Notes:

Hello lovelies!

It's time for another chapter :D

First I wanted to thank you for the reviews on the previous chapter! Unfortunately there were some issues on this website, which prevented me from responding right away. That issue is now resolved and I replied to all the review I was able to. Keep 'em coming! :D

This chapter is unbeta-ed, so I apologise for any mistakes that are in this chapter.

Hope you'll enjoy~!

Chapter 25: Happy Birthday, Kakashi

Kakashi looked up at the blue sky as he left the Hokage Tower and sighed. That had gone better than expected, this day was off to a pretty good start so far. Mission had been a success, of course, and the Hokage seemed pleased to know he had taken his request seriously, even going as far as saying it was up to Hermione now on whether or not she wanted to see him. The Hokage had somewhat jokingly stated someone had requested to give Kakashi several days off, but could only give him as much as two. He rolled his eyes at that. There was only one person bold enough to request that. Of course Gai wouldn't forget his birthday.

Maybe he could just hide somewhere and wait it out? It would only have to be another eleven, maybe twelve hours. Gai would be bummed if he were to miss to congratulate Kakashi today, but honestly he didn't care. He wasn't in the mood for some birthday party the guy had no doubt arranged. Gai knew he didn't like to celebrate his birthday. He didn't care for it. What was one more year? He didn't need to be reminded how many years his life had been fucked up.

He thought about going to the market but decided against it. Too many people for his liking at this time of day and too big of a chance for him to get ambushed by Gai. With a quick Body-Flicker he appeared in his house. The house was quiet. In his opinion, too quiet. While he hadn't been home that much during Hermione's stay here, it still made the house seem more, well, homey.

Looking around, he noticed some toys still lying around. Kakashi gritted his teeth as he realised he was to blame for their sudden departure from his house. While it had taken him a bit of time to get used to people staying at his house, he found that he now actually missed the vibe they brought. Shaking his head, he moved towards his bedroom and grabbed a bag. Moving back to the living room, he bent down to pick up the toys and put them in the bag. He didn't want to be reminded of his most recent mistake.

Once everything was put inside the bag, looking at the bag he thought about what to do with it. Should he drop it off? He really didn't know if she would need any of this stuff. Kakashi sighed as he knew he had to take the bag to her, just in case. A few quick hand signs later, he was in front of the Yamanaka residence. He hesitated for a moment but then made his way towards the door and knocked before taking a step back.

It took longer than he had expected for anyone to come to the door and had half a mind to just drop the bag in front of the door and leave. As he made the decision to do so, the door opened, revealing Inoichi with a surprised look on his face.

"Kakashi-san," he greeted him with a nod. "What can I do for you?"

"Inoichi-san," he replied, "I have something for Hermione-san. I don't suppose you'll allow me to see her?"

Inoichi looked at him, with a frown. "Honestly, with the way you came by two weeks ago I had figured you would try again sooner."

Stay calm, Kakashi, he thought to himself as he bit back an angry remark. He knew Inoichi had been keeping an eye on her and even though he was 'allowed' to see her now, he knew they weren't really excited at the idea of him seeing her this soon.

"I was on a mission, Inoichi-san." He knew there was a possibility that Inoichi hadn't been informed of the mission. The man wasn't privy to everything and this had essentially been a S-rank mission.

"Very well. Wait here, I'll ask her."

With a nod from Kakashi, Inoichi disappeared inside the house. He was glad it didn't take too long, but less happy about the answer he received.

"I'm sorry, she doesn't feel she's ready just yet." Well, at least the man looked apologetic.

"It's fine." He had expected it, really. "Can you give this to her?" he said as he held out the bag to the blonde man.

"Sure, want me to give her a message?" Inoichi said as he took the bag from him.

Did he want to? No, whatever he wanted and needed to say to her, she had to hear directly from him. Besides, her message to him was loud and clear. She didn't want to see him. So he shook his head. "No. That's all."

