Chapter 13

Carrying

Kakashi POV

I had planned everything to happen in Miyu's party but unfortunately Sasuke's health got in the middle of my plan. One day before the party he passed out in the middle of the street when he was out with Naruto and Hinata and his headache grew so intense that he couldn't take it anymore and just fainted almost hitting his head on the ground if they weren't there to catch him in his fall. His migraine didn't let him out of bed that day and he stayed in the darkness and quietness suffering and quivering in fever and pain till he could fall sleep thanks to Shizune's care. Naruto had promised Sakura and Miyu to go to her party and he had to leave his friend behind in that condition even worried and sad. But Shizune took excellent care of him and we all had a lot of fun in Miyu's first birthday party.

I had to wait two days more to do what I wanted to do. Sasuke had had a very bad experience this time with his migraine until Tsunade found the exact dose of each of his treatments and he got better soon and healthy again. Well, in the level of healthiness he could be anyway in his current state. In the party I had seen the real sadness and suffering behind Sakura's smiling face and I knew that she was still affected by the positive and real rejection Sasuke had showed to their little girl. I knew of the big effort she was doing to pretend that she was fine after everything and that she was actually moving on in her life. I didn't doubt she was trying hard and succeeding maybe little by little, but I was certain of how long it was taking her and it will take to really get over Sasuke (if one day she could do it actually) and walk a path without his shadow hurting and stalking her.

After that afternoon when I had talked to him in the park and I had seen real pain in Sasuke, real suffering in his failed attempt of crying and how difficult was for him to live somehow trapped inside a half world out of reality and control, I was pretty sure of his care and love for Miyu. I couldn't be wrong. I had a hunch about this and I was going to prove it. I couldn't go on seeing Sakura suffering more about this, I couldn't go on doubting about Sasuke's true care about his daughter and I simply couldn't stay looking at that little girl without knowing a part of what was happening in her broken family. I was going to go great lengths to search for the truth at least concerning Miyu and how important she was in fact to his young father and I was ready to take the blame if everything went bad.

Even if that meant that I had to confront each parent by separate and probably hurt them with my acts and words. Or end up hurt myself.

So that day I knew I had to do it finally. I asked Naruto to take Sasuke to the hospital to a weekly checkup ordered by Tsunade and performed by Shizune and I asked Ino to convince Sakura to let her take Miyu to her monthly checkup instead of her. Sakura agreed reluctantly just because she had a lot of work and her mother too. I only told the Hokage and Shizune about what I was going to do. I told them about my chat with Sasuke that afternoon and how he had reacted at my words. Tsunade had been very preoccupied at it. The two agreed with my thoughts and decided to help me. But thinking in all the consequences perhaps I was being a little excessive and overreacting. Nevertheless I chose to do it in the hospital because it was a logical and credible story for the both of them and besides, I wanted to be near Shizune if I was pushed through a window or beaten up.

When I heard that Shizune was doing her checkup in Sasuke and Ino was going to take Miyu to Sakura's mother after being seen by Tsunade I sighed hearing some medical ninja who were walking in the hall I was standing.

"Isn't it funny that father and daughter had their checkup the same day and at the same hour? That's weird… even Shizune thought that. She said that she had programmed their dates in different days to avoid problems."

Well… Shizune had set right the dates in their agenda but had changed them a bit thanks to me.

"At least Sakura wasn't the one who brought Miyu this time. I don't know what could have happened then."

I sighed feeling guilty about all of this. I didn't tell Sakura what I had planned fearing she would not believe me or deny me. But I didn't tell her because I don't want her to suffer anymore. I don't want to see her more hurt and sad. I don't want to give her false hope and faith. So she doesn't have to know about this at least right now. This was something I had planned myself with Tsunade and Shizune's help and I would take complete responsibility for it.

Shizune opened the door of the room where she had done her checkup to Sasuke and led him out of it claiming my attention. I saw the both of them standing a few meters away from me in the empty hall and by the kind and relaxed expression in her I knew Sasuke had done well in it. I was glad. He had been so sick these late days. He was just staring at her coldly like always listening her indications. Then I turned around at the other door at the end of the hall I was watching knowing Tsunade was there with Ino and Miyu. It seemed that the checkup would take more time that I had expected.

I just closed my eye patiently. I don't have to worry. Shizune would know what to do about it.

"Come on, I'll take you to eat something. You didn't have breakfast, right?"

