A/N: Another snippet for Kakashi's Kid by Silimaira. This one was requested by Fallen's child, and I thought - might as well try, right? Couldn't hurt, and didn't. At least not me, anyway. 8D I think I really like doing Kakashi, actually. I'll have to do that more often. Like for DoS maybe.
"You promised!" Kakashi hears his son shout, but it's muddled through the sound of his own heartbeat thundering in his ears.
He sees her smile, but it's nothing like what it used to be. Her response sounds very much delighted, but there's regret in it, too. And that scares Kakashi, that he can hear all that is left unsaid.
It used to be a good thing.
Kakashi tries so desperately to reach her, to grab her and take her home and ensure she is safe. Where she belongs, with him and Wakato. In Konoha. And Wakato is trying, too, but even with their shared efforts, they still can't get to her.
His son sounds just as scared as he feels, when he insults his sister and reprimands her for thinking he'd forget - how could any of them? Wakana is supposed to know them, she is supposed to understand just how much she means to them - doesn't she?
Insecurity is something he will not allow to take a hold of him until the entire matter is over and dealt with, but Wakato hasn't learned that lesson yet, he can hear that in his questioning of Wakana having possibly forgotten.
She had made a promise to them. She had laughingly told them that she would be there with them. She had promised to be with them for when Kakashi grows old and useless. She had promised to visit and tease her brother, to go on missions with them and to be the best she could be.
Her response is so typical of what Kakashi can remember from the time she had been his, from the time before she'd left them behind to wonder why.
Why?
Had he not been capable of protecting her from what threats she thought was aimed at her? Did she not have faith in her father?
If he had truly failed that much, he will learn from it. He will ensure that it can never happen again. She will never have to fear for herself again. Kakashi refuses to allow it.
"Wakana!" Kakashi calls out, along with his son, and though he tries to sound stern and disapproving, it does not work out like he had planned. He knows she hears the tremor, the fear he holds for her possible lack of a future, when she pauses.
It's just for a moment, but it's a visible reaction.
And it is enough.
He understands, now, that she does this for them, not to spite them.
He won't let her continue. Neither Kakashi nor her brother will allow her to leave them.