He took a step back and saw Inoichi frown, wanting to say something more. "Good day, Inoichi-san."

"Ah, yes. Thank you, you too. And, Kakashi-san?" He called out right before Kakashi moved to use the Body-Flicker to leave. "Happy Birthday."

Kakashi couldn't stop the snort from coming out. "Yeah, thanks." He said as he finished weaving the signs and left.

Hermione held her breath as she listened to the conversation Inoichi and Kakashi were having. When Inoichi had come to ask her if she wanted to talk to Kakashi, her first response was "no". This wasn't what she had told Inoichi though. She simply said she wasn't really sure, to which Inoichi figured saying "no" was the best option. Telling Kakashi that she just wasn't ready to face him. Hearing that must've hurt him, but she just wasn't sure.

Inoichi knew she had followed him to the door, standing close enough to hear what was being said. She knew Inoichi wouldn't mind. Would Kakashi notice though? Her heart was beating in her chest as Inoichi asked him if there was something he could tell her. Surely there was something he wanted to say. Right?

Apparently he didn't, she thought as she let out a shuddering breath. The hurt she felt when he said that was almost crippling. His emotions always were so intense. She was about to walk back into the living room when she heard Inoichi call out to Kakashi once more. Oh, oh no. It was his birthday today? Merlin, no. She couldn't- no, she had to say something, right? As she turned towards the door, she saw Inoichi walk back inside with a bag in his hands. He looked up at her and gave her a sympathetic smile.

"He left, Hermione-san. I think it's best if you leave him be for now."

She looked at him, with a frown on his face. She understood what he was saying, but she didn't agree with him. "I'm sorry, but I don't agree with you. No one should be alone on their birthday, Inoichi-san. And now he thinks-"

"He'll be fine. I'm sure he has someone to celebrate it with. Here, he left this for you," he said, handing her the bag.

Hermione took the bag but shook her head in denial. She didn't think he was the kind of person that would seek out someone else on their birthday, not even to simply drop off a bag of… toys? But he did seek out her, a soft voice said in her head. So she knew she had to go and see him. Even if it was to thank him for bringing her Teddy's toys. Hermione wasn't sure what it meant though. What if this was his way of saying he wanted nothing to do with her?

"Where do you think he is?" She asked softly.

"Hermione-san, I really don't think this is a good idea."

"I'm sure I'll be fine. I'll even take the Anbu that's been following me around, if that makes you feel better." She stated cheekily.

Inoichi looked at her with a worried expression on his face. He looked like he wanted to say something again, anything to change her mind, but seemed to realise that nothing he would say would change her mind. Then he surprised her by doing just that. "I still think you shouldn't. It's too soon, Hermione-san. You haven't even started opening up about what happened and what it did to you."

She hesitated. He did have a good point. Maybe she shouldn't, then. But she felt like she at least needed to tell him sorry for not even wanting to see him. She did, after all, dumped the whole bond thing on him and just left him hanging with no other information, not that she really had any. She hadn't even tried to further look into it, had she?

"Right. I suppose you're right. I just-" she shrugged, not finishing her sentence. She kind of understood. She wouldn't want to deal with something like this on her birthday either. Which reminded her, "What date is it today?" She knew it was somewhere in September, but wasn't sure about the actual date.

"It's the fifteenth today."

No way. "And, how old is he now?" There was no way they were this close to the same age, was there?

"I believe he turned nineteen." She whirled around, looking at Inoichi in surprise. "What?" he said.

"He's only four days older than me?!"

This time, Inoichi blinked in surprise. "I suppose so, yes. Your birthday is on the nineteenth?"

Hermione nodded in response, "yes, it is, but that's not important, right now." She said, waving it off. "I just- I need to go do some research, if that's alright?"

"Research? Oh- sure. Anything I can help with?"

