Kakashi's My Best Friend

Chapter 6 - Dream #2

I sat in the corner of a small room clutching a kunai, silently crying. My parents were in a different room of the house fighting off intruders, but I could tell they were losing. I wanted to go out there and help, but I was always taught to hide and protect myself if anything were to happen to them. After a few moments, silence filled the house and I somehow gained the courage to leave my hiding spot.

"Mom," I silently called out . "Dad?"

I continued to make my way through the house when I found them--covered in blood and laying limp on the ground.

My heart fell and I couldn't make myself move. I called out their names once again, but received no response.

My knees buckled from under me and I landed in the pool of blood that seemed to be getting bigger and bigger at a rapid pace. I sat staring at my still parents for what seemed like hours. Eventually, enough light from the morning sun filtered in through the windows for me to be able to see my own reflection in the blood that surrounded me. I watched as tears streamed down my face, but couldn't bring myself to face the harsh reality that was laying right in front of me.

My parents were murdered and I did nothing to protect them.

~

I woke with a gasp, one hand clutching my chest. Another memory?

I got out of bed and headed for the bathroom. Staring at the mirror in front of me, all I could think about was the bloody reflection that stared back at me in my dream. With a sigh, I washed my face and combed through my hair. Perhaps I should ask Kakashi about it...

I wondered through the house to become more familiar with where I would be staying for the time being until I found Kakashi on a mat in the living room. Quietly, I sat down on the couch with the intention of waiting for him to wake up so I could ask him questions, but only minutes after becoming comfortable, Kakashi rolled over. "Do you plan on staring at me all morning?"

"My parents..." I started. "What do you know about them?"

Kakashi sat up and began putting away the mat he slept on. "Did you receive a memory about them?" I nodded once. "What do you want to know?"

"Everything," though my voice sounded hesitant.

"Hm, where should I begin?" Kakashi trailed. "Well, to start, they loved you and they loved the Leaf Village. You were their only child so they cherished you immensely and did everything they could to protect you and make you happy. They were close friends of my father, which is how we became close as children. One night, a small raid from an enemy village transpired and they were stopped..." He looked to the side. "But not without casualties."

I slowly nodded. "So the dream I had this morning about my parents was true... They did everything to protect me and I did nothing to help them..." A gut-wrenching feeling washed over me and I could feel my eyes begin to water.

Kakashi stood up and made his way towards me. "Akane, there was nothing you could do. You were too young. We had just been separated into teams; you were only twelve at the time." He was hesitant, but sat down beside me.

"I understand," I said quietly.

"Is there anything else you want to know right now?"

I shook my head. "I think that is enough for now." My chest felt tight and tears continued to fall down my face. Kakashi slowly lifted his hand and pressed his palm against my cheek while wiping tears away with his thumb. "You really don't have to do that," I muttered as I reached up to push his hand away.

He reached his other arm around me and grasped me in a hug. "You don't have to go through this alone... not anymore."

"Kakashi..."

"I promise to help you and protect you from here on out, Akane." He slowly pushed away from the hug and looked into my eyes. "I promise you will never have to go through anything by yourself ever again."

His words caused me to break out into a sob, and I fell back into his chest and cried until the tight feeling in my chest subsided.

Was this sadness?

Or relief?