The Fragile

A.N. Thanks to my husband who beta’s this story for me. Thank you to all who have taken time to read my story. Please read and review.

Disclaimer: The characters in this story belong to Masashi Kishimoto. Sadly, I do not own.

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Chapter 8



Sakura woke the next morning feeling like shit. She had a little too much to drink. That, and the fact that Kakashi had shown up on her doorstep unannounced. Curse Kakashi for his ill timing. Not only did he manage to ruin what could have been a nice goodnight kiss, he also managed to make her think again about things she was trying so desperately to forget. She was so glad that she had the day off. She was going to spend it in bed, using sleep to escape both her fatigue and her personal problems. She fixed herself a glass of water before returning to her bed. She slept most of the day away, only waking when she needed to use the bathroom or make a slice of toast to make the queasy feeling go away. She wasn’t going to be binge drinking again anytime soon.

Her day off passed in a blur of time. She got up the next morning expecting to feel rested, she had after all slept over 16 hours the day prior. She grudgingly went to work, managing to make it just minutes before she was scheduled to start her shift. She drank several cups of coffee throughout the day to help her combat the feeling of being utterly drained of energy.

The rest of the week passed in the same fashion. She slept when she wasn’t working. She fleeting thought that she was regressing back into her depression, which was partially the truth. She couldn’t help but think about Kakashi. She felt bad for the things that she had said to him. She felt guilty when she remembered their conversation on her roof nearly two weeks ago. How had she forgotten that Kakashi had lost everyone he had ever loved? He probably didn’t know how to be in a relationship with anyone, much less handle any problems that would arise from an intimate relationship. Perhaps she had been too hard on him, too demanding. She determined that she would apologize to him when he returned from his mission, which should be in a day or two.

The next morning at work was hell. The smell of bacon frying in the hospital cafeteria made Sakura nauseated. She never liked bacon. She did her level best to stay away from that end of the building. But no matter, even from the other end of the building, the smell of frying fat permeated the air. She made a mad dash into the bathroom and emptied the contents of her stomach; some toast and a glass of juice. She was afraid to leave the bathroom, the smell was so strong that she knew she would dry heave. She rested her shaken body against the bathroom stall. The feeling of fatigue had overcome her and she faded into a half-conscious stupor.

This was the way she was found nearly half an hour later. When she did not report to room #111 for her rounds, staff started looking for her. Tsunade was startled at how pale she looked. She helped Sakura into a standing position. The sudden change in altitude was all it took for Sakura to wretch again. Tsunade instructed Shizune to make a bed for Sakura while the Hokage easily carried her bridal-style into the room.

“You had better not throw up on me Sakura. I’ll have to deduct my dry-cleaning bill from your pay.” The Hokage teased her while sporting a smile.

Sakura could not manage a reply. It took all her effort not to spew again. She was grateful when Tsunade tucked her into the bed that Shizune had prepared. The Hokage instructed her to sleep. Sakura had no problem obeying that order. She was out in a matter of minutes.

Sakura’s beloved sensei began a battery of tests on her. No viruses or infections seemed to be present. Her instincts were telling her something that she didn’t want to consider. But it was a necessary evil. The Hokage closed her eyes and gathered a small amount of chakra into her hands. They ran a smooth pattern over Sakura’s body starting from her head and slowly made their way down. She sensed an interruption in Sakura’s chakra flow near her abdomen. The Hokage stilled her hands. She knew what this was. She only needed Hinata to make it official.

Hyuuga Hinata entered the room to see her childhood friend sound asleep on the bed. Even in slumber she looked sickly. Hinata eyed the Hokage and they nodded in understanding.

“Byakugan!” Hinata whispered. She scanned Sakura starting from her head down, looking for any signs of a chakra leak. And she found it. It was almost too tiny to see, but it was there nonetheless. A parasite, so to speak. Sucking out her chakra. Hinata only nodded at the Hokage in confirmation. She made her way out of the room with one last look at her friend.

‘Who did this to you Sakura?’ Tsunade shook her head and took a last look at Sakura before going back to her office for a much-needed cup or three of sake. ‘What will you do now?’

Sakura woke feeling only mildly better. He was instructed to try to eat something and swallow some vile tasting medicine. She got half of it down before her stomach decided to send it back.

“Tsunade-sama, what is wrong with me? Do I have the flu?” Sakura asked miserably.

“No, Sakura. You have a parasite. It is slowly leaching your chakra. That is why you have no energy and why you feel so sick.”

Sakura dry heaved at the thought of parasites in her body. Sakura was disgusted. She was a very clean person. How would she have contracted parasites? From the bathroom at the club? She didn’t remember using the bathroom there. She made it a habit to never use public restrooms. Of course she was drunk. But still….

