Aaaaallllrighty. I've had this chapter in mind for a very long time, and it's one I'm pretty excited about. This is a light chapter meant to be a comedy, and Kakashi may or may not seem out of character to some. But if so, then try to think of it like this: In my story he has a sister, so it makes sense that he would act differently with her than with everyone else. So, in short, please enjoy the chapter, and I hope you guys find it as funny as I do.

Oh, and the next chapter is where things with Amedoru's "secret" is gonna start kickin' into gear, if you catch my drift.

So please stick around, there's more to come!

And I also want to welcome and thank all my new reviewers and followers, as well as to all the supporters in general. I really do appreciate the time you guys take to read the whole story and then give me feedback on what you guys think so far. Also, thank you to those who offered guidance with my spelling etc. I appreciate it!

~Lastoftheamericandreamers

P.S

This particular chapter is written in third person, but the rest of the story will go back to being in a first person narrative, with the exception of flashbacks etc. Just wanted to toss that out there.

P.S.S

I DO NOT own Icha Icha Paradise, just the fake, made-up content which Amedoru reads aloud.


"Hey, are you alive under there?" Kakashi asked as he shook Amedoru by the shoulder, effectively making half her body flop back and forth. He had to admit that it brought him peace to see her sleeping so soundly, even though she was doing so well at making sure she got up early.

"Depends on how you wanna define that", a croaky voice sounded, muffled by the pillow lying right on-top of Amedoru's face.

Kakashi sighed before removing the pillow, giving Amedoru a gust of fresh air, and rested a hand on his hip ."I define that by not being suffocated to death by a pillow", he said in an amused voice.

Amedoru blinked a few times, bringing herself back to full consciousness, before propping herself up onto her elbows and turning her head towards her brother slowly. She eyed him head to feet. He was already fully dressed.

"Is everything okay? You look like you're about to take off somewhere.

Before answering, Kakashi gestured to Amedoru to sit up some so he could put the pillow back behind her, which she leaned up against gratefully.

"Everything's fine" Kakashi said with a wave of his hand, and Amedoru nodded a few times, the anxiousness that was starting to spark inside her dying down. "I just wanted to ask you if you wanted anything in particular while I'm out doing some grocery..shopping."

"Shopping" Amedoru repeated. Ever since she could remember, that word had always made her brother physically cringe anytime it was said aloud, even though it was part of everyday life and was something the both of them had to do every now and then. Maybe it was just a guy thing.

"I'm good. I can go with you, if you want. I kinda want to see how the village is coming along with the repairs and everything"

Amedoru made a move to get out of her bed, but was stopped by Kakashi's index finger as it collided with her forehead.

"I want you to get some rest, take this day off to relax" Kakashi said in a firm voice only older brothers seemed to have, and it left no room for argument.

Just as Kakashi turned around to leave, it surprised even Amedoru as she leaned forward quickly and grabbed a hold of her brother's arm before he could take another step.

"I never got a chance to tell you what happened during my final match" Amedoru said in response to the questioning look on Kakashi's face. Though that look was soon replaced with affection for her. And faster than she could blink, or even react, one of Kakashi's arms snaked around Amedoru's neck, trapping her to his side as he rubbed his knuckles into her hair with his other arm. But sooner than what Amedoru had hoped for, it was over.

" I already know, and what you and Shikamaru did was the right thing, even though it was a tough decision to make. You're both worthy of becoming Chunin, no matter what the rules say"

Kakashi flashed Amedoru that eye smile of his as he pat the top of her head a few times, and as soon as he slipped out the door, Amedoru stared at it for a few moments before her delayed reaction finally came in the form of long, loud laughter. Falling back against the pillows, she drifted off again and didn't bother to think of how Kakashi could know what happened without she or Shikamaru telling him..and also feeling like another piece of a giant load had been lifted, cleared away.. because Kakashi understood exactly why what happened did, and he was okay with it.


Birds had begun chirping up a frenzy by the time Amedoru was up and moving around. And from the lighting outside followed by an inner sense of intuition, she figured she had been out only for a little while. Amedoru stuck her head out her open window just as a big breeze blew across her face-chilly, but still enjoyable. Any thoughts she had about getting some more training done was pushed to the back of her mind for another time. It was too much of a good day to spend working, and quite frankly, Amedoru saw it as a chance to escape the events that were happening around her-the attack on the village and all. And like her brother had said..she should use this day to relax. Even though it was still early, Amedoru figured Shikamaru would be up, and she smiled a genuine smile at the possibility of spending time with him.

