Chapter 2
A week had passed since Sayomi's funeral. Sakumo had started to fall into a routine, slowly acclimating to life without his wife at his side. He still often felt waves of crushing grief, especially when something reminded him strongly of her. Many times, he found himself waiting for her to come around the corner, her eyes shining as she smiled at him. Only to feel despair as he realized he would never see her smile again in this life. He focused his attention on caring for Kakashi. His son needed him and he would not let him down. He had promised his wife, his son, and himself that he would protect, care for, and raise the boy and he would. Even when he felt as if his world was collapsing around him, he would carry on for his son.
This particular morning had been an exceptionally difficult one. Kakashi had been restless and fussy for the past few nights resulting in neither of them getting much rest. Last night had been particularly bad. Consequently, the baby was cranky and out of sorts this morning. He had fussed the entire time Sakumo had tried to bathe him, flailing around and splashing so much that his father and half the bathroom were dripping. Sakumo had finally given it up as a lost cause. Some of the soap had to have gotten on Kakashi by default, he figured. Kakashi had squirmed while being dried, squirmed while being diapered, and squirmed while being dressed. What should have taken only a few minutes had taken over half an hour. If it hadn't been the middle of winter, Sakumo would have let him stay in just a diaper.
On top of everything, Kakashi had been crying on and off for hours. Nothing Sakumo did seemed to help for more than a few minutes. He wasn't too warm or too cold, there was nothing rough or uncomfortable about his clothing, he didn't need to be changed. Sakumo tried burping him, bouncing, rocking, nothing worked. He tried feeding him but Kakashi gnawed on the bottle's nipple, causing the formula to leak everywhere, upsetting him even more now that he was wet and uncomfortable.
"What is wrong?!" Sakumo wanted to either scream or weep in frustration as Kakashi began crying yet again. He didn't know what else to do. His own exhaustion and hunger – he hadn't yet had a chance to eat anything today - was making him short tempered but he knew it wasn't Kakashi's fault. The infant couldn't tell him what was wrong. He was going to have to keep trying until he figured it out.
Sakumo settled for wiping Kakashi down with a warm wet cloth after stripping the soaked sleeper off once it was clear feeding him was a lost cause. He'd spit his entire breakfast out all over himself and his frustrated father. Sakumo was certain he'd never get the smell completely out of his nose. There was no way he was going to attempt another bath at the moment. He wasn't certain his nerves could handle it. Wet babies were slippery at the best of times and with the way Kakashi was flailing around today he was terrified of dropping him. To top it off, his hair was still wet from Kakashi's earlier splashing, droplets of water still dripping occasionally into his eyes, much to his dissatisfaction.
He was in the middle of trying to wrestle his son into a clean outfit when he heard a knock came on the front door. Sakumo wasn't certain whether to be relieved that potential help was here or cry that yet another person wanted something from him. Picking up the half-dressed baby, he went to the door and pulled it open.
"You look like crap, Sakumo," Jiraiya said bluntly, taking in the other's harried appearance. His silver hair was wet and plastered over his forehead, the usually neat pony-tail was falling out, strands of hair hanging over his shoulders and around his face. His eyes were red-rimmed and bloodshot and there were lines of tension around his eyes and mouth. Jiraiya also noticed his clothes were damp and smelled strange, too. His infant son in his arms had one arm in and one arm out of the sleeper he was half-wearing. Suddenly, the baby began wailing at the top of his lungs. Jiraiya winced at the ear-piercing sound.
"Then it's a few steps up from how I feel," Sakumo responded dryly, desperately trying to find some sort of humor in the situation before he broke down completely. "Come on in. Ignore the mess." He stepped aside to allow his visitors entrance.
"Rough morning?" Jiraiya asked, his tone light. Inwardly, he was concerned. Sakumo Hatake was usually a neat and tidy man. While one would expect a certain amount of disarray with a new baby around and after the loss of his wife, it almost looked as if the other man was falling apart at the seams.
