CHAPTER TEN

Stories and Frivolities

This was his first information-retrieval mission.

Well not exactly. But this was the, now, eighteen year old shinobi's first mission that involved exploiting his body, reputation and appearance to gather information from the Daimyō's daughter.

"I need you to infiltrate the Capital City with seemingly no motive. Use your title to enter the City, as the Daimyo had always been impressed by your father - " after so long, Kakashi stilled ever so slightly and his eyes hardened at the mention of the shinobi who killed himself over ten years ago "- but of course, it is crucial that you do not cause suspicions to arise. Go directly to the Daimyo's daughter Yuuki Shijimi and use whatever humanly means necessary to recover the information."

Whatever humanly means necessary. In other words, he had the go to manipulate her with no violence inflicted. This of course...meant only one thing.

"Once you confirm the Daimyō's role in the coup d'état, report to the ANBU squad captain assigned to carry out the next phase. If he is, in fact, a part of the coup, then I will directly contact him. If not, then our ANBU will have the permission to solely execute the Guardian Ninja who is planning it." The old, Hokage-again stopped and leaned back, lowering his pipe and tapping it against his desk. He was quiet for a thoughtful moment before his eyes flickered back up at the copy-nin. "You do not have any part of this, and must leave immediately as soon as you finished up with Yuuki Shikimi. Understood?"

Finished up with Yuuki...his choice of words made Kakashi flinch but it made all too much sense why he was being sent on this mission. Not because he had the Sharingan, nor was it because he knew almost a thousand jutsu - but because he was Kakashi Hatake, son of the White Fang.

xxxxx

He arrived in the Capital City the following night. At the news of his acceptance of visiting, the Daimyo had prepared a celebration for him - not quite a festival, not quite a ceremony but both. He was surprised that his deeds were being acknowledged, let alone to this scale. As soon as he stepped foot into the large, bustling city, he was blinded by the dazzling lights and sheer amount of people. Konoha was a quiet village with plenty of characters, but this city was the opposite – a loud city but with blank faces.

One of the Twelve Guardian ninjas was already there waiting for him. He was a man wearing an unassuming black and simple attire. If it wasn't for the sharpness in his eyes and bandages wrapped around his wrist and ankles, Kakashi would not have suspected someone like this to even hint at an assassination at the Hokage. "Kakashi Hatake, the Daimyo has been excited about your arrival."

He managed to curve his eye into a smile and waved lightly but dismissively. "And I'm excited to be here."

The ninja slit his eyes but his voice was controlled. He began slowly, "if you are planning anything, I hope you are intelligent enough to know that if anything were to go wrong -"

Wonderful, threats already.

"- I am allowed to kill you on sight."

People - and women - stared at the mysterious masked ninja in an ANBU uniform, minus the chest guard and mask. Kakashi couldn't respond, not until the crowds began fading behind them. "You should be glad to know that I am quite intelligent then," he said flatly without losing his cool exterior. The chill in the air was noticeable and the guard, Ryuu, saw his mistake instantly, although he was not apologetic.

"Do not taking my warning too personally," he said slowly because he, along with the other Five nations, knew exactly how intelligent Kakashi Hatake was and it would do him no good to get on the copy-nin's bad side, "but you must know shinobi do not usually accept requests such as these."

"Oh really?" he asked, carrying that same nonchalance. "I suppose that's understandable, but take this occasion as good grace between the Hidden Village and the Main Country."

"Hm," he said thoughtfully and they stopped in front of a giant, beautiful and without a doubt over the top palace. There was still that lingering discernment in Ryuu's gut telling him that something would go wrong, but before he could say anything -

"Why are we so suspicious of each other?" Kakashi cut him off mid thought, "we serve under the same leader."

The man narrowed his eyes but there was no bitterness to the action, just the slightest hint of frustration. "No," he said as he tore his eyes away at last from the famous copy-nin, "we do not." And being the genius he was, Kakashi didn't even have to look at him to know the unspoken thought.

