CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Kappa Festival
Kakashi~
The pounding of rain on the thatched roof above muted the forest as the shelter was assaulted by the heavens. Calm and calculating, Kakashi gazed up at the dark, twisted roots and reflected on everything that'd happened on the mission so far. If they were unable to determine their location and get to the bridge on time... Well, Team Gai might be able to handle the mission in their absence.
He glanced down at Erisu asleep beside him, her lashes fluttering as she dreamt. He was still trying to wrap his head around everything she'd said and done. Erisu had proven herself to be a formidable fighter and quick thinker; the more he learned about her the more she intrigued him.
If anyone could understand the agonizing grief and guilt he felt about Rin it was Erisu.
"...Ka...kashi..." Erisu said airily in her sleep, "...Kakashi...kun..."
Unruly curls and spikes were forming around her smooth jaw and cheekbones as her hair dried making her look like a mischievous imp. Her ghostly white skin was mottled with bruises from her tumultuous trip through the rapids. Blue and purple darkened the rounded points of her shoulders and her neck, a myriad of blues, pink, and purples like the glowing clouds in an evening sky. Her delicate skin was grazed and frayed like paper blotted with blood red ink. She was so slight and fragile it was hard to believe that some could refer to her as the Ninja of Nightmares.
A sweet shuddering sigh escaped her and he watched her chest expand as she breathed. She was damp and shivering next to him and Kakashi ran his hand through his messy hair to keep from reaching out for her. Erisu stretched in her sleep, fingertips brushing the bare skin of his arm and he looked back at her.
"Risu-chan," he whispered, unable to pull his eyes from her slumbering visage.
She stirred at his voice, instinctively pressing against him, fingers gliding over his chest. Nuzzling her face into the crook of his neck, lips soft as rose petals on his jaw. He hesitated for a single throbbing heartbeat then pulled her hard against himself. She fit perfectly into his arms as if she'd always meant to be there, the missing piece in his puzzle. He wrapped his arms around her tiny little body and breathed in the sweet scent of her hair, the cool wetness of the rain, the earthy undertone of old parchment and a lingering trace of melted chocolate. She was warm and real, so vividly alive as he became aware of her every trembling breath.
With her body so close against him he could feel her uneven pulse and lithe muscles flexing and relaxing against his. The swell of her chest only separated from his by thin, wet fabric. Kakashi's hands shook slightly as he traced the sharp ridges of her shoulder blades, the curving line of her spine. He entangled his fingers in her dewy hair, softer than down, and skimmed his mouth over the silken skin of her temple down to her cheek. He kissed her tenderly. She was hot, feverish on his lips, their combined body heat making the muggy night air condense into beads on the roots that arched above them.
"Sensei..?" Her lashes flickered like black butterflies and a sliver of foggy blue peered up at him.
"Sleep," he told her quietly, hiding his face in her aromatic hair. "Just sleep."
Darkness thickened around them and the faint light that'd been trickling through the mats faded. Erisu was lost in the night, only her heartbeat and quiet breathing remained. The rain drummed ever on in its determined attack on the forest and he let himself sink into tantalizing dreams about the warmth of her lithe body and the caress of her mouth on his.
Kakashi was dreaming.
The smooth and warm feel of a female form was moving subtly against him. Eyes closed in dreamy contentment, he ran his hands over the slim and curvaceous body that was slowly twisting and writhing. He caught hold of the plush thigh of the fantasy woman and pulled it over his hip. A subdued moan tickled his neck as he lazily ground against her, squeezing her hipbone to hold her fast against him. The woman in his dream sighed sleepily and caught her fingers in his hair. He adjusted himself, leaning over her, onto her, tongue sliding over soft skin.
As his fingers slid under the hem of her shirt to grasp her hot, silky back she murmured, "...Ka..kashi...sensei..."
Kakashi quite suddenly realized he was most certainly not dreaming and that Erisu was shifting in her sleep against him. His eyes shot open. Erisu ached her spine, twisting beneath him, and shuffled her hips against his. She was clearly still fast asleep as her body squirmed, arousing him further. He was frozen, arm beneath her with one hand holding her bare tailbone and the other clasping her right thigh which was wrapped around his waist. She stretched, mouth wet and soft on his neck...
"Mornin' boss," came Pakkun's gruff voice, "sleep well?"
Kakashi jumped off of Erisu and rounded on the pug, mortified. Pakkun was sitting in the opening of the tree root shelter, watery daylight was filtering in behind him. The dog's droopy eyed, squashed face was wrinkled into a haughty grin.
