Hatake✔️

7

"Right up here." One of the men says walking in front of me.

The other helps me up the stairs and lifts me up the last few.

"That's a gnarly ankle. Do you not have shoes?!" He asks.

"No. I don't. I'm alright." I say feeling lightheaded from the pain.

"Kakashi!" One says and waves.

He is stood outside the door.

"I got it from here. Thanks." He says.

He opens the door and then looks at me.

"Can you help..." I say leaning on the wall.

He walks over and picks me up in his arms.

"I can walk still!" I say clinging onto his neck.

"This is quicker." He states.

Once inside he slips his shoes off.

I stand there and wait.

He turns to me then looks down at my dirt covered feet.

"I didn't want to embarrass you... do you not wear shoes?" He asks.

"I've always been outside." I say.

He tells me to sit on the small step and he leaves, coming back with a towel.

He kneels down and rubs my feet with the towel.

"I can do it." I say feeling embarrassed.

"Let me." He says continuing.

Once they are clean he helps me up and I cling to his arm while walking through the house.

"Is this your apartment?" I ask once he sits me down on the couch.

"So you've got a sharp eye." He says.

"I'm sorry for causing all this trouble." I say looking down and my swollen and purple ankle.

"And thank you for..." I say and rub my hand on my neck.

He brings over a cup of tea and hands it to me.

He gets his own and sits next to me.

He slides his mask off and drinks his drink.

"You can tell me the truth." He says looking at me.

I chew on my lip.

"It will put you in danger." I say knowing he's suspicious of me.

"I'm from somewhere in the land of water. I didn't belong to any village. I was— I was forced to be in this organization. All we did was fight and spar. I'm no shinobi. I never was gifted with chakra control. I'm a civilian."

"But why do you move around so much?" He asks.

"The only way to leave is to win. To beat...to kill. Once I cleared it they just laughed at me. I was free to leave. Yet I still always feel as though I'm being watched." I say.

"Why is it dangerous to tell me?"

"Because of this." I say pointing to the curse.

"It means they found me. Or sense me. They now know I'm still alive." I say running a hand through my hair.

"And why would they want you back?" He asks.

"To win you have to kill a leader. It's meant to be the final stage. The one you lose. The one no one could pass. But I did— because I cheated." I say.

"So..." he starts.

"I shouldn't tell you much more. It's safer that way." I say.

He watches me finish the rest of my tea.

"Thanks. It was good." I say.

I swallow dryly.
I feel tears begin to form.

I turn away from Kakashi and begin crying softly.

I hear him set his cup on the table. Then he surprises me.

He wraps his arms around me. After that I just cry harder.

He pulls me close so I'm basically in his lap, and puts his head on my shoulder.

I intertwine our arms. Enjoying this affection.

Even once my crying stops he doesn't let go.

I turn my neck to try and see his face.

He remains still in the crook of my neck.

"Kakashi." I say lightly.

He sits up and his arms slowly fall from around me.

I face him now and knock him back slightly with a proper hug.

He laughs slightly.

He loosens the hug.
"You're probably quite exhausted."

I try to deny but then I yawn.

"Here." He says standing and holding his hand out.

I grab it and once I place some weight on my food I yelp in pain.

"It's okay." I say when I see his frowning face.

He helps me to his bedroom.

"I can sleep on the couch. Really!" I say.

"No a guest should have the better one." He says smiling.

He helps me crawl into bed. Then he sits on the edge.

He smiles at me, his eyes turning into crescents.

"Now get some sleep we have some things to do in the morning." He says