To Love and to Love Again Chapter 39: The Burden of Love
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER AND AUTHORS NOTE: I do NOT own Naruto. The awesomeness of the Naruto Manga and World is the creation of Masashi Kishimoto. This is Purely Fanfiction. All things Medical in this entire fanfiction should not be taken as serious medical advice or facts. PLEASE CONSULT AN ACTUAL DOCTOR FOR ANY MEDICAL INFORMATION/QUESTIONS. THANK YOU AND ENJOY!
There was only one word to describe the sequence of events following the mission: Bedlam.
A full scale investigation was launched into the current Sound Operation takedown. Every Agent was interviewed and cross examined to eliminate any potential accomplices of Danzo Shinamura. No question was left unasked and no avenue of possibility was left unexplored. The task took a grueling three weeks to accomplish before the CIA was satisfied that Danzo had acted alone in the matter.
That's not to say that his plans hadn't left a deep impact on the agency's leaders and Special Agents.
The CIA was meant to protect and serve the nation from danger. That's why the organization only recruited the most extraordinary of people to bear the burden of protecting citizens from evils the world may never know were there. Yet one of their own was responsible for countless deaths, all in the name of power.
What made it worse was that the biggest victims were also one of their own. That was the hardest truth to accept, and days of speculation and questions ultimately warranted the need for the findings of the investigation to be presented to those it affected the most.
And so, three weeks post incident, the best of the best the CIA had to offer sat in their command center, eagerly awaiting the news.
"What the hell is taking them so long?" Tenten asked to no one in particular as she toyed with a senbon needle between her fingers. She was eager to get back to the nursery and check on her children. Ino felt the same way, as the residual distrust of the agency lingered and parents were still paranoid about their children's safety.
"It's taken them this long just to compile all their info," Neji remarked. "Whatever they have to say to us will not be easy to absorb."
"No kidding captain obvious," Kiba retorted from the other side of the room. Neji didn't even bother glaring at the jab, although he did notice Tenten point the senbon toward Kiba in a threatening manner. Kiba noticed as well and shifted in his seat.
"It's been three weeks. As if we haven't waited long enough," Ino huffed. "We know it's going to be intense but sitting here and waiting for nearly forty-five minutes is pushing it."
"Be patient," Yamato ordered from his spot standing by the wall. The room was filled to capacity with Agents, who were getting more hostile by the minute. "When something this close to home occurs, it takes a while to process. It's happened before and it's always worse when history repeats itself against our best efforts."
Shikamaru leaned back in his seat and sighed. "Nothing about our line of work is ever pleasant or easy to handle," he commented, wishing beyond anything he could take a much needed nap. "But keeping us all waiting like this is such a drag."
Gaara showed no reaction to that statement. He and his siblings were also asked to participate in the meeting since he had been involved in the initial investigation. Kankuro and Temari flanked him as they leaned against the opposite wall, assessing their Tokyo branch colleagues with amusement.
The table consisted of Neji, Tenten, Rock Lee, Shikamaru, Ino, Chouji, Shino, Kiba and Kurenai. Asuma, Yamato, and Guy stood behind them by the wall. All of them added to the hum of voices as they waited for the meeting to start.
Gaara let his gaze linger on Naruto as he sat by his wife Hinata on the other side of them. He was just staring pointedly at a spot on the table in deep thought. Though the room was pretty full, there were still some notable people absent from this meeting, namely Sasuke and Sakura. That must have been weighing heavily in Naruto's mind.
The door finally opened, gaining everyone's silence as Tsunade, Shizune and Kakashi entered. Surprisingly enough, Kakashi took a seat by Naruto instead of leading the meeting. Beginning this ordeal was all on Tsunade.
"I have the fun task of letting you all know what's been going on," she began. "I advise you to brace yourselves."
Tsunade looked over the sea of people before her and took in a deep breath before saying "This past year has been a slow progression into what had escalated into the event three weeks ago. After a thorough investigation, we soon came to realize that this occurrence was actually years in the making."
"It was at the height of the Orochimaru's take down," she continued. "Danzo Shinamura had been lobbying to be the leader of the CIA for quite some time. He created the ROOT division of our Black Ops unit and thought that would give him the edge. But Kakashi had become leader at that point and was fully invested in the Sound Operation. Danzo thought the quickest way to eliminate Kakashi was through his daughter."
Naruto tightened his fist on the table, tensing for what was coming. Hinata held onto his hand in reassurance. Kakashi listened with a quiet demeanor, oddly detached from what was being said.
"That's when Sakura became the center of this mess," she continued. "In his own sick little way, Danzo wanted Sakura's end to come from her father. That's why he made the offer to Kakashi to use one of his ROOT Division Agents as a guard for Sakura. What we didn't know was that Sai was a Black Ops assassin. His mission was to kill Sakura Haruno at an opportune time during the Orochimaru investigation. Since the mission lasted nearly two years, Sai was never given the signal to kill her until later," she said before giving off an odd smile.
"By some miracle, or something inexplicable, Sai fell in love with her. That's another story and no one but Sakura and Sai will know of it. But Sai knew of Danzo's real motives and since he refused to kill her, he was forced to carry out ROOT missions under the table. He quit the CIA when his son was born, but we had no idea that Danzo was forcing Sai to do his bidding by threatening Sora's safety."
Naruto's fist turned white from the pressure of clenching so hard at that news. He was flooded with memories of the night Sai asked him for help to protect his family. To carry such a burden alone without anyone to turn to must have been hell. Regret was heavy in all their hearts for Sai's life.
Kakashi noted the tension radiating from Naruto and understood what must have been running through his mind. Naruto viewed every Agent in the CIA as a friend and would go to any lengths to help them. Those who break the rules are scum. But those that abandon their friends are worse than scum. It was the most important lesson Kakashi had passed onto Naruto, who had passed it on to everyone else in the room.
The mantra must have been playing in everyone's head at that point, judging from the guilt he could sense from each of them. He also knew that whatever his fellow Agents felt, it paled in comparison to the guilt Kakashi would carry for the rest of his life.
"It needs to be told just how extraordinary of man Sai was," Tsunade continued. "I did some digging into Danzo's training methods for ROOT. His goal was to strip each individual of their emotions, humanity, and even their sense of self in order to have the capacity to carry out the most inhuman tasks without question. He accomplished this by recruiting orphaned children, training them in pairs and letting them intentionally form close bonds…," she said, her words heavy with implication for what was next. "…he then forces them to a battle to the death with the only person they have ever been able to love."
"Oh God," Ino whispered, thinking how devastating this would be for Sakura to learn. Shikamaru squeezed her hand under the table knowingly.
