Mysterious Kunoichi (Part 1 of 2 in the MK Series)

Love

"Hime." She whispered as she pulled away, a shaky smile on her lips. A worried expression filled her features when I grunted in pain and held my lower abdomen. "The pain will come and go." She assured. "The cramps are normal."

"Cramps?" I croaked, throat dry and scratchy.

"Kakashi, Rowan, will you give us a minute?"

I looked to Kakashi, then Rowan and back to Tsunade, "Why?"

"I need to discuss your injuries, Hime."

"We'll be right outside, it's okay." Kakashi tried to smile, but his eye didn't crinkle like it normally does. He held his hitai-ate in his hand and his grip on it made his knuckles white. All I could do was nod before Kakashi and Rowan exited the room.

"Hime-"

"Just say it. What's wrong with me?"

"Drink some water, please." She offered as she stood and poured me a glass.

A shaky hand took the glass and I drank until the water was gone. She placed the glass on the table again and looked at me, pity, I didn't need pity. "Don't look at me that way." I snapped, making her reel her emotions back in.

"You were in a medical induced coma for two days. We stopped the medication three days ago, so you were unconscious for three days. Your chakra was extremely low, as well as the flow interrupted. You have multiple contusion, scratches, scrapes and bruises. Ribs are almost completely healed, but you'll be sore for quite some time. Your right femur has a small hairline fracture. Internal organs have all returned to normal function as well." She took a long pause, moving to get her clipboard before coming back to my bedside and taking a seat on the bed next to me.

"Will you just say what you need to say? Will I never walk again? Never be a kunoichi again? Just say it!" My voice rose with each word before I shouted the final phrase.

She gripped my hand tightly between both of hers and she focused on them, "You were pregnant." The words were like an iron wall had been dropped on me. "Did you know?"

"I-wh-I was..."

"Seven to eight weeks it seems. Whatever physical damage your body took, you lost the baby. That's why you're cramping."

I subconsciously placed my hand on my stomach and slowly moved it downward, I had never thought of having children. A kunoichi's body is hardened and a normal cycle is hard to find in a female shinobi. I also receive injections every three months, being ANBU and doing solo missions, they require it to prevent pregnancy. Kami forbid you get pregnant without them knowing before hand, then the asset that you are would be no more.

"Rowan said you were sick during the mission."

"Yes." I whispered, hand still rubbing my womb.

"He stated your mother was ill in a similar manner in her early pregnancy with you. Now you'll know what to look out for."

"Kakashi." My voice still low.

"He knows. He knows everything." She admitted in a hushed voice.

Everything. And yet, he still held me, still soothed me and cared for me as I fought him through the night. I wanted to kick and scream like a child who had something taken away from her: I did have something taken away from me. I wanted to hit something and let my emotions go, let my anger, hate, sadness and rage punish someone else. I wanted to scream, letting all the pain go. I wanted to cry and sob into someone's arms, Kakashi, it was unfair to him, all of this. I wanted to disappear and never be sought after. I wanted to walk away and never look back.

"I love you, Hime." Tsunade's voice had me looking back up from where my eyes had focused, my still hand on my stomach. "You'll need a month off, at least. I won't make you see Inoichi, but I will ask that you speak to someone about the events that passed, someone of your choosing. You'll also have Rowan with you at all times, or you'll be paired with another Jonin during missions."

"Is that really necessary?"

"The Akatsuki are out to get you."

That wasn't true at all, Hidan was out to get me. One thing I managed to pick up was that Pein was not the leader, Tobi may not be either, but Pein definitely was not. "Alright." I wouldn't win the argument unless I spoke of what happened.

"Do you need anything?"

"I'd like to shower." I answered honestly, "Then some Ramen."

"You really shouldn't shower alone. I can have Sakura-"

"A real shower." I reiterated.

She sighed before looking at me, "You can choose who, but someone will be in that shower with you." She wasn't going to back down on this.

"Kurenai."

"I'll send for her. We haven't allowed visitors, but your friends know you're here. Jirayia and Naruto came to visit. Iruka was sent for the second night you were here, he and Kakashi spoke, I'm not sure what was said."

Iruka. My heart fell. "Send Kakashi and Rowan in, please?"

"Yes, Hime. I'll be back tonight." I nodded before she kissed my forehead and left.

Kakashi and Rowan entered in silence before closing the door. Rowan took a space on the floor at the foot of the bed, keeping watch as always. Kakashi moved to the window and opened it, the summer breeze was cooler than the last time I was home, almost two weeks ago. I did quick math in my head.

"Your birthday is coming up." I spoke.

"Ten days." Kakashi agreed.

"Hard to believe I've been home a year." I mused. Kakashi's hum signaled me that he heard and agreed, but he'd offer no more words. "Is there anything you want for your birthday?" I'm not sure if the small talk was helpful, but it was the best I could do at the moment.

Kakashi turned to face me now, hands in his pockets and a solemn gleam in his eye. He pulled a hand from one pocket and my bracelet was in his palm, "Wear this." He stepped closer, lifting my hand and clasping the bracelet to my wrist.

"Kakashi," I looked up to him and found that words weren't forming in my mind at all.

"Wear this and promise me you'll always come home. To me."

"What are you-"

"Do you remember what you said before you passed out?"

I've always loved you. Of course I did, I thought I was dying, I wanted him to know. "Yes." I rasped in a hushed voice.

"Did you mean it?"

Tears prickled my eyes and I sniffed, trying to hold them in. "Of course."

"Say it, kitten." He urged as he knelt down next to the bed.

"I-I love you." I chocked out.

Kakashi sat on the bed again quickly before pulling me to him. He moved away, just enough for me to see his face, I watched slowly as he lifted his hitai-ate, his red and black eye staring now back at me along with beautiful onyx orb. He slipped his mask down, his perfect face fully exposed to me. "I love you." The words didn't even register before his lips were against mine.

Did he just?

I love you.