Moments of Memories

Kakashi was numb. He didn't know what to think or feel over the news he was given. He had known that Kei was sick. He just never knew the extent of it.

Tsunade had told him everything. How bad Kei's disease really was. How she could never figure out what was wrong. No matter what she did, it was like the black jutsu was eating at something inside Kei. It wasn't his chakra, it wasn't his magic, she could never pin it down. But that meant she never found a cure. She could stall the symptoms, reduce the pain, but in the end, Kei's mind was gone.

He learned everything. He learned about Itachi, and how for years, Kei and Makoto were the missing-nin's one connection to the village. He learned the real reason the Uchiha heir had slaughtered his clan and fled. He was told about Kei's time at Hogwarts. How Makoto was reporting back some disturbing facts. He read the notes about the Akatsuki and how the plans to combat them.

There was so much. He thought he always had one ear on the ground, hearing all the whispers about secrets he shouldn't know, but the biggest one, the most important, involved his little brother and he never knew.

"Where is his body?" He finally asked. It was a logical conclusion. Tsunade wouldn't be telling him this, finally letting him in, if Kei wasn't dead.

"Upstairs in my private hospital room. Makoto was found at the gate last night. He will pull through, but his wounds were severe. Kei… He has been gone for days now. Only Makoto's resolve to bring him home, got him here."

Kakashi let out a hysterical laugh. Of course, Makoto brought him home. He never doubted Kei's partner. Makoto always got them home.

"I need to see him."

"I know. We can go now."

The walk was longer than any he had taken before. Each step up was heavy, seeming to grow longer and longer the closer he got. When the door opened, his eye narrowed in on the tiny figure resting on the nearest bed.

Kei was so small. Without his gear, and shinobi uniform… without his headband, to tame his wild white hair… he was just a little child. Kakashi choked up and let out a small sob. Kei was his little child. The boy he swore to raise and protect and he dragged him into this life that eventually killed him.

Walking forward, he grabbed his brother and pulled him to this chest. His sobs grew from a tiny little choke to full wails as everything cam crashing down on him.

He lost his father to this world, he lost his brother, and one day he would lose his own life to the shinobi world and defending Konoha. He wasn't angry. He could never be angry at the village he called home. But he could be sad. Sad that he lost the brightest light in his life. Sad that he was alone again. Sad that despite losing his life, this was the proudest he had ever been.

Kei saved them.

He saved them all and made sure that his final sacrifice meant something. He fought one battle to save them hundreds in the future. He installed a protection around the village so that they would never fear being betrayed by another allied village again. His brother did that. His brother was the bravest, strongest, and most caring person he had ever known and he was damn proud to have known him.

The world was dark place. Kei was light, and without him, it would forever be dimmer.

Struggling to reel in his tears, Kakashi turned to the Hokage. "He deserves to be recognized. He deserves to be known as a great hero. The people need to know that he has done so much for them!"

A tear ran down Tsunade's face as she nodded. "He deserves all that," she agreed. "But it can't happen. You know the rules. It would reveal too many village secrets."

He turned away from her. He did know. His father could have been remembered as a great man but the laws and rules regarding their profession and missions were absolute. Sakumo was seen as a betrayer, a man who failed his mission. Nobody was allowed to know that he threw his mission way to save his team. And for that, his father would never get the recognition he deserved. Like Kei.

Hatake's were fodder. They lived, served, and died for Konoha.

"It's a stupid rule," he muttered as he continued to hold Kei.

He didn't hear an argument back.

o.O.o

Kei giggled as he listened to another tale about Kakashi when he was little. He had been with Sakumo for a while, and the man was entertaining him.

"So, he stood there glaring at me for laughing, but I taught him a valuable lesson. You should always treat your ninken as your equal… or…." The man prompted.

He giggled again but happily answered, "Or they will pee on your head!"

"Exactly!" Sakumo cheered. The duo laughed together but soon it died down.

"Kei, you have been with me for awhile now, but you have not once asked to meet your parents, why?"

