Fallen Cherry Blossoms

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Chapter 11: The Family Not Too Far Apart

Final Chapter! I really appreciate everyone who reviewed and read this story! You have allowed me to write better in every way. Just for all of the Sakura x Itachi fans and everyone else out there, I will give you an extra long chapter! This is the finale of the story Fallen Cherry Blossoms where Itachi finally opens his dark heart to the beautiful kunoichi of Konoha., Haruno Sakura.

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"Congratulations…Uchiha Itachi, you have a beautiful baby daughter…" the Fifth Hokage announced.

The Sharingan master had been leaning against the wall of Sasori's room. The Sannin had just walked out of the room and Itachi heard a small voice cry out. Tsunade smiled at him, and then patted his shoulder. Itachi stood up and opened the door slowly. He looked in and saw Sakura lying in the bed, exhausted…

"You have a family now, Itachi. I expect you to be good to them," Tsunade said. "You can go in now, I must return to Konoha…"

Itachi watched as the Godaime Hokage disappeared and walked into the room slowly. He looked at the pink haired kunoichi. Her jade eyes were closed tightly and there were sweat drops falling off her head. She had been in immense pain for a while. Itachi looked at the blanket she held in her arms. The baby was crying loudly now, and trying not to wake her, Itachi took the bundle of blankets and held his child close to his face.

"Please stop crying…" Itachi said softly.

Suddenly, the little baby girl stopped wailing, but still had tears in her eyes. Her dark eyes… She had dark hair streaked with pink and small chubby hands. She held out one of her hands to Itachi, although her father did not know what to do. Itachi held out his hand to the little girl and she took his thumb and began to slobber on it. Itachi recoiled at first, feeling the slimy saliva ooze on his hand, although laughed a little later… How cute…

(A/N: Let's just believe she has shoulder length hair right now, or it'd look ugly, trust me. xD)

"Sakura!" Itachi exclaimed. "What is her name?"

There was no answer. It had been quite a long time since Sakura had given birth, and she should be awake now… Itachi sensed something was wrong. He sat next to Sakura and held her hand. Cold as ice… He felt the side of her neck and a faint pulse was heard. His eyes widened and knew that Sakura was dying slowly. He knew that he needed to get medical attention quickly… until a hand caught his.

"Itachi…Tsunade told me…that it was possible for me to die, since my body hasn't been so strong lately… There wasn't anything she could have done…" Sakura said sadly.

"No…" Itachi breathed. "No!"

"I'm sorry Itachi…" the kunoichi said with the last breaths she had.

Itachi got a damp towel and wiped the sweat away from her forehead and held her hand tightly. He put down the child in his hands and enclosed her hand within his. He could not help but feel the horrible emotion that he never wanted to experience; losing someone, before getting to spend time with them… It wasn't fair.

But it's your fault… If you hadn't found Masaya-sama and learned the true secrets of the Mangekyou Sharingan, then Sakura would be alive and well… It was your fault. It was always your fault.

"Please don't die…" Itachi said in desperation.

The Sharingan master held her hand and kneeled next to her bed. He did not let go and held his head down beside her. He was tired, although he knew that he must stay strong for Sakura… She couldn't die… She just couldn't. Although the fate had went against him once, its possible it would go against him again. Although this time, he could not bear to lose Sakura. He needed her to love the child in ways he could never, and love him for that matter as well.

"Sakura…please wake up…"

It had been several weeks now. The girl still had a pulse, though it was very weak. Itachi clutched her hand tightly within his. He wanted so badly for Sakura to see her child. Their child was beautiful, like nothing the world has ever seen. If only Sakura could open her jade green eyes and look at her smiling child… Except, Itachi's child could also feel his remorse. As little as she was, she still had compassion. The small child rested her head on Itachi's hand and silent tears streamed down her face.

It wasn't the normal wailing, you would hear from a healthy child…

"Don't cry…" Itachi said softly.

If there was something Itachi knew about little babies, it was that if they lost their will to live, they would die easily. He didn't want that for his child, for Sakura's child. Itachi was beside himself with fear. This fear that he never wanted to revisit again. The fear of losing those he loved to forces he could no longer control.

"Sakura, please… If not for me, for yourself… If not for her…" Itachi said softly.

"Da…" she whispered.

Itachi looked up at the small girl with small streaks in her hair. She opened her mouth and was trying to speak to her father. The Sharingan master looked into her dark eyes and the kindness that were filled with Sakura's nature. Sakura was still asleep and weakened as the young girl opened her mouth to speak again.

