The little dog intensively studied his old partner and noticed the merely visible, but significant change in his uncovered eye, caused by the very memory of Yamato's promise.
Pakkun's voice was still forceful but kind as he continued to talk some sense into him,
"If you'll give yourself up now how should he be able to keep his promise to you?"
Kakashi seemed to have regained most of his composure at this point of Pakkun's meaningful speech. His eyes searched for Pakkun's as if he was trying to figure out how sincere his words were.
"I agree that it's not easy," his voice grew thinner, searching for the right way to express his thoughts, "but don't you think it's our turn to be strong this time?"
The strained dog was at his personal limit. If Kakashi still wasn't able to get out of his misery he wouldn't know what was left that he alone could do to help him. Pakkun was loosing his strength and patience to comfort him.
It wasn't easy for him either, the young brownhaired conquered his little heart in an mere instant and it didn't take Tenzou long to leave a good impression on him. Even more.
Pakkun was a picky dog and didn't accept just anyone. One of the reasons which often resulted into a fight between the two thick-headed partners.
But Tenzou was someone they appreciated both in almost no time at all.
It was painful for Pakkun, especially after seeing Kakashi's condition. He could have needed some sympathy aswell.
"You're right. I'm sorry. His corpse wasn't found yet, right? He can still be out there...," he mumbled, finally figuring out how egoistically he acted. Trying to cheer them both up, he forced a faint smile, but his voice sounded unbearable faked. Probably because he didn't believe one of the words which just left his lips.
He could feel the dog's piercing gaze focused on him and his smile quickly widened,
"Alive," he added softly.
Kakashi wasn't a bad liar and usually it was unnaturally easy for him to convince others for his sake, but this one simple word was the hardest and worst lie he ever had to tell.
"Let's get some rest then. Shall we?"
Pakkun was already heading into the direction of their tent when he yawned happily. His anxiousness was clearly lessened as soon as Kakashi had returned to his normal self. Or at least he had seemed to have returned to a state which seemed more capable of handling what was lying ahead for the both of them.
The silverhaired's head turned once more to face the already clouded dark sky, not allowing him to see any of the sparkling stars shining above him, which maybe, in this particular moment could lead Yamato to his way to safety.
He took a deep breath, closed his eyes for a split second, before he skilfully put and end to the circling flames and shortly afterwards he followed his courageous ninken in eerie silent into the warmth of their tent.
Without the camp-fire it wouldn't take the cold night very long to make him freeze under the light blanket they have been using. Kakashi therefore barely undressed from his jounin-clothing and only put away the most disturbing parts, including his kunai bag, the heavy vest and his headband.
He was used to sleeping with it, but on the uncomfortable hard ground he didn't want to feel even more constrained. He placed it right next to the mattress and immediately closed his right eye.
Pakkun was already lying rolled up on a small chair, which had been properly prepared for him with a fluffy pillow resting on it. Already half a sleep he was eyeing his friend, probably to make sure that he wouldn't ran off into the night.
Kakashi was still wearing most of his gear when he sat down on the mattress and pulled the blanket up to his knees. Instead of lying down his grip on the soft cloth didn't lessen as if he waited for something else to occur. His left eye faced Pakkun, who promptly closed his ones.
"Come one," he smiled lightly and lifted the blanket up to make some room for the furry being.
"It's cold enough like this," he spoke slowly, a faint glimpse of sadness exposed in his voice.
He didn't need to invite Pakkun a second time, since he almost instantly jumped his way up to Kakashi and as soon as the man laid down on his side, one arm supporting his head the other still attached to the blanket, the small dog moved as close as possible, rubbing his back against Kakashi's stomach when he sat down into his sleeping position.
The silverhaired chuckled and pulled the blanket over his back, his now free arm caressing Pakkun's head.
No five minutes later he could hear the snoring noises from his furry friend. It was impressive. Dogs could really drift into their own dream-world in between minutes.
Slightly jealous of this incredible ability, he watched Pakkun's breast raising and falling with every breath of air. His fingers still monotonously circling around the dog's ears he slowly began to sink into his own sleep.
"Sorry, Pakkun," his voice was already breaking and a yawn interrupted his apology when his world turned black. He finally fell asleep after this exhausting day.
