I do not own Naruto.
Chapter 5
Ah. So it was as he thought.
He did not tense, his hands on her forearms did not tighten, nor did he exhale a designated sigh. He only waited until she calmed, and then slowly, slowly held her out to get a good look. The bodice of her dress hugged her breasts and curved into her waistline, flaring out below the hips. There was no swell of a child—she'd lost weight even. It had been two weeks and it would be months until anything showed. Naruto had seen it yesterday, Kakashi was sure of that now.
Her bottom lip wobbled and his eyes immediately landed on them. "I see," he said.
"Sensei?" She used to call him that before the promotion.
"How long have you known?"
"Ye-yesterday." He wondered if it had been Naruto that told her. It was still so early. Most women did not find out so soon. Asking the method in which she first discovered such news seemed irrelevant at the moment.
"When does your father have spare time?" Perhaps it was not the best question because Ayame tightened her eyes shut and began to sob again.
"Oh—oh," she stuttered. "Ohh!"
Kakashi led her to the desk and sat her on the chair. Ayame, covering her face, leaned her elbows on the tops of her knees and cried hard. Kakashi waited at her side. There was nothing he could do to comfort her—he did not dare touch her more than he already had. His hands clenched and unclenched at random intervals. Oh but how badly he wanted to hold her, to gather her in his arms and soothe her. Minutes passed—
Thoroughly cried out, Ayame sat up slowly. Her hands were full of snot and tears, and with no way of cleaning the mess, she dragged them down the front of her skirt. The wetness darkened the yellow fabric. She was not a pretty crier and Kakashi found it charming.
She hiccupped. "You believe me?"
He leaned against the edge of the desk and pocketed his hands. "The thought crossed my mind a few times."
She sniffled. "Oh."
He nodded. "Oh."
"Otousan has off today."
"We should go talk with him."
She shook her head, a new batch of tears forming. Perhaps I should stop bringing up Teuchi-san, he thought.
"I can't tell him."
Kakashi frowned. He thought she would feel that way. She was very close to Teuchi and probably did not want to disappoint him with something like this. If she was concerned about her father's opinion, then there was only one way this could work in her favor—and it was the only logical path Kakashi was willing to take. That he would take.
"Ayame-chan, I'm going to have to marry you. Do you understand that?"
The thought must have crossed her mind because she did not argue. Her easy resignation surprised him a little, but he supposed even Ayame understand what it meant to carry a kage's child. He had given her an option for commitment last week but he would not give her one today.
"Being the Hokage's wife will not be easy."
She nodded.
"You will have to give up a lot."
She nodded, slower this time. She was agreeing with him now, but he knew it would be different later. Perhaps she had an inkling of what was to come, but she did not see what all was at stake. Out of the two, her world would be the one to change the most, and she would wrestle with it.
It was possible but Kakashi would not send her away to have a child in secret. Too many things could go awry if the wrong people discovered who the father of the child was. And although Kakashi thought he would never see the day where he sired anything other than a jutsu, he knew if he ever did have children he would make sure they lived the life he never could—with a father that was very much alive and very present in their life.
He would have to call a meeting with Tsunade and the elders. There had not been a Daishukujo at the side of a kage since the Yondaime and Sandaime's wives died the night of the Kyuubi attack. And, he began to realize, there had never been a civilian as Daishukujo.
He could already hear Koharu and Homura now. This was going to be spectacular.
Shikamaru watched as Ichiraku Ayame sat outside the conference room. Her hands were neatly folded on her lap and she would glance up at him every so often. He tried his best to smile when he'd catch her—and she would smile too—but it was weird. Apparently, the Hokage had got it in his head that he would be marrying this woman.
Not thirty minutes before, Kakashi had stridden into the jonin lounge unannounced, glanced about the room, spotted Shikamaru, and as every shinobi struggled to stand and bow to their leader, he said, "Come on, Shikamaru. We're going to plan my wedding now." Shikamaru, along with the other persons in the room, blanched. Kakashi looked offended in that ridiculous manner he behaved in. "Why are you all looking at me like that?"
Ichiraku Ayame glanced at Shikamaru again and once more they exchanged polite smiles.
Shikamaru scanned the last pages of the Konoha Administration guide. If you asked him, Kakashi had purposely walked into the jonin room, knowing there would be countless ears so he could publicly share this…unexpected news. Although it was the first Shikamaru had heard of it, he would not put it pass the Hokage to withhold information and then suddenly thrust it on everyone like they should have known all along.
