Love, Actually

Chapter 7

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Sakura and Hinata sat silently on the couch of Kagome's living room, slowly taking in the sight. There were unopened boxes of baby furniture strewn in one corner of the room, a heap of baby clothes dumped on the dining room table, a pile of books on pregnancy, babies and parenting stacked up beside the couch and the components of a self-assembled hanging mobile on the floor in front of the coffee table.

"Sorry for the mess," Kagome called out sheepishly from the kitchen. "If I knew I was expecting company I would have tidied up a bit."

"O-Oh no, Kagome-san!" Hinata insisted strongly, "It's us who should apologise for dropping by unannounced like this!"

Kagome let out a small laugh. "It's fine. I don't mind."

The sounds of tea preparation carried on from the kitchen and Hinata snuck a glance at her friend. Sakura was staring down at her lap in silence, wringing her hands uncertainly. She looked nervous, as if she were ready to bolt out of the door. Well, not if Hinata had anything to say about it. Until Sakura got herself ready, it was up to the Hyuuga heiress to fill up the hush.

"How's the baby, Kagome-san?" Hinata called out, asking the first thing that came to mind. She felt Sakura freeze next to her, and Hinata could have slapped herself for her thoughtlessness. Maybe, considering the circumstances, that hadn't been the best question.

"Healthy as a horse," Kagome replied cheerfully. "According to Kanzaki-san, everything is progressing normally."

"That's good…" Hinata couldn't just leave it hanging like that. "Then… have you decided on a name yet?"

"I have. But I don't want to spoil it for you just yet." Hinata could hear the grin in Kagome's tone.

"Ah, of course. I understand."

There were a few more clanking noises before Kagome finally stepped out of the kitchen, balancing a tray with three cups of hot tea and a teapot. Hinata immediately stood up to try and help her, but Kagome waved her off.

"No, I got it. This is my house and you're a guest. I should be serving you."

Hinata bit her lip. "But…"

Kagome smiled kindly. "I'm pregnant, not an invalid. I can still do normal things. I just have to take it slow but I'm fine Hinata-chan."

The Hyuuga heiress reluctantly took her seat again. Kagome kneeled in front of the coffee table and placed the cups and teapot on it, one by one. Then she tucked the tray under her arm and went back into the kitchen, returning quickly. She moved towards the loveseat situated near the couch and sat down slowly, her hand held over her stomach.

"Is something wrong Kagome-san?" Hinata couldn't help but ask worriedly.

Kagome shook her head with a smile. There was a hint of pain to that smile, but it was overshadowed by the love and pride. "No. I'm fine. The kicking is quite a lot today, but I can't say I'm complaining. A lot of kicking is better than no kicking. If there isn't any movement, it means something is wrong."

"Ah, I see…"

"Sakura…" Kagome called, startling the pink haired medic out of her daze. "I've been meaning to ask… Has Sasuke cleared things up with you yet?"

The woman swallowed. Cleared things up? "He has," she said with a weak smile. If you counted Sasuke giving her really elusive answers with no solid explanations, accusing her of being the reason why he started an affair and implying for a divorce so he could marry someone else.

Sure, her husband had cleared things up very nicely.

"I'm glad then." Kagome's smile turned relieved, and Sakura felt her heart turn to ice. "I've been trying to get him to tell you about the rumours for a while now so there wouldn't be any trouble, but you know how stubborn he can be. He kept on telling me that he didn't want to bother you with it."

Sakura stopped breathing. Did Kagome just say…?

"But I'm sorry that you had to find out the way you did," Kagome continued on, her hand now smoothing over her bulging stomach. "No one should have to hear people talking about their husband like that. Sometimes the way people gossip here just make me so angry…"

Sakura's hand started to tremble ever so slightly.

"Has he told you who the father is?" Kagome asked, closing her eyes. She looked a bit paler now, as if she was trying to ignore pain and Hinata couldn't help but let out a small frown of concern.

"Kagome-san…" she began worriedly.

