A Walk Down Memory Lane

Sesshy's Mistress

Summary: She was the last person he expected to see, but that didn't mean he wasn't grateful for the opportunity …

Disclaimer: I own nothing but this weird idea.

Note: I only do this for one of my favorite peoples on here, Kochou-hime! So, if I royally mess up and make one of the characters OOC, don't blame me!


...

"I was fourteen when I first ran away from home," Usagi stated while running her fingers along the wood of the table. She traced the designs that laced through the smooth surface while her memories carried her into the past. "I didn't really think it through. I just wanted to escape from it, from everything."

Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto leaned forward as she began her tale. They had been dying to hear what she had to say from the beginning, especially considering how she and Kakashi seemed to have some weird kind of relationship going on. It wasn't every day that their sensei teased a woman, let alone let her abuse him so easily.

"It didn't take long for someone to find me and take me back to the palace. Mother lectured me for over an hour about my responsibilities and duties to our people. It only made me want to escape more," She chuckled softly as her eyes softened. "I just wanted to be normal. I didn't want the duty that came with being royalty."

"The next time I left, I decided to leave entirely. I was able to pay my way onto a cargo ship bound for the mainland. The owner and captain was the father of a friend of mine, one outside of the royal circle," Serenity reached into her outfit and pulled out a small wallet. She opened it and pulled out a picture of a large group of people. She pointed to a blonde haired man.

"He's cute," Sakura stated softly as she took in his handsome features.

"His name is Motoki," Serenity faced the picture back towards herself, smiling gently at the group picture of her and her friends. "The girls are part of the clans I told you about earlier. They are like sisters, and he is like an older brother to me."

"Who is the other guy?" Naruto questioned. He had noticed a dark haired guy in the picture.

"Mamoru-san," Usagi stated after several seconds of silence. "He is the brother to my friend Rei, and we dated for a while."

"When did this happen?" Kakashi questioned with a raised brow. Usagi averted her eyes as a blush of embarrassment flooded her cheeks. Sakura wasn't sure, but she could have sworn that a look of guilt covered the Princess' features as well.

"A year after my return," Usagi admitted. Kakashi said nothing to this, so Usagi continued with her story. "Motoki's father assumed that the voyage would be enough to scare me into returning, but it didn't. I took the first opportunity that I could get to leave the ship and begin my new journey. I was in a new land and I was ready to start a new life free from responsibilities."

"He just let you leave?" Naruto questioned in surprise.

"No," Usagi shook her head. "I had to sneak off. He had no intention of allowing me to leave the ship from the start. I didn't think of it at the time, but even humoring the thought of aiding me would mean treason. I was so obsessed with my freedom, I failed to realize exactly who I would be hurting, or how many. Not only was this about my mother and brother, but my friends and my people." Usagi caught the gazes of Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura. They could tell she spoke the truth by the look in her eyes. There was true sorrow and regret.

"I ran into trouble almost immediately. My appearance was a dead giveaway," She chuckled at her own expense. "I wasn't fully trained either. I still struggled with my powers, especially when I was emotional. My escape from the ship had started a panic, and it didn't take long before the people in that are learned that someone of importance was lost. A group of rogue ninja took interest and ended up finding me quickly. They tracked me for a while, waiting until I was too exhausted before attacking."

Usagi lifted a hand to her shoulder as memories of that attack replayed over and over in her mind. It had been horrible. It had been her first real experience in battle. Before, when she was allowed to train in her abilities, her friends would go easy on her, regardless of her pleas for a true battle. "There were four of them. I never saw them coming. They came at me fast and fierce. I had decided to stay off the roads, travel just out of sight of them, and that was my undoing. I didn't know the area, and I had no shelter. I was an easy target."

"What did you do?" Naruto questioned.

"Nothing at first, I was too scared. One of the men managed to pin me to the ground. I was more valuable alive, so they couldn't damage me too much. He wanted to teach me a lesson, though," She tugged the side of her kimono open to show a jagged scar just below her collar bone.

"Oh my," Sakura gasped as her eyes took in the sight. Whoever had stabbed her ensured it was just a flesh wound, but a messy one. It looked like someone had inserted a blade and jerked it in every direction, leaving strands of scar tissue to reach out in every direction.

"He was enjoying himself as he inflicted the wound. I was so scared and angry," Usagi covered her shoulder again. "Angry at myself for not having prepared for something like that and for not being able to stop it. I just closed my eyes as he continued to dig the tip of the blade further in, and at some point, something inside of me sparked to life. I felt hot, and shoot pain shot through my body. When it ended, I opened my eyes and the guy was thrown off of me."

