Cupid's Rejects

Disclaimer: One day, I'll surely write a manga of my own, but until then, I'll have to mooch off of Kishimoto Masashi-san's Shonen Jump hit, Naruto, which is not mine.

"Okay, team," Kakashi called. "That'll do for now." He closed and pocketed his travel-sized Icha Icha as his three sweaty students made their way across the grass of the training grounds toward him. "Good hustle." Sakura, Naruto, and Sasuke stood before him, panting heavily. Kakashi studied them for a moment, and then his right eye smiled. "The air solidification jutsu requires precise chakra control, but you guys progressed faster than I thought you would."

Naruto chuckled. "Dattebayo!" he rasped with a crucial cheese.

"I doubt you guys won't have it mastered by the end of practice tomorrow," Kakashi continued. "Here's to you. I'll see you all at fifteen hundred hours tomorrow." Disrupting the porange horizon, Kakashi disappeared in an enthusiastic puff of grey smoke. The remaining trio set off for the village. As they treaded over the lush grass, Naruto lost no time catching his breath.

"Hah!" he laughed. "I smoked both your asses."

"Are you kidding me?" retorted Sakura. "I punished you."

"Eh?!?" Naruto cried. "...But I went higher than you, Sakura-chan."

"Pff!" she scoffed. "Sorry to disappoint you, Naruto-kun, but it doesn't count if you fall out of the air."

"Does too!" Naruto argued. "You just can't stand that I beat you at something you're really good at."

"In your dreams, Naru-"

"But I'll forgive you," Naruto interrupted, "If you treat me to Ichiraku right now." He grinned."No way," Sakura stated plainly. "The day I treat you to Ichiraku is the day I announce to all of Konohagakure that I am your girlfriend." Sakura walked ahead, oblivious to the fact that Naruto had stopped walking.

"...Ouch," he said to himself, smiling sadly. These days, his crush on Sakura was a tender subject, and talk of it was basically taboo since he sulked until he forgot about it. Not that Sakura cared.

There was silence for time as Team Seven passed a barn, an abandoned fruit stand, and then a park. The pink and orange blend of the sunset had melted into a dusty blue, and stars had just began peeking out of the higher sky. Naruto dragged his feet as Sakura kept a brisk stride alongside Sasuke.

"You know..." Sakura said, "I wouldn't mind going to Ichiraku if Sasuke-kun were to come." Sasuke snorted. Naruto frowned, and altogether his expression said something like, "That's fucked up," but he was silent.

Not that Sakura noticed. She paid more attention to her current surroundings They had entered the town square now, and were closing in on the insersection that would separate Naruto and Sakura from Sasuke. Sakura had decided to deviate from her normal path of four years home with Naruto, and to accompany Sasuke as far as the park outside the Uchiha complex tonight. Any inquiries would be satisfied with the answer that Sakura had something urgent to tell Sasuke. It wasn't exactly a lie; the importance of the topic she wanted to discuss was simply subjective.

"What do you think, Sasuke-kun?" she asked hopefully. Sasuke closed his eyes and deliberately ignored the question, stopping for a cart at the intersection. "I know you don't normally do this sort of thing, but it's really no harm."

"...I'll pass." Sasuke answered stonely. Sakura was oddly stunned. She had really thought he'd cave this time.

"Sakura-chan, this is our turn," Naruto said, noticing she had kept pace with Sasuke.

"I-I'm going this way tonight, Naruto-kun," Sakura called back nervously. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"But.." he said, mostly to himself, "your house is definitely this way."

The street lights glowed as Sakura and her shadow trailed Sasuke. Now that Naruto had gone home, nothing should keep her from speaking her mind. She hadn't bothered Sasuke about a date for almost two months, and impatiently decided that it couldn't hurt to elaborate now about how she had felt about him since she was twelve.

"Ano, Sasuke-kun," she called ahead. "Please wait."

And he stopped. He was actually giving her a chance! She bit her lip, and then hesistantly continued, stepping forward.

"The truth is, I'm totally in love with you. I hoped that someday I could be your girlfriend and-"

"Sakura-"

"Matte kudasai, please hear me out." Sakura knew if she allowed herself to be interrupted, she wouldn't ever again have the testicular fortitude to get her feelings off her chest. She stepped closer. "I know you're an avenger, and I promise I won't get in the way of that. But... when I'm alone in my bed at night, I dare to wonder what might happen after you've exacted your revenge. Will you come back to Konoha? Will you... will you restore your clan?"

"Sakura-"

"Sasuke-kun, ever since I heard you say that when we were twelve, I've longed to... to become pregnant with your child, to watch my belly swell with your seed, to care for it, to rebuild your clan with you..." Sakura could feel her face getting hot, but she couldn't stop. "I know it's a lot to take in so suddenly, but it's the truth. I'd be honored to-"

"Sakura, stop it." She fell silent, Sasuke's command ringing like a gong in her ears. Sasuke took a breath, and cut into her. "Do you even listen to yourself?" he asked rhetorically. "You long to become pregnant with my child." Sakura's eyes widened. "Do you have any idea how embarrassing it is to even hear you say that?" Sakura looked away, horrified, glad that they were at least alone.

"Sasuke-kun..." she whimpered.

"That would mean we'd have to have sex, Sakura," He continued mercilessly. Her blood chilled. "Have you wondered about that, too? When you're alone in your bed? At night?" Sakura couldn't believe this was happening. She closed her eyes tighly, shocked and mortified.

"...Push out your stomach." Sasuke's breath was warm on the back of her neck.

"Sasuke-kun-"

"Push out your stomach," he repeated. "So I can see what it looks like when your belly's swollen with my seed." Was he serious? Sakura couldn't feel the tears run down her face. This could not be happening. As she awkwardly deliberated this reality, Sasuke wound his hands around her waist and up into her kimoto, pressing them against her stomach. "Push out your stomach, Sakura."

Confused and terribly ashamed, Sakura inhaled quietly, and redirected the air into her belly. Slowly, it expanded, outlining Sasuke's hands against the abdomen of Sakura's oriental dress. Sakura held her breath, wishing that she would explode. Sasuke slid his hands swiftly up and down her stomach, consequently lifting the frontal flap of her dress and exposing the expanded waistline of her shorts.

"Do you like being pregnant, Sakura?" he hissed. "Can you feel my child kicking? Is this what you wanted?"

"I'm sorry," Sakura choked out truthfully, bringing up her hands to rub her eyes. Sasuke removed his hands and sighed.

"I'll be the one to choose who helps me restore my clan," he declared, stepping away. Sakura nodded.

Without another word, she sprinted home. She squeezed her eyes shut in an attempt to block out what had just taken place. She relied on her senses to guide her home, and narrowly missed Kiba and Akamaru while bounding home.

"What the hell?!?" Kiba yelled, jumping to the side.