Those Little Moments (Hatake Kakashi)

9

He didn't respond for a few moments, but he was staring at me in shock, unmoving, so I smiled gently at him, still crying. "You probably don't recognize me. I don't know how many years it's been. It's me, Emiko."

Eventually, he finally said something. "Emiko died 14 years ago."

I choked, realizing what he said. "It's been 14 years? I thought... I mean, I knew it had been a long time, but..." My hand reached up to cover my quivering mouth, then I swallowed down the pain, wiping away my tears. "I really am Emiko. I've been in prison this whole time. I escaped a few months ago."

Kakashi narrowed his one visible eye at me. "Prove it." Immediately, my happiness and sorrow faded to anger.

"Wha- How am I supposed to prove that?" I asked him, glaring at him as my frustration grew. He didn't reply. "Want me to show you all the scars from when I was tortured? Maybe I can get you in contact with all the rich lords who paid to 'rent' me for the night against my will? They'd have some great stories to tell you." I spat the last bit out bitterly, my hand itching to punch him. And punch him it did. Or, at least, it tried to, but he caught my arm. "Ugh, and I was so looking forward to punching you again. I guess you improved since you were ten years old." I let out a dry laugh. "And to think I was so happy to find out you're alive, only to have you being so... just... such a jerk!"

Something changed in Kakashi's expression, though I couldn't tell what because of the mask. "It's really you."

"Yeah, no kidding, you pretentious jerk." I crossed my arms over my chest haughtily, before letting them fall to my sides as a thought hit me. "Hey... I was told that everyone I loved died, but... you're still here, so maybe he just lied to me. Is there anyone else? My sister? Is she alive?"

Kakashi shook his head. "I'm sorry, Emiko. They're gone."

I took a deep breath, then let it out. Stepping forward, I wrapped my arms around Kakashi gently. "I was told all of you were dead. I'm just happy you're alive, at least."

"There's also—"

"Oy! We're still here!" The blond boy interrupted. The black haired boy rolled his eyes, and the pink-haired girl decided to yell at him, "Naruto! Shut up!"

"Sorry to interrupt your moment with your girlfriend, Kakashi-sensei, but do we really have to watch this?" The blond boy whined.  

"Naruto! You idiot, didn't you listen to anything they just said!?" The girl yelled at him.

Analyzing the blond boy, I found myself frowning. "He looks just like Minato." I murmured under my breath. I stepped towards the kids, kneeling slightly to be at their level. "Sorry for holding you guys up. I'm Uzumaki Emiko."

The kids looked at me interestedly then, the blond boy's eyes were shining. "Uzumaki?!"

"Are you related to Naruto then?" The girl asked.

I looked back at the blond boy, with his bright blue eyes and grin just like Kushina's. "Is he...?" I looked over at Kakashi, who nodded, and my lips spread into a wide smile as I looked back at Naruto. 

"Naruto, Emiko is your aunt." Kakashi explained

"Kushina has a son. I have a nephew." I said quietly to myself.

Grabbing Naruto's hands in mine, I pulled him closer towards me. "It's so amazing to meet you, I'm Emiko, your aunt, well Kakashi already explained that I guess. Anything you ever need, just tell me, oh my god, I'm so happy! You look just like them." As I held his hands, I started to feel his chakra, and the chakra of something else. Just like Kushina's. Apparently, my nephew was the new jinchuriki of the Nine-tails. I shook it from my mind, and focused once more on my nephew. "Who are you living with right now? Are they treating you well? Do they feed you enough?"

Naruto interrupted me before I could ask any more questions, cheeks flushed as he glanced back at the girl. "I live alone."

My smile dropped. "You don't have any guardians? No one takes care of you?"

Naruto shook his head, then smiled brightly. "But I'm gonna be Hokage one day, and everyone will acknowledge me! Believe it!"

I turned to Kakashi, glaring. "You let my precious nephew be alone and treated badly?"

Kakashi had disengaged from the conversation and was reading some book off to the side of the road. I shook my head disapprovingly.

"Naruto, from now on, you have me, got it? I'll be your... well, I can't say mom, I feel like I'm a little young for that, but I'll be your guardian at least from now on. If anyone picks on you, you tell me, and I'll beat them up for you, got it?" I waited until he nodded before pulling him into a tight hug. He took a few seconds before hugging me back, as if he hadn't been hugged much. I held him tightly to me, thanking everything I could think of that I had this piece of my sister here with me, and that I had one of my old best friends alive.

When I finally pulled away, I noticed the two other kids standing by awkwardly. "Sorry, kids, what were your names again?"

"Haruno Sakura." The pink-haired girl said, and I shook her hand politely.

"Uchiha Sasuke." And suddenly, his gloominess made more sense. His angsty attitude actually does have a reason. 

"You're Itachi's brother. Nice to meet you." The boy's face darkened at the mention of his brother, turning downright murderous, and I suddenly remembered what Itachi had said. Sasuke would kill him when they met. "Sore topic, sorry for bringing it up." Seeing Kakashi still reading, I called him back over, hoping to get back on track. "Hatake! Get back over here!"

Kakashi walked towards us, his face still in his book. Scowling, I grabbed it from him. "You can have this back after we've started moving again."

"Are you going to the Leaf?" Kakashi waited for my very annoyed nod, before addressing his students. "Let's go, then."

"Jeez, so curt." I mumbled under my breath as we started walking towards the Leaf again. Hatake really, as different as he was, was just as able to get under my nerves as before.