Shizune just smiled happily and somehow nervously while Sasuke was glaring thoughtful at her. In fact it was a good excuse to wait for Ino and Miyu and follow Kakashi's plan. Sasuke couldn't eat that morning anything before his checkup. She gestured her hands showing the way to the silent and still dark haired boy with a shaky smile and after heavy minutes of confronting his black eyes he decided to follow her lead. Soon they were walking through the halls of the hospital in silence. She glanced time after time at him seeing if he was coming after her and thinking in all this with trepidation. Kakashi had told her and Tsunade about his plan and belief and they had agreed in giving a try but that didn't mean she couldn't help to feel so tense and stressed about it. She had felt real sadness after hearing that Sasuke in fact couldn't cry and show his emotions and he had attempted anyway to do it failing. The Hokage had been right in her guess about it the first time she had tested him.

But she was confused and angry at him for hurting Sakura and Miyu without caring a bit. She had to act nice because after all she was a medical ninja and she had to go with it till the end. She couldn't treat him differently just because she didn't understand him or was angered at his behavior. She sighed tired and feeling apprehension when they reached the lunch area of the hospital still wondering why Kakashi wasn't there already. Did Tsunade find something wrong in Miyu?

She was still pondering in this serious and concerned thinking that all was going wrong since the beginning when she heard Naruto calling her.

"Hey Shizune! Hey Sasuke! Over here!"

"Naruto-Kun!"

Sasuke walked first in his slow pace than her approaching the table where Naruto was sitting with Hinata and Lee. The last two looked pretty awful and exhausted and starved to death. She then glanced at the next tables around and saw Neji, Tenten, Shikamaru and Kiba in a table on the right and Shino and Chouji in one at the left. Only Naruto looked clean and cheerful in fact. All the others had small cuts and burns in their bodies.

"What happened to all of you?"

She asked preoccupied and scandalized. Shikamaru narrowed his black eyes annoyed and in a bad humor. Naruto gestured Sasuke to take his sit at his side and Shizune sat down in Shino and Chouji's table.

"We had a bad training thanks to someone who didn't show up."

"Hmm?"

"He's talking about Kakashi-Sensei."

Shizune just gulped nervously after Lee's words. Oh right… Kakashi had abandoned them in their special training this day. He had seen the best opportunity to do his plan today and he had decided to leave everything in Shikamaru's hands. But the little problem was that the training was performed in one of the worst areas of the forest and he hadn't told them about all the traps and things he had put there a week ago to train them. Even for Shikamaru it seemed to have been a lot to deal with after having to give orders to a big group of young ninjas.

"Don't complain about it! You're a ninja or not?!"

"You just said that because you didn't have to go."

Naruto just laughed jokingly and embarrassed at Kiba's words scratching his head.

"Well someone had to bring Sasuke to his weekly checkup. That was not my fault."

Sasuke just glared rolling somehow his eyes at his blond friend. Shizune just watched him serious and sad almost imaging him saying "I didn't ask your help" or something like that. In moments like these he was almost the same Sasuke Uchiha all of they knew before his first leaving of Konoha years ago. After he had spent time with Orochimaru he had turned in someone different and colder than before. And now… he always had that tired and distant look in his black eyes full of hidden sadness. Tsunade had told her that the tiredness in his glance wasn't entirely physical. After hearing it and studying it while she was checking him up she had accepted her explanation. That tiredness wasn't only physical and in fact it seemed totally otherwise.

"Can you treat us Shizune? We are aching and suffering!"

"Of course I can Tenten. I'll do it immediately."

"Let's eat first please!"

They all nodded at Chouji's words without commenting anything with their stomachs growling in hunger. It was the first time they all agreed with him.

"Oh come on, you all are exaggerating! It couldn't be that bad!"

"Oh believe us Naruto, it was."

"If I see Kakashi-Sensei in front of me…"

Shino and Kiba just sighed tired and sleepy. Akamaru was sleeping already under his owner's chair. Shizune just half smiled gulping in guiltiness. They ordered and she stayed feeling more and more nervous with every minute that passed. She even ended eating from one of Chouji's dishes just to have something to do. After 10 minutes she finally saw Kakashi coming with Ino carrying Miyu and talking cheerfully with him and Tsunade behind them looking for her and Sasuke. When the blond Hokage crossed looks with her assistant and friend, Shizune nodded slightly and stood up suddenly waiting for them to come.

And the babbling and chatting of the young ninjas around Sasuke Uchiha died after seeing the others coming their way. Naruto had soon his eyes open wide shocked and worried and turned quickly at Sasuke at his left side almost breaking his neck. All the others were shocked and surprised too. Only Chouji was still eating but slowly watching the scene with attention.