"When Sai was given the task to kill Sakura…I have no doubts that exactly what he intended to do," Tsunade sustained. "That is until he got to know her. She was unknowingly able to bring him back to life. We all saw how he had changed around her. Sai chose to protect his new family and stay as far away from the CIA as possible…but he had always known of Danzo's plans to betray the agency for the Sound Organization. For the sake of his wife and son, as well as all of us, Sai confronted Danzo and lost his life."
Guilt continued to saturate the room with the news.
"Did we ever find out Sai's cause of death?" Neji asked after no one spoke for minutes. "I recall that it was under mysterious circumstances."
"I'm curious as well," Shikamaru added. "I wasn't able to find anything conclusive when you asked me to look into his death a while back."
Tsunade nodded. "Danzo implants ROOT Agents with something known as a Binding Seal. It's a paralytic agent implanted in all ROOT Agents that can be activated at will. This was more of an insurance to keep Agents in line, and the evidence wouldn't have shown on an autopsy. In the end, his cause of death was cardiac arrest from paralysis. He did not suffer."
That news however did nothing to lessen the impact of the situation. Tsunade cleared her throat, determined to set everything straight soon.
"After that, Danzo got in touch Kabuto Yakushi and aided him in kidnapping hundreds of people to use for his regenerative and other biological experiments. Their association has yet to be fully understood, but it's suspected that Kabuto was also a member of ROOT at some point in his childhood before he turned over to the Sound Organization. He is also responsible for Danzo's crazy ass arm that wasn't fun dissecting. The cherry blossom on top of all this is Sakura once again," she said wryly. "Kabuto just happened to be obsessed with her medical prowess and chose her to be the ultimate body to use for his experiments. The kicker? The sick fuck was trying to revive Orochimaru and use her as a vessel," she huffed as her control over her emotions began to waver. She really needed a drink after this.
"Holy shit," Kiba muttered as the room became even more tension filled.
"Do you suppose it would have worked?" Shino asked. In unison, everyone turned to stare pointedly at him. He straightened in his seat and said. "I only ask because the remnants of Kabuto Yakushi's body we recovered contained a partial foreign body that resembled Orochimaru. Why? Because he tried to use himself as a vessel, before he realized he needed a woman."
"Jeez Shino," Kiba exhaled.
"No, it wouldn't have worked, but not because of why you may think," Tsunade answered. "On some level, Kabuto knew it wouldn't. That's why he decided to kidnap Sora and Suki. Danzo saw his chance to dangle the bait in front of Kabuto by getting him into that conference. When Kabuto ran into them at the Gala last Christmas, he assumed they were twins; Uchiha twins to be precise. What he wanted to accomplish was to build the vessel Orochimaru had wanted for himself, which was a body with the Sharingan."
Gaara, who had remained silent long enough, decided to chime in. "What is the status of Sasuke Uchiha?"
Tsunade resisted rolling her eyes. "I was getting there," she answered. "Sasuke has been in the custody of Black Ops since the mission ended. He's been subjected to our interrogation unit with Ibiki and answered all questions we had about his involvement in all this. The only reason he was cooperative though was to gain access to the children and aid them in containing their Sharingan."
"How are the children?" Kurenai asked with concern. The things she heard about what they had endured was frightening.
Tsunade chanced a quick glance at Kakashi, who had taken to staring pointedly at the table along with Naruto. She knew he was reaching his wits end with this mess, particularly with the kids.
"Suki Uchiha has since gained control over her Sharingan," she began. "Itachi Uchiha has been seeing to her training, at first to subdue it, and then gain as much control over it as a young girl could. Now that she's unleashed it, Suki will need constant training to control her abilities. Over all, she doesn't seem to have sustained any physical damage. Ibiki has worked with her to gauge her psychological state in regards to her kidnapping. With therapy and close monitoring, Suki will be fine."
"And Sora?" Yamato asked. The tension in the room was almost palpable. Most of the Agents had witnessed Sora's state that night and feared what she would say.
"It's a miracle he survived," she answered truthfully. "Sora was subjected to a massive transfusion process that has since permanently altered his DNA. His rare type AB blood acted like a sponge, enabling him to accept Suki's blood and the amenities that come with it. He is now the only member outside the Uchiha family to naturally possess and wield the Sharingan. He was also branded with Orochimaru's curse seal. The properties of the curse haven't been fully researched, and we had no idea how to proceed with stabilizing Sora, let alone extract it if possible. There was only one person with both the Sharingan and the curse that could help him…and so Sasuke was charged with teaching Sora how to control himself."
The room began to hum with disbelieving voices, forcing Tsunade to raise her own to silence them. "Calm yourselves. Sasuke Uchiha may be one of the most dangerous criminals we have in the bingo book, but he's also a father. We had absolutely no choice but to allow this for Sora's sake and it did pay off. Sora has since been declared stable. Like Suki, he'll need constant training and psychological evaluations to gain control over his abilities. Sasuke is a vital part in both children's future and their full recovery."
"Will Sasuke be tried for his past crimes?" Asuma asked. "His role in all of this fills in a lot of gaps from the Orochimaru investigation."
"Sasuke will be faced with a trial, and everything we learned will be considered in regards to his fate," she answered. "Sasuke is facing charges for serious crimes, and I couldn't even begin to guess what the outcome of all this will be. But thus far, he's been compliant and forthcoming. The only thing he couldn't answer was Shin's hatred toward him."
"Whatever became of Sai's brother?" Gaara asked.
Tsunade inhaled deeply, wishing this was over. "Danzo lied when he said he had killed Shin. We recovered him in the aftermath of the explosion. He was a good enough distance away to avoid the worst of it at the time. We treated him here at the base for as long as we could, however it wasn't enough. He succumbed to his illness."
"…When?" Ino asked.
"Last night," she answered. "We'll never know how Shin became a part of this mess, or what made him turn around and aid Sakura in her escape. Those secrets died with him, and I wouldn't put it past Sakura to continue keeping us in the dark. She's the only one that knows now."
The mention of Sakura brought on another wave of silent apprehension.
"How is she?" Naruto asked as he spoke for the first time since the meeting began. In the three weeks since Sakura and the children had been brought back to the CIA, none of the other Agents had access to see her, or check up on her condition. This wasn't due to protocol. It was because Sakura herself refused to see them.
"She was barely well enough to stay with Shin and tried to nurse him back to health even in her condition. But she knew it was hopeless. When Shin finally passed, Sakura had had enough of her lockdown here and we decided it was best to let her go home when she began threatening her security guards. Bunch of whimps," she muttered remembering how they nearly cowered in fear before her.
