"This one" she pointed at a restaurant, after he'd asked her to choose
"Alright" he said, entering 'sweet dumplings' he was sure that he knew the shop, he just couldn't remember from where
Hiromi was still on his back, he walked towards a table when an all too familiar voice stopped him "Kakashi!, my eternal rival!"
Hiromi jumped at the high tone of Guy's voice and clung tighter to Kakashi "Guy" he said unenthusiastically
"I..It's the mister fr..from that day" Hiromi said, trembling
"It's okay Hiromi, he's a..friend" 'unfortunately' he didn't like to admit it out loud but Guy was his best friend after...what happened with the rest
"Kakashi, I never knew you had a daughter..who's the lucky bride?" Guy said
"She's not my daughter Guy, she's the girl from four days ago, remember?" Kakashi said in the same unenthusiastic manner
"No, I would if I'd seen her, I never forget a face!"
'Sure' Kakashi was surprised that Guy has yet to forget his face, but now that he thought about it, Hiromi hid behind his leg the whole time, so he couldn't have seen her, not that he'd remember if her did
"Aren't your friends out on missions, unkle Kakashi?"
"Yeah, that's what I thought..turns out I was wrong" 'lucky me'
"Lets eat! My treat..let's fill ourselves with youth!" He exclaimed taking a seat
Kakashi rolled his eyes and put Hiromi down as they both sat, she kept eyeing Guy and Kakashi couldn't blame her..he was indeed a strange fellow
..
They got the dumplings and Hiromi ate her full, not paying attention to when Kakashi lowered the mask in order to eat, and neither did Guy...they were too busy stuffing their faces
As for the adjacent table who had the honor of seeing his face, the girls had hearts for eyes and the guys were rolling theirs
"I'm done unkle Kakashi" Hiromi announced "can I go wash my hands?"
Kakashi thought about it for a while, he couldn't go along to the ladies room, and he couldn't send her alone, even if it was close
"Um...how about you wait until we-" he was interrupted by a crowd of giggling, blushing girls
"We'll take her if that's okay" one of them said
"Well, that's awfully nice of you" he said, surprised and they giggled and blushed more in return
Hiromi was scared, she wasn't used to that many people, especially in the strange way they were acting "c'mere biscuit" one of them said
Hiromi looked at Kakashi for permission and he nodded, she took one of their hands and walked with them into the washroom
Once they were there, one of the ladies grabbed her and placed her on the sink to wash her hands and mouth..it's true that she was seven, but she was too small for her age..
Meanwhile the others were fighting for spot to stand before her
"Is that your daddy, little girl?" She heard one of them say
"Uh uh, he's my..uncle" she said before the girl that asked her got pushed away and was replaced by another
Hiromi didn't understand the strange behavior, was that how big girls usually act?
"Is he married?" She heard another one say
"What is that?" Hiromi asked
A collective 'awww' came from the group before one of them said "did you see him with a lady..like close...holding hands"
She was contemplating her answer as another one spoke "is he wearing a wedding band?"
"What's that?"
"A ring, is he wearing a ring?"
"I don't know, he wears gloves all the time" Hiromi answered
"Ok is he with a lady?" Back to the original question
"I don't think so, I saw him standing with Machi's mom but he wasn't holding her hand...she's a big girl, why would he hold her hand?"
Another collective 'aww'
Hiromi tilted her head, she didn't understand them at all
"Okay, okay...he's a shinobi right?"
"I don't know what's a 'shinobi'...but he's a good person" she said in defense, her eyebrows knit...she was getting fed up with their continuous questioning, and she didn't know what 'shinobi' was, but if it's a bad thing, then Kakashi definitely wasn't it
"Aw, sorry to upset you..I'm done here" the one who was washing for her said
"Oh, Minako, way to spoil our fun!" They said, irritated
"Thank you" Hiromi said with a smile to the lady that helped her, then she was put down and brought back to Kakashi
"She's so sweet sir, I think she took after you" one of the girls said
"Thanks" he chuckled, and placed a hand on his hair, as the girls eyes popped out with hearts..a sweat dropped from his head
"Can we leave now?" Hiromi whispered
"Yes, we'll be taking our leave now..goodbye Guy...um, goodbye and thanks" he said to Guy and the group before leaving, followed by too-many-to-count sets of eyes
..
