Author's Note:Thanks to Pretzel451, kakashifangrl1012, 3DG4EVA, Lastelle of Konoha, and rheaclairet for reviewing! And enjoy everyone!

"Innocent"

Written by Sakra-chan

Scroll Ten

"I never knew pandas were so friendly! I like Kashi-chan!"

"It's 'Kaka-chan' not 'Kashi-chan'!"

Rin giggled softly, watching the children try to play 'fetch' with her panda Kakashi had gotten for her nearly a week ago while he helped the children's parents move some boxes into their new house located closer to the main Shinobi village located in the Grass country.

Yes it was true -- the family was moving, soon their mission would end and they'd be able to go home.

A cold November breeze came by, carrying leaves along and blowing her short honey-brunette hair. The tall grass where the children were now playing 'hide and go seek' in with Kaka-chan bent over in the same direction - showing some of Kaka-chan's fur in the process.

"Where's Kaka-chan?"

"I don't know, we've looked everywhere for her!"

Rin giggled softly at the twins who were frantically trying to look for Kaka-chan, while Takeshi calmly searched for the young little panda. Rin unconciously closed her eyes and reopened them, blinking when she saw three figures around the same size heading towards them.

Standing back up on her feet, Rin called out to the children, "Alright, Takeshi, Takara, Tanaka! It's time to go inside now!"

"But we can't find Kaka-chan anywhere!" All three kids called out at the same time. Rin smiled softly at them again before helping them search for her panda.

After about thirty seconds, the panda had found its way back to Rin on its own when she had pulled out food for her. About that time the figures - who had turned out to be the children's parents and Kakashi like Rin had expected - returned, they were all ready and now they were walking on the dirt path that led to their home which had been sold nearly a few days ago.

The house was now filled with boxes stacked up on top of each other, and now it seemed like a maze inside. Kakashi watched Rin as she made her way over to the couch to sit down, and not too long after he joined her - watching her pet Kaka-chan softly, it was the first time he noticed how gentle she was. Even if he had been tended by her many times before, he had never noticed how soft and smooth her hands were - his eyes automatically tracked down her hands as they moved back and forth, his eyes following them non-stop.

Eventually after he realized what he was doing, he quickily looked away, trying to prevent Rin from noticing - but it was too late.

She had noticed him staring at her, and immedietly looked at him and spoke. "Is something wrong, Kakashi?"

Sometimes he wondered if she did her best not to embarrass him - because she knew he was looking at her, or if she really didn't understand why he was looking at her all of the time.

His thoughts traveled back to that day when they had first set out on this mission, how she had said that most people would say that these things were happening to him because he liked her - but...was it true? Did he like her?

'Maybe I'm starting to see her as a trustworthy friend - not a comrade?' He asked himself, hoping for that other annoying voice inside of his head to answer it - but it didn't. Was it's job just to tell him right from wrong and set him straight? Or was there any other purpose for it? Surely an annoying voice such as it had to have a purpose...right?

After he realized that he hadn't answered Rin yet because all of these thoughts that were hitting him all at once, he quickily said the first thing that came to mind. "N-No!"

"Are you feeling alright, Kakashi? I don't want to be offensive...but you're not really acting like yourself..."

It was just like her, to try not to be offensive - but to say things in a caring matter, and try to find another way to something such as 'you're not acting like yourself' in a calmly, but nicely matter.

"W-We've been moving all day, I'm probably just tired, that's all." He quickily lied, anything to save him from the humiliation and for others to think that he was even starting to accept a girl, or anyone around him even - it just didn't seem right.

"Maybe you should go get some rest then, Kakashi." Rin flashed him a caring smile. "I can handle things around here while you're resting."

"We might get ambushed while I'm out, I don't want to take the chance."

"Yes, but like you always say, 'a ninja must always be ready for combat' - so how can you be ready for combat if you're not well-rested, Kakashi?" She shot back sweetly, and calmly.

"And how can I make sure you're safe if I'm sleeping on the job?" Now that was something he should've thought about before spilling - since when didn't he have a control over his mouth?

"Wh-What? Kakashi...are you sure you're alright?"

"Yes, Rin."

"Kakashi...please...just please get some rest..." At that moment - he didn't know why - but for some reason he couldn't fight against her pleas any longer. The way she was looking at him pleadingly - and her eyes filled with concern - how had he not seen her this way when she was like this before?

