Sleeping
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Mikoto was exhausted, and Fugaku didn't blame her.
He was, too.
Their newest son - Sasuke, he reminded himself - was a crier. He had nice, healthy lungs that he put to good use every morning, noon, night...Hell, he cried at midnight, dusk, dawn, twilight and whatever else you could possibly think of. For god's sakes, the damn kid even cried in his sleep! He and his wife were overjoyed, sure, but there was a limit to joy and crying twenty-four seven crossed the line. He needed sleep.
He would've been happier if Sasuke had was like Itachi, and Itachi had been downright creepy as a baby! He'd sleep quietly whenever they left him alone - a blessing and a miracle in itself, the other mothers had assured - and whenever somebody walked in he'd just open his eyes and watch them as they moved around. No crying whatsoever.
Come to think of it, he'd never actually seen Itachi cry. Even when confronted with the injuries and deaths during the war he'd keep a straight face and stay silent.
He couldn't deal with this right now.
He needed sleep. The captain of the police force was powerful in his own right, but running on an hour's sleep for the past two days was something he'd done once, years ago, and was confident that he'd never let himself do it again.
Picking up the wailing baby from his cushiony spot in the middle of the crib, Fugaku walked into the kitchen where he knew Itachi was studying. Telling his older son to keep the kid quiet so his mommy and daddy could get some sleep, he turned and ran out of the room, skidding down the hall and entering the room where his wife was sleeping soundly, oblivious to the noise. Closing the door softly, he crept up to the bed and slid under the covers, grateful for the quiet. Wait...quiet? Oh, man, I'm tired. I'll deal with whatever it is later... he thought as he drifted off to sleep.
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Stretching and opening his eyes, Fugaku stifled a yawn. It's good that it's a sunday, he remarked to himself. Itachi doesn't have to go to the Academy. I hope he put Sasuke in his crib at one point or another. The six-year-old was fairly reliable when it came to his little brother, so Fugaku wasn't worried. He threw his legs over the side of the bed and stood up, yawning again. Aaah, nice and quiet. Haven't had this for a while. Wondering why on earth the kid wasn't crying, he walked out of the room and down the hall quietly, listening for Itachi or Sasuke to see where the two were.
Sliding the kitchen door open, he stumbled back in surprise. Itachi was still studying at the table and he had Sasuke in his lap, quiet as could be.
The older boy shifted and turned around, staring inquisitively at his father. "Good morning, Father. Did you have a good sleep?"
Fugaku closed his eyes and sighed, gratefully. "I don't know how you managed to do it, Itachi, but thank you. You are officially a lifesaver, my boy."
Sasuke gurgled.
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519 words
6/13/09