They were walking back to the Hokage's
"They're so pretty" Hiromi said slowly in an amazed tone
"Hm?"
"The birdies" she said in the same manner "how can the birdie fly?"
"It has wings"
"Hm?"
"Well..let's see.." he said looking around before he grabbed her and jumped to the Hokage's roof
She giggled as he put her down "do you see that one?" He said pointing at a bird
She nodded
"Do you see it's wings...they look like.." he looked around for something before an idea came to him "like this" he made a bird with his hands
"Okay, I know" she said nodding
"When they move their wings downwards, they push the air down so they can go up" he simplified it as much as he could, moving his hands like wings "and no, Hiromi..you can't have wings" he added
"Oh" she looked down for a second before looking back at him "can we stay here unkle Kakashi?" She said "I want to watch them"
"I don't see why not" he said, he didn't think the Hokage would mind since Hiromi lived here, and as for him, as long an he had his book to read..he was okay
..
Kakashi kept reading his book, sitting on the edge of the building with his back on one of the pillars, he'd look at Hiromi every once in a while to check if everything was alright
She'd been watching with the same interest for hours, until it was night
She was hugging her knees with her right cheek resting on them..since it was night, no birds were around so she was looking at the Great Stone Faces
"Who are they?" She asked, pointing at the faces carved into the mountain
"Hm?" He looked from over his book and saw where she was pointing "the village's previous Hokage"
"What?!there are more of grandpa Hokage?!" She said with a shocked expression
He smiled "Hokage isn't Lord third's name..it's just what all the leaders of the village are called, and lord third is well..the third" he said with a shrug
"Ohh" she said slowly "who's he?" She pointed at the first face
"Lord first, the one who founded the village: Hashirama Senju" he said
"And that?" She pointed at the second one
"Lord second, his younger brother: Tobirama Senju"
"That's grandpa Hokage right?" She said pointing at the third
"Yes..that's lord third: Hiruzen Sarutobi"
"And that?" She pointed at the last one
"That's..Lord fourth: Minato sen...Namikaze"
She noticed the change in tone, but smiled "I'm sure you're face will be there someday unkle Kakashi"
He chuckled though it wasn't the least bit funny to him...this wasn't his dream..it was.. his left eye twitched
He took out his book since she seemed done with questions and returned to his spot, only..he didn't read for the sake of having fun or killing time..it was just a distraction
She noticed the mood-shift but didn't let it go like before.."I'm sorry" she said sadly
"Hm?" He looked at her from over the book, did she say sorry?
"I don't want you to be sad unkle Kakashi" she said looking down
"What makes you say that?"
"I don't know, but I known that you're always sad..I try to take it away but I can't...It hurts right?..in here?" She said, pointing at her chest
He looked at her in surprise, his book long forgotten
"I want to help you...like you helped me, it used to hurt here too" she pointed back at her chest "but now it doesn't...I want to take away your hurt too, like you took mine.. from here.." she held her injured hand "..and here" she pointed at her chest again
Kakashi was truly surprised at the words the girl just said..touched
..
It was a while before any of them spoke..she was looking down, and he was looking at her
"I...I'm scared..unkle Kakashi" she said, breaking the silence with her unsure tone
"What of?"