"You could say that." Grey eyes turned to Tsunade, who had entered behind Jiraiya. "He's been crying all morning and was fussy all last night, too. I can't figure out why. Can you -?"
Tsunade nodded. She wasn't used to babies but she was a skilled medical ninja. If the child was ill or hurt, she would be able to tell. She took the screaming baby. Kakashi paused in his wailing to take in the stranger. A moment later he was crying again; but at least he wasn't screaming. Tsunade sat on the couch, laying Kakashi on the cushion beside her. She looked him over with a trained eye., looking for any signs of injury or symptoms of illness. He stuffed one hand into his mouth, muffling his cries. He chewed on his fingers. Tsunade frowned slightly. Gently, she pulled the slimy fist from his mouth, earning herself an angry wail of protest. Which gave her a perfect view of the inside of his mouth. She stuck one finger inside and smiled slightly as she discovered the source of the problem.
Picking up the still half-dressed baby, she went to the kitchen. The men exchanged a glance and shrugged. A moment later she returned. Kakashi was quiet and happily gnawing on an ice cube that had been wrapped in a clean towel. Tsunade had also somehow managed to get his sleeper completely on and fastened and had tucked another towel around his neck to keep him dry.
"What -?"
"He's teething, Sakumo," she explained gently.
"Teething? Already?"
"Yeah. He's how old now? Five, six months?"
"Four."
"Well, it's a bit early but he's definitely teething."
"Oh." Sakumo felt stupid. How had he not figured that out?
"Don't beat yourself up over it. Go get cleaned up and dried off. I'll make you some breakfast. I get the feeling you haven't eaten yet today."
Sakumo started to protest, then gave in with a resigned sigh. He knew better than to get on Tsunade's bad side. She had a short temper and monster strength. It was a terrifying combination and even he wasn't so foolish as to push her. Besides, he was getting rather uncomfortable in his damp and smelly clothes.
"Here, hold him," Tsunade said to Jiraiya, placing Kakashi in his arms.
"Ehhh… right." Jiraiya had never been particularly fond of children. They tended to be noisy and messy and pretty women focused on the kids more than him. And, worst of all, they were much too young to appreciate the fawning the pretty women did over them. However, he took the squirming bundle from Tsunade, eyeing it warily as heavy-lidded grey eyes stared back up at him. They had grown up together and had been friends for a long time. The least Jiraiya could do was hold Sakumo's brat for a few minutes so the other could get cleaned up and have a bite to eat in peace. At the moment the baby was calm, happily biting on the cold towel while making soft cooing sounds to himself, his earlier distress already forgotten.
What the hell was the kid's name again? Jiraiya thought, trying to remember. He knew Sakumo had mentioned it; the man hadn't shut up about the kid once Sayomi had told him she was pregnant. K-something or other? Kaito? No, it ended with an 'I'. Kazuki? No, it was something really weird… Kakashi, that was it! Scarecrow. Poor kid. Fits right in, though. He smirked. Even the Hatake Clan symbol was that of a diamond divined into nine equal sections, reminiscent of sectioned out farmland. Jiraiya strongly suspected the name had been Sayomi's idea. Sakumo had often lamented the etymology of his name - likely derived from 'sakumotsu', meaning produce or crops. Sayomi had always had a thing for word games and puns. 'Kakashi' would have fit her sense of humor just perfectly.
A few minutes later Sakumo came back into the kitchen. He still looked tired and worn. But at least his hair was no longer dripping. He had brushed it and retied the pony-tail so it hung neatly down his back. He'd changed out of his damp clothes into something dry and not covered in spit up and who only knew what else. He went to the counter and began preparing a bottle. Tsunade started to scold him, then realized what he was doing and let him be.
"I got it," Jiraiya said, reaching a hand out to take the bottle from him as Sakumo sat at the table across from him. Tsunade had just set a plate down in front of Sakumo. Kakashi clapped his chubby hands around the bottle and began sucking on it greedily as Jiraiya offered it to him.
