A/N: Fresh reminder: Kaede disappeared, she's out somewhere in the rain while she has a fever. Kakashi sets out to look for her. Ok, go! :D

He knew it. He found her standing in front of the memorial stone he showed her last night. He slowly walked towards her, until he was a few feet behind her. Kaede didn't seem to notice him.

"Rin-chan, too," she whispered to herself, her voice mangling with the tapping sounds of the rain. She looked at Rin's name carved in the stone. Kakashi took a few more steps and laid his hand on her shoulder. It scared Kaede: she flinched, quickly turned around and took a step back when she found Kakashi right in front of her. Kakashi was a little surprised by that.

"It's ok," he said. "It's just me." Kaede didn't say anything. "Let's go back," said Kakashi. "You're not supposed to be outside in the first place—"

"I'm fine," said Kaede. She just didn't want to go back to Kakashi's apartment. She didn't feel comfortable there.

It was like Kakashi could read her mind. "Then let's go find some shelter over there," he said.

They sat underneath a big tree as the rain was getting stronger. They could still see the memorial stone. They stared at it for a long time.

Kaede was shaking. She was completely soaked. Kakashi looked at her. He took off his vest. Kaede looked at him from the corners of her eyes and nervously asked: "W-what are you doing?" Kakashi took off his sweater. He was wearing a sleeveless shirt underneath it. His mask was apparently attached to this shirt.

"Ka… Kakashi?" asked Kaede, her voice shaking.

Kakashi gave his sweater to Kaede. The sleeves were wet, but the part that had been under his vest was still dry. "Take this," he said. "You'll catch a cold."

Kaede looked at him in confusion. Slowly and carefully, she took the sweater. She kept watching him as she wrapped it around her. She immediately felt a lot warmer. "Thank you," she said. "But what about—"

"I'm fine," said Kakashi, smiling underneath his mask. "Don't get sick again, ok?"

Kaede blushed and smiled a little. This was new for her. Until now, she had lived a lonely and miserable life. Kakashi had just met her after 15 years. She was mad at him, and still he was being so kind to her. So there are good people in this world, she thought. Even after the way I treated him…

She couldn't help but stare at his bare arms. He was so muscular; that was hard to notice underneath all those layers of clothing. He had definitely buffed up since back then. By now he must be… around 30, she thought to herself. That was a strange thought. The image of Kakashi as a teenager flashed through her mind. He's… a full-grown man now. Despite the fact that this man was her childhood friend, that last thought scared her a little. He's not being kind to me just so that he… No… He wouldn't… would he?

Kakashi's voice woke her from her thoughts.

"Remember what you used to call me?" asked Kakashi. Kaede smiled lightly.

"Kakashi… niichan," she said.

Kakashi chuckled. "You really did think of me as a brother," he said. "That's what your father always told me. And to be honest, being a big brother wasn't all that bad," he added with another smile underneath his mask.

Kaede smiled in return. On one hand, she felt more comfortable after he reminded her of this. This could probably mean that he still considered her as a little sister. And nothing more. And that was good.

On the other hand, this remark startled her. He completely read my mind! she thought in slight panic. Is he some kind of psychic or something?

Oppressing a shiver, she focused her mind back to the conversation. "I've missed those times," she said. "They're the only good memories I have."

Suddenly, she remembered something. But before she had a chance to ask Kakashi anything, he said: "I'm sorry that things turned out so awful for you."

… He's apologizing? Kaede looked directly at him. "It's not your fault," she retorted firmly, "even though I… thought it was. I should be the one apologizing to you."

Kakashi shook his head. "They lied to both of us," he said.

They were quiet for a while. They were both staring at the memorial stone again.

Kaede hesitated. Should she ask him or not? Did she even want to know the answer?

"Can… can I ask you something?" The words came out before she even realized it. Now she couldn't go back.

"What is it?" asked Kakashi, looking at her again. She didn't look back at him.

"I just remembered… well…" she tried, but she couldn't help but feel like she didn't want to know the answer.

"What?" asked Kakashi, though he already knew what she was going to ask. She just needed to finish the question, he decided. She had to want to know, before he could tell her.

"Well…" tried Kaede again. "My… my mother… I remember her… being pregnant."

I knew it. He kept quiet for a few seconds before he said: "Yes. She was."

Now Kaede looked at him again. "Then… what about…" she asked. She didn't finish the question.

