Disclaimer: See the first page.

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Before the sun has risen, Lori was already up… Not that she was able to sleep after musing the remainder of the night. Her mind is hazy, wishing that this was all a dream. But… that's what she also wished when everyone realized they cannot find Lincoln that fateful day.

Despite wanting to wallow in her sorrow some more, it won't be fair for her parents who she can smell making breakfast. 'Maybe they can let us skip school… Just for today.'

Finally getting up, Lori met a downtrodden Luan who was waiting outside the bathroom. Exiting it was a just as unhappy Luna. "Well… At least bro cleaned up before hitting the road."

"Yeah…, he made a clean getaway. Get it?" Luan tried but her heart wasn't into it. The one-arm hug showed how her rocker of a sister appreciated the effort.

At the other end of the hall was Leni who is trying her best to comfort the twins. The crying and finding Lincoln's room empty confirmed her feared prediction.

"Why?! Why didn't you ask him to stay?! You had him in your grasp!" was Lola's demand. But they can feel a deep yearning unlike her usual shallow tantrum.

Lana scolded her twin, but she too wanted to know why Leni let him go. She was just as desperate as everyone. "It… It's not right. It would be asking too much of him." The elder blonde meekly and honestly answered.

Before the more impulsive ones could demand clarification, a dark presence made herself known. "When Lincoln was still here… we always asked for his help…, sometimes at his expense." Lucy sullenly said as she exited the vent, followed by Lisa who went to retrieve her.

"Sure, there were times that we are the brunt of his scheme…, but he did his best to make things right…, again at his expenses." The 'video incident' was the most notable Luan remembered.

"Come on! Don't go putting him on a pedestal now! We made things right with Lincoln too, you know?" Wishing it was phrased elegantly, they agreed with Lola that their brother was not the only one affected.

"True, we did make amends with him for some of our… conflicts. We only troubled ourselves to the single male child in the family." Lisa factually stated.

"Yet he took up the burden of aiding ten of us." Lucy's words weighed their hearts, recalling how their brother meant to each one.

"He was patient with us." Leni softly supplied, remembering how he tried an unorth- a different way of teaching her to drive. Lola remembered how her older brother took time to teach her how to read, almost taking the fall for their loss.

"Reliable." Lana may be too young to realize the consequence of their action, but she understood clearly that Lincoln can always be counted on. Luna can't help but think how they made it hard for him, like the 'supermarket ban' and many others. But despite all that…, bro always pulled through…, sometimes taking the heat for them.

"Kind." Lisa admitted that she wished her brother could have accomplished more. But it was the small gestures of kindness, like preparing PBJ just the way she wanted, that made her profoundly missed him. Lori agreed because when it truly mattered, Lincoln always thought of them.

"Self-sacrificing." Tears welled once more as Lucy remembered how Lincoln took their teasing just because she was afraid. Luan felt guilt for getting his friend involved… and admiration with how far her little assistant will go for those he values.

"He's our brother." Despite their faults, he still loved them. "When we needed help…, he was always there for us." They all unanimously agreed to Lori's declaration.

"But when he needed us the most…, we just… left him." Lori wondered where was that love when they… abandoned him. "He has every right to leave us." Leni started bawling along with the twins.

"Because other than sentimentalities, there are very little incentives that will convince him to stay." Lisa tried hiding her tears, but no one judged her. "Though I am still skeptical of his upbringing, it is clear that Lincoln is more self-reliant now. He will get by on his own…, unlike us."

For once, Lisa acted her age as she welcomed her eldest sister's embrace. "We need him… But he doesn't need us… Not anymore." That was the closing for their impromptu meeting.

When they all went downstairs, they met up with their equally tired parents and Lily who appeared to be the only one well-rested.

Cracking his back, their dad greeted them. "Good morning, girls. I see you're up too. Probably earlier if breakfast is already being made."

The cobwebs were quickly cleared when Lori realized something. "We aren't cooking. And if you're not cooking, then who is?"

"Wait a sec, where's Lynn?" And they realized they were a sister short.

As if answering, the aforementioned girl was heard from the dining room. "Pop-quiz: How does the latter half like their eggs? In order."

But they all froze in their tracks upon hearing someone else. "Lucy likes hers extra well done, deviled for the twins, Lisa's fried and extra gooey for Lily."

Hearing that voice, the rest of the Loud residents stampeded to the dining room. Prepared before them was their breakfast, but they were more drawn to the ones who appeared to have cooked it.

One looked like a deer caught in a headlight. And the other in sweats was just as cool as a cucumber. "Yo."

"LINCOLN!"

xxxxx

After prying every Loud member off him (yes, it included his parents and Lynn Jr. got caught in an embrace of gratitude for supposedly making him stay), they had a very interactive meal. Since Kakashi claimed to already ate, he was able to answer some of their inquiry.

The most obvious: He decided to stay for now since the Jonin can't go back to the 'Elemental Nation' any time soon. This gave them a moment of relief until he started mentioning plans for the future. And knowing that this is a matured 'man with a plan', it is only a matter of time till any of it will be put into action.

