NARUTO: Madasaku - Untitled WIP (Secret Royalty AU) [Part Nineteen]

[moor]

Summary: 
The Wild. Long ago, the power that ruled the earth and everything on it created order and meaning, cycles to preserve balance and harmony. The checks and balances put in place ensured that power would never be used beyond equivalent advantage. Over time, the Wild produced Sources, entities through which the Wild could be channelled in times of need. During a battle to defend their Kingdom, the leader of the Uchiha summoned the Wild. In doing so, another channelled and became bound by the Wild to balance his power. This is their story. 

Content Warning: A/B/O

Part One - The Senju and the Uchiha

Part Two - The Battle [first battle] | Part Three - The Battle [continued]

Part Four - The Secret [first secret] | Part Five - The Secret [continued] | Part Six - The Secret [continued] | Part Seven - The Secret [continued]

Part Eight - The Underground | Part Nine - The Underground [continued] | Part Ten - The Underground [continued] | Part Eleven - The Underground [continued] | Part Twelve - The Underground [continued] | Part Thirteen - The Underground [continued] | Part Fourteen - The Underground [continued] | Part Fifteen - The Underground [continued] | Part Sixteen - The Underground [continued] | Part Seventeen - The Underground [continued] | Part Eighteen - The Underground [continued] | Part Nineteen - The Underground [continued]

• Gorgeous fanart by tumblr users sarcastic-mommy and sayurinomoe!

The Underground [continued]
 

“You’re sure this place is discreet?” asked Sakura, looking up at the last stop on their shopping list. 

The establishment’s elegant signage was lit with subtle lantern light, even in daytime, while its windows were frosted, hiding its mysteries within. Mid afternoon had turned the skies around them into beautiful shades of blues and turquoise. Sakura wondered if they should skip this last stop in favour of returning to the onsen to relax for the rest of the day. She bit her lip. 

Would they be able to watch the sun set from their private onsen, she wondered?

Beside her, Ino looped her arm through Sakura’s and dragged her in by force.

“I promise,” said Ino.

An elegant chime above the door signalled their arrival.

And all Sakura could do was stare.

The most beautiful lingerie Sakura had ever seen surrounded them. Lace, mesh, leather, satin, silk, pearls, inlaid gemstones, ruffles, brocade… it went on for days. 

The girly side of Sakura wanted to run wild through the store, touching everything and ogling how beautifully they were designed and displayed. And the scents! There had to be an incense burner somewhere, for Sakura found herself wrapped in the scents of vanilla and musk and florals, though never overpowered by them. They were perfectly balanced.

And there, in the far corner, was a collection of dusky silk robes that Sakura suddenly needed for herself, at that exact moment. All of them.

Even better, there was a men’s section, too, according to a sign that pointed to the next floor.

There were multiple floors, up and down.

Her self-restraint buckling, Sakura took a deep, shaky breath and handed her best friend her wallet in a last ditch effort at financial self-preservation.

“Ino,” breathed Sakura dreamily.

Ino took her hand and gave it a squeeze.

“Sakura, this is all about you,” swore Ino.

“I want it all.”

Ino laughed.

“Let’s start with essentials and move on to the fun stuff?”

Making a high-pitched noise in her throat and together the women giddily went to work, outfitting Sakura in an all-new underwear wardrobe.

“Everything changed after Yu,” sighed Sakura, trying to figure out her new sizing.

“Ino? I thought you said you’d be by!”

Sakura peeked around the corner of the change room curtain. A beautiful, dark-haired middle-aged woman had joined them. She was wearing a nametag, but it sounded like she and Ino already knew each other.

“Suri! How have you been?”

“Amazing! Is there anything you want me to take to the front for you?”

“Not yet, but you’re just in time. Sakura?”

Sakura waved a hand outside the change room curtain. Inside, in only her bra and panties and the complimentary robe, she felt very vulnerable. She hadn’t had time to get new underwear since her maternity wear, and her underthings were…. deplorable. The plush velvet bench, mirrored walls and thick carpet beneath her feet were decidedly overwhelming. 

