Chapter 32

Sakura

Too embarrassed to meet Kiba's gaze, she asked, "Why were you cloning Akamaru? You-you tricked me."

"I wanted to escape the party without anyone noticing," he replied, his eyes still wide with shock. "But is what you said true, Sakura? Are you really... pregnant?"

Sakura's heart pounded in her chest as she nodded slowly, tears welling up in her eyes again. There was no point hiding it anymore. "Yes. I'm... pregnant."

Kiba's grip on her arm tightened slightly as he tried to process the information.

"Is it... ours?" he asked tentatively.

She revealed to him that at one point, their pills swapped. "So instead of my contraceptives, I've been taking your melatonin instead, possibly more than a month ago. Two months ago? I don't know exactly when it happened."

"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked, his voice a mix of hurt and confusion.

"I didn't know how," Sakura admitted, her voice breaking. "Not when I'm not even sure if it's yours. There's a small chance it could-could be that person, even if I slept with him just once."

"You still should've told me," Kiba scolded her, hurt still evident in his tone.

Sakura buried her face in his chest, feeling the warmth and comfort of his embrace.

"I didn't want to ruin everything for you. I saw how happy you were with Tamaki, and I thought... I thought it was better if I kept it to myself. You deserve your happiness."

"How far along are you?" Kiba whispered.

"I haven't... Haven't gotten my first exam yet," she whispered. "But it's been-been more than two weeks since Ino checked. And I haven't-haven't had sex since a month before that. I'm assuming it's around six to eight weeks, depending. I'm scared, Kiba. I don't know what to do."

"I'll go with you," he promised. "Sakura... You should've said something to me. This is how I find out?"

"I tried to talk to you, you know?" she said sadly. "But you've been avoiding me, and that's perfectly understandable, after what I did."

"It's just been... a lot lately," he admitted. "I've been trying very hard to move on. Seeing you didn't help. I had to keep my distance because... Because... Our connection..."

"I know," she said softly, her eyes downcast. "And every time I got close, every time I got the courage, something would come up, or you'd be with Tamaki."

Kiba sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry, Sakura. I had no idea. But now that I know, we're going to figure this out together, okay?"

Sakura nodded, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. "Okay."

He took a deep breath, his eyes locking onto hers with determination. "So, what do you want to do?"

"I don't know," she admitted, her voice trembling. "I'm scared, Kiba. I don't know if I can do this alone, even if I decide not to keep it. I'm just so scared!"

"You won't have to be," Kiba said firmly, his hand cupping her cheek. "I'll be here with you every step of the way. If you decide to keep it, you and our baby are my priority now. Even if you don't... I'll still be there, if only to hold your hand. It's the least I can do."

A tear slipped down her cheek, and she leaned into his touch. "Thank you, Kiba. I was so afraid you'd hate me or... Or think I was trying to trap you. I... I don't need you to feel... Guilty or... even compelled to..."

Kiba's eyes softened, and he shook his head. "Never, Sakura. I care about you too much to think that. We're in this together, no matter what."

For the first time in weeks, Sakura felt a sense of relief. She wasn't alone anymore. She gave his hand a gentle squeeze.

Kiba took a deep breath, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "Sakura, I still care about you... a lot. Tamaki... She's just someone I'm going out with. She's secondary."

Sakura shook her head, her eyes brimming with tears, pulling away. "I can't repay the love you're offering, Kiba. It's too much for me, especially when I still have leftover feelings for another. And Tamaki... she looks like she genuinely cares for you. Don't do that to her. Don't make the same mistakes I made."

Kiba stepped closer, wrapping his arms around her in a warm, protective embrace once more. "Sakura," he murmured, his voice soft but resolute, "I told you. You are, and always will be, my first priority. No one else matters to me as much as you do. I already felt this way not even knowing you're pregnant."

She felt the warmth of his embrace, the sincerity in his words wrapping around her heart like a comforting blanket. She leaned into him, her forehead resting against his chest as she closed her eyes, letting his presence calm her racing thoughts.