She chuckled softly, "no, this I need to do myself. Thank you, though." She said with a nod. "Oh, Teddy's still at the daycare with Ino-chan, right?"

Inoichi chuckled. "Yes, they're still there. Won't have to pick them up for another hour."

"Good to know, thanks!" She said as she went to her temporary room, digging out the book on bonds.

Hermione had a suspicion that the intensity of their bond didn't really add up to what she had read at first in the book. Normally, when a bond was formed, it would take some time to reach the level of intensity that had reached. So it didn't add up that whatever was going on between them was so intense in the short amount of time they had met. It made her wonder if something else was involved as well. Whatever she found, she would need to speak with Kakashi about it sooner rather than later. She just had to be ready for that conversation.

Kakashi stood in front of the Memorial Stone once more. That hadn't gone like he had hoped. Then again, he wasn't really sure what he had hoped would happen. That Hermione would just forget what had happened two weeks ago and welcome him back into her life? Shit, he sounded pathetic. Did he really stoop so low? Yeah, that wasn't going to happen. He wasn't going to let anyone ruin his day like that.

Which now meant he had one last problem to deal with. His birthday. He needed to figure out how he could avoid anyone wanting to drag him to any kind of party. He was never in the mood for stuff like that. Parties just weren't his thing. And with what had just happened, he was even less in the mood for something like that. Honestly, he didn't know why they even kept trying. If they dragged him there, he would always leave within the first hour anyways.

"Boss," came from behind him. What was Genma doing here? Wasn't he supposed to be watching Hermione? He knew Genma had been there when he had dropped by. Which is also why he refrained from giving Inoichi a message. It was of no business to Genma what he had to say. He turned to face the masked senbon-user, staying silent but raising his eyebrow in question.

"Just wanted to check up on you."

"Why?"

"Come on, Boss. You and I both know that wasn't fun."

Kakashi turned back around, not responding. There was no way he was going to speak with Genma about this, especially since it concerned Hermione. He felt the pang of jealousy again as he thought about how she acted when he was around.

"Boss, I- She was listening, y'know?"

Listening? To his conversation with Inoichi? Shit, sometimes he hated the fact that he couldn't sense her. "So?"

"She was really upset. I'm just not entirely sure as to why she was so upset. You didn't say anything of importance as far as I could see. I mean, it could be because of you saying you had nothing to say to her, which I doubt, but her response was too strong for it to be just that."

"I don't see why this is my problem, Ge-Bear." He stopped himself in time. Genma was still on duty as an Anbu. He was getting more annoyed by the second though. Kakashi knew what Genma was getting at. It was the bond. He just didn't get why Genma wasn't aware of it. Surely Hermione has been talking about it with Inoichi? But, maybe Inoichi was smart enough to make sure to keep it between them. Genma, after all, is there to protect more than anything else.

"Right, well, in any case, I just came to, eh, to check up on you." Kakashi raised an eyebrow at that. That was nothing like Genma, to talk like that. He turned back around, watching Genma carefully.

"What are you hiding?"

"Hiding? Nothing. Nope, I'm just here to check up on you, Boss. Since I've done that, I gotta go back."

"Bear," he said in a no-nonsense tone. "What are you hiding?"

"Nothing. It's not important. Just forget it. I gotta go, Boss. I think Gai is throwing a birthday party for you at Yamanai kizu in an hour or two. Don't be late." Genma said before he flickered away.

That fucking- he was totally lying. He knew Genma's tells. He was withholding information, most likely about Hermione, otherwise he would just get out with it and say it. Damn it. His hand curled into a fist. Genma's visit left a bad taste in his mouth. His behaviour made it even worse.

As he stood there at the Memorial, he wondered where he should go next. Maybe he should go to the market. He really needed to get some food. Kakashi made his way to the market. On his way he passed several buildings, small shops and even a daycare where some of the clans left their kids to socialise. He didn't get it. Then again, he didn't have any kids. Continuing on, he turned the corner, spotting the market in the distance.