"I'm fine Hinata-chan," the woman replied softly, letting out a slow breath. "Thank you for your concern though… Sakura, has Sasuke told you who the father is?"

"Yes," Sakura replied monotonously. Calm down Haruno, she told herself. Calm down calm down calm down…

"Oh. Then please don't be angry with Sasuke for keeping it from you. I'm the one that made him promise not to tell anyone. I'm also sorry for not telling you before, back in your office all those months ago. I just didn't want to put you in an awkward situation with me and him," Kagome explained. "I mean, you've known him for years and I didn't want you to think you would have to take a side—"

Kagome was cut off when Sakura slammed her fist on the coffee table, hard enough to cause a dent in the metal.

"S-Sakura?" she stuttered out. "What's wrong?"

The pink haired medic stood up and Hinata could see the anger in her teary eyes. She was shaking all over, like a bomb ready to explode. This wasn't good. With Sakura's temper and Kagome's vulnerable state, this definitely wasn't good.

"Sakura…" Hinata began.

Sakura sent a quick look to the Hyuuga heiress. "You stay out of this Hinata," she said, before turning back to Kagome, who was staring at her with wide blue eyes.

"What's wrong?" Sakura spat, glaring daggers at the woman. "What's wrong?! I'll tell you what's wrong Higurashi Kagome! You seduced my husband, slept with him and got pregnant! Then you lied to me about him and continued seeing him behind my back all these months! Tell me, was it amusing for you and Sasuke to make a fool of me like this? I bet you were both laughing at me for being so stupid!"

"Sakura? What exactly did Sasuke tell you?" Kagome asked with disbelief. How the hell did her the Uchiha manage to distort the truth to this?

"Don't play stupid!" Sakura snapped, moving to stand in front of the woman. "You know what he told me!"

"But I don't," Kagome replied, standing up. "Because it isn't true. I'm not having an affair with Sasuke. I have never slept with Sasuke." Her voice was calm. Even. It wouldn't do for her to lose her cool or panic.

No, it wasn't good for her pregnancy. She had to keep calm. Be logical and make Sakura see things her way.

"Don't you lie to me!" the pink haired woman said with a snarl. "Sasuke… He said I was the reason why he started an affair and he even asked me for a divorce, so don't you dare tell me you haven't slept with him!"

Kagome really wanted to hit Sasuke over the head with a heavy blunt object right about now.

"Sakura, listen to me… I don't know what Sasuke told you, but can promise you it's all just a misunderstanding. I am not having an affair with Sasuke. I have never slept with Sasuke. Sasuke isn't the father." Kagome said these words slowly, trying to penetrate through the fog of Sakura's rage. "The real father of my child is—"

"Stop lying to me!" Sakura finally yelled, and grabbed Kagome's shoulders, squeezing it tightly.

Kagome's eyes flashed briefly in pain. "Sakura. Please let go."

"No! Not until you answer me! Why? Why would you and Sasuke do this to me? How could you both do this to me? How could you seduce my husband I thought you were my friend! Tell me!" She asked furiously, shaking Kagome for emphasis. The blue-eyed woman opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Instead, she looked at Sakura with fear. Sakura was too caught up in her anger. She couldn't be reasoned to.

"S-Sakura! Please calm down!" Hinata begged, making her way over to the two women. Sakura ignored her. Instead, the pink haired medic continued yelling at Kagome to tell her the truth.

Hinata stared at the scene, wondering if she should intervene and forcefully separate the two of them.

Sakura's mental state was really delicate right now and it looked like she was even bordering on hysteria. Kagome on the other hand had gone terribly pale and it looked like she was going to throw up.

"Sakura please!" Hinata said. "Kagome-san doesn't look well! Please stop!"

Finally, Hinata's voice seemed to pierce through Sakura's rage. The woman stopped shaking Kagome and pulled back as if stung. She lifted her hands to stare at them with wide eyes, and then stared at Kagome. Sakura hadn't realised she had been doing that. How could she have handled a pregnant woman like that? How could she call herself a doctor?

