Awakening
As he slowly came to, the scent of disinfectant enveloped him. He felt a strange grogginess, unable to determine where he was. Faint voices and muffled footsteps seeped into his consciousness as he wondered where he was and who was with him. Yet his eyes refused to open, and everything around him remained blurry, his mind foggy. A sense of frustration washed over him as he futilely tried to organize his thoughts. Exhausted, he sank back into the darkness of unconsciousness.
The next time he regained consciousness, things felt a bit clearer. He felt the softness of the bed beneath him and the warmth of the blanket enveloping him. The sounds around him became somewhat clearer: the faint rustling of paper, the comforting breath of a person. A slight pain pulsed in his head, each breath causing a dull, stabbing pain in his chest. Yet despite the gradual return of his senses, he still couldn't think clearly or remember how he had ended up here.
Kakashi tried to remember what had happened, but his thoughts felt like a jumble of blurry images and fragmented memories. He forced himself to remain calm and focus on the present.
Slowly, Kakashi opened his eyes and blinked against the glaring light filling the room. The surroundings were still somewhat blurry, but gradually, he made out the contours of the hospital room. Carefully, he let his gaze wander around the room, his senses overwhelmed by the brightness of the sunlight. He quickly closed his eyes to shield himself from the blinding glare.
Once again, Kakashi forced himself to open his eyes, his gaze slowly drifting to the other side of the room. He fixed his gaze on his father, sitting in a chair next to his bed, engrossed in his documents. Kakashi noticed his father looked tired, concern evident in his gaze. A scratch rose in his throat as he tried to speak. His mouth felt dry, and he began to cough.
Sakumo's gaze immediately snapped from his papers to Kakashi. He quickly stood up and placed his documents on a table beside him. Gently, he sat on the edge of the bed and ran a hand through Kakashi's hair. A warm smile played on his lips as he whispered softly, "You should take a sip first, I'll help you." Slowly, Sakumo helped Kakashi sit up, adjusting the head of the bed and handing him a cup of water that was already prepared.
Kakashi cautiously sipped the water his father offered him. Once he had drunk enough, Sakumo gently set the cup aside. Slowly, Kakashi let himself sink back onto his pillow with his father's support. A slightly pained expression crossed his features, and he hugged his chest with one arm. He looked at his father, who looked at him reassuringly, and asked in a slightly hoarse voice, "What happened, Dad?"
Sakumo took a deep breath before gently placing a hand on Kakashi's head and carefully stroking his hair. "Try to remember. You were on a mission with Minato when you were suddenly attacked."
An expression of astonishment appeared on Kakashi's face as Sakumo's words slowly sank into his mind. Suddenly, everything came flooding back to him. The images of the mission flickered before his eyes: Minato in danger, his decision to help him, and then the pain as he himself was injured.
With a sudden jerk, Kakashi sat up, ignoring his body's protests as dizziness and nausea overtook him. His eyes were full of concern as he looked at Sakumo. "What about Minato-sensei? I saw him getting hurt. Where is he?" Worry reflected in Kakashi's eyes, and he was overwhelmed by sudden fear for Minato.
Sakumo gently withdrew his hand from Kakashi's hair and placed it reassuringly on his shoulder. With a gentle pressure, he forced Kakashi back onto his pillow and looked at him lovingly. "Don't worry, Kakashi. Minato is fine. I sent him home last night."
Kakashi looked up at his father with tired eyes, still feeling the tension in his body. Slowly and persistently, memories flooded into his mind like landscapes. He remembered Minato sending him away, only to return. How he had decided to help Minato and fought an enemy in the process. He remembered the moment when he was distracted and therefore injured. And how he saw the enemy who had attacked Minato.
Despite the relief of knowing Minato was presumably safe, Kakashi still couldn't quite believe that everything was okay. He needed to make sure. After all, he felt responsible for the situation spiraling out of control. "But I saw him getting hurt. Is he really okay?" Kakashi's voice sounded pleading as he looked at his father, the uncertainty evident in his eyes.
"I assure you, he's okay. The enemy just grazed his arm, nothing serious happened," Sakumo promised in a reassuring tone as he looked at Kakashi. "He was just exhausted from bringing you back to the village as quickly as possible and then watching over you half the night." Sakumo's words were like balm for Kakashi's anxious soul, and a wave of relief washed over him.