Kakashi pulled up his mask, heart slamming against his rigcage and stared wide eyed at Erisu. Still sound asleep, she simply rolled over with a soft murmur. Pointedly turning his back on Pakkun, Kakashi checked on his drying clothes.
"Oh Kakashi, you dog," the ninken said.
Kakashi, fixed the pug with a stare. "Not another word." He warned in a deadly whisper.
He dressed in silence, shooting anxious looks at Erisu as she turned restlessly in her sleep. Then she pushed herself onto all fours, blanket falling away, and sat back on her calves. She tousled her pale, messy hair and yawned. She rubbed her bandaged left leg, her bleary eyes narrowed in pain. She reached for her medkit, unaware of Kakashi watching her apprehensively, and popped back a few unmarked pills. She took a sip of water, wiping her lips with her fingertips, and turned her round, flushed face to him at last.
"Good morning, sensei," she said cheerfully, "sleep well?" Pakkun sniggered and padded out of the shelter.
"I did, thanks," he answered calmly, "you?"
She blushed suddenly and carefully stoppered her canteen. "I did rather."
His eye briefly flickered over the smooth slope of her spine and round curve of her hips as she knelt on the pine needle floor. There was a disarming spasm of sorts somewhere behind his navel.
Did she know..?
"The rain seems to have stopped," she said as she crawled to the opening to peer up at the sky, "damn, the cloud covering's still very thick."
Kakashi focused on rolling up the sleeping bag.
"You wouldn't happen to have a watch on you, O-sam - I mean- Kakashi-sensei, would you?"
He glanced over at her, amused by her attempt to address him properly.
"No, it hasn't been working since it got wet," he answered.
Erisu nodded distractedly and slipped out of the shelter. Kakashi packed up the last of their supplies and took down Erisu's kimono and mail. He followed her into the meagre morning light. She was busily hammering a long stick into the ground with a rock, looking up at the sky regularly as she did so. She circled the stick, protruding vertically from the ground at about waist height, her eyes narrowed and lips pursed in concentration. Pakkun was watching her warily as if concerned for her sanity.
"What are you doing, Risu?" Kakashi asked in a carefully polite voice.
"I'm making a sundial," she answered shortly as she circled the stick again, "if it weren't for the cloud cover..." She sighed in exhasperation and squatted beside the stick. "The shadows are too faint. I can't make out the sun's position."
Kakashi blinked, impressed. It'd been a clever idea but she was right, the stick cast no discernible shadow on the ground. Pakkun's pouchy eyes tracked Erisu as she stood and walked around a nearby tree. She was examining it scrutinizingly, and Kakashi cocked his head slightly as he observed her. She sighed and strolled around the next tree, staring up at its branches crossly.
"What're you doing now?" Pakkun asked as Erisu was now standing back to survey the tree line as a whole.
"The sun," she said dismissively, "the tree branches should be fuller on the side that regularly gets more light but..." She shook her head in defeat and glided back over to them. "Trees compete in the forest so it's harder to determine." She glared up at the sky. "If only the clouds would clear."
Kakashi watched Erisu tighten the numerous straps on her long, high heeled, tactical boots. She shook her pale hair back as she straightened, tapping her glossy lip as she thought. He had spent so much of his attention focusing on her round youthful face that he hadn't put much thought into how womanly her body really was until now. He hadn't realized quite how curvy her torso and hips were until he'd felt them with his own hands. The way she'd blushed when he asked how she'd slept... Did she think it was just a dream?
"Maybe we should head back to the river," Erisu suggested, her feline eyes scoping the forest, "if we continue following it downstream... But no, the road veered away from it a ways back. Sensei?"
Kakashi looked up at her in mild surprise. He'd been so preoccupied dwelling on his not-dream that he had lost track of the subject. His unease about earlier started to fade as he became more focused on the task at hand: reaching the village in time for their rendezvous.
"Yeah, the river," he agreed curtly, "we can backtrack to the road and, if we hurry, we might still make it."
Erisu walked purposefully towards him and he swallowed nervously. Then she slowed, regarding him warily.
"Are you alright, senp-sensei?" She took her clothes from him which he'd forgotten he was holding. "Only you look rather pale. You don't have any other injuries do you?"
"Just my cheek and bicep," he answered, coming to his senses, "which you've already tended to."
She smiled pleasantly and dressed quickly. Kakashi gazed up at the sky in hopes of seeing a patch of blue but saw only steely grey.
The three of them set off at a jog, retracing their steps the night before, back to the river. The water was swollen, churning with mud and debris from the storm. Erisu eyed it warily before turning her sights to the opposite bank that sloped up into more trees. The far bank was a mudslide and the river was so wide and frothing it was too treacherous to ford. The rocks they could've hopped across were now swallowed under the brown rapids and Kakashi doubted they should risk trying to jump it with their chakra so low and their bodies still weak from the poison.
