A Silver Glow

Fans made of polished wood and gold trimming twirled silently on the ceiling. They pushed a refreshing earthy air around the spacious reception area and Kakashi could pick out each scent around him. The willows and pines, with their sharp aroma filtered through the cotton mask dominating his hound like smell. Yet his favorite had to be that of the guests casually chatting on the birch wood furniture or the ones heading out to become part of the city. Their skin carried a unique taste of home, and the wanderer in him rejoiced.

Kakashi walked up to the reception desk and smiled at the tall, shapely figure behind it. From her copper colored hair to the tan of her skin, he couldn't see any part of Rainy in the woman. She smiled, the red of her lips becoming wide with glee.

"Good evening young man."

There was no trace of Rainy in her potent voice either, the younger woman's strong nature manifesting itself through biting remarks and a sharp sense of sarcasm.

"Good evening ma'm. My name is Hatake Kakashi, I'm a friend of Rainy's."

Her fingers laced and Jura gave a joyful step closer to the desk. There was a hint of coffee under her vanilla perfume.

"It's so good to meet a friend of Rainy's! She doesn't really have many so it's very special when I have a chance," she disclosed excitedly.

Kakashi suppressed a chuckle. For a person who could speak so easily, Rainy sure had a hard time making friend. Oh but those biting remarks hurt.

"I guess she hasn't changed?"

Jura waved a dismissive hand. "She's an acquired taste."

Kakashi could attest to that. "But she's good company for those willing to brave the storm."

Such poetic words towards her anti social daughter filled the inn owner with a blissful heart. She felt it swell with pride even if it was a small recognition. "I'll give you our last room," she smiled. "And your stay is on me. I think Rainy will be happy to see you."

"I hope she is."

I'll be home in an hour.

Maybe he was reading too much into her words.

Elin emerged from the carved stone archway next to the reception desk and gave a friendly bow instinctively. Her simple black dressed matched the older woman's and thinking back on their first meeting, she had worn a similar piece in pink.

Jura pointed at the new guest excitedly, "Elin look, Rainy has a friend."

She smiled at Kakashi who returned the gesture. "I met him already. Good evening Kakashi-san."

"That's wonderful, then please take him to his room." Jura extended a key to her inn maid, who accepted it rather quickly.

"This way."

She watched the duo disappear through the stone passage, a smile burnishing her stoic features. A friend of Rainy's and a stranger Elin trusted? This man is magical.

[*9*]

Rainy sat on the small bed in her cramped dorm. A silver glow kissed the dark corners of her room, lifting up the shadows in ways her electric lamp couldn't.

She placed the back of her head on the large sill, as a playful wind quickly picking up a few loose strands. It swept through her torso and she could feel it kissing the naked skin of her lover underneath her fingers.

Kakashi shifted, resting a hand on her knee and lifting his other arm to graze her blushing cheeks. She could feel the muscles of his back stiffen against her soft breast, but no matter how many times she asked him to relax, her hard headed lover couldn't fully let go.

He'd crush her, he would say and then who would kiss the top of his head so sweetly?

Kakashi took a strand of soft, wavy gray hair and twirled it around his finger. "Does your mother have gray hair?"

Rainy chuckled, the melody sounding sweet so close to his ear. "No, they all have different shades of brown on her side."

"Ah, so your father was the culprit as well."

She nodded, raising her head to kiss the top of his. She liked the way his spiky hair felt against the smooth skin of her face. It tickled.

"Did he name you Rainy?"

"My mother did. She said it was raining the day I was born, and she thought the heavens were crying tears of joy with her."

That sounded beautiful to the jonin, poetic even. "And you father?"

"With his wife, I never met him."

The bastard and the orphan. Who would have thought?

"I'm sorry."

She kissed the side of his face.

"I'm not."

[*9*]

The door opened silently behind Alcina.

She didn't need to look up, as it was a presence rarely felt around her office but one that carried many benefits to keep track of. She smiled, the small steps halting a few feet behind her.

"And to what do I owe the pleasure of having the honorary Head of the Toxicology Department in my humble little office?"

Alcina always found the young genius looked like a kid playing dress up. Her short navy hair never seemed to be cared for enough to be styled, and the chakra specialist was 100% sure the gold of her eyes had never been brought out by colored lids. Maru's petite frame was always covered in black, the only other color being the white of her lab coat. Even that she had asked to be dyed in her favorite shade but was ultimately denied.

"Well I haven't spoken to you in a while, so I thought I'd stop by." Her young voice betrayed the seriousness of her face and position. She sounded like a sweet prepubescent 12 year old.

Alcina smiled, playing along with the fragile mood. "That's awfully nice of you Maru."

Her guest was quick to follow up, almost ignoring the words of the blond. "I was also told Rainy stopped by here yesterday with that patient."

A knowing smirk played off Alcina's rosy lips. Maru wasn't good at feigning caring thoughts. "She did."

The dark haired teen moved closer to the examination table, a finger gliding through the edges. "You know, seven years ago when Rainy and Dr. Luis from Cloud worked together on the study of vitamins and the effect on the body, that was the first medical paper I ever read." She finished circling the table in front of her host, her golden irises landing on the emerald orbs of the chakra expert.

Alcina didn't waver, Maru was 20 years too young to intimate her.

"Who would have thought that something we regarded as essential to our bodies, could be mishandled in such a way? It was revolutionary!" She leaned against the metal behind her. "They found the exact number for each vitamin that could kill us. It lead to regulations, spawned tons of copy cats and is still regarded as one of the greatest breakthroughs of this generation."

Indeed. Alcina nodded.

"So what happened to that Rainy? She's had some other wonderful achievements don't get me wrong, but in the past two years I've seen nothing. And now she's obsessed with this block cold case. It's ridiculous Alcina."

The older woman crossed her legs and shrugged. That lavender smell was getting to her, but she wouldn't be here for long. Maru wasn't good at feigning caring thoughts. "I suppose she's in a bit of rut."

Maru leaned forward, the glint in her eyes becoming quite apparent to the chakra specialist. "I think you need to speak to your friend." A whisper laced with intimation. "This is getting a tad bit obsessive and I don't need our hard earned funding going to some stupid research that's not going to be worth the paper it'll be written on."

Alcina resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Again. "The cornerstone of any great experiment is a little bit of obsession."

The young woman's back straightened again. "I'll fire her."

A bold threat.

"So please make sure your little friend goes obsess over something worth writing about."

She jumped from the table, the metal releasing muffled cry at the surprising force. Slowly Maru walked towards the door. "Say what are you working on?"

Alcina turned her chair to the neat stacks of paper in front of her. "Curing erectile dysfunction."

"Oh." The younger girl shivered. "You do that."

Alcina's long fingers reached for the folder under the stack of paper. She opened it, returning the contents back to the page where she had left it on.

Sanctum Genetics Department Roster Year 182 A.K.

Authors Note: Thank you for reading!