There is a fine line between culpable and a scapegoat, but with Kakashi Hatake, that line might as well be nonexistent.

He held rules above comrades, and got paid with a sharingan and a few hundred tonnes of guilt.

He once again had to choose between his village and his comrade, but this time the latter made the decision.

And just when the path ahead couldn't look any bleaker, an unexpected ray of sunshine presented himself.

The Fourth Hokage had no idea, just how well did his decision to make his last student witness the nurturing life of his unborn child pay off.

But once again, call it Murphy's law, did misery befall him.

The Nine-tails attack left him hollow, and also a blond blue-eyed angel, who's godfather unreachable, made himself the legal guardian of the child.

Bruised and bailing, but still sailing, he had to refuse.

Years later, with sticks and stones and broken bones, call it fate or the sandaimine's rueful scheming, was he put in charge of the child he indirectly neglected, the brother of confused 13-year old ANBU prodigy (He believed he could have saved that one as well) and a girl who was growing to painfully remind him of Rin every day.

And not just her, mind you.

Team 7, a carbon personality copy of his former team, he just hoped that they didn't end up like his previous one.

With the formation of Team 7, he also realized that he was ready to move on.

Not to forget the noble sacrifices of his companions, but rather to finally forgive himself.

Just when he thought his days of talking to rocks to make himself feel better were over, of course this had to pop up.

Now he didn't hold Lady Fifth accountable at all, her absence from the village for about two decades was well noted.

In fact, she might as well as be oblivious to the melancholy of the entire scenario.

And moreover, he was a well-seasoned shinobi, he should expect the unexpected, prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

But nothing in the 5 elemental nations could have prepared him for what was to come next.

He wouldn't break down to tears or lose it, but he wasn't ready. Not yet, Never.

After Obito, he steered clear of the uchihas.

After Rin, he gracefully avoided the Nohara household.

After Minato, he ran away from Naruto.

But everything was failing him.

Somehow, staring into ocean blue eyes like his former sensei or obsidian black like his dead best friend didn't faze him as much as seeing Rin's mother.

Somewhere down the line, when someone (Most likely Kurenai) had inquired him about his non-existent love-life, he realized the ugly truth. The tragedy that hurt so much, the face of the girl he unbeknown to him had fallen for, as she whispered his name and coughed her blood continued to haunt his nightmares.

So, when they finally reached Tamaki-san's house, he held his breath, crossed his fingers, hoped for the best and prepared for the worst. Just like sensei tough him.

Boy, did he feel like a 14-year-old right now.

"Finally-ttebayo!! We have been walking for ages!!"

"DO YOU HAVE TO BE THIS LOUD BAKA!! I AM PRETTY SURE ALL OF KONOHA HEARD IT! WANT TO TRY FOR SUNA NEXT?!?!"

"Hn. Sakura, I am positive Kumo heard you."

" STAY OUT OF THIS TEME!!"

"Dobe"

"Teme!!"

"Dobe"

"TEM-"

He was interrupted in the infamous word calling battle with his rival when the pinkette sent a flying punch.

Kakashi sighed, "Knock it off you three, we have a mission to complete."

Well, might as well get this over with.

Then Naruto, due to his rather obvious ADD, rung the doorbell and the four of them waited patiently for someone to answer the door.

Their patience was well rewarded, as moments later, a soft click was heard and they were greeted by the smiling face of a chocolate haired lady, who appeared to be in her early forties, and her hair hung loosely around her shoulders, the pink house apron giving her a warm motherly aura.

" Welcome! You must be the genin sent by Hokage-sama to help in the cleaning. Do come in!!" she hustled.

Sasuke gave her a pensive look but followed her in nonetheless.

Naruto and Sakura, however, quite well reciprocated her attitude.

"So Nohara-san, how old is the baby??" Sakura asked, these motherly Things getting her quite excited.

"Oh! Sakura was it? Well, I found out only a few days ago and I must say, I haven't felt this elated since my last daughter." The woman's smile visibly fading.

Kakashi cleared his throat preventing further discussion about the said topic and asked, "Tamaki-san should we start cleaning Rin-chan's room?"

Sure enough, all the occupants under the roof were quite surprised with the familiarity Kakashi addressed the said girl.

Before Tamaki's eyes widened in fond recognition, and she once again radiated glee.

"Kakashi!! My my, who would have thought. Got your own team of brats I see? Well well, you know, since you decided to visit your teammate's good ol' mom after a decade, you know what children, let's have some tea and cake before somber matters. I just put on a fresh lot of cookies! They should be done any minute."

To say the three genin were surprised would be an understatement.

But just then, Sakura remembered something.

"Nohara-san!! I should really help you with the cookies. Too much stress is not good for the baby~" Sakura gushed on, leaving two sweat dropping teammates.

"Sakura dear, please it's just Tamaki! God, you remind me of my daughter." She chuckled.

"Kakashi-kun, you know, your dear team reminds me of Rin-chan's team a lot. Do you think you guys could have a sleepover? Yoshiro is on a mission, and it sure does feel lonely 'round here"

By this time Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura had started a full-blown classic Team 7 ruckus in the kitchen.

Kakashi was feeling quietly uncomfortable, the tears of pleasant memories and what followed after threatening to spill.

"Tamaki-san, we would love to but-" Kakashi started, only to get cut off by the older woman.

"It's not your fault." It came out as barely above a whisper, but Kakashi doubted he head a louder and clearer voice in his lifetime.

"I can see it in your eyes. You still blame and berate yourself for that day don't you?" She asked softly.

"You don't know wh-" Kakashi started in a raspy voice, only to get cut out again.

"I do. You told Minato-san. He told his wife. She told me. I know Rin, she is my daughter. And it was not your fault at all. It was her choice, not as a helpless young girl but rather as a shinobi of the hidden leaf. And we honored it. 30 years in the workforce can show you tough times. We knew you avoided us, and I can understand why." she gave him a sad smile.

Suddenly, as Kakashi noticed, this was not the same woman he met 13 years ago.

He had left a lively young woman of 30 at her daughters funeral and came to an older, wise lady, the whole demeanor of her being drastically converted. Her hair had a few grey strands, fine lines curled around her smile, and eyes older and had a tired and weary tint to them.

He wasn't the only one who underwent heartache.

"After all, you suffered as much if not more than us, didn't you?"

Kakashi chose to remain silent.