This is the end of our story.
Well, it is the end and isn't the end.
I have snapshots of memories in my head, images of him laughing. In one, he laughs as I try to steal the feather of a bird from him. In another, he sings to me as I wake from a nightmare.
The years pass.
There are the profound memories, too.
I remember the day I said goodbye to Kakashi. I remember the ground is dusty. The rain hasn't fallen in a long time. Next to me, Kenshin limps, as his arthritic joints complain. He looks up at me with his sky-blue eyes and I wrap a hand into his fur, smiling. And next to him, is his son Shinko, a young pup that looks like a smaller version of his father. His son is proud to be chosen for this mission.
And in my other hand is Itachi's, ever reassuring, ever warm.
Suddenly, a small girl runs to me.
"Puppy!" she shrieks. When Shinko tumbles her on the ground, the girl does not cry, but laughs, her hair as silver as her father's.
I can see him in the distance. His eyes are wide, but I hope he does not cry. I hope he is happy enough so that he will not cry.
I will not approach him. When my presents stopped, I think he believed I was dead.
I will not approach him.
Instead, I kneel in front of his daughter.
"What's your name?" I ask.
"Engetsu," she replies, happily hugging Shinko, "it means Crescent Moon."
I am pleased.
"This old wolf here is for your father." I pat Kenshin's rump when he grunts haughtily. "I put him into retirement, because he continued to chase me up trees. And this is his son, Shinko. He is full wolf, as his father. Because you are the moon, they will be loyal to you."
She accepts my presents with pleasure. She scampers back to her father, with Shinko next to her. Kenshin slowly walks after her, but halfway, he turns.
I know he is reluctant to leave me.
"This is not goodbye, my friend," I whisper.
He whines.
"You know I will take good care of her," Itachi says next to me, "It is in my blood."
These words seem to satisfy him. He walks again and when he reaches Kakashi's feet, he thumps down and sighs tiredly and does not move when Kakashi reaches down to scratch behind his ears.
"Why are you crying, daddy?"
Yes, he is crying. But they are not tears of sadness, as I expected him to be.
We smile at each other.
"Why are you crying, daddy?"
"Daddy got dirt in his eye. Let's go inside now, I think Mommy is waiting to be introduced to Shinko and his old man."
In the wind, I think I hear his voice.
"Goodbye, my love," he says.
But of this, I am not sure.