Ok, so things went just how I'd hoped last chapter. Only a bit more left of the plot to be explained I'd guess. So let me get down to doing that and let your mind rest at ease. XD Ok, I sorri. I have too much fun with this sometimes.
Enough of my chatter, you're here for the story and that's what you're gonna get!
(Review and you get hug)
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I stared down at the cold, wet, cement stone before me. I read the name on it over and over as though I'd never stop reading it through the rain which fell from the dark dawning shadows overhead. I sighed in my melancholy mood.
Had I only made it here sooner so long ago on the day that terrible assault began. Maybe Sarotobi, the body of the 3rd Hokage which lay here deep beneath the earth in front of me, would still be alive and well today. True he was fairly old in age, but personally I saw a lot of charisma left in him before he passed away… Of course I'd never met him, but I'd seen pictures of him and heard stories about him. He sounded like a very great man. I mourned deeply.
I was surprised to see Kakashi a far distance away from me, apparently near a grave as well. A rather odd shaped one I might add, but still. I left Sarotobi to his eternal rest and began to walk towards Kakashi. I hoped to sneak up on him for some unknown reason. When getting closer, I could see I was right. He was staring at a grave in front of him. I couldn't read it from here… I got about 3 yards from him before asking "So how many times am I supposed to accidentally run into you?"
He didn't move from where he was, and answered in a monotone. "I don't know really… if you didn't plan on seeing me, what did you come here for?"
I stared somewhat confused. "I'm pretty sure you were there when I confessed to Tsunade about me coming here to see your former Hokage… you have to know his grave isn't far off from here."
"Oh, that's right. Silly of me I suppose…", he trailed off.
I walked up close to him as he sighed and turned away from the gravestone. He looked at me with a rather depressed expression… I'll admit I was a tad worried.
"Do you know what it's like to lose a loved one…?", he asked unexpectedly.
I tilted my head, rather confused. Random much?
"Well…", I started. I looked down to my feet in thought and memory… "… I did say my sister and friends were involved in the attack here so long ago. Well… I'm sure you can guess what became of them since they didn't listen to me when I asked them to abandon the foolish endeavor."
He looked at me flatly, and I did my best not to look back.
"That's right… they'd be dead, wouldn't they? I'm sorry…", he pleaded.
"Even if they survived,", he continued, "and were imprisoned. They would have faced the death penalty and it would have been executed long ago as well."
I felt my heart cringe as he gave me the cold, hard, painfully-honest truth. He put his hand on my shoulder and leaned in towards me.
"I'm sorry. But don't feel alone…"
"What do you mean Kakashi…?", I asked.
He turned away from me and back to the grave. He walked back towards it and placed his palm upon the wet stone.
"This stone here… it's in honor of many of our fallen shinobi. Many of which were my best friends and comrades. We shared numerous missions and good times together. But… those days and those people are long gone. However…", he began to cry I believe. "I'm still here…", he stated solemnly. "…. I'm still here."
By this time I was nearly about to cry myself; this was a very depressing moment. Concerned, I put a walked up beside him and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Kakashi… you're right about one thing. Those people and times are gone now… but they will always live on in your heart. And the day your heart stops beating, your spirit will also remember as well. And I believe… that your soul never stops going. It is eternal. For now, you need to live in defense of this village and it's population. That's what they died for… don't let their sacrifice be in vain."
He seemed to turn towards me slightly with a sob. "I suppose you're right… Anari-kun."
This brought a smile to my face. And a question.
"Kakashi… if you don't mind me asking, do you ever wonder about having new friends…?"
He seemed to think about it for a split second.
"What's the point in wondering about it? I already do." He seemed to smile, if only slightly… and maybe fakely.
"Well, for as long as I'm here, I hope I can join that number of people you call your friends."
He looked up at me, with a sincere smile behind that mask of his and nodded. It was a bit more of a happy moment. I was glad I'd done what I'd did.
"It's getting pretty late; we should be heading back.", he decided.
"Yeah, I agree. Will I see you again tomorrow?"
"If you can manage to find me, of course."
I smiled. For a shinobi like him, that would have to do. With that, I hopped away and left him there, hoping he'd rest on what I'd said to him. As for me…? Hah. Sleep isn't for the nocturnal.
I was enjoying myself thoroughly on my way back home; the clouds were parting as the rain slowed before stopping. On the way, I couldn't help but notice something happening out on the street… there was a large, bulky man apparently harassing a young girl. She was on a bench, clearly disliking the man and wanting to get away from him, but he kept prodding at her with a grin on his face.
I'd never been known to be a particularly chivalrous man (if one is considered a man at the age of 14 that is), but there was no stopping me from intervening in some way. I stopped and hid behind the nearest building from the two, listening to make sure everything was ok. I could hear the girl pleading with the man frantically.
"Please, please stop this; I just want to go home.", she begged desperately.
"And who says you get to?", the large man insisted. That was all the motivation I needed.
I walked out casually from behind the wall and stared blankly at the man, who I could now tell was drunk… perhaps even smashed.
"What is going on here?", I asked calmly. The pink-haired girl seemed tense, yet somehow relieved I'd appeared.
"It'sh none of yer business, mister. So go on, get outta here.", he chided. Yup… clearly plastered.
"Please, help get this man away from me!", the girl asked. She leapt up from the bench she was cowering on and stood beside me. "He won't let me go home and keeps bothering me.", she claimed.
I looked at the man somewhat irritably. "Do you realize that for one, you're drunk; and for two, you're in trouble?"
He laughed once and smiled at me deviously. "I can be drunk if I want, and what're you gonna do?" He then un-sheathed a large knife and held it out to me suggestingly.
"Pff…" was my only reply as I sped behind him and landed my foot firmly in his spine, sending him flying off into the wall a few feet in front of him. "Go to bed.", I stated aggravated. After that, he didn't move… I know I couldn't have killed him; he must have fell asleep. Good, that was probably the thing he needed most right now.
I went over and hefted his body onto my shoulder, reaching in his pocket and read a business card I found in it. With his address in my hand, I had only to deal with the young girl before me.
"I'm sorry you had to witness that.", I apologized. "Please, let's get you home before someone worse comes along."
"I agree, let's go." That said, she began walking in one direction and I followed, hoping I wouldn't have to batter up another drunken idiot.
"You live this way I'd take it?"
She nodded. "Yes, in fact I was almost there before this guy showed up. I'm glad you came.", she said with a smile.
I laughed softly. "Don't mention it.", I replied.
Shortly after, we reached her house. I was stunned, she lived here? Unbelievable. To run into a thug like this one just 1 block from home.
"Is this generally a bad neighborhood?", I quizzed.
"No, he's probably the only un-savory one that walks these streets. Oh well, everything has it's flaws I suppose."
She smiled and waved at me as she walked in her house, clearly thanking me for what I'd done. I smiled back and turned away, hoping I didn't leave too much of an impression… it generally wasn't something I was fond of doing.
I took home the unconscious man and left him just inside his front door. With luck, he'd wake up fairly sober later on… and without a throbbing back I would hope.
I finally got home with a sigh, and climbed my way into bed immediately, even though I had no plan on falling asleep. I closed my eyes and thought to myself what a place this was. I'd only been here for 3 days or so, and I'd already made a friend and helped out a girl…?
This was quickly becoming my home…
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Damn it! This just turned into a chapter of lunacy DX Oh well. I think next chapter should be a tad more fulfilling for a reader expecting progress. I hope I'm not letting anyone down with this. Review and show me da luuuuuuv! Pwease? –stares innocently and wags tail-
