Revival

A/N: I know the chapter's a little short compared to the others….but I thought I should give you a new chapter. Hope you like it. A little angsty though.

Chapter 4: I Want My Baby Back

"Now who's up for a group hug?" Sai opened his arms wide.

"I'm outta here." Kouji groaned and turned away with Nao close behind.

Sai looked at Mikoto and then flipped through some pages of his handy-dandy book. "The book says a teacher must bond with his student."

"…I uh think I left something in the oven." She hurried off, not paying attention to what was in front of her. She ran straight into something hard and surprisingly warm. She looked up. "Daddy?" Sasuke's fists and jaw were clenched, his eyes bulged and his face was very red. Mikoto tried again. "Daddy?"

He finally noticed her, "Stay back, Mikoto. I've got a score to settle with this guy."

Mikoto stepped in between them, "Where's Naruto?"

"Having a little chit-chat with Tsunade, no doubt." Sasuke replied curtly while Mikoto rolled her eyes and hurried off to find her other father.

It took only a few minutes to reach Tsunade's office. She burst in the room, ignoring the cries of protest from Iruka and Shizune. "Stop!" She screamed.

Naruto turned towards her, his eyes grew wide. "What the hell are you wearing?" Mikoto looked down and sighed. She was still wearing the mini-Sai outfit. "What has he done to you?" Naruto said dramatically, practically fainting right there on the floor. "See, Granny-Tsunade! I told you!" Naruto pointed an accusing finger at the Hokage. She rolled her eyes.

Fed up with all the fighting, Mikoto put her hands over her ears and screamed as loud as she could.

That got their attention. "What?" Tsunade said, rubbing her temples and taking long gulps from her sake bottle.

"Why don't we…uh…all have dinner together?" Mikoto suggested. "My team….my family and we try to get to know each other."

She felt a hand on her shoulder. "I think that's a fine idea," Iruka said. He winked at her and she felt instantly comforted.

The next day, Iruka and Mikoto spent the day in the kitchen trying to make the best dinner possible. "Are we feeding an army?" Kakashi said, peeking in the kitchen.

"No." Iruka smiled at him and placed a quick kiss on his cheek. "You know Naruto and Sasuke…the only thing they have at their house is cup ramen, milk and protein bars."

Naruto called from another room, "Hey! I resent that! Those things are nutritious!"

Kakashi nodded. Putting an apron on, he decided he would help his lover. "I'll chop the onions."

A few hours later, everyone started to arrive. Kouji was the first, "Hey hime. You really do live in palace, huh?" He punched her playfully in the arm. "So, wanna show me around?"

Mikoto narrowed her eyes, "My name is not hime!"

Kouji chuckled, putting some grapes into his mouth and chewing casually, "I know that! It's a nickname. Would you rather me call you 'lil sis'?" Mikoto turned red.

"Yes. I'd prefer that." Said a firm, dark voice. It was Kakashi. Mikoto hid behind her godfather, knowing the action was quite childish.

Kouji groaned, "No cockblocking, gramps."

That was the last anyone saw of Kouji for a few hours.

Sai arrived next, gluing himself next to Naruto. "Hey Naruto. How's it hanging?" He laughed at his own joke. Naruto glared but Sai didn't seem to notice, "No, seriously. How's your fun-zone?"

"No penis comments in front of the children, Sai." Naruto said, his patience waning. He shot a "help me" glance at Sasuke.

"Stop harassing my husband." Sasuke said possessively, wrapping his arms around Naruto.

"I was only being polite!" Sai smiled. Sakura punched Sai in the arm. "Oh fine, hag-dear." Sai rolled his eyes.

"Thanks babe." Naruto said, kissing Sasuke's lips.

Nao was the last to arrive. He came in silently and sat down at a chair, watching the others with an impassive face. Sasuke sat across from Nao, "So you're the other person on her team? I wasn't able to meet Kouji…he seems to have disappeared."

"Oh." Nao said, suddenly becoming fascinated with his fingernails.

"Be good to her." It sounded more like a warning than command.

Nao looked up, "We're just teammates, Uchiha-san."

Feeling satisfied, Sasuke got up to try and listen to Iruka's conversation. Iruka was trying to explain why he and Tsunade (who didn't show up, considering it was gambling night at the local bar) chose Mikoto's teammates. "It's all about balance, really. Kouji, who is more of a long-range fighter, will benefit from Sai's abilities in that area and will aide the team. Nao is better at stealth and from what I hear is learning about poisons from his parents journals. The group's abilities are quite balanced. And if their personalities clash in the beginning….well, that is to be expected. But once they get to know each other it'll be fine. Sai, I'm sure, will be a good teacher…eventually….well, he is trying." Iruka said, exasperated.

"Damn straight." Sai muttered.

Halfway through dinner, the Kouji burst in. He was covered in leaves and mud. "I've been tied up in a tree for two and a half hours…and no one noticed!"

"What were you doing in a tree, my bright-eyed student?" Sai asked, a little confused.

Kouji's face got red. "That…that…man!" He pointed at Kakashi. "He did it. After giving me a long lecture on how to treat women. As if I needed to hear that." He crossed his arms.

"Trust me, brat. Better you hear it from me than from Sasuke." Kakashi said, leaning back in his chair. He was quite pleased with himself.

Kouji looked at Sasuke, who's eyes were already Sharingan red. He gulped. "Uh….I'm just gonna…sit here." He said nervously and took the empty chair beside Nao.

Dinner went quietly for the most part. Until dessert, that is.

Two uninvited guests walked in. Sasuke froze, dropping his spoon. "Itachi!"

The handsome older brother didn't say anything for a few long moments. "You started without us, little brother." Itachi said emotionlessly.