Erisu pulled out her map and started seemingly comparing landmarks in focused silence. Leaving her to it, Kakashi turned to Pakkun instead.
"When exactly did Team Gai depart?" He asked with newfound urgency.
"Er-" Pakkun scrunched up his face thoughtfully, "noonish?" He offered, "but they didn't have Tenten-san with them. Apparently something personal came up at that needed her attention."
"So they're not a complete team." Kakashi closed his eyes wearily.
"But Gai-sensei said that he insisted on taking the mission anyways," Pakkun went on, "said it was important he was there while you 'test your theory'?"
Kakashi smiled despite his worry. Gai suspected Kakashi's intent on making Erisu Anbu.
"It's this way," Erisu said suddenly, gesturing through the woods.
Kakashi eyed her curiously, "how do you know?"
"Deciduous trees tend to grow on the south side of a hill and conifers on the north, judging by that slope-" She pointed to a grove of conifers. "-we're facing northeast. The river on the map is depicted flowing east to west through this forest." She showed him the legend. "If we follow it westward until we get out of the woods we should find this road here. Only a few kilometres west from this crossroad is an outpost where we can likely restore our rations and purchase a new compass."
Kakashi, having payed close attention to her every word and gesture, nodded approvingly.
"Good." He turned back to Pakkun. "Scout ahead along the river. Keep a wary eye out for more rogues."
"Yes boss!" Pakkun dipped his head to Kakashi, adding to Erisu, "you're a clever one, kid." He raced away before she could reply.
"We'd better hasten our pace to make up for lost time," Kakashi said grimly, "we don't want to risk our informant's discovery."
"Yes!" Erisu straightened in obedience and tightened her med-kit fastenings, "ready when you are, O-sama!"
He nodded curtly and lead the way, leaping into the air and racing up the trunk of the nearest tree. They took off through the treetops at top speed.
~Erisu~
Kakashi emerged from the outpost general store and tossed Erisu a compass, pocketing one for himself.
"His wares were sparse," he told her, "no camping gear I'm afraid, but I did get some freeze dried tuna."
Erisu smiled weakly. "I'll pass," she declined quickly, stowing her compass, "it's only a few hours to the village."
"Not a fan of tuna?" He queried.
"I'm vegetarian." She replied shortly, anticipating him to mock her but Kakashi was indifferent, nodding in polite acknowledgment and packing the fish away without comment. They set off, westbound, until Pakkun emerged from the undergrowth.
"No sign of any foes," he reported, "glad to see you made your way out of the woods alright."
"All thanks to Erisu's impressive survivalist skills," Kakashi replied, "I was concerned we might be late for our rendezvous with Team Gai but we're ahead of schedule. Being washed downstream turned out to be quite the shortcut." Erisu kicked a pebble along with her toe as they walked, watching it concentratedly.
"Yeah! You'd make a good scout, kid!" Pakkun declared.
"Thank you," she mumbled uncomfortably.
The sun was setting, streaking the sky with magenta wisps of cloud. Ahead a warm glow lit the road like a thousand fireflies. In the tangle of branches above banners and paper lanterns crisscrossed the road on snaking strings.
"What's this?" Kakashi wondered, looking down at his map for answers.
"A festival?" Erisu suggested.
"There's a small Buddhist temple on the outskirts of the village," he noted, "intriguing. I suppose we'll see in a moment."
The forest opened into a grassy glade that sloped downward to the village. The small cluster of wooden buildings were nestled against a vast, black lake that was as smooth as glass. The evening light shattered on the water, droplets of red scattered across black, while the jade shingles gleamed like foxfire. The streets below were bustling with people, all traditionally dressed and glowing like gemstones, as they moved through the maze of market stands and shops.
"It seems you were right." Kakashi was untying his headband. "I wasn't aware of a festival or I'd have brought more appropriate clothes."
Erisu followed his lead and undid the Konoha emblem from her obi and hid it in her medkit.
"I wonder what they're celebrating?" Erisu couldn't conceal her excitement.
"Hmm." He surveyed the village critically. "I think it's best if you depart now, Pakkun. We mustn't give away our shinobi identities."
"Alright," Pakkun nodded curtly, "see you later." He burst into smoke and Kakashi plunged his hands into his pockets. He looked over at Erisu, left eye closed in a non-deliberate wink.
"Shall we?" He tilted his silver head towards the village below. "We have..." He produced a pocket watch. "Four hours until we meet at the bridge."
Erisu did an involuntary dance of glee. "Kya!" She squealed, "a festival!" Kakashi shook his head, bemused, and they headed down the slope.