"O..of hurt, of..going back...and...and of losing you unkle Kakashi" she said, looking at him with watery eyes "I don't want the hurt to take you away" her voice was beginning to break
He was surprised more and more with every word she spoke..her words held such strong feelings behind them..such profound pain and fear..one would never believe her to be the same carefree girl whose smile never left her face
"I..I.." she broke down crying..not able to hold back her tears whom have been welling for a while now..it wasn't like the childish tantrum she had before...it was sincere..full of long bottled fear and pain
The way she was now...curled into a ball and crying...he remembered the times he needed someone to be there for him..a hand to be placed on his shoulder..a hand that he didn't allow, not after loosing the first hands he had..his friends, one by one
But he wasn't going to watch the same happen to her...if there wasn't anyone there for her..then he will be..
He walked to her side and kneeled to his knees then he held her to his chest where she cried her heart out..he was awkward in doing so, not having done this before "it's alright..it'll be alright..I'm not going anywhere, and neither are you"
He held the little girl he only met about a month ago...the girl he now cared about..the girl he so quickly bonded with..so unintentionally
Maybe it was destiny..maybe it was his family and friends watching over him...but he was definitely not the same person he was a month ago..he was so unexpectedly out of the thoughts that he'd live the rest of his life in the shadows of his past..
The past that accompanied him ever since that day..the day he lost her..the one thing he was entrusted with by his friend...his best friend's dying wish
But now he knew..that he had something else entrusted to him..and that was this girl's faith..and he was going to make sure that he never fails again
She cried until she ran out of energy and fell asleep..he thought that after what happened, they both needed some air and so he didn't take her back in...instead, he sat down, his back on the wall as she slept with her head resting on his chest
..
"Unkle Kakashi" she said sleepily
"Yes?"
"Can you make the birdie with your hands?" She asked
"Why don't you go back to sleep, it's past midnight" why was she awake anyway?
"Please"
He looked up and sighed "fine" then made the bird..she tried to do the same with her hands..but then, the removed one of his hands and placed hers instead..making a funny-looking half-grown figure that was supposed to be a bird
Kakashi chuckled and she giggled..then took off her ribbon and tied it around the 'bird's' 'neck' -their thumbs-
She looked at it for a while before speaking "I think that's me"
"How so?"
"I flew away from the hurt.." she pointed at their hands "..because of you" she pointed at the ribbon
He smiled..that girl..
"Why the ribbon...it was quite strange that you'd cry over something like that..why are you keeping it in the first place?"
"It..it helps" she said lowly "it helps me...sometimes...sometimes I have trouble remembering.." she looked down "..that I got out..when I was there..I always dreamt about getting out...so I fear that it's just a dream..
But when I look at the ribbon..it reminds me of you...of that night and the pain from my hand..I don't feel pain in dreams..not like that..so it must be real"
"I..I never knew" he felt terrible for the way he was irritated with her about the ribbon today..he never knew she held such a meaning within it..and was yet again, reminded of the hellish past the girl had lived
A seven year old girl shouldn't have lived the hell she'd lived through...and a boy shouldn't have had his friend killed by his own hands and his family to be taken away one after another..
"I know" she said "I won't let you be sad anymore unkle Kakashi" she added after some time..then fell asleep
He looked at himself...a little girl sleeping on him...the person he was only a month ago would never have believed him ending up like this..but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing
..
A smile spread on the Hokage's face as he saw them..the great feeling of success wishing over him..he finally made up for keeping Kakashi in the Anbu for all these years..with no regard to what it'd done to him..the darkness that it grew in his heart
But the heartwarming scene in front of him was enough to make him believe that he'd at least righted his wrongs..that he didn't betray Minato's trust...or at least made up for it
They were sleeping so goofily...it was funny
It was a great way to start his morning
..
Kakashi was sleeping with his back partly on the wall and partly on the ground..his head in an awkward position..as Hiromi slept on his chest
He opined his eyes to find her there..his eyebrows furrowed in confusion before the night's events came back to him
He heard a sound and looked at Hiromi to find her opining and closing her mouth sleepily..he smiled..then she sat up, yawned and stretched her limbs before noticing him
She gave him a confused look..and he couldn't help but chuckle..she looked so funny with her messy hair and pillow face..well, in this case it was Kakashi's-vest face
"Unkle Kakashi?"
