Crystal Lightning || (Kakashi Hatake x OC)

Chocolate Hills - Khurangbin, Leon Bridges

It was extremely difficult to act as if nothing was wrong when Kakashi has never been this stressed before. Where the fuck is Ari's wedding ring? He had no time to search and ask around because Akira has been with him all the time. He was discharged from the hospital yesterday, but he still needs crutches to walk. Ari will definitely curse him from the heavens. How could he be so stupid? How is he supposed to find the time to flip the house upside down to look for the ring when Akira is home all the time? He tried to sneak some time whilst she was in the bathroom or cooking in the kitchen, but his crutches made too much noise. He can't detect it with his Sharingan either because it's an inanimate object. On another note, Kakashi was also stressing about seeing Naruto for the first time. The baby should almost be a year now, and all the higher-ups in the village agreed to hide his past from him. He must not learn his past until he's ready and old enough. The risk is too high. He must learn to control the beast first. So, this should be their goodbye as well. 'Kakashi-niisan' was what Kushina would call him just to mess with him, and Kakashi would blush every time. His head felt like it was being shaken. He was heavyhearted because he already had to say goodbye before he even said hello.

"And you protect him. You're his big brother. Okay? Promise me, Kakashi-niisan"

"We will never leave you. You're our family, Kakashi-niisan."

Kushina and Ari must be really disappointed with you, Little Kakashi.

Do you even deserve to be loved by them?

You can't even keep your mothers alive, can you?

And then the baby? You're only sending him to hell.

He'll grow up alone and sad because you couldn't keep his parents alive.

"Are you okay?"

"No."

"You'll never be ready." She said bluntly,

"I know."

"Before Naruto starts remembering things."

"Don't you think I know that?"

She intertwined her fingers between his, "Well, Kakashi-niisan, it's now or never."

He glanced at her as he was looking for reassurance. There were only two main things in his mind, but they weighed as much as a million intrusive thoughts. They were by the outskirts of the village, where one of Minato's safe houses was located. It had been rebuilt to keep Naruto and everyone else safe, guarded by Tenzo himself because of his Mokoton. The village is not taking the risk.

"Just so you'll know he's doing fine, senpai. Rather than you spending sleepless nights wondering. You'll at least be able to tell Kushina and Minato-sensei he's fine. They must be worried about their son."

"Okay, love." He squeezed her hand,

"I know you've been freaking out about it. I can tell."

"Is it really that obvious?"

"Yes."

Kakashi nodded and smiled at her for knowing these things. She makes him feel complete and whole. "Because I don't know how I'll feel about it."

"That's all right. You got this. I'm excited and sad too."

"I don't know why I'm nervous."

"Me too."

He stopped and looked at the ground, his mind racing with what-if scenarios. It's true, he doesn't know how to feel about this. Why would he go see Naruto when he won't be able to see him again until it was time? Hiruzen Sarutobi had already assigned him to be Naruto's sensei when he graduates from the academy. Why should Kakashi see him now? That'll just hurt, but Akira had a point. There's got to be some other way he can keep his last promise to Kushina.