Author's Note:
I just wanted to express my deep gratitude for everyone who has read or followed or favourited this story: Thank you so much for your investment of time and energy. Your support and comments and reviews have helped shape this adventure, and pushed me to pursue clarity in my story-writing. To think I started this story on a whim when I was on hold with Dell Support for over an hour...
Anyway, Chapter 12 effectively concludes the story with Chapter 13 as a bit of an epilogue. I hope you've enjoyed this journey with me, and again, I thank you.
"Hmmm? Who knew you could be so crafty, Yamato."
"It wouldn't have come to this if Koto had done her job properly," Yamato chided. He walked forward and placed something on Kakashi's desk: an album with 'Baby's First' written on the cover.
Koto made a clucking noise and frowned. "Naruto's too damn perceptive," she griped. Kakashi had heard from Yamato how Naruto had picked up Koto's presence on two different occasions when she was stationed at Sakura and Sasuke's house. That blonde boy never ceased to amaze the Hokage. Kakashi flipped open the cover and examined the contents: the brand new exterior didn't match the weathered pages within it, but Yamato really had done a good job switching the two books.
"Naruto will likely be the next to occupy this office," Kakashi said, leaning back in his chair. "And, if you're lucky, you will have the pleasure of serving him."
There was a knock at the door: Sasuke entered with a file in his hand. "I've completed my report," he said, presenting it to Kakashi. The Hokage returned the album to Yamato before taking Sasuke's report. As he flipped through the first couple of pages, he noticed that Sasuke was staring curiously at Koto; she was wearing the standard Konoha-nin attire rather than her ANBU uniform, which meant there was no mask obscuring her face. Koto notably averted her gaze.
"This is Koto," Kakashi said, answering the question Sasuke asked without words. He spoke flatly, introducing her like he was introducing one of his dogs – which, he supposed he was. "She was there the night of our rendezvous." He wasn't sure if this answer would satisfy Sasuke, but he knew better than to allow the opportunity for further inquiry. "This is fine," Kakashi concluded, closing the report and placing it at the top of a small mountain of papers to one side of his desk. "You may go." Sasuke nodded at the Hokage, and with one final searching glance at Koto, left.
After Sasuke's exit, Kakashi and Yamato exchanged looks before turning to Koto, who folded her arms across her chest and sighed irritably. "What?" she grumbled. "Of course I look familiar. The Uchiha have strong genes, after all." Kakashi knew this was one of the reasons she chose to serve behind the mask of anonymity, and had he not worked with her during his days at ANBU, he wouldn't have even known about her. She was secretive and mysterious because she wasn't supposed to exist.
"Sasuke won't think anything of it," Kakashi assured her, turning around in his chair. "He was probably assessing your threat level – that's the kind of person he is, after all." But Koto's expression remained disgruntled. "Now, now," he said waving off her displeasure with a light-hearted smile. "It's good to work outside the shadows every now and then too; now is a time of peace, you know."
Despite this, Kakashi knew that Koto was among those who found little comfort in 'peace' – raised in unrest, trained through turmoil, and used as a tool, to them, 'peace' was an impossible dream – and perhaps their worst nightmare.
"There is always war somewhere," Koto purred, the slightest of smiles on her lips.
"Koto."
"Yes, Hokage-sama?"
"My desk is at war with all this paperwork."
If looks could kill, Kakashi's term would have ended there. As Koto turned to leave, her arms now full with papers, Kakashi took the 'Baby's First' album from Yamato. "Don't forget this," he said.
With barely a glance, Koto replied, "You can keep it."
"They were never her family after all," Yamato commented after Koto had left. He tapped his left shoulder; though covered by his uniform, he was indicating the tattoo every ANBU operative was branded with. "This is the closest thing she's had to family."
As he placed the album on top of Sasuke's report, Kakashi wondered if that was a good or bad thing.
"Oh Sasuke, you're home!"
Sakura ran to the door and leaned into her husband, hoping for a kiss. He obliged but she could tell he was distracted. "So, I was thinking of dropping Sarada off with my parents until the evening," she said, following Sasuke to the living room, where he peered down into Sarada's crib.
"Why?" he asked, looking genuinely perplexed.
"Well," Sakura said, unable to suppress the warmth that was now spreading to her cheeks. "It's been a while since we've been together – alone. And a lot has happened since Sarada was born. I thought maybe we could take this chance to go out, maybe grab something to eat… and talk." She knew she was asking for a lot; since Sasuke's return home, he had spent every possible second he could with their daughter, not wanting to be apart unless it was absolutely necessary. Taking an afternoon off probably seemed frivolous to him especially when he could be assigned to another mission at any time. As Sakura expected, Sasuke seemed a bit upset as he thought this over, but to her pleasant surprise, he agreed.
"There are some things we should probably talk about," he said, pulling his wife into a hug. He kissed the top of her head as they gazed down together at Sarada, who stared up at them with her beautiful black eyes. Sakura felt Sasuke retrieve his arm from around her, and he reached down into the crib and picked their daughter up.
It had never really occurred to Sakura how lonely Sasuke might have felt, being the last of his clan. Yes, family was so much more than who you shared a genetic affinity with, but for someone like Sasuke, whose blood relations had only left him with uncertainty and anguish, forming a new bond with someone who was your own felt monumental. Especially when it was full of love.
"She really is the beginning, isn't she?" Sakura murmured, wrapping her arms around her husband's waist. She stared between the two loves of her life and smiled.
