Home!
Age: 6
"Home!"
"Kakashi… Kakashi… Kakashi! Hold on!"Gai yells, running after the taciturn ninja in the pouring rain. Kakashi hadn't even done anything to shield himself from the freezing droplets, not bothering to duck under a shop's canopy, and upon closer look…he had a small red umbrella tightly gripped in his hand? Why was he suffering the rain when he had an umbrella?
Normally Gai would take this as a challenge, would see Kakashi's actions as a challenge to beat but lately, his rival has not been the same. Lately the copy-nin was hardly ever seen outside, Gai thought that Kakashi would be better after his little blossom's retrieval but it seemed that the man has become even more scarce, even to Sakura herself.
Gai in all his green wearing glory may not be the most subtle and seemingly dependable friend in times of emotional turmoil but he knew enough to know when his friend is in pain. Gai sees it every time he does his morning jog around Konoha, wherein he had picked up the habit of checking in on little Sakura-chan's window ; he sees Kakashi's shadow just standing, hovering over the sleeping child. It was painful to watch; he couldn't even imagine how sorrowful Kakashi feels, knowing his daughter is within reach but still so very far away…
The young girl was frightfully afraid of Kakashi ever since she was retrieved. The cause for this is currently under investigation but it almost seemed painfully obvious, even to one such as himself, that the only thing that could cause such a trauma is the influence of another sharingan wielder. The village relations with the Uchiha Clan was already strained, he couldn't help but think that things would only go much worse from here on out. No, he shouldn't have such unyouthful thoughts! Instead he should just focus on helping his rival in need!
So Gai, although not the most tactful person, sought out Kakashi in his time of need even when he seemed to only want to be alone, because Gai was the youthful green beast of Konoha and he did not abandon his comrades to suffer alone!
With his speed, Gai caught up to the silver haired nin in no time, blocking his path towards the familiar stone cenotaph. Gai knew Kakashi spent most of his time there, before he took Sakura in, after he took Sakura in and, now more than ever, he visited it like a desperate ritual.
"My friend, whatever it is that ails you; do not be afraid to confide in me. The green beast of Konoha will be your ally and confidant!"Gai tells him confidently, teeth flashing and with his hand held up in a thumbs up pose. Even in the pouring rain Gai never fails to be bright and normally this would be enough to for the two to ease into their usual banter, but not today.
Today the copy-nin looks on, as if he was looking through the green clad nin, not entirely present in front of Gai. Looking at him then, Gai couldn't help but feel that this wasn't his friend, wasn't his cool, taciturn rival. He desperately wanted him back.
Gai punches the dazed nin faster than he could blink. Kakashi falls to the muddy ground with a 'thud', consciousness finally seeping back into his eyes, he looks up to see Gai standing over him. He was panting heavily, his eyes hooded by his black hair, his form trembling in suppressed anger and frustration.
"What are you doing Kakashi?! "Gai rages, his below startling a flock of crows from a nearby tree, their squawks sounding like accusing noises directed at Kakashi's fallen form. Kakashi remains where he is, rigid and shocked.
"Leaving Sakura alone in this rain, visiting the dead…are you treating her as if she was dead already?! Do you trace her name on the cenotaph too?! Wake up! Sakura is alive! She may not be wholly herself but it's your responsibility to be there for her. To love her, give her warmth, comfort her! So, I'm going to ask again, what are you doing?"Gai asks, huffing in his frustration.
Kakashi's still form and widened eyes seemed frozen for a moment before a beat passes and he looks away from Gai, as if shamed, rain drops falling from his silver maine.
Gai approaches the fallen nin, crouches down to his level and offers his arm.
"Kakashi, you may not know this, but I am here and so are the rest of our comrades. We're willing to lend a helping hand, you do not need to bear all this suffering alone, so…let us help you."Gai tells him, sounding considerably calmer.
Kakashi accepts the offered hand and rights himself. He looks Gai straight in the eyes, pausing as if to answer the green clad nin's question, before settling into giving the other man an eye smile, reassuring him that everything is fine and apologizing for his actions.
Gai watches Kakashi's back, travelling home towards his beloved child, waving a two fingered good bye as he went; he thinks that his friend was close to confiding in him. But he didn't want to push the taciturn nin; he would talk once he was ready.