A better day, holding an answer to his tormenting question was all he was hoping for as soon as his consciousness was drifting away.
Abruptly his short-lived sleep was put to an end. Kakashi was awoken by the familiar voice of a furious woman, standing right in the entrance of his tent, throwing around the few belongings he was currently taking care of.
He turned onto his back and blinked a few times, the blazing rays of light enlightened his rather ill-lit camp, almost blinding him in his recently awaked state of mind. But nonetheless he could already figure out that her presence wasn't a coincidence.
According to the low position of the rising sun it was still early in the morning. Too early for the people of his search team to be up and moreover for waking him.
Soon Kakashi's eye adapted to the bright sunlight shining right on his face, but the uneasy feeling only grew worse after he finally took a glance at the figure in front of him.
He guessed right. It was Tsunade's sharp voice he had perceived before. Her tone wasn't that easy to adapt to.
"We're leaving, Kakashi," her voice cut through the air like steel, "All of the remaining corpses that we know of were retrieved."
Her voice didn't falter as she was practically telling the jounin, still drugged with sleep, to go home and forget about his dear friend.
Kakashi didn't move, his head staring onto the ceiling of his tent. Silence took over, only disrupted by the quiet noises of Pakkun sleeping.
He slowly closed his eye, imagining the best way to react, but almost a million thoughts were crushing his consciousness. Kakashi reached for his headband and with his skilful fingers he slid it over his eye carrying the sharingan. His long fingers rested there for a second.
Then, after he eventually decided which final thought he would listen too, he spoke up, his voice barely audible, "Soka."
In one move he was standing upright, one hand already gathering the stuff he was wearing yesterday, the other was carefully putting the blanket back over Pakkun's warm body.
He didn't want to wake him that early if it wasn't necessary, especially when he had to tell him about the unpleasant news.
While he was dressing up he bluntly asked into the direction of the tent's entrance, "Is there something else I can do for you?"
Kakashi was aware of the fact that Tsunade wouldn't just come here for simple chit-chat, especially not with him, but he couldn't hide the hurtful feelings in his words. He may have just decided to leave peacefully with her, but his emotions sadly didn't just vanish after his decision was made.
Her face softened and she sighed, her answer more truthful than he had expected, "I just wanted to make sure that you were coming with us. Konoha needs you Kakashi, more than ever." - "I see," he mumbled, his head now facing the next problem that was awaiting him.
Gently his hand caressed the dog's head to wake him from his deep slumber. A little reluctantly the small pug opened his eyes, eyeing the silverhaired with a hard stare. But his anger froze straight away as soon as he felt another presence in the room.
"What's Tsunade doing her?" One thought occupied the dog's mind.
"We're departing?!", and as soon as the question was out of his head it left a bitter taste on his tongue. Kakashi didn't manage to answer properly, which only supported the dog's uprising anger.
He nearly jumped at him. Clearly Pakkun was shocked, causing him to open his mouth before he was thinking about the words leaving it, "But what about Yama...-?!", he stopped mid-sentenced. Pakkun knew that he would have known for sure if there was any new information about Yamato's well-being.
He helplessly stared into Kakashi's direction, but he couldn't expect any help from him.
"We can't just...," he tried again, this time he was facing Tsunade, but under her penetrating eyes he didn't stand a chance. He averted his gaze and ground his teeth. There was nothing left to do. If Kakashi was obeying her order he had already faced and accepted reality.
"I understand," Pakkun's mutter was the last thing which was heard between the three of them as they were heading to the main camp.
Only a few hours after Kakashi's encounter with Tsunade, all the remaining shinobi's coming from Konoha were leaving for their home.
Here and there one could still see the leftovers of the fighting, of the dismantled tents, the trash they would leave behind would consist of metal cans, water bottles and moreover used bandages.
A small unit responsible to clean up that mess would stay for a few more days to hide the traces of the war. Kakashi was envious of these people.
His heart was shouting at him, telling him to remain there too. Actually he sort of did. The silverhaired man already knew that he had lost something precious on that battlefield, something that had kept him going forward for such a long time. That couldn't be replaced.
Ohayou,
Poor Tsunade I actually like her but she's being pretty mean here, doesn't she ^^
I love Pakkun btw - sometimes I wonder if I should write his own stories...xD
next chap already in progess! :D ~ xJKxD