Author's Note:

Chapter 3 - Fugaku's Chapter

"When did boys become so neglectful of their mother? When they were little they always wanted to spend time with or talk to Mama. It didn't matter if I was cleaning or cooking or reading or even using the bathroom, they wanted to be with their Mama. Now it is like they don't even act like I exist unless it is to cook for them or do their laundry.

I can excuse Itachi's detachment. He does work so hard at the hospital and is barely able to do much else when he comes home. But Sasuke is just a teenager. All he does is go to school, play baseball and hang out with his friends. When he comes home he doesn't even let me know until he just suddenly appears in the kitchen to snack on a tomato or to ask when dinner will be ready. If he had a job or was hanging out with Sakura then I would feel less distressed but he doesn't. He doesn't work and he doesn't spend time with Sakura hardly at all.

I wish he did spend time with Sakura more like he would when they were little. They were so cute. I know that right now she is going through her ugly duckling phase but one day she is going to be a beautiful swan! All the boys will be after her and unless Sasuke does something she will definitely be taken away. She can't though! She is supposed to be with Sasuke. They were literally born to be together! Don't you agree, Fugaku?" Mikoto looked at me after finishing her rant. Every so often she went on her little rants about how Sasuke and Sakura were fated to be together.

I merely nodded even though I don't really care. It would be alright if Sasuke and Sakura got married. We are best friends with Kizashi and Mebuki so we wouldn't have to deal with ridiculous in-laws and she was practically already apart of the family. But I wouldn't force Sasuke to marry her like I know Mikoto would. Sakura may outgrow her "ugly duckling phase" as Mikoto put it but a change in looks shouldn't change how Sasuke feels about a girl. I'd be ashamed of how shallow he was if he did so.

"Oh my God!" Mikoto startled me.

"What?"

"What if Sasuke is gay!" Mikoto squeaked. I wanted to laugh at her.

"Why do you think that?" I asked instead.

"He's always out with boys and totally ignores girls. He is always well groomed. Oh, now we'll never be able to join families with Mebuki-chan!" Mikoto whined.

"He's not gay," I rolled my eyes.

"How do you know?"

"Boys his age always hang out with other boys and since he is going through puberty he probably feels awkward around girls. And you're the one who raised him to take care of his appearance."

"But-"

"He's not gay, Mikoto," I assured her confidently.

"How are you so sure?"

The awkward moment from weeks ago that confirmed Sasuke's sexuality came to me. It was on one of my days off from working at the police station and I was merely passing Sasuke's room when I noticed the door was cracked open. Naruto was inside with him which was normal but what Naruto had in his hand was not. Naruto grinned while pointing to a nude woman in the magazine.

"This is Miki-chan. She's my favorite in this issue," He stated. It was normal for boys their age to be curious about that stuff. I know I was but Mikoto would be furious if she learned Sasuke was looking at the stuff as would Kushina.

"Hn. She's not my type," Sasuke seemed disinterested.

"Not you type? Cuz she's not a guy?" Naruto snickered only to earn a punch in the face.

"I like girls, dobe, just not disproportional ones."

I turned to leave them in peace but the floor creaked. They saw me, turned red and hid the magazine.

"Otou-san!" Sasuke squeaked. I could have been the "cool" father and pretended not to see and let them get away with it but by doing that they would think it was okay to brig that stuff in the house which would only lead to Mikoto finding out so I had to punish them.

"That is between father and son," I simply told Mikoto.

"Fu-kun, why won't you tell me?" She moaned and gave me puppy eyes.

"I'll tell you later," I lied.

"Aw. Tell me now, Fu-kun," She rubbed my chest.

"No, Mikoto," I sighed. She turned from me and muttering how I was a jerk.

"You worry too much about Sasuke, Mikoto," I wrapped my arm around her waist.

"I can't help it. I'm his mother. It's my job to worry about him. Especially since he is so much like you."

"Like me?"

"Yes. He pushes everyone away like you did when we were his age. If I hadn't been so obsessed and insistent on winning your affections you would definitely be alone now."

"I would, eh?"

"Yep. No one but I could have broken through ol' grumpy Fugaku's icy heart. But it was so hard and I think Sasuke maybe even colder than you to women. It's going to be so hard for Sakura to get to him. I'm so worried that she'll just give up and leave him. Then he'll end up alone and our families will not be joined and Sasuke will never love," She worked herself into a frenzy and turned to face me.

"Mikoto, nothing will turn that girl off of Sasuke and by some chance she does give up on him, he will be able to find his own love. Also they are twelve. They have years if not decades before they need to even think about marriage."

"I guess so," She sighed.

"Let's stop talking about this nonsense now and go to sleep," I suggested.

"Sleep? No fun tonight? Okay then. Good night," She turned from me again.

"Fun? Wait, Mikoto, we could-" I leaned over her to try to persuade her to change her mind.

Poke.

"Sorry, Honey. Maybe next time," She removed her fingers from my forehead tauntingly.

"And I'm the one who pushes people away," I grumbled turning away.

"Aww, come here, Fu-Kun," She finally turned to me.