Within the night Aki was given a place to stay at the Konoha hospital. It was her first time in such a large village surrounded by more strangers than she could count on her fingers. Aki was certainly accustomed to strangers. In fact, she and her mother would often come across them as they journeyed through the forest. But this time she was the stranger to urban life. This new urban life for Aki was comprised of a real hospital just as any book would describe it. White walls with white sheets sleekly covering a white mattress.

The moment she awoke a familiar presence along with a few new ones surrounded her. Aki let out a small screech and quickly hid her face under the soft blanket. To the people surrounding her, the girl no younger than sixteen or fifteen seemed childish. Her giddy behavior made everyone question if she had the intelligence to really comprehend what had happened to her the night before.

"It's okay child," the husky voice of an old man coaxed Aki out of the sheets. "I am Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Hokage of Konohagakure. You may address me as the Sandaime. May I ask your name?"

Aki looked around the room and saw three people. The boy with silver hair in a dog mask from the night before. A woman with a large chest, light blonde hair, a soft purple diamond on her forehead, and hazel eyes. Then lastly the short man in white and red robes who called himself the Sandaime.

"Sandaime-sama?" Aki repeated in a confused tone. "I'm in Konohagakure?…"

She seemed to be struggling with the concept of everything.

"Hm," Aki let out with a lost face. "I'm Aki and I want to see-"

The bloody face of Aki's mother's decapitated head suddenly emerged into her brain. Before anyone knew it Aki was breaking down into loud tears like a baby deprived of its milk. She really was just a child.

"It's alright," the Sandaime soothed as he patted Aki's head. "She's in a better place."

"No," Aki sniffled.

"What do you mean no?" the blonde woman asked.

"What?" Aki asked as if she had forgotten what she had just said. "Who are you? Who is he? Why is he wearing a mask? Why does he not speak?"

"This is the man that saved you," the Sandaime explained.

"That's no man. He's just a boy."

"You're right, he is. Would you feel more comfortable if he took his mask off?"

Aki nodded.

"But you have to promise not to give his identity of his mask away."

"I promise," Aki suddenly smiled and held her pinky out towards the old man who took it in a loose pinky promise.

The boy then revealed his face and introduced himself as "Hatake Kakashi."

"That's not fair," Aki pouted. "You have another mask."

Kakashi said nothing.

In order to interrupt the silence that had settled the blonde woman said, "And I am Tsunade, I will be checking up on you from time to time. And I also believe these are yours."

Tsunade passed Aki her missing piercings who took them with all the glee in the world.

"I was wondering where these were!" Aki exclaimed while bouncing on the bed. "You know my mom pierced my ears for me. It didn't hurt as much as I thought it would, but once I had one I wanted so much more. I guess it's because it's the only thing that really gave me a taste of the world, you know? So-"

"You utilized those as weapons," Kakashi stopped Aki's rambling. "Who exactly are you?"

"Me? I'm Aki."

"That's enough for now," the Sandaime commanded. "Kakashi, you know your mission. I will be taking my leave for now."

"Aki," Tsunade began while the Sandaime continued to speak to Kakashi. "Come back to the hospital every night, for now. There are still some things we have to look over, got it?"

Aki nodded.

"Kakashi will escort you around town and bring you back. It's just precautionary measures since your not a citizen, visitor, or a real guest."

"What about the price?"

"Um…That's something we'll work out."

"Okay."

Within a minute Aki was left with the ever so quiet Kakashi who just stood beside her bed as still as a rock. Was that even humanly possible? Did he not feel awkward at all? None of those questions came across on Aki's face as she mindlessly made shapes out of her blanket with a silly smile. Kakashi absolutely thought this girl was pathetic.

"Did you think about it?" Aki suddenly inquired with large inquisitive eyes.

"What?" Kakashi questioned.

"My question from last night. If plants could bleed, how would you eat them?"

Kakashi did not make a single sound.

"You're no fun."

"I'm not here for fun."

"Then what are you hear for?"

"My mission which is to watch over you."

Aki shifted in her seat uncomfortably. Kakashi's entire being was almost intimidating. She could tell he was incredibly intelligent and someone of high ranking in society whether he agreed or not. He also was someone with secrets and a lot of things to hide. Kakashi was dark and bleeding everywhere. Just like Aki's mother had been even before her death. And it all made Aki want to scream.

Aki's train of rambunctious thoughts were ceased by harsh thump on her window. She excitedly jumped out of her bed to see what it was and at the bottom of the building was a bird. A bird with its brains splatter all over the yellow dirt. Aki gasped and Kakashi rushed to her side to see what it was. He was expecting her to shrivel up in fear like any other human would, but that did not happen. Instead Aki began to laugh. She was laughing. Giggling at the sight of a dead animal.

"Don't you see it, Kakashi-san?"

"The dead bird?"

"It's not dead! It's flying!"

Kakashi stared at the girl as if she had lost her mind.

"I wish I could fly like that. It's so beautiful."

Aki's eyes softened as Kakashi's body tensed. Something was definitely wrong with this girl.

Aki still tired from last night's events crawled back into her bed and fell asleep quickly. This gave Kakashi the chance to leave the absurd atmosphere that the young girl had set up. As he strolled through the streets he couldn't get the image of Aki laughing at the alleged beauty of the brainless bird.

"Oi Kakashi!" a boy in a green spandex suit called.

"Gai," Kakashi greeted.

"Let's do one of our youthful rival challenges!"

"No thanks."

