Secret Child

A/N: For Itachi’s thoughts it’s: ((italics)) and for Pein’s thoughts it’s: “italics” I have done this cause they both are going to communicate. Sort of. Read and Review.

Chapter II Wait

Konan, Kisame, Kakuzu, Zetsu, and Sasori had set out not long after they sent notice to the other members. They all had split up hoping to find their leader faster before he did something uncalled for. The ones that were out of the loop were filled in and feared for the safety of the elder Uchiha. Knowing full well that their leader was capable of anything. Madara was the most concerned. Knowing full well that ever since Sasuke was born that Itachi wanted a family of his own. But Pein was not ready for something like that. That was what more than likely drove Itachi away. The fact that maybe, just maybe, Pein would reject the child. However, Madara also knew that Pein had never been put into this kind of situation. Therefore, he couldn’t handle it. Or so they thought and they hoped he had not entered the leaf village. If so. Then they would have to alert Tsunade immediately and that would lead to an unnecessary battle they wanted to avoid at all times. If Pein is as unstable as they think he is, then it would not take much for him to go into berserker mode and wipe out more than half of the leaf shinobi forces either killing them or severely injuring them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~The Apartment~~~~~~~~~~~

Itachi could not believe his eyes. How could this man be here standing in front of him. Those eyes he knew all too well were staring back at him with pain and sadness etched deep inside. Itachi couldn’t breathe. He just couldn’t. he felt the ground underneath him give way. He heard Sasuke’s voice but it sounded so far away. He remembered not hitting the ground but staring up into Asuma’s concerned gaze. Then there was nothing. Just darkness. Itachi hated darkness. Always had and always will, but yet he fell in love with a man that was forced into darkness. Forced to be darkness and evil itself and forced to be the person Itachi knew he wasn’t. “I’m so sorry. It can’t be true. Please tell me it’s all a lie.” There was his voice again. “Itachi…answer me…whose child do you bear?” Itachi did not answer. He remained silent. Not wanting to answer the man he loved so much. “Itachi….please…” There was a hint of desperation in his voice. Itachi picked up on it. It pained Itachi to not answer but his lover’s unpredictability was a risk Itachi did not want to face. “I’m so sorry.”

“Itachi!”
“Itachi wake up!” Itachi responded to Sasuke’s voice. He twitched slightly letting his younger brother know he heard him.

“Please….no….Itachi….”
“Hey Itachi, you okay?” Itachi opened his eyes and looked at Asuma. The man had a half lit cigarette in his mouth.

“How many times do I have to tell you Asuma. No smoking in the apartment.” Asuma eyes widened slightly before he started laughing.

“Yeah the kids alright.” Sasuke smiled at Asuma before turning his gaze back at Itachi. His mind raced with thoughts of the man that was at the door. One of the neighbors had gone off to the hokage tower to alert him and Naruto of the suspicious man. They had arrived on time to see Itachi faint and fall but the man had caught him.

“Itachi…” The elder looked at his younger brother as Kakashi and Asuma helped him up and sat him on the couch.

“Yes, otouto?” Sasuke smiled a little before getting serious. “Who was that man at the door?” Itachi tensed. He forgot that was the reason for him fainting. He was not expecting Pein to actually go about looking for him.

“…”

“Itachi…” The room had grown into an uncomfortable silence but Itachi knew he had to answer the question whether he liked it or not.

“That man is the father of this child.” He could feel the get tense. Everyone had been filled in on the situation but they did not know the name or face of the man that fathered the baby girl growing in Itachi’s stomach.

“He was wearing the cloak from Akatsuki.” Itachi looked over at Kakashi. “What is his name.” It was more of a demand than actual question and again Itachi found himself unable to just avoid the questions.

“His name is Pein.” ((Nagato)) Itachi thought the name before continuing. “He is the leader of Akatsuki.” “Yes my love?” Itachi smiled. He was not expecting him to actually answer. He was only just thinking about the man’s real name. ((I’m sorry)) Silence. Itachi knew he was hurting Pein and it broke his heart to be doing such a thing to the man. Itachi has second guessed himself for so long during his stay in his home village. ((I love you)) “I love you too” He missed Pein. He missed being in his arms and waking up every morning next to him. There were times where Itachi would wake up early and make an extra cup of coffee.

“How on earth did you manage…”

“Asuma please. I don’t think that would be an appropriate question right now.” Everyone turned to the doorway to see Naruto standing there, concern etched deeply in his eyes. He knew. He knew the whole truth. He did harbor a demon inside of him and demons talk. Itachi would not be surprised if that was how Naruto found out. Through the demon gossip line. No matter where it came from or how a demon would find out, it was always fact. Demons were less likely to lie when it came to things such as this. “Itachi how are you feeling? Are you okay?”

“Yes…thank you…” Naruto nodded his head and made his way inside. He could sense Pein’s chakra. He closed his eyes for a second and pin pointed where the man was.

“He is outside the village. There are five others with him. It seems that they had come in search of their leader or do they know the truth as much as I do.” Itachi stared at Naruto. He couldn’t lie to the boy. He never could.

