A/n:
klariza-riza: It'll be explained in this chappie.
LPWormer:Oh, thank you! ANd I'm glad you also like this version!
Tsuki: Yup, there's going to be some major changes so I hope you're looking forward to it.
oooOooo
"Aquaphobia?"
The nurse nodded, a frown gracing her lips. "Yes. It is better if I tell you this early. This phobia of Ren-kun's will affect his career as a ninja. I suggest leaving the Academy as early as possible. We aren't entirely certain how intense his phobia is so please make sure he doesn't see too much water until we are definite of his condition."
Her words became inaudible as those words sank in. It would negatively affect his career as a shinobi and it was something that startled him. He had seen the way Ren's eyes sparkled, how his whole expression brightened up when Kakashi came and asked him if he wanted to be a ninja.
This news... it would definitely tear apart his dreams and it was something that Kakashi didn't want. "- I will go now then, Hatake-san." Nodding, the silver-haired shinobi silently made his way to Ren's room on the third floor.
During his silent walk, he contemplated what he had just learned. If Ren was frightened of water, then it was obvious that he couldn't continue his studies to become a ninja. Water was almost everywhere and there would be a lot of water-users out there.
Soon enough, he arrived at Ren's room and just in time to hear something breaking. Kakashi slammed the door in alarm, only to witness a nurse trembling on the floor. There was a shattered glass beside her, water pooling from the broken glass.
On the bed, Ren was shivering, droplets of sweat dripping down from his forehead. His arm was outstretched as if he had pushed something away. Kakashi pieced the pictures together and grasped what happened.
Ren had panicked at the sight of water and pushed the glass away, shattering it and startling the nurse. "Ren..." His voice echoed in the silent room, catching the only occupants' attention. "Ren, it's okay. Calm down." It was too late.
Kakashi must have said something wrong when the young Nohara started hyperventilating. The nurse glared at him; making him flinch in response, and watched as the trembling woman toughened up and approached Ren.
She slowly wrapped an arm around the boy, picked up a piece of chocolate from the tray on top of the desk beside the bed, and carefully made sure that Ren took little bites out of it. Kakashi frowned, his heart drowning in an emotion he couldn't recognize and clenched his hands into fists.
"Hatake-san, correct? I think it's best if you leave for now."
"But-" He tried to argue but the woman glowered at him with such fierce that made him cower. He quickly flickered out of there, not wanting to see those vicious eyes boring holes on his head. He found himself standing in front of the hospital, his shoulders drooping in dejection.
Why did that nurse kick him out? She was the reason why Ren was having a panic attack anyway, right? Shouldn't she have been the one who left and not him? Kakashi inwardly growled but stopped when he passed by a bookstore.
Panic attacks, Kakashi thought [though most of his thoughts were still occupied by a certain Nohara]. ... maybe I said something wrong? I don't really have an idea how to deal with those kinds of things but maybe I should? Ren... Ren will frequently experience panic attacks from now on, right?
He was still unsure of himself. He has no idea how to deal with this. He was a shinobi for goodness' sake. Kakashi doesn't know how to take care of a child so how the heck did adopting Ren even cross his mind?!
Damn it, he was a mess. How the heck was he able to survive at this point?
Entering the bookstore, Kakashi was adamant to know where he had gone wrong earlier.
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Cold.
Cold.
Sis...
Sis... help me...
"Ren..."
Who's... Who's Ren?
"Ren, it's okay. He'll help you."
Who's Ren? Who's he?
"It's okay to wake up now. He's worried about you."
Who's worried? Tell me!
"He will help you, don't worry. Don't ever hold back. He'll understand."
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"Are you sure you want to do this, Ren? You can still stop." The hazel-eyed boy simply smiled at him, a sign of reassurance. "I'm okay now, Hatake-san. Not following through my decision is not on my list." The teen's eyes glistened with worry, making the Nohara grab hold of his hand.
The boy's hand felt so tiny in his, so smooth, so innocent. It was as if it was telling Kakashi that the path to shinobi wasn't meant for Ren. "I want to do this. I promise I'll overcome my fear, Hatake-san."
Kakashi shot the boy an annoyed look; although, he was still worried deep inside. Honestly, the young Nohara was too stubborn for his own good. Just the sight of water was enough to render him into a shivering mess. Thankfully, Ren wasn't unnerved by the sight of a glass of water anymore.
Ever since that day at the hospital [it's just been a few weeks], Kakashi kept reading books about childcare and how to deal with panic attacks on top of his missions as a shinobi of the village. It might seem as if he was overworking himself but it was probably the price to pay for living with Ren.
And no, he doesn't regret it. Not even for a bit.
"Hey, Hatake-san?"
"Yeah?"
"... what is that book for?"
With half-lidded eyes, he was about to say that it was to help him when he saw orange from the corner of his eyes. Taking a good look at the book he was holding in his hand, he quickly shoved it into his pouch with a drop of sweat.
Silence draped over them and he could see Ren fidgeting from awkwardness. Did he realize what I was reading? I hope not. He thought with half-lidded eyes once more but really, he was panicking inside.
