LOST

By: Lila Paige Rose

Swish.

"Momma?"

Whoosh.

"Hmm?"

Brush.

"Is Sasuke-san our Poppa?"

Clatter.

Sakura bent down to retrieve the brush she was using to comb Nagisa's hair.

"Yeah Momma, is he?" Natsuke prodded, backing his sister up. He was lying down on the bed while Sakura and Nagisa were simply sitting on it as their mother arranged Nagisa's hair to a braid.

"He was also the man I met at the woods." Natsuke continued thoughtfully. "He looked just like me, except for my eyes, since they are yours. So, is he?"

Sakura sighed. I give up. Out loud, she said, "He is."

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Chapter 4: Mysteries

Sakura and her children just finished eating, and after that, bathing (their room has a personal bathroom) and they were in their room, fixing themselves up.

"Momma? May I wear my white kimono?" Nagisa asked her mother, who was fixing her hair in a ponytail.

"Of course. Let me just finish with your hair."

Natsuke, who was already dressed, asked, "Momma? Are you wearing your battle outfit always?"

Sakura grinned. "Yes, honey." Finally, she finished with her daughter's hair and said, "There. All done."

Nagisa looked up ate her and asked, "Momma, are you angry at Poppa?"

The question took her by surprise, since last night, she evaded the questions by saying it was already late and that they should go to bed.

She was about to say that they need to hurry when Natsuke said, "Yeah Momma, are you angry? And please answer the question."

She sighed, looking at her two expectant kids. Finally, she answered, "Let's just say that I'm still not ready to face him." Seeing their expressions, she hastily added, "Yet."

Nagisa beat her brother's next personal question by saying "Momma? Can I go to the woods to play my flute?"

Sakura nodded. She taught Nagisa to play the flute since she was young. Sakura was great at the piano, but she was only satisfactory at flute. Her daughter improved herself, and was excellent at it, like her father.

"Yes dear, but please be careful." Sakura replied. She turned her attention to her son and asked, "And you?"

Natsuke looked thoughtful. "I'll just familiarize myself with this town."

"All right. I will talk to the Hokage at the Hokage Tower. Be back here by noon."

"Hai!"

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Meanwhile, Sasuke woke up in his room with a whopper headache and a grumbling stomach. He toweled himself and dressed up for the day. He cooked a simple rice ball breakfast and went to train and meditate in the woods.

As he was heading for the clearing where he first met his so-called 'children', he heard the mellow sounds of a flute. Judging by its volume, it's ahead of him, at the clearing.

So he followed his ears towards the sound of the flute.

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Natsuke was walking through town and was admiring the selection of weapons when he accidentally bumped into someone, and he fell.

"Ouch!" Natsuke murmured when he landed on the ground. He turned to looked at the person when suddenly, two strong arms lifted him upright.

When he was standing again, he looked up to see a familiar face. A man with black hair and white eyes. However, he can't remember where he have seen him before. Disregarding it, he said, "I'm sorry, and thank you!"

Natsuke turned around and was about to run off when a hand stopped him. He looked back and saw that the same man was holding on to his shoulder.

Neji Hyuuga, the man, said, "May I talk to you?"

Seeing the child's nod, he guided Natsuke towards the Hyuuga Manor.

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Sakura, in the meantime, was in the Hokage Tower, leaning in the wall outside the Hokage's room, when suddenly someone familiar walked up to her.

She stood upright and greeted the person. "Gaara!"

The red-haired man looked at her and for a fleeting moment, surprise was etched upon his features, before turning back to the usual emotionless look. "Sakura."

She approached him and asked, "What are you doing here?"

Gaara looked at her and he held an amused expression. "Isn't it that I'm the one supposed to ask you that?"

Sakura looked stunned for a moment, then laughed.

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Sasuke was entranced by the melody being played. He walked into the clearing, towards the sakura tree, when he saw who he thought was Sakura playing the flute in the lowest branch.

"Sakura?"

The flutist stopped playing and looked down. That is when Sasuke saw that it was just a young girl who looked like Sakura. He figured it was his so- called 'daughter'.

Nagisa jumped down and landed beside him, who was standing beneath he tree.

The usual timid Nagisa then looked at him straight in the eye and asked, "May I talk to you?"

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Natsuke was currently sitting at the bench in the Hyuuga's garden, watching the birds fly. Neji was sitting beside him, silently watching him. He thought that Natsuke would be intimidated by the silence, but he was not. Finally, Neji decided to start a conversation, but Natsuke beat him to it.

"You know, Hyuuga-san, I always envy the birds."

Neji, who was quite surprised, asked, "Why? Because they were free?"

The boy finally looked at him and grinned. "No. I really actually watch only the small birds. I like them because they are like Nagisa and I. We are always with Momma, and she does most of the things, and we do nothing at all."

