Love The Way You Lie

Chapter four-Little Mai

It had been eight months, eight months of not knowing if she was alive or dead…. If he was a father… or if his baby was buried somewhere in a shallow grave somewhere out in the wilds. He had seen everything revolve around him as if nothing had changed; Naruto and Sasuke gave up quickly looking for Sakura after finding that their own Hokage lied to them. Which left Kakashi gutted to see his students left to mourn for Sakura's disappearance when he knew where she was, but he didn't want to reveal the situation that put her there in the first place. Kakashi felt ashamed of himself his entire life he has put the mission first, above all other needs and personal feelings. But now this whole cock up has cost him everything he had, Tsunade sent him off to ANBU but they sent him back saying he isn't emotionally stable…so Tsunade hasn't given him a mission in four months. He spent the entire time drinking and picking fights with other people who wanted nothing more than to check if he ok.

Ino was persistent in knowing what the reason for Sakura's abrupt departure was; she was Sakura's best friend she never mentioned leaving or having a guy in her life and Ino was left out of the loop when it came to Sakura's pregnancy. Every time she approached Lady Tsunade all she got was verbal abuse and threats to kick her out of Konoha, both Tsunade and Kakashi had let guilt consume them… the elders were expecting Tsunade to step down as Hokage any day now. But before she would step down she needed to do something about Kakashi, his alcoholic ways and drunken fighting was ruining him and he was the only one who could fill the position as Hokage successfully… he might have turned down offers in the past, but she had a feeling if she got his drunken ass into Rehab away from Konoha…or she gets Sakura back, with an offer she could not refuse then Kakashi would take up the position as Hokage.

"Will you shut that thing up!" Sakura snarled at Sai who was trying desperately to quieten the newly born baby, "Sakura…she needs her mother, there's only so much I can do" Sai pleaded with Sakura; Ever since the baby was born Sakura wanted nothing to do with her daughter. She wouldn't even name her so Sai gave her the name Mai, as she was a truly cute and bubbly baby. Sai over the past week had been looking after Mai, Sakura had become violent towards the youngster and was deemed unsafe as Sakura would let Mai cry for hours on end. Sakura just stayed in her room in Sai's house barely doing anything… just getting her to eat and keep her fluids up was hard enough. Sakura's sanity was hanging by a thread, now she had a daughter she never wanted. Every time she looks at her all she sees in Kakashi, the man that took the last innocence she had. "Sakura…I'm going to send Mai… back to Konoha, it would be the best for the both of you…" Sai said as he placed Mai in her cot, He looked at Sakura who was only staring out the window showing no emotion, not even a hint of being human. Sai thought even him saying that he was sending Mai to Konoha would bring Sakura back to her senses, but Sakura remained unnaturally aloof with the world. Locked in her head, her own world of darkness and insanity. Sai sent a messenger bird first to let Tsunade that he was coming

Hokage-sama

I have something Kakashi-senpai will want to see, I shall be in your office first light tomorrow morning.

Sai,

Tsunade was practically passed out from drinking when a scribble bird came crashing through her window. She took the message off the bird that then disintegrated on her desk, she glanced of the contents thoroughly as she was presuming it was a mission statement from a private party. She had no idea what Sai would've had that Kakashi wanted, unless Sai's artistic skills have gone more into the adult range. Tsunade thought of not warning Kakashi and just to get him early tomorrow morning with a few ANBU officers.

That Morning came slowly for Kakashi who for the last twelve hours has stared at his ceiling above his couch. He barely realised that there were two figures standing over him "Is he dead?" the stranger in the Fox mask asked as he poked Kakashi in the arm "no, he isn't dead you idiot… he's just wasted" said the other figure with the Cougar mask Kakashi recognised the two voices. "What on earth are you doing here? Naruto and Sasuke… I suggest to you that you should leave" Kakashi's voice was hoarse and dry like he had been smoking a dozen packets of cigarettes a day. "Sorry Sensei, but we have orders to get your lousy ass over to the Hokage as soon as possible." Naruto said in unison with Sasuke. "Is there a reason?-" Kakashi asked but Sasuke quickly interrupted him "We weren't told anything, but of what Ino told me… Sai has something for you" Sasuke's face darkened, Kakashi had a bit of a panic attack. Did Sai tell Ino who then told Sasuke? Kakashi had to get his ass down there… but first a quick shower and shave, he felt and smelt like death. It also gave him a bit of time to wonder, how on earth did Sasuke and Naruto become ANBU without him noticing?

