A/N: Hello, my dear readers! I apologize for how long it's been since I last updated, but I want you to know that I haven't forgotten about this wonderful project. I have so much of this story already mapped out. It's just a matter of putting it all together, which takes time. Bear with me! Anyway, without further ado, here is the newest chapter. Happy reading!

Room 215

Chapter 6

"Sarada"

-X-X-

Kakashi knocked on the door again.

"Sarada, listen to me. You need to calm down and unlock the door."

"I can't! I can't see anything!"

She was panicking. At this rate, she wasn't going to be able to help herself.

"Damnit."

Kakashi heard the distinctive creaking of the stairs and glanced to the side to see Naruto ascending at an unhurried pace, whistling a random yet cheery tune. He stopped in his tracks when he noticed the older man.

"What are you doing?" he asked, tilting his head. "That room has been vacant for months. The lights don't even work."

That explained why she couldn't see anything.

Kakashi gestured to the door. "Sarada locked herself in here."

"Huh?" Naruto blinked, confused, but in the next moment, those eyes widened as his hands rose to clutch at his blond spikes. "Oh, shoot! I cleaned in there earlier, and I think I forgot to lock the door!"

Kakashi clicked his tongue irately. He was no longer surprised by the shortsightedness of the ex-thief. "Naruto, you idiot."

"Hey, don't give me that, Officer! No one is supposed to go in there!" The bellhop stepped closer to the door and yelled, "Hey, Sarada? It's me! Naruto! Do you remember meeting me earlier?"

They heard a muffled sound of acknowledgement through the door. "…Yes. You carried my bags for me."

"That's right, dattebayo!" Naruto nodded, maintaining a surprising calm over himself that seemed to reach the girl locked on the other side. "I'm a friend. I'm here with Kakashi. He's a friend too. We're going to get you out of there, okay?"

"...Okay."

Naruto dipped his head again, closing his fist around the doorknob before a sigh escaped him and his built-up energy simmered down. Stepping away, he lifted his cerulean gaze to give Kakashi a pointed look. "I don't have the keys on me, and we can't leave her alone in there any longer."

Kakashi arched a dubious brow at the teen's suggestion. "What happened to not picking anymore locks?" Despite his challenging remark, he pulled the wire from his pocket and placed it in the keyhole.

"You're a jerk, you know that? You choose the worst times to be difficult." As Naruto spoke, he glanced around warily for any incoming passerby. Considering all the yelling, it was some sort of strange luck that no one else had come out of their room to check on them yet.

After several more moments passed, Kakashi felt the final notch slide into place and the door unlocked. Releasing a relieved exhale, he stepped back and nodded to Naruto.

"Step away from the door, Sarada." Kakashi ordered calmly.

Lowering his gaze, he took in the crooked state of his trusty wire.

Looks like it's the end of the road for you. I'll have to get a key somehow for 217.

They waited until they heard shuffling on the other side before Naruto pushed the door open—extra force required since the handle was stuck—and went inside. The room was still dark, but the light from the hall cast a thin stream that illuminated the girl's hunched position by the dresser. When the bellhop reached her, he whispered something quietly and she nodded, not even hesitating to wrap her arms around him.

"It's okay. You're okay. I've got you." Naruto spoke softly as he tightened the embrace and lifted Sarada off the ground, carrying her safely out of the room.

Once they were back in the corridor, he set her down and crouched in front of her. "Are you hurt?"

Sarada shook her head, wiping away the remnants of tears on her cheeks. Lifting her head, a small smile found its way onto her features. "Thank you both for helping me."

Naruto grinned and patted her head while Kakashi smiled in relief. She seemed fine.

"Why were you in there, Sarada?" the salesman asked.

"...Because I was trying to get away from papa."

Naruto's eyes widened. "Your dad? What happened?"

Sarada's lip quivered, hands curling into trembling fists at her sides as a new wave of emotion washed over her. Whatever outburst she had been trying to hold back, Naruto's question must have broken that reservation. "My papa is a liar! All he does is lie to me all the time, and I'm sick of it!" A new rush of tears started to build in the girl's dark eyes. "He said I could see mama…but I can't. He lied about coming to see her!"

…

The loud banging of the door reverberated in the small hotel room.

Sasuke breathed heavily, his eyes glued to the place where Kakashi had disappeared.

Sarada took a cautious step forward, clutching the hem of her shirt with uncertain hands. "Papa…what was he talking about?"

Her father's onyx gaze flickered to meet hers briefly before he shook his head, turning his face away from her. "Nothing. He has no idea what he's talking about, Sarada."

