A New Leaf
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. If you're interested, feel free to check out my other stories. Anyway, I hope that you all enjoy the grand finale of A New Leaf. Happy reading.
Chapter Notation: This takes place one year after the previous chapter.
Chapter 20
Rin smiles as she watches her daughter try to chase Naruto and Sasuke smirks proudly in the corner. Her husband was trying to teach her how to 'outsmart the loser.'
"Men are strange sometimes." Rin smiles at Kagura. "They insult each other, when they are the best of friends."
The young mother really didn't understand the nature of Sasuke's and Naruto's relationship, but they did seem to care about each other. Maybe, that was all that mattered.
"You can't catch me!" Naruto laughs as he runs around with lots of clones.
Mikoto was diligently stumbling after him. She had just started walking and she was rather determined. Rin had to give her daughter that much.
She was their pride and joy. "Loser!" She giggles madly and Rin rubs the back of her head sheepishly at that.
Right. Her daughter really did take after Sasuke. Still, it wasn't as though the girl truly understood what she was saying.
"That's my daughter." Sasuke smirks at that.
Naturally, the blonde makes a rather rude hand gesture at Sasuke. "You're such a Bastard." He also called him that name again and Rin just shakes her head as Sakura storms over and smacks Naruto.
That woman was strong. Strong and a good medic. Though Rin honestly thought she was a bit too abrasive sometimes. Oh well. The pink haired woman did serve an important role. She kept Naruto in line.
Which was good because Rin would have had a hard enough time keeping Sasuke in line. He was such a proud peacock these days. Strutting about everywhere with sweet, little Mikoto.
"She's fast for a toddler." Miroku laughs as he sits down and eats some rice with his wife in his lap. "Not to mention the whole sparking anyone who annoys her thing. I pity the village boys when she grows up."
Oh yes. So did Rin. "That's right." Sasuke nods smugly. "I doubt any stalkers are going to harass her once she starts throwing a few fireballs or Chidoris at them."
"Sassy, you're a conceited bastard sometimes." Suigetsu rolls his eyes at the other man. "Just because the girls chased you around when you were a kid doesn't meant the boys will do the same for Mikoto."
Sasuke raises an eyebrow at that. "Are you trying to say that my daughter isn't chase able?" Oh boy. This wouldn't end well.
Mercifully, Jugo steps in and quickly. The man was truly massive. There were times when Rin wondered if the orange haired ninja had some giant's blood in him, but apparently he was fully human.
Fully human and the group's peacekeeper. "Sasuke, I doubt that's what Suigetsu meant." He smiles at the other man. "Mikoto is a beautiful girl. Everyone knows that."
Jugo certainly played his part to perfection. He also claimed he was Sasuke's shield. Rin didn't entirely understand what that meant or why, but the young woman understood the most important parts. Jugo was very protective of her husband.
"She's already smarter than Dickless too." Sai smiles pleasantly.
That's when Mikoto abandons her pursuit of Naruot and walks over to Sai. "Bad." She taps his face with her chubby little he hand. "Bad." Said chubby hand was now tapping his mouth. "Soap. Soap."
Rin laughs at that and walks over to her daughter. "Yes, he is bad and we should wash out his mouth with soap." She smiles and scoops the child up as Sasuke walks over to them and wraps his arms around the two of them.
"That might be a little extreme though." Sasuke smirks. "You never washed my mouth out with soap and I've said far worse than that."
"Sasuke!" Rin squeaks and blushes as red as his tomatoes. "Not in front of Mikoto!" To which her daughter shoots her a confused look and Rin groans.
Honestly, what was she going to do with him? Maybe, it was time to visit Sesshomaru's dungeon and teach him a lesson. It seemed to work rather well for Lord Sesshomaru whenever he felt it was necessary to 'discipline' Kagura.
Garuda was bragging again and it was driving Aoda bonkers. He couldn't believe this. The hawk was still going on about it.
"That was some good wine." The bird was flying around him smugly. "Thanks for that and isn't Mikoto such a beautiful, baby GIRL?"
The other Summon was clearly bound and determined never to let Aoda live this down. Alright. So he had been wrong and the hawk got some wine. Big deal. Did Garuda have to taunt him about it constantly? It just didn't seem very fair to him.
"You got lucky." The serpent shakes his head and tries his best not to groan. "It was a fifty-fifty shot. Don't let it go to your head." Though it was clearly already far too late for that.
Garuda just squawks smugly in response. He might be a hawk, but the bird was positively crowing and strutting about like a peacock. Actually, now that Aoda thought about it there were quite a few bird similes and metaphors that came in handy during situations like this.
The bird streaks through the sky. "It wasn't luck." Riding high on his victory, no doubt. "It was skill."
Pft. Skill. It was a lucky guess. That was all. Aoda would get it next time. He knew there would be a next time because Sasuke and Rin were very much in love. It was only a matter of time before another Hatchling arrived.
He did adore Mikoto though. The snake just wished that he could somehow telepathically gag his fellow Summon. Then things would be much easier for him. At least that way he wouldn't have to listen to the other Summon gloat so damn much over a lucky guess.
