Greetings my loyal readership! I return back to work on Thursday so I am hoping to update bi-weekly( if not weekly) as work is quite time consuming.
I hope everyone has enjoyed the massive amount of chapters I have pumped out over this lockdown period, because I am very proud! The storyline has taken a massive quantum leap and I have a lot of things planned out for the future chapters.
I have to take a moment to acknowledge the amazing work and passion of my beta reader katydid001 ❤️ This story is blessed to have to watching over it! Thank you for helping to keep my terrible writers block away!
The Hatake twins spent the rest of the morning pulling out their large moving scrolls. It had been eleven years since the twins had moved house, but because the scrolls were kept in an old suitcase they were still in great condition. Kakashi took a few of the scrolls and rushed into his room to seal away his own belongings. Katsumi looked around her sparse room and rubbed her masked cheek in deep contemplation. With a sigh, she unfurled one of the larger scrolls in front of her chest of drawers, before with a small burst of chakra she sealed it away for safekeeping. The silver-haired kunoichi rolled up the scroll and placed it next to the suitcase so she could tell what scrolls were already used.
Midday rolled around and the twins finally sealed away the last of their stuff. After their personal belongings were safely stored they got to work cleaning the empty apartment from top to bottom. Finally, they locked the front door for the last time and began to lug their packs across the village. Kakashi carried the bulk of the scrolls, the teen acutely aware of his sister's recovery.
The building they grew up in was a great distance from their small, two-bedroom flat. Kakashi had made sure they were as far away from that dark memory as possible. Katsumi never wanted to leave their family home, but the pain was too fresh to disagree. Once in a blue moon the female twin would hint at her desire to check up on their family estate. Each attempt always ended with Kakashi walking away. This was her brother's firm way of ending an uncomfortable conversation. Katsumi had grown used to this when it came to conversations about their father and anything to do with the pain of their past. But recently, events seem to have shaken those icy walls. Topics they never used to discuss were, now at least, struggled through. The twins had more proper communication in the last forty-eight hours than they had for a very long time.
Their walk through the village streets was silent; tension thick in the air as they purposefully marched towards their goal. Eventually they leapt up onto the rooftops laden with their heavy packs. Too soon they found themselves approaching a nostalgic part of Konoha. Their large family estate stood abandoned, nestled in between well-kept, humble homes. The fencing around the yard stood firm, yet the bamboo was strangled by snarls of weeds.
Katsumi's eyes scanned the weathered two-story building and let out a deep sigh. In her mind she remembered the former glory of their parents' home, the sleek modern twist on a traditional style. The passing of time had lay ruin to the property's exterior and to the landscape surrounding it. A shudder ran up her spine as she thought about what their home must look like on the inside. Nevertheless, her mouth pulled up in a smile as she plotted out how to get their beautiful home back to life.
Kakashi felt his throat tighten as he took in the state of their old house. All those years it lay in wait for them to return. All those years spent neglected. Yet even though it appeared worse for wear the structure itself stood mighty and proud amongst the chaos. He glanced to the side to study his sister's expressive features. The sparkle in her eye and the determination in her smirk lit the fire in his soul too.
They both leapt from the rooftops in unison and landed with a gentle thud. With renewed enthusiasm, Kakashi wrenched open the overgrow gate and Katsumi cut them a path through the long grass with her blade. Both twins still lumbered with their luggage, eager to at least get inside so they could get their bearings.
Finally they reached the front door, only for Katsumi to pause in her tracks. Years of undelivered newspapers sat piled in the doorstep. The stoic wooden door brought back flashes of their childhood.
As if immersed in a dream she heard familiar chiming laughter coming up from behind her. Two tiny silver children ducked past her legs, a choppy short-haired boy chasing his curly-haired sister up onto the doorstep. They reached the door and turned back to face Katsumi, their faces wide with cheery smiles.
'Papa! Come on!' the little girl signed in large gestures.
"Yeah, Pa! Hurry up!" Kakashi mimicked his twin as they both waved up the path at an approaching figure.
A hearty chuckle resounded from behind the frozen observer.
"Patience is a virtue, my little pups…"
A warm hand shook the teenage girl from her vivid daydream. Kakashi sighed as he glanced up at the front door, thick with grime and cobwebs. He dropped his hand to lace his fingers into Katsumi's before he whispered, "Come on, imouto. We can do this… right?"
