𝐬𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 [𝐤𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞]

𝟎.𝟕 𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐲

Mercy — Hanai Gaiden

        Today was warmer than usual. There was no explanation for the weird weather, at least in Hanai's mind. The weather back home, at Kiri, was always cloudy and misty. There was no sun, only heavy rain. She missed the sounds of rain's patients. The tapping, the pondering as it calmly washed with the wind. The tinkling of rain against the river...all these sounds from home, felt bittersweet. 

        There was one thing she liked about the sun, the flowers that grow and bloom under it. 

        She sprinted from grave to grave, smiling at each tombstone. Her two aunts walked a few feet behind her, watching the brown skin-girl hum to herself as she eagerly walked to visit the weathered stone. 

        Her hum stops short, holding her breath as she spots another person in front of the tombstone she was walking to. "It's Kakashi...I have never seen him here before."

        She respectfully waited for Kakashi to notice her, or give her a signal that it was okay to walk up. Her aunties caught up to her, firm hands placed on her cold shoulders as they politely waited for Kakashi. 

        The three immediately smiled at the younger kid, when he finally turned his head at the three. Hanai's aunts, look nothing like her. They are sisters, twins to be exact with midnight dark hair and warm brown eyes. You could tell the two apart by the length of their hair. 

        "Hanai?" 

        Miwa is the twin with the longest hair length, parted in the middle. She was the friendliest aunt and had placed her hands over Hanai's shoulder. "Hey Kakashi-kun, I'm Miwa, Hanai's aunt. Sorry for interrupting." 

        Sanyu hums eyeing the kid, "Ehh, we always visit around this time and we never see you." Her dark hair is short, the ends curled under her ears. Sanyu had no filter and no problem shutting down all the negative rumors said about her and her family. "What's the big news kid?"

        Kakashi sweat drops, "My name's Kakashi."

        "That's my sister Sanyu." Miwa introduces before nudging the little girl forward, "It's your turn to say hi."

        Flustered Hanai's body trembles, arms extended as she tries to balance the small-glass vase that holds a single flower. Slippery fingers drop the innocent object, breaths tighten as they slowly watch the glass, expecting it to shatter. 

        Seriously? Kakashi thought the vase was perfectly safe in his hands. 

        "Miwa...why did we let her hold the vase again? She's clumsy as hell." Sanyu grumbled under her breath, so only her sister could hear. 

        "Because this was the first time she asked for something that isn't a dumpling," Miwa mumbled back, watching the two kids interact. 

        "Um...there for Sakamoto-san!" Hanai beams, white eyes shining like the moon, as she ignores the embarrassing events that happened a second ago. 

        Kakashi's eyes calm down, "Yeah, I recognize the vase. I just didn't know who it was till now." It didn't surprise him, his mind reliving the memory of his father asking him to take care of the 'new snowflake' at the academy, he just never fully connected the thought of someone else visiting his father, due to Sakumo's tarnished reputation.

         He carefully handed the glass vase back, her cold fingers grazing his warm ones. Smiling proudly at the accomplishment of not spilling the vase, she took the chance to drop to her knees and place the flowers on his tombstone.