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In all his time alive, he can’t remember the last time a mission left him this injured and exhausted.
If he’s honest it felt like instead of dealing with a shinobi with a kekkei genkai for explosions it felt more like he had a large smooth boulder rolled over him over and over. It did not help that his fellow Jonin had carried him so roughly and thus exacerbated the injuries.
Now here he is in the hospital, lying in a cozy bed and getting proper rest as he made sure his face was covered by the blankets. He sighed quietly as he closed his eyes as the sky outside darkened, signalling that visiting hours were over. His Ninken were watching the apartment as he stiffly rolled on to his side.
Sage of the afterlife, what did that akatsuki blonde idiot use to make those explosives? I can’t move without my limbs hurting. He sighed, finding it strange to be in this state. He doesn’t bounce back from battles as he once did…
“Wow. You remind me of an old man.”
Kakashi jumped and then instantly regretted it as it sent a jolt of pain up through him, “Uugh…” he looked over the top of the blanket..and then his eyes widened happily when he was greeted by a familiar face. Even with his hair trimmed short, his body a bit more filled out with muscle and dressed in a full leaf uniform instead of Anbu, he knew it was one of–number one in fact–his favorite people in the world.
“Heh…well well aren’t you a sight for these eyes? Hehehe…” he can’t help the giddiness that washes over him. It was almost tempting to pull down the blanket so he could get a better look, but he chose not to, “Hi Tenzo…”
“Ah, I go by Yamato now, senpai,” Yamato smiled at him as he pulled up a chair to sit beside him and smiled down at him like he was the one thing in the world that could make him this happy.
He huffed a little, “I think I prefer Tenzo if I’m being honest…”
“Too bad, it’s Yamato. You can call me that,” a small little branch grew from Yamato’s wrist and ever so lightly flicked the white haired injured man in the forehead.
Kakashi yelped before huffing, “No fun, no fun…Hmm.” he looked down a bit as he readjusted his position to get comfortable while keeping his face hidden still. He then blinked as a a hand gently stroked through his hair and he looked up with big eyes.
“Guess who is going to be leading your squad until you feel better?”
That makes him raise his brows as he slowly blinks at the other before he snorts, “I wish you all the good luck, my charges…they are quite the pieces of work. You’ll definitely be given a run for your money.”
“Trying to spook me, senpai?”
He snickered softly, feeling a little lighter even if a part of him admonishes him for being so…open. Vulnerable. He pushes the admonishments down to focus on the warm feeling of being around someone who understands how it feels to just float through life trying to survive.
If he hadn’t met Yamato when he did he wasn’t sure he would be where he is right now.
“Just giving a fair warning ... .you look well,” the copy ninja closed his eyes when Yamato knelt down beside the bed and rested his arms on the edge of the bed with his dark eyes looking into his white haired senpai’s, “You’ve been eating enough? You tend to push yourself too hard.”
A laugh answered him that made his heart flutter, “Yeah I have, I have. Been going to Ichiraku recently, they have pretty filling ramen bowls. Plus I wanted to familiarize myself with one of your student’s favorite foods so we can have something to talk about.”
Another chuckle left Kakashi, “As always, you’re doing a lot to prepare for taking over my squad…”
It was so nice. Just really really nice to be like this together. As if no time has passed between the time Kakashi left the anbu and now. Three years apart yet it felt as if they never happened, as if things were still like they were back then. Kakashi can’t remember the last time he felt so at ease around someone like this.
“You’re too kind, Senpai.”
“Me?” he tilted his head a bit under the blanket, “If anyone is the kind one it is you, Yamato.” he hummed softly, "Taking on two power houses as I’m recovering in the hospital like this?” he sighed as he rested his head back a moment as he closed his eyes.
“Well two power houses and a new member to make sure that they meet the squad requirement,” Yamato smiled down at him, resting his chin on his hand as if this was the most normal thing in the world for them to be like this.
It felt nice to feel normal. That Yamato visited him like this all the time even outside the hospital to check in on him. That despite how long they’ve been apart their bond was still as strong as ever and once this akatsuki business was taken care of and they get Sasuke to come back to the village he would love nothing more than to take their bond to a new level.
“...Thank you, Yamato.”
“Hmm? For what?”
Kakashi hummed with soft eyes at the other, “For visiting me. You always know how to make the day a little bit brighter and easier to deal with when I see you.”
The other blinked a bit in surprise before he chuckled and smiled back at him, “And you know how to make me feel hopeful even when I’m not sure about anything, so I owe you some thanks as well..”
He could feel his face heating up in the darkest blush he’s ever had under the soft blankets