The Silent Companion
Summary: Kakashi knew he was a little off his rocker to call a plant, a friend.
Kakashi stared at the plant. He had been dead. Dead-dead, not coma or unconscious, gone from the world dead.
"I made amends with dad," Kakashi murmured, looking at the moon. "but I don't know if… if I'm happy… I don't know what to think…"
Kakashi looked at Mr. Ukki. "What should I feel?" he asked.
~?~?~?~
The Fourth Shinobi War was over; everyone could go home. Kakashi ran quickly, faster than he ever had before. He ran through his door.
"Mr. Ukki!" Kakahsi shouted needlessly.
He ran into his room and then paused, falling to his knees as stared the a peaceful plant. Kakashi's mind whispered.
'Welcome home.'
~?~?~?~
One day, after many years had passed, another picture framed joined Mr. Ukki… It was a holding a pug, one that no longer breathed life…
~?~?~?~
Sakura stared down, defeated and bemused, as her blonde friend put a plant into the ground; behind it, a flat grave marker, unmarked.
"Come on Naruto," Sakura murmured quietly. "Do you honestly think Kakashi wants that thing next to him?"
Naruto beamed despite the tears on his cheeks. "Are you kidding?" he asked. "I may not know a lot about Kakashi but if I know one thing; it's that he loves this thing!"
Naruto stood up, wiping his hands on his pants. "There!"
Sakura tilted her head; looking at the two. For some reason; she thought she was looking at a pair of best friends.
~?~?~?~
Many suns and moons pass over the two friends; they remained the same, indifferent and perfect. Two friends always together, never alone; never lonely.
"Wow tou-san! That's a great story!" a blonde haired Hyuuga said, bouncing on the balls of his feet.
The man, the Gokudaime Hokage, chuckled, holding his wife's, the Hyuuga Mistress, very pregnant belly.
"Yeah, Kakashi-sensei's pretty cool," Naruto agreed.
Hinata smiled; looking up. "I hadn't known that plant was a tree," she mused.
It was true; near fifteen years later, the plant had grown to be a thirty foot tree and was still growing.
Naruto smiled secretively. "It isn't a tree."
'Friends grow strong to protect each other. Kakashi can't so Mr. Ukki complied.'