15 Fondness (1/2)

Recovering wasn't really the issue right now—it's when I'd be able to get out and see Shisui. I still don't know what happened to him, or what will happen to him. I knew he was still conscious when the Shiro guy was talking about the reborn shit, which I'm still trying to figure out who on earth is behind the information, so he'll definitely be in danger holding that data—even if he waves it off as an absurd story.

Whatever would people think if they hear of my story coming from another world? People might think that I do not, will not ever belong in this world.

Oh, if I didn't have common sense in the back of my mind, and if he wasn't really Shisui, I don't mind him dying. But the thing is, he is. I'm not an idiot to let a very important person die just because of me. I sighed. I really hate hospitals. I'm confined in a small place and have no freedom until I get better. I want to see the damned crow right now.

It's been almost a week too.

The door opened as I leaned on the hard hospital pillow, taking my attention and my thoughts off of my head—for now. I was greeted by a worrisome gaze coming from a white-haired woman, kaa-san. She smiled warmly, bringing in a bouquet of flowers to the bedside table near the window. ”From Ino.” She simply stated, taking the seat next to the bed, I nodded.

She smiled, placing her hand over her lips, letting out a soft chuckle, ”You're just like Kashi-kun, you know? He hates—no, despises hospitals.” She seemed like she's recalling some worthwhile memories, smiling as she shares them to me. ”He hates the medical smell… the way the staffs confines him in a room…” She trailed off, her brown, greyish stare falling onto mine. ”You don't say a single word, but your eyes do tell me every single thing. You're my son, after all.”

My eyes widened at her words, tears dwelling at the edge of my eyes. Right. I'm her son. I was born—no, reborn here for a reason. Maybe. My words remained unspoken, but my thanks reached her, seeing that she had placed her hand over mine.

”I know how badly you wanted to see Karasu, no, Shisui-kun…” I perked up at her words, blinking away the tears in my eyes. ”I… He's… he's doing okay.” She smiled, looking at the bouquet of flowers she had brought me, ”The very first thing he wanted to know when he woke up was your condition… though his is rather worse than yours.” She started arranging the flowers into a white vase, pouring water into it. ”I'm proud at the both of you. He told me how you fought bravely—as reckless as his captain, your uncle.” She chuckled, a sigh leaving her lips.

Kakashi? Oh, yeah… where is he? I've never seen him ever since I woke up. ”Where is he? Uncle Kakashi, I mean…” I need to thank him.

”He's with Shisui-kun… that child needed a bit of scolding because of his recklessness. Of course, that goes for you as well.” I swear I saw a smile on her face just now.

Kaa-san, what the heck?

I shivered, ”R-Right…”

Kaa-san's scary all of a sudden. Is my family full of sadistic bunch or what? First was Kakashi, now my mother. The next thing I'll see is that my father's one of them too—and I don't want that as a reality. Fuck, my fam's a bunch of scary individuals, though their looks can really be deceiving. Soon, I won't realise that I've become one of them too.

Or is it just because she's a Hatake? I'm seeing a blurred pattern here.

”That can wait for now.” Kaa-san smiled, standing and placing her hand on her bulging belly, ”I know you're eager to see the hasty crow.” She reached out her hand, ”Let's go.”

I'm more than happy to hear her say that—well, happier that I've dodged the bullet, aka kaa-san's scolding. I immediately stood up, ignoring my casted left arm before running next to her and taking her hand with my right one. She assisted me and led me to wherever the crow was.

Along the way, we were greeted by smiles and waves. It might've been just their way of respect (because Japanese people are the bestest), but their eyes were definitely looking up to kaa-san. I snagged a glance at her as she smiled back to the people.

'Just who on earth is kaa-san?' I thought. Her smile sure is scarier than Unohana's from Bleach when you get to her bad side—which I'm hanging over by a thin thread right now. I don't want that thread to break… I need to be careful from now on if I don't want that to happen.

”Here we are.” Kaa-san's voice made me look up to her, realising that we've already reached the room the crow's resting in. ”Though, I have to leave for a moment, okay? Your tou-san's gonna pick you up here later on.” She smiled, patting my head before knocking. ”'Kashi-kun, Ori-kun's here. I'm leaving him to you.” She smiled before turning away and leaving me in the hall, letting her unspoken words of, ”Don't ever let that happen again,” flow in her tone.

”Kami… neesan's scary…” Kakashi opened the door, letting out a breath that he seemed to have been holding. ”Then,” He sighed, calling me in with his eye smile, ”come in.”

I was greeted with a wave from a young man lying on a hospital bed. The light behind him shone upon him, inviting me to approach him and dive in with a hug. I'm too relieved that he's safe that I moved without thinking, now hugging him with my one working arm. Tears erupted from my eyes, but I kept my face burrowed into his chest.

Ah~… pathetic me. Can you believe that? A, what, now mentally 32-year old crying over someone? Well, I'm in a four year old's body after all… maybe it's also affecting my mind.

”Now I'm jealous.” I heard the scarecrow mutter under his breath, crossing his arms. ”My own nephew doesn't hug me like that, and he loves someone more over me?” Oh, drama queen.

I sniffed and pulled myself up, meeting the warm gaze coming from Shisui. I then glared at my dramatic uncle, ”Shut up…” I pouted (pouted? Seriously? I'm disgusted—), sluggishly wiping the tears from my reddened cheeks.

”Uwa—I didn't actually think you'll cry…!” Kakashi approached the both of us, taking a handkerchief from his pockets and using it to wipe my tears away. He then smiled, ”I know you're just worried but,” he lightly punched Shisui on his shoulder, ”this young man right here is tougher than you think, am I right, Shisui-kun?”

”Itte—” The young man swatted away the scarecrow's hand, ”That hurt 'ya know, captain…” He then sighed, ruffling my silver hair, ”That's right. I wasn't called Shunshin no Shisui for nothing, little Ori.”

I looked down as my small body sat on his lap, still feeling a bit guilty because he got hurt because of me. His finger brushed on my chin, making me look up. He then flicked my forehead with his fingers, which only hurt. ”Ow—” I covered my forehead with my uninjured hand.

”Come on now,” He smiled, closing his eyes and tilting his head to the side, ”that won't happen next time, okay? I promise that.” He then chuckled, placing his hand onto my right shoulder, ”Honestly, you're just like my little brother back at home.” He opened his eyes, his pupils glistening in amusement, ”You both are tiny, but both have the guts to fight.”

Little brother? I wouldn't call Itachi tiny though…

”You basically remind me of him.” He ended, ruffling my hair again, now into a complete mess. ”You wouldn't mind if I call you my little bro, right?”

Oh please—”No! Not at all.” I forced a smile on my shaking lips, ”Shisui-niisan!”

__________

He doesn't know why, but it was rather uplifting to know that the little silver-haired toddler was alright. Shisui was—still is, very fond of Orion probably because of the fact that the young lad reminds him of someone, and something very important: Itachi, and that there's no problem that couldn't be solved by perseverance.

Hell, Orion actually finally finished the jutsu he's been working on then and there. He remember how the young child would constantly fall from the heavens (literally) just because he kept going on about this ”shadow step” thing he's trying to perfect from the last few months ever since he's been with him.

The lad's been asking tips on him, and Shisui's really glad he had helped. The child might've actually taken a bit of idea from the after-images he saw from the fight—he became so fast that even the Shunshin master didn't even see him. Orion literally combined Shunshin and his very own ”Shadow Step” in one move. How? Shisui doesn't know, but he knows that Orion is a very fast learner.