Work Text:
“The Christmas Angel”
It was a cold December day the night he lost his mom. Truth be told, Kakashi barely remembered her. He could only recall this melody that his father said she would hum to him when he was scared or sick. Then one day he never heard that melody again. His dad tried but he was a horrible singer and it occasionally gave him more nightmares than soothing him. Kakashi couldn’t explain why he didn’t care for Christmas as much as he did. So he just assumed his mother’s death was the reason. This Christmas and the ones after would change all of that…
It was the academy’s Christmas party, and he found himself a bit perplexed at the attitudes of the class. Only two people had gotten Obito a gift for Christmas. They called him a loser and worthless, but Kakashi doubted that was the real reason for their resentment toward him. He looked at his desk packed full with stuff before picking his favorites out of the bunch and walking over to him. Sure they had some sort of rivalry but this was the gifting season right? So he figured their rivalry could be pushed aside for at least this holiday.
“Hey. I have more than enough to play with. You can have these. My dad got me most of them last year.”
“I don’t want your pity.”
“It’s not pity… I just don’t want two sets. Besides, if you cry it will just make the floor wet and I just got these clothes,” Kakashi shrugged, acting like he usually did with Obito so he would take the gifts.
“Who gave you gifts,” he added and raised an eyebrow when he pulled them closer to himself.
“No one.”
“I am not going to take them, Obito…”
Who would take gifts from him, is this what the academy really was? A place where the low man on the totem pole got kicked around like an unwanted dog?
“I know you won’t take them… But the clan.”
“You are part of a clan and they treat you like this?”
“The Uchiha to be exact…,” Obito scowled as if saying that name would bring a curse upon him..
There it was, it was because he was an Uchiha that he was treated this way. No, that can’t be right because Itachi and Shisui were a grade or two lower and people adored them… Was his own clan shunning him? Shisui, he knew would never do that and maybe Itachi, but the rest of them? He wasn’t holding his breath.
“My parents are dead and the clan says my grandma is too old to care for me anymore. So I have no place to go, but to the orphanage and they end up under Danzo. Have you seen that old freak? He makes Orochimaru look like a saint.”
Kakashi was going to say something else, but the bell rang and Obito was gone. He carefully bagged his gifts and walked out running to his dad who picked him up.
“Hey dad. Why does everyone like being mean to the underdog?”
“What brought this on Kakashi?”
“There’s a boy in my class… He’s an orphan and everyone is so mean to him. I don’t understand.”
“I see. Kakashi sometimes people are cruel to things they do not understand. It can be because it’s just easier or it could be they just don’t know what to say.”
“Can I do the Christmas Angels this year?”
“You want to help someone less fortunate.”
“You do it every year dad and you always do it alone. I can do it now right? I am old enough.”
“Yes I suppose you are,” Sakumo chuckled as they continued their walk through the village…
The Konoha Christmas tree was always a marvel to see. It sat in the middle of the village with its array of lights, ornaments, garland, and other decorations, but Kakashi’s favorite thing about that tree was the angel at the top, her hands cupping a star as if it was her most prized possession. For the first time in a long time, he felt the magic Christmas always possessed had filled him once more. The young boy wasted no time getting off of his father to flip over each paper angel.
“Are you looking for that boy you were talking about?”
“Yeah. His has to be on here still.”
“I’ll help you look. What’s his name?”
“Obito. Obito Uchiha,” Kakashi answered and his father froze for a moment.
“Dad?”
“I-I’m fine Kakashi. Let’s find that angel,” Sakumo answered, ruffling the boy’s hair affectionately.
They looked for several minutes when Kakashi triumphantly held up the paper angel in his hand.
“I found it!”
“Well, let’s see what he wants for Christmas,” his father smiled, but his smile faded when his son’s face turned somber.
“What’s the matter Kashi,” he added.
“How do you give someone a family for Christmas? He belongs to a clan… I know they treat him differently, but… Surely they wouldn’t leave him alone on Christmas right dad?”
“One would think. To answer your first question, many people adopt children and bring them into their family.”