"Yes?"
"You're still here?"
"Yes"
"But why?"
"Well..you fell asleep atop me and I joined you soon after" he said
"Oh" she looked down for a while before jumping while exclaiming "this it the best morning ever!" As she hugged him
He jumped from surprise "whoa!" She went from super-sleepy to super-active in no time!
She suddenly let go and gave him her back as she went to the other end of the roof and started coughing
He got up after her, a worried expression covering his face...maybe he shouldn't have kept her outside for the night..the girl spent most of her life locked inside..maybe she didn't have the same resistance as normal kids did
"Hiromi?" He asked worriedly
When the coughing stopped, she quickly wiped her hand on her dark pants and turned to face him
"'M okay" she said with a lopsided smile
"It that blood?!" He said, looking at the wet spots on the knees of her pants
"Please don't wo-" she broke into another coughing fit
"Hiromi!" He held out his hand worriedly but she turned around and kept coughing
When she stopped..she was out of breath, her hands were on her knees as she breathed hard
"Hiromi..are you ok?" It was obvious that she wasn't but he didn't know what else to ask
"I'm okay..I'm okay..please don't worry" she said with her best attempt at a smile
"Is that blood?" He asked again
She covered her knees "I'm ok"
"Stop saying that Hiromi..c'mon, we're going to the hospital" he said kneeling and giving her his back, she didn't look scared or even worried about her condition..but when he mentioned the hospital, her expression immediately changed to that of horror
"N..no I'm okay unkle Kakashi..please..I don't want to..t..this is normal...it happens every morning...even when I was little"
He thought about her reaction before speaking...she might be afraid because she thinks it'd be like back with.."don't worry Hiromi, this is not like Orochimaru...we'll just check to see what's wrong with you..it's going to be ok" as for having this coughing every morning..he couldn't be sure since she was already awake when he came in the morning
She flinched at the mention of that name "but.." her eyes were begging him..but he couldn't leave her unchecked after seeing her condition..
Seeing that he was fixated on his decision, she nodded reluctantly and climbed his back
..
The way to the hospital was quiet..missing the giggles and gapes of bewilderment of Hiromi..she was silent, her cheek resting on Kakashi's back until they reached their destination
He put her down and she held his hand tightly as they walked in
Her grip tightened more the closer they got..
..
The doctor checked her and was now speaking to Kakashi while she waited in the corridor with a nurse
"Her body has sustained severe injuries internally...it seems that something has been causing her harm..from the inside, for a very long time...perhaps all her life, we sent word to the Yamanaka clan..we're expecting them to send a member in order to use Sensory Perception to sense the source of harm for Hiromi
We need to measure its amount accurately so we can counter it" the doctor stopped talking as they heard a knock on the door
"Come in"
"Hakaru Yamanaka" the person said entering
"Yes come in please..Aika, bring the girl"
Hiromi entered the room, walking slowly on shaky feet, holding the nurse's hand
The nurse placed her on a chair where she looked even smaller
Hakaru closed his eyes and performed the jutsu
Only the moment he sensed it..he screamed in pain and fell to the ground unconscious..
Hiromi jumped and buried her face into her knees as they carried the man and sat him on another chair..
She was breathing in gasps and trembling...Kakashi noticed and went to her side and placed a hand on her shoulder
She jumped and looked up but calmed a little when she saw it was Kakashi "I..I didn't d..do anything..I swear..unkle Ka..kashi" she said pleadingly with watery eyes
"I know, don't worry..he's okay" he reassured her with a smile
They waited for awhile until the man woke up..the minute he did..he immediately backed away and held out his Kunai
Hiromi buried her face back in her knees as she covered her ears with her hands
"She's..she's a monster!" The man said
"What do you mean?" The doctor asked "what did you find?"
