Love's Truth
Chapter One
Home Again
Hikari was a beautiful young lady traveling back to her father's homeland after being away for many years. Her short layered white hair flowing gracefully behind her as she walked down the street she had walked down several times before with her father. Her destination was not far, but her nervous wished it were much farther away. It had been so long since she had been here, but this time she was here without her father for the first time. Every time she was here, her father was at her side and now he was gone. She was not sure she was even close to being over his death to really be in a place where so many memories of him transpired.
She arrived a little past the time she was supposed to arrive, but she had always been late for most events in her life, so it was nothing new. Some thing always seemed to happen causing her to be late it seemed, it never failed, and this time was no exception. However, she could not worry about that now as she walked into a large room with a long table on the far end where sat a women surrounded by 4 others, one of which she recognized at once. There were also several others standing around as though they were guarding this room or those in it.
"Ah she's here," said a familiar voice as a man she recognized turned and started walking up to greet her half way. His white hair the same as she remembered from the last time she saw him. He really hadn't changed at all except for in age. "Late as always I see." He grinned at her and she felt somewhat relieved when she saw his smile.
"I ran into a bit of trouble on my way here," she replied in a low whisper for only him to hear. She was happy to see her former teach and close family friend as she gave him a soft smile. Her black pants where torn slightly at the bottom and her jacket was covered in dirt on the back in some spots from the early event, but her v-neck black shirt was at least unscathed.
"It's nice to see you," he said as he gave her a gentle hug and she hugged him back as he whispered back to her, "We'll talk about that later." He let go of her and walked with her to where the others were waiting for her arrival and had been for probably twenty minutes or longer; she had lost track of the time.
"I'm glad you're here," said Hikari in a low voice so only he could hear her. "I won't lie; I was quite surprised to hear from you so soon after what happened, Kakashi."
"Hokage Tsunade, this is Sakomor's daughter, Hikari," Kakashi stated as he introduce her. He had to nudge Hikari forward a little knowing she was incredibly nervous meeting the new Hokage for the first time.
"Hello, Hikari," she said in what Hikari thought was one of the kindest voices she had ever had the pleasure to hear in her life. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you. Kakashi has told me many things about you."
"It's a pleasure to meet you too, Hokage Tsunade," she finally managed to say, trying to hide her nervousness with a smile. She knew of Tsunade from the stories her father and Kakashi had told her, but she never dreamed she would meet her. She nervously tucked several strands of her hair behind her ear that had swept down in her face. "I have heard a lot about you too."
"I wish we could have met under better circumstances," Tsunade replied, remember the reason this young lady was here now. "Your father's death has taken us all quite by surprise to be honest. Kakashi has informed me that your father's body will be arriving here in a few days for the burial as he wished." Hikari nodded letting her know that this was correct. "I asked you here early because I wanted to discuss a few things with you. However, that can wait until later. I know you probably want to get settled in first. I'm sure you had a very long and tiring journey."
"Yes it was a very long and tiring," she replied as the memories flooded back to her of the trip here.
"Kakashi will escort you to your home," Hokage Tsunade stated kindly with a hint of concern in her voice. "I am sure you have a lot of catching up to do anyway."
Kakashi and Hikari turned and walked out of the room after saying bye to Hokage Tsunade. Once they were far enough away Hikari asked, "What's going on? There are more people here than I remember being in this village." after noticing all the people on the streets.
Kakashi grinned as he said, "That is because the Chunin Exams are going on. There are people here from all the allied villages."
"Oh," she replied remember what the Chunin Exams were. "It's been so long I almost forgot." She remembered her exams clearly, as though it all happened yesterday. She became a Chunin her first try. It was then that her "special" powers started showing more. She was something more than just a normal ninja; she was something different. She could use her powers in a way that most ninja's could not. She didn't have to use jutsu, genjutsu, or even taijutsu to make things happen. All she had to do at times was just concentrate on something and she could uproot a tree and send it flying through the air. Although the bigger the object the more energy it took from her.
"So," Kakashi started with a look of worry at her, "what happened on your way here? I can tell something happened by that look in your eyes." There was no need to mention how her clothes looked.
"I was ambushed just outside of the Land of Rain," she stated low enough so that only Kakashi could hear her. "No worries though I had some help from…an old friend." She noticed Kakashi looking at her as though he was very concerned about her. "I'm fine I promise. I knew I would run into trouble eventually, as did you. I can handle myself and like I said I had the help of an old friend."
"This still worries me," he said as they got her old home. "I believe that this needs to be brought to Tsunade's attention."
"You can tell her," she replied. "But I won't tell more right now. I would just like to rest for a while and then perhaps take a walk around the village to see how much has changed since my last visit."
He looked at her for a moment staring into her eyes, looking to see if there was more, she wasn't telling him. Finally, he gave a faint smile and said, "As you wish Hikari. I still wish to know later the full details of your journey."
"When I am well rested," she said in a matter-of-fact kind of way. Then turned and opened the door to her home. However, was this really her home? She had not lived in it for very long when her father had to go away and she went with him. Part of her had changed since she had last been here; a lot of things had changed since she was last here. She turned and looked at Kakashi. "Thank you for everything and I'll see you later I guess," she said just before turning around and closing the door behind her.