Katsumi turned to glance up at her brother, tears already threatening to spill from the corners of her eyes. In that moment it struck the emotional kunoichi just how much Kakashi truly resembled their father. The sharp edge of his jaw, the goofy half smile he gave when he was nervous, even the look in his dark troubled eyes were just some of the things that screamed Sakumo. A smile pulled at her masked lips before she nodded, her heterochromatic eyes conveyed her silent encouragement.
All it took was one heartfelt look from his little sister for Kakashi to finally pluck up the courage to climb the porch stairs. Katsumi followed him like a puppy and sheathed her blade, pulling a tinkling set of keys from her thigh pouch. She dangled them enticingly in front of the door with a beaming smile. The male twin snagged them from the air and flipped to the largest key on the loop and slotted it into the lock.
It took a few jiggles to get the stiff old mechanism rolling, but with a click and a huff Kakashi pushed the door wide open. Katsumi nodded to her brother before taking the first step onto the floor of their old family home, dust clouds rose in her wake. The wood creaked under the wolf kunoichi's sandals as her melancholy gaze scanned her familiar bare surroundings. Worn wallpaper and loose ceiling panels had Katsumi already planning the repairs in her head as she unloaded her luggage in the middle of the entryway. From her spot she could see the bare front room and the shape of their mother's glorious kitchen. The fireplace sat in the middle of the lounge, blackened from previous use.
There was barely any light in the house as all of the thick curtains were drawn closed. Katsumi made it her first mission to rectify this. She ran to each window and slid open the curtains, cracking the windows open to let the stuffy house breathe. Katsumi pulled back a heavy screen to reveal the rear sliding door that led out onto their large back porch and wrenched it open. She marveled at the sight of the jungle in their backyard.
Kakashi closed the front door and dropped his heavy packs down next to the rest of their stuff. The interior of their home was now illuminated by the glow of the afternoon sun. He strolled over to the hallway which led to their old bedroom and the staircase to the second floor. Katsumi skipped to a stop beside him and stared down the hallway too. Their brain waves crossed for a moment as they turned to look at each other with narrowed eyes.
"I get Ma and Pa's room!" they both shouted in unison before they frowned at each other.
"That's not fair!" the female twin exclaimed in protest, knowing exactly what Kakashi's next move was.
"I'm the oldest! That means I get the first pick!" Kakashi stabbed his thumb into his chest with a smug grin stretched beneath his mask.
Katsumi wanted to argue but she knew he had her beat with that one. She huffed in defeat before she was struck with an epiphany, "Fine, but if you get the main bedroom then I get to choose any other room to be mine, deal?"
"Deal!" Kakashi stuck his hand out and they shook on it firmly.
Katsumi gripped her brother's hand tightly as a mischievous smirk crossed her lips. "Sweet. I choose Pa's office!" she squealed as she took off down the hallway and rapidly ascended the wooden stairs.
The penny finally dropped as to why Katsumi gave up the fight so easy. Their father's office was the only other room that connected to a… balcony! No way! Not with that perverted Uchiha around! The young man's thoughts were frantic as he chased after his sister. Yet he couldn't help but pause as he passed a door that stirred painful memories from the shadows of his mind. His grey eyes lingered on the dark wood before he tore himself away and stomped determinedly up the stairs after his twin.
The state of the second floor was much the same as the first: dark, musty and in dire need of maintenance. Katsumi clutched the handle to her father's office and turned it with a gentle click. The mechanism on this door was a little stiff but required less effort than the front door. It swung wide to reveal the empty space that their father spent so much of his life in.
The large, dark, oak desk sat idly in the corner. She remembered clearly the important stacks of paperwork that used to grace the dusty and bare surface. Light flooded the room from the sliding glass door on the far wall. The old curtains were still drawn open from when they neglected to close them in their hurry to leave. The sight of her father's well-loved room so empty of life had the young woman's heartbreak rising to the surface. She felt her brother's steady presence come up behind her as she finally let her welling tears fall. Katsumi tried to speak but her throat caught with emotion as Kakashi pulled her into a mutually comforting hug.