Slowly, Kakashi's mind began to accept that Minato was okay, and he pushed the troubling images from his mind. The relief of Minato's safety spread like a warm veil in Kakashi's chest, and he slowly sank back into the soft pillow. Grateful for his father's comforting presence.
Kakashi let his gaze drop and looked at his hands, which lay quietly in his lap. "How long have I been asleep?"
Sakumo took his hand off Kakashi's shoulder and gently placed it on his thigh. "A whole day. You arrived in the village last night." His voice sounded calm and soothing as he looked at Kakashi sympathetically.
Kakashi let his gaze wander out the window, the warm afternoon light playing around the contours of the landscape outside. Doubts gnawed at Kakashi as he estimated how much time had passed. The sun was already low in the sky, and he could feel the rising doubts - Minato was probably disappointed and angry with him. He hadn't listened to Minato, and he had brought them into this dangerous situation.
A feeling of unease spread through Kakashi, but then he remembered that Minato had been sitting at his bedside. An inexplicable feeling of surprise washed over him. "Minato-sensei really watched over me all the time?" he murmured confusedly. The thought that Minato was still there despite everything sparked a feeling of confusion and hope in him. Kakashi continued to stare out the window as he sank into his thoughts.
Sakumo nodded in agreement. "Yes, he did. He wanted to make sure you weren't alone when you woke up." A hint of pride tinged Sakumo's voice as he spoke of Minato's care. Kakashi turned his head to his father, the weariness in his voice evident in his eyes, and he could see the deep concern in his father's gaze.
Also Sakumo's presence beside him made Kakashi feel a mixture of gratitude and guilt. He couldn't help but wonder if his father was disappointed in him too. After all, he hadn't followed Minato's orders despite promising to do so. "Why are you here already, anyway? You said you were also on a mission." Kakashi's voice was quiet and contemplative as he searched his father's eyes for answers.
Sakumo smiled wearily, withdrawing his hand from Kakashi's thigh as he crossed his arms over his chest. His gaze remained on Kakashi, full of paternal concern. "I was indeed. The mission was supposed to last longer, but we were able to finish much quicker than expected. So, I hurried back to be here sooner. I actually wanted to surprise you." There was a hint of determination in Sakumo's voice before a shadow of sadness passed over his face. "You gave me quite a scare."
Kakashi quickly averted his gaze back out the window, feeling guilt bubbling up within him. He didn't want to worry anyone. "I'm sorry," his voice trembled slightly as swirling emotions raged within him.
Sakumo leaned forward slightly, gently placing his index finger under Kakashi's chin and delicately tilting his head to meet his gaze. A concerned smile played on his lips as he spoke with a reassuring voice. "You don't need to apologize for anything. I'm just relieved that nothing worse happened to you." His gaze was full of love and understanding as he comforted Kakashi.
Kakashi's gaze fell sorrowfully on his father, his words heavy with self-blame. "It was my fault we got injured," he began softly, the weight of responsibility bearing down on his shoulders. "I ignored Minato-sensei's orders; he told me to retreat, but I couldn't just stand by while he was in trouble. But my intervention only made things worse. I escalated the situation. You must be disappointed in me now." Kakashi's voice broke, tears welling up in his eyes as he struggled to hold them back.
Sakumo gently withdrew his hand from Kakashi's chin and positioned himself beside him, gently wrapping his arm around Kakashi's shoulder and pulling him closer. Kakashi sank into the embrace, burying his face in Sakumo's side, seeking solace in his father as he continued to wrestle with his emotions. Sakumo's grip around him tightened slightly, his words soothing Kakashi.
"I'm not disappointed in you. What went wrong on the mission is something you need to work out with Minato. Granted, I'm not thrilled that you disregarded Minato's orders and put yourself in danger." Kakashi tensed, his breath catching in his chest, feeling his heart beating faster as he absorbed Sakumo's words.
But Sakumo continued, "But I'm also proud of you! You went back for Minato, didn't just abandon him. It makes me proud that you wanted to protect your teammates."
Instantly, Kakashi looked up at his father, tears glistening in his eyes. Sakumo's proud smile met Kakashi's gaze. "You're proud? But I didn't listen to Minato," he asked softly, his voice full of uncertainty and tremors.