"She has an enormous chakra...I..I remember the Nine tails' attack on the village..this is nothing like that...it's..it's much..much worse" he said keeping his defensive stance "you have to get this...thing out of the village immediately" he added then looked at Hiromi then at the door "I..I have to go"
He left with Kakashi behind him..once they were out of the room, Kakashi held his arm firmly "not a word of what happened gets out...understood?" He threatened, looking through his eyes with the Sharingan
The man nodded quickly then left running
Kakashi returned to the room to find Hiromi crying silently, curled into herself the same way he left her
He couldn't calm her for the moment since he had to do that to the nurse and doctor whom were also in the same positions he left them in..looking unsure of what to do
..
Kakashi explained to them that the Hokage allowed Hiromi in the village and since they knew the Hokage wouldn't risk the village's safety..they were slightly reassured
The doctor advised that Kakashi would talk to the Sealing Core about a way to deal with Hiromi's chakra..and what it was doing to her..let alone the risk it placed on others around her
And now he was left to deal with the traumatized kid..she was still the same, crying silently as only gasps and sniffles could be heard..as her shoulders shook with each gasp
"Hiromi..hey" he said gently, kneeling to her level and slowly placing a hand on her shoulder "it's over..he's gone..he won't come back..ever"
"U..unk..le K..ka..ka..sh..shi" she could barely manage those words between gasps as she wrapped her hands around his neck, where she buried her face and continued crying..soaking the collar of his vest
He carried her in the position she was in and nodded to the occupants of the room before leaving the hospital
..
She was slowly reduced to only gasps and sniffles..as Kakashi walked around the village..waiting for her to calm down
"Are you okay now?"
She nodded into his neck..which kind of tickled
"I have a surprise for you"
She raised her head and looked at him
"You want to come down?"
She rubbed her eye and nodded
Kakashi walked towards a shop "chocolate, caramel and milk" he said to the man
"Right away!" The man said and worked on the order
Hiromi was curious but couldn't see that high up so she reluctantly waited..
"Here you go, sir..enjoy!" The man said as he handed Kakashi the cone and got his money
"Here" Kakashi gave her the cone
She looked at it suspiciously..not knowing what to do "use the spoon" Kakashi instructed
She took out the spoon that was sticking out of the caramel scoop and looked at Kakashi for more instructions
It was too obvious..he looked at the spoon then back at her in an 'eat it' gesture
She stuck the spoon in her mouth..it took a moment before her eyes widened and her eyebrows shot up "mmm" she made a sound with a happy expression
Kakashi smiled, the smile reaching his eyes..she was so easily pleased
"It turned into milk!" She said in astonishment
"Try licking it" he suggested
She did so and her expression became even happier, Kakashi mentally patted himself on the back..he was getting the hang of dealing with her
Events from earlier never left his mind..he still had to do something about her..but for now she enjoyed her cone and he enjoyed the brief peace of mind
She got ice-cream all over her clothes, and they were already stained with blood
"Okay..we should go back, you need to change" Kakashi stated
She nodded with a goofy smile on her cream-smeared face
..
They were there in no time since the ice-cream shop wasn't that far from the Hokage's, they got in and Kakashi escorted her to her room then waited in the hallway for her to change
..
She took a while until.."done" she announced
He walked in to find her gathering her dirty laundry..she had a scarf over her shoulders which was kind of odd since it was warm
"I'm out of clean clothes...I have to wash those" she said leaving the room
Kakashi looked at her in suspicion..she wasn't acting like herself..maybe it was because of what happened in the hospital? So he decided to give it time
He sat on a chair and opened his beloved book
..
Since she couldn't go outside without either the Hokage or Kakashi..she came to Kakashi "unkle Kakashi...I need to go upstairs to hang the laundry"
He nodded and accompanied her..the basket was clearly heavy for her "give me that" he said, putting the book away and taking the basket from her
She nodded and fixed the scarf then followed him
..