“Then we can adopt Obito!”
“You want us to be his family?”
“Not just me but mom would want us to too!”
“You are right. She would. I tell you what I will talk to the Hokage tomorrow and while you are at the academy invite him over to our home,” Sakumo smiled once more at his son’s kind heart before picking the boy up and they headed home…
The academy bullies were at it again, always reminding Obito that he was dead last.
“That’s enough! Obito didn’t do anything to you so stop it,” Rin yelled standing in front of Obito shielding him. Her brown eyes shining with her anger quickly closed when she saw the hand coming toward her. It never made contact. She opened them to see a girl with pink hair had caught the fist, she spun and slammed him into the ground.
“Didn’t you hear her? She said that was enough,” the girl crossed her arms, her bright green eyes narrowed into slits.
“That’s Tsunade’s kid. She’s usually so quiet.”
“I heard she’s staying with Kushina while Tsunade and Jiraiya are gone.”
“The fox witch?! Seriously,” the whispers circulated around them. One glare from her silenced them all, she turned toward Rin and Obito with a smile.
“They should leave you alone now,” she said and walked inside without a backwards glance. Kakashi watched her go with curiosity and a dash of awe…
It was spar day… Normally Kakashi looked forward to that day. He was usually put up against someone like Asuma or Gai, but he felt like he swallowed a chunk of lead. They had pinned him up against Obito instead… The very boy he wanted to help. He knew that this match up was a setup judging by the evil grin on the instructor’s face. Probably for what happened earlier. He briefly wondered why Obito was being punished for something Sakura had done.
He had no time to dwell on that because the call to begin was sounded and he and Obito began their spar. He had to admit that the boy had mad skills. If they were honed then Kakashi would only ever spar with him. He was his equal through and through no matter that he came out on top and the snickers that followed after the spar ended. He made his way over to Obito.
“My dad is going to adopt you,” he said, watching with mild fascination at the emotions that ran across those ink black eyes.
Kakashi held out his hand to Obito. It wasn’t the young Uchiha’s fault his parents died and the old lady who was caring for him was no longer able to. Sometimes academy kids were just mean. Like his father had told him sometimes people act cruelly, it’s because they don’t understand and it’s just easier.
“You… You are serious? Your dad wants to adopt me?”
“That’s what I said wasn’t it? Are you coming home with me and my dad or not Obito?”
“Y-yeah. I’ll come Bakash… I mean Kakashi,” Obito said with a light tinge of pink to his cheeks, reaching his hand up and gripping the silver-haired child’s hand. There was a brief pause between them before both their lips pulled into a grin. They may have not been blood related, but at that moment they became brothers…
Obito was in awe of Sakumo. He had never met a kinder man and loving parent like he was. His ink black eyes held so much adoration for him. He was what the Uchiha would have considered weak, but he only looked like the strongest man in the world. Their dad had come home from a mission and looked a bit worse for wear. He looked like he was ready to give up for reasons unknown to the young boys. Kakashi and himself would do all they could to lighten up the load on their dad who was raising two prepubescent boys after all. Sakumo was often asked how he was holding up… Instead of looking exhausted with a small reply, “I am managing”. This time the smiles reached his wisdom filled gray eyes and he would say he was never better. It was all thanks to his sons who healed his heart and gave him the strength to face the new day.
When it was discovered that the mission request was a set up by enemy ninja to assassinate the White Fang of Konoha to weaken the village’s military might since the three Sannin had left Konoha had already weakened it some. Especially when a mission went south. Danzo wanted to blame their dad for the mission failure, but the village refused to believe the words of that rat bastard. Much to Kakashi and Obito’s relief…
Obito and Kakashi ended up on a team together with Minato as their sensei… Kakashi was actually happy to have his brother on a team with him. Ever since the day he brought him home and his dad adopted him… They had been inseparable, always sparing and hanging out. Rin would tag along when her family didn’t have clan meetings. It was obvious to Kakashi that his brother liked her a lot.
“What are you doing?”
“Ah! Nothing,” Obito fumbled the photograph before clutching it to him as if it were a lifeline.