It wasn't really something he needed to think about. "I never knew them. I knew that I was adopted, and that I had parents before Kakashi… but I don't remember them. Even when I was at Hogwarts, and the chance to learn, I didn't want to. I was born Harry Potter, but I am Hatake Kei now. I don't feel the love and connection with them that I should, I think. And if I went to meet them, you would be left here alone. Maybe one day I will be curious enough and want to meet them, but until then I can at least keep you company until Kakashi arrives."

Sakumo looked at him sadly. "You have led a very sad life. You had a target on your back the moment you were born and have struggled every day since."

Kei shrugged. "I didn't struggle every day. And when I think about it, the good always beat the bad. I had Nii-chan and then Kotestu and Izumo. Kurenai joined us, and then I got Makoto. Itachi and Sasuke weren't always around, but I appreciated all the time we got together. I never dwelled on the pain. I focussed on my family and the love they gave me and that made every thing worth it." He answered.

"I miss them all, and I wish to see them all again soon… but I don't want them to arrive for a very long time. I hope they are all taking care of each other."

"Your body and mind are almost all healed now, I think," Sakumo responded.

"Healed? Why do they need to heal?" Kei asked.

"Even in the after life, we carry scars from living. You had a second soul inside you. A piece of a mad man. When you were hit with that unknown jutsu, meant to kill you, it was really breaking down and tearing that extra soul up inside you. Tsunade couldn't heal you, because she didn't know to look for a second soul and stop the chakra flow. The soul piece was strong. Carried a lot of dark magic from your original world and was fighting the jutsu. Your body, being the battleground, endured the pain from both warring sides."

Kei was fascinated. His mind was clearer and things were making more sense. He long accepted that it was his destiny to die a long slow death, but to have a reason behind it… He had so many questions.

"When you finally died, the soul piece, scared for it's life, was distracted. It tried to revive you, which gave the jutsu a chance to finally complete it's mission. That soul is now gone, allowing your body to finally rest and heal from their war."

"Whose soul was it?"

"You know your own story by now. When you were just a baby, a Dark Lord entered your home on Halloween night…"

"And killed my parent's. The Dark Lord Voldemort." Kei was stumped. "He must not have done it willingly. Who would attach their soul to a baby they are meant to kill?"

Sakumo nodded. "He didn't know it happened. But it did, and that is what has kept you alive this long."

It was shocking to hear. "I would have died even younger?"

A hmm sounded from the older man as he looked towards the fire. "I am not sure… The dead, we can see and learn many things. But your destiny is not one of them. When I grow wary of being alone here, I look upon my son, check in on how he is doing. Then I see those who are close to him, and follow their past, so that I may learn more about them. You fascinated me.

You brought along a whole new world. Witches and wizards, magical beasts. From what I observed and then sought to know; your destiny has never been set in stone. It is like a gentle stream of water, winding it's way through the universe, going in which ever direction it feels like at the moment. Most people's destiny is like a drop on a line of string. It follows the string until the end and then drops away. But you never had a string, I think. You were created and then set free to roam.

Your partner Makoto, he was once set to become a tokebetsu jonin. He was going to be mentored by a weapon's smith and eventually take over managing the ANBU armoury. He was supposed to marry a woman who would go no further then Chuunin, and then retire to take care of their two children. Eventually, during an invasion by the Akatsuki, he was going to be killed. I saw his string. It was all there. But his drop of water disappeared. Instead it starting flowing next to yours, following the twists and turns yours took, and I can't see where it leads. But his old string remains. A ghost of what could have happened."

"And Nii-chan… did you see his string?" He had to know.

"I did. It was the first thing I did when I died. I needed to know that my son was going to be okay. He wasn't. His life was meant to be sad. His first team would all die, his mentor sacrificed himself to save the village. He would join ANBU looking for a suicide mission, hoping one of them would finally kill him. He was eventually going to get a genin team. The same team he had now actually. Glad that never changed.

He would be a poor teacher, in no way holding up the Hatake name. Then they were splinter apart, each going their own way and leaving him alone again. He never established a friendly connection with anyone after his mentor died. He was cold. His life didn't hold much joy. But again, you came along. You changed things and my son's life has far exceeded the misery he was set to live."

Kei leaned against the man and closed his eyes as he absorbed all the information he was given. "I'm glad I made him happy. But he is miserable now. I can feel it."