How in the world was he going to tell Ren that he was reading an adult-rated book?!
For the rest of the walk, the both of them were restless. Kakashi inwardly face-palmed at his stupidity but fortunately, they've reached the Academy soon enough. The shinobi saw his ward glaring at the oaken door. He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion and wondered what has gotten into him all of a sudden.
"Remember, if you have any of that panic attacks again-"
"- take deep breaths, go outside, and eat something. I got it, Hatake-san."
His onyx eye softened and even though it was a bit foreign for him to do so, Kakashi ruffled Ren's curly brown hair. "I might not be back until two days from now. Be careful." Ren beamed at him, his hazel eyes sparkling. "Be careful too, Hatake-san."
And with that, Kakashi flickered away.
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Did Ren mention that he was three hours late because he accidentally slept in? No? Well, yeah, that was what happened. Kakashi had been trying to wake him up all morning but he said that he wouldn't wake up so he let him be.
No, really, he slept in.
The door opened and Yura-sensei stood there with a soft expression. "Hello, Ren-kun. Are you alright now?" Her voice was gentle and it sounded sincere. Her eyes showed how worried she was about him.
The Nohara nodded, his lips kissing his teeth. In actuality, he was dreading to head inside. After all, two of his supposed classmates pushed him in the pond. "I'm fine now, Yura-sensei."
Yura-sensei eyed him critically as if she was looking for a sign that he was lying. When she found none, she smiled at him; making him inwardly sigh in relief. Her gaze was unnerving, he found himself musing.
"C'mon inside then, Neji-kun had been asking when you will come back." Ren perked up at this. Neji had been asking where he was? A warm feeling filled his chest and he unconsciously rushed inside and sat on his seat. He ignored Yura-sensei's calls and when he was safely tucked in his seat...
... he felt a menacing glare boring holes on his face.
He felt weary. Actually, he didn't want to look beside him. Ren could literally see how angry Neji was. "Ren..." Said boy silently yelped from his seat and robotically faced Neji with a nervous smile. And there he was, glaring at him.
"H... Hey, Neji-san, i... it's been a while, huh?" The hazel-eyed boy nervously chuckled while he scratched the back of his head with a sheepish expression. The Hyuga before him kept staring at him with narrowed eyes that made him sweat buckets.
His eyes are scary! A few minutes later, the bell rang for break time and Neji was still glaring at him that finally managed to freeze him on the spot. How could a Hyuga glare for so long, anyway? Was it a Hyuga-thing?
"Explain."
He gulped. "Um... well... I... I was just heading to the bathroom and when I was about to go back, two... two of our classmates blocked my way. I wanted to go back immediately but they uh... they um... accidentally threw me in the pond..." Honestly, he couldn't talk properly with Neji glaring holes at him.
He was terrified of the older boy's gaze as if he was scolding him without his lips parting or moving at all to reprimand him. He had unconsciously closed his eyes when the word 'pond' left his lips so he was surprised when there was a hand ruffling his hair.
"A shinobi doesn't cry. It shows weakness. You would have died if you weren't destined to be strong." Hazel-eyed widened when those words left Neji's lips. Was this his way of comforting him? Man, Ren thought as he took deep breaths. I never would have imagined him to reach out to me, even just for a tiny bit.
"Th... Thank you, Neji-san."
Later that day, two brats were found naked in the pond and no matter how much consoling the teachers do; they didn't mention who did it.
The next day, two brats bowed and apologized to a bewildered Ren who simply forgave them. Behind him, Neji shook his head with how forgiving his... friend could be to the brats who traumatized him.
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"... when's your birthday, Neji-san?"
"Why do you ask?"
"N... Nothing!"
Neji arched an incredulous eyebrow at the younger boy but his expression remained neutral. Ever since this boy came to class, Neji couldn't find the time to indulge in silence because even though the Nohara was socially awkward, it seemed [to him anyway] that he was trying to get rid of his awkwardness.
It was something Neji approved of when he realized that and he tried to help the boy. At first, he didn't want anything to do with the young Nohara because he thought that the boy would be like the others.
He thought the Nohara would be a loud bratty child and Neji wouldn't want anything to do with him. However, much to his surprise, Ren wasn't like them. Nohara Ren seemed to be the prodigy of his generation and to Neji, there was no doubt that he might take the title Rookie of the Year in their class.
Of course, it was something he couldn't let pass. He might have hated Ren at first but there was something he couldn't explain about Nohara Ren that drew him in. That was why he had no choice but to let him in his social circle [which was practically nonexistent].
Seeing his dejected expression, the Hyuga sighed as he grumbled out, "It's the Third of July." He wasn't expecting his outburst though. "Ah! It's two days after mine!" After his outburst, he must have realized what he had done and quickly covered his face with both his hands.
Neji shook his head but there was a soft expression on his face which was microscopic but it was there; although, Ren's words rang in his head. Two days before mine, correct? So his birthday is on the First of July.
Their day ended with the younger of the two covering his face the whole way home while the older was deep in thought.