CHAPTER NINETEEN

Re: Romance

~Erisu~

Kakashi had been hospitalized for a week and Kiyomi and Sota had mysteriously disappeared after the visit with Kobayashi Yuki. Team Gai was off on a mission and Harumi had been working overtime at the restaurant. Erisu found herself feeling detached and lonely as she leaned against a fence to watch the Konoha citizens go about their day to day business. Her muscles ached from over exercising and her breaths were even then causing stabbing pains from her training session with Yuma. Still angry, Erisu chose to avoid him yet again and take the day to recuperate. Armed but wearing a simple black dress instead of her usual combat gear, Erisu loitered in the market to get more accustomed to people. A stick of dango in one hand and the other twirling a lock of hair, she surveyed the fascinating diversity of Konohagakure alone. Snippets of conversations about the Kazekage and concerns about the building strength of the Akatsuki were whispered by shinobi and citizens alike. Everyone felt the growing threat. Erisu, however, was distracted by a personal problem. She'd been forced to increase the amount of pain killers and was still barely controlling the urge to scream from the agony caused by her cursed leg... She was brooding on this, worrying about the sudden rise in her symptoms, when a friendly bark caught her attention.

A massive white dog, the size of a small horse, was wagging his tail excitedly at her. Erisu's heart melted at the sight of the adorably fierce hound and she extended her hand for him to sniff.

"Well hello there!" She giggled as he licked her fingers, "aren't you beautiful!"

The dog lolled his tongue happily and she crouched in front of him, scratching behind his long floppy ears. His thick fur was silky but his huge body was bound with powerful muscles. This dog was a warrior. He whined and nuzzled her; she dropped to her knees and hugged his furry neck. Erisu kissed his long snout and he licked her cheek.

"Kyaaa!" she squealed, laughing aloud as he pressed against her adoringly, "you're the best, but what's your name?"

"Akamaru," came a gruff voice from behind her.

Erisu rose and turned. Wild brown hair, sharp black eyes, and distinctive red fang markings on his cheeks: Inuzuka clan.

"Akamaru-chan," she cooed and the ninken wagged his tail more fiercely. Then she turned back to the teenaged boy and bowed.

"I'm Erisu," she said amiably, "Akamaru-chan is amazing."

"He sure is." He grinned, flashing prominent canines. "I'm Kiba, it's nice to meet you."

"Likewise," she agreed and ran her fingers through Akamaru's thick creamy fur again.

Kiba's nose twitched and he cocked his eyebrow curiously. "Correct me if I'm wrong but you smell more like a cat person." She smiled, the Inuzuka were known for their keen animalistic fences.

"Generally," she admitted, staggering slightly as Akamaru sagged heavily against her legs, panting happily, "but I've always had a soft spot for great big dogs." Akamaru licked her hand and nudged her into petting him more, "especially cuddly ones," she added fondly as she patted him.

Kiba barked with laughter, folding his arms across his chest, "he's not normally so affectionate. But he sure seems to like you." Erisu bent over and touched noses with Akamaru, his enormous size made him all the more irresistible to her.

"Well I like you too," she murmured lovingly and he woofed in reply. Kiba sniggered and she wondered vaguely what the dog had said but was too infatuated with him to dwell on it.

"Y'know, I don't think I've seen you around before," Kiba leaned against the fence, arms crossed, "you new here?"

"Relatively," Erisu replied, glancing at his ninja headband, "I lived here several years ago but just recently came back to make Genin."

"Oh really?" He seemed to be emitting confidence and playfulness like a lamp, "well a lot of things have changed over the last couple years. Wanna grab a bite and I'll fill you in?"

"I'm sorry?"

"My treat," he added.

She made a spit second decision.

"I'm sorry..." She smiled apologetically. "I'm actually meeting someone."

"Is that so?" Kiba looked around crossly. "Well he's a lucky guy." Erisu, feeling guilty for lying, kissed the top of Akamaru's head to hide her expression.

"Yo," said a lazy voice that made Erisu's stomach flutter, "morning Kiba-san, Akamaru-san."

