Love and hate are such strong words, they also cause so much pain.
-Anonymous
It is said that Uchihas felt emotions deeper than anyone, and that looking into their Sharingan would reveal those emotions.
Kakashi, though possessing the said Sharingan, never felt more emotional than usual. It was probably because that he was no Uchiha, and if he was being honest with himself, it was better this way.
Now, as he stared at the eyes thought to be in possession of only his raven-haired student, he felt his heart clench, a thousand knives stabbing at it repeatedly reminding him that he'd, once again, failed to protect those he'd vowed to protect.
He was a teenager again, looking into the eyes of a lifeless Rin, blood trailing down her lips, his hand still through her chest, his chidori crackling, the sickening stench of burning flesh and blood entering his nose.
He'd vowed to protect her too.
He'd failed at that time, and now staring into Kazue's complete Sharingan, he realized that he'd failed again.
Guilt had always been a close friend of his, but now, he suddenly felt the urge to rip out his own heart and crush it, if doing so meant that the pain would stop.
Never had he been more grateful that he wasn't an Uchiha, because looking at the complete terror in Kazue's eyes, he couldn't even imagine what the four year old was going through.
He faintly noted that his eyes were glazed over, hazy, as if remembering something of the past.
After returning to the office, he'd noticed Sai kneeling behind the Hokage's desk. Sasuke had gone to the hospital to heal his own eyes. The skin underneath them was starting to peel and crack, and it wasn't the most comfortable of feelings. Besides, he was hoping to ask Hinata some questions.
Shikamaru had suggested that he go, after reassuring him that he would look after Kazue. According to Shikamaru, a little while after Hiashi left, Kazue had disappeared too while everyone else was distracted. A small search had revealed him to be under the Hokage's desk, his whole form trembling, as he gasped violently, hand clutching his chest.
Currently, with his knees pulled up to his chest, Kazue was taking shuddering breaths, red tears streaming down his face. Kakashi was kneeling in front of him, trying to get him to come out.
"Kazue?" He called out softly, slowly extending his hand, so as to not startle him. He strained to hear what the child was muttering.
"Kazue?" He repeated, a little louder. The child in question slowly looked up, his eyes wide and lips trembling, as he formed words.
"B-Blood."
Kakashi froze.
"S-So much b-blood."
It suddenly occured to Kakashi that there was much more to Hinata and Kazue than met the eyes. And it was important to find out exactly what happened.
He took ahold of Kazue's shoulders and shook him gently.
"Kazue! Snap out of it!"
And snap out he did. He exhaled shakily, his cries quietening as he stared at Kakashi, wide-eyed, as if seeing him for the first time. He raised a shaking hand to Kakashi's, clutching it in a death grip.
"Ka-ka-shi?"
His voice was hoarse, throat clogged. Kazue focused on Kakashi, as his eyesight cleared, visions of red and silver finially fading.
Kakashi sighed in relief, slowly pulling Kazue out from the desk.
"Yes, it's me."
Without a second thought, Kazue jumped into his arms, his own wrapping around the masked man's neck as he cried his heart out.
Kakashi staggered slightly, caught off guard. Eventually coming to his senses, he wrapped his arms around the sobbing child and stood, rubbing soothing circles on his back.
"Why?" Kazue asked in between sobs, "Why are they all hurting her?"
Father, Kazue recalled. She'd called him father.
"Are all fathers like that?"
Was mine too?
Kakashi suddenly remembered his own father, and how Sakumo of the Hidden Leaf had committed suicide, leaving his son to fend for himself.
He swallowed, thinking of Itachi. Instead of answering, Kakashi sighed.
"We don't mean to hurt her. She's very important to us all and we all care about her a lot. We've missed her, that's all."
Eventually, Kazue quietened down, thinking of what Kakashi had just said. He had a flash of the men who had entered his room that night.
They had been partners, had they not? Had they not cared about each other, then?
He fisted his hand in Kakashi's robe.
"Well, guess what?" Kazue started, catching Kakashi off guard with his bitterness.
"You're supposed to protect the people you care about, not hurt them."
Beneath his mask, Kakashi smiled.
"You really think so?"
Kazue leaned his head against Kakashi's chest, listening to his heartbeat. He like heartbeats.
Kazue just hummed in response. Now considerably calmer, he bit his lip.
