Sorry it's taken so long, but I've had writer's block...again.
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Chapter 20 - Worries Fourteen Years Ago
Keiko-Mei slid back and did a handstand as she swung herself around to kick at her opponent.
He dodged her narrowly and thrust his palm towards her, landing the blow in the middle of her chest. The teenage girl was sent backwards and crashed into a tree.
"Keiko! Are you alright?! I didn't mean to be that rough!" The teenager looked up at her companion and was trying to focus on just one of them.
"Hey, Kakashi, did you know that you have a twin?" The fifteen year old Kakashi swore under his breath.
"Does your head hurt?" She shook her head violently, causing her loose ponytail to come loose and her black-green locks fell past her shoulders.
The second Kakashi merged with the first and she flashed a grin.
"I'm good now. Don't worry about it. That just teaches me to be prepared the next time I spar with you." She tapped her temple.
"I'll wear a helmet."
"I'll just be more careful next time, okay? No need to go that far." He sat down next to her, one arm drifting lazily over his knee.
The fifteen year old then glanced over to his friend and saw that she was staring up at the cloudless sky, smiling slightly. He took that chance to allow himself to study her.
Her body, he had only just begun to realize on her thirteen birthday nearly a year ago. But, of course, his feelings for the beautiful girl at his side had started way before then. They had started on her twelfth birthday. Now that she was a teenager, however, they had definitely escalated.
Damn it.
Kakashi glanced away quickly, a blush which was hidden by his mask also beginning to form across his cheeks. It was then that he noticed the blue daisy growing at the base of the tree they were leaning against.
He grinned.
That's right. I haven't given her one today.
Kakashi gently plucked the flower from the soft grass and twirled it in his fingers before he handed it to the girl beside him.
Keiko-Mei blinked her amethyst orbs in surprise, but soon grinned and accepted it openly.
"Thank you, Kakashi."
So obvious. If you would only ask, then perhaps I would kiss you and we could become more than friends.
Kakashi looked back up and let out a content sigh at the same time. Then, they looked towards each other and laughed.
"I'm glad we're friends, Kakashi. And we're going to be friends forever, right?"
"Well, hopefully. You know in my situation things, it's pretty dangerous. And in yours too, with you being jonin and all." Keiko-Mei smiled.
"So? That doesn't mean that we can't always be friends. Just because you're an ANBU and I'm a jonin. If one of us dies, we can still always be friends. I know!" She jumped up and Kakashi looked at her strangely.
What are you up to now?
"Come on, get up!"
"Alright, alright. Don't get your panties in a knot." Keiko-Mei rolled her eyes and placed her hands on her hips.
"Let's make this our designated meeting place! That way, if something happens to one of us, we'll know that we'll always be able to be friends and to talk to each other." She looked up at the large sakura tree before looking to Kakashi.
"So?" He was silent.
Nothing better happen to you. I don't want to even think of losing you too.
"Kakashi? Are you okay?" He blinked and then grinned.
"Sorry, I zoned out." Keiko-Mei nodded unsurely, but soon pulled out a kunai and carved her name into the bark.
Then, she tossed Kakashi the kunai and he stared at the tree before reaching out and carving his name as well. He handed the kunai back to the teenage girl, who tilted her head slightly before frowning.
"It's missing something."
"It's got our names on it. What else could it need?" Keiko-Mei then used the kunai to carve cartoon figures of herself and Kakashi into the bark.
She pulled back after finishing her work and she nodded, rather proud of herself.
"There. Now, if something ever happens to one of us, we'll leave something behind to make the other feel better. I left behind my horrible artwork. Your turn."
"Only you, Keiko." Kakashi mumbled before he took the kunai from her.
Keiko-Mei laughed cheerfully as he then began to think of what to add to the tree. It then hit him and he carved in a message of meaning.
I will never forget about you, no matter where I might be and what might happen
I will always be with you and I will always guide you
I promise and I always keep my promises, even if I never do arrive when I say I will
Kakashi Hatake
He ended the simple message and then handed the girl back her kunai once again. Keiko-Mei took it back and smiled tearfully after reading the words.
"Kakashi, I never thought you had it in you. So poetic." It was then that he grinned.
"I learned it from the new volume of Jeriya's novel. It's really quite interesting, you know." Kakashi pulled out the orange book and Keiko-Mei's mouth gaped.
Is he seriously reading such things?!
"Kakashi!"
"There's worse things I could be doing." He responded and she sighed before smiling again.
