The Daily Dose Of Kanako And Kashi

Kakashi POV

Our team came back from our week-long mission, and Minato-sensei told me that I could leave and take a break to see Kanako-hime.

Despite Obito's and Rin's teasing me, I really do miss her.

I miss her insistent babbling and now twittering. Her cuddling and now vice-like grips. And how her eyes light up like she's receiving a newly polished kunai whenever I appear.

I had much to think about during this week away from the village.

I do agree with the fact when others call me an apathetic and solitary person. Thus these past years of interaction with the youngest Senju princess gave me much to ponder. I had once confided with my father and Minato-sensei about my problems, but all I've gotten in reply was an amused and interested expression from father, and a 'mother-like' smile from Sensei. Kushina-nee-san who overheard me and Minato-sensei, acted like she was in a seizure while grinning though(?), while shouting something about hearing bells in the distance.

I was depressed when Kanako-hime started speaking in full sentences, and started calling the names of others out loud. She even called that idiot Obito 'Obi-nii', and all I got was a 'Kakashi', and a 'Kashi', at best? For some reason, though my brain feels sour about that, my heart is thumping about.

I don't know what's wrong with me.

She's such a small thing. Was even smaller. I remember seeing her a week after her birth with my father. Also found out at the same time that my father was the babysitting duty for Tsunade-sama when she was a child herself, and him a chunin.

Somehow, it seems like tradition continued, being his spawn and looking after the daughter of his old charge. Our team babysat her since her first month. Kanako-hime kept clinging to me, and I was teased by those around me.

I can't help but feel apprehensive. This blood soaked world we live in. And the blood drenched hands of mine. Yet she don't seem to mind. Not that I would know, as she's by far the only babysitting charge we had. There are after all, only a handful of babies born during the war.

She grew to be more expressive as each day passes by. Her eyes hungry for new things and information. I took a second to ponder before remembering that her father really wasn't a Nara.

No matter what, a child is still a child. But Kanako-hime even before learning words looked through eyes of scrutiny that a baby shouldn't have. Most people wouldn't notice, as they saw her with the filter of a baby. But for people like us, thinking ahead of our time, too much to digest, too much to be normal. I knew then, that she was the same as me. It seems like the Uchiha heir brat figured that out as well, seeing that he smiled more with her than with his peers.

Ignoring the fact that she could indeed relate to me, I still felt that somehow, I would still end up gravitating towards her like a magnet.

I do not know what's wrong with me.

Ever since, whenever it rains, I kept thinking about her. How she quietens when the rain starts, and how she seeks for a window or porch to look at the rain falling. And closing her eyes to hear and smell what nature brings. It bothers me that I was thinking about a child. As compared to me, she's actually a toddler. Still a baby. Untainted. Unbloodied.

When me and the idiot show up in front of her, bruised and bloodied, what I feared has happened. She cried. But what surprised me was that it wasn't tears of fear or dislike. But rather, tears of worry and concern.

I could never forgot the gaze she had.

It should have made me cringe. The way I think I felt around her. But with consolation, I am really still a child. A bit of an overgrown one. But still a child nonetheless. One with a delayed childhood crush.

I think I know what's wrong with me.

I see her as a girl. A significant other. A prospective partner. Or as Pakkun so bluntly put it, a mate. I had to reel myself back then a notch. I counted at least seven, and at most eight. The difference in age between us. I should be revolted and disgusted at myself. But the only feeling I could register was relief.

I remembered the me before I met her. Remembered the team dynamics before we met her. I could only imagine what I would have been without knowing her existence. I would still be the arrogant stuck up I was. I would not try to even work with my team. I ... probably would have lost that idiot to a damn rock. I would probably have turned out to be a fucked up mixture of disgrace to the Hatake namesake.

She didn't move a finger, say a word, or made a change in anything. Her entire existence changed things. Her being here change those around for the better.

My father came home more, and smiled more. The sannin Orochimaru I remembered has lessened his time in his 'lab', and helped out in the hospital more. The Jiraiya-sama that I remembered stayed in the village more, to Minato-sensei's surprise. The councilmen's have gone softer and smiled more whenever mentioning her, from the time I attended as heir in council meetings. The sad women my father said Tsunade-sama was, smiled around, and also away from her.

I too, smiled more, start being the brat my father said I should have been, and getting along with those who tried to do so with me. All because of her.

As I tucked in her tired body into bed, I swept her hair to the side and gently kissed her forehead.

He swore he would keep his heart close and protect her with the life of his that she changed for the better.

•

In the Hokage's office, one fine day when the birds outside are chirpping, and the warm sun shinning through the windows, giving the room a orange-yellow glow, fit for the land of fire ...

*BAM*

The door to the office slammed opened.

The ANBU's protecting (or lazing around) the Hokage went full alert, until they sensed another ANBU return signal through their tattoo, signaling them to stand down.

A little blond head, lighter than that of the Yondaime Hokage's zoomed through the room, followed by Kitsune.

The little yellow streak glomped onto the seated leader. "Niiniiniiniithankyouthankyoutwankyewww!!!"

"Iteiteiteitei! K-ka-kanako-chan, calm down!" Minato-nii squeaked out, while the ANBU's hiding around sweat-dropped as the daughter of the renowned most destructive sannin squished their Hokage, hoping that she has yet to reach the strength of her mother. But by the reaction of the Hokage, it seems that Kanako is almost halfway there at least.

Kanako released the poor Hokage from her vice-like grip and grinned up at him. "Minato-nii-sama! Thank you for assigning Ka - no, Kitsune to me! Weeeee ~!" She exclaimed as she started running about in circles around him and his desk.

"Hahaha! Kanako-chan", the laughing yellow flash started. "I felt that leaving him by your side is the best decision after all. By the way, what's with calling me sama? I'm still your Minato-nii, you know?"

"But, you're the Hokage now, Nii-sama! Unless you prefer me calling you Hokage-sama?" She shot back with an abhorrent look.

"Urkk ..." He deflated. "Okay okay, call me what you want then ..."

"Hai~! Minato-nii-sama! Ehehheh. Then, bye!" She zoomed back out.

Kitsune dashed away after her, but not before saluting his sensei.

"Sigh ...", Minato stared at the unclosed door. "What a bundle of joy ... I wonder if Kushina and I should get ready anytime soon ..." He looked into the distance with a faraway look.

"NUH! Nope nope nope!" He broke out of his dream state and vigorously shook his head to clear his thoughts. "Paperwork! Got to focus on the paperwork! Urgh ... damn the paperwork ."

•

"Ne, Kashi." Kanako murmured when piggybacked by Kitsune, jumping on roofs back to the Senju compound.

"Hm?"

"Should I enter the Academy early?"

"Early when?"

"Hn ... Four ."

"... Isn't that too early?"

"Itachi entered at four too ..."

"... You should ask Tsunade-hime."

"Kay ... Should I graduate early too?"

Kitsune pondered, "It probably should be fine. There's no war now, and you are a Senju. So it most likely won't be dangerous. Still ask Tsunade-hime though."

I agreed, and started pulling on Kitsune's wonderous gravity defying silver hair.

"Ne, Kashi. You should just remove the mask at home. It's not like we don't know who you are."

"I won't remove my mask in front of anyone!" He hastily replied.

"Not you mask 'mask', I meant your ANBU mask." I pouted.

"Oh." His ears turned red. Cute. "No. It come's with the job."

"Chet. Troublesome."

"Don't be a Nara."

And that's how our conversation of the day went back and forth on the way home.