"Good morning Kakashi-sensei," replied Kiba respectfully. Akamaru barked in greeting. Erisu smiled up at her teacher coyly. He looked fully recovered, book in hand and his delightfully dishevelled hair flaming upwards from his headband. Relief and delight flooded her at the sight of him up and about.

"Ehh?" Kiba looked from Erisu to Kakashi and back again, "you didn't mean him did you?" He demanded, "he's way too old!" Kakashi scratched his cheek, slightly ruffled by this comment.

"Actually, Kiba-san, she's a student of mine," the jōnin said calmly.

Kiba smirked. "So I still have a chance then?"

"But she isn't as young as she looks," Kakashi added testily, "she's actually older than you."

Kiba blinked, not registering, then blatantly scanned Erisu's body, scowling in confusion.

"Well, we should be off," Kakashi said with his usual air of boredom, "see you around, Kiba-san, Akamaru-san." He waved and turned away, "come along, Risu-chan."

He said her name on a gentle breath, distinctly adding the cute honorific in an oddly intimate way. Erisu watched him wandering away nonchalantly then bowed to Kiba again.

"'Twas a pleasure to meet you Kiba-san," she kissed the dog's muzzle, "and you too, Akamaru-chan!" Then she hurried after her teacher, confused and embarrassed. She could feel Kiba's baffled expression following her and Kakashi until they rounded a corner and left his sight.

"Hmm," Kakashi's hands were deep in his pockets as Erisu fell into step on his right side, "does tamagoyaki and okayu sound good to you?"

"I'm sorry?"

"Breakfast," he explained, "I've been on intravenous sustenance and liquids for far too long, I need something to eat. Join me?" Erisu smiled sheepishly, she didn't think there'd ever come a time when she could turn down an invitation from him.

"Sounds lovely," she murmured appreciatively.

His eye flickered to hers then back to the road.

"Thanks by the way," she added after a moment, "for coming to my rescue back there."

"No problem," he said simply, "but I'm a bit interested in why'd you lie to him in the first place."

Erisu looked over at him and saw that he was watching her closely from the corner of his eye.

"He's a decent kid, and a talented shinobi," Kakashi went on, "and you're young and free, why didn't you take him up on his offer?"

Erisu looked at the ground as she walked and replied quietly, "I guess he's just not my type."

"Oh?"

"I mean he seems nice enough but I got the impression that he's cocky and temperamental." She felt her face warming as she spoke. "He'd make a good comrade or friend but as far as a romantic relationship is concerned I'm just not interested." Kakashi was quiet for a while as they strolled along the deserted street.

"Why didn't you tell him that?"

"I lack a backbone in social situations," she confessed, "'tis something I'm working on. I guess one might say I'm a bit of a doormat." Kakashi nodded mutely in understanding. She felt she could tell him anything and he'd never judge her or misunderstand.

"Just out of curiosity," he said cooly, "what is your type?" Erisu eyed him incredulously, caught off guard, he was watching her sidelong and unwaveringly.

"Well, I'm attracted to intelligence above all else," she told him, "I don't like it when people are quick to anger or impatient. I like kindness, wit, and rationality." She thought for a moment. "Ooh and bookishness! I've always wanted to spend time with someone who shares my passion for literature."

"Well, I can see why Kiba-san didn't interest you," Kakashi chuckled.

Erisu smiled up at him and nodded, "besides he's way too young."

"Hm?"

"I'd prefer someone older than me with experience and wisdom." She blushed and looked away, suddenly feeling foolish.

"Oh really?" Kakashi said thoughtfully, his eye straight ahead, "interesting..."

They entered a comfortable little restaurant and settled at a table near the back, away from the other patrons. Kakashi ordered for them and reclined in his seat.

"Does this mean I'll get to see your face?" Erisu asked mischievously.

Kakashi made a confused noise.

"You have to take it off to eat, right," she pressed, smiling playfully, "so I'll be able to see what you look like."

He blinked distractedly, "my face?" He hadn't been listening.

Erisu scowled at him and he laughed good-naturedly.

"We'll see," he said mysteriously.

Erisu enjoyed the comfortable silence of his company for a while before speaking again.