“You are being weird again,” Kakashi sighed and gave a bored look when he was hit with a pillow…
Obito waved his hand in front of his brother’s face.
“Kakashi. Earth to Kakashi. FIRE,” Obito yelled, making Kakashi look around before he glared at his brother.
“That was rude.”
“What was rude was ignoring Rin and I. What were you looking at so intensely?”
“N-Nothing.”
“You stuttered,” Obito teased and his eyes went to where his brother’s gaze went to every now and then still.
“Ah, Sakura Senju. Daughter of Tsunade and Jiraiya. She’s cute.”
“She’s not just cute. She’s beautiful and unique… She has the highest grades in the academy next to mine. Now she is a Jonin like me too.”
“Then go say hi.”
“What?! No,” Kakashi yelled.
The whole area became quiet and stared at him. He chuckled nervously and scratched the back of his head before using his other hand to slap the back of Obito’s head when he snickered.
“You have been crushing on her since she manhandled those kids.”
“I-I have no idea what you are talking about.”
“Aw Kakashi! That’s so sweet! She and I volunteer at the hospital sometimes. I can talk to her for you.”
“I already know. Every Thursday until nine at night.”
“How did you…”
“Because he stalks her.”
“I do not! Obito!”
“Relax Bakashi. Some girls find that eerily endearing. As long as you have the purest of intentions. Ow! Geez Rin what was that for?!”
“For teasing your brother.”
“You have no idea what he puts me through sometimes,” he grumbled rubbing the back of his head.
“What I put you through? I don’t do anything. It’s not my fault you get caught…”
“Okay! That’s enough out of you,” Obito slapped a hand over Kakashi’s mouth while Rin gave them a confused look…
Kakashi was the first one to leave the training area to avoid his brother’s attempts at flirting which went right over Rin’s head at times… Or maybe she just didn’t know what he was saying. He turned the corner and almost ran into someone.
“Sorry about that,” a feminine voice spoke and Kakashi became rigid and his masked face barely contained his blush. There was the girl that invaded his thoughts. A human cherry blossom angel…
“Hey are you okay,” she asked, and he shook his head to focus.
“Yeah I am fine.”
“Oh good. I was afraid you would be afraid of me too. You know since the Fox Witch watches over me.”
“Fox Witch?”
“Kushina.”
“Oh you mean the red hot habanero.”
“That’s what old people call her. Why do you hide your face?”
“Why do I wear my mask?”
“Yeah. Do you have blimp lips?”
“No…”
“Buck teeth?”
“No.”
“Tiny mouth?”
“Hahaha… No.”
“Don’t want to tell me?”
“Maybe when we are older and you can handle it,” he put his arms behind his head to play cool. He had seen Obito act this way and it made him look suave… The same should go for him right?
“I beg your pardon,” her eyes narrowed and Kakashi backed up a little. There was that legendary Senju temper.
“It was a joke I swear,” he threw his hands up in surrender.
She crossed her arms, her green eyes boring into his gray eyes.
“A joke? So then you will tell me?”
“Not exactly… How about a deal?”
“A deal huh? What kind of deal?”
“When you make Jonin… I will show you my face as a promotional gift.”
“Hmm… And if you back out?”
“If I back out then I will do whatever you want me to for a week,” he negotiated and swallowed hard when there was an evil smirk there on her lips.
“Deal Kakashi…,” she held out her hand. He chuckled nervously as he gripped her hand and their hands shook…
Kakashi and Obito were heading to the village center, with the taller of the two grinning.
“I saw you back there. Playing it cool. Now look at you. You look pale as a ghost… I bet your palms are sweaty too.”
“I am not. I am as cool as a cucumber.”
“Sure you are… Look! There’s Sakura,” Obito yelled and laughed when his brother began looking for her.
“So damn gullible,” he shook his head, his shoulder still shaking with laughter.
“Let’s just go meet up with dad at the tree.”
“Aww Kakashi. Don’t be like that. Maybe she will be there and see that you are truly a shy boy.”
