Chapter 44

"Thank you for all your help!"

Musashi chuckled and backed out of the home saying his goodbyes. Now that the village had all of the major damage repaired he could focus on some leisurely side projects. Like helping a family repair their roof as he just had. He kept costs low and the families he helped out were usually always grateful for his help.

He was becoming a well known handyman among the civilians of Konoha. It was to the point people would even call out to him in greeting as he walked the market. How strange, that people seemed to warm up to him after only being there for not even a year, but still treat his daughter with suspicion after so many years. He could not comprehend it.

Walking back to his humble abode, he leaned his head back and enjoyed the cool breeze of the late afternoon. Soon there would be families out and about wanting to find a cooked meal, maybe he would do the same. While there were several places he enjoyed, there was one nearby that always hit the spot. Ichiraku.

The quaint ramen shop was a wonderful addition to the village. Not to mention, its owner Teuchi was a man of sound mind and humble spirit. Granted, Teuchi was almost the same age as him, and yet there were times where the ramen chef seemed so much older.

When he came to the shop, Musashi pushed the curtain aside with a wide smile. "Hey there! How's my favorite old chef doing?"

Teuchi and Ayame looked up from their work and smiled in greeting. He laughed, "Old? Don't think I know the meaning!"

Musashi laughed along good naturedly and sat at the counter. Seemed he beat the supper rush since there was only one other patron who was finishing up. "That's the spirit! Figured I would stop by since I was in the area."

"Well, of course! Any idea of what you would like, or should I give you Keiko's regular?"

He threw up his hand in a playful shrug, "Why not! Saves me the trouble of figuring out what to order."

"Coming right up!" The man continued his work before striking up a conversation, "How is your girl doing anyway? Haven't seen her in a while."

Musashi thanked Ayame for the tea she gave him before answering, "She's doing well! Always busy training or away on a mission though. No time for her dear old dad anymore." He gave an exaggerated and wistful sigh before partaking in his beverage. It wasn't entirely true, he would always try to visit her when he knew she was back in town. She always seemed pleased to have him there, even if it was just a short visit.

Ayame giggled, "Too busy spending time with Kakashi too I'm guessing."

A smile pulled at his lips though he tried to look annoyed, "Yup, definitely that too."

"Ya know, it's good Kakashi finally found someone. Keiko too. They deserve to be happy, especially after everything that boy has gone through." Teuchi added.

This caught Musashi's attention. His blue eyes turned to the chef inquisitively, "What do you mean?"

"Huh?" Teuchi lifted his head to see the genuine curiosity brimming in his customers eyes. "I figured you would know about that already."

"Know about what?"

Teuchi glanced over at his daughter for a moment. She had been far too young at the time to remember. Only a small child. Placing a cover over a pot, he leaned his head back, patting his neck with a towel. How to begin… "Musashi, I've been doing this gig a long time. I've seen a lot of faces come and go. And, believe it or not, a lot of information has reached these old ears of mine."

He looked out at the empty seats of the service bar. It was hard to believe how long it had been since Kakashi was young and part of a team. That girl with the purple cheek marks, and the boy with the goggles. They visited his stand in its infant days and he could tell Kakashi had been dragged along. Even back then, Kakashi kept to himself, but he would still be dragged along with those two. While he rarely spoke when they were here together and seemed totally disinterested, he would never forget the first time he saw Kakashi after hearing the news.

First one.

And then the other.

Teuchi knew Kakashi was a Jonin, but he was still just a kid. Then, after the attack of the nine-tails, Teuchi went years without seeing Kakashi at his stand. Only as he walked by, looking like a dead man walking.

When he fell silent again, Musashi pressed, "And?"

Teuchi exhaled, unsure if he should say much. After all, he didn't have the full story, and it wasn't his to tell. "I guess, what I'm trying to say is that, Kakashi's suffered through a lot of pain for someone his age. I'm just happy he's found someone like Keiko to spend his time with."

"Oh." Musashi felt there was more to the story, but didn't feel like pressing the issue. Shrugging off the tense atmosphere that was created he tipped his teacup back. With an air of nonchalant, he spoke easily, "Maybe with all the time they spend together they'll make me a grandfather one of these days."

Teuchi chuckled slightly, blushing and unsure how to respond. Ayame couldn't contain her blush and covered her face with her hands, wide eyed. She wasn't sure how comfortable she was thinking about that!

