Chapter 1: Tragedy

Cold. That's what I feel right now. Even though these thick bed sheets have covered most of my torso, the chilling air from the fuzzy atmosphere of my dark room radiates into my body completely. I'm consciously freezing to death.

I tried to reach for the corner of the blanket when suddenly I feel something...wet? I raised my eyebrow. But this is no ordinary liquid. I can feel it. As my hand divulges for the wet surface of my bed, I realized what this was. Tears. Tears from the painful memory of a tragic loss. I have been crying the whole night, as I remember clearly. We ninjas are not supposed to express any sudden emotion, and I'm exceptionally skilled at that, but as my mind forms an image of her everytime, I don't think this rule will work.

Everything came back into memory now. I wanted to forget every bit of it, but my mind's still stuck into the vague pieces of our imperfect forever. I rose from the bed, knowing that I still have work to do. My vest was on the floor. I wonder how it got there. I forgot.

I walked to pick it up, but a flash of vague memory hit right through my head.

"KAKASHI!" I can hear loud footsteps running towards me. I was lying half-unconsciously on the ground. I tried to raise my hand to form a help signal, but every muscle in my body feels numb. Pain is overpowering me.

"Kakashi-sensei, who did this!?" I can barely move my lips, but she hurriedly opened her pouch, realizing that it's hard for me to speak.

"Don't move." She said, but she knew I couldn't do that either. She used her left hand to wipe the sweat from her face when she used the other to grab something from her pouch.

"Kakashi-sensei, you're gonna make it. Don't close your eyes, you're gonna be- DON'T CLOSE YOUR EYES!"

But it's too late now. I'm using my final sheer force to prevent my eyelids from closing, but after a short second, I can feel my heartbeat coming to a close. I didn't even get the chance to take a clear look at my rescuer, nor even thank her for her failed attempt to save me. Although her voice sounds familiar, I can't clearly identify who she was because of my bleeding right ear. I didn't even have the chance to thank Obito and Rin for the last time.

I can feel it now. My heart was trembling in terror. Death's welcoming arms are surrounding me.

This is the end…

But then, why am I still here? I wondered.

Was there some part of my past that I forgot to recall? I tried my best to put all the pieces together, but I just can't complete the puzzle. This one missing piece is the answer to my doubts. It will help me find out how I had my second life.

This final important piece of memory seems so hard to capture. It is bothering me. As if my mind was lost in a bewildering, fuzzy dream.

I checked my body for some scars and bruises, but I found none. Then it leaves me to one last thought: Was it all just a dream that I miraculously remembered? Then why were those tears on my bed in the first place?

"Nonsense." I spoke for the first time. I should have been in the mission room already, if it wasn't for that silly, detailed dream. I don't know where those tears came from, but I won't bother looking for the answer anymore. Finally, I got hold of my vest and put it back in without hesitation, knowing it's best not to wash it today.

Without taking a final short look around my room, I formed a quick hand sign and vanished in a cloud of fluffy smoke.

My feet landed on the wooden floor of the mission room. The room is a bit tidier today. I wonder who cleaned here.

I moved closer and closer to the mission room desk until something sparked up in my mind. I'm getting dizzy. I can feel something returning to my memory.

My eyes opened, albeit weakly. I can move again. My arms and legs are back to normal. But how? Is this some sort of a miracle? I check for my scars and burns. I can't see them, nor feel them. Who did all of this?

"Kakashi-sensei." I can hear her. My head shifted downward to see a girl lying feebly on the ground. Wait a minute. I know her.

"Mifune-sensei. What happened to you?"

"Come closer" I didn't hesitate already. I was near her now. I can feel the warmth radiating on her body even though she's already too weak. Her body. There were too many scars and bruises. I think I'm getting the picture now.

"You healed me."

"Yes."

"And you transferred all of my injuries to your body using your bloodline jutsu."

"Exactly."

"But you're dying."

She gave a small nod. "Stay close to me."

"Always."

For the first time today I met her eyes. They were bright green. Looking at her eyes have never made me feel better than this before.

"Why did you do all of these?"

"Because I love you, Kakashi-sensei."

She was still able to confess her feelings for me even if I can feel death coming closer already. She sacrificed everything…for me. Obito…Rin… I missed them so much. And Mifune reminds me of them.

But she was different. To protect the one you love even if it costs you your own life.. She did it.. But why, all of others, me? Am I worthy of her love?

To be loved by someone..

Suddenly, after a few years of hiding my innermost emotions, tears fell down slowly to the ground. It must be raining. But there's no point of lying to myself anymore. I can't simply pretend that I'm crying. My heart is suffering from the pain of a great loss but at the same time beating unconsciously because of her.

Is she..the one?

I guess I'll have to find out.

"I love you."

And after saying it, I saw Mifune crying too, but not in pain, but in joy.

"Thank you Kakashi-sensei for accepting my love". She smiled. I've never made someone so much happy like this in the past few years. I feel overwhelmed.

"I can still take you to the hospital. My student is a good healer. I can even bring her-

She grabbed my arm.

Finally, just by looking at her beautiful face, I found her only response.

"Kakashi-sensei." I gazed at her. Who could turn away from a beautiful face like hers?

"Yes?" That was all I could say right now.

"Promise me, that you'll never find another girl to love. Promise me, that once I die, and after you wake up in the morning, you'll never love the first person you'll meet. Promise me that your love for me will last forever and it is bound for nobody else but me, just like what I did for you when I first met you."

I was lost for words. She's asking for me to say 'yes'. But if I do, will all of it be worth it? Do I truly deserve this kind of promise? The real question is, can I truly keep something that's far from me, forever?

I remembered my promise to Obito. I haven't moved on from that yet. I failed him. It was the greatest mistake of my life. But I learned new things from it. My past made be better. I am who I am now because of what I've done before.

But this time, somebody is asking for me to keep another promise. Will I be able to keep it?

"I promise."

Leaves were falling slowly. I can see her smiling. Mifune…

After those final words my vision went to normal again. I was on the floor, well, I was sitting on it. I fell when I tried to remember everything. But I do remember now. The answers to my doubts are finally found, but were they enough? Are they enough to prove that this was not a dream? She's gone, but my promise that I kept for her is still lingering. Once I wake up, I'll never love the first person I''ll meet. But I haven't seen anyone today yet, haven't I?

"Kakashi-sensei?" A hand reaches for me. I grabbed it and I stood up from the floor.

"What in the world are you doing on the floor?"

As I turn my face up, I saw a person standing in front of me, talking while still holding my rough hand.

Umino Iruka.


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