Disclaimer: I do NOT own Naruto but I DO own a pair of kick ass kitty heels.
No copyright infringement intended.
Dedicated to TrueLight for being such a great PM-buddy and for being one helluva Genius.
A Fabian Policy
~platform-shoes12
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.ECCLESIASTES.
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I know I said it's only a matter of when Sasuke will come around all this monkey business but I did not expect it to be this soon. Am I not allowed even a small reprieve? I mean, I have gone enough troubles to earn me good karma points.
Right?
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Couldn't fate just strike him with a bout of denseness—even just for a short while? No? -Le Sigh- My point, exactly...yeah, so excuse me while I groan a little.
Today, I decided to do grocery shopping so I left the task of picking up my little girl to Naruto. I know, I know. Some of you might be thinking how neglectful I have become when it comes to my maternal responsibilities. Picking up you daughter on her first day of school is really essential to a little girl's memory and to pick something so trivial like grocery shopping over spending time with your daughter is really not good when you're trying (very HARD) to build a motherly image. Trust me; I don't even know what possessed me to do that. But, ever heard of the maxim, "all things work together for good"? One thing for sure is that having Naruto pick-up Mikomi-chan turned out to be for the best.
Just barely an hour ago, Tsunade-shishou asked me to show up at the Hokage Tower for something important. I thought it was a hoax…the last time she did this the 'something important' is actually "get me a bottle of sake". Nevertheless, I went to the Hokage Tower to attend to my master.
When the door opened, I was shell-shocked when a projectile was sent my way crashing on the wall a few centimeters away from my head.
"What's your problem, Tsunade-shishou?" I asked quite irately. Had that been thrown a little more carelessly, I would've been nursing a huge bruise on my cheek right now. The fact that I can heal it in a jiffy does not stand to reason.
.
"Take a seat."
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"I'd rather stand." I stomped my feet in indignation. Well, after THROWING a marble paper weight at me…you think?
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"I'm not kidding around. Now do as I say!" Sheesh. Someone woke up at the wrong side of the bed…
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I obediently sat and waited for her to calm down…turned out that I'd be the one who needed to calm down when I heard her next words.
.
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"Sasuke is suspecting."
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I froze. "W-what are you saying exactly, Tsunade-shishou?" Surely, he couldn't have picked up on the—
I heard an audible sigh. "He went here earlier. He's asking for your whereabouts."
"D-did y-you…"
"No, I didn't. This is something that should be settled by the two of you."
I can't help but let out a sigh of relief. "What happened?"
And the tale began.
I was looking out the windows of this office when the doors banged open. I'm a little tipsy, you know? From those sake and all…and I am mad because someone had the nerve to disturb my peaceful break. Plus, the noise is making my head hurt. You have to give merit to my brain. I remembered all this even when I'm under the influence of alcohol.
"Where is Sakura?"
I recognized the voice. And Sakura, you know how I love pissing off that Uchiha? Almost like my love for sake. Which says...much. Anyway, for the sake of pissing him off further, I slowly—slowly—turned to face him with a quirked brow.
"I asked a question."
He was so serious, it bordered on hilarious!–
"Yes, I heard."
"Where is she?"
–And he was fuming!—
"I do not answer to anyone."
"Just tell me you old hag!"
-and he had the nerve to insult me, that brat—
"Why are you looking for her?"
"Of course I want to see her, she's my wife!"
Of course I laughed.
"Funny, don't you think? So you forgot that you have a wife for how many years again? Five."
"You don't know anything."
"Then I suppose we are on equal standing."
-his frown deepened. Oh I love getting on his nerves!—
"I don't understand."
"As expected." I motioned for him to take a seat and no! I didn't say anything so stop glaring at me, you midget.
"What are you trying to say?" He asked.
"You have something important to tell her, have you not?"
"Not exactly."
"You have something to ask her, then."
"Hn."
Bull's eye. I kind of figured out where his thoughts are leading. I suppose the two of them met already…and I meant him and your daughter.
"Sakura will show up when she wants to."
"This is important."
"I know. But you can't expect her to come waltzing back to you after all that's happened, can you?"
"Hn. You know what I'm talking about, don't you?" And his eyes were narrowed at me.
I shrugged. "I'd like to think so. But honestly, I don't." I was afraid that I'm making everything obvious and so I decided to backpedal a bit.
He stood and walked away without so much of a 'thanks'. I didn't expect him to, anyway. When he closed the door behind him…I focused chakra to my ears just to make sure I wouldn't miss anything. You know how Uchihas tend to speak to themselves, right? And I'm right! I heard him mutter something in the lines of
Time to end this hide-and-seek, dear wife.
I don't remember exactly if he really said dear, but that's the gist of it.
I had to thank Tsunade-shishou for keeping omerta.
I started my way home then. By the way, do you know how hard it is to walk and balance all those grocery bags while holding a scarf over your head in place? Right, on with the narrative.
So, I was deep in thought when I felt my load lighten a bit. I nervously looked up and saw my former sensei.
"Yo!"
"Ohayo, Kakashi-sensei!" I smiled and didn't argue when he took the rest of the grocery bags.
