Chapter 11

''I wonder what Kakashi looks like beneath the mask.'' I said.

''I wondered that once.'' Naruto replied.

''Yea. And you thought he had buck teeth.'' Sasuke said.

''So did you.''

''No I only inferred.''

''No you…''

''Stop.'' I said, not wanting to hear a fight after just finishing a physical one.

''Sorry.'' Naruto said.

''Its fine.'' I leaned back on my hands. ''So you actually thought he had buck teeth?''

''Yeah.'' Naruto said with a chuckle. ''Or that he had tiny lips.''

I laughed. ''Did you see his face?''

''No.''

''Did you ever try?''

''Sorta.''

''Ah. What if I pulled it down? What would be behind it, you think?''

''Another mask.''

''What?'' I said amused.'' How do you know that?''

''He showed us.''

I laughed. ''Really? Why does he wear two masks?''

''I really don't know.''

''Hm…Well I'm gonna find out what's behind both masks. Believe it.''

Naruto looked at me automatically. ''Hey that's my phrase.''

''Oh sorry…I'll find out what's behind both masks. I know it.'' I rephrased.

''Better.'' Naruto grinned. I laughed, shoving him with my shoulder.

I laid on my back, staring up at the clouds as they passed.

My eyes bore and changed their focus. And that focus was Naruto's face, well to be more specific, the whiskers on his face. I sat up to get a better look. I extended my hand slowly, to his face. Touching the whiskers. Naruto looked over at me instantly. I drew my hand back.

''What are you doing?'' He asked.

''Why do you have whiskers?'' I asked in the most innocent little girl voice.

He chuckled. Looking down then back at me. ''Why do I have whiskers on my face?''

''Yeah.''

''Because he is a fox.'' Sasuke said.

I laughed thinking he was joking.

''I'm not a fox. I just have a fox sealed inside of me.''

I thought for a moment. This information sounded very familiar.

''Wait a minute.'' I said. ''The nine-tailed fox?''

''How'd you know?'' Naruto asked. Him, Sasuke and Sakura (who surprisingly hadn't said anything) now were looking at me in confusion.

''I heard about it when I was younger. All the adults were talking about how a baby was sealed with

the nine-tailed fox.'' I explained. ''I was really young then. I thought they just meant a fox got stuck

inside a baby. In which sounded painful.'' I paused. ''Can I see the mark?'' I asked.

Naruto looked at me and slowly lifted up his shirt. Placed at his lower abdomen, around his naval, was the seal. The seal was a reddish color. It consisted of a swirl and Japanese writing, in a unique pattern. I extended my hand to touch it. It was hot. I mean hotter then the rest of his body. Extremely hot. I took my hand away after a moment, the heat was intense.

''Wow.'' I said. He pulled his shirt down. Everything was silent for a moment. Which Naruto decided to break. Haha.

''Your fingers tickle.'' He said, giggly.

I laughed too, shoving him. ''Nice. We have a moment and you say my fingers tickle.'' I said laughing.

Many laughs later… Later on that evening…

''Why do you wear a mask?'' I asked Kakashi, as we sat at a table at his house.

He chuckled. ''Does everyone want to know this?'' He asked, looking at me out the corner of his eye.

''Yes.''

''Hm.'' He said bringing the cup to his lips.

''How are you going to drink that?'' I asked.

He stopped and looked at me. ''Like every other person in the world.'' He said.

''Won't your mask get wet? Wouldn't you rather take it off?'' *hint hint*

He set the cup down. ''No.''

''How do you eat?'' I asked.

''The same way as you.'' He said.

I sat quietly for a moment. I looked down into my tea. I could feel Kakashi's eyes staring at me.

Not literally of course.

I dared not to look up from my tea. I tried to resist the urge to look up at him.

''H-have you ever kissed a girl?'' I asked, keeping my eyes on the substance in my cup.

''Hm?'' There was a silence. ''Yes.'' He said.

''Without the mask?''

He didn't respond. I looked up to find him no longer in front of me.

''Yes.'' I heard an instant whisper in my ear. I jumped, startled; and ended up bumping the table, spilling tea all over my shirt.

