I do not own Naruto, or its characters. I do not follow the Naruto story arc faithfully and there are slight changes - but essentially, I try to remain true to the characters unique personalities. This fanfic is dedicated to my one and only princess. Hope anyone else who stumbles into this enjoys it as well.
As they walked, Raine started thinking about what her life would be like now. If she had been brought here, then logically it would mean that she could go back. Then again, it was the Akatsuki that had brought her here so it would be hardly the case that they'd send her back. Unless there was someone from here, at Leaf Village that could send her back. However, even if that was possible, did she want to go back?
Raine looked around. Life was peaceful here. Well, relatively considering that there was always the threat of war hanging over their heads; but people were open here. People accepted each other despite the obvious skills possessed by some. Heck, she had just seen Kakashi use his lightning powers on someone else, and no one batted an eyelid. This was something that could never happen back home.
So, if she was to stay, then she should be making plans about her stay. For right now, whilst the threat is still on, she would have to be under the care of the New Leaf Village people … at that thought, Raine suddenly started giggling. Village people. Like, the group that sang 'YMCA' … then a vision of Kakashi doing the dance sent her giggles into peels of laughter. Kakashi stopped, sighed and turned to look at her, laughing away. She had managed to stop for a while, but the moment he turned to face her, she burst into uncontrollable laughter again. This time, tears were streaming down her eyes, and she was clutching her stomach with one hand while waving her other. Finally, she sat down and covered her face in her arms, still laughing even though it wasn't so loud this time. Just her shoulders were shaking from laughing.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Raine stopped. "Sorry, sorry," she managed to gasp out to Kakashi, but not daring to look at him but instead focused on the ground, "Just give me a moment." She took a deep breath, closed her eyes and concentrated on calming down. She brought her knees close to her chest, wrapped her hands around her legs while putting her forehead on her knees and continued to take slow, deep breaths. As usual, when she started using her senses like this, her surroundings became more acute. This time, instead of blocking them, she opened herself up and allowed Mother Earth – or Nature, since this wasn't Earth after all – to fill her up.
It wasn't a literal 'filling up' but rather, having her emotions attune to her surroundings. She could feel the cool air caressing her skin like a mother would do to a sickly child, the warm earth steadying her as her turbulent emotions were anchored, the heat in the ground warming up her body … all of Nature working together, with her being the focus of their attention. Even then, she knew that she wasn't really the center of their attention as she could feel Nature was also – almost lovingly – taking care of the people of New Leaf as well; and that the people of New Leaf weren't greedily sucking the life out of Nature but harnessing it properly, through training and respect. Here, things were balanced. It was nice.
It took her less than a minute to calm down, and she had Nature to thank for that. Giving Earth a pat while saying her silent thanks, she got up and smiled at Kakashi, apologizing again, "I'm really sorry about that. I guess the stress had been building up more than I realized. So! Lead on, kind sir."
Just about then, Raine saw someone running towards them – and it turned out to be the same girl that Kiba had been chasing. Correction. Still chasing. The giggling girl then ran behind Raine, grabbing her from behind and basically used her as a shield. Kiba came bounding over, growled and snapped at her on the left, to which she dodged to the right. Kiba swerved to the right, and the girl ducked to the left. This kept going on for a bit, and all this time, Raine was right in the middle with the girl behind her and Kiba in front of her. Finally, Raine grabbed hold of Kiba's head, squished his cheeks and looked at him straight in the eye.
"Enough," Raine said firmly, never letting go of the eye contact. It felt like she was disciplining her puppy, but it seemed to work.
Kiba unintentionally whimpered, then caught himself. He growled and snapped at the girl behind Raine, saying, "You're lucky, this time." Then he left with a whistle, as he thought of all the things he'd do if he ever caught up with her. Not that he couldn't if he really, really tried, of course. It was just more fun this way.
"Why do you do that, Kaitlyn?" asked Kakashi as he watched Kiba saunter off.
Kaitlyn giggled, then shrugged. "Oh, I don't know. He's just soooooooooooooooo easy to agitate," replied Kaitlyn, twindling her fingers as she pouted a bit. "I wouldn't do it if he really minds it. I think. I mean, I think he doesn't really mind it, that is, not that I think I wouldn't do it if he really minds it."
Then she looked up at Kakashi-sensei with a very innocent expression, her eyes opened wide and she adopted this extremely pitiful face as she said with a very sugary sweet voice, "I'm not rea-lly being notty, am I? Am I Kakashi-sensei?" Then, with a huge grin, she skipped away, whistling. Raine somehow managed to keep a straight face throughout the entire thing.
Kakashi watched her go then chuckled a bit as he then continued his walk, saying, "And I thought my students were hard to manage."
Raine giggled, "I thought Kiba was supposed to join us?"
"Oh, he will," assured Kakashi, "Once he calms down."
Once they reached Kakashi's house, he set to show her around properly and instruct her on the 'safe' way to act. Never go out alone. Never be near the open window. Never go anywhere by herself. Always tell those on guards what she was doing, and where she was going. Always inform them if something strange happens. Always be prepared to run. If an attack occurs, she was to follow the second guard while the first guard would attack and defend. Though Raine did pay attention initially, her mind started wandering as she looked at Kakashi's house properly. It was a habit of hers, to look at the furniture and furnishings, and try to figure out the personality of the person through it. She had to admit, Kakashi had good taste; or rather, his choices would be similar to what she would have chosen. His furniture was mainly wooden, and rather natural looking without various ostentatious designs. In fact, they were simple, earthy designs that were not ornamental but practical. There was beauty in its simplicity. It was obviously a bachelor's pad as there weren't any flowers or frilly curtains … then something pink caught her eye. Upon closer inspection, she realized that they were a pile of books; which she found fascinating enough as she didn't know many guys who would actually read a book. Let alone a pink coloured one. As she reached out to take one to examine it further, she was stopped by Kakashi, who had taken her right hand.
