Crystal Lightning || (Kakashi Hatake x OC)

I'll Keep You Safe - sagun, Shiloh Dynasty

"Aaaahhhhh..." Akira sunk deeper in the tub as steam rose from the surface. Kakashi carried her all the way home on his back and prepared her a hot bath once they got home. She was in fact shook at the sight of the bloody hair that Tenzo didn't manage to wash off for him. Needless to say, the hot bath was a good distraction. They arrived at the village at sun down. She wanted to ask questions, but Kakashi was in a bad state. He didn't say anything to her and his eyes were hollow. It was like he wasn't there.

Kakashi meanwhile sat on the floor by the tub with his back leaning against the wall. He had his knees up, propping his arms on them and resting his chin. His heart thumped anxiously against his chest.

"Thank you, otto. It's nice and warm. I feel much better now"

"Akira..." His lips quivered, "Please look ahead..."

"Okay, but may I ask why?" She ripped her gaze off him and stared at the wall ahead,

"I want to explain everything, but I can't look at you right now." He tore his walls down, became vulnerable, and admitted the truth.

"Otto, darling..." She stuck her arm out and held her hand at his face, signing 'I love you'. "Whatever happens, all right?"

He took her hand, pressing the back of his hand against her palm as he held on to her thumb. Then he brought it to his forehead, took a deep shaky breath and just wept. "I'm sorry. Forgive me, Akira. I failed you. I didn't go with my promise to you."

Kakashi needed a moment, and she knew that. So, she just let him hold her hand and weep. Why did she wake up cold and wet? Why was his hair bloody? Why did he have that look on his face? He seemed exhausted. She listened to his sobs, her gut churning at every attempt to control his breathing.

"Thank goodness you're alive..." He mumbled into her hand, "I thought I lost you... I'm so sorry, Akira..."

She stayed silent and bit her bottom lip. She didn't know what to say. The tiles she was absentmindedly staring at seemed to swirl around, her worries rocking her heart.

He was contemplating how he should break the news to her, if he had to skip some parts or not. His heart was still aching excruciatingly. Fuck this, she has the right to know. "You were taken from me... When we were sleeping... You were taken by... I'm sorry, Akira... I shouldn't have slept... I'm sorry..."

Taken? She didn't expect he would say that, out of all the possibilities.

"You... From right under me..." He choked, feeling like an ultimate failure. "By the brother who captured me... Last time... When I was still captain..."

Okay, now she was the one who needed a moment. Kidnapped? She was kidnapped? Did this guy do something to her? Where was she found?

That was what Kakashi managed to say. He couldn't explain any further because he felt like he was reliving that terrifying moment. He couldn't even look her in the eye and face her.

"Otto..." She pulled her hand away and sat up in the tub, propping her chin on her arms as she placed them on the rim. "Hey, look at me."

"I can't... I can't, I can't I can't..." He was angry at himself, but he didn't have the energy to let it out. He was terrified at this new wound of his. His laboured breathing echoed through every corner of the bathroom. Now that he had come down from the adrenaline, he was feeling the weight lingering. 

"Kakashi! Snap out of it!" She raised her voice, which she regretted immediately. He was petrified, shaken, one would say. It all crumbled as he got home when the adrenaline stopped pumping in his veins. His eyes showed something she has never seen before, something similar to shell shock. So she just stood up and grabbed the towel by the sink to cover herself. To calm him down, she flopped on the floor and just held him. It didn't matter if she was still dripping wet because Kakashi was only in his boxers after coming out of the shower. She squeezed herself between his legs and just embraced him. "You got scared, that's fine. It's all right, Kakashi. I'm not mad. You didn't fail me. You brought me home. Thank you."