A few weeks later after a hard day of taijutsu training, Nirika went home without a word to Kakashi.
Later that night, Kakashi decided to take the shortcut to his apartment by cutting through the Academy courtyard.
As he turned around the corner, He saw Nirika sitting on the stone bench there. She was hunched over, hugging her knees, and sniffling. Her eyes were red.
When she saw Kakashi, she started to get up, but he held up one hand, "Don't."
He sat down on the bench beside her, "What's wrong?" he asked gently, "and please don't say nothing."
Nirika wiped her eyes with her sleeve, "Do you know why I wanted to become a shinobi?" she asked. Then, without giving him a chance to answer, she continued, "It's because every night when I go home, my father is always drunk. And when he's in that state he believes he can do whatever he wants, even," she paused, "even if it means hurting someone in his own family. He killed my Uchiha mother by severely beating and raping her to death. The he took advantage of my best friend; my twelve year old sister. So to spare her suffering, I- I killed her."
At this point, Nirika lowered her head into her hands. Kakashi put his right arm around her; allowing her head to rest on his shoulder.
After a few deep breaths she continued, "So after I-I killed Seshia, I was the only one left for him to take advantage of. Every night, I am beaten and raped, sometimes raped twice. I'm lucky if it happens ten times a week."
Rage was boiling inside Kakashi.
"I didn't go to the anbu. I decided to become a kunoichi and deal with him myself."
Nirika straightened and removed her jacket and gloves. Kakashi's breath caught at the sight underneath.
Bruises, scabs, scars, everywhere. There were scars from where nails had been dug into her skin, but the majority of them looked like kunai wounds.
There were straight, razor-thin scars, and scars that were shapes. Stars, moons, hearts, clouds, the Leaf symbol. Circles, squares, triangles, and other line shapes added to the deformation of her arms.
Kakashi trailed his fingers lightly over the scars, "Why?" he whispered hoarsely.
"Because," she said sadly, "I can't bear to have anyone else other than me ravaging my own body. I need to be a ninja. I need to. It's my only hope."
Kakashi now understood. And the truth pained him horribly. "You want to stop the rapeā¦he's the one you want to kill." He said quietly.
Nirika nodded, and then burst into a torrent of tears and sobs.
Kakashi immediately wrapped his arms around her marred body, pulling her in, and rocking her gently back and forth. "It's okay, I'm here, I'm here, it's all right," he whispered soothingly.
As he held her, he struggled to hold back the tears in his own eyes. He was shocked; he hadn't had the urge to cry ever since the day his dad killed himself. His heart ached for this poor girl who had it worse than he ever had. He was full of anger at her father, scraping away at her heart and dignity, nearly killing her until there was barely anything left to see.
Placing her jacket on top of her, he gently lifted her into his arms. She was quiet now, perhaps asleep. Her face looked peaceful; it never had before.
After taking the shortcut to his apartment, he opened the door and placed her on his bed.
After unbuckling her zori, he lifted her up with his right arm and drew back his bedcovers. He gently laid her back down, her head on his pillow, and pulled the covers over her.
After gazing at her peaceful face once more, he pulled his chair up beside the bed, sat on it, and fell asleep.