Then an image came to mind. A young man resembling Kakashi, with Keiko's luminous blue eyes and raven black hair. Then a girl with Kakashi's snow colored hair and deep charcoal eyes. She continued to think for a moment, imagining what their future children would look like.

She giggled and spoke wistfully, "Oh, they would make adorable babies, wouldn't they?"

Musashi nodded, invigorated by her comment and slapped his hand down for emphasis, "Right?!" He sighed, "Keiko was such an adorable little girl. And I don't care if it hurts my masculinity to say I would love to dote on another. I always wanted more children, but it wasn't meant to be." He hid the hurt well when he thought of his late wife. Even after so many years, he couldn't imagine loving anyone else.

Teuchi had trouble picturing Kakashi as a father. But, then again, he hadn't been able to imagine himself as one either when he was young. He smiled and placed a bowl of ramen out for his old friend, "Anything is possible, right? Eat up!"

A comfortable silence fell over them as Musashi ate. To him, all was right in the world. The people were increasingly growing used to him and his reputation as a handyman. His daughter was content in her relationship and status as a Jonin. He had a roof over his head, and he was able to enjoy a hot meal like this. There was nothing to complain about.

Just as he was finishing up his bowl he heard the curtain push to the side and Teuchi greeted them. "Guy! Welcome! Come for-"

Musashi blinked and looked behind him when Teuchi fell silent. He would have fallen silent as well. The usually smiling face was hard and impassive. Their eyes locked and he felt a cold chill settle across his skin. He wiped his mouth, "Guy?"

The Jonin stepped inside and wordlessly sat beside the blue eyed man. Looking straight ahead.

Teuchi and Ayame shared a glance and knew straight away that Guy was not there for any food. So, trying not to eavesdrop they busied themselves behind the counter. They would inevitably hear bits of the conversation, but not on purpose and Guy knew that.

"I've been looking for you." Guy said. His voice lacked its usual good natured humor.

Ignoring the chill that solidified into a stone in his stomach, he forced a laugh. "Not planning on spying on them again, are ya?" He expected for there to be a hint of a smile. There was none.

"No. I need to tell you something and you're not going to like it."

When he fell silent again, Musashi could feel his nerves beginning to fray. He huffed, "Are you going to tell me or are you going to sit there and-"

"Keiko's missing."

He blinked, feeling as though someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over his head. He floundered for a moment before settling on the words, "What do you mean?"

Guy's hands balled into fists, his voice eerily calm, "I mean, that Keiko and her team are missing."

"How can you be sure? Have you looked for them? Has anyone looked for them? She's only been gone a few days!" His voice rose to the point that Guy had to raise his hand and grasp his shoulder. Their eyes met again and Guy's were filled to the brim with sympathy and understanding yet they didn't lose their hard edge.

"I know I'm springing this on you. None of us expected it and under normal circumstances you wouldn't find out until we found a body. But-"

"Body?!" Musashi stood, pushing out of his chair so quickly it clattered to the floor. "You said she was missing! Not dead!" He felt nauseated, his breath coming in quick panicked breaths.

Guy grit his teeth and cursed under his breath. "Musashi, calm down. Let me explain." He cast a glance over at Teuchi and his daughter. He saw the look of pity he flashed toward Musashi before glancing at his own daughter. "The situation is delicate. The Elders are considering classifying her a Rogue. She's missing, but we can't be sure if they were ambushed and attacked or if she really did turn on the others. There are two others missing right now as well. Remi and Iruka went with her and we can't be sure of their whereabouts either."

Musashi's eyes narrowed, leaning against the counter he fell silent. Thoughts running through his mind a mile a minute. His hand rested on his forehead, hiding most of his face from view. "So, they think Keiko would murder one of her closest friends and a fellow comrade? What would she gain from that?"

Guy watched the man carefully. He considered Musashi a friend and to see him like this was not an enjoyable experience. His level of self control was evident. With the initial shock out of the way he was thinking critically, but it seemed there were some things even he couldn't think his daughter was capable of. He breathed deeply, taking in the clenched fist on the counter. "The council believes she's taken sensitive information about the Village back to the Land of Iron. Information they could use to cripple us further."

Musashi's head shot up and he gave Guy an incredulous look, "She went to the Land of Iron?"

"Yes, that's why you're not safe either."

His eyes narrowed, "What do you mean?"