She was interrupted in her thoughts when Kagome let out a small gasp of pain. Her hands flew over to her pregnant stomach and she sank to her knees. Her body started trembling and she moaned softly from the throbbing in her lower regions.

Sakura could only watch in shock but Hinata immediately kneeled by the woman's side. "Kagome-san! What's wrong?!"

"I don't know…" Kagome hissed out, closing her eyes. "But the pain is really bad now…"

"We need to get you to a hospital Kagome-san. And quick," Hinata decided. "Can you stand?"

"I'll need some help."

"Of course." Hinata wrapped her hand under Kagome's left shoulder and helped her stand up.

"Wait!" Kagome called out, her eyes wide. There was something warm running down between her legs. She looked down and felt a brief surge of anxiety at the sight of the clear liquid. She had triggered an early labour. Kagome tried to calm herself down ("Stress isn't good for the baby," she could hear Sasuke's familiar droll voice saying) but her efforts were naught when she saw something else trickling down in thick rivulets, mixing in with the amniotic fluid. Something red.

Blood.

"No." Kagome breathed. No, no, no, no… (In the back of her mind, she could suddenly remember a wide open clearing, a pale blonde man dead on the ground and a dying woman with long red hair, pale skin, tired violet eyes and a heartbreakingly beautiful smile. "Kagome-chan, promise me you'll take care of Naruto for me…")

"No." Her voice was pure steel. It wouldn't happen to them. Kagome would never let it happen to them!

"Sakura, we need to get Kagome-san to the hospital right now!" Hinata said loudly, her pale eyes staring at the blood dripping on the floor. The pink haired woman ignored her. Instead, there was a dawning expression of horror on her face as she looked at Kagome.

She had done that? She had made Kagome go into early labour? She had caused the blood? Oh lord what had she done? What the hell had she done!? What if Kagome lost the baby?! What if Kagome died giving birth to the baby?! Sasuke would never forgive her! Sakura would never forgive herself! As a Kunoichi who fought in a War, she had killed people before. But never pregnant women and unborn children!

"Sakura!" Hinata yelled again, snapping the woman out of her panic. "Help me get Kagome-san to the hospital now."

Sakura nodded shakily. "R-right."

She moved over to the two women and slung Kagome's free arm over her shoulder. Then the two women picked up Kagome's legs so she wouldn't have to walk and made their way over to the window. The raven haired woman was still letting out small gasps of pain and without another word, the two Kunoichi jumped out, heading for the direction of the Konoha Hospital.

While all that drama was happening in Kagome's apartment, in the Uchiha's apartment however the atmosphere was much more relaxed. Sasuke and Naruto were in the living room, with the former helping the latter to wrap the bandages around his naked chest.

Because of that kick he gave Naruto earlier, the Uchiha had managed to break several of the blonde's ribs. Not crack. Break.

But other than the broken ribs and a cracked jaw, Naruto was completely fine and Sasuke knew that in the next hour or so the future Hokage's injuries would have already healed thanks to Kurama's influence.

Sometimes, Sasuke really envied Naruto's quick healing.

The Uchiha had several finger-shaped bruises around his neck that had turned into an ugly shade of purple, and his lower regions were still hurting from Sakura's chakra infused kick. He faintly wondered if it was a sign that he'd been rendered permanently infertile.

"Oi, Sasuke. Make it tighter why don't you?" Naruto complained and let out a loud yell of pain when Sasuke did as instructed.

"Owwwww! Give a man some warning before you do that you bastard!" he bellowed right into his friend's ear. Thankfully, over the years Sasuke had grown used to Naruto's loud exclamations so his hearing was no worse for wear.

"You're the one who wanted me to bind it tighter," Sasuke replied with a dull stare. "So quit your whining usuratonkachi or else bandage your own damn ribs."

