Rocks and Such

Judging by the look of exhaustion on Karin's face she wasn't sleeping, still. Sasuke sat down next to her.

"Every victim's nightmare has been different and specific to them. Can you tell me about what you see when you sleep," Sasuke said.

"I can but I don't want to," Karin said.

"I don't want to fight with you on this," Sasuke said.

"Good because you'd lose," Karin said humorously.

"Then it can't be helped I have other methods to make you talk," Sasuke said.

"They wouldn't work on me," Karin sighed and lay her head on his shoulder.

He knew her weakness so it would be no problem but he wouldn't go there. Trouble was she was his weakness. This fact made her an excellent training partner. She was still an excellent kunoichi.

"Do you understand how I feel right now," Sasuke tried.

"I really do understand but do you understand how helpless I feel. This is a genjutsu Sasuke. This is something that shouldn't bother me so much," Karin said with sadness.

"Tell me," Sasuke prompted.

"There is a cave and for whatever reason I go inside this cave. Without waiting for backup I charge into this cave. People die and never come out. That is the nightmare. The nightmare that feels so real I can see the blood and taste the dust before I wake up," Karin said shuddering as the images returned. These dreams were nothing like the blissful moments spent during the war suspended in Madara's genjutsu heaven.

Sasuke was silent for a while. He rubbed at her arms but he had no words for comfort. He kept seeing his own nightmare replay in his head. He knew there was a lot more to the nightmares than she cared to discuss but at least he had a focus point in his head.

"Now do you understand why I don't want to talk about this? Why I can't remember this," Karin said.

She was still trying to protect him. After all the hurt she was experiencing she didn't want to hurt him.

"Don't try to protect my feelings all the time," Sasuke said.

"I almost lived that time through your eyes. I can't imagine who would use something so personal to hurt us. I know now how hard it must have been for someone like Ino. I'm really scared," she admitted the tears of exhaustion spilling down her face. She swiped at the tears immediately not wanting to seem so weak.

Sasuke was just as afraid as she was. His mind raced for a solution. They had all worked so hard to find those responsible. They had no answers and fear started replacing frustration in many homes.

"At least now I know for sure there the Uchiha clan will be expanding," he said a small grin lighting up his features.

"All the more reason for you to hurry back to Konoha. You'll be the father of two Sasuke. Trust me I think I can handle my side of things. I'm an Uzumaki survivor after all. We have to work things out Miyako deserves to have that family life we once dreamt of before she was born remember," Karin asked.

"I remember everything," Sasuke said.

"Good then you'll come back home soon," Karin said.

"I might be gone when you wake up. I can't guarantee that I'll be anywhere for too long," Sasuke said.

"How can you say that to me," Karin asked on the verge of tears. Tears she would hold back not giving him the satisfaction of hurting her any more.

"You know already that you shouldn't be here. I told you everything before I left and I expect that you understand," Sasuke said an unexpected coldness to his speech set Karin back.

"I understand that I am about to be a mother again and I can barely tell my friends that I had a daughter. I understand that while Sakura and Ino walk the street hand and hand with their husbands I have to duck my head down and move quickly to avoid all the questions and all the times I miss holding your hand or walking through the village or just that walking around the village normally," Karin couldn't stop the tears but she didn't stop to cry either she simply waited for him to apologize.

"You want to hold hands. I have bigger problems than that Karin," Sasuke said pushing off the bed and walking to another room.

She wouldn't get an apology but what was worse is he didn't understand why she was upset. Sounds coming from the other room were nothing new. Sasuke was busy gathering tools and preparing to leave again. She waited for a while and pushed out of bed. At least she could say goodbye before he left for the next hideout.

000

Sasuke stood listening to his child describe what she was going to eat for breakfast. This was the part where he would have to say goodbye not knowing how long he'd be gone. He already upset his wife and knew that wasn't how he wanted to leave things.

Miyako looked so much like Karin and with her dark hair. Ultimately she had her father's facial features mostly because of the Uchiha expressive eyes. She smiled scowled and frowned exactly like Sasuke. If there were another child born from the Uchiha and Uzumaki bloodlines he didn't know anything about them. So far his daughter was too young to use Sharingan it wasn't clear if she would acquire those eyes but he had noticed her strong chakra especially since Karin could easily sense it.

"Little lady," Sasuke interrupted the string of sentences his daughter put together her very own secret language at times.

Miyako stopped talking and looked at her father.

"I'm going to be leaving for a while and I need you to take care of your mother," Sasuke said.

"Going too," Miyako said.

"No sorry you are staying with your mother. I need you to be strong and watch over things for me," Sasuke said.

"Want park," Miyako said.

Sasuke knew the girl just didn't understand yet. The only things she cared about were playing and eating good food. Yes his daughter was quite the gourmet food snob.

"I don't think we can make it to the park today but I promise to be the one to take you when I come back home," Sasuke said kneeling in front of where the girl played. They could only bring along one toy and it had to be a plushie doll with red hair just like her. It was her favorite doll that went everywhere with her.

Miyako listened patiently to Sasuke but said nothing. Sasuke was sure he'd be missed by his daughter whom he spent to little time with. She was growing so much she might not know what words to say but she was a smart girl.

"Want home," Miyako said after a while.

"I know you do," Sasuke said and hugged his daughter close to him.

A voice interrupted the both of them. "Will you stay for breakfast," Karin asked.

Sasuke stared up at her. Seemed like her anger was replaced with something else.

"Because if you stay I'll cook for you both and we can spend more time together and I can…I can-

Sasuke let go of Miyako to wrap his arms around his wife.

"Karin you know I would if I could," Sasuke said.

"Don't leave the way…You can't leave the way you are," Karin said into his shoulder.

"I'm so sorry about what I said earlier. But you know I have to leave," Sasuke said.

They held each other for a while before he kissed her lips. "I have to go," Sasuke half whispered and pulled away. Karin watched helpless as he walked out the door.

"Mamma don't cry," Miyako said. It was quite a feat for the youngster's vocabulary usually exteneded to only two word responses.

Karin swiped at her tears and scooped her daughter into her arms.

"I miss your father is all. But we'll be ok," Karin said kissing the top of her hair. It was something she had to get used to is all. Sasuke was the type who left. However Karin wouldn't let him go if she didn't have every confidence that he would return to them.