Fugaku and Mikoto: Moonlight Silver

The stars are bright tonight, Mikoto thought as she walked down the narrow street of the Hidden Leaf Village.  The air was filled with the spicy scent of food being prepared nearby, and her stomach growled, as if to remind her she was starving... as she always was after a mission.  He squeezed her hand and looked down at her, an amused light in his eyes.

"Hungry?" he asked simply.  He was a typical Uchiha, nothing too special.  At least, that's what her friends would always say.  "Sure, he's an exceptional shinobi, but all Uchiha are.  You need someone with fire, Miko!  Someone who won't bore you!"

"Very," she replied, giving him a coy smile.  None of you know a thing in the world about Fugaku-kun, she thought.  He has a fire that would crisp you all in an instant – literally.  She smiled even wider at her private joke and put her arm through his so that she could walk closer to him.

She was strong – very strong.  Being an Uchiha herself, she knew the stereotype that went along with her name, but she had never let that knowledge affect her.  From a very young age, she had vowed to herself that no matter what, she would work hard for what she wanted, not letting anything be done for her just because of the name she carried.  It was an honor, yes, but not a guarantee.  And living thus, making her way with hard work and honest ways, she had eventually made jonin.  Not long after, she met Fugaku – also a jonin – and it didn't take long before her superiors noticed how well the two of them worked together when they were assigned to the same missions.

But "typical" in his Uchiha power and skill though he might be, Miko had seen more in him from the beginning – an extra spark in his eyes that intrigued her.  She knew there was something more to him than the familiar midnight hair and the eyes with the red pattern of the sharingan.  His eyes were bright with a unique intelligence, and his presence itself bespoke of his unshakable character.

He had been as intrigued with Mikoto as she had been with him.  Her honest work ethic and her incredible skill impressed him, and he too could sense something unique in her – something missing from the other girls.  It wasn't long before he saw her beauty of character, something separate from her exceptional physical beauty.  There was a strong will there, and a longing to love and be loved for who and what she was.

She was a rare kunoichi, and she was his.  Despite her strength of character and will, he had also discovered a playful side to her that he never tired of seeing.  He looked at her now, and couldn't help but notice how very beautiful she was in the pale moonlight.  Her raven hair was highlighted, bathed in a silver glow, and her characteristic high cheekbones and large eyes were accented in the glowing light of the night lanterns.  She was breathtaking.

She noticed his look, but purposely didn't meet his gaze, preferring instead to scan the stalls on either side of the path for her favorite little shop.  Ah, there it was: Ichiraku Ramen.  A fairly new establishment, it was hardly well known, but the few who knew of it had fallen in love with it instantly.  The young man who ran it was sweet and generous, and never failed to serve a delicious meal.  She pulled Fugaku towards it eagerly, and sat at one of the high stools behind the counter.

Throughout the meal, both Uchiha stole glances at each other, but otherwise ate in silence.  Neither was uncomfortable in the quiet, for silence did not always have to be filled.  Especially at a public restaurant, when – other than each other – the foremost thing on their minds was the recently completed mission.  Both understood their position well: as such high-ranking shinobi, that were privy top-secret information, and they had to be careful what they said.

The meal finished, they continued on their way home, crossing the threshold of the Uchiha section of the village just as the moon touched the horizon.  It lit their path and faces in its cool light, and cast the buildings around them in a mysterious pattern of light and shadow.  The little apartment they shared had its own balcony outside a set of sliding glass doors, and the young couple loved to stand there and look out at the night together.  Their discarded headbands sat on the table just inside the glass doors, along with their uniform vests and shoes.

"A difficult mission."  Fugaku said, breaking the silence of the night.  Miko looked at him, her eyes glowing with worry.  "I hope Kushina-chan's wound doesn't pain her too much."

He smiled fondly and cupped her chin with his hand.  "Always the compassionate one, my Miko."  She returned his touch, combing the hair back from his eyes so she could see them better.  "I'm just worried about my best friend," she murmured in response.

"I'm sure she'll be fine," he whispered before his mouth met hers in a soft kiss.  The wind sang around them softly and blew through Mikoto's hair until it tickled their faces.  She pulled away gently and said, "I have something to tell you."

He searched her eyes but otherwise stood silent, waiting for her to continue.  Miko took his hand from her chin and placed it on her stomach, giving him an overjoyed smile.  His eyes widened at her mute message and he looked at her with shock.

"You're pregnant?" he asked incredulously.  She nodded, her eyes wet with joy.  "You're going to be a father, Fugaku!"  Finally, the information registered in his mind and he grinned at her, caressing her stomach.

"How long have you known?" he asked, his mind in a fog of giddy joy and leftover shock.

"Since the day before we left on this mission."  He heard the firm tone in her voice and gave her a puzzled look.  "Fugaku, I don't intend to let this pregnancy keep me from going on my missions as usual – not until later when it actually becomes a hindrance."  He nodded reluctantly after an initial flash of protective protest, knowing that he couldn't change her mind, and that she was right.  The baby wouldn't begin to tell on Mikoto's usual strength and endurance until later.

Miko watched him closely and saw the flash of protest, but watched it die in his eyes before he nodded grudgingly and said, "I guess you're right."  She smiled playfully and tapped his lip with a slender finger.  "Little Izumi will be fine until then."

"Izumi!" Fugaku exclaimed, a playful light entering his own dark eyes.  "Don't you mean Itachi?"

The young couple's laughter rang out, clear and happy into the silver, silver night.