Something inspired after reading "In These Final Moments" by theinfinitesadness. Posted because my friend wants me to spam her inbox with my writing once more.

Disclaimer: Do Not Own Naruto.

It is dark. Candles flicker aimlessly, haphazardly casting light in a room that smells of sweat and burning candle wicks. It is in this room that she sees a shadow pass by the door.

"You're going out there."

"You're crying," the figure speaks. His voice is deep, yet kind and she's often felt as if his voice alone is her lullaby. Feeling his fingers brush her cheek, she can see the gleam of her tear and as he turns to leave, she catches his hand.

"Don't go," she pleads.

"I have to."

"No you don't," she says tearfully. He looks at her kindly.

"Kushina, you know I have to."

"No you don't," she says in a quavering voice as she struggles with her tears and her husband's hand, desperately trying to ignore the screams and smoke in the city below.

"Kushina…"

"I don't want you to die, Minato. I don't want you to die. You still need to see the baby. You still need to see your son!"

He kisses her forehead. "We don't know if it's a boy or a girl."

"It's a boy. I can feel it."

Minato smiles indulgently. "Alright, it's a boy."

"You don't believe me, do you?"

"I believe I'll be back," he says with a smile. It doesn't reach his eyes.

"You aren't going to come back."

"I am."

"No, you're not. You're not coming back and you know it."

"I am coming back. Have a little faith in your husband."

"You bastard; you're lying to me!"

He kisses her chastely. "I'll be back by morning."

And she watches tearfully as he picks up his Hokage robe, flames scattered across the hem with red kanji on the back that mocks her in the candle's glow, and shrugs it on over his jounin uniform before exiting the door.

After he leaves, she starts to cry. She can feel the contractions start and pain shoot through her nervous system before she falls back on the bed. In between sobs, she breathes and pushes. Clasping her hands together, she prays for their child to be a boy and for him to be strong and kind. She also prays for him to be brave because she knows she can't be and is terrified at the idea of losing Minato to the Kyuubi outside her window.

Suddenly, cries fill her ears and for the first time since the week started, she is truly happy. She can smell the acrid smoke of burning buildings and hears the shouts of jutsu she can't quite make out, but trades them for the sound of her baby before closing her eyes. Minato never returns by morning, but Kushina never finds out. She has passed away shortly after giving birth. She never finds out that he does not return at morning like he said he would, but in the middle of the night where he has stumbled into their room only to find her dead. She will never know that after realizing she is dead, he screams her name and sobs at her side, nor will she know that as he curses their child with a seal, he weeps for a future he is not certain of, and as daybreak begins to appear, Kushina's child cries without the comfort of his parents who have died with tears in their eyes.