Naruto growled back, glaring into his friend's dark eyes. It looked like yet another scuffle was going to break out between them but they were interrupted by a knock on the door. Sasuke went to answer it while Naruto took over bandaging himself, and faint mutterings could be heard from the blonde about how 'the teme never changed' and that 'he always seemed like he had a Kunai shoved up the ass.'

Rolling his eyes, Sasuke opened the door and was met with the lazy stare of his sensei.

"Yo," Kakashi greeted in his usual way. To acquaintances and strangers, it seemed like the Copy Ninja was behaving normally. But to friends and ex-students like Naruto and Sasuke who'd known the man for years, he seemed a little… unsettled. There was a minute tenseness to his normally slouched posture and something in his visible eye that made the Uchiha's skin crawl in anticipation.

Sasuke's finely honed instincts warned him to stay vigilant.

"Kakashi," the Uchiha replied politely while Naruto yelled out happily, "Kakashi-sensei!" as if he had never seen the Copy Ninja for a few years when in actuality the last time they had spoken was only a few hours ago. (Sasuke had never really referred to Kakashi as his sensei ever since he left Konoha, but to Naruto and Sakura the man would always be their 'Kakashi-sensei'.)

The man raised his brow when he noticed the injuries on his former students.

"So soon?" he asked wryly. It was obvious the two had gotten into a fight again. Sasuke and Naruto had stopped trying to kill each other years ago but they still fought with each other pretty often. It seemed like they were always capable of pushing each other's buttons.

Sasuke shrugged. "He started it... Can I help you Kakashi?"

"Let me come in first. Then we'll talk," the man replied.

Sasuke stepped aside and let the man pass before closing the door. Then he headed to the living room with Kakashi following at his heels. Naruto was sitting on the couch, finished with bandaging his ribs. The Uchiha made himself comfortable against the wall and crossed his arms while Kakashi remained standing in the middle of the room.

"You're inside now. So talk," Sasuke said bluntly.

"I was handing in my mission report when I heard a very interesting rumour," Kakashi began, noticing a faint twitch in the Uchiha's expression. Interesting.

If that rumour happens to be about me and Kagome, I will seriously kill myself here and now, Sasuke thought irritably. Surely my luck can't be shitty enough to have all three people from my old Genin team asking me about that in just one day?

"About Kagome being pregnant and you being the father of her child?" Kakashi finished.

Sasuke closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Yes, my luck really is that shitty. Fucking hell.

"I never thought you were the type of person who would believe in idle gossip Kakashi," he replied calmly. "What is this world coming to? Instead of asking me about it, why don't you just pay Kagome a visit yourself?"

"Maa, you know how scary she can be when she's angry," Kakashi creased his eye and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. Beside him, Naruto let out a little shiver as he recalled one of Kagome's rare rages. She'd been scarier than even Sakura. "I don't want to risk pissing her off now when she's pregnant and full of hormones. Since this rumour also concerns you Sasuke, I thought you might be the safer choice. So, is it true then? Are you the father of Kagome's child?"

"No."

"Oh?" Kakashi hummed. "Are you sure?"

"Yes." Sasuke bit out.

"Then why have you been spending so much time with her? You've been stuck by her side all these months like a devoted puppy," the Copy Ninja said, ignoring the other man's low growl at the statement. "And apparently you act very different around her. Explain it to me Sasuke, because I'm not sure how I can trust your words."

The expression in his visible eye promised no mercy if Sasuke were to lie about his answer.

"Kagome was pregnant and alone. She had no one close to her she could turn to and the damn father wasn't around so I watched out for her," Sasuke said with cold, narrowed eyes. If gazes had the power to kill, the scarecrow would have been dead many, many times over. "And I act differently around her because I've known her since I was born you inept excuse of a Ninja. Haven't you noticed it before?"

Kakashi let the insult breeze past him. "Is that all?"

Sasuke clenched his jaw. Now, he was normally a very patient man. But with three people in the same day all accusing him of having an affair with his pregnant friend whom he saw as an older sister and thus would never sleep with, even God himself would have had his patience worn thin.

