Chapter 2

Kakashi stared at the carved wood handrail that followed the spiraling staircase. He'd seen it before, once. Kei had invited him inside due to the cold weather. It had been snowing heavily the night before and still was, but Kakashi came to start the morning as he always did, by making a visit to Kei.

She had called him an idiot and grabbed his shirt, pulling him into the large mansion in the process.

" Why do you insist on doing these stupid things you fool?" She had murmured as she dusted off the snow that was covered on a shivering Kakashi. He had smiled like an idiot, regardless of the fact that she couldn't see his smile due to his mask.

" F-For y-y-you." He had said through chattering teeth, holding out his hand which contained a tiny gift for his beloved. Even though, she didn't know he called her that when she wasn't around.

It was a dragon. Or, rather, a mold of a dragon. It was made out of silver, and very poorly at that. Kakashi had shaped it for her himself, however, his silversmith skills were lacking. Kei didn't seem to mind, though. She had said nothing about the quality, only called him an idiot once more under her breath, and began to head up to her room.

She had walked up these very stairs, looking back on him like she had expected something, then he realized what it was. She was inviting him to follow her, or stand at the front door like an imbecile.

He had followed her, and was pleased when he entered her room. He had never been in it, only outside, perched on a tree that was one story too short causing him to be unable to see into the resting place of the one he loved.

The room itself was plain, but it reeked of her sent, that special scent of lavender and vanilla. It was her own smell, the one that intoxicated him whenever he was near enough to smell it.

Hanging on the wall was a painting of Konoha village, beside it was a picture of Hokage. It was the Uchiha's custom to have such things in there room, so that every day you saw your land, and your leader, and you remembered why you fought.

The bed was a simple matter, it had a deep crimson red blanket covering another blanket that peaked out from under the red. It was a regal purple lined with the darkest black. 'A bed for a goddess', he had thought.

In one corner was a black desk and in another was a trunk. It was her box. Her special box. The one lined with seals to ward off any who were unwanted. He had seen her go over to it and open it, placing the tiny dragon into it. however, he had been unable to catch a glimpse of the contents.

" Sensei, are you coming?" Sasuke asked, still annoyed that Sakura had succeeded in having a picnic at his house. He hated having people here. He hated being here.

" Senseeeeeeeeeeeei! Sakura won't let us eat withough you!" Naruto complained loudly as he entered the room, seemingly starving to death. Kakashi chuckled, of course Naruto acted that way, it was Naruto after all.

As Naruto clutched his stomach and whined, moaning about pains in his belly from not eating, Sasuke's eyes seemed to change. They became sad, so terribly sad.

Right where Naruto stood, that's where his mother had been slain. The blood stains were still there, that's why he had put a carpet over it, to try and hide the memory, to block it out. It didn't work.

She had been clutching her stomach like that. Though, unlike Naruto, hers truly was in pain. She had a knife embedded in it. She had fallen over, demanding to know why, why her son would do this terrible thing. But he hadn't answered, he just looked at his mother and smiled. He had smiled! That sick, sadistic bastard had smiled as his own mother, the one who gave birth to him, lay dieing by his hand. How Sasuke loathed him.

" Hey, Sasuke, you alright?" Naruto asked his unresponsive teammate. The boy was staring at Naruto with eyes that made him want to shiver. They were so empty.

" Naruto, lets go. Sakura will be mad if no one eats her food." Kakashi said, trying to usher the young ninja out. However, he stayed rooted in place, concern etched on his face for his rival.

Kakashi knew what Sasuke was thinking about. The boy had been found in that spot all those years ago, arms wrapped round his dead mother. It pained him to think they'd reminded him of such a terrible thing.

Memories could be such hateful things.

" No, Sensei. Sasuke, Sasuke what's wrong?" Naruto asked in a somewhat urgent voice, he had never seen the other look that way.

" Naruto, let's go." Kakashi said in a sterner voice this time.

" But Sensei!"

" Naruto. You must leave Sasuke alone for now. He's not with us at the moment." Kakashi whispered dangerously.

"What do you mean?" Naruto asked worriedly. Kakashi sighed.

" I'm sorry to say, Naruto, but I believe you reminded him of his mother."

" What! His mother!"

" shh. Naruto, I don't think Sasuke wants Sakura to know about this. You, he might permit." Kakashi hurriedly tried to shush Naruto. It was true, Sasuke trusted Naruto.

" Know what?"

" You know Sasuke's family was betrayed by Itachi, correct?"

" Yes." Naruto cast his friend a worried glance.

" Naruto, Sasuke was there. He saw Itachi kill his clan. His mother was killed right where you are standing." Kakashi said in the gentlest voice possible, " He's reliving those events. Painful as they are, he can't let go of them."

" Oh my..." Naruto whispered, staring at Sasuke with compassion now. His parents were dead, but he didn't have to witness the slaughter of his entire family. Brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, and all. How terrible.

" C'mon, Naruto, Sasuke wouldn't want us to be here when he wakes from this dream."

" No. I won't go anywhere." Naruto said in a stubborn voice. "Sasuke is my friend, even if he is a big jerk."

Naruto turned around and gave Kakashi a big grin. " I wanna help him."

Kakashi was shocked, to say the least. Naruto really did care for Sasuke. Though, he wished he'd show it more often.

" Alright. I'll be going then." Kakashi said as he headed across the room and out into the back yard. Once Kakashi was gone, Naruto looked back to Sasuke, his grin faded as he walked over to stand next to the boy, awaiting when he would 'wake up'.

