Revival
A/N: Omfg. It's been forever. Blame the holidays and writer's block. And I'm really sorry it's been like a month or so. I hope this chapter's good. Please review if you like it/hate it/feel like giving the authoress a little pat on the back. I'm sorry that this chapter's angsty….but what do you expect when the kid's gone missing?
Chapter 6: Anybody See My Baby Part II
"Daddy!" Mikoto screamed, her long black ponytail swaying behind her. It was a hot summer day by the lake. Most people were wading, but her father, Sasuke, insisted on remaining under the umbrella. play with us."
Sasuke shot her a look from under his sunglasses, "No…It's cold." From behind his daughter, a drenched, tanned Naruto scooped up Mikoto and threw her over his shoulder. She squealed with delight.
"Aw c'mon, Sasuke!" Naruto pleaded while tickling Mikoto. She kicked and screamed. Sasuke simply applied more sunscreen to his pale skin.
"There's no way I'm getting in the water."
"Well, sourpuss…" Naruto said, arching an eyebrow. "I guess, I'll just have to make you." Naruto had Mikoto hold on to his neck while he got on all fours and crawled over to Sasuke. He nuzzled his cheek before kissing him deeply (Mikoto closed her eyes, "EW!")
Sasuke, with an obviously pleased look on his face, whispered huskily, "Is that supposed to convince me?"
"No but this is." And from behind, Kakashi poured a pail of water on Sasuke's head.
"Bastards!" Sasuke steamed and chased after the three, who had headed for the water.
Naruto used chakra to run over the water's surface. "Come and catch us!" Sasuke ran after them and had almost caught up with them when Naruto tossed Mikoto in the air, "Catch!"
Sasuke dived after his daughter and caught her. However, his concentration broke and they both ended up in the water. Mikoto clapped her hands happily, "You did it, Daddy! Play with us." She threw her little arms around his neck and gave him a wet kiss on the cheek.
"Sasuke? Babe? Are you….are you all right?" Sasuke's head snapped up and he dropped the picture on the floor. The one Kakashi had taken all those years ago of their day at the lake.
"Yeah." Sasuke cleared his throat of emotion. "I'm fine." Naruto sighed. Ever since Mikoto left, it had been three days now, Sasuke had locked himself in his room while Naruto slept on the couch. Tsunade had declared them both too "emotionally unstable" for a mission but that's what they both needed to get their minds off of things.
Sakura stopped by the house later that day, knocking first instead of just strolling inside. Sasuke finally answered the door, "What do you want?"
"I brought some ramen…." She said softly, not meeting his eyes.
"Nobody died." Sasuke said clenching his fists.
"…What?"
"Isn't that what people do when someone dies….bring food?" Sasuke said and slammed the door on her face. Sakura's eyes welled up and she dropped the bowl on the doorstep before running away.
"You didn't have to be cruel." Naruto said, crossing his arms. Sasuke didn't say anything. "We'll get her back, okay? One way or another, I'll bring her back just like I brought you back." Sasuke finally met his gaze. Something unspoken passed between them in that moment.
Sasuke leaned against Naruto for support more than anything else. It was awkward but nonetheless needed, "Thank you," Sasuke whispered.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Itachi looked down at Mikoto who was sleeping in the corner of the room. In some ways he could that she was his daughter. They looked very much a like. The same long black hair—both pulled back in a ponytail—the same black pools of ink in their eyes and even the same androgynous body shape. But where nature ended, nurture took over. In almost all other ways, she reminded him of a young version of Sasuke. They shared the same smile, the same innocence, the same weakness.
Itachi brushed some dark hairs out of her face, "What path will you choose, little Miko?" Itachi got really quiet for a minute and then whispered. "Kisame?"
"You being sweet on her?" Kisame chuckled.
Itachi shrugged. "She is my daughter. My own flesh and blood."
"Yeah and I know how much that means to you." Kisame scoffed. Itachi didn't reply. Though they got along very well, Kisame could never get used to Itachi's constant silence. He only accepted it and that was all Itachi asked for.
Itachi watched his daughter sleep and was reminded of the many times he had watched Sasuke sleep. They both slept on their sides with their knees drawn up to meet their chests. Finally bored, Itachi got up and went for a walk.
About an hour later, Mikoto woke up and groggily headed towards the kitchen for a glass of water. She was rubbing her eyes when she bumped into something large and warm. She glanced up and saw the scary green man. "Are you a good girl….good enough to eat? I was in need for a….midnight snack!"
"Tobi's a good boy." Tobi said cheerfully from behind. Mikoto immediately ran behind Tobi who was wearing green pajamas with little goldfish printed all over them; he even had matching slippers.