"But what about Tamaki?" she whispered, her voice muffled against his shirt. "I don't want to hurt her, Kiba."

He gently lifted her chin, looking into her eyes with unwavering determination. "I'll talk to Tamaki. She deserves to know the truth. But you and our baby come first, Sakura."

He always was a very confident person, a trait befitting that of an Alpha his mother always wanted him to be. It was something his mother had commented seemed to erupt when she was around, almost as if they were a bonded pair.

Every Alpha needs a strong mate by their side, his mother had said. It only makes them stronger, more prone to leadership when they have a partner's support. But that doesn't mean that bonds can't break. It's important to consider everything before forming attachments. Your father chose to break his bond with me. This is why it's very important to choose a strong partner, not a cowardly wimp. Someone who supports you and brings out your best side. That goes for you too, Sakura. It was incredibly hard for me to move on, the pain was almost unbearable, but I had my pups to take care of, and that was what kept me going. My children are my bonds. And someday, if fate has it, you will have yours too.

Then there was that day when she had dropped by to actually inquire subtly about Hana's relationship with Kakashi, and Hana had also made a point.

Well, once you're a parent yourself, you'll understand, she had said, her eyes wavering from her to Kiba then back to her again. She had tried to be inconspicuous but Sakura has noticed the gesture and understood very well. It was almost like she knew, even back then.

"How can you be so confident that it's... ours?" she asked, eyes welling up once more.

Kiba nodded his head, sniffing slowly and deeply. "I'm quite confident it's mine. And even if it isn't... I don't care. It'll still be mine... If you'll have me."

Sakura cried on his chest. "But I cheated on you," she reminded him, her shoulders racking with sobs. "There was a point where I imagined you were someone else, because I was catching feelings for that person, a person who wants nothing to do with me, not even knowing that I'm... Why would you still want anything to do with me? You should hate me and punish me for what I did. I'm a filthy, vile whore."

"It doesn't matter what you did, it's in the past," he stroked her hair, his expression resolute. "Don't call yourself that. You're an angel, and I'll make life a living hell for the person who took advantage of you. I can and will do anything for you."

Sakura shook her head. "No, don't do that. It's nothing to concern yourself over."

"We'll take this one step at a time," he said as he continued comforting her, still hugging her. "I'm here for you. That's all there is to it. I told you this before when you said you needed space. Take as much time as you need... As long as you come to me by the end of the day. I'll be waiting for you. But you have to come to that realization yourself."

Hinata

As they walked together, Hinata felt a sense of peace and contentment. The thought of Sasuke and the fleeting moment of excitement faded away, replaced by the warmth of her bond with Neji. They chatted about mundane things, sharing the small joys and challenges of their daily lives.

She tried asking him about his mission, but he was wary. Hinata understood that he was trying to protect her from the possibly gruesome details.

When they reached home, Hinata immediately started gathering ingredients for their meal. She had been prepared for this.

Neji offered to help, and she declined, stating that he had just returned from his mission and he should rest.

"Do you remember when we used to cook together as children?" Hinata asked, reminiscing as she chopped vegetables.

Neji chuckled softly. "I do. You were always much better at it than I was."

Hinata laughed, the sound light and musical. "I don't know about that. You've improved a lot."

She continued to cook, the air filled with the aroma of their meal. Hinata wondered if Neji would be up for something, to reignite further memories.

"Of course, you're tired today. Perhaps tomorrow, we can go to Jiraiya's Park, by the fountain," she suggested slowly. "We used to go there all the time, remember? You used to tell me to look at the flow of water and practice my Jūken."

He just gazed at her fondly and nodded. He was exhausted, and he could barely keep his eyes open. "Yes, of course I remember."

"And we can have a picnic too, like we used to," she continued merrily.

Looking at her so happy, he couldn't help but offer, "Tell you what, I'll take a nap, then we can head there later tonight."

She looked at him, eyes wide with hope. "Really? After most of the families have left? That's the best time!"

