~Epilogue~

Kakashi sat alone at the training field, meditating. The trees swayed in the wind, leaves rustling. It was a nice day of 70°F with a blue sky matted by a thin layer of fresh clouds. Every breath he took was a relief-being grounded for a month and bedridden for almost two, which meant staying in the house all day and night. He was craving fresh air, not the oppressive aroma of exotic food. Good food-really good food-but not what he wanted to ingest every time he breathed. It was refreshing to be outdoors.

He had nearly three surgeries: his torn knee, his dead ear, and his severed hand. He had placed his barefoot knee-deep in the cool river water. His bandaged knee and crutch were set beside him. His elbow was wrapped in a sling. Fishes swam around joyfully, occasionally brushing their scales against his skin in greeting. He stretched his neck and back, which were sore from being slumped over for so long.

Kushina was looking good as well. She had had two surgeries: her entangled chakra flowand her hand. Ligament repairs to flow reconstruction. A week after they were dispatched from the hospital, she was already walking around like a resilient child.

He wondered what kind of magic the Hokage used on them during surgery. Torn ligaments and broken bones usually require at least six months to recover. If not more. It had only been a month since they were dispatched!

Nature's lullaby slowly crept on. He found himself staring into the clear water, staring at his face. The bruises and gashes had finally disappeared, leaving small scars. He extracted the cigarette from his mouth with his good hand and blew out nicotine-filled smoke, then tossed it in the lake.

After another few minutes, he heard a voice, "Hey."

Kakashi jumped and looked over his shoulder. "Hey," He smirked at his aunt. Turning back to his book, he added, "Seems like you always find my hiding places."

Kushina sat down beside him, cross-legged. She leaned back on her un-bandaged hand. "It's easy. Just gotta look for a bush of bright hair."

Kakashi pulled his foot out of the water and folded it in front of him, holding onto his wet ankle. "I could say the same about you."

Kushina chuckled. "I've been looking for you for an hour. Last night, Nani and I checked on you nearly twenty times. This morning, you're gone. Didn't think you'd get this far on a crutch with a messed up hand."

Kakashi slouched, filling his lungs with formaldehyde, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfate. "Yeah, well, couldn't say it was easy. I'm walking like some weird mixture of a retarded penguin and a fat Smurf."

"You know you're not supposed to be up and about yet." Kushina scolded lightly.

Eyes rolling, "I know, I know. Anything else?"

"Don't forget you're still grounded."

"And let's not forget that I have another mission tomorrow."

"Exactly. Wait, what-"

Kakashi rolled his eyes again. "I'm shittin' you."

"You better be! Jesus Christ..."

"Kushina," Kakashi groaned in a sarcastic tone, looking at her as she was about to scold. "You're doing it again."

She gave him a face back, countering with, "Yeah, so are you, brat." Somehow, she was glad the boy's attitude was now a sarcastic type, rather than the previous irresponsibility and insolence. She'd take sarcasm any day.

Kushina's eyes shifted to his left hand as Kakashi peered to her right hand. The heavy bandages that made them look like turtles; the terrible swelling in their fingers. A faint stain of blood was visible on the twelfth of fifteen layers.

Kushina's face got serious again. "Kakashi, I'm not sure if you remember, but I wanted to apologize for what happened before all of this."

Kakashi closed his book, giving her his full attention.

"I didn't mean to call you all those things. I was talking solely out of anger, but I was serious when I said that Nani, Papa, and I are trying to make you feel comfortable with us. I'm sorry I hurt you like that." Kushina sincerely apologized.

"Actually, I have to agree with you. Now, at least." Kakashi admitted. He eyed all of her bandages, the wrapping around her center.

"Huh?"

"I may not have realized it back then, but I really am kinda ungrateful. It wasn't the best thing I've heard, but it really woke me up. But, you were right." Kakashi was slightly smiling, but it only faltered as he continued on, "I'm sorry."

Kushina smiled at the boy's maturity. But, for her own pleasure, she pushed on. "What was that last part before the apology?"

"You were right." Kakashi chuckled, seeing where this was heading.

"What? One more time."

"Oh my God - you were right all along, okay?"

The two laughed together again.

"I'm glad to hear you say that, Kakashi," the red-haired woman praised. "You're already maturing."

For once, Kakashi was the first to smile. Kushina kissed his snowy hair. "Just a heads-up, I already know I'm gonna screw up again soon. Probably gonna miss curfew or something. So, whatever I say to you, don't take it personally. I'm stupid when I'm pissed."

Kushina chuckled. "I'll keep that in mind. So, how was your date with Shizune?"

Kakashi blushed. "To be honest, I think I'm falling in love with her."

Kushina's eyes widened. "Really?"

"Yeah," Kakashi had an alien, passionate smile on his unmasked face. "I know it's not puppy love or anything. I don't know, I just...can't stop thinking about her. It's hard to describe."

Kakashi noticed his aunt watching him. And there, right on time, was his across-the-nose blush. Redder than a rose. He felt all the hairs on his body standing on end.
"And so, the surprises continue..." Kushina taunted.

"N-NO! Stop! Be quiet! You didn't hear anything, okay?!"

