Dreams of the Past

Failure

Chapter 33

Failure

When he saw his son, burrowed in Kakashi-kun's arms and sobbing not quite hysterically, Kakashi was nearly sick with relief.

Tsunade was crouched beside the boys who were huddled together in the corner of the cell. She had glowing hands wrapped around one of Tenzō's arms, holding it carefully away from his body. Kakashi-kun looked like he was doing his best to comfort him as she did whatever she was doing.

"Give me a minute, please, Karasu-san." She glanced back at him over her shoulder. "His arm is broken and I need him to stay still."

His arm is broken?

Anger, shame... Kakashi suddenly felt that he would rather die himself than let his son suffer. His arm is broken. What else had they done to him?

You failed him.

Tenzō screamed, Kakashi-kun soothed, and Tsunade worked quickly. "It's okay, little guy. I'm sorry, I know that hurt. But there, see? All better. And look, Daddy's here!"

Big, brown, tear-filled eyes peeked up from Kakashi-kun's chest and he let out a pathetic, wavering: "Daddy?"

He flickered across the room, Sakumo half a step behind him.

"Dad!"

"Daddy!"

"Jii-san!"

Kakashi scooped up his son, reaching over to pat Kakashi-kun's head too before Sakumo pulled him into his arms. "Yes, Daddy's here, I've got you, Tenzō-chan, I've got you."

"Daddy! Daddy back! My Daddy."

As Tenzō clung to him, his little body shaking with sobs, Kakashi took stock of each bruise and scratch. If he felt any lingering guilt for indiscriminately annihilating every member of ROOT, it evaporated in the face of his son's hurts.

"Where Mama, Daddy? Me want Mama and Kusa and go home!"

Kissing the top of his head, holding him close, Kakashi glanced at Tsunade. "I don't know where Mama and Kusa are yet, buddy. We're going to find them."

Tsunade was watching Sakumo and their son, a mix of relief and longing on her face. When she felt Kakashi's eyes on her, she looked at him. "She wasn't down here. The boys were in separate cells, but they were right next to each other. Senbei took off to find her when I got here." She sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "Karasu-san, they... I'm sorry I wasn't—"

Uncomfortable emotions he was nowhere near able to deal with made him cringe away. "Don't, please. Not now."

Her hand jerked away from her face to gape at him, after a moment, she nodded. "Let's find your wife."

As they all filed out of the cell and into the dimly lit hall, Kakashi-kun reached over to pull on his sleeve. "Jii-san, we have to find Me-chan! I didn't see what happened to her, but... but..." Tears choked his voice. "We have to find her, she needs Tsunade-san, Jii-san."

Something in the back of his head was screaming and panicked but he didn't understand, so he suppressed it. "I know, Kakashi-kun, we'll find her."

Katsuyu poked her head out from Tsunade's collar again as Kakashi took a deep inhale, trying to find Sakura's scent. "She is below us, Karasu-san. More than one floor."

His eyes searched for the nearest possible stairwell when Taga burst through a door at the end of the hall. "We found her, Karasu."

Something in his voice gave Kakashi pause, but he ignored it. Raiu and Mebae ran up as they started to follow Taga and they fell into step with them.