"Ah, I knew my chic and cool Kakashi would say that! So the Blue Beast of Konoha thought of a Plan B."

"Plan B?"

"A barbecue dinner with our dear classmates!"

"Sure."

"I was expecting you to say no, that's why I thoughy of a Plan C- Wait. What?"

"I'll go to dinner."

"Really?"

"What time?"

"Around seven."

"See you then. Do you mind if I bring someone?"

"Bring someone?!"

If Gai wasn't surprised before, well, he sure was now.

"She's new to the village and around our age."

"SHE?! KAKASHI HAS A DATE! I HAVE TO TELL EVERYBODY! OH THE SPRINGTIME OF YOUTH! Kakashi! You have beaten me to love! You win this round!"

"Wait! Gai!"

Before Kakashi could take any real action, Gai had already left on his task to inform nearly the entire village of Kakashi's potential girlfriend. Kakashi let out a large sigh as he saw the sun begin to set. He would have to collect Aki soon if he was going to take her to dinner.

By the time Kakashi had reached the hospital the sun had completely set and it was exactly seven o' clock. They were obviously going to be late. Kakashi pushed the sliding door open.

"Hey," Kakashi began, "we're going to dinner with some friends. Tsunade-sama prepared clothes for you- What are you doing?!"

Kakashi caught Aki climbing through the window. He dropped the clothes that rested in his arms and flashed over to the girl who jumped out. Luckily he caught her by the waist and pulled her down to the ground.

"What the hell are you thinking?" he asked sternly.

"I just wanted to fly too," Aki said innocently. "Like the bird. Maybe I could be like, mother."

"That bird is dead. So is your mother."

"That bird was not dead! And mother is most certainly not dead either!"

"Are you a fucking idiot or something…"

Kakashi ran his fingers through his hair.

"I'm going to dinner with some friends, but only if you want to go. I have clothes for you to change into if you want to come. You'll have to hurry. We're late."

"Okay."

It was as if Aki had forgotten that she was about to commit suicide just now. Kakashi couldn't believe that such a girl existed. At first he thought that she just had the mind of a child. A mind that could be fixed by opening up to the real world. However, she was just someone who was absolutely insane. A total nutcase.

"I'll wait outside for you to change. Don't try anything stupid."

"Okay!"

Aki giggled as she sprung up ecstatic to finally get to see the village. She quickly changed into a long white skirt that stopped right below her knees as bottoms. On top she wore a fitted black, sleeveless turtle neck. It seemed that Tsunade was thoughtful enough to give the girl a little bit of simple makeup which Aki graciously experimented with. And to top it all off, Aki decorated her head with two neatly crafted french braids that hung past her chest in pigtails. Aki finally came out and she swore Kakashi almost stuttered.

"Let's go," he said.

"Okay!"

Aki hooked her arm around his elbow as he lead the way. Kakashi wanted to complain, but felt that he would let this one slide for now. After all she was just a child. Hopefully she would fit in with the rest and alleviate some of the stress on his hands.

Golden eyes were distracted by every little thing they saw. Kakashi watched the teen look at literally everything. Lanterns, shops, restaurants, children, dango, children eating dango. Worst of all was the fact she was still hooked onto his arm causing people to look his way. Kakashi was not unknown in Konoha. In fact, he was rather famous in ways more than one.

"Isn't that friend-killer Kakashi?" a girl asked her friend.

"Yea," the friend replied. "Isn't he handsome? He's so mysterious."

"Look, he has a girl."

Whispers reached Kakashi's sensitive ears and he tried his best to block it out. Once they reached their destination Kakashi's gently pried away from Aki and entered the building. He took off his shoes and did not look back at the girl who was copying his moves exactly.

"Sorry I'm late," Kakashi apologized as he approached his classmates.

Aki shyly came forth to the group.

"Is that the unlucky girl that you're dating?" a boy with needle in his mouth asked. "She's actually kind of cute."

"I'm not dating her," Kakashi sighed knowing this would happen. "I was asked by the Hokage to look after her. Come here and sit, Aki. No need to be scared."

Kakashi patted the spot next to him and she slowly took her seat avoiding eye contact with everyone. She had never interacted with so many people at once before like this. How was a sixteen year old girl supposed to act around other sixteen year olds? Would it be like in books, where they would gossip about the one girl who accidentally got pregnant? Or maybe they would talk about the latest movie with that one incredible actor in it.

"So is your name Aki?" a girl with red eyes asked. "I'm Yuhi Kurenai. It's nice to meet you."

"I'm Maito Gai!" Gai yelled from the other side of the table. "If you are not Kakashi's girlfriend, would you do the pleasure of being my youthful partner and possible bride?"

"Shut up Gai," the boy with a senbon in his mouth said. "I'm Shiranui Genma."

"Sarutobi Asuma," another boy introduced. "My father told me about you."

"Sandaime-sama?" Aki questioned quietly.

"That's right," Asuma smiled.

"Tsunade-sama also told me of you!" a girl with short black hair added politely. "I'm Shizune!"

Aki smiled at the group who took her in so easily. For the first time Kakashi noticed how tense Aki was. Maybe she wasn't all that different. Perhaps she was human. But still weird as fuck. He still found it rather endearing to see Aki act somewhat normal. Almost like he had made a breakthrough.

"Can I ask you guys something?" Aki let out as they began eating.

Kakashi thought she was going to ask her famous question about bleeding plants, but he was wrong.

"When dead birds fly, where do they go?"