"Has Team Kakashi returned from their mission?" She asked in an undertone, curious as to what Lee's message had been.

"Yes," he answered as he tore open the packaging of his chopsticks, "they found Sasuke."

She stared at him, struck speechless. Itachi's darling little brother found at last...

"And... Orochimaru-sama..?"

"I'm not really at liberty to discuss the details with you," he told her, "it's still rather secretive but I'll summarize what I can for you:

"They made contact with Sasori's informant who turned out to be a servant of Orochimaru-sama, a former leaf ninja named Kabuto-san. It was a trap intended for Sasori but the Team ended up engaging Kabuto-san and his master in combat," he hesitated just as he had in his retelling of the Suna mission and Erisu knew he was again willfully withholding information.

"...They managed to track Orochimaru-sama back to his temporary hideout where they found Sasuke," he continued quietly, "Sasuke attacked Naruto and apparently went in for the kill before being called off by Orochimaru-sama.

"They said they wanted to leave the Team alive to take out more Akatsuki members for them. Then they vanished and the Team returned home."

Erisu mauled this all over for a while, breaking down his words to read between the lines. So Orochimaru and Koniha faced a mutual enemy. That didn't surprise her, it was the vagueness of Kakashi's description of the team's fight with sasuke that was suspicious. They were a very powerful team. She already knew Yamato was a member of the Anbu for she'd encountered him during the Konoha Crush, Sakura was only chūnin rank but the prized pupil of Tsunade, Naruto was Jiraiya's student as well as a jinchuuriki, and that boy Sai...

"Is Sai-san a member of Roots?" She asked.

"Yes." Kakashi confirmed her suspicions. "That's right."

"Did Orochimaru-sama and his servant battle Team Kakashi at the hideout as well or was it Sasuke-san alone?"

"You always ask the right questions," he commented approvingly, "Sasuke has developed faster than I'd conceived possible."

"Forbidden jutsu and stimulants?"

"It's safe to assume so, yes."

Erisu broke her chopsticks apart and absently rubbed them together to smooth away the splinters.

"Uzamaki-san's training will be intensifying then?" She tried to keep her voice light although her insides were chilled with dread.

"Yeah," he paused as the waitress placed two steaming bowls of miso, rolled omelettes, done rice porridge, and a couple vegetable dishes before them. He waited until she'd retreated out of earshot before continuing, "I'm going to start overseeing him in the task of creating a unique jutsu for himself."

Erisu nodded in acknowledgement and prodded her food in a silent inspection for onions.

"Risu-chan..." The gentle nickname pulled her back. "...I'm still going to mentor you when I can."

She glanced up at him to find him watching her fixedly, his food untouched. Her gratitude towards him was something she wasn't equipped to express with words. Opening her mouth to thank him she found herself mute and opted for a nervous smile instead.

They ate in relative silence after that and although Erisu kept glancing over in hopes of seeing Kakashi's face his mask was always hiding it whenever she looked. She had the sneaking suspicion that he was using his Sharingan to predict when she'd look up. But even if she never saw his face, Erisu had no doubts that Kakashi would always be her favourite person.

~Kakashi~

It was a relief to be out of the hospital and free to stroll down the street with Erisu at his side. Content after a satisfying breakfast with his prized pupil and enjoying the time apart from the overly eager Naruto, Kakashi and Erisu headed instinctively towards the library. Erisu deposited a book into the drop box near the door and they loitered in the front lot.

"I took out Icha-Icha Paradise yesterday," Erisu told Kakashi with an impish grin.

"You didn't," his voice was sharp, a warning.

She held up a copy of the raunchy adult novel series Kakashi adored and waved it about teasingly.

"You can't read that, Risu-chan," his said agitatedly, "I don't think it's your style."

"I've read romances before, I think I can handle it."

"Have you read any of the Icha Icha books before?"

"Well-no..."

"You won't like it, seriously."

"Erisu-chan!" Yuma stepped into view with an obviously false grin of delighted surprise plastered on his face. "I didn't expect to find you here!"

"Really?" Her eyes flicked uncertainly towards the library, "I practically live here."

"Good afternoon, Kakashi-senpai," he deflected her with subject change, "how're you doing?"