"Don't let him down it all at once," Sakumo mumbled around a mouthful of food. "Or he'll puke it all back up."
"Right," Jiraiya eyed the baby he held dubiously. He really wasn't fond of kids. But his friend looked like hell. He'd just lost his wife and had suddenly become a single father overnight. Jiraiya could handle his kid drooling on him for a bit, disgusting as it might be.
"What brings you out this way?" Sakumo asked, feeling more human as he ate and enjoying not having the sound of Kakashi's screaming ringing in his ears for a few minutes.
"We just got back late last night," Tsunade answered, seating herself across from him and next to Jiraiya. Her brown eyes softened as she gave him a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry we missed Sayomi's funeral."
"There's a war going on. Nothing to do about it." He rested his elbow on the table and his chin on his hand as he finished eating. He knew he should get up and clear his plate. Clean the kitchen, too while he was at it. And the rest of the house. Normally tidy, things had fallen into a bit of disarray since Sayomi's death. He was still learning to juggle daily chores with raising an infant. And he was so damn tired all the time…
His head snapped up with a start. When had he started to doze off? His eyelids drooped again, feeling unnaturally heavy all of a sudden. He realized Tsunade was watching him intently. His eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"What did you do, Tsunade?" he demanded. It came out a lot less threateningly than he'd hoped. It was all he could do to keep his eyes open.
"You're exhausted, Sakumo. Go lay down for a bit. We'll take care of Kakashi."
"No. I have to –"
She gave him a stern look that clearly said it would be in his own best interest not to argue. "Go. Lay. Down. Before you pass out on the table, if you please. I'd rather not have to carry you to bed."
Sakumo glared at her for a moment before conceding defeat. He pushed himself to his feet. His limbs already felt leaden and slow. He cursed himself inwardly. He should have known Tsunade would pull something like this. He stumbled to his bedroom, collapsing in a sprawled heap onto his bed moments before the world faded away.
"That wasn't very nice, Tsunade," Jiraiya said, watching as Sakumo stumbled out of the room.
"It's for his own good," Tsunade stated, completely unfazed. "Look around. He's barely keeping himself together. I'm betting the only reason he's not a complete wreck is Kakashi. Sayomi was his world, you know that as well as I. We can't do anything to bring her back. But we can give him a break for a few hours and a decent nap."
"Yeah," Jiraiya said sadly. Her first mission after maternity leave, too. What a crappy war. He looked down at the baby in his arms. With a full belly and no longer in pain from his teeth, the dark eyes were beginning to droop closed. Even his interest in this stranger had waned in favor of sleep. He bounced the kid absently as the baby yawned widely at him. "He's gonna be pissed when he wakes up, you know."
Tsunade shrugged. "He'll get over it. I'm going to go and make a batch of something for the baby's gums. Teething is going to be rough. And pick up some groceries. This place is almost bare. Will you be alright?"
"The kid's falling asleep, so I'll be fine. Just make sure you're back before Sakumo wakes up. I don't want to be blamed for that stunt."
Tsunade smirked. "It shouldn't take that long." She put her shoes on and slipped silently out the door, leaving Jiraiya alone. He continued bouncing the infant he held for another few minutes. The dark eyes had closed and his breathing was deep and even. Convinced he was finally asleep, Jiraiya got up and found the nursery. He lay Kakashi carefully in the crib. Sound asleep, he didn't even stir. Grateful to be free of the baby, he checked on Sakumo. The other man was sprawled across his bed, out cold. Jiraiya tossed a blanket over him and backed out of the room, shutting the door softly behind him so he could rest in peace. He agreed with Tsunade that Sakumo needed rest, even if he didn't necessarily agree with her methods.
Returning to the kitchen, he cleared the plate from the table, setting it in the sink. Plugging the sink, he began filling it with hot water, adding in a generous dollop of soap. Turning the water off, he pushed up his sleeves and got to work on the dishes that had started to pile up. He wondered how to get the bottles clean until he spied a rounded brush behind the faucet. One by one, the dishes went into the drying rack on the counter beside the sink. Finished with that task, he drained the water and picked up a rag to wipe down the counters.