After a short nap, Hikari decided to take a walk since sleep seemed to be out of the question. She walked around for what felt like hours when she turned a corner on her way to Ichiraku Ramen Bar when suddenly without warning she collided with someone knocking herself to the ground. "Oh my gosh, I am so sorry," she said quickly as she looked up, her eyes meeting the eyes of the person to whom she had almost ran over.
"It's…it's quite alright," he said staring back into her deep blue eyes. A weird feeling settling over both of them something unfelt before. He extended his hand to her to assist her on getting up and she took his hand.
"I am so sorry," she said again as she got to her feet, her hand still in his. "I wasn't watching where I was going."
"It's absolutely alright," he said to her, never realizing he still had a hold of her hand.
"I'm Hikari," she said to him. Noticing his headband she added, "What's your name? I didn't hurt you when I bumped into you did I?" Bumped was understatement she thought as she finished.
"I'm Gaara, Fifth Kazekage of-" he started saying with a smile.
"Gaara hurry up," a voice called to him interrupting them.
"I better go," he said sweetly to her. "I need to go speak with the students from my village before the second Chunin Exam." However, he needed to change into his Kazekage clothes first. Since he had wanted some time alone he had not even bothered to change out of his casual clothes.
"Oh," Hikari said with a soft smile. "I should get going as well. I'm feeling pretty hungry right now since I haven't ate since early this morning."
"I hope to see you around," Gaara said softly smiling back her. When she looked back at him in a way that made his heart feel as though it was going to jump out through his throat he blushed and looked down. It was then that he blushed even more noticing he had never let go of the young women's hand.
"Gaara!" he's brother shouted. "You're going to be late!"
He looked up at her once more; part him wishing he didn't have to leave just yet. "I better go," Gaara said as he let go of Hikari's hand finally. "It was a pleasure meeting you Miss Hikari."
"Same," she said smiling brightly, her blue eyes shinning like the sun on a hot summer's day. "It was a please meeting you as well Gaara." She gave him one last look before proceeding to the Ichiraku Ramen Bar for some ramen to get rid of the hunger she had been feeling for the last hour or so.
Gaara turned, watching her walk away and taking a few steps backwards. Then when she turned back looking to see if he was still there they both blushed and smiled. He then walked over to his brother as this unique young beautiful women walked in the other direction, where he wished he were going.
Hikari smiled as she hurried to Ichiraku Ramen Bar. She ate quietly not saying much at all until Kakashi sat down beside her. She looked over at him a wide smile upon her beautiful smooth face. "Hi," she said greeting him.
"I knew I would find you here," he said kindly.
Hikari let out a soft laugh and smiled at her old friend. "You know me to well Kakashi sensei," she stated with another soft laugh. "Then again I was hungry so it wouldn't be too hard to find me anyway."
"You're mood seems to have changed since earlier," he pointed out wondering what had changed in just a few short hours. There was a different look in her eyes than before.
"Nothing," she lied. She had reasons for not wanting him to know of what she was feeling right now, to be honest she wasn't fully sure herself. "I think the resting just helped me, that's all."
"If you say so," he replied not really believing her. He knew her better than that, but he also knew that she would tell him whatever it was when she felt it was the right time. "Your meeting with Tsunade has been put off until tomorrow morning. However, she does wish to meet with you very early in the morning. Therefore, you might want to get a lot of rest tonight. Also, after telling her about the ambush she has assigned a couple of Jonin to patrol outside of your home for tonight." Seeing the looking in her eyes that let him know she was about too abject, so he quickly added, "It's just until we know more and I agree with her decision. I know you can handle yourself, but this is only added protection for tonight."
"Fine, just for tonight," she said not sounded in any way happy about this. She looked over at Kakashi once more. "I don't want special treatment because of who my father was. I have learned to protect myself quite well."
"I know you have, but this is just for tonight," he said looking back at her. "I will be escorting you back to your home where I want you to stay. I will come in the morning to get you for the meeting."
"Then lets go now," she said sounded a bit annoyed as she pushed the bowl away from her and paid for food. "I want to get this night over with as quickly as possible." She stood up and began walking in the direction of her father's house. Kakashi followed her making sure to walk close beside her.
"You can be so stubborn sometimes do you know that?" he said as they almost reached her house.
"Yes I do know that," she said. "I have been told that all my life." She had been walking so fast that she had not noticed anything around them; all she wanted was to get this over with and the sooner the better. One thing she could not stand was being "watched over" no matter what the situation may be.
"I made sure the Jonin that are assigned to watch over you tonight are ones that I trust completely," he said to her once they reach her door for the second time today. "Not that I don't trust the others. It's just that…" he paused for a moment. "I have known you for a long time and I don't want anything bad to happen to you."
"Thanks Kakashi-" Hikari said to him with her hand on her, now half open, door. "-for everything. I know you worry about and to be honest I guess it is nice having someone still alive to worry about me." Kakashi looked at her knowing what she has been through when she was younger, never knowing her mom and her sister dying at the age of 9, and now her father was gone too. He knew as long as he was alive she would not be alone; he would make sure of that.
"Goodnight Hikari," he finally said.
"Goodnight," she said standing in her doorway facing him.
"I'll come get you in the morning," he reminded her and waited until her door was closed before leaving. She had a long road ahead of her now. He only hoped that she would find some friends here in the Leaf Village to keep her from leaving again.