"I'm fine, Yuma-san," Kakashi replied curtly, "and you?"

"Great! I'm great! What are you two up to?"

Kakashi answered, "discussing novel genres, care to join us?" He eloquently placed the challenge. Anyone who knew Yuma was fully aware that he hated reading. But Kakashi was interested to know how far he'd go to have a common ground with Erisu. He was certain the other jōnin had been stalking them.

"Sure!" Yuma said in a disturbingly friendly manner, "what are you guys into?"

"We were debating wether I'd enjoy Icha-Icha or not," Erisu told him, though her eyes were on Kakashi.

Aware that Erisu had been skipping her lessons with the Hyūga, Kakashi knew that Erisu's polite expression was concealing her lingering resentment towards him.

"Icha-Icha," Yuma repeated with a haughty sniff, "isn't that a bit mature for you?"

Erisu sighed and seemed to be struggling not to roll her eyes. "Do I have a face that says 'immature' on it?"

"Well, yeah," Yuma said tactlessly. Erisu's cheeks flushed with anger. She opened her mouth then seemed to decide otherwise and closed it again.

"I'd prefer to read history anyways," she dropped her eyes, self esteem lowered lowered, "I should be studying more useful things. Romance isn't my cup of tea, so to speak."

"You have a very romantic heart," Kakashi said quietly, "the truth is I'm just a little embarrassed of my own interest in the series. You read whatever you enjoy, Risu. We didn't mean to tell you what to do."

She smiled at him gratefully and Yuma clenched his jaw furiously, pale eyes flickering between them fire white hot jealousy.

"So history," Yuma piped up and Erisu looked at him with round eyes, as if she'd only just noticed him, "what aspects of history do you like most?"

"Oh everything," she answered earnestly, "I find the political maneuvers that lead to alliances and wars intriguing, and how the social class differences can cause poverty, famine, and the stereotyping of gender and race. But lately I've been doing a lot of reading into the history of the last couple decades. Especially in regards to technology, scientific development, recent breakthroughs in agriculture and the revolutions in the fields of medicine."

"Me too," he agreed enthusiastically, with no idea what she'd just said. Kakashi muttered something under his breath but masked it with a cough.

"Really?" She looked hopeful. "What's your opinion on the recent research into designing a robust, fault-tolerant communication via computer networks?"

Yuma stared at her blankly. "I don't like the idea of faults."

"I've been following the progress of the global network as well," Kakashi said lazily, "the interconnection of regional academic networks in the most recent study marks the beginning of the transition into a globalized network that could connect the entire shinobi world. I definitely encourage it and hope to see sustained exponential growth in the years to come."

Kakashi was glad that his smug smile was hidden as Yuma glared at him in fury. Yuma was out of his element, having only barely studied enough to squeeze through his exams. Erisu's eyes lit up and she started debating with Kakashi animatedly in words that Yuma wouldn't understand.

"...it wouldn't just mean faster communication though," Erisu was saying now, "it would enable new forms of social interaction, activities, and social associations. We might even be able to store information virtually which would greatly decrease our carbon footprint in the sense that we'd cut back on paper waste..."

Yuma sank back as Kakashi encouraged Erisu's now exuberant theories about this revolutionary new technology. Yuma was clearly hoping for the chance to change the subject to something he was more familiar with. But Kakashi lead Erisu into a conversation about the inner workings of new computer interfaces and Yuma became completely, and very obviously, lost.

"What's wrong with filing systems and carrier birds?" He asked during a brief moment of silence between increasingly complicated topics, "I mean, we've done just fine till now right?"

"Economic growth and scientific advancements are necessary if our society is to develop," Erisu told him, confused as to why he couldn't understand this.

Yuma's cheeks blotched with red embarrassment. "Well of course," he said in a brave attempt at superiority.

"It just occurred to me that I forgot to ask what you're doing here, Yuma-senpai," she said it kindly enough, but he was visibly stung none the less.

"I was looking for you, actually," he said, with a slightly harassed glance at Kakashi who was observing him silently and barely resisting the desire to stab him.

