My Angel, My Saviour

A soulmark is a precious thing.

It reveals your soulmate's deepest and greatest thought of you. Sometimes people have common words or phrases like "My beloved" or "Beautiful".

Then there are some with unique phrases symbolizing their soulmate's love for them, completely unique and special to themselves.

Although there is catch.

You would think a unique soulmark would make the search for your soulmate easier, except, thanks to the complexity and often vagueness of some of these marks. The joy of having a unique mark only lasts for so long, And then you will realize that this would not make the search any easier than it was already supposed to be.

Kakashi has quite a unique mark, or at least he thinks it's a unique thought anyone would of have of him.

'Redemption with a halo'

He never understood it, not even now (especially now) but way back then, when he was just a child. He absolutely loved gazing at the phrase on his arm almost everyday, but it never failed to confuse him.

After all, he was Hatake Kakashi. Already a prodigy despite being only four years old and just having recently been enrolled to the academy.

He was bound to be a skilled shinobi just like his father, and being a skilled shinobi means taking lives and making enemies pay for daring to hurt his village.

And especially now after his father finally succumb to the village's jeers and insults and decided to take his life, And having his son to come home and find his father's cold dead body, curled around his prized tanto driven deep into his stomach. With pools of blood slowly drying on the ground.

Kakashi was never able to wash away the blood stains on the floorboards.

And eventually he just moved out, After countless sleepless nights and constantly trying to rub away the now pinkish yet still present stain on the floor, Not to mention the vandalizement outside the compound caused by angry villagers still furious despite the White Fang already taking his own life for attonement and leaving his son all alone to deal with their ire.

After his father's death, Kakashi was never the same. What was once a child who believed in protecting his comrades no matter what, Quickly turned into someone who was hellbent on the rules and immediately left behind those who couldn't catch up to him.

As time goes by he strayed further from what his soulmark implies.

"Redemption with a halo" the phrase on his soulmark said, with the embarassingly horrible handwriting his soulmate no doubt has.

What a joke.

His soulmark.

His soulmate.

There was nothing to be redeemed, all he needs to do is follow the rules and everything will turn out okay.

He just has to follow the rules, that way he won't end up like his father.

---------------------

His new team sucks.

Uchiha Obito is the bane of his existence.

He is everything that Kakashi hates rolled into one.

From their first team meeting, Obito was thirty minutes late which is unacceptable for a shinobi even for genin as Obito.

But little did he know..

His hatred only got worse.

Kakashi realizes early on that Obito is loud whenever he talks he is always loud which is unfortunately almost all the time, Kakashi doesn't think he knows what silence even means. Not to mention he always spouts off about ridiculous claims of how he's gonna awaken his sharingan and become Hokage,

Kakashi doesn't think the village would last if this idiot became Hokage, Afterall who would want a Hokage that always complains and cries about everything and anything, From whenever Kakashi beats him in a spar to even something as simple as him getting an answer right. As if it was Kakashi's fault that he was such a sorry excuse for a ninja.

As for his other teammate, Nohara Rin. She was alright, nothing particularly worth noticing besides her splendid control over her chakra and knowledge of medical jutsu's. Not to mention she was always calm and quiet but was not afraid to butt heads with him and Obito whenever they were being too extreme.

His sensei, Namikaze Minato is a brilliant shinobi. Righfully earning his title 'The Yellow Flash' with his matering of the late Nidaime's Hiraishin. Kakashi has been with Minato-sensei longer than Rin and Obito and he knows just how intelligent and professional his sensei is whenever he's not being a shining bright beacon of light and kindness.

"Bakakashi! Don't act all high and mighty just because you're already chunin you bastard!" Obito yelled, angry once again after one of their many spars. This time Kakashi insulted his complete lack of tack and his strategy of always rushing in head first with all the fire jutsu's he knows.

