Tête-à-tête
Miji: Whoo!!! Chapter 8! Kakashi, my love!!! Yeah… this is it… -evil laugh-
Kizashi: …
Miji: what? No comment? For the first time ever. Tsk.
Kizashi: …
Miji: are you a member of the Akatsuki or something?
Kizashi: … no… not yet…
Miji: then why are you not replying?!
Kizashi: … oh… am I supposed to say something?
Miji: yeah!!!!
Kizashi: … ok… your writing sucks…
Miji: KIZASHI!!!!!!
Kizashi: … what?
Miji: that wasn't very encouraging of you.
Kizashi: … who cares…?
Miji: I do!
Kizashi: … I don't.
Miji: you're so hopeless!
Kizashi: … serves you right for putting me into an… inactive role in this story…
Miji: BAKA! You're important for goodness' sake!
Kizashi: … sure… whatever…
Miji: argh! Save me from hopeless guys! –faces Kizashi- YOU'RE WEAK!
Kizashi: … ah… ok…
Miji: YOU'RE A COWARD!
Kizashi: -bandage starts to unravel and kuraigan starts to form on his left hand-
Miji: -edges away- ok… -turns around- ON WITH THE STORY! –runs away-
Note to readers: I would like to acknowledge my beloved brother, Jayvee –hi, Jayv!—, for supporting and advising me on the comical and violent (?) aspect of this fan fic. Thankee! Oh, and not just advising but also for the added input he has inserted in this fic. Whooo! Love you!
Chapter 8
Hatake Kakashi read through the last few pages of his favorite book. Putting it down, he sighed and gazed out the window, lost in thought. After a few minutes, he sighed and stood up. No use wasting such a beautiful sunny day moping around. Miji won't like that. She'll shatter his eardrums if he even dared pass the hour staring blankly at the wall. He missed her. Heavens, how long does it take to finish a damned mission? He sighed again. Taking a left turn, he spied the blooming roses at the Yamanaka Flower shop. Blue, just like her eyes. Stuffing his hands to his pocket, he entered the bookshop. After greeting the shopkeeper, he headed to the adult books section. While walking on the aisle, he heard a shuffling from a corner and turned towards it. Seeing the source of the sound, a corner of his lips twitched. It was not the person herself that caused the Copy Ninja's amusement, but the book she was reading and the troubled look that accompanied it. He decided to approach her.
"Ohayo gozaimasu," he greeted.
Kouri looked up. "Ohayo," she replied a bit hesitantly.
"You're new here, aren't you?"
She nodded and turned her attention to the book.
He stood next to her. "How'd you like the book?" he asked with interest.
Her brow knotted in deep thought. "Nice story line so far, but…" her voice drifted off.
"But?" he prompted her.
"But," he voice softened in embarrassment as color rose up her cheeks, "does he have to use such direct language?"
Kakashi chuckled, "Figured you'd say that." Taking the book from her, he returned it to the shelf. "How old are you?"
"Seventeen," was her reply.
He looked at her, "Quite young for this book don't you think?"
"Not exactly, I read books akin to this at home," she said with a delicate shrug. "Besides, I'm going to be eighteen in a years time." Reaching for the book, she carried it to the counter.
"That would be 15 yen, miss," the storekeeper tallied.
The girl rummaged on her skirt pocket and came up with only 10 yen. She's still 5 yean short and her brow furrowed. She attacked her pockets desperately.
Kakashi's hand reached out and slapped 20 yen on the counter. Kouri looked up. "You're buying something?" she asked.
He shook his head. "That's for the issue of Icha Icha Paradaisu you're buying."
Kouri blinked. "You don't have to do this, you know."
"But I want to," he replied, taking his change and the wrapped package. "Here you go," he said, handing the parcel to her.
She took the book from him uncertainly. "Do-Domo."
Kakashi smiled. "Have you had lunch yet?"
Kouri shook her head and opened her mouth to say that she's on a diet. However, Kakashi beat her to it. Taking her arm, he dragged her out of the shop and into the Ichikaru, the ramen shop.
"I know you don't have money and it's close to one." Once more, Kouri opened her mouth to decline but Kakashi continued, "And don't you dare say, you're on a diet."
"Well," she bit her lip and hung her head in embarrassment, "I can't accept any more money from you."
Kakashi sighed and leveled his face to hers, "It's not money, it's food." He straightened, "Besides, you look in dire need of food." Kouri hadn't had dinner the night before. "And I don't pick up girls, if that's what you're worried about." Placing a hand on each of her shoulders, he made her sit on a chair. Taking the seat across from her, he hailed a waiter.
Kouri shifted uncomfortably, she knew this gentleman meant well. It must have been her appearance that made him pity her. For all she know, she might look as she felt, which is hell. She looked about her. Itachi's bound to arrive any time soon. That is, if he managed to survive. Battle done in less than a day's time? Was there ever such a thing? Preposterous!
"So what's your name?"
Kouri's head snapped up at Kakashi's question. "Kouri," she replied.
Kakashi blinked. "Nani? You need ice?"
She shook her head. "No, my name is Kouri."
"Ah, unusual name for a young girl."
"Hai," she agreed.
