Chapter 7: Gossip
"Phew, man, what a day," Kakashi said as he sat down.
"Hi Daddy," Kabuki said as she came out of the kitchen. "Are you hungry? I can make you something."
"No, no, that's okay. I'm not really hungry, I'm just tired."
Mitsuki came out of the kitchen as well. "Kakashi? Oh, you're home."
"I think I'll just go sleep now."
"Okay, you do that." They watched as Kakashi got up and trudged into the bedroom.
"Kabuki where's Fenrir?" Mitsuki asked.
"He's asleep on the floor by the sofa," Kabuki responded.
"Oh, okay. Hey, do you wanna go out for a bit?"
"Alright!" Kabuki ran to the door. "Come on Mommy!"
"I'm right behind you, don't worry." She put on her shoes and they headed out.
"Wow, it's so pretty outside!" Kabuki said.
"Yes, the sunset is beautiful."
She looked up at her mother. "Mommy, will I be as beautiful as you when I grow up?"
Mitsuki laughed. "What?"
"Will I?"
"Kabuki…you'll be much more beautiful when you grow up."
She smiled. "Really? More than you? That's hard to believe since you're so pretty!" They came to an outdoor ice cream shop. "Oh, Mommy, look! Can I have some ice cream?"
"Oh sure, anything for you. Just sit at a table and I'll go get us something."
"Okay!" Kabuki ran to a table and sat down. "Mommy knows what flavor I like. Hmm, but does Daddy know?"
Two women sitting close to Kabuki looked at her. "Hey, isn't that that one girl?"
"You mean that Kabuki girl?"
Kabuki perked up, but didn't look at the women. Why are they talking about me? She listened closely.
"Yeah, that's her. She's Hino Mitsuki's daughter, isn't she?"
"Yes."
Mommy?
"Do you know that she lives with Hatake Kakashi?"
Daddy?
"Yeah, but I heard that Kakashi isn't Kabuki's real father."
Wh-What!
"Really?"
"Yeah, it was some other guy."
No, no! They're lying! Kakashi is my real father!
"Kakashi is just taking care of them. I heard that he felt sorry cuz Mitsuki's lover left her or something like that."
Stop it!
"So is Kakashi still available or not?"
"I think he could be."
He's not you old hags! He's my Mommy's husband!
"Well, whatever. The point is that Kabuki isn't Kakashi's daughter. She's someone else's."
"But she's Mitsuki's daughter, right?"
"Yes, of course!"
Kabuki put her head down and closed her eyes. No, it's not true! None of it!
"Kabuki, sorry I took so long, there was a line," Mitsuki said as she held two ice cream cones. "I got your favorite flavor." Her daughter didn't respond. "Kabuki? What's wrong?" She put down the ice cream. "Kabuki?" She tapped her daughter on the shoulder. "Sweetie?"
"…WAAAHH!" She put her head on the table and began to cry.
"Kabuki! Are you hurt! Are you sick! Did something upset you! Kabuki, what's wrong! Please speak to me!" She hugged her. "Kabuki!"
It can't be! No! It just can't!