The village was teeming with festive civilians and the scent of tempura and barbecued meat filled the air. Patrons, dressed in extravagant kimonos, moved from stall to stall purchasing trinkets and deep fried fish. Children raced about with sparklers, their faces hidden behind the grotesque features of Yokai masks, and shouted excitedly as they played. It was all Erisu could do to resist joining them in their game of chase. She followed the senior shinobi through the market practically skipping.
"Pretty girl!" A man caught Erisu's sleeve, his aged face wrinkled into a smile. "I have kimonos, pretty girl. You must dress for the festival! Buy one?"
Erisu bowed her head. "No thank you, Ojiisan," she said politely.
He grabbed her arm as she made to walk away. "Your eyes are so blue," he said eagerly, "kimonos are free for eyes that blue." Erisu glanced at Kakashi to find him looking on, amusement lighting up his dark eye.
"Your eyes are very blue," he agreed in mock seriousness, "go get a kimono." Erisu gave in and followed the bent old man into his stall.
The kimonos were artfully made, their glossy silk vibrant colours. The old man shouted to a greying woman in the back and she hustled over to Erisu. Behind her, Erisu caught sight of Kakashi choosing himself a black haori and two piece kimono.
"Come back here," the old woman ordered, "I'll find you the perfect dress for the Kappa Festival."
Kappa.. The water Yokai who was known for his love of cucumbers. The old woman ushered Erisu behind a screen and stripped her down to her lacy, black lingerie. She draped her in some shimmery blue fabric and set to work measuring and pinning it. At last she stepped back to admire her work and nodded approvingly.
"You look beautiful," the old woman told her, "go show your sweetheart!"
"He's not-" she began to object but the woman had already started stripping her again. She folded up the kimono and wrapped it in brown paper and string. She shooed Erisu into the busy street where Kakashi waited.
"Do we have time for a quick bath?" Erisu asked hopefully as she eyed the locals' glossy hair and pristine clothes, "we'd look more professional clean."
"Mm." His eyes smiled, his own festival attire was packaged and tucked under his arm. "My thoughts exactly." The two ninjas picked their way through the festivities until they found a quant bathhouse. Thankfully it was separate bathing.
"Be quick about it," he warned, "there's no time for a long soak."
Erisu acknowledged him with a nod and hurried inside to freshen up. Once clean, Erisu carefully wrapped the silken kimono over her mail and swept her short ashen hair into a simple bun, pinning it with an elegant comb that had been packaged along with her dress. Feeling all the more excited she stuffed her mud stained clothing into the shopping bag and hurried from the bathhouse to meet her sensei.
~Kakashi~
Kakashi, now garbed in plain formal attire, scrutinized the passerbys, wary for any sign of the Akatsuki. He was on edge, certain that they'd make their move soon. Naruto was training alone back in Konoha and he was certain the Akatsuki would strike once Jiraiya was no longer around to defend the boy. At least Yamato would be on the lookout...
The bathhouse door slid open and Kakashi looked over at a nervous young woman. His heart skipped a beat.
She was as beautiful as a geisha, only muted in colour. Her light silvery blonde hair was arranged in a mass of perfectly arranged curls and held fast with a pale blue, lily shaped comb. The long skirt of her silk kimono was a pearly glaucous blue and embroidered with white chrysanthemums, the crisp white under kimono just visible at the cuffs of her long flowy sleeves and between the front panels when she moved. Her obi was shimmery and silver, tied extravagantly around her tiny waist. Accustomed to seeing her only in the beau teal hues of black or navy he was disarmed by how breathtakingly beautiful she was in the opalescent blue. She turned once, admiring the swish of fabric around herself and glanced up at Kakashi.
"How do I look?" She asked, hands folded on a shopping bag in front of her.
"Perfect," he answered softly, causing Erisu to glow with embarrassment.
Her eyes roved over his body from under dark lashes and her lips curved in a smile. "Don't you look handsome all dressed up?" She approached him playfully, bag swaying in her hand, and poked the silver circle on the breast of his hiori. "You should dress up more often sensei."
Kakashi narrowed his eye at her suspiciously, was she flirting?
"But your mask..." She cocked her head to examine his face, "you still look rather ninja-y. I don't think common folk generally wear masks to festivals, do they? Maybe we could get you a Kappa mask?"
Then something seemingly caught her eye for she straightened and grabbed his hand in excitement. He stiffened and stared down at her soft, slender fingers in his.
"Pocky!" She cried exuberantly, pointing to a stand across the street selling sweets, "O-sama, would you lend me some money for the festival?" Her eyes were round and sparkling with excitement. "Oh pretty, pretty please, sensei? I swear on the Hokage that I'll pay you back once we're back in Konoha!"