"Calm down." Kushina said, petting his hair. "I think Shizune's a nice girl. Got a good head on her shoulders. She's going to be beautiful when she grows up."

"What should I do? I don't want to end up obsessing over her like some creeper."

"I...have no idea..." When Kakashi groaned, she went on, "As corny as it sounds, you should just follow your heart."

Kakashi stared into the riverbank. "I don't have a heart, there's only a black hole. And stop talking like an old person! No one says 'corny' anymore!"

Kushina chuckled. She wriggled out of her bulky jacket and folded it the best she could.

"I hope you're not thinking about jumping in." Kakashi said. "'Cause if something were to happen to you, I can't do anything about it."

"You crazy? It's for your knee." Kushina gently lifted his knee and elevated it with the jacket. "How is it, by the way?"

"Fine, just...fine." After Kushina sat back down, Kakashi muttered, "Thanks...Oba."

Kushina's jaw could have hit the floor. Instead she stared at the boy with large eyes. "Huh?"

Kakashi turned completely around in humiliation, face reddening again. "Nothing!"

"Did you just-"

"N-no, I-! No!"

That touched the kunoichi's heart. As if swallowing her surprise, she smiled warmly. Not her usual in-your-face, good-God-she's-happy! smile, but a gentle one. Her eyes glittered like the sea.

"I've...called you that before...behind your back, though." Kakashi gave in, seeing that it was hopeless to try and take it back. He glanced at his aunt from the side with a tomato-ed, but confident face. "I'm not really good with things like this. But, I'm grateful for all you guys have done for me. I feel like...I have a real family again."

With one hand, Kushina grabbed Kakashi's head and pulled him into her chest in a hug. "Thanks, baby. That means a lot."

Kakashi, for the first time ever, was the first to laugh. The sound was enchanting-light and genuinely happy. Instead of being mordant in the sense of humor, he was approachable.

Kushina released the boy. "Y'know, when we took you in, that's all we really wanted. To give you a place to call your home with a loving family. I'm glad we've accomplished that goal. Nani and Papa, too."

The boy felt himself tearing up, so he looked away momentarily. It was heart-filling; at last, he was accepted. A true family: Oba, Ani, Master Jiraiya, and him. Just like in the movies. A happy family with love and, finally, bliss.

"So...should we head back home?" Kakashi asked.

Kushina shrugged. "How do you feel?"

"Fine, fine. Why?"

"Why not?" She laughed. "You had, like, three surgeries!"

"Duh, so did you!" Kakashi mocked her before laughing. "What's your point?"

Kushina chuckled and shook her head, casting a glance at the crystal clear water. "You...are such a smart-ass. Nani's on her way. We figured you'd be somewhere around here, so he made lunch."

"Why does it seem like all we do is eat now?"

"Well, maybe so. You think we're smothering you?"

"No, I'm just saying. It's kinda funny - especially since we just got over what got us here in the first place. Seems like binge eating from all the stress." Kakashi chuckled darkly. "Y'know, I don't think I've ever seen you that pissed off."

"Yeah, I know. Kinda harsh, huh?" the elder Jonin asked, still astonished that Kakashi Hatake was calling him that.

"Just a bit. But I'm equally at fault. Kinda started it." Kakashi combed back his hair with his hand only for it to spring back into place. "Got pissed for no good reason."

"Shit...I've never gotten the silent treatment from you before."

"True. And you rarely yell at me THAT much." Kakashi blew a lazy strand of hair from his forehead, watching it fall. "Well, maybe that's not entirely true..."

"Rei's right. Whenever we argue, it's bad." Kushina closed her eyes, taking in the sun.

"Who's Rei?" asked the boy.

Kushina remembered that he was out cold after it started snowing for the majority of his check-up. "Oh, she was the medical ninja that I was calling to. After you blacked out when we reached the border, she examined you. She was that woman in the alley after your arrest. Apparently, she was in my class when we were kids."

"Oh, okay." Kakashi nodded. "Is she a good ninja?"

"Yeah, she reminded me of Rin. Extremely talented in the medical field."

"Ah. She a better medical ninja than any man? What'd she do to me?"

"Oh, well," Kushina held back snickers, making Kakashi blink obliviously. "Yes, she is a very good kunoichi. You see, being a medical specialist, she had to put you through some tests. Blood analysis, for example. Your overall temperature was needed."

The young Jonin nodded for her to go on.

"Your overall temperature was needed." Kushina repeated for emphasis. But Kakashi still didn't catch on. He just blankly stared at her.

"Yeah? So, she stuck a bunch of thermometers in me? C'mon, I'm dyslexic."

She placed a supportive hand on his good shoulder. This only increased his anxiety. Kushina gathered all the strength he could build. "Yes, in you."

"What?"

Minato appeared with a basket. He sat down beside them and decorated the grass with two plates of leftover saury and rice and a bowl of chicken broth with three cups of steaming tea. He plucked out Kakashi's pain medicine and dropped the tablets into his soup. He did the same for Kushina. The two soups bubbled and fizzed. A creased formed by his nose in disgust. As long as the two ultimately picky eaters did not see, they would eat it without even tasting the medication. "Are you finally telling him the story?"