Sasuke immediately got stiff and tense and he blinked narrowing his eyes with a hint of hurt in his face. His expression became livelier and sat there staring at the little girl in Ino's arms with his body paralyzed. Naruto saw him serious and daring him to do something like the last time. Ino at seeing her friends there and specifically Sasuke stopped somehow surprised and worried and turned to Kakashi and then the Hokage like asking them in silence what was happening. Kakashi just smiled reassuringly and Tsunade nodded calm at her.

Miyu just looked the persons around her watching her with interest curious and a sweet face and stopped when she couldn't quite recognize the dark haired boy with black eyes staring so intensely and fearful at her. And when she finally remembered him and giggled happily Sasuke got up from his chair so quick and carelessly stepping back and pushing the chair until it fell suddenly with a loud bang to the ground.

Kakashi POV

We all were disturbed by the sound of the fallen chair. Sasuke was staring at me and Ino and Tsunade, yes, but he was staring directly at his daughter with dread and something I couldn't quite understand. I saw the hurt and sadness in his pale face. I saw him trembling like if he couldn't exactly decide what to do. And I saw a painful fear I hadn't seen before in those black pools of his.

When Naruto was going to grab him by his left arm to force him to stay, Sasuke was faster even in his weak condition and run for his life to the nearest door he could find open. I just sighed knowing that it wasn't to be easy anyway. So when he was ready to flee from us I appeared in front of him stopping his runaway and covering the door with my body and arms and looking calmly at him. He stayed there watching me angry and breathing hard for using to much force that in fact he hadn't in he now and seeing that I wasn't moving from my spot, run to the other door doing an extreme effort. But Tsunade was already there with her hands on her hips daring him to try something with a menacing and serious look in her honey eyes. She was staring at him with intensity and telling him with that stare that he wasn't going to run this time.

Sasuke glared sulking and furious at her with despair in his body and face. He then went running at the third door but this time a somehow shy Shizune stopped him with a courageous look in her dark eyes. His angriness was losing against his desperation soon and he found himself looking around trying to decide what to do next. He then run to the kitchen of the cafeteria and the three of us looked at each other but this time Shikamaru was the one who appeared of nowhere in front of him and stopped his fleeing. This time it seemed that Sasuke was ready to fight him (probably he knew that he couldn't do anything against me or Tsunade or Shizune) and Naruto grew uneasy at the situation.

But Sasuke lost his fighting stance soon after receiving a definite and daring glare from an annoyed Shikamaru and turned around again looking for a way to escape from there. When I saw that he crossed his look with Miyu's innocent one he flinched and he furrowed his brow with real suffering in his eyes. After seeing that he couldn't get out from there by a door he run to the crystal window and I knew he was ready to break through it even if it was by force and if he ended hurt again. Tsunade and Shizune jerked at realizing this like me and I appeared again in front of him stopping his attempt of breaking the glass with his mere body.

Naruto and the others were just watching us wide eyed and confused, worried and shocked. Just Shikamaru, Neji and Shino seemed able to understand our plan. I appeared so quickly and suddenly before Sasuke that he didn't have time to stop and he threw himself at me almost making me lose my balance. I grabbed him by his arms balancing him and I noticed how tired and affected he was with all this. He tilted his head at one side not wanting to meet my eyes. But I could see him really hurting. He was feeling humiliated too, I knew. He hadn't the strength and velocity to confront any of us and he had to surrender this time at the cost of his own pride.

"Sasuke, do you remember what I told you in the park days ago?"

He didn't react at my words and tried weakly to free himself from my grasp.

"Stop this now. You're only hurting yourself. Please Sasuke. Don't reject her anymore."

But he was still fighting against me and I had to free him looking him so distressful and with his harsh breathing. I sighed sad and saw him walking to the bathroom (the only door we hadn't covered) with slow pace. He entered and closed the door behind him.

Tsunade and Shizune approached the silent and amazed young ninjas and the Hokage took Miyu in her arms explaining them what had happened. I just stayed staring at the bathroom's door with melancholy.

He found him sitting on the floor in the entrance of the bathroom. There was a small hall with a corner where Sasuke had sat down with his knees against his chest and his chin resting in them looking thoughtful and sad. Kakashi entered and the sounds of his steps were heard in all the small space. He stood watching his former student preoccupied and then he was kneeling in front of him somehow guilty and nostalgic.

"You really don't want to do this, right Sasuke?" The Uchiha didn't react and Kakashi closed his eye with resignation. "All right. I'm sorry. I won't force you to do it if you don't want to. And besides, I don't want to hurt you. Like I don't want to hurt Sakura either. I care about the both of you. So I won't try again anything. But, are you sure about this? Don't you want to see and hold your daughter? Don't you want to meet her? Don't you want to protect her and care for her and love her? This is your chance Sasuke. Please, think it. You could miss her till now. Don't hurt her with your rejection anymore. You had hurt badly her mother and I hadn't forgotten that by the way, any of us. Don't do it with your little girl too."