"Teddy-kun!" He heard a voice call out.

Teddy? As in.. Hermione's Teddy? The name was so uncommon, he had no doubt it was. He looked in the direction where the calls were coming from. Couldn't hurt to check, right? He wondered if it was Teddy, what the boy was doing here.

"Teddy-kun! Oh, oh no. Teddy-kun, where are you? AH! Shinobi-san, you scared me!"

"I didn't mean to scare you, ma'am." He replied, with a smirk behind his mask. It was always fun to scare people just a little. "I heard you call out, perhaps I can be of assistance?"

"Oh, no, I couldn't possibly-" The woman said, looking down shyly. He never got that. They couldn't see his face, so why the hell would they react like this?

"You're looking for someone named Teddy?" Kakashi asked, already looking around for the boy, uncovering his Sharingan. Then, he saw a little boy staring at him.. With his face, fuck. Without saying another word to the woman, he turned and went after the boy, only vaguely hearing what the woman was telling him.

"I- yes. It's an odd name, I know, it's a small boy and- Shinobi-san?"

Kakashi hopped onto the fence, looking down at the boy who was giggling. Damn, this young and already a little brat. He almost felt sorry for Hermione. Almost. Clearing his throat, he raised his visible eyebrow at the boy who now was looking up to him.

"Shi!"

"You're a little troublemaker, aren't you?" He commented. "I doubt Hermione-san would be happy to learn about this." He murmured. "Now, what am I going to do with you?"

Hopping down next to Teddy, the boy stood up with help of Kakashi's legs and looked up at him. "Shi! Up!"

The teen rolled his eyes and bent down to pick the toddler up. "So, what now, hm?"

"Shi!" Teddy happily said, clapping his hands. A second later Teddy's stomach rumbled, followed by his own. Right. Food it was then.

"Come on, kid. Let's get some food, before I take you back to Hermione-san." Teddy only squealed in return as Kakashi made his way to the market. He glanced at the different stalls while ignoring the weird looks he was getting. He was not going to acknowledge the fact that the kid was sporting his face at the moment. Nope. Not going to happen.

"What do you mean, they can't find him?!" Hermione asked in panic. She had been researching the bond in her room when Inoichi informed her of Teddy's disappearance. She rushed to the front door, quickly putting on her shoes. How stupid had she been to entrust someone she didn't know to look after Teddy? Not that she didn't trust the Yamanaka's decision, that wasn't the case at all. They trusted this daycare with their own child as well, so of course she trusted their decision. But Teddy wasn't like their child, he wasn't like any of the children here. Damn it!

"Hermione-san, please calm down. We'll find him, the daycare already sent people looking for him. He can't be far." Inoichi said, trying to comfort her as he joined her in putting his sandals on.

"I can't calm down, Inoichi-san. He's all I have! And he's been missing for half an hour already!"

"I know that. We will find him, though. How about this, you'll go that way," he said as he pointed towards the market. "And I'll go this way. Meet back here in an hour, okay?" He then looked behind her, addressing the Anbu stationed there. "Keep her safe."

"I- yes. Thank you." Hermione rushed to say as she turned and ran in the direction he had pointed to, followed closely by the Anbu.

"Damn it," she said to herself. "Where could he possibly be?"

"Hermione-san-"

She whirled around at the sound, hand to her chest in shock. "Blimey, Anbu-san. You can't scare me like that!" She scolded. A flash of annoyance went through her as she saw his shoulders move, clearly laughing at her.

"I apologise, ma'am." He said, humour clear in his muffled voice. "I was going to ask you what he was wearing, so that I know what to look out for."

After having explained what he was wearing they both slowly but steadily made their way through the market, circling towards the daycare the children had been staying at. They had decided to take this route and check at the daycare if they could find anything that would show where Teddy had gone. She prayed that he hadn't been taken by someone who meant to do him harm. She wouldn't know what she would do if that were the case.

