Chapter Text
The sand was ice cold and rough between his toes, heavy from water and irritating. Blood seeped into the water, settling under the water, and viscously clung to the sand grains. Kakashi fell onto his side, weak from blood loss and chakra exhaustion, and tried not to think about how he was dying as the tide was steadily rising against him.
Albatrosses stood on the beach, thin and smoke like, solid black eyes that shined in the evening sun, wet and bleak. Bills clicked and clattered together as they chirped and made strange bubbling sounds. It was fitting that he’d die alone on a beach, surrounded by the sea birds that wouldn’t take notice of his remains. Not even decent scavengers were around to monopolize on his fresh remains.
It wasn’t until he finally noticed the tanned feet that came to a stop in front of his face. Those tanned feet were attached to legs, and Kakashi forced himself to roll onto his back. A bright smile greeted him, bright on the face of a beautiful man who was wearing nothing but a silken wrap around his hips, the deepest blue that seemed to have endless depth. Gold bangles and filigree cuffs rested on his arms which were thick. His skin glittered prettily in the sun, the color of copper.
“Oh- you’re dying, aren’t you?” The man asked in a laughing tone, his tan skin shone like gold in the sun, the bangles on his wrists clicked and clattered together like the bills of the birds that were scattered behind him. The man knelt beside him, watching him with eyes the color of wet humus that held the promise of life. A scar that ran the width of his cheeks sat under the lovely crinkles that formed at the corners of his eyes as he smiled.
Where the man touched him, it felt like the vague caress of warm bathwater on achy limbs, sweet and relaxing.
With half a mind, Kakashi barely registered that this was a spirit, an ocean spirit if the scent of salt heavy, algal water was any indication. His presence alternated between feeling placid and the wild rush of the great roiling waves of a sea in a storm.
“What is your name?” The sea spirit asked, placing his hands flat against Kakashi’s chest. The rattle in his chest soothed itself.
“’An’t tell you,” Kakashi bit out, wincing as the damage to his body seemingly reversed itself. Morbidly, he stared as one of the worst cuts on his arm knit itself back together.
The spirit seemed amused by his refusal, thankfully unoffended, “Shinobi…” he trailed off, voice faintly fond. “Always so secretive. Yet, you all wear your symbols so they can be easily seen. Even the ones who cut them, they keep them. So, Shinobi-san, be grateful and give me something to call you and I will give you something to call me.”
He tapped his forehead protector, laughing like a tinkling bell when the metal clinked.
It was the softest rebuke he’d ever heard. Kakashi sighed heavily, debating the pros and cons of giving the spirit what he’d asked for. It might be worth it in the future if the spirit decided he liked him. “Hatake.” He offered finally, appreciating how his pain dulled and lessened.
The sea spirit pulled him upright and cleaned sand out of his hair.
“Of the field,” the strange ocean spirit murmured, a finger under his lips, “Of the field,” he repeated a little louder, “I’ve never met one like you before.”
The spirit circled around him, grabbed one of his arms and folded their hands together, “Of the field as I am of the sea. You may call me Umino, if you please. And please do so. An Umino for a Hatake, the rise to a falling tide.” Umino laughed, the golden bangles on his wrists clicking in time with the bubbling albatrosses.
Thick, tan arms wound their way around him as the spirit pulled him up and into a hug. “I can be your pull to your push.” He spoke. “If you decide to let me.”
Kakashi shivered, his clothing soaked completely, and tried to escape the warm arms and their crushing brace. “I don’t understand,” he hedged, the blood loss slamming into him with full force now that his adrenaline was tapering off. His head felt floaty, but he knew that he had to get as far away from the coastline as he could. “I have to go now, sea spirit.”
“I’ll let you go if you call me the name I gave you,” the warm, shining man teased, smiling and swaying like the rippling surface of a disturbed lake.
Kakashi blinked, “Thank you for your help, Umino-san. I have to go now; I have people waiting on me.” He felt a hand cup his jaw, firm and warm in equal measure to its tenderness.
“Will I see you again, my field, my Hatake?”
He really didn’t have time for this. “Yes, yes.” He let his hands rest on the waist of the spirit, uneasy and hesitant. “You’re so beautiful.” Kakashi blurted suddenly, absorbed by how warm and pleasant he felt.