Sasuke finally gazed at Kakashi listening with attention at him. Kakashi just smiled weakly sincere. The boy's eyes were glazing and shinning with stranded emotion. Then he lowered his gaze again at the floor.

"We'll do what you want."

"It's better if you take Miyu to Sakura now. I don't think Sasuke will come out if he knows she's still here."

Ino took the little girl from Tsunade who was disappointed and sad.

"I don't understand how Sasuke could do this again!"

"It seems he really doesn't want her near him. That's too sad."

Tsunade just nodded at Naruto who was shaking in anger and frustration and Shizune who was meditating in what had happened minutes ago.

"Well at least we tried. There's nothing more we can do now. This is settled."

"But Tsunade-Sama, Kakashi-Sensei really believed otherwise, regardless everything. He had talked with Sasuke-Kun and he was certain of his intention over Miyu."

"I know. I thought it possible too. But we were mistaken it seems. Like I said, this is settled even if the end wasn't what we had wanted to see. I just hope that he stops hurting Sakura or this is going to end very bad for him."

She added seriously meaning it. She told Ino again to take Miyu to Sakura and ordered Shizune to attend the others' injuries. This was settled. And that was the end.

Tsunade POV

I heard steps at my back and I turned looking curiously at the source. I was shocked and surprised when I saw Sasuke coming our way with Kakashi behind him following closely. The sensei had a calm and relaxed expression and Sasuke was walking slowly and timidly to meet us with his gaze lowered. He was feeling insecure, I could see it. But his hidden stare was full of determination and seriousness.

Finally they were in front of us and Kakashi put a hand over Sasuke's right shoulder in a supporting and decisive way. Like if he was reminding him to act and don't step back like always. All of the young ones and Shizune and I were in silence watching him tentatively and fearing his fleeing again. But Sasuke didn't turn around and didn't try to run anymore. He directed his look at Ino's arms where Miyu was there understanding and calm just smiling sweetly and making sounds and the look in the Uchiha boy got softer suddenly and the small trace of a grin showed up in his lips unfreezing his common coldness and blowing his usual indifference.

I smiled glad and then gestured at Ino telling her in silence to give her to him. Ino nodded somehow nervous still but trusting and she extended her arms with Miyu grabbed to them looking curiously at the mysterious dark haired boy. Sasuke still shy (it was so strange to see him shying over something) extended his own and grabbed the little girl carefully. We saw Ino's hands letting go Miyu and Sasuke's hands taking her at the same time overwhelmed with the meaning and the feeling in the atmosphere around all of us.

Sasuke stared softly and sadly at the little girl while he was carrying her and then she held her lovingly against his chest. Miyu put her little hands on his shoulders playing with his clothes and saying words without understanding and Sasuke rested his face against her little right shoulder carefully and protectively with a lost look in thoughts and feelings we couldn't figure out or understand. But he was calm like I had never seen him since his first return to Konoha months ago. There was peace in his previous troubled expression and the hint of a true and honest smile formed in his hidden lips soon when Miyu started to touch his face smiling and giggling happily. Finally, Kakashi said something that we all knew he couldn't say yet or perhaps never.

"This is your dad Miyu. This is your father, Sasuke Uchiha."

"Are you ok with this?"

Anko looked by the corner of her eye at the pink haired girl worried.

"Yes. I am. I didn't believe it true but… I'm glad that it is happening."

The girl turned at the Anbu smiling softly and thoughtful. Her green eyes were full of unshed tears and happiness mixed with sadness and suffering.

"Sakura, sweetie, are you sure?"

Anko saw the woman holding preoccupied at the young mother. Sakura just nodded and some tears escaped from her control running through her cheeks. She quickly dried them with the back of her hands trying to calm herself.

"Yes, I'm sure. I know that Sasuke-Kun is her father. And if he feels sorry for hurting and rejecting her and wants to love her and protect her… it's fine. I'm glad for Miyu and for him. It's just that I never thought this possible… ever. I wanted it. For Miyu. I wanted her to have his dad at her side taking care of her. And if this means all that, it's fine with me because all I care is her well being and happiness. It's just that I…"

She started crying smiling sadly and contemplative looking at the scene. Sasuke was still holding tenderly the little girl. Sakura was deeply moved by it and smiled inside remembering marveled how sweet or tender he could be sometimes. She had imagined this so many times… she had desired this so badly…

"I wanted it to be complete. This moment, this happiness I feel in my heart. I want to be with them and be a whole family… but I know it's impossible. There are so many things unsettled between him and me. I know that. I have accepted it. There's still so much pain and hurt inside of me. I can't easily forgive and forget. I cannot have his love. But still this is a happy moment."