Sakumo's gaze remained gentle as he gently wiped away a tear that had broken through from Kakashi's cheek with his free hand. "That's why I'm not thrilled, as I said," he began calmly. "But it also makes me proud that you realized how important teammates are. As a father, I can be selfish and simply be proud of my son. Minato will handle the rest. I'm just incredibly relieved that nothing worse happened. That's what matters most to me right now."
Kakashi let his gaze slowly drift downward, biting his lower lip as he continued to battle his tears. He had expected his father to be angry with him for not following Minato's orders. The confusion within Kakashi grew, but at the same time, he also felt relieved. Yet he still couldn't gauge how Minato would react when they met again. Fear surged within him because he had hoped to finally find a friend in Minato. The conversation had started positively, Minato actually seemed to like him, but after what had happened now, Kakashi feared that would change. He felt like a failure, once again unable to make a friend.
He tensed slightly, desperately trying not to burst into tears as a flood of emotions overwhelmed him, which he couldn't process. After a few moments, he found his voice again. "I started talking to Minato-sensei. He confirmed that he likes me. Just as I wanted to tell him that I like him too and ask if we want to be friends, we were attacked." Kakashi avoided eye contact with his father, paused briefly, took a deep breath, and continued. "But he's probably just disappointed now and doesn't want to be my friend. I messed it up."
Kakashi couldn't hold back any longer, and tears flowed from his eyes. Quickly, he buried his face again in his father's side, a soft sob escaping his lips. The thought that Minato no longer wanted to be his friend hurt him deeply. It had been his greatest wish to finally find a friend, and with Minato, he had almost been able to fulfill it. Sakumo gently pulled Kakashi onto his lap, embracing him tightly and leaning against the headboard of the bed. Kakashi buried his face in his father's chest, finally letting his suppressed emotions flow out.
Sakumo soothingly stroked Kakashi's back and rested his chin on Kakashi's head. After Kakashi had calmed down a bit, Sakumo spoke gently to him. "Just wait and see. You can't say yet whether Minato doesn't want to be your friend. You must not give up too quickly. Trust in Minato and in yourself. Talk to him, explain yourself, and above all, tell him what you want to say. You know Minato by now and know that he's not unfair."
Kakashi looked at Sakumo, sniffed once, and wiped his eyes with his arm. Uncertainty pervaded his thoughts, and he didn't know what to say. Slowly, he rested his head against Sakumo's chest again, feeling the comforting presence of his father as Sakumo wrapped his arm around him and held him tight. Kakashi took a deep breath and felt his father's warmth. Exhausted, Kakashi closed his eyes and let his thoughts once again go through the events of the mission. The images reappeared before him, accompanied by the fear of how Minato would react.
A silence filled the room as Kakashi sank into his thoughts. As long as he hadn't spoken to Minato, uncertainty and doubt remained. But he was also afraid to talk to Minato, to see the possible disappointment in his eyes. He quickly shook off the thought and spoke tiredly to his father. "When can I go home? I really need to talk to Minato-sensei and apologize." Kakashi felt his heart beating faster as he waited for his father's response.
"Today you'll have to stay here, we're not discussing that. If everything is fine tomorrow, you can go home. But for the next two weeks, you need to rest. I want you to follow all instructions. It's important that you fully rest. Minato isn't going anywhere," Sakumo replied in a serious tone. Kakashi sighed in frustration at his father's response. He would have preferred to leave immediately to have the conversation with Minato. But when his father spoke to him in this tone, Kakashi knew there was no room for discussion.
If he was honest with himself, he still felt weak. He also still had some pain. Above all, he enjoyed being with his father and cuddling with him. It helped him to forget the horrors of the mission a little. Not only had he disappointed Minato and felt responsible for the way their mission had ended, but he was also disappointed that he couldn't complete the mission. It made him worry whether the Hokage would give him more missions. And the thought of the enemy he had killed kept coming back to his mind. But he pushed that thought away. He was a shinobi now, even though a strange feeling spread within him, he simply ignored it.
Kakashi felt himself slowly being drawn into the spell of sleep. Sakumo's soothing hand continued to circle over his back, a gentle oasis of calm amidst the storm of his thoughts. In his daze, he barely registered how Sakumo kissed his silver hair and whispered lovingly, "Sleep, pup! I'm here with you, watching over you. I love you, Kashi!" With these words, darkness enveloped him, and he fell into a peaceful sleep, comforted by the knowledge that his father was watching over him and providing him with a sense of security.