Chapter 37: Kakashi: Alone

I remembered the day I moved back to my flat. When I arrived, I dropped my bag on the ground and threw my flak vest on the hook.

The place was awfully quiet… and empty.

I was used to always have Hiroki around, cooking, practising a technique or just talking with one of my ninkens. Without her, my small apartment felt too big.

The dishes had been done, the bed made. The only things out of place were the piece of paper and the brush that were lying on the table. Coming nearer, I recognised Hiroki's neat script. I took the note and read it.

Kakashi,

Thanks for making a place for me at your house.

I'll give you back the key when we meet for training on Monday.

See you!

Hiroki

The note was short and the tone happy, just like she was in everyday life, but I could see the hesitations in her script. She had paused after the word "house". The period was fatter than the other punctuation indicating that the brush had stopped longer there. There was also the slight difference in inclination and speed from the first to the second line as if she had been in a whole other mental state. She had probably wanted to write more but had changed her mind.

Hiroki…

I knew the decision to remove her from my care had hurt her too, but as usual, she kept her strong and cheerful facade.

I took the note, folded it neatly in place and inserted it between the pages of my current reading. A wave of sadness crept over me. I couldn't bear the thought of being alone in that place right now. I wanted to hear Hiroki's voice asking me why I was so late again or telling me with pride what she had done during the day. In fact, I wouldn't have minded if it would have been Iruka, or even Naruto or Sakura. I just wanted someone.

I bit my thumb and summoned my most loyal ninken.

"Oi, Boss! How are you doing?"

"Maa, I've been worse…"

The pug looked around. The house was unusually clean. It looked almost inhabited.

"I see," he replied with his gruff voice. "So Hiroki… it was today."

I tried not to react but it was hard. I sat on the sofa, closed my eyes and let out a long breath. It's not as if I didn't know it would happen. I should have been prepared for that since day one.

"I hear you thinking Boss! Don't you dare believe that it would have been better if she wouldn't have lived here from the start!"

That was exactly where my mind was going. That pug knew me too much.

Pakkun climbed on the sofa and sat beside me.

"That's unfortunate. It was fun having the girl here, but Iruka will make a great mentor for her."

"I know," I replied pensively. "It shows that he likes her a lot."

Pakkun put his paw on my thigh, looking at me with his huge pug's eyes.

"Kakashi, it's ok to be sad, you know?"

I pulled the dog over my lap and caressed his warm fur the way I used to do as a child, then let my body rest against the cushions and fell asleep.

::

Sorry for the short chapter. I had something longer, but it didn't feel quite right so I decided to split it in two.
Next one will be more satisfying, I promise! :oD