Prompt: Promises
Title: every time you go - 500 words
Series: Time Travel Shenanigans, Part IX

.

Weeks passed, and then months. Sakura was introduced to Rin (who was not quite sure of her because Kakashi was so put about her existence) and Kushina (who she got on smashingly with, much to the concern of Minato), and eventually enrolled in the Academy. (And was doggedly building her chakra reserves in her spare time. She walked up trees, and the sides of houses, and on the ceiling while dinner was being made because it made Minato smile and Kakashi frown.)

The war was not over. In fact, it was getting worse.

Sakura hated when they had to leave.

...

She was petting his hair.

It had become a favorite past time of hers, he discovered. She would perch herself on the back of the sofa behind him, legs dangling over his shoulders, and little fingers would sift through his hair while she chattered about her day. (She 'approved' of Kushina, loved tempura, had been doing the chakra exercises he'd taught her, and thought her courses at the Academy were boring.)

Minato had become quite fond of her.

He tugged on her foot and she spilled onto the sofa next to him. "I've got a mission."

Sakura's smile slipped. "Leaving in the morning?"

"Mmm," he hummed in the affirmative. He tugged a lock of her hair. "I need you to promise me something."

She wrinkled her nose at him, batted away his hand, and wriggled up into a sitting position. "What 'cha need, Minato oji-san?"

"I need you to take care of Kakashi while I'm gone."

Confusion tinted her features. "But Kakashi-kun is a jounin, and he leads missions, and he even lives by himself."

"Mhmm," he agreed as he set his hand on her head. "But you're good at taking care of people, and Kakashi-kun needs caring for." She glowed at his praise and he leaned in so they were closer to eye level. "Sometimes the people who seem to not need caring for need it the most."

"Kind of like you?" she asked, green eyes clear and intent.

His lips turned up ever so slightly at the corners. "Kind of like me," he agreed.

Sakura's nod was a solemn one. "I promise to take good care of Kakashi-kun while you're gone."

Moments later she launched herself at him, slim arms slipping around his neck so she could press her cheek to his. (His hair tickled her nose.) "Promise me you won't die, or explode, or get maimed?"

"I promise to try." It was the best he could give.

She leaned back so she could see him again. "And promise to bring me something sharp and shiny?"

He laughed and flicked her nose.

...

"Go away."

"Can't!" she chirped as she followed doggedly at his heels.

Her cheerfulness annoyed him. Kakashi stuffed his hands in his pockets. He'd tried losing her in the crowd, but stopped short of disappearing on the rooftops. He'd made a promise. (Wily old man.)

.

A/N: More Time Travel Shenanigans. Today was one of those days I felt constrained by the word limit. I had SO MANY IDEAS, and there was so much I wanted to explore with the idea of Minato getting Sakura and Kakashi to promise to take care of each other. And because of #irony, tomorrow I will probably have no ideas at all.

Sigh.

But! Shout out to harvestangel99! Thank you for making an effort to review every chapter as it comes out! Thank you also to CherryTree230, zeroCoke, electrickpanda, angeljoonesxx and MidnightSakuraBlossom for your reviews as well! Y'all make it fun to post these drabbles :D