Which was why it took some time (read: about 30 minutes) until the Loud son promised to stay that they hesitantly left for work and school. And cramped his pinky after Luan introduced to every sister an ancient promise-keeping ritual. And for insurance; Kakashi agreed to watch over Lily until they get back (though the baby looked determined as one would be entrusted an important mission… Probably it was).

The few remaining minutes before leaving was used to familiarize with… well… nearly everything. Kakashi was acquainted… or at least reacquainted with the wonders of technology. Sure he knows what a television is but what they have here is more advance and complicated than those hunk of outdated junks back there. Using computers the size of a room will do that. Now he knows how his… father feels.

His… parents gave a list of contacts for emergencies, which his sisters helped store in the cellphone he left behind. But when the shinobi asked how to use it… Let's just say they quickly carried Lori out the house before she rebooted. He got a full crash course when she got back.

But it may be chalk to his experience, but nothing beats a good book. Looking up from his reading material, Kakashi greeted. "Oh, hello there. And before you ask, l also answer to Lincoln, though it's mostly for convenience sake."

"You're all probably wondering: Why am I still here? Shouldn't I hate them." Leaning back, a million sentiments were being processed right now. "That is a complicated one. After living and leaving a world that wages war for less…, you can say my tolerance has gotten pretty high. I did let go of my anger for them a long time ago. But just like I said the other day, I lived in a place where a misstep could be my last and I already have enough griefs as is."

"But it's been so long for me there that I may have forgotten some things so I'm reserving judgement for now." Kakashi easily caught an album conveniently placed close by, most likely his sister's doing. He left it alone, feeling he wasn't yet ready for the trip. "And also…, they don't know me, well... the me now. So you could say we are all in the same boat. Lost at sea."

A memory was what actually encourage him to stay. "But after watching over Naruto, who overcame so much despite the cards being dealt to him, I would like to try giving them a chance. I'm not the only one who wants closure."

Shaking his mind back to the present, he returned to his reading material. "Now… What's a circle with black spots? C is for-."

"Cookie!"

His masked face smiled at his youngest student yet. "Cookie. Very good, Lily."

"Is that… Lily's book?" One of the twins asked as they were home early. In fact, everyone was home already.

Sure, some of them left for something. But other than Lily, he wasn't without one of his other sisters close by. Currently he's with two. "I believe so."

"Why are you reading that? That's for babies." Lily just gave them what they call a 'raspberry'. He finds his little defense adorable.

Kakashi didn't mind as it served as an education for her and a reeducation for him. "Well, since I'll be staying here for some time and I'm not sure how to get to Japan, better start learning things. But it's back to basics before I can learn or relearn more advance materials." He could have gone for the dictionary Luan mentioned but didn't feel like invading anyone's room.

"So you're learning how to read?" Lola thoughtfully asked.

"Learning to read English but yeah." Was his answer as he turned a page.

"I have some books that can help! Wait right here!" He watched as she ran up the stairs followed by her messy counterpart.

"She's very eager. Don't you think, Lily?" She babbled an affirmative.

A knock on the front door got their attention. "Pizza deliveryeEOW!" Caught by surprise, he turned to his current companion who just shrugged. 'Huh… So that was the broken alarm.'

"Can somebody get that?!" he heard from upstairs, probably Lori.

Since the man is the closest and the only one available downstairs, he saw no harm answering the door. That is right after putting a Henge of his younger form… at least… the one before he disappeared from Royal Wood. Lily must be really intelligent to quickly familiarize with the change. Making sure that his youngest sister will be fine for a few minutes, he got the money left near the door.

There standing on the porch holding up a stack of flat boxes on one hand while waving away the pain in the other was a tall boy around maybe Lori's age. "Are you okay there?"

His balancing act halted as that surprised gaze was uncomfortably directed to the white-haired 'boy'. "Lincoln? Lincoln!" Kakashi kept his battle instinct at bay since this person knows him. "I'm so glad you're safe! Everyone has been looking all over for you!" But it's becoming difficult to respond because the same cannot be said for the stranger.

The look of uncertainty must have caused some concern for the teen. "Come on, bro. It's me, Bobby: your otro hermano!"

Memories is still foggy but he felt that name associates with his eldest sister. So while the teenage boy was a bit distracted, the disguised 'boy' tried to discreetly contact said sister.

He is going to think of a lot of reasonable excuses for not reacting as a trained shinobi… The irony wasn't lost. So, let's stick to surprise of such familiarity and a low threat level because Kakashi was caught in a civilian's impressive embrace. Impressive because the force and shock dispelled the Henge.

Once the smoke cleared, the Jonin was now looking down at a very surprised pizza-boy. "Who are you and where's Lincoln?!"

Then his gaze went elsewhere. Following the boy's transferred attention, he found an equally surprised sister. "Bobby?"

"Lori, what's going on?!" Kakashi could have used others but felt this swear was appropriate. 'Dang it.'

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Author's note:

It's because this fic was a spur of the moment and I'm not sure where this is going or how far it will go. So, let's get lose on the path of life and find out.

Ideas and suggestions will be taken into consideration. Keyword: Consideration. But I'll leave something to think about: What age group should he be? And to copy-nin or not?

Preview:

What once was lost

Has now been found

But son of loud

Has lost his sound