"I don't think your mother thinks that way."

Natsuke looked confused. "Why not?"

Neji looked thoughtful. "Because your mother was like that when we were younger, a bird not yet free to fly."

"Huh?"

"A young bird needs to learn all he can before it can be independent and strong. Before, your mother was physically weak, but emotionally strong. She matured over the years and became stronger physically and emotionally. Finally, she soared over the clouds and became free."

"Are you and Momma close?"

Neji was taken aback by the question. "Quite. I was one of her comforts in her life's sorrow."

Natsuke, being the child he is, did not understand the answer. "What?"

"Yes, we were close."

Natsuke smiled. "Great! Can you tell me more about Momma the next time we meet?"

"Certainly, if you wish for me to do so."

Natsuke blinked at this, but ran away while waving goodbye. "Ja ne, Neji- san!"

Neji entered the mansion, slightly amused. So now, from Hyuuga-san, I'm Neji-san. That kid is like her mother.

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After Sakura summarized her life the past years, she asked, "What are you doing in Konoha, Gaara?"

"Kazekage is talking to your Hokage inside the office."

'Where is Temari and Kankuro, then?"

"My sister is at the village, taking care of her child. My brother is on another mission of his."

"I see your relationship with them are better."

"Yes."

"When did you arrive?"

"This morning. I heard your children fought in yesterday's match."

"Yes. Natsuke and Nagisa are sweet when they are off the battle field, but scary when they're fighting. Even Nagisa is."

"I heard they look just like the two of you."

"Yes, they do."

"Can you tell me some about them?"

"Hmm... Nagisa is the more reserved of the two, but not like Sasuke. She just tends to be timid when in the company of people she is not accustomed to. She is faster and her reflexes are better. Natsuke is more easy-going and is stronger. Not as fast as his sister, but his counter attacks are great."

"Is it true they inherited both your abilities?"

Sakura chuckled. "Yes. They can effectively use Sharingan at such a young age... they even beat Itachi's record, which is when he was 8 years old!"

"And yours as well?"

Sakura looked puzzled. "Huh?"

"The best Chakra Control in Fire Country."

Sakura stared at him like he was from another planet before replying. "They did."

Finally, the Hokage's office door opened.

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Nagisa was sitting beside Sasuke, leaning at the trunk of the sakura tree.

Nagisa asked him, "You are our Poppa right? Nobody can look so much like my brother without them being related."

Sasuke simply answered her. "Yes."

Nagisa then started to giggle. Sasuke looked t her strangely and asked "What?"

"Momma's right. I do act more like you that her. But I'm not as anti-social though."

"Hn."

"Why didn't you follow Momma when she left?"

Sasuke was surprised that such a young girl is aware of such things. After contemplating a bit, he answered, "Because it was my fault in the first place why she left."

Nagisa looked surprised. "You know, Sasuke-san, Momma never tells us about why she left. She told us all about you and your friends, but not that part."

Sasuke was quite saddened by the fact that his own flesh and blood, and one of his heirs, called him in formality, but returned to his usual look before replying, "It's her choice."

"You look kind and that you really love Momma though." She quickly stood up and ran away, waving goodbye, leaving Sasuke dazed and shocked.

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"Master Hokage!" Sakura exclaimed, and seeing the person behind her, she greeted the person as well. "Kazekage."

Kazekage (the real one, may I add) nodded and said, "Ah, Sakura. So you did finally return. Such great thing to see you again. And I believe that you old friend, Gaara thinks so too." At this, Gaara nodded.

Finally Kazekage said, "We must be going, Tsunade, and thank you for your hospitality. I will be at the Village of Sand, if you ever need me, and I believe Gaara and his siblings will be visiting." After a wave, they were gone.

"Ah, Sakura." Tsunade said, breaking her out of her reverie. "Come inside, I wish to talk to you."

Tbc...

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Authoress' Notes: 1. I'm sorry I didn't explain the Haruno-Uchiha feud yet, but this was getting pretty long.

2. I'm making Sakura's room like an apartment by next chapter, you know, with a kitchen and all, and let's just say the one I described, the white room etc, is the adjoining and only bedroom. I don't want them to always eat out.

3. People, I just want to ask, what do you think of Nagisa and Natsuke?

You know people, somebody flamed my Infiltrating Sadness story, who is actually also reading this. I don't want to name you, but I needed that chapter so I can make the next understandable. Ha-ha. So you can read my next chapter and tell me what you think, if that was so lame. Oh and, before you flame others who at least write stories that are liked, write a story first and ask people to judge it! You haven't written one yet, ya know! My sensei told me that if you got nothing good to say, then don't say anything!