Classic team seven move.
Hokage or not, Hatake Kakashi was as much of a showoff as the rest of them. Shikamaru had never thought so until he started working for the man. Sure, the man's leadership skills were second to none and his strategic abilities had always impressed Shikamaru, but whatever water team seven drank from was still as questionable as the day they were all thrown together. The Sandaime must have looked at the team options and decided the faulty leftovers should all end up together to save everyone the pain, never mind the supposed plan that an Uchiha and jinchuriki together was a great strategic move. The Sandaime must have not realized that together they were all worse.
Shikamaru sighed and looked at the bride to be. She was fidgeting with her braids, rightfully anxious to meet the tiresome trifecta. He didn't blame her. The elders and Tsunade were not a force to be reckoned with. But, he supposed, a wedding was a good thing. She really had nothing to worry about.
He just hoped she knew that the rest of team seven was part of the package deal.
She was definitely pregnant.
Tsunade knew it the minute the civilian girl shyly walked into the conference room, Nara Shikamaru dragging his feet behind her (it was the girl from the wedding!). Tsunade passed a knowing look at Kakashi but he ignored her. She wouldn't say anything, of course. She'd let the dominos all fall where they would. Plus it was really none of her business.
Still, she had not expected this when Kakashi called for a last minute conference. Before she and the dynamic duo from the prehistoric era had fully sat down, the Rokudaime had cheerfully announced, "So I'm getting married. She's not shinobi. Nice girl, though."
They had all stared at him, stunned.
"Oh," Homura had found his voice. "Congratulations, Kakashi-kun."
Tsunade had opted for a smirk. "You dog."
Koharu had nodded. "Yes, this is good news. We were all wondering if you'd follow in Tsunade-hime's footsteps and never marry."
"Oh, you shouldn't have." Kakashi had a unique manner of handling the dynamic duo: sarcasm. Tsunade wished she had figured it out back when she was in office. She had settled for anger—not her proudest of moments.
"However," Koharu had started. Oh here it freaking comes, Tsunade thought then. "Steps must be taken to ensure she is a safe candidate to be our new Daishukujo." Well, the hag wasn't wrong.
Kakashi readily nodded then. "Perfect. She's outside. You can meet her yourselves. Also, if you look in front of you, you'll find copies of her citizenship records."
Now Tsunade sat with the two old bags examining the poor girl who would have to marry Kakashi. She was a pretty little thing. The records showed she was Kakashi's junior by over ten years and those braids made her look younger. She could see why Kakashi would throw away basic kage etiquette for some fun. Freaking idiot.
"Ichiraku Ayame, huh?" Homura considered her through the rim of his glasses. "I think you were here the other day, correct? Your father is a good man. I do not often go but it is always a pleasure to visit Ichiraku's. The most quality ramen I've ever had has been there, really. Your father is truly an artisan."
"Thank you very much. He'd be…flattered if you told him next time you visit," she said and Tsunade was glad to hear the girl had a clear voice, despite her paleness and the fact she looked to have been crying for hours. She vaguely remembered the girl dancing around at the wedding with Rock Lee. The two had looked absurd but had made for quite the entertainment.
"You look a little peaky, dear," Koharu said. "Are you alright? I'm sure this must be a little overwhelming."
Ayame glanced at Kakashi then. The idiot was smiling that ridiculous nonchalant smile he used for every situation he thought he could get away with. It was a fantastic tactic Tsunade also wished she had picked up in office.
"She's been a little under the weather lately," Kakashi answered for her.
Oh yeah. She was pregnant. Tsunade tried not to roll her eyes. Kakashi used to be such a stern child, fanatical with all the rules. She had no idea when or how he had suddenly started taking after Jiraiya. If there were little Jiraiyas running around out there, groping unsuspecting women, Tsunade would not in any way feel shocked. An any way.
"Do feel better, my dear." Koharu genuinely smiled.
Ayame bowed. "Oh, thank you, ma'am."
"She's very polite, Kakashi-kun. If I wasn't halfway in the grave I'd marry her myself!" Homura laughed at his own joke and Tsunade recoiled. Beside her Koharu groaned, used to the man's ridiculousness. Kakashi just kept smiling that sarcastic smile and in the background, Shikamaru cringed.