Kakashi barely looked back at him not wanting to waste time listening to Obito's long list of complaints all over again, "It's not acting 'high and mighty' as you said, i'm pointing out your flaws that you so blindly can't see despite how many there are"

"Kakashi-kun! Don't be so mean to Obito!" Rin berated him and Obito looked relieved to have her defend him, until she turned to him too her eyes in that scary glare that never failed to make her stubborn boys to behave. "Obito you need to cut it out as well, Even if Kakashi-kun takes it too far sometimes you can't just rise your temper every time Kakashi so much as looks at you weird"

She stood there defiantly staring Obito down to obey to her or else, And Obito being the loyal friend that he was begrudgingly nodded and promised not to get angry next time although he still looked down at the ground muttering something like "It was his fault though.."

Kakashi scoffed when he heard it but didn't dare do anything when Rin sent a glare his way once again, then after confirming that they weren't going to be attempting to kill each other any time again soon she walked away to go back to her studies with Minato-sensei.

"Tch, Bakakashi you got us scolded by Rin again"

"You were the one to lose your temper remember" Kakashi snaps back at him quickly albeit he tried to make it as less mean as usual

Obito huffed at his answer but instead just pat himself down to remove any dirt that got on his clothes after sparring with Kakashi, Then it was a rare silence between them with the only sounds coming from Obito dusting himself off and the 'swish' of paper every time Kakashi turned a page from his shinobi rule book that he always kept at hand.

But then Obito is once again the one to break the silence with one of his usual "I'm going to train to become Hokage one day then nobody would look down on me anymore, not even you" Kakashi barely held back another scoff at that but resisted and Obito looked at him defiantly and his next words surprised Kakashi for once.

"I'm gonna train hard..And become the 'saviour' my soulmate thinks of me as" He said confidently, saying the word soulmate with no shame and filled with pride.

This time Kakashi did scoff, looks at Obito and says "'Saviour'? Really? why would anyone think of you as that?"

Obito grew angry at his words and fights back, louder "I'm telling the truth! Look here!" He then lifted the sleeve of his jacket up and Kakashi is shocked to see that Obito was actually telling the truth.

There on his arm are the words 'My Savior' incredibly clear in the bright daylight shining over them, It was written neatly in japanese calligraphy and just from handwriting alone Kakashi could already tell Obito's soulmate is vastly different from Obito's messy self and he was not afraid to voice it out loud.

"..Your soulmate seems to be way out of your league" Then Kakashi adds "But since they're your soulmate they're probably an idiot too-"

Obito is then immediately in front of him, his face contorted in anger and his hands were holding Kakashi's shoulders tightly in order to stop himself from punching Kakashi and to make him stay to hear what he has to say.

"Don't you dare talk about my soulmate that way" Obito practically seethed "How could you do that? What would you do if i insulted your soulamate?"

It was then Kakashi got his bearing back and roughly pulled himself away from Obito's grasps and turns to leave but not before saying "I wouldn't care, as a shinobi. Soulmates are a waste of time" then he started walking away from Obito but not enough for him to not hear his incredibly loud yell.

"Bakakashi you bastard! I don't care if you're a genius but if keep acting like that you're gonna end up all alone your entire life!"

'Good' Kakashi thinks 'That way i won't end up like my father

--------------------

Then Kannabi bridge happened and Obito snapped at him once again for refusing to go rescue Rin immediately but this time it was different, He told Kakashi his father was a hero. Something he had never once heard ever since his father came home after his failed mission.

Obito said that those who break the rules are trash, but those who abandon their comrades are worse than trash. Then went to immediately go and find where Rin was being held captive and rescue.

Breaking the rules, just like his father did.

And yet Kakashi followed him, and he lost an eye doing so after saving Obito. But that didn't matter.

What did matter, was when Obito saved him in return but instead of just going half-blind like Kakashi, He was actually going to die.

Because he saved Kakashi, Obito was gonna die.

And yet he still gave Kakashi his sharingan and made him promised to protect Rin.

And Kakashi agreed to his promise grateful and wanting to respect the boy's last wish.

So he left Obito's body to get crushed by boulder after defeating the enemy ninja's and takes Rin with him to finish the mission, guarding her with every inch of his body.

