Here For You - Kakashi Hatake x OC

Chapter 12: Come Back, Be here

*Still Kakashi's POV*

Katsumi had been in the hospital for a week now. Time was going by, agonizingly slowly. I spent most of my days next to her, holding her hand and talking to her, like I talked to my father, Obito, and Rin. Except Katsumi was going to live. She had to live. Right?

My body ached from sitting and sleeping in the hard chair next to her bed. I shifted uncomfortably, changing my position a little. The nurses felt really bad for me, I could feel it in their expressions whenever they came in to check on Katsumi, and I was always next to her. Itachi had stopped by to bring her flowers. He spoke to me but I couldn't focus on what he was saying. I knew he liked Katsumi, she was always so nice to him, unlike other people. She was only nice to me and Itachi. I spoke to her. I told her about how Minato-sensei had become the Fourth Hokage this week and how I wished she could have been there for the ceremony. I told her Itachi had brought her flowers, they stood next to the bouquet I had brought her. I continued talking to her, reminiscing.

"Hey, Katsi, I was thinking back to when we were just little kids," I said quietly, drawing patterns on her hand with my fingertips, "I used to envy you so much. I tried to be the top of the class, but you were right beside me. And we both graduated early, with the exact same results, I hated you a bit for almost surpassing me, I was so stupid back then," I chuckled a bit, "I never would've thought that I would grow to love you," I looked at her intently. "I still thought you were beautiful then, though. I had so many girls fawning over me, and the only girl who I actually liked, the one with the big, blue eyes, never even threw a second glance at me. I used to be insanely jealous of Obito, he was always talking to you and making you laugh, but I was the one who wanted to do that. Even though I disliked you standing alongside me academically, deep down in my heart I knew I liked you. A lot. I was so happy when we became friends. Inseparable. We've been friends for almost our whole lives. And I've loved you for the longest time. I wish I could've told you sooner. I wish you knew." I sighed and looked down. I rubbed my eyes with the hand that wasn't holding Katsumi's hand.

"I miss you. I miss you so much it hurts," I choked out, "I promise I'll make you my homemade ramen when you're back. I'll protect you and I'll make you feel safe. I will love you. Please come back and be here." My voice cracked. I wanted to hold her in my arms so badly. I wanted to tell her everything. I wanted to see her laugh at my stupid jokes again. I wanted to see her bright, blue eyes and her amazing smile again.

I needed her back.

I propped my head up with my arm, which was leaning on the bedside table, and closed my eyes. I was still reliving the horrific thing that I had been forced to do. I saw her cough up blood, I saw the light leave her beautiful eyes, and I heard her whisper "Kashi."

I hated watching the mortifying scene over and over again, but nothing could block the thought from my mind as I dozed off. Kashi, she whispered over and over again. Kashi, please. Hmph. I didn't remember her ever saying that. Kashi, please, wake up. I couldn't. It was a never-ending loop of a terrifying act that had almost led me to losing her forever. Kashi, wake up. She kept coughing up blood as she told me to wake from my nightmare. Kashi...

It was no longer a dream. I bolted upward and I looked into her eyes. Those gorgeous, blue orbs were the only thing I need to see at that point. She smiled weakly at me, "I see you've awaken, Kashi." I was so happy, I wanted to crush her in my hug and never let her go, but I feared she was too fragile at the moment. "Katsi..." I squeezed her hand lightly, not wanting to hurt her. "I'll go call a nurse," I said quickly and I did so.

The nurse walked in and studied Katsumi's medical files and her present condition. "Well, you're pretty much back to normal," She said and I sighed in relief, "But you should probably stay here for a few more days at the very least, so you could eat properly for a bit before you start to walk and do things on your own." With that, she left the room, closing the door behind her. I pulled my chair up, closer to Katsumi's bed. "How are you feeling?" I asked. "To be honest? I feel like I've been stabbed," She laugh a bit and I felt a pang of guilt. A tension suddenly built up the room. "Kashi, you almost killed me," She said in a serious tone. I hung my head. I felt ashamed that I had let something as stupid as a mind control jutsu get to me. "I don't blame you," She continued, and I looked up at her, "I knew you were under a mind control jutsu the moment you cracked my mask. It wasn't your fault. There was nothing you could do. But..." She trailed off. I had no idea what she was getting at. "Kashi, you know very well that our skills are pretty much the same, exquisite, I might say," I was a bit lost at this point. "What are you trying to tell me?" She sighed, breathing heavily. She was still weak. "If you're too tired to talk, then don't stress yourself, please, just stop..." "I let you kill me." She whispered. I stared at her sadly. Her breathing got sharper and quicker, she looked like she was having a panic attack. I knew she was remembering it. I wanted to calm her down but she pressed on, "I let you kill me. I couldn't have ever dealt with the thought of me fighting back and killing you with my own hands, in my right mind. I... I can't, Kashi..." I saw that her pulse had quickened and I grabbed her hand, "Katsi, Katsi! Listen to me. It's okay. It's all over now. We're both here, we're okay, and we'll never have to do that ever again. I'll protect you and keep you safe. Always. I promise you." She was hyperventilating but her pulse was going back to normal. "Katsi, please, I have been losing my mind here without you. It was only a week but it made me realize exactly how much you mean to me. You are literally a piece in every section of my life. Please calm down. All I wanted was for you to come back, now all I want is for you to be here. To stay with me." She had placed a hand over her mouth as I was talking to her. She seemed to calm down that way. I guess she probably had experience this before. She lowered her hand once her breathing had returned to it's normal state and she smiled at me.

"It's good to be back."