Author's Notes: Sorry for the exceedingly long wait :S My stories are probably going to be on hold till the end of the schoolyear, but after that, I'll definitely have more time to write!
…If anyone wants me to, that is XD
Disclaimer: I OWN NOTHING!
Chapter 4
He's close to his father, and he hopes it's not a body. He pauses when he's mere centimeters away. Something has a vice-like grip on his heart, and Kakashi doesn't entirely want to cross those last couple of steps that would bring him right next to his father, "Father?" He calls out again. The older Hatake doesn't stir, but everything in Kakashi's stomach does. This close, he can see his father's clothes soiled with a certain dampness, "Father?" Kakashi's voice is more desperate, but Sakumo still does not move. Because dead people can't move, Baka. Kakashi's inner voice tells him what he doesn't want to believe.
That thought has Kakashi moving, crossing the last couple of steps with tears shimmering in his eyes because, no matter what he said, no matter what he did, he never intended for things to spiral out like this, "Father?" Kakashi's hands stir Sakumo repeatedly, "Father?" His attempts become more panicked, and the thought that this just might be a crime scene doesn't matter enough to stop him.
He hears a moan. All thoughts in his frantic mind skid to a screeching halt. Because dead people don't moan. Wide, dark eyes so much like his own, yet very different blink open, "Kashi? Is everything alright?" Sakumo asks as his eyes blink a number of times just so that he'd stay awake. Kakashi wants to hug him and yell at him all at once because how dare he pull something like that over his own son?
"No," Kakashi all but whispers. With his eyes instantly alert, Sakumo sits upright and forces his son closer.
"What's wrong?" Sakumo asks, oblivious to the problem at hand, but he sees the tears in his son's eyes and that's all he needs to know.
"Look," Kakashi says in irritation as he points at the liquid on the floor. Sakumo follows Kakashi's fingers and sees what he's pointing at.
"Ah, that. I believe I broke a glass," Sakumo admits with a half-hearted laugh. He gets up, "Why didn't you turn on the light, Kashi?" Sakumo asks as he does so himself. Kakashi is half-afraid he's been talking to a ghost and almost winces when his eyes fall on the red blood he's sure he's going to find on the floor.
…Except the liquid on the floor isn't red, nor is it blood.
Sakumo casually mops the spilt liquid with a dry cloth. Kakashi finds a broken glass of sake not too far away, "You could have gotten hurt," Sakumo comments as if nothing is wrong. It finally clicks in Kakashi's head.
"It's time for training. Please get ready," Kakashi says after a moment's silence. He's surprised at his own tired tone.
"You sound tired, son," Sakumo remarks, "Are you feeling alright?" Considering that he's just dealt with one of the most frightening times of his life, Kakashi is not feeling alright at all, "I'll tell Minato-sensei that we're not coming if you don't feel fine,"
"No, I'm okay," Kakashi replies, "Please hurry," He doesn't want to stay any longer in the room that could have been his father's death place. He gets out without another word to wait for his father outside the house.
Sakumo takes the moment to collect himself. He wonders what it is Kakashi saw that upset him so much, worried him enough to feel the need to cry. Try as he might, he couldn't figure it out. He decides to keep it at the back of his mind; he'd think about it when he could. He puts away the clothes he spilled sake on and puts on clean training clothes. They fit, somehow, even if they hung too loosely in some places and too much in others. We'll fix this. Sakumo decides. He puts a smile in place as he exits the house, "Ready to go," He says cheerfully, partly to try and calm the dazed look in Kakashi's eyes and partly to lift the uncomfortable air around them.
Minato is waiting for them in the training grounds with a bright, cheery smile that matches the twinkle in his eyes. He seems oblivious to the new hole Sakumo has somehow dug between himself and his son without even knowing it, or he just doesn't want to bring it up.
"So, first, why don't you show your father what you can do, Kakashi?" Minato suggests, "Show him how much your aim has improved," Minato says, even though Kakashi's aim has been great for a while. Kakashi nods almost mechanically. He has two shuriken in his hands in a moment. They fly in the air and hit the bullseye with a dull thud. Minato smiles proudly. Sakumo feels sick. It's not that Sakumo is uncomfortable with the fact that Kakashi is probably throwing deadly projectiles at living human beings with the same ease, that is something every shinobi man, woman and child has to do. No, Sakumo is more worried that he won't be able to do just as good.
"That's very good, Kashi," Sakumo says, "But, maybe it'd be better if you hold two shuriken in each of your hands. It's not that hard," Sakumo reassures, "That way, you can throw shuriken at more enemies at once. And, I think you can pull it off,"
"Yes, that's right!" Minato joyfully agrees.
"But… how do I hold them without hurting myself? And, how do I make sure these shuriken hit the targets I want them to?" Kakashi asks, furrowing his brows in thought. He looks at his teacher for an answer.
