Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Something's Always Wrong ❯ Chapter 18 ( Chapter 18 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

A/N: Alas all good things must come to an end. This is the final chapter and it is set about four months after chapter 17. Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed this fic. I couldn't have completed it, albeit late without the continued support of my faithful readers. Thank you again and please enjoy!
Smooches ~Ani
***************************************************************** *****
Something's Always Wrong-Toad the Wet Sprocket
Another day I call and never speak
And you would say nothing's changed at all
And I can't feel much hope for anything
If I won't be there to catch you if you fall

Again
It seems we meet
In the spaces
In between
We always say
It won't be long
But something's always wrong

Another game of putting things aside
As if we'll come back to them some time
A brace of hope a pride of innocence
And you would say something has gone wrong

Again
It seems we meet
In the spaces
In between
We always say
It won't be long
But something's always wrong

"Again we fail to meet and mend
The spaces safe between intents
We say too much and long been gone,
Oh but something's always wrong."

"Again we fail to make amends
and wend our way between intents
and looking back, not moving on
Oh but something's always wrong."

"Again we fail to meet and mend
the spaces safe between intents
we say too much, too long been gone
oh but something's always wrong.”
***************************************************************** *******
Chapter 18
 
Sakura was uncomfortable and hot. She stood in front of the fan in her office and debated changing out of her scrubs. She could barley move in them because they were too tight. She finally decided to forgo the scrubs completely and just wear her `I love that Dirty Water' t-shirt and jounin pants. Tsunade gave her a lot of leeway in the uniform department because she was a few days shy of being nine months pregnant. Sakura grunted as the baby gave a mighty kick to her ribs. Rubbing her stomach, she walked over the window and looked outside. Everyone who happened to have the misfortune of being outside looked wilted. She headed towards the door so she could check in on the few patients she had.
 
There was a knock as soon as her hand touched the knob. She opened the door to a twitchy Ino. “Ino what're you up to? You look, I don't know… suspicious,” she asked.
 
Ino's smile blinked back on. “Nothing,” she chirped. “Nice shirt forehead. Are you letting us know how you got in that condition?” she asked with a big fake smile.
 
Sakura rolled her eyes again. “You've been spending entirely too much time with Sai,” she laughed.
 
The blond giggled uneasily. “I just heard from Sai, Shikamaru and Sasuke have been called up for a mission,” she said apprehensively.
 
Sakura lost her grip on the metal charts in her hand. She felt all the blood drain out of her face. “Ino…” she whispered as her field of vision started to go dark. She suddenly felt nauseous and the mid July heat wasn't helping.
 
Ino helped her sit down. “Forehead, can I get you anything?” she asked picking up the charts and setting them down on the desk.
 
Sakura looked up into Ino's light blue eyes. “Walk with me to Tsunade's office,” she said.
***
 
Sai looked over at the Uchiha. To say the raven haired ninja was pissed off was an understatement. “You know it's only a two day mission,” he offered, cringing at the look shot his way.
 
“Easy for you to say, Sakura's due any day now. I don't want to miss that and plus Tsunade-sama swore she wouldn't send me out this close to her due date,” Sasuke snarled. On top of being sent on a mission Sai was following him around like a puppy. His day couldn't possibly get any worse. “I don't get why Tsunade couldn't send Naruto or you,” he snarled.
 
Sai sighed; at this point he didn't know who was more difficult, Sakura or Sasuke. “It wasn't on purpose; you know she didn't have a choice. There was an emergency in Suna and most of the jounin had to go there. She can't turn down mission requests. It's bad for village,” the artist shrugged. “Also Naruto is currently on the inactive list because he won't stop getting hurt and I'm on ANBU guard duty for the village.”
 
“Hn,” the Uchiha grunted.
 
Sai sighed; thankful he didn't have the burden of emotions. “So are you ready to leave then?” he asked quietly.
 
Sasuke's eyes shot daggers at the ink user. “No I am not. I need to find Sakura and tell her,” he snapped, stomping off towards the hospital. He could hear the ROOT member scrambling to catch up with him.
 
“I sent Ino to tell her,” he offered with a fake grin.
 
Sasuke stopped and turned to face the artist. “That was very considerate of you,” he said sarcastically. He took a deep breath. There was no point in snapping at Sai, any anger was wasted on the emotionless jounin.
 