His eyes crinkled and I assumed that he's smiling. "Why are you wearing a shawl over your head? Finally ashamed of pink hair?"
A bittersweet smile crept to my face. Both of us know what's going on but Kakashi-sensei's cool like that.
"Hai. That fact is a bitter pill to swallow indeed, but I'll come around it." I smiled.
Fifteen minutes later, we're finally in front of the apartment where Mikomi and I stay. "What brought you here, Kakashi-sensei?"
"I'm visiting my favorite daughter." He said proudly.
I laughed. Kakashi-sensei has always deemed his self as Mikomi's reputed father and my daughter is surprisingly fine with it.
"I'm sure she'll be glad." I opened the door after removing the scarf that was on my head.
"Mikomi-chan, look who I brought with me!"
Mikomi looked up from the picture book she was perusing and immediately jumped when she saw who it was.
"Chichi !" Kakashi caught her when she jumped at him. "Mikomi-chan! What have you been doing while I'm gone?"
"Naruto-ojisan helped me with my math homework."
"It would be better if we check your answers then." A pillow was thrown at my former sensei's direction.
"I'm glad I could help." Naruto interjected and sent a knowing look at me. "Sakura, can we talk for a minute?"
"Of course, Naruto. Ai, don't be a handful to sensei, ne?"
"Aa."
"I saw Mikomi-chan skipping towards me. That isn't something you see everyday so I sensed that your daughter's up to something." Naruto said in a hurried whisper. He leaned on the kitchen counter.
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"Naruto-ojisan!"
"Mikomi-chan? Aren't we happy to-ugh!"
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"Mikomi-chan threw her self at me and told me that she wants to be carried home."
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"Are you sure, Mikomi-chan?"
"Hai. Naruto-ojisan. I want to be…pampered today!"
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"I grinned at her. Something's bothering her, that much is obvious."
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"And why is that, Mikomi-chan?"
"I want to feel like," and she was fiddling with the hem of her shirt, "I have my real otou-san today."
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"Then I noticed an all too familiar chakra lurking. I assume that he followed her when she went out of the room. Maybe he thought that the kid's mother will pick her up."
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"I think I know what you're talking about." I finally talked.
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"I think he is suspecting already. Perhaps he saw the resemblance they share but he's in denial. You know how the teme can be such a prick. He wants a one hundred percent guarantee before he decides what will be his conclusion regarding the matter."
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I sighed. What can I do? Sasuke is Sasuke.
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"I also think Mikomi's having a hard time at school. She told me that kids bullied her today. When she was introducing herself, the kids jeered at her and told her that she doesn't have a dad. Don't you think she has the right to know who her dad is?"
"Naruto, I'd like to think that you know what you're talking about." I felt anger rising within me. How could he even suggest that?
This is a losing battle—I know. But I will, in absolutely no way, give up this fight.
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"Sakura-chan, sure you're hurt when he left; but do you realize the traumatic childhood you're forcing your daughter to go through with all this? She can't even tell who her mother is to her sensei because she said you said she can't tell or the two of you would be in danger. Honestly, Sakura-chan, what are you thinking?"
It was really weird to have Naruto—of all people—admonishing me like this. It isn't as if he has any experience in raising a child, and now he's confronting me like this? I opened my mouth to speak but a little voice interrupted.
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"Okaa-san! Chichi told me we'll go kunai target practice today! Can I go out? Please!"
I smiled at my daughter. She isn't this talkative and happy most of the time. On the contrary, she often stays quiet with her face blank. It's indeed amazing how Kakashi-sensei can change everything just by being around her.
"Okay, Ai. Be careful!" I looked at Naruto and mouthed "we'll continue this later." I walked out of the kitchen and reminded Kakashi-sensei to bring Mikomi back before 6. The mosquitoes will attack around that time and I wouldn't want my daughter to be feasted on by those bloodsuckers.
"Don't worry, we'll be back!" Kakashi-sensei waved as he heaved my daughter up his back. I knew I do not have to be worried; he's surprisingly on time when it comes to Mikomi. Plus, you can't see that orange book around when he comes here. When they were out the door, Naruto and I continued our conversation.
Fifteen minutes before six. I smiled. Kakashi-sensei will be on time. I knew I made the right choice when I allowed Mikomi-chan to go with him…
…or not…
The back door in the kitchen banged open and in came a panting Kakashi. What the—and then I realized it was a clone.
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"Sakura, something's come up. Mikomi will be back there a little later. Explanation will follow. Don't worry, she's safe with me. Code Red."
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And somehow, I know exactly what he's talking about.
TBC
Platform-shoes12's note: Here's the third installment of A Fabian Policy. I hope all of those who posted signed reviews received a reply. Let's greet xXLittleMissKissXx an advance happy birthday! She has the same birthday with our beloved Mikomi-chan! Questions are welcome!
IMPORTANT: because of my poor skills in mathematics, I would have to revise something that has come to my attention, big thanks to bluehinata96, SAKURA is 22!
Thanks to all those who posted a review. I hope I already answered your queries:
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