The girl frowned, frustrating welling up inside her at his dismissiveness. "It doesn't sound that way. So far, he's told me more than you ever have."

"You don't even know that man!" Sasuke exclaimed, rounding on her with disappointment and fury etched into his features. "I'm your father. If you want to know something, come to me and ask. Don't go to some random stranger. You're smarter than that, Sarada."

"Well, maybe I'm tired of being smart!" she retorted, anger seeping into her voice to match his as she crossed her arms. She realized how petulant she sounded, but she couldn't bring herself to care. "I can't talk to you! Whenever I try, you avoid me and shut down like this. You never tell me anything! I just want to know what you aren't telling me."

Why did he insist on treating her like a child? She knew he wasn't perfect and that things were complicated with mama. He didn't need to pretend so much or protect her from anything. It mattered more to her that she had a father beside her and the truth to process. Why couldn't he understand that?

As her mind settled on those questions, her anger fizzled out, a feeling of regret and sadness settling in as she took in the hurt look in her father's eyes. Turning, she rested her own dark gaze on the message that was hidden on the back of her puzzle. "Why…Why did mama write this?"

She actually said goodbye.

The girl glanced over her shoulder, searching for answers from her father, but he only stared back at her. His eyes widened, as a deep pain filled them, before he sighed and tore away his gaze. He stumbled back until his legs hit the edge of the bed, where he sunk down into the mattress and cradled his head in his hands.

A silence fell over them—Sarada waiting for her father to answer her questions and Sasuke sitting there, silent and defeated.

"I don't know, Sarada…," Sasuke muttered, a weariness in his voice that shook as he lowered his trembling hands. "I don't know anything anymore."

"What? What…do you mean, papa?"

"I don't know where you mother is…I…I never knew."

"No," Sarada shook her head in denial. He promised. "That can't be true. You said we were coming to see her. You said we would find mama if we came here!"

"…I'm sorry."

"How can you not know where you own wife is?!"

He didn't respond, only lowered his head again. His body started to shake.

Sarada felt a warmth in the back of her eyes. The love and sympathy she felt for her father, her desire to comfort him in his broken state, was overshadowed by the wrenching stab of betrayal she felt. He should have told her the truth.

"Papa, you…you liar!"

As her vision started to blur and a pain formed in her throat, Sarada turned and ran out of the room.

…

"Why did papa say we were coming to see her if it was just a lie?" Sarada was searching for answers to questions that were beyond her. Questions that no child should have to deal with.

Kakashi felt sympathy for the girl and her woes. In a way, perhaps he could also understand where her father was coming from in keeping the truth from her.

"Because he couldn't stand to see you sad anymore. You wanted to see your mom for Christmas, right? Well, your dad didn't want you to cry anymore, so he said he would take you to see her."

"But it was a lie. She isn't here!" Tears started to flow from Sarada's eyes again, leaving wet tracks down her pale cheeks.

Kakashi shook his head, brushing a hand uncomfortably through his hair. He really didn't have any answers, so maybe he should stick with universal truths. "Your dad isn't the only adult to lie. Trust me."

"So, you're a liar too?"

"Sometimes," he shrugged noncommittally before deciding on a more genuine approach. "…But I understand that when you lie, there's a price to pay. Even if you think a lie is helping, it usually isn't. Someday that person will learn the truth, and you'll have to look them in the eye. You'll have to see the pain you caused, and that's a hard thing. Your dad was brave to face you like that. I'm sure he knew what he was getting into."

Sarada weighed his words in silence, pursing her lips before her shoulders fell with defeat. "…No, he didn't."

"Did your dad know about this place before?"

"Yeah...," she nodded. "A few days ago, he was trying to find it on a map. He kept talking to himself. 'Where's Hotel Dusk? Where's Hotel Dusk?' So, I asked him about it, and he said it was where we could go to find mama."

Kakashi waited. It seemed that Sarada had more to add, but the dragging silence only seemed to worsen her mood. Her eyes had lost all of their fight.

"What is it?"

She looked away, a hint of shame crossing her features as she squeezed her eyes shut. "...I know. Everyone treats me like a little kid, but I know the truth. I know mama is never coming home...and it's all my fault. She left because of me."

Kakashi blinked. That wasn't what he was expecting, but didn't most kids blame themselves for issues that went on between their parents?

"Why do you think that?"

"Because of what I said," Sarada responded, finally looking at him again. "I told her I hated her, and that I didn't need her."

"Why did you say that?"

"Because they were always fighting! They fought every day. Papa always said it was all his fault, and mama always looked scary and angry. I told her I didn't need a mom like that. And then...it was my birthday.

