Always watching you
chapter 11

The Golden Lake. The smile of our ninja heroine would usually be evident but this time she was deep in thought. A wrinkle formed between her brows as she looked down into a beautiful lake. Its water was black as the night sky and was only broken up when the most awe inspiring, beautiful golden fish swam to the surface. They glowed a romantic golden colour that would make any couple smile but this ninja woman stood alone.

It would be a while before Akihiko showed up and Kakashi was nowhere in sight. She thought about the letter and frowned again. Was this really a confession? Or a trap? She had to make sure first right? After all Kakashi doubted her ninja abilities! And anger dwelled in her again!

Has he never seen her abilities? What about the time her, Sakura, Hinata and Ino made that complicated seal? She was the one keeping it together most of the time. She was the only one with the chakra skills capable to do so. If she didn't need four people to complete the jutsu she would have done it herself, AND SUCEEDED!

She sighed. Why was he so mean? When did it all change? That first kiss? But why did it change? Maybe she should have kept her mask up. If she hadn't dropped her mask then they would be friends like old times…

… Were they friends before that kiss? She meant it when she said friends to him whilst explaining her line. She really felt close to him but before… were they comrades? No that's not what it was like. They were neither team mates nor acquaintances. Maybe colleagues? Colleagues were closer to the truth. They simply knew each other and that was it.

To be honest, since that kiss they seemed… Closer. Not like they were dating kind of close, although she wouldn't mind that. Rather they knew more about each other, they were revealing their true selves bit by bit. She had seen sides of him no one probably knew and vice versa. She kind of liked being close.

Kakashi looked at the letter in his hands. Was she really going to come alone? Did she actually think this was real? HOW COULD SHE BELIEVE THE GUY! He was obviously a fake. He sighed as he wondered if she had actually fallen for the guy. Maybe that's why she actually wanted to believe it.

BUT WHY HIM! Kakashi was hot! Let's face it; he is being modest when he thinks this! He was merely recapping what thousands of women shouted out to him when he walked the streets. So why does this guy win?! Maybe the mystery of a mask doesn't work anymore. Maybe he should show his face… Nah. That can't be it.

Maybe instead of having his hair spiked up he should make it more….Flippy? Urgh that sounds annoying. Why would he want to continuously flip hair out of his face, did he want to be like Neji?! No thank you.

Why was it that she was always mad at him? The first day she was mad at him was the day after they had first kissed. She was throwing paper and scrolls at him and her angry face was so cute! But what had changed? That first kiss? The way she kissed back he thought she liked it. Maybe he should have asked first.

But if she had said no, and everything remained the same… then he would be stuck, watching her watch him. Despite her being angry all the time he felt that they were indeed closer. And he liked being close. He liked knowing her better. He liked her being more than Tsunade's right hand that watched him. He liked her by his side.

"Shizune!" Akihiko's honeyed voice made the beautiful ninja turn and look at him almost sadly. He ran up and hugged her as he spoke.

"I know you must feel bad. You loved him and I realise that. But its better he find out now then later." Pulling away he stroked her cheek and smiled at her as he took her hands and pulled his note from them, dropping it on the ground by the water.

"I have a boat ready! We will go inland and when we can't go any further we will walk until a village takes our fancy! It will be amazing my dear."

She simply nodded as he pulled her arm and lead her away, their fingers slipped into each other's and linked perfectly.

There was the boat. And it was filled with supplies. This was a real confession after all. He helped her into the boat and pushed it from the shore watching her confused expression as the boat drifted further away. A foot fall sounded behind him and made him smirk. "The dear husband comes to get his woman back. I'm sorry but it ends he….." He turned and gasped in shock as Shizune was the one standing behind him, delivering a powerful kick to his jaw.

"What? How did you…" The sound of something on water made him turn and he watched in horror as the Shizune on the boat ran atop the water toward him, slowly turning back into Kakashi.

"So…our targets turned out to be ninja this time." He smirked as the fight began. It was Harder this time. He was much, much stronger than the first man. And Shizune was fighting more to! Seeing as even Kakashi was having a hard time she knew this guy was tough.

