Chapter 33 – Kakashi's Chapter

Somehow Sasuke Uchiha was sleeping on my couch. All my dogs were curling up on and around him to keep him warm like they do when I sleep there. He came in the middle of the night and asked to stay with me. I guess in my tiredness and with my sense of duty to my students led to him staying the night.

I whistled to wake my dogs up for their morning walk. Apparently, it woke Sasuke up as well. HE looked very disturbed.

"You can go back to sleep. I'm just taking the dogs for a walk," I told him. He went back to sleep, I walked the dogs, fed them, worked out a little, showered, dressed and fixed breakfast. I was waiting when Sasuke woke up.

"May I use your shower?" He asked. I nodded. I finished my breakfast by the time he was out of the shower and in his old clothes. I shoved him a plate of toast.

"Thank you for letting me stay the night and for the toast."

"Why did you come here again?" I asked.

"If I went anywhere else, I would have been taken home or my parents would have been told of my location. You're the only teacher I can stand and I didn't think you'd rat on or anything," He explained.

"What did you fight with your parents over? Girls? Grades?"

"Career."

"Aa. I see. They want you to be practical and you don't, I take it?"

"I want to play baseball. That's all I really want to do."

"Ok. Then go for it," Who was I to tell him not to follow his dreams. As a teacher I was supposed to encourage him, right?

"Thanks," He mumbled and kept eating.

"Why don't go home though?"

"I'd rather not talk about it."

"Okay. Where are you going to stay then?"

"I was hoping I could stay with you."

"You do?"

"I could get a job and help pay rent if you let me stay."

"If you get a job then you won't be able to practice baseball," I reminded him. I saw him frown. He obviously stuck. He did not want to go home and I was probably his last resort. He couldn't get a job or it would interfere with baseball and baseball was the whole reason he left home.

"I'll tell you what. If you get up and walk my dogs every morning at four with me, I let you stay here for free until you reconcile with your parents," I offered.

"Alright," He agreed. The deal was made.

"You also should probably change clothes. You smell like my dogs."

"I didn't bring anything with me," He replied.

"Borrow some of my clothes," I sighed. He nodded and went to my room and came back in a pair of my jeans and a t-shirt. My shirt was little big on him since I was a muscular man and he was still growing.

"Better get to school," He said.

"You go ahead. I'll come later," I waved him off. He left.

I went back to my room and got his dirty clothes. I put them in my dirty clothes pile so Sakura could wash them later. I took a seat and watched some TV, packed myself lunch and then began my leisurely walk to school. I arrived late to my class as usual and took roll. The day went on as usual. I talked about science, read some of my book, talked with my colleagues, kicked an obnoxious student out of my class and went home with Sakura. At home, I started grading papers while Sakura did the laundry and played with the dogs.

"I'm going to start making dinner, Kakashi-sensei," She was in the kitchen.

"Set an extra place," I told her.

"Are you having a guest?" I heard her ask.

"I guess you could call him that," I muttered.

She went on cooking and eventually placed all the food on the table. I was glad to see she had fixed my favorite, salt-broiled saury and miso soup with eggplant.

"When is your guest coming?" She asked when we sat down at the table.

"I don't know," I shrugged. A knock came to the door. I knew it was Sasuke. I answered it and ushered him into the dining room.

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura yelped at seeing him.

"Sakura?" He seemed a little confused then sighed, "Oh, right you work for him."

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

"He's staying with me for a while. But it's a secret," I put a finger to my lips. She nodded. Sasuke took a seat across from Sakura. We all began to eat but Sakura kept looking at Sasuke.

"Why are you staying here, Sasuke-kun?" Sakura finally asked. He sighed.

"I fought with my parents and I ran out. Okay? Don't go telling them where I am or anything. And don't tell anyone else."

"Did you bring anything with you?" She asked.

"No."

"Do you want me to bring your stuff to you?" Sakura offered.

"If you could, I would appreciate that," He replied.

"I'll bring it tomorrow."

It was awkwardly silent as we finished eating. Sakura collected the plates and started to wash them. I sent Sasuke to help her as a way for him to earn his keep. They were silent as they washed and dried.

"Sasuek-kun, you're not drying properly," I heard him scold him. I looked over my shoulder to see her taking his hand and making him dry it properly. She returned to her washing and handed him another plate.

"Sasuke-kun," She showed him how to do it again. This went on multiple times till finally I intervened and began drying the dishes.

"It's like he's never dried a dish in his life," She chuckled.

"Not all men are as competent as me in the kitchen."

She giggled and agreed. We finished quickly and I sat down and pulled out my book to read. Sakura started gathering the dogs together.

"Let's go, Kakashi-sensei," Sakura tried to hand me some leashes.

"No. Sasuke needs to get used to waking them. Teach him the route," I shooed them off. Sakura handed him some leashes and they left. I hoped my actions would help Sakura out. It helped Misaki in Icha-Icha.

Author's Note: I don't know the plot for the Icha-Icha series but I like to think Kakashi would try to use some of the tactics to help his little students.