"Is she going to be okay?" He asked quietly, voice still hoarse, but tears finally dry.
In response, Kakashi sat him down on the desk and poured him a glass of water.
"She will. She's a fighter, she always has been. She will make it through." Kakashi finally replied, such conviction in his tone that he himself almost believed those words.
But, he know what the odds were.
Hiashi's blow had been straight to the heart, though not as forceful, it could still prove fatal. In addition, her wounds from the Chunnin Exams against her fight with Neji had never healed.
Still deep in thought, he took a few tissues and poured some water on them. Then, he gently began to clean Kazue's bloody cheeks.
His thoughts, however, were cut short by a loud growl. He looked at Kazue, watching as he squeaked, immediately wrapping his arms around his stomach, his eyes resembling a tomato.
Kakashi chuckled, his eyes twinkling, as he grinned at Kazue.
"You get that from your mother, you know." He stated, repeatedly poking Kazue's cheek, watching as the kid in question pouted. Kakashi wondered how someone so adorable could be even remotely related to his devil of a student. Kakashi grinned wider at the thought.
Returning to the problem at hand, he turned toward Kazue.
"So, what do you want to eat?"
The answer was immediate.
"Dango."
Kakashi suddenly recalled walking around the village with Itachi, talking about ANBU, watching with a raised eyebrow as they happened to mysteriously pass by at least one dango shop.
He remembered watching Itachi eat dango, his eyes lighting up as soon as he heard of a new flavour or when he liked it.
Those were the rare times, when everything seemed fine.
Pulling out of his thoughts, he fondly placed a hand in Kazue's head and ruffled his hair.
"You truly are Itachi's son, aren't you?"
Then, turning towards Sai, he ordered him to buy some Dango and take it to Kurenai's.
"Kazue. I want you meet some new people. They are your mother's friends. Are you okay with that?"
Kazue hesitated for a second, then nodded.
Picking up the petite boy in his arms, he walked out of the destroyed office, facing the crowd outside, taking note of how their eyes zeroed on the child in his arms.
Neji, along with the others had been anxiously waiting for Kakashi to return.
"You'll see." What is that supposed to mean?
Neji immediately straightened up, when he saw Kakashi approaching, noticing others doing the same. His eyes burned holes at the child in Kakashi's arms.
So, this is her son.
Kakashi stopped right infront of them.
Kurenai eyes were glued to the boy, wondering if others could hear her pounding heart. The boy was a tiny thing, perched in Kakashi's arms, completely unaware what those very arms were capable of.
"Everyone, I want you all to meet someone."
Slowly, Kazue turned his face towards the people Kakashi wanted him to meet, watching their faces closely as they changed, some to confused, others to absolute horror.
Time froze.
Neji might've never seen the man in person, but he'd seen plenty of him in the Bingo book. Looking at the boy's face, it was easy to spot the striking resemblance. And recalling Kakashi's words--You'll see--Neji just knew that the conclusion he'd arrived at was accurate.
For a few moments he stared, then disappeared. Only when he was far enough, did he fall to his knees and puke his guts out. When he was sure he was done, he took a deep breath, and all the emotions he'd been feeling since Hinata left welled up in him. His tears finally fell.
He suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder, and along with it came the voice of Gai.
"That's right, Neji, let it all out."
That's all it took for him to break.
Shino was frozen in place, his lips parted, his whole form trembling as he realized what this meant. And for the first time in a long time, he lost his composure. He tried to get the words out of his throat, wishing to threaten Kakashi not to fuck with them if this was a some kind of a sick joke.
And yet, try as he might, he couldn't even manage a gasp past the lump in his throat.
To Sakura, the face was hauntingly familiar. She'd seen it in her dreams--or rather nightmares--on more than one occasion. More often than not, that face had been the cause of her tears.
Sasuke?
Kurenai just stared. She'd fought the man, seen how strong he was and had been at his mercy.
"No," She whispered, as her tears, too, fell. Clamping her hands over her mouth, she slowly slid to the floor, sobs now racking her body.
If Kakashi heard her, he said nothing.
Instead, he turned to the others, who were looking at him questioningly, confused at the behaviour of their friends.
"Everyone, I'd like you all to meet Kazue." He began--Might as well tell them--"The son of Hyuga Hinata and Uchiha Itachi."