"What do you need?" She asked and Kakashi knew what Yuma wanted. Was he really going to try to ask Erisu out only two days after puncturing her lung?

"I was wondering if you'd like to..." Kakashi's cold grey eye bore into him and he lost his nerve, "...discuss a new training regimen with me."

Her brows knitted incredulously. "I training regimen? E-eto... I suppose...?" Her eyes darted to Kakashi then back to him. "...now?"

"Yes now," Yuma snapped, "I'm your sensei aren't I?"

"Actually, as it happens, you're not," Kakashi told him coldly, "I'm sure you've noticed that I'm out of the hospital?"

Yuma gnashed his teeth. "I noticed."

"Well then you should be able to deduce that you're no longer needed to oversee Erisu's training." Lightning flashed between their eyes. "I'll be continuing Erisu's classes on aikido and jujitsu myself."

"Really?" His voice was dripping with malice. "And are you going to take her out for more meals as well?"

Kakashi blinked calmly and said, with a voice like steel, "I'm not required to disclose that to you." He caught Erisu's wrist and started leading her away. "See you, Yuma."

Erisu looked anxiously back at the dark haired man but said nothing as she hurried along beside Kakashi and away from the library.

Kakashi walked Erisu home with little speaking after that and, with some remorse, bid her farewell. If he knew Yuma, and he did, then he knew that he'd be going to go straight to Tsunade to request Erisu again. He had no choice now, he had to face the possibility that Tsunade might allow it and all he could do was try and convince her otherwise. Something told him that the Hokage would agree that Erisu should be doing real team missions but he couldn't bear the prospect of Yuma in an authoritarian position over the gentle and manipulative girl. Yuma would certainly abide his position and Erisu, being as passive as she was, would feel obligated to comply with his wishes...

~Erisu~

Erisu sidled into the booth and lowered herself onto the cushion with a sigh of exhaustion later that evening.

"Long day?" Harumi asked sympathetically as she poured them some tea.

"Yeah," Erisu took a cup gratefully and downed it in one parched swig, not caring to describe the scene with Yuma.

"Well they call him Rekeitsu-Kakashi for a reason," Harumi smirked, "he's barely passed a single genin put in his charge. He's known for his brutal training techniques."

Erisu refilled her cup thoughtfully, reflecting on her first session with Kakashi since he'd left for Sunagakure. "He's a tough mentor but he isn't unkind."

"Really?" Harumi started on her miso but watched Erisu carefully with her chocolate eyes, "he's always scared me personally, faceless and emotionless."

"On the contrary, he's absolutely brilliant, I can't imagine what his IQ is," Erisu smiled to herself, "and he's so patient, calm, and..." She trailed off as she recalled the sweet smell of cemetery flowers on his skin. She sucked absently on her chopsticks, eyes out of focus.

"Erisurin?" Harumi tilted her head curiously, "you're spacing out."

"Sorry," Erisu sat up straighter, "just lost in thought I guess."

"I saw you and Kakashi-senpai in the market," Harumi commented, "was that part of your training?"

"Oh yeah, we were getting breakfast actually."

"He takes you out for meals?" The words were sodden in suggestiveness. "Alone?"

"No," she said hastily, "he'd just gotten out of the hospital and we bumped into each other, that's all. Besides, teachers often treat their students to a meal."

"Have you eaten together other than that time?" Harumi pressed.

"A couple times," Erisu confessed, "after a particularly gruelling training session or when he'd been gone for a while." Harumi was even pushier than Kiyomi!

"How many times?"

"About five times, I guess?"

"Five times?" Harumi grinned, "five meals together in what, a month?"

"Now whatever you're implying..." Erisu began warningly.

"I'm not implying anything." Her friend laughed. "But if you've eaten with him you must've seen his face, right?"

"No, I haven't," Erisu smiled despite herself, "he eats when I'm not looking, practically inhales his food. Maybe he has a vacuum for a mouth?"

They imagined absurd facial features hidden under Kakashi's mask, until the waitress brought their meals.

"Honestly though," Harumi mumbled around a mouthful of gyoza, "what's he like?"