We do not, and you very well know that.

xxxxx

When Kakashi Hatake was assigned to recover the information from the form of a girl brought into the world by an easily-persuade thin but powerful man, and flamboyant larger woman, he wasn't sure what he was expecting...but a petite willowy brown haired girl was not that. "Kakashi! Son of the White Fang! I am overjoyed that you made it. So, so pleased. How was your trip?" the Daimyo asked with an approving smile and glint in his eyes as the ANBU made his way to the throne. The man had thrust aside the dividing curtains and stood up already, putting aside formalities.

Kakashi had met the Daimyo on several occasions during the Chunin exams and other events yet the man's humanness surprised him each time. He did not carry that same godly aura that so many other higher ups tried to exude. Although he was meticulous, he was quite good at hiding it and Kakashi applauded him for that.

The Guardian Ninja's words still rung in his mind and he felt the distaste curl up in his stomach as he knelt down in front of the Daimyō . They were right. They did not serve the same lords, but they could coexist among each other. "It was long, my Lord, but well worth the trip. Your kindness is hard to decline."

He laughed behind his hand. "And yet you have declined it for years now. I wonder, what makes it different this time? Is it perhaps because of the new graduate from Konoha this year?"

"My Lord?"

The man chuckled again. "That boy...Itachi Uchiha. His graduation from the Nnja Academy and the upcoming Chunin exams are being gossiped about not just in the Hidden Leaf, Kakashi Hatake." He didn't react. "But motives aside, let us celebrate." He stopped and waved at his daughter who had been sitting lazily, her hazel eyes wandering. "This is my daughter, Yuuki."

Kakashi bowed politely but showed her the "smile" that he used to hide absolutely everything and reveal only his easy-going nature. It was the very same smile that made everyone under the impression that he was normal and fine for all these years. Her eyes sparkled with interest as she sat up straighter and her own smile grew. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Kakashi Hatake. I've heard many things about you."

"The pleasure is all mine, Princess."

Her stomach fluttered at the light teasing in his tone. "Hopefully not all yours," she murmured as she walked towards him and held out a limp hand. He took it carefully but because he wore his mask, all she saw was his silver head ducking slowly and felt a graze of cotton across her knuckles. But even that slightest touch and that voice of his caused shivers to crawl down her back.

"And I look forward to getting to know you personally," she could only manage to whisper and stepped back as her neck craned to meet Kakashi eye to eye when he stood up straight. She took in his tall, lean muscled frame and already knew exactly how much she wanted to get to know him.

But she did not hear the coldness in his tone when he said back, "and perhaps you will."

xxxxx

The Daimyo wasted no time. Although Kakashi's award ceremony for his valiant effort in serving the Fire Country was in two nights, the city was alive with frivolities and joy. It was on a whole other scale than the festivals that took place in Konoha – the city was painted in red with decorations, lanterns, posters and scrolls that blanketed over the town. It was night when he left his bedroom at the Palace, and so the skies were lit up by explosive firecrackers and the glow of lanterns.

The roar of drums vibrated throughout the city. Children ran down the street, loud and noisily without a fear in the world. Men beneath the traditional dragon costumes roamed the city, and lovely ladies in kimonos and yukatas graced the eyes of everyone. And although he convinced himself that these people simply relished in celebration, he couldn't help but feel the bitterness of allowing them to use the pretense of Shinobi Appreciation to pull off this extravagant party.

No, he told himself, be happy. Play the role.

"It's pretty, isn't it?" Princess Yuuki smiled at him kindly. From the past hour that he had met her, he gathered that she was the type of girl who longed to rebel and be free – she was exciting, volatile but also horribly predictable. The generic rebellious princess. But…he could play that to his advantage quite easily. After all, what was more rebellious than dating a shinobi – the very people that although her father may praise, have always been classified lower class?

"It's amazing," he said and tried to sound genuine. Her eyes lit up and she let go of his arms to skip in front of him, spinning around wildly. She was pretty, he noticed, but it sort of was just the pretty that he acknowledged but felt no attachment to. Forgettable.

But as she spun around, her long hair twirled with her and with the bright lights as a backdrop, it looked like a halo of orange seemed to –

No. He would not think about orange-haired girls that were possible psychopaths. She stopped and giggled, stumbling slightly and he took the opportunity to hold her hand to steady her. Her laughter didn't die as she exclaim, "and it's all for you!"

