So, I've been really sick lately. I have this bad infection. I was sick all last weekend and now I look like the Mummy Returns Part XX lol. I'm feeling a lot better, but I'm still sore. I haven't worked in two weeks. The first week was due to the fact the owner makes the schedules, and apparently, didn't know I had a uniform? The fuck? And this past week was due to the infection. I don't even know how I got it. It just... appeared! It was gross! (Still is!)

So we're up to chappie thirty-two! I've written one POV and working on the next!

Also, the letter before z is out of commission again! Does it HAVE to be that one? Can't it be like um... x or q? lol. Thank Ra it's not e! I'd die lol. Oh well, that's what C&P is for (which is what I do when I need that evil letter of doom)

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Naruto Shippuden. This is just for fun, no profit will be made from this (and I don't want to either). This is purely for my and the entertainment of Naruto fans.

Dedication: To my beautiful, amazing, intelligent, girlfriend Phillipa (Shadow Spirit Dragon-wolf) for being there for me through not only my writing (both fanfiction and my original story) but real life in general. You have been my inspiration and my support through everything.

Warnings: Violence, explicit sexual conduct (no rape!) homosexual relationship, relationship with a large age gap, struggles with belonging, self-hatred, obsession, self-harm, self-experimentation, human experimentation, mental disorders, a dark view of the "afterlife", (bonding of) pain and isolation, self-worthlessness, and male pregnancy.

Pairings: OroNaru, canon pairings (except, obviously, NaruHina).

Summary: Sometimes, the deepest scars are the ones no one can see, but in a world moving into the light even the oldest inner wounds can be seen

Enjoy! :)

Chapter Eighteen: Calm

Sakura

"He's doing something that he feels is important."

What the hell could that idiot be up to? He's taking forever! Damn, I miss him! I never thought I'd feel that way. But how couldn't I? How couldn't anyone miss him? Naruto… he truly has changed this world. It feels amazing.

I wonder if he and Sasuke have met up? What are they up to? Are they ever coming home?

Sarada cries, and I stare down at her, rocking her gently in my arms. "Shh. It's okay, precious." I walk over to her bag, grabbing her bottle. She sucks on it, closing her eyes.

My beautiful daughter. Sarada Uchiha. Five months of joy with this perfect angel. She has helped fill the void of my missing husband. How I wish he were here to see her grow. To see her beautiful face and smile. I know why he's gone. If only I could have gone with him.

(But it was risky enough being pregnant and having to give birth in Orochimaru's hideout. Thank goodness Karin was there to help me.)

I sit down in the chair that Tenten had gotten me, and hold my baby close. I watch her and smile. (She always makes me smile). So many of us girls have been getting pregnant. It's a wonderful feeling.

Karui and Tenten have had their children. Metal is only three months younger than Sarada and Chocho was just born this month. Temari is due next month, and Ino is four months along. I'm excited to meet all of these beautiful babies. It truly is a pleasure being a medical ninja.

And yet, while I'm having all of this happiness, Hinata is suffering. Sure, we've been going out when we can, and she's not staying in her room all of the time, but I know she's hurting badly.

Losing a member of not only her clan but her family as well. The pain she must feel. The guilt. (Because I know she's blaming herself for his death.) I hate it! And the one person who can cheer her up isn't here! And of course, I can't do anything about it!

I can never do anything! I'm still so weak!

I sigh. I really wish Naruto would come back. He's been gone for far too long. He's missing so much. And for what? What's so important that he has to miss things? Like my wedding? Seeing my child? Being with his friends? Doing missions? Being Hokage? Has all that faded?

Of course not. Naruto loves this village and everyone in it. I know he'll be back. But when? That's the question. Stupid fool. Why didn't he just tell me? I wouldn't have to worry so much. It's enough having to worry over Sasuke!

And poor Hinata. I know she's being eaten up with worry. And yet, she barely says anything about Naruto. She just stays at Neji's grave when she's not doing other tasks. She never wants anyone to join her. Preferring to be alone.

(Not that anyone can blame her. I'd want the same, honestly).

I hope one day, very soon, Naruto will confess his love to Hinata. She needs him. He needs her. It's just facts.

Sarada starts crying again.

"I'm sorry, Sarada," I say, putting the bottle to her lips.

She turns away from it, crying.

I frown then reach for her bag. "Toys?" I ask.

She stops wailing. I let her reach in the bag. She grabs the snake and the plush of Kurama. She presses their snouts together.

I laugh. "What are you doing, silly girl? Don't you know foxes don't love snakes?"

XXXX

Naruto

I sigh breathlessly as I slowly pull out of Oreo then pull him close to me. Two weeks we've been spending quality time together. No experiments. No training. Just us. Just being together and truly getting to know each other's bodies, minds, hearts, and souls. There's nothing like it in the world. To be with the one you love.

I run my fingers through his hair to his back slowly. He sighs in response. I kiss -in-between his shoulder blades. His skin is so soft and smooth. Such beautiful Oreo cream skin. I pull him against me more, breathing in his intoxicating scent.

"How are you feeling?"

"Exhausted. You're too wild, Kit."