He wasn't anywhere to be found and it frustrated her, but most of all terrified her. He was so young and in no way able to protect himself. Hermione felt her heart beat faster and faster, shit. No. She couldn't use this. She can't have a panic attack in the middle of the street. Not while Teddy needs her.

"Hermione-san, what's wrong? Hermione-san?" The Anbu asked, "are you okay?"

"C-can't b-breathe."

"Shit." The Anbu held her up and moved her to an alley. A moment later, another Anbu was standing in front her with a mask she recognised as well from her first day here. "This is Rabbit. She's a medic." He then turned to his colleague and quickly spoke to her, no doubt explaining what's going on.

"Hermione-san. Rabbit will stay here with you. I'm going to keep looking for the kid, okay?"

Hermione quickly nodded, grabbing her shirt in an effort to try to get more air in her lungs. The man leaving posed another problem, however, as the woman didn't speak her language and Hermione could barely keep up with what she was saying.

"Please, slowly." She tried to say, hoping the woman took the hint and slowed her speech down. But whatever the woman was saying didn't make sense to her. The woman's hands glowed a soft green, like she had seen before, in the forest after she had been tortured. Which, in turn, brought her right back to that event, causing her breathing to quicken even more.

"Hermione-san, please-" the woman said, but she was too far gone, having a full on panic attack. Even her sight was getting blurry. The woman said something else, which sounded harsh. Almost as if she was cursing.

"Mamai!"

Was that? Teddy? No, she must be imagining things. But it sounded like him.

"Mamai, mamai!" a short moment later she felt a small hand on her cheek, making her blink. It took another few blinks before the blurriness went away, revealing her precious little boy, who's face had morphed into one she didn't recognise. She knew for a fact is was him, though.

At the same time, Hermione felt a feeling of worry and relief wash over her, not all hers. Slowly glancing past Teddy, she saw the familiar silver hair, belonging to none other than Kakashi.

His uncovered eye was trained on her, worry clearly visible and his eyebrow furrowed. She saw his mask move, indicating he was saying something, but she couldn't hear what it was that she was saying.

The woman next to her stood up, nodding at Kakashi before disappearing from sight, leaving her alone with Kakashi and Teddy.

"Are you okay?" She now heard him say.

Hermione couldn't get any words out, so slowly nodded. Her breathing was steadying and her heartbeat had slowed down as well. She kept looking at him, at his calm demeanour and couldn't help but wonder if it was him that had calmed her down.

"Come on, let's get you off the streets." He said, standing up, picking Teddy back up and shifting him in his hold. He then held out a hand for her to take, so she could stand back up. She hesitated a moment, but decided to take his hand.

"Hold on." Was the only warning she was given, before feeling a rush of movement. She squeezed her eyes shut to brace herself. She didn't think she would ever get used to this feeling, it was so much different from her Apparition.

When she opened her eyes, she was back in front of the Yamanaka household. Surprised, she turned to look at Kakashi, who seemed to be avoiding her questioning gaze.

"Thank you, Kakashi-san."

He cleared his throat, still looking away from him. "Yeah, sure."

"I mean it. If it wasn't for you, I'd probably still be freaking out. So, thank you."

"Shii!" Teddy happily squealed, clapping his hands.

Hermione chuckled at the boy and noticed Kakashi's gaze softened too as he looked at the boy. "And thank you for bringing Teddy back to me."

"Mhm, of course."

He was extremely uncomfortable, she noticed. Well, might as well add a little more to that, she thought with a small smirk. As he handed Teddy over to her, she stood on her toes and gave him a soft peck on his masked cheek, before turning around with Teddy in her arms. Opening the door, she paused, looking over her shoulder. Kakashi stood there, frozen, his eye wide. A small blush could be seen over the edge of his mask, which made her smirk turn into a soft smile.

"Happy birthday, Kakashi."

End of chapter notes:

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