Sai sighed again. It was going to be a long two days for Shikamaru. He decided to change the subject. “What do you think of Ino?” he asked with a blank expression.
 
Sasuke glanced over in Sai's direction. “I try not to, why?”
 
“I think she likes me,” Sai explained.
 
Sasuke laughed at the ink user. “Ya think?”
 
Sai looked at the Uchiha. “Of course I think so otherwise I wouldn't have asked,” he said.
 
Sasuke laughed at the confused jounin and kept walking.
***
 
Sakura had to control her rage as she knocked on the Hokage's office door, otherwise she would have broken the door into little pieces. She glanced over at Ino, who looked just as upset as she was. She heard Tsunade's tired voice tell them to enter.
 
The Godaime looked up at her angry apprentice and sighed. She'd been expecting her since she assigned the mission to Sasuke. “Sakura, Ino,” she said nodding at the two annoyed kunoichi standing in front of her desk. “What can I do for you?” she asked even though she knew damn well why the pink haired medic was there. She wished she had a stiff drink.
 
“Shishou why are you sending Sasuke on a mission?” she asked in an irritated voice. She sat down in the chair in front of the desk and glared at her mentor.
 
“Sakura it's not personal; you know I don't have that many available shinobi right now. Please don't make me feel any worse about this,” the busty blond said in a no nonsense tone. She rubbed her temples and turned her honey gaze on her student. “Sakura is everything alright?” she asked, a look of alarm creeping across her face. The pinkette's face was ashen and she was biting her lip.
 
Sakura grunted as the baby landed another kick in her ribcage. “Yes,” she squeaked. “The baby is trying to break my ribs, I think.” Sakura hissed in pain again. “Shishou,” Sakura started, pausing as the baby kicked again. “Is there any way I could have the rest of the day off?” she asked in a strained voice.
 
Tsunade looked at her student; she looked like she was in a considerable amount of pain. She stood up and placed her hand on Sakura's rounded stomach. Using her chakra, she eased the baby away from Sakura's sore ribs. “Sure, but I want Ino to stay with you.”
 
Sakura gave her a small smile. “Arigato Shishou,” she nodded at the Godaime.
 
Ino looked at Tsunade and bowed slightly. She hurried out the door behind her very pregnant best friend.
***
 
Ino kept slowing her pace so Sakura could keep up with her. “I'm sorry,” she said.
 
Sakura glanced over at her friend. “About what?” she snapped.
 
“Damn forehead… Don't bite my head off, I didn't send Sasuke out on a mission,” the blond huffed.
 
Sakura rustled through her bag looking for her keys. “Kami I'm tired. I didn't mean to snap at you,” the pinkette said, not sounding a bit sorry. Finding her keys, she unlocked the two deadbolts and opened the door. She sighed in relief at the cool air inside the apartment. She went into the kitchen and threw her keys on the table. “I just want it to be over. I'm freaking gigantic,” she said frowning.
 
Ino laughed until tears rolled down her cheeks. “You've gained, like twenty-five pounds. How is that huge?” She looked up at her indignant friend. “What? You are so far from huge it's laughable. Aw, forehead girl, please don't get mad at me,” she giggled.
 
Sakura chuckled despite her irritation. “Hn, just wait until Sai knocks you up piglet. I'm going to harass the crap out of you,” she said with an evil smirk. Ino though no one had caught on to her fascination with the emotionless jounin.
 
“Yeah right, it's not even like that with Sai. We're just friends and he likes to draw me,” she said in a snippy tone. Of course, she wanted to be more than friends, but that was another story. She sat down at the table across from Sakura, who was absent-mindedly picking at a piece of pizza. “Forehead that's gross; how in Kami's name can you eat that pizza cold? It's not that great when it's hot.”
 
Sakura shrugged, all she knew is she could not get enough pizza and she didn't even like pizza. She finished the slice and took a sip of her green tea. “I'm dilated two now,” she said.
 
Ino made a face. “That's still eight away from go time forehead,” was the only she could come back with. Ino did some math in her head; crap, she really could go at any time. “Are you having any contractions yet?”
 
Sakura closed her eyes for a quick second. “Nope, not a single one,” she answered. She looked at the door when she heard the knob turn. She hoisted herself out of the chair to hug Sasuke. “Hey you,” she murmured against his neck.
 
