Sorry I haven't been able to update. Here's you a chapter.

Warning If you are sentimental, tissues must be close by!

Chapter 3

Kakashi yawned sleepily, dragging his feet across the hardwood floor of his apartment, Sayuri running ahead happily. Not being used to babies, she woke him up every few hours, thus, he was exhausted. He set her on the table, giving her a tiny glass of milk.

She looked at it, then up at her father. He raised a brow, "You're a year old, you drink out of cups, don't you?" He lifted his own glass, finishing it in two gulps, and set it back down. Sayuri picked hers up with both hands, and slowly, drank from it.

She set it down and smiled, "Dada!" He pulled on his jounin vest, "What?" She raised her arms, "Dada?" He smiled wearily, picking her up, "Okay, lets go see Mommy."

"What is it with people today?" Kakashi thought, walking in the busy village, "Haven't they seen a father and daughter before?" Sayuri shivered in the slightly cool air, snuggling closer to her father.

He smiled down at her, "Having fun?" She smiled up at him and giggled, holding a stuffed white rabbit tightly.

"I need some air." he thought, growing irritable at all the stares and googly eyes. He exited the main village branch, and sat at a tiny stream. He tightened Sayuri's jacket, hat and gloves before letting her run around.

He watched her run around, picking up dead flowers and feathers. She dropped everything, leapt in his lap, making fish noises.

He held her over the water, when he saw a fish, he quickly snatched it up. He held it toward her, and said, "Fish. Touch it." She showly poked it, when it moved, she shrank back and buried her face in Kakashi's chest.

"Slimy, isn't it?" he said with a smile, when she nodded, he let it go. He looked down at the water, and nearly dropped Sayuri. No wonder the villagers were staring at him! In his exhausted state, he had forgotten his mask!

He looked down at her smiling face, "See what you did?" Her smile widened and she clapped happily.

"Kakashi-sensei!"

He looked up to see Sakura approaching. "Hey, Sakura, what are you doing here?" he asked, standing up with Sayuri still attached. "Well, I was going to see, Sasuke and Naruto. Could I hang out with you for awhile?" He looked at Sayuri, passed her to Sakura, saying, "Sure."

Sayuri looked up at Kakashi, teary eyes and quivering lip, "Dada?" Kakashi took a step back, Sayuri cried in alarm. "Okay, kid, I won't go anywhere!" Sayuri smiled and clapped, "Dada, Dada!"

Sakura exclaimed, "Extraordinary! She hasn't known you that long, and already she knows you!" He shrugs, pulling out Icha Icha Paradise, "Well, she is my daughter."

Sakura smirked, and whispered something to Sayuri, causing her to giggle happily.

Sayuri outstretched her arms with a smile.

"Yuri, play with Sakura."

"Dada!" she whined with a pout. Kakashi sighed and reached out for her. In that instant, Sayuri grabbed his book, Sakura taking off instantly.

"Hey! Get back here!"

A few minutes later, Kakashi and Sakura lay in the grass, Sayuri fast asleep on Kakashi's chest.

"Sakura, what has the number one rule always been?"

"Never touch the book?"

"Exactly, never do it again."

"Sorry, sensei, but you two needed something fun to do."

"Yeah, but did you have to take my book?"

"Yup!"

"Oi."

"Kakashi-sensei?"

"Hm?"

"Do you...do you love Kazumi-san?"

"What?"

"Kakashi!" Iruka's sudden appearance startled the three, causing them to jump. "What, Iruka?" Kakashi growled, holding his squealing daughter. Iruka stopped, leaning over to catch his breath, and said, "Tsunade-sama demands your audience in the clinic. Kazumi-san won't make it much longer."

Kakashi looks down at Sayuri, "Well, kiddo, I guess we'd better go say good-bye to Mommy."

Tsunade looked at Kakashi in empathy, "I'm sorry...she doesn't have much time." Kakashi nodded, "May I talk to her...before...well..." Tsunade smiled, "Of course." She walked past him, grabbing his shoulder reassuringly, then lead Iruka and Sakura out.

Kakashi took a seat next to Kazumi's bedside and took her hand.

"Don't worry, Kazumi-chan, I'm here."

Her eyes slowly open, giving a weak smile and whispers softly, "...Kakashi-chan..." "I brought Sayuri. How are you able to put up with no sleep?" he whispered jokingly.

"You get used to it...I'm sorry...I forgot to give you her bottle..."

"Bottle?" he quesioned, glancing down at Sayuri, "I thought she drank out of a cup."

"Dada!" she squeals happily.

Kazumi's smile widens and she squeezes Kakashi's hand, "...Her first word..." Now he really was surprised. Sayuri's a smart infant, she's a Hatake prodigy.

"I'm sorry...I didn't bring her earlier...I'm sorry." Kazumi whispered, tears trickling down her pale cheeks. Kakashi tightened his grip on her hand, "No, its not your fault. Just forget all of that, Kazumi-chan."

"Its almost time..." she whispers. Tears prick at the young jounin's eyes, "Kazumi-chan," he whispered, "remember a couple of nights ago when you asked if I still loved you?"

"...Yes..."

"Well, I still do...with all of my heart."

Kazumi smiled, tears soaking her pillow, "Thank you...take care of our daughter...okay..."

"I will." he whispers, kissing her hand, "I will."

With one last smile, Kazumi took her last breath, her head falling against her pillow and her hand grew limp in her lover's hand.

A single tear slid down his cheek and he kissed her hand, "..I love you..."

As he silently cried, he realized all of the things she'd miss.

She'll never see Sayuri grow older and prettier, never hear her ask about her, never see her first tooth fall, never see her to her first day at the Acadamy, never see her become a teenage, then and adult, never see her boyfriends or hear Kakashi's threaths.

And most of all, she'd never know...

...Kakashi never married.

THE END

Sad, isn't it?

If you would like a more advance version of this story, just tell me. Maybe there will be more chapters, but I know there will be more detail to it.

I know, Kakashi's out of character in this story. But I can't help it! In my eyes, he's a big softy!

Thank you all for reading and reviewing my story! I appreciate it, and I love you all!

Try reading my other stories, they're good, too. I have this story on my other computer that I want to put on here.

And, yes, its another Kakashi story.

So, just review, give me your opinions on my suggestions.

Thanks, all!

-Cloe