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Sakura sat on her bed, her back against the wall. Her eyes looked empty as she watched the trees dancing in the wind through the window. She was glad she left that hospital. That basement, that floor, that room, that…thing…it kept haunting her.

Slowly, Sakura reached for a blanket and wrapped it around herself. What she just had seen…it felt awful.

As a medical-ninja, Sakura knew what dead bodies looked like, but something like this...

Sakura closed her eyes and tried to forget the things she had seen this afternoon, but failed.

'Never. Never will I use that technique. Never.'

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Sasuke immidialty went to bed when he and Kakashi came home. Reko was worried about his father, because he had seen how tired he looked, but Kakashi told him it was okay.

Reko decided to help Kakashi, who wanted to make dinner.

Kakashi couldn't really concentrate when started cooking, Reko noticed.

"Kakashi-sensei, let me cook." The blue-haired boy suggested as Kakashi glanced at him. "Am I such a bad cook?" Kakashi joked as he started to wash his hands. Reko smiled and shook his head. "No you're not. I just don't want to see this house in flames."

"Hmm…okay. If you really don't mind." Kakashi said while ruffling Reko's hair. Reko smiled at him and shook his head. Kakashi sat down near the kitchen-table and rested his head in his hands as he watched Reko cooking.

"Kakashi-sensei? What happened with dad?" Reko asked without turning around to face his teacher.

Kakashi closed his eyes. He didn't know what to say to the boy. He didn't wanted to lie, but he couldn't tell him what happened either. "He just had a rough day." Kakashi decided to say. He could hear Reko sigh softly. Kakashi expected him to continue asking questions, but he didn't, which Kakashi was glad for.

"Dinner's ready." Reko said after a couple minutes of silence. Kakashi stood up and walked towards the sink. "Let me handle the rest. Maybe you can ask your father if he wants to eat something. Oh, and if he's still asleep, let him sleep then, okay?" The grey-haired man said while Reko nodded and walked away.

Kakashi sighed sadly. He felt guilty for not telling Reko what was wrong with his father. Reko was the first person who deserved to know, after all.

Kakashi picked up one of the pans and smiled. 'Reko is a really good cook, that's for sure.'

The door of Sasuke's dark bedroom opened softly as a blue-haired boy peeked inside. Because it was dark inside, Reko couldn't really tell if his father was awake or asleep, so he walked in softly. "Dad?" Reko whispered softly as he stood next to his father. There was no answer; he was asleep.

Reko studied his sleeping father in silence and felt sad. Something was wrong.

"What have you done this time…" Reko whispered softly as he turned around to leave the room. "…Reko…?" A weak voice groaned softly, making Reko turn around. Sasuke looked at him sleepily.

"I'm sorry. I didn't meant to wake you. I'll let you sleep." Reko whispered as he stepped back slowly. "No..wait." Sasuke mumbled as he rubbed his eyes. Reko watched how his father sat up slowly and yawned.

"What can I do for you, Reko?" Sasuke asked when he was done yawning. Reko slowly walked back towards the bedside and sat down. "What happened to you?" Reko asked softly.

Sasuke sighed and pulled his son closer. "I pushed myself a little too hard today. You know, I was just being stupid, as always. Nothing to worry about." Sasuke mumbled as he rubbed Reko's back. "You're not stupid, dad." Reko said softly while Sasuke smirked.

Dinner was ready to be served as Reko and Sasuke entered the kitchen. "Hey Sasuke, how're you feeling?" Kakashi asked, being a little surprised to see Sasuke joining them. "Fine." The Uchiha answered, only to receive glares from Reko and Kakashi. Sasuke noticed and muttered a, "Okay okay, I'm feeling good." Reko and Kakashi both nodded satisfied and they started eating slowly.

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Sakura's winced when her mother knocked on the door. "Sakura?" Her mother's voice sounded muffled through the door. Sakura groaned. 'Did I fell asleep?'

"Sa-ku-raaa!" this time, her mother's voice started to sound impatient. "What?" Sakura sneered back. "Open the door! Now!" her mother almost screamed.

'Great. An angry mother will make my day perfect.' Sakura thought sarcastically as she jumped from her bed.

"What do you want?" Sakura yelled when she threw the door open. Her mother looked quit shocked. "What the hell is wrong with you, Sakura?" she asked softly when she noticed Sakura's angry expression. "I'm just…I'm just worried about Sasuke-kun." Sakura mumbled while her mother sighed softly.

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Kakashi, Reko and Sasuke were done eating and Kakashi started washing the dishes. "That was delicious, Reko." Sasuke said while Reko looked down shyly. "Indeed, it was very good!" Kakashi agreed. "Thank you…" Reko said softly as he stood up.

Just when Reko wanted to dry the dishes, someone knocked on the door.

"I'll go!" Reko said as he laid the dish-towel on the kitchen sink and ran towards the hallway. Kakashi blinked. "Who can that be? I'm not expecting visitors." The grey-haired man mumbled while Sasuke shrugged. "We'll know soon enough."

