Chapter One
"Why, Rin? I thought you were happy here. It's your home. Konoha is our home," Kakashi whined as he lay on Rin's bed, watching her pack.
"I have to go, I just have to. This was my home, but now I'm not sure where 'home' is. Not since…" Rin trailed off, swiping the treacherous tears from her eyes.
"Hey, hey. It's ok. I miss him, too, ya know," Kakashi replied gently, sliding off the bed to wrap Rin-Chan in his arms. It had been two years since Obito had died, but the pain was as fresh as ever. The pain brought Kakashi and Rin closer, but now Rin had decided now to leave Konoha for good.
"But don't you see? That's why I have to leave. Everything here reminds me of him, even you," she replied with a sad smile, blinking away her tears. "I need to get away from it all, at least for a while."
"Can I at least know where you're going, so I can visit you?" Kakashi pleaded, desperate not to lose the most important person in his life. Since the incident, Kakashi and Rin had started dating.
"Kashi, I can't tell you. You know why," she replied quickly, cutting off another desperate plea. "I need a new start. A completely new life, one that helps me forget. I can't do that with you around. I'm sorry."
It hit him then, there. This wasn't a long term mission. This wasn't an 'I'll see you later' situation. Rin was leaving. Leaving the village, leaving the life they'd built together after it had shattered upon Obito's death, leaving him.
It was hard to believe he was losing her in that moment. Phantom pain from a limb he could still see but no longer had. That Rin was choosing their dead team mate over him was like a numbing venom seeping through his veins. But he loved her. Loved her enough to try and make her stay... and loved her enough to finally let her go
So, with tears in his eyes, Kakashi watched Rin walk through the Gates of Konoha and disappear into the forest.
That had been when he was 15. Two years later, he was told of her death. And even now, at age 30, he still missed his Rin-chan. He missed her laugh, her smile, her everything, even the silly purple lines she painted on her face. He laughed a bit to himself, melancholy as he recalled teasing her about her face paint. She always did come up with a new excuse for wearing them, he mused, feeling the tears to threaten to spill.
"Stop," he commanded himself out loud, hoping against hope to stop the memories flooding his mind, to stop the despair creeping in, threatening to swallow him alive. Finally, he decided that what he needed was a mission. But first, he needed to find the nearest bar. No sense letting the Hokage, or anyone else, for that matter, see his true feelings. It was easier if he could just blame them on alcohol.
So, this is the first (and currently only) fan-fiction I've ever actually posted, so reviews are much appreciated. I know that, like every other person on earth, I can always improve. However, I love this pairing so much that I justhadto try. If you have any suggestions, feel free to leave them as a review or send them to me in a message. Criticism and ideas are welcome; flames are used to barbeque.
Also, I am currently editing this entire story so far. I wanna try to get these chapters sorted out and fixed. I now have a lovely beta to review this story for me. So, cookies and much love to CuteCat213.