153 Baa-chan - 8

It was drizzling lightly that day. The sky was gray and empty and not many people had come to honor Semi, something that had troubled Sato. Had all of her friends disappeared that day? Or were they too overcome with grief to face the truth?

'I won't run from the truth.'

He remembered standing under a big umbrella with Tama, and the way her hair had been tied up with ribbons. His mother had loved when her hair was tied up pretty, so she did it that day and the days that followed.

Most of all, he remembered the way Tama held his hand.

He wanted her to but he didn't ask. Then like magic, during the service, their fingers were laced and his chest felt far less heavy.

Sato stared at the shrine dedicated to his mother and he felt that pieces of him had broken off and crumbled away since her death. He knew he'd never feel whole again no matter what he did.

He watched Tama's parents and her uncle leave white flowers on the memorial. At least they would remember her too, remember how wonderful she was.

'I won't forget you.'

When it had ended Sato had been invited to spend the rest of the day with the Maito family so they could comfort him and offer their condolences. Before he left with them Kakashi had gently pulled him aside. Sato had been annoyed that he didn't have an umbrella with him, "I don't want to get wet, please."

To compensate they took shelter from the light rain beneath a leafy tree that provided some cover from the drizzle.

"Can you see?"

Sato looked up at his taller relative, frowning, "See what, Kakashi?"

The jounin kneeled down to be level with him and it was then he finally noticed he had pulled his mask down, giving him a clear view of his face.

The boy's surprise was not well-hidden. Kakashi didn't look like he had imagined him to. His face was rather plain but with clear, pale skin and his mouth was drawn into a dispirited frown.

"You look like mom." Sato pointed out, "Why did you do that?"

"Because," Kakashi's voice was quiet, "It's what she asked me to do when this happened."

Sato nodded dumbly, understanding it a little. He felt better after that.

Kakashi stood up again and it had at last stopped raining. Sato walked beside him as they stepped out into the open again and then he paused, curious, "Um…Kakashi?"

His uncle looked down at him when they had stopped walking. They were the only ones left at the memorial.

"Does this mean…I'm going to live with you from now on, Kakashi?"

His uncle pulled his mask back up over his nose and looked up at the gloomy sky, "No."

*

Sato finished drinking his milk.

Pakkun had settled on the couch in the living room for a nap, drained from waiting on Kakashi's requests for the past few days.

"Kakashi?"

He looked across the table to his nephew to let him know he had his attention.

"Why didn't you let me stay with you?"

Kakashi lowered his glass back down to the table, "I was in no position to raise a child, Sato."

"That's such a load of bull shit." His nephew growled, hating the excuse, "You just didn't want to! I needed you!"

His uncle looked at him for a long moment. His expression was clearly visible without his mask on, "The Maito family has always looked after you. It isn't as if you were left dangling."

"It wasn't enough!" Sato snapped and he knew Kakashi knew it too, "You are my last blood kin, not them! I'll be with them for the rest of my life, but as far as my family goes you're all I have left!"

"Things are better this way, Sato."

The boy's eyes narrowed challengingly, "I know you hated my father. Is that why you hate me too? Can't you at least pretend you care about me even a little?"

Sato's voice softened, "I'm always stuck worrying about the day you get yourself killed, because I never really know where you are or what you're doing. But you couldn't care less about what happens to me!"

Kakashi's frown deepened, "That isn't true. You know I did what I could to look out for you."

"So what? You make sure I'm not sick or you'll teach me the Chidori and other jutsu, but you never stick around long enough to hang out with me! In the end you avoid me whenever you can."

Pakkun listened from the couch with his eyes hidden beneath his floppy ears, cringing as the two spoke.

Sato stood suddenly and slammed his fists down on the table, toppling over Kakashi's glass of milk, "Just say it already! You like Sasuke better than me! Is it because he has the Sharingan like you? Or is it because he reminds you of Obito?"

A strange silence followed.

"…shut up."

The genin refused to let the tears in his eyes overwhelm him, "Tama is the one who's been raising me and looking out for me, and it isn't even her job yet! But you have no excuse! I'll never forgive you for abandoning me!"

It was quiet again and Pakkun scuttled out of the room, upset by the shouting.

"Sasuke is nothing like Obito was…"

That was the last straw for Sato and it was then he forgot all restraint. He was tired of crying, especially in front of his uncle, "Maybe…maybe I'll get my eye poked out too and if I beg Sasuke long enough, he'll donate a Sharingan to my cause! Or just kill me and put me out of my misery!"

"Get out!"

"Gladly!" Sato moved back his chair and went to the door, "Don't get yourself killed anytime soon…"

After he had gone Kakashi pulled his mask back up, wondering how a child could tear at his heartstrings so.

The milk that had been spilled earlier was all over the floor and even though his mood barely permitted it Kakashi began to clean up the mess anyway.

*

Three Days Later

Jiraiya and Naruto could tell something was wrong when Shizune appeared before them that morning, looking frantic.

"Tsunade-sama has gone missing, Jiraiya-sama!" She admitted, cross with herself, "I'm worried. If we don't find her soon she may accept his offer…"

"Who's offer?" Jiraiya asked, sensing it couldn't be good.

"Orochimaru's offer…" Shizune admitted quietly, upset that she and Tsunade had hid it from Jiraiya.

Naruto, it seemed, could tell that there would be no use in wasting time, "Then we've got to find her before the snake bastard causes trouble! Why did you let her sneak away?"

"I didn't! She slipped something in my drink last night and when I woke up this morning I couldn't find her anywhere!" The black haired woman explained, the pig beside her grunting in agreement.

"I suspect she must have slipped me something too when I last saw her…" Jiraiya added, following Shizune and his pupil as they raced through the streets, looking for signs of Tsunade, "It's restraining my chakra so it could be problematic…"

Shizune apologized on Tsunade's behalf to the toad sage and Naruto recalled how Orochimaru had caused grief for him before, 'He put that mark on Haku-kun and made Gaara-kun lose control of his demon! Now he's going after Baa-chan too?'

Their first clue that they were getting closer to finding her was the demolished wall and craters leading away from it.

"Signs of a fight…Tsunade-sama must have turned down his offer too and tried to kill him!" Shizune guessed and then quickly collected Tsunade's jacket from the ground where it had been discarded, "We have to hurry!" She turned to the pig next to her, "Ton-Ton, can you track her scent?"

The small pig squealed in confirmation and darted ahead. The three shinobi followed her without question.