It was the most wonderful afternoon that she had in her life. Hanare never thought that she will ever had such an afternoon, knowing that her life as a spy does not give her the privilege to enjoy life as such. But because of the assignment given to her by their village leader, she was able to experience that once in a lifetime afternoon stroll along the Hidden Leaf Village.
But all good things must come to an end. Because at that moment, Kakashi brought her back to the Konoha Intelligence Division to be detained for the night, or for how long it might take before she return to her own village.
"About what happened earlier…"
Hanare looked at Kakashi, and in an instant, that moment when they accidentally kissed flashed on her mind. She blushed, and embarrassment made her look away.
"Don't worry about that," she said. "It was an accident, so…"
"…Right."
"Thank you," she said, looking at him again. "I enjoyed our trip around the village."
"Well, I'm glad you liked what you saw."
She nodded. "It was wonderful."
Kakashi looked at her, and for a moment it felt as if he's looking through her soul. It seems that he finally unravelled everything that's inside her heart and mind. It made her quite uncomfortable.
"I have to go back now. Inside this 'stuffy' room," she said, repeating what he said to her earlier.
Kakashi just looked at her. She waited for him to say anything, but not a word came out of his masked mouth. Maybe, it's because of that shinobi who is guarding her that gives them the feeling that someone is watching them. It's like saying goodbye to your boyfriend for the night, but you can't say too much because your father is there watching the two of you.
Or maybe, he really have nothing to say. She finally turned her back on him and entered the interrogation room.
But he suddenly called her name.
"Hanare!"
She turned and faced him. Again, she saw that poker face of him. No emotion, nothing to give him away. Even his right eye is blank.
But then, he suddenly said, "I had a great time. With you."
She smiled. The door between them was closed, but that smile on her face seems to never go away. As she looks at the one-sided glass wall, she's sure that he is still there, watching her. It made her heart warm up with the thought.
'Kakashi Hatake…'
She will never forget that name, and the man that owns it, for the rest of her life.
Hanare's vision was a blur when she woke up. She blinked her eyes to steady her vision. It seems that she is on a hospital room. The windows are opened, and the cold spring wind is blowing gracefully. The sun is beginning to set down the horizon.
"So, you're finally awake."
Still feeling weak, she turned her head to find out who spoke. And when she did, she was stunned.
It could have been five years… six years? She's not sure. But for so many years that had passed, he still looks like how she remembers him.
Kakashi Hatake.
"Based on your reaction, I'm pretty sure you can still remember me. Hanare…"
She would never forget him. He would always be in her memories, and she would not dare erase him from her mind's nooks whatever happens.
"How… How did I get here?" she asked while looking around the room.
"Gamabunta left you with us. We took you here in Konoha Hospital to treat your wounds."
Gamabunta.
She was actually feeling guilty for dragging the large toad into her problems. He even had to fight and suffer just to keep her safe.
"We were actually surprised that you know Gamabunta, that you can summon him, and it seems he really cares for you. He even asked us to take care of you."
Kakashi's demeanor felt as if he's accusing her of some crime that she did. It made her quite uncomfortable.
"H-He's a friend…" She looked away.
"The way that you look earlier, it seems like you just came from a battle. Did Gamabunta fight with you?"
"Why does it seem that you're interrogating me?"
"Why do you feel as such? Are you feeling guilty?"
Hanare looked at Kakashi. She was surprised at how he is acting towards her right now. What has happened to him? He has never been like this when they last met.
"Were you assigned to the Konoha Intelligence Division?"
"I just want to know."
"What do you want to know?"
Hanare's weak gaze landed on Kakashi's blank eyes. She noticed that unlike before, his forehead protector does not hide his left eye, the one with the sharingan. She can now see both his dark greys, and the scar on that left eye.
"Why did you come back here?"
She looked out the window. The beautiful sunset now glimmers on the horizon.
"Because for me, this is the only place that I consider my home. From the moment that I first got here, that time when your ANBU captured me, I felt that this is the place that I would want to spend the rest of my life with. I felt love, happiness, and most of all, acceptance."
She looked at him and gazed at his dark grey eyes.
"But why don't I feel as such now?"
It was Kakashi's turn to look out the window.
"A lot has changed. It's because a lot has happened. The Fourth Shinobi World War. And before that, Pain."
"Pain…" Hanare looked down.
Kakashi looked at her. "I'm quite certain you might have heard about how he destroyed the village."
"Yeah…" she answered quite remorsefully.
"That changed everything."
"It changed you." Hanare gazed at him.
Kakashi gazed back.
"Maybe," he said. "But that's because I don't want our village to get destroyed again. It's my topmost priority now."
"How can I destroy the village, when I even need to summon a toad to help me-"
She was about to tell him what happened to her. Good thing she was able to stop herself.
"I won't," she said instead. "I won't destroy, or in any way harm, this village."
"Good," Kakashi said. "But from now on, you are under my watch."
"And the only way to escape you is for me to get better as soon as possible and leave the village?"
"You will never leave the village again."
She was stunned.
"What?" That could only mean one thing. "You'll imprison me then?"
"Because you did not do anything that will make me do that, I won't. Not yet. But in case I discovered your real intensions of returning here, then you will be put to jail."
Hanare was offended by Kakashi's accusations.
"I told you. I never intended to harm the village."
"We'll see to that."
Kakashi turned his back on her and walked towards the door.
"What happened to the old Kakashi?"
He stopped.
Hanare was teary-eyed, because of frustration and heartache that Kakashi's behaviour had caused her.
"What happened to that kind and considerate Kakashi? Did Pain really do this to you? That Nagato…" Her fury for the rinnegan man aroused. "He really destroyed everything, huh?"
Kakashi looked at her, quite surprised at her sudden outrage.
"You seem to know a lot about Pain."
Hanare looked away.
"Nothing that you do not know."
"I see."
Hanare looked at the twilight sky. She waited until she heard Kakashi get out of the room and close the door. That was the moment when she let her heart cry out.
"So you told me they will welcome me here with opened arms, huh? You Pervy Sage! You just gave me false hope, you know! They will never accept me here. Never!"
She cried that night for the first time in years. She had never cried during those times that her life was in danger with the Land of Keys shinobis. She had never cried even if her leg was broken, or a kunai or shuriken cut through her skin. She had never cried even when it's cold at night in the cave, or she's almost passing out because of tiredness and hunger. She had never cried.
Until now.
It was the pain of realizing that her last hope, the only place that she felt like home, would never give her the acceptance that her heart is longing for.