"Yes, that is all Kakashi." Then he was silent, considering his next action carefully.

Near the beginning of her pregnancy, he had given Kagome his word that he would never reveal who the father was. But now, the Uchiha was seriously thinking about it. Was telling Kakashi worth breaking his word?

Maybe if he gave a vague answer about it. Then it wouldn't count right?

"But, if you really want to know, I suggest you retrace your steps and think back on who Kagome was hanging around with and how she was behaving during the month she got pregnant," he said. There. That was ambiguous enough.

Kakashi was smart. He would be able to figure it out.

The man frowned, thinking deep and hard about Sasuke's words. A few minutes of silence passed before he looked at the Uchiha, his expression still puzzled. "Sasuke, instead of giving me a vague answer tell me exactly who is the father of Kagome's child?"

Sasuke took it back. The man was an idiot.

The Uchiha remained silent as he looked at the Copy Ninja. He had promised. Was a broken promise worth telling him? Especially with knowing how things had played out between Kagome and the father? Was it worth meddling in the lives of his friends? That if he told Kakashi, he was essentially making or breaking the fate of two people? Was it worth it?

In an instant, Sasuke decided that Yes. It was.

He could see the potential relationship that Kagome could have with the father of her child. The part of Sasuke that loved her, loved both of them actually, really wanted them to find that happiness with each other.

"Fine," Sasuke said softly, looking Kakashi in the eye. "I'll tell you."

Both the Copy Ninja and the hyperactive blonde on the couch (who had been eagerly watching their conversation with bated breath) came to attention. As Sasuke opened his mouth, the two found their eyes widening in shock at the four syllables that escaped it.

"What?" Naruto breathed in complete shock. Kakashi remained silent. "Oi teme, what you said can't be true. How can it be him?"

Sasuke shrugged. "Kagome's got really low standards," he snarked and Naruto barked out a laugh, half amused, half disbelieved. The Uchiha then turned his attention to Kakashi, who had frozen since his announcement. "Are you wishing you never found out old man?"

The man didn't reply.

Well, the news did turn his world upside down. Sasuke was mildly disappointed that he hadn't fainted from the shock though.

"Uchiha-san!" There was a sudden loud pounding on the front door. "Uchiha-san! Are you there?! Uchiha-san!"

Sasuke channelled chakra to his feet and in an instant was standing in front of his apartment door. He threw it open, blinking once in surprise at the non-Ninja messenger standing there.

"What happened?" he asked, a coldness developing in his gut. Something had happened with Kagome. He was sure of it.

"Higurashi-san was brought to the hospital fifteen minutes ago! Her water broke and she's in the early stages of labour! But there's a lot of unnatural bleeding too and Kanzaki-san fears it might be placental abruption! She's referred Higurashi-san to Tsunade-sama and you need to get to the hospital right now!"

Sasuke's eyes grew wide and he cursed. He had read about placental abruption. Shit.

"Naruto! Kakashi!" he barked, turning around and making his way to them. Naruto had stood up from the couch and his blue eyes were serious. Kakashi had snapped out of his stupor as well. Sasuke nodded at them. Together the three Ninja disappeared in a swirl of wind, leaving the messenger behind.

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End Chapter

Hello my lovelies. Here's the new chapter. :)

So in this, it's misunderstandings galore! I also changed things with Kagome. She does go into early labour again, but it's not entirely Sakura's fault. Sure she was screaming and hysterical, (to be fair she was having a really bad day) but there was already something wrong with Kagome's pregnancy, and the stress certainly didn't help.

I was researching for reasons why there would be bleeding during pregnancy, and placental abruption came up. I thought it was interesting, so I ended up using it here.

It also raises the stakes for everyone around if Kagome's life is in jeopardy. Yes, I'm evil.

Kakashi's talk with Sasuke didn't really change much. I just cleaned up dialogue and sentence structure a bit. And of course I kept the four syllables thing. How could I not? It's one of my favourite things I have Sasuke say to Kakashi. XD

Please let me know what you think!

~Beans