"You weren't invited." Naruto gritted his teeth, ready to fight.

"This is a party for my daughter's family and friends, yes?" Itachi said, eyeing the little girl.

"She's not your daughter." Sasuke said dangerously, daring him to say more.

Itachi ignored Sasuke and made his way over to Mikoto. Sasuke tried to stop him but was blocked by Kisame's sword. "What is your name, child?" He said almost gently.

She whispered, surprised she even had a voice. "…Mikoto."

A quiet smile tugged at Itachi's mouth. "After mom?"

Sasuke lunged at Itachi but again was blocked by Kisame's sword. With his milk-white hands, he grasped Mikoto's ponytail. "It must annoy you, little brother. To have someone who looks exactly like me walking around." Mikoto jerked away, her long hair sliding out of his thin fingers.

Mikoto looked at Sasuke with sad eyes, "Is it true…Dad?" She bit her lip, praying that this wasn't true.

All the advice Iruka gave hit him like a wall of water. He should have told her and explained much, much earlier. "He's evil," was all he could muster.

"Tell me!" Mikoto cried, trying to disguise the pain in her voice.

"He killed everyone I've ever cared for." Sasuke shouted back. "A monster like him could never be your father."

"But….he is…isn't he?" Mikoto whispered, looking at her feet. Her father—no, Sasuke—was avoiding the question. It must be true. "Why…why didn't you tell me?"

Itachi put an arm around her and whispered in her ear; his voice was like honey flavored poison. "Because he wants to keep us apart. I didn't know about you until for a long time. Come with me, Miko-chan." She looked into his dark red eyes. Their depth seemed almost comforting.

"Don't listen to him!" Naruto screamed. "He's a fucking devil!"

"There's no way for you to escape, Itachi." Kakashi said calmly. "There are five jounins here. And so many more outside these walls."

"I didn't come here to fight." Itachi replied. "I just came for what's mine. Since I am her only biological parent, I should have a say in her upbringing."

"You just want to make her evil like you, bastard." Sakura yelled.

Itachi raised a hand to quiet everyone. "I believe in people making their own choices. I've made mine. Sasuke made his. Now Mikoto needs to choose her path." Itachi paused. "Let her stay with me for two months and then I'll bring her back."

"You'll kill her!" Naruto spat.

"She's not worth killing." Itachi said, glancing at Sasuke who looked defeated. "I'll give you till sunrise to make a decision." Both Kisame and Itachi turned to leave.

"Dammit!" Sasuke punched the wall in frustration. "You aren't going with him. Understood?" Mikoto nodded, dazed.

Heading for the exit, Nao walked past Mikoto; his fingertips brushed her arm intentionally. It was wordless comfort but nonetheless comfort. Kouji ran a hand through his muddy blonde hair. "Sorry, Mikoto. Really." He turned to leave, unable to handle the drama.

"Go to bed, Mikoto. We'll clean up." Naruto smiled at her and kissed her on the forehead. "Itachi's a psychopath. Don't listen to him. We're your real parents."

Mikoto didn't answer for a while. "Where's my mother?" She finally said.

"I haven't seen her since you were born." Naruto said. The other adults gathered at the kitchen table discussing that night's events.

"Tell me about her." Mikoto said.

"She had red hair and a foul mouth. You look nothing like her. She came and told us Itachi was the father and that she didn't want you. So we took you. We loved you from the moment we saw you." Naruto embraced her tightly. "And then she left."

"Oh." Mikoto whispered. "I'm going to bed." Everything had changed in one night. And it could never be the same. She felt as if this was all a dream and that she would wake up at any minute. She lay in bed over the covers, thinking hard.

A memory of a shaded man kept appearing in her head. It was faint but the images were clear enough. A man in black telling her to go to sleep in the same toneless voice that Itachi had. He had come before; she was sure of it. But why didn't he take her then?

People make their own choices. Was it because she was too young at the time? She sighed. It was all too confusing. She got out of bed and put on her favorite outfit. She wouldn't need much.

She listened for any movement near her door. Nothing. They were all still in the kitchen. She scribbled a note for Sasuke and left it on her bed before leaping out of the window.

She stayed in the shadows till she reached the outskirts of the village. Itachi must be here, she thought. "Itachi." She said into the blackness.

"Yes?" Came a voice but she didn't see anyone. Her heart felt like it would explode. This man could kill her in an instant.

"I'll go." She sounded defeated. "But only for a week."

"Don't you want to spend time with your old man?" Said the dark voice.

"I already have two fathers." She whispered. "And they'll miss me if I'm gone longer."

"Fine." And then the blackness enveloped her like an unwelcome blanket.

The next morning Sasuke knocked on Mikoto's door early. "Let her sleep in. She's had a rough night." Naruto yawned.

"I want to see her and then she can sleep all she wants. I…I want to apologize." Sasuke said. "Miko-chan. Sweetheart….can I come in?" He waited a few moments but no answer came.

Sasuke opened the door to see an empty room except for the note on her bed. In large, childish letters it read, "You'll always be my father." Angrily, he crumpled it in his hand.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Mikoto opened her eyes blearily. Her head hurt. She looked around. A blonde woman smiled at her. "Welcome to the Akatsuki. We have cookies." The woman handed her a chocolate cookie.

Itachi was nearby. "Who is she?" She asked. There was a snort from a redhead in the corner.

"She?! She?!" The woman flapped her arms angrily. "I'm a man, dammit!"

A/N: Yes…I'm ending it there. It's a little teaser for next time. I had to bring in the Akatsuki…they're just too cool (and so easy to poke fun at). Also with my super-writer powers, I resurrected Deidara and Sasori. Yay!