"Yeah, I'm trying." Kushina was almost in hysterics too.

Kakashi looked at the two, growing a little impatient. "Okay, you two know something I don't. Now, tell me."

"She stuck a thermometer up your ass, Kakashi." Kushina tried to keep her voice steady. Then, she and Minato broke out laughing.

Kakashi froze; he instantly became a tomato again. "...And she was a girl? Like a woman?"

"Mm-hm." Kushina nodded. Minato covered his eyes, still hopelessly in a humorous stupor.

Kakashi stared at his aunt with murderous intent. Once she looked up, he exclaimed, "Why would you let her do that to me?!"

"Whoa, whoa, calm down! She was the only one between the fifteen of us who had experience with that sort of thing. Personally, I didn't want to mess you up, so all I did was put another thermometer in your mouth." Kushina defended.

"Wait, there were others watching?! Oh my God..."

"It's not that bad, honey."

"How would you know?! How about we stick a thermometer up your ass in front of the whole freakin' village?!"

"Calm down, Kakashi." Kushina struggled to say. "And watch your mouth."

The adults were still in their own worlds, failing to hold back their laughter. Kakashi covered his red face. "Jesus...You should've done something! The heck!"

"Hey, I tried!" Kushina defended himself. "I told her it wasn't a good idea since it was snowing!"

"Oh yeah, for how long did you do that?! Remember, that was my dignity!"

A mischievous smirk formed on her face as she faked oblivion. This was too good! "Like, a few seconds, why?"

"OBA!" Kakashi whimpered.

"Oh, hush."

The broad tarnish colour of Kakashi's number code caught Minato's attention. He traced his fingers over the bulky surface with a sympathetic look on his face. "Does it hurt?"

Kakashi shook his head innocently. Usually he would flinch away when the area was prodded at - whether it be by a person or any object. It was still sensitive. Kushina was frowning at the tattoo. She hated the sight of it. How dare someone burn a painful bookmark on their kid. If she saw any of those bastards again...well, she better not. The two began reminisce on their adventure, joking and laughing.

Minato watched his loves reliving their quest.

It had been ages since he'd seen his wife's eyes brighten up and even longer since he'd heard her laugh with such genuine glee. It seemed mildly foreign-as she had spent the last couple of months livid at Kakashi's behavior or grumpy and exhausted from a migraine, in which Kakashi was most likely the source of. Her eyes absorbed the sun's rays and reflected them in a rich amethyst hue.

As for Kakashi, Kushina never thought he would actually allow himself to let loose and burst out laughing again. Until that day, she always thought his natural eye color was darkened to black. But at that very moment as the two conversed and goofed around like children, she noticed that he still had a silver eye that shimmered in the sunlight. The sadness in his eyes had disappeared, instead a gleam of joy flourished in his irises as he talked to his Ani.

She longed to capture the moment and store it in her heart until the day she died. She loved the sweet harmony of their laughter, it was refreshing. The argument the two suffered through could've ended their bond and destroyed them all. But seeing her nephew and husband messing around like old times... This was what she had prayed for during her lonely nights. She felt blessed. 'Thank you, Lord.'

Kushina laughed as Kakashi gave his teacher a tantrum-filled face and shook her head. Minato just smiled tauntingly at him. She scooted forward, placing her plate on the ground. She did so with each of their plates and bowls as well. Then, she wrung her arms around each of the boys' necks and pulled them into a group hug.

Minato accepted, wrapping one arm around Kushina's waist and the other on Kakashi's back while his hand scruffed his silver hair. He took in the aroma of her hair, the scent he was deprived of for months. He smoothed his student's spiky hair. Yes, he missed the little rascal as well in his absence. He was relieved, unable to picture life without his two loves. They were both there, alive and well. That was all he cared about.

Kushina's eyes spilled tears, holding tightly onto the man she loved and the child she cherished. Her family. Small, maybe unorthodox, but family. There was no replacing them. There was no moment in her life that she would anticipate separation from them. She smiled warmly. This was exactly what she wanted.

Kakashi, though he could barely move, accepted the embrace as well. He timidly clutched Kushina's dress and Minato's shirt. He wondered if that was how parents hugged their children. It felt so right. He closed his eyes, and automatically knew that he loved his adoptive parents dearly. He was finally home, finally had a place to proudly call home. Home meant sanctuary, as familiar and taken for granted as the sun rising in the morning. He understood that now.

As the pages caress one another in turning - overcoming chapters entitled with words that savored a bitter taste - a soft breeze embraced the naked paper. The freshly inked quill stroked said paper, illustrating a faultless paradise of love and bliss. The makeshift family introduced a new chapter in their journal of memories entitled Cherishment.

~~The End~~

[May 2013 - April 2015]

A/n::
I hope you enjoyed it! Thank you for reading and reviewing; it means a lot! Hah! And thanks for putting up with Kakashi's pitiful attitude for the entire story! XD For the continuation and the big revelation that explains the characters' thoughts and attitudes and actions, please check out my next story 'The Pianist'. Hope it'll be a good one, too! Thank you, again, and hope to see you over there!