Revival
A/N: Takes place sixth months after last chapter, thereabouts.
Chapter 8: Barbie Girl
Mikoto tried running a comb through her long black hair that reached her hips. There were so many snarls and tangles that her comb kept on getting stuck. Frustrated, she stomped her foot and yelled, "Daddy!" Sasuke rolled his eyes and sleepily peeked his head into the bedroom. "I'm going to be late." She whined.
Sasuke took another sip of his coffee before placing it down on the nightstand and stood behind his daughter. "Alright, alright…" He chuckled slightly before tugging to remove the comb. "Have you ever thought about cutting it?" He tugged some more and the comb finally came free.
"Ouch! God, Dad." Mikoto squeaked. "And no, I'm not cutting my hair." She turned and glared at him before pulling it back into a ponytail at the nape of her neck. She pulled an orange t-shirt over her cami and glanced at herself in the mirror before turning to her father. "Do I look okay?"
Sasuke nodded absentmindedly before the question actually clicked in his head. "Wait, wait, wait. Do you like someone?"
Mikoto blushed a deep red. "Daaaaad. Boys are disgusting. Kouji trims his toenails at lunch."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "And Nao-kun?"
"Well, he's just a friend, I guess." Mikoto shrugged and glanced back in the mirror. "You sure I look okay…not too boyish?"
"Miko, you are the most beautiful girl in the world." Sasuke sighed, his mind racing—trying to figure out which guy he'd have to castrate. There was a pause. "Oh…shit. Tell me it's not Sai."
Mikoto snorted. "Yeah, Dad. It's Sai-sensei. He's dreamy." She swooned dramatically.
Sasuke decided to drop the subject. "After training, I want you to stay with Iruka."
Mikoto slipped her shoes on and glanced up at her father, "Another mission?" Sasuke nodded and kissed her on the top of the head. She sighed and stuffed her face in a pillow. "When will Daddy Naruto be back?" She hadn't called him that in a while.
"You don't like Iruka?"
"No. It's not that." She glanced at the clock. "Oh no! I'm late…bye, Dad! See you when you get back." She ran out the door and waved from the front yard. She ran as quickly as she could to the meeting spot where she was supposed to be.
By the time she neared her destination, she slowed down to a carefree stroll, wanting to appear cool and composed. She saw her teammates leaning against the railing, looking bored. She waved and said in true-Kakashi fashion, "Sorry I'm late, I had to help a lady with her groceries."
Kouji rolled his eyes, "Liar." Naoto just shrugged. A few seconds later, Sai approached with a large smile.
"My pupils!" He exclaimed. "As you know, the Chuunin exams are approaching."
"That's like six months from now." Kouji sighed and shook his head to get the hair out of his face. It had been a while since he had gotten his hair cut and it was now shaggy and hung over his bright green eyes. He threw his arm, unexpectedly, around Mikoto, "And how are we going to expect this little one to actually compete?"
Mikoto narrowed her eyes, which had become a dangerous red. She said in a cold yet emotionless voice, "I can kick your ass."
Somewhere in Konoha….
Iruka's head snapped up, "My godfather sense is tingling…." He muttered under his breath.
(Anyways) Sai gently pulled the two apart before either one started a fight. "Now, now, children. Just because, Mikoto is two years younger than you doesn't mean that she's incapable, right Kouji?" Kouji nodded. "And Mikoto, just because Kouji's an arrogant little prick doesn't give you any right to kick his ass, right?" Mikoto snorted but nodded anyways. "So…as I was saying…we'll be preparing for the Chuunin exams since there are no missions for us right now." He smiled again.
"So we don't have to pull kittens out of trees?" Naoto asked, almost hopeful.
"We don't have to clean public bathrooms anymore?" Kouji grinned widely.
Mikoto remained silent. She was distracted. A group of girls were walking by with their pink ribbons, frilly dresses and glossy lips. Mikoto felt painfully tomboyish in her outfit.
"Mikoto? Are you listening?" Sai asked; his face neutral.
"What?" She snapped back to reality. "What?"
A few hours later, all three children were exhausted since Sai's training tended to be quite ruthless despite his wide smile. Kouji leaned against Mikoto for support. "Hey, hime, think we could walk you home?"
"I'm…I'm going to Iruka's." Mikoto said, blushing a little.
"Hey, Nao-kun, my man! Those poisoned needles were pretty freaking awesome. You have an antidote, right? Right?" Kouiji said rubbing his left arm which had gone numb.
Nao shook his head, "It should wear off in about an hour."
"What'd you use?" Mikoto asked. She remained unscathed by the needles but was unable to avoid his other attacks.
"A mild numbing concoction. Simple, really." Naoto breathed in. "I don't use anything stronger on comrades."
Kouji smiled and stood on his tiptoes to ruffle Naoto's blue hair with his good hand. Naoto narrowed his eyes angrily and fixed his hair to cover the livid scar on the side of his face.
