Empty Eyes: The Sequel

Chapter 8

"You have to admit this isn't right!" My eyes shot open at Ino's angry voice.

If our count is correct and Kaguya didn't lie, she'll be giving birth within the next ten days. She definitely looked like she could go into labor at any moment.

The closer the time came, the more terrified and anxious my sister became. It broke my heart when I'd catch her staring down at her swollen belly with the most gut-wrenching expression of complete devotion and helplessness. I miss Sasuke like crazy, but I'd sacrifice getting to see him for another month if it meant Sai would somehow show up in time for her to give birth.

Ever since they became a couple, they've been two peas in a pod. I'm not sure if she'll be able to mentally handle going through something so important without his support.

When I rolled over to see what had gotten her so worked up, a yelp of surprise left my lips, and I scrambled to my feet, noticing that Madara was reacting similarly. Senzo was standing before us with his familiar cute smile, but he wasn't a little toddler anymore. He looked like he was maybe fourteen or fifteen years old and was already an inch or two taller than me.

Ever since Madara joined Ino and I in this room, the boy would come in at least once a day and it was just as torturous as I was worried it'd be the first time I lay eyes on him.

"Good morning, Mom! Did you sleep well?" His voice was still soft and sweet, but it was also noticeably more mature than it had been yesterday.

I looked over at Madara and he looked back at me with an expression that said it all. Somehow, the Uchiha elder was having an even harder time with this illusion than me. No, I'm not in love with him and this mirage wasn't going to tempt me to even consider it, but it has brought a new level of understanding between us.

He's not quite the pillar of unyielding strength that he tries to appear as. Deep down, he wants what anyone wants: love and acceptance.

I'm not sure because we've never talked about it and I honestly don't want to know for sure, but I get the feeling that he's made many attempts of finding love and starting a family through the years and, obviously, they failed. So, seeing something he's likely been chasing for over nine hundred years right before him was awful. It was like holding a glass of water in front of someone who's been in the desert for a week without it and not letting them have a drink.

For me, it was a different kind of torture. I don't want to build a life with Madara, but these vampires' powers have shown me so many visions of my life with this imaginary child. It's forced me to fall in love with him against my will. Madara wants and loves what he can't have and I'm being forced to have and love something I don't want.

"Hamura, for the last time, get out of here. We know this isn't real. You're not going to succeed," I spat in Senzo's direction with as much malice as I could muster.

Of course, he didn't listen and continued to play his part, staying in the room with us for an hour or two before finally exiting the room. I angrily wiped at the few tears that managed to fall as I stood and glared at the door he'd disappeared behind.

"Well, look at the bright side. At least we only have to deal with this for ten more days." Kaguya hadn't come right out and said that she was going to kill us all when she did Ino, but we all agreed that it felt like that was her plan.

My eyes narrowed further as I turned to give her a look of disbelief, "Don't ever say something like that again. You're getting out of here if I have to fight our way out myself."

Ino's skin looked wonderful with her pregnant glow, but everything else about her was defeated. She didn't even bother wiping her tears as she absently caressed her stomach, "Saku, we can't keep lying to ourselves. We're going to die here and my baby...my baby's going to be left with these-" her voice cracked and cut off as she started sobbing and covered her mouth with one of her hands.