The guys who witnessed Sakura's dojo adventure begged to differ. They couldn't blame the guards for being scared of her. Not only was she strong, she was the boss's daughter. If she didn't do them in, Kakashi would.
"Was she in any condition to go home?" Naruto asked with concern. They all remembered just how broken and beaten she looked that night.
"Not entirely," Tsunade admitted. "But she is a doctor, and one of the worst patients I've ever encountered. Her pride was just as injured and I don't think she could handle being here any longer. The worst of her injuries have healed and I know she'll do what she must to recover at home."
"And Sasuke?" Naruto asked. "Does he know she's gone?"
Tsunade sighed. This meeting was slowly digressing into non-essential information. "He's been informed of her decision to go home. We're not done with Sasuke by a long shot, and he knows this. He also knows the children are with her. Itachi has been tasked with watching over them until further notice, and before you all ask, he's been cleared of any involvement in all of this," she said, knowing full well that Itachi must have been a major player in the background, but somehow managed to cover his tracks to the point where they couldn't accuse him of anything. That was frightening in itself, but they didn't need to know that.
"It's all too much," Naruto lamented. "She's already had to endure everything crumbling around her. How is she going to handle it when she learns about all this? Not to mention the truth behind Sai."
Unfortunately for her, Tsunade knew exactly how Sakura was going to handle it. "There's a reason we were late beginning this meeting," she replied. "Everything I have just said to you, I said to her first. I owed her that much at the very least. I don't know how long it will take for her adjust to all this information, but I suggest that those of you that know her personally wait until she's ready to come to you."
They didn't like that suggestion, but they didn't have a choice. Sakura had a lot of thinking to do, and they only hoped that forgiveness was in there somewhere.
Kakashi left the meeting and headed straight toward the ANBU Interrogation Unit. Everyone moved out of the Commanders way as he marched through the agency, well aware of where he was headed and why. It had become his daily routine to go down there and get an update on what they had gathered in regards to their newest captive.
The gossip spread like wildfire when Uchiha Sasuke was brought into custody, but it wasn't only because of his criminal history. It was due to the shocking sense of déjà vu when it came to his involvement with the Commanders daughter, Sakura.
The irony of a doctor falling in love with two different assassins, both of whom had saved her life was almost too much to take in.
Kakashi ignored the talk as best he could, but knew it was to be expected. Things like this didn't happen every day. This particular day was exceptionally exhausting and he wanted to get it over with quickly.
He suddenly found himself flanked by two bodies. "There you are!" Guy exclaimed dramatically. His voice echoed in the acoustic halls.
"No need to shout Guy," Asuma said dryly.
"Do you two need something?" Kakashi asked without breaking his stride.
"We're just here for insurance," Asuma replied as they approached the Interrogation Unit. They nodded at the two guards who allowed them access and went into the darkened corridor where Ibiki was there to meet him.
"There doesn't seem to be any more we can get out of him," Ibiki said, forgoing a greeting. "He's confessed to everything we've asked and complied with demonstrations of his abilities."
"Something none of us will ever forget," Kakashi replied, thinking back to the day they had Sasuke reveal all the abilities he acquired from the Sound organization.
"He's been subjected to all of the tests from the medical research team as well," Ibiki continued. "All that awaits him now is the trial."
"And he'll get his day," said Kakashi. "Everything regarding the agency has been done. Now I have a personal matter to settle with him."
Ibiki shifted, sensing the underlying tone in his words. Kakashi wasn't speaking as the Commander, but as a father. Asuma and Guy picked up on it as well.
"Should we be concerned?" Asuma asked.
Kakashi almost sighed. "I'm not going to kill him, if that's what you're worried about," he answered vaguely.
"What we're worried about is you losing your youthful cool again," Guy admitted. "Why do you think we're here?"
Asuma and Ibiki shifted uncomfortably again. Kakashi didn't respond to Guy's obvious reference to the incident with Sai all those years ago. This may have been similar, but the foundation couldn't have been more different.
Kakashi had been tight ball of tension for the past three weeks. Now that Sakura and the children weren't at base anymore, he needed to settle things with Sasuke now. The father in him wouldn't rest until he did. He was never one to make the same mistake twice, and this time he had too much to lose to let history repeat itself.
The image of a broken and bloodied Sakura was forever burned into his brain. He felt like a failure as a father and no amount of saying otherwise would reach him. Doing what was best for his daughter had always come first. He had sacrificed so much time from her to protect her but at what cost? Try as he might, he had missed much in her life. She grew up in the blink of an eye…and he wasn't the only man in her life anymore.
His daughter's heart was in the hands of Uchiha Sasuke. He needed to make sure those hands wouldn't break that fragile heart any more than it was.
Asuma placed his hand on his shoulder before saying "Just don't kill him alright?"
Kakashi gave them a look, but otherwise said nothing as he walked past them and into the interrogation room. Ibiki gave him the courtesy of turning the viewing and listening capabilities off.
Whatever Kakashi and Sasuke had to discuss, they would never know.
Anko took reprieve in Kakashi's office as she waited for him to return. She couldn't stand the gossip mill the agency had become and frankly she had more important things to worry about. When he returned from his meeting with Sasuke, Kakashi was no worse for wear. Anko raised a brow from her spot on his couch. She expected him to come back with a bruise or two at the very least.
"Well what do you know? You can control yourself," she said amazingly.
Kakashi sighed. "Did everyone think I was out for blood?"
"Pretty much," she replied with a smirk.
He crouched down before her and watched as she held their sleeping boy. "How's he doing today?" he asked warmly.
Hatake Obito was born exactly five minutes after they had gotten back from the retrieval mission. For once, Kakashi had made it just in time for the birth of his son. He was an array of negative emotion with this investigation, but he didn't think it was remotely possible to be even more content at the same time, until now.
"I think he's still trying to read my mind and figure out who I am," she answered seriously. "We've been having staring contests more often than not."
Obito was the spitting image of his father with pale spikey hair, dark lazy eyes, and an air of quiet mystery in his expression. He was still too young to determine temperament, but he was already showing signs of superior intellect (or so Anko claimed when he reached for one of her dangos instead of his bottle). Obito's birth only strengthened his resolve to finally do right by his children.
"At least he got to meet his sister," Kakashi commented. "Right now, I think he's the only one she doesn't have a problem with."
Just before Sakura left the agency, she surprised them both by stating that she wanted to meet her little brother. The atmosphere between them was still tense, but put on hold just for Obito. Kakashi was able to see a ghost of a smile for her brother before she left. His life had turned into quite the soap opera.
"I should tell Tsunade sooner rather than later," he muttered, placing his hand over Obito's head fondly.
"I suggest you wait till she's drunk enough to accept your decision," Anko advised, handing him the baby while she took a much needed break.