His hands moved quickly and it took everything Shizune had to dodge his water attacks. Kakashi kept up with his own water attacks whilst she tried to numb Akihiko's wrist but he was fast and she couldn't get near them. But it looked like their stamina would out last his.

Akihiko smirked as a rustle sounded in the bushes nearby. Kakashi tackled Shizune, Holding her close to his chest as a huge beast charged out of the bush, just missed them, and disappeared behind a tree. The beast was as large as a bear, with the mouth of a wolf, a tail like a snake and claws like a lion. Shizune lay in Kakashi's arms for a moment in shock. Never had she seen such a heinous beast as that. Her hands clutched his shirt tightly as she trembled. What was that!

Kakashi held her for a moment, listening. It had gone quite excluding Akihiko catching his breath. He felt her grasp tighten and felt her tremble. He wanted to keep holding her, just to let her know he was here and nothing bad would happen. But this was not comforting a child through a thunder storm. This was some ninja eating beast that would not stop attacking just because he wanted a hug.

Slowly he sat up, helping Shizune up with him. They remained silent, facing Akihiko and yet listening for the beast. There was nothing.

"That's my buddies little friend. Spot doesn't like people attacking his master's friends."

Spot?! Was he serious?! What bad guy names his huge man eating freak of a beast spot?!

Kakashi narrowed his eyes as Akihiko transformed into him.
"I not only look like you but I sound and smell like you. This is my perfect transformation jutsu. Any injury you receive I will also magically APPEAR to have. The cutie there won't be able to tell us apart. But spot will find a way. And when he does, there will be one less ninja in the world."

"Or one less pretty boy." Kakashi said as he readied his blade. And again, the two were locked in battle and all Shizune could do is watch. She could hear rustling now. She could hear the beast circling the battle waiting for the right moment. And all she could do was think of that old man's words. The one she loved would die. Is that going to come true? Will he really?

A low growl made her cringe. It will wont it? That old man's words will come true. And what will she have to show for it? He will die thinking she hates him… he will die never knowing her feelings. She couldn't let that happen right? How could that old man know this would happen?

Shizune calmed herself. The corners of her eyes shed tears but her expression was one of a well-trained ninja. She ran into the battle. She knew which Kakashi was the real one. She had watched him for so long she knew exactly which was which. She would not let it end without her saying those words.

She grabbed the hand of one of the men and with tear filled eyes she cried out "I LOVE YOU!" and just as she expected the beast appeared, attacking Kakashi and ripping him to shred. She felt his hand forcefully be yanked away from her own by the sheer power of the beast Tackle. She watched horrified as blood went everywhere. The sun had started to rise so the beast fled without giving a thought to her.

A hand grabbed her shoulder and she cringed.

"Shizune… please tell me you…"

She turned and smiled as she spoke "I knew which Kakashi was the real one." Kakashi half smiled at her as the tears ran down her cheeks. He looked at the torn up body of Akihiko and his heart sank. She said she loved him and she was now crying. It was real wasn't it? She only had him killed because it was the mission but that didn't mean she didn't have feelings for him.

With the body well and truly buried, awaiting the black ops to recover later, Kakashi took Shizune's hand and silently led her back as she continued wiping tears from her eyes. If he could just have this… but that was not enough for him. It would have to be though as he couldn't force her to love him.

Shizune couldn't stop the tears. Seeing someone who looks like Kakashi being ripped to pieces like that was just too much for her! And for a brief moment she thought she had, had it wrong. It took a while for the jutsu to end and for Akihiko to be the one lying dead but relief washed over her when it did. Kakashi was all right. And she still had a chance to confess to him if he hadn't guess the 'I love you' was really for him. But why did his hand feel so lonely?

Kakashi released her hand, deciding it was too painful to even hold it; when she took it again. He turned to look at her and she smiled warmly as she gave it a squeeze. He grasped her hand tightly and they continued sneaking back into the inn. Both too tired to shower they laid in their bed and Shizune held Kakashi's hand whilst she slept. Kakashi brushed her hair from her face and lay there. Thinking. This was the first time she faced him whilst she slept.