Erisu shrugged, "it's like I said, he's really relaxed and collected, almost bored." She thought for a moment. "He's subtlety humorous, you have to read between the lines to get his jokes but once you get to know him he's quite hilarious, and incomparably kind."

"Kakashi-senpai?" Harumi specified.

"Yes," Erisu answered with mild annoyance, "he gave me a chance when I didn't deserve it, put in a word for me to Tsunade-sama that made becoming a ninja possible, and he's now training me personally despite his other responsibilities. And," she hesitated, "he saved my life during the Kyūbi attack. I'm indebted to him."

"He owes you too," Harumi pointed out, "if you hadn't been nearby when he'd been poisoned he would've most likely died."

Erisu hadn't considered this. She'd healed him because it was quite plainly the right thing to do. It was only a coincidence that she'd happened upon him in the woods that day. She wondered if he thought he owed her his life.

"So what does your training consist of?" Harumi asked, "he must not have much time to train you what with being one of the most powerful jōnin in the village, and captain of his own team. I bet he's always off on S ranked missions."

"Sparring mostly. He's picked up where Yuma-senpai left off in Aikido," Erisu replied, "my ninjutsu and genjutsu are both acceptable for my level so he's been giving me practical battle practice."

"Do you grapple?" Harumi winked.

Erisu sighed. It was impossible to have a conversation with Harumi without sexual innuendos, but at least she wasn't cruel about it like Yuma.

"I'm sorry," the dark haired girl started into her donburi, "I know there's nothing between you, he's like what, twice our age?"

"Ten years older," Erisu corrected a little sharper than she'd intended, "he's twenty nine."

Harumi nodded, mouth full, then she swallowed and said: "well who is it that you're into then?"

"I'm sorry?"

"Oh come on, it's obvious! You've been in a dreamy trance for weeks!"

"I'm not interested in anyone," she replied flatly, "romance is nice in theory but in practice it's not worth the heartache. I'd greatly prefer a cup of tea and a good book."

"Erisurin," Harumi fixed her with those molten cocoa eyes, "I'm your best friend; I can tell when you're lying."

Erisu examined her yakisoba carefully, "well if I'm in love with someone it's news to me." Then she sat up abruptly in revulsion.

"What's the matter?" Harumi asked in concern.

"Onions," Erisu hissed disdainfully, "I specifically asked for no onions! But this is riddled with them!"

"I'll flag down the waitress-"

"No don't!" Erisu stopped her from raising her hand, "I don't want to be rude!"

Harumi was accustomed to Erisu's social anxiety and started moving the onions onto her own plate instead. "I'll eat them," she decided calmly, "hand them over."

When the girls had finished their meal Erisu accompanied Haruki down the deserted street. The sun had set and a lens of twilight tinted Konoha in silver.

"You would tell me if you became involved with someone right?" Harumi asked as they strolled across a bridge. Below them the Naka River glittered like a liquid snake, winding through the deepening shadows.

"Of course I would," Erisu assured her friend, "but you'd probably know before me anyways. I'm more clueless about myself than a perfect stranger."

"Yo, Risu," came a deep leisurely voice from above. Her insides contracted as she spotted her sensei perched on a rooftop. He dropped to the ground in front of them, book in hand.

"Kakashi-sensei," she bowed a little deeper than necessary, then gestured to her companion, "this is my friend, Kita Harumi." Harumi bowed politely which Kakashi returned with a curt nod.

"I'm glad I caught you," he said to Erisu, "I was just at your apartment but you weren't home."

Erisu was painfully aware of Harumi ogling them. "What do you need, O-sama?"

"I want you to meet me at the main gates tomorrow morning at eight am," he told her, "we're embarking on an A ranked mission that should last about two days or so."

"A ranked?" She echoed trepidatiously, "but that's for chūnin rank or higher."

"You'll do fine," he assured her with a dismissive wave of his hand. When she opened her mouth to argue he added, "seriously."

"Yes, sensei,." She averted her eyes to hide her budding anxiety. "Will others be accompanying us?"

"Team Gai will rendezvous with us on the second day," he said, eye drifting lazily over the page of his book, "I'll fill you in on the details tomorrow."

Erisu nodded in understanding.