Kakashi dropped all of his plans to protest her choice of room and just held his grieving sister, letting his own silent tears fall.
It was hard for the twins to push through the first cleaning tasks. They both accepted that they were strong enough to face any challenge their home had for them. The siblings agreed without question that that room was out of the question and was not to be entered under any conditions. Which was perfect for the both of them.
It took the first few hours to open all the windows and clean the filthy floors. Katsumi adjusted her curly pigtails and placed the mop down on the back porch as she tipped the dirty mop water into the tall grass. She picked up her equipment and met her brother back inside as he was getting some tools out from their packing scrolls.
"I want to go and get paint for my new room…" Katsumi wiped the sweat from her forehead and looked over to her brother for permission.
Kakashi raised a silver brow before rolling his eyes. "Yeah, and I bet you want Obito to help you pick a colour, huh?"
A rosy blush spread across her nose as she rubbed the back of her neck, "S-s-sure, what a great idea… I'll be back in an hour I promise!" The kunoichi started towards the door only for Kakashi to block her path with exasperation clear on his face.
"Nope, you aren't going anywhere without me, imouto. Stay right here." Kakashi rushed over to lock the back door. He stormed back to her and gripped her elbow which forced her to trail behind him as he led them to the exit.
The sun was low in the sky as the twins made their way towards the hardware store. Kakashi steered them in a different direction much to Katsumi's confusion.
'I thought we were getting supplies?' she signed in question.
Kakashi cast his sister a sheepish look as they leapt across the rooftops to their destination. Suddenly, Katsumi understood her twin's intentions, resulting in a fit of giggles.
'I bet you want Rin-chan to help you pick a colour?' Katsumi teased with fresh laughter falling from her masked lips.
"Mah, mah, imouto. I figure the more hands the faster the job?" Kakashi's tone lifted up at the end, as if questioning his own reasoning.
Katsumi just rolled her eyes and gave her bashful brother a knowing smile. When they finally reached Rin's apartment Katsumi sat on the edge of the roof while Kakashi dropped down and knocked on the door. The silver-haired kunoichi watched on from her perch, peeking down at her brother as he waited awkwardly.
There was laughter from inside before Rin flung open the door with a stunning smile stretched across her face. She opened her mouth to greet her handsome guest, before her other guest bet her too it.
"Hey, Bakashi…ohhhh am I in the way of something?" Obito came to stand beside his flustered best friend before she elbowed him hard in the stomach. He grunted at the impact and laughed nervously at the death glare the medical kunoichi pinned him with, "Ahah! Don't worry... I know when I'm not welcome. I'll be off home now..." The thoroughly entertained Uchiha adjusted the orange goggles sitting atop his head in a nervous gesture. He slipped past his glowering friend and her equally icy crush and walked backward down the path to Rin's front gate.
That was when he spotted the unmistakable figure of his girlfriend sitting on the rooftop with her legs dangling over the edge. Her enchanting beauty was backlit by the stunning glow of the sunset. It was as if everytime he caught sight of her was a scene plucked straight from his dreams. He couldn't help but stare. Katsumi's moonlit ringlets were pulled up into messy pigtails on each side of her head, her dark mask was firmly in place but even that didn't stop Obito from seeing her full visage. Kami, what a knockout! How the fuck is she my girlfriend? Obito thought to himself as he marveled at his love.
Katsumi watched her favourite Uchiha awkwardly stumble backwards towards the gate, his teasing obviously landed him in hot water. She was about to stand up from her spot when his onyx orbs locked onto her location. The enraptured look in his eyes had the young woman's heart pounding. It was like the mere sight of her plunged her boyfriend into a trance. Suddenly bashful under Obito's heated gaze Katsumi curled one of her loose bangs around her finger in an unconsciously flirty gesture. She pulled herself together and swiftly got to her feet. Katsumi watched as her boyfriend opened his arms out wide as if to catch her. With a giggle she flung herself into the air, aiming to land on the grass just in front of her daring Uchiha.
Obito predicted her trajectory and took a step forward to intercept. With strong arms he plucked the small kunoichi from the air and spun her around in a romantic swoop. The young woman in his arms squealed with delight as they twirled, her heterochromatic eyes shimmered with euphoria before she anchored her hands on his shoulders and nuzzled her nose against his.