They got to the roof and she started on the laundry
As usual, he took his book and sat on the edge..it was so windy, it was hard to read with the pages keep turning in the wind "are you sure you want to do them now? It's windy, they might get blown away"
"I need them to dry..The only clean ones I have are those and...I..don't like them" she said, fixing the scarf again
"You cold? Want my vest?...Here" he started taking it off
"N..no I'm not, it's kinda warm here" she said nervously "thanks though" she added
She was definitely not like herself..she was kind of..formal and..just off
He shrugged and leaned against the wall
..
The wind was so high, and Hiromi had a hard time but it was especially hard since she was so careful to keep the scarf on
He noticed that she wore a sleeveless shirt underneath...was she shy because she didn't want him to see her in it? Was that why she kept the scarf on?
She grabbed the bed cover next...it was too big for her to hang so he walked towards her to lend a hand
But before he was there..a strong gust of wind blew the cover, along with her scarf away
He jumped and grabbed them easily..when he was on the ground again, Hiromi was hugging herself, trying to cover her skin
He was about to turn away to avoid embarrassing her before something caught his eye..
Her upper body was covered with scars!
His eyebrows furrowed and he tilted his head 'what the hell?!'
She bowed her head and sat on the ground "'m...sorry" she said quietly
'Sorry?!' Kakashi wasn't one to be easily angered...in fact, he was so difficult to piss off..but seeing this, made him furious
He clutched the fabric in his hands so tightly...he couldn't believe what'd been done to that little girl
He wouldn't accept that to happen to anyone, let alone to a little girl..and not any girl..the one he came to care about
And what was more infuriating was that she thought that it was somehow her fault
The bed cover and the scarf were on the ground as he walked towards her "let me see that" he said kind of roughly
She flinched and lowered her hands submissively
It wasn't just her shoulders, it was her back and arms..they were all covered with scars...some from sticks some from sharp objects..one of them looked like something dug into her skin..and that was just what he could see from her exposed skin, whatever was under her clothes had to be worse
He clenched his fists tight enough to draw blood, had he not been wearing gloves..he looked at her face to see that she was struggling to keep tears in..she was biting her lower lip in an attempt to keep from crying
"'M..I'm sorry" she said, angering him more
"Stop..apologizing!" He said roughly
She flinched and shut her eyes, lowering her head..as if waiting for a strike
Awful wasn't it...he felt more than that, the girl was that badly hurt and he had to go and make it worse..just great
He pinched the bridge of his nose, attempting to calm himself down..."Hiromi, I'm...sorry" he said crouching so he was at her level, not making physical contact to avoid spooking her
She looked up with tear streaked face, increasing his guilt ten fold
"What happened..this" he gestured her scars "isn't your fault...it's nothing to be apologizing for...if anything..I should be apologizing for being so harsh and I'm sorry..." he said sincerely "...I'm just...angry that I wasn't there to prevent it" he added after a while then looked down
He felt a small hand on his cheek, his eyes widened in surprise then he looked up to see that it was hers..she was smiling
His heart..he didn't know what it was exactly but it was bit painful yet warm...a smile made its way across his face as well
"Do you...want to talk about it?" He said after a while, sitting on the ground
She shook her head...then spoke after a while "it was...when I escaped my...cage...everyone in the village was so...so angry with me, I didn't know why...I don't remember seeing them before that time...and they hurt me...then...then I don't remember what happened...when I woke up, lord Ororchimaru was there and he took me" she said then got up to get her scarf
She was putting it on when he spoke "You can wear it if it makes you comfortable...but you don't have to be ashamed...whoever did this to you...they are the ones who should be"
She held the fabric in her hands, looking at it..he walked closer and placed a hand on her shoulder "and like I said...no one will ever hurt you again" he said with a reassuring smile
She hugged him around the waist as the scarf fell to the ground
He ruffled her hair...he felt more obligation to keeping his promise with every passing minute with her
...