"Do you accept my decision?" he asked, watching her get comfortable on the couch.
"I expected it if that's what you mean," she answered, finally getting settled. "It's been on your mind for the past year. I'm just curious about what she'll say," she said just as a knock on the door was heard.
Tsunade entered his office, taking in the sight of them and raising a brow. "You look like you could use a drink," she said as she pulled out a bottle of sake from nowhere and smiled like she's already been drinking, which she probably has. She looked at Anko before giving her a smirk. "None for you," she said evilly. Anko was tempted to flip her off, but decided she needed that finger to function.
"That I do," Kakashi said. "But I wanted to talk to you first."
"Of course you did," Tsunade said. "Been doing a bit of thinking have you?"
Kakashi sighed. "I thought I was doing the right thing for Sakura by focusing on my work to keep to her safe. I've chosen my work over being with my child and that hasn't turned out the way I thought it would. My daughter deserved better from me. My son won't face the same neglect."
"Congratulations on your new child by the way," she said to the both of them. "I didn't deliver this one, but Shizune tells me he has promise."
"He'll get the chance, and more time from me," Kakashi promised looking down at the baby in his arms. "But Sakura is what started all this."
"…Sasuke as well," Tsunade added. "Are you prepared to handle his vow?" she asked, smirking at the surprise in his eyes. "You didn't think that encounter was a secret did you? I know everything that goes on around here."
That she does, he thought. He should have realized that years ago. He was never good with time. It seemed to just speed up and slow down as it chooses without ever giving him the chance to realize what was going on. He was always late for something, and no lamebrain excuse he came up with could save him from someone's wrath.
The first time he became a father, he was barely an adult and totally unprepared for it. Somehow his eldest turned out superb. The second time was also a surprise, but he learned a thing or two from his past. He wouldn't be making the same mistakes twice.
He looked down at his son and felt his resolve strengthen. He made his choice.
Tsunade watched him get lost in his thoughts. She knew what was coming, hence the Sake. "Do you ever feel like things happen for a reason?" she asked.
"Things happen because of something all the time," he responded. "On occasion we may discover a purpose for them, intended or not."
She stared at him exasperatedly. "…A simple yes would have sufficed," she muttered. "I'm talking about this entire situation from start to finish. Everything and everyone had some part in this scheme."
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about," he informed.
"I already handled your rehash session after you told Sakura. I can handle this too," she said.
He shook his head. "I'm not talking about just this one time. Danzo may be a lot of things, but he was right when he said it was time my reign as leader ended. It should have ended long ago and as a matter of fact I don't think it should have ever started. It's time I give more of myself to my family. I want you to take my place as leader."
A few moments of silence ensued as she processed his wish. Like she said before, she knew everything that went on in the agency and had a say in everything that was done here. She was leading, even when she didn't realize it. But for now, it was about releasing the burden from someone else and taking it upon herself.
What it came down to was this: would she be able to handle it?
Tsunade took in a deep breath and sighed. "…ah hell," she huffed before diving for the bottle.
The days that followed after the kidnapping were some of the most traumatic she had ever experienced. The entire first week was spent in the CIA hospital, and half the time she was either unconscious or sedated. She had to be treated for shock, exhaustion, dehydration, and numerous flesh wounds that were tempting infection. She was knocked out for three full days before she was able to fully wake up.
They told her everything they knew. Tsunade and her father had tag teamed to give her the run down and gauge her response to it all.
Sakura listened to all they had to say with stoic horror. She didn't know what kind of world this was anymore. It was surreal, and far more dangerous than she could have imagined. Each new bit of information implanted itself into her brain, strengthening her resolve to take her kids and get the hell out of there.
But there was one thing she had to do first.
She sat by his bed and held his hand tight. Shin was attached to every monitor they had, and Sakura was torn. She knew this was the end.
His was pale and sickly looking. Numerous injuries covered his body but she knew the real damage was on the inside. The toxicity had spread, and he was only alive now because of the machines. She tried everything she could to help him, even pleaded with Tsunade to find a way to save him, but it was no use.
The sound of his harsh breathing caught her attention. She looked up to find him staring at her. She tightened her grip on his hand as he assessed his surroundings. He was hooked up to machines, and he could barely feel his body. He looked to their clasped hands before assessing her.
She was also in a hospital gown and robe, sitting by his bed in a wheelchair. Her eyes bore into his in despair and suddenly Shin knew.
"I'm dead aren't I?" he asked quietly. Sakura's face fell.
"You're on life support," she answered. "You had gone too long without meds," she said letting a tear escape. Shin seemed amused.
"You're crying for me?" he asked as she wiped the tear away. "After everything I had done to you?"
"I just found you," she cried. "I don't want to lose you."
He seemed confused by that statement. She had his hand in a vice grip, surprising him with her strength. "I'm no loss to you Sakura," he stated.
"Yes you are!" she countered. "There was so much I wanted to talk to you about. I wanted to get to know you, I wanted…" she stopped, unable to continue.
"I almost killed you," he reminded. "Have you forgotten that?"
"You saved me," she whispered. "You saved my children. I wouldn't have survived without you. I owe you my life."
"You owe me nothing," he countered. "Not even your tears."
"You're getting them anyway," she said as they continued to fall. "This isn't right. I shouldn't have to lose you too. I wanted Sora to meet you."
The mention of his nephew struck a chord within him. "He shouldn't have to know what part I played in all this."
"Don't talk yourself down," she ordered. "You're his uncle; a link to his father. At the very least I wanted him to know you. He'll never know Sai, but he could have at least had you and known more about his family. I know you had your reasons for doing what you did, but I'm still going to thank you Shin."
Shin didn't know what to make of her. She was acting like she was going to lose her best friend, when he was her enemy up until the end. Seeing her there, crying for him and genuinely telling him he was family was an eye opener.
This one could make you forget what you were here for. She could love without boundaries, and suddenly it all made sense.
"I should be thanking you," he said to her surprised face. "I see now what my brother saw in you. You saved Sai's heart from emptiness. You gave him his humanity back. You gave him something to live for…and something to love. You saved my brother when I abandoned him. For that, I thank you," he said in a weakening voice. "Take care of my nephew. And take care…of Aya's daughter. She's yours now."
Sakura let the tears fall freely now, fully aware that he was reaching his end. "I will. I'm happy I got to meet you Shin," she said holding his hand close to her heart. His breathing began to dull, and a quiet calm was washing over his features. She stayed by his side for days after that, until he finally gave his last breath.
On the bedside table next to him, she laid down the small black book and let it fall open to the middle, where the two brothers had finally met again.