"And pack a complete medical kit, Team Gai doesn't have a medical-nin so you'll be the mission's sole medic."

"Anything else I should pack in particular?" She asked.

"Basic camping gear," he told her, "but keep it light."

"I understand, O-sama."

"Good," he started to walk away then glanced over his shoulder with an embarrassed smile, hand in his gleaming hair, "be sure not to mention this to Naruto, I'm supposed to be training him. If he finds out he might follow us."

Erisu grinned as she pictured the incredulous rage on Naruto's face if he found out Kakashi was leaving for a couple days.

"It was nice meeting you, Harumi-san," he called as he strolled away, "goodnight Risu." Once he'd disappeared into the darkness the girls continued their walk.

"He's really cool," Harumi commented, with a nervous glance backwards, "in a kind of detached and mysterious way. I guess I can see why you like him so much.

"And what's with skipping your honorific?" Harumi added in a low voice, "Are you two that close?"

"Yeah," Erisu answered without hearing, her thoughts drifting to when he'd called her Risu-chan in front of Kiba and her stomach spasmed bizarrely.

After Erisu gave her spare key to Harumi (so she could care for the cats while Erisu was away) they hugged goodbye at Harumi's apartment building and Erisu headed off on her own. She hadn't gone far when she became aware of a presence shadowing her. She halted and faced her pursuer, hand readied above her kunai holster.

"Yo." Kakashi materialized in the lamplight, hair white in the golden glow. "I wanted to talk to you more but couldn't in front of your friend."

Erisu's face warmed as she realized he'd been following her. He sauntered over to her side, hands in his pockets, and they walked together through the sleeping village.

"You and I are to locate an individual who claims to have inside information on the Akatsuki," he told her quietly, "Team Gai will join us for the return journey to help guard the informant."

Erisu nodded in silent response, wondering why she felt disappointed.

"It's a two day journey, even at top speed, both ways," he looked at her from the corner of his eye, "do you understand?"

"Yes," she answered, "so I should be fully armed."

"Exactly," he agreed, "it's uncertain whether the Akatsuki knows about this mole or not so we can't tell whether we'll be attacked. We're to meet them two days from now at ten pm on the Kappa Bridge. The informant's name and appearance haven't been disclosed for their safety but they'll identify themselves by signalling boar and dog. Anonymity is essential so pack nondescript civilian clothing to remain undercover."

"Sensei, why are you and I going? Surely another team could be dispatched since you're training Uzamaki-san?"

He looked away, "Yamato can oversee his training at this point and I want to test you on a higher level mission."

Unease prickled inside her. "Why's that?"

"The truth is I don't have much time to spare for your training anymore," he told her, "and even though you've yet to compete in the chūnin exams I consider you higher than genin. You handled yourself well on patrol with Team Yuma and..." He exhaled deeply. "...it's about time you were assigned to a team and deployed on higher ranked missions."

Erisu couldn't believe her ears. "But most genin stay under the tutelage of one master for at least a year before advancing to a chūnin level team!"

"As I've said before: you're a unique case," he said stiffly, "your skills are already at least chūnin level of not specialized jōnin. We need to speed things up."

Erisu thought rapidly about what she'd done to make Kakashi no longer want to train her, distress rose in her chest.

Seeming to read her thoughts he said, "this has nothing to do with me not wanting to train you personally," then he added more gently, "in fact you're a much better student than Naruto," he chuckled, "that kid needs everything to be taught to him so painstakingly slow. But due to the Akatsuki threat against him, I have to make him my priority."

Erisu understood perfectly but it didn't lessen the intense feeling of loss.

"Considering that you have such a variety of skills you now have a broad spectrum of available career paths. Considering your skill in medical ninjutsu you could pursue a career in hospice but with your empathic and genjutsu talents I'd recommend you join an Interrogation or Intelligence Task Force."

But Erisu wasn't listening anymore, her heart had started to race. Kakashi was the highlight of her life, if she no longer had her time with him to look forwards to-

Her leg buckled and she fell forward. Kakashi caught her, eye concerned. Pain raced through her veins like acid and she felt as though she might pass out.