…

With a final adjustment to her glasses, Sarada concluded that her appearance was satisfactory. Turning away from the hallway mirror, she descended the stairs eagerly, birthday giddiness palpable through the bounce in her steps.

When her foot touched the ground floor, she was greeted by the comforting aroma of her favorite breakfast. She turned into the kitchen and smiled warmly at her father, who was placing a loaded plate on the table.

"Good morning, papa!" She ran up to him and enveloped him in a tight hug. He stiffened but soon lifted a hand to gently pat her head.

"Happy birthday, Sarada," he replied, stepping out of the embrace. "Your breakfast is ready. I made your favorite."

After assuring him of her gratitude, she settled into her chair and took a generous bite of the dish, delighting as the flavors melted on her tongue. She tilted her head curiously, when she pondered the fact that it was usually her mother who cooked her birthday meals. Her father was quite handy in the kitchen, of course, but it was something of a tradition between her and her mother.

Swallowing the bite, Sarada placed her fork on the table and glanced at her father. There was a paleness to his complexion that she could only attest to exhaustion. She knew work at the hospital was always stressful for him, but last night, she had overhead another argument between her parents.

She had also said something hurtful to her mother a few days prior. Was that why she refused to see her daughter on her birthday?

As if on cue, the familiar vibrancy of her mother's hair caught her eyes as the woman in question entered the kitchen. She looked the same as her husband, with the addition of dark circles under her eyes.

Sarada tried to shake off her worry and guilt as she directed a small smile in her mother's direction. "Good morning, mama."

The woman acknowledged her with a returning smile as she circled the table to sit opposite the birthday girl. "Good morning, Sarada, and happy birthday. I'm sorry I didn't make your breakfast this morning."

"That's alright. Papa's tastes just as good as yours."

Her mother paused, her mouth quivering slightly and a redness covering her eyes as she glanced to the side and adjusted her own glasses. "I'm sure it does. Your father is great at cooking once he puts his mind to it. Are you ready for school?"

"Yes," Sarada nodded, sitting up straighter. She was proud of herself for being responsible and prepared. "My stuff is ready. Do you want me to put it in your car before I finish?"

"Oh, no," her mother shook her head. "And…your father will be taking you to school today, actually."

Sarada's eyes widened, her fork suspended over the bite she was about to take. Her mother always drove her to school. She looked to her father for confirmation that she had heard correctly, but he simply frowned, his eyes never wandering from his wife.

"…Why?"

Her mother simply shook her head again. She didn't offer an explanation behind the decision, but Sarada saw the sad look in her eyes. Something was wrong.

"Mama…are you alright?"

There was another moment of silence where her parents simply regarded her with that same, sad look in their eyes that only ended when her mother fidgeted with her glasses frame and rose from the table. "Yes, I'm fine. Hurry up and eat. You don't want your breakfast to get cold."

With a light peck on her daughter's head, the woman then exited the kitchen. Sarada watched her walk away and her eyes were wide with concern when she turned back to her father.

"Papa…why isn't she taking me to school?"

Sasuke stared at her a moment before a sigh escaped his lips. "We discussed it this morning, and she asked me to take you. She's going to work early."

Sarada nodding, trying to accept that logical answer without worry. She didn't want to assume the worst, but that look in her mother's eyes meant something.

When she finished eating and had carefully washed her dishes, Sarada grabbed her backpack and climbed into her father's car. They had exchanged farewells with her mother at the door, but as the engine started and the car pulled out of the driveway, she had that same feeling of worry and took a glance back at the house.

Watching them from the window was her mother, hand pressed against the glass and eyes full of tears.

…

"She was gone when you came home?"

"Yeah..."

"Sarada...I think your dad has a plan." That was Naruto, who was strangely quiet during the girl's story. "He wouldn't make a promise like that if he intended to break it. He was wrong to lie, but he's going to figure this out, okay? You're going to see your mom again."

"I hope so..." Sarada sighed, her head moving back and forth in denial as she turned around, seemingly finished with the painful conversation. As she headed toward her door, she turned at the last minute and smiled slightly. "Thank you for trying to help…and don't worry. I'll keep your secret safe, Officer."

Oh, shit.

Naruto stiffened, a sheepish laugh emitting from him as he awkwardly scratched his cheek.

Kakashi faked a smile until the girl disappeared into the room then directed a harsh glare at the idiot beside him. "You're lucky it was only Sarada who overheard you."

"Sorry! It was in the heat of the moment, dattebayo!"

"That's exactly when you need to be more aware."

"I'm sorry!" Naruto repeated, holding his hands up in surrender. A moment passed as a thoughtful look crossed the boy's face, his arms slowly lowering to his sides. "…About what she said…isn't it a little weird how her mom left?"