Sakura slowly opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. Tears streamed down her cheeks. The pain of losing Shin, so soon after meeting him, was raw and biting. She knew there was nothing she could have done. Losing him was a tragedy, and until she revealed the truth about him to all the others in the CIA, she would be the only one to think so. She knew they didn't see him the way she did.
It didn't matter anymore though. Shin was gone, and the only comfort Sakura would take for herself was the fact that he was now with the two people he loved most: his brother and his true love. She vowed that the moment she was able to, she would arrange for Shin to have a proper burial in Kyoto next to Sai.
Her thoughts began to wander and soon she found herself focusing on more pleasant things. So many secrets had made themselves known. One secret that she didn't mind was her little brother. Hatake Obito stole her heart the minute his wise little gaze met hers. He was almost a perfect copy-cat of their father, mysterious eyes and all.
She only hoped he wouldn't pick up on her father's habit of reading erotic novels. She knew about those, regardless of how much he tried to hide it. She was also properly introduced to Anko Mitarashi, and an unspoken agreement between the three of them was made right then and there. They wouldn't try to label this new family unit. They were what they were, awkwardness aside.
Movement next to her caught her attention. Sora had kicked off his portion of the blanket and shifted in an awkward position. A few more tosses and he'd fall off the edge. Suki also moved, but closer to Sakura, almost clinging to her midsection.
It was the strangest thing. Ever since she had gotten the children back, there was not one night where the three of them slept apart. In that time Sakura noticed that if one moved, the other would move as well almost in synch. They were so conscious of each other it was almost frightening, and when she thought of why this occurred it only validated that fear.
Sora had been transfused with Suki's blood. Suki's genetic abilities were therefore given to Sora, who had gotten not only the Sharingan but the curse seal as well. Her son now carried the very same tattoo mark at the base of his neck; another thing he had identical to Sasuke.
With the kids smothering her the way they did, she just couldn't get comfortable in any position. She lay in bed at Sasuke's home under Tsunade's orders to remain on strict bed rest. She didn't argue. After the hell she endured, she needed it. The sheer volume of all she had tolerated within the year had concentrated to the point where her mind was unable to cope.
Sighing, she looked to the children sleeping next to her in the large bed. She slowly got out of bed, deciding that talking a short walk would calm her back into sleep. She carefully tucked Sora back into place near Suki and kissed both their cheeks before heading outside.
The night was warm and balmy for June. She wore a short sleeve t-shirt and shorts. A little walking wouldn't do her any harm.
Sakura walked around the grounds at Sasuke's house and began to let her thoughts occupy her. The kids were asleep, safe and sound in their bed, and all immediate threats were gone. Everyone was safe. Nothing should have bothered her at this point.
Yet she was so restless.
She was relieved everything was out. There were no more secrets but she still had to pull tooth and nail to get it out of those that mattered. It would take time to adjust to all she knew, but she had the time to wait now. It would be better for her to diffuse the sense of betrayal that lingered.
The emotion she felt the most these days was anger, and not at whom she should be angry with. She was angry with herself.
She had entire list of people who were perfectly good targets for her rage: The entire CIA, Kabuto, Danzo, Shin, even Sai and Sasuke. All of them were suitable and more than deserving of her wrath.
Yet she was the one person she couldn't forgive.
It didn't take her long to reach that conclusion either. She had plenty of time to do nothing but think about anything and everything that's happened within this past year. How could she have been so blind?
How was it possible for one person to be the center of so much chaos? How was it possible to miss it? She was a brilliant doctor with a mind sharper than a scalpel, or so she's been told; a medical prodigy and leader in her field.
You would think someone like that wouldn't be so oblivious wouldn't you?
It was only to protect her. That's how they all justified it. But she was able to call it like it was. It was deception.
The romantic notion of leading a double life for the sake of your loved ones was only in TV. It lost all its appeal in the real world. They made her look like a fool; a weak, pathetic fool who had no say or control over her life. She was beyond angry now. She was pissed.
She paced in front of the Sakura tree in the yard. A mild breeze blew, as if the wind was trying to calm her down. Try as she might, she couldn't hold back the tears that fell down her cheeks. She could feel the emotional onslaught building and knew she was about to have a good cry. Damn her hormones.
She sat at the base of the Sakura tree and leaned against its trunk as the tears streamed down her face.
She had to find it in herself to forgive them all. She would have no peace until she did. Finding her place in this madness was crucial. If anyone thought she could just go back to her La-La Land life like nothing had ever happened they were dead wrong.
Her eyes had been opened to the insane dangers that roam this earth. The CIA was the only organization equipped to handle such evils, or the only one she knew of anyway. She respected the institution, and beyond that were the people that dedicated their lives to prevent the spread of evil.
Her friends were amazing people. She had a choice to make because there was so much more at stake than just her. She thought of Sora and Suki asleep in their beds. Instinctively, she placed a hand over her belly and held it there.
She was three and a half months pregnant by now.
New life was growing within her. When she was finally able to process her condition she realized that she was about eight weeks pregnant at the time of her capture. She must have conceived on the night of her birthday, just before the shooting.
If anything, she had to be strong for this new little one, whom she already loved the moment she realized she carried him or her under the trees with Shin. Her "baby bump" was making itself known at this point, but still very concealable.
Thinking about her new baby made her think about Sasuke.
He plagued her thoughts by day and haunted her dreams at night. She wanted him by her side. She wanted him to hold her and tell her everything would be alright, that he would never leave her again. But most of all, she needed him to tell her what she meant to him.
That was the one question she needed him to answer most.
No matter how angry she tried to be, she still loved him. She loved him more than she thought was possible to love someone. He meant everything to her, and the hurt of his abandonment lingered with the constant fear of never seeing him again.
She didn't know what was happening with him in the CIA. Her father had told her that unraveling Sasuke's past would take time. He needed to answer for his part in all of this, and as much as she wanted to protest there was not a damn thing she could do to stop them.
She needed to see him, yet she had no idea what she would say or do when she did. She was a whirlwind of emotions.
She stayed by the tree until she could calm herself. Getting worked up wasn't good for the baby, and after everything she had endured in the past three months, she needed to keep it together. She let her hands roam gently over her abdomen, as if to calm the little life within. The warm perfumed air from the tree blossoms and the gentle breeze helped her relax, lulling her to sleep within minutes.
She dreamed of Sasuke. She tried to recall everything about him: his touch, scent, voice, and those unending eyes of his; eyes that were watching her, even now.
Bare moments had passed before he decided to make himself known. He had been too absorbed into watching her pace about the yard, shaking with the need to go to her when she fell asleep against the tree.