'I promise Obito, i promise. I swear i will protect her'

Quickly rubbing away the tears coming out of the (obito'sobito'sobito's) sharingan, Kakashi wills himself to halt his thoughs of the boy with dark hair and a bright smile with a big dream.

'He's gone and it's your fault so you have to do this, you have to do this right, You cannot mess this up.'

-------------------

And then he messed up. He messed up in the most disastrous way possible.

Barely a year after making his promise to Obito, Rin died.

If that's not all, Kakashi is the one who killed her, she jumped in front of his chidori to commit suicide but he still couldn't stop in time and killed her.

It was his fault, It was his technique, It was his hand that went through her heart like a hot knife on butter.

HisfaultHisfaultHisfaultHisfault..!

Everything is his fault..!

Kakashi hears what people calls him whenever he walks in the village "Friend-Killer" They say, and honestly. Kakashi couldn't help but agree.

--------------------

After that he joined Anbu, and shortly after that Minato-sensei and Kushina-san died but not before sealing the nine-tailed beast into their own son.

A son who Kakashi was tasked to protect during Kushina's pregnancy, The son who was supposed to be his little brother. His sensei's son, who Kakashi is absolutely not allowed to ever talk to or care for.

And just like that he was truly alone.

//"Bakakashi you bastard! I don't care if you're a genius but if keep acting like that you're gonna end up all alone your entire life!"//

"Heh.." Kakashi couldn't help but laugh humorlessly. "I guess you were right once again Obito."

About over a decade later the Sandaime gives him Team 7, and Kakashi already immediately knew his life was about to change for better or worse.

--------------------

It seems like it was a turn for the worse lately,

Naruto and Sasuke are absolutely insufferable, they were always at each others necks without fail 24/7. Kakashi almost thinks they're worse than him and Obito back in the day.

'Oh, how i wish Naruto inherited his father's temper'

Then there was Sakura, a seemingly timid girl but an absolute brute whenever she got angry with frighteningly powerful punches.

What Kakashi thought was most interesting though was their soulmarks.

Naruto's and Sasuke had one word respectively,

'Sun' for Naruto and 'Moon' for Sasuke, Really even if they were constantly fighting it couldn't be more obvious what they were. And sometimes whenever the days were peaceful after training and there were no clouds in sight up above, Kakashi would catch them leaning on each other back-to-back oblivious to the world around them.

As for Sakura, she had the words 'My Dearest Flower' and she seemed to always to hang out with that Yamanaka girl who apparently has the words 'Most Beloved Flower'

Kakashi is happy for them, they got luckier than he ever did.

Even at 26 years old, Kakashi still hasn't met his soulmate. Not that he has been actively trying to find them though.

After all, what right does he have? Not to mention if he did meet them, Kakashi would probably just ruin (or take) their life as well. So this is probably just for the better. They could live happily and hopefully meet someone else who deserve them more and someone that isn't full of regrets and failures, and Kakashi doesn't have to go through another precious person's death ever again.

But one day, Naruto asked a question that made him realize something.

"Hey hey Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto practically hollered, raising his hand high up in the air.

"What is it my cute little genin?" Kakashi eye-smiled at the blond, They were out on a mission outside the village and it was thankfully peaceful after all no one wanted another Wave incident to happen again.

Naruto grinned at him mischieviously and asks something that caught Kakashi off guard "What's your soulmark? Also have you met your soulmate yet?" Now this question wasn't that surprising, it was a common question to ask after all. Even Team Minato once asked this question to Minato-sensei and he happily start to brag and talk about his girlfriend Kushina. Successfully taking the bait Obito and Rin planted to get out of training that day.

But it was Naruto's later question that followed, that caught him off guard.

"Hmm, Not yet Naruto. I haven't met them" And truthfully he doesn't ever want to, because that would be a curse for both of them. "Also since you're so interested, this is my soulmark. Be honored i don't usually show this to anyone"

Naruto then playfully stuck out his tongue at him "You probably have a weird mark sensei!"

"Hmm, i guess it is in a way" Kakashi mysteriously said, playing along with him.

"Wait really..! Let me see!" Naruto gasped excitedly. And Kakashi had to calm him down a bit.

