As it turned out, Kakashi was right. While he was on mission, Shikako, Sasuke, Sai, Tenzou and even Naruto and Jiraiya, home on a surprise visit, came home to Konoha to converge on Kakashi's empty apartment. Since it was stripped and no longer emanating any kind of chakra signature, it was no surprise that Shikako screamed, a terrible shrieking cry that reached across the village, quieting all who heard it. Jiraiya instinctively trapped her against his broad chest, but before her scream, now turned to hiccups, could turn to sobs, a distinct pop was heard, before a stiffly formal voice asked "Why are you in this place? Are you looking for Kakashi-dono?" The group whirled to come face to face with an ethereal being, who wore stiff crimson robes over pale white skin. "Who're you?" Naruto demanded. Crimson sniffed haughtily and informed them "I am Taisho no Souta, tenth in the line of inheritance to the Prince of our people, Kakashi Hatake-sama, inu warrior of the West."
While they stared at him, Souta continued "Yes, I am named for a great warrior-priest, my great great uncle Souta Higurashi, and no, Kakashi-dono is not in the village because he is a good Prince and takes missions even if he no longer has to." Turning on his heel, he called over his shoulder imperiously "Come, you are obviously the ones Kakashi-dono warned us would come looking for him, so I will take you to Sesshomaru-sama to be written into the clan rolls." When they still stood as if shocked, he sighed with great exasperation and growled "Do not make me drag you! Sesshomaru-sama would not be pleased and Kakashi-dono would flay me!" Robotically, they moved.
When Kakashi returned later that day, the shock had mostly worn off. Shikako had been given a private room in the Main house adjacent to Kakashi- informed she was regarded as no less than the lady of the house!- while the others all had rooms on the same floor "Should you wish to use it." Ginsuke, one of the servants had informed them. As the rooms were ninja standard while being luxurious, they probably would. For the private bath chamber alone, they probably would, but since they had access to free meals, a private onsen and well maintained training grounds . . .
Anyway, they were sitting in the town center, chatting with Tadashi and Tsubaki, fraternal twins who served as companions and actual hand servants. Not that Shikako cared. The empty, blank apartment haunted her, and until- there he was! With a wordless cry, Shikako lunged at her sensei, gripping his flak jacket in her fists. Since Naruto had slammed into her back to throw his arms around Kakashi's neck, and Sasuke had bulldozed past Sai, Jiraiya, Tenzou, Tsubaki and Tadashi to wrap his arms around his team, even as Tenzou and Jiraiya surged forward and Sai hovered on the perimeter, she simply looked like the catalyst.
Shikaku, Yoshino and Shikamaru saw this, of course, had been coming over to investigate a fidgety Shikako in a brilliantly sewn green furisode, when Kakashi appeared, eliciting the reactions he had. Once the boys backed away, they revealed a version of Shikako her family had rarely, if ever, seen. Relieved and upset and afraid, all jumbled together as she clutched two fistfuls of jonin flak vest in small hands, her body molded to the man petting her hair and murmuring to her. Reassurance, it sounded like. They paused long enough to ascertain Shikako would not be letting her former sensei go anytime soon.