"Yeah, it's unusual," Kakashi agreed, raising his eyes to the yellowed ceiling as he considered all the information they had learned. "I think there was more to her disappearance than a marital dispute and a sad little girl telling her mom to go away."

"We should find Sasuke," Naruto concluded with determination dripping from his voice. "I didn't see him downstairs, though."

Kakashi nodded. The next logical step was obviously to inform the father of what had transpired with his daughter. He was also their source for the whole story. "And I don't think he was in his room. Is there anywhere else in this hotel where guests are allowed?"

"Hm...actually, yes! There's the roof, dattebayo!"

The salesman's brow furrowed as his eyes returned to the animated blond. "The roof?"

But Naruto was already leading the way down the hall to a single white door. Kakashi saw no reason not to follow.

Pushing the door open, they were met with a set of winding stairs, which the bellhop ascended two at a time while Kakashi followed at a leisure pace.

"Come on, old man! I know you can move faster than that!" Naruto tried to egg him on with a mocking laugh.

Kakashi waved away his antagonistic comment and continued his slow journey. When he reached the top, Naruto was hiding behind the archway. Looking past him, Kakashi saw Sasuke and Sakura engaged in a conversation.

"Would it be rude to interrupt?" Naruto asked, his voice lowered in a dramatized whisper.

"Of course it's rude," Kakashi answered simply, before stepping onto the roof and making his presence known.

Sasuke acknowledged him with a glare. "What do you want now?"

He shrugged, slipping his hands into his pockets. "What, a man can't enjoy the pleasant view without having an ulterior motive?"

"Not when that man is you, Kakashi."

"I agree," Sakura chimed in. "You're not the type of man who would appreciate the sunset."

"And Sasuke is?"

"What are you implying?" Sasuke demanded, aggression clear in his tone.

Naruto stepped between them and placed a hand on both their shoulders. "Guys, stop it! We didn't come up here to pick a fight. We came to tell Sasuke that Sarada needs him right now."

"Sarada?" Sasuke asked, furrowing his brows until he returned his gaze to Kakashi with a look of disbelief. "So, you were hanging around my daughter again after I told you to leave her alone?"

"Not my fault her father is so irresponsible," Kakashi shot back, relaxing into an aloof stance. "While you were busy watching the sunset with Sakura, your daughter was scared out of her mind. She locked herself in 218 because she found out you lied to her. Maybe you should learn how to talk to her before you push her away."

A flame of rage sprang into Sasuke's obsidian eyes as he clenched his fists and took a step forward, but Naruto continued to stand in his way. "Sasuke, hey...What he said was out of line, but your daughter comes first. Go talk to Sarada."

That seemed to calm the storm in Sasuke's emotions enough for him to recover control over his actions. Taking a step back, he shot a final glare at Kakashi before scoffing and walking the length of the rooftop toward the open doorway, an air of tension left in his wake.

Naruto directed his own glare at Kakashi once the doctor was out of sight. "You didn't have to say that, dattebayo. After everything you heard, you know he's hurting too. That was unfair." He then turned and stomped off after Sasuke.

Kakashi sighed, swiping a hand down his face as a new wave of exhaustion hit him. Was he going to have to deal with an upset Naruto now?

Out of his peripherals, he noticed Sakura approach hesitantly. "…Is everything okay with his daughter?"

"I thought you hated her."

"I don't hate her," Sakura immediately corrected, though it was lacking the typical edge of condescension he had come to associate with her. "I was offended when she yelled at me, but she looked upset when she did it, so I understand. I'm not a mean person, you know?" She shook her head, looking weary herself. "As for Sasuke…he was up here by himself when I showed up for some fresh air. I was here only a few minutes before you. I wanted to help. He looked...lonely."

After Sakura said her piece, she stepped past him and descended the stairs, the echoing of the metal steps filling the silence that was left behind.

Kakashi frowned, lifting his gaze to the sinking sun. Maybe he was out of line.

Sasuke's lies may have hurt Sarada, but Naruto was right. The man was hurting too.

And he meant what he said to Sarada in the hall. Sasuke was brave for facing her after the lies were revealed.

When you lie, you have to face the pain you caused…but you didn't face it, Obito. You ran away. You disappeared before I could talk to you. Were you too much of a coward to look me in the eye?

As always, the questions surrounding his former partner were left unanswered.

As he stared out at the vast desert, he decided that he needed some time to sort out his thoughts and wallow in regret over his actions toward Sasuke before he could force himself to return to the labyrinth of secrets that were surrounding him.