She stopped her tears and controlled herself and smiled widely looking how thrilled was her daughter in his father's arms. Even if I cannot have him you can my sweet girl. That's all that matters Miyu. All that matters.

Naruto POV

Sasuke holding Miyu touched us deeply. We had wanted this moment so bad since we knew of Sakura's pregnancy and later when Miyu was born. I couldn't help to grin happy and widely at seeing my friend accepting his parenthood and carrying her daughter with a visible and honest care and love. He had softened in a way I hadn't seen him a long time ago. We let him be carrying and holding her while he just looked contemplative and calmly at her. Miyu was talking and saying understandable things mixed with sounds. He started to pace slowly rocking her and suddenly she was giggling and laughing touching his cheeks and hair just playing around.

Tenten, Hinata and Ino were touched and saying "awww" or something like that while they were watching him and Miyu. I felt so happy about this. I was so happy for Miyu and for Sasuke and Sakura. Even when they weren't together this was a great thing for them. I felt sad when I thought how things could be different if everything had happened in another way. I just wanted to see my best friends happy. I have wanted to see them together and forming a family. But this gave me hope nonetheless. If Sasuke had taken this step and accept finally the fact that he was the father of Miyu, probably one fine day he could ask Sakura's forgiveness and start to fall in love with her. That was my wish for them. Truly and deeply, sincerely.

"Where's Kakashi-Sensei and Tsunade-Sama?"

I noticed that they weren't there. I hadn't seen them going. Shizune just smiling glad answered Lee's question.

"They had something to do. They'll return in a moment, I'm sure."

I nodded still smiling excited like an idiot and Hinata embraced me shining with my own bliss. We looked at Sasuke carrying Miyu and rocking her in his arms while she was falling sleep and kept her big and onyx eyes slowly closing fixed kindly in her father's face.

Sakura POV

"You can hit me or punch me or even be terrible mad at me."

I denied it shocking my head and staring calmly at my former sensei.

"I was very angry at you before, Kakashi-Sensei. I came with fury and chakra filling my fists but when I saw Sasuke-Kun getting near Miyu I just… put it at side. You deserved to be beaten to death but I'll forgive you. Just this time."

"Ah ah I feel better after hearing that. I know I was meddling with your life and your daughters' and even with Sasuke's but I had to know the truth. Don't you too?"

I nodded silently thinking it. I have considered before this when Naruto took Miyu to meet his father. That time he had rejected her with all his might and I had ended thinking that he really didn't care a bit about her. I had always thought that perhaps he did care a little and he had his own reasons to avoid and reject Miyu but that afternoon when Naruto told me what had happened I erased that thought from my mind feeling my fragile hope broken. I have found resignation and acceptance in every thing related to Sasuke-Kun with a lot of pain and effort and lecturing myself over an over. I had decided to never give him again another chance to ask forgiveness to his own daughter. I had took my grudge as a sword and my resentment as a shield to protect myself from him and give me reason enough to maintain him away from Miyu. My mind repeated me that he hadn't cared about her since her conception. And that was strong enough to never give him another opportunity to compensate her even if he came in his knees asking her forgiveness and love after years and years.

I still felt angry somehow. I felt anger at seeing him holding her and carrying her after what he had done and said concerning her. Looking at him now I knew he was acting sincere and he wasn't pretending or lying in any way. I could see it. He was being honest. And that created in me ambivalent feelings of resentment and happiness. Resentment seeing him like that and possibly forgetting all he did and said and happiness seeing him like that and possibly feeling guilty and truly sorry after all he did and said.

But I knew he cared and loved her in his own mysterious way. I saw it in the way he held her and carried her and rocked her in his arms so protectively and lovingly in his own stoic way. A painful doubt assaulted me remembering how he had acted the second time we met in the forest of Konoha and we made love all night long. I had told him I was pregnant with his child and he had made love to me in a way I hadn't recognized the first time we were together and had surprised and moved me. And in that time he was lying. He had accepted his pretense with his mean and harsh words. He had been sweet and gentle and he told me straight in my face that it was only fun and sex to him and the worst part was that I had believed in him.

Can I trust and believe in him now seeing him with Miyu? Were his care and love, protection and behavior true? How can I know it? I was easily fooled before in his arms while we were doing it behind the starry night. Was he fooling me, us, again?