"Dada…Dad…" the small child said.

"What?" asked Itachi in desperation and frustration.

"Mo…Mommy…"

The Uchiha genius's eyes widened as the girl stood up and pointed at Sakura. Being able to walk after…a few weeks after birth? This wasn't right… No… she was an Uchiha, and she was powerful. She told Itachi that she had powers from that day on. Itachi looked into her and held her within his hands. She reminded him of his younger self… Always trying to be the best. Always trying to be powerful. Just hopefully, she would have a better life that he had.

"I know…" Itachi said softly.

The girl within his arms put her tiny chubby hands over to his chest. She looked sadly at her mother, and then at her father. Itachi couldn't promise her anything…although deep within his heart, he wanted to comfort the girl. Make sure that the kunoichi was all right. Suddenly, the small child crawled out of his hands and onto the bed.

"Are you…hungry?" asked Itachi.

The baby did not respond, only to hug Sakura even tighter. Itachi…knew that she hadn't even in a few days and she was supposed to be very healthy. He immediately made some soup and brought it over to her. He knew that he was being irresponsible for the past few days. Although…Sakura was just worrying him so much. He hurried and made some soup. He walked over to the bed and pushed it over to the young child.

"You need to keep your strength…I forgot babies need their nutrition,"

The days passed, the nights passed. The only thing Itachi left her bedside, was to tend their child. He knew that if Sakura wasn't strong enough to make it, he would need to think of her name. No! Sakura will make it. She was strong and powerful, formidable against many opponents. But of all opponents, Death was the deadliest. Her condition wasn't improving, and Itachi knew that soon… maybe, she would be taken away. The world was cruel. It was harsh. Unbearable…

Sakura's dreams were not complete.

---

Sakura had been struggling to survive. It wasn't as her body was weak, like Tsunade had said. She knew that her mind was weakened. Without Itachi being there for those horrible months that passed, not knowing if he was safe or not, had destroyed her. Although, within herself, she tried to heal her mind. If Itachi had not been back for the child birth, she might has given up all along… but now she knew that she had two reasons to live for. She had concentrated on getting better. But still, she needed help from Itachi… and she found it.

Through the bond they shared, it was never as powerful the love they shared. Sakura could feel his warm hand holding her cold one and it had never once let go. She felt the strength to go on from Itachi's hands and slowly healed herself… Finally…the day came when she was completely healthy again. Through Itachi…

"Itachi?" she breathed slowly.

The Sharingan master was asleep with his hand still clasping hers and his head down on the bed. Morning rays came in from the windows and Sakura sat up. She looked around her, searching for their child. Finally, she found her, hugging Itachi's arm. Sakura smiled and then moved her hand. With an instant bolt, the father had awoken and those dark eyes had never seen such an amazing sight.

"Sakura? You…You" Itachi stuttered for a while.

"You helped me through it…Thank you," the pink haired kunoichi answered in return.

Itachi could not understand it himself, although he was just so happy to see her alive! Sakura and Itachi hugged each other tightly, not wanting to let go. Tears streamed out of Itachi's eyes. Tears that were never seen to anyone in the world. The near emotionless Uchiha was now taken into his kind and beautiful self by a young girl who had showed him the true beauty of the world. Finally, the little girl waddled in between her parents pushing them apart.

"Have you thought of a name yet?" asked Sakura.

"I waited to do it with you…" Itachi answered softly. "You almost died, and it was all my fault."

"What?" Sakura asked wildly. "Your fault?"

"I left you for so long, leaving you weak and destroyed… I almost destroyed you," Itachi answered solemnly.

"But by coming back, you saved me," the kunoichi said. "Without you, I would have given up hope all along… So that's why I thanked you… Don't worry about it, please."

The little girl started to wail, since she wasn't getting as much attention. Sakura laughed softly with Itachi and brought her into her mother's arms. Itachi looked kindly at his child, and the little girl laughed happily and was reaching for her father. Sakura saw their child and noticed how much she reminded her of Itachi. She had inherited his dark eyes and his gentle smile on her face. Her unusual hair color was something amazing as well. Magenta streaks of pink sliding down her dark black hair was pretty unusual, although…it was Sakura's and Itachi's child. Anything was to be expected.

"Her name?" asked Itachi.

"Yuhi…" Sakura said softly.

"Fits her perfectly…" Itachi whispered. Since she was born with the setting sun outside her window.

