The hawk cried as it passed above their heads. It was a cold morning, colder than usual. The fire was out. Even so, the sun was shyly making its way up on the sky. He felt warm. The blanket clad around him was doing it's job. He felt Anko's head resting on his chest; her spiky hair tickling his chin. She smelled of sweets and pastry. He stiffened. Even though his eyes were closed, he heard sounds coming from the bushes and the trees. There were people; quite a few people. They were ninjas since they had hidden their chakras very well. Instinctively, her wrapped his arm tighter around her while the other one grabbed on to a kunai.
Unfortunately, they were too fast for him. "Kakashi!" he heard an all too familiar cry.
It was Gai. He opened his eyes only to be blinded by his comrade's flawless smile.
"We finally found you…" Gai enthusiastically continued. He paused upon realizing the position his friend was in. It wasn't exactly common to find Kakashi wrapped in a blanket with a girl; left alone with Anko Mitarashi.
"Huh…" she slowly woke up brushing the sleep from her eyes. "K-Kurenai?" she gasped taking in the image of the person crouching beside her. Her eyes rolled up to Kakashi who seemed to be feeling just as awkward as she was. He brusquely got up letting her fall on the ground. "Thanks for that, moron!" she yelled.
"Anko, are you okay?" her friend helped her get up.
"Thanks," she got up and stretched. "Wow, who else is here?" she tried identifying the people in the group.
"You guys moved fast," Asuma said as he crushed his cigarette under his heel. "But we managed to track you down."
"Yes, we made a lot of stops, lately," Kakashi clarified.
"Kakashi, you actually made stops?" Iruka asked in awe.
"Because we-" Anko wanted to answer.
"Anko, who are all these people?" Yoh appeared in the tent's entrance. He was scared and wasn't away from crying.
"It's okay, baby," she went to pick him up in her hands. "They're friends who came to help us. Don't worry," she soothingly whispered to his ear.
His fright only increased when five new pairs of eyes were all curiously staring at him. He hid his face in crook of her neck and started sobbing. She exchanged an anxious look with Kakashi before stepping away to calm him.
"I'm confused," Gai stated. "What's up with the kid. He's not yours, is he?" he asked.
"Don't be stupid," Tenzou smacked him over the head. "Probably one of the survivors and the informer. Am I right, Kakashi?"
"You're right," Kakashi nodded. "Anko insisted that we take him and unfortunately she is a very difficult person…" he excused himself.
Asuma smirked. "So you finally started going soft," he patted his back. "I'm not blaming you, my friend. Women can be very persuasive."
"It's not that!" Kakashi brushed him off.
He looked over his shoulder. Kurenai went by Anko's side. Yoh was starting to adjust to her. He felt relieved with that.
"Anyway, now that you're here, I'm waiting for instructions from the Hokage," he crossed his arms.
"Since it's your mission," Asuma started. "You're in command. We're waiting for your orders. Also," he carefully eyed him. "If you consider that the mission might carry on smoothly without the intervention of some ninjas," he meaningfully rolled her eyes in Anko's direction. "You are free to send them back home."
Kakashi narrowed his eye at him. "No," he took in the others. "This formation is good."
"Perhaps if Anko headed back to safety. A child is bothersome. She can wait for us to come back," Asuma insisted.
"Thank you for you concern," Kakashi caustically said. "But if you open your mouth one more time, I'm afraid I'm going to have to send you back with Yoh. And he's not that great with new people."
That being said he twirled on his heels and went up to Kurenai and Anko.
"Ouch," Tenzou scratched the back of his head as he looked at Asuma.
Asuma only grunted in response.
"This is all of us," Kakashi announced. "Time to head out."
"Wait," Anko stopped him. "I don't like just throwing myself into the unknown. I say we get as close as possible without engaging in battle, get to know our surroundings and then act."
He rubbed his chin. "You might be right, but first we need to get there. You and Kurenai go ahead with Yoh, Tenzou and Asuma will follow and Gai and I will stay in the back."
Anko had prepared an herb tea for Yoh so that the child will calm down. Momentarily, he was sleeping in her arms. Her eyes narrowed as she felt the cold wind blow on her face. She tightened her cloak around her body.
"You're very quiet, Anko," Kurenai said. "What has happened is there something bugging you?"