I can't help but chuckle at that. I can tell by the way he lies here so contently and carefree he's enjoyed himself as much (perhaps even more) as I have.

He needed this. He needed, still needs, someone to love him for who he is. He's done wrong, but who hasn't? That doesn't mean he shouldn't and can't be loved. I'm giving him that. I'm opening my arms, my heart, my soul to him.

I put two fingers under his chin and tilt his head so our lips meet. I kiss him gently, feeling unbelievable joy fill my very essence. "I love you," I whisper against his lips.

Oreo smiles then licks my face gently. "I know," he says, pulling his tongue back in his mouth.

He hasn't said it to me, but I know he does. He lets his guard down; he lets me inside (both literally and figuratively), and lets me hold him close. Every moment with him (even the arguments and fights) are a joy. He's real. He's beautiful. He's mine. And I'm so in love with him.

And even though we've gotten closer, there are some things that still bother me. Like our talk about his clan. I didn't want to bring it up, but…

Oreo pushes me gently so I'm on my back. He snuggles into my chest. I wrap an arm around him, rubbing his back gently.

"Oreo?"

"Hmm?" he asks

"Well, I was wondering if I could ask you some questions about your clan?"

"Sure, Kit. What do you want to know?"

"Well, you said that your clan fought to protect you, but the way you talked about them earlier, it sounded like you hated them and they hated you. Also, before you said your parents killed them."

"I don't hate them. Some of them didn't like me. They were jealous of my abilities and progress. Many of them didn't believe I should be clan head. As I said before, Father agreed with some of them. I suppose looking back, they had a point. I was feared for my abilities as well. As you're aware, fear turns into hatred. However, even so, we cared for one another. Any of them would have put their lives on the line for me for some reason. I suppose it's because I was the best chance to survive and recreate the clan since I have the best genes to pass on. It's just too bad I'm homosexual. Although, I could make a child in my lab. I wasn't lying the did kill some of them if they acted up."

"Well, I suppose that's fair enough. I hate they all had to die though."

"I thought of bringing them back, but I really just want to bring my parents and Tsuru back."

"How was he?"

"Tsuru? He was about my age. We were only a few months a part with him being the oldest. He and I would compete in everything we did. He wasn't that good with ninja techniques, but he was an amazing artist. I have a lot of his artwork."

"Really? I'd love to see them!"

He smiles against my chest. "I'll show you one day."

"Oh, c'mon! Why not now?"

"Because I'm being lazy?"

"Did I tire this Oreo Snake out?" I smirk, biting on his earlobe gently.

"Not all of us can go for hours at a time without a break."

"We take breaks! We talk, eat, sleep…"

"We haven't trained; I'm behind on experiments…"

"So? Sometimes we just need a break. Besides, I didn't hear you telling me to stop," I smirk, grabbing his ass.

Oreo gasps.

I smirk. "You just can't resist me."

He snorts, looking up at me. "You're the one with wild hormones."

"Ah, yes, but who is the one who gets all wild and beautiful?" I whisper seductively, kissing his neck.

Oreo blushes.

"Aww! You're so cute when you blush!" I beam, kissing him gently and fully.

Oreo kisses me back.

We both apart, sighing.

"I believe tomorrow we need to get back to our schedule."

"I agree, but today we can just enjoy ourselves?"

"Of course, Kit," Oreo says, licking my face.

I smile as well. I push his hair away from his face, an earring touching my fingers. "Where'd you get these?" I wonder aloud.

"Jiraiya gave them to me."

"Oh?"

"He got them for my birthday one year after we started dating."

"Then it must feel strange for you to be with me, huh?"

"Not really. You have to remember that Jiraiya and I stopped being friends with each other years before he even died."

"And yet you still have this unshakable bond to save him."

"I don't want him to suffer. We don't agree, but I… I care about him."

"I know you do, Oreo."

He reaches up to touch an earring. "I suppose I kept them because deep down, I wished and hoped we could get back together."

"I see. So then… if he comes back…"

"I just want him in my life. I no longer love him like that."

"Oh."

Oreo tilts my head so our eyes meet. "I promise I'm over Jiraiya. I just want him back as my best friend. Nothing less, nothing more."

"So you won't…"

"No. I promise. You mean too much to me to do something like that."

I smile then pull him closer. "I can't believe how much has changed between us."

"It seems like just yesterday we met, huh?"

"Yeah. I'm glad we did."

Oreo snuggles into my chest. "So am I, Kit. So am I."

So a short chappie. I didn't want to do TOO much with this one. Needed something "light" before shit started to get real. This was one of the chappies that changed the most. Either way, I hope y'all enjoyed it regardless of the length. :)

I had to put a bit of JiraOro in here because it's one of my favourites ;).

Also, since everyone doesn't have birthdays then I just guess and do what I feel is right. The ones who do have their birthdays :D.

Preview

Orochimaru

"You shouldn't have been so sexy," he says, turning the water on, grabbing our towels, then sets me on the cabinet.

"Control those hormones, Kit."

"Nope! I will get that pastry!"

"Pastry?" I laugh.

"Yup! You totally have a pastry ass!"

Next update date: September 23rd

I hope y'all enjoyed! Until next time :).