" Sasuke, you bastard, stop dwelling on the past. It only makes you hurt worse." He mumbled.

" Sensei! Finally, where's Sasuke and Naruto?" Sakura asked, afraid that the two were going at it again.

" Oh, they're having some quality time together." Kakashi said in a mysterious, playful voice. Bending the truth was fun and advantageous.

" Quality time? What do you mean by that?" Sakura demanded.

" I believe that is a secret that I shall keep." He said to the pink haired kunoichi, who seemed to be getting frustrated.

" Sensei--" She began, only to be interrupted by Kakashi's waving hand.

" Never you mind about them. I'm hungry, what have we got to eat here?" Kakashi said in an attempt to change the subject, which, miraculously, worked.

" You can't have anything till we're all here." She said in a stern tone.

" But, I'm your teacher." He said pathetically.

" Yes, which means you especially should have to wait."

" Why?"

" Because! You should have more self discipline!"

" But I wannnaa eeeatt!" Kakashi moaned.

" I don't care."

" What if I die of starvation?"

" I'll say something nice at your funeral."

" Mew?"

" huh?" Kakashi looked around.

" What is it, Sensei?" Sakura asked in a confused voice.

" I thought I heard a cat." He said.

" I didn't hear anything."

" There is a cat here."

" What makes you so sure of that?" Sakura asked in a skeptical voice.

" The fact that it's eating your meal is among the things that tipped me off." Kakashi said in a completely serious voice. Sakura looked down at the food she had set out on a blanket under a rather large tree, and sure enough, there was a cat eating away.

" Its--its--SO CUTE!" Sakura squealed in delight. The cat was rather large, but still appeared as if it were a kitten. With soft orange fur, long kitty legs and innocent yellow eyes, it was as if it were some wild beast. However, the collar around it's neck told a different story.

The collar was made of plain black leather, with a small shimmering jewel in the middle. It seemed a bit worn and the gem was scratched beyond repair. Apparently, this kitten had been on its own for some time.

" He's so cute!" Sakura said again, petting the thing as it ate the meal she had carefully prepared.

" You mean she." Kakashi said as he too began petting it.

" No, I mean he."

" She."

" He."

" He, is a boy. And I think I'll name him Taka"

" We'll she is a girl and I'll name her Maemi"

"Grr." The two glared at each other, both intent on their beliefs.

" His name is Miya, and he belonged to my cousin." Sasuke's voice called from the door way, Naruto just behind him.

" OHH! See Sensei! He is a boy!" Sakura yelled triumphantly.

" At least my name was closer than yours."

" No it wasn't."

" Yes it was."

" How so?"

" My name started with the same letter."

" Big whop! I had the gender right!"

" hmph."

" You had a cousin with a cat?" Naruto asked as he looked at the thing, it seemed very, un cat like to him.

" Yes. She genetically engineered it to be stronger than anbu dogs. He could whip all your little 'puppies' with ease, Sensei." Sasuke sneered. However, Kakashi did catch the glint of sadness in his eyes.

" Which cousin?" He asked. He never knew any of the Uchiha's practiced science to such a degree.

" Kei." Sasuke said. Kakashi froze, this was Kei's? Her 'little temple'? She ha told him of it. Said she was making a temple, a little temple. He had always thought she had meant a literal temple, not a kitten temple. How did that work? How was the kitten a temple?

he looked at Miya carefully. He still couldn't understand.

" You can keep him. I don't like having him around." Sasuke said as he approached.

" What makes you think I want him?" Kakashi asked, now staring at Sasuke.

" 'The idiot wants to meet me tonight. Tell him I was busy and couldn't come.' That's what Kei said before she died. I wasn't ignorant, Kakashi. you were the only person who talked to her. Inside or outside of the clan. Keep the little beast, I don't want it." Sasuke said as he glared at the kitten, who just stared back at him in a familiar way.

Kakashi was speechless. Kei had used her last to tell him sorry? True, it was her own unique sorry, but sorry none the less. And Sasuke knew this whole time how he had felt about his most hated cousin. Perhaps, he even knew where he went in the mornings. Why he was always late.

Sasuke would make a great ninja. He was so much like Kei.

" You admire her, don't you?" Kakashi said suddenly, to the confusion of both Sakura and Naruto.

" Of course. She tried to save us, even when we hated her. Anyone who wouldn't admire her is a fool." Sasuke said as he looked away. his day had been hard on him. First, he had to relive the deaths of his clan, and now he was forced to talk openly about the only cousin he truly loved.

" Okay everyone! Time to go!" Kakashi said in a suddenly bright mood.

" But, Sensei, the picnic."

" Has been eaten by Miya. I think It's high time we all head home." He said, quickly ushering them out of the Uchiha mansion.

" Hmph. Fine." Sakura said, her dreams of the 'perfect picnic' dashed to pieces.

" Sensei, could I just, stay with Sasuke? Please?" Naruto begged.

" I suppose, but if he wants you to go, then go." Kakashi said sternly.

" Ok! Oh, Sensei, aren't you going to take your cat?" Naruto asked, looking at the cat who had followed them to the door.

" Of course." he said as he bent down and picked the thing up. He was as big as some of his anbu dogs.

" Come Miya, your going to be my new best friend."

Authors Note:

Okay, so, what now? Right, I think I'll let you know, Miya means temple. Yes, Miya is Kei's 'little temple' because she is a kitten. Not much else to say except, I am amazed I've been updating like this. Cocl, ne?

Well, toodles!

Disclaimer:

Don't own. Ain't that sad?