"Tch. Don't be so loud Dobe, He's probably just making fun of you" Sasuke chimed in apparently listening to the whole thing, But although he was making fun of Naruto. He too, had a curious peek at Kakashi's arm.

"But Sasuke-kun don't you want to know? Sensei might not be lying y'know" Sakura then told him. And honestly Kakashi shouldn't be so unsurprised his little genin were all a part of this.

"Hey Sasuke! Stop ruining the fun, i know you want to know too!" Naruto yelled back at him with his fist clenched upwards as if threathening to punch him in the face if he continued disrupting.

"Maa, maa. Naruto calm down i'm still gonna show it to you but Sasuke's right it's not that interesting, it's actually kind of confusing"

"I Don't Care!" Naruto pouted "I'll know when i see it, just show us!"

Kakashi laughed at his eagerness and couldn't help but comply "Alright, well here you. Don't complain that it's boring" And with that he showed them his mark, the entire team leaning closer take a look at it.

Sakura blinked in surprise "It's very..romantic, in a unique sort of way?"

Naruto had his face scrunched up after trying to read it though "L-ledempt? wait no it's-"

"It says Redemption" Sakura, god bless her heart decided to help her poor teammate out.

"Oh yeah! I-i totally get what that means" Naruto stammered, his eyes darting all over the place.

Sakura sighs but patiently explains "Don't worry about it, it just means something like, being saved from evil or regaining your goodness"

"Oh..i see, thanks Sakura you're the best!" Naruto grinned widely after finally understanding and Sakura preened happily at the praise "Well, duh. Obviously" she grinned.

Sasuke seemed to ponder over his mark the longest, not saying a word. But then he looks up at Kakashi and goes "Your soulmate thinks of you as something like an angel bringing them redemption or something?"

"I guess so? Never really thought about it much. It was just really confusing" Kakashi rubbed his neck in discomfort at the thought. Him. an angel? there was no way.

Sasuke but sensing Kakashi's reluctance at sharing more thankfully left it alone and goes to sleep. And Sakura soon follows shortly after with her own sleeping bag.

But then Naruto asks him one more question albeit more quietly so as not to disturb his teammates "Hey, hey. Sensei, If you haven't met your soulmate then have you ever fell in love before?"

That was the question that made Kakashi pause and rethink his answer carefully, Of course he could've just not answered at all but still the answer got him thinking. Has he ever fallen in love before?

Of course the answer should've been obvious. After all, even to this day. He remembers how deeply he felt for the boy who up until his death, Kakashi thought he hated but in fact had a deep admiration for because his mental strength and unbreakable spirit that he realized far too late. The boy who's grave Kakashi would still visit every single day, first thing in the morning. Muttering apologies until he lost track of time and was always late for everything.

So yes, the answer was obvious and Kakashi gave Naruto a genuine smile and admits that "Yes, yes i have" because Kakashi is a weak man who would rather deal with his loud genin's interrogations than lie about what he felt towards his saviour.

---------------------

Practically all his life, ever since Kannabi Bridge. Kakashi had always put Obito up on a pedestal. As a figure so bright and unchanging because of his neverending kindness and untimely death still somehow fresh on Kakashi's mind.

In almost all of Kakashi's life, Obito has always been the hero. The one who is always right, The one who would never let a comrade down.

So why?

Why is it that Obito is standing right in front him right now, on the opposite sides of a war. A war where he and his subordinates the Akatsuki killed dozens of his friends and comrades.

//"Because..you killed Rin"//

A war that he started..because Kakashi killed Rin.

Truly in that moment when Obito said those words. Kakashi felt as if he ripped Kakashi's heart from his chest and crushed it with his own hands.

But even then..

Kakashi still would've deserved worse.

Fighting Obito was agonizing, Kakashi's heart has been in pieces ever since he found out that the masked man was actually Obito all along. And with both the grief of finding out his friend was still alive and that he couldn't save him, his friend who he broke his promise to and even killed the girl he loved. Kakashi is now also trying to kill Obito, with the same technique he killed Rin.