He looked down into her emerald eyes and kissed her. “I don't want to go,” he sighed against her cheek. He grinned when he felt the baby kick against him. “I think we have a future soccer player in there,” he joked rubbing her stomach. “Are you going to be alright by yourself while I'm gone?”
 
“Yes, Shishou is making Ino stay with me until you get back,” she grunted as the baby kicked again.
 
Ino grinned at the couple. She looked over at Sai, who was watching with interest. “What's on your mind?” she asked the dark haired jounin.
 
“Hn, why does she keep grunting? It's not very proper for a lady to make noises like that,” he said in a quiet voice.
 
Ino giggled at Sai's confusion. “The baby is kicking the crap out of her ribs. She's in a little bit of pain. You should go feel it kick,” she said grabbing his hand and dragging him over to the couple. “Forehead can Sai feel? He's never been around pregnant chicks before,” she asked.
 
Sakura smiled at the ink user. “Sure,” she said taking his hand and placing it on her stomach; the baby gave a series of kicks.
 
Sai's dark eyes widened and he jumped back from Sakura. “What the hell?” he shouted. “Doesn't that hurt a lot?” He stepped closer and put his hand on her stomach again. “It's so weird and neat.”
 
Sasuke laughed at Sai's reaction, remembering his reaction was similar when her felt Temari's baby kick for the first time. He left the trio in the kitchen and went to pack his gear; he had just about twenty minutes to pack and meet Shikamaru at the gate.
***
 
Sakura sat on the couch and glared at the television. She moved around and tried to get comfortable; it was useless. She looked across the room and saw Ino's watchful gaze on her. She gave her a dirty look and got up.
 
“Sakura,” Ino started.
 
“What?! What do you want?! Can't I go to the bathroom without the third degree? Kami, I have to pee okay? I'm not going to give birth in there, I promise,” Sakura yelled. “I'm a better medic that you are anyway,” she added in a snippy tone.
 
Sai's eyes widened with surprise. “We're going to get some food,” he said quietly to Sakura's retreating back. He looked down at the kunoichi, who was leaning against him. “I don't think she's okay,” he whispered in her ear.
 
Ino suppressed the shiver that ran down her spine as his breath warmed her ear. She snuggled closer and sighed. “Her chakra is a mess; she's barely keeping it together,” she said with a frown.
 
“Hn,” Sai grunted. “Maybe I should go to get the food, ne?” he asked.
 
Ino looked up into his dark eyes. “Uh chya, she's going into labor. Better medic than me…hn, thinks I don't fucking know she's having labor pains,” she muttered.
****
 
Sasuke was sitting watch over their small camp. He smiled; the mission hadn't taken them nearly as long as they had originally thought. They would be home tomorrow night at the latest.
 
He got up and walked to the edge of the clearing. Looking up at the sky, he sighed, `Almost midnight,' he thought. Tomorrow was his twenty-second birthday; a week after was Sakura's due date. He got a chill and the hair on the back of his neck stood up. He let the Sharingan activate and scanned the surrounding area; nothing was there. He could not shake the strange feeling he had. Sitting down on his sleeping bag, he closed his eyes and tried to get his bloodline trait to recede.
 
“What spooked you?”
 
His red eyes snapped open and shot over in Shikamaru's direction. “I don't know… There isn't anyone or thing out there. I just have this feeling of… I don't know how to describe it,” he said in a quiet voice.
 
Shikamaru sat up and lit a cigarette. “It's Sakura,” he said exhaling a throat full of smoke.
 
“Hai,” he said quietly.
 
Shikamaru got up and started gathering his equipment. He looked up at Sasuke. “Don't just stand there, pack up; we're breaking camp and heading home.”
 
Sasuke started rolling his sleeping bag. “Aren't you tired though?” he asked the ANBU jounin.
 
Shikamaru laughed and stubbed out his cigarette. “Yeah, but do you know how troublesome it will be if you miss the birth of your first child?” he asked with a smirk.
 
“Hn, you do present a valid point,” Sasuke admitted as he cleared the campsite of any signs they'd been there.
****
 
Sakura stood in front of the mirror and braced herself for the next contraction. So far they were thirty minutes apart. She closed her eyes and waited for the pain to stop. She could hear Ino pacing outside the bathroom door.
 
