Chapter 21
He had spent a month and a half locked in his hospital room.
Two weeks in a coma and then a month of trying to put his mind back together.
These were the thoughts buzzing through Keigo's head as he unconsciously followed Naruto as he ran through the hospital corridors towards the exit.
"Come on, a crowd is waiting for you outside" Naruto exclaimed bringing him to the present.
The "crowd" waiting for him were the Nara and Tenzou.
Keigo saw them as soon as he stepped outside the building, they were waiting for him near the courtyard wall in the shade of a tree.
He watched Naruto run towards them before raising his head towards the sun and closing his eyes enjoying the sun warming his skin and the cool air moving his hair.
After taking his moment Keigo headed towards what he considered his extended family and was welcomed with open arms by Yoshino.
"Come on Keigo let's go to the compound. I made ramen just the way you like it" Yoshino said once the round of hugging was over and they were on their way.
"So where is dad? Is he coming here or will he join us there?" Keigo asked.
Silence fell on the group no one dared to speak not even Naruto who was seething in silence.
"Sorry kiddo" Shikaku-sensei told him shaking his head in denial, "The Elders are pestering him".
Suddenly keigo didn't feel like celebrating anymore.
"Yes, those old mummies have been keeping dad in the office forever" Naruto grumbled.
His father wouldn't arrive and who knows when he would see him again, his little brother hadn't seen him for days and they live in the same place where he works.
Everything around him seems to slow down and his feet struggle to keep up with the pace of the others.
It felt like he was trying to move inside the honey.
All the sensations of the outside world that he had missed during his hospital stay were hitting him as hard as they hadn't just minutes before.
The sun was too hot, his now pale skin burned, sweat beaded on his forehead and ran down his back.
Too many people were surrounding him and the sounds were too loud.
He could see Shikaku-sensei's back disappearing behind a crowd of people.
Why couldn't he keep up with them?
Why was his body betraying him like that when he had been fine just minutes before?
Tripping over his feet Keigo managed to drag himself into an alley and then collapse with all his weight into the wall behind him.
His back burned from the friction as he slid down the wall until he sat on the dirt.
Had his breathing always been so labored?
He felt like he was gasping for air.
"Here you are bubba, I was looking everywhere for you"
Naruto appeared like a savior in an orange hoodie at the mouth of the alley.
One moment he had appeared and the next Keigo feels a small sweaty hand take his and a body sit against his left side.
The presence of the hand in his and his little brother at his side helps Keigo somehow, more air reaches his lungs and it no longer feels like gravity is trying to crush him.
Despite everything, at least a couple of dozen minutes pass with the two of them sitting on the floor in the alley.
"I'm sorry to be a bad big brother to you"
Keigo managed to say softly. And he really believed it, what big brother lets his eight-year-old brother console him, after leaving him to fend for himself for half his life?
With a sound of discontent Naruto released his grip on his hand to take Keigo's face in his hands, his cheeks crushed by the grip as he was forced to look his little brother in the eyes
"It's not true, you're the best big brother I could dream of, you're the thing I love most, even more than ramen, believe it"
Keigo's expression softened as he took Naruto into his arms.
"Oh Naruto, I hope you're my brother in every universe"
"You silly bubba, I know you're my brother in every universe"
Ever since he returned home, Keigo felt as if he was always a couple of steps behind everyone else, as if despite his efforts he couldn't walk with the others, doomed to watch them as they move further and further away.
Getting used to normal life again wasn't easy. The days when his thoughts kept him in bed alternated with those when he calmly walked through the streets.
That day even though all Keigo wanted to do was stay in bed and sleep he dragged himself out of the house towards the Sarutobi compound.
Crossing those gates was normal for Keigo who by now wasn't even stopped by the guards.
His destination was towards one of the innermost gardens of the complex, one he had only seen once from a distance.
The Sarutobi altar was already crowded with people dressed in black.
Keigo stood at the sides of the crowd, keeping a low profile, not looking anyone in the eye.
He just wanted to wait until the funeral to say his final goodbyes to Mai and then run away to hide in his room.
Everything was going as he had hoped until a child's cry roused him from his torpor.
Konohamaru.
How could he have forgotten about Konohamaru?
The child who was now an orphan and had only his grandfather as his last living relative residing in Konoha.
Keigo struggled through the crowd that was gathering towards where he heard the crying.
When he broke through he saw the little boy clinging to the clothes of the Third who was trying but failing to console his nephew.
"Konohamaru" Keigo called softly, "Kei's here"
He was kneeling on the grass while trying to get the boy's attention and it was the right choice because shortly after a small body collided with him.
A litany of Kei was murmured in his ear as little fists clung to his shirt and little legs hugged his sides.
He couldn't help but squeeze back.
The ceremony took place with Keigo holding Konohamaru and the Third silently supporting them.
When the time to leave came Konohamaru surprised him with a question that broke his heart.
"But Kei we can go and visit mama right?"
"Oh how I wish we could" And Keigo ran away.
He found himself in the doorway of Kakashi and Obito's apartment. Well what was once Kakashi and Obito's apartment but which now belonged only to Kakashi as Obito had moved to a new house that could also accommodate Sasuke who was now under his care.
It had also started raining on his way to the house and so he was soaking wet as he waited at the door.
The door opened softly and Kakashi's silver head appeared.
He stared at him with one wide eye before opening the door fully and stepping aside to let him in.
"I didn't know where else to go" Keigo admitted.
"Come on, let's dry you up"
Kakashi took him by the wrist and slowly led him towards the bathroom where he sat him on the edge of the bathtub.
Keigo was left alone momentarily only for Kakashi to return with a long sleeved shirt and a pair of boxers for change.
He turned towards the door giving him the privacy he needed to change.
When he had changed Keigo tapped Kakashi's shoulder to let him know he was done.
"Come on"
He was motioned to sit on the sink counter.
Kakashi was in front of him standing between his legs with a towel in his hand.
Before Keigo knew what was about to happen his head was covered in the towel and a pair of hands were massaging his hair to dry it.
His body stiffened slightly in surprise and the hands that were on him paused uncertainly.
Once the initial surprise had passed, his shoulders relaxed and his body began to bend towards Kakashi's until his covered forehead rested on the other's shoulder.
A soft laugh vibrated in the chest he was resting on and the pair of hands returned to the towel to finish the job.
His head had to be lifted bodily when his hair was dry, Kakashi's hand continued to hold his chin as he spoke.
"I don't think any of us would say no to a nap on the couch, Mhm?"
With a sleepy nod Keigo followed Kakashi towards the sofa where he lay down on top of him.
Kakashi's warm arms wrapped around him soon after he lay down making him melt even more into his chest.
Keigo's cheek was on his heart listening to it beat.
As he was falling asleep he couldn't help but think that he was falling more and more in love with Kakashi, but surely his feelings couldn't be reciprocated since that was a normal thing to do between supportive friends, right?