Brother
The wind had long since dried the tears that had fallen from Keigo's eyes.
The hokage's mountain had always offered him the calm and solitude he needed. From there he could see Konoha but Konoha couldn't see him. The view was different than usual, even after a month and a half the reconstruction of the destroyed areas was not complete, the crack between the old and new buildings was visible
"Different head but same place" His head snapped in the direction of the voice. Obito had found him, he didn't know if he had convinced the others to send him or if he had simply run away, but he had found him anyway. There was no doubt that he was the only one who could always find Keigo.
His statement was though right, now he sat on his father's head, it made him feel closer to the man. He had always sat on the First's head before.
"I don't know why I ran" Keigo managed to say. "Well, I know why I ran, I was angry but I don't know why I am angry" words began to flow out his mouth, " I mean, I understand that's not your fault, you were controlled, but it was still you, and I don't want to think about it but mom died because of it and now I'm supposed to live the rest of my life without her and I don't really know if I'm capable of doing it or-" his rant was cut off by a pair of arms wrapping around him.
It was like a memory unlocked inside of him. He knew this body, even if they both were slightly taller, and the scent was the same as his memories, sun and ash.
He didn't know how long they spent in that position but eventually they found themselves lying next to each other looking at the sky.
He still couldn't look him in the face but something inside him had begun to mend.
"I still consider you my brother, even if you don't anymore" Obito spoke suddenly. It was a long time before he found the time to answer, he didn't think he was expecting an answer anymore.
"I do too"
The return home was quick but silent, both of them had emotions to understand and problems they had just begun to solve.
Obito had offered Keigo a piggyback ride, for old times' sake he'd said, but Keigo knew it was because he'd seen that the day had now caught up with him.
The village was now almost deserted, at that hour the only people around were civilians closing shops and ninjas on patrol. Keigo, now half asleep, had noticed several despicable glances directed in their direction but hadn't given it much thought.
His old yellow house was now in sight. Obito was getting more and more impatient to get there, Keigo thought he had missed home. He had an apartment in the Uchiha district but it had never been home, this one and the people inside it were.
They had skipped dinner but neither of them was hungry enough to eat anything.
They were tired.
The first thing Keigo did when he entered the house was look for Naruto. He had missed his little brother even though he hadn't seen him for only half the day. While he was in the hospital dad always took him to visit. Keigo was the only person who really made him calm down, according to him it was because he subconsciously felt the connection they had, the warmth they shared and that had accompanied them with their mother.
He found him in a bassinet in the kitchen. The baby was wide awake and looking at everything with his big blue eyes.
Very delicately he lifted him and brought him to his chest. He was getting heavier every day.
"Meet Naruto, my little brother" Keigo was glowing with pride when he showed the baby to Obito. "You were part of her dream, you know" he spoke softly to the older teen. "Mom's dream was that this child would grow up to have the same values as you, values that you taught me too" Obito was left speechless.
Not waiting for an answer Keigo started to go to his attic. Well his and Naruto's. Now it was the two of them sharing the room. Kakashi's futon had been replaced by a crib. The latter had taken dad's old office as a room. Father had moved all of his work to the hokage tower. He used to keep things in the house because he was trying to spend more time at home, not that he succeeded but still.
"There, there, now hush Naruto, big brother is here to protect you now" Keigo consoled the whimpering child. They were ready to go to sleep but he couldn't find the strength to put the baby in his crib. "Just for a night" he thought to himself, so he tucked them both up on his futon and with the warmth of Naruto at his side he began to fall asleep.
" Goodnight bubba, I love you" a whisper accompanied by a gentle caress on his hair made him fall asleep completely.
In his dreams the sea greeted him.