When they approached Iruka's apartment, Mikoto smiled. "I think tomorrow's our day off right?"
"Yes." Naoto said.
"Well…would you like to come over then?" Mikoto grinned. "Both of you?" She almost fell backwards when the door opened behind her.
"Miko-chan. You know both your fathers would skin me alive if they knew I was letting you play with boys unsupervised." Iruka said. Mikoto's face fell and she turned an odd shade of red. Iruka sighed. "Well, I think Sakura's available tomorrow….she can watch you to make sure you don't get into any…ahem…shenanigans."
"Aw, man? Sakura-san? Are you serious? She's like a flat-chested version of the Hokage!" Kouji whined.
During dinner, Mikoto picked at her food. "Why don't you and Kakashi have any kids?" She asked.
Iruka's back straightened. "Well….I…." He fumbled around for an answer. "Because you were such a completely perfect bundle of joy, we didn't need a kid of our own." Iruka smiled. "More rice?"
"Am I pretty?"
Iruka put his fork down. "Are you feeling okay, baby?" He asked; his eyes full of concern. "You aren't usually like this."
She nodded. "Just answer my question. Please?"
"I remember the first time I saw you." He paused, reliving the memory. "It was late at night and Sasuke was holding you in his arms. You were so small and you had these pink cheeks and itsy bitsy hands. And Sasuke and Naruto didn't know how to deal with a baby so I spent lots of time with you. The first time I held you, your little hand gripped my pinky as if to say 'hello'." Iruka smiled. "You are very pretty. Even right now when you are sweaty and dirty." Iruka said. "In fact, you are taking a bath after this okay? Bubbles, yes or no? Toys? A rubber ducky, perhaps?" He teased.
"Iruka!" Mikoto smiled softly. "Am I like Itachi?"
Iruka shrugged. "I honestly don't know. I didn't know him well…Kakashi can answer that better."
Mikoto finally satisfied, finished her meal. After her shower (not bath), she and Iruka stayed up late watching intense ninja movies such as From Konoha With Love, Four Missions and a Funeral and The Ninja Who Loved Me.
The next morning, Mikoto woke up early to find Iruka still in bed. She tiptoed over to his bedroom, which was in shambles as usual. Drawers were open, clothes were strewn across the floor and a thick folder of mission reports lay half-open on the dresser. She sprinted and leaped and landed on a quite surprised Iruka. "What the…?" He said, alarmed.
"Good morning!" She smiled and threw her arms around him. "What do you think I should do with my hair today?"
"I dunno….pigtails?" He said sleepily, throwing a pillow over his head.
"Is Kakashi coming home today?" She asked.
"Hopefully, which is why I need my frigging beauty sleep." Iruka groaned.
"Well I'm going to go to Sakura's, okay? Take care!" Mikoto said and ran out of the apartment. Her outfit was rather plain: a navy blue shirt and a pair of khaki shorts. She skipped all the way to Sakura's apartment and knocked on her door.
She heard a crash and some yelling and moments later, Sakura, dressed in a sea-green robe. Her hair was a mess and she was still wearing make-up from the night before. "Mikoto? What are you doing here so early?"
She shrugged.
Sakura rubbed her temples. "Hold on." She shut the door quietly; Mikoto pressed her ear to the door so she could hear the yelling going on inside. She only caught bits and pieces such as, "She's here", "Oh holy hell" and "Just get out—out the window!"
The door was opened again promptly. "Sorry about that….just straightening things."
"It's ok." Mikoto said. "Iruka told you that…" Her voice trailed off. She looked at Sakura who was too busy looking at her outfit.
"Oh, honey. Please don't tell me that that's what you're wearing." Sakura clicked her tongue disapprovingly.
"Well…it's what I have." Mikoto said, shifting her weight uncomfortably.
Sakura pulled her inside the small apartment. "You've been spending way to much time around boys." Sakura fished through her closet for a dress and slipped it on. It was a simple red sundress. "We still have a little time before your friends get here, okay? I'll buy you something nice."
Mikoto was then whisked around Konoha and tried on several "girly" outfits. She would step out of the dressing room, feeling awkward and unlike herself underneath the frills. Sakura finally settled on a short light blue dress with long sleeves and simple embellishments. "Now for the hair." Sakura combed through the long black hair roughly and then tied a section of it back with a matching light blue bow; the rest of it hung over her shoulders. "Look….see how pretty you are?"
Mikoto didn't recognize the girl in the mirror. But she also didn't want to anger Sakura by changing back into her old outfit.
When Kouji and Nao arrived, they were simply shocked. Kouji even remarked, "I'd tap that."
Mikoto eyes turned a fierce red and she chased him with fireballs.
Sakura sat back and sighed, "Ah, young love."
A/N: Yes, Sakura did have a guy over….though we'll never know who it was (unless you really want to guess). Sorry for the rushed ending….my roommate was asleep.