And as his chidori finally goes through Obito's heart Kakashi couldn't help but think 'Both their lives are really is fucked up huh?'

"Heh..for once you're right about that" Obito chuckled wetly and at that Kakashi realizes that he accidently said his thoughts out loud, whoops?

"Obito you-"

"Drop it, it doesn't matter" Obito forces out still talking despite the pain he must feel "Once the Infinite Tsukuyomi is achieved everyone wouldn't have such fucked up lives anymore.."

Kakashi is surprised at his next words because Obito looked at him straight in the eye and softly whispers "And in that world...we would have a peaceful life together"

---------------------

Kakashi doesn't know how the fuck Naruto does it.

Whatever happened, Naruto managed to bring back Obito to their side and now they have defeated Kaguya and Zetsu. And all that was left is the recovery of the villages.

And Obito..

Obito will be facing charges for what he has done.

---------------------

"Welcome Home"

Kakashi smiled "I'm home"

Obito lifts his eyebrows at his appearance which was no doubt disheveled "For someone who sits at a desk all day you sure look like shit" he helpfully says, walking over to Kakashi to fix his outrageously messy hair, fingers gently pulling and detangling seemingly endless knots.

"Well, try signing dozens and dozens of paperwork everyday while also attending meetings with stuffy old farts who have no idea what they're doing and see what it does to you" Kakashi pouts and Obito laughs, he laughs loud and hearty something Kakashi thought he would never see or hear again.

After everything had settled, and Kakashi was made Hokage, with the help of Naruto he managed to bring down Obito's sentence to chakra seals that will forever make him unable to use his chakra unless given special permission, countless community hours, and the Sixth Hokage himself keeping an eye on him everyday.

Which is another way of saying they have been living together ever since the war.

"Your not..upset? It was your dream, and i never really wanted it" Kakashi says

"No, i'm not" Obito smiled reassuringly at him and it was so sincere and honest that Kakashi's doubts disappeared entirely,

"I know what i did and it is unforgivable. I'm grateful you all still let me live to atone for my sins" Obito says, with the determination in his voice that attracted Kakashi to him in the first place.

And so Kakashi smiles at him with light shoulders and his regrets and burdens almost finally disappearing altogether "I'm relieved too"

And he really is, living with Obito and seeing him slowly getting the light in his eyes back as time goes by is something Kakashi wouldn't ever trade for the world.

--------------------

Obito silently gazed at Kakashi, his mouth slightly curled in an amused smirk as Kakashi excitedly rants about the greatness of a cheap porno written by Jiraiya.

"I'm telling you Obito, it's way too underrated. Like c'mon, It has an amazing plot and the characters are so well-written and-" Kakashi rants his hands flailing, desperately trying to convey the emotion he's attempting to express on how much he loves this book.

Obito thinks it's cute but decides to rile him up "Why are you getting this worked up about some smut?"

Kakashi quickly turned around to look back at him and offended and downright betrayed expression on his face "Obito! How could you?!"

Obito laughs even as Kakashi stomped over to where he sat with firm look on his face and dramatically slams his hands down on the armrests of the chair Obito is sitting on and looks down on him.

Surprised of their sudden closeness Obito looks up to meet Kakashi's eyes and finds their nose's almost touching from how close Kakashi's face was to him.

Obito peers into Kakashi's stormy grey eyes with some light grey specks. Then he observes the way his silver lashes flutter gently on his pale yet scarred face, Then his eyes travel downwards where he could slightly see the tanlines on Kakashi's nose and Kakashi's cute little beauty mark layed beneath his lips that was formed in an exaggerated pout.

Whenever they were in the privacy of their home Kakashi had begun to sometimes take his mask off and this was one of those times Obito is treated to the lovely sight of Kakashi's bare face yet this is also the first time he's seen it so up close, And Obito couldn't help the way he gaped a little at the sheer beauty presented to him.

Kakashi seemed to notice his speechlessness and (sadly) stepped away and pulled his face back to gave Obito some space "Obito? are you okay?" he asks concerned.