“Hi,” called Sakura uncertainly.

“Suri, Sakura is my hottest and best friend. And has multiple men after her. Hot men, Suri. I can’t emphasize this enough. And she had a baby.”

“Oh, Sakura, you poor thing! That’s the best and worst of everything, isn’t it? How old is your little one? Daughter or son?”

“A son. He’s little over a year old,” said Sakura, warming up as she talked about Yu. “He’s so smart, he can—”

Ino immediately interrupted. Sakura had to be stopped early when it came to Yu, or she would forget about herself and how important she was. “Can you help? We need an expert hand and eye to figure out Sakura’s new sizes.”
“Ino, Sakura, you’re in the best of hands,” promised Suri. “Sakura, is it okay if I come in there, too? I have my tape measure, it’ll help us get to your best fit faster.”

Sakura peeked at Ino, who blinked once for yes.

“Yes, please,” said Sakura, sighing with relief and opening the curtain. 

Suri nipped inside the sumptuous room and pulled a measuring tape from her apron. Her blouse was silk and her long, curly hair was pulled back in myriad braids, adorned with tiny, glittering beads. She was beautiful and Sakura immediately felt a little worse about herself, until Suri took her hands and gave them a squeeze.

“Wow, if you hadn’t told me you’d had a kid, I never would have believed it,” said Suri. “You are super fit!”

“Oh, thank you. I, uh, train.”

“With the hot men,” called Ino from outside the change room, perusing the racks. “Oh, this is cute…”

“Arms up,” said Suri. She gave Sakura a wink. “We’re going to make sure you walk out of here feeling like the most beautiful woman on earth.”

Sakura did as she was told and Suri took various measurements, storing them all in her head and chatting warmly with Sakura all the while. Sakura quickly relaxed and even came to enjoy herself as Suri and Ino filled her change room with delightful, fanciful and practical underwear.

“It’s so comfortable,” said Sakura with surprise, trying on the bustier Suri hung on the hook inside Sakura’s change room. There were may hooks, each with labels like, “Definitely yes”, “Maybe”, “Not so much”, “Fuck it, I’m worth it”, “Make him/her pay”, “Just for me”, “Just for him/her”, and others. Sakura looked at each of them and found herself grinning as Suri and Ino hung different outfits on different hangers, depending on how Sakura reacted.

Several hours later, Suri gathered the last of Sakura’s choices and carried the pile to the front, encouraging Sakura and Ino to relax for a few minutes and finish their drinks. Sakura thanked the stars a thousand times over that Suri had not questioned her armour, piled neatly in a corner of the changeroom.

“I have missed this so much,” sighed Sakura, re-securing her headwrap. That done, she collected the almond-scented coffee Suri had brought her and joined Ino on the velvet-cushioned bench. She sank into Ino’s side, resting her head on Ino’s shoulder.

“You just needed a reminder that you’re not just Mom-Sakura, or Medic-Sakura, or Mate-Sakura,” said Ino, waving Sakura’s gratitude off. She sipped her own coffee, her shoulders relaxing with the pride of a job well done. “Beneath them all, no matter what, you’re Sakura. My best friend.”

“Ino…”

Warmth rose in Sakura’s eyes but Ino bumped Sakura with her shoulder.

“We have one last little stop after this, then I promise we’re heading back to the onsen,” said Ino.

“Hm?”

Ino caught Sakura’s wide green eyes.

“You told Shisui this was our last stop.”

Ino’s smile became coy.

 

“Mmmm…. But we haven’t been to the basement yet, have we?”

***

Sakura took one look in the basement room that Ino accompanied her to and immediately spun on her heel. Ino’s iron grip on her bicep was the only thing holding Sakura in place.

“Don’t be a coward,” chastised Ino, dragging Sakura in.
Her face flaming, Sakura clenched her jaw and followed her best friend inside.

