He tried to calm them down. He did every trick in his admittedly small book of kiddie tricks to cheer them up. But Maaku and Mikeira would not stop crying. It took a frazzled troupe of nurses, led by Escu, to teach Kakashi how to hold and rock the little girl into calmness while Escu focused on Maaku.
By the time the two were tucked back into bed, Escu's shift had been over two hours.
Kakashi thanked her as she left and settled back in between the room's two beds. Whatever Inoichi had done had obviously knocked some memories lose for them to be reacting this way so soon after. For a moment Kakashi could hear the tiny voices begging for it to stop.
He hoped he never found out what it was.
Blessedly the two didn't seem to remember the ordeal in the morning, eating their breakfast with neat motions and lots of napkins.
After breakfast the two spent some time hovering over Hirari while Kakashi wrote his latest report to send to the Hokage. The answer he received that afternoon wasn't what he had been expecting. It also pretty much meant the end of the world in Kakashi's opinion.
"I have to take them home?" He asked out loud, mostly too himself.
"I'm sure it's nothing to do with you, Hatake-san. The hospital is always in need of more space and the children will heal just as well outside than in here." Escu said reassuringly, patting Kakashi's back as he stared unseeingly at the paper in his hand.
"That I can understand, but what I can't is why me? My home is no place for children…I have stuff lying around." Kakashi turned to look back at the two children in the room.
"Well, you'll just have to watch them carefully and pick up after yourself." Escu said folding a stack of sterile white sheets. "I'm sure the Hokage wouldn't send them home with you if he wasn't sure you were up for the mission. It is a mission isn't it?"
"Yes, an A-rank." Kakashi answered wistfully.
"Well, you know where to find me if you need any help with them or have any questions. I'll help in any way I can. I know they will hate to leave Hirari's side." Escu said softly.
Hate was an understatement. As soon as Kakashi told the two toddlers they would be leaving without their third member, they blew a fuse. Once again the fuss drew in a group of nurses who fretted and fussed over them until they calmed down and Kakashi stood silently by the door while Escu sat on the bed.
Pulling Mikeira onto her lap Escu took a long time explaining over and over again that Hirari would be staying with her for a while and they could come anytime they wanted to see her, but there were other sick people who needed the bed they slept in. That Kakashi would take good care of them until Hirari could come home too.
It took a few minutes of Escu's quiet assurances before the two toddlers calmed down enough to allow Kakashi to pick them up and move down the hall. He had to rearrange them twice before he was comfortable enough to carry them into the street.
The walk to his home took longer than usual, slowed by his burden. Kakashi didn't see anyone he knew, thankfully, and no one gave him any suspicious looks. Did he honestly look like the two toddlers hanging off him belonged there?
Mikeira and Maaku watched their surroundings with wide eyes and clung a bit tighter to Kakashi. They had never seen so many people, alive at least, and the village was alight with lanterns and street lamps. They passed shops of all sorts and each presented a new smell or sensation for the two children. By the time they had reached Kakashi's house they were tuckered out.
Kakashi struggled with the front door for a moment before he was able to go inside. He set the two children down on the floor of the foyer and slipped of his shoes. Turning to them he gave them a quick "Stay here." Then walked into the house.
His first stop was immediately to the right, the living room, where he quickly cleared off the couches. He then left the living room, turned right and took a flight of stairs. A quick stop the linen closet and he was back downstairs to make up the couch for his impromptu visitors.
It took next to nothing to lead the toddlers to the couch and put them in bed. They insisted on sharing one couch and pillow.
Kakashi spent the rest of the evening picking up every sharp object he could find and locking them away in his room. It was during this that he really began to think.
They were going to need things. Clothes, food, toys… where did he get away with buying all this? He hadn't a clue where to start. What did they even eat besides hospital food?
Stopping in the dining room, Kakashi dropped into a chair at the table. Across its surface open scrolls and maps were splayed open from some research he had long since lost interest in. Rubbing his eyes he let himself feel hopeless for a moment. Taking a deep breath, he was about to double check his initial sweep for harmful things when there was a knock at his door.
And standing at the door when he got there was the last person he wanted to see at that moment.
"Gai."