Itachi held Sakura in his arms, like he had always wanted with their child in the middle. He had a family of his own now. Through all his past experiences and through the battles he fought, he never thought he would be having a life with two others. The girl he loved with all his heart; Sakura and the child soon to be as powerful as he; Yuhi.

---

"Okay…where are we going?" asked Sakura.

Itachi had blindfolded the pink haired kunoichi and was leading her somewhere. The Sharingan master just smiled and kept leading her in various directions. Sakura was told that she was going to meet a surprise, and she was excited. With Yuhi in her hands, she could feel the girl trying to wiggle out her hands and walk herself.

"Okay…" Itachi said as he removed her blindfold.

As Sakura's vision returned, she looked before her and saw a small medical hospital in front of her. There was a green forest behind it and there were beautiful flower gardens in front of the building. The ninjas both walked into the miniature version of heaven and Sakura looked all around her. There were cabinets with medicine inside them, counters, an emergency room, and scrolls everywhere.

"How…?" asked Sakura.

"Someone sold it to me. I thought you'd like it," said Itachi.

"It's beautiful!" she shouted.

Sakura hugged Itachi and kissed him on the cheek softly. As they look beyond the hospital rooms, Sakura found three bedrooms made from wood. It gave the rooms a beautiful texture and outside the windows showed beautiful views of the majestic mountains outside. Behind every door held a secret, and beyond every window showed a lush environment. Sakura could barely hold her excitement as she walked around in the house and medical hospital.

"Do you like it?' asked Itachi.

"I love you!" Sakura shouted with glee.

She couldn't stop herself, and held Itachi's hand with kindness as she walked out into the yard. She looked as if she were seeing their beautiful future ahead. There was an arboretum near the side of the house and the small greenhouse was filled with medicinal herbs and plants.

"All this? For me?" asked Sakura, still bewildered at everything.

"It was your dream wasn't it? To become a useful medical specialist… I couldn't allow the one who saved me twice to not allow their dreams come true as well," Itachi said softly.

"Thank you Itachi…besides you have blessed us with this wonderful child," Sakura said.

"She will become a great ninja. She has Sakura's will and power, with the Uchiha blood. There isn't a possibility that she would fail us…Yuhi," said the Sharingan master.

Sakura put Yuhi into Itach's arms and she once again, held out her arms in excitement, reaching for his face. Although Itachi wasn't the perfect father and did not really understand what she wanted. As a result, he allowed her to play with his finger. But then again, their horrible little devil seized her chance and grabbed his finger. She put her whole mouth over it and began to drool. Itachi flinched and Sakura laughed at him. Itachi lifted his finger out of her mouth and watched as the icky slime drip down onto the grass and off his finger.

"It's a sign…she likes you," laughed Sakura.

"I never knew you show affection with saliva," joked Itachi.

Maybe I do have a heart after all…

The Sharingan master and the medical specialist walked away hand in hand into the sunset and the next day. Yuhi was in their arms and that could not have been a more happy moment. Sakura and Itachi both smiled at their child and the promising future that lay ahead. Now, there was only one event left that would happen in the next 24 hours.

---

"I hate this part…" muttered Itachi.

"Getting ready?" asked Sasori with a laugh.

"How'd you guess…" Itachi said boredly.

The red haired boy laughed seeing Itachi putting something formal on for a change. He wore a simple suit with a tie and was looking nervously at the clock. Sasori had dressed nicely as well, for Itachi and Sakura were about to be husband and wife. Sasori was also holding Yuhi, and cooed her as he did. The girl seemed to really like Sasori, as much as she loved her father. The red haired puppeteer then looked back up at the stunning…and handsome Itachi.

"I…never seen you like that before," Sasori said with a hint of laughter.

"Haha…" Itachi said sarcastically. "So you are…?"

"Yes, I'll be there," Sasori said shortly.

Itachi breathed a sigh of relief and looked at the sun setting… It was going to be night soon. The Uchiha genius quickly read off some cards and took a deep breath. He was actually nervous, and wasn't really ready for this… But he knew deep within his heart, that Sakura was the girl for him and that she deserved to have a perfect wedding.

---

"Sorry I dragged you into this…" Sakura said weakly.

"Don't worry about it! I'm actually pretty excited!" shouted the exuberant blonde.

"Promise you won't tell anyone about this marriage okay?" the pink haired girl asked soflty.

"Of course I won't tell! Who do you think I am? I'm your best friend! Of course I can keep secrets like this!" she shouted again.

"All right, Ino…Keep your voice down," Sakura warned.

"This is just amazing! I actually like that Itachi guy you are marrying, he's kinda cute!" she squealed with delight.