"Tobi…come read me a bedtime story." Mikoto said, grabbing his hand and pulling him away. When Mikoto was back in her corner, she looked up at Tobi and said, "Once upon a time…"
Tobi's face lit up, "Once upon a time….there was a…good boy. And he found a magical lollipop. This lollipop could make him…fly and, um, the end….I always wanted to fly." Tobi sighed wistfully.
"I think I'm going to go home now." Mikoto said, kicking the blankets off.
"You don't like Tobi-chan?" He sniffed, "Was Tobi's story bad?"
"No! Tobi was very nice. I just miss my family." Mikoto said while putting her shoes on.
"Leaving so soon?" Came a voice. "Is my hospitality displeasing?"
"I wouldn't call this hospitality." Mikoto spat, suddenly feeling brave.
"Is that any way to talk to your father?" Itachi's voice remained as cold as death.
"You…are not my father."
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Naruto stroked Sasuke's hair. It had been a long time since he had been that vulnerable. Naruto could still hear Sasuke's voice filled with a desperate need, "Please….take me tonight...please?" Sasuke has whimpered slightly in his arms as they made love but little noise was heard. It wasn't passionate; it was slow and tender. Naruto kissed the top of Sasuke's head. "I love you."
The next day, they woke up in each other's arms. "Are you okay?" Naruto whispered, pulling Sasuke closer. Sasuke nodded and got out of the bed. He quickly tied a robe around his waist and left the room.
"…the hell?" Naruto muttered under his breath and jumped out of bed. He stomped down the hallways looking for Sasuke. He passed by a window and saw his lover outside—in a robe no less—training.
The first thought that crossed Naruto's mind was "hotness" but he quickly realized what Sasuke was doing. He was determined not to have Itachi hurt anyone he loved again.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Mikoto balled her hands into tights fists, "One way or another, I'm going home." She was only a genin and knew that she didn't stand a chance against Itachi. Though there was fear in her heart, she tried not to let any of it show.
"A very interesting daughter you have there, Itachi." Sasori said from the doorway.
"Yes. Very interesting." Perhaps he saw some of himself in Mikoto after all. Sasuke, at around this age, would have just given up. "Fine. Then go. But one day, my little Miko-chan, you will come back to me."
Mikoto shivered at his words but took advantage of the opportunity to escape. She climbed out the window slowly, not turning her back to them till she was out of sight.
"If she can make it home, that is." Deidara laughed. "She doesn't even know where she is."
"I believe she has the ability to make it home…she is after all…interesting." Sasori muttered before taking a sip of his drink.
"She's a genin! They're like…babies!" Deidara argued.
Mikoto finally started to run in a full sprint. It was still pitch black and she couldn't see much. It was true; she had no idea where she was. First, she would need to get as far as she could away from Itachi and then, when it was light, she would need to find out where she was.
She ran for hours, until her legs felt like jelly. She could see the first rays of light peeking through the trees, "Finally," she whispered. Now she could find a town and perhaps ask for directions.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Kakashi put on his gloves and went outside to meet his new team. He wasn't often on time but this was important. Sakura, Sai and Yamato patiently waited for him to speak. "I'll have Pakkun trace her scent. Once we find her location, we get the hell out of there and no fighting unless absolutely necessary."
They started off, with Pakkun ahead. It took three days but they reached an abandoned house in the middle of the woods. "Does it end here?" Kakashi asked the small dog.
"No…" Pakkun sniffed the ground.
Yamato and Sakura approached the house. "I don't sense anyone…" Sakura said.
"By the looks of things, it seems as if they left a few hours ago." Yamato said and Sakura nodded in agreement.
"She went this way, alone." Pakkun said and started running off.
They traveled for another half a day before finding Mikoto. She was leaning against a tree, eating some berries in her hand. Her head spun around when she heard them approach. "Kakashi-san…?" She whispered.
Kakashi nodded but couldn't help and notice her state. She look disshelved, thin and her knuckles were scratched up but otherwise she seemed fine. She stood up on wobbly legs. "I…I…got lost." She said, tears filling her eyes. She ran into Kakashi's arms and cried. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
He patted her small back and wiped the tears from her eyes. "It's going to be okay. None of that now."
"Take me home." She whimpered. Though she was getting to old to be picked up, he carried her in his arms to Konoha.
A/N: Ha! I bet all of you knew that I wouldn't make Mikoto evil…yet. Yes, I know she's very corruptible (she is a Uchiha). And sorry for the slight Sasuke bashing…Itachi made me do it. –grins-
