Those Little Moments (Hatake Kakashi)

10

When we reached the village, I started to follow Naruto to visit his home so I can make sure it's up to standards.

"Emiko, you'll need to see the Hokage first." Kakashi said. I frowned, then nodded.

"Are you coming too?" I was embarrassed by how badly I wanted him to be there, after all this time thinking he was dead, I needed to make sure he wasn't another hallucination.

"Of course, I'm the one giving the report." His tone was just the same matter-of-fact tone as it had been the rest of the day.

I waved goodbye to my new, beloved nephew and followed my old frenemy through the village, everything feeling foreign and like a distant memory of something I could never get back. Everyone's face was barely familiar, like they were related to someone I'd once known intimately but then forgotten.

My arms crossed over my chest defensively, and my eyes darted around as if someone was going to attack me or all of this was going to disappear as if it was one of my hallucinations.

I got a few odd looks, some people did a double take. Since they were all around my age, I think, I assumed they had known me at some point and couldn't remember anymore.

Throughout the walk to the Hokage's office, I gradually walked closer and closer to Kakashi, until I accidentally bumped into him, our shoulders brushing against each other.

"Are you ok?" He asked, pausing in the middle of the street. His dark eye seemed to catch everything I tried to hide, so I didn't bother nodding.

"Nervous. It feels like everything's gonna disappear." I admitted, trying to take in everything around me while also wishing I could close my eyes and hide.

"It won't." Kakashi hesitated for a moment before he pulled one of my hands out of my crossed arms and held it, pulling me through the crowd once more.

Remembering Kakashi as someone who almost never engaged in any sort of physical contact, I didn't know what to make of the action. Maybe he was as relieved to see me as I was to see him, after all, he'd also thought I was dead. No matter the reason, it grounded me, and the world seemed to stop spinning around me.

We arrived at the Hokage's office soon after that, and it felt like whatever mental spiral I had been going down had stopped. Kakashi knocked on the door, and an old man's voice answered.

As we started walking in, the Lord Third said, "Ah, Kakashi, giving the report for your—?" He stopped when he saw me coming in behind him.

When a moment passed, I waved a hand awkwardly in greeting. "I'm Uzumaki Emiko. I understand that people think I'm dead."

The old man looked to Kakashi for confirmation; he nodded. "Where were you then?"

"Imprisoned." I felt my heart rate picking up again and fought the urge to curl up in a ball and hide.

"Can you give me more details?"

When I didn't respond, he nodded towards Kakashi, and I felt the hand starting to slip from mine. Panic made me grasp it desperately. "Don't leave!" He stopped pulling away, and I took a deep breath. "I... I can't remember the time before I was kidnapped too clearly, but I was surrounded by enemies and was knocked out, then I woke up in a cell underground. At first, it was some strange, but powerful old man who brought my meals. He spoke to me once. Said I was supposed to be the jinchuriki of the Three-tails for some plot, but because of my gifts with fuinjutsu, he had to find someone else." For some reason, Kakashi's hand tightened around mine at this. "He said he kept me just in case I became useful later on. After about a year, if my counting my meals was accurate, it was a young disciple of his who started bringing my food. He only spoke to tell me everyone I loved had died, and to have me fill crystals with chakra. I think..." I trailed off. "I was gone for 14 years, right?" I looked at Kakashi and he nodded, and his deadpan expression helped me focus. "I'm gonna guess I was in there for ten years, but I stopped counting after the hallucinations started." I squeezed Kakashi's hand tighter, reminding myself that he was there, he existed in real life, but when I opened my mouth, I found myself frozen.

Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned at my pause. "And, the past four years?"

I swallowed the nausea that had started to overtake me. "I don't remember them moving me, but I was put in a new cell somewhere else, and people with black cloaks with red clouds on them would guard me. When I got there, for the first time, I was taken outside, and I saw the sun, but..." Any hint of a smile that I'd had from talking about the sun faded as I remembered why. My hands started to tremble as the horrors flashed through my brain, and I could feel tears sliding down my cheeks.

"But?"

Kakashi's hand tightened around mine. "Maybe a break would be best, Lord Third."

I shook my head, choking out, "I won't be able to say it if I don't say it now. They... Rich men would... rent me for the night. After the first time, I tried to fight once, but some of them enjoyed hurting me, so... But... I got to see the sun." I took a deep breath, wiping away my tears. "I started talking to one of my frequent guards, Uchiha Itachi, and soon I stopped having hallucinations. Almost a year ago, he helped me escape. I ran into Jiraiya-sama, whom I travelled with while I trained until I was confident enough to defend myself, then came straight here. I ran into Hatake and Naruto on the way."

"Hmm." Sarutobi-sama looked at me pityingly, though he was also clearly trying to see if I'd left anything out. My tears hadn't stopped, though only my hands still quivered, as I waited for the Hokage's judgement. "You'll have to complete a strength test if you plan on returning as a Leaf Shinobi. Either way, you'll need a bodyguard and you'll have to be monitored for some time."

I nodded, wiping away my tears once more. "I'm afraid I won't pass any strength test you might have right away. Jiraiya-sama was a great protector, but he was more interested in trying to get me to sleep with him than in training me." I chuckled warmly at that, managing a genuine smile. "I did my best to train on my own, but I'm still probably not up to par. I do plan on returning as a Shinobi though."

"You'll have time, Emiko, don't worry." Sarutobi-sama reassured. "Now... it seems most fitting to have Kakashi to monitor you, since I assume you'll be spending the most time with him and Naruto. If Kakashi's alright with you sharing his place, that is."

I froze, the idea echoing around my head. "Hang on, I was planning on living with Naruto. I've only just found out that I have a nephew, he's all I have left of my sister."

The Hokage sighed. "I'm sorry, but due to Naruto being... special, I can't have someone who's being monitored live with him."

I frowned. "Because he has the Nine-tails, you mean. I understand that, but, after I pass the monitoring or whatever, can I take care of my nephew then?"

Sarutobi sighed, again, then nodded. "Kakashi, do you agree to monitor Emiko?"

Kakashi nodded next to me, his expression as deadpan as ever. In that moment, I was painfully aware that we were still holding hands, but I was still afraid to let go. If I couldn't stay with Naruto, this was next best thing, I repeated in my head. Everything will be ok.