"He cared deeply for you. More than I think he even felt for me."

"Probably because I am cuter," Kei threw out.

Sakumo chuckled and lightly bopped him on the head. "That you are. You should go see him soon. He has really missed you. That younger Uchiha too. I think he's considering really running away this time."

o.O.o

Sasuke huffed and grumbled as he kicked away some debris in his path. He hated being back.

First, the Hokage had to go and make some grand announcement that he was a hero. His fangirls all returned in droves to cheer him on and express their gratitude. "Oh Sasuke-sama, you're so great." Yes. Everyone already knew that. "Sasuke-sama, you must have been so lonely. Let me help you." Gross. He did not want some middle-aged woman throwing herself at him. "Sasuke-sama, I believed in you the whole time." Liars. He was a jerk, everyone fully believed he ditched the village.

Second. His brother. It was awkward as he didn't know what to say to him. Itachi had been his idol as a child, and then he killed everyone and left, so Sasuke was angry and bitter for a little bit. Well… a big bit. He really hated his brother. Then Kei came along and opened his eyes to the possibility that Itachi wasn't all evil. But it was still hard to jump from 'He's the worst person to ever walk this earth' to 'Aniki, I love you.' He probably would never tell his brother that ever again.

Plus, Itachi was trying really hard to get to know him. He would ask about his favourite food. Tomatoes. That never changed. He asked about Sasuke's friends. Kei. Only person. He tried to talk about training, but after Orochimaru, Sasuke was contemplating scraping everything he knew and starting over with the academy basics. He didn't want to carry any taint from that man.

Third. Kei wasn't here. He willingly came back because that soulless ink bastard had said Kei would be here. Was he? No. Did he get any news on the boy? None. The Hokage was very tight-lipped and said his part of the mission was further away. It had been three weeks, since he got back, and unless Kei was on the bloody moon, there was no way he wasn't back yet!

He tried to hunt down Kakashi, to interrogate the man about his brother, but his old sensei was nowhere to be seen. The last news about Kei was when he went MIA. That was no help at all. Sasuke could have retired. Just ditched the walking talking mannequin and retired to the Land of Hot Springs or something. Money wasn't an issue as he was pocketing loads from Orochimaru before the man's death. He could spend his days in a warm bath and drinking Sake. He never had Sake before, but if the Hokage lived off the stuff there had to be something there.

"Sasuke-kun, The Hokage wants to know when you would like to return to active duty. As you didn't suffer any serious injuries, you can be placed into active rotation," Itachi told him as he exited the main house.

Sasuke huffed again. "I think I need a new psychologist if the current one thinks I am ready to enter active duty again."

Itachi frowned. "Sasuke… talk to me."

He wouldn't.

He didn't know what to say to his brother.

"You can keep the main house. I am going to inspect the other buildings to see if any of them are habitable." He threw out instead.

It was suffocating in the main house. All the memories and now Itachi being back.

"This is your home," Itachi argued.

He didn't agree. "It's our prison."

Being a Uchiha carried a lot of expectations, before and after the massacre. He missed being free of the village, and not having to live up to the ideals that were forced upon him. Really not wanting to argue, Sasuke walked away.

The compound was in decent shape. All the buildings were still standing. Some had taken some weather damage, but it was all easily repairable. There were thick layers of dust coating every house, but that was done away with if he used a wind justu. Most of the houses followed the same basic structure, but some he could see had been altered slightly. The old bakers home had a larger kitchen and a small shop attached to the side. There was one home that had been split into two different apartments that used to home some elderly Uchiha.

He entered one, close to the fence, a little behind the others and had to stop short at the sight in front of him. Draped over a chair was a familiar white kimono. He could see a faint yellow settling into the fabric, but the pink flowers that he used to admire where still visible. A small tin of white face make up lay on the floor near by. The kimono itself looked like the owner had hastily thrown it off and onto the chair as he needed to be somewhere quick.

Sasuke tried to think back to his last meeting with 'Yuki'. Had Kei left in a rush then? He couldn't remember… but the memories… the good times he spent with Yuki… those came flooding back.