Even when he heard that, Obito's actions (or inaction) only registered in his brain a few seconds later. But once it did he immediately stood up extremely flustered and guiltily tried not to look into Kakashi's eyes as he answered him "Y-yeah i'm fine don't worry!"

Wow, really bringing the stupidity up a notch Obito.

Kakashi didn't seem convinced and actually looks kind of guilty?

"Um, Obito?"

"Yes?" Obito successfully answered without stammering although he still did it a bit too rushed for his taste.

Kakashi pauses a bit, his hands on his side slightly fidgeting and his eyes looked away for a moment seemingly trying to prolong his words as much as possible.

"Obito, am i...making you uncomfortable?" Kakashi finally asks after a moment too long. His gaze looking down on the ground in what seems to be shame.

Once he hears those words Obito's brain immediately short-circuits because that's the kind of idiot he is in emotional situations.

"How-how could you think something like that? and most importantly why!?"

Kakashi startled at his questions but eventually looked back at him and answers.

"Well..we never really talked about it. After so long and it's been pushed on the back of my head but i still keep remembering it sometimes." Kakashi rubbed his neck, a nervous tick he developed whenever he was in uncomfortable situations. "It's just..Don't you hate me..for killing Rin"

The mention of Rin's deathmade Obito freeze and grit his teeth, it never got any easier. Even though he's accepted it, Her death didn't get any easier to think about.

But... There are more important things than that right now. Like, The idiot standing infront of him.

"Do you seriously still believe that?" Obito asks trying to figure out a quick but effective way for Kakashi to let go of his doubts.

"W-what, i..of course i do" Kakashi said slowly but immediately starts again with ridiculous excuses to blame himself "It was my chidori that killed her! If i had just stopped in time then-"

Kakashi is silenced when Obito puts his hands on his cheeks and gazes at him intently.

"Kakashi" Obito starts "I know i left and hurt you and i am so sorry for that, but everything i said in the war was all just an excuse to keep myself from going back to Konoha, Not to mention Rin's death was orchestrated by Madara to make me follow him i already told you this. Kakashi, we were all manipulated. That doesn't give me any excuses for what i did after, But you do and you deserve all the right to hate me"

"I could never hate you" Kakashi whispers staring at him with wavering eyes, "Even during the war, i couldn't find it in myself to hate you completely. In my heart you have always been my hero"

Obito smiled sadly at that "Yes and that was what changed me.."

"What..?" Kakashi blinked in confusion, "What do you mean?"

Obito laughed nervously wondering how to tell the story, "Well..let's just say after we defeated Kaguya i thought about killing myself to atone for what i have done"

"Obito!" Kakashi shrieked, horrified. He couldn't imagine it, No. He can't, if Obito willingly killed himself. Kakashi isn't sure how he would end up.

"Wait just a sec there's more! Besides i'm still here now don't you want to know why?" Obito grinned, trying to ease the tension that he knew he would create by telling this story.

Kakashi huffed but let's him continue.

Obito chuckled at that but continues after Kakashi glared at him to start, "Ahem! anyway, It didn't happen obviously. Do you know why?" Obito smiled gently "You saved me"

"Excuse me?" Kakashi says confusion in his entire being. But Obito didn't answer and kept continuing.

"I was there, laying on the ground thinking about what i could do when there was certainly nothing waiting for me in the future. But then you suddenly layed beside me, talking all about how relieved you are and how you were going to make sure that i wouldn't leave you again all alone just because i was as selfish and afraid as i always was. So i decided i was going to live for you" Obito quickly tells a summarized version of what happened,

It seemed so..disspassionate just retelling it but honestly Obito couldn't find the right words to explain how he felt when Kakashi, sitting beside him then turning his face over to him with his eyes crinking up to a wide smile and excitedly tells him how much the shinobi world was going to improve after the war. And Obito couldn't take his eyes off of him, mesmerized by how easily Kakashi seemed to forgive him and how his beauty shone with how the rising sun that highlighted his silver hair in an almost ethereal way in their sheen and glow, almost like-

"Like, Redemption presented to me with a halo"

The instant he said those last words Kakashi's eyes widened in shock, disbelief and..something else?