Kakashi watched on with his fists balled angrily at his sides. Rin stepped out onto the doorstep and placed a gentle hand on his fuming shoulder.
"Look how happy they are, Kakashi-kun. Maybe it's time to ease up some more?" Rin encouraged him with a gorgeous smile.
Kakashi felt a blush warm his masked cheeks before he crossed his arms in defiance. "But I have given that pervert so many chances already, what if-"
The brunette kunoichi cut him off before he could finish, "Katsumi-chan is happy with him. She's not going to suddenly stop being your sister because of Obito-kun. You're a good brother for letting her have this," Rin rubbed his shoulder comfortingly as the pair watched the romance unfold before them.
"I hate it when you are right about these things, Rin-chan." Kakashi snorted as he relaxed his arms and distracted himself by observing Rin's expression.
"I'm always right, Kakashi-kun." The medical kunoichi laughed before dropping her hand and tucking a strand of her long brown hair behind her ear.
Kakashi looked back at the couple in time to see Obito place his little sister on the ground and kiss her sweetly on the forehead. The wolf shinobi swallowed his pride and felt his lips turn up in a half smile. The blissful happiness radiating from Katsumi soothed his weary soul. Even if it was his rival wrapped around his innocent imouto.
The group brought the various paints and supplies needed to complete the mammoth task ahead. They all headed back to the house as darkness began to settle over the village. Deciding it was too late to cook, the friends all grabbed a take-away meal from a restaurant on the way back to the Hatake estate.
When Obito first laid eyes on the overgrown property he raised a dark eyebrow. Oh yeah, so that's why they need help with the clean up.
Kakashi led them up the crudely cut path and ushered them all inside. Rin and Obito both took a few moments to look around in the dark, to try and familiarise themselves with the surroundings.
Katsumi frowned at the darkness before trying the light switch for the front room. It was then she remembered that they had neglected to turn the power back on. She clicked her fingers and ran over to the back door, unlocking it and sliding it open.
The bystanders watched her go with furrowed brows, until bright light flooded the room. Electricity flowed through the power circuits. Katsumi popped back through the door and slid it shut with a smile. "Let there be light," she giggled before waltzing back over to her peers.
"Imouto, do you think there are still logs in the woodshed?" Kakashi asked as the group collected their food and sat in a circle in front of the stone fireplace.
Katsumi scratched at her masked cheek as she thought about it, "Well we never moved it, so I don't see why not. It was the middle of winter… uh…" she trailed off as her heterochromatic gaze locked with Kakashi's solemn gaze.
"You're right. I'm just gonna go get some firewood. Imouto, do you mind lighting it?" Kakashi stood from his spot, his food still untouched.
The thought of a fire had Katsumi nodding her head in excitement. She leant over their food to grab some paper napkins from the pile. Her friends watched on curiously as they ate, fascinated by Katsumi's sudden passion for fire. The silver-haired kunoichi unsealed the little metal box beside the stone fireplace, she pulled old looking newspapers from the container. With ease, she tore up the paper and laid a base for the fire, eagerly awaiting her brother's return.
Kakashi returned lugging a wicker-basket filled with logs and kindling. Katsumi was quick to get up and rush to help him carry the heavy load. In unison, they carried the cargo to rest in its usual spot beside the hearth. The silver-haired kunoichi collected a bunch of small slivers of wood from the top and lay it across the paper to complete her base. She knew that she could pull a match from her kit to ignite the pile, but the thought of her boyfriend showing off was too much to pass up. She stacked a few logs atop the kindling and turned back to face the dark-haired Uchiha.
Obito had his mouth full of rice when Katsumi fluttered her long eyelashes in his direction. He immediately gulped down his food and scrambled over to kneel next to his girlfriend. "What's up, babydoll? Want a hand?" The seventeen year old knew better than to imply Katsumi needed anything, over the time they had been together he had learnt that it served him better to ask if she wanted help.
Katsumi's curly pigtails bounced as she nodded. With a blush and a cheeky smile she reached up to whisper in the shell of his ear, "I do love watching you show off, Obi."