"Whatever you say." The reptile sighs as he stretches out. "We should go and check on them. You know how much Mikoto loves to ride on us."
It was true. The child was absolutely fearless. A trait that she had gotten from her mother and father in equal measure. Such a fine Hatchling.
"Alright." Garuda nods as the two of them make their way towards the group.
It wouldn't take long to get there. After all, he and Garuda were both very fast. Now, if only the hawk could fly as fast as he could run his mouth. Then they'd be even faster than the Fourth Hokage was.
Sesshomaru smiles as he watches Rin, Mikoto, and Sasuke embrace. It was a tender scene and so were his feelings towards the Wind Mistress at the moment.
"I've told mother about our good news." He walks over to Kagura and caresses her cheek. "She was rather surprised, but elated. I imagine that she'll have quite a grand celebration planned for the two of us when we get back."
Inuyasha shoots the Lord of the West a puzzled look at that. A fact which causes Sesshomaru to smirk. It was always delightfully amusing to confuse his foolish brother.
"What are you talking about?" The half demon crosses his arms. "What is Lady Icicle so happy about?" The whelp reminded him of a child. A pouting child.
"Oh that's simple." Kagura smiles at Inuyasha. "I'm pregnant."
That was all that needed to be said for Inuyasha to land flat on his ass and for much laughter to result. Ah yes. Life was good. If Sesshomaru had known this was all that it took to leave his brother speechless, he would have sired a child years ago.
"You're kidding me." Inuyasha blinks in shock. "Sesshomaru is going to be a father? You can't be serious."
Naruto laughs at the dumbfounded look on the hybrid's face. "Yeah. That was about my reaction when I found out that Sasuke was going to be a father." A comment which draws quite the dirty look from the proud papa, Sesshomaru notes with amusement.
"It was bound to happen sooner or later." Kaede laughs softly. "Lord Sesshomaru and Kagura are Mates now and I'm quite certain that Lady Sachi will be more than happy to help with the delivery." That was true. The woman was a healer. That was her job.
Kagura smiles as she leans into Sesshomaru's embrace. His Mate had become surprisingly cuddly since they realized she had been expecting. Normally, the woman was more of a seductress than anything else. That had changed for now, but he knew it wouldn't last long. She enjoyed those cuffs too much for that.
"Your mother is going to spoil this child rotten." The ruby eyed woman laughs.
That was true. Lady Inukimi would indeed spoil their pup rotten. That was fine though. It would give her something to focus on besides nagging him.
Sesshomaru nods in agreement. "That she most assuredly is." There was no doubt about that much.
A few minutes later, Mikoto giggles. "Birdie! Snakey!" She could see them. Garuda was high in the sky and Aoda was coming towards them.
She loved Daddy's pets. Almost as much as she loved Daddy and Mommy. Daddy and Mommy were the best, but they also had nice friends. Nice friends who liked to cuddle her and give her presents.
Well except for the one with the creepy smile. She didn't particularly for him. "Snakey! Birdie!" That was fine though. She'd just spark 'Sai' if he touched her. He deserved it for smiling at her all creepy like.
"Looks like they wanted to join the party." Sasuke chuckles as Garuda makes a dramatic descent from the sky and Aoda barrels towards them.
Daddy's pets were really fast. She was still so slow. It was frustrating. Mikoto knew that it would be very hard to catch the Loser at this rate, but she was getting better. Now, she only fell down half the time.
"Good morning, Master Sasuke and Mistress Rin." Aoda smiles at them as he slides over to Mikoto. "Would Mistress Mikoto like a ride on my back? We can go around quickly in circles and then she can fly on Garuda, if she likes."
That sounded like fun. So Mikoto wobbles over to the snake and tries to crawl onto his back. "WAHHH!" Unfortunately, his scales were a bit slippery and it was just too high.
"It's alright." Sasuke chuckles as he scoops her up and onto him. "I've got you." It was Daddy to the rescue!
Rin smiles and gets behind Mikoto. "So do I." Mommy too. Oh this was going to be lots of fun. They were going to go for a ride together.
"Wee!" Mikoto giggles happily as the massive snake takes off in circles.
Faster and faster. They were going so fast that everyone was a blur. That was what made it fun though.
"Aoda, slow down a little bit." Rin laughs at the Summon. "We don't want to make her too dizzy and she still has to ride on Garuda."
The reptile slowly slows down, but that didn't make it any less fun. This was always so cool.
"You sure she's yours, Sasuke?" Naruto laughs at his friend. "She seem too perky to be your kid. Then again, I guess that it might be Rin's influence on her."
Sasuke rolls his eyes and swats the other man upside the head. "You're such a Loser. I doubt you would even know what to do with your kunai, if you wanted to have a kid." Daddy did that a lot.
They both did. Naruto and Sasuke were always play fighting about something. Mommy always told her not to worry though. That they wouldn't actually hurt each other. Well at least not too badly.
"Some things will never change." Kakashi chuckles as he flips another page of his book. "Sasuke and Naruto will always fight like cats and dogs."