Ino stood in front of the bathroom door and listened. “Sakura-chan?” she asked. When she didn't get an answer she tried the knob; it was locked. “C'mon forehead open up, I know you're in labor. Let me in or come out,” she yelled.
 
Sakura sank to the floor and wrapped her arms around her stomach. Kami, if it was this bad now how was it going to feel in a couple hours? She looked over at the door; she knew Ino would eventually pick the lock and come in. She closed her eyes and concentrated on breathing. Just breathe through them; that was what Temari had told her to do. She could hear the sound of the lock being picked and waited.
 
Sai finished picking the lock and turned the knob. Ino pushed past him and knelt down by her best friend. He watched in fascination as Ino murmured soothing words to her friend. It was interesting how Ino could be so tough and yet so soft all at the same time.
 
“Sai,” Ino snapped. “Wet a washcloth with cold water and give it to me,” she said brushing Sakura's hair away from her face.
 
Sakura looked up at her best friend. “It hurts so much Ino,” she whimpered.
 
Ino stroked the side of Sakura's face. “I know sweetie,” she whispered to her friend.
 
Sai grabbed a washcloth off the shelf and wet it under the tap. After wringing the excess water out, he handed it to the blond. He watched as she wiped Sakura's face and started braiding her pink hair. After she was done she looked up at him.
 
“Help me get her to the hospital,” she asked her blue eyes full of worry.
 
Sai nodded and picked the pink haired kunoichi up off the floor.
****
 
Sai and Ino shot across the rooftops; it was the fastest way to the hospital. Sai cringed every time he heard Sakura whimper in pain. He wasn't sure what to do. He could handle anything; he'd been trained to deal with all kinds of different situations, but not childbirth. “We're almost there,” he told her quietly.
 
Sakura laid her head on his shoulder and bit down as another contraction shot pain through her stomach and lower back. “They're twenty minutes apart now,” she sobbed.
 
Sai winced as the kunoichi's teeth bit him again. He glanced over at Ino. “She says they're twenty minutes apart,” he told the blond.
 
Ino's frown deepened and she shook her head. “Keep talking to her and let's drop down to the street. We're only a block away now.”
 
Sai nodded and jumped to the street. He landed as gently as he could. “Almost there Sakura-chan, hang on,” he said waiting for Ino to land.
 
Sakura squinted up at him through pain glazed eyes. “Sasuke-kun,” she whimpered. “You made it back in time.”
 
Sai's dark eyes widened and he looked over at Ino, who was mouthing, `Just go with it.' He looked down at the medic nin. “Of course, I wouldn't miss this for the world.” It was the first thing that came to mind. Sakura closed her eyes and quieted down. He looked over at Ino again and shrugged.
 
“Baka,” Ino hissed. “Why did you say you were him?” she asked her light blue eyes flashing in anger.
 
Sai rolled his eyes. “You said go with it. What was I supposed to say? No he's not back and will probably miss everything?” Sometimes Sai wondered why he even bothered to try to understand Ino.
 
“You called her Sakura-chan. You never call her that!” Ino smacked him on the back of the head and looked at Sakura. “Sakura-chan do you think you can walk?”
 
Green eyes fluttered open. “I think so,” she said in a quiet voice.
 
Sai set her down on her feet. He kept his hands on her shoulders to steady her until she got her bearings. They were less than a block from the hospital.
 
“Where's Sasuke?” Sakura asked looking around in confusion.
 
Sai let go of her shoulders and looked at her. “He's on his way, don't worry he'll be here,” he said with an almost genuine smile. He looked over at Ino. “What?” he asked.
 
“You almost smiled a real smile,” she said with a grin.
 
Sai rolled his eyes a helped Sakura into the hospital.
****
 
Sasuke and Shikamaru flew through the treetops at break neck speed. So far they were making good time. “Shikamaru how far are we now?” Sasuke yelled to the jounin.
 
Shikamaru groaned. “Less than ten kilometers; we should be there in about an hour. Don't be troublesome; remember Temari went seventeen hours in labor. So, if she went into labor when you got the weird feeling…” he paused to do some quick math in his head. “And we've been traveling for three hours… That's about four and a half… If she's in labor as long as Temari was… We still have at least ten hours before she gives birth,” he finally surmised.
 