Reko opened the front-door and smiled happily when he saw who was standing in front of him. "Kuroi-san!" Reko greeted while Kuroi, who was wearing his anbu-costume without his mask, smiled at him. "Hey Reko." Kuroi said softly.

Reko's smile faded when he noticed the look on Kuroi's face. Reko started to have a bad feeling about this. "Can I speak your father for a moment?" Kuroi asked carefully. "Ehm…sure…ehm…Do you want to come in, or something?" Reko asked. "No, thank you. Can you get him for me?" Kuroi asked while Reko nodded and ran to the living room.

"Dad! Kuroi-san wants to see you." Reko said as he entered the kitchen. Sasuke blinked. "Kuroi-san? Err..sure." Sasuke slowly stood up and walked towards the hallway. Kakashi frowned a little.

Kuroi smiled sadly when Reko and Sasuke were standing in the doorway. "Hi Kuroi." Sasuke said as Kuroi nodded at him.

Reko noticed Kuroi was a little nervous as he looked away. "Sasuke-san…ehm…I hate to say this..but…the captain has a mission for you…A big one…" Kuroi said softly. Sasuke (and Reko) felt his jaw reach the ground. "W..what? When?" Sasuke stammered, feeling pretty confused.

Kuroi now looked up again. "Tomorrow morning…five am…I'm so sorry, Sasuke-san…I tried everything I could, but you know how the captain is…" Kuroi explained as Sasuke ran a hand through his hair.

Reko, who was too shocked to say anything, finally opened his mouth. "A MISSION? LOOK AT HIM! HE CAN'T EVEN WALK!" Reko screamed, getting Kakashi's attention right away.

"Reko, can you leave us alone?" Sasuke asked softly while Kuroi looked at the ground. "But DAD! You," Reko started desperately. "Leave us alone." Sasuke repeated sternly.

Reko hung his head and walked away softly while Sasuke frowned a little.

"Are you having the same mission?" he asked while Kakashi and Reko walked back to the living room. "No…I was just ordered to tell you…" Kuroi answered. Sasuke cursed under his breath. 'That captain is such an asshole. I know Kuroi will get in trouble if I refuse the mission…Damn it.'

"Fine." Sasuke said softly after a couple minutes of thinking.

Reko, who was listening to their conversation through the window upstairs, gasped. 'No! Don't do it, daddy!'

"You're going to do it?" Kuroi asked, his voice filled with worry. "I don't have a choice, have I?" Sasuke answered sadly.

"Shall I get Mira for you?" Kuroi asked while Sasuke nodded slowly. "Thank you, Kuroi." Sasuke almost whispered. "It's the least I can do, Sasuke-san. I'll make sure she'll be waiting for you here." With that, Kuroi disappeared.

Sasuke just stood there, staring forward without moving. He couldn't believe he actually had to fight. 'I'm sorry, Reko…'

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Reko, who sat on the ground crying, was found by Kakashi. "Hey, what's wrong?" the grey-haired man asked as he kneeled in front of the blue-haired boy. "He's going to do it… Dad's going to do the mission!" Reko sobbed.

Kakashi gritted his teeth. 'Shit.'

Sasuke started to get cold, so he closed the door slowly. He stood in front of the, now closed door for a couple minutes.

"Sasuke…Why didn't you refused?" Kakashi, who was standing behind him, asked softly.

Sasuke stayed silent for a while and turned around. "I'm going to bed. I have to get up early tomorrow." He mumbled as he walked past Kakashi, who watched him sadly.

As Sasuke reached his bedroom, he found Reko staring at him with watery eyes.

"Reko…I.." Sasuke began softly but Reko interrupted him, "If you'll not be careful, I'm going to kill you." The young Uchiha said as he tried to hold back more tears. Sasuke smiled a little. "I'll keep that in mind."

Reko nodded and disappeared in his own bedroom, leaving Sasuke behind. The black-haired man stared at Reko's door sadly before entering his own bedroom.

Sasuke made sure his alarm-clock would wake him at four o'clock and lay down. Sasuke's last thoughts before he fell asleep were, 'I'll be careful, Reko.'
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I've got 99 reviews! Come on everyone, get me 100... :)

Mizuki Hikari, I see you have some questions left, huh? ;) 'Wait and see' is all I can say at the moment. Thank you!

Shugotenshi, Thank you very much! I'm glad you like it.

Priestess Kurumi Inu's sister, hahaha well I'm honored that I'm the first dutch-person you know! It's funny you try to learn Japanese, that's exactly what I'm also doing. :) It's a cool language, isn't it? Thanks a lot for reviewing.

Screwed fortune cookie, hahaha! No it's not Sasuke's usual sarcasm this time haha. Marodine really means Fuck you.

I keep saying Thank you…but anyways, THANK YOU.

You can expect the next chapter in three or four days!

-vlissan

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