Sai waited out in the village until he was sent a signal from Tsunade, she told him she needs to give a stern talking to Kakashi. He enjoyed being back in Konoha he walked all through the morning farmers markets. Tsunade quickly organised everything she throw all her Sake bottles out the window. By the time Kakashi entered her office everything was spotless and clean "Where is Sai?" Kakashi asked, he sat down on the chair in front of Tsunade's desk knowing he wasn't going anywhere until they sorted this situation out. "He will be here when I want him to be here, firstly I need to talk to you" Tsunade glanced across at Kakashi

At first sight of him she could tell he had been drinking large quantities of alcohol. His eyes were terribly blood shot and his normal perfect skin was more dirty and slightly yellowing, better check his liver when it came to his physical due next month "What Sai has… is greatly important, you need to promise me that you will stop acting like you are, so I am sending you off to rehab in waterfall country" Tsunade said as she was signing some release forms in front of her "But waterfall country has…bugs, I hate bugs" Kakashi sighed, he knew he needed helped and found it a bit strange that Tsunade is sending him away "You will be going, it will prepare you for the coming months" she said looking Kakashi directly in the eyes "What will be happening… someone dying?" Kakashi said as he uncomfortably shifted his weight in the chair causing it to squeak loudly "I'm stepping down as Hokage… naming you as the successor to be Hokage" Tsunade said with a satisfied smile, Kakashi stated in awe at Lady Tsunade not realising his weight in the chair changed which caused him to fall to the ground "I cannot be Hokage-" Tsunade interrupted him, obviously he had struck a nerve "You must be the Hokage! You are going to Hokage, Naruto will not be ready in time so the job falls to you" Tsunade said, the entire office went ghostly quiet; you could hear the walls creaking. "Fine, I will take the job, but as soon as I deem Naruto as mature enough I will pass the job onto him" Kakashi said he wasn't pleased at Tsunade's idea, but Naruto would be ready in no time especially if he is among the ranks of ANBU.

Sai saw Tsunade's signal and skipped across the roofs of Konoha's businesses; he saw that Kakashi was with Tsunade. At least he looked kind of alive Sai thought, instead of going threw the window the old fashioned way he thought it would be best if he knocked anyway jumping through the window might wake up Mai, who he was carrying in his arms. She had slept most of their trip here so it's better for her to stay asleep than be awake and probably crying.

Tsunade got up out of her chair to open the door for sai, Kakashi didn't want to turn around so he continued to look out at the village. "Kakashi-sempai I have something for you, but first you must close your eyes" Sai said as he winked to Tsunade, Kakashi closed his eyes. Sai placed Mai in Kakashi's lap, Kakashi still having his eyes closed was wondering what the hell did Sai place in his lap. "Open your eyes Kakashi-san" Tsunade said with a smile, Kakashi opened his eyes…

It was impossible

He never saw this moment coming

But there she is…

His Daughter

She opened her eyes, she had his dark onyx eyes but she had her mother's hair. But she was beautiful, Tsunade got wrapped in the moment… this was one of those moments life's troubles just seemed to melt away; Sai couldn't help himself he smiled slightly. He knew his choice was a good one; she's better off here with the love of her father than be back with her mother who could barely look after herself let alone a small human being. "What is her name?" Kakashi asked Sai quietly not wanting to upset his newly awoken princess. "I gave her the name Mai…" Sai said, Kakashi gave him a questionable look "What of Sakura?" he asked, if Sai gave the name… where was Sakura "Dhe's alive… things didn't go well Kakashi. Sakura didn't want anything to do with her daughter, I'm sure if I left Mai in Sakura's hands… you wouldn't have a daughter" Kakashi's heart sunk, Sakura was the most mothering and kind person he had come across. This was his fault forcing this child into her life when she was barely sixteen. "I'm sure Sakura… will want Mai back at some time" Kakashi said, but Tsunade and Sai exchanged a look and Kakashi knew what they were meaning "Sai has told me…of Sakura's behaviour… I don't think it would be wise for Sakura to see the baby, until she is ready and comes to find her herself. She has been a lot like you Kakashi…. Self-destructive and barely clinging onto anything in the world, again what Sai tells me Sakura will be under suicide watch" Tsunade said as she sat down on her desk. All the happiness from meeting his daughter was gone because of what he was told to do, Sakura still wanted to die. Still after nearly a year, she had not improved "You have my word Kakashi, I will take care of Sakura the best of my abilities and get her back to her old self" Sai waved at Kakashi and Tsunade before disappearing.

Tsunade and Kakashi stood in a moment of silence, little Mai was staring up at Kakashi with the cutest smile. "Tsunade…we will need to tell the others eventually. It's not like I can make up the excuse that I spawned Mai out nothing, they need to know." Kakashi gave Tsunade a stern look, Tsunade shrugged "we will deal with that business tomorrow, for now I suggest that you spend time with your daughter" Tsunade dismissed Kakashi who was more than happy to leave.

Kakashi took Mai home, he knew he had nothing for her but that was the best part of having nin dogs around the place. He got Urushi Akino and Guruko to go buy baby stuff, the dogs weren't at all pleased that they were asked to buy nappies and baby formula but it was their masters' baby so they had to no matter what… never bite the hand that feeds you. Pakkun and Bull were given strict orders to remove any alcohol in Kakashi's apartment. He now had something in his life that was depending on him to remove any bad habit and require a loving family, even if he would be playing the single dad card for a while.

Mai never cried once that day, didn't even get upset when someone let firecrackers off in Kakashi's building. His little Mai to love and cherish till the day he dies.

I Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Much love, Tawryn xx