“You wanted to learn more, didn’t you?”

“This is a step above what I… many steps… an entire building… Um…”

Ino rolled her eyes.

“Suri suggested that we start over here,” said Ino, pulling Sakura along. 

To Sakura’s relief, they arrived at a series of floor-to-ceiling bookcases filled with books, scrolls, illustrations and all manner of resource material.

“I don’t know anything for sure—since you won’t share—,” Ino mock-glared at Sakura. “But I have a feeling you’ll find this section useful.”

Ino pointed her thumb at a particular book that had Sakura swallowing, her brows lifting guiltily as she looked furtively between the book and her best friend.

“You can’t tell any—”

“I would never. You know that.”

Sakura bit her bottom lip, stepping closer and reaching tentatively for the scroll with the horn and tails embellished on the ends. The moment her hands wrapped around the end of the heavy document, it warmed under her fingers and sent a tingle through her entire body.

Sakura’s lips fell open as the sensation poured through her. It felt right.

“What is this?” asked Sakura, pulling the scroll down and reading the title.

Her heart rose in her throat and her breath caught.

“Consider it an owner’s manual for your mate,” said Ino gently. “Also, I would never judge you. So, this is the right starting point?”

Sakura nodded, pressing her lips together as her eyes scanned the shelves hungrily. If this was her first find, what other treasure could she uncover?

Ino smirked as Sakura’s eyes lit up at the books before them.

“Okay. You look for what you think you need. I’m going to look for what I think you need. We’ll meet at the stairs in an hour.”

“An hour?”

Ino folded her arms across her chest and cocked her hip. “If I leave you in here any longer than that we’ll never be able to carry these home. I know you and what you’re like with your literature.” Ino shifted her weight. “Also, we have other areas of this floor to explore.”

Sakura nodded, her eyes already alight upon another interesting tome.

Ino shook her head and smiled, getting to work on her own research and supplies.

The hour passed far too quickly in Sakura’s opinion and she almost challenged Ino for possibly using magic to alter the time. Then she saw the basket Ino carried along with its contents.

“I… I think that’s a bad idea,” said Sakura, her lower body tightening in recognition. 

The ‘that’ in question was more than generous and weakened Sakura’s resolve and knees.

“I had to guess at his size, but going by how you could barely walk after—”

The slide of his tongue against her inner thigh as he slowly lifted it over his shoulder. The intensity of his eyes as she panted when he got so close. The feel of him against her as he pushed her forward with his first attempt and her cry as he bent up, capturing her lips and soothing her as she gradually opened to him, a little at a time as he pushed inside her, stretching her, her whimpering as he whispered his adoration in her ear—

Her heart racing, Sakura stared avidly transfixed at Ino’s basket.

Meanwhile Ino stared nonplussed back at Sakura’s rapt expression, lost to her fantasy memory.

“I’ll go get the bigger one,” sighed Ino, turning around to return her ‘guess’ to the shelf.

It was only then that Sakura realized that she’d brought her clenched fist to her lips and was biting down hard on her knuckles, her cheeks pink and eyes shining with lust.

“Thank you,” breathed Sakura, finally returning to herself. “Huh? What?”

“That was supposed to be a joke but you didn’t even complain. Lesson learned,” sighed Ino irritably. “And you won’t even share details. You selfish bitch,” muttered Ino.

Sakura’s exhale was a breathy sigh as Ino lifted two girthier models from the shelf for Sakura’s approval. And Sakura still chose the larger one.

“How did you live through this?” asked Ino, half-horrified and half in awe as they climbed the stairs.

“You saw me after… I almost didn’t…”

“It’s rude to brag, Sakura.”

“Ino…”

“Did you two find everything you needed?” asked Suri as they met her at the front counter. The rest of their purchases had already been tallied and boxed up.

“For this trip,” said Ino. “Sakura?”

But Sakura’s attention had strayed to the men’s section.

She sucked her bottom lip. Then looked pleadingly back at Ino. “Could you give me five minutes?”