Kakashi was confused, Erisu was normally so conservative and quiet, but the festival had ignited her like fireworks. "Alright, alright," he waved his hand to calm her, "we have time to spare and yen to spend."
"Yatta!" She squealed and danced on the spot, "I haven't been to a festival in years!"
Her delight was infectious; Kakashi smiled in spite of himself. They hustled their way through the swarm of people and purchased some pocky. Erisu was beside herself with happiness over the simple sweet and Kakashi wondered when the last time she'd been given a gift was.
"Don't worry about paying me back, Erisu," he told her in an undertone, "it's on me."
She stuck the chocolate covered end of the long, thin cookie in her mouth, letting it stick out like a cigarette. Kakashi smiled beneath his mask at her.
"Do you want any other candy?" He asked, amused by her love of it. Her eyes widened further still, dominating her face.
"You're the best, O-sama," she said softly. He brushed this off and bought her an assortment of gummies, a bag of watame, and some chocolates. She stowed them in her shopping bag and gazed at him in amazement. He was surprised by his generosity too, being generally rather frugal. She offered him some pocky but he shook his head.
"No thanks, I'm not very fond of sweets." He told her lazily, glancing around for enemies.
"Curious," she replied fiddling with the biscuit that protruded from her lips, "what do you like then, Kakashi-sama?"
"Broiled saury and miso," he told her distractedly, tempted to open his Sharingan just in case, "with eggplant."
"I'll have to make it for you sometime." She had noticed something else that interested her and started to drift away. "I quite enjoy braising eggplant. I have a homemade dashi recipe and make my own miso paste..."
Kakashi followed her through the brightly lit street, both eyes now patrolling their surroundings. The smell of frying squid and melted caramel hung in the air, drifting over the crowd like smoke. The stalls were extravagant, clearly belonging to the wealthiest of merchants, and overflowing with all manner of goods. Food and beer was being served everywhere, and all manners of trinkets, gizmos, oddities, and souvenirs were on display. Live music was playing somewhere nearby and the banging of firecrackers kept him on edge. It was a pandemonium of frivolity.
Erisu lead the way, dragging Kakashi along by the hand as she exclaimed in excitement at every stall. She seemed preoccupied with the festival but he noticed her eyes flickering from blue to pink now and again as she probed the minds of the strangers around them. Then she froze, mid-step, and twirled around to face a display of Kappa plushies. The ugly toad-like face of the river deity had been made incredibly cute, more like a baby otter than Yokai. Erisu let out a hushed cry of adoration.
"Kawaii!" She cooed, "O-sama, he's adorable!"
Kakashi stifled a sigh, he wasn't sure whether he should be amused or annoyed. Seeing this side of Erisu was odd, yet not unpleasant, in fact it was the first time he'd seen her this happy. He recalled how her home had looked more like that of a wizened old sage than a youthful girl and thought she deserved something fun.
"Yo," he addressed the merchant, "a plushie, please." The outrageous price was tolerable only because of Erisu's astonished gratitude. She looked as though she hadn't imagined anyone would simply hand her a toy for free.
"Thank you so much..." she said, eyes like blue saucers, "...Kakashi-kun." She hugged the stuffed blue deity to her chest and beamed up at him. He gave her a double take, surprised by the intimate adress, then something caught his eye and it was his turn to lead her through the crowd. Holding her hand to keep her close, Kakashi guided Erisu to a little restaurant. He gently pushed her towards a bar stool and she obediently sat, gazing around in wonder.
"A double order of kappa maki please," he called as he sat next to her, "makizushi's your favourite right?"
She nodded, clearly pleased he'd remembered. The chef placed the long cucumber rolls before them.
"They're not cut," Erisu said, nonplussed.
"During a kappa festival you eat them as is," Kakashi explained, watching her thoughtfully as she picked up the roll and took a bite. She struggled for a moment on the chewy seaweed then blinked at him appreciatively.
"Delicious, thank you!" She seemed overwhelmed by his generosity and Kakashi's thoughts darkened. How had she been treated in the past to expect so little from others?
"You'd better take those to go," advised the chef, "the fireworks will be starting on the lake soon."
"Fireworks?" Erisu echoed, on her feet instantly.
"Yeah," grunted the man, "only happens once a year. Here," he handed her a cucumber, "give it to the kappa for me, would ya?" Erisu accepted the offering and stared up at Kakashi eagerly, her eyes speaking for her.