Dropping to his knees and shuffling forward, he hesitantly reached out to touch the fabric. It was real. It was the first physical representation that Sasuke had seen of Kei/Yuki. His friend did exist. Those years of believing in a ghost, were embarrassing, but so rewarding. Kei had guided him though that rough time, and he desperately wished his friend was here again to guide him through this one.

What was he supposed to do? He hated Konoha for everything it had done to his family. He hated that he needed to play nice, and help them, and act like he didn't want to punch every civilian and fan girl that praised him. He hated that his brother still loved his place. Itachi had been through worse than him. He was in the trenches far longer, playing a part for years before Sasuke entered the field. He had worse experiences all because Konoha ordered him to. Yet he still loved this place. How? Why? Why did Sasuke hate it but his brother love it?

He wanted to be free. He wanted to live life how he chose… but that wasn't a shinobi life. He needed to rediscover his love for his village, but how could he when his strongest connection was gone.

"I don't think Kurenai ever forgave me for losing that kimono," a soft voice spoke from behind him.

Whipping around, Sasuke could hardly believe his eyes as Kei stood in the doorway. He was dressed in a white t-shirt, white shorts, and white sandals. He noticed that Kei wasn't wearing his forehead protector, allowing his hair to run wild in every direction. The most noticeable thing was, Kei wasn't wearing a face mask. It had been so long since he had seen his friend's bare face.

"Kei…" he whispered.

His friend gave him a familiar smile. "Sasuke. Why are you on the ground?"

Sasuke stumbled to his feet, refusing to take his eye's off the younger Hatake. "You're back."

"For a little while." Kei responded softly.

"Are you leaving again soon?" That wasn't fair. He just got to see him!

"I have to. The dead can't stay on the land of the living for long."

Dead?

"Dead!" Sasuke hoarsely choked out. "You're not dead!" he screamed at the end. It wasn't possible. Kei was just on an s-class mission. Kei was coming home. Kei was home.

He got a sad look in return. "We all die eventually. My time just came a little earlier than yours." He explained.

"But… I can't do this without you…"

How was he supposed to love Konoha again when the person he loved the most wasn't there anymore? How was he supposed to carry on without Kei? He wasn't a good person. He wasn't the moral just leaf-nin that he was expected to be. Kei was his anchor and now the chain was cut?

"Sasuke," Kei started. "You are one of the strongest people I know. Anything you want, you can achieve. You don't need me as a cheerleader anymore."

He didn't like how final those words were.

"I must be dreaming." He concluded. Didn't he just tell his brother he needed a new therapist. Clearly, he was crazy and hallucinating.

Kei walked towards him and took his face in his hands. "Sasuke, you don't need me. You never have. You got through Orochimaru without me. It was the hardest fight and mission you have ever had, and you did it. I wasn't there holding your hand, I wasn't coaching you. You did it. We all love Konoha. If we didn't, we never would have sworn our lives and loyalty to her. You just need to remember why you love Konoha. You loved her before me, and you will love her even after I am gone. Don't give up. You are too strong and stubborn to give up."

Sasuke desperately grabbed Kei's wrists, searching his eyes, hoping this was all real. "You weren't there but my memories of you were, my desire to see you again. That's what me through all that."

Kei smiled. "You will always have memories about me. No one can take those from you."

He nodded. It was true. But he would have preferred to make new memories with Kei. "How long do you have left? I want you to take a walk with me." It was something he had imagined doing later in life, but the person was the same.

"I have time to walk with you. Where are we going?"

Moving away, Sasuke stood up slowly and brushed the dirt off his knees. When he was done, he reached over and took Kei's hand into his own. "There is a path, through the trees and down to a shrine. Uchiha's would often avoid it, and only walk it on the day they married. I want to walk this path with you." He explained. "If this is the last time we talk, then I want this to be our last memory together."

Kei sniffled and leaned against him. "Lead the way."

He didn't say anything after that. He gently guided Kei outside and to the forest. He didn't know where Itachi was and he didn't really care. He didn't want his brother intruding on his last moments with Kei.