"Ah, shut up Ino-pig."

Sakura looked wistfully at her friend, although felt the greatest happiness for her rival, and her friend to see her becoming a wife. Sakura knew that no one was supposed to witness this wedding besides herself, Itachi, and Sasori… But still, the pink haired kunoichi knew that Ino deserved to know everything in her life…after all, there were no two closer friends in the world. It may not have seemed like it, although these two girls were the best of friends and no one could take it away. The sun began to set and Sakura looked out of her window and into the lake… She could almost see her reflection within it, as Ino tied up her hair and braided the beautiful pink strands.

"Thanks Ino," Sakura said with a smile.

"Don't worry about it!" she exclaimed. "Someone needs to walk in you right?"

"Yeah…I guess…"

"What's wrong, Sakura?" asked Ino calmly for once.

"It's just…" started Sakura. "I'm so excited!"

The girl in the beautiful cherry blossom dress decorated with white and pink, jumped onto Ino. Ino started to laugh. She was wearing a lavender shaded and white dress similar to Sakura's. They looked like nicely iced fruit cakes. They began to laugh and scream like normal girls would do, when they were excited. Although Sakura was just so jubilant, that she and Ino nearly began to have a pillow fight.

"You should be going now right?" Ino said suddenly.

"Oh! Okay! Ino! Is my hair in place? I need you to walk me out!" shouted the cherry blossom girl.

Ino giggled as seeing Sakura in distress about her hair and someone to walk with her. Ino took her by the hand and led her out of the room. Sakura stepped into the last radiant sunlight that was set on that day. Her bouquet of flowers were so beautiful and fragrant, that many gardens would bow their petals and leaves in praise.

"There she is!" whispered Sasori.

"I know that…" Itachi said through gritted teeth.

Sakura walked up to the alter in her flowery dress looking at Itachi's handsome face. She never thought that Itachi looked as handsome as he was now. Finally, her creamy white shoes walked down the pathway and she looked into his eyes so deeply and passionately, that she knew that they fate she chose was the right one. Despite all those horrible things that he had done, Sakura knew that by his eyes and kindness within them, she had made the right choice. She then held his hand tightly and Itachi's warmth was returned.

"I do…" they both said…

They then kissed each other passionately and the sun began to set. Sakura was within his arms and he was within hers. There was no happier moment. Sasori held Yuhi close to him and Ino cried tearfully. Sakura always had imagined her wedding with Uchiha Sasuke… She always thought about her husband to be surrounded by his family, and behind her, would be her family. There were be much cheering and the day to be the most festive day in Konoha.

Although this didn't matter anymore. She was within the arms with the man she loved most. The sun was setting and there was no happier moment in a lifetime. Their love would stay with them far longer than forever with the two witnesses and young child dangling within Sasori's arms. Itachi didn't want this moment to end and neither did Sakura. The sun was setting allowing bright patches of orange and yellow tainting the sky. Nothing was better than what had happened on the balcony of a beautiful small cottage that would soon be Sakura's medical clinic. The beautiful river was flowing by that symbolized their everlasting devotion towards each other. Yuhi was the beginning of it, and she wouldn't be the end.

The End.

Author's Note: Last chapter in! I hope you enjoyed my extra long chapter since it is the finale, and longest story I've written so far. Please review! And this is for the people who really REALLY want a sequel.

---

A sickening sound was heard and Itachi and Sakura had left for some time alone. Yuhi was left with Ino who quickly went to Konoha. Sasori was held by Hidan and Kakuzu in the darkness. He spat out blood from his puppet body, and somehow felt every pain and blow that was given to him. Sasori then dropped to the ground on his knees, panting for breath. The Akatsuki leader then stood before him and spoke darkly.

"What happened with Itachi and the girl?" he asked.

"I wouldn't know…" Sasori said dangerously.

"You will tell me, if they have a child now, or it will cost your life."

The leader held Sasori up by the collar of his cloak and Sasori's body then went into lockdown. He could not move anything within his body and went limp. The leader had done something horrible to him, and Deidara looked shocked at his partner sprawled onto the ground. The leader looked back at the stone tablet and sighed deeply. The other members crowded around darkly.

"We need to find out if this is the child we are looking for…" he croaked.

---

On the other side of the country…a medic worker was working. He was pacing as fast as he could, reattaching burned body parts together to try to resurrect his master. Finally, he heard a cough…The kid brushed away the long dark hair and the eyes opened widely.

"Kabuto…" he breathed. "I need a new body…now!"