Promises Remembered

Part 2 Chapter 7

A/N Ah, another chapter that I really love. Finally some more plot! Cute dad moments too but, plot! Let me know what you think of this turn!

Part 2 Chapter 7

Kakashi

Day one-thousand one-hundred without her

"Hmm. Where could my sneaky little ninja be?" Kakashi grinned as he exaggeratedly peeked beneath the dinner table. "Not there. What about..." He slammed open one of the kitchen cabinets. There was nothing but pots and pans, but excited giggles echoed from across the apartment.

"Gee, I may never find him at this rate. Better check the linen closet." Crossing the main room, he slipped through the already open hallway door and checked the closet. "No... Hmm. In the bathtub?" When he peeked into the bathroom, glancing into the tub, more giggles and shrieks of "not there, Daddy!" came from his bedroom.

Chuckling, Kakashi walked down the hall and slid the door open, looking around. There was a trembling, giggling lump right in the middle of his bed under the blankets. Folding his arms, he leaned against the door frame and watched the lump that was his son wriggle with excitement. "Definitely the sneakiest ninja I've ever encountered. Where could he be?"

Bending over, he looked under the bed, gripping the bed frame and shaking slightly as he did so. "Not under the bed." He walked around the bed, pushing noisily at the drapes. "Not hiding on the balcony. Hmm... where else?"

Kazuki's giggles intensified as Kakashi knelt on the edge of the bed. "What is with this pillow? It's so giggly and ticklish!" Attacking the lump, Kakashi laughed and reached for the edge of the blanket to reveal his shrieking, red faced little boy.

"Found me, Daddy!"

"I did!" He scooped the freshly-three-year-old up into his arms, and blew raspberries on his round little cheeks.

"Daddy! Daddy, no!" More giggling shrieks filled their apartment as he carried Kazuki back down the hall and through to the dining table.

"Since I found you, now you have to eat your breakfast." Plopping him into his seat, Kakashi ruffled his hair and crossed to the kitchen to get their food, rice and scrambled eggs. Setting the dishes in front of his son, Kakashi tried not to grimace over the pathetic state of his eggs. He had never managed to get them right—they were always either burned or runny. At least they weren't living off cup noodles and burned rice. It wasn't easy doing this without Sakura, but they were okay. Kazuki was growing, and thriving and—despite everything—a happy little boy.

"Sprinkles, Daddy!"

Laughing softly, Kakashi reached for the furikake, shaking some out over their rice and eggs. "There you go, buddy. Now eat up. Baba-chan is taking you to the park today. You can't play very long if you're hungry."

A smile lit up Kazuki's face. "Park!"

"Yes, park. After breakfast."

He giggled again but dug into his food, managing to spoon more than half actually into his mouth for a change. Once they were finished, and all the dishes were cleaned up, Kakashi took off Sakura's floral apron—shaking it off and hanging it in its spot.

Son dressed and packed for a few days with Sakura's parents, Kakashi all prepared for his mission, they headed out. From his spot on Kakashi's shoulders, Kazuki waved at Hatsue as they passed his restaurant. The older man smiled happily at the pair, waving them over.