Surprised, she turned to him but he had his face slightly turned away as he said, "It is important for me to show you this."
Raine followed obediently, though she made a mental note to look through those pile of books. It would perhaps relieve the boredom of being cooped up in a house with people looking at her all the time. Unknown to her, Kakashi made a mental note himself. To keep his books in a more secure – and obscure – place.
They reached a wall that had the dining room table against it. It was a very nice table, that had retained its original, rustic look. It wasn't polished or varnished but actually looked like the tree had grown into a table. Kakashi reached underneath the table with her hand, letting her feel a slight bump. "Press it," he said and she did. She gasped a bit as the floor underneath the table swung open inwards, to reveal a very dark hole.
"This is a hidden room, known to only a few," explained Kakashi "There are candles, water and some dry food supplies that will last you for a few days; a week if you're careful. Never, ever open the doors unless the password is given."
Kakashi entered the dark hole first, then reached out his hands to help her in. Raine took a deep breath and took hold of both his hands before jumping in. Raine was deathly afraid of the dark, though she would never admit it openly, so she put on a brave smile as she looked around. It was really pitch black inside, and since the hidden room was underneath the table, there wasn't much light that was allowed in. Still, she managed to at least see the shapes and outline of what was immediately in front of her; though anything beyond one step to where she was, was utterly pitch black. "Always enter the room facing the wall," directed Kakashi, as he took her right hand and placed his left hand on her waist as he led forward, "The moment you enter, take two steps to your left."
Raine gulped, and took some steady, deep breaths as they entered the 'dark zone'. If it wasn't for Kakashi being there, holding her and that she could feel him behind her, she would have been hyperventilating at that moment. Kakashi didn't appear to notice any of her nervousness, as he continued his instructions, "Here," he said, bringing her hand up and letting her feel the wall, and she could feel something like a switch, "About two handspans above, is the switch to close the trapdoor. It cannot be opened from outside once this is closed."
To demonstrate, he flipped the switch and the entire room become so dark that Raine closed her eyes. Hey, it was less scary if she couldn't see because she had her eyes closed rather than not being able to see with her eyes open. When she had first come to this world with her eyesight stolen, the darkness she felt then was not as scary as being in a room that she couldn't see. It sounded strange, but that's how she felt. With her right hand still on the switch, Kakashi then directed her left hand in another direction, as he explained in her ear, "Three handspans directly beneath the switch, are the candles and matches. Here, can you feel them?"
Raine nodded, not trusting her voice to speak. Then she realized he wouldn't be able to see it, so she whispered, "Y-yes". Kakashi let go of her hands then, and was gone – and she bit her lips to stop herself from screaming out loud. She knew Kakashi wouldn't be far behind, but that didn't mean she still didn't panic from suddenly being bereft of his presence. Not even a minute passed when she felt his hands taking the matches and candle from underneath her left hand, and a match was struck, illuminating Kakashi's face briefly before he lit a candle and held it up. Only then did she unfreeze from her position, taking more deep breaths. Kakashi then showed her where the food and water were, a blanket to use to sleep and even (to his embarrassment), a place to relieve herself if need be. It was just like the very, very, very olden days before the modern toilet: the typical hole in dirt with spade and a pail of fresh dirt beside it. Raine acknowledged the practicality of the whole room, though she hoped she wouldn't need to use it at all.
"Only use this in an emergency," said Kakashi as he flipped the switch to open the trapdoor again. He blew out the candle, but Raine was prepared this time. She simply focused on the open trapdoor, and headed towards it. Heading out was far, far easier than being inside. Kakashi jumped out nimbly and easily while Raine looked up in chagrin. "I definitely can't get out of here without some help," she muttered under her breath as Kakashi leaned inside to help her out. "You know, if no one comes to get me if I had to use the room, I'd probably die in there. I'm not some super-hero ninja to go jumping around like a monkey."
Kakashi chuckled then, as he pressed the switch to close the trapdoors again. Raine looked at the floor, and was impressed. Even knowing the room was there, she couldn't see the outline of the trapdoor at all. The floor's pattern was such that the trapdoor lines were integrated into it, blending in. "You have a point there," Kakashi replied, "I'll put in a grappling hook later so you can use it should that ever arise."
"I'm counting on you to make sure it never does arise," stated Raine, "Otherwise, I'll come and haunt you."
Kakashi stood at attention and saluted, before giving a deep bow, "I hear, and I obey."
For an answer, Raine used both of her hands to ruffle his hair, trying to make it messy … er, messier than it already was. Kakashi laughed, and quickly escaped from her just as Naruto came in. He stopped for a while, his eyes looking at the both of them in surprise. "Kakashi-sensei? Why are you playing catch with Raine-san in the house?"
Upon hearing that, Raine and Kakashi doubled over in laughter, making Naruto even more confused. Finally giving up trying to understand, he shrugged and laughed with them.
Apologies for the extremely late update. Lots of work, which also causes ideas to stagnate; it also means I'll only be able to update every fortnight, rather than every week. It's a slow-moving story, I know, but hopefully it just means it can get interesting rather than boring. :p R&R appreciated. :)