With a put-upon sigh, Ino smiled and nodded her chin in the direction of the men’s department. “Go. Take ten.”

Sakura hurried off. Soon she was knee-deep in the menswear, lifting things and measuring them with her eye before shaking her head and moving on again like an excited child.

At the checkout counter, Ino shook her head as Suri giggled.

“Is this her wedding dowry?” asked Suri, packaging up the last items. She didn’t bat an eye at the scrolls or other remaining items.

“No. They just wanted to spoil her but knew she would never have accepted it if they suggested it themselves,” said Ino sadly. 

“Mmm,” nodded Suri sympathetically. “Her mark looked deeply passionate. Is it still healing? How long ago? A few weeks?”

“Two years,” said Ino softly.

Suri’s eyes jumped to Ino’s, her expression twisting in sympathy. 

Ino nodded, holding Suri’s gaze.

“You said she had several suitors?” 

Ino nodded.

“Ah, so that’s why the funds came in five different bags…”
Ino nodded again, lifting her own wallet. “I’ll get you my discount card—”

Suri chuckled, waving Ino away. “You’re our best customer, no need. Plus I have your number memorized.”

“Perks,” said Ino, grinning at Suri. She put away her card.

“By the way, I’m not even charging you for what Sakura chooses from the men’s section. Consider it a gift. She sounds like she needed a day away. Also, you just made me employee of the year with today alone.”

Ino snorted under her breath. “Her boys are competitive. Let me pull some money out of that bag. I’ll pass it back to you when Sakura brings this stuff back so she doesn’t figure that out. She’d never go along with it otherwise.”

“You got it.”

When Sakura returned to the counter, her eyes were bright and her arms were full.

“Could I add these, please?”

“Of course you can,” assured Suri, wrapping the items up in fancy tissue paper and securing each with a pearl-topped pin in their box.

Sakura’s shoulders lifted with excitement as she watched Ino ‘pay’ Suri. Due to the angle, she missed when Suri winked at Ino.

“You’re sure you’re done?” asked Ino. She lay out a storage scroll across the checkout counter and helped Suri arrange everything on top before casting the jutsu that would capture it all inside until they arrived back in Konoha. With a poof it was done and Ino rolled it back up, handing it to Sakura.

“Yes. Thank you so much for your help, Suri.” 

“My pleasure, Sakura. It was wonderful meeting Ino’s best friend.”

Impulsively Sakura grabbed Ino beside her and hugged her hard. 

“Thank you!”

Ino tossed her bangs out of her eyes—that was her excuse and she was sticking with it—and hugged Sakura back just as hard.

“I hope you have a wonderful trip back. Come visit again the next time you’re here and let me know what your favourites were!” said Suri, walking them to the door. 

With that the women returned to the onsen where Shisui was waiting for them with supper and their shared suite, each with their own room. The shadows outside were lengthening but the sun had not set yet.

“All went well?” asked Shisui, greeting them at the door to the women’s room. 

“It was the best,” said Sakura, grinning widely at Shisui. “Did you have a rest? Sorry we put so much on you. Are you ready to eat?”

Taken aback at Sakura’s enthusiasm, Shisui glanced at Ino who leaned against the door to their room, watching Sakura fondly. She winked once at Shisui.

“Yes. I chose a sushi boat and extra tempura. Is that okay? And warm saké?”

Sakura clapped her hands, practically sailing into the room.

“That sounds perfect! Thank you so much, Shisui!”

On cloud nine, Sakura surprised Shisui with a quick hug before taking her storage scroll to her bag and packing it safely right in the middle. She was humming a little tune to herself, oblivious to everything but her own happiness.

For his part, Shisui stared at Ino, frozen in terror. This was it. The moment of his inglorious death at the heeled boots of a blond dominatrix, in front of the woman he’d adored from afar.

Kicking the door shut behind her, Ino chuckled and shook her head at Shisui in a ‘forget about it’ gesture. She wasn’t ruining Sakura’s first day off in two years with bloodshed.

