I just realized…based on the story we hear him tell Momijikawa (which, we can assume was told the same way he told everyone on the rooftop), Sakura hasn’t actually told anyone about The Shed:
Like, he tells them about his emotional experiences around being/feeling isolated, and the bullying of other kids but…he was also abused. He was straight up abused by the adults in his life.
I NEED HIM TO TELL SOMEONE ABOUT THE SHED. I NEED HIM TO. I NEED SOMEONE TO TELL HIM THAT WAS NOT OKAY.
If his reaction to Kiryu living outside the main house (chapter 172) at his family property is any indication, it does not clock to him enough how Not Okay that was
Author’s Notes: This fic is completely self-indulgent and I honestly just go where Kakashi wants to go. If you want to know his plans, hit me up in the ask box to ask the Picking Up characters your questions!
part i - part ii - part iii - part iv - part v
in which Kakashi visits some old friends
“All this, for a woman? Why, Kakashi, you’re much more of a romantic than I thought!”
Kakashi fought not to sigh heavily at the face of Jiraiya’s heavy laughter, inwardly glad at his choice of place to meet. At least, here, in the private rooms of a traditional restaurant, nobody is else is disturbed by his lawyer’s bellows.
When Jiraiya’s laughter tapers off, he leans forward and opens the folders Kakashi tossed him earlier. Quickly scanning it, he whistles at the amount of wealth Sakumo left his wayward son. He’s known of it, given his position as Kakashi’s lawyer but facing it on paper is an entirely different thing. The Hatake may not be as known as the Uchiha and Senju, but that’s where exactly their strength lies.
Sure, the family has long since scattered to the winds, taking on different names, marrying into different families, proliferating in different industries. And yet, still, the Hatake blood runs true and loyalty is given when it’s deserved.
And Kakashi’s more than deserving.
All things look good, until a particular property catches his eye. The Hatake Manor. “Are you sure about this one, Kakashi?”
Knowing what exactly Jiraiya’s referring to, Kakashi buys time and pours them both two cups of tea. Its smell calming the slight tremor in his hands. “Which one are you referring to?”
Jiraiya clucks his tongue and picks up his cup, the sleeves of his haori brushing against the low table. “The Hatake Manor, you brat. You want to renovate it? Are you planning on selling it?”
Whether or not he is, is not Jiraiya’s business. He could already think of so many people foaming at their mouths at the thought of acquiring the mountain property, regardless of the dark history that shadows it.
Behind his own cup of tea, Kakashi shakes his head, thinking back to the velvet box in his mother’s safe. “No, I’m not selling it.”
Jiraiya raises a white eyebrow, oh? “Planning on going back home, kid?”
Kakashi shrugs, “Maybe.”
The face of the elder man across him shifts for quick second into something so soft, it would’ve made Kakashi uncomfortable, and yet, it’s much appreciated.
“That’s good, kid.”
Kakashi nods, shrugging. “So... when’s the next Icha Icha coming out?”
Here’s the thing, long before Sakura came back to his life, Kakashi has already resigned himself to perpetual bachelorhood. Partly due to his sort-of former job, which, in hindsight, he couldn’t entirely leave behind due to its very nature.
The plan was to grow old (if he could), retire from teaching, adopt more senior dogs and quietly retire in one of his hideouts - ehem- getaways.
But well, life and love get in the way. So here he is, in front of an old friend, trying hard not to flinch under her glare.
“Well, well, well. Look what the dogs dragged in - another dog. What brings you to our neighborhood, Scarecrow?” Anko crosses her arms over her chest as she leans forward from behind the counter of the unsuspecting yami-kawaii store.
Not minding the eyes from the shadows trained on his head Kakashi pulls out an envelope from his coat and slides it forward to Anko.
Anko takes it, the safety pins of her bracelet quietly tinkling in the empty store. “You getting married? Who did you kidnap?” she jibes, disbelief in her tone. Anko and her obsession with bride kidnappings, sheesh.
From out of the shadows, Genma steps out and leans over Anko’s shoulder. His eyebrows furrowed at the writing before smoothing out in understanding. He looks up to his old friend and raises an eyebrow, “Seriously? An Uchiha’s ex? Of all people?”
Kakashi shrugs, “Love is blind.” he says, pointedly looking at Genma. Anko sneers at him, humor alight in her dark eyes. Well, that’s a good sign. “And I’m not getting married” yet, “I’m just getting things settled.”
“For marriage.” Genma laughs, “I never thought I’d see the day. Where are you heading next?”
“Aoba, probably. I need help with the accounts.”
Anko tosses him a card, “The darks or the whites?”
Honestly? “Both.” Grey eyes glance at the card before dunking it into Anko’s waiting glass of iced tea. The card disintegrates into ashes in less than a second.
Anko hums and as if hearing her speak, Genma nods. Kakashi wonders if one day he and Sakura would be able to communicate like that too. Ah, he’s so deep, it’s comical.
“You carrying?” Genma asks, ask he walks back into the storage room. Without waiting for his friend’s answer, he emerges back with a suitcase. “Got your favorites in there, Kami knows Aoba’s gonna shoot you because of that incident in ‘06.”
Kakashi grimaces at the thought, phantom pains on his shoulder blooming. He takes the suitcase and offers the two a salute, oh well, can’t afford to be picky - he’s gonna need all the help he could get for the proposal.
also today we actually went to the place we went to because supposedly there are two sakura trees there somewhere and they’re in bloom right now and we wanted to watch but we didn’t find them
oh well
looked at some fat squirrels and birds in a mini zoo instead
And so! We wait a week. But seriously guys, Sasuke isn't gonna die so don't freak out >< I can't tell the future but I have more then enough confidence to say that panel was not his last x).
