* Chapter 2 *

Where has my heart gone?
An uneven trade for the real world
Oh I, I want to go back to
Believing in everything and knowing nothing at all

Where has my heart gone?
Trapped in the eyes of a stranger
Oh I, I want to go back to
Believing in everything

Evanescence: Field of innocence -


Sighing, Kakashi rubbed his temples and tried to ignore the itching in his – Obito's – eye. The past two days had been exhausting, even thought he hadn't actually done much save waiting and waiting and waiting. He had thought this endless sitting around would stop as soon as the girl woke up, but quite the contrary had happened.

During the past two days, the medics and nurses had run countless tests on the girl to figure out what was wrong with her and, respectively, deciphering her DNA to check whether her abilities might be a kekkei genkai. None of that had gone as simply and swiftly as they had wanted it to, though, for the girl wouldn't let anyone touch her and refused to talk to anyone.

They didn't even get close enough to take a look at her injuries, for every time a new, unknown person entered the room, she would retreat to the farthest corner of the room and growl at them until they let her alone. Kakashi knew it wasn't because she was really afraid of them in person, she was only afraid of the touch, and of experienced the same thing that had happened when looking at Kakashi. It was obvious that she couldn't control it at all: every time she looked at someone she absorbed all of their memories, with no exceptions. So she had refused to look at anyone and struggled so hard every time they had tried to persuade her to let them check her through that they had felt impelled to put her under a heavy genjutsu to examine her.

What unsettled him the most was her general behaviour, though. He had expected her to go into shock, to scream, to cry. She didn't do any of that. She just kept staring at the walls with a blank face, mostly not portraying any emotions at all.

Kakashi's head jerked up as another medic entered the room. "Any news?"

The medic shook his head. "Unfortunately, no. We've been searching for some barrier that might block her memories, but there is none to be found. We can only assume that the amnesia was caused by the shock and the ...previous events."

"And that means...?"

The medic shrugged. "Maybe she will remember one day. Maybe she will never remember anything. As for the other issue...we cannot help her with that. It seems as if she doesn't consciously do it, and we have no idea how to stop her from doing it. She'll just have to deal with it." He shrugged again, showing his indifference. "We'll release her tomorrow – her wounds heal well, and there is no reason to keep her here where she obviously doesn't feel comfortable."

Kakashi raised his eyebrows. He thought they didn't want to release her because she didn't feel comfortable but rather because they wanted to get rid of her – she did cause a lot of work and trouble, after all.

"She has got nowhere to go," Kakashi remarked quietly.

"That's regrettable, but not our problem. We are a hospital, not an orphanage." The medic didn't even notice the angry glare Kakashi shot him – he was already halfway out the door.


Kakashi knocked several times before he opened the door, not bothering to wait for a response. The girl hadn't been as averse to his presence as she had been with others and wasn't as afraid of looking at him. He was sure she didn't trust him at all, but she had gotten used to him sitting on the windowsill in complete silence, all the while reading his infamous favourite books. Mostly, she had just ignored him, yet sometimes he had thought he had caught her glimpse at him – or rather, his book – with some curiosity.

"Yo," he greeted her, and she nodded, acknowledging his greeting. Kakashi claimed his usual spot by the window, while she continued to stare at one of the walls. As soon as she realised he didn't take out his books, however, she narrowed her eyes at him, waiting for him to say something.

"Okay, kid, here's how it is," Kakashi sighed and scratched the back of his head. "The medics don't know what to do anymore and intend to release you tomorrow. Now you've got two options: One..." He held up his index finger to emphasize his words. "...you leave and wander around out there alone, not knowing where to turn to, or, two" – second finger was lifted – "you come with me."

Every inch of her body tensed and she looked at him warily.

"Why would I do that?" Kakashi was surprised when she spoke up.

"Tsunade-sama, our Hokage, is a very skilled medic-nin - most likely the best. If there is anyone in this world who could help you regain your memories, then it's her." Kakashi paused, letting the words sink in. "It's your decision, kiddo. If you want to come, meet me at the entrance at noon."

With those words, he got up again and left the girl to think about his offer.


When Kakashi neared the hospital entrance – an hour and a half late, of course, because one had to cherish the traditions – he spotted the lonely figure at once. She looked terribly forlorn in her wide, black cloak and with her arms wrapped tightly around her petite body.

"Yo," he said lazily. "Sorry I'm late. I'm afraid I got lost on the path of life."

She didn't seem to be surprised that he was late – then again, considering that she had seen his memories, she probably knew everything about him now and had expected it. Kakashi shouldered the baggage and started walking. The girl followed him with some distance.

After a few minutes of walking in silence, he turned around.

"What?" she asked abrasively.

"Just wondering." He said, "How am I supposed to call you? The journey to Konoha will take us two weeks, and I can't keep calling you 'kiddo' forever."

She shrugged. "I don't really care."

