Beautiful Eyes

Sakumo stared down at the small, squirming baby in his arms - thick silver tufts of hair sticking straight up and violet eyes staring at him intensely, absorbing his every move.

He raised a finger to the baby and instantly a small hand wraped around it - the fingers felt soft and oh-so delicate, the baby broke out into a smile and Sakumo couldn't help returning it - though, tears ran down his face.

It should have been a happy moment for the now 32-year-old ANBU Captain - the birth of his new daughter - a continuation of the Hatake clan and a life he and his dear wife had painstakingly prepared for for little over seven months - A sibling to his son, now age six...

And yet..

The happiest moment was shortly turned into the saddest moment as well - loosing his beloved Azami shortly after the baby's birth and his son's proclimations of instant abohration towards the small girl (dispite his and Jiraiya's constant repremention - telling the young and angry boy that his mother was dying dispite his new sister's birth of an incurable disease - that it was the disease, not his sister - who killed his mother)

"My son, have you thought of a name for my new granddaughter?"

Sakumo looked up at his mother- Hatake Fujita - a look of sympathy and pride in her eyes (a very unusual combination) and he looked back down at his daughter, "She has very beautiful eyes - doesn't she?" He whispered out, smiling down at the baby.

Fujita looked down at her granddaughter over her eldest son's shoulder, "So very beautiful - her great-grandmother's eyes, Sakumo.. So intellegent.."

"Hatake eyes.." Sakumo laughed softly and the baby smiled - squirming slightly in her father's arms and yawning, her tiny pink mouth opened and closed as she reached up and stuck her thumb near her mouth, her small hand resting on her cheek as her eyes dipped closed.

"Your father took Kakashi-kun home, Sakumo. If you would like, I could take care of the baby durring the afternoons - until you.."

"That would be fine...Thank you.."

"Ah! Hatake-san, I have the papers you need to fill out for the little one - her birth records are needed.. the other paper work.. Jiraiya-sama has those, he'll bring them to you when you request them.."

Sakumo looked up to the newly entered nurse - Fujita took the papers and the nurse looked down at the baby, gasping, "My God - those eyes! Such a rare colour in Konoha! Truly the most beautiful eyes.. Akiko-chan! Look at this baby's eyes!" She called out and a brown-haired nurse peaked in and looked, "My - what a beauty! What's the little one's name?"

Sakumo blushed and looked down at his daughter, "That's what we're trying to decide.."

"Hatake-san, your father and son are here - would you like me to bring them in?" A newly arived nurse asked, and Sakumo nodded, "Yes, thank you.."

She bowed and hurried off and soon after - she returned, ushering his father - Minoru - and his son - Kakashi - into the room. Minoru was beaming, "So - where is the baby? The one I hear all of these nurses talking about?"

Sakumo stood up and slowly handed his daughter to her grandfather, his eyes widened, "My God.. Her eyes are just like my mother's.." He remarked, his smile grew ten-fold and he coo'ed down at the baby, "Your tou-san going to have to keep those boys away from you - you little looker! Yes he is - and Ojii-san will help him! Yes he will..!"

Sakumo glanced at his son, and smiled at seeing the young boy was trying to hide his curiosity as he side-glanced at his sister, looking half-curious and half-mortified by his grandfather's actions, "So, boy - you think of a name yet?"

"No, I haven't - Kakashi, can you think of one?"

The boy jumped and blushed, turning away and frowning, "Why are you asking me to name it.."

"She's a girl - not an it, and I figured maybe you'd want to.."

"I don't.."

"Oh.. Do you want to hold her?"

"No..."

Sakumo's smile faultered and Minoru looked down at his grandson, "Kakashi - do not speak that way to your father. Of course you want to hold her - just look at her!"

"Ojii-san, I don't want to hold her! She killed my oka-san!"  Kakashi shrieked and Fujita gasped, "Now, Kakashi - don't be unreasonable.."

"No! She killed oka-san! And you all act as if it's not a big deal! I hate her! I hate her - I hate her - I hate her!" He screamed and ran out of the room.

Sakumo turned away from his parents and sat down on one of the chairs, head in his hands. He felt his mother's hand on his shoulder, "I'll go and talk to him.."

"No, maybe he needs to just get this out of his system..Maybe he'll realize..."

"Sakumo.."

"Don't let the boy rule you - Sakumo. He needs to know that it is not this little girls fault that his mother died - he knows damn well that she was going to even if she survived the brith - he knew she was sick and the woman talked to him and asked him not to blame the baby! And damnit I won't have him disrespecting his mother's last wishes..."

Sakumo looked up at his father- the elder man's blue eyes burned with anger as he clutched the now whimpering baby to him, "Minoru - you're upsetting the baby!" Fujita cried, taking the child away from her husband and hushing her - cooing to calm her down and glaring at her husband.

Sakumo stood up, wearily and walked towards the door, "I'll go and talk to him.."

"Alright, dear - if you need us.."

"I know.."

-

Sakumo walked down the halls of Konoha Hospital - spotting Kakashi laying down on a bench infront of the baby nursery - sleeping soundly. Sakumo sat down next to him and ran his fingers though his son's soft hair, "I'm sorry Kakashi.." He whispered and leaned back, shutting his eyes and letting the blanket of sleep fall over him...

..Hours later (or, what seemed to be hours) Sakumo woke up - spotting Kakashi standing infront of the windows of the nursery - looking down at the babies and pressing his face to the window, standing on his tip-toes.

Sakumo raised his eyebrows and stood up, he walked over to his son and picked him up. Kakashi continued to look at the babies - and Sakumo spotted the silver-haired babe that was his - sleeping.

"Minori-oji-san and Kunio-oji-san stopped by to see the baby.." He said at last, his voice quiet and monotone.

Sakumo nodded, "They said the same thing Oba-san and Ojii-san have been saying about her - how pretty she is and her pretty eyes.." He continued, and Sakumo nodded again.

The two Hatake men stood in silence and then Kakashi sighed, "I'm sorry that I wasn't being fair - I know imoutou-chan didn't kill Mama..Mama wouldn't be happy if she knew what I'd said - I didn't mean it."

"I know, Kakashi - it's alright to be a little angry but - you need to be angry for the right reasons, not for stupid ones.."

"I know.."

"Well.. It's alright now. Your mother would be proud.."

"You think? I hope she is.. I hope she's happy.." Kakashi said quietly and Sakumo felt a pang in his heart yet said nothing.

"I was thinking.. Would it still be alright if I named her?"

"Of course, Kakashi.." Sakumo said, suprised at his son's request.

"Hitomi."

"Hmn?"

"Her name - it's Hitomi. It means 'pretty eyes' - Jiraiya told me that.."

"Hitomi, huh?"

Kakashi nodded and Sakumo smiled, "Hitomi it is then.. - shall we find a nurse and fill out the papers?"

Kakashi nodded and Sakumo began walking down the hall, "Tou-san?"

"Yes Kakashi?"

"When Hitomi comes home... can I hold her?"

"Of course, son.."

"..I love you, tou-san.."

"I love you to, Kakashi. I love you to.."