Somehow when I watched him in silence pondering about and falling again in love with him at merely staring his silhouette and rocking our daughter in his embrace I knew that this time he wasn't acting. I knew it. How? I don't exactly know. I knew that what he felt about Miyu in this moment was pure and true, sincere and deep and it was probably because he wanted a family after all and against all odds. One of his goals was to revive his clan. Maybe that brought out his paternal feelings. Either way or other I had to accept it. I could fight with my inner self screaming madly and angrily at him just because now he was acting like a loving father but he wasn't there since the beginning. That was what it was bothering and hurting me still. He wasn't there since the beginning. That's why I feel so angry still. He didn't want her at first and now he is taking care of her. I couldn't help to feel mean and guilty feeling and thinking this.

But I felt true glad and happiness and my heart was touched too at seeing him with her like that. He had recognized and accepted her and Miyu would have his father after all. And secretly I felt that if he had proclaimed himself his father was somehow a way of accepting what had happened between us and recognized me as the mother of his child and the woman who was the first one in his life. I knew this sounded egoistic but I couldn't help to feel good about it. I half smiled despised at myself judging my thoughts. In proclaiming himself father of Miyu he had proclaimed our sort of relationship even if it was loveless and unplanned.

Was I so sad and pathetic that I wanted even that little and stupid part for me?

"It's ok Sakura. You don't have to feel delighted with this."

Tsunade-Sensei was looking at me worried and serious like if she had read my mind. I felt ashamed and just nodded lowering my gaze to the ground where there was grass. We were at the hospital's garden. My mother and I had sat down on a bench with Anko and then the Hokage and Kakashi-Sensei met us there. I had come to the hospital when I heard the rumor of Sasuke-Kun being there too. I was so scared and infuriated with the notice. Scared of him hurting and rejecting her again. Infuriated at seeing him near her. My mother met me in my way here and after I hardly explained why I had left the job she decided to come along with me feeling deeply concerned at me.

"It's perfectly healthy and normal to be still angry at Sasuke. Really. You don't have to be so hard on yourself. Just live your emotions as they are. Only in that way you would find your own peace of mind. You are deeply hurt and pained because of him. He acted wrong with you. You have all the reason to feel anger and fury against him."

My mother took my hands in hers caressing them softly and looking suffering and worried at me. Anko and Kakashi-Sensei were in silence watching me concerned and understanding.

"I know Tsunade-Sensei. That's why I cannot see him or be in proximity with him. Because I feel the anger and resentment, this grudge inside of me. And he doesn't care. He hadn't done anything to show me that he cared about me and how much he hurt me. And I feel this love too so strong fighting against all this. And I know that if I see him or had him near me I don't know what could happen. That's why I keep my distance. I'm not asking his love and I'm not even hoping for him to feel sorry. But I have to separate this conflict between us from our roles as Miyu's parents and it's difficult. She doesn't have to pay for our problems. If I love her and he does it too, that's all that matters. If he doesn't hurt her or reject her again, then she will have him as his father."

"You're so strong and had grown up with all this. I'm proud of you. And all of us are. You are separating things and seeing everything as the young and mature woman you are."

My mother just smiled proudly at me. She was right. I was trying to separate things. That's why I wasn't angry at Naruto for living with him, that's why I wasn't angry because all of them were trying to support him and me at the same time and that's why I wasn't totally angry right now at seeing him being actually a father to Miyu.

"Still Sakura, you're right in saying he doesn't care about the damage he had done to you. I hadn't forgotten that by the way."

Kakashi just said it really meaning it and I just blinked confused and somehow wondering about his words. He had forced Sasuke-Kun to act as a father already. By the look of the Hokage I knew she felt the same way.

"Sasuke needs to apologize to you Sakura. Now that he's better."

"Please don't force him. I don't want anymore lies and pretense. I prefer his honesty even if it's cruel than a false apologize or sorry. And besides Miyu is first in all this mess. I don't want to ruin everything just in my own behalf."

"As good hearted as always, Sakura."

Tsunade-Sensei just sighed smiling knowingly at my pleading. Kakashi-Sensei nodded still looking death serious, sad and thoughtful.

"I don't have to do anything to make him realize what he did to you. Life is wise and time is merciless. One fine day he would see by his own how much he hurt you."

Those words caused me to feel somehow uneasy but I just nodded pondering about still shaken with everything. I calmed myself after seeing my mother's hands encircling mine and I left my gaze through the glass seeing Sasuke-Kun with a sleeping Miyu in his arms. He looked at her thoughtfully and sadly. An intent of smile was painted in his tired face.

And I wondered why I felt a strange hunch inside my chest then.

Kakashi POV

"That was gross Kakashi-Sensei!"

Tenten screamed angrily.