He went to the living room and began straightening it up. It wasn't messy per se, just beginning to become disorganized. He picked up a few of Kakashi's scattered toys, carefully placing them into the toy box he had spotted in the baby's room, so as not to wake him. He had just finished sweeping the floors when there came a soft knock on the front door. He opened it to find Orochimaru standing there with his arms laden with shopping bags from the market. Jiraiya stepped aside so he could enter.
"I ran into Tsunade," was all the explanation needed. He set the bags on the newly cleaned counters and glanced around. "Where's Sakumo?"
"Tsunade knocked him out."
One eyebrow went up at that. "Then why did I just haul groceries over here for a corpse?"
Jiraiya chuckled. "No, she drugged him." That got a second eyebrow and he just shrugged. "He looked like hell. Said his kid was up all night. He probably hasn't been sleeping much this past week or so anyway."
"Hm. He's going to be pissed when he wakes up."
"Let Tsunade deal with him. He's scared of her."
They began unpacking the bags, putting the groceries away in the pantry and fridge.
"Where is Tsunade, anyway? I thought she'd be over here with you. She handed me a list, told me to buy it and bring it over here. I assumed it was so she could get back."
"She said she was going to get some groceries - which she apparently passed on to you. And make something for the kid. He's teething."
"Ugg." Orochimaru had no use for children. Especially ones that still drooled and leaked. He had almost forgotten that Sakumo and Sayomi had a child. It could only be a few months old at most, still in the disgusting phase. "I don't see it around. What did you do with the little brat?"
"Kakashi's napping," Jiraiya said, amused by the other's disgust. "Passed right out after eating."
"Kakashi, huh? That's the brat's name? Seriously?" He shook his head. "That must have been Sayomi's idea. She always had a thing for puns. Sakumo would never have come up with it. I'm surprised he went along with it. He bitches about his name often enough."
"Only when he's had a few drinks," Jiraiya defended. "Love makes men do stupid things."
Orochimaru rolled his eyes. Love, he sneered inwardly. As far as he was concerned, such feelings were a weakness. One that someone as powerful as the White Fang shouldn't indulge in. It would lead to his downfall one day, he was certain.
A short time later, Jiraiya heard Kakashi fussing. He went to the nursery. Kakashi looked up at him and let out another whine. "What's up, kid?" he asked. The baby continued to whimper at him. With a sigh, he lifted him out of the crib. As soon as he was picked up, he quieted. Finding a pacifier, Jiraiya stuck it in Kakashi's mouth. Kakashi sucked on it but showed no signs of going back to sleep. Jiraiya bounced him and rocked him. He simply looked up with solemn grey eyes. "You're not going back to sleep, are you, kid?"
As if in response, Kakashi spat out the pacifier and began trying to grab one foot. Getting his hands on it, he tried shoving it into his mouth. Jiraiya pulled his foot away, stuck the pacifier back in his mouth, and carried him back to the living room. He spat the pacifier out again and instead shoved one fist into his mouth, gnawing contentedly.
"Ugg," Jiraiya groaned as Kakashi began drooling around the hand in his mouth. "Seriously, kid?" He picked up what he hoped was a burp cloth and wiped the drool away. "Here, hold him a minute," Jiraiya said, passing the baby to Orochimaru. "I've gotta hit the bathroom."
"What?!" the other man was horrified by the thought. "No way!" Jiraiya thrust the infant into his arms. Orochimaru held him out at arm's length as if he was something particularly unpleasant. Kakashi giggled and kicked his feet. "Erghhh… Jiraiya!" He wanted nothing to do with this squirming, drooling brat. He felt the overwhelming desire to simply drop it, but knew that would earn him a quick death. He was not so foolish as to harm Sakumo Hatake's brat. What was the appeal, anyway? He eyed the baby warily, trying to figure out just why anyone in their right mind would choose to have one. It was small, funny looking, and messy. And what was that smell? He sniffed delicately and made a face. It was definitely coming from Sakumo's brat. Said brat suddenly decided he'd had enough of this dangling and began to wail. Orochimaru cringed. How could it possibly be so loud?
