Chapter 1: A Little Too Late
Paring: Kakashi X Kurenai, Kakashi and Rin (minor)
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, yet…
Today is the day; I've finally decided to tell Kurenai about my feelings for her. I'm going to ask her out tonight. I promised myself that I would tell her today! - Not tomorrow, nor next week but today! I laughed at myself as I soon realized that I was thinking of her again. This was very unusual. I've never felt this way before. I was acting like a lovesick teenager, day dreaming about a certain girl… my colleague, Kurenai Yuuhi. Who happened to be very attractive in her own small, but special ways.
I laughed silently again, as I found myself acting so childish. I started to imagine Minato-sensei, Rin and Obito laughing at me and saying:
"Whoa, who are and what the hell have you done to Hatake Kakashi?"
Or maybe asking me stupid questions like…
"Kakashi, is that you?"
I also started to imagine Rin crying and saying:
" Do you really love her, Kakashi? What does she have that I don't?"
To be honest, Rin was actually beautiful. She is very lovely and I hate to see her cry. I remember when she confessed to me and I turned her down. She cried and it sort of made me feel guilty. I sort of have this thing about girls when I see them cry or when they start to show their puppy eyes. I guess things like that always work on me…I don't really understand why I turned her down. She's really nice and I can't believe I did that to her… I guess maybe I was just too scared that if I'd start a relationship with her, Obito would haunt me during my sleep. –And of course, I do not want that to happen. I mean, he's my best friend. (Even if we fight a lot back when we were kids. Back when he was still alive)
I finally snapped out of my reverie when I saw the time on my wall clock. – It was already 7am! Shoot! I'm late for work! I started to panic. I quickly got out of bed and put my working clothes on.
I ran as fast as I could, hoping that Tsunade-sama won't beat me up for being late for the meeting. I guess she wouldn't because they're all used that already…
I was too busy thinking about my schedule, my clumsy side decided to show up…
As I was running, I accidentally bumped my fellow jonin, Kurenai. –That's embarrassing!
"Ouch!" She reacted. "Kakashi, could you please watch where you're going?"
"Oh… um… Gomene, Kurenai" I apologized as I helped her stand up.
"Nah. That's alright, Kakashi." She said as she wiped the dust off her skirt. "You're quite in a hurry today, Kakashi. Hmmm… let me guess you're late again, aren't you?"
"No, actually I… uh…" I tried to protest but I didn't succeed.
"Well, what else is new? You're always late, Kakashi." She giggled.
The truth is… I wasn't always late. I wasn't always like this. I used to be the PERFECT shinobi, as some people would say. I was always punctual. It's hard to believe, but I hated being late before. I was the kind of shinobi who doesn't care about anything but his missions. I don't value my emotions and I keep what I feel to myself. But I guess everything changed ever since Obito and Minato-sensei died. I learned to love… I learned to value the people around me and after sometime… I found myself in-love with my colleague, Yuuhi Kurenai. In fact, I also learned that my precious friend Rin was in-love with me. But I turned her down. I had no intention of hurting her but I had to be honest with her. I had to tell her that I was in-love with someone else.
"So, where are you going, anyway, Kakashi?" She broke the silence between us.
"Oh, I have a meeting with Tsunade-sama. She wants to talk to me about Naruto's training session."
"Naruto? I thought he left to train with Jiraiya-san."
"Oh, that! He just came back yesterday. I was really surprised to see him. It's been a long time since he left."
"Oh, that's great. Tell him I said hi and welcome back."
"Sure."
"Well, I guess you've gotta get going or you'll be late for your meeting! You don't want Tsunade-sama to get mad at you, do you?"
"Right…Good point."
"So, I guess I'll see you later, then?"
"Umm… Sure. Ja"
"Ja"
I was about to leave when she called after me.
"Hey, Kakashi. I know this isn't the right time to ask this but do you want to come over to my house? Maybe later at lunch" She asked as she flushed crimson-red.
"Sure." I replied.
"Thanks." She said as she gave me a warm smile. Then turned around and walked away, leaving me dumbfounded.
-O-
I ran as fast as I could, hoping that Tsunade won't get mad at me. I was definitely late for work and Kurenai made it worse. But even though, I can't really blame her. Besides, she turned my bad day into a beautiful one. So, I guess if Tsunade gets mad at me, I'm actually the one to blame.
"Kakashi!" Tsunade said as she gave me an intimidating glare. "You… are late… AGAIN!"
"Well… what the hell do you expect? That's Sensei!" Naruto muttered.
"Gomen, Gomen, -hehe…" I gave them a childish grin, though they can't see it because of my mask.
"Never mind. That's okay. Just explain your training method to Naruto."
"So, what's our first lesson, sensei?" Naruto asked enthusiastically. This was new to me. Usually, Naruto complains a lot even though I haven't discussed the objectives and the instructions for my training session yet. I guess my students aren't kids anymore. They sure have grown… Things sure have changed…
"Well, first, we have to practice your fighting skills. I want to know what you've learned from Jiraiya-san." I said. "Do you remember this?" I asked as I showed him the bell that I used for o training session, a few years ago.
