Teardrop of the Wolf

Chapter 47

A quiet whimper woke Mori from her slumber as the birds chirped outside.

Her eyes opened to see her tiny infant son squirming against her side. She eased herself into a sitting position and picked up Tadao, who began to whimper and cry. She leaned back against her pillow and held him to her breast, smiling softly as her son began to feed eagerly.

She caressed his head softly and gazed out the window, red eyes looking at the street. People walked to and from different places and called out to one another, their voices echoing in the air. Mori blinked and looked down at Tadao as he let out a tiny noise against her skin. His little fingers curled around his milk-filled cheeks as he curled his feet against her diaphragm. She wondered who he would take after: her or Iruka.

A smile flitted across her lips as Tadao continued making small noises. She gently stroked his cheek, and his fingers grasped one of hers. Mori's smile widened as she felt her son's grip; how strong her little one was! When she felt a fullness in her other breast, she gently detached her son from the other breast and situated Tadao against the full breast. She giggled when he took to her breast just as eagerly.

"You were quite hungry hm?" Mori said quietly to Tadao.

His eyes opened enough for Mori to see that his eyes were endless black pools, just like Iruka. His fingers curled around her breast as he continued. She smiled and patted his tiny blanket-covered bum. He was so tiny! Mori couldn't wrap her mind around how something so perfect could have come from her.

A frown came as she continued watching Tadao.

'Will he be a ninja like Iruka? Or have two chakras like me?' Mori thought.

Tadao released her breast and Mori placed him over her shoulder, tapping his back in a steady rhythm. A small 'urpp' sounded and Tadao let out another one of his noises. Mori giggled as she brought him to rest on the bed. His eyes were closing and a yawn soon followed.

Mori put a blanket over his stomach as her son fell asleep after his meal. She then slowly eased out of bed and stretched, letting out a pleasurable sigh as her joints popped. She gave one more loving glance towards her son before creeping out of her room. Her stomach growled fiercely, and after giving birth she needed to bathe. She rummaged around the small kitchen and found some tomatoes and rice, which she promptly ate. Midori had left some green tea out, and Mori took small sips of the tea as she wandered around the house.

Mori sighed softly. She longed to feel the wind blowing through her fur as a wolf out hunting, but she didn't want to-and couldn't-leave Tadao alone.

'I'll ask Midori to watch him when she comes back' Mori thought to herself.

Speaking of which, where had the elderly woman gone? She must have left in the early hours of the morning and left no note.

A sound came suddenly from outside, and Mori froze, senses on high alert. A growl rumbled through her chest as her mind screamed at her to protect her son. The front door opened, and the growl stopped when Midori walked through the door. A gasp escaped as a man followed the elder through, and her eyes widened.

"Iruka?" Mori gasped as she walked to the two people.

Midori beamed as the young man gazed at the new mother that walked toward them. Mori stopped in front of the academy instructor as her heart pounded in her chest. Iruka was here. He was standing in front of her. She hesitantly reached up and brought the side of her hand against his cheek, and a small smile crossed her lips. Midori quietly excused herself and went into the kitchen to give the new parents some privacy.

Iruka gazed at the woman in front of him that he had worried about for months since their argument. She looked tired and worn out, but her red eyes shone brightly. He cleared his throat several times before he found his voice.

"I'm sorry for the way I acted before all those months ago" he said, eyes downcast.

Mori shook her head as she kept her hand against his face.

"No, Iruka you shouldn't be sorry. It was me who reacted badly" she said.

Both were silent and the only sounds were Midori moving in the kitchen.

"I've missed you" Mori whispered as hot tears burned at the back of her eyes.

She retracted her hand, and a surprised gasp flew from her mouth as she felt Iruka's arms wrapped around her. His arms squeezed tightly, and Mori found herself squeezing just as tightly. The tears forced themselves past her eyes and cascaded down her cheeks, dropping onto his vest. The scents of forests and chalk bombarded her senses, and a laugh bubbled it's way past her throat. Sniffling back the tears, Mori pulled away just enough to press her lips against his. She could taste the salt from her tears, and she was sure he could too. A sudden cry caught her attention, and she quickly blinked back the tears and detached herself from Iruka. With a shaking hand she wiped away her tears.

"Would you like to meet your son?" Mori said, smiling as she took his hand and came to her bedroom door.

She walked in to see Tadao's little arms flailing in the air as he cried. Mori made soothing shushing noises as she picked up the squirming infant. Mori sat down on her bed and held him against her chest, and Tadao began to quiet down. His eyes opened partially, and Mori smiled as she looked up at Iruka still standing in the doorway.

"Come here and say hello" she said quietly, giving her finger to Tadao to grasp in his small hands.

Iruka walked in quietly and hesitantly sat down beside her, eyes wide at the sight of the infant that Mori was holding.

"Iruka, meet your son, Tadao" Mori said with quiet pride.

He gently took a finger and ran it softly down the side of Tadao's face. A bright smile stretched across Iruka's lips as their son yawned and fell asleep, still holding his mother's finger.

"He's perfect" Iruka said quietly as he watched his son sleep.

Mori smiled and nodded; he was indeed perfect.

The small family sat on the bed, excited whispers echoing in the room as their son slept in the loving arms of his parents.

Unbeknownst to the parents, a shadow was watching them from the hill outside the small house. It's eyes narrowed, and with a swish it took off. With information required it bounded away into the forest.