"I guess you're right. Luckily, I'm a very understanding friend. Now, I'm hungry. Let's go get some food of some sort. You're buying." She then took off running and Kakashi raised his gaze from his book and ran after her.
"Hey! I bought last time!"
--
Present
Kaida pressed a cold cloth to the forehead of the unconscious woman, watching her carefully with ruby eyes before looking towards the open window.
It was midnight, the day after the successful battle. The princess was safe, and the Organization was taken care of. All that remained was for Keiko-Mei to wake up.
"You know, Kakashi, I highly doubt standing there all night will do anything." The silver haired jonin continued to stare out at the stars and the moon.
A cool breeze, which came from the window, rustled his hair, which shimmered somewhat in the dim light.
"I just want to be awake when she wakes up. I'm sure that Keiko-Mei would do the same for me." Kaida smiled softly.
"True. Although, how about getting some rest for your students' sakes? Sakura is getting worried."
"She's always worried."
"Keiko-Mei will probably pound the living life out of you if you don't get some sleep, Kakashi Sensei." Both men turned to the door and were surprised to see the three genin standing there.
The one who had spoke being Naruto. The blonde had a determined look in his sky blue eyes as he stared at his sensei before allowing his eyes to flicker to the unconscious woman on the bed.
"Especially since she really loves you." Sakura added quietly.
"Heh, I agree with these two. Keiko-Mei will never forgive you if she finds out about this." Kaida chuckled quietly.
"They seem to be into blackmail."
"You have no idea." Kakashi mumbled.
"Kakashi Sensei, please get some rest." Sakura begged and the male jonin finally sighed in what seemed to be defeat.
Just to make them happy and just to get them to leave and get some sleep of their own.
"I'm not leaving this room, but I'll attempt to get some sleep. How's that?" Naruto grinned.
"That's the best we can ask for, right? We're just thinking of your health."
"That's so very kind of you. Now, shouldn't you three be going to bed as well? Kaida?" The priest nodded and shuffled the genin from the room before gently closing the door to the room behind him.
Once that was done, Kakashi allowed his eye to flicker to Keiko-Mei's pale, moon-kissed face.
I won't have to go to our tree. At least, I won't have to if you wake up.
--
Thirteen Years Ago
Keiko-Mei walked through the forest, alone. She was on her way to her and Kakashi's tree after just getting released from the hospital after a successful B-Rank mission.
She now had a broken arm.
Oh, Kakashi won't be too thrilled with this.
The teenage girl soon came to the clearing where the large tree grew and her amethyst eyes went wide when she saw her silver haired friend sitting beneath it reading his little orange book. Of course, that wasn't what surprised her currently. What surprised her was that he wasn't wearing his mask. It was tugged down.
Oh my God. Kakashi.
She shook her head and narrowed her eyes.
Something's wrong. Kakashi would never forget to pull up his mask. But, then again, maybe he hasn't noticed me yet. It's a possibility, considering I've been extra careful to make sure that no one finds this place.
Keiko-Mei took several steps back and made certain that her friend wouldn't notice her staring. She didn't know how he would react and she figured it would be best if she never told him what she had seen.
He is ANBU after all. It'll be for the best.
"Kakashi? Are you there? Or are am I here first again?" She called out as she revealed herself to her companion.
She smiled brightly when she saw him again, this time with his mask covering his face as he read his book.
"Wow. You're actually on time." Kakashi glanced up, grinning under his mask, but his expression became serious when he saw her arm in its sling.
"Keiko-Mei, I thought you said that you'd be careful?"
"I just got a little careless. It won't happen again." She replied sheepishly, using her one good arm to rub the back of her neck.
Kakashi sighed.
"You said that the last time."
"Yeah? Well, I'm not good at staying out of trouble. You should know that better than anyone."
"Unfortunately, I already suspected that you'd come back injured. Just not that you'd be as seriously injured as this." Keiko-Mei blinked and then released a sigh.
"It's nothing, really. If you think this is serious, then you've got a screwed up way of thinking, Kakashi. I'm completely fine."
--
He remained seated by her bedside, his eye focused on her face as he patiently waited.
He knew not much time had passed since she had lost consciousness back at the castle, but it still felt like too long. Just too long.
Kakashi released a quiet sigh before reaching out and gently grabbing the pale hand of the unconscious female jonin. He held it in his open palm and then squeezed just slightly. It was then that she stirred, causing him to smirk before releasing her hand and pulling out his book to continue from where he left off.
No more worrying.