Disclaimed.

A Goggle Story

--

'it needs a light spirit to bear a heavy fate' -danish proverb

--

It was a shame her body was nowhere to be found the day Kyuubi invaded Konoha. People searching the rubble of the hospital, where she was last seen, couldn't find her or anything remotely related to her. Kakashi looked far longer than the rest of the shinobi, Naruto in his arms. He desperately stepped through the rubble, uncovering every nook and cranny that might hold a shred of her clothing or hair or something. As a well-weathered shinobi, albeit a tad young, he knew the coming years of the child were going to be harsh, and any amount of evidence that the boy had had loving parents, he wanted to give to him.

Naruto whimpered softly, burying his head against Kakashi's chest, falling asleep to rhythm of his heartbeat. His heartbeat...but it should've been hers. With the onslaught of motivation, Kakashi kicked a broken wall out of his way, finding a pair of goggles.

A pair of goggles that never left the sights of Kushina. They were her goodluck charm. He stood still, wondering why they didn't prove themselves worthwhile a few days ago...and then he remembered that they were just goggles and he didn't believe in charms or luck.

He picked up the googles and put them in the baby's hands, hoping that maybe he'd feel some sentimentality from them as he got older.

With the sleeping Naruto in his arms, goggles clutched in the tiny hands, he made his way to deliver him to the Hokage.

Years later, sitting on a stool near Iruka and Naruto, he overheard portions of their conversation as he buried his head in his book.

"Ne, Naruto? Don't you think you should get a new pair of goggles? Those are tattered...and outdated."

"What?! Iruka-sensei, that'd be stupid! I've had these since before I could remember..." Kakashi glanced at the two discreetly from his book, and saw that Naruto was staring intently at his ramen. "And plus...when I wear them, I feel like...I'm being protected..." he blushed at the stupid thought and started shovelling ramen in his mouth out of embarrassment.

Kakashi smiled and secretly paid for the boy's ramen, and left the stand.

--

--

Odd, I must say. I love Kakashi one shots.

Hope you enjoyed. Review?

:))

adios