He approached her and took in the sight with hungry Sharingan eyes that glowed in the darkness. He didn't think it was possible, but she was even more beautiful than he could ever remember her being. He knelt by her with his hand outstretched to finally make contact with her.
His hand settled on her cheek as his eyes processed every detail about her. She leaned into his touch as he caressed the side of her face. Instinctively, she shifted her hand over her abdomen protectively.
The center of his being filled with an emotion he couldn't describe. A loving and fierce protectiveness he had never known consumed him. Sakura had become more than he had ever imagined possible. She was his heart, his soul, his center.
And she belonged to him, as much as he belonged to her.
He had made her endure so much on her own by leaving her to make things right. But he still failed to protect her and their children. They barely escaped death and for that he would never forgive himself. But he needed her too much, and not even her anger toward him could keep him away from her any longer.
His thumb caressed the angle of her cheekbone, brushing just under her eyelashes. He wished she would open her eyes and let him get lost in emerald green. As if reading his thoughts, her eyes opened and blinked wearily as they focused on him. She looked at him tenderly and lifted her hand to touch his face.
"Sasuke," she whispered.
"Hn."
She gave him a weak smile and let her hand rest on his cheek. The feel of his skin under her fingertips along with her growing consciousness sent reality kicking in. Her eyes widened when she finally registered that he wasn't a dream. She looked around, remembering where she was, before shifting away from him.
Sasuke didn't appreciate the way she recoiled from his touch. She scrambled to her feet and put a good ten foot distance between them. He stood slowly and watched her gather herself. She looked completely rattled.
She couldn't believe what she was seeing. There he stood looking at her with those blood red orbs and dressed in the same black attire he had when he left.
"Sasuke?" she asked trying to get her heart rate back to normal. "What are you doing here? The CIA had you in solitary, or so they said."
"They did," he answered.
It took a minute before she realized he wasn't going to elaborate on that. She shook her head and crossed her arms. Not this again. "You escaped from the CIA?"
"Hn."
"…Are they going to come swarming over here to take you away? Or are you just going to disappear again?" she asked. The anger in her voice told him she wasn't going to forgive him for that.
"Sakura I had to go," he stated. "You know I had to if I was ever going to stop this."
"No," she said sharply. "No I didn't know what you had to. You didn't tell me anything! You don't get to justify your actions to me now. I know the all the who's and what's and whys of the disaster that's been these past few weeks. I know all of that now, after I was kidnapped. I went in there blind so I get to be mad Sasuke. I have that right!" she shouted. Seeing him here startled her emotions into overdrive.
"You need to calm down" he said assessing her carefully. She was getting too worked up.
His eyes scanned her form as he tried to control himself. The need to touch her was overpowering his thoughts but he had to listen to what she was telling him. It was time to pay his dues.
She was having an equally difficult time resisting him. She wanted him to hold her so badly it hurt, but she had to hold her ground.
Sasuke took a step toward her, then another when she didn't step back. He had closed half the distance between them before he spoke. "Did you think it was easy for me to leave you?"
"It sure looked that way," she answered. "Maybe you didn't want to, but you still…," she stopped and tried to control her feelings. "You didn't trust me."
"I couldn't risk your life," he said calmly. "You wouldn't have let me go without a fight."
She looked at him harshly. "Did it ever occur to anyone that telling me what was going on would encourage my cooperation?"
"No," he replied quickly. "You would have tried to help. You would have put yourself in the middle of everything."
"I AM in the middle!" she shouted. "I was always in the middle of it! Did you think I was going to jump in there and make myself a target? I have two reasons not to do that and they're asleep in their bed, hopefully dreaming of nothing but good things."
"Sora and Suki are the reason I couldn't risk telling you," he reasoned. "I needed you safe for them."
"Maybe you did," she whispered. "But that doesn't change the fact that this is about more than that Sasuke. I need you to admit that you didn't trust me. You still don't."
He sighed. "Sakura…"
"You don't Sasuke," she whispered again as tears welled in her eyes. The fact that there was little trust between them hurt more than she cared to admit. "You just don't. If you trusted me, you would have told me what was going on. You would have opened up to me about your past and everything you had to endure alone. Why couldn't you let me in? Why couldn't you let me help you with what you were going through?" she asked as the tears fell. "Did you think that I wouldn't help you carry that burden?"
"I didn't want you carrying any of my burdens," he answered. "There was nothing you could have done."
She closed her eyes, squeezing the tears out before looking at him dejectedly.
"Maybe that's what Sai thought as well," she thought, surprising him. "Maybe you and Sai have even more in common that you can imagine, beyond your face value. You both tried to do everything alone. You both have dark pasts you tried to bury then carry on your shoulders. You both tried to conceal everything you thought would hurt me. And then finally…you both left me; you left your children."
Sasuke grew tense as she compared him with Sai…because when she put it that way she was right.
"Sai died before Sora could remember him," she continued. "But I still had to explain his father's absence when was old enough to understand. Suki was the same with her mother, but I don't think she could have recovered from losing you at this delicate age. I will never be enough for her. She's always going to need you."
Sasuke looked at her in a way that sent warmth to her cheeks. "And I'm always going to need you," he confessed.
She looked at him as if she was lost. "Sasuke…"
"Everything I did was for you and the kids," he said. "Maybe it wasn't the best way, but I couldn't hold back anymore. I needed to find Kabuto and put an end to him. I had to protect you the only way I knew how. I had to become…" he stopped, not knowing how to tell her exactly what he was.
Sakura tensed when she thought about what she had seen that night, right before she passed out. Sasuke had…changed.
"What did you become?" she asked.
He didn't want to go there. It was the one thing he wished she would never see. How could he possibly explain that to her? She could see his hesitancy, but she needed to know.
"I became a monster," he answered. "I became something even I never imaged I could become. Orochimaru's curse seal manipulated DNA to the point where shape shifting was possible. I was…inhumane."
She looked at him confused. "But…how could that…"
"The line between possible and impossible is thinner than you know," he explained. "What I became that night, I will never become again if I can help it. I never wanted you to see that side of me. How could I hope to have you if you found out what I was?"
"You couldn't…" she answered. Her reply struck him like lightning, confirming his thoughts that she couldn't possibly want him. "There wasn't any hope for us, but not because of what you could do. It was because you doubted me. You underestimated me. You didn't think I was capable of understanding you. You doubted my love for you."
Sasuke didn't dare deny that, but it didn't ease the tension that washed over him at hearing her say it out loud.
"When I told you I loved you…it wasn't with empty words," she continued. "It wasn't just to keep you from going. It wasn't just to keep you around for my son and it wasn't just so that I could be there for your daughter. It wasn't anything but the truth Sasuke, and you didn't trust that it was."
