The funeral was touching and hard for the four of them. Kakashi blamed himself for what happened.
"It's not your fault." Rin said and tried to reach out to him. He jerked away every time.

"Maybe he'll listen to you." Rin told Shiori a few days later.
"Maybe...it won't hurt to try." She tried to make Rin feel better saying that she might be rejected too without saying it.

Knowing he would be on top of the Hokage Mountain she teleported up there.
"I knew you would find me." He mumbled.
"I always do." She replied, placing a hand on his shoulder. When he accepted her touch, she relaxed.
"You always will." He said turning toward her.
Knowing he needed someone she wrapped her arms around his waist while his went around her neck. Leaning his head on her shoulder, he let his tears fall. She wrapped her arms tighter around him, knowing he needed someone to just be there. Shiori placed a hand on his head and left it there, feeling the softness of his hair.
"It's not your fault. He saved your life. He would have done it for anyone. He cared about his teammates and just about everyone in the whole village." Feeling him nod his head she said one thing that might get a smile from him. "Even though he was loud, was late a lot and came up with lame excuses, he would of been a great Hokage and an even better friend."
"Hai." He choked out against her shoulder.

It was a little while later before he got his composure back. He looked up and noticed that they had sunk down to the ground, both on their knees. Letting his hands slid down her arms, he laid them down on their sides. It was several moments before he finally broke the silence, "Thank you."
Knowing what he meant she raised a hand and placed it on his cheek, he leaned into it. They didn't need to say much to understand each other.

There was something that was bugging him though. He remembered that she said she would give him his gift later, the one for making jonin, but she never did. Mainly because of what happened, it didn't seem right. Wanting to know what it was he finally cracked and asked. "What were you going to give me?"

'For making jonin.' She thought. 'That's right, I was going to do it when no one was around.'

Pulling out a box from her hip pouch she performed a transformation jutsu on it, making it turn into a long box. Placing it between them she said, "Congratulations on making jonin."
Opening it he saw a short katana, it was beautiful, white hilt with engraving in green on it, and the scabbard was black. 'This is too much.' He thought. How could he accept something that probably cost several mission pays.
Knowing what he was thinking she told him, "You will accept it or so help me. It didn't cost that much. Minato-san helped me get a deal on it."
"Arigatō." He said. 'I feel like I should do something for her, but what? This is the best gift I got. How did she know I would need a need a new sword?'
Shiori seemed to have a knack for knowing what people were thinking, or feeling. Placing a hand under his chin she pulled it up, "I was able to feel everything that happened on your mission with my ability. That's how I knew about your father's sword." She paused, then continued. "It was hard on me as well. I felt everything." She let her hand move to his right shoulder, then up to his eye tracing his scar with a finger. Kakashi let her trace it until her finger stopped at the edge of his mask. Letting it stay there she talked again, "I wanted to give you something else too." Hooking a finger over the mask she looked to him for permission. Slightly nodding his head she pulled it down. Her eyes quickly roamed over his face. He was gorgeous, even though they were only thirteen, he had a small beauty spot on the left side of his chin. Shiori let her gaze rest on his lips, then flicked to his eyes quickly, hoping he wouldn't notice.

She was nervous, she had never done this before. Leaning forward until she a few inches from him. 'Do I want to do this? Wait, why am I having second thoughts about this. I like Kakashi, have for awhile. I've been his only friend for years.'

'Why did she stop? What if she's waiting for me to kiss her?" He thought. Seeing her move back a little bit he leaned in the rest of the way, and pressed his lips to hers.

Kakashi wasn't sure what he felt, but it was great. Shiori had full soft lips that seemed to fit perfectly with his. Pulling back he looked at her, seeing a small smile grace her features. He gently stroked her cheek, "I wanted to do that for awhile." He thought back to all the moments that they had, as friends, because today might of changed things even if they small.
"Me too." She admitted shyly. She pulled his mask back up and into place.
"Let's go. I'll walk you home." Kakashi told her with a smile.
Pulling her up with him, he grabbed her hand and they walked off towards Minato's.