even think about the consequences?" Her tired eyes bore into mine and I knew the worst was over. Somehow she had kept control over herself and I smiled at her to ease the lingering tension.
"I can still work, there's no need to put me on maternal leave until it starts to show." My smile grew brighter and she had to laugh at my determination and commitment. We shared a companionable silence until Kakashi walked in and took her away. I wanted to follow and hear about what was happening but I knew I needed to free up this room for someone more needy. When I pulled myself out of bed I had to wait a moment for the dizziness to fade and then I walked out, down the hall, down the stairs and to the front desk. After informing them that that room was open I walked out in a daze of happiness. It was a wonderful thing to know that you carry the life of the one you love in you.
As I tottered down to my parent's house I thought again about what this turn of events boded for the future. Then my mind lit on a embarrassing thought, I'd have to tell all of my friends. I wondered how they would take the news; if I'd have to punch some faces to get rid of the knowing smirks that would pop up. Stupid bastards, always expecting the worst of people. It would take awhile for them to adjust to Naruto's and my dating status but screw them. I'm young and in love so they can do whatever they want.
I was nearing my house when who but Sai steps out of the shadows of an alley. He has that annoying fake grin on and I feel like punching him. But if anyone deserves to know that I'm pregnant, it's the fourth member of team 7. I open my mouth while assuming a righteous look before deflating as I consider the consequences. Could I really stand all those stares condemning me to be nothing more than street trash that got knocked up by the hero? Yeah of course I could but there wasn't any need to put myself through that, was there? And word might somehow get to Naruto which would be unbearable. I selfishly wanted to be the one to tell him he was a father, that he would some be able to make another connection in this messed up world. Yes, I wouldn't tell anyone until Naruto had been told, by me.
"So...what's been happening?" In my grief over Naruto's absence I hadn't kept up with what was going on with the alliance. I suppose I would've heard if something had gone wrong but it stills doesn't hurt to be informed.
"You're hiding something. What are you hiding? It's clearly made you very happy but I can't think what it is." My smile drops off my face and I glare at him in apprehension. There's no way I was going to let Sai figure out my secret.
"I gotta get home. See ya." With that abrupt farewell I run the last block and open the door to my house, thinking to myself he's way too observant for me to be safe around him. So I trudge up to my room, suddenly burdened with the knowledge that I might not be able to hide this from everyone. That thought keeps me from relaxing, even through a hot shower and dinner preparations and harmless, happy shatter with my parents. It keeps me up all night and when I woke up in the morning I realized I had to do something. But I had no idea what.
I set off for the hospital after another shower and spend my whole day half day dreaming and half alert. Then, just as my shift ended and I sent a patched up kid home, I struck gold. There was a way I could be separated from my age group long enough for Naruto to come back. A mission. And not just any mission, I would beg an information gathering one from Tsunade so I would only have contact with her when I gave my reports. Thusly determined I marched up to her paperwork study and rammed my fist into her door. It splintered slightly but Shizune opened it without it breaking so I must not have done too much damage.
The sight of Tsunade-shishou scared me. Or rather, deeply concerned me. Bags sagged under her eyes, her hair hung in disheveled strands and her eyes were bleary from being deprived of sleep. She looked close to dead and yet there were mounds of paperwork still laying on her desk. I cleared my throat and told her about my request. Well it was more like a demand. She refused saying they needed me here, ready to call in case another mission required a healer or a battle took place and the hospital got flooded. No matter how I begged and threatened she remained obstinate and I gave one last try.
"Please let me go. I'll take someone with me. I just need to get away from here, I don't want to have everyone staring at me like I'm some cheap whore when the fact that I'm pregnant gets out. You have to understand. Please!" My begging seemed to make her more irritable and she rapped out no yet again and went back to whatever paperwork I had interrupted. I sagged in defeat but then straightened up and threw a threat in her face before departing.
"If you won't give me your condolences, I'll just have to do it without your permission." Shizune protested at that but I was already gone, racing back to my house and packing everything I'd need in a bag. A scribbled note was left for my parents and then I marched out to the gate. The sentries accosted me but I assumed my most haughty tone and told them I was on a classified mission that could not be disclosed to anyone. They let me pass after exchanging puzzled looks and I was home free. Home free with no idea where I was going except that it was away from here. A smile crossed my face at the thought of the impending alone time that I would have. Freedom tastes delicious when it's not permitted.
Yay...so that's it. I seem to be throwing in a lot of plot twists in my stories now...eheh. Ah well so Sakura's run away, Naruto's still away and Sai suspects subterfuge. Review and the suspense will be alleviated sooner! ;P