"Hn." Kakashi cogitated. "How does Akiya sound to you?"

"'Autumn night'?" She considered that for a moment, then shrugged again. "It's alright, I guess."

Kakashi smiled. "Akiya it is, then."


They mostly travelled in silence for the rest of the journey. Akiya's tension was almost tangible, and it grew even worse the closer they came to Konoha. Kakashi noticed that she didn't sleep well at night. It took her hours to fall asleep at all, and then she began tossing and turning and often woke up with a start again. Nightmares were haunting her. In those moments, he asked himself whether it wasn't better for her if there were some thing she didn't remember.

Kakashi led her through the gates towards the Hokage tower, ignoring the villager's curious stares, and told her to wait outside while he entered Tsunade's office.

"You are late", Tsunade greeted him irritably.

"I-"

"DON'T GIVE ME YOUR STUPID EXCUSES!" the Hokage shouted. "IT'S BAD ENOUGH THAT YOU ARE ALWAYS A DAY LATE, BUT TWO WEEKS ARE JUST INEXCUSABLE!"

"Actually, this time I have a good excuse", Kakashi replied calmly. And then he began to tell the story of the girl in the forest.

When he had finished, Tsunade laid her chin on her folded hands and looked at him thoughtfully.

"Well..."she began slowly, "I'll take a look at her. But you shouldn't raise your and her hopes too high. I've never heard of anything like this before. However, I'll see what I can do. And you-" She glared at him before tossing him a scroll "This is a new mission for you. I know you should have time to rest, but since the client especially requested you, you will just have to deal with it. And Kakashi – I expect you to be back in five days at noon, and not a single hour later, or you will have to face my wrath! Did I make myself clear?"

Kakashi cringed. "H-Hai!"


Five days later, twelve o'clock sharp, Kakashi stood in the Hokage's office again. Tsunade's jaw dropped at the unfamiliar sight.

"I suppose I should threaten you more often," she commented with a sly smile.

"I would rather appreciate it if you didn't," Kakashi replied coolly, causing Tsunade's smirk to widen. "So...how is Akiya?"

Tsunade's face darkened at once. "I tried whatever I could, but she still hasn't regained her memory. She still refuses to let anyone near her, too." She sighed. "I'm at a loss."

Kakashi frowned. "Where is she now?" he inquired. He didn't even know why he still felt responsible for the girl, after all he didn't know her, and had no bond with her either. At the beginning, he had planned to drop her off at Tsunade's office and let someone else take care of her. He had hoped that she would remember who she was and would travel back to reunite with her family – or something similarly cheesy. But since this hadn't happened, he felt as if he should be the one to be there for her.

"The girl is at the orphanage."

Kakashi quirked an eyebrow. "Do you really think the orphanage is the right place for her?" he questioned sceptically.

Tsunade bristled with anger. "The elders got wind of her being here. Of course, they wanted to see her and let her be interrogated by Ibiki immediately, seeing that she is a stranger without any permission to be in Konoha. They suspect her to put on an act, and that she is a spy. They enforced her stay at the orphanage." The disdain she held for the elders was clear in her voice.

"I better go find her, then", Kakashi announced with a weary sigh.


Two hours later, he still hadn't found her, and he began to panic. The head of the orphanage had told him that Akiya hadn't slept there a single day, but had fled from the place as soon as possible, never to come back. So now he was still searching the entire village, for he knew she couldn't have left Konoha without being noticed. And he was worried – if she had slept outside without proper equipment – which she couldn't possess – she would be freezing. The rain was pouring down again, and the nights were perpetually growing colder as the beginning of winter was approaching.

In the end, there was only one place he hadn't checked yet: the training grounds. Yet, he had no idea why she should be there of all places. Kakashi went there anyway, deciding that if he didn't find her there, he would call it a day and stop searching.

And really, she was there, sitting in the shelter of a tree, her knees pressed against her upper body and curled into a small ball. She looked up as she heard him come closer, and Kakashi felt a jolt of solicitude run through his body. If possible, she was even thinner than before.

He stood in front of her, his hands buried in his pockets and nodded towards the village. "Come," he said simply, and started walking. A few seconds later, he heard the rustling of her clothes and the light steps behind him.

He brought her to his apartment. "You can stay here," he offered. "If you want to dry yourself, the bathroom's over there. There should be some old shirts as well – you can use them as a nightgown. Go and get some sleep – I'll find a place to stay tonight, buy some groceries and come back to check on you in a few hours."

Akiya nodded and headed towards the bathroom.

"I guess I should go see whether Genma or Tenzou are currently in Konoha," he mused. "They still owe me..." Begrudgingly, he laid his hand on the doorknob. He wasn't particularly keen on getting completely soaked again, but it couldn't be helped...

Just as he was about to open the door, he heard her hesitant voice behind him. "Kakashi-san?"

He turned around, startled. She had never addressed him before, let alone with his name. "Hai?"

"Thank you."