"Let's go then," he mused, packing up their maki, "we meet Gai in three hours." They headed out into the chaos of the street and followed the current of people to the docks. Several cucumbers had already been placed at a shrine near the water's edge. Erisu gently set the vegetable alongside the others and returned to Kakashi's side. They strolled along the beach, away from the crowd of people, and settled on a piece of driftwood to wait.
"I'd forgotten how much fun festivals are," she told him softly, gaze fixed on the dark expanse of water before them, "I missed most of the Chūnin Exam celebration last time I was in Konoha."
"Well the exams will be starting again in a of couple months," he replied, "when you're not too busy training we can enjoy the celebrations." Erisu glanced furtively up at him and then back to the lake, hugging her kappa. Here on the outskirts of the village, the light pollution was reduced and the sky was smeared with stars. Erisu tilted her head back to admire the sky, Kakashi looking on silently.
"Look," she pointed at the stars and he followed her finger as it traced an image in the sky, "it's Pakkun-san." He looked closely and made out the flat, scowling face of the ninken pug. He chuckled and scratched his jaw in amusement. Silence resumed, then an idea occurred.
"Come," he said as he stood and offered her his hand. She took it and her lead her to the water's edge. "I want you to focus your chakra for me." He held both her hands and walked backwards onto the smooth liquid surface. "Focus it to your feet as if you're climbing tree."
Erisu hesitated, the lake lapping at the toes of her boots. She looked up at him nervously, she lacked confidence but he knew she had the skill.
"Close your eyes," he told her softly. She looked at him uncertainly then lowered her shadowy lids, spidery lashes extending far on her cheekbones. "You have to be aware of the rippling of the water, project your chakra into in with the flow."
He stepped back, guiding her into the lake. She stepped into the water for a moment then steadied. Leading her further from the shore, Kakashi watched her concentrated expression. Her lips were puckered slightly, brows knitted and eyelids quivering as her mind worked. They were considerably deep now, the sandy floor of the lake nothing but murky shadows.
"Open you eyes," he whispered so as to not startle her.
Erisu obeyed and looked about her, eyes widening further and further. "Sensei..!" It was a hushed exclamation. "Sensei, I did it..!" She looked around again positively radiating happiness. "Yatta..!"
She looked back up at him, moonlight catching in her crystalline irises and his mind became a feathery and light. His heart beat violently against his sternum and his pupils widened to take her in.
"Risu-chan," he began and his voice came out in breeze of emotion.
"Yes, Kakashi?" He had her undivided attention and felt the sound of his name in her airy sing-song voice as if she'd murmured it to his bones. Then the decision solidified in him as he made up his mind to confess.
Kakashi tugged down his mask, fiercely aware of her gaze wandering over his lips then back to his eyes. The cool night air tingled on his exposed skins and he took a bracing breath.
"Risu-chan," he began again, "I..." But her expression stalled him. The colour in her face drained away and her eyes stretched in fear. She knew he'd been intending kokuhaku.
"Th-the fireworks will be starting in a moment," she said quickly, "let's go back to the shore."
He stared at her in nonplussed silence, their fingers still entwined. Didn't she..? I thought she...
He couldn't understand the sudden flip but he realized she was denying him without denying him. Kakashi pulled his mask back up and they walked across the water to shore.
They sat in a strange, cold silence unlike any that'd ever fallen between them before. He'd been certain she returned his affections but now... Something was preventing her. Was it her illness? Then another thought formed and his skin prickled at the very idea.
"Risu-chan," he said, wanting to voice his thoughts while they were still alone, "you very rarely speak of your family.." She suddenly grew still. "... If you don't mind my asking, why is that?"
Erisu bowed her head in silence for a moment before replying, "because I'm ashamed, sir," her voice was barely more than a whisper, "I was disowned by my mother and don't want to dishonour her further by speaking ill of her."
"Disowned?" Kakashi frowned, unease mounting. "Why would you speak ill of her?"
"She," Erisu paused, considering her words, "she despises shinobi and the Hokages."
He didn't want to press her but instinct told him he must. "Did she harm you in some way?"
Erisu's eyes snapped to his, alarmed, "w-what makes you ask that?"
"I can tell, Risu," he said. She sighed in defeat.
"We hated each other," she told him, "we disagreed on everything, from our religious perspectives, to our morals," her voice hardened, "especially our morals."
"In what sense?"
"In every sense." She laughed wryly, a very un-Erisu laugh. "But as her daughter I submitted to her authority and accepted her decisions regardless of the consequences. Until he-" she cut herself off and glanced at him as though she'd let slip a terrible secret then she composed herself and continued, "needless to say I'd had enough. So I left."
"You left?"
"I was fifteen, nothing to lose and everything to gain, so I left." She said this as though it was perfectly normal for one to pack up and leave their family at fifteen.