“More than likely they have come to him. The only one that knows the truth is Konan but if there are four others that means she ad no choice in telling them. But she would never tell them if they were not trusted.” Naruto nodded, satisfied with the answer. “He gave us quite a scare you know.” Itachi stared at Naruto for a moment before his eyes widened.

“You ran into him…” Naruto met Itachi’s eyes.

“Yes”

“Naruto are you crazy! The man’s with Akatsuki, they are after you. What if…”

“He wouldn’t.” Itachi had cut off his younger brother. Still holding Naruto’s gaze. “Pein knows that if he takes Naruto now there would be war between Akatsuki and the entirety of this village. Plus, he knows he would lose me if he were to take Naruto or try to destroy this village. That is something he is not willing to do.” Itachi finally looked away from Naruto and to Sasuke. The younger opened his mouth to say something but Itachi just shook his head, so Sasuke just remained silent.

“If that’s the case.” Kakashi had been leaning against the wall nearest the couch. His porno book in his hand reading. “Then the only reason why he came here was to see Itachi. That means he somehow found out that Itachi is pregnant and wanted to see for himself if what he heard is true. But I don’t think he had time to actually see as we were already here.” Everyone nodded in agreement. Naruto watched Itachi and saw the sadness begin to grow in the elder Uchiha’s eyes. He walked over to him and leaned down. Lowering his voice so no one else could hear him but Itachi while everyone was busy discussing what transpired.

“Maybe it would be best if you tell him Itachi. For all he knows, you could be two months pregnant instead of five months pregnant.” Itachi looked at his hands that rested on his lap, finding them more interesting before speaking.

“I turn six months tomorrow and maybe you are right. However, I am still afraid of what he’ll say or how he’ll react.” Naruto smiled and hugged the older Uchiha.

“It’s a very risky chance but I rather her know who her father is and hopefully he will help raise her instead of her being lied to and told to stay away from him. Do you understand? “

“Yes. Thank you Naruto.”

“You’re welcome.”

~~~~~~~~~On The Way Back To The Akatsuki Hideout~~~~~~~~~~~

“Pein, honestly, you could have gotten seriously injured for pulling a stunt like that!” Konan had been fussing at him since they left Konoha. The others had not even said a word the entire time. The only one that said anything was Kisame and the shark man had called him an idiot.

“That’s enough! I do not need to lectured Konan!”

“Yes you do! You went in there knowing full well that Itachi was located close to the hokage tower and that the place he is staying at is full of ANBU, Jounin, and Chuunin ninja.”

“Konan please, I just….” Pein stopped talking as well as jumping. He stopped on a tree branch behind his comrades. The only ones he could trust with his life. But a voice had caught his attention. ((Pein?)) his eyes widened as he realized whose voice it was. (Nagato. Love?)) Itachi. He turned around and was ready to head back to Konoha until Itachi’s voice stopped him. ((Please do not come back here.)) Pein felt his heart begin to sink. His Itachi didn’t want him anymore? ((At least not at the apartment complex. Haha. I’m afraid you scared the poor old woman that’s the land lord here.)) Pein chuckled. He did not mean to scare the lady. It just happens. “You know I did not mean to.” He heard Itachi laugh. A sound he had not heard in three months. Was it three months already? ((I know. Can you come back in three weeks?)) Pein frowned. He could not help but wonder what might be the reason for Itachi to want him to go back. ((You will find out why. I have a doctor’s appointment in three weeks for something…I…I want you to be there…please…)) Pein could hear the fear in Itachi’s voice. Was the sharingan user that afraid of him? Was Itachi that afraid of what his reaction would be to whatever is going on that he had to leave? Pein felt ashamed. All this time that he told Itachi that he loved and trusted him, he comes to figure out that he made the Uchiha afraid of his reaction to things. There was a first for everything and Pein was going to think farther outside the box to just adjust to whatever situation it is. “Yes. I will come back.” For some reason Pein felt built up tension fade and oddly felt relieved. ((Really?)) Pein smiled. “Yes”

“Pein? Is everything alright?” Zetsu placed a hand on his leader’s shoulder.

“Hm? Oh yes. I am to return to Konoha in three weeks.” Pein turned and looked at his five companions. All looked at him as if he had seriously gone crazy. Pein laughed. “No worries. Itachi has asked me to return. He said he has an appointment with the doctor there in three weeks. He said I will understand everything then.” He saw them all visibly relax.

“Well, I don’t know about the rest of y’all, but I’m going with you Pein. I want to make sure you are not going to do anything that might jeopardize Itachi.” Everyone nodded. I take it you guys are with me on this.” Another nod. “Alright. I guess you’re going to Konoha with a little posse.” Pein gave a slight smile. He knew they were al worried about him, but was he really that bad for them to tag along with him? Does he really look like he could not be trusted to be alone with Itachi anymore like he used to? It hurt him to have such distrust on a matter but he guessed it all stemmed from whatever situation Itachi was in. Pein did not get a chance to see if Itachi was actually pregnant. He was too busy staring into those beautiful onyx pools that were Itachi’s eyes. To notice if Itachi looked pregnant or not. He hoped that whatever the doctor would say would be good news and not bad news. The last thing Pein wanted to hear would be that Itachi contracted some kind of disease that there was no cure for and he would die from. Pein hoped it wouldn’t be bad news. He really hoped.