With a sigh, he gave in - and saying nothing he walked upstairs to their room to lay down on the set of blankets that had been set out for him and Rin. Since the family was moving, no one was currently sleeping on beds at the moment.

In a matter of minutes, Kakashi found himself in a peaceful sleep.

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Sunshine shined its way through the curtains in front of the window in the room, waking up Kakashi - sitting up and rubbing his eyes, he wondered why it was so quiet downstairs.

Curiousity took over him after a while, and he went downstairs to investigate - it seemed that the farther he went downstairs, the quieter the house got, and for a moment he started fearing for the worse.

'Calm down Kakashi...you're a light sleeper - and knowing Rin she would've screamed if a Rock nin came busting through a door or window.'

'Yes but what if the enemy was so quick that he killed Rin and everyone else in a heart beat...and now they're laying dead on the floor - eyes wide open...?'

'We would smell blood...and since when would Rin die with her eyes wide open?'

'You never smelled your father's blood until you saw him - what makes you think that it couldn't be the same for Rin?'

'Why is it that you come whenever I don't want you?'

Just like he expected, the most annoying voice he had ever come across in his life didn't respond - and he finally gathered up the courage to finish his way down stairs, knowing that sooner or later he would have to face Rin's dead body if she was dead.

He was in complete shock when he found Rin laying on the couch, not moving, her eyes shut - and at that moment he feared the worse. He cautiously walked over and shook her. "Rin!"

Being a silent sleeper, she didn't moan in response like Obito would've done - though he probably would've jumped up with a scream and then demanded for an explanation, unless it was Rin of course - instead she slowly opened her eyes, Kakashi then seeing that she must've been sleeping.

"Ka-Kakashi? Is something wrong?"

"Where's everyone else?" He asked her curiously, his state of panic over - and returning to his usual cold self.

"They wanted some family time together, so I agreed to let them go along for an hour and a half before I go searching for them if they have yet to arrive."

"Oh." He turned back around for reasons that even he didn't know, and silently walked into the kitchen for a glass of water.

He heard foot steps coming from behind him once he got to the sink and started filling a cup with tap water, immedietly he knew it was Rin - he could always seperate her footsteps from everyone elses.

Wait? He knew her footsteps more than anyone else's? How was that even possible? Before he had always ignored her, treated her like dirt - so how could he suddenly know how her foot steps sounded like?

Before he knew it, Rin was in front of him with a hand removing his hita'ate and the other placing a hand over his forehead. "Rin?" He had never seen her so calm before, normally because she had always had a small crush on him - but not to the point that it effected her training - she would be slightly nervous around him, but even then she was nervous and shy around everyone.

He felt her apply chakra to her hand, and he felt himself becoming more calm - and his thoughts becoming normal. She smiled at him, and he didn't get all these thoughts and questions about it.

"Is that better?" When all he could do was nod in response, she smiled at him one last time before bending down and picking Kaka-chan up and holding the animal to her chest.

"You seem to like freedom - I wonder...would you like my place? There's a farm there...since we grow all kinds of flowers, vegetables, and even sometimes we carry a few chickens and sell them to other places for more money since we need it for all kinds of other things back at home...plus there are lots of fields there..." He couldn't help but curiously listen to her as she spoke to the panda, all of a sudden an ergant rush to learn more about her over coming him. "When I was younger I used to run through the fields - I've always been an only child...I wish I had a brother or sister to look after me, Obito-kun says that they get on your nerves though." Her face softened from her smile to a painful smile. "Do you think the Uchiha clan hates me for Obito's death?"

"A wise person once told me, 'the reason why so many people are dying is dying is because we're all too selfish to get along'. Though I wonder, could I possibly make a difference in someone's life like my grandpa once told me?"

Kakashi curiously watched the panda carefully, it almost seemed as if it understood Rin's words. But...was that even possible?

"I remember how active my mother used to be before she got sick - we used to always make snow men when it snowed, and we would always run through fields together..."

'I thought she still lived with her mother...she said that she just spent a few days a week to give her mother space - did she lie?'

When the tiny panda that was small enough to fit in Rin's arms squirmed, wanted to be put down, Rin granted it it's wish - and when she did she looked up at Kakashi, who seemed to be staring at the small animal.

Without saying anything to her, he watched the young kunoichi exit the room silently - hearing her footsteps fading away.

Author's Note: Woo! Ten chapters already!