"Are you alright, Risu-chan?" He asked in a hushed voice.

She forced herself to stand independently, her leg shook violently and she staggered back against him. Terror gripped her as her breaths became short and shallow. This shouldn't be happening for at least a year...

"Risu-chan," his deep voice broke through her panic and he gripped her shoulders to steady her, "what's wrong?"

"I must've pushed myself too hard during training," she murmured feebly, vision distorted and pixilating, "I'll be fine." She tried again to pull away but only collapsed back into his arms, blind. She could feel herself trembling violently as Kakashi pulled her into his arms. Her ears were humming, deafening her and all warmth had drained from her body.

"Cmon," he said so gently he didn't even sound like himself, "you need to lay down."

"Risu-chan," came a muffled voice from beyond, "Risu! Hey, wake up!" She was jarred awake by some unknown force shaking her shoulders.

"Emi-chan, NO!" She shrieked, sitting up abruptly. She looked into the concerned eyes of Kakashi, mismatched, concrete and crimson. She was laying on an unfamiliar bed, supported by his warm gloved hands. Confused and groggy she looked around the room. It was decorated with abstract paintings, photographs, and bookshelves. Was this Kakashi's bedroom?

"What happened? Where am I?" She muttered, sitting up fully and shaking her head.

"You passed out. I brought you to my place," he answered, hand still on the small of her back, "are you alright? How're you feeling?"

"I'm fine," she lied, "I just had a spell is all. I must've depleted my stamina."

"You fainted," he said, unconvinced, "does that happen often?"

"No." She hated being dishonest, particularly to him. "But I'm alright, really. What time is it? I have to pack." She gently brushed him away and swung her legs over the side of the bed, but Kakashi clasped his long fingers on her shoulder and turned her to face him.

He pulled his headband down and said: "Erisu," his voice stern, "you can tell me what's wrong, seriously."

She stared into that piercing pool of quicksilver and considered confiding the truth. If he was aware of the full extent of her illness, if he knew about the curse, he would drop her as a student and inform Tsunade-hime... But the Hokage couldn't help her-only one person could. One person, who wouldn't save her if their own life was in peril.

"I have anemia," she told him, it wasn't a lie, just not the whole truth, "I didn't want to bring it up being as shinobi are supposed to stay in perfect health. I've been taking supplements but sometimes I don't get enough oxygen and faint."

He was satisfied. "Are you well enough for the mission? There'll most likely be combat and I can't have you compromised."

"I won't fail you, sensei," she told him professionally and meant every word, "I'm a medical ninja and know how to manage my deficiency effectively. I dropped the ball today but I assure you it won't happen again."

He dipped his head in acknowledgement, "alright, Erisu." She attempted to stand again but he caught her hand, eyes gentle. "Don't push yourself so hard, even your chakra has a limit."

She held his gaze for a moment and her heart palpated disconcertingly (must be from the dizziness), then she pulled free from his grasp and rose silently from the bed. Back to Kakashi, Erisu blinked away the tears of pain and breathed shakily. Her innards were in a flurry of chaotic spasming and her heart was still racing. These new symptoms were greatly unnerving and she desperately wanted this giddy sensation to end. Why did her symptoms worsen in the presence of her sensei?

"Risu-chan?" Kakashi repeated before she'd realized he'd spoken at all. He was standing behind her in the dimly lit room, and though they weren't physically touching she could feel him-like static on her skin. "Risu..." His voice faltered uncertainly but she couldn't face him, eyes glistening with restrained tears, "...you're crying."

She straightened her spine and set her jaw determinedly, lies were her life now. "Sorry." She faced him, expression neutral. "Due to my Himitsugan my eyes are very sensitive and water easily."

"I see." He didn't believe her but voiced no argument. "Can you get home alright?"

Could she? Panic flickered briefly in her chest as she imagined herself passed out in the streets. "Of course," she replied with a smile and a bow, "thank you for everything, Kakashi-sensei, and sorry for the trouble I caused. I'll see you first thing tomorrow."

He blinked, his cold grey eye missing nothing, and nodded politely.

He walked her to the door and Erisu ventured into the night alone.