Love In A Mug

Chapter 7

Kiyoshi sat in his car seat watching the cars going by. He was glad to be going home. His mother had picked him up after breakfast to spend the day with him. His excitement waned shortly after they had gotten to her house and she stuck him in front of the television with a movie he had already seen a gazillion times. Movies and PBS Kids were her go to when she was busy on the phone with her friends. After the movies and lunch were over Kiyoshi asked if he could go back home. He enjoyed his time with his father much more because they actually did stuff plus his toys were there to play with. He wished his mother was more like Naruto. He has fun with him whether it wasis baking or making cool stuff from putty clay. He was excited that Naruto and his dad were finally going on a date. Ever since his uncle started working at the café, they would go and visit and everyone was always so nice to him and his daddy. Hanging out there became one of his favorite places to visit especially since uncle and Naruto would always do something special for him. He and uncle were good friends. Naruto had even bought him a cool Thomas train for Christmas.

Cassandra took a quick glance at her son before focusing back on the road. "Did you have fun today?"

Kiyoshi gave a little sigh. "Yeah, but I wish you'd play with me like Nuto." He said with all the honesty a 4 year old could have.

The red haired had never heard that name before but then again there were sometimes new kids moving into the school. "Is Nuto a new kid in your class?"

"No." Kiyoshi simply replied looking out of the window.

"Hmm, Is Nuto your babysitter or something?" The little boy shook his head. "He's Oji's friend and Oji says that Nuto and daddy are going to date and fall in love. Then daddy will marry him so we can keep him." Kiyoshi smiled. Excitement radiating on his face.

The garnet-haired woman tensed at hearing that and even more when she saw the joy encompassing her son's face. He never smiled for her like that, in fact, she rarely heard him laugh joyfully when they were together. She looked back to the road, bothered by the news of Itachi moving on, another taking her place, someone else making him and her little boy happy. "Is that so. Do you like Nuto?" She dared to ask.

"Yeah!" He exclaimed, opening his tiny arms as wide as he could. "I like Nuto this much."

At that, she tightened her grip on the steering wheel. How dare this person worm their way into the life she deserves. Her heart clinched seeing Kiyoshi's reaction. "Why sweetheart?" She tentatively asked.

"Nuto is pretty. We make cookies together at Oji's job. We play fun games too. And share candy." The child rants on and on.

"Oh." She said not bothering to look into the mirror. She let her son babble on and on about this person until they were pulling into the driveway.

Itachi was waiting outside as usual making his way to the car before she had it in park. She hadn't stepped foot in the house since the divorce. Itachi either brought Kiyoshi to her place or met her outside when she would pick him up. Could it be because of this Nuto person? But there was never any mention of someone in his life since she had walked out on him with Randal.

Itachi smiled when Kiyoshi came into view. "Hey, son." He said, helping him out of the car and kissing his head. Itachi nodded thanks to her before walking towards the house.

Cassandra hesitated bitting her lip before rolling down the window and calling out for the Uchiha who was almost halfway up the walk. Itachi paused and gave her a bored look.

"We need to talk." She said.

He looked at her in confusion then sighed. It could be important but he doubted it was. "Kiyoshi why don't you head on in. Grandpa and Uncle Sasuke are inside."

Joy bloomsed on the little face. "Really?" Itachi nodded in confirmation.

"Go say, hi. I'll be right there."

Kiyoshi wasted not time running the rest of the way towards the house tripping every once in a while.

"Be careful." Itachi called in a half -hearted scold, a smile evident in his tone. It was only when the little boy was inside he turned to the woman.  "What is it, Cassandra?" He asked in a monotonous voice.

She studied him for a brief moment before plunging in, "Who's Nuto?"

The shocked expression on the paler's face clarified her fears. The blatant truth was that there was another person in his life.

Itachi narrowed his eyes. "I don't see where it's any of your business." Was his cold response.

She glared at him. "It is my business when your "flings" are hanging around 'my son'." She countered with emphasis on the word son.

Itachi chuckled darkly. "That's rich coming from you." He didn't bother denying or confirming her accusations. "When has Kiyoshi's welfare ever been important to you?" Itachi inquired seriously. All he ever wanted for his son was to have parents take a sincere interest in him even if they weren't together. But everyone knew Cassandra was only interested in herself, using Kiyoshi to make herself look good in the eyes of her friends and colleagues.

"Of course I care about Kiyoshi's welfare." She said as though she was insulted Itachi could even think she didn't love her child. "I'm his mother. And he's my child. And I say I don't feel comfortable with the idea of your love interests being around my son."

"You should be careful using that term freely in regards to me and think about what you do ion your spare time." Itachi chided sarcastically, turning his head to the side and slightly throwing it back before turning his attention back to her. "You can be amusing you know that." It wasn't a question. "Yet we all know that you have no problem with having your 'dates' over when Kiyoshi is conveniently visiting." He sneered in a low voice.

She coiled at his words. It irritatesd her that Itachi seemsed to know more about what iwas going on in her personal life than she did about his.

"And half of the time he's not even with you when he is supposed to be visiting you." He pointed out.

Cassandra glared at the Uchiha who was now standing with his arms crossed over his chest and his silky ink hair bellowing in the breeze. She had to admit Itachi was drop-dead gorgeous and sometimes she scolded herself for leaving him. "Well, I'm busy and weekends don't always work for me to have him and lug him around to the places I need to be." She didn't want to confess that half the time she didn't know what to do with the toddler. Kiyoshi was a smart child and unlike other mothers, she didn't know how to preoccupy his mind with creative learning. He was easier to care for as an infant, eat and sleep. She felt she had more time for herself at that stage. She didn't have to think at all.

"Mother of the year aren't you." Itachi noted coldly. "Doing what?" He asked well knowing the woman hated to work secularly opting to be pampered by a sugar daddy who would have her.

"None of your business." The raven snorted.

"Yet some dievine being in the universe allows you to meddle in mine."

She gritted her teeth knowing she wasn't going to get anywhere hating that her ex-husband always had the upper hand in the reality of things. Since their breakup, Itachi never confided in her like he had when they were in college.

"Let me put your mind at ease since you seem to be so worried. I and whom I choose to date will never be of your concern but I can promise you it will 'always' have Kiyoshi's best interest at heart. That you can be guaranteed of." He said his eyes fixed on hers and his tone dark. Itachi felt petty and added. "And by the way, Nuto's great." He smirked. "Always treats Kiyoshi with kindness and more importantly never breaks promises. Something you have a hard time doing." He expressed studying her with cold calculating eyes. "To simply put it Nuto is more of a parent than you could ever be to Kiyoshi." He turned to walk back to the house before pausing, he looked over his shoulder to the woman shooting invisible daggers at him, "and remember Cassandra, no one cares more about Kiyoshi than I do. So you don't need to worry as if you care. Whoever I decide to spend my future with will be someone who's sincerely invested in me and not just my surname." And with that, he retreated leaving her flabbergasted.

Cassandra breathed heavily. Not happy at all with the way she was dismissed. She stared at the spot where Itachi was just standing. She had to fix this. First by finding the home wrecker that was weaseling their way into her life.