Sasuke laughed out loud. “You forgot the fact of she'll refuse to give birth until I get there,” he said with a smirk.
 
“There's always that,” the shadow user laughed. “If Tsunade doesn't deliver the baby, I bet my mom and Ino will,” he said thoughtfully.
 
“Hn, Ino's already with her, which means Sai is there too and you know somehow Naruto will end up there too,” he stopped to laugh. “Well if I should happen to miss the actual birth; you know dobe will describe it to me.”
 
“You know he'll probably do that even if you're there too. Alright you up for a run to the finish line; so to speak?” the shadow nin asked.
 
“Y'know I'm surprised at the effort you are exerting on my behalf. It's very touching,” he said jokingly as he landed on the ground.
 
“Tsch, do you know what Temari would do if I didn't get you home in time? Trust me; she described it in great detail. It was very scary,” Shikamaru laughed.
****
 
Ino looked up at the clock; 3:45am. She looked over at Sai and Naruto; both of them were nursing black eyes from Sakura's pain induced anger. Hinata was holding an ice pack to Naruto's eye and whispering something in the blonde's ear. Sai stayed by Sakura's side even though she had given in to exhaustion thirty minutes ago.
 
“Hey you,” she said softly.
 
Sai looked up at her with tired eyes. “I think she broke one of my fingers too,” he said as Ino touched her glowing palm over his cheek. He closed his eyes and almost moaned in relief. He'd always liked the feeling of the healing chakra; the cool tingling as it flowed in to heal.
 
She almost missed the small smile on the ROOT member's face as she untangled his fingers from Sakura's. She found the small fracture and let her healing chakra get to work mending the bone. Sakura whined painfully in her sleep; Ino looked up at the clock. Sakura's contractions were ten minutes apart now. `Now is a good time to get here Sasuke,' she screamed in her head. She stood up as Tsunade walked in the room.
 
“He's on his way,” the Godaime said softly in the young blonde's ear. “How is Sakura doing?” she asked.
 
“Ten minutes apart now, she's dilated to eight and her water broke an hour ago,” Ino reported.
 
There was a strange noise coming from the hallway and before Naruto barely had the door open when Sasuke slid through the doorway.
 
Ino's head snapped up. “It's about time,” she said softly letting Sai pull her onto his lap. “It's almost go time.”
 
Sasuke cupped Sakura's cheek in his hand and whispered in her ear. Her green eyes fluttered open. “Hey you,” he said with a grin.
 
“You made it in time,” she said touching his face.
 
Sasuke kissed her. “I wouldn't miss this for the world.” He winced as she grabbed his hand as the next contraction hit.
 
“Ah fuck! Why does it have to hurt so much?” the pink haired medic yelled.
 
Ino looked over at her best friend, who was in tears. “I could do a nerve block,” she offered.
 
“Please, for the love of Kami, do it,” she whimpered.
 
Tsunade stepped forward and did the nerve block.
 
Sakura eased off Sasuke's hand a little and smiled up at him. “Gomen Sasuke-kun, did I hurt you?”
 
“No,” he whispered brushing his lips over her ear.
 
Tsunade looked at the ninja occupying the room, “Anyone not up to seeing a birth needs to leave now. It's `go time' as Ino puts it,” she said with a proud grin.
 
Naruto looked at Sakura and then at Hinata. “What do you want to do?” he asked his fiancé.
 
Hinata looked into his azure eyes. “We can stay,” she said.
****
 
At 6:01am on July 23 Sakura gave birth to twin boys named Daisuke and Itachi. The latter name was picked by Sasuke, which startled everyone in the room. He calmly told everyone that this Itachi would not go down the path of his namesake or his father.
 
Sakura smiled slyly when asked if she knew she was carrying twins. Tsunade had her suspicions, but could never confirm it. Of course Sakura knew; she was one of the best medics in Fire country.
 
Naruto missed the second birth because he passed out. Hinata giggled and sat him in a chair. When he came to, he was shocked to see two babies. He immediately dubbed himself `Uncle Naruto'.
 
Ino was so happy for her best friend she cried. She was the one who got to hand the tired mother her newborn twins. She also got an unexpected kiss from Sai, but she wasn't complaining.
 
~The End~