The Girl Under the Mask-Kakashi x OC Romance

Chapter 21

"Itatsu, hurry up. We're going to be late!" I tried to hurry him along out the door. Today was my first day of school and his first day in the daycare. And of course, I was going to be late thanks to this boy dragging his feet because he wasn't happy with outfit 1, 2, 3 or even 6.

I thought girls were supposed to be fashionably late?

And yet, while I will happily blame Itatsu, I was the first one to take her time. The first morning without Kakashi was the hardest, and even though it's been a week it doesn't make missing him any easier. Yes, it was my decision to end it, but it was because I cared for him too much.  Doesn't make sense, right?  But to me-when you care about someone so much you lose sight of what's most important-that's too much. So whenever the memory of having had Kakashi starts to hurt, I think of the alternate universe in which I'm mindlessly trapped in a jutsu and my son is dead, and I remember that I made the right decision...even if it hurts all over again when I wake up.

"Momma, I'm rea-y." Itatsu announced as he came into the kitchen where I was. But i was in my own little world, zoned out as these thoughts of Kakashi plagued my mind. "Momma, you okay?"

I snapped out of it when I heard the worry in his voice. "I'm sorry sweetie, what did you say?"

He reached his arms out as his signal to hold him. I picked him up and he wrapped his arms around my neck in a hug and laid his head on my shoulder. "You look sad Momma...you okay?" His worry over me made me smile and I forgot what I was worrying over for a moment.

"I'm fine Itatsu. I promise."

He lifted his head and raised his hand, pinky out to me, "pinky p-omise?"

My grin grew wider with a chuckle, "pinky promise."

*-*-*-*-*-*

"Which way to the daycare?" I murmured to myself once I entered the ninja academy. All I knew is that it was here, but I had no clue where to turn.

"Come on, this way." I heard a voice and looked behind me to find Kurenai carrying Mirai.

"Oh...uh, t-thank you Kurenai"

Kurenai gave me a soft smile. "Don't worry, Ama-" I hadn't seen her since before the big fight, so her use of my real name made it clear she was up-to-date, "-I won't bite." She teased, clearly not upset with me as I initially worried.

"Are you sure? I wouldn't blame you." Itatsu and Mirai started wiggling when they saw each other and we let them go. Instantly they were running off down the hallway, and we followed to keep an eye on them.

"Honey, Kakashi told me about your history with the Keisan and what you did for Itatsu. As a mother, I understand and I don't blame you." I cringed when she said 'Kakashi told me' and she noticed. "And yes," her voice softened with a hint of sadness, "he told me about that too."

"You might not bite, but I'm sure you hate me for that." I muttered.

"Why would I have to hate you?"

Mirai had led the way to the daycare entrance and the two ran in straight for the toys in the corner. Kurenai and I leaned against the wall just inside the door for a moment as we watched them.

"He's your friend and my lie hurt him the most...and then to top it off..." I trailed off, not wanting to say the words 'broke up' out loud.

"As a mother I can come to an understanding as to why you...did what you did-" she oh so eloquently danced around the words too... Bless Kurenai ..."-you feel like your feelings for Kakashi betrayed your duty to Itatsu as his mother." then she sighed, her eyes now looking as sorrowful as her tone sounded, "but as a woman, I hope you don't lose sight that you're not just a mother-but a beautiful young woman that deserves to be loved by someone that isn't three feet tall." We both chuckled at her little joke, the moment lightening up a smidge.