Just one review... lol ok... thank you anyway Urashike, much love for you too lol! i hope you enjoy this chapter...
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9
~ Reasoning ~
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~ Everything used to fade into darkness... everything... but you... ~
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"Kakashi!" he looked over to where Gai was standing holding up his drink. "Are you even listening to me?" he seemed angered.
Under the table he felt as Rin kicked him softly; he turned to look at her, but her face remained impassive and giving Gai her whole attention.
"You know he never listens!" Anko said waving a hand dismissingly. Gai crossed his arms over his chest totally bothered by his rival's actions.
"Here's to you, Gai-kun! I wish you a happy birthday!" Rin held up her drink and Gai's attention diverted from the silver haired ANBU.
"Thank you, Rin-chan!" Gai exclaimed as the rest raised their drinks and clunk them together.
After that, Gai started to chat amusedly with Izumo and Kotetsu and partially forgot about Kakashi's indifference to his celebration; Rin sipped at her drink and sighed loudly.
"I don't mind, but you should probably try to show more emotion with your other friends…" she said regarding her friend with a grimace.
Kakashi shrugged not caring about it…
"If they're friends they should be used by now and accept me for whom I am…" he stared at her impassively, but her small smile told him that she actually knew he was amused by her advice.
He shook his head and shifted uncomfortably turning fully to her and giving an exasperated sigh careful that the others wouldn't notice… he started to talk in whispers.
"Why do you do that?" he demanded staring at her with a frown. Rin laughed quietly and sipped at her drink again returning her eyes to the rest of the gang, but keeping her voice low so he could hear her.
"Do what? What do you mean?" she asked him while she nodded in response to something Gai was saying.
"To look at me! As if you know something I ignore about myself!" he whispered harshly mimicking her actions and turning to meet the rest of their friends.
"Hmm?" she mused with a small smile regarding her drink…
"What?" He asked with a bit of apprehension.
"Could it be, Kakashi?" she asked with a girlish innocent voice; she turned to look at him with a mischievous smile… "Could it be that I know something about you that you ignore?"
He stared at her with confusion and swallowed trying to figure out what she meant; her eyes definitely told about a secret.
After a while of staring she simply giggled…
"You're so naïve sometimes…" she returned her eyes to the party. "Don't worry, even if I knew something I wouldn't tell…"
Kakashi kept his eyes on her profile, but in the end returned to the party as well.
…
Kakashi slowly opened his eyes and stared at the foreign ceiling; he was calm and serene… he felt at peace as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders making him lighter.
He sighed and stood from his mattress; his eyes went to the opened window and soft cold breeze coming through it… he could hear the noise coming from the kitchen and people walking around; children laughing and adults talking with each other…
Somehow it relaxed him… he frowned… It relaxed him because he felt complemented and not bitterly alone. Waking up to a house full of people was something he realized he enjoyed.
Last night had been a bit uncomfortable for him; somehow he had realized that everything he had felt for Rin years ago was still alive and had been sleeping inside him only to be awakened if he ever saw her again…
Of course thinking she had been dead he had been surprised by the rush of emotions in his head; it wasn't unpleasant, but he felt scared… it was just like thirteen years ago; his own feeling for her scared him to death and ever so lightly that same old sense of betrayal was there too; Obito…
He sighed again and pinched the bridge of his nose; he had to focus on the mission and the situation at hand.
It wasn't a difficult situation and if he was lucky enough he'd be back to Konoha at the end of this week… last night he had gone to fetch his things from the inn and he had checked up on the place in a silent way…
Mostly women and some disabled men… but mostly kids… young kids and teens…
His eyes drifted to a sliding door on the back of his bedroom, last night he had been so tired he hadn't actually looked around his own bedroom; he walked over and slid it open…
His lone eye seemed a bit amused by the sight and the irony of it all… the door led to a backyard and a few meters away there was a cornfield, but what was most amusing was the lone scarecrow in the middle; somehow it reminded him of that trap he had set for Sakura years ago when she had tried to see behind his mask..
He was standing there when the tall cornfield leaves started to shift as if someone was about to come through them; sure enough he saw the person emerging from them…
"I'm not doing this ever again!" he kept quiet while he listened to Rin complaining to someone he couldn't see behind her.
"Why not?" whined a voice behind her; he saw her hair being yanked backwards and a sharp moan of pain coming from her mouth.
"Don't pull my hair, Obito!" she yelled turning as she finally made it out of the cornfield.
"I'm sorry! I almost fell back there…" Kakashi stared down at the young boy.
He had narrowed black eyes with an innocent look and brown spiky hair, his skin was tanned and was a bit too skinny.
