Sakumo wrinkles his nose as they duck into the cramped cave the ninken had dragged Kakashi into. The stink of lynx offers an excellent scent cover but it made Sakumo wish his olfactory senses weren't quite so acute. There is a faint smell of blood, probably from the scuffle the ninken had with the lynx to chase it out of its den.

"—could have sworn it was Boss' otou-san," Pakkun is saying, his dour face even more sullen than usual. Sakumo perks up at that, listening intensely. Beside him, Rin crawls forward to examine a soaked Kakashi, who is shivering under the pack of ninken who had piled onto him to keep him warm with their body heat.

"Boss' tou-san only summoned us that first time for Boss to sign the contract," Shiba argues, his brows furrowed, "are you sure you aren't mistaken?"

Pakkun's tail swishes in agitation. "It did feel a little like Boss as well..." the pug admits reluctantly, "but Boss was completely out of it when I arrived."

The other ninken look at their small leader doubtfully but don't say anything more. "Best not let Boss know though..." Akino warns. Nods of agreement sweep through the pack and a heavy silence settles over the pack. Guruko presses his floppy ear against Kakashi chest to listen to his heartbeat and Rin reaches out to stroke the sniffling ninken, only to withdraw her hand sadly.

Sakumo settles down on the leaf-littered floor, his gaze on the unconscious twitch of Kakashi's fingers. There's still blood under his nails.

Would it make Kakashi's grief be easier to bear if Sakumo or Rin somehow make their presence known? Yet in their current state, without a consistent or direct means of communication... Sakumo sighs. It would only be cruel to hint at a past that Kakashi cannot ever have again. They will watch over him quietly and Kakashi will gradually forget; the wounds will heal.

A low moan echoes through the cave and everyone's attention fixes avidly upon Kakashi. The boy's teeth chatters as he curls into himself, his eyes squeezed tightly shut. Bisuke, who is serving as a pillow of sorts, turns around and licks him across the exposed skin of his face. "Hey."

Kakashi cracks open his eyes to squint at the eight worried summons laying on him. "Everyone..." he whispers through chapped lips, lifting his arms weakly to hug the ninken within his reach. The clamber over him, tails wagging lowly, snuffling at his damp hair and clothes, whining as they huddle close.

"Hey Boss." "Feeling alright?" "You're finally awake."

Kakashi's breath hitches, eyes brimming with tears as he buries his face into their fur. "All of you... You're here."

Rin backs away and sits down with her knees drawn up to her chest, hugging herself and biting her lip as she watches Kakashi cling onto his summons, his soft sobs muffled against the ninken comforting him. "R-Rin..." His voice trails off into a broken keen and Rin hides her face, her shoulders shaking.

Had it been Sakumo alone by himself, he would have stayed out of solidarity or some sense of responsibility. But with Rin clearly tearing herself up over Kakashi's grief, this... this wouldn't do. Rising, he touches Rin's shoulder gently. She raises her head, looking more stricken than she had been when confronted with the sight of her own corpse. "Yes?" she asks hoarsely.

"Let's go outside."

Her face creases with worry as her red-rimmed eyes flicker to Kakashi, who is curled up on his side with his back against them, his breathing still harsh with distress. His ninken are whimpering softly but Kakashi's small outburst of emotion has already been gathered inwards and suppressed into soundless shudders.

'He's going to implode one day,' Sakumo thinks, blinking back the stinging in his eyes. He offers Rin his hand and she curls her fingers around his tentatively, her large, sorrowful eyes fixed on him like she can't quite understand why he isn't angry at her.

They end up sitting on the ledge that forms the mouth of the cave, their back against the rocky outcrop as their legs dangle over edge. Every once in a while, a small streak of colour passes beneath them as the ninken take turns patrolling, or set out to scavenge for edible berries and fetch water for Kakashi.

The sky has cleared after the initial outpouring of rain and as night falls, a blanket of stars spreads above them, stretching into the distance until its edges are swallowed up by shadowed treetops. The two ghosts sit in silent vigil, weary but unable to sleep, their gazes fixed on the winking silver lights above.

"I'm tired," Rin whispers after hours have gone by with only the sound of crickets accompanying them. Sakumo turns to look at her and her eyes are closed, her face slack with exhaustion. Her hands lay by her sides, open-handed and loose, as if she were one of Suna's puppets left propped up in a semblance of life.

"I know," he murmurs. But ghosts like them can't sleep. "Wait until dawn." Sakumo leans back again, resting his head against the cool stone behind him. His bones ache with phantom pains. "We'll be alright then."

They have to be.

A/N: Since I don't have the opportunity to PM guest reviewers and such, I just want to say a huge THANK YOU to ALL my readers, especially those who have favourited, followed or reviewed. I love hearing from you all :3

We'll be back in Konoha next!