A/N: I don't own Naruto or any of its characters. Slow-burn romance.
The next few months came and went in a blur. She turned four and the one remarkable thing about that day was that Kakashi didn't show. He was in town - she could pin-point him within 10km outside of Konoha without a second thought. Even with the way he'd been acting...it had surprised her. She knew him. And so she knew what an active statement that was. "We have nothing to do with each other anymore." - Is that what he's saying?
"Yumi-chan, you okay?"
Yumi turns to see Tomi looking at her with concern. His back-to-back missions had exponentially heightened his observational skills. She could see it in the second glances he paid to every customer at Mana's bakery.
"Mm." She nods noncommittally.
"You want to talk about it?" Tomi leans down, hand gripping her shoulder. He quickly takes on his coddling, older brother tone. She sighs inwardly as the pitch of his voice heightens and he starts enunciating every word.
Tomi had heard things about her at the orphanage, but he was never one to listen to gossip. However... in this case, most things were true. He assumed she was a misunderstood child with a dry sense of humor - well, sure. But the rumors of her talking to nothing but air and somehow being able to sense your every move while not in the same room... Well he made it out to be the words of bullies, exaggerated by word of mouth. Looking at her doe eyes framed by long, soft brown hair, how could he think she was anything but a child?
"Ah. I saw a creepy old geezer peering at Mana through the window last night. Just wondering if I should report it, you know? " she completely deadpans.
Tomi stiffens instantly, his face flushing a deep crimson.
Of course I know it was you, baka. But she thrives on others' discomfort and continues -
"I remember a few things about him - wearing distinctive red shorts -" Tomi looks down at his red shorts.
"A silver bangle around his right arm -" Tomi quickly hides his right arm behind his back.
"And he was -"
"O-O-OKAY YUMI-CHAN, i-it was probably just a harmless passerby. HAHAHAHA."
Tomi's first stop when returning from a mission was always Mana's home. It was actually a sweet gesture, so I guess I'll go easy on him.
"If you say so. Besides, she has you to look after her." She winks at him.
He flushes impossibly redder. Coughing awkwardly, he makes a smooth departure - "Speaking of...I should help Mana with her ninjutsu practice!" He all but sprints over to the other side of the training field.
She closes her eyes, suddenly tired. The breeze drifts over her, carrying over the light sounds of birds in the treetops, then Mana and Tomi's laughter, then the raucous bumble of street food stands and towns people, and beyond that the swish of dry leaves across the pavement and everything far and few between. Her favorite sound always follows just after. The interlude of silence when the breeze is simply just the breeze, carrying over nothing but its own sound. An almost silence, but she hears it stronger than she hears anything else.
Her eyes jolt open, sensing a presence behind her. I almost didn't notice.
But before she can look back, it's already gone.
She wraps up her scrolls and gathers her books.
I'll give them their space.
Kakashi traces over the scar on his left eye. The skin is still harsh and horribly discolored. A constant, physical reminder of loss every time he looked in the mirror.
He sighs, shifting his headband back in place.
I'll train harder. I'll get stronger. I'll protect everyone.
He walks out of the bathroom, already donning full training gear. He grabs his sword and a few weapon pouches. He glances one last time at his team photo. Beside that is a picture of him carrying Yumi on his back. He grabs it and stuffs it inside his desk drawer.
Enough of this. She's better off without me there. She's not a ninja. A constant mantra he's been telling himself.
And just as he swings open the door -
"MY ETERNAL RIVAL! I CHALLENGE YOU TO A DUEL!"
And as excessively loud as Gai was, he needs this right now.
"Hai, hai."
He takes off in a blur. And soon their walk to the training grounds becomes a race to the finish line.
Yumi and Rin walk hand-in-hand down a well-paved stone path. There is obvious wealth in the upkeep of the area. In Rin's free hand she holds a basket of sweet pears. In Yumi's free hand she holds a bouquet of fresh flowers.
In the distance is the large gateway of the Uchiha Compound. It's simple, yet utterly beautiful. Strung along it is a cloth with the iconic red and white symbol of the clan.
Yumi glances up at Rin, who holds a classic smile on her face. If Yumi could count on anything from Rin, it was that smile. She's strong.
"Yumi-chan, don't mind Kakashi okay?"
"I know."
"He's just busy with training. He wants to get stronger, to protect the village - you and me included!"
"Yeah."
"He'll be fine soon enough, I know it."
"Mhm."
Everyone had been reassuring her over the past few months. But I don't need assurances, I just need him.
She had tried to visit his home, only to find the locks changed. She had waited for him after his training session, only for him to disappear in a swirl of leaves. She had waved to him on the streets, only for him to completely ignore her and pass without a second thought - that one was just plain rude!
Yumi valued her time alone, everyone knew that. So she wanted to give him space, but...
Rin stops under the gate.
"Did you want to come with me this time?"
Yumi shakes her head 'no'. " I'm sure she has stories to share with you, knowing how much you meant to him."
Yumi hands Rin the bouquet.
"Thanks Yumi-chan."
Yumi watches Rin walk through the gates, heading for Obito's grandmother's house.
From inside the compound she spots a boy her age with wavy black hair. He looks straight at her. And surprisingly, breaks into a smile and waves. How unlike an Uchiha.
She waves back and turns to leave.
"Hey, wait!"
She stills and looks back over her shoulder. Her head tilts to the side in question.
"I've seen you around here a lot. I'm Shisui." Oh? He must be who I sensed before. He's fast.
He jogs up beside her. "I'm Yumi."
He follows her as she walks further from the compound.
"What were you reading today?" She debates whether to answer. He doesn't seem deceptive but she can't get a good read on him. Then again, Kushina was dreadfully sad to learn Yumi had no friends her age...
