She scratched her forehead a few times, then resumed writing. An irritated sigh escaped her lips. Finally, unable to take it anymore,
"Sasuke, stop staring at me…"
"I'm not staring Kokoa. I'm thinking," he argued.
"Is that so? What about?"
"How you like my Ni-san," he smirked.
"What's so bad about that?"
"He's weird. He's too quiet, has staring issues, and eats too many sweets."
"That's what makes him Itachi though," she laughed. "I love all those things about him."
"Still…you like him. You two were – you were kissing," he whispered in the end.
"We thought we were alone. You can't be mad. You're the one who walked in, Sasuke."
"Hn." He turned his face, crossing his arms.
"You seemed so happy the other day. Now you look upset. What gives?" She nudged him playfully.
"Nothing."
"Oh I know. You think I'm going to take him away from you?"
"No!"
"Then spill, Uchiha."
"Nothing. I just think it's gross when you start doing things in front of me."
"Ugh…" She rubbed her face, annoyed. "Well even though you say nothing's bothering you, I still want you to know that I'd never take Itachi away from you Sasuke. I mean look, we've been together for a while now. Have I ever come between you two?"
"…No…"
"Ok then. It's alright. There's nothing to worry about. Besides, even if I tried driving a wedge between you guys, he wouldn't allow it. He loves you too much."
"Yeah, yeah."
"I'm serious Sasuke. Your big brother loves you more than anything. Don't you ever forget that."
"Are you sure you don't mind looking after him?"
"It's only for an hour Itachi."
"I know, but I feel bad. It's just with my father in a meeting, and my mother out of the house…I don't want to drag Sasuke with me to Hokage-sama's-"
"Itachi…it's fine. No worries," Kokoa laughed.
"I don't need anyone looking after me," Sasuke pouted, crossing his arms.
"Yes. You do," Itachi replied.
"Why can't I go with you, Ni-san?"
"We'll be discussing boring mission reports, and other stuff that will put you to sleep. You should be thanking me for leaving you with Kokoa."
"Hn."
"He's right Sasuke. Remember how you said I look out for you, but not in a sisterly way?"
"Yeah…"
"That means I actually let you have fun. We're not siblings, more like friends. Behave, and I'll let you do whatever your little Uchiha heart desires," she grinned.
"You have to have some rules, Kokoa."
"That's your job Itachi. You're the brother. Me? I'm just the girl whose dating the brother."
"You two together are dangerous," Itachi sighed, holding his head.
"Like I said, I'm not going to baby him. He's old enough. I'm his friend. High five!" She turned to him, hand in the air.
"Yes!" he cheered, smacking it with his own.
"Well I'm his brother," Itachi stated before picking the child up off the ground, putting him over his shoulder.
"Let me go! Itachi!"
"Why don't you ask your friend, Kokoa, for help?"
"Itachi!" he cried, limbs flailing.
"Alright, alright. Here." He set him down, pushing him back with a poke to the forehead. Sasuke turned away, brushing himself off.
"I should get going. I'll see you." He leaned towards Kokoa for a kiss, but paused half way, peering at Sasuke.
"What?"
"Could you give us a second Sasuke?"
"Why? So you can be all gross?"
"Kinda." She shrugged.
"Never."
"Then suffer." Itachi delivered a quick kiss before heading off.
"My eyes! My eyes!" He held his face, dancing around in circles.
"You're just jealous Sasuke," Kokoa teased.
"Am not." He let his arms fall to his sides.
"Yes you are." She crouched to his level. "Don't feel bad. Here." Getting his attention, she gave him a sweet peck on the cheek. He stood silent at first, blushing slightly.
"Gross. You have Itachi germs. Now I do too," he mumbled, rubbing his cheek.
"You should be honored. Now come on Sasuke. What do you want to do today?"
"How was your day, Sasuke?" Mikoto inquired during dinner.
"You know Ni-san had a meeting, so I hung out with Kokoa today. Then the three of us got dango afterwards," he happily explained.
"Mmm, sound fun and delicious," she smiled. Itachi ate quietly with a slight smile.
"You two have been spending quite some time with that girl, especially you…Itachi," Fugaku stated, taking another bite. The smile left Sasuke's face. Itachi looked up slowly with a blank expression.
"What do you mean, Father?"