His hand rested on her longer than needed and her face flushed. Very, very predictable. "I'd rather think of it for the entire Hidden Leaf," he said in a low voice. Despite Ryuu's skepticism, he was completely right about it being an odd thing to do for shinobi to accept events like this. They weren't celebrities, after all, they were the military. And more than anything, Kakashi Hatake did not want to stand out any more than necessary.

"I guess, but you're a bit more…special?"

The screaming children in the back ground made him lean closer to her, and her redness grew. "Hm?"

"Well you're…Kakashi Hatake," she said and she suddenly became shy. She could play lion all she wanted in front of her father when she had the power to back it up, but alone she was as harmless as a kitten. For all her fierceness, none of it was real – not compared to true sheer strength he had seen on others. "I've heard stories about you and your father as soon as I could care to listen."

His father. Moments like this made him wanted to close his eyes and disappear into the shadow, but he knew he couldn't...as much as he wanted to. Instead he said, "I'm not as great as you may have heard." No, he was not - far from it. "There are many more deserving of this than I am."

So many.

He's humble, she thought, and her heart dropped. There was something horribly real about him – she did hear all the stories of shinobi and their missions, and some were normal and meaningless while others were devastating. This was the man that perhaps killed over a hundred people, that snuck into other villages to do her father's bidding, that killed on command, that tortured on command, that did things she couldn't even begin prepare herself mentally for – and yet the man in front of her was humble, kind and thoughtful.

"You are as good as the stories." She whispered as she stared at him. He lived up to the huge reputation that her father boasted about. Look at me, at my military! I have the Kakashi Hatake, son of the White Fang - ninja of a thousand jutsu, of the Sharingan! And he was young. A born prodigy, and only two years older than her.

And she had no idea how it was possible, but even though less than a quarter of his face was shown, he was handsome. His confidence was undeniable, his intelligence unmissable.

"Hm?" His mind had wandered.

"Nothing!" she said quickly, feeling too intimate with someone she had known for less than a day. Still, she played that passionate princess role as she grabbed his hand and started to run off. "Come, let me show you around!" But she was too hasty and as she spun around, the drapes down her arms tangled up and all she felt was the tug of the silk as it latched onto something before squeezing her eyes shut and preparing for the -

"Princess?"

Her heart stopped and slowly she opened her eyes to see that the ninja had dropped to his knee. Her face turned scarlet and she felt the heat shoot up to her cheeks. She leaned down and saw that he had picked something up – a tiny statuette of the goddess Amaterasu, the goddess of the Sun – and gently placed it back on a table with a smile directed towards the keeper. She wasn't even breathing when she watched him tilt his head back to her, his hands brushing against hers as he drew it back subtly.

"It's this damn kimono," she said quickly to cover up her moment of clumsiness. "It's so unnecessarily long!"

"Well perhaps you should take it off," he said and his "smile" didn't disappear. Her face went up several shades of red at the implicit meaning behind his words. He couldn't possibly mean that, could he? But yet that thought wasn't repulsive for her, not at all. Not towards an undeniably strong shinobi that held no pride – so different than all the other princes and lords she had met who had egos that challenged a god's. And something about his casualness, that attitude… "After all, I don't want you to fall."

But she had already fallen – to the ground, and into love.

xxxxx

Never before had she had this much fun - dizzying, drunken plain fun. She danced a bit too wildly, laughed a bit too loudly and talked to everyone – not just the nobles that she grew up with, but with village children and elderly, it was so new to her. Kakashi had immersed her into this world and everything was shiny and new. The whole night was like a dream. She couldn't even count the amount of times Kakashi had grabbed her hand to help her escape her father's Guardian Shinobi.

It was well past midnight when Princess Yuuki returned home, limp against the copy-nin. "Do you think we got away from them?" She giggled, her face pink as she checked behind the door. The palace was vast and each little sound was like a shout into a void, the echoes only emphasizing it. The Princess lived on the east end of the palace, far away from the servants and the daimyo was quite asleep, as they all should – it was four in the morning and the sun threatened to come out soon. He didn't have to worry too much about interruptions.