The waiter arrived with the food Kakashi had ordered for them. Taking a pair of chopsticks, she attacked the food with a vengeance.
Kakashi shook his head. "And you were on a diet."
"I am on a diet. Very much so," she defended.
"Oh?"
"I haven't had breakfast."
"I'm Hatake Kakashi."
The change of topic didn't faze her. "Nice to meet you, Kakashi-sama."
"No need to be formal. Kakashi will do."
"How old are you?"
"Thirty. Why did you ask?"
"Nothing, Kakashi-niisan."
Kakashi blinked and shook his head. He took the chopsticks and started eating.
Kouri glanced at the window behind Kakashi. What's taking them so long?
"Kouri."
She glanced at the mention of her name. "Hai?"
Beside Kakashi were two kids who looked to be no more than fifteen years old. One was with pink hair and the other one was blonde, like her.
"These are my students, Sakura and Naruto. Sakura, Naruto, this is Kouri," he introduced.
Kouri smiled distractedly. "Hello, Sakuto and Narura."
The two ninjas blinked and hastened to correct her.
"I'm Haruno Sakura," the girl with pink hair said.
"And I'm Uzumaki Naruto," said the blonde guy with a wide smile.
"Oh," Kouri quickly recovered, "goemen nasai. I'm Kouri."
"So we have heard," Naruto said taking a seat.
Sakura sat beside Naruto. "You're new here?"
"Hai," Kouri replied, glancing once again at the window.
"You waiting for someone?" the yellow-haired shinobi asked.
"Yeah," she replied, "my escort."
"Oh, where is he?" Sakura asked.
Kouri scratched her head in confusion. "He said he will go to a battle, mission I think was what he called it, and be back by the end of the day. However, how he can do it without proper equipment is beyond me. In addition, I never heard a battle finished in one day."
Sakura blinked. "What's his occupation?"
Kouri blinked back. "I don't know."
"He must have been a ninja if he takes on missions," Naruto piped in.
A ninja… that would explain his speed. Aloud, she said, "I don't know. I haven't known him that long." She glanced again at the window and saw a flash of black. Thinking Itachi had arrived, she stood up. "You will have to excuse me, Kakashi-niisan, Sakura-san, and Naruto-san. I think they've arrived."
The three also stood up. "We'll take you to them."
Kouri hastily shook her head. "No thanks, I'll be fine." Bowing, she thanked Kakashi for the meal and said her farewell to the three. After doing so, she headed straight out of the door.
Three pairs of eyes followed her.
"Is she the one, sensei?"
"Hai."
"Then why did you let her go?"
"She herself doesn't know it yet."
"Sensei's right, we were ordered to take her willingly with her having the knowledge of her importance."
Kouri walked through the crowd of people. It's about time they fetched me, she thought, dodging a man carrying a pile of boxes on his shoulders. She took a right turn and suddenly found herself at a dead end. Turning on her heels, she retraced her steps. She didn't get far, however.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" a voice sounded to her right and she turned towards that direction. A man in ragged clothes and filthy hair emerged from the shadows. Every nerve and fiber in her body told her to run but the blade the man held, transfixed her.
"A fancy gel at this darkened place alone? How lucky does one get? Ye dinna look innocent like them others. In truth you look to be a hooker. Still, I'd take you." He let out a lecherous laugh and ogled at her.
Repelled, Kouri took a step back but another voice intruded.
"I willna be running away if I were you, lady, not that you look like a real lady." the voice sneered, "not 'til we all had our fill and I think we all will, considering you're real mouth-watering."
One by one, men emerged from the shadows and leered at her.
Kouri was incredulous. Twice in twelve hours? How many more attacks are there planned for her? Is this her punishment for running away? And where on earth is that Itachi?
The men were arguing amongst themselves on who's going to take her first. They came to a decision and it was the man with the blade who approached her. For every step he took towards her, she backed twice until her back touched the wall. They guffawed at her.
"Give us a good show," one of the spectators yelled. The others cheered the man with the blade on.
Kouri's ears rang with the noise and the man's rancid smell assaulted her nostrils. The man had her pinned to the wall with his body and his blade at her neck. With his free hand, he began to take liberties. Touching and squeezing anything that came into his reach.
Tears sprang forth her eyes and she felt herself withdraw from her body. Her senses start to numb and she stared vacantly at the space above her assailant's shoulder. She thought she let the blade cut through the skin of her throat but it fells so far away that she didn't mind it much. Only one thought raced through her mind. I deserve this. I have been a very bad girl.
Kouri's attacker started tearing her clothes. In his haste, the edge of his knife cut the flesh of Kouri's throat. A drop of blood trickled down the blade and the man yelped in surprise at the sudden coldness of the steel. He let go of the girl and started to take a step back but was held fast. Looking down, he saw the ground—and his feet— covered with ice. He struggled and suddenly a large, pointed ice stalagmite rose from the ground and pierced the man's body leaving a trail of coldness in the man's face. Cold red blood rained down but before it reached Kouri, panes of ice appeared around her forming an icy wall, standing between her and the men.
More and more stalagmites broke through the ground and sliced through the bodies of those present in the alley. Blood splattered everywhere-from the ground to everything on the alley, staining the icy whiteness with the color of death. Cries of despair echoed throughout.