"R-redemption? with a halo?" He stammered, testing the words out but something tells Obito about the way Kakashi said them that made it seem like the words weren't unfamiliar to him.

'Well' Obito thinks 'Kakashi is a pretty forgiving person, i'm sure someone has said something similar to him before'

Since Kakashi was unaware of Obito's slightly depressed and jealous thoughts he began asking him some strange questions

"Do you really mean that? Is- is that what you think of me?" Kakashi looked at Obito, his eyes bright and wide with something that seemed like hope.

Obito blinked confusely at his questions though, "Of course i mean it Bakakashi, you're the reason i'm still alive today" And i'm grateful for having you by my side even though i don't deserve to.

Kakashi looked at him frozen for a moment but then he slowly lifted his arm and moved his long sleeves to show his arm covered in faint scars due to his own famed lightning techniques. But then Obito noticed the phrase near his wrist, It was dark, incredibly cleared on his otherwise pale skin and the letters and belonged to someone with messy handwriting.

'It almost seems similar to mine'

That thought shook Obito, then he quickly turned up to catch a glimpse of Kakashi's face, anxious and waiting for him to react. Then he looked at the words on his arm again this time more nervous and his hands clenching slighly in..excitement? anxiety?

He read the words carefully and there it was. Staring right at him to the face. Blaringly clear and permanent as if telling Obito 'It took you long enough!'

'Redemption with a halo'

It echoed Obito's deepest thoughts about Kakashi, and Kakashi-

Obito turned his face to look him his- (friend?teammate?soulmate?) and Kakashi shakily brings his lips up to a smile "Obito, ever since then you..you were always my hero, My-my saviour" Kakashi gulped, his throat dry after so long of openly gaping in disbelief and anticipation.

He clenched in eyes and forced to bring himself to say the his next words "And even if- even.. if you don't want me, i-"

Kakashi is cut off, his eyes opened in shock. Obito's lips met Kakashi's surprisingly gently and lightly in almost a nervous peck despite practically rushing to stand where he is and bringing Kakashi's face up to meet his with a hand on his chin.

Obito pulled back, his eyes bright and determined more than it has ever been in so many years. Kakashi gazed back at him silently not knowing what to do after what Obito just did.

"Kakashi" Obito says quietly in almost a whisper "I have and always will want you, Don't think anything else otherwise" Even with his careful voice, Kakashi still looked shellshocked, possibly (and most likely) never having heard those words before or atleast in a very long time.

And that made Obito want to clench his jaw in frustration and anger at himself, He knows that most of Kakashi's issues are his fault, He knows that he has no right to deserve being forgiven and staying by his side but still-

Obito wants to make Kakashi happy, He wants to ease the pain he's suffered because of him. He wants to stay by his side and make up for all the time that he was gone.

But most importantly, and most selfishly.

He wants to see Kakashi smile and laugh, freely without the burdens and regrets weighting down his shoulders. He wants to hold him close and feel his warmth, He wants to live the rest of his life with him in a time where the shinobi world is no longer as cruel as it once was back when they were children.

He wants Kakashi, He wants to be with Kakashi.

"I love you" Obito says sincerely with all the emotion he can muster poured into it "I'm sorry for realizing so late"

Kakashi's eyes were slightly watery and he lifted his hand to rub away the oncoming tears, He sniffed then he look right back at Obito and once again he was frozen at the sight of Kakashi smiling, widely with his eyes closed from it's intensity. his cheeks were flushed to his ears and truly, truly looked happy.

Then Obito promised to himself, he's gonna do his damn best to make him smile like that every chance he gets, whatever it takes.

Kakashi slowly opened his eyes and they were soft, so soft and gentle and full of love for the man in front of him it almost hurt. "I love you too Obito" He says just as quietly as Obito did "It's okay, i took a long time to realize too" Kakashi laughed and Obito pulled him closer and wrapped his arms around him and hugged him tight.

"Even if you didn't, i would've still loved you for all eternity"