Why had the two dinosaurs not retired yet? Tsunade really, really wanted to retire but their indefinite advisory would make her look bad.
It was Kakashi's girl that released a little giggle. It was adorable, really. Everyone, including Kakashi, looked to her. Ayame seemed as stunned by the silly outburst and covered her mouth, eyes wide. And then she did it again, probably more out of nerves than anything else. She sounded like a guinea pig.
Homura laughed from his belly. "You'll be a lovely Daishukujo. Congratulations!" Even Tsunade found herself smiling.
Koharu nodded, the beads in her hair ornament clinking together. "You will be good for our Hokage. The boy really needs to loosen up." Tsunade laughed at that and Kakashi's shoulders drooped. "But being at the Hokage's side as a woman is no easy thing, shinobi or not. Life will change for you, young lady. Are you ready for that?"
Tsunade examined Ichiraku Ayame very carefully then. The girl looked down at her boots and then fidgeted with the ends of her braids. Her eyes watered a little too. When Tsunade thought she would cave, the girl looked up with a fire reminiscent of spiky headed children screaming they wanted to be Hokage.
"I don't know if I'm ready, but I will try." It was because of the pregnancy, Tsunade knew. The girl had no choice but to force herself to be prepared—if not for the position of being a kage's wife, then as the mother of his children.
The girl was braving it all out, willing to become Konoha's next Daishukujo all for the sake of a child. Well. Tsunade could not fault her for that.
Teuchi sat in the living room, facing his daughter and the Rokudaime of Konohagakure.
He had been working out back, helping the neighbor build a table for his old lady when Ayame walked into the yard. She was still sickly, but the vitamin water must've been working because she was up and about. She sweetly asked him to come inside in that way his daughters liked to talk to him. There was something she needed to speak with him about and of course he followed her inside. And then not one minute later, with a rising sense of alarm, the Hokage was knocking at his front door.
They sat drinking tea and making small talk about family owned businesses and Konoha's economy. He knew his daughter wasn't the cleverest of girls, and when she was younger she was always behind in her schoolwork, but he never thought she would do something that would garnish the rebuttal of the Hokage. Kakashi had yet to reveal his reasons for being there and Teuchi was hesitant to ask.
He hoped it was not about Raiden or those other two.
Ayame sat quietly in the corner of the couch, hands on her lap and offering tea every other minute. Seriously, what was the matter with her? How much trouble could she have gotten into anyway, being as sick as she was?
"More tea?" she asked again and went to grab the stone kettle. Teuchi watched as his daughter's hands trembled while pouring their drink.
"Hokage-sama, I don't mean to be so forward, but I'd be lying if I said your presence here today was not surprising. With my daughter no less." Kakashi nodded. Teuchi still had no idea how he drank tea through that mask without staining it. Shinobi and their gadgets.
"I had hoped to gradually bring the subject up," Kakashi said. "I'm a little nervous to be honest."
That grabbed Ayame's immediate attention and the girl overfilled her teacup. "Oh no!" she cried and then knocked the entire cup over in her rush to stop the spill. Teuchi was torn between cleaning the mess and being just as surprised at Kakashi's statement. He'd known the man for decades. Nervousness was not a quality he'd give the kage.
Ayame ran to the kitchen and returned with a dishtowel. "Sorry, Otousan."
"Let me help," said the Hokage and kneeled beside her on the floor.
Teuchi watched with mounting fascination at the humbling scene. Ayame tried to pull the towel out of Kakashi's hand, whispering that he needn't worry but the man did not listen. She relented easily enough—as she should—and settled for silently watching. When he finished, he looked around the room, not really knowing what to do with the rag. Ayame grabbed it then, giving a small thanks to the Hokage and one of her polite smiles. She really did not look very well, despite her handsome clothes.
Ayame excused herself. Kakashi sat back down and smiled at Teuchi.
"You're nervous?" Teuchi said, admittedly curious. "Is my Ayame in that much trouble?"
Kakashi blinked and then he chuckled, causing Teuchi to follow suit. "Oh no, Teuchi-san. Is that a common occurrence with your daughter?"
Teuchi shrugged. "She takes after her mother, that one. Wears her emotions on her sleeve. When she was younger she would pick fights with the older kids who'd badmouth Yumi, my oldest."
"I think I remember her."
"Well, I don't see much of Yumi these days since she had her third child. They keep her busy, those boys."
"I can imagine."