"I mean, they believe Keiko was a spy this entire time. Gathering information until she could go back to her own country. Since you're her father, they have their eye on you too. And I wouldn't put it past Danzo to act before there is cause to."

He nodded slowly, "I see, so you're saying I'm being watched. And anything I do that is remotely suspicious could put me in hot water."

Guy shifted, looking over his shoulder toward the road, "Well, the water's already hot. You just don't want to bring it to a boil."

"Got it."

The short and clipped reply was surprising. Followed shortly by Musashi tossing some cash on the counter and turning to leave. Guy quickly caught his shoulder, stopping the older man before he could get too far, "Whoa, where do you think you're going?"

Musashi answered without turning, "I can't just sit around and do nothing." He shrugged off Guy's hand roughly and straightened out his clothes, "If I have to go out looking for her, I will. That's why I'm going to see the Hokage."

The icy stare Musashi turned to give Guy was one he knew well. Keiko had the same look in her eye when she was dead set on doing something. This was the man she had inherited that stubbornness from, so there was no good trying to change his mind. Guy sighed, "Fine, there's no guarantee that she will be able to speak with you regardless."

"I know, but I have to try."

His feet carried him through the streets, all the while aware of Guy following closely behind him. To think that everything had been going so well. Now, he didn't even know what to feel. Emotions whirled around inside of him like a typhoon until it iced over in barely contained rage. To think that they would want to mark her as a Rogue. Hadn't she laid down her life enough times? Weren't there numerous other Shinobi who would trust her with their life? Hell, he was even hoping she would settle down soon. Maybe even start a family.

He stilled.

Guy blinked when Musashi froze in his tracks just outside of Hokage Tower. What could be going through his head now? The older man turned, revealing to Guy how ashen his face had become.

"Where is Kakashi in all this?"

The shinobi flinched and looked to the side. After a long pause he answered uneasily, "Coping."

The wind flowed between them as the silence settled. Musashi turned and sighed before heading toward the Tower once again, but not before muttering, "I'm sure he is."

~0~

The sun shined, casting a gentle warmth down upon anything caught within it. It was early enough that the morning dew had not yet dried, and so it sparkled in the early morning sunlight. The nearly serene atmosphere was a stark contrast to the reality that had befallen the one who viewed it.

A feeling of empty bitterness radiated within him. His discussion with Tsunade had yielded very little, just a half hearted reply that he might be able to accompany them. Even that had only been after many attempts of persuading. He had finally been able to get her to agree thanks to his own knowledge about the Land of Iron.

His brother, Miura, couldn't have been the one to send that letter originally. Tsunade showed him the contents and Musashi was not convinced. The imposter did a good job of copying the formal manner of speaking his brother used in letters, but he couldn't match the handwriting perfectly. It was a small thing, but it only helped to solidify in his mind that what had occurred was not his brothers doing.

Over the years while on his travels, he had sent and received several letters from home. He had always been cautious about where he sent the letters from since he would usually stay in that location for a week or so waiting on a reply. It was to prevent one of the hidden villages from thinking the letters hide something more than just brotherly exchanges about life and current events. It was because of this that he knew exactly how his brother wrote. Keiko received word sparingly, so she wouldn't have recognized the subtle differences.

Regardless of his claims that his brother had not been the one to send the letter, Tsunade seemed torn on whether or not to believe his claims. And so, after some debate, she agreed that he might be permitted to follow on a mission to investigate.

Musashi continued to think over the encounter over and over again in his mind. He felt anxious, nauseated even. He hadn't been able to sleep, and when he did doze off he was greeted with nightmares plagued by unsightly images. He had already come so close to losing her once before, why did it have to happen again so soon? The tormenting images lead him to this early morning walk. The villagers were already up and about going about their day to day activities like usual.

Knowing that Guy would be back sooner rather than later to watch him like a child, he decided to venture out for some air. It was degrading, in a way, being watched over as he was. While he was out of practice, he knew how to defend himself. Hadn't Keiko told him at one point he could rival some of the Chunin? Hadn't he helped to train Sakura for the Chunin Exams?

He looked down at his hands and arms as he walked, taking in all of the scarring from over the years. How long had it been since he had a training session for himself? As much as he didn't want to admit it, he was out of practice. If he had kept up with his training perhaps he would be stronger than some of the Jonin in the village by now.

His eyes closed and he heaved a sigh and muttered, "Can't complain about it now." What's done is done. All he could do was move forward.

