Here For You - Kakashi Hatake x OC

Chapter 5: Haunting

*Kakashi's POV*

It was my turn to make dinner tonight. I was making Katsumi her favorite - my homemade ramen. She told me she loved it and she was always asking me to make it for her. Tonight, I decided I finally would, since she would be coming home from a hard mission. I was waiting for her to get back, and I was excited to see her face once she realized I had made her favorite, special for her. I heard a knock at the door and I giddily ran to the door. Once I opened it, I immediately knew something was wrong. She was covered in blood and her face was stained with tears. I know she would usually change her clothes straight after a mission, but today was different. I looked at her worriedly and the words she spoke shocked me:

"They're dead."

I pulled her into the apartment, shut the door and hugged her immediately. I could feel her trembling and she hugged back. I held onto her tightly, my head on her own, one of my hands stroking her hair. I didn't know what I could say, what I could do to make her feel better. I knew she was crying. She was shaking vigorously. I led her over to sit on the couch that I had recently obtained, never stopping hugging her. Her eyes, her beautiful, vivid blue eyes, were filled with tears, sadness and regret. I didn't want her to have to go through this. I knew that she just had to let out her emotions. I knew how strong she usually was and how much she controlled her emotions. But I knew that she deserved to let them out. I wanted to help her so much. She looked so helpless in my arms, so fragile.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I asked her softly, after some time. She looked up at me, "Okay..." She told me everything. How they were ambushed on their way back, how she had fought through the enemies, how Hiroji had saved her, about the unexpected archer and how she watched Ishiro die. "Ishiro... He asked me to stop healing him because we both knew that I couldn't save him, and he told me to help the rest of the team as his dying wish. But I failed. Ishiro died under my healing hands, and when I left him to return to sensei and Hiroji, they were already dead." I could see her choking back her tears, "I killed the remaining ninja and in my anger, I stabbed the archer, I stabbed him to a pulp. Then I hid their bodies and came to Konoha as fast as I could." She finished. I couldn't move. I didn't know what to say. Somehow she always knew what to say to me to make me feel better. But I couldn't think of anything. I felt ashamed of myself. I just held on to her tightly. I realized that I could have lost her as well. But she wasn't this good of a ninja for nothing. I knew she was capable of taking care of herself. I still couldn't get the thoughts out of my head, though. I looked down at Katsumi. "I'm so sorry. I know that they meant a lot to you. You're not a failure. You did all you could. You can't save everybody." I tried consoling her. I felt so stupid. I didn't really know what to tell her. To my surprise, she lifted her head and smiled at me, "Thanks, Kashi. I think I should change though," I smiled back at her under my mask. "I'll be waiting right here," I said as she stood up and went to her apartment to change. I mentally slapped myself. I felt like an idiot. I wish I knew how I could help her. All I could really do was be there.

Losing myself in my thoughts, I snapped out of them when she entered my apartment once again, wearing clean clothes. I stood up and guided her to the kitchen. "Are you hungry?" I asked her cautiously. "Sure," she replied. She sat down at the table and I brought over the ramen I had made. She looked up at me with big eyes, "Kashi! You remembered!" I chuckled, "Of course, I wouldn't forget." She squealed a bit a hugged me, "Thank you so much!" Her hugging me felt so good. I wanted to stay like that forever. "It's no problem," I replied softly. She eyed me, "Of course it's a problem! You were always talking about how fussy it was to make homemade ramen, which is why you would rarely make it!" She said and took the first bite. I looked at her, "Yummm, Kashi, this is so good! I love you!" I grinned as she ate it quickly, "Careful, don't burn yourself," I thought of what she said. I love you. I wondered if she really did. If she loved me like I loved her. I turned away from her and pulled down my mask to eat.

*Normal POV*

I love you?! Katsumi, what the hell? Why would you just say that? Are you stupid? I mentally cursed myself as I enjoyed the delicious ramen. I did, though. I loved him. I wondered if I was too young to be thinking about love. I shook my head to rid myself of these thoughts and concentrated on the ramen. It truly was the best thing I've ever eaten.

We finished eating and we made our way to the couch. Each of us pulled out a book to read and enjoy a quiet evening. I stared at the pages but I couldn't stop thinking about my team. I couldn't save them. I never wanted to see one comrade die, much less three in one go. I thought of the funeral. I would bring lilies and I would mourn them. I would visit them every morning along with my father, I would speak to them, I would tell them about my life. I remembered that Hiroji had vowed to watch over me, my now deceased teammates, and even Kakashi. I looked over at my one remaining friend, reading his book peacefully. I hoped that nothing would happen to him. I made a promise to myself, right then and there. I would keep him safe, I would protect him.

I would protect him with my own life.

I tried to read again but I couldn't. I sighed, closed my book and looked out the window at the night sky. The view from Kakashi's apartment was amazing, I could always see a canopy of stars above, and it made me feel better. "Are you okay?" I heard his concerned voice. "Yes, Kashi. I just can't read right now," He nodded understandingly. He closed his book as well, "It is getting pretty late." I looked down.

"Uhm, Kashi?" I kept my gaze at my feet. "Yes?" "Do you mind if... I stay... with you tonight?" I shyly said. I looked back to him and he nodded, "Of course, Katsi, you can take my bed, I'll sleep on the couch." "No! I don't want to deprive you of your comfort." He looked into my eyes, "Katsi, I insist." I gave in, "Ohh, alright, then." He went to get some spare sheets and a pillow from the closet as I sat on the edge of his bed. I watched him as he put the pillow on the couch and spread the sheets over it. "Don't be shy, Katsi, please make yourself comfortable," He smiled at me reassuringly under his mask and I obliged. I could always see the smile in his eyes, so his mask didn't really get in the way. I climbed under the sheets and he came over to me, "Do you need anything else?" He was so sweet, "No, Kashi, thanks a lot." "It's alright. Goodnight, Katsi." He reached over, turned off the light and made his way to the couch. I heard him cover himself with the sheets.

"Goodnight, Kashi."