TRIGGER WARNING: mention of suicide and self-harm.
Scene 20
After quite some time, Kakashi was allowed to go back to his apartment, but on bed rest.
Kaiya decided to stay over to help him adjust.
This reminded Kakashi when he was taking care of Kaiya a few years ago after her suicide attempt.
He had just recovered from Itachi's Tsukuyomi Jitsu.
Kaiya had been taking care of him and then one day he heard a thump in the bathroom...
It was morning when Kakashi woke up to hear the shower turn on in his apartment.
Kakashi slowly got out of his bed to make a cup of coffee when he heard a loud thump to the ground.
"Kaiya, you okay?" he asked through the door.
There was no reply.
"Kaiya?" he asked again.
Nothing.
This reminded him of something though.
His childhood.
His father.
Quickly he rushed into the bathroom, breaking the door open.
He tore the curtain down from the shower to see Kaiya sitting on the floor with a knife by her wrist and blood going down the drain.
Crimson regret.
Kaiya was unconscious but still breathing.
Kakashi quickly grabbed a towel to stop the bleeding until he could bandage it up.
Kakashi rushed Kaiya to the hospital to be stitched up.
The cut was deep.
"You caught her just in time." stated a medical ninja, "any longer and things would've been way worse."
Kaiya was still unconscious when Tsunade ran into the hospital room.
"Kakashi, what happened?!" she yelled, rushing to Kaiya.
Kakashi was silent but a nurse replied.
"The patient attempted her life madame Hokage."
Tsunade gasped, "Is that right Kakashi."
He continued to remain silent.
Tsunade then turned and seemed softer, "Kakashi, go ahead and head home to shower and change clothes. I got it from here until you get back."
Kakashi nodded and walked out regretfully.
He didn't want to leave Kaiya, but his clothes were covered in blood and he needed a moment.
When Kakashi got home he cleaned the shower from the incident and then changed clothes.
When he looked in the mirror, something caught his eye.
It was a piece of paper.
"Dear Kakashi," it started.
He couldn't bring himself to read and felt sick to his stomach.
Rushing to the toilet to throw up.
Kakashi sat on the floor clutching the paper and crying.
He couldn't lose Kaiya.
She was his only family.
"Alright, I made us some dinner!" chimed Kaiya.
Kakashi sat at the table carefully.
"Hmm, looks delicious." he started eating.
Kaiya had made steak, rice, and vegetables.
"While you took a nap I went to the store. You deserve a nice home-cooked meal for once." smiling.
Kakashi's heart warmed.
He was so proud of Kaiya for how far she had come.
She was smiling more.
Therapy must be helping her.
Sharing her feels.
Lifting them off her shoulders.
Kaiya was stuffing her mouth when Kakashi stood up, "Kaiya, I have something for you."
She stared at him.
He then came with a small box.
"It's from the sand village, I thought you may like it." he set it in front of her and went back to eating.
Avoiding eye contact.
Kaiya gasped.
"It's beautiful!" her eyes widened.
She then rushed to the bathroom with the present.
Kakashi chuckled.
"Tada, how do I look?" she came out.
Kakashi gulped.
He had bought her a hair accessory with pink jewels on it.
Kaiya then rushed and hugged Kakashi.
"Thank you! It's like the one I had when I was little that Ms. Kushina gave me!"
Kaiya was so happy.
Kakashi blushed at first but then kissed her head as he hugged her back.
"I remember. You look beautiful Kaiya."
Kaiya looked at Kakashi and blushed.
The two then went back to their seats eating.
They were quiet.
Kakashi was embarrassed for some reason.
And Kaiya was self-conscious.
Her heart raced.
She always wondered what Kakashi thought when he'd look at her.
Was she really beautiful in his eyes?