Kakashi Hatake POV
I was home after the Academy. Since Amaya had gone to the Hokage's office, I started preparing a few things for our dinner.
A competition..., I pondered, remembering her proposal and giving a weak smile. I'll finally get to see what she's capable of in a fight. And I think she might be a bit challenging for me.
I had already thought of several different challenge options for us to do, until I could get the ten wins. Then I'll finally be able to find out what she's hiding in that notebook..., I thought.
– I'm home – I heard Amaya announce and noticed the sound of the door closing.
– I've already thought of the first challenge we can do – I started speaking as I walked to the living room – We can even tomorrow... – However, I didn't continue or even finish what I was going to say when I saw the girl.
Her lip was cut, her arms and legs visibly bruised. Her hair was completely messy and her clothes were dirty, as if someone had literally stepped on her.
– What happened to you? – I asked before even thinking about how to do it.
– This? – She looked at herself for a moment – It's no big deal...
– No big deal? – My tone rose involuntarily – Amaya-kun, it looks... No, you were beaten up – I stared at her seriously.
– I already said it's no big deal – She commented calmly, conveying real unconcern for her situation – I've been through worse.
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The Uzumaki returned to the living room a while after going to take a bath and change clothes. When she entered the room, I promptly stood up.
– Come here – I said and pointed to the sofa.
Even without understanding the reason for the request, she came to where I was and sat down obediently. I grabbed the first aid kit my father kept stored for emergencies, opened it beside her, and stopped in front of her.
– Kakashi-kun, you don't need to, I... – I interrupted her before she could even try to argue.
– Just be quiet – I said quietly, and perhaps because she understood I wasn't open to discussion, she stopped.
While I was bandaging the cuts on her arms, we both remained in total silence. What made me most uncomfortable was the fact that she showed no expression or even a natural reaction when I touched her wounds. What did she go through in that lab to not care about something like this?, I wondered, and couldn't avoid a heavy sigh.
– Sorry... – Amaya spoke after a few moments – I made you worry.
– You would have made anyone worry if they saw you like this – I explained to the redhead and added more quietly – And otousan even asked me to look after you because of the others...
– It's not your fault – She spoke consolingly – I let this happen.
– Look, I have some idea that you went through a lot of bad things and I can't even imagine half the reality of that laboratory, but that's no reason to let yourself be assaulted like this – I stared at her – At least tell me you tried to fight back – She shook her head and I looked at her without understanding – Why?
– Violence only breeds more violence – She said calmly, turning her clear eyes to me – Would I be any better than the one who did this, if I made the same choice?
I stopped for a moment, reflecting on her words and the ease with which she said them, and we both stared at each other for a few moments. It seems my father was right, I admitted, once again. This strange girl really has a lot to teach me... I gave a weak laugh and turned my attention back to finishing her bandages.
– You really are the strangest person I know.
– Thank you – And we ended up sharing a weak laugh.
Amaya Uzumaki POV
Kakashi's concern for me took me by surprise. I didn't imagine he would be so worried about what happened to me. But in a way, it made me a little happy, after all, it showed that he cared about me on some level, just like Sakumo, Minato, and Shisui.
At first, I thought, as I had told Sakumo once, that Kakashi was competitive. The boy indeed was, but I realized that I myself was too, and maybe even more than him.
Because of this, my conversation with Kakashi leaned towards our competition. The first 'test' he suggested would take some time until we could define the winner, but I accepted it right away: The best performance on the first Academy test.
Even though practical classes hadn't started yet, we agreed that those would have to be different in our competition, because we didn't know if we would fight against each other at some point.
Just like me, Hatake didn't like speaking in front of the whole class, but when we had written work, and even though we hadn't agreed on it, we competed. And with that, I felt like someone my age.
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The first Academy test had been scheduled and was approaching. And even though Kakashi disguised it, I could perceive at home how excited he was. Hatake spent a good amount of time studying, while I just read my class notes from time to time.
I was on the porch of the Hatake clan dojo with my notebook in hand. I was having a bad feeling, leaving me a little restless. It seems this is messing with my concentration, I pondered while looking at the notebook. Just when so little time was left...
I sighed heavily and closed my notebook, dropping it beside me. I leaned my head back against the dojo wall, closing my eyes for a moment while feeling the cold breeze of the early winter blow.
The days had passed quickly. I had learned a lot so far and got to know much of the village too. Shisui had shown me where he lived and Akemi even invited me to come to their house other times.
During some of the visits, she told me about her husband, my father, Kagami Uchiha. Shisui listened with us when she told something about our father and I could see the sparkle in the boy's eyes, how proud he was of the older Uchiha.
I also hadn't seen Minato anymore. The last time had been before Sakumo left for his mission, two and a half months ago. Sometimes I caught myself thinking about how they, Minato and Sakumo, were doing...
– Amaya-kun – I opened my eyes at the call and saw Kakashi in front of me – Someone came looking for you a little while ago.
– Who? – I asked and grabbed my notebook, standing up right after.
– It was that boy who sometimes talks to you at the Academy – Kakashi explained and I hurried to follow him – He just said for you to go to where you met and left in a hurry.
He must be talking about Shisui..., I thought. But go to where we met? Why would he ask me to go to the hospital? I stopped walking for a moment and Kakashi did the same right after. Don't tell me that...
– Amaya-kun?
– Sorry – I just said, the previous anxiety seeming to increase now that I had something tangible to worry about – I need to find him.