"She didn't try to stop you?"
"No," Erisu smiled, "we were both better off apart."
"What about your father?" He queried, "didn't he have any say?"
"My father's deceased." She shrugged. "I read about Sasuke-san being scheduled to fight Gaara-sama and decided to return to Konoha."
"Where were you travelling from?" He asked curiously.
"A tiny village to the north," she said with an unconvincing air of nonchalance, "I doubt you'll have heard of it."
Kakashi opened his mouth to push her more but was interrupted. There was a whistling sound and a jet of light leapt from the water's surface. It burst in a brilliant sphere of yellow sparks causing Erisu to gasp. Another light, red, followed by sparkling azure-explosions of colour in the night sky. The lake reflected the fire in a mosaic of light, the sound of the exploding fireworks echoing across its surface.
Beside him, Kakashi was aware of Erisu sucking the chocolate off a stick of pocky, her eyes mirroring the light show. His expression softened as he watched her from the corner of his eye, the way she was delighted by little thinks like toys and candy was so innocent and endearing, but beneath her childlike wonder he caught glimpses of heartache and suffering. He found himself worrying about how she'd been mistreated, distracted from the fireworks by his brooding thoughts. What had her mother done? And who was "he"?
Someone was approaching stealthily from behind them, Kakashi could hear the pebbles grinding under the weight of four feet, too heavy. Lighter footfalls followed close behind. Gai and Lee's ankle weights were a dead giveaway. Erisu signalled him with a glance; she was aware of them as well. Kakashi subtly took a biscuit from Erisu and held it out behind him.
"Yo Gai," he said calmly without turning, "pocky?"
"Damn it Kakashi," Gai snatched the sweet, "stop being so cool!"
Erisu rose and bowed deeply, "Gai-sama, Lee-san, Neji-san," she smiled warmly, "aren't the fireworks beautiful?" The cold gaze of Neji deflated her jubilance instantly, and she bowed again in apology. Kakashi stood to greet them as well. They had removed their shinobi markings but Gai and Lee still looked eccentric in their bright green jumpsuits.
"You're early," he commented, "travel safely?"
"We had a run in with some unmarked shinobi on the road," Gai reported, "it was a close call, not having Tenten along adds strain."
"We encountered some rogues as well," Kakashi's voice was grave, behind him Erisu and Lee were gaping at the fireworks show, "their weapons were coated in a neurotoxin that drained our chakra. They were highly trained and mentioned Orochimaru-sama."
"Do you think the Akatsuki are aware of our mission?" Gai asked quietly.
"We should assume so." Gold sparks showered down from above. "It's good you're early, we should go directly to the bridge and hope the informant is there already. The sooner we leave, the better." Gai nodded grimly as they both thought about the risk of collateral damage if the rogues made another appearance amidst the villagers.
"The festival will make a good cover," Neji commented, "we should try to wrap this up while most of the civilians are at the docks."
"Agreed," Kakashi nodded then called to Erisu and Lee, "we're heading out!" They hopped to attention but the look of disappointment was plain on both faces. As the five ninja set off back towards the village Kakashi overheard Lee and Erisu talking.
"You look very lovely in that kimono, Erisu-san," Lee told her kindly, "it really brings out your eyes."
"Thank you!" She didn't sound as nervous as she usually did when people complimented her. "I've often thought your jumpsuit looks rather dashing." Kakashi glanced over his shoulder to see that Lee's face had gone quite red.
"It's for training," he said a little louder than necessary, "it gives me full range flexibility."
Erisu giggled. "It does look comfortable, and I suppose with your speed you make up for the lowered constitution that comes from not wearing armour?"
"Yes, exactly!" Lee was excited-as usual. "What about you? In that kimono you might have your mobility compromised if we get in a fight."
"I'm wearing my bandages, and kasuri mail underneath," she confided in an undertone, as though it were a scandalous secret.
"You're wearing chain mail under that? But you look so thin!"
"So Kakashi-kun," Gai began as they crossed the deserted Main Street and headed for the bridge, "I was thinking since you and Erisu-chan are wearing festival clothes you two should approach the informant while we remain hidden."
"Good idea, that'll give us an edge of it turns out to be a trap."
"Here," Gai produced two discreet earbuds and communicators. "If all goes without a hitch, head for the east side and we'll meet you on the road." Being as they still had over two hours before they were actually scheduled to meet the mole, they restocked at a surplus store before continuing on. Gai and Neji loaded up with the extra gear so that Erisu and Kakashi would look less conspicuous, although they remained fully armed beneath their clothes. Lee and Erisu were sharing some cotton candy and childishly discussing the Yokai stuffy.
