A/N: Did I forget to mention that this is AU? Oops.

Kakashi took Kiyone home to change her clothes while she napped. Despite his earlier insistence that she wear blue, he chaned her into the clothes that she had chosen. If she wanted to copy the Copy Ninja, then more power to her. But hell no to the pigtails; those just had to go. As he untied her hair, he stifled a chuckle as her hair went porcupine.

At least the top half did.

Lucky for Kiyone, her hair was long enough-for a toddler anyway-that the 'spikes' drooped a bit so she looked more feminine. He didn't really own a brush-seeing as his own hair was so wild-but he made do by fingercombing it for her.

It was...odd, to say the least.

He never had any siblings, nor expected to gain one this late in life, but this wasn't so bad.

"Ka'shi-niitan..." A little hand joined his large one on top of her head. The difference in size and texture surprised him more than it should; he knew children were well, tiny, but actually feeling it was completely different. Shaking his head at his wayward thoughts, he lifted Kiyone onto his lap and was amused as she climbed to his shoulders and held onto his headband with her handds. Wondering if he should leave the apartment with her holding onto him like that, he took a few steps around the room and was further amused that her limbs gripped his head and neck tightly without strangling him.

"Niitan, we go pway?" He young voice was muffled by his hair, but he heard her nonetheless.

"Aa, but first the Sandaime needs to know about you."

"Aa," she echoed softly. Her Niichan said that a lot, so maybe it was important for her to know it.

"Kakashi...please tell me this is some elaborate joke done by Naruto."

"No offense, Sandaime-sama, but something this detailed is above Naruto's level of pranking. I've already been to the hospital for some blood testing, and they have confirmed that she is related to me." Somehow, went unsaid.

"In that case, I'll have to tell the Council and grant you custody of her." The Professor was wise indeed judging by Kakashi's reaction. His posture straightened and a hand was raised to support the child on his shoulders.

"You're not granting the Elders custody?" It was a careful but cautious question.

"Why would I? Kakashi, your father was a hero and a good friend to me. As this child is indeed your flesh and blood, then she is his as well. I would never endanger a child to the manipulations of the Council." Naruto excluded, he thought with regret.

"A-Arigato, Sandaime-sama." This was unexpected for Kakashi; normally, if Kiyone had not been related to him or any other clan, the Council would hand her over to Danzo. Speaking of which... "What will happen to her when she becomes of age? Won't the Council try something?" And by something, he meant the Clan Restoration Act. Sure that would be many years away, but it was wise to be cautious.

"Ah, I see why you would worry," the Hokage exhaled and tipped his hat back, "Kakashi, you are the head of the Hatake Clan. As she is apparently your sister, you are her guardian. The Council cannot interfere with your decisions. But be wary, Danzo will not let this 'golden opportunity' to slip away from him."

Kiyone hiccuped and bounced on Kakashi's shoulders.

The Hokage smiled, "If you like, I can spare a team of ANBU to watch over her and whoever you find to care for her when you're on missions. Since she will be within the village," he continued before the Copy Nin could interrupt, "the team will be composed of shinobi that you once worked with and hold no grudge against your family and its past."

"San'aime-jijitan, can we go pway?"

Kakashi sweatdropped.

She did not just say that.

A/N: Cute, ain't she?

Review, please ^^