Obito cleared his throat as he felt a crimson blush spread across his cheeks. Her words stroked his ego, while the warmth of her breath stirred up many other emotions. He turned to look at her, encouraged by the blush that tinted her porcelain skin. Her seaglass gaze swirled with amusement, as he nodded in understanding. "Sure thing, gorgeous," his hands flew through a few simple signs before he held his fingers up to his lips and blew.
Katsumi marveled at the flames as they engulfed the wood inside the fireplace, immediately igniting the well-stacked pile. She couldn't help but clap like a little kid in excitement as she watched the flames lick their fuel source.
Obito dropped his hands and chuckled at the entranced look in Katsumi's eyes as she stared at the fire. Though he couldn't help but wonder why her missmatched irises suddenly glazed over. "Babydoll...?"
Flames leapt and danced inside the hearth. The two year old clapped her hands excitedly as she watched the fire, her odd eyes fixed on the glowing light.
Kakashi lay on the shaggy rug beside her kicking his legs in the air in utter boredom. That was when they heard a low gruff voice rumble through the floor.
"You are too close to the heat, pups. Master will not be happy if you burn your paws…" A huge grey Irish Wolfhound strolled towards the twins with a bored look on his face. The warscars that marred his muzzled and face served as a reminder to enemies that his ninken was not to be messed with, but to the little girl on the rug they were what made the hound fascinating. Katsumi turned her attention from the fireplace and scooted herself backwards towards the approaching dog. She held out her chubby hands as the massive hound came to lay in front of the fire, blocking the twins from getting any closer. Her tiny fingers fisted the long fur on his neck and fell happily into his warm coat. Kakashi let out an equally excited laugh as he flopped onto the ninken's belly.
"Glad to see you keeping the pup's entertained, Kenta." Sakumo strolled into the room and sat down on the couch off to the side of the fireplace. Happily watching his children playing with his faithful companion.
"You know, Kenta is better at keeping Katsumi-chan away from the fire than you are…" a tinkling voice came from behind the male shinobi as he felt warm arms wrap around his neck.
"Asumi, baby, that's because he is much more fun to climb on than I am." Sakumo pulled his wife over the back of the couch and caught her in his arms.
Her dark curly hair fell about her angelic face as she rested her head in her husband's lap, her blue eyes staring up at him with laughter falling from her smiling lips. "I don't know about that one, but whatever you say my love," she reached up to tap her lover's nose is a flirtatious gesture before she rolled over to face her babies as they happily crawled all over the patient wolfhound.
Katsumi couldn't help but climb up on Kenta's torso to stare over him at the enchanting fire, the sight of the licking flames slowly dragged her into a deep sleep.
Katsumi gasped as Obito shook her from her trance, her heterochromatic eyes filled with tears as she recalled the golden years when her whole family was alive. Obito pulled his weeping lover into his chest and cradled her tightly.
Kakashi watched on with a sullen look on his face, knowing the pain his little sister was openly showing. It broke his heart to see Katsumi cry. Rin nudged his side gently, which made him raise a silver brow at her.
"It's ok to cry, Kakashi-kun. This move is hard on both of you…" the medic kunoichi's gaze was full of empathy as she smiled up at him.
Kakashi shook his head and sighed deeply, "I… know… I'm just not ready yet…"
Rin wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled the reluctant wolf shinobi into a comforting embrace. She ignored his attempts to brush her off. Kakashi melted into her arms and rested his head atop her brown locks; suddenly happy that Rin refused to listen.
Katsumi pulled back to peek up at her boyfriend with a sheepish grimace, "S-sorry, I'm such a mess..."
"Shh, babydoll, tears are just your body releasing pent-up emotions. It is good to let it all out, no matter what Bakashi says…" he whispered down to her as he cupped her face, his gentle thumbs wiped the tears from her flustered cheeks.
The silver kunoichi giggled and nuzzled her nose against his with a beaming smile. "You're the best, Obi…"
Obito placed a chaste kiss to her forehead before he glanced over at his distracted rival. His lips turned up in a grin as he hooked a finger into Katsumi's dark mask and pulled it down to her clavicle. His girlfriend didn't miss a beat as she fisted the front of his shirt and kissed him with all her might.
"Will you get off my little sister! Kami, damn it OBITO!"
Some lovely Hatake memories ❤️ I hope everyone is loving the fluff and angst ❤️ Don't forget to drop a review ❤️ Kia kaha