Kakashi grabbed my hand. ''Come. We can get you cleaned up.'' He said leading me up a flight of stairs.

He went into a room, coming back out with a form fitting gray t-shirt. It was his.

''You can wear this.'' He said handing it to me. I took it and changed in the room.

I came out and headed downstairs. I stopped a few steps from the staircase. Kakashi nowhere in sight.

''That looks great on you.'' A calm whisper entered my ears. I gasped. ''Fits you well.''

I slowly turned around, facing Kakashi, mine only inches from his.

He smiled beneath the mask. I stared into his mysterious different colored eyes.

He inched his face closer to mine. ''Close your eyes.'' He said softly.

Almost automatically I closed them. Holding my breath.

After half a second, warm tender lips pressed gently against mine.

His actual lips not the mask(s).The lips beneath it.

For a long moment we stood there, lips together. Then Kakashi pulled away slowly.

I opened my eyes to find myself staring into Kakashi's, as he adjusts his mask.

I kissed the mask, over his lips. Wanting more.

He smiled shaking his head slightly. ''One now. More when we're in private.'' He said.

Private? But we were in private. He looked into my eyes then looked passed me.

I turned around followed his gaze.

Sasuke was standing at the window, staring straight at us, surprise struck across his face.

He noticed us notice him and his facial expression disappeared.

He paused still for a moment then turned and walked away.

I slowly turned back to Kakashi. ''I should go.'' I said, grabbing my tea stained shirt. ''Do you want your shirt back now?''

''You can wear it for now.'' He said. ''Would you like me to walk you home?''

''No. I think I should go on my own.'' I said heading towards the door.

He followed me. I opened the door. I turned around, looking deep into his eyes, nodded and left.

I ran through the forestry looking for Sasuke. I knew he was pretty far by now, so I hurried as quickly as I could. I made it to the house, panting. All the lights inside were off. I opened the door and walked in, closing the door softly behind me.

A light came on upstairs, and I instantly ran towards them, pausing at the bottom step looking up.

I heard a door quietly close. I glanced down at my feet and proceeded to ascend the stairs.

I went quietly but in a semi-quick pace.

The light had come from his bedroom. The door was closed, but the light shone from underneath.

I walked up to the door, knocking 3 times. There was no answer.

I knocked again,3 times. This time more anxious. The door opened slightly, Sasuke peeked out, his eyes fuming.

''What?'' He said, angered. I was taken back by his tone.

''What's wrong with you?'' I asked. Anger building in myself.

''What were you doing with Kakashi?''

''What?'' I said in surprise. ''What do you mean?''

''He's too old for you.''

''13 years, big whoop.'' Then I thought about it. ''Wait that is a lot. That's like 2 of me.'' I shook it off. ''Well it doesn't matter what I do. You shouldn't even care who I talk to.''

He groaned and walked away from the door. Leaving it open. I pushed at it entering the room, closing the door slightly behind me.

Sasuke had gone into the bathroom. I walked over to the bed, sitting on the edge.

''Why do you care anyways?'' I asked once again. ''We're cousins. It's not like we'll ever date. And plus why should you be jealous. There are a zillion girls in this village that are in-love with you.''

''Who said I was jealous?'' Sasuke said peeking over at me.

''For example…'' I said, ignoring his question. ''Sakura and Ino.''

''They are stalker fan-girls.'' He said dryly.

''Exactly. Though that's not a good thing.''

I got up and walked over to the bathroom. Sasuke wasn't there.

''Doesn't privacy mean anything to you?'' A voice came from behind me.

I turned around, Sasuke standing in front of me.

''Why are you acting so crazy. What's up with you and Kakashi?'' I asked as he walked passed me into the bathroom. He turned to me, staring straight in my eye. For a long moment.

Then he did a quick smile, the smile fading as fast as it had come.

He left the room closing the door behind him.

I stood there. ''What just happened?'' I asked myself.

I sighed sitting down on the bed.

I'll try to figure out the answer in the morning.

I laid down in bed, too tired to change, and fell asleep after a while of thinking.