She walked past Kakashi's room when a bright flash of color inside caught her eye, though it was too brief for her to really notice at first. Amedoru continued up the hall, but as she walked she could feel her brows scrunch together as curiosity took over, and like a switch had been flipped, she began backtracking down the hall before coming to a stop right next to her brother's bedroom door again. She could see that same, bright splash of color in between the space left by the wall and Kakashi's door-frame. She put a hand flat on the door to push it open, heart beating just a little faster as little beads of sweat started forming on the back of her neck. The door opened so slow it was almost comical, complete with the exaggerated squeaking sound only wood seemed to make, and it made Amedoru grab at her bottom lip with her teeth as her face contorted into a wince.

She couldn't describe it, but she got the feeling that whatever she was about to walk into was going to scar her for life.

"It's probably Naruto's jacket or something..or maybe Kakashi likes wearing Gai's leg-warmers when no one's watching", Amedoru said out loud as the door opened all the way, giving her a full view of Kakashi's room..and also of the item lying on it's side on the ground with the top half of it propped against the side of Kakashi's bed.

It wasn't a piece of clothing, it was..

That mysterious, infuriating, intriguing book her brother carried around with him twenty four seven. Kakashi never, ever, ever, left the house without it-even when he had to go on missions. Amedoru found herself literally being drawn towards it as she started walking towards the book slowly, barely putting one foot in front of the other. From the way it was lying, it honestly looked like it might have fallen without Kakashi realizing it-maybe from his vest pocket, maybe from under his pillow. However, it would be so unlike Kakashi if he hadn't noticed he left it behind that it made Amedoru nervous.

And.. suspicious.

The image of herself rushing over to the book, picking it up with her teeth, and then scampering back to her room with it played in her mind..reminding her of Kiba a little too much.

"This doesn't feel right. Maybe it's a trap,er, a test" Amedoru thought aloud as she chewed along the rim of her thumb nail, eyes boring invisible holes into Kakashi's book like she was going to find out what was inside it that way. Then, out of impulse, she reached down and yanked off one of her shoes before hurtling it at the book and diving off to the side at the same time, going into a roll and scrambling to hide on the other side of Kakashi's bed with her arms over her head. She expected everything that came with a standard trap. Flying kunai..a rope trap..maybe even a Kakashi-clone springing up out of nowhere. What she didn't expect was the complete stillness and general feeling of peace in the air that was there long before Amedoru had walked into Kakashi's room in the first place.

She raised up slowly and peeked over the top of Kakashi's bed, glancing from side to side as an extra precaution. And she was glad her brother wasn't there to see her like this..because she felt pretty stupid.

"This whole thing is stupid" Amedoru muttered as she pushed herself up from the ground and started towards the door. "I'll just tell Kakashi he forgot to take the book with him when he gets back. No big deal. After all..it would be wrong to invade his..privacy, like that."

Once she was back into the hallway, she shrugged her shoulders without pausing to take a last look over her shoulder.

"No big deal.."

But then Amedoru started thinking about was was really written on those pages. What was really inside that made Kakashi freak out every time that book of his and Amedoru were in the same room together. What was there about the story that made Kakashi literally giggle to himself like he knew the biggest secret on the planet whenever he was alone in his room, reading?

Amedoru still didn't know, even after all these years. And her one opportunity that would probably never come again was lying just at her feet, in a sense.

Shutting off what was left of her conscience, Amedoru made a bee-line straight back into her brothers room, all the while shaking her head at herself as she snatched the book off the floor and hurried away with it, feeling a sense of accomplishment mixed in with just enough warning and self-disappointment that made it all bitter-sweet

"Karma is gonna kick my tail"


Amedoru found a comfortable spot on the living room floor and folded her legs crisscrossed. She ran her fingers over the book in her lap, feeling the worn, yet firm outer cover. After years of attempting to get at least a finger on it..and now finally she was going to see just what the heck was written on the pages.

"Icha Icha..Paradise?"

