Change Of Heart And A Change Of Fate

Chapter 21

"Oh god." Alex groaned

Kitamaru and Kamiya both gave him an innocent smile, while Kaito watched on in confusion.

"What...did you do?" Alex questioned exaggeratedly as he watched the duo try to pull the innocent-but-not-really-puppy look on him.

"We changed Kaito's hair colour?" Kamiya said in a questioning way. Kitamaru coughed.

"Yes...you changed Kaito's chair...to neon green." Alex dragged his hand down his face and gave the siblings a tired look. "Alright" he clapped his hands to get their attention again," go to your rooms, and for punishment, you will do all ten of the worksheets I gave you."

"Wha- All of them?!" Kita groaned.

"Yes, all of them"

The two gulped at the murderous expression on his face and scrambled to their rooms in haste, leaving a shaking Kaito on his own. Alex softened his face when he saw the scared look Kaito was giving him and bent down onto one knee in front of the boy.

"How about the both of us go somewhere, just you and me."

Kaito stopped shaking and cocked his head to the side , making him look like a confused and curious puppy. Alex smiled and plucked him from the ground, ignoring the boy's yelp, and placed him on his hip.

"Let's go, I promise you'll enjoy it." Alex promised as he exited the house. Kaito gave a small shy smile and hid his face into the crook of Alex's neck.

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Alex carefully lowered Kaito down into the warm water, urging him to grip the sides so he could get in as well. Alex got into the hot springs, seating himself onto the steps. Kaito quickly gripped onto his arm, his face scrunched up with fear.

"Can you swim Kaito?" Alex asked as he gently wrapped an arm around the boy to prevent him from tipping over into the deeper water.

Kaito shook his head, trembling less now that he was secured in Alex's grip.

"I see...Don't worry, I won't let you go." Alex stated confidently, trying his best to sooth the child's worries.

Kaito nodded and he gradually started to relax, giving Alex a small smile. Alex sighed and layed his head back, the bliss feeling overcoming him as the hot water soothed his aching muscles.

After a few minutes the doors behind them slid open and Alex watched through half-lidded eyes as a few familiar faces greeted them.

"Maa, Alex-kun. I didn't think we'd find you here." Kakashi stated casually as he joined them in the water. Jiraiya, Asuma and Yamato following his lead.

Kaito, who was practically in Alex's lap, tried to hide behind his arm, overwhelmed at the sudden audience that joined them. Alex gave a small smile to the child before turning his attention back to the adults with him.

"I could say the same for you Kakashi-sensei. Don't you usually avoid public places?" Alex asked teasingly. Kakashi gave a dramatic sigh, "Ah yes, but for some reason these fine gentlemen just couldn't do without my company. "

Kaito giggled softly at Kakashi's dramatic scene and the man gave the shy boy an eye-smile. Alex watched as the older men made themselves comfortable, each sagging into the water like Alex had done earlier.

It was Kaito's nodding off that alerted Alex after a while that it was time to go home. It was already dark put and Alex mentally cursed himself for making Kaito stay in the water that long.