Kakashi is standing at the backyard of the mansion, staring into the distance. Naruto rushes up to him as he turns. Naruto is tense, his breathing heavy.

Kakashi: What happened? You alright?

Naruto: Is he coming?

Kakashi looks past Naruto and sees him.

Kakashi: Yes…

Naruto: Is he looking at us?

Kakashi: Yes…

And then, Naruto flings himself on Kakashi, holding him like he will leave anytime now. He will never let him go again. Never.

Kakashi is shocked beyond belief. All rational thoughts stopped. His mind is racing. Heart beating so hard he is afraid Naruto can hear it. How is this happening?

Naruto: The one thing that I can never repay you for, come what may, is bringing him back into my life. Otherwise, I would have never known what I truly want.

Kakashi still can't seem to comprehend all this.

Naruto: I am going to follow my heart now, Kakashi. Everything will be okay.

Gently, Naruto pulls down Kakashi's mask and kisses him. First, on the corners of his lips and then finally on them. A jolt of electricity runs through his body. Yes, he knows what he truly wants.

Kakashi throws caution to the wind and holds Naruto's face as he kisses him back. He moans as he licks his lips begging for entrance and Naruto is happy to oblige. It's hot, it's urgent, it's passionate, it's Naruto and it's perfect. How has he longed for this! All the times he stopped himself from just grabbing Naruto and kissing him senseless. They moan in unison.

Gasping for breath, they both lean their foreheads against each other, fingers intertwined.

.

.

Yes, this is it. This is what he has been looking for. This is everything. This is Naruto.

This is his escape.


Rewind Rewind Rewind Rewind Rewind Rewind


FLASHBACK


CHAPTER-1

The conference hall of the Hatake Corporations is brimming with noise today. Kakashi Hatake is sitting at the head of the conference table with his friend and colleague Guy sitting beside him. A middle aged woman is sitting across the table from Kakashi. Guy puts his hand on his shoulder. Kakashi looks at him. He does not look happy. And as for Kakashi, his face is blank. I mean, that's what Guy can tell from the 1/4th part of his face that is not covered with a mask. But his eyes look greyer than they usually are. Like a slowly diminishing fire that finally got put off today.

''You should be happy that my client is not dragging this case into the court. Two hearings is all that it would take for the judge to decide what my client, Mrs. Fumiko Hata- ahem Fumiko Kurozaki deserves from this company." said the woman's lawyer not so politely.

Guy intervenes. "We are here to consider her demands. Not to fight." The lawyer is quick to retort. "You have no authority to be considering her demands. And let me make this clear, there will be no compromise with Mrs. Fumiko's demands whatsoever."

The noise, the talking and the arguments attack Kakashi's senses. He sits amidst the madness for a while and then slowly gets up and runs off to the washrooms. He stands facing the mirror in the wash room. He is looking down. After a moment, he looks up towards his eyes. He lacks the courage to look at himself. He stands there for a while trying to look himself in the eye but in vain. When he finally leaves, he has a choice to make.

To his left is the conference hall. He can see Guy and the others waiting for him. He could sense that the situation is waiting to explode on him. He stands there for a moment and then turns to his right towards the staircase, towards the exit of the Hatake Corporations.

By the time he reaches the exit, his black BMW is already driving into the porch. He takes the keys from the driver and drives away.

Next thing we know, he is outside a fancy club. "The Wedding Reception of Nyle Brown and Anna Kubo" the board atop says.

Many men and women – all decked up in fineries – notice Kakashi as he walks in. There is a

reaction of surprise. He comes to the lawn and looks straight. A wedding reception platform, bride and

groom and guests and photographers. Anna sees him as he is walking towards her and her expression is tenser than it is of a welcome one. Seeing your ex coming towards you at your wedding all intense would do that to you. Kakashi gets up on the platform and stands in front of her. She looks at her husband. The guy, Nyle extends his hand to Kakashi. As they are shaking hands, the photographers ask them to pose.

Kakashi poses. Snap, snap, snap.

