The Keeper and Kakashi were searching for an item, while walking at the same pace. One would say that they looked alike; like father and son. Their hair and slouched posture they presented themselves with was like an endearing picture.
As time passed, they became friends, sometimes joked and chatted about their delivery and the strange things around them.
"Found it," said Kakashi as he lifted something made of metal with drawings of bunnies on it.
Suddenly, Kakashi felt pain shoot throughout his body. The Keeper became concerned and helped him to sit on the floor. He took the item from Kakashi's hand and placed it on a rack nearby.
Kakashi was panting in his attempts to ease the pain, but it was no use and he began to lose consciousness again. A bright light engulf him and The Keeper was left alone once again.
Kakashi opened his eye and quickly closed it when the bright white of his surroundings was overwhelming. He tried opening his eye again, slower this time. He turned his head in search for The Keeper, but he was nowhere to be found, in fact, he was not where he remembered. Instead, he found himself in some sort of white space, which then made him suspicious and alert.
The first thing he noticed was the absence of his tags, then he checked his mask and found it still in place. He checked his weapons, even the half of the blade; he checked with his fingers and all, everything was where it should be.
Then he heard a small sob, and he turned towards it; to a huddled figure in the distance, maybe a crying child. He felt a wave of relief knowing that he was not alone anymore. He took a step and then a flash of light ran from his foot, in a straight line giving a clear route to finish again in his foot, he observed the line of light that was flashing colours.
He gave another step and something similar happen, but this time the line of light was broader. He could distinguish the colours as hues of green, blue, brown, and yellow. The child-like figure was crying more now, giving him an anxious feeling in his stomach. He moved, stepping carefully, weary and aware of his new surroundings.
Then the same flash of light appeared, but this time it was brighter and made him cover his eye with his arm out of instinct. When he uncovered it, he was able to see the blurry image of one the training fields in his home. He felt a relief; a happiness, I'm back.
He looked at the child and with confidence he walked the next step, but a piercing sound stop him. His head hurt like a blasting in his head, he stumbled and fell as he clutched his head in his hands. He progressively felt dizzy and as if his head was about to explode.
When the noise stopped, he cracked open an eye to see white again, but it was not the same kind of bright white, it was more like walls. He looked around and heard the subtle sound of paper rustling before everything turned black.
He opened his eye and realized that he had a clear view of the field, the smell of the grass and the forest. He moved his body, taking in his surroundings as a small smile graced his face.
It was time to go home.
He moved his right foot carefully and took a step. He closed his eye, but nothing happen. He opened it again and walked three more steps. He stopped expecting something to happen, but nothing did.
Then he saw the kid, he walked and then everything around him spun, he kneeled in his attempts to obtain some control over his senses and balance, but then everything stopped. He lifted his head and came face to face with the boy.
They both fell backwards with a look of surprise. The boy's face was stained with tears and dirt, his hair was pulled back in a bushy ponytail. Kakashi looked at him, and felt that there was something familiar about the boy.
The boy then opened his eyes wide with the realization that he was front of a stranger; a potential dangerous stranger. He tried to escape.
"Tiaw," is what came out of the copy nin's mouth.
The boy stopped at hearing the strange language from the man. He became curious, and had the sudden need to now know more about the stranger with a mask and one eye.
He took a seat in front of the stranger and asked, "uoy era ohW?"
Kakashi saw him trying to catch the meaning of the words but he is too confused that he failed.
The boy then thinks that the man must be stupid, or slow witted. He then has an idea, and grabbed a handful of grass and pulled, taking it out with its roots and dirt. He smoothed the dirt out and with a stick he wrote his name. He moved his face with a smile directed to the man in front of him.
Kakashi watched the boy's movements, the boy then gestured at his written name for the man to read, but Kakashi couldn't understand what it said, to him, the symbols didn't make any sense.
The boy became upset and thought as the man in front of him is frustrating, but then he had another idea.
He looked at Kakashi in the eye, and Kakashi returned the gaze, but his was filled with doubts and uncertainty. But he followed the movements of the boy made.
First, he signalled the person with his thumb. Kakashi nodded in understanding, and the young boy smiled. Then, he made a signal with his hand like something similar to waves, the nin nodded again. Then the young boy put his palms together and moved them together like something swimming, and finally with one hand he made a movement of something jumping.
He looked at the nin with a serious expression, waiting for the other's response.
Kakashi took a second to think, then it made sense. He is…. he moved his right hand to the young boy's face and traced a line across his cheek, that was hidden from the dirt and found the familiar scar. He smiled and said, "Akuri"
The young boy smiled with a blush on his cheeks from the contact, but somehow he felt that the stranger finally understood. The man then withdrew his hand and signalled at the symbol on his forehead, the boy then move forward and with his small fingers he traced the symbol of the village where he lived.
The boy understood, He is one of ours then, but he don't speak our language. Hhe can't be dumb, what happen to him then? Iruka now feel safe because he was not alone, and with one of the men who cared for the village.
Kakashi looked around and Iruka followed his gaze, when a crow appeared and that is what the nin needed. He stood up and made exaggerated movements to scare the bird away, then he looked at the boy with a smile.
Iruka was scared to, but then he understood, and smiled, "Ihsakak"
Kakashi smiled sat cross legged next to Iruka, and asked by following a trail of tears with his finger in his face. The boy stared at him and then his eyes began to fill with tears. Kakashi panicked, and he did the first thing he was able to think of; he embraced the young boy with his arms and sat him on his lap. Iruka sobs turned painful, and the copy nin was only able to be there for him.
He opened his eye, and found himself resting back on the grass with his arms extended out to his sides. He tried to move, but couldn't. He sighed and focused on what he had in front on him; stars.
How many years since the last time he stay relaxed and look at them? He sighed again, forcing himself to relax and enjoy the moment. He thought about his problem in the other moment. He can hear the familiar sound of his home, and he felt at ease. No more strange things and people.
A cold breeze sent a shiver through his body and he heard a soft whine at his side. He craned his neck to look down at the figure next to him to see the adult form of the child sleeping at his side. He smiled thinking of the irony the moment held. The wind pick up and he tremble again.
The man at his side moved closer to him and wrapped his arms around him, using his arm has pillow, and Kakashi couldn't believe the situation.
But he let it be, he was grateful because now he didn't feel cold. Then everything went white again.
This is kind of boring now, he thought to himself, now what?
The beeping machines sounded too much like chirps. He turned his head. There was no grass, no dirt, no bamboo stalks, and no starry night sky. Just the dimpled, tiled ceiling of a hospital, and the flicker of artificial light. It was such a stark white, it could have been the blinding beams of the moon.
His eyes began to adjust. No, it was just the ceiling.
The room was cold and quiet, and wholly imbued with the melancholy reserved for the dying. Yet he had not died. The tiny start of a grin spread across his face.
"I'm pretty tough, for an old man," he wheezed.
Something jumped beside him. Papers spilled to the floor.
"Kakashi-san, you're awake!"
The voice was familiar. But not too familiar.
"Tsunade-sama! He's awake!"
His eyes rolled over to see who it was that was shouting. Really, it was the hospital. There were people resting. Iruka-sensei, he ought to know better.
Iruka-sensei? A small smile appears on his face.