He felt warm inside looking at the delight on her face. He could and would do anything to make her happy.

"Yes," he nodded. "When you're done, wake me and I'll freshen up. We can take our dinner there."

Hinata clapped her hands in excitement. "Thank you," she replied, her eyes shining with happiness.

Her heart swelled with gratitude and love, completely forgetting about the man who everyone said was just taking advantage of her.

Sakura

Tamaki emerged from the building, her eyes scanning the surroundings until they landed on Kiba and Sakura, her expression darkening. Akamaru, the real one, trotted beside her, looking between the two groups with concern.

"Kiba!" Tamaki's voice cut through the air, sharp and demanding. "What's going on here? I thought you were inside with me, but it was Akamaru!"

Kiba sighed heavily, his shoulders sagging. "Tamaki, we need to have a serious talk. Right now."

Her fists clenched at her sides, her eyes darting between Kiba and Sakura. "What's there to talk about? How you've been using me?"

"No, it's not like that," Kiba said, running a hand through his hair, one arm still around Sakura. "It's something else, something which changes everything..."

Tamaki's eyes widened with a mixture of anger and hurt. "What could possibly have happened?"

Kiba turned to Sakura, his voice softening. "Sakura, I don't care what happened in the past. Regardless of your decision, I will always be there for you. It's your call."

Sakura nodded, gaining confidence as she met Tamaki's eyes. "I'm..." she turned to look at Kiba - who squeezed her shoulder in support - then back at Tamaki.

"We're pregnant," Kiba announced.

Tamaki's eyes flickered with disbelief, her anger simmering down into sadness. "So that's it?" she asked Kiba. "You're just going to drop everything we had because you knocked up your ex?"

Kiba looked at her with genuine regret. "I'm sorry, Tamaki. I never meant to hurt you. You were right. You deserve someone who can give you their whole heart, and I can't do that when mine still belongs to someone else... Sakura and my child would always be my first priority. You need to understand that."

Tamaki let out a frustrated scream, her face contorted with rage. "You're a jerk, Kiba! You don't value what you have. You're always going to run after someone who doesn't return your feelings! And you can't expect me to stand by and witness all of this!"

Sakura looked up, her eyes firm and unwavering. "That's not true, Tamaki. You don't understand. Kiba has always been important to me. I care for him, and I appreciate everything he's done for me."

Tamaki's shoulders slumped, the fight leaving her. She glanced at Akamaru, who whined softly and nudged her hand with his nose, trying to placate her.

"Fine," she muttered, wiping a tear from her cheek. "I saw the way you both looked at each other on our first date, when you knocked out her guy. You can keep lying to me, or yourself, I don't know. I can't stay with you like this, Kiba. There's a lot of history here. I don't deserve this mess."

"Tamaki..." Kiba began.

"I hope you find what you're looking for," she finished, interrupting. "But I actually like you. So when you do wake up, because someday you will, and decide that you don't wanna be used anymore, you know where to find me."

With that, she turned around and trudged away.

As she left, Akamaru tried following her, but soon trotted back to Kiba, running excitedly around Sakura and yelping happily. Sakura petted Akamaru, who licked her hand eagerly.

As Kiba slowly stood back up, a realization dawned on him.

"So that's what it was," he muttered, his eyes widening slightly as he helped Sakura up. "Your pregnancy... it was the new smell you had. We've been going completely bonkers for it. Akamaru has given me such a hard time about not being closer to you. I thought it was because of... of the bond. Say what you will Sakura, I'm sure the baby's mine."

"What bond?" Sakura wondered, "We... aren't bonded."

His eyes turned serious as he spoke again, a hint of hesitation in his voice. "Sakura, I need to tell you something. There was a time we were together in your bed, and I... I bit you. It's something our clan does to... to a mate we are courting and to promise protection, you know this already. And that day, I did make you some promises. I didn't realize it might have affected you this much, and I swear I didn't use chakra, but maybe it did. We've been noticing it, especially that night when you were with that asswipe Yōichi."