"No," Anko's fast reply came. "I just," she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Is it," she meaningfully tilted her head backwards.
"What?"
"Ah, you can be so oblivious," she shook her head. "I was referring to Kakashi."
"What about him?"
"He's been starting to rub off on you," she teased.
"Of course not," she corrected her. "But I have to admit the guy is sometimes right about some things."
"Oh really? Like what?"
"I don't know how to put it, but he made me understand more the ways of the ninja. He made me realize that I just have to accept them because they're not going to change. Not for me, not for anyone."
"I think you're taking this too seriously," Kurenai said.
"No," she shook her head. "I haven't been taking it too seriously."
"You're strange, Anko. I can't get you," Kurenai shook her head again.
"That's okay," Anko smiled. "You don't have to. So how have the boys been acting?"
"Ugh," Kurenai shivered at the memory. "Gai is being a total prick. He just won't stop talking and Iruka and Tenzou successfully ignored him, but I just had to snap at him a few times. And guess what? He considered it was a random act of comrade affection!"
"Ha!" Anko laughed.
"Yes and Asuma found it very amusing too," she pouted.
"Gai is a cool guy. You just need to give him some time. I should know; we live in the same building complex."
"I don't know how you can manage," Kurenai rolled her eyes.
"Well," Anko rubbed her chin. "I don't get how you can stand all that smoke, but I'm not saying anything," she meaningfully rose her eyebrows.
"Hey, I never implied anything about you and Gai. I was thinking more…" she rolled her eyes in Kakashi's direction.
"No, no, no," Anko tried to be casual. "The guy's in love with the ghost of his first love. I don't do messed up guys."
"Oh, I think you kind of do," she smirked.
"Get out of here," she said. "Although, I do feel grateful towards him. Hadn't it been his psycho avenger mentality, I wouldn't be on a mission right now."
"Listen," her friend said. "I don't want to scare you, but the guys kept saying all the time that...well…it's going to get pretty dangerous."
"I'm not afraid," she clutched Yoh to her chest. "Not at all."
"So, Kakashi," Gai said. "I propose that we make a competition out of this glorious mission. Bet you that I kill more ninjas than you do?"
"Whatever you say, Gai," Kakashi said in a bored tone. "I don't really want to kill too many people."
"Who are you and what have you done with my eternal rival?!" Gai was taken aback.
Kakashi raised his eyebrow.
"Oh!" Gai exclaimed. "Don't tell me, it's the dame!" he winked.
"What?"
"Come on, don't mess around with me. I could tell that there's something up with you. The arrow of cupid!"
"Now you're talking nonsense. Concentrate on the mission before I remove you."
"Actually, you two make a pretty interesting pair. She's crazy, I tell you. And feisty. But you always loved a good fight didn't you?"
"Don't make me hurt you," he growled.
"And then again, if you don't really like her, I think she'll do for a roll in the hay," he winked.
The next moment, Kakashi's hand was clutching tightly Gai's neck smaking him against the nearest tree.
"Hey…easy there," Gai said trying not to choke.
Everybody turned to look at them.
"What the hell are they doing?" Kurenai rested her hands on her hips; an annoyed frown in her eyes.
"Wow you must have annoyed the hell out of him," Asuma smirked in Anko's direction.
"I didn't say anything!" she cried in her defense.
"I mean generally," he continued. "And since, you know, he can't hit you he's probably taking out on Gai."
Anko frowned.
"Maybe Gai is just being the total prick that he is. That's enough to get a person homicidal. Especially Kakashi," Kurenai defended her.
"You don't know," he shook his head. "Kakashi does not hit Gai. He does not bother."
"What are you looking at?' they heard Kakashi's angry grumble. "Slacking off, Mitarashi? Move your lazy asses. We don't have all day!"
Even though he was scolding her, Anko couldn't help, but devilishly smirk in his direction.
It got colder and colder as they advanced through the pine trees. They were all wrapped in light woolen cloaks. They did not exchange any words and they did not stop until Kurenai had almost fainted.
"I'm not feeling well," she said leaning against a trees trunk. "I hadn't eaten all day. I'm tired and sick."
"Suck it up," Asuma said while lighting up a new cigarette.