Usagi cupped her hands, fingers pointing skyward, and electricity sizzled and sparked off of each finger. "My fear awakened one of my powers. I had shocked him, so much in fact it stopped his heart. It was the first time I had ever hurt anyone, let alone kill them. I didn't enjoy the feeling, and that only caused things to get worse. I was almost hysterical and that just further fueled my powers."

"What about the other men?" Sasuke questioned with a raised brow.

"One was smart enough to leave, the other two wanted to avenge their friend," Usagi smiled in a self-incriminating gesture, one full of disgust, guilt, and anger. "They wouldn't leave even though I begged them to. When they came at me, I defended myself. They joined their friend in death, and I ran. I didn't stop running until my legs gave out and I collapsed on the ground. I couldn't outrun the guilt and fear." She closed her eyes and turned her head to the side.

"News of her abilities spread like wildfire through the lands," Kakashi picked up when he noticed that she needed a moment to herself. "Each land sent out a select group of ninja to find and retrieve her," He had placed his book down and looked upon Usagi in all seriousness. "Some were not doing it for the most virtue of reasons, either."

"No," Usagi shook her head. "They weren't." She caught his eyes and sent him a grateful look.

"Our Hokage sent Gai and myself, along with a few others, to search for her," Kakashi recalled. "We were to find her, protect her, and guide her back to the village. Unlike some other villages, our village wanted to protect her from being captured by others, ones that would have no shame in manipulating her at all costs for their village."

"But after the first incident, I learned to blend in better. I rid myself of my previous clothes, and dressed down. I still stayed off of the main road, but I traded my old clothes and jewelry for supplies. I didn't know everything, but I knew enough to get by, if just barely. I kept out of the sight of trouble for a few days, but my luck ran out again." Usagi picked back up the tale once more. She was still upset, but better able to recite her story.

"I spent some time practicing my abilities during my travels. It was hard, but I pushed myself. One day I pushed myself a little too hard. I managed to set fire to one of the forests and everything was quick to turn to flames. It caught a lot of attention, and not all of it was good. This time word had traveled about my unique abilities. The ones that came for me were more cautious," Usagi fiddled with the pendent around her neck out of habit. It had been a long time sense she had spoken of this to anyone. It wasn't a story she liked to share often because of how young, rash, and foolish she had been, but the story had good come out of it too.

"I wasn't able to protect myself this time, not like before. They captured me, but made sure not to harm me more than I was already was," she brushed her fingers over her scar. "Having never been wounded, I was not as aware of treatment for injuries. Infection had set in, and straining myself by testing and pushing my powers had only made it harder for the wound to heal."

"You were lucky though," Kakashi stated between another sip of tea. "Considering that the majority of trade between our countries takes place on the coastal borders of the Land of Fire."

"It helps that my mother and your Hokage have always held good relations between them," Usagi added as an afterthought. "But, yes, the port I entered was located on the coastal borders of the Land of Fire. When I was captured, I wasn't aware of just where I was or how far I had traveled in those days between my first encounter and my capture."

"When we eventually found her, she had been prisoner of a squad of ninjas from the land of sound for five days," Kakashi continued, trading off on the story with Usagi. "We found her based on rumors and incident reports brought on by her unique abilities and appearance. By then news of the Princess' disappearance had spread throughout the lands."

"It was crazy," Usagi laughed to herself. "I thought I was hallucinating when I first saw them. I was extremely weak and my fever had spiked incredibly. I heard the fighting before I saw it. It made my head ache horribly. Then, when it was all quiet, you and Gai appeared, bloody and battered from the battle."

"You didn't exactly look like sunshine and rainbows yourself," Kakashi grumbled with a narrowed, one-eyed glare. "Had we found you any later, you would have died."

Sakura, Sasuke, and Naruto watched as the two suddenly began to argue between themselves about who looked worse. All three chunin shared a look between them before rolling their eyes.

"Is it just me or is Kakashi acting weird?" Naruto questioned the two.

"It's not you," Sakura whispered back as the trio continued to watch the scene unfolding before them. "I've never really seen him show this much interest in anything other than that book of his. What do you think, Sasuke?"

"Hn," Sasuke grunted as he too watched the duo argue from across the table.

"Excuse me," the waitress from earlier approached the table. She appeared very nervous as she shifted her gaze to and from each person at the table. "I'm sorry, but you're disturbing the other customers. If you can't quiet down, we'll have to ask you to leave." She fiddled with her apron as her gaze jumped around to the other tables.

"I am so sorry!" Usagi suddenly stood and bowed to the waitress and the other tables. "WE are very sorry," She reached over and jerked Kakashi up by his vest before pushing him into a bow by the back of his head. "We'll take our leave now and leave you all to enjoy your treats. They are the best I have ever had!"