"It requires a bit of practice," Minato allows with a nod, "But, it can be done. And, with enough practice, you will be able to do it, too," Kakashi seems skeptical, and Sakumo can just see where this is going, "Care to demonstrate, Hatake-san?" Sometimes, Sakumo wishes he'd just keep his big mouth shut. He's sure he won't be able to pull it off. But, at least Kakashi's looking at me now… Sakumo thinks as he smiles and nods easily, despite the nervousness quickly spreading through his body.
The feeling of the shuriken in his calloused hands is still odd, like he's found an old, familiar glove that fit his hand perfectly. He shows Kakashi the correct way to hold two shuriken in each hand without accidentally cutting himself on the sharp edges. It's easy enough to do, and Kakashi's genius mind quickly catches on. He has the shuriken in his hands in a perfect image of his father. How do you even throw these like this? Kakashi wonders. The shuriken aren't all that comfy in his hands, but they aren't supposed to stay there for long anyways.
Here goes… Sakumo thinks, mentally getting ready for whatever reaction Kakashi's going to have. He feels something is amiss, but he throws the shuriken in a moment and without much thought, "Huh… It really does work," Kakashi muses when the shuriken fly from his father's hand to hit the targets dead in the center. Sakumo has to fight in order not to gape like a fish out of water. Kakashi is looking at him again. A stretch of silence follows, and Sakumo is put off by it, "Show me again?" Kakashi asks with not a little bit of hesitation. Sakumo thinks it's the best thing he's heard in a long time.
"Of course," Sakumo says with a wholehearted laugh. He repeats the process many times after that, and each time he hits his target right on, even if he feels like something is amiss each and every time. They move on from shuriken throwing to Taijutsu to Ninjutsu, and Sakumo doesn't screw up, not even once. It amazes even him, or maybe, especially him.
"I think that's enough for today," Minato calls when the sun has long since went down, "We'll start again tomorrow, same time!" Kakashi starts leaving, purposefully slowing down so that his father could catch up, "Actually, Hatake-san… maybe we can speak for a bit?" Minato says as he approaches Sakumo, "It's important," Taking the hint, Kakashi runs off. Sakumo gives Minato a questioning look.
"I thought you wanted me to spend more time with Kakashi," Sakumo comments offhandedly.
"Well, yes…" Minato amends, "But… I thought we could speak about this first," Minato says as he puts up his hands in the release sign. Sakumo ducks his head in embarrassment. He knew something was wrong! He should have known Minato had them under a Genjutsu, "Don't worry, I understand," Minato is quick to reassure, "And, it'll be our little secret," Minato says, referring to the badly thrown shuriken. Well… at least they all hit the target… except for that one in the tree… Sakumo winces and doesn't bother to look for them all.
"It's pretty bad," Sakumo admits with a disappointed sigh.
"Just your aim," Minato encourages, "Your Taijutsu is alright, but I know it used to be better. Your Ninjutsu is good, but you were faster before, I'm sure," Minato stops himself with a soft chuckle as he rubs the back of his neck, "But… sooner or later, Kakashi's going to come to you for lessons. I can already see that, at least, some of his admiration for you has returned," Minato sighs, "And I won't be around to fool him,"
"I've tried to train," Sakumo informs him, "It's not working. I'm too old for… this,"
"What you need, Hatake-san, is something to force you to reestablish your former formidable skills," Minato says seriously, "I can help you… I want to help you,"
"How can you fix what I have become? You've seen how bad it is," Sakumo mutters under his breath. Minato smiles, Sakumo isn't too sure if the smile is intended to be as creepy as it looks.
"I'll be waiting for you here at six sharp," Minato says as he pats Sakumo's shoulder once and turns to leave, "Don't be late," Minato waves over his back before running off. Sakumo is too late to ask him just why he's trying so hard.
-oOo-
After leaving his father with his teacher, Kakashi finally has some alone time to think about what he's seen earlier that day. It isn't something he ever wants to see again, Kakashi decides, especially with their relationship as strained as it is. He wants to rebuild that relationship with his father. He doesn't want to drive him to do something they would both regret. He doesn't want to live without his only living family.
"He's started getting out of the house,"
"I saw him training with his son,"
"He doesn't see just how much he has messed up, does he?"
"Trying to live his life normally,"
"Shush, shush. His son's right there. He might here you,"
"So what? It's not like either of them can do anything about it anyways,"
It's hard, Kakashi knows, to stand up for one person in the face of the many. He's not entirely sure he could-
Someone lifts him up and puts him over his shoulder, "Hey, brat! Let's have a talk,"
Author's Notes: Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter :D Please leave a review to tell me what you thought of this chapter!
A Response to the Review on Chapter 3:
Alexa Hiwatari: Thank you for reviewing :3 I hope you liked how this chapter turned out. Please let me know what you thought! Looking forward to giving them a chance to be a family ;)
Until next time!