Sakura frowned. "Kiba, that's not the case. I hated not being in control of my feelings and that day, I did feel a strong pull... I think it was just your Alpha dominance when you went primal and something else in me responded. But my feelings for you aren't because of a bite and some rituals, they never were. They're because of who you are. Your mother has always wondered why we had the traits of a bonded pair despite the fact that we aren't."

"I always used to wonder if it's even possible to top the heat that we shared, we never needed to go extra," he said, gazing at her fondly. "I realize now that the ungodly pull I also felt towards you that day when you were with the asswipe must be because you're expecting, and I felt the primal need to protect you," he reached down to stroke her belly lovingly. "Whenever we came across you, you smelled so... Mouth-watering. Hana-nii commented that you smelled like one of us. She's been noticing that for some time now, she told me. She thought I had marked you before we broke up."

She shook her head. "I don't think you influenced my feelings at any point when we were together. I've-I've been feeling guilty about having that person in my mind way before the last time we slept together," she commented. "My... affair, happened after that night you bit and promised me, if that puts your mind at ease. I hate not being in control of my feelings."

Kiba looked down, a mixture of relief and guilt in his eyes. "If you're sure. Sakura, I will always protect you. That's all that matters to me. I will mark you mine in an instant, you just have to say the word. I don't care what anybody says. But, for that to happen, you have to be absolutely sure that you want to be with me. It's your call to make."

He wrapped his arms around her once more, pulling her into another comforting embrace. Sakura rested her head against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. Oh, how she had missed this embrace! Akamaru sat beside them, his tail wagging contentedly.

"Will things change between us?" she asked tentatively. "If... if you mark me? You said before that you suspect it may be just a fetish of your clan Elders."

Kiba shook his head. "No, it's supposed to make the mating experience mind-blowing, but I find it hard to believe there could be more than what we had already. The old geezers just wanted ways to become hornier with chakra response, yes that's what I imagine."

Sakura pulled back and looked at him worriedly. "You're not going to pee on me, are you?"

Akamaru shuffled uncomfortably, feeling awkward to be caught in the midst of this discussion, pawing the ground. Kiba threw his head back and roared in laughter.

"Not if you don't want me to," he breathed, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

She shoved him. "I'm serious. You told me before that Asuma-sensei marked Kurenai-sensei with fire."

"Yeah, that's the Sarutobi's way," he confirmed. "We, we use our fangs. The chakra exchange ensures that it leaves a scar. That's it, really. It's like a wedding ring. It's to show the world that you have the clan mark and you're under our protection. And of course, that you're... ahem... mine, for the lack of a better word."

He placed his hand on her belly once more, and looked at her tenderly. "I'm going to be a father," he said out loud in awe. Sakura smiled softly, placing her own hands on top of his.

Akamaru barked happily, his tail wagging like a fan, wanting to tackle them both once more.

"I'm sorry about your breakup," Sakura said sadly. "I didn't mean to be the cause of it."

Kiba just sighed, resigned. "It was bound to happen sooner or later. It just happened sooner. We fight like cats and dogs all the time."

"You should go after her," she urged.

"Maybe later," he shrugged, his hand continuing to stroke her belly. "You're more important."

Her heart swelled with gratitude and love. In that moment, she also forgot why she had broken up with a man who loved her so unconditionally.

Then, she remembered Kakashi, and her expression darkened.

"We'll figure this out together," Kiba whispered into her hair. "No matter what."

Sakura nodded, her heart swelling with gratitude and love, forgetting about the man who had only just taken advantage of her.

"Together," she echoed, feeling a deep sense of peace for the first time in a long while.

As they pulled apart slightly, Kiba gently cupped her face, his thumb brushing away a fresh tear. "Let's go back inside," he said softly. "You don't have to decide this instant. We'll face whatever comes our way."

Sakura smiled and nodded, taking his hand. Together, they walked back into the warmth of the party, ready to face the future.