"Alright," Kakashi wired himself as he spoke, "let's split up here and take separate routes. Yo, Erisu."
"Sir?" She hurried to his side and he handed her the communicator.
"See you shortly, one way or the other," he said to Gai, saluting him in farewell and the teams divided.
Kakashi filled Erisu in on the plan as they moved through the empty roads. The fireworks were still bursting in the distance and they looked like an ordinary couple heading home early.
"Might I ask, you and Lee-san seem to get on well..?"
"Oh yes," Erisu smiled, "he's a nice kid, isn't he?"
Her referring to him as kid dispelled any inklings that she might be interested in him. She'd be more likely to fall for Jiraiya than someone she considered a kid.
"He is," Kakashi agreed, "you were avoiding Neji-san like the plague though."
"Yeah," her eyes grew troubled, "he seems to have it in for me although I can't say what I could've done to slight him.."
"You did nothing," he assured her as the bridge came into sight, "that's just his disposition." Then he added in a lower voice, "stay on guard but remain nonchalant. We must appear ordinary."
She nodded and smiled as though he was telling a funny story and coiled her fingers in his. Startled, he eyed her but accepted this facade as they strolled hand in hand towards the bridge. A pasty and nervous old man with a blinded eye and blotchy face jumped as he caught sight of them. He was wearing a straw sugegasa and was signing Dog and Boar repeatedly as his identifying movement. They'd found their mole.
Before they'd reached earshot of him Erisu casually drew Kakashi aside to admire the lilies in the shallows.
"He's genuine," she told Kakashi quietly, somehow managing to smile while keeping her voice detached and serious, "he intends no deception and is frightened for his life. He desires safe passage from here but I can't determine whether he's been followed. All I know is he doesn't think he has been."
Privately impressed, Kakashi nodded and feigned rubbing his neck to turn on his communicator.
"He's legitimate," he reported to Gai, "I'm going to initiate contact now, are you in position?"
"Affirmative," Gai replied in their ears, "mission is a go."
Kakashi reclined against the rail of the bridge, caught the informant's eye and stretched his fingers into serpent and dragon. Relief crossed the informant's face. He was being too obvious...
Then Erisu clasped her hands to her mouth as though she'd only just noticed the man and waved like an excited schoolgirl.
"Oujisan!" She cried and, dragging Kakashi by the hand, ran to greet him. She flung her arms around the battered old man's neck and hugged him adoringly. "Oh Ouji, it's been ages! How've you been?"
Catching on, the weathered old shinobi grinned and hugged her back, looking slightly flushed and replied, "I've been fine, dear girl. Long time, long time."
"You remember my uncle?" She said to Kakashi happily, gesturing at the old man, "oh we must catch up! Walk with us?"
They set off across the bridge, Erisu arm in arm with the spy as though she'd known him her whole life. They passed a small group of merchants but no one batted an eye at the well dressed couple and their elderly companion. She chattered away, telling him all about the fireworks and festivities until they were safe within the cover of the trees.
Kakashi couldn't have been more satisfied. He was astonished by how easily she'd taken to deception and how flawlessly she lied. As they moved deeper into the woods Team Gai emerged on either side and flanked them. Erisu released the old man, (he looked disappointed that the dainty young woman was no longer hanging onto him) and returned faithfully to Kakashi's side.
After they were about a kilometre from the village, Erisu and Kakashi slipped into the trees to change back into their combat gear before the group set off again. When darkness had fallen too heavily for them to continue Kakashi summoned his ninken pack and they set up camp. They couldn't be too careful with an informant this important. Kakashi lit the campfire with fire style and they settled in the orange light while the hounds patrolled the shadows.
Kakashi noticed Erisu tending to the informant, well, fussing over him would be more accurate. She had set him up with bedding, supper and was now scolding him for a sunburn on his balding head, dabbing his face with a moist cloth. Kakashi smirked at her oddly motherly behaviour with the seasoned veteran who was enjoying the attention.
"Her acting on the bridge was lsuperb," commented Gai, who was also watching her as she was now urging him to drink from her canteen, "she handled herself like an infiltration expert. She'll make an amazing spy."
"Yeah," Kakashi agreed softly, "and she determined his authenticity before even speaking to him. We got stranded yesterday and she figured out our location and directed us back on track without a compass." Erisu was treating the burn with some creamy white ointment. "She has all the makings for an Anbu member for sure."
He silently thought of her distaste for the spotlight and burning desire to aid the village and became more convinced that she should join the Anbu as an undercover specialist.
Her hopes for the future had been more certain and admirable than any of his former students. Regardless of his deepening unrest about her secretiveness or her subtle rejection of him he knew Erisu was going to succeed.