Kakashi looked up from his book, irritated. Who would come up with the stupid idea to knock on the door just when he'd settled down to read? Grumbling slightly, he got up, book still in his hand, and opened. Outside stood a stern-looking, middle-aged woman. Sensing a second presence, Kakashi lowered his gaze and saw a little girl peeking out from behind the woman's leg. He flinched in surprise as he met her shy gaze. There was something very familiar about those brown eyes…

"… Umino Iruka?"

"What?"

Kakashi tore his gaze from the child to scrutinize the woman. She had her hair pulled back in a neat bun and there was a slightly official air about her, like a police officer or a social worker.

"Are you Umino Iruka?" she repeated.

"No."

The woman looked at Kakashi, as if expecting him to give her more information about Iruka's whereabouts, but the Copy-nin was starting to feel strangely annoyed with her and said nothing.

After a moment's silent battle the woman gave up.

"Does Umino-san live here?"

"Yes."

"May I talk to him?"

"No."

The woman sighed patiently.

"And why is that?"

"He's not in," answered Kakashi, trying hard to ignore those big, brown eyes that were still staring at him from their hiding place.

"When will he get home?"

Kakashi turned his head slowly to look at the clock hanging on the opposite wall. Not that he needed to; all shinobi have a built-in perception of time and he knew perfectly well that it was ten minutes until Iruka's class ended and that it would take him another ten to get to the apartment. But he wasn't going to make things easier than necessary for this woman.

"'bout… half an hour."

"Can I come in and wait for him?"

"Can I take a message for him?"

"I would rather like to talk to Umino-san myself."

There was a new outbreak of silent staring, but this time Kakashi gave up.

"Fine," he said and stepped aside to let them in.

She had some nerve to just burst in here and demand to see his Iruka. And as if that wasn't enough she kept shooting disapproving looks at his book. And she'd brought that brat.

The woman settled herself by the kitchen table, placing the girl on a chair next to her. Kakashi sat down opposite them and resolutely opened his book, but the child kept drawing his attention.

"I didn't catch your name," he said after a while.

"Watanabe Ayaka," answered the woman.

Watanabe… Kakashi tried to remember if Iruka had ever mentioned anyone with that name, but nothing came to mind. He glanced at the girl over the top of the cover again. It wasn't just the eyes, he saw now, but the hair, the mouth, even the nose, though hers was still snub and childlike. It couldn't be a coincident. He had to ask.

"And what's her name?"

"Umino-Yamashita Suzume."

Umino… but Iruka had never mentioned…

"So, is she Iruka's little cousin or something?"

"No," said Ayaka calmly, "she's his daughter."

Kakashi's insides seemed to freeze. Daughter? As in, child? As in the result of sex? As in Iruka and some woman? No way, no fucking way… He got up and walked over to the window, staring in the direction of the school house. Iruka had better hurry home, and he'd better have one hell of a good explanation to this.