“Time to eat!” called Ino, taking a seat at the low table in their shared suite. 

“Kampai!” called Sakura, pouring them each a warm saucer of saké.

“Kampai!”

The trio celebrated the end of their mission together, making plans for when to leave the next day. The village in Tea was only half a day’s travel from Konoha, if they really pushed themselves. They vowed to set off early, for Sakura’s sake so she could hold Yu again as soon as possible. As they rested after their meal, Sakura chanced a look outside and saw the sun lowering, the first hints of pink warming the horizon.

“The sunset!”

“Go get your towels. We’ll meet you out there after we clean up,” said Ino.

Sakura paused, looking at Ino.

“Go! Shisui and I can finish this in a few minutes.”

But Sakura looked at Shisui next with a pout.

“It’s a shared onsen. We’ll all be together, wrapped in towels,” said Shisui.

Sakura’s shoulders sagged with relief and she nodded, going to her room to change.

When her door closed, Ino whirled on Shisui.

“It was all they had left!” he said, immediately lifting his hands in defence. “Really.”

Rolling back on her heels, Ino sighed.
“Well, it made her very happy. Thank you,” said Ino, collecting their dishes together. Across from her, Shisui did the same, reserving the saké and their cups to take them outside with them.

“Did she have a good time? Did she find something she liked?” he asked quietly, half an eye on the door to Sakura’s room.

Ino drew out the moment to torture Shisui before looking up at him and smiling at him warmly.

“The best. Thank you for helping us, Shisui,” said Ino softly.

“It was an honour,” said Shisui, his voice low and sincere. “Itachi apologized that he couldn’t join you. He was very specific that Sakura was to have a break, too.”

“He would know,” admitted Ino under her breath. “But I think the change of scenery was a good thing,” said Ino, looking up at Shisui and winking. They both understood that ‘scenery’ meant his presence on their trip. “Anything familiar from Konoha and she wouldn’t have stopped thinking about everything she has to do.”

“Hn,” murmured Shisui, a soft smile on his face as he tidied the rest of his side of the table. He lifted the dishes on the tray and set them just outside their room so the staff could collect them later.

“I’ll take these out to the onsen, if you want to get changed,” offered Shisui, nodding to the drinks.

With a tired nod, Ino hid her mouth behind her hand. “Thanks.”

At her jaw-cracking yawn, Shisui grinned up at Ino.

“What?” Ino narrowed her eyes at Shisui. 

Her makeup was artfully applied, but Shisui could see the bags that lined Ino’s beautiful eyes.

“Even Ino the Indomitable has a weakness,” teased Shisui, though lightly.

“Hm?”

His smile was gentle as he shifted his attention to the door Sakura was exiting behind them.

“Do you need any help?” asked Sakura. She wore a robe over her towels.

Ino waved Sakura away. “Get out there before the sun goes down.”

“Going! And thank you!”

Shisui chuckled as Sakura hurried outside, sliding the door open and shut behind her. She set her robe on a nearby rock. Shisui swallowed; with the sun coming from the other side, her outline was limned with the fading light as she slipped into the water. When she shook her hair out of its headwrap, it took his breath away.

“Chin up,” murmured Ino beside him.

Shisui dragged his eyes painfully back to Ino and her understanding smile.

“At least I’ll have something they won’t,” sighed Shisui, watching Sakura. His eyes bled red, memorizing Sakura as she rested her head upon her hands at the edge of the onsen, watching the sunset’s dazzling colours as they performed their bedtime routine for her eyes only.

“That’s the spirit,” said Ino. “Now get changed. Don’t forget the booze.”

Chuckling under his breath, Shisui nodded and did as Ino directed.

 

Together they enjoyed their time in the onsen, relaxing until the fireflies came out and the lanterns glowed.

***

“Any sign of them yet?” asked Naruto, yawning as he arrived at the breakfast table the next morning.