"Oh…great. That again!"
"Well, the objectives are the same. I've made it harder to test your skills. I can't go easy on you anymore. So, I'll see you tomorrow morning, at eight."
"Aww… Can't we start today?" He whined
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I'm busy today and you need Sakura's help but she's not available. So, we'll start tomorrow morning."
"Fine…"
"Bye!"
"Bye"
-O-
I went to Kurenai's house. – It was full of flowers. I knocked through her door and she opened it then gave me a warm smile.
"Would you like anything?" She asked. "Maybe a drink or something."
"No, thanks. I don't want to trouble you, Kurenai."
"Oh, it's nothing. Would you like some tea?"
"I guess tea would be fine."
After some minutes, the tea was ready. She handed me the cup. Then said:
"Care it's hot!"
I placed the cup on the table and pulled my mask down, revealing my face. I saw her expression. She was shocked.
"What" I asked.
"Nothing. It's just umm… your face… it looks …"
"What? Horrible? Hideous? Distracting? I can put it back if you want to."
"No. Um… Don't. I think you look great, Kakashi." She said as she flushed crimson-red.
"You think so huh?"
"Yeah. But don't get cocky you're not 'that' cute"
"So, why'd you invite me? What's the occasion?" I asked, making her blush. "It's not you're birthday, is it?"
"No it's not. And I probably shouldn't tell you cause you'd might think that I'm very shallow for doing this. Besides it's not that important." She stated, looking away to hide her blush.
"Come on tell me." I provoked as I placed my hand on top of hers. I looked into her eyes and she looked back at mine.
"What?"
"Huh?"
"You were staring at me is there something wrong?"
"No, nothing. I just remembered something. But it's nothing, really."
Flashback:
Rin, Minato-sensei and I just got back from our mission… Things weren't going so well ever since Obito died. Rin hasn't spoken to me ever since we left and Minato-sensei was blaming himself for what had happened. If you come to think of it…I was the one to blame. Minato-sensei assigned me to be the leader for this mission but I failed. Sure, the enemy was killed but Obito also died and it was my entire fault. Minato-sensei trusted me but I failed. I was a failure and I don't deserve to be a shinobi. I don't deserve sensei's trust.
I was to busy blaming myself I didn't realize that tears were running down my cheeks. I wiped my tears away hoping, no one saw me crying, when a girl with black hair and crimson eyes approached me and asked:
"Hello. Why are you crying? Is there something wrong?" She asked. She caught me.
"N-no I wasn't!" I lied. "There's just some dirt in my eye and it sort of itches."
For one moment, I realized, I sounded just like Obito. This made me feel sadder, of course. It felt like I wanted to cry some more. But I wanted to stop. I hated crying. To me, it was a kind of sign that symbolizes, low and shallow people.
"No, there isn't! You're crying and I know it! Stop lying!" She started to cry, making me feel guilty.
"I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?" I asked as I offered her my handkerchief.
"I didn't mean to cry. I just hate people who lie to me. That's all." She wiped her tears away and stared at me. I noticed that her eyes were crimson just like Obito's.
Is she an Uchiha? Does she have sharingan?
"Do you have sharingan?" I asked.
"No, I'm not an Uchiha. My eyes are just naturally crimson. I do admit that many people accuse me of having one but I don't. Although, sometimes I wish I do."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"That's alright. How about you? Do you have sharingan? You're left eye's crimson"
"Yes. I do have sharingan. But I'm not an Uchiha."
"Huh? That's weird. How'd you get it?"
"My friend who died recently gave it to me. Without his sharingan, my left eye would probably have no use by now."
"Oh… you're friend must be really nice. I bet he's you're best friend, isn't he."
"Yes...He's my best friend…"
"So, what's your name?"
"I'm Hatake Kakashi."
"I'm Yuuhi Kurenai, nice to meet you."
-End of Flashback-
"Hey, Kakashi. Are you alright?" Kurenai asked, making me snap out of my reverie.
"Yeah… I'm fine. So, are you ready to tell me why you asked me to come over."
"I told you it's not that important!"
"Come on Kurenai…"
"Oh, fine. I'll tell you. Asuma just asked me out. We're going out tonight." She exclaimed. "Isn't it great."
'So, she decided to have lunch with me to tell me that she and Asuma are dating?'
"So, you think it's funny don't you? Go on laugh all you want I don't care."
"I… I'm so happy for you, Kurenai. I… hope you'll have I great time with him." I leaned forward to give her a hug.
"Arigato."
I have to admit, it hurt me a lot. I wanted to ask her out tonight but it's to late. She's with Asuma now and I can't do anything about it. I guess I was late again. I failed… again. Damn it.
P.S. So, That's my first chapter. Hope you liked it. Pls. send your reviews. Don't kill me if it's not that good this is my first KAKAKURE fanfic. Hope you enjoyed it!
~johnkazama896