Smiling and giggling nervously, Usagi quickly pushed the group of shinobi out of the small shop and into the busy streets of Konoha. "Now where were we?" She questioned to herself. "Oh, I remember, you rescuing me."

"Needless to say, between Kakashi and Gai's skills, they easily overcame the other ninja and rescued me; however, my condition left me unable to travel. Kakashi and Gai volunteered to stay with me while the other two ninja's returned to the village with more help," Usagi giggled as she recalled when she first witnessed Gai and Kakashi's rivalry. "Gai insisted that he and Kakashi would complete a task to see who was more deserving to carry me into the nearest town for treatment." She rolled her eyes heavenward.

"It took nearly an hour for them to settle the matter and transport me," Usagi sent Kakashi a knowing look. "Needless to say, I finally had to decide who would carry me, and at the time, I didn't really care. I told them to settle it with rock, paper, scissors. Kakashi won, and Gai wanted to do best two of three, but by that time I was tired of waiting."

"What would have been a three day trek to return to the village resulted in two weeks," Kakashi sighed as he began to lead them to the training fields. He recalled Usagi's promise to spar with Gai and the others. "Because someone refused to follow the doctor's orders. Instead she wanted to try to escape three more times."

"Each time was a complete failure," Usagi sighed in disappointment. "Stupid sharingan eye…"

"You're one to complain," Kakashi grumbled as well. "I distinctly recall all of the pranks you pulled in your attempts to escape." He lifted his own hand to touch the back of his skull. His fingers easily found a long scar void of hair.

"Is it still there?" Usagi demanded to know as she danced around his back and attempted to see the scar she had unintentionally left him. Unfortunately, her short stature prevented her from catching sight of it, and she pouted when Kakashi refused to humor her at all. "You deserved it for hog tying me!"

"If you would have stayed in bed like the doctor ordered then I wouldn't have had to restrain you!" His argument caused Usagi to blush down to her neck and her glare was enough that any normal man would have crumbled beaneathe it.

"If you weren't so rude and ..and…rough with me! I am a lady, thank you very much," Usagi stomped her foot, causing her to seem anything but ladylike. "You handle a lady gently and with respect, especially if she is INJURED!" She slammed her index finger into his chest with each word, making sure to place heavy emphasis on the last one.

"Maybe if you acted more like a lady then I wouldn't have mistaken you for a –" Kakashi was cut off as electricity shot from her finger and into his body, sending him flying back. His body slid on the dirt road, and many people had to jump out of the way to avoid colliding with him.

"How dare you," Usagi began to stomp after him but a figure appeared behind her and restrained her.

"How good it is to see you again, Princess," Sarutobi grinned as he locked his arms around Usagi's waist. "How long has it been?"

Usagi stopped her struggles in surprise at the familiar voice. "Saru-kun!" She turned in his embrace and hugged him tightly, causing the taller man to chuckle. "If you're here so is… " Usagi turned her attention to the grinning woman behind Sarutobi. "KURENAI-CHAN!" Usagi managed to wiggle her way out of Sarutobi's grip and launch herself at the older woman who Usagi considered an idol.

"Usa-chan," Kurenai grinned as she returned the blonde's embrace. "I see that you and Kakashi are reconnecting." Kurenai grinned and spared the Japanese princess a suggestive wink. Usagi huffed in annoyance but then grinned.

"I see you and Saru-kun are inseparable as always," She said in a sing song voice.

"Touche," Sarutobi grinned around his cigarette when he noticed the two women now exchanging annoyed glares of embarrassment. "She has you there, Kurenai."

"Well," Kakashi spoke as he returned to his students. "Since you two are here, do you mind occupying her for a while?" He dusted himself off as if being thrown down the streets of Konoha was an everyday event for him.

"Actually," Sarutobi began to argue but Usagi interrupted him.

"Acctually, I need to go and visit a few more people," She grinned from ear to ear as she pulled a list free from her sleeve. When she opened it, the end of the scroll bounced off of the ground and rolled a few feet away. "As well as a few errands that I need to run. I can get them done faster without you slowing me down." She ran her eyes over the parchement before rolling it back up and storing it away.

"Slowing you down?" Kakashi questioned sarcastically.

"Yes," Usagi nodded and placed her hands on her hips. "Do you mind informing Gai that I will catch up with him later. I need to speak privately with Kurenai for a while. We have so much girl talk to catch up on before I start on my list." With that said, Usagi waved goodbye to the others, grabbed Kurenai, and proceeded to pull her down the street and out of sight, much to the other woman's surprise and protest.