Teuchi laughed. "That's right! I'm sure Naruto and that Uchiha boy kept you on your toes."
"Don't forget Sakura."
"Oh that girl is scary." Ayame was a harmless flower next to that monstrous strength.
"Incurably so, I'm afraid." They both laughed as Ayame walked in.
The men watched her sit and she shyly smiled at them. She really was acting odd. Before Teuchi could ask her what the blazes was wrong, Kakashi said, "Your father thought you were in trouble. That I've come to tattle."
Ayame startled and looked at Teuchi. "Otousan, I'm not five!"
Teuchi winked at her. "You'll always be my little girl." For some reason, his usual saying did not garnish a pretty little smile. She looked down at her boots.
"Teuchi-san," Kakashi started, "there's something I'd like to ask, concerning your little girl."
Curious at the way he'd put that sentence together, Teuchi simply nodded. To his astonishment, the Hokage reached a hand to place over Ayame's folded ones. You could barely see them under Kakashi's. His daughter released an inaudible breath at the contact and Teuchi's brows rose. She rapidly glanced between both men.
"Oh my," Teuchi said.
"I'd like to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage."
"Oh my," he said again, astounded. "Marry my Ayame?"
"Yes."
"I had no idea you two were getting on so well." He spoke candidly, taken aback by the unexpected news.
"We have for a while," Kakashi said softly. He and Ayame exchanged glances.
Teuchi was awed. Sure, Ayame had made eyes at the Hokage for some time now, always asking after him when Naruto would visit the restaurant. But Teuchi had no idea Kakashi was interested too. There had been the wedding, where the two sat together and talked the evening away but Teuchi had simply thought the man was being polite. Ayame could be persistently social at times, especially if she fancied a fellow.
Never in all his days did he ever think Kakashi might feel the same. He suddenly felt very in the dark but this was the Hokage asking for his daughter's ahnd so he could not deny him the right. Could he? He always believed his precious little girl deserved the best and this was certainly the very best, but it was so sudden and frankly unbelievable.
"I can hardly believe it." The truth was said to set one free and Teuchi decided honesty was the best policy. "You'd like to marry my girl?"
"Very much, sir."
"Oh my," Teuchi found himself saying again. What a development!
"It's a lot to take in. I'm sorry, Teuchi-san."
Teuchi measured his daughter. She was dressed very smartly today, wearing Yukino's earrings and her hair was done up like one of her old dolls. She was staring at him with big eyes and Teuchi knew at that moment that his approval meant everything to her.
"Ayame, sweetheart. Is this what you want?"
Tears fell from her eyes and Teuchi's own watered. "Oh Otousan, yes!"
Teuchi stood and the two quickly copied him. "Well… I see no reason to disapprove. I know my daughter will be in good hands if she is with someone as dignified as a kage." He extended a hand and Kakashi took it. "You have my blessing, Hokage-sama."
"Please, call me Kakashi. I hope that's not too informal for you."
"Alright, Kakashi. That should be fine. I've called you that in the past and since we'll be family now, I suppose no one will think too much of it." Teuchi opened his arms and addressed his baby girl. "Come here, child."
Ayame ran to her father's arms and wept. "Thank you, Otousan. I love you so much. I'm so sorry this was all last minute."
Teuchi happily held his youngest. "It's alright, Ayame. No need to cry so much. Marriage is a good thing. Your mother would be proud."
She only cried more and he patted her hair. A little amused at her behavior, Teuchi hoped to exchange mutual glances with Kakashi, but the younger man was busy gazing at the crying girl in his arms. He looked troubled if not concerned. Teuchi dismissed it as nerves. He too had been nervous when he had asked for Yukino's hand.
He hoped the Hokage would do his best to become accustomed to Ayame's blatant ability to spew out emotion. He would be marrying the girl, after all. She had a good heart and was as empathetic as they came. The girl had more emotions in her left pinky toe than most people experienced in their lifetimes. Hatake Kakashi would not find a more compassionate girl if he searched the entire shinobi world.
Ayame sat outside her apartment building, in a little park behind the property. There was a decent sized backspace to the small residential building. The playground was fenced up and it was late enough that the apartment kids wouldn't be out. She swayed softly on the swing.
The landlord was a gentle widower who enjoyed gardening and maintained the greenery that surrounded the building. He was leaning in the dirt now, singing an old folksong, picking weeds. All the residents, including Ayame, were convinced he was partially blind. She smiled, remembering when he had placed a welcome mat upside down in the front lobby. She had fixed it when he'd turned his back.
