Mirror, Mirror.
Who is the prettiest of them all…?
"So," Sakura finished her short story to the hokage, who looked oddly interested. "This is what happened. And we can't find her mother…poor Kimi-chan." She pat the small girl's head, who giggled in reply, and the hokage's expression deepened when he saw the girl's wide sparkling eyes, much like the Uchiha's…
"Hm, I see." He said, stroking his chin, eyebrow quirked. The small girl beamed at him innocently, and he smiled warmly back. "Well, Sakura, I suggest you keep her with you until we get this settled. She seems quite attached to you." The hokage said warmly, and Kimi giggled. You have no idea…
"Ehh?" Sakura said, but one look at the cute wide-eyed Kimi, and she melted into a puddle of pink goo. "Alright, then. Come on, Kimi-chan."
The small girl perked up happily, grabbing her mother's hand tightly and following her out of the hokage's office. They walked down Konoha, and got several interested glances, and some little 'how cuteeee!'s along the way. Kimi proudly flounced by her mother, but Sakura was blushing a bit sheepishly, but kept smiling lightly at a happy-looking Kimi by her side.
"Oh, ma—I mean, Sakura-chan." Kimi tugged her mother's hand and pointed at the ramen shop in excitement. "Can we get ramen? Please?"
Sakura smiled. "Okay, come on." Kimi gleefully followed, her tiny hand squeezing her mother's slim one tightly. The walked in silence, until they pushed into the shop. Kimi's eyes twinkled as she leapt onto the chair she usually sat on, smacking her hands on the table surface and smiling cutely. Sakura sat next to her, ordering two ramens and turning to Kimi.
"So, Kimi-chan…" She said, smiling slightly. "You see happy. Don't you miss your mommy?"
Kimi smiled innocently. "Oh, I do…but your fun, too!"
Sakura blushed pleasantly, waving her hand and giggling. "Why thank you."
Kimi's expression softened slightly. "You wish Sasuke thought the same, don't you?"
"EHH!?" Sakura jumped, cheeks flaming red. "K-Kimi…! How, wh-what…"
Kimi laughed, patting the blushing pre-teen's knee. "Don't worry; I'm sure he'll come around."
Sakura looked away at her ramen that was placed in front of her, hoping with all her heart that Kimi was right. She poked the ramen before she began to eat it, smiling at the loud, exaggerated slurping noises Kimi was making. "Yummm." The little girl cheered. "Uncle Naru taught me this one!" She scrunched her nose up and sucked the ramen in sharply in her mouth, then swallowed. "Hahaha!" She clapped her hands together in glee. Sakura smiled slightly, putting her empty bowl to the side and leading Kimi out once she was also finished.
Back at her house, her parents were gone, so Sakura led Kimi upstairs into her room, hurrying over and opening the blinds, closing her eyes and smiling slightly as light shed in. Kimi stepped up behind her, running her hand over the glass, eyes sparkling.
Ah…
For a moment there, Sakura could have sworn she felt like she was looking in a mirror. She shook it off and sat on her bed, crossing her legs and flopping on her back. "Mmm…you can sleep in here, Kimi-chan." She sighed, closing her eyes sleepily. Kimi nodded, watching her mother fall asleep slowly without realizing it. Grinning, Kimi took the chance and dashed from the room, out the door, and down the streets of Konoha.
It wasn't hard; she found her dad easily. He was, as her mother told her he always used to do, training at the training grounds. She watched in silence, waiting until he took a break. Once he leaned against the tree, she stepped out of her hiding spot, giggling when he looked surprised and a bit annoyed.
"Hn. What are you doing here?" He grunted. She mimicked his expression.
"Hn. What are you doing here?" She retorted, drooping her eyes lazily. He twitched.
"Stop that."
"Stop that."
"Wh—I mean it, you brat!"
"Wh—I mean it, you brat!" She said, trying not to giggle. It was fun being a 'brat'! She didn't have to be obedient and listen to her parents, because technically they weren't here. She was enjoying this; it was obvious by the twitching of her mouth, that she was stifling a grin.
Sasuke scowled. "Shut up."
"Bad word!" She shrieked, waving her hands at him, as if warding off a beast. "Ooooh, bad language!"
Though he was relieved she stopped, he looked agitated at her flailing and screaming. He stood, storming over and grabbed her by the back of her dress. "I'm taking you back to Sakura's." He growled.
She squealed. "Ohhh! Are you gonna tell her you love her!?"
Another twitch. "Hn." He replied. "No."
She giggled. "No, I think you do. You loveee her, but you're too scared to tell her, because of your reputation." She explained, nodding intelligently. She remembered the story her dad told her, about how he always loved mommy, but he was young and had his 'reputation' to uphold…
She grinned when a slight pink tinged his cheeks.
"Ex marks the spot!" She chirped, patting his hand, which still clutched her dress tightly. "But, can you let go? I don't wanna get any wrinkles."
He scowled, yanking her to the side, literally dragging her towards the village. Her feet dragged on the ground, and she clawed at the air wailing.
"NO! NO! LEMME GO! I DON'T WANNA! I WANNA STAY WITH YOU!"
He twitched, and something in the way she said it made him stop in his tracks. She managed to twist from his iron grip, and she hopped in front of him, widening her eyes, sparkling. Another twitch from the Uchiha.
"Please?" She whispered one last time, and he sighed, defeated.
"Fine." He grumbled. "But only for a little, then I'm taking you back."
She saluted. "Aye aye, sir!"
He rolled his eyes, lopping off, Kimi trailing behind him, still shining with that childish glee she always had in her. Daddy's so cold, but I know how he really is! She thought happily, reaching forward and entwining her fingers in his. Ahh…his hands so much colder than it usually is.
Sasuke stiffened, but made no obvious move to pull away. Kimi stepped close, sighing slowly and walking in step with him, happy. She looked up and saw Sakura, looking worried, obviously searching for Kimi. An idea struck her, and she ducked her head with a mischievous giggle, and tore away from Sasuke, running towards Sakura.
"SAKURAAA!" She said all dramatic, lunging at the pink-haired ninja and hugging her waist. "Sasuke was weird. He started saying things like 'Sakura is so pretty, can you get me her number?'!"
Sasuke paled, and Kimi giggled into Sakura's dress, who was so red Kimi was worried she would explode.
"That's not true." He grunted. "She's just being annoying."
Kimi pouted, but didn't move. Sakura stirred.
"Oh, okay." She said, sounding disappointed. "Sorry."
Kimi blinked, and Sasuke grunted again. Upon looking up, she realized he was turning to leave, and tears spilled from her wide eyes.
"D-Don't go…!" She wailed. "Daddy, don't…!"
She trailed off, horror replacing her mourning expression. Her hand was fading away.
"Ah—!" She gasped, recoiling from Sakura and staring at her hand in shock. "Aah? Aah? AAH!?"
Sasuke had turned to scowl at her odd 'daddy' comment, but blinked dully when Kimi's hand became see-through. Tears fell from her wide, horrified eyes, and a small sob left her throat. Sakura was speechless, and Sasuke only stared blankly.
If you step through it, everything will be…
"Oh, so…" She whispered, flexing her fading hand. "That's what momma meant."