He looks at Anna one more time. Then with tears welling up in his eyes, he turns and walks away.

Unbuttoning his blazer and loosening his tie, he walks the lane out of the club. He seems lost. Like one of those trance-like states. Throwing his tie on the pavement, he crosses the busy street and finds himself in front of a bus. He stands there just looking at it and gets pushed in because of the boarding crowd. Not that it matters. He just sits by the window. And before he knows it, the bus is at its last stop – The Lightfort Railway Station.

He walks in. No tickets. He is THE Kakashi Hatake. Who is going to stop him? Or so he thinks if he is thinking at all. He moves towards the platform and as the train whistles in front of him, he can't help himself but smile under his mask. He has always loved trains. Maybe it's the idea of escaping. It has always fascinated him. Escape. That's all he has been looking for since he was a boy. The whistle calls to him and just as the train starts moving, Kakashi finds himself aboard staring off into the distance.

As the train is leaving the platform, a man is seen standing at the door of the coach getting someone's luggage inside. Evidently, some other guy is trying to catch the speeding train.

"Yes! Keep on moving the bags inside. Come on. Hurry up!" he hears the guy's loud voice. A bag comes in. Then another, then a plastic one, then another plastic one followed by 2 carry bags. Then an earthen pot with a flower plant. There are a few others who have collected in the door area to see what's going on. "Who the hell carries this many bags?" shouts the man. Now the man extends his hand and the guy is pulled up into the running train.

A blur of blonde clambers in, tanned hands clutching his waist, panting and exhausted. The small gathering is looking at him. Cerulean blue eyes look up.

"Son of a bitch! I barely made it. Dattebayo!" He looks around and starts laughing. "You know what? I haven't missed a single train in my life." His face is smug like he truly believes it counts as an achievement. He looks at the man who helped him who, by the way, was still holding his hand.

"You know, you can leave my hand now. I am not THAT handsome!" he says.

The man leaves his hand in a spark and looks embarrassed as the guy, Naruto Uzumaki points towards him and laughs.

As the clock is nearing ten in the night, the train is mostly empty. Kakashi is sitting on a random seat.

Naruto followed by the man walks in the coach still talking. "Train is like my second home. But my parents worry a lot when it comes to me travelling. I honestly don't even get it."

Naruto stops, looks at his ticket and then at the seat number and then at a weird, masked guy sitting in his seat. Naruto looks at him suspiciously and says "Can you please show me your ticket?"

Kakashi is looking outside in a trance. "HELLOOOO! Mister! I am talking to you. This is my seat! See, 24. Come on. Unbelievable!" he rants.

He waves his hand in front of his face. Kakashi looks up towards him. Naruto, now thinking that his hearing his impaired, starts miming, mouthing the words carefully. "THIS. SEAT. MINE.24." He gestures with his hands. Kakashi makes a face and then gets up to sit on seat no. 23. Naruto opens his jacket and hanging it in between, starts talking to Kakashi.

"You know what? My journey doesn't end with this train. Nope. I have to go to Konoha. It's my home, where my family lives. Everyone has a family, right? Me too! I am like the hero of Konoha! Dattebayo!"

"Everyone says Lightfort is crowded. I mean what crowded? People like us make the crowd, no? They themselves are a part of crowd and still complain about it. It's kind of funny if you think about it! Hehe. "

All the while Kakashi is looking outside. Naruto continues, "I am leaving Lightfort. Forever. I have been here for a while now. Boarding school and hostel, I am sick of it."

Kakashi is getting uncomfortable with him talking so much.

But Naruto is oblivious. "I swear that I will never live in a hostel again. I hate them. I hate them. Yup. Dattebayo!"

Kakashi is restless.

"But the rain here is something. I mean I have always loved the rain but if you really think about it-"

Kakashi can't take it anymore. He gets up abruptly and walks away.

"Hey! What happened?" Naruto seems genuinely surprised.

2 minutes later, Naruto gets up and follows him.


To be continued.