If there was a good time to get information out of her, it would be now. Although he wasn't particularly keen about supplying the girl with sake one after the other, it was necessary to make sure that she would forget anything that happened in this moment. "I think so, does Ryuu usually follow you into your room?"

She wrinkled her nose. "Ew, no." She threw herself into what he would think was an unnecessarily luxurious bed and laid face first on her silk pillow and mumbled, "he doesn't go that far. It's only with my father."

Your father, hm? Kakashi looked down at the girl. Her silk kimono was light blue – and for a moment, he thought of a girl with eyes so blue that it was engraved into his mind, the back of his eyelids. Don't think about her, don't. "They're that dedicated, huh?"

"Yeah," she mumbled, "well Ryuu always had this theory that dad should be the only leader."

Got it.

"I see."

xxxxx

Kakashi didn't sleep that night. The ceremony would take place this evening and although he knew it was a simple "good job, Hatake, here's a medal and let me expose you to potential employers", he really wanted to leave, but he knew that was not an option. It would be suspicious.

People here sure know how to party. Despite the fact that the skies were indigo and going to brighten up any moment, some still lingered on the roads. Their movements were swayed and of no threat, on the brink of exhaustion. His smile was hidden beneath the mask. One day with no sleep for Kakashi was routine, it was only on the third of no rest when his body started really taking a toll – and delusions were just another part of it.

He had been an insomniac when he was younger, unable to sleep knowing that Obito's eye was lodged in his head. But Rin was there to help him cope, and he forced himself to be strong for her – only for her to die in his very hands. By his very hands. The nightmares stayed for a long, long time and Kakashi had even accepted that he may never sleep again. But then the prospect of ANBU arose, and he forced his body to recover. His body had to be strong, and his mind had to force it to be so. He couldn't disappoint Minato by falling asleep on a mission, after all.

But then of course, his sensei died too.

He sighed and scratched his head. He wanted nothing more than to return to the village, not so much as to rest, but to go to the Memorial Site to put his mind at ease – instead, he was wandering around the Great City that he held no interest in.

"Akane, you – you look beautiful."

The copy-nin's head shot up. He immediately saw a young boy, holding the hands of a girl tightly as he stared longingly at her face. "But I think it's time to go home, Kohane."

I misheard. Suddenly his breathing slowed and he turned back around, continuing with his aimless stroll. He closed his eyes, slipping his hands into his pockets. He wanted the mission to be over with, but he needed just a bit more than a drunken confession. His mind ran through situations he could place himself in, ways to trigger a conversation about the Guardian ninja…

He tilted his head, swearing that he had seen a flash of orange…only to realize it was his periphery catching a glimpse of the rising sun. Maybe he really should sleep before he started seeing things. It wouldn't be beneficial to be delusional in front of the Daimyo.

With a sigh, he turned around and headed back to the Palace. His chakra reserves were incredibly high – well, high for him anyway – since there had been no conflicts at all since he left Konoha so with a quick burst of chakra, he leaped up to the scaled roof and cracked the screen window open to slip inside. It was a plain, modest room – like he preferred. But instead of going straight to the futon bed, he did a room check. His eyes scanned the room and he knocked on the panelled walls, making sure there were nothing lurking beneath. Then he made sure the door was locked, but even then he pulled up the mattresses in the best angle so that he could see the bed and window clearly.

In several hours, there would be the most unnecessary ceremony in his honour. It was for the mission's sake that he followed through with it, but that uncomfortable feeling stayed in the pit of his stomach. Maybe it was because he didn't want to have the attention on him, or maybe it was because he didn't want to see Yuuki. But most likely, it was both.

xxxxx

"To Kakashi Hatake!"

Goblets were raised and for the following hours, he shook hands of dozens of people – lords, nobles, wealthy merchants, and business owners…all looking to hire this man that seemed to never fail. All the while, the princess' hazel eyes followed his movements until finally when the whole superfluous ego-boosting event for the Daimyo was over, she stood up and moved towards him.