"How can you be so insensitive towards the young maiden?" Gai interfered.
Kurenai rolled her eyes.
Kakashi checked their surroundings. "We camp here."
"You can't be serious. We still have more to go," Asuma interfered.
"No, he's right. Better camp here and scout the area tomorrow in order to prepare our attack," Tenzou said.
"Right," Kurenai grinned. "Should I start dinner?"
"Please do. I've been a horrible cook. Mister Kakashi here endured quite a lot," she said.
"Hm…hm…" Yoh wrestled against her chest. He looked at her with beady eyes.
"Hey, baby!" she cried. "You woke up just in time. Kurenai is going to cook dinner."
"I'm cold," he tightly grabbed on to her.
"Wait a minute, I'll get you an extra blanket," she put him down and looked for a blanket in her backpack. After taking it out, she wrapped it around his small body. "Guess what?"
"What?"
"Very soon, you're going to be with your mommy," she smiled.
"Really?" his eyes widened.
"Really," she nodded. "I promise."
"But that makes me sad," he looked down. "Because then I won't get to see you."
"Don't worry about me," she dismissed him.
"I'll miss you!" his arms wrapped around her knees.
"Really?" she lovingly looked down at him.
"Really, I promise."
She stared at him. She couldn't remember the last time someone told her "I promise." It sounded foreign to her. She patted his head.
"Food's ready!" they heard Kurenai call.
"Hear that? We better hurry if we still want to grab a bite to eat," she took him by the hand and brought him closer to the fire.
Kakashi rested against a tree trunk as he watched his crew eat.
"Hey, Kakashi," Gai came next to him. "I'm sorry about what I said."
He didn't answer.
"And I admit, I was wrong about her. I just saw her now, with you…it's just. She's different."
"I'm glad you've noticed, Gai," he patted him on the shoulder. "Now go eat."
He looked at them. Asuma was lying back smoking his cigarettes. Anko was helping Yoh eat while the others were just chatting away.
"I'm going to call it a night, guys," Kurenai went in the tent.
"Me too," Genma added.
"I think we're going to bed too," Anko picked up Yoh.
"Do you need any help?" Iruka kindly asked her.
"You are doing a wonderful thing, Anko. Not many have your kind virtue," Gai said.
Anko smiled. Her eyes looked after Kakashi. He was watching her from the shadow. His look hardened.
An hour later all of them were sleeping. All of them except Kakashi. He got up and decided to go for a walk. It was cold, very cold. He found a clearing where the moon rays fell almost perpendicularly on the ground. He was not alone. Anko was also there. She was crouching on the ground with a blanket wrapped tight around her.
"Anko?"
She flinched getting up on her feet. "What are you doing here?"
"I couldn't sleep," he looked away. "How about you?"
"Me too," she nodded.
"What's up with you?" he asked. "Are you… are you crying?" he closely looked at her.
"Does it matter to you?" she looked away. "Does anything matter to you?!" she turned her back on him.
"Anko, what's wrong?" his tone was concerned. He cleared his voice. "For the interest of this mission, I must know."
"Of course…Ignore me, please," she scratched the back of her head.
"Anko…" his voice pleaded.
"I'm scared!" she cried. "There, happy? I'm scared!"
"You don't…you don't have to be ashamed of that. All of us are well…scared."
"But not you, no," she continued. "You can't be scared. You're this for Rin. You need fearless and determined men for your vendetta."
"Could you please drop it!?" he snapped at her. "This is not about Rin!"
"Isn't it?" she asked. "Then what is it about?"
"I don't know. God, Anko, you make it so hard…"
"Sure, I make it hard," she turned away. "My life was fine, not great, but fine. I could handle it. Then you came crashing in and…"
"…made you doubt yourself?"
"Yeah, that…"
"Well," he looked away. "I was prepared for anything before you came. Now I'm scared. Because I don't want to die. I want to…get to…know you and ….God, this is so hard," he looked away.
Holding her breath. She picked him by the hand. He turned to look at her. Her small hands went up his chest and gripped on to the tip of his mask. She shyly pulled it down. Her cold fingertips rested on his cheeks as she tiptoed and kissed him.
I better right while I still can because school is killing me...Grr...I don't really like this chapter...anyway...be the looks of it things are not going to get any prettier