She could see how tense he was becoming with each word. She needed to make him understand, no matter how hard it was for him to accept. She wiped her eyes and step toward him.
"To love someone is more than just saying the words. To love someone…means accepting the bad with the good. To love someone is the greatest joy you can imagine and the hardest thing to bear. I had the chance to love once. I never thought I could love again, until you. I need you to trust me. I am not much Sasuke…but my heart can't take another beating like this. I can't live a life of secrets anymore…I….," she wrapped her arms around herself, trying to keep her composure and failing miserably. She felt so exposed and raw. "I'm not strong enough for this," she whispered.
His eyes reverted back to black as he looked at her, amazed that she could think so little of herself. She, in all her faults and graces, was the only woman he had ever known to possess his heart this way.
He didn't know what it meant to be loved until she showed him how.
Sasuke couldn't handle the distance or her words any longer. He grabbed her surprised form and pulled her into his arms. All the emotion and time between them melted away as his eyes bored into hers.
Onyx met emerald, and their worlds collided.
Their lips met harshly as they caved into their emotions. Sakura's arms clung to his neck in a desperate hold as he parted her lips and swallowed her moan.
There was so much more to say, so much more to confess. But for now, they just needed each other.
When his hands grasped her hips roughly, she arched her back and groaned in pain. Sasuke immediately released her as if he had burned her. Sakura held her side tenderly, having forgotten the injury that was still healing there. She felt Sasuke's eyes on her side and turned before he could see it.
He wouldn't have any of it though. He grasped her shoulders carefully and turned her toward him.
His mind flooded with images of her broken and bloody form on the night of the attack. His eyes looked into hers, and suddenly he was determined to see just how badly she was hurt in all of this.
His fingers pulled at the drawstrings of her shorts. Her hand covered his, hesitant.
"Don't…," she whispered. The last thing she wanted was for him to see her scars.
He pulled her in and kissed her, eliminating all her thoughts of stopping him from his task. His kisses robbed her of control as he lifted her in his arms and proceeded to make his way back into the house, just as he had the first time they made love.
He took her into the closest downstairs bedroom and gently lay her down; unable to resist claiming her mouth again as he did so. He tugged at the strings and pushed her shorts down before his hands slid up and took her shirt with them.
Only when all barriers of cloth were removed did he finally see the remnants of her injuries. She didn't try to cover up, knowing it would be useless to hide the evidence of her physical pain from him. He knew they were there.
Moonlight from the windows cast an ethereal glow over her body. His hands caressed her right shoulder blade, where she was stabbed. He could feel the scar it left still smooth from healing. His fingers slid down to take hold of her wrists, where faint marks of being bound and cut remained. His hands shook as they travelled down her torso, smoothing down her sides until they reached her left hip, where the bullet barely missed her. The skin was healed over, but it would forever remain a scar.
He could feel his fury remembering the way that bastard Danzo played with her life. He remembered the way the gun slid down her form, stopping where it would hurt her most.
Sakura saw the rage and guilt filter through his bottomless orbs and felt her heart lurch at his pain. She reached up and placed her hand on his cheek, drawing his attention back to her eyes. Without words, she pulled him toward her and into a kiss that ignited their passion for one another.
He enveloped her in his strong arms, holding her close as his mouth devoured hers in aggressive rediscovery. This time there were no secrets between them.
The memory of his touch came rushing back to her senses as his hands left electric charges in their wake. His touches were feather light. He was being so gentle with her, as if she could break at any moment. He was mindful of every injury she had.
His lips trailed down her neck, his teeth scraping at her skin sending shivers down her spine as his hands found her sensitive breasts. She moaned while he kneaded her mounds, clutching at the cloth of his shirt. She finally had him back and she wanted to feel him again. Sakura grasped the bottom of his shirt and pulled upward, forcing him to break his hold on her neck to get it off. The moment it was tossed aside he pulled her toward him. Their bare chests collided as their lips smashed into each other once again.
His hands roamed down the planes of her back, stopping to grasp the flesh of her rear and hoist her up onto his lap so she straddled him. Her arms fastened themselves around his neck. The feel of his arousal rubbed against her trough his pants as she moved against it. He groaned at the movement, squeezing her closer to himself.
The action made her straighten her spine as the slight twinge from her gunshot wound spread. He released his pressure in fear of hurting her, but her arms stayed tight around his neck.
"Sasuke,"
"I don't want to hurt you," he groaned as his hands traveled over her skin.
"You won't," she whispered before kissing him. She could feel his hesitancy right alongside his desperate need for her. "I need you now."
Sasuke couldn't take much more. He leaned forward, taking care to cushion her head on the pillow before hovering over her. The sight of her beneath him, breathless and beautiful sent his heart hammering in his chest. She helped him remove the rest of his clothing before he leaned down and captured her lips in a deep kiss before plunging into her and absorbing her moan.
He stayed still, relishing the feel of being within her again. Her back arched as he kissed her senseless. Their lips barely parted as his hooded eyes locked onto hers, wishing he could only find the words to say what she meant to him. He moved slowly as he hovered over her, weary of all her healing injuries. The pace was driving him insane but he wouldn't let himself lose control.
Sakura breathlessly writhed beneath him with every move regardless of the slight twinge it brought her side. Tears sprung from her eyes at having him back in her arms at last. Her hands roamed the sinewy planes of his back. Her nails dug into his skin as the sensations mounted with every push and pull of their bodies.
He kissed the tears away, which only prompted her to spill more tears at how gentle he was being with her. He might not have told her how he felt, but he was showing her.
His hands traveled in opposite directions, one sliding down her side to caress her wound, the other tangling itself into her silken hair and inhaling the scent of cherry blossoms.
The heat from his hand soothed the delicate skin of her injury. Any discomfort she had felt before was melting away as the pleasure continued to build. Her breathy moans and sighs heated his blood until he thought he would go insane from holding back.
Until she grew just as impatient.
"Sasuke," she groaned. The sound of his name coming from her lips went straight to his heart. It was then, in the heat of the moment, where he found what he had wanted to say to her.
"I love you," he breathed. She gasped as her eyes opened wide in shock. He met her gaze even as they continued to move with each other. He just couldn't hold back anymore. "Sakura,"
"Say it again," she whispered. "If you meant that, say it again…"
"I love you," he repeated. She choked back a sob as the tears sprang and rolled down her face. She lifted her head and found his lips. Sasuke couldn't contain himself anymore and suddenly increased his pace. Passion clouded their minds as he forcefully thrust into her writhing form. Her head fell back against the pillow as her legs tightened around his waist. Her nails dug deep into his back as the room filled with the sound of their breaths mingling.