“Hokage-sama, how could I have a parasite? I thought one had to be unclean…. “ She trailed off, trying to reach her own conclusion. Tsunade offered her a wan smile.

“By a man, Sakura.” She stated clinically.

“A man….?” Sakura was desperately trying to piece together a puzzle that wouldn’t fit.

“Yes, a man. You’re pregnant, Sakura. The baby is feeding off of your chakra so it can grow. Technically, a parasite.”

Sakura was in shock. She couldn’t even think straight. ‘A baby…’ But that meant….. Kakashi. Kakashi got her pregnant. Her first time no less. ‘Oh fuck, oh shit, oh fuck, oh shit!!’ What the fuck was she going to do now?

Tsunade could read the fright on her face. Maybe she needed to explain her options.

“Do you know who the father is, Sakura?” She asked.

Sakura gave no response. She didn’t know what to say. She stared at her sensei with eyes as wide as saucers. Tsunade supposed that meant yes.

“He needs to be informed. He must help take responsibility for the child, unless you want to abort. Do you want to abort?” She asked with a quirk of her brow.

“NO! Well, that is to say… not yet. I need time to think about it. How much time so I have to decide?” She asked. Sakura could not believe this was happening. She had heard that you couldn’t get pregnant on your first time. ‘So much for that shitty theory!’ She thought.

“Two weeks. After that the baby’s chakra will be firmly anchored into your body, circulating with yours. The risks of aborting after that are substantial.” Tsunade replied.
“You must give me your answer before that time. Understood?”

“Hai, sensei.” She said softly.

What would Kakashi say? Think? He should be home by tomorrow. She will have to let him know. It would be his right. Sakura was plagued the rest of the day by ‘what if’s’. She had gone round and round with herself asking questions she didn’t have the answers to. She just needed to find Kakashi.

Sakura spent the night recuperating in the hospital room under Tsunade’s orders. She was given two days paid vacation to try to sort out her affairs, for which she was grateful. She went home the following morning. Shizune was sent escort her. In her weakened condition anyone could overpower her. If Shizune knew what her condition was, she did not say anything. She just gave her soothing words when she stopped to dry heave on the side of the road. It was a good thing that she didn’t live too far from the hospital.

Sakura waited until afternoon to try to track down Kakashi. Her morning sickness subsided making it a lot easier for her to get things done. As she made her way to Kakashi’s apartment, she was subconsciously placing a hand against her lower abdomen. She was extremely fit person whose job was to be in top physical condition. She wondered what this would do to her career as a ninja. And then she imagined what she would look like with a large stomach. She cringed. Would Kakashi be repulsed by her figure in that state? The thought that he might caused her to tear. ‘No wonder I’ve been so moody. Damn hormones!’ She thought.

Sakura made it to Kakashi’s apartment. She knocked tentatively on the door. She knocked again but still did not get a response. She decided to try again later. She had not gotten a good workout in a while and that would be a good way to kill time until then. She went to the old training grounds of team seven. She was careful to include stretching into her warm-up. She was lost in her thoughts as she practiced. Her mind was buzzing with questions and various scenarios of the days to come. Her distraction was complete. She was unaware of the presence watching her every move, waiting for the right time.
‘This should get his attention. I grow tired of waiting for that bastard to return. This will ensure that he comes to me instead.’ The menacing character narrowed his eyes at the pink-haired kunoichi. He remembered this girl. Oh, yes, this will definitely get his attention.

The predator laid in wait. As Sakura ended her training, she sat on the grassy plain and closed her eyes in meditation. She felt calm; better than she had in several days. She was sure that everything would work out the way it was supposed to. In her moment of weakness, he made his move. Sakura felt the tingling awareness of someone nearby a fraction too late. He used a sleeping jutsu and she was out cold before she could even scream for help. ‘It should never be this easy. And I thought she was a kunoichi.’ The man smirked in a very distasteful manner before hauling Sakura off with him into the distance, his black cloak fluttering behind him menacingly.

Sakura woke, confused. Where was she? The last thing that she remembered was meditating in the field and feeling someone nearby… She approached the only door in the room and tried to open it. Locked. She was getting a very bad feeling. There was no window in the room to help her place her surroundings. Only a small bed and a desk adorned the room. Sakura began to sob hysterically. Why would someone want to kidnap her? Who could possible gain anything from using her as bait?

End Chapter 8

A.N. Please take the time to leave a review. Since AFF has been down for a while I know there are many out there who have read my story but were not able to review. You would make me a very happy kunoichi!