Due to chapter 675.

I had to.

Let me come home

Farther away the refridgerator was humming, the kitchen clock was ticking, and outside on the street you could hear the sounds of people in passing. Telling lies and fragrant words. All in all, it was pretty quiet in the bedroom. Kakashi was on his side, so delectably spilled out in the bed, long limbs finally unwinding after a long day. His eyes were shut and his breathing steady and rythmical, but Naruto knew he would wake up from the slightest of unexpected sounds. Given a couple of minutes though, he would probably fall asleep.

Naruto was tired too, but happy with being awake. His thoughts lulled pleasantly, swaying from one insight to the next, going over them with the poise brought on from contentment. He thought about Kakashis scar, and how he'd gotten it. He thought about the eye that used to be red but now was almost black, a dark grey onyx. Naruto sighed, pleased, glad to have been able to do something for him. He propped his arm under his pillow, lying on his side too, almost thumped his head down amongst the feathers in his quest for comfort. Kakashis eyes glinted open, watching him.

Naruto blinked, not yet used to suddenly being two that were awake. "I remembered how you got your other eye," he said quietly.

Kakashi drew in a little breath, moved, bent his legs, seemingly for the sole reason of feeling the aged, worn fabrics against his skin. "I suppose I never got around to it..." he mumbled.

Naruto didn't follow. "What do you mean?"

The other man looked straight at him, "Thank you."

"I wasn't-..." Naruto stopped then. I wasn't fishing for compliments.

"I know." Kakashi said, and sounded certain of the fact, like he did most times, that he simply knew. "I'm sorry, I think I'll fall asleep soon," he continued. Those grey eyes blinked and seemed covered by a thin membrane of drowsiness that would only dissipate if given time.

Naruto said nothing, allowed him.

The noises of the street had died down. He thought back on the war, the impudent struggle, and the years that had passed since then. He could see the scene in front of him; Kakashi, on the ground missing an eye, and Sakura, crouching next to him. She could heal and would heal if given a chance, but this time she didn't get one. Naruto knew, or maybe hoped, that he for once could do something good. He'd rushed over, flying. Touched the white head of hair, praying that it would work somehow.

"You're welcome," Naruto said out into the room. He wasn't sure if Kakashi would hear him but he wanted to say it none the less.

It was a gift, you see, he thought. I never wanted anything in return.

And yet Kakashi kept giving it.

The man in question reached out, eyes closed, found Narutos arm above the cover and rested his hand there. His touch was tender, his thumb stroking lightly, and then he retreated the short distance to his side of the bed.

Narutos throat closed up. He blinked away something in his eyes.

I think I-