"You didn't have to put those things there!"

Chouji screamed angrily too.

"I still could feel the damn spines in my ass!"

Everyone stared at Kiba with a weird look. He just felt the red coming to his face and annoyed screamed at them.

"I DIDN'T SEE THE DAMN THINGS THERE!"

I just sighed waving my hands and dismissing with courtesy all their complains. I tried to smile shyly but that made them to grow angrier and I just laughed like a fool feeling sincere sympathy for their suffering. Shino was thoughtful caressing his chin in a knowingly way.

"I never heard someone shouting and screaming so many bad and dirty words before until I heard Shikamaru this morning."

"How troublesome… I shouldn't have asked Temari how Kankuro and Gaara talk when they are angry."

"Sorry boys and girls, it was sincerely a mistake. That space was prepared for Gai and me for a competition. I'm deeply sorry for the disturbances and problems I had caused you sending you to the wrong place."

"You better be Kakashi-Sensei."

"Of course Gai-Sensei could never get hurt in that immense trap!"

I just sighed tired nodding at Neji and Lee who was proudly defending Gai with stars shinning in his black eyes.

They continued babbling and screaming at me and I just nodded feeling sorry for my accidental mistake. I could almost hear Gai laughing in my ear and mocking me. By the corner of my eye I saw Tsunade going to Sasuke with Ino at her side. He looked narrowing his distant eyes at them and I saw surprised and moved how he held tightly the sleeping Miyu in his arms.

"I'm deeply sorry for my mistake. But it was for a good reason, don't you think?"

With that and my dashing half look and hidden smile I left them speechless and meditating it. Tsunade was talking now with Sasuke.

"It's time Sasuke. Ino would take your daughter with her mother."

Sasuke just looked at the honey eyed woman some seconds with indifference and then shot a last sad glance at the little girl in his arms and nodding offered her at the Hokage. Ino took Miyu carefully trying to not wake her up. Sasuke was just staring distantly and empty at her. Tsunade closed her eyes a moment and then just opened them confronting the Uchiha with a serious stance.

"Sakura is her legal representative. You didn't want to give her your name. By law Sakura is the tutor with the support of her parents for being underage still. And she's the one who should decide about when, where and how you could see Miyu again."

Sasuke nodded with a stoic and humble expression. He had accepted her words that in fact where implying something deeper. I had seen through them easily. Ino said goodbye to all of us mocking her friends for their special training courtesy by me by the way and she walked to the exit carrying a sleeping Miyu. Naruto started to mock his friends too and was soon shut up and beaten by all of them. Tsunade left too and ordered Shizune once again to take care of the boys and girls.

I was left observing Sasuke in his still standing and persistent silence. He had followed Ino and Miyu with his dark and tired look till they disappeared at the door and I had seen deep worry and sincere pain in his cold expression.

And I wondered why I didn't felt quite calm after seeing him concerning about his daughter in that intense and preoccupied way.

Kakashi POV

If someone had told us what Sasuke would do days later after meeting and accepting being Miyu's father probably I wouldn't had letting him near her ever.

I felt deeply guilty for being the responsible of it that I didn't rest nor I eat or drink anything while I was searching for him. How did has happened?

Well to be completely honest we didn't expect it in any way. We didn't have a clue about his true intentions. And now this was the consequence of our ignorance and faith in someone who seemed to not care about our feelings or was too damaged anyway to quite act like a compassionate human being.

And I think all this and feel so angry and disappointed, so desperate and guilty because I couldn't find them still.

I couldn't find Sasuke and Miyu.

Yes, he had kidnapped her days later after holding and carrying her in the hospital and now he had disappeared from Konoha with her without leaving a clue about it.

The worst was knowing and seeing Sakura destroyed by his unforgiving, unexplained and cruel act against her. She was torn in pain and suffering, hurting crying over and over feeling a fury only a mother could understand and barely breathing and living looking around like all of us for her daughter screaming and shouting and trying to be strong and have her mind cold and logical.

Seeing her like that was terrible hurting. It hurt us all to our core.

Naruto was the other one who was in a rampage of fury and anger searching for him with a lot of stress and tension inside. We didn't understand why Sasuke had taken Miyu in that way without asking Sakura's permission or communicating with one of us. He had kidnapped her. Sakura had agreed to let him see and share time with Miyu and for some days he had done it right. Naruto brought the little girl to his apartment and Sasuke was able to be with her all afternoon in company of one of his friends in case he suffered one of his migraines or if one of his hallucinations grew worst than already was. That day Tenten and Chouji were there accompanied him and Miyu and he had found the way to knock them unconscious and take Miyu with him and then run away leaving Konoha behind again. Tenten and Chouji stayed in hospital all night in observation even when they had regained consciousness soon.