"I really hate this morning routine…" Rin complained again; this time when she turned around her eyes fell on Kakashi and she couldn't help but blush; her eyes trying hard to stay on his masked face.
"Hey, old pervert!" the boy yelled angrily pointing a finger at him. Kakashi frowned and cocked his head to a side not understanding.
"Obito!" Rin chastised still wearing a bright blush.
"Go put something on! He's an old pervert Rin-chan!" the boy struggled while she tried to prevent him from attacking the older man.
Kakashi's frown faded just as he remembered he had gone to sleep last night only wearing his boxers and a sleeveless shirt; he couldn't believe he was blushing madly behind the mask even if his lone eye didn't show it… His eye locked on Rin's and he closed the door really slow not showing any of his distress.
"This is a nice way to start…" he mumbled totally abashed by his own actions.
He grunted and raked a hand through his messy silver hair; why was feeling like this?
It was as if anything she did or even thinking about her triggered an emotion within him; he couldn't really remember the last time he had felt so much, but what scared him the most was his inability to actually hide them…
It irked him and stressed him; he was a ninja after all, but he couldn't explain the situation that was taking place inside his mind and body.
The whole day he had spent it avoiding her gaze and the boy's hard glare every time they came across each other. He talked with most people there about the situation and then met along with Kaoru, Rai and Rin to plan something from this point on.
He knew he had to take a drastic method to deal with the man that ruled over the harbor; he wasn't the kind to reason according to everything he had heard over the day.
"I know it wouldn't pose an actual danger for you, but he's got many guards at the state…" Rin said with a serious face while she explained.
Kaoru had map of the tower in front of them while she explained the structure, Rai was there too while he listened and waited for the main course of action, Hana and Mika simply stayed quiet listening.
"To infiltrate is nearly impossible even for me… and whilst I know I am no match for you; I'm afraid it'll be difficult even for you." She smirked when he turned around to counter her comment clearly degrading her own abilities. "I'll obviously go with you…" she added; her eyes returning to the map.
"That's not necessary I am the shinobi after all I don't think it'll be a go-"
"I still have this, Kakashi…" she showed him her headband and he widened his lone eye… "So let's just work together… so far he thinks you're dead and he doesn't know I am the thug… I can easily go in there without much trouble." She explained.
"He's warned everyone… even if the ship exploded and they never got any news about you, he still thinks you to be alive." Kaoru sighed.
"Well he's not that stupid, I mean sure he knows shinobi are on another level…" Rai added.
"But if Rin's seen there and she had to fight for whatever the reason is she'll risk her own job and staying here…" Hana said quipping in for the first time with a bewildered expression.
"It wouldn't mind…" Rin shook her head. "I think… This will be the best I can do for you… for this place." She sighed.
"You're saying that as if you're about to die, Rin-chan!" Rai said a bit nervously; Kakashi had to agree with him; why was she saying that and in that tone of voice; so bitter and hopeless.
"No, not dying, but… well; I'll be sure to let you know later…" she smiled over at her friends. "For now we should probably go to sleep and simply rest for tomorrow's plans…" she said with resolution.
Her friends nodded and all of them filed out of the dining room; she walked along behind them with Kakashi by her side checking all the doors to be locked; mostly the ones from the children rooms.
She stopped and Kakashi did the same…
"I'm going to kill that kid…" she growled out as she stared at the opened door; if Kakashi didn't focus he wouldn't have noticed the think slit…
"What is it?" he asked as the rest stopped and looked back.
"Is Obito… he sneaked out again." She took a deep breath. "I'll go and look for him; go to sleep…" she waved her hand turning around.
"I'll go with you…" Kakashi said already following her; she smiled softly making sure he didn't notice.
"Thank you…"
They were outside he pulled his sandals on and watched as she zipped up her boots; he made sure his front bangs covered his face while he regarded her legs with interest and the same betrayal feeling.
"Let's go…" she said and he straightened and followed under the moonlight.
"Where does he go to?" he asked tucking his hands inside his pockets.
"The cornfield… he likes it there; the sound the wind makes as it blows through the leaves…" she shrugged.
"So this morning you were actually looking for him?" he dared to ask not remembering the uncomfortable situation.
"Yes… He's got trouble eating; you need to be all day making sure he eats…" she waved her hand. "I don't know… I'm not sure I am qualified to be a mother you know…" she gave him a distressed look, but he merely chuckled deeply at her whiny voice. "Not funny… I mean it; he doesn't even call me mother…" she rolled her eyes.
"Well, you're not his mother…" he shrugged.