The words felt jumbled in Amedoru's mouth. Just from the title and the illustration on the front, it was obvious the book was some kind of romantic novel. And the fact that Kakashi, of all people, was completely into it was both intriguing, yet a little disturbing. Especially since he and Amedoru never really talked about stuff like romance and boys because of how uncomfortable it made them-Kakashi the most.

A whispering thought popped into Amedoru's head-her last chance to put the book down and walk away from it, pretend she never even saw it. But she had come too far now to go back, child prohibiting sign on the book's backside be damned.

I'll only read a few paragraphs-just enough to see, Amedoru thought to herself. And then afterwards, I'll just forget all about it.

So, taking a quick breath, the front cover of the book was flipped open with ease that came from being handled often, and at first Amedoru didn't look down at the exposed contents right away. But as soon as she did, the first sentance immediately reeled her in, grabbing her attention so much that she had to read it aloud.

"She was like the wind, with hair like inky night. A countless beauty unmeasured like the stars.."

A spluttering laugh shot out of Amedoru's mouth without her thinking, and she clamped a hand over her mouth like she thought Kakashi was actually there, listening in. But despite it all, Amedoru had to admit that the wording was actually..pretty, in a way. A considering thought, and also a realization, was made.

Kakashi, Amedoru's strong, wise, and seemingly indestructible older brother..was a closet poet. Cue the snapping fingers.

Blinking out of a daze that involved Kakashi holding a rose in his hand while reading aloud from the book, Amedoru brought Icha Icha Paradise, otherwise known as "Kakashi's Giggle-Book", closer to her face and shifted into a more comfortable position, all the while thinking about how it felt like she was just starting to get a glimpse to a different side of her brother. To the soft, romantic underbelly of Kakashi's usual without-a-care, indifferent, and sometimes strict personality.


Kakashi's POV~Third Person

Kakashi made his way down the streets of the village, balancing a full bag of boxed and canned goods in one arm while holding a bag of fresh produce in the other. The habitual urge to shove his hands inside his pockets he started to feel was one he shared with his sister, and for a minute he wished she was there to help him carry the groceries.

A few ninja lingering around shops here and there dipped there heads once in acknowledgement as they walked past Kakashi, who returned it as he raised one elbow up a bit awkwardly in a sort of wave back. The attack on the village days before had left the people, as well as numerous buildings shaken, but repairs were in progress, and slowly, normal everyday life was starting to fall back into place for the majority of the people, including the lives of Kakashi and his sister. Though it was safe to say their progress was still a bit...slow. He briefly thought back to the day of the Hokage's funeral, and how he had walked into Amedoru's room to check on her a long time after the service, only to see she was sound asleep with an arm folded across her stomach. In a swift motion Kakashi had crossed the room, taken off Amedoru's shoes gently, and threw the blanket folded at the end of her bed over her before casting a wary eye to her open window. It could easily be seen as a dangerous hazard-an easy way for an intruder to get inside Amedoru's room without her knowing at first-but Kakashi tolerated it only because Amedoru loved having it open, ever since she was just a small child.

The muscles in Kakashi's arms began tightening from the weight of the bags, but just up ahead a flash of lightly-colored wood caught his eye. And the further he walked, the more that flash began to grow until he could easily identify it as a plain, ordinary bench. And that was exactly what made it so appealing.

"Nothing wrong with having a little break time" Kakashi said to himself as he eased down onto the bench, setting down the paper bags on either side of him before reaching into one of his vest pockets. But as soon as he couldn't feel the familiar feel of his favorite book, he felt his eyes go wide ever so slowly. And then..

"Gah!" he exclaimed as he leaped up to his feet, glancing around wildly on either side of him before dropping down onto his hands and knees, peering underneath the bench, but still coming up with the same result: nothing. After doing a final 360-degree spin, Kakashi sank down onto the bench with a miserable sigh. That was when he saw a few people paused in what looked to be mid-step, eyeing him with concerned and shocked expressions.

Kakashi just lifted up a hand as he gave an eye-smile and chuckled weakly. "Oh, hello there. You wouldn't believe the size of the bug that was just on me. Absolutely ridiculous"

After a brief pause in which Kakashi swallowed down the embarrassed lump in his throat, the lingering people went off on their way again, and when the coast was completely clear, Kakashi exhaled heavily as he slumped down on the bench some more.