The path wad overgrown. Without anyone to maintain it, it didn't have the beauty it was once rumoured to hold. But he didn't care. It was the first time he was walking this way, and it would be the last. Even if he found someone in the future that he cared enough about to marry, he wouldn't bring them here. This was his final journey with Kei.

When they reached the shrine, they both kneeled and bowed towards the wooden structure. The names of his ancestors were here. Numerous wooden placards with spouses' names together. They came here long ago and wished that their marriages would be happy and blessed.

Feeling himself getting choked up, Sasuke turned towards his partner. "I am going to miss you so much."

"And I will miss you. But you won't always be sad. One day you are going to be doing something mundane, like cutting a tomato and it will hit you that it doesn't hurt as much as it used to. That you can go days, weeks, and months without thinking about me, and you won't feel guilty, because you know that I am happy that you are living your life."

Sasuke let out a watery chuckle. "You have too much faith in me."

"And you have none in yourself, so I need to make up the difference."

"I'll try. I will try to find a reason to love Konoha again." There must be something good about this village since Kei loved it so.

"That's all I ask. Oh!" Kei shook his head and smiled as he just remembered something. "And give Itachi a break? He doesn't know what to say or do with you either. You both will be happier if you can rebuild some of your sibling relationship."

Sasuke rolled his eyes at the request. It would take a miracle to get him to be friendly with his brother again.

"Try asking him to explain from the beginning. There is still a lot you don't know about the massacre and why he needed to leave. Start there. I promise it will turn out well." Kei asked him.

It was hard to say no to the Hatake. Unlike his older brother, Sasuke actually cared about his opinion and requests. "Fine."

Kei beamed at him. "Thank you."

Sasuke turned away. He would do it, but he wouldn't like it. Spying a piece of bark near the shrine, Sasuke reached over with this free hand to grab it. "We will put our names here and then go back." He demanded.

"We have nothing to write with," Kei pointed out.

Sasuke chuckled, and released Kei's hand. "We are shinobi." He bit his thumb and used the blood to carefully spelled out his name on the smooth side of the bark. Next he presented the wood to Kei.

The little Hatake stared at it curiously. "I don't think I bleed anymore… but I can try." The ghost raised his thumb up and bit down. It wasn't blood that came out, not really. It was a shimmering liquid that seeped out of the wound. "Well isn't that neat…." Kei trailed off.

Slowly, Kei spelled his name and smiled at Sasuke when he was done. "It worked!" he cheered.

Sasuke couldn't help but smile fondly at the wood. Their names together. Leaning down he placed a soft kiss on Kei's hair. "Thank you," he whispered.

Kei smiled at him sadly with tears in his eyes. "Thank you, for bringing me here. For caring so much about me."

"I'll put this on the shrine and then we can walk back together." He said. Turning away, Sasuke gently put the bark in the shrine. He couldn't hang it, but it would forever rest among the names of his ancestors. Closing his eyes, he sent up a small prayer.

When he finished, he turned around, but Kei was gone.

o.O.o

The Hokage was finally releasing him from the hospital. She had kept him in confined to bed until she was 100 percent certain he was healed from his injuries. It was surreal being allowed to leave. He was unsure of his future. He knew in his mind that Konoha was the exact same as he was last here, but it felt… empty.

He didn't flinch when two arms wrapped around him from behind and a familiar weight settled on his back. He reached up and grabbed one wrist and squeezed it.

"Are you here to haunt me? I thought we had a better relationship than that," he said.

Kei giggled and nuzzled his neck. "Just saying goodbye. I don't think I was in the proper head space last time to give you a suitable one."

"You are very late getting here."

"I got lost," Kei pouted. "They don't put up signs directing you from the spirit world to here."

"Ah…" Makoto smiled. "Should I die so that I can properly guide you in the afterlife as well?"

Kei scoffed. "You can't die yet. I need you to take care of Nii-san."

Makoto sighed. "This is my fate is it? Go from babysitting one Hatake to another?"

Kei laughed. "Yes. Isn't it great?"

It could be. "it will be my toughest mission."

"Take care of yourself Makoto. It was an honour being your partner."

"As it was yours."

"Go see your parents. They will be happy to see you alive."