"Are you pregnant?"
Ayame closed her eyes. She didn't feel nauseas anymore. There was a pattern, she realized. The unpleasant sensations were strongest in the mornings but faded later in the afternoons. If they had not, she probably would have stayed home today, sleeping her life away as a potato. She would not have confronted Kakashi, would not have met with the council of Konoha, and certainly she would have never spoken with Otousan.
Her father had been surprised but accommodating. He had been...happy.
"Hello there, fella."
Ayame looked up to see Hatake Kakashi greet the landlord with a respectful bow. The landlord obviously did not recognize the Hokage—nor did Kakashi correct him— and only saw the profile of a younger man. He chortled happily, waving Kakashi off as a pleasant lad with great manners and then went back to his gardening, humming away.
Her heart squeezed when Kakashi's gaze met hers and he held it until she had to be the one to look away. Why did she suddenly feel incredibly guilty? As if she had planned this whole thing to trap him in some sort of cry for feminine attention? She hoped he didn't think her so frivolous. Kakashi had been her second crush ever and the only man she had ever kissed. Other stuff too, but no need for those thoughts right now.
She wasn't sure how she felt about him now, but she was grateful he'd taken charge. He had not disappointed her there.
Kakashi made his way towards her, unhurried. He sat on the swing next to hers and sighed. He didn't swing—just sat looking off to where the landlord sang. He had walked her home earlier after dinner at her father's, saying there were other things he had to take care of. He asked if she would be willing to meet with him once more tonight. She had agreed, albeit hesitant to be alone with him in the evening time. She could not give him the runaround anymore.
"The ceremony will take place in two months. I tried for sooner but these things take time, apparently."
Ayame had to look away. There was a hard lump in her throat and her eyes burned. Hadn't she cried enough the past few days? She was surprised her eyes hadn't shriveled up in her head already. The last time she had cried like this was when Yuu had run off with the cobbler's daughter. Boys sucked.
Beside her Kakashi sighed. He did that a lot. "This may not be how you wanted life to be, but I will do my best."
She dared to look up at him, whispering, "Are you...you're really going to marry me?"
"Yes." There was no negotiation in his voice. She would marry him and that was that.
Ayame thought of all the things she could say or do to decline: They did not love one another. She was a simple girl, from a simple family with no shinobi ties. With the awkwardness between them, marrying each other would be difficult. And there was always adoption. There was also the possibility that people would find out the marriage had only taken place because of premarital pregnancy.
But she could not fight him. He was still the Hokage and he had made a decision. A decision she had told herself could very well happen the moment she revealed she was pregnant.
Although he did not love her, they had gotten along enough in the past to tolerate one another now. Despite her civilian status, the council had not seemed against it. They had been more worried for her as a woman at Kakashi's side, whatever that meant. And although there was adoption, she did not think she could ever do that. Looking at Kakashi now, she thought maybe he felt the same way. Every one knew Kakashi was the proud sensei of the renowned team seven—perhaps he would approach fatherhood much the same way?
She would do it. She'd marry him, the Hokage; military leader of the village. No, Kakashi did not love her nor was she completely in love with him. And she was just a civilian. Marriage was not the happiest solution, perhaps not even the most profitable, but it was not about them—not even about the little extra flare of chakra within her. So she would not, could not, fight him on this.
"I understand," she said.
She watched as Kakashi pulled his mask down. Maybe it was his way of calling a truce or something. "Thank you, Ayame-chan. For telling me."
"I knew...it was the right thing to do."
"I hope we can get along from now on." He smiled softly. It was that civil smile he used on everyone. It wasn't fake, she knew that, but it was not his sincerest. Throughout the day he had worn it. He had acted out of obligation as much as she had today. It was understandable. But she would not forget how patient he had been as she cried all over his office and how pleasant he'd been with her father. He had been kind. He had been gentle.
He had told no one the entire truth and she would not soon forget that.
She held on to the memory in her heart and it helped bring a polite smile of her own. "I hope so too."
Big Boy came
Carrying a mermaid
On his shoulders
And the mermaid
Had her tail
Curved
Beneath his arm.
Being a fisher boy,
He'd found a fish
To carry—
Half fish,
Half girl
To marry.
-Langston Hughes, 'Catch'
