He stared intently at her, daring her to make a move.

It all started when he tried to get her to change into a blue onesy and the little brat laid down the law that she would not being wearing blue. So when he asked her what she wanted to wear, she crawled off his futon and waddled on over-he would not admit how adorable she looked waddling like a duckling-to her dresser and pulled green pants and a black long-sleeved shirt.

"Oniitan!" She exclaimed happily while pointing to the clothes.

"Iie," was his immediate reply. He had no idea where this child had come from, but he'd be damned first if she insisted on being his clone in female form.

"Oniitan…" her childish voice took on a demanding tone. "I wear dis one!" And to prove her point, she slapped the outfit with a pudgy fist and gave him a stern look.

To which he responded with a glare and a minimal amount of KI (Killer Intent). Seeing as she was a just a child, she should have given in. However, seeing as how for some unholy reason, she was just as stubborn as he was.

It had already been a minute and half and she still hadn't blinked!

Truthfully, he could stare as long as he wanted, but he did have things to do. Forget his team; they were used to waiting. He needed to see the Sandaime ASAP. Just as he was about to increase his KI, the brat started sniffling as though she was attempting to hold back a sneeze. Ah, he thought to himself in triumph, no one can sneeze with their eyes open.

"Ah…Ah…Ah-choo!" As he predicted, she had sneezed. Unfortunately, he hadn't predicted how much that one sneeze would force her tiny body backwards and smack her head straight onto the hardwood floor. Now, he may not have known much about children, but he was pretty sure their little noggins were pretty tender even at two or three years old.

The little girl began to whimper and her little hands curled at the back of her head as she started to cry. Former ANBU Captain reputation be damned. Even Kakashi knew that every adult wasn't immune to a child crying in true pain. Sighing, he moved to lift the little girl into his arms, only to have her burrow herself into his skin.

"O-Oniitan. Itai," she cried against his neck and clung to his shoulders. As she moved, a small slip of paper fell from one of the pockets of her footy pajamas. While absently rubbing soothing circles into the child's back, Kakashi picked up the paper and groaned.

Life was just too cruel today. The paper read:

Name: Hatake Kiyone

Age: 2

Blood Type: O+

Summary: Why, hello there my newest victim. Trust me when I say this is not a joke. You can have your doctors check Kiyo's DNA and it will match yours. Raise her well.

-SR

"Ka'shi-niitan?" Kiyo sniffled against his neck. "I hurt and I feel yucky." He had to blink at that. Why would she feel "yucky" unless… Damn it, he mentally swore and briefly put her down on his futon while he got dressed. The Sandaime could wait if Kiyone had really hurt herself.

BoPBoPBoPBoP

He hated hospitals.

The only upside to the visit was that it wasn't for him, but for a little girl who apparently was his flesh and blood according to the blood tests the nurses ran for him. And although he didn't want to, he had no choice but to accept that he was responsible for the small child on the gurney. Little Kiyone had given herself a one big bump on the head. The medic told him that it was a good thing he had brought her to the hospital instead of the clinic, due to the fact yes, Kiyone's skull was still quite soft.

He ran his hand through his hair and took a deep breath. Just an hour ago, he thought this was some kind of elaborate prank. But after discovering that it was real…just how was he supposed to go on missions with a child to look after? He couldn't put her up for adoption or foster care; he wouldn't put it past the elders to find away to breed her when she got old enough. Damn and double damn. He almost forgot about Danzo. He would have to either take her with him, or find a babysitter.

"Oniitan?"

Blinking, he looked down and saw dark eyes staring up into his one eye. She was okay. He didn't know why, but he had the feeling that it would bother him just a little if she wasn't. The nurse who stood beside her smiled and gave Kakashi the paperwork to sign, "I just need your signature here, and she'll be all ready to go. She's a spunky little thing. Bit the doctor when he was examining the bruising."

Kakashi snorted lightly through his mask and held out a hand for Kiyone to grab. She reached out and proceeded to scale his body until she reached his shoulders where she promptly stuffed her little body inside his jounin vest. "Nap!" she demanded and snuggled against his ribs. Absently, Kakashi patted her mop of hair in a soothing manner, and nodded politely to the nurse.

As he left the building through the front door-he wasn't sure how Kiyone would take to him traveling via rooftop-he muttered to her, "Let's hope we never have to go back there, ne?"

She replied with a small yawn, but as his "sister" drifted off into sleep, he felt her nod against his chest.

A/N: Thought I'd say it now, but chapters will be short. I'm short on time, so therefore, short chapters.

Review please.