Tsunade was so affected too. She and I were the ones responsible for Sasuke and the Council reminded this to us judging and lecturing. They were right in saying that we had trusted so much in Sasuke Uchiha, someone catalogued as a criminal of S rank and whose name was in the bingo. We had trusted so much in someone who was a certain nuts case, they told us. We had let him kidnap a citizen of Konoha and hurt others. We had to find him and the little girl and let them take urgent and strong measures in controlling him.

We didn't ask or care about the "urgent and strong measures". The Hokage and I were focused in finding him and by consequence Miyu the faster we could. He had left Konoha with her two days ago and now it was late in the night again and I was returning to Konoha after a failed search. I was going to ask for news and then I would go out searching him again. I couldn't stop. I needed to find him.

I was walking at the entrance of the village when I heard shouting and screaming. I recognized the voice because I had heard it before in the same angry tone discussing and run to the source preparing myself in case it was necessary. Near the principal gate of Konoha I watched shocked and relieved at the same time Sasuke with Miyu in his arms and Sakura's father infuriated screaming and approaching him with menace and a dangerous look in his face.

It seemed that Sasuke was trying to return to Konoha with an awake and curious Miyu carried tightly in his embrace and Sakura's father had met him there by casualty and had stopped him feeling angered at him. I knew that Sakura's father was indeed helping out in looking for Sasuke even when he hadn't reconciled with his own daughter. They were still a few meters away from me and when I saw Sasuke holding Miyu with desperation and daring the man to take her away from him I speed up my running fearing for the worst between two fathers trying to protect their daughters in their own way.

When I was nearer Sakura's father was just a meter away from Sasuke and he had raised his fists in balls of fury screaming still at the boy. I couldn't understand quite the screaming. I saw how Sasuke was coldly staring at him without a trace of fear in his distant eyes and then he bent down and left Miyu on the ground by the side of the way. The little girl looked at his grandfather smiling sweetly at recognizing him and called him "Grandpa". Then she turned at Sasuke trying to stand up and called him "Dada". The grandfather stayed seconds looking strangely and somehow moved at Miyu and Sasuke was left out of guard seeing her contemplative and with a slightly sad smile on his lips.

And Sakura's father took that opportunity and threw himself at Sasuke raising his fists and caught him by surprise and punched hardly him quickly almost not giving an opening to Sasuke to defend himself. I noticed that Sasuke was exhausted and weak and even when he tried to free himself from the man not daring to hurt him he wasn't strong enough to confront the mad man.

I arrived on time when the man was ready to knock Sasuke unconscious and put myself between the two stopping the fighting. This time Sakura's father stopped immediately still with his fists showing Sasuke's blood in their knuckles. He didn't lecture me for stopping him and was just staring angrily and seriously at Sasuke. This one by the way was at my back breathing hard and uneven and shaking trying to stand still and not losing his balance. He was pretty beaten up but his gaze was only focused in the little girl who was now seeing the scene crying and fearful and saying "Dada" over an over standing on her own with his big and black eyes puffy and crystal.

Sakura's father heard her crying and lowered his bloodied fists and looked contemplative at her. Then he turned at me.

"Take her to her mother. She needs her."

"Why you don't do it?"

I asked him directly staring. He didn't say anything and just confronted my half gaze with annoyance and irritation and then he pointed at Sasuke.

"And you I remember I told you to stay away from my family. This is the second time. The third one won't be only a warning, did you hear me?"

After seeing him go I sighed releasing the exhaustion and tension from my body and turned angry and serious at Sasuke who was barely standing and looking distantly and indifferent at Miyu who had stopped crying and walked to me holding my legs smiling softly with puffy eyes and watered eyes.

"Kashisei."

I put my right palm over her little head caressing her black-bluish hair and feeling glad of seeing her again safe. I turned at his father and saw him falling to the ground with his eyes barely open. I just looked longingly studying him some minutes until I knelt beside him and checked her vital signals. His pulse was erratic and weak and his breathing was uneven and harsh. But he would recover.

I couldn't say anything to him, lying weak and defeated there. I just remembered Sakura's pained and crying face and I felt my raising anger and confusion, disappointment and sadness gripping my heart. When I saw Miyu trying to touch him I took her and carried her in my arms protectively. She just looked questioning me with strange understanding and weird calm. I called the others through the radio on my ear with a calm and relieved voice.

"I found him and Miyu at the entrance of Konoha. I need help."

And then I stayed looking Sasuke lying there with his eyes narrowed and open with an empty and lost expression in the deepest part of his inside.