As he walks back to his apartment, Kakashi stops periodically, even through the pouring rain. He stopped at Sakura's favorite tea shop, the one she claimed that made the best anko dumplings in the entire village. He stopped at the small playground she frequented, recalling her many escapades with the Fourth's gaki. He stopped at all the small little places that held his memories with Sakura. The Sakura who had pink hair. The Sakura who was bright and cheerful. The Sakura whose face lit up whenever he came home. The Sakura who loved him.
He needed all these memories, little fragments of her, in order to strengthen himself to face who she is now. A Sakura who had blood red hair. A Sakura who was quiet and fearful. A Sakura who flinched at his mere presence. A Sakura who did not know him.
He lingers at the door, looking down at the red umbrella he'd taken with him before going out earlier. It was a small, bright red thing; barely big enough to cover him really. It was Sakura's umbrella. He'd unknowingly taken it with him, the phantom urge to bring it with him when it was raining was borne from habit. She had always went out with him, everywhere he went…
When Kakashi hears the flutter of the curtains, he becomes aware that she knows he's lingering outside, that more so than being in the same room as her, Sakura must be frightened of not knowing what a sharingan wielder like himself was doing outside of her view.
He steels himself, shakes off the droplets that clung to his form and stepped into the apartment. His body seemed to be on auto pilot, taking him straight to her room without any conscious thought on his part. He blinks and suddenly he's in front of her door. He carefully opens the door, it's creaking eerily loud in the quiet room; he did not dare step foot in her room.
His eye strains into the darkness, looking for her small form, most likely huddled into herself on her bed. He becomes rigid and tense when he realizes that Sakura was not in her room. He hears a small clatter to his left and in the blink of an eye he's in front of the bathroom door. It was ajar, showing Sakura's small fallen form underneath a heap of towels.
Kakashi didn't know what to do. On one hand, he had the ingrained habit of wanting to laugh and help the small child untangle herself. But this was a different Sakura, he would most likely scare her away even more than he already has…
Her form was shaking and small, barely audible sobs could be heard from the girl; after a few moments he became unable to resist and swiftly came to her rescue, lifting her up and picking away the tangled sheets of towels on her.
As expected, Sakura gasps and struggles in his grip, reaching downwards toward the ground.
Kakashi did not want to let her go. She was a source of warmth and it's been a long time since he's held her in his arms but he had to let her go; she was shaking really badly.
As soon as he puts her down, she runs to the pile of towels and hefts up the fluffiest looking one in the pile, it was thick and deep green; his favorite. Then dutifully, tears flowing copiously down her small heart shaped face, she walks towards him. She dragged the towel with her, every step shaky, as if she was forcing herself.
She comes to a stop in front of his crouched form, shakily offering him the towel.
Kakashi was at a loss. Was she offering him a towel?
"I-I'm sorry. I- you…" The small girl stuttered, looking away from him, before taking a second to steel herself.
"I saw you - wet…in - rain. I wanted - y-you a towel. You - g-get sick." Sakura said, her tears chocking out some words that she tried to convey, looking like she was the one who spent hours drenched in the rain.
He couldn't help himself, letting go of his restraint—just this once—he pulls her in for a hug. Although her small, bony—how had he let her refuse so many meals?—shoulders were shaking, this time she stayed within his embrace. Her body once again bringing warmth and comfort to Kakashi.
This is when Kakashi realizes that this is Sakura. This is Sakura.
It didn't matter that she was different, that she was afraid. Even through her great fear of him, she helped him, and cared for him. It's true that she was scared, absolutely petrified of his sharingan's close proximity to her but she toughs it out to comfort him.
Kakashi realizes that there was never a difference between his Sakura and this Sakura. The only thing that changed was him; he was the one who was absent, who was distant.
He hadn't realized how much he'd neglected her, driven by his need for revenge, his need to rid the world of the scum that took her. He was gone for days that turned into weeks which turned into months at a time, taking missions that will help him exact revenge. To help make Konoha the safe village that it should have been to his Sakura. He tightens his grip on her. Wrapping is arms tighter around her, as if to shield her from the all harm with his body.
Kakashi didn't bother to get out of his wet clothes that night. Instead he wrapped Sakura in warm blankets and went to bed with her. To occupy the spot on her bed that he frequently longed to be on whenever he'd watch her sleep at night.
As she relaxes in his arms through the passing minutes, he feels her doze off, her breathing becoming even, he tells her;
"I'm home."