“They aren’t due until tonight,” said Sasuke.

Kakashi chuckled. Seated beside Yu in his highchair, he offered Yu his morning rice porridge and fruit, washcloth at the ready.

“I think Naruto has the right idea,” said Kakashi, smiling at Yu from behind his mask. “And someone else thinks so, too. Don’t you? You know mommy’s coming. You’ve been up since very early this morning. You know exactly when she started running.”

In his highchair, Yu bobbed excitedly, reaching for more fruit. “Mama! Mama!”

Kakashi chuckled.

Naruto stretched, nodding.

“I thought I heard him. He was pretty excited.”

“Ah,” agreed Kakashi, relaxing back in his seat as Yu ate his second breakfast of the day.

Naruto yawned again.
“Sasuke, could you please let the staff know that we’re expecting company by… mid-morning, ya think, Kakashi?”

“At the latest,” agreed Kakashi. He stretched out his legs under the table, folding his arms over his front. Then his chin gradually fell forward as his eyes closed. He’d been up for hours already with Yu and had spent a restless night before that, concerned about Sakura and her return.

Sasuke scowled at the pair of them, tossing his dark hair out of his eyes.

“That’s ridiculous. There’s no way Sakura could make it back that fast.”

Naruto looked at Sasuke and shrugged.

“Fine, I’ll go tell them. You eaten yet, Kakashi?”

“Not yet,” mumbled Kakashi.

“I’ll ask them to make us both breakfast, then,” said Naruto, yawning again. “Eggs?”

“Ah. And lots of fruit. And tea. And the custard buns Sakura likes,” said Kakashi, running through a list in his head of Sakura’s favourite breakfast foods, his eyes still closed.

“Got it,” said Naruto, going to find the kitchen staff. “After breakfast I’ll take over with Yu if you want to rest.”

“He may go down for a nap with me if I’m holding him,” yawned Kakashi. “It’s been the only way to get him to sleep all week, with Sakura away.”

Naruto lifted a hand as he left. “Be right back.”
“Ah,” murmured Kakashi, his breath deepening. Just a moment. He just needed a moment…

Kakashi jerked awake as Yu’s porridge landed on his lap, the bowl clattering to the ground.

It was followed by a frustrated sigh.

“Eat,” ordered Sasuke.

Groggy with lack of sleep, Kakashi looked between a stern-faced Sasuke who sat on the other side of Yu’s highchair, and Yu, his nose turned up and his face stretching away from Sasuke. Sasuke held out a piece of bread to Yu.

“Eat,” repeated Sasuke.

“Nnnnnnnnnhhhhhhh,” pouted Yu angrily, pushing away from Sasuke.

“Eat,” repeated Sasuke.

Kakashi blinked, rubbing his good eye, and looked again.

“Eat,” repeated Sasuke, picking up a slice of strawberry and placing it on the end of the bread, shoving it at Yu.

Yu pressed his tiny lips together, frowning, before leaning forward and reaching for the bread.

“Finally,” muttered Sasuke, as Yu took the bread and fruit to feed himself.

Kakashi stared at Sasuke.

Ignoring Kakashi, Sasuke picked up another small piece of bread and another piece of fruit, peach this time. He held them out to Yu once more.

“Eat,” said Sasuke.

“You don’t need to keep telling him,” said Kakashi, his voice raspy. How long had he been out? He straightened up, looking down and finding the mess of porridge across his pants. Huh. That long.

“Don’t tell me how to raise my cousin.”

Kakashi’s shoulders sagged.

Fingers still outstretched to Yu, Sasuke glanced at Kakashi.

“Go shower. I’ll bring up Yu when he’s done and you can both nap.”

“Ah.”

Kakashi stood very carefully, the porridge congealing against his clothes even as he wiped it off with the face cloth he’d brought for Yu. Trying not to be obvious, Kakashi looked around, listening very, very carefully.
“Naruto went out to pick something up for Sakura,” said Sasuke. Glancing away from Yu, he narrowed his sharp eyes at Kakashi, unimpressed that Kakashi was looking for his usual backup caretaker.