Kakashi was actually hoping she would ask that question later. He still had to figure out how to tell Naruto about this, too.

The rain had stopped. Kakashi stood up.

"Kakashi?" asked Kaede, still waiting for an answer.

"I hate to say this, but…" started Kakashi. Kaede got a bad feeling. Then Kakashi finished his sentence: "I owe you the answer to that one."

"What?" asked Kaede. Kakashi turned around and started to walk away. Kaede stood up, wondering why he didn't just tell her.

"Why?" she asked, raising her voice. Kakashi didn't answer and just kept walking. She went after him.

"Kakashi!" He still didn't answer. Kaede stopped.

"If the baby is dead, just say so!" she yelled. Kakashi stopped and turned around. Kaede took his sweater off her shoulders, walked towards Kakashi and gave it back to him. "It's dead, isn't it?" she asked calmly.

"It's a long story," said Kakashi. "There's something I need to do first."

"But…"

"Did you find a place to live in here?" he asked.

Kaede couldn't believe it. Why was he acting like this, all of a sudden?

"Why are you changing the subject?" she asked.

"Did you?" repeated Kakashi.

It was no use. Kaede gave up. "I'm staying at an inn," she said. "Until I find an apartment."

"So you're staying here?" asked Kakashi.

"Yes," said Kaede softly. "This is the only place I've ever felt safe."

"I see," said Kakashi. "Then I suggest you go to the Hokage," he said. Kaede nodded.

"Well then, I'm off," Kakashi said. "See you later."

"But what about—"

POOF!

Kakashi had already disappeared, and left Kaede with that one question: was her brother or sister dead or not? And why wouldn't he just tell her?

Going to the Hogake's office was tough for Kaede. It used to be her father's office. She couldn't remember having been here when she was little, but the idea made her feel a little sad.

She knocked and immediately heard someone from inside reply: "Come in."

After opening the door, Kaede found a middle-aged woman with light blonde hair sitting behind the big desk, and a younger woman with dark, short hair and a little pig in her arms standing next to the desk.

"E-excuse me," stuttered Kaede while entering the room. She was about to face the Fifth Hokage: her father's successor.

"And who might you be?" asked Tsunade.

"I'm… I'm… Michiko," stuttered Kaede. A shy blush crept up her cheeks. She bowed deeply and said: "Pleased to meet you, Hokage-sama."

"Michiko?" repeated Tsunade. So that was Kaede. Tsunade wondered why she gave her a false name. "Where are you from… 'Michiko'?" she asked.

"I… err…" stuttered Kaede. "I'm not exactly from anywhere. I've travelled all my life."

"But you must have started somewhere," insisted Tsunade stubbornly.

"Yes, but I… can't remember," lied Kaede.

"I see," said Tsunade. She was silent for a few seconds and observed her. She did have some resemblance of Minato and Kushina.

"So, why are you here?" she asked.

"I just wondered if I could find a place to live here," answered Kaede.

"You want to live here?" repeated Tsunade. "After years of travelling? And why Konoha?"

"I… I…" stammered Kaede, but Tsunade stood up.

"Listen," she said calmly, "I can't help you if you lie to me."

"What do you—"

"If you can't even tell me your real name, how do you suppose I can help you settle in here… Uzumaki Kaede?" added Tsunade.

Kaede took a step back. "How… how did you know?" she asked, feeling guilty about lying.

"Kakashi told me everything," answered Tsunade. "What I don't get is why you're lying to me."

"I'm sorry," said Kaede. "I didn't mean to deceive you. I changed my name a long time ago. I came back to see my parents again, but…" She couldn't go on, or she'd cry again. Instead, she made another deep bow, resting her hands on her knees. "I am very sorry! I would never intentionally lie to the Hokage. Please. Please let me stay…" She kept her pose, waiting for an answer.

Tsunade seemed to understand. "Very well then," she said. "I'll have someone arrange an apartment for you. You'll have one by tonight."

So soon?

"Usually it takes a while, but for the former Hokage's daughter I'll make an exception," explained Tsunade. "Welcome home, Kaede."

Kaede didn't catch that last sentence. It was muffled by the thought: Can everybody here read people's minds?

"Thank you very much," she said. She stood up straight and made one last polite bow towards the Hokage before leaving the office.

A/N: Lol, it's 2 a.m. on a Tuesday and here I am, updating my fanfic. xD

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