But he felt someone already appear behind him.

"This doesn't look like your scene, Hatake."

It was Ryuu standing behind him, and he had already sensed him approaching for several seconds before he spoke. Still, he didn't shift or change his body language as he raised his hand and smiled at the approaching girl. To her, it seemed like Ryuu was simply crossing his arms and guarding the room – not like he was talking to Kakashi.

"It isn't, but it's over," he replied in a low voice. He didn't have to worry about appearing suspicious; his mask prevented any lip readers.

"And you will be returning to Konoha?"

"I don't see why not."

"And with what, Hatake?" His eyes narrowed. "Information? Weapons?"

And in came the princess. "Kakashi! It seems like ages that I've last seen you!" Yuuki exclaimed as she laid a hand on his arm. He fought the urge to wince, covering the movement with a curve of his eyes in a smile instead. Ryuu turned his head, and began walking away and he relaxed ever so slightly.

"So it has."

"And when can I next see you?" she asked slowly, her voice in a soft purr. He didn't point out the obvious that she was seeing him now but his eyes moved towards Ryuu noticeably and she tilted her head to look in the general direction. Then she frowned. "Ryuu's been giving you a hard time?"

She fell for it. He shrugged. "We're shinobi of different superiors, that's all."

"Oh? Don't you serve my father?"

This was going almost too easily. And she was in a good state of mind, so any information she would reveal would be a lot more reliable. "I do, but the Hokage as well."

"The Hokage," she repeated, her eyes wandering as she tapped her finger against her lips. There was a thoughtful look in her eyes and his chest rose just slightly – no. Stop. "I don't think I've heard too much about him from Ryuu. Did he come from Konoha too?"

"I don't know, but if he did I'm sure we would get along just a bit better." Kakashi laughed slightly in a pretense of slight awkwardness and her eyes gleamed.

"Probably just a ninja suspicion thing, and now that I think about it…I don't think he is from Konoha. Or at least, he didn't seem to enjoy it very much if he had. I remember overhearing him talk to the others once about the Hokage and –" she stopped herself, as if suddenly realizing she said too much. She looked around the room, and then slid her fingers between his and pulled him towards the door. The sound of chatter and laughter quieted behind them and she continued once they were in the safety of unlit hallways. "Maybe I'm out of line to saying this but..."

He waited.

"…I heard him talking to Kazuma about my father and the Hokage. And well," she shrugged and in that moment, she seemed very, very small – almost shy and he had to blink to keep his vision clear, "he sounded…strange."

"Strange?"

She nodded, unable to figure the right word for it. Kakashi raised an eyebrow trying to seem casual when this was exactly what he needed. Seeing just a faint interest, she continued – willing to do anything that would engage his attention. "Just be safe, okay? I have a feeling that maybe, I don't know, Konoha isn't entirely at one with the rest of the country."

"I don't understand." He spoke slowly. He needed her to state it explicitly. She bit her lip, her eyes wide.

"Well it's just that my father has always been proud of the military strength you have, but Ryuu always thought you were too independent with having the Hokage. I don't think that he agrees with it."

"We work with the daimyo - for the daimyo." Kakashi prompted, willing her to just say the words he needed to hear.

"Okay," her voice dropped, "I don't think a civil war would break out since father and I are completely in favour of Konoha but I have heard Ryuu talk about removing the role of the Hokage and merging the Hidden Village with the rest of the country and putting the entire training under our surveillance but –"

This was actually happening. Ryuu was planning a coup d'état and now, Kakashi had the intel to back it up. "Yuuki," his voice was low, "say no more. If anything were to happen I don't want you getting involved."

Her heart stopped, and in that moment, all she wanted was for Kakashi to say that he cared for her. "Why?" She whispered, and her eyes were so hopeful, so thoughtful as if she was longing for something and half sleep deprived and half elated from a successful mission, he let his mind wander off: thinking about wide blue eyes that both hated and was scared of the world. When she placed her hand on his chest, he didn't even think – his hand covered hers, and if he just pretended…

"I don't want you to get hurt."

