Weeks passed and Kakashi was able to acclimate with what is happening in his surroundings. But the paranoia was there. He can't sleep without grasping the kunai that is hidden beneath his pillow. He even woke up one night, straddling Sakura while pointing a kunai at her neck when she tried to drape her arm in his body.
The fear in Sakura's eyes haunted him still. His weapon didn't pierce the delicate flesh of her neck but its not about wounds, his actions reflected fear in her eyes that never once she directed to him. When he dismounts from her, her shaking form immediately stood up and left their room. He wanted to stop her but how can he? He almost stabbed her in the neck.
Half an hour later, he found her curled up in the other room, clutching their daughter for dear life. Tears stained her face. Ashamed of what he did, he quietly returned to their room.
The incident weighed heavily on Kakashi's conscience. He couldn't believe that he had allowed his fear and paranoia to drive him to such an extreme, to the point where he had threatened Sakura. It was a stark reminder of how deeply the war had affected him and the trauma he had carried back with him.
Kakashi apologized to Sakura, not just with words but with actions. He showed her love, patience, and understanding. He understood that his behavior had left her deeply shaken and had undermined the trust she had in him. He knew that he needed to rebuild that trust, and he was willing to do whatever it took to ensure her safety and happiness.
And Sakura understood. She understood that the man who had threatened her was not the Kakashi she knew but a reflection of the trauma he had endured. She tried coaxing him to attend the therapy sessions that the village offered for the returning war survivors. And Kakashi did his part. He attended the session and slowly the man she knew is coming back.
One night as they prepare to sleep, Sakura felt Kakashi pulled her into his arms, He rested his chin in her shoulder. "I'm really sorry, Sakura."
Sakura patted the man's cheeks, understanding the reason for his apology. "Its okay, just don't do it again."
She felt him nod, but his hold on her did not change. He is still holding her tight. "I have a question, Sakura."
"Hm."
"I just thought about it, but what is her last name?"
Sakura sighed. She knows that this conversation is something that they need to have. She looked down her hands and then in a quiet voice she answered. "She has mine. Haruno."
She felt Kakashi's arm held her tighter. "Why?"
"The hospital won't let me put your name on the record. We weren't married, you were gone, and they don't have any evidence that she's yours. So, even if I wanted to, I can't."
Kakashi listened to Sakura's explanation, his heart heavy with the implications of what she had said. He understood the practical reasons behind her decision, but it didn't make it any easier for him to accept. He had missed the first two years of their daughter's life, and now it seemed like she wouldn't even carry his name.
"Sakura, I want our daughter to have my name," Kakashi said, his voice filled with determination. "I want her to know that she is a Hatake. I missed the first two years of her life, but I don't want to miss any more. I want to be a part of her life, and that includes giving her my name."
Sakura looked up at him, her eyes filled with surprise and a glimmer of hope. "You mean it, Kakashi?"
Kakashi nodded. "I do. I love you, Sakura, and I love our daughter. I want to be a family, and that means giving Kikyo my name." he said. "And have you seen her Sakura? She's practically me, well, aside from the hair."
Tears welled up in Sakura's eyes, but this time, they were tears of happiness. She smiled and leaned into kiss Kakashi. "Thank you, Kakashi. I love you, too."
Kakashi smiled and buried his face on the crook of Sakura's neck. That is one of the things he needed to fix. First, his stability, then Kikyo, and last, his life. "Stay with me, okay?" Kakashi murmured.
Sakura gently stroked Kakashi's hair as he nestled against her, feeling a sense of comfort and closeness that had been missing for so long. She whispered softly, "I'm not going anywhere, Kakashi. We're a family, and I want to be with you, no matter what."
