Chapter 18: Big Decisions

Kagome stood in front of the stove making breakfast for herself, Keichi, his two friends and the pup that came with them. She was humming and smiling. She was flipping another pan cake as Keichi stumbled into the room closely followed by his friends. They sat at the table and yawned, rubbing their eyes. She could see they were still tired. She placed the pancake on the stack and made some scrambled eggs and bacon.

"Keici, dear, can you set the table? Breakfast is almost ready." He mumbled but stood and did as she asked. She placed the food on the table with a butter dish and some syrup. They helped themselves to the food and Kagome placed the pup on the floor with a dish with some diced beef. He barked and dug in.

"This is good," Kazu said as he swallowed his first bite. He took a drink of orange juice.

"Mother doesn't cook anything like this," Muji said as he also swallowed.

"Okaa-san doesn't cook this often," Keichi admitted. "Usually it's fish, rice and miso soup and tamago." He smiled. He liked it when his mother cooked things like this.

"What do you boys have planned for today?" She looked at them.

"Probably some training," Keichi said. "We have a taijutsu test coming up and we want to be ready for it."

"Alright. Don't be out too late," Kagome told him.

"I'll be back by dinner," he said with a nod before putting his shoes on with his friends and they were on their way.

~With Team Kakashi~

He groaned as they made it through the gates of Konoha. It was early in the morning and they had been running all night to lose their tail. Their tail had stopped following them about four hours ago, when they entered the land of fire. He also wanted to get home to his fiancee and the child he saw as a son as soon as possible.

They slowed to a walk and started to head for the hokage tower. They were dead on their feet and covered in scratches and bruises.

They knocked on the door and were cleared to enter and he stopped in his tracks seeing his fiancee sitting in a chair in front of the hokage's desk. He smiled at seeing her.

"Kakashi," she called before standing and approaching his team. "You guys look like hell." Her hands glowed before hovering near them, her healing taking effect immediately, but it did nothing for their tiredness. "I missed you," she said with a smile.

"Kagome, there is a building for what you are requesting. I will get Shizuna on it and have the paperwork dropped off to you to sign. I will also look for possible candidates." She said nothing else but the look she received was enough.

"Thank you, Hokage-sama." She gave a bow and turned. "I'll see you at home, Kakashi." She kissed his cheek and was out the door, the door closing with a soft click behind her.

"What do you have to report?" Kakashi started to give the report. He really just wanted to get home so he could pull Kagome to bed for an early morning romp and a cuddle before he took a nap. When they were dismissed, he watched as Sakura turned and skulked away to head home. Naruto and Sasuke supported each other and dredged out of the office for a long sleep. He turned and followed at a slow walk, body dragging. He made it to the apartment he shared with his fiancee and made his way up the stairs and to the apartment, letting himself in. He closed the door to see food waiting for him. He smiled and sat in his usual seat.

"I'm so glad you're home." She sat across from him and watched him pull down the mask and start eating. She smiled at the stubble on his face from not shaving.

"I'm glad to be back," he admitted. He was finished soon after and cornered her, giving her a kiss. It was deep and filled with need. She easily kissed him back and led him down the hall, their lips never parting. It had his knees hitting the bed and then they both fell in a tangle of limbs. Yes, he had missed this.

~With Keichi~

He saw his uncles so knew his dad was back and probably spending time with his mother. He and his friends were stopping for a break and would continue on before heading home for dinner. They had managed to avoid the girls from their class, so were happy about that. They had practiced some basic of the school house jutsu for Muji and Kazu's benefit then practiced the forms that they knew from the school house and what they were taught by their respective families. It made it interesting but also had them learning how to adapt to different styles. Kakashi had said it would be needed when they became shinobi for Konoha, so they took it seriously. Maybe they could wrangle his dad and uncles into a spar tomorrow to help them improve.

"I got to get back soon," Kazu said, Koji standing next to him and barking his agreement.

"Mother is cooking my favorite tonight," Muji added.

"I should get home too," he said nodding to them. They headed back into the heart of the village and split ways, making their own ways home. He made it to the apartment to see his mother finishing up dinner. He ran to the bathroom to wash up real quick. He'd shower before going to sleep. He made it back to the front of the apartment and set the table before his mother could ask. He took his seat and watched as his mother started placing serving dishes on the table with a pot of tea and a pitcher of water. A few minutes later, Kakashi stepped into the room, a towel drying his messy hair and dressed in a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt. He ruffled Keichi's hair before taking his seat. He smiled as Kagome took a seat and they started to take the food they wanted.

"I got a visit from my mother," Kagome said. She looked at Kakashi to see his reaction. He seemed slightly surprised.

"What did she say?" He set his chop sticks down.

"She delivered a scroll from the elders of my clan. I have been invited back to the clan with Keichi. They hadn't mentioned anything about you," she admitted, looking at the engagement ring on her finger. "I didn't want to make any decision on the matter without talking to you and Keichi first."

"I know family is important to you, Kagome," Kakashi said.

"You and Keichi are my family." She held his hand. "Besides, I'm going to become a Hatake." She smiled at him.

"The children of the clan haven't been very nice to me," Keichi admitted. "They make fun of me for not being an Uchiha or a Higurashi. They call you horrible names in front of their parents and they do nothing to correct them."

"What would you like to do, Keichi?" She looked at her young son. This affected him.

"I'd rather be a Hatake," he answered honestly. "He's been there for us for as long as I could remember. I've only ever known hatred and neglect from them"

"I understand, musuko. I would never ask you to do something you are uncomfortable with." She smiled at him before they continued to eat. Her mother may not like the answer to this, but she was fine with that. If she actually cared about them, she would have found a way to be more involved with their lives. She hadn't, her father hadn't, Souta hadn't. It was all really sad.

"I think we should talk about possibly moving into my old family home," Kakashi said. "It would give us more space then we have here and I have been cleaning it up a bit with Naruto and Sasuke."

"I think that is a good idea," Kagome said, turning and looking at Keichi. "What do you think?"

"A bigger place?" Kakashi nodded. "I've only ever known this place. It does feel cramped." He looked at them both. "Why not." They smiled.

"Good. I'll have my team move everything tomorrow while you are at school and your mother is at work. I'll be sure to get the two of you tomorrow." They finished the meal in silence. Once Keichi was done, he placed his dishes in the sink and went to shower before heading to bed after wishing his parents good night.