Sakura arched her back as she came with his name escaping her lips in desperate release. Sasuke's thrusts increased to a fever pitch as her walls enclosed around him, sending him over the edge soon after. He threw his head back with a groan and released his seed into her before lowering his head and consuming her gasping lips with his.
Sakura was overwhelmed with emotion. She couldn't stop the tears as they escaped down her cheeks. Her arms circled his neck, pulling him down until his full weight was upon her. He pulled out of her and wrapped his arms around her shaking form. He turned until he was resting on his side, bringing her close and locking her in his embrace.
Sakura's tears graduated into sobbing as he held her, which alarmed him.
"Are you-"
"You didn't hurt me," she choked, knowing what he was worried about. "You..." she continued to cry into his chest, unable to properly form any words. She clung to him as if her life depended on it. "I missed you so much," she whispered.
He raised her chin with his hand. He gazed into her teary eyes and saw all the hurt that had accumulated in the weeks they had been apart. It had been months since he had last held her. Her soft body pressed against his and surrounded him with her scent. "I'll never leave you again," he promised.
He wiped the tears from her eyes before pressing his lips against hers in a slow kiss meant to sooth away her anxiety. He could feel her heart pounding against his chest as her sobs quieted down and their gazes locked.
"I love you Sasuke," she whispered against his lips. Hearing her say the words to him again after all this time made him feel like he could do anything. She should have hated him for what he did to her yet here she was, safe and secure in his arms.
"I love you, Sakura. I always will," he promised. She smiled through fresh tears and buried her face in his chest.
The spent the next several minutes just wrapped in each other's arms. They knew there was more to talk about but the peace of the moment was too tempting to pass up. Sasuke couldn't stop touching her. His hands roamed her body possessively as if reclaiming what was his. His lips planted kisses all over her face and neck as he was rewarded with her sighs of pleasure.
Precious moments of peace passed as she settled herself against him. Her breathing evened out as he held her against his chest, and Sasuke assumed she had gone to sleep. It was a little past midnight and he must have exhausted her.
He used that time to think about what he would need to tell her. Kakashi had made him an offer he couldn't refuse, but he knew he might have some trouble getting her on board. He needed to get things settled soon. A few more minutes passed before he decided to let her get some proper rest. Maybe he could check in on the kids.
But Sakura wouldn't let him move away from her. She slowly opened her eyes. "I was just going to check on them," he said referring to the children upstairs.
"The minute they find out you're here, they'll be all over you and won't let me get in edgewise," she said with a smile that took his breath away. "They love you, and missed you more than you could ever know."
To a degree, Sasuke was glad he wasn't the one to see Sora and Suki grieve. He couldn't imagine what went through their minds or what Sakura had to endure to keep them happy. It was selfish, yet Sasuke was able to admit that had the roles been reversed, he wouldn't have known what to do with them.
He could see himself leaving them to their own emotional devices, causing them to be vulnerable to the darkness. It happened to him. But Sakura had a strength in her that surpassed him: her ability to love.
He only knew now what it meant to love. If he were to ever lose her, he knew he wouldn't be able to love again. She was his one and only.
Her hand came to rest gently on his cheek, drawing him out of his thoughts. She looked at him tenderly with her eyes hooded with love for him. "Promise me something," she whispered.
His hand clamped itself over hers and squeezed. "Anything."
Sakura smiled before looking away. "…If…if anything were to ever happen to me…"
"Nothing will happen to you!" he interjected forcefully once he saw her direction. "You won't leave me, I won't let you," he yelled, surprising her at the panic in his voice. "Is something wrong? Are you feeling ill? Are-"
"Shhhhh," she hushed before leaning up and giving him a solid kiss. He kissed her back desperately, the paranoia about her life unwilling to leave him. Sakura wrapped her arms around his neck and held on tight. "I'm okay. I didn't mean to upset you. I won't leave your side," she soothed. "Not willingly anyway. Sasuke, if it's one thing you and I both know it's that life is unpredictable. Life can end for any reason in the blink of an eye and sometimes there's nothing we can do to stop it."
"The hell we can't!" he shouted.
"Sasuke," she whispered. "There are some things we can't ever hope to control. It's one of the first things I learned to accept as a doctor. All we can do is stay strong, and rely on the people we love to help us get through it. If for some reason we had to go through that again…promise me that you will always be there for our children. Never leave them, emotionally or physically. Promise me," she pleaded.
"I promise, so long as you promise never to die," he returned.
"I've given birth before," she said soothingly, understanding his reason for fear. "I have high chance that I can do it again safely. Our baby won't hurt me."
Their baby, he thought.
The look in his eyes changed when she said that .They stared into each other's eyes, quickly getting lost within one another. For the first time since finding out, the two of them were able to savor the news.
"I'm pregnant," she whispered as if just discovering that fact.
"Hn."
"We're going to have a baby. I wanted to be the one to tell you," she confessed. "I didn't want you find out the way you did...," she said as a small shiver of fear took over at the memory of Danzo holding her at gun point.
Sasuke felt the pangs of leaving her return tenfold; finding out that she was pregnant when he left made it worse. Sakura knew he was struggling and was about to try to comfort him, when his hands slid from her sides to rest onto her small and barely rounded belly. He leaned down closer until he was grazing her womb, where she carried his new child.
The emotion that flooded his heart was all consuming.
Sakura's eyes watered when she saw him caress her small bump. She knew he had a tough exterior, but inside he was a father who loved his children more than anything. He kissed the small of her belly, gently grazing it with his nose as if saying hello to his unborn child.
He met her gaze and moved back up, kissing her soundly and taking her into his arms. Her back rested against his chest as his arms encircled her. His hand slid from her injured hip to rest protectively against her womb.
Sakura's eyes fluttered shut in exhaustion and happiness. She could feel his warm breath against her neck. Just before her eyes shut for the night, she heard him whisper into her ear.
"Sakura…thank you," he whispered. She felt him kiss the base of her neck and this time, she closed her eyes with a smile.
AUTHORS NOTE:
Happy Belated Valentines all!
Hello beautimous and most forgiving readers. I'm so sorry about this long update period. This chapter took forever to write, simply because I kept changing things and re-writing and changing things again. I was obsessive with this chapter and a little psychotic over Chapter 614 in the manga. Still won't spoil anything for those of you that haven't read it (but yeah I sat in a corner and rocked myself to back and forth to remain calm. Kidding. Lol?)
ANYWAY- There are only TWO MORE CHAPTERS LEFT of To Love and to Love Again. The epic conclusion awaits you all next. So please please please please please…..REVIEW! I LIVE FOR REVIEWS. Do it for Sora and Suki! Do it so I won't be so preoccupied going crazy of the manga! EGGS!