“Obito. I will send my hounds after you,” Kakashi growled.
“Speaking of hounds… Hey dad,” Obito greeted Sakumo.
Sakumo eyed his boys for a moment. There was something cooking in Obito’s head.
“What is it, Obito?”
“I want a cat.”
“A cat?”
“Yes, a cat.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea with Kakashi’s hounds…”
“That’s the point! He has a pack of dogs. So, by default I can get a cat.”
“Obito… You know that’s selfish right? Dogs and cats do not like each other. You will make it to where the cat would just suffer.”
“Kakashi, are you implying that you can’t control your hounds?”
“He got you there Kashi,” Sakumo laughed.
“We’ll see Obito. Now let’s pick a Christmas Angel from the tree,” he added with a kind smile.
Obito looked through each paper angel dangling from the tree. It had been a few years since he filled out one on a whim and gained a family with the Hatakes. He was forever grateful to them for that. He flipped over the next one and froze before he released a hearty laugh. He ran to his brother Kakashi.
“You… Hahaha… You gotta read this,” he wheezed through his laughter. Kakashi took the paper and read it.
“Help Minato Namikaze grow a pair and ask Kushina out. S-Sakura,” Kakashi choked up. His own laughter bubbling up from his throat.
“Leave it to the Senju to be brash as hell. You have your handful Bakashi.”
“I know,” Kakashi grinned happily…
Kakashi had gotten looped into the schemes of Obito, Rin, and Sakura. If anyone accused him of going along with it because the latter was in on it, he would deny it even as his cheeks reddened. That was the day he met Jiraiya while they snuck a love letter from ‘Minato’ into Kushina’s mailbox.
“You like my kid huh? You know what comes out of having a crush on someone? You know the birds and the bees?”
“What?”
“You know the first comes love then comes marriage…”
“Are you really an adult? We were taught sexual education before we took the Chunin Exam.”
“That young huh… Damn Hiruzen… Here read this. It’ll help you when you don’t know what to say.”
“Icha Icha… I don’t want this garbage.”
“It is a literary masterpiece! One of my best!”
“Why am I just hearing about it then?”
“Brat… Just read it. It will help you later.”
“Whatever Toadman,” Kakashi put the orange book in his pouch…
The threat of war had been whispered in the winds over the next few months, but thanks to Hiruzen listening to Inoichi, Shikaku, and Sakumo. It was avoided for the time being and the village was settling into the coming fall that would bring Christmas right behind it. He was glad to not have to go to war. A few months later Sakura had left with her parents to go train, he was glad that she got to see Minato and Kushina get married and Obito finally got a black cat much to his hounds’ chagrin…
Obito had somehow gotten the courage to ask Rin out and they had been inseparable since. Sometimes Kakashi did get upset that he was the third wheel at times, but that was forgotten when he started bringing his hounds to the park or to the training grounds. He was then thrown into Anbu after Minato became the Fourth Hokage and was training Shisui and Itachi Uchiha. Kushina was now expecting and made Rin, Obito, and himself the guardians of the unborn child. A job he took to heart and shadowed her every move. The last time he took his eyes off his mother she was gone… He would be damned if that happened again…
The Uchiha clan was also planning a coup, thanks to Shisui confiding in him and Obito. They were able to help them put an end to it before it even began. They had even discovered it was all planned by Danzo. Itachi was miffed at him about using his best friend as bait but it worked out right? It’s not like he and Obito were going to let Danzo hurt him. Even though legally he was a Hatake, his clan had finally come to accept him. Filling the void that Obito didn’t even know he had. Kakashi liked to think it was because of him and his dad that he didn’t ever feel that cold edge of loneliness for long…
Upon Sakura’s return, she made Jonin. She had yet to approach him about the deal they had made two years and a half ago… He recalled the embarrassment he put himself through not being able to speak when she walked through the gates. In a red top with the Senju crest, a pink medic skirt, short spandex shorts, and knee high boots. Her hair in twin braids swaying behind her, her bangs still framing her soft beautiful features. Those vivid green eyes had not changed since he last saw her. He couldn’t even form a coherent sentence and wanted to throttle himself even as Obito snickered at him. He still couldn’t believe the only thing he said to her that made sense was ‘yo’...