6 Hours Later

"It took you long enough," Kakashi spoke as Usagi appeared from behind him. "How did your visitation go?"

"His condition is worse than I had assumed it would be," Her voice was filled with sorrow as Usagi took a seat next to Kakashi atop the roof of the Hokage's building. "Itachi waved off my concerns, but I fear he'll succumb to his illness before much longer." Her heart broke for the man who had given everything to save his village.

"Could you do anything?" Kakashi questioned. He was one of the very few who knew of what had truly occurred. Still, Itachi's actions in regards to Naruto were confusing to him. It made it hard for Kakashi to sympathize with the Uchiha. "Ami ensured that I brought enough medication to help him until my next visit, but his body is rejecting my abilities. I could barely slow the process this time." She looked at her hands in sorrow.

"Thank you for what you said," Kakashi quickly changed the subject. "I doubt he understood, but you tried." He was referring to their earlier discussion with Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke. "I doubt he realizes how far his obsession has carried him or where it could lead."

"I agree," Usagi sighed sadly. Her heart broke for Sasuke Uchiha. His story was a sad one. Two brothers torn apart by duty and a sense of responsibility. "I wish Itachi would be honest with him."

"It can't be helped," Kakashi shook his head.

"I know, but I can hope," Usagi leaned her shoulder against his as the two looked down to the city of Konoha. It was beautifully lit up that night. "I visited with Jiraiya as well." She added. "And Tsunade."

"How are they?" Kakashi questioned without really caring to know.

"Tsunade is still running from her past, and Jiraiya is working on his latest novel," The last part was said with disgust. "He actually wanted me to model for his new character." That caught Kakashi's attention, and he directed his eye towards her suggestively. Usagi chose to ignore the look for the time being.

"I paid a visit to Orochimaro, too," She said this softly with nervous looks directed towards Kakashi.

"That was dangerous of you," Kakashi stated stiffly.

"It was requested by a friend," Usagi defended herself.

"Which friend?" Kakashi questioned.

"That doesn't matter. It was a request and I granted it. I can take care of myself, Kakashi. A lot has changed over the years – "

"You comprehension of danger obviously hasn't," Kakashi shook his head. "You continuously place yourself into situation that could result in more harm than good."

"Aw," Usagi hugged him to her. "I didn't know you cared." She grinned in her own goofy way that always seemed to throw Kakashi off guard.

"I don't," Kakashi shrugged and Usagi's smile faded.

"Figures," Usagi leaned back, allowing her hands to prop her up as she stared into the sky. "You're still mad, aren't you?" She tilted her head in his direction and watched his reaction closely. To any other person, they wouldn't have recognized it, but there was a subtle change.

"We are who we are," Kakashi answered.

"Ya know," Usagi licked her lips while her legs kicked back and forth over the side of the roof. "Mamoru reminded me a lot of you." Usagi smiled softly when she noticed Kakashi stiffen at her words. "Both of you are so serious, sometimes too serious, can't take a joke, regardless of how harmless it is, and neither of you think I can handle myself." She laughed softly to herself when she noticed the downward turn of his lips.

"Really," it was a statement, not a question.

"Yeah," Usagi sat back up and stared back towards the city. "When I returned, my mother was so furious." She laughed as she recalled how red in the face her mother was. "You should have seen the look on her face when I openly rejected the throne before the kingdom. I thought she would have a heart attack there in front of everyone."

"She wasn't happy with that decision?" Kakashi questioned already knowing the answer. It was the reason Usagi had left and, though he would never admit it aloud, her leaving had affected him greatly.

"Not in the least," Usagi broke out into laughter. "I was forbidden to leave my room for the first month of my return. The majority of the guards were stationed around my room. The only people I saw were my friends, and that was just because they were the heirs for their powers."

"And Mamoru?" Kakashi questioned.

"Yeah," Usagi nodded. "He and Ami are the best doctors within the country. They both frequent the palace quite often. I was two weeks into my punishment when I decided to play sick. Mamoru was called in, and he quickly recognized what I was trying to do. I managed to talk him into playing along, and he only did it because of my friendship with Rei. So, I continued to play ill, he continued to play doctor, and before I know it, we'd bonded. Mother eventually figured out what was happening, though. When she had enough, I was told I would be enduring another ball."

"I'm sure you loved that," Kakashi idly commented.

"Indeed," Usagi said sarcastically. "I didn't feel like going, didn't want to go, and definitely didn't want to put up with any suitors. So, I asked Mamoru to take me. I was shocked when he agreed. Mother was surprised too, pleasantly so, and took it the wrong way. Next thing we know, she's setting us up for private meetings several times a week. It was awkward. I wasn't ready for a relationship, not after… well… you know." She had the decency to avert her gaze.