"Don't dangle him like fish bait," Jiraiya said.
"You come and hold him, then!" was the angry retort.
"You'll be fine for a few minutes. Don't drop him." Was the incredibly unhelpful advice as he disappeared from view.
"Ergh!" He eyed the screaming baby as if it was a bomb ready to go off at any moment. "Dammit, Jiraiya!" he began, hearing footsteps approaching. "Hurry up and take this!"
It wasn't Jiraiya who appeared in the doorway, but Sakumo. He looked tired and disheveled but alert. "Where's Tsunade?" he asked, taking pity on the other and taking Kakashi from him.
"I have no idea. Off making some concoction, I suppose." He watched Sakumo cuddle his brat to him. The boy quieted instantly. He wondered how anyone with such an acute sense of smell could stand being so close to the stench the kid was emitting. It defied all logic. He's either gone completely nose blind or it's one of those weird parent things. Disgusting.
"Hm." Sakumo seemed to finally notice the stench coming from the kid. "Let me take care of this. I'll be right back."
When he returned, Kakashi smelled much better. Sakumo held him against his shoulder. One fist had latched itself firmly onto his pony-tail. Why is it always the hair!? He pulled it away as Kakashi tried to stuff the silver stands into his mouth. He could handle the tugging. He drew the line at eating.
"Don't look at me, I had nothing to do with it, I swear!" was the first thing Jiraiya said as he reentered the room, holding his hands up in a placating gesture. He didn't think Sakumo would kill him while holding Kakashi but one never knew. The man hadn't earned his fearsome reputation for his looks. "But you look better."
The front door opened as Tsunade returned. She eyed Sakumo for a moment. He glared at her. "What the hell, Tsunade?"
She looked completely unconcerned by his glare. "You needed rest. You're no good to anybody, least of all your son, if you're ready to keel over at any minute."
"You could have asked –"
"You would have said no. I simply avoided the argument about it."
He sighed, conceding her point. He would have said no, not wanting to burden his friends. The Leaf Village was embroiled in a war. Everyone was struggling in some way or another. He had spent more time in the village these past few months than most other shinobi other than the seriously wounded. It felt unfair to ask those who had come back after and would leave again before him to give up their precious time for his sake.
"This is for Kakashi," she said, interrupting his thoughts. She placed a small jar on the table. "Just rub a bit on his gums when he starts fussing. Don't try feeding him right after. It'll numb his mouth so you'll just get a mess and he could choke."
"Thanks, Tsunade." His expression softened.
"You don't need much so that should last a while. If you need more, I left the recipe at the hospital. Any competent medical ninja can whip you up another batch."
"Thanks."
They sat around the table for a bit, catching up and exchanging news. Finally, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru stood to leave.
"We're going to be heading out again in a couple of days. Heading towards the Hidden Rain Village. Word is Hanzo the Salamander's stepping up operations over there."
"Be careful," Sakumo replied. "From what I've heard, Hanzo can be ruthless. The Hidden Rain's been holding its own in this war – that's no mean feat."
Jiraiya gave him a cocky grin. "We'll be fine. I'd rather take on Hanzo than deal with a kid, that's for sure!" Nevertheless, he ran one large hand over the wispy silver hair on the baby's head. "You're doing a good job here, Sakumo," he said seriously. "Kakashi's lucky to have you."
Sakumo stood in the doorway and watched the trio disappear down the street. He hated watching his friends leave, knowing they would be heading back into the war soon while he stayed safe in the village. He looked down at Kakashi, who was once again fascinated with his own feet. He forced his guilt aside. Right now his son needed him most. He turned and went back inside.