Her heart skipped a beat at his soft tone, and although he seemed distracted – she could see something in his dark eyes, something that reminded her of a wounded puppy that had grown into a wolf. "I'm not that fragile."

But you are. She is.

"You don't know how awful the world can be."

"If there's a coup, I can stop –"

He snapped out of it immediately. She knows. He leaned back, and he finally started to think clearly again. He had to get the idea of a coup d'état out of her head, or else when the next phase was carried, she could begin talking. "I don't think it would go that far," he said both to stop her suspicion and because it was the truth: the ANBU would not allow Ryuu to even leave the City, let alone step inside Konoha to take over the Hokage, "don't think more on it. Forget about it."

"But –"

"I'm sorry I even brought it up."

"Kakashi, is there anything –"

"It has nothing to do with you, Yuuki," he sensed no one around, "you're the Princess. Don't worry yourself with shinobi affairs."

"Then make me forget about it," there was no bratty privileged tone in her voice. And he was surprised – surprised at the sincerity at the tone, as if she had never known real affection. It was a pleading, begging tone full of vulnerability. He felt it coming upon him, felt his mind removing the block between his reality and delusion. Her finger trailed down his face, and although he felt exposed – his mind was already gone. He was no longer really there. A part of him was telling him to go with it, that she would completely forget about the allegations…

And the other part was whispering one word, one name over and over:

Akane.

xxxxx

He thought that he would be shaken after practically selling out himself in order to make sure Yuuki wouldn't talk, and he hadn't even prepared beforehand. He didn't expect it to go that far. But it wasn't horrible, he thought dryly as he walked down one of the village's many busy streets, it was preferable over battles where comrades could be lost. He made no sound, simply walking and staring up at the moon. Was it night already? Time had passed by fast.

No, he thought, it was not bad at all. And if sex was a means of information retrieval, then so be it. It was just another part of the mission.

But he was lying to himself. He could have stopped it any time, he could've taken Yuuki's hands off him and leave – but he didn't want to. He was too tired, and in that moment, he didn't see how it could possibly damage him.

Yet now he felt like he gave away too much of himself...but then shot down that thought immediately. No, it was just another mission. It had nothing to do with him. It was about Konoha. And yet even as he kept this in mind, he couldn't help but sigh as he placed the earpiece on and switched on the receiver. "Hatake, reporting in. Mission completed. The Daimyo has not been compromised, approval to carry out Phase Two."

There was just a moment of silence between him and the next squad captain, yet it felt long enough for him to drift out and take in the sound of the wind, of the night, and of the absolute stillness in his voice as if he hadn't just, on some degree, was prostituted. The moment was long enough to realize it was cool out, and even the breeze seemed to be whispering something to him.

And then her voice cut in and it was as if he had been asleep all along and his trance was shattered into millions by the sound of a low, quiet and thoughtful voice. "Understood," she said and he stopped breathing, "well done, Kakashi."

Akane?

xxxxx

He waited for confirmation. It was a standard ANBU protocol to check back with the informant before carrying out any assassinations. So he wandered the silent village, waiting. Thinking. He thought about what was only moments ago but felt like years - of being in that warm bed but feeling so cold, of the feel of someone else's blanket against his skin, of the sound of the Daimyo's daughter screaming out his name, staring up at him as if she was in love.

He sure wasn't.

He deluded himself into getting lost in the tone of the princess' voice. So maybe she craved for real affection as well, and he supposed that he lacked it too. And maybe for a second he deluded himself thinking that that would be enough – but she wasn't. As vulnerable and lonely that Yuuki may have been in her own little way, he couldn't help compare it…compare to three words from a girl he had never spoken to for a long while. In those words, Akane seemed…

Hopeless.

Completely void of any happiness.

And it was that sort of void that made Kakashi rethink everything. Did he really hate her? Hate this one girl who had lost her father, who was forced into growing up? Did he have the right to hate a thirteen year old girl who was afraid to die?

But she was a kunoichi over everything else, as he was a shinobi before he was a boy when he was first thrown into war. And she was a coward.

