Kakashi Hatake was a talented child. At a young age, he was promoted to chunin after a single year of being a genin. At an even younger age, he attended the academy and was quickly the top in his class. However, his classmates didn't appreciate his attitude, or his superiority.

"Kakashi, you just think you're sooo special, being sensei's favorite. But you look like an old man with that grey hair! I bet you're wrinkly and old under that mask!"

Kakashi just stared ahead and tried to ignore the taunting. This happened a lot, so he was used to it. People always picked on him for stupid reasons like this; he supposed they were just jealous.

Before the loud-mouthed kid could open their mouth again, a tiny figure clad in purple appeared, flying through to air to deliver a kick to the kid's mouth.

"Hey! Leave Hatake-san alone!"

An annoyingly loud voice exited the purple entity's mouth as she stood proudly on Kakashi's desk with her back to him. Her straight brown hair lay flat against her back, as she firmly placed her small hands on her hips.

The kids who had been picking on Kakashi growled and shuffled away, muttering in her general direction. However, judging by the broad smile she flashed him as she squatted down in front of him, she didn't mind.

She sat there, stupidly grinning at him, while he looked at her rather bored.

"I didn't need your help you know." Kakashi stated in a monotone. The grin slid from her face as the young girl cocked her eyebrow.

"No gratitude? I just saved you from endless annoyances from those guys! My name is Emiko Miwaku! You can write that on the thank you card you send me with a bouquet of flowers!"

"But now I'm dealing with annoyances from you. So, no, I'm not thanking you."

"…"

From that day forth, Emiko Miwaku was Kakashi Hatake's friend.

;

"Who does she think she is, just being all wonderful like that? With her stupid good looks, and her stupid gorgeous pink hair, and her stupid ninjutsu ability, and her stupid perfect aim, and…" Emiko drifted off, looking down dejectedly. Emiko was of course talking about Kiyomi Zai; her teammate and greatest rival.

Kakashi rubbed his head awkwardly, looking sheepish. "You know, you don't need to be so preoccupied with her. Focus on you. You're not too bad yourself." He put his hand on her shoulder, and flashed a smile. Of course, she couldn't see his actual smile, but she could tell it was there from his one exposed eye.

She allowed herself a small smile, "Yeah, I am pretty great, aren't I?" Kakashi chuckled and shook his head, removing his hand from her shoulder.

"And so modest too…"

;

As Kakashi's feet met the ground, he knew he had found her. The unfortunate part was that she was here of all places.

He turned toward the stone and saw a girl clad in a purple shirt, with long dark brown hair shaking in front of the memorial stone. He didn't know if she was shaking from the cold rain that had fallen on Konoha for several hours, or if she was crying. He didn't stand there pondering it.

He approached her slowly until he was at her side. Her arms were wrapped around torso, shivering from the cold, while quiet sobs escaped her lips. So it was both.

He looked down sadly, staring at his feet, his arms hanging loosely at his sides.

"Emiko… I'm sorry…" He muttered. However, he knew these words would be little comfort. As he said them, a louder sob escaped her. She didn't say anything.

"Look, I know it's hard. I lost my parents too, but, you can't just stand here cry-"

"Kakashi, just shut up." She garbled, furiously wiping at her eyes with her sleeve. Kakashi fell silent, and sent a sad, sideways glance at her. Emiko's eyes were red and puffy, and her wet hair clung to her face. She made no attempt to move it.

Kakashi sighed, and grabbed the arm that was wiping her eyes, his hand sliding down to meet hers. She sent him a watery look; he just stared down at the memorial stone.

"This is what you told me over a year ago: I'm not going to make you listen to me. But, I'm going to hold your hand and help you through this. If you need a shoulder to lean on, an arm to protect you, or a friend to listen, that's me." He muttered, his voice barely loud enough to be heard over the rain. But, Emiko heard it. She squeezed his hand, made a fist with the other, and continued to sob without another word exchanged between the two.

;

A woman with long brown hair held up in two pigtails took slow strides towards the gates leading to the forest outside Konoha. She carried a backpack with everything she owned, having disposed or sold everything else. Her leaf headband glinted brightly in the sunlight as it casually hung at her waist. Her light blue eyes reflected the sky as she gazed upwards, paying little attention to where she was going. Luckily, her feet knew where to lead her.

Those feet slowed to a stop when she heard a very familiar voice come from behind her.

"Going somewhere?"

Kakashi leaned against a building near the edge of town, his hands stuffed in his pockets. He too looked at that sky.

"…."

He sighed at her lack of response, and got off the wall. She heard his footsteps coming behind her until he firmly planted his two hands on her two shoulders as he let out a loud sigh.

"Why are you doing this, Em?" he asked her, his voice barely more audible than a whisper.

"… You know why, Kakashi." She muttered, her gaze shifting from the sky to the ground at her feet. He tightened his grip on her shoulders.

"You don't have to go, you know."

"Yes, I do have to. You know that."

"It doesn't matter if you've sold your house. I have a couch."

"You're not funny."

"I'll even let you share my bed!"

"Haha, no."

"…"

"…"

A heavy silence was shared between them for several moments, until Kakashi spoke up once more.

"… Please don't leave."

"Kakashi…" Emiko sighed, her hands tightening into fists, as she tried to contain her emotions. She was never good with that particular shinobi rule.

"Listen; I know I'm being selfish, but it's just too hard to picture you gone. We've been best friends since we were six… You're the only one left…"

Emiko tensed. She wanted to turn around and give him a huge bear hug, and tell him how much he meant to her, and that she'll miss him more than anything else, and that she wishes she could just stay, but she couldn't. For once, she had to be the strong one.

"I'll be back, Kakashi. It's not like this is goobye."

"But who knows when you'll come back!"

"The point is, I'll be back." Her voice shook on the last word. She mentally swore as she felt the tears welling up; it was time to go.

"… Promise?" He whispered. She took a second to calm down, as a single tear managed to escape her eyelids. Single tear rolling down her cheek, she turned around to face him with a struggled smile.

"Promise."

And Kakashi's hands fell to his sides as the shoulders that he was holding with them disappeared.

;

Years passed.

And she didn't come back.

Kakashi still waited.

;

An empty-handed kunoichi slowly walked through the forest path, admiring the trees around her. It had only been a few years, but everything seemed aged. Her short brown hair was tied up in a messy ponytail and her lengthy bangs were parted to expose the lead symbol proudly residing on her headband. Her breath caught in her throat as she looked forward and saw the village gates in the distance.

'Konoha… It's been too long."