Suigetsu moves closer to the silver haired man. "They won't let me teach the kid how to use a sword yet. So I guess it's best just to let her ride the bird." he shakes his head. "I'm a bit bored though. So what are you reading about?"
That question for some reason causes Kakashi to look embarrassed and Mikoto just giggles as Aoda pulls to a stop. That's when Garuda comes closer and so does Daddy.
"Alright." Sasuke shakes his head in amusement. "Well it's been fun visiting the Western Castle and everything, but we should probably head home. We're trying to get Mikoto to stick to her sleep schedule."
Mikoto didn't entirely understand what he just said. She understood the most important parts though. The one year old understood the word home. They were going home.
"Take care!" Jugo's voice was easily distinguished in a chorus of other voices. "Fly safe."
Sasuke chuckles at that as Rin sits in his lap and Mikoto is placed in her mother's lap. "We always do." He looks down at Aoda. "Make sure to meet us at home. Garuda, you know where we're going."
That must have been true because the big birdie flies them off really fast. "Wee!" This was fun. Mikoto really loved flying like this. With her Mommy and Daddy.
Later that night, Sasuke smiles as he and Rin finally manage to put Mikoto to sleep. "She never sleeps unless she hears a story first." He shakes his head in amusement.
Mikoto was such a good child, but she really did insist on doing things in her way. That meant, that she always wanted to hear a fairy tale before she dozed off. They were lucky though.
Their precious bundle of joy was perfectly healthy and she rarely fussed. Not only that, but she even zapped Sai with Chidoris and called Naruto Loser. Honestly, what could be better than that.
"That's true." Rin smiles at Sasuke sweetly as she kisses him. "She's just like me though. Mikoto just loves her happy endings."
That was true. So did Sasuke. He had never expected to get one himself, but the former ninja certainly wasn't going to complain about his good luck.
"Yeah." He chuckles at that as he kisses his wife back. "I'm really glad that Aoda managed to figure out how to bring them back and forth." Now, they had the best of both worlds.
The world that had given him everything and his best friend who saved him. Sasuke didn't have to choose. He could have his adorable family here and he could still see his best friend and his teams. Everything had worked out perfectly.
Rin smiles at Sasuke as she leads him to their bedroom. "I'm glad too." She really did have the sweetest smile. "Sasuke, there is something that I should tell you."
Oh. He already knew. "Rin, I know." He chuckles as he kisses her forehead. "Last time it was strawberries and this time it's blueberries." Sasuke had already known as soon as she started eating a suspicious amount of them.
His wife blinks up at him. He must have stunned her. Good. It was always amusing to stun the beautiful woman.
"Oh good." She smiles at him and places his hand on her still flat stomach. "Are you happy about us having a second child?"
Sasuke grins and spins her around excitedly. "I'm thrilled. I always wanted a large family." He smirks as a thought occurred to him. "This also gives Aoda another chance to win the gender bet with Garuda."
That makes his wife laugh. "Mmm. I guess that's true." Rin laughs as Sasuke sets her on the bed and she pulls him on top of her. "Do you ever miss it? I know I've asked you before, but you've been in our world for awhile now. Do you ever miss the place you came from?"
Sasuke shakes his head. "I have no reason to." He kisses her and smiles. "My friends can travel back and forth at their leisure and besides this world gave me something that the other world couldn't."
"What do you mean by that?" Rin shoots him a confused look.
What hadn't this world given him was the better question? "A chance to turn over a new leaf. A chance to start over and be whoever I wanted without any judgments." He kisses her cheek. "A chance to find love and to start a family. That's something I probably wouldn't have gotten back there."
Rin sighs as she embraces him. She felt bad for him. Sasuke could tell, but really there was no reason to feel that way. He had gotten everything that he had ever wanted and more.
"I'm sorry that the old world wasn't as nice to you as this one." She kisses his cheek. "Though you know that we love you. You have people who care about you here and in the other world."
"I know." Sasuke smiles at her. "I love all of you as well, but I wasn't going to give up this opportunity for anything. I think that I knew that I loved you even back then. Back when you healed me."
He had been a stranger. Rin hadn't owed him anything and yet, she hadn't hesitated. The woman had shown kindness and mercy to a complete stranger in a land that was known to be ravaged by war. Her heart was pure. Unlike his and yet, somehow they complimented each other perfectly.
"I think I knew back then too." She giggles. "Just try not to teach our children the Fireball Jutsu before they're out of their Terrible Twos."
Sasuke smirks at that. That was a rather amusing thought. "I can't make any promises, but I'll try." After all, Mikoto could already use the Chidori to a certain extent. There was no telling what her siblings would be capable of.
"Good." She smiles at him. "That's all I want. You to try and for our family to be happy."
"I think we can manage that." Sasuke smiles at her as wraps the blankets around them. "Now, get some sleep. If this one is anything like their sister, they'll be kicker sooner than you think."
That comment causes Rin to groan and Sasuke to chuckle. She was so adorable when she pouted. That was really just one of the many reasons why he loved her and it was because Sasuke loved her, that he had been able to turn over a new leaf. Something that he knew he would never regret doing because here in this world, he had found something that he never thought possible for someone like him. Love.