Downpour (DISCONTINUED)

What Now?

Kakashi ran until he lost track of where he was. Time slipped by fleetingly with each passing building and shocked pedestrian. He was still silently crying, moving at a dead sprint in a desperate attempt to rid Iruka and Naruto of his presence. 

His mind had gone completely blank, consumed with only the need to get away. So Kakashi ran. His chest was on fire, a deep, furious pain spreading quickly through his rib cage, filling up his lungs and restricting his breathing. This sensation, at last, forced Kakashi to slow to a stop, limping down a narrow alleyway to collapse against a wall. 

His tears slowed to a stop as he fought to regain his breath, gasping and panting in the darkened alley. 

What will I do? Where will I go? I can't go home, Iruka doesn't want me near him, and I can't face Naruto. 

Kakashi pulled his knees up to his chest, resting is forehead against them and sighing. This was such a hopeless situation. Kakashi couldn't see a way out, and one idea, dramatic and pointless as it was, was looking more and more attractive. 

I shunned my dying mother, disappointing my brother, and punched my boyfriend in the mouth. 

I don't deserve to live. 

Memories are surging up from the mass of darkness Kakashi kept suppressed, clouding his vision and forcing their way into his mind.

The woman stood over Kakashi, screaming at him. Her hair had fallen loose of its ponytail, and she was sweating. Kakashi cowered before her raised hand, knowing what came next. A sharp crack resonated through the room, and Kakashi's head was whipped to the side. 

"Why can't you ever do as your told! Damn brat!" She shrieked, raising her arm for another blow. Kakashi remained crouched on the floor, covering his now throbbing face. In that moment, groveling before her, Kakashi wished more than anything that he had both the strength, and the guts to stand up and punch the bitch in the mouth. But he had neither of those things, so on the floor he remained. 

"That's right, you spoiled child! I'm not your father, I'll beat the sense into you if I have to!" She continued to scream at him, and began to rain blows down on him. They landed on his head, back and shoulders, not just slaps anymore, but full blown punches. 

Her name was Kayoko Hatake, and why his father married her, Kakashi couldn't guess. This time, however, Kakashi had really pissed her off. Kayoko had told him to go to his room, and on his way there, he'd tripped over the damn cat, and knocked over a vase. 

Now she was worked up, and Kakashi knew exactly what that meant. He was going to have his ass handed to him. Except this time, it seemed she wanted to take it a step farther. Must have been an expensive vase or something. She had picked up the nearest blunt object in the room, which happened to be a large, metal soup ladle. 

As Kayoko beat Kakashi with the metal utensil, Kakashi shrieked, begged her to stop, promising over and over that he wouldn't do it again. 

"I'm sorry!" He wailed as Kayoko nailed him in the ribs. "I won't do it again! I swear! Please stop!"  

Kakashi woke from the flashback with a shriek, and wildly scanned his surroundings. He shuddered, pulling his legs closer to him. It had reached noon, and despite the sun being high in the sky, Kakashi was freezing. 

He could remember what had happened that day, his father had come home, and taken one look at the bruises peppering Kakashi's body before demanding who did it. Kakashi had kept silent, terrified that if he spoke out against Kayoko that she would beat him again. 

But his father had eventually pried it out of him, and then promptly kicked the woman out, threatening to break every bone in her body if she ever came back. A divorce followed suit. 

Now, sitting alone in the alley, with tears drying on his face, Kakashi wondered where his ex step mother was, and what she was doing. 

Of all the things to think about at a time like this.

Kakashi leaned his head against his knees again, balling himself up and closing his eyes. That one attractive option was making itself known again, and all Kakashi could think about was the particularly tall bridge he'd passed on the way here. 

No, I shouldn't. I have to stay alive, for Naruto at least. If I die, they'll throw him back in foster care.

Kakashi made up his mind, suicide wasn't an option here. 

Then what options do I have?

The only person he could think of going to was Gai, but they'd expect him to go there. He could always go back to Seattle, sneak back to his shitty apartment and spend a few days in his bed. But he had no money, and no way to get money. Plane rides were out of the picture, and he didn't have a car. 

I'm stuck in LA, I know that much for sure. 

"Hey, is that... Kakashi?!" A familiar voice yelped from the nearby street. Kakashi raised his head, aware that he probably looked like shit walking, and came face to face with none other than...

Yamato.