"I just noticed you always seem to be around her is all. What was her name again?"
"Kokoa."
"Right, right. That new jonin. How could I forget?" He took a sip of water. Sasuke swallowed hard. Mikoto shifted slightly. Itachi didn't move.
"Is there something wrong?" he inquired.
"No, no. It's just that Sasuke should be focusing on his school work instead of field trips to sweet stands with that girl, and you…as an ANBU captain, maybe you should be a bit more selective on who associate with." Itachi looked away, lips sealed. Talking back would only upset his father and raise more suspicion. It hurt, being unable to defend her, but there was nothing he could do.
"But Father, I like Kokoa. I have the top grades. How is that bad?" Sasuke inquired.
"There is always room for improvement. You are never finished. You don't have time to waste."
"But she's-" He fell silent, noticing the warning look in his brother's eyes. Sighing sadly,
"I'm sorry Father…"
"He hates me."
"Kokoa I don't think-"
"First I let my comrade die, and now I'm ruining his children's lives. Your father hates me Itachi."
"He doesn't hate you."
"He strongly dislikes me?"
"That's a nicer way of putting it, but…"
"I'm always on my best behavior around him, but he always seems to catch me when I'm doing something weird, like wrestling with Sasuke. Ugh…I just want him to accept me. How can he ever accept "us" if he won't even acknowledge me? He probably thinks I'm some weak girl. He has a point though…I did let someone die. I did get injured myself, and haven't had a decent assignment in ages. I am pathetic. No wonder he hates me. I hate me!"
"You're rambling…" he stated. "Also, I don't hate you, and neither should you. We're human beings. Don't put yourself down so much. You don't give yourself enough credit. I think you're very strong, and extremely talented, especially in tai-jutsu. Even Gai-san praised your abilities."
"The only one who matters is your father…" she mumbled.
"I want to help, but –"
"I know, I know. You have another mission. A long one this time too," she sighed.
"I'm sorry."
"I'm not upset about that. I'm just bummed about him hating me."
"Things will work out in the end. I promise."
"We'll see. Be careful. Don't die, and don't eat too many sweets."
"Whatever you say Kokoa," he chuckled, kissing her forehead before leaving.
"I was telling your brother how your father hates me." Kokoa sat beside Sasuke on a bench, the slight breeze fluttering their hair.
"He doesn't hate –" She gave him a look. "Alright, he kinda hates you."
"I knew it."
"But he doesn't know you! I think he's just mad because Itachi and I are spending too much time with you, which I don't get because I don't see you that much.
"I know. I barely see Itachi. He's always busy. I mean is it so bad for him to spend his free time the way he pleases?"
"I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault Sasuke. I just wish there was something I could do, some way to gain his approval. I never cared about anyone's opinions before, but now…it's important to me."
"He was angry because he thinks we're wasting time by having fun. Maybe if we changed how we spent time together, maybe he wouldn't be so mad."
"Any ideas?"
"You can train me."
"Nani?"
"My own trainer, my sensei. That way I'd still get to see you, but I'll also be learning. He can't be mad then. And Itachi could check on me, supervise us when he's not busy. That way it'll seem like he's making sure we're being serious, and Father will think he's being strict. I have the highest grades at the academy, but my dad still isn't pleased. Training under a jonin has to make him happy, right? He says there's always room for improvement. You can teach me a lot of things that other kids won't know."
"Why are you willing to go so far?"
"I like you, and I like being with you and Itachi. You guys don't push or judge me. I also promised to help you. You make my brother happy, and I want you to be a part of our lives, our family."
"Sasuke…" She looked down, smiling warmly to herself. "This means you'll have to refer to me as Kokoa-sensei, and you're going to have to do what you're told. Itachi's little brother or not, I won't go easy on you."
"Yosh! Bring it on, but first, we'll need his permission."
"Who?"
"My father. Come on." He took her hand, dragging her off.
"But – but I – Sasuke wait!"
"Come again?" Fugaku remarked, sitting with his arms and legs crossed.
"I want –"
"Let me try," Kokoa said, placing a hand on Sasuke's shoulder. "As you know Uchiha-san, I've taken some time off lately due to serious injuries, both physical and psychological. I've regained my strength, but I'm not sure if I'm 100% ready to get back out in the field. Instead of waiting around, I thought I could be useful. I want to take Sasuke here under my wing, train him when he isn't busy with academy work."
