"A baby." Mariko whispered, stunned."But why would someone..." Lost for words, she sat on the rock and kept her eyes on the small baby wailing in the basket. Kakashi gently reached down and lifted the baby into his arms. The infant stopped wailing and looked at Kakashi with bright brown eyes. The baby's clothes were soaked and sticking to his skin. Even with his heavy wet clothes on, the baby felt light in Kakashi's arms.
"I think it's a baby boy." Kakashi stated, noticing the piece of paper crumbled up in the baby's hand. Kakashi took the piece of paper.
"Calico." Kakashi whispered."Is that your name?"Kakashi asked the baby. He looked back at the paper, wondering whose handwriting it belonged to.
"Ha!" Twila laughed."Calico is a name of a cat! Not to mention a girls name! Who would name their baby that?"
Kakashi felt something shaking in his arms. Looking down he saw that 'Calico' was shivering and whimpering.
"I need a blanket, a jacket, something to keep him warm."Kakashi said, holding the shaking infant close. Mariko dug through her bag and pulled out a thin jacket. Kakashi took the jacket and wrapped Calico in it. Before long, Calico stopped shivering and fell asleep.
"What do we do now?" Twila asked, sitting on a boulder. For awhile, everyone stood still and silent. The only sound was of the waterfall hitting the jagged rocks below, the wind in the trees and the birds chirping in the sky. It seemed that it was a typical day, only this wasn't a typical day. How could it be a typical day? A baby almost died, Kakashi saved his life. But now what do they do? No one knew what to do, no one knew what to say.
"Let's go to the Hokage Mansion, Lord Third will know what to do."Kakashi decided, standing up with the slumbering Calico in his muscular arms. Mariko picked up the basket and followed him. Through their walk, everyone was silent. Everyone was lost for words, lost for emotions, lost for feeling. Things like this only happened in stories, the wicked step-mother tries to terminate Cinderella instead of having her as a slave. It seemed impossible that this would happen in reality. Neither one of them gave thought to someone so cruel would exsist.
Kakashi carried Calico through the village. The villagers would stop and smile at him, smiling like he was just like any other baby. Many asked who Calico belongs to, Kakashi would reply that Calico was his brother. Kakashi was a good liar so everyone believed others however felt it strange that no one knew the real story. But then again, neither do they.
Mariko, Gai and Twila tried to remain calm as they walked behind Kakashi. They tried hiding their stunned faces, but many question were buzzing in their heads. Who could be so horrible to send a baby to his death? How could Kakashi remain so calm during this? What will Lord Third say? What will he do?
They entered the mansion and walked up the stairs, staying close together. Kakashi stopped and knocked on the Hokage Office door. He opened the door and walked in.
"Lord Hokage."Kakashi greeted, bowing carefully."We need your assistance."
The third hokage turned around with a smoking pipe in his mouth. He took a drag and looked at them with stern, tired eyes.
"What is it?" He asked, looking at the slumbering bundle. He smiled and his eyes were suddenly bright and happy."Well this is a surprise Kakashi, I was not aware that you and Mariko were expecting."
Mariko blushed and Twila snickered. Mariko never gave the thought of being a mother. She never thought she would qualify to be a mom.
"Forgive me sir, but the baby is not ours."Kakashi said respectfully. Then the Third looked at Gai and Twila.
"Then is the baby Twila and Gai's?"
Now it was Gai's turn to blush and Mariko's turn to snicker as Twila fell in a stunned silence. Twila, unlike Mariko, thought a lot about being a mom. It was her dream and her escape. With a family, she wouldn't have to risk her life out on the battlefield.
"I'm sorry sir, but the baby is not theirs either." Kakashi bowed slightly.
"Then where did you find the baby?"Lord Third asked, studying their emotions. Deep in his heart, he hoped that they didn't abduct the baby.
"We found him falling down the falls."Kakashi stated, sitting back up. Calico's brown eyes shot awake and looked up at him, studying him like a new toy. Kakashi felt something warm inside his heart, something strange. Calico's innocent eyes seemed to be alluring, full of life and grace and curiosity. His eyes were as brown as Kakashi's.
"I see." Lord Third stated calmly, tipping his hate down slightly.
"We don't know what to do, we don't know who the parents are." Gai said after a moment of silence."The only thing we do know is that his name is Calico."
"Let me see him." Lord Third said, holding out his arms. Kakashi cautiously carried Calico to Lord Third. Lord Third took Calico into his arms and a familiar glint shown in his tired eyes."I know who this baby belongs to."
Kakashi and the rest waited in tense silence.
"He is the one year old son of the Council member Kaito and his wife Hana Mui."
"A council member?" Twila asked, her face turning red with anger."Why would she try to kill her baby?"
"She's not mentally stable." Lord Third replied, trying to sound sympathetic. "She has a multiple personality disorder. When I first met her, she was kind and generous young woman. However others have said that she was crude and evil. "
"That's dangerous for a child." Twila stated firmly. "I don't care if she's mentally stable or not, her husband should have been smarter-"
"Sis." Mariko whispered. Twila fell silent and crossed her arms.
"Sir, what will happen to Calico?" Kakashi asked, his arms inching to take Calico back into his arms.
"Well there are a few choices in situations like this." Lord Third replied, handing Calico to Kakashi. Kakashi tensed and listened intently.
"Yes sir?"Kakashi asked, holding the baby close. Calico started cooing and grasping his vest.
"Our first option would be to return Calico to his mother. Which I will not allow."
He took a drag and smoke spilled out of his mouth." Our second option would be to put him up for adoption. Which seems to be the most logical option."
"And what is the third option?" Kakashi asked.
"The third and final option would be that one of you raise Calico."