The Pretender
Chapter 1
My keys jingled loudly as I made my way to my tea stand. The morning dew had not burned away yet, making the air feel thick. I shook my head to make the feeling disappear, my wavy golden hair flapped violently.
I was glad that I had to open my stand early. Other shop keeps did not arrive until the morning rush and by then, I would be up to my ears in customers looking for their wake up kick. There would be no awkward conversations about who I was, when I moved to Konoha, or who I was involved romantically with.
It seems my luck was not with me today.
"Hey, hey Lily. What are you doing here so early?" It was Genma and his senbon. God, I hated that man. He'd always asked the same questions and would get the same answers, but yet, it was never enough.
"I told you yesterday. I own the tea stand down the block." I kept walking, not wanting to engage in a full conversation. Of course, he had other ideas.
"What about you and me and dinner some time?" I didn't answer.
"Lunch?" Kept on walking.
"How about brunch? No wait, breakfast?" I walked faster to the corner of the back of my store. Anything to get away from that prying man. I turned the corner sharply and looked back. He was running at me now! I started booking it and looked back to see if he was behind me. Genma had not reached the little alley yet when I- WHAM!
I scraped myself from the offending object. It apparently wore an open green vest and a black turtleneck. My eyes raised up to the head. He had a silver crown of hair and his forehead protector was slanted to the side. The man's one uncovered eye peered down at my face and then his gaze lowered.
"Double Ds?" I couldn't see his lips because of the mask that covered his face. But was he talking about- OH CRAP! I had noticed that the zipper on my shirt had dipped down, keeping little to the imagination. I wasted no time in zipping it back up, of course.
"I haven't seen you around here. You must have just moved here" He bent down to be eye level with me, "Where are you from?"
I snorted at his ignorance, "I've lived in Konoha for two years now and I own Camellia Sinensis. You know, the tea stand."
"Hmm. It's just that I've never seen you beforeā¦" His voice trailed off and so did his eye again, "What size double D?"
"Thirty eig- hey!" I mentally cursed my shirt for unzipping again. When I looked up, the man was gone.
I really had to get used to that. Two years of people just vanishing while you still talking to them and I still was surprised.
My finger traced the ring of my mug. After meeting whoever-that-was in the alley, I finally opened up my shop. My regulars were talking quite loudly amongst themselves.
"Lily. What's wrong, girl?" I tore my eyes away from the mug to the customer, "Your boyfriend break up with you?" I scoffed at the man, "You know I don't have a boyfriend. And you know I don't want one!" The regulars always busted my imaginary balls for being single and that man was their lead. He was wearing his name tag that day with his blue button up shirt.
"Don't you have to go work, Hideo?" He sighed and hopped off his stool, " Don't be late. The Mrs. will be mad" He left some change next to his empty cup and shook his fist in my direction.
"Now that he's gone, who wants some more tea?" My enthusiasm was met with excuses.
"I've got to get going"
"Oh shit! I'm late for work"
"FINE!" I shouted in mock anger, "Just LEAVE me here. All alone. By myself." Truth be told, I had mounds of work to do. The truck with my imported black teas had stopped by earlier. There were mugs and glasses to wash. I had to put an order in for more yellow teas. I needed to hire someone else to help me out sometime.
Crate after crate, box after box, I broke down the shipment. In the middle of putting the individual bags away, I heard someone sit down at one of the stools.
"Can I help y-" I stopped when I saw the guy from the alley. He was just watching me while I worked. My head tilted to the side and we had a little starring contest. He broke the silence, "What's your name?" I furrowed my brows at him. He didn't even offer his own name before asking for mine.
"Lily" I opted to answer him anyways, "Did you want some tea or something?"
No answer.
"Did you need any help with that?" The man pointed over to my mountain of boxes.
"If I say yes, will you actually help me?"
"Do you always answer a question with another question?"
"Does it seem like it?" I chuckled at our little verbal mind game, "Since I told you my name, what's your name?"
"You want to know?"
"I did ask, didn't I?"
"Kakashi"
"Ahh. Got you." I pointed at Kakashi with a smirk on my face.
"Huh?"
"That wasn't a question."
Author's Note: Reviews are nice. Beta readers are nice too. Just give me a ring on the ol' email for being a beta or whatever.