"I know… but sometimes I just wish he'd do it just once…" she made a funny face and he chuckled again. "Stop doing that…" she said shivering and running her hands against her bare arms…
He seemed confused the night was pretty warm…
"Are you cold?" he asked.
"No… You're creeping me out…" she whispered and he frowned not understanding. "How's everyone doing back at the village?" she asked trying to make conversation. "Since the third died I haven't received a single letter… all I know is from gossips and news coming from the fire country…" she added.
"Uh… so I guess you don't know about Asuma's death…" he said in a lowered voice; he stopped as she stopped…
He sighed and regarded her face with pain; she had widened eyes and a gaping mouth; he swallowed hard when he spotted the tears gathering in her brown orbs…
"You can't be serious…" she whispered and let her body fall on her knees; her eyes staring at the ground trying to remember anything about the deceased man, but it was hard and it only made her even sadder. "Asuma-kun…" she whispered crookedly.
Kakashi squatted in front of her and placed hand on her shoulder…
"It's been a while now… and his death was avenged…" he tried to console her.
"I can't even imagine what Kurenai-chan went through…" she sobbed brokenly wiping tears from her cheeks.
"Yeah, it was pretty hard; she's now raising his son…" he smiled tenderly when she looked up at him with surprise… "I'm sure you remember those two were really close…" he chuckled again.
"Right…" she wiped more tears and smiled bitterly at the thought… "Kurenai-chan's a mother now… That's really… I can't picture her with a big belly…" she laughed through her tears.
"Yes, pretty big…" he agreed as he helped her up…
"I can't believe it… What about Gai-kun and the rest?" she asked meeting his eyes and ignoring their closeness.
"He's the same old youthful man…" he chuckled and she laughed along.
He liked her laugh and her smile; it was hard not to stare like an idiot when she was so close.
"Kotetsu and Izumo are still like twins and they work now at the gate post… They haven't changed either always getting in trouble." He explained, but his eyes were glued to her smiling lips.
Maybe she hadn't noticed because she wasn't arguing or flinching away… or berating him for that; or maybe she had but was too embarrassed to actually say about it.
"Anko works alone, but she's the ever sadist woman used to be… She nags me a lot, but I guess you could say it is good naturedly…?" he half asked and half stated; Rin laughed again.
He really should look away, but it was becoming impossible and he was sure he no longer cared if she knew or not.
"I think it is good naturedly, Kakashi… She often said you needed to be nagged so you remembered you were alive…" Rin said.
She was blushing, but he wasn't looking at her face only her lips; she should've said something, but how could she when she was actually longing for what she had wanted since she was eleven years old…?
"Yeah…" he cleared his throat, but his eyes remained in the same spot with the same foggy look. "Shizune-san left with Tsunade-sama years ago and then returned when the latter one was pronounced the fifth Hokage…" he said.
"I am glad she returned… I remember her being very interested in Genma-san, but since he was a bit older we never actually got to hang out with him a lot…" she whispered softly when she realized he was leaning over.
"Genma hasn't changed either… we… we hang out more often now…" Kakashi muttered; he needed to keep the conversation going or else he'd end up doing something stupid.
"I am glad to hear so…" she said softly feeling his breath on her mouth.
Was it only he or she was getting closer? He was about to touch her lips with his; his mind yelling for him to stop, but his chest swelling with emotion…
They both flinched away when a loud splatter noise reached their ears with a loud gasp… Rin was the first to react and she ran over in the direction the noise was heard from… there was a small clearing, a small hill where the scarecrow was perched high and because of the rain from the day there were deep puddles around it.
Obito was lying in one; his front body buried deep… he raised his head up to meet her gaze; his face was caked with mud…
"Please don't kill me, Rin-chan…" he pleaded from the puddle.
She sighed in defeat and unzipped her boots; she pulled her kimono-like dress up and tied it on her sash; her legs covered only by her shorts that barely reached her mid-thigh…
"Didn't I say this morning's was the last time I came to look for you?" she asked while she stepped in the mud-like puddle feeling her legs burying to her knee.
Kakashi stared at the scene with a confusing feeling nestling in his chest… warm and cozy… something prompted him to help when she pulled the boy up from his armpits…
"Here, hand him over…" he said stretching his arms over to her.
The boy stretched his arms over to him and he could've sworn he had lived this before… he placed the kid on the ground next to him smiling at his dirtied form; he turned around and extended his arm out for Rin to grasp… He easily pulled her out of the puddle and chuckled again seeing her muddy legs up to her knees…
"Seriously, Obito, next time I'll let you to dry on the mud see how you feel when the mud dries on your face!" she said loudly and the boy merely pouted.
"Party pooper…"
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Hope you enjoyed...! :)