That day was quite a lot for little Hiromi, so he decided to postpone their visit to the Sealing Core to the next day
He'd stopped there after leaving the Hokage's and informed them about Hiromi's situation, after having already talked to the Hokage about it
They told him to bring her the next day to see what they could do..
..
In the morning, he got up and dressed before going to the Hokage's..
"Unkle Kakashi!" He was greeted with the same enthusiasm as ever and a hug
He smiled, ruffling her hair, same as always "hey there" he chuckled
She was wearing the same clothes as last night, no scarf on
"Did you have your breakfast yet?" He asked when she let go
"Uh-uh" she shook her head
"Great, we're going out" he said
"Really?! Where?" She said in excitement
"Well, first..to the Sealing Core to see what to do about your..condition.." she immediately frowned so he quickly added "..but after that, we're going for breakfast..and I'm sure you're gonna love the place"
She wasn't as sad, but still sad nonetheless "ok" she said and went to put on her shoes
He felt bad to have dulled her enthusiasm but he still had to take her there, for her own good
She came back with her shoes on and held his hand before they left the building
He could feel how nervous she was and all he could do was hold her hand tightly and give her a reassuring smile
..
They entered the building, her anxiety building up every step of the way
"Good morning!" She was greeted by a friendly smile from a female member of the Sealing Core that eased her anxiety a bit "you're Hiromi right?" The woman said kneeling to match Hiromi's level
She nodded, clutching Kakashi's pant leg after letting go of his hand
"I'm Kaori, nice to meet you!" The woman said, offering her hand for a handshake
Hiromi didn't know what to do so she looked at Kakashi for guidance "shake it" he whispered
She hesitantly shook Kaori's hand receiving an even bigger smile...Hiromi decided that she liked Kaori so she smiled in return
"Will you come with me? I'd like to show you around!"
Hiromi hesitated and looked at Kakashi who shrugged...she thought about it for a while before nodding
"Great!" Kaori exclaimed, and offered her hand which Hiromi took
"This is where I work" Kaori said "I have a lot of friends here but their busy at the moment, so you're stuck with me...I hope that you don't mind cuz I'm kinda talkative"
Hiromi giggled, this was the first person she'd ever warmed up to other than Kakashi and the Hokage
"I have some fun stuff you can play with, you just wait!"
Kaori had noticed the scars covering Hiromi the moment she saw her..but she was considerate enough to know that was an unpleasant subject to bring up by any means so she acted indifferent..but she felt real sorry for her
"So, who's the hot stuff?" She asked casually
"Hm?"
"The man who brought you..who is he? You don't look alike so I gather that he's not your daddy" Kaori wanted to know if Kakashi was the cause of little Hiromi's scars
"Oh, he's unkle Kakashi" Hiromi said with a smile, bringing up Kakashi always made her smile
Kaori was reassured..having a smile planted on Hiromi's face by the mention of Kakashi was proof enough for her
She was deliberately stalling on the way to her working place to give herself and Hiromi more time to warm up so the kid won't get frightened upon starting the examination..as well as giving Kakashi time to talk to the sensory type members of the Core whom got a sense of Hiromi's condition by being in the same room
"Sooo, what are your...hobbies?!"
"Drawing! I like drawing a lot...I have a painting of unkle Kakashi back home, he said that it was..um.." Hiromi was struggling to find the world "gorgeous!" She said "I looked it up and it means 'very pretty'!"
"Oh really?! I want to see it now!" She falsely whined
"I'll bring it the next time" Hiromi said soothingly
"Thank you!" Kaori said, giving Hiromi a little sideway hug as they both giggled
"Ok, what does 'unkle Kakashi' like?" Kaori asked, since his mention eased Hiromi
"Icha Icha!" She immediately answered "he reads that book aaaaall the time..like always!" She said irritably, yet fondly
"He does, doesn't he" Kaori said chuckling then after a while of silence she said "well guess what? We're here!" She said spreading her hands, introducing the room
(A/N)
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