That was enough to please the spirit, because Umino sighed with a smile and fell away, dissolving from his arms like the softest loess in the gentlest breeze.
--
The next time Kakashi found himself on the coast of Fire, it was under nicer circumstances.
He was on the way home from a simple delivery mission since he’d been put on light duty only after tearing the tendons that ran along the back of his right leg, when he heard the familiar screaming calls of albatrosses trying to find their mates. Something made him decide to head towards the beach, something he wasn’t entirely sure what it was. A flock of the large white birds were gathered, biting moss and seaweed off of the beach to make nests, and holding their impressive wings out.
The lazy waves the lapped at the shore caressed his ankles, his sandals a safe distance away so that they wouldn’t get wet. Staring out at the ocean, he let his eyes slide shut, and just let himself feel the cool and moist wind on himself.
“Hello, my Hatake,” a cheerful voice called from somewhere behind him.
Kakashi turned around and watched as the familiar spirit walked down the beach, holding a fistful of dark blue fabric up so that it wouldn’t touch the waves. He looked gorgeous, all soft hued from the golden sun, face framed by deep brown hair that seemed to shift and float. Strands stuck to his cheek, wet from sea water.
“Hello,” Kakashi greeted, “How did you find me again?”
Umino laughed, hot like sandstone that had been warmed all day by crisp summer heat, joyous and spirited. Kakashi wanted nothing more than to wrap himself up with that bright warmth that Umino seemed to absorb in droves. He wanted just a taste of that happiness.
“Do you still think I’m beautiful?” Umino asked instead, deliberately avoiding the question.
“It’s rude to ignore a question,” Kakashi said, tucking his hands into his pockets. “Maybe I should say no now.”
The spirit approached him, raising his eyebrow in a very human like display of amusement, “That’s a yes hidden in there if you should say no. It’s better to be truthful to me, you know.”
Warily, Kakashi took a half step back. Spirits were fickle and shrewd in equal measure, teasing one hadn’t been the best idea, but it had felt so natural. “I apologize, Umino-san. Yes, you are just as beautiful as the first time I saw you.”
“Teasing for teasing,” Umino said, “Field for a sea.” He flapped his hand dismissively.
Umino came even closer, pressed into his personal space, and bumped their cheeks together. Kakashi stopped himself from squirming in discomfort, unused to the calm invasion into his bubble. Most of his fellow shinobi gave him as much space as he wanted, Gai never included in what was typical, and never had anyone been so casual about it. Warmth settled on his cheek where Umino had touched him.
He grabbed the spirit by his upper arms and tugged him away softly. A wide and soft smile was on the spirits face, slightly dazed as if he was daydreaming. “I have a gift for you.”
“Really?” Kakashi asked, a mix of wariness and curiosity bursting in his mind.
“Here, my Hatake,” Umino slipped one of his bangles from his wrist, beautiful, gleaming gold encrusted with dark blue gems, “For you. Keep it with you and I will always find you.”
Kakashi hesitantly accepted it, felt the rough texture of the raw gemstones before tucking it into one of the pockets of his vest.
“What do you want for this?” He asked.
Umino did laugh then, soft like the mist from a waterfall, “You’re so suspicious. What else should I have expected from a shinobi? How about this, Hatake, my field, my land,” he boldly stroked Kakashi’s face, “A kiss as a token.”
“You’d have to have your eyes closed,” Kakashi said. He half raised a hand, feeling weirdly calm and relaxed for someone who’d just been asked to kiss a spirit for an equal trade for a token of protection.
Umino smiled softly, “Whatever you want or need.”
Permission granted, Kakashi settled his palm and fingers over Umino’s eyes, ensured that the spirit couldn’t peek, and tugged his facemask down around his neck. An albatross raised its head and screamed. Kakashi leaned forward and brushed his lips against Umino’s soft, salt flavored mouth. Closed mouthed at first until Umino slipped out his tongue, brushed it against his, and then they were kissing- wet and messily as Umino took control. They broke apart for air, and Kakashi jerked his mask back over his face, letting his hand fall in the process. Umino’s cheeks were slightly reddened, but he looked pleased.
“Be safe, blessed,” Umino whispered, leaned forward, and bumped their foreheads together lightly. The spirit’s lips settled against his closed eyelid in a final farewell.