"This is nonsense."
"Sasuke is a strong kid, and he has potential. If he's ready, why not start the more difficult training? I am a jonin. There's a lot I can do for him."
"Are you familiar with Uchiha jutsu?"
"No…"
"Do you possess the sharingan?"
"N-no –"
"Then what could you, a non-Uchiha, possibly do for Sasuke? At his age, Itachi already had control of his sharingan. Sasuke is already behind. He needs someone who will be useful, someone he can depend on." That struck a nerve. Kokoa bit her lip. Ever since they first met, all Fugaku ever seemed to do was bring up her failed mission, the death of Mamoru. She swallowed hard, fighting to keep control.
"He – he can depend on me. I've always been there for Sasuke. No disrespect Uchiha-san, but I'm strong in my own ways, and others, including Hokage-sama seem to agree, seeing as I was promoted. I made a mistake. I regret everything about that incident, and I bear the guilt of Mamoru's death, but tragedies like that make you stronger. You learn from them so you don't make the same mistake again. Just because I don't have the sharingan or know your clan's techniques, doesn't mean I'm weak. I know plenty of higher level gen and nin-jutsu, and I excel in tai-jutsu. Not letting Sasuke train under me would ultimately hurt him. This is his chance to grow." She took a step back, surprised by her own words. The elder Uchiha rose to his feet, heading for the exit. Kokoa felt her heart sink. Pausing in the doorway, he turned his head slightly.
"You may work under her Sasuke, but if I even slightly suspect that you're not taking this seriously, I'll end it." He left.
"Did you hear that Kokoa? He said yes!" he cheered, grabbing her arm. "Where did all that confidence come from? I never heard you talk like that before, like – like you were the hokage or something," he laughed.
"Sometimes Sasuke, all you need is one person who believes in you." Eyes closed, she put a hand in his hair, smiling slightly.
'Itachi-san…'
"I can't believe it."
"What's so hard to believe, I-ta-chi-kun?" Kokoa crossed her arms.
"I leave for a mission, and return only to see that you've taken my foolish little brother under your wing."
"It is that ridiculous?" She gave him a dull look.
"I didn't think you were the sensei type," he commented.
"Hey, I make a great sensei, besides…it was Sasuke's idea."
"Hey!" the child shouted.
"You're supposed to be meditating Sasuke. Get back to work," she snapped. He turned his head with a pout.
"But yeah, it really was his idea."
"And my father?"
"We got his approval."
"…How?"
"He actually kind of laughed in my face at first, but then…I remembered."
"Remembered?" He raised an eyebrow.
"What you told me: that I don't give myself enough credit, that I'm strong. You believing in me gave me the guts to be firm with him, to stand up for myself without disrespecting him. You gave me courage." She clenched her fists. His lips curved into a smile.
"You've always had faith in me…I'll never forget that, Itachi."
"I can't do this anymoooooore," Sasuke whined, sulking over to them.
"Sasuke, we told your father this was a serious thing. If he sees us screwing around, or if he sends someone to spy, we're done. He'll punish you, and hate me more than he currently does," she explained.
"You should take it seriously. Then you'll be ahead of everyone else, more than you already are," Itachi added.
"But it's so boring…"
"Sasuke, once you get this meditation, breathing, focus crap down, we can get to the good stuff. Come on, you're an Uchiha for crying out loud, do you know how much fun I could have with you!" she exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air.
"In case you forgot…I am also an Uchiha," Itachi commented.
"Yeah, but I can't train you, or beat you, or trick you, or fight you as an equal. You're just unfair, a borderline spam character of some sort."
"Kokoa…"
"I'm kidding, I'm kidding…kind of."
"At least your dad isn't always comparing you to him," Sasuke mumbled.
"Sasuke, she doesn't have parents."
"I know! I didn't mean it literally. Jeez Ni-san, that mission made you grumpy."
"I'm not grumpy."
"A little bit." Kokoa shrugged.
"But I'm not."
"It's ok Itachi-kun, I won't hold it against you. I'll get you some dango to lift your mood," she stated, waving a finger in the air. Letting his shoulders fall,
"I can't say no to dango..."