“Ah, he did…? You’re… comfortable with… Yu?” asked Kakashi.

“Hn. He’s a baby, how much trouble can he be?” 

Kakashi stared at Sasuke, hard, and blinked slowly.

“Then I’ll go shower. I’ll take Yu after and we’ll see if he’ll have a nap,” said Kakashi, deciding to let Sasuke sink or swim on his own—though he dragged his feet as he walked away, his brows furrowed deeply in concern as he looked back at Yu over his shoulder.

It was some consolation that Yu turned right around in his highchair to watch him go, his own little eyebrows pointed high and his head tilted to the side. Kakashi had never left Yu before with anyone other than Sakura or Naruto. 

You can do this, thought Kakashi. You can do this.

Just as he turned the corner, Kakashi waved at Yu, giving him an eye-crease smile from behind his mask. Yu waved back out of habit and kept watching the direction Kakashi had left in.

His heart torn, Kakashi forced himself to climb the stairs, one step at a time, up to his room, even as he heard Yu calling for him from the dining room. 

“Kashi? Kashiiiii? Kaaaaashiiiiiiiiiiiii?”

His shoulders trembling, Kakashi forced himself to keep climbing.

You can… do… this...

“Kashi…?”

Floating up through the halls from the dining room table, Yu’s mournful voice was confused and lonely. Head bowed, Kakashi’s fingernails dug crescents into the wooden bannister as he climbed another step.

“Ka...shi…?”

You… you… can… make… it…

Kakashi’s highly sensitive ears heard the first sniffle and reminded himself that he was a strong man, a dangerous man, an indomitable fortress of mental forti—

“Kaaaashiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii,” wailed Yu, breaking into sobs that echoed through the house.

I am a monster, decided Kakashi with conviction. He berated himself for the entire rest of his walk to the bathroom while Yu cried, the toddler even calling for his mama as he became wildly desperate for comfort. I am pure evil. I deserve to burn for this, the worst of my mortal sins. There is no molten trench in Hell hot enough for my eternal torment...

His shoulders rounded, Kakashi showered with the water on full pressure to try and drown out the guilt of leaving poor little Yu with Sasuke. 

The shower eased some of the tension in Kakashi’s exhausted body and by the time he was dressed again and back downstairs, Yu’s sobs had subsided. 

To Kakashi’s surprise, he found a battle-worn Sasuke bouncing Yu on his shoulder as he fussed, pacing the main floor. But for all his caustic, condescending comments, Sasuke held Yu gently in his arms, rubbing his back and humming to him under his breath. For his part, Yu’s face was still scrunched up like an unhappy raisin, but he’d tucked his thumb in his mouth and lay his little head on Sasuke’s shoulder, rubbing at his eyes.

Kakashi chuckled as he spotted the swelling at Sasuke’s temple.

“You could have warned me about the kunai-spoon-throwing,” groused Sasuke.

“He must have been very angry for it to leave a mark.”

Sasuke scowled at Kakashi and handed over Yu who was already reaching for Kakashi with his free hand. The little boy immediately curled into Kakashi and closed his eyes, sucking his thumb in earnest. The little wrinkles in his sleepy face relaxed and he went slack, the tempest of his tantrum having worn him out.

“Mah, let’s get you cleaned up for a nap,” said Kakashi, smiling down at Yu. “We want you looking your best when mama sees you.”

“You have all day—”

Kakashi frowned at Sasuke, his shoulders slumping and disappointment clear in his visible eye.

“Never underestimate a mother’s love, Sasuke. A woman will move heaven and earth for her child. You should understand that better than almost anyone.”

He left, Sasuke staring after him.

Half an hour later with Yu freshly cleaned and changed, Kakashi slipped under the covers of his futon. He was asleep the moment his head touched the pillow, Yu spread out like a warm little pancake on his chest within the circle of his arms.

TBC