"Mother insisted, so I tried for her. I just couldn't connect with him like that. He, on the other hand, was persistent to make it work. It was an honor for him and his family, but I didn't want to be an obligation or a trophy. I … I don't know what I want anymore," She smiled faintly. "I eventually refused to humor mother any longer. She was furious as was Mamoru, and my friend, Rei, refused to have anything to do with me for the longest of times. That's when I decided to become an ambassador. I finally gave my mother an ultimatum, either accept the inevitable, or push me away again."

"She didn't believe me at first, but when she realized the truth, she finally surrendered to the truth," Usagi touched the pendent around her neck. "I began my training with my friends and I studied harder than ever before, and you know the rest."

"I was surprised that you took so long to return to Konoha," Kakashi nodded once she ended her tale. "I'd heard of you visiting the other villages, and rumors had spread about your newest abilities. There were times, too, when I felt you were close." Out of the corner of his eye, he could see her sheepish look. "What I don't understand is why you decided now of all times."

"Regret," She answered honestly. "Not for what I did. It had to be done, Kakashi." She reached out and placed her hand over his. He pulled back, and a flash of hurt came over her. "But for the consequences it created. I never meant to hurt you, but I couldn't abandon them, not my mother, not my brother, not my people. They needed me and they still do, but now I have freedom, more than I've ever had before. I don't expect you to forgive me for going back, but I won't apologize for it. I just came … I don't know why I came because I already knew how you felt. You made it clear last time." Usagi stood so she was on the edge of the roof. She looked down at Kakashi with misty eyes.

"I'm sorry," She bent down and placed a kiss on his temple. She lingered for a moment before pulling back. Tears leaked down the sides of her cheeks as she turned from him and made her leave. It wouldn't do to stay here and suffer or make him suffer. She turned to look at him one last time before disappearing and leaving him to himself.

"It was very nice to meet you all," Usagi smiled towards Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura. "I can tell that the three of you will grow to become great ninja's. Konoha should be proud to call you theirs," Usagi bowed to the three who returned the gesture.

Usagi's visitation was shorter than expected. Originally it had been planned that she would stay a total of three weeks, but within a week, she had finished her business and prepared to make her leave. It came as a surprise to everyone exactly how fast she was ready to leave the village. Some took it as an offense, but those that knew her had already figured out the reason. They understood and tried to help hide from her the dirty remarks that had started to float through the air.

"Are you sure that you won't stay longer?" The Hokage questioned. He had hoped she could stay longer.

"Unfortunately, I need to move on," Usagi smiled sadly towards all of the people she had grown so close to and to those who she had been able to reconnect with during her stay. Her words held more than one meaning, but only a few recognized the other meaning for what it was and what it truly meant. There was no anger or accusations in her tone, just understanding, and maybe that is what hurt him the most. "I hope to return someday soon."

"Konoha will always welcome you with open arms," The Hokage spoke fondly.

"Thank you," Usagi bowed before everyone one last time. "For everything." When she stood back up, her eyes connected one last time with Kakashi. She held his gaze for only a second before a portal opened behind her. Waving goodbye, she stepped back and disappeared within the swirling vortex. It closed behind her immediately.

"Good job, Kakashi," Kurenai growled under her breath as she passed the other Jonin.

Kakashi said nothing as all of the others sent him looks as well, even Gai who was normally in good humor and spirits with the silver ninja. When his students sent him quizzical looks, Kakashi merely answered them the now empty words that had echoed through his head painfully over the past few years.

"We are who we are," He could hear her soft and sorrowful voice as if it had been just yesterday when she spoke those parting words. Words that had caused him more pain than he had ever expected. She had made her choice to return to her lands, to her people, and leave behind all of those who she had met and come to care for within the Land of Fire, even him.


...

So, I had not planned for the story to take this kind of turn, but it did and I am soooo sorry. I am marking this complete, but, who knows, one day I may add one last chapter to make it a bit happier. Note: I have been sick and I do not think this was as well written as it could have been, but I gave up after the third rewrite. Sorry!

Please let me know what you think. I would appreciate it. Also, if there is enough positive feedback about a happy ending, it could… I don't know, inspire me to make it happy! :)

PS: I know Team 7 shouldn't be chunin when the Hokage is still alive, but I needed them to be in order to have this work out. So the Hokage is living (Orochimaru delayed his attack/failed, whichever makes you feel better), and Team 7 and everyone else that made chunin are chunin! Don't like it, oh well!

Sesshy's Mistress

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