When he opened his eyes he took notice of something and blinked. No, it was someone. Someone he knew all too well. The gravity defying silver hair was too distinctive not to recognize. Kakashi stood at the edge of the clearing with his back turned to him. In front of Kakashi was the memorial stone.

Hadn't Keiko mentioned that he had been spending less and less time there?

Musashi moved toward him slowly, ignoring how the morning dew soaked into his shoes as he grew closer. It wasn't until he was much closer that he noticed how off his appearance was. Even from behind, he could see his hair was disheveled and his clothes were wrinkled. They were small details, but so out of place on him. "Kakashi?"

The younger man flinched. It happened so quickly Musashi would have missed it had he blinked. Then, Kakashi turned to him, and his heart sank even lower. His normally tired eyes were hollow. Any spark that had been there before was gone.

"Oh, Musashi, I didn't see you there." Kakashi said before turning back to the memorial.

With a few more steps, Musashi was standing next to him. Even he had to admit that the silence was a little awkward. Still, he persisted and spoke anyway, "How are you holding up?"

"I'm waiting."

"Waiting." Musashi breathed in an annoyed sigh, resting his hands on his hips. He grit his teeth, "I understand why Tsunade wants to wait, but I don't like it."

Musashi was certain if Kakashi had been a dog, his ears would have perked in attention. "You talked to Lady Tsunade?"

He nodded, "Yeah, if all goes well, I'll be coming with you when you go to investigate."

"I'm not so sure that's a good idea," Kakashi said slowly.

"And why not?" His eyes narrowed, "She's my daughter, not to mention I know the Land of Iron better than any of you. I don't give a damn about what Tsunade says, if she changes her mind then she'll have to kill me to stop me from going." The anger was building again and he turned his head to the side to growl, "She should know a father does what they can to protect their kid."

"Do they?" Kakashi stated numbly.

A scene played out in his mind's eye. A dark room, the rain pounding as viciously as the blood in his young veins, and a pool of blood. While the images grew vague with age, and the emotions stale, he never forgot how alone he had felt. That loneliness that always seemed to find him. As Shinobi, it wasn't abnormal for a child to grow up without a parent. They usually died while on a mission, but for them to commit suicide… it was nearly unheard of. His father had left him alone to fend for himself in a world overwrought with violence and death. There were many nights he sat awake and would wonder if things would have been different had he not taken his own life. If his father had wanted to protect him more than he wanted to escape his own existence.

A heavy hand rested on his shoulder. He looked up, a little startled by the sudden contact and for the first time he allowed his eyes to meet Musashi's. The older man smiled sympathetically, "Of course they do. Hell, I already kinda think of you as my own. That's why I'm worried about you."

Kakashi's stoic and blank expression broke. His eyes widened and his lips parted beneath the mask in shock and surprise. "What?"

Musashi's grip tightened on the young man's shoulder and he spoke sullenly, "I know firsthand what it's like to lose the one you love."

A sudden intense pain clutched at his chest and he had to look away. Emotions he had been fighting to bury erupted within him and he shuddered, suddenly seeing Keiko in her father's eyes. He exhaled in an attempt to control his breathing, and then his lips moved before he could stop them, "I never told her."

Kakashi grunted when a fist connected with his shoulder and he staggered. "None of that." Musashi said sternly. He pointed a finger at Kakashi's stunned expression, "We find her, you tell her, and then I get a grandchild, are we clear?"

Like a fish out of water, Kakashi's mouth hung open, trying desperately to form words.

"Good." Musashi nodded, retracting his finger and standing straight. "Now, we should get going somewhere else. Who knows when Guy-" He paused, surprised when a small song bird landed on the memorial stone, a soft melodic tune emanating from it. "That's weird."

"It's time."

"Huh?" He whipped his head around to see Kakashi's demeanor had completely shifted. His posture that had been hunched over and forlorn was now tense and foreboding, nearly menacing in nature.

"They found a team. We're leaving."

Jeezus Christ. I apologize for the sudden Hiatus I took. Needed it for my back. Then I just got busy. Working on my own real life romance, and that takes time and commitment. Things are going very well though!

Next chapter you guys will finally find out what happened to Keiko, Remi, and Iruka! And I get to see if I have improved on my fight scenes at all, lol. The next update should be in a much shorter time frame.

Don't forget to Favorite, Follow, and Review! (Like any writer, Reviews give me sustenance)

Posted - 4/14/2022