But when that very same copper-haired ANBU of his nightmares appeared down the road, something had to be the reason why he became suddenly aware of his breathing. She waited for him to come but he didn't quicken his pace, and he was sure behind that mask, she was glaring at him. "Do I have your confirmation to carry out phase two?" she asked, her voice quiet but he heard the slightest twinge of that familiar annoyance. He stared straight ahead.

"Yes." That was all he could say but his voice betrayed him and there was the slightest shake that had not been there earlier, when he didn't know who he was talking to.

"Something wrong?"

"No," why did he sound so rough, his voice so raw?

She stopped, and although he forced himself to not look next to him, he heard her feet shuffle the dirt beside him as she shifted. "Kakashi?"

Her prompt forced him to look at her, but that year-long assumption of her character was going to be shattered if he were to look at her - at her eyes - when she was in that mood, or any mood really that wasn't hate. But before he could see even anything above the tip of her mask, she went up on her toes and slipped the mask over his face. He felt the familiar porcelain's cool touch as his eyes widened, hiding his face further yet he felt unbearably exposed when he felt the brush of her fingers down the corners of his face. And that touch alone sent his nerves on fire in the way Yuuki never did, never could.

He wanted to grab her wrist, to bring her close - but then what?

To tell her that he...no.

"Hey Kakashi," he hated her - he was supposed to - she was the scum after all, the garbage of all shinobi...so why was it that his name in that voice of hers make her seem so...so..."It was just a part of the mission." And then she said things like that. Why was she comforting him? Why did she suddenly care for the feelings of others, of others in general when she would leave them to die? One moment he wanted to touch her, and the next, he wanted her far, far away.

"Why did you do it?"

The facade of calmness cracked abruptly and he didn't even have the chance to think of regretting it before she reacted.

She frowned, her eyebrows pulled together but there was no scorn in her eyes at his outburst. "What are you talking about?" Her eyes flickered around her. "This isn't the place to discuss -"

"Your mission in Iwagakure almost two years ago. I heard about it." She stilled, her chin slowly rising so that she could stare down at him disapprovingly but he already said too much now to go back. Maybe it was because he already made enough mistakes, or maybe he was simply losing his mind with sleep deprivation. "Explain to me – make it clear to me as to why you would leave your own squad behind? Just because your first defense of genjutsu didn't work? Was that it? Is that all it takes to shake up Viper?" When did you become such a coward?

She didn't respond for several, long seconds.

He swore that she wanted to agonize him the way she stopped again, and said nothing. And for a moment too long she simply stood there - but as soon as he reached out, she was walking ahead of him.

"Are you running away again?" He couldn't help but shout out. His accusation echoed down the road, moonlight between him and making her look farther away than she really was. But that was what he had always known, right? Akane Mikuzen – the girl who was simply too far away, too far gone. She was just proving to him everything he thought about her, everything the other ANBU whispered behind her back: that as soon as she faced anything that was even slightly uncomfortable for her, she was off to the hills by herself. Her and only her. A selfish, childish unsuitable squad captain. It was despicable.

And then she stopped abruptly, as if she gave up on trying to remain calm. She whipped back to him so savagely that he stopped breathing altogether. She tore off her mask and he heard it shatter on the ground but his eyes were focused on the fierce look in those blue eyes as she stormed back at him.

There it was – there was that blue that had haunted him for God knew how long.

She was in his face and her gloved fingers grabbed at the strap of his uniform, dragging him down to her level as she glared at him with the same awfulness of the past. He looked at every inch, every speckle of her face - the lines on her forehead, the way her just-darker-than-her-hair coloured eyebrows were raised in a challenge, each lash that framed her blue eyes, her nose, her lips. And when he thought she would shout back at him or maybe hiss through her teeth, her voice was strangely calm and measured. And as soon as she spoke, she left him there: left the eighteen year old ANBU frozen.

Even minutes after she disappeared, her words replayed in his mind, altering his perspective that had been rock solid for so long.

Do you honestly think that I am afraid of death?

And as he stared at the broken pieces of her mask, he knew that if that one thing was clear: Viper was not afraid of death, and if anything, the girl that was Akane Mikuzen perhaps even welcomed it.