"The Science of Clouds."
"Ehhh how cool."
"I know it is." He laughs. It's warm and full of sincerity.
"You watch us sometimes, right?" It's a question that seems interrogative, but for some reason from Shisui, it feels harmless.
"Yeah. I've seen you practice. You're quite good." And she had. He stood out amongst the older kids he trained with - though they were older, he was stronger. And he was most certainly faster.
He blushes lightly.
"Thanks - I have a long way to go, but I'm glad I'm improving! That way I can help more people."
She smiles at the way he stares off into the distance, a light glimmering in his eye. Imagining a peace that few have the conviction to achieve. "I can help you."
He looks at her with surprise - she's surprised herself. "If you want, I mean." She quickly adds.
"I'd like that."
"Tomorrow then."
"Really?"
"Backing out?" She challenges with a smirk.
He laughs and crosses his arms behind his head. "Can't get rid of me that easily."
"Then you bring the snacks."
"Eh? W-wait a second!" But Yumi is already off.
"Urgh!" A kick to the stomach from Gai sends Kakashi skidding back a foot, but he holds his ground. He quickly recovers, ducking as another punch comes his way. From a crouch he launches up, faking left. At the last moment, pivoting the other direction and landing a solid blow to Gai's face. Gai flies back, tumbling through the dirt until he manages to regain his upright position.
"HAAA!" Through the billow of dust Gai comes charging with a relentless stream of punches. Kakashi easily follows his movement, blocking as he is slowly backed across the field. Disappearing from the front he blurs behind Gai, elbowing him in the back. Gai slams hard against the ground.
"I win."
Gai lifts his face - and instead of a look of defeat, a huge smile is plastered across his face. He gives his classic thumbs-up.
"I'LL GET YOU NEXT TIME MY ETERNAL RIVAL!"
Kakashi blinks, then sighs. He takes a seat beside Gai on the ground, leaning back to gaze at the clouds.
They lie exhausted on the dirt. Kakashi closes his eyes. The wind pulls roughly at his hair and he can only think of her.
The breeze caresses his cheek, and for a brief moment, he imagines her hand gently touching his face. Her large brown eyes sparkling amber in the light. Her sneaky laugh followed by a familiar "Kashi-kun".
Just for today I'll allow these thoughts. Just today he tells himself as more memories flood him.
Then I won't allow my resolve to waver.
He wants to be strong. He wants to protect all his precious friends.
Hidden beneath that, he wants a means to be happy; to deserve that happiness. And that was the only thing he didn't have the resolve to pursue. From fear. Doubt. Self-loathing... Could he truly be whole? He would find the answer one day, as a man. And never lose sight of it.
Yumi, with a trickling of chakra to her feet, walks up the wall of Rikuto's shop. She places the book back on the top shelf. Rikuto's shop looks exponentially neater now that she's taken up as his apprentice of sorts.
"Already finished?"
"Mm!" She hops off the wall onto the ground.
"The hurry here~" Rikuto waves her toward his lab in the back. He wouldn't allow her to touch anything in here for 'safety reasons', so it would perpetually stay a mess.
In a beaker is a miniature cumulus cloud - her eyes widen.
"Amazing, isn't it?" He smirks.
"How?"
"It's quite simple actually. What nature release do you think this would fall under?"
She knows Rikuto could only perform fire and earth release - and that was on a good day. But if she was just thinking of what should make this possible, isn't it water?
"Water."
"Then how am I doing it?" She stares hard at the beaker. "If you get it wrong, you have to introduce me to a beautiful woman!" He giggles to himself, thinking of the endless possibilities...
She concentrates harder, remembering her studies.
"Fire. And then ice?"
"Is that a question?"
"Fire. And then some cooling mechanism - since I've never seen you use an Ice release, I'll assume you just cooled the top through generic means. The beaker needs to already have water inside. As you heat it, the water evaporates and rises. And by rapidly cooling it, the air condenses into that." She points at it.
He looks utterly disappointed. "Boooring. Can't you let me have one date?"
"No, I have to watch out for my fellow women."
"You're four... But yes, yes you're right. I simply used a bag of ice at the top to cool it as I heated. Point is, every element relates to the other - that's nature. Everything working in tandem to one another. Any genin worth their salt could do this if they had the proper knowledge. You could of course create a cloud with water, but also a smart usage of fire and definitely wind."
"Wind?"
"Yes! Clouds are condensed, cool air with a saturated amount of water vapor. Water is an intrinsic part of the air we breathe. Learn to control its expansion - " His arms widen.
"And contraction -" His arms pull inward.
"And that's all there is to it. It just comes down to understanding. And control I suppose."
"Hmmm."
She grabs a closed beaker with water at the base. She places one palm at the base and one palm at the top.
"Not so hasty Yumi-chan. Controlling two nature releases, separately but at once is -"
A slight red hue emits from one hand, heating up the water. And a slight blue hue emits from the other, instantly cooling the air. Sweat forms on her brow, but she maintains the even pressure from both. It wasn't as effortless as wind, but at the base level it would do.
Rikuto's mouth drops to the floor.
A beautiful, ethereal cloud forms. Swirling, breathing, living.
Yumi pants slightly. The blue and red wane from her hands.
She holds the beaker up to the light - what a simple thing, but her laughter is instantaneous. She's so enraptured she doesn't even notice Rikuto's serious expression. The sudden shift in his mood. All she can think is: How lovely.
For the first time since Kakashi's avoidance, she feels a genuine flutter of happiness.
Because the world is full of struggles... but if you wait, you'll find that it is strange and so very beautiful.
A/N: I definitely lean towards showing Yumi's life, but I wanted to give Kakashi some deep moments this chapter lol. Also realizing I really like names with only 4 letters. Yay for science.