Let's take a leaf of fate

Fennel seeing you again

Hashirama ended the phone call with his brother just when the last bell was ringing, signaling the end of the day's lessons. Kids started pouring out of the school and Hashirama took a couple of steps away, just to be sure. He sighed and when he finally spotted Tenzou waved, earning an armful of excited and yelling son. Hashirama couldn't even understand what Tenzou was saying so he put him down, rested his hands on his shoulders and stated calmly and amused "Ok, you shouting monster, calm down, would you? Can you breathe? Awesome. Now start from the beginning." Tenzou literally thrusted a colorful card in his face explaining excitedly "Look! It's Kakashi's birthday! He's going to have a party! And he invited me! Me! Papa! Can I go? Can I go?!"

Hashirama studied the card for a moment and then grinned at Tenzou stating simply "Sure." Tenzou hooped and cheered and Hashirama shook his head standing and smiling down at him. Hashirama nodded at Madara standing on the other side of the playground and then started heading for the car holding Tenzou's hand. Hashirama asked "We need to buy him a present. Do you know what he likes?" Tenzou started blabbering away and Hashirama nodded and hummed at all appropriate times.

-

How Hashirama managed to forget Kakashi's birthday's party was beyond the point since he had already agreed to watch over Iruka that weekend. Hashirama sighed and stared helplessly at his phone. He couldn't say no to his cousin since Kohari never asked for anything but what to do with the party? Hashirama rubbed his temples and stared at the card stuck on the fridge once more. Then he dialed another number.

"Orochimaru? Hello, it's Hashirama. Tenzou's father. I'm sorry to bother you. I was wondering if it would be a problem bringing a four years old to the party tomorrow. No, he's my cousin's son. He's staying with me for the weekend. No? Ok! Great. Thank you. See you tomorrow."

Disaster averted, Hashirama collapsed on the stool and rubbed his face none too gently. It was time to do some laundry and then some cleaning but Hashirama desperately needed some coffee before starting.

-

Hashirama stared, eyes wide open and terrified, at the crowd of yelling and running children in the Hatake's backyard. He tightened his hold around Iruka, resting against his hip, and took a step back colliding for a second with someone. He spun on his heels only to come almost face to face with Madara. A piercing and happy cry of "Yosh!" had Hashirama almost jump out of his skin and Madara was kind enough to move aside and let him retreat inside without saying a word. Hashirama breathed deeply a couple of times then focused on Iruka, who was tugging a strand of his hair. "Yes, little bird?" Iruka whispered awed "Doggos?" pointing outside and Hashirama turned to stare out of the windows. He breathed, calmer now in the quiet environment, and replied "Yeah. Doggos. But I don't know if we can touch them. We have to ask Kakashi's parents first, ok?" Iruka nodded and Hashirama let him down to be free to peer outside at all the dogs.

He ran a hand down his face, breathed deeply and then put his hair into a messy bun. "Is the little one yours too?" Hashirama looked around and raised an eyebrow at Madara's question; he nodded toward Iruka and Hashirama shook his head "No. One is more than enough for me. Iruka is my cousin's son." "He looks a lot like you." Hashirama snorted before answering "Yeah, we get that a lot. But no, he's not mine." Iruka giggled and demanded his attention saying "Hashi! Look look!" Hashirama smiled replying "I'm looking, dolphin, I'm looking." The kid focused back on the dogs and Hashirama put down his hair once more running his fingers through his slightly knotted strands.

A small body collided with his legs and Hashirama had to take a step to the side to maintain his balance, briefly bumping shoulders with Madara. He murmured an apology while gazing down at a fiercely blushing Kakashi. Hashirama raised an eyebrow and asked "You ok, wolf?" The kid blushed some more, nodded and whispered "Can I hide here for a while?" before diving around his legs and hiding between him and the sofa. "Yes, but why?" Hashirama asked and, surprisingly, Kakashi's blush intensified. "Gai." He said as explanation then scampered off to join Iruka in his dogs' watching.