Just where on earth could his book be?!

Kakashi thought back to earlier in the morning, when he had last seen it. And then a disturbing thought came to mind..

What if it accidentally slipped out of his pocket somehow while walking around the village?

The image of numerous feet stamping all over his precious, defenseless book made a single vein begin pulsing on the side of Kakashi's temple. And as he gathered up both sacks of groceries in each arm, he was set with a firm resolve as he began taking off down the direction he had just taken at a speed-walk that was so unlike his normal, relaxed pace it made a few knowing people stare after him.


Amedoru POV~Third Person

Meanwhile..

The Hatake house was unsurprisingly quiet, save for the loud sound of birdsong that drifted inside and echoed off the walls. Kakashi's book still remained clutched in Amedoru's hands, with a minimal amount of pages that was beginning to add up on one side of the book. What had started out as reading a few paragraphs had turned into reading a few pages. It was safe to say that Amedoru was hooked. Everything from the mysterious, and somewhat poetic descriptions of the two main characters in the book, down to the complicated romance that was just beginning to simmer kept Amedoru's eyes glued to the page, anxiously roving side to side. Every now and then, she would glance upwards just to make sure Kakashi hadn't snuck up on her-something he had done more than once in the past- before she was pulled back into the novel again. And somehow, while she was reading, a part of her brain began a steady train of thought, which produced a single question.

What if the reason behind Kakashi reading the book was because he was lonely? Romantically speaking, of course.

Amedoru's eyes paused on a single word as she began thinking to herself. She had never before in her life heard Kakashi say anything about regretting not having a romantic life outside of his everyday one, but still, it made Amedoru think. Even though Kakashi never said anything, or even expressed any interest about the subject..Amedoru wondered if she was the reason. If Kakashi didn't have to worry about her so much, then maybe he would have the time to meet someone-have a different life.

Shaking her head after a moment, Amedoru pushed the thought aside and focused again on the book as she turned another page. But as her eyes began scanning across it again, she could feel one of her eyebrows quirk upwards.

"It was such a simple dinner, complete with roasted cucumbers. The majority of it was spent in silence..until a pair of eyes met another across the table. The smell of those roasted, savory cucumbers wafted through the air."

Huh..maybe it's just me..but the tone of this is..changing, Amedoru thought to herself as she read on. And once she read the contents of the next couple paragraphs, she yanked her head back as she held the book far away from her, looking up with a horrified, contorted expression as one eye began twitching ever so slowly.

Amedoru had decided to read the book to find out just what exactly made it so interesting to her brother..and now she knew. What in the name of everything good had she gotten herself into? And more disturbingly..just what the heck was her brother thinking?!


Kakashi POV~Third Person

The produce man hadn't seen Kakashi's book at all that day. Neither did the lady at the market . No one had brought a book to them saying they had found it lying somewhere on the streets, either. Kakashi had ran back and forth almost all around the village, even to places he hadn't even been earlier that day, but the result was the same. He was left winded and book-less, and after re-tracing his steps once more at a walk so slow it was almost painful, he decided to head home. He still had groceries to put away, and Amedoru was probably bored out of her mind while waiting for him to get back, if she was still at the house.

Kakashi suddenly paused with one foot inches from the ground as his eyes grew wide.

At..

the...

house...

"Oh no. No no no no" Kakashi murmured to himself as his feet caught fire before he took off sprinting the rest of the way home, all the while struggling to control his anxious heart he felt was going to explode right out of his chest any minute, as well as trying to keep all the groceries inside their individual bags.

Now he remembered.

The last time he saw the book was this morning when he was getting dressed. Either he forgot to put it in his vest pocket before going to check on Amedoru, or he had left it sitting on his bed. It was a simple miscalculation, a simple mistake anyone could make-even Kakashi...though he hated ti admit to himself.

Overall, the book was definately at the house. In the open. And that meant it was fair game..especially to a curious, twelve-year old kid.

Amedoru's probably not even home, Kakashi thought to himself, hoping he could override his worry with hope and possibility. It was a nice day after all, and she was most-likely with Shikamaru...but if so..wouldn't he have at least caught a glimpse of them running around the village together? He did pass by a few of their favorite shops..but neither one was there.

