When he seen the first signs of drizzle on the bedroom window, he sighed. Small, and light, it was barely enough to be called rain. The outside world seemed blurry and grey from his dark little room, high above the village. It was one of those days. Where his beautiful sunny village turned into a dull mirage of what it usually was.
He rolled out of bed with a grunt, his grey hair mussed, somehow sticking up in all directions. Tiredly, he walked into the bathroom, squinting underneath the harsh light, and frowned softly. Fingers traced the scar that ran across his face, mournfully, as he did every morning. The small mirror gave him a chance to examine himself more thoroughly. His under-eye bags seemed even worse than normal, and stubble grew around his chin. Running a hand across his face, he sighed again, before splashing his face with cold water. Time to wake up.
Days like this were few and far in between, and while some people loved the change they offered, he couldn't count himself among them. Slipping on his uniform and mask, he counted his kunai. With a soft hum, he noted a few needed to be sharpened. That'd be his mission for today then. Basic chores. Missions were far too.. damp, on days such as this. The last time he'd taken a mission on a rainy day, his lightning techniques had actually begun fizzling out. That had been a fun day, when he was drenched and very nearly captured. Everyone had avoided him for a week after after he'd returned with a missing-nin slung across his shoulder, wet and well, a little bit mad. Only a little, though.
(That had actually been the week he won at least thirty challenges against Gai, actively choosing to engage him)
And not to mention, he couldn't even walk and read his precious Icha-Icha when it rained. It was his barrier between him and meaningful social interaction. Of course, there were those who ignored it anyway. Gai, for one. His students. Even Asuma, but Kakashi suspected it was because his friend actually enjoyed the series, more than Asuma psycho-analyzing him and deciding he was going to annoy him anyway. Without the barrier, though, people might assume he actually wanted to talk, which was terribly inaccurate.
He stalked over to his closet, rooting through it for clothing he very rarely ever took out. At last, buried underneath a mound of other various assorted clothes, he found them. A soft red scarf, and a black hat. A smile bloomed in his face, his eyes creasing into little curves. Perfect!
The man who left the apartment was not recognizable as Hatake Kakashi.
A soft jingle sounded through the store, gently telling the shopkeeper of a new customer. She smiled, soft pink lips tilting up, brilliant green eyes glittering in happiness. She had a new customer! She hadn't had one in ages!
With a regal elegance, and all the excitement of a puppy who'd been told they were going on a walk, the young woman swept out of the storeroom, where she'd been re-organizing. Her long, deep green skirt swirled , and she smoothed down her cream blouse.
"Hello? Can I help you?"
Kakashi, who'd been browsing the beautiful (and seemingly random items) that stocked the shelves, jumped. He hadn't even heard her approach. Her voice was soft, coated with a foreign accent. Deciding to be brave, he looked over, and then slightly down. A small, petite woman, no more than 5'2, stood with intense eyes looking into his. He was suddenly glad for his scarf as a blush creeped up his cheeks. She was... beautiful. Raven black hair fell in curls down her back, and she had curves in all the right places. She reminded him of a character in one of his books, Ri. She'd been a princess, on the run.
Looking at the woman, he decided she was definitely regal. And very exotic, if he said so himself.
Realizing that the silence was stretching, he cleared his throat.
"Ah, um, I seen your sign? You sell and sharpen kunai, yes?"
The woman blinked "Ah, apparently"
If he heard her mutter "What even is a kunai?" under his breath, he decided to ignore it. Perhaps she'd take him to whoever had put the sign up.
"Follow me"
With a swish of her skirt, the woman turned, and walked off, her hips swaying from side to side. Kakashi decided to ignore the view, blushing as he pretended to look at the oddities that lined the shelf.
They reached a door, completely unremarkable. A desk and a few chairs were placed around it.
"If you could lay what you need sharpened on the desk, and sit down, I'll be done in a pinch"
Kakashi blinked "I thought it took hours?" The woman blinked in response.
"I mean, if you want to wait hours you can. But it will only take a minute"
Kakashi shrugged, and took a seat. Who was he to argue with a professional? With a lazy slouch, he took out all his currently blunted weapons. The woman examined the with a critical eye.
"That's a lot. Perhaps it's better you go wander around the store. I'll be ten minutes"
Her tone was no nonsense, and he was shooed into the maze that was the odd shop. He found a pair of glasses with the most inane design, and grinned softly. These were definitely getting added to his disguise collection.
He wandered for a bit, and returned on the ten minute mark. The strange woman, Hari, he learned her name was, beamed at him. And he knew he'd be visiting this place a lot more often. One odd thing he picked up on though- his weapons hadn't moved a centimeter. They were sharp, shiny, and left exactly where he'd dumped them. He frowned thoughtfully, looking at Hari, before shrugging. If she wanted to take the time to do such a thing, it was her own prerogative.
At the till- which was somehow made of what he would swear was gold, and wrapped in vines- she smiled as she picked up the glasses he wished to purchase.
"I had a friend who used to wear these, once. Everyone called her crazy, and she was named after the moon. These glasses... they allow you to see what others do not, for the world to shine in darkness. Take care of them, Hatake-san"
Kakashi had nodded, confused, and left with his new purchases.
It was the next day that he realized- he had never told her his name.