Sakumo looked at his son from across the table. He turned to his other son.
“Obito. What’s the matter with him?”
“He was a nervous stuttering mess in front of his crush today.”
“Oh? Who’s the young lady?”
“Sakura Senju.”
“Tsunade’s daughter huh? Since when?”
“The academy.”
“I just love how you two are ignoring my presence.”
“Kashi don’t be like that. You know… I was very nervous when I met your mother.”
“You were?”
“I sure was. I couldn’t talk to her at all. She was from a clan in the Land of Snow. She had this beautiful platinum hair and these blue eyes that reminded me of the ocean in Kiri.”
“How did you manage to tell her how you felt?”
“I actually didn't. It was my team captain and former sensei Kagami that did it.”
“Kagami Uchiha…”
“The very one. He marched right over to her and confessed for me. I had never been so embarrassed in my whole life,” their father smiled at them.
He was reading the book Jiraiya gave him when Sakura finally approached him.
“It seems my dad was able to get someone from my generation to read that smut garbage,” she said and Kakashi nearly jumped out of his skin. His cheeks reddened and he put it away quickly.
“It doesn’t make much sense I will admit… Some of it seems far fetched,” he chuckled nervously, he must have not been very convincing judging by the look she was giving him. He was not going to go into that the book had him imagining the two of them in some of those scenarios.
“Most of it is. I swear mom will kill him before long. Putting their life in that book like he does.”
‘T-Their life,” he felt like he got hit with a bucket of ice water.
She sat down on the tree next to him and looked out across the field.
“Yeah. I thought everyone knew honestly. We haven’t had time to just talk, you and I… I didn’t forget the deal we made you know? I just was really busy helping mom straighten up the hospital and get the staff properly trained.”
“I knew you wouldn’t forget. I didn’t either.”
“I figured you wouldn’t.”
“You did huh?”
“You were always someone who kept their word,” she smiled.
The air left Kakashi’s lungs the minute her attention was turned to him.
“I am? I mean. I do. It’s a part of my Will of Fire.”
“Very noble of you. So… Are you going to show me what this mask hides,” she questioned her hand cupping his cheek, her thumb grazing over his lips. He swallowed the lump that formed in his throat and nodded. His fingers hooked into his mask and slowly pulled it down. His face became redder and redder as her eyes roamed each part of the flesh he exposed. When the mask was off his face he looked anywhere but at her.
She gripped his face and made him look at her.
“You don’t have to hide from me. How can someone be so beautiful?”
“W-What?”
“You heard me,” she smiled. He was in shock and honestly thought this was not real. That he was in one of the many dreams he had dreamed about them before.
“I…”
“I know you like me.”
“H-How?”
“Obito told me. Saying something about keeping a Hatake tradition going,” she explained and he groaned in frustration
Apparently, Obito had taken it upon himself to take a page out of Kagami’s book and told his crush how he felt about her.
“I am going to kill him.”
“Why? He was just trying to help you.”
“More like having ammunition against me.”
“I met your dad too.”
“Oh dear God no…”
“Relax Kakashi. Your dad is such a kind man.”
“He is but he was just ‘helping’ too, right?”
“He was. To be honest, he was doing a better job than Obito was.”
“I seriously have my doubts about that.”
“Are we just going to talk about how I found out or are you going to kiss me Hatake? Because I like you too.”
Her face inched closer to his and another bout of nervousness filled him. The closer she came, the worse that it got. He felt the electric shock run over his body and fire fill his veins as his heart pounded in his chest the moment her lips pressed against his own. His fingers slid into her hair, his head tilted as some confidence filled him, deepening the kiss they shared…
Sakumo watched them from afar pulling an old paper angel from the pouch on his vest. He read over the request with a growing smile:
Lilija Hatake
Christmas Wish: For my son to find the love of his life like I found mine…
He kissed the paper before placing it back in its place…
The End