When he finally approached the front door to the house, he took note of how quiet it was, like there was no one inside the house. Maybe, just maybe, Amedoru was still asleep and would continue sleeping until after his book was tucked safely back away. As he stood outside the door, Kakashi took a couple moments to get his breathing back in check, close his eyes, and exhale. Then, after stepping inside the house, he walked straight into the living room with the bags of groceries blocking most of his vision.

"Amedoru, you here? You didn't happen to see my-I mean, you didn't notice anything strange while I was gone, did you?"

Kakashi bent down briefly to set down the bags of groceries at his feet. And then, he saw. His sister was lying face-down on the wooden floor with both arms out on either side of her, like she had fainted face-first. Alarm began to rise inside Kakashi..but once he saw what was far out in front of Amedoru, still clutched in her hand with both flaps of it still open, that alarming feeling inside gradually shifted into a numb realization.

"You didn't" Kakashi said in a horrified voice.

"I did" came Amedoru's muffled response, holding an equal amount of terror and embarrassment.

This wasn't right. This wasn't right at all. This was probably the most awkward moment of Kakashi's entire life.

Amedoru picked herself off the ground slowly, and once she was back on her feet, she held out the hand still holding onto the book towards Kakashi, and he accepted it back hastily, all the while trying to avoid eye contact. But after a moment, the both of them flickered their eyes over towards the other before looking away hastily. Amedoru's face was already taking on a burning, pink tone, and Kakashi could feel his face scorching as well.

"W-why would you go into my room?!" Kakashi exploded suddenly, though his voice was more embarrassed than angry.

"I thought I saw a leg-warmer!" Amedoru exclaimed as she began rubbing at the back of her neck " and why does your book have to be so brightly colored?! It should be considered a blinding hazard..in more ways than one"

Kakashi winced and made an uncomfortable noise in the back of his throat before sighing and raking a hand down his face.

"How far did you get?" he asked as his face already began to scrunch up from mental anguish.

Amedoru made an uncertain noise herself. " Not very far, but..."

"Amedoru, I can explain." Kakashi said with resolve after a few moments. No matter how much he tried avoiding it..even though Amedoru was still just a kid..she was still just another kid, who happened to be his sister, who was growing up too fast for Kakashi's liking. Even though the thought of having..one of those talks with Amedoru literally made Kakashi want to curl up in a ball and clamp his hands over his ears..he would rather himself be the one Amedoru went to if she had any questions regarding..certain topics. And he was pretty sure his sister felt the same way.

"No! No no. I uh, I mean that's okay. I get it. I'm sorry I got into your stuff, Kakashi. Really" Amedoru said as she looked him dead in the eye, and after a moment, Kakashi let loose a big breath as his shoulders sagged just the smallest bit.

"Okay. Let's just pretend none of this ever even happened"

"I'm all for that" Amedoru said in relief as Kakashi bent down and reached into one of the paper sacks. Even though he was the one to suggest forgetting everything that had happened in the past few hours, there was still one question itching Kakashi's skull. He still wondered how far his sister had read into his book..or better yet, how scarred she was from it. So, finding what he was looking for, he withdrew a hand, stood back up, and held up a fairly large cucumber in all it's green, healthy glory.

"I-" Kakashi began, but stopped when he noticed the look of pure horror on his sisters face, and how it was a new shade of red entirely. She looked like she was going to be sick.

"I think I regret this" Kakashi said in a whisper at the same moment Amedoru dashed past him so fast it nearly made him spin, arms failing, screaming and shouting incomprehensible things as she went.

"YOU DID THAT ON PURPOSE!" He could make out along with the sound of footsteps stomping across the front porch. She was off to Shikamaru's, no doubt.

After tapping the cucumber against his chest, Kakashi dropped it back into the bag, raked a hand down his face again, and then headed straight to his room with his book nestled safely in the crook of his arm. And as he shut his door before leaning against it, he stared down at the book before bursting into loud laughter that soon turned into short bursts that bordered on the edge of a breakdown.

Because first, his little sister had read one of the most..adult..sections of the story. She was definately scarred for life.

Second, he officially felt poofing up a clone so he could beat himself to a pulp for pulling that stunt with with the cucumber,

And third..there was the slightest tear on the front cover of his beautiful, beautiful, book