Makoto squeezed the wrist one more time and then stood up. Kei's arms fell away and he could feel as his partner faded away.

o.O.o

"Dobe." Sasuke called out.

Naruto and Sakura turned quickly as his one word. The pair was camped out at the edge of a clearing, watching as their teacher sat motionless in front of the memorial stone.

"Leave his there. We need to talk," Sasuke announced.

The blond stood up and scowled at him. "Who gives you the right to say that? His brother is dead, he needs us! We are his team!" Naruto growled.

He would be scared if it was anyone that could actually beat him.

"He needs space to grieve. He needs someone who knew Kei and can help him through this. Not you two." Sasuke pointed out. What could these two do? They didn't know the pain Kakashi was going through.

"And who is that?" Naruto demanded.

Seeing a movement out white at the other side of the clearing, Sasuke knew help arrived. "Someone who isn't you two. Now let's go so they can talk."

The dup looked around frantically, trying to see if someone else arrived with Sasuke.

There's no one else here…" Sakura pointed out.

"Then you both still have a lot more to work on to be good shinobi." Sasuke told them bluntly. "Now let's go." He turned and walked away from them.

Kakashi was glad that his students left. He was starting to get annoyed with their whispering. It was a surprise that it was Sasuke that took them away.

Movement caught this attention but he didn't move. Then he was wrapped into a hug and it couldn't only be Kei there with him. Letting the tears out again, he laughed.

"Tsunade told me she is making me Hokage. Can you believe it? Me the Hokage. She thinks I can change the village for the better. She's crazy." Once he got started, he couldn't stop talking. He was used to talking without Obito answering.

"There are so many politics involved and she believes I can change them. After all, who is going to expect me to follow rules? I think she is just tired of not being allowed to gamble. If I do it, Naruto better grow up fast and take the hat away. I don't think I could last long in that office. Not having to train a team will be nice. Those kids can do better than me. They can finally get an instructor that will bring out their full potential… if I haven't fucked them up too much already."

He knew he was an awful teacher.

"I am proud of you Kei. Everything you did… I just wish I could have helped. The first Uchiha child is going to be named Kei isn't he? I am not going to be the kid's godfather. I refuse. If they try to force me, you better come back and tell them off. I will be Makoto's kids' godfather. I actually like him.

"I'm am painting that office. It's too boring. And I am putting in a dog door.

Kei hugged him tighter.

"I met Otou-san." He whispered.

A feeling of warmth rushed through him. They were together. That was good. "And Obito?"

"He's doing fine. He says sorry to you. Also said to stop going to the stone everyday, he's tired of hearing from you."

Kakashi chuckled.

"Rin?"

"She chose to be reincarnated before I died. Otou-san says she is running around somewhere having a lot of fun."

"Sensei?" It was the last person he needed to know about.

"Waiting for you to die so he can beat you up. You should probably live as long as you can… he's very angry at you for being so suicidal after his death. And for how you treated Naruto… and for still being late. And for being a poor teacher in general. He says he taught you better than that."

Kakashi chuckled. "I will take my time then. Maybe he will forgive me if I am a better Hokage than I was a student and teacher."

There were silent for a few minutes. Kakashi was just enjoying the feeling of his brother.

"Do me a favour?" Kei asked quietly.

"Anything." Kakashi swore.

"Live for me. Don't hide away. Don't become a shell of a person. Do all the fun things you think I would have enjoyed. Make new friends. Try to smile and laugh every day, okay?"

"It will take a long time before I can smile on my own. But I promise."

"Thank you, Nii-san. I love you."

The dam broke again as he knew this was it. His time was over. "I love you too Kei." Pulling him around, Kakashi hugged his brother tightly and continuously kissed the top of his head. He could feel the body in his arms getting lighter and fading, and just before he was gone completely, Kei whispered to him.

"And be nice to Sasuke. I think we got married. Love you Nii-san!"

And he was gone.

o.O.o

Sasuke had managed to lead his teammates to a restaurant. Naruto had spent a long time insulting him, and Sakura was asking him stupid questions like 'Did you think about is when you left?' of course he didn't. He had other more important things on his mind.

Then suddenly a cold chill ran down his back.

He was in danger…

A/N: Happy New Year!