– Hey!
I heard Kakashi call me, but I started running towards Konoha's hospital without hesitation. Please..., I thought. Let it not be what I'm imagining...!
I ran through the village people, trying my best not to bump into anyone, but in a moment of carelessness, I ended up colliding with someone.
– I'm sorry! – I said quickly and didn't even get to see who I had bumped into.
My body moved on its own and at an unbelievable speed – it seemed like my feet barely touched the ground. I had never run like that before. It was as if all my weight was suppressed.
I stopped only for a moment when I arrived in front of the hospital, but soon entered the building quickly and without stopping at the reception, going straight to the third floor.
Shisui's chakra..., I thought. It's coming from here. I quickly went up the stairs and followed to the end of the hallway, stopping in front of a half-open door. I forced myself to calm down for a moment and knocked lightly on the door, opening it right after.
– Who is... – A nurse started to say, visibly irritated by my entrance, but when she looked at me, she stopped immediately.
– Amaya-kun... – Shisui spoke – I asked her to come – He looked at the doctor and the nurse next, informing them.
– I don't recommend letting... – The doctor started to argue, but was quickly interrupted.
– Let her – Akemi asked and they both looked at her – I want to talk with her and my son, alone.
The doctor and nurse exchanged a brief look and nodded, leaving the room a moment later. When they closed the door, I turned my gaze to Akemi, who had a weak smile.
– Amaya-chan... – She expressed with her sweet voice – Thank you for coming so fast – She raised her hand, calling me – Come here, please.
I approached the hospital bed where she was. Shisui was sitting on the edge of the bed, so I stopped beside him, standing.
Akemi was holding Shisui's hand and soon held mine too with her other free hand. Her skin was pale and cold, and I could barely feel her holding my hand due to her weakness.
– Don't make that face, Shisui... – Akemi spoke to the boy.
That was the first time I saw him without his usual smile and energy that emanated life to everyone.
– If you leave me, I'll be alone... – Shisui commented in a low voice.
– Son, I will always be by your side, even if you can't see me – Akemi consoled him and placed her hand on the boy's face – And you're not alone anymore... – She looked at me.
Shisui turned his tearful eyes to me, staring at me for a moment and giving a weak smile soon after. Akemi also showed a weak smile.
– Amaya-chan... – The Uchiha called me tenderly and I stared at her – Come closer, let me hug you – I let her wrap me in her arms, returning the gesture, but before I could pull away, Akemi spoke quietly in my ear – Please, promise me you'll take care of Shisui. You are the last ray of light in his life – I looked at her then, nodding promptly – That's good... – She spoke with a weak voice and an extremely faint smile – That makes me feel more relieved...
Her voice weakened gradually and the smile on her lips disappeared. Her eyes grew heavy and I felt the little pressure she was applying to my hand vanish.
Death.
The only certainty that exists in the world.
It's the only thing no living being can escape.
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It was already night when we left the hospital and I was accompanying Shisui to his house. He had remained silent since the moment the doctor and nurses asked us to leave the room.
The boy hadn't shown any expression either. What else could he do?, I thought. He lost his mother, the last person who was always with him. He had already lost his father early, and now her...
We were walking through the Uchiha clan district and the people on the street looked discreetly at us. No one stopped us or said anything. Their looks showed that they understood the situation and in a way, were suffering in their own manner.
I stopped in front of Shisui's house with him and the boy briefly looked at the structure. His eyes were towards the house, but his mind was clearly far away. He went to the front door and unlocked it.
I was going to say something to try to make him feel a little better, but gave up immediately. What could I say to make him feel better?, I asked myself rhetorically and sighed quietly. There are times when words of compassion only make things worse...
I turned to go back to the Hatake clan house, when I felt someone grabbing my wrist. Looking back, I saw Shisui there.
– Shisui-kun...? – I asked confused, since I didn't expect this reaction from him.
– Y-You... – He spoke quietly, visibly uncertain – Could you stay for a bit?
We stared at each other for a moment. He doesn't want to be alone..., I concluded. I gave a weak nod and he let go of my wrist.
I entered the house with him, as I had done a few times before, when I came to visit him. However, the silence in the air was overwhelming. The boy went to his room and I followed quietly.
When I closed the door and looked back at Shisui, I saw him near the dresser. He was holding the photo frame that was there. I went near him and saw that the photo inside was of him with Akemi.
The two seemed to be in a village park, on a picnic. Both smiling happily. They were always like that, I thought, always brightening each other's lives.
And then I saw something fall on the glass of the photo frame. Looking at Shisui, I saw him crying. He seemed to be trying to hold back the tears, but it was evident he wouldn't succeed.
And his eyes were different too, they had a different color and appearance: They were red like blood. Those eyes..., I pondered with some surprise at their familiarity. I've seen them before, but... Where?
I pushed any other thought out of my head and took the photo frame from Shisui's hands and he stared at me with his big, tearful eyes. I dropped the object back on the dresser and hugged Shisui tightly.
And with that, he broke down.
He didn't try to hold back all the pain he was carrying anymore and brought it to the surface. I felt his body weaken and pulled him to sit with me on the edge of his bed, keeping my arms around him without stopping. He held me tight against him, crying and sobbing more and